Do You Read Books From Bloggers? Summer Book Give-Away

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Traditional meaning of Pink and White Roses: I love you still and always will.

Caitlyn Marsh stopped believing in happily-ever-after when high-school sweetheart, Gideon Garza, left for Iraq. Now she raises her small son while her matchmaking gardening club members drive her crazy. Then Caitlyn's world turns upside-down when Gideon swaggers back to Twilight.
Gideon had left town in the middle of night with threats ringing in his ears. A lot of things have changed since then. This bad boy-turned-Green Beret bears scars from the war, the timid girl he loved is an independent mother, and the father who refused to recognize his son in life has, in death, left him a vast cattle ranch.
He still aches for Caitlyn, and now there's a dark-haired boy who looks exactly like Gideon did at that age. Could the child be his? And can this war-weary soldier overcome the scars of the past to claim the family he so richly deserves?

Many months ago I received this book from a Give-away and it's from our very own Bloggy (is this a word?) friend Lori Wilde!

While here in FL it's steamy outside and melt-the-skin-off-you Hot...I have stayed inside and enjoyed some great reads. This is a great escapism story that takes you out of the doldrums of Summer.

I'm passing this book on to One other Blogger for a little Summer escape!

Just leave a comment to be entered and In your comments Please leave me 1 Book you have read and enjoyed this Summer!

Winner will be announced Monday...Good Luck!

Quilty Wall WOW

This is how it was the first month we moved in....

AH, That's Better!

What do you think?

UnStuff ~ A Book Review

List Price:

14.99 

ISBN:

978-1-4143-3478-3 

Trim Size:

5 1/2 x 8 1/4 

Binding:

Softcover 

Release:

January 2011 

God . . . and stuff. Everything in the universe falls into one of these two categories. Which is more important to you? (It’s not a trick question.) In Unstuff: Making Room in Your Life for What Really Matters, popular authors Hayley and Michael DiMarco take a close look at what’s in your wallet, your heart, your house, and your mind to reveal the pleasures and perils of stuff—and the joy, peace, and freedom that comes from learning to live with less.
In this real-life look at “how it’s done,” the DiMarcos take an uncomfortably close look at the cost of their love affair with stuff. They start by Unstuffing their house—getting rid of anything they don’t need by giving away, selling, or throwing out items that only add to their love for more. Then, kicking it up a notch, this family of three travels across the country with nothing more than they can fit in a motor home . . . and discovers that the really important stuff goes with them.

 

 I read this book during a bad time, the Christmas Holiday when we receive alot! I can see where the Authors are coming from and talking about but the idea of selling everything including your house and moving into a small motor home is an idea that I cannot grasp right now. It would not work for my family. I prefer the habit we have of going thru our things every other month or so and donating it to our Community Action Office.

 

I received this book from Tyndale for Review, opinions are my own.

A Christmas Give-Away and Randomness

Please pop over to Kristens for a very cute Christmas give-away she is having!

How was everyone's Thanksgiving? Ours was so nice!
We have bought a live tree this year and put it up, it is decorated with all of our kids ornaments and a hodge-podge of a collection from my Mom and Richard's Mom. I will be taking pics and a video later this week.

I have been taking advantage of the many coupons that are out there for Bath&Body Works and have gotten so many fun smelling soaps and lotions! What is your Fav. from Bath&Body Works this year? I love the new Twisted Peppermint and have gone thru 2 of their candles so far.

Our weather here is cold, wet, rainy and we are dropping down to low 30 tonight which will then turn all of this rain into Snow!! So not ready for it as we have yet to really get the barn ready for Winter.

I'm off to start my new book tonight, I am starting to read any of the Amish Holiday books I can find to put me in the Christmas spirit. What are you Reading right now?

~Angel Song- A Book Review~

When Annie Fletcher returns to Charleston to see her younger sister, Sarah, receive her master’s degree, she finds herself riding in the back of an ambulance, watching helplessly as Sarah fights for life. During the ride, Sarah appears to talk to someone who is not there, humming a melody Annie has never heard before.
Neighbor Ethan McKinney lends a shoulder when Sarah unexpectedly dies. And as a carpenter, Ethan volunteers to help Annie get the Fletcher family home into shape for selling. Ethan’s presence is distracting, but what troubles Annie is her neighbor Tammy’s 12-year-old son. Keith has Down Syndrome and the guile to believe he can see and hear angels.
God begins to reveal Himself to Annie – both in her newfound friends and through heart-rending and clearly supernatural events. Annie discovers faith in God, finally experiencing the comfort that His angels really do surround us.

I found myself caught up in this story from chapter 1 and usually it will take me about 50 pages into a book for me to decide if I like it or not. It's a sweetly sad yet strangely uplifting read that makes you think and wonder about Angels and what's after this life. Parts of this book made me want to yell at Annie, she needs to react to situations differently.

Do you find yourself wanting to help the main character out in a book, give them advice or just yell at them...It can't just be me right?

I was provided this book by BookSneeze for review.

Plain Paradise- A Book Review

http://booksneeze.com/art/_225_350_Book.175.cover.jpg

Josephine will discover more than she bargained for as her world collides with the Plain people of Lancaster County.
Josephine Dronberger was a scared teenager when she left her baby in the care of an Old Order Amish couple. But seventeen years have passed and Josie longs to reconnect with her daughter.
Linda—as the couple named the child—is promised to Stephen Ebersol, the bishop’s grandson. They plan to marry in the fall. When her birth mother comes to Paradise, Linda is drawn to a world she’s never known. Will the direction she’s been heading since birth be suddenly derailed, and who will stand by her convictions—mother or daughter?

I read this book only to realize that I have yet to read the book before this one, Plain Promise. I was pleased to realize that you need not read these books in order to understand what is happening. I enjoyed this book since it had me guessing till the end, simply a miracle happened almost at the very last chapter and I was afraid that it wouldn't happen. Simply an enjoyable book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. 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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Please Welcome a New Blogging Friend!!

Please Welcome my Friend Terri Sivert to the Blogging world! She is a great friend and wonderful mom who loves Prims and Crafts!! She just started last night, She is looking for pointers so feel free to leave her a few.

http://crowsrunliving.blogspot.com/

An Amish Book Give-Away

http://ajoyfulchaos.blogspot.com/  is hosting a give-away over at her bog, I do hope I win. I love learning about the Amish and would love to add this book to my collection! Take a few minutes and visit thsi delightful blog!

Health Issues and Depressed Ramblings of my Tuesday

Well today was a very good day, I posted my 3 years of Country Samplers on my local CraigsList for $20.00 and a local lady came today and got them and she wanted to take my 2009 MaryJanes Farmgirl magazines off my hands too for 10.00 so today I made $30.00. Think I'll do this every year.

Richard is very sick again, not sure if I've told any of you but he has severe IBS and it's getting worse over the years, he came home yesterday around 2 and stayed in bed all afternoon/night. It's like he is disabled it's getting so bad, when it hits real bad he gets dehaydrated and has to go to the ER for fluid. We are hoping he can keep this job but with the 2 hour drive to work and home sometimes he has to stop and find a bathroom just to make it the rest of the way. I've told him to look into getting disability but it takes so long to even try to get approved and boy you have to jump thru hoops to get approved. I'm worried about paying the bills and keeping the house and he is getting very depressed. Wow, sorry but I had to get that off my chest, we try to talk to family about his health problems but they have heard it all so much that we think they are thinking that we are making it all up or sound more than what it is but I tell ya...It's hard to see your loved one not be able to do a thing for fear of not finding a bathroom in time or have stomaches all day long....

so yeah I got excited over an extra $30.00 today, I'm gonna run to Aldi and buy meat to put in the freezer...guess I worry to much right now!

It's freezing and snowing again. There was no school today but I'm not sure why, the kids certainly have gone to school in this weather before. I've done 3 loads of laundry and loaded the dishwasher and clipped coupons from a couple of magazines before passing them on to my mom that takes them to her Church.

For dinner tonight I made Green Beans/Ham soup and I threw in some chopped potatoes. Richard and I like it but the kids fight me on eating it...have to fix Richard a seperate dinner tonight of fish and rice..bland diet so his  stomach will settle.

I'm just being painfully truthful right now, I try to stay positive but this week as been very trying and we are all getting rather depressed.

To make some extra money and declutter I'm slowly going thru our extras around here and posting what I can on CrasigsList, already have an e-mail about a lawn mower I posted 3 hours ago. That is a good thing!

I'm off to relax and read some of the new Amish book I need to review. What do you do to Relax in times of great stress and worry?

HELP! Need Leftover Chicken Recipes

Help!! I have about 6 leftover baked chicken breasts from dinner tonight. I'd love some fresh new ideas on what to do with them so we can have leftovers on Wed.

One Simple Country Girl's Giveaway!

One Simple Country Girl is having an ADORABLE giveaway! Run over and take a peek!

Happy June and a Hail Storm

I can't believe it's June already, it's a good month cuse my B-day is on the 25th...I'll be 31..GASP...I can't believe I admitted that..still feel like I'm 18..lol..

We have been busy with the yard..mowing and weedwacking..6 acres can get out of hand so fast! Hoss is enjoying being able to stay outside full time.

We had an afternoon storm today that has brought nickel size Hail, the kids are enjoying watching it and I had to snap a pic, Tankers did not wet his pants..He spilled some juice in the kitchen..I just now spotted poor boys pants..lol..

I better run, the storm is picking up...

~6 New Things About Me~

I have been Tagged for 6 New Things at the http://thenestegg08.blogspot.com/ I'm drinking my coffee and answering e-mails..perfect time to blog!

1~I'm now in a major cleaning/organizing mode...not sure how long this will last..lol..

2~I have started to clip coupons and grab freebies like a crazy person, so far I have gotten some nice freebies in the mail and saved major moola at the store.

3~We have started to slowly move to organic cleaning and organic eating

4~I use flavored creamer in my coffee every morning, I like to try new flavors..currently using Coffee-Mate Caremel? Apple...YUMMY

5~I love the country/prim decorating look but I think I could move over into shabby-chic so easily!

6~ I have a dream of owning my own Bookstore one day, already collecting books for it...Just wish the economy was in better shape for this.

I need to pick some of you for 6 New Things...I pick YOU!! Please take the time to have fun and pass this on!