Deborah Vogts's Blog, page 93

This Week's Recipes

Here are this week's new additions at Country at Heart Recipes. Our daughters, The Vogts Sisters, will be performing at Groundhouse Coffee in Gardner, KS tomorrow night at 7:00 PM. If you're in the area, please join us! 

Cinnamon Coffee Cake
S'mores Bars
Cookbook Preview - A Year of Holidays

Favorite Books from 2013

© Zolthar | Dreamstime Stock Photos & Stock Free Images
I managed to read over twenty books this last year. I am not a fast reader, but I do try to read at least a chapter before bed--and if the book is really good, I'll read four or five! 

Here are my top 12 book reads from 2013 (in no certain order, and not all of these books were published in 2013.)
A Lasting Impression by Tamera AlexanderShort Straw Bride by Karen WitemeyerA Home in Drayton Valley by Kim Vogel SawyerPrize of My Heart by Lisa NoratoThough My Heart is Torn by Joanne BischofA Heart Most Worthy by Siri MitchellJust Jane by Nancy MoserUndeniably Yours by Becky WadeA Noble Groom by Jody HedlundWhen the Morning Glory Blooms by Cynthia RuchtiWhile We're Far Apart by Lynn Austinand Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hayes Hauck
What books did you read this past year, and what were your favorites?

Book Preview ~ Rebellious Heart

Rebellious Heart, by Jody Hedlund

In 1763 Massachusetts, Susanna Smith has grown up with everything she's ever wanted, except one thing: an education. Because she's a female, higher learning has been closed to her, but her quick mind and quicker tongue never back down from a challenge. She's determined to put her status to good use, reaching out to the poor and deprived. And she knows when she marries well, she will be able to continue her work with the less fortunate.

Ben Ross grew up a farmer's son and has nothing to his name but his Harvard education. A poor country lawyer, he doesn't see how he'll be able to fulfill his promise to make his father proud of him. When family friends introduce him to the Smith family, he's drawn to quick-witted Susanna but knows her family expects her to marry well. When Susanna's decision to help an innocent woman no matter the cost crosses with Ben's growing disillusionment with their British rulers, the two find themselves bound together in what quickly becomes a very dangerous fight for justice. Buy the book HERE.

Jody Hedlund is an award-winning and bestselling author of inspirational historical romances.

As a busy mama-writer, she has the wonderful privilege of teaching her crew of 5 children at home. In between grading math papers and giving spelling tests, she occasionally does a load of laundry and washes dishes. When she’s not busy being a mama, you can find her in front of her laptop working on another of her page-turning stories.

She loves reading almost as much as she loves writing, especially when it also involves chocolate and coffee. Learn more about Jody and her books HERE.

This Week's Recipes

Here are this week's new additions at Country at Heart Recipes. Stay warm and enjoy your weekend! 
Thin and Crispy Pizza

Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
Easy Chicken Noodle Soup

One Year with Luther

 Last Christmas my husband brought home to us, Luther, a sweet little black Labrador puppy. I thought it might be fun to show how he has grown through the year. Here he is, the day he arrived, Christmas Eve, 2012.
He slept in a little box. 
Everyone adored him.
Here he is at at 5 months. Hubby has enjoyed teaching him lots of new tricks, including rolling over, playing dead, putting away his toys, crawling, and many others.
At seven months, Luther now how a giant bed to lay on.
Here at his Second Christmas with us - 14 months old. A lot heavier, but hubby still loves him!
He loves his Christmas bone.

Book Preview ~ The Heiress of Winterwood

The Heiress of Winterwood by Sarah E Ladd

Amelia Barrett gave her word. Keeping it could cost her everything.

Amelia Barrett, heiress to an estate nestled in the English moors, defies family expectations and promises to raise her dying friend’s baby. She’ll risk everything to keep her word—even to the point of proposing to the child’s father—a sea captain she’s never met.

When the child vanishes with little more than an ominous ransom note hinting at her whereabouts, Amelia and Graham are driven to test the boundaries of their love for this little one. Amelia’s detailed plans would normally see her through any trial, but now, desperate and shaken, she’s forced to examine her soul and face her one weakness: pride.

Graham’s strength and self-control have served him well and earned him much respect, but chasing perfection has kept him a prisoner of his own discipline. And away from the family he has sworn to love and protect. Both must learn to have faith and relinquish control so they can embrace the future ahead of them. Purchase the book HERE.

Sarah E. Ladd received the 2011 Genesis Award in historical romance for The Heiress of Winterwood. She is a graduate of Ball State University and has more than ten years of marketing experience. Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing husband, sweet daughter, and spunky Golden Retriever. Learn more about Sarah and her books HERE. 

This Week's Recipes

Here are this week's new additions at Country at Heart Recipes. Enjoy your weekend! 
Cheesy Sourdough Rolls


Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Bacon Cheesy Potato Salad 

Christmas with Emma

This past Christmas we had the joy of sharing some extra special time with our little granddaughter, who is already nine months old, and growing so fast we can hardly keep up with her. 
Already, she is crawling around and pulling herself up to a standing position. Watch out, Mom and Dad, here she comes!
She loves mealtime, too, and eagerly waits for those fruits and vegetables. Hurry up Mom! Here she is showing us how she claps.
Our daughters, the "aunties" love spending time with Emma.
 They gave her a cute little tea set and can hardly wait to have tea parties and watch Jane Austin movies with her. 
Though right now, she's perfectly content to play with the wrapping paper.
She loved her little doll that we gave her for Christmas. It's such fun to watch her carry it around and talk to it. 
I'm trying to teach her mom how to give Emma a curly-top. Too sweet! And check out those baby blue eyes.

Book Preview ~ Fired Up!

Fired Up, by Mary Connealy

Dare Riker is a doctor who saves lives, but someone seems determined to end his. It may have something to do with the traitors he dealt with during the Civil War, or it might be related to the recent incident with Flint Greer and the ranch. Whoever the culprit is, he or she seems really fired up, and Dare can't let his guard down for a moment, which is a challenge, since right now he's trying to win the heart of the recently widowed Glynna.

Glynna Greer came west as a mail-order bride and ended up in a bad situation. Now her husband, Flint, is dead, and she's determined to care for her son and daughter on her own. She wants to believe Dare Riker is as decent as he seems, but she's terrified to lock herself into another marriage. She plans to support her small family by opening a diner--never mind that cooking is not her greatest talent. The men in Broken Wheel, Texas, are so desperate for home cooking that they seem willing to overlook dried-out beef and blackened biscuits.

Glynna can't help but notice that danger follows Dare wherever he goes. There's the avalanche. And then the fire. But things really get out of hand when someone plunges a knife from Glynna's diner into Dare's back. Are Flint's cronies still plotting revenge? Is Glynna's son engaged in a misguided attempt to protect his mother? Is a shadowy outsider still enraged over past injustices? And can Dare survive long enough to convince Glynna to take another chance on love? Buy the book HERE.

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy...with cowboys.
She is a Carol Award winner, and a Rita and Christy and Inspirational Reader's Choice finalist. She is the author of bestselling Kincaid Brides Series: Out of Control, In Too Deep, Over the Edge. Her work also includes Lassoed in Texas Trilogy, Montana Marriages Trilogy and Sophie's Daughters Trilogy. She also wrote Ten Plagues--a romantic thriller, and The Historical Society Murders--three cozy mysteries, under the name Mary Nealy.

Mary is married to a Nebraska rancher and has four grown daughters and two spectacular grandchildren. Read more about Mary and her books HERE.

This Week's Recipes

Here are this week's new additions at Country at Heart Recipes. Tonight our daughters, The Vogts Sisters, will be performing at Homer's Coffeehouse in Overland Park, KS. If you're in the area, we'd love for you to join us! May you have a blessed New Year! 
Sausage and Biscuit Casserole
Peppermint Meringues
New Year's Eve Recipe Ideas