In a nutshell birthday menu...mango/raspberries/nectarines. Yum. Eggplant (from our garden) Parmesan. Yum. Cucumbers (last ones fresh from the vine)/tomato/mozzarella salad. Yum. All made by 22 who may be the Martha Stewart of her generation. A delightful family gathering, great presents, lovely sentiments and lots of laughter. Sigh. It was the best.
Drama does not need further explanation. Reality television visited 22's coffee shop, though.
Swine flu. 22 again. Worked on Saturday with someone diagnosed on Monday. But, looks like she missed it this time.
FTC ruling has nothing to do with 22. Ha.
Watch for the fancy disclaimer coming soon to this book/movie review site. : )
(Temporarily let me just clearly state that I don't think I'm making a living via blogging...or walking around moulah, either.
But, I did get a free coffee the other day.
But, once again, that was a 22 connection. Maybe I should come up with a 22 disclaimer, too.
Along with reading, two of Lynn's lifelong passions are history and archaeology. While researching her Biblical fiction series, Chronicles of the Kings, these two interests led her to pursue graduate studies in Biblical Backgrounds and Archaeology through Southwestern Theological Seminary. She and her son traveled to Israel during the summer of 1989 to take part in an archaeological dig at the ancient city of Timnah. This experience contributed to the inspiration for her novel Wings of Refuge.
Lynn resigned from teaching to write full-time in 1992. Since then she has published twelve novels. Five of her historical novels, Hidden Places, Candle in the Darkness, Fire by Night, A Proper Pursuit, and Until We Reach Home have won Christy Awards in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2009 for excellence in Christian Fiction.
Fire by Night was also one of only five inspirational fiction books chosen by Library Journal for their top picks of 2003, and All She Ever Wanted was chosen as one of the five inspirational top picks of 2005. Lynn's novel Hidden Places has been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel.
ABOUT THE BOOK
"Thank goodness you're such a plain child. You'll have to rely on your wits."
So went the words of Grandma Bebe. And for all of my growing-up years, I scoffed at the beauty of my sister and what I saw as her meaningless existence. But my wits hadn't served me well in this instance, for here I was, in jail. And while I could have seen it as carrying on the family tradition (for Grandma Bebe landed in jail for her support of Prohibition), the truth is, my reasons for being here would probably break her heart.
So how did I end up becoming a criminal? I've been pondering that question all night. Perhaps the best way to search for an answer is to start at the very beginning.
Harriet Sherwood has always adored her grandmother. But when Harriet decides to follow in her footsteps to fight for social justice, she certainly never expected her efforts to land her in jail. Nor did she expect her childhood enemy and notorious school bully, Tommy O'Reilly, to be the arresting officer.
Languishing in a jail cell, Harriet has plenty of time to sift through the memories of the three generations of women who have preceded her. As each story emerges, the strength of her family--and their deep faith in the God of justice and righteousness--brings Harriet to the discovery of her own goals and motives for pursuing them.
Terri Blackstock’s books have sold six million copies worldwide. Her suspense novels often debut at number one on the Christian fiction best-seller lists, and True Light, published last year, was number one of all Christian books—fiction and non-fiction. Blackstock has had twenty-five years of success as a novelist.
In 1994 Blackstock was writing for publishers such as HarperCollins, Harlequin and Silhouette, when a spiritual awakening drew her into the Christian market. Since that time, she’s written over thirty Christian titles, in addition to the thirty-two she had in the secular market. Her most recent books are the four in her acclaimed Restoration Series, which includes Last Light, Night Light, True Light and Dawn’s Light. She is also known for her popular Newpointe 911 and Cape Refuge Series.
In addition to her suspense novels, she has written a number of novels in the women’s fiction genre, including Covenant Child, which was chosen as one of the first Women of Faith novels, and her Seasons Series written with Beverly LaHaye, wife of Tim LaHaye.
Blackstock has won the Retailer’s Choice Award and has appeared on national television programs such as The 700 Club, Home Life, and At Home Live with Chuck and Jenny. She has been a guest on numerous radio programs across the country and the subject of countless articles. The story of her personal journey appears in books such as Touched By the Savior by Mike Yorkey, True Stories of Answered Prayer by Mike Nappa, Faces of Faith by John Hanna, and I Saw Him In Your Eyes by Ace Collins.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Barbara Covington has one more chance to save her daughter from a devastating addiction, by staging an intervention. But when eighteen-year-old Emily disappears on the way to drug treatment—and her interventionist is found dead at the airport—Barbara enters her darkest nightmare of all.
Barbara and her son set out to find Emily before Detective Kent Harlan arrests her for a crime he is sure she committed. Fearing for Emily’s life, Barbara maintains her daughter’s innocence. But does she really know her anymore? Meanwhile, Kent has questions of his own. His gut tells him that this is a case of an addict killing for drugs, but as he gets to know Barbara, he begins to hope he’s wrong about Emily.
The panic level rises as the mysteries intensify: Did Emily’s obsession with drugs lead her to commit murder—or is she another victim of a cold-blooded killer?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Intervention, go HERE
Watch the book Trailer:
My Review:
Intervention is a raw, painful look inside teen drug addiction and the resulting trauma unleashed on all those involved with the addict.
I recommend this book to anyone who might be suffering through a similar situation if that reader is looking for a flicker of hope, or a sense of connectedness, even if it's connectedness to fictional characters. The characters are at their breaking points and the drama feels real and isn't at all pretty though the story ends with hope. Those struggling with faith issues might benefit, too, as a few characters wrestle out their feelings toward God and what He has allowed to happen in their lives.
I didn't connect with the characters. Reading about a highly intense situation containing two very broken women lashing and battling and hurting was a struggle.
As far as casual, escapist reading -- there is the mystery involved in solving the murder, and suspense as the pieces of the puzzle fall together. I did have a few questions regarding the details involved with police procedures and Barbara's hands-on help in several scenes.
I've been cleaning out my recipe file. Maybe "file" is an incorrect term.
Instead think of the thickest three-ring binder you've ever seen...three,four inches at the spine. Now imagine that filled with hundreds of pages from the slide in photo album era. (The ones that you aren't supposed to store photos in because it sucks the life out of photos...yes, I recycled them and punched new holes into every stinking one of them because the current holes did not line up.) Imagine each of the double-sided, double-pocket pages holding two to three recipes. Now. You got the picture, right?
How many recipes do you think I actually use?
I'm guessing 10.
Most of my cooking is toss, whip and create on the spot. Do I actually need seventeen lasagna recipes? I know how to make lasagna with my hands tied behind my back and a blindfold on. I may tweak ingredients. Honestly, it's a little or a lot different every time I make it, but, I have yet to use any of those recipes I've amassed.
My file is so huge because I can't stand the clutter of lots of cookbooks (probably for the same reason above). So I save recipes from the cookbooks...just a few from each, and get rid of the book. I do have a few cookbooks but they are either nostalgic or unique and I rarely open those either.
Oy. But I'm telling you. It feels good to cull those pieces of paper that inspire guilt and tension.
Also this is another sign of fall. My crazy-meter is telling me to start cleaning crevices and crannies so I can be company ready for the holidays. Yes. I did go through my recipes last year, too. This year I'm being brutal though. BRUTAL!
Susie passed out while drinking at Jeff’s party and later discovered she’s pregnant. She has no idea who the father is and considers having an abortion, but instead decides to place her baby for adoption. Following through ends up being more wrenching than she imagined, but she’s determined to do the right thing for her baby.
Jeff feels guilty that Susie was taken advantage of at his party and offers to marry her so she won’t have to give up her baby, like his birth mother did with him. But Susie refuses, insisting he should he marry someone he loves. Can he convince her that his love is genuine before it’s too late? Can she make him understand that it’s not about him—it’s about what’s best for her child?
If you would like to read the prologue and first chapter of It's Not About Him, go HERE.
In the second in the Second Glances series Michelle Sutton powers up the romance and the intense themes. With a solid Christian worldview that doesn't excuse poor choices nor pretend that they don't exist, Sutton tackles rape, pregnancy, sexuality, alcohol and the consequences of those choices/scenarios.
When the world feeds our kids and teens the fast food menu board of sex without disease, pregnancy, heartbreak and cynicism, we occasionally need a little help getting the truth across. Sutton does this with her drama-infused, angst-driven characters. Adults can talk all they want to about why teens might want to consider thinking and waiting before jumping into the deep end of the pool with everyone else, but sometimes teens need to be able to hear it from someone, even a fictional someone, who's been there.
I recommend this book with some reservation. Nothing in the book is heavier than what can be found on television, but if your teen is sheltered and used to reading gentler novels, you may want to read it first. However, if you want to fight back against the sex-saturated culture teens are immersed in, this is a great place to start.
The Fresh Air Fund had nearly 8,000 children enjoying their best summers yet. They put together a video montage of images from the summer and some other fun stuff.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Joyce Magnin is the author of short fiction and personal experience articles. She co-authored the book, Linked to Someone in Pain. She has been published in such magazines as Relief Journal, Parents Express, Sunday Digest, and Highlights for Children.
Joyce attended Bryn Mawr College and is a member of the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Fellowship. She is a frequent workshop leader at various writer’s conferences and women’s church groups.
She has three children, Rebekah, Emily, and Adam; one grandson, Lemuel Earnest; one son-in-law, Joshua, and a neurotic parakeet who can’t seem to keep a name. Joyce leads a small fiction group called StoryCrafters. She enjoys baseball, football, cream soda, and needle arts but not elevators. She currently lives in Havertown, Pennsylvania.
The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow is the story of an unusual woman, Agnes Sparrow. No longer able or willing to leave her home, where she is cared for by her long-suffering sister Griselda, Agnes has committed her life to the one thing she can do-besides eat. Agnes Sparrow prays and when Agnes prays things happen, including major miracles of the cancer, ulcer-healing variety along with various minor miracles not the least of which is the recovery of lost objects and a prize-winning pumpkin.
The rural residents of Bright's Pond are so enamored with Agnes they plan to have a sign erected on the interstate that reads, "Welcome to Bright's Pond, Home of Agnes Sparrow." This is something Agnes doesn't want and sends Griselda to fight city hall.
Griselda's petitions are shot down and the sign plans press forward until a stranger comes to town looking for his miracle from Agnes. The truth of Agnes's odd motivation comes out when the town reels after a shocking event. How could Agnes allow such evil in their midst? Didn't she know?
Well, the prayers of Agnes Sparrow have more to do with Agnes than God. Agnes has been praying to atone for a sin committed when she was a child. After some tense days, the townsfolk, Griselda, and Agnes decide they all need to find their way back to the true source of the miracles-God.
Solid, engaging writing and strong characters bring added readability to one of the more unique story lines I've read this year. A seven-hundred pound woman prays for her town. It's all she can do since she is housebound due to her size and medical conditions. The townspeople benefit from those prayers -- several healings take place and Agnes becomes a hero and a vending machine for blessings. Her neighbors bring a never ending supply of food and Agnes eats and prays and eats and prays.
But underneath the safety of her layers of insulation lies a secret that changes everything.
This story is thought-provoking. Many Christians and religious folks have a tendency to idolize servants rather than the God who gives power and bestows blessings. We also tend toward judging those who are different or have experiences different from ours. And then the biggest question of all...how can a woman so grossly entrenched in the sin of gluttony be a woman whose prayers are answered so abundantly?
a.
