Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Rebecca Reviews ~ The Reluctant Duchess by Roseanna White

Published April 5th 2016 by Bethany House Publishers
 Lady Rowena Kinnaird may be the heiress to a Highland earldom, but she has never felt good enough—not for her father, not for the man she thought she’d marry, not for God. But after a shocking attack, she’s willing to be forever an outcast if it means escaping Loch Morar and the men who have jeopardized her life.

Brice Myerston, the Duke of Nottingham, has suddenly found himself in possession of a rare treasure his enemies are prepared to kill for. While Brice has never been one to shy away from manor-born ladies, the last thing he needs is the distraction of his neighbor, Lady Rowena, who finds herself in a desperate situation. But when the moody Earl of Lochabar tries to trap Brice into marrying Rowena, Brice finds he’s not as opposed to the idea as he expected to be.

Rowena wanted to escape the Highlands, but she’s reluctant to resort to marrying a notorious flirt just to gain his English home. And when she learns that Brice is mixed up in some kind of questionable business with a stolen treasure, she ’fears she’s about to end up directly in the path of everything she was trying to avoid.

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Rebecca's Review
FIVE STARS!!!

"Who did she have, right now, to love her?" . . . . . If the truth were known, Scottish Highlander, Lady Rowena Kinnaird had never known love; overlooked by a brooding mother, mistreated by an over demanding father, and brutally attacked in the worst possible way by a man whom she once supposed to be her future; Rowena is further scandalized when her family coerces an engagement to an utter stranger, an Englishman, a notoriously flirtatious duke.

"Pay attention." "Protect her." "Listen." "Stay with her." Duke of Nottingham, Brice Myerston, is used to hearing the still, small voice of the Spirit advise his actions, but jeopardizing his family's future by joining his life with that of the lovely, traumatized Lady Kinnaird? Could he possibly protect her, while continuing to pursue his own endeavors; first and foremost maintaining custodial ownership of rare and precious jewels over which dark forces seem to reign supreme?

"The Reluctant Duchess" is a rare treasure in and of itself, filled with characters whose self-destructive agendas are painful to recount, flowing with gorgeous ambience and historical imagery, founded on deep, inspirational truths that lovers of any century can delightfully emulate; dripping with enough pulsating suspense to fuse every page into one collective masterpiece. Roseanna White's "Ladies of the Manor" series, if possible, just got better!

I was provided a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Rebecca is a graduate of Bryan College with a degree in Christian Education, and is currently serving at the First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Gastonia, North Carolina as the Director of Children's Ministry. With nearly 28 years of experience in her field, she has had many opportunities to use her love of reading and writing in creative ways across the generations. A wife, mother of four "nearly" grown children, and grandmother to four beautiful grandchildren, Rebecca has been able to return to her love of reading and more recently reviewing, with a renewed passion for the "beauty of story".
 

Friday, April 22, 2016

Random 5 Friday

It's Random 5 Friday, where you share 5 random facts about you, your day, your pets, your kids, whatever! 


1.This view. 'Nuff said.

2. I'm taking an Essentrics class. Some days it kicks my butt.

3. I participated in another tea cup/mug exchange. This time I chose to give and receive a mug. You can read about it here.



4. My husband and I took a drive down to the Great Dismal Swamp last Sunday afternoon. It isn't dismal at all! Such a gorgeous place to visit. We want to go back when we have plenty of bug repellent though. The black flies are massive in size!!!

5.  I'm seriously going to pray for the rain to hold off until Monday. The Air Show over Hampton Roads celebrating 100 years of Langley is tomorrow and I want to see those fabulous planes up close and personal. Yesterday, the Thunderbirds were practicing and they flew RIGHT OVER OUR CAR!!! They were so low, and it was so COOL, and I started crying because I am SO STINKIN' PROUD to be an AMERICAN and a USAF MOM!!! 
(I did NOT take this picture.)
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xVDr6U9qpd0/S9Cm-pxmnjI/AAAAAAAABDE/8NYb4KazNi8/s1600/thunderbirds.jpg
Image found on BING @ http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xVDr6U9qpd0/S9Cm-pxmnjI/AAAAAAAABDE/8NYb4KazNi8/s1600/thunderbirds.jpg

Yep. I'm a little enthusiastic.  

It's a gorgeous day here and I'm off to get my butt kicked, then on to lunch with some friends. 

I hope each one of you has a blessed day!


Sharing @
http://aruraljournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/random-5-friday_22.html

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Tea Cup and Mug Reveal

As many of you know, I participate at least once a year in the Tea Cup and Mug Exchange over at The Enchanting Rose. Stephanie has created such a fun exchange that this year a total of 167 ladies participated!!! It's not just about exchanging a tea cup or a mug. It's about friendship!
There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship. Thomas Aquinas
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_friendship.html
A friend is what the heart needs all the time. Henry Van Dyke
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_friendship.ht

“Friendship ... is born at the moment when one man says to another "What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . .”
C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves  
There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship. Thomas Aquinas
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_friendship.html
There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship. Thomas Aquinas
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_friendship.html
There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship. Thomas Aquinas
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_friendship.html
One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood. Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_friendship.html
One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood. Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_friendship.html

One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood. Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_friendship.html
The sweet lady who sent me a Mug package is Marilyn @ Mountain Top Spice.
 I was quite surprised by all the lovelies that Marilyn gifted me!

 A handmade journal brought tears to my eyes. I love journaling! And the book is a precious devotional that I could have enjoyed while munching on that yummy granola bar, but the bar was gone pretty quick. ;)
 This GORGEOUS mug is from the one and only PIONEER WOMAN collection!!! Squeee....I LOVE Ree. And so does Marilyn! We are kindred spirits in many ways. She sent me a beautiful ceramic tea rest, along with some delicious Mint tea that has already been consumed!:)

“There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate.”
Linda Grayson 
There was also a lovely sachet, handmade tea cup bookmark, and one of my all-time favorite candy bars! Um. That's gone too ;)

 Probably the best part of the package, I kid you not, is the hand written letter included. I can't tell you how long it's been since I've gotten such a sweet letter. Marilyn and I are becoming fast friends!


This is where I sit and enjoy a cuppa most days, and each time I reach for my mug I think of Marilyn.

“You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.”
A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh 

Thank you, Stephanie, for once again being such a gracious hostess! I appreciate the time and energy you put into these exchanges, as I know each lady does. 

And Thank YOU, Marilyn! I hope someday we have the opportunity to sit down over a cuppa and fellowship together! :-)

Y'all stop by Stephanie's blog for the link up list and visit some of the blogs to see all the beautiful gifts of friendship sent and received! 

Until next time...

A friend loves at all times
 Proverbs 17:17a

Monday, April 18, 2016

The Reluctant Duchess (Ladies of the Manor #2) by Roseanna M. White

Roseanna White has been a must read author since I read her debut biblical fiction novel, A Stray Drop of Blood! While this latest series isn't biblical fiction, it is packed with spiritual truth!!!
I highly recommend picking up a copy of Roseanna's books, especially this latest series! 
It. Is. Ah-Maz-Ing.

And.....Roseanna is having a GIVEAWAY on her blog!  
 
Published April 5th 2016 by Bethany House Publishers

Lady Rowena Kinnaird may be the heiress to a Highland earldom, but she has never felt good enough—not for her father, not for the man she thought she’d marry, not for God. But after a shocking attack, she’s willing to be forever an outcast if it means escaping Loch Morar and the men who have jeopardized her life.

Brice Myerston, the Duke of Nottingham, has suddenly found himself in possession of a rare treasure his enemies are prepared to kill for. While Brice has never been one to shy away from manor-born ladies, the last thing he needs is the distraction of his neighbor, Lady Rowena, who finds herself in a desperate situation. But when the moody Earl of Lochabar tries to trap Brice into marrying Rowena, Brice finds he’s not as opposed to the idea as he expected to be.

Rowena wanted to escape the Highlands, but she’s reluctant to resort to marrying a notorious flirt just to gain his English home. And when she learns that Brice is mixed up in some kind of questionable business with a stolen treasure, she ’fears she’s about to end up directly in the path of everything she was trying to avoid.


: : :

Here's the link to the GIVEAWAY!!! 

http://roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/2016/04/announcing-rowenas-comforts-giveaway.html

http://roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/p/rowenas-comforts-giveaway.html

I hope you'll enter for an opportunity to win the first two books in this INCREDIBLE series!!! 

~Happy Reading, Y'all~ 

 

Anne Reviews ~ The Amish Firefighter by Laura V. Hilton + Giveaway

UPDATE: Giveaway has ended. 

WINNER is Britney Adams!!! 
 
May 3rd 2016 by Whitaker House

Abigail Stutzman thought it was bad enough being dropped at the nearest bus station and sent to live several states away with some relatives she'd never even heard of, much less met. But now, just a week after her arrival in Jamesport, Missouri, she finds herself at the scene of a barn fire. An intentional barn fire. And all fingers are pointed at her. She's desperate to prove her innocence and protect her reputation, but nobody's making that easy to do. And God certainly doesn't seem willing to help.

Sam Miller is in the process of turning over a new leaf. Determined to atone for the follies of his past, he is a volunteer firefighter, an EMT, and a paramedic-in-training. With suspicious barn fires escalating, and the Miller family being among the victims, no one is more determined to see the perpetrators brought to justice than Sam.

When their paths first cross at the site of a barn burning, the emotional intensity rivals the warms of the flames. Soon, they must decide whether this fire is one they should feed or fight. And they'll discover that the truth can prove more dangerous than a blazing inferno.


: : :

My Review


Feeling rejected by her family, Abigail is sent away to another Amish community. Shortly after her arrival, barns are being set on fire. Is she the perpetrator, or just an innocent victim?


Sam, despite being attracted to Abigail, is sure she is at the heart of these fires and treats her accordingly. Will he uncover the truth, and allow his heart to fully embrace Abigail?



I want to see more stories like The Amish Firefighter from Hilton’s pen! This is one book I thoroughly enjoyed reading. The character arc is refined with a plot full of mystery and intrigue! Sometimes Amish fiction is just too ‘sweet’. The Amish Firefighter has much more suspense and action than the typical Amish book, and I read it in record time. It’s a page turner, for sure and for certain!

I appreciate the author and publisher sending me an advance copy for review purposes. Only my honest opinion is asked for. No compensation received. 

 : : :

Whitaker House has graciously offered a copy of The Amish Firefighter to one of my blog subscribers. US ONLY.
Please leave a comment telling me how you subscribe to the blog, along with an email address so you can be contacted if you win.
  Giveaway ends April 25!

Friday, April 15, 2016

Random 5 Friday (Thinking back to April 2015)

It's Random 5 Friday, where you share 5 random facts about you, your day, your pets, your kids, whatever!

1. ONE YEAR AGO tomorrow, I received the BEST HUG EVER!!!


2. My son graduated from the USAF BMT (Basic Military Training).


3. A trainee has earned the right to be called Airman when the Airman's Coin is placed in his/her hand. In this photo, my son is receiving his coin from MTI Severance. Watching these young men and women (especially your own), who have trained long and grueling hours, take their oath to serve our country faithfully and with integrity-- it brings you to tears.

4. The men and women who have trained and encouraged and shaped our sons and daughters into future Airman are called MTI's (Military Training Instructors) and they are a force to be reckoned with! But all of them that we spoke to that day were kind and encouraging. I appreciate their hard work in taking raw recruits and making them into some of the finest our country has to offer.


5. My son 'coined' me after his graduation. He said he couldn't have done any of it without my support. Can you say more tears?!

I wrote him every single day he was at BMT, telling him how proud we all are of him, encouraging him to hang in there, that the best was yet to come. And of course telling him how much Moma loves him!

~I AM a proud Air Force MOM~
but I guess you figured that out by now ;) 

God bless our military
and
God Bless America!

Sharing @

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Interview & Giveaway ~ Pepper Basham, author of A Twist of Faith

 UPDATE: Giveaway ended - WINNER is Ceil Ryan!

Welcome, Pepper! Rebecca and I are delighted to have the opportunity to share with our readers a little about you and your new contemporary story, A Twist of Faith.

Tell us a little about yourself and your writing journey.

Well, I come from a long line of Appalachian storytellers, so I grew up listening to my Granny give oral history back 5 or 6 generations. I think that was one of my early influences, but I do believe it is a God-given desire. I still have my first ‘long’ story I wrote when I was 10 years old but my mom says I was telling/writing stories years before that one.

And since I’ve kind of lived in a little ‘fairytale’, with a brain-full of stories since then, I finally started writing them down in novel format. It’s been a long journey, but I’ve met some of my favorite people along the way.

My favorite part of my life, besides my faith, is my family. I’m the wife of a music minister and mother of five amazing kiddos. Oh my goodness, I have some of the coolest kids and I love learning with them and from them. I’m also a speech-language pathologist with a specialty area in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

What do you think makes a good story?

Strong characters striving to grow through hardship in a story that ends with hope. (Basically) Good writing, plausibility, and all those other wonderful writing tools frame the skeleton of that statement, but at the heart it’s about characters who grow from one place to another in such a way it moves us – and in the stories I like to read, gives us hope. 

Where is your favorite place to write?

I love writing snuggled up on the red couch in our den, with a blanket over my lap, hot tea by my side, and my laptop. Mind you, this ‘place’ doesn’t happen until LAAATE at night, but for the 20-30 minutes I have it, I enjoy it.

What’s the one food item you can’t live without?

Chocolate. In any form. But dark chocolate is my favorite.

Are you a flip flop or barefoot kind of gal?

NO FLIP FLOPS. Yuck. My toes cannot handle them! I’ll go barefoot. 


Where can readers connect with you online?

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pepperbasham/



Thanks for being here, Pepper! I can’t wait to read your book. I know Rebecca highly recommends all your books. :-)

And Thank You, Rebecca, for contacting Pepper about the interview & giveaway! 
 
Okay, Y’all! Pepper has graciously offered to give away an e-copy of her book, A Twist of Faith, to one of our blog followers. Just answer the following question:  What classic story would you like to see retold in a contemporary setting? Also, don’t forget to leave an email address in the following format – you[at]here[dot]com -- so I can contact you in case you are the winner! Ends April 19th!!!

Friday, April 8, 2016

Random 5 Friday


To participate in R5F, just make a blog post and share 5 random facts about you, your day, your pets, your kids, whatever! Then link up at A Rural Journal.

Here's my 5--

1. The photo above has been posted on the blog before but this past weekend my husband had an 8x10 printed out and framed for his office. Be still my heart!

2. 100 Years of Langley happens this month and I'm stoked! Can't wait to see up close and personal the airplanes the USAF will be showing off. The sounds of freedom fly over our home daily!!!


3. I didn't get a lightening photo last week. We only had high winds and rain. Phooey!

4. This moma isn't ready to not be 'first in your affections'. Do you know where the reference comes from?

5. Goodwill had an explosion of amazing art on Saturday!

: : :

Thanks again, Nancy, for starting R5F back up.

 
 Hope y'all have a great weekend!  
 

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Review ~ New Beginnings: A 31-Day Devotional Journey: a LifeSword Devotional by Cathy Bryant

Published January 3rd 2016 by WordVessel Press
We all experience times of fresh starts and new beginnings, times that tend to counting our God-given blessings and making goals and plans. The 31-day devotional journey is intended to guide us through verses of how God makes all things new, the beginnings of the Bible, and goal-setting done through faith in Him.

Join us for the journey as we explore such topics as:

-God-given fresh starts
-The new song of praise in our hearts for Him
-The endings that accompany new beginnings
-How fear of God is a beginning
-Renewed spirits, youth, mind, and strength
-Restoration
-Revival (brought back to life)
-Letting go of the past
-Looking forward to what's coming for believers
-The real "new and improved"
-Out with the old, in with the new
-Life, better and forever
-Daily renewal
-New creation
-Cooperating with God
-Forward movement
-Standing up under the load while running the race
-Keeping our eyes on the prize
-Following in His steps
-A believer's main goal
-Goals and action plans
-Committing plans to God
-In step with the Spirit
-Wisdom and guidance for the journey
-God's faithfulness 

 : : :

My Thoughts  

When choosing a devotional to use during my daily Bible study, I look for one that has substance, or what Scripture refers to as meat. I can tell you that Cathy Bryant’s New Beginnings fits the bill. Each one gave me something to chew on and ponder which led me to deeper study of God’s Word. 

The devotions are simple in layout but filled with truths that will help you grow as a Christian as you study your Bible and seek God’s guidance in how to live a holy life. 
I can highly recommend A 31-Day Devotional Journey.

I want to thank the author for sending me an electronic copy of the book for review purposes. No compensation has been received.

 : : :

About Cathy

Cathy Bryant is an Amazon bestselling Christian author of both  fiction and non-fiction. Her first novel Texas Roads was a 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers’ Genesis contest finalist. The fourth book in the series Pilgrimage of Promise was nominated by readers for the 2013 Grace Award. Since her first book, she has added five more stand-alone books to the beloved Miller’s Creek novels, with another due to release Spring 2016. Readers compare Cathy’s novels to those of Karen Kingsbury and Nicholas Sparks, and Miller’s Creek to Mayberry, only Texas-style.

In addition to the novels, Cathy’s written four devotional books (two in collaboration with other Christian writers), two Bible studies, and a Christmas novella. All her books and collections are rated at 4.5 stars or higher on Amazon.

She released four new titles in 2015, including Crossroads (April 2015), Believe & Know (April 2015), Miller’s Creek Collection 2 (October 2015), and Pieces On Earth (November 2015). So far in 2016, she’s released two monthly devotionals, New Beginnings (January 2016) and The Power of Godly Influence (February 2016), as well as Miller’s Creek Truth Collection (January 2016), a novel and Bible study digital bundle.

When she’s not writing, Cathy enjoys rummaging through thrift stores, romping in the great outdoors, and especially spending time with her family. You’ll often find her up to her elbows in yet another home improvement project in the mountain cabin she shares with her minister husband of almost thirty-five years. You can find out more about Cathy and her books at http://www.CatBryant.com.

Readers can also connect with her at the following places online: