Linda Wood Rondeau – Recipe for Romance – Part 1 of 3

Inspirational romance author, Linda Wood Rondeau shares a family recipe and winner’s choice of her three Christmas books – It Really IS a Wonderful Life or A Christmas Prayer in print or Joy Comes to Dinsmore Street in e-book format. Comment on any post dated Dec 19 – 23 to enter the drawing. Deadline: Dec 28th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Linda:

Grandma’s Green Stuff (AKA Pistachio Pudding)

1 package Pistachio Pudding mix

1 can crushed pineapple drained

1 package cool whip

Mix together the chill until set.

The Low-fat version  via All Recipes. com

Every year, the children looked forward to Grandma’s Green Stuff, as they nicknamed it. Sure enough, Mother always delivered without being asked. Even after Alzheimer Disease claimed her memory, she somehow managed to bring the Green Stuff…her way of showing how much she really did love her family.

Life is ever-changing and family gatherings never remain the same. The older generation eventually passes on and the younger generations begin new traditions with their growing families.

But I am especially grateful for a spouse who loves me enough to take on the job. A holiday doesn’t seem complete without Grandma Wood’s Green stuff. And my children always ask for it.

My relationship with my mother was sometimes tumultuous, but, her son-in-law could do no wrong. How she adored him.

Funny thing, though, when the Green Stuff comes out, I forget the silly quarrels we may have had and recall only the good, the visible reminder that love surpasses all obstacles, even Alzheimer’s…love that arrives in a tasty green delicacy and a spouse willing to go the distance.

About Linda: Winner of the 2012 Selah Award for best first novel The Other Side of Darkness/Harbourlight,  LINDA WOOD RONDEAU, writes stories of God’s mercies. Walk with her unforgettable characters as they journey paths not unlike our own. After a long career in human services, Linda now resides in Jacksonville, Florida.

Linda’s best-selling Adirondack Romance, It Really IS a Wonderful Life, is published by Lighthouse of the Carolinas and is available wherever books are sold.  Her next releases were her devotional book, I Prayed for Patience God Gave Me Children and Days of Vines and Roses

Joy Comes to Dinsmore Street and A Christmas Prayer have been released in time for the Christmas  as well as her mini novel, Jolly Angel.  Songs in the Valley/ Helping Hands Press. Will be released in late 2013 or early 2014.  

Readers may visit her web site at www.lindarondeau.com or email her at lindarondeau@gmail.com  or find her on Facebook, Twitter, PInterest, LinkedIn, Google Plus and Goodreads.   

About the books: 

It Really Is a Wonderful Life: Midville newcomer and Iraq War widow, Dorie Fitzgerald, despises the frigid Adirondack wasteland that has now become her home. After twenty failed job interviews, she questions the wisdom of moving to be near her parents. Desperate to belong, she joins the local Community Theater, in production for It s a Wonderful Life. Jamey Sullivan has put his professional life on hold in order to run the family business and to help his ailing father. He signs on for Midville s production of It s a Wonderful Life, although he hopes to receive a Broadway casting call any day now. When these two meet, they are instantly attracted to one another. However, ambition, demanding children, and a romantic rival threaten to squash their growing love for one another. It Really IS a Wonderful Life is set in the beautiful Adirondack mountains, a perfect backdrop for romantic conflict.

Joy Comes to Dinsmore St.: Most people looked forward to the dawning of the new millennium. For Colin O’Donnell, Christmas 2000 holds no anticipation until he learns Ma expects a visit from Joy, an adored cousin who disappeared on the girl’s sixteenth birthday. Why does she decide to visit Ma after all these years? The day Colin’s father left, Ma clutched Joy’s photograph as if it were a lifeline. Colin suspects the two disappearances are somehow connected although they occurred decades apart. Perhaps Joy’s visit will bring answers to years-old daunting questions. First, however, Colin must wrestle with a current mystery. What did he do to drive his wife from their bed? When all is revealed and the past and present collide, will Colin fight to preserve his marriage or follow his father’s path of abandonment?

A Christmas Prayer: A year after learning of a son’s existence, country music legend, Ethan Jacobs returns to Jasper Falls, a place of bitter memories, to help the his twelve-year-old autistic child, given up for adoption at birth. Orphaned after the death of his adoptive parents, the boy is at risk of institutionalization due to probation violations and alleged inadequate guardianship of his current caregiver, an older, adoptive sister. In view of his son’s delicate emotional state, the court advises Ethan to keep his relationship to Gib secret for now.

Five Star Review Comments:

Joy Comes To Dinsmore Street by Linda Wood Rondeau is a story of secrets, desertion, and self-hate but forgiveness redeems the story.

Keeping secrets and reacting with a hot head. Nothing good can come of that. The past has a way of creeping into the present. These are the lessons the characters in this book have to come to terms with.

A Christmas Prayer is the perfect kind of feel-good read for the holidays. (And also a quick read, so you can use it to de-stress between shopping and baking and wrapping and all the other craziness that goes on this time of year.)

BEAUTFUIL, AS a caregiver to a father who had cancer. I found this book uplifting, faith filled, a story that touches the heart. This book really hit you in your soul. It was written for the heart.

Come back Dec 20th for Linda’s real life romance & an excerpt from It Really Is a Wonderful Life!