Book Review: Glittering Promises by Lisa T Bergren

About the book: Lisa T. Bergren's popular Grand Tour series concludes as Cora Kensington journeys farther into Italy, wrestles with a terrible ultimatum from her father, and comes to terms with the Father who will never fail her.

America's newest heiress must decide if her potential fortune is rationale enough to give up her freedom and all that God is leading her toward. And when her newly-discovered siblings are threatened with ruin, her quandary deepens. Then as Cora nears Rome, more journalists are tracking the news story of the decade---"Copper Cora," the rags-to-riches girl---and want to know more about her family and the men vying for her attention. Meanwhile, a charming Italian countess decides that if Cora isn't going to claim Will's heart, she might just
try . . .

My Thoughts:  Once again, I was blown away by the quality of Bergren's writing, and by my intense longing to visit Europe, and in particular, Italy.  This was the 3rd and final book in the Grand Tour series (I previously reviewed Glamorous Illusions and Grave Consquences).

It was wonderful to have Cora's story wrapped up in such fitting style.  Occasionally the books do seem to bog down - when you write 3 books that cover only one summer, it would be difficult not to - but, overall, I really enjoyed all the different twists to this storyline.  I did suspect the ending before I read it, but wasn't sure.  It was interesting watching the love triangle change slightly, and thought it was good medicine for Cora to get a taste of what Will had been going through with the Pierre situation.

I think I'm going to have to check out our church library to see if they have any other works by Bergren!


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

October Dress Project Week 4

Which one is your favourite?

#4 is my favourite

Only one more week to go!

5 Minute Friday - Together

5 Minute Friday is somewhat of a "writing flash mob" hosted weekly by blogger Lisa-Jo Baker. Each Friday she selects a subject and your job is to write about it for 5 minutes and link to her post. Whatever comes to mind, even if you aren't sure what the subject is about, don't know anything about it, or haven't ever really thought about it. Just write. For 5 minutes. Doesn't that sound fun?? There's only one rule: After you've linked your post, you MUST visit the person who linked up before you and leave a comment.


Today's topic: Together

Go!

I think one of the biggest social problems in society today is that, no matter how many people are around, people feel alone.  Social media has certainly not helped.  We can "friends" and yet not actually talk to or visit anyone for who knows how long, and no wonder we feel lonely!

People need to be together.  God created us for fellowship.

And that is never more true than in the family unit.  We need to spend time together.  Study after study has shown how important a family dinner time, or, if that's just not possible, other types of family time.  The phrase "quality over quantity" is, quick frankly, hogwash.  You can't plan or force quality time to happen just because it's convenient in your day planner.  Spending time together, in as large amounts as possible, is the key to quality time.  Quality time can only happen when you're together.  And it's so often spontaneous, not planned.  Especially when it comes to kids, particularly teenagers.  You need to talk when they're ready to talk, and in order to do that, you have to be available.   If you're not, they'll talk to someone else.

So, take the time to just be.  To be together.

It will never be time misspent!

Stop!

October Dress Project Week 3

Which one is your favourite?

I think mine is #7

 18 days down, 13 more to go!

Check out Weeks 1 and 2 if you missed it.

Book Review: The Courier of Caswell Hall by Melanie Dobson

About the book: An unlikely spy discovers freedom and love in the midst of the American Revolution.

As the British and Continental armies wage war in 1781, the daughter of a wealthy Virginia plantation owner feels conflict raging in her own heart. Lydia Caswell comes from a family of staunch Loyalists, but she cares only about peace. Her friend Sarah Hammond, however, longs to join the fight. Both women's families have already been divided by a costly war that sets father against son and neighbor against neighbor; a war that makes it impossible to guess who can be trusted.

One snowy night Lydia discovers a wounded man on the riverbank near Caswell Hall, and her decision to save him will change her life. Nathan introduces her to a secret network of spies, couriers, disguises, and coded messages---a network that may be the Patriots' only hope for winning the war. When British officers take over Caswell Hall and wreak havoc on neighboring plantations, Lydia will have to choose between loyalty and freedom; between her family's protection and her own heart's desires.

As both armies gather near Williamsburg for a pivotal battle, both Lydia and Sarah must decide how high a price they are willing to pay to help the men they love.

Part of the American Tapestries™ series: Each standalone novel in this line sets a heart-stirring love story against the backdrop of an epic moment in American history. This is the fifth book in the series.

My Thoughts:  Though the fifth in the American Tapestries series, the books are definitely standalone novels - which is, personally, my favourite type of series.  And historical fiction ranks right up there for me anyway, so this looked like a win/win.  And I was right, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

I loved watching Lydia's character transform throughout the course of this novel.  I can, thankfully, only imagine what it would be like to watch your country at war with itself - brother against brother, father against son, friend against friend.  Dobson does an incredible job of piecing the history together while weaving a fascinating tale of love, betrayal, loyalty, protection, freedom, and hope.

I'm definitely going to be looking for the other 4 books in this series!

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

October Dress Project Week 2

Which one is your favourite?

Mine is either 2 or 3, I think.

October Dress Project - Week 1

Every Friday I'm going to post a weekly roundup of the previous week's outfits for the October Dress Project.

I think Week 1 - though short - was a success.

Keep in mind, I do not guarantee there will be no repeats throughout the 31 days!

Here's Week 1 arranged left to right, from Tuesday (Oct 1) to Friday (Oct 4)- which was your favourite outfit?

My favourite was #2!

From Pinned to Practice - belt

And the October Dress Project is underway!  Feel free to follow me here to monitor my progress throughout the month.

In today's outfit I tied my belt using the "Classic Knot" from 12 Awesome Ways to Knot a Belt I had pinned a long time ago.  The lighting is bad so you can't really see it here though.