It’s Not About Him by Michelle Sutton

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

It’s Not About Him

Sheaf House (September 1, 2009)

by

Michelle Sutton

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Michelle Sutton, otherwise known as the Edgy Inspirational Author, is Editor-in-chief of Christian Fiction Online Magazine, a member of ACFW, a social worker by trade, and a prolific reader/book reviewer/blogger the rest of the time.

She lives in Arizona with her husband of nineteen years and her two teenaged sons. Michelle is also the author of It’s Not about Me (2008) and It’s Not About Him (Sheaf House 2009). She has nine other titles releasing over the next three years.





ABOUT THE BOOK:

Susie passed out while drinking at Jeff’s party and later discovered she’s pregnant. She has no idea who the father is and considers having an abortion, but instead decides to place her baby for adoption. Following through ends up being more wrenching than she imagined, but she’s determined to do the right thing for her baby.

Jeff feels guilty that Susie was taken advantage of at his party and offers to marry her so she won’t have to give up her baby, like his birth mother did with him. But Susie refuses, insisting he should he marry someone he loves. Can he convince her that his love is genuine before it’s too late? Can she make him understand that it’s not about him—it’s about what’s best for her child?

If you would like to read the prologue and first chapter of It’s Not About Him, go HERE
Learn more about Michelle  and her books on her Website

MY REVIEW:

It’s Not About Him is Michelle Sutton’s second novel in her Second Glances series. Although many of the characters were primary players in It’s Not About Me, this story can stand alone without a need to read the first one. The focus here is on Susie who found herself pregnant with no memory of how it happened after a drunken party and Jeff who offered to marry Susie even though he was not the baby’s father.

There is more here than first meets the eye which I suspect is why this is called the Second Glances series. Although an unplanned pregnancy is traumatic enough for a single mother, there are underlying issues that cause Susie deep distress. Less than ideal childhoods have left both Susie and Jeff with difficulty trusting others and low self esteem.

Michelle is not afraid to tackle some of the thorny topics that many authors shy away from. In this book alone, the reader will find characters who struggle with alcohol, premarital sex or its temptation, pregnancy, adoption, and physical and verbal abuse. Although the subject matter can be controversial, Michelle handles it all from a Christian viewpoint. This series should be a must read for all teens because it deals with the true issues they will encounter in their lives and presents them with sound advice on how to handle them.

The Potluck Club Cookbook by Linda Evans Shepherd and Eva Marie Everson

ABOUT THE BOOK:

PotluckClubCookbookEating In Is the New Eating Out

Potlucks make sharing good, home-cooked food with family and friends simple and easy. Start with a few (or a lot of) guests, bring delicious dishes to share, and mix with love. A proven recipe for success.

Linda Evans Shepherd and Eva Marie Everson, the popular authors of the Potluck Club books and veterans of countless potluck dinners, have gathered their favorite recipes. From salads to casseroles to slow-cooker delights, there’s something for everyone, even if you’re watching your waistline.

These great potluck ideas not only save you money, they also help you build memories to last a lifetime.

Endorsements
“Linda and Eva Marie have loaded up every woman for success in the kitchen–and better yet, success in all their relationships too. These two serve up love in the form of some great recipes and great ideas sure to nurture the soul.”–Pam Farrel, bestselling author of Men Are Like Waffles, Women Are Like Spaghetti

Available September 2009 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

MY REVIEW:

I have enjoyed reading through The Potluck Club Cookbook.  This book is filled with good looking recipes, many of them old favorites of mine – some with a little different twist that I will be sure to try. There are enough recipes here to give me some fresh ideas even through I am an experienced cook with years of potlucks behind me. I enjoyed the authors’ commentaries between sections that included potluck memories, stories about family favorite recipes, stories about Potluck Club characters, etc. I also enjoyed the section at the end where the authors shared about their experiences writing the Potluck Club books as a team. If you would like some new dishes to try next time someone says “Bring a dish”, then this cookbook is for you. The only thing I could complain about is the lack of photos. I guess I read so many cooking blogs that I am used to seeing what every recipe looks like. But don’t let that keep you from picking up a copy of The Potluck Club Cookbook.

I tried two of the recipes in this book. I baked Mom’s Cornbread Casserole (p.30) for a church potluck. I forgot to photograph it and there was nothing left to bring home. Then I  made Linda’s Pecan Crusted Baked Chicken for my own family. I did learn that you need to be careful of the time when using chicken tenders. I nearly overcooked them. They were good but for my crew a little more seasoning would probably be in order.

PecanChicken

The following recipes from the book are courtesy of the publisher:

Grandmother’s Coconut Chess Pie

2                      eggs
1 Tbsp.            flour (should be heaping)
1/8 tsp.           salt
¼ Cup             white sugar
¾ Cup             white Karo syrup
1 tsp.               vanilla
unbaked pie shell
¼ lb.                butter
12-14 oz.         coconut (can or bag)

Beat eggs well and set aside.  In mixing bowl blend flour, salt, and sugar, then add eggs.  Next add syrup and vanilla, beat until well mixed.  Pour mixture into unbaked pie shell.  Slice butter into thick slices and cover top of pie.  Sprinkle coconut on top of pie and bake for about 1 hour in 300 degree oven or until firm and brown.

Serves 8

Linda: “I inherited this recipe from my Grandmother Evans. It’s one of the best pies I’ve ever tasted!”  (Page 83)



Corn Pudding au Gratin

1 (15 oz) can   creamed corn
2 Tbsp.            flour
1 cup               diced cheese
1/8 tsp.            black pepper
2 Tbsp.            margarine
2                      eggs
1 cup               milk
1 cup               buttered bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine corn, flour, cheese and pepper; mix well.  Add melted margarine and well-beaten eggs.  Warm milk and add to mixture.  Pour into 1 ½ quart casserole pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray.  Cook in oven until pudding begins to set, then sprinkle buttered bread crumbs over the top and reduce heat to 325 and bake until firm.  If bread crumbs are not sufficiently brown when pudding is firm, turn to broil briefly.  Cooking time is about 30 – 40 minutes.

Eva: “This recipe reheats nicely.”  (Page 169)



Linda’s Chicken Tortilla Casserole

2 ½ Tbsp.        chopped onions
¼ cup              butter
3 Tbsp.            flour
1 ½ cups          milk
¾ cup              chicken broth
1 tsp.               salt
3 Tbsp.            jalapeno peppers
1 ½ cups          chopped canned tomatoes (stewed)
3 cups              cubed chicken, cooked
½ cup              shredded cheese
12                    tortillas, cut into 1-inch strips

Sauté onions in butter, then add flour and cook until mixture is bubbly.  Stir in milk and broth gradually.  Stir in salt, peppers, and tomatoes.

In casserole dish, layer chicken, cheese, then strips of tortillas.  Pour sauce over layers then sprinkle casserole with cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Serve hot.

Serves 6-8.

Linda:  “You can’t go wrong with this tasty dish. It’s a potluck crowd favorite.” (Page 130)

The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow by Joyce Magnin

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow
Abingdon Press (September 2009)
by
Joyce Magnin

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Joyce Magnin is the author of short fiction and personal experience articles. She co-authored the book, Linked to Someone in Pain. She has been published in such magazines as Relief Journal, Parents Express, Sunday Digest, and Highlights for Children.

Joyce attended Bryn Mawr College and is a member of the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Fellowship. She is a frequent workshop leader at various writer’s conferences and women’s church groups.

She has three children, Rebekah, Emily, and Adam; one grandson, Lemuel Earnest; one son-in-law, Joshua, and a neurotic parakeet who can’t seem to keep a name. Joyce leads a small fiction group called StoryCrafters. She enjoys baseball, football, cream soda, and needle arts but not elevators. She currently lives in Havertown, Pennsylvania.

The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow is her first published novel.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow is the story of an unusual woman, Agnes Sparrow. No longer able or willing to leave her home, where she is cared for by her long-suffering sister Griselda, Agnes has committed her life to the one thing she can do-besides eat. Agnes Sparrow prays and when Agnes prays things happen, including major miracles of the cancer, ulcer-healing variety along with various minor miracles not the least of which is the recovery of lost objects and a prize-winning pumpkin.

The rural residents of Bright’s Pond are so enamored with Agnes they plan to have a sign erected on the interstate that reads, “Welcome to Bright’s Pond, Home of Agnes Sparrow.” This is something Agnes doesn’t want and sends Griselda to fight city hall.

Griselda’s petitions are shot down and the sign plans press forward until a stranger comes to town looking for his miracle from Agnes. The truth of Agnes’s odd motivation comes out when the town reels after a shocking event. How could Agnes allow such evil in their midst? Didn’t she know?

Well, the prayers of Agnes Sparrow have more to do with Agnes than God. Agnes has been praying to atone for a sin committed when she was a child. After some tense days, the townsfolk, Griselda, and Agnes decide they all need to find their way back to the true source of the miracles-God.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow, go HERE.

Visit the author’s website here. Read the author’s blog here.

MY REVIEW:

I did not know what to expect when I began reading The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow but it was very different than what I had imagined. Set in the small town of Bright’s Pond, Pennsylvania, the story is filled with an abundance of unique characters. Related through the first person voice of Griselda, the tale revolves around her sister Agnes whose prayers for the townspeople have resulted in several miracles. When several members of the t0wn council decide to honor Agnes with a sign on the main highway, a series of possibly related events occur.

The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow has a little bit of everything – humor, tragedy, crime, drama, and suspense. As the narrative progresses, several secrets are revealed that explain how Griselda and Agnes reached their current circumstances. It was particularly interesting to learn Griselda’s feelings about caring for her sister and the hidden motivations behind it.

The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow is an excellent example of what happens when people begin to give others credit when the honor is due to God. Then when things don’t go as expected,  those same people are quick to blame the person they put on the pedestal. This book has so many parallels to modern life that it should result in some personal reflection.

Three Weddings & a Bar Mitzvah by Melody Carlson

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today’s Wild Card author is:

and the book:

Three Weddings & a Bar Mitzvah

David C. Cook (2009)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Melody Carlson has published more than one hundred books for adults, children, and teens, with many on best-seller lists. Several books have been finalists for, and winners of, various writing awards, including the Gold Medallion and the RITA Award. She and her husband live in the Cascade Mountains in Oregon and have two grown sons.

Visit the author’s website.


Three Weddings and a Bar Mitzvah, by Melody Carlson from David C. Cook on Vimeo.

Product Details:

List Price: $14.99
Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 320
Vendor: David C. Cook (2009)
ISBN: 1589191080
ISBN-13: 9781589191082

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Megan Abernathy

“Okay, then, how does the second Saturday in June look?” Anna asked her housemates.

Megan frowned down at her date book spread open on the dining room table. She and Anna had been trying to nail a date for Lelani and Gil’s wedding. Megan had already been the spoiler of the first weekend of June, but she’d already promised her mom that she’d go to a family reunion in Washington. Now it seemed she was about to mess things up again. “I’m sorry,” she said, “but I promised Marcus I’d go to his sister’s wedding. It’s been scheduled for almost a year now, and it’s the second Saturday too. But maybe I can get out of it.”

Lelani just shook her head as she quietly rocked Emma in her arms, pacing back and forth between the living room and dining room. The baby was teething and fussy and overdue for her afternoon nap. Megan wasn’t sure if Lelani’s frustrated expression was a result of wedding planning or her baby’s mood.

“Is it possible you could do both weddings in one day?” Anna asked Megan.

“That might work.” Megan picked up her datebook and followed Lelani into the living room, where she continued to rock Emma.

“Or we could look at the third weekend in June,” Anna called from the dining room.

“Shhh.” Megan held a forefinger over her lips to signal Anna that Emma was finally about to nod off. Megan waited and watched as Emma’s eyes fluttered closed and Lelani gently eased the limp baby down into the playpen set up in a corner of the living room. Lelani pushed a dark lock of hair away from Emma’s forehead, tucked a fuzzy pink blanket over her, then finally stood up straight and sighed.

“Looks like she’s down for the count,” Megan whispered.

Lelani nodded. “Now, where were we with dates?”

“If you still want to go with the second Saturday,” Megan spoke quietly, “Anna just suggested that it might be possible for me to attend two weddings in one day.”

“That’s a lot to ask of you,” Lelani said as they returned to the dining room, where Anna and Kendall were waiting expectantly with the calendar in the middle of the table and opened to June.

Megan shrugged as she pulled out a chair. “It’s your wedding, Lelani. You should have it the way you want it. I just want to help.”

Anna pointed to the second Saturday. “Okay, this is the date in question. Is it doable or not?”

Lelani sat down and sighed. “I’m willing to schedule my wedding so that it’s not a conflict with the other one. I mean, if it can even be done. Mostly I just wanted to wait until I finished spring term.”

“What time is Marcus’s sister’s wedding?” asked Anna.

“I’m not positive, but I think he said it was in the evening.” She reached for her phone.

“And you want a sunset wedding,” Kendall reminded Lelani.

“That’s true.” Anna nodded.

“But I also want Megan to be there,” Lelani pointed out.

“That would be helpful, since she’s your maid of honor,” said Anna.

Megan tried not to bristle at the tone of Anna’s voice. She knew that Anna had been put a little out of sorts by Lelani’s choice–especially considering that Anna was the sister of the groom–but to be fair, Megan was a lot closer to Lelani than Anna was. And at least they were all going to be in the wedding.

“Let me ask Marcus about the time,” Megan said as she pressed his speed-dial number and waited. “Hey, Marcus,” she said when he finally answered. “We’re having a scheduling problem here. Do you know what time Hannah’s wedding is going to be?”

“In the evening, I think,” Marcus said. “Do you need the exact time?”

“No, that’s good enough.” Megan gave Lelani a disappointed look. “I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

“You’re not thinking of bailing on me, are you?” He sounded genuinely worried.

“No, but we’re trying to pin down a time and date for Lelani.”

“It’s just that I really want my family to meet you, Megan. I mean all of my family. And I want you to meet them too.”

“I know, and I plan to go with you.”

“Thanks. So, I’ll see you around six thirty tonight?”

“That’s right.” Megan told him good-bye, then turned to Lelani with a sigh. “I’m sorry,” she told her. “That wedding’s at night too. Maybe I should blow off my family reunion so that you–”

“No.” Anna pointed to the calendar. “I just realized that the first Saturday in June is also my mother’s birthday.”

“So?” Kendall shrugged. “What’s wrong with that?”

Megan laughed. “Think about it, Kendall, how would you like to share your wedding anniversary with your mother-in-law’s birthday?”

Kendall grinned. “Oh, yeah. Maybe not.”

“How about a Sunday wedding?” suggested Megan.

“Sunday?” Lelani’s brow creased slightly as she weighed this.

“Sunday might make it easier to book the location,” Kendall said. “I mean, since most weddings are usually on Saturdays, and June is a pretty busy wedding month.”

“That’s true,” agreed Megan.

“And you gotta admit that this is short notice for planning a wedding,” added Kendall. “Some people say you should start planning your wedding a whole year ahead of time.”

“Marcus’s sister has been planning her wedding for more than a year,” Megan admitted. “Marcus says that Hannah is going to be a candidate for the Bridezillas show if she doesn’t lighten up.”

They all laughed.

“Well, there’s no way Gil and I are going to spend a year planning a wedding.” Lelani shook her head. “That’s fine for some people, but we’re more interested in our marriage than we are in our wedding.”

“I hear you.” Kendall laughed and patted her slightly rounded belly. She was in her fifth month of the pregnancy. They all knew that she and her Maui man, Killiki, were corresponding regularly, but despite Kendall’s high hopes there’d been no proposal.

“I really don’t see why it should take a year to plan a wedding,” Megan admitted. “I think that’s just the wedding industry’s way of lining their pockets.”

“So how much planning time do you have now anyway?” Kendall asked Lelani. “Like three months?”

“Not even.” Lelani flipped the calendar pages back. “It’s barely two now.”

“Which is why we need to nail this date today,” Megan said. “Even though it’s a small wedding–”

“And that remains to be seen,” Anna reminded her. “My mother’s list keeps growing and growing and growing.”

“I still think it might be easier to just elope,” Lelani reminded them. “I told Gil that I wouldn’t have a problem with that at all.”

“Yes, that would be brilliant.” Anna firmly shook her head. “You can just imagine how absolutely thrilled Mom would be about that little idea.”

Lelani smiled. “I actually thought she’d be relieved.”

“That might’ve been true a few months ago. But Mom’s changing.” Anna poked Lelani in the arm. “In fact, I’m starting to feel jealous. I think she likes you better than me now.”

Lelani giggled. “In your dreams, Anna. Your mother just puts up with me so she can have access to Emma.”

They all laughed about that. Everyone knew that Mrs. Mendez was crazy about her soon-to-be granddaughter. Already she’d bought Emma all kinds of clothes and toys and seemed totally intent on spoiling the child rotten.

“Speaking of Emma”–Kendall shook her finger–“Mrs. Mendez is certain that she’s supposed to have her on Monday. But I thought it was my day.”

“I’m not sure,” Lelani admitted. “But I’ll call and find out.”

“And while you’ve got Granny on the line,” continued Kendall, “tell her that I do know how to change diapers properly. One more diaper lecture and I might just tape a Pamper over that big mouth of hers. Sheesh!”

They all laughed again. Since coming home from Maui, Kendall had been complaining about how Mrs. Mendez always seemed to find fault with Kendall’s childcare abilities. In fact, Mrs. Mendez had spent the first week “teaching” Kendall the “proper” way to do almost everything.

To be fair, Megan didn’t blame the older woman. Megan had been a little worried about Kendall too. But to everyone’s surprise, Kendall turned out to be rather maternal. Whether it had to do with her own pregnancy or a hidden talent, Megan couldn’t decide, but Kendall’s skill had been a huge relief.

“Now, back to the wedding date,” said Lelani.

“Yes,” agreed Megan. “What about earlier on Saturday?”

“Oh, no,” Anna said. “I just remembered that I promised Edmond I’d go to his brother’s bar mitzvah on that same day–I think it’s in the morning.”

Lelani groaned.

“Edmond’s brother?” Megan frowned. “I thought he was an only child. And since when is he Jewish?”

“Remember, his mom remarried,” Anna told her. “And Philip Goldstein, her new husband, is Jewish, and he has a son named Ben whose bar mitzvah is that Saturday.” She sighed. “I’m sorry, Lelani.”

“So Saturday morning is kaput,” Megan said.

“And Lelani wanted a sunset wedding anyway,” Anna repeated.

“So why can’t you have a sunset wedding on Sunday?” Kendall suggested.

“That’s an idea.” Megan turned back to Lelani. “What do you think?”

Lelani nodded. “I think that could work.”

“And here’s another idea!” Anna exclaimed. “If the wedding was on Sunday night, you could probably have the reception in the restaurant afterward. I’m guessing it would be late by the time the wedding was over, and Sunday’s not exactly a busy night.”

Lelani looked hopeful. “Do you think your parents would mind?”

“Mind? Are you kidding? That’s what my mother lives for.”

“But we still don’t have a place picked for the wedding,” Megan said.

“I have several outdoor locations in mind. I’ll start checking on them tomorrow.”

“We’ll have to pray that it doesn’t rain.” Megan penned ‘Lelani and Gil’s Wedding’ in her date book, then closed it.

“Should there be a backup plan?” asked Anna. “I’m sure my parents could have the wedding at their house.”

“Or here,” suggested Kendall. “You can use this house if you want.”

Anna frowned. “It’s kind of small, don’t you think?”

“I think it’s sweet of Kendall to offer.” Lelani smiled at Kendall.

“I can imagine a bride coming down those stairs,” Kendall nodded toward the staircase. “I mean, if it was a small wedding.”

“I’ll keep it in mind,” Lelani told her. “And your parents’ house too.”

“It might be tricky getting a church reserved on a Sunday night,” Megan looked at the clock. “And speaking of that, I better get ready. Marcus is picking me up for the evening service in about fifteen minutes.” She turned back to Lelani. “Don’t worry. I’ve got my to-do list and I’ll start checking on some of this stuff tomorrow. My mom will want to help with the flowers.”

“And my aunt wants to make the cake,” Anna reminded them.

“Sounds like you’re in good hands,” Kendall sad a bit wistfully. “I wonder how it would go if I was planning my wedding.”

“You’d be in good hands too,” Lelani assured her.

“Now, let’s start going over that guest list,” Anna said as Megan stood up. “The sooner we get it finished, the less chance my mother will have of adding to it.” Megan was relieved that Anna had offered to handle the invitations. She could have them printed at the publishing company for a fraction of the price that a regular printer would charge, and hopefully she’d get them sent out in the next couple of weeks.

As Megan changed from her weekend sweats into something presentable, she wondered what would happen with Lelani’s parents when it was time for the big event. Although her dad had promised to come and was already committed to paying Lelani’s tuition to finish med school, Lelani’s mom was still giving Lelani the cold shoulder. Make that the ice shoulder. For a woman who lived in the tropics, Mrs. Porter was about as chilly as they come. Still, Lelani had friends to lean on. Maybe that was better than family at times.

“Your prince is here,” Kendall called into Megan’s room.

“Thanks.” Megan was looking for her other loafer and thinking it was time to organize her closet again. “Tell him I’m coming.”

When Megan came out, Marcus was in the dining room, chatting with her housemates like one of the family. He was teasing Anna for having her hair in curlers, then joking with Kendall about whether her Maui man had called her today.

“Not yet,” Kendall told him with a little frown. “But don’t forget the time-zone thing. It’s earlier there.”

“Speaking of time zones,” Lelani said to Marcus. “Did I hear you’re actually thinking about going to Africa?”

Marcus grinned and nodded. “Yeah, Greg Mercer, this guy at our church, is trying to put together a mission trip to Zambia. I might go too.”

“Wow, that’s a long ways away.” Kendall turned to Megan. “How do you feel about that?”

Megan shrugged as she pulled on her denim jacket. “I think it’s cool.”

“Are you coming with us to church tonight, Kendall?” Marcus asked. “Greg is going to show a video about Zambia.”

“Sorry to miss that,” Kendall told him. “But Killiki is supposed to call.”

“Ready to roll?” Megan nodded up to the clock.

He grinned at her. “Yep.” But before they went out, he turned around. “That is, unless anyone else wants to come tonight.”

Lelani and Anna thanked him but said they had plans. Even so, Megan was glad he’d asked. It was nice when Kendall came with them occasionally. And Lelani had come once too. Really, it seemed that God was at work at 86 Bloomberg Place. Things had changed a lot since last fall.

“So are you nervous?” Marcus asked as he drove toward the city.

“Nervous?” Megan frowned. “About church?”

“No. The big interview.”

Megan slapped her forehead. “Wow, I temporarily forgot. We were so obsessed with Lelani’s wedding today, trying to make lists, plan everything, and settle the date … I put the interview totally out of my mind.”

“Hopefully, it won’t be out of your mind by Monday.”

“No, of course not.”

“So … are you nervous?”

Megan considered this. It would be her first interview for a teaching job. And it was a little unsettling. “The truth is, I don’t think I have a chance at the job,” she admitted. “And, yes, I’m nervous. Thanks for reminding me.”

“Sorry. Why don’t you think you’ll get the job?”

“Because I don’t have any actual teaching experience.” She wanted to add duh, but thought it sounded a little juvenile.

“Everyone has to start somewhere.”

“But starting in middle school, just a couple of months before the school year ends? Don’t you think they’ll want someone who knows what they’re doing?”

“Unless they want someone who’s enthusiastic and energetic and smart and creative and who likes kids and had lots of great new ideas and–”

“Wow, any chance you could do the interview in my place?”

“Cross-dress and pretend I’m you?”

She laughed. “Funny.”

“Just have confidence, Megan. Believe in yourself and make them believe too. You’d be great as a middle-school teacher.”

“What makes you so sure?”

“Because I remember middle school.”

“And?”

“And most of my teachers were old and dull and boring.”

“That’s sad.”

“And I would’ve loved having someone like you for a teacher.”

“Really?”

He chuckled. “Yeah. If I was thirteen, I’d probably sit right in the front row and think about how hot you were, and then I’d start fantasizing about–”

“Marcus Barrett, you’re pathetic.” Just the same, she laughed.

“What can I say? I’m just a normal, warm-blooded, American kid.”

“Give me a break!” She punched him in the arm.

“Is that your phone?” he asked as he was parking outside of the church.

“Oh, yeah, a good reminder to turn it off.” She pulled it out to see it was Kendall. Megan hoped nothing was wrong. “Hey, Kendall,” she said as Marcus set the parking brake. “What’s up?”

“Guess what?” shrieked Kendall.

“I have no idea what, but it sounds like good news.” She stepped out of the car.

“Killiki just called.”

“That’s nice.”

“And he asked me to marry him!”

Megan raised her eyebrows and looked at Marcus as he came around to meet her. “And you said yes?”

“Of course! Do you think I’m crazy?”

“No. Not at all. Congratulations, Kendall. I mean, I guess that’s what you say.”

“So now we have two weddings to plan.”

Megan blinked. She walked with Marcus toward the church entry. “Oh, yeah, I guess we do.”

“And I’m getting married in June too!”

“That’s great, Kendall. I’m really, really happy for you. And Killiki seems like a great guy.”

“He is! Anyway, we just looked at the calendar again. And we finally figured that I should just get married the same day as Lelani, only I’ll get married in the morning. That way we’ll all be able to go to both weddings.”

“Wow, the same day?”

“Otherwise, you’ll be at your reunion or Marcus’s sister’s wedding. Or Anna will be at the bar mitzvah. Or Lelani and Gil will be on their honeymoon.”

“Oh, that’s right.”

“And I want all of you there!”

“Yes, I suppose that makes sense.”

“It’ll be busy, but fun.”

“Definitely.” Then Megan thanked Kendall for telling her, and they said good-bye. Megan closed her phone and just shook her head. “Wow.”

“Kendall’s getting married?” asked Marcus as he held the church door open for her.

“Yes. Can you believe it?”

“Good for her.”

“And her wedding will be the same weekend as your sister’s and the same day as Lelani’s.”

Marcus held up three fingers and wore a perplexed expression. “Three weddings in one weekend? That’s crazy.”

“Yep.” Megan nodded. “Three weddings and a bar mitzvah.”

“Huh?” Marcus looked confused, but they were in the sanctuary, and Megan knew she’d have to explain later.

©2009 Cook Communications Ministries. Three Weddings and a Bar Mitzvah by Melody Carlson. Used with permission. May not be further reproduced. All rights reserved.

MY REVIEW:
Although I reviewed the first book in the 86 Bloomberg Place series over a year ago, I missed the two following books and was just a little lost when I began reading Three Weddings and a Bar Mitzvah. Fortunately there were sufficient details given for me to quickly catch up with the characters well enough to understand the plot.

In this final installment, the girls of Bloomberg Place are frantically trying to plan two weddings in June without conflicting with other previous plans that include another wedding and a bar mitzvah. Complicating matters are an interfering mother and future mother-in-law, romantic misunderstandings, job stress, and the death of a family member. Three Weddings and a Bar Mitzvah neatly wrapped up the series with a look at the positive changes that had taken place in each character and the close ties that had knit them together as a family.

A Taste of Fame by Eva Marie Everson & Linda Evans Shepherd

MY REVIEW:

A Taste of Fame is a thoroughly enjoyable novel  about the experiences of the Potluck Catering Club when they unexpectedly find themselves finalists in the playoffs for The Great Party Showdown on television. Each chapter is written from the point of view of different members of the club and details the adventures (and misadventures) of the team during their extended stay in New York City. Sometimes hilarious, sometimes dramatic, sometimes sad, A Taste of Fame is never boring. The characters are all realistic with real life difficulties that include marriage problems, financial troubles, romantic dilemmas, devious contestants, etc.

I absolutely enjoyed A Taste of Fame and was particularly thrilled to find all the recipes mentioned in the book included at the end.  Does The Potluck Catering Club win the showdown? I’ll never tell but you can find out if you run out and pick up your own copy. I don’t think you will be sorry you did.

A Taste Of FameIs America ready to meet the Potluck Catering Club on reality TV?

The women of the Potluck Catering Club have a growing business. They even became the subject of a budding filmmaker’s class project. Problem is, they didn’t read the fine print when they signed off on his documentary. When he enters the club in the reality show The Great Party Showdown, the ladies of Summit View, Colorado, must head to the Big Apple for the unexpected adventure of their lives.

Between navigating New York City, dealing with cutthroat contestants, and trying to maintain their close friendship in the surreal world of reality TV, the Potluck women must keep their eyes on the prize–a cool million dollars–and work together if they’re going to make it back home in one piece.

A Taste of Fame serves up the perfect blend of humor, misadventure, and mouthwatering recipes. Fans new and old will love this exciting trip into the wild world of competitive cooking!

Authors Linda Evans Shepherd and Eva Marie Everson love dishing up the stories of the six friends featured in their latest series The Potluck Catering Club—much to the delight of readers.

“This is the way Christian fiction should be written,” one reader says. “No cardboard Christian cut-outs of sweet angelic women none of us can relate to. These women are real, just the kind of women I find in my own community.”

For more information, visit www.RevellBooks.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

eversonEva Marie Everson is an award-winning author, a successful speaker, and a popular radio personality. She is coauthor of The Potluck Club series and The Secret’s in the Sauce. She lives in Florida. You can learn more about Eva Marie and her books at her website.

LindaEvansShepherdLinda Evans Shepherd is an award-winning author, a successful speaker, and a radio personality. The president of Right to the Heart Ministries, she is also coauthor of the Potluck Club books and the Potluck Catering Club series. Learn more about Linda and her books on her website.