Every so often I’m reminded of the power of the spoken word. Either by building up or tearing down—what we say has a lasting effect. And whether on the school playground, office water cooler, or church pew, our words are received. The question is, how do we ensure we heal rather than hurt? Compliment rather than crush? Encourage rather than extinguish? How on earth do we speak with grace?

In light of our recent local heatwave which has us thinking about water, water, and more water, I’ve pulled together six beach reads (plus a giveaway!) based on oceans and beaches with all the summery feels! So, if you’re hankering for a fabulous book to slip into your beach bag, take onto your patio, or even read in the cool of an air-conditioned room while you simply dream of being beside the ocean, these are for you…

What springs to mind when you hear the term “empty nesters?” For me, it used to conjure up images of a somewhat sad, middle-aged, saggy-baggy couple pining at home for the next visit from their kids. I know, that’s awful. But now I’m actually there, I have good news: this is, in fact, an exciting new chapter of life that need not be dreaded at all! And marriage in the empty nest? Well, with some intentionality, it can be the icing on the wedding cake…

It happens every year. We ease ever so gently from the long winter season into the glory of spring, but then summer seems to land in our laps overnight. Hot, lacking schedule, and waiting like a panting puppy for all the fun to happen. While summer evokes dreamy visions of relaxation and rejuvenation, if we’re not intentional about scheduling SOUL REST into our plans, we could fall into fall exhausted and dried up. So, let’s contemplate the beauty and benefits of a “soul rest summer”…

Where are my fellow fans of WWII fiction? If you’re not with us yet, you might want to try one of the ten terrific WWII novels I’m sharing today. Fair warning: once you dip your toe in this compelling genre, the ocean is both deep and wide! Let’s dive right in…

“Do you eat a lot of sweet stuff?” Was my doctor serious? I’m a chocoholic, sweet-toothed Brit who bakes for kicks. “And have you ever been diagnosed with prediabetes?” Now my breath caught in my throat and my apparent-high-in-sugar blood ran cold. I needed to pivot pronto. This was one of those wake-up calls I’d heard about. And I wasn’t about to hit the snooze button…

This bold, brazen woman barges into a dinner party. Uninvited. She comes right up to the Guest of Honour and does something highly irregular that makes everyone else incredibly uncomfortable. Except for the Guest. His eyes are tender and His words are kind. She is welcomed by Him. She is invited into His family. For Jesus knew her heart…

As a child, where was your hiding place? Perhaps it was a treehouse, a fort, a makeshift tent, a secret den, or a playhouse—somewhere safe to hide out where your world felt secure. An escape of sorts. My hiding place was in books—no great shock there. I could curl up and lose myself for hours within its pages and the very act of holding a book and immersing myself in a story made me feel safe and secure in my very own escapist world. But what about today, as an adult—where is your hiding place? 

Today is the first birthday of my youngest book-baby, The Orphan Beach. It was a tricky delivery, coinciding with the onset of a certain pandemic. If I’m honest, it was rather neglected amidst the unknowns of 2020 with cancellations replacing celebrations. I know you missed out on all manner of occasions, too. We all did. But a year on, perhaps it’s not too late to celebrate. Let’s unwrap how to celebrate always—and I’ll start with a giveaway…

Who doesn’t need a daily dose of encouragement with their morning coffee? Whether you are a deep-dive-give-me-the-Bible-study girl or more of a grab-five-meaningful-minutes-before-the-crazy-begins lady, I have four NEW Bible devotional books for you to peruse. And I think there might just be something fabulous for everyone here…