Review + #GIVEAWAY: Finding Love in Eureka, California by Angela Ruth Strong

Finding Love in Eureka, California
By Angela Ruth Strong
Resort to Love #5
Mountain Brook Ink, 2018


Summary

Raised in a family of six adopted siblings, Genevieve Wilson fights to keep her dysfunctional brothers and sisters together, but everyone still seems to leave. If she’s not good enough to prevent her birth parents from giving her up or her siblings from abandoning her, then there’s no way she would ever be enough to have a lasting relationship with the cute pilot from work…which is exactly what makes him a safe subject for her daydreams.

Matt Lake is dating the perfect woman and working a great job. Life is easy until he starts to enjoy hanging out with the airline employees more than with his girlfriend—one sweet female employee in particular. He tells himself he’s only intrigued by Gen’s quirkiness, but nobody else makes him smile the way she does.

Can Matt give up the flawless life he’d planned in exchange for the messiness of love? And if so, will  Gen risk her heart on reality when it’s never paid off in the past?


My thoughts

Wasn’t that what everyone wanted – to be seen as their

imperfect selves and loved anyway?

Finding Love in Eureka, California … Okay, that sounds like a romance, right? And while it is that, I was not expecting all the rich characterization, emotional depth, and real-life experiences of this book. Angela Ruth Strong is a skilled, mature writer who knows how to entertain while giving you much to reflect upon – maybe even causing you to examine your faith in the process. This is a strong Christian story in subtle ways that have a huge impact.

Matt and Gen are such likeable lead characters, easy to connect with because they try to do the right thing, but have their own particular flaws just like we do. There are plenty of light, humorous moments, one of my favorites being the little texting photo game they played. A lot of the scenes take place in the Eureka airport, where Gen is the station manager, and I enjoyed these glimpses behind the scenes.

But what makes this story so rich and relevant is the realism of topics that aren’t often seen in Christian fiction, such as adultery, rape, drug addiction, enabling, generational curses, and physical disability. The whole generational curse idea and how it related to Gen and her five adopted siblings was extremely thought provoking, and it was impressive the way the author handled these tough themes. Gen focused “on what her curse might be rather than how she was blessed. Maybe that was the real curse.”

Gen’s sister and yoga instructor, Rosie, was one of my favorites – a motivational speaker who “could make an ugly duckling feel like a swan.” I made a note of Rosie’s words to Gen, regarding enabling: “When you do something for someone else that they could do for themselves, you ultimately harm them.” And I came away with an appreciation for how yoga can be used for Christian meditation. But “goat yoga”? I’d love to see that in practice!

I thoroughly enjoyed Finding Love in Eureka, California and look forward to much more from Angela Ruth Strong. In fact, I’d love for her to write a series based on Gen’s siblings.

Recommended.

I was provided a copy of this book through Mountain Brooks, Inc. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

_________________________

Angela Ruth Strong writes light-hearted and life-changing love stories. The "light-hearted" part comes from her ability to get into interesting situations--such as a hamster ball race or riding on the shoulders of a unicyclist.

The "life-changing" part comes from the power of God's love and the beauty of her very own romance.

The "story" part comes from her passion for books that she got from her writer mama. And there's nothing else she'd rather do than share these stories with you. Find out more (than you ever wanted to know) at www.angelaruthstrong.com.

Amazon │ Goodreads │ Website │ Facebook │ Twitter

GIVEAWAY

Comment on this post and join the conversation for an opportunity to win a free e-book from Angela Ruth Strong.

To enter the drawing, please click on this link and share my Facebook post, then leave a comment here, giveaway #1 shared. Winner will be drawn from those who share.

BE SURE to leave your name and your email address in a safe format - [at] and [dot] - for the drawing. E-mail required for entry. Contest ends at midnight PST on Monday, March 5. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by e-mail.

Eligibility: US residents

Review + DOUBLE GIVEAWAY: Pawprints & Predicaments

Pawprints & Predicaments
By Bethany Blake
Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery #3
Kensington, 2018


Summary

The Tail Waggin’ Winterfest is the highlight of the season in the famously pet-friendly Pocono Mountains town of Sylvan Creek. But despite attractions like an ice sculpture display, a dogsled race, and gourmet hot chocolate, Daphne Templeton finds herself annoyed by TV producer Lauren Savidge, who’s filming the festivities. She’s critical, controlling, and as chilly as the January air. Daphne would like to tell her to go jump in a lake—and as a matter of fact, that’s exactly what they’re both going to do . . .

It’s the first-ever polar bear plunge in Lake Wallapawakee, and Daphne and Lauren are among the eighty or so people who charge into the frigid water to raise funds for animals in need. Daphne makes it back to shore—with the help of a mysterious St. Bernard—but Lauren is dragged out stone cold dead. Now, with her trusty basset hound Socrates at her side, Daphne intends to assist Detective Jonathan Black in his investigation—whether he wants her to or not . . .

Includes recipes for homemade pet treats!

Amazon   B&N   Kobo   Google Play


My thoughts

Bethany Blake has become one of my very favorite cozy mystery authors and there’s no way she could ever write fast enough to satisfy me. There’s so much to enjoy about the Lucky Paws Petsitting series and this newest release, Pawprints & Predicaments, is another gem. If you enjoy a well-written and humorous mystery, especially one involving animals, you will not be disappointed in any of Blake’s stories.

First, there’s the humor … sometimes subtle, often laugh-out-loud funny. Impossible to read without smiling all the way. It’s a clean story, which I very much appreciate. The setting is delightful and Blake has the ability to pull you right into the small-town community of Sylvan Creek in the Pocono Mountains. These are just a few things readers can look forward to … the Sylvan Creek Tail Waggin’ Winterfest, polar bear plunge, cardboard Iditarod, and even a spectral Saint Bernard!

I’ve read several good mysteries that involve pets, but there’s something special, even unique, in the way this author writes about them. In fact, I think that both Bethany Blake and her lead character, Daphne Templeton, are animal whisperers. The pets – especially Socrates, Daphne’s basset hound, and Artie, the one-eared Chihuahua – have distinct personalities and I love the way Daphne interacts with them.

There’s a lot more to Daphne than might first appear and we get to know her a little better in this story. Romance isn’t really a theme, yet I sensed the beginnings of that indefinable something between Daphne and police detective Jonathan (I’m definitely on #teamJonathan)! Both of these characters have backgrounds that will hopefully unfold as the series progresses.

The mystery itself is well-crafted and the solution nowhere near obvious to me. I haven’t finished reading yet, as I only received the book yesterday, so I’ll update more about this later. However, I can reveal that the murder victim, Lauren Savidge, had “a name that the rest of us had probably subconsciously avoided speaking, just like one might not utter the name of a demon out loud, for fear of summoning the evil spirit.”

Pawprints & Predicaments truly stands out in the cozy mystery field. “Best of the best” for me, highly recommended.

I was provided a copy of this book through Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

_________________________

Bethany Blake lives in a small, quaint town in Pennsylvania with her husband and three daughters. When she’s not writing or riding horses, she’s wrangling a menagerie of furry family members that includes a nervous pit bull, a fearsome feline, a blind goldfish, and an attack cardinal named Robert.

Like Daphne Templeton, the heroine of her Lucky Paws Mysteries, Bethany holds a Ph.D. and operates a pet sitting business called Barkley’s Premium Pet Care.

Webpage │ BookBub │ Twitter  │ Facebook

GIVEAWAY #1

To enter the drawing for a copy of Pawprints & Predicaments, please click on this link and share my Facebook post, then leave a comment here. Winner will be drawn from those who share.

BE SURE to leave your name and your email address in a safe format - [at] and [dot] - for the drawing. E-mail required for entry. Contest ends at midnight PST on Thursday, March 8. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by e-mail.

Eligibility: US residents

GIVEAWAY #2

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cozy Winter Reads

Although the month of March is almost upon us, much of the country is still in the midst of winter weather … so for some cozy reading, hopefully curled up beside a warm wood stove or fireplace, here are some ideal books to enjoy. All are Amish or Quaker fiction by authors I greatly enjoy.

Do you enjoy Amish fiction? If so, are any of these authors new to you?

Amish Sweethearts
By Amy Clipston

Love is in the air in these four sweet romances!

Love and Buggy Rides  (previously published in An Amish Harvest) -- Janie Lantz is a cashier at Lancaster Souvenirs and Buggy Rides, where Jonathan Stoltfuz is a buggy driver. A frightening accident brings Janie and Jonathan together in a blossoming friendship, yet daunting obstacles stand between them and something deeper. Can love kindle into flames that burn away fear and regret—and lead them to a life together?

A Home for Lindsay -- From Amy Clipston’s beloved Kauffman Amish Bakery series comes Lindsay Bedford’s story. Lindsay is happily looking forward to the day she becomes Matthew Glick’s wife and is excited for the plans he has for the house he will build her. So, when Matthew suddenly calls off the wedding, she is blindsided. She knows there is more to the story than what he is telling her, but will he open up and let her in on his own heartbreak?

Where the Heart Is -- Tobias Smucker is back home, and it’s no secret he and his father are still not on the best of terms. But what is surprising is that his little sister’s best friend, Mariella, has been harboring her own secret feelings for Tobias. With her help, he begins to unravel a family mystery and learns that everyone has their own hidden depths, including his father.

Love Birds  (previously published in An Amish Market) -- While Ellie Lapp and her mother are still mourning the loss of her brother, Seth, Ellie starts working at one of the gift shops in town. Seth’s friend Lloyd is talented at carving wooden birds, but his father disapproves and expects him to take over the family farm someday. Ellie sees the beauty in Lloyd’s creations and insists Lloyd sell the birds in the gift shop where she works. As Ellie and Lloyd spend more time together, they begin to develop feelings for one another, but she accidentally betrays his trust. Will she lose any hope of a future with him?

____________________

Phoebe’s Light
By Suzanne Woods Fisher

Phoebe Starbuck has always adjusted her sails and rudder to the whims of her father. Now, for the first time, she's doing what she wants to do: marrying Captain Phineas Foulger and sailing far away from Nantucket. As she leaves on her grand adventure, her father gives her two gifts, both of which Phoebe sees little need for. The first is an old sheepskin journal from Great Mary, her highly revered great-grandmother. The other is a "minder" on the whaling ship in the form of cooper Matthew Mitchell, a man whom she loathes.

Soon Phoebe discovers that life at sea is no easier than life on land. Lonely, seasick, and disillusioned, she turns the pages of Great Mary's journal and finds herself drawn into the life of this noble woman. To Phoebe's shock, her great-grandmother has left a secret behind that carries repercussions for everyone aboard the ship, especially her husband the captain and her shadow the cooper. This story within a story catapults Phoebe into seeing her life in an entirely new way--just in time.

In this brand-new series, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher brings her signature twists and turns to bear on a fascinating new faith community: the Quakers of colonial-era Nantucket Island.

____________________

When the Bishop Needs an Alibi
By Vannetta Chapman

A terrible secret hides in the bulrushes

Amish bishop Henry Lapp eagerly awaits the annual arrival of 20,000 sandhill cranes to the San Luis Valley of Colorado. But his visit to the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge reveals more than just a miracle of God's creation. Hidden among the bulrushes and cattails is the deceased body of a young woman.

As the local authorities attempt to unravel the mystery, Henry feels God's calling to use his extraordinary talent to aid in the investigation. His ability to draw from memory in photographic detail could help solve this puzzling case.

Henry's closest friend, Emma Fisher, has always urged him to embrace his gift. As their relationship deepens, Henry realizes his involvement could put him and those he loves in the direct path of a killer, one who is willing to do anything to cover up a brutal crime, including framing the bishop.

When the Bishop Needs an Alibi is a compelling story of faith, friendship, and finding courage only God can provide.

____________________

Words from the Heart
By Kathleen Fuller

Her fingertips brushed against something else in the box of doilies. She lifted a bundle of letters, neatly tied with a thin red ribbon . . .

Ivy Yoder hasn’t heard from John King in over a year. She knows it’s time to let go of the idea that they will one day marry, but she’s humiliated to be one of the oldest single women in her Amish community of Birch Creek. When quirky Cevilla Schlabach asks her to help clean out an attic, Ivy is grateful for the distraction.

Noah Schlabach isn’t from Birch Creek, or even Ohio. His job as an auctioneer takes him around the country and away from a typical Amish life, but he still remains devoted to his family. So when his aging aunt asks him to help clean out her attic, he agrees. Plus, who knows what curious items he might find up there?

As Noah and Ivy work side by side, they come across a different kind of treasure: a packet of letters written during the Korean War. Soon they are swept up in the story of two young people falling in love—even as they remain determined not to fall in love themselves.

Words from the Heart is a moving story of lost love letters, fragile fears, and the beauty of taking another step forward.

Review (+ Tour GIVEAWAY): Across the Blue by Carrie Turansky

About the Book

Title: Across the Blue  
Author: Carrie Turansky  
Genre: Historical romance  
Release Date: February 20, 2018

Love soars to new heights in this Edwardian romance filled with adventure, faith, and inspiration, but how much will it cost Bella and James to follow their dreams? 

Isabella Grayson, the eldest daughter of a wealthy, English newspaper magnate, longs to become a journalist, but her parents don’t approve. They want her to marry well and help them gain a higher standing in society. After she writes an anonymous letter to the editor that impresses her father, her parents reluctantly agree she can write a series of articles about aviation and the race to be the first to fly across the English Channel, but only if she promises to accept a marriage proposal within the year. 

When James Drake, an aspiring aviator, crashes his flying machine at the Grayson’s new estate, Bella is intrigued. James is determined to win that race across the Channel and gain the prize Mr. Grayson’s newspaper is offering. He hopes it will help him secure a government contract to build airplanes and redeem a terrible family secret. James wants to win Bella’s heart, but his background and lack of social standing make it unlikely her parents would approve. If he fails to achieve his dream, how will he win the love and respect he is seeking? Will Bella’s faith and support help him find the strength and courage he needs when unexpected events turn their world upside down?

Amazon │ CBD

My Thoughts

Across the Blue is a captivating novel that I enjoyed from the very first page. It’s a story that not only historical romance fans will enjoy, but all readers as well. Carrie Turansky gently and skillfully weaves together faith, historical detail, romance, and even a little mystery. The design team did a beautiful job with the cover, for it conveys the story’s mood and theme in a way that draws readers to it.

I love British settings, so the 1909 world of Edwardian England was my “cup of tea” so to speak. I don’t know how Turansky does it, but I was caught up in the sights, sounds, and culture of this era as I learned new things. It was a fascinating time historically because, for one thing, the woman’s place was considered to be at home, a norm that the journalistically talented Bella wanted to break out of. Secondly, Germany’s desire to control the European Continent was already obvious to many, and England’s hesitancy to encourage aircraft development threatened to put the country at a disadvantage. I knew very little about the competition and prestige to be first at successfully flying over the English Channel and found this very interesting.

James and Bella felt real and believable, but with the societal differences and backgrounds between them, the possibility of their match seemed unlikely. Romantic tension was great and I enjoyed how their relationship slowly deepened as each pursued their dreams. James and Bella grew spiritually as well, as they realized the importance of following God’s path for their lives.

Across the Blue is a beautiful story in every way. Carrie Turansky is a skilled, consistent writer and I look forward to many more stories from her talented hand.

Highly recommended.

I was provided a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and Multnomah. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

About the Author

Carrie Turansky has loved reading since she first visited the library as a young child and checked out a tall stack of picture books. Her love for writing began when she penned her first novel at age twelve. She is now the award-winning author of nineteen inspirational romance novels and novellas. 

Carrie and her husband, Scott, who is a pastor, author, and speaker, have been married for more than thirty years and make their home in New Jersey. They often travel together on ministry trips and to visit their five adult children and five grandchildren. 

Carrie leads women’s ministry at her church, and when she is not writing she enjoys spending time working in her flower gardens and cooking healthy meals for friends and family. She loves to connect with reading friends through her website, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.

Guest Post from Carrie Turansky

Following your Dreams 
By Carrie Turansky 

In Across the Blue, Bella Grayson and James Drake both go to great lengths to pursue their dreams. Bella longs to become a journalist and write for one of her father’s newspapers, but in 1909 England, aristocratic young women did not work as journalists. A young woman’s path was set by the unwritten rules of society. At eighteen she was presented at court, and then she took part in the London social season and hoped for a marriage proposal from a young man from a wealthy family, with an estate and title. Marriage, having children, and taking part in social and charitable events was the prescribed course for their lives. 

But Bella has a different future in mind. She wants to marry for love, and she won’t settle for anything less. She also wants to write articles about the important events of the day that will inform and inspire people. She wants to be a world changer, and that is a very unique role for a woman in England in the Edwardian Era. At that time women didn’t have the right to vote yet and very few pursued any kind of career. 

James is an aviation pioneer, and his dream is to build an airplane that will allow him to be the first to fly across the English Channel. This is no easy accomplishment, and he faces many challenges as he pursues his dream. Aviation is brand new. Wilbur Wright demonstrated his airplane in France the year before and stunned Europeans with his skill. With the help of his mentor, Professor Steed, James conducts experiments, refines his design, and makes countless test flights. It takes great courage and determination to overcome setbacks and make it through near fatal crash landings, but James has his heart and mind set on perfecting his airplane and reaching his goal. 

What about you? What hopes and dreams do you have for your future? What goals would you like to accomplish? As you think about your dreams and future plans I hope you’ll gain some insight from James and Bella’s experiences in Across the Blue. When they considered the cost of pursuing their dreams they realized their plans and choices impacted others as well as themselves. James and Bella believed striving for their dreams is important, but they learned it must be balanced with commitments to family and friends, and most of all a commitment to following the Lord on the path He has for them. 

Following our dreams and working toward accomplishing our goals, especially those the Lord puts on our heart, is important. However, sometimes we may have to put our dreams on hold and wait for the right time and season. We don’t need to be discouraged when this happens. As we listen to the Lord and ask Him to guide and direct us He will show us the right path at the right time to follow it. 

Just like James and Bella I hope you’ll pursue your dreams but also hold them with an open hand, allowing the Lord to guide and direct you each step of the way. When you do I’m confident you’ll be headed toward seeing your dreams become reality in His time and in His way. “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord; plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 

With that wonderful promise in mind, I hope you’ll enjoy reading Across the Blue and joining Bella and James as they they pursue their dreams. You’re in for high-flying adventure, romance, and inspiration, and I can’t wait to share this new story with you. Happy reading to you!

Blog Stops

Bookworm Mama, February 22

Carpe Diem, February 22

Blogging With Carol, February 22

Reflections From My Bookshelves, February 23

Reading Is My SuperPower, February 23

Karen Sue Hadley, February 23

Christian Bookaholic, February 24

Mary Hake, February 24

Among the Reads, February 24

The Power of Words, February 25

History, Mystery & Faith, February 25

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, February 25

Maureen’s Musings, February 26

Rachel’s Back Talk, February 26

Smiling Book Reviews, February 26

Radiant Light, February 27

Faithfully Bookish, February 27

The Fizzy Pop Collection, February 27

Bibliophile Reviews, February 28

Remembrancy, February 28

Two Points of Interest, February 28

Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 1

Book by Book, March 1

Bigreadersite, March 1

proud to be an autism mom, March 1

Pause for Tales, March 2

Have A Wonderful Day, March 2

margaret kazmierczak, March 2 (Interview)

Pursuing Stacie, March 3

Neverending Stories, March 3

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 3

Texas Book-aholic, March 4

Janices book reviews, March 4

Jeanette’s Thoughts, March 4

Simple Harvest Reads, March 4 (Guest post from Mindy)

Moments Dipped in Ink, March 5

My Writer’s Life, March 5

Baker Kella, March 5

Kat’s Corner Books, March 6

A Greater Yes, March 6

A Baker’s Perspective, March 6

Romances of the Cross, March 7

Henry Happens, March 7

For The Love of Books, March 7

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carrie is giving away a grand prize of an autographed copy of Shine Like the Dawn and $30 gift card to Christianbooks.com!!

Click the image above or the link below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

https://promosimple.com/ps/c987

Review (+ Tour GIVEAWAY): The Saturday Night Supper Club by Carla Laureano

About the Book

Title: The Saturday Night Supper Club  
Author: Carla Laureano  
Genre: Christian fiction/romance fiction  
Release Date: February 6, 2018

Denver chef Rachel Bishop has accomplished everything she’s dreamed and some things she never dared hope, like winning a James Beard Award and heading up her own fine-dining restaurant. But when a targeted smear campaign causes her to be pushed out of the business by her partners, she vows to do whatever it takes to get her life back . . . even if that means joining forces with the man who inadvertently set the disaster in motion. 

Essayist Alex Kanin never imagined his pointed editorial would go viral. Ironically, his attempt to highlight the pitfalls of online criticism has the opposite effect: it revives his own flagging career by destroying that of a perfect stranger. Plagued by guilt-fueled writer’s block, Alex vows to do whatever he can to repair the damage. He just doesn’t…

Click here to purchase your copy on Amazon.

My Thoughts

Charming, witty, and relevant for today … The Saturday Night Supper Club is all that and more. This is the first book by Carla Laureano that I’ve read and I’m instantly a fan of this skilled author’s work.

As you would expect from the book’s description, there’s plenty of food, friendship and romance – but I was delighted to discover a lot more complexity than I expected. The story combines elements of romance and women’s fiction with rich characterization and relevant social issues.

The relevancy of social media gone awry is the catalyst that moves Rachel out of a job she loves into an area of trying to prove her worth as a person. Both Rachel and Alex are extremely appealing lead characters, and rather than what Twitter thinks, Alex sees Rachel as guarded, tough-minded, and determined. As their initial relationship turns into friendship, the romantic tension can be felt and their snappy, witty dialogue is so much fun.

Although Denver’s restaurants and food itself play a big part, this is more of a character-driven story, which I loved, as I’m a simple country cook. Although I didn’t connect with all the foodie stuff, it was fascinating to glimpse behind the scenes into the restaurant world. But those foodies out there will be crazy about this book.

Bottom line:  I loved everything about The Saturday Night Supper Club and am eager for the next story in this series.

Highly recommended.

I was provided a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and Tyndale Fiction. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

About the Author

Carla Laureano is the RITA® Award-winning author of contemporary inspirational romance and Celtic fantasy (as C.E. Laureano). A graduate of Pepperdine University, she worked as a sales and marketing executive for nearly a decade before leaving corporate life behind to write fiction full-time. 

She currently lives in Denver with her husband and two sons, where she writes during the day and cooks things at night.

Guest Post From Carla Laureano

I’ve got a confession to make: I have a cooking problem. 

It started early and innocently enough, flipping through my mom’s cookbooks and marking things I wanted to try. Making cakes and muffins from a mix. Flipping frozen steak patties. Doctoring canned spaghetti sauce. 

It wasn’t long before I got into the hard stuff: muffins from scratch, slow-cooked marinara, cast-iron seared and oven-finished rib eyes. Over the years, I tried to kick the habit numerous times, but every time things got tough, I found myself falling off the wagon and heading back into the kitchen. Even hosting dinner parties. Yes, dear reader, I pulled my hapless friends into my madness. To my shame, I even got some of them hooked with their own addiction. 

Before I knew it, my obsessions started creeping into my day job. No longer was it enough to write contemporary romance about normal people who order take-out. No, I had to write chefs and passionate home cooks and describe the food in the books just as lovingly as I did a first kiss. And then the final straw—a book series centered entirely on food and the culinary profession, beginning with The Saturday Night Supper Club. 

All joking aside, cooking really is an addiction that I haven’t been able to kick. As a writer, I spend hours locked in my own imagination, creating things out of words and ideas. And while it’s immensely fulfilling, it’s a long, painstaking process that takes months, even years, before I can release the final product into the world. While there’s a large amount of planning and analysis involved in creating a book, the work is still mostly in my head. 

Which is why I find cooking to be such a relaxing creative pursuit. Dicing a pile of vegetables into perfectly uniform cubes may take the same concentration and precision, but it’s concrete and measurable. It becomes a personal challenge to do something better than last time, improving by tiny, nearly imperceptible increments. It’s the closest to meditation that my always-on brain ever experiences, clear of all thought except for my activity at the present moment. 

And yet, simultaneously, food is ephemeral. Mistakes last only as long as it takes to eat them or toss them directly into the trash can, depending on the nature of the mistake. If a sauce breaks, I toss it and start over. If I burn something, I either cut off the burned part or I order takeout and try again the next day. There’s an element of experimentation and instinct and whimsy that isn’t hampered by the pursuit of perfection. Let’s face it, a mediocre chocolate chip cookie beats a perfect celery stick any day of the week. 

It was natural, then, to write a chef heroine who had dedicated her entire life to the pursuit of culinary perfection and explore all the ways that food makes our lives and relationships richer. How it anchors our memories. How we nurture others by feeding them. How a simple meal becomes meaningful not because of the food, but because of the connections we form with others over the dinner table. 

In the end, I guess my cooking problem isn’t that much of a problem after all. If you need me, I’ll be in the kitchen.

Blog Stops

Rachel Scott McDaniel, February 20

A Baker’s Perspective, February 20

Just Commonly, February 20

Mommynificent, February 21

Among The Reads, February 21

A Greater Yes, February 21

proud to be an autism mom, February 21

Fiction Aficionado, February 22

Quiet Quilter, February 22

The Power of Words, February 23

Christian Chick’s Thoughts, February 23

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 23

Janices book reviews, February 24

C Jane Read, February 24

Faery Tales Are Real, February 24

All of a Kind Mom, February 25

Inklings and notions, February 25

Jeanette’s Thoughts, February 25

Carpe Diem, February 26

Smiling Book Reviews, February 26

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, February 26

Splashes of Joy, February 27

Its Storytime with Van Daniker, February 27

Simple Harvest Reads, February 27 (Guest post from Mindy)

Radiant Light, February 28

Moments Dipped in Ink, February 28

Baker kella, February 28

Pause for Tales, March 1

Book by Book, March 1

Bigreadersite, March 1

The Fizzy Pop Collection, March 2

Have A Wonderful Day, March 2

Reader’s Cozy Corner, March 2

Bibliophile Reviews, March 3

Two Points of Interest, March 3

Reading is my Super Power, March 3

Texas Book-aholic, March 4

amandainpa, March 4

Singing Librarian Books, March 4

By The Book, March 5

Neverending Stories, March 5

Pursuing Stacie, March 5

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carla is giving away a grand prize of a $200 Visa Card for the winner and a friend to attend a cooking class!!

Click the image above or the link below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

https://promosimple.com/ps/c9b4