Candice Sue Patterson's Blog, page 15

A January Bride by Deborah Raney

Who can work in a house that's overrun by contractors and carpenters? Not Madeleine Houser, a successful novelist who gladly accepts the help of her octogenarian friend, Ginny, to arrange for a temporary office in the charming bed and breakfast owned by Ginny's friend, Arthur. Maddie’s never met the innkeeper––but a friendship grows between them as Maddie and Arthur leave messages for each other each day. To Maddie’s alternate delight and chagrin, she seems to be falling for the inn’s owner––a man who's likely many years her senior––and who she’s never even met.




My Review
When a romance author needs a quiet place to write and meet her deadline, she accepts the offer of using a B&B she believes is owned by a lonely old man she exchanges notes with. The cat, the Victorian house--all inspire her new story. Especially a picture of a handsome man she found in one of the rooms. Then she meets the elderly owner to discover he's not elderly at all. Can Maddie create an award-winning romance in her own life?

A sweet, feel-good novella from Deb Raney.

I gave this book 4 stars.

How a Manuscript is Like an Oil Painting

My mother was a painter. I used to sit with her for hours watching Bob Ross on TV. He always made it look easy. Mom used to get discouraged and say, "I'll never be able to paint like that." And of course we'd always tell her, "Yes, you will. Keep painting." And we meant it. Now that I'm an adult, I realize she won't ever be able to paint like Bob Ross. She can study his work, buy his paints and brushes, and pray all day long that God will allow her to paint just like Bob, but she'll never be able to. Because she's Sherry Brooks. She'll paint with the talent and style God gave her.

The same is true with writing. Every time I read a book by Denise Hunter, Rachel Hauck, Susan May Warren, Lisa Wingate, or Becky Wade (just to name a few), I think, "I want to write just like that!" Each of those authors are talented in their genres and bring something fun and unique to their books. And though studying the craft, observing other authors, and writing constantly to become stronger are all good and vital things, the truth is I'll never be able to write like them. Because I'm me.

Studying one of my mother's paintings that I display on my mantle every winter, reminded me of that recently. Where I think my mom paints every bit as good as Bob Ross, she feels she falls short. Where I have friends and family that encourage me with similarly kind words, I feel I fall short. May God forgive us for not taking what He's given us and being humble, yet confident, in it. Using my mother's painting as an example today, I'd like to show you how a manuscript is like an oil painting--created in layers. 

It all starts with a sketch of the story. For me it's very basic--setting, character motivation, the character's occupations, and title. A few other details may come, or not, after brainstorming. I'm a more of a "seat of the pants" writer than a dedicated plotter. Ideas flow from me as I type.
Next, I utilize my tools. In this case, research. I study the geographical aspects of my setting, surround my self with pictures for inspiration, read books related to the story's subject matter, and surf the net for various related things. Depending on what season the story is set in, I may burn candles to help spark ideas. Example: if it's snowing outside my window, and I'm writing about my characters taking a walk through a garden in June, I'll light flower-scented candles to make my brain think of summer.

Then the scary, yet exciting, blank canvas. Or white computer screen. This is where the magic happens. (Or so I'd like to think) Some days the brushstrokes--words--come easily. Other days, I stare at a blinking cursor. The first draft. It's always dull and in a lot of ways lifeless, but it's the first and most necessary layer to a story. (I know I'm stating the obvious here, but stay with me.) As I revise, and revise, and revise, I add as much color to my story as possible in the way of secondary characters, raw emotions, humor (I try to have a good balance of the two), and utilizing the five senses.

When I believe I've made my manuscript as good as I can on my own, I send it to my fabulous critique partners. After a grammar check, adjective suggestions, revealing of plot holes, and an over-all push to do better, I do another revision, and the manuscript takes on yet another layer. This time, it's taking the vague shape of a masterpiece. (Or so I'd like to think.)
With shaky hands, a nervous stomach, and lots of prayer, it's off to the publisher. With the editor's wise suggestions and another revision, it's finally a story. With the help of a talented artist, it gets a frame (book cover). After the galleys have received a thorough going-over and any final changes made, it's finally done. The author has created a place for the reader to escape, be entertained, and in the case of Christian fiction, an opportunity to grow closer to God through the character's journeys.



My approach and techniques may be different from other authors, and with some they may be the same. But no matter how each author attacks the canvas, the end result should be a story that glorifies God.


What techniques work best for you?

Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck

Susanna Truitt never dreamed of a great romance or being treated like a princess---just to marry the man she has loved for twelve years. But life isn’t going according to plan. When her high-school-sweetheart-turned-Marine-officer breaks up instead of proposing, Susanna scrambles to rebuild her life.

The last thing Prince Nathaniel expects to find on his American holiday to St. Simon’s Island is the queen of his heart. A prince has duties, and his family’s tense political situation has chosen his bride for him. When Prince Nathaniel comes to Susanna’s aid under the fabled Lover’s Oak, he is blindsided by love.

Their lives are worlds apart. He’s a royal prince. She’s a ordinary girl. But everything changes when Susanna receives an invitation to Nathaniel’s coronation.

It’s the ultimate choice. His kingdom or her heart? God’s will or their own?



My Review

Wow... where do I start with this one? First of all, I was immediately drawn to the heroine, Suzanna, when the story opened with her walking the beach with her boyfriend of 12 years in anticipation of his proposal. Instead, he dumps her. Though I was grateful for the soldier's fictional service to our country, I wanted to shake the man. Twelve years. Need I say more?

Then the hero of all hero's, Prince Nathaniel of Brighton Kingdom, A.K.A Nate Kenneth, walks into Suzanna's life. Their shared faith bonds a friendship--and romance--that struggles to survive four-thousand miles.

As Nathaniel prepares to become king, Susanna seeks her true destiny. Does God's will for her life include Nate?


This story did it all. I laughed, I cried, I got angry, and it gave me a new outlook on Christ's kingdom and our role in it.

I gave this book 5 stars!

My Top 10 Book Picks of 2013

I use Goodreads to keep track of all the books I read and review. My reading goal for last year was 20 books. I read 45. Here are my top ten book picks of 2013, in no particular order. All received 5 stars from me.


The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper

The future is clearly mapped out for New York socialite Eugenia “Gennie” Cooper, but she secretly longs to slip into the boots of her favorite dime-novel heroine and experience just one adventure before settling down. When the opportunity arises, Gennie jumps at the chance to experience the Wild West, but her plans go awry when she is drawn into the lives of silver baron Daniel Beck and his daughter and finds herself caring for them more than is prudent–especially as she’s supposed to go back to New York and marry another man. 
As Gennie adapts to the rough-and-tumble world of 1880s Colorado, she must decide whether her future lies with the enigmatic Daniel Beck or back home with the life planned for her since birth. The question is whether Daniel’s past–and disgruntled miners bent on revenge–will take that choice away from her.



Made to Last
Miranda Woodruff, star of the homebuilding show "From the Ground Up," will do anything to keep the job she loves. Due to a painful broken engagement and a faith she's mostly forgotten, she's let her entire identity become wrapped up in the Miranda everyone sees onscreen. So when she receives news that the network might cancel her program, she must do the very thing she fears most: let the spotlight shine on her closely guarded
personal life. The only problem? She's been living a lie--letting viewers believe she's married--and now she's called upon to play wife to a sweet, if a bit goofy, pretend husband to boost ratings.
Desperate to help his family and prove he's not a total failure, reporter Matthew Knox is looking for a breakout story. When he's offered the opportunity to do an online serial feature on Miranda Woodruff, he jumps at the chance, even if celebrity reporting isn't really his thing. But as soon as he meets Miranda, he knows she's keeping secrets. 
When Miranda's former fiance suddenly appears on the scene again, she doubts her life could get more complicated. Juggling three guys, an on-the-rocks television show, and the potential exposure of her deception is way more than she bargained for. Can the woman who makes things look so good onscreen admit it's time to tell the truth about who she is? And if she does, will the life Miranda's built come crashing down just as she's finally found a love to last?



Never Say Never
Kai Miller floats through life like driftwood tossed by waves. She's never put down roots in any one place--and she doesn't plan to. But when a chaotic hurricane evacuation lands her in Daily, Texas, she begins to think twice about her wayfaring existence. And when she meets hometown-boy Kemp Eldridge, she can almost picture settling down in Daily--until she discovers he may be promised to someone else. Daily has always been a place of refuge for those the wind blows in, but for Kai, it looks like it will be just another place to leave behind. Then again, Daily always has a few surprises in store--especially when Aunt Donetta has cooked up a scheme.

Fancy Pants
When Britisher Lady Sydney Hathwell's father dies, the American who
planned to wed her suddenly reneges. Stranded in America and penniless, Sydney contacts a relative in Texas who, mistaking her male-sounding name, invites his "nephew" to join him on his ranch. "Big Tim" Creighton, however, is appalled when this mincing fop arrives at Forsaken. He determines he'll turn Fancy Pants Hathwell into a man before the boss returns home. From the get-go, he has "the kid" mucking stalls, clearing and plowing a field, and assisting with a difficult calving. But when Sydney's true identity is uncovered, Tim resents being deceived. Yet in time, he also finds that he doesn't like all the attention Sydney garners now that she's wearing pretty gowns...Together Sydney and Tim will discover the importance of family and what it means to be a man--and a woman--of God.




Happily Ever After
A bookstore in a Victorian house on the shores of beautiful Lake Superior. Mona Reynolds can’t think of a better storybook setting for a happy ending. Until someone starts to sabotage her plans. Could it be the drifter handyman she hired to help her? Just what will it take to make her dreams come true?







The Jessilyn Lassiter Series:
Fireflies in December, Cottonwood Whispers, Catching Moondrops
Jessilyn Lassiter never knew that hatred could lurk in the human heart
until the summer of 1932 when she turned 13. When her best friend, Gemma, loses her parents in a tragic fire, Jessilyn's father vows to care for her as one of his own, despite the fact that Gemma is black and prejudice is prevalent in their southern Virginia town. Violence springs up as a ragtag band of Ku Klux Klan members unite and decide to take matters into their own hands. As tensions mount in the small community, loyalties are tested and Jessilyn is forced to say good-bye to the carefree days of her youth.




Noble Legacy:
Reclaiming Nick, Taming Rafe, Finding Stephanie
Everyone around Stefanie Noble is content, but it seems that her "happily ever after" has passed her by. Then two troubled girls and their older brother, Gideon, show up in town and clearly need help. Could they bring the fulfillment that Stefanie has been searching for? Hollywood hotshot Lincoln Cash has made a life playing the role of an action hero, basking in the laurels of his fame, fortune, and adoring fans. But when he's diagnosed with a debilitating disease, he knows that life will soon be over. He only has a small window of time to start a new career, one that will earn him legitimate filmmaker kudos. He soon heads to Phillips, Montana, to put his plan into action. Not everyone is pleased with the movie star's arrival, especially not Stefanie Noble. She's even less enamored when he accuses Gideon of arson and tries to run him out of town. But what Lincoln and Stefanie don't know is that neither the fire nor the other strange things that have happened around town are really accidents. Someone is out to get them . . . but who? And who is the "real" target?



Bees in America: How the Honeybee Shaped a Nation 

Honey bees--and the qualities associated with them--have quietly influenced American values for four centuries. During every major period in the country's history, bees and beekeepers have represented order and stability in a country without a national religion, political party, or language. Bees in America is an enlightening cultural history of bees and beekeeping in the United States. 






Songbird Series:
Sweet By and By, Softly and Tenderly, Love Lifted Me
Happily married and owner of two successful boutiques, Jade longs to begin
a family with her husband, Max. But when she discovers that Max has an illegitimate son--who he wants her to help raise--Jade's life is turned upside down.

She flees to her childhood home, a rambling Iowa farmhouse, with enough room to breathe. There-- while her mother's health grows fragile, and the tug of her first love grows stronger--Jade begins to question everything she thought she knew about family, love, and motherhood. In the wide-open landscape, Jade begins to see a future that doesn't rest on the power of her past, but in the goodness of God's tender mercies.



Barefoot Summer
Madison’s heart closed the day her twin brother died.

Since losing her twin, Michael, in a drowning incident, Madison has
rejected the faith he lived by. Instead, she’s devoted her life to fulfilling Michael’s dream—winning the River Sail Regatta in their small Indiana town, Chapel Springs.

As she trains for the regatta, Beckett O’Reilly is teaching Madison to swim. But he’s keeping a painful secret from her—and as they grow closer, that secret threatens to upend their lives . . . and the lives of both their families.

Love Finds You in Sun Valley, Idaho by Angela Ruth

Actress Emily Van Arsdale has returned to her Idaho hometown - with an entire film crew in tow! With its stunning scenery and reputation for hosting celebrities, Sun Valley is the perfect setting for Emily's newest romantic comedy. Tracen Lake is happy to work as a stunt consultant for the movie but not as thrilled to deal with a bunch of high-maintenance Hollywood types. But Tracen is surprised to discover in Emily a down-to-earth Idaho girl who does all her own stunts and loves the outdoors. As filming wraps up and Emily heads off to her next gig, will she be able to leave Sun Valley - and Tracen - behind?



My Review

A fun debut novel from Angela Ruth Strong! 

When a stunt woman turned rising movie star falls for the rafting guide on her movie set, chaos ensues not only within the cast but also in Emily's heart. She succeeds in the most dangerous of stunts but struggles to climb the wall Tracen has built around his himself. 

Tracen has detested Hollywood ever since his fiance left him to follow her dreams in Tinseltown. But denying his attraction to Emily is getting harder every day. Will Tracen allow the former Wonder Woman to save his lonely life?

Great setting, strong characters, witty dialogue, and I loved the water theme throughout the book. It gave me a new perspective on things and encouraged me to study the subject in the Bible myself.

I gave this book 4 stars on Goodreads!

Ladybug Wreaths—Interview with Wreath Artist Nancy Alexander

Today, I’m joined by wreath artist Nancy Alexander. Before we begin our interview, I’d like to share the special story of how Nancy and I became connected.

In December 2012, my short story The Value of a Penny was published in the romance anthology "I Choose You" by OakTara. To help promote the book, I hosted a giveaway on this blog and offered a copy to anyone who signed up, where I drew a winner’s name from a hat. The winner was Nancy Alexander.
God knew I needed her.

Shortly after, I began plotting Bright Copper Kettles for Pelican Book Group’s Christmas Extravaganza. I had a clear view of my hero, Dean Whitfield, and the fictional town of Christmastown, Vermont, but I struggled with who the heroine should be. Nancy emailed me with her address so I could send her the book, and I noticed she owned a business called “Ladybug Wreaths.” Not long after checking out her wonderful website, ll heroine, Darcy Carr, came to life. What better occupation to have in a town where it’s Christmas 365 days a year than a wreath maker?

Long story short, Nancy and her gorgeous wreaths inspired part of Bright Copper Kettles. But it wasn’t until last month that I realized how God connected the dots. I sent Nancy an email telling her about my new book and thanking her for being my inspiration, even though she didn’t know it. She was thrilled to hear that her talent had inspired a book. Then she told me how author Laura Hodges Pool was currently working on writing Nancy’s life story. Laura used to be one of my critique partners, and I had no idea she even knew Nancy!
God’s ways are truly amazing…
Now that you know the story, I’d like to introduce you to wreath artist Nancy Alexander.

Thank you for visiting with us today, Nancy. I’m so blessed to have you here.

Thank you so much Candice… I am thrilled that you invited me to join you today!

How long have you been making wreaths?

I started teaching myself to make wreaths around 1987.  That was close to 2 years before purchasing “The Straw Basket” in Anderson, SC.  I owned The Straw Basket for around 15 years and made it “the place” to shop in my hometown.

Please tell us how Ladybug Wreaths began.

Well, Candace, that’s sort of a long story.  My husband Steve and I were married in 1972 when I was 21 years of age.  It was exciting as we talked and planned on having children, and what our life would be like together.  I had always been “artsy”, and our small home become a showcase.  Our friends couldn’t believe how I could make that small rental so beautiful.
Our 2 sons, Matt and Andy were born in 1975 and 1977. Everything was great – we were so happy as we were involved in our church.  We had many friends – and enjoyed doing fun things with our boys.
Suddenly, at age 29, a mysterious illness struck me with a vengeance.
It put me flat on my back.  I thought it was a virus, and would soon go away, but it didn’t.  The days turned into weeks; weeks into months; and then months into years.
The first 3 or 4 years, I spent most of my time in bed, the coach, or a recliner.  I couldn’t even drive a car for over 5 years.  My weak muscles made it SO hard for me to sit or stand up for any length of time at all.
We went from doctor to doctor to doctor, who ran test after test after test.  NO ONE REALLY BELIEVED I WAS SICK – not even my family.  One doctor (the best in town) called it Housewife Syndrome.  That made me so VERY, VERY ANGRY!
I finally realized if I was going to improve at all, I had to help myself – no one else was.  So, I did!  I researched through books, and then the Internet when it became available.  I found which supplements which my research showed might help and began experimenting with them.
Even though I prayed every day, I thought God didn’t hear my prayers; I thought He had deserted me.  Where was He?  I asked myself over and over… But, I still kept on fighting.  After a while, I was starting to notice a slight improvement which led me to believe I was on the right track.
By the time, I was starting to improve some, and gain back some energy, my self-image was plummeting.  I put on a lot of weight at the same time I started back doing my crafts again.  After a while, I was able to purchase the Straw Basket.  It was a highlight in my life.  I loved being artsy, and I was good at it.  Customers began to take notice… my creative self was beginning to shine through again!
After thirteen years of pushing my body as much as it could be pushed, the time finally came that my health forced me to close the Straw Basket.  As I locked the door for the last time, I felt like such a failure – I had to give up the one thing I KNEW I could really excel in.
It wasn’t until fours later in 2006, after fighting a chronic illness, with no name,  for 35 years, I finally received a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia, and 3 years later of Celiac Disease.
As my husband and I were sitting in a doctor’s office in Atlanta, GA, we heard these words:  “You really shouldn’t be sitting here in my office today – you should be dead.  But it is YOUR research and all the supplements you brought in that bag today which saved your life.”
Although I was devastated by having to close the Straw Basket, I was determined not to give up!  So, I turned to the Internet thinking I could learn to sell my wreaths.
I knew nothing… I mean really NOTHING!  I read and studied, and worked very hard to begin selling wreaths on eBay.  After a lot of hard work and research, I became well known as Ladybug Wreaths.  This business was a success.  I was recognized online for the BEST wreaths to be found!  Within 6 months, I became a Power Seller on eBay.
That’s when I purchased my favorite book which led me to my mentor.  It was “The Silent Sales Machine Hiding On eBay”, by Jim Cockrum.
Jim has been voted the most trusted, honorable, Internet Marketer online today.  He is a strong Christian and does not hide his faith.  This book literally lit a fire in me, as I knew God was leading me in a new direction – His direction.
I am on a very strict diet after finding there were many foods I could not eat.  The three that I had to avoid at all costs were gluten, soy, and milk.  And I leave off many other foods which still make me sick today.
With Jim Cockrum’s help, an amazing partner - Linda Joseph, and many followers through Facebook, my Website, Pinterest, and more…ladies have learned that I am FINALLY winning a battle against these horrible chronic illnesses.  I am OVERCOMING!
I have literally received thousands of emails from these ladies wanting and needing my help.  I always do whatever I can to train and encourage these ladies to grown their own businesses and begin selling online.  My partner, Linda, and I have set up a membership site to support and teach “artisans”.
My business is growing by leaps and bounds.  My partner and I can hardly keep up with where God is leading us.  We believe God formed our partnership for a reason (we live over 1000 miles apart), and we certainly believe this is all from Him.
I suffered as I did for so many years, so I would have a heart of understanding for ladies just like me.  To finally be able to encourage them to reach their dreams and goals is such a joy.  It is a feeling that I can’t describe, but I know I am on God’s path; He has me here for a reason.

Congratulations on 41 years of marriage! What advice would you give to others on a lasting marriage?

I can answer this question now, but for many years I couldn’t even talk about it.  You see, after a while – and for many years, my husband had a hard time believing that I was really sick.  After we met our “angel” doctor in her office that day, our lives were changed forever.
My husband is a different man - I am a different woman.  He gave up a lot for me.  We changed churches to attend a new church together.  I get up with him at 5 a.m. every morning, get a shower, dress, and put on makeup.  We sit facing each other as Steve reads our devotional, and then, holding hands, we pray together before he leaves for work at 6:15.  I send him out the door with a hot mug of coffee, his breakfast, and his lunch.  We have a devotional, read the Bible, and pray together again each and every night.
I would have to say that praying like this together has brought us closer together than we ever thought possible.  We can both say we are now truly happy.  God’s blessings flow over us as our lives are changed forever.  We are truly in love, and very thankful that through God, we can finally experience a marriage “made in heaven”.
You and I both share a passion for using the gifts God gave us to honor and glorify Him.  On your website, you mention that your friend Molly expressed your thoughts and feelings in an amazing way: “By picking up the pieces of a broken life and putting them back together, a person cannot help but be changed. This change is a beautiful thing that results in a deeper understanding of others and their situations, and gives us a chance to share our experiences with them, showing them that there is a way out — a light at the end of the tunnel. I believe that I have not just been broken, but put back together by God in a beautiful way — a way that I could have never imagined on my own.”
That’s why I write what I write. Though I always give a happy ending, my stories aren’t fluffy. I love to see God work in the darkest of circumstances, to pick up the broken pieces of our lives.

In spite of your health problems and the painful journey to healing, you have joy in what the Lord has given you. Please share with us your life verse and how your faith has impacted you and your family.

Actually there are two that I have called on and depended on through the years:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  Philippians 4:13
 “But He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”  2 Corinthians 12:9

Thank you for sharing your beautiful testimony with us. And thank you for inspiring my debut e-novella Bright Copper Kettles. I’m grateful that the Lord put us together on this project, even if we didn’t realize it initially. 


No, thank You!  God has brought us together, just as He has brought MANY amazing people into my life in these years.  I am TRULY so very BLESSED!



Please visit Nancy on her website at www.ladybugwreaths.com

Finding Faith--Interview with author Robin Patchen

Thanks for joining me today, Robin.

I’m thrilled to be here. Thanks for having me!



Faith House released in November with White Rose Publishers. What inspired the story? 

When Hurricane Sandy hit back in October, 2012, I watched the footage on TV like the rest of the country. The story stuck with me, probably more than any other news story since 9/11. There was something about seeing all those homes, flooded and destroyed, that broke my heart. The news cycle moved on, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. When I set my table for Thanksgiving dinner, I thought of all the people who would not be able to celebrate in their own dining rooms. And then when we decorated our Christmas tree, I thought of all the people whose heirlooms and ornaments had been swept away or destroyed by the flood waters. So when I started thinking about a Christmas story for Pelican’s annual Extravaganza, it made sense that I crafted a story that took place in the aftermath of the hurricane.



Tell us about the Facebook page you started for Hurricane Sandy stories.

The goal was to collect stories. It hasn’t really caught on, but the reasons behind it remain. I am still thinking about all those hurricane victims and praying for them.




How did you name your characters?

Sadie’s name just came to me. No idea where it came from. Max is the name of one of my daughter’s friends, and I just like it. He’s such a great kid, studious and godly—from what I can tell, anyway. And that’s what my Max is like, so I just adopted the name.





Was any part of Faith House based on your own life?

Sadie really struggles with trusting God, and boy, have I been there! I believed God for my salvation a lot of years before I trusted him with everything else in my life. And I’m sure I haven’t arrived yet, but it’s amazing to see how faithful God has been over the years. Surrendering the most important things in my life has been a huge struggle, but one I’ve never regretted.




Have you ever been to New York?
Yes, a number of times, but not since I’ve been an adult. My husband and I lived about 4 hours from the city when I was still in the Boston area, but we never went, even though I always wanted to. I guess we figured we had all the time in the world. Who knew God would relocate us to Oklahoma?




What are you working on next?

I’m about halfway through a book that will take place here in Oklahoma. Not quite ready to share the blurb with you—mostly because I haven’t written it, yet.  And of course I’m praying for a publisher for a full-length novel I wrote two years ago called Finding Amanda.



Thanks for coming today, Robin!

Thank you!



I've read Faith House, and it's an amazing story. Buy it today while it's still available at a low holiday price. Simply click on one of the links below.


Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Ornamental Traditions with Author Lacy Williams

Christmas Eve
I love going through our ornaments at Christmas, reminiscing the memories of that particular year. Author Lacy Williams does too. Today, she's sharing a few of her favorites with us.



My husband and I started a tradition during our second married Christmas. We purchased one of those customizable ornaments with our names on it. Unfortunately we didn’t do it our first Christmas as husband and wife so we had to get two that year and backdate one. :)







It was just the two of us for almost seven years, then over the next four we were blessed to add to our ornaments! This is the one from this year. Each one is special to me because it represents our family and the tradition of buying one each year.






And this other ornament was given to me before Luke and I were married. I had been to a dirty Santa gift exchange and ended up with a gag gift that was pretty horrible for an unmarried 19-year-old (I don’t even remember what it was—I think a menopause voodoo doll. One of the older ladies from the gift exchange gave me the ornament several days later. She might’ve just felt sorry for me but I still remember it and am thankful for someone giving a kind gift that brightened my Christmas that year!




Thanks for sharing your tradition with us, Lacy!





Lacy Williams is a wife and mom from the state of Oklahoma in
the U.S. She grew up on a farm, which is where her love of cowboys was born. In reality, she's married to a right-brained banker (happily with three kiddos). She gets to express her love of western men by writing historical romance. Her books have finaled in the RT Book Reviews Reviewers' Choice Awards (2012, 2013 & 2014), the Golden Quill and the Booksellers Best Award.

Lacy also writes YA action romance under the pen name Lacy Yager. She has a soft spot for bad boy heroes and heroines with swords. Although her teen years are long behind her, she enjoys writing about the drama and first love that comes with this time in our lives.

Lacy loves to hear from readers at lacyjwilliams@gmail.com. She posts short stories and giveaways at her website www.lacywilliams.net and can be found on social media at www.facebook.com/lacywilliamsbooks , www.facebook.com/unholyallianceseries and www.twitter.com/lacy_williams .

Holiday Cakes

Countdown to Christmas--10 days left!   
In Bright Copper Kettles, Darcy Carr lives next door to a bakery where the air always smells like Grandma's kitchen and entices her sweet tooth. One of the hobbies I enjoy outside of writing is cake design. I'm no Martha Stewart, but I thought I'd share some of the holiday cakes I've designed over the last few winters. My Holly Wreath Cake


    My Pine Branches Cake









My Winter Snowman Cake





For great holiday recipes, visit my baking and cake design blog by clicking here!
 




  


 

Christmas Wishes Special Delivery by Mary Manners

Countdown to Christmas--12 days left! 
  When attorney Riley Harper comes home to Maple Ridge following the death of his grandfather, the last thing he expects to find is Kaylee McKenna living in his grandparents' guesthouse. Though he and Kaylee were once best friends, Riley cannot find it in his heart to forgive her for the death of his mother. His heart, full of bitterness and resentment, has room for little else.  Kaylee has no time to dwell on events of the past, especially where Riley's concerned; she's too busy raising her six-year-old niece, Rosie, and working as an ER nurse. With Christmas quickly approaching, her days are spent helping with charity events and filling the wishes on Rosie's Christmas list.  But when Rosie's father makes an unexpected visit, Kaylee must call on Riley's legal expertise to ensure Rosie of a safe and secure future. Will Rosie's special Christmas wish heal Riley's damaged heart and bind the trio together as a forever-family?    Author: Mary MannersPublisher: Pelican Ventures Book Group--White Rose Publishing, 2013   My ReviewThis author had me captivated from the first paragraph. Christmas Wishes Special Delivery is a beautiful and entertaining story of second chances, perfect for the Christmas season. The characters are strong and lovable, wounded, and dealing with real issues.  Rosie (the little girl) stole my heart as well as Riley's. I love the cover art. I can't wait to read more from Mary Manners.  I give this book 5 out of 5 stars!