Mary Jackson won Author Virignia Smith’s book THE HEART’S FRONTIER.
And Nancee won my slightly read copy of Author Pat Simmons’ GUILTY BY ASSOCIATION.
This week Authors Lorena McCourtney & Patricia Davids will guest! One writes cozy mysteries and one writes Amish stories. Do you know which is which?–Lyn
Guilty By Association by Pat Simmons
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Guilty by Association was the first time I’d read a Pat Simmons’ book. Won’t be the last! I enjoyed this story so much because of the characters, so rich and real. The hero Kidd Jamieson, a young black man with a major chip on his shoulder, is not one to go looking into his roots. His family comes looking for him.
Since Kidd has rejected his father who abandoned him and his brother Ace and did his mother wrong, Kidd wants nothing to do with the Jamieson clan or their claim of descending from an African king.
Still, he leaves Boston to spend time with them in St Louis and soon it’s apparent that God planned this move in time to save Kidd’s life. Does this get his attention? No, of course not. Kidd’s a stubborn Angry Young Black Man (the author’s words).
His last chance brings him to of all places a rehabilitation facility for seniors and there he meets his match, Eva.
The path of true love never runs smooth especailly when anger still rules a heart. Sometimes I got irritated with the heroine but she is also a work in progress. I admired her commitment to purity, so rare these days.
So if you’ve never read a Pat Simmons’ novel, don’t miss the Jamiesons!
I have a slightly read copy to GIVEAWAY. Leave a comment about any other African-American novel or author you have read.
Or you can leave a comment about any of my lovely strong women of color characters. Which one do you remember?–Lyn
My guest today is Author Virginia Smith and after reading her post, all I can say is her aunt must be real because nobody would craft a character this amazing! BTW, Virginia will be giving away one copy of her book to a commenter. Here’s Virginia:
“Being faithful in the smallest things is the way to gain, maintain, and demonstrate the strength needed to accomplish something great.” – Alex Harris
I was browsing through some material the other day (okay, I was surfing the internet) when I came across this quote. It struck me as deeply profound, and at the same time it filled me with hope. I’m not one who aspires to greatness, but I am faithful. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I am surrounded by examples of strong women who have accomplished great things through faithfulness in the small things.
One of my favorite people in the entire world is my Aunt Patti. She was ten when I was born, and I thought she was the coolest, most awesome grown-up ever. As a teenager she listened to “deep” music, and talked to me about the meaning as though she cared about my thoughts. (Bob McLeans’s American Pie comes to mind.) She loved to learn, and communicated her thirst for knowledge by telling me what she learned in high school, and then college.
After college she worked at a series of incredibly interesting jobs, like prison guard, and police officer. She never lost her desire to learn, and worked her way through graduate school, earning a Master’s in Social Work. Then she joined the army where she served for years, including a tour in Korea. I’ll never forget my pride when I flew to Washington D.C. to see her promotion to the rank of Colonel at the Pentagon.
You’d think she would stop there, wouldn’t you? Nope. She was selected to attend an exclusive War College and graduated with a second Master’s degree. Then she retired from the military and returned to school, and last year earned her Doctorate in Psychology. Now she fulfills one of her heart’s desires and counsels victims – juveniles, rape victims, and veterans with PTSD. But she hasn’t stopped learning.
Next year she plans to enter Law school! She is doing great things with her life, but not one of them happened because of a single act of greatness. Instead, she has been faithful to her dreams and her goals one small step at a time.
The heroine in my recent book, The Heart’s Frontier, doesn’t have the opportunity to go to college. The Amish don’t place an emphasis on education. The setting is the American West, where there weren’t many opportunities for women, Amish or not. But Emma is strong like my aunt in one very important way – she is faithful, even in the face of difficult situations that stand in the way of her and her desires. And in the end she accomplishes…well, you’ll have to read the book to find out, won’t you?”–Virginia
To purchase The Heart’s Frontier, by Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith, click here. The Heart’s Frontier (The Amish of Apple Grove)
Well, what a story!
Question to answer in order to enter drawing:
Do you have anybody in your family who amazes you? Please share!–Lyn
Virginia Smith’s Website: www.virginiasmith.org
Stephanie M won the copy of Sharon Dunn’s ZERO VISIBILITY!
This week Virginia Smith will guest and offer a giveaway. And I’ll be posting another of my reviews. Hope you enjoy the end of July and beginning of August. Where did the summer go?–Lyn
I saw this on Pinterest. Isn’t it adorable???
Source: reddit.com via Cindy on Pinterest
Today I have the pleasure of sharing my interview of Author Melanie Dobson. I think you’ll find her replies interesting and her bio impressive. And you might want to look into her latest release, Love Finds You on Mackinac Island. (BTW, that’s pronounced Mak-i-naw.)
**BTW, Melanie isn’t offering just a book giveaway. She’s offering a Kindle Fire! Read the scoop at the end!**
LYN: Tell us a little about your writing and your real life.
MELANIE: Ever since I was a child, I’ve been passionate about reading and writing stories. After I got out of college, I shelved my dream to write fiction for almost a decade. Not long before my thirtieth birthday, God rekindled the fire in me to pursue this desire, but it took almost seven years to publish a novel. In hindsight, the timing of this was perfect for our family. We adopted two children the year before I received my first novel contract, and I’ve been so grateful to be able to stay home with our girls during the day while I write in the evenings and often on Saturdays when Dad is home to play. God grows and stretches me a little more with every book I write, and I’m grateful to Him for the opportunity to be able to share the stories He’s placed in my heart.
LYN: Was there a time in your life when you think God challenged you to become stronger? Please share.
MELANIE: I feel challenged almost every day as a mother and a writer in that I know I am not able to do anything without God’s provision. I’m grateful for His forgiveness, guidance, and grace!
Last year I also went to Haiti with a group of ladies to help lead a retreat to encourage pastor’s wives. I was terrified to go on this trip, not only because of the physical challenges but also because I didn’t think I had anything to offer these ladies who had lost so much in the last two years. I quickly discovered that I didn’t have anything to offer except a lot of hugs, but God did so very much that week. Our entire team came home marveling at all His miracles. He strengthened us when we felt incredibly weak and gave us such joy after our time with our Haitian sisters.
LYN: In what ways does your heroine show strength? And where does she draw this strength?
MELANIE: Elena is a young woman who chooses to fight her own feelings in order to do what she believes is right for her family. She is a strong woman who loves art and beauty. She draws strength from a place—an abandoned lighthouse where she escapes to enjoy the beauty of God’s stars in the night sky. Through the story, she learns that she can find God in other places, but she continues to draw strength from the beauty in His creation.
LYN: Share one fun fact about your life or books.
MELANIE: I love old buildings, ghost towns, and crumbling cemeteries. My husband says I need an “I brake for cemeteries” bumper sticker on my car. ? I enjoy going to these old places and wonder what life was once like in the walls of the abandoned buildings as well as wonder at the stories of people who came before us. In the absence of facts, my mind starts to fill in the blanks.
LYN: I know what you mean! Thanks for a great interview!
To purchase, click here. Love Finds You in Mackinac Island, Michigan
As the Gilded Age comes to a close, Elena Bissette’s once-wealthy family has nearly lost its fortune. The Bissettes still own a home on fashionable Mackinac Island, where they will spend one last summer in the hope of introducing Elena to a wealthy suitor. But Elena is repulsed by the idea of marrying for money. Quickly tiring of the extravagant balls, she spends most evenings escaping back into Mackinac’s rugged forest. There she meets Chase, a handsome laborer who shares her love for the night sky. The two begin to meet in secret at an abandoned lighthouse, where they work together to solve a mystery buried in the pages of a tattered diary.
As Elena falls in love with Chase, her mother relentlessly contrives to introduce her to Chester Darrington, the island’s most eligible bachelor. Marriage to the elusive millionaire would solve the Bissettes’ financial woes, and Elena is torn between duty and love.
My guest today is author Sharon Dunn whose books I love! Today she shares about her daughter and her heroine and MONEY! (She’s also offering a book giveaway so leave a comment!) Here’s Sharon:
“As I look at the cost of sending my own daughter to college in the fall and watch the protestors on television who are faced with huge debt and no job prospects, I start to wonder if advising a young person to go to college is wise. The answer is yes, college is still a good idea. For me, it was a good place to mature emotionally as well as intellectually because independence happens gradually especially if you live the first few years in the dorms. However, the mindset of the student has to be in the right place. College is not the place where you live large. It is the place where you begin the habit of sound financial management and frugality.
I worked at a college for years and got to witness students who used their loan money to buy new pick-up trucks and dinners out at expensive eateries and extravagant spring break vacations. One woman even confessed to me that the amount of debt she incurred would have allowed her to purchase a home. Whether it is in the form of loans, grant, scholarships or help from relatives, the money is intended to be used on education.
When I went to college, my parents were not able to provide much financial support. I lived without a car, had multiple roommates to offset the cost of rent and eating out happened maybe once a month at the local fast food place. It was one of the happiest times of my life.
Just like dating is not the place where you “practice for divorce” by running from relationships when a crisis happens and it’s not fun anymore, college is not the place where you practice for a lifetime of debt by living like there was no tomorrow.
One of the biographical details of the heroine in my July release Zero Visibility is that she paid for college by working one year and going to school the next. As Merci Carson puts it, she is the world’s oldest undergraduate. She decided to pay for college herself because if her wealthy father had picked up the bill, he would have assumed he could still control Merci’s life. Merci chose to truly live independently and was willing to make the sacrifices to do that. Being a strong woman isn’t just about making good choices about relationships, but also about finances.
My website address is www.sharondunnbooks.net
Thanks, Sharon, you show a lot of common sense in your advice. Unfortunately common sense ISN’T common. 🙂
Questions for BOOK DRAWING: Did you go to college or trade school? If so, how did you pay for it? Or share your opinion about how college or a trade should be paid for.
Personally, I paid my way through college debt free by getting my beautician’s license. Best decision I ever made! Now you share.”–Lyn
Susan F won my slightly read copy of Tamera Alexander’s A LASTING IMPRESSION!
This week Authors Sharon Dunn and Melanie Dobson will guest. Don’t miss a great week!–Lyn
A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A Lasting Impression was my first Tamera Alexander historical romance. I doubt it will be my last. Her heroine Claire Laurent is living a lie and trying to escape her past. But can she? The settings are rich and her plot is tense. What more could I ask?
As usual, I have a slightly read copy of Tamara’s book to give away. Leave a comment and enter the drawing.
QUESTIONS: Have you ever told a lie? Has anybody ever lied to you? Have you ever wanted to lie but didn’t? Take your pick!
Author Sandra Byrd tells us the story of a fearless woman, fearless for the truth, the freedom to speak the truth and for God. Here’s Sandra:
“Anne Askew: Mother, Minister, Martyr
A hot day in July, 1546, was about to get hotter for Anne Askew, tied to a bundle of sticks. Her jailers had secured the wood to her mid-section because she’d been tortured to the point where she could not hold herself upright any longer. Anne was the married mother of two young children, twenty-five years old and about to be burnt to death for her faith.
Anne had been born to an up-and-coming gentry family in Lincolnshire and at the age of fifteen she’d been forced to marry her dead sister’s fiancé, a not unusual arrangement. The Dictionary of National Biography says that she left her family to go “gospelling”, the sixteenth century word most often used for preaching scripture. This, of course, was unusual in a time when by law women were not only under the constant legal authority of their husbands, but were also forbidden from reading the Bible aloud to any but their close friends, in private.
Reformist Anne was caught in the middle of the maelstrom that was religion in the Tudor Court. Religious traditionalists wanted a return to the Roman Catholic faith which had been foundational in England for more than a thousand years. Reformers wanted change in the church, or perhaps to establish a new church altogether. Henry, sick, seemed to lean more and more upon his sixth wife Queen Kateryn Parr, a strong reformer, and the heroine in my latest novel, The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr. Parr hoped to continue to influence her stepson, Edward, after her husband’s death, but religious conservatives wanted Edward under their control. By implicating Parr through her friend Askew’s heresy, they hoped to bring down the queen, too. But Ann was not a fair weather friend to the queen.
Anne was brought before the infamous rack in the Tower of London and asked to name other highborn women in the queen’s household who believed as she did, the implication being that the Queen should be named, too. When she refused she was stripped of her clothing down to her shift and racked – a means of torture in which ankles and wrists are strapped to a pulley which stretches until all joints are dislocated. Afterward, Askew was brought to the stake in a chair.
After the fire was lit, Anne continued to correct the bible teaching of Bishop Nicolas Shaxton, so recently a friend and fellow reformer till he recanted when faced with torture and death. As the flames grew higher, she’d speak out, correcting Shaxton on his scripture. “Yes, he’s got that right,” she’d boldly call out on a passage, or, “No, there he misseth and speaks without the book.”
John Foxe, author of Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, tells us that someone provided gunpowder to be added to the stakes below Askew to speed her death and more quickly ease her pain. Many believe that the same strong women at court that she protected – the Queen and her highborn ladies in waiting – supplied that gun powder to speed the bold and courageous Askew heavenward on her “chariot of fire.”–Sandra
http://www.sandrabyrd.com/
http://sandrabyrd.com/blog/
Wow, stories like this amaze me. First that Christians used to kill other Christians and wondering how a woman stood up to those who wished to oppress her. Humbles me. How about you?–Lyn
Marion Stroud won Bonnie Leon’s JOY TAKES FLIGHT! Thank you, Bonnie for being my guest and giving away a book! Congrats, Marion!
This week best-selling author Sandra Byrd will guest on Monday and I will review a new book on Thursday and do a giveaway of my slightly read copy. Should be a fun and interesting week!
Now about the dishwasher–About two months ago, my 3 year old dishwasher started doing a really poor job. I finally called my local appliance repair guy who told me this:
The US Govt in its wisdom has ordered all phosphates be taken out of dishwasher soaps. This means that dishwashers may not clean as well as it should. SO the fix is:
Well, I tried these suggestions and they worked for me. I don’t know if they’ll work for you. No guarantee or warranty! But what gets me is -WHY DIDN’T ANYBODY WARN ME?–Lyn
