THE KISSING TREE - 4 Novellas Rooted in Love by Top Authors

 

💋🌳VERY SWEET READ 🌳💋
I highly recommend this book for those who enjoy quick, clean, faith-based stories. Set in Oak Springs, TX spanning over 100 years.

BROKEN LIMBS, MENDED HEARTS BY REGINA JENNINGS
1868
Very Good. Regina Jennings never disappoints. A sweet story of the young man who pined and hoped for a girl, left, got his start in the world, but never forgot her. Despite their rocky past, he set his heart on one day returning to her. After a disaster changed her future forever she was thankful Adam had left & she managed to find a job that fulfilled her. Now he's back and chaos and confusion have come with him.
I liked their innocence and also Adam's strength. He is determined to prove himself to the community and to Bella. I appreciated the faith element in the story.
CATCHPHRASE: Sweet potatoes!
(4 Stars)

INN FOR A SURPRISE BY KAREN WITEMYER
1891
Very sweet story. Barnabas & Phoebe are forced to work together to make Phoebe's dream successful. She's romantic to a fault and he is equally practical. And therein lies the balance they both need. The Kissing Tree has grown in local charm & magic and is beautifully captured in a very special portrait I could easily picture. ❤🌳❤
Quotable: "Perhaps this Inn of Smooching Shrubbery wouldn’t be the disaster he’d imagined."
CATCHPHRASE: Horsefeathers.
(4 Stars)

FROM ROOTS TO SKY BY AMANDA DYKES
1944/45
I really felt the emotions between Luke Hampstead & Hannah Garland; they tugged at my heartstrings. The guessing and second-guessing one does trying to suppose another's person's thoughts or motives were well related.
Quote: He might well die this night. But he would fight for his life with the weapons he had: pencil, paper, and a pen pal he’d never met, halfway across the world in Texas. Where it was warm.
CATCHPHRASE: “Jumpin’ gumdrops!”
(5 Stars)

HEARTWOOD BY NICOLE DEESE
Present Day
The Kissing 💋🌳 is over 💯 years old now & has seen many couples come & go. Abby Brookshire & Griffin Malone have a tangled past. This story takes them beyond their hurts and helps them work through things in tenderness. I like how he called her "Bee" - his pet name for her.
Quote I can truly relate to: “That was the strange thing about grief: Sometimes you wanted to wrap yourself in it like a thick winter quilt, and other times you wanted to throw the blanket to the ground and pretend you wouldn't be cold without it.”
(4 Stars)

I was gifted an eBook from NetGalley & the publisher, in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own without compensation or further expectation.
4 STARS overall (= very good)

(c) October 13, 2020

Publisher's Photo: Preorder
 before Tuesday 10/13
& receive 40% off
Click Here to Purchase from Pub.

TEA CONUNDRUM

It's Saturday.  This morning has been slightly overcast & the squirrels are chasing each other up and down the trees outside my open windows. Ahhhh, bliss.  It must be time for tea!

Yesterday I was at the .99¢ Only Store (a name that mocks me regularly since they have changed their prices) (& FYI, if you want to type the ¢ sign - hold down the Alt button while you type 155 😁).  I happened to spot two well-known name brand teas; Pukka and Tazo.  I thought the Apricot Vanilla Creme white tea by Tazo looked interesting, so that's what I brewed this morning.  I will preface this by saying I am HYPER-sensitive to smells and tastes.  I brewed the tea as directed (about 3 minutes) and added honey.  As I brought it up to sip, I noticed an odd dirty smell.  I sipped anyhow and the taste was gentle and sweet, really quite pleasant. But, every time I lifted the cup the smell assaulted my nostrils.  I tried to puzzle this out.  Could it be my cup for some reason?  I tried another and even a new tea bag, but the problem remained.  I checked the expiration date = Nov. 2021.  Well, this is quite the conundrum and perhaps someone out there has had a similar experience or thoughts.  Anyhow, I brewed something else and will share this tea with my daycare Littles and other tea lovers and see what they think.

I took several pictures which you may click to enlarge if you like:

I do like how the bag gives precise
instructions on the back, as well as being 
individually wrapped both for travel or
gifting.

Box side

Box side

Exp Date

Onata China Made in Occupied Japan
"Occupied Japan" (OJ) is a term used
for the time period from 1945
(after World War II) through April 25, 1952;
it was during this time that the
Allies "occupied" Japan.

This cup has so many lovely things going on!
I just love all the details. And the colors are
perfect for Autumn.

It was a birthday gift from my sister a 
few years ago.

Sweet little bowl is Pioneer Woman 
found at WalMart

I love this beautiful display featuring
Autumn Apples. Today is National
Johnny Appleseed Day, so a wee nod
to him. IG photo credit shown at top.

Here is a sweet sketch by an 
artist I follow. Again, click photos
to enlarge. You can check out
her art on her IG page & she 
also has an etsy shop. 
IG photo credit shown at top. 

Today, thousands of people are marching,
united in prayer with Franklin Graham, 
praying for our nation.  If you have a mind
 too, please add your prayers to theirs (and mine 😊).

Thought that this was a good word.
God bless you all.

SACRED HONOR - BOOK 3 - SABERTON LEGACY COMING 9-29

 

Just a quick howdie-doo to let you know book 3 is coming out next week from the sweet and talented Lori Bates Wright.

AUTHOR'S SYNOPSIS: Her heart is shattered. Her home is left in shambles. And she is forced to give up the only man capable of putting the pieces back together. Aurora Haverwood has loved Zachery Saberton for as long as she can remember. Her dreams of being his wife are cruelly dashed when the American Civil War draws to a close with news that Zach is missing and presumed dead. Refusing to believe he will never return to her, she sets out to find the truth.

Captain Zach Saberton, notorious blockade runner for the Confederate Navy, has outfoxed the Yankee War Department once too often. In order to save his neck, Zach agrees to go undercover in London to help the Union recover a million dollars’ worth of gold bullion missing from the failed Confederate Treasury.
When Aurora discovers Zach Saberton is alive and well in England, attending one social affair after another, she decides to pay a visit to her uncle, the Earl of Kendal, in hopes of finding some answers. The journey from her devastated homeland to elegant London society plunges her into a web of danger. Zach, desperately trying to avoid another civil rebellion, soon comes to realize that it’s Aurora who holds the key to their survival. But in accepting her help, he risks losing her forever.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER FROM AUTHOR

 Pre-Order from Lori's website: included in this Limited Time Promotion:
* signed copy of SACRED HONOR
*book-themed bookmark,
*magnet,
*recipe card from the story
*stylus pen.

PLEASE INCLUDE NAME YOU WOULD LIKE BOOK SIGNED TO
OR "NO NAME" IF NONE IS NEEDED
$12.99
Plus Free Shipping! (will ship the day of the release)

Lori Bates Wright

LINK TO MY REVIEW FOR BOOK 1 

LINK TO MY REVIEW FOR
BOOK 2

I have been extremely busy homeschooling Littles in my daycare during these crazy times so I have not posted a whole lot, but I did want to jump on and promote this kind author.  I pray you are all doing well, finding time to read and looking forward to Autumn tea weather as much as I am!

VYING FOR THE VISCOUNT by Kristi Ann Hunter

 

The new Hearts on the Heath series

Vying for the Viscount by Kristin Ann Hunter - Book 1- Hearts on the Heath, Available Aug. 4, 2020

***MOST ENJOYABLE, CLEAN, REGENCY ERA STORY***

I started reading mid-day and read until bedtime.  Finished in one sitting!  The idea of the 2 main characters helping each other find a good match is always interesting. I really like the brothers Aaron and Lord Rigsby. Both are supporting characters. They need to work out their issues & have stories of their own.  When old characters show up, particularly from Kristi's books, it's especially amusing. The verbal sparring in conversations is witty and adds to the reading. I appreciate that eventually Hudson asks to court Bianca properly and get to know each other better vs simply rushing into marriage.

"finally - he was going to step into the life he'd been waiting twenty-eight years to live. As the firstborn son of the firstborn son of the sixth Viscount Stildon, Hudson had always known his destiny. Assuming, of course, that he managed to stay alive and fulfill it.  Hiding away in India had been enough to protect Hudson from the schemes of a crazed uncle who wanted the title for himself, but it had meant exposure to other dangers."

Mrs. Snowey pressed her lips together in a
 tight frown.  Bianca merely smiled.

Connect with the author
at KristiAnnHunter dotcom

I recommend this 4-star book. I received a complimentary eBook from the author, publisher & NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own without compensation or further expectation.

Bethany House Publishing

352 Pages

©8/4/2020

I use the Goodreads Star Ratings System: 1= Did not like it, 2= It was ok, 3=Liked It, 4= Really liked it, 5=It was amazing

NOTHING SHORT OF WONDROUS by REGINA SCOTT

 

Nothing Short of Wondrous - American Wonders Collection - Book 2 - Regina Scott - Revell Publishing (c) Oct. 20, 2020

***ENJOYABLE YELLOWSTONE NATL PARK ROMANCE ***
1886 - Widow Kate Tremaine and her son, Danny, run the Geyser Gateway Inn set in the world's first National Park, rugged Yellowstone, surrounded by erupting mud pots, pine trees, bison, bears and beauty, and occasionally poachers.
Kate has such a passion for Yellowstone that I really like.
Lt. Will Prescott has been assigned to patrol the area. For more than 10 years he's been a cavalryman, but he carries a heavy burden: "Sometimes, he feared even God wouldn't forgive what he'd done."
I loved how Will was immediately drawn to Danny, wanting to make sure he could be a kid and enjoy life. He is a good man and I was drawn to him throughout the story.
I received a complimentary eBook from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own without compensation or further expectation.

((4 Stars=I Really Liked It))
((MY STARS)) 1= Did not like it, 2= It was ok, 3=Liked It, 4= Really liked it, 5=It was amazing

 AMERICAN WONDERS COLLECTION
1 - A Distance Too Grand 10/2019, 2 - Nothing Short of Wondrous 10/2020, 3 - Pending (Set in Mt. Rainer)

Link to original photo

PUBLISHERS SYNOPSIS:  It is 1886, and the government has given the US Cavalry control of Yellowstone. For widowed hotelier Kate Tremaine, the change is a welcome one. She knows every inch of her wilderness home like the back of her hand and wants to see it protected from poachers and vandals. 

Refused a guide by Congress, Lieutenant William Prescott must enlist Kate's aid to help him navigate the sprawling park and track down the troublemakers. But a secret from his past makes him wary of the tender feelings the capable and comely widow raises in him. When her 6-year-old son is kidnapped by a poacher who wants the boy to guide him to the place where the last of the Yellowstone bison congregate, Will and Kate must work together to rescue him, save the bison, and protect the park. In doing so, they may just find that two wounded hearts can share one powerful love when God is in control.

SIDE NOTE:  If you have never been to Yellowstone, I highly recommend it.  I still have fond memories of visiting there as a young teenage girl. Yellowstone's beauty found a permanent place in my heart.

A PORTRAIT OF LOYALTY by ROSEANNE M WHITE

A Portrait of Loyalty available Sept 2020

A Portrait of Loyalty - The Codebreakers - Book 3 - Roseanna M. White

***EXCELLENT END TO THE WWI SERIES***

Zivon Marin / Evgeni Marin - Two Russian brothers battle for what they believe is right and just for the future of the world, each shrouded in covert operations during the war. "He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder: he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."

 Lilian Blackwell deals in her own clandestine maneuvers; extremely talented behind her Kodak No.1 Autographic Special, model A camera and in the darkroom. "Something about him struck her as photographic, as if he were already a still life captured on film. What would he look like when actually put to paper? Would the camera see the same thing her eyes did, or would it not translate into a photograph, where everything was caught in a moment devoid of motion? No. She'd learned to capture motion - or its story, anyway - with her camera. She would just have to see if she could capture its opposite too. A challenge she'd never taken up before, but one she was determined to meet.

Tea Quote: Perhaps she would see if Ara would like to have tea or something. They rarely had the chance to socialize outside of Charing Cross (hospital).   

CLICK for a great link on this camera

This story is chock full of information & wonderful detail.  I loved how it was woven through the tense war years, the 1918 flu epidemic, and the faith of believers vs the righteousness of non-believers.  I also found it precious that people brought together during those difficult days could still find love, clinging to one another for support.  I was NOT prepared for the part of the story that brought me to sobbing tears.  It was very emotional and definitely required pause and tissues.  Very well written and highly recommended.

"His promises have not changed just because my circumstances have. He is still the giver of all. The lover of our souls. No matter how bad our situation, He is still good. All we have to do is look for Him."

I received a complimentary eBook from the author via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own without compensation or further expectation.

Bethany House Publishing, 384 Pages, (c) 09-08-2020

((4 Stars=I Really Liked It))

((MY STARS)) 1= Did not like it, 2= It was ok, 3=Liked It, 4= Really liked it, 5=It was amazing

CODEBREAKERS SERIES:

1 - The Number of Love, 2 - On Wings of Devotion, 3 - A Portrait of Loyalty

PLACES TO BUY:

AMAZON

BARNES AND NOBLE

CHRISTIANBOOK

AUTOGRAPHED COPY - AUTHOR'S WEBSITE

PUBLISHERS SYNOPSIS:  Zivon Marin was one of Russia's top cryptographers, until the October Revolution tore apart his world. Forced to flee after speaking out against Lenin and separated from his brother along the way, he arrives in England driven by a growing anger and determined to offer his services to the Brits.

Lily Blackwell sees the world best through the lens of a camera--and possesses unsurpassed skill when it comes to retouching and recreating photographs. With her father's connections in propaganda, she's recruited to the intelligence division, even though her mother would disapprove.

After Captain Blackwell invites Zivon to dinner one evening, a friendship blooms between him and Lily. He sees patterns in what she deems chaos; she sees beauty in a world he thought destroyed. But both have secrets they're unwilling to share. When her photographs reveal that someone has been following Zivon, his loyalties are called into question--and his enemies are discovered to be far closer than he'd feared.

@roseannamwhite #TheCodebreakers #OnWingsofDevotion

Author, Roseanna M. White

Author Bio: Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

LINE BY LINE BOOK ONE LOVE ALONG THE WIRES

Line by Line- Love Along The Wires book 1 by Jennifer Delamere

Decent Story.  It seemed like God and faith were late to the party, however, I do enjoy the topic of the telegraph and I will most likely read future publishings in this series.

"The telegraph service was a government entity, overseen by the postmaster general."

It may be noteworthy to some that the hero of the story is a smoker, which it is only referenced a couple of times and would have been common back then. "There was a vague smoky scent coming from him, as though he'd spent his recent train ride in the smoking car."

Andrew Carnegie added a good amount of wisdom later in the story.

"Over the years, I have found that it's one thing to hear a sermon where Scripture is quoted, but it's quite another to read for yourself what is written. It can have quite an impact on people" -Mr. Johnstone

Tea Moment: "Why, that's terrible!" Emma said. She filled a teacup and set it in front of Alice. "This will help." Emma's way of dealing with trauma always involved a hot cup of tea.

I received a complimentary eBook from the NetGalley & the publisher, in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own without compensation or further expectation.

Click --> **AMAZON HAS THE FIRST 4 CHAPTERS OR SO OF THIS BOOK YOU CAN PREVIEW** 

Bethany House Publishing, 384 Pages, (c) June 30, 2020

((MY STARS)) 1= Did not like it, 2= It was ok, 3=Liked It, 4= Really liked it, 5=It was amazing

Until next time, Hugs and a cup of ICED tea!

LOVES PURE LIGHT - 4 XMAS NOVELLAS

Love's Pure Light - 4 Stories follow and Heirloom Nativity Set through 4 Generations

 Raney, McNear, Dietze, Rosche  Available Sept 1, 2020

***RECOMMENDED - CHRISTMAS EASY READING ***

WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCH ARE KEEPING BY SUSAN DIETZE

Massachusetts, 1899

"...when one is facing hardship, it often helps to focus on helping somone else."

"Never had a friend, male or female, challenged or encouraged him in his relationship with God or his work the way she had.  He'd never met a woman who could make him feel this confused yet at the same time this peaceful- "

This was a decent story with plenty of moments of redemption. However, I never care for characters who profess their love after a mere 3 weeks. It takes away from the story.

((3 Stars=I like it.))

THE WISE GUY AND THE STAR BY SHANNON McNEAR

Charleston, SC to Kansas City, Mo, 1919

"Good noon, ladies! Might I start you off with a cup of coffee or tea?" "Tea please," Aunt Lila said.

"God feels very far away. Like I've seen too much, done too much, somehow. Ordinary church is fine for ordinary people but..." [Stella shifted from one to the other. "Lord, help me grasp just what it is he's trying to say - and give me words that might offer comfort and strength."]

I really enjoyed the writing style, rich with detail but not so much as to get in the way. Nat and Stella are very sweet in their interactions. Realizing that Seth and Jesse from the previous story are her parents was unexpected and nice.

((4 Stars=I Really Liked It)

ON ANGEL WINGS BY JANICE ROSCHE

Kansas City, MO, 1945

"since Elodie Wise was a little girl, she'd been told she carried a light inside her soul that even the darkest night could not snuff out. The only problem? When she wanted - or rather needed - to hide, she never could. That didn't stop her from trying of course."

Decent story.  I liked Elodie and Benjamin's lifelong friendship.

((3 Stars=I liked it))

MAKING ROOM AT THE INN BY DEBORAH RANEY

Cape Girardeau, MO, Present Day

"An old hutch leaned agains the brick. Painted her favorite robin's-egg blue, the hutch held an exquisite mismatch of old dishes. No doubt the same cups and saucers she and Mimi had taken tea from that long ago Christmas. Oh how she wished they'd taken a photo..."

Very good story.  Although I generally do not enjoy modern tales, this one held my interest. The easy banter between Benjie and Trevor, yet moments of trepidations as they grew in affection for one another worked really well for me.

I love how the nativity found its way into the story and even grew with more pieces. It sure would be fun to see it!

((4 Stars=I Really Liked It))

I received a complimentary eBook from the NetGalley & the publisher, in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own without compensation or further expectation.

Barbour Publishing, 448 Pages, (c) Sept 1, 2020

((STARS)) 1= Did not like it, 2= It was ok, 3=Liked It, 4= Really liked it, 5=It was amazing

Until next time - hugs and a cup of tea!