WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday

My family LOVES just plain white cake with white frosting.  

And this White Velvet Cake IS SO GOOD!

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups sifted all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sifted cake flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup vegetable shortening at room temperature
• 3 tablespoons good quality vanilla extract
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Cooking Directions

1. Sift together both flours, baking soda. baking powder, salt and sugar, Set aside.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer beat together the vegetable oil, shortening and vanilla. Beat well at high speed with whisk attachment until light and fluffy
3. Beat the eggs in one at a time.
4. Fold in the dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk.
5. I always add dry ingredients in three divisions and liquid ingredients in 2 divisions. It is very important to begin and end the additions with the dry ingredients. Do not over mix the batter. As soon as it has no lumps in the batter, pour into the two prepared 9 inch cake pans.
6. Bake at 325 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before turning out onto wire racks to cool completely.
7. Frost this cake with any good vanilla frosting..

Room For Hope (A Novel) by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Book Description:  In a desperate time, can Neva find forgiveness for a grievous wrong—and make room for hope?

Neva Shilling has a heavy load of responsibility while her husband travels to neighboring communities and sells items from his wagon. In his absence, she faithfully runs the Shilling Mercantile, working to keep their business strong as the Depression takes its toll, and caring for their twins.

When a wagon pulls up after supper, Neva and her children rush out—and into the presence of the deputy driving a wagon carrying three young children. The deputy shocks her with the news that Warren and his wife have died, insisting it was their last request that the three children go live with “Aunt Neva.”

Neva’s heart is shattered as she realizes that Warren’s month-long travels were excuses for visits with his secret family. She wants nothing more than to forget Warren, but can she abandon these innocent children to an orphanage? Yet if she takes them in, will she ever be able to see them as more than evidence of her husband’s betrayal and love them the way God does?

My Thoughts:  A hope filled read about a mother and what is the right thing to do.
Neva knows that there is a lot of trust in a marriage relationship so when her husband says he needs to go out of town on business and he's gone most days...well, she just assumes he's doing his job.  And she's back home keeping the home fires going as well as keeping their business running, too.

Then one evening a wagon pulls up in the yard and Neva just knows it's her husband coming home but is surprised to see the deputy with three young children.  And lo, and behold, he tells Neva, "These are your brother's children and his dying wish is for Aunt Neva to take care of them."  

Pretty much a jaw dropping moment!

Neva is beyond devastated...she not only lost her husband but he was cheating on her!  And THREE more children to take care of with her own children.

My heart broke with Neva.  She handles the situation well.  But at times I {really} wanted her to get mad and have a hissy fit.  She, however, handles the situation with grace.

The story is aptly titled for she makes room for hope.

This is one of Kim Vogel Sawyer's best novels thus far!  

I hope you enjoy it too! 

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

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press (February 16, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307731375
• ISBN-13: 978-0307731371

I I Run by Terri Blackstock

Book Description:  Casey knows the truth.

But it won’t set her free.

Casey Cox’s DNA is all over the crime scene. There’s no use talking to police; they have failed her abysmally before. She has to flee before she’s arrested . . . or worse. The truth doesn’t matter anymore.

But what is the truth? That’s the question haunting Dylan Roberts, the war-weary veteran hired to find Casey. PTSD has marked him damaged goods, but bringing Casey back can redeem him. Though the crime scene seems to tell the whole story, details of the murder aren’t adding up. Casey Cox doesn’t fit the profile of a killer. But are Dylan’s skewed perceptions keeping him from being objective? If she isn’t guilty, why did she run?

Unraveling her past and the evidence that condemns her will take more time than he has, but as Dylan’s damaged soul intersects with hers, he is faced with two choices. The girl who occupies his every thought is a psychopathic killer . . . or a selfless hero. And the truth could be the most deadly weapon yet.

My Thoughts: I've waited {im}patiently for this book.  And I promised myself that when it came I would not read it all at once but read it slowly and savor it.  Well, promises were made to be broken.  The afternoon I received this book I thought I'll just read a couple of chapters.  Ahhh!  This story is faced paced.  What a page turner!  I finished this book in the early evening!  Oh, so good!
I love the way that Terri Blackstock is not preachy but she sure puts the Word of the Lord in her reads.
Another strong point of this story is about PTSD.  I never thought about the different aspects PTSD.  Dylan's story is so very different than Casey's but, yet, they shared a good friend who died and now they both need/want answers.  This is the mystery of the story with suspense on every page.
The story as two different aspects...Casey's and Dylan's.  Casey Cox is one smart cookie. And Dylan is a weary young man trying to prove Casey is innocent.  Will they find the answers they seek?
I loved the story!  And even though "parts" of this story ended I truly hope there is book two because I need to know more!
This is a fantabulous read!

*This book was provided for review by Thomas Nelson Fiction Guild *

• Series: An If I Run Novel
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (February 16, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310332435
• ISBN-13: 978-0310332435

COTT {Clash of the Titles} February Clash!

WELCOME To February's Clash!

With four great contenders and a week of voting, we welcome you to the February clash!! Step up and browse the covers

Finding Love in Sun Valley Idaho

by Angela Ruth Strong

Emily Van Arsdale returns to her home state of Idaho to film her latest movie, but will finding love with rafting consultant Tracen Lake be enough to make her stay? 

Find it here

Salsa and Speed Bumps

by Susan M. Baganz

Sometimes God allows speed bumps on the road to redemption. 

Find it here

A Worthy Heart

by Susan Anne Mason

Adam O'Leary, newly released from prison, wishes to make amends to his family and start a new life, only a certain Irish lass gets in the way!

Find it here

Just Kin

by Caryl McAdoo

Torn apart by war, rejection, and a letter with news she never wanted, Lacey Rose takes her shredded heart and runs. Charley figures something isn’t right, but is duty-bound to the Confederacy until a deathbed order sets in motion a series of events that test his love, honor, and commitment to the breaking point.

Find it here

The Healer's Rune

by Lauricia Matuska

To save Humanity from extinction, Sabine Rhyonselle must overcome centuries of lies and prejudice to forge an alliance between warring races and learn how to manage a dangerous secret that could get her killed. 
Find it here

Life Support {Grace Medical #3} by Candace Calvert

Book Description:  Nurse Lauren Barclay put her life on hold to keep a watchful eye on her troubled sister. It’s why she’s back in Houston. But that means confronting the brooding physician assistant who caused painful turmoil in her family—and left Lauren with memories her heart can’t forget.

PA and single parent Elijah Landry is no stranger to stormy relationships, including one with his father, who is threatening him with a restraining order. It won’t stop Eli from protecting his disabled brother—or from making peace with Lauren. He wants that and so much more.

But as Lauren and Eli draw closer, a powerful hurricane roars toward Houston. Survival instincts take priority and everything changes. Can hope weather the storm?

My Thoughts:  Candace Calvert is a retired ER nurse so she knows about medical emergencies and "things" that go in the medical field and hospital...this is a plus when writing about a nurse and a PA (physician's assistant).

However, as much as I liked Lauren and Elijah, there was just too much going on  around them . . .  in and out of there romantic lives.  At times I was completely lost and just had to take a breather and turn back a few pages to understand what was going on.  To be fair this is the third book in the Grace Medical series so maybe that is why I had a hard time.  The suspense of the story is low keyed.  The single parenting of Elijah and the relationship he has with his own father was, well, a little too over done.  I'm not "big" on dramatic relationships.  Maybe, because in real life I don't have a lot of drama in dealing with my own parents.  

This is a fairly interesting story just not as concise and adventurous as I'm use to reading.

If you enjoy christian medical read then you may enjoy this book.

• Series: Grace Medical
• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (February 21, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414361130
• ISBN-13: 978-1414361130

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

Another favorite dish that I found on Pinterest!

1 lb. Ground Beef
1 can of Ranch Style Beans (Optional)
1 bag of Doritos (I use Taco Flavor)
1/2 Onion Chopped (I use Sweet Yellow Onion)
1 can Rotel
1 Packet of Taco Seasoning
1 can of Cream of Chicken
2 cups Cheddar Cheese (or more if wanted)
Serve with Salsa & Sour Cream


Preheat the Oven to 350 degrees. Then grease your Casserole Dish ( 9 x 11 x 3) with a spritz of Pam.
Next drain the ground beef & return it to the pan. Then mix in the taco seasoning, 1/2 cup of water, can of ro-tel and cream of chicken. (Add Ranch Style Beans at this point if used). Simmer for 5 minutes. 
Now it's time to layer... divide everything into thirds. Starting with Doritos.Then Meat Mixture & Cheese.
Repeat & Repeat. 
Cover and throw in the oven for approx. 27 minutes. Cook until cheese is bubbly.
Then I add tomatoes and lettuce on top.  With a side of salsa . . . O!SO!GOOD!

{Kregel Blog Tour} Saints & Sailors (The Tunbridge Chronicles) by Pam Rhodes

Book Description:  Fourth in the Dunbridge Chronicles series, Neil Fisher's old and new congregations come together on a cruise round the British Isles

Three groups of people come together for a more-or-less godly cruise around the British Isles to visit Lindisfarne, the Loch Ness Monster Museum, the isles of Iona and Mull, Dublin, and the Scilly Isles. There are familiar faces from               St Stephens, Dunbridge; some new folk from Neil’s new parish in Derbyshire; and the slightly long-suffering crew, not least its skipper.

A cruise is a great place to make new friends, with leisure for decent conversations. It can also be an awkward, confined space with those you would really rather avoid. Some of the party face tough decisions--not least of which is whether to say "yes"--and some tensions just cannot be left on land.

My Thoughts:  This is the fourth book in the Dunbridge Chronicles by Pam Rhodes.  I've been able to read three of the four books and find the  stories are all shaped around an angelical priest, Neil Fisher.

This story involves Neil Fisher and some of his congregants as they take a cruise together.  An interesting cruise.

This is also a read that includes mainly British people traveling in a ship to have a holiday of sorts. 

I had a bit of a problem with some of the transitions in the story. . . I just didn't get it.  The story was slightly slow for me.  

This particular story wasn't my cup of tea but if you enjoy British life and travels that include a lot of conversations then you will enjoy this read.

*This book was provided for review by Kregel Publications*

• Series: The Dunbridge Chronicles (Book 4)
• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Lion Fiction (January 27, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1782641564
• ISBN-13: 978-1782641568