Snowboard Jackets
Posted by Vicki on Jan 21, 2012
Living here in Kansas, I’ve often thought of buying the family some of those snowboard jackets, or ski jackets in hopes that they would keep us warm. I’ve had difficulty in buying coats that don’t fall apart five minutes after you buy them, or that actually keep you warm. I suppose it’s the wind in Kansas that has a lot to do with whether the coat doesn’t it’s job or not.
Rocky Patel
Posted by Vicki on Jan 21, 2012
Growing up with a name like “Rocky Patel” wasn’t easy, especially if you were a girl! But then, life had never been easy for Rocky, so the name didn’t make much difference one way or the other. In fact, Rocky figured if you didn’t like her name, then you didn’t have much business hanging out with her, because being “Rocky” was who she was.
THE MULLIGANS OF MT. JEFFERSON
Posted by Vicki on Jan 20, 2012
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Don is one of the original members of the STATLER BROTHERS, the most award-winning act in the history of country music. He and his brother and two friends began singing in their hometown of Staunton, Virginia when Don was only fourteen years old. Working all over their home and neighboring states as a part time group, they were discovered in 1964 by Johnny Cash and given their first record contract. By the time Don was 20 years old, the STATLERS had their first major, world-wide hit record with FLOWERS ON THE WALL, which started a string of hits that generated a career in the music industry that lasted for four decades. The STATLERS have been recipients of multiple industry awards:
It wasn’t until the STATLER BROTHERS decided to retire from traveling in 2002 that Don pursued his writing career to another level. Having songwriting and scriptwriting under his belt, the next obvious step was to write a book. And that book was the scripture based HEROES AND OUTLAWS OF THE BIBLE published in June of 2002 by New Leaf Press. He has since written two other non-fiction books and in 2008 saw another dream come true for Don when he released his first novel, O LITTLE TOWN. Novel number two came in the form of ONE LANE BRIDGE, and THE MULLIGANS OF MT. JEFFERSON, is a sequel to O LITTLE TOWN.
Don is the father of two sons. Debo and his wife, Julie, and daughters Sela Mae and Adra, live within a stone’s throw. You may have seen Debo’s name on many songs written with Don on albums over the years.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Cal, Harlan, and Buddy grow up together in a small Virginia town in the years before the second World War. United by age, proximity, and temperament, they get into—and out of—all the trouble that boys manage to find. They even earn a nickname from a local restaurateur who gives the boys their first jobs and plenty of friendly advice. “Uncle” Vic calls them the Mulligans, because they always seem to find a way through a thicket of trouble—family problems, girls, college, war—to success. Cal and Harlan and Buddy have been blessed with second chances.
Now it’s 1959, and police lieutenant Buddy receives an early-morning phone call: his friend Harlan, a store owner, has been shot in a break-in. Cal, now a preacher, meets Buddy at the hospital, and together, as professionals and as friends, they begin to unravel what might have happened to Harlan.
If you would like to read the first chapter of The Mulligans of Mt Jefferson, go HERE.
Life
Posted by Vicki on Jan 12, 2012
Life certainly does have it’s ups and downs, and it’s twists and turns. Christmas time was a great time. All was well. Dad had a small bout with pnemonia, but it wasn’t anything too serious. Finances were great. Everything was fine. Now we are in the midst of some difficulties. We are not sure how serious the difficulties are yet.
Dad’s back started acting up over the weekend. We’re still not sure if it’s the same discs that he had surgery on, or if it’s different ones, but anyway, he’s gone to the chiropractor 3 times this week, with another appointment scheduled for tomorrow. Progress is still undetermined right now. It’s been a “maybe better….maybe not” kind of thing. Today at least has been bearable. None of us want surgery again, but we/he will do what’s necesary.
This back issue of course throws all of life off kilter. We shall survive though….it’s what we do.
Gold Chains
Posted by Vicki on Jan 12, 2012
I’ve had trouble for years finding decent gold chains that don’t break if I look at them. Suprisingly enough the one chain I have that seems unbreakable was not at all expensive. It holds the keys to my heart. *LOL* Seriously the chain has two little keys on it, and the keys have the birthstones of my two girls on it.
His Steadfast Love
Posted by Vicki on Jan 11, 2012
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Golden Keyes Parsons writes historical fiction for Thomas Nelson Publishing, and is also a popular retreat/conference speaker. Her highly acclaimed Darkness to Light Series chronicled the journey of her French Huguenot ancestors in 17th century France. Her newest novel, His Steadfast Love, a Civil War novel set in Texas, just released November 2011. Golden lives in Waco, TX, with her husband, Blaine, where they enjoy their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and are avid sports fan of their alma mater, Baylor University.
ABOUT THE BOOK
It isn’t until the Civil War comes to her doorstep that Amanda Bell must choose between love and family.
It’s the spring of 1861 on the Gulf Coast of Texas. Amanda never thought she would marry because of a promise she made to her dying mother, but her attraction to Captain Kent Littlefield is undeniable.
When Texas secedes from the Union, her brother Daniel aligns with the Confederate States, while Kent remains with the Union troops.
Her heart is torn between the two men she is closest to and the two sides of the conflict. Amanda prays to God for direction and support, but hears only silence. Where is God in the atrocities of war-and whose side is He on?
Amanda senses her life is at a turning point. She must trust God to deliver her family through the chaos of war with her heart and her faith intact.
If you would like to read the first chapter of His Steadfast Love, go HERE.
Captive Heart
Posted by Vicki on Jan 11, 2012
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dale Cramer spent his formative years traveling the world as an Army brat, then settled in Georgia at the age of fifteen when his father retired.
After high school he became an electrician, a job that took him to places as diverse as power plants, stadia, airports, high-rise office buildings and a hard-rock mining operation.
Twenty-five years of experiences in the trades provided him with the wealth of characters, stories and insights that populate his novels.
When he married his childhood friend, Pam, in 1975 he had no way of knowing they would not have children until fifteen years later.
In his early forties, when Dale left his job to become a stay-at-home dad, he suddenly found himself with time on his hands, so he pursued a lifelong dream and taught himself to write.
Using an online writer’s forum as a training ground, he wrote his first short stories in 1996. As his writing skills improved he turned to novels, publishing his first book, Sutter’s Cross, in 2003.
Since then, Dale has published four more novels and garnered a measure of critical acclaim with two Christy Awards, a listing among Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Books of 2004 and numerous other Best lists. Dale and his wife Pam live in Georgia with their two sons.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Bandit troubles intensify as Caleb Bender’s family tries to settle into their new life in 1920s Paradise Valley. When El Pantera kidnaps Rachel and leaves her brother, Aaron, for dead, Jake Weaver and the Mexican native Domingo pursue the bandit leader to his mountain stronghold in a hopeless rescue attempt. Jake and Domingo manage to escape with Rachel, with the bandits hot on their trail. In a desperate attempt to avoid recapture, Domingo puts himself squarely in harm’s way, giving Jake and Rachel time to get away. This is not the quiet life Caleb Bender envisioned when he led his family out of Ohio. What is a father to make of his daughter’s obvious affection for a man outside the fold? And how will a pacifist Amishman like Caleb respond to the events that threaten his family and their way of life?
If you would like to read the first chapter of The Captive Heart, go HERE
The Rose of Winslow Street
Posted by Vicki on Jan 5, 2012
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A research librarian and associate professor, Elizabeth Camden has a master’s in history from the University of Virginia and a master’s in library science from Indiana University. She has published several articles for academic publications and is the author of four nonfiction history books. Her ongoing fascination with history and love of literature have led her to write inspirational fiction. Elizabeth lives with her husband in central Florida.
ABOUT THE BOOK
The last thing Libby Sawyer and her father expected upon their return from their summer home was to find strangers inhabiting a house that had been in their family for decades. Widower Michael Dobrescu brought his family from Romania to the town of Colden, Massachusetts with a singular purpose: to claim the house willed to him long ago. Since neither party has any intention of giving up their claim, a fierce legal battle ensues between the two families.
When important documents go missing from the house, Libby suspects Michael is the culprit. Determined to discover the truth behind the stolen papers, Libby investigates, only to find more layers of mystery surrounding Michael and his family. Despite their rivalry, Libby finds herself developing feelings for this man with the mysterious past.
As a decision about the house looms in the courts, Libby must weigh the risks of choosing to remain loyal to her family or give her heart to a man whose intentions and affections are less than certain.
If you would like to read the first chapter of The Rose of Winslow Street, go HERE.
GOOD HELP IS HARD TO FIND
Posted by Vicki on Jan 4, 2012
Thanks for the post, Vernon Lowe
After our wonderful housekeeper, Tilly, who worked in our home for fifteen years retired last May, I had a horrible time trying to find a new one. I checked with every cleaning service in town. Not one of the cleaning services offered the type of cleaning and tidying that I needed done in the house everyday. They would offer weekly cleanings and charged a ton of money. One service I contacted said that cleaning for two hours a day would be two hundred and fifty dollars… who can afford that?! I went through referrals from friends and family. It made me nervous having people in my home and knowing my alarm code. I got in touch with our company maryland home security. They told me about a feature of my home security system that I did not know about. The keypad for the system can hold several different alarm codes. My family and I use the master code. When I have a housekeeper in my home, I have them use a temporary code. The temporary codes can be cancelled at anytime and also changed at anytime. It makes me feel like our home is safer.
The Maid of Fairbourne Hall
Posted by Vicki on Jan 4, 2012
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years (first in advertising, then as a fiction editor) and now writes full time. Two of her books, The Girl in the Gatehouse and The Silent Governess won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. The Girl in the Gatehouse also won a Midwest Book Award and The Silent Governess was a finalist in Romance Writers of America’s RITA awards.
She graduated from the University of Illinois and enjoys travel, research, BBC period dramas, long hikes, short naps, and coffee with friends. Julie and her husband have two sons and live near St. Paul, Minnesota.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Pampered Margaret Macy flees London in disguise to escape pressure to marry a dishonorable man. With no money and nowhere else to go, she takes a position as a housemaid in the home of Nathaniel Upchurch, a suitor she once rejected in hopes of winning his dashing brother. Praying no one will recognize her, Margaret fumbles through the first real work of her life. If she can last until her next birthday, she will gain an inheritance from a spinster aunt–and sweet independence. But can she remain hidden as a servant even when prying eyes visit Fairbourne Hall?
Observing both brothers as an “invisible” servant, Margaret learns she may have misjudged Nathaniel. Is it too late to rekindle his admiration? And when one of the family is nearly killed, Margaret alone discovers who was responsible. Should she come forward, even at the risk of her reputation and perhaps her life? And can she avoid an obvious trap meant to force her from hiding?
On her journey from wellborn lady to servant to uncertain future, Margaret must learn to look past appearances and find the true meaning of “serve one another in love.”
If you would like to read the first chapter of The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, go HERE
