Book Review: A Rush of Wings

Noelle St. Claire is a lady with secrets, secrets that are deep and dark, will she ever reveal them?  Running away in a panic, Noelle breaks off her engagement with Michael and heads towards Colorado.  Stopping in Juniper she finds herself boarding at a ranch, not any ranch, but a ranch with    two single men!

Morgan is a charmer, Rick is quiet and they are both falling for Noelle but she simply cannot give.  As her secrets collide with nightmares she faces some decisions, but who can she trust with her secrets?  After a serious injury some of her secrets are revealed and her shell begins to crack.  Rick has a strong relationship with God, and tries to help Noelle the best he can, but Noelle has some pretty strong issues with God and it's not until they are resolved that she can truly love again.

This is a very good book, strongly based on Christianity, but yet there are some pretty strong struggles, life is not perfect for these characters and they have problems just like the rest of us.  This book shows how we can overcome our fears and our weaknesses as well as find peace. 



**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for a honest review.

Book Review: Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball, a Novella by Donita K. Paul is a joyful story full of mysterious happenings, a few troubled souls and a search for God.

Cora Crowder lives in a sleepy city, far from her family, but she likes it that way even though she is a bit alone.  Trying her hardest to find Christmas spirit she shops for her family and for a perfect office gift which leads her right into a bit of strangeness.  After an unexpected encounter Cora finds a ticket to a Christmas Ball, but where is it?  Very few people have heard of it and it all seems rather odd, and the adventure is just beginning!  Simon Derrick is a single guy, living with his grandparents, mom and sister, to most he seems a very quiet soul, not given to much fun, yet finds himself in a bit of a romance!

While reading this book I was immediately reminded of the Harry Potter books, a bookshop called Warner, Werner, and Wizbotterdad's on a street called sage that isn't always there and Wizards galore.  This book is full of mysterious people as well as a cat who never leaves home, yet has kittens!  Add to the mix a couple of lonely people, a few eccentric family members and you have a book that will keep you quickly turning the pages!

I definitely enjoyed this book, a lighthearted approach to finding God and what Christmas really is. 



**Thanks to Waterbrook Multnomah I received a complimentary copy of this book for review.

Sneak Peek: Dakini...a great place to shop

The Holiday Gift Giveaway Hop is coming SOON, December 1st-5th!  One of the gifts I will be giving away is a gift card to Dakini.

Have you heard of Dakini? A great place for cozy, comfy, warm fleece products for Men, Women and my favorite is Dakiniweenie!  I was sent a couple of Dakini products to review!


I received the Girlie Rollneck in blue and I LOVE it!  It is warm, cuddly and a perfect way to cut the winter chill.  I have washed the top a few times and it looks as if it was just taken out of the package so it holds up extremely well.  The softness and comfort is unbelievable and it fits very true to size.

Girlie Rollneck

4-Way Zip Hood

I also received the 4 Way Zipped Hood jacket in a beautiful purple, which my daughter promptly stole from me.  I cannot speak from the experience of wearing it myself...BUT my daughter says it is warm, comfortable and she's loving it!  The pocket on the butt is kind of fun and unexpected so it adds a bit of zip, the jacket fits her very well, and I would say that it runs true to size as well.

I am very happy with my Dakini products, they are worth every penny you spend on them and would make great Christmas gifts!   The people over at Dakini are easy to work with and very friendly, go on over and check them out, and come back on December 1st for your chance to WIN!

Blog Tour: The Nightingale

About Susan May Warren : Susan May Warren is the RITA award-winning author of twenty-four novels with Tyndale, Barbour and Steeple Hill. A four-time Christy award finalist, a two-time RITA Finalist, she’s also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Book of the Year.

Susan's larger than life characters and layered plots have won her acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. A seasoned women’s events and retreats speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!. She is also the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.

Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota , where she is busy cheering on her two sons in football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!) A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at: www.susanmaywarren.com.

About Nightingale: Esther Lange doesn’t love her fiancé—she’s trapped in an engagement after a mistaken night of passion.

 

Still, she grieves him when he’s lost in battle, the letters sent to her by the medic at his side giving her a strange comfort, so much that she strikes up a correspondence with Peter Hess, an Iowa farmboy. Or is he?  Peter Hess is not who he seems. Indeed, he’s hiding a secret, something that could cost them both their lives, especially when the past comes back to life. A bittersweet love song of the home front war between duty and the heart...a battle where only one will survive.

My Thoughts:
Nightingale is a story about love, romance, history and war.  While some battles are larger than others the battles of the heart can be the strongest.  This is an excellent read, a night of passion leads Esther to a place she wasn't expecting and how she deals with the consequences sends a strong message to the reader.

Coping with being a single parent rejected by her family and living with the family of the man who was a one night stand isn't exactly what Esther was looking for in life, while struggling she begins writing to Peter and finds a strength in God! 

This is a story of romance with some great history woven in, a very enjoyable read which left me wanting to read more!

For the complete blog tour schedule go HERE


*I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Litfuse Publishing in exchange for a honest review

CFBA Book Tour: Divine Appointments

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Divine Appointments WaterBrook Press; Reprint edition (September 21, 2010) by Charlene Baumbich

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Charlene Ann Baumbich is the author of the previous three books in the Partonville series. A popular speaker, journalist, and author, for several years she has lectured to women’s groups and retreats. Baumbich is also an award-winning journalist whose work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Today’s Christian Woman, and numerous other publications. She is the author of six nonfiction books of humor and inspiration.

Charlene says: For over two decades of writing and speaking, my passionate pursuit to entertain and rejuvenate using humor (I love to laugh-especially at myself), uncommon wisdom, and passionate insights has been affirmed through countless calls, letters, and evaluation sheets. A reader recently e-mailed, "There is so much depression and sadness in this world. I applaud you for reminding all of us to treasure the moments in our lives, and for encouraging us to find joy in the little things. What you do helps so many to rise above the heaviness of life and live, and laugh, and face another day, so thanks!!!!" That is exactly why I keep doing what I do.

I am a firm believer in the power of story (short or book-length, funny or insightful, real or fiction, on stage or page) to accomplish my purpose, which is to remind you: Don't Miss Your Life! Whether you're tuning into me live or in print, fasten your seatbelt. I promise you a wild, fun, provocative, heart-warming ride.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Josie Brooks, at the age of 47, thought she was leading an enviable single life. A successful consultant, she calls her own shots, goes where the money is, and never needs to compromise. But her precisely managed world begins to falter during a Chicago contract when an economic downturn, a bleeding heart boss, and the loyalty and kindness between endangered employees ding her coat of armor.

Throw in hot flashes, a dose of loneliness, a peculiar longing for intimacy, an
unquenchable thirst—not to mention a mysterious snow globe with a serene landscape, complete with a flowing river and lush greenery that seems to be beckoning her in—and Josie’s buttoned-up life is on the verge of coming completely undone.

Maybe her solitary existence isn’t as fulfilling as she has convinced herself to believe. It will take a few new friends, a mystical encounter, and an unexpected journey to set Josie on her own path to “right-sizing” and making the life changes that really matter. Filled with laugh-out loud moments and a gentle dash of inspiration, Divine Appointments is another heartwarming charmer from a master storyteller.

If you would like to read the first chapter of  Divine Appointments, go HERE.


MY THOUGHTS:
Divine Appointments is a joy to read, this book has some 'meat' to it!  The story circles around a snow globe quite a bit and it took me awhile, but in the end it seems as if Josie was living her life in a bit of a bubble, restricted in a way similar to the figures in a snow globe and when her life gets 'shook up' a bit she begins to realize that she is missing out on.  As Josie comes to terms with different areas of her life she starts to find true happiness.  I liked this book and how it teaches the reader that there is more to life than our jobs, and that if we get too caught up we may miss out on more important things.

5 Tips For Taking Great Holiday Photos!

Editing and Creating Great Photos does not have to take a lot of money, nor a lot of time. There are so many online sites where you can store your photos, print your photos, edit photos and create photo albums that can be shared online with your loved ones. What a wonderful way to stay connected while far apart, or what a great way to just simply share your photos! Creating a great album is fun but you do need to start with some fun photos!

Try an unexpected angle

You don't always need to see the entire face....just imagine her expression inside the water!

The holidays are here, you have great intentions to take photos that will keep the memories alive forever, don't set yourself up for disappointment, be prepared and you will be able to create memories that will last a life-time!

Here are some tips that I have for you!
1. Make sure your batteries are charged or bring extras, there is nothing worse than trying to capture that perfect moment and finding your battery dead. I'll never forget, when our daughter was born, my in-laws came to take photos, and guess what: NO FILM! We don't use much film these days, but batteries come in close!
Photo Editing tip: If you do forget that extra battery (it happens to the best of us!), make best of what you do have!  If you only were about to take 3 quick pictures before it died, edit them to make them look stunning!  You can save a bad picture in a few different ways, if the color is way of try black and white.  Black and white will always look better if the color image is good, but it does help if you do it right!  If the picture is a bit blurry, try adding different textures, or even making it look like you intended it to be blurry by keeping some points blurry and sharpening, say faces (boca anyone?)!

2. Don't bring a new camera, when taking pictures you're going to do your best when you know your equipment, save the new for at home, and practice before using a new camera somewhere special. New cameras take time to learn and patience as well, you don't have time to read your instruction manual while family is creating the perfect photographic moments right before your eyes! You can always edit photos, take out the red-eye, change the coloring a bit to make it look better, but it's still best to leave the new toys for a not so special time until you get the hang of it!
Photo editing tip:  Same thing goes for Photoshop!  Yay!  You got Photoshop Elements for Christmas, however, it's important to remember that it will take a while and a lot of hard work (and frustration!) to figure out.  Rent books from the library, read tutorials online, and practice as much as you can!

3. Take a lot of photos, and I mean a lot. The more you take, the better chance you have of capturing perfection! Many times I feel like I have taken too many photos only to be disappointed when I begin to download. You can always delete, but once you're home you'll never have the chance to catch that moment again. I have not played around with Photo Shop a lot, my daughter does though and she has created some amazing photos by editing instead of deleting many photos.
Photo Editing Tip: You might be disappointed by a picture if the color is a bit dark.  As long as it isn't overly dark, that is easy to fix in Photoshop!  While you won't get the stunning natural light that you might have if you had the correct exposure taking the picture, you can definitely play with the light control to turn a terrible picture into a well exposed one!

4. Get down on the floor when taking pictures of children, that way your photos will be in the perspective of the child and will truly capture the moment. The look on a child's face is so much cuter at their level than from way up above, you'll catch the glimmer in their eyes, the wrinkle in their little hands.
Photo editing tip:  A lot of times you can't quite get the angle that you were hoping for in real life (this happens to me all the time!).  In Photoshop Elements, it's easy to crop your image to give it a completely different look, and get the angle that you wanted!

5. Family photos are nice but sometimes it's much more fun to take candid photos where everyone is natural instead of trying to get many people smiling and in position at the same time, we all have horror stories of frozen smiles while the grandpa's get their adjustments just right!
Photo editing tip:  If you take your family photos yourself with a tripod, often times when you download them you'll find out you completely missed something while you were taking them!  Blue garbage can five feet away from Dad anyone?  It's easy to fix this in Photoshop with the burning, copy, and layer tools!  There are great tutorials on this if you Google it!

I am in no way a great photographer, my daughter is much better! But I still love to take photos, some turn out, others hit the trash button. There is always photo shop, you can turn some pretty awful pictures into something gorgeous with a little bit of tweaking here and there! Most of all, don't get stressed out trying to take the perfect picture, let things happen naturally and you won't be disappointed.


“I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Adobe blogging program, making me eligible to receive a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.” (make sure you link to http://photoshopelements.twittermoms.com/about )

My Favorite Road Trip

You can find beauty in every situation

Are you going on a road trip over the holidays? A short one over Thanksgiving or a long one over the Christmas Holidays? Whatever the length of your trip make sure to have fun and create memories that will last a life-time, good memories!

I have been on so many road trips that it is quite difficult to choose my favorite. One that stands out is a trip my husband and I took to Pennsylvania. We purchased a vehicle on Ebay, so we flew out to Philadelphia, stayed in a nice hotel downtown and upon waking in the morning we were off to pick up our vehicle. Or were we? The place didn't exist. We panicked a bit, then decided to call the cops, they weren't sure what to say, after some digging we found that this was a frequent occurrence with this particular person. We then settled in, found a rental car and toured the area, an unexpected turn of events that we made fun! We had one adventure after another from eating the most delicious pizza in a corner shop to visiting the Liberty Bell and tasting an authentic Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich straight from a street vendor!

To this day I hope to return, albeit on my own conditions and a little better prepared, there is so much rich History in Pennsylvania that you could spent quite a long time there and still not see it all!

The drive home through the mountains and Amish country was beautiful and I will never forget the scenery or some of the crazy road signs we encountered! Oh, and did I mention the drivers in Philly? Glad to say we survived and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it once we got over being scammed. We did come out ahead in the long run and now we laugh about our crazy adventure!

My learned wisdom from this adventure is to always be prepared, pack extras, be willing to relax and go with the flow, and always bring your camera! This adventure could have turned out horrible, but we were able to see the funny side of it all and take in the beauty and rich history around us because we rolled along with the punches! It may be difficult to find joy when you're sitting in the ditch or left in a dingy hotel, but if you're prepared you can still have fun, which is what a road trip is all about! Don't forget to pack fun things for the kids, they're bound to become bored and tired of sitting for hours on end!

What is your favorite road trip memory?

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Discount Tire blogging program, making me eligible to receive a $50 gift card and be entered for a chance to win a prize valued at $1,000. For more information on how you can participate, click here.” (make sure you link to http://discounttire.twittermoms.com/about)

CSN Stores

I am so excited to be working with CSN Stores once again, they have added many new stores, which means greater shopping! To add to the excitement CSN Stores will be having some great Black Friday deals...why fight the crowds, shop at home with a cup of hot chocolate! For the man in your life, how about a new briefcase?  Or if your man prefers the workshop check out the great tools!

For the children, toys galore

On sale for $24.99

How about a coat for your pet?

I'm not sure what I'm going to choose to review just yet....I have to finish browsing first!  Be sure to check out the Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals!

Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies

2 c. flour
1/2 t. baking soda
1 1/2 t. lemon zest
1 t. ground coriander
2 T. poppy seeds
1 1/2 sticks softened butter
1 c. sugar
2 large egg yolks
1 large whole egg
1 1/2 t. lemon extract or juice

Preheat oven to 300 F. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, lemon zest, coriander, and poppy seeds. Mix well with a wire whisk and set aside. In a large b owl, cream butter and sugar with electric mixer at medium speed until mixture forms a grainy paste. Scrape down sides of bowl, then add yolks, egg, and lemon extract. Beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the flour mixture and mix at low speed just until combined. Do not over mix. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheets, 2 inches apart. Bake for 21 to 23 minutes until cookies are slightly brown along edges. Immediately transfer cookies with a spatula to a cool, flat surface. Makes about 2 dozen.

This recipe can be found in the Mrs. Fields Best Ever Cookie Book!

CFBA: The Lightkeeper's Bride, by Colleen Coble

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Lightkeeper's Bride Thomas Nelson (October 19, 2010) by

Colleen Coble

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Author Colleen Coble’s thirty-five novels and novellas have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Romance Writers of America prestigious RITA, the Holt Medallion, the ACFW Book of the Year, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice, the Booksellers Best, and the 2009 Best Books of Indiana-Fiction award. She writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail and love begin with a happy ending.
A word from Colleen: God has been faithful, though the path has not been easy. Nothing worth doing is ever easy. God wouldn’t let me give up, and I like to think the struggle made me stronger. God has given me so much in my life, most importantly my great family, a loving church family at New Life Baptist Church, and my wonderful publishing family at Nelson Books.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A thrilling romantic mystery set in the lush Victorian age.

Central Operator Katie Russell's inquisitive ways have just uncovered her parents' plan for her marriage to wealthy bachelor Bartholomew Foster. Her heart is unmoved, but she knows the match will bring her family status and respectability.

Then Katie overhears a phone conversation that makes her uneasy and asks authorities to investigate. But the caller is nowhere to be found. Mysterious connections arise between the caller and a ship lost at sea.

Against propriety, Katie questions the new lighthouse keeper, Will Jesperson. Then a smallpox epidemic forces their quarantine in his lighthouse. Though of low social status, Will's bravery and kindness remove Katie's suspicion and win her love. Katie and Will together work to solve the mystery of the missing girl and the lost ship as God gives the couple the desire of their hearts.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Lightkeeper's Bride, go HERE.

MY THOUGHTS:
Although this book seemed to have a rather slow start I really began to enjoy it once the plot thickened and everything started to move along a bit more quickly.  Katie Russell is a woman who is rather outgoing for her day and age and she tends to do as she pleases without thought or fear for her well-being.  Katie have a very large heart, wanting to help everyone, but in doing so she often tends to forget about what is best for her.  Finding peace is what Katie needs, will she find peace with Bart the man her parents wish her to marry, with Will, the handsome Lighthouse Keeper or with God?  Once Katie finds peace her life begins to fall into place leaving this a very enjoyable read with quite a bit of danger thrown in!


**I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from CFBA, I was not compensated in any other way for my honest thoughts and opinions.

Book Review: More Glimpses of Heaven

More Glimpses of Heaven, by Trudy Harris, RN is a book that is going to make you cry. Trudy has also written, Glimpses of Heaven.  This book is full of Inspiring True Stories of Hope and Peace at the End of Life's Journey and it will make you think.

Story after story is written in this book about instances witnessed by different Nurses and Medical team professionals, letting us know that there is indeed a plan in place for when our time here on Earth is drawing to a close.  Heartfelt stories of young and old show us that sometimes it's those left behind that are holding back loved ones from leaving this World.  Simple things we say and do can make death so much more comforting for those facing it.

This book is written in a way that makes you think differently about the end of life, it is sweet, it is sad but it is also a book that I am very glad to have read.  This is a book that you can read over and over and never grow tired of reading, there is so much love and hope in these pages, a great gift for a loved one.

“Available November 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

**Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group sent me a complimentary copy of this book to review, I was not compensated in any other way for my honest thoughts.

Time For Some Fun!

It's Friday...so in honor of Friday I am doing another random giveaway! Who wants to win a Hand Knit Snowflake Spa Cloth made from Silk Bamboo yarn?!!!  It is soft, silky and wonderful!  We'll end this giveaway on Black Friday  And like the last dishcloth, not quite done yet, I'll post a picture soon!!! 

Mandatory: (Leave your email address and a separate comment for each entry!)
Leave a comment telling me what you do on Black Friday, how early do you get up to shop, or do you skip it all?

Extras:
+1 if you follow my blog via GFC
+1 if you follow via Networked Blogs
+1 if you subscribe to my emails
+5 if you sign up for SWAG BUCKS....only counts if you do this through my sidebar link!

HAVE FUN....and by the way, my daughter and I just pooled our Swagbucks together and bought a new lens for our camera and save $130 by using Swagbucks $$$!


I thought I should probably answer my own question...so here is my plan for Black Friday!
**I sometimes shop on Black Friday, although we're always in kind of small town WI where the shopping is pretty ho-hum!  This year we're going bowling in the evening, but who knows, maybe we'll hit a store or two as well.  I'm definitely shopping online at SKIN FREE to get their 1/2 specials!

CFBA: The Silent Order, by Melanie Dobson

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Silent Order Summerside Press (November 1, 2010)by Melanie Dobson

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Melanie Dobson is the award-winning author of The Black Cloister; Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana; and Together for Good.

Prior to launching Dobson Media Group in 1999, Melanie was the corporate publicity manager at Focus on the Family where she was responsible for the publicity of events, products, films, and TV specials. Melanie received her undergraduate degree in journalism from Liberty University and her master's degree in communication from Regent University. She has worked in the fields of publicity and journalism for fifteen years including two years as a publicist for The Family Channel.

Melanie and her husband, Jon, met in Colorado Springs in 1997 at Vanguard Church. Jon works in the field of computer animation. Since they've been married, the Dobsons have relocated numerous times including stints in Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Colorado, Berlin, and Southern California. These days they are enjoying their new home in the Pacific Northwest.

Jon and Melanie have adopted their two daughters —Karly (6) and Kinzel (5). When Melanie isn't writing or entertaining their girls, she enjoys exploring ghost towns and dusty back roads, traveling, hiking, line dancing, and reading inspirational fiction.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Rural America - 1928. After the murder of his partner, Detective Rollin Wells hides away in an Amish home near Sugarcreek, Ohio, to find out who in the police force is
collaborating with Cleveland’s notorious mob. While Rollin searches for answers to his partner’s death, he befriends an elusive young Amish woman named Katie and her young son. As Rollin learns about Katie’s past, he’s shocked at the secret Katie is hiding - a secret that has haunted Rollin for eight years.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Silent Order, go HERE.

MY THOUGHTS 

When I first started this book I had a difficult time reading it.  The story line is so different from any other Amish story I have read so it was difficult to wrap my head around what I was reading.  Once I got further into the story it all came together and I started turning the pages faster and faster waiting to learn what would happen next!  In this book the mob meets up with the peaceful Amish which is a very strange thought indeed, but when you learn the story behind the events you will be amazed!

Give this book a try, but be prepared that this is not your everyday Amish read!


**Thanks to CFBA for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book to review.

Black Friday Deals!

If you keep up with my blog I'm sure you know how much I love Skin Free products! If you're feeling bad that you didn't win the giveaway last week, I have some GREAT news for you....Skin Free is having a Black Friday Sale!!!

All items at Skin Free and Blue Ridge Gypsy will be 1/2 off...you do need to use the code: THANKFUL and the code will work from Midnight on the 25th through Midnight on the 26th! Skin Free has some new products I am going to try, and I'll be sure to stock up on my favorites as well! Free Shipping on orders over $50! Your skin will love you! Buy your friends some Whipped Tamanu Butter, they'll love you! Nope, I'm not getting paid for this post, I was just excited to share the deal with you!

Rum Raisin Cookie Recipe

These cookies are simply divine, give them a try!

RUM RAISIN COOKIES
1 c. raisins
1/2 c. water
1/4 c. rum
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter or margarine
1 egg
1 3/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt

1. Heat raisins, water and rum to boiling in 1-quart saucepan; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered 20 to 30 minutes or until raisins are plump and liquid has evaporated. Cool raisins. Cool raisins 30 minutes.

2. Heat over to 375. Beat sugar and butter in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed about 3 minutes or until fluffy, or mix with spoon. Beat in egg. Stir in remaining ingredients. Stir in raisins.

3. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookies sheet. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until light brown. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack; cool.

*You can substitute 1 tsp. rum extract mixed with 1/4 c. water for the rum.
**Recipe makes about 2/12 dozen cookies.

Book Review: Christmas at Harrington's

Christmas at Harrington's, by Melody Carlson

Christmas is a time we enjoy our families, make memories, and reflect on the past.  Some people, such as Lena Markham doesn't have much to look back on, unless she wants to dwell on a past that is best forgotten.  A past that will come back to haunt her just as her new life is turning around for the better.

Just out of jail Lena finds herself on a bus heading to a town where she doesn't know a soul, to a boarding house where she won't have a stitch of clothing to hang in her closet and $40 in her pocket with the hopes of starting a new job.  When things do not turn out as planned Lena is surprised when she is offered a job as Mrs. Claus, the perfect job it would seem until she encounters a face from the past.

I enjoyed this book, it was not your usual Christmas read, but a story with a whole lot of meaning and a story that brings out the true meaning of Christmas, I recommend this book, during your Black Friday shopping stop in at your local bookstore and take a peek, you'll be glad you did!

“Available November 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

**I received a copy of this book for review from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing, and was not compensated in any other way for my honest thoughts and opinion.