Finding Contentment

Book Review: For Pete's Sake

I  love a book with a bit of a mystery to it, and this had it! For Pete's Sake had everything I love in a book:  romance, mystery, and unfailing Christian values in a real world. This was the second book in the "The Piper Cove Chronicles." I haven't read any of the others; I will have to find them now!

For Pete's Sake is a remarkable story about the unlikely live between a grown-up tomboy and the millionaire next door.

Ellen Brittingham isn’t sure true live exists until she contracts to do the landscaping of the estate of the sophisticated widower next door, Adrian Sinclair. Adrian has it all—at least on the surface, He’s engaged to a beautiful woman who helped him build a successful business and he’ll soon have a mom for his troubled son Pete.

Yet, from the moment Ellen rescues a stranded Adrian on her Harley, his well-ordered world turns upside down, cracking his thin façade of happiness and revealing the void of faith and love behind it. Even more, his son seems to have his own sites set on Ellen – as his new mom.

As Ellen’s friendship grows with Pete, she realizes that his father is about to marry the wrong woman for the right reasons. And despite her resolve to remain “neighbors only” with the dad, the precocious boy works his way into her heart, drawing Ellen and Adrian closer. Close enough for heartbreak, for Pete’s sake!

But how can her heart think that Adrian Sinclair is the one when he’s engaged to a sophisticated beauty who is everything Ellen isn’t. When Ellen’s three best friends see she’s been bitten by the love bug, they jump into action and submit her to a makeover that reveals the woman underneath her rough exterior and puts her in contention for Adrian’s love.

But Ellen must ask herself whether she’s ready to risk the heart that she’s always held close. Will Ellen be able to trust that God brought this family into her life for a reason? Or will her fear of getting hurt cause her to turn away from God’s plan and her one true chance at love?

Book Review: Sweet Caroline

I loved this book! It's not always easy to tell a real Christian from someone who makes you think they are a Christian - or at least has Christian values - and this book illustrates that fact. And although the ending was wrapped up tightly, I was suprised that I still liked the ending. Things can still work out great even if they don't work out like you expected.

When a Southern waitress inherits the Lowcountry cafe where she works, she suddenly has to balance more than just her next food order.

Caroline Sweeney has always done the right thing--the responsible, dependable thing--unlike her mother who abandoned her family. But when her best friend challenges her to accept an exciting job adventure in Barcelona, Spain, Caroline says "yes" to destiny.

Then, without warning, ownership of the run-down cafe where she's been waitressing falls right into Caroline's lap. While she's trying to determine the cafe's future, handsome Deputy Sherriff J.D. Rand captures Caroline's heart.

But when her first love, Mitch O'Neal, comes back to town, fresh from the heat of his newly-found fame as a country music singer in Nashville, Caroline must make some hard choices about love and the pursuit of the sweet life.

Book Review: The Perfect Life

I wasn't really happy with the ending of this book. I won't give the ending away, but suffice it to say that I like my books all tied up in a nice, happy ending. This book alluded to a happy ending, but it just seemed to end kind of abruptly. Still, The Perfect Life would probably be a good read for any Christian woman who has ever suspected her husband of infidelity.

Katherine Clarkson has the perfect life. Married to Brad, a loving and handsome husband, respected in their church and the community. Two grown daughters on the verge of starting families of their own. A thriving ministry. Good friends. A comfortable life.

She has it all--until the day a reporter appears with shocking allegations. Splashed across the local news are accusations of Brad's financial impropriety at his foundation and worse, an affair with a former employee. Without warning, Katherine's marriage is shattered and her family torn apart. The reassuring words she's spoken to many brokenhearted women over the years offer little comfort now.

Her world spinning, Katherine wonders if she can find the truth in the chaos that consumes her. How can she survive the loss of what she thought was the perfect life?

Truffles By the Sea

In Truffles By the Sea Gaby has one of those periods of time in her life when everything that can go wrong, does go wrong. But through it all, she relies heavily on God (and a little on chocolate truffles).

I normally would rather read historical fiction than contemporary fiction. But I loved “Truffles By the Sea.” Gaby’s story inspired me – there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. 

ABOUT THE BOOK:

If you read Julie's first book, Chocolate Beach, then you might remember Gaby as Bri’s dramatic, lovesick best friend. Unfortunately, things get worse—much worse—for her before they get…well, best not to give it away.

Sometimes all a girl has left is chocolate...

Gaby Flores has a penchant for drama and an unfortunate knack for dating Mr. So Wrong. After breaking off yet another relationship, watching her apartment building burn to the ground, and discovering that her dippy delivery guy has run off with most of her business, Gaby decides it’s time to turn things around.

So she moves to a tiny waterfront loft and takes on a new motto: “Be gullible no more!” With help from her friends, she works to rebuild her flower shop—and her life. But when legal troubles and quirky neighbors and two surprising romances enter her beachy world, Gaby’s motto and fledgling faith are put to the test.

Can a young woman prone to disaster in both work and love finally find happily ever after?

Author Julie Carobini is giving away a copy of Truffles by the Sea AND and a 1/2 lb. box of yummy truffles to three CBA blog tour readers. This could be you!
Just drop by Julie's blog no later than Friday, March 7 and leave a comment and a way to contact you if you win!

Julie Carobini is an award-winning writer whose stories often spotlight her family, the sea, and God's timely work in the lives of those around her. She lives with her husband, Dan, and their three children in Ventura Beach, California.

Christian Writers' Market Guide

Okay, so I haven't written a book - yet. But it's one of my goals. Many aspiring writers have heard of various writer's market guides, which helps authors find where and how to publish not just books, but articles or stories.

I was really happy to find that Sally E. Stuart publishes a guide directed exclusively to Christian writers.

Christian Writers' Market Guide is now in its 23rd annual edition! Writers’ Conference listings, Book Publishers, Magazine Publishers, and a Bookstore filled with the resources you need to be successful in this business. Get a Book Contract or Manuscript Evaluation, and check out the Writer’s Resource links. This book has all you need to connect to all these valuable helps for the beginning, intermediate, or professional writer.

To keep you up to date with the latest marketing news, you can visit Sally Stuart’s new marketing blog, Christian Writers’ Marketplace, at http://www.stuartmarket.blogspot.com/.

And I discovered that a new, updated version of the Christian Writers' Market Guide is available about January 15 each year!