Overlooked Orchid

I hope you will all look past my fumbling attempts at writing a fitting review of this book. This book, and this author are very close to my heart, and I wanted to do this, and yet I don’t feel “qualified” to even attempt, but here I go anyway.

Encouragement Along The Way is a devotional guide and journal for homeschooling parents.

Okay, I know that I for one have between 5 and 10 devotionals laying around somewhere, and some that I’ve never even finished reading….Ones for a closer walk with God, ones written for Mom, ones designed for this and for that….and yet they all have seemed to fall by the wayside, at least in my house. Encouragement Along The Way is different. I will admit that when I first received the book I wanted to like it simply because my dear friend Bobbie Howard wrote it, and after reading the forward, and the “About The Author” section, I did like it for that reason…but within reading the first 5 readings (as Bobbie calls them) I was hooked. It no longer mattered that I knew the author, it no longer mattered that I had WANTED to like the book…I was hooked!!

Each reading starts out with a verse, and then each reading takes us on the journey of Bobbie homeschooling her children. I saw myself in this book, I saw things that I wanted to change about myself, things I wanted to change about how I did things. I laughed with this book, I cried with this book, and more importantly I felt God in this book, speaking to me, encouraging me, loving me.

I could go on and on promoting this book, and I will suggest it to any and all that I come across, because of how much it blessed me, but for now, for this post, I am going to leave the link one last time, for you to find her book….Encouragement Along The Way, and than I’m going to go on and tell you about the author herself.

I met Bobbie only recently, I can’t even put a date on it, because we just kind of happened upon each other…Well, it seemed as if we happened upon each other, but our wonderful Lord and Savior, as always, had a plan, and was in control!! Bobbie and I met on The Homeschool Lounge, we became Lounge Sisters, and started chatting in their chatroom. I was really drawn to Bobbie, because she always seemed to have a kind word for everyone, and was always encouraging others. Anyway, I can’t say what started our friendship, other than it was God directed, but here we are today. She is a person that you can see Jesus in…that you can feel is filled with God’s love. You can stop over at Bobbie’s Blog too.

Bobbie’s signature saying is “Because of Jesus”..yes, because of Jesus I have a dear friend. Thank you God for blessing me with such a beautiful friend!! Bobbie has “been there, and done that”, and God bless her for sharing her trials, errors, joys, and very personal moments of her homeschooling journey.

One of Bobbie’s favorite verses:

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19:14 NIV

Well, I have been doing pretty well at posting entries here, but a lot of them have not been personal entries. Book reviews are probably the majority of this site, but hopefully you all don’t mind too much! If you have looked at my “Books I’ve Read” page, which you can find the tab to at the top of this page, you will see that I have currently read 25 books this month, or maybe it’s 26! *LOL* Yes, I love reading!! I can be found reading most of my free time, and even sometimes when I should be doing other things…(shh, please don’t tell!)..*LOL* I will continue to update that list, although pretty soon I’ll be adding my February list.

Things are going pretty well here. Not a lot happening, but that’s nothing new. We are progressing with school, household responsibilities/chores keep getting done at least most of the time *LOL*, we spend quite a lot of our time walking at least when the weather allows.

The weather has been cold the last few days, which is a big disappointment to us, as it means we can only go for short walks. We even got a dusting of snow today, which is only the third time this winter that we’ve had snow, if I remember correctly. I have to say though, I really wish Spring would hurry up!! I long for warm days, and LONG walks!!! Puddle jumping, playing at the park when all normal people are tucked away in bed…*LOL*…Nobody has ever claimed I was normal, and that’s okay with me!!

As tax time approaches, and as I am finally setting out in my work at home business, I have been looking at new computers, which is an essential part of my job. I’m no computer tech, don’t really know a lot about the inner workings of computers, or what gizmos and gadgets would be best for my needs, but it seems to me that I will be looking at the possibility of an external hard drive so that I have some way to back up my work, so if my computer was to crash, I would lose all my work. I don’t know though, I will have to do a lot of comparing and research to find the best options for me, if I even have enough money to consider getting a computer.

Reaching for her acne cream out of the medicine cabinet, she avoided looking at herself in the mirror. She had never been confident, never thought of herself as pretty, nor had she thought of herself as ugly, until recently. It was hard to accept the changes in her appearance, and yet there was nothing to be done about it, at least not until she had money, and even still, things would never be the same, but at least they would be better. Money was the issue though, she often wondered if she would ever have the money, as it always seemed that the money was used elsewhere, on other things.

I liked this book. I liked how this author crafted the story, and I liked that the heroine in this book was not some wishy-washy girly girl. I like strong charactors, and am drawn to books that portray strong charactors for the most part. I’m not saying that girls/woman/heroines can’t be feminine, or be afraid of things, or have made bad choices, I just like to see them stand up for themselves, and do what needs done, whether or not they could break a nail, or get dirty doing it!! All in all, it was an entertaining book that I enjoyed emensely!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

M. L. (MARYLU) TYNDALL grew up on the beaches of South Florida loving the sea and the warm tropics. But despite the beauty around her, she always felt an ache in her soul–a longing for something more.

After college, she married and moved to California where she had two children and settled into a job at a local computer company. Although she had done everything the world expected, she was still miserable. She hated her job and her marriage was falling apart.

Still searching for purpose, adventure and true love, she spent her late twenties and early thirties doing all the things the world told her would make her happy, and after years, her children suffered, her second marriage suffered, and she was still miserable.

One day, she picked up her old Bible, dusted it off, and began to read. Somewhere in the middle, God opened her hardened heart to see that He was real, that He still loved her, and that He had a purpose for her life, if she’d only give her heart to Him completely.

Her current releases in the Legacy of The Kings Pirates series include:The Restitution, The Reliance, and The Redemption and The Falcon And The Sparrow

ABOUT THE BOOK

Lady Faith Westcott has turned her back on God and on man. Having witnessed the hypocrisy in the Church of England, her older sister’s abuse at the hand of her husband, and her own mother’s untimely
death in childbirth, Faith has determined never to marry and to gain enough wealth so she and her two sisters will never have to depend on man or God again.

To that end, though a lady by day, she becomes a pirate by night and begins her sordid career off Portsmouth when she attacks and plunders a merchant ship commanded by the young Dajon Waite. Humiliated at being defeated by a pirate and a woman no less, Dajon returns home without cargo and ship, and his father expels him from the family merchant business.

After a brief sojourn into debased society, Dajon rejoins the Royal Navy, where he finds comfort in the strict rules and redemption through his service to others. Three years later, he is sent to the frontier outpost of Charles Town, South Carolina to deal with the pirate problem. There, he connects with his mentor and old friend, Admiral Westcott, who has just arrived with his three daughters.

Much to Dajon’s utter dismay, Admiral Westcott, who is being called away to Spain, asks Dajon to be temporary guardian of his three lovely daughters. One of the ladies seems familiar to him, a striking redhead who immediately sends his heart thumping.

Faith recognizes Captain Waite as the buffoon whose ship she plundered off Portsmouth. Yet, he appears no longer the fool, but instead a tall, handsome and commanding naval officer. Despite her immediate attraction to him, she labels him the enemy, but sparks are guaranteed to fly during the next few months when independent, headstrong and rebellious Faith falls in love with God-fearing honorable, rule-following Dajon-especially when Faith continues her pirating off the Carolina coast while her father is away.

Will Dajon catch her? And what will this man of honor and duty do when he does?

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Red Siren, go HERE

This was a good book. Entertaining, funny…It’s a keeper!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kaye Dacus is an author and editor who has been writing fiction for more than twenty years. A former Vice President of American Christian Fiction Writers, Kaye enjoys being an active ACFW member and the fellowship and community of hundreds of other writers from across the country and around the world that she finds there.

She currently serves as President of Middle Tennessee Christian Writers, which she co-founded in 2003 with three other writers. Each month, she teaches a two-hour workshop on an aspect of the craft of writing at the MTCW monthly meeting. But her greatest joy comes from mentoring new writers through her website and seeing them experience those “aha” moments when a tricky concept becomes clear.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When wedding planner Anne Hawthorne meets George Laurence, she thinks she’s found the man of her dreams. But when he turns out to be a client, her “dream” quickly turns into a nightmare. Will Anne risk her heart and career on this engaging Englishman?

George came to Louisiana to plan his employer’s wedding and pose as the groom. But how can he feign affection for a supposed fiancee when he’s so achingly attracted to the wedding planner? And what will happen when Anne discovers his role has been Stand-In Groom only? Will she ever trust George again? Can God help these two believers find a happy ending?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Stand-In Groom, go HERE

What they’re saying about it:

“Dacus pulls off a delightful story that places readers in the heart of the South with the debut of the Brides of Bonneterre series. Readers will enjoy this look at how lives are transformed through devastating events and how forgiveness is the key to a promising future. Nothing is as it seems in this heartwarming story.”
–Romantic Times, 4-Star Review

“Absolutely delightful! I enjoyed Stand-In Groom from cover to cover! Ms. Dacus’s clever story and wonderful prose will draw you away to a place deep in the heart of Louisiana, surrounding you with the scents, sounds, and sights of the deep south. A story filled with romance and intrigue, betrayal and forgiveness, I found myself laughing, crying and rejoicing right along with the characters.”
–M.L. Tyndall, author of The Falcon and the Sparrow and the award-winning Legacy of the King’s Pirates series

“Stand-In Groom is as sweet, beautiful, and chaotic as a perfectly planned wedding. Anne is a bright and wounded heroine you’re going to care about for a long time. George is a hero to capture your heart. Kaye Dacus will take you along for a fun, poignent ride in Stand-In Groom.”
–Mary Connealy, author of the Lassoed in Texas series and Of Mice…and Murder

Wow, I really loved this book, and couldn’t put it down, which is always the case with REALLY good books! *LOL* I was very moved by this book, as well as entertained! I’ll be looking for more books by this author!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Denise lives in Indiana with her husband Kevin and their three sons. In 1996, Denise began her first book, a Christian romance novel, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she’s been writing ever since. Her books often contain a strong romantic element, and her husband Kevin says he provides all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!

ABOUT THE BOOK

A story of new beginnings from best-selling Romance for Good™ author Denise Hunter.
When Josephine’s family insists she come home to help with the harvest, the timing works. But her return isn’t simple benevolence-she plans to persuade the family to sell the failing orchard.

The new manager’s presence is making it difficult. Grady MacKenzie takes an immediate disliking to Josephine and becomes outright cantankerous when she tries talking her family into selling. As she and Grady work side by side in the orchard, she begins to appreciate his devotion and quiet faith. She senses a vulnerability in him that makes her want to delve deeper, but there’s no point letting her heart have its way-he’s tied to the orchard, and she could never stay there.

A brush with death tears down Josephine’s defenses and for the first time in her life, she feels freedom-freedom from the heavy burden of guilt, freedom to live her life the way it was intended, with a heart full of love.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Sweetwater Gap, go HERE

After recieving this book yesterday at about 12pm, I hurriedly sat down to read it, for acouple of reasons..One being that the tour was starting, and another reason being that I couldn’t wait to start reading it after reading the back cover!! Mrs. Warren may have become a new favorite author of mine, but if not, well, she’s certainly found her way into my heart and the shelves in my library! I can’t wait to read more books by her, because 4 hours after starting The Perfect Match, I was done with it, but I would pick up again today and read it, because it is such a good book! I simply loved the way Mrs. Warren crafted her charactors! It was a very real and believable story, with charactors that touched my heart!

Yes, I would definitely recommend reading this book!! It’s well worth the time!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Susan grew up in Wayzata, a suburb of Minneapolis, and became an avid camper from an early age. Her favorite fir-lined spot is the north shore of Minnesota is where she met her husband, honeymooned and dreamed of living.

The north woods easily became the foundation for her first series, The Deep Haven series, based on a little tourist town along the shores of Lake Superior. Her first full-length book, Happily Ever After, became a Christy Award Finalist published in 2004 with Tyndale/Heartquest.

As an award winning author, Susan returned home in 2004, to her native Minnesota after serving for eight years with her husband and four children as missionaries with SEND International in Far East Russia. She now writes full time from Minnesota’s north woods and the beautiful town that she always dreamed of living in.

You can sample a chapter of each and every one of Susan’s novels, on her website, HERE.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Ellie Karlson is new to Deep Haven. As the town’s interim fire chief, she is determined to lead the local macho fire crew in spite of their misconceptions about her. But when someone begins setting deadly fires, Ellie faces the biggest challenge of her life. Especially when sparks fly with one of the volunteers on her crew: Pastor Dan Matthews. As Ellie battles to do her job and win the respect of her crew, she finds that there is one fire she can’t fight—the one Dan has set in her heart.
(This book is the repackaged edition published in 2004)

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Perfect Match, go HERE.

Awards:

2004 American Christian Fiction Writer’s Book of the Year

A Romantic Times Magazine TOP PICK – 4½ stars

Review:

Romantic Times Magazine:
Vibrant characters and vivid language zoom this action-packed romance to the top of the charts. This is a one-sitting read –once you pick it up, you won’t want to put it down.

Goodness, I can’t tell you how much I really enjoyed this book, but than I’ve been a fan of this author since reading the the book about Anna (though for the moment the titled escapes me). I really love how involved this author gets you, in the story plot! You laugh, love, and cry right a long with the charactors that she writes about!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hidden is Shelley’s first foray into inspirational fiction. Previously, Shelley lived in Texas and Colorado, where she taught school and earned both her bachelors and masters degrees in education. She now lives in southern Ohio where she writes full time. Shelley is an active member of her church. She serves on committees, volunteers in the church office, and is part of the Telecare ministry, which calls homebound members on a regular basis. Shelley looks forward to the opportunity to write novels that showcase her Christian ideals.

This is the second book in the Sisters Of Heart series. The first was Hidden.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Twenty-year-old Katie Brenneman has always quietly fancied Jonathan Lundy. So when the brokenhearted widower asks her to help him take care of his two young girls, Katie knows it will be a trying time-yet she cannot pass up a golden opportunity to get to know this man better.

Just as she’s settling into her new life, a message arrives from Katie’s past, threatening to expose her darkest secrets. During her Rumspringa, her running-around years, she experimented with activities forbidden in the Amish way of life. Frightened by how far she’d strayed from her values, Katie ran back home, vowing to cut all ties with the outside world. Now her transgressions are coming back to haunt her, just as Jonathan seems willing to welcome her into his heart.

Will the past destroy Katie’s chances for love? Or will Katie finally allow herself to accept God’s love, forgive her past…and receive everything she’s ever wanted?

If you would like to read an excerpt of Chapter 1 of Wanted, go HERE

If you look at the top of my page, somewhat lost up there in the header is a page titled Books I’ve Read. I have decided to add it as a separate page up there, instead of having the list on my sidebar taking up so much room.

I had only started keeping track on here of the books that I read back in October, and by the end of December the list was quite the trip down the side, and I felt that it took emphasis away from the buttons and other such things I wanted to display on my sidebar. So that being said, for those of you that are interested in the books that I have read, starting with January 2009, just click into the page above, and have a good browse. If I’m doing my job correctly, some of those books will also be linked to book reviews done here on this blog as well.

Hope you enjoy glancing at my bookshelves.