Friday, February 28, 2014

High Five for Friday ~ 2/28/14

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Five things that made me smile this week :)

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1.  I watched Austenland again Sunday afternoon!  I laughed even more the second time :)

2.  Our dryer is fixed!  I love clean clothes :)

3.  I've had a few night's sleep without coughing!  I love a good sleep :)

4.  We had three baptisms at Church on Sunday!  God is good :)

5.  It is almost March!  I love March :)


What made you smile this week?

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Leap Into Books Giveaway Hop ~ Ends 3/8/14


This blog hop is hosted by
 I'm a Reader, Not a Writer & Jinky Is Reading

I am so excited to turn the calendar to March.  How about you?  Are you over this long, cold, snowy winter yet?  How about a lovely book to get us looking forward to "SUMMER!!!"

Up for grabs is the following book:

Summer Blowout

A good makeup artist never panics. Bella Shaughnessy knows this. She's the resident makeup maven in a family of Boston Irish hair salon owners; she has an artful solution to almost every problem. But Bella feels bruised beyond the reach of even the best concealer when her half-sister runs off with her husband. What could she come up with to cover a hurt like that? Plenty, it turns out. She conceives an invigorating new business idea, and soon meets a cute entrepreneur who can help out. Despite their bickering, they can't seem to stay away from success--or from each other.


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, March 7, 2014.  The winner will be emailed on March 8th.

For more chances to win great bookishness,
check out these other giveaway hoppers :





Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Thursday Thirteen ~ TBR Shelf Part 1 ~ 2/27/14



thursday-13

A list of 13....

"Books On My TBR Shelf"

1.  A Lasting Impression by Tamara Alexander

2.  All Things New by Lynn Austin

3.  Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin

4.  While We're Far Apart by Lynn Austin

5.  Moonlight Masquerade by Ruth Axtell

6.  Deeply Devoted by Maggie Brenden

7.  Against the Tide by Elizabeth Camden

8.  The Lady of Bolton Hill by Elizabeth Camden

9.  A Time to Love by Barbara Cameron

10.  Injustice for All by Robin Carroll

11.  To Write a Wrong by Robin Carroll

12.  A Shore Thing by Julie Carobini

13.  Fade to Blue by Julie Carobini

Part 1......



Waiting on Wednesday ~ 2/26/14


 Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Breaking the Spine,
 spotlights an up-coming release that I'm eagerly anticipating.

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Circle of Spies (The Culper Ring #3)
This exciting and adventurous romantic spy novel is the third book in the Culper Ring series from Roseanna M. White. Circle of Spies combines fascinating cloak-and-dagger secrets with a tale of love and intrigue at the end of the Civil War.

Baltimore, 1865--Marietta Hughes never wanted to be a spy...but espionage is thrust upon her as the War Between the States rolls on. Unbeknownst to her, a Confederate secret society bent on destroying the Union she loves has been meeting in her basement. When she discovers the plots and papers covering her walls, she feels as though she is losing her world.

Slade Osborne, an undercover Pinkerton agent, is determined to do whatever is necessary to help end the conflict between the North and the South. When he infiltrates this secret cell, it isn't just their inner workings that baffle him--it's the beautiful woman who seems to be a puppet for the new leader and yet...somehow not an enemy of the Union.
Can he trust her? Will she trust him? Will their shared faith sustain them? And can Marietta and Slade stymie the enemy long enough without being discovered to see their beloved country reunited? 


Release Date:  4/1/14
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Waiting Until Next Wednesday,
 
 

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Teaser Tuesday ~ 2/25/14


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:

Definitely Not Mr. Darcy

~She gave up pink drinks and took up tea long ago.~

Page  1
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Happy Teaser Tuesday!

Monday, February 24, 2014

It's Monday! What Am I Reading? ~ 2/24/14



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What I read this past week:

The Dashwood Sisters Tell All

Click picture for my review :)

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The book I am currently reading is:

Definitely Not Mr. Darcy

There's no place for pride in this Austen misadventure. 

Chloe Parker was born two centuries too late. A thirty-nine-year- old divorced mother, she runs her own antique letterpress business, is a lifelong member of the Jane Austen Society, and gushes over everything Regency. But her business is failing, threatening her daughter's future. What's a lady to do?

Why, audition for a Jane Austen-inspired TV show set in England, of course.

What Chloe thinks is a documentary turns out to be a reality dating show set in 1812. Eight women are competing to snare Mr. Wrightman, the heir to a gorgeous estate, along with a $100,000 prize. So Chloe tosses her bonnet into the ring, hoping to transform from stressed-out Midwest mom to genteel American heiress and win the money. With no cell phones, indoor plumbing, or deodorant to be found, she must tighten her corset and flash some ankle to beat out women younger, more cutthroat, and less clumsy than herself. But the witty and dashing Mr. Wrightman proves to be a prize worth winning, even if it means the gloves are off...

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Also hoping to read this week:

Dawn Comes Early (The Brides Of Last Chance Ranch, #1)


Looking for a woman of good character and pleasant disposition willing to learn the ranching business in Arizona territory. Must be SINGLE and prepared to remain so now and forever more. Will be given ownership of ranch. -Eleanor Walker
Disgraced dime novelist Kate Tenney fled the city that banned her latest book for a fresh start at a cattle ranch in the Arizona Territory. She hopes ranching turns out to be as romantic as she portrayed it in her novels.
But what awaits her is a much harder life. There is no room for mistakes on a working cattle ranch in 1895, and Kate is ill-prepared for her new life. She quickly learns that dawn comes early . . . every day. But she is tenacious.
Having been abandoned by a string of men, Kate has no intention of ever marrying. But she didn't expect to meet Luke Adams either. Luke awakens feelings inside Kate she doesn't recognize, and his steady presence is a constant distraction. She has only written about love in the past, never known it herself. But her feelings for Luke stand in the way of all she has to gain if she is chosen as the heir.
Perhaps God brought Kate to the barrenness of the desert to give new life to her jaded heart.

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What are you reading today?


Sunday, February 23, 2014

Sunday Post ~ 2/23/14

The Sunday Post

NEWS FROM THE PAST WEEK
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I'm loving this warmer weather.  Too bad it won't last...

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This Week's Memes

Monday - What Am I Reading
Tuesday -Teaser Tuesday
Wednesday -Waiting on Wednesday
Thursday -Thursday Thirteen
Friday -High Five for Friday
Saturday -Stacking the Shelves


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Reviews:

The Dashwood Sisters Tell All

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Giveaways:



Note:  This giveaway only has 1 entry so far!  You have a good shot at winning...

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Winners:
(all have been contacted by email)

None this week.

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Lovely reading!


Saturday, February 22, 2014

Stacking the Shelves ~ 2/22/14


Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!
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This week I added the following to my shelf:

Married By Morning (The Hathaways, #4)

Love in the Afternoon (The Hathaways, #5)

Definitely Not Mr. Darcy


Happy Reading!


Friday, February 21, 2014

High Five for Friday ~ 2/21/14

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Five things that made me smile this week :)

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1.  Valentine's Day!  I got a tool set and chocolates :)

2.  Valentine's Dinner at Church!  The youth group served us :)

3.  The girls have gotten over their sicknesses!  I'm a happy mama :)

4.  Our dishwasher is finally fixed!  Hallelujah :)

5.  Austenland the movie came out on DVD!  I snatched it up and watched it right away :)


What made you smile this week?


Thursday, February 20, 2014

Thursday Thirteen ~ Pets ~ 2/20/14



thursday-13

A list of 13....

"Current and Former Pets"

Current:

1.  Lilah - Our 6 year old Black Lab

2.  Jasmine - Our 4 year old York-a-Pom

3.  Princess Charlotte - Lion mane bunny

4.  Prince Poppycock - Lion mane bunny

Former:

5.  Daisy - Sweet Basset Hound

6.  Pudge - Devoted Bearded Collie

7.  Pepsi -  Terrier of my youth

8.  Sky - Cockatiel

9.  Abby - Sweet little mix

10.  Ben - Good old Lab mix

11.  Floppy - Bunny

12.  Little Joe - Bunny

13.  Blue - Cockatiel

I'm a little sad now from thinking about our dearly departed pets...  Need to go love on the ones I have :)


Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday ~ 2/19/14


 Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Breaking the Spine,
 spotlights an up-coming release that I'm eagerly anticipating.

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Dancing with Fireflies (Chapel Spring #2)
Jade returns home to Chapel Springs after years of protecting her fragile heart. Then along comes Daniel, making her long to dance again.

Creative and complicated, Jade McKinley felt like a weed in a rose garden growing up in Chapel Springs. When she left, she thought she'd never look back. But now, pregnant, alone, and broke, she has no other choice but to return.

The mayor of Chapel Springs, Daniel Dawson, has been an honorary member of the McKinley family for years. While his own home life was almost non-existent, Daniel fit right into the boisterous McKinley family. He's loved Jade for years, but she always saw him as a big brother. Now that she's back, his feelings are stronger than ever.

As Jade attempts to settle in, nothing feels right. God seems far away, she's hiding secrets from her family, and she's strangely attracted to the man who's always called her "squirt." Finding her way home may prove more difficult than she imagined.


Release Date:  3/11/14
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Waiting Until Next Wednesday,
 
 

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Book Review ~ The Dashwood Sisters Tell All by Beth Pattillo

The Dashwood Sisters Tell All

Title:  "The Dashwood Sisters Tell All"
Series:  Adventures with Jane Austen Book #3
Author:  Beth Pattillo
Publisher:  Guideposts
Publication Date: 4/1/11
Pages:  272

Book Description:


Following Jane Austen Ruined My Life and Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart, Beth Pattillo returns with her new novel. Inspired by Sense and SensibilityThe Dashwood Sisters Tell Allfollows two modern-day sisters as they set out on a walking tour of Jane Austen's England and uncover what might actually be Jane's long-lost diary.
Ellen and Mimi Dodge have never been close, but their mother's dying wish sends them on a walking tour of Hampshire, England, that follows in the footsteps of Jane Austen. Their mother also left them something else: a diary that belonged to Jane's sister Cassandra. These pages shed light on the secrets that nearly tore the Austen sisters apart and inspired one of the greatest love stories of all time. They also bring Jane to life in a way that no one has ever seen before: through the eyes of her sister. As the Dodge sisters embark on their walking tour, they too are drawn together in ways they never expected. They also discover that Cassandra's diary holds secrets, and someone doesn't want Ellen and Mimi to discover the truth. As they stumble on their way toward love, the women learn how Jane and Cassandra Austen inspired the original Marianne and Elinor Dashwood and come to realize that despite their very different personalities, they are a vital part of each other's happy endings.
My Overall Feeling of the Book:

I thoroughly enjoyed this whole series.  The first two I loved.  This one fell just a bit short of them.  I wasn't impressed with the romantic aspect of the sisters.  It felt too forced and quick.  Is a week really long enough to fall in love?  True love?

As for the mystery and the clues, I loved that aspect.  It was so much fun trying to figure it out.  There were more than a few ways it could have gone and I wasn't sure which way it was going to be for quite a while.

I loved the correlation between sisters of Jane Austen's time and sisters of today.  I have two girls and would love them to become best of friends.

A Brief Excerpt:

"A gentleman learns from an early age
To play his part upon the stage
His lines are crisp, his speech is clear
He studies most from year to year."

Page  148 (a riddle)

The Cover:

Again, the covers for this series were spectacular!  I love the sisters walking side-by-side.

Other Notes:

~  This is a nice, clean read.


Rating

4/5  Really Enjoyed It!

On to the next book,

Teaser Tuesday ~ 2/18/14


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:

The Dashwood Sisters Tell All

~Private Property of Miss Cassandra Austen.

Do Not Read.

That Means You, Jane.~

Page  18
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Happy Teaser Tuesday!

Monday, February 17, 2014

It's Monday! What Am I Reading? ~ 2/17/14



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What I read this past week:

Jane Austen Ruined My Life by Beth Pattillo
Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart by Beth Pattillo

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The book I am currently reading is:

The Dashwood Sisters Tell All


Following Jane Austen Ruined My Life and Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart, Beth Pattillo returns with her new novel. Inspired by Sense and SensibilityThe Dashwood Sisters Tell Allfollows two modern-day sisters as they set out on a walking tour of Jane Austen's England and uncover what might actually be Jane's long-lost diary.
Ellen and Mimi Dodge have never been close, but their mother's dying wish sends them on a walking tour of Hampshire, England, that follows in the footsteps of Jane Austen. Their mother also left them something else: a diary that belonged to Jane's sister Cassandra. These pages shed light on the secrets that nearly tore the Austen sisters apart and inspired one of the greatest love stories of all time. They also bring Jane to life in a way that no one has ever seen before: through the eyes of her sister. As the Dodge sisters embark on their walking tour, they too are drawn together in ways they never expected. They also discover that Cassandra's diary holds secrets, and someone doesn't want Ellen and Mimi to discover the truth. As they stumble on their way toward love, the women learn how Jane and Cassandra Austen inspired the original Marianne and Elinor Dashwood and come to realize that despite their very different personalities, they are a vital part of each other's happy endings.

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Also hoping to read this week:

Seduce Me at Sunrise (The Hathaways, #2)

He has tried hard to forget her.

Kev Merripen has longed for the beautiful, well-bred Winnifred Hathaway ever since her family rescued him from the brink of death when he was just a boy. But this handsome Gypsy is a man of mysterious origins—and he fears that the darkness of his past could crush delicate, luminous Win. So Kev refuses to submit to temptation…and before long Win is torn from him by a devastating twist of fate.

Can she remember the man he once was?

Then, Win returns to England…only to find that Kev has hardened into a man who will deny love at all costs. Meantime, an attractive, seductive suitor has set his sights on Win. It’s now or never for Kev to make his move. But first, he must confront a dangerous secret about his destiny—or risk losing the only woman he has lived for…


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What are you reading today?


Sunday, February 16, 2014

Sunday Post ~ 2/16/14

The Sunday Post

NEWS FROM THE PAST WEEK
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I hope everyone survived "Pax" and had a wonderful Valentine's Day!

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This Week's Memes

Monday - What Am I Reading
Tuesday -Teaser Tuesday
Wednesday -Waiting on Wednesday
Thursday -Booking Through Thursday
Friday -High Five for Friday
Saturday -Stacking the Shelves


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Reviews:

~Jane Austen Ruined My Life by Beth Pattillo 5/5!!
~Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart by Beth Pattillo 5/5!!

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Giveaways:

Please see the top of my sidebar for current giveaways!

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Winners:
(all have been contacted by email)

Favorites Giveaway Hop ~ Angela C. 
Romance is in the Air Hop ~ Courtney W.

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Lovely reading!


Friday, February 14, 2014

Stacking the Shelves ~ 2/15/14


Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!
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This week I added the following to my shelf:

Jane Austen Ruined My Life   Devil in Winter (Wallflowers, #3)  It Happened One Autumn (Wallflowers, #2)

Tempt Me at Twilight (The Hathaways, #3)  The Dashwood Sisters Tell All



Happy Reading!