Mom moved in with us the day before Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving afternoon, I brought the first stack of books to her room. Outside of my books, she hasn't read much if any Christian fiction before now. Fun fact, one day we were talking about repetitive words or phrases in books and she said, Continue Reading
Book Reviews
3 Brilliant and Fascinating Things in Journey to Twilight
Her Instagram post showed a book I’d never seen before, but being the world’s worst mother, I just “hearted” the thing and moved along. Didn’t read. That mother-of-the-year award gets more elusive every year. However, by the third or fourth picture over the next few days, I realized these were Continue Reading
My 3 Favorite Things about Hope for New Beginnings
“Why are you chopping up that book?” Okay, is it just me, or does this blog post open like Charlotte’s Web? I keep expecting Fern to look up at me with those big eyes, flip a braid over one shoulder, and demand that I not destroy a perfectly good book! I digress. My answer probably made Continue Reading
What Makes a Story Too Short to Be Great?
It's cold outside. Snow on the ground and more expected on Saturday. Upstairs, four women sleep. In "my" room, my friend sleeps on the upper half of our daybed/trundle combination. Our "house elves" (who insist they are FREE elves) sleep on the couches. Me, I check my email, see that I have a Continue Reading
Have You Ever Been Drunk on a Good Book?
I understood the man in the book—Ed. I understood everything about him. And, in fact, I really thought I’d write all about him alone, but then I started thinking about Jett. It occurred to me that I really understood him, too. How could I relate so well to two so very different people. Then there Continue Reading
Why I Think This “Creepy” Book Is Awesome
She pulled out a picture book--one without any words, no less--and handed it over. I flipped through the pages of Carl's Christmas, and almost missed the beauty and wonder of that book. Books needed words, and I wasn't prepared to handle one without them. By the time she showed me a book about a Continue Reading
3 Reasons to Love & Fear the Outback
The world sat spellbound as men in tights and spiked shoes wearing shoulder pads that put the eighties to shame chased an oblique across the grass. Me? I sat with my eyes riveted as well—to a book page. Look, I’ve been looking forward to reading A Girl’s Guide to the Outback for months. And Continue Reading
Can You Sing Favorite Hymns & Psalms at the Same Time?
Back in “my day” (I suddenly feel 90), we called them “devotional songs.” I suppose today they’d be considered “praise and worship” songs. While they weren’t sung often—at youth groups and rallies, sometimes one here or there on a Sunday night--they inspired me. Many were mini creeds, which is Continue Reading
What’d I Love Best about This Second-Chance Romance?
It wasn't in my planner. Confused, I looked at the reminder again, stared at my planner again, and blinked. Again. I knew I'd reviewed the book already. Over a month ago--maybe two. No... at least two. I didn't think I was even home for good when I did it. In fact, I knew where the book was. Continue Reading
3 Excellent Reasons This Belongs on Your TBR List
"How can you say that someone should read a book that you don't like?" Once again, I tried to explain what I meant. "I didn't say I didn't like the book. There's some great stuff in there. I just have issues with some of the writing." The conversation has happened more than once in my life, Continue Reading
Who Is Your Refuge When All Goes Wrong?
Research rabbit holes. I’d found myself in another one. This time, instead of how to poison someone without using known poisons, I’d somehow ended up with an article on historical opinions on children’s clothing. Long dresses vs. short dresses. Long pants vs. short pants. And short dresses vs. Continue Reading
Is Above the Fold Really the Best Place to Be?
“I found a picture.” Okay, so I should point out that I can’t remember who I said this to. Was it my friend? My launch team? In my Reader Group? Whoever I said it to wasn’t surprised. But I couldn’t stop talking about it. “Can’t you see it? She could be Madeline’s daughter—a reporter. But with Continue Reading
