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: Murders in the Marquee by Dana Mentink

On By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book ReviewLeave a comment

About the Book

ISBN-139781335002730

Publisher: Harlequin

Publication Date: 09/01/2026

Series: Murder Most Fowl Mysteries

Pages: 336

Synopsis (from the author’s website)

In this witty historical murder mystery set in a San Francisco hotel, an unlikely trio of amateur sleuths must uncover a killer before another guest checks out for good.

In 1905, the Grand Mallard Marquee is well known for its iconic style, as well as its daily duck parade. For Saul Niffler, a reformed jewel thief, working at the luxurious hotel offers a much-needed second chance. Staying out of trouble and in gainful employment is essential. Which makes seeing a body plummet from a penthouse window extra complicated.

Except…did he see it? There’s no body to be found, and Saul knows he should concentrate on his new duties as “Duck Commandant” rather than meddle. If only Kitty Rossi, a persistent young guest yearning to be a Pinkerton detective, would leave well enough alone. Kitty has already roped in Henry, the elevator man, to investigate suspicious goings-on around the hotel. And against his better judgment, Saul feels compelled to join them.

Between the mystery of Saul’s missing predecessor and a grisly discovery in a drain, all signs point to murder most fowl. And with a cold-blooded killer roaming the Marquee’s lavish corridors, keeping his job may be the least of Saul’s problems…

My Thoughts

The humorous antics in this novel by the amateur sleuths kept me reading and guessing and guessing again. The characters are quirky, lively and believable and easy to cheer for as Saul, Kitty and Henry try their best to follow the clues and find out who is responsible for the murders that must be happening in the Marquee. Of course, their quest is somewhat hampered by their inability to find a body as well as their normal duties. Saul is a bellhop when needed but his full-time job is the duck commandant for the daily duck parade. This was a hilarious and unexpected addition to the story and I especially loved Ruby and Uncle Joe, ducks who have a great deal of personality. Kitty is the daughter of an opera star whose aspiration is to be a detective, so she is delighted to find body parts and follow clues all over the hotel. Henry is a wannabe juggler whose paying job is the elevator operator. Together, these three make a formidable and unlikely cast of sleuths but they do a remarkable job of getting into and out of difficulties while also following wherever the clues lead. I enjoyed the fast pace, the entertaining and well-crafted plot and I especially enjoyed getting to know some of the most well-developed and unique characters ever created.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Christian Fiction, Rated G

About the Author

Dana Mentink lives in California where the weather is golden and the cheese is divine. Her family includes two daughters (affectionately nicknamed Yogi and Boo Boo.) Papa Bear is retired from the fire department and he met Dana doing a dinner theater production of The Velveteen Rabbit. Ironically, their parts were husband and wife.

Dana writes in two genres, cozy mystery and romantic suspense. She’s a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author as well as a two time ACFW Carol Award winner, and a Holt Medallion recipient. Her suspense novel, Betrayal in the Badlands, earned a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award. She is honored to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Revell, and Poisoned Pen Press. Website: Dana Mentink.com

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How to Navigate Life

On By vickleaIn Quotation and Citations, Scripture2 Comments

These sayings are from Max Lucado and were originally in his book, In the Eye of the Storm.

“When no one is watching, live as if someone is.”

“Don’t spend tomorrow’s money today.”

“Pray twice as much as you fret.”

“God has forgiven you; you’d be wise to do the same.”

And the best advice of all is in God’s Word, so spend time reading, studying and memorizing it daily. (VLW)

Be Strong

On By vickleaIn ScriptureLeave a comment

When you think of being strong, you probably think of going to the gym, jogging, or some kind of exercise. But God calls us to be strong in Him.

When we exercise, we strengthen our physical bodies. So what do we do to strengthen our spiritual bodies?

~We pray. We talk to God daily, not just to tell him our needs and to express our outrage at current circumstances. Is that how you converse with a friend? God is the best friend we will ever have, so prayer time with Him is a conversation. Tell Him what is going on (He already knows, of course, but wants to commune with you) and then listen for Him to speak to you. It could be through His word, a song, or a still, small voice speaking to your heart.

~We read the Holy Bible and we study it. Let verses speak to you personally. I enjoy reading the psalms as a prayer for my life, for example. When I study the kings of Israel and Judah, I like to watch for their turning point toward God or away from God and compare it to where I am in my life right now.

~We worship. I enjoy playing old hymns and worship songs that I have heard on the radio that touched me. Yesterday, I listened to an album of hymns by Dolly Parton. I don’t listen for the music, which is generally upbeat and encouraging by itself. I listen to the words, the message there. Then, I turn off the music and spend some personal time worshipping God. If I sing, I am singing to the Lord and he doesn’t mind my scratchy voice that has gotten worse as I have aged and don’t have much breath to get the words out. I just want to praise Him!

~We fellowship with others. Spending time with other believers is very important for our growth and our mental well-being. We were blessed in Pennsylvania by being able to attend church with our daughter. It was a small, old-fashioned church with short wooden pews and a small band with two guitars and a drum set along with the worship leader. That is the first time in over a year that I got to sit in a real service and participate in worship since I watch a screen at our church due to the overly loud music. Anyway, it did my heart good to be with other believers and to talk to them afterwards. I met my daughter’s good friend Joanie who is a nurse who volunteers with Samaritan’s Purse. It was so good to put a face to the name that I have been praying for these last few years. In fellowship with others, we get fed and we feed others, too, with our encouraging words and our positivity that God is still in control.

~We represent Jesus to the world and in so doing we add to God’s family and make it stronger. Our speaking out for the Lord also builds our own faith as we get to remember our testimony and all that God has done for us. I prayed for God to open a door for me to share about Jesus to our non-believing grandchildren. He provided just what I asked for when the younger children were playing in the yard and the oldest joined me on the porch. She said she didn’t know what a Christian was or how to become one, so I planted a few seeds in her young heart that I know God will send someone else (or even me again) to water, nurture and help grow.

So, how do you get strong in the Lord? I have offered some suggestions and I would enjoy hearing your advice on other ways to get stronger. My physical body is wearing out, as evidenced by four medical appointments this week in just three days. But my spiritual body is getting stronger. How about yours?

Earth Is Our Temporary Home

On By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

Look Up (Daily Refresh 8-27)

It’s normal, as well as understandable, to spend our time, energy, and attention focusing on the here and now. We’re busy, after all. Sometimes we’re preoccupied. And when we stop to really think about it, it’s difficult to perceive something beyond our five senses.

But in his letter to the Colossians, Paul encourages his fellow believers to look up:

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As you think about Paul’s words and the realities of heaven, here are four things to consider:

– First, heaven isn’t some vague, dream-like state. It’s a real place, with real people, where God is the true King.

– Second, there will come a day when we will all meet God face to face. We will no longer need faith or hope, because that which we’ve hoped for will finally be revealed.

– Third, our troubles and our heartbreaks (and even death itself) are temporary! Scripture tells us that, eventually, God will do away with pain and death and sickness and suffering—forever.

– Lastly (and most importantly), God is still on His throne, with Jesus beside Him in the place of honor. No matter how crazy, senseless, or heartbreaking the world can seem, we can have confidence knowing that nothing is outside of God’s sovereign plan.

So when you’re tempted to look around at others or look inward at yourself, look up instead. Heaven is wherever God is, and that’s the truest reality of all.

My Thoughts

I needed this devotional today as this week has been one of medical appointments daily. Today I finish this week’s appointments with two of them and both involve needles. Ugh! But I know that the pain, no matter how severe it seems at the time, will be temporary. God will be with me there and in all I face in the future. I have lived with asthma all of my life. I have known about and lived with a failing kidney for the last almost twenty years. I just found out about the congestive heart failure last month, so I am still getting used to having a physical body that is breaking down. Tests, specialists, warnings, cautions, have all become part of my life. I am looking forward to Heaven when all of this pain and uncertainty cease. One of my grandchildren asked me once how they will know me in Heaven if we are all changed. I told them with laughter in my voice and a smile in my eyes that I would be the one running everywhere since I have never been able to run here on earth. Heaven is God’s plan for us and earth is His temporary holding place. That thought gives me hope and it should give you hope too!

Being an Influencer

On By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

There is a lot of talk online about who the best influencers are to follow and why. A devotional I read this morning made me think. Am I an influencer? And if I am, then how am I doing?

Let me begin by saying that we all touch someone’s life in some way…family, friends, co-workers, even strangers we meet briefly when we shop or eat in a restaurant. We have the opportunity to be an influencer every day. But what does our life show others?

God gives us the abilities and talents we have to shine for Him, not for ourselves. It’s not in the numbers. We were created to be HIS influencers. I try to persuade people to purchase and read Christian books. I try to tell others about my testimony of healing and God’s grace in my life. I often fall short because I just get tired of doing it. That is brutal honesty there. But God doesn’t ever get tired and sit down and say, “Okay. That’s enough for today. I am so done with all of this!” He just keeps loving and is devoted to wooing people to choose life in Him. To Him belongs all of the glory for what I accomplish, if anything. I will accept my failures as my own, but my success belongs only to God.

So, if I am an influencer, in a very small way, I want to be an influencer for God. I want my words, my attitude, my clothing and my face especially to show people that God is my portion and any abilities I have are because of Him. Anything I can do is because He opens doors for me and then gently whispers to me what my next steps should be.

Are you an influencer? The answer is always YES! What kind of influencer for God are you? We may not have a million followers, but more importantly, we have God watching us and a whole cheering section in Heaven rooting for us. That, my dear friends, is what real influence should look like.

Cultivating Gratitude

On By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

Creating a Heart of Gratitude (Daily Refresh, 8-25-26)

One of the most powerful emotions is gratitude. If we can find ways to be thankful and grateful throughout our life, we will find the power and emotional strength to walk through some of life’s hardest seasons.

It’s not always easy to find ways to be thankful and grateful. But, one of the things Scripture teaches us throughout the Psalms is that there is always something to be grateful for.

The Psalms teach us various songs and poems for every season of our life. But more than that, they also teach us how to cultivate a heart of gratitude and worship towards God.

We belong to a God who loves us and cares deeply for us. God’s love and goodness will never end. Psalm 100:5 praises God for these things:

“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Through Psalms like this, we can begin to build a habit of gratitude towards God and all that He has done. We can thank God for what He has done in our lives, what He is currently doing, and what He will do in the future as we follow after Him.

Because God is always good, loving, and faithful, there is always something we can be grateful for—even in the midst of difficult seasons of life.

Take a few moments today to strengthen the habit of gratitude in your life.

– First, begin by thanking God for who He is: that He is good, faithful, and loving towards you.
– Next, thank God for all that He has done. Thank Him for the good things in your life, and that He has walked with you through the hard times.
– Lastly, thank God for all He will continue to do in the days and years to come. He is trustworthy!

My Thoughts

To be honest, when I first got my diagnosis of CHF, it was hard to be grateful. I was discouraged and grumpy with God. I couldn’t fathom how He could love me and allow me to have a lung problem with asthma, a single kidney that is failing and now a heart issue too. But, God’s Spirit got hold of me one day when I was spending time praying and reading my Bible and reminded me that God isn’t a God of sunshine and happiness all the time. Sometimes, we face a wilderness like Jesus and sometimes we have to face a powerful river with the enemy quickly approaching like Moses. But we don’t quit on God because He never quits on us.

I prayed to be able to travel to our granddaughter’s wedding. When I asked my doctor about it, I expected a firm “no” but instead he understood my deep desire to go, gave me a list of cautions and precautions and warnings about when to head to a hospital and told me to go ahead and travel. We had a wonderful trip! The wedding was memorably beautiful, with an invitation to salvation included in the ceremony. The dancing at the reception was great fun to watch even though I couldn’t participate. Our youngest grandson at one time was surrounded by a circle of bridesmaids and other young ladies as he did a break dance, gleefully entertaining an entire crowd and totally unaware of how everyone was watching him. (He is five.) Getting to know the groom’s family was a bonus since they are Christians too. So many delightful and memorable moments!

We stayed about five days with our daughter afterwards, enjoyed church service with them on Sunday after the Saturday wedding and just generally enjoyed family times. I played games with the granddaughters and relaxed with family. Then we traveled to Maryland and had five days with our son and his family there. We went out for a delicious lunch at a favorite restaurant for my birthday (number 75!) and then our daughter came down the following day to stay with us one night and celebrate my birthday again. God is good. I asked to be able to travel and God gave me answers to prayers that I didn’t even pray.

So in this season of learning to live with more restrictions, I am cultivating an attitude of gratitude. I like to start each day thanking God for His faithfulness in allowing me another day to praise Him and then I thank Him for all He has done and is doing. Life is hard; the weeds are attacking all the time. So cultivate gratitude with me. Together we can have a big supply to share with others. I think that gratitude is contagious, don’t you?