CFBA: Dating, Dining, and Desperation by Melody Carlson

Song Stuck on the Brain: Every Breath You Take by The Police

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:   Dating, Dining, and Desperation B&H Books (March 1, 2014) by   Melody Carlson


MY TAKE:

Dear Daphne is back. The advice column she took over when her aunt passed is going well, but Daphne still has to find a husband before May if she wants to keep her Aunt's inheritance. She thought she had something going with Jake, but now she's not so sure. She's putting distance between them in an effort to get past her feelings and move on. Daphne would be just fine with not worrying about a husband, but she can't ignore it if she tries because everyone else in town has other plans. Her dad is getting married, and he and her step-mom to be are matchmaking. So is her new neighbor Sabrina. Even Jake is setting up dates.

Melody Carlson has set us up once again for another fun and touching ride. What I really loved about this story, is that it's not just a story about dating and insecurity. It's also about faith, and trust and the desire to help others. Daphne meets a wonderful little 7 year old girl, a new neighbor named *Mable Meyers who's moved in with her sick grandmother. She's in desperate need of a friend and Daphne steps in to be for Mable, what Daphne's Aunt Dee had been for her. With Mable comes a surprise. Uncle Daniel, a very good looking Marine.

Daphne is determined to not freak out over her situation, but instead trust God. What will be, will be. That motto is a hard one to live by, but I appreciate her faith and determination to trust so fully. We single girls can identify with Daphne in a lot of ways, but I love Melody Carlson's choice to help us see our lives through others eyes and then remind us that God is in charge and we can live our lives happy and fulfilled as long as we focus on His calling for us. It's also a good reminder not to let fear of being hurt of failing stand in the way of taking a chance at a fuller life.

There are 2 more books coming in the series, but due to some changes in the B&H Books publisher, the next two will be released as e-books until a print version can be made available. This is good news for those of us with e-readers, we won't have to wait so long to find out where Daphne goes next.

*Interesting bit, I have an aunt named Mable Meyers. Made that little girl a little more special in my eyes. :)

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Daphne Ballinger has learned to accept her deceased, eccentric aunt’s strange request that she marry in order to inherit her estate, along with taking over her aunt’s hometown paper’s advice column. But knowing and accepting that God’s will be done becomes harder when a new neighbor, a divorced socialite, learns of Daphne’s predicament and takes on the task of finding her the perfect man, even if it includes speed dating. When God does open Daphne’s heart, it is instead to take in a young girl left parentless and in the care of her dying grandmother. It may be a temporary arrangement until the girl’s uncle returns from the Marines, but God uses Daphne to speak His heavenly love and protection into the life of the child -- whom Daphne soon discovers has a very handsome and single uncle.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Dating, Dining, and Desperation, go HERE.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Over the years, Melody Carlson has worn many hats, from pre-school teacher to youth counselor to political activist to senior editor. But most of all, she loves to write! Currently she freelances from her home. In the past eight years, she has published over ninety books for children, teens, and adults--with sales totaling more than two million and many titles appearing on the ECPA Bestsellers List. Several of her books have been finalists for, and winners of, various writing awards.

She has two grown sons and lives in Central Oregon with her husband and chocolate lab retriever. They enjoy skiing, hiking, gardening, camping and biking in the beautiful Cascade Mountains.