Marriage Of Inconvenience (Book One In The Manning Brides)

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Have you ever had a best friend of the opposite sex for several years, without having a romantic relationship with that person? Did either one of you have a secret crush on the other?

The Manning Brides by Debbie Macomber

Marriage Of Inconvenience is the first book in The Manning Brides collection. Jamie Warren wants to have a baby. However, there’s just one problem – who will be the father? Rich Manning, her best friend since high school, seems like the perfect choice. After all, he’s good-looking and she figures his genes will make a great baby. She wants to do artificial insemination, however, Rich doesn’t want to be just a sperm donor. He wants to do what’s right for his child. Therefore, since Jamie wants to have a baby, he suggests their getting married. Stunned, Jamie finally agrees to the marriage. After all, it won’t be a “real” marriage – they’ve signed an agreement and will plan to divorce once Jamie is pregnant with their child.

Marriage between Jamie and Rich is weird, after all, they’re best friends, not lovers. The marriage forces both Jamie and Rich to see one another in a new light. Also, they keep their marriage a secret from most of their family members, and Rich and Jamie continue to live in their separate homes. However, Rich finds himself jealous when he spots Jamie with a platonic male friend. After all, even though their marriage is only for the convenience of their future baby, she is still his wife. Shouldn’t she treat their “marriage” with more dignity and respect?

This book was a light, whimsical, feel-good story. Although it’s not Christian fiction, I think most Christians would still enjoy this book since nothing offensive happens. I really thought it was interesting how Rich and Jamie could be friends for so many years, but, not be romantically involved with one another.

So, have you ever had a best friend of the opposite sex for several years, without having a romantic relationship with that person? Did either one of you have a secret crush on the other? Leave a comment!

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~Cecelia Dowdy~

Dee Stewart (Miranda Parker) – RIP – You Will Be Missed

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I was shocked, teary-eyed, and upset yesterday to find out that author Dee Stewart (Miranda Parker) had passed away due to heart failure. I knew of her health issues from our Facebook interactions but…I guess I just didn’t think she’d die. I know she’d said she wasn’t feeling well…I’m still processing this.

Dee was a big advocate, a huge voice (in my opinion) for the genre of Christian fiction. She ran a popular Christian fiction blog, and she was also a columnist for the Christian Fiction Online Magazine (Multicultural Fiction column).

She’s also an author, and her second book for her Angel Crawford series was released last June.

I met Dee back in 2006 at the ACFW conference. I recall spending a good amount of my conference sitting on the couch in the reception area and talking to her about writing, blogging, marketing, and lamenting about the pain of rejection. Since that initial meeting, we’ve communicated online ever since. She’s always been warm, friendly, helpful, endearing, and kind. Her faith shined and I know she will be missed by many, myself included.

RIP Dee Stewart.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Saturday Matinee! Snow White And The Huntsman

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Could you imagine your mother dying, and then your father marries a wicked woman who murders him?

When Snow White’s mother dies, her father, the king, marries a beautiful prisoner of war. Snow White finds the new queen beautiful, but, after the wedding, it’s revealed that the new queen is actually a wicked, vampire-like evil creature who gains her youth from sucking the life from others. After killing the king, the queen imprisons Snow White in a tower. Most think that the king’s daughter is dead, and Snow White is locked away for years, coming of age, far removed from the rest of the population.

Meanwhile, the queen sucks the life out of everything. Nature, plants, etc. die because of the queen’s evil powers. The people are miserable, unable to stop the queen and her evil power over the land.

When Snow White escapes from her cell, the queen hires a drunk, grieving huntsman to find Snow White in the evil forest. She’s determined to find Snow White because her magic mirror reveals that Snow White is now the fairest of all the land.

I enjoyed this movie. It was kind of strange watching a movie about Snow White that was geared toward adults. This was NOTHING like the Walt Disney version! While Snow White is in the woods, now being protected by the original huntsman, she encounters all sorts of things, including a wicked troll, dwarfs, an enchanted forest, and fairies.

The special effects were amazing! I also thought that this movie is an example of good over-coming evil. I also thought it was interesting that Snow White, each day while imprisoned, speaks the Lord’s prayer. You get the impression that Snow White is chosen to save her people, and she has God by her side while she combats the throes of evil.

Overall, a pretty good movie.

So, could you imagine your mother dying, and then your father marries a wicked woman who murders him? Have you seen this movie? If so, did you enjoy it? Leave a comment!

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~Cecelia Dowdy~

A Love Surrendered By Julie Lessman

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A Love Surrendered by Julie Lessman

When you were dating and in love, how did you keep your Christian values when you were attracted to your significant other? What did you do to put the brakes on a sexual relationship with your boyfriend or girlfriend?

One of many reasons why I loved this book so much was because it dealt with a tough issue that young people face while dating: strong physical attraction.

Steven O’Connor is a prohibition agent, breaking up speakeasies along with his best friend, Joe. He takes his job seriously and doesn’t have a lot of time or desire to date. After all, the last time he had a serious relationship, ended in disaster. Steven still thinks about his tumultuous relationship with Maggie – he still regrets the way his relationship ended with Maggie, after all, he was in love with her, but, they simply went too far while dating.

Now that he’s a prohibition agent, he hangs out with his friend Joe and other friends, burying his pain. When he encounters young Annie Kennedy, he finds himself drawn to her for some odd reason. She’s beautiful, but, she’s not very street smart. Joe feels that Annie is too young for him, and he just needs to leave her alone, and not pursue a relationship with her. After all, the last time he had a relationship, it ended in disaster. Steven feels that it’s not healthy for him to pursue a relationship with Annie.

Annie is also smitten with Steven. However, she discovers that Steven is her sister, Maggie’s old boyfriend. Realizing her sister was in love with Steven is like a splash of cold water in Annie’s face. How can she have a relationship with Steven when her sister used to be in love with him?

Annie finds it hard to fit in in the Boston area. She’s new in town, recently orphaned and living with her aunt, and it appears that her sister, Maggie, has left behind a negative reputation. For the time being, Annie keeps her sisterly relationship to Maggie a secret from her new friends and from Steven. Annie finds it a bit hard to hang out with her new friends – friends who enjoy partying, drinking, and wearing revealing clothing.

I loved how Annie’s and Steven’s feelings, physical feelings, escalated, showing how hard it was for them to NOT have a sexual relationship. Not acting on their strong physical attraction causes MAJOR conflict within their relationship. Plus, Annie is still trying to get things right with God, and Steven doesn’t appear to share her deep faith. How can they be serious about one another when their deep faith in God is not a shared trait?

It was a really neat treat to revisit other characters from the Daughters of Boston and Winds of Change series, too. These characters sparkle, and you feel like you know them – they’re like real people and that you can know and love.

So, how did you keep your Christian values when you were attracted to your significant other? What did you do to put the brakes on a sexual relationship with your boyfriend or girlfriend?

Also, have you read any of the Daughters of Boston or Winds of change books? If so, which ones have you read?

Leave It To Claire By Tracey Bateman – From The Blog Archives

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***Note, this is a repeat of an old blog post! Enjoy! I recall this novel being both funny and endearing.

Leave It To Claire by Tracey Bateman

Could you be friends with your unfaithful ex-husband’s new wife? The main character in Leave It To Claire struggles with this predicament.

I really enjoyed this book. The author has the perfect voice for chicklit(or momlit, not sure about the correct way to categorize this story). The story is about Claire Everett, a fairly successful romance author and the struggles she has to go through to raise her four kids as a single mother. Claire struggles to forgive her ex-husband, Rick, for his infidelity. He had an affair, and since their divorce, he’s gotten remarried. Claire finds it hard to have a relationship with Rick’s fairly new wife since Claire has a hard time separating the fact that Darcy is NOT the woman who Rick had an affair with. Subconsciously, and wrongly, she blames Darcy for her marital breakup.

As Claire deals with her issues, she suffers through two carpal tunnel syndrome surgeries, and struggles to accept Darcy’s kind offer to help. As a result of her son’s behavioral problems, she must attend family therapy with her husband and Darcy in order to discover the root to her son’s problems. She also makes a list of things to do to improve her life. She promises herself to strengthen her faith in God, as well as improve her relationship with her family. She decides to have family study time and weekly social events with her kids, hoping to bond with them.

Claire also finds herself attracted to Greg, her son’s handsome teacher. When her mother moves to another state, she is saddened. However, when Greg buys her mother’s home(down the street from her house) and moves in with his young daughter, Claire discovers he is a widower. She fantasizes about having a relationship with her son’s teacher, and he’s there for her when she goes through her anxiety attacks.

In the end, a rude awakening takes place when Darcy forces Claire to admit to her role in her husband’s infidelity. Darcy makes Claire come to terms with her mistakes, and to admit to the mistakes she’s made in her marriage to Rick.

This book was excellent. Although the family would be considered dysfunctional, the author uses her humorous voice to show how Claire deals with her problems. Tracey Bateman also shows us how, if we find our faith wavering, we need to make solid decisions about making our faith stronger in God.

So, could you be friends with your unfaithful ex-husband’s new wife? Leave a comment!

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~Cecelia Dowdy~

Congrats To The Carol Award Winners!

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Last night, ACFW announced their Carol Award Winners at the ACFW annual conference! Join me in congratulating these wonderful writers! If you’re interested, this is where I posted the 2012 Carol Award Nominees.

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~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Carol Award Winners:

Debut Novel

Fairer Than Morning by Rosslyn Elliott (Thomas Nelson)

Long Contemporary

The Search by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Revell)

Long Contemporary Romance

My Foolish Heart by Susan May Warren (Tyndale)

Long Historical

Fairer Than Morning by Rosslyn Elliott (Thomas Nelson)

Long Historical Romance

To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer (Bethany House Publishers)

Mystery

Falling to Pieces: A Shipshewana Amish Mystery by Vannetta Chapman (Zondervan)

Novella

An Accidental Christmas from A Biltmore Christmas by Diane T. Ashley/Aaron McCarver (Barbour Publishing)

Romantic Suspense

Lonestar Angel by Colleen Coble (Thomas Nelson)

Short Contemporary

Lakeside Reunion by Lisa Jordan (Love Inspired)

Short Contemporary Suspense

Nightwatch by Valerie Hansen (Love Inspired Suspense)

Short Historical

The Deepest Waters by Dan Walsh (Revell)

Speculative Fiction

Broken Sight by Steve Rzasa (Marcher Lord Press)

Suspense/Thriller

Fallen Angel by Major Jeff Struecker/Alton Gansky (B & H Fiction)

Women’s Fiction

Dandelion Summer by Lisa Wingate (Penguin Praise/Berkley)

Young Adult

The Merchant’s Daughter by Melanie Dickerson (Zondervan)

Sunday Brunch! Loaves And Fishes!

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Have you ever volunteered for a food ministry through your church or some other organization?

Yesterday, I took my seven-year-old son with me and we joined our church group in a ministry, feeding the homeless. We had breakfast sandwiches from McDonald’s, Chick Fil-A, and Burger King. Our group also served water, coffee and apples. Afterwards, my son asked me why we were doing this, and I told him about the scripture of the loaves and fishes. I felt that he needed to know that, as a Christian, we needed to help others because we’d be following Jesus’s example and this is what He’d want us to do.

I’d never volunteered for this ministry before, but, I found that I enjoyed doing it and seeing others hungry, without food, was a sobering thought. Also, it was really upsetting to see children living on the street in Washington D.C.

I wondered if any of you have ever volunteered with a similar ministry before, either through your church or some other organization? If so, tell me a bit about your experience. Leave a comment!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

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John 6:1-15

1 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias),2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick.3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples.4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.

5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?”6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wagest to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up,9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there).11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.”13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

The Deposit Slip by Todd M. Johnson

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The Deposit Slip by Todd M. Johnson

What would you do if a deceased relative left you with a 10-million-dollar deposit slip? Would you wonder what happened to all that cash?

I thought the premise for this novel was very exciting. After Erin Larson’s father dies, she goes through his safe deposit box at the bank. Erin is shocked when she finds a deposit slip for ten million dollars. However, the bank claims to have no record of the deposit, and they claim the bank account does not exist.

Erin is determined to find out what’s happened to this money. She attempts to hire a lawyer to take on her case – she hires several since most of the lawyers are scared off of the case due to some legal reasons. Meanwhile, her life is in danger – people in her small town want to stop her from bringing her case to trial. Her car is vandalized, but, she refuses to give up.

Meanwhile, due to a tip, Erin is able to find a lawyer, Jared Neaton. Jared left his large law firm to form his own law practice, and, so far, his practice has not been successful. The bills are piling up and he can barely pay his legal secretary’s salary. In spite of Erin’s wild, shot-in-the-dark case, he feels compelled to represent her, even though he knows he may lose, and risk losing even more money than he has to spare.

When Jared returns to his small hometown as Erin’s lawyer, the ghosts from his past haunt him. He’s forced to face the problems he’s had with his ex-con father since he’s now living in his dad’s home. Jared’s faith has also diminished, and he has not been to church in years.

Like I said, I found the premise of this book to be intriguing because I usually enjoy reading novels involving money and financial matters. Although the plot was good, I found it hard to connect with the characters. I’m not sure why. I thought the story was well-written, so, it’s probably just one of those quirky things about my taste in novels. Although I “kinda” was interested in finding out what happened next in the book, I just didn’t get emotionally involved with the story. When I read a book, I want it to elicit some type of emotion from me, and I just couldn’t seem to get to that point with this novel.

However, I could imagine lots of people enjoying this book. So, if you like mystery and suspense titles, then, you should give this one a try. Many thanks to Bethany House for providing me with a free review copy.

So, what would you do if a deceased relative left you with a 10-million-dollar deposit slip? Would you search for the money?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

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