A Chat with Author Davalynn Spencer

, by

Greetings from Sarah Sundin in California! Today I have the joy of turning the tables on one of our wonderful interviewers for the CAN blog—Davalynn Spencer—and interview her for a change! In addition to being a bestselling, award-winning, multi-published novelist, Davalynn is an amazing friend—and she also writes nonfiction! Welcome, Davalynn! Tell us about your new book, Always Before Me – 90 Story-Devotions for Women. Busy women often long for God’s peace in their hectic schedules. Always Before Me provides ninety story-devotions showing how God uses ordinary circumstances to carry His extraordinary voice straight to our heart. The final chapter…

Read More

A Chat with Author Cynthia L. Simmons

, by

Greetings from Sarah Sundin in California! Today I have the joy of interviewing Cynthia L. Simmons, nonfiction author, novelist, and speaker! Cynthia is sharing today about her latest novel. Welcome, Cynthia! Please tell us about your book, Reflecting Gold. Peter and Mary Beth Chandler kept their Confederate bank on the gold standard. However, a Confederate officer asked for a loan and insisted on repaying in Confederate bank notes not backed by gold. If they refuse, he will label them traitors. Should the Chandlers change their loan requirements and risk losing the bank? What is the primary focus of your book?…

Read More

Book Review: Wilderness Wife

, by

Set in frontier Canada in 1810, Wilderness Wife is a historical novel based on the early life of Marguerite Wadin MacKay. She believes her 17-year marriage to explorer Alex MacKay is strong—until sudden fame destroys it. When he returns from earning fame from a cross-Canada expedition, he announces their frontier marriage is void in Montréal where he will now go to make his fortune and choose a society wife—not one with native blood. Taking only their son, MacKay sends Marguerite and their three daughters to a trading post where she’d lived as a child. Deeply shamed, she arrives in time…

Read More

Judging by Appearances

, by

by Yvonne Ortega Oh, no, I need a nickel for my four pennies. I can’t leave the kiosk with one gallon of water in the two-gallon jug. The kiosk won’t take pennies.   I looked for well-groomed men and women, who walked in or out of the grocery store by the kiosk. I tried to get their attention. Why did they turn away from me? That morning, I took a shower, shampooed my hair, and wore clean clothes that matched. With the words, ma’am, or sir, I addressed each adult with respect to no avail. Maybe someone put a sign…

Read More

A Chat with Author Kathleen Rouser

, by

Davalynn Spencer here, welcoming author Kathleen Rouser with her historical romance, Secrets and Wishes, set in Stone Creek, Michigan, in 1901. Kathleen, please give us a brief overview of the story. Widowed Maggie Galloway and Thomas Harper clash after their sons collide in a fistfight. When an epidemic reaches Stone Creek and a snake-oil salesman’s potions put innocent children in danger, Thomas and Maggie must work together to save lives. Maggie not only battles to help the townsfolk, she also battles to know which man—Thomas or her former beau—deserves to win her heart.  What an intriguing plot. I understand this…

Read More

Book Review: Reflections on the Names of God: 180 Devotions to Know God More Fully

, by

Reflections on the Names of God: 180 Devotions to Know God More Fully Every name God calls Himself and every name His people have called Him holds clues to who He is, how He relates to His children, and the promises He has made—and kept. This devotional offers you a wonderful opportunity to spend time each day getting to know God more intimately by exploring His names and attributes. Perfect for both new Christians and longtime believers, these life-changing devotions will help you discover something new about who God is, who you are, and how you relate to others.  …

Read More

Book Review: Love Reunited

, by

Love Reunited is a contemporary Christian romance released on April 29 and is book 3 in A Divine Love Series.  Elizabeth Carlson turns heads wherever she goes but has never moved on from Tyler Williams, with whom she shared a whirlwind relationship her senior year of high school. After only a month together, Elizabeth ran away from her past and her broken family. Ten years later, Tyler comes crashing back into her life, eager for a second chance. But she can’t forgive him for the order he issued all those years ago. Slowly, a high school romance turns into so…

Read More

God Uses Unusual Teachers!

, by

by Ava Pennington We always had dogs during our forty-year marriage. And every dog had a very distinctive personality, much like people. My current dog is no exception. But ever since my husband died several years ago, Daisy has raised her antics to a whole new level. Daisy is an eight-year-old boxer who is both a blessing to my writing and a curse. Well, maybe not a curse, but she can definitely be a trial. Don’t get me wrong, I love her and her antics. But there have been times when I’m in the middle of writing and the words are flowing…

Read More

Book Review: Keeping Hope Alive: Devotions for Strength in the Storm

, by

A timely book for our circumstances! Storms of life will strike. It’s not a matter of “if” but “when” and how fierce the winds will blow. We need strength—God’s strength—to survive those storms. With personal stories and insightful perspectives, Grace Fox brings you ninety daily devotions of hope. Each day’s devotion includes a key Bible verse, a time to pause and read, and then an action step or a question to ponder. There’s also a short prayer for the moment and an encouraging quote from others who have walked through times of crisis. Check out this review: No writer brings…

Read More

How a Cat Changes its…um…Fur

, by

Today’s edition of Fascinating Fridays comes from CAN member Robin Currie. Thank you for bringing us your animals’ eyewitness account of the Nativity story today, Robin! I published Eyewitness Animals, Christmas Story, (Standard Publishing, now out of print) in the summer of 1997 about the Nativity story though the eyes of seven different animals who may have been there. They did not talk to humans but observed them and made internal comments. The animals all had names that described them. The usual ones were Clomper, Donkey, Wooly Lamb, and Sandy Camel. Then I added Twitter Sparrow observing angel activity in Galilee,…

Read More