Peering Through Life's Window

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Snag a copy of Stopped Cold for 99 cents OR request a Smashwords Code and grab a copy for FREE there through December 30th. Just leave an e-mail address below. Check out all of the books on sale or free with Publishing by Rebecca J. Vickery on Once Upon a Word on Facebook   and the blog . Readers Say Stopped Cold's Great for Teens and Adults “Stopped Cold is filled with emotion, strong characters, teenage romance, adventure, danger and the intricate workings of modern day high school studies and sports.” Larry Hammersley. “…follow Margaret’s journey to discover the depth of true character and faith not only in school and friends, but family.” Author and Book Reviewer Lisa Lickel. “They…” (the characters) “..are as finely tuned as a lovely stringed instrument, each having a different song to play in the story.” Book Reviewer Barbara Shelton "This is a great read. I recommend it for teens or adults alike. It certainly ke...

Some say Christ wasn’t born on December 25th. They claim Christians took the date from a Roman holiday to rival the pagan feasts that took place during the Winter Solstice. This occasion honored a new age brought by the sun. Depending on location, the Winter Solstice occurs on or around December 25th. However, the date pales in the significance of Christ’s life. It’s His arrival, Gospel of love and unconditional sacrifice that massive numbers of Christians around the world celebrate each year on December 25th. Christ is born! “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ, the Lord.” (Luke 2: 8 – 11). (Photo courtesy of Google images) ...

A peek into Christmas in the lives of Matt and Suzie from Barely Above Water. Originally published in the December issue of  Good Stuff from Gail’s Book Nook . See sidebar to sign up for future copies. Earlier at the shower Suzie hadn’t seen Aunt Frieda since Matt and Suzie’s wedding, but Suzie intended to become part of Matt’s remaining family, and she wanted Aunt Frieda to know that. She couldn’t believe she’d forgotten the one thing Aunt Frieda asked Matt and her to bring. But she had it now from the local grocery in Hart’s Mountain, North Carolina, and she was headed back to Aunt Frieda’s house. Her mouth gaped in awe at the landscape. Icicles hung like crystal tendrils on the barren trees on a precipice to her left. The sun glinted off of them in silver tones. An ice sculpture of cascading water that had frozen in its tracks sparkled on a rock embankment on her right. She couldn’t let this magical wonderland distract her for long, but she’d never seen anyth...

                                A Warm Welcome to Linda Weaver Clarke           See links below to read sample chapters of The Rebels of Cordovia and The Highwaymann of Cordovia In The Rebels of Cordovia, a group of men and women who called themselves Robin’s Rebels realize they must help the people survive this oppression. In this battle for freedom, a love story begins to blossom. Daniel, a rogue and a leader of the Freemen, doesn’t realize that the sweet feminine woman he has met and is falling for happens to be the leader of Robin’s Rebels. Realizing the importance of uniting all the rebel groups, Daniel tries to recruit Robin’s Rebels but they refuse. Now he has to find a way to convince them. When he finds out the leader is actually a woman, what will his reaction be? After reading this story, Susan Ortlieb from Suko’s Notebook Review...

December 2016 New Releases More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website . Contemporary Romance: Bella Natale! by Marianne Evans -- An aspiring American artist and the widowed, Italian owner of a premier art gallery meet and fall in love in Florence when he champions her work, but there are her American family's expectations and his five-year-old son to consider. (Contemporary Romance from White Rose Publishing [Pelican]) With this Kiss by Marianne Evans -- A kiss stolen in a midnight snow. A jealous colleague at Jonathan's firm is bent on revenge...revenge that puts Isabella's store into legal peril. Will love be enough to see them through? (Contemporary Romance from White Rose Publishing [Pelican]) Mistletoe Daddy by Deb Kastner -- Bubbly Vivian Grainger bids on gruff Nick McKenna at Serendipity Texas's annual Bachelors and Baskets for one reason--to help her build her hair salon; but once Nick find...

Hats... Horns... We have two winners for Always With You ! Congratulations Sonnetta and Sonja!

A Warm Welcome to Elaine Stock Elaine will give away an e-Book of Always With You . To enter to win leave a comment and an e-mail address below. Hi Elaine, first, tell us a little about yourself. Born and raised until I was fifteen in Brooklyn, NY, I’ve been living the majority of my life in upstate NY. First my family moved to the northern suburbs of the city, then I met my future husband at Albany State, further upstate, and we’ve been in the Capital District ever since. I grew up in the pre-historic era before computers or cell phones, enjoyed a black and white TV, and played outdoors with the neighbor kids. I believe all this fostered my imagination to create stories. Writing, truthfully, was also my way of coping with a very troubled family life. Lots of writers loved to read as children. Did you? If so, what did you read? As emotionally unstable as my mother was, she devoured novels and always had a book in her hand. She made a delightful fuss over me upon gettin...

The winner of Love, Lies and Fireflies is Lisa! The winner of Frosting and Flurries is Sonja! Congratulations! Happy Reading!

A Warm Welcome to Jan Elder Jan will give away two kindle books—the first a kindle copy of Love, Lies, and Fireflies . The second, a kindle copy of the five-book set, Frosting and Flurries , where the readers will find her book, Moostletoe. What a treat. Here's Janice Bittner’s Chocolate MOOSTLETOE Cake.  In Moostletoe , the owner of the local coffee shop is a baker. There is a celebration in each of the five books, complete with a very special cake. CRUST: 3 cups finely crushed chocolate graham crackers ¾ tsp. espresso powder 1 stick butter, melted FILLING: 3 cups chocolate chips 2 tbsp. butter 2 eggs 4 egg yolks 2 cups heavy cream 1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar 1 tsp. espresso powder 1 tsp. vanilla 1 package (10 ounces) peanut butter chips Mix the crushed crumbs and the espresso powder. Add the melted butter and mix well. Press into the bottom of a 9” or 10” springform pan. Chill until ready. Beat the eggs and the egg yolks, and set...

November 2016 New Releases More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website . Biblical: Slender Reeds: Jochebed's Hope by Texie Susan Gregory -- In a deadly race to save her son, a young slave woman dares defy the most powerful man in the world. (Biblical from Barbour Publishing) Contemporary Romance: Crazy Woman Christmas by Renee Blare -- A quiet cowboy whisks Bianca to his ranch to ride out the Christmas blizzard where she discovers life is cold but also beautiful in the “Cowboy” state. (Contemporary Romance from Inspired [Prism Book Group]) Other Than a Halo by Valerie Comer -- Even though she’s a new woman in Christ, single mom Bren Haddock was no angel as a teen. Now managing the Hiller Farm for a CSA, life is good until a friend offers to enter her daughter into the Little Miss Snowflake Pageant. Old insecurities flare when she meets the intriguing head of marketing the pageant. Rob Santoro isn’t so sure about ...

Winner's Choice for 30 Days: A Devotional Memoir or Mississippi Nights Is... Drum roll... Congratulations, Linda Weaver Clarke!

             A Warm Welcome to D.M. Webb D.M. will give away an e-book of either 30 Days: A Devotional Memoir OR Mississippi Nights. To enter to win leave a comment and an e-mail address below. Yeats and Christ By D.M. Webb (Daphne Self) One of the most beautiful poems I have ever read was "Cloths of Heaven" by W.B. Yeats. A portion of it reads: “But, I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.” In my devotional 30 Days: A Devotional Memoir , I talked about how we all have dreams and sometimes it was only our dreams that kept us company. Every once in a while we offer dreams to someone and we lay them down at their feet. Our wish is for them to tread carefully on these dreams we offer. Have you ever offered a piece of yourself, lain it at the feet of someone, and wondered if it would be accepted? Have you ever looked into a person’s eyes, wished...

October 2016 New Releases More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website . Biblical Fiction: Providence: Hannah's Journey by Barbara M. Britton -- When the prophet of Israel refuses to heal her, Hannah flees Jerusalem and is captured by an enemy with a curse all his own. (Biblical from Harbourlight [Pelican]) Shadow of the Storm by Connilyn Cossette -- In defiance of her mother, Shira pursues her heart's calling to become an apprentice midwife. When a delivery goes horribly wrong, Shira finds herself bound to a man who betrayed her, the caretaker of three young children, and the target of a vengeful woman whose husband was killed by Shira's people, the Levites. As contention between the Hebrew tribes and the foreigners fans the flames of another dangerous rebellion, Shira will come face-to-face with the heartbreak of her past that she has kept hidden for so long. How can she let go of all that has defined her t...