Review: A Most Peculiar Circumstance by Jen Turano

A Most Peculiar Circumstance by Jen Turano is not a mediocre romance novel. Prepare to be wow'ed. Ms. Turano lives up to the standard she set with A Change of Fortune (see that review here). This novel is a beautifully written love story involving two independent individuals who want their own way. It is highly comical with a touch of suspense.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one in the Ladies of Distinction series.

Back cover:

Miss Arabella Beckett has one driving passion: to help the downtrodden women of America. Naturally, she supports the women's suffrage movement and eagerly attends rallies and lectures across the country. On her travels, she makes a simple offer of assistance to a young woman in need that goes sadly awry and lands both ladies in more trouble than they can manage. An independent sort, Arabella is loath to admit she needs help and certainly doesn't need help from an arrogant, narrow-minded knight in shining armor.

Mr. Theodore Wilder, private investigator extraordinaire, is on a mission. A mission that began as a favor to his good friend Hamilton Beckett, but swiftly evolved into a merry chase across the country. By the time he finally tracks down Hamilton's sister, Arabella, he is in a less than pleasant mood. When the lady turns out to have radical ideas and a fiercely independent streak, he soon finds himself at his wit's end.

When they return home to New York, circumstances force their paths to continue to cross, but the most peculiar feelings growing between them certainly can't be love. When the trouble Arabella had accidentally stirred up seems to have followed her to New York and threatens her very life, the unlikely couple must face the possibility that they might have landed in the most peculiar circumstance of all: love.

Rating: 5 roses

Blessings,
Ginger

Monday Musing - Hard Days

For whatever reason, yesterday was a hard day for me.

I woke up grouchy. I thought I'd slept well, but maybe not.

After getting ready and showing up to choir rehearsal on time, things began frustrating me. Normal things, not unusual things. With a concerted effort, I did not voice my irritation. But that effort drained me and I was disappointed when I came home and realized I had failed to WORSHIP and I had only sung the words without them truly affecting me.

We try not to do any work on Sundays. It's our day of rest. Everyone needs one, and if you can't do it on Sunday for whatever reason, I suggest you make sure there's another day when you can rest and relax. I'm certain our bodies need the down-time. Anyway, because of how rainy it's been here lately, we haven't been able to get the sealant down on our drive-way. It's been sitting in the shed for several weeks, waiting--there had to be three DRY days in a row following it's application. We started yesterday after lunch, but it only covered half the driveway. Bummer. Several hours on a Sunday afternoon gone, and the job couldn't be finished.

One of my sons came home for a boy scout camp-out and after unpacking realized he'd lost his wallet. We went back to the campsite and searched for over an hour without success. Such a bummer. We cancelled his debit card, and looked up how he could replace his driver's license. A few other things were in there that were irreplaceable, like a gift card, but *shrug* there's nothing to be done about it now. I've advised him to be sure to secure his wallet next time. :)

I finished the evening trying to wade through nearly 500 e-mails, but only managed 1/5th of them.

Sometimes life throws us these unexpected inconveniences. How do you manage when you wake up "on the wrong side of the bed"? How do you find the silver-lining of tough situations?

Blessings,
Ginger

Storms

As I sit on my front porch listening to the thunder roll in the distance, I'm struck with the utter magnificence of God.

Lightning flashes, and in milliseconds or sometimes minutes, boom, thunder rolls across the sky.

Today in service we sang about storms, and how Jesus is Lord of all, even in the midst of life's worst storms.


This is Hillsong singing the song I'm speaking of, Cornerstone.

Verse two:

When Darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil

Even when it feels like we're being tossed around, if we are a child of God, He will be our anchor. He'll be there to hold us steady. And as my pastor so eloquently put it, "Sometimes we're only a few feet from being out of the storm." We just have to hold on.

And just like with a storm, you can't wait until you're in the midst of trials to prepare. All the preparations need to be made beforehand.

What would you need in the midst of a natural storm?

• a safe place/shelter
• flashlights and/or candles
• radio for weather, and news updates
• batteries for above
• food that doesn't need fixing
• water for drinking and other necessities :)

What would you need in the midst of spiritual storms?

• a safe place/shelter - Psalm 91:4, "He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge...."
• light to brighten the path - Psalm 119:105, "Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path."
• Scripture - verses memorized come to mind in times like these - Proverbs 7:1-3, "My son, keep my words, and treasure my commands within you. Keep my commands and live, and my law as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
• friends who will pray and come alongside you with support - Mark 2:2-5, "Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, 'My child, your sins are forgiven.'"

We've all had storms in our lives. Can you name some things I've missed?

If you're in the midst of a storm, I would love to pray with you. My e-mail is at the upper left hand side of this post, just below my picture. Click on it and tell me how I can pray with you, or you can post it in the comments below.

Blessings,
Ginger