Friday 23 March 2012

Book Review: Song of my Heart by Kim Vogel Sawyer


About the Book:  Sadie Wagner has always been devoted to her family. So when her stepfather is injured and can't work, she decides to leave home and accept a position as a clerk at the mercantile in Goldtree, Kansas. Goldtree also offers the opportunity to use her God-given singing talent--though the promised opera house is far different from what she imagined. With her family needing every cent she can provide, Sadie will do anything to keep her job.

McKane comes to Goldtree at the request of the town council. The town has been plagued by bootlegging operations, and Thad believes he can find the culprit. 

After he earns enough money doing sheriff work, he wants to use it to pay for his training to become a minister.

Thad is immediately attracted to the beautiful singer who performs in Asa Baxter's unusual opera house, but when he hears her practicing bawdy tunes, he begins to wonder if she's far less innocent than she seems. And when Sadie appears to be part of the very crimes he's come to investigate, is there any hope the love blossoming between them will survive?

My Thoughts: I'd say the biggest strength of this novel was the colourful and engaging characters.  The Baxter twins were likely my favourite and were a great source of humour.  Asa was great as a villain.  Sadie was the perfect heroine - likable and wholesome, yet multi-dimensional. Thad was interesting both as a love interest for Sadie but also as he struggled to determine if his calling to be a minister was truly of God or simply induced by guilt.

I also appreciated the morals or lessons that the story taught.  Some themes explored include how right motives do not necessarily equate right decisions, how seemingly small concessions can quickly spiral out of control, and that telling the truth is better late than never.



Thank you to Stephanie and Amy from Litfuse Publicity for organizing this tour and providing me with my complimentary review copy.

Thursday 22 March 2012

Book Review: Sixty Acres and a Bride by Regina Jennings

About the Book:  She's Finally Found a Place to Call Home... How Far Will She Go to Save It?

With nothing to their names, young widow Rosa Garner and her mother-in-law return to their Texas family ranch. Only now the county is demanding back taxes and the women have just three months to pay.

Though facing eviction, Rosa falls in love with the countryside and the wonderful extended family who want only her best. They welcome her vivacious spirit and try to help her navigate puzzling American customs. She can't help but stand out, though, and her beauty captures attention. 

Where some offer help with dangerous strings attached, only one man seems honorable. But when Weston Garner, still grieving his own lost love, is unprepared to give his heart, Rosa must decide to what lengths she will go to save her future. Read an excerpt here.

My thoughts: This is a Christian/western/historical/romance work of fiction that is very loosely based on the book of Ruth.  In her debut novel, Jennings does a great job on each of those genre descriptions.

Set in the west, after the Restoration, Rosa deals with the culture shock of being a lone Mexican woman transplanted into an all-white environment.  The way she learns and adapts to the new culture and customs while still cherishing and celebrating her own is compelling to watch (or read!) and often refreshingly humourous as well.

Jennings does an excellent job of bring the setting to life - you can just picture it in your mind's eye.  I really enjoyed this book!

Thank you to Stephanie and Amy from Litfuse Publicity for organizing this tour and providing me with my complimentary review copy. 


Wednesday 21 March 2012

My Little Comedian

During supper tonight....
Emma: MYOB
Sophia: What does that mean?
Emma: Mind your own business.
Jacob:  MYIK - I don't care!

Maybe you had to be there, but our whole table roared!

Friday 16 March 2012

Bible Blog Button

I finally created the new button for my Bible in a Year and Beyond blog.

Here it is.

Grab the button!  






<a href="bibleinayearandbeyond.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSxw2ZuLKf4eMLRf6wZyjo7gfc-vy3TZkrMEfwym0MLkWUFBKppLrz-bwNDEeVEZWlIHkbYC9u0_j_UNtbe79_QHHN7XcHIreA65JFJm6mygYSlrtMtH0NYXjWneCJdSvro0ifCU1_7E/s1600/Bible+Blog+Button+2012.jpg" alt="Bible in a Year and Beyond" width="125" height="125" /></a>



Wednesday 14 March 2012

Sophia's 9th Birthday Interview


Birthday twins!
Sophia and her best friend share the exact same birth date .  Here they are with their cupcakes that I brought to school.


Sophia`s 9th Birthday Interview
How old are you now Sophia? 9
What grade are you in? 3
Who's your teacher? Mrs. Lapkin
Do you like school? eh
What's your favourite thing about school? being with my friends
What's your favourite subject? art
What's your favourite colour? green
What’s your favourite drink? pop
What's your favourite food? perogies
What’s your favourite game? Clue
What’s your favourite treat? candy
What's your favourite snack? nachos
What's your favourite dessert? ice cream sundaes
What's your favourite restaurant? Famous Dave's
What's your favourite place? Disney World
What's your favourite thing to do at Disney World? going on the rides
What's your favourite ride at Disney World? Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
What's your favourite toy? Wii
What's your favourite book? The Giggler Treatment
What's your favourite sport? hockey
What's your favourite movie? Puss N Boots
What's your favourite TV show? Wizards of Waverley Place
Who's your favourite celebrity? Selena Gomez
What's your favourite thing to do? do art
What's your favourite thing to wear? a shirt with sweat pants
Who are some of your best friends? Emily, Dilyn, Hayley L, Emma, Hannah, Clara
Who's your favourite person? me
What is your favourite song? Summer's Not Hot by Selena Gomez
What's one of the best things you've done with your family? Gone to Disney World
What's your favourite store? Claire's
What do you want to be when you grow up? fashion designer
Anything else you think we should know about you? no


Happy birthday Sophia!!

My Little Gentleman

Today, as we approached the entrance to the girls' school, Jacob ran ahead of me to push the handicapped button to open the door for me.  And then he said, "Ladies first, mom, ladies first".

Enough to melt a mother's heart, I tell ya.

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