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Review of THE CHRISTMAS TABLE by Donna VanLiere

On By vickleaIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

With a dual timeline and two sets of main characters, this is a heart-tugging and warm Christmas story about family, friends and finding your purpose in the world. The first timeline is 1972 with John Creighton and his wife Joan. They have two young children and Joan has cancer that she is battling bravely. John wants to do something special for his wife, so he decides to build a kitchen table for the family. Flash forward to 2012 with Lauren Mabrey, a young woman who has just discovered that she is pregnant. She and her husband have just started housekeeping, so they need to establish a special place for their new baby. Lauren gets the assistance of her helpful friends at Glory’s Place to find a new kitchen table and to decorate the baby’s nursery. The table is what draws the two timelines together. I really enjoyed reading Joan’s recipes that she got from her mother and that she is trying to pass down to her own daughter before the horrors of cancer take her away from her family. When Lauren discovers the recipe cards in the Christmas table, she starts learning how to cook, but she is also determined to find the one who wrote the recipes to begin with, knowing that they are a legacy. What a wonderful story this was of hope and love and what we leave behind! The story lines were engaging, and each time I read about Joan and then switched to Lauren, I was eager to go back to the other character, whoever it was at the time, in order to continue their story and discover the end of the story. There was a lot of emotion in each chapter, building to the end that was satisfying and also tear-bringing. Fans of VanLiere’s Christmas tales will find a lot of love within the pages of this book.
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.”

A lovely, clean Christmas read. Rated G by me

Available TODAY! Purchase Links:

Amazon

Google Play

Barnes & Noble

Indiebound

Powell’s Books

Books-a-Million

For information about the author, go to Donna VanLiere. She is best known as the author of THE CHRISTMAS SHOES which is a movie and a song.

Who Our Real Enemy Is

On By vickleaIn Uncategorized1 Comment

www.bible.com/111/eph.6.12.niv

We are not really fighting against each other, although to listen to the news media, you would think that we are doing so. We are fighting against the prince of darkness, the one who controls the air waves, the one who wants our souls. So, when you hear about rioters and looters and evil people wishing that the President would die, remember that our enemy is trying to destroy us and he can only do that if we give him permission. Let us continue to worship the One True God and to stand for His Justice that is in His Word. Our fight is not between Democrats and Republicans; our ultimate fight is between those who are for God and those who are against Him. This division crosses the line between parties. Pray for our nation. Pray for our President. And pray for protection of our country against the enemy who would decimate us.

Review of SEASON OF JOY by Annie Rains

On By vickleaIn Uncategorized1 Comment

This was the most delightful, positive and happy romance that I have read this year! With just enough conflict to keep me interested and just enough romance to tantalize me, SEASON OF JOY is a book that started out my holidays with a jingle and a tingle. Joy Benson has been hurt by love and is not looking for another entanglement. What she does want to do is start her own art gallery. But without the encouragement of her parents, Joy has to strike out on her own to find a way to fund it. Enter Granger Fields, a single father of two who needs someone to watch his two young daughters while he works on the family’s Christmas tree farm. Joy agrees to give the two darling little girls art lessons and so the real story takes off. I absolutely loved the independence and self-confidence that Joy displayed in her own abilities. With parents too self-absorbed to even notice how talented she was, Joy’s determination was admirable. I think that my favorite characters were the two young girls, Abby and Willow. Abby was precocious and Willow was so needy of a mom that my heart just went out to that little sweet heart. All of the characters were portrayed so realistically that it was like I was watching a well-made movie. (Attention, Hallmark! This book would make a great Christmas movie!) The plot had just enough twists in it for me to want to keep reading until the satisfying and happy conclusion. I really enjoyed the setting of the Sweetwater Springs and the Merry Mountain Christmas Tree Farm. Visiting with old friends who had been in previous books was like a visit home again for me; there was Jack and Dawanda and Emma…lots of favorites. Although this book is part of a series, I feel that it can be enjoyed as a Christmas standalone. I highly recommend this feel-good book that will start out your season with positive vibes, ready to decorate, celebrate and ring in the joyful season!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Hachette Book Group. 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 give this book a PG-13 rating because of the romantic scenes. Nothing explicit but may not be appropriate for younger readers.
Photo and Bio from the author’s website at Annie Rains

Available on October 13th, but you should pre-order NOW! Purchase Links:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-a-Million

Powell’s Books

Indiebound

Get this feel-good, positive book and start your holiday off with love and merrymaking at the little town of Sweetwater Springs!

Why I’m Praying for Judge Barrett

On By vickleaIn Uncategorized2 Comments

I’m praying for the new Supreme Court nominee because:

1. She is highly qualified and deserves to be confirmed.

2. She has not done anything to cause her to be vilified, but the smears are already starting.

3. She has a family of seven children, some of whom are old enough to read or hear the news and be affected by it.

4. She is a fellow Christian who has demonstrated remarkable faith and grace.

5. I’m commanded to pray for my brothers and sisters, and I believe that she is one and demonstrates the qualities that I would like to demonstrate if I were in her place.

6. She stands for Christian values, including being pro-life.

7. Finally, I feel compassion towards her for being a strong woman in a world of men and women who don’t even try to understand her or accept her and her faith.

This morning, I read Dr. Denison’s forum about Justice Barrett. I also heard clips of how the MSM is treating her. Senator Chuck Schumer is calling the process illegitimate and refuses to meet with her. A late-night comedian says that she is “really, really Catholic…speak in tongues Catholic.” She is being smeared for adopting children from Haiti, for having seven children and for having a successful career as a woman (with the idea that she couldn’t possibly be doing a good job of both). Here is Dr. Denison’s forum for you to read:

Dr. Denison Oct. 1, 2020

My Prayer for You by Alisa Turner

I hope that you will listen to the song above and keep Judge Barrett in your prayers as the days of her confirmation hearings continue. And while you are praying, keep the U.S.A. and our election in your prayers. Without God’s help and intervention, we will be headed down the destructive road to socialism.

Blessings to each of you today as you pray, praise, and read the Scripture. May you feel the Lord walking beside you, holding your hand and speaking gently in your ear the words of comfort or wisdom that you need to hear.

For Such a Time as This

On By vickleaIn Uncategorized3 Comments

www.bible.com/1171/php.2.14-15.mev

As I watched the debate last night, I was appalled at the childish bickering of the participants. Then, today, as I was reading my Bible devotional for the day, this verse jumped off the page at me. This is indeed a “crooked and perverse generation”, from the leadership of our nation to the rioters wreaking destruction. But we are here for this time for a reason. We have a purpose, to “shine as lights in the world.” Just as this was true when Paul penned these words to the Philippians, it is true today. There is great darkness in the world, but we are called for this time to shine our lights so that the darkness is dispelled. I cannot do everything, but I can do one thing. I can speak out my opinions about debates and candidates and riots and I can stand for truth no matter where I am. How about you? Are you shining as a light in the world or are you hiding behind all of the bushels (issues) of the day? I confess that I prefer to hide because I like to avoid confrontations. However, if we don’t confront, who will? Who will tell the truth if we don’t. We have a treasure to share with the world, and I hope that you will join me in sharing it with a lost world. Have a blessed day, remembering that you were born for this time for a reason.