As American As Apple Pie by Andrea Boeshaar, Kristin Billerbeck, Joyce Livingston, and Gail Sattler
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Incorporated (April 1, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1586605054
ISBN-13: 978-1586605056

Product Description
If it’s true that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, then what better way to entice the typical American male than with apple pie? Talia believes An Apple a Day and a few herbs are the key to healthy living, but Dr. Coridan scoffs at the natural products she sells in her store. Can a slice of warm pie neutralize the friction between them? Kayli wants to prove herself as a French pastry chef, but Adam prefers simple cooking, believing there’s nothing as Sweet as Apple Pie. Can their plain and fancy lifestyles mesh? Apple Annie loves running her father’s restaurant, and she is fast falling in love with the handsome man who always orders her apple pie. But when she is about to lose everything, can Brad help her? Lynette is a hard worker at church and not at all interested in a church romance. When she is paired with Rick on a fund-raiser, will a little Apple Pie in His Eye help Rick break down the walls around Lynette’s heart? As friendship is allowed to ripen and blended with love and grace, a recipe for a wonderful, lasting relationship is formed. When it comes to romance, the sweetest desserts are no match for God’s timing.

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I purchased this novel years ago at an RWA conference. One of the authors, Joyce Livingston, signed the book for me. I happened to find it on my shelf, and never got a chance to read it until recently. All four stories are quick, well-written reads. They’re fun to enjoy when you don’t have a lot of time to read an entire novel, but just want something to entertain you for an hour or so. In An Apple A Day, a unique conflict used: Talia owns a health food store, but she only believes in natural healing. She doesn’t think doctors have a place in today’s society. Can’t people use nature to cure their illnesses? When Dr. Coridan comes to town, she finds her views MAY be swayed.
In Sweet As Apple Pie, Kayli’s fancy french cookery doesn’t appeal to Adam’s love of simple country meals and basic desserts such as apple pie. Kayli is determined to bake a pie that’ll win Adam’s heart.
In Applie Annie, Annie is determined to run her father’s restaurant and dinner theater, in spite of her father’s alzheimer’s. However, when her half-sister comes to town, claiming her rightful half of the restaurant, she forces Annie to make a decision about selling her beloved establishment. Her sister threatens a lawsuit, and Brad, a lawyer, and Annie’s love-interest, steps in, determined to help Annie to save her business.
In Apple Pie In The Sky, Lynette is determined NOT to date any of her father’s congregation members. Rick, a youth leader, has been in love with Lynette for several years. However, he has not been able to date her because of her no-dating-congregational-members rule. As they work together on a church fundraiser, Rick is determined to win Lynette’s heart.

This book was enjoyable. Also, each story ended with an apple pie recipe! I won’t be giving this book away anytime soon. I want to try out those recipes!

I recall Tyndale House used to do this years ago. They would have novella collections featuring recipes at the end. I wonder why Tyndale stopped doing romance novella collections? I’ll probably try some of the recipes out in the winter since my husband is a big fan of apple pie!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

I saw this list on AOL today. In case the link stops working, I’ve provided the list below:

1. Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell – I read this when I was about thirteen. I didn’t really like the way she depicted the slaves and I didn’t appreciate that she used the N word a lot. However, I was interested enough in the book to finish it. I thought the writing was good, but I just didn’t care for some of the elements of the story.

2. The Lord Of The Rings by J. R. R. Tolkein – I’ve read some books by Tolkien while in college, but I don’t think I’ve ever read The Lord Of The Rings.

3. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling – I read the first book in this series, but wasn’t impressed enough to read the others. I did finish the novel, though, so I didn’t think it was boring. I just didn’t feel compelled to read the rest of the stories in the series.

4. The Stand by Stephen King – I never read this. As a matter of fact, I’ve never read an entire Stephen King novel. I started reading one a LONG time ago, but could not finish because I was too spooked! I thought his writing was pretty good, though.

5. The Davinci Code by Dan Brown – Yes, I read this. Thought it was a bit ridiculous, but it was written well enough that I was compelled to finish the novel.

6. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee – No, I’ve never read this, but have heard that it’s a great classic! I guess I’ll have to read it sometime?

7. Angels And Demons by Dan Brown – No, I’ve never read this.

8. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand – No, I’ve never read this.

9. The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger – No, I’ve never read this, but have heard great things about this classic! Perhaps I should read this sometime, also?

10. Drumroll please….The Holy Bible! – Yes, read this, countless times! Now, why couldn’t this one be listed as number one?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Calico Canyon
by Mary Connealy
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Incorporated
Pub. Date: July 2008
ISBN-13: 9781597899383
From Barnes And Noble.com
Synopsis
Let yourself be swept away by this fast-paced romance, featuring Grace Calhoun, an instructor of reading, writing, and arithmetic, who, in an attempt to escape the clutches of a relentless pursuer, runs smack dab into even more trouble with the 6R’s—widower Daniel Reeves, along with his five rowdy sons. When a marriage is forced upon this hapless pair—two people who couldn’t dislike each other more—an avalanche isn’t the only potential danger lurking amid the shadows of Calico Canyon. Will they make it out alive? Or end up killing each other in the process?
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Schoolmarm Grace Calhoun finds it hard to control Daniel Reeve’s five rambunctious boys in her classroom. Her inability to teach the youngsters causes her to lose her job. When her stepfather threatens her life, she finds the most unlikely hiding place: Daniel Reeve’s cave/farm home. When she spends the night with Daniel and his boys, she’s forced into an unwanted marriage. Grace’s life spins out of control since she is now the mother of five boys. She’s never taken care of a home, and finds her basic skills are lacking, and the antics of the boys, plus their brooding father, add a lot of comedy as well as emotional drama into the Reeve’s household.
Daniel finds himself falling for his new wife, however, he’s afraid to love her. He’s already lost one wife in childbirth, and doesn’t think he can bear to lose another mate due to the birth of a baby.
You’ll need to read this historical novel. Mary Connealy will provide a few hours of comedy and a romance that will warm your heart.

~Cecelia Dowdy~