Magnolia (Bellamy's Blossoms #1) by Ginny Aiken

Magnolia Bellamy is in charge of the restoration of the Ashworth mansion. She has worked her way up in the bank, even though she feels like no one really takes her seriously. Even her sisters treat her like she isn't able to handle the responsibility of her job. It was her responsibility to find the right contractor. Her choice was Clay Marlowe, a Yankee. She went with clay because of his track record for doing good work and for the references he gave, but part of her has a hard time believing that he isn't up to no good. When vandalism begins to occur after the mansion is locked up for the night, Magnolia automatically thinks that somehow Clay is behind it.

Magnolia and her dog Bufford start staking out the mansion, but nothing happens when they are there. But yet when Clay does his inspection there is always some kind of damage. Clay was accused of a crime he didn't commit when he was in college and went to prison, he was eventually cleared of the crime. The fear of going back to prison haunts him and no matter how much he prays about it he can't shake the feeling that Magnolia is behind the vandalism. Which doesn't help with the fact that he is started to fall in love with her.

As Clay struggles with her faith, Magnolia struggles with her lack of faith. She is seeking something that Clay knows only God can provide. Will he be able to show Magnolia that God loves her? Will they find out who is behind the damage?

I have read several mysteries by this author and took a chance at reading this book. It is part of a trilogy. It started out slow, but it finally grabbed my attention. I like Ginny Aikens style. The spiritual aspect is handled with care. Showing how normal people struggle with fear and their pasts and dealing with family dynamics. This story has some very good biblical principals and I was glad I kept going. I look forward to reading the other two books in the series which concentrate on Lark and Cammie, Magnolia's sisters.

Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd Burpo

On a family trip the Burpo's youngest child, Colton, is taken seriously ill. The doctors finally discover that his appendix had ruptured and was leaking poison into his tiny little body. Todd and Sonja cried out to God to save their son. God hears their prayers and the doctors are able to save his life. After Colton is home and recovered, he begins to talk about heaven and the angels that sang to him in the hospital. He shares things he couldn't have possibly know. Over a period of time Todd and Sonja question Colton about his experience and realize that what Colton knows could only come from actually be in heaven.

Heaven is for Real is the story of the Burpo family. How they almost lost their son, and how Colton gave their family a new insite into what heaven is really like and a hope that we will see those who have gone before us.

I was skeptical about reading this, not quite sure why. I know I have wondered what heaven will be like. Knowing that heaven exits helps me to deal with the loss of family members who know the Lord. I like the scriptural backup to some of the points that Colton shared with his family.

I am very glad I took the time to check out this book.

Watch Your Words

As you might have read before I get a devotional during the week.  I had let them pile up recently and decided to put them in my OneNote notebook and read them later.  Well I finally read one of them a short time ago.  It was called "Did I Really Say That?".  It was from Wendy Blight. 

It was talking about how we say things.  The example she gave was interesting.  She had just spent time cleaning her kitchen.  After finishing and look at the nice clean area her husband came home for lunch to make one of his famous sandwiches, which would mean that every thing would be a mess again.  She gave directions as he was making his lunch.  As she was listening to the words coming out of her mouth and her husbands reaction to them, God kind of gave her one of those thunk in the head kind of moments.  What the heck did I just say?!?

I can kind of relate.  I take great pleasure in keeping a clean house for my husband.  It is the least I can do.  But with three cats it never fails that as soon as I get something cleaned up, rugs vacuumed and cat puke cleaned up, that one of them makes another mess for me to clean up.  I can get mad and fuss and spout angry words, but what good does it do me.  They can't help it and if I do it to them, how do I react when something else gets messed up after I think I have it all under control. 

Wendy gave some scriptures of what are words should be like:

Edifying:

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

Gentle:

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)

Self-controlled:

"A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control." Proverbs 29:11 (NIV 1984)

Compassionate:

"Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32 (NLT)

Really made me think about how I need to be careful about my words with even the cats, because there could be someone outside in the hall that would hear me and not know that I am yelling at a cat and think that is the way I am with people.

Interesting how cat could use cat puke as an object lesson.  I really value Proverbs 31 ministries.  They have so many wonderful women of God who share lesson they have learned which help me to become a better person.

Olga: A Daughter's Tale by Marie-Therese Browne

Olga was very happy as a child growing up in Jamaica. Her mother emigrated there after a visit with her sister. Becky fell in love and decided to stay. It wasn't an easy life but it was fulfilling. This is the story of Olga, on of Becky's 11 children. Olga loved her family very much and it was difficult for her to head off to London to go to school. Olga never dreamed that she would never set foot in her homeland again.

Olga story is told through the diaries of her Aunt Lucy, her mother Becky and her own. Marie, Olga's daughter, finds her mother's family with an ad in the local Jamaican paper. She discovers that her mother is a women of strength and courage. A woman who gave up her family because of circumstances beyond her control.

This is a touching story.

A Steal of a Deal (Shop-Til-U-Drop #2) by Ginny Aiken

Andie, Max, Miss Mona and Aunt Weeby are off on another adventure in the second installment of the Shop-til-U-Drop mystery series.

What starts out as a missions trip to Kashmir to help at an orphanage, turns into a trip to see the famous Sapphire mines. Things turn deadly when the houseboy is found murdered soon after they arrive. After the filming of the mines another tragedy strikes. They arrive back home safely, only to become victims of several deadly attacks. What do they want? Andie is trying to figure that out before someone close to her winds up dead.

I liked this story, but not as well as the first. Being a mystery you know something is going to happen, but it seemed kind of predictable. The love interest with Max is more developed and it is no surprise how the book ends, again kind of predictable. That being said it was a good story and was consistent with the first. I believe there is one more in the series. I want to read it, hoping that it isn't quite so predictable as this one was.

Decorating Schemes (Deadly Decor Mystery #2) by Ginny Aiken

Haley Ferrell has just been offered a job to redecorate a home for a prominent plastic surgeon. Dutch Merrill has also been hired. She arrives to take a look at the house and as Mrs. Marshall is showing her what she wants done they come a cross a body of a young girl in a pool of blood on the patio. Dutch shows up just then and calls the police.

Lila Tzu seems to be narrowing her focus onto Dutch because he has a previous relationship with the victims parents. In fact she turns out to be his Goddaughter. As the noose begins to tighten around Dutch he pleads with Haley for her help. So she is off and running again to find out why KC was killed and by whom. Along the way her new client's mom turns up in her father's life. In fact he just announced that he is planning on marrying her.

This is a great series and I thoroughly enjoyed this second installment in the Deadly Decor Mystery series. The Christian focus is not overpowering and realistic. Ginny Aiken has brought the characters to life and the struggles the characters have in seeking help in prayer don't seem put there just to satisfy the Christian focus.

A fun easy read!!