The Outlaw Takes a Bride (Susan Page Davis)

Finally managed to finish a new book today. It took longer than usual, but let me assure you - not because I didn't like the story. Seems like I have to eek out time for reading nowadays.

Anyways.

I found this one at Barnes and Noble the other day. I pulled out a few from the shelf to read first chapters. This is the one I liked best - and it may very well be because of the cover. For goodness sake! It's beautiful. I especially love the writing across the top (maybe from one of her letters to Mark?) But the BCC also sounded interesting and the first chapter was good.

So for your pleasure, here's the description:

Johnny Paynter flees Denver to escape being hanged for a murder he didn’t commit. At his brother’s ranch in Texas, where he thought he could take refuge, he finds his brother, Mark—dead. Taking advantage of his strong resemblance to his brother, Johnny assumes Mark’s identity. Soon Johnny discovers that Mark had been corresponding with a widow named Sally in St. Louis, and she’s en route to be a mail-order bride to Mark. Seeing no other option, Johnny makes a fateful decision to go through with the wedding, posing as his brother. But Sally has secrets she's hiding, too. How will a marriage survive with so much deception?

Now, if I'm honest... I may have an affinity for secret identities. I just find them fascinating to read because I spend most of the story dying to know when someone will find out. But this story had a lot to offer.

The Outlaw Takes a Bride is very much a classic, western prairie romance. There's plenty of great historical detail about ranch life in Texas that gave me the same nostalgia as Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House Books and Jeanette Oke's Love Comes Softly series. It just has that feel to it - with a bit of gunplay thrown into the mix.

It was definitely a good read. I enjoyed it and every minute I wasn't reading it, I was wishing I was curled up on my couch following Johnny and Sally (to be honest, I wish she went by Sarah and he by John, but that's just my personal preference).

The only thing that bothered me was perhaps too much attention to everyday life. I did appreciate it as a history buff, but it did create a bit of drag. I also hoped Johnny would get a backbone for the first half of the book. But he found it when Sally needed him. Good boy.

Happy reading

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A Real Valentine's Day

Sometimes, I think we make Valentine's Day as a single person out to be a lot worse that it actually is. In reality, rather than sitting and pouting on the couch, most of us venture into the world of friendships, find other non-attached people and do something together. Others DO stay home and watch movies all by their lonely selves. But there's also a good number who treat the day like any other day of the year.

But I think we have to stop pitying ourselves for the thirteen days of February that lead up to Valentine's.

I admit... those 13 days are the worst.

It's like the 12 days of Christmas, but thirteen.

On the first day of love fest, I wished I would receive...
a love note writ for me 

On the second day love fest, I wished I would receive...
two tickets for a movie 

On the third day of love fest, I wished I would receive...
three types of see's candies.  

On the fourth day of love fest, I wished I would receive...
four little kisses for me. 

On the fifth day of love fest, I wished I would receive...
five notes of love 

On the sixth day of love fest, I wished I would receive...
half a dozen red long stems

etc. etc.

I would go on, but I ran out of ideas.

But really. Is it worth all the heartache of wishing for something God hasn't seen fit to place in our lives just yet?

7“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7 NIV)

Do you trust God's timing? Do you trust him to take care of you?

25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?27Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?  

28“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6)

Sadly, I believe that these are some of the most difficult questions we face as Christians. Sometimes it's far too easy to say, "Yes, Lord. I place my life in your hands. I trust you." But then, when push comes to shove, we still have our own plans. When God doesn't seem to be dancing to OUR jig, we tell him he's not being fair.

God loves us. He loves us far more than we could ever imagine. So why can't we trust in his good, pleasing and perfect will?

I once read an interview with Rebecca St. James... I can't find it anywhere... but I think she said something about if marriage is on your heart, God probably put it there. The trick is trusting HIS timing, whether you are 22 or 32. I did find another article about her after she met her husband Rebecca St. James Interview that you can read. She references something along those lines.

So how about you? Are you pouting? Because this isn't a "why am I alone on valentine's day" issue. This is a "do I really trust God's plan for my life" issue.

I fully believe that if you WANT to be married, you will meet someone - someone wonderful, who will be your best friend from that first meeting till death do you part. God isn't in the business of dangling carrots in front of our noses like a tease. Our heavenly father likes to give us good gifts. We just have to trust that if it's on our hearts, and in his plan, he will work it out... In HIS time. Not ours.

Just trust.

Happy Valentines Day!

Christmas Hershey Kiss Cookies

I'm planning on making Christmas cookies this weekend. But I'm thinking about leaving out the sprinkles... what do you think? Happy Baking!

Ingredients

• 48 HERSHEY'S KISSES Brand Candy Cane Mint Candies
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons milk
• Red or green sugar crystals, granulated sugar or powdered sugar (garnish)

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Remove wrappers from candies.

2. Beat butter, granulated sugar, egg and vanilla in large bowl until well blended. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; add alternately with milk to butter mixture, beating until well blended.

3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in red sugar, granulated sugar, powdered sugar or a combination of any of the sugars. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned and cookie is set. Remove from oven; cool 2 to 3 minutes. Press a candy piece into center of each cookie. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Makes about 48 cookies.

Burdened Hearts

I'll admit it, I'm one of those people who gets most of their news updates from Facebook. I tend to be fairly out of touch with current events unless I hear something via word-of-mouth. Anyways... today I read something that left me scratching my head, I suppose you might too after this post.

I came across one of numerous articles about Abortion protests. And honestly, I was heartbroken for those who stood on the side of abortion rights, but at the same time, I didn't know how to respond to the protestors (not that I could have an actual conversation with them).

Why?

Let me begin by saying that I don't think I need to give a drawn out explanation of my views. All you need to know is that I am pro-life. The reasons are out there, and I already wrote out my views in an essay that I composed in High School. If you are interested, a simplified version of my beliefs stems from my faith in God and the practical science of pregnancy and the progression of fetal development.

Here's the reason why I wanted to write down my thoughts on this particular article:

A few years ago, I remember hearing stories from some of my friends who don't share my convictions about how disgusted they were with pro-life protestors. Some might say that this is a good thing. It means that indeed, the protests are getting people's attention. But I don't know if that's the right response.

To be truthful, the protestors angered my friends to the point where they closed their ears to any reasoning on the pro-life side.

Now you see my dilemma.

What are we to do? Abortion is a real issue and I believe that there are very easy, practical reasons for not supporting that "choice." Most pro-lifers protest outside of Planned Parenthood locations because they have come to realize that many women are afraid and uninformed. I suppose this is true in many situations. I've also heard of many situations where protests have indeed made women question abortion and seek out more information. So is there some validation to protests? I would say so.

But what about those who don't have such a response? My heart aches to think we are hardening hearts to this cause.

Does this place us at an impasse? Don't protest because it make people turn a deaf ear. Do protest because it informs women?

I think that we - as Christians - shouldn't be known for what we are AGAINST and instead be known for what we are FOR.

We believe that God loves his creation - both great and small, both new and old. 

We believe that God loves children, regardless of their conception 

We believe that God takes care of us - even when we are in difficult circumstances. He promises to see us through if we trust Him.  

We believe that babies are the everyday miracle (and really cute). 

We believe that God will make a way. 

I wonder what would happen if protestors changed their signs to be less critical and more hopeful. Isn't that what our world needs anyways? Hope?

The Doctor's Lady (Judy Hedlund)

Lately, I've been in a reading mood, which of course, means that I've been scrounging amazon for new books. So I decided to share my newest read with you.

As I always do, I skimmed a sample of the writing in google books, but I liked what I saw, so I bought it (It was a fairly cheap ebook). Honestly, I won't pay more than five dollars for an ebook. If it costs more than that, I prefer a hard copy. For a hard copy and a hard copy alone will I put out $10. But that's just me.

Anyways, Jody Hedlund's writing (I had never picked up anything by her before) was incredibly reminiscent of Janette Oke to a certain extent. I didn't expect that. But I believe, her style is largely in part due to the fact that the Doctor's Lady was inspired by Marcus and Narcissa Whitman.

I didn't realize the historical relevance until I read the author's note, but it was such a sweet story (and I do appreciate good research) that I wanted to applaud her for turning a true story into an engaging, novel-worthy story.

Here's the BCC:

Priscilla White knows she'll never be a wife or mother and feels God's call to the mission field in India. Dr. Eli Ernest is back from Oregon Country only long enough to raise awareness of missions to the natives before heading out West once more. But then Priscilla and Eli both receive news from the mission board: No longer will they send unmarried men and women into the field.  

Left scrambling for options, the two realize the other might be the answer to their needs. Priscilla and Eli agree to a partnership, a marriage in name only that will allow them to follow God's leading into the mission field. But as they journey west, this decision will be tested by the hardships of the trip and by the unexpected turnings of their hearts.

I really enjoyed the book. For the most part, I don't read, "based on a true story" type books because true story don't always carry the same tension that something more fictional might. Still, I loved the historical details, many of which were direct parallels to the Whitman story, even the secondary characters of Mr. and Mrs. Spalding. And maybe I'm biased because one of my own characters is doctor, but Eli Earnest was amazing. He and Priscilla... oh my goodness, I looked forward to every scene where they were in the same space (I can't say "room" because they were on a wagon train) because they would have the best conversations.

If you enjoy the history of the west, or even the history of American evangelism and mission work - this book give great insight (with a wonderful flare of romance). She really captured the idea that often, People of the early 1800s (in this case, the 1830s) believed that the Native American ways (in this book, the Nez Perce) were heathen and inferior - it was their job to civilize them - rather than simply bring Christ into the culture. I suppose I never considered that. But Priscilla definitely enters the story with this worldview (Eli challenges her).

But in summary, I would count this book among my favorite combinations of "historical" and "romance" in the truest sense.

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Pepparkakors

I have a new favorite recipe in my book.

Currently, I'm doing all of my Christmas baking. In the midst of all the cookie craze, I decided to attempt something new.

I'm sure that I've mentioned it before, but a significant portion of my heritage is Swedish. So I tried to make Pepparkakors (Ginger Cookies). They came out pretty darn good, if I do say so myself.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter (softened)
• 3 1/4 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup (you can use molasses)
• 1 tablespoon water
• Extra flour for rolling out dough

Directions

1. Sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Set aside.

2. Stir together butter and sugar until creamy.

3. Add the egg, maple syrup, and water to the butter and sugar mixture. Beat the mixture until it's fluffy.

4. Stir the dry ingredients into the mixture 1 cup at a time. Mix well after each cup. 

5. Chill the dough for an hour

6. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Set out ungreased cookie sheets.

9. Divide the dough in half and roll it out on a floured surface. Aim for 1/8 inch thick.

10. Use cookie cutters (I like flowers and other scandinavian-ish festive shapes) and place the cookies 2 inches apart on the sheets.

11. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until they are lightly browned. Watch the cookies carefully. They Burn easily. Transfer to wax paper to cool. 

A Most Inconvenient Marriage (Regina Jennings)

I swear - this might be one of my new favorite books (I have a runnings list). 

The other day, I was looking for something good to read and so I was browsing Amazon for Christian Fiction. Anyways, low and behold, this is the book I came across.

I scrolled down the page to read the reviews and I liked what I saw. Seems like this story is getting some good press (for a good reason). Considering I haven't read anything by Regina Jennings before, I might just have to keep an eye on any new books she puts out.

Let's get to the chase...

Here the BCC:

Abigail Stuart Thought She was Jeremiah Calhoun's Widow.But Jeremiah Calhoun Is Very Handsome, Very Alive, and Very Perplexed.Most Inconvenient Indeed. 

With few options of her own, nurse Abigail Stuart agrees to marry her patient, a gravely wounded soldier calling himself Jeremiah Calhoun. They arrange a quick ceremony before he dies, giving Abigail the rights to his Ozark farm and giving Jeremiah the peace of knowing someone will care for his ailing sister after he's gone--a practical solution for both of them. After the war, Abigail fulfills her side of the bargain--until the real Jeremiah Calhoun shows up, injured but definitely alive, and wastes no time in challenging Abigail's story. Abigail is flummoxed. After months of claiming to be his widow, how can she explain that she's never seen this Jeremiah Calhoun before? How can she convince him that she isn't trying to steal his farm? And will she find a way to stay, even though this practical arrangement has turned into a most inconvenient marriage?

Anyways - why was this book so good? I laughed a lot and I couldn't put it down once I picked it up. Not to say that this book is entirely comical in content! By no means! My heart ached for Abigail, but sometimes I wanted to smack her for the stunts she pulled. She's a fantastic heroine. And Jeremiah - my O my. That boy. Equally well characterized.

There is a point in books where you place yourself in the shoes of one of the characters, and you feel the plot the way they experience it. Every scene between Abigail and Jeremiah... I'm be as red as a tomato at times, but I'm also a sucker for medical history, I loved the bits about massage therapy during the Civil War. I'm not even sure if it was massage therapy - but something along those lines (I ought to know since I tuck medical history into my own manuscripts, but I don't. Oh well).

I'm such a picky reader. But the friendship between these two, fighting against horse thieves and trying to help Jeremiah's sister, is so fun to read.

Pick up a copy of this book if you enjoy a good Civil War/Reconstruction Era Christian Romance.

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READER TIP:
I'm a new fan of the Amazon Kindle Matchbook. I have the kindle app on my laptop. So what I do is I buy a paperback copy of the book (I'm a sucker for a hardcopy!) and then I get the ebook for just a few dollars. It works well for me because what I do is I go to google books and I read the first few chapters of a book I'm interested in. But if it's a good read, I can't wait for it to come in the mail, I have to finish it immediately, so with matchbook, I get a cheap ebook copy.