Review: Betrayed by J.M. Windle

Read the book synopsis.

When I was in fifth grade, I remember learning about World War II and the US involvement in it. I have this really distinct memory of reading about Pearl Harbor and this line from the text: "The United States had entered World War II." I got little chills and felt a surge of patriotic pride well up within me.

Fast forward to high school. I took two years of History of the Americas and learned about the history of Latin and South America. I wondered exactly where that patriotic pride went as I learned about how the best hopes for these countries were often crushed by our government's influence. They seemed trapped in a continual cycle of despair and we certainly were not helping.

I love the way Jeanette Windle handles these issues in this book. She doesn't paint a clear picture of blame, but rather one of individual responsibility. She depicts what seems to be overwhelming despair and sorrow, but makes this the clear theme of the book: "Do what is right. Do not give way to fear." I love that so much I'm thinking of making little signs to put around me to remind me to live in exactly that way.

This book is certainly very educational in regards to United States/Latin American relations. It's also a mystery and thriller so you get history, get to grapple with the problem of pain and the question of evil, all while being delightfully entertained! There's even a tiny bit of romance! And most importantly there is hope.

Thematically, Betrayed is rich, layered, and consistent.

I highly recommend this book. I really enjoyed it, but even more so I was challenged by it. What more can you ask of any book?

The old hymn, "This is my Father's World" runs throughout the book and no other song could have been so appropriate. I dug up this Fernando Ortega version from youtube for your enjoyment. I got goosebumps listening to it after just finishing the book. What a beautiful song!

Music Monday: Songs that Move You

To tell you the truth, I keep drawing a total blank with this one. I'm not the type to dance much. Or to listen to really fast upbeat music for that matter. I don't think a song has ever inspired me to actually do something. There are a few songs that inspire me but I can't find them online...soo..

I finally remembered these two Shane and Shane songs that I love to dance to in my car. Yeah, when I'm driving. :) I'm that crazy person you see on the road. Seriously, sitting in traffic is so mind numbing there has got to be another activity going on or I go crazy.

Anyway, I especially love the words to "The Answer" I really hope I can apply the truth of the song to my life more and more.

Enjoy!





Go visit Kat's for songs that move others!

Also...if anyone still listens to cassette tapes, I have some brand new unopened cassette tapes of Watermark that I'll send anyone who wants one until they are gone. Just use the contact form at the top of the page to send me your address. :)

What's Your Favorite Hymn?

I think it's fun to discover old music and rediscover old favorites. What is your favorite hymn and what is your favorite line from it?

I love Saturdays!

Tis true, I really do. Today I slept in and it was GLORIOUS. For some reason, I don't sleep all that well on weeknights but Saturday morning? Yes. Then I leisurely watched some television, got caught up on my Google reader while listening to some Corrine Bailey Rae. (the ultimate in chill music) and now I'm getting ready to head out. And I don't resent it! I love take it easy mornings! (ok, ok, it's 1:30 now, but still!)

I read on one of the many blogs in my reader that we are not living the abundant life if we look forward to weekends. It's not that the weekdays are horrible, it's just that the weekends are so much better! :) What do you think about this?

What was your Saturday morning like?

In other news, Booking Mama is giving away a book that I want! It looks very interesting and it's about France! So you know I want it! Hop over to her blog for your chance to win.

And she's not the only one! Care's Online Book Club is also giving away some books! Two! I want them, too! (are there any books I don't want?) So be sure to visit her as well for your chance to win.

In the interest of full disclosure, I'm blogging about both of these because it gives me extra chances to win. ;) And because I love both their blogs and want to give the link love, of course.

Have a great day everyone!

Late Friday Afternoon Thoughts

I just read that NBC is developing a show that is a modern day take on King David. Uh, what? The show is going to be called Kings. How in the world are they going to work this out? I definitely think David's life is full of soapy goodness, but the whole present day thing? Not so sure about that. Thoughts?

Secondly, I'd like to address book series. I, for one, am a fan of book series. I like continuing story lines and revisiting characters. Has anyone else noticed that this is not much of a trend in Christian fiction? Series are at best three books long. I bring this up because I read Camy Tang's sushi series will only have three books but she will be writing a novella for the fourth cousin, Jen, exclusively for her newsletter subscribers (you should sign up now! She also has a huge contest going on!) This is a huge bummer! Additionally, I remember thinking Susan May Warren's Team Hope series could have gone on at least one more book if not two, and finally Julie Lessman told me that generally the publishers just like to do three book series. The only exception to this rule that I can think of is Karen Kingsbury who will have written essentially 14 books on the Baxters when all is said and done but they will have been broken up into three series.

So what you all? Yay or nay on book series? What can we do to get more?

Betrayed by JM Windle

I've fallen behind AGAIN. But I am reading this book and hope to have a review this weekend. I'm really enjoying it at the moment. I think I really like a book that explores social justice issues while also providing a page turning story. I don't know why I've only recently discovered this truth, but it makes sense. :)

In any case, here's the book information:

Fires smolder endlessly below the dangerous surface of Guatemala City’s municipal dump.

Deadlier fires seethe beneath the tenuous calm of a nation recovering from brutal civil war. Anthropologist Vicki Andrews is researching Guatemala’s “garbage people” when she stumbles across a human body. Curiosity turns to horror as she uncovers no stranger, but an American environmentalist—Vicki’s only sister, Holly.

With authorities dismissing the death as another street crime, Vicki begins tracing Holly’s last steps, a pilgrimage leading from slum squalor to the breathtaking and endangered cloud forests of the Sierra de las Minas Biosphere. But every unraveled thread raises more questions. What betrayal connects Holly’s murder, the recent massacre of a Mayan village, and the long-ago deaths of Vicki’s own parents?

Nor is Vicki the only one demanding answers. Before her search reaches its startling end, the conflagration has spilled across international borders to threaten an American administration and the current war on terror. With no one turning out to be who they’d seemed, who can Vicki trust and who should she fear?

A politically relevant tale of international intrigue and God’s redemptive beauty and hope.

Mitch and Charity?

As you know, I adored A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman with every fiber of my being. ha.

I've been dying for scraps of information on its sequel, A Passion Redeemed which comes out in August and also waiting eagerly for a glimpse of its cover.

This is the first I've found, now what do you think?

I totally think that looks like Charity!

Booking Through Thursday: Cover-up

While acknowledging that we can’t judge books by their covers, how much does the design of a book affect your reading enjoyment? Hardcover vs. softcover? Trade paperback vs. mass market paperback? Font? Illustrations? Etc.?

Trade paperback is perfect for me. The size is right for sticking in my purse or holding in my hands. The size of the text is right so my eyes aren't straining.

I love a good cover. I really like to examine the cover while I'm reading and also when I've finished. So a good cover is actually really important to me. I don't know why. That's not to say I won't read a book with a dull cover, but I enjoy a nice cover.

Illustrations are not necessary in adult books but certainly enhance the reading of children's books.

Overall, design is very important to me, but I will read a book with a boring cover, I will read a mass market edition, and I will read a book with smaller than preferred font. So while important, it's not necessary.

Things that Freak Me Out

1) Raccoons. Raccoons get top billing today because I just saw one the other day when I was pulling up at home. I think the lights of my car scared it but it only ran across the street. Then it just sat there and stared at me. And I started thinking...how freaky are raccoons??? With those beady eyes and those freaky little hands??? I immediately did some research on the computer (once it ran into some bushes and I decided it was safe to go inside) and learned that they can be aggressive. I actually do see them around work kind of a lot (usually at a distance) so now they are officially on the list of things that freak me out, though they are generally quite cute in kids books.

2) Driving in parking lots. I am almost always certain that I'm going to get in some kind of accident, since most people forget to observe stop signs, pedestrians, and other cars in a parking lot.

3) Crickets. And grasshoppers. Bugs that hop, people. Hopping and jumping means, I don't know where it's going to end up....yuck.

4) Movies about demon possession. I can watch most scary movies but if there's some demon possession involved it really gets under my skin. Like that movie The Exorcism of Emily Rose. That was one chilling movie that stayed with me for awhile. I think the reason these sorts of movies are frightening to me is because I actually believe in demons.

5) Clowns. Not terribly original, I know, but the make-up, weird hair, sad but supposed to be happy vibe just doesn't work for me.

6) Guillotines. I like my head attached to my body. The whole of idea of being beheaded has always just really freaked me out.

7) Bette Davis. When I was young, we watched Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? She kills the maid with a hammer. She dresses up as a little girl and dances around. I was just a kid and this freaked me out on so many levels. I rewatched it a few months ago and actually think it's a pretty interesting film, but she still freaks me out. :)

8) Computer viruses. I've never had one but live in constant fear.

9) Haunted Houses. I just hate hate hate being chased around by some guy with a chainsaw.

10) Dirty public restrooms. Ew, gross. For some reason the restroom at my Barnes and Noble is the worst. There is always something disgusting going on. Once there was a brownie smashed all over the floor. A brownie. At first I thought it might be something else (as you can imagine) but I happened upon the container the brownie was in and naturally avoided that stall.

11) Whenever people do that thing where they flip their eyelids out or whatever? That's freaky, please don't do that.

12) Robots. Yes, it would be nice to have one to clean for me, but it doesn't need a human voice or name.

13) Masks. I find masks in general to be frightening, just show your face I'm sure it's lovely...

What freaks you out?

Super Bummed

I would have been happy to see at least 3 or 4 others go instead tonight. Chikezie suffered from bad song choices several times throughout the competition....but he does have a beautiful voice. I'm glad he will at least be able to be on tour.

But folks we still have Kristy and Ramiele....ugh.

A Mighty Heart

In addition to a staggering TBR pile, I also have a big TBW pile...to be watched. This is more in my mind and my Blockbuster queue, however. I find less time to watch things than read...after all it's much easier for me to take a book along with me to anywhere I have to wait. (I don't have an ipod or other easy to transport video technology)

In any case, I've been wanting to watch A Mighty Heart for sometime but due to its rather serious nature I had to be in the right mood.

This movie delivered in two essential areas for me.

1) I felt like I was waiting around the whole movie to find out what happened to Daniel Pearl. (I mean, I knew what happened, but I felt they captured the essence of waiting and working to find clues really well)

2) I never want to go to Pakistan. I felt like the city shots, the waiting in traffic etc. really brought Karachi to life vividly enough that I determined it's low on my list of places to visit. But that was great for setting the mood of where the heart of this story took place.

Additionally, I felt Jolie's performance was great and her celebrity did not overshadow the movie to me at all.

I do think I might enjoy reading the book or the book of his collected writings. I was a senior in college when all of this took place, busy writing my senior paper and squeezing in last minute classes. I did not follow the news carefully during this time and I think this was a great way to fill me in on the story.

Have you seen this movie? What did you think?

(Don't forget to check out Watercooler Wednesday for more great posts on art and culture)

Review: For Pete's Sake by Linda Windsor

About the book: For Pete's Sake is a remarkable story about the unlikely live between a grown-up tomboy and the millionaire next door.

Ellen Brittingham isn’t sure true live exists until she contracts to do the landscaping of the estate of the sophisticated widower next door, Adrian Sinclair. Adrian has it all—at least on the surface, He’s engaged to a beautiful woman who helped him build a successful business and he’ll soon have a mom for his troubled son Pete.

Yet, from the moment Ellen rescues a stranded Adrian on her Harley, his well-ordered world turns upside down, cracking his thin façade of happiness and revealing the void of faith and love behind it. Even more, his son seems to have his own sites set on Ellen – as his new mom.

As Ellen’s friendship grows with Pete, she realizes that his father is about to marry the wrong woman for the right reasons. And despite her resolve to remain “neighbors only” with the dad, the precocious boy works his way into her heart, drawing Ellen and Adrian closer. Close enough for heartbreak, for Pete’s sake!

But how can her heart think that Adrian Sinclair is the one when he’s engaged to a sophisticated beauty who is everything Ellen isn’t. When Ellen’s three best friends see she’s been bitten by the love bug, they jump into action and submit her to a makeover that reveals the woman underneath her rough exterior and puts her in contention for Adrian’s love.

But Ellen must ask herself whether she’s ready to risk the heart that she’s always held close. Will Ellen be able to trust that God brought this family into her life for a reason? Or will her fear of getting hurt cause her to turn away from God’s plan and her one true chance at love?


My Review: I want to start off by saying how much I love the cover for this book...it's the perfect cover for this book, simple yet it speaks volumes. It perfectly illustrates the connection made between two people, an almost uncertain but hopeful touch. I was flipping through my Christian Book Distributors catalog yesterday and they had a different cover shown and I'm so glad they changed it!

I loved this book. Ellen is a really loveable character. So is Adrian. So is Mrs. Duffy. So is Pete. I mean that must certainly say it all! This is a gorgeous love story, that speaks of hope and redemption. There's a bit of mystery and intrigue in the mix as well.

I also really enjoyed the various "cultural" activities we are exposed to throughout the course of the book, which is possible since Adrian and Pete are new to the area. I love for an author to open up a new world to me, and having never lived by the water, this was a new world in many ways. I even wanted some seafood after reading this book and that is an accomplishment!

Windsor's writing is strong and enjoyable and full of fun little similies and metaphors. I look forward to the rest of this series.

David Cook

Dear Non-Idol watching readers:

I know you don't watch American Idol, but I think you'll really enjoy this video of my favorite Idol this year.

Idol Top 10

I didn't blog while watching the show tonight because I didn't watch at home. However, such is the addiction of blogging that I was mentally writing a post while watching. Sigh.

Ramiele: I'm not sure why she chose this song. Apparently, Carly already sang it this season. (it obviously wasn't that memorable for me) but it's one of the performances that is well beloved by the most successful Idol ever..Carrie Underwood. Unfortunately, Ramiele sounds terrible. Truth be told, I have really wanted to like Ramiele all season, but she just hasn't had a performance where she was AWESOME. So if she goes home tomorrow, it will be okay with me.

Jason: Jason sings a great song, but I agree with the judges, it's just not that exciting. Going second and sounding bland are not going to be in his favor come tomorrow. He does have gorgeous eyes, though, so maybe that will keep him in.

Syesha: I wish Syesha would sing a likeable song. Whenever she chooses one of the show-off-my-vocal-powers sort of songs, I just don't like the songs. She sounds good, but if it was a more likeable ballad it would have been better for me. Just sayin.

Chikezie: Tries to go with his gut and sing a ballad. Judges are unimpressed. I still love me some Chikezie, but I'm a bit underwhelmed as well. These sort of cheesy ballads are not my cup of tea. (see above)

Brooke: A couple of weeks ago, Paula said Brooke should have brought in the band. I think she heeded that advice this week to poor results. I agree that if she had kept with just her and that piano all would have been better. I really liked the beginning of the song. I still think Brooke is someone I would listen to outside of the Idol world.

Michael: Honestly, I enjoyed it but I don't think I was impressed as the judges. I do think he showed good energy, I'm sure it was good fun live.

Carly: My college drama group used to do a mime to this song! I still love this song for that reason. ;) I would have thought this would be a good song for Carly, but she does. not. sound. good. (shouty or something?) I also think she makes some strange expressions when she sings.

David A.: I do love David, but this performance is cheesetastic. Nuff said.

Kristy: First of all, Simon knows this country and I agree with him that this was a clever choice. Then he went overboad trying to align himself with Americans. This is an anecdote of being a PK for you...I used to think the words were...."I won't forget the man who died who gave that right to me" I mean, because obviously when we were talking about someone dying for me, there was only one Man right? ;) I think she was pitchy, but there are plenty of people who get goosebumps everytime they hear this song..I think she'll stay around.

David C.: Let me put it this way. I think David has solidified his position as my favorite. I've liked him every week and tonight? He was AWESOME! Now if only he can come up with something clever for Andrew Lloyed Weber week..(Memories rock style anyone?)

What did you all think?

Positive Tuesday: Emily

When I decided to do my positive post Tuesday about my niece, I thought, I wonder if it's ok to do one about an almost seven year old? I mean, I don't know if she'll ever read this. Then I saw that Kristin did hers on kids, so I decided to go for it.

My niece Emily rocks. She really does. She's almost seven years old. But she's a sweetheart.

Of course she's a child so she likes things like getting her own way. But she's a very sweet empathetic child. She's sentimental, thoughtful, and caring. She's very clever and I think she's a pretty good big sister.

I should say of course, that I have three nieces. And I think they are all really awesome. But Emily's birthday is this week, so this post is for her.

I don't get to see my sister and her family very often, but one time when they were visiting (probably when she was five or something) and I was explaining to Emily that I am her aunt and she is my niece, she looked up at me and beamed and said, "I like being your niece, Aunt Amy." I mean, honestly, that's the way to my heart! Even farther back when we were both visiting the States (I was teaching in Japan at the time) and I was getting ready to go back and my sister explained to Emily that I was leaving, she said, "I'm going to try to stop her!" She's also been known to do things like organize her stuffed animals into Jesus and His disciples.

I pray that in the future God will protect her jewel of a heart so that it never grows cold towards Him. I pray He will use her gifts to further His kingdom and that she will be sure of His love.

Happy Birthday (a little early) Emily, I love you!

Brrrrrr

The weather outside is perfect. I mean, seriously, it's just so gorgeous, not too hot, not too cold. WONDERFUL.

The weather inside, however, feels like we're at the North Pole. Yes, my nose...it is red. Like Rudolph. But it's the wrong season for that.

I used to be able to change the thermostat. Now they keep it locked. And on 50 something degrees. I mean, seriously?

Songs I Can Listen to a Million Times in a Row #3

I'm not sure if Kat is doing Music Monday this week or if it's on Spring Break, but I haven't finished introducing you to my songs I can listen to over and over so here's another! (please try to contain your enthusiasm)

I love Sarah McLachlan. She has such a beautiful voice and such sad songs. I mean, what's not to like?

I really love this song...

Review: Sweet Caroline by Rachel Hauck

Read the book synopsis here.

I'd only read one book previously by Rachel Hauck, which was Georgia on Her Mind. Both of her Nashvegas books sit in my TBR pile, but I haven't had a chance to get to them yet. I think the main reason being that while I enjoyed Georgia on Her Mind, it wasn't the kind of book that screamed at me that I must immediately read everything she'd ever written.

Sweet Caroline, I'm pleased to say, is quite the opposite. It's an absolutely lovely book from the sweet cover to the delightful cast of town characters.

Hauck does an excellent job of bringing the town of Beaufort to life, giving it rich character, and investing you in the fate of the Frogmore Cafe. Meanwhile, it was very easy for me to identify with Caroline's dilemna of worrying she wasn't living up to her potential. The love story and her conversion both felt authentic to the story as well.

I was dismayed when the book was over, and I hope we might get to revisit Caroline in the future. While this story may seem simple, it has the ring of truth and it's hard not to be moved by it.

Happy Easter

"And life is worth the living just because He lives." The Gaithers

Happy Easter everyone! I hope life is just a little more precious for you today because of His life!

Spring Reading Thing: 2008

This should be fun! It's the kind of challenge I can do because the rules aren't that strict. Check it out for yourself if you're interested! I tried to dig some out of my TBR pile so there's a purpose to the whole thing. :) I will definitely be adding to and changing my list, so I'm making a tab for it! Reviews will be posted both here and at The Friendly Book Nook.

My books are:

For Better for For Worse by Diann Hunt
For Pete's Sake by Linda Windsor
Betrayed by JM Windle
Crazy '08 by Cait Murphy
Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama
Jimmy Stewart: A Biography by Marc Eliot
It's About Your Husband by Lauren Lipton
Picket Fence Promises by Kathryn Springer
The Secret Adventures of Charlotte Bronte by Laura Joh Rowland
Trouble the Water by Nicole Seitz
Embrace Me by Lisa Samson
Finding Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson
When Zeffie Got a Clue by Peggy Darty
The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr
By Reason of Insanity by Randy Singer
Remember Me by Sophie Kinsella
Ruby Among Us by Tina Ann Forkner
Chosen by Ted Dekker
Fancy Pants by Cathy Marie Hake
Witness by Susan Page Davis
The Grand Weaver by Ravi Zacharias
Nightwatch by Sergei Lukyanenko
The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson
Just Cause by Susan Page Davis

Ok, I think that's enough for the moment! Bold means it's finished.

Happy Resurrection Weekend, All!

There is not room for Death,
Nor atom that his might could render void:
Thou - Thou art Being and Breath,
And what Thou art may never be destroyed.

--Emily Bronte

Interview with Andrew Peterson

Truth be told, I would interview every author whose books I review and enjoy if I could. Oftentimes, I simply run out of time because I am reviewing so many these days. (and I find it rather pointless to ask the authors questions when I haven't finished the book.) I do admit to feeling incredibly grateful (and at times a bit giddy) whenever they respond out of their busy schedules to share a few minutes with us.

So I am very excited that Andrew Peterson agreed to answer a few questions. I hope you will enjoy and find it helpful and that you will immediately place your order for twenty copies of On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness. :)

When did the idea for On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness come to you?


The idea didn't come in a flash, so that's hard to say. I had been thinking for a long time about writing a book, had made a few false starts on ideas that puttered out, and was at a loss as to where to begin. So I drew a map. I let my pencil wander all over the paper and then filled in the continents and islands and oceans with names. That process fired up my imagination and it wasn't long before I found Janner, Tink, and Leeli Igiby in that little cottage in Glipwood, surrounded by the Fangs of Dang. My children were part of the inspiration, as was one of Garrison Keillor's Lake Wobegon stories, but I think the map was the thing that grounded the ideas (so to speak) in a real world. A story emerged from the world I was creating.


As a big fan of your music and now your book, I'm interested in knowing from a creative standpoint, what are some of the differences you experienced between writing a novel and writing songs?


Well, a song can take anywhere from a day to a few years to write. Most often, you get the satisfaction of having written a song relatively quickly. You still have to wade through the mire of frustration and writer's block, but the swamp is much smaller with songs. The book took years and years of wrestling, nose-to-the-grindstone work, then almost as much revision. A song is a snapshot, or a statue--something you can make and then sort of walk around and inspect from all angles as you sculpt it. A book is more like building a road, or a long fence. You can't take it all in with one glance. It stretches out into the distance, and you're operating on a great deal of faith that it actually leads somewhere.


What are you currently reading?


I'm currently reading a mystery novel called The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl, a book of poems by Wendell Berry called Entries, and a book of Lenten meditations called Ashes to Easter. I tend to have several irons in the fire. Oh, and I'm reading (again) The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe aloud to my family at night. It never gets old to me.

I enjoyed all of the interesting creatures and backstory of the world of Aeriwar included in the book, but I must know...would you rather face off with a Fang of Dang, a toothy cow, or a pack of horned hounds?


To even think of such a thing leaves me breathless and unable to psell corretctlie. I must move on with the next question before I faint outright.



I see that the book says book one. When can we expect the next installment in the Wingfeather Saga? How many can we expect?


I'm in the process of writing book two, and foresee at least a trilogy--though it depends on how I break it all up. My hope is that the Wingfeather Saga will be four books. The next book will hopefully release around this same time next year.

I have to admit, I'm a bit envious of people like you can create a whole new world in your mind. How real is the world of your book in your mind to you?



The world is very real to me, though it sometimes takes me a while to sink back into it from the world of bill-paying and traffic and leaky faucets. I usually listen to cinematic music that fits the mood of the scene I'm writing because it helps quiet the real world enough for me to enter the sub-created one. Aerwiar is still creating itself in my mind, and I'm often surprised by what I find there. Like I said before, drawing a map helped immensely. After that it wasn't hard to imagine the geography and the creatures that lived there, the cultures that sprang up, and the political landscape. Janner Igiby's world is in some ways being discovered by me right along with him. But I don't want the reader to worry that the story is meandering without any arc in mind. As Mark Helprin described his writing, I threw a stone into a pond, and now I'm swimming for it. There was a lot that I had to know about Aerwiar before I could start the first page of the book, and that informed a lot about what's going to happen to the characters before we reach the end.


What is one thing you want your readers to know?

That in book two, one of the main characters dies. I reserve the right to change my mind, but right now, it feels like it has to happen. We'll see.

Oh, and thank you. I'm grateful to be able to do this, thanks to folks like you.



Aaaargh on the character dying! :)

Ok everyone this is your last chance to comment for a chance to win one of two copies of this book, a copy of The Far Country or one yet to be determined prize.

Non-First: Between Two Worlds

Introducing the new blog alliance devoted to Non~Fiction books, Non~FIRST, a component of Fiction in Rather Short Takes (FIRST). (Join our alliance! Click the button!) This is our very first blog tour. Normally, we will post every 15th day of every month, featuring an author and his/her latest book's FIRST chapter!

The special feature author is:

Mike Timmis

and his book:

Between Two Worlds: The Spiritual Journey of an Evangelical Catholic

NavPress (February 2008)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mike Timmis had it all.

How does a kid from working-class Detroit become an international ambassador for Christ? And what motivated an evangelical-based ministry to choose this Catholic as its chairman? Mike Timmis’s inspiring life as a Catholic and evangelical leader reveals how our unity in Christ transcends the two worlds’ differences. From him, we learn how Catholics and evangelicals can go into an alienated world together as ministers of reconciliation and witnesses to God’s salvation and love.

Mike Timmis is a chairman of both Prison Fellowship in America and Prison Fellowship International. He was also a practicing lawyer and businessman. A Roman Catholic, Mike is deeply involved in ministry in his hometown of Detroit as well as projects in Africa and Central and South America. He and his wife, Nancey, are parents of two and grandparents of four.

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Chapter One

Taking Life into My Own Hands

On January 18, 1991, I was flying in a small two-engine plane in east-central Africa from Burundi to Kenya. Our party had just come from a wonderful meeting with Burundi’s President Pierre Buyoya where we’d shared the gospel with him and a number of cabinet ministers. Still, we were somewhat anxious because the Persian Gulf War had started the previous day. Right then, American fighters were in the air against Iraqi positions.

My wife, Nancy, and my son, Michael Jr., were with me, as well as Gene Dewey, the former second-in-command at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and Sam Owen, a fellow believer then living in Nairobi. This trip was part of the quiet diplomacy I had undertaken as a member of a group called The Fellowship. We worked on behalf of the poor by raising up Jesus with world leaders, one means of pursuing the ministry of reconciliation that Christ entrusted to His followers.

As we flew over northern Tanzania, the pilot was suddenly issued an order that we were to land immediately. I was sitting close enough to the cockpit to hear the squawking instructions coming over the radio. I quickly assured the pilot that we had the requisite permission to fly over Tanzanian air space. The State Department had issued an order to American citizens to stay clear of Tanzania, an Iraq ally, so I made sure—or thought I had—that we had permission to fly over Tanzania en route to Kenya. The pilot relayed my protest to the Tanzanians.

“No, you do not have permission!” came the reply. “You must land immediately, or we will force you down.”

Read the rest here.

Ramblings--Pick One (or two or three) and Discuss

If you've come here looking for my brackets I have no idea what those are or how all that basketball stuff works. So, um, yeah.

The theme for American Idol next week is songs from the years they were born. So we may actually hear stuff that's only like 17 years old.

I really don't want to talk about (argue) politics, but I am interested in anyone's thoughts regarding Obama's speech the other day. I thought it was a good speech.

My TBR pile is seriously at astronomical heights and may, anyday, collapse and crush me. Is anyone else experiencing this?

Has anyone seen the Terminator movies? I watched the tv show and actually really enjoyed it and was wondering if I should bother trying to fill in this gap in my Movie Viewing world.

Counting Crows have a new CD out next week! Justin McRoberts also has a new CD out! Order it now!

Oh and the winner of Experiencing the Resurrection is Chaotic Hammer! But I don't have your email address, because it says no reply on your comment notification. So please email me at mypalamy AT gmail DOT com. Thanks!

The Silence of God (AP Week)

This song gives me serious chill bumps every time I hear it. And it came into my life at the exact time it was needed and I still marvel at just how gorgeous, moving, and beautiful the lyrics are. Whenever I am asked my favorite song lyrics, these always come to mind first. When Love and Thunder (the CD this song is on) released I remember thinking AP couldn't get any better...and then The Far Country came out and dare I say it? I think I love it even more. It gives me high hopes for Resurrection Letters volume II.

I found this video someone made on youtube...I hope you'll take the time to listen to this song. It just might meet you where you are.



Megan asked about CS Lewis's influence on Andrew's writing, and since I can't, well, exactly remember much of CS Lewis's books, if anyone has read both On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness and the works of C.S. Lewis and can comment, it would mean a lot to both of us.

In any case, tomorrow I'll wrap up AP week with a short interview the man himself so graciously provided. And then this weekend, I'll contact winners.

So Now We Know

So now we know the Idol contestant that is going to stick around longer than they should and annoy me all season.

America lost a fun member for the tour in Amanda...huge bummer.

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson

When I first heard Andrew Peterson had written a book, I was very excited. Then I started to get a little nervous, because well, fantasy? It's really hit or miss with me.

Sometimes, I love it beyond all compare (Harry Potter). Sometimes, I can't get past the first few pages (The Hobbit).

One of the things I struggle with in fantasy is all the new stuff. You know, new names for everything, all these make believe places and creatures I have to keep straight.

And the world in On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness is completely imaginary and self-contained..no urban fantasy here, folks.

But I am so delighted to tell you that I loved this story! Infused with the same humor and warmth of his music, the book captivates and delights from the first chapter! The world he has created is very appealing and interesting, the characters are easy to love and hate, and the tale is sweet and rich. If you have kids, I think this would be a really fun book to read aloud. But even if you don't have kids, I think you will love this story, because it's just that kind of book. And the best part? It's only book one! Yay!

I know you are all wanting to rush to Amazon and order your copy now, so just click here.

Here's a little about the book from the publisher: Once, in a cottage above the cliffs on the Dark Sea of Darkness, there lived three children and their trusty dog Nugget. Janner Igiby, his brother Tink, their crippled sister Leeli are gifted children as all children are, loved well by a noble mother and ex-pirate grandfather. But they will need all their gifts and all that love to survive the evil pursuit of the venomous Fangs of Dang who have crossed the dark sea to rule the land with malice and pursue the Igibys who hold the secret to the lost legend and jewels of good King Wingfeather of the Shining Isle of Anniera.

Andrew Peterson spins a quirky and riveting tale of the Igibys’ extraordinary journey from Glipwood’s Dragon Day Festival and a secret hidden in the Books and Crannies Bookstore, past the terrifying Black Carriage, clutches of the horned hounds and loathsome toothy cows surrounding AnkleJelly Manor, through the Glipwood Forest and mysterious treehouse of Peet the Sock Man (known for a little softshoe and wearing tattered socks on his hands and arms), to the very edge of the Ice Prairies.

Full of characters rich in heart, smarts, and courage, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness presents a world of wonder and a tale children of all ages will cherish, families can read aloud, and readers’ groups are sure to discuss for its layers of meaning about life’s true treasure and tangle of the beautiful and horrible, temporal and eternal, and good and bad.

And a little about Andy...


Author/Singer/Songwriter Andrew Peterson, a 2005 Audie Award finalist for his readings of Ray Blackston’s Flabbergasted trilogy, wrote and produced the popular Christmas play and musical Behold the Lamb of God: The True Tale of the Coming of the Christ, and the album by the same name, which received the 2004 Best Album of the Year, World Christian Music’s Editors Choice Award. Andrew’s received critical acclaim for his seven albums and is at work on an eighth. He lives with his wife Jamie and their three young children near Nashville, Tennessee, where he reads storybooks aloud to his family each evening.

Artist Justin Gerard has illustrated several children’s books, including The Lightlings storybooks for young readers by R.C. Sproul. He lives in Greenville, South Carolina, and works as the chief creative officer for Portland Studios.

Remember--for your chance to win a copy of this book, just leave a relevant comment on any Andrew Peterson post this week!

(I'm submitting this post to Watercooler Wednesday, go here for more great posts!)

Blogging As I Watch Idol: Top 11

(sorry I'm late getting this posted, my internet was down last night)

Back by popular demand (ha) blogging as I watch Idol!

This show is another ridiculous two hours long!

So far they are just killing time. I think a 90 minute program would have been enough.

They are educating us on the Beatles! Because we've never heard of them or all the Beatle mania.

Do any of you watch Dancing with the Stars? I've never really watched it but caught a few minutes last night (I heard Kristi Yamaguchi was going to be on it but last night was only the men) It seems really cheesy to me. (I say this while blogging during Idol)

Amanda: Amanda enjoyed the big stage! She's singing a song I don't know. I can't say I feel like I've missed much by not knowing this song...wait what is this song about?? Typical Amanda fare. Actually a little less rocking than we're used to. Crowd seems to be pleased. Some helpful feedback from the judges! Timing, etc. Oh, Paula loves her. I like her feedback to Ryan...she's saying...hey, this is who I am.

I'm really into the show. I'm filing my nails as we sit here.

Commercials are the bane of my existence. Did I mention my internet is not connecting? I can't check email and am only hoping I'll be able to post this at some point.

Kristy: Ok, I don't really like her singing this song. YIKES!! Pitchy! Poor girl. I think this might be her week to go. I really didn't enjoy that at all. Randy and Paula make some lame compliments about how she looks and that they like the song. Simon manages to tear the girl apart. But hey he can sleep at night now that he's someone's guardian angel. Ok some awkward moments here.

David A.: Lots of girly screaming. Here's hoping for David. OOOH!! They just showed David's infamous father! He seemed pleased. That's good for all involved. Some lovely comments from Paula. Yay, nice words from Simon. I liked it, too. Oh come on people he's SO adorable!

I'm shocked that they let someone have their iphone in there...in fact, I had to surrender my phone....so that must be a plant for that pathetic little bit of advertising.

Michael: Loves the Beatles. This is a decent performance. Not bad. Apparently, no one else agreed. I'm glad Paula mentioned the monitors. That's totally new. They never used to be able to use those. Lol, Michael is not wearing a monitor. Michael plays the sympathy card. Thank God there's no shot of Simon rolling his eyes. (remember last year--the whole Virginia Tech thing?)

Brooke: Got to see her family, lucky girl. Ok, not my favorite perfomance. But it's ok. Simon falls all over himself insulting her. This whole thing illustrates perfectly why it's a silly idea to do the same theme twice.

David C.: Last week was his high point. This week going well so far! Like the rockiness! I'm a fan! What will the judges say? Paula says something ridiculous. Simon says, come back to earth, you ain't all you think you are.

They are really pushing Kellie Pickler being here tomorrow. Oh the joy.

Carly: I like when Sarah McLachlan sings this song! Very nice. I still prefer Sarah, but I'll take it. Paula really does say some strange things. Simon pulls out his indulgent remark. Carly tries to explain why she sang the song. Not sure it helps her. Oh now I'm lauging....all Idols are broken birds...ha.

Jason: Making me laugh about the languages. Hopefully, he sees that saying Michelle my beautiful is nicer than Michelle my bell. Not bad French. Just ok, here. Not too exciting. So far this second Beatles week...not that great. Paula is actually giving like negative comments this year. AMEN Simon! That's EXACTLY what I thought about a second Beatles week.
Randy says something terribly lame about how it's not the songs...Amy says...give them some current songs to sing PLEASE!

Syesha: The bit about being in the bottom three, like she was shocked...not so appealing. But I do so love this song. Let's see how it goes for her. Her voice sounds very pretty during this song. And the judges say: good job!

Chikezie: ok, the mood of this song just totally changed. Not quite as exciting as last week, but not bad. you know I love the harmonica. Randy sez, he can't decide. Paula sez, you're showing your versatility. (in a lot more words) Simon doesn't like the harmonica. I still love Chikezie.

Oh goody! The songwriting contest is back!

Ramiele: Loves her Idol family. That's cool. This is ok, but I don't know if it really makes her stand out. I just think she needs to pick a song that people love and let loose on it.

My final analysis? The second night of Beatles was a failure as I predicted! Better luck next week darlings! I think Kristy should go.

Do Hard Things Book Bomb

One of the addicting and time consuming aspects of blogging is reading comments. I always love to see what someone has to say about a subject matter and often discover even more bloggers to read this way.

So a few weeks ago, someone somewhere suggested checking out this blog. I was immediately encouraged by a post about doing small hard things for their very own sake. It was also exciting to see a site like this (and some they link to) with such thoughtful teenagers. The very same day I was invited to review the book these bloggers have written, and so I jumped at the chance.

That review will be coming in April, but on March 25th, Alex and Brett are organizing a book bomb on Amazon, an attempt to get the book and its message recognized. For every book bought, they will donate one to those who can't afford it.

Click on the button below to find out more!

Nothing to Say (AP week)

There is something about being in nature that makes God so very real to me.

One of my favorite things to do is just drive and soak in the beauty of creation. I love to just hop in my car and chase the sunset or zip around the curves of a mountain (only if I'm driving...I get carsick!) and drink in the amazing details of beauty that God painted, while listening to my favorite music.

I have been inspired, healed, encouraged, challenged, and blessed during these times with God. It is more real to me than singing in a room full of people.

So, "Nothing to Say" was one of the first songs I ever heard by Andrew Peterson. It was like someone had finally put that feeling to words and crafted a beautiful song. That's such a rare experience..the feeling of having someone speak the words in your soul. So today I'm sharing that song with you, I hope you enjoy it! (not the best quality, but still enjoyable! :)

My Poor Nose and Next Level Winners

Friday night when I got home I noticed that my room smelled like fingernail polish remover. But I was too tired to care and went to sleep.

Only I couldn't sleep for the odor so I got up and sprayed some Bath and Body Works room spray. Have you ever used that stuff? I like it because it's really strong and can mask bad smells quite well. But I apparently, (in my half asleep state) really wanted to cover up that smell because I sprayed it several times. (I use some at work and normally one small spray will waft throughout the entire building. Get the idea?) Soon, I couldn't breathe and had to run to my bathroom and open the window and gasp for air. Eventually, I was able to sleep and Saturday, while doing a bit of tidying, (I had no idea where the smell was coming from) discovered that it was coming from one of my drawers where I had another can of B&BW spray that was leaking! I really overloaded my poor senses and never care if I smell pear and apple Bath and Body Works products again!

Stamped with Grace and Windy Cindy won The Next Level giveaways. I've emailed you both, be sure to send me your addresses so I can get those books to you. I think you'll enjoy it!

Music Monday: The Cure

Kat suggested talking about an artist that was important to us in college or high school.

Oh boy. So today is confessional time.

When I was in high school, and really it started in middle school, I was a huge Cure fan. Yes, yes, yes, I was one of those Cure fans. Obsession seems like too tame a word. Now in my defense, I was a teenager. I had MAJOR teen angst. Additionally, my sister and brother before me had liked the Cure. So I was a copy-cat teenager suffering with teen angst. Yes, it all makes sense.

For those of you not familiar with The Cure, (and really how could you not be--oops lapsing!) their music is very emotionally charged and full of turmoil! I remember once we had to bring a song by our favorite artist into Humanities class and I brought a Cure song. Many of my happier classmates said something about wanting to kill themselves after listening to the song. I had such positive influence as a teenager.

In any case, I do still enjoy listening to them from time to time. Many of those songs are the soundtrack of my youth. And besides that, I actually like a lot of the music. I saw them live twice. Both times were super fun, and are good memories. Now, I have selected one of my very favorite Cure songs to share with you today. Please just let the absolute agony of this song wash over you. Ever since I decided to do this for Music Monday, I've been listening to this song non-stop on my computer. (in my car I've been listening to Coldplay...hmm.) I mean really, can anyone else capture the same sense of urgency and tragedy in a song as the Cure can?

This song is called "From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea" and was on the album Wish.



Now, this is Andrew Peterson week. And I was thinking...what do the Cure and Andrew Peterson have in common?

And I was surprised to realize more than I originally thought!

1) I love both of them! Okay, so that's not a very good one, but it's true.

2) They both have heavy doses of literary allusion in their lyrics. Can you see why I love them? A few examples from The Cure include "Killing an Arab" (The Stranger), "Charlotte Sometimes" (Charlotte Sometimes), and "The Drowning Man" (The Gormenghast Trilogy) (but there are so many more)
Andrew Peterson has referenced Narnia in "Little Boy Heart Alive", and Godric in "Lay Me Down". In fact, come to think of it, in this way, they have both influenced what I read as well because I never would have read Charlotte Sometimes otherwise, which incidentally is a really fantastic little book.

Not a book, but AP has a fabulous song called "High Noon" (still haven't seen the film) and in light of it being Easter week if you go to Andy's myspace page, you can listen to this brilliant song.

3) They both make use of storytelling in their songs.

4) Homesickness is a prevalent theme in their music. I find this to be the most interesting connection and perhaps part of the reason why I love them both? Because it's an idea that resonates with me?

Anyway, I'd love your musical confessions as well. Were any of you Cure fans? If not the Cure then who? (by the way, I have a few more of these high school favorites to reveal in the future...)

Welcome to Andrew Peterson Week! (Giveaways! Sorry Euphrony!)

In support of Andrew Peterson's new book, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, this week is Andrew Peterson week!

Everyday I will post something Andrew Peterson related. These posts will be labeled Andrew Peterson. I have two copies of the book, a CD, and one other AP related item to give away and in order to be eligible to win one of these things all you have to do is leave relevant comments on these posts. For each relevant comment you leave, you get an entry! All entries go in one pot and the first person's name I draw gets their choice of prize, etc. If you want even more entries, you can link back to any AP related post on my blog, just be sure to tell me so I can add your entry.

I'm hoping, the finale of this week...Friday, will be grand.

Please join in everyone and let's make this book a bestseller! :)

(Also, I am giving away a copy of Experiencing the Resurrection by Henry and Melvin Blackaby, it's just a busy giveaway week around here!)

Experiencing the Resurrection by Henry Blackaby and Melvin Blackaby + Giveaway

About the Book: What does the resurrection of Christ really mean for us? What does it reveal about the heart and mind of God? And what real differences can the miracle of the resurrection make in your life today?

Discover answers to those and other questions as you examine God’s Word with this companion study guide to the book Experiencing the Resurrection by Henry Blackaby and Melvin Blackaby.

Packed with practical notes, advice, and questions for reflection, this highly interactive guide—ideal for small group or individual use—shows you how to witness Christ’s resurrection in and through your life. Each chapter of the book is explored in a flexible one-week format with “life change objectives” that arise from applying the truth for each day to your life.

I'm only a few chapters into this book, but I'm really excited to read it because living out the victory that Christ already won can be a real challenge. :)

I have a copy of this book to give to one of my readers. If you are interested, please just leave a comment with a valid email address. I will draw a winner this Thursday March 20th, so don't delay!

A Helpful Tip, Weather, and American Idol (sort of)

In light of the recession we find ourselves in, I have some important information to share.

Postage is going up again in May.

For some reason, this news seems to have totally flown under the radar. And yes, they just totally restructured the postal fees one year ago. So, I'm telling you this so that you can take advantage of the forever stamp y'all (whoa, throwback to my Georgia days!). Stock up on it! Or better yet, go paperless on everything you can. That will save you even more money, and is probably kinder to the environment.

See? I'm your friend! (no one in RL seemed to know about this, so I figured maybe no one in Blog Life did either)

In other news, it hailed here today!! I was totally mystified by the sound that made me think the roof was about to cave in. Then I peeked out the window and low and behold....bits of white stuff flying everywhere! How interesting!! (you know you're interested)

And finally in American Idol related news...I finally downloaded Melinda's "My Funny Valentine" single. She totally rocks. Well, actually that song isn't necessarily all that rocking, but I think you get the idea. In any case, she's going to release a CD! Yay! I hope it's good.

Have a great Sunday everyone! (Happy Palm Sunday!)

Review: Only Uni by Camy Tang

I. Loved. This. Book.

In fact, I may venture to say it's the Christian chick lit I dreamed could exist but hadn't yet discovered.

I say this because while it is delightfully funny, it is also wonderfully deep dealing with real to life true issues. Trish Sakai is such a rich, warm, endearingly flawed, and human character that is impossible not to understand her, root for her, and long for that happily ever after for her.

I enjoyed Sushi For One? but I have to admit that it wasn't a page-turner for me. But Only Uni, I was dismayed to put down and had that dizzying rush to the end and sharp disappointment when it was over.

If you are looking for a novel with a humor, romance, love for God, and redemption, than I hope you'll pick up Only Uni!!!!!! I don't think you'll be sorry.

Only Uni by Camy Tang

It is March 15th, but no need to worry about the Ides of March when we have a special blog tour for one of our FIRST members! (Join our alliance! Click the button!) Normally, on the FIRST day of every month we feature an author and his/her latest book's FIRST chapter! As this is a special tour, we are featuring it on a special day!

The special feature author is:

CAMY TANG

and her book:

Only Uni

Zondervan (March 2008)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Camy Tang is a member of FIRST and is a loud Asian chick who writes loud Asian chick-lit. She grew up in Hawaii, but now lives in San Jose, California, with her engineer husband and rambunctious poi-dog. In a previous life she was a biologist researcher, but these days she is surgically attached to her computer, writing full-time. In her spare time, she is a staff worker for her church youth group, and she leads one of the worship teams for Sunday service.

Sushi for One? (Sushi Series, Book One) was her first novel. Her second, Only Uni (Sushi Series, Book Two) is now available. The next book in the series, Single Sashimi (Sushi Series, Book Three) will be coming out in September 2008!

Visit her at her website.

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:


Chapter One

Trish Sakai walked through the door and the entire room hushed.

Well, not exactly pin-drop hushed. More like a handful of the several dozen people in her aunty’s enormous living room paused their conversations to glance her way. Maybe Trish had simply expected them to laugh and point.

She shouldn’t have worn white. She’d chosen the Bebe dress from her closet in a rebellious mood, which abandoned her at her aunt’s doorstep. Maybe because the explosion of red, orange, or gold outfits made her head swim.

At least the expert cut of her dress made her rather average figure curvier and more slender at the same time. She loved how well-tailored clothes ensured she didn’t have to work as hard to look good.

Trish kicked off her sandals, and they promptly disappeared in the sea of shoes filling the foyer. She swatted away a flimsy paper dragon drooping from the doorframe and smoothed down her skirt. She snatched her hand back and wrung her fingers behind her.

No, that’ll make your hips look huge.

She clenched her hands in front.

Sure, show all the relatives that you’re nervous.

She clasped them loosely at her waist and tried to adopt a regal expression.

“Trish, you okay? You look constipated.”

Her cousin Bobby snickered while she sneered at him. “Oh, you’re so funny I could puke.”

“May as well do it now before Grandma gets here.”

“She’s not here yet?” Oops, that came out sounding a little too relieved. She cleared her throat and modulated her voice to less-than-ecstatic levels. “When’s she coming?”

“Uncle picked her up, but he called Aunty and said Grandma forgot something, so he had to go back.”

Thank goodness for little favors. “Is Lex here?”

“By the food.”

Where else would she be? Last week, her cousin Lex had mentioned that her knee surgeon let her go back to playing volleyball three nights a week and coaching the other two nights, so her metabolism had revved up again. She would be eating like a horse.

Sometimes Trish could just kill her.

She tugged at her skirt—a little tight tonight. She should’ve had more self-control than to eat that birthday cake at work. She’d have to run an extra day this week … maybe.

She bounced like a pinball between relatives. The sharp scent of ginger grew more pungent as she headed toward the large airy kitchen. Aunty Sue must have made cold ginger chicken again. Mmmm. The smell mixed with the tang of black bean sauce (Aunty Rachel’s shrimp?), stir-fried garlic (any dish Uncle Barry made contained at least two bulbs), and fishy scallions (probably her cousin Linda’s Chinese-style sea bass).

A three-foot-tall red streak slammed into her and squashed her big toe.

“Ow!” Good thing the kid hadn’t been wearing shoes or she might have broken her foot. Trish hopped backward and her hand fumbled with a low side table. Waxed paper and cornstarch slid under her fingers before the little table fell, dropping the kagami mochi decoration. The sheet of printed paper, the tangerine, and rubbery-hard mochi dumplings dropped to the cream-colored carpet. Well, at least the cornstarch covering the mochi blended in.

The other relatives continued milling around her, oblivious to the minor desecration to the New Year’s decoration. Thank goodness for small—

A childish gasp made her turn. The human bullet who caused the whole mess, her little cousin Allison, stood with a hand up to her round lips that were stained cherry-red, probably from the sherbet punch. Allison lifted wide brown eyes up to Trish—hanaokolele-you’re-in-trouble—while the other hand pointed to the mochi on the floor.

Trish didn’t buy it for a second. “Want to help?” She tried to infuse some leftover Christmas cheer into her voice.

Allison’s disdainful look could have come from a teenager rather than a seven-year-old. “You made the mess.”

Trish sighed as she bent to pick up the mochi rice dumplings—one large like a hockey puck, the other slightly smaller—and the shihobeni paper they’d been sitting on. She wondered if the shihobeni wouldn’t protect the house from fires this next year since she’d dropped it.

“Aunty spent so long putting those together.”

Yeah, right. “Is that so?” She laid the paper on the table so it draped off the edge, then stuck the waxed paper on top. She anchored them with the larger mochi.

“Since you busted it, does it mean that Aunty won’t have any good luck this year?”

“It’s just a tradition. The mochi doesn’t really bring prosperity, and the tangerine only symbolizes the family generations.” Trish tried to artfully stack the smaller mochi on top of the bottom one, but it wouldn’t balance and kept dropping back onto the table.

“That’s not what Aunty said.”

“She’s trying to pass on a New Year’s tradition.” The smaller mochi dropped to the floor again. “One day you’ll have one of these in your own house.” Trish picked up the mochi. Stupid Japanese New Year tradition. Last year, she’d glued hers together until Mom found out and brought a new set to her apartment, sans-glue. Trish wasn’t even Shinto. Neither was anyone else in her family—most of them were Buddhists—but it was something they did because their family had always done it.

“No, I’m going to live at home and take care of Mommy.”

Thank goodness, the kid finally switched topics. “That’s wonderful.” Trish tried to smash the tangerine on top of the teetering stack of mochi. Nope, not going to fly. “You’re such a good daughter.”

Allison sighed happily. “I am.”

Your ego’s going to be too big for this living room, toots. “Um … let’s go to the kitchen.” She crammed the tangerine on the mochi stack, then turned to hustle Allison away before she saw them fall back down onto the floor.

“Uh, Triiiish?”

She almost ran over the kid, who had whirled around and halted in her path like a guardian lion. Preventing Trish’s entry into the kitchen. And blocking the way to the food. She tried to sidestep, but the other relatives in their conversational clusters, oblivious to her, hemmed her in on each side.

Allison sidled closer. “Happy New Year!”

“Uh … Happy New Year.” What was she up to? Trish wouldn’t put anything past her devious little brain.

“We get red envelopes at New Year’s.” Her smile took on a predatory gleam.

“Yes, we do.” One tradition she totally didn’t mind. Even the older cousins like Trish and Lex got some money from the older relatives, because they weren’t married yet.

Allison beamed. “So did you bring me a red envelope?”

What? Wait a minute. Was she supposed to bring red envelopes for the younger kids? No, that couldn’t be. “No, only the married people do that.” And only for the great-cousins, not their first cousins, right? Or was that great-cousins, too? She couldn’t remember.

Allison’s face darkened to purple. “That’s not true. Aunty gives me a red envelope and she’s not married.”

“She used to be married. Uncle died.”

“She’s not married now. So you’re supposed to give me a red envelope, too.”

Yeah, right. “If I gave out a red envelope to every cousin and great-cousin, I’d go bankrupt.”

“You’re lying. I’m going to tell Mommy.” Allison pouted, but her sly eyes gave her away.

A slow, steady burn crept through her body. This little extortionist wasn’t going to threaten her, not tonight of all nights.

She crouched down to meet Allison at eye level and forced a smile. “That’s not very nice. That’s spreading lies.”

Allison bared her teeth in something faintly like a grin.

“It’s not good to be a liar.” Trish smoothed the girl’s red velvet dress, trimmed in white lace.

“You’re the liar. You said you’re not supposed to give me a red envelope, and that’s a lie.”

The brat had a one-track mind. “It’s not a lie.”

“Then I’ll ask Mommy.” The grin turned sickeningly sweet.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Trish tweaked one of Allison’s curling-iron-manufactured corkscrews, standing out amongst the rest of her straight hair.

“I can do whatever I want.” An ugly streak marred the angelic mask.

“Of course you can.”

Allison blinked.

“But if you do, I’ll tell Grandma that I found her missing jade bracelet in your bedroom.” Gotcha.

“What were you doing in my bedroom?” Allison’s face matched her dress.

Trish widened her eyes. “Well, you left it open when your mom hosted the family Christmas party …”

Allison’s lips disappeared in her face, and her nostrils flared. “You’re lying—”

“And you know Grandma will ask your mommy to search your room.”

Her face whitened.

“So why don’t we forget about this little red envelope thing, hmm?” Trish straightened the gold heart pendant on Allison’s necklace and gave her a bland smile.

A long, loud inhale filled Allison’s lungs. For a second, Trish panicked, worried that she’d scream or something, but the air left her noiselessly.

Trish stood. “See ya.” She muscled her way past the human traffic cone.

She zeroed in on the kitchen counters like a heat-seeking missile. “Hey, guys.”

Her cousins Venus, Lex, and Jenn turned to greet her.

“You’re even later than Lex.” Venus leaned her sexy-enough-to-make-Trish-sick curves against a countertop as she crunched on a celery stick.

“Hey!” Lex nudged her with a bony elbow, then spoke to Trish. “Grandma’s not here yet, but your mom—”

“Trish, there you are.” Mom flittered up. “Did you eat yet? Let me fill you a plate. Make sure you eat the kuromame for good luck. I know you don’t like chestnuts and black beans, but just eat one. Did you want any konbu? Seaweed is very good for you.”

“No, Mom—”

“How about Aunty Eileen’s soup? I’m not sure what’s in it this year, but it doesn’t look like tripe this time—”

“Mom, I can get my own food.”

“Of course you can, dear.” Mom handed her a mondo-sized plate.

Trish grabbed it, then eyed Venus’s miniscule plate filled sparingly with meat, fish, and veggies. Aw, phooey. Why did Venus have to always be watching her hourglass figure—with inhuman self-control over her calorie intake—making Trish feel dumpy just for eating a potsticker? She replaced her plate with a smaller one.

Lex had a platter loaded with chicken and lo mein, which she shoveled into her mouth. “The noodles are good.”

“Why are you eating so much today?”

“Aiden’s got me in intensive training for the volleyball tournament coming up.”

Trish turned toward the groaning sideboard to hide the pang in her gut at mention of Lex’s boyfriend. Who had been Trish’s physical therapist. Aiden hadn’t met Lex yet when Trish had hit on him, but he’d rebuffed her—rather harshly, she thought—then became Christian and now was living a happily-ever-after with Lex.

Trish wasn’t jealous at all.

Why did she always seem to chase away the good ones and keep the bad ones? Story of her life. Her taste in men matched Lex’s horrendous taste in clothes—Lex wore nothing but ugly, loose workout clothes, while Trish dated nothing but ugly (well, in character, at least) losers.

Next to her, Jennifer inhaled as if she were in pain. “Grandma’s here.”

“No, not now. This is so not fair. I haven’t eaten yet.”

“It’ll still be here.” Venus’s caustic tone cut through the air at the same time her hand grabbed Trish’s plate. “Besides, you’re eating too much fat.”

Trish glared. “I am not fat—”

Venus gave a long-suffering sigh. “I didn’t say you were fat. I said you’re eating unhealthily.”

“You wouldn’t say that to Lex.” She stabbed a finger at her athletic cousin, who was shoveling chicken long rice into her mouth.

Lex paused. “She already did.” She slurped up a rice noodle.

Venus rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. “All of you eat terribly. You need to stop putting so much junk into your bodies.”

“I will when Jenn stops giving us to-die-for homemade chocolate truffles.” Trish traded a high-five with Jenn, their resident culinary genius.

“Besides, chocolate’s good for you.” Lex spoke through a mouthful of black bean shrimp.

Venus, who seemed to know she was losing the battle, brandished a celery stick. “You all should eat more fiber—”

Trish snatched at a deep-fried chicken wing and made a face at her. “It’s low carb.” Although she’d love to indulge in just a little of those Chinese noodles later when Venus wasn’t looking …

She only had time to take a couple bites before she had to drop the chicken in a napkin and wipe her fingers. She skirted the edge of the crowd of relatives who collected around Grandma, wishing her Happy New Year.

Grandma picked up one of Trish’s cousin’s babies and somehow managed to keep the sticky red film coating his hands from her expensive Chanel suit. How did Grandma do that? It must be a gift. The same way her elegant salt-and-pepper ’do never had a hair out of place.

Then Grandma grabbed someone who had been hovering at her shoulder and thrust him forward.

No. Way.

What was Kazuo doing here?

With Grandma?

Her breath caught as the familiar fluttering started in her ribcage. No, no, no, no, no. She couldn’t react this way to him again. That’s what got her in trouble the last time.

Trish grabbed Jenn’s arm and pulled her back toward the kitchen. “I have to hide.”

Jenn’s brow wrinkled. “Why?”

“That’s Kazuo.”

Jenn’s eyes popped bigger than the moon cakes on the sideboard. “Really? I never met him.” She twisted her head.

“Don’t look. Hide me.”

Jenn sighed. “Isn’t that a little silly? He’s here for the New Year’s party.”

Trish darted her gaze around the kitchen, through the doorway to the smaller TV room. “There are over a hundred people here. There’s a good chance I can avoid him.”

“He probably came to see you.” A dreamy smile lit Jenn’s lips. “How romantic …”

A mochi-pounding mallet thumped in the pit of Trish’s stomach. Romantic this was not.

“What’s wrong?” Venus and Lex separated from the crowd to circle around her.

“That’s Kazuo.”

“Really?” Lex whirled around and started to peer through the doorway into the front room. “We never met him—”

“Don’t look now! Hide me!”

Venus lifted a sculpted eyebrow. “Oh, come on.”

“How does Grandma know him?” Jennifer’s soothing voice fizzled Venus’s sarcasm.

“She met him when we were dating.”

“Grandma loves Kazuo.” Lex tossed the comment over her shoulder as she stood at the doorway and strained to see Kazuo past the milling relatives.

Venus’s brow wrinkled. “Loves him? Why?”

Trish threw her hands up in the air. “He’s a Japanese national. He spoke Japanese to her. Of course she’d love him.”

Jennifer chewed her lip. “Grandma’s not racist—”

Venus snorted. “Of course she’s not racist, but she’s certainly biased.”

“That’s not a good enough reason. Don’t you think there’s something fishy about why she wants Trish to get back together with him?”

Venus opened her mouth, but nothing came out. After a moment, she closed it. “Maybe you’re right.”

Trish flung her arms out. “But I have no idea what that reason is.”

“So is she matchmaking? Now?”

“What better place?” Trish pointed to the piles of food. “Fatten me up and serve me back to him on a platter.”

Venus rolled her eyes. “Trish—”

“I’m serious. No way am I going to let her do that. Not with him.” The last man on earth she wanted to see. Well, that wasn’t exactly true. Her carnal body certainly wanted to see him, even though her brain and spirit screamed, Run away! Run away!

“Was it that bad a breakup?” Lex looked over her shoulder at them.

Trish squirmed. “I, uh … I don’t think he thinks we’re broken up.”

“What do you mean? It happened six months ago.” Venus’s gaze seemed to slice right through her.

“Well … I saw him a couple days ago.”

Venus’s eyes flattened. “And …?”

Trish blinked rapidly. “We … got along really well.”

Venus crossed her arms and glared.

How did Venus do that? Trish barely had to open her mouth and Venus knew when she was lying. “We, um … got along really well.”

Jennifer figured it out first. She gasped so hard, Trish worried she’d pass out from lack of oxygen.

Venus cast a sharp look at her, then back at Trish. Her mouth sprang open. “You didn’t.”

“Didn’t what?” Lex rejoined the circle and the drama unfolding. She peered at Jenn and Venus—one frozen in shock, the other white with anger.

Trish’s heart shrank in her chest. She bit her lip and tasted blood. She couldn’t look at her cousins. She couldn’t even say it.

Venus said it for her. “You slept with him again.”

Lex’s jaw dropped. “Tell me you didn’t.” The hurt in her eyes stabbed at Trish’s heart like Norman Bates in Psycho.
Well, it was true that Trish’s obsessive relationship with Kazuo had made her sort of completely and utterly abandon Lex last year when she tore her ACL. Lex probably felt like Trish was priming to betray her again. “It was only once. I couldn’t help myself—”

“After everything you told me last year about how you never asked God about your relationship with Kazuo and now you were free.” Lex’s eyes grew dark and heavy, and Trish remembered the night Lex had first torn her ACL. Trish had been too selfish, wanting to spend time with Kazuo instead of helping Lex home from one of the most devastating things that had ever happened to her.

“I just couldn’t help myself—” Trish couldn’t seem to say anything else.

“So is Kazuo more important to you than me, after all?” Lex’s face had turned into cold, pale marble, making her eyes stand out in their intensity.

A sickening ache gnawed in Trish’s stomach. She hunched her shoulders, feeling the muscles tighten and knot.

Her cousins had always been compassionate whenever she hurt them, betrayed them, or caused them hassle and stress by the things she did. She knew she had a tendency to be thoughtless, but she had always counted on their instant hugs and “That’s okay, Trish, we’ll fix it for you.” But now she realized—although they forgave her, they were still hurt each and every time. Maybe this was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

“Where’s Trish?” Grandma’s refined voice managed to carry above the conversations. “I’m sure she wants to see you.” She was coming closer to the kitchen.

“I can’t face him.” Trish barely recognized her own voice, as thready as old cobwebs. “I can’t face Grandma, either.” A tremor rippled through her body.

Venus’s eyes softened in understanding. “I’ll stall them for you.”

Trish bolted.

Out the other doorway into the living room. She dodged around a few relatives who were watching sports highlights on the big-screen TV. She spied the short hallway to Aunty’s bedroom. She could hide. Recoup. Or panic.

She slipped down the hallway and saw the closed door at the end. A narrow beam of faint light from under it cast a glow over the carpet. Her heart started to slow.

Maybe she could lie down, pretend she was sick? No, Grandma might suggest Kazuo take her home.

She could pretend she got a phone call, an emergency at work. Would Grandma know there weren’t many emergencies with cell biology research on New Year’s Eve?

The worst part was, Trish hadn’t even gotten to eat yet.

She turned the doorknob, but it stuck. Must be the damp weather. She applied her shoulder and nudged. The door clicked open. She slipped into the bedroom.

A couple stood in the dim lamplight, locked in a passionate embrace straight out of Star magazine. Trish’s heart lodged in her throat. Doh! Leave now! She whirled.

Wait a minute.

She turned.

The man had dark wavy hair, full and thick. His back was turned to her, but something about his stance …

The couple sprang apart. Looked at her.

Dad.

Kissing a woman who wasn’t her mother.

Taken from Only Uni, Copyright © 2008 by Camy Tang. Used by permission of Zondervan.

Non-Fiction Reading Challenge

My New Year's Resolution is to read one non-fiction book a month. (I know, heavy)

Anyway, I'm on track so far, I will post about February's sometime when I've managed to organize my thoughts on the book.

But, I thought, a little encouragement in this department can't hurt, only help, so I've joined a reading challenge! My first ever!

Anyway, you can read about it here, and join in as well!