![survivor-atoz [2014]](https://michelleclementsjames.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/survivor-atoz-2014.jpg?w=222&h=111)
I have done it! I have completed the A-Z Challenge 2014!! I’ve had so much fun doing it. Please visit my A-Z Challenge page to read my posts.
Month: April 2014
I have accepted the A-Z Challenge to write a blog post for each letter of the alphabet during the month of April. Please click here or on the A-Z tab in the menu above.
A – Angels
B – Beaches
C – Cooking
D – Daughters-in-law
E – Exercise
F – Flowers
G – Grandchildren
H – Hubby
I – Ice Cream
J – Jolly Jumper (video)
K – Kentucky
L – Love and Laughter
M – Mother
N – New England
O – Oregon
P – Photo Project
Q – Quiet
R – Riley
S – Surprise
T – Taney
U – Unforgettable
V – Vacations
W – Washington, D.C.
X – X-Box
Y – Yard
Z – Zowie
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Our Granddaughter is a Fashionista
The Rooms are Filled by Jessica Null Vealitzek
Michael is the adopted son of John and Anne Nygaard and loves his life on his parents’ Minnesota farm. Then one day, the unthinkable happened. Michael’s dad collapses and dies and Michael’s mother has no choice but to sell the farm and move to Ackermann, Illinois where a job at her brother’s restaurant is waiting for her.
When they arrive in Ackermann, Michael has a difficult time making friends – he is the new kid, and the target of the 4th grade bully. He is befriended by another loner. Tina is in 6th grade and goes to the junior high. She lives across the street from Michael, and they become close friends, even though her moodiness bothers Michael. He doesn’t understand why she is nice to him one minute, and mean the next.
Michael’s teacher Julia Parnell has observed the bullying, but is powerless to do anything because there is no school policy against it. She befriends Michael, and they form a close friendship. When Anne is asked to work Saturday’s, she asks Julia if Michael could stay with her during her shift.
Michael is drowning in his grief but can’t talk to his mother about it because he doesn’t want to make her sad. He misses his dad tremendously and dreams of talking with him. His life was so much simpler with his dad, the farm, his chores, and his friends. Would his life here ever feel the same? Would he ever be accepted? When each child had to tell something interesting about his life, Michael revealed that he was adopted. The other students treated him meanly, and he was even more ostracized.
No one knows Julia is running from her past, but when it catches up with her, will it affect her job, her relationship with Michael and her other students? Julia has been best friends with Rose since they were young girls. A towns person knew someone from Julia’s past, and before long, rumors were spreading. Her lesson plans had the word Homo written in bold black letters on them. It was hard enough to figure out who she was without others’ bigotries getting in the way.
There is a lot going on in this book, and a lot of prejudice and resentment. Will each character be able to solve their personal conflicts?
I loved THE ROOMS ARE FILLED. It is a quick read, but a complex storyline. I fell in love with the characters of Michael and Julia and was rooting for them all the way. Jessica Null Vealitzek writes with enthusiasm and passion. She has woven the lives and problems of various characters into an intensely captivating tale. I highly recommend this book.
Learn more about Jessica:
Author Page Jessica Null Vealitzek
Blog True Stories
To buy her book on Amazon THE ROOMS ARE FILLED
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Tattered Innocence by Ann Lee Miller
After an affair with Bret, a married man, Rachel Martin wants to get as far away from him as she can. Jake Murray’s love life had just turned topsy turvy not only when his fiance Gabrielle dumps him, but she leaves him without a first mate on his charter cruise boat, The Smyrna Queen. Rachel applies for the job and gets it, but at her first meeting with him, she has made up her mind that her new boss is cold and unfriendly.
Jake left the corporate world to start his own business on The Smyrna Queen, a dream he shared with his deceased grandfather. Nearly everything he owns is in this venture. He needs a first mate to help him sail the boat and prepare meals for the guests. Since the only available sleeping quarters are in his cabin, Rachel makes it clear from the beginning that she is there for the job and nothing else.
It is quickly apparent that there is an attraction between the two of them, but neither will admit it because they are both still running away from previous relationships. Add to that, family problems, hurricanes, and the guilt they carry; this story has multiple layers to it. Since this is a Christian romance novel, there are references to God all the way through the book. Rachel convinces Jake to go to a beach service with her, and though he is skeptical at first, he comes around. There are often instances throughout where Rachel and Jake each reach out to God for guidance and forgiveness.
The book is well written, and the story will keep you turning the pages. If you are looking for a light romance novel and don’t mind Christian references, this is undoubtedly a book I would recommend.
Ann Lee Miller grew up in New Smyrna Beach, earned a BA in creative writing from Ashland (OH) University, and currently lives in Phoenix with her husband and children. She writes full time and lectures at various Arizona colleges.
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The Lighthouse Award
My blog friend Cathy over at Between the Lines nominated me for this awesome award. I am humbled by her thoughtfulness and support. If you haven’t visited Cathy’s blog yet, it is time to hop over there and check it out. Thank you Cathy for this nomination, I am truly honored.
The rules require me to
• Display the Award Certificate on your blog.
• Write a post and link back to the blogger that nominated you.
• Inform your nominees of their award nominations.
• Share three ways that you like to help others.
• Nominate as many bloggers as you like.
I’d like to pass on the award to these deserving blogs
- S.J. Thomas’s Book Blurbs
- True Stories
- Julie Valerie’s Book Blog
- dreamzandclouds
- Sam Still Reading
- Book of Secrets
- LowCountry Book Lover
- Rosie Amber
- Book-alicious Mama
If you’re not into awards and don’t participate, that’s absolutely fine. Please accept this as my way of saying I really your blogs.
The three ways I like to help are
- Take time to smile and say “Hello” to everyone. Sometimes that simple effort can make a difference in the other person’s day.
- I like to pay-it-forward to those in need.
- I don’t gossip. Gossiping causes so much pain and I don’t want to contribute to someone else’s unhappiness.
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The Versatile Blogger Award
Wow! My good friend Stephanie over at S.J. Thomas’s Book Blurbs has nominated me for yet another award! Thank you so much Stephanie; you are awesome! Speaking of awesome, please check out Stephanie’s fantastic blog where you can read some stories on the Killer Thriller page, read about Stephanie AND her furry friends on her About Me pages, and of course on her Book Reviews page there are many links to her book reviews.
Now the Rules for This Award:
* Display the Award on your Blog
* Announce your win with a post and thank the Blogger who nominated you.
* Present 10 -15 deserving Bloggers with the Award
* Link your Nominees in the post and let them know they have been nominated
with a comment.
* Post 7 interesting things about yourself
Seven Interesting Things about Me:
1.) My daughters-in-law are extra special people and my best friends. I’d be lost without them.
2.) I love to watch storms, especially when there is lightning.
3.) I like snow once it’s off the roadways and sidewalks, but after a long winter, I can hardly wait till spring.
4.) I am so claustrophobic I panic in crowds.
5.) I love shoes, but I hate to wear them.
6.) I love doing laundry.
7.) My favorite color is pink.
My Nominees:
These are some of the many blogs I follow that I really love and I know you will too! Please stop by and check them out!
- Julie Valerie’s Book Blog
- True Stories
- Colline’s Blog
- dreamzandclouds
- MegaMad4Books
- H.M. Brooks Writes
- Purrfect Kitties
- Creativwins
- The Storytelling Mom
- The Kim Challenge
- Booksandbassets
- A Woman’s Wisdom
Congratulations everyone!
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Passing Fair – ABC Poem
My friend Morgan at booknvolume.com posted this for me today. It is so beautiful, as is all of her poetry. Please stop by her blog and read more.
Absolute Silence,
Breathless Sigh,
Chaos Soaring
Deep Inside,
Echoes of a
Fracture in Time,
Gabriel’s Horn
Heralding Fine,
Indigo Setting in
Jagged Night,
Kisses Telling More than the
Light,
Message Drifting in
Neptune’s Hand,
OH the Tranquility of a
Purposeless Plan,
Questing,
Resting,
Shadows Drifting,
Timeless Device of the
Universe, Shifting,
Vast and Empty,
Waiting Delay,
Xanadu Tempting
Yesterday,
Zero hour Passing Fair,
All
Betrayed in Your
Calamitous Stare.
(sorry, ran over a bit, first go, but I know you will Humour me 😉 )
Because macjam 47 at : http://michelleclementsjames.com asked me to 🙂
~Morgan~
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Beautiful Original Artwork: across_an_ocean_of_stars_by_whisperingcrows
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