tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82018967971102582242024-03-18T05:47:58.700-04:00length and widthKyetrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08672142691541591953noreply@blogger.comBlogger803125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201896797110258224.post-25189232908341565732015-04-30T11:56:00.000-04:002015-08-13T09:31:07.040-04:00The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton | Book Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDfPNvXtzDpDYTgNiZcSfHygNICvwgrb5snsAMSEOj9gcOIMkfYRVcX7lSO8MzWAC0ls7YvM-xA5bJALvMDYbX2zDzyWs2d8358lZVXYUhXGplvGMLMn370rD_NgV0gWjC8-ldSR2ID8/s1600/katesecretkeeper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDfPNvXtzDpDYTgNiZcSfHygNICvwgrb5snsAMSEOj9gcOIMkfYRVcX7lSO8MzWAC0ls7YvM-xA5bJALvMDYbX2zDzyWs2d8358lZVXYUhXGplvGMLMn370rD_NgV0gWjC8-ldSR2ID8/s1600/katesecretkeeper.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b>STATS:</b><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Keeper-Novel-Kate-Morton/dp/1439152810/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1430409251&sr=8-1&keywords=the+secret+keeper" target="_blank">Order Here</a><br />
Author, <a href="http://www.katemorton.com/" target="_blank">Kate Morton</a><br />
Published, October 9, 2012<br />
Publisher, Atria Books<br />
Kindle edition, 597 pages<br />
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<b>BOOK TRAILER:</b><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NGuAH6bSiuo" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<b>DESCRIPTION FROM GOODREADS:</b><br />
<span id="freeText6273127115043649219" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">From the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of The Distant Hours, The Forgotten Garden, and The House at Riverton, a spellbinding new novel filled with mystery, thievery, murder, and enduring love.<br />
During a summer party at the family farm in the English countryside, sixteen-year-old Laurel Nicolson has escaped to her childhood tree house and is happily dreaming of the future. She spies a stranger coming up the long road to the farm and watches as her mother speaks to him. Before the afternoon is over, Laurel will witness a shocking crime. A crime that challenges everything she knows about her family and especially her mother, Dorothy—her vivacious, loving, nearly perfect mother.<br />
Now, fifty years later, Laurel is a successful and well-regarded actress living in London. The family is gathering at Greenacres farm for Dorothy’s ninetieth birthday. Realizing that this may be her last chance, Laurel searches for answers to the questions that still haunt her from that long-ago day, answers that can only be found in Dorothy’s past.<br />
Dorothy’s story takes the reader from pre–WWII England through the blitz, to the ’60s and beyond. It is the secret history of three strangers from vastly different worlds—Dorothy, Vivien, and Jimmy—who meet by chance in wartime London and whose lives are forever entwined. The Secret Keeper explores longings and dreams and the unexpected consequences they sometimes bring. It is an unforgettable story of lovers and friends, deception and passion that is told—in Morton’s signature style—against a backdrop of events that changed the world.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> </span><br />
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</span> <span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><b>MY THOUGHTS:</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">This is the forth novel by Kate Morton that I have read and I can't believe that I waiting so long to get to it. Her novels are quite lengthy and being sick and home alone was a perfect fit. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">I love the fact that her books are written in a dual narrative. This one has the story of present day, the 1940s, and the 1960s. Novels written in the time period of WWII happen to be some of my favorite historical fiction. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">I was not disappointed in the story. Laurel witnessed a murder as a child and finally wants to know what really happened. Her mother, Dorothy, know has dementia and can't be a lot of help. But the story of Dorothy, Jimmy, and Vivien starts to come together. I loved that I had some surprises in the end. That is always a plus. </span></span><br />
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Kyetrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08672142691541591953noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201896797110258224.post-75225990627882150412015-04-20T13:40:00.000-04:002015-04-30T13:44:51.519-04:00A July Bride<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6nYRd9_M2tmpeQMPCrRXZ54t1VasoYsWb2yVHqrOa75xyTw4-VYDeoWsOTyFAypS-gV0-AtdXhIO5Q5kykYkLOoXDOHf_d0097ljSEkkap7ers4flNGVksa6jCZcgl6P6RwkqhSHKa6c/s1600/wiseman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6nYRd9_M2tmpeQMPCrRXZ54t1VasoYsWb2yVHqrOa75xyTw4-VYDeoWsOTyFAypS-gV0-AtdXhIO5Q5kykYkLOoXDOHf_d0097ljSEkkap7ers4flNGVksa6jCZcgl6P6RwkqhSHKa6c/s1600/wiseman.jpg" height="505" width="640" /></a></div>
<strong>STATS:</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/July-Bride-Year-Weddings-Novella-ebook/dp/B00GRYXPB4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1430410576&sr=8-1&keywords=a+july+bride" target="_blank">Order Here</a><br />
Author, <a href="http://bethwiseman.com/" target="_blank">Beth Wiseman</a><br />
Published, June 24, 2014<br />
Publisher, Zondervan<br />
Kindle edition, 120 pages<br />
Series, A Year of Weddings #8<br />
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<strong>DESCRIPTION FROM GOODREADS:</strong><br />
<span id="freeText2776340361481245729" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">A year's worth of novellas from twelve inspirational romance authors. Happily ever after guaranteed.<br />Can she forgive the man who left her at the altar?<br />Alyssa Pennington dated Brendan Myers for three years before she accepted his proposal. For almost a year, Alyssa's friends and family helped her plan a lovely wedding to take place in the church she'd grown up in. It was the happiest day of her life when she walked down the aisle to be united with the man of her dreams. But when Brendan left her at the altar, Alyssa was consumed by humiliation, embarrassment, and a broken heart that wouldn't allow her to trust anyone. Especially Brendan.<br />Brendan Myers knows he will spend the rest of his life regretting what he did to Alyssa, the only woman he's ever loved. Without her, his life is empty. In one fateful moment, he'd panicked, destroyed their future, and ruined everything. Now he plans to win her back.<br />But winning back his bride might prove much more difficult than he can imagine. And even if he does get her to the altar again, will she think turnabout is fair play?</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> </span><br />
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<strong>MY THOUGHTS:</strong><br />
This was an interesting and easy read but it was not my favorite in the series so far. I felt that the characters made very bad choices over and over and also that they needed to grow up a bit. But decisions made by the characters did keep me guessing at who was going to end up walking down the aisle with who.<br />
Brendan knew that walking away from Alyssa was the wrong choice but she had moved on to Dalton. So they find themselves in a love triangle. Brendan worked hard to find ways to stay in her life but at times she wants him to go away and let her have a new life. <br />
The overall theme of the novella was forgiveness. The characters needed to learn to forgive each other for many things before they could expect to make a marriage work. <br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">I received this book from <a href="http://www.netgalley.com/">NetGalley</a> in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine.</span><br />
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Kyetrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08672142691541591953noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201896797110258224.post-12720559351760515592015-04-06T14:22:00.000-04:002015-04-30T14:22:59.275-04:00An August Bride | Book Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnT2Vcp8ceLTPoPsX5MyBfcT0pUee2tY5bkjgn6gP88YUf97XrXFZWOjZVEsyGp_OA2z18tOAY0EsflODLZ0zk0YWPB9BNt9DhCWz2MksNRwU8reevaaj_V9hj-3r4yAmTSi6uiWUJzgY/s1600/clopton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnT2Vcp8ceLTPoPsX5MyBfcT0pUee2tY5bkjgn6gP88YUf97XrXFZWOjZVEsyGp_OA2z18tOAY0EsflODLZ0zk0YWPB9BNt9DhCWz2MksNRwU8reevaaj_V9hj-3r4yAmTSi6uiWUJzgY/s1600/clopton.jpg" height="505" width="640" /></a></div>
<strong>STATS:</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/August-Bride-Year-Weddings-Novella-ebook/dp/B00GRYXPAA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1430416403&sr=8-1&keywords=an+august+bride" target="_blank">Order Here</a><br />
Author, <a href="http://debraclopton.com/" target="_blank">Debra Clopt</a>on<br />
Published, July 29, 2014<br />
Publisher, Zondervan<br />
Kindle edition, 120<br />
Series, A Year of Weddings #9<br />
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<strong>DESCRIPTION FROM GOODREADS:</strong><br />
<span id="freeText10864602314285992959" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">A year's worth of novellas from twelve inspirational romance authors. Happily ever after guaranteed.<br />Kelsey vowed never to love a cowboy again. But then she meets Brent.<br />After a cowboy broke her heart, Kelsey Wilcox traded in her boots for flip-flops and a bistro on the beautiful sandy beach of Corpus Christi. Two years later, still not believing in happy endings, she is about to endure a weekend of torture at her cousin's beach wedding. Not only will she be forced to watch yet another wedding, but her great-aunt and her two best friends---aptly nicknamed 'the matchmaking posse of Mule Hollow'---are coming to the wedding, and Kelsey is sure to be on their radar.<br />Brent Corbin has had his share of bad luck with women and isn't looking for love or looking forward to the weekend of wedding festivities as a groomsman for his friend. When he sees a commotion on the beach and what appears to be a mermaid in distress, he doesn't hesitate to dive to the rescue. His attention is instantly captured by the woman he's saved and it turns out they're part of the same wedding party. But the instant Kelsey spots his soaking wet boots she wants no part of him.<br />Thrown together through the weekend and with the meddlesome encouragement from the matchmakers, Brent is determined to pursue Kelsey and change her mind about cowboys. Sparks fly at this August wedding as Kelsey and Brent dance a rocky Texas two-step toward a beach wedding of their own.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> </span><br />
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<strong>MY THOUGHTS:</strong><br />
I really enjoyed this novella in the series. I like Kelsey and Brent but the true stars were the secondary characters. It was sweet and funny. Also a quick, easy read.<br />
Kelsey has sworn off cowboys but that could be a problem since she lives in Texas. Brent is, or course, handsome and determined to change her mind about cowboys. Especially about him. They have wonderful adventures that help build their relationship and story.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">I received this book from <a href="http://www.netgalley.com/">NetGalley</a> in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine.</span><br />
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Kyetrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08672142691541591953noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201896797110258224.post-51317197656898506972014-12-02T08:00:00.000-05:002014-12-02T15:30:16.997-05:00The Look of Love by Sarah Jio | Book Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DgavT_YmwfR5tt1hqzkBtwCgb4g1sTp2vSXZZ8gzc_Hyy99LB3bLVOEu9EhMR3oXBZOfYhBiRSShNz6l2aTsZtE7GMvGvIDJ0VDpZIGUX9d6GCzQYBJgZyNxqw-802pmx80dSk5ZmcA/s1600/jiolook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DgavT_YmwfR5tt1hqzkBtwCgb4g1sTp2vSXZZ8gzc_Hyy99LB3bLVOEu9EhMR3oXBZOfYhBiRSShNz6l2aTsZtE7GMvGvIDJ0VDpZIGUX9d6GCzQYBJgZyNxqw-802pmx80dSk5ZmcA/s1600/jiolook.jpg" height="505" width="640" /></a></div>
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<strong>STATS:</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Look-Love-Novel-Sarah-Jio-ebook/dp/B00INIXEQ8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417547657&sr=8-1&keywords=the+look+of+love" target="_blank">Order Here</a><br />
Author, <a href="http://www.sarahjio.com/" target="_blank">Sarah Jio</a><br />
Published, November 25th, 2014<br />
Publisher, Plume<br />
Kindle edition, 320 pages<br />
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<strong>DESCRIPTION FROM GOODREADS:</strong><br />
<span class="elementTwo" id="freeText11445155517896684405" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;">Born during a Christmas blizzard, Jane Williams receives a rare gift: the ability to literally see true love. Jane has emerged from an ailing childhood a lonely, hopeless romantic when, on her twenty-fifth birthday, she receives a card from the midwife who delivered her. Jane must identify the six types of love before the full moon following her thirtieth birthday, or face grave consequences. When Jane falls for a science writer who doesn’t believe in love, she fears that her fate is sealed. Inspired by the classic song, <em>The Look of Love</em> will utterly enchant Sarah Jio’s rapidly growing fanbase.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;"> </span><br />
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<strong>MY THOUGHTS:</strong><br />
I am a HUGE Sarah Jio fan. I have read all her books and follow her on facebook and instagram. I might even be called a stalker. Seriously - she never disappoints me.<br />
This novel was a little different from her others. All of her previous books work on a dual storyline. This novel is set entirely in modern day with the exception of the Preface. There are mentions of the past and info given by others, but no dual storyline. With that being said, it is still everything that a Jio fan could ask for. Love, history, and mystery are still there for your enjoyment. <br />
I read a lot of reviews that compare the plot to Love Actually. In fact, it is a good compassion. The story is mainly about Jane and her gift, but there are multiple love stories that are centered around her. Multiple loves stories and types of love. <br />
I think that the basis of the book is great. Jane having a magical gift that she was given at birth. The story plays out well and their is a true ending to each of the couples love stories. And - - it was one of those books that I picked up and finished in one setting. I started reading when I got in bed and the next thing I knew, it was 3 am and I was done. <br />
If you are looking for a fast and easy read, be sure to pick it up.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">I received this book from <a href="http://www.netgalley.com/">NetGalley</a> in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine.</span><br />
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Kyetrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08672142691541591953noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201896797110258224.post-51471823366992535952014-12-01T08:00:00.000-05:002014-12-01T11:50:24.226-05:00Merry December!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVG7Iu1ni25b0WXrTLz2aL4lhQsznDa6Fzx3LSAUh6uWZBIvqBoT8ItoIGLQRNTJ4nXjFF7c5-CHeFOFsSQPT2D7IIRlnyqFq4THSERW5MBGKVEzzqQr2iQXH_pFdkrY6fvNqRJ1BJRQI/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVG7Iu1ni25b0WXrTLz2aL4lhQsznDa6Fzx3LSAUh6uWZBIvqBoT8ItoIGLQRNTJ4nXjFF7c5-CHeFOFsSQPT2D7IIRlnyqFq4THSERW5MBGKVEzzqQr2iQXH_pFdkrY6fvNqRJ1BJRQI/s1600/unnamed.jpg" height="400" width="323" /></a></div>
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I still can't believe that it is December! Christmas is right around the corner.<br />
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Are you looking for a great Bible Reading Plan for December? <a href="http://womenlivingwell.org/2014/11/december-bible-reading-plan/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+WomenLivingWell+%28Women+Living+Well+%29" target="_blank">Good Morning Girls</a> has you covered. In fact - they have a plan to get you started on the entire Bible. And it is guided but you can jump in at any time. I even saw that it is a favorite of <a href="http://candacecameronbure.net/" target="_blank">Candace Cameron Bure</a> when she is traveling and away from her small group at her home church. <br />
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For the month of December, they are reading <a href="http://womenlivingwell.org/2014/11/introducing-psalms/" target="_blank">Psalms</a>. It is not too late to catch up and be on board for Psalms 8. Plus - there is a printable workbook and bookmark!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitt02eLwmdb1v9HzYZC8-9Z0mjrzB0TsZxH-Eg8RMTqyRU9-ct0UH35rnuIdzpGzX3hah0_74ASZth7nZjDNA2WQqxd2hotYd5yUcfvhGh7OIpT6RUEDG5OfuVqyyJf-KiapSwtSo83w0/s1600/The-Book-of-Psalms-300x253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitt02eLwmdb1v9HzYZC8-9Z0mjrzB0TsZxH-Eg8RMTqyRU9-ct0UH35rnuIdzpGzX3hah0_74ASZth7nZjDNA2WQqxd2hotYd5yUcfvhGh7OIpT6RUEDG5OfuVqyyJf-KiapSwtSo83w0/s1600/The-Book-of-Psalms-300x253.jpg" /></a></div>
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Last year I did the Advent Reading Plan. It was great. I think that I will try to do it at least every two years, but this year I am setting out and working on Psalms. If you need a great Christmas reading plan, check <a href="http://womenlivingwell.org/2014/11/free-gmg-advent-study-and-december-reading-plan/" target="_blank">this</a> one out. <br />
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Kyetrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08672142691541591953noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201896797110258224.post-31632414210039948072014-11-28T08:00:00.000-05:002014-12-01T14:06:00.984-05:00First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen | Book Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht66evDh2cibBE5tER11EG67k6ADnVwLHvzlBAd08VPzaUFsEBOKitWIkP0XX-8dbPfx4FWNF5GSURKEhycFxAsT0ElH-0Z95a0mGfX3jJ4AW6sMq3wOZ6-ycWISri8ye5E6-RBANgjUs/s1600/addison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht66evDh2cibBE5tER11EG67k6ADnVwLHvzlBAd08VPzaUFsEBOKitWIkP0XX-8dbPfx4FWNF5GSURKEhycFxAsT0ElH-0Z95a0mGfX3jJ4AW6sMq3wOZ6-ycWISri8ye5E6-RBANgjUs/s1600/addison.jpg" height="505" width="640" /></a></div>
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<strong>STATS:</strong><br />
Author, <a href="http://www.sarahaddisonallen.com/" target="_blank">Sarah Addison Allen</a><br />
Published, expected January 20th, 2015 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/First-Frost-Sarah-Addison-Allen-ebook/dp/B00LDQXASE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417456263&sr=8-1&keywords=first+frost" target="_blank">Pre-Order HERE</a>)<br />
Publisher, St. Martin's Press<br />
Kindle edition, 304 pages<br />
Series, Waverley Family #2<br />
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<b>BOOK TRAILER:</b><br />
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<b> </b> <strong>DESCRIPTION FROM GOODREADS:</strong> <span class="elementTwo" id="freeText8773515249075862112" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;">From the New York Times bestselling author of <em>Garden Spells</em> comes a story of the Waverley family, in a novel as sparkling as the first dusting of frost on new-fallen leaves... It's October in Bascom, North Carolina, and autumn will not go quietly. As temperatures drop and leaves begin to turn, the Waverley women are made restless by the whims of their mischievous apple tree... and all the magic that swirls around it. But this year, first frost has much more in store. Claire Waverley has started a successful new venture, Waverley’s Candies. Though her handcrafted confections—rose to recall lost love, lavender to promote happiness and lemon verbena to soothe throats and minds—are singularly effective, the business of selling them is costing her the everyday joys of her family, and her belief in her own precious gifts. Sydney Waverley, too, is losing her balance. With each passing day she longs more for a baby— a namesake for her wonderful Henry. Yet the longer she tries, the more her desire becomes an unquenchable thirst, stealing the pleasure out of the life she already has. Sydney’s daughter, Bay, has lost her heart to the boy she knows it belongs to…if only he could see it, too. But how can he, when he is so far outside her grasp that he appears to her as little more than a puff of smoke? When a mysterious stranger shows up and challenges the very heart of their family, each of them must make choices they have never confronted before. And through it all, the Waverley sisters must search for a way to hold their family together through their troublesome season of change, waiting for that extraordinary event that is <em>First Frost.</em> Lose yourself in Sarah Addison Allen's enchanting world and fall for her charmed characters in this captivating story that proves that a happily-ever-after is never the real ending to a story. It’s where the real story begins.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;"> </span><br />
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</strong> <strong>MY THOUGHTS:</strong> This book was great! Sarah Addison Allen has quickly become one of my favorite authors. If you are not reading her due to the "magical" element of her books, you should. I steer away from those novels most of the time and have to admit that I came upon <a href="http://www.kyetrabelton.com/2012/04/book-club-friday_20.html#comment-form" target="_blank">The Peach Keeper</a> by accident. But, Allen has a wonderful way of adding just enough magic that it enhances the mystery of the story without overtaking it. If you have read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Garden-Spells-Sarah-Addison-Allen-ebook/dp/B000VRBBD2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417456194&sr=8-1&keywords=garden+spells" target="_blank">Garden Spells</a>, you will be in luck since this is the second novel in that series. If you haven't (like myself, but I will now) that is fine too. This story can stand alone but if you like to keep books in order, there is plenty of time to read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Garden-Spells-Sarah-Addison-Allen-ebook/dp/B000VRBBD2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417456194&sr=8-1&keywords=garden+spells" target="_blank">Garden Spells</a> before First Frost is available. The dynamic of the sister and mother/daughter relationship is very honest and believable. The story is about, Bay, a teenage girl trying to deal with growing up and being from "that" family in town. Sisters Sydney and Clair are dealing with all the built up craziness that comes with the first frost of the season. Throw in a mysterious stranger in town and you have a recipe for success.
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">I received this book from <a href="http://www.netgalley.com/">NetGalley</a> in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine.</span>
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Kyetrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08672142691541591953noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201896797110258224.post-1748922673071433012014-11-06T22:01:00.000-05:002014-11-06T22:03:55.737-05:00Taken by Tuesday by Catherine Bybee | Book Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3RjrFNCLxHwUzpK-LZskUZVRxLAUNerUudguBTKkAgNefi5GCvyxY1tj_OCkPVP8JUqN4gF_T-kb8hHry8JXJTKNTrMyHXUyeJiWqpiWuHXMR_nKY9ue-OoodKXudUYNBky3chkuGiw/s1600/taken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3RjrFNCLxHwUzpK-LZskUZVRxLAUNerUudguBTKkAgNefi5GCvyxY1tj_OCkPVP8JUqN4gF_T-kb8hHry8JXJTKNTrMyHXUyeJiWqpiWuHXMR_nKY9ue-OoodKXudUYNBky3chkuGiw/s1600/taken.jpg" height="506" width="640" /></a></div><strong><br />
</strong> <strong>STATS:</strong><br />
Author, <a href="http://www.catherinebybee.com/home.html" target="_blank">Catherine Bybee</a><br />
Published, August 12, 2014<br />
Publisher, Montlake Romance<br />
Kindle edition, 309 pages<br />
Series, The Weekday Brides, #5<br />
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<strong>DESCRIPTION FROM GOODREADS:</strong><br />
<span class="elementTwo" id="freeText15202825437287042127" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Judy Gardner: College graduate Judy stands ready to conquer the world?if she can get a job. Hoping to transition from aspiring architect to famous architect as quickly as possible, the dark-haired beauty moves to LA, staying in the home of her celebrity brother, Michael Wolfe. But it's hard for Judy to focus on work when the sexy bodyguard she fell for last summer keeps showing up in her life and leaving her breathless.<br />
Rick Evans: With his hard body, green eyes, and easy smile, Rick could have any woman he wants. But the Marine-turned- bodyguard only has eyes for Judy and her spitfire attitude. When a faceless villain attacks Judy, Rick will stop at nothing to protect the woman who opened his heart from the monster hunting her.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;" /> <strong>MY THOUGHTS:</strong><br />
This is another book in The Weekday Brides series. I have not read these in order and while I think they would be great in order, they clearly can stand alone. Also - I am still a little bothered that they are not written in day of the week order. (Single by Saturday is before Taken by Tuesday)<br />
This is a great romance between a girl and her bodyguard. The chemistry is great and the fact that they both try to ignore what is happening is very entertaining. This mixed with the fact there is a sense of danger with a stalker after Judy, leads to a great story. <br />
But - I love the writing by Catherine Bybee and I will certainly read more by her and I recommend this series to anyone who likes easy to read romance. <br />
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<div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I received this book from <a href="http://www.netgalley.com/">NetGalley</a> in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine.</span><br />
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</span></div></div></div>Kyetrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08672142691541591953noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201896797110258224.post-88410767527090258942014-11-06T08:00:00.000-05:002014-11-06T08:00:02.113-05:00A June Bride by Marybeth Whalen | Book review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIlW8wZ60mWflEcZPGTJCv2v1LyrB8PTTVoDZOD_3vTl-zHhcJVPgs4T8etNri3aWENBWG9QQ94j-SdYUmLuIVlRRngxJxNMD6geGpKQ7DWaCap85H99R47Ku4rOS48ypyiKM1AltUxs/s1600/marybethwhalen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIlW8wZ60mWflEcZPGTJCv2v1LyrB8PTTVoDZOD_3vTl-zHhcJVPgs4T8etNri3aWENBWG9QQ94j-SdYUmLuIVlRRngxJxNMD6geGpKQ7DWaCap85H99R47Ku4rOS48ypyiKM1AltUxs/s1600/marybethwhalen.jpg" height="505" width="640" /></a></div>
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<strong>STATS:</strong><br />
Author, <a href="http://www.marybethwhalen.com/" target="_blank">Marybeth Whalen</a><br />
Published, May 27th, 2014<br />
Publisher, Zondervon<br />
Kindle edition, 64 pages<br />
Series, A Year of Weddings<br />
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<strong>DESCRIPTION FROM GOODREADS:</strong><br />
It takes a reality TV show for Wynne to realize love isn't just a game.<br />
Wynne Hardy never thought that she'd get engaged on a reality TV show, but when she met Andy on The Rejection Connection, the two of them hit it off. Now he's asked her to marry him ,much to the public's delight and fascination. They're all set to wed on live TV in a seaside ceremony at the height of the wedding season. But just as Wynee thinks all her dreams are coming true, her ex-boyfriend walks back into her life at the worst possible time. Steve broke her heart years ago, and she's still sorting through her feelings for him. Her heart isn't as clear as her head that it's past time to move on - even though she's engaged to Andy.<br />
At a local TV talk show apperance, Wynne meets Meredith, who won another reality TV show - - Marathon Mom - - proving herself nothing short of a superhero. As Wynne's beach wedding plans spin out of control, Meredith offers to help, unknowingly stepping on Wynne's secret feeling...and exposing some secrets Meredith has been keeping to herself. Can these two reality starts get real about their feelings? Will Wynne go through with her televised wedding and be the perfect June bride the network is looking for?<br />
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<strong>MY THOUGHTS:</strong><br />
Reality television is such a big thing today and I thought it was a semi original idea to write and wedding themed book centered around it. But, in the end, I think that the novella was a lost cause. The novella itself was well written at times but had unresolved questions that lingered.<br />
Wynne was not my favorite bride in this series. She seemed to lack dimension and character development. She was also very naive.<br />
Since it was written from Wynne's point of view, we don't get to see what the other characters are really like or what they are thinking. I think that their point of view would have been a huge help with the story. <br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">I received this book from <a href="http://www.netgalley.com/">NetGalley</a> in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine.</span></div>
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Kyetrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08672142691541591953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201896797110258224.post-7494268974847979982014-11-04T08:00:00.000-05:002014-11-06T22:14:38.302-05:00The Lollipop Monster's Christmas | Book Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwWNtJT19342ummAiGPFc0QJbzOfD9sOa_l27SGD81WceQTsqa0VdRiAgt1FYtQYAdF-22CtfV1iXEzP1WOIA6g19aZfBC0qOVui23lTHogjliFbQSbhJDI7DAxncuDmeOEU1JhSiIl8/s1600/22333751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwWNtJT19342ummAiGPFc0QJbzOfD9sOa_l27SGD81WceQTsqa0VdRiAgt1FYtQYAdF-22CtfV1iXEzP1WOIA6g19aZfBC0qOVui23lTHogjliFbQSbhJDI7DAxncuDmeOEU1JhSiIl8/s1600/22333751.jpg" height="309" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<strong>STATS:</strong><br />
Author, Eric T. Krackow, Heather M. Krackow<br />
Published, September 28th, 2014<br />
Publisher, Schiffer Publishing<br />
Kindle edition, 64 pages<br />
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<strong>DESCRIPTION FROM GOODREADS:</strong><br />
Larry's favorite time of the year has arrived. He races around his home trying to make everything perfect before his friends arrive for Christmas morning. During the celebration, he discovers a lonely monster named Walter, who is very sad. Larry asks him why he is sad and Walter explains that Christmas is a difficult time of the year because he is always alone and has no family. Larry invites him to spend the holiday with him and his friends. Walter shyly accepts the invitation and follow Larry back to him home. Walter is welcomed by Larry's friends and ends up having the most merry Christmas ever. <br />
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<strong>MY THOUGHTS:</strong><br />
I love the illustrations in this book! They are so colorful and festive. Completely beautiful.<br />
This is a great non-traditional Christmas book and non-scary monster story. Larry the Lollipop Monster is so happy that it is Christmas and he is having a party with his friends. But then he meets a sad monster that has never celebrated Christmas. Larry finds out the true meaning of Christmas. It is a great story to help children understand that Christmas is about more than food, gifts, and Santa.<br />
It would be a great addition to your Christmas reading list.<br />
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<div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I received this book from <a href="http://www.netgalley.com/">NetGalley</a> in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine.</span><br />
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</span></div></div></div>Kyetrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08672142691541591953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201896797110258224.post-6686412324380875882014-10-31T19:00:00.000-04:002014-11-07T10:26:34.464-05:00This Halloween<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0HXnVBvhqWyDF_j12zH1NsYWyaNEo2Lr_p1Tvjiaqdu3Hedf8SothZAiyEcY-Y7B2tD5g22c7K48wPIzsO_RP2pHTuZnRc5A8dIsXdR1DplxzHpohYC3ll4tJpDLUlUaCZ1cf22jDNc/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0HXnVBvhqWyDF_j12zH1NsYWyaNEo2Lr_p1Tvjiaqdu3Hedf8SothZAiyEcY-Y7B2tD5g22c7K48wPIzsO_RP2pHTuZnRc5A8dIsXdR1DplxzHpohYC3ll4tJpDLUlUaCZ1cf22jDNc/s1600/061.JPG" height="640" width="427" /></a></div>
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This is the first year that Taft was completely certain about his costume. There was no way I would talk him into anything else.</div>
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He wanted to be a soldier. And a soldier he was. </div>
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Kyetrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08672142691541591953noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201896797110258224.post-34493380080334415582014-10-31T18:30:00.000-04:002015-04-30T12:07:22.362-04:00Storybook Character Day | Class Party <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="text-align: left;">Today was Halloween. 't really prommot Halloween and I am ok with that. Just like last year, his teacher decided to let the children dress up as a storybook character. Last year he was Cat in the Hat. This year he is Peter Pan. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWL2wi92tC78AH3HmC9CtsaztGus5UoYl4kjF8AdFzog6-WaXPY_2aQeSLy8WGTbrZP8KDA4Jrcmg0GdpNfkkipLefBNQQTsdvxs6v3IVCdoEJuaW73BTGxxaEuzQ-crx02uE1hZRriw/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWL2wi92tC78AH3HmC9CtsaztGus5UoYl4kjF8AdFzog6-WaXPY_2aQeSLy8WGTbrZP8KDA4Jrcmg0GdpNfkkipLefBNQQTsdvxs6v3IVCdoEJuaW73BTGxxaEuzQ-crx02uE1hZRriw/s1600/052.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiIEaN-95CVt4KYHP6_U0efuq5waEP3vHfFOHxxzNbixeTRoau3wmGZKwK-VvDjgK-ZSgh6BoF_ZVqUZ2EHR6TKG3uvYiBTjbU3OavdkyIqLovNe31njg4WbJreGZ_T_-oYg_JNdqiXs/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiIEaN-95CVt4KYHP6_U0efuq5waEP3vHfFOHxxzNbixeTRoau3wmGZKwK-VvDjgK-ZSgh6BoF_ZVqUZ2EHR6TKG3uvYiBTjbU3OavdkyIqLovNe31njg4WbJreGZ_T_-oYg_JNdqiXs/s1600/047.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
I was lucky that there were green jeans he wanted and I knew he would wear them again. I am not a fan of buying multiple costumes. We found an adult tshirt in the right shade of green that I knew I could cut to make his shirt. We bought bought green felt that I was able to sew into a hat and add a feather. He was very happy with it. <br />
I also took off the morning from work and went to help with his class party which was a lot of fun. The kids had guested the number of candy corn in a jar. The winner would get to take it home. They surprised the teacher when there was a three way tie. Taft was one of the winners. Can you see the excitement?<br />
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Kyetrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08672142691541591953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201896797110258224.post-89861132827182908912014-10-31T08:00:00.000-04:002014-10-31T15:20:52.086-04:00A May Bride by Meg Moseley | Book Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong>STATS:</strong><br />
Author, <a href="http://megmoseley.com/" target="_blank">Meg Moseley</a><br />
Published, April 22, 2014<br />
Publisher, Zondervan<br />
Kindle edition, 124 pages<br />
Series, A Year of Weddings, #6<br />
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<strong>DESCRIPTION FROM GOODREADS:</strong><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;">She’s prepared for her wedding all her life … but she forgot a few things.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;">Ellie Martin, a country girl in Atlanta, often de-stresses from city life by tending the flower beds of a church near her apartment. She has dreamed of a traditional wedding all her life, a wedding like the one her younger sister is planning back in their hometown. Their single mom will pay for Alexa’s wedding, but Ellie started her own wedding fund years ago. She only needs to find a groom.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;">She bumps into a man who’s a guest at a wedding on the church grounds. She’s noticed him around the neighborhood, but today he introduces himself as Gray Whitby. They embark on a whirlwind romance, but her mother doesn’t trust freewheeling men like him. Standing up to Mom leads Ellie to stick up for Alexa too. When Ellie risks her own plans for her sister’s sake, Gray feels betrayed. Will he always play second fiddle?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;">Will Ellie and Gray reconcile their differences so her dream wedding can come true, or will the romance they’ve begun come crashing down?</span><br />
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<strong>MY THOUGHTS:</strong><br />
So far - I have really enjoyed the A Year of Weddings series. I am reading in order of the months.I had hopes of reading one each month but time has gotten away from me and I am working on catching up. <br />
I had high hopes for this novella since I read a book by Meg Moseley earlier this year. <a href="http://www.kyetrabelton.com/2014/03/the-stillness-of-chimes-book-review.html" target="_blank">The Stillness of Chimes</a>. I was not disappointed.<br />
Novellas have to move fast due to length, and this one really did. Ellie is a real estate agent in Atlanta that likes to go weeding in the neighborhood church yard. She does this early in the morning as a stress reliever. One morning she happens upon a wedding. Even though she tries to stay out of view, Gray sees her. She knows him from the coffee shop but has never met in person. <br />
Ellie also has a little sister that is trying to plan a wedding and a strict mother that is afraid her daughters will end up pregnant before marriage like she did. <br />
I liked Ellie's character. She seemed very real and her life was described in a realistic way. Ellie's mother was very paranoid and mean at times. I think that she put too much thought into her daughters making the same mistakes she did. Ellie and Gray and Alexis and Eric were fun to get to know and had believable relationships.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I received this book free from <a href="http://www.zondervan.com/" target="_blank">Zondervan</a> Publishing via <a href="http://www.netgalley.com/" target="_blank">NetGalley</a>. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.</span></span><br />
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Kyetrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08672142691541591953noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201896797110258224.post-49011860861716475282014-10-29T08:00:00.000-04:002014-10-31T15:55:30.572-04:00Christmas at Historic Houses | Book Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong>STATS:</strong><br />
Author, Patricia Hart McMillan, Katharine Kaye McMillan<br />
Published, September 28th, 2014<br />
Publisher, Schiffer Publishing<br />
Hardcover, 224 pages<br />
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<strong>DESCRIPTION FROM GOODREADS:</strong><br />
History is brought to life in many historic houses, especially at Christmas time, when special decorations help to welcome the social season and visiting guests interpret Christmas traditions in some of the thirty specially decorated houses that are featured from across America. Both magnificent estates and simple residences offer a variety of styles, tastes, and ideas to inspire your own celebrations. See preserved buildings with illuminated gardens, inviting dining halls, and stunning interiors. Enjoy the many efforts on display here that help to make the Christmas season a magical time of sharing, caring, and gratitude.<br />
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<strong>MY THOUGHTS:</strong><br />
This is a beautiful book. The decorations in the houses are amazing. I loved seeing the inside of some of historic houses that I will most likely never visit. The detail to the decorations and the photography are wonderful. <br />
Not only is the book about the Christmas season in classic homes, it also tells you historical facts along with a timeline of important events. <br />
If you love history, or Christmas decorations, or architecture, this would be a great book for you. <br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">I received this book from <a href="http://www.netgalley.com/">NetGalley</a> in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine.</span><br />
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Kyetrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08672142691541591953noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201896797110258224.post-42175969655414965832014-10-28T09:00:00.000-04:002014-11-07T13:28:33.637-05:00Happy 50th Day of School<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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For the 50th day of school, Taft's class decided to dress like they were in the 1950's. He was going for Buddy Holly. </div>
Kyetrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08672142691541591953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201896797110258224.post-7596474397414519892014-10-27T08:00:00.000-04:002014-10-31T16:16:11.015-04:00A Christmas Treasury | Book Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong>STATS:</strong><br />
Author, Dover Publications, Inc., Clement C. Moore, Carolyn S. Hodgman, Margaret Evans Price (Illustrations), W.F. Stecher(Illustrations), Raphael Tuck (Illustrations)<br />
Published, August 20th, 2014<br />
Publisher, Dover Publications<br />
Paperback, 96 pages<br />
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<strong>DESCRIPTION FROM GOODREADS:</strong><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;">This lovely holiday anthology features seasonal classics from the turn of the twentieth century. Recounted in verse, the tales feature quaint color illustrations by popular children's artists of the era such as Margaret Evans Price, W. F. Stecher, Raphael Tuck, and others. Heartwarming tales include:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;">The Night Before Christmas, </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;">Clement C. Moore's timeless poem about a visit from St. Nicholas; </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;">Father Christmas, </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;">a celebration of plum pudding, Jack Frost, snowmen, and other holiday delights;</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;">How Santa Filled the Christmas Stockings, </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;">in which a little boy discovers the pitfalls of greed; </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;">A Visit to Santa Claus, </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;">the story of Teddy's trip in his glider to Santa's workshop; </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;">Polar Bear at the Zoo, </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;">in which Teddy and his flying machine return to the North Pole with a polar bear; and </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;">Christmas ABC, </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;">charming verse couplets that spell out Yuletide treats.</span><br />
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<strong>MY THOUGHTS:</strong><br />
This book is gorgeous! The illustrations are so classical and from a time gone by. The stories are truly seasonal classics that not only will children enjoy, but their parents will enjoy it also. <br />
It would be a wonderful coffee table book or gift. Totally heirloom quality.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">I received this book from <a href="http://www.netgalley.com/">NetGalley</a> in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine.</span><br />
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Kyetrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08672142691541591953noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201896797110258224.post-7788128269614877592014-10-19T08:00:00.000-04:002014-10-19T08:00:03.058-04:00Sonday's Song | King of My Heart by Love and The Outcome<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUuZA5WHsTYLPExg39kDXLDMy28QsKKFgWFk9qgPKDemw_5bywtNtaNx6LI_c-YWdzfvlC25zsAuweyxNjHUNwA-4XxEbx0qd3R_5SSzZAzgLJdN0MH8aHTr0Yn9gYEgEY9O5PwQ93LTM/s1600/Love-the-Outcome-452x450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUuZA5WHsTYLPExg39kDXLDMy28QsKKFgWFk9qgPKDemw_5bywtNtaNx6LI_c-YWdzfvlC25zsAuweyxNjHUNwA-4XxEbx0qd3R_5SSzZAzgLJdN0MH8aHTr0Yn9gYEgEY9O5PwQ93LTM/s1600/Love-the-Outcome-452x450.jpg" height="318" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Kyetrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08672142691541591953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201896797110258224.post-30521766862112806142014-10-12T13:05:00.000-04:002014-10-12T13:05:00.454-04:00Sonday's Song | Overwhelmed by Big Daddy Weave<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Kyetrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08672142691541591953noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201896797110258224.post-86386143233582630682014-10-10T08:30:00.000-04:002014-10-10T08:30:02.907-04:00Book Review | The Frangipani Hotel by Violet Kupersmith<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQaIETOm8zU4olMJ9_5BkgE2fj-pbRoNOn1HQKajUV86OJZtl35oTbWeTVcO0_oZ7UlG_lwWKkCYVJagxkgSdDnT9SCUrg2vel5zdj9IlGFCc-E3FtgQhugjHlCzB-hvAu7dY1Ree6unU/s1600/frangipani.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQaIETOm8zU4olMJ9_5BkgE2fj-pbRoNOn1HQKajUV86OJZtl35oTbWeTVcO0_oZ7UlG_lwWKkCYVJagxkgSdDnT9SCUrg2vel5zdj9IlGFCc-E3FtgQhugjHlCzB-hvAu7dY1Ree6unU/s1600/frangipani.jpg" height="506" width="640" /></a></div>
<strong>STATS:</strong><br />
Author, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7163018.Violet_Kupersmith" target="_blank">Violet Kupersmith</a><br />
Published, April 1, 2014<br />
Publisher, Spiegel & Grau<br />
Kindle edition, 256 pages<br />
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<strong>DESCRIPTION FROM GOODREADS:</strong><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Violet wrote these unusually accomplished stories as an undergraduate at Mt. Holyoke College in an attempt to update the traditional Vietnamese ghost stories her grandmother had told her to incorporate the more relevant ghosts of the aftermath of the Vietnam War on a generation of displaced Vietnamese immigrants as well as those who remained in Vietnam. From the story about a beautiful young woman who shows up thirsty in the bathtub of the Frangipani Hotel in Saigon many years after her first sighting there to a young woman in Houston who befriends an old Vietnamese man she discovers naked behind a dumpster to a truck driver asked to drive a young man with an unnamed ailment home to die, to the story of two American sisters sent to Vietnam to visit their elderly grandmother who is not what she appears to be, these stories blend the old world with the new while providing a new angle of insight into the after-effects of the war.</span><br />
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<strong>MY THOUGHTS:</strong><br />
I am not Vietnamese, so I have no idea what a traditional Vietnamese ghost story is supposed to be. But I love a good ghost story and also books with the Vietnam War as a back drop. So - I decided to give this book a try.<br />
I have to say that I really enjoyed it. Not all of the stories were set in Vietnam but they all were written about Vietnamese characters. Some of the stories are very scary. More than I thought they would be. <br />
I usually read novels, but it was great to read a collection of short stories. The stories were well written, interesting, and completely enjoyable. I am impressed that this is a first novel or a very young woman. <br />
If you are looking for short stories, ghost stories, or just an interesting vacation from novels and love stories, pick this book up. <br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">I received this book from <a href="http://www.netgalley.com/">NetGalley</a> in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine.</span></div>
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Kyetrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08672142691541591953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201896797110258224.post-70962712781127787392014-10-06T08:30:00.000-04:002014-10-06T20:30:17.870-04:00Meet Judah<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Isn't he adorable! I can't begin to understand what it feels like to have an extremely ill child. A child that without the wonders of modern medicine would be likely to die. Lucky for Judah and his family, he lived in a country where all the things that he needed were available.</div>
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And something that is even harder to comprehend? What if your child was in Judah's position but you lived in a poverty stricken area of the world. An area where modern medicine and treatment are completely our of your reach. </div>
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In poverty stricken countries, children die everyday from diseases that could be prevented and treated. In poverty stricken countries, children die everyday from diseases that could be prevented and treated. Almost 19, 000 children under the age of five die every day from diseases that are preventable and treatable. Those killers include pneumonia, which contributes to 18% of deaths in children under five, and diarrhea, which is responsible for 11%.</div>
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But there is something that you can do to help prevent the parents of these children from being helpless in the fight for life. By sponsoring a child through Compassion International, you not only give these children the feeling that someone out there cares about them, but also the needed health care to survive. </div>
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For $38 a month, you can help provide: Ongoing Christian training, educational opportunities, treatment and health training, development of self-confidence and social skills, and key life skills and vocational programs. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpRNAO7e057_IcQ6T8MsKZ08QkMhT0VHDpa5PIwklmqc7LJS5Pt_1viBz0cAz9mGC5TEMhNDUZcMklyY9rEkjGEienl_Qn0G29KxpemAJ2zX9oeuIXzFNOagTEUWW0V5ZWot-hXLNu3U/s1600/LK4130096-Fullshot-200w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpRNAO7e057_IcQ6T8MsKZ08QkMhT0VHDpa5PIwklmqc7LJS5Pt_1viBz0cAz9mGC5TEMhNDUZcMklyY9rEkjGEienl_Qn0G29KxpemAJ2zX9oeuIXzFNOagTEUWW0V5ZWot-hXLNu3U/s1600/LK4130096-Fullshot-200w.jpg" /></a>You can click <a href="http://www.compassion.com/Default.htm" target="_blank">here</a> to find out more and sign up. You can search for a child by country, age, birthday, or sex. We decided on a little boy with a birthday a few days after Taft's. So - they are both 6. And Mohamma lives in Sri Lanka. This way they have some things in common with likes and dislikes. It is great to get a letter from Mohomad! </div>
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Kyetrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08672142691541591953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201896797110258224.post-21411564895167667732014-10-05T08:00:00.000-04:002014-10-05T08:00:03.914-04:00Sonday's Song | All Because of Jesus by Fee<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Kyetrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08672142691541591953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201896797110258224.post-50511435221410861802014-10-03T08:00:00.000-04:002014-10-03T16:31:43.236-04:00The All You Can Dream Buffet by Barbara O'Neal | Book Review <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong>STATS:</strong><br />
Author, <a href="stats: Author, Diane Chamberlain Published, expected October 7th, 2014 Publisher, St. Martin's Press Kindle edition, 352 pages DESCRIPTION FROM GOODREADS: Riley MacPherson has spent her entire life believing that her older sister Lisa committed suicide as a teenager. Now, over twenty years later, her father has passed away and she's in New Bern, North Carolina cleaning out his house when she finds evidence to the contrary. Lisa is alive. Alive and living under a new identity. But why exactly was she on the run all those years ago, and what secrets are being kept now? As Riley works to uncover the truth, her discoveries will put into question everything she thought she knew about her family. Riley must decide what the past means for her present, and what she will do with her newfound reality. MY THOUGHTS: I love Diane Chamberlain. She never disappoints and I was so happy to receive an ARC of this book. Most of the novels I have read by this author have had a developing love story at the center. This one didn't. At least not in the traditional sense. But it did her have talent for weaving a great mystery. Every time I thought I had it figured out, she surprised me. The main characters are Lisa and Riley. We get to see what Lisa's life has been like all these years and also a good sense of what Riley's life is. Both are very believable and they were written where you can clearly see why they made the decisions that they did. We also have a few characters that are interesting in their own stories. Riley's brother, the real estate lady, and the long time residents of the camp ground. I love a few odd balls in the mix. I think that if you are a fan of Chamberlain's The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes you will love The Silent Sister. I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine." target="_blank">Barbara O'Neal</a><br />
Published, March 4, 2014<br />
Publisher, Bantam<br />
Kindle edition, 400 pages<br />
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<strong>DESCRIPTION FROM GOODREADS:</strong><br />
Popular blogger and foodie queen Lavender Wills reigns over Lavender Honey Farms: a serene slice of organic heaven nestled in Oregon wine country. Lavender is determined to keep her legacy from falling into the profit-driven hands of uncaring relatives, and she wants an heir to sustain her life's work after she's gone. So she invites her three closest online friends - fellow food bloggers, women of varied ages and background - out to her farm. She hopes to choose one of them to inherit it - but who?<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">There's Ginny, the freckle-faced Kansas cake baker whose online writing is about to lead her out of a broken marriage and into a world of sensual delights. And Ruby, young, pregnant, devoted to the organic movement, who's looking for roots - and the perfect recipe to heal a shattered heart. Finally, Val, smart and sophisticated, a wine enthusiast who needs a fresh start for her teenage daughter after tragedy has rocked their lives. Coming together will change the Foodie Four in ways they could never have imagined, uniting them in love and a common purpose. As they realize that life doesn't always offer a perfect recipe for happiness, they also discover that the moments worth savoring are flavored with some tears, a few surprises, and a generous helping of joy. </span><br />
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</span> <strong>MY THOUGHTS:</strong><br />
Such a good story!! I can see why Goodreads says that if you enjoy Kristin Hannah and Susan Wiggs, you will love Barbara O'Neal. This is the first book that I have read by her and I am completely open to others in the future.<br />
I loved that it is centered around four bloggers. The older of the group is Lavender and she has invited the other three to her farm for her 85th birthday. But one reason she wants them there is to decide which one of them she will leave the farm too. <br />
The woman are all different and in different seasons of life. By the time you finish reading you will feel like you know them all on a personal level. Totally worth a read.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">I received this book from <a href="http://www.netgalley.com/">NetGalley</a> in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine.</span><br />
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Kyetrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08672142691541591953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201896797110258224.post-69123402015449907782014-10-01T08:00:00.000-04:002014-10-05T21:49:27.252-04:00Hello, October<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It is finally the first month of the year that I really feel like it Fall. Living in Florida for the past ten years has completely changed how I view seasons. But we generally love it getting a little cooler in October and November.<br />
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Here are a few things that I have on my list for this month:<br />
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<li><a href="http://www.flaglerchamber.org/creekside-festival/" target="_blank">10th Annual Creekside Festival at Princess Place Preserve</a>. We have gone for many years now and with us moving back to Alabama soon, I want to make sure we get there one last time. </li>
<li>Finding the perfect pumpkin. Taft has really flip flopped on whether or not he likes to carve pumpkins. This year he has talked about it every time with see pumpkins in the grocery store.</li>
<li>Catch up on reading. I want to get The Best of Me out of the way before I am tempted to watch the movie. I love Diane Chamberlain and I am thrilled that she re-released her first novel as an e-book. The latest novel from Kate Morton has been out for years and I think it is time I make time for it. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<li>Start Bible Journaling. I have loved to look at everyone else and I finally ordered this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Single-Column-Journaling-Bible-Black/dp/1433531917/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412558526&sr=1-2&keywords=journaling+bible" target="_blank">bible</a>. And if you want to see some great examples check out <a href="http://shannanoel.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Shanna Noel</a>.</li>
<li>Also - my iPhone 6 is on the way. I decided to go with gold again. I also took the plunge and ordered some lens to try. I went with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Samsung-Laptops-Microfiber-Carrying/dp/B00LTKU4A6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412558928&sr=8-1&keywords=gold+i+phone+lens" target="_blank">these</a>. </li>
<li>We also want to go on a trip to <a href="http://cowartranchandfarms.com/maze-and-fall-festival/2014-poster/" target="_blank">Cowart Ranch and Farm for Maze Dayz</a>. Taft is going there on a field trip with school but I think we will all enjoy a trip there together.</li>
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Kyetrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08672142691541591953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201896797110258224.post-46422080702324502392014-09-28T08:00:00.000-04:002014-10-04T12:05:13.162-04:00Sonday's Song | Give Me Jesus by Jeremy Camp<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Kyetrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08672142691541591953noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201896797110258224.post-56700722532536306332014-09-22T20:00:00.000-04:002014-09-23T19:49:41.080-04:00Happy Fall Ya'll<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today is the first day of Fall! You know, the cooler weather, sweaters, cute boots, etc, season? But not really in Florida. This is what we see.....<br />
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Green palm trees in the yard.<br />
Taft and walked around the neighboorhood when we got home this afternoon to try to find some little signs of Fall. We really had to look. But this is what I found under the palm tree...<br />
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A red leaf.<br />
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And then a yellow in the grass.<br />
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And off course the magnolia tree is changing, even though it stays green all year.<br />
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We saw these pumpkins. At Wal*Mart.<br />
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And our house smells like Fall. Thanks to Glade.<br />
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Our changes here are very subtle. And slow. And well, if you wear those boots and a sweater, you will have a heat stroke. But by this time next year, we will be in Alabama. Back to living at the bottom of <a href="http://www.alapark.com/cheaharesort/" target="_blank">Cheaha Mountain</a> and things will be much more Fall like. Can tell I am looking forward to it?</div>
Kyetrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08672142691541591953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201896797110258224.post-34741675663097973532014-09-19T15:16:00.000-04:002014-09-19T15:16:56.877-04:00The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain | Book Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong>STATS:</strong><br />
Author, Diane Chamberlain<br />
Published, expected October 7th, 2014<br />
Publisher, St. Martin's Press<br />
Kindle edition, 352 pages<br />
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<strong>DESCRIPTION FROM GOODREADS:</strong><br />
<span id="freeText1637314361932582628">Riley MacPherson has spent her entire life believing that her older sister Lisa committed suicide as a teenager. Now, over twenty years later, her father has passed away and she's in New Bern, North Carolina cleaning out his house when she finds evidence to the contrary. Lisa is alive. Alive and living under a new identity. But why exactly was she on the run all those years ago, and what secrets are being kept now? As Riley works to uncover the truth, her discoveries will put into question everything she thought she knew about her family. Riley must decide what the past means for her present, and what she will do with her newfound reality. </span><br />
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<strong>MY THOUGHTS:</strong><br />
I love Diane Chamberlain. She never disappoints and I was so happy to receive an ARC of this book.<br />
Most of the novels I have read by this author have had a developing love story at the center. This one didn't. At least not in the traditional sense. But it did her have talent for weaving a great mystery. Every time I thought I had it figured out, she surprised me.<br />
The main characters are Lisa and Riley. We get to see what Lisa's life has been like all these years and also a good sense of what Riley's life is. Both are very believable and they were written where you can clearly see why they made the decisions that they did.<br />
We also have a few characters that are interesting in their own stories. Riley's brother, the real estate lady, and the long time residents of the camp ground. I love a few odd balls in the mix.<br />
I think that if you are a fan of Chamberlain's The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes you will love The Silent Sister.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">I received this book from <a href="http://www.netgalley.com/">NetGalley</a> in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine.</span><br />
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Kyetrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08672142691541591953noreply@blogger.com2