Welcome to my little bit of cyber-space. It is my prayer that all who enter here may be richly blessed by the God of all grace. All praise to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Saturday, July 14, 2007

Book Review--Remembered by Tamera Alexander

I loved this book which is the third in the Fountain Creek Chronicles. I enjoyed getting to know the two main characters from this story, Veronique Girard, and Jack Brennan (whom we met in the other books) as well as catch up on the characters from the author's previous two books. My only regret is that this is the end of this series. I hope the author will reconsider and give us another glimpse of these endearing characters in a few years.

After her mother's death, Veronique travels from France to Willow Springs, Colorado Territory, to search for her father who left for America when she was a small child. Will she find him? Even more important, will she find it in her heart to forgive him for his abandonment?

Jack Brennan has led wagon trains for 13 years since the death of his wife and son. Now he wishes to live in Willow Springs. His dream is to buy a farm and settle down. What other plans does God have for him?

The story line, these loveable characters and the many others would be enough to make you want to read this book, but Tamera Alexander's painting of the scenes with her lyrical words will make you want to keep on reading anything she writes. I'm copying one short passage as an example of her writing: " She (Veronique) imagined her life as a canvas and the events of it, miniscule brushstrokes. Seen up close they meant little. But when given perspective, each splash of color, every dab of paint, however small or large, dark or light, was meant for her eternal good. God had proven that in recent months."

I hope you will go out and buy all three of the Fountain Creek Chronicles including Rekindled and Revealed and enjoy many hours of happy reading as you are swept away to Colorado in the 1870's.

Below I have printed the back cover copy and biographical info on the author. Join me next week for an informative interview with Tamera.

Back cover blurb for Remembered, Book 3 Fountain Creek Chronicles:
Though loss is often marked in a single moment, letting go of someone you love can take a lifetime...
The threat of war—and a final request—send Véronique Girard from France to a distant and uninviting country. In the Colorado Territory, she searches for the man who has held her heart since childhood—her father. Pierre Girard left Paris for the Americas to seek his fortune in fur trading, vowing to send for his wife and daughter. But twenty-five years have passed and his vow remains unfulfilled. Sifting through shards of broken promises, Véronique embarks on a dangerous search for a man she scarcely remembers.
His grief finally healed, Jack Brennan is moving on with life. After years of guiding families west, he is now working as a freighter to the mining towns surrounding Willow Springs. What he doesn't count on is an unexpected traveling companion on his trips up into the mountains, and how one woman's search will cause havoc with his plans... and his life.

Author bio:
TAMERA ALEXANDER is the bestselling author of Rekindled, Revealed, and Remembered, the three-part Fountain Creek Chronicles historical series with Bethany House Publishers. Rekindled, a CBA bestseller, has won critical acclaim and was chosen as one of Library Journal's Top 5 Picks for Christian Fiction 2006. Rekindled and Revealed triple-finaled in the 2007 RITA® Awards sponsored by Romance Writers of America-Rekindled and Revealed for Best Inspirational Novel, and Rekindled for Best First Novel.Tamera frequently speaks to women's groups, sings on the praise team, enjoys mentoring other writers, and also served as the conference coordinator for the 2004 American Christian Romance Writers National Conference in Denver, Colorado. She and her husband, Joe Alexander, make their home in Tennessee with their two college-age children, and a seven-pound Silky named Jack. Tamera is currently working on her fourth novel, part of another three-book historical series with Bethany House which is set in the Colorado Territory.
Visit Tamera’s website at http://www.tameraalexander.com/
And her blog at http://www.tameraalexander.blogspot.com/
Wedding Photos

Since I wasn't able to download these photos yesterday, I am posting them today. Don't the bride and groom look gloriously happy? The other photo is of our entire family--me and my husband of 39 years, our three children by birth and three by marriage (including the groom in the second photo) and three grandchildren. Can you tell I'm a proud wife, mom and Mimi? Or rather, I should say a grateful wife, Mom, and Mimi for all God has blessed me with. To God be the glory!

Friday, July 13, 2007

A Storybook Wedding

On a personal note, I want to share a few of the memories from our youngest daughter's wedding this past weekend. The weather was perfect for July--a little warm at the beginning of the service, but cooling off later on in the evening. The prelude and postlude music (classical guitar and violin) sounded heavenly in the outdoor setting. Next our son accompanied on his guitar our oldest daughter as she beautifully sang the song "Grow Old Along with Me." Then the wedding party walked in--7 groomsmen and one nervous groom followed by 7 lovely bridesmaids dressed in short black dresses and carrying dark pink gerber daisies. Then our 8 year old granddaughter walked in looking so grown up in her black dress with dark pink accents, preceding her 6 year old brother and sister and a second set of ringbearer/flower girl, both under two years old. The younger ones needed help getting down the aisle and didn't stay put for long, but they were all very cute.

After a slight pause, the musicians played the first notes of Trumpet Voluntary and we all stood to gaze on the radiant bride being escorted down the aisle by her proud papa. I didn't think I would cry until she stopped by my seat to give me a kiss, which brought happy tears to my eyes. The minister did a lovely job of intermingling the humorous with the serious. During the ceremony, I was surprised to hear him quote a verse I gave to my husband on a plaque on our fifth anniversary.

Woman was created from the rib of man
She was not made from his head--to top him
Nor from his feet--to be trampled on.
She was made from his side--to be equal to him
From under his arm--to be protected by him
From near his heart--to be loved by him.

After making their vows to each other, the groom got to kiss his bride, and they started down the aisle to whistles and clapping, causing our grandson to cover his ears in one of the pictures. After several more pictures, the happy couple danced their first dance, cut and fed each other cake, and enjoyed dancing and partying with their friends to a country rock band. They left a few hours later through a gauntlet of sparklers off to honeymoon in Cozumel, Mexico. May they and all couples keep the Lord at the center of our marriages.

Sunday, July 01, 2007

Book Contest for July and the winner for June is...

Miss Reader, again! I have contacted her for her mailing info and also informed her that I am going to add a rule that you can no longer win two months in a row starting this month, in order to give more people an opportunity to win. This is in addition to the other rule that you have to email me your email info so I can contact you if you win.

July's book is The Wedding Caper by Janice A. Thompson. This book is the first in the new Barbour line of cozy mysteries. While planning her two daughters' weddings, some money mysteriously disappears from the bank where Annie Peterson's husband works, while her hubby seems to have "found" some money just in time for wedding expenses. Annie goes through some hilarious and heart-searching times looking for the culprit. It can't be her husband, can it?

Janice is a very funny and talented author, and I can't wait for the other books to come out. I know she is also gifted at setting up websites because she set up mine at http://www.rosemccauley.com/ Check it out and see some of her work.

On a personal note, I would appreciate any prayers for our baby daughter's wedding to go well next Saturday evening, July 7. That's right--07-07-07! A popular choice for weddings! At least the husbands shouldn't have any trouble remembering their anniversary! I'll post some pics later.