Love Finds You in Daisy, Oklahoma

Sometimes you feel like God is pulling at you, calling you to greater things than you ever felt possible. Seeing a vase of daisies it seemed like something had been missing from Rena Jewel's life, something more than just the emptiness she felt from the loss of her parents when she was 14. It was more than just her Aunt and Uncle who came immediately and offered her a home filled with love. Despite all her charitable work for the Mission Society, Rena felt God calling her. She knew she found her answer in a letter advertising for help running an orphanage in Daisy, Oklahoma from the local sheriff.

Could daisies be the sign that confirmed her next path in life? All Rena knew is that she had such a passion and fire for loving children that she immediately sent her reply to Sheriff Gene Wyatt, informing him that she would arrive in October and was looking forward to helping out in any way she could. If only the letter truly explained what awaited her in Daisy, Oklahoma.

Perhaps Gene should have been a little more truthful when sending his request for help running the orphanage, but when Mrs. Wabash, the former director ran out on him, he didn't have much choice. He would let Ms. Jewel decide for herself whether she would be able to handle running the orphanage for 17 children, most of them boys, if he could only convince her to stay for a day without running away herself.

I received the novel, Love Finds You in Daisy, Oklahoma by Janice Hanna compliments of Summerside Press for my honest review, and literally finished this one in a half a day because I could not put it down. It was funny, heartwarming, sad and filled with the promise of hope and the never ending power of what love can truly do.

This reminded me of the old Disney movies, like the Apple Dumpling Gang where you have a band of orphans that are so used to being left they have no choice but to push their boundaries on the town's residents who more than want the orphanage closed. I kinda saw the interactions with the children a bit like the movie Nanny McPhee only based in 1912, in a small western town. The characters are enjoyable and truly believable and Janice Hanna did an exceptional job at giving each of the 17 children beautiful and unique personalities. In the end, I don't think I could have left any of them because they won me over and I fell in love with all of them. I rate this one a perfect 5 out of 5 stars and again have found a forever home for this lovely novel on my permanent book shelf.

For more information on Love Finds You in Daisy, Oklahoma, Janice Hanna or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Love Finds You in Daisy, Oklahoma by Janice Hanna

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Love Me Tender

What teenage girl hasn't had a crush on her favorite male singing sensation? Especially if you live in the heart of Hollywood, say in Laguna Beach, where it's likely you'll see someone famous on a weekly basis sunning themselves at the beach, just cruising Pacific Coast Highway or taking in a stroll along the many quaint shops along the beachside community. While you're there, you may even step into Sweet Sal's Soda Shop, a favorite diner of the locals that is famous for it's cheeseburgers, onion rings and out of this world chocolate malts!

Let's take this story all the way back to when teen crushes were all the rage and rock and roll music was taking over the lives of teens everywhere. Enter the 1950's. A throw back to more casual times, where walls of girls bedrooms were adorned with posters of Elvis Presley, Cary Grant or even Dick Clark! This is where the story of Love Me Tender by Janice Hanna takes place! We are introduced to the Carmichael family who owns Sweet Sal's Soda Shop and the entire family works there, serving up food until the wee hours of the night while listening to the latest music from the jukebox. Back to the time where you are served by red and white striped uniformed waitresses with their hair in pony tails and singing the latest songs!

We meet Debbie Carmichael who is just turning 20 and is trying very hard to let those childhood crushes of Bobby Conrad become a think of the past, yet she can't help it. He is after all single, around 20 himself and the possibilities of meeting him in her dreams is enough to make her weak in the knees! When she learns that her father's diner is behind in the mortgage payments and could possibly lose it due to his recent heart attack, Debbie plans a benefit concert at her families diner may just be the one thing to save her father and quite possibly meet Bobby Conrad.

Johnny Hartman arrives from Topeka, Kansas with all the boyish good lucks he needs to make it in Hollywood along with his ability to write his own original songs. Once he hooks up with the local agent Jim Jangles, Hollywood is about to discover it's next rising star on Billboards music charts. Things take a turn when Jim arranges for Johnny to come along to Sweet Sal's to negotiate a benefit for Bobby Conrad his latest rising star and it's there that Johnny finds his inspirations to his songs from a blond hair girl named Debbie.

To read more about this amazing book, you'll want to pick up a copy of Love Me Tender by Janice Hanna. It's a perfect musical 5 out of 5 stars! I received this book compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review and was transported back in time to the rock-a-billy times of the 50's! This is such a fun book with a message about how even God can use Hollywood stardom to get His message across the airwaves!

For more information on this book, the author or to read a first chapter peek, continue reading:

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Love Me Tender Summerside Press (September 1, 2010)
by Janice Hanna
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award-winning author Janice Thompson also writes under the pseudonym Janice Hanna, She got her start in the industry writing screenplays and musical comedies for the stage. Janice has published over fifty books for the Christian market, crossing genre lines to write cozy mysteries, historicals, romances, nonfiction books, devotionals, childrens books and more. In addition, she enjoys editing, ghost-writing, public speaking, and mentoring young writers. Janice currently serves as Vice-President of CAN (Christian Authors Network) and was named the 2008 Mentor of the year for ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers).



She was thrilled to be named the 2010 Barbour/Heartsong Author of the Year with three books on the top ten list for that house. Janice is active in her local writing group, where she regularly teaches on the craft of writing. Her online course, "Becoming a Successful Freelance Writer" has been helpful to many who want to earn a living with their writing. Janice is passionate about her faith and does all she can to share the joy of the Lord with others, which is why she particularly enjoys writing. She lives in Spring, Texas, where she leads a rich life with her family, a host of writing friends and two mischievous dachshunds. She does her best to keep the Lord at the center of it all.

ABOUT THE BOOK

As "Love Me Tender" plays in the background, Debbie Carmichael determines to salvage her family's restaurant, Sweet Sal's Soda Shoppe, when her father's health fails. Teen heartthrob Bobby Conrad agrees to perform at a fundraiser concert. But just two weeks before the highly publicized event, Bobby backs out of the benefit. Enter Johnny Hartman, a young, unknown singer to take Conrad's place. Debbie soon realizes the twists and turns leading up to the concert are divinely orchestrated. And it isn't dreamy Bobby Conrad who has stolen her heart - but the tender love of Johnny Hartman.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Love Me Tender, go HERE.