tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542340741994006072024-03-02T12:45:48.522-06:00The Honest ReviewerThink rogue influencer. An honest one. Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger256125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254234074199400607.post-26816338074339553692024-03-02T12:02:00.010-06:002024-03-02T12:45:14.567-06:00Canon Pixma MG2522 Inkjet Printer Review<p>Has anyone noticed how difficult it is getting to leave a product review on Walmart.com or Amazon.com? Actually, anywhere, if we're being honest. There have been quite a few times I've tried to leave reviews on products that Amazon.com is blocking because..."There has been an unusual amount of activity on this product..." blah blah blah and they won't let you leave a review.</p><p>It's annoying.<br /></p><p>Maybe there's a lot of activity on this particular product because the people who have purchased it think it's JUNK and want to warn others not to buy it.</p><p>Ya think?!</p><p>So you go to the manufacturer because surely, they won't block it. I'm so naive.</p><p>What option is left? Blogs. Welcome. I'm so glad you're here. Please be advised that these are my real thoughts on real products that I have purchased. Ranting may be involved and there may be a picture or two of objects that have received the brunt of my annoyance. You have been warned.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBmDtXr5kHr8k1U_9H8vm_l_aWMAnGkBJY4JsvkXuINs0rfAjnhm9a_4w0ZIsObvlFqS-4k7RwZbz-rdkixa7mjGNgzdrSyFNTmA83X18hUJRJ1UyuzxB2La3hKrY0Bu0WH0MRBWgjdoIgw4I6M9eEGvLkWiYe67n-DlVwi-0KmlkliRkLnCUXbqTHTs/s3000/Canon-PIXMA-MG2522-Wired-All-in-One-Color-Inkjet-Printer-USB-Cable-Included-White_c1cfe8a9-a392-4434-b975-f24bec7b86f2.d632cc3fc01b230498af010fcafa3d11.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBmDtXr5kHr8k1U_9H8vm_l_aWMAnGkBJY4JsvkXuINs0rfAjnhm9a_4w0ZIsObvlFqS-4k7RwZbz-rdkixa7mjGNgzdrSyFNTmA83X18hUJRJ1UyuzxB2La3hKrY0Bu0WH0MRBWgjdoIgw4I6M9eEGvLkWiYe67n-DlVwi-0KmlkliRkLnCUXbqTHTs/s320/Canon-PIXMA-MG2522-Wired-All-in-One-Color-Inkjet-Printer-USB-Cable-Included-White_c1cfe8a9-a392-4434-b975-f24bec7b86f2.d632cc3fc01b230498af010fcafa3d11.webp" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Honest Review of Canon Pixma MG2522 Inkjet Printer</span></p><h4 style="text-align: center;">Purchased From - Walmart.com</h4><h4 style="text-align: center;">Price When Purchased - $39, January, 2023</h4><h4 style="text-align: center;">Unsolicited Thoughts on Product - <br /></h4><p>Do not be seduced by the low price. I see that it's only $29 as I write this. Don't do it. Restrain yourself. Usually I like to list the pros and cons. I haven't found one pro. Here are the cons. <br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Ink - seems like I'm only able to print two, perhaps three pages before I have to purchase more ink. How about no.</li><li>Ink is not cheap. Enough said. For those of you who would say, get the refill kit, let me explain that that probably seems like a good fix. I had my husband (an all around do it yourselfer who can fix nearly everything) try to open the cartridge and he had a rough time. Not a good indicator of things to come. If he has a hard time doing it, how is a person with arthritis supposed to manage? See where I'm going?</li><li>User manual. This is a joke. An absolute joke. As in seriously dumb. If you have a question, just keep googling until you find something. Or don't. Whatever but be prepared to spend some time online.</li><li>Quality. Um again, no.</li><li>Settings - not user friendly at all. I want the freedom to set my printer up the way I want to. Not what the manufacturer thinks I want. Or thinks what is best for me.</li></ul><p><br /><b>Long story short - </b><br />Save your money. Stay away from this printer and purchase one that actually does what you want. To be 100% transparent, I only purchased this to make birthday invitations and print out my monthly bank statements. It did not satisfactorily do what I needed it to do. <br /><br />A complete waste of money. </p><h4 style="text-align: center;">What Makes This Product Worse:</h4><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>inability to post honest product review on Walmart.com, Amazon.com, or manufacturers website</li><li>inability to receive ANY online help to rectify the situation</li><li>inability to receive phone support</li></ul><h4 style="text-align: center;">End thoughts:</h4><p>This system is broken. Walmart.com, Amazon.com, and the manufacturers should protect buyers instead of blocking them from writing honest reviews, ultimately making it an act of congress to warn others away from a terrible product. </p><p>We can see, once again, that we are held hostage by large corporations that hold the almighty dollar as more dear than quality products.</p><h4 style="text-align: center;">What the Product Looks Like Now:</h4><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCyqMuEMWO7m0BHykYl6n0IHI5YYKxZJ9M16DHMvxZr6HPepBz2d6Gu2nELqJGurY0ug5bPHzaXjiUvVxcMWDEiHgGwEsyra3BLskCYgn1DzA7zPBkCFDy4CKKaEhLyPCpoFEqt3wkOgLY3WH-P1UN3Fszkf1ctPWSMkL7pM3S57D9e6LY21VwD2W9JI/s4032/IMG_9889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCyqMuEMWO7m0BHykYl6n0IHI5YYKxZJ9M16DHMvxZr6HPepBz2d6Gu2nELqJGurY0ug5bPHzaXjiUvVxcMWDEiHgGwEsyra3BLskCYgn1DzA7zPBkCFDy4CKKaEhLyPCpoFEqt3wkOgLY3WH-P1UN3Fszkf1ctPWSMkL7pM3S57D9e6LY21VwD2W9JI/w300-h400/IMG_9889.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><h2 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>The most satisfying part of my day was throwing this. Kind of therapeutic.</b> <br /></h2><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254234074199400607.post-57925003842662380762023-10-21T23:33:00.003-05:002024-03-02T12:32:22.901-06:00Free Savings Tracker Printable<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">If you're like me, you shop to help you cope or get out of a funk, you probably don't like seeing those credit card bills piling up and it's not always easy to stop spending habits. <br /></div><p style="text-align: left;">I get it. I feel your pain. </p><p style="text-align: left;">So I'm trying to create a new habit. With this visual, I will be able to watch my savings grow instead of the credit card bills and feel like I'm doing something good and right. Which doesn't always happen for me. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Anyway. I just wanted to share this with anyone who would like to see, like me, if they can do it.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Good luck and thanks for stopping by. If you want, let me know how you're doing in the comments below. </p><div style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on">
<iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LY0lnrOnnFP6eZvyVALDwboRj5KUsBwF/preview" width="480" height="480" allow="autoplay"></iframe>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3heonN8hiNQTNLGwT6wy6UZXkC0M_JrI_22cI5oYDfMbdFxYVIAO1_hrhoTZVmqT9aOlafnZ3_jDPPsXCEd1U2PBa4ocywoNV7lrn68cPwKp7vkGsK8HU64DYKmfDr2MPJ7Jc8ES80c/s1600/Squirrel+logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3heonN8hiNQTNLGwT6wy6UZXkC0M_JrI_22cI5oYDfMbdFxYVIAO1_hrhoTZVmqT9aOlafnZ3_jDPPsXCEd1U2PBa4ocywoNV7lrn68cPwKp7vkGsK8HU64DYKmfDr2MPJ7Jc8ES80c/s200/Squirrel+logo.png" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254234074199400607.post-37729339716785157872020-05-08T11:43:00.000-05:002020-05-08T11:56:11.782-05:00Not Going to Happen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Happy Friday!</span></span></h2>
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With all this social distancing going on, I have to keep reminding myself what day of the week it is. It is Friday. Not Saturday. <i>Friday.</i></div>
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I have gotten some serious writing done on my series (yay, go me!) so that's a good thing. I'm now almost to 95,000 words. I don't think I have the capability to write short stories. I truly don't. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsdrPvPddFFFysB-pmAUB6RPn_M9A36q8_6Gq-DQWdqLz_MRSYR4aRNAmr5NrWx4S4kYge4MICTO9y2y150VQS6OZMWYe3g-dtB4y5XVirfOJRzf3EW49ytrmVRBwafPee_56Qf78SKo/s1600/Choosing+to+Love+jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Choosing to Love cover idea" border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="1600" height="229" oncontextmenu="alert("Unreleased Cover Image. Copyrighted Material.");return false;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsdrPvPddFFFysB-pmAUB6RPn_M9A36q8_6Gq-DQWdqLz_MRSYR4aRNAmr5NrWx4S4kYge4MICTO9y2y150VQS6OZMWYe3g-dtB4y5XVirfOJRzf3EW49ytrmVRBwafPee_56Qf78SKo/s320/Choosing+to+Love+jpg.jpg" title="Choosing to Love" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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My mind has been exploding with ideas and things to do and things that need to be done. I'm not a procrastinator, I'm a prioritizer. It's simple for me. If it doesn't pique my interest at the moment, it will not get done. Period.</div>
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Like eating. </div>
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Highly overrated. </div>
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Hubster walked in this morning to give me a kiss and I told him to go back to bed. </div>
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I have <b>no plans </b>of being a productive adult today. </div>
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<b>None.</b></div>
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I got up early so I could write more in my book, but then I thought I would make a gift for my mom for mother's day this Sunday. I went to <a href="https://www.silhouettedesignstore.com/" target="_blank">the Design Store</a>, and you know what happened. </div>
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<b><i>I got sidetracked.</i></b></div>
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Now, instead of writing, I will be making the *cutest* things on my Cricut. </div>
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<b><i>Because I want to. And it's raining.</i></b></div>
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It's like God is saying, </div>
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"Ok, go ahead. Do this instead. You can do your story before the laundry and dishes. It's okay. And dinner? You're going to be fine. That's why I gave you a muffin top."</div>
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God is so good, isn't He?</div>
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I'll upload the pictures when I get done. </div>
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Until next time...</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254234074199400607.post-55369752788212054002020-03-19T19:44:00.003-05:002020-03-19T19:44:45.836-05:00New Release! Sweet Christian Romance<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I know, right?! I was looking at my posts and my last one was June of 2019. Yikes. This is bad for a person who loves to write. <br />
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But I think I know what the issue is/was. I needed something specific to write about. See, I'm a list person. I will wander around aimlessly all day if a list isn't involved. Not my favorite thing to do. I am a person of action. I like to be busy. When I have an entire day to myself, it completely throws me off and I must make a list to help me stay on track.<br />
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And working full-time doesn't help with the whole blog post thing. Don't get me wrong. I love my job. Very much so. But with this whole COVID-19 thing going around, yeah, you know where I'm going with this because chances are, you're in the same boat.<br />
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So I made it a goal to finish editing my latest book. (For the seventh time.) And I did. Because it was on my list. And the next day, one of the items I put on my list was to actually upload it. So I did. Because there's just something super rewarding and fulfilling about crossing items off my list. I know. I'm weird. But hang around, you'll get used to it.<br />
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Yesterday, I uploaded my newest Sweet Christian Romance to Amazon, and I literally had to phone a friend because I panicked so bad about pushing publish. Seriously. It was bad. My heart fell to my feet, I forgot how to breathe, and all I wanted to do was find the 'cancel the spur of the moment' button. (Guess what? Amazon doesn't have one of those. Apparently, when you push the button, they think you really mean it. Sheesh. What literalists.) <br />
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Today, I got the notification that...ta da!...my book meets all their requirements and it is now live on Amazon.com.<br />
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Yay, right? Not if you're panically inclined, like me. But yea. I have a new book online and no one to sell it to. Because I'm weird. And I don't normally tell people I write books. Because then they might read it. And what would happen if they didn't like it? Yes. I would take it personally. Anyway. I told you I was weird. I think I'm a passive/aggressive type of person. One part of me wants to tell everyone, and the other side, the stronger side of me, says, hold up! What the heck are you doing? Don't you dare tell anyone that you write books!<br />
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So I'm telling you. My one blog reader. Have I told you how much I appreciate you? Thank you for being there for me. Everyone needs a cheerleader and I'm so glad mine is you. :)<br />
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Without further ado, I introduce to you, my newest book-baby:<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1070836540" target="_blank"><img alt="Little Things, sweet Christian romance" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1040" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhZ79JHFgoOA1qmErbbG54CofydI3FZRw9ksozAwWTjQH0e1Cj66yQrcPZBlIq5EQjmAdk4d3bJILiQcaRWEzbi7x6zp2rdoaF_YNJveZXxF3cZyLoZoKLunF6pCgzXf-TvPX42voFwc/s320/Little+Things+eBOOK+COVER.jpg" title="Little Things " width="208" /></a></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1070836540" target="_blank">Little Things</a></h2>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Will You Marry Me?</h3>
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There were things Kit Page knew beyond a shadow of a doubt. She wasn't anyone special. Just a small town country girl losing herself in the big city was enough for her. No claim to fame or fortune, she loved her job and didn't aspire for more.</div>
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But when her handsome boss asks her to marry him to avoid being the sacrificial lamb in his father's latest business scheme, she resists the urge to say yes.</div>
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Knowing from past failures that she's not worth loving, she has no desire to be thrown away by the man she's in love with.</div>
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Can she resist? </div>
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Will she survive if she doesn't?</div>
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Will she be brave enough to let go and let God take care of it all - even if it means a broken heart?</div>
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Until next time...</div>
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toodles!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254234074199400607.post-40120543766623155252019-06-19T00:00:00.000-05:002019-06-19T00:00:01.323-05:00I Love it When it Rains<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipF8LONTVb9oYH2dOHFfe-tFEoTnCcrgLlql4XjFSiZ2jB1LnR07CloU-yx4pBu_PFdps0btrUB_irw86Cbu5nkTrz1i-VJDPlYpvenW7rx-R-8NdxXDm1HpGl1GvrkyN4rcRgbx4kxCQ/s1600/blog+caption+autumn+in+november+font.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="I love it when it rains" border="0" data-original-height="60" data-original-width="330" height="58" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipF8LONTVb9oYH2dOHFfe-tFEoTnCcrgLlql4XjFSiZ2jB1LnR07CloU-yx4pBu_PFdps0btrUB_irw86Cbu5nkTrz1i-VJDPlYpvenW7rx-R-8NdxXDm1HpGl1GvrkyN4rcRgbx4kxCQ/s320/blog+caption+autumn+in+november+font.png" title="I love it when it rains" width="320" /></a></div>
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When it rains, I don't have to feel guilty that I'm not outside doing yard work or washing the dog. I can be inside creating things. Which is what I love to do.<br />
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My problem is I get so many ideas of things I want to do that I get overwhelmed and don't accomplish anything. So I think I have a plan. I don't know if this will work, but I'm going to try it.<br />
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I am trying to get stock ready for craft shows as well as find some boutiques to sell some of my items. At this point, I don't have a lot of things, but it's growing.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
For Father's Day</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvmcRQEyiSYo1kU6ePK8QtrrlLzuFR6mGa6B3OPpO5tTuZMNGXOht_ypzarY8PI2KiYfg0Z9SPys44J585WLZp6h8_87hbblMtEpiAZ810z1dnB7EQm8dtJpZC7JlTvsr8T80RPEMMWM/s1600/Cards+for+Dads+with+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cards for dads" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvmcRQEyiSYo1kU6ePK8QtrrlLzuFR6mGa6B3OPpO5tTuZMNGXOht_ypzarY8PI2KiYfg0Z9SPys44J585WLZp6h8_87hbblMtEpiAZ810z1dnB7EQm8dtJpZC7JlTvsr8T80RPEMMWM/s320/Cards+for+Dads+with+logo.jpg" title="cards for dads" width="320" /></a></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
For Mother's Day</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSu9IKvFzXAwwM-yUNACkbTgFg5AadEMeO6bFGIxTq1bZt2g9CxEIT81M45QSkFrhmyvlENN5ROn3qQ-AwfMgNc80R83lM4qitPQaU5Gya-fUSIeasNWpNExfT3Vbu-l9fL77_vHsp8e8/s1600/Cards+for+Moms+with+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cards for moms" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSu9IKvFzXAwwM-yUNACkbTgFg5AadEMeO6bFGIxTq1bZt2g9CxEIT81M45QSkFrhmyvlENN5ROn3qQ-AwfMgNc80R83lM4qitPQaU5Gya-fUSIeasNWpNExfT3Vbu-l9fL77_vHsp8e8/s320/Cards+for+Moms+with+logo.jpg" title="cards for moms" width="320" /></a></div>
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I know Mother's Day was 'so last month' but I didn't have the time to upload any of the pictures. These cards were my first foray into the 3D realm. <br />
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My plan is to continue making cards, boxes, gift bags, treat bags, party decorations, and repurposed signs to sell. See what I mean about having a plan?! I'll keep y'all posted on my progress.<br />
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Is there anything you think you'd like to see me sell? <br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">These cards were made with kits from SVG Cuts, 3D Dreaming Tree, and Simply Crafty </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.picgifs.com/animal-graphics/"><img border="0" src="https://www.picgifs.com/animal-graphics/animal-graphics/squirrel/animal-graphics-squirrel-955527.gif" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3heonN8hiNQTNLGwT6wy6UZXkC0M_JrI_22cI5oYDfMbdFxYVIAO1_hrhoTZVmqT9aOlafnZ3_jDPPsXCEd1U2PBa4ocywoNV7lrn68cPwKp7vkGsK8HU64DYKmfDr2MPJ7Jc8ES80c/s1600/Squirrel+logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3heonN8hiNQTNLGwT6wy6UZXkC0M_JrI_22cI5oYDfMbdFxYVIAO1_hrhoTZVmqT9aOlafnZ3_jDPPsXCEd1U2PBa4ocywoNV7lrn68cPwKp7vkGsK8HU64DYKmfDr2MPJ7Jc8ES80c/s200/Squirrel+logo.png" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254234074199400607.post-91024701868169343822019-05-29T00:00:00.000-05:002019-05-29T00:00:09.298-05:00Crazy Excited and a Question to Readers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Oh goodness, I'm so crazy excited! </span><br />
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It's super possible that if I work hard this week, I will be able to finish my newest Christian romance novel, Little Things! SQUEEEE! In the sidebar, you'll see my word count progress bar. It currently says 78,000 words out of 90,000 and yes, I probably won't hit that many words. But here's the scoop. It had been my plan from the beginning of this novel to write a 55,000 word count book. Why, you ask? Because I wanted to see if I could do it. The answer is no, lol. But, over this past weekend, I was able to read the rough draft all the way through, and there are only a few things that I need to add. I am SO EXCITED!<br />
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Ok, changing the subject. <span style="background-color: white;">Quick question</span></h3>
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<li><u><b>What are your thoughts as a reader on an author using a pseudonym? </b></u></li>
<li><u><b>Do you feel lied to? </b></u></li>
<li><u><b>Do you think the author doesn't feel they've written a good book or isn't standing behing their book? </b></u></li>
<li><u><b>Do you dislike them in general, or does it matter to you at all? </b></u></li>
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I'm thinking of writing under one. My husband doesn't agree. He thinks I should just use the name I'm already using. I'd really love to hear your thoughts, so please. Join in the discussion!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhxO7lzbR6uX5f-Xfy-vRusIOxkRRwLRX_wpRyVfWYzlOgWUj5kB3r2RrTVf_9fmoxFe_nW7nrHdBDPllsaOfEAOvvg8FhOBebKvH9TMGvM8ONjXtqg6K3aLe4rprkeJHvU91qeYydqM/s1600/front+cover+mock+up+2b+mandy+nelson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Little Things book cover mock up1" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1118" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhxO7lzbR6uX5f-Xfy-vRusIOxkRRwLRX_wpRyVfWYzlOgWUj5kB3r2RrTVf_9fmoxFe_nW7nrHdBDPllsaOfEAOvvg8FhOBebKvH9TMGvM8ONjXtqg6K3aLe4rprkeJHvU91qeYydqM/s200/front+cover+mock+up+2b+mandy+nelson.jpg" title="Little Things book cover mock up1" width="139" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHJEE_n-DJaL597r5fJPsyYg149K6w8loYGPYdVsPsO3_516huUukcsT6kN5_TRy4AGWaMjL3BAA3kih0VhGw6WvkLqOkRRDFgA3KFGjxPBOgKuhQrH5NcuqAWatVGDukoe-LHf5gSyI/s1600/front+cover+mock+up+2+mandy+nelson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Little Things book cover mock up4" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1118" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHJEE_n-DJaL597r5fJPsyYg149K6w8loYGPYdVsPsO3_516huUukcsT6kN5_TRy4AGWaMjL3BAA3kih0VhGw6WvkLqOkRRDFgA3KFGjxPBOgKuhQrH5NcuqAWatVGDukoe-LHf5gSyI/s200/front+cover+mock+up+2+mandy+nelson.jpg" title="Little Things book cover mock up4" width="140" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLIJ63NiLi5Wd4tOCgQg7MwW2RMe7MCY2yEt9xNq0J0mgKUugkbcixpQp87PYLQxD64Yq7ZrtLrOSyWfsvF3HdmHS7TOdgym6VcNY1sGDg-S435h98lMcaY7y55BFpSnjhjL2vv1H5n8/s1600/front+cover+mock+up+1+mandy+nelson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Little Things book cover mock up2" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1118" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLIJ63NiLi5Wd4tOCgQg7MwW2RMe7MCY2yEt9xNq0J0mgKUugkbcixpQp87PYLQxD64Yq7ZrtLrOSyWfsvF3HdmHS7TOdgym6VcNY1sGDg-S435h98lMcaY7y55BFpSnjhjL2vv1H5n8/s200/front+cover+mock+up+1+mandy+nelson.jpg" title="Little Things book cover mock up2" width="140" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpjS5-hpYn7ReYG21CVRcSiJXOgCRng66I6lFoKSTnXQJry7nKDOIk9AdU81b4akG79dnPKPYo84E1Fs6zM3xLXGsnOpDbLgEBBoz9wGRQjG3NQB6XPGIG_SH6W78LYAmtX7ah4K3Fmo/s1600/front+cover+mock+up+2c+mandy+nelson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Little Things book cover mock up3" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1118" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpjS5-hpYn7ReYG21CVRcSiJXOgCRng66I6lFoKSTnXQJry7nKDOIk9AdU81b4akG79dnPKPYo84E1Fs6zM3xLXGsnOpDbLgEBBoz9wGRQjG3NQB6XPGIG_SH6W78LYAmtX7ah4K3Fmo/s200/front+cover+mock+up+2c+mandy+nelson.jpg" title="Little Things book cover mock up3" width="139" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NAMcb9n4InVmsJhIYt-0iUokeNOqXOEARtejJGvGIBMX8IaNudIelqjWuIWSf_kXSvb65xDEHlrgOIiacdzwDlZK34gtiFyGnwb5LGWIg3-vzg0VnNzM5Nia-mcXTllTHFEllqCg8gw/s1600/front+cover+mock+up+3+amanda+stephan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Little Things book cover mock up5" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1398" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NAMcb9n4InVmsJhIYt-0iUokeNOqXOEARtejJGvGIBMX8IaNudIelqjWuIWSf_kXSvb65xDEHlrgOIiacdzwDlZK34gtiFyGnwb5LGWIg3-vzg0VnNzM5Nia-mcXTllTHFEllqCg8gw/s200/front+cover+mock+up+3+amanda+stephan.jpg" title="Little Things book cover mock up5" width="174" /></a><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254234074199400607.post-43706630715519612692019-05-27T08:37:00.000-05:002019-05-27T08:49:22.150-05:00What's New?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Wow. Almost three years since my last post. As with all people, life gets busy and sometimes we have to set some things aside. As you can see, this blog was one of the things. Two jobs, one high school graduate, one grandbaby, one soldier, two novels, and one new book outline later, I've decided to pick it back up. I'd like to use this spot as a catalyst to begin/help my online Facebook shop, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BarbedWireAndDandelions/" target="_blank">Barbedwire and Dandelions</a>. Please check it out I plan on adding new items often.<br />
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Just a brief preview of what I've been working on:</h4>
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<img alt="handmade Christmas stockings" border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="633" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRaFQlvffLqm5jUpWA19-jkfkCLBeZAAQrf3L7ajdznwXHRbXZdl9Gq1QgF7mDOawcDhtlCgsSAO1CfPp8oBEY4fIhz5KInA2-9ZCCZcp5K5XyEiwL8JbTdYl_t1nyXlevKFszC4a27w/s320/Christmas+stockings+blog.jpg" title="handmade Christmas stockings" width="320" /><span id="goog_1539298844"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1539298845"></span></div>
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This past Christmas, it was time to make some new stockings. The old ones were fine, but they just didn't match the rustic decor I was going for.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUuSY9K5xpbSzuXwS19wYZim34lpK8mFRrq1F0On9tBEZqvmj9dojaw9yr9rqIxiCzBIObLIQlwhtHFX6cf3zCNshuXptwRN03U_-ueP7a4ZdW8pT_mHW1ANNUt_1GoHlWb6T85sxOmg/s1600/paper+flowers+blog+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="paper wall flowers" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="469" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUuSY9K5xpbSzuXwS19wYZim34lpK8mFRrq1F0On9tBEZqvmj9dojaw9yr9rqIxiCzBIObLIQlwhtHFX6cf3zCNshuXptwRN03U_-ueP7a4ZdW8pT_mHW1ANNUt_1GoHlWb6T85sxOmg/s320/paper+flowers+blog+2.jpg" title="paper wall flowers" width="250" /></a></div>
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A few months ago, I was asked to make some paper flowers for a baby that was going to make her grand appearance. I had so much fun making these, I have some hanging in my craft room.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieD20dBaKPRxmW7UGkoKM-j9zj9hCQHgwldroRRtcRwd5kbJE-gWgI8OfgFt-LLGCcFPovBgJvcVNkhzLqzdT22T6U7TsRQk_6ohiuzjcDYisviABHym9U9Inh1RT2WD60XNSYxCNtJLE/s1600/black+and+white+dress+card+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dress Card" border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="447" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieD20dBaKPRxmW7UGkoKM-j9zj9hCQHgwldroRRtcRwd5kbJE-gWgI8OfgFt-LLGCcFPovBgJvcVNkhzLqzdT22T6U7TsRQk_6ohiuzjcDYisviABHym9U9Inh1RT2WD60XNSYxCNtJLE/s320/black+and+white+dress+card+blog.jpg" title="Dress Card" width="241" /></a></div>
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I wanted something different for my mom for Mother's Day. Found this card and couldn't wait to make it for her. Her smile was priceless!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKrSPPH3QgdDpoiw01p7ODrPxZfpphxC8aEQ9cIs1lPQSr1v5pyM53le8QVsln-jNfyJkfmyl25Ekmcghy2iJSPKvKXsK8WjNhy-27p-8NwawME5US3aj7bmgH_rDg0bozuo0MizqXrc/s1600/truck+box+cards+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="truck boxcard" border="0" data-original-height="372" data-original-width="476" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKrSPPH3QgdDpoiw01p7ODrPxZfpphxC8aEQ9cIs1lPQSr1v5pyM53le8QVsln-jNfyJkfmyl25Ekmcghy2iJSPKvKXsK8WjNhy-27p-8NwawME5US3aj7bmgH_rDg0bozuo0MizqXrc/s320/truck+box+cards+blog.jpg" title="truck boxcard" width="320" /></a></div>
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And last thing I'm going to show you, is the Father's Day card I made for my dad. Can't wait to give it to him! I'm not sure which I should give him. Any ideas? I love them both.<br />
Want one for your special dad? Only $6 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BarbedWireAndDandelions/" target="_blank">Find it here!</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254234074199400607.post-45880232782891627952016-07-16T20:08:00.003-05:002016-07-16T20:08:49.404-05:00The Cantaloupe Thief - Book Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 20px;"><strong>The Cantaloupe Thief </strong></span></div>
A Branigan Powers Mystery
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<span style="font-size: 12px;"><strong><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">By Deb Richardson-Moore</span></strong></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuoEpGbrqlf_chLymARRPXhPuLD8mfcE2Mlp6TCRlx0la6w7ECLdiz2fC4LkYPovBUGxvyxr6dVMgECe2bmORJf4AvocNIwkbXj4jLSCArAmHVHsWd5Pp21L2z9bgX6NpwdpwB09O5uE/s1600/cataloupe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The Cantaloupe Thief" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuoEpGbrqlf_chLymARRPXhPuLD8mfcE2Mlp6TCRlx0la6w7ECLdiz2fC4LkYPovBUGxvyxr6dVMgECe2bmORJf4AvocNIwkbXj4jLSCArAmHVHsWd5Pp21L2z9bgX6NpwdpwB09O5uE/s320/cataloupe.jpg" title="The Cantaloupe Thief" width="210" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">9781782641926 | $14.99 | Paperback | Lion Fiction</span></span>
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<strong>Tour Dates: </strong><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2029811727" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">July 18-22, 2016</span></span><br /><strong>Books Delivered By: </strong>June 18, 2016<br /><strong>Register By:</strong> May 9<span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">, 2016</span><br />
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<strong>About the book:<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></strong></div>
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Branigan Powers knows a good story when she sees one—and the
ten-year-old cold case of wealthy Alberta Grambling Resnick's murder
definitely makes the cut. Resnick was stabbed in her home after she let
it slip that she was planning to change her will. There are plenty of
suspects in the death of the matriarch of the town's founding family,
but the killer has never been caught.<br />
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Now Branigan must do some serious digging to get her story. She
knows the town's homeless community might have seen something; she also
knows that the local cops wouldn't have thought of questioning these
often-invisible people. There's a big problem, though: as Branigan
starts digging, the homeless start dying. When her twin brother, a
long-time addict, gets involved, the consequences of her investigation
may hit a little too close to home.</div>
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Set in the fictional small town of Grambling, Georgia, The
Cantaloupe Thief is the first in a new mystery series by Deb
Richardson-Moore. The author is herself a former journalist and works
extensively with the homeless, lending weight to the portrayal of a
believable and engaging whodunit.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.kregel.com/fiction/the-cantaloupe-thief/" target="_blank">Purchase a Copy</a> </b><br />
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<b>My Thoughts:</b><br />
Is it possible to solve a decade-long unsolved murder? Settled in cozy, upscale Grambling, Georgia, all is not what it seems. There's an underside to this city that many residents simply don't care to see. Invisible transients, homeless to the residents of Grambling, are starting to die under mysterious circumstances. Can the unsolved murder that happened ten years ago hold a clue to what is actually going on? <br /><br />Hardworking and driven, Branigan Powers is given the assignment to write about the 10 year unsolved murder for The Rambler newspaper. Once her story runs, homeless people start dying. Feeling as though she's somehow responsible, things start to spiral out of her control until the climactic ending.<br /><br />The author is a talented writer and this story was interesting. There were a couple of times I thought I knew who the murderer was—only to find out I was wrong. I like that in a story. There were a few swear words that were unnecessary. Yeah, yeah, I've heard it all before, they're just trying to make a gritty story realistic, but in my opinion, that's not something that makes a story realistic. How she wrote the various homeless personalities was gritty and realistic enough. Also, the watered down religion angle was something that I couldn't quite be comfortable with. I understand that these homeless people don't always want to change—but the Gospel changes lives. I've seen it; it happened to me.<br /><br />Like I said, it's an interesting read. I very much liked how she made the reader care for the homeless, and it did make me look at people around me in a different manner.<br />
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My thanks to the publisher for providing this book in exchange for my honest review.<br /><br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254234074199400607.post-67285736169016700652016-06-06T00:00:00.000-05:002016-07-16T20:12:42.248-05:00Beautiful Pretender by Melanie Dickerson Book Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmUboD4WDqyQ8YQjiL7lE3QHH1O8ksa4KjEwnHsd4gkbhNTQEWEDUU7vM47lT8E1vUjcdmJu_pmCuU9ECddqiPkFgmCANIumw_IR-3Yd2NhKyjnJyxN3_0EX8ZDzX9nMZHGMFR4sekjo/s1600/The-Beautiful-Pretender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Beautiful Pretender" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmUboD4WDqyQ8YQjiL7lE3QHH1O8ksa4KjEwnHsd4gkbhNTQEWEDUU7vM47lT8E1vUjcdmJu_pmCuU9ECddqiPkFgmCANIumw_IR-3Yd2NhKyjnJyxN3_0EX8ZDzX9nMZHGMFR4sekjo/s320/The-Beautiful-Pretender.jpg" title="The Beautiful Pretender" width="211" /></a></div>
<i>The Beautiful Pretender</i> (Thomas Nelson, May 2016)<br />
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<b>What happens when a margrave realizes he’s fallen in love with a servant?</b><br />
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The Margrave of Thornbeck has to find a bride, fast. He invites ten
noble-born ladies from around the country to be his guests at Thornbeck
Castle for two weeks, a time to test these ladies and reveal their true
character.<br />
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Avelina is only responsible for two things: making sure her deception
goes undetected and avoiding being selected as the margrave’s bride.
Since the latter seems unlikely, she concentrates on not getting caught.
No one must know she is merely a maidservant, sent by the Earl of
Plimmwald to stand in for his daughter, Dorothea.<br />
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Despite Avelina’s best attempts at diverting attention from herself,
the margrave has taken notice. And try as she might, she can’t deny her
own growing feelings. But something else is afoot in the castle.
Something sinister that could have far worse—far deadlier—consequences.
Will Avelina be able to stop the evil plot? And at what cost?<br />
<a href="http://www.melaniedickerson.com/my-books.html" target="_blank"><b>Learn more and purchase a copy.</b></a><br />
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<b>My Thoughts:</b><br />
I like books that I can pick up at the end of the day and read to put the tasks of the day behind me. Books that take me away from the monotonous and mundane without making me sad or despondent. This book fits the bill nicely. While it was a little predictable, it was a good book that I will definitely make time to read again. Recommend for those like me who like light yet satisfying love stories. My thanks to the author, publisher and LitFuse who gave me a copy in exchange for my honest review. These opinions are my own.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254234074199400607.post-19169613136956400342016-05-10T21:54:00.000-05:002016-05-10T21:54:07.614-05:00The End of Law - Book Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 20px;"><strong>The End of Law</strong></span></div>
A novel of Hitler's Germany
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<span style="font-size: 12px;"><strong><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">By Thérèse Down</span></strong></span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">9781782641902| $14.99 | Paperback | Lion Fiction</span></span>
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<strong>About the book:<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></strong></div>
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<strong>Two SS officers—both involved in Hitler's Final Solution,
both in love with a beautiful woman— but only one can live with his
conscience </strong><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Thérèse Down delivers a powerful story
set in Berlin in the 1930s and early 1940s and woven around the fortunes
of three people: an ambitious SS officer, Walter Gunter; his naíve
wife, Hedda; and a guilt-ridden SS officer, Karl Muller.</div>
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Gunter—
intensely loyal to the Third Reich, entirely ruthless, with dreams of
military renown—is outraged to be placed in charge of the T4 euthanasia
program.</div>
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Muller, an engineer and trainee doctor, reluctantly
oversees the safe delivery of lethal gases and drugs to the killing
centers, and is required to convert shower rooms and bathrooms into gas
chambers in commandeered hospitals and prisons. Both detest their jobs.</div>
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Meanwhile
Hedda is treated with increasing brutality by her sadistic and
permanently enraged husband. Desperate to protect her two young
children, she faces agonizing choices of her own.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
A magnificent and meticulously researched novel based on real people and events, <em>The End of Law</em> focuses
on the difficult moral choices made by soldiers and civilians under a
corrupt regime, and on the disruptive power of an awakened conscience.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.kregel.com/fiction/the-end-of-law/" target="_blank"><i><u><b>Purchase a copy!</b></u></i></a> </div>
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<b>My Thoughts:</b></div>
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<b> </b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>I've always been interested in this particular time period. How an entire country could condone the genocide of a race of people is disturbing, to put it mildly. But, taking instances out of our own generation that people wouldn't have even dreamed of allowing to happen ten years ago, things become a little clearer.</b></div>
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<b> </b></div>
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<b>Therese Downs' book is an excellent look at the struggles of ordinary people. Some were called upon to serve their country - albeit wrongly - they answered that call. Honestly, what would you do if that call had come to you? If your country was wrongly imprisoning, torturing and murdering people that spoke out against an out of control regime, would you be numbered among their victims? Or would you be among the silent masses who knew the government was wrong but was afraid-or worse-unwilling to do anything about it?</b></div>
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<b>I wondered if there were people in Germany at that time who were against this killing, lawless machine, and I was very glad to read there were. The author's research definitely shows in these pages. I did my own research on some of the things in this book to see if it was factual and was surprised to see that they were. I wish I could tell you which things I'm referring to, but I don't want to give away spoilers. </b></div>
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<b>In all, this book is very good. There is some swearing and some 'things' are alluded to, but I felt they were presented correctly. Definitely not for younger readers.</b></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254234074199400607.post-90075974848932981392016-04-09T18:31:00.001-05:002016-04-09T18:31:40.803-05:00I'm Building the Yellow Brick RoadYou heard me. I'm building the yellow brick road. Complete with trees...<br />
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Hubby and I work with the children's club at our church every Wednesday. To keep things active and not stagnant, the leaders (not hubby and I, praise the Lord) have different things they like to do to keep the kids excited to come. A couple weeks ago it was boat races. A few weeks before that, it was dress up as a cartoon character night. (The entire leader staff dressed up as the Peanuts gang. It was so cool. I was Peppermint Patty and hubster was Snoopy. One day maybe I'll post the pictures.) <br />
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This coming Wednesday is drama night. And I was asked to build the set. I am so stoked! I mean, letting my creativity loose with a Wizard of Oz type of plot?! Yes please!<br />
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As of this morning, I have the yellow brick road almost complete. I just need gold glitter and it will get done. Currently, I have over 150 leaves cut for the trees we're going to make - thank you Cricut! - and now, all I need is to finish the tree trunks and adhere the leaves.<br />
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It's going to be so much fun! I'll try to remember to take pictures and post them. <br />
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What have you created recently? <br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.picgifs.com/animal-graphics/"><img border="0" src="http://www.picgifs.com/animal-graphics/animal-graphics/squirrel/animal-graphics-squirrel-955527.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3heonN8hiNQTNLGwT6wy6UZXkC0M_JrI_22cI5oYDfMbdFxYVIAO1_hrhoTZVmqT9aOlafnZ3_jDPPsXCEd1U2PBa4ocywoNV7lrn68cPwKp7vkGsK8HU64DYKmfDr2MPJ7Jc8ES80c/s1600/Squirrel+logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3heonN8hiNQTNLGwT6wy6UZXkC0M_JrI_22cI5oYDfMbdFxYVIAO1_hrhoTZVmqT9aOlafnZ3_jDPPsXCEd1U2PBa4ocywoNV7lrn68cPwKp7vkGsK8HU64DYKmfDr2MPJ7Jc8ES80c/s200/Squirrel+logo.png" /></a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254234074199400607.post-27336670880418928392016-02-20T00:32:00.001-06:002016-02-20T00:32:18.659-06:00GraphicStock - Friend or Foe? A Review From a User<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Did you receive this in your email box recently?</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXEfLTHQRQQARk1tdy1CW2QFl-Br51bEjlPmcFILz57QGuJL-BnyqEbqN4HxC0VJFh5I3AkzahUsXIRJ9pfcxPCxJ-n8awb8PHOCYwZpr0ZmaYwNH42H6ozDf63yOm8KDCuPm0D5dvRs/s1600/graphic+stock+email.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXEfLTHQRQQARk1tdy1CW2QFl-Br51bEjlPmcFILz57QGuJL-BnyqEbqN4HxC0VJFh5I3AkzahUsXIRJ9pfcxPCxJ-n8awb8PHOCYwZpr0ZmaYwNH42H6ozDf63yOm8KDCuPm0D5dvRs/s320/graphic+stock+email.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
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Obviously I did. After I checked it out a little, I decided to take the plunge and see if it's something I would like. I'm always on the lookout for graphics for work and home, so why not?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Pros:</b></span><br />
- As stated in their terms of use, I can use these graphics and pictures for commercial as well as personal purposes. <b><span style="color: red;">Plus 2.</span></b><br />
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- There's a lot to choose from. You will have lots and lots and lots to look at. <b><span style="color: red;">Plus 1.</span></b><br />
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- You create an account, which is quick and easy (you do have to fill out payment information just in case you go past your 7 days free they can conveniently bill you. Personally, I dislike that part, but I see that it is necessary. <b>Make sure to write your start date down and be prepared to cancel after your last 20 downloads on your last day!</b>) They provide folders for you to save what you like for future daily downloads. <b><span style="color: red;">Plus 1.</span></b><br />
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- The graphics, vectors and illustrations are nice. Overall, I'm pleased with them. I have found a few that were a little risque, but on the whole, they seem to be family-friendly. <span style="color: red;"><b>Plus 2.</b></span><br />
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- Compared to other sites out there, the yearly membership fee for this one is by far the best priced. <span style="color: red;"><b>Plus 2.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Cons:</b></span><br />
- Their <b>pricing scale was not easily identifiable</b> on their website. I did have to do a lot of searching before I found it. I would have signed up quicker if they had been upfront with costs. <b><span style="color: red;">Minus 1</span></b>.<br />
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- You only get 20 downloads per day. While this in itself isn't a bad thing, <span style="font-size: small;"><b>if you don't use up your 20 downloads on one day, they do not roll over.</b></span> You <b>must </b>download 20 or you will lose them. <b><span style="color: red;">Minus 2</span></b>. I say minus 2 because that just seems dishonest. Face it, it's not going to break their bank account if they allow me to <i><b>actually download </b></i>140 graphics. Can I get an Amen?<br />
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- <b>Be careful </b>when you download to note what you're actually getting. I have <b>four</b> duplicate downloads. HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?! Honestly, the first two were my fault. I relied on the site to say something like <b>'you have previously downloaded this file'.</b> But that feature only worked half the time, which is why I'm very careful now before downloading because guess what? Yep. The duplicates count against your 20. <b>The second two duplicate files, </b>weirdly those just showed up. No, I didn't double click and I know I didn't download them twice. Makes me go hmm. But seriously, at this point, it's their word against mine. Would they even listen to me if I complained? Don't know. I'll send them a nice email and see what happens. <span style="color: red;"><b>Minus 2.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">- You will <b>spend a lot of time on this site.</b> With 2 jobs, homeschooling, running a house and karate, I don't have a lot of time, but if I only get 20 downloads a day and those don't roll over, yeah. I'm going to get my 20. <span style="color: red;"><b><span style="color: black;">See point 2 above. <span style="color: red;">Neutral score </span></span></b><span style="color: black;">as I knew I didn't have a lot of time going into this.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">- When you join, <b>make sure to note what time zone you are. </b>I thought I had time to get back upstairs and finish my 20 downloads for the day after we watched a movie as a family, but sadly I was mistaken. I'm in the Central time zone and they are in Eastern time. Which I found on the <b>bottom </b>of their <b>contact us </b>email page. They did not post that on the front page of their site and make it clear what time they're going by. <b>Because this happened, I lost out on 8 downloads. Not happy Bob. <span style="color: red;">Minus 8.</span></b><span style="color: red;"> </span></span><b><span style="color: black;"> </span></b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="color: black;">Overall:</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">At the moment, <b>Foe. </b>I did write them an email regarding the rollover time issue. We'll see if anything happens. My opinion? Be cautious before proceeding with this GraphicStock offer and be tedious to learn the details. I won't be coming back.</span><b><span style="color: black;"> </span></b></span></span><b> </b></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254234074199400607.post-33431580484710513042016-02-13T13:55:00.001-06:002016-02-13T13:55:59.219-06:00The Body Under the Bridge - Book Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: 20px;"><b>The Body Under the Bridge</b></span><a href="http://email.robly.com/mpss/c/-gA/ja4ZAA/t.1sk/ClEWgkGDT7GYcffWQcBRiw/h0/JYleMuKf7lgChzOZghKKat3w859Z6IxWS4K3oreFevxgIIhn3gg0-2FkpxmU76jfMNz5bob3GLuNUDXEQJsj31Nw-3D-3D" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title=""><img align="right" class="CToWUd" height="269.63" hspace="10" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhQvqJDnT1v73sCtgQHBY022ZhZohdfbc4JgsfsrFLSJ_XlWVZU2PnUl2ab59To2tFSxfdo2IXEYERlYsBqi1damyq95rQkV8ea37UIM2r3WpupeE94NGoTXDNofSZ3KZHSQl0HK5v4ftHIaWmsmZdaw16GsvwVxS0cJtRVY3-yVSLM5YzOx4lwMKEpsUBAHSsYQCBLRV6RpcmoUuvDf0v8fu_WuQkmi5kK8rxmfvvwEyJ6AfUJxjHJXza0=s0-d-e1-ft" style="background: none; float: right; min-height: 269.63px; width: 177px;" vspace="10" width="177" /></a>
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A Father Gilbert Mystery</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12px;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By Paul McCusker</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">9781782641070 | $14.99 | Paperback | Lion Fiction</span></span></div>
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<b>About the book:<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></b></div>
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<b>First in a series of modern whodunits from an accomplished author with a worldwide following</b></div>
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A former Scotland Yard detective, Father Gilbert knows about death.
But, now a priest of a modest Anglican church in the small town of
Hailsham, he didn't expect it to show up like this--in the suicide of a
man who threw himself off the church tower, and in the discovery of a
two-hundred-year-old body beneath an ancient bridge.</div>
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The deaths are linked. The mummified corpse under the bridge, a
murder victim, reignites a centuries-old battle between two local
families--the Todds and the aristocratic Hayshams. Then both David Todd
and Lord Haysham begin to act strangely. They are fearful for reasons
they won’t explain.</div>
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When Lord Haysham is murdered, David Todd is the prime suspect. But
Todd is maniacal, claiming great forces of evil are at work. An entire
history of violence and depravity begins to emerge, interweaving the
history of several local families with a secret occult society that
engages in Black Masses. Has the Society emerged again?<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Review:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Let me preface this review by stating that thoughts on books are highly subjective. What<i> I</i> like, <i>you</i> may not, and vice versa. My purpose for writing these book reviews is to let other parents/adults know what is in them. Just in case someone out there is as picky as I am. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>With that said, here we go.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Pros:</span></b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I was very excited to receive this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you Kregel. The cover is striking; it sparked my interest and made me want to delve into this mystery. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">There were plenty of twists and turns in this plot. This propelled the story forward.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The author wrote about new things I haven't seen in print before. However, to be blatantly honest, I don't read a ton of books. I simply don't have time, so I could be wrong about that.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span> <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Cons:</span></b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I was very disappointed on how much the author delved into sexual thoughts. While those thoughts weren't acted upon, the point was there and it was uncomfortable. I don't read books with sexual overtones. I have raised my children to know that if a book is here in my library, they are more than welcome to read it. This is one that I feel I have to hide. There's quite enough in the world to make child rearing difficult that I don't need to put temptation in their path. Home should be a place of safety and refuge, not refuse (garbage).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I picked this book because I knew the author was associated with Focus on the Family and Adventures in Odyssey series. This isn't something that settles well with me. I understand wanting to branch out, believe me. I myself am writing a speculative fiction novel that deals with unexplainable things that some Christians may not accept. But I do not delve into the sexual. I feel the Bible expressly discourages such subjects as sex was made only for marriage so I treat it as a subject that shouldn't be in Christian novels. If I wanted to read a worldly book, there are plenty for me to choose from.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I also understand that this review is harsh and I do apologize. I feel terrible for that, but I cannot in good conscience with God nor myself recommend this book. If I'm uncomfortable having this book on my shelf, I feel it is my duty to warn others that may feel the same as I do. I won't be reading any more Father Gilbert books.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /> </b></span> </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254234074199400607.post-79175684078050731812016-01-31T00:00:00.000-06:002016-01-31T00:00:11.639-06:00Ashes to Ashes Book Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Ashes to Ashes<br />
<br />
Mel Starr<br />
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<b>About the Book:</b><br />
The morning after the festivities of Midsummer's Eve, the villagers of Bampton make a grisly discovery<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3hak0h9Fu13hxTm7r8d5KIVvfo32De8TLpzPwgNEZymQ5dX7Bm_QbgjoYgQVVdwHptBm_LyD6O_OdeN8RhhwWlr4RqxhrlLMWMJeE6VQURtwuz8lIv3tND36oEd7jLaF9JTkqrAizfw/s1600/ashes+to+ashes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Ashes to Ashes by Mel Starr" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3hak0h9Fu13hxTm7r8d5KIVvfo32De8TLpzPwgNEZymQ5dX7Bm_QbgjoYgQVVdwHptBm_LyD6O_OdeN8RhhwWlr4RqxhrlLMWMJeE6VQURtwuz8lIv3tND36oEd7jLaF9JTkqrAizfw/s320/ashes+to+ashes.jpg" title="Ashes to Ashes by Mel Starr" width="210" /></a>Master Hugh, Kate, and their children attend the Midsummer's Eve fire. The next morning Hugh hears the passing bell ring from the Church of St. Beornwald, and moments later is summoned. Tenants collecting the ashes to spread upon their fields have found burned bones.<br />
<br />
Master Hugh learns of several men of Bampton and nearby villages who have gone missing recently. Most are soon found, some alive, some dead. Master Hugh eventually learns that the bones are those of a bailiff from a nearby manor. Someone has slain him and placed his body in the fire to destroy evidence of murder.<br />
<br />
Bailiffs are not popular men; they dictate labor service, collect rents, and enforce other obligations. Has this bailiff died at the hand of some angry tenant? Hugh soon discovers this is not the case. There is quite another reason for murder . . . -<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.kregel.com/fiction/ashes-to-ashes/" target="_blank"><b>Purchase a Copy!</b></a><br />
<br />
<b>My Thoughts:</b><br />
Like everyone else on planet earth, my time is severely limited. I don't have time for frivolities unless it's going to be worth my while. When I received notification that another Hugh de Singleton book was coming out, it was a no brainer. I knew this would be a book that I would enjoy spending time on. Perusing. Reading. Enjoying. I wasn't disappointed.<br />
<br />
Set during the 1300's, we get a glimpse into the everyday life of peasants, lords, and bailiffs. Not many fiction books out there are written in this timeframe. That alone sparked my curiosity with the first Master Hugh book I read, <i>The Tainted Coin.</i> (Another good book.) In short, Mel Starr is a very gifted writer that puts time and much research into his Master Hugh books. All I've read enthrall me and make me anxious for the next one. The characters aren't cardboard cutouts that are all perfect and pretty (Master Hugh has a large nose) and they are written so that we care for them.<br />
<br />
If you like time period books set during a time that hasn't been over-written, this is a great series of books to begin. Very good read.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">My thanks to Kregel and the author who provided this book in exchange for an honest review. These thoughts are my own.</span><br />
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<b> </b><br />
<b> </b> <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254234074199400607.post-27601313941008478602016-01-04T00:00:00.000-06:002016-01-04T00:00:11.161-06:00He Made me Cry in the Store<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I talked with a piece of living history today. I don't know how, but I knew he was special as soon as I saw him standing behind me in the line at the checkout. It could have been his hat that announced that he was a World War II veteran. Or it could have been his graying hair, his age spots, his once strong back now hunched over with care. The perfect picture of what my husband and I are going to become if the Lord tarries.<br />
<br />
That's when I felt it. The nudge from the Holy Spirit. I don't talk too much about the Holy Spirit because let's face it. Somehow, instead of being the third part of the Holy Trinity, the world has begun treating Him as Santa Claus with their 'If I say He has to do something, according to Scriptures, He has to do it!' I say, bah. Not like taking the Bible out of context and making it what you want it to say. But that's a rant for another time.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKDCpkZy9TTRj8P5_oE4Ce7xzxl0sZi-zBYZY4ha5Y0cf-Ngyji0WScw0CuFhLzlzicUu2IfafDV6aL8LHPuJCFJEFUAC-e5SujJpdzDLf0uB_DO0683fnIr7bruTweFgq9Dt2P3VRdw/s1600/iwo-jima-memorial-wide-1519562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Iwo Jima Memorial" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKDCpkZy9TTRj8P5_oE4Ce7xzxl0sZi-zBYZY4ha5Y0cf-Ngyji0WScw0CuFhLzlzicUu2IfafDV6aL8LHPuJCFJEFUAC-e5SujJpdzDLf0uB_DO0683fnIr7bruTweFgq9Dt2P3VRdw/s320/iwo-jima-memorial-wide-1519562.jpg" title="Iwo Jima Memorial" width="320" /></a>Anyway, I seriously felt the push. The gentle leading. The gentle whisper to pay for this man's item. It was only one small thing, and yet, I was afraid to do it. I can't explain why I feared doing something like that, but that fear was there. <br />
<br />
"Are you sure, God? Are You leading me to do this, or am I doing this for a selfish reason?" You see, my dad is a veteran of Vietnam. And every time someone does something nice like say "Thank you for serving our country" it makes me cry. Without fail. I didn't want to do this for the wrong reason.<br />
<br />
But really. Is there a wrong reason to do something kind for someone else? Yeah. That's what the Holy Spirit said too. So without fanfare and very quietly, I asked the cashier to ring up his purchase as well. It didn't matter that she looked at me like I was stupid. This was what I needed to do. God had asked me to do it, and I was going to do it.<br />
<br />
Afterward, he thanked me, and we talked a little bit. He said I was welcome for his serving the country, and that he had fought at Iwo Jima. That if he lived one more day, it would be 70 years since he got his release papers. That his wife was sick and he had to go get her at the pharmacy.<br />
<br />
And I was crying because he was so grateful that I bought his bag of chicken when really, it was me getting the blessing. That I wish I could have done so much more. Compared to his sacrifices, mine amounted to nothing. While mine was simple, his had cost him so much.<br />
<br />
Truly it is better to give than to receive. Now at the oddest times of day (and night) I find myself praying for that man and his wife, and I wonder, do they know Jesus as their Saviour? And I beg God that if they don't, that somehow He would send someone to tell them about His love for them and His sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. Because that's one Sacrifice only He could make to save us.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254234074199400607.post-59788175589403547532016-01-01T00:39:00.000-06:002016-01-01T00:39:16.055-06:00On This Day in History<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
37 years ago, my mom and I were sitting in the car waiting for my brother and my dad. I don't know where they were, but we were waiting. I was sitting in the red backseat of that old white Nova staring into the starlit sky.<br />
<br />
It was cold. Usually is in Michigan in January. We had just rung in the New Year watching a Christian film at our church, <i>A Thief in the Night</i>. Literally scared me to pieces. I remember asking my mom,<br />
<br />
"Mom, why didn't those people come back?" (referring to Christians that God raptured up in the movie)<br />
<br />
"Because they were raptured up and once you go to Heaven, you can't come back."<br />
<br />
I knew I wanted to go to Heaven when it was time for everyone to go. I knew that if He was going to rapture people to Heaven, I didn't want to be left alone without my parents. I knew at the tender age of 4 (it was the night before my birthday, so I could technically be considered 5) that I wasn't going to go. So I asked Jesus to take me to Heaven when I die. Just like that. Simple. But I believed that He would.<br />
<br />
I consider that night the night I received Jesus as my Saviour. When I tell people that, they always ask me if I knew what I was doing. If I understood enough to really believe that God heard me and saved me. To be honest, for quite a few years, those questions threw me for a loop.<br />
<br />
I knew that I needed Jesus to take me to Heaven. I knew He was the only Way there. I knew I was a sinner - sheesh, I'm a redhead, for crying out loud! Good night, <i>everyone </i>knew I was a sinner! I knew that if the rapture occurred that night, I wouldn't be on my way to Heaven if I didn't do something about it.<br />
<br />
I made sure I was saved a little later with my parents. Then I made sure again with an older, wiser friend. Then I made sure again after our first child was born. Goodness, I made sure over and over and over and over. I was scared spitless that somehow, I had messed it up and didn't do everything correctly. That I didn't say the right words. Or that I didn't understand enough. Or a million other what ifs. Those questions haunted me for many years.<br />
<br />
Reading your Bible can really answer a lot of questions. All in fact. I was a bit older when I read:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="passage-display-bcv">Mark 10:13-15</span><span class="passage-display-version"> (KJV)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text Mark-10-13" id="en-KJV-24602"><sup class="versenum">13 </sup>And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text Mark-10-14" id="en-KJV-24603"><sup class="versenum">14 </sup>But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text Mark-10-15" id="en-KJV-24604"><sup class="versenum">15 </sup>Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text Mark-10-15" id="en-KJV-24604">and again: </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text Mark-10-15" id="en-KJV-24604">I John 5:13 (KJV)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text Mark-10-15" id="en-KJV-24604">These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text Mark-10-15" id="en-KJV-24604">And I knew that God heard me. So, today is my spiritual birthday. Today, I turn 37 as a born-again believer in the finished work of Christ on Calvary, and tomorrow is my physical birthday. I'll be 42. Not too bad.</span></span><br />
<br />
I sit here and wonder. How often do we discourage others from receiving Christ as their Saviour on the grounds that "they probably don't understand it all yet"? Will we 'seasoned' Christians ever understand everything that God did for us in sending Jesus to die for us? Praise the Good Lord if you do, because honestly, I'm still in awe of this Perfect Sacrifice. I don't understand everything there is to understand about salvation or Hell or Heaven or even the rapture, but I do understand that Jesus is the only Way to Heaven.<br />
<br />
So Happy Birthday to me and to all the people out there who have Jesus in their heart. May 2016 be an excellent year for us! <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254234074199400607.post-16376978018237470092015-11-29T16:15:00.002-06:002015-11-29T16:15:47.889-06:00Werther's Soft Caramel Influenster ReviewCan I just say...<br />
<br />
Werther's.<br />
<br />
Yes.
You know what I'm talking about. The candy that is so good you hide in
the attic so your family won't know you have a bag and that you're
eating them without sharing? Don't judge me. These are so good. Which if
you've had them, you understand. I'm sure there's a select few that
don't feel the same way I do about them, but really, when I find those
people, I mark them off my friends' list. Who needs that kind of
negativity, right?!<br />
<br />
Seriously. I do not share these if I
can help it. I will buy my Werther's snacking privileges with an entire
bag of different candy as bribery for anyone in my family who finds me.<br />
<br />
In the attic.<br />
<br />
Eating my Werther's.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254234074199400607.post-73397338606418696962015-06-08T19:11:00.003-05:002015-06-09T14:20:58.793-05:00Neutrogena Naturals. A Super-Sensitive-Skinned Redhead Shares What She Thinks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's been a while, hasn't it? Much has changed over this way (which is why you haven't heard from me). The reader's digest version:<br />
- December - we moved<br />
- End of December I was offered (and took) a copy-editing/marketing job<br />
- Christmas - our daughter became engaged <br />
- February - hubby went to Japan (not a good month emotionally, but I got a ton finished for the upcoming wedding! *see below*)<br />
- March - we hit a huge milestone in our marriage<br />
- April - we have two driving teens and all those interesting tidbits that go along with that <br />
- May - our daughter was married in a beautiful outdoor, rustic wedding that I decorated for <br />
- June - just started, but I'm positive things will slow down. Ha. Ha. Ha. <i>*cue sarcastic laughter*</i><br />
<br />
Anywho, I have *so many* things to share. But we'll take this a little at a time to make things a lot more digestible. Less overwhelming = good idea.<br />
<br />
A few weeks ago, I was honored to have received a package of Neutrogena® Naturals Makeup Remover Towelettes from Influenster (thanks Influenster! Y'all are so much fun!) in an effort to raise water conservation awareness this summer. I took a 7 day pledge to wash my face only with these towelettes and <b>I managed to save 35 gallons of water</b> ~ go me! :)<br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Here's my review:</span></b></span></div>
When these moist towelettes arrived, I was a little skeptical. The first thought that went through my mind is <i>What makes these different than any other makeup removing wipes, and how is this going to affect my super sensitive skin?</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>What I liked:</b></span></div>
<i>- </i>the smell. Don't laugh. That's an important detail. Who wants to put something that smells like doggy-doo on their face? Just Ew.<br />
- they were very soft<br />
- they were gentle<br />
- they didn't dry out my sensitive skin<br />
- they were gentle enough to use to remove eye makeup - Score!<br />
- convenient, non-space-hogging packaging. If your bathroom closet looks anything like mine, this too is an important detail.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Here's a short video of me being weird and washing my face with my new towelettes.</i></b></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254234074199400607.post-89571962487947619322015-03-06T17:03:00.000-06:002015-03-06T17:03:09.652-06:00I Need You! A Call for Reviewers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Howdy folks! As many of you know, I've been in the book business for quite a while now. Since having my own novels published, I've learned a tremendous amount of gobbledygook, er, information, and I'm applying this now in my new job.<br />
<br />
Last year before Christmas, I was offered a job in a marvelous Christian publishing house here in Murfreesboro, TN. I jumped at the chance, and have enjoyed myself tremendously in my new capacity. I mean, seriously. Books? Me? Yes <b><i>please</i></b>!<br />
<br />
So far, I've formatted 12 ebooks - which are available at <span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/AmandaS74" target="_blank">Smashwords.com</a></b></span> for <span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>any eReading device</i> </span>- and am full steam ahead on my next project. But here we come to the crux of the matter. What good are all these ebooks if no one's finding them and reading them?<br />
<br />
This is where I need YOU, wonderful reader. We're <span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>looking for reviewers</b></span></span></span> for our growing list of books. Both non-fiction and fiction are available for your reading pleasure. Think you might be interested? Would you like to know more? If you'd like more information, please email me at<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000;">amandastephan at swordofthelord dot com</span><br />
or<br />
<span style="color: #990000;">amanda38401 at gmail dot com</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #bf9000;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's a list of available <b>Non-Fiction</b> titles:</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><b>The Abundant Single Life</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Casting Your Care</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Wounded Spirits</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Following the Man of Faith</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><b>God's Forever Word</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Bible Facts About Heaven</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><b>**Fugitive King - </b><i>A popular homeschooling book used in the ACE literature program</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Tales From India</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><b>The Secret of Power </b> </span> </span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;">And here's a list of <b>Children's</b> fiction titles:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>Jed Cartwright and the Dangerous Journey</b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>Jed Cartwright and the Lost Gold Mine</b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>Jed Cartwright and the Comanche Raiders</b></div>
<br />
and MANY more are on their way! Sign up now to become a reviewer for us and get a chance to read our new titles first!<b> </b><br />
<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254234074199400607.post-51024975385208640452015-02-24T23:36:00.000-06:002015-02-24T23:36:21.634-06:00Don't Judge Me. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There are some things that I immediately love, and there are some I immediately hate.<br />
<br />
On the hate side - spiders. Just ick. Especially in the house. This freaks me out more than I'm willing to admit.<br />
<br />
The instant love side - #ReesesSpread<br />
Peanut Butter. Chocolate. All...mixed...together in a delicious choco-spread that will have you concocting glorious confections to make with it. <span style="color: #bf9000;"><i>If you make it that far.</i></span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbbXV6urnXSBApAUjOfG2HSzqRFxNOQxwMkj3tNMHh4TO7iGEdepzZL1zJywYTqh9DfjAvhP0BbZvVNHptlP1KJ3ejQ8cF_ZuP3CCyt1tbrK1qcI5xyOzJH8oa7F7N8NyjBziz2ZRy5I/s1600/resses1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Reeses Spread" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbbXV6urnXSBApAUjOfG2HSzqRFxNOQxwMkj3tNMHh4TO7iGEdepzZL1zJywYTqh9DfjAvhP0BbZvVNHptlP1KJ3ejQ8cF_ZuP3CCyt1tbrK1qcI5xyOzJH8oa7F7N8NyjBziz2ZRy5I/s1600/resses1a.jpg" height="320" title="Reeses Spread - Influenster" width="264" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Yeah. I saw the recipes. I saw the pictures.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>**But I wasn't strong enough.**</b></span></div>
I saw that adorable little jar with all that awesomeness inside, and...<br />
I went nuts.<br />
<br />
I ate it. <br />
ALL of it. All by myself. I did give my kids a quick taste, but then I told them it was...well...<i>gone. </i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
I'm a bad, bad person. Not because I ate all of the perfection myself; okay, maybe a little because of that, but I actually hid it in the pantry and when they weren't looking, <i><span style="color: #7f6000;"><b>I indulged.</b></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #7f6000;"><b><span style="color: black;">I used some on my celery.</span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #7f6000;"><b><span style="color: black;"> Then there were the crackers.</span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #7f6000;"><b><span style="color: black;"> Can't forget the homemade biscuits. Just yummy. </span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #7f6000;"><b><span style="color: black;"> We won't mention the carrots.</span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #7f6000;"><b><span style="color: black;"> ....<i>hey. At least I was trying to make it halfway healthy...</i></span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #7f6000;"><b><span style="color: black;"><i> </i></span></b><span style="color: black;">But my favorite way to munch on Reeses Spread?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
I'll give you some clues:</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
it's white</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
it's normally a breakfast food</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
it's a Southern thing</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
most people don't like it to begin with</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
here's a quick pic...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9yA4dDEkDeBO16YYBenodAjRdu1DAwRQcYGDjVdN3az1VtanzSqs4S09dkPIRq3WFv6oJyMl7_XhNdFJTnHP7Y5ORQtK1K4TruckiuhqBJFTyqMii7e9nDY15ndUGRe7B2ueJRuVuYg/s1600/resses+2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Reeses Spread in grits" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9yA4dDEkDeBO16YYBenodAjRdu1DAwRQcYGDjVdN3az1VtanzSqs4S09dkPIRq3WFv6oJyMl7_XhNdFJTnHP7Y5ORQtK1K4TruckiuhqBJFTyqMii7e9nDY15ndUGRe7B2ueJRuVuYg/s1600/resses+2a.jpg" height="307" title="Reeses Spread in grits" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Grits!</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><b> <i><span style="font-size: small;">I told you not to judge...;)</span></i></b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">This stuff is so good, it should be a crime, and I'm positive this is going to become a habit I'm going to have trouble breaking.</span></i></b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Thanks #Reeses and #Influenster! </span></i> </b></span><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b></b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #7f6000;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><b><span style="color: black;"> </span></b></span><i><span style="color: #7f6000;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254234074199400607.post-60458640973541187852015-01-08T22:26:00.002-06:002015-01-08T22:33:45.338-06:00Dead Gorgeous - Book Review & Tour<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>About the Book:</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjy_eNkvLwxod0KftpVQFEwlQE6Z926dVlP3p7NCRkPRifRMVnquvLCXxFtv4d9PYOBQ9n_QqREu-y2zXOFR6Z339xQLnVAfbmXAbAXjO-CvxlP4gFbUm7SxE4Jh1QDWFVkAw0t3WE_Fk/s1600/dead+gorgeous.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Dead Gorgeous by Elizabeth Flynn" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjy_eNkvLwxod0KftpVQFEwlQE6Z926dVlP3p7NCRkPRifRMVnquvLCXxFtv4d9PYOBQ9n_QqREu-y2zXOFR6Z339xQLnVAfbmXAbAXjO-CvxlP4gFbUm7SxE4Jh1QDWFVkAw0t3WE_Fk/s1600/dead+gorgeous.jpg" title="Dead Gorgeous by Elizabeth Flynn" /></a>Fashion model Kirsty Manners is young, beautiful, and recently dead.<br />
<br />
Kirsty Manners is trying to make it as a model. As the in-house model for the Ivano King fashion house and girlfriend of Ian King, the man behind the label, she believes she is well on her way. But Kirsty is found dead in her flat one Sunday afternoon and D. I. Angela Costello is called to the scene.<br />
<br />
First enquiries center on the local gym where Kirsty, her dangerous ex-boyfriend, Darren Carpenter, and her jealous flatmate, Sandra Hodges, worked out. But things are more complicated. Ian King is considered to have lost his edge. Why then is he so buoyant about his latest collection for London Fashion Week? What about his new girlfriend, Eleanor Chandler, who openly admits to having a reason to wish Kirsty dead?<br />
<br />
Behind the gleaming smiles and flawless makeup of the glamorous fashion world, Angela’s enquiries uncover theft, drug-addiction, prostitution, and imprisonment—and suddenly her own life could be in danger.<br />
<br />
<b>My Thoughts:</b><br />
I admit it, this book has taken me way too long to read. I'd pick it up, read a few lines, maybe a chapter here and there, but it was sporadic at best. I hate reading like that. I always have a difficult time getting back into the story. Ugh. But,with a move to another city and a new job offer, my time has been extremely limited, and it just couldn't be helped.<b> </b>Which is also why it's been since November 30th since my last post. Sheesh. I'm losing all kind of traction, aren't I?<br />
<br />
First, the back copy is what grabbed my attention. (What girl didn't once in her life dream about being super pretty and a model?) This was a clean read, but that's not to say the victim had a wonderful reputation; in fact, I wasn't too upset at all that she got knocked off right away. I didn't like her a bit. Plus one for that. D.I. Costello was a strong, articulate female lead that wasn't too overbearing. A little on the patronizing side, but still, an okay character. This book takes an inside look at what most people think is a luxurious, wonderful life without care or troubles, and shows us that perhaps all that glitters isn't gold after all, and that it's probably better off that our little girl dreams of celebrity stardom were better left unattained. Another plus for that.<br />
<br />
I like to play a game whenever I pick up a mystery book and see if I can guess who did the victim in. I failed on this one. I so badly wanted it to be someone else, and the actual murderer to go free, that I was disappointed. Oh well. Not a big deal. I mean hey, that's just my opinion, and honestly, it doesn't matter if you share that opinion. It's just my thoughts, and that's part of the beauty of being an individual. And, while I'm on this whole individuality and freedom of speech kick, I come to the part I didn't like. The author just <i>had</i> to throw in a gun scene (without any purpose at all other than to chant with the rest of the haters, that guns are <i>bad </i>and <i>anyone </i>who has one has the potential to commit a heinous crime with it. Like we haven't heard that one before. And frankly, I'm tired of hearing it.) But, since guns can kill people (as can peanuts, bees, rhinos, and <i>alcohol), </i>we must do our civic duty and have the owner of said gun commit a crime. Just a teeny one, nothing too big, just to show how dangerous they and their owners can be. This particular scene didn't add anything to the story at all. It seemed kind of just jammed in there because someone wanted to get the point across they don't like them. So, in light of that, I walk away from this book with more negative feelings than positive. <br />
<br />
I thank Kregel publications for giving me a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion. I love most of their books, but this one was a no-go for me. Sorry.<br />
<br />
<b>If you would like to purchase your own copy, you may do so <a href="http://store.kregel.com/searchproducts.cfm" target="_blank">here from Kregel</a>.</b><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254234074199400607.post-66832386538561919322014-11-30T23:11:00.000-06:002014-11-30T23:38:04.970-06:00The Heretic by Henry Vyner-Brooks Book Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b>About the Book:</b></div><div class="description" style="text-align: left;">In 1536 it seems the entire known world is changing--strange new lands are discovered and the Reformation is challenging Rome and its power. In England the king’s declaration of a new church and dissolution of the monasteries overturns the customs and authorities of centuries. In the new world order, spies abound and no one can be trusted.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTNu-7-E5R-XyzhGaiFqstQuEvla2TZCzEDajethwuQnDTRaNiKJaIoHKlVLTsKdKcFQuTP5hISNhDzdaZfwWL3bXuJzvjVwgb5OPrLKRk4TEJ9bGbv7s3mGD_ut-zVopA0vrEHZcFV8/s1600/the+heretic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Heretic" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTNu-7-E5R-XyzhGaiFqstQuEvla2TZCzEDajethwuQnDTRaNiKJaIoHKlVLTsKdKcFQuTP5hISNhDzdaZfwWL3bXuJzvjVwgb5OPrLKRk4TEJ9bGbv7s3mGD_ut-zVopA0vrEHZcFV8/s1600/the+heretic.jpg" title="The Heretic" /></a>To Brother Pacificus of the Abbey of St. Benet's in Norfolk, it looks like his abbey alone will be spared dissolution. But this last Benedictine house is mired in murder and intrigue. Then when Pacificus falls under suspicion, more than his own dark past comes to light, while the body count keeps rising. Pacificus's fate becomes entwined with that of three local children after their parents are arrested for treason and heresy. Protected only by this errant monk, a mysterious leper, and a Dutch eel-catcher, the children must quickly adjust; seeking their own identity, they soon find that neither parents nor protectors are quite what they seem.<br />
<br />
<b>Based on historical events, this post-medieval mystery is laced with romance, fueled by greed, and punctuated with bouts of feasting, smuggling, and jailbreak.</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>My Thoughts:</b><br />
This book packs a punch and is one that must be read with the intention of rereading. The first time you read it, do so for enjoyment. Then, after you've finished, take another journey through and enjoy all the historical events. But be careful. If you're not a history buff (like me), you may catch yourself very much enjoying this historical fiction novel so much that you find yourself digging into events and people just to see what is fact and what isn't. And then finding that you got sidetracked because what you found was so enthralling that it's two in the morning before you know it. (Don't ask me how I know this.)<br />
<br />
Most people don't realize what they have until they've lost it. This book reminded me just what a precious gift of religious freedom, if somewhat questionable, we have. Our religious freedom isn't something that was given to us lightly. Devout people who loved God and the Bible more than tradition gave up their lives for this. Just so they could have a Bible. So they could read God's Word for themselves. They were hunted like animals. Burned at the stake in front of jeering crowds. Tortured. Imprisoned. All because they wanted a Bible to read for themselves. This book, full of heroes - even some who weren't very willing at the beginning - is a book that you can get much out of. From a homeschooling aspect, this is a great book that has much to learn older students would enjoy. I honestly think it would be easy to get an entire school year of lesson plans for 9th to 12th graders. This isn't just a novel. This is a living, historical account of what real people endured. Like I said earlier. Be prepared to read this one more than once. And have a notebook nearby so you can take notes and research things for yourself.<br />
<b>Highly Recommend.</b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://store.kregel.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=3380" target="_blank">Purchase a Copy</a></b></span></div><br />
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<a href="http://ctt.ec/0SNRE">Tweet: Keep 'em coming, @KregelBooks - The Heretic was a gr8 book! Loved it; read my review http://ctt.ec/0SNRE+ #historicalFiction</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.picgifs.com/animal-graphics/"><img border="0" src="http://www.picgifs.com/animal-graphics/animal-graphics/squirrel/animal-graphics-squirrel-955527.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3heonN8hiNQTNLGwT6wy6UZXkC0M_JrI_22cI5oYDfMbdFxYVIAO1_hrhoTZVmqT9aOlafnZ3_jDPPsXCEd1U2PBa4ocywoNV7lrn68cPwKp7vkGsK8HU64DYKmfDr2MPJ7Jc8ES80c/s1600/Squirrel+logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3heonN8hiNQTNLGwT6wy6UZXkC0M_JrI_22cI5oYDfMbdFxYVIAO1_hrhoTZVmqT9aOlafnZ3_jDPPsXCEd1U2PBa4ocywoNV7lrn68cPwKp7vkGsK8HU64DYKmfDr2MPJ7Jc8ES80c/s200/Squirrel+logo.png" /></a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254234074199400607.post-16890000726516584212014-11-09T00:00:00.000-06:002014-11-09T00:00:01.434-06:00Change.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm sitting here making out a list of things that need to be done in the next 23 days. Cleaning, sorting, packing, getting rid of, storing, etc. and I'm getting a little sad. As everyone's does, our lives are changing. But like most people, we don't even see the change until something big comes up. Like, you know you're getting older but you don't realize it until your birthday smacks you in the face, or your hair has a ton more gray than it used to when you look in the mirror, or you can't see nearly as well as you used to.<br />
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Then, when you've finally come to grips with the gray hair, your first child starts college and your youngest is rounding the proverbial bend in school and you know your days of teaching are numbered. Talk about reality check, right?<br />
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But for us, another change is coming up.<br />
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We're moving. We've lived in our house for seventeen years and now we're packing everything up and moving closer to college, work, and church. And we're watching our children prepare themselves for the adult world. As I'm sitting here throwing stuff away (because hey, let's face it, this is the perfect time to purge, right?!) I realize just how different our lives are about to become.<br />
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We'll be living in a city for the first time in 18 years. We will have neighbors we can see. We will have to worry about our cats getting out into someone else's yard. Our kids will have to watch their driving speeds in residential areas. And like most people, I don't do change well. I could sit here and dwell on the fact that our daughter is the age when hubster and I were getting married or that our son isn't going to need me forever and will very soon be getting a real job in the real world, or that I'm further away from my family and our best friends.<br />
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Or I can focus on the good things ahead. College, work, and church are closer. Family and friends will now have a place to spend the night when they come visit (yay for bonus rooms! Just sayin), we won't be spending a fortune on gas anymore, and we will have the opportunity to make new friends and make a new home for our family that will, let's face it, be growing with marriages and grandchildren. Ugh! Am I even supposed to be thinking about grandkids at my age?! <br />
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Look, this whole growing up thing isn't for the weak. It's for the strong, faith-filled, prayer warriors that know that all these things really pale in comparison to what's really important. Eternity. See, for me, I know where I'm headed. I know that when I pass from this life, I will be spending eternity with Jesus. And thank the good Lord, my husband will be there, my parents will be there, both my kids will be there, and many friends will be there and we will have an eternity together. And that's something great to look forward to!<br />
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Now, I'm going to get up, clean up, and start packing because I've got a lot to do. Thanks for stopping by and letting me share with you for a few minutes. Here's a few pictures of our new house before you go...<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254234074199400607.post-71386538639852210882014-11-01T00:00:00.000-05:002014-11-01T00:00:05.128-05:00A Lady at Willowgrove Hall by Sarah E. Ladd - Book Review & Tour<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>About the book: </b>
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<i><b>Her secret cloaks her in isolation and loneliness.</b></i></div>
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<i><b>His secret traps him in a life that is not his own.</b></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfsBGMVVZTXyxUHI5GaYDp6ht34ufl7tNCK1fuHGFhEbMljIgRikkn5Dn6tDp0Jj2moKwJfz0Pbr0ybbLT1weaWJv4H5kcCxu1A5P3Fhu3Q6GNmNeaI0ZPxS46AKGOka-hS1IOYJRp_Q/s1600/A+lady+of+willowgrove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A Lady of Willowgrove Hall" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfsBGMVVZTXyxUHI5GaYDp6ht34ufl7tNCK1fuHGFhEbMljIgRikkn5Dn6tDp0Jj2moKwJfz0Pbr0ybbLT1weaWJv4H5kcCxu1A5P3Fhu3Q6GNmNeaI0ZPxS46AKGOka-hS1IOYJRp_Q/s1600/A+lady+of+willowgrove.jpg" height="320" title="A Lady of Willowgrove Hall" width="216" /></a>Cecily Faire carries the shame
of her past wherever she treads, knowing one slip of the tongue could
strip away everything she holds dear. But soon after accepting the
position of lady's companion at Willowgrove Hall, Cecily finds herself
face-to-face with a man well-acquainted with the past she's desperately
hidden for years.</div>
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Nathaniel Stanton has a secret
of his own --- one that has haunted him from birth and tied him to his
father's position as steward of Willowgrove. To protect his family,
Nathaniel dares not breath a word of the truth. But as long as the
shadow looms over him, he'll never be free to find his own way in the
world. He'll never be free to fall in love.</div>
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When the secrets swirling
within Willowgrove Hall come to light, Cecily and Nathaniel must
confront a painful choice: Will they continue running from the past . . .
or will they stand together and build a future without the suffocating
weight of secrets long suffered?</div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b>Purchase a copy:</b> <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0015VDgCzmvBwclmBBWzGNUSGWcfv4hdSgVHAkVogwX95xPqjRI1Qle1NvKFZ_ULG84Tm1z6doh3-lOv9FhspDKmke3ompNtmXyf3vnhE6Q-WoITKoma6nt3udh875K-ed0QDYaszURiNlKReEu4qTbfv8h-tsfaq4r_Xk6DAY6Wmo=&c=1hrjJ4vudJSTWeuv2iOsLCgFnR8PYhBKicHudQvZSpCPfwxZ0cBwog==&ch=D0tG9tbB3OQTSvlbvYxcJshMn89d19kDk24XKbifxZdB-3bMlv2pnQ==" shape="rect" style="color: #6ba3a6; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://ow.ly/CsnBw</a></span></div>
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<b><img align="left" alt="Sarah E. Ladd" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="180" hspace="5" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjJZLpqoXRryZNTmDMEYV1z6GwBkP1V2bh9XDI3MVRUkvrD541ujhRSPPAmJF1xwu3UG414HXjtb_pM0uklD650NQVXBZhncdt_c0hBKGfXccCV-kGAoselUu0eAh8CkGHAlD00_TkQPIouggvdfSNn_2q3gYVGWD8=s0-d-e1-ft" title="Sarah E. Ladd" vspace="5" width="175" /> About the author: </b></div>
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<b>Sarah E. Ladd</b>
has more than ten years of marketing experience. She is a graduate of
Ball State University and holds degrees in public relations and
marketing. <i>The Heiress of Winterwood</i> was the recipient of the
2011 Genesis Award for historical romance. Sarah lives in Indiana with
her amazing husband, sweet daughter, and spunky Golden Retriever.</div>
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<b>Find Sarah online:</b> <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0015VDgCzmvBwclmBBWzGNUSGWcfv4hdSgVHAkVogwX95xPqjRI1Qle1GcIc5MAlxbPPX7T3BJNW4ijbNV8NEfS7E3ULjiYVcYD0-VsB3NUvjBOFNyVojpUHMRl1V6iSLifKEfpEyemMQbQQLbojA2fZrhvhQziHPmSTvpjdc0MnVc=&c=1hrjJ4vudJSTWeuv2iOsLCgFnR8PYhBKicHudQvZSpCPfwxZ0cBwog==&ch=D0tG9tbB3OQTSvlbvYxcJshMn89d19kDk24XKbifxZdB-3bMlv2pnQ==" shape="rect" style="color: #6ba3a6; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">website</a>, <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0015VDgCzmvBwclmBBWzGNUSGWcfv4hdSgVHAkVogwX95xPqjRI1Qle1AK2jU_CuIDoCmVEakhIyuOvD6tpuuYIKeghR5vTQZoPgAzpZ-yvR7-FEh8n1K8zxj9IJT2cwTVxgiWHJCK-34wUVFcixPRHsjJcTtmAcfJ5vpy5pfWBNh-D8B_o-vT0HnE_C5kgD1q3&c=1hrjJ4vudJSTWeuv2iOsLCgFnR8PYhBKicHudQvZSpCPfwxZ0cBwog==&ch=D0tG9tbB3OQTSvlbvYxcJshMn89d19kDk24XKbifxZdB-3bMlv2pnQ==" shape="rect" style="color: #6ba3a6; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0015VDgCzmvBwclmBBWzGNUSGWcfv4hdSgVHAkVogwX95xPqjRI1Qle1ImJTmpbRhg2HGoRn0OdhAzNOGcK06e41II2Z3b1RlhcMOAY5RKI59co0e_BcSSUMyLDcC2c5rhSmV0pfpoPEcbujpglQYVLkCseBNtqxRoEslxgYy5juaTbW0MqaC8jJPFKsYluQrJC&c=1hrjJ4vudJSTWeuv2iOsLCgFnR8PYhBKicHudQvZSpCPfwxZ0cBwog==&ch=D0tG9tbB3OQTSvlbvYxcJshMn89d19kDk24XKbifxZdB-3bMlv2pnQ==" shape="rect" style="color: #6ba3a6; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Twitter</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://litfusegroup.com/author/sladd" target="_blank"><b>Follow The Tour! </b></a></span></div>
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<b>My Thoughts:</b></div>
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Another winner from author Sarah E. Ladd! This story was a welcome respite from everyday life and problems, yet made you feel as though you were part of the story. I love how none of the characters were perfect and each had something they had to overcome before moving forward with their lives. And I very much enjoyed every moment I spent reading about them. These aren't cardboard characters with no emotion and no flair, but these are complicated with deep feelings and issues that every reader can find relatable. The only problem was the story ended too quickly for me. I wish it could go on and on and on...;) </div>
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I've read all three of the Whispers on the Moors series, and I would highly recommend them to friends. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254234074199400607.post-87294042624520573252014-09-26T23:45:00.000-05:002014-09-26T23:45:09.099-05:00Tried and True by Mary Connealy Book Review & Tour<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>About the book:</b> Saddle up for a wildly fun ride with the Wilde sisters!</span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PVyAuAayh9zXvGLTdnSH6TH4p603BnP1xOWJDxtukLyuTqFWN_mOX2dOEWjD4RUjRyxrXneyaIxobW0fosmac4N3k0nB3hYbBWaoOaeJU_v4sO2JTI9332TMoD1KjsK7qwP-SobWx7o/s1600/tried+and+true.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Tried & True by Mary Connealy" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PVyAuAayh9zXvGLTdnSH6TH4p603BnP1xOWJDxtukLyuTqFWN_mOX2dOEWjD4RUjRyxrXneyaIxobW0fosmac4N3k0nB3hYbBWaoOaeJU_v4sO2JTI9332TMoD1KjsK7qwP-SobWx7o/s1600/tried+and+true.jpg" height="320" title="Tried & True by Mary Connealy" width="206" /></a>Kylie Wilde is the youngest
sister---and the most civilized. Her older sisters might be happy
dressing in trousers and posing as men, but Kylie has grown her hair
long and wears skirts every chance she gets. It's a risk---they are
homesteading using the special exemptions they earned serving in the
Civil War as "boys"---but Kylie plans to make the most of the years
before she can sell her property and return to the luxuries of life back
East.</span>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Local land agent Aaron
Masterson is fascinated with Kylie from the moment her long hair falls
from her cap. But now that he knows her secret, can he in good
conscience defraud the U.S. government? And when someone tries to force
Kylie off her land, does he have any hope of convincing her that
marrying him and settling on the frontier is the better option for her
future?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Purchase a copy:</b> <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0017XtGR_JP1KSLfwAiSO9UCw3VNz34mqCk_TL1Uofbj0eax1tHbo1fiXgEGR6GjdQ7COndjwPWPh_VCdHIGt4vM89G8lkHX05Jk3Ei6jt8gTum18UneiwaX0C-6T8x7Mit3XycsYCGrTdUWkwbHGeET4GE6xsbooU6knl4tmfp7zs=&c=imCtydd7v14pXuwWTPuz2Dc_5lpnZBeu1gqK8aFzVG7MKTuYG40Ugw==&ch=a-mCDxrbFix_I7NdIKESqqrZ50yCHnmqJDXpNf0iaYo3uywRdVULGg==" shape="rect" style="color: #6ba3a6; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://ow.ly/AS8Js</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><img align="left" alt="Mary Connealy" border="0" height="225" hspace="5" name="14831c78d30c372e_14830aaf5d07e68c_ACCOUNT.IMAGE.437" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEj-YB2pz2ARD_GnnATwZiy4uE-SkXtpQDtvAc7BjWqk1qlTPwMlzxT9kfIynnjq7-66XW71bC0mN9ft5Ob6xrCD89u2IFUGY81eqo6noj3D0y7pUmi1nXg2d6TsIfKINRwANEAucJs7hk6sbW6a_P-ECbUHYzSp-b0lXFu6ww=s0-d-e1-ft" title="Mary Connealy" vspace="5" width="150" /> About the author:</b> Mary
Connealy writes fun and lively "romantic comedy with cowboys" for the
inspirational market. She is the author of the successful Kincaid
Brides, Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages, and Sophie's Daughters
series, and she has been a finalist for a Rita and Christy Award and a
two time winner of the Carol Award. She lives on a ranch in eastern
Nebraska with her husband, Ivan, and has four grown daughters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><b>Find Mary online:</b> <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0017XtGR_JP1KSLfwAiSO9UCw3VNz34mqCk_TL1Uofbj0eax1tHbo1fiYrNa2n4hbqBPKLZcW4y6VACgULjXVydW3ayU-kkCqD0_x19WC9rtggb2JKAgfSqzqHA44b9S-FxvtESOKmr1qaYDOLAddCwtaiXeKJoN0S1NyDRMHGPfGs=&c=imCtydd7v14pXuwWTPuz2Dc_5lpnZBeu1gqK8aFzVG7MKTuYG40Ugw==&ch=a-mCDxrbFix_I7NdIKESqqrZ50yCHnmqJDXpNf0iaYo3uywRdVULGg==" shape="rect" style="color: #6ba3a6; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">website</a>, <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0017XtGR_JP1KSLfwAiSO9UCw3VNz34mqCk_TL1Uofbj0eax1tHbo1fiWwTg42e1YnFOKyIF-9qFfWpDHsACDbLRvkj0E_FN0mCErjghLRw1Lums1bnNwe39sPaw1_73CrkyqrxEo2Al0YZzTzljXdtZaNmGIU34NLxslzTzm6u6xbTXdUheRHQWwpbKgp-rmqnyN5SnQfcbSo=&c=imCtydd7v14pXuwWTPuz2Dc_5lpnZBeu1gqK8aFzVG7MKTuYG40Ugw==&ch=a-mCDxrbFix_I7NdIKESqqrZ50yCHnmqJDXpNf0iaYo3uywRdVULGg==" shape="rect" style="color: #6ba3a6; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0017XtGR_JP1KSLfwAiSO9UCw3VNz34mqCk_TL1Uofbj0eax1tHbo1fien2Ea-BlcAjyjXzpCHFvRDco7cwS0qwxqE0v67B9kgOo8-pVg_XhnDgN0pul6t_wallZcUVJZNOnTkvnJEv3NOzNw7UojUy_tvgb3cXdSwxXNA65r25WNxDoxIotJuXeQ==&c=imCtydd7v14pXuwWTPuz2Dc_5lpnZBeu1gqK8aFzVG7MKTuYG40Ugw==&ch=a-mCDxrbFix_I7NdIKESqqrZ50yCHnmqJDXpNf0iaYo3uywRdVULGg==" shape="rect" style="color: #6ba3a6; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Twitter</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://litfusegroup.com/author/mconnealy" target="_blank">Follow the Tour!</a> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>My Thoughts:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">It's never a chore to read a Mary Connealy book. Without a doubt, she has a gift. True to form, Ms. Connealy has brought us a new series that promises to keep us enchanted with great characters, laughs, and interesting story lines that keep you invested until the end. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">In the first of this new series, we're quick to meet spunky and very girly Kylie Wilde. How she ever managed to make it through the Civil War as a male spy, is a mystery - or so land agent Aaron Masterson thinks the first time he meets the beautiful girl. Determined not to let her get away with defrauding the government, he's more than a little chagrined to find she's firmly planted underneath his skin - making things next to impossible. Should he do what's right according to the government - even though she served her country in the war - or do what his heart screams almost from the very beginning? Protect her from all costs, including the attentions of wealthy land baron Gage Coulter?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">This book was a fun, quick read and I can't wait to delve into the second in the series. The only problem? I have to wait for it to come out... </span></div>
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