March 12th Take a Nap Day

Happy National TAKE A NAP DAY! 

This particular remembrance is always the Monday after Spring Daylight Savings, USA.
I can not believe we have not done away with DLS yet, but alas, here we are!

PRO TIP: Use Youtube to reset your car clock, 
because who can remember how after 6 months?!
{somebody posted this on FB & I thought it was funny}

I love utilizing TwistyNoodle.com to create a variety of coloring and handwriting pages for the Littles I care for.  I found this cute napping kitty & then personalized it!

R - age 4

A - age 1

S - age 5

R - age 3

T- age 4

For personalized handwriting and number practice with repetition, I like to use softschools.com. See how it lets me make the example bold and then the practice letters or numbers in dashed lines for tracing. It's pretty cool and both sites are FREE! Yay!!

 

A great napping shot from 3 years ago!
Melts my heart.

Until next time, Hugs and a cup of tea...

Perhaps decaf for Natl. Napping Day. I love Celestial Seasonings Lemon Lavender Lane (I found it at WalMart).  It is so lovely & comforting.

Heather Elizabeth

FANTASTIC A Hearts Revolution

Scheduled to *re-release sometime in March.

***PATRIOTISM, HISTORY & ROMANCE ***

Oh my word.  I LOVED this book.  I started it yesterday afternoon and read until midnight, forcing myself to sleep a few hours before waking to finish it.

Endover Plantation, outside Williamsburg, VA 1783 (following the Revolutionary War)

Larksong Benton is celebrating another birthday, yet still unwed to Emerson Fielding after a proposal two years ago at her eighteenth birthday.  He has remained distant, aloof and uninterested other than the customary gentleman is required to be.

Wiley Benton intends to see his sister happy, and has warned his good friend he needs to change his attitude or call off the match.

A devious cousin, Penelope, shows up and immediately begins a flirtation with Emerson that causes even more confusion and doubt concerning the betrothed couple.

When Wiley decides to send his sweet sister into hiding with friends in Annapolis to resolve her feelings and put enough distance between her fiancé and family, Lark agrees and is quickly befriended by the extremely adventurous and beautiful Sena and her kind family.  Lark finally has the chance to come out of her shell and explore her true self.

Sena’s good friends, Edwinn Calvert and his sister Kate are Tories; loyal to the English Crown, and therefore outcasts since the War.  However, Edwinn’s reason stems not from a lack of patriotism, but rather a deeply personal one between himself and God.  He is a good and caring man, who does love his country and adds much to the story. Ch. 5 “Was it so wrong to wish for a companion? To wish he had the freedom of other, Patriot men, to pay court to the young women around him and discover what match the Lord might have in store for him?”

Emerson finally begins to question who he is and whether or not his proposal to Miss Benton was the right choice or not, and aims to discover those answers by finding out exactly where she has gone and confronting her.  I enjoyed Emerson’s strength, and his choices throughout the book once he realized the value of Lark.  They have great chemistry.

Wiley is a wonderful supporting character who made me laugh more than once. 

Lark is convinced she is unworthy and not as good as anyone else around her.  Her inner struggles brought me to tears. 

Several historical figures, such as Gen. George Washington, also make appearances.
A story not to be missed!

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

Read: 03/9&10/2018

© 2018 (and *previously 2011 under the name Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland with Summerside Press)

Click here for author's website

23 Chapters + Epilogue

 A Stand-alone book not to be missed!

(5+ stars)

March 10th HI FRIENDS

Right Click & Open in New Tab to play lovely fiddle music shown above

Woke up to rain today! 💙 Finished a wonderful eNovel 📙 I started yesterday by the very talented Roseanna M. White,  got ready to some fun worship music 🎻🎵 on Pandora & made a pot of tea with Irish soda bread (our March favorite!). I decided to dash out in the downpour (aka a wee smatering😋), and collect a few 📸photos of the Lord's loveliness. 

There are lots of fun celebrations to ponder today & I have really been enjoying following them on WorldDayCalendar on Instagram:

Mario Day is celebrated today because Mar10 so closely resembles
Mario :)

🍀 Click here to view Sweet Irish Blessing Artist shop shown in collage.
May You Live as Long as You Want

& Never Want as Long as You Live.

~Irish Blessing 

Hope you have a very blessed weekend!  Oh, & happy #InternationalDayOfAwesomeness 🤗

💧 #RaindropsInMyTea

🐈 #caturday

🐈 #maximuscatimus 

🌎 #SoCal 

🍀 #IrishBlessing

💛 #KerryGold 

☕ #Twinings 

☘ #IrishBreakfast

🍞 #TeaAndToast 

🙆🙇#ThankfulGratefulBlessed

FREE to download NEW REGENCY READ

A Search for Refuge (A Haven Manor Novella) by Kristi Ann Hunter

•°o•:*:•.A MOST ENJOYABLE REGENCY READ.•:*:• o°•

Marlborough, England 1804

Margaretta Fortescue arrives tired and dusty in Marlborough after 3 days of changing mail coaches to try and escape danger. She heads for a small grocer to ease her grumbling stomach, only to meet with Mrs. Lancaster who is the friendly and chatty proprietor.  Little does she know she has been followed by the local solicitor, Mr. Nash Banfield who has promised to look after the elderly widow and ensure no damsels in distress or worse, take advantage of Mrs. Lancaster.

However, Mrs. Lancaster has her own ideas and regularly makes herself available for helping those in need in accordance with God’s will.

Nash and Margaretta each have reason to be untrusting, but over time begin to allow small chips in their armor.  As the story unfolds more things to come to light and concerns for the characters grow.  Mrs. Lancaster is wonderful and hopefully, we see more of her in the series. Ch. 3 “Margaretta didn’t know what to think of the way the old woman sprinkled God and the Bible into her conversation as casually as a Londoner might mention the traffic or haze.  Even though she’d been attending church her entire life, Margaretta hadn’t ever thought to make Jesus quite that versatile.  She’d left Him in church where He seemed to belong, but Mrs. Lancaster appeared to think He belonged everywhere.”

Tea Moment: Ch. 6 “A cup of tea was pressed into her hands, and she sipped it gratefully, letting the hot liquid sooth her tight throat and settle her jumpy stomach.  After half a cup, she almost felt normal again.”

5 stars. Highly recommend.

© 2018 Bethany House - March 6, 2018

129 pages

Thank you to Bethany House and the lovely author for a complimentary eCopy. My opinion is my own and given freely. Keep updated on the author’s website, Kristi Ann Hunter dot com

Read & Reviewed: 03/08/2018

Haven Manor Series

“The Haven Manor series follows a group of women who take what could have been a life-crushing circumstance and turned it into an opportunity to help desperate women and their children from the same fate. Their pasts may have brought these women here, but God has an amazing future in store for them.” -Author’s Website

Book 0.5 A Search for Refuge (Margaretta’s Story) 03/2018
Currently available for free download here

Book 1 - A Defense of Honor (Kit’s Story) 06/2018

Preorder here

Coming Soon – Daphne’s Story

Coming Soon – Jess’s Story 

Until next time friends; hugs and a cup of tea,

In addition to MY BLOG, Reviews posted at: Amazon / Amazon Canada / Barnes & Noble / CBD / GoodReads / Google Play / Kobo / My FB /  Influencer’s FB page / My Pinterest

A Chance at Forever A Teaville Moral Society Story

A Chance at Forever – Teaville Moral Society #3
Melissa Jagears

A Compelling Look at Forgiveness
Southeast Kansas, Spring 1909. 

Mercy McClain was ruthlessly tormented by Aaron Firebrook as a girl. When he shows up seeking a teaching position in front of her and other school board members she is taken back to her youth and vows he shall never step foot in the classroom.

Aaron has come full circle, having to overcome his own boyhood tortures, and coming to grips with finding value in himself through Christ. He has returned to Teaville to beg forgiveness from the people he wronged and hopefully provide guidance to other kids either being bullied or bullying. While he awaits the school board’s decision, he accepts temporary employment at the local orphanage, having no idea that is where Mercy McClain also works.

Jimmy is a troubled young teen who consistently acts out. Aaron is asked to step in and help guide him if he can. But Jimmy is extremely difficult and causes problems throughout the story. It causes Aaron to have flashbacks of his own troubled past.

The more time Mercy and Aaron spend with one another, the more they are each drawn to the person they see in front of them, each filled with kindness for others.

The story takes a look at prejudice toward the poor and the women and children of the red light district. It even touches on child-hood rape which is important to note if you are sensitive to that topic. It is tastefully discussed, but heavy none-the-less. And there is some violence. It also looks at forgiveness and survival in circumstances beyond one’s control. Overall, it is a good story, just not light entertainment. Faith plays a key role as one would hope when reading a Christian novel, and I would recommend it to a friend.

A side note about the cover: This has nothing to do with the author, since I realize the publishers choose the covers, but I found it unfortunate that they seemed unaware of Aaron’s description from the story. He was supposed to be towering over Mercy, big meaty hands, broad shoulders, slightly longer hair covering his collar that he pulled on when worried. The cover does not do him justice.

© February 2018 Bethany House

I received a copy from Bethany House Publ., courtesy of Melissa Jagears, in exchange for my honest opinion and which I am privileged to provide.

Read: 2/27&28/2018 - Reviewed: 3/1/2018 / 4 stars

SERIES: TEAVILLE MORAL SOCIETYBook .5 = Engaging the Competition 01/2016 a novella tucked into the book: With this Ring, featuring 3 other authors.
Book 1 = A Heart Most Certain 08/2016
Book 2 = A Love So True 05/2017
Book 2.5 Tied and True 01/2018 – a novella tucked into the book: Hearts Entwined, featuring 3 other authors.
Book 3 = A Chance at Forever 03/2018

About the Author: Melissa Jagears is an award-winning author, wife, homeschooling mama of 3, and shares she is an introvert. They appropriately reside in Kansas since that is where this series takes place! She can be found at MelissaJagers.com with links to other social media outlets.

Thank you for stopping by! Until next time, Hugs and a Cup of Tea,

Heather Elizabeth

In addition to my blog, reviews will be posted at:
Amazon / Amazon Canada / Amazon UK / Books A Million / Barnes & Noble / CBD / DeeperShopping / GoodReads / Google Play / Indigo / Kobo / Scribd / My FB, My IG, Influencer’s FB page, My Pinterest

A Most Noble Heir

A Most Noble Heir, Susan Anne Mason

•°o•:*:•.COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN.•:*:• o°•

  

I received this book in yesterday’s post (I just love saying post – don’t you?), took some time to photograph it, brew a pot of lemon-lavender tea with a sprig of rosemary and settled in with a cozy blanket at 2:10pm.  I only paused to feed the kitties and whip up a speedy dinner of eggs with toast and continued reading (thank goodness for book stands!) while eating because it was that good.  I finished at 10:42pm!  What an enjoyable 8.5-hour read!  Note to self: Susan’s books suck you in. Plan accordingly ;)

Derbyshire, England 1884.

Nolan Price is the 21-year-old stable hand at Stainsbury.  He has grown to love Hannah Burnham, a kitchen maid that arrived when he was 14 and she was 13 following her mother leaving her there to work.  He has finally saved enough to buy a small neighboring farm and give Hannah, her sister Molly, and his mother a better life.  However, his mother has suddenly taken ill and reveals a long kept secret that he is the son of the Earl of Stainsbury whom he loathes.  If he should agree to take his place among the aristocracy he will not be allowed to marry below his station.  Outraged at this revelation, he decides to elope with Hannah, convincing her of his love and that it is the best way to ensure they are accepted as “one”.   Hannah has always felt small, unimportant, and abandoned ever since her mother forced her into service, but kept her sister Molly.  Nolan has been the one constant in her life. He is tender and kind, the man she prays with. He is her future. 

Edward Fairchild is shocked to find that his son is alive and further has been right under his nose all these years.  His son-in-law and current heir to the estate, Orville Fairchild, is a loathsome, gambling infantile man.  He makes plans to train Nolan and turn him into a proper gentleman worthy of a title and Hannah does not fit into those plans.  He will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure she does not get in the way.

Iris Hartford is a fantastic character! Without giving to much away; she is a breath of fresh air, tells it like it is, is gentle but commands a room and the most delightful fairy godmother type one could hope for!

This story has many twists and turns as well as dangerous situations which elevate it further.   Through it all, faith balances the story nicely, but not perfectly because no one is perfect in their faith.  As the wise and loveable Scotsman Bert says, “Sometimes we have to hear God’s message several different ways before it finally takes root.” (smile – is that not the truth?!).

Tea Moment (and there are several, yay!) She nodded and wiped her own face.  “Come back to the kitchen, and I’ll make you some tea.” Like his mother, Hannah believed a cup of tea could cure anything.

© 2018 Bethany House - Book available March, 2018

364 pages

Thank you to Bethany House and the lovely author for an advance copy to review. My opinion is my own and given freely. Keep updated on the author’s website, Susan Anne Mason.net

I believe this is a stand-alone book and not a series.

Read & Reviewed: 02/2018 *****5 stars

Hugs and a cup of tea,

In addition to MY BLOG, Reviews posted at: (Amazon / Amazon Canada / Amazon UK - ALL 3 able to post only after 3/6 release date) / Books A Million / Barnes & Noble / CBD / GoodReads / Google Play / Indigo /  My FB / Author’s FB page / My Pinterest

SHOEBOX SURPRISE

Hello Friends,
Yes.  This is another book review but WAIT.  This one is rather unique, so please hang in there ((smiles)).

IF YOU HAVE EVER SENT A CHRISTMAS SHOEBOX OR WANTED TO OR SIMPLY ENJOY A GOD DIRECTED ROMANCE.

This book was sent to me by a friend.  We became friends about a year ago on a mutual FB page all about sharing Operation Christmas Child ideas.  So this book was too perfect. 

Josif’s family fled Serbia when he was just 5.  He’s now 30, living in TN and running his family’s hotel. Apparently, his mother’s best friend did not escape and her daughter, Mirela has remained in her prayers all these years; until today.  This morning Mama Sesely has seen a newspaper from a town just 45 minutes away and she is certain the young woman in the article is her best friend’s daughter. Twenty-five years ago the two best friends promised each other their kids would marry each other.  But wait, Josif is dating Sabrina who works at the hotel with him and he has grown content with over the last 3 years.  He does not have any interest or time for a modern day fairytale.

Mirala received a Christmas shoebox when she was a little girl.  She was told all about the love of Jesus and she was adopted by missionaries.  She is constantly thankful and kind to the point of allowing a co-worker, in the daycare she works at, to walk all over her.  She is best friends with her adopted sister Ivy and dearly loves her adoptive parents, though it has been 5 years since her father passed. 

This story is an adventure of God bringing this couple together, growing each one's faith individually, various characters overcoming misunderstandings, fears and assumptions and all of it for His glory. 

I would give it 4.5 stars because there is one teeny part of the story with some side characters – Emily and her 2 kids: Bella and Benny that did not get resolved.  I guess there is more ministry work that needs to be done there, but the indication that it was a serious situation should have had a wrap-up. I really, really enjoyed reading it over an afternoon into early evening.  God is so present throughout the story and I got choked up several times.  It makes me look forward to shoebox season again.  

I have been privileged to pack shoeboxes, with my kids, for the Operation Christmas Child shoebox ministry (click here) for over 20 years now and have volunteered at one of the inspection and distribution warehouses several times.  See my previous post about the fun here. This ministry is led by Franklin Graham and Samaritan’s Purse if you would like to know more. 

Additionally, my dear friend who introduced me to the book creates Joydorables; the cutest, little stuffed animal friends to go into her shoeboxes which she includes an Operation Christmas Child patch on when she can!  You can find those here on FB.  I really do get excited about this ministry and am so glad Jennifer Collins Johnson thought to include shoeboxes in a romance novel!

Find the eVersion here or here 

It's like 2 bucks! ;)

*Modern day setting* © 2011 Heartsong Presents by Barbour Pub*170 pages Only 19 chapters + epilogue

I received a copy from a friend and this is my honest review.

Read: 2/10/2018 - Reviewed: 2/11/2018

4.5 stars

CBD / GOODREADS / Amazon.com / My Pinterest  / Author’s FB page  

Hugs and a cup of tea to you dear friends.  Thanks for taking the time to stop by.  Would love a wee comment if you have the time!

A Spudtacular Valentine Craft

Last night I had a random thought: "Wouldn't it be fun for the kids to trace potatoes?" Well, that evolved into Valentine Potato Banners!
💖🏳❤🏳💖🏳❤🏳💖

😍😍😍

Small potatoes worked well for this craft.

First I designed a 2x3 column grid
on MS Word.  I added triangles to the bottoms as a
cutting guide for the banner. Then I added 3 potato-themed
phrases in cute fonts.

A toothpick might help hold the potato steady.

AND BEFORE YOU GO...

a little kitty love!

Walked into the bedroom last night to find
these two cuddling  & holding paws just
like when they were kittens, nearly 10 years ago!
😺💕😽💕😻💕

He totally stole the bed from one of the
Littles, & if you look close you can see
he is very aware I am looking at him :)
🐈🛏🐾🐈🛏🐾🐈🛏🐾🐈

Valentines Crafts Etc

EEEEEEEEK!!!! That's supposed to be ruBBer bands! :/

Put 2 colors of paint in various blobs on the canvas. We used white & red.
Wrap one piece of saran wrap longways, folding over the ends,
then wrap a 2nd sheet sideways folding over the sides. Squish, smear, slide in
various directions.  Be careful of kids with long nails scratching through the wrap.
When done, carefully remove and let paint dry.

When done stamping hearts, allow to dry.

Pro tip: include a piece of tape across the top so child
starts UNDER it, leaving room for the binder clip later.
And yes, I figured that out AFTER one kid wrote really close to the top!

Glitter glue can run and smear.  Be sure to lay flat and allow to dry completely.

Note: when I wrote the rest of the scripture, I did it backwards
to ensure I could fit each letter that was left of the word
VALENTINE.

I found the flat canvases in a 3-pack at WalMart in the craft
section.  Oddly there were two brands. One was on a shelf with several
other sizes/packages and was higher priced. However, I then
discovered a cheaper set hanging up along the same wall. I think I paid around $2
for the 3-pack and they are about 8x10.

The Tradition of St. Valentine's Day
Valentine was a good and holy man who lived long ago. Because of his great love for God and others, Valentine is honored as a saint on February 14. We celebrate St. Valentine's Day by sharing our love with family and friends through cards, candy, flowers, and gifts from the heart.
"Love one another as I have loved you." -John 15:12

Valentine’s History (what I would call the "adult version")

In the 3rd century, Emperor Claudius II was faced with defending the Roman Empire from the invading Goths. He believed single men made better soldiers so he temporarily forbade marriage. He also forced the Senate to deify the former Emperor Gallienus, including him with the Roman gods to be worshipped. Legend has it that Valentine was a bishop in Italy who risked the Emperor's wrath by refusing to worship idols and for secretly marrying young couples. Saint Valentine was dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and have his head cut off, FEBRUARY 14, 269AD. While awaiting execution, it is said he prayed for the jailers' sick daughter, who miraculously recovered. He wrote her a note and signed it, "from your Valentine." In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius designated February 14th as "Saint Valentine's Day." Signing an X for a kiss began in Medieval times where those who could not write marked a criss-cross or "Christ's cross" in the presence of witnesses and kissed it to show sincerity. The X, or Chi symbol, was the Greek letter used to represent the name of Christ, as X-Mas for Christmas, and was used as a written form of the oath "So help me God."

Credit: AMERICAN MINUTE written and copyrighted by William J. Federer. Permission is granted to reproduce with acknowledgment. AMERICAN MINUTE™ is a registered trademark.

A Valentine From Jesus:

I love you. You are mine. Your name is written upon My heart. Your prayers are precious to Me. Your life is in My hands. I am always with you, nearer to you than your own heart. I gave My life so that you might live forever with Me. All I ask in return is your love.
Be My Valentine, Jesus

P.S. You are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you.   

--Isaiah 43:4

May you enjoy a lovely Valentine’s with your family & know how much God loves You! 

Shadows of Ladenbrook Manor book review.

Shadows of Ladenbrook Manor by Melanie Dobson

•°o•:*:•.HEAVY SUBJECT MATTER .•:*:• o°•

I found this book extremely frustrating. The book jumps from the past to the present throughout the entire story.  It’s in the 50s, the 60s, the 70s, the 80s, and then present day with iPods and cell phones.  Whenever it’s in the past, it clearly tells you the date, but in the present it never does.

The POV (point of view) switches back and forth from character to character:

Maggie / Walter / Libby / Heather / Mrs. Wescott / Christopher

When Christopher finally learns why his heart was broken, he says nothing and takes a phone call instead.

When Heather learns a huge secret, she says nothing and the story just switches to the past.

Both very unrealistic acts.

Additionally, the story is very heavy, involving THREE different times teenage girls give up their virginity to boys and suffer all the consequences that can come from that choice.

Although faith and forgiveness along with interesting detail about places and an autistic girl are also in the book, the story was so heavy with the rest of it, that I could not enjoy it.  A good reminder for me to check the label for the publishing company first.

I did NOT enjoy this novel and do not recommend it.

© 2015 Howard Books, div of Simon & Schuster

336 pages

Read: 1/30&312018 - Reviewed: 2/2/2018

2 stars

I received a purchased copy from a friend. My opinion is my own for no compensation.