From Me to You ... Video, Photography and Book Reviews

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Guest Post :: When God Wraps a Present . . . by Julie Lessman | 12 Pearls of Christmas & Giveaway

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas blog series!

Merry Christmas from Pearl Girls™! We hope you enjoy these Christmas “Pearls of Wisdom” from the authors who were so kind to donate their time and talents! If you miss a few posts, you’ll be able go back through and read them on this blog throughout the next few days.

We’re giving away a pearl necklace in celebration of the holidays, as well as some items (books, a gift pack, music CDs) from the contributors! Enter now on Facebook or at the Pearl Girls blog. The winner will announced on January 2, 2013 at the Pearl Girls blog.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of "Mother of Pearl: Luminous Lessons and Iridescent Faith," "Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace" or one of the Pearl Girls products (all GREAT gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls™.

"When God Wraps a Present . . ." by Julie Lessman

We’ve all heard the adage “it’s better to give than receive,” but never have I agreed more than the year I was engaged to the love of my life.

It was truly a Christmas to remember—spiced egg nog and snickerdoodles and shimmering presents unwrapped in a circle of love. Of course, we all ooohed and ahhhed over each gift opened, one at a time, reveling in the glow of excitement for giver and recipient alike.

And then it was my turn. Everyone waited while I tore into a small box, anticipation fairly shimmering in my fiancé's eyes.

“Do you like it?” he asked, grinning like a little boy when I unearthed a very pretty silver watch.

No. “It’s beautiful,” I said with a shaky giggle, slipping it on and holding it up for everyone to admire. I quickly gave him a sweet kiss on the lips. “Thank you so much, babe—what a perfect gift!”

Perfectly awful, that is. You see, when you are a twenty-eight-year-old Type A career woman who is very set in her ways, there are just some things you have to buy for herself—books, costume jewelry, purses ... a watch.

All right, yes, I’ll admit it—“high maintenance” is my middle name because heaven knows I’m one of the most particular people on the planet, especially when it comes to watches. They have to be digital, waterproof, have a day and date window, an alarm, chronograph, second hand, both silver and gold metal to wear with either silver or gold jewelry, stretch band skinny enough to fit my wrist . . . and a GPS. Okay, I’m pulling your watch chain on the last one, but you get the picture—NOT easy to find, especially with numbers big enough for someone blind as a bat.

So, yes, I faked it, of course, thanking my soon-to-be husband for the “prettiest watch I had ever owned,” because it was—I just didn’t like it. But did I “fake it” with God? Uh, no. I went straight to His throne in prayer and begged Him to help me love this watch because the man I loved gave it to me and I just flat-out didn’t want to hurt his feelings. I even went so far as to write the prayer request on a piece of paper and put it in my Bible so I could “wrap” it in prayer every single day, which I did.

Until the fateful moment years later when my husband used my Bible one day and found the note.

“You don’t like your watch??” he says, confronting me with hurt in his tone while his eyes flicked to the pretty watch on my wrist.

“What are you talking about?” I asked, somewhat confused.

He held up the note. “You told God you hated it in this note I found in your Bible.”
Uh-oh . . . BUSTED!

“Oh, babe,” I said with my brightest smile and a quick kiss on the lips. “That was then and this is now. It’s perfect for me, just like you, and I absolutely love it.
And you know what? I did!!

About the Author :

Award-winning author of “The Daughters of Boston” and “Winds of Change” series, Julie Lessman was ACFW’s 2009 Debut Author of the Year and voted #1 Romance Author of the year in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards. Winner of 14 RWA awards, she also appeared on Booklist’s 2010 list for Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and has just released her 7th novel, "A Light in the Window: An Irish Christmas Love Story." You can contact Julie at her website, on Facebook, on Twitter at @julielessman, or read excerpts of her favorite romantic and spiritual scenes from each of her books at http://www.julielessman.com/excerpts/.

Find Julie Lessman :

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Feasted On: Masks by Evangeline Anderson

Format: Kindle Edition | File Size: 151 KB | Release Date: November 2009 | Publisher: Ellora's Cave Publishing | Obtained: Amazon.com

"Masks" by Evangeline Anderson (aka Emmaline Andrews)

My Book Summary : Chloe's identical twin sister (Zoe) asks her a favor, to switch places once again since Zoe sprained her ankle and Zoe needs Chloe to cover for her at work. However, right after Chloe reluctantly agrees to help out she finds out that her sister's actual job isn't an investment banker like she's told everyone she is actually a dominatrix! Now Chloe (who's really a shy First Grade teacher compared to her twin) has to dress up and pretend to "dominate" a man she has never met before! She is way out of her league, which gets confirmed when Chloe meets Zoe's client, a hunk of a man, who decides he would like to dominate Chloe instead of being dominated.

Thankfully, passion like Chloe has never felt before hits the instant the two of them touch but can she just have fun and enjoy their game of play for one night or will she loose her heart in the process?

My Book Review : 4 out of 5 stars! This sizzling novella will hold your attention to the very end!! I loved how Zoe found a way to get her shy twin to open up in the most unexpected way. It turns out to be a very sweet read. And if you are not into reading hot and heavy erotica then this should be just the right amount for you. Since at the beginning it leads you to thinking it will be the typical BDSM read but this was a lot softer then I expected yet I still enjoyed what I read!

My only wish was it was longer and there was more to read about of Chloe and Mark! They made such a cute couple! =0)

I recommend this to anyone wanting to read a unique take on a contemporary romance!

Author's Novel Extras : Read an Excerpt

Book Teaser(s) :

Zoe was balancing a brush, a hot roller, and a kit of exotic and expensive-looking makeup all at once.
Chloe winced as the brush snagged in her hair. “Ouch! Watch it. So this means you’ll come in and substitute for me the next time I want a day off from teaching first grade, right?” She was joking, of course. Her twin and a roomful of kids would be a disastrous combination, she was certain. But Zoe was unperturbed.
“Sure, I’ll sub for you. Don’t forget, I’m good at making people mind.” She winked at her sister in the mirror and Chloe felt her mouth go suddenly dry. Could she really do this? Did she want to? The decision was rapidly being taken out of her hands as Zoe painted and perfumed her and hot-rolled her hair into a luscious tumble of honey-blonde waves that Chloe was certain she never could have achieved herself.
“You look perfect,” Zoe said at last. “You haven’t looked this good since you let me do your makeup and hair for our senior prom.”
“You mean the one where Michael Carlson puked down the front of my gown?” Chloe stared at the exotically beautiful stranger in the mirror.
“Yes, that one.” Zoe grinned at her. “Truly a magical night. Now, just one more thing and you’re ready to go.”
“What’s that?” Chloe looked at her apprehensively. What other accessory could this outfit possibly need? A riding crop? A bullwhip? ~ within Chapter 1

For more information on this book and/or any other books by Evangeline, then please check out her website.

Guest Post :: Year of Adversity Brings Joy by Leslie Gould | 12 Pearls of Christmas & Giveaway

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas blog series!

"Year of Adversity Brings Joy" by Leslie Gould

I’ve been writing Amish fiction for nearly three years now—telling stories about non-resistant people who live a simple life. It’s a nice reprieve from my own life.

When my husband, Peter, joined the Army Reserve back in the mid 1980s, I wasn’t thrilled about it. Nor did I believe him when he said he’d probably never see action. Sure, the Cold War was ending and—for a short time—all seemed well in the world, but I had a degree in history. I knew better. I didn’t want to be a controlling wife (as new to the job as I was!) and come out and say he absolutely couldn’t do it. And it did help that he was joining a medical unit. Still I had my reservations.

We’ve been far more fortunate than many military families, but still it’s been quite a ride. The first exciting episode began in 1990 when Peter flew to Germany on Christmas Eve to work in an Army hospital during Desert Storm, leaving me behind with our two young sons. During the next twenty years, Peter went from being a Lt. to being a Col. and commanding a unit. Countless maneuvers and a mobilization occurred during that time, but his Army Reserve career culminated in his deployment to Afghanistan in 2011.

My days throughout last year were an odd combination of hearing the daily news from a war zone via Skype and then writing about the plain life of the Amish. By last December I was working on my third Amish novel of the year while, in contrast, Peter and his field hospital staff had cared for hundreds of NATO soldiers and Afghan nationals, endured ten months of rocket fire, and continued to grieve the killing of one of their own.

Surprisingly, what seemed like it might be our worst Christmas ever, even harder than in 1990, wasn’t. Our four children (one teen and three young adults now) rallied to help make it a memorable day. We counted our blessings—Peter was well, we had all we needed, and God was at work in the life of our family. The result was an underlying joy, deeper than what we’d felt during past Christmases.

In reflection, I wrote: When it started, I thought 2011 might be one of our worst years. But it hasn’t been. Sure, it’s been one of our hardest, but a lot of good has come from it.

That was evident on Christmas morning as we Skyped with Peter. We were so thankful for the good connection and for all of us to be “together” that we hardly noticed we really weren’t.

This December, Peter is back at his civilian job (as a manager for a hospital corporation) and also commanding a nearby Army Reserve unit, which means one weekend a month and plenty of evenings—but no rockets or causalities.
I’m working on a new Amish novel and still enjoying my “time” with those who practice non-resistance, which doesn’t discount the appreciation I have for my husband’s service. I’ve even grown to the place where I’m thankful he joined the military. They’ve served each other well.

Our year of adversity resulted in a deep joy. I’m pretty sure it will carry over to this Christmas as well.

About the Author :

Leslie Gould is the award-winning author of fifteen novels, including the #1 bestseller and Christy Award winner "The Amish Midwife," co-written with Mindy Starns Clark. Her latest release is "Courting Cate," a retelling of the “Taming of the Shrew.” Leslie lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, Peter, and their four children. www.lesliegould.com

Find Leslie Gould :

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

The Voice's Tribute to the Connecticut Shooting Victims

If you missed The Voice last night then you should see this beautiful tribute to the Connecticut shooting victims with Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." Please check out the video below.

Made the Grade: Sex with Strings Series, Book 1

Format: Kindle Edition | File Size: 164 KB | Release Date: February 2011 | Publisher: Ellora's Cave Publishing | Obtained: Amazon.com

"Kissing Phoenix" [Sex with Strings Series, Book 1] by Shona Husk

My Book Summary : Lilith & Aidan have been dating for the past six months and Aidan is ready to propose. However, before he can propose he needs to reveal to her that he is a Vampire ...

Yet, even before he can get his news out Lilith, reveals a secret of her own ... she recently was told that her cancer has come back and she only has about three months left to live.

Now it's a race against time, with Aidan willing to do whatever is possible so Lilith will survive. Even if that means going against the rules of his own "people."

Nevertheless, what are they both willing to give up in order to be together or at the very least to have Lilith survive?

My Book Review : 3.5 out of 5 stars. A cutely erotic short story. I enjoyed getting to know Aidan & Lilith they were a unique duo. It was also intriguing to read about this version of Vampires & Weres that Ms. Husk came up with, very creative!

The only thing I didn't like about this novella was how rushed it felt going from what seems to be the beginning of wrapping everything up at the end of Chapter 4 to Chapter 5 being a couple of months later (like an epilogue), it all just didn't flow well at the end. =0/

Anyways ... when I purchased this novella it was FREE so, if you can get this as a FREE read too then I do recommend this to anyone who like paranormal romance with a bit of erotica thrown in. However, if it isn't FREE then I would only recommend it if you are a big fan of Ms. Husk.

Author's Novel Extras : Darklight on...Shona Husk: The allure of the novella | 12 months on from the call | Good News Day! | Release Day! | Good News Day! | Magic Thursday Giveaway - Shona Husk: Good Things Come in Threes | Good News Day!

Author's Series Extras : Sex with Strings Series Info | Magic Thursday Giveaway-Tasting Thanatos | Good News Day! | Good News Day!

Book Teaser(s) :

He fixed his gaze back on the road and traffic of the M25. Theo had been happy to squeeze in the appointment. Pity he hadn’t told him the whole truth. His heart contracted hard, making breathing impossible. There was still a bloody massive chance Theo would do nothing and that Aidan would have to take her home and watch her die.
He wasn’t strong enough to do that again. He’d been lost for a decade after Eve had died. This time would be worse. Lil was part of him, now that he’d tasted her blood, as well as part of his life and heart. He’d lain awake half the night wondering if Owen was right—loving a Vampire was easier as everyone got bored before anyone died. He sighed. Immortality was a bitch. ~ within Chapter 3

For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Shona, then please check out her website.

Guest Post :: Will They Know What It Cost? by Glynnis Whitwer | 12 Pearls of Christmas & Giveaway

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas blog series!

"Will They Know What It Cost?" by Glynnis Whitwer

My daughter Cathrine went on a field trip to the Grand Canyon when she was in fourth grade. As I picked her up upon her return, she couldn’t wait to show me an adorable little stuffed brown bear she’d bought as a gift. She started to say that it was for everyone—meaning her three brothers and sister—but then her words got jumbled. Tears welled in her eyes as she tried to explain how she ran out of money when trying to buy gifts. Her distress was obvious.

To understand fully, it might help to know that Cathrine was born in Africa and experienced deprivation of every sort for the first eleven years of her life. At thirteen years old, she was only in fourth grade. And although she has made remarkable gains, even now she struggles with communication and math—especially money.

Later that night I finally understood what Cathrine was trying to tell me about the bear. She had taken twenty dollars of her own money to buy herself a souvenir. But before buying herself something, she wanted to buy some small gifts. So she started with two of her teachers and bought them each a small ring with the first initial of their last names. I looked at the price on the rings and realized each was $3.99. Times that by two, add tax, and Cathrine would have been left with eleven dollars for other gifts and herself.

I imagine she stood at the gift store counter bewildered by what she had just done. She was probably embarrassed to ask any of her classmates for help. And maybe the teacher wasn't around. There she stood with just over half of her money, and three brothers and a sister left to buy for. She decided to get a group gift, and that’s where the bear came in.

Standing in our kitchen, looking at the three items she purchased, I smiled brightly and told her everyone was going to love their gifts and that she’d made wonderful purchases. She smiled back, and the night ended well.

The next morning as she wrapped up the little rings, I kept thinking about those two teachers who were going to receive a gift that day. All they would see is a little silver ring. I knew they would be very loving and appreciative. But would they truly understand the sacrifice Cathrine made?

Would they understand their gifts cost Cathrine half of what she had? Would they ever know the frustration and worry Cathrine felt as she realized she didn't have enough to buy her family any gifts? Would they treasure those little rings, or would they put them in a drawer with gifts from other students throughout the year?

As I pondered these thoughts, I considered a gift I was given two thousand years ago: Jesus. God sent His Son into the world as a baby, knowing He would die on a cross for me. The cost of this gift staggers me.

As I decorate my tree and shop for my family, I’m reminded of what my freedom cost my Heavenly Father. Do I truly understand the sacrifice of that gift? Do I understand the anguish God the Father must have felt sending His Son? Do I treasure this gift, or do I take it for granted?

Christmas is a time for celebration. But it’s also a time to remember God’s sacrifice. For it is in understanding the cost, that we fully appreciate the gift.

About the Author :

Glynnis Whitwer is an executive director with Proverbs 31 Ministries. She is one of the writers of Encouragement for Today, the Proverbs 31 e-mail devotions, with over 500,000 daily readers. Her newest book, "I Used to be So Organized," was released last fall. Glynnis, her husband Tod, and their five children live in Glendale, Arizona. Visit www.GlynnisWhitwer.com for more information.

Find Glynnis Whitwer :

Monday, December 17, 2012

Guest Post :: A Mistletoe Medley by Margaret McSweeney | 12 Pearls of Christmas & Giveaway

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas blog series!

"A Mistletoe Medley" by Margaret McSweeney

“You have breast cancer.” Those four words my doctor said the week of Mother’s Day 2012 have forever changed my life. Mere months after my fiftieth birthday, I encountered this unexpected “lump in the road” and ventured through a major detour after reaching my half-century mark.

Through this “grit,” God has covered me with His amazing grace! At the same time of my diagnosis, two books released: "Mother of Pearl: Luminous Lessons and Iridescent Faith" along with "Aftermath: Growing in Grace Through Grief." During this Christmas season, I rejoice that my cancer was caught and treated at an early stage. After six weeks of “daily radiance” (AKA radiation therapy), I started my daily dose of Tamoxifen to help battle any potential cells that might cause a recurrence. Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers.

While writing "Aftermath" and sharing my journey of grief as an adult orphan, I experienced several “hugs from heaven” as I discovered family letters, journals, and even a video in which my mother shares her faith. This is a mistletoe medley from my mother’s heart:

Each Christmas season my father used to go down into the woods behind our home and bring us back some mistletoe. It was a present that my sister and I loved. We’d tie it with bright ribbons and would hang it over several doorways in the house.

It was always fun of course for a Christmas party, but it came to mean more than that to us. It seemed to become a symbol of the meaning of Christmas: Love, God’s love for the world that prompted Him to send Christ to become our Savior. Somehow it seemed to enhance our love for each other as a family. And we found ourselves stepping under the mistletoe to give someone a hug or to plant a kiss on someone’s cheek and say, “I love you.”

I thought of these mistletoe Christmases during my mother’s losing battle with cancer. I penned my thoughts like this:

Illness, you ugly parasite!
Like mistletoe, you’ve entrenched yourself upon my body!
As you bloom and grow, you feed upon my strength.
I shall fight!
Battalions stand by to help!
My doctor’s scalpel will sever you.
Modern medicine will shrivel you.
You shall fall to the ground,
And I shall stand again strong and well.
But what if I cannot conquer you?
If you are with me still
As my constant, inevitable companion,
I pray that God will help me
Learn to live with you in peace
And somehow discover how you, my enemy—
Like mistletoe at Christmas—
Can serve some useful purpose.

There are times when we cannot rid our lives of things that hurt such as pain or grief, loss, illness, sorrow. Sometimes they’re with us as our inevitable companions and we must learn to make peace with them.

Those are the times when we can ask God through Christ to help us transform the loneliness, the pain, the grief, the loss-symbolically into something that can serve a useful purpose in our lives.

May you feel an extra “hug from heaven” this Christmas season from the loving arms of our Heavenly Father. God is present, and He knows your name!

*Text quoted from "Aftermath" (New Hope, 2012) by Margaret McSweeney, pp 114-115

About the Author :

Margaret McSweeny is a well-published author and freelance writer for the 411 Voices and the Daily Herald, the largest suburban Chicago newspaper. She is the author of "Aftermath," "A Mother's Heart Knows" and "Go Back and Be Happy." She is also the founder of Pearl Girls™ and the general editor of the Pearl Girls™ books; "Mother of Pearl" and "Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace." All proceeds from the sales of the Pearl Girls™ books go to charity. For the past five years, she has served on the board of directors for WINGS, an organization that helps abused women and their children get a new start in life. Margaret would love to meet you too. Follow her on Twitter or friend her on Facebook. You can also keep up with Margaret at Kitchen Chat or the Pearl Girls blog. Margaret lives with her husband and two daughters in the Chicago suburbs.

My Previous Guest Post(s) by this Author : “Joy to the world!” - December 2011

Find Margaret McSweeney :

Subscribe to: Posts ( Atom )

This site is a participant in various affiliate advertising programs through Amazon.com, Rakuten Marketing, Commission Junction, IndieBound, Smashwords, Book Depository, and more that are designed to provide a means for Jess to earn minimal advertising fees by showcasing the areas you can purchase the corresponding products that Jess discusses within her blog posts. Basically Jess earns from qualifying purchases.
More specifically Jess partners those websites' programs and you should be aware that they may collect personal information when you interact with their sites. The collection and use of this information is subject to their own privacy policies.
You can check out Rakuten Marketing's privacy policy here: https://rakutenmarketing.com/legal-notices/services-privacy-policy/