Dreams are meant to be changed

Everyone has dreams and aspirations; better jobs, building a family, changing the world. Dreams are what motivate the desires we have and encourage us to persevere through the rough times. In the novella Gentleman of Her Dreams by Jen Turano, I was reminded of the fact that dreams can also change over time.

Charlotte believed God had pointed her in the direction of her dream, and in the pursuit of that she almost missed out on the love of her life - her actual dream was coming true before her very eyes, but she was blinded by what she "thought" was her dream. It's a very fine line that we walk sometimes in pursuing our dreams; every so often it's best if we pause to reevaluate our goals and aspirations because as we mature so do our goals and dreams.

I'm at this spot right now where I am evaluating what dreams I have and what I'm doing about pursuing them. Some have changed, others are fading in their desirability, but I will follow the path God is guiding me on towards my new dreams.

Today, being New Year's Eve, is the perfect time to reevaluate those dreams and plan for resolutions. Take a good look at yourself, are you still pursuing the same dream(s)? If not, what changed? Do you like where your new dreams are taking you? Why not take a moment today to assess where your path is taking you.

"Characters are Welcome"

Last night I finished A Match of Wits by Jen Turano. Her new twist on series writing has captivated me over the past several months. I use to read series collections because I would fall in love with the characters and did not want to lose them. You know what I mean, the characters become apart of your family or friend circle that you want to visit with daily. This also happens with TV shows like my favorite NCIS or movie franchises like Marvel and The Hunger Games (which originated in print form before becoming big screen productions). Even the television network USA uses the slogan "Characters are Welcome."

As humans, we are social beings. We want to make connections with others. Television, movies, and books provide for us more opportunities to make these connections and explore exotic locations, past experiences, and creative circumstances that we cannot always experiences ourselves.

Back to the printed word. For me, series reading became more of a "requirement"; I would pick up a new book and sigh, "Not another series… Now I have to buy 2, 3, 4, etc. more books." Instantly, I was less excited about reading, the excitement was replaced with a felling of obligation. But what I enjoy about Turano, is she writes her stories with individuality of plot with characters that are connected from book to book, just like real life situations, but if I want, I could put down a book, not finish the 'series' and still have a feeling of satisfaction. While I'm sure she would appreciate readers reading her stories in chronological order, I've proven that it's not a requirement. Back in October, I picked up her second book in the 'series', A Most Peculiar Circumstance, and fell in love with the era, progressive women, chivalrous men, and dangerous situations around every corner. I continued with A Talent for Trouble and A Match of Wits. (I missed the short novella ebook Gentleman of Her Dreams and first novel A Change in Fortune, but am just as excited to read those!) It's the characters that keep me returning.

Shortly, I'll finish the last two books in this 'series' and I'll need to put my characters back on my shelf. But the best part about reading… I can pick them back up in a few months, re-acquaint myself with Arabella, Theodore, Eliza, Hamilton, Agatha, Zayne, Felica and Grayson, and relive their experiences all over again.

What characters are you hiding on your shelves? Have you visited with them recently? Make every character welcome!

The Secret of Pembrooke Park by Julie Klassen

I just finished Julie Klassen's newest book, The Secret of Pembrooke Park out December 2, 2014. While longer than usual, Pembrooke Park was a captivating read! From chapter 16 on, I  could not put the book down. Thank goodness I was on winter break because I was up until 3 AM reading the last half!

Klassen is a fabulous writer, with historical settings in the 19th century including romance and the regency period. Her books remind me of Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice. With both dynamic and static characters, Klassen keeps you guessing about the secret of Pembrooke Park up until the very end.

Why couldn't I put it down? Because the mystery appeared to be clear, until another twist or new character came into the peripheral and then my theory was no longer plausible. The romantic plot was tantalizing as well, not knowing for sure which man Abigail would select (or which would be best for her), but secretly pulling for one in particular. Will you select the same man I did? The danger of living in Pembrooke Park continues to escalate as more seedy characters are unearthed, until the secret is revealed! 

I was reminded about the power of family ties and the strength of being rooted with a loving, devoted family of believers. What treasure will you find at Pembrooke Park?