{"id":6281,"date":"2010-11-05T10:16:31","date_gmt":"2010-11-05T15:16:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/\/?p=6281"},"modified":"2010-11-06T10:19:15","modified_gmt":"2010-11-06T15:19:15","slug":"the-perfect-blend-by-trish-perry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/?p=6281","title":{"rendered":"The Perfect Blend by Trish Perry"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>\"\"<\/a>It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour<\/a><\/strong><\/span> <\/strong> 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!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n


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Today’s Wild Card author is: <\/strong><\/div>\n


<\/p>\n

Trish Perry<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n


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and the book:<\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n


<\/p>\n

The Perfect Blend <\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Harvest House Publishers (September 1, 2010)<\/p>\n

***Special thanks to Karri James of Harvest House Publishers for sending me a review copy.***<\/p>\n

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:<\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n

\"\"<\/a>Trish Perry is an award-winning writer and editor of Ink and the Spirit, a quarterly newsletter of the Capital Christian Writers organization in the Washington DC area. She has published numerous short stories, essays, devotionals, and poetry in Christian and general market media, and she is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers group.<\/p>\n

Visit the author’s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n


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\n<\/embed><\/object>\n<\/p>\n

Product Details:<\/p>\n

List Price: $9.99
\n Paperback: 256 pages
\n Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (September 1, 2010)
\n Language: English
\n ISBN-10: 0736930159
\n ISBN-13: 978-0736930154<\/p>\n

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:<\/span> <\/strong>
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Steph Vandergrift was jilted in a truly beautiful place.<\/p>\n


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<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n

She focused on her surroundings so she wouldn\u2019t break down and openly sob in front of people passing her on their way to work. Eyes blinking and chin quivering, she desperately sought distraction in the old stone buildings, lush spring greenery, and fragrant wisteria and lavender from the well-tended landscape nearby.<\/p>\n

Rick told her she would love Middleburg, one of the most charming little towns in northern Virginia. When he proposed\u2014<\/p>\n

She breathed deeply against the urge to wail as if she were at an ancient European funeral.<\/p>\n

When Rick proposed, he said she would even love his law firm\u2019s stately, historic building. This was where she sat now, her dark bangs in her eyes. Despite the warm spring air, she huddled outside on the front steps, certain her brain\u2014or surely her heart\u2014would burst if she didn\u2019t stop and collect herself.<\/p>\n

A sudden leave of absence. That\u2019s what the receptionist told her. Rick had taken a sudden leave of absence. And Steph knew she was whom he had suddenly left.<\/p>\n

She swallowed hard. She stood and dusted off her short flared skirt in an attempt to look nonchalant while she sized up her situation. Where was she going to go? Where? She wiped away a tear, but another one swiftly took its place. She needed to not do this here, in the middle of this quaint old town.<\/p>\n

God, what do I do now? Please tell me.<\/p>\n

Distraction. She needed another distraction right now.<\/p>\n

Across the street a middle-aged woman stepped out the front door of a small building, the white-painted stone of which was gorgeously weathered. She bent to lift a watering can, and her loose blond curls fell forward. She tended to the flower boxes that hung, moss-laden, from green-shuttered front windows. Then she seemed to sense someone watching her. She turned around and smiled at Steph before calling out to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood morning, dear. Are you all right over there?\u201d<\/p>\n

Steph took a few steps away from Rick\u2019s building and tried to look purposeful. She managed to say, \u201cYes, I\u2014\u201d before her throat seized and then released a torrent of weeping and incoherent babbling.<\/p>\n

So much for her stoic resolve.<\/p>\n

Within seconds the woman was across the street and at Steph\u2019s side. She smelled like vanilla and strawberries.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou poor girl. Whatever is the matter?\u201d<\/p>\n

Steph tried to speak between heaving sobs. \u201c\u2026were s\u2019posed to elope\u2026left everything\u2026job, family, friends\u2026he\u2019s not here\u2026leave of absence\u2026what\u2026gonna do?\u201d And then full-on wailing obliterated any further at-tempts at communication.<\/p>\n

The woman enveloped Steph with her free arm, the other still holding the watering can, and steered her toward the little stone house across the street.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou just come with me this instant. You mustn\u2019t stand out here all alone like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yes. That was it. She was all alone. Rick had lured her away from everyone she loved. Everything she knew. She had left them all to marry him. It seemed like such a romantic notion, to elope after her parents had expressed their disapproval of Rick. And then what did the dirtbag do but desert her here?<\/p>\n

The enticing smell of fresh-baked bread wafted all around them when they entered the little shop. Despite her anguish Steph sensed a rumble in her stomach. She thought she must be more beast than damsel to actually harbor hope for a pastry or two in the middle of this catastrophe.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have a seat right there.\u201d The woman coaxed her into a wicker chair at one of the lace-covered tables in the dining area. \u201cWhat you need is a nice, soothing cup of chamomile. Just give me a moment.\u201d Before she went too far away, she stepped back to the table and placed a box of tissues within Steph\u2019s reach.<\/p>\n

Once Steph was alone again, reality descended. What was she going to do? Granted, she hadn\u2019t walked out on a stellar career. She could get another job selling men\u2019s suits in just about any department store, she supposed. But she didn\u2019t know anyone here in Middleburg. Should she hang her head and drag herself back home to Baltimore? Why had she made such a scene before leaving? She hadn\u2019t quietly sneaked away. No, she had to pull an all-out, in-your-face confrontation with her parents. A dramatic disconnect with her friends and roommates. And all of them had simply been trying to save her from exactly what just happened.<\/p>\n

As she had always feared, her judgment was completely whacked. She had forgotten plans for any long-term career once she and Rick became serious. She thought she would spend the rest of her life married to an up-and-coming real estate attorney and raise their two perfect children and faithful dog in this adorable, classy town. Why had she believed that would happen simply because Rick said it would?<\/p>\n

\u201cHere we go, dear.\u201d<\/p>\n

It finally dawned on Steph that the woman had a faint accent. British? That would fit with this cute little shop, with its delicately flowered wall-paper and elegant china cabinets. The small, framed paintings hanging here and there looked like scenes of the British countryside.<\/p>\n

The woman set a serving tray on the table and placed each item in front of Steph. A white porcelain china pot, painted with miniature violets, from which she poured tea into a delicate rose-covered cup and saucer. A plate with a couple of triangular biscuits on it. They smelled like butter and sweetness. And two dainty bowls: one holding strawberry preserves, and the other holding what looked like sour cream.<\/p>\n

Steph realized she was able to stop crying as long as she stopped focusing on herself for a moment. She looked up and pressed a tissue against her nose. \u201cThank you so much. You didn\u2019t have to\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo need for that. Go on, now.\u201d The woman gestured at the food and tea and sat down across from Steph. Her gentle blue eyes reminded Steph of her mother during better times. \u201cYou\u2019ll feel better if you have a bit to eat and some nice, relaxing tea.\u201d<\/p>\n

As soon as Steph lifted one of the biscuits, the woman said, \u201cI\u2019m Millicent Ashford Jewell. Everyone calls me Milly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSteph.\u201d She spoke around an absolutely delicious bite. She rubbed crumbs from her fingers and shook Milly\u2019s hand. \u201cSteph Vandergrift. Thank you for being so kind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Milly smiled and put a spoon of the cream on Steph\u2019s plate for her. \u201cClotted cream. One of God\u2019s great gifts, in my opinion. Marvelous on the scones.\u201d<\/p>\n

Clotted cream. Now that sounded downright nasty. But Steph was a self-admitted people pleaser, and she had never been one to ignore God\u2019s great gifts. So she put a little of the cream on her next bite of scone. And then nearly moaned, it was so fantastic.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut that\u2019s just really thick whipped cream!\u201d<\/p>\n

Milly said, \u201cI think you like it, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI love it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Milly stood. \u201cI have a few matters to tend to in the kitchen. Feel free to walk back and get me if you need me. We don\u2019t stand on ceremony around here.\u201d<\/p>\n

The shop door opened as Steph swallowed a sip of tea. She followed Milly\u2019s delighted gaze toward the door and took another nibble of scone. Mmm. \u201cAbsolutely yummy.\u201d<\/p>\n

A crooked smile spread across the face of the young man who walked through the door. He looked directly at Steph and acted as if her comment were all about him. With a lift of his eyebrows and a tilt of the head, he said, \u201cWell, thank you very much.\u201d<\/p>\n

Milly laughed and approached him. They hugged each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cWelcome back, stranger,\u201d Milly said. \u201cHow was vacation?\u201d<\/p>\n

Steph didn\u2019t pay much attention to their conversation after that. The man seemed to be in a hurry, which was fine by her. Otherwise she feared Milly might want to introduce them. She\u2019d rather a man that attractive not look at her too closely right now.<\/p>\n

Steph watched his warm brown eyes, which never seemed to lose their smile. She noticed he never once messed with his short, tousled blond hair or fussed with anything else about his looks. Yet, when he walked with Milly toward the kitchen, Steph saw how perfectly, yet casually, he was dressed and groomed.<\/p>\n

Her heart was broken, thanks to Rick\u2019s wimpy, childish retreat from her life. But Milly\u2019s chamomile tea and warm scones made her feel a little better. And despite her circumstances and the many question marks in her immediate future, she was still able to appreciate a good-looking man. She leaned sideways to watch him at the kitchen door until he disappeared from view. He and Milly were out of earshot, so Steph surprised only herself when she whispered it again.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely yummy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8,60,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6281","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-books","category-contemporary-fiction","category-romance"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6281","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6281"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6281\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6287,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6281\/revisions\/6287"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6281"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6281"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}