Christmas Came Early

Christmas came early when my
favorite author's latest book arrived!

Out of the Ordinary – Apart from the Crowd #2

Jen Turano

June 1883 – New York

Harrison Sinclair and Miss Gertrude Cadwalader were delightful supporting characters in book 1 of this series.  Now, we see them front and center, beginning on a yacht party for their dear friends.  Gertrude is a paid companion for Mrs. Davenport, an eccentric older lady, who has gone missing…again.  Harrison is a self-made man and has no time for romance, and an unusual fashion sense that drives his best friend mad. However, Gertrude is an intriguing and different sort altogether, as well as his friend.  Mystery abounds as items go missing, and Gertrude seems to land in hot water.  

Harrison is so kind, and determined to help clear his friend’s name.  Their “friendship” catches the attention of other women hoping to snag Harrison, and trouble quickly follows.

In the meantime, Mrs. Davenport has secrets of her own that keep us guessing.  And she has odd ideas of fashion design she insists on testing out on poor Gertrude; including a reconstructed birdcage!

Tea Moment: Mrs. Davenport gulped down her tea, even though doing so had her eyes watering, probably because the tea was still rather hot.  Setting her cup down on the small table beside her, she picked up a shortbread cookie and stuffed the entire cookie into her mouth.  That made it all but impossible for her to respond, although she made a great show of turning to look out the drawing room window as she spit some of the cookie into a napkin. –Ch. 15

Once again, I highly recommend Jen Turano’s book.  She is my all-time favorite author. With a style completely unique, and the laugh-out-loud moments you cannot go wrong! I have read every single one of her books including the free novella prequels.  Never disappointing. 

© Nov. 2017 Bethany House

346 pages

In exchange for my honest opinion, I received a copy from Bethany House Publ. which I am privileged to provide with no other compensation. - I highly recommend this five-star book.

Read: 11/21/2017 Reviewed: 12/5/2017 (sorry for the delay!)

SERIES: Apart from the Crowd

0. At Your Request – Free eNovella Prequel (click here)

1. Behind the Scenes April 2017 (read my review here)

2. Out of the Ordinary Nov. 2017

3. Caught by Surprise July 2018

Free Download Here

Read my Review of book 1 here

Pre-order Book 3 here

The delightfully
entertaining Jen Turano
(click here)

Hugs and a cup of Christmas tea,

Two of my favorite Christmas Teas
featured.  One is brand new from Trader Joe's!

Operation Christmas Child and Christmas Happy Mail

Hello friends,
Just thought I drop in & post a little.  I've sort of lost my mojo for blogging.  It takes a ton of time and effort, vs. posting a quick snip on Instagram (smile).  Seasons change as you no doubt know.

from my fairy garden

Last Saturday I had the privilege of serving at *Operation Christmas Child (OCC) Processing Ctr.  It is one of only 8 in the country, so I am blessed to have access to it.  I am even more excited that I am going back Friday to hear Franklin Graham (son of Billy Graham) speak, along with some others who will share how these shoeboxes have impacted poor children of the world, and blessed them with a tangible representation of Jesus.


Some of the highlights of the day: •Praying over our boxes •A note from a child that cracked me up •Meeting a new friend who lives literally blocks away from my dad in Central CA and drove 4 hours to come serve! {behind us / photos on a wall for us to write prayers on} •a child's fun note with scriptures & games •a look at the warehouse •The OCC Christmas Tree
😊🎄❤👫👫👫🎁
but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 19:14 ESV
😊🎄❤👫👫👫❤🎄😊
#IpackedAShoebox #OperationChristmasChild

"it shows my generosity" :)

Inside the Processing Ctr.

Outside of Child's note - scriptures

Inside of Child's note - fun!

Made a new friend :)

Next to the *OCC Christmas Tree

 I also wanted to share that I am participating in a fun ornament exchange this season hosted by sweet Karina over at: "Merciful Moments".  She is a charming teenager with a heart for Jesus.  A super fun surprise was that my swap partner's name is....drum roll please....DIXIE!  Some of you may recall my 80-year-old aunt's name

If you are sending cards out, would
you consider sending an extra one to
my Aunt? She lives alone with no
modern media.  Old school mail
really brightens her day. 
Email me & I will send you her address.
(Email button to right).

is also Dixie and we write to each other regularly.  So today when we went to the post office, TWO DIXIES were sent happy mail!  Since Dixie #2 has no idea who I am, I will share my fun package which I truly hope blesses her!
She says: "I am a true "farm wife" (although in Montana it is called ranch instead of farm! LOL) I love all livestock and any farm related tools...and rust and galvanized stuff makes my heart quicken! My house is totally an older farmhouse. I love anything which is old and worn! Antiques and well-worn items "float my boat" I enjoy Hot Chocolate...anything containing chocolate...milk chocolate!!!!!"

Christmas card, magnetic calendar, stickers, Christmas teas, Organic hot cocoa [& how cute is that vintage looking packaging from Trader Joe's?], mini box of chocolates, cozy socks, Christmas towels, rusty-look metal Cross ornament, teeny-weeny rustic stocking ornament, tiny die-cast pickup... which, I TOTALLY thought was an ornament, & then found out it wasn't - ooops!

 

All wrapped up!  I included a sweet coloring page from the only thing I purchased during Cyber Monday, and that was only because I saw it was 1/2 off on her IG page! (artist: Karla Dornacher - find her awesome, brand new color book here: Christmas Color Book or the PDF version here: Christmas Color Book PDF) and then some darling advent cards from the lovely Abbey over at: Little Birdie Blessings - She had a sweet contest on her Instagram page and she gifted EVERYONE who entered the PDF printables.  How sweet is she?

I always teach the daycare Littles to pray over our outgoing packages.  It helps reinforce "pray without ceasing" and makes people far away a little more real to them.  Just an idea to share if you have Littles in your life. :)

 I hope to do a followup post when my swap partner mails me an ornament package :)

This year I am really attracted to
vintage Pointsettias. I have loved
vintage Christmas cards for years.
I spotted this one on etsy & thought it
so pretty!  And a lovely way to
close, as I wish you
"A Happy Holiday Season"

An Inconvenient Beauty - Book Review

An Inconvenient Beauty – Hawthorne House Series

Kristi Ann Hunter

•°o•:*:•.SIGH.•:*:• o°•

1815 London, Regency Era, England

We have finally come to Griffith Hawthorne’s story.  This story really flowed along at a nice pace as the characters got to know each other.

The Duke of Riverton is the eldest sibling.  He is logical and organized, even a bit subdued at times.  But, he has many layers to him.  His family has a legacy of marrying for love.  He has ‘decided’ the time has come for him to marry, so he sets out to find a reasonable wife, who will ‘fit’ into his life, and then he can come to love her. Enter Frederica St. Clair; a plain but fitting woman who should do the trick.

Isabella Breckenridge has practically made a deal with the devil.  Her uncle, Percy St. Clair, is wealthy and connected.  Her family is poor with little chance at a good future now that her father has been injured.  When her uncle, and cousin Frederica, decide to visit them after many years, he discovers what an undeniable beauty she has become and hatches a plan to benefit them both.  She is soon whisked to London during the high season and put on display for all of society to admire.  Her intent is to fulfill her uncle's demands and return home to continue helping her family along with financial relief and glowing recommendations for her brothers to attend school.  Her intent is NOT to fall in love since she has no use for such things.

But, what does God have planned?

Special Quote - Ch. 32 “Have you prayed about ?” “Every day.” Every moment. Griffith wasn’t sure there was an hour he’d been awake when some part of him hadn’t been crying out to God for a way to fix this dull ache in the middle of his chest that refused to go away as long as there was a chance…

I love this because sometimes I too feel like there are some parts of me crying out to God, more than a conscious prayer.  Very well stated by the author.

The story was sweet and endearing, and at times I laughed aloud.  I even sighed happily as I turned the last page.  Now that the series is finished, I plan to go back and read the books again.  They were that enjoyable.  Kristi Ann Hunter weaves wonderful stories.  And Bethany House has blessed her with lovely book covers.

© October 2017 Bethany House

373 pages

In exchange for my honest opinion, I received a copy from Bethany House Publ. which I am privileged to provide with no other compensation. - 5 stars

Read: 10/04&05/2017 - Reviewed: 10/14/2017

HAWTHORNE HOUSE SERIES
“The Hawthorne House Series follows a set of aristocratic siblings led by the Duke of Riverton. Set from 1812 - 1815, these stories show how beautiful life, love, and family can be when you let God be a part of them.”
(I love that there are more than 3 books, but we also did not have to wait forever between stories!)
A Lady of Esteem – Free eNovella – 7/1/2015
A Noble Masquerade – Book 1 – 9/8/2015 You’ve Got Mail, Regency Style
An Elegant Façade – Book 2 – 7/5/2016
An Uncommon Courtship – Book 3 – 1/3/2017
An Inconvenient Beauty – Book – 4 - 09/2017

Blessings and a cup of Autumnal Tea, 

A Name Unknown 5 Star Book Review

A Name Unknown – Shadows Over England, Book#1, Roseanna M. White

* CLEVER & CAPTIVATING *

I LOVED this book. In short, two very different worlds collide in London, 1914, when a so-called city librarian goes to work for an introverted gentleman at his country estate and when the world is on the brink of war with suspicions running high. 

The story of Rosemary Gresham and Peter Holstein is so cleverly written.  It kept me guessing, laughing out loud, and choking back lumps as tears streamed down my face. 

Because of Rosemary’s background, she is the perfect person to send undercover into the home of Peter Holstein, and discover if his allegiance is to the Germans or to England.  After all, he has the ear of King George.

Peter is a gentleman and a man of God.  He also comes from a family of packrats who never ever toss a scrap of paper out! When a stranger shows up on his doorstep offering to help him find his family documents, buried somewhere within the home which will finally put to rest where his allegiance lies, he fully believes it is simply part of God’s plan and has no reason not to trust her. 

Rosemary must stay in character, avoid danger at multiple turns, keep her growing friendship with Peter at bay, and provide for and protect her own family from a distance. 

I was so moved in chapter 10 when Peter says he writes prayers for others so they can have no doubt he is praying for them as he said he would.  I do the very same thing!  And later when a certain someone has their head resting in an unexpected someone’s lap in the cottage, I was moved to tears. 

Favorite Quote – Ch. 23 “Don’t wait around for life to happen to you, Peter.  Give it a good chase.”

Powell & Bishop Riverhouse Designs 1800s Ironstone Sugar Bowl

Tea Moment - Ch 4: Tea sloshed from her cup as she poured it, but that was only to be expected. “How does anyone live like this?” Willa poked a finger at the tea service. “Happily I should think.” Rosemary opened the little bowl by the teapot and let out an involuntary squeak. Sugar!” And it wasn’t even Christmas.

 (5 stars)

It is my privilege to be included in Roseanna M. White’s Influencer List and I received this copy for no compensation from BETHANY HOUSE PUBL.  My opinion is my own.

Read: 7/28&29/2017

SERIES: Shadows Over England

A Name Unknown –  Book #1 July 2017

A Song Unheard – Book #2 January 2018

An Hour Unspent – Book #3 tba

Hardcover

Paperback

Book 2

Link to Author Web Page

Roseanna M. White pens her novels beneath her Betsy Ross flag, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two children, editing and designing, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels and novellas, ranging from biblical fiction to American-set romances to her British series. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to make their way into her novels…to offset her real life, which is blessedly boring. Being educated at St. John’s College (the Great Books School) taught Roseanna to ask questions, to value conversation, and to never accept the simple answer without exploring it for herself. She and her family make their home in the mountains of West Virginia where she and her husband both grew up. Roseanna is a member of ACFW, a frequent speaker at writers events and small groups of readers, and an unabashed email addict.

In addition to MY BLOG, Reviews posted at:

Amazon // Amazon Canada // Amazon UK // Books A Million // Barnes & Noble//

CBD // DeeperShopping // GoodReads// Google Play// Indigo (both paperback and hard cover) // Kobo// Scribd.com // My FB// My IG // Influencer’s FB page // My Pinterest

12 Days at Bleakly Manor 5 Star Book Review

•°o•:*:•. Wow! Game of ‘Clue’ set in 1850 London .•:*:• o°•

This story had so many twists and turns and really kept me guessing.  It very much reminded me of the game of Clue with its quirky characters and mysterious manor. It kept me guessing all the way through. Each person had received an invitation to celebrate the Twelve Days of Christmas (Dec 25 to Jan 5). Each guest received a cryptic invitation and would win a gift important only to them IF they could last the entire time.  Kindhearted Clara and honorable Benjamin each received invitations, not knowing the other had as well.  Each had suffered much, and finding their way back to each other was unexpected for both, but because of their faith and buried love for one another, it was not as difficult as they would have imagined.  The big reason for the mystery was not one I would have guessed AT ALL!  What a fun and unique surprise. A favorite supporting character was Miss Scurry and her box of “friends”.  She was a kind hearted elderly lady who just wanted companionship. There are plenty of tea drinking moments as well.

I enjoyed this story very much, and the cover is gorgeous!

© To be released September 2017, Shiloh Run Press, 182 pages – 31 chapters

I received an advance eCopy from NetGalley., in exchange for my honest opinion which I am privileged to provide, with no further compensation.

SERIES: Once Upon A Dickens Christmas

Book #2 A Tale of Two Hearts is expected in Fall 2018

About the Author: Michelle Griep has been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She seeks to glorify God in all that she writes—except for that graffiti phase she went through as a teenager. She resides in the frozen tundra of Minnesota, where she teaches history and writing classes for a local high school co-op. An Anglophile at heart, she runs away to England every chance she gets, under the guise of research. Really, though, she’s eating excessive amounts of scones while rambling around a castle. Michelle is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and MCWG (Minnesota Christian Writers Guild). Keep up with her adventures at her blog "Writer off the Leash" or visit michellegriep.com.

Hugs and a Christmas (in July) Cup of Tea,

BLOGGED VIDEOS DON'T SHOW IN EMAILS

GOOD MORNING!

Just a head's up that the videos I included in my blog post yesterday do not attach in the email version if you happen to subscribe that way. You need to click the actual link so you are taken directly to the blog to see the fun videos, such as me talking under the bridge, the lovely water gurgling over the rocks, etc.
Have a great day friends!  Hugs and a cup of tea!