Monday, May 11, 2015

COTT {Clash of the Titles} Series Feature: The Hawk and the Dove

Welcome Penelope Wilcock!


Clash of the Titles is proud to feature The Hawk and the Dove series by English writer Penelope Wilcock! With the first books written in the early 90s and the remainder published 20 years later, the Hawk and the Dove  series has captivated readers for decades. 

Set centuries ago, these books offer an authenticity not often found in historical novels of this time period. The author has woven truths through the books that resonate with the deepest struggles of our own hearts, but she has also lived out much of what she writes about. She has spent time working with nuns and monks, heavily involved in palliative care in the most primitive of modern facilities. Her experiences most closely mimic care that would have been offered in the medieval setting of her stories. Read more about this author's incredible journey and life in the interview below with International Christian Fiction Writers.






The Hawk and the Dove


14th-century Yorkshire, the time of Chaucer 

Father Peregrine is appointed Abbot of St. Alcuin's Benedictine abbey. An arrogant, impatient man, a hawk trying hard to be a dove—his name in religion is "Columba"—he is respected, but not loved. 

A sudden, shocking act of violence changes everything. As the story unfolds, this community of monks, serious about their calling but as flawed and human as we are, come to love their ascetic but now vulnerable leader. 

They lived six centuries ago, but their struggles are our own: finding our niche; coping with failure; living with impossible people; and discovering that we are the impossible ones. 

Read the first chapter

Praise for Wilcock's work:

“Not to be missed.” —Mel Starr, author of The Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon series

“Poignant, moving, rich with imagery and emotion . . . Modern readers will easily identify with each character in Wilcock’s timeless human drama. Highly recommended reading.” —Midwest Book Review

Penelope Wilcock is a full time writer and a former Methodist minister, prison and hospice chaplain, who lives in Hastings on England’s south coast with her family. Her popular blog, Kindred of the Quiet Way, attracts a wide international audience.




Thursday, May 7, 2015

Reservations for Two: A Novel of Fresh Flavors and New Horizons (Two Blue Doors, #2) by Hillary Manton Lodge

Book Description:  A culinary concoction of taking chances and finding love in the most delectable places.  Food writer-turned-restaurateur Juliette D’Alisa has more than enough on her plate. While her trip to Provence might have unlocked new answers to her grandmother’s past, it’s also provided new complications in the form of Neil McLaren, the man she can’t give up. Juliette and Neil find romance simple as they travel through Provence and Tuscany together, but life back home presents a different set of challenges. Juliette has a restaurant to open, a mother combating serious illness, and a family legacy of secrets to untangle – how does Neil, living so far away in Memphis, fit into to her life? As she confronts an uncertain future, Juliette can’t help but wish that life could be as straightforward as her chocolate chip cookie recipe. Can her French grandmother’s letters from the 1940’s provide wisdom to guide her present? Or will every new insight create a fresh batch of mysteries?

My Thoughts: I hope you had the opportunity to read A Table for Two, the first book in the Two Blue Doors by Hillary Manton Lodge.  Why?  Because it is the "prerequisite" for this read, Reservations For Two.  In A Table For Two Ms. Lodge sets the stage, the tone for the second book.
As much as I enjoyed A Table For Two...I really enjoyed Reservations For Two so much more. This second book is more of the story but delves deeper into the romance, the love and the hope of past and future generations.  
That's what Two Blue Doors means to me...Doors opening up with generations blending together through food and time.
And oh, the food!  I love culinary books!  But this read isn't just about foods, it's about family and working things out.
Neil and Juliette seem to have no problems as the travel through Provence and Tuscany together...life is rich!
But then they real life sets in when they return home...Juliette's mother is seriously ill, Neil is in Memphis not just two doors down and Juliette misses him.  Her grandmother's letters from the 1940's are intriguing.  Interestingly enough, life seems to have its challenges in the 1940's too.
A GREAT read! 
This is the second book in a trilogy and you'll want to read all three in order.

*This book was provided for review by Waterbrook/Multnomah*

  • Series: Two Blue Doors
  • Paperback: 320 pages
  • Publisher: WaterBrook Press (April 21, 2015)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0307731774
  • ISBN-13: 978-0307731777

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

O! Sweet! Divine!  Love!
Strawberries are here!
And we love fresh strawberry pie:
Another great recipe from Allrecipes.com

Ingredients

  1. Arrange half of strawberries in baked pastry shell. Mash remaining berries and combine with sugar in a medium saucepan. Place saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring frequently.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and water. Gradually stir cornstarch mixture into boiling strawberry mixture. Reduce heat and simmer mixture until thickened, about 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Pour mixture over berries in pastry shell. Chill for several hours before serving. In a small bowl, whip cream until soft peaks form. Serve each slice of pie with a dollop of whipped cream.

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

To Win Her Favor (A Belle Meade Plantation Novel) by Tamera Alexander

Book Description:  A gifted rider in a world where ladies never race, Maggie Linden is determined that her horse will become a champion. But the one man who can help her has vowed to stay away from thoroughbred racing for good.

An Irish-born son far from home, Cullen McGrath left a once prosperous life in England because of a horse racing scandal that nearly ruined him. He’s come to Nashville for a fresh start, hoping to buy land and start a farm, all while determined to stay as far away from thoroughbred racing as possible. But starting over proves harder than he’d wagered, especially when Maggie Linden’s father makes him an offer he shouldn’t accept yet cannot possibly refuse.

Maggie is certain that her mare, Bourbon Belle, can take the top purse in the annual Drayton Stakes at Nashville’s racetrack––the richest race run in America. Maggie only needs the chance to prove it. To give her that chance, and to save Linden Downs from being sold to the highest bidder, Maggie’s father––aging, yet wily as ever––makes a barter. His agreement includes one tiny, troublesome detail––Maggie must marry a man she’s never met. A man she never would have chosen for herself. 


My Thoughts:  Looking at the cover of this book one would never guess that the beautiful lady is to help save her father's legacy Linden Downs by agreeing to a marriage of convenience.  
Maggie Linden lives in a space to time where ladies do not race horses...ever!  But Maggie has a horse and she knows he's champion but she wants/needs to prove this.  And she needs the help of the one man who wants nothing to do with thoroughbred racing, Cullen McGarth.
Cullen was in a horse racing scandal that nearly ruined him.  So, he has moved to Nashville hoping to buy a farm and begin anew. 
Now Maggie's father makes a barter that Maggie should marry a man she has never met.
Cullen receives an offer he can't refuse.  And it seems that Maggie is in this "offer."  
This is a great story about horses/thoroughbreds, love in the making, how faith and a lady can overcome difficult circumstances.
I loved reading this story...it came just in time for me...as I was recovering from surgery, I read this beautiful story and watched the Kentucky Derby.  How cool is that!  
Tamera Alexander has penned another fine read of days.gone.bye.

*This book was provided for review by BookLook*

  • Series: A Belle Meade Plantation Novel
  • Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Zondervan (May 12, 2015)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0310291070
  • ISBN-13: 978-0310291077

COTT {Clash of the Titles} We Have a Winner!

Our March winner is....

Congratulations to CINDY GREEN, this month's COTT Champ!! Her winning novel, Andrea and the Five Day Challenge, is part of a Goodreads giveaway right now--readers, you can win a signed copy of the book if you enter by May 7. Enter here!

One voter called the book "fun, refreshing, and encouraging!" Take a peek behind this beautiful, vibrant cover and step into the world of Andrea as she embarks on a Bible challenge at a very inconvenient time.

From Amazon:
High school junior Andrea Jamison, self-proclaimed change-o-phobic and, incidentally, a fabulous pianist in her own right has lost faith in herself and her abilities. At the exact moment when her parents begin pressuring her about an opportunity that just might lead to Julliard, Andrea’s friend Amy meddles in her personal life trying to pair her up with the cute, transfer jock Luke Ryan. Will Andrea learn to accept her parents often repeated word FOCUS or will she finally start trusting in God’s strength instead of cowering in her own weaknesses?

Dear Lord,
I need Your help and sooner would be better than later. Wouldn't you know it, just as soon as I decide to attempt the 5-Day Bible Study Challenge, my parents start heaping on loads of pressure to get me into Julliard. My friend Amy isn't any better, urging me to ask Luke Ryan to homecoming. As if the cute, transfer jock would actually go out with me. I mean, we're kinda friends, and I've enjoyed our Geometry study sessions, but in case Amy hasn't noticed, I'm the invisible one at Aubrey Christian Academy, and I like it that way. On top of that, I have a feeling Luke's concealing something behind those chocolate-brown eyes of his. I know I can be self-centered and a bit melodramatic, but I really do want to seek Your will for my life. Then maybe I'll even figure out which direction points up.

Sincerely,  
Andrea Jamison
High School Junior, Change-o-phobic & complete neurotic 

Cindy K. Green is an award-winning author of more than 10 Sweet & Inspirational titles both in print and out of print for the Adult & Young Adult. She is also a mother, wife, teacher, and homeschooler. She blogs about her books, reading and whatever else comes to mind of interest.

Visit Cindy at her website, www.cindykgreen.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter or follow her blog. A huge congratulations to clash champion Cindy Green!

Thursday, April 30, 2015

The Case of the Sin City Sister (A Divine Private Detective Agency Mystery Book 2) by Lynne Hinton

Book Description:  She's not your average nun. And now Sister Eve Divine's risking it all, searching for a mission person in Vegas.
Sister Eve Divine recently discovered she’s got a gift: turns out she’s a natural at private detective work. But is it a temptation or a calling? As Eve wrestles with this question, she’s taking a leave of absence from the convent, investigating a case with her PI father.
But something else troubles Eve. It’s been weeks since Eve heard from her sister, Dorisanne. And Eve’s gut tells her that something sinister has happened to her difficult sibling. There’s only one place Eve can find the answers she’s looking for: in Dorisanne’s world, under the bright lights of Sin City—Las Vegas,
Late night visits to the casino and some clever clues hidden in an address book set Eve on a trail that soon reveals that Dorisanne’s life is darker and more complicated than Eve ever expected. In the end, Eve’s ability to understand her sister—and herself—may be a matter of life and death.

My Thoughts: When I read the first book, Sister Eve, Private Eye, I knew Sister Eve would be a favorite character of mine.  Sister Eve is spunky, God fearing and loves a good mystery.   Oh, and Sister Eve is a nun.  

This next case takes Sister Eve Divine {gotta love her name} to Sin City aka Las Vegas.  Sister Eve has a "feeling" that her sister, Dorisanne, is in deep trouble.  One reason she knows Dorsianne is in trouble is simply that she hasn't heard from her in weeks.  Now Dorisanne is quite irresponsible and tends to get into trouble so Sister Eve knows she needs to go to Dorisanne's world....Las Vegas.

Sister Eve tends to find trouble, without trying and this is the case in Las Vegas.

Sister Eve finds quite a few clues. . . sinister clues, dark secrets, gambling, and more trouble than a summons to police court but no sister.  Sister Eve has to dig deeper and maybe into more danger than she ever thought possible.

These are interesting reads because they are "different."  Not the same old type of romance and clues.  Everyone maybe love Sister eve but she's one of my favorites!

*This book was provided for review by BookLook*

  • Series: A Divine Private Detective Agency Mystery (Book 2)
  • Paperback: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Thomas Nelson (May 19, 2015)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1401691471
  • ISBN-13: 978-1401691479

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}


I love this salad!  Again, a great Pinterest recipe!
Recipe courtesy of Morton's Steakhouse:
Servings: 4
INGREDIENTS
2 heads iceberg lettuce
¾ cup Bacon Bits
1/4 cup egg, hard-boiled, chopped {I leave out the eggs}
1/4 cup tomato, chopped
1/4 cup blue cheese
1 1/2 cups Morton's Blue Cheese Dressing (below)

Morton's Blue Cheese Dressing Ingredients
1 cup real mayonnaise
1/2 cup plus 1 tbs sour cream
2 tbs buttermilk
1/2 tsp Durkee Famous Sauce*
1/4 tsp seasoned salt
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3.5 oz (about 1/4 cups) blue cheese, crumbled

DIRECTIONS FOR DRESSING

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise and sour cream. Add the buttermilk, Durkee sauce, and seasoned salt. Whisk until well mixed. Season to taste with salt and pepper and whisk again.
2. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the blue cheese. Transfer to a storage container with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate for at least 1 day and up to 4 days.

DIRECTIONS FOR SALAD

1. Remove any wilted outside leaves from lettuce head. Strike bottom of lettuce head on a flat surface to loosen core. Pull core out. Place lettuce head on cutting board and slice from top to bottom. Remove approximately one inch off each side, depending on the size of the head. Slice two 2-inch thick slices from center of head. Repeat with second head.
2. Ladle dressing across wedge so that it runs over one side. In this order sprinkle: bacon bits, chopped egg, chopped tomatoes, and blue cheese over the top of the salad.



*Durkee Famous Sauce is sold in many supermarkets. It's a vinegar-flavored mustard-mayonnaise type of sauce.