Meet the Mind Behind A Stitch in Crime

Howdy y'all! Crystal, here. I'm so glad to introduce you to the great mind behind A Stitch in Crime. Cathy Elliott is such a joy to talk to and her new mystery sounds like such a fun read. (Oh, and if you stick around you might win a copy, hint, hint. :) )

So, Cathy, tell us a bit about yourself.

After many years working as a Library Information Technician in a community college, I’ve retired and am now a full-time writer of cozy mysteries and more on my trusty Mac. My newest novel is A Stitch in Crime, a Quilts of Love book, the last in the series. Other books include, Medals in the Attic: An Annie’s Attic Mystery, and my recently re-released debut novel, A Vase of Mistaken Identity. 

As much as I love being a writer, maybe I cherish my role as “Gramsey” to my two grandgems even more. I try to hone those skills as often as I can. When I’m not with the wee ones, which is more often than not, I enjoy crafty things: quilting, sewing, decorating, creating cool gift bags kind of fun. And lots of reading!

Who doesn't love a good book? :) I know I do. By the way, congratulations on your new release! What is A Stitch in Crime about?

Thanks for the good wishes, and for asking about the book. Here’s a little taste: 

Thea James thought working as co-chair for Larkindale’s first quilt show extravaganza would be a natural extension of her antique business. But while organizing the busy week’s premiere events would make anyone frayed, she doesn’t expect a complete unraveling!

At the opening soirée, local matriarch Mary-Alice Wentworth is knocked unconscious and robbed of her diamond brooch. Soon a rare quilt—the main attraction and a rumored key to great riches—goes missing. Those who signed up to help Thea are strangely no help at all. What more could possibly happen?

Amid a cast of colorful characters and a tight schedule of garden galas, tea parties, and televised socials, everything is falling apart at the seams – and nothing is quite what it seems. Can Thea sew everything back together?

This sounds like such an interesting read. I love a good mystery that keeps me guessing. Where did you get the inspiration for your story?

After perusing a book about Civil War quilts and the Underground Railroad, I wondered about messages in quilts and legacies over time. That was the core spark for me to create the fictional Larkin’s Treasure, a quilt with a secret of great riches that is highly prized. And decide how someone might insert that message into it somehow, yet in a way that isn’t apparent and is mysterious.

I love how historical tidbits can spark ideas. Do you have a favorite scene in the book? If so, can you tell us a bit about it?

I have a few favorites, but I loved writing the afternoon tea scene out at the Lake House. Thea was in the throes of her “investigation” but trying not to appear so since the local Police Detective’s wife was also there. Watching Gram thwart Thea’s desire to keep a secret in bumbling-Gram-style was a delight to write. (I love Gram.)

Sounds like there's some humor there. :) What do you plan to work on next?

Though I’m still having Thea-withdrawals, it’s time to move on. So, I have another mystery series in the works. And a romance novel that might see the light of day, too. Plus, a secret project I’m not ready to talk about yet, but hope to see come to fruition. Lots to keep me up late writing – which is when I work best.

You know how to tease, don't you? :) Where can readers connect with you? Where can they buy your book?

Some of my frequent online haunts: Website & Occasional Blog - www.cathyelliottbooks.com,
Pinterest,  and Facebook – Author Cathy Elliott
And lots of places to buy the book:

• Amazon.com
• Barnes & Noble
• BAM! (Books-A-Million)
• Christianbook.com
• Cokesbury
• Christian Supply
• Parable

Thanks for all the info and links. Okay, last but not least, apart from writing, what is your favorite creative outlet?

It’s a tie between quilting and playing my guitar. Or fiddle. Not doing much fiddling these days, so I let Thea’s mum play her violin in a string quartet as my outlet. I do music leading at church, working with some dedicated, talented folks. And belong to a lovely quilt guild that reminds me of the Quilt-Without-Guilt-Guild in the book. Sort of. :)

Ooo, love to hear me some fiddlin'. :) Would love to see those lovely creations of yours too. :) Well, it's been such fun chatting with you today, Cathy. 

Everyone, I hope you liked the sound of Cathy's book because she'll be giving away a copy of A Stitch in Crime to one of this weekend's commenters, so now's the time to get those questions in. :) If you've no questions, here's one for you: Do you like reading a good mystery? If so, what's a favorite you've read in the past?

(P.S. I'll announce this winner on Monday, March 2nd in the comments and on our Weekly Wind-up post. If you don't win this contest, remember your comments also enter you into our bi-monthly drawing. The winner for that giveaway will be announced on the Weekly Windup on March 9th. For more information on our giveaways, visit our Prizes Galore page. Thanks for dropping by!)

Paczki, anyone?

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is celebrated the day before the beginning of Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter. This year, Lent began last week on Wednesday, February 18^th. And, just as the Mardi Gras parade is the main attraction in New Orleans on Fat Tuesday, here in Detroit it’s known as Paczki Day.

Why is it called Fat Tuesday? The origin of Mardi Gras dates back to when Roman pagans ushered in the beginning of spring with festivals and merrymaking. As Christianity took root, the old celebrations evolved into a prelude to Lent. To be ready for the 40 days of penance and fasting that began on Ash Wednesday, people wanted to eat up all the fat, meat, eggs, and cheese in their homes. Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, became the day to do just that.

So, what’s a Paczki? Paczki (pronounced poon-shkee) is actually the plural form of paczek (pon-check), a wonderful, donut-like pastry of Polish origin. Paczki, however, contain more eggs than donuts and are much richer. Filled with jam, custard, or other gooey goodness, paczki are deep-fried, dusted with powdered sugar, and best enjoyed the day they’re baked.

In Hamtramck, a small city within the city of Detroit and the home of a large Polish community, crowds line up before dawn on Fat Tuesday to buy pre-ordered paczki at the many bakeries, then indulge in paczki and beer at the annual Paczki Festival. 

Paczki Facts

Calories: Approximately 700, more if cooked in lard. And 20-30 grams of fat, depending on the size.

Flavors: Traditional flavors include apple, blueberry, custard, lemon, and raspberry. One of the many new flavors advertised this year is chocolate hazelnut combined with butter cream and chocolate hazelnut topping.

How many paczki are sold on Fat Tuesday: The estimate is around a million in Hamtramck alone. But one Hamtramck baker said, “I don’t count them. I just keep making them.”

So, if you don't make it to New Orleans for Mardi Gras next year, meet me in Hamtramck for Paczki. I'll take one raspberry, please!

A Reader's look at Deadly Ehoes

We all try to have one little place that is an escape, a chance to get away from the stress and pressure of our lives - whether it be a home, a garden or perhaps just a quiet spot in a library. Sarah Miller thinks she has found such a place. A small town, full of friends, quaint little shops and a strong faith community. Sarah has sought refuge in this quaint town to try and escape a past that includes the murder of her parents and the loss of a stable home life. But Sarah is about to learn a secret that we all must learn. No earthly place can offer us a true sanctuary.

Tragedy destroys Sarah’s peaceful world. The murder of her beloved sister. The world she has built crashes around her and despite the peaceful small town and loving friends, she faces tremendous grief.

But what Sarah needs to learn is that there is only one true Sanctuary. It can’t be found in a place, a person or even an idea.  But only in the One who promises to wipe away all our tears, and to never leave us. The One who promises that He would be our true shelter in times of trouble. We call him Savior.

So the next time you find yourself placing too much emphasis on a person, place or thing to provide you peace, remember it can only come from a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Book Blurb:

After a youth filled with tragedy and upheaval, Sarah Miller's life is finally settled with all echoes of the past silent at last. She happily calls Sanctuary her home and spends her days teaching at the local school. Sarah's joy at her recent reunion with her sister, Hannah, and meeting the niece she didn't know she had is too soon interrupted when Deputy Sheriff Paul Gleason informs Sarah her sister has been killed. As she learns more about Hannah's death, the circumstances are eerily similar to their parents' murder. Sarah enlists Paul's help in digging deeper into the murders the police are dismissing as burglaries gone wrong. Paul's concern encourages Sarah's growing feelings for him, but as their investigation peels back the layers of lies almost twenty years old, they get close to uncovering the truth one person will do anything to hide--even if that means coming after the last remaining members of the Miller family.

Josette Downey  is the christian romance author of A Time to Say Goodbye, The Secret Son and Bonds of Tradition. She has master’s degree in English From East Carolina University, and currently works for a premier test scoring company. She is the mother of a precocious six-year-old girl, who enjoys bugs, snakes and superman.  She enjoys southern cooking, reading and exploring emerging technology, but is best defined by her devotion to her faith and the empowerment of women in the modern world.

To learn more follow her at

https://www.facebook.com/J.M.Downeysouthernrosepress

                                     and

                              http://jmdowneysouthernrosepress.weebly.com/index.html

Leg Warmers for Warmth and Fashion

Brrrrr. The weather has been brutal in most of the country, and everyone is looking for ways to keep warm. Here’s an idea for those who knit or crochet.

My granddaughter got me started on this project when she approached me with her request for leg warmers. “I need some leg warmers to wear with my new boots. Will you…”

I didn’t catch that last part, because like most indulgent grandmothers, I was going for the car keys.

She stopped me. “We’ve already looked in the stores. They don’t have them.” Apparently leg warmers are in the same category as snow shovels and sleds. Not much demand in Georgia.

“I brought you a pattern,” she said.

Bless her heart. She thinks I can make anything. The pattern she showed me was for knitted leg warmers. “How soon do you want these?” I can knit, but I’m slow. Incidentally, here are some free patterns for leg warmers.

To Knit: www.allfreeknitting.com/Knit-Leg-Warmers

To Crochet: www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/legwarmers.php

As usual I disregarded all of them and decided to crochet my own design. “What color do you want?” I named all the colors of yarn I had on hand.

“I want all the colors in stripes.”

Apparently this was one of those flash fads making the school girl scene. I understand perfectly. I lived through the hippie era.

 

And Disco.

So my granddaughter got striped leg warmers. But if I were making my own, this is how I’d make them. I’d use a mohair blend yarn for softness and warmth. I’d crochet them all the way up over the thighs and make chain ties to weave in the top as garters to keep the leg warmers in place. No slouching for me. They’d be hidden under pants or skirts and tall boots. Fashion wouldn’t matter.

That’s what I’d do if I lived in ice and snow country.

The pattern for my granddaughter's crocheted leg warmers is very simple. Skill level is easy to moderate. You don't have to change colors at the end of each row, but you can.

Work a chain that fits around the leg, minus one and one-half inches. Chain 3 and turn. Double crochet in the 4th chain from the hook and in each chain across. Chain 3 and turn.

Increase by one double crochet in each of the next 4 rows. Continue in double crochet until piece reaches knee length.

Single crochet across the top and evenly spaced along side. Ch 1 and turn. Single crochet along side. Evenly space shells across top, single crochet down opposite side. Ch 1 and turn. Single crochet back to top. Break off. Sew sides together. Decorate with buttons.

Repeat for other leg warmer and work two chains about 25 inches long. Weave the chain ties at base of shell top. Adjust to fit and tie the ends of chain into a bow. The bow can be worn inside or out.

I’m sure others have good ideas for dealing with the brutally cold weather. How are you keeping warm this winter?

***Don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway for When Dawn Breaks by Jennifer Slattery! Every comment is a separate entry. Check the Weekly Windup on March 9 to see if you’re a winner. For more information on our giveaways click on the Prizes Galore page.***

A Barn Raising!

More than just building walls . . .

Happy Tidbit Tuesday, Michele Morris here to talk about old fashion barn raisings.

I love old movies, don’t you? One of my favorites is Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and one of my favorite scenes in the movie is—you guessed it—the barn raising. It’s a fun, colorful, action packed scene consisting of the barn building, dancing, food, and even a little flirting. Well, maybe a lot of flirting, after all, the movie is about seven brothers, each looking for a wife.   

In the 18^th and 19^th centuries, barn raisings were a popular, necessary and social event. If a farmer needed a barn built he’d often organize a barn raising or a raising bee. Now, I doubt that real barn raisings were the choreographed performance of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, but nonetheless, a community came together not only to build, but to feast, sing, dance, and maybe even fit a young couples nuptials into the activities.

It would all start with a farmer setting a date for the raising bee. The news would quickly spread by word of mouth or perhaps an announcement posted in the general store. Then on the day of the barn raising a hundred or more men, women, and children would show up on site with food and tools in hand.

Many times, the barn would be finished in a day. Once in awhile, two days would be needed and folks would camp overnight to be ready for the next morning. I can just imagine music and socializing lasting into the night, can’t you?

Today, through telephone and internet we have instant access to one another. We watch developing world news on TV, as it happens. We discuses or share our opinions on social media. Imagine if all of those modern conveniences were gone. Then imagine the excitement of gathering with others to, first off, help someone in need, but also to meet new people, share news, and just have fun. This was the barn raising of years ago.

So what do you think? Would you enjoy living with less social access? Or do you need your daily dose of FaceBook and Instagram?

Let us know your opinion in the comments below, and don’t forget if you leave a comment you'll be entered into our prize drawing! This week's prize is When Dawn Breaks, By Jennifer Slattery. 

Oh, and you must check back on March 9th to see if you've won. 

(Check out the Prizes Galore tab above for any rules you might need to know) 

Have a wonderful week!

Michele       

Discipline Shouldn't Have a Bad Connotation

If you bring up the topic of discipline to most people it comes with a bad connotation. Somewhere along the lines of this...

or this:

But I find God has been showing me something different through His Word.

He says:
"A wise son responds to his father’s discipline,but a mocker doesn’t listen to rebuke." 

Proverbs 13:1

 and:
"My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly
or faint when you are reproved by Him,
for the Lord disciplines the one He loves
and punishes every son He receives."
Hebrews 12:5b-6

I recently found myself in what seemed like an insurmountable circumstance. I had less than two weeks to get my house cleaned and ready for company. Now to most it wouldn't seem like much... but my house was an utter wreck. In the past year we've dealt with water damage that meant having to totally renovate a bathroom. For months on end we've had tools covering our dining room table. Then we spent most of last summer helping my in-laws downsize and move to an apartment. Most of the things they chose to downsize came to my already overflowing house.

These circumstances were followed by me being away from home for two months helping my mother-in-law before she went home to be with her Lord and Savior. After her death, while grieving, I had no desire to work on cleaning up the house even though it desperately needed it.

When faced with having to suddenly clean up the main living areas, I got into high gear. Honestly, I really didn't think I'd make great progress. I thought I might have to just box everything and put it in a room and out of sight for when company came over.

While in the midst of working hard, I came across this Bible verse:
"No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it." 
Hebrews 12:11

God showed me how even though I was under tight guidelines, cleaning up was something that had been needed. Discipline can be a good thing. When I choose to follow God and His discipline, the end result is peace.

Oh, by the way, today I'll be putting a final touch on the last room. Tomorrow things will be ready for that company.


What areas are you needing to become more disciplined? 

Are you ready to think of it without having a bad connotation?


Posted by: Jodie Wolfe A.K.A. Digging for Pearls
You can read more of my musings at www.jodiewolfe.com



Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway for When Dawn Breaks by Jennifer Slattery! Check the Weekly Windup on March 9th to see if you're the winner. For more information on our giveaways, click on the Prizes Galore page. 
 

Weekly Windup: Comment to Win When Dawn Breaks by Jennifer Slattery!

Congratulations to Holly Michael who was the winner Land of My Dreams by Stitches Author Norma Gail!

If you are a winner, please contact us here with your address to claim your prize. 

 

This Week's Giveaway is:

When Dawn Breaks by Jennifer Slattery

As the hurricane forces Jacqueline to evacuate, her need for purpose and restitution forces her to head north to her estranged and embittered daughter and into the arms of a handsome new friend. Dealing with his own issues, Jacqueline isn’t sure if he will be the one she can lean on during the difficult days ahead. And then there are the three orphans to consider, especially Gavin. Must she relinquish her chance at having love again in order to be restored?

Special thanks to Jennifer Slattery for offering her book as a giveaway! Jennifer Slattery writes missional romance novels for New Hope Publishers. Visit her online at http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com

This giveaway runs through March 8th. Comment on any post between now and then to enter, and remember, the more comments you make, the more entries you earn!

    Winners will be announced in the Weekly Wind-up.

 

Coming up this week:

Musing Monday:  Devotion on Discipline by Jodie Wolfe

Tidbit Tuesday: 1800s Barn Raising by Michele Morris

Woven Wednesday: Crocheted Leg Warmers by Elaine Manders

Thoughtful Thursday:  Book review by Josie Downey

Fun Friday: "Paczki, anyone?" by Peggy Wirgau

Sit-Down Saturday:  Interview and Giveaway with Cathy Elliott

We look forward to hanging out with you this week!

Check out our Prizes Galore Page to see all our giveaways!

Silly and Serious with Michelle Griep

Michelle Griep’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She seeks to glorify God in all that she writes—except for that graffiti phase she went through as a teenager.

She resides in the frozen tundra of Minnesota, where she teaches history and writing classes for a local high school co-op. An Anglophile at heart, she runs away to England every chance she gets, under the guise of research. Really, though, she’s eating excessive amounts of scones.

I'm currently reading her new writing book, Writer Off the Leash, a terrific mix of writing/publishing truths served on a bed of snark with a dollop of "suck-it-up, Buttercup." I laugh so hard at some of the things she says that I just had to get to know her better. I hope you love her as much as I do.

Linda: About that snark, were you born with it, or is it something that developed over time?–or is it a self-defense mechanism against four kids? Who do you most sharpen your wit on?

Michelle: It’s in my DNA. Remove it and I deflate into a disgusting mess of primordial soup, all steamy and green. Kind of like raw sewage. My dog bears the brunt of my verbal sparring, mostly because she can’t answer back.

Linda: Okay, let’s get serious:

I just finished A Heart Deceived, set in 1795 England. This book reminded me of my long-lost love for historical novels, a genre I haven't touched in years. Now I'm hungry for more.

Your settings are vivid, and the details you casually drop into a scene add richness to the reading experience. You have knowledge of both the gracious living and the sour side of life in England, as if you’ve totally immersed yourself into the era. How long have you been researching this country’s history?

Michelle: Long answer: I’ve been an Anglophile since I first drew breath. Bronte and Dickens were my playmates as a child. Every BBC historical mini-series is filed away in my grey matter. See what I did there? I even spelled grey like a Brit.

Short answer: since junior high

Linda: How much time do you spend researching before you write?

Michelle: Not a ton. I go ahead and write when a story bubbles up. Sorry for the visual. BUT (and I’ve always got a big but) researching is just a way of life for me. I read non-fiction English history for fun. Yep. I’m that kind of twisted.

Linda: Do you ever have trouble slipping back a few centuries after spending time in this one?

Michelle: Sometimes a dated word pops out my mouth and I get a few strange looks, but that’s pretty much a normal part of life for me anyway.

Linda: Do you have any hints for our readers pertaining to research–how do you organize it? What are your favorite resources?

Michelle: I’m a hands-on kind of gal. I collect British Regency and Viking era non-fiction books. I’ve got shelves full. It’s a sickness, really.

It doesn’t hurt to go outside the box, though, and shoot of an email to some experts if you’ve got a particular question. College professors are usually game to answer. Like say, if I’ve got a linguistics question, I’ll Google instructors at Oxford or Cambridge and just go ahead and give it a whirl. More often than not, they do respond.

Linda: Let's get silly again. I’m taking away your writing privileges, so of the other things you love to do, which would be your fall-to occupation?

Personal Chef to Amazon’s top 10 Christian authors
Captain of the Star Ship Brittania
The roller-blading delivery girl for publishers

Michelle: I LOVE to rollerblade! No, really. And while I love to cook and sci-fi is also a fave, I’m going to go with the calorie burning activity of a delivery girl. Besides which, I might be able to suck up to some acquisitions editors.

Linda:  I've enjoyed your responses to my questions. Thanks tons for putting up with me!

Michelle: Au contraire, m’dear. Thanks for putting up with me. I did shower first, however, so you can be thankful for that.

~~~~~

You can follow Michelle's adventures at her blog WRITER OFF THE LEASH or visit michellegriep.com, and don’t forget the usual haunts of Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter.

About the Book: Writer Off the Leash . . .

Are you a writer at heart? How can you tell? And if you are, how do you go about composing and selling the next Great American Novel?

WRITER OFF THE LEASH answers these questions and more--all in an easy to understand, tongue-in-cheek style. This is more than a how-to book. It's a kick in the pants for anyone who wants to write but is stymied by fear, doubt, or simply doesn't know how to take their writing to the next level. Award-winning author MICHELLE GRIEP blows the lid off stodgy old-school rulebooks and makes it clear that writing can--and should--be fun.

And don't miss her newest Regency romance, BRENTWOOD'S WARD.  Place an unpolished lawman named Nicholas Brentwood as guardian over a spoiled, pompous beauty named Emily Payne and what do you get? More trouble than Brentwood bargains for. She is determined to find a husband this season. He just wants the large fee her father will pay him to help his ailing sister. After a series of dire mishaps, both their desires are thwarted, but each discovers that no matter what, God is in charge.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Remember to leave a comment to get your name in the drawing for Land of My Dreams by "Stitches" Author Norma Gail! Be sure to check the Weekly Windup  on Feb 23rd to see if you've won!

Fire in a Storm—Faith under Fire

by Guest blogger Angela K Couch

There is something about finding the perfect title for your story, and then wondering if most readers will see the depth and, even more importantly, how it applies to them. Fire in a Storm is a short story I wrote that recently released in the anthology Out of the Storm. Set in 1934 USSR at the peak of religious persecution, there were definitely literal fires and storms.

In just over ten years the number of Russian Orthodox churches alone dropped from 29,584 to less than 500. Fire. Dynamite. And sometimes just sledgehammers.

All Christians felt communism’s growing resentment. Hundreds of thousands were arrested, imprisoned in work camps, and murdered just for trying to practice their beliefs. Aren’t we glad we don’t live in that time or place?

And yet that is only the surface. What would it have been like to be raised or just live in that time and place? The school curriculum mocking your belief in God. Marxism, and by extension atheism, the accepted reality. Education and science voiding God in the minds of your peers.

How hard would it have been to maintain faith in that storm? How much harder to find it?

Blurb: “Fire in a Storm”

USSR 1934 / He was secret police, and he knew his purpose. Religion was the enemy and God, the deception. Then a glimpse of gold and silver, and the woman who wore it, threatened everything he trusted.

Excerpt:

Pavel vaulted through the gap in the window, one hand pushing off of the heavy woolen coat that had been placed over the shards of glass. He met the ground as one of the other officers raced past. The man jerked, bringing his weapon to bear on Pavel.

“Avoid shooting just anyone, please,” Pavel grumbled, pushing him aside. “Where did the other priest go? That was him, wasn’t it?”

“I think so,” the officer nodded. “He disappeared behind the church.”

Pavel sprinted to the back of the building. Shivering as moisture ran down his neck, he pulled his coat’s black leather collar tight. The hiss of light rain meeting fire did little to hinder the growing blaze. He scanned the narrow canal and the aspen grove beyond. Seeing nothing, he crouched to examine the bank. The ground had been disturbed, a hint of grass ripped — probably by a shoe sliding downward. Straightening, he followed the canal to a rotted footbridge, fallen in halves to the bottom. He jumped in, sending up a spray of mud and water as his boots sank into the shallow stream. Pistol ready, he pulled up one side of the waterlogged structure. There was a feminine gasp.

“Anything?” An officer called from the edge of the grove.

For a moment, Pavel couldn’t pull his gaze from the two pools of terror shadowed by long lashes. The girl, almost a woman, was undoubtedly the priest’s daughter. They had been told there was one, but though his duty was clear, how could he bring himself to do it?

Angela K Couch is a writer of historical romance from Alberta, Canada. She grew up listening to her father read chapters from his novels and decided young she would follow his path. As a passionate believer in Christ, she can’t help her faith from permeating the stories she tells. Besides writing, Angela enjoys martial arts, painting, gardening and chasing after her three sweet munchkins. She is forever grateful for her supportive husband!
Angelakcouch.com, Facebook, Amazon, Goodreads, Twitter, Pinterest.

A Thing of Beauty is a Beautiful Thing

It's my pleasure to review A Thing of Beauty by Lisa Samson today. It’s a simple story. But the writing is exquisite. Every single word, phrase, and image folds perfectly into the theme and story. The words themselves are a thing of beauty, not to mention the subject matter.

 The characters are lovable, beginning with the protagonist who was a famous actress who left the business. We all love a great celebrity story, and it reads almost like a news magazine show about a beloved actress who has stayed out of the public eye for years after a terrible demise. But instead of that predictable story, this actress reaches a critical moment where she must choose whether to let a few extraordinary people into her life or to remain isolated forever.

Mix in some family problems, money problems, and a disastrous house, and the story really takes off. The house itself becomes a character in the story. At the beginning of the story, we see a beautiful old mansion overrun with collected junk and in need of some serious TLC. Borderline Hoarders material.

There is another element that clings to the story throughout, and it almost feels like magical realism to me. Not quite magic, but not quite exempt from the supernatural either. It’s about small providential moments in life that make a person think, “Well, that was God.” Ms. Samson describes several of those wonderful moments we don’t always know what to do with. Those moments some people respond to with, “Your guardian angel must be working overtime.” And others refer to it as luck. Or Karma.

Fair warning: while this is the work of a Christian author, and it’s published by a Christian publisher, the seasoned Christian reader may be surprised by some mild expletives found throughout. I don’t feel they have been added to rile up the devout, nor do they take away from the story for me. And overall, the language is far milder than that found in typical fiction coming out of the general market.

I believe Ms. Samson has stayed true to her characters, while telling a stunning story of redemption. Not knowing this very talented author, I believe she must have stayed true to her own self as well, because stories that convey truth like this can only come from deep in the heart. I’m so grateful she chose to share it with us.

A Thing of Beauty is truly that.

Remember to leave a comment to get your name in the drawing for Land of My Dreams, by Norma Gail, and be sure to check the "Weekly Windup" on Feb 23rd to see if you've won!