La Belle Design

For my Not Quite Mr. Darcy release day celebration it was most fitting to have tea! Though I have to admit, it's not completely authentic because the style of tea I served with finger sandwiches, scones, and petite pastries, would normally be served late afternoon, and ours was for lunch.  It was a joy to celebrate with dear friends (including my daughter and granddaughter). We were 3 generations honoring the one who has gone before. As a table decoration, I included the butterfly card my daughter made after my mom died. I also wore one of my mom's butterfly brooches.  We talked about Pride and Prejudice, and the trivia that can be accessed through a special link in the back of the book. The trivia tells some of the tie-ins with P & P and also where some of the book ideas came from. I also shared what comes next in my writing, but I'll save that for a future blog post. Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite books. Through the years, and many rereads, the one thing I ...

      Not Quite Mr. Darcy is dedicated to the memory of my mom. It hits close to home for me because the main character is a live-in nurse for an elderly woman with dementia. My mom had Alzheimer's for 14 1/2 years before she died. Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia are difficult for the individual with it as well as their family and friends. In my book I tried to capture some of the ways it affects the lives of everyone who surrounds the patient, though each individual's path through dementia is different.     The most notable thing for my mom as she passed through the different phases was the kindness she continued to show to others. Even as her vocabulary dwindled, she tried to encourage others around her. And when words finally failed her, she would just smile.       I hope that regardless of what disease or situation brings my life on earth to a close, I will be remembered for showing kindness to others. I always knew my mom's ...

  I'd like to share my review of Meant to Bee with you! Meant to Bee by Storm Schultz is a sweet contemporary romance story set in the English countryside. Single mom Cordy, an American, and her adorable toddler are the stars of the story.  As Cordy works to create a home for her daughter she has the most unusual deliveries arrive at her cottage doorstep, including a bee hive! The way several townspeople gather around her in support of a struggling single mom despite the fact that she had her daughter out of wedlock, is touching and a great example of Christian love as they gently point her to God.  Ronan is sweet, protective, and works hard to help Cordy, whom he just met. Their developing relationship is heartwarming.  The main character learns to be thankful even when many things seem broken, and faith is lightly touched on. This is a fun, clean read filled with endearing characters and a happy ending! Here is the description Storm gives: Single mom Cordy Brown c...

    Today I want to share a ministry that I support.  Child Evangelism Fellowship is an organization that I've been familiar with for years. It has been around since 1937 and is focused on sharing the gospel with children by working with local churches to equip them and give them tools to use to that end. Currently, their two biggest ministries are Good News Clubs and 5 Day Clubs. Good News Clubs are weekly after-school Bible clubs during the school year that can be held in schools or other locations. 5 Day Clubs are similar but last only 5 days and are usually led by trained youth (supervised by adults). My family became involved about 11 years ago when our church started a club in a local elementary school and my homeschooled daughter felt led to be a helper. She worked with that club for 5 years before leaving for college. It ended for various reasons including COVID, but my church had an opportunity to start it again a couple of years ago and this time I was able to w...