Book Review ~ Echoes of Titanic by Mindy Starns Clark ~ 5/5!!!

Title:  "Echoes of Titanic"
Series:  N/A

Author:  Mindy Starns Clark and John Campbell Clark
Publisher:  Harvest House
Publication Date: 3/1/12

Pages:  385

Book Description:

Kelsey Tate comes from sturdy stock. Her great-grandmother Adele endured the sinking of Titanic and made it safely to America, where she not only survived but thrived. Generations later, Kelsey works for the firm Adele founded nearly 100 years ago.

Now facing a hostile takeover, the firm’s origins are challenged when new facts emerge about Adele’s actions on the night Titanic sank. Kelsey tries to defend the company and the great-grandmother she has long admired, but the stakes are raised when Kelsey’s boss is murdered and her own life threatened. Forced to seek help from Cole Thornton, a man Kelsey once loved—and lost, thanks to her success-at-all-costs mentality—she pursues mysteries both past and present. Aided by Cole and strengthened by the faith she’d all but forgotten in her climb up the corporate ladder, Kelsey races the clock to defend her family legacy, her livelihood, and ultimately her life.

My Overall Feeling of the Book:

Wow!  This book was so intriguing!

I loved how the book went back and forth between present day Kelsey and then Adele and Jocelyn on the Titanic.  I eagerly looked forward to the next section just to eagerly look forward to the NEXT section.  Know what I mean??

Up until the last few pages, I still had no idea if Adele was really Adele or Jocelyn.  The mystery was so complex.  Actually, I should say "mysteries".  There were multiple.

This was such a fun book for both historical and contemporary fans.

A Brief Excerpt:

"Dress warmly first, and then put on the life vest over your coat.  Bring your hat and hand muff too.  It's bitterly cold outside tonight.  I'll be back soon."

Page  322

The Cover:

The cover is so dramatic!  I love how it brings in the Titanic as well as giving me a face to go with Kelsey.

Other Notes:

~  This is a nice, clean read.


Rating

5/5 Absolutely Loved It!

On to the next book,

Chats on the Porch ~ 4/30/14

This week's questions are:

1. Would you rather drive or be driven?

I think for the most part I'd rather be driven because I like to nap in the car.  But sometimes I feeling like being the driver :)

2. If you had your choice of a shiny new BMW with no conveniences inside, or an older model Ford or Chevy with everything one could want for comfort and convenience inside, which would you choose?

My van is falling apart, so I'd have to choose a new BMW but only because I know it should last me a long time.

3. Do you eat many vegetables?

Nope.  Hate them.

4. If you could blink your eyes and make a change to your body, face, hair, or nails, what would you change?

Well, since I just posted a "Weigh-in Wednesday", its kinda obvious that I'd like to be thinner.

5. Please finish this sentence. "Goody! Someone just gave me two hundred dollars and I must spend it doing something enjoyable today. I'm going to___________________."

I'm going to go get my hair and nails done!  whoohoo!

Let's chat and get to know one another!

I'd love for you to come Like my Facebook Page!  Pretty please?

Streaking Through May ~ 4/30/14

I joined up to go streaking!  You can join up too :)

All you have do is commit to walk or run at least 1 mile a day for the month of May.

We can handle that!  Right?

Are you going to join in?

Weigh-in Wednesday ~ 4/30/14 ~ Week 3

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Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were

 doing it for the Lord and not merely for people.

Colossians 3:23

I've been walking 2 miles a day fairy regularly lately.  The weather has been nice and I've been able to get outside and walk.

I'm very fortunate to live where I do.  I live in a little town in an even littler neighborhood known locally as "Hollywood".  (It is where the newer houses in town are :)

The outskirt of the neighborhood is what I call the "perimeter".  The perimeter is exactly 1 mile.  Isn't that amazing!  I even clocked it in my van one day.

When I started walking again, a few weeks ago, I was only walking 1 mile or 1 lap.  After about a week or two, I wanted up my walking and started walking 2 laps or 2 miles.

Being that it is the perimeter, I have to walk by my house before starting the second mile.  Sometimes it is very tempting to just turn into my drive and leave it at 1 mile for the day.  For the most part, I'm pretty good at prevailing and walk right on by.

It is amazing how much better I feel after getting 2 miles in for the day.

I do have a treadmill for when it is storming but I much prefer walking outside even in the rain.

What is your preferred method of exercise?

Week 3 check-in:

Miles:  12
Total Miles: 28.5

lbs lost:  1.0
Total lost:  6.8

Food Plan:  Let's just call it my third week slump and let it at that.  Back on plan!

Week 1
Week 2

Thanks for stopping by!

Also linking up to Winsome Wednesday and WholeHearted Wednesday and Wake-Up Wednesday.

I'd love for you to come Like my Facebook Page!  Pretty please?

Teaser Tuesday ~ 4/29/14

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. 

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My teaser for this week is from:

~Outside of that, she had nothing in her life, nothing else to live for.  Swallowing hard, she had to admit the truth.  She hadn't grown up to be just like Adele.  She'd grown up to be just like Gloria.~

Page  202

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Happy Teaser Tuesday!

I'd love for you to come Like my Facebook Page!  Pretty please?

Facebook Celebration Giveaway ~ Ends 5/2/14

I posted very quickly yesterday that I started a facebook page for this blog.  

I stated on facebook that when I reached 25 "likes" I would have a giveaway.  I reached 25 before I even went to bed!

So, as promised, I'm having a Celebration Giveaway!

Up for grabs is:

A  pink and white polka dot apron and some "Sweet Treats" recipe cards.

Here are some other pictures of the apron:

How to enter:

+1 ~ Follow me on Facebook and leave a comment on the Facebook giveaway post letting me know that you are following.

+5 ~ Share the giveaway on Facebook or your blog.  If you share on your blog leave a comment letting me know that you did.

This giveaway ends on May 2, 2014.

I will pick a winner on May 3, 2014

Note:  This is a Facebook giveaway only.  I love comments on my blog, but comments on this post will NOT be in the drawing.

I'd love for you to come Like my Facebook Page!  Pretty please?

Monday's Musings ~ Spring! ~ 4/28/14

I think it is finally Spring!  Why?

-I got my first dandelion bouquet today from my youngest!

-My husband mowed the yard for the first time the other day!

-The trees are getting green!

-We put our canopy up on the back deck!

-The Redbuds and Flowering Quince are blooming!

-I have Spring Cleaning fever!

-It isn't supposed to go below 40F at night all week!

-People are coming out of hibernation and going for walks!

-We ate on the deck this week!

-I've been reading out on my swing!

-We had thundershowers yesterday!

-We change the calendars to May this week!

What does Spring mean to you?

Also linking up to Making Your Home Sing , Inspire Me Monday and Proverbs 31.

I'd love for you to come Like my Facebook Page!  Pretty please?

I have a Facebook Page! Help?

I now have a Facebook page.

I'd love if you would come "like" me :)

Colletta's Kitchen Sink Blog

P.S.  Can anyone tell me how to add a button to my blog page for Facebook?

Songs on Sundays ~ It's a Beautiful Day ~ 4/27/14

Hosted by Faith, Hope & Cherrytea

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It's a BEAUTIFUL day!!

Saturday 9 ~ Stuck on You ~ 4/26/14

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!

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Stuck On You

Click HERE to listen to the song.

1) This upbeat song is from a CD called The Bright Side. What is brightening your world this fine Saturday?

Spending time with the loves of life.  My family.

2) Our featured artist Meiko sings, "You are the one I can see having fun with ...". When is the last time you laughed hard? Who were you with?

Believe it or not it was yesterday at a Administrative Professionals seminar.  It wasn't the boring run of the mill seminar that we were expecting.  The speaker was fun and it was great to laugh with my coworkers!

3) She also sings, "I must confess when I wear this dress I feel like dancing ...". Does your mood have an impact on what you wear?

Yes, it does.  Some days are all about sweats and t-shirts, if you know what I mean.

4) In this video, she accidentally drops one of her meatballs on the floor. Do you believe in "the five second rule," which states that if food has been on the floor less than five seconds it's still OK to eat? Or, after it hits the floor, is the next stop always the garbage?

It depends on how clean the floor is!  lol

5) Despite her exotic-sounding name, Meiko was born in Atlanta, home of the Braves. Do you plan on going to the ballpark this season?

I hope to!  I'm so jealous because my brother is taking my parents to a Pirates game the day before Mother's Day!

6) Meiko recently posted a photo of herself in DisneyLand posing with Goofy. Who took the most recent photo of you? What were you doing?

My husband with his phone.  I was holding my hand up and telling him "Do not take my picture!"

7) Are you stubborn?

Some people might say so but I don't think I am.

8) Let's visit your bathroom: What color is your toothbrush?

It is white with a little bit of purple on the handle.

9) Which would we find: bar soap or liquid soap?

Liquid soap all the way!

Happy Saturday!

High Five for Friday ~ 4/25/14

Five things that made me smile this week :)

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1.  We went to the movies to see Rio 2!  Quality family time :)

2.  It was gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous this week!  Loving this Spring weather :)

3.  I walked 11 miles this past week!  That is the most I have gotten in for a while :)

4.  I was able to sit on my swing and read!  So relaxing :)

5.  I got lovely flowers and a card with money for Administrative Professionals Day!  I love the people I work with :)

What made you smile this week?

Feature and Follow ~ Pets ~ 4/25/14

HAPPY FRIDAY, EVERYONE!

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Q: Have any pets?  Tell us or show us.

We have two dogs.  Lilah is our well-behaved Black Lab.  She is a big sweetheart.  Jasmine is our little mouthy York-a-Pom.  She likes to cuddle and is very protective.

We also have 3 rabbits.  Prince Poppycock and Princess Charlotte are Lionheads.  Little Joe is a Floppy Eared Bunny.

How about you?  What pets do you have?

Have a great day!

3 on Thursday ~ 4/24/14

Click the picture to go to the link-up :)

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1.  What is one things you would like us to know about you?

Just one thing?  That is so hard!  I guess I would like you to know that I am a Christian.

2.  What is your favorite color and why?

My favorite color is aqua because it reminds me of calm soothing water.

3.  Do you follow/believe in Horoscopes? What is your sign?

I don't follow them because I don't really believe in them.  My sign is Aries. 

Cozy Reading ~ 4/24/14

All things bookish!

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What I Read:

MY REVIEW

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What I'm Reading:

I got this book last Thursday at Ollies.  It went straight to the top of by TBR Shelf and I'm over halfway done with it.  It is amazing!

Kelsey Tate comes from sturdy stock. Her great-grandmother Adele endured the sinking of Titanic and made it safely to America, where she not only survived but thrived. Generations later, Kelsey works for the firm Adele founded nearly 100 years ago.

Now facing a hostile takeover, the firm’s origins are challenged when new facts emerge about Adele’s actions on the night Titanic sank. Kelsey tries to defend the company and the great-grandmother she has long admired, but the stakes are raised when Kelsey’s boss is murdered and her own life threatened. Forced to seek help from Cole Thornton, a man Kelsey once loved—and lost, thanks to her success-at-all-costs mentality—she pursues mysteries both past and present. Aided by Cole and strengthened by the faith she’d all but forgotten in her climb up the corporate ladder, Kelsey races the clock to defend her family legacy, her livelihood, and ultimately her life.

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What I Received:

This Gripping Legal Thriller Is a Perfect Summer Read 
When Jared Neaton grew tired of the shady ethics of his big law firm and left to go out on his own, he never expected the wheels to fly off so quickly. One big case collapsing on him has pushed him to the brink and it's all he can do to scrape by. He can't risk another bad loss. 
Erin Larson is running out of options. In the wake of her father's death, she found a slim piece of paper--a deposit slip--with an unbelievable amount on it. Ten million dollars. Only the bank claims it has no record of the deposit and stonewalls her attempts to find out more. This lawsuit, her last chance, has brought only intimidation and threats. Now she needs to convince Jared to take a risk, to help her because the money is real. And both need to watch their backs as digging deeper unleashes something far more dangerous than just threats.







Three years ago, Captain Brogan Talvis's late wife abandoned their son, leaving no clue as to the boy's whereabouts. After searching relentlessly, Brogan discovers his son was adopted by a New England shipbuilder. And the man's daughter, Lorena Huntley, acts as loving guardian to the child.


Lorena, who hides a dark truth, finds herself falling for the handsome captain and ex-privateer who's come to secure ownership of one of her father's ships. She's unaware of Brogan's own secret when another's deceit has her sailing toward Europe against her will.

Haunted by thoughts of Lorena in peril, Brogan is compelled to choose between the boy he longs for and the woman who has captured his heart.

Charlotte Farrow, maid in the wealthy Banning household on Chicago's opulent Prairie Avenue, has kept her baby boy a secret from her employers for nearly a year. But when the woman who has been caring for her son abruptly returns him, Charlotte must decide whether to come clean and face dismissal or keep her secret while the Bannings decide the child's fate. Can she face the truth of her own past and open her heart to a future of her own? Or will life's tragedies determine the future for her? 
This compelling story set against the glittering backdrop of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition captures the tension between the wealthy class and the hardworking servants who made their lives comfortable. Author Olivia Newport expertly portays social classes while creating a story of courage, strength, and tender romance.

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What I Can't Wait to Read:

Emily Hunt might come from a family of cops, but she never goes looking for an adrenaline rush. She lives the quiet–well, relatively quiet–life of a teacher and thrives on making a difference in the lives of her students. But she’ll have to draw on a well of strength and savvy she didn’t know she had as student Rafael Cerda takes her class hostage for ransom money to save his brother’s life.
Undercover cop Mason Taylor has been working with Rafael to find his brother and bring the cartel thugs who hold him to justice. Can he talk Rafael down from his impulsive actions? And is there something more sinister at work here than he realizes?

Release Date: 5/6/14

Happy Reading!  Make sure you check out my giveaway(s) in the sidebar!

Also linking up to the Waiting on Wednesday and  Sunday Post :)

Chats on the Porch ~ 4/23/14

This week's questions are:

1. Do you enjoy crossword puzzles, word finds, or any "word" activities?

I love crossword puzzles!  Sometimes, I'm very brave and actually do them in pen!  lol  Word finds are just "OK" for me.

2. What's on your dining room table right now?

A centerpiece basket of flowers, a bowl of candy and my Bible.  I guess I should also add the homemade patchwork table topper :)

3. Do you like Italian food?

Yummm.....  I do, but I'm very picky about chunks of tomato, peppers, onions, etc.  You could say I love "plain" Italian food.

4. Did you ever want a brother, twin, or sister, when you were a child?

I have a brother who is less than 2 years older than me.  I don't have a sister but my younger cousin kind of filled that role for me.  I didn't want a twin.  So, I guess you could say that I was pretty content.

5. How far away is the nearest grocery store?

There is a little Mom & Pop store a few blocks away from me.  However, the nearest large grocery store is about a 25-30 minute drive away.  That is where I do my main shopping every two weeks.

Let's chat and get to know one another!

WholeHearted Weigh-in Wednesday ~ 4/23/14 ~ Week 2

hosted by Whole Hearted Home

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Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were

 doing it for the Lord and not merely for people.

Colossians 3:23

I mentioned in last week's post that I started the Slim Fast 3-2-1 Plan.  I thought I'd explain it a little bit today.

The 3-2-1 Plan is really very simple.

The 3 stands for 3 snacks.  It can be anything from fruit and veggies, a skinny cow ice-cream, or even a Slim Fast Snack bar that tastes amazingly like a Butterfinger!  (I keep a box of these in my desk at work for hen I need a quick snack).

The 2 stands for 2 shakes.  Right now I have Chocolate Royale and French Vanilla that I alternate.  I use the powder and skim milk to make my shakes.  It is much cheaper than buying the pre-made shakes and I think they taste better also.  I usually drink a Chocolate shake in the morning before heading to work.  When I get home from work around 1:30pm, I drink a French Vanilla shake (it tastes like cake batter!)

The 1 stands for one balanced meal.  I almost always eat my one meal at supper-time.  If I should happen to eat my meal at lunch-time, I just drink a shake in the evening.

Some days I'm hungrier than others but for the most part this plan seems to be working well for me.

Week 2 check-in:

Miles: 11
Total Miles: 16.5

lbs lost: 2.4
Total lost:  5.8

Food Plan:  I stuck to the plan fairly well this week even though we had a big Easter Dinner.  I just used portion control and didn't go overboard.

Thanks for stopping by!

Teaser Tuesday ~ 4/22/14

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. 

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My teaser for this week is from:

~On the wide expanse of wall, the metal covering for the projection screen hung crooked, its cord dropped down from the lower side.  At the other end of that cord hung the body of a person.  A woman.~

Page  52

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Happy Teaser Tuesday!

Fairy Tale Fortnight Giveaway Hop ~ Ends 5/3

Up for grabs is the following book:

Desperate to regain the trust of his kingdom, Prince Lionheart reluctantly banishes his faithful servant and only friend, Rose Red. Now she is lost in the hidden realm of Arpiar, held captive by her evil goblin father, King Vahe. Vowing to redeem himself, Lionheart plunges into the mysterious Goldstone Wood, seeking Rose Red. In strange other worlds, Lionheart must face a lyrical yet lethal tiger, a fallen unicorn, and a goblin horde on his quest to rescue the girl he betrayed. With the Night of Moonblood fast approaching, when King Vahe seeks to wake the Dragon's sleeping children, Lionheart must discover whether or not his heart contains courage before it's too late for Rose Red...and all those he loves.

To enter the giveaway:

*Mandatory-  Leave a comment telling me how to contact you if you are the winner.

*Extra-  Follow my blog and leave a second comment telling me that you do :)

The giveaway will run until 11:59pm EST, May 3, 2014.  The winner will be emailed on May 4th.

For more chances to win great bookishness,

check out these other giveaway hoppers :

Monday's Musings ~ Easter Break ~ 4/21/14

As many of you might know, I started working part-time at our local college in January.  The great thing about working at a school is getting holidays off.  I was fortunate to have a long Easter Break.  I got off Thursday at 1pm and didn't have to be back at work until Monday at 9am.  I was really looking forward to this down time.  Well, I was mostly looking forward to sleeping in!

Thursday:

The girls still had school on Thursday but Doug (the hubby) and I were both off.  We snapped up the opportunity to have a "Date Day".  After getting the girls to school, we had a relaxing morning before getting ready and heading to town.  We did some shopping, ate lunch out, ran into some friends and hit the "hair cut store".  It was so nice to not have any specific plans and to just be together.

When the girls got home, we went for a walk/ride as a family.  The girls rode their bikes and Doug and I walked.  It was sunny and just a beautiful day to spend together outside.  After supper, I even spent some time out on my swing with my Bible.  I love reading outside and am so glad to finally be having some Spring weather.

Friday:

Friday we were all off.  The girls slept in so we had a quiet morning.  After they woke up, we had a Easter Egg Hunt for them in the yard.   No matter how old they get, they still love searching for the eggs.  Or maybe they just like those "special eggs" that have money in them.

In the afternoon, we went to Altoona and saw "Rio 2".  It was a sweet movie but I don't think Kaylee was too thrilled.  She's in that in-between stage where she doesn't really appreciate cartoon movies like she used to.  Hopefully, she'll grow to love them again.

We had lunch out at Longhorn Steakhouse where we finally used up some gift cards.  Then we make some stops at K-Mart, Toys-r-Us and of course, Harbor Freight.  Laken and I waited in the van during the Harbor Freight stop.  It just isn't our thing.

Saturday:

In the morning, Laken had T-ball practice.  I love watching the little ones play :)

We colored Easter Eggs in the afternoon and got them all ready for Sunday.  No matter how old the girls get, they love coloring eggs.

Other than that it was a pretty normal Saturday.  It was basically a relaxing, around-the-house kinda day.

Sunday:

Sunday was Easter, of course.  The first thing the girls did was look through their baskets at their goodies.

We went to Sunday School and Church.  After Church we had a fellowship dinner with ham, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, carrot cake and so much more.  It was delicious!

I usually take a Sunday afternoon nap, but I wasn't tired.  Instead, I took a two lap walk around our neighborhood while the girls played.  I came home and read out on the deck.  I finally finished another book!

In the evening, we went to Youth Group for the girls and then Church.

It was a beautiful, sunny day.  Perfect!

Overview:

We had a great Easter break with a lot of family time and beautiful weather.  I feel well-rested and ready to tackle getting back into our normal routine.

How was your Easter?  Did you do anything fun?  Did you have any time off?  I'd love to know :)

Book Review ~ Rosemary Cottage by Colleen Coble ~ 5/5!!!

Title:  "Rosemary Cottage"
Series:  Hope Beach Book #2

Author:  Colleen Coble
Publisher:  Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: 7/9/13

Pages:  336

Book Description:

The cottage by the sea offers Amy a refuge to mourn her brother’s death and perhaps even discover a new love. But what if Ben’s death was no accident?

Rosemary Cottage on the Outer Banks of North Carolina has been in Amy Lang’s family for generations and offers her a haven within its peaceful walls. There she hopes to discover what really happened to her brother, Ben, even as she tries to come to grips with his death in the ocean months before.


She hopes the Coast Guard team will help her find closure, but they are quick to dismiss her concerns of foul play. Everyone in Hope Beach regards the suspicious e-mail she received as a vicious prank. When it seems discovering what happened to Ben will take longer than she expected, Amy moves her midwifery practice to Hope Beach.


Coast Guard officer Curtis Ireland may hold the key to many of her questions, but he also hides a secret that will change her world forever. And her own secrets could tear apart the fragile love developing between them. Will Amy have the courage to put down her mask and let Curtis love her for who she is? And can they both weather the danger that threatens to destroy the most precious thing in their lives?

My Overall Feeling of the Book:

This book made me want to keep reading.  It was so full of mystery that I thought I had some figured out but didn't know for sure.  Just when I thought I knew what was going on, it would take a turn and surprise me.

Overall,  I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next book in the series as well as more of the mystery and intrigue genre.

A Brief Excerpt:

"The sun heated his arms, but that wasn't the reason her was warm.  What was it about her anyway?  He'd taken one look at her and had been instantly drawn to her.  He wanted to know what she was thinking, what made her tic,.  What had her life been like growing up?"

Page  84

The Cover:

I want to live there!  Gorgeous!   Enough said.

Other Notes:

~  This is a nice, clean read.


Rating

5/5 Absolutely Loved It!

On to the next book,