I love these verses from 2 Peter 1, and that appreciation increased greatly when I looked up the word “life” in my good ol’ Strong’s Concordance. According to Strong’s, the Greek word for “life” can also be translated as “vitality" or "liveliness.”

Ooh, that appeals! Anyone who endures a chronic illness knows that life does not always feel like vitality. I often drag through life without much joy or energy at all.

So when God’s word says that he has already granted everything we need for vitality and godliness, my hand shoots upward. Yes, I want that!

But how do I obtain that promise? The next part of the verse tells me: “Through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.”

Dear Lord, I need to know you. I crave your power, your vitality and godliness, to your glory. Amen.
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TITLE:  Callie (The Women of Valley View #1)
AUTHOR:  Sharon Srock
DATE:  2015
PUBLISHER: A Blonde and a Prayer Books
STARS:  *****

A baby is dead and Callie Stillman blames herself. Haunted by memories of a tiny coffin, Callie can’t understand how God could expect her to put her heart on the line a second time. But the evasive little girl attending her Sunday School class is so obviously in trouble that Callie finds her resolve cracking. 

Iris and Samantha Evans are living on borrowed time. Deserted, orphaned, betrayed, and deceived, they need rescuing in the worst way. 

Steve Evans had his life changed by God. A reformed drug addict, he’s searching for the family he abandoned ten years ago and praying for a miracle. 

The road to healing is rocky. But as Callie confronts her worst fears by bringing father and daughters together in a risky bid for reconciliation, she realizes that the Evans family aren’t the only ones God wants to rescue from a tortured past. 

.Since I’d previously read For Mercie’s Sake, I knew author Sharon Srock does not shy away from hard topics and deep emotions. (That book is highly recommended, by the way.) Callie, however, hit me harder than I’d expected. Callie is a woman I would love to know in real life—brave yet fearful, faith-filled yet hesitant, and willing to sacrifice her own well-being in order to help someone in need.

I loved the realistic and tender relationship between Callie and her husband, Benton. He’s desperate to protect her, even from herself, and their faith is tested as they both work to discern what is right.

Iris and Samantha broke my heart with their fierce protection of one another in face of terrible circumstances and their tentative steps toward trust, so easily broken.
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Callie is an important story of obedience in spite of fears and the result of stepping far outside one’s comfort zone for the sake of Christ. Highly recommended, Callie earns five stars. This book is part of my personal collection.
 

TITLE:  Playing The Part
AUTHOR:  Jen Turano
DATE:  2016
PUBLISHER: Bethany House Publishers
STARS:  *****

Lucetta Plum is an actress on the rise in New York City, but is forced to abandon her starring role when a fan's interest turns threatening. Lucinda's widowed friend, Abigail Hart, is delighted at the opportunity to meddle in Lucetta's life and promptly whisks her away to her grandson's estate to hide out.

Bram Haverstein may appear to simply be a somewhat eccentric gentleman of means, but a mysterious career and a secret fascination with a certain actress mean there's much more to him than society knows.

Lucetta, who has no interest in Abigail's matchmaking machinations, has the best intentions of remaining cordial but coolly distant to Bram. But when she can't ignore the strange and mysterious things going on in his house, it'll take more than good intentions to keep her from trying to discover who Bram is behind the part he plays.

.What a fun story! Although Playing The Part is book three of Ms. Turano’s “A Class of Their Own” series, it stands on its own merit without any difficulty. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Lucetta, Bram, Abigail, as well as the many secondary characters in this Gothic romp. (Now there are two words I never thought would go together!) The tangled plot weaves mystery, danger, and wonderful sparks of romance into a rich, delightful tale. None of the characters are typical, and that adds a great deal to the appeal.
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I was given an e-copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I highly recommend Playing The Part and award it five stars.

My bad. I forgot (until now) to draw a name from those who commented on my interview with Hope Toler Dougherty for a copy of her fun novel, Mars...With Venus Rising.

Please accept my humble apologies. 

The winner is: (drum roll) Laura Hilton! Congratulations, Laura!

The name has been drawn, and the winner of a PDF copy of Pamela Thibodeaux's The Inheritance is (drumroll....) Marilyn Leach! Congratulations, Marilyn.

Thank you to all who visited Grace Notes, and an extra big THANK YOU to those who commented. 

Here is a link for anyone wishing to purchase this fine book: 

TITLE:  Always Watching (Elite Guardians #1)
AUTHOR:  Lynette Eason
DATE:  2016
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS:  *****

The bodyguards of Elite Guardians Agency have more than just skill and prowess in common--they're also all women. When it becomes clear that popular psychiatrist and radio personality Wade Savage has a stalker, his father secretly hires Elite Guardians in order to protect his son.

But when Wade's bodyguard is attacked and nearly killed, agency owner Olivia Edwards must step in and fill the gap. Olivia's skills are about to be tested to the limit as Wade's stalker moves from leaving innocent gifts at his door to threatening those closest to him. Olivia has the feeling that she's next on the list. And to complicate things even further, she realizes that her heart may be in as much danger as her client.

.Nail-biting tension, a ticking clock (in a manner of speaking), an unknown stalker, strong attraction, and a clear faith message—what more could a reader want? Always Watching totally delivers on its “romantic suspense” label.

I hold author Lynette Eason responsible for the lack of work at my house while her first book in the Elite Guardians series held me captive. Olivia is a worthy heroine—strong, well-trained, professional, with enough tenderness and secrets to make her endearing. Wade’s strength is mixed with a level of caring that makes him vulnerable, especially where his daughter, Amy, is concerned. I totally fell in love with young Amy, spunky but plagued by panic attacks.

Mix these great characters (and more) with unrelenting danger, and you’ve got a breathtaking read that will keep those pages turning. Always Watching gets five stars—highly recommended.
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Disclaimer: I was offered a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion, which I have given.
 

TITLE:  Cold Shot (Chesapeake Valor Book One)
AUTHOR:  Dani Pettrey
DATE:  2016
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
STARS:  ****

In college, Griffin McCray and his four best friends had their lives planned out. Griffin and Luke Gallagher would join the Baltimore PD. Declan Gray would head to the FBI and Parker Mitchell would go on to graduate school as a crime scene analyst. But then Luke vanished before graduation and their world--and friendships--crumbled.

Now Griffin is a park ranger at Gettysburg, having left life as a SWAT-team sniper when a case went bad. The job is mostly quiet--until the day he captures two relic hunters uncovering skeletal remains near Little Round Top. Griffin just wants the case to go away, but charming forensic anthropologist Finley Scott determines that the body is modern--a young social justice lawyer missing since spring--and all evidence points to the work of an expert sniper. When FBI agent Declan Gray takes over the case, past and present collide. Griffin soon realizes he'll need to confront some of the darkest days of his life if he--and those he cares about--are going to escape a downward spiral of murder. 

.I’ve read and enjoyed several of Dani Pettrey’s books, so when I was offered this one in exchange for my honest opinion, I jumped at the chance. However, when I began to read Cold Shot, I had to flip back several times in order to figure out who was who. The hero is first referred to only as Griffin, which I assumed was his surname. Then, when the heroine enters the story, she meets up with a Ranger McCray, AKA Ranger Grumpy. No first name. Such a small omission, but it irritated me. Fortunately, once I realized the ranger in question was Griffin McCray, the danger and intrigue captured me and carried me through the rest of the book.

 I also wondered why the book’s tag line is, “Four best friends, and then one went missing,” since that is not the point of this story. Perhaps that plot line will appear in Book Two.

That being said, Cold Shot is filled with interesting characters, an intricate mystery, and plenty of nail-biting danger. The romance between Griffin and Finley is powerful yet sweet, and Griffin’s old friends obviously deserve their own stories told.

Cold Shot is a worthy suspense novel, and I award it four stars. Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

TITLE:  Catching Serenity
AUTHOR:  JoAnn Durgin
DATE:  2013
STARS:  *****

A woman torn apart by secrets. A man held prisoner by the truth.
Can the greatest love of all set them both free?

Serenity McClaren had it all before her life crumbled around her like the sand castles on her beloved beach, causing her to flee Croisette Shores and the only home she’d ever known. Nearly five years later and living in Atlanta, she receives a mysterious, unsigned note: “Come home, Serenity. Things aren’t as they seem. Time to find your answers.” Returning to South Carolina, she prepares to face her demons and the ailing father she left behind, hoping to make peace with both.

Child psychologist Jackson Ross is a man with a surprising past. He’s ready for the quiet life and eager to establish his practice in the quaint, coastal village. After he hires Serenity to decorate his new office, he’s drawn to the beautiful and enigmatic woman yet sees she’s haunted by a past she can’t escape. Wanting to help her, he begins to suspect one of his young patients may hold the key to unlocking Serenity’s secrets. Jackson follows his instincts and discovers the shocking truth, but how can he tell the woman he’s grown to love what he knows—and set her free—without compromising his professional ethics and losing her forever?

Catching Serenity, a poignant story of faith, hope and love, and discovering the everyday miracles from an all-powerful God.
.Serenity—what a beautiful name, and so fitting for the heroine of this story. At least on the exterior. Underneath Serenity McClaren’s beauty and poise is a woman who has endured extreme loss, and she is desperate for resolutions. Jackson Ross seems like the perfect man to help her, or maybe simply the perfect man.

Author JoAnn Durgin has mastered the art of creating realistic, multi-dimensional characters, and the ones in Catching Serenity are particularly appealing. I loved the personalities and many-layered mysteries in this inspirational novel. Croisette Shores is a town I’d love to visit for an extended period of time. I could almost smell the sea air and feel sand compress under my feet, and I experienced the pain and hope of Serenity and Jackson.

Realism, mysteries, and romance—what more could a reader want? I love this story and award Catching Serenity five stars. Disclaimer: I took advantage of Amazon’s offer of a free e-book to add to my collection. This review is my honest opinion, and I was not compensated for it.

Some days I feel old, and that sounds negative.

Lately, however, I find myself wondering when it's okay to feel old, to acknowledge the passing of time--a lot of time. After all, I now receive a cheque each month from the Government of Canada, my reward for surpassing sixty years. And our local Tim Horton's grants me a discount on my coffee each Tuesday, also for being not-young.

More and more, I'm learning to appreciate being a senior. To tell the truth, I never expected to live this long, thanks to health issues in my "prime" years. So I'm on bonus time and have been for several years. Each day is a gift, a reason to celebrate: I'm still alive!

Like the ancient trees in the photo, I want to stand tall, to protect the young saplings around me.

I absolutely love the Peanuts cartoon where Charlie Brown says, "Someday, we will all die, Snoopy;" and Snoopy responds, "True. But on all the other days, we will not." Which makes me ponder what I'm doing with all those "other days"? I don't want to sit around bemoaning my advancing age. I want to live life to the full, to wear out, not rust out.

So let the grey hairs shine. I'm going to embrace the gift of getting old.