You're Going To Make It | May Book Club

YOUR’E GOING TO MAKE IT

Ohhhh life! Such a beautiful, bizarre, complicated, thrilling, confusing jumble of glorious existence! While I’m firmly committed to the belief that we must choose positivity and create our own happiness, that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Throw in some profound loss and times of inevitable loneliness, things can get downright murky!

We need tools, and skills, and intentional practices to help us maintain balance and perspective - and JOY!

I’ve found something to help us all, and have made it my May Book Club choice:

“You’re Going To Make It; 50 Morning and Evening Devotions to Unrush Your Mind, Uncomplicate Your Heart, and Experience Healing Today”, by New York Times #1 bestselling author, Lysa TerKeurst.

In her newest devotional Lysa TerKeurst helps us stay connected to God and continue loving others even in the middle of discouraging, disappointing, or even devastating circumstances.

It’s a GORGEOUS hardbound book created with all the little details that make my heart trill when I hold it in my hands; beautiful gold lettering, a satin ribbon marker, stunning graphics and serene photography.

Each of the 50 daily devotionals provide grounded and faith-based insight and comforting reassurance to reflect back on throughout the day.

Each evening a “statement to remember” is provided, along with a space reserved for the reader to make a notation of “Something to release back to God from today.”

This devotional is such a gift from Lysa and will be accepted with gratitude to whomever you decide to share it with. Start with yourself.

Spring is the time for new beginnings and if you were wondering how you might get started, here’s your answer.

Find a lovely note from Lysa, more information about the devotional, and purchase information here:

YOU’RE GOING TO MAKE IT

20-40-60 Minute Dinners | April Book Club

When daylight starts stretching into the evening hours, it’s time to celebrate! It’s also time to start doing all the things we forgot about during the winter months. Like gardening, Little League and Spring Soccer practices, and all kinds of other fun activities! But then the dinner hour sneaks up on us and all of a sudden we’re cruising through a drive-through groaning inwardly or outwardly…

That’s why I’ve chosen “20-40-60 Minute Dinners; Meals to Match The Time You Have” for my book club this month - to help take the anxiety around “what to fix for dinner?!” down a notch or two!

Arranged by the time it takes to prepare a meal, rather than alphabetically, author Kate Otterstrom, (who also, btw, is the creator of the Dinner in Real Time blog,) has put together a beautiful and oh-so-helpful cookbook full of meals to match the time you have to get them on the table! Kate is the busy mom of four, so you know that she’s got some practice at pulling together tasty and healthful meals in-between demanding schedules!

Anyone who finds themselves getting take-out far more often than they’d like will appreciate the abundance of fabulously simply ideas found between the pages of 20-40-60 Minute Dinners. I’ll be gifting a copy to one of my daughters, herself a mom of two active littles, because I know she’ll love the ideas it holds, and also because the recipes include gluten-free alternatives, which she must adhere to.

I appreciate how there’s nothing fussy about this cookbook, because delicious food that meet our dietary requirements does not have to be fussy! Even for folks like me, who’ve been at this dinner game for too many years to confess, will find some great reminders between its pages. For example, bagels with lox and cream cheese with a green salad? Yes! Perfect. A quick, filling, and fun dinner when you need to throw together something FAST. Kate suggests too, that served make-your-own bar style gets her kids more excited and up for trying new things like a sprinkling of capers. Note taken!

Here’s to a beautiful spring and summer and to getting dinner on the table, deliciously, in the time that you actually have, be it 20, 40, or 60 minutes!

Pick up your copy - and another for a gift - here: 20-40-60 Minute Dinners

Rise Today | March Book Club

RISE TODAY

March is a frenzied and chaotic month, wind, rain, sleet, hail, snow, and sunshine… sometimes all within 5 minute of the other! Don’t things always feel somewhat topsy-turvy when something profound is about to take place? Like the month before spring’s arrival, bringing rebirth and renewal. And like our lives as we navigate difficult or challenging circumstances.

Feeling a bit frenzied and chaotic yourself? Have I got a balm for you! My March Book Club pick,“RISE TODAY - Trusting God and His Promise”, by Jason F. Wright.

It’s a precious little hardback book, rightly likened to an “illustrated extended greeting card with a message that offers hope in dark times.” Absolutely perfect for tucking into an Easter basket, into a loved one’s hand, or into a padded envelope for the outgoing mail. RISE TODAY has full-color graphics between all 32 pages.

Author Jason F. Wright, who also penned the NYT bestselling novel,“Christmas Jars”, has been a guest preacher at many churches throughout the country, sharing motivational and inspiring messages while also doing outreach to people temporarily without housing or in financial difficulties.

He graciously accepted my invitation to be a guest on my popular podcast series, “LOVE SOMEONE with Delilah” and when the episode is published you’ll definitely want to pull up a chair and have a listen.

Jason is one of the most positive, caring, kind, and inspirational people you’ll ever meet. His joy is infectious and you come away from every encounter with him feeling calm and hopeful.

That’s what his writing does for you as well. It’s why I feature his books so often in my book club, like “Even The Dog Knows,” from last August.

I’ve leafed through RISE TODAY, so many times since I received my early copy from the publishers. When I’m feeling anxious I find myself reaching for it, enjoying the comfort and inspiration that wash over me. I love the 5 specific suggestions it contains to help folks like me rise above life’s doldrums. Because, let’s be honest, we ALL find ourselves there from time-to-time. Jason offers advice he’s come by while striving to live a Christ-centered life and through worshipping with many different congregations together in churches across the country.

It begins simply enough. “He. Is. Risen. “

“Those three words are more than a headline,” says the author. “They are a promise. Because He is risen, we too shall rise again. Every child of God has moments when it feels as if a giant rock has been rolled in front of our path. You may feel emotionally whipped by winds beyond your control. You may be thinking your own saving miracle is too far away to lean on. If you feel alone, in the dark, or powerless, remember that rising again doesn’t need to wait until body and soul reunite. HE IS RISEN so we can rise . . . TODAY.”

Pick up your copy
(and copies for everyone you want to share this beautiful message with) here:
RISE TODAY

Miss Newbury's List | February Book Club

Hello February! I love you so! (And for so many reasons!)

You’re the month that brings us homebound commutes that don’t require headlights. The month we see the first signs of an awakening earth, with crocus and forsythia blooms and branches of fuzzy catkins. The month of Valentine’s Day and all it holds. My birthday month - and too many slices of cheesecake! (We even get a three-day weekend from you.) All that, yet the temps stay low so there’s no guilt in the comfort food we’re still dishing up, or the long evenings spent near a fire curled up with our books.

Here’s one I’d like everyone to know about, “Miss Newbury’s List”, by Megan Walker, my February Book Club pick!

It’s a Proper Romance, which means it has a rich layered storyline and well developed characters, but nothing between it’s pages to make you blush should your teen or tween pick it up. In fact, you’ll encourage them to do so! This piece of historical fiction will transport you back to 19th Century England, arranged marriages, and outrageous societal expectations, as well as remind you that no matter the era, all people experience self-discovery and the human spirit is all about following one's dreams which when strong enough can lead to new beginnings.

“England 1820

Rosalind Newbury is counting down the days until her wedding to the Duke of Marlow, a man she has only met twice. The marriage is more an agreement between two families and less a romantic connection between two hearts, but Rosalind becoming a duchess will elevate her family’s status to dizzying heights. And the duke is a kind man who will care for Rosalind, even if he doesn’t love her.

She only has three weeks before her life changes forever, and she knows exactly how she wants to spend her days. As a child, Ros was inspired by her adventurous Aunt Alice and created a list of ten things to do before her wedding day. So far, Ros has done none of them.

She is determined to tackle each item, though she’ll have to accomplish them all in secret. After all, a soon-to-be-duchess is not usually allowed to bury treasure in the pasture, eat sweets all day, or learn how to swim. She enlists the help of her best friend, Liza, who brings along her cousin, Charlie, a prodigal son-turned-boxer who has come to the countryside to mend his reputation and learn how to be his father’s heir.

Together, the three of them work to complete the list, and as each item is crossed off, an unlikely friendship blossoms between Ros and Charlie. The more time they spend together, the more Ros falls in love with this imperfect man and his good heart.

With the wedding looming, Ros must decide to either admit her romantic feelings for Charlie and risk her family’s future, or keep her promise to marry the duke and start a new life as a noblewoman.”

Sounds fabulous, doesn’t it? This February, fall in love. With the month, with life, with yourself, with Miss Newbury’s List!

ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY: Miss Newbury’s List

Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? | January Book Club

A little book has recently come to my attention I feel all of us could get some benefit from, “Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? Everyday Tools for Life’s Ups & Downs,” by Dr. Julie Smith.

Each and every day has it’s ups and downs, and they are hardly ever in balance.  Dr. Julie’s book contains some amazingly simply, approachable, do-able ideas to help us navigate those segues, providing the firm rungs of a step-ladder in place of the frightening free-fall when a a bit of information, a situation, or our mind brings a down to our doorstep.

It’s a new year. In place of big, over-arching promises to become someone entirely different in the next 365 days, I propose taking small steps toward your perfectly wonderful authentic inner self. Heres how “Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? is described by those who know what they’re talking about:

“Drawing on years of experience as a clinical psychologist, online sensation Dr Julie Smith provides the skills you need to navigate common life challenges and take charge of your emotional and mental health in her debut book.

Filled with secrets from a therapist's toolkit, Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before teaches you how to fortify and maintain your mental health, even in the most trying of times. Dr Julie Smith’s expert advice and powerful coping techniques will help you stay resilient, whether you want to manage anxiety, deal with criticism, cope with depression, build self-confidence, find motivation, or learn to forgive yourself. Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before tackles everyday issues and offers practical solutions in bite-sized, easy-to-digest entries which make it easy to quickly find specific information and guidance. 

Your mental well-being is just as important as your physical well-being. Packed with proven strategies, Dr. Julie’s empathetic guide offers a deeper understanding of how your mind works and gives you the insights and help you need to nurture your mental health every day. Wise and practical, Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before might just change your life. “

You can get yourself a copy at AMAZON and you can all follow Dr. Julie for daily drops of soothing inspiration on her Facebook and Instagram pages.

There is too much joy to be celebrated in these lives of ours to spend anymore of it than necessary feeling low or caught in cycles of anxious worry.  My hope for you in 2023 is that you are as gentle and compassionate with yourself as you are with others. Perhaps Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? will help with that mission.

HAPPY NEW YEAR my friends!

Delicious Gatherings | December Book Club

She’s done it again! Tara Teaspoon, author of “Live Life Deliciously”, has released a beautiful new cookbook, just in time for the holidays, “Delicious Gatherings, Recipes to Celebrate Together,” is available now!

This is another splendid offering from Tara, and just like her previous hard-bound volume, offers a multitude of delicious sides, mains, and deserts (with plenty of appetizers, dips, and breads to round it out) so you never again find yourself saying,“What in the world am I going to make?!” There are full-course menus for memorable gatherings (including breakfasts and brunches) that you are going to thank her for over and over!

After two years of distancing, we’ve all built up an appetite for togetherness and good eats! Tara Teaspoon, (real name, Tara Bench,) helps you sate both hungers with recipes for elevated everyday meals and special holidays, plus helpful tips and how-to’s. They say this cookbook aims to bring “joy, flair, and amazing taste” to all your get-togethers, and I wholeheartedly agree with the statement!

From Sunday suppers and weeknight family meals to elaborate buffets for bigger crowds and holiday celebrations, Tara’s recipes include delicious showstoppers and unique takes on comforting classics. I’m especially intrigued with the Roast Carrots with Lemon Feta Dip (yum!) and the fancy-looking (but relatively easy) Spinach and Artichoke Tarte Soleil featured on the cover.

One of the things that I really appreciate about Tara’s take on things is her encouragement to make each recipe your own, often providing suggestions for substitutions, and always with a “have at it!” attitude!

I hope you find yourself in the company of family and friends this holiday season, and hope you’ll find a seat at the table for Tara Teaspoon’s “Delicious Gatherings.”

Order your copy: DELICIOUS GATHERINGS

My Big Book Stack | November Book Club

November kicks off the holiday season - which is often the season of over-indulgence… Going with that theme, I’m not sharing just one book with you this month but a whole stack of them I think deserve a place on your nightstand. One is brand new and a couple are stand-outs from earlier in the year..

All of them, alone, or together, would make spectacular holiday gifts for yourself or your favorite bookworm.

Welcome to November my friends! Grab your coziest throw, a steaming mug of tea and find your favorite book-nook… If you’re going to indulge - especially OVER indulge - in anything, let it be the magical activity of reading!

This unique collection of the most beloved Christmas carols will help to get you into the spirit of the season!

An Advent Carols Countdown features one carol for each day from December 1st to Christmas Eve and presents both the lyrics and the fascinating stories and facts behind its creation.

Sharing everything from popular, familiar carols to lesser-known but cherished hymns, author Michael D. Young combines his musical expertise with information specific to each song.

An Advent Carols Countdown is a beautiful gift book for the whole family to enjoy along with the music of the holidays. Each entry also features a QR code that will link to an audio or video performance of the carol performed by the choir most associated with Christmas, the world-renowned Tabernacle Choir.

ORDER: An Advent Carols Countdown

When your days feel overwhelming and your life has you anxious and stressed, you can find peace and hope in Jesus.

In this NEW 365-day devotional prayer book, Jesus Listens, from Sarah Young, the author of Jesus Calling, you’ll find confidence to come to God in all circumstances with short, heartfelt prayers based on Scripture.

God desires a relationship with you through continual conversation—prayer. Jesus Listens empowers you to pray daily, whether it serves as your only prayer for the day or simply a jump starter to your own prayers. 

The biblical basis for each prayer in Jesus Listens is given at the end of each entry so you can continually return to God's promises in Scripture.  Whether you gift Jesus Listens or pick it up yourself to establish a more consistent prayer practice, Sarah’s words and her constant return to the Word of God will greatly enrich your prayer life.

ORDER: Jesus Listens

Even the Dog Knows was my August Book Club pick, and I still catch myself thinking about the story and smiling at Moses innate wisdom, as I go about my daily routine.

In this exceptional novel, by Jason F. Wright, a family's old, beloved dog takes a final road trip to help his people find forgiveness and healing.

Although Moses is just a dog, he's very observant. He knows things—like that his people haven’t been the same since one left, someone is hiding something, and he loves the lady that smells like bacon. You know, dog wisdom. He also knows he's an old dog and that his time is near, but there are still important things only he can do.

Even the Dog Knows is a novel that will take readers on a thousand-mile journey to meet strangers and find forgiveness, understanding, healing, and the meaning of true and lasting love.

ORDER: Even the Dog Knows

To Capture His Heart | October Book Club

One of the BEST things about this radio life I’ve crafted for myself is the connections I’m able to make. Taking calls night after night from listeners willing to share their hearts with me has put me in the unique role of connecter. I not only get to connect with my callers, I get to connect them to one another! I love bringing people together, whether it’s a shared passion, like art or horses, or gardening or music… or love and romance!

I believe we are a sum of our relationships and while different people have different levels of need, it is our connections that provide stability, security, and a sense of belonging in a world that often makes no sense at all. I STILL believe in love. I always will.

Whether it’s hearing about, talking about, or reading about love, I’m in! Which brings me to my book club pick for October, a Proper Romance, “To Capture His Heart”, by Nancy Campbell Allen.

September was BUSY, my oh my, so busy! I welcome October, the calming influence of a fall routine, and a few stolen moments with a book that celebrates falling in love…

“Seaside, England, 1886

Eva Caldwell is an accomplished and well-known photographer who often works with the local constabulary to assist in documenting crime scenes, which means she also often works alongside the handsome and charming detective, Nathan Winston. She appreciates his intellect and how he treats her like an equal, but Eva's heart is still healing from a past relationship, so, for now, she decides to keep her feelings for Nathan a secret.

One evening, Nathan arrives on her doorstep asking for a personal favor. Would Eva be available to photograph his mother's legendary, week-long dinner party and matchmaking event? The catch is that Eva would also have to pretend they are courting in order for Nathan to avoid the many single women seeking his attention.

Though wary of the charade, Eva agrees. Spending a week with the two things she loves most--her detective and her camera--sounds simple enough. And if she wants to imagine that Nathan's pretend courtship of her is real, well, what's the harm in that?

But when a criminal from Nathan's past threatens revenge on the detective, Nathan must be extra vigilant to keep his mother and the rest of the partygoers safe. He confides in Eva, and as the two work together to solve the mystery and apprehend the criminal, they find that they might capture more than they expected--each other's heart.”

October, with it’s ever-shorter days, longer nights, and cooler temps, forces us to slow down. Don’t fight it. Let yourself enjoy a cup of tea and a few pages of historical fiction before you begin your daily routine or turn out the light in the evening. “To Capture His Heart” is a fine place to start.

Order: TO CAPTURE HIS HEART

The Opera Sisters | September Book Club

For much of history we didn’t hear a lot about heroic women. Thankfully that’s changing. Women have always been compelled to take tremendous risks for those they love and causes they are passionate about, and their stories are finally being told.

Like my book club pick for September, “The Opera Sisters” by Marianne Monson. Out September 6th!

It’s about the Cook sisters, British citizens who devote a large portion of their limited resources to the enjoyment of opera, often traveling throughout Europe to take in performances. Not the swashbuckling heroes we’re used to hearing of, but in 1930’s Europe the relationships they’ve built, and their established travel habits put them in a position to be of tremendous service - if they dare.

“Based on the true story of the Cook sisters, who smuggled valuables out of 1930s Nazi Germany to finance a daring, secret operation to help Jews find hope for a new life in England.

British sisters Ida and Louise Cook enjoy their quiet, unassuming lives in south London. Ida writes romance novels, and Louise works as a secretary. In the evenings, the sisters indulge in their shared love for opera, saving their money to buy records and attend performances throughout England and Europe, becoming well-known by both performers and fellow opera lovers.

But when Hitler seizes power in 1933, he begins targeting and persecuting German Jews, passing laws that restrict their rights and their lives. The sisters continue their trips to the German opera houses, but soon, Jewish members of the opera community covertly approach the sisters, worried that they will be stripped of their wealth and forced to leave their homes and the country. Danger looms on the horizon, threatening to spill across all of Europe’s borders.

Ida and Louise vow to help, but how can two ordinary working-class women with limited means make a difference?

Together with their beloved opera community, the sisters devise a plan to personally escort Jewish refugees from Germany to England. The success of the plan hinges on Ida and Louise’s ability to smuggle contraband jewelry and furs beneath the watchful eyes of the SS soldiers guarding various checkpoints. But how many trips can they make before someone blows a whistle? Or before the final curtain falls on Germany’s borders?

The Opera Sisters is a riveting and inspiring novel of two unlikely heroines whose courage and compassion gave hope to many Jews desperate to escape Nazi persecution.”

Yes, this is another historical novel, and by now you know how drawn I am to these stories! Imagine you’re dressed in cocktail gowns, furs, and some sparkly baubles, and immerse yourself in another time and place, where danger lurks behind every chord and the world is one big masquerade!

Get your copy of “The Opera Sisters”

Even The Dog Knows | August Book Club

Even before I had my farm animals were a big part of my life. From birth to current day, every chapter of my personal story has had a family pet at the center. They are the other family members whose roles are vastly more impactful and important than we may ever fully realize.

My book club choice for the month of August speaks to that.

“Even The Dog Knows”, by New York Times best-selling author, Jason F. Wright, is about a family who’s been torn apart by grief.

Each member, now distanced, isolated, and lonely… and their dear old pup, who may provide the glue that can bring them together once again. The jacket reads: “A family’s old, beloved dog takes a final road trip to help his people find forgiveness and healing.”

“Meg Gorton finds herself alone and lonely in Florida. Three years earlier, she had packed what she could fit into her sister’s car and asked her estranged husband, Gary, to take care of Moses, their beloved black Labrador. Things between Meg and Gary hadn’t been the same after the loss of their only daughter many years ago. Even after raising their grandson, Troy, it was clear that if Meg wanted a new beginning, she would have to do it alone.

Haunted by the tragedy of his daughter’s death, Gary is stuck in his life in Woodstock, Virginia. He still owns and drives the bus for their hometown minor league baseball team, and he still thinks about the day his wife drove away.

Everything changes when Meg contacts Gary with a request to bring Moses to visit her one last time before the old dog passes on. Gary is reluctant, but Troy thinks it’s an excellent idea. They could even travel together in Gary’s bus. Along the way, Gary takes a detour to visit Troy’s ex-girlfriend, Grace. Gary might not know how to fix things with his wife, but he knows he doesn’t want Troy to make the same mistakes he did.

Although Moses is just a dog, he’s very observant. It doesn’t take long for him to figure out they are going on to see Meg. He knows he’s an old dog and that his time is near, but he also knows his family needs his help.

Even the Dog Knows is a novel that will take readers on a thousand-mile journey to find forgiveness, understanding, healing, and the meaning of true and lasting love.”

At a time when it seems as though every sound bite we come across is simply more depressing news, unplugging and immersing ourselves in feel-good moments are not just important but as necessary as eating healthfully and getting enough sleep.

Give yourself a dose of good medicine this summer. Find a moment, a glass of ice tea, pick up your copy of “Even The Dog Knows,” and travel along with Moses on the journey to unite his people.

ORDER: EVEN THE DOG KNOWS

The Stranger In The Lifeboat | July Book Club

Back in March, I had the great privilege of hosting impactful author, Mitch Albom, on my bi-monthly podcast series, LOVE SOMEONE with Delilah. Mitch came aboard to share some powerful messages of hope and healing.

His last two books, "Finding Chika", and, “The Stranger In The Lifeboat", are inexorably tied; the first about the grief of losing his beloved daughter, and the second, about healing. If you haven’t had an opportunity to listen to this episode yet, please do so now!

I decided after our conversation to make “The Stranger In The Lifeboat” one of my monthly book club choices this year, and July is the month!

The drifting lifeboat is a metaphor for desperation, for those crying out to God for help, (and demanding the cry be answered with the swiftness and accuracy of a fast food order). The story he’s woven together about a group of shipwreck survivors, and the stranger they pull out of the water several days later, sifts through all the theological ponderings of a varied group of believers and non-believers, as they spend their days and nights waiting and wondering if they’ll be saved.

And all the while it reads like a great Agatha Christie “whodunit”, pulling you deeper and deeper into the mystery as you try to sort and arrange the clues that will lead to the “ah-ha!” solution.

Mitch Albom became a household name after the release of "Tuesdays with Morrie" a memoir of his visits with his old college professor during the last days of Morrie's life. It was a book full of lessons on living, dying, and love.

Since then he has continuously put forth works just as insightful, compelling, and inspiring, like The Stranger in the Lifeboat, available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

While his books have sold over 40 million copies, you might also be interested to know that Mitch is an accomplished songwriter, pianist and lyricist too. He and wife, Janine, work tirelessly to better the lives of the suffering at the orphanage they have committed their lives to in Haiti and the many other charitable organizations they’ve helped to established and support.

Please visit Have Faith Haiti Mission to learn more about how your heart may be touch by the children living there.

Praying With The Enemy | June Book Club

“PRAYING WITH THE ENEMY”

Do you know a book-loving dad who would appreciate some new summer reading material? I’ve got you covered!

My June Book Club pick, “Praying With The Enemy,” by Steven T. Collis, is just the ticket!

Collis, also author of my June 2021 book club choice, The Immortals, bases Praying With The Enemy on the touching true story of an American POW and a North Korean soldier who become unlikely allies united in their shared faith in God during a daring escape to freedom.

---

“COLLIS IS A LITERARY FORCE IN HISTORICAL FICTION. A mesmerizing story of faith and survival during the Korean War.” - Booklist, starred review. ”

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”When pilot Captain Ward Millar is forced to eject over enemy territory in North Korea, the ejection explosion snaps both of his ankles. Unable to walk, he is easily captured by North Korean and Chinese soldiers who interrogate, threaten, and starve him for strategic wartime information. He feeds the enemy false information while plotting his escape. But it’s only a matter of time before they discover his lies. He knows it will take a miracle to gain his freedom, but his previous self-reliance on his own capabilities has never included appealing to a higher power. If only he had faith like his wife, Barbara, whose firm belief in God can move mountains.

North Korean soldier Kim Jae Pil was raised to believe in the power of prayer, but, knowing the Communist Party’s views on religious groups, Kim and his family must keep their Christian faith secret. He is desperate to escape the army, return to his family, and then flee to South Korea.

With Millar imprisoned and unable to walk, and the North Korean army increasingly suspicious of Kim’s actions, it seems impossible that either man will find the freedom they so desperately desire. But when these wartime foes cross paths, they find in each other an unlikely ally. Despite speaking different languages, Millar and Kim find common ground in their fragile faith and must rely on each other to undertake a daring escape.”

”Unlikely” friendships are my favorite kind of friendships! To me they mean that despite outward appearances, languages, traditions or customs practiced… people have far more in common than they have differences, and it’s those things that attract us to one another.

“Praying with the Enemy” is a story of courage, determination, unlikely friendship, and enduring faith.”

It’s a perfect read to take into a hammock while someone else mows the lawn! Find a copy for Dad (or yourself!) right here:

“PRAYING WITH THE ENEMY”

Games in a Ballroom | May Book Club

I’ve found another Proper Romance book to delight you with this month! My May book club choice is “Games in a Ballroom” by Jentry Flint.

It’s a light, lovely period piece that sweeps us away from housework, bill-paying, and daily drudgeries, placing us gently into an 1815 London. You’ll leave the sweats and sneaks behind, donning petticoats and satin slippers instead, as you immerse yourself in Olivia and Emerson’s world of strict class orders and forbidden romance.

Powder your nose, nestle your tiara atop your coiffed mane, put your feet up and come away with me…

“Olivia Wilde has resigned herself to never finding a love match. Her father has insisted she marry a man with a title, but the men her father deems acceptable are either boring or are only interested in increasing their own diminishing coffers. With her future looking dismal, Olivia vows to enjoy the last few months of freedom with her childhood friends, including Emerson Latham. His devilish smile and flirtatious teasing stirs up feelings she knows she cannot entertain.

Emerson is struggling to rise to his responsibilities after his father's death. Though he is still learning his place, one thing he knows for certain is that he wants Olivia Wilde to be his wife. Emerson had long ago fallen in love with her quick wit, beauty, and passionate heart. Yet, without a title, he will never be permitted to court Olivia openly. But he has a plan that may give him a chance to court her in secret.

As the Season kicks off, Emerson proposes a playful game of tag. Olivia's friends are delighted by the idea, though Olivia is wary. After all, the game must be played in secret as they tag each other at dinners and balls. As the romance builds between Olivia and Emerson, so does the risk of being discovered. Not only are their reputations at stake, so is their safety if they are caught by Olivia's strict father.

Can their love find a happily ever after before the game ends?”

We’ve closed the binding on yet another Proper Romance, but I guarantee we’ll be thinking of petit fours and party frocks for a long while to come. At the same time, we’ll be thankful that we are free to love and live lives of our own choosing these days!

It’s time to get back to the realities of today, but go ahead, keep wearing your tiara!

Get your copy of Games in a Ballroom HERE

And if you're wondering what to get Mom for Mother's Day, wonder no more!

A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice | April Book Club

The tale of the Titanic, or rather the sinking of theTitanic, is a story we’re all at least somewhat familiar with (thanks to Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet!) And while we know the fate of James Cameron’s cinema characters, wouldn’t you love to discover more about the daring, and seemingly impossible, race to save survivors of the most famed shipwreck in history?

My book club pick for April, “A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice”, by Rebecca Connolly, provides just that!

It’s based upon the true actions of Arthur Rostron, the heroic captain of the Carpathia, the only ship to answer theTitanic’s distress call.

I could not put it down until the final page had been turned!

“Shortly after midnight on April 15, 1912, the captain of the Carpathia, Arthur Rostron, wakes to a distress signal from the Titanic, which has struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage. Though information is scarce, Rostron leaps into action, determined to answer the call for help. But the Carpathia is more than four hours away, and there are more questions than answers: Will his ship hold together if pushed to never-before-tested speeds? What if he also strikes an iceberg? And with the freezing temperatures, will there be any survivors by the time the Carpathia arrives?

Kate Connolly is a third-class passenger on Titanic, and she is among the last to receive instruction and help after it hits an iceberg. Despite the chaos of abandoning ship, Kate is able to board a lifeboat, though after seeing the Titanic sink into the abyss and hearing the cries from hundreds of people still in the water, she wonders if any rescue is even possible.

Told in alternating chapters from both Captain Rostron and Kate Connolly, this novel is a compelling, heart-pounding account of two eyewitnesses to an epic disaster. Rostron's heroic and compassionate leadership, his methodical preparations for rescue, and his grit and determination to act honorably and selflessly to save lives and care for the survivors, sets the course for this awe-inspiring story.”

 "Captain Rostron's decisive and heroic actions as he prepared his crew for what they were about to encounter was inspirational and heartrending. I've found a new hero in a man who never hesitated in doing the right thing." ―Heather B. Moore, author of The Paper Daughters of Chinatown

Another book club pick that has it all; history, intrigue, suspense… I love these kinds of reads, where the story and the characters linger in my mind as I go about my every day real life, pondering the historical insight provided and all the “what-ifs” had things gone just slightly different. I hope you do too!

Grab a copy for yourself and add it to a few Easter basket bundles while you’re at it!

Get your own copy of “A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice”

3:16, The Numbers of Hope | March Book Club

Sometimes it would be so easy to give in to the negativities of the world and simply let despair wash over us like the incoming tide, if it weren’t for another far more powerful force, hope.

One of beloved author, Max Lucado’s, all-time bestselling books, 3:16, The Numbers of Hope, has been updated and gifted to us, just as we struggle into our third year of Covid 19 and the disruptions and losses it continues to deliver.

“We’ve all had our fair share of disappointments, loss, or hardships. But for every challenge there is a breathtaking promise: It’s going to be okay. How can we know? Because God so loved the world. “

In 3:16, pastor and New York Times bestselling author Max Lucado encourages us to study closely the “Hope Diamond of the Bible”: John 3:16.

Max says of his favorite verse, “Every time I recall these words, they are fresh and as stunning as my first encounter with them. The mind-bending awareness of God’s limitless love, his incalculable sacrifice, and the priceless teaching at the core. How can we not review it again and again? I want this generation, and all who come after, to look closely at the key promise of God and choose the gift beyond all gifts.”

Throughout this updated and expanded edition of 3:16, Max will invite you to:

• Stand in awe of how deep, wide, long, and high God’s love is for you

• Understand more fully the living hope you have through Jesus’ death and resurrection

• Rest in the assurance that salvation is a gift from God, not something you can earn

If you know nothing of the Bible, start here. If you know everything in the Bible, return here. Let John 3:16 become the banner of your life, so much so that the message of God’s unending and unbending love overflows from you to others. Each copy of 3:16 also includes a 40-day devotional designed to help you draw closer to your loving Savior. “

A glance at my bookcase shows the name “Max Lucado” on a great many of the outward facing spines. 3:16 is among the favorites.

As someone who has experienced great losses and trauma, I can be easily triggered by news of tragic events and become fearful. It is my faith and belief that He is in control that helps to steady me and allows me to experience the joy and promise of today, and the hope for a better tomorrow.

Give yourself the gift of 3:16, The Numbers of Hope.

Receive $5 off when you order HERE - while supplies last!

Join Max’s free Online Bible Study

(For the first time ever, Max reads the full-length audiobook,
look for the option when placing your order!)

Beyond The Lavender Fields | February Book Club

Order BEYOND THE LAVENDER FIELDS

How many of you, dear friends, have picked up on the fact that I love historical fiction?  Why? Because I love a good story! My radio life, and the successes I’ve found there, are all about The Stories! Combining music and listener stories - beyond typical DJ requests and dedications - made the format I pioneered unique. It’s been working pretty well for me since 1984!

And I love history, yet it wasn’t my favorite subject in school… Enter historical fiction. A genre with exceptional bridge-building powers. Historical fiction pulls the reader into the story while simultaneously immersing them in times and places and situations that a history text could not.

So that is why I’m so drawn to novels like this month’s book club pick, “Beyond The Lavender Fields”, by Arlem Hawks.

Here is a story set in revolutionary-era France with themes as old as time. Must upheaval and violence always be bedfellows of change? Is right and wrong really so easily defined? Why must one always choose sides? And, where does love fit in? Let Beyond The Lavender Fields whisk you away.

“1792, France Rumors of revolution in Paris swirl in Marseille, a bustling port city in southern France. Gilles Etienne, a clerk at the local soap factory, thrives on the news. Committed to the cause of equality, liberty, and brotherhood, he and his friends plan to march to Paris to dethrone the monarchy. His plans are halted when he meets Marie-Caroline Daubin, the beautiful daughter of the owner of the factory.

A bourgeoise and royalist, Marie-Caroline has been called home to Marseille to escape the unrest in Paris. She rebuffs Gilles's efforts to charm her and boldly expresses her view that violently imposed freedom is not really freedom for all. As Gilles and Marie-Caroline spend more time together, she questions her initial assumptions about Gilles and realizes that perhaps they have more in common than she thought.

As the spirit of revolution descends on Marseille, people are killed and buildings are ransacked and burned to the ground. With their lives and their nation in turmoil, both Gilles and Marie-Caroline wonder if a revolutionnaire and a royaliste can really be together or if they must live in a world that forces people to choose sides.”

Stepping out of my own reality from time to time is a refreshing experience, and there is only pleasure, no guilt, in a good romance. Being invited into Gilles and Marie-Caroline lives helped me to find a little perspective in my own. I’m sure you’ll feel the same about this amazingly researched, well-crafted novel by Arlem Hawks. It’s Magnifique!

Get Your Copy HERE
Watch The Book Trailer HERE

Jesus Listens | January Book Club

JESUS LISTENS

Life is never (ever) the easy-peasy joy ride we think it’s going to be when we’re young. Life is more cyclical than that, like the seasons. Our planet would dry up and blow away if it hovered perpetually in the heat and sun of summertime. We need winter, and the transitional seasons too.

Life is like that as well, and if you find yourself experiencing some wintery moments, anxious and overwhelmed, Jesus will provide shelter from the storm.

My book club pick for January is a new 365-day devotional prayer book, Jesus Listens, by Sarah Young, author of Jesus Calling, chosen to begin the new year with the best advice I can give to anyone; turn to God in all circumstances.

Whether the practice of daily devotionals is something you embraced long ago, or are brand new to, Jesus Listens empowers you to pray daily. Maybe it will be the only (conscious) conversation you have with God that day, or perhaps it will serve as an “ice-breaker” allowing you to begin a new relationship.

Jesus Listens is ideal for those who . . . 

• are going through difficult times and looking for rest and hope

• are busy from life’s demands, but want to grow their prayer life

• are not sure how to pray

• have been praying for years but want a closer relationship with God

The biblical basis for each prayer in Jesus Listens is given at the end of each entry so you can continually return to God's promises in Scripture. 

Jesus Listens, 365 short, heartfelt prayers based on Scripture, is a beautiful gift to give yourself or anyone you know who has, or seeks, a relationship with God.

It’s a helpful and appreciated aid to establishing a more consistent practice of talking to and trusting in Jesus, in the midst of life’s harshest storms, and whilst rejoicing in the sunshine of a moment.

“By praying Scripture through this daily devotional prayer book, you'll experience how intentional prayer connects you to God, changes your heart, and can even move mountains.”

Find your way to Jesus Listens HERE.

SCRUMPTIOUS | DECEMBER BOOK CLUB

Scrumptious

Oh December, delightful, decadent, delicious December!

So many things to do! So many things to make! So many things to eat!!! But if you (like me) have grown a little tired of the same-old, same-old, I’ve got a treat for you; a SCRUMPTIOUS treat!

My book club pick for the month of December is a big, beautiful cookbook, “Scrumptious”, by Christy Denny.

Christy has years of experience as a recipe writer for both Betty Crocker and General Mills, and writes the very popular blog, “The Girl Who Ate Everything”. (Woman after my own heart!) Her love of eating is life-long, and as one of 10 siblings, a wife, and mother of 5, cooking took it’s natural place in her life.

Scrumptious, is her second cookbook and it’s filled with over 100 recipes that are extremely family friendly! They are tasty, and thankfully, not overly-complicated. She heard her followers when they said they needed recipes to make their lives EASIER, and filled this cookbook with all the answers to the question of what to make for dinner, breakfast, and sweet treats. There are pages and pages of gorgeous photos, which are a feast for the eyes before even making it to the belly!

I’m especially happy with the big selection of One-Pan recipes, because, as a mom to too-many-to-count I’m usually looking to feed a big crew, fast! The ability to do this deliciously (and make a pretty presentation to boot) has me nearly breaking my arm patting myself on the back so enthusiastically! Scrumptious even has a whole low-carb/Keto-friendly chapter that Christy’s husband was heavily involved in making, that’s given me some great ideas when a few members of my big extended crew comes to visit.

This cookbook will make an EXCELLENT Christmas gift for anyone who, well, EATS. Young adults living on their own for the first time, couples, young families, established families, grandparents… Truly, it’s chock-full of fresh, fabulous ideas than anyone and everyone will find useful. And the results are absolutely scrumptious!

Get your copy HERE!

Christy Denney and her family.

The Last Checkmate | November Book Club

The Last Checkmate

Fan of The Queen’s Gambit? Then you won’t want to miss my November Book Club selection, “The Last Checkmate,” by Gabriella Saab!

I loved the Netflix series, even though I know little about the game. Just as I thoroughly enjoyed this month’s pick, another spellbinding piece of historical fiction set during WWII.

A young Polish resistance worker, Maria Florkowska, is a political prisoner at Auschwitz who plays chess in exchange for her life.

After being captured by the Gestapo in Nazi-occupied Poland, Maria and her family are sentenced to death…but when a cruel concentration camp deputy realizes her ability to play chess, she is spared. He intends to use Maria as an opponent to entertain the camp guards, with the intention of eliminating her when he tires of exploiting her chess skills.

She endures her 4-year imprisonment by strategizing not only her chess moves, but also by making her captor a playing piece in her larger game of survival, healing, and revenge. As the war nears its end, she challenges her nemesis to one final game, certain to end in life or death, in failure or justice.

“When Ebner returned to stand across from me, he held a whip in one hand and a club in the other. He placed both on the table. One reminded me of my last Gestapo interrogation, the other of my flogging, but I wasn’t afraid of either, because I remembered this this stage of his interrogations. He wasn’t going to torture me, because I was already cooperating. He just wanted to terrorize me.

We’d reached the most critical moment of our game. We’d made our opening moves and had established control of the board, strategizing and planning. Now we attacked.”

Gabriella Saab reveals herself to be a brilliant writer in her debut novel. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be up late into the night, too riveted to put down “The Last Checkmate”, until Maria has made her final move.

Get your copy HERE
(and order more to give as gifts to lovers of suspenseful historical fiction!)

The Stolen Lady | October Book Club

For no particular reason, I’ve been drawn to stories that take place during the World War II era. I’ve always loved historical fiction, and there are quite a number of really good books available right now that are set during this period.

It was a time when the world hung by a thread and families nervously crowded around the wireless longing to hear news of victory. And it was a time when villains seemed easy to identify and heroes were plentiful too. A time of good and evil, victory and defeat, hope and despair… suspenseful and full of intrigue. Ok, maybe there IS a particular reason I’ve been drawn to this era - it so easily lends itself to rich and immersive reading material. I can’t seem to get enough!

Like this month’s pick. “The Stolen Lady” , by Laura Morelli, a stunning historical novel about two women, separated by five hundred years, united by their roles in hiding Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.

Anne Guichard is a young archivist working at the Louvre in 1939, the dawn of WWII. Her daily life is thrown into upheaval as the Nazis draw near and a mad scramble to hide the museum’s precious artwork - including the Mona Lisa - begins. Her job in art preservation is now cloaked in fear and danger.

Bellina Sardi is a servant girl in a much earlier time. The year is 1479, and her mistress, Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a wealthy silk merchant, is to have her portrait painted by Master Leonardo da Vinci. This too was a period of extreme unrest, when the Florentines were rising up to overthrow the Medici family and their wealthy beneficiaries. Bellina becomes guardian to a dangerous and valuable secret.

“When art and war collide, Leonardo da Vinci, his beautiful subject Lisa, and the portrait find themselves in the crosshairs of history. “

Fans of historical fiction will love this! Those who appreciate art will love this! Anyone who has visited France, Paris, or the Louvre will love this! WWII buffs will love this! I can’t think of anyone who won’t love this!

Laura Morelli is a masterful storyteller and imbues her characters with optimism and hope despite the dangerous games of cat and mouse they are intricately immersed in. I found myself in a time machine bouncing between centuries and fearfully protective of The Stolen Lady.

Here’s where you can get your copy: The Stolen Lady