What I'm Reading ~ 8/13/18

Today I'm reading:

Texas Ranger Jake Nelson patrols the U.S.-Mexico border, protecting the settlers from cattle rustlers, outlaws, and bandits. Sparks fly when Manuel Diego stirs up a revolt against the government, which leads to the murder of a newspaperman, who is the son of a U.S. senator, and the kidnapping of his sister, Elizabeth Madison, a journalist in the making.

With Elizabeth's photograph in hand--a dark-haired beauty with smiling eyes--Jake rides over the border to find her. After the Rangers defeat the marauders and rescue Elizabeth, Jake is surprised to learn she's not the spoiled daughter of a senator that he was expecting. In fact, he finds himself taken by her. And she by him.

But the Mexicans won't give up that easily, as Elizabeth becomes the target of an all-out hunt. Leaving Elizabeth back at Fort Williams, Jake and his men set off again, this time to go after Diego himself--to apprehend him and his renegades and bring them all to justice.

Meanwhile, Jake knows what's begun between him and Elizabeth is undeniable. Amid all the turmoil, Jake finally admits how much he loves her. She tells him the same. Until now, they've lived in different worlds, yet it is those differences that drew them together.

What are you reading?

Colletta

Scripture Memory Verse ~ 8/12/18

This Week's Memory Verse:

 

 

 

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

 

Matthew 21:22

 

Colletta



Song I'm Loving ~ Child in Your Arms by Ryan Stevenson

Ryan Stevenson is fast becoming a favorite artist of mine.

This version is a bit different from the one I heard on The Message but I'm loving it!

 

 Colletta

First Lines Friday & 56 ~ 8/10/18

Today's "First Lines" and "56" are from:

 County Courthouse

El Paso, Texas

August 9, 1886

 

"Elizabeth Evans lifted her skirts and sprinted up the back stairs of the courthouse.  At the third-floor landing she hauled open the heavy door and propped it with her hip."

 

 

Page 56

"In late afternoon he pointed out their objective--a line of mountain peakd shimmering in the heat way off in the distance but slowly, slowly coming closer"
 

Colletta
 

Also linking up to:

 

Thankful Thursday ~ 8/9/18

 

This week I'm thankful for:

 

~Friday was Damon's 1st Birthday!  Steph and Cody had a party for him in the evening.  The theme was "Lumberjack" and everything was so stinkin' cute!  Here's one of my favorite pictures of the Birthday Boy.  He's such a ham :)

 

~After the gratification of organizing my bookshelves last week, I took some time to organize my desk area!  I went through the pile of papers sitting on the corner of my desk and the pile of papers piled in the other corner of my desk, etc, etc, etc.  It feels so nice to sit down at a neat, orderly desk to write and work :)

~It has been so hot here in PA the past few days!  I'm so thankful for the AC that keeps the bedroom and family room cool.  It is a nice respite :)

~Last week's passing out drama with Laken, I was expecting a calm week health-wise.  Think again!  Laken has a huge swollen gland on her neck.  I took her Tuesday morning to the walk-in hours at the pediatrician and, of course, she has strep throat!  The doc gave her some meds and she is perking up nicely :)

~Last year I boycotted the NFL for the disrespect being shown to our flag and the National Anthem.  I've decided to give them a pardon (in my own mind) and give them another shot.  (They better not blow it!)  If you've read my blog for long, you might know that I'm a Pittsburgh Steelers fan.  They play their first Pre-season Game tonight and I'm so excited!  I've had some major football withdrawals over the past year :)

What are you thankful for today?

 

Colletta



Wordless Wednesday ~ 8/8/18

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Happy 1st Birthday to this Crazy Kid!

 

Colletta



Book Review & Giveaway ~ Betrayal by Robin Lee Hatcher ~ Ends 8/21/18

 

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 Blurb:

 

  It's the turn of the twentieth century and drifter Hugh Brennan is a man well acquainted with betrayal. Hugh finds himself drawn to the attractive widow, Julia, yet when he looks into her eyes, he recognizes the same hurt that haunts him.

 

Julia Grace has little reason to trust men, but she's going to have to trust someone if she's to keep her ranch from the clutches of her dead husband's half-brother. Is it possible God had a hand in bringing Hugh to her door?

 

The latest historical romance from award-winning author Robin Lee Hatcher and the second book in the Where the Heart Lives series, Betrayal will take you to the high desert of western Wyoming, through the crags of the Rocky Mountains, and into the hearts of two seekers learning to trust God's love no matter the circumstances.

My Thoughts:

 

I just love Robin Lee Hatcher!  She is one of my absolute favorite, go-to authors.  I know when I sit down with a book by her, I'm going to enjoy it!

 

This book was all about healing and letting go of the past.

 

Hugh had to learn to let go of a past that was forgiven when he met Christ.

 

Julia had to heal and forgive her first husband of his cruelty to her.

 

I enjoyed reading their story and how they came to trust each other with their histories and with their hearts.  They came to trust that God had put them exactly where He wanted them to be.

 

Peter and Rose Collins, Julia's neighbors, where adorable and a favorite aspect of this book for me.  10 daughters!  Whew and I thought having two can be difficult.

 

"Betrayal" is the second book of the "Where the Heart Lives" series.  I read the first book a few years ago.  The third book is on my wishlist and I hope to get my hands on it soon!

 

I'm going to be giving away my gently read copy of this excellent book!

 

To Enter the Giveaway:

 

1 Entry ~ Leave a comment telling me what interests you about this book along with an email address to contact you.

 

1 Entry ~ Follow my blog and let me know in the comments how you follow (GFC, Facebook, Email).

 

I will randomly draw and email the winner of the book after the giveaway entry deadline of 

 Tuesday, August 21, 2018.

 

 

 

  



Colletta

Book Club Tuesday #6 ~ 8/7/18

Welcome back to Book Club Tuesday!  Thank you so much to everyone who visited and/or participated last week!  I hope you had fun :)


Guess what?!?!  Book Club Tuesday was featured over at Megan Weyenbacher's website on #TeaAndWord Tuesday!!!  So exciting!

Now for this week's Book Club:

The idea is that we each read books from our shelf, write reviews and then share them here with the Book Club.  So, no need to buy new books that may or may not interest you, just read what you already have and share it here each Tuesday!

 



 The "rules":

~Must be family friendly.
~Mingle and check out each other's reviews.

That is it!

For now, until I see how much interest there is in having a Book Club Tuesday, please leave a comment including a direct link to your review.  If we have enough interest, I'll look into a "linky" option.

I hope you'll join me and let your friends know about the Book Club!

Colletta

What I'm Reading ~ 8/6/18

Today I'm reading:

Journey to Tennessee at the end of the Civil War. Heaven Wharton has been left in charge of her father’s farm, but weeks of facing marauders has finally taken its toll. Meaning to fire into the air, she accidently shoots a man charging the house. Shocked, she and her sister Angel drag the semi-conscious man into the house and nurse him back to health. As Travis recovers he finds his heart turning to the possibilities of love. But can he and Heaven learn to accept God’s plan, however it unfolds?  

What are you reading?

Colletta

Book Review ~ Whispers on the Prairie by Vickie McDonough

 

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 Blurb:

 

  A City Girl Far from Home...

Sarah Marshall just wants to go home. It wasn't her idea to leave Chicago and head west in search of gold, but her uncle's ambition left her no choice. Neither was her intention to settle in Kansas City with her ailing aunt, but being penniless and without possessions brings little bargaining power. Pretty soon, she resigns herself to her fate, however unfortunate. It isn't as if she has a home to go back to.

A Country Boy Seeking to Right a Wrong...

Ethan Harper, the youngest of three brothers, enjoys a peaceful existence helping run his family's stage shop along the Santa Fe Trail. Only one cloud continues to darken his horizon—guilt over the tragic death of his oldest brother's wife. The only acceptable penance Ethan can think of is finding another woman to marry his brother and help raise his motherless children.

A Match so Incompatible, It Just Might Work...

When a series of misfortunes strands Sarah Marshall and her aunt at the Harpers' Stage Stop, the status quo is overthrown as the presence of an attractive young woman, however unversed in the ways of prairie living, wreaks havoc on the lives of the Harper brothers, all three of them vying for her attention. But will any of them prove himself worth giving up the life Sarah always dreamed of?

My Thoughts:

 

With as busy as Summer has been lately, I've gotten a bit behind on my reading.  So, I picked a book off my shelf that looked like it would be a quick read.  It was quick but it packed a punch!

 

It seemed like calamity followed Sarah everywhere she went.  And Ethan was always there to see her blunders!

 

I loved how the author took seemingly insurmountable obstacles and used them to teach about God's provision.  That God is working even when we can't see the "how" or the "when" or the "where".

 

All three Harper brothers were swoon-worthy in their own right.  I love how the author picked the youngest to be featured in the first book of the "Pioneer Promises" series.

 

Unfortunately, I don't have the next 2 books on my shelf at this point, but hopefully soon!

 

 

 

  



Colletta

Scripture Memory Verse ~ 8/5/18

This Week's Memory Verse:

 

 

 

 

"Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

 

Matthew 6:33

 

Colletta



Song I'm Loving ~ Promise of a Lifetime by Kutless

I'm loving Kutless's newer music!  How about you?

 

 

 Colletta

First Lines Friday ~ 8/3/18

Today's "First Lines" are from:

 1868 ~ Kansas

 

"Don't you just love springtime?" Della asked as her horse approached a shallow brook.  Rather than ride through it, she tapped her mare with her quirt and leaned forward.  "C'mon, Jezabel.  Let's go."

 

Colletta
 

Also linking up to:

 

Thankful Thursday ~ 8/2/18

 

This week I'm thankful for:

 

~I really needed to laugh on Saturday!  I wasn't feeling very well and rested most of the day.  In the evening the hubby and I watched "I Feel Pretty".  I had seen the previews a few days before and it looked cute so we grabbed it from the Redbox.  It was hilarious!  (Caution:  it is rated PG-13)

 ~Laken is so excited!  The High School Cheerleaders are having a Cheer Clinic in a few weeks at her new school.  They will be learning cheers and be able to purchase spirit items.  She's supposed to wear a spirit T-shirt so we borrowed one from my cousin who went to that school and got her a big, blue hair bow.  I love that she is excited to be cheering and attending a new school :)

~Monday I had quite the fright!  Laken was at the pediatrician for vaccines and a checkup.  Right after receiving her shots, she passed out!  I pride myself on being cool in emergencies but I confess:  I freaked out a bit!  She came right around.  Apparently she has her daddy's aversion to needles!  I'm thankful she is OK :)

~I organized my bookshelves!  Other book lovers will know how much fun it is to not only read books, but to organize them as well.  This time I organized them by genre and then author.  And it looks so much nicer.  I had gotten in the habit of just piling things on the shelves.  It was in desperate need of a straightening!

~Kaylee got her physical for her Driver's Permit yesterday!  One step closer to my baby being "on the road".  Now she needs to get her eye exam on the 11th and then schedule her Driver's Permit Test.  I don't know if I'm ready for this!  I am thankful that she is healthy and on the way to becoming a responsible adult :)


What are you thankful for today?

 

Colletta



Wordless Wednesday ~ 8/1/18

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Colletta



Book Club Tuesday #5 ~ 7/31/18

Welcome back to Book Club Tuesday!  Thank you so much to everyone who visited and/or participated last week!  I hope you had fun :)

This week I want to remind you of a  Giveaway that ends today on my blog.  I absolutely loved this book and really want to share it with you!  Click on the picture or link below of the book to read my review and to enter the giveaway!

 

Review and Giveaway

Now for this week's Book Club:

The idea is that we each read books from our shelf, write reviews and then share them here with the Book Club.  So, no need to buy new books that may or may not interest you, just read what you already have and share it here each Tuesday!

 



 The "rules":

~Must be family friendly.
~Mingle and check out each other's reviews.

That is it!

For now, until I see how much interest there is in having a Book Club Tuesday, please leave a comment including a direct link to your review.  If we have enough interest, I'll look into a "linky" option.

I hope you'll join me and let your friends know about the Book Club!

Colletta

What I'm Reading ~ 7/30/18

Today I'm reading:

 

When her stepfather suddenly dies, Valeria Segrave finds she must take charge of her grieving mother and the vast estate which now belongs to her six-year-old half brother, the new Earl of Maledon. Though capable, Valeria is frustrated to find each day brings a new struggle as she tries to establish her authority with servants, stewards, and solicitors-all men. As a young woman with no blood relation to the earl, they are all too ready to dismiss her.

Much to her chagrin, she must rely on the assistance of her stepfather's distant kinsman, Alastair, Lord Hylton. He is handsome and noble, and Valeria senses under the veneer of his gentlemanly behavior that she never measures up to his expectations of a refined lady. In light of that, accepting his help and feeling under a burden of gratitude to him is almost unbearable. Even when Valeria leaves the country estate for the glittering London Season, where she gets into a series of escapades, Lord Hylton is always there to witness, criticize, and correct her behavior. But if Alastair insists on engaging in a battle of wits and wills with the lively Valeria, she'll stop at nothing to prove that he's met his match.    


What are you reading?

Colletta

P.S.  Make sure to enter the giveaway for City on Fire.  Click the picture on my sidebar!

Song I'm Loving ~ Joy by For King & Country

I've decided I need more JOY in my life!  How about you?

 

 Colletta

First Lines Friday ~ 7/27/18

Today's "First Lines" are from:

 Carrying her watercolor box, Valeria hurried down the arbored path.  As was usual in summer, two gardeners were pruning the box tress that were trained to shelter the graveled walkway that would around the west wing of the house.  As she neared them, they glanced up and continued with their trimming.  But when she reached them, they book looked startled, then snatched off their caps and bowed.

 

Colletta
 

Also linking up to:

 

Thankful Thursday ~ 7/26/18

 

This week I'm thankful for:

 

~So my dog chewed my library book AND my special bookmark that my Mom gave me years ago.  Kaylee went shopping one evening with her boyfriend and his sister and guess what she brought me back?  She picked me out a special bookmark and bought it for me!  What a sweetheart :)


~This week is the Bedford County Fair.  My Cousin Steph invited Laken to go along with her family to get something to eat, ride rides and pet the animals.  Laken and "usually" get along very well and they had a great time!

~Saturday we sent school supply shopping for Laken.  We went to the larger mall that is about 1 hour away.  We parked at J.C. Penney and went in.  And spent about 1.5 hours in J.C. Penney.  They had a ton of sales and there was a "mystery sale".  I was given a coupon that when I opened the tab it would tell me how much of a discount I would get.  I got 40% off our entire purchase!  We saved $120 on a backpack and some clothes and only spent $42 :)

~I read the best book this week!  Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson is easily a favorite for the year :)

~An unexpected free day in the middle of the week!  With all the rain we've had lately Cody, Dex and Damon's daddy, was off work on Wednesday.  So the boys hung out with their Dad for the day and I had some time to use in whatever way I wanted :)
 

 

What are you thankful for today?

 

Colletta



Wordless Wednesday ~ 7/25/18

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Colletta