Dating, Dining and Desperation

Daphne Ballinger doesn't have to worry about her biological clock ticking away to find the right man to marry, she has the contingency of her late Aunt Dee's will doing that for her. Daphne has just ten months left to find a man and marry him before the contents of her Aunt Dee's Victorian home, the remaining money in the bank, car and home will be sold. With all her hopeful prospects running out, Daphne isn't quite sure what the point to all of this rush to find a husband was if she loses everything her Aunt Dee ever owned. While maintaining and writing Dear Daphne, her late Aunt's advice column in the paper, she spends her day looking for love in quite literally all the wrong places.

Even the men she has a slight interest in, suddenly seem to be giving off mixed signals from her Aussie landscaper Mick, to the shy and quiet Ricardo, owner and chef of Midge's Dinner. Even her Aunt Dee's attorney Jake seems to have found interest in someone else and thus Daphne doesn't know quite where to begin looking for love any longer. That is, until her new neighbor moves in, outgoing and gorgeous Southern Belle, Sabrina Fontaine, who takes it upon herself to find Daphne the perfect husband. Now if she can only get Daphne to take a hard look at herself in the mirror and see that she hasn't been exactly laying out the welcome mat to eligible suitors in the way she's been maintaining her own personal appearance. But soon Daphne finds more than just the motivation she needs in her friendship with Sabrina, she finds someone that needs her as much as she needs to be needed. Along with her obnoxious wiener dog she has faithfully named Tootsie Roll, soon Daphne is introducing her new neighbor to everyone in the neighborhood. What she doesn't understand is why she is suddenly jealous when all heads turn when Sabrina smiles, especially at her landscaper Mick!

In her latest novel in the Dear Daphne series, Dating, Dining and Desperation, from best selling author Melody Carlson seem to wrap up just what the reader will find in the second novel in this charming and humorous series. I couldn't help but find myself picturing Kristin Chenowith as the delightful Sabrina Fontaine. Now on the mend from her own divorce, Sabrina uncovers just why Daphne needs to find a husband and she takes it upon herself to boldly go where Daphne won't finding her dates with all the local single men in town. Even manages a surprise speed dating session where it seems like Daphne has met her match. You truly gain a sense for how wonderful it would be to be a part of the town of Appleton, to stop for a bite to eat at Midge's where Ricardo's culinary creations are literally out of this world.

I received Dating, Dining and Desperation by Melody Carlson compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and B and H Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. I can't wait to read the next novel in this series, because Melody breathes such life into her characters that you truly believe your there with them in the town of Appleton. Crossing my fingers with whom she might end up with but most of all, it's seeing how much Daphne has grown since coming to the town of Appleton and how she truly has a genuine love for every single person she meets, not just the eligible men! I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information about Dating Dining and Desperation, Melody Carlson or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Dating, Dining and Desperation by Melody Carlson

You can also find Melody Carlson on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Dating, Dining and Desperation, please visit Christian Fiction Blog Alliance's Book Tour Page. 

• Series: A Dear Daphne Novel
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: B&H Books (March 1, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433679310
• ISBN-13: 978-1433679315
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches

A Christmas Carol 2

I've often wondered what ever happened after Ebenezer Scrooge discovered the true meaning of Christmas. Did he remain grateful and continue to keep Christmas in his heart every day instead of once a year? What ever happened to his faithful employee Bob Cratchit or his family that he was reunited with before he died? What if hidden somewhere for more than 170 years was a copy of the sequel to A Christmas Carol that provided those answers of just what happened to our beloved characters years later? Well that is just what you'll find with a dose of comedy in the novel, A Christmas Carol 2: The Return of Scrooge by Robert J. Elisberg.

The story is written in a Charles Dickens manner in which all of the characters from Dicken's novels make an appearance in this delightful tale of Scrooge's return now as the ghost appearing to Bob Cratchit, whose generosity has now brought the company of Scrooge and Marley on the verge of bankruptcy. Scrooge returns as Marley did to remind Bob of the implications of his generosity without consideration and he is back to teach Bob the value of money. You will find such delightful characters interwoven in this Christmas tale like Oliver Twist, Samuel Pickwick, Uriah Heep, David Cooperfield and many many more.

 There are some play on words and phrases from Dicken's classic works, Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, David Cooperfield and more as the characters remain in their respective stories and utter the now famous sayings. For example when Oliver Twist arrives in Bob Cratchit's office while men are there to solicit their annual holiday donations from him, Oliver Twist arrives to discuss his salary, "Please sir, I want some more." Bob isn't sure what he means in which Oliver replies, "I've been at Scrooge and Marley's for over two years now," the young man said with resolve. "I arrive at dawn and am here 14 hours later. I've saved many an account, Mr. Cratchit, sir. And sir, I'm 23 years old now, and am paid almost nothing, apprentice wages. Please sir."

Cratchit replies, "Done, as the cook said to the roast after taking it from the oven. You shall have it." He put out his hand to seal the agreement. "I'll triple your salary next week. A new start for the New Year. How's that?" It is Oliver that seems to understand common sense when it comes to money but Cratchit doesn't seem to be overly concerned.

Since the novel is based loosely around the concept that this is the actual lost manuscript from Charles Dickens, the author incorporates the use of footnotes throughout this book to guide the reader through unfamiliar characters, names and events of the period he believes are what Charles Dickens would have added if he did in fact write this book. It is an amusing look at what might have become of poor Bob Cratchit and a truly must have for fans of Charles Dicken's literary works.

I received A Christmas Carol 2: The Return of Scrooge by Robert J. Elisberg compliments of Third Road Press and Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This would make a great Christmas gift to anyone who loves to add to their Christmas fiction collection. I would rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars. I found the footnotes a bit confusing and opted to skip those initially on my first read through to keep the continuity of the storyline moving forward and went back and reviewed those during my second pass through the book. I love the authors use of cynical humor throughout this book and those quirky famous lines that interlace the conversations in the story.

For more information about A Christmas Carol 2: The Return of Scrooge, Robert J. Elisberg or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

A Christmas Carol 2: The Return of Scrooge by Robert J. Elisberg

To read more reviews on A Christmas Carol 2 from the Pump Up Your Book Tour, please click here. 

 You can find Robert J. Elisberg on his website by clicking here. 

• Paperback: 156 pages
• Publisher: Third Road Press (November 28, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615727573
• ISBN-13: 978-0615727578
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches

Cruising Attitude

I'm sure most of you have flown before and have had the opportunity at sometime to interact with a flight attendant. I think there are quite a few details we, as passengers, never consider when flying and that's just how hard of a job, flight attendants actually have. It takes more than a nicely dressed attendant who smiles graciously as you enter and sets about to make sure your flight is enjoyable.

In the book, Cruising Attitude by Heather Poole, a reader is taken on a behind the scenes tour of what it takes to make it to a flight attendant. From the long and grueling training most don't pass, to the crazy stories of some of the things passengers expect while flying. Not to mention just where do they go in between flights, what happens when flights are delayed and what are some of the perks about being a flight attendant.

Heather Poole has been a flight attendant for various airline companies in the past fifteen years and has seen it all. Things we would never think about but that people have tried, done and some have been arrested for. She shares some celebrity encounters without mentioning the names of just how some use their status and some are strictly just like us as passengers. I think for me the most unusual story is that flight attendants don't get paid until the plane leaves the gate, which means, when faced with delays, they aren't getting paid to hear our complaints. Another crazy story is one passenger who packed his deceased mother in a garment bag to get her to her final destination to avoid the exorbitant fees to have her shipped any other way.

This book is packed with amazing and down-right shocking stories of just what a career in being a flight attendant really is like and for me, makes me appreciate what they do a whole lot more. Never will I see them the same after reading this great book. I received this book compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review and LOVED it! This one rates a perfect 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and look forward to sharing this one with my readers. If you're a frequent flyer or are just interested in what it takes to be a flight attendant, you'll definitely want to check this book out.

For more information about this book, the author and where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the link below:

Cruising Attitude by Heather Poole

LOL with God

A Cheerful Heart is still good medicine!

In LOL with God: Devotional Messages of Hope & Humor for Women, authors Pam Farrel and Dawn Wilson provide short, easy-to-read devotions to encourage women with humor and Scripture, and leave them feeling revived and refreshed. Avowed "texters" Pam and Dawn use the them of sending and receiving text messages throughout the book as a unifying feature. But for texters and non-texters alike, this devotional shares personal stories from women who have learned to "choose joy!" and offers a fresh perspective of living in God's presence.

So get ready to be encouraged and to laugh out loud!

In today's information highway, this devotional for women of all ages really does hit home. Throughout the book you will not only learn about the scriptures from the Bible relating to each story presented by along the way learn how to text just like your teens do. Here's a classic example of what the book entails:

Hw do U kp a txtr in suspense? I'll tel U l8r.

Translated: How do you keep a texter in suspense? I'll tell you later!

In addition the book is laid out using scripture as a text message then highlights that particular passage with what it means to the authors like any normal devotional followed up with a great story of humor and laughter guaranteed to make you smile and laugh along.

I received this wonderful and refreshing book compliments of Tyndale House Publishers for my honest review and can't wait to share some of the insights with my family and friends! This book can be given to anyone women from 13 on up and can definitely see the multiple benefits of this unique devotional. This rates a 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information on this book, the authors and where to purchase a copy for yourselves, please click on the title below:

LOL with God