Ps 91 (NKJV)

3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the perilous pestilence.4 He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day,6 nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

How Do I Trust?

Trust is something I have just recently realized I have issues with. Let me explain.

Last week, my husband and I went to Chattanooga, TN for an overnight stay at a bed and breakfast--his anniversary present to me. :)  We were chatting about having friends on the way home and something he said hit me hard. "You have issues with trust. You never want to be hurt...not physically, emotionally, or spiritually."

He left the next day to take our almost-16-yr. old son skiing, so I've had the last week to ponder and pray about his statement. And I realize he's right. I don't trust.

Why? Because many people early in my life broke the bond of trust.

I have only a few memories of my childhood. A psychologist would say it's a coping mechanism, and I'm sure it is. You see my brother (14 yrs older than me) sexually molested me for many years. BROKEN TRUST. 


I have a vague memory of my mother walking in on "us" once. For a long time I thought I imagined it. Shortly before she died (I was in my 30's by then), I asked her about the "memory". She confirmed its truth and went on to state that she never left me alone with him again, but I know that can't be true (though I don't remember for sure). One memory I do have is when he returned home from an extended time away--I was a preteen or young teenager (I don't remember exactly)--I told him to leave me alone because I could get pregnant (public schools taught me something LOL). BROKEN TRUST.

My parents separated when I was 14. I don't think I saw or heard from my dad again until I was close to 16. At that time, I went to stay with him (and my grandparents) for two weeks. He wouldn't let me drive anywhere and I was bored and wound up leaving early. I didn't see him again until the day before my wedding (I was almost 21). BROKEN TRUST. (BTW, I don't think he knew about the molestation, ever.)

In my freshman year of high school, I dated a guy several years older than me. I can see now I was looking for someone to love me. We dated for a little over a year. He even asked me to marry him. *snort* I was so young. (Yes, my mother knew. No, she didn't discourage the relationship. She even took me to the health center for BC pills.) Said boyfriend broke up with me for a girl he worked with. I'd given him more than he deserved and he BROKE MY TRUST.

I could go on, but you can see why it's difficult for me to open myself up to others, allow them in to who I really am. I'm not even sure I know how to do that. I put on a good show. I can smile, joke, and get along with people as good as anyone, but I don't trust anyone with the real me-the one who feels things deeply.

Unfortunately, it doesn't just extend to humans. I sometimes fail to trust God, too. He knows my deepest, darkest secrets and loves me anyway. Why can't I trust Him always, in all things?

So I'll ask my question again...how do I trust? 

Blessings,
Ginger

PS. It's taken a great deal of courage to actually post this blog. Please be kind.


Monday, February 25, 2013

Review: Key Witness by Christy Barritt AND Something Beautiful by K. Dawn Byrd

I'll be honest...and you know this is true because I've said before...I LOVE to read. I would be happy to have a stack of books beside me, a nice cup of hot tea in one hand and a book or my iPad loaded with a book in the other hand. Who cares what the weather is outside? Eating? Not necessary. Communication? Over-rated. Just give me a book.

Unfortunately, I can read books faster than I can write the reviews I promised. I have a number of volumes sitting on my desk, waiting for me to fulfill my obligations. So today starts that responsibility. Join me as I review a few of the books I've been reading lately.

Key Witness by Christy Barritt

This is the second Christy Barritt book I've read, and I was not disappointed. Key Witness had plenty of the romance I love, and was jam-packed full of suspense from the very first sentence.

I read it straight through. The thought of putting it down never crossed my mind and I look forward to her next novel.

About the book:
When Elle Philips witnesses an armed robbery while standing in line at the bank, she sets into motion a deadly game of cat and mouse. Mark Denton, a security contractor and former navy SEAL, also witnesses the robbery, and is hired by Elle's father to keep his daughter safe following the incident. And while Denton's desire to protect Elle goes beyond professional bounds, he cannot let personal desires cloud his judgment—judgment he'll have to rely on when the robbers' true motives are revealed…and Elle becomes a target in the ultimate plot of revenge.
Rating: 5 stars


Something Beautiful by K. Dawn Byrd

Opposites attract. It's been proven over and over. When they do, it's not always easy to make the differences less important than the similarities.

In Something Beautiful, K. Dawn Byrd has two people, who happen to be opposites, falling in love. However, the trials they face might keep them from their happily-ever-after. Antony and Lauren's story challenged me to consider how I view other people. Very enjoyable.

About the book:

Lauren Milton has always followed the rules, but when she meets Antony Marcos, she discovers just how much fun it is to do her own thing. When Antony, the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks, professes his love for her, her life is complete. He's her soul mate, but when she finds that he's harboring secrets, can she forgive him? 
Lauren has PTSD from the car accident that killed her boyfriend and her mother. Can she face her greatest fears while risking everything for the guy she loves? Can they overcome the obstacles facing them to find their happily ever after?
Antony is terrified that his secrets will destroy their relationship when Lauren finds out the truth. Does he tell the truth and face losing her or continue his activities, possibly placing her in danger? Can they make things work even though her family and friends are against him? 

Rating: 4 stars

Enjoy these two books. Come back in the next few days for more reviews from this insatiable reader.

Blessings,
Ginger


Saturday, February 23, 2013

Another random Saturday...

Yep. All the way random.

Stayed up late last night--12:30 a.m.  I know, not late for some of you, however I am usually putting my head on the pillow by 10:30 p.m. I was reading Prophetess, sequel to Winter, by Keven Newsome. I'll be posting my review soon, so look for it. ;)

I learned how to operate WordPress this morning, as I will be co-blogging with some fellow writers at Writing Prompts & Thoughts & Ideas...Oh My! starting in March. My posts will appear on the second Tuesday of every month. Come check it out.

I also prepared my garage to receive my new chicks, due this week. (Yes, this is the bottom half of a doghouse.) I start the babies in the garage and when they get too big for that enclosure, but are still too small to move to the big chicken coop, I put them in a stall in the barn. It had to be repaired slightly since one of our dogs decided it was a good place to dig. In the big coop, I have a hen brooding. I set aside a little space that I hope she'll use if and when any of her eggs hatch. I am not counting on any of her chicks surviving. It will be an added bonus if they do.

What's going on at your house this weekend?

Blessings,
Ginger

Monday, February 18, 2013

Writing Action Scenes, Part 2, by Harry Wegley.


Welcome back, Harry. I'm so excited about the post below, I'm not going to say much. Let's get to it. :)

Writing Action Scenes: Part 2 - Putting It All 
Together
Harry (H. L.) Wegley

You might want to review the list of guidelines we accumulated in Part 1 of this post.

As your scene unfolds, I suggest iterating through the guidelines asking, “How can I…” You will come up with a lot of ideas. Choose those that best fit into a logical sequence of events.

Let’s take a look at some examples extracted from a chase scene in my novel, Hide and Seek. As this scene begins, the protagonists, Lee and Jennifer, have uncovered a sinister cyber-espionage plot. They’re leaving a defense contractor’s compound to explain their findings to the head of Computing Security. We begin in the parking lot in Lee’s point-of-view:

The area lit up like mid-day. A deafening boom sounded behind him. The shock wave blindsided him with the force of an NFL linebacker, knocking him forward to the concrete. He stuck out his arm to protect his face. His body rode on his right forearm for several feet, while the rough concrete rasped off his coat sleeve and much of the skin underneath it.
He lay sprawled out on the parking lot pavement.
His mind struggled to comprehend what had happened.
When he picked himself up, he shook his head to remove the cobwebs. There were too many of them. Blood ran down his right forearm. Pain brushed some of the cobwebs away.
Explosion.
His arm burning and his ears ringing, he stood and looked for the source of the blast. It came from what had been his car—from what was now only a blackened shell. The sense of loss hit him in his gut. He might never be able to replace that car. He brushed away a few more cobwebs. The clearing of his mind brought a bigger worry. Better a bombed car than a bombed body. But the bombing attempt had failed, so…
He emptied the air from his lungs and drew a deep breath. His pulse quickened. The realization hit him like a stinging slap on the face. They were in big trouble, but the incoming flak wouldn’t be the kind that got you fired. It would be the kind that got fired at you—bullets from people who killed to keep secrets.
Despite their delicate search on the infected computer, their foray must’ve triggered attention, and it wasn’t all coming from some hacker halfway around the world.
Jennifer stood motionless by her car, staring across the parking lot at the blackened remains of Lee’s Mustang.
He sprinted toward her. “Jennifer, start your car, now!”
She jumped toward her car door, eyes wide with fear.
A staccato stream of gunshots sounded from near the gate shack as Lee slid into her sedan.
A large, black SUV turned from the street. It sped past the gate shack and into the parking lot. The headlights swung in an arc, the light beams stopping on Jennifer’s car. The SUV rolled down the lot toward them.
He fought to control his racing thoughts. “Go, go, go! Turn left into the next lot, and floor it straight through to the street.”
“Are you sure it’s us they’re after?” Her voice shook.
“Shall we stop and ask them, Jenn?”
Jennifer jerked toward him, mouth open and frowning.
What did I say?
This wasn’t the time to analyze her response. “Jenn, we’ve got to make it to the police station.”
Her head jerked around again.
Why was she looking at him? “Watch where you’re going, Jenn. They’re coming, that black SUV.” Lee rolled down his fogged window. “They shot at Randy, and they weren’t using a single-shot .22.”

Jennifer and Lee’s goal changed immediately from disclosing their findings to staying alive. I want to keep them on the run for the next 100 pages. To accomplish that, they must lose their ability to communicate.

In a road race, her small sedan would be no match for the powerful SUV.
She said nothing, hands gripping the steering wheel as she focused on driving.
“Just do whatever you have to do to keep them from closing on us. I'm calling 911, now.” Lee reached for his cell phone.
“What's the best way to the police station?” Her voice was stronger, as if she’d come to grips with what was happening,
Gutsy woman. Good. Because their survival depended on her.
“Turn right onto North Park. Keep going south. You’ll come to it.”
He stuck his head out the window and looked at the headlights behind them.
The SUV angled straight across the parking lot. Its driver ignored the rows, sidewalks, everything. The gunmen would overtake them in a few seconds. The bright headlights vibrated as the vehicle bounced over all of the concrete curbs and parking space dividers in its path. Their pursuer’s two-fold intent became clear.
Keep them from heading south toward the police, and get within easy firing range.
If they turned south, their pursuers might cut behind the building, cut them off on Park, then cut them down with their weapons. “Turn left. Get behind that building. Then left on North Park.”
She flashed him a glance and another frown. “What? Away from the police station?”
“If you wanna stay alive, do it.”

Jennifer now becomes the plausible path of escape. She’s smart, gutsy, and can handle a car. But we stack the deck against her and Lee by giving the bad guys assault rifles and Jennifer a small car.

Jennifer yanked the wheel to the left.
Lee’s body slammed against the side of the car.
Their pursuers whipped around, accelerating to intercept them before Jennifer could put the building between them. Two guns jutted through the windows of the SUV and swung toward them.
“They’re gonna shoot! Get around the building.”
Jennifer responded quickly despite her panic, accelerating across the next parking lot, pressing Lee back in the seat.
But the headlights behind them loomed too close.
Gripping the arm rest, he thumbed his cell phone open. “Go Jenn! Get—”
Bullets sprayed from an automatic weapon, shattering the top of the sedan’s rear window.
Like buckshot, fragments of glass pelted Lee's head and left hand. His cell flew from his fingers. Blood trickled down the back of his neck and his left hand, while his cell phone danced on top of the dash.
His left hand throbbed. He swept his right hand across the dashboard, attempting a backhand catch.
Jennifer clipped a curb. The sharp bump launched the cell phone up into the air.
When he tried to catch it in midair, it bounced off the heel of his hand. His hopes of reaching a 911 operator flew out the window with his cell.

We finally got rid of that cell phone. The chase continues onto streets, through an alleyway (which I’ve omitted). Now it’s time for a short breather.

He blew the air from his lungs then tried to take a calming breath. “I don't see any headlights.”
Jennifer replicated his breathing exercise. “Maybe we lost them.” She glanced his way. “You’re bleeding.”
“It’s nothing. Just cuts from the glass.”
“There’s a pack of tissues in the glove box.”
“Thanks, but I’d rather have a cell phone. Do you have one with you?”
“No. I left my phone and…well, some other things at the computer lab before I drove over to National Aerospace. Didn’t know what I could take through your security. And, Lee…I’ll bet you don’t play shortstop, do you?”
Lee studied her face. Sarcastic or…he couldn’t tell. “No, I pitch.”
“Sorry about the bad hop I gave you—you know, just before it went out the window. Do think we lost them?”
“Maybe, but I'd recommend you just keep it floored as much as possible. We've got to make sure they can’t find us.”
“We’re on city streets. I’ll do my best. But what about the police station?”
He looked down the street. “Let's get further west before we turn south and work our way back. Make sure you avoid the freeway. They could run us down easily there. No place to hide.”

That’s enough air. It’s time for more action and more danger. Since this post is growing a bit too long, here’s a brief summary of the action that follows.

I gave Jennifer a Corolla so she and Lee wouldn’t stand a chance on the freeway, then I forced her onto the interstate. There I provided another plausible path of escape, 3 sixteen-wheelers driving as a convoy in lane 2 of 4 lanes. Jennifer forces her car between the trucks twice to avoid automatic weapon fire.

During the remainder of the chase, they two are chased away from the city into a mountainous region, Lee’s childhood stomping grounds. Their only weapon for the next 75 pages is Lee’s knowledge of the area. This is where I wanted them – two geniuses pitted against three armed goons in a war between wits and weapons, a game of Hide and Seek.


Wow, a big thank you to Harry Wegley (H.L. Wegley) for giving us a sneak peak into how to effectively write actions scenes. I might have to add a few to my romances. :)

What do you think? Would a car chase work in 17th century Scotland? Yeah, probably not. I could always make it a horse chase.  LOL 

What ideas does this give you for your own personal writing? If you're not a writer, but a reader...do you like to read scenes like the above? What do you like about it?

Blessings,
Ginger


Friday, February 15, 2013

Writing Action Scenes: Part 1, by Harry Wegley


Today I welcome Harry (H.L.) Wegley to A Bed of Roses...Thorns Included.

Harry has retired from careers as a Meteorologist, Computer Systems Programmer, Intelligence Analyst. He just recently began writing novels and is a member ACFW, OCW, & NCWA (per his blog profile).

He enjoys writing and reading and makes his home in the upper Northwest. You can find out more about Harry here.


Writing Action Scenes: Part 1 - Advice from the Pros
Harry (H. L.) Wegley

Lee Lofland on his web site, The Graveyard Shift, gives a cardinal rule to follow for action scenes. Keep things realistic by giving your protagonist a plausible way out. http://www.leelofland.com/wordpress/place-your-hero-in-a-good-light/
One thing I like to do is make it appear there’s no way out, then using clues I’ve already given the reader, find a clever, but dangerous, way out that was there all along but no one, including the reader, sees it until the last second, when it pops into the mind of the protagonist.

One of the best basic articles on writing action scenes that I’ve seen is by Linda Adams, Thriller: Writing the Action Scene http://fmwriters.com/Visionback/Issue32/thriller.htm

Here’s a subset of things Linda talks about in her article. The writer must plan the scene in advance and make the stakes high enough to justify dangerous or desperate action. Our protagonists don’t do dangerous things without very compelling reasons. Also, you must pace the action so the reader can catch their breath. Personally I like to hold them under water until just before they drown, then let them draw just enough air to sustain life and shove them down again. But don’t continue doing this for too long because the reader will take a break from your story if you don’t give them one – maybe a permanent break. Linda also says scenes should be credible, and they should have a goal. That goal must be relevant to the story. You should not be putting in action just for action’s sake.

Other things Linda mentions are omitting unnecessary details that slow the story down. It’s OK to have those details in your mind as you write, but you can’t convey them all to the reader without bogging down the story. Another effective mechanism is to maintain a ticking time bomb to keep the reader white-knuckled as they hold the book (or e-reader).

Finally, keep it simple. If complex logic or abstract thinking are required to follow the fast moving action, the reader is lost. To follow your story, they either have to reread the entire scene or move on, scratching their heads and wondering if there will be more stuff they won’t be able to follow.

There are other techniques you can use to enhance your action scenes, such as using short choppy sentences with single actions in them during the fast-moving parts of the scene.
Comic relief is sometimes needed. I like to use a five or ten second lull as an opportunity for one of the protagonists to say something funny (sometimes ironic) to the other. It may not be intentionally funny, but it gives the reader a smile and a little relief right before you sock them in the face with something really dangerous, something that makes the protagonist’s words even more saturated with irony.

A final guideline comes from Jeff Gerke, who says we should emphasize the “or else factor.” What happens if the protagonist fails during the action scene? Make the stakes clear and high for maximum impact.

Let’s look at the list of guidelines for writing action scenes we have accumulated so far:
  1. your protagonist(s) should have a goal that’s relevant to the story
  2. give your protagonist(s) a plausible path of escape
  3. high danger should be accompanied by equally high stakes
  4. pace the action, let the reader catch their breath
  5. omit unnecessary detail
  6. keep things simple during the action
  7. shorten your sentences during the height of action
  8. use an “or else factor” or a ticking time bomb to heighten suspense
  9. don’t be afraid to inject a little humor for relief
 
Any given action scene will seldom use all of these guidelines. But any plausible action scene will have a thread of logic running through it. By ensuring that this thread is a logically connected sequence of plausible events, we can extend or intensify the action as needed. With a little analysis of our scenes, we can find places to intensify the action.

In the next post on action scenes, I’ll provide some examples taken from my book, Hide and Seek. While these are not perfect examples, they will show how I introduced elements into the scene that intensified the action.

References:
Writer’s Digest October 2012, Raising the Stakes in Your First 50 Pages, Jeff Gerke pp50-52


Thank you, Harry. I will have to think of ways to incorporate this information into my own writing.

Okay my little readers (spoken with the voice of the wicked witch of the west from the Wizard of Oz) what is your favorite action scene, either from a book or a movie? Why? What pulled you in?

Mine is the very first scene of Mary Conneally's Sharpshooter in Petticoats when Tom is dangling on the edge of the cliff waiting for Lady Gray to look away so he could climb up and capture her heart. Just loved that scene. Of course, Harry put so many such scenes in Hide and Seek it would be hard to name just one, but the one that sticks out the most is when Jennifer and Lee are in a cave, free-climbing the wall to escape, and their pursuers enter and start shining a light on the walls looking for them. Action packed for sure. :)

Blessings,
Ginger


Thursday, February 14, 2013

Happenings on the Farm

I have this intense desire to write a blog, but as I sit here to write nothing amazing, or incredible occurs to me.

Instead I'll write about things happening here at the farm.

*It's clean-up time. This past weekend, my husband trimmed the grape vines and sprayed our fruit trees. I transplanted a few rogue crepe myrtle saplings, trimmed the crepe myrtle mom (tree from which the saplings came from), transplanted a trumpetvine (I hope), trimmed a butterfly bush, and pruned a lilac bush--with the help of my children.

*My husband has started his seedlings of broccoli, and probably some other stuff that I don't know about.

*I've started incubating chicken eggs (from our hens) for a new batch of chicks. One of my hens has decided to make her own batch. Usually I steal her eggs, but I've decided that I'll just leave her this year and see if she can successfully raise a brood of babies. They're so cute when they're brand new. The cute goes away real quick though.

*Nearly got kicked in the head by one of my mares today. When it finally dries up I've got some work to do to remind them who's the boss.

*My husband and son will be taking a trip soon for my third son's 16th birthday. He's decided to go skiing--glad I don't have to take him. The last son who took a trip came home with a broken arm. Pray with me that they'll both come home without significant injury. :)

*Two and a half weeks ago I sent my completed manuscript (an inspirational Scottish Historical Romance) to an editor and an agent. It has been the longest few weeks of my LIFE, I think. Well, maybe not--those last few weeks before my due dates were pretty slow. LOL

*Next week--after my birthday, of course--I will be starting the Shred diet by Dr. Ian Smith. I plan to follow the guidelines closely and hope to lose a lot of weight.

Okay, so what has your February been like? What do the next few weeks look like for you? Are you as ready for Spring weather as I am?

Blessings,
Ginger


HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!



Monday, February 11, 2013

Review: Hide and Seek by H.L. Wegley


Wow! What an exciting book. The first chapter or so had some difficult to read technical computer stuff, but if you read past it--it's only in a few paragraphs, not throughout the novel--the story really comes alive and pulls you along for a  heart-stopping ride.

Hide and Seek by H.L. Wegley is a definite keeper if you love suspense with a touch of romance. :)

More about the book:

A computer security breach within a US defense contractor’s firewalls leads investigators, Lee Brandt and beautiful, brilliant Jennifer Akihara, onto the cyber-turf of terrorists, where they are detected and targeted for elimination. Lee leads them on a desperate and prayer-filled flight for survival into the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Will Jennifer’s pursuit of truth about the conspiracy, and the deepest issues of life, lead her into the clutches of terrorists, into the arms of Lee Brandt, or into the arms of the God she deems untrustworthy?

Rating: 4 stars

Blessings,
Ginger

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Super...frustrated


I am super frustrated. For months I've been trying to lose weight.

Unsuccessfully.

Photo credit: eflon / Foter.com / CC BY
If anything, I am actually continuing to gain. I've been to the doctor and had a check-up. No discernible issues.

I have been exercising, eating less, lessening carbs, cutting out sodas, and a myriad of other things. Nothing is helping.

I'll lose a few pounds one week and the next put those back on and a little more. It's been this way for the last few years to the tune of almost fifty pounds.

I don't know what else to do.

So there it is.

Blessings,
Ginger






Monday, February 4, 2013

Unbreakable by Nancy Mehl, review




Unbreakable by Nancy Mehl plops us down in the remote Mennonite town of Kingdom. Though this is book two in the Road to Kingdom series, it is not necessary to read book one to enjoy it. I do suggest you do so, however. You can find my review of Inescapable here.

Trouble has come to Kingdom and the residents are divided on how to proceed. Hope Kauffman understands both sides, and ultimately questions her belief in the old ways. She also finds herself with trouble of her own. Two very different men have declared their love for her, but she can only choose one.

I thoroughly enjoyed this romantic suspense and look forward to any books by Ms. Mehl.


Back cover:

Gentle and unassuming Hope Kauffman has never been one to question or try to make changes. She quietly helps her father run Kingdom Quilts and has agreed to the betrothal her father arranged for her with the devout but shy Ebbie Miller. 
Despite Hope's and other Kingdom residents' attempts to maintain the status quo, changes have already begun to stir in the small Mennonite town. The handsome and charismatic Jonathon Wiese is the leader of the move to reform, and when one of Kingdom's own is threatened by a mysterious outsider, Jonathon is one of the first to push for the town to arm itself. Hope's fiance, Ebbie, is at the forefront of those demanding the town stay true to its traditions of nonviolence. 
When strange incidents around town result in outright attacks on several townspeople, Hope can't help but question what she's always been taught. As the town that's always stood so strong together is torn apart at the seams, Hope is caught between opposing sides, both represented by those she has come to care for. With tensions high and lives endangered by an unknown threat, Hope fears Kingdom can never survive in one piece.

Rating: 4 stars

Blessings,
Ginger

Friday, February 1, 2013

Another Christmas book reviewed...




I've reviewed several of Cindy Woodsmall's books in the past. Each one has blessed me in a unique way and Christmas in Apple Ridge is no different. It is a three-in-one collection, which includes The Sound of Sleigh Bells, The Christmas Singing--both of which I've read before--and The Dawn of Christmas. There are many books that I would not wish to read a second time, but I enjoyed both the first and second stories as much this time as I did when I read them originally. The third story was new and I devoured it in just a few short hours.

Oh, by the way, don't stop at the recipes (if you get the e-version) like I did after The Sound of Sleigh Bells. I felt so silly when I realized I had missed the second and third portions of the book.

If you are an Amish romance fan, you will enjoy reading Christmas in Apple Ridge.

About the stories:
The Sound of Sleigh Bells Beth Hertzler is unable to let go of a past tragedy, but when she discovers a large, intricately carved scene of Amish children playing in the snow, something deep inside Beth’s soul responds. Determined that her niece meet the gifted artist, her aunt tracks him down, but it’s not that simple – will Jonah be able to offer Beth the sleigh ride she’s always dreamed of and a second chance at real love? 
The Christmas Singing Mattie thought her childhood sweetheart adored her until he abruptly ended their engagement on Christmas Eve. Brokenhearted, Mattie moves away and pursues her longtime dream of becoming a cake decorator, and even finds a new beau. But when Mattie is forced to return home three years later, will learning the truth behind Gideon’s rejection restore her Christmas joy – or open the door to even deeper heartbreak?   
The Dawn of Christmas Sadie enjoys her freedom away from home and her mission trips to Peru, but after four years, her Old Order Amish family insists it’s time to come home and settle down. Levi, a bachelor who distrusts women after a family heartbreak, also has no desire for romance. To keep their families from meddling in their lives, Sadie and Levi devise a plan—but soon discover that the walls around their hearts are breaking down. Can they let go of their prejudices, learn to trust each other, and embrace a future together?

Rating: 4 stars

Blessings,
Ginger