Valentine's Day 2012

It will soon be February and the month of Love and Valentine's Day. There are many kinds of Love in this world, The Love of family when you are small and then as you mature comes thoughts of the opposite sex, "Puppy Love" when a young couple think this is it "I am in Love" they get that tingly feeling - cant eat or sleep like they did before. Next is the mature Love of a spouse for his or her mate and hopfully this will last many years in a happy relationship. I was young and immature when I married the first time, we met in December -He was a sailor in a cute uniform and we had "Fun" together. I wanted to get married and have children and live "My Life". We were married in Feb, hardly 3 months after meeting. We had two sons and a troubled marriage because of my youth and immaturity and his drinking-a holdover from his days of being a sailor. We divorced after 10 yrs and remarried within a yr which lasted another 10 yrs then we divorced again. I like to read the Love chapter in the Bible - 1st Corinthians chapter 13, it was read at my second marriage in 1987. I am in the September years of my life now -most of it is gone -we are never sure of what tomorrow will bring. We must put our faith in God above and live in the moments of his grace. Thanking him for all we have and ever will have, for his love and caring as we try to be a better person today then we were yesterday. I look at nature and love the beautiful blue skies and sun warming my face as I sit on my front porch and praise him, feeling a little breeze on my face as he whispers to me. I am in awe of all he created and gave to us. I look at the body he made that is so miraculous in the way every part works, of the miracle of a baby growing in a young woman and birthed a beautiful tiny human being. God is so good to us. He Is Love-Pure and simple Love. So when Valentine's Day comes around in February, I hope you remember the one that is LOVE..

Thomas Kinkade's -Cape Light Novels- "A New Leaf" with Katherine Spencer

A New Leaf: Cape Light #4 by Thomas Kinkade
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the 2nd book in the Cape Light novels by Thomas Kinkade that I have read called "A New Leaf" written with Katherine Spencer.

Cape Light is a quaint little New England Village by the sea with a group of wonderful caring folks there.
Molly is a single mom with two daughters who works so hard to give them the life she wants them to have since she split with their dad years earlier. He was a carefree type that did not take his responsibility seriously. He has not done well with child support and Molly bears sole responsiblity of raising her daughters till.....

Matthew is a widower with a daughter who has just moved to the area and meets Molly almost instantly as she is cleaning his house and he arrives early. Molly is sure she does not make good impression as she carries her vacumn like a weapon to meet him, thinking he was probably a delivery guy-not knowing the good Doctor has arrived. what a meeting...
There is some mystery involved in the story as a resident returns who had been in prison and has history that is not reputable, his brother lives there and soon learns of this homeless man who broke into church to sleep on a pew one night, The pastor has insight that the brothers need to meet and reconcile their past differences...
You will want to read this story and see how Matt and Molly have their ups and downs and come to terms with a relationship and how Tucker and his brother learn from one another....

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Love on a Dime by Cara Lynn James

Love on a Dime by Cara Lynn James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a Ladies of Summerhill novel "Love on a Dime" by Cara Lynn James. The time period is almost 1900 and the setting is Newport Rhode Island. Many in this area are well to do folks and they live by certain codes and if you are wealthy it is not the thing to have a job and work, Lilly Westbrook fell in love at a young age with a young fella , not of the elite..He proposed and she accepted but when he went to ask papa's permission he overheard a conversation leading him to believe that Lilly's parents would never accept him. He believed he had to let her go and make his fortune before he would be accepted by the wealthy folks in the area.
Lilly was heartbroken and after Jackson left she turned to writing novels under another name so no one would know. She even is courted by a wealthy young man for awhile and tho she knows she cannot love him she is willing to settle and be the best wife she can be when he proposes to her.
Jackson was gone 6 yrs making his fortune and then returns hoping that Lilly might still accept him as a suitor, He desperately loves her still.
There are some twist to this story when someone finds out who is writing the dime-store romance novels, there is mention of blackmail. you will want to read this book and learn how the rich and famous live a different lifestyle and what happens when Jackson and Lilly spend time together again. Can he win her love again? Can she trust this man that left so abruptly and has now returned?


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"Lilly's Wedding Quilt" A Patch of Heaven Novel by Kelly Long

Lilly's Wedding Quilt by Kelly Long
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is Book #2 in Kelly Long's A Patch of Heaven Novels, "Lilly's Wedding Quilt". I loved the story of Jacob and Lily, each needed someone new in their lives but did not realize that they would be anything other then friends at the beginning.
Jacob is a very prosperous Horse Breeder and while out one day lets himself get carried away when he sees a horse being mistreated, so "He stole it". He didnt give much thought to the idea just did it. He got himself shot and had folks out looking for a horse thief.

Lilly Lapp has always been a dutiful daughter and watches out for her "Mamm" after her father dies. Her mother has some mental problems that are not addressed well in an amish community. Lilly is a school teacher and they barely get by on her salary.
There is another twist to the story as it begins the woman that Jacob had always loved is getting married to another.
Lilly is on her way to the wedding when a storm spooks the horse and she takes shelter in a barn and finds Jacob there, The story really spirals into almost unbelievable happenings in the next chapters, I enjoyed reading this book and think you will too.
I do hope that Kelly will continue this series into another book carrying the characters further along in their lives.

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The Wedding Journey by Cheryl St John

The Wedding Journey by Cheryl St.John
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received this book in PDF file from the author Cheryl St John, I loved reading "The Wedding Journey". this story is about three young ladies from Ireland.Maeve-Nora& Bridget, a sad beginning where the girls lose their "Da" and he is buried reminding them of the time when they lost their Mother years ago. Soon the landlord explains they must leave the only home they have known so his family can move in.
The girls start cleaning and putting items they will take with them not knowing where they will go or what they will do. In the midst of this they find a picture with letter and deed to a home in America that someone named Laird O'Mallery had sent to their mother many years ago begging her to come to him.
Now they had a plan, they would travel to America and see if this home was still there. It takes all they have to come up with monies to travel on this journey. Soon they are on the docks looking for the ship "Annie McGee".
there is much confusion on docks and soon a incident where a donkey and cart rears up when it is mishandled and a child is found wounded laying underneath, Maeve runs to help instantly and saves the childs life by stopping the flow of blood with a make-shift tourniquet. the Dr of the ship is much impressed and offers her a job as his assistant. She is reluctant to take it at first but when her sisters help her to remember they will need monies when they get to america to live on, she accepts. The good dr also tells her sister of jobs they can do and they are most grateful, one a governess and the other to help in galley.
The young boy has two brothers and they two are soon put to jobs on ship and life is better then they have ever had. The long journey forges many friendships among the passengers, there are births and deaths before the journeys end.
You will like to read how this story unfolds for the good doctor and his assistant along with some of the other passengers. I did....

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A Patch of Heaven book #1 "Sarah's Garden"

Sarah's Garden by Kelly Long
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First book in A Patch of Heaven books "Sarah's Garden" by Kelly Long is a wonderful book about a young amish girl growing up with a love for gardening. She has noted to have a "Green thumb". She begins to take on more responsibility as she matures and soon has more to do with worldly things. She works at her families roadside stand selling vegetables from her garden and some bakery items. She soon meets the new vet who has come to their community and begins to have feelings that she should not have for one who is not amish. She tries to fool herself in saying they are "Friends".
The story unfolds with arson found to be happening in the community and you will like reading and finding how Sarah is able to help the one who is having such a tormented soul as to create this havoc.
You will be surprised by the ending and how Sarah's love for the englisch Doctor is handled. She is torn between knowing she should look for amish husband and forget her love for the Doctor, can she??
I am looking forward to reading book #2 in this series.

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Sisters of the Quilt -Trilogy by Cindy Woodsmall

Sisters of the Quilt: The Complete Trilogy by Cindy Woodsmall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a trilogy by Cindy Woodsmall "Sisters of the Quilt".

When the Heart Cries is book #1, Hannah is a young amish girl who works at a neighbors home. The neighbor has a grandson that comes each summer, a break from his college days. Paul is a little older then Hannah and he begins to have feelings for her when he sees how she works so hard and has a wonderful attitude about her, they become kindred spirits so to speak. their friendship grows over the years and soon she is ready to leave her roots and think of being a part of the mennonite community with Paul when he finishes college.
Hannah's father is very strict and takes being the head of his house literally.
The "unmentionable" happens to Hannah one day when she is walking home from Paul's grandmothers house. She is devastated and she and her parents choose to keep a secret from everyone.
Hannah leaves her community but not the way she had hoped to, she finds the address of a aunt she didnt know she had in Ohio and moves away amidst much confusion to begin a new life when lies and the community turns against her. She must make a new beginning and finds help through many people.
This book ignites a broader understanding of others beliefs and a God-Given strength to deal with pain we all experience.

Book #2 When the Morning Comes, This is the continuing story of Hannah. A Dr has become a good friend and mentor and she learns new skills to help her survive. Hannah now lives more like the "english", she fills her life with work and finds a contentment though she still keeps many of her amish ways. A new family is given to her with her aunt and the man she raised along with his sister and the sisters two children. Hannah tries to put her love for Paul away and look to a life without him
this book she struggles between he amish roots and the worldly atmosphere she is now in. Her community deals with the aftermath of her disappearance. One sister has deep guilt and her life drastically changes when she cannot believe that her beloved sister that she had told lies about will stay gone and she wont see her again. Her mind is affected to the degree that everyone thinks a talk with Hannah will help her.

Book #3 When the Soul Mends, this story deals with Hannah being found by Paul and her family asking her to return to help her sister.
Hannah is torn between her life that she has made and the one she left behind. Hidden truths come out after many years and the community realizes they have wronged Hannah because of half truths told. Hannah goes back to help her sister and soon becomes caught in the middle of feelings for Paul and the english man she has come to Love also.
Paul now works with Better Path that helps amish with difficult problems in their lives. He wants to help Sarah and reluctantly Hannah accepts that he can help her and they both must convince her father of this truth. She soon learns that some of the things she beleived of Paul were not true and they were both deceived by a friend of Paul's who wanted to be more then a friend to him.
So much confusion- yet so much love-between this man and woman that had known one another for so many years. Will they be able to find their way back to what was or maybe forward to something better. "Nevertheless" a word that God gave her holds them in its grip...
Read this wonderful story, I cried at Hannah's difficulties and felt joy and happiness when she makes decisions to live her life to the fullest.

I was given this book by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing to read and review, thank you

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New Year comes Boldly down the road-Ready or not.

Once more we are given a new year to begin, New dreams,New hopes,New ideas. It is just like having an easel set before us and paints to draw whatever we wish to on a blank sheet. The last year is past and we cannot do anything about it, The future will be there when we get there, so here we are in the Present-Ready-Set&Go. Go ahead make those changes that are needed in your life and always know that there is someone there to guide you every step of the way if you will only ask for his help. My opinion-we are not meant to live alone. several strands are stronger then one. Some folks like to make New Years Resolutions, they are sort of like dieting, everyone wants to make them but then they are broken quickly. I am going to just try getting up each day and thanking God for the day he has given me and then try to make the things I do in that day count for something. I hope you will think about your plans for 2012 and dont try to do it alone....