Temperature blanket - Week 36

Sept 3: 76
Sept 4: 66
Sept 5: 60 Rain 4:30 - 6:30 am
Sept 6: 65
Sept 7: 64 Rain 1:30 - 5:30 pm, 8:00 - 9:00 pm
Sept 8: 66
Sept 9: 66

Book Review, Blog Tour, and Giveaway: "Will Not See" by Chautona Havig

About the Book

Book title: Will Not See

Author: Chautona Havig

Release date: August 29, 2017

Genre: Christian Fiction / contemporary / suspense (light)

When Vikki Jeffries wakes up in a Rockland hotel with no idea of who she is and why she can’t remember… well, anything, the Rockland medical community begins to take a closer look at what may have happened to cause a second case of inexplicable amnesia.

But for Vikki, this is more than a medical anomaly–it’s her life. What is she doing in Rockland, thousands of miles away from her home in Apache Junction, Arizona? Who is she? Why is no one looking for her? Or are they?

Will Not See: Not everything is as it seems.

 My Thoughts "Will Not See" is the 2nd book in the Sight Unseen series. The books are very tied together and should be read in order. Ella Weeks, who we followed in the first book, plays a fairly large role in this book as she attempts to help Vikki Jeffries deal with her own memory loss. Ella and Vikki approach the memory loss in different ways so it isn't like an exact repeat of the same story. So not a "second verse same as the first" type situation. The story kept me reading and wondering what was going to happen. I found the Biblical thread to be woven through the story well. The book follows a lot of different characters: Vikki Jeffries, Ella Weeks, Brandon Marana, "Zeus", Chuy Delgado, Tammy, Nick Fahrina, Sarah Penniman, "Yegg", and Simon Prescott. I was glad to see Ella and Vikki start to try and work out what was the reason behind their memory loss and can't wait for Simon's story to get the mystery solved.

About the Author

Author of the Amazon bestselling Aggie and Past Forward Series, Chautona Havig lives and writes in California’s Mojave Desert. With dozens of books to her name, Chautona spends most of her time writing, but when she takes the rare break, she can be found reading, sewing, paper crafting, or sleeping and dreaming of finishing the dozens of books swirling in her overly-active imagination at any given moment

Guest Post from Chautona Havig

The circle of death swirls on the screen and it shifts. The bank balance appears, and with it, my heart sinks. It’s been a tough few months, financially. The bottom line proves it.

My reaction? Inhale. Exhale. “Okay, now we know the worst. We can do something about it.”

My husband, on the other hand, suffers a definite blow. Kevin might not sleep that night. Instead, he’ll mull over what we could have done differently, how we can make changes, if he’s a failure at this thing called life. He’ll pray—for hours.

They say ignorance is bliss. And sometimes, that’s true. It’s also a personality thing, I think. I tend to be a “let me have your worst” kind of gal. But when the negative arrives, I also tend to want to shield Kevin from it all. I don’t know how he can worry so much. He can’t fathom how I can turn it off.

But sometimes those personality things go deeper—into what can be serious faults. It has been said,

“There are none so blind as those who will not see. The most deluded people are those who choose to ignore what they already know.”

Or, in the words of Jeremiah,

“Now hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear.”

WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH NOT SEEING?

As I work on the Sight Unseen series, one recurring theme happens, of course. Memory loss—the removal of all insight into one’s past. You can hear who you were, be informed of what you did and why others think you did it, but you can’t know your own self the way you once did. It’s a fresh slate, and it can be a good thing in some respects.

Those around you can now see the difference between habits and personality traits—true dislikes and those conditioned by life. What might have been a fear once could be gone if the cause of that fear is blotted out.

But even for these fictional characters, truth doesn’t change. In None So Blind, Ella takes her memory loss and uses it as an opportunity to reinvent herself, if you will. And you know what? If you asked her family about it, they’d tell you that it fits her personality. That take-charge, gotta get ’er done attitude Dani may have used in different ways, but both “manifestations” of the woman had those qualities. Sure, Ella’s was tempered by recent experience, but not much.

VIKKI JEFFRIES, IS ALMOST THE ANTITHESIS OF ELLA IN THAT RESPECT.

The past is in the past. It scares her. Is it because she doesn’t know it? Because she’s frightened by the unknown? We don’t know. But what we do know is anything associated with that past, even the few very personal items she finds, she rejects. It’s as if ignorance of them will protect her from them. Where Ella runs to face her problems, Vikki runs from them.

But despite those differences, I find it interesting that both women did the same thing, basically—just at different times.

Before her “episode,” Ella chose to blind herself to her faults. She knew them. Lived with them daily, but couldn’t face or address them. So, she “refused to see.”

Vikki—we don’t know. But I think the story shows that she couldn’t blind herself to truth before her episode. As much as she might have ached to, she just couldn’t. Now that the opportunity is here, however, she grasps it and if she insists on squeezing her eyes shut indefinitely, it may cost her everything—her life. Her soul.

PHILIPPIANS 4:8, “…WHATEVER IS TRUE.”

They say ignorance is bliss. Well, “they” also say, “Truth hurts.” And sometimes it does. But so do the consequences of that ignorance. I guess the next time the bank balance dips low, I won’t be handling the fallout alone. Then again, one can always pray that it doesn’t dip low! I think we’ll start there.

Blog Stops

August 29: Just Jo’Anne

August 29: Carpe Diem

August 30: Seasons of Opportunities

August 30: Blogging With Carol

August 30: Lots of Helpers

August 31: Genesis 5020

August 31: Reading Is My SuperPower

September 1: Quiet Quilter

September 1: Back Porch Reads

September 2: Fiction Aficionado

September 2: Book Bites, Bee Sting, & Butterfly Kisses

September 3: A Reader’s Brain

September 3: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations

September 4: Bigreadersite

September 4: The Scribbler

September 5: The Fizzy Pop Collection

September 5: Mommynificent

September 6: Christian Bookaholic

September 6: Moments Dipped in Ink

September 6: Margaret Kazmierczak

September 7: History, Mystery & Faith

September 7: Southern Gal Loves to Read

September 8: Pause for Tales

September 8: Avid Reader Book Reviews

September 9: Blossoms and Blessings

September 9: Reflections from my Bookshelves

September 10: A Baker’s Perspective

September 10: Pursuing Stacie

September 11: His Grace is Sufficient

September 11: Reader’s cozy corner

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away a grand prize of the None So Blind Paperback,
the Will Not See Paperback, a Journaling Bible (Choice of KJV or NLT), Prismacolor Pencils,
and a Christian Hymns Album!! Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/bd17

"Will Not See" is available in paperback:

• Series: Sight Unseen
• Paperback: 340 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (August 17, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1973928205
• ISBN-13: 978-1973928201
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches

• 
  

and in Kindle edition:

• File Size: 3225 KB
• Print Length: 340 pages
• Publisher: Wynneword House (August 29, 2017)
• Publication Date: August 29, 2017
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0747FQ9LT

I got a free book in order to participate in the blog tour. All thoughts and opinions and given voluntarily. No compensation was received.

Book Review: "Reunited by Danger" by Carol J. Post

About the Book 

When a former classmate is murdered at Detective Caleb Lyons's ten-year high school reunion, he knows the victim's old group of friends are keeping secrets. That includes Cedar Key, Florida, police officer Amber Kingston. Back in school, Amber was headed for trouble, but now she's as dedicated to the law as he is. As he works overtime to get the pretty cop to open up to him, Amber and her friends receive messages threatening payback for past deeds. And her friends keep dying…one by one. But protecting Amber and unmasking a murderer isn't just the widowed detective's shot at redemption—it's his unexpected second chance at love.

My Thoughts "Reunited by Danger" is the 5th book that takes place in Cedar Key, Florida and while there are characters that appear from other books, it isn't essential to have read them first. I found the characters to be real and authentic and easy to relate to even if their situations are different than mine. I liked the Biblical thread of the story and the growth they experienced. The book kept me on the edge of my seat with the suspense of what was going on. I did figure out who was the killer quite early on, but I didn't really understand what the motivation behind it was until it was revealed. I look forward to reading more books by Carol J. Post. 

About the Author 

From medical secretary to court reporter to property manager to owner of a special events decorating company, Carol's resume reads as if she doesn't know what she wants to be when she grows up. But one thing that has remained constant through the years is her love for writing. She currently pens fun and fast-paced inspirational romance and romantic suspense stories. Her books have been nominated for a RITA® award and an RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award.

Carol lives in sunshiny Central Florida with her husband, who is her own real-life hero, and writes her stories under the shade of the huge oaks in her yard. Besides writing, she works alongside her music minister husband singing and playing the piano. She enjoys sailing, hiking, camping—almost anything outdoors. Her two grown daughters and grandkids live too far away for her liking, so she now pours all that nurturing into taking care of a fat and sassy black cat and a highly spoiled dachshund. 

To learn more about Carol, you may visit her web site at http://www.caroljpost.com.

"Reunited by Danger" is available in paperback (large print):

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense; Large Print edition (September 5, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373216378
• ISBN-13: 978-0373216376
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 1 x 8 inches

Mass media paperback:

• Series: Love Inspired Suspense
• Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense (September 5, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373457316
• ISBN-13: 978-0373457311
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.6 x 6.5 inches

and in Kindle edition:

• File Size: 3038 KB
• Print Length: 224 pages
• Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense (September 1, 2017)
• Publication Date: September 1, 2017
• Sold by: Harlequin Digital Sales Corp.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B01MR6LQGM

I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received.

First Day of School 2017

 

Emily (6th) and Sarah (8th) by the sign for the middle school

Emily at her locker

Emily going into her first class.
She has the same teacher she had for Kindergarten.

Sarah at her locker

Sarah going into her first class.

Andy at his locker

Andy with his 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Jenkins
(Will also had her for 3rd grade)

Will at his locker

Will with Mr. Suess, his 5th grade homeroom teacher.

The girls getting off the bus for the first time this year.

The boys getting off the bus for the first time this year.

The girls waiting for the bus.

The girls getting on the bus for the first time this year.
It's hard to get a picture at 6:15 am!

The boys getting on the bus for the first time this year. 

Temperature Blanket - Week 35

I have reached the 2/3 mark of the year!

Aug 27: 74 Rain 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Aug 28: 67 Rain 4:15 am - 3:15 pm
Aug 29: 76
Aug 30: 80
Aug 31: 70
Sept 1: HDC 68
Sept 2: 75

Using my temperature scale, I had the following number of days of each temperature. (The first number is for just
August and the second is cumulative for the whole year)

 < 9 :   0/0
10-14: 0/2
15-19: 0/2
20-24: 0/5
25-29: 0/10
30-34: 0/14
35-39: 0/21
40-44: 0/13
45-49: 0/11
50-54: 0/13
55-59: 0/14
60-64: 0/14
65-69: 3/17
70-74: 6/20
75-79: 9/32
80-84: 10/33
85-89: 3/19
90-94: 0/2
(17 colors)

Using the more common scale, I would have ended up with:

 <  22: 0/8
23-32: 0/23
33-43: 0/36
44-53: 0/22
54-66: 1/34
67-77: 13/57
78-88: 17/58
89 < : 0/5
(8 colors)

Month in Review: August

Wrote 

Sculpted 0 babies

Tatted 1 crosses

Sewed 1 sock monkeys

Knit 0 hats

Exercised 20 days

Read in the Bible 28 days

Wrote up 0 backlogged book reviews 

Book Review, Blog Tour, and Giveaway: "The Duke's Dilemma" by Elaine Manders

About the Book

Click to purchase

Book title: The Duke’s Dilemma

Author: Elaine Manders

Release date: May 27, 2017

Genre: Historical Romance, subgenre: Regency

Should he wed the perfect match—or the one he loves?

Edward Dalton, the new Duke of Langsdale, must soon take a wife to ensure the hereditary line. A young war widow seems the perfect choice. She is charming, well respected with impeccable character, and her connections to the Ton’s most important people is an asset he can’t ignore. But Edward is intrigued by another widow. The mysterious, hauntingly beautiful Lady Wayte.

Cassandra Wayte could not be a more unsuitable match. She isn’t received by polite society, and her notorious dealings with London’s underclass is the talk of nobility from White’s patrons to the most fashionable hostesses. It’s even whispered she murdered her elderly husband. But Edward sees a different side of the tragic lady, and he determines to discover the secrets tormenting her. As he peels away the layers of her resistance, he discovers a malevolent adversary stalking Lady Wayte and exposes a level of depravity that shocks even his war-hardened sensibilities. Can he win her trust and her heart? And at what cost to the dukedom?

As Cassandra’s relentless search for her husband’s murderer exposes both her and Edward to unseen dangers, all they can rely on is their love for each other and their faith in God.

 My Thoughts "The Duke's Dilemma" is the 2nd book in the "Wolf Deceivers" series. I read the first one before reading this one, but there is no connection between the books. They truly are stand alone books being in different eras and locations. This book, though set in the Regency period, is relevant to issues today with it dealing with human trafficking and girls pressed into serving in brothels. It was handled tastefully without mention of what takes place in such places (it calls it torment or vile acts). I found the book to be well written and kept me reading to find out what was going to happen. I never expected the twists that came. I liked Edward and his gentle way with Cassandra. Sarah and her matchmaking was cute. The only books of Elaine Manders that I've read were the two books in this series, but I will be reading more of her books in the future.

About the Author

Elaine Manders writes wholesome Christian romance and suspense about the bold, capable women of history and the strong, dependable men who love them. She prefers stories that twist and turn and surprise, told by characters of faith. She lives in Central Georgia with a happy bichon-poodle mix. Besides writing, she enjoys reading, crafts, and spending time with her friends, daughter, and grandchildren.

Guest post from Elaine Manders

Historical romance became my favorite genre back in the seventies and eighties, and one of my favorite settings was Regency England. A Regency can be a romance in the Jane Austin mode or historical romance set during the Regency period. There is a difference, and The Duke’s Dilemma falls into this latter category. Yes, there is some of usual drawing room intrigue in an Austen novel, but The Duke’s Dilemma contains a serious spiritual theme. The plot fitted perfectly into my new series, The Wolf Deceivers.

I wrote the original manuscript nearly twenty years ago as a light, secular romance, but when I revised it to Christian romance, I was delighted to find the inspirational thread deepened the characters. Instead of merely fighting for her reputation while trying to wrest the duke from another woman, Cassandra, the heroine, must fight for her survival. Instead of being another handsome, sardonic nobleman, Edward, the hero, uses his intelligence and grace to protect Cassandra and win her love.

Even the secondary characters captivated me. Little Sarah’s match-making antics suited the Regency theme and provided some levity during the darker moments of the plot. Lady Ashford, Cassandra’s foil, developed a tenacity I had to admire in spite of all her shortcomings. And Sir Harcrumb became a villain I loved to hate.

Though the characters changed a great deal in the retelling, the plot remained basically the same. The only thing I added was a surprise twist at the end—something that has inadvertently become a part of my brand.

Every story is a learning experience for me, and I’m always grateful for how much I learn from my research and from the Holy Spirit. I’ve become more aware of those who deceive, and how vulnerable people, especially young people, are to Satan’s tactics. Also, I’ve unexpectedly come away with a better understanding of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). Although this is a new label, we all know it has affected people throughout history.

Yes, The Duke’s Dilemma has taught me much, and I hated to say good-bye to these characters. I love stories that move me during the writing and only ask two things of my books. That they bring enjoyment to my readers and glory to my Lord and Savior, Jesus. I hope this one does both.

Blog Stops

August 22: A Baker’s Perspective

August 22: Books, Books, and More Books

August 23: Blogging With Carol

August 24: Genesis 5020

August 25: Avid Reader Book Reviews

August 25: Have A Wonderful Day

August 26: Jami’s Words

August 26: Faery Tales Are Real

August 27: Karen Sue Hadley

August 27: Ashley’s Bookshelf

August 28: Remembrancy

August 29: The Fizzy Pop Collection

August 29: For the Love of Books

August 30: Locks, Hooks and Books

August 30: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations

August 31: Blossoms and Blessings

September 1: Pause for Tales

September 1: Caffeinated Reads

September 2: Live. Love. Read.

September 3: Just the Write Escape

September 4: Henry Happens

September 4: History, Mystery & Faith

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Elaine is giving away:

Grand prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card
1st place: paperback copies of Books 1 and 2 of the Wolf Deceivers series, The Chieftain’s Choice and The Duke’s Dilemma!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/bbab

"The Duke's Dilemma" is available in Kindle edition:

• File Size: 699 KB
• Print Length: 382 pages
• Publication Date: May 25, 2017
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0723DRHQQ
• 
  

I got a free copy of this book to participate in the blog tour. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received.