Book Review ~ Twilight at Blueberry Barrens by Colleen Coble ~ 8/31/17

 

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Blurb:

 

“I need you to keep these girls safe . . .”Kate Mason has devoted herself to caring for her family’s blueberry barrens. But after her fields stop producing fruit, she’s forced to come up with alternative ways to make a living.

Renting out the small cottage on her property seems an obvious choice, but it won’t be enough. When entrepreneur Drake Newham shows up looking not only for a place to rent but also for a nanny for his two nieces, it’s almost too good to be true. And maybe it is—because Drake brings with him dangerous questions about who might be out to kill his family.

The more time Kate spends with Drake and the girls, the more difficult it becomes to hide her attraction to him. But a family crisis isn’t exactly the ideal time to pursue a romance.

Meanwhile, Kate learns that her uncle—in prison for murder—has escaped. Add to that a local stalker who won’t leave her alone, and Kate is looking over her shoulder at every turn. With threats swirling from multiple directions, she wonders if her blueberry fields will ever flourish again . . . or if this twilight is her last.

Set on the beautiful coast of Maine, Twilight at Blueberry Barrens brings together suspense, romance, and the hope that one day new life will come again.     

My Thoughts:

 

 Well, I'll just be honest.

 

This wasn't my favorite Colleen Coble novel.

 

The beginning was a bit confusing with at least 4 POVs.  If you hadn't read the previous books, you would be even more confused as the previous main characters had a fairly large part of this book.

 

I also wasn't extremely thrilled with some of the subject matter.  Was it realistic?  Yes.  But...I don't necessarily want all the bad realism of the world in a book I'm reading.

 

I had figured out the ONE "bad guy" about half way through the book.  Yes, there was more than one "bad guy".   There were at last 3 that I counted.

 

The romance was nice, but I don't think I would have kept the little girls around the situations that were arising.  I would have sent them far away until all was safe.

 

Not a favorite :(

If you've read this book, what did you think?

 

For the Biblical "Way of Salvation" please see my header or click HERE.

 

Linking up to:  Share Your Cup;  Grandma Ideas, Literacy Musings and Saturday Situation, Booknificent. Party at My Place , Saturday Review of Book , Book Nook, Hearts for Home, The Monday Review.

Teaser Tuesday ~ A Lady in the Making ~ 8/29/17

My teaser for this week is from:

 

"You lied to me, Sam."  Mille Evans peeked out the window from behind the half yard of muslin that served as a curtain.  Outside the shanty they rented behind the feed store, a tall man with thick, dark hair and a week's growth of beard stood smoking a cigarette.
 

Also linking up to:

 


Happy Tuesday!

Happy Homemaker Monday ~ 8/28/17

 

Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.

 

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I'd like to take a minute to ask for prayers and good thoughts for my Uncle Charlie.  He was in a motorcycle accident Saturday and is in the hospital fairly banged up.  We visited yesterday and he is in a good deal of pain.  I'd appreciate your prayers!


The weather outside is::::

 It has certainly cooled off her in Pennsylvania.  It was downright chilly this morning!  I can definitely tell that Fall is right around the corner.

Prayers to all those who are dealing with the hurricane and flooding.
 



On my breakfast plate:

Special K Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar

  

As I look around the house::::

 

The trusses are all up on the addition.  We ordered the metal roofing on Thursday and to our surprise it was delivered on Friday!  We weren't expecting the delivery until Tuesday.  Another week of hard work is on the schedule for the guys!

On today's to do list::::

Work
Exercise
Devotions
Kaylee-Tennis Practice
Visit Uncle Charlie

 

Happening this week::::

 

Monday.... Work 8am-1pm, exercise, Tennis, visit Uncle Charlie
Tuesday...  Work 8am-1pm, exercise, Cats to the Vet, Tennis
Wednesday... Work 8am-1pm, exercise, Schedule for next week, Prayer Meeting.
Thursday... Work8am-1pm, exercise, Menu and Grocery List, 1st Tennis Match for Kaylee
Friday...  Off Work, exercise, Groceries, Laundry.
Saturday...  Weigh-in, exercise

Currently reading::::



This is the 3rd book of the Prairie Dream Series by Susan Page Davis.  I've actually read the first 2 boos of the series and really enjoyed them.  Really, I usually enjoy anything written by this author.

I'm slowly making progress on my Goodreads Challenge!
 

On the TV::::

I didn't get to watch any TV this week.  It was just too busy and I didn't get a chance to sit down and turn the TV on.  We're hoping to have a Family Movie Night this weekend.  There are a couple movies at the Redbox that we've been wanting to see.
 

On the menu this week::::

Monday - Ham, Fried Potatoes, Green Beans, Peaches
Tuesday - Weiner Winks, Mac-n-cheese, peas, oranges
Wednesday -  Cheeseburgers, French Fries, Corn, Apples
Thursday - Ravioli, Garlic Bread, Broccoli, grapes
Friday -  Pizza
Saturday - Bacon, Eggs, Toast
Sunday - Dinner at Church

What I am creating at the moment::::

Another week went by without even picking up my cross-stitch project.  I'm not surprised because I usually work on it while watching TV, and I didn't watch any TV this week...

Bible Verse/Devotional

“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You."

Isaiah 26:3 NASB

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Linking up to :What Are You Reading,   Yarn Fanatic, Art of Homemaking, Make Your Home Sing,  Good Morning Monday, Menu Plan Monday ,  The Creative Gallery, Tuesday Pin-spiration, Yarn Along, Keep Calm Craft On, Linky Ladies, Pieces by Polly , Homemaking Linkup, Homesteader Hop.

Sunday Post ~ 8/27/17

 

This is a post to recap the previous week here on the blog.

The Sunday Post is hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

 

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Happy Homemaker Monday

This is where I plan out the week ahead.

 

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This week's Teaser came from Twilight at Blueberry Barrens by Colleen Coble.

 

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This week's Hodgepodge was all about THE Eclipse.

 

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This week's Book Review was:

A Wedding Date in Hot Spring, Arkansas

by Annalisa Daughety

 

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Some of this week's Tea Time smiles were about

Angels and Tennis :)

 

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Come see how I did this week on my

Saturday Weigh-In!

 

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Have a great week!  Please leave a link so I can stop by your blog :)



 

Saturday Weigh-In ~ 8/26/17

  

I was so excited for this week's weigh-in.

 

I had done the work.

 

I had tracked the food.

 

And....it paid off!!!!  Whooohooo!

 

I was down 2.4 lbs this week for a running total of -22.2 lbs from my highest weight. 

 

I might have actually done a fight pump!  hehe

 

The plan for this next week is more of the same.  Walking and staying within my point limits each day.

 

I'd really like to lose at least 1 lb a week.

 

Here's hoping!

My week's stats:

Weigh-in: -2.4lbs   Total:  -22.2 lbs.

Exercise: Sat:  50 minutes
                 Sun:  60 minutes
                 Mon:  60 minutes
                 Tues:   30 minutes
                 Wed:   30 minutes
                 Thurs:  30 minutes
                  Fri:      minutes
                   TOTAL: 260  minutes = 52 FitPoints

Food Tracking:  I tracked ALMOST everything this week.

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Thanks for stopping by!  Please leave a comment with a link so I can return the visit!

 

Tea Time ~ Angels and Tennis ~ 8/25/17

 

Grab a cup of tea, coffee, hot chocolate or your favorite drink
while I share a few things that made me smile this week :)

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~Back to School Night was last Friday!  It was a great time of getting new schedules and seeing new classrooms and teachers.  The school did a wonderful job with organizing the evening and even had lots of prizes for the kids to try to win.  I could tell my girls were a bit excited to see their friends :)

~We had the 10th Annual Guardian Angel Picnic on Saturday!  Ten years of adults signing up to pray for students.  10 years of parents signing their student up to be prayed for.  It was a great time of fellowship and revealing who our angel was for last year.  I'm excited to see who my angel will be this year :)

~Tuesday was the First Day of School!  I could tell my kids were excited because they both went to bed early the night before :)  That never happens!  It is Kaylee's Senior year and Laken is in 5th grade.  I couldn't wait to pick them up from school and hear about their day :)

~Kaylee started Tennis practice on Monday!  It is really the ONLY sport she enjoys!  This year they had enough girls wanting to play to have a Girl's Team.  Whohoo!  No more playing against the boys :)

~I crushed my Fitness Points Goal for this week!  WW set my goal as 35 Fitness Points for the week and I had that many done by Tuesday!  So excited!  Come back tomorrow for my Saturday Weigh-In post :)

Please leave a comment with a link so I can return the visit!
 

Linking up with Friendship Friday, Friday Fragments, Five on Friday, Show Off Friday, Awesome Life,  Friday Favorites , High Five for Friday , Diary of a Real Housewife and Tricky's Five , Friday's Fave Five. Life in Leggings, Fresh Friday Finds, Weekend Wind Down.

Book Review ~ A Wedding Date in Hot Springs, Arkansas ~ 8/24/17

 

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Blurb:

 

   All Violet can think about is how to make sure she has a date for her little sister’s wedding. Online dating, speed dating, blind dates. . .she doesn’t care what it takes. And when that doesn’t work, she hires a matchmaker, only to discover that her “match” is her old college classmate. Violet didn’t like Jackson then and she sure doesn’t like him now. But Jackson has a plan: he’ll be her “boyfriend” at the wedding if Violet will be his “girlfriend” for his high school reunion. There’s just one small hitch—they still can’t stand each other!  

My Thoughts:

 

 This was another fun book to read!  Two fake dating books in a row :)

 

Violet REALLY didn't like Jackson and that made the story line all the sweeter to read.  Jackson seemed really shallow in the beginning of the story, but I loved getting to know him better.

 

Speaking of sweets, I love that Violet follows her dream instead of staying stuck in a career that she hates.  I'm a big proponent of loving what you do for a living.

 

This is the first book in a while that I've read where both the main characters are Christians.  Usually one or the other has spiritual issues that they need to work through.  This time it was just relationship issues :)

 Like I mentioned, this was a fun romance complete with matchmaker, dating contract, and obligatory first kiss!

 

You should check it out :)

For the Biblical "Way of Salvation" please see my header or click HERE.

 

Linking up to:  Share Your Cup;  Grandma Ideas, Literacy Musings and Saturday Situation, Booknificent. Party at My Place , Saturday Review of Book , Book Nook, Hearts for Home

Hodgepodge ~ 8/23/17

  

 

Joyce's Hodgepodgey Questions:

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1. Did you watch the solar eclipse? Your thoughts? Sun Chips, Moon Pies, Starburst candies, a Blue Moon beer, a Sunkist orange, or a Milky Way candy bar...what's your favorite eclipse related snack on this list?


I wasn't really into the eclipse.  I'm not really a sciency type of girl.  However, I work at a local college and the Science Department had a big party with lots of the foods listed here.  My favorite would probably be Starburst Candies.

 2. What are you 'over the moon' about these days? What's something you enjoy doing every 'once in a blue moon'?


I'm "over the moon" about trying to stick to my Weight Watchers plan.  So far I'm seeing some success!  "Once in a Blue Moon" would be going to the movie theater.  I enjoy a good date night every now and then :)

 3. Tell us about something in the realm of science that interests you. How do you feed that interest?

Like I said, not that much into science.  I guess if you call the color spectrum science...????  I feed that with crochet and cross-stitch....and my nails :)

 4. What are a few things you remember about going back to school as a child?

My favorite memories of going back to school were the new school supplies!  I love stationary and a new tablet just sets me over the edge!  I also loved writing my name in the front of a new textbook and seeing who had the book in the years before me.

5. I've seen several versions of this around the net so let's make one of our own...share with us five words that touch your soul and briefly tell us why.

~Salvation:  I'm nothing without it.
~Family:  Love them to pieces.
~Words:  Both reading them and writing them.
~Color:  It brightens the world.
~Water:  I love the sound and peaceful feeling.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Random thought of the day:  The girls are back in school.  In some ways I'm glad.  In other ways I want perpetual summer vacation.


I'd love to return the visit!  Please leave a comment and a link!

Teaser Tuesday ~ Twilight at Blueberry Barrens ~ 8/22/17

My teaser for this week is from:

 

~"Melissa's breath came hard, and the pressure in her ears built as she sprinted toward the top of the cliffs.  The glow in the east told her she would have to hurry if she wanted to see the sunrise from Mermaid Rock.  Small pebbles skittered away from the soles of her sneakers, and the sound set her on edge."~

 

What do you think?

Also linking up to:

 


Happy Tuesday!

Happy Homemaker Monday ~ 8/21/17

 

Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.

 

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The girls start school tomorrow!  How has the summer gone by so quickly??

Kaylee is a Senior and Laken a 5th Grader.

Here's to a good year!


The weather outside is::::

 We've had beautiful weather this weekend.  Sunshine and Thunderstorms.
I LOVE IT!



On my breakfast plate:

Smart Ones Ham and Cheese Scramble

  

As I look around the house::::

 

The trusses came for the addition!  I took Thursday off work to help life them up onto the walls.  Doug and Dad have been working so hard!  The next step is to order the metal roofing and the boards for the siding.  More money.....

On today's to do list::::

Work
Exercise
Devotions
Kaylee-Tennis Practice

 

Happening this week::::

 

Monday.... Work 8am-1pm, exercise,
Tuesday...  Work 8am-1pm, exercise, School starts!
Wednesday... Work 8am-1pm, Schedule for next week, Prayer Meeting.
Thursday... Work8am-1pm, Menu and Grocery List, Dan's bday (my brother)
Friday...  Work 8am-1pm, Groceries, Laundry.
Saturday...  Weigh-in, Leister family reunion.

Currently reading::::



I'm on a reading roll!  This is my third book this week!
 

On the TV::::

Pirates Baseball
Steeler Football!!!  Whoohoo!!!
Hallmark Movies and Mysteries
 

On the menu this week::::

Monday - Shake N Bake Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Corn, Apples
Tuesday - Spaghettie, Garlic Bread, Green Beans, Oranges
Wednesday -  Hoagies, Chips
Thursday - Pork Chops, Fried Potatoes, Peas, Peaches
Friday -  Pizza
Saturday - Leister Reunion (homemade shells n cheese)
Sunday - Dinner at Church

What I am creating at the moment::::

I really didn't get a chance to work on my cross-stitch this week but I'm SO close to finishing.  Hopefully soon!


Bible Verse/Devotional

He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

1 John 5:12 NASB

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Linking up to :What Are You Reading,   Yarn Fanatic, Art of Homemaking, Make Your Home Sing,  Good Morning Monday, Menu Plan Monday ,  The Creative Gallery, Tuesday Pin-spiration, Yarn Along, Keep Calm Craft On, Linky Ladies, Pieces by Polly , Homemaking Linkup, Homesteader Hop.

Sunday Post ~ 8/20/17

 

This is a post to recap the previous week here on the blog.

The Sunday Post is hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

 

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Happy Homemaker Monday

This is where I plan out the week ahead.

 

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This week's Teaser came from A Wedding Blunder in the Black Hills.

 

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This week's Hodgepodge was all about Dogs and Jokes.

 

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This week's Book Review was:

A Wedding Blunder in the Black Hills

by Kim O'Brien

 

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Some of this week's Tea Time smiles were about

A Baby and Football :)

 

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I'm changing my Weigh-In to Saturday.

Come see how I did this week!

 

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Have a great week!  Please leave a link so I can stop by your blog :)



 

Saturday Weigh-In ~ 8/19/17

  

Every time I stop doing my Weigh-In post, I fall off the wagon.  Therefore, I'll be reinstating my Weigh-In post but it will be on Saturday, the day I weigh-in for Weight Watchers.

My last Weigh-in post was about choosing to commit.  Then I didn't.  I've been very willy-nilly about my weight and fitness.  I'm "trying" to change that.  Trying is the word.

I still have my Weight Watchers online subscription that I've been using a bit here and there.  I want to start really focusing on it.  It tracks food intake and exercise, but I have to be the one to input the information.

I've been starting to walk the past week and even went shoe shopping and got a new pair of walking shoes.  (They are SO cute!)


The girls start school back up next Tuesday.  My plan is to work from 8am-1pm and then either go to the gym and walk for an hour or (weather permitting) walk around my town for an hour before picking the girls up from school.  I'm hoping this helps keep me on track, at least fitness wise.

I'm really hoping to stick-to-it this time.  I'll be 40 years old at the end of March.  That gives me 7 1/2 months to really buckle down and see what I can do.
I'd appreciate any good thoughts, prayers, or tips that you can give me.  Really.  Help!  hehe

I look forward to this week and seeing where it takes me :)

My week's stats:



Weigh-in:  -1.0  Total:  -19.8 lbs.

Exercise: Sat:  30 minutes
                 Sun: 30 minutes
                 Tues:  30 minutes
                 Wed:  30 minutes
                   TOTAL:  120 minutes = 24 FitPoints

Food Tracking:  This week I managed to track almost everyday!  The times I missed, I went back and filled in.  I used my Daily Points every day and ended up using my Weekly Points at my brother's birthday celebration.  Pizza and ice-cream cake did me in as far as my points went.

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Thanks for stopping by!  Please leave a comment with a link so I can return the visit!

 

Linking up to  WholeHearted Wednesday, R&R, Word Filled Wednesday, Coffee and Conversation, Ladies Collective,   Party in Your PJs,  Works or Me, Wake-Up Wednesday and  Women with Intention, Peaches and Salt, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman, Classical Homemaking , Wow Us Wednesday.

Tea Times ~ A Baby and Football ~ 8/18/17

 

Grab a cup of tea, coffee, hot chocolate or your favorite drink
while I share a few things that made me smile this week :)

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~My cousin, Steph, (she's more like my little sister) finally had her baby on August 3rd at 4:43am!  Damon Charles weighed 8lbs 11oz and was 21in long.  He is SO SWEET!  I just love holding him and loving on him.  Such a little stinker :)


~Pittsburgh Steeler pre-season football has started!  I was so excited last Thursday because I thought the game was on that night.  When I went to watch it, I could not find it anywhere on any of the channels.  Finally, I decided to look at the schedule to see what channel it was on.  Here it was on FRIDAY night!  I had to wait another whole day to watch Steeler football.  BTW, we won:)


~My oldest daughter, Kaylee, has started her very own blog!  She debated and brainstormed for days as to what name she should use for her blog.  Finally, she decided on Kaylee's Random Ramblings.  I'd love for you to give her some bloggy love :)


~I started a cross-stitch kit and am loving it.  I'm actually almost finished with it and have my next kit already.  The one I'm working on is "Live, Love, Laugh".  I'll post a picture when finished :)


~Kaylee is getting her Senior Picture taken today.   The drape, that is.  You know, the one where the girls have to "drape" a black wrap around them and get the year book picture taken.  I want to get some less formal pictures taken of her soon but haven't decided which photographer to go with yet.  I can't believe my baby is a Senior!


 

Please leave a comment with a link so I can return the visit!
 

Linking up with Friendship Friday, Friday Fragments, Five on Friday, Show Off Friday, Awesome Life,  Friday Favorites , High Five for Friday , Diary of a Real Housewife and Tricky's Five , Friday's Fave Five. Life in Leggings, Fresh Friday Finds, Weekend Wind Down.

Book Review ~ A Wedding Blunder in the Black Hills by Kim O-Brien ~ 8/17/17

 

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Blurb:

 

   David and Millie both have big problems. A widowed dentist with an almost-teen son, he’s being stalked by an amorous patient. Millie’s mom keeps sending her on blind dates, even though the café owner has trust issues. So when a lost filling lands Millie in David’s office, the two of them find a solution—a faux relationship. No one gets hurt and no one gets nagged. It’s a great plan—until they really start to care. Now what will they do?    

  

My Thoughts:

 

 Wow!  It has been a while since I've written a book review!  I hadn't been reading much of anything for a while.  Finally, I started this book and found it really interesting.  Interesting enough to capture my attention and actually finish the book!

The faux relationship theme was really fun to read and I was hooked and couldn't wait for the moment it became "real".

I liked that the characters were very realistic with faults and flaws.  For instance, the leading lady had illusions of grandeur and becoming a star in Hollywood.  The hero was an average, ordinary....dentist.  I think this was the first book I've read where the hero is a dentist!  lol

The secondary characters were interesting as well.  There was Millie's mom and the "aunts" as well as Bart, David's son.  David's mother was a completely different story!

This book was a fun read and I'm so glad to get my reading mojo back!

 

For the Biblical "Way of Salvation" please see my header or click HERE.

 

Linking up to:  Share Your Cup;  Grandma Ideas, Literacy Musings and Saturday Situation, Booknificent. Party at My Place , Saturday Review of Book , Book Nook, Hearts for Home