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



Book Club Tuesday #4 ~ 7/24/18

Welcome back to the 4th week of Book Club Tuesday!  Thank you so much to everyone who participated last week!  I hope you had fun :)

Here are a few of the Book Reviews that were linked up last week:

Review & Giveaway

 

 

Brandi Raae

 

Stone Cottage Adventures



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

"20 Books of Summer 2018" Update ~ 7/23/18

 

Another update on how I'm doing so far with the "20 Books of Summer 2018" Reading Challenge.

I'm thrilled to say that I have hit the HALFWAY mark!!!!!

Here are my first 10 books:

1.  You're Gonna Love Me by Robin Lee Hatcher - 6/4/18

2.  Sea Rose Lane by Irene Hannon - 6/10/18

3.  The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep - 6/13/18

4. Sandpiper Cove by Irene Hannon - 6/15/18

5.  Beneath A Prairie Moon by Kim Vogel Sawyer - 6/16/18

6.  From the Start by Melissa Tagg - 6/26/18

7.  The Lost Heiress by Roseanna M. White - 7/3/18

8.  The Reluctant Duchess by Roseanna M. White - 7/14/18

9.  City on Fire by Tracy L. Higley - 7/19/18

10.  Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson - 7/22/18

I only have about 6 more weeks to read the second 10 books!  Do you think I'll make it?

 

How are you doing with your challenge?

 



Colletta

Book Review ~ Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

 Blurb:

 

  Marianne Daventry will do anything to escape the boredom of Bath and the amorous attentions of an unwanted suitor. So when an invitation arrives from her twin sister, Cecily, to join her at a sprawling country estate, she jumps at the chance. Thinking she'll be able to relax and enjoy her beloved English countryside while her sister snags the handsome heir of Edenbrooke, Marianne finds that even the best laid plans can go awry.

From a terrifying run-in with a highwayman to a seemingly harmless flirtation, Marianne finds herself embroiled in an unexpected adventure filled with enough romance and intrigue to keep her mind racing. Will Marianne be able to rein in her traitorous heart, or will a mysterious stranger sweep her off her feet? Fate had something other than a relaxing summer in mind when it sent Marianne to Edenbrooke. 

My Thoughts:

 

...Sigh...

 

This book claims to be a "Proper Romance" and it definitely was.

 

I loved everything about this book!  The time period, the setting, the characters.  It was a proper regency romance full of mystery, highwaymen, inns, estates, and romance.

 

I started reading the book thinking it would be a quick read because of its length.  It became a quick read because I couldn't put it down and read it in two sittings.  Well, I was actually stretched out on my bed, but I digress.

 

I fell a little bit in love with Phillip which is what makes a great hero in a story to me.

 

It is written in the first person from Marianne's POV, so I felt like I was right there with her.

 

I was struck by something odd though.  Marianne is a 17-year-old heroine and I have a 17-year-old daughter!  How can that be?!?  At first I didn't think I would connect completely with Marianne, but I did.

 

The author did a remarkable job writing this book!  I can't wait to read more by her!

 

 

 

  



Colletta

What I'm Reading ~ 7/23/18

Today I'm reading:

Just like you, Ann Voskamp hungers to live her one life well. Forget the bucket lists that have us escaping our everyday lives for exotic experiences. How, Ann wondered, do we find joy in the midst of deadlines, debt, drama, and daily duties? What does the Christ-life really look like when your days are gritty, long and sometimes even dark? How is God even here?

In One Thousand Gifts, Ann invites you to embrace everyday blessings and embark on the transformative spiritual discipline of chronicling God's gifts. It s only in this expressing of gratitude for the life we already have, we discover the life we've always wanted, a life we can take, give thanks for, and break for others. We come to feel and know the impossible right down in our bones: we are wildly loved by God.

Let Ann's beautiful, heart-aching stories of the everyday give you a way of seeing that opens your eyes to ordinary amazing grace, a way of being present to God that makes you deeply happy, and a way of living that is finally fully alive. Come live the best dare of all!    

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 ~ You Say by Lauren Daigle

I simply love everything by Lauren Daigle!

 

 

 Colletta

First Lines Friday ~ 7/20/18

Today's "First Lines" are from:

Bath, England, 1816

 

It was the oak tree that distracted me.  I happened to glance up as I walked beneath its full, green canopy.  The wind was tossing its leaves so that they twirled upon their stems, and at the sight I was struck by the realization that it had been much too long since I had twirled.

 

 

Colletta
 

 

Also linking up to:

 

Book Review & Giveaway ~ City on Fire by Tracy L. Higley ~ Ends 7/31/18

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

 Blurb:

 

 A Jewish slave girl fights for her life in first-century Pompeii on the eve of the city’s destruction.

Wealthy Roman patrician Cato came to the seaside town of Pompeii to build a new business, but hostility and outright corruption threaten his carefully laid plans and ignite his desire for social justice. Meanwhile, Ariella, an escaped Jewish slave girl, comes to town with a gladiator troupe. Disguised as a young boy, Ariella’s only ambition is survival.

Ariella and Cato face political intrigue, religious persecution, and family peril even as the ominous mountain in the distance begins to spew its fire. They must bridge their differences to save the lives of those they love before fiery ash buries Pompeii, turning the city into a lost world.  

My Thoughts:

 

Wow!  This book was absolutely amazing!

 

If I used a star-rating system, it would be 5/5 STARS!

 

I could not put this book down!  I know I'm using so many exclamation points, but that is how I feel about this book.  And to think I almost didn't purchase it!  (another exclamation point :)

 

The concept of a female warrior was very intriguing to me.  I didn't know how a Jewish slave and a wealthy Roman politician would come together and that left me so curious to read, read, read.

 

I learned so much about the historical events of Pompeii but also of the early Christians who met home-to-home in secret.  I loved the "family" of Christians that both Ariella and Cato come to know as their own family.  That is how it should be.

 

Ariella and Cato have a tumultuous relationship throughout the book.  Cato was a bit arrogant but well-meaning.  Ariella was proud yet a slave.  It was a very interesting story to read as it unfolded.

 

I could go on and on and on!  This could easily be my favorite read of the year so far!

 

I can't keep this book to myself.  I have to share it.  I'll be giving away my gently read copy to one very lucky person.  If you love history and romance, you don't want to miss this one.

 

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, July 31, 2018.

 

 

 

 

  



Colletta

Thankful Thursday ~ 7/19/18

 

This week I'm thankful for:

 

~We had a Family Movie Night at the theater on Friday!  We went to see Hotel Transylvania 3.  I enjoyed it but I think my favorite Hotel Transylvania is a close tie between 1 and 2.  It did have some really funny parts though :)

~The hubby's vacation is over but we had a good time!  He went back to work bright and early Monday morning.  I think he was ready for a break from us.  lol

 

 ~We found MORE kittens!  The mother had them out behind the shed but they are big enough that we could hear them meowing.  We now have 7 kittens.  We've already found good homes for 3 of them and the girls have each claimed one.  Here's a picture of one of the little girls, dubbed Lacie sprawled out sleeping on one of the porch chairs.  Isn't that little belly so cute!?!:

~I'm back to watching my cousin's baby, Damon on Monday, Wednesday and Friday!  I also have his older brother, Dex, for the summer until school starts back up.  I love them so!  They are so much fun to spend time with :)

~I love watching my oldest baby girl do what she loves!  We got her a stand-up easel and she has been painting away.  It is good to see her actively pursuing something that interests her.  I'll make sure to show you the finished product when she completes it :)

 

What are you thankful for today?

 

Colletta