I must admit this Top Ten list was much harder to compose than the Top Ten Christmas Songs because I really enjoy so many Christmas carols. I could have added five more songs to the list, but then it wouldn’t be a Top Ten list, would it?
A friend of mine, and fellow blogger, has been reading and commenting on my blog lately — from new posts to old ones. This has reminded me of fun posts I used to enjoy posting that I haven’t posted for a long time. One of those is “top ten lists” and it got me to thinking about how much fun it would be to create some fun “top ten lists” for the Christmas season this year.
Today, I am posting my first one, “Top Ten Christmas Songs”. However, first, I want to differentiate between Christmas Songs and Christmas Carols. Christmas songs do not include words about Jesus, wise men, angels, or any other people or items that Christians relate to the Christian holiday.
Christmas songs, on the other hand, include words about Santa Claus, bells, reindeer, sleigh rides, snow, etc. As a matter of fact, some of them don’t even have anything to do with the secular celebration of Christmas which includes Santa and his reindeer. Some songs that are only played at Christmas time are simply about snow and winter activities, like “Winter Wonderland” and “Frosty the Snowman”. Although these songs are all about winter, radio stations and stores stop playing them after Christmas, when they could play them all winter long, but they have simply become related to the Christmas holiday, even though some places don’t have snow or winter during Christmas time. (Example: Australia has summer in December when Christmas is celebrated).
So, today, I will be sharing my Top Ten Favorite Christmas Songs. I will begin with number 10 and work my way down to my #1 favorite Christmas Song.
You’ll want to come back next Monday for my Top Ten Christmas Carols, and then again, next Thursday for another Top Ten Christmas list.
10. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee
9. Winter Wonderland by Johnny Mathis
8. Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley
7. Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives
6. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) by Nat King Cole
5. Silver Bells by Johnny Mathis
4. White Christmas by Bing Crosby
3. Feliz Navidad by Jose Feliciano
2. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams
Mark your calendar! The Winter Edition for 2023 of Clean Fiction is coming December 20th!
You won’t want to miss this edition! In addition to all of the great reviews, there are always some other great things to read, and the next Windows Into The Multiverse contest, and more! And this upcoming edition has another surprise, so be sure to get yours on December 20th!
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I struggle with finding peace. Especially when life is hectic, or I’m thrown by unexpected sorrow and pain, or I’m feeling under the weather. Any number of things can get me off-kilter and trying to find peace in the midst of whatever situation I’m facing seems difficult. I have to remind myself to go back to the source, my Prince of Peace.
For to us a child is born,to us a son is given,and the government will be on his shoulders.And he will be calledWonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
I love this foretelling of Jesus’ birth and who He is. Somehow it helps to put whatever I’m struggling with into perspective. No matter what I’m facing, I’m reminded that I have a Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace who cares about every detail of my life. What a comfort.
Then there’s the promise Jesus gave before His death on the cross and resurrection.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27 (NIV)
When you get worn out or frazzled this holiday season, take a few moments and find all the verses in the Bible that talk about the true peace which can only be found in Jesus Christ. Perhaps after reading a few, your heart will lighten knowing you can give all your burdens to your Heavenly Father who knows you better than anyone.
May you find peace this Christmas.
Bio
Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and Faith, Hope, & Love Christian Writers (FHLCW). She’s been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests. A former columnist for Home School Enrichment magazine, her articles can be found online at: Crosswalk, Christian Devotions, and Heirloom Audio. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. Learn more at www.jodiewolfe.com.
Enoch Valentine has given up finding peace for his past mistakes. He throws everything he has into being the new part-time deputy in Burrton Springs, Kansas while maintaining the foreman position at a local horse ranch. But when trouble stirs on the ranch, he questions whether he’s the right man for either job.
Peace has been elusive for most of Gertrude Miller’s life, especially under the oppressiveness of an overbearing mother. She takes matters into her own hands and sends for a potential husband, while also opening her own dress shop. Gertrude hopes to build a future where she’ll find peace and happiness.
Bundled in her white winter coat, red and white checked scarf around her neck, red knit hat perched on her head, and red gloves warming her hands, Chelsea stood at the line that divided her parent’s meadow and the forest of trees. She could see three doe and one six-point buck white-tail deer beneath the forest canopy several yards away.
She plucked the glove from her right hand, shoved it in her pocket, and raised her hands in slow motion to grasp the 35 mm camera that hung from its strap around her neck. She lifted it to her eye and focused the lens upon the group of deer. Click! She snapped a photo and the deer tensed their muscles and turned their heads toward her.
Drat! Why did the best cameras make so much noise when the shutter release button was pressed? She wanted to take more shots but didn’t dare, lest she frighten the beautiful creatures away. She released the breath she’d been holding as they lowered their heads to the ground to nibble at the shoots of grass they had revealed beneath the snow with their hooves.
She held the camera and peered through the viewfinder, watching for another opportunity to take a shot. She didn’t have long to wait, as a moment later, the buck raised his head and seemed to look right at her. She pressed the shutter release button, trying not to cringe at the noise it made. She didn’t want to move the camera and cause the picture to blur.
Just after the loud click of the shutter, the buck turned and ran deeper into the forest and the does followed. Chelsea caught a shot of their white tails lifted straight in the air as they bounded deeper into the trees. Should she try to follow? Would she be able to follow their tracks in the snow with the long leaps they took? She carefully lowered her camera to rest on her chest again, and keeping one hand on the camera, she proceeded into the woods.
Chelsea hadn’t gone more than several yards when the loud bang of a rifle shot made her heart leap in her chest. She ducked behind a tree, and leaned her back against its trunk. What had she been thinking entering the forest? It was hunting season and this was state game land. She looked over her clothes, realizing she didn’t have enough bright red on to make her visible to anyone carrying a gun, looking for a prize deer.
She needed to get back to the meadow, but before she could move, a short high-pitched sound came from her left. She turned her head and saw a doe limping forward, blood running down it’s shoulder toward it’s front leg. Chelsea gasped and the doe turned and looked at her.
“Will you let me help you?” Chelsea spoke in a soft voice. “I’m not a hunter. I don’t have a gun.”
The doe turned its ears toward her.
Chelsea reached her bare hand slowly toward the deer, then held it steady. She mentally sent a prayer to the Lord, Please let me be able to get her back to the the barn on our farm. Let me be able to nurse her back to health and release her after deer season.
The deer limped close enough to sniff Chelsea’s hand. It sniffed, then looked at Chelsea and made another short noise, but this time it was lower in pitch.
Chelsea dared to stand up to gain her footing, keeping her hand out toward the doe. The doe pressed its nose into Chelsea’s hand, and Chelsea said, “Come on. Come with me.” She took a step forward and the deer took a step as well.
Chelsea’s breaths stalled for a moment. Could she get this deer to go all the way back to the farm with her? She moved one step at a time, doing her best to keep both herself and the doe hidden behind trees as they worked their way toward the forest’s edge.
As they exited the woods and entered the meadow, Chelsea emitted a short spontaneous laugh. The doe flinched, but didn’t run. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I just can’t believe we made it back to our farm. Please, stay with me. I’ll get you to the warmth of the barn and then I’ll get something to clean and dress your wound.”
The deer looked at Chelsea and continued moving forward step by step after her. As they reached the halfway point across the meadow, the bark of a dog caused both Chelsea and the doe to freeze in their tracks.
Chelsea looked at the doe. “That’s Jasper. I’ll call mom and tell her we’re coming. She’ll put Jasper in the house. You don’t have to be afraid.” She pulled her cell phone from her pocket with her gloved hand and punched in the number with a bare finger.
“Mom, you have to put Jasper in the house. I was in the forest. I took some photos of a group of deer and I’m leading a wounded doe back to the barn. She’s been shot.” She hung up the phone, put it back in her pocket and took another step forward. The doe followed.
When Chelsea had the doe in an empty stall in the barn, she heard heavy footsteps crossing the wooden floor.
“Chelsea, I’m coming to remove the bullet. I’ll help you clean and dress the wound, then you can get her some corn.” Her father stepped into the stall just a moment after his last word. He smiled at her. “You never could resist rescuing any animal in trouble. Not since you were six years old and found your first stray kitten out in a thunderstorm.”
She wrapped her arms around her father and gave him a hug. “Thanks for understanding, Daddy.”
“I’m just glad you didn’t get shot making this rescue.”
In the United States, the Thanksgiving holiday is a day where family and friends gather around the table and stuff themselves with foods like turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie, among other things. They may take a few minutes to take turns around the table stating something they’re thankful for, but after the food, thankfulness is forgotten and the following day — Black Friday — they’re rushing around stores trying to take advantage of the sales to purchase gifts for family and friends for next month’s holiday, Christmas. Or, maybe they’re purchasing their Christmas trees, greens, and other decorations and preparing for the upcoming Christmas holiday.
So, Thanksgiving gets a nod, maybe a day or two, and Christmas gets a month of preparation — decorating, shopping, and gift wrapping, as well as Christmas parties, caroling, and other Christmas events.
But do either of these holidays get the attention they deserve?
We, believers/Christians, do not have many holidays to celebrate, and I know some people would argue that Easter and Christmas aren’t really Christian holidays, but pagan holidays and that we don’t know the exact dates that Jesus was born and died and rose again. As far as I’m concerned, that’s not the point. The point is that we should want to celebrate these holidays to spend time focusing on Christ because of what He did for us — embracing them for what they mean to us.
And, as for Thanksgiving, yes, I know that began when the pilgrims and American Indians celebrated a grand harvest together, but they were thanking God for that provision, and if we stop to think about all the things that we have in our homes, in our lives, we have those things because of God’s provision.
We should always take time to spend reading God’s word which is our guidebook for life. We should take time to pray — to speak with our heavenly Father — to thank Him for the many things He blesses us with: a talent and job that allows us to use that talent, a home and everything that’s in it, and our transportation — most of us have one or two cars in our driveways. But beyond the material things, He blesses us with food, good friends, and family, and hopefully, that includes a good church family where we go, not only to worship Him and hear his word preached, but also, to serve Him by serving in our church in some capacity.
In regard to all of this, we should be thankful, not just on Thanksgiving day, but everyday. We should be able to see at least one thing each and every day to thank the Lord for.
I hope you will give this post some thought and make thanking the Lord something you do on a regular basis, and next year, when Thanksgiving comes around, I hope you’ll be able to look back on the previous twelve months of the year, (from Thanksgiving this year, November 2023 to Thanksgiving next year, November 2024), and remember things you gave thanks to the Lord for.
This year, our Pastor has challenged us to write down our prayer requests throughout the year, and if or when we see God answer them, go back and write down when and how He answered. Then look back through that journal or tablet on Thanksgiving to see all the things God has done for you. I’m going to take that challenge, and I hope you will too. This should not only help us to have plenty to thank the Lord for on Thanksgiving, but it should help us establish a habit of Thanksgiving to the Lord.
Spies Never Swoon by M. Taylor Christensen is the second book in his “Banana Girls” series. Each book can be read as a stand alone, although the Banana Girls all make an appearance in each book.
In Spies Never Swoon, Anna is the Banana Girl in the spotlight. Her job is to protect a prince! She’s up for the challenge, as she’s no stranger to sabotage, mysterious attacks, and high-speed car chases. However, she’s sworn to never get romantically involved on a case, so the prince’s constant flirting becomes a bigger challenge than the physical danger.
M. Taylor Christensen has a talent for telling exciting cozy mysteries from young adult womens’ perspectives. Spies Never Swoon may start out a bit more slowly than the first Banana Girls book, Spies Never Quit, but don’t stop turning those pages! It won’t be long until both Anna and the prince are running and hiding from danger, and the prince is testing Anna’s will of not getting romantically involved.
Spies Never Swoon by M. Taylor Christensen has lots of mystery, action, danger, and a little romance. It is a clean fiction novel that will have you on the edge of your seat while having your heart palpitating with the prince’s sweet flirtation. You’ll be cheering Anna on as she needs to use some smooth fight moves and some brilliant thinking and powers of deduction to figure out who is trying to cause harm to whom. You’ll probably even chuckle sometimes at the prince’s attempts to convince Anna to accept his romantic advances as she tries to resist.
If you like clean fiction, cozy mysteries, sweet romance, danger and action all rolled into one, you’ll want to read Spies Never Swoon by M. Taylor Christensen. I’m convinced you’ll probably also go back to your favorite place to purchase books to get more of the Banana Girls series as soon as you finish reading Spies Never Swoon.
M. Taylor Christensen is a talented writer. His Banana Girls series are fun, easy reads that keep the reader engaged and turning pages from start to finish. I have read the first two books of the series and will most likely read the remaining books in the Banana Girls series because I definitely enjoyed the first two.
I give Spies Never Swoon by M. Taylor Christensen four stars, only because it took longer than I would have liked for the danger and action to begin, but I was definitely too interested in the characters to put the book down and wasn’t disappointed after several chapters, when the danger and action kicked off and grew more intense and continued right up until the end.
As many of you know, I write Historical Christian Romance stories, and my first novel should be out in time for Christmas if all goes well.
I have begun writing my second novel and yesterday, when I met with my critique partner, I asked her a question. You see, I began my new novel with Chapter 0, which is sort of like a Prologue. It’s a scene from my main male character’s back story. Yesterday, I had Chapter 1 ready to give to my critique partner, and she gave her critiqued copy of my Chapter 0 back to me. I asked her what she thought about the fact that I began this novel with a scene from the back story of my main male character and had written Chapter 1 about my main male character in the actual time period of the story.
Why did I ask her that question? Because I had been told when writing my first novel that you cannot wait until you’re too far into the story to introduce the lady who will be the main male character’s love interest. Or rather, both the male and female, who will fall in love, must both be introduced early in the story.
On another note, I had also been told that my male character should not be the main character. I was told that romance readers wouldn’t like it. That it didn’t fit the formula. I’ve been a romance reader for many years. When I first began reading romance stories, I read a lot of Harlequin Romance stories. However, after awhile, I grew tired of the fact that I found them to be so predictable. I felt that the stories had different characters and were set in different places, but the story lines were all basically the same. So, I branched out to read other romance stories.
I have found throughout the romance genre that generally, the formula is boy meets girl and, though they are attracted to one another, something or, sometimes, more than one thing, keeps them apart until the last third or quarter of the book.
My novels do follow that basic formula. However, I choose to make my main character the male, at least in these first two novels. However, once the male and female begin interacting more, I change scenes or chapters back and forth between his point of view and her point of view, so really, my novels really have a male and a female main character throughout the majority of the novel.
One more thing I find odd, is that when you submit a query or a novel to an agent or publisher, they almost always ask you, what makes your story different from the other stories that are out there in your same genre. Why do they want to know what makes it different, if it’s not supposed to be different?
All that being said, I would like for you, Romance readers, to please answer the following questions in the comments below: 1) Do you prefer your romance stories to be predictable? 2) Would you be willing to read Romance novels that begin with a main male character? 3) Do you find it refreshing to find new twists in the Romance genre and look for books that offer something new or do you prefer to stick with the same old, same old?
I appreciate you taking the time to answer these questions.
I do not read very many nonfiction books, as I’m sure, if you follow my blog and book reviews, you already know. However, the book I’m going to review today is the one nonfiction book I have been waiting for. You see, Joan Patterson is a member of the same local Christian writers’ group that I’m a member of, and I have helped critique chapters of A Matter of Faith. I have also seen Faith and watched her in action.
Enough with the introduction, let’s get down to the book review:
A Matter of Faith by Joan Patterson is Joan’s first book, and it’s an easy read. I read it rather quickly, then passed it on to two friends to read, and they both read through it very quickly, so that it is in my possession once again. The three of us, in total, finished reading this book in less than two weeks!
Anyway, A Matter of Faith is a wonderful book. It is the true story of how Joan’s life drastically changed when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and found herself in need of a wheelchair. In addition to shaking her self-confidence, her faith in her loving, caring God was also shaken. After all, she was an educator, wife, and mother. Would she still be able to fulfill these roles?
That’s where her service dog, Faith, came in. This book, A Matter of Faith, is a wonderfully delightful story about how Joan and Faith built a strong bond, and how much Joan came to depend on Faith. Faith, an intelligent, specially trained Labrador Retriever became Joan’s constant sidekick. In A Matter of Faith, each chapter focuses on a different aspect of Joan getting to know and learn how to work with this dog. The chapters continue to tell of their life together, once Joan had gone through an initial training period with Faith.
If you don’t know anything about dogs that are trained to be service dogs and the things they are capable of, you will be amazed at the things you read in this book. As you read about Faith and the relationship between Joan and Faith, you will come to love this intelligent, skilled dog.
In addition to telling the story of her life with Faith, Joan ends most chapters with a paragraph about a lesson she learned, through her relationship with Faith, that also taught her something about how that very lesson can be applied to our relationship with God. Therefore, even though, this book isn’t written as a devotional book, you could use it as one, as you consider the lessons Joan points out as she points you to the Father.
For anyone who loves dogs, you’ll love this book. Also, anyone who loves great nonfiction stories about the life and struggles of someone and how they deal with those struggles, you’ll love this book.
I highly recommend this book, and I hope Joan will continue to write more books for us to enjoy.
I give A Matter of Faith by Joan Patterson a 5 star rating.
Today is the day! Wooing Gertrude, Book 3 of the Burrton Springs Brides series by Jodie Wolfe is available for purchase today! Grab your copy now!
Blurb
Enoch Valentine has given up finding peace for his past mistakes. He throws everything he has into being the new part-time deputy in Burrton Springs, Kansas while maintaining the foreman position at a local horse ranch. But when trouble stirs on the ranch, he questions whether he’s the right man for either job.
Peace has been elusive for most of Gertrude Miller’s life, especially under the oppressiveness of an overbearing mother. She takes matters into her own hands and sends for a potential husband, while also opening her own dress shop. Gertrude hopes to build a future where she’ll find peace and happiness.
Will either of them ever be able to find peace?
Tagline
The seamstress with a knack for trouble wasn’t who the deputy envisioned.
Kelly F Barr 