WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

We love peach cobbler and I was ecstatic to find a crockpot recipe on Pinterest.  It's delicious and so easy!  So great for those family get togethers!

Ingredients

1. 29 oz Del Monte Sliced Peaches in Heavy Syrup
2. 1 tsp cinnamon
3. 16.5 oz yellow cake mix
4. 3/4 cup pecans (chopped)
5. 1 stick butter (sliced)
6. Non-stick cooking spray

Instructions

1. Spray crock pot with non stick cooking spray. Layer remaining ingredients into crock pot in order shown. DO NOT MIX. Just sprinkle the ingredients on top of each other. Turn the crock pot on high for 2 hours. Remove from heat and enjoy with ice cream!

Deadlock (FBI: Houston) by DiAnn Mills

Book Description:  Two murders have rocked the city of Houston. Are they the work of a serial killer, or is a copycat trying to get away with murder?

That is the question facing Special Agent Bethany Sanchez, who is eager for her new assignment in violent crimes but anxious about meeting her new partner. Special Agent Thatcher Graves once arrested her brother, and he has a reputation for being a maverick. Plus, their investigative styles couldn’t be more opposite: he operates on instinct, while she goes by the book.

When hot leads soon fizzle out, their differences threaten to leave them deadlocked. But an attempt on their lives turns up the heat and brings them closer together, and a third victim might yield the clue that will help them zero in on a killer. This could be the case of their careers . . . if they can survive long enough to solve it.

My Thoughts:  I've been waiting for this book!  I've read all of the FBI: Houston books.  Each book is about a different crime and different agents that work on the cases.  But  all the crimes take place in Houston, Texas.

Special Agent Bethany Sanchez and Special Agent Thatcher Graves couldn't be more different in their approaches to solving crimes.  She goes by the law and he goes by what he believes/feels.  They are placed as a team to solve two murders that have rocked Houston.

As their leads fizzle out it seems that this case becomes a deadlock...nothing is happening.

But then a third victim and an attempt on the agents lives turns up the heat on this case.

As the agents begin to rely on each other and trust each other.  They realize that their opposite ways of solving crimes can actually help them solve the crimes. 

Once again Houston FBI has some of the best agents in literary fiction!

Again, DiAnn Mills has written fantabulous story!  

*This book was provided for review by Tyndale Publishing*

• Series: FBI: Houston (Book 3)
• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (October 1, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414389957
• ISBN-13: 978-1414389950

COTT {Clash of the Titles} Announcing the 2015 Laurel Award Winner!

2015 LAUREL AWARD WINNER

Author Dawn Crandall's novel 

The Bound Heart

is the winner of Clash of the Titles's fifth annual Laurel Award.

CONGRATULATIONS, DAWN!

Dawn will receive the following: a beautiful banner to display on her website; a year-long page on COTT dedicated to the winning book, The Bound Heart; a "Heart of the Matter" radio interview with author and Christian Authors Guild board member, Cynthia L Simmons; a feature tour on COTT's Blog Alliance; a lovely plaque.

The Bound Heart was chosen by a panel of judges who narrowed the list of competing novels to three. From there, the panel put their choices to a straight vote. Dawn's novel, The Bound Heart, took home the crown.

Special thanks to each of our judges who volunteered their time to this contest!

BRIEF SUMMARY OF The Bound Heart: 

One accidental kiss from Lawry Hampton. That was all it took to throw Meredyth Summercourt's world upside-down. Determined to marry the ever-elusive Vance Everstone, she simply doesn't have the time or the desire to fall for her best friend...

Stay tuned for the full-length feature of Dawn's winning novel, The Bound Heart!

PURCHASE THE BOOK ON AMAZON

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

So easy and so good for fall!

First Impressions: An Amish Tale of Pride and Prejudice (The Amish Classics, Book 1) by Sarah Price

Book Description:  Will pride and prejudice keep the Blank sisters from finding love?

With five daughters and no sons, Daed and Maem Blank are anxious to find their girls suitors who might eventually take over their family farm. When news arrives that Charles Beachey, the son of a prominent Amish farmer, will be returning from Ohio with his cousin Frederick, they are hopeful that the young men might be good matches for their daughters.

The oldest daughter, Jane, starts courting Charles, a well-mannered and very respectful young man, but her younger sister Lizzie is not interested in either courtship or Frederick. In fact, she wants nothing to do with him, finding him full of pride and disdain for her family’s way of life. But in a community and culture where pride is scorned, Lizzie must learn that first impressions can be dangerous and people are not always who they seem to be. 

This Amish retelling of the popular Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice is a beautiful take on the power of love to overcome class boundaries and prejudices that will win your heart.

My Thoughts:  I love Pride and Prejudice so when I saw this "Amish" version of Pride and Prejudice I was intrigued!

Five daughters and no sons! Not a great thing for an Amish farmer but to his 

credit Daed Blank (and Maem) 

love their girls. But how will their daughters, all five of them, find worthy 

husbands?!? When word gets out that 

Amish young men, Charles and his cousin Frederick, are returning from Ohio 

Daed is hopeful that his daughters

 will have a chance at marriage. Jane, the oldest, begins dating Charles but 

Lizzie the next daughter has 

no interest at.all! in dating Frederick! Ugh! He disgusts her! But Lizzie finds 

that first impressions can be dangerous. 

This story goes "along the lines" of Pride and Prejudice, somewhat. The storyline

 is not"copied" from 

Pride and Prejudice, more like a different culture with the same feelings and 

characters. Rather incredible, 

to me, how the author made this such a grand read with the same "feelings" 

as a classic but yet.so.different.
First Impressions is a story of trusting God and looking to Him for our needs.

 This is definitely 

an "Amish classic" for me! I truly enjoyed this romantic Amish read! But don't 

take my word for it, 

go grab your copy of First Impressions for you summer reading enjoyment!

*This book was provided for review by Bookteria*

• Series: The Amish Classics (Book 1)
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Realms (May 6, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1621366073
• ISBN-13: 978-1621366072

COTT {Clash of the Titles} And this clash goes to....

A BRIDE AT LAST by Melissa Jagears! Abandoned by his mail-order bride, Silas Jonesey has fought an uphill battle to recover from a pattern of poor choices. Now his prayers for reconciliation have finally come true and his estranged wife has contacted him with her whereabouts. Kate Dawson was supposed to be a mail-order bride, but upon realizing she'd been deceived about her intended groom, she's now settled into life as a schoolteacher. When the mother of a student passes away, Kate assumes she'll take on care of nine-year-old Anthony--until two men suddenly show up in town, claiming to be the boy's father. Silas can see Anthony loves Kate, so he enlists her help in reaching out to the boy and attempting to prove his paternity to the court. When a common interest in Anthony leads to an interest in each other and Silas and Kate begin to think they can overcome their rocky start, neither is prepared for the secrets and past hurts that have yet to come to light. Can Silas, Kate, and Anthony's wounded souls bind them together or will all that stands between them leave them lonely forever? 

Here's what Publisher's Weekly has to say: 

In [Jagears'] latest novel [A Bride at Last], . . . the characters are all well-balanced and engaging: Silas' struggle with his failed marriage, struggling faith, and dark past makes him sympathetic; Kate's commitment to Anthony gives her depth and pathos; and their romance develops realistically . . . a memorable read for fans of redemptive historical romances.

Check out her upcoming release, With This Ring?

A historical novella compilation of four award winning authors - Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings and Melissa Jagears Four top historical romance novelists team up in this new collection to offer stories of love and romance with a twist of humor. In Karen Witemeyer's "The Husband Maneuver," Marietta Hawkins decides to grab the reins when the ranch foreman she loves seems to be leaving forever. Regina Jennings offers "Her Dearly Unintended," where friends stranded by a rising river pretend to be newlyweds when a dangerous stranger arrives. Mary Connealy's "Runaway Bride" finds a Texas ranger getting more than he expected when he rescues a young woman fleeing a dangerous arranged marriage. And Melissa Jagears' "Engaging the Competition" finds a young woman forced to assist the man she's often sparred with after an accident leaves him helpless. Each tale is a fun blend of history and romance that will delight readers.

Find it here on Amazon

About Melissa:

Melissa Jagears is a homeschooling mom who writes Christian Historical Romance after everyone is asleep. She’s the author of the Unexpected Brides Series with Bethany House. The prequel ebook novella, Love by the Letter is free to try. You can learn more about her, her books, and where she hangs out online at www.melissajagears.com

Ties That Bind: A Novel (The Amish of Summer Grove) by Cindy Woodsmall

Book Description:  Ariana’s comfortable Old Order Amish world is about to unravel. Will holding tightly to the cords of family keep them together—or simply tear them apart?

Twenty-year-old Ariana Brenneman loves her family and the Old Ways. She has two aspirations: open a café in historic Summer Grove to help support her family’s ever-expanding brood and to keep any other Amish from being lured into the Englisch life by Quill Schlabach. 

 

Five years ago Quill, along with her dear friend Frieda, ran off together, and Ariana still carries the wounds of that betrayal. When she unexpectedly encounters him, she soon realizes he has plans to help someone else she loves leave the Amish.  

Despite how things look, Quill’s goal has always been to protect Ariana from anything that may hurt her, including the reasons he left. After returning to Summer Grove on another matter, he unearths secrets about Ariana and her family that she is unaware of. His love and loyalty to her beckons him to try to win her trust and help her find a way to buy the café—because when she learns the truth that connects her and a stranger named Skylar Nash, Quill knows it may upend her life forever.   

My Thoughts:  It's been quite awhile since I've read a book by best-selling author, Cindy Woodsmall.  So, I was excited to receive Ties That Bind. 

Ties That Bind is the first book in The Amish of Summer Grove series.

Ariana is an obedient, Old Order Amish young woman.  She has dreams and one of her dreams is to open a cafe to help her family and her other dream is keep her Amish friends/family from going English---leaving the Amish life and going out into the world of the English.  She strongly believes in the Amish way of life. 

A few years earlier Ariana's friends Frieda and Quill ran off together.  Now they are back and Ariana feels the betrayal all over again.  She also realizes that Quill is back to help someone "escape" to the English side. 

Quite an interesting read of two worlds that collide.  

Cindy Woodsmall does an an excellent job of intertwining the Amish lives with those of the English.

This great story takes the reader on a journey of romance and mystery.  

A wonderful read for those who love Amish fiction. 

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

• Series: The Amish of Summer Grove
• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press (September 8, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1601426992
• ISBN-13: 978-1601426994