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: Her Reluctant Amish Heart by Pamela Desmond Wright

On By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book Review1 Comment

About the Book

ISBN-139781335529114

Publisher: Harlequin

Publication Date: 07/28/2026

Pages: 208 pages

Synopsis (from the author’s website)

When a reckless street race injures her brother, Anika Glick wants nothing to do with the man responsible—especially when he’s sentenced to help her family. But Elam Muller is desperate to prove he’s changed. As they work together on her family farm, Anika finds herself drawn to Elam’s remorse and kindness. But when they’re presented with one last risky race that could secure their future or destroy it all, everything they’ve built is put to the test. Will their growing love survive the pull of the past—or will it all come crashing down?

My Thoughts

With appealing characters, this warmhearted romance was a delightful and sweet portrayal of finding love when you aren’t really looking for it. Anika Glick is reluctant to have Elam come to the farm and help her family after her father and brother were both hurt in accidents. But since her brother Nathan’s accident was a direct result of Elam’s carelessness, she agrees with the Bishop that one of his consequences should be helping with the chores that Nathan cannot do. The plot is well crafted even though it was obvious that Anika and Elam would end up together, reading their story was entertaining and a slam dunk pleasure to read. I enjoyed the portrayal of the characters as they went from distrust to friendship, especially the respectful way that Elam treated Anika in front of her peers. They learned how to work together for the good of the family and for each other and the fun they had getting to know each other jumped right off the page into my active imagination. The chemistry between the characters was realistically portrayed and the pace of the story was perfect for the characters to get to know each other well and for the conflicts in the plot to work out in a satisfactory way.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I also purchased my own copy to keep for my collection of good fiction books. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Rated G, clean Christian fiction

About the Author

New York Times & Publishers Weekly bestselling author Pamela Desmond Wright grew up in a small, dusty Texas town. From the time she learned to read, books have been her passion.

A veteran of the e-book revolution of the late ’90’s, Pamela moved into traditional publishing, writing for Kensington and NAL/Penguin. Nominated 2 times, she won the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award in 2010. Pamela was also a founder of the scam publishers and agents website, The Write Connection, which was transferred to the SFWA through (then) vice-president A.C. Crispin to become Writer Beware. Her experiences with scam agents and publishers was documented in Professor Jim Fisher’s book, Ten Percent of Nothing: The Case of the Literary Agent From Hell.

In 2013, Pam took a break from publishing. Unable to shake the story bug, she came back in 2019 with a new focus, fulfilling a promise to write wholesome books readers of all ages could enjoy.

Find her online at pameladesmondwright dot com. She’s also on social media: Facebook, X, Threads, Bluesky and Instagram as @pamdwrites. More information is available on her website at https://www.pameladesmondwright.com/

Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Books-a-Million

Kobo

Walmart

Harlequin

God’s Promises

On By vickleaIn Scripture3 Comments

One of the things that keeps me going on the really hard days is reviewing the promises of God and reminding myself that He always keeps His promises.

As a person who has always been afraid of being in total darkness, this promise means a lot to me. I won’t need the sun or moon because God will be an everlasting life for all of us. No more darkness, ever!

With all of the medical tests I have had to undergo and facing more to come, this scripture verse has been my mantra. I am not facing any of this alone. God is right there with me and if the tests show results that are not good, then I know that God is still holding me up and will continue to do so until He calls me to come home to Him.

Sometimes I feel like a pellet from a BB gun. The gun may be aimed at the target, but somehow, some of those pellets go every way except where you want them to go. I keep in mind that God has perfect aim, is pointing me just where He wants me and if I will just be still, I will get there. Fretting doesn’t work nor do sleepless nights. In fact, God’s peace allows me to sleep in the midst of all of this chaos of doctor visits. I have concluded that I should sleep because God “has the watch” all night, every night.

What are some promises that speak to you in a special way? Feel free to share them in the comments. I look forward to reading them!

God Is Worthy

On By vickleaIn ScriptureLeave a comment

He is Worthy (Daily Refresh, 7-26)

We have a powerful Creator, but it’s easy to forget how magnificent He is. We live in a world filled with His miracles, but it’s common to become desensitized to the wonder of it all.

God created something from nothing—speaking life, meaning, and purpose into existence. He’s the author of everything. He is worthy of our worship.

Whales roam the seas, bears scavenge the mountaintops, fireflies light up the countryside. People explore the world, build skyscrapers, cook meals, develop languages, and form complex relationships—with God and with each other.

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
Revelation 4:11 NIV

“All things,” as the verse says, includes everything we can see and even the things we can’t—both the visible and invisible. “All things” also includes you. 

You were intentionally and uniquely designed by God. You were put on this planet on purpose, at this specific time in history. You have been empowered to shine and share His love, in a distinct and special way that’s completely unique to you.

So take a moment to recognize… God made you and He loves you. He is worthy of your praise.

My Thoughts

I sit in my recliner each morning for my devotions and as I look out the window next to me, I can see some of the wonderful things that God has created for us to enjoy. The roses and other flowers, the hummingbirds, the goldfinches, the sky, the trees, even the annoying little squirrels. Then, I look around the room where I am sitting. There are digital frames that show me pictures of loved ones, the ones I cherish and want to see more frequently. I am so thankful for each of them. I look around more and see gifts from those loved ones. A photograph of my son’s hand on a chess board. A wooden craft our granddaughter painted for me. All made by their ability to create and imagine, an ability that God gave to each of us. As I type this post, I am grateful for each of you and the positive words and encouragement you speak into my life. God created each of us for a purpose. I am here in 2026 and that was part of God’s plan for me. I am thankful for each moment, each day, each hour I have to spend time with those I love and doing the things that God made for me to enjoy. Let us always remember that He is worthy and He who is worthy loves us.

Speaking Life

On By vickleaIn Scripture7 Comments

Words have meaning and can impart life or death to others. In my devotional today, I was encouraged to think about the words Jesus spoke and how careful He was to say just what needed to be said. He spoke to a fig tree and it died. He spoke to a blind man and he was able to see. Jesus spoke what was needed, not what He was possibly thinking.

I have a tendency to spew out what I am thinking and then to apologize later. I can usually do that without serious repercussions. But if Jesus cursed the sun and the moon, parts of the creation that He participated in, would they have disappeared never to shine again? If he told the people to go away, that He was tired of dealing with them, would they simply vanish? Jesus knew that His words carried authority and power so He spoke wisely and with discernment.

We need to remember that our words have power, also. As followers of Jesus, we need to be careful what we say and to whom we say it. We are constantly sowing seeds of life or weeds of death. Jesus didn’t speak without hearing from the Father what He should be saying. That’s a good reason for us to pause before we speak, say a little prayer and then speak what the Holy Spirit prods us to say. I need to work on this…how about you?

Review: Bookmarked for Love by Sarah Monzon

On By vickleaIn Book Review3 Comments

About the Book

ISBN-139780764243769

Publisher:Baker Publishing Group

Publication Date: 07/21/2026

Series: Checking Out Love

Pages: 320 pages

Synopsis (from the author’s website)

When children’s librarian Martha Aldridge learns about budget cuts that will not only put her out of a job but also shut down the library’s children’s programs, she’s determined to raise the funds needed to save both. The good news is, she knows just who to ask for a large donation on the library’s behalf. The bad news? She swore she’d never step foot in his office again. 

Julien King has been groomed to one day run his family’s publishing empire, and now he must prove he’s ready to take the helm by turning around the company’s languishing children’s imprint. That wouldn’t be a problem, except he doesn’t know the first thing about children’s literature. But when Martha waltzes into his office, he sees an opportunity and makes her an offer she can’t refuse. He’ll give her the money she needs for the library in exchange for her help in acquiring a best-selling manuscript that will resurrect the dying imprint. The longer they’re forced to work together, however, the more they come to realize their jobs may not be the only thing on the line.

My Thoughts

I cannot remember ever enjoying a book as much as I enjoyed this one. With a charming plot of friends to lovers and close proximity, this book also led me down the path of nostalgia as many favorite books from my childhood were mentioned by Martha as she endeavors to educate Julien King on child literature since he is the head of that division for his family’s publishing company. I laughed aloud when Julien came up with a scheme to provide library funding for Martha in exchange for her expertise in his company. Although some of the plot was predictable, it was so much fun reading how the two main characters got from being mere acquaintances from different social walks of life to the place where they could trust and count on each other. Martha and Julien were both easy to cheer for in this carefully plotted and compelling story that was refreshing to read and a delight to recommend to others. The whole story paints a vivid picture of the two as they make plans together to find a bestselling children’s author who will save the children’s section of King Publishing. This is a heartwarming romance with charm, plenty of emotional depth and lots of trivia about children’s books. The banter between the two main characters was laugh-out-loud funny at times and made me fall in love with the book as I got immersed in their story, the conflict and the resolution that was absolutely perfect. The pace is moderate but is perfectly executed for a flirtatious romance with two headstrong characters working towards a happily ever after. The real selling point for the book was that it can definitely be read and enjoyed as a standalone. I did enjoy it so much though that now I plan to add the other two books in the series to my must read stack of books and cannot wait to read other books by this author. Fun, engaging, and satisfying in all ways!
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher 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

Winner of the Holt Medallion and Selah Award, Sarah Monzon is a stay-at-home mom who makes up imaginary friends to have adult conversations with (otherwise known as writing novels). As a navy chaplain’s wife, she resides wherever the military happens to station her family and enjoys exploring the beauty of the world around her.

Sarah loves connecting with readers on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Author’s website: https://www.sarahmonzonwrites.com/

Purchase Links

Baker Book House

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Christian Book

Books-a-Million

Apple Books

Audible

Cleaning Closets

On By vickleaIn Scripture4 Comments

One of the chores that I really despise is cleaning out the closets, especially my own. I know that I have clothes in there that I haven’t worn since I retired from teaching nine years ago. Yet, the clothes are still there, taking up space, just like the shoes and the too-many blankets, and the crafts I started and never finished.

When I think about having to clean out the closet, I get tired before I even start working on the task. Just the thought of all of that clutter seems insurmountable.

As I considered the whole closet cleaning scenario, which is way overdue, Jesus reminded me that He is keeping my spiritual house in order. He nudges me with the Holy Spirit to take care of something and I generally do (although I confess sometimes it takes more than one nudge before I act). He wants me to get rid of the things that are not helping me to grow and to replace them with His fruits that feed others. So, the Lord Himself helps me keep the closet of my life clean. Sometimes, I think something is hidden away and the Lord has missed seeing it. Not true! Not only does He see everything, He is gently working to remove it from its glued-in-place position in my life. We all think that we have plenty of room in our lives for everything we want to cram in. But what we need to do and what Jesus encourages is prioritizing and setting boundaries and limits. Getting rid of things we don’t use anymore is just like cleaning out the closet in the bedroom. Once it is done, I have room for things that I didn’t even know that I needed.

Because Jesus cares for us, He doesn’t want us to deal with the worries of the day. He cleans them out for us, if we will let Him. Then He replaces those worries with faith-filled promises and a hope for a brighter future. Maybe those anxieties are taking up too much room in the closet of your mind…so time to let Jesus clean them out and leave more space for His love and His plans for you.

Making Plans and Holding Them Loosely

On By vickleaIn Scripture1 Comment

Planning Ahead (Daily Refresh, 7-19-26)

Think about your upcoming plans for the day, week, year, and beyond.

Maybe you want to start a business.
Maybe you want to raise a family.
Maybe you want to write a book.
Maybe you want to travel the world.
Maybe you want to start a ministry.
Maybe you want to volunteer in your city.
Maybe you want to plant a garden.
Maybe you want to pay off debt.

Scripture tells us …

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19:21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Making plans isn’t a bad thing. In fact, the Bible tells us that we will harvest what we plant (Galatians 6:7), so we should be diligent—not lazy—to wisely prepare for the future. But we must simultaneously hold those plans loosely, because God knows the full picture of our lives.

God is always working in and through His people, giving them the desire and power to do what pleases Him (Philippians 2:13). But sometimes, we require rerouting. Sometimes what we want isn’t in His plan.

But even when we don’t get what we’ve hoped for, He always has our good and His glory in mind. 

Jesus modeled how to surrender His own plans by literally giving His life up for us—for our freedom. And, even though it wasn’t easy, our lives and our futures look different because God’s purpose prevailed.

So today, make a list of some of your plans and dreams. Then hold your hands out in front of you, and visualize giving all of your dreams and plans over to God. Picture all of those plans evaporating from your hands. Then, ask God to show you which plans He wants to give back to you and if there are any new dreams He’s longing for you to receive.

My Thoughts

Like just about everyone, I make plans and then get deeply disappointed when they don’t happen. For example, I had plans to travel a lot this summer, so spend time with grandchildren and to visit other family members. But none of that has happened because of my ongoing health issues.

Even simple plans, like going to Sunday school and church on Sunday sometimes fall by the wayside because of things like asthma attacks and breathing treatments.

I am taking to heart the lesson this devotional to hold onto my plans loosely, giving them to God. Small plans, big plans, all plans are in His hands. Sometimes He will give them back to me when I give them freely to Him. Sometimes He has better plans that serve His greater plan and His glory, so I have to be willing to wait for that to unravel and for Him to reveal the better purpose to me.

It all boils down to trust. Do I trust God’s plans more than my own? I can honestly say that I am working on that but I haven’t arrived yet. I want to let go of my desire to control and God is teaching me every day that His way is better.