Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen

Saturday, December 15, 2018

4Him - A Strange Way To Save The World

Friday, December 14, 2018

First Line Fridays

After reading the opening lines for this week's book, here are my thoughts. There are no opening comments I need to make, because the beginning statements of this book make the perfect start for First Line Fridays this December. Happy reading and Merry Christmas friends!

Grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line!

Today I am going to post a line from:

Three Christmas Novellas

by Mary Connealy

And the first line is...

"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David)...And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord...The shepherds said to one another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger...The star, which they say in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was."

Luke 2:4, 2:10-11, 2:15b-16; Matthew 2:9b

Longhorn Christmas

Big Bend Region, Texas

November 1865

"The trouble with lassoing a Texas cyclone was--now you had a cyclone on the end of your rope. Then what was she going to do with it?"

Happy reading and happy Friday!

Let me know your first line in the comments & then head over to Hoarding Books to see who else is participating!

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Silent Days, Holy Night - My Review

Let's all get in the mood for Christmas with this blog tour and giveaway for Silent Days, Holy Night by Phyllis Clark Nichols, hosted by JustRead Tours.

Title: Silent Days, Holy Night
Author: Phyllis Clark Nichols
Publisher: Gilead Publishing
Release Date: October 30, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction/Christmas

The sounds of Christmases past echo through a silent house...

Everyone in town knows Emerald Crest, the green granite mansion atop the highest hill: the legendary, lavish Christmas festivities that used to light up the nights— and the silence that followed when the parties abruptly stopped many years ago. And everyone has heard whispers about the reclusive, mysterious master of the manor, Henry Lafferty the Second . . .

When eleven-year-old Julia Russell steps into the great house for the first time and meets Mr. Lafferty, the entire course of her life is altered. She meets a man who is nothing at all like the rumors she’s heard from neighbors and classmates. He’s kind and extraordinarily talented—he also happens to be deaf and uses a wheelchair. And when she overhears a secret about him, Julia decides it’s time for the town to bring Christmas back to Emerald Crest—an act that will change them all forever.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | CBD | Book Depository

Phyllis Clark Nichols’ character-driven Southern fiction explores profound human questions using the imagined residents of small town communities you just know you’ve visited before. With a strong faith and a love for nature, art, music, and ordinary people, she tells redemptive tales of loss and recovery, estrangement and connection, longing and fulfillment . . . often through surprisingly serendipitous events.

Phyllis grew up in the deep shade of magnolia trees in South Georgia. Born during a hurricane, she is no stranger to the winds of change: In addition to her life as a novelist, Phyllis is a seminary graduate, concert pianist, and cofounder of a national cable network with health- and disability-related programming. Regardless of the role she’s playing, Phyllis brings creativity and compelling storytelling.

She frequently appears at conventions, conferences, civic groups, and churches, performing half-hour musical monologues that express her faith, joy, and thoughts about life—all with the homespun humor and gentility of a true Southern woman.

Phyllis currently serves on several nonprofit boards. She lives in the Texas Hill Country with her portrait-artist husband.

CONNECT WITH PHYLLIS: website | Facebook | Twitter

Let me start by saying, this book is amazing! Usually I wait till the end of my review to say that, but I highly recommend purchasing this book for the Christmas season. This story is lovely, because it shows the depth of love a human heart can truly give—there is nothing one cannot do for another person. Christmas is the season of giving, and it is so important to remember that. The characters in this book showcase the true spirit of doing for others—even when nothing in return will be received.

I love how the author takes the reader on a journey from the present to the past—while the present is still sprinkled within the story. This technique helps the reader to better understand the main character, Julia Russell, who steps into a world outside of herself. Her curiosity and brilliant mind lead her to meeting someone who will change her life forever.

In talking about this book, I do not want to give too much away, because I want you to read it. Just know that this text touches on all the feelings of Christmas. If you love stories like It’s a Wonderful Life, then you will love this book. Happy reading and Merry Christmas!

This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to Justread Tours for my copy.

(1) winner will receive (US only):

a print copy of Silent Days, Holy Night by Phyllis Clark Nichols
a print copy of Sleigh Bells Ring by various authors

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight December 10, 2018 and last through 11:59pm December 17, 2018. US only. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Saturday, December 8, 2018

The Christmas Prayer - My Review

This new Christmas book by Wanda Brunstetter was the perfect quick read for the holiday season. I try so hard to read as many Christmas books as I can throughout the month of December, so it is always nice to include novellas like this into my to-read list. This particular story is set in the American West during the middle of the 1800’s.

A wagon train is being set up, so that people from the East can forge a new life in an exciting but unknown terrain. Cynthia Cooper is one such person who has decided to make this journey with her fiancé and mother, but she is still hesitant about her decision. Will they survive this type of perilous travel? And will she ever find peace in her heart to move forward as she believes she aught, or will her mind override her actions?

There are so many characters making the journey with Cynthia, and each one has their own set of baggage and stories to tell. Yet each individual makes the ride more interesting for Cynthia, and she does her best to engage with every person. Some of the plot change will be surprising for the reader, and the quick resolution might be to fast for some. However, it is important to remember that this is a novella; therefore, the climax comes quickly, and so the character’s endings must be tied up rather swiftly. If you enjoy a shorter read though, then this book is for you.

Have you read any other books by Brunsetter? I own several of her books, but this was the first Christmas book I have read by her. As always, please recommend some of your favorite books in the comments below. Happy reading and Merry Christmas!

This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to Barbour Publishing for my copy.

Only the brave—or foolhardy—would attempt a cross-country journey late in the season. Three wagons meet up in Independence, Missouri, in April 1850, and their owners decide to keep forging ahead despite many setbacks and delays. December finds them in the Sierra Nevada Mountains when a sudden snowstorm traps them, obscuring the trail.

Cynthia Cooper is traveling with her mother and the man she has promised to marry. But as Christmas is upon them and they are hunkered down in a small cabin, she is forced to reevaluate her reasons for planning to marry fellow-traveler Walter Prentice. When a widowed father heading to a California ranch and a gold prospector both show an interest in Cynthia, she weighs her dreams for marriage alongside her responsibility to care for her mother. Can love win over her timid heart?

Amazon / Barnes and Noble

New York Times bestselling and award-winning author, Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written close to 90 books translated in four languages. With over 10 million copies sold, Wanda's stories consistently earn spots on the nations most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards.

Wanda’s ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are well-read and trusted by many Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs.

When Wanda visits her Amish friends, she finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties. Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, bird-watching, beachcombing, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Richard, have been blessed with two grown children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

To learn more about Wanda, visit her website at: www.wandabrunstetter.com

Friday, December 7, 2018

First Line Fridays

Happy December everyone! How is everybody's start to the season? Have you checked any Christmas festivities off your list yet? I'm actually a little bit ahead this year--I've already baked cookies, wrapped some presents, and sent some Christmas cards, and I even saw the Nutcracker this year too! :)

What are some of your favorite Christmas activities or traditions? Please let me know in the comments below. As always, happy reading and Merry Christmas!

Grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line!

Today I am going to post a line from:

A Timeless Christmas

by Alexis Stanton

And the first line is...

"Megan Tucker paused to tuck a wayward strand of her curly hair into her bun, covered by her small cap, before grabbing her small candlestick from a diminutive, hand-carved table."

Happy reading and happy Friday!

Let me know your first line in the comments & then head over to Hoarding Books to see who else is participating!

Tuesday, December 4, 2018

After the Rain Cover Reveal

Genre: Contemporary, Inspirational, Romance, Christian
Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas
Publication date: February 4, 2019

A heartfelt, emotional story of the beauty and pain found in picking up the pieces and starting over after disappointment.

Brandy Bruce is a mom, a wife, a book editor, an author, and someone who really loves dessert. She’s the author of the award-winning novel The Last Summer, Looks Like Love, and The Romano Family Collection. Brandy, her husband, and their children make their home in Colorado.

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | PINTEREST | INSTAGRAM | BLOG