New Reviews!

It has been a few days since I've posted. During the past few weeks I have read several books that I would like to give a review on. All of these books are Christian fiction and I can say that you would not go wrong with any of these books. They are in different genres but they were all enjoyable! I will review them in the order that I read them. The first one is:

Word Gets Around by Lisa Wingate

Lauren Eldridge we all should wiped the dust of Daily, Texas off her boots forever. Screenwriter Nate Heath thought he was out at second chances.

Life is never that predictable, though.

Cajoled by her father, Lara and is back in town helping train a skittish racehorse set to star in a Hollywood film. But the handsome screenwriter gives her more trouble than the horse. And Nate is realizing there's a spark of magic in the project - and in the eyes of the girl who is so good with horses.

Daily, Texas, has a way of offering hope, healing, and a little romance just when folks need it most.

LISA WINGATE is a popular inspirational speaker, magazine columnist, and national bestselling author of several books including Tending Roses, Drenched In Light, and A Thousand Voices. Her work was recently honored by the Americans for More Civility for promoting greater kindness and civility in American life. Lisa and her family live in central Texas.

My Take: This was a cute book. It is told from the two main characters POV. Lauren Eldredge has moved away from her hometown of Daily, Texas. Lauren has ghosts that haunt her and they live in her hometown of Daily. She doesn't want to go back home and have to face these ghosts, but her father has called and asked her to come home. He has put some money into the backing of a movie to be shot in Daily. He needs Lauren's help to train the horse who is to star in the movie. Reluctantly, she does return to help her father in the process she faces the past which will lead to a new future.

The male character is Nathaniel Heath who has been blind sighted into working on the script. His good friend and the movie star who has started the project expects him to rewrite the script in a couple of weeks. He doesn't think that will work, but he doesn't want to tell the people of the community who have put time, effort and money behind the project. As he struggles with what to do he becomes interested in Lauren. Nate has secrets of his own which he will deal with while he is working on a script. Nate will also find peace in this project.

There are interesting bunch of characters that make up the community of Daily, and provide a lot of fun and adventure during the book. Please take a few minutes to go over to Lisa's website at: http://www.lisawingate.com/. I don't think you'll be sorry!

The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall

Beth Hertzler is unable to let go of a past tragedy. Still in mourning, she cuts herself off from any hope of happiness. A gifted carver holds the answer to both her past and the future in his hands-- but can Beth move beyond yesterday and embrace a second chance at love?

Cindy Woodsmall: is the author of When the Heart Cries, and the New York Times bestseller When the Soul Mends. Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish Families. A mother of three sons and two daughters in law, Cindy lives in Georgia with her husband of more than 30 years.

My Take: This is a small hardback book. I wasn't sure how I would like reading a book about the Amish. I am so glad that I took the chance to go ahead and read this book. It is one of the sweetest stories I have ever read. This isn't about religion it is about the human spirit to heal after it has gone through a tragedy. Two young people, one with physical scars and one with emotional scars, come together (with a little help from Beth's aunt) and find healing and peace for their wounds. I encourage you to go to Cindy's website at: http://www.cindywoodsmall.com/ and check out all of her books. This is a Christmas story and the perfect time to read to help get you in the Christmas spirit. This would also be a wonderful gift for yourself or a friend. By the way, I was privileged to meet Cindy at a writers meeting not too long ago. I feel blessed to have met her.

The Big 5-0h! by Sandra D. Bricker

Olivia Wallace can't remember a birthday that wasn't marked by illness, tragedy, or both. As she approaches the big 5-0, she's determined to change her streak of bad luck. With the help of her best friend, Liv escapes a snowy Ohio winter and runs away to the Florida sunshine.

Amidst a crazy cast of characters that include a dog with a lampshade collar, a rogue alligator, and a flirtatious octogenarian, God surprises her with the best birthday gift of all -- a second chance at love.

Sandra D. Bricker: For more than a decade, Sandra lived in Los Angeles and, while writing in every spare moment, worked as a personal assistant and publicist to some of the daytime television's hottest stars. Since then she has written three novels for middle-grade readers and several romance novels, including unWANTED Husband,Change of Heart, Sins of the Past, Wish I Weren't Here, and Love Finds You in Snowball, Arkansas. Sandra lives in Tampa, Florida.

My Take: Several days ago I wrote a review of Sandra's book Love Finds You in Holiday Florida. It was the first time I had read any of Sandra's books. I had been asked by Sandra to read her book and give a review of it. I read the book and gave it a rave review. Anyone who is middle-aged can relate to the characters in this book. Now I want to rave again about a brand-new book that I believe will be out in March. This book was sooooo funny! The cast of characters will keep you laughing to the very end. Once again, if you are middle aged you will relate beautifully to the characters. Olivia runs away to Florida to escape the winter in Ohio and to find her new self. Once there she can't decide what to do about coming back - it wasn't suppose to be this hard. Of course there are some very handsome men that make her acquaintance which make it doubly hard to go back to Ohio. Sandra definitely gets a thumb up for her new book The Big 5-0h! Visit her website at: http://www.sandradbricker.com/ and check out all of her books, including inspirational books!

It is very late and my eyes are getting blurry. I hope I haven't made too many mistakes, but if I did please forgive me. The next time I review books they will be Christmas books. I've have several to read and this is the perfect time to get in the Christmas mood. Thank you for reading and following my blog!

HAPPY READING!

New Christmas Giveaway at Colletta's Kitchen Sink

Here is a new Christmas Giveaway over at Colletta's Kitchen Sink. Go over and check it out at:

http://collettaskitchensink.blogspot.com/

Christmas Book Giveaway #3

This week I'll be giving away 2 Christmas books.

Forever Christmas by Christine Lynxwiler

Christmas Dreams by Rebecca Germany, Mary Hawkins, Veda Boyd Jones and Melanie Panagiotopoulos

To enter:

1. Leave a comment telling me your favorite Christmas cookie (1 entry)

2. Be a follower and mention it in your comment (1 entry)

3. Blog about this giveway and let me know that you did (2 entries)

That makes a total of 4 entries possible for these drawings.

The drawings will be held on Tuesday, December 2 @ 12pm.

I can't wait to hear about those yummy cookies!

Kreative Blog Award!

I am once again proud to announce that I've been chosen for the Kreative Blog Award. I want to thank Edwina over at Musings of Edwina. Stop by and check out her blog at: http://www.musingsofedwina.blogspot.com/

I hope to pass this on to some other bloggers in the next few days! Thank you Edwina!

HAPPY READING!

Lee Smith's Book Blog Giveaway!

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2009

Christmas Giveaway

I love Christmas. It is getting to be about that time and in the true spirit of the season, I wanted to give away not just one book, but a couple books. In that spirit, I will give you all a little while to share the word and gather up names before I announce a winner, but not too long, because Christmas isn't too far away. :o) These are the books I am giving away

1. Saturdays with Stella by Allison Pittman ~ This book is subtitled How my Dog Taught me to Sit, Stay, and Come When God Calls. This isn't a novel - but more of a quirky, inspirational book. I think it sounds like such a neat book, especially for animal lovers.
2. A Leap of Faith by Lenora Worth ~ Big City gal Autumn Clancy comes home to take the reins of her Dad's company only to find someone else already doing that job. A very annoying and yet handsome someone. Campbell Dupree tries to charm her, but doesn't really know if God will deem him worthy enough to win her heart...
3. A Texas Legacy Christmas by DiAnn Mills ~ Zack Kahler is going home to Texas when he becomes the victim of one of twin orphaned pickpockets. He decides to take them with him, but can he manage them and the paper, plus recover from his broken heart? Chloe Weaver has always been the outcast. Only Zack ever treated her with any compassion. Now he's back and boarding at the house where she works. Can she hope to capture his heart or is it safer to look for romance with someone else? Maybe they all need a Christmas miracle.
4. A Carol for Christmas by Robin Lee Hatcher (hardcover) ~ What would you give up for love? Carol sacrifices her dream to sing. But was it worth it now that her marriage is crumbling?

None of these books have been read, they are all brand new, but one has a tiny bit of white on the cover where it looks like it was rubbed during shipping or on the shelf and very corners of two of the books are slightly bent from when they shipped to me - and it moved around in the box. You can see the tiny white line in the pic, and you can see all the books bottom corners - so you know they aren't in bad shape. I really hope you'll enjoy them.

So, there you go. If you want to enter, please leave a valid email address, but disguise it so the spammers don't bug you. If you become a follower, you get two entries, my existing followers get three, and extra one if you share about the contest on your blog and link back to me. Tell me all of this in your entry. I will announce the winners on the 30th of November.

I also want to let you all know about my friend Lori's giveaway. Hers is truly unique. You get to pick which book you want! You can read all about it on her blog, Some of My Favorite Things.

Let Your Garden Grow

I want to tell you about a book that I recently read called "Guarded Secrets" written by Leann Harris. This is a Love Inspired Suspense put out by Steeple Hill publishing company. I would like to start by reading the back cover.

At the time, Lilly Burkstrom brushed aside her ex husband's words. Then he dies -- "accidentally" -- in a convenience store robbery, and she starts to wonder. Turning to the police doesn't help. They don't see the binder closing in on her, not even when someone breaks into her house and her ex-husband's apartment. Only Detective Jonathan Littledeer understands her fears, having lost his own family. He is determined to keep the single mom safe. He's not going to let another "accident" claim Lilly or her daughter before he can bring the killers guarded secrets to light.

I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it highly. Lily who is a single mother has been working at her church for the past several years. The new Minister had decided to try to get the community involved, so he chose growing a community garden as the project. One of Lilly's jobs was to organize the harvesting of the garden and the delivery of the vegetables to those in the neighborhood that needed them. This brought the community closer together and was one of her pride and joys. She loved working in the garden and seeing others enjoy it also.

It was not but a few days after I finished reading the book and was sitting in the doctors office reading a People Magazine when I came across an article about a young lady, 11 years old, who started a project very similar to this. I was so excited to stumble across this article and see the relationship of how this could really work in reality. I am going to attach the article. I hope you enjoy the article and it prompts you to check into the book. You can go to Leann's website at www.leannharris.com .

· October 26, 2009

· Vol. 72

· No. 17

A Young Gardener Feeds the Poor

By Diane Herbst/Summerville

· Summerville, S.C.

Last year Katie Stagliano planted a cabbage seedling in her family's backyard. After it grew to an astonishing 40 lbs., Katie donated it to a homeless shelter. Two days later she returned to help serve some of the 275 meals (rounded out by ham and rice) made with her massive crucifer. "I've never felt so good in my life," says Katie, now a fifth grader. "I thought, 'Wow, with one cabbage I helped feed that many people? I could do much more.'"

So she started other gardens—in her subdivision, on donated land outside of town and on a field at her school. She then enlisted volunteers, from gardeners to her classmates, and a plant company donated seedlings. This year Katie and her crew have supplied soup kitchens with over 1,000 lbs. of squash, okra, cabbage and other crops. With the fall harvest, she'll add another 4,000 lbs. "We are amazed, thrilled," says Charlotte Carroll, 57, executive director of Palmetto House, a homeless shelter that gets twice-weekly deliveries from Katie. "It's easy to have a canned food drive, but it's unique a child would grow her own vegetables." Says Elois Mackey, 48, who lives at Palmetto with her two kids: "She shows that children can play a big part in helping people. The vegetables she brought were delicious."

KNOW A HERO? SEND SUGGESTIONS TO HEROESAMONGUS@PEOPLEMAG.COM

I want to thank Cathy Bryant over at Word Vessel Blog at http://wordvessel.blogspot.com/.

Cathy has been gracious enough to give me the honor of winning another blog award! Go on over and check out her blog. It is really something to see!

award on t

Whoever wins this award is asked to tell 10 honest things about themselves and then pass it on to 10 other bloggers. I'm not sure I can pass it on to 10, but I'll do as many as I can. OK - here goes my 10 things:

1. I am over 50 and under 60 years of age. That should give you a ballpark range.

2. I have short hair with a mind of its own.

3. I won a Steel Magnolia award in our community and along with 9 other steel magnolias we will be featured in a community magazine highlighting women.

4. This is the first time I've tried my hand a creating a blog. Not bad for a beginner?

5. I have fibromyalgia which limits my physical abilities.

6. I love to watch Nancy Grace.

7. I love to read - guess you already knew that one!

8. I have two beautiful grown daughters.

9. I live in the country.

10. My favorite genre is cozy mysteries.

HAPPY READING!

"Love Finds You in Holiday Florida"

Let me tell you about a book I have recently read called "Love Finds You In Holiday Florida" written by Sandra Bricker. This book is like a breath of fresh air and it takes place in a small town in Florida during the Christmas holidays. Who would not want to be taken away from the cold, dreary days of winter to a place that is warm and full of fun? This is the adventure that you will go on when you pick up this book and read it. It was a fun book and I believe you will not be disappointed when you have finished your adventure.

First, let me tell you a little bit about Sandra. Sandra is the author of 11 novels and co-author of two devotionals. The southern California native was an entertainment publicist for 15 years and now works as an editor in Tampa, Florida where she lives with Sophie, her collie mix. You can read more about Sandra at www.SandraDeeBricker.com.

And let me read you a little of what is written on back of the book. Cassie Constantine has no plans to stay in Florida. She's just here long enough to sell a vacation house she shared with her late husband, and then she'll hightail it back to her gracious Boston brownstone. But then Cassie gets more than she bargained for with house renovations and wacky neighbors. Then there's Richard Dillon, the stuffed shirt she's paired with on the dance floor, who seems involved in a mystery... and makes her heart beat faster than the rhythm of the quick step. But the biggest surprise of all? The has-it-all-together Cassie finds herself in the midst of a personal overhaul. Will she let loose long enough to find new love in Holiday?

Cassie is in her 50s and it was easy for me to relate to her and some of the other characters in this book. She's going through a lot of changes in her life and doesn't know quite what to do with them. She meets this handsome man that she falls for but hears rumors that he is behind a scheme to buy up all the houses in the neighborhood and build a golf course. Of course, this lends fodder for some conflicts between Cassie and this new man that has her thinking she might want to live in Florida after all. The cast of senior characters are very funny and will keep you laughing at their antics!

If your ready for a break from the winter doldrums then this is the book to read. What a great gift for a friend or maybe even for yourself!

HAPPY READING!