La Belle Design

I’m a sucker for marriage of convenience, but it’s hard for a contemporary romance author to get it right. Latisha knocked it out of the park. This feels realistic and is done with the main characters’ faith fully intact. When Bram learns the love of his life is married he goes through heartache. He soon finds out the love of his life’s sister (a long time family friend) has a medical diagnosis and needs help. He steps up for a marriage of convenience, because he is that hero you’ve always hoped for. But that’s not the way Quinn Jone’s imagined her life going. Reading about how these two navigated awkward feelings, desire for romantic love, and the revelation of family secrets had me quickly reading to the end to see how they got their happily ever after.  Both Bram and Quinn have a strong faith that is admirable. By the end they learned more about themselves, love, and God. Only kisses are shown on page. There is vague reference to more within marriage for the main characters,

The picture above marries two things I love: writing about God and architecture. Romans 15:13 is my writing verse (more about that at the bottom) and the photo was taken this summer in Marseille, France at Notre Dame de la Garde Before we get back into our study of joy, let’s look at Matthew 7 to remind ourselves the importance of working on the fruit of the Spirit.   Matthew 7:15-20 ESV - 15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits . People will recognize us by our fruit. What do people see when they look at us? Do they see

In The Designated Date, Drew Taylor tackles a topic that is often swept under the rug among Christians—sexual temptation, sin, and redemption. They are heavy topics, but as always Drew adds just enough humor and sweetness to keep the deeper things from becoming too much. She doesn’t gloss over the hard things either. She makes her characters work to get through their issues and when they come through their growth is evident. You may never have dealt with sin in this area, but you likely have or have had your own battles—the things you think God will reject you for. This book reminds you that: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (ESV) Lucy May Spence works for Stone Harper who has been asking her out for months. He’s known for his lack of commitment, but Lucy is a romantic looking for her happily ever after. When she finally agrees to a fake date things get confusing for both of them. Ultimatel