Face of Faith by Candy Wood-Lindley

Today I am honored to introduce Candy Wood-Lindley, an amazing survivor. I love the interview she gave, but even more how she addresses the issue of beauty in society. I'd highly encourage any woman to read Candy's book because it takes you to a real place about what beauty really is and not the surface elements we attach to it. She has discovered her gems of wisdom and found fulfillment in sharing that treasure with others. Thank you, Candy, for visiting with us today and letting me share your interview here. You are an inspiration!
Angie

Candy, you have written Face of Faith. What is it about?
When I was thirty years old, I was hospitalized for the removal of a pea-sized cyst in the nasal cavity. Instead, I was diagnosed with an inoperable malignant tumor the size of a baseball situated underneath the brain in the center of the head in an inoperable area of the head. Grade-three bone cancer is not receptive to chemotherapy or radiation. They told me that I could lose the right side of my face.

I had always thought that I was a Christian, but I had never really surrendered my life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In the hospital room that night I was finally at the end of Candy - emotionally, mentally, and physically. I ask God to totally take over my life.

My circumstances didn’t change, but God began to change my heart to one seeking His will only for my life whatever that might be. Two weeks later I met with a craniofacial surgeon at the Mayo Clinic. He was very upfront about my surgery and my prognosis. No sugar coating.

He explained that he would cut across the top of the head and down the middle of the face enabling him to peel back both sides of the face and remove the greater portion of my face including the forehead bone, the right cheekbone, and the nose. He could hopefully remove the bulk of the tumor, buying me some time. He would not replace the bones to the face. I would wake up severely deformed and blind in the right eye, probably the left. Miraculously, he instead attempted to remove the tumor in its entirety, and it worked. Even more miraculously, he took the bones to the face that had been thrown in the trash and reconstructed my face. I had a new face. And was cancer free.


What goes through someone’s mind when they are told they have an inoperable tumor in the center of the head and could lose the right side of their face?
For me, the will to live took over. That stubborn will to fight no matter what the odds.

How do you address the importance that society has put on beauty?

There is nothing wrong with wanting to look the best that you can look. I personally have always enjoyed experimenting with makeup and getting professional makeovers, especially now that I am facially disfigured. I want to make the most of what I have. But at the end of the day for me, the make up comes off and the hairpieces come off. If my confidence depended on beauty, I could be devastated. And many facially disfigured people are.

In a world obsessed with perfection of the outer appearance and makeovers of every kind, God is more interested in a different kind of makeover – one that lasts – a makeover of the heart. That’s what happened with me. He began a makeover of my heart. And He’s still working on me!!

Candy, you have experienced emotional pain and physical pain. Which is more difficult?
Physical pain is difficult– especially chronic pain. It is wearing and can affect a person emotionally as well. But there are medications for pain.

But the emotional pain of abuse is sometimes more difficult, I think. You can’t take a pill for it. It requires a lot of time and counseling. Only the Lord can heal the broken heart and enable us to forgive.

Where can we find out more about you and this book?

Please visit my web site at faceoffaithbook.com.


Thank you for letting me visit with your readers today!

Here's a first view of the Gems of Wisdom

This is what you'd call a first draft. We're so excited to be bringing the Gems of Wisdom into a reality. Each piece follows a pattern, but because of the unique quality of gemstones, each piece will also be a one-of-a-kind collectable in the Gems of Wisdom line.




The final styles will be unveiled right around June 1st!

Are you wondering what is so special about this line of jewelry?

Every single piece supports orphans!

I've commissioned Pamba Toto designer, Colleen Briggs, to make these pieces because 50% of the profits from Pamba Toto go to help support Hope's Promise and two Kenyan orphanages. I could have had any company produce jewelry. But it wouldn't have been as special. Colleen puts love and creativity into every piece because she has a bigger goal in mind. Every necklace, bracelet or earring she makes will in turn make a difference for a child.

Now these photos are simple snapshots from my digital camera. Just wait when you see the photographs of individually shot necklaces, bracelets and earrings... and the sparkle on the gems! Debbie Lee, does a spectacular job of providing the marketing side of Pamba Toto.

Together, we have a dream to make this idea change lives around the world.

This Gems of Wisdom line of jewelry not only supports the orphanages in Kenya but it also connects to the work I do as a life coach, author and speaker. I want to help you find the treasures inside yourself. Those difficult experiences are really rough stones waiting to be polished. Each of the gems included on these jewelry pieces relates to a chapter in my recently finished book. Once it is published, I'll be sharing it too. In the meantime, the meaning behind each gem as well as a "treasure map" of the stones will be included as they are sold.

You'll be able to see them up close (and in much better detail) on www.pambatoto.com by clicking on the Gems of Wisdom link.

My own website, www.MyGemOfWisdom.com will be opening the beginning of June! I'll be sharing how to battle your internal pirates to discover your own gems of wisdom.

Thank you for visiting today and be sure to go learn more about Pamba Toto's mission too.

Angie

HERO by Fred and Jasen Stoeker and Mike Yorkey

Summary:

You already know it’s not easy being a single man in this culture today. But it is easy to be overwhelmed, to feel helpless and hopeless about living by God’s high standards for singles. It’s easy to cave in to the pressures of this sex-soaked world and accept defeat—blaming the media, the culture, even girlfriends who don’t know how tough it can be.

But many men have read books like Every Young Man’s Battle and Tactics and have committed themselves to stand strong and pure in the power of God, and to go on the offensive against the onslaught of negative stereotypes. Some have suffered. Some have fallen. But many have experienced victory—and you can be among them.

What makes those committed men so desirable to women? Be Her Hero is their motto. From best-selling author Fred Stoeker, along with his son Jasen, come the straightforward insight and real-life examples you’re looking for to help you take personal purity to its logical conclusion. Here’s straight truth with irrefutable evidence of what makes an ultimate hero to women who long for men of faith—men who stand by their convictions and make their world a safer and better place.

Are you ready to accept the challenge?


Author Bios:

Fred Stoeker is a best-selling author of several books, including Every Young Man’s Battle and Tactics, the president of Living True Ministries, and a popular conference speaker who challenges men to become sexually pure, to reconnect in true intimate relationship with their wives, and to train their sons to become godly men. A graduate of Stanford University, Fred lives in Des Moines, Iowa with his wife, Brenda, and their children.

Mike Yorkey, a writer living in Encinitas, California, has collaborated with Fred Stoeker in all his books for the Every Man’s series.

Jasen Stoeker is a popular conference speaker who challenges young men to be heroic in their relationships with women and to be a Christian, rather than just seem like one. Jasen is a graduate of Iowa State University with degrees in Computer Engineering and Computer Science and now lives in Minneapolis, MN, with his wife Rose.

Life Coaching: What would that entail?

One of my lovely blog readers left this comment a few posts back,


Hi Angie,
I'm clueless. What would that entail? It sounds intriguing, but to be honest I'm not sure what a life coach does. Maybe you could educate your readers. I know I'd like more information.
Blessings,
The Differently-Abled Children's Author
J. Aday Kennedy
www.jadaykennedy.com
http://jadaykennedy.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/jessica_k


I've been looking forward to being able to answer this request for those that have either never heard of life coaching or for those who would like to learn more :-)

Life coaching is not therapy. It's not counseling. It's not mentoring.

Hiring a life coach helps a person find their strengths and build on them in a specific area. Working with a coach helps you uncover and reach your goals. Coaches ask questions that help YOU find direction and shift paradigms and hold you accountable for the results. Coaches don't do the work for you. That's important. They do give you personal work to do in between sessions pertinent to the result you want to achieve.

An important point in hiring and working with a life coach is to choose one in the correct specialty or niche. You can learn everything from emotional intelligence to how to draw higher level performance out of your employees. You can hire a coach to work with you on weight loss, personal goals, public speaking, writing, overcoming fears, divorce recovery, building a business venture, pageant performance and even relational skills. The list is literally endless.

I've hired a coach at several of my life junctures. In fact, I'm working with two right now because I have two separate goals and I needed those specialties handled separately. One is a pageant coach, she's teaching me how to strengthen my personal performance in the Mrs. International competition this July. The other is a business coach assisting my husband and I to build our heating company to a higher level in preparation for our son to take over.

Each appointment usually lasts 45-55 minutes. During that session, a coach will work with you on one specific topic. Too many topics, there's not enough time to work through them. So each session gets one topic.

My coaches ask questions that lead me to find the answers. They impart their expertise and pull the best out of me. I am now super-focused on achieving the results I set as goals-and I'm achieving them step-by-step because of the co-creative process. (More on co-creativity in a future post.)

So what kind of a coach am I?

I am an interpersonal and relational skill coach. I empower and encourage people to battle their internal pirates and uncover those Gems of Wisdom that improve personal skills and professional relationships. I help you fill your treasure chest so that you can live out your special purpose, calling in a more confident manner.

Thank you for asking, J. Aday :-)

Angie

Taking Tuscany

by Renee Riva

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing

Taking Tuscany

David C. Cook (May 2009)

by Renee Riva




ABOUT THE BOOK

A. J. Degulio loved the idea of a visit to the Old Country... until her family decided to stay. It's 1972 and she's turning fourteen in a crumbling castle on a hill in Tuscany, wishing she were back in Idaho with her beloved dog, Sailor. In Italy, her blonde hair makes her stick out like a vanilla wafer in a box of chocolate biscotti, and she's so lonely her best friend is a nun from the local convent.

The challenges of roots and relatives are nothing new to A. J., but she's going to need more than the famous Degulio sense of humor to survive. Can't anyone see that Italy isn't really home? It will take a catastrophe - and a few wise words from a friend - for A. J. to understand that sometimes the only thing you can change is your perspective.

The book

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Renee Riva writes humorous stories with a message, for both children and adults. Having been raised in a large Italian family with a great sense of humor, she has much to draw from for developing quirky characters.

She loves sharing her secrets for story starters at Young Author events, helping to spark the imagination of young minds. Renee and her husband live in Richland, Washington, with their three daughters, a dog, a cat, and until recently, her beloved hamster—may she rest in peace.

Montana Frost

Isn't this beautiful?

I have to admit that I am not a cold weather person even though I am a Montanan. I get cold! But this gorgeous hoar frost always amazes me.

You might not know or have seen this kind of frost before and wonder why I called it names :-) It's really called hoar frost. It comes from fog. The earth is too warm and the inversion over Missoula (and some other places I've heard about) holds the fog down on the ground. It's that thick pea-soup weather.

Well, in Missoula the weather gets so cold sometimes that the fog then freezes on everything around it. It's spectacular! The entire city is ensconced in crystal. The trees look ethereal and the plants are outlined as if the Snow Queen froze them alive. I've even seen a sprinkler freeze mid-shoot. The arcing ice is unbelievable.

Below is a close up of a particularly heavy hoar frost. I wanted to show you the beauty of each particle. Like cold, don't like cold...you can't help but feel astonishment when you see everything covered in glistening frost. God's creativity knows no limit. I stare and stare on days like these just trying to absorb the intensity and awe.




Montana is well worth the visit :-)
Angie

Learning to Live Financially Free

On May 22, 2009, each blogger with at least 10 comments can send a name drawn from the comments to submit for the grand prize drawing. so, be sure to tell everyone in your circle about this drawing!
The winner will receive:
1 copy of the book
1 copy of Financial Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey
1 subscription to P31 Woman Magazine
1 copy of God's Purpose For Every Woman (collection of the best devotions from Proverbs 31 Ministries)
1 cd of Marybeth's message "Becoming A Woman of Influence"
1 Dove Chocolate bar (because everything is better with chocolate!)
About the Book:

(North Carolina) - The fear and reality of tough economic times, foreclosures, bailouts, bankruptcies and falling stocks strike fear in the hearts of many Americans today. With investors, newscasters and bankers giving advice, who can you trust? Marybeth and Curt Whalen share their financial successes and failures in their new book, Learning to Live Financially Free: Hard-Earned Wisdom for Saving Your Marriage & Your Money. If a family parenting six children can get out of debt and live financially free, anyone can. The Whalens readily admit they made their share of mistakes the first ten years of marriage. Becoming more disciplined and intentional in spending and saving helped them learn valuable lessons for better financial stewardship--lessons you'll want to learn too.

Learning to Live Financially Free not only focuses on building a stronger financial understanding in the home, but also encourages couples to communicate, thus building better, stronger marriages. The Whalens clearly comprehend the need for careful money management and commitment in marriage. Money-strapped families will find peace of mind as they begin the process of becoming financially responsible and debt-free.


Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: March 2009
ISBN-10: 0825441889
ISBN-13: 978-0825441882
Retail: $12.99

Marybeth and Curt Whalen know what it's like to juggle marriage, kids and money. Their new book will encourage readers to manage their money and marriage more effectively.

About the Authors

Marybeth Whalen is a speaker and contributing writer for Proverbs 31 Ministries. The author of For the Write Reason, Marybeth has also written for Parent Life, Money Matters newsletter, The Old Schoolhouse, Hearts at Home magazine, and Homeschooling Today. She contributes regularly to the daily online devotions of Proverbs 31 Ministries.

Curt Whalen is a trained financial counselor through Crown Financial Concepts. He has years of experience helping couples establish budgets, solve financial problems, and learn to communicate more effectively. He has written articles for TEACH Magazine and Money Matters Newsletter and has contributed to books by authors Lysa TerKeurst and Melanie Chitwood.

Are You A Financially Focused Couple?

Instructions: Give yourself 1 point for every "yes" answer, 0 points for every "no."

1.Do you have regular budget meetings?
2.Do you communicate about daily expenses?
3.Do you discuss large purchases before they're made?
4.Does each spouse have an equal vote about money decisions?
5.Have you planned for your future through life insurance and a will?
6.Do you agree about tithing and giving?
7.Can you both list out your debts, including the amounts and monthly payment for each account?
8.Do you have a plan that was written together for paying off debt and saving money?
9.Do you encourage each other to save money?
10.Have you discussed the spending habits and attitudes about money that you carried into the marriage?

Tally up your score and use the guide to the right to see what category you fall into.


0-2 points: Don't get discouraged. There's nowhere to go from here except up!
3-5 points: You are taking steps towards being a financially focused couple.. Keep working together and you will get there.
6-8 points: You are almost 100% financially focused. Keep up the good work and get intentional about those trouble spots.
9-10 points: You are a financially focused couple and could show us all a thing or two! Consider sharing your wisdom with other couples who are struggling in today's uncertain times.

Top Ten Tips For Saving Money In Tough Times


1. Make a budget (and stick to it). A budget overwhelms many people but it is really nothing more than devising a plan for every dollar you bring in. Having a budget helps you spend smarter and think more. It also helps to improve your buying power. The best way to make a budget is to start by sitting down with your spouse and deciding how much you spend on regular categories like groceries, gas, medical, etc. each month. Talk through these things and get them down on paper. Then spend accordingly. An article that goes into step by step detail about making a budget can be found at:
http://www.christianpf.com/how-to-make-a-budget/

2. Stop using credit cards. Studies show that people who use credit cards buy more and think less about their purchases. By learning to spend cash and limiting your purchases, you make your money work for you rather than against you. Credit card companies are getting craftier as the economy struggles. 25% of all credit card users in this country will have their rates raised this year, or their monthly payment raised. When you are in debt, you are at the mercy of the company you owe. Don’t let yourself get bogged down by credit card debt.

3. Cook at home. It sounds so basic and yet how many of us resort to eating out because we just can’t deal with dinner? By taking a few moments once a week to devise a menu plan, shopping for the needed ingredients for that menu plan, and cooking the meals in your home, you can save lots of money and have more time to gather as a family and enjoy a slow evening at home. Eating at home not only saves money, it saves valuable family time.

4. Buy clothes at thrift or consignment stores. This is especially true with children’s clothes. When you are in a department store, always shop the clearance racks and avoid the other racks so you aren’t tempted. It’s also an income generator if you consign your own clothing. You can then take the money you earn on consignment and buy clothes for a new season without being out of pocket any money!

5. If you must eat out, only go to places you have coupons for. Keep a small photo album and arrange restaurant coupons so they are easy to find as you are heading out the door. It’s also a great idea to look for “kids eat free” nights and frequent those. Other ways to save on eating out include ordering water (big savings on this), share meals, order a kids’ portion if the restaurant allows it, and go out for lunch instead of dinner. For people who work, it’s always a good idea to pack your lunch regularly instead of running out to eat. A jar of peanut butter and a loaf of bread will go a long way.

6. Learn to play the coupon game. Many people devote themselves to clipping and organizing coupons—and reap great savings from doing so. There are many frugal websites and blogs that detail exactly how to save a lot of money with coupons. A great one to start with is http://www.couponmom.com/. And here is a great tutorial video you can watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcAUZvGS6L8.

7. If you have children, limit the number of activities they do to one per child, per year. If you are struggling to pay for even one activity, consider asking for the activity as a gift from grandparents, aunts and uncles, friends, etc. Instead of another toy that will end up broken or lost, your child can receive a gift that truly keeps on giving as well as one that invests in their future.

8. Think about the things you regularly spend money on like gas or utilities and research ways to save money on those things. For instance, http://www.gasbuddy.com/ tells you where to buy the cheapest gas according to your area code. Bundling services with your cable provider can save money each month. Calling your energy company to find out when their off-peak hours are and doing your laundry or dishes during those times can save on your monthly bill as well.

9. Don’t shop as a recreational activity. If you can’t see it, you won’t feel a need to have it. Use time you used to spend shopping to go for a walk, visit a park, exercise, read a book, or spend time researching money-saving sites on the internet! If you have a friend you used to enjoy shopping with, sit down and list out other alternatives for your time together.

10. Look for ways to generate additional income. Whether it be an additional part-time job or a way to make money from home using a skill or talent you possess, get creative, get motivated, and get excited about the potential you have to generate income that you didn’t have before. Every little bit helps, so put on your thinking cap and don’t be shy about stepping out and trying something!

Mama's Got A Fake I.D.

by Caryn Dahlstrand-Rivadeneira


This is a contest to win a copy of this book today!

If you'd like the chance to win a copy of Mama's Got A Fake I.D., add a comment at the end of this post and tell me what "fake I.D." you've been labeled with lately. I'll draw a winner tomorrow :-) Then we'll connect to get you the prized copy of Mama's Got a Fake I.D. Read on and see how this book will impact your life! I was swept into it (and recognizing myself just in the introduction! If you are a woman who has dreams and goals, who also happens to love motherhood, who knows something draws you into the creative or the professional side of your personality, you really need this book. -Angie

Formula for identity loss:
1. Take one multifaceted, intriguing human being.
2. Bless her with a child.
3. Mix with today’s cultural assumptions.
4. Add the demands of motherhood.
5. Presto! All identity except Mom disappears.

For every woman wondering what happened to the unique combination of gifts and abilities she was known for before kids came along, Caryn Dahlstrand Rivedeneira has good news: in Mama’s Got a Fake I.D., Rivedeneira helps moms reclaim their full identity as creative beings, gifted professionals and volunteers, loving friends, children of God—and mothers.

This inspiring and practical guide shows women how to break free from false guilt, learn a new language to express who they really are, and follow God’s lead in sharing their true self with others. After all, motherhood doesn’t have to mean losing one’s identity. Instead, being a mom makes it possible for a woman to discover a more complete identity as the person God made her to be.

Author Bio:

The former managing editor of Marriage Partnership and Christian Parenting Today, Caryn Dahlstrand Rivedeneira has been a trusted voice writing and speaking to women for more than a decade. Today she is the managing editor of GiftedForLeadership.com, an online community for Christian women in leadership. Rivadeneira works from home in the Chicago suburbs, where she lives with her husband and their three children.

Dear Mom: Everything your teenage daughter wants you to know but will never tell you

By Melody Carlson

Here's a contest for this book! I haven't done one in a while. So this week, we are going to do two, count them, two in a row! What do you have to do to enter? Oh, I am so glad you asked...just post a comment today. I'll draw the winner tomorrow and then send out the winner's copy! (So make sure I can find you somehow.) -Angie


I've had 3 daughters, a niece and a foreign exchange daughter over the years. My only complaint is that this book didn't come out sooner!~Angie

Every mom knows how communicating with a teenage girl can be difficult, even impossible at times. One-word answers. Defensive conversations. Daily arguments. How typical for teens to put up such barriers. All the while, moms truly long to know what their daughters really think.

Best-selling author Melody Carlson, whose books for women, teens, and children have sold more than three million copies, bridges this chasm with trusted insight. She speaks frankly in the voice of the teen daughters she’s written for and she tells it like it is: struggles with identity, guys, friendship, and even parents—it’s all here. The straight-talk to moms covers such things as “I need you, but you can’t make me admit it,” “I’m not as confident as I appear,” and “I have friends. I need a mother.”

Instead of focusing on outward behaviors, Dear Mom looks at a young woman’s heart and reveals to moms:

· how to talk to teens so they hear,

· how to connect despite the differences of perspective or years and experiences,

· and how strengthen the bond every mom and daughter ultimately wants.

The lively chapters in Dear Mom can be dipped into topically or used as a read-through tool by moms and daughters alike to understand what motivates or deflates, troubles or inspires—and just in time for Mother’s Day and all the Mother’s Days ahead.

Author Bio:
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than one hundred books for adults, children, and teens, with sales totaling more than three million copies. Beloved for her Diary of a Teenage Girl and Notes from a Spinning Planet series, she’s also the author of the women’s novels Finding Alice (in production now for a Lifetime-TV movie), Crystal Lies, On This Day, These Boots Weren’t Made for Walking, and A Mile in My Flip-Flops. A mother of two grown sons, Melody lives in central Oregon with her husband and chocolate lab retriever. She’s a full-time writer and an avid gardener, biker, skier, and hiker.

Just in case you didn't win today, here's where you can get your own copy of Dear Mom.

Smart About Life Event Tomorrow!

Repeat Post Reminder for event tomorrow!

Smart About Life Event :-)
It's a one hour, fun teleconference for the ladies to visit with Deborah Dunn, author of Stupid about Men: 10 Rules for Getting Romance Right.... as she presents how to have better relationships with the men in our lives. Then we'll have a time to visit and catch up with gals we don't have enough time to visit normally. Friends welcome!

There are 3, count them-3, options to participate!

1. We invite any women in the area on May 7th at 7 p.m. to come to a potluck dessert social (bring simple desserts, who needs to clean up?) Dessert social will be held after the teleconference with Deborah Dunn, author ofStupid about Men: 10 Rules for Getting Romance Right..../span>. To be held at Atonement Lutheran Church in Missoula, MT. It's behind the Southgate Inn on Brooks.
(Potluck desserts can be dropped off in the Fellowship Hall while we enjoy the teleconference.)

2. Anyone unable to come to Atonement Lutheran can dial into the number at 7pm on May 7th and listen in to the conference from anywhere in the country.
Phone number for listening:
305-908-8631
Use Conference ID: 585956# (you hit the pound key after.)

GREAT IDEA HERE **Some of our friends that are not in Missoula are inviting their friends to have dessert and join the event in small groups at their homes. We know of 2 already! They're just planning on putting it on the speaker phone and sharing dessert while they chat afterwards. How cool is that?! Feel free to have your own fun small group dessert social. Why not?

3. OR--anyone can pull up the website and join us by listening in too. Remember it is May 7th at 7 p.m. Mountain Standard.
The link will be http://SmartAboutLife.com
This link is just for the teleconference on that evening. You can find more about Deborah Dunn and her work at:
www.deborahdunn.com
www.blog.deborahdunn.com

This started as creative way to have a different Bible study for us, but it's turned into an awesome event. (It's totally free too because it is really is just our regular Bible study bringing ladies together in this fractured world to support our marriages and relationships.) Come and have a great time visiting, learning and then eating together.

Thank you! (And I'm bringing cookies.)
Angela

Making Work @ Home Work by Mary M. Byers

Angie's Take:
I find Mary's work at home wisdom and tips very helpful and encouraging. My favorite part is the little glimmer of the Lesson Learned at the end of each chapter. It pulls it all together and sets me on a road toward acceptance of the changing roles I wear daily as well as empowerment toward succeeding in each! Making Work @ Home Work: successfully growing a business and a family under one roof is a spectacularly well timed book for this season of my life as well as the many, many families that embark on this lifestyle. It's a must have reference guide for us!

Did I mention that I loved reading the Work-At-Home Mom Profiles? I didn't? Well, they're another favorite part for me. I completely connected with those ladies. They "get" what I'm going through in building my business in my busy home.


Link to buy the book:




A little about the book:

Making Work at Home Work shows moms how to develop an entrepreneurial mind-set without sacrificing their families. It covers important topics such as developing a successful business philosophy, balancing time between work and family, setting realistic goals, and handling the challenges of being both "Mommy" and "CEO" while running a profitable home-based business.

In addition to including her own experiences, author Mary Byers profiles real moms with home-based businesses who offer their hard-won advice.



About Mary:

Mary M. Byers successfully juggles both a freelance corporate writing and speaking business and her responsibilities as a wife and mother of two school-aged children. She is the author of The Mother Load: How to Meet Your Own Needs While Caring for Your Family and How to Say No . . . And Live to Tell about It.

Visit her website to learn more: www.marybyers.com
or her blog www.makingworkathomework.com

The Taking of Carly Bradford

Little white sandals. The mass search gone cold starts again when Dee finds the little white sandals.

Angie's Take: Ramona Richards has written a Love Inspired Suspense that keeps you turning the pages to find Carly Bradford. The little girl has been missing for 3 months. . . I found this book to be very enjoyable and engaging. It's easy to get drawn into the story and easy to identify with the characters. I hope to see more work from Ramona Richards.

About the Book:
A clue in the woods. A blue sundress and white sandals. That's what seven-year-old Carly Bradford was wearing. . . right be fore she disappeared. Three months later, Dee Kelley spots the sandals in the woods and knows she's uncovered evidence. Dee lost her husband and child--she won't let another mother suffer as she did. She will help police chief Tyler Madison find Carly, whether he wants her assistance or not. But Tyler isn't the only one determined to keep Dee off the case. And evidence isn't all that she'll find waiting for her in the woods.

The Taking of Carly Bradford by Ramona Richards
Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense
ISBN 13-978-0-373-44340-6
www.SteepleHill.com

About the Author:
A writer and editor since 1975, Ramona Richards has worked on staff with a number of publishers. Ramona has also freelanced with more than twenty magazine and book publishers and has won awards for both her fiction and nonfiction. She's written everything from sales training video manuscripts to book reviews. Her latest articles have appeared in Today's Christian Woman, College Bound and Special Ed Today. Her daughter's story is in Chicken Soup for A Caregiver's Soul and her devotional, Secrets of Confidence, is available from Barbour Publishing.

Ramona and her daughter live in a suburb of Nashville, TN. She can be reached through her website www.ramonarichards.com