My Book Shelf Review: Raw Edges

About the book:
Grayson McDonough has no use for teal ribbons, 5k runs, or ovarian cancer support groups now that his beautiful wife Jenna is gone. But their nine-year-old daughter Sadie seems to need the connection. When Annabelle Curtis, the beautiful cancer survivor organizing the memory quilt project for the Ovacome support group, begins to bring out the silly and fun side of his precious daughter again, Grayson must set aside his own grief to support the healing of Sadie’s young heart. But is there hope for Grayson’s heart too along the way?

My Review:
Rarely does a book capture my attention before I've finished reading the prologue! Most often it takes at least the second chapter or more before I'm really hooked. My heart swelled with emotion for the characters and I felt like I had a personal involvement. And in a way I do...we all do, as each one of us knows or knows of someone that has fought or is fighting a battle with cancer. I was especially touched with the journal that Jenna left behind for her daughter Sadie.

Each night Grayson reads to their daughter an entry from the journal, each one ending with a special Bible scripture to go along with whatever wisdom she wanted to impart. I love how each chapter of this wonderfully written book is dedicated to one of the journal entries! One of my favorite journal entries to Sadie, Jenna writes "But after some time has passed, I don’t want you and Daddy doing the sad thing anymore. I want you to get out there in the world and meet new people, do new things, and make some new memories. It doesn't mean I won’t be in your hearts anymore. It just means that you haven’t surrendered to the sadness."

If you're a quilter or just love quilts, you're going to love this book even more! If you've been wanting to learn, then don't be surprised if you "catch the fever!" Every handmade quilt always has a story to tell and in this book, the quilt celebrates the lives of those who have lost, are still fighting, or have won the battle against ovarian cancer and how a real life group called Ovacome, dedicated to saving lives by educating the community about these diseases and supporting those patients, survivors and spouses affected by gynecologic cancers put together a beautiful quilt to raise awareness.

And it is through the Ovacome memory quilt project, that nine-year-old Sadie and her dad Grayson meet Annabelle. Will this quilt project help heal Grayson's grief stricken heart so that he can find love again. Will precious Sadie's laughter and her fun and silly side emerge again? Can Annabelle learn to trust in love again?

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of Sandra D. Bricker's Raw Edges. While I have enjoyed every book of Sandra's that I've read, Raw Edges has become my absolute favorite! Beware, tissue box may be needed as you smile through your tears. Heartwarming, heartfelt and so inspiring!

Join us at the Facebook launch party of this wonderful book on Tuesday, Sept 10th. Trivia, Q&A with the author and prizes too!  Get your copy of this wonderful book today to find out how hearts are healed.

About the author:
For more than a decade, Sandra D. Bricker lived in Los Angeles. While honing her chosen craft of screenwriting in every spare moment, she worked as a personal assistant and publicist to some of
daytime television's hottest stars. When her mother became ill in Florida, she put Southern
California in her rearview mirror and moved across the country to take on a new role: Caregiver.

"I guess most people would see my career as a publicist as a sort of dream job. But giving it up
turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to me!" she declares. "Not only was I
given the gift of getting to know my mother as an adult woman before she passed away, but I was
also afforded the blessing of being able to focus completely on my dream of a writing career."

Sandie's real-life role as cancer survivor has parlayed into her steadfast commitment to raising
awareness and funds for ovarian cancer research. Spearheading a series of devotionals for
Summerside Press (such as the popular His Grace is Sufficient...Decaf is Not), the author has
stipulated that a portion of each contributor's proceeds will go to the Ovarian Cancer Research
Fund.

Connect with Sandie on Facebook and be sure to read her newest book "Raw Edges." You won't be
disappointed! You'll also find more books in the Quilts of Love series here.

My Book Shelf Review: If the Shoe Fits: A Contemporary Fairy Tale

I was first introduced to Sandra’s books when Amazon offered a free Kindle edition of Always the Baker, Never the Bride (the Emma Rae Creations Series) and The Big 5-0. Since then, I’ve been hooked! While I consider myself an eclectic reader, the inspirational genre is my favorite and I’m always looking for something that is not only faith based, but fun and inspirational as well.  Sandra D. Bricker’s books are all that and more! With each character being believable, it’s not hard to find yourself being part of the book! Like the Emma Rae Creations series, Sandie’s newest book, If the Shoe Fits: A Contemporary Fairy Tale did not disappoint when it came to laughs AND inspiration. When I was given the opportunity to review a pre-release of, If the Shoe Fits in exchange for my honest review, well, I just couldn't say no! 

In this modern day fairy tale, it’s actually the girl searching for the handsome man who wears the boot that fell off the back of his truck. Will this handsome man, who fits the leather work boot left in the middle of a busy intersection, be the Prince Charming God has in store for her or will he turn out to be another toad?

“You know the funny thing about fairy tales, honey? No one reading them ever expects a big unexpected plot twist, or has a single doubt about who the prince and princess are going to end up with at the end of the story.  That’s not the interesting part anyway…the interesting part is how they get there.”

I love this quote!  Just like any other typical girl, when I was a kid, I dreamed of one day finding my Prince Charming! While it took Julianne a bit longer to discover that her Prince Charming was the boy on the other side of the cul-de-sac, it didn't take me long to figure out that my Prince Charming was the boy showing up every day after school to order a large iced tea from the drive-through window of my family’s Dairy Queen- like restaurant.  See what I mean by being believable? Truly, the characters could be any of the people we know in real life!

This is a great read for both the young and young at heart and I couldn't help think of the young women today who are looking for their Prince Charming, but end up with toads because they couldn't see what God had/has right in front of them.  

A great summer read that’s fun, refreshing AND inspirational. You can't help but smile and laugh out loud while reading this wonderful modern-day fairy tale!  I look forward to the next one in this series!

Nathenia

About the book:
Julianne used to believe in fairy tales; she's been watching for Prince Charming to come charging in on his white steed ever since the day her mother read her Cinderella for the first time. But she's never come close to finding the perfect man-instead she's always tripping over her childhood best friend, Will. And who finds their Prince Charming on a 10-speed bicycle on the other side of the cul de sac? Well... Julianne does. Only she doesn't have a clue.

She and Will are attorneys now, and they've joined up in private practice in a beautiful Cincinnati office building that overlooks the Ohio River. And then one day Julianne is on her way to court, and runs right smack dab into Prince Charming. But when she looks again, all she finds is a metaphoric sign she is certain came straight from Heaven: The Prince's toolbox has fallen off the back of his truck, and a work boot along with it. What better way for God to grab the attention of a Cinderella-in-training than to show her a glass slipper...errrr, work boot?...waiting to be reunited with its owner?

So she sets out to track down the mysterious Prince Charming. He's the most gorgeous guy she's ever seen...and a caring animal rescuer, too. Surely he must be the soul mate God has prepared her for.

But, Julianne's prince is starting to look less and less charming all the time. No matter how she tries to romanticize him, he just keeps tumbling down off that dumb pedestal. And with the Bar Association dinner coming up that will honor her for her outstanding charity work over the year, Julianne wants so much for her friends and colleagues to see her with someone besides her best friend Will. To make matters worse, Prince Charming has no designs on wearing a penguin suit and attending a stuffy old dinner. With her pride pressing in on her like sticks from a cactus, Julianne sinks to the bottom of the proverbial barrel and actually offers to pay Paul to be her date.

Julianne is on a collision course with God's perfect plan for her life...if only she could open her eyes and see it before it's too late.

Get your copy of  If the Shoe Fits: A Contemporary Fairy Tale today!

Learn more about Sandra D. Bricker on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SandraDBricker and be sure to check out these other great books too:

Shoe Sampler Set & Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Hi Everyone! What a gorgeous day it is here in Western PA! The sun has even come out to dance between the clouds and the first hummingbirds of the season arrived this week too! LOL, I don't know if I'll ever get used to all the cloud cover in this area. I really miss those clear blue skies in The Land of Enchantment, but at least it's finally warm enough here to enjoy the outdoors! Speaking of enchantment, I just read a wonderful book and am in the process of writing my honest review (which I'll post on my blog when finished) in exchange for a copy of the book, called "If the Shoe Fits: A Contempory Fairy Tale" by Sandra D. Bricker. If you like inspirational fiction that makes you smile and laugh out loud, then I would highly recommend reading it. If you read my blog a couple of weeks ago then you already know the book inspired me to create an embroidery design set for the princess...or shoe lover :) in all of us! There may even be a Prince Charming shoe set in the future?!? These would really be cute on shopping bags! Be sure to check out the Shoe Sampler Set 01 at The Country Needle! And if the shoe fits, you could make one in every color! :) If you're looking to make a special gift for Mom on Mother's Day, you still have time and I've posted a few sets below just for the occasion! Have a wonderful weekend full of sunshine and smiles and as always... Happy Stitching! Nathenia

NEW!!! Shoe Sampler Set 01 Mix & Match •2 Sentiments in 4x4 & 5x7 •2 Filled & Redwork Shoes in 4x4 & 5x7 • 12 designs total

Great Gift Ideas For Mother's Day:

FSL Daisy Bowl & Doily Set •Add a little Spring to your table top with this 4x4 Free-Standing Lace Bowl and Doily Set. A great gift to make Mom for Mother's Day!

Prim Raggedy Mom Sampler Set Set includes: • 2 5x7 & 6x10 Samplers • 4x4 - 5x7 - 6x10 Filled & Redwork Singles • 2 4x4 individual sentiments 18 designs total! Perfect for Framing & totes and makes a wonderful gift for all Mom's!

Mom's Simple Sentiments Always full of love and wisdom, there is so much truth in the saying that Mom's hold our hearts forever! "Mom's Simple Sentiments" are suitable for stitching on card stock or better yet, on Aida cloth and framing!

Monster Cookie Set & If the Shoe Fits

Hi Everyone!  Brrr! And here I thought it was Spring, but I guess Winter just had to give it one last shot with a bit of snow today! I really enjoyed that 80 degree weather we were having a few days ago! I hope wherever you are, you're enjoying sunshiny day!  "It's In the Bag" this week with a Monster Cookie set. You can have lots of fun with these cute little monsters. Stitch them in glow-in-the-dark or bright neon embroidery threads for the kids tees. Cute on bib overalls too! Stitch the redwork designs directly on stabilizer and let the kids color them in with markers or crayons while the Monster Cookies they just made are baking for lots of rainy day fun! Create fuzzy monsters by using faux fur or Minkee fabric with the included applique designs.  All of the "It's In the Bag" sets, including this one have the complete recipe, and two printable tags. If I can ever figure out my Silhouette Cameo, there may be some cutting files to go with these in the future. Happy Stitching! Nathenia

It's In the Bag- Monster Cookie Set • Redwork, Filled & Applique Monsters in 4x4 & 5x7 • Separate text in 4x4 for easy placement 25 designs total PLUS: Complete Recipe with printable baking instructions and "baked with love" tags also included.

The Country Needle Embroidery Designs® Like Us On Facebook Contact Us P. S. Oh! I have some very exciting news! It's no secret that I love to read and my Kindle goes with me pretty much everywhere. So when I was given the opportunity to review a soon to be released book from one of my favorite inspirational fiction authors, I jumped at the chance!  I loved this book and I'm in the process of writing my review of this modern day fairy tale called If the Shoe Fits by Sandra D. Bricker (which I will post here), but until then, here's one of my favorite quotes from the book: Click image above to view Sandra's official Facebook Fan Page. Hmmmm...Perhaps a shoe embroidery design is in order???