Scripture Memory Verse ~ 9/22/19

This Week's Memory Verse:

"Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him."

Psalm 37:7 NIV

Colletta

Fall Into Reading Challenge 2019 ~ Check In ~ Week 3 ~ Giveaway!!!

.

 

I'm so excited to be hosting the

Fall Into Reading Challenge 2019!

It will run from September 1st - November 30th. 

The Challenge is super simple and there is still time to join in:

Here's the Sign-up post !

Here's the Landing Page where you can see the participant's!

You can read about my goal HERE!

Each week, on Saturday, I'll have a Check In post where we can link up any reviews written about our Fall Into Reading 2019 books.  You can leave a link to your Check In post or you can also stop by just to say "Hey!" and let us know how you're doing with the Challenge.  We're even going to have prizes and giveaways!

 

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My Check In:

This week I finished "Formula of Deception" by Carrie Stuart Parks and it was AMAZING!  You can read my review HERE.  (Make sure to keep reading this post for a giveaway!)
 

I started reading a few different books this week before settling in to read "A Sparkle of Silver" by Liz Johnson, an author I've enjoyed reading before.  I've just started reading it but am hoping to have a review up next week.

 

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

 

Giveaway Time!!!!!!

 

WINNER!!!!!  The winner of "Shadows of the Past" is Carol from Slater's Funny Farm  who read "The Favorite Daughter" by Patti Callahan Henry this week!  Please send me an email with your mailing address to collettaskitchensink (at) yahoo (dot) com to claim the prize.

 

This week's giveaway will be for "Formula of Deception" by Carrie Stuart Parks, a book that I loved!  This is my gently read copy.

 

To enter the giveaway:

 

+5 ~ be a Participant in the Fall Into Reading Challenge 2019 and leave a comment on this post

+1 ~  If you're not a participant, simply leave a comment telling us what you are reading

 

I'll pick a winner on Friday, September 27th and let you know who the winner is in the Week 4 Check In Post on September 28th!

 

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I can't wait to read everyone's Check In Posts and Reviews!

 

Remember, it isn't too late to join the challenge!  We still have plenty of Fall left :)

 

Happy Reading!

Colletta

First Lines Friday and 56 ~ 9/20/19

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

 



 

First Lines

There were some things Millie Sullivan would rather forget.

 Page 56

 

  That scowl he'd worn before made its way back into place, the tip of his nose twitching.

Colletta 

P.S. I'd love for you to come join in the Fall Into Reading Challenge!

Also linking up to:

 

Books from the Backlog ~ 9/19/19

Books from the Backlog hosted by Carole's Random Life in Books is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread.  If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks.

 

This week's neglected book is:

 

 

 

 

Gunpowder Tea by Margaret Brownley

Series: The Brides of Last Chance Ranch Book #3
Publication Date:     October 15, 2013
Publisher: Thomas Nelson

 

Blurb:

 

In a case that could change her career, Miranda uncovers a love that will change her life.

When Miranda Hunt sees the classified ad for an heiress to the legendary Last Chance Ranch, she knows assuming the identity of Annie Beckman is the perfect cover. As one of the finest agents for the Pinkerton Detective Agency, Miranda has been tasked with apprehending the Phantom – an elusive and notorious train robber thought to be hiding on the sprawling ranch.

But she isn’t the only one there with something to hide. Wells Fargo detective Jeremy Taggert is working the scene undercover as well. And although their true identities are a secret, it is impossible for Jeremy and Miranda to hide the spark that flares between them.

But neither is about to let romance interfere with such a huge case. Besides, Miranda hasn’t removed Jeremy from her list of suspects yet. The closer they come to uncovering the identity of the Phantom, the more dangerous he gets – and no one on the ranch is safe.

But neither are their hearts – the longer Miranda and Jeremy spends working together, the harder it becomes to keep their feelings in check. Their careers – and their lives – depend on solving this case. Love will have to wait.

 

 

Why did I add Gunpowder Tea to my bookshelf?:

 

I would have to check but I think I've read the first two books of this series already. When I saw "Gunpowder Tea" at Ollie's for $3.99 I grabbed it!  I really love undercover stories and even better when it is the woman who is undercover!
 

 

What are your thoughts? Have you read this book?  Would you recommend it to others?

 

Colletta

P.S. I'd love for you to come join the Fall Into Reading Challenge!

Weekly Weigh In ~ Week 8 ~ WW Freestyle

I didn't make it to my WW workshop this week because Laken had a Volleyball Tournament an hour in the opposite direction from my workshop.

I'm a little bit afraid to weigh in this coming week because I didn't have that weekly re-set that I get at my workshop.

I've also really been slacking on getting my FitPoints in.  A half-hour walk is only worth 4 points!  I might tweak my goal again but I'll wait until next week to do so if I decide to.

Now,

On to the weigh in:

Starting Weight ~ 7/27/19 ~ 290.8 lbs

Last Week's Weight ~ 9/7/19 ~ 276.8 lbs

This Week's Weight ~ 9/14/19 ~ ????? lbs

This Week's Total:  ?????  lbs

 
Grand Total: -14.0 lbs


I'll be weighing in on Saturdays and posting my results on Wednesday.  If you'd like to join in on the journey, I'd love to have some weight loss friends! 

 
Colletta

P.S.  I'd love for you to join the Fall Into Reading Challenge!

Book Review ~ Formula of Deception by Carrie Stuart Parks

 

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Title:  Formula of Deception by Carrie Stuart Parksw

Series:  N/A

Pages:  320

Date Published:  July 3, 2018

Publisher:  Thomas Nelson

 

 Blurb:

 

When her twin sister was murdered, Murphy Anderson changed her name and appearance and moved to Kodiak to avoid the press and publicity. But when local authorities discover she’s an artist and request her help in drawing a dying man’s memories, she unintentionally ends up in the limelight again—and may be back in the killer’s crosshairs.

The memory that Murphy was asked to draw was from an Alaskan hunter who discovered five bodies on remote Ruuwaq Island ten years ago, but has only shared the information with the police now that he’s dying of cancer. When they go to the island to investigate, no skeletons remain but there is evidence that the bodies may have been deliberately destroyed. But the big discovery is of a World War II Quonset hut.

As one by one the people who were at the hut die, Murphy knows there is something much deeper at stake. What happened there during WWII? And who is willing to kill to keep those secrets buried?     

My Thoughts:

 

 Oh MY!!!

 

What a book!

 

I don't know where to start with this review other than to say that this book is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!  I'd even go so far as to say it was the best books I've read in years!

 

Carrie Stuart Parks is a new-to-me author so I didn't know what to expect.  Let's just say I got a whole lotta bang for my $1.99 at Ollies.

 

I just finished this book 10 minutes ago and am still a little bit in shock by the ending!  I thought I had everything all figured and then WHAM!

 

The characters, especially Murphy/Dakota, were very well written and the scenery played before me as if in photographs or a movie reel.

 

I'm going to be thinking about this book for days!

 

I'll definitely be on the lookout for more books by this author.

 

Just amazing!

 

 



Colletta

 

P.S.  I'd love for you to join in the Fall Into Reading Challenge!

 

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? ~ 9/16/19

 

 

It's Monday!  What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date.  It is a place to share what you've read, what you are reading and what you are about to read.

 

~~~~~

 

 In Life

 

 Life has been pretty busy lately.

 

Laken has had either volleyball games or practice every day this past week including a day-long tournament on Saturday.  It was so much fun watching these young 7th graders learning the game of volleyball.  I love to watch as they mature.

 

Sunday afternoon was Youth Day at Church.  From 1pm to 5pm was all about bouncy house, waterslide and games.  We were worried that it wouldn't warm up enough for the waterslide (it was huge) but the day couldn't have been any nicer.  We had perfect weather!

 

Now:

  

Onto the books!

 

What I Read Last Week:

 

This was the first book I've read by this author but it will NOT be my last.  It was AMAZING!  The review for this book will post Tuesday!

 

 

What I'm Reading Now:

I like to alternate historical and contemporary reads.  Historical will be up next with a continuation of the Westward Wind Series.
 

What's Up Next?:

Up next will probably be a book I featured on "Books from the Backlog" a few weeks ago.  "By Your Side" by Candace Calvert is the first book in the Crisis Team Series.

 

 

Colletta

P.S.  I hope you'll come join in the Fall Into Reading Challenge!

 

Also linking up to the following:

 

Scripture Memory Verse ~ 9/15/19

This Week's Memory Verse:

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful."

Colossians 3:15 NIV

Colletta

Fall Into Reading Challenge 2019 ~ Check In ~ Week 2 ~ Giveaway!!!

.

 

I'm so excited to be hosting the

Fall Into Reading Challenge 2019!

It will run from September 1st - November 30th. 

The Challenge is super simple and there is still time to join in:

Here's the Sign-up post !

Here's the Landing Page where you can see the participant's!

You can read about my goal HERE!

Each week, on Saturday, I'll have a Check In post where we can link up any reviews written about our Fall Into Reading 2019 books.  You can leave a link to your Check In post or you can also stop by just to say "Hey!" and let us know how you're doing with the Challenge.  We're even going to have prizes and giveaways!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

My Check In:

 

I finished "Summer of Promise" by Amanda Cabot last week.   You can read my review HERE!

 

 

This week I finished "Formula of Deception" by Carrie Stuart Parks a new-to-me author and, oh my goodness was it good!  Stay tuned for the review on Tuesday and for a giveaway in the future!

 

 

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

 

Giveaway Time!!!!!!

 

WINNER!!!!!  The winner of "31 Verses to Write on Your Heart" is Songbird's Crazy World who is reading the Pern series!  Please send me an email with your mailing address to collettaskitchensink (at) yahoo (dot) com to claim the prize.

 

This week's giveaway will be for "Shadows of the Past" by Patricia Bradley; Logan Point Book #1.  I accidently bought a copy of this book and after starting to read it, I realized I has read it before!  Have you ever done that??

 

To enter the giveaway:

 

+5 ~ be a Participant in the Fall Into Reading Challenge 2019 and leave a comment on this post

+1 ~  If you're not a participant, simply leave a comment telling us what you are reading

 

I'll pick a winner on Friday, September 20th and let you know who the winner is in the Week 3 Check In Post on September 21st!

 

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

 

I can't wait to read everyone's Check In Posts and Reviews!

 

Remember, it isn't too late to join the challenge!  We still have plenty of Fall left :)

 

Happy Reading!

Colletta

First Lines Friday and 56 ~ 9/13/19

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



 

First Lines

 Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory, October 1886

 

It was only wind.

 

Charlotte Harding wrapped her arms around her waist, trying to convince herself there was not reason to tremble like a cottonwood leaf in a storm.

 Page 56

 

 
As Miriam and Mr. Eberhardt made their way toward the door, Mr. Landry appeared unconcerned.  "Are you enjoying the concert?" he asked Charlotte.
 

Colletta 

P.S. I'd love for you to come join in the Fall Into Reading Challenge!

Also linking up to:

 

Books from the Backlog ~ 9/12/19

Books from the Backlog hosted by Carole's Random Life in Books is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread.  If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks.

 

This week's neglected book is:

 

 

 

 

Step by Step by Candace Calvert

Series: Crisis Team Book #2
Publication Date:     February 1,2 016
Publisher: Tyndale House
 

Blurb:

 

Three years after a tragic accident left her a widow, ER nurse Taylor Cabot is determined to move on, checking off one item after another on her survival list. Her relationship with a handsome plastic surgeon even gives her hope for the last point—“fall in love again.” At least until crisis chaplain Seth Donovan steps back into her life, reawakening unanswered questions about her husband’s death.

While in San Diego to train community volunteers, Seth hopes to learn why Taylor is backing away from the crisis team and from their friendship. But nothing prepares him for the feelings that arise when he sees Taylor again . . . and sees her moving on with another man.

When a community crisis hits home and puts lives at risk, emotions run high and buried truths are unearthed. Will hope make the survival list?

 

 

Why did I add Step by Step to my bookshelf?:

 

Last week's featured book was the first book in the Crisis Team series.  I realized I also have the second book of the series on my shelf!  I probably trying to collect the whole series before reading them.  I think I'll have to be moving the series up a notch in my reading list:)
 

 

What are your thoughts? Have you read this book?  Would you recommend it to others?

 

Colletta

P.S. I'd love for you to come join the Fall Into Reading Challenge!

Weekly Weigh In ~ Week 7 ~ WW Freestyle

My WW Challenge Squad 3% for September is to lose 8.4 lbs.  I blew through my August goal but that makes me leery of making the goal for September for some reason...

My first weigh in of the month was 9/7/19 and I lost 2.2 lbs!  That leaves me 6.2 lbs left to lose in September to meet my Challenge goal.  I'd really like to get out of the 270's this month but don't know if that will happen.

My daily and weekly points have remained the same at 31 and 42.  So that is good!

As for exercise, I only got 25/40 Fitpoints completed.  My lower back has been spasming so I took a few days off of exercise to see if that would help.  It helped to a certain extent but it is still bothering me a bit.  I think I'll ease back into the exercise while still striving to get my 40 total Fitpoints for the week.

Now,

On to the weigh in:

Starting Weight ~ 7/27/19 ~ 290.8 lbs

Last Week's Weight ~ 8/31/19 ~ 279.0 lbs

This Week's Weight ~ 9/7/19 ~ 276.8 lbs

This Week's Total:  -2.2 lbs

 
Grand Total: -14.0 lbs


I'll be weighing in on Saturdays and posting my results on Wednesday.  If you'd like to join in on the journey, I'd love to have some weight loss friends! 

 
Colletta

P.S.  I'd love for you to join the Fall Into Reading Challenge!

Book Review ~ Summer of Promise by Amanda Cabot

 

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Title:  Summer of Promise by Amanda Cabot

Series:  Western Winds Book #1 

Pages:  404

Date Published:  January 1, 2012

Publisher:  Revell

 

 Blurb:

 

Though she had planned to spend the summer in Vermont, Abigail Harding cannot dismiss her concerns over her older sister. Charlotte's letters have been uncharacteristically melancholy, and her claims that nothing is wrong ring false, so Abigail heads west to Fort Laramie, Wyoming. When her stagecoach is attacked, Wyoming promises to be anything but boring. Luckily, the heroics of another passenger, Lieutenant Ethan Bowles, save the day.

Abigail plans to marry when she returns to Vermont, just as soon as she attends to her sister. As the summer passes, she finds herself drawn to this rugged land and to a certain soldier determined to persuade her to stay. When summer ends, will she go back East, or will she find her heart's true home?  

My Thoughts:

 

 This book was my first read for the Fall Into Reading Challenge 2019 (see below for the sign-up post).  The second book of this series is about the Fall/Autumn and I want to read it during this Challenge so first I needed to read "Summer of Promise".  It was just the logical thing to do :)

 

I haven't read a "western" in a while and was feeling in the mood to enjoy a couple days out west.  Even better that Ethan (the hero) was in the Cavalry.  An officer and a gentleman and all that jazz!

 

  Abigail started as your typical "eastern school teacher" gone west.  She absolutely hated Wyoming in the beginning and thought the terrain was simply boring, except for the sky.

 

Ethan makes it his mission to change her mind about Wyoming.  Abigail made it her mission to change Ethan's mind about love, both heavenly love and earthly love.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet book even though I figured out pretty early on who "the man from the fort" was.

 

I can't forget the puppy factor in this book!  Even though Puddles was a bit of a handful for Abigail and Charlotte, he was certainly a main character as well as he gave Abigail and Ethan lots of excuses for taking walks together :)  The book wouldn't have been the same without him.

 

Luckily I have books 2 and 3 on my shelf.  Yep, the entire series at my fingertips at one time!

 

 



Colletta

 

P.S.  I'd love for you to join in the Fall Into Reading Challenge!

 

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? ~ 9/9/19

 

 

It's Monday!  What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date.  It is a place to share what you've read, what you are reading and what you are about to read.

 

~~~~~

 

 In Life

 

Saturday our family celebrated the wedding of my cousin, Brian, and his gorgeous bride, Rachel!  Brian and Rachel's wedding was absolutely beautiful and the reception was a blast!  Just what our family needed.  We needed a joyous occasion after all the heartbreak of the Summer.  It was a great way to usher in the new season :)

 

I took Laken to a new hairstylist and had 5-6 inches cut from her hair.  It was so long that morning were getting to be a struggle just to get the brush through her hair.  Corinne (our new stylist) did a wonderful job and even took the time to straighten Laken's hair.  I can't wait for my appt!  I made it for September 26th to have a bit more growth for her to work with but I don't know if I can stand my shagginess that long!  I may move my appt. up to this week.

 

Kaylee completed her 3rd week of college and is now considering a new focus on Accounting.  She is REALLY enjoying her Business Accounting class and is thinking of switching her major from Business Management to Business Accounting.  I'm glad she is discovering this interest early in her college career and not waiting for a few semesters and needless classes to pass by.

 

I'm counting down the days to mine and the hubby's 19th Anniversary on the 17th of this month!  I'm as much in love with him as I was 19 years ago and can't wait for our date night!

 

Now:

  

Onto the books!

 

What I Read Last Week:

 

This was the first book in the Westward Winds Series by Amanda Cabot.  The review for this book will post Tuesday!

 

 

What I'm Reading Now:

I like to alternate historical and contemporary reads.
 

What's Up Next?:


The next book in the Westward Winds Series by Amanda Cabot is "Waiting for Spring".  I look forward to reading more of Charlotte's story.

 



 

 

Last Week's Posts:

~It's Monday!  What Are You Reading?
~Review:  The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner
~Weekly Weigh In - Week 6
~Books from the Backlog
~First Lines Friday and 56
~Fall Into Reading Challenge - Check In #1 ~ Giveaway
~Scripture Memory Verse


Colletta

P.S.  I hope you'll come join in the Fall Into Reading Challenge!

 

Also linking up to the following: