We are given only a certain amount of days and then our life will end.
Are you fulfilling your time wisely?
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Time flies ~
Friday, October 16, 2026
BOOK REVIEW: The Secret Sauce by Fay A. Klinger
The Secret Sauce
About the Book
Book: The Secret Sauce: A Story of Apples, Robots, and a Grateful Heart (Rena Whittaker Book 2)
Author: Fay A. Klingler
Genre: Children Ages 6-11
Release Date: June 26, 2026
The recipe for joy? A grateful heart and helping hands!
When Rena Whittaker’s neighbor, Eithan, falls from a ladder and injures his ankle, Rena and her best friend Harper jump into action to help save his apple harvest. What begins as hard work soon turns into a day filled with laughter, teamwork, and an unexpected surprise that changes everything. In this engaging adventure, Rena discovers a powerful truth—happiness has a secret ingredient.
This tender, faith-filled story gently weaves together gratitude, service, and friendship. A beautiful choice for Christian families, thoughtful gifting, and parents and grandparents who want to share stories that nurture both faith and character.
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Fay A. Klingler is an accomplished author and illustrator known for her award-winning work in both creative and technical writing. Her literary contributions span a wide range of subjects, with a particular focus on empowering women, promoting effective grandparenting, and guiding individuals through betrayal recovery. In addition to her inspirational works for adults, Fay is also recognized for her captivating children’s books, weaving together heartwarming stories that spark imagination and impart valuable life lessons. Her insights and expertise have made her a sought-after motivational speaker.
More from Fay
Ever made apple juice by pressing apples through an old wooden apple press? One of my favorite scenes in The Secret Sauce came about because it happened to me in real life—swallowing a fly! I was just a young teenager helping a neighbor press apples for juice. I opened my mouth and in flew a fly. Just like Harper in the story, I coughed and coughed to expel the insect, but instead I swallowed it! I’m the one taking this picture at my neighbor’s home.
Blog Stops
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 16
Simple Harvest Reads, October 17 (Author Interview)
The Vine and The Branch, October 17
Texas Book-aholic, October 18
Artistic Nobody, October 19 (Author Interview)
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 20
Guild Master, October 21 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, October 22
Fiction Book Lover, October 23 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, October 23
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 24
The Bookish Ledger, October 25 (Author Interview)
Labor Not in Vain, October 26
Vicky Sluiter, October 27 (Author Interview)
Lots of Helpers, October 28
For the Love of Literature, October 29 (Author Interview)
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Fay is giving away the grand prize of an eBook copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://gleam.io/ugVlG/the-secret-sauce-celebration-tour-giveaway
Sunday, October 11, 2026
BOOK REVIEW: Belle's Christmas Carol by Michelle Griep
About the Book
Book: Belle’s Christmas Carol
Author: Michelle Griep
Genre: Inspirational Historical Romance
Release Date: September 1, 2026
While all of London waits for snow, an orphanage in need holds holiday cheer, sparks of love, and secrets waiting to be discovered.
When Ebeneezer Scrooge’s former fiancée, Belle Beaumont, unexpectedly inherits a struggling London orphanage, she dreams of giving the children of Haven House the most splendid Christmas they’ve ever known. But her vision of snowflakes and merriment quickly collides with reality: Fire damage has rendered part of the building unsafe, and the paperwork is years behind.
Barrister Rafe Munro is fighting to clear an innocent man and searching for a child, who may be his relative. His pursuit leads him to Haven House, where Rafe offers to help Belle sort through the chaotic records that might lead to the missing child. Amid the mayhem of running an orphanage full of mischievous children and eccentric staff, will Belle and Rafe find love and the answers they seek this holiday season?
With characters from Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, this festive historical romance Christmas novella of family and second chances from Michelle Griep is set in Victorian England and perfect for fans of Julie Klassen and Mimi Matthews.
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Michelle Griep is an award-winning author known for her captivating historical romances. With a keen eye for detail, she pens tales that transport readers to the past where they’ll experience romance, adventure, and unforgettable characters. When she’s not writing, you can find her in her garden scaring away armadillos.
More from Michelle
Why I Gave Scrooge’s Belle Her Own Christmas Carol
Guest post by Michelle Griep
I’ve always been suspicious of characters who appear just long enough to break your heart and then vanish without so much as a forwarding address. Belle from A Christmas Carol is one of those.
Scrooge, of course, gets the full treatment. Ghosts. Doom. Moral terror. A dramatic overnight transformation. Turkey delivery. The works. And yes, yes, it’s all very moving. But Belle? Come on. All she gets is one aching goodbye and then is shoved neatly into Scrooge’s past. So, excuse me, Mr. Dickens, but I have questions.
What became of the woman who loved Ebenezer before greed got to him? Did she regret walking away? Did Christmas ever sting? Did she build a fine, sensible life or did some little corner of her heart still ache for him or not? That wondering became Belle’s Christmas Carol.
In my story, Belle Beaumont unexpectedly inherits Haven House, a struggling London orphanage with fire damage, muddled ledgers, eccentric staff, and children who are more than rambunctious. Naturally, Belle decides she will set everything to rights and give the children the most splendid Christmas imaginable because—like me—apparently the woman has never heard of pacing herself.
Then along comes Rafe Munro, a handsome barrister searching for a missing child, and Belle’s tidy plans start to change. Oh, did I mention he’s single? That’s because I wanted Belle to be more than Scrooge’s lost love. I wanted her to have grit, flaws, hope, purpose, and a future all her own.
Because sometimes the story doesn’t end with goodbye. Sometimes that’s where the real story begins.
Blog Stops
Where Faith and Books Meet, October 6
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 6
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions , October 7
The Avid Reader, October 7
She Lives To Read, October 7
Texas Book-aholic, October 8
Devoted To Hope, October 8
Betti Mace, October 9
Inkwell Inspirations , October 9
The Lofty Pages, October 9
For Him and My Family, October 10
Romances of the Cross, October 10
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 11
Jeanette’s Thoughts , October 11
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 12
The Vine and The Branch, October 12
Maureen’s Musings, October 13
Fruitfully Planted, October 13
A Good Book and Cup of Tea, October 13
Books You Can Feel Good About, October 14
Mornings at Character Cafe, October 14
Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 15
Simple Harvest Reads, October 15 (Guest Review from Donna)
Cover Lover Book Review, October 16
Mrs. Ryan Moser’s Book and Movie Reviews, October 16
Vicky Sluiter, October 16
Devoted Steps, October 17
Lily’s Corner, October 17
Holly’s Book Corner, October 18
Mary Hake, October 18
Blossoms and Blessings, October 19
Pause for Tales, October 19
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Michelle is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://gleam.io/KNJXt/belles-christmas-carol-celebration-tour-giveaway
MY THOUGHTS: When I found out that Michelle Griep was writing a new book and it was set at Christmas time, I knew I had to read it. And I was right! To me, Michelle Griep's books are always delightful. And Belle's Christmas Carol sings with enjoyment as Michelle uses the perfect historical Victorian English words, setting, and plot that drew me into the story immediately. And the book cover is gorgeous, too!
Set in Victorian England, it it the sweet, scintillating story about Isabella "Belle" Beaumont, who was Ebenezer Scrooge's former fiancé. When she inherits a fire-damaged orphanage, she meets up with havoc from seven sweet and ornery orphans, mayhem from the orphanage's staff, repair delays galore from the construction company, and the handsome Rafe Munro who is a barrister with an agenda that leads him to Haven House, the orphanage.
Belle's wish for snow coincides with her hopes of giving the children a Christmas worth remembering at Haven House. As she progresses through the ups and downs of life, she mentally make notes in her running list of things to do which gives a peek into her calm inner emotions despite the havoc around her.
Rafe Munro is a hero who is gentle, yet strong. He immediately falls in love with Belle when they meet. Both Rafe and Belle are worthy of all that is good in the world and their match is made in heaven, as is said a lot about couples who belong together.
Ebenezer Scrooge himself plays a role in the story, one that gives a little history about the miserly curmudgeon and his once-love Belle, before money defiled his lifestyle.
Along with a supporting cast of characters is Rafe's opulent mother, Belle's faith-filled father, and the seven orphaned children, a couple who are whacky yet loving to all, and the other characters who round out the story and give readers a good chuckle in this Christmas story of loss, troubles, and surprises.
This delightful Christmas tale has all of the ingredients readers want from a holiday story, with a generous mix of humor and heart. The characters feel like real persons making their way through life in London, 1819, and they take readers along with them.
One Christmas-y element I found missing in the story is a Christmas tree....usually the tree is THE ultimate decoration that delights everyone. There are gifts, just no tree towering above them.
I give Belle's Christmas Carol 5 stars, it's a true gem, a keeper on my bookshelf, endearing and catchy, and one that I will read over and over. Don't miss it!
DISCLAIMER: A complimentary copy of this book was provided through Celebrate Lit tours. I was not required to leave a favorable review and this is my opinion.
Thursday, October 1, 2026
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
BOOK REVIEW: The Marquess's Masked Archer by Abbey Downey
About the Book
Book: The Marquess’s Masked Archer
Author: Abbey Downey
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: September 15, 2026
A hidden identity. A relentless marquess. And a summer where love could expose everything.
When Cleveland society parades debutante Sylvie Bryce before another string of unsuitable suitors, she secretly claims the one thing no one can arrange for her—a life of her own. Hidden beneath a green velvet hood and emerald mask, she becomes the mysterious Lady Robin, a daring trick-shot archer who captivates the crowds at Cedar Point resort. It’s the one place where Sylvie answers to no one. The last thing she needs is a charming English marquess threatening to unravel everything she has worked so hard to build.
Miles Wentworth didn’t come to Ohio looking for love. He came to study insects, escape the shadow of a devastating scandal, and prove that a man can build a life on his own terms. But a chance encounter with a boldly independent woman—first in a glittering ballroom, and then behind the mask of a legendary archer—upends every carefully laid plan. Determined to protect her, even from himself, Miles steps into a dangerous game of secrets and deception—one that draws them closer with every anonymous letter and stolen moment…even as the truth has the power to ruin them both.
A richly atmospheric Gilded Age romance brimming with wit, hidden identities, and the tender courage it takes to love without pretense—a tale of a sharp-shooting socialite, a science-minded lord, and the summer of secrets that will change them both forever. Perfect for fans of Jen Turano and Roseanna M. White.
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Abbey Downey started writing inspirational romance stories during naptime when her kids were babies and found she couldn’t stop. A life-long Midwestern girl, Abbey lives in central Indiana with her husband, two kids, and one rather enthusiastic beagle. She loves watching her middle schoolers in all their activities and fixing up a 125-yar-old farmhouse with her husband.
More from Abbey
“Ladies and gentlemen, prepare to be impressed and entertained by the marvelous skill of Lady Robin, our own famed archer. Reminiscent of Robin Hood of old, she performs feats with a bow that are only dreamed of by most masters. Now, please, sit back and enjoy the show.” – The Marquess’s Masked Archer
Why do fictional characters hide? They might keep their entire identity hidden under a costume, their face covered with a mask, or just parts of who they are kept behind a confident act, but secrets are often an element of the conflict in books we love. And it’s for the same kinds of reasons all of us have tried to hide aspects of ourselves at one time or another. Fear. Shame. Protection. Freedom. Survival.
Characters in fiction reflect the truth of our human existence. Most of us probably aren’t dressing up as a female Robin Hood to perform archery trick shots or writing secret admirer letters to win a love interest, like my characters do in The Marquess’s Masked Archer. But the reasons Sylvie and Miles choose secrecy are all too relatable.
Sylvie’s goal in hiding behind a green hood is to give herself a taste of freedom. Her high society world is prescribed and controlled. There are very few opportunities for her to make choices in life. And while she longs to have more freedom, she also worries that if she were to get the independence she so desires, she would fail miserably and be forced to return to her parents in shame. Isn’t it relatable to want something desperately but at the same time be terrified that we can’t actually handle getting it?
In a different way, Miles hides behind a new life for protection. After false accusations in his youth left him disgraced in England, he wrestles with his purpose. His passion for medical entomology has given him hope for a normal life, but he also feels the constant weight of expectations due to his noble title. He’s certain people only see what they want to when they look at him, so he hides away doing his research, hoping no one will look at all. How truly human is that? We hide so much of ourselves out of worry that people won’t understand or will immediately jump to conclusions about who we are based on one glimpse.
But God didn’t create us for secrecy. The tension of hiding makes it difficult for Sylvie and Miles to fall in love, in spite of their interest in each other from the beginning. Every step forward brings new worry that they’ll be found out and their plans will be destroyed. Each romantic moment comes with the discomfort of knowing they aren’t being completely genuine with each other. Even Sylvie and Miles’s first kiss is shrouded in questions about whether the other knows that they meant it.
In the end, Sylvie and Miles’s story is also about what happens when they’re forced to take off the masks. It takes trust in each other and in God for them to finally get to the moment of happily ever after that we all love so much. Just like in fiction, when we trust God with those secret parts of ourselves, we can start to see how living in truth offers more freedom than hiding.
Do you enjoy a hidden identity or secret admirer trope? What’s your favorite book that includes one of those?
MY THOUGHTS:
The Marquess's Masked Archer by Abbey Downey, is the first book in the Headliners and Heartstrings series. And it's simply an adorable story and one you don't want to miss because it has all the ingredients to make a story stand out and allow the characters to live in your memory after their story ends!
Set in 1907 at Put-In-Bay, Ohio, along the shoreline of Lake Erie, the story happens during the summer months at the popular Cedar Point where the wealthy and high society owned summer cottages and took vacations there. Trey gathered at the resort to attend social events lake activities, and boating excursions.
The story is about Sylvie Bryce, the daughter of wealthy parents and an acid archery lover and Miles Wentworth, the Marquess of Rockingham, who is working at the Cedar Point laboratory for the summer.
At the age to twenty-two, Sylvie is in danger of becoming a spinster and therefore her mother has plans for her to mingle with the eligible bachelors and find one to marry. While there, Sylvie disguises herself as the Lady Robin archer and on Mondays and Thursday she performs tick shot exhibitions and archery shows in the evening's to crowds.
Miles is running from his shadowed past and has come to America to live and study entomology at teh Ohio State University's research facility. He intends to keep a low profile and study insects in a quiet manner. He is staying with Alexander and Grace Loftin at their cottage for the summer season.
A notable quote from the story after Miles meets Sylvie: For a moment, Miles concluded that it wouldn't be so terrible to drown in blue eyes like hers, with as much as hidden depth as the waves he'd crossed traveling from England. She had charmed him without trying.
As the story progresses, Sylvie and Miles deny their feelings for each other while a jealous nemesis sets out to blackmail Sylvie with her secret disguise. Bachelors and debutantes are expected to follow the social rules and at times the story is quite humorous as they attend the high society balls, the outings along the seashore, and all kinds of lunches and activities.
Abbey Downey has written another winning story with a strong-spirited heroine and the handsome hero who falls in love with her adventurous ways. I enjoyed reading this Gilded Age romance where high society was expected to follow their own rules and flashy materialism ruled the day.
I learned a little history of the Ohio area, too, which I appreciate. And you won't want to miss the epilogue....it will put a big smile on your face and a sign on your lips.
I was provided a copy of this book by Celebrate Lit for an honest review. This is my own opinion.
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Thursday, September 10, 2026
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Some days you just want "to be"
Some days you are tired, you just don't feel like embracing the day like a tornado....some days you feel quiet in your soul and you want to have a restful day. That is okay! For example, if you read a Bible verse during your daily routine (such as during the morning) and you don't feel like doing a study, digging deeper, spending a lot of time with it...that is okay! Pray, read, and go on with your day. Some days you just want "to be."
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
The BLOOM Bible Study Method Gardening Framework
With the BLOOM method there are
the GARDEN ELEMENT
the BLOOM PHASE
the SPIRITUAL GROWTH ACTION.
B: The GARDEN ELEMENT is the SEED = B - Breathe and Prayer: Quiet your mind and plant the Word of God into your heart with an open, receptive spirit. Scripture: "The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life." - Job 33:4. The GARDEN CONNECTION: This is the seed, just like a tiny seed resting quietly in the soil waiting for the breath of spring, this step is about slowing down, inhaling God's peace, and inviting the Holy Spirit to bring the text to life.
L: The GARDEN ELEMENT is DIRT = L - Listen and Learn: Dig into the context, history, and track keywords to establish fertile ground for understanding. Scripture: "It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out." -Proverbs 25:2. The GARDEN CONNECTION: This is your dirt or soil phase. Like searching for a wild root or preparing a fertile seedbed, you are digging deep beneath the surface level of the text to find the rich, historical, and cultural treasures tucked into the soil of scripture.
O: The GARDEN ELEMENT is WATER = O - Observe the text: Washing over scripture to soften your soul, making your spirit pliable and receptive. Scripture: "And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." -Ezekiel 36:26. The GARDEN CONNECTION: This represents the life-giving water. Hard, compacted soil cannot absorb the seed, but water softens the earth. Opening your heart allows the living water of the Word to soften your soul, making it tender pliable, and ready to absorb the truth.
O: The GARDEN ELEMENT is SUNLIGHT = O - the Outpour and Thanksgiving: Letting in the Light of Christ for growing your faith, and lifting your spirit upward to live out the lessons learned. Scripture: "Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man! For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things." -Psalm 107:8-9. The GARDEN CONNECTION: This is the warm sunlight. When a flower receives sunlight, it opens wide and grows upward. Bursting with praise and thanksgiving lifts your eyes toward Jesus, filling your soul with life, causing your faith to visibly bloom like a vibrant wildflower.
M: The GARDEN ELEMENT is TENDING = M -Meditate and Apply: Prune your thoughts, pull the weeds of distraction and stay rooted in the Word as you go about your day. Scripture: "He is like a tree planted by streams of living water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers." -Psalm 1:3. The GARDEN CONNECTION: This is the continuous act of tending the garden. By thinking of God's goodness and carrying these truths with you through the day, you keep your roots tucked deep near the stream. It keeps your spiritual leaves green and protects your heart from weeds of daily worry. This is an important step.
How the BLOOM Method Cultivates Growth:
Begin with the Seed - Breathe and Prayer. Before you can grow, you must sit still. By taking a moment to breathe and pray, you clear away the noise of life. This creates the quiet, sacred space needed to plant the seed of God's Word into your heart. Every study starts with a single seed: the Word of God. By starting with prayer, you are choosing to plant the seed intentionally asking God to open your eyes to what He wants to grow in you today.
Listen and Learn - Dirt or soil. Look and Listen for words and cultural context. To grow deep roots, a seed needs rich soil. When you look for key words and cultural context, you are digging beneath the surface. Understanding the environment of the text keeps your faith grounded so it won't easily wither. The dirt or soil provides the environment for the seed to take root. Without doing this, your understanding may remain shallow.
Observe the Text - The Water. Open your heart to soften your soul. Water activates the seed and helps it break through the dry ground. By observing the text and intentionally opening your heart, you let the Word act like water, softening your soul with the truth. It breaks down barriers, melts away hardness, and prepares you to absorb God's truths.
Outpour with Thanksgiving and Praise - The Sunlight. Be thankful for what you are learning. Sunlight is what causes a plant to reach upward and become visible to the world. Plants naturally lean toward the light to live. When you apply the Bible to your daily life, you are letting your light shine before others. Your growth becomes a visible testimony of God's work. Give God the praise of thanksgiving.
Meditate and Maintain -The Tending. Meditate on the Truth of the Word as you go. A garden needs constant care throughout the day, or it will not survive. Meditation and maintenance mean you don't just walk away and forget what you read. You protect your heart from the weeds of daily distractions, doubts, fears, etc. By meditating on the truths as you go about your day, you are tending your spiritual garden and nurturing your faith.
I hope this BLOOM method of reading and learning God's Words helps you in your daily life. Use as little or as much as you have time for. All of this was given to me by the Lord a few mornings ago as I did my daily reading. After all, God created me to enjoy the flora and fauna of the natural world and He planted in me the desire to read, learn, and write about it.
I am recovering from Profound Grief Disorder because of the loss of my beloved daughter. I've been in a very deep, dark place, but God is healing me one day at a time. It wasn't until I SURRENDERED all of my self to Jesus that He lifted the spirit of grief off of me and I am learning that we are to lean on Him through all the seasons of our life. And when we experience God's Goodness, we are to go tell others about what He has done for us.
Bless you and BLOOM where you are planted! Karen
Monday, September 7, 2026
THE BLOOM Bible Study method Introduction
GROWING DEEP: Introducing the BLOOM Bible Study Method
Here is the guide:
The BLOOM Method Breakdown:
B – Breathe in the Spirit. Before you even turn a page, pause. Start with a humble prayer, inviting God to open your eyes to the beauty of His truth.
L – Look for the hidden gems. Examine the verses closely. Search for deep roots, cultural context, and key words that jump out at you.
O – Open your heart completely. Let the living Word soften your soul. Let it break up any hard soil in your heart so you can receive His grace.
O – Overflow with thanksgiving. Savor the sweet promises you just read. Take a moment to praise Him for how He is growing your faith today.
M – Meditate on His goodness. Don't just close your Bible and forget it. Turn those truths over in your mind throughout the day, letting them change how you live and love.
Tending to Your Heart's Garden: Try printing this little guide out to keep in your Bible, your journal or somewhere close. Remember, growing your beautiful faith takes time, digging in the seeds of God's Word, a little daily watering, and a lot of grace. You don't have to rush through words, verses, or chapters of the Bible to check a box. Just sit, study, and bloom right where God has planted you. I'm a wildflowers, blooming gardens, houseplants lady with a green thumb.
My garden is not just a hobby, it is a living, breathing sanctuary where my love for God's creation and my spiritual growth intertwine perfectly. I think of my heart as the garden where I remember and nurture all the things God graciously gives me. I read/study/learn about our Creator and I tend to my loving flowers - a visual reminder that the Lord is alive.
Tomorrow I'll post the BLOOM Bible Study Method Gardening Framework with scriptures. Have a blooming day, Karen
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