inspiration

Sharing My Review of Mary’s Blessing by Lena Nelson Dooley

/ Dora Hiers
Mary’s Blessing 
Book 2 of McKenna’s Daughters 
 
When her mother dies, Mary Lenora must grow up quickly to take care of her brothers and sisters. Can love help her to shoulder the burden?
Mary Lenora Caine knows she is adopted. As she was growing up, her mother called her “God’s blessing.” But now that she’s gone, Mary no longer feels like any kind of blessing. Her father, in his grief, has cut himself off from the family, leaving the running of the home entirely in Mary’s hands.
As she nears her eighteenth birthday, Mary can’t see anything in her future but drudgery. Then her childhood friend Daniel begins to court her, promising her a life of riches and ease. But her fairy-tale dreams turn to dust when her family becomes too much for Daniel, and he abandons her in her time of deepest need.
Will Daniel come to grips with God’s plan for him? And if he does return, can Mary trust that this time he will really follow through? 
My Review:
From the first page to the last, Mary’s Blessing is a sweet romance, the kind I love to settle back in my recliner for a few hours to read. While Mary suffers much grief in her eighteen years, Daniel lives an easy life by comparison. After knowing Mary since they arrived by wagon trail years earlier and admiring the way she cared for her younger brothers and sister, Daniel finally decides to court her.

Don’t assume it will be clear sailing after that because Ms. Dooley really ramps up the conflict. Mary’s family issues take front and center, and soon differences in how they want to begin their married life become insurmountable obstacles. Add in stress and fatigue, and things go south fast. At one point, I wanted to give Daniel a good kick in the pants, but he came around and vowed to show Mary that he’d changed. Not only did I enjoy cheering both main characters on to their happily-ever-after, but the secondary characters added so much dimension to the story. A great read! I look forward to reading the last triplet’s story, Catherine’s Pursuit.

Purchase Link

Disclosure: I received this book from the author for a fair and honest review.

About Lena Nelson Dooley
Award-winning author, Lena Nelson Dooley, has more than 650,000 books in print. She is a member of ACFW and president of the local chapter.
Lena loves James, her children, grandchildren, and great grandson. She loves chocolate, cherries, chocolate-covered cherries, and spending time with friends. Travel is always on her horizon. Cruising, Galveston, the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, Mexico. One day it will be Hawaii and Australia, but probably not at the same time. Helping other authors become published really floats her boat. And the high point of her day is receiving feedback from her readers, especially her fans. And she loves chocolate, especially dark chocolate.

Her book LOVE FINDS YOU IN GOLDEN, NEW MEXICO, won the Will Rogers Medallion Award for Western Fiction.

Sharing My Review of WISDOM TREE by Mary Manners

/ Dora Hiers / 4 Comments
A few days ago I had the pleasure of hosting Mary Manners and Wisdom Tree as a stop on her Book & Trailer Showcase Tour. Today, I’m thrilled to share my review of Wisdom Tree.

The Blurb:

Sometimes the last thing we think we need is exactly what God has planned


After the death of his parents, Jake Samuels has enough on his plate—including a fledgling church to lead and a mischievous younger brother to raise. The last thing he needs is a rambunctious woman to contend with.

Carin O’Malley is dealing with the death of her brother and a new job as an English teacher at East Ridge Middle School where Corey Samuels reigns as King of Chaos. The last thing she needs is to fall in love…especially with a handsome and complicated preacher like Corey’s brother Jake.

But when Corey’s antics toss Carin and Jake together, the two must draw from God’s wisdom to find refuge in His perfect plan.

My review:
Mary Manners creates strong characters I can really relate to, guys and gals I’d like to hang out with on a Friday evening. Like Jake and Carin in Wisdom Tree.

I immediately connected with Jake, understood his frustration and foul mood. After all, he’s raising his teen brother. It’s hot outside, and he’s mowing the church yard because somebody has to do it. He’s running late to pick up Corey from football practice. Toss in a new slasher, er…teacher, who shows up unexpectedly and assumes the worst of him, and Jake hits the overload button. He acts out a little himself, not unlike his brother, which I enjoyed. He showed a little weakness, which endeared him to me.

I love the conflict between Jake and Carin, and it’s not the arguing kind. No, Ms. Manners creates plenty of internal/external conflict as the characters head towards their happily-ever-after, and she’ll tickle every one of your senses along the way.

This story involves a teenager, dealing with grief. Ms. Manners wrote teen angst in a realistic way without making me, as a reader and a parent, want to fling my e-reader at something…or someone. I think parents will appreciate some of the wisdom on dealing with teens imparted in this book.

Wisdom Tree is a fast read. Find a comfy spot and plan to read it all in one sitting! My only wish is that Wisdom Tree were a little longer, so I could spread out my enjoyment over more evenings. I did appreciate the surprise tucked in at the end! Congratulations, Ms. Manners, on a great read!
Wisdom Tree is scheduled to release on 10/8/12 with White Rose Publishing, but you can pre-order it here.

Disclosure: I received this book from BTS for a fair and honest review.

Grumbling or Grace?

/ Dora Hiers / 4 Comments

Have you read the story of how God rescued the Israelites from their heavy yoke of slavery? How God called out to Moses from a burning bush, informing Moses that he would be the one to deliver the Israelites from Egypt? It was only after God sent plague after vicious plague, ending with the death of Pharaoh’s first-born, that Pharaoh relinquished and released the Israelites.

God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, guiding them by cloud during the day and fire by night. Pharaoh changed his mind (actually, God changed it for him!) and pursued the Israelites, finding them camped out by the Red Sea.  


“It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert.” (Ex 14:12 NIV).

Can you just picture them? The water from the sea licking their backs, the approaching Egyptians armed for battle? Scared for their lives, yet that’s what spews from their lips? Complaints??
 
It’s beyond me. 

Yet, God rescues them again. With a mighty wind, He pushed back the waters so that the Israelites crossed over on dry land, a wall of water on both sides. When the Egyptians followed them into the sea, the water fell back and crushed them.

The Israelites went on their merry way, praising and fearing God. 

For three days anyway.

When they didn’t find water, they grumbled. God provided water. For lack of meat, they grumbled. God sent manna and quail.

What was wrong with these people? How could they complain? They witnessed God’s miracles firsthand every day. Miracles like the parting of the Red Sea. Water from a rock. Just enough manna to provide for their daily needs. 

I’m quick to point my finger and say I would never do that.

Wrong!

I’m hanging my head right now because just like these Israelites, I witness God’s miracles every day. Miracles in the form of a loving and supportive hubby, an income, a beautiful home, a family we cherish.

Yet what spews from my mouth? Complaints.


We arrived home from Denver late yesterday. Usually Hubby’s pretty good about helping me unload the suitcases. Not last night. He toted them upstairs, left the packed bags in the bedroom, then planted his tush on the recliner in front of a blaring television.

I fumed. I huffed. Resentment broiled.

Then, God convicted my lousy little heart this morning with this story from Exodus.

How many blessings does my husband pour out for me everyday? He uses his vacation time to attend book signings with me. He brainstorms blog posts and story lines with me. He encourages me to adjust my schedule so he can help with chores like lawn care and groceries, so that I can devote more time to writing. And techie issues? He’s my man! He’s my biggest fan, my loudest encourager, my best friend. 

Yet I complain.

Forgive me, God, for complaining. Change my heart.
Help me reflect grace, not grumbling. 
Thank You for the wonderful man you planted beside me! Thank You that he never grumbles or complains.
What about you? What’s in your heart today?
Grumbling or Grace?