On My Kindle - Her Hasty Betrothal by Jessica Nelson

Lady Elizabeth Wayland loves to read and is more interested in her books than finding a suitable match. She would consider someone who loved her rather than her family fortune, but has little hope that will ever happen.

Miles Hawthorne, a widower and owner of cotton mills, vowed never to marry again. When his childhood friend, Elizabeth, faces a scandal, he steps forward and offers a marriage of convenience.

This Love Inspired Historical entertained me for hours. Jessica Nelson's storytelling always takes some delightful twists and turns. I've read a couple of her books, and have never been disappointed. I'm giving it 5 Stars.

Disclaimer: I purchased this book. Neither the author nor the publisher paid me to review it. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Writers:  Have you considered putting your talents to use with a straight romance? Please share.

Readers:  Love Inspired books will soon be a thing of the past. Have you read many of them? Please share

P.S. Isn't this cover cute? I think her impish expression captured the heroine's sassy personality.

Grow Your Speaking Bus./Surprise!/Study Retracted/Devo/Coloring Pages

1. Cathy Fyock, at The Write Conversation, talks about how writing blogs and articles can grow your speaking business.

2. For all of you who write/read the mystery genre, Dave King's article, at Writer Unboxed, gives some tips on using the element of surprise. Readers - you're getting the inside scoop on how it's done. 

3. Christian Headlines reports that an evolutionist retracted his key study on the origin of life. The results of an experiment were misinterpreted, and the original conclusions could not be duplicated. Check out this interesting article.

4.  Just before Christmas, Emme Gannon, at The Write Conversation, wrote a beautiful  piece about forgiveness. Even though Christmas 2017 is past, her words will still touch your heart.

5.  Whether you homeschool, babysit, or have grandkids over your house, they might enjoy these free winter coloring pages. There are so many wonderful resources on the Internet. Enjoy!

Writers:  Do you speak to churches, groups, etc.? What are you doing to grow your speaking platform?

Readers:  Do you read articles/books with a Christmas theme throughout the year? What is the great attraction? Please share your thoughts.

Photo Credit: Chris Johnson

New Year Resolutions or Dream Boards?

I dumped making resolutions years ago. The latest rage seems to be Dream Boards. The main idea is to have what you want/want to accomplish in front of you as a reminder to move toward that goal.

A lot of people get a word for the year. The one that keeps popping up for me is, "Vision." I had a vision for The Moses Conspiracy, but The Scent of Fear didn't come quite so easily.

My latest book (still unpublished) frightened me so much that it took me four months to get going. An ambitious project and the beginning of a series, I knew there was no way I could write it in my own strength. The Lord finally interrupted my desperation prayers and asked a question, "How did you write The Moses Conspiracy?" A light went off in my head. I sat down at the computer and wrote, praying for direction.

So, Vision and Dream Boards seem to fit where I'm at in my writing life. As the second book in the new series plays hide and seek in my brain, I know what I must do: take all those bits and pieces and throw them on the page. Eventually, they'll get sorted out and the story will take shape. The Dream Board may serve as a reminder of where I'm headed.

Such is the life of a Pantser - exciting, nerve-wracking, and a never-to-be-forgotten journey of faith.

Writers:  Do you pray for a theme/word for the New Year? Please share.

Readers:  What do you want to accomplish/see happen in your life this year?

Photo Credit:  Naama.y.m.

Social Media/Critiquing Rule/Globalists/Love Story/Winter Decor

1.  Jenny Hansen, at Writers in The Storm, talks about social media habits that support your brand and your life. Okay, I hear the groans out there. One thing she said stood out: "Remember, social media marketing is not about dousing your followers with periodic buckets of updates. It is a thousand drops of water, one dribble at a time, that will help your online presence flourish."

I don't know about you, but that's comforting to me. Some of the content is techy, but even I was able to follow it.

2.  Eva Marie Everson, at The Write Conversation, gives us Critiquing Rule #3:  Critique the work, not your feelings about the work. How many of us lead with our response to the content?

3.  WND reports on the Luciferian nature of the globalists. This chilling, but not surprising, article draws its facts from an insider. We are truly in the End Times.

4.  If this real-life love story doesn't bring a smile to your face, I don't know what will. The Christian singer, Carman, recently married. Four years ago, he was diagnosed with a dreaded disease and not expected to live. Many of his family members had passed away, and he only had a handful of close relatives. Don't miss this sweet story. I'm rejoicing with him and his bride.

5.  Winter makes me want to be all cozy and warm, especially when the temperatures dip below 10 degrees! Home Stories has some decorating ideas to complement the season. I'm enjoying a lovely plaid throw Sweetie Mom bought me for Christmas. :)

Writers and Readers:  How do you cozy up your home for winter writing/reading?

Photo Credit:  Susan J. Reinhardt

On My Nightstand - These Healing Hills by Ann H. Gabhart

Francine Howard plans to marry her high school sweetheart when WWII ends. Her world comes crashing down when he writes that he's bringing home an English bride.

She applies for training as a nurse midwife in the Appalachian Mountains. Perhaps she'll find a purpose for her life helping others.

Ben Locke's desire to see his Kentucky home and family again occupied his thoughts throughout the war. After being a soldier for so long, what would he do for the remainder of his life?

He's mountain, and she isn't. Can they bridge the gap between their differences or are they too great?

This book captured my attention and never let go. Maybe it was the unique setting, the interesting cultural facts, or the quiet strength of the mountain people that drew me into their story. Whatever it was, I wished there was a sequel to this tale.

Ann Gabhart did a magnificent job with her research and character development. I hope she writes more stories along these lines.

Five Stars!

Disclaimer:  I won the book in a blog giveaway. Neither the author nor the publisher paid me for a review - favorable or otherwise. All opinions, as always, are mine and mine alone.

Writers:  Is there a particular geographic area that inspires you? Please share.

Readers:  How important is the setting of a story to your experience as a reader?

Help/Critque Rule 2/Fossils/Devo/Health Myths

1. Kathryn Craft, at Writers in the Storm, declares that independence is highly overrated as a sign of maturity. As writers, asking for what we need will propel us forward and get us over those times when we're overwhelmed.

2. Eva Marie Everson, at The Write Conversation, gives us Critiquing Rule #2: There are rules and there is style.

3.  Breaking Christian News reports on a discovery of a fossilized forest in Antarctica. Scientists are stumped, but the discovery has fueled Bible flood theories.

4.  Lucinda Secrest McDowell, at The Write Conversation, asks, "Where does a writer find peace?" While this devotional references Christmas, it can apply to any time of the year.

5.  Woman's Day has an article on 10 Winter Health Myths Exposed. This was fascinating. One of the items dealt with wearing a hat and losing body heat. I've heard that one before!

Writers:  When you need help, do you ask for it? Please share.

Readers:  What are some health information you've always believed but discovered was not true? 

Photo Credit: meral akbulut

I'm A Little Late - But Here Are The Cookies!

I promised I'd show you pictures of my baking exploits, so here they are. There were two sessions: one with a friend and one with Sweetie Mom:

My friend, Cathy, and I made Linzer Tarts and Peanut Butter Blossoms one Saturday afternoon. We tried doing two different sizes of the tarts, but decided we liked the small ones best.

Lots and lots of Peanut Butter Blossoms.

I made the dough at home to save time. 

Cathy found special cookie cutters for the Linzer Tarts. They had several designs for the center. My favorite is the heart.

Friday, 12/22/17, I made a bunch of butter cookies shaped like Christmas Trees, Stars, Bells, and Angels. The round and twisted cookies are Anginettes, a yummy Italian cookie.

The baking was a lot of work but so much fun.

Writers and Readers:  Do you bake Christmas cookies/cakes? Please share in the comments. If you can, I'd love to see a picture.

Memoir/Critiques/2017 Headlines/Balancing Act/Recipe

1. Jane Friedman gives practical advice to those writing a great memoirs

2. Eva Marie Everson, at The Write Conversation, gives the first rule of critiquing: Know the Writer's Level of Expertise. Those who belong to writers groups will find this helpful.

3.  Christian Headlines revisits the top 21 stories of 2017.

4.  Lori Hatcher, at The Write Conversation, gives 5 Ways to balance writing with marriage.

5.  The cold weather is here! There's nothing quite like easy-to-make comfort food on a winter night. Check out this hamburger steak with onions and gravy recipe at Allrecipes.com. It sounds yummy.

Writers:  Do you belong to a writers group or have a critique partner? What are some ways you give feedback?

Readers:  Do you like reading memoirs? What kind of memoirs interest you - famous people, stories about heroic actions, etc.?

Photo Credit:  Dominik Gwarek

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2017 moved at breakneck speed, and here comes 2018 all shiny and new.

What will this year hold for us? I know one thing: I don't want to waste a moment of it. It was reported on social media the final words of a well-known actor: "...so much wasted time."  How sad is that?

This year, my heart's desire is:

1.  To spend more time with the Lord and my friends and family.

2.  To be more productive with my writing.

3.  To be more intentional when it comes to prioritizing my time.

My word for 2018 is:  Priorities

Writers and Readers:  Do you make goals or New Year's Resolutions? Please share.

Photo Credit: Pedro Simao