Out of Time, by CJ Darlington - Book Review

Out of Time is a novella by CJ Darlington. The three short, easy to read stories are loaded with a message of hope.

Times are tough and everyday life can push people to the brink. In each of the stories in Out of Time, CJ shows how one simple act on our part can change the life of someone in need.

As with her two novels, the characters in this novella are real and down to earth. CJ captures people in the day-to-day. People all over the country are going through similar situations, and her words portray the desperation many are experiencing right now.

These stories got me to thinking about the people I meet every day and how a simple action from me could make a huge difference.

 

C. J. won the 2008 Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel contest with her first novel, Thicker Than Blood, which released from Tyndale House in 2010. Her second novel, Bound by Guilt, released from Tyndale House in 2011. She has been in the antiquarian bookselling business for over fifteen years, scouting for stores similar to the ones described in her novels before cofounding her own online bookstore.

In 2006 C. J. started the Christian entertainment Web site TitleTrakk.com with her sister, Tracy, and has been actively promoting Christian fiction ever since. She is a regular contributor to Family Fiction Digital Magazine and NovelCrossing.com. A homeschool graduate, she makes her home in Pennsylvania with her family and their menagerie of dogs, a cat, and a Paint horse named Sky.

Visit CJ’s website here.

 

*This novella was provided to me by the author free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Dilemma of Charlotte Farrow by Olivia Newport

The Dilemma of Charlotte Farrow is the second novel in Olivia Newport’s “Avenue of Dream Series.” The book is a delightful read. It ties to the first book in the series, The Pursuit of Lucy Banning, but is completely able to stand alone if you haven’t read the first.

 

With Lucy Banning married to Will Edwards and off to Europe on her honeymoon, Charlotte Farrow settles in for a summer of serving the Banning family. Charlotte’s secret has been well kept and her son, Henry, has been well cared for by Mrs. Given.

Just days before the Banning family is to return to Chicago from their lake house, Mrs. Given shows up unexpectedly at the mansion when a family emergency prevents her from continuing to care for the boy. Charlotte is desperate to find a solution since the knowledge that she has a child can cause her to lose her position. As the rest of Chicago is caught up in the glamour and excitement of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, Charlotte searches for a way to care for Henry.

Olivia Newport weaves an intriguing tale of a mother’s love and devotion in this book. Her writing will transport the reader back to the 19^th century. Her story comes alive with characters that are well developed and realistic.

Newport does a good job of defining the tension of the time between the staff and the wealthy families they served. She has done her homework, and it is evident as she skillfully melds history and fiction throughout her book. I found the details of the exposition and Mr. Ferris’s famous wheel added depth and entertainment to the story. The wheel itself acts as a nonhuman character that plays a role in the resolution of this story.

Olivia Newport is the author of The Pursuit of Lucy Banning, Accidentally Amish, and The Dilemma of Charlotte Farrow. She's been married for over thirty years and has two twenty-something kids. They live in stunning Colorado at the foot of the Rockies, where the day lilies in her back yard grow as tall as she is.

Visit her website here.

*Disclaimer*

This book was provided free of charge to me by the publisher in exchange for my honest thoughts and review of the book.

Waiting for Breakfast

I Live in a Box

I live in a box. Not literally – I am very thankful for my little house with its running water, electricity, and heat.

No, my box surrounds me, but others cannot see it. I try to hide it from everyone but those very close to me, and even then, I don’t always let people know.

The walls of my box are comfort, fear, complacency, uncertainty. I sit in my box with my fingers in my ears. Sound seeps in, so I sing to myself. “Lalalalala, I cannot hear you.” Truth is I can hear. No matter how loud I sing or how deep I stuff my fingers, I can still hear.

It is God. The rustling I hear outside my box. He moves around me, touching my walls. Whispering words of courage, conviction, love. His voice always permeates my barriers.

I try harder. I pick up my box and run. God runs after me, loving me, not willing to let me flounder in my current situation.

He sees the future. I cannot. I try, but just cannot. I try to trust because He loves. Trust is hard, but it shouldn’t be. That stepping into the unseen fills me with trepidation. My heart pounds against my ribcage. It hurts, but it is not physical pain. It is the pain of hearing God and hesitating. This is not who I am called to be. My human sight focuses on the now, ignoring the divine and leaving me in this place where God never meant for me to live.

It is easier here in my comfort and complacency I think to myself. But then the fear and uncertainty push in. No, it is not easier here in this hiding from God, so I poke my head out of my box.

“There you are. I’ve been waiting for you.” God speaks and I know it will be okay, this living on the outside of my box. With God, it will be okay.

NaNo What!?!

It's November which means it's time for NaNoWriMo.

What exactly is NaNoWriMo, you ask!?!

National Novel Writing Month, affectionately known as NaNoWriMo, happens every November. All over the world writers set an ambitious goal of writing 50,000 words on a novel from November 1 through November 30.

Last year NaNoWriMos wrote over 2 trillion words during the month of November! I managed to finish with just over 50,000.

The purpose of NaNoWriMo is to get people writing; to get those novels out of our heads and onto a computer or paper or whatever your medium of choice.

I'm participating once again in this year. I don't know if I'm crazy or what, but I'm going to do it. Last year I was a rebel. To be official you have to start a brand new novel, page 1, word 1. I had a novel in process that I wanted to finish a first draft so I rebelled.

This year I'm going to be official and play by the rules. I'm writing a historical fiction that has been in my heart and mind for many years, but I've put off writing it because it needs lots of details so that match actual fiction. I've done some preliminary research, enough to be able to write the story.

My main character has been wandering through my mind whispering to me this weekend. She has a story to tell. I know some of it, the rest I will discover throughout the month of November.

So, that's what I'll be doing this next month. What about you? If you're a writer with a novel banging around inside you, won't you join the craziness? You can find out more information at www.nanowrimo.org

Fingerprint Friday

Fingerprint Friday is the brainchild of Beki at The Rusted Chain. I love the idea of looking for God's fingerprint in our lives so I've decided to make this a regular post.

Fingerprint Friday is based on these words from the beautiful song by Steven Curtis Chapman:

I can see the fingerprints of god

When I look at you

I can see the fingerprints of god

And I know its true

You're a masterpiece

That all creation quietly applauds

And you're covered with the fingerprints of god

 

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: ~Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV

The Broadmoor: Part II - Elegance

As promised, here are some pictures of a couple of rooms from the Broadmoor Resort.

 

This room has been turned down and is ready for guests to snuggle in for the night.

This is a sitting area in one of the buildings.

A most elegant suite.

 

The Broadmoor Resort

Dad and I had out of town visitors and I didn't get my "real" post done so I thought I would share these pictures taken at the beautiful Broadmoor Resort. These were all taken on the grounds. Thanks to a friend of mine we were able to tour a few hotel rooms. They were amazing. Some of the rooms' standard rates were more than my monthly mortgage payment! I'll post those pictures on Wednesday :o)

Wordless Wednesday

Things, They are a Changing

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: ~Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV

For some reason, fall reminds me of these verses in Ecclesiastes more than other seasons. I’ve always loved fall and after the summer we had this year, fall was more welcome than ever. Fall, for me, is a time of renewal and regeneration. It’s a time of cleaning out and planning for the future.

Since I went on a blogging hiatus earlier this year I’ve had trouble getting back into the swing of things. Thoughts of the blog and it’s direction still swirl in my head. For those dear readers who are still sticking with me, thank you. I will be back to a more regular schedule soon.

The Ecclesiastes verses have been wandering around my heart the last few months. I have a feeling  there are changes in the air, not only for the seasons and this blog, but in my life. The words community, intentionality, transparency are riding the waves of change. I don’t know exactly what that means. I can tell you that there is a bit of trepidation surrounding all this. Change and growth come with pain and well, I’m not so much a fan of pain. And I’ve been hiding from God on some of these issues the last few months for exactly that reason. In case you’re wondering, hiding from God is hard…He usually finds a girl. I do have a couple of posts that I’m working on relating to some of these things.

So, that’s a little bit of where I’ve been recently. My goal is to have a real post for you next week. In the meantime, enjoy a little pumpkin spice latte and the beautiful colors that come with the season!