Real Life is Better Than Fiction

Julia Foster has spent the last twelve years in India. Because of her father’s health, she and her parents are forced to return to England. Because of a need for money Julia is forced to find work as a governess. While she enjoys her work, not everything at Highland Hall is as it should be. The Baronet William Ramsey has some financial difficulties of his own. Will Julia be a help or a hindrance? Readers who enjoy period books set in England, especially those by Lawana Blackwell, will enjoy this one as it has a similar style and feel. I really enjoyed reading this story. One of the things I enjoyed was the characters, their differences, and how they worked them out. They were realistic and there were just the right number to keep up with. Another aspect I appreciated was that it was a truly clean read. It seems that lately I pick up a book that is labeled as Christian fiction only to be disappointed by inappropriate scenes and language. I don’t want to see or hear situations like tha

 I have a special guest today. Please welcome author Lori Elliot. I was able to ask Lori a few questions about her family and her writing life. Tell us about your book Running Through the Raindrops … Finding Joy in the Chaos of Raising Kids is a collection of stories about my four children, Drew, Caleb, Ethan and Emma. They are stories that tell the challenges and struggles my husband, Dwight, and I have faced while parenting twins, a special needs child and a teenager. The stories are entertaining and relatable to not only moms, but to dads, grandparents and even those without children. They are stories that look at life through the eyes of a child and show you how to appreciate the humor, joy and excitement that can be found in the daily chaos. What made you decide to write it? I had several friends and family that encouraged me to publish a book but I think the thing that made me seriously consider publishing was when my blog, www.playdoughintheparsonage.com was recognized as

Book Club Monday Starting today, every second Wednesday of the month will be Book Club Wednesday. I belong to a book club at my church and read a lot of really good books that I want to share with you. Reading is relaxing. It takes you to another world, if you’re looking to escape the one you’re in.   Reading is also educational, even for us adults. I can’t tell you the number of things I learn just from reading books. We read a lot of Christian fiction so that is what most of the Book Club blogs will focus on. The first Book Club book to be on the blog is Southern Fried Sushi by Jennifer Rogers Spinola. I have to admit, I started this one I had to stop and read a review book. The plots started out very similar and I thought I was going to surely get them mixed up. But after finishing them both I didn’t. While there were a couple of things I wish Spinola had researched a little more for accuracy, I am probably just being picky. No one else may notice. Here is a summary of th

Flashback Friday     Adding to the lazy, hazy days of my childhood summers was my brother’s birthday. This post is in honor of him as he celebrates yet another birthday this month. I know that during Bible times purple was the color of royalty, but I don’t think there was anything royal about my brother’s birthday party one year. Usually kids’ birthday parties have a theme, however, it isn’t often that the theme of a boy’s party is the color purple.   But that is just what happened one year for Billy.   There was purple Kool-Aid and purple ice cream. Mom thought that black raspberry ice cream was a good idea.   It was very tasty and very purple! Most of Billy’s friend from the neighborhood came.   There was Greg, who when I was about eight years old, had a crush on.   I did my best to get his attention.   I wore my “Hug a kid today” and “Loveable” t-shirts, hoping he would do as the t-shirts told him to.   He paid me attention all right.   He would tie my pigtails in knots!

Victory Song is available for the next three days on Amazon for FREE! Who doesn’t like free? Here are a few reviews I wanted to share with you. You will also find the first chapter below. Feel free to read and be enticed to read the rest of the book. For those who are worried, it is neither pro-north or pro-south. It is just a story of young boys leaving on what they think is an adventure when in reality they are leaving behind childhood for manhood. Enjoy! "Victory Song" is a wonderfully researched historical novel that brings the Civil War to life. It focuses on the thoughts and feelings of a group of enlisted boys, dealing with their hopes, prejudices and fears. The main character, Andy Richardson, enlists in the military (against his parents' wishes) to get away from the farm. Andy leaves as a selfish and self-centered teen and over the next few years, he grown into a man that has grown physically, mentally and spiritually. Victory Song is a wonderfu