My Encouragement for Today

On December 3, 2020 By vickleaIn Uncategorized2 Comments

www.bible.com/1171/psa.138.8.mev

Honestly, I have been feeling a little stressed and somewhat depressed, too. You see, I am one of those people who believes that the Presidential election should never have been called yet as long as there are contested states. Now that the media has basically called the election, it seems to be a “done deal” and I am angry and upset for a country that cannot have a fair election because of double standards and a left-leaning media. Hundreds of people have filed affidavits about the fraud and cheating, but what can be done now? I applaud President Trump’s efforts because he is working to guard our electoral system for the future, and therein lies my hope. There is still hope after Joe Biden, if we just don’t give up. So, I will continue to pray and wait, knowing that it will take a miracle for this debacle of an election to be overturned. And, even if it isn’t overturned, God is still on His throne and fulfilling His purpose.

Meanwhile, I am doing Christmas shopping for nine grandchildren, three adult children and their spouses on a limited budget. God is my Provider and so far, I’m staying on budget with only two more to buy for. When we were both working, my husband used to have a Christmas savings account and every November, he would transfer the money to me so that I could use it. Now that we are retired, I save the money from my retirement and shop in December when I have the most funds available. So far, so good, but still stressful. This morning, for example, I was checking out on Amazon and ready to hit the button to complete my order when I noticed that one of the items wouldn’t be delivered until February. Really?!? So, I had to delete it and look for an alternative selection. I love Christmas, with the lights to remind me of the Savior and the praise music that makes my heart happy. But I’m not a fan of shopping, and since all has to be done online this year, it’s a little more stressful. That stress, too, goes on the shoulders of the Lord and off I go to start the rest of my day. The Lord will take care of everything and He will never forsake me because I am one of the works of His hands. Amazing good news!

Have a blessed day filled with purpose, mercy and grace!

Review of CHRISTMAS PROTECTION DETAIL by Terri Reed

On December 2, 2020 By vickleaIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

*Mostly clean read with some intense scenes and some violence*

This was a very fast-paced read with action that was almost non-stop. From the first page when Deputy Kaitlyn Lanz responds to a car crash outside the Delaney compound, the action and the interaction between the main characters begins. Nick Delaney is a multi-millionaire (by birth) and should be haughty and arrogant and unapproachable. However, he is none of those things. When his friend Lexi is critically injured trying to come to him to escape ruthless villains, he volunteers to take care of her tiny infant Rosie and vows to do all that he has to do to protect her. With car chases, ambulance rides, gate-crashing weapons teams and various other heart-stopping action scenes, this book is not your typical laid-back Christmas romance. The suspense was thrilling and the developing relationship between Kaitlyn and Nick was subtle and mostly hidden for most of the book. I thoroughly enjoyed how invested both of them were in protecting Rosie and in finding Lexi’s secret and turning it over to the authorities. There were multiple surprises in the book that definitely kept me glued to the pages. I highly recommend this book to those who like a lot of suspense and a little bit of Christmas thrown in.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: 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.”

Available on December 15, 2020! You can pre-order today. Purchase Links:

Harlequin.com: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781335403223_christmas-protection-detail.html

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-protection-detail-terri-reed/1136975731?ean=9781335403223&st=AFF&2sid=HarperCollins%20Publishers%20LLC_7651142_NA&sourceId=AFFHarperCollins%20Publishers%20LLC

Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/Christmas-Protection-Detail-Inspired-Suspense-ebook/dp/B0886F4H3F/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Christmas+Protection+Detail+%28Love+Inspired+Suspense%29&linkCode=gs3&qid=1603823591&sr=8-1&tag=haperpublican-20

Indie Bound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781335403223

BAM: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/9781335403223?AID=10747236&PID=7651142&cjevent=de6507c3188211eb804700ae0a24060c

About the author:

Award winning, multipublished author Terri Reed discovered the wonderful world of fiction at an early age and declared she would one day write a book. Now she’s fulfilling that dream by writing for Love Inspired. She is a member of both Romance Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers. You can visit her online at http://www.terrireed.com or email her at terrireed@sterling.net or leave comments on http://craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com/ or http://www.loveinspiredauthors.com

Review of THE LIE:BEHIND CLOSED DOORS by Debra Webb

On December 2, 2020December 2, 2020 By vickleaIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

A fast-paced thriller with characters that are unbelievably smart, intuitive and likable! The story is the unusual tale of a young woman named Lara who writes a popular true crime blog, only to find herself in the middle of an investigation into the career of a prolific serial killer. With the help of FBI agent and friend Nate, Lara sets out to discover the truth about the identity of the Butcher. There are some really creepy scenes in this book and the descriptions of the kill scenes are not for the faint of heart, but they certainly kept me mesmerized and reading late into the night. Lara is determined to discover who the Butcher is and Nate is equally determined to protect her from the long reach of a man who has killed throughout the U.S. for decades. In her quest, Lara will have to face the truth of her own family background and how her own mother may have lied to her to protect her from the truth. The line between lies and truth is a narrow one that fascinated me throughout the book as I read with great anticipation the story of a young woman living with a lie. Fans of thriller and suspense will enjoy this book as it provides a great escape into the world of crime and family drama.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the 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.”

This is book one of a new series called **Behind Closed Doors**. *With a new book released weekly, these short books are perfect books to getaway for a little while from the realities of a world gone crazy.*

*With descriptions of graphic violence, this book may not be for everyone, but the suspense and fast pace were wonderfully enticing for me.*

*Photo from Ms. Webb’s website at* http://www.debrawebb.com

Debra Webb is a prolific author who has written more than 150 books. Check out her bio on her website!

Available Today at Amazon:

Amazon

God’s Promise to Us

On November 30, 2020 By vickleaIn Uncategorized7 Comments

www.bible.com/1171/isa.49.15-16.mev

I am a mom of three adult children, yet it seems only yesterday that I held them in my arms and cuddled and fed them. It seems only yesterday that I was teaching them to walk, encouraging them to talk and then, later, to be independent and, hopefully, to make good choices. Even though each of my children has his or her own life now, with their own family, my children are still close to my heart, prayed for daily and thought of more times per day than anyone could think possible. God sees each of us as His child; He has gently and patiently fed us, encouraged us to mature and to walk closely to Him. This verse reminds us that He has us written on the palms of His hands, just where Jesus received the nails of the cross. Coincidence? I don’t think so. It is at the cross that Jesus thought of each of us, even with His last breath. And it is there that God wrote us on the palms of His hands, that we might know forever His great love for us.

Give Thanks

On November 26, 2020 By vickleaIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

www.bible.com/1171/psa.100.4.mev

Happy Thanksgiving! 🍁

Review of THE BLENDED QUILT by Wanda E. Brunstetter and Jean Brunstetter

On November 25, 2020 By vickleaIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

The story of young Amish woman Sadie Kuhns and her quest to find love and independence in her life was a unique and uplifting story. She decides that the young man who is courting her, Wyman Kauffman, doesn’t really have an aim in his life, so he is not for her. Honestly, he was a very weak character who thought that flitting from job to job and borrowing money from his brother was the way to go in his life. Fortunately, Sadie saw right through his proclamations in love and decided to break it off with him. She dedicated herself to creating a unique quilt that combined her Amish heritage and her new found love for the Hawaiian islands that she visited. Her independent spirit is an anomaly in Amish fiction and I was delighted to read her story. The characters in the story were wonderful and very human. I enjoyed seeing the family support and love that held up Katie in her quest for love and a place in her world. Fans of Christian/Amish fiction will totally fall in love with this clean read!
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.”

*This is a totally clean Christian fiction read.*

*From the author’s website at* http://www.wandabrunstetter.com

Available NOW! Purchase Links:

This lovely story of family and strong ties to community should find its way to your library’s shelves today!

Do You Want to Survive or Thrive?

On November 25, 2020 By vickleaIn Uncategorized5 Comments

This has been a hard season for all of us. We haven’t been able to do our regular activities and some of us have spent most of the last eight months or so mostly confined to our homes. But, God clearly told me that He has not changed and He is still my firm foundation. Hallelujah!

In the midst of this whole crisis, I decided that I needed to find another church. The reasons are numerous, but I prayed about it and got the “go ahead” from God. So, when I was getting a crown put on my tooth, the dental assistant was talking about her little boy being in a boot like mine after he got hurt accidentally at home. She said that he was possibly facing an amputation, but they had the whole church praying and the surgeon was able to save his foot. Again, Hallelujah! So, I asked about the church she attends and, long story shorter, my husband and I visited there and I really, really liked it! I felt peace there and love how the pastors (there are two) used so much Scripture in their sermons. So, we are transitioning to a new church now. I say “transitioning” because my husband is on the board of our former church and can’t really leave it until February. So, another big change in our lives, but hopefully, all for the better.

We had made plans to have our son and his family here for Thanksgiving and I was so excited about getting to see our grandson for the first time in almost nine months! He turned eighteen last February and that is the last time we saw him. But, alas! It was not to be because our granddaughter was exposed to Covid at school, so the family has to be quarantined for two weeks. I texted my son last night to make sure that they were able to get groceries delivered for Thanksgiving. They hadn’t purchased the turkey or anything previously because they had also planned to be with us. His reply was “yes” so that means that I don’t have to talk my husband into an hour plus trip to deliver a Thanksgiving meal to their porch. I hope that you will join me in prayer that Iris and her family don’t get sick. I praise God that I can share my prayer needs with you and I am confident that you will lift them up to Heaven with me.

So, where does the title of today’s blog come from? Dr. Denison, of course!

Dr. Denison November 24, 2020

May the Lord bless you and keep you and may His face shine upon you with grace and mercy! Happy Thanksgiving!

Why socialism?

On November 24, 2020 By vickleaIn Uncategorized3 Comments

Given its abysmal track record, why would anyone advocate socialism today? The reasons for suggesting socialism today are much like the reasons for …
Why socialism?

Please go to the original post and follow the original author.

Two Glorious Words: ‘But Now’

On November 24, 2020 By vickleaIn Uncategorized2 Comments

This blog should ignite your soul with the glory of God’s goodness!
Two Glorious Words: ‘But Now’

Please, please, please go to the original post to LIKE it! David does a fantastic job and I’m sure he would appreciate your LIKES and FOLLOWS.

Review of BURDEN OF PROOF by Davis Bunn

On November 21, 2020 By vickleaIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

This was the first book that I have read by Davis Bunn, and I was absolutely engrossed in it from beginning to end. I didn’t know what to expect at first because it seemed to combine sci-fi with mystery and thriller, so I wasn’t convinced that the combination would work. I was pleasantly surprised as this book exceeded all of my expectations. The basic premise is that Ethan uses advanced technology discovered by his sister-in-law Sonya in order to travel back in time and attempt to save his brother Adrian’s life. The whole idea for the plot seemed so wild to me, but the author not only made it work, but he made it work well, tying up loose ends and explaining the unexplainable. The Christian aspect was the story of second chances and a prodigal brother who had spent his life living for himself only to find that he had wasted it and done nothing for the brother who had sacrificed for him. I really enjoyed getting to know the three dimensional characters and all of their facets, both in the past and in their current lives. Since the time frame was dual, the author faced the challenging task of making sure that I understood exactly where the story was going and who the most important actors were. Masterful job! At the end of the story, I just wanted to immediately find another book by this author because he demonstrated such talent in plot and character development. I highly recommend this book for those who enjoy high-octane, fast-paced thrillers, with mystery and sci-fi stirred into the mix.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell. I was not required to write a positive review. 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.”