Author Jane S. Daly
Jane S Daly recently attended the Oregon Christian Writer’s (OCW) annual summer conference. Each year, OCW encourages writers to submit their work for the annual Cascade Awards. The submissions are narrowed down into three finalists in the twenty-two categories. She was honored to receive an award in unpublished contemporary fiction for The Girl in the Cardboard Box, and for published nonfiction, The Caregiving Season.
Congratulations, Jane!
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Linda Evans Shepherd * When You Don’t Know What to Pray * Pray into your Breakthrough * Faith Lift
Baker Revell author, Linda Evans Shepherd, was named Writer of the Year by the 34th annual Greater Philadelphia Christian Writer’s conference, not only for her many bestselling books, but because as Marlene Bagnull the conference director explained, “No other author has done more for ministering to and connecting Christian women authors as has Linda. She brought the Christian women authors together through the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.”
Linda also receive an Excellence in Editing Award from the The Christian Editor Connection at the SoCal Christian Writer’s Conference for Winning Your Daily Spiritual Battles, edited by Vicki Crumpton (in-house editor), published by Baker Revell.
Linda also recently appeared on the cover of Today’s Christian Living. Linda’s latest book is Winning Your Daily Spiritual Battles. You can read the article at: GotToPray.com
Wonderful accomplishments, Linda!
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Check out this interview with Karen Whiting on the Homekeepers TV Show at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-2sKBvEjWs She talkes with host Arthalene Rippy about instilling faith in children and her book 52 Devotions for Families.
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A Heart’s Gift by our Can author, Lena Nelson Dooley, won the the Faith, Hope, and Love Reader’s Choice (formerly the Inspirational Christian Reader’s Choice) Award for Long Historical.
Here’s a review of the book: 
Romance is the name of the game. This book delivers what we all want more romance and excitement in our life. I am very well pleased with this book. This book had me unwilling to put it down until I turned the last page as I was so enthralled with the plot. The author knows how to deliver the good in this romance novel. Would I recommend this book to other people? Yes I would. I absolutely think this is great book. All opinions are my own and they are not influenced by anyone. By Crowlady
(This review is the latest on Amazon.)
Congrats on your win, Lena!
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BOOK REVIEW: The Gift of Bread by Karen Whiting
There is so much I adored about this book and the author. This author has a passion for making and sharing bread that reflects her heart and faith. The author explains the threefold purpose of bread, “Sustenance that meets the need for nourishment, fellowship found in breaking bread together, and our covenant relationship with God.”
The author describes her feelings about bread, “…when the inviting aroma of bread fills the air, it beckons people to sit and enjoy a relaxing time at the table. Nothing seems to warm hearts and open conversation as well as fresh-baked bread…. “For me, faith and bread will always be linked together. Bread has always been a passion for my family and me. My grandmothers and mother taught me to bake bread, I, in turn, passed on my joy of bread making to my five children.”
Sprinkled throughout the book are Food for Thought segments that make the reader think. Each chapter has a “Lovin from the Lord” that talks about a Bible verse and story related to subject being discussed; followed by a bread recipe. At the end of every chapter is a “Leaves with a morsel of bread” like this one “Give Jesus, The Bread of Life, a Special Place in your Heart.” Again, this sentence/quote/verse reflects the chapter discussion.
There is so much I adored about this book and the author. This author has a passion for making and sharing bread that reflects her heart and faith. The author explains the threefold purpose of bread, “Sustenance that meets the need for nourishment, fellowship found in breaking bread together, and our covenant relationship with God.”
The author describes her feelings about bread, “…when the inviting aroma of bread fills the air, it beckons people to sit and enjoy a relaxing time at the table. Nothing seems to warm hearts and open conversation as well as fresh-baked bread…. “For me, faith and bread will always be linked together. Bread has always been a passion for my family and me. My grandmothers and mother taught me to bake bread, I, in turn, passed on my joy of bread making to my five children.”
Sprinkled throughout the book are Food for Thought segments that make the reader think. Each chapter has a “Lovin from the Lord” that talks about a Bible verse and story related to subject being discussed; followed by a bread recipe. At the end of every chapter is a “Leaves with a morsel of bread” like this one “Give Jesus, The Bread of Life, a Special Place in your Heart.” Again, this sentence/quote/verse reflects the chapter discussion.
This author encourages and feeds the readers body and soul. I liked that the author included semi-homemade recipes which gave ideas for entertaining unexpected guests. The four recipes I tried were easy to make, had easy to find ingredients, instructions and my family loved them. I was thrilled the bread recipes turned out to look lovely and taste great. It was a win win for me. The ones I tried are Honey-of-an-egg Whole Wheat Bread, Sally Lunn Bread, Cinnamon Raisin Bread and Judy’s Zucchini Bread. I can’t wait to try more. I was so surprised that every recipe worked without a bread machine and there was no long extensive kneading process required to make them.
I highly recommend this book for anyone that wants to share the gift of bread and have the bread of life honored in your home, at the dinner table, and in your heart.
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A Small Town Kind of Love
A three book novella collection by Darlene Franklin
Darlene Franklin
Review by Trixi Oberembt
Plainsong: While going to a baseball game with her friends, Michelle Morris meets Joe Knight on a chance encounter. Their whirl-wind romance is straight out of a fairy tale, but will it fizzle when reality invades?
He seems to hide behind his insecurities by his gregarious and outgoing personality. She thrives on order and her feet planted firmly under her. They both have a lot to learn if they’re going to make a go of the relationship. I really enjoyed knowing they both have a strong faith in God and rely on Him to make a way, and how they grew when they began to give full control to Him. A sweet romance featuring two people struggling with real life issues and finding their way with God’s help.
Hidden Dreams: Fleeing her hometown in NYC after learning the mob killed her father, Marabelle, aka Mary Anne, runs into Wallace Tuttle in Maple Notch,VA…literally! His family graciously takes her into their home and she quickly finds security & comfort under their roof. The longer she stays, the more she doesn’t want to leave. Can this be God’s plan for her life?
I liked getting to know Wallace and his family. They are warm-hearted people who have a lot of love to give. Mary Anne is a quick learner and soon finds herself helping Wallace with the wildlife book he’s commissioned to write. They both have the shared pain of losing their parents and begin to help each other overcome grief. Finding comfort in God, His word and each other, they eventually fall in love as in any good romance book. I enjoyed the journey they took to get there. This one has a touch of suspense at the end when the mob catches up to Mary Anne. I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what will happen! I enjoyed this story of faith, family, shared interests, and falling in love.
To Riches Again: Elyssa travels on the Orphan Train helping deliver the children to their adopted parents along the rail line. Farm owner and single man Bill Ward is one of those who wish to adopt a sister and brother, Ian and Bridget. Having nothing to go back to, Elyssa longs for something more and Bill has been praying for a wife and mother for his new children. Perhaps God has answered their prayers already!
This was my favorite story in the collection! I love reading about the Orphan trains and watching as new families unfolded and forged strong bonds. Ian and Bridget were a delight to get to know and added their own bubbly personality and charm. This was a quick short story but it didn’t lack depth to me. Watching as Elyssa and Bill fall in love in almost a marriage-of-convenience type theme satisfied my romantic heart. They find their strength in God and their faith sustains them in hard times. I really enjoyed watching this story unfold & family bonds form between strangers.
