I WROTE AN EASTER POEM

 Haiku poems are a Japanese style of poetry and usually about nature, but I like to have fun with these and teach kids to express themselves about any topic.

They generally follow this pattern.

5 syllables

7 syllables

5 syllables

National Haiku Poetry Day is April 17th so it just happens to fall on Resurrection Sunday this year!  Because of that, I wrote this poem:

God Jesus Easter

He died so that we may live

Resurrected Son

I took the photo a few years back and I don't think I even realized that the cloud formed a heart.  How sweet is that?

WHY NOT COME UP WITH YOUR OWN HAIKU AND SHARE IT? 

Easter Blessings to you and yours!

Enchanting the Heiress - Hearts on the Heath - by Kristi Ann Hunter

 

Wonderfully Different 💕

I found this story to be different, and wonderfully so.
This story throws Harriet and Jonas together in a ruse of a writing collaboration. They work closely, with much of the story centered around the two of them, but with enough outside activity to keep things interesting. Jonas has no idea he can write, and Harriet intends to lead him to that conclusion. My absolute favorite scene was when he described wading in a stream, leading Harriet to want to experience it too. Her subsequent enjoyment of the experience was lovely.
"He kept looking at her. She looked back at him. Around them the breeze blew and the trees swayed. The water trickled on, but time seemed at a standstill. “‘He hath made everything beautiful in His time.’” The words seemed to breathe out of him, becoming part of the encompassing swirl of water and wind and sun."
I liked how they both had views of life that needed to make room for other possible ideas. This period romance was most enjoyable.

I was gifted this book for my honest opinion without expectation or compensation.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5 stars = Loved It

Bethany House Publishing 352 Pages
Series:
Hearts on the Heath
1. Vying for the Viscount
2. Winning the Gentleman
3. Enchanting the Heiress 

KristiAnnHunter.com

Publisher’s Synopsis: Miss Harriet Hancock enjoys playing the role of eccentric heiress, using her wealth and influence to cleverly and anonymously better the lives of those in Newmarket. Though she keeps people at a distance to protect a years-old secret, when her friend pleads for help on a personal project, Harriet can't resist.

Stable hand Jonas Fitzroy would do anything for his twin sister, even if it means seeking out the woman whose meddling ways have made him wary and suspicious. The last thing he expects is for Miss Hancock to request his help in writing a book. Intent on revealing her underlying plan, Jonas agrees.

As they work together, an unexpected friendship forms. But when things for once don't go according to Harriet's plan, she's left wondering if good intentions might not be enough. Is there a way to mend the broken pieces of her life? And will Jonas give her another chance at his heart?

The Lady of Galway Manor – by Jennifer Deibel

*** Enjoyable Irish Tale ***

Galway City, Ireland, 1920
Claddagh rings, an Irish village, the War for Independence between the Irish and the British, finding common ground, several cups of Irish tea, some danger and romance are all beautifully woven together.

“She never dreamed Galway would be so endearing and exciting.  A city teeming with music, architecture, and art – the very last thing she’d expected. And it seemed God had created the moment as a gift to her very soul.”

“On the surface, he seemed unbothered by the strange visit. But the fact that he’d downed three cups of tea in less than twenty minutes told otherwise.  Some men turned to the bottle. Seamus Jennings turned to the cuppa.”

I was gifted this book for my honest opinion without expectation or compensation.

Very Good - 4 Stars

REVELL PUBLISHING’S DESCRIPTION: In 1920, Annabeth De Lacy's father is appointed landlord of Galway Parish in Ireland. Bored without all the trappings of the British Court, Annabeth convinces her father to arrange an apprenticeship for her with the Jennings family--descendants of the creator of the famed Claddagh Ring.

Stephen Jennings longs to do anything other than run his family's jewelry shop. Having had his heart broken, he no longer believes in love and is weary of peddling the ÒliesÓ the Claddagh Ring promises.

Meanwhile, as the war for Irish independence gains strength, many locals resent the De Lacys and decide to take things into their own hands to display their displeasure. As events take a dangerous turn for Annabeth and her family, she and Stephen begin to see that perhaps the "other side" isn't quite as barbaric and uncultured as they'd been led to believe--and that the bonds of friendship, love, and loyalty are only made stronger when put through the refiner's fire.

Travel to the Emerald Isle for another poignant and romantic story from the enchanted pen of Jennifer Deibel.

Jennifer Deibel is a middle school teacher and freelance writer. Her work has appeared on (in)courage, on The Better Mom, in Missions Mosaic Magazine, and others. With firsthand immersive experience abroad, Jennifer writes stories that help redefine home through the lens of culture, history, and family. After nearly a decade of living in Ireland and Austria, she now lives in Arizona. https://www.jenniferdeibel.com/

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

The rain fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

MOVED - NEW JOB - BOOK REVIEW of Counterfeit Love

 I am sorely behind on reading books and writing reviews BECAUSE so many life changes have happened! I had the intense drama of looking for a new home after 9 years because the homeowners wanted to sell and for reasons they would not disclose, refused to sell to me. The housing market in So Cal is brutal, but we finally found a home to rent that meets our needs.  But, with so many changes, I retired from my daycare business when the Lord gifted me a brand new job in the world of financial investments.  This was truly a God thing, because I was merely "thinking" of trying something new when we got a call from a friend that she knew of a job opening where the Branch Office Administrator was retiring and would I or my sister be interested.  I quickly looked for old letters of recommendation, and updated my resume on that Wednesday and had a 2-hour interview on Friday.  It went great, but then came the daunting pressure of many steps through corporate with an intense background check WHILE looking for housing and eventually moving. They were super accommodating and allowed me to wait a few weeks to start while I got settled. I have been there a month and am learning so much, getting a little more comfortable each day, while getting settled into a new home.  The commute can be "a lot" at around an hour each way; particularly after doing very little driving these many years other than school drop-off and pickup. Anyway, I am praising the Lord for His many blessings and testifying that He is still the God of miracles!

Please join me in welcoming a debut author to my page, Crystal Caudill.  She is SO kind and sweet and loves praying for her readers upon request. She also was very patient with me as I needed extra time to read her book and post reviews. 

Counterfeit Love – Hidden Hearts of the Gilded Age, Book 1 – by Crystal Caudill (3/15/2022)

*** Dangerously Good Historical Romance,

is how she describes her writing and she knocked it out of the park on her debut novel! This book was an exciting diversion to escape into. With secret service agents, battling brothers, rich pasts to explore, counterfeit engraving plates, danger and lost love, plus a hefty dose of faith set in the late 1800s, I found this book to be rich and captivating.  

“He’d learned to rely on God’s prompting Spirit over the years.  More than once, it had saved his life.

“Father’s Bible filled the small space. When was the last time she’d nestled in her favorite chair and cherished quiet time with God?” I loved the special quote written by Theresa’s mother in father’s Bible. It was beautiful, but read that for yourself and be blessed.

Broderick and Theresa’s story is not to be missed.

I was gifted this book for my honest opinion without expectation or compensation.

Hidden Hearts of the Gilded Age Series: Counterfeit Love, Counterfeit Hope, Counterfeit Faith

Excellent - 5 Stars

Kregel Publications Description: Can this undercover agent save the woman he loves--or is her heart as counterfeit as the money he's been sent to track down?

After all that Grandfather has sacrificed to raise her, Theresa Plane owes it to him to save the family name--and that means clearing their debt with creditors before she marries Edward Greystone. But when one of the creditors' threats leads her to stumble across a midnight meeting, she discovers that the money he owes isn't all Grandfather was hiding. And the secrets he kept have now trapped Theresa in a life-threatening fight for her home--and the truth.

After months of undercover work, Secret Service operative Broderick Cosgrove is finally about to uncover the identity of the leader of a notorious counterfeiting ring. That moment of triumph turns to horror, however, when he finds undeniable proof that his former fiancée is connected. Can he really believe the woman he loved is a willing participant? Protecting Theresa and proving her innocence may destroy his career--but that's better than failing her twice in one lifetime.

They must form a partnership, tentative though it is. But there's no question they're both still keeping secrets--and that lack of trust, along with the dangerous criminals out for their blood, threatens their hearts, their faith, and their very survival.

Combining rich history, danger, suspense, and romance, Crystal Caudill's debut novel launches this new historical series with a bang. Fans of Elizabeth Camden, Michelle Griep, and Joanna Davidson Politano will be thrilled to find another author to follow! 

Crystal Caudill is the author of “dangerously good historical romance,” with her work garnering awards from Romance Writers of America and ACFW. She is a stay-at-home mom and caregiver, and when she isn’t writing, Crystal can be found playing board games with her family, drinking hot tea, or reading other great books at her home outside Cincinnati, Ohio. Find out more at crystalcaudill.com.

I pray each of you has a wonderful and blessed Holy week!