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Author: vicklea
I love to read! I’m a retired teacher with a spouse of 45 years, three amazing children and nine wonderful grandchildren. I am blessed!
Review of Whispers in the Snow by Heidi Elijarbo
About This Book
Product Details
ASIN : B0G8GVHTSD
Publication date : January 27, 2026
Pages: 125
Part of Series: Heartwarming Christmas
Synopsis (from Amazon)
Cornelia Gran is a dedicated daughter, friendly and kind; although, she has an exorbitant amount of curiosity. She devours Arthur Conan Doyle’s magazine articles and tries to follow the fictitious Sherlock Holmes’s investigative examples, but her fascination with solving puzzles always gets her into mischief.
Each morning, Cornelia reads the newspaper, looking for a conundrum to solve. Searching for clues—and then chronicling her discoveries—thrills her. She certainly finds those activities more entertaining than taking her grandmother’s advice and attending one Christmas ball after another in search of a husband.
But chaos and danger turn Cornelia’s quiet days upside down when her attempt to find information about the owner of a nearby abandoned cottage takes her into dangerous territory. As winter winds rattle the windows and swirl snowdrifts against the doors, she faces off with a ghost, gets in trouble with the police, and finds herself staring down danger without thinking of the consequences. In the middle of it all, she meets Simon and is captivated by his charm, good looks, and personality.
Meanwhile, a real killer is after her, and he won’t stop until he gets information she doesn’t have! Christmas, with all its cheery festivities, hygge, and family traditions, has never been more threatened. Cornelia must call on all her investigative skills, not only to stop the ruination of her family’s holiday, but also to make certain Simon and his aunt keep what belongs to them. And maybe, just maybe, the amateur sleuth will discover the meaning of true love.
My Thoughts
This is a cozy historical mystery that held me enthralled with the magical setting of a fictitious town in Norway in the winter. Cornelia Gran is my kind of heroine, absorbed in mysteries and looking for local mysteries to solve. When she discovers a missing resident, she throws herself wholeheartedly into solving the puzzling disappearance and in her quest for the truth, she encounters unexpected danger. The villains are ruthless characters who will stop at nothing to achieve their aims, and therein lies the fast pace and a riveting story. Cornelia’s curiosity is relatable and realistic and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting her as well as her grandmother and her faithful and loving servants. While she is trying to unravel the mystery of a little yellow cottage and its missing heir, Cornelia meets a widow and her great-nephew Simon, the center of the mystery and with a fascinating backstory about keeping papers hidden from an unknown and unscrupulous man. Once Cornelia discovers that their lives have been threatened, she is even more determined to get to the bottom of who is threatening them and why. I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery, but I must say that the prose that described the setting and the characters read more like poetry to me, flowing masterfully from the hands of an author who demonstrates her genuine love of history as well as her talent in creating stories that are clean and entertaining. The book is hard to put down and I sighed contentedly at the perfect ending.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
About the Author (bio from Amazon)
HEIDI ELJARBO grew up in a home full of books, artwork, and happy creativity. She is the author of historical novels filled with courage, hope, mystery, adventure, and sweet romance during challenging times. She’s been named a master of dual timelines and often writes about strong-willed women of past centuries.
After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She lives with her husband on a charming island and enjoys walking in any kind of weather, hugging her grandchildren, and has a passion for art and history.
Her family’s chosen retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summer and ski the vast white terrain during winter.
Heidi’s favorites are her family, God’s beautiful nature, and the word whimsical.
For more information about Heidi and her books, check out her website at https://www.heidieljarbo.com/
To purchase her book:
Creator of All
Out of This World (Daily Refresh, 1-26-26)
For thousands of years, people have gathered around campfires and peered into the night’s sky, studying the stars.
Now, thanks to telescopes and satellites and advances in modern technology, we’ve uncovered more about God’s celestial creation than ever before: diverse planets, interstellar dust, mysterious black holes, and billions of other galaxies.
What we’ve discovered, however, is not new to God. It’s the very same heavens and the very same earth that He spoke into existence at the very beginning of time. And though we’ve only scratched the surface on what’s still to be discovered, the vastness of the heavens and the brilliance of its design beckons both humility and worship.
In Psalm 8, David wrote:
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”
Psalm 8:3-4 NIVThe same God who hung the sun, moon, and stars in the sky also created us. He created you. It’s mystifying to think that He considers us His prized creations.
Like David, this should humble us and compel us to worship.
Who are we, after all, to be loved, chosen, and redeemed—especially when we don’t deserve it? Who are we, when we consider the magnificence of our Creator, to be made in His image? Who are we that God is mindful of us? Who are we that He cares for the details of our lives?
We are His people. His children. We belong to Him.
So today, let’s trust in our creative, compassionate, and loving God. He is where we’ll put our confidence. He is where we’ll put our hope.
My Thoughts
The scientists and aerospace engineers have celebrations when they “discover” a new planet or star. I can only imagine what God is thinking as He looks down on mankind with all of their instruments and knowledge and is probably thinking, “It was there since I created it at the beginning.” God is not amazed by man’s discoveries, but we often are.
What we should be in awe over is God’s infinite capacity to create new things, like us, in exactly the way we work best. The stars twinkle in the night sky because that is their purpose in God’s universe. The sun lights the day, the moon brightens the night. And we have a purpose, too. I think our purpose on earth is to find the reason God created us and then run after that goal with all of our hearts. Some are created to be teachers (like me), others explorers, scientists, mathematicians, historians, etc. Whatever we were created to be, we all have one thing in common. We were all created by our loving Father in Heaven and He desires a relationship with us. His love is unfathomable and indescribable. It is always there, even when we aren’t looking for it. Just like the stars are still there in the daytime but invisible to our eyes, God is there, watching over us and applauding us when we make right choices while He corrects us and guides us for the wrong ones.
Yes, I am in awe of the universe that God has created, but more than that, I stand in absolute, open-mouthed wonder at a God who loves so deeply and completely that He made me to be just the one He wants me to be. And you know what? He made you, too!
Seeking While You Wait
Seeking Hope in the Midst of Sorrow (Daily Refresh, 1-24-26)
Lamentations is a book of sorrow, written in the aftermath of Jerusalem’s destruction. The city lay in ruins. Grief covered the people like dust. But right in the middle of this lament, something remarkable happens: a word of hope.
“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.”
Lamentations 3:25 NIVJeremiah, who scholars believe is the likely author of Lamentations, writes this verse not because everything was good, but because he knew God is good, even when life is not. This kind of hope is a deliberate choice to seek God’s presence when things seem dark. It’s trusting in His character when circumstances don’t make sense.
The verse highlights two actions: hoping and seeking. Hope in God fixes our eyes forward, on what He will do. Seeking Him draws us inward into relationship with the God who is already near.
Verse 26 continues the theme: “It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” The Hebrew word for “wait” here is “yachal,” which carries the idea of hopeful expectation. It’s not a passive sitting still—it’s an active, trusting posture of the heart. In this context, waiting isn’t doing nothing; it’s doing the hard, soul-level work of trusting in God’s timing even when answers feel delayed.
Waiting means continuing to pray, to obey, and to believe, even in silence or sorrow, because we know the Lord’s salvation is worth the wait. Just as a farmer waits for the harvest after faithfully sowing seed, so we wait with purpose, believing God will bring restoration in His perfect time.
In his waiting, Jeremiah didn’t deny the pain. He brought his pain to God. And in that place of honest dependence, he reminded himself—and now us—that God is still good, still faithful, and still worth seeking.
My Thoughts
The devotional today made me pause and take a hard look at how I am waiting for God’s answer. My response is an honest, “not too well.” I have been impatient, demanding and outright rebellious at times as I wait for God to answer my prayers for relief from the pain in my shoulder. God is always patient, always waiting for me to quiet my heart and then listen. And when I finally did this morning, His words to me were that He is right there, walking through this time with me. He has provided caregivers, a doctor, a physical therapist and a spouse an a granddaughter who show me how much they want me to get better. They are mirroring God to me. So, I continue to pray and believe, knowing that God is always faithful and always worth seeking. It is in the seeking that I find the hope that I thought I had lost.
Review: Severed Ties by Taylor S. Newport
About the Book
ISBN-13:9798349665509
Publisher:Taylor S Newport
Publication date:01/22/2026
Pages:522
Synopsis (from Barnes and Noble)
The silence following Tyler Reid’s last mission has him eager for the next job. So when a woman from his past shows up on his doorstep with a new task-extracting a kidnapped Indian doctor from rival mercenaries-he’s ready to move. It’s dangerous. It’s fast-moving. It’s exactly what he wants. The only problem is Alexandra Romanova is going too-the one person who sees the cracks in his armor he’s trying to hide.
Alexandra “Alex” Romanova has returned to Russia, but she’s not ready to step into her father’s legacy. So she seizes the chance to delay that future. Especially when she learns who’s missing-and who’s going after him. But working alongside Tyler again tests more than her training. He’s different. More guarded. And something in him is unraveling.
From Libya to India to Morocco, the team races to find the missing doctor while avoiding the trap the enemy has set. But every step closer to the truth puts more pressure on the cracks already forming. And as the mission begins to spiral, Alex realizes the real danger may not be the enemies chasing them-but the severed ties Tyler leaves behind when he decides the mission is over.
My Thoughts
Aussie mercenary Tyler Reid returns in what may be his most dangerous assignment. Hired by Alexandra Romanova, Tyler has to free a captive doctor from another mercenary group, one which just happens to be led by Tyler’s arch-nemesis. The dynamics between the characters was nothing short of amazing and I learned a lot about Tyler’s past and his reluctance to be called a hero when all he really wants to do is die. Alex is determined to get under the hard shell he has erected all around him and succeeds at times, giving me a look at what makes Tyler tick and why he is such a daredevil. The action was non-stop in this fast-paced military thriller, with exotic settings and untrustworthy allies. This novel had a dual storyline featuring Kenna and Ben who were working in D.C. and the stories dovetailed perfectly together when Alex calls on the two of them to help out with their mission that takes a turn for the worse when a planned extraction goes very wrong. With gun battles and hand-to-hand combat described in fascinating detail and Tyler and Alex at the center of all of the action, this book is not to be missed. It can be read and enjoyed as a standalone, but I highly recommend that readers enjoy the first two books in the series before getting into the intricacies of the cat and mouse game that Tyler and Alex play with each other as well as with their adversaries. This is a suspense thriller with a strong foundation of faith exhibited by Alex who is not ashamed of sharing what and why she believes. Gripping suspense and the engrossing story along with the crisp writing and twists make this novel an absolute five plus stars for me and one of my favorite books of the year.
I voluntarily received a copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
About the Author
Taylor S Newport is an up and coming Christian author. Four years of research has brought her to release her first high-octane novel to the world. In 2024, she placed as a Finalist in the ACFW Genesis Contest. Currently, she resides in the beautiful state of Texas with her family probably writing her next novel. Find out more at Taylor S. Newport
Purchase Links
Dauntless Defenders Series-Other Books
Review: The Lies We Trade by Kristine Delano
About the Book
Product Details
ISBN-13:9798400504921
Publisher:Tyndale House Publishers
Publication date:01/20/2026
Pages:368
Synopsis (from Barnes and Noble)
Meredith Hansel should be having the best week of her life. After establishing herself as a portfolio manager at a prestigious Wall Street firm, she’s in the national spotlight for the innovative funds she created. But as Meredith prepares to celebrate, the plates she’s kept spinning for years begin to crash: Her strained marriage reaches a breaking point. Her conscientious teenage daughter acts out under mysterious pressures. Someone vandalizes her home with disturbing graffiti. And Betsey, her most trusted ally at the financial firm, goes rogue, and Meredith is forced to sign a restraining order against her.
Then her worlds collide when she receives a thumb drive and a cryptic note from Betsey threatening to reveal a secret that could have devastating effects on Meredith’s family . . . unless she can figure out what Betsey wants and deliver it in time.
As Meredith begins to dig into the data, however, she begins to suspect that it’s no coincidence her life is crumbling. That maybe what’s happening to her family is connected to what’s boiling beneath the surface at her investment company. Soon Meredith realizes there’s only one way to avoid taking the fall, and it all hinges on Betsey’s true motives. Was she really threatening Meredith or trying to warn her?
My Thoughts
Meredith is a portfolio manager at an influential Wall Street firm and is celebrating her successes with her newest venture when suddenly, everything goes bonkers. There is trouble on the office, trouble at home, a marriage on the brink of failing and Meredith has no idea who to trust. Maybe no one is trustworthy in this fast-paced whodunit/family drama/thriller debut novel. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, both in the firm and in Meredith’s family, but the author does a stellar job of portraying them completely and well so that they are memorable. Meredith is on the fast track to success when she gets information from a friend and colleague that things are not as they seem. Her investigation leads her down a twisted path of deception and Wall Street finagling as well as into the arms of danger. I liked all of the characters as they are all relatable, but I think Erika, her teen daughter was my favorite. She is saucy, intelligent, honest and vulnerable and has a way of behaving just as a real teen would, with the angst along with the flippant confidence she needs to face her challenges. The mystery of who is trying to destroy Meredith’s career is fascinating and the trail to get to the solution led me through a lot of financial information that I had no idea even existed since I am not a big investor myself. Some of the trading information was way over my head, but it was interesting as it floated up there somewhere. Since it wasn’t necessary that I understand all of the wheeling and dealing in order to thoroughly enjoy the story, I just stayed immersed in the main plot instead of all of the trading details. This book is original, creative and suspense-filled as an entire family is involved in finding out the answer to whodunit and why. Breathtakingly complex and gripping, the story was expertly crafted to captivate me with exceptionally crisp writing and unexpected revelations. The novel is a totally engaging read and hooked me from beginning to end with its authentic details and its intricate plot. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys books with a lot of action, drama and hard life choices.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I also purchased my own copy to support a debut author. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
About the Author
Kristine Delano spent over twenty years navigating a career on Wall Street before trading her panoramic city view for her standing writer’s desk. A lifelong fiction lover, she now crafts thriller novels set in the high-stakes finance world, exploring the emotional tension of work-life balance. In pursuit of compelling stories, Kristine hosts the popular podcast We Talk Careers, where she interviews the voices of Wall Street on leadership, growth, and purpose.
She is also a board member, speaker, and strategic advisor for businesses, schools, and parachurch organizations. Her faith fuels her passion for helping women navigate their calling. Kristine’s work has been recognized in fiction-focused writing competitions and she loves to stay connected with fellow authors and readers on Instagram and LinkedIn and through her membership in writers’ groups. When she’s not writing, Kristine enjoys playing
games with friends, scuba diving, and chasing her husband and children down the snowy ski slopes of western Maine—never does she catch them, but with joy she tries. For additional information, check out: Kristine Delano .
Purchase Links
Review: The Fair Weather Friend by Jessie Garcia
About the Book
Product Details
ISBN-13:9781250364456
Publisher:St. Martin’s Publishing Group
Publication date: 1/20/2026
Pages: 320
Synopsis (from Barnes and Noble)
It’s always sunny in Detroit for Faith Richards. The popular TV meteorologist, endearingly referred to as “The Fair Weather Friend” by her viewers, has the world by the tail. But one night, Faith leaves work on a dinner break and never returns. Her body is found the next morning.
The town is reeling, suspects emerge, and long-buried secrets are uncovered. While her allies rally, her list of adversaries also grows. Little does anyone know that only the deepest secrets will expose the truth.
My Thoughts
This book has everything I enjoy in a suspense book with plenty of mystery and domestic drama, too. Faith Richards is the title character, a meteorologist with a news station in Detroit and she is at the top of her game when she is first introduced. Other members of her team are jealous of how popular she is with fans, she has her own fan club and a stalker, too. When she disappears one night between shows, there is a lot of speculation about what happened to her and a host of very unhappy fans. When the medical examiner announces that she is deceased and was strangled, there mystery takes off and doesn’t let up until the very end. There are some secondary characters who seem like supporting characters but who are very important to the twists in the story. There are so many twists and a plethora of possible suspects for who killed Faith. The author does a good job of creating relatable characters for the ones we are supposed to like and an equally good job leading us to dislike others. I enjoyed the well-developed characters, the backstory of Faith and her sister Hope, and the side story of Olivia the intern. Together, these characters led me on a merry chase to figure out what was really going on and who was the real culprit in Faith’s sad tale. The conclusion was so surprising that I had to read several pages twice to make sure that I was not missing anything. This is a brilliantly written domestic suspense with all of the earmarks of bordering on a thriller. I cannot divulge any secrets because readers will have to be mislead just as I was; it certainly added to the entertainment factor of the novel. I found the book informative as well as engaging since it gave some inside scoops about what happens in a newsroom along with some great fictional conflicts. This is one of my top reads for the year and should get more than five stars for creativity and a brilliant plot.
I won a copy of this book from the publisher via a Goodreads Giveaway. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
About the Author
Jessie Garcia is the News Director at the CBS affiliate in Milwaukee. Her non-fiction books, “My Life with the Green and Gold: Tales from 20 Years of Sportscasting” and “Going for Wisconsin Gold: Stories of our State Olympians” won Midwest Book Awards, and her documentary “Leaps and Bounds: The Men Who Changed Track and Field” was featured in over a dozen film festivals. She also taught journalism at four universities. A native of Madison, WI, Jessie has two adult sons and resides in Milwaukee with her husband, dog and cat. For more information, check out her website at Jessie Garcia
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Strong Tower
God’s name is our strong tower. We call on it when we are in trouble and He hears us and rescues us. He has already saved us from our sins and daily offers us grace and mercy. We are always safe with Him. Sometimes, we have to wait for an answer, but in the waiting, we find the power of God sustaining us and holding onto us as His beloved children.
The other big thing I got from my Bible verse this morning is that if we are trying to be more like God (as all of us should aspire to do), then we will act as a refuge for others who need a shoulder to cry on, someone to listen and encourage, someone to pray with them. I don’t want to offer meaningless advice as Job’s friends did. I would rather sit silently with the person in anguish and tell them that I don’t have all the answers, but I know Someone who does. Being the person who is there for others is reflecting the character of God to them, and I want to be more like the Lord in all I do and say. God’s being a strong tower to me means that I can be strong for others. Even when I am not feeling strong or particularly wise, I can still be a presence in their lives, just showing up and letting them know that they do indeed have a friend to turn to.
We always have a friend in God. He is the One who sustains us in the hard times and walks with us through all of the valleys. And when the going is particularly rough, He is our strong tower, right there beside us, cheering us on and letting us know that His love never ends. That’s what God is to me and what I desire to be for others.
Extend Mercy
Undeserved Mercies (Daily Refresh, 1-20-26)
When someone hurts you or, worse, hurts somebody that you love, revenge can seem appealing. After all…
They were mean.
They were selfish.
They talked behind your back.
They broke a vital promise.
They lied about you.
They criticized you.
They ignored you.
They did the unthinkable.
They walked away.They deserve to be punished, right? To feel some of that same pain? They deserve a consequence that will not only help them learn, but will be just as severe as the inflicted wounds.
And yet—because God sees things differently, both His standards and tactics can be surprising. And that’s why the apostle Paul, writing to the believers in Thessaloniki, said:
“See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.”
1 Thessalonians 5:15 NLTPaul’s words sound a lot like Jesus’ words—to love your neighbor as yourself; to do to others what you’d like them to do to you. (See: Matthew 22:38-40)
God’s ways might not always be easy, but they can always be trusted.
When we choose unforgiveness, hate and anxiety and bitterness will likely take root. But when we choose forgiveness (even though we might need to consider new boundaries), love and peace and reconciliation can flourish.
So, what about you? Have you ever been mean? Have you been selfish? Talked behind someone’s back? Broke a vital promise? Lied, criticized, ignored, or done the unthinkable? Have you ever decided to give up and walk away?
In our unique-to-us ways, we’ve all let someone down. We’ve disregarded God’s instructions and, instead, created our own instructions. We’ve messed up.
We deserve God’s wrath but, instead, He’s offered us His unconditional love.
Because of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice, we didn’t get what we deserve. And even while hanging on that cross, breathing His last earthly breaths, He cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
Jesus repaid our evil with extreme mercy, leaving us free to conquer evil with good. So today, let’s honor His sacrifice by treating others the way He treated us.
My Thoughts
None of us deserves God’s mercy, but He gives it to us daily anyway, every time we mess up. He continues to reach out with love. So, who are we to choose to judge others and act out with vengeful behavior? Will that change that person’s actions? No, but it may create a vicious cycle of “getting the last laugh” and bitterness. Is that how you want to live, sowing seeds of discord all along your path in life? How about being like Jesus and start with mercy, compassion and understanding? That person may never change and may always be a burr under your saddle, but you can rest in God’s love, knowing that you chose to do right, to reach out and to forgive. Our victory is not in how many “gotchas” we accomplish daily but in how often we show the love of Jesus to others, especially those who mistreat or abuse us.
Wheat or Tares?
I pondered these verses as I read this morning. I know that I am supposed to be producing wheat, or maybe I am wheat. Whatever, I am supposed to be a grain that feeds others. Wheat isn’t in a field just to look good and then die. Rather, it is harvested, ground up and used to make bread, cereal and other good things to nourish people. If I am not being useful to nourish others, then I cannot call myself wheat, can I?
Growing next to the wheat, and sowed by “the enemy” are the tares. What are tares? According to the New Oxford American dictionary, tares are a weed that resembles wheat. And I thought an important part of this scripture was that they are right next to the wheat, hard to discern which is which out in the fields. But when it is time for harvest, the reapers gather the tares first and prepare them for destruction. I don’t want to be a weed that is good for nothing except to be burned.
Instead, I want to be the wheat that can be used to feed others. My testimony is important. The way I grow and keep my life is important. It’s not just the reapers who are watching me; those who hunger for the Lord are watching, too, and if I am doing what I am supposed to, I will be able to feed them exactly what they need so that they can be part of God’s kingdom, too.
Isn’t it interesting that the tares are right beside the wheat, much like many who claim to know the Lord are in the world with us? By their fruits, we can know them. The Lord sends the reapers out and we need to make sure that we are the wheat and not the weeds.
Vickie's Book Nook and Meditation Corner 