Book Review ~ The Outlaw Takes a Bride by Susan Page Davis ~ 10/19/17

 

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Blurb:

 

Johnny Paynter flees Denver to escape being hanged for a murder he didn’t commit. At his brother’s ranch in Texas, where he thought he could take refuge, he finds his brother, Mark—dead. Taking advantage of his strong resemblance to his brother, Johnny assumes Mark’s identity.

 

Soon Johnny discovers that Mark had been corresponding with a widow named Sally in St. Louis, and she’s en route to be a mail-order bride to Mark. Seeing no other option, Johnny makes a fateful decision to go through with the wedding, posing as his brother. But Sally has secrets she's hiding, too.

 

How will a marriage survive with so much deception? 

My Thoughts:

 

This review won't be long because I hate writing negative reviews :(

 

I have to be honest and tell you that I just didn't care much for this book.

 

There was so much potential, but I just didn't care bit for the characters.  To me, they were just so wishy-washy.

 

I actually had to make myself finish the book so I can try to catch up on my Goodreads challenge :(

 

Very disappointing...

 

CLICK HERE FOR A TEASER!

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, Homemaking Party,  Favorite Things

Teaser Tuesday ~ Love Without End ~ 10/17/17

My teaser for this week is from:

 

Anna
1944

Hunger twisted Anna McKenna's belly as she follow the deer track, leading the blood bay colt behind her.  She didn't know where she was, and many days of walking hadn't lessened her fear that someone followed her.  Every sound in the forest made her heart leap into her throat.  Were they looking for her, the relatives who'd taken her in, claiming to want to give her a home?  Would she starve to death before she found her way back to civilization?  Would someone manage to take Shiloh's Star from her no matter how far she traveled?

 

Also linking up to:

 


Happy Tuesday!

Happy Homemaker Monday ~ 10/16/17

 

Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.

 

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I'm dealing with some Depression/Anxiety lately.  I've been to the doctor and am tweaking my meds.  I'd appreciate your prayers and good thoughts :)

The weather outside is::::

Well,  we had some fall-like weather for a few days but it is supposed to heat back up.  Crazy weather!
 



On my breakfast plate:

Special K Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar

  

As I look around the house::::

 

The hubby took vacation this week to have some good, solid time working on the addition.  Between him having the time and my Dad's expertise on building, I'm hoping a lot gets accomplished this week.  They're going to be working on the siding.  After that gets done, it is just the inside finishing.  I'm starting to see the light!  It is very faint, but I see it!  lol

The hubby also has made a rule that since my mother and I do all the cooking, the girls HAVE to do the dishes every night after supper or they don't get allowance.  It has been a rocky start...


On today's to do list::::

Work 8am-11am
 Exercise
Pick up the girls from school
Make Supper
Blog
WW tracking
Call vet for appt for puppy

 

Happening this week::::

 

Monday.... See above.
Tuesday...  Work 8am-1pm, exercise, laundry
Wednesday... Work 8am-1p,, exercise, schedule for next week, Prayer Meeting.
Thursday... Work8am-1pm, exercise, Menu and Grocery List
Friday...  Off Work, Weigh-in, exercise, Groceries, Family Movie Night!
Saturday...  Laundry, exercise, housework
Sunday...  Church, Exercise, Youth Group

Currently reading::::



I took a break from reading this week.  I just couldn't focus or settle on what book to read.  (See above about depression/anxiety).  I've gotten quite a few books to add to the shelf this week though and decided to pick on of them to read next.

I love Robin Lee Hatcher's writing but haven't read anything by her for a while.  I have this whole series, so I think this book is what I will try to read next.
 

On the TV::::

We finally had a Family Movie Night!  The hubby picked up Wonder Woman and the new Transformers movie from the Redbox after work on Friday.  Even though we went to see Wonder Woman in the theater, it was decided that we would watch it first.  It is very entertaining to see such a strong female lead.  Great movie, even if a bit cheesy now and then :)





Listening to:

I'm loving this song!

 

On the menu this week::::

Monday - BBQ Ribs, pierogis, corn, applesauce
Tuesday - Chicken, Stuffing, green beans, peaches
Wednesday - Pork Chops, alfredo noodles, peas, oranges
Thursday - Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, broccoli, pears
Friday -  Pizza
Saturday - Fish Fillets, homemade shells and cheese
Sunday - Dinner at Church

What I am creating at the moment::::

I actually picked up my crochet hook and yarn this weekend!  It has been a while.  I'm just working on some granny square blocks.  Something nice and easy and therapeutic.

Bible Verse/Devotional

 

Photo:

Meet Kona Mae.  She's the one with the most fur :)

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Linking up to :What Are You Reading,  Merry Monday, Modest Mom Monday,  Art of Homemaking, Soul Survival,   Good Morning Monday, Menu Plan Monday ,  Mommy Monday, Busy Monday, The Scoop,  Homemaking Linkup, Music Monday

 

Saturday Weigh-In ~ 10/14/17

 

 

I'm dealing with some depression/anxiety issues this week so I'm not going to do a normal weigh-in post this week.

At some point in the future I'll write a post about how depression/anxiety effects my weight-loss goals.

How are you doing this week?


My week's stats:

 
Weigh-in:    Total:  -26.2 lbs.

Exercise:
                 Sat:   minutes
                 Sun:    minutes
                 Mon:    minutes
                 Tues:    minutes
                 Wed:    minutes
                 Thurs:    minutes
                  Fri:      minutes
              TOTAL:     minutes = /35 FitPoints

Notes: 

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Whether you've got 100 (or more) pounds to lose or just 5.  Whether you've been weighing in for years or just starting.  Whether you do Weight Watchers or some other diet or exercise program.  Whether you are 65 or 25.  I'd love, love, love to have your support and friendship in this constant struggle which is weight loss/healthy living.

 

So please leave a comment with a link to your fitness/healthy living/weigh-in post and let us be each other's accountability.
 

Linking to:  Dare to Share, Saturday Sparks, Bouquet of Talent, Saturday Shuffle, Saturday Sharefest,  Sundays at Home, Sunday's Best, Dishing It and Digging It

Book Review ~ Just a Kiss by Denise Hunter ~ 10/12/17

 

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Blurb:

 

Riley Callahan’s plans to reveal his secret feelings for his best friend are derailed when his life is drastically altered in Afghanistan.

Watching the love of his life fall for his brother was enough to send Riley straight to boot camp. But over a year later, he’s officially a marine, and Beau and Paige are no longer an item. When Riley’s tour in Afghanistan is up, he intends to confess his feelings to Paige and win his best friend’s heart once and for all.

But all that changes when an IED takes the life of a comrade and leaves Riley an amputee. Now he’s heading home, injured and troubled. His plans to win Paige are a distant dream. She deserves so much more than the man that’s left. All he can do now is put some healthy distance between them. But upon his return he discovers his family has arranged for him to stay with Paige.

Paige is a nurturer at heart and happy to take care of her best buddy. By all appearances Riley is adjusting miraculously well to his disability. But as the days pass, Paige begins to see that the smiles and laughter are just a mask for the pain he’s hiding. To make matters worse, her job is in serious jeopardy. The animal shelter that she’s poured her heart into has lost its funding, and she has three months to come up with the money needed to save it.

As the weeks wear on, Paige’s feelings for Riley begin to shift into uncharted territory. Why is she suddenly noticing his arm muscles and the way his lips curl at the corners? Will she be able to deny her feelings for another Callahan brother? And will Riley let his heart heal so he can let Paige in? 

My Thoughts:

 

By now, you should know how much I love Denise Hunter's books.  I just posted a review for Dancing With Fireflies a few weeks ago.  I was really excited to find another book by this author hiding on my TBR shelf.

 

Here's where I made my mistake...

 

 This is the 3rd book in the Summer Harbor Series.  I haven't read the first 2 books yet and I definitely think that learning more about the Callahans and their family dynamics would have made this a 5 star book for me.

 

However, I truly did enjoy Just a Kiss.  I just think I would have REALLY enjoyed it if I'd read the books leading up to it.

 

Also, the theme was a lot similar to Dancing with Fireflies.  The hero having been in love with the leading lady for years without her knowing and just thinking of him as a friend or honorary family member.

 

Having said ALL that, I still have the first 2 books of the series on my wishlist and can't wait to get my hands on them :)

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, Homemaking Party,  Favorite Things

Hodgepodge ~ 10/11/17

  

 

Joyce's Hodgepodgey Questions:

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1. On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your sense of direction? 1=can't find my way out of a paper bag and 10=if I've been somewhere once I can find it blindfolded ten years later.

5 = not too shabby :)

When was the last time you looked at/used a map you could hold in your hand? (phones don't count!) 

This summer.  I always print off the map when we take a road trip.

back east, down south, out west, up north

Choose one of these directional expressions and tell us why you chose it.

Out west.  The book I'm reading takes place out west.


2. Did you do more talking or listening yesterday? Is that typical?

Listening.  I answer the phone a lot at work so that is mostly listening.  I also listen to my kids bicker at one another quite frequently.

Describe your yesterday in one word.

Sleepy.


3. Time, money, water-power-resources, opportunity...which one on the list are you most guilty of wasting? What might you do to change that?

Probably power.  I let my fan run all day and all night long...  I guess I could turn it off in the morning...

4. Did  your family take regular vacations when you were a kid? Tell us something you remember about a family roadtrip from your own childhood.

We didn't really take big family vacations.  We were more the day trip family.  I remember visiting a fort nearby and learning about the history.  I love history!

5. If you could grow anything you wanted, what would you grow? Why?

My hair.  I keep getting it cut and then wanting it long.  It is a never-ending cycle with me.

6. Insert your own random thought here.


Is anyone interested in a Christmas Swap?  Click HERE to let me know!

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

Christmas Swap, Anyone????

Is anyone interested in participating in a Christmas Swap?


It could be a gift swap, an ornament swap or even a Christmas Card Swap.

I'd be willing to host if there is interest.

Please leave a comment letting me know your thoughts!

~Colletta~

Teaser Tuesday ~ The Mark of the King ~ 10/10/17

My teaser for this week is from:

 

Paris, France
September 1719

There it was again.

Suddenly wide awake, Julianne covered her ears.  Straw crunched beneath her, needling her skin through the ticking as she inched away from the dark stone wall and closer to the warm body beside her.  The bedding, like the damp air forever clinging to her skin, reeked of wasted dumped into the creek beside the prison.  On the nights when it was not her turn to sleep by the wall, elbows and knees of bedfellows on either side jabbed her ribs and spine.  But it was the screaming that bothered Julianne the most.

 

Also linking up to:

 


Happy Tuesday!

Happy Homemaker Monday ~ 10/9/17

 

Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.

 

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This weekend was busy and full of Homecoming festivities.  Kaylee didn't win Homecoming Queen but one of her good friends did so she wasn't upset.  Overall, it was a great weekend :)

The weather outside is::::

It is raining!  We really need the rain.
 



On my breakfast plate:

Special K Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar

  

As I look around the house::::

 

The roof on the entire house is DONE!  I'm glad to be moving on to other projects.  The siding on the addition will be next.

The excavator came and did the back-fill around the footer and other areas that had to be torn up to build the addition.  We'll need to throw some grass seed soon so it can start growing.


On today's to do list::::

Work 8am-11am
 Exercise
Pick up the girls from school
Make Supper
Blog
WW tracking
Pick up Puppy!

 

Happening this week::::

 

Monday.... See above.
Tuesday...  Work 8am-1pm, exercise, laundry
Wednesday... Work 8am-1p,, exercise, schedule for next week, Prayer Meeting.
Thursday... Work8am-1pm, exercise, Menu and Grocery List
Friday...  Off Work, Weigh-in, exercise, Groceries, Family Movie Night!
Saturday...  Laundry, exercise, housework
Sunday...  Church, Exercise, Youth Group

Currently reading::::



I just finished When I Fall in Love by Susan May Warren and LOVED it!  I love everything she writes.  Next up is The Mark of the King by Jocelyn Green.  I don't think I've ever read anything by this author so I'm looking forward to reading it!
 

On the TV::::

I watched a bit of a Hallmark Movie that I don't even remember the name of .  Other than that, no TV.  Friday Night is scheduled for a Family Movie Night, though :)

Listening to:

 

On the menu this week::::

Monday - Cheeseburgers, homemade fries, peas, oranges
Tuesday - Chicken Biscuit Bake, Corn, Peaches
Wednesday - Pork Chops, Mashed Potatoes, broccoli, pears
Thursday - Ham Pot Pie, Cole Slaw, Green Beans, Baked Apples
Friday -  Pizza
Saturday - Grilled Cheese and Soup
Sunday - Dinner at Church

What I am creating at the moment::::

My cross-stitch WIP is still a WIP...

Bible Verse/Devotional

Photo:

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Linking up to :What Are You Reading,  Merry Monday, Modest Mom Monday,  Art of Homemaking, Soul Survival,   Good Morning Monday, Menu Plan Monday ,  Mommy Monday, Busy Monday, The Scoop,  Homemaking Linkup, Music Monday

 

Sunday Post ~ 10/8/17

 

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 - 10/2/17

This is where I plan out the week ahead.

 

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This week's Teaser came from
No Other Will Do
by Karen Witemeyer

 

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This week's Hodgepodge was about Farms and Pumpkins.

 

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This week's Book Review was:

Hearts Made Whole

by Jody Hedlund

 

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Some of this week's Tea Time smiles were about

Teacups and Candles

 

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Come see how I did this week on my

Saturday Weigh-In Plus a Linkup!

 

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



Linking to:  Sundays at Home, Sunday's Best, Dishing It and Digging It

Saturday 9 ~ Turn Me Loose ~ 10/7/17

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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Turn Me Loose (1959)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Fabian sings he has change in his pocket. Every evening, Sam puts her change in the piggy bank on her kitchen counter. Do you do anything special with your coins? Or do they just jingle/jangle in your wallet or pocket until you spend them?

It usually just stays in my wallet until I need to dig around for change to buy something.

 

2) Fabian got his start because his neighbor in Philadelphia owned a record label and thought 14-year-old Fabian had the looks to be a teen idol. Tell us about a time recently when you were in the right place at the right time.

This is a hard one.  I can't really think of anything.  I can think of lots of wrong place/wrong time, though.

3) His record label paid Fabian $30 week to study singing after school. What jobs/chores did you have when you were in high school? Did they prepare you for your eventual career?

I helped in my Mother and Aunt's sewing shop.  For a while I owned an Etsy shop with sewn items but not I work part-time outside the home in an office.  The Shop didn't really prepare me for that other than to know when I have work to get done, I need to focus.

4) In 1959 he appeared on the cover of now-defunct magazines like Teen Screen and Dig. Who and what did you read about when you were a teenager?

I loved romance novels even then.  I started reading them when I was about 13 years old and still read them today :)  I also got the magazine Teen Beat which at that time featured Kirk Cameron and Sean Astin and others of that era.

5) In the 1960s he moved from singing to acting. In 1965 he appeared in Ten Little Indians, a screen adaptation of an Agatha Christie mystery. Have you ever read an Agatha Christie book?

I think I've read one Agatha Christie book and I don't even remember the name of it because it was so long ago.

6) In 1973, in an attempt to jumpstart his career, he appeared nude in Playgirl magazine. By the time it hit the newsstands, he regretted it.  Tell us about a time you were very embarrassed.

 

I was extremely shy when I was young, so it didn't take much to embarrass me.  I remember one time in particular when I couldn't figure out a math problem at the chalk board.  I was devastated.  I'm also a perfectionist when it comes to academics...

7) In 1959, when this song was popular, most women wore nylons on a daily basis and the average price per pair was $1. What socks or leg wear -- if any -- do you have on right now?

 

Nope, nothing for me.  If I'm home, it is that barefoot feeling for me.  Unless the floor is cold.  Then I love me some fuzzy socks :)

 

 

8) 1959 also saw the premiere of The Twilight Zone on CBS. 58 years later, you can still see the show in reruns. Are you a fan?

 

That would be a big NO!  I hate scary shows and movies.  They creep me out for weeks!

 9) Random Question: While we're talking about TV ... Sam finds it disturbing that her brother claims he's seen every episode of Bad Blood, a show devoted to family members who have murdered their relatives. Do you enjoy "true crime" reality shows?

That would be another NO for me.  Again, creeps me out!

 

 

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



Saturday Weigh-In ~ 10/7/17 ~ LINKUP

 

 

It figures that the week I want to talk about my exercise routine, I'd be totally off-schedule!

It happens.  But I've been trying to have the mindset of "persistence not perfection".

So, a NORMAL week for me would look like this:

My Weight Watchers goal is set at 35 FitPoints per week.  Therefore, that is what I strive to achieve.  That means I need to walk a little over 3 hours per week.

My exercise week starts on the weekend.  I'd like to get 1-2 small walks in over the Fri-Sun time period but that doesn't always happen.

The bulk of my exercise time is Monday-Thursday after work from 1pm-2pm.  (I'll talk about WHERE I walk in another post but you can see in my stats.)  If I make the time and effort to walk those four days for 1 hour, I get more than enough time in to earn my 35 FitPoints. 

That is the ideal.

Then there are weeks like this week.  I had doctor's appointments and other craziness going on and I didn't fit my walk in over the weekend or on Monday.  That left me 3 days.  3 days to try to fit it all in!  Big mistake!

I decided to up my walking time each of the 3 days to 80 minutes.  It went alright for Tuesday.  Wednesday, I was feeling it a bit by the time I finished.  Thursday morning I could barely walk!  I over-did it.

I didn't increase my speed, just my time.  I need to know my limitations and it seems that 60 minutes a day is my limit!  I know that now.

So, this was the first week in a while that I didn't quite hit my FitPoints goal.  I only made it to 30/35 FitPoints.  This bummed me out a bit but I knew I had to take Thursday off to recuperate.

I guess this wasn't such a bad week to tell you about my routine.  At least the "What Not to Do" part :)

Thankfully, it is a new week and I have a new set of 35 FitPoints to strive for.  Here's to a good exercise week!

What does your exercise routine look like?

My week's stats:

 
Weigh-in:  +1.0  Total:  -26.2 lbs.

Exercise:
                 Sat:   minutes
                 Sun:    minutes
                 Mon:    minutes
                 Tues:    80 minutes (Treadmill Planet Fitness)
                 Wed:     80 minutes (Treadmill Planet Fitness)
                 Thurs:    minutes (Treadmill Planet Fitness)
                  Fri:      minutes
              TOTAL:    160 minutes = 30/35 FitPoints

Notes:  We made fudge.  Peanut Butter Fudge that I couldn't stay out of no matter how disciplined I tried to be!  I fully attribute my 1 pound gain to the 3 pounds of fudge I ate :(  P.S.  That is just an estimate :)

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Whether you've got 100 (or more) pounds to lose or just 5.  Whether you've been weighing in for years or just starting.  Whether you do Weight Watchers or some other diet or exercise program.  Whether you are 65 or 25.  I'd love, love, love to have your support and friendship in this constant struggle which is weight loss/healthy living.

 

So please leave a comment with a link to your fitness/healthy living/weigh-in post and let us be each other's accountability.
 

Linking to:  Dare to Share, Saturday Sparks, Bouquet of Talent, Saturday Shuffle, Saturday Sharefest,  Sundays at Home, Sunday's Best, Dishing It and Digging It

Tea Time ~ Teacups and Candles ~ 10/6/17

 

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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~Last week my Friday post was about Remembering Jasmine, our York-a-Pom who passed away.  This week I have reason to smile as the giant whole in my heart is being filled with a sweet little girl on Monday evening.  I'll save the details for next week but here is a sneak peak :)

~The dearest hubby ever (he would be mine) bought me a candle!  He knew that I had been searching high and low for a Banana Nut Bread candle without success.  One day, he went to the hardware store for nails and came back and guess what he found there...  Yep, a Banana Nut Bread candle.  It smells delicious :)

~My Mom and I went for groceries and I saw cut flowers on sale!  They were in really good condition so I don't know why they were so cheap but I got this bunch of flowers for $3.55.  I love fresh cut flowers to decorate with :)

~I had good test results!  I had a little bit of a scare in the beginning of the week and had to have a test run.  Everything came back great!  I'm so relieved :)

~I got my Teacup Exchange Package!  I was so excited to come home and see the package waiting for me.  I'll have a full post showing everything I received in the near future :)

 

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

Linking up with Friendship Friday, Five on Friday, Show Off Friday, Awesome Life,  Friday Favorites , High Five for Friday , Tricky's Five , Friday's Fave Five. Fresh Friday Finds, , Sweet Inspirations, Funtastic Friday .