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!

Remembering

On By vickleaIn Scripture6 Comments

As I have aged, I have discovered that I am not as capable of remembering things from the past as I once could. The fog of having had a stroke has not helped, so that has been my go-to excuse when someone says, “Remember when…?” Most of the time, I honestly don’t remember. But one very important thing that I want to always remember is God’s steadfast love for me and all of the miracles that He has performed in my life.

One of the ways we can recall all of God’s wonderful acts on our behalf is to testify about them, to friends, at church, in a journal. Just put the words out there so that others can share in the joy you had when you saw God working on your behalf.

Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is healing from my stroke. In January of 2015 when I had a massive stroke (the occupational therapist told me that it was a 19 out of 21 on their scale, whatever their scale was), I could not move most of my right side, could not speak without stuttering and lost my memory for speaking Spanish. The OT encouraged me that the brain is made in such a way that it would find new pathways to get around the ones that had died when I had the stroke. Well, she didn’t say it, but I did, in my mind. I am fearfully and wonderfully made and God would make a way for me to function again. I had to practice walking, telling my legs to take steps until it became natural for me again. I practiced reading, much more slowly than I had ever done before, but I could do it. And I got out old Spanish books from my high school years and practiced my Spanish. Oh, yeah, and I couldn’t write except for illegible scribbles. My physical therapist was a real gift from God. He had been my therapist after my knee surgery and my broken elbow and when he saw on the schedule that a patient was coming in who had had a stroke and saw my name, he told me he didn’t know what to expect. So, with love and patience, he worked with me in all ways possible. He brought out a whiteboard for me to practice writing on. I did OT puzzles and other exercises to build my dexterity in my hands. It amazed me that my left hand was faster than my right because my right had to be trained again. After about three months, I was able to return to teaching part-time and by five months after my stroke, I was working full-time and discharged from PT. Amazing, right? God is the God of miracles and He gave me back my speech, my ability to walk and my ability to use and teach Spanish. Some would say, “Well, of course. The OT said that your brain would find new pathways.” There is no “of course” to it! My PT said that my progress was like a miracle because I progressed so rapidly. To this day, I know to Whom to give the credit for my recovery. God gets all the kudos because not only did He make me to begin with, He healed me when I had an unimaginably scary stroke. I will admit that sometimes my brain fogs and I know that’s the sign that I need to rest, to pull away and just be quiet, whether that means napping or going to bed extra early. But I continue to be amazed each day that I awaken because I know that it is God who loves me enough to allow me to still be here on earth. Since my stroke, I have had four new grandchildren born, and I am so blessed to be able to meet them and get to know them. In fact, Penny was born only a month after my stroke and I told my PT that I needed to get better so I could go meet her. I did! I met her in March, when she was only a few weeks old. Why am I writing all of this? I’m writing my testimony for me to remember and for you to know what a miracle-working God we serve. I am thankful every day for my life that He gave back to me, and I hope that each of you is thankful for all that he has done for you.

I am so thankful! God is no respecter of persons and what He did for me, He can do for anyone.

“You Are Faithful” by Hillsong Worship

Being Hopeful

On By vickleaIn Scripture7 Comments

These days, with bad news everywhere and being broadcast 24/7, it is often difficult to focus on good things. I have come to the conclusion that this is a choice, to focus on the good things of God instead of the bad things in the news.

So, in that spirit, I choose today and going forward to focus on being hopeful and thankful. Is everything going the way I would like? No, but God is sovereign and He is in control. With that thought as my foundation, I thank God for waking me up this morning, for a cat who keeps me company, for the health of my children and grandchildren and for the opportunity to read Christian fiction from Christian publishing houses.

You may have to look around a little more since most of us, me included, tend to focus on the negative and ask God to change it. I want to focus more on the positive and be hopeful that God who made the entire world and all who are in it has not given up on it yet. He is still on His throne, and for that I am deeply grateful.

Have a blessed day, filled with hope and gratitude for all God has done, all He is doing and all He will do. 🙏🏻

“My Jesus” by Anne Wilson

Scriptural Musings

On By vickleaIn Scripture5 Comments

This morning during my devotional, God spoke to me through various Scripture verses. I am grateful to Him for His Holy Spirit who leads me and guides me each day and shows me truth from His Word.

God works in each of us if we will allow Him to do so. He has a purpose and a plan and it pleases Him when we follow His plans instead of our own pursuits.

When we see others suffering and just pass by instead of being a Good Samaritan, then we are denying the fact that we are part of that suffering. We are all one, together. When one suffers, we all do.

Some of the people who consider themselves wise are not following the admonition to live humbly. I have always heard that if you toot your own horn, then no one else does. We are expected to make humble and wise decisions in ALL that we do, every day in every way.

This is a song that I used to sing in church many years ago, one that still gives me great pleasure as I focus on the coming Day of the Lord, when all of the Redeemed will gather together. There will be only joy, no sorrow or mourning. This particularly touched me today as a fellow co-worker from my school passed away Friday from Covid. He had been vaccinated, so there are a lot of questions in my mind about how this could happen. He was only in his fifties and leaves behind a loving wife and five children. I hope to see him again someday when all of us together go to Zion, singing with gladness because Christ has redeemed us and for all eternity there will be no more sorrow.

Thank you, my friends, for reading through today’s ramblings with me. I need God every day. I need to hear from Him every day. And, while I am still on earth, it gives me great pleasure to share His Word with you. Have a blessed day, filled with His Spirit. Be the Good Samaritan. Be the difference that the world sees and wonders about.

Review of Mountain Fugitive by Lynette Eason

On By vickleaIn Book Review1 Comment

With non-stop, fast-paced action, this was a book that I had trouble putting down. Dr. Katherine Gilroy is a small town doctor and the sister of a fugitive, but when the story begins she doesn’t know that. At least, not until she meets Dominic O’Ryan, a federal Marshall intent on finding Noah and safeguarding him until he can testify against a drug lord. But Dominic is convinced that Noah killed his friend and fellow Marshall Carl, so he has even more reason to find him. The chase is on throughout the book, with more than one character getting injured in their quest for justice. I was happy to see Creed as the town sheriff since I got to know him in a previous book. All of the characters were realistic and the twists and red herrings were perfectly placed. In the genre of clean romantic suspense, this is a book not to miss! Evil is evil and good is good, and the ending, although not surprising, was wonderful to read!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Clean Christian romantic suspense
Photo from Amazon author’s page

About the Author

Lynette Eason lives in Simpsonville, SC with her husband and two children. She is an award-winning, best-selling author who spends her days writing when she’s not traveling around the country teaching at writing conferences. Lynette enjoys visits to the mountains, hanging out with family and brainstorming stories with her fellow writers. You can visit Lynette’s website to find out more at http://www.lynetteeason.com or like her Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/lynette.eason

Connect with the Author 

Website: https://lynetteeason.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lynette.eason

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lynetteeason

Releases Tomorrow, 9-28-21! Purchase Links:

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Excerpt:

Excerpt of Mountain Fugitive by Lynette Eason (Sep 28)

Love Inspired Suspense

Add Mountain Fugitive to your Goodreads!

Heart pounding a rapid beat, Katherine pulled Hotshot to a stop between the men and the direction the bullets had come from, praying the person wouldn’t shoot the horse. She slid from the saddle, leaving the reins trailing the ground, then snagged the first-aid kit from the saddlebag. US marshals according to the vests the men wore.

Looked like their prisoner or fugitive had turned the tables on them. Which meant the person was either gone now that he’d taken care of the threat—or she was now a target because she planned to try to help the men. A quick scan of the area didn’t reveal anything unusual or worrisome, but the trees could easily be hiding the sniper.

Still using the horse as a shield, she hurried to the man closest to her. The bullet had hit him just above his left ear and he’d landed on his side. His brown, sightless eyes stared up at her and she knew he was beyond help. She checked his pulse anyway and got what she expected. Nothing.

She closed the dead man’s eyes then turned her attention to the other one. A pulse. She focused on his head. A gash just below his hairline bled freely. A low groan rumbled from him and Katherine placed a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t move,” she said.

He blinked and she caught a glimpse of sapphire-blue eyes. He let out another groan. “Carl…”

“Just stay still and let me look at your head.”

“I’m fine.” He rolled to his side and he squinted up at her. “Who’re you?”

“I’m Dr. Katherine Gilroy so I think I’m the better judge of whether or not you’re fine. You have a head wound which means possible concussion.” She reached for him. “What’s your name?”

He pushed her hand away. “Dominic O’Ryan. A branch caught me. Knocked me loopy for a few seconds, but not out. We were running from the shooter.” His eyes sharpened. “He’s still out there.” His hand went to his right hip, gripping the empty holster next to the badge on his belt. A star within a circle.

“Where’s my gun? Where’s Carl? My partner, Carl Manning. We need to get out of here.”

“I’m sorry,” Katherine said, her voice soft. “He didn’t make it.”

He froze. Then horror sent his eyes wide—and searching. They found the man behind her and Dominic shuddered. “No. No, no, no. Carl! Carl!” He army crawled to his partner and sucked in a gasping breath, cupped Carl’s face and felt for a pulse.

Katherine didn’t bother to tell him she’d already done the same—or what he’d find. After a few seconds, he let out a low cry then sucked in another deep breath and composed his features. The intense moment has lasted only a few seconds, but Katherine knew he was compartmentalizing, stuffing his emotions into a place he could hold them and deal with them later.

She knew because she’d often done the same thing. Still did on occasion.

In spite of that, his grief was palpable, and Katherine’s heart thudded with sympathy for him. She moved back to give him some privacy, her eyes sweeping the hills around them once more. Again, she saw nothing, but the hairs on the back of her neck were standing straight up. Hotshot had done well, standing still, being a buffer between them and a possible sniper, but Katherine’s nerves were twitching—much like when she’d worked with the police department. “I think we need to find some better cover.”

As if to prove her point, another crack sounded, and Hotshot reared. His whinnying scream echoed around them. Then he bolted for home. Katherine grabbed the first-aid kit with one hand and pulled Dominic to his feet with the other. “Run!”

Many thanks to Harlequin for the opportunity to read and review this Christian romantic suspense. I love when I can recommend books to all of my readers!

Review of THIS IS WHY WE LIE by Gabriella Lepore

On By vickleaIn Book ReviewLeave a comment

This is a well-written mystery for young adults, but I would add mature young adults since the content is not for everyone. There is quite a bit of “hooking up” and expletives were used freely. Jenna is going to a private girls’ school in a small town, living with her aunt who is a police detective, when one of her friends is killed. When another friend is a suspect, Jenna starts investigating on her own, determined to find out who killed Colleen. There are two sets of teens who are the focus of the story. The girls are Serena, Imogen, Brianna, Hollie and Jenna, all friends who attend a school called Preston Prep. Then there are the bad boys who go to Rookwood, the boys’ private school that seems to be for the incorrigible throw-aways of society, the ones that their parents can’t or won’t control or who just don’t want to deal with them anymore. That group comprises Adam, Max, and Tommy. Of course, the girls are attracted to the bad boys and visit a cabin near the campus where they party together. The scene was well set for conflict since the kids were meeting outside of the bounds of acceptable behavior and they were doing things that their parents and the schools would not approve of. Therein lies the appeal to the younger generation since a central theme is rebellion against authority. The plot was complicated, but not so much so that it was not easy to follow. There were lots of red herrings along the way, as the story is told from the viewpoint of several of the main characters, especially Jenna and Adam. At first, I was not sure that they were reliable narrators because of their differing opinions about what had happened, but I discovered as I read that they were both reliable and accurate. They just saw things differently because they had their own perspective. With deep understanding of the teen psyche and what teens really need from life, this was a well done character study as well as a blockbuster of a mystery. I was guessing whodunit almost until the very end, and even then I was surprised by some of the revelations. Fans of YA mystery will enjoy this book and should enjoy discussing it with a book group or their parents since it brings so much information out about growing up and choosing friends wisely.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

I would rate this a M-YA book due to content, both language and sexual exploits of the youth as well as murders that make up the mystery.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Gabriella Lepore is a YA author from South Wales in the United Kingdom. She lives in the countryside with her husband James and daughter Sophia. When she isn’t reading or writing, she can usually be found exploring the coastline. She enjoys cups of tea, bookstore coffee shops, stormy beaches, and autumn days.

Social Links:
Twitter: @GabriellaBooks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Gabriella-Lepore-Books-240139339377522/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabriellalepore_books/?hl=en
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4814169.Gabriella_Lepore

This is a new young adult mystery that just released on September 21, 2021. Purchase Links:

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/books/this-is-why-we-lie/9781335418609 Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/this-is-why-we-lie-gabriella-lepore/1138317761 Powells: https://www.powers.com/book/this-is-why-we-lie-9781335418609 Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/This-Why-Lie-Gabriella-Lepore/dp/1335418601

Target: https://www.target.com/p/this-is-why-we-lie-by-gabriella-lepore-hardcover/-/A-82007842 Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Gabriella_Lepore_This_Is_Why_We_Lie?id=eqsJEA AAQBAJ
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/gabriella-lepore/id1153311848 Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/this-is-why-we-lie

Excerpt:

JENNA
Gardiners Bay at dawn is my secret. There’s a moment, right before the day starts, when the ocean is bathed in amber light. That first golden breath of morning. Everything is still, apart from the pelicans gathering near the water, their plump bodies shuffling along the shoreline. Sometimes I sit on the promenade for hours with my legs suspended over the pebble beach below, just watching the night turn to day. Watching the darkness turn to light.
It’s often like this, just me and the birds. The only other people I tend to cross paths with at this hour are fishermen wearing heavy-duty gear and hugging their thermoses. They sit on the benches and swig their hot drinks while skimming the daily newspaper. Then they leave. A little while later, their boats drift out onto the water.
Today, though, I’m the only one here.
I raise my camera and adjust the focus, capturing the new light as it spills over the ocean. In the muted daylight, the silver tide is a murky, dull gray and frothing as it slaps against the shore.
“Help! I need help!”
My eyes dart across the shoreline. There’s a boy on the stretch of beach at the foot of Rookwood Cliff. He’s kneedeep in the water, fully dressed.
He shouts again.
I spring to my feet and run along the promenade. Ducking beneath the boardwalk railings, I jump down to the pebbled cove.
The soles of my feet sting at the impact of the stones beneath my Converse. I scramble toward him, my footing slipping on the damp pebbles.
It’s then that I recognize him.
Adam.
His jeans are soaked to the thigh. He’s wading through the shallows, his legs tangled in fishing net and seaweed. And a body lies limp in his arms. A girl. She’s swollen, her skin has turned purple, and one arm is swinging downward with the momentum of Adam’s labored movements.
I press my hand to my mouth.
“Call an ambulance,” he shouts.
But all I can do is stand there, paralyzed by the sight. He lowers the girl onto the sand and begins CPR, breathing into her mouth.
It’s too late, I want to tell him.
She’s already dead.

Review of GOD, I KNOW YOU’RE GOOD by Bonnie Rickner Jensen

On By vickleaIn Book Review2 Comments

With easy to read rhymes and illustrations that are colorful and enticing for children, this book is a perfect gift for the little ones in your life. Touting God’s creation and His goodness on every page, this little reader encourages children to look around them at all that God has made and be thankful for everything. It even mentions the fact that God creates the child and made them for a special purpose. I loved the simplicity of the verses and the illustrations and plan to purchase my own copy for my grandchildren.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tommy Nelson Publishers via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

A children’s board book perfect for the little ones in your life!
Photo from the author’s website on Amazon: Bonnie Rickner Jensen on Amazon
Bio from author’s website on Amazon: BRJ on Amazon

This lovely children’s book was published on September 14th and would be a welcome addition to your little one’s library. Purchase Links:

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Thomas Nelson

Review of IN ANOTHER LIGHT by A.J. Banner

On By vickleaIn Book ReviewLeave a comment

This is one of those books that entertains, teaches a life lesson (or several of them) and makes me think, all at the same time. Phoebe is a widow who also lost her young daughter in a horrible car accident. Still having difficulty dealing with her loss, she is startled by the appearance of Pauline Steele at the mortuary where she works, especially because Pauline is like a mirror image of herself. Thus her quest for the truth begins, taking her along a path that she never wanted to travel and one which will take her to the brink of insanity. Along the way, Phoebe is pulled back from the edge by friends like Renee and Mike, but she is also determined to find out the truth about her husband Logan and his possible relationship with Pauline. This book, with all of its complexities and hidden truths, was an engrossing read, one that I had to pause as I read in order to think about applications to my own life and the things that we take for granted. I enjoyed discovering about Phoebe’s strengths and weaknesses just as she was discovering them herself. My favorite parts of the book were her realization about the truth and the ending, a very satisfactory one, I might add. This is a book that should be savored, just as you savor a fine wine or a good meal. It sits there with you for a while, you think about it and then you move on to the next part of the story. The action was somewhat slow-paced, but I found that this technique worked for me with this book because I needed the pauses in order to reflect on what was really happening. The reality is there, just hidden beneath layers of self-deception and a psychosis that can destroy if not handled well. Fans of domestic drama with some suspense added in will enjoy this book and look forward to more from this author.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

I would rate this a hard PG-13 because the content could be disturbing to some readers since it deals with love, loss and psychological illnesses.
Photo and bio from the author’s website at http://www.ajbanner.com

Releases on October 5, 2021. Purchase Links:

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Reading this book made me think about the meaning of life and how brief it is. It was thought-provoking in a really good way, so I hope that you will pick up a copy and enjoy your own self-reflection.

Review of LAST SEEN ALONE by Laura Griffin

On By vickleaIn Book ReviewLeave a comment

What a fast-paced, well-written romantic suspense! Leigh Larson is an attorney who takes on interesting cases dealing with sexual extortion and online abuse. Talk about keeping up with the times! This book does that and more. Homicide detective Brandon Reynolds crosses paths with Leigh when her client Vanessa is missing and he concludes that there may have been a murder because of the blood at the scene. Leigh decides to investigate on her own what happened to Vanessa at the same time that Brandon is investigating a possible murder. Leigh’s life is endangered by her own snooping and Brandon comes to her rescue. The romance is steamy at times, but it is a slow burn on the back burner. The real thrust of the story is what happened to Vanessa and why. The characters were three-dimensional and believable, with all of the angst that comes with trying to find out the truth while exploring a new relationship. For the mystery lover fans like me, there were plenty of red herrings and twists with an abundance of possible suspects. The mystery was well-developed, with clues given regularly for me to follow and to keep me enticed to continue to read. In fact, I could not read this book fast enough because I wanted to find out what happened to Vanessa as much as the protagonists did. The conclusion wrapped everything up in a nice, tight bow. I enjoyed the plotting and even the sub-plot of a relationship developing between Detective Antonio and Kate, Vanessa’s sister. Surprisingly, my favorite character was neither Leigh nor Brandon but rather Leigh’s partner Javi, an understanding and compassionate man who really had Leigh’s best interests at heart and wanted her to succeed in her quest for justice. I cannot say enough about how good this story was and hope that fans of creepy good romantic suspense will enjoy it as much as I did.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

I would rate this book PG-13 since there are some steamy sex scenes outside of marriage.
Image and Bio from the author’s website at http://www.lauragriffin.com

Coming next week to a store near you! Pre-order now by following a purchase link below:

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Releases on September 28, 2021! Don’t wait to get this book that will keep you reading until the very end!