Lucie's Blog

New Year and New Free eBooks! Yay!

2012-01-10T19:26:00.000-08:00

It's 2012! Sounds like something out of a science fiction book! This year is going to be a great year because every single day is a gift from God.

I am in the middle of transition in several areas of my life so this blog will be undergoing some transitions as well. I hope to offer more content that my followers enjoy including; giveaways, more author interviews, book reviews, & more reviews & information on the things that matter most to you.

I've just updated the FREE eBOOKS list on my blog! Scroll down on the right for NEW FREE eBOOKS for your Kindle (and most are available on the Nook also)! There is a great variety available for a short time. 'Click' now so you don't miss out!

Christmas Wallpaper Especially For You!

2011-12-13T17:46:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd share a little "Christmas Cheer" and include some very pretty Christmas Wallpaper here for all of my followers :-) Just right click and save. Merry Christmas!

Click over to the Christmas Wallpaper Below!

http://luciesbookreview.blogspot.com/p/free-christmas-wallpaper.html

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Women of Faith Sacramento 2011

2011-11-18T09:24:00.001-08:00

This year at the Women of Faith event in Sacramento there were a variety of speakers, all very good, who spoke from their hearts. I went in thinking this would be a fun getaway but I came out with alot more than I expected! The event itself was well put together. There were friendly greeters at the doors, well thought out store's where you can purchase books, cd's, and t-shirts from the speakers and singers, great music (!!), and heartwarming, 'real' speakers who brought us the message and hope of Jesus in a way that we could relate to in our own lives - tools in the toolbox!

Friday opened up with Patsy Clairmont - who is always such a joy to listen to! I cannot believe the quotes that little lady comes up with! I was scrambling to write them all down and post to Twitter! The words that come from her mouth are so full of life and laughter, don't get me wrong she has a story or two to tell with all seriousness but she naturally puts funny stuff in all the right places! Three things that Patsy suggested for us to do every day was; "say 'Yes' to God every morning; to say 'Thank you God for all You've done and for that group of people You've placed around me'; and finally to say 'No' when someone else thinks you should do something -- give yourself permission to say 'No' and don't feel guilty about it! Let people misunderstand your intentions - they're gonna do it anyways!"

Oh, and I LOVED this quote from Patsy - "I'm not weird, I'm a limited edition!" (said with a nose crinkle and eyes twinkle)
Ok, I'm just going to post a bunch of her quotes here:

"Our God is limitless"
"Feeling don't have brains, they were not given to us to think - but to feel!"
"Whining is one of my gifts"
"Sarcasm is...anger in a clown suit"
"You are not your husband's Holy Spirit"
"A scarf is a parking garage for chins"
"Change can be good"
"The greatest human need we have is connection --we really need each other"

Patsy said that her favorite Bible person is Moses...because he was a "basket case" (LOL)
Patsy also told us about her son having double pnemonia and H1N1 in the hospital and nearly dying. A passage in Scripture that helped her during this time was Psalm 139 especially noting how God wrote the days of our lives before we were born. She goes on to tell of a cleaning lady who was singing in another room nearby when she and her husband were all alone in the middle of the night with their son and the song came drifting in to their ears - "Jesus, Sweetest Name I Know". It was exactly what they needed to hear that night.

Patsy's latest book, Stained Glass Hearts, on Amazon.com : Patsy Clairmont Books

Then we had Andy Andrews speak - the only man brave enough to speak at an all ladies conference! I read his book, The Noticer, last year so I was especially intrigued with what he would have to say. He was so full of energy!! When Andy spoke he walked around the stage, literally AROUND the stage in the crowd! One of the things that Andy said regarding marriage and how husband and wife are different, "If both of you were alike, one of you would be unnecessary!" What insight!

Andy also spoke on worrying and gave us some statistics on what people worry about-
                          40% Never happens
                          30% Already happened
                          12% Worry about things that it could be like; a headache is a tumor ect...
                            2% Petty little worries like; what others will think...
                            8% LEGITIMATE CONCERNS THAT CAN BE DEALT WITH!

Find out more about Andy here:  Andy Andrews books

On Saturday we heard from Lisa Whelchel (formerly on the Facts of Life t.v. sitcom). She spoke on friendship. She told us about how hard it was to find a friend and to be a friend in her profession as a young girl, but even as she got older she just didn't know how to be a friend. She took us through her trials and heartbreaking stories about trying to find a close friend, finding one and then losing the friend because she didn't know how to be a friend herself. Lisa didn't know how close friendships worked. She realized in her 40's that she didn't have a close friend because she had always kept people at a distance. Through her learning experience here are a few things she has observed/learned about friendship:

1. You can be surrounded by friends and still feel isolated and alone.
2. There is a difference between being transparent and vulnerable. Being transparent means that you let people get to know you but being vulnerable is letting people get close to your heart.
3. It's too heavy to place expectations on someone for what we need. Be grateful for what they have to share.
4. You need boundries in your friendships.
5. Pay attention to how they talk about other people because they will talk about you the same way.
6. Don't befriend someone who appears to be 'perfect' because they will have expectations of you that will be too high.

If you would like more information on friendships and what Lisa has to say she has a book out, Friendship for Grown-Ups: What I Missed and Learned Along the Way

Marilyn Meberg also spoke in her 'good friend' style. Marilyn is so warm and encouraging I just listened to her and forgot to take notes!! Marilyn has a new book out also, Tell Me Everything - How to heal from the secrets you thought you could never share. Click over and check it out! Marilyn was sweet enough to let us pose with her for a picture (below).

Sandi Patty sang, We Shall Behold Him, and brought everyone to their feet and to tears. What a beautiful voice God has gifted this woman with! She has a voice of an angel and a testimony that speaks to the hardest of hearts. Sandi's latest book out is, The Edge of the Divine.

Mandisa, woman of grace and sweetness, sang fun and powerful songs from her latest cd, What If We Were Real. I LOVE this cd!! I listen to it all the time (Along with my Peter Furler cd). Every single song on this cd is good and most are great! My favorites are; Stronger, Good Morning, and These Days, Say Goodbye, ect...ok I pretty much love them all but anyways, I tried! LOL

Selah was AMAZING!! Clear, strong vocals with words from each singer = wow! Such testamonies and great stories! I purchased Selah's cd's Hope of the Broken World and Bless the Broken Road the duet's Album. Both are so full of great songs I cannot recommend them enough! I have a video of some below (Hoping to post directly after this). I could sit and listen to Amy all day long! That girl can sing! Amazingly, the two other members of the group, Todd and Allen, are equally as talented! Add to these Women of Faith's own worship team with their new cd, Rejoice. Soo much talent!

Overall, as you have just read, there was so much encourgement, learning moments, and fun this year at Women of Faith - Over the Top in Sacramento, California! Thank you all for what you do to live out your faith!

Don't forget to leave a comment.

More photos & videos below, just scroll down.

*Thank you Thomas Nelson at Book Sneeze for the opportunity of reviewing this event! Although 2 tickets were given to me by Thomas Nelson for review, what I post on my blog is my own opinion.

Over the Top - Women of Faith Event

2011-10-12T01:14:00.000-07:00

"Take a much needed break from your everyday lives and return refreshed, relaxed, and renewed!" ~~Women of Faith Blog. Who can resist such an appealing invitation as that?! Well, I'm not resisting, I'm going and its going to be great! As a special 'kick-off' to the Women of Faith event " Over the Top" let me tell you who will be here this weekend in Sacramento, CA (October 14th-15th). We have - drum roll please - ;

Patsy Clairmont, (pictured above) with her larger than life stories;
Marilyn Meberg, wise teacher and devoted friend;
Sandi Patty, most awarded female vocalist in Contemporary Christian music (amazing voice and such a story of grace!);
Lisa Whelchel, actress, author, speaker, and founder of MomTime Ministries (I used to watch her on the show, "The Facts of Life" all the time!);
Deborah Joy Winans, niece of CeCe Winans, she loves drama and holds a Masters of Fine Arts from the renowned California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA;
Andy Andrews, found himself literally homeless, sleeping under a pier or in someone’s garage - Boy! Does he have a story to tell!;
And the wonderful musicians Mandisa, former American Idol favorite and Selah, Bless the Broken Road is their newest album filled with a heartfelt message (You can look up there music on the links below).

Make sure that you check out these links below and get to know our special speakers/musicians before this weekend!

Patsy Clairmont: http://patsyclairmont.com/
Marilyn Meberg: http://www.womenoffaith.com/events/line-up/marilyn-meberg/
Sandi Patty: http://www.sandipatty.com/SP-Splash/index.html
Lisa Whelchel: http://www.lisawhelchel.com/
Deborah Joy Winans: http://www.womenoffaith.com/events/line-up/deborah-joy-winans/
Andy Andrews: http://www.andyandrews.com/
Selah: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2sZuJbxi8Y&feature=player_embedded
Mandisa: http://mandisaofficial.com/home/

I'm sure there will be lots of laughter and tears this weekend and I can't wait to see what God has in store for me to learn! Hope to see you there!

Did you know that Women of Faith has a blog? Take a look below:
Women of Faith: http://www.womenoffaith.com/events/2011-events/sacramento/
Women of Faith Blog: http://www.womenoffaith.com/blog/

2011-09-28T23:29:00.000-07:00

This last weekend was the annual Women's Retreat out at TLC. We had some relaxation, great worship times, and alot of fun! We even had a Kareoke Night! Such laughter! (I've added a picture of me and my cabin gals; each one added to our little group in such a unique way and made our weekend an enjoyable one with memories that will last forever!)

While at the retreat I also had the privilege of interviewing Bunny Bassett, author of 'Lily' our August/September book selection. I will be posting my interview with Bunny along with our book club 'log' of our next meeting in October. Stay tuned! Lots more to come!!

There are NEW FREEBIES for your Kindle (on the far right side of my blog)! I've added some games also!

If you want to leave a comment I would love to hear from you! Until next time...

New Kindle book lights and accessories reviews coming soon!

2011-09-02T16:37:00.000-07:00

I've had the priviledge to be reviewing some great accessories for my Kindle! LightWedge has provided me with some of their awesome products and I will be posting pictures of them and how I've been using them. Stay tuned. Meanwhile, take a look at the list of FREE Ebooks on the far right and download them today before they lose their 'free'dom.

Check out their website: http://www.lightwedge.com/

Join Us For Our Next Book Discussion Right Here!

2011-08-11T02:14:00.000-07:00

We will be having a book discussion on my blog for our next Chick Lit Book Club meeting on MaryLu Tyndall's book, Surrender the Heart. If you have read Surrender the Heart please join us by sending me (message me on facebook or email me: lucieluvsca@yahoo.com) your thoughts and I will post your answers right here on my blog along with your first name!

Here are some questions for you to answer:
(choose 1 or as many as you like)

1. Who was your favorite character - or who could you relate to the most and why.

2. Did anything surprise you about the story?

3. Marianne, a self-described plain Jane, felt like she didn't 'measure up'. Have you ever felt like that? What impact did Marianne’s story have on you?

4. What tremendous burden did Noah carry around with him? How did it affect his life and his decisions? Can you relate to him in any way?

5. Noah's father used Noah's guilt against him. What is the best way to handle people who manipulate others to get what they want?

6. Do you have a fear of something? A fear of water, heights, death, closed-in-spaces,

clowns? Where do you think that fear came from? What is the opposite of fear? What

eventually caused Marianne to overcome her fear of the sea?

7. What caused Captain Milford to be so morose and volatile? Do you think it’s possible to

miss God’s calling on your life even if you’re a Christian? How? What was the effect on

Captain Milford? How could he have avoided it?

8. Do you believe that God has a purpose for your life, a destiny He wants you to fulfill? If

so, what did Marianne have to do first before she could ever begin to fulfill that destiny?

And what did Noah have to do?

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

I can't wait to read all of your thoughts on this wonderful book! Start sending as soon as possible as I will be getting this finished soon :-)

*Some of these Discussion Questions are from MaryLu Tyndall's website: http://www.marylutyndall.com/books/surrender-the-heart

You can also visit MaryLu on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marylu.tyndall

New Book Review of Over the Edge by Brandilyn Collins

2011-07-14T16:36:00.000-07:00

I have read several of Brandilyn Collins booksso when I saw that one of her books was up for review I immediately snatched itup! Brandilyn is an ‘edge of your seat’book writer who comes up with all kinds of surprising scenarios, each with adifferent twist to keep you coming back for more. BUT, when I read the back cover of Over theEdge I thought, really, a book about Lyme disease? I mean, how exciting can that be?! What canshe do with this subject? However, knowing that this is Brandilyn Collins I thought if anyone can make something interestingit’s Brandilyn! Seriously, how she turnsa book centered around a disease into an all-out thriller is nothing short ofamazing! In fact, I even feel smarter just for reading it! The details shegives about Lyme disease and the research that had to be done while writingthis book was so informative and amazing and she wove those into her storywithout missing a beat!

The story opens with an apparent madman breakinginto a house while a woman is sleeping. As he creeps around the darkened house, you hear what he is thinkingthrough the dialogue written. Right awayyou feel as if you are right there creeping through that darkened house withhim, listening to his every thought; you can almost feel his slow intake of airas he stalks through the house searching for his victim. All you can think of is who is this and whyis he doing this? Right away you realize this is not some fumbling idiot justout for a robbery or other ‘quick’ crime. This is a very articulate person who knows what he is doing, and hassome kind of medical background; his victim, the wife of a well-known doctor.Through his thoughts you are taken on a ride to the past, his past, when hisyoung wife was taken with an illness that had gone undiagnosed and sheeventually died. His thoughts then driftback to the present, looming over a sleeping, innocent, woman...then with decisivenesshe does what he came to do(which is extremely descriptive and slightly uncomfortable).... If all went as planned, her husband, the gooddoctor, would change his mind on his stand on Lyme’s disease so that no-oneelse had to suffer long-term or die from this mostly undiagnosed disease. Yeah, some saint he would be...

Janessa, a.k.a. the sleeping woman, comes downwith a bad case of the flu – or so she thinks for awhile. After being sick for over three weeks hersymptoms (which are described meticulously) continue to worsen with no reliefin sight. She is also having this reoccurringnightmare which she tells to her husband, Brock the doc, of a bug-eyed man standingover her bed. To make things worse,Brock has been really distant over the last year and Janessa doesn’t know why;long hours at work has made him disinterested in much of anything, or so shethinks. But they have a beautiful littlegirl and a nice home in a nice neighborhood so things are pretty good Janessareasons.

Fast forward to the middle of the book and you’vegot Janessa with a full-blown case of something (Lyme’s disease), a madman whois now calling her and admitting to being in her house, now threatening to harmher daughter as well, her husband – Brock the doc – denying everything that’shappening – the sickness, and the so-called Stalker Man’s phone calls AND totop everything off he has some bad news of his own to share with Janessa...justwhen she thinks nothing can get any worse!!

As Janessa battles all of the physical andemotional trauma, she is reminded that she has a very real and loving heavenlyFather who cares about her. Time andtime again she turns to God for her strength. Her cries out to God, her faiththat He will sustain her through everything she is going through portrayed a veryreal faith and was very believable. She readsthe Scriptures, especially in Psalms (which I have always turned to for comfortor to put my thoughts into a prayer); Psalm 69 “Save me, O God, forthe waters have threatened my life. I have sunk in deep mire, and there is nofoothold; I have come into deep waters, and a flood overflows me.” Janessacould definitely relate to this passage of Scripture!

After extensive testing at the hospital, a madmanwho makes house visits and calls her – terrifying her, no-one believing her tothe point of thinking she is making it all up - her husband is denying there isanything real going on! Being so physically ill that she can no longer driveherself anywhere or even take care of her 9 year old daughter – which breaksher heart – and the hiring of a private investigator – something finally startsto make itself clear. But what seems tobe clear is not really clear at all! There will be a final twist in the last few chapters that will make yourhead spin!

Well done Brandilyn! You took me to a world I didn’t know existed –the world of Lyme disease wars, you pulled me in with your quick wit withexciting twists and turns and kept me drawn in until the final chapter! Irecommend this book to those of you who would like to have a betterunderstanding for those who suffer with Lyme disease, and those who are lookingfor a great thriller/suspense read with a different twist!

You can find Over the Edge here on Amazon.com
or B & H Publisher's website: Over the Edge by Brandilyn Collins

Disclaimer: I received an ebook copy of Over the Edge by Brandilyn Collins from B & H Publishing Group on NetGalley. All that I have written is my own opinion and no-one has told me what I should say or not.

New Book Reviews Coming Soon

2011-07-05T18:31:00.000-07:00

I've been busy reading some great Christian books and will be posting my reviews soon. Stay tuned, there may even be a book giveaway!

The Chick Lit Book Selection for June was "Heaven Is For Real" by Todd Burpo. If you haven't read this yet I encourage you to - once you start you won't be able to put it down!

We will be discussing all three of our last book selections at our next meeting, Saturday, July 16, 11am at Starbucks in Fortuna.

~Happy Reading!

The Last Two Book Selections

2011-06-23T23:36:00.000-07:00

The Chick Lit Book Club & Review read Redeeming Love in May and we all LOVED it!

Everyone has been reading Deceit by Brandilyn Collins this month with much excitement also!!

The two book selections couldn't be more different from each other!! I just love that we have such diverse Christian book authors that put out new novels like bakery goods on a conveyor belt; each a delightful tasting treat for the mind!

Look for our next meeting place/time as it will be posted soon. Until then, enjoy your Summer and happy reading! ~Lucie

Facelift Book Review & Chick Lit Discussion

2011-04-08T00:23:00.000-07:00

Facelift by Leanna Ellis Book Review
& Chick Lit Discussion

Kaye Redmond is not about to 'move on'. She is doing her 'Christian duty' to hang on the the notion that her ex-husband will one day come to his senses and get back together with her! After all God doesn't like divorce. She often fantasizes that he leaves his girlfriend and realizes that what he has needed all along is her - the doting mother and wife of his dreams...NOT!

Meanwhile Kaye's teenage daughter, Izzie, is going through the effects of her parents' divorce and is very angry with her dad for tearing their perfect little family apart. In the midst of it all Izzie manages to try to play the 'Match Maker' with her swim coach and her mom...something her mom has no intention of taking up!

At the same time Kaye ends up taking in her 'ex'-mother-in-law after a botched facelift with the hopes of winning back her ex-husband with her servant-like care for his mother. Marla, her 'ex-mother-in-law, has a warped sense of what being beautiful really is - like alot of us women. Stuck-up and materialistic, Marla's mask comes off and you get a glimpse behind it and what's really making the wheels turn in her mind. Keeping in mind that Kaye and her 'ex'-mother-in-law have NEVER gotten along, not by a long shot!! Ohhhh, the story that was woven here, ha! Add in, the 'perfect' gentleman who comes along later in the story and sweeps Kaye off of her unsuspecting feet for some good clean romance!

The 'Take-home' lessons in this book would be that in the midst of the worst kind of trials, God remains in control. Sometimes we are called to surrender it all to Him. We may not know how and when He will help us through a situation, but He will. There were definitely redeeming qualities to this story; forgiveness, love, and trusting God with your life.

Facelift is such a great read that when I remember scenes in the book, her quick wit always makes me smile. I love that Leanna uses sarcasm with Kaye...which I think makes it easier to read serious subjects such as divorce, teenage rebellion and some of the other touching/sad scenes throughout the book. Leanna Ellis' writing style is so honest and yet humorous at the same time. You are reading about really uncomfortable stuff but yet she still makes you laugh - sometimes through the tears.

You can go to Christian Book Distributors or Amazon.com and order a copy.

Follow this link to christianbook.com: Facelift by Leanna Ellis

Follow this link to Amazon.com: Facelift by Leanna Ellis

Our Chick Lit Book Club Discusses Facelift by Leanna Ellis
What a fun book to read! I read this while walking on the treadmill and it really made the time pass quickly! In fact, I often walked for over an hour at a time while reading Facelift!! I was very sad when the book ended.

The Chick Lits also enjoyed Facelift very much and we all discussed it at our monthly meeting at Starbucks. Here are some of the questions that we discussed together. Feel free to comment if you've read Facelift or would like to read it. Please join us!

Question 1:
Have you ever had a facelift? Ouch! Is that a bit too personal? Okay, how about: have you ever considered cosmetic surgery?

Carmen: I have considered having a nose job, especially when I was younger. But after having children I didn't like the idea anymore because I realized that if one of my children was born with my nose - they wouldn't look like me.

Lucie: As I have gotten into my 40's some gray hairs have 'appeared' along with some 'fine lines'...you know, wrinkles! And although I don't particularly like noticing them, I know that I don't want to be one of those women who pretends that she is in her 30's BUT is in her 50's or 60's and looking like she's trying too hard.

Question 2:
Do you think it's wrong for a Christian to ever have a cosmetic procedure?

Jaclyn: It's a personal choice.

Sandy: It's what's inside that counts.

Question 3:
In Facelift, Kaye feels like her life is out of control. Have you ever felt this way?

Sandy: Everyday - My husband just got let go from his job - not sure what direction we are going so everyday I have to give control to God because we don't know what is going to happen.

Question 4:

Have you ever had a person like Marla thrust upon you? Where you had to spend time with this person or even take care of him or her? How did you manage? Was it easier than you thought? Or tougher?

Christie: Yes, I have a very critical mother in my life. She has never approved of anything I've done. All of a sudden she was very sick and needed my help. When I went to her I didn't recognize her. God led me there to care for her and a mild healing took place. But the only reason I was able to care for her was because I watched her care for her ailing mother for 7 years - and her mother didn't like her at the time!

Jaclyn: After reading this book I would now have grace on someone instead of kicking them out.

Sandy: I heard while watching a talk show on TV, "Hurt people, hurt people."

Question 5:

Have you felt the push/pull of trying to protect your children and yet not place them inside a bubble? How do you relinquish them into God's care?

Carmen: I am protective of my children now; I have no idea how it's going to be as they get older.

Honorable Mention (otherwise known as - I'm not sure who said this): There should be a book "What to Expect When Your Expecting Teenagers"! I love that!!

Lucie: I feel the push/pull to protect my children all the time! Whenever my children are leaving the house I call after them, "Love you, be careful" just as my parents did with me. I have to say that when my two oldest daughters, then 19 and 21 years old, went on a mission's trip to Jamaica I had a very difficult time with it because I was so worried about their safety. There had just been a news cast that gunmen were all over Jamaica killing people. Talk about having to trust God with your children! I probably prayed harder and more often in that week than I had in months! God gently reminded me that it was He who had the control over their lives and that I needed to trust Him.

I am reminded of a saying that I heard years ago, "If God Brings You To It, Then God Will Bring You Through It."

Question 6:

Have you ever read Proverbs 31? What was your reaction? Could you identify with the woman described or did you not measure up?

Deborah: At first I felt I could not measure up. But the more I studied it, the more I realized God is describing all of us women as a whole - all of the qualities that we can contribute together.

Thank you for joining our blog discussion!

If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them here or email me at: lucieluvsca@yahoo.com

More Free Kindle eBooks!

2011-03-21T18:35:00.000-07:00

If you want some great books for FREE then click on the link below to head on over to Amazon.com and get your favorite books on Kindle for FREE!!

Take a look at the pictures here & go grab some Christian fiction/Chick Lit (and there are a few devotionals) WHILE THEY ARE FREE...they won't be free for long.

To Browse Free Kindle Books:

Shop Amazon

Meet the Author & Book Club Discussion

2011-02-26T21:49:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our first ever author interview on my blog!

Miralee so graciously answered some questions for our book club meeting today (Directly following the interview our book club discussion of Miralee's book Love Finds You In Bridal Veil, Oregon is posted, so keep reading)! So, without further ado...

Here’s Miralee Ferrell!

Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon
Lucie: How did the “Love Finds You” series begin? I noticed that several different authors have joined in writing in the Love Finds You series as well.
Miralee: The Summerside team conceived the idea, with the plan to cover all 50 states with at least one book set in each. They must all be romance, but can have a women’s fiction or chic lit feel, be a suspense, mystery, or plain, straight romance. They can also be either contemporary or historical, but they’re contracting the majority now as historical.

Lucie: The area you wrote about in Oregon based around logging is very similar to our area here, Scotia being a logging town only about 5 minutes from here. We also have large redwoods here. I have been to Multnomah Falls in Oregon where my sister lives, so it was fun being familiar with the setting somewhat.
Lucie: How did you come up with the idea to write Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon?
Miralee: I was asking Stephen Bly for brainstorming help when he was doing a live Q&A session on a blog one time. I have a hard time coming up with ideas. He asked what type of things I enjoy doing and I mentioned flower gardening, and especially roses. So just off the cuff, he said….what if you were planting a rose bush and dug the hole to prepare for it, and your spade hit something hard. You dug deeper and found an old box. When you opened it, the box contained a yellowed paper with one word on it. YES. He went on to say I needed to take simple things like that and ask ….what if such and such happened…and see if I could get a story idea from it. I’m still not great at doing it that way, but bless his heart, he said he wouldn’t use that particular idea & I was welcome to it. So I tucked it away and it became the central idea for Bridal Veil. That’s why I dedicated the book to him.

Also, I didn’t come up with the town of Bridal Veil as a choice for a setting. Summerside Press had a list of towns they wanted to use. When they signed me for the book set in Last Chance I had pitched two story ideas to them, and they liked both. I asked for the list of towns after we decided on Last Chance, and saw that Bridal Veil was on the list—and it’s only about 40 minutes from my town. So I asked if they’d be willing to hold that one for me until I could put together a full synopsis for my story and they agreed. And as they say, the rest is history!

Lucie: I really liked that one of your character’s, Joel, was a special needs boy. I worked a few months with Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Porterville, CA working with higher functioning special needs people. Do you have personal experience working with special needs people or does someone in your family have special needs?
Miralee: Yes, my cousin Greg has Down Syndrome and he’s a sweetie pie. He can read, works at a store stocking shelves, and is able to be somewhat independent with his parents help. I have a real love for ‘kids’ like Greg and Joel, and wanted to feature a boy in my book that would give readers a better understanding into the hearts and minds of a special needs child.

Lucie: Are the towns in the book actual towns or did you make them up? (I definitely recognized the area of Multnomah Falls)
Miralee: All of the towns mentioned are actual ones….Corbett is only about 3-4 miles on east, Troutdale is another 6 or 7 on past that, and Portland another 15 on past that. Multnomah Falls isn’t a town, but a beautiful, high water fall with a gift shop at the base where a lot of tourists visit each year.

Lucie: How do you do your research when writing a book? Do you travel to the places or just search online?
Miralee: If at all possible I travel to the town, as I did for Last Chance, CA, Bridal Veil, Or, and a year ago, Tombstone, AZ (that just released earlier this month). I take a lot of pictures, try to contact a local historian (as I did with Bridal Veil, and he spent several hours showing me around the area and helping me with books, photos and articles about the town), go to museums, and do online research as needed.

Lucie: I found the historical parts to be very intriguing. Did you use any factual characters or were they all based on fictional characters?
Miralee: The owner of the dairy who had a very short appearance was a real person, as was Mr. Palmer (who we didn’t meet but heard about), the owner of the mill and town. Only one other person was real, and that was my great grandfather, Arthur Gibbs, the man who owned the dog, and found Samantha & Joel and took them to Margaret’s house. He actually worked for the Bridal Veil Lumbering Co during the era my book was set, used a team of horses to skid logs out of the woods, and was engaged to be married to my great grandmother who lived in Portland at the time. He went on to help pull stumps and skid logs for the old Columbia River Highway, part of which is still in use today.

Lucie: When you first set out to write this book did you just have ‘romance’ in mind given that the name of the series is “Love Finds You”? How did you decide to include a murder/mystery in a romance story or did it just develop given the historical setting that you were in?
Miralee: It’s funny….when I wrote my first LFY that’s set in Last Chance, CA, I’d never written a romance before. As you know, I started with The Other Daughter, women’s contemporary fiction, then Finding Jeena, the sequel. All of the LFY books MUST be romance, which I never thought I’d write. But I had a chance to write for this company and wasn’t going to turn down a contract that promised to possibly work into two books. Also, after I signed the contract for Last Chance (which was originally going to be a contemporary setting) I discovered that the town is now a ghost town and was only booming in the last 1800’s, so it quickly had to transition to a historical. It was my first romance, first historical, and first book with a suspense thread, all in one! That was quite the challenge! I enjoyed it so much I decided I wanted a suspense thread in Bridal Veil, as well. I didn’t put a murder or strong suspense thread in Tombstone, but it does have a very strong redemption/spiritual thread and strong secondary characters that carry the book without a suspense.

Lucie: I see that you just came out with another “Love Finds You” book set in Tombstone, AZ. How did you decide on this location?
Miralee: I discovered after writing Last Chance CA that I LOVE writing books set in the old west. I had permission to move Christy Grey, a secondary character from the Last Chance book to another town, so asked what towns in the old west they had available, and my editor gave me 4. I told her I’d love to do one set in Tombstone and gave her the story line. She loved it and they contracted it shortly after.

Lucie: Do you have a contract in which you write a set amount of “Love Finds You” books?
No, they only offer them (typically) one at a time, so I never know beyond the one that I’m on, if I’ll have another or not.

A special "Thank You" to Miralee Ferrell for this edition of Meet the Author.

We met for our February Chick Lit meeting today at Starbucks to discuss Love Finds You in Bridal Veil Oregon. I am posting our discussion with names of who answered each question below. For those of you who couldn't make it, this is a great opportunity to be a part of the Chick Lit Book Club so join in and leave a comment :-)

Opening up the questions Deborah L. takes the first one:

1. How did you experience the book? Were you engaged immediately, or did it take you awhile to "get into it"? How did you feel reading it --amused, sad, confused, bored?
" I got into it immediately! I was very interested while reading. I felt like I was a part of the story. I also felt especially protective of the character, Joel because I work with people who have special needs."

Christie S. takes question two:

2. Describe the main characters ---their personality traits, motivations, inner qualities. Are their actions justified? Do you admire or disapprove of them? Do they remind you of people you know?
"I thought that Margaret was very loving with a compassionate heart - but due to the death of her father it is making her find independence she normally would not have. I admire Margaret, and she reminds me of myself in ways. I like what the children are doing to her, how they are affecting her life and making her compassionate. They are having to rely on her and she is taking care of them first and foremost."

Lucie B. answers question three:

3. Do the main characters change by the end of the book? Do they grow, or come to learn something about themselves?
"Yes, I believe that they do change. Margaret realizes that her father had good intentions after all and forgives him for not telling her his 'secret' before he died. She also realizes that she was young and immature when she was 'in love' with Nathaniel and has since grown up. A very important thing that she realizes also is how important it is for her to have a relationship with a man who is a believer; contrasting the difference between Andrew and Nathaniel."

Kathy C. takes number four:

4. Is the plot engaging? Does the story interest you? Is this a plot-driven book, a fast-paced page turner? OR does the story evolve slowly? Were you surprised by the plots complications? Or did you find it predictable?
"It's an unfolding story, but at the same time it was a page-turner! I thought that Miralee really developed each character well."

Christie S. joined in: "Kept your attention by switching to different characters/scenes within the same chapter. Kept all of our attention!"

Kathy C. stated: "Definitely! it kept us on our toes until the end!!"

Lucie B. commented: "It kept our attention by letting us know what Margaret was thinking and feeling. And with regards to the two men in her life; giving the descriptions of Andrew and Nathaniel and how different they both were relating to Margaret, kept you wondering who she would choose."

Kathy C. answers number five:

5. Talk about the book's structure. Is it a continuous story or interlocking short stories? What viewpoint does the author use?
"Bunch of short stories woven together. First person throughout the book."

Lucie B. takes six:

6. What main ideas ----themes----does the author explore?
"I really liked the setting of the book. I have been to Multinomah Falls in Oregon and am familiar with the logging industry because of where we live here in the middle of the Redwood Forest where we have very similar small towns that used to log or still do. I also loved that the story brought in a character with special needs -- and was gentle with the subject but realistic from each point of view."

Christie S. commented: "I liked how Miralee put in the line that Joel was just "slow" not saying he was "stupid" or "retarded"."

Deborah L. answers number seven:

7. What passages strike you as insightful, even profound? A bit of dialogue thats funny, or encapsulates a character? Perhaps comments which make a statement of faith?
"The last time the children ran away, on page 270-271 in the book the man who found them in his barn (with a pitchfork in his hand) said something about the 'good Lord watching over them' and Margarets response was 'I think He has been since they arrived here, and I'm guessing He'll continue if I can just keep trusting Him.' The man then responds to her with, 'I think He'll keep on even if you struggle to trust Him. God's pretty big, you know, and He don't need our permission to care for those we love."

Christie S. commented: "I really liked how Sammie heard God's voice and was guided by Him (p. 96), and how it comes back into the story time and again how God spoke to Sammie and that God used this incident to be a witness to Margaret."

Carmen R. wraps it up with the last question:

8. Have you ever felt strongly that God was leading you in one direction and found out later that He wasn't?
"Yes, years ago I felt strongly that God was leading me to go to this private college, Chapman, to pursue a musical career singing opera. Only I found that He had lead me there to meet my future husband's mother who introduced me to him"

Thank you for reading all the way to the end! Whew! Now, let's get those comments coming!

We Meet This Saturday!

2011-02-24T11:56:00.000-08:00

The book for February is Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon by Miralee Ferrell.
Remember this Saturday we meet at Starbucks - same time, same place (dates and times are always posted on the far right). I don't know about you but I have really enjoyed reading this book! Romance, suspense, murder, history, and faith all wrapped up in one book!

We are trying something new at this meeting; posting our book discussion right here afterward. It might take a few days or so to post but be looking for it. This will be a fun way for others who could't make it to the meeting to join in and feel like a part of this adventure we call the Chick Lit Book Club & Review!

Also, I am going to try to get ahold of Miralee before our meeting for a short author interview so that I can share with our group (if we cannot do an interview during the meeting). There are great opportunities out there!

Free for your Kindle - Act Now!

2011-02-10T14:43:00.000-08:00

I am happy to tell you about some very good books that are available to download FREE for your Kindle! Amazon offers new book selections every so often that are FREE! Some of them have even been our Chick Lit Book of the Month and some will be new selections later on this year. Click on the picture to the left to enlarge it and see what's available right now! If you don't have a Kindle yet, now is a great time to download the FREE Kindle for PC and get several new books FREE at the same time! It's a "win-win" situation!

So what are you waiting for? Head on over to Amazon.com and see what all of the 'hubbub' is about! I've even provided the links for you to follow below :-)
To Download Kindle for your Personal Computer:Kindle for your Personal Computer - Download Link

To Browse Free Kindle Books:Kindle Bestsellers - Free on the Right Side

We're Celebrating the Month of Love...

2011-01-22T21:07:00.000-08:00

For the month of February the Chick Lit Book Club will be reading Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, OR by Miralee Ferrell. Make sure to get your copy soon so that you can come and join us for our next meeting and discuss the book!

Date and location are listed to the right ~~>

Visit Miralee's website and get to know this wonderful Christian author:

http://www.miraleeferrell.com/

Another Great Year for the Chick Lit Book Club & Review!

2010-12-30T14:46:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe that another year has past and we are still alive and kicking! We are heading into our 3rd year (In March 8,2011)!
I will be posting a new book list of all the past book selections the Chick Lits have read. Also, be looking for the new 'Chick Lit Book Club' book shelf at the Hydesville Church! This is an exciting new addition for our book club! We will be working on adding all of our book club selections to this book shelf!

Special Note: We have two book club meetings in the month of January because of the holidays; January 1st is for our December meeting and January 22nd will be our usual January book club meeting.

Over $100 of Kindle eBooks...FREE!!

2010-11-24T01:21:00.000-08:00

If you love a bargain, you cannot beat FREE!! I check Amazon.com constantly because these books come and go quickly! In fact, while I was downloading a few of these I went back to check which ones were FREE....and one of them went to full price! Be quick about it and you just might get several free ebooks!

Here is a list of some of them:

1. Great Parents, Lousy Lovers by Dr. Gary Smalley and Ted Cunningham (Free for now but priced at $17.99 so act fast!) 2. Danger in the Shadows by Dee Henderson ($11.99 soon) 3. Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes ($11.99) 4. Lonestar Sanctuary (Lonestar Series, Book 1) by Colleen Coble ($14.99) 5. Invisible (Ivy Malone Mystery Series, Book 1) ($12.99) 6. Relentless (Dominion Trology # 1) by Robin Parrish ($13.00)7. The Paradise War by Stephen R. Lawhead ($15.99) 8. On the Run by Bill Meyers ($4.99) 9. Sophia's World By Nancy Rue ($6.99)

Go to Amazon for the amazing Kindle and all of the free books listed here(While they last!) : www.amazon.com

Book Review - The Miracle of Mercy Land by River Jordan

2010-10-27T21:49:00.000-07:00

This is the first book that I've read by River Jordan and I wasn't disappointed. The cover to The Miracle of Mercy Land is beautiful itself, I totally pay attention to covers and even to the type of finish on the cover - I love the satiny feel to it! Yes, I'm a book geek!

The style of writing reminds me of the movie Fried Green Tomatoes, if you were to read it as a book in the language of the main character, Mrs. Threadgoode. Folksy I would call it, and very quaint but yet beautiful and poetic. An example: "My words might be nothing more than a ripple across the waters of time, but they are surely better than no record at all."

The story is set in the 1930's in Bay City on the warm gulf-waters of Southern Alabama. Mercy, the daughter of a traveling preacher, works at the local newspaper as Doc's (publisher and editor of the paper) assistant.

Right away in Chapter One the story grabs your attention with the mention of a huge secret that falls into Mercy's lap but Doc tells Mercy not to tell a soul...Then in Chapter Two a mysterious book 'appears' in Doc's office that seems to be alive...alive with mystery and foreboding all at once!

Next, Doc announces that he is retiring. How can he retire at a time like this? What about the book? As the book's purpose become more clear, the important people in Mercy's life become more blurred. She must overcome her own fears to deal with the consequences.

This is a fascinating story which takes you on a journey with Mercy and Doc and the people of Bay City, Alabama. A story that makes you think about your own past and how you can change your future by the choices you make.

I enjoyed the quaint personalities of this small town and the unique story line as well.

Disclaimer: A copy of The Miracle of Mercy Land was sent to me from Waterbrook Press to read and review. This is my own honest opinion of this book and I haven't been told to be either positive or negative.

Great Discussion!

2010-10-18T21:58:00.000-07:00

We had a great discussion at our meeting Saturday. Beach Dreams (Trish Perry) was such fun and easy to read! I just have to say that to be able to have fun reading & then have a discussion which ranged from light and fun to deep and meaningful is something that I don't take for granted. Thank you ladies; those of you who were able to make it to the meeting this last week-end and for those of you who were with us in spirit. YOU make the Chick Lit Book Club rock!

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I have several of the up and coming book selections listed in the far right column. Now is a great time to purchase your books, ahead of time. We are reading Christmas selections November and December and then for the FIRST TIME EVER we are reading a non-fiction book in January! Choosing To See: A Journey of Struggle and Hope by Mary Beth Chapman (wife of Steven Curtis Chapman; popular Christian music artist...who I have had the privilege to see backstage at one of his concerts years ago!) I cannot wait for that discussion! February follows with a light-hearted "Facelift" by Leanna Ellis one of our book club's favorite authors! Happy Reading!

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Kindle for your computer or smart phone. I just spotted these FREE Kindle Bible Studies! If you are interested you need to act fast because this won't last for very long! Check back often. Wow, I sound like a commercial! Haha! I just wanted to share with everyone because if you're like me, you love a good deal! You can't beat FREE!

(Click on the picture to enlarge)

Next Meeting in October & Last Minute Giveaway!

2010-09-28T16:18:00.000-07:00

As many of you know our September Book Club Meeting was cancelled due to the Women's Retreat (Hydesville Church) which took place this last weekend. I hope that many of you were able to attend and are refreshed because of it!

Our next Book Club Meeting will be the third Saturday in October (See upper right side for date and times).

We will be discussing Beach Dreams by Trish Perry. So hurry up and get yourself a copy and start reading! Hope to see you there!

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Bonus Giveaway: I have a copy of "Dancing with My Father" by Sally Clarkson here with 'your' name on it! Enter by commenting to this blog. I will draw a name via "The Hat" on Friday, Oct. 1. That's it!

Disclaimer: All of my book reviews are completely my own opinion after reading personally. Some are given to me by the publishers without any stipulations whatsoever.

Tomorrow Chick Lit Book Club & Review Meets!

2010-08-27T17:09:00.001-07:00

Our regular monthly Book Club meeting is tomorrow, Saturday the 28th of August at 11am for the clubbers and 10am for the reviewers! We meet at Starbucks here in town. The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner will be discussed.

Don't forget to stop by Cafe Press to purchase your very own Chick Lit T-Shirt, Mug, Tote Bag, or other personalized item to show your support of the Chick Lit Book Club & Review!!

http://www.cafepress.com/ChickLitStore

Our next book is

Maid to Match by Deeanne Gist!

Chick Lit Meeting was awesome!

2010-08-09T00:40:00.000-07:00

We had a great time last weekend discussing Fools Rush In by Janice Thompson! What a fun read it was too - sort of My Big Fat Greek (Italian) Wedding, wears cowboy boots! Well, anyways you have to read the book to know what I mean.

Two new ladies came to our meeting; Christie and Karen! It was fun to hear from newcomers and listen to their ideas and thoughts. They were a nice addition to our discussion! So thank you Christie and Karen, we look forward to seeing you at our August book club discussion!

Discussing in August

Our next book is The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner. You still have time to purchase a copy and start reading! Date and times for our Chick Lit Book Club & Review meeting are posted on the upper right side of this blog.

More important dates are coming for the end of August! Until then, enjoy the rest of your Summer!

Chick Lit Book Club Meeting This Saturday!

2010-07-30T03:54:00.000-07:00

Don't forget that our Chick Lit Book Club & Review meeting is this coming Saturday at Starbucks. Our book club meets at 11 am and our Review Group meets at 10 am. We will be discussing "Fools Rush In" by Janice Thompson. This is such a funny, cute story!! Come by the coffee shop and talk to us about it! We love newcomers :-)

New Book Review - Shades of Morning by Marlo Schalesky

2010-07-13T11:17:00.000-07:00

Shades of Morning opens up with a beautiful picture of a special needs (Down Syndrome) boy, Emmit, laying out in the snow making snow angels. The sweet opening is short lived though as tragedy strikes and changes Emmit's whole world.

The scene is quickly changed to flashbacks of the other characters in the book. Marnie, the main character, owns a coffee shop/book store and is doing well for herself. She is surrounded by people who care about her, people who don't know her past. Then, one day Marnie receives a letter that turns her life upside down, again.

Flashback to Marnie and her older sister, Rose (biological sister), who are foster children whose birth mother left them at a young age - Rose is keeping a secret about their mother that Marnie is bound and determined to find out!

Marnie Helen Wittier is not a wimp...she wears leather and rides a Harley. She doesn't take any gruff from anyone! She has lived a life of rejection, starting with her own mom. Why did her mother leave her and her sister? Was she that unlovable?

The writer does an excellent job of portraying the inner-most thoughts of a girl who has been put in the 'system'. Marnie has made her mistakes and run away from them to start a new life far away from the mistakes & the man who revolves around them.
Will Marnie ever deserve to be loved in the way that her heart yearns for? How can God forgive her? For that fact, where was God when all this was happening? How can God mend her heart and bring her to a place where she can put the past behind her? Especially, when Marnie is trying to bring the past to the present with her incessant pleading to find her birth mother. People are telling her to leave the past alone, don't meddle in the past. But Marnie doesn't listen.

In Shades of Morning, you will read about; Emmit, a special needs child (who Marnie doesn't know about until her sister, Rose, dies and leaves him to her to care for); two sisters, Marnie and Rose, who were placed in the foster care system; a young attorney, Taylor Cole, whose desires are to help the innocent and to touch the heart of a young lady who rejects him at every turn; and what true reconciliation with God is like!

This book will take you on a topsy-turvy tale that leaves you spinning at times, at other times you will gain insight to God's purpose for your life and the love that He has for you. The main character, Marnie, also gives us a bird's eye view, if you will, to a modern/goth type that many of the church going crowd don't care for, we can be so judgemental with each other whether its a hair style, wearing pants to church (oh no! Not that!), or if you have a nose piercing... wearing a floral dress and high heel shoes doesn't make you a nicer person or better Christian. God loves us where we are, no matter what we wear or how we style our hair. This book will also give you alot of insight into the life of a Down Syndrome child and the special joy that comes from a relationship with such a child.

I also liked the way the author exposes materialism and how society is regarding position, wealth and other things. Here are a few quotes from the book that I thought were very provocative:

"Decency couldn't be bought at Saks; honor wasn't purchased at Nordstom. It wasn't gained by knowing the right words to say, the right purse to carry, the right way to do your hair and nails. Instead beauty often hid in ugliness. And wonder often dressed in ratty clothes. The trick was seeing the truth, recognizing the beauty God placed in each person."

Read Shades of Morning for yourself to find out how it ends...

Author Bio: Marlo Schalesky is the author of several books, including Beyond the Night and Empty Womb, Aching Heart. A graduate of Stanford University, Marlo also has a Masters of Theology with an emphasis in biblical studies from Fuller Theological Seminary. Married over twenty years, she lives with her husband, Bryan, and their five children in California.

You may purchase your copy of Shades of Morning from Amazon Here:
http://www.amazon.com/Shades-Morning-Novel-Marlo-Schalesky/dp/1601420250/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278002286&sr=8-1

I received this book to review from the publishers. Whatever I write about on this blog is completely my opinion.

Winner of Beguiled!

2010-07-03T15:55:00.000-07:00

We have a winner for the book drawing of Beguiled by Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand! The winner is...Deb aka booknook516.

Thank you to all of you who participated in this drawing. Keep checking back for more book reviews and book drawings coming up soon!

Beguiled Giveaway - Drawing July 3

2010-06-18T13:46:00.000-07:00

Are you ready for another awesome book giveaway? Since it's been a few weeks since I've had a drawing I looked through my bookshelf and found a great book that I have two of! Here is a summary from the back of the book:

"In the shadows of Charleston, someone is watching her...

Rylee Monroe, a dogwalker in Charleston's wealthiest neighborhood, never feared the streets at night. but now a theif is terrorizing the area and worse, someone seems to be targeting her!

Reporter Logan Woods (of course, Logan...such a hunky name!) is following the break-ins with the hope of publishing his coverage as a true-crime book.

The more he digs, the more he realizes this beguiling dogwalker seems to be at the center of everything.

As danger draws ever closer, Logan must choose:

Chase the girl, the story, or plunge into the shadows after the villain who threatens everything?"

The authors of the book; Deeanne Gist partnered with J. Mark Bertrand her former critique group partner who decided to blend her bestselling romance skills with his acclaimed suspense writing for this unique romance suspense novel. Deeanne is best known for her bestselling historical romances, including A Bride in the Bargain, while Mark's solo debut is the crime novel Back on Murder.

To enter this book drawing choose from the following:

1. Comment to this post with your email address (susieQ at yahoo dot com).
2. Tell me about your favorite mystery/romance book and author.
3. Follow my blog - New Followers
4. Follow me on Twitter - New Followers
5. Follow me on Networked Blogs via Facebook - New Followers
6. If you already follow me on my blog, Twitter, or Networked Blogs on Facebook... mention it and I will give you an extra entry! I love my followers :-)

I will be drawing a name on Saturday, July 3 2010!

This is a Bethany House book. If you wish to order your own click on this link:

http://www.bethanyhouse.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=0477683E4046471488BD7BAC8DCFB004&nm=&type=PubCom&mod=PubComProductCatalog&mid=BF1316AF9E334B7BA1C33CB61CF48A4E&tier=3&id=2677007A9C314B138DB6AC62D1680421&AudId=205F4A61B07648D98551934CA40DE116

Update :-)

2010-06-03T18:52:00.000-07:00

Hello lovely book readers! Just a quick note to let you know that I'm planning on having another giveaway soon :-) I may have a 2-book giveaway! Keep checking back and enter to win another great book (or 2!).

~~Lucie

The Winner of Indivisible by Kristen Heitzmann Is...

2010-05-27T01:35:00.000-07:00

The winner of the book drawing for Indivisible by Kristen Heitzmann is...Steph! I will be in touch with you by email to get your snail mail addy so that I can get this book out to you! Congratulations Steph!

Thank you to all who entered the drawing! Keep your eyes open because I will be reviewing another book soon with a drawing! ~~Lucie

Indivisible by Kristen Heitzmann Book Review and Giveaway!

2010-05-19T18:18:00.000-07:00

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly!

Let me break down the Good for you first. The writing style was interesting, included a lot of suspense, and was truly different than most books that I've read. The writing was also contemporary in that it used a lot of slang terminology.

My favorite character was definitely Piper, a 20-something, light-hearted, bubbly personality who, in my opinion, kept this book from being too dark and creepy!

The writer keeps you interested - once you've made the commitment to read the book (That is you have read past the first chapter!) there are so many twists and turns to this story that you are never bored!

The Bad: There were several story lines going on throughout the book which made it hard to follow at times. Also, while it was easy to see who the favored male was, it was a difficult task finding an appropriate female lead character. I think that there was SO much baggage with the characters in this book that it could be a downer at times. Piper, although having a crazy family of swindlers, somehow came out of her life with a positive attitude and a very likable character. And, as a twist, there is some major psychological suspense going on with one story line - weird but yet intriguing at the same time!

The Ugly: Definitely the strange criminal behavior with animals that didn't fit the norm for cult activity or anything like that. There was alot of situations that dealt with drugs (a meth lab, trafficking), alcoholism, and the date rape pill. Also mentioned was some illegal scams with local government & police involvement. The story dealt with the Christian aspect in a few of the characters lives, although it was pretty vague. I didn't feel the God connection developing throughout this book as strongly as I would have liked to.

Tia, the lead female character, was a very complex character. She had a past broken love affair with the police chief, Jonah Westfall. She broke her sisters heart in the process and is now an outcast in her own family. Tia seemed depressed most of the time and went to church and befriended some of the ladies there seemingly to do some good deeds which she thought would make up for her past mistakes. She is living a contradiction by answering a hotline for people in crisis and giving great advice while being so totally lost herself.

Jonah Westfall is a very good looking Police Chief that all the ladies have eyes for. He has an amiable personality and is a former alcoholic. Jonah had a very dark childhood which you don't find out completely about until the latter second half of the book. Jonah's own father was the former Police Chief and it is mentioned right away that Jonah didn't have a good relationship with his father and wasn't proud of him at all in his police dealings; we find out later in the book why. His love interest is Tia...which is hard to tell in the first 100 pages of the book!

Piper is the happy-go-lucky young lady who, even though her own mother and father lived a life a thievery and greed, has somehow come out of it unblemished. She works at a small bakery in town and tries out new recipes and joyously shares them in the bakery whenever her boss, Sarge, was absent. Piper had no faith in God but when the going gets tough she calls Tia's prayer partners and asks them how to pray and prays with them.

Dr. Rainier, the new Vet in town, is a pretty, 30-something year old lady. She is a smart vet who loves animals. Somewhere along the line you get the thoughts of a Fatal Attraction - which can't be any farther from the truth! All I'm saying!

I think in some ways this book was written to inform the reader of the effects/trouble's of alcoholism and the lifetime commitment to recovery. It also informs you of the whole date rape issue describing all of the effects, its slang name ( a "roofie"), how long it takes for the effects to wear off, ect... In the end, knowledge is power. Important to know what's out there and how it affects others.

If you would like a copy of Indivisible post a comment here. If you would like extra entries then do all or any of the following:

1. Favorite suspense novel?
2. Become a new follower of my blog, Networked Blogs on Facebook, or my Twitter
3. Post about this drawing on your blog/ post my button on your blog.

I will be drawing a name for the winner next Wednesday, May 26th.

Disclaimer: WaterBrookMultinomah Publishing Company sent me a copy of Indivisible by Kristen Heitzmann. My review on Indivisible is my own opinion and the company who sent it to me had no influence whatsoever on my review posted here or otherwise.

Drawing Winner!

2010-05-15T17:00:00.001-07:00

The winner of Radical by David Platt is...Rachel from the United Kingdom! I think it's wonderful that I get to meet people from other countries on here! Awesome! All I need is Rachel's email/snail mail address to get her this wonderful book!
I will be posting another book review/giveaway on Indivisible by Kristen Heitzmann hopefully this weekend.

Here is a little taggy for you Rachel!

Congratulations!

Thank you to all who entered the drawing!

"Radical" Review and Giveaway!

2010-05-06T17:41:00.000-07:00

I usually read & review Christian Romance, Fiction, Historical, or mysteries but every once in awhile I will throw in a different genre for a change. Sometimes change is good.

I have just finished reading Radical by David Platt and let me tell you...it was radical! Wow! The concepts in this book are mind blowing to say the least! In this insightful book you will read about the author's take on modern day Christianity, American Christianity specifically. Some things that he takes on are; Americans comfortable Christianity - have we made Jesus into who we want Him to be?; Christians and the Mission Field- who will tell the world about Jesus? Do we leave it up to the few who choose to go to Africa or Asia... or are each of us called to be missionaries in some way? What does the Bible say about this?; What is Authentic Discipleship?; Does God want us to sell everything we own and follow Him? These are just a few of the questions that are answered in Radical by David Platt.

This book will make you re-think what you believe and do some soul searching in the process. That is the least that you will take away from "Radical". Here is an excerpt from the book;

"This is the question that often haunts me when I stand before a crowd of thousands of people in the church I pastor. What if we take away the cool music and the cushioned chairs? What if the screens are gone and the stage is no longer decorated? What if the air conditioning is off and the comforts are removed? Would His Word still be enough for His people to come together?" Herein lies the question, have we made a 'Jesus' that fits our lifestyles?

There are several moving testimonials throughout the book which really add to the content of the book & help you to understand the author's viewpoint on a variety of subjects.

I do have to mention that some of what I read was a little bit offensive at first because after all, I am an American Christian who has come to believe a lot of what David tells you is not necessarily Biblical. Reading this book has made me turn to Scripture more than once, and it has given me a new desire to follow Christ in a way that is fresh and new!

Are you interested yet? Are you ready to be radically transformed by Jesus? Maybe this book will give you that little nudge that you've been needing. Check out the "Radical Experiment" toward the back of the book..."One Year to a Life Turned Upside Down". There is also a great little book which you can download for free from David Platt's website http://radicalthebook.com named The Radical Question. What is Jesus Worth To You?

I have a copy of Radical to giveaway. Please post a comment to this post with your email - remember to post like this: susieq (at) aol (dot) com to avoid the spammers. As usual there are several ways to earn extra entries below:

1. Leave a comment to this post
2. New Followers to my blog
3. New Twitter Followers
4. New Networked Blogs Followers on Facebook
5. What is the most inspiring book that you have ever read (not including the Bible)?

I will be drawing a winner for this book Thursday, May 13th. I am also reviewing another book this week, Indivisible by Kristen Heitzmann so be looking for it :-)

Website Just for the Book: http://www.radicalthebook.com/

Dr. David Platt is lead pastor of the Church at Brook Hills, a four-thousand-member congregation in Birmingham, Alabama, that describes itself as " a faith family full of world-impacting disciples who really believe that as a church we can shake the nations for His glory."

You may purchase a copy directly from the publishers at WaterBrook Multinomah:
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601422217

Disclaimer: I have received 'Radical' by David Platt from WaterBrook Multinomah publishers. Everything that I have said in my above review is my own personal opinion.

Quick Preview of This Week

2010-05-03T01:53:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! Just a note to let you know that I will be posting a review/drawing on "Radical" by David Platt on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week.

Also, for the Chick Lit Book Club we are reading Intervention by Terri Blackstock for the next two weeks. Saturday, May 15th we are meeting at Starbucks in Fortuna. Really looking forward to our book discussion!~~~Lucie

Winner of The Bridegrooms!

2010-04-28T00:36:00.000-07:00

The winner of The Bridegrooms by Allison Pittman is... Allison!! Hey, it really paid off getting those extra entries in because Allison won with her 5th entry!!!

Thank you to all who participated in the drawing! Keep checking back often because I will be having another book review with a drawing soon :-)

Allison, don't forget to grab your taggy to the left.

Have I posted about how much I love my blog and blogging? Well, I do! I enjoy reading comments and I guess I'm just a social butterfly because I can gab all day long on here (and other people's blogs)!

Take care until next time ~~Lucie

The Bridegrooms (Allison Pittman) Review and Book Drawing

2010-04-21T23:12:00.000-07:00

The Bridegrooms is set in the 1800's and recounts the tale of the Allenhouse family. The family unit consists of both parents and four children; all girls! It opens up with heartache as you find out that the mother, who seems to have loved her children, walks out in the middle of the night leaving her four girls and a husband to fend for themselves. Then, as the story unfolds, the Allenhouse girls grow up and enter the age of suitors and marriage.

The main character, Vada, is the oldest. Vada is betrothed to Garrison, a simple but respectful man who has agreed to marry her. Her inner thoughts give way to daydreaming about a more exciting, flirtatious relationship with someone. Yet, here is Garrison...a sensible but non-romantic man who wants to marry her.

Vada's sisters are; Hazel, who is slightly plump and is trying hard to find a man to settle down with! She writes to men across the country seeking to find a husband; Lisette, a frivolous young lady who is also beautiful and gets all the guys; and Althea, the youngest who hasn't spoken a word since her mom's dissappearance but has a way with the written word (poetry).

Their father, whom they refer to in an endearing way as "Doc" is a doctor who although he loves his daughters - can't seem to figure out how to connect with them. The absense of the mother has left a huge hole in the family.

When the Brooklyn Bridegrooms, a baseball team, come into their town to play against the Cleveland Spiders...something terrible happens! The ball soars out into the crowd, hits a man and knocks him out cold! This poor fellow is taken to the Allenhouse home where he is taken care of, and, it just so happens that he is placed in Vada's bedroom to do the mending! Of course, Vada takes up residence in another part of the house.

This is an enjoyable, entertaining book! Although, at times I thought that it was hard to keep up on all of the different story lines, I still enjoyed The Bridegrooms and will remember the tales that it held.

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Drawing to be held on Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

Please leave a comment with your email address - example: SuzieQ (at) msn (dot) com helps avoid the spammers.

Extra Entries for the following:

1. New followers on Twitter

2. New Followers on my blog

3. New follow me on Networked Blogs on facebook

Just for fun (each will get you an extra entry!):

How many books have you read so far this year?

How many are you intending to read over the entire year?

What is your all-time favorite book?

~~Until next time, Lucie

Visit Allison Pittman on her website: http://allisonpittman.com/

You may purchase your own copy of The Bridegrooms by Allison Pittman directly from the publishers at Random House:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601421371

Disclaimer: I received The Bridegrooms by Allison Pittman from the publishers at Random House. This review was based on my own personal opinion and in no way represents the opinion of the publishers.

Our Chick Lit Book Club Meeting Tonight

2010-04-19T23:18:00.000-07:00

Tonight our book club met at Starbucks to discuss Watch Over Me by Christa Parrish. A great big thank you goes out to Jaclyn who gathered the questions and lead the discussion. We discussed how this book was different than some we have read in the past and that it was very complex in ways.

One thing that made this book different and interesting was how the author uses one of the main characters in the book to help us learn about post-war trauma. We discussed how difficult it must be for someone to return home after serving in battle or war (Benjamin had returned home after serving in Afganistan). I personally have never known anyone who has served our country in a war so I found it very enlightening. The author gives you a peek into Benjamin's head and what he was experiencing after coming back home and how it effects the whole family. That was just one part of the story, you'll have to read it yourself for the rest :-)

For those of you who missed our meeting, (and you know who you are!!!) we missed you! Be checking back here often to find out when our next Chick Lit Book Club meeting is as I will be posting it after I meet with our co-leader, Deborah.

ALSO I WILL BE POSTING A BOOK REVIEW AND BOOK GIVEAWAY ON WEDNESDAY. Another great book!

Until next time,

Lucie

And the Winner Is...

2010-04-16T00:05:00.000-07:00

I just pulled a name out of a hat...well, that isn't totally true. I typed all the names into this neat little program called "The Hat" and then clicked on "The Hat" which randomly picked one name! Pretty cool little program!

Anywho, the winner of Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze issssssss CORRINE! Congratulations! I will be contacting you through email :-) Look I made you a taggy too!

I am reviewing The Bridegrooms by Allison Pittman next week! Please come by and leave a comment.

There will also be a book drawing attached to this one!

Until next time

~Lucie

Chance to Win Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze

2010-04-12T14:26:00.000-07:00

If you are a 'thrill seeker' and love a good mystery this book is for you! This one captured me from the first page and very few books can do that for me! Although... I'm the first one to admit that I am a wimp and I don't usually read much from this genre. Not because I don't enjoy a good thriller or mystery, but because I sometimes forget where reality ends and fantasy begins! Like when I watch suspenseful movies, I am the one crawling up the back of my seat jumping and screaming "Oh no!"
The good news for me was that there was another part of the story which had a deeper 'take me back to reality' meaning; a strong spiritual thread woven throughout the book.

Vicki's writing style was enjoyable and she portrayed the main character's faith in God realistically without it being 'cheesy'. It was believable! One of the signs of a great book is that it makes you think at a deeper level and Forget Me Not is a book that you will take with you and remember for a long time to come.

Forget Me Not is a story of how God never leaves us, He is with us at all times, even when it seems as if He's not (as it says in the Bible, "...I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5) The title also implies this truth. God didn't forget Kelly or Ben. He won't forget about you either. In your most horrible trials, when you feel as if no-one is listening, when you feel as though your whole world is crumbling...He is there waiting for you to ask for help, patiently waiting.

One question that you may ask yourself as you read this book is; when things get rough in my life, do I have complete faith in God that He will take care of me? OR am I constantly trying to take the reins, because I can do a much better job than God can, of course (Not!).

This is also a story about faith. Having faith in God can only happen when you have a relationship with Him. It's easy to trust in God when everything is going your way, but when things start to head South do you still trust that God is in control and handling it? If we let Him, He will be that steady, persistent, constant love in our lives.

My Short Summary: Kelly, has already been through many tragic events in her life and as the story unfolds perhaps the most terrifying is yet to happen. She finds herself beaten and left for dead and stripped of her memory. Being hit on the head has left her with amnesia. All alone in a dark wooded area she awakens to a flashlight shining in the distance. Scared and shivering she waits until whoever it is finds her. Fortunately for her it is a kind old man out for a morning walk.

The closer she gets to finding out who she is, the more dangerous it gets. But having lived a life on the run, she relies on her faith to get her through. Her faith in God is the only thing that she can remember from her past! As she confronts secrets from her past and several new dangers she consistently looks to God to comfort her and give her the guidance she SO needs!

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As a bonus I am including the first few pages below! Enjoy!

"You know what I want."

Hearing him behind her, she jerked and dropped her paintbrush. It slid across the canvas, streaking the emerald gulf water with a bold, jagged slash of white.

"Gregory", she said, her voice half croak, half whisper, her eyes seeing far beyond the easel and canvas in front of her."

She had made this confrontation inevitable, but she hoped to finish one last painting before -

"Well? Are you going to give it to me?"

Shaking, she turned. He stood closer than she expected, towering above her and blocking both studio doors. The one to the deck overlooking the gulf was closer, but with his stride and reach --- she didn't stand a chance.

Inevitable.

Putting down her palette, she squared her shoulders and stiffened, unable to see past the blood lust in his eyes. Would her response push him over the edge?

Regardless, she had only one choice. Her mouth as dry as the sand between her and the surf, she hiked her chin and looked him right in the eye. "No."

"Reconsider --- and think carefully." His hands curled into fists at his sides, his face darkened to red, and the blood vessels in his thick neck protruded. "Is that your final answer?"

How could anyone that angry sound that controlled? She darted her gaze from door to door, still seeking a way out. But there wasn't one. No one would interrupt, would hear her scream. There would be no escape.

She glanced to a painting of a young girl hanging on the wall. What more could she have done? The man was rich, powerful, and more manipulative than anyone that she'd ever known. She had gone all the way to the Mayor looking for help. Well, to his wife, Darla, but even she had to admit how outrageous her claims had sounded. Gregory Chessman did seem incapable of anything that wasn't wonderful.

Yet she knew better. She studied the painting, the innocence and promise in that beloved face. If he found her --- and sooner or later, he would --- then she, too, would die.

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Drawing to be held on Friday, April 16th.

Please leave a comment with your email address to be entered in the drawing for Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze.

Extra entries:

1. New Followers on Twitter

2. New Followers on my Blog

3. New Follow me on NETWORKED BLOGS on Facebook

Just For Fun: (Each will get you an extra entry!)

Do you read suspense?

What is your favorite genre?

Blog about this drawing or mention my blog on Facebook

Until next time ~~~Lucie

Visit Vicki Hinze on her website:

http://vickihinze.com/

You may purchase your own copy of Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze directly from the publishers at WaterBrook Multinomah:

http://waterbrookmultinomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601422057

Disclaimer: I have received copies of Forget Me Not from WaterBrook Multinomah publishers for review. My reviews have in no way been influenced by the publishers. Every review I write comes from my honest opinion about each book.

Winner of Drawing Today!

2010-04-08T19:36:00.001-07:00

First of all, I want to thank all of you who entered and are following my Tweets and my Networked Blog on Facebook! I am excited to see how this little blog will grow in the next year! Its been fun getting to know all of you and how this blog world works :-)

I am pleased to announce the winner of the drawing for An Absence So Great by Jane Kirkpatrick is...drum roll.....Jo!

I will be posting another awesome book drawing in the next week! Check back often. ~ Lucie

New Drawing for An Absence So Great by Jane Kirkpatrick

2010-04-04T22:39:00.000-07:00

An Absence So Great by Jane Kirkpatrick captured my attention right away with its cast of characters in the first few pages of the book along with a map of Winona, Minnesota from the 1900 time period. It was also very intriguing to have some actual authentic photographs spread throughout the book.

Jane's writing style is witty and romantic stirring a desire to be swept away in the past, even if for a little while.

If you love photography you will be interested in the way in which Jane describes what the photographer is thinking while looking at a subject and what the photographer wants to portray in each photograph. You will take a trip through time with a bird's eye view through the lens of a 1900's photographer.

The scenes and characters in the book are based on actual historical women in this time period. You see the struggle for equality rising among the women. For example; women in those days were not looked kindly on if they were to go into a store by themselves to make a purchase...it would have been quite scandalous and an opportunity for scoundrels to take advantage of!

Jesse Gaebele has left behind a forbidden romance with her former (married) employer, Fred Bauer. Jesse's personal life is still at a crossroads as the book opens up. She escapes to Milwaukee hoping to begin again and get her life on track. Although she tries she cannot keep painful memories away as she struggles to make a new life for herself. She soon discovers that something is missing inside of her, there is an absence in her heart. What can fill this emptiness and give her the life she so longs for? Read along as Jesse finds love, forgiveness, and ultimate grace.

To enter the drawing for this lovely book make a comment to this post!

Extra entries:

1 - Follow me on Twitter (lucieluvsca)

2- Follow my blog on Facebook (My blog network taggy is on the right if you scroll down)

Author Bio:

Jane Kirkpatrick is an award-winning author of sixteen historical novels, including A Flickering Light, the first part of Jesse Gaebele's story, and three nonfiction novels. Known for her unique insights into the exploration of community, family, and faith of actual historical women, the Wisconsin native and her husband have called their ranch in Oregon home for the past 25 years.

Visit Jane on the web:http://www.jkbooks.com/

You may purchase your own copy of An Absence So Great by Jane Kirkpatrick here:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781578569816

I received this book from Random House Publishers for review. I review each book carefully and give my own personal opinion.

We Have A Winner!

2010-03-31T23:24:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Jaclyn!

You have won the drawing for "Here Burns My Candle" by Liz Curtis Higgs!

I know that you will enjoy this book, I sure did! I will email you with the details.

Don't forget to be looking for my next giveaway!

"Here Burns My Candle"- Liz Curtis Higgs

2010-03-22T19:12:00.000-07:00

Book Drawing and Review

I cannot say enough good about this author - Liz Curtis Higgs - she has been a favorite of mine for years! I just love her writing style and am amazed how she re-writes well known Bible stories in a different setting and time!! Amazing!!

Here Burns My Candle is set in eighteenth century Scotland. Liz has traveled to Scotland a few times and you get a feel of her love for the rich history and beautiful countryside of Scotland throughout the book. You'll also get a mini-course in Scottish slang (and there is a handy glossary in the back). Gotta love that!

This time around her story revolves around the Biblical account of Ruth and Naomi.

If you want to read a great book with Biblical values set in a beautiful setting that is rich in details then you are going to love Here Burns My Candle!

To enter the drawing post a comment here and don't forget to leave your email addy (suzieQ at aol dot com or something like it). Saturday I will draw a name!

**Extra entry for sharing your favorite Liz Curtis Higgs book with us :-)

Liz Curtis Higgs is the author of twenty-seven books with three million copies in print, including: her best selling historical novels, Thorn in My Heart, Fair is the Rose, Christy award winner Whence Came a Prince, and Grace in Thine Eyes, a Christy award finalist; My Heart's in the Lowlands: Ten Days in Bonny Scotland an armchair travel guide to Galloway; and her contemporary novels, Mixed Signals, A Rita Award Finalist, and Bookends, A Christy Award Finalist. Visit the author's extensive website at: http://www.lizcurtishiggs.com/

You may purchase your own copy at: http://waterbrookmultinomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781400070015

This book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multinomah. My review is my own personal opinion not that of the publishers.

Chick Lit Interviews Book Author Leanna Ellis

2010-03-17T23:00:00.000-07:00

Tuesday evening at our Chick Lit Book Club meeting we had the privilege of speaking with Leanna Ellis! We read Ruby's Slippers this month and we all enjoyed it immensely. Leanna is an insightful, fresh, talented & funny book author of Christian fiction. Her most recent book is "Once in a Blue Moon". (Check out her blog/website: www.leannaellis.com ).

Ruby's Slippers was a delightful read! The main character, Dottie, is missing some things in her life; her father who has been absent since she was 4, her sister, Abbie, is in Hollywood making her claim to fame, the man who she thought she was in love with is now married and considered her best friend, and her mother recently died. Will anyone really pay attention to her and give her the love that she desires? Dottie is a no-nonsense young woman who has cared for the family farm in Kansas pretty much since she's been old enough to help her mother with the chores and she sees no reason to leave the farm or do anything else. The farm is her home and this is where she belongs...or so she thinks.

On the fun side for those of you who, like me, enjoy looking deeper than the obvious...there were mysterious little items about The Wizard of Oz throughout the book which added some intrigue! This was one book that I will always have fond memories of reading!

We had a great time talking to Leanna too! Leanna shared openly with us about what inspires her to write and gave us a deeper look into her writing & how the story came into being. She patiently listened as we asked her questions and graciously answered us making us feel like old friends! I highly recommend attending our next book author interview! You truly don't know what you are missing out on! These author interviews are always full of information, inspiration, and sprinkled with alot of fun!

Next week I will be having a book drawing for Liz Curtis Higgs newest release "Here Burns My Candle". You won't want to miss this easy opportunity for a chance to win her book!

~~Lucie

Book Reviews and Book Drawing for Mother-Daughter Duet and Dancing with My Father

2010-03-05T00:47:00.000-08:00

What a great couple of books! Mother-Daughter Duet by Cheri Fuller and her grown daughter, Ali Plum is a refreshing book written by mother and daughter with both perspectives given. I was immediately captivated by the writing style and the subject matter. This book is about being a mom, or a daughter and you will be able to relate on both levels through-out the book. The part of the book that I gleaned most from was the section on "Letting Go" which I am having a very difficult time doing right now! Of course its hard to let go when they haven't left yet! I have two adult daughters living at home still and it is extremely difficult not to mother them. In the book you will read how you need to let them make mistakes and take those small steps back as they grow and mature and then hopefully by the time they are ready to fly from the nest you will be ready also!

There is so much that you can relate to and learn in this book that you will easily finish it within a few reading sessions. Many examples from mothers and daughters in almost every different situation; from single mothers with rebellious daughters to the most traditional mother daughter roles. You will read about yourselves in this book!

"The relationship between mothers and daughters is intense, personal, complex, and unique. But you can have the loving, authentic bond you always dreamed of - when you learn the mother-daughter duet."

The second book is Dancing with My Father by Sally Clarkson. Do you feel overloaded with your "to do list", weighed down by drudgery or disappointed with your life in general? Then this is the book for you! Sally will lead you in new ways of gaining joy in your life! She will guide you down the path of finding delight in God's presence. What happens when you trust God to lead your life? This is an uplifting book of joy and learning how to trust in God when things are looking dim. Psalm 30:11,12 pretty much sums up the purpose of this little book.

If you would like to enter the drawing for either of these books please post a comment and tell me which book you would like to win.
Don't forget to include your email addy something like this: Lizzy10 at aol dot com
I will draw a winner Tuesday, March 9th.

Until next time, keep on reading!

Blessings,
Lucie

To Purchase Go Directly to Random House Publishers:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307457066

I received copies of these books purely for review from Waterbrook Press and was not paid for my opinion. I give an honest, personal opinion of each book based on what I read.

The Chick Lit Book Club & Review To Be Interviewed!

2010-02-17T12:38:00.000-08:00

I have an exciting announcement to make! Our own Chick Lit Book Club & Review will be featured in an interview with the Christian Fiction Online Magazine's March 1, 2010 Edition!

We will be featured on the Finding Hope Through Fiction blog at the same time!

(You can find both web address' at the end of this posting).

Our Valentine's Chick Lit meeting was fun and we had a nice group of women to discuss the Yada Yada Prayer Group. Don't forget to purchase your copy of Ruby Slippers by Leanna Ellis; the book of the month we will be discussing in March! Check the upper right side for Dates & Location.

Stay tuned for more information!

God bless ~~Lucie

The Christian Fiction Online Magazine Website:

http://www.christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/home.html

Finding Hope Through Fiction Website:

http://www.psalm516.blogspot.com/

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-09T23:20:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day Chick Lit Book Clubbers!

We have a special Valentine's gift for you when you attend this months meeting at Starbuck's!

We will be discussing the "Yada Yada Prayer Group" this weekend and also be choosing our next 2 books to read!

Don't miss out on this fun and oh so special book club meeting Saturday, Feb. 13th at our local Starbucks!

Newcomers are always welcome! Bring a friend!

Don't make Valentine's Day the only day that you tell someone you love them, tell them each and every day that they make your world go round!

Win "Watch Over Me" by Christa Parrish

2010-02-05T14:32:00.000-08:00

Time for another book giveaway!

There is a great story of how this book came into being...the author, Christa Parrish, was out on a run one day and saw a t-shirt in the bushes with what looked like a baby's face on it (it was actually Napoleon Dynamite, but anyways...lol) it made her think about what she would do if that was a newborn abandoned in the woods?! That was just the beginning idea for her new book, Watch Over Me. Here is a story teaser:

Benjamin Patil, a young deputy recently home from Afghanistan, finds a baby girl - just a few hours old - wrapped in a grocery bag and left in a S. Dakota cow pasture!! Police work hard to find the birth mother as Benjamin and his wife deal with real issues and pain in their lives. They discover that throughout their own struggles and problems God lovingly carries them and gives them new hope. As one review stated, "Christa's ability to write authentically about the human heart and genuine spiritual struggle sets her apart" from many of her contemporaries.

This story leaves you feeling hopeful about your own struggles and temptations that you may deal with and the ability of God to redeem us when it seems so unlikely.

To enter the drawing please leave a comment to this post.

For extra entries; 1. Grab a Chick Lit Button & Link to my blog 2. If you belong to the Chick Lit Book Club & Review you get 1 extra entry! 3. Tell me your favorite Bible verse when facing adversity in your life.

Go over to Bethany House to read more about this book or to order your own copy: http://www.bethanyhouse.com/

Notice: In Accordance with the FTC Regulations I inform you that as an influencer, "Watch Over Me" was sent to me directly from Bethany House publishing house. All reviews are the honest representation of my opinion of the book.

Have You Read The Yada Yada Prayer Group?

2010-01-23T15:01:00.000-08:00

Just a quick reminder to finish reading the Yada Yada Prayer Group which we will be discussing at our February meeting; at the far right I have dates/times & location posted.

Also, for those of you who are reviewing books, please try to finish and email them to me by January 31st so that I will have time to publish them in the new Book Review Newsletter!

Until next time, happy reading :-)

Interview with author Mary Connealy

2010-01-17T00:23:00.001-08:00

This last Saturday we held our Chick Lit meeting at Deborah's house. We had the privilege to hold a speakerphone interview with Mary Connealy (who wrote December's pick, "Cowboy Christmas"). We each took a turn talking with Mary and asking her questions. Mary was very easy to talk with and she graciously answered our questions.

Let me just say that when I sat down to read Cowboy Christmas, I was thinking - ahh, Christmas romance , boy meets girl under the Mistletoe and they live happily ever after...NOT!!! This book pleasantly surprised me! It started out with a BANG! All kinds of adventure await you...throughout the entire book! And I got the happy ending which I wanted too! Kudos to you Mary!

Mary referred to her book writing as "Romantic Comedy with Cowboys". She is so refreshing to read and to listen to! Mary wrote several books before she actually got published and her advice to those of us aspiring writers is to "keep writing!" In the beginning of her writing career she wasn't very comfortable with writing love scenes, she shared with us that now she subscribes to the "Love Inspired" book club (a Christian Romance Book Line) which helps her in her own writing. Reading the genre which you would like to write about really helps in your own thinking patterns and helps you have a better understanding of the genre.

A quote that I took from her blog: "Don't be afraid to strive and sweat and pray and fail and strive and pray some more for the desires of your heart..." Mary is a great role model of patience!

P.S. If you read Cowboy Christmas you will be interested in knowing that Gabe Michaels will have a book of his own coming out soon!

Visit Mary on her blog: http://mconnealy.blogspot.com/

The One Day Way by Chantel Hobbs

2010-01-03T20:19:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all of you! Have you ever made a New Year's Resolution to lose weight? I know that I certainly have! I have had the privilege to review a new book written by, Chantel Hobbs; a Christian lady who used to weigh nearly 350 lbs.! She has since lost the weight and is living a healthier lifestyle. Chantel has written this book to help others like myself who have struggled with their weight and tried many diets, read several books on weight loss and still haven't figured out a way to lose the weight and keep it off forever.

Chantel delves deeper than the usual diet books and offers a refreshing change from the old standard diets. "You can overcome old habits, old ways of thinking, and past failures by doing one single thing: focus on today and today only!!!"

This book sets you up with a simple program that anyone can follow. I challenge you to read this book and try something new this year! "By believing differently about yourself, your goals for your life, your health, and the deepest desires of your heart" you can make the change...Be the change!

Chantel shares pearls of wisdom throughout the book that will change the way you think about dieting.

Please leave a comment if you are interested in reading this book or for a chance to win the drawing for your own hard cover copy! Don't forget to leave your email address with your comment so that I have a way of reaching you if you win.

You can purchase a copy of "The One Day Way" on the Random House website: http://www.randomhouse.com/

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Notice: This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multinomah Publishing Group

Book Review: Primal by Mark Batterson

2009-12-14T00:54:00.000-08:00

This was an entirely different kind of book than what I normally read. I usually read Christian fiction or self-help books so it was refreshing to read something from a different genre. Mark Batterson's writing style is easy to read and keeps your interest throughout the entire book. Here is a short review of "Primal".
"Our generation needs a reformation!" The overall theme of "PRIMAL" is that God is calling us to live "COMPASSIONATELY, CREATIVELY, and COURAGEOUSLY for the cause of Christ! Discover or should I say re-discover something old, something ancient, and something PRIMAL!"

This book makes you delve deeper into your faith in Jesus Christ, not just knowing what you believe, but WHY you believe it!

There are many quotable lines that you will want to memorize and put into practice. I loved these lines; "He calls us to faith on the far side of doubt, joy on the far side of sorrow, and love on the far side of anger."

Great bits of wisdom are sprinkled throughout the entire book and you will feel a whole lot wiser upon finishing this wonderful little book which makes old ideas become new again.

Mark Batterson is a talented writer whose prose will keep your attention and give you food for thought at the same time. Mark is also the author of the best seller, "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day."

This book has a message that everyone needs to hear. Make this the 1st book you read in 2010!

Pick up your copy from Random House: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601421319 Also check: www.waterbrookpress.com

Notice: In accordance with the FDC regulations I inform you that as a book reviewer, "Primal" was sent to me directly from Random House publishers for review purposes. All reviews that I post to my blog or otherwise are my honest opinion of each book.

Results of Book Drawing

2009-11-22T16:12:00.001-08:00

Stampedwithgrace is the winner of the drawing for "What Matters Most - Diary of a Teenage Girl"! Congratulations and be looking in the mail for your new book! For the rest of you who entered thank you for entering and be looking for more up and coming book drawings!

"What Matters Most - Diary of a Teenage Girl" (Maya)

2009-11-03T15:41:00.000-08:00

What a fun book! If you have read any of the books in this amazing series ("Diary of a Teenage Girl") you'll be sure to enjoy this last one in the Maya series! There are 4 different girls in the series (Caitlin, Chloe, Kim, and Maya) each with their own diaries! I consider this book a 'stand alone' book because I haven't read the others in the series and I found it very good by itself (just makes me want to read more because it was so good!). These books are so much fun to read that you'll have a hard time putting them down after you start reading!

In a nutshell here is what the book is about: Maya is a 16-year old girl attending high school. A popular cheerleader, Vanessa Hartman, makes Maya's life miserable as she "accidentally" spills soda down her back and all kinds of mischief and Maya has no idea why she is now her enemy. Throw an ex-boyfriend, three close girlfriends, and Maya's mom getting released from prison soon into the mix and the action never stops! Maya finds that she has a talent with her dad's old guitar that presents her with the opportunity to lead a life of fame and fortune if she should so choose. In the end Maya has to decide what matters most.

To enter just make a comment to this post! Leave your email with brackets as such: JulieS [at] yahoo [dot] com so that no spammers can get it :-)

Thank you and happy posting! I can't wait to read your comments :-)

You may purchase a copy of "What Matters Most" from Waterbrook/Multinomah publishers by following this link:
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601421197

Notice: In accordance with the FTC regulations I inform you that as an Influencer, "What Matters Most" was sent to me directly from the publisher, Waterbrook/ Multinomah for reviewing purposes. I review only the books I have read and all reviews are the honest representation of my opinion of the book.

We Have a Winner!!

2009-10-21T00:06:00.000-07:00

The winner of "The Sound of Sleigh Bells" by Cindy Woodsmall is Cherie J.! Congratulations Cherie!

Thank you to all who entered!

I will be having more Blog Tours in November and December so keep checking back!

Win The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall!

2009-10-11T22:17:00.000-07:00

For a chance to win a lovely little hardback book, The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall place a comment to this post about what interests you the most about the Amish & leave your email so that I can have a way of contacting you if you win. The winner will be chosen by a drawing to be announced on Tuesday, October 20th! Good luck! (Remember to leave your email addy like this: SusanSmith (at) aol (dot) com so that spammers won't get it!)

For another chance to enter the drawing, grab one of my blog buttons over there to the right ~~~~> and link back to my blog! Two entries in the drawing...Simple!

This was a wonderful Christmas story of hope and change. This story centers on an Amish girl named Beth, who has lost the love of her life. Beth wears black garb for over a year and her aunt Lizzy (whom she lives with) is worried that Beth hasn't completely gotten over her loss and finds herself in the middle of a 'matchmaking' sort of scheme! This book is written with an Amish charm and will intrigue you with its story of loss, love, and renewed hope.

Here is a little bit about the author - Cindy Woodsmall is the author of When the Heart Cries, When the Morning Comes, and The New York Times Best-Seller When the Soul Mends. Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families. A mother of three sons and two daughters-in-law, Cindy lives in Georgia with her husband of thirty-one years.

The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall is published by Random House a division of Waterbrook/Multinomah publishers:

Go Directly to Random House from this link:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307446534

Notice: In accordance with the FTC regulations I inform you that as an Influencer, "The Sound of Sleigh Bells" was sent to me directly from the publisher, Waterbrook/Multinomah publishers for review purposes. I review only books I have read and all reviews are the honest representation of my opinion of the book.

Chick Lit Book Club Meets This Saturday!

2009-10-06T22:44:00.001-07:00

Hello ladies! I am so excited that we are meeting this Saturday, October 10th! We are meeting at Starbucks in Fortuna at the usual times - 11 am for book clubbers and 10 am for our reviewers! We have had alot of time to read our books so I cannot wait to hear from all of you!

If you have read any of the following be prepared to share; "The Measure of a Lady" by Deeane Gist or "Love Finds You in Last Chance, CA" by Miralee Ferrell or "It's Not About Me" by Michelle Sutton.

If you have taken a siesta and have not read a single one then still come for a great time of sharing and a good 'ol cup of Joe!

See you Saturday - OCTOBER 10th, 11 am at the local Starbucks

“Fearless” by Max Lucado

2009-09-08T21:43:00.000-07:00

“What if faith, not fear, was your default reaction to threats? If you could hover a fear magnet over your heart and extract every last shaving of dread, insecurity, and doubt, what would remain? Envision a day, just one day, when you could trust more and fear less. Can you imagine your life without fear?”
– Max Lucado

Just let those words soak in... Can you imagine your life without fear? Try to imagine it. We live with all kinds of fears every day. This isn’t a new concept, even in the days that Jesus walked on the earth those closest to Him were overtaken with fear. Take for example the story of Jesus and the disciples on a stormy sea. Jesus was fast asleep and the disciples question Him:

“Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38)

The following taken from, “Fearless” –

They do not ask about Jesus’ strength: “Can you still the storm?”
His knowledge: “Are you aware of the storm?” Or his know-how: “Do you have any experience with storms?” But rather, they raise doubts about Jesus’ character: “Do you not care . . .”
"Fear does this. Fear corrodes our confidence in God’s goodness.” - Max Lucado

What a fresh perspective on an old familiar Bible story! Max Lucado has a way of making Bible stories & verses come to life anew speaking to me in ways that they haven’t before. I love that!

Max Lucado is a master writer pulling you in immediately with the story about his brother, Dee. He has a way of making you feel as though you are peeking through a window, watching the story unfold.

In chapter 2 he explains that our individual need for acceptance is based in fear! What an eye opener! He goes on to share a poem about a fictitious place named, Stiltsville. The poem (Stiltsville) is an analogy of the human condition or need for acceptance! A story in a poem which envelopes the fears of the human heart.

The remaining chapters give you new insight into; the fear of disappointing God, the fear of not being able to protect your children, the fear of new challenges, the fear of “worst-case scenarios”, the fear of violence, the fear of dying, the fear of what’s next, the fear of God not being ‘real’, and so much more!

To quote Max Lucado, “Fear may fill our world, but it doesn’t have to fill our hearts.” This is a book of hope for our fearful hearts. Remember Jesus’ words, “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” — Matthew 14:27 NLT

I am a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger program: http://brb.thomasnelson.com/

I give Fearless by, Max Lucado 5 out of 5 stars! Add this book to your library; you will want to read it again and again!

To purchase from ChristianBook.com: http://www.christianbook.com/fearless-imagine-your-life-without-fear/max-lucado/9780849921391/pd/921391?event=HPF2

New Content for My Blog!

2009-08-17T13:33:00.000-07:00

I just signed on with Thomas Nelson Publishers as a book reviewer! That means I will be posting book reviews on my blog! I am reading a yet-to-be released book right now and am excited to post about it in September! Also, I will be adding blog tours soon so be looking for them!

If anyone has questions about being a book reviewer for Christian publishers add your comment to this post and I will get back with you on it.

Happy Reading! See you in September Chick Litters!

Fearless (Jacketed Hardcover): Imagine Your Life Without Fear by Max Lucado | Book | Thomas Nelson | Publisher of Christian Products

2009-08-17T10:57:00.001-07:00

Fearless (Jacketed Hardcover): Imagine Your Life Without Fear by Max Lucado Book Thomas Nelson Publisher of Christian Products

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The Chick Lit Book Club This Fall

2009-08-10T01:23:00.001-07:00

Well, it's that time again...Fall! After the lazy days of Summer come the hustle and bustle of Fall! I hope that everyone has had some kind of vacation getaway, even if it was only a weekend!
Our Chick Lit Book Club meetings will resume in September so that we can all 'settle in' and adjust our schedules to meld with schooling for the kids and some of us had the Summer off of work and will be starting work again in the Fall (me)!
In case you missed the last two book selections they are; "The Measure of a Lady" by, Deeane Gist for June/July and August's selection is, "Love Finds You In Last Chance California" by, Miralee Ferrell.
Keep on reading those books ladies! We will have a great discussion on the last two books at our next meeting!
Check back here often for our up coming meeting dates and times!

Vacation in July!

2009-07-06T19:42:00.000-07:00

Hello ladies! Just a note to let you know that for the month of July our meeting has been cancelled due to everyone's busy schedule. However, please continue reading "The Measure of a Lady" by, Deeanne Gist as we will be discussing it along with our next book in August. I will post our next book in the coming week.

Happy July! Enjoy the rest of the month and be ready for a great discussion in August :-)

A Quick Reminder

2009-06-15T19:12:00.000-07:00

Remember we are meeting at Rohnerville Park this Saturday (June 20th) at 11 am. We are celebrating our 1st Year Anniversary of the Chick Lit Book Club & Review! It has been a great year of meeting new friends and reading alot of new books filled with wonder and amazing stories of God working in people's lives.

Please join us with your families and bring a favorite dish to share. We are supplying dessert and drinks. You may email either Deborah or myself: Deborah's email address: dleathers36@yahoo.com or mine: lucieluvsca@yahoo.com

See you soon! God Bless.

*We are having our usual Book Club Meeting directly before the party at 11am at the park.

Article in the Unifier!

2009-05-19T15:36:00.000-07:00

Have you read the May/June Unifier yet? While there are many articles that are worth reading in this issue, our own Chick Lit Book Club & Review has a 1-page article that you won't want to miss! Thank you all who emailed me with paragraphs. Each one of you added something different and special to our article. I feel so blessed to be a part of this club.

Our next meeting will be on Saturday, June 20th at 11 am (10 am for the Reviewers). We will be meeting at Newburg Park in Fortuna. Please R.S.V.P. to: lucieluvsca@yahoo.com and let us know that you will be there. I will keep you posted as the time gets closer. The meetings will always be held at Starbucks in Fortuna unless stated otherwise.

Finish Reading "Miss Invisible"

2009-04-20T17:44:00.000-07:00

We have less than 2 weeks until our next Chick Lit meeting! But there is still time to read (or finish reading) our current book. What a great bunch of fun this book is! Can't wait to hear from everyone and to discuss this wonderful book!

Tonight's Chick Lit Meeting & Up Coming Events

2009-04-06T22:32:00.001-07:00

For the first time ever we met on a Monday night; this was due to the Easter holidays next week-end. There were seven of us present. We voted on the next two book selections (for May & June).
For May we voted on "A Seahorse In the Thames" by, Susan Meissner. Susan's website is: http://www.susanmeissner.com/index.html. Please visit Susan's website and check out her books!
For June we picked, "The Measure of a Lady" by, Deeanne Gist. You may check Deeanne out on her website as well: http://www.deeannegist.com/index.php.

Did you know that we have been around for a whole year now?! To celebrate we will be having an all family BBQ Party Chick Lit Style tentatively set for Saturday, June 13th. As the date gets closer I will post the time and place of this fun event! An unusually long list of thanks follows...

Personal thanks goes first to our most gracious God, who has been with us every (baby) step of the way! Special thanks to Deborah Leathers for stepping up to Co-Lead and offer a shoulder & a listening ear when needed. Praise goes to Carmen Rose who has graciously accepted the much needed position of Secretary of our growing little club (may your fingers be ever nimble and may paper abound aplenty!) Sending a Shout Out to Heidi Payne for being such a faithful Chick Litter (...hmmm does that sound right?) and becoming our Official Treasurer (even though we don't have any money.)

THANK YOU Chick Lit Book Club & Review Members who faithfully attend, read & review your books! Without you, we wouldn't exist!

New Day For Our Next Chick Lit Meeting

2009-03-29T11:38:00.001-07:00

We will be meeting on a Monday evening for April's Chick Lit Book Club meeting due to the Easter holiday week-end falling on our usual Saturday. It will be on Monday, April 6th at 6:30 p.m. (Starbuck's in Fortuna).

We will be discussing "Between Sundays" by, Karen Kingsbury. You still have time to read our book!

We are voting on May & June's book selections also so you won't want to miss this one!

Just a note that we have already chosen our Pick of the Month for April which is "Miss Invisible" by, Laura Jensen Walker. So pick up a copy as soon as possible. You may contact Heidi Payne for ordering.

March Meeting

2009-03-04T19:47:00.000-08:00

Our March Chick Lit Book Club Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, March 14th at 11 am - Starbucks in Fortuna. Please email me your book suggestions as soon as possible so that I will have time to add them to the voting ballet! We will be voting on our next "Pick of the Month" at this meeting so don't forget to put this date on your calendar.

Also, you still have time to pick up a copy of "Lying on Sunday" by, Sharon K. Souza to read it before our next meeting!!!

Those of you who are part of the Book Review Committee please come in at 10 am - Starbucks in Fortuna - and bring your most recent book reviews. Don't forget to email me a copy of each book review that you have completed :-)

Drop by my blog often for important updates and leave a comment so that I know you were here. See you Saturday, March 14th! Blessings to all.

2009-02-02T19:09:00.000-08:00

It's Official - Join us on Saturday, Feb. 14th at 11 am at Starbuck's in Fortuna for our first Chick Lit Book Club meeting of 2009! As an added bonus there will be free bookmarks and goodies for you! We will be discussing "Thorn in My Heart" by, Liz Curtis Higgs. See you there!

*Our Book Smart Review will meet at 10am directly before the Chick Lit Book Club meeting. Bring the last book(s) you have read and any written reviews. Email me at: lucieluvsca@yahoo.com with any questions. Thank you and God Bless!

2009-01-18T13:22:00.000-08:00

ing All Chick Lit Book Clubbers...
If you have the book, "Thorn In My Heart" by Liz Curtis Higgs get to reading it! We will be discussing it in February. I will be posting the actual date of our next Chick Lit meeting soon. So, let's all get to reading!

You might want to jot a few notes down as you read. If you have already read the book awhile back, you may want to skim through it before we meet so that it will be "fresh" on your mind!

For those of you who have read the Christmas picks that are posted here - email me with your reviews & thoughts on each book that you have read. Or you may post a comment here.

Happy Sunday!

2008-12-31T15:53:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year 2009!

I would love to hear some New Year's Resolutions! I am going to be brave and tell you some of mine (the list is too long to give them all to you!). Here goes...

1. To read the Bible every single day
2. To schedule my time more wisely
3. To write every day
4. To read 2 books a month
5. To complete at least one painting a month

Okay, now it's your turn! Comment to this post with your New Year's Resolutions or why you think it's lame to have them!

Christmas Selections Are Here!

2008-11-16T11:57:00.000-08:00

Hello Book Lovers!

It's hard to believe that November is halfway gone! Holiday season is well on its way and being that most of us are extremely busy at this time of year we will not be meeting for the month of December. But to keep things fun and reading alive I am offering up two new Christmas books for you to read at your leisure. Here they are with short book summaries following each:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Bundle of Joy" by Robin Lee Hatcher

She seemed to have it all
Alicia Harris says she's happily married and expecting a baby - but only the last part is true. She can't bear to disappoint her grandfather by telling him she's two months away from single motherhood. Then Grandpa Roger drops in unexpectedly to spend the holidays with Alicia and her 'husband', and Alicia needs to find a fill-in -- fast. Childhood friend Joe Palmero fits the bill, and is willing to play along. Still, the longer they spend playing their parts, the closer Alicia and Joe come to discovering what love, faith and marriage truly mean.
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"Hill Country Christmas" by Laurie Kingery

Holiday Heiress

Overnight, Delia Keller went from penniless preacher's granddaughter to rich young heiress. She's determined to use her money to find the security she's always lacked. And building herself a new house by Christmas is her first priority. But handsome Jude Tucker is challenging her plans and her heart...
The former Civil War chaplain hasn't felt peace in a very long time, and he has a hard time letting go of his past. But as Jude gets to know the spirited Delia, he longs to show her what true Christmas joy means. In the rugged Texas Hill Country, he'll reach for a miracle to restore his faith...and give Delia his love for all seasons.

You may choose one or both to read for the month of December. Some ideas for posting after you have read your book(s); comment to this post, or email me your comments at: lucieluvsca@yahoo.com

After I have received a few comments I will start posting them here just for fun! So start reading and be prepared to let us all know what you think about the story, characters, etc...

You may purchase books at Borders in the Bayshore Mall (where I purchased them) or online at http://www.amazon.com/ or http://www.cbd.com/ The book covers to the right are linked to Amazon.com for your convenience.

Blessings,
Lucie

Chick Lit Book Club Meeting Cancelled

2008-11-06T00:46:00.000-08:00

November - Due to unforeseen circumstances we will be cancelling our Chick Lit Book Club Meeting on Saturday, November 8. Thank God this is the first (and hopefully the last) meeting that we have had to cancel.

Save your book, "Thorn in My Heart" by, Liz Curtis Higgs. We will review & discuss it in January. What that means is more time to get our book read and that all you newbies have time to purchase and read this wonderful book before our next meeting :-)

December - Check back here often as I will be posting a Christmas read/novel for the month of December. We will not meet physically but online. After you have finished reading it please email me at: lucieluvsca@yahoo.com with your comments or questions about the book and I will post them here on my blog! What fun we will have!!

January - As stated earlier we will be meeting in January and discussing, "Thorn in My Heart" by, Liz Curtis Higgs. I will also be in touch with her about her availability in January for the phone interview.

Grace Be With You!

Chick Lit Book Club Meeting Cancelled

2008-11-06T00:28:00.000-08:00

November - Due to unforeseen circumstances we are cancelling our meeting Saturday, November 8th. We are sorry if this inconveniences any of you. Thankfully this is the first time we have ever had to cancel a meeting.

Also very important - we will not be meeting (physically) in the month of December but I will be posting a Christmas book to read for anyone interested. I would love for as many of you as possible to write to me with your comments on the book (after you have read it of course) and I will post your comments here on my blog to share with everyone! Be looking in the next week or so for the Christmas selection!

January - We will finally meet to discuss "Thorn in My Heart" by Liz Curtis Higgs and if she is available at this time we'll have a phone interview with her. Don't miss it! You all have plenty of time to read this book now...no excuses :-)

God bless each one of you!

Lucie

Today's Chick Lit Book Club Meeting

2008-10-11T17:21:00.000-07:00

We have now read & reviewed 6 books! That's pretty amazing!
Our Book Smart Review group met this morning @ Starbucks first thing & then we met with our Chick Lit Book Clubbers. Our discussion on, "The Atonement Child" by Francine Rivers was very deep and we discussed several issues surrounding the topic of abortion.

We missed some of you today. Each and every one of you are an important part of this group so I just wanted to let you know that we look forward to meeting with you next month (you know who you are).

We announced our next "Pick of the Month" this morning which is, "Thorn in My Heart" by, Liz Curtis Higgs. Click on the link below for a summary of the book (you can also order directly from Liz) or click on the book in the right hand column to order a copy from Amazon.com.

http://www.lizcurtishiggs.com/bookstore/index.htm

I am in the process of setting up a phone interview with Liz. God willing her time schedule will allow her to meet with us at our next Chick Lit Book Club meeting via phone.

Until next time, God bless each one of you!

Hello Chickies!

2008-10-09T12:55:00.001-07:00

I just wanted to remind you to scroll waaaay down my page here to lQQk at the two new book trailer's I've added. If you have a book trailer to share with me send it to me at: lucieluvsca@yahoo.com and I may even post it here with your name in bright shining lights! Okay, so maybe not "shining" but definitely bright! Until Saturday...keep on reading!

This Saturday!

2008-10-07T17:48:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder that our Chick Lit Book Club meets this Saturday, October 11th at 11am inside of Starbucks (Don't forget to bring coffee/tea cash)! We will be discussing September's Pick of the month, "The Atonement Child" by, Francine Rivers.

September Chick Lit Book Club Meeting

2008-09-11T21:30:00.000-07:00

First of all, I want to extend a warm welcome to our newest Chick Lit Book Club attendee - Becky - (loud cheers in the background) it was so nice of you to join us!

We had an awesome interview with author, Brandilyn Collins! She was full of energy which spread throughout the room as we all chatted with her about her book, "Eyes of Elisha". Brandilyn told us how she got ideas for her book and even shared a tale or two about some friends of hers which led her to create some of the characters and situations in her book! Very intriguing!

Some of the Christian authors that Brandilyn reads are: James Scott Bell, Angela Hunt, and Ann River Siddons (great vocabulary she says!). For the last ten years Brandilyn has been meeting with two other women to pray and basically keep each other accountable in their Christian walk.

Did you know that Brandilyn has also written some Women's Fiction? She has a three book series called Bradleyville and it is the only Women's Fiction that she has written (the rest are all Suspense!).

Deborah did a great job at starting and finishing the phone interview... thank you Deb! And, of course, thank you to all who came and participated in our chit-chat with Brandilyn - you each added to the interview so much! What a privilege it is to be a leader of such a wonderful group of ladies!

Have You Finished Reading "Eyes of Elisha"?

2008-08-29T16:28:00.000-07:00

How many of you are finished reading this month's pick, "Eyes of Elisha" by, Brandilyn Collins? Well, I don't want to spoil it for anyone so I will just post a few comments about it. First of all, I began reading "Eyes of Elisha" one night before I went to sleep. Not a good idea (nodding head NO!). Within the first few pages the most dramatic (well, maybe not quite) event happens! And yes, it's scary - even freaky!! I don't care what anybody says this book is intense!!! Now, that being said, I do want to mention that Brandilyn is a very talented writer and has a way with words - an uncanny way with words! She makes you feel as if you are right there with the characters going through it all! And to tell you the truth...that's not always where I wanted to be!

On a funny note, I was reading this book aloud with my two older daughters (18 & 20 yrs.) and we literally read this book all the way to Eureka and back the other day. We ended up getting back into town around midnight. As we drove off the highway at our exit it was pitch black and hardly anyone was on the road. Well, at the bottom of the off ramp we came to a stop and when I looked to my left, before pulling onto the road ahead, there was a lone, strange, creepy man walking toward us! I did what any intelligent woman of 43 would do...I punched the gas and screamed as loud as I could all the way around the corner getting out of there as fast as I could! (and believe me my daughters were with me screaming! ha ha) Okay, enough said.

I am really looking forward to picking Brandilyn's brain at our next meeting via phone interview. I especially appreciated how she did her research on her subjects in the book.

If you want certain questions answered by Brandilyn email me at lucieluvsca@yahoo.com or post a comment to this blog and I will make sure to ask her on Saturday (September 6th).

NEXT MEETING Saturday, September 6th at 11 am. Remember we meet at Deborah Leathers house this month for the phone interview with Brandilyn Collins. We are looking forward to seeing everyone there! Refreshments will be provided.

Book Smart Review group will be meeting at 10 am just before our Chick Lit Book Club Meeting.

August Chick Lit Book Club Meeting

2008-08-14T17:31:00.000-07:00

What a great meeting we had with our Chick Lit Book Club this last Saturday! We had two newbies; Kathy and Jacqueline! We enjoyed having you both join us!

Noteworthy also was our vivid discussion on "Chocolate Beach" - full of different opinions and lively chatter! It sure makes for a more interesting discussion when everyone joins in with a different point of view on the characters in our book or the story line, ect... I personally enjoy a discussion that makes you think a little bit deeper about the book bringing to the discussion some intellect along with the usual fun of chatting with the gals!

Our "Pick of the Month" for August is "Eyes of Elisha" by, Brandilyn Collins. The picture of her book (on the far right side of my blog) is linked to Amazon.com so that you can order it from here as easily as possible. For a discription of "Eyes of Elisha" read my previous blog below.

Please feel free to email me with any questions at: lucieluvsca@yahoo.com

Summer Reads

2008-07-28T15:23:00.000-07:00

Hope that Summer is fun and exciting for all of you thus far! Have you finished reading, "Chocolate Beach"? If not, you still have over a week to finish it. Cannot wait to discuss it!!! There are so many things to talk over with you all in Chocolate Beach... What did you think about Douglas? And what was with that Ty guy anyways??? Hmmmm, a snooty mother-in-law, an absent husband, a needy friend, some rude "friends" and chocolate brownies at the drop of a hat! I must admit, I did break down and make myself some brownies one night while reading the book!!! I mean how much can a girl take? Reading about chocolate, buttery, brownies over and over again!!! That book was definitely chocolate laced!! Sabotage, I say! LOL

Our next Chick Lit Book Club meeting is scheduled for Saturday, August 9th at 11am at the Starbuck's in Fortuna. Come and join us for a delightful conversation, free bookmarks, and a free gift for all newbies!

P.S. Book Smart Review meets one hour before the Chick Lit Book Club meeting at 10am

August's "Pick of the Month" - "Eyes of Elisha" by, Brandilyn Collins
First in the Chelsea Adams Series.

The murder was ugly.The killer was sure no one saw him.Someone did.

In a horrifying vision, Chelsea Adams has relived the victim's last moments. But who will believe her? Certainly not the police, who must rely on hard evidence. Nor her husband, who barely tolerates Chelsea's newfound Christian faith. Besides, he's about to hire the man who Chelsea is certain is the killer to be a vice president in his company.Torn between what she knows and the burden of proof, Chelsea must follow God's leading and trust him for protection. Meanwhile, the murderer is at liberty. And he's not about to take Chelsea's involvement lying down.

Coffee House Interview with an Author

2008-07-08T02:00:00.000-07:00

Amid the espresso machine madness and the speaker challenged cell phone - we all huddled around and listened intently to Miralee's every word. At times we all looked at each other with knowing nods and at other times we drew our breath in deeply with surprise... so intense was this meeting that we no longer knew who came and went, it didn't matter because Miralee had our full attention - we reveled in it, soaking up every little detail she shared with us!

What a privilege to have Miralee Ferrell (author of The Other Daughter) be a part of our Chick Lit Book Club meeting this last Saturday! I started it off with a few questions for her and from there passed it to the others in our group. There were lots of questions and very informative answers. We had such fun!

Miralee is working on several new books that she shared with us;one being a sort of sequel featuring Jeena! Now that's going to be a very interesting book! She has even written a short story in a Cat Lover's book (I am not recalling the name of it right now, hmmm)! Her testimony on how she got started writing is inspiring, and in her (very little) spare time she likes to go horseback riding!

We thoroughly enjoyed speaking with Miralee and getting to know her.

Miralee we thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with us via cell phone chatting!

Next Chick Lit Book Club Meeting

2008-06-28T01:34:00.001-07:00

Our next Chick Lit Book Club for Women meeting is on Saturday, July 5th @ 11 am at Starbucks in Fortuna. Please join us as we discuss "The Other Daughter" by Miralee Ferrell. We also have an exclusive interview with Miralee via cell phone! Remember the free gift for newcomers and free bookmarks for all who attend Saturday! See you then!

NOTE: As usual the Book Smart Review Group will be meeting at 10am on the same day our Chick Lit Book Club meets.

Daughter's Graduation

2008-06-16T14:15:00.000-07:00

The ceremony was nice, the weather was beautiful, & we had front row seats (with a perfect view of our daughter, Aimee!). The graduates passed by in front of us and we shamelessly called out their names so we could get snap shots of them! Perfect! (Sigh)

Thank you to all who came to Aimee's open house celebration. My family really enjoyed visiting with our friends who attended (and said so). It was such a nice blend of friends and family (another sigh)... good times!

June Meeting

2008-06-03T16:41:00.000-07:00

Don't forget we meet this Saturday, June 7th at Starbuck's in Fortuna.

Book Smart Review Group meets first at 10 am
The Chick Lit Book Club for women meets at 11 am

We will be discussing "Eventide" by, Cindy Martinusen. There will be Free gifts and a drawing for our next "Pick of the Month" for June, "The Other Daughter" by, Miralee Ferrell!

For the July meeting I am working on a phone interview with the author Miralee Ferrell! Come ready with your questions for Miralee...

See you at Starbuck's!

Our First Chick Lit Book Club for women meeting

2008-05-09T17:50:00.000-07:00

Yes, we finally had our very first Chick Lit Book Club meeting on May 3rd, 2008. We had a very nice, cozy little first meeting! Right up my alley - start small, think big!

I am really looking forward to how God is going to "grow us". We are now into our second "Pick of the Month" which is "Eventide" by, Cindy Martinusen. You may purchase this month's book on the following link: http://www.christianbook.com/ You can also go to http://www.amazon.com/ and purchase a new or used copy for as little as a buck or two (plus shipping)!

Coming up in the month of June there will be a drawing for our "Pick of the Month" book "The Other Daughter" and a free gift for each of you who attend our June 7th meeting at Starbucks! Come and join the fun!

Also coming up - We are working on an interview with Miralee Ferrell, author of "The Other Daughter" via speaker phone at our July meeting! Sounds great huh?! Come and bring your questions with you for Miralee.

Also take a look at my new addition the Shelfari!

Until next time...

2008-03-17T22:34:00.000-07:00

Today was a beautiful day! I thought I would add some graphics to my blog...what a difference! I am having way too much fun!

2008-03-12T23:05:00.000-07:00

I am excited to announce that we have officially started our Book Smart Review group! We had our very first meeting this last Saturday, March 8, 08.

Six of the eight reviewers were present. All but one had read their book and gave a review on it. We discussed some small stuff and most importantly we picked our first Pick of the Month - Cape Refuge by, Terri Blackstock.

Ladies, I believe we are in for alot of fun! Nothing like a good book, friends, and a great cup of coffee!

About Me

2008-01-13T21:43:00.000-08:00

Let me introduce myself. I work part time at my church as a secretary/receptionist. I am blessed to work with a very caring group of people who love the Lord!
I enjoy artistic, creative things. I also love to write and have great ambition! Okay, make that - great hopes! I love to read and spend time with my family.