ACFW Conference 2012

This past week I got to spend a wonderful time with other writers at the 2012 ACFW Conference in Dallas, Texas. I met some amazing people and was overwhelmed with the plethora of valuable information poured my direction. There were so many highlights to my trip that I couldn't go into them all, but I've posted some of the pictures I took on my facebook page--http://www.facebook.com/booksbybarnes--in case you'd like to take a look-see. The one I've included here is one I took with one of my favorite authors, Mary Connealy. She writes romantic comedy with cowboys and is a very sweet lady. You can't go wrong in reading one of her books. :)

A Tailor-Made Bride--Made for You

A Tailor-Made Bride is actually Karen Witemeyer's debut novel. Although, I didn't realize this until today. This is high-grade quality Christian Fiction. Hannah and J.T.'s story is very entertaining with no sagging middle whatsoever. They are constantly clashing or confusing each other in someway or another--which isn't so surprising when you realize she's a dressmaker who enjoys beauty in all things and he's a liveryman who despises vanity of any sort.

I started reading this one evening and made myself put it down around midnight . . . then I finished it the next morning. :)

A+ -- In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day

I admit I've read In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson twice now. This is a nonfiction book on "how to survive and thrive when opportunity roars." If you've ever read about Benaiah in the Bible--or even if you haven't--you should read this book. Mark makes great points about being a lion chaser. (That was something on Benaiah's resume, if you didn't know.)

We have lions that roar at us in life. It's up to us how we react. If you're facing a lion, not facing a lion, or will be facing a lion, this book is for you. It has helped me to place my hope and courage in the Lord even when things look bleak. Go for what God leads you to do. Don't live with regrets of inaction.