This Worthy Heart by Dixie Jo Jarchow

Ponder this... series of inspirational romantic novellas

New from Pelican Book Group

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

This Worthy Heart by Dixie Jo Jarchow

About the book "Whatever is praiseworthy..."

Celestina Morgan's dreams of happily-ever-after hit a major glitch when she suffers a small stroke. There's no permanent damage from the stroke, but her heart is broken when her boyfriend deserts her with a text message that says he hopes she gets well. He's terrified of illness and hospitals.

Cele's got a plan to win Jason back, and it's working until an adorable puppy shows up on her doorstep. Jason hates pets of any kind. It doesn't help that the handsome chaplain from the hospital keeps coming by to help out. He doesn't approve of Jason, and Cele struggles to ignore the truth.

Either way, to give Jason a chance to prove the chaplain wrong, the dog has to go! But the sweet little puppy has other ideas.

Inspirational romantic novella

Pelican Book Group

March 2020

110 pages

Buy on

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Pelican book Store

My review:

Celestina, a budding pro tennis player from the hinterlands with a passion for sculpting in clay and a backup plan as an accountant, moves to Chicago and immediately sees stars. In more ways than one. The rich, handsome but empty Jason thinks she’s the perfect eye candy as long as she’s obedient and has no more health issues. Cele’s perfectly willing to overlook his complete lack of empathy until she realizes it’s an unflattering mirror of herself.

She meets Sam, a chaplain who volunteers at the local food pantry, when he helps her after an accident. Later, after she turns away from a visit to the food pantry where he volunteers, accused by a coworker of slumming, Cele takes a good long look at what she’s becoming. But Jason’s lifestyle is a dream come true and she dithers when he agrees to help the food pantry.

Cele has some major growing up to do. Learning to be empathetic and developing a worthy heart might start best at home, with the help of an adorable little doggie creature who worms his way into her life and teaches her the value of being needed. Told from Celestina’s eyes, This Worthy Heart is a fun inspirational romance with a few sweet twists to make the reader wonder which path Celestina may choose.

Check out all eight books in the series.

Featured here: March 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27

Buy in the Pelican book store

Lucy in Love by Kimberly M. Miller

Charlotte's Dilemma by Susan Karsten

Buttonholed by Anita Klumpers

A Field of Forget-me-nots by Rachel A. James

To Complicate Matters by Linda Widrick

This Worthy Heart by Dixie Jo Jarchow

A Perfect Fit by Christine Schimpf

Everything about Us by Lisa J. Lickel

Linda WIdrick and Complications

Ponder this... series of inspirational romantic novellas

New from Pelican Book Group

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

To Complicate Matters by Linda Windrick

About the book "Whatever is just..."

Angelica Dunn, baker extraordinaire, is weary of living from one pie season to another. When she slips on the floor under a bucket of custard crème, a handsome stranger comes to her rescue. Instantly, she's smitten.

CIA officer, Thaddeus Wright, is drawn to the dimple-cheeked beauty. He adores Angelica's spunk and the fact that she isn't pushy like other women. But, how can he tell her he's not the computer repairman that she assumes he is?

To complicate matters, Angelica mistakenly leaves a message on Thadd's home phone. To what lengths will she go to intercept the embarrassing evidence that's certain to squelch all hope of a future with Mr. Wright?

A comedy of errors and ending up in the wrong place at the wrong time, catapults Angelica into a battle between right and wrong. Will Angelica choose to do what's right, even when things get complicated?

Inspirational historic romantic novella

Pelican Book Group

March 2020

153 pages

$3.99

Buy on

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Pelican book store

My review:

A sweet inspirational romance between a strong-willed, impulsive Florida chef with big dreams and a DC man with a mystery job fall for each other at first sight. Ang’s roommate’s brother is a hunky dreamboat with a huge faith-filled personality, and Ang, known for not checking her messages or the number she’s calling, inserts foot in mouth…or old-fashioned answering machine in Thadd’s case.

Ang is also known for either jumping in where angels fear to tread or sitting and dithering, wondering what’s right. When lots of prayer and advice from her friends, helpful though pointed and character-building, points her in the right direction, how can she trust not only herself but Thadd to forgive her missteps and miscues? Thadd is dedicated to his work, but longing for a companion who’s not chasing him, trying to manage his life. Klutzy, adorable Angelica seems perfect.

Told in alternating viewpoints from Angelica and Thadd’s points of views, this sweet couple have only to fear Angelica’s tendency to jump to conclusions and hope they can un-complicate matters afterward.

About the Author:

Linda Widrick is a freelance writer and graduate of Long Ridge Writer's Group. Her desire is to be a beacon of light in a dark world, sharing God's love and grace through her writing. A dreamer at heart, she loves to pull her inspiration for stories from snippets of everyday life. She enjoys kayaking, traveling, treasure hunting, and spending time with family and friends over a good cup of coffee.

Sharing a passion for missions, Linda and her husband serve on the board of Gospel Outreach, Inc., a not for profit organization that seeks to help those impoverished in third world countries. Linda is a member of Word Weavers International and American Christian Fiction Writers.

Check out all eight books in the series.

Featured here: March 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27

Buy in the Pelican book store

Lucy in Love by Kimberly M. Miller

Charlotte's Dilemma by Susan Karsten

Buttonholed by Anita Klumpers

A Field of Forget-me-nots by Rachel A. James

To Complicate Matters by Linda Widrick

This Worthy Heart by Dixie Jo Jarchow

A Perfect Fit by Christine Schimpf

Everything about Us by Lisa J. Lickel

New from Rachel A James

Ponder this... series of inspirational romantic novellas

New from Pelican Book Group

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

A Field of Forget-me-nots by Rachel A. James

About the book - "Whatever is Noble"

When the patron of the Foundling School takes pity upon young orphan, Georgiana (Ana) Weston, Lady Dunston raises her as one of her own. However, years pass and Lady Dunston's health begins to fail. With the Longworth estate entailed away, Ana is faced with an uncertain future.

Mr. Luke Renshaw still mourns the loss of his parents, and would rather travel the world than live in a place that reminds him of so much pain and loss. But responsibilities await, and when his only aunt becomes sick, he returns to Longworth. After all, it is where he will receive his inheritance.

Luke and Ana used to play together as children, though many years have passed and much has changed. The prospect of marriage without love holds little hope for their romantic ideals, and yet it seems the most sensible solution for both parties.

Pelican Ventures LLC

March, 2020

Inspirational romantic novella

65 pp

$2.99 eBoook

Buy on

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Barnes and Noble

Pelican book store

A brief interview with Rachel

What do you love about your story?

I love the setting in this story. I’ve based it on a historical house that I live near, and I just love visiting it and imagining what went on all those years ago. 

How does your story relate to the theme verse? Tell us a little about how you worked your story to meet the theme.

I was given the “Whatever is noble” part of the theme verse, and the first thing that sprang to mind was the Wife of Noble Character from Proverbs 31. I’ve always seen this character as an ideal to aspire to, and wondered what this type of woman would have been like. So this is what I set out to do, create a lead character that modeled the Proverbs 31 woman. In the end, I think the hero of the story also displayed the theme - becoming noble was part of his character arc.

What do you hope readers will tell others when they’ve finished reading?

I hope that readers will be inspired and encouraged by the book, and that they tell others it was a sweet historical romance! 

What are you reading?

I have several books on the go at the moment. Veiled in Smoke by Jocelyn Green, The Tea Chest by Heidi Chivaroli, and several of the books from the Ponder This series! As you may have gathered, I love Christian historical romance books!

What’s next for you?

I’m currently working on a new Medieval book series, and I hope to have the first book out by the summer. I would also like to write another Victorian novella at some point later this year. I’m thinking… possibly a Christmas novella…?

My Review

Sweet historical British romance ala upstairs downstairs

Ana Weston is a product of the meeting of upstairs and downstairs in mid-nineteenth century England. Things are changing, and Ana is as comfortable cooking in the kitchen and cleaning fireplace ashes of the Longworth estate as she is wearing silks as Lady Dunston’s ward. Eschewing the formal flower gardens, she prefers the wild meadows and picking forget-me-nots to adorn the manor rooms.

When the foundling’s patroness passes away, Ana’s anchor line may be cut, casting her adrift. Lady Dunston has one last wish she shares with her heir, her nephew Luke. Luke has enjoyed his work schedule as a travel writer, using it as an excuse to avoid returning to his mother’s twin sister and his own home not far away. Lady Dunston reels him in with the hint of a possible happy home life once again if he seriously considers marriage to the suitable Ana. Luke doesn’t need much coaxing and the two enter into a very quick and sensible relationship which allows Luke to work as needed and Ana to step into the role of mistress at Longworth.

As Luke gradually eases into the life of a responsible wealthy landowner, his eyes are opened to the needs around him and his new wife’s depth of character. The two of them have gotten pretty good at keeping each other at arms’ length, but how long they can keep it up as the walls of decorum begin to crumble is not hard to guess. Ana and Luke’s journey toward true nobility is a delightful, sweet short read. Told from both their perspectives, the reader is drawn into Victorian age England and its advances toward the modern era.

About Rachel

Rachel is an inspirational author. She has an MA in Creative Writing and loves to write fiction that uplifts, inspires, and encourages others. She lives in Yorkshire with her husband and three adorable girls and when not writing she enjoys idling time away in a vintage teashop or visiting a historic landmark in pursuit of a new story! For more information visit www.rachelajames.com

Connect with Rachel

www.rachelajames.com/newsletter

facebook.com/authorrachelajames

amazon.com/author/rachelajames

pinterest.com/rachelajames

goodreads.com/rachelajames

instagram.com/authorrachelajames

twitter.com/rachelajames7

youtube.com/rachelajames

Check out all eight books in the series.

Featured here: March 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27

Buy in the Pelican book store

Lucy in Love by Kimberly M. Miller

Charlotte's Dilemma by Susan Karsten

Buttonholed by Anita Klumpers

A Field of Forget-me-nots by Rachel A. James

To Complicate Matters by Linda Widrick

This Worthy Heart by Dixie Jo Jarchow

A Perfect Fit by Christine Schimpf

Everything about Us by Lisa J. Lickel

Buttonholed with Anita Klumpers

Ponder this... series of inspirational romantic novellas

New from Pelican Book Group

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Buttonholed by Anita Klumpers

About the Book - "Whatever is admirable (of good repute)"

Manderley Jessup is having enough trouble squeezing into last summer's dresses. Now her mother expects her to save the family honor? A film crew has invaded her Tennessee hometown to research a duel. And the duelists' descendants, still feuding after 200 years. Manderley, one of those descendants, is heartily sick of the rivalry and decides to do something about it. She approaches Abram Coventry, descended from the opposing duelist, with a marvelous plan. Abram would design buttons as a gift for Manderley's mother. But a button catastrophe threatens to make the original duel look like a kindergarten squabble. What can Manderley do with those dreadful buttons? Worse, what can she do about the hopeless crush she's developed on Abram?

Pelican Ventures LLC

March, 2020

Inspirational romantic novella

118 pp

$3.99 eBoook

Buy on

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Pelican book store

My review

An absolute delight!

Even though Klumpers’s latest addition to her repertoire is a novella, it’s a fully fleshed charming story that satisfies inspirational romance readers.

Buttonholed is a feast of southern wit and laugh-out-loud yet tasteful tale of a two-century-long polite feud, the origin of which has been so politely ignored that no one in the small Tennessee community, known equally as Coventryville and Lowellton depending on which side of town you’re on, has never been outed. Until strangers intent on creating a documentary come to town. Their objectivity uproots a whole cellar-full of secrets.

Reputation is everything in this little hidebound town; something Manderley Jessop, proud Latimore descendant, realizes needs to be dealt with after hearing the sermon that stuck with her on the sacrifice Christ made in giving up his own reputation to clear ours. With so much family happiness on the line, the time has come to put her own convictions into action and do business with the enemy. But through the back alley for now.

I adored this story. Full of clever bits of information, the lines of fiction and fact are blurred by this gifted, natural story teller. Although a romance, little was completely predictable as Klumpers held back tantalizing detail as I wondered how these deluded folks were going to unravel the messes they’d made. The family names had me scrambling to sort out which belonged with what classic stories, an extra bit of fun. Told in close third from Manderley’s side, readers of Christian romance with a glass of sweet tea and side of fried ham will love Buttonholed.

A brief interview with the author:

Anita, what do you love about your story?

The family relationships. Manderley loves, honors and protects her family, and they do the same for her. The family dynamic in the Jessup household is full of affection and fun.

How does your story related to the theme verse? Tell us a little about how you worked your story to meet the theme?

I quote the “whatever is of good repute” virtue word for word—a pastor preaches on it in an early chapter of the book. But then I started thinking—when does a virtue become an end in itself, instead of a means to love God and one’s neighbor? So I explored what happens in a small town when they cherish their good reputations even more than the directive to “love your neighbor as yourself.”

What do you hope readers will tell others when they’ve finished reading?

I hope that people would start discussions that chew on the Word of God, encourage each other when we feel that the world is against us, family misunderstands us, “friends” spread false rumors. Encourage each other that we are in Christ, who gave up everything, including His reputation, for us. And now we are in Him and own His glorious reputation. So pursue truth, defend yourself if you can, guard and promote your reputation. But we can remind each other that we own something far, far greater in Christ! And naturally I hope they tell others they enjoyed it.

What are you reading?

Oh my. A P.G. Wodehouse upstairs by my bed. An Agatha Christie audio book in the car. “The Word is Murder” on Audible by Anthony Horowitz while walking and doing housework. “The Weight of Glory” by C.S. Lewis on my sofa.

What’s next for you?

I’m editing down a manuscript and hope to submit it. Another suspense romance. Someone gets killed (unlike Buttonholed).

About the Author

Anita Klumpers, wife, mom and grandma, homeschooled her three sons for seventeen years and emerged relatively unscathed. Her life then and now is remarkable by its very ordinariness. She’s been blessed with a husband who is good and hardworking, a church that is small but gospel-driven, offspring who for every step back took two forward. She dabbles (poorly) at crafts, volunteers frequently at church, meets with fellow readers and writers regularly and dotes on grandbabies constantly. When not keeping the home fires burning, she is at her computer agonizing over plot lines. “Winter Watch,” “Hounded,” “Christmas Passed,” and now “Buttonholed” are all the results of love, sweat and tears.

Check out all eight books in the series.

Featured here: March 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27

Buy in the Pelican book store

Lucy in Love by Kimberly M. Miller

Charlotte's Dilemma by Susan Karsten

Buttonholed by Anita Klumpers

A Field of Forget-me-nots by Rachel A. James

To Complicate Matters by Linda Widrick

This Worthy Heart by Dixie Jo Jarchow

A Perfect Fit by Christine Schimpf

Everything about Us by Lisa J. Lickel

Charlotte's Dilemma with Susan Karsten

Ponder this... series of inspirational romantic novellas

New from Pelican Book Group

  

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Charlotte's Dilemma by Susan Karsten

About the book “Whatever is pure…”

She was part of a London scandal through no fault of her own. Now she's been banished to the countryside to live as a schoolteacher under a false name. How can she go on, so alone, living in a rustic cottage, bereft of family and friends?

The interest and kindness of her school's handsome patron gives her life its only bright spot and even that is threatened as a new scandal breaks.

Inspirational historic romantic novella

Pelican Book Group

March 2020

100 pages

$3.99

Buy on

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Pelican book store

A Brief Interview with the Author

Susan, what do you love about your story?

In Charlotte's Dilemma, I love the way Charlotte does the next thing when she has a "life disaster". She doesn't spend a lot of time raging or mourning, but rather gets busy.

How does your story related to the theme verse? Tell us a little about how you worked your story to meet the theme?

My assigned portion of the theme passage, Philippians 4:8, was "whatever is pure" and it was a natural for my genre, Regency romance. I started with a pure maiden, threw her into the "pit" and watched how her purity was vindicated.

What do you hope readers will tell others when they’ve finished reading?

I hope they thoroughly enjoyed it, and especially hope they liked the segments of the letters Charlotte wrote during her banishment.

What are you reading?

I'm reading The Lighkeeper's Legacy, book 3 in a series by Kathleen Ernst, a cozy mystery set in Wisconsin.

What’s next for you?

Next for me, will be publishing my own first cozy mystery, The Missing Quilt Mystery, later in 2020. Also set in Wisconsin, this one features a college drop-out, redeeming herself in her own eyes, as she starts a real estate career, and gets involved in a murder mystery, while being pursued by two of her small town's most eligible bachelors.

My Review

Karsten has created a sweet historical romance set in rural Regency England. A young school mistress teaching at a small school and the patron of the school, a slightly jaded but literate and fascinating young lord of the realm, find they have much in common. Told in single point of view with intriguing bits of letters or notes to open the chapters, Charlotte’s Dilemma will delight readers of short, inspirational Regency romances.

About the Author

Susan Karsten lives in a small Wisconsin town, is the wife of a real estate broker and mother of three, mother-in-law to two, and grandma to three. Her hobbies include fitness (mostly jogging with her friend, Sandy and her friend's dog, Millie), quilting (definitely taking a back seat to writing), and reading. Her love for writing developed while in college where she earned a BS degree in Home Economics, with a minor in Speech.

Having home-schooled her children, and with child-rearing days at an end, Susan now invests time in writing fiction. Her personal blog can be found at Graciouswoman.wordpress.com, and find her on Facebook at Susan Karsten-Author.

Check out all eight books in the series.

Featured here: March 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27

Buy in the Pelican book store

Lucy in Love by Kimberly M. Miller

Charlotte's Dilemma by Susan Karsten

Buttonholed by Anita Klumpers

A Field of Forget-me-nots by Rachel A. James

To Complicate Matters by Linda Widrick

This Worthy Heart by Dixie Jo Jarchow

A Perfect Fit by Christine Schimpf

Everything about Us by Lisa J. Lickel

Whatever is Excellent with Kimberly M Miller

Ponder this... series of inspirational romantic novellas

New from Pelican Book Group

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Lucy in Love by Kimberley Miller

About the Book - "Whatever is excellent..."

Things are finally looking up for Lucy Leti. Her bakery is doing well, her friends are amazing, and her family is supportive. She’s even so close to being past the heartbreak of her broken engagement that she can taste it.

But what’s missing is trust and love. And until her old friend Henry Lee comes back into her life after a ten year absence, Lucy is convinced she’ll never find either one.

Henry is handsome, successful, and has been secretly in love with Lucy for years. But the musician isn’t the same man Lucy knew in high school—he’s lost weight and gained confidence. And in no time at all, he’s in love with Lucy all over again.

And she could be in love with him too.

But when the couple’s first date goes terribly wrong, they’ll both need a little perspective to see things clearly.

Inspirational romance

Pelican Ventures LLC March 6, 2020

Ebook $3.99

105 pp.

Buy on

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Pelican Book store

💜💜💜

My Review:

The most popular girl in high school and the most picked-on boy have grown up. Lucy and Henry have lost touch with each other to the point of discovering they’re sharing a business wall in their small hometown and don’t even realize it for three months.

Lucy hid behind her popularity until it all comes tumbling down with a broken engagement. She’s sworn off potential future broken hearts, runs a successful bakery, and is about to help her favorite high school teacher with a benefit. Meanwhile, Henry came out from under the weight of his fatherless life and made some significant changes in his lifestyle. He can’t get over the love he’s dreamed of since their teenage years and allows his new-found popularity as the guitarist for a rising band sway many of his decisions. When he literally falls at Lucy’s feet, they make tentative plans to resume a relationship.

Two lost souls who are very unsure of themselves and fearful of not matching each other’s goals must overcome bitterness, innuendo, rivals, and bone-jarring clumsiness if they want to be more than neighboring business owners.

Told from opposing viewpoints, this funny and poignant romantic novella will give readers of inspirational short bites of love much to enjoy.

A brief interview with Kimberly:

What do you love about your story?

I love how easy it is to relate to Lucy and Henry. We all at times-- especially in HS-- struggle with our confidence and how others perceive us. But, at the same time, some of our deepest and sweetest friendships form during those years. I love that these two can reunite after years apart and realize how good they really had it back then.

How does your story related to the theme verse?

 My part of the verse was 'whatever is excellent'. I believe Lucy and Henry both had views on the past that might not have been in line, despite both having shared those moments. Lucy saw them as terrible, Henry saw them as forming him into the man he became. He saw Lucy as excellent.

Tell us a little about how you worked your story to meet the theme.

My effort was to try and not be too heavy-handed or preachy with the verse. A little goes a long way in my mind, and I feel that being careful with a message, especially a biblical one, makes the story more accessible to a wider audience. That was the hope for this piece.

What do you hope readers will tell others when they’ve finished reading?

I hope my readers will love Henry and Lucy and be encouraged to think on what was excellent and what is excellent now.

What are you reading?

I'm actually reading several books- one for work: The Great Client Partner (by Jared Belsky) and for fun Everything About Us (by Lisa Lickel)

What’s next for you?

Writing, always writing! 

About the Author

Kimberly M. Miller is a writing and film professor by day, author by night. She enjoys watching movies, making jewelry, and creating fun stories for her readers. Currently, Kimberly has two published novels, Picking Daisy and Forgiving Tess, but she looks forward to bringing more romance your way soon!

Check out all eight books in the series.

Featured here: March 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27

Buy in the Pelican book store

Lucy in Love by Kimberly M. Miller

Charlotte's Dilemma by Susan Karsten

Buttonholed by Anita Klumpers

A Field of Forget-me-nots by Rachel A. James

To Complicate Matters by Linda Widrick

This Worthy Heart by Dixie Jo Jarchow

A Perfect Fit by Christine Schimpf

Everything about Us by Lisa J. Lickel

Val Edwards and a song of praise

Heavenly Vitamins by Val Edwards

Edwards Family Publishing, September 2019

75 pp

$5.99 Ebook

$12.00 paperback

Buy on Amazon  US

Amazon UK 

About the Book

Jesus is our Living Word encouraging us by His Holy Spirit with His Words of LIFE. So here are new songs of affirmation and declaration for equipping us all to be saints in Light. Restorative Spiritual Songs are direct from the Word. They will be tonic with good medicine for the spirit, body, mind and soul that give voice to our Heavenly Father’s Love and Care for us all. An alphabet of simple songs will help us meditate on and remember Our Heavenly Father’s Word with Flowing Grace. Singing them out will cause these truths to positively dwell deep in our hearts and spirits. Offerings of Praise and Thanks to God can be heartily sung round. We may swim, march, dance, prayer walk or simply be, as we sing them heartily. They will do us good and build us up as we sing out and give voice to these Heavenly Vitamins, and share them with each other too.

My review:

This precious book is an intimate look at a relationship among soulmates; between heaven and earth. Filled with loving photographs taken by the author and songs of devotion, Heavenly Vitamins is an alphabet of interactive praise meant to fortify and build up the reader. For the musically inclined, songs are set up in formatted notes, accompanied by Scripture and lovely images. Simple tunes, such as “Praise shall continually be in my mouth, Psalm thirty-four verse one” both offer our adoration and help us memorize verses. Images of creation in seasons, fruit, blossom, wildlife, sunsets, all meld into hallelujah.

Those who enjoy music and photos in a peanut-size coffee table book will love Heavenly Vitamins.

About the Author:

The late Val Edwards of Britain’s South Coast had a degree in molecular sciences. She and her husband Jim have four children and a grandchild.

Extra grammar love today

A little extra Wednesday LOVE from me to you as I start to prepare for Novel-In-Progress Bookcamp and Writing Retreat, Inc.!!! (PS Room for only two more...) One or more of our afternoon sessions will be the gentle art of revision...or MANUSCRIPT BATTLE

FROM*: Quick and Dirty Tips | Grammar Girl 
*Permission granted to repost with attribution

Fun light romance from Mallary Mitchell

Worst Christmas Ever

Mallary Mitchell

Pelican Ventures LLC, December 2016

Holiday Extravaganza

$1.99 eBook

Also available on Audible

Buy on Amazon

Barnes and Noble

About the Book

After being jilted the day before her Christmas wedding, Sara Jane hates the holidays. Holly and mistletoe are a painful reminder that happily-ever-after isn't for her. Now, this Christmas, her baby sister is getting married. Talk about adding insult to injury! Forced into faux Christmas joy while she helps plan the nuptials, Sara Jane just wants to escape to Athens, Greece--away from the judgmental stares and snickers of her family and friends. God, on the other hand, may have other plans. Maxwell Dixon has secretly loved Sara Jane since they were children. Like so many tragic childhood love stories, however, he was relegated to "friend status" long ago. But when Sara Jane needs him for moral support and to be a safe date at the wedding, Max decides it's time to show Sara Jane what love and Christmas are all about.

My Review

You know it’s going to be a fun story when a wiseacre kid is involved. Worst Christmas Ever opens on Sara Jane tangled in a mess partly her fault, partly her ex-fiancé’s fault and partly her spoiled silly sister’s fault. Sara’s young cousin, whom she’s supposed to be kid-sitting, calls the second-to-last person Sara wants to see while caught up in her predicament. On Christmas Eve, she’s rescued by her friend, the boy next door, and the tone of the story is set.

Neighbor and one-time high school boyfriend Max is willing to give Sara Jane a lot of latitude in their buddy-buddy relationship, as long as it keeps him close and familiar to his favorite klutz. As the years pass and they even go into business together, he realizes that it’s up to him to break out of the neat and tidy box he let Sara build around him. After all, who knows her better than anyone else? With the help of Sara’s wise aunt, mistletoe, and a can of stain remover, Max takes a chance that Sara Jane might be willing to consider his suit in a different light.

Told from alternating viewpoints, this sweet little holiday romance will give you the chuckles as you destress in between holiday activities—or any other time of the year. Much fun for the inspirational romance reader. I listened to the audio and LOVED the narrator, Julie Niblett.

About the Author

Mallary Mitchell lives in the South with her husband and children. She can often be found with a tall glass of sweet iced tea.

I am Bocha Posh

I am a Bacha Posh: My Life as a Woman Living as a Man in Afghanistan

Ukmina Manoori

Skyhorse Publishing, Oct, 2014

176 pp

$9.99 Ebook

$11.99 Print

$19.99 Hardcover

Buy on Amazon, Barnes and Noble 

About the Book

"You will be a son, my daughter." With these stunning words Ukmina learned that she was to spend her childhood as a boy.

In Afghanistan there is a widespread practice of girls dressing as boys to play the role of a son. These children are called bacha posh: literally "girls dressed as boys." This practice offers families the freedom to allow their child to shop and work—and in some cases, it saves them from the disgrace of not having a male heir. But in adolescence, religion restores the natural law. The girls must marry, give birth, and give up their freedom.

Ukmina decided to confront social and family pressure and keep her menswear. This brave choice paved the way for an extraordinary destiny: she wages war against the Soviets, assists the mujaheddin and ultimately commands the respect of all whom she encounters. She eventually becomes one of the elected council members of her province.

But freedom always has a price. For "Ukmina warrior" that price was her life as a woman. This is a stunning and brave memoir about a little known practice that will challenge your perceptions about gender and the courage it takes to live your life to the fullest.

My Review

I am a Bacha Posh is memoir with necessary autobiographical elements. It is not fiction and thus will not have fictional elements of rising and falling tension. Manoori shares her life, the only life she knows, of growing up in a small rural village in Afghanistan during the 1980s. Russian aggression, US intervention, and the rise of the Taliban are experienced through the eyes of a child and young adult who wonders what they ever did to the government or the Russians to deserve the bombing and destruction of their way of life.

As Ukmina saw the disparity in the way women and children were, by custom and religion, treated, she chose, perhaps first in innocence but later in growing conscience, to lead a revolt. Manoori lives out the strange custom of allowing a daughter to dress and act like a boy until puberty to allow the child freedom to travel and work to support the family, and even attend school. When puberty comes, Manoori isn’t ready or willing to give up the freedoms allowed a boy in a Muslim community. Although everyone around her knew she was a woman, she lived a warrior life, taking on the two-faced facets of ethnic religion and politics and forcing the troubled ideologies into the light.

I don’t know that the story makes me rethink gender. Manoori is not a lesbian, or even sexual, self-identifies as a woman, and not transgender. She’s more of an Amazon, a woman unafraid to be a frontrunner in defiance of ridiculous false male dominance. Manoori saw how traditional male and female roles didn’t even pretend to work in a society where men were supposed to take care of their family and women were supposed to be homemakers. When a husband has daughters who are not allowed to be out unescorted in public and traditionally not allowed to work or get an education, he can arbitrarily circumvent society by changing the “norm” and treat a daughter as a son. Manoori learned that her culture did not practice the laws it passed, such as women had the right to vote since the 1960s, and decided to help women—everyone—create a safe and relevant environment in her beloved country.

Told in a haunted voice from her gut, Manoori’s tale is a plea both for understanding and acceptance. It’s a call to action to rise above uncertainty and injustice and to live true.