Rainy Day Diamonds

CFBA Book Review

rainydaydiamonds@gmail.com (Kim) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:58:00 +0000

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Fit to Be Tied
Zondervan (November 1, 2009)
by
Robin Lee Hatcher

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Robin Lee Hatcher discovered her vocation as a novelist after many years of reading everything she could put her hands on, including the backs of cereal boxes and ketchup bottles. The winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction (Whispers from Yesterday), the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance (Patterns of Love and The Shepherd's Voice), two RT Career Achievement Awards (Americana Romance and Inspirational Fiction), and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award, Robin is the author of over 50 novels, including Catching Katie, named one of the Best Books of 2004 by the Library Journal.

Robin enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, reading books that make her cry, and watching romantic movies. She is passionate about the theater, and several nights every summer, she can be found at the outdoor amphitheater of the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, enjoying Shakespeare under the stars. She makes her home outside of Boise, sharing it with Poppet the high-maintenance Papillon

ABOUT THE BOOK

Cleo Arlington dresses like a cowboy, is fearless and fun-loving, and can ride, rope, and wrangle a horse as well as any man. In 1916, however, those talents aren’t what most young women aspire to. But Cleo isn’t most women. Twenty-nine years old and single, Cleo loves life on her father’s Idaho ranch. Still, she hopes someday to marry and have children.

Enter Sherwood Statham, an English aristocrat whose father has sentenced him to a year of work in America to “straighten him out.” Sherwood, who expected a desk job at a posh spa, isn’t happy to be stuck on an Idaho ranch. And he has no idea how to handle Cleo, who’s been challenged with transforming this uptight playboy into a down-home cowboy, because he has never encountered a woman succeeding in a “man’s world.”

Just about everything either of them says or does leaves the other, well, fit to be tied. Cleo Arlington knows everything about horses but nothing about men. And though Cleo believes God’s plan for her includes a husband, it couldn’t possibly be Sherwood Statham. Could it?

Their bumpy trot into romance is frustrating, exhilarating, and ultimately heartwarming.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Fit to Be Tied , go HERE.

Watch the book video Trailer:

rainydaydiamonds@gmail.com (Kim) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:57:00 +0000

It's great to be loved!

IIIIIIIIt's Friday!

rainydaydiamonds@gmail.com (Kim) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:42:00 +0000

*walking students to the front gate thinking to myself*

"Ah, Friday, how do I love thee?

Let me count the ways..."

Eeeeeerrrrrt!

Woooo! Wooooo! Wooooo!

Crash! Bang!

Aaaaaaaaahhh!

*kids and parents with strollers flood back through the gate*

Just as kiddos were pouring out our doors on their way to a weekend full of promise and freedom, a pickup truck followed closely by several police cars careened around the corner and collided with two cars carrying students and parents. Apparently the passenger was apprehended as he tried to flee on foot, but the driver escaped. I don't know if the police continued chasing him or not.

Thankfully, no one was hurt, and the students we quickly put on lockdown were never in real danger.

Life is anything but dull in da hood.

Mom! She's Touching Me!

rainydaydiamonds@gmail.com (Kim) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 02:23:00 +0000

Puppy Love

rainydaydiamonds@gmail.com (Kim) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:00:00 +0000

It's good to know the Boxer Babes love their dogsitter.

rainydaydiamonds@gmail.com (Kim) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 02:54:00 +0000

This is only half of the closet. The other half is an old shower stall
stuffed to the gills with clothes and shoes small enough for a toddler
and large enough for her mommy.

When the school is in a high crime, high poverty area, it takes more
than excellent teachers and cutting edge technology to educate kids.

My Child is a Slave

rainydaydiamonds@gmail.com (Kim) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:41:00 +0000

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. John 8:34 (NIV)

I pains me to report that my Precious is a slave. A slave to sin, and I am at a loss. I don't know how to free her. I CAN'T free her.

All I can do is point her to the One who sets us free through His sacrifice.

But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. Romans 6:17-19 (NIV)

Answered prayer, a forbidden couch and an early morning potty (not necessarily in that order)

rainydaydiamonds@gmail.com (Kim) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:47:00 +0000

Both counselors, hers and mine, say we, she and I, are doing fine.

We are bonding.
She is growing.
Homework is done without a struggle.
She's much happier.
She takes pride in her appearance.
She's learning the violin.
She's not gotten a referral in two months of school.
She's paying attention in class.

BUT, she still keeps lying.

The good news is she is seeing God answer prayer.

I pray over her every night that He would cause her to get caught
everytime she lies. She hears me pray this night after night, and last
night He answered in a big way.

She had been told not to go into Mama Mia's room to sleep on her couch
in the middle of the night. At 3 AM when Mama Mia took an early
morning potty break from snoozing, Precious was stretched out on the
forbidden couch. But alas, when Mama Mia stepped out of the twa-let
moments later, Precious had disappeared back to her pink lair.

This morning at breakfast I praised Precious for staying in her bed
all night AND SHE LET ME.

Let's just say we were both quite taken by surprise when Mama Mia
joined us for cereal and milk and shared the tale of her early morning
visitor.

Being stuck in your room all afternoon with nothing to do but clean
and lay on your bed must really stink. Especially when you are a
people person.

On the upside, I do see changes in her reaction to the consequences
and she is beginning to understand and hurt over the natural,
consequences of lying like my not being able to trust even the little
things she says.

I have assured her that I love her very, very much - enough to keep
giving her consequence when it hurts BOTH of US.

Unfortunately, my love may not be enough. She's got to hang on tight to
Jesus and His perfect love in order to truly change, and I can't make
that happen. I can only point the way.

Pray that my aim isn't crooked.

cough cough sputter pfttt

rainydaydiamonds@gmail.com (Kim) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:19:00 +0000

Nothing like a good dust storm when you've had no rain for months!

CFBA Book Review

rainydaydiamonds@gmail.com (Kim) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:01:00 +0000

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Measure of Mercy
Bethany House (October 1, 2009)
by
Lauraine Snelling

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award-winning and best selling author Lauraine Snelling began living her dream to be a writer with her first published book for young adult readers, Tragedy on the Toutle, in 1982. She has since continued writing more horse books for young girls, adding historical and contemporary fiction and nonfiction for adults and young readers to her repertoire. All told, she has up to sixty books published.

Shown in her contemporary romances and women’s fiction, a hallmark of Lauraine’s style is writing about real issues of forgiveness, loss, domestic violence, and cancer within a compelling story. Her work has been translated into Norwegian, Danish, and German, and she has won the Silver Angel Award for An Untamed Land and a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart for Song of Laughter.

As a most sought after speaker, Lauraine encourages others to find their gifts and live their lives with humor and joy. Her readers clamor for more books more often, and Lauraine would like to comply ... if only her paintbrushes and easel didn’t call quite so loudly.

Lauraine and her husband, Wayne, have two grown sons, and live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a cockatiel named Bidley, and a watchdog Basset named Chewy. They love to travel, most especially in their forty-foot motor coach, which they affectionately deem “a work in progress”.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Eighteen-year-old Astrid Bjorklund has always dreamed of becoming a doctor. She had intended to study medicine in Chicago or Grand Forks, but when a disaster wiped out a major portion of her family's income, Astrid stayed home instead, receiving hands-on training from Dr. Elizabeth.

Joshua Landsverk left Blessing two years ago, but he's never forgotten Astrid. Returning to town, he seeks to court her.

Astrid is attracted to him, and when the opportunity unexpectedly opens for her to go to Chicago for medical training, she finds it difficult to leave. Love blossoms through their letters, but upon arriving back home, she makes a heartbreaking discovery. She learns he's left town--again. Believing Joshua no longer loves her, Astrid makes an impetuous, heart-wrenching decision.

Will she regret the choice she's made? Will she have to give up love to pursue her dream?

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Measure of Mercy, go HERE

Liar! Liar! Pants on Fire! or Does Mickey Sell Indulgences?

rainydaydiamonds@gmail.com (Kim) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:02:00 +0000

I'm exhausted so you get the skinny in list form.

Precious learned well the coping mechanism of lying.
She does it well and often.
It's gotten to the point that I verbalize to her when I am not sure I believe her - even in little things.
I check up on her often at school to make sure she is telling me the truth.
I joked with her teacher (a friend of mine at work) that I stalk the poor woman to check up on Precious.
Soon we are going to Disneyland for my birthday.
Precious almost didn't get to go because she lost her glasses TWO WEEKS ago and just came clean about it yesterday when I was finally able to catch her in the lie.
Thanks to Mama Mia who found her glasses in the school lost and found, The Happiest Place on Earth will still be happy for Precious.
My friend had offered up her spare bedroom if the glasses weren't found.
Goodness gracious I'm tired.
Did I mention I'm exhausted?
Oh, and Mickey, please don't be taken in by the cute blond with blue eyes and freckles. She's a feisty one, that girl.
Is it just me or is that the smell of burning cloth?

Hot Melted Buttah!

rainydaydiamonds@gmail.com (Kim) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:52:00 +0000

A few weeks ago I ~~salivated~~ jumped at the chance to review a promotional copy of the newest album by the sexy, soulful (Am I allowed to say that about a married man? No? Oops!) Harry "Voice Like Melted Buttah" Connick Jr.

Your Songs takes the listener on a romantic journey through love songs from the past. I saw Harry *waving- Can I call you Harry? Thanks!* in an interview some years back. I loved then how he talked about his love for traditional sounds and styles of music. In this album, he salutes not only love songs from the past but he sings with such sincerity I'd bet my last dollar he sings just like this for his own wife and daughters.

A man who values tradition, loves his wife and daughters and ~~looks~~ sings like hot melted buttah?

THAT? I can get behind!

My favorite cut from the cd? The Way You Look Tonight. It must be since the lyrics tumbled through my mind serenading me to sleep last night.

Check out the Your Songs site for more information.

CFBA Book Review

rainydaydiamonds@gmail.com (Kim) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:11:00 +0000

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Dawn's Prelude
(Bethany House - October 2009)
by
Tracie Peterson

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 70 novels. She teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research.

Ephesians 1:18 has become a cornerstone verse for a new non-fiction book she's been working on -- its also become a cornerstone in her life. The verse reads, "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints."

Tracie and her family live in Belgrade, Montana.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Newly widowed Lydia Sellers discovers that through an unforeseen fluke, she is the sole recipient of her husband's fortune. But instead of granting her security, it only causes strife as her adult stepchildren battle to regain the inheritance for themselves.

Lydia, longing to put the memories of her painful marriage behind her, determines to travel to Alaska to join her aunt. Lydia's arrival in Sitka, however, brings two things she didn't expect.

One is the acquaintance of Kjell Bjorklund, the handsome owner of the sawmill. Second is the discovery that she is pregnant with her dead husband's child. What will this mean for her budding relationship with Kjell? And what lengths will her stepchildren go to reclaim their father's fortune? Lydia soon finds her life--and that of her child's--on the line.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Dawn's Prelude, go HERE

CFBA Book Review

rainydaydiamonds@gmail.com (Kim) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:16:00 +0000

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Blue Enchantress
Barbour Books (August 1, 2009)
by
M.L.Tyndall

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

M. L. (MaryLu) Tyndall grew up on the beaches of South Florida loving the sea and the warm tropics. But despite the beauty around her, she always felt an ache in her soul--a longing for something more.

After college, she married and moved to California where she had two children and settled into a job at a local computer company. Although she had done everything the world expected, she was still miserable. She hated her job and her marriage was falling apart.

Still searching for purpose, adventure and true love, she spent her late twenties and early thirties doing all the things the world told her would make her happy, and after years, her children suffered, her second marriage suffered, and she was still miserable.

One day, she picked up her old Bible, dusted it off, and began to read. Somewhere in the middle, God opened her hardened heart to see that He was real, that He still loved her, and that He had a purpose for her life, if she'd only give her heart to Him completely.

She had written stories her whole life, but never had the confidence to try and get any of them published. But as God began to change her heart, He also showed her that writing had been His wonderful plan for her all along!

Her other current release in the Charles Towne Belles series includes The Red Siren.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Betrayed by the man she longed to marry, Hope Westcott is about to be auctioned off as a slave to the highest bidder on an island in the Caribbean . After enduring a difficult childhood in an unloving home, Hope?s search for love and self-worth have led her down a very dangerous path. All she ever wanted was to find true love and open an orphanage where she could raise children with all the love she never experienced as a child.? But how can a woman with a sordid past ever hope to run an orphanage, let alone attract the love of an honorable man?

Determined to overcome the shame of his mother?s past, Nathaniel Mason worked for many years to build his own fleet of merchant ships in an effort to finally acquire the respect of Charles Towne society. Ignoring the call of God on his life to become a preacher, he forges ahead with his plans for success at a distant port in the Caribbean , when he sees a young lady he knows from Charles Towne being sold as a slave. In an effort to save Hope, he is forced to sell one of his two ships, only to discover that her predicament was caused by her own bad behavior. Angry and determined to rid himself of her as soon as possible, Nathaniel embarks on a journey that will change the course of his life.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Blue Enchantress, go HERE

View The Book Trailer:

Let me smell your breath.

rainydaydiamonds@gmail.com (Kim) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:39:00 +0000

Sheesh, I can't wait until she is a teenager if I am already asking her to blow in my face lest I catch a whiff of something foul.

After spending the entire weekend in her room, Precious is currently in her bedroom again because it was just not worth brushing her teeth to keep her freedom.

Thanks so much for your encouragement.

I hate that I feel like the bad guy making her life miserable, but I know I have to toe the line.

Stand firm.

Bend but not break.

Dare to discipline.

Give tough love.

But good golly, Miss Molly. Who knew it would be this hard.

Or exhausting!

Gone to Green

rainydaydiamonds@gmail.com (Kim) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:38:00 +0000

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Gone To Green
Abingdon Press (August 2009)
by
Judy Christie

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Judy Pace Christie, after working as a journalist for twenty-five years, left the daily news business to open a consulting firm that works with individuals, businesses, and churches on strategies for meaningful life and work, including goal-setting, living fully, and balancing personal and professional lives. She is the author of Hurry Less, Worry Less; Hurry Less, Worry Less at Christmastime; and co-author of Awesome Altars. Judy and her husband live in northwest Louisiana.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Lois goes from being a corporate journalist at a large paper in the Midwest to the owner of The Green News-Item, a small twice-weekly newspaper in rural North Louisiana. The paper was an unexpected inheritance from a close colleague, and Lois must keep it for at least a year, bringing a host of challenges, lessons, and blessings into her life.

When Lois pulls into Green on New Year’s Day, she expects a charming little town full of smiling people. She quickly realizes her mistake. After settling into a loaned house out on Route 2, she finds herself battling town prejudices and inner doubts and making friends with the most surprising people: troubled teenager Katy, good-looking catfish farmer Chris, wise and feisty Aunt Helen, and a female African-American physician named Kevin.

Whether fighting a greedy, deceitful politician or rescuing a dog she fears, Lois notices the headlines in her life have definitely improved. She learns how to provide small-town news in a big-hearted way and realizes that life is full of newsworthy moments. When she encounters racial prejudice and financial corruption, Lois also discovers more about the goodness of real people and the importance of being part of a community.

While secretly preparing the paper for a sale, Lois begins to realize that God might indeed have a plan for her life and that perhaps the allure of city life and career ambition are not what she wants after all.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Gone To Green, go HERE

Uncle Dr. Phil didn't say Commando Parenting would be easy...

rainydaydiamonds@gmail.com (Kim) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:45:00 +0000

...and he wasn't just chewin' cud!

Spending the better part of the last two years in and out of foster homes, group homes and the juvenile intake center (a nasty place with dorms called "Units") AND being pretty bright have served to teach Precious the finer art of getting her way by telling lies to anyone and everyone who stands between her and what she wants. And, boy, is she good at it!

Group homes serve a purpose, I suppose, and they tell me that Precious was in one of the "better ones", but there really was no consistency and accountability in her life. She never had anyone checking up one her to make sure she was telling the truth or doing her homework...until now!

Since Precious is at my school, I can talk to her teachers and know at a moment's notice what the scoop is about homework, behavior or any other little tidbits of information.

All of you teachers' kids out there can attest that this pretty much ~~SUCKS~~ ~~blows~~ is a real bummer if you are the kiddo in question.

Yesterday Mama Mia, who also happens to spend nearly every day at my school volunteering, caught Little One in a lie about her homework from the night before.

This is not the first time we have dealt with the issue of her lies. Since we began taking her for visits last Spring, she has shoplifted, "borrowed" my iPod and lied about it for weeks - yes, weeks, lied about her birthday, lied about how her mother died and many others. Because all of those lies happened while she was not yet in our home, we couldn't really deliver consequences with teeth.

All of that changed with this little "stretch of the truth".

After a calm but stern discussion at our ~~kitchen~~ camp table (we still don't have any furniture after nearly 2 months - thankyouverymuchAshleyHomeStore) Precious was sent to her empty room where she will stay for the rest of the weekend. Mama Mia and I have removed all toys, leaving her with only books and her Bible for entertainment. She comes out for meals, the bathroom and when Mama Mia assigns various and sundry chores. Even the dogs are not allowed into her room to play with her.

Almost twenty-four hours later, she is taking it well - maybe too well. I don't have enough Commando Parenting experience to tell.

I do know that we have done everything we can to let her know she is loved and even liked through this ordeal. I told Precious that I want her to hate this weekend so much that she would rather tell the truth than have to do this again. My goal is for her to understand that this consequence is not about any anger, frustration or disdain on our part, but out of love. A love that wants her to be a woman of integrity whom people can trust and respect and look to as an example of Godliness.

This parenting stuff is hard! Stinkin' hard.

I need your help!

If this doesn't work after a time or two what else should I try?

Give me your best parenting tips for curbing a forked tongue.

On the upside, the house has not been this quiet in weeks.

Things I thought I'd never do...

rainydaydiamonds@gmail.com (Kim) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:16:00 +0000

...have a chore chart up in my home

...tuck a child into bed and say prayers together

...go without naps for days on end

...discuss with a principal (my principal) the teacher I would like a child to have

...count the minutes till bedtime so I can drop into my own bed exhausted

...tip toe around in the morning so I don't wake up a child

...be woken up in the middle of the night to comfort a child who had a bad dream

...make a plan to keep said child in her own room at night after several nights in mine

...paint and decorate a child's room in my home

...buy a Wii and plan the purchase of games to keep the neighborhood kids flocking to my house

...hear a child call Mama Mia "Grandma"

...hear a child call me "Mom"

All of these and more happened this week.

Heaven help me...my world has been turned upside down by a 10 year old girl with a giggle of gold and a soul battered by the sin of those who should have cherished her.

She is Precious.

I Always Said..

rainydaydiamonds@gmail.com (Kim) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:43:00 +0000

..."If I ever had kids, I would want my house to be the place where they all hang out. That way I know what is going on with all the kids and can be a positive influence on them."

Well, it seems in less than a week, I've gotten my way.

Nearly every day since Precious moved in, we have had Neighbor Girl (NG) ensconced in our living room. Today her brother, Blond Neighbor Boy (BNB) joined her.

Mama Mia and I, former spinster ladies extraordinaire, have quickly put Plan Happenin' House (PHH) into action. PHH includes purchasing the Wii originally planned for a Christmas gift, a rugged container and plenty of backyard toys to fill said rugged container.

It looks like the grocery shopping list will need some extra padding, too.

Here is where you veteran moms of Happenin' Houses come in.

What are your hints for making your Happenin' House fun, inviting and safe without breaking the bank?

Help a new mama out here!

"Mom." "Mom?" "MOM!" (Oh, she means me...)

rainydaydiamonds@gmail.com (Kim) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:36:00 +0000

At 9 AM Tuesday morning, I ~~delivered~~ picked up a bouncing baby 10 year old girl and officially added her to our family - complete with an alarmingly pink bedroom.

I'm still trying to figure out what this mom stuff is all about. After being single and childless into my 4th decade, suddenly being responsible for a child full-time is a shock to the system.

NO MORE MID-MORNING NAPS!

In other news, I taught the last class of my summer term university course last night. *relaxing sigh* Now I start gearing up for a new school year. *inhale deeply and feel the stress push shoulders toward ears*

In other, other news, our new home, while beautiful and beyond our wildest imagination, is still not quite completely painted, woefully lacking furniture and sporting a backyard off limits while the newly poured patio (this morning at 6 AM) dries at the speed of - well, concrete.

Don't you love lazy summer days?

CFBA Review

rainydaydiamonds@gmail.com (Kim) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:52:00 +0000

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Who Made You a Princess
FaithWords (May 13, 2009)
by
Shelley Adina

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award-winning author Shelley Adina wrote her first teen novel when she was 13. It was rejected by the literary publisher to whom she sent it, but he did say she knew how to tell a story. That was enough to keep her going through the rest of her adolescence, a career, a move to another country, a B.A. in Literature, an M.A. in Writing Popular Fiction, and countless manuscript pages.

Shelley is a world traveler and pop culture junkie with an incurable addiction to designer handbags. She writes books about fun and faith--with a side of glamour. Between books, Shelley loves traveling, playing the piano and Celtic harp, watching movies, and making period costumes.

The All About Us book series has its own home over on the Hachette website. Stop by and see what the five fabulous girls at Spencer Acadenmy are up to! Series Website.

Her other books in this series includes book one, It's All About Us, oook Two, The Fruit of my Lipstick, and book three, Be Strong & Curvaceous. This present book is book four.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Shani Hanna returns to SpencerAcademy for her senior year after an amazing summer spent with her friends Lissa, Gillian, and Carly. But the best part about summer was meeting Danyel Johnstone. Danyel is cute, smart, cool, and super nice. All Shani has to do is get him to see her as more than just one of the gang.

But when the girls return to school, they find a new addition to the distinguished student body: Prince Rashid al Amir of Yasir, an oil-rich desert kingdom in the Middle East. Prince Rashid moved to California to prepare for an eventual MBA at Stanford...and to romance his future wife: Shani Hanna!

It turns out, Shani's family and the prince's go back for generations, entwined in tradition, obligation, and family honor. In each generation, members of the two families have expanded their business interests through arranged marriage. Will Shani put aside her feelings for Danyel to pursue her family's wishes? Or will God answer her prayers for an intervention?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Who Made You a Princess , go HERE

CFBA Book Review

rainydaydiamonds@gmail.com (Kim) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:26:00 +0000

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Exposure
Zondervan (June 1, 2009)
by
Brandilyn Collins

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Brandilyn Collins is an award-winning and best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®. These harrowing crime thrillers have earned her the tagline "Don't forget to b r e a t h e . . ."® Brandilyn's first book, A Question of Innocence, was a true crime published by Avon in 1995. Its promotion landed her on local and national TV and radio, including the Phil Donahue and Leeza talk shows. Brandilyn is also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons). She is now working on her 20th book.

In addition to Exposure, Brandilyn’s other latest release is Always Watching, first in The Rayne Tour series—young adult suspense co-written with her daughter, Amberly. The Rayne Tour series features Shaley O’Connor, daughter of a rock star, who just may have it all—until murder crashes her world.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When your worst fear comes true.

Someone is watching Kaycee Raye. But who will believe her? Everyone
knows she’s a little crazy. Kaycee’s popular syndicated newspaper
column pokes fun at her own paranoia and multiple fears. The police in
her small town are well aware she makes money writing of her
experiences. Worse yet, she has no proof of the threats. Pictures of a
dead man mysteriously appear in her home—then vanish before police
arrive. Multisensory images flood Kaycee’s mind. Where is all this
coming from?

Maybe she is going over the edge.

High action and psychological suspense collide in this story of terror,
twists, and desperate faith. The startling questions surrounding Kaycee
pile high. Her descent to answers may prove more than she can survive.

To read the first chapter, go HERE.

“More twists and turns than a Coney Island roller coaster! Highly recommended.” ~CBA Retailers

“Mesmerizing mystery…authentic characters…a fast-paced, twisting tale of desperate choices.” ~TitleTrakk

“Brandilyn Collins is a master of suspense, and Exposure is her best book yet!” ~Dianne Burnett, Christianbook.com

It only took 12 years...

rainydaydiamonds@gmail.com (Kim) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 01:45:00 +0000

One of the wonderfully, yummy delights I experienced in Brazil was passion fruit juice - wonderfully, pure, unadulterated passion fruit juice. Oh, my soul, is it good!

I have searched high and low to find its equal here in the States, but to no avail. It seems we are wimps who can only handle the intensity of passion when diluted in some other juice - everything from mangos to carrots.

Figuring we are just too Puritanical to allow ourselves to experience the joy, the flavor, the rapture of PASSION fruit in its purest form, I gave up my search.

Prematurely, it would seem.

Oh, the passion of this discovery!

AND...it's fat free!

Further proof that Jesus loves me!

In other news...I got a blister on my thumb from yard work this morning.

CFBA Review

rainydaydiamonds@gmail.com (Kim) — Fri, 15 May 2009 03:07:00 +0000

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Beloved Counterfeit
Barbour Publishing, Inc (May 2009)
by
Kathleen Y'Barbo

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

KATHLEEN MILLER Y’BARBO is a tenth-generation Texan and a mother of three grown sons and a teenage daughter. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University and an award-winning novelist of Christian fiction whose first published work jumped onto the Christian Booksellers Association bestseller list in its first month of release. Kathleen is a former treasurer for the American Christian Fiction Writers, and is a member of the Author’s Guild, Inspirational Writers Alive, Words for the Journey Christian Writers Guild, and the Fellowship of Christian Authors. In addition, she is a sought-after speaker, and her kids think she’s a pretty cool mom, too…most of the time, anyway.

ABOUT THE BOOK

LOVE CAN COVER A MUTITUDE OF SINS

Washed ashore on Fairweather Key, Ruby O’Shea and her three nieces─the offspring of the pirate Thomas Hawkins and Ruby’s late sister─have a chance for a new beginning as Ruby takes a job in a boardinghouse and the girls are passed off as her daughters. But will Ruby be able to confess all when she falls for Micah Tate, a widower, wrecher, and soon-to-be preacher?

Micah is determined to marry the young woman who has captured his heart despite knowing she has something to hide. But will he be able to remain true to his vows when his lady love’s shady past comes to light?

Captain Thomas Hawkins will go to any length to discover the whereabouts of his daughters. What will his determination cost the folks of Fairweather Key?

When Ruby finds herself bereft of her newfound love and protector, will she run away in an attempt to escape her present as she did her past? Will Micah’s love cover the multitude of Ruby’s sins, or will Ruby’s duplicity cost her everything?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Beloved Counterfeit, go HERE

Bleach Without the White Splotches

rainydaydiamonds@gmail.com (Kim) — Mon, 04 May 2009 02:32:00 +0000

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I kind of like the idea of coming clean once in a while. Relieving myself of the heavy burdens I carry would surely be, well, a relief. I'm not quite so sure that baring my soul to anonymous internets isn't simply color safe bleach - getting that clean feeling without any of the risk.

Meh, who really needs risk anyhow?!

I certainly DID NOT

clean my bathtub today by filling it with hot water and Pine Sol and mopping the entire tile enclosure - tub and all with a string mop. Nah, not me!
chase three escaped Boxer Babes around the neighborhood in my SUV yelling, oh so enticingly, "Wanna go bye-bye? I've got treats!" Nah, Not me!
spend two hours traipsing through a farmers' market and a couple of stores watching a little girl like a hawk after its prey making sure her sticky fingers stayed unstuck. Nah, Not me!
break my front tooth and leave work for two hours Monday morning to have it rebuilt and then BREAK IT AGAIN the Wednesday night necessitating yet ANOTHER visit to the dentist on Thursday. Nah, not me!
chat with a little girl who is not (yet) my daughter about cussing and throwing things at the ladies in her group home when she is asked to clean her room and doesn't want to. Nah, not me!
stand in the rain with Mama Mia taking photos of the just poured foundation on our NEW HOME! Nah, not me!
do an inner jig of joy when I heard that one of my grade level peers will NOT be in the same grade level with me next year. Nah, not me!
meet with my precious Kate's social worker to work out details for the possibility of fostering the little one. Nah, well, yea, that was me! Yipee!

I think that's enough blistering honesty for one day. After all, I hardly know you.

Rainy Day Diamonds

CFBA Book Review

IIIIIIIIt's Friday!

Mom! She's Touching Me!

Puppy Love

My Child is a Slave

Answered prayer, a forbidden couch and an early morning potty (not necessarily in that order)

*cough* *cough* *sputter* *pfttt*

CFBA Book Review

Liar! Liar! Pants on Fire! or Does Mickey Sell Indulgences?

Hot Melted Buttah!

CFBA Book Review

CFBA Book Review

Let me smell your breath.

Gone to Green

Uncle Dr. Phil didn't say Commando Parenting would be easy...

Things I thought I'd never do...

I Always Said..

"Mom." "Mom?" "MOM!" (Oh, she means me...)

CFBA Review

CFBA Book Review

It only took 12 years...

CFBA Review

Bleach Without the White Splotches

cough cough sputter pfttt