4x6 Art Print Giveaway

I won this awesome 4 x 6 print from Jayde's Little Corner. I just love it and can't wait to frame it and put it up in my home. Thanks Jayde!

Jayde is an incredibly talented photog who is still fairly new to the world of blogging. When I won her giveaway, I also snagged a second print to give away to one of my own readers. Yippee! So, I'm thrilled to offer this wonderful print to one of you.

To win simply visit Jayde's Little Corner Shop and explore her work. Then come back here and tell me which photo is your favorite. This is mandatory for entry.

Extra Entries:

Follow Jayde's Little Corner blog
Follow Jayde on Twitter
Follow Jayde on Facebook

As always, following this blog, me on Twitter, and hooking up with me through
Networked Blogs will score you extra entries as well. Just be sure that you leave separate comments for every thing you do.

Deadline to enter is 3/5/10 at 8:00pm CST.

TCM's 31 Days of Oscar Film Festival

I've spent the past couple of days in bed with a horrendous cold. At least, I'm hoping it's just a cold and that I get over it soon. Anyway, all I want to do is lay in bed with my tissues and juice and watch movies. Not just any movies though, really good classic movies.

It seems I've picked a good time to be ill because Turner Classic Movies is in the middle of it's 31 Days of Oscar film celebration. 31 days of uncut, commercial free Academy Award nominated and winning films. This year they are all related "6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon" style starting with Only When I Laugh with Kevin Bacon and James Coco, and ending with Diner with Mickey Rourke and Kevin Bacon. In between are so many great films, including many of my personal favorites like The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Mrs. Miniver, From Here to Eternity, The Philadelphia Story, The Maltese Falcon, Giant, and Adam's Rib just to name a few. You can check my right side bar for the full schedule. I bet you find at least one movie you love.



No, I'm not going to stay in bed until the end of this film festival, but I am sure to be tuning into some great films while they are on. The line up is really good and there are many films that are great for family viewing. Ashley is looking forward to Royal Wedding and West Side Story. Tristen is eagerly awaiting The Greatest Show On Earth. Dan loves Cool Hand Luke, so I know we will be tuning into that one. As for me, there aren't many classic movies that I don't like! So check them out and enjoy!



Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My posts are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors. I am receiving a TCM Oscar Party pack as a thank you for sharing about 31 Days of Oscar with my readers.

The Big 5-Oh! by Sandra D. Bricker

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

The Big 5-Oh!Abingdon Press (February 2010)

by

Sandra D. Bricker





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

For more than a decade, Author Sandra D. Bricker lived in Los Angeles. While writing 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 walked away from that segment of her life and moved across the country to take on a new role: Caregiver.



One of Sandie's passions revolves around the rights of animals. She's been involved in fundraising for Lost Angels Animal Rescue for several years now; in fact, a portion of the proceeds of Love Finds You in Holiday, Florida will go to help the non-profit group with their expenses. And Lost Angels paid her back in a big way: They brought a free-spirited Collie named Sophie into her life after the loss of her 15-year companion Caleb.



It was her 8th novel that opened the door to finding her way as a writer.



In Sandie's words: "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. I'm a Christian woman, first and foremost, so it was a bit of a dream-come-true when Summerside Press chose me as one of two authors to launch their new Love Finds You line."





ABOUT THE BOOK

Olivia Wallace has a birthday curse . . . or so she thinks. It was a broken heart on her 16th, a car accident on her 21st, pneumonia on her 30th, and a fall down a flight of stairs on her 35th. There were Ohio blizzards on her 38th, 39th, and 40th; and six days before her 45th, she lost the love of her life to a heart attack. Numbing grief stole that birthday and a couple more to follow and, on the morning of her 48th birthday, she received the call she’d dreaded ever since losing her mom so many years ago…she was diagnosed with stage-3 ovarian cancer. The doctors didn’t hold out a lot of hope, but Liv survived and maintained her faith. Months of surgeries and chemotherapy and radiation treatments followed.



But now, as her 50th birthday creeps up the icy Ohio path toward her, her hair has grown back, her energy level is up, and she is officially cancer free. It makes her nervous. After everything she’s gone through, Liv hates the idea of driving on icy roads and returning to work as an O.R. nurse in a local Cincinnati hospital.



Her best friend Hallie knows just the thing to break Liv out of the winter doldrums, while providing a safe haven of warmth, sunshine, and a time to regroup: a holiday in the Florida sunshine!



If you'd like to read the first chapter of The Big 5-Oh!, go HERE



Watch the trailer:

Author Meg Tilly in Houston

Author Meg Tilly will be in Houston this week doing readings and signings of her book Gemma. The dates and addresses are below. Please note that these events are not appropriate for children under the age of 15.

February 24
Central Library
6 p.m. reading and signing
500 McKinney
Houston, TX


February 25
McGovern-Stella Link
Neighborhood Library
6 p.m. reading and signing
7405 Stella Link
Houston, TX

Praise for Gemma:

“Tilly achieves moments of raw beauty and genuine fierceness…” — Booklist

“Tilly… successfully captures Gemma’s wounded voice. The story is told from the point
of view of both Gemma and her captor, and Tilly is equally proficient at conjuring up a
revolting and consummately villain.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Never had I read a book on this subject that so effectively captures both the psychology
of the abusive relationship along with the social systems that work both to help and
hinder the victim.” — Susan Sarandon

Gemma is a 12-year-old girl who loves school and her pet turtle Boxcar Julie. But she is also
a girl whose mother’s boyfriend has secretly abused for years. Now he’s pimped Gemma out
for $100 to his friend Hazen Wood, who throws her in the trunk of his car and then rapes her
repeatedly during a cross country trek. A monster who is convinced that Gemma loves him,
Hazen will stop at nothing to possess her. Gemma tells herself that if Boxcar Julie can
survive in the pocket of her jeans, so will she. And with a remarkable resilience that you will
never forget, she does.

About the Author

Meg Tilly is the author of Singing Songs, First Time, and Porcupine, a children's book. An accomplished actress, Tilly is best known for her role as Chloe in “The Big Chill” and the title role in “Agnes of God,” for which she won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in 1986, as well as an Oscar nomination. For more information, please visit
http://www.officialmegtilly.com/book/gemma.

Dear Mother Nature

I would just like to remind you that I live in Texas. In this part of the state it does not snow, yet we've had snow half a dozen times this winter. Thank you for the beauty of my first ever white Christmas. You can stop with the snow now. ;-)

Cowgirl at Heart by Christine Lynxwiler

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Cowgirl at Heart

Barbour Books (February 1, 2010)

by

Christine Lynxwiler





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Best-selling author Christine Lynxwiler lives with her husband and two precious daughters in the foothills of the beautiful Ozark Mountains. Christine has been writing toward publication since 1997. She sold her first story in 2001 to Barbour Publishing. Since then she's written and sold fourteen Christian romance novels and novellas including the four novels that were included in the best-selling book Arkansas, which has sold over 150,000 copies worldwide. Her novel, Forever Christmas, ranked number 12 on the Christian Bookseller's Association Bestseller List in January, 2009.



A four-time winner of the prestigious American Christian Romance Writers/American Christian Fiction Writers' Book of the Year Award, Christine recently signed a new six-book contract with Barbour Publishing bringing her total of contracted books to twenty. Besides, Along Came a Cowboy, her latest novels include Promise Me Always and Forever Christmas. She also writes mysteries with two of her sisters, Sandy Gaskin and Jan Reynolds. Their book, Alibis in Arkansas, is currently available nationwide, as well as in many bookstores. The first book in Christine's new McCord Sisters series, The Reluctant Cowgirl released in April, 2009 and was a TOP PICK in Romantic Times Magazine.



When Christine isn't at her computer, you'll often find her, with her husband, co-coaching their daughters' softball team, kayaking down beautiful Spring River with her family, or getting together with friends from church.





ABOUT THE BOOK

Elyse McCord always plays it safe─a fact she blames on being the biological daughter of a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde. Even in the security of her adoptive family the McCords, the timid dog whisperer keeps her guard up with strangers. But when she discovers a dog being horribly mistreated, shy Elyse transforms into a mighty warrior and charges into a perilous situation, not only risking her life but also her heart



Reporter Andrew Stone has been fearless since the day his wife was shot and killed three years ago. He has one mission─use hid Texas Ranger upbringing to find her murderer and clear his own name of any involvement. When he sees a beautiful brunette in the hands of a pistol-welding maniac, he’s forced to abandon his covert surveillance and go to the rescue. The danger surrounding Andrew doesn’t scare him at all, but the awakening of his dormant heart terrifies him.



When painful pasts collide, the explosion is deafening. Can Andrew and Elyse pick up the pieces and go forward together? Or will they forever live with haunting memories, unable to forgive, unable to love?



If you would like to read the first chapter of Cowgirl at Heart , go HERE.

Film Friday - Julie & Julia

So, the hubby and I just finished watching Julie & Julia. I'd been wanting to see it for ages and really enjoyed it. Surprisingly, so did Dan. There was much discussion about cooking my way through a cookbook in a year. Dan is pretty sure that French food is not the way he would want me to go. Cooking my way through a Tastes of Texas or possibly a Paula Deen cookbook seems like a better fit for my family. Ultimately, I don't think I could do something like that. But, I enjoyed the movie very much. Who wouldn't love a movie about cooking royalty, amazing food, and blogging?

Double Cross by James David Jordan

From Suicide to Sacrifice

In James David Jordan’s new thriller, Double Cross,

an ex-Secret Service agent deals with the truth about her past

“The day my mother came back into my life began with a low December fog and a suicide.” So begins James David Jordan’s latest novel, Double Cross, which follows the exploits of Taylor Pasbury, a young ex-Secret Service agent with a checkered past and a penchant for finding trouble. Even as a high school kid, Taylor knew she was not like most other girls. Raised by her father, a retired Special Forces officer, she learned to camp, shoot, and most of all, take care of herself. Now a young adult, Pasbury opens her own security agency and finds herself in the middle of a mysterious case full of danger and intrigue.

When the top assistant of her former client turns up dead, all signs point to embezzlement and suicide. But in the world of Taylor Pasbury, nothing is as it seems. A trail of clues leads to Taylor’s mother, who abandoned her when she was nine. What begins as a suicide investigation becomes a personal quest to find the truth about her past.

Double Cross is an action-packed story that provides thrilling twists and turns as well as a thought-provoking look at the personal and spiritual struggles of characters who are as complex as they are flawed. Ultimately, it’s a story of self-examination that describes Taylor’s journey toward the conclusion that some sacrifices can never be earned.

James David Jordan is a successful business attorney in Dallas, Texas, and was named by the Dallas Business Journal as one of the most influential leaders in that legal community. Jordan followed his aspirations of becoming an author, taking five years to create his first book, Something That Lasts, which was well-received by both critics and the public. His second book, Forsaken, won the Reader’s Choice award from RelzReviews and The Suspense Zone.

Jordan writes with a commitment to tell page-turning stories that challenge readers to explore and grow in their faith. With gripping authenticity, Jordan examines subjects of family and faith and skillfully draws readers into the crisis faced by Taylor Pasbury. Along the way, readers will find ample opportunity to re-assess their own life situations and wrestle with their own thoughts about forgiveness and grace.

Double Cross by James David Jordan

B&H Publishing Group October 2009

ISBN: 978-08054-4754-5/softcover/302 pages/$14.99

www.jamesdavidjordan.com

The Pastor's Wife by Jennifer AlLee

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

The Pastor's Wife Abingdon Press (February 2010)by

Jennifer AlLee

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jennifer AlLee was born in Hollywood, California and for the first 10 years of her life lived over a mortuary one block from Hollywood and Vine. An avid reader and writer, she completed her first novel in high school. That manuscript is now safely tucked away, never again to see the light of day. Her first inspirational romance, The Love of His Brother, was released in November 2007 by Five Star Publisher.



Besides being a writer, she is a wife and mom. Living in Las Vegas, Nevada, her husband and teenage son have learned how to enjoy the fabulous buffets there without severely impacting their waistlines. God is good!





ABOUT THE BOOK

Maura Sullivan never intended to set foot in Granger, Ohio, again. But when circumstances force her to return, she must face all the disappointments she tried so hard to leave behind: a husband who ignored her, a congregation she couldn't please, and a God who took away everything she ever loved.



Nick Shepherd thought he had put the past behind him, until the day his estranged wife walked back into town. Intending only to help Maura through her crisis of faith, Nick finds his feelings for her never died. Now, he must admit the mistakes he made, how he hurt his wife, and find a way to give and receive forgiveness.



As God works in both of their lives, Nick and Maura start to believe they can repair their broken relationship and reunite as man and wife. But Maura has one more secret to tell Nick before they can move forward. It's what ultimately drove her to leave him three years earlier, and the one thing that can destroy the fragile trust they've built.



If you would like to read the first Chapter of The Pastor's Wife , go HERE

Face of Betrayal by Lis Wiehl

I received a complimentary copy of Lisa Wiehl's new book Face of Betrayal from Thomas Nelson to review. Wiehl's experience as a Fox News correspondent brings a news-like quality to the story. Face of Betrayal follows the disappearance of a 17 year old Senate page while she is home on Christmas break. It is a fast paced read with plenty of twists and turns. I really enjoy this genre and this page turner did not disappoint!

The crime and mystery part of the book is fantastic. What I enjoyed even more was the friendship of reporter Cassidy Shaw, Federal Prosecutor Allison Pierce, and FBI Agent Nicole Hedges, three friends who all become entangled in the case. Their unique friendship along with the suspenseful plot add up to a story I had a hard time putting down. I enjoyed that this is a Christian book, it did not have the language you find in many mystery/crime type books. I would highly recommend this book to older teens as well as adults. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon by Miralee Ferrell

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon

Summerside Press (January 1, 2010)by

Miralee Ferrell





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

In October 2007 Kregel Publications published The Other Daughter with excellent reviews. The Romantic Times Review magazine gave it Four out of Four and a half stars, with a very strong review. Two different major motion picture studios are currently considering the book as a possible family movie, and my second book in the series (Past Shadows) is on my publishers desk being reviewed for a possible contract offer now.



In February of 2009, Love Finds You in Last Chance, California was published by Summerside Press



And Finding Jeena will release in April 2010 from Kregel Publications.



Miralee Ferrell lives in Washington with Allen, her husband of more than 37 years, ans has two grown children. She serves on staff at her local church ans is actively involved in ministry to women.



ABOUT THE BOOK

Against a backdrop of thievery and murder in Bridal Veil Falls, Oregon, a historic logging community, a schoolteacher is torn between the memories of a distant love and the man who could be her future.



Sixteen-year-old Margaret Garvey had given her heart to Nathaniel Cooper the night he disappeared from town. Four years later, just as she's giving love a second chance with Andrew, a handsome logger, Nathaniel suddenly returns. He steams back into Bridal Veil on a riverboat to work at the nearby sawmill to town with a devastating secret.



While grappling with the betrayal of those she trusted most, Margaret risks her reputation and position by harboring two troubled runaways who might be involved in the murder of a local man.



When disaster strikes the town and threatens the welfare of its citizens, Margaret will be faced with the most important choice of her life.



If you would like to read the first chapter of Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon, go HERE

Wild Monkeys

I'm pretty sure wild monkeys are running around my house right now. I don't remember actually owning wild monkeys, but that must be what they are. I do not think human children could produce the level of noise that is filling every room in the house. They are enjoying themselves, laughing, and playing. Yes, they've occasionally moved a little faster than I would prefer, but haven't broken into a full on run yet.

I am enjoying the sounds of my children enjoying each other. It seems it is a rare event these days. They are both getting older and seem to want to be around each other less and less. Instead of the giggles I hear now, my ears are usually treated to the wonderful sounds of "He hit me!" or "She's in my room!". So, wild monkeys or not, I am enjoying the loud, fun filled shrieks of laughter while they last. It's the little things like this that make life worthwhile.

Walking on Broken Glass by Christa Allan

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Walking on Broken Glass

Abingdon Press (February 2010)

by

Christa Allan





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Christa Allan, a true Southern woman who knows any cook worth her gumbo always starts with a roux and who never wears white after Labor Day, weaves stories of unscripted grace with threads of hope, humor, and heart.



The mother of five and grandmother of three, Christa teaches high school English. She and her husband, Ken live in Abita Springs, Louisiana where they play golf, dodge hurricanes, and anticipate retirement.







ABOUT THE BOOK

Leah Thornton's life, like her Southern Living home, has great curb appeal. But already sloshed from one-too-many drinks at a faculty party, Leah cruises the supermarket aisles in search of something tasty to enhance her Starbucks—Kahlua and a paralyzing encounter with a can of frozen apple juice shatters the facade, forcing her to admit that all is not as it appears.



When her best friend Molly gets in Leah's face about her refusal to deal with her life, Leah is forced to make a decision. Can this brand-conscious socialite walk away from the country club into 28 days of rehab? Leah is sitting in the office of the local rehab center facing an admissions counselor who fails to understand the most basic things, like the fact that apple juice is not a suitable cocktail mixer.



Rehab is no picnic, and being forced to experience and deal with the reality of her life isn’t Leah’s idea of fun. Can she leave what she has now to gain back what she needs? Joy, sadness, pain and a new srength converge, testing her marriage, her friendships and her faith.



But through the battle she finds a reservoir of courage she never knew she had, and the loving arms of a God she never quite believed existed.



If you would like to read the first chapter of Walking on Broken Glass, go HERE

The Runaround

So, did you see The Who perform last night on the Superbowl? We are big Who fans around here, so we were beyond delighted to hear that the Superbowl Mashup medley they performed would be available to to download for play on Rockband. We immediately tried to download this awesome medley after the game and encountered an error code. The code sends you to Nintendo's website where you can look up error codes and discovered this was an issue with Wii Shop issue and it suggested waiting a few hours and trying again. That's exactly what we did, trying again this morning. It still wouldn't wortk, so we called Nintendo's customer service as the website suggested. The lady we talked to was nice but had to refer us to someone else to troubleshoot the problem. I was impressed that the "troubleshooter" called us back in less than 30 minutes. But, he determined this was not a Nintendo issue, but an EA Games issue and sent us off with their number. Guess what? EA says it's a Nintendo issue. We've spent the better part of two hours trying to get this straightened out. We spent $2 on a song that it says we've purchased, but won't actually download and play.

I feel like the kid going from parent to parent with the same question! Ugh! After pursuing the Rockband message boards, it seems we are not the only ones with this problem. But it also seems that everyone is getting a different explanation from SD card problems to credit card authorizations. I really think that since the error code implies this is a Wii Shop issue, that Nintendo needs to get it fixed and fast. Hopefully we will hunt down the right person to talk to and Won't Get Fooled Again!

Hunter's Moon by Don Hoesel

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Hunter's Moon

Bethany House (February 1, 2010)

by

Don Hoesel





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:







Don Hoesel was born and raised in Buffalo, NY but calls Spring Hill, TN home. He works as a Communications Department supervisor for a Medicare carrier in Nashville, TN. He has a BA in Mass Communication from Taylor University and has published short fiction in Relief Journal.



Don and hopes to one day sell enough books to just say that he's a writer. You can help with that by buying whatever his newest novel happens to be.



He lives in Spring Hill with his wife and two children.







ABOUT THE BOOK

Every family has secrets. Few will go as far as the Baxters to keep them. Bestselling novelist CJ Baxter has made a career out of writing hard-hitting stories ripped from his own life. Still there's one story from his past he's never told. One secret that's remained buried for decades. Now, seventeen years after swearing he'd never return, CJ is headed back to Adelia, NY. His life in Tennessee has fallen to pieces, his grandfather is dying, and CJ can no longer run from the past. With Graham Baxter, CJ's brother, running for Senate, a black sheep digging up old family secrets is the last thing the family and campaign can afford. CJ soon discovers that blood may be thicker than water, but it's no match for power and money. There are wounds even time cannot heal.





If you would like to read the first chapter of Hunter's Moon, go HERE

Never Say Never by Lisa Wingate

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Never Say Never

Bethany House (February 1, 2010)

by

Lisa Wingate





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lisa lives in central Texas were she is a popular inspriational speaker, magazine columnist, and national bestselling author of several books. Her novel, Tending Roses, received dozens of five-star reviews, sold out thirteen printings for New York publisher, Penguin Putnam, and went on to become a national bestselling book. Tending Roses was a selection of the Readers Club of America, and is currently in its fourteenth printing.



The Tending Roses series continued with Good Hope Road, the Language of Sycamores, Drenched in Light, and A Thousand Voices. In 2003, Lisa's Texas Hill Country series began with Texas Cooking, and continued with Lone Star Cafe', which was awarded a gold metal by RT Bookclub magazine and was hailed by Publisher's Weekly as "A charmingly nostalgic treat." The series concluded with Over the Moon at the Big Lizard Diner.



Lisa is now working on a new set of small-town Texas novels for Bethany House Publishers. The series debuted with Talk of the Town and continued with Word Gets Around and Never Say Never. A new series is also underway for Peguin Group NAL, beginning with A Month of Summer (July 2008), and continuing with The Summer Kitchen (July 2009) and Beyond Summer (July 2010). Lisa's works have been featured by the National Reader's Club of America, AOL Book Pics, Doubleday Book Club, the Literary Guild, American Profiles and have been chosen for the LORIES best Published Fiction Award. In 2009, A Month of Summer was nomiated for the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award.





ABOUT THE BOOK

Kai Miller floats through life like driftwood tossed by waves. She's never put down roots in any one place--and she doesn't plan to. But when a chaotic hurricane evacuation lands her in Daily, Texas, she begins to think twice about her wayfaring existence.



And when she meets hometown-boy Kemp Eldridge, she can almost picture settling down in Daily--until she discovers he may be promised to someone else. Daily has always been a place of refuge for those the winds blows in, but for Kai, it looks like it will be just another place to leave behind. Then again, Daily always has a few surprises in store--especially when Aunt Donetta has cooked up a scheme.





If you would like to read the first chapter of Never Say Never, go HERE

Beguiled by Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand

This week, the



Christian Fiction Blog Alliance



is introducing



Beguiled



(Bethany House March 1, 2007)



by



Deeanne Gist



andJ. Mark Bertrand





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Deeanne Gist, the bestselling author of A Bride Most Begrudging and The Measure of a Lady, has a background in education and journalism. Her credits include People magazine, Parents, and Parenting. With a line of parenting products called "I Did It!® Productions" and a degree from Texas A&M, she continues her writing and speaking. She and her family live in Houston, Texas.

J. Mark Bertrand has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Houston. After one hurricane too many, he left Houston and relocated with his wife Laurie to the plains of South Dakota.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In the shadows of Charleston, someone is watching her... Rylee Monroe, a dogwalker in Charleston's wealthiest neighborhood, never feared the streets at night. But now a thief is terrorizing the area and worse, someone seems to be targeting her.



Reporter Logan Woods is covering the break-ins with the hope of publishing them as a true-crime book. The more he digs, the more he realizes this beguiling dogwalker seems to be at the center of everything. As danger draws ever closer, Logan must choose: Chase the girl, the story, or plunge into the shadows after the villain who threatens everything?



If you'd like to read the first chapter of , go HERE





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