Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts - Sep 26

Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts is hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. This is a chance for book bloggers to dabble in areas besides books (but those are welcome too). Share your plans for the weekend, a rant on people not using their turn signals in parking lots, or your love of Sunday morning mimosas.

• Let me just say that I am really okay with skipping over Halloween and Thanksgiving and getting right to the Christmas season. It makes no sense. I have way too much to do before then. I just can't help it. I really want it to be the Christmas season right now. Feel free to tell me I am nuts.
• Had a closing this week and one coming up on Monday. Feeling good about that.
• Should be reading right now. I have books for review coming up. Just not feeling it lately.
• This is another work weekend. Maybe I'll get a weekend off in October. One can hope.

Task it Tuesday - Sep 25

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Fall has arrived with a passion this week. It's in the 50s at night and comfortable during the day. It's been on the wet side. Thinking I might need to build an ark today. I have one goal this week--only one. CLEAN THIS HOUSE! It's getting less and less likely as the week progresses with real estate (people come out of the woodwork when you even think about taking a day off), but even if I get only the main living areas done, I'll be happy.

What are your goals for the week?

Mailbox Monday - Sep 24

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Happy Monday! Hope you had a great weekend. I took some time off to attend a soccer game at the Lil' Princess' new school and we had this lovely potluck supper at church. Other than that it was work, work, work.

The weather has been nice, but looks like we are heading into a wet week. Hope it's not too bad. We are supposed to take the girls to The Big E on Wednesday.

Not a ton of reading going on right now, but I did receive a couple of great books. The first is due for review in November.

I also received this devotional as a gift from a dear friend. I think I'll save it to start on January 1.

What did you receive? Hope you had a lot of nice books in your mailbox.

Blessings from My Church Family

We knew heading to church this morning would bring with it sadness. In addition to our regular service, we were holding a potluck to celebrate the five years of dedication and direction our interim pastor and his wife have provided. A new pastor is starting next weekend.

It's been our privilege and honor to call Duncan and Gwen our friends. Duncan married us 18 years ago in the same church we still attend. There have been numerous events, meetings, and moments of fellowship along the way. In our times of struggle, Duncan and Gwen could always be counted on to lend an ear, pray, and guide.

As is typical of these selfless people, I arrived to service and was handed a gift--this book. Everyone in the church received a copy. We were encouraged to read it together, to read it with our spouses, and to read it as the church transitions to a new leader.

It was also a day for me to be humbled. At the end of service, Gwen went around the room to each person and shared thoughts about him/her. By the time she got to me, I already had tears in my eyes. Tears are swimming as I type now. Of all the things someone could say about me, I certainly didn't expect this to be how anyone could see me. Not me the impatient mom; not me the short-tempered wife; not me the negative self-talker. How could anyone see me as...the good Christian?

Have you ever looked up "how to be a good Christian?" When you Google it you get 1,550,000,000 results. If the few articles I read are accurate guidelines, I fail miserably.

But isn't that part of being a Christian? We seek to do God's will--we fail. We promise not to lose our temper again--we fail. We ask for God's help--we still fail. The Bible is filled with people who failed from time to time.  Aren't we reminded in Paul's Letter to the Romans "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23)?

I'm not perfect. I could never hope to be. My friend's words have encouraged me to try harder to be the Christian I want to be.

2018 New Movies for Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas

This might be my favorite time of the year...Hallmark Channel has announced they have 22 new movies for this year's Countdown to Christmas. You can download the schedule here.

Guest Blogger Charlene Whitman, Author of Wyoming Tryst

Two ranching tycoons. A decades-old feud. A sheriff bent on ridding the town of lawlessness . . .

In the midst of the trouble brewing in Laramie City in 1878, Julia Carson yearns to be free of her parents’ smothering and wonders whether she’ll ever find a man worthy to love in such a violent town rife with outlaws.

But when Robert Morrison sneaks onto her ranch the night of her sixteenth birthday party, Cupid shoots his arrows straight and true. Aware that their courtship would be anathema to their fathers, who are sworn enemies, Robert and Julia arrange a tryst.

Yet, their clandestine dalliance does not go unnoticed, and forces seek to destroy what little hope their romance has to bloom. The star-crossed lovers face heartache and danger as violence erupts. When all hope is lost, Joseph Tuttle, the new doctor at the penitentiary, is given a letter and a glass vial from Cheyenne medicine woman Sarah Banks.

The way of escape poses deadly dangers, but it is the only way for Robert and Julia to be together. It will take the greatest measure of faith and courage to come through unscathed, but love always conquers fear.

Western Romeo and Juliet

by Charlene Whitman

Wyoming Tryst is a twist on Romeo and Juliet, set in Laramie, Wyoming, in 1878. No, the star-crossed lovers do not die at the end, so no worries! There is a happily ever after.

While the novel follows Shakespeare's play quite faithfully, you'll find many colorful characters, including the bitter and angry warden of the federal penitentiary that has a beef with Lester Carson, Julia's father and Dr. Joseph Tuttle, from Colorado Dream, who has recently relocated to Laramie City to serve as the prison's new doctor for the female inmates.

Laramie's rich history as the first "feminist" town provides a great backdrop to this story of two rich ranching families and their mysterious feud, the secrets of which all come out in the end.

Laramie, in 1870, had women jurors and a woman bailiff, and women had the right to vote. In contrast, the town was as lawless as they came, with 23 brothels and no churches.

When I went there to scout out locations and research the history, I knew this town would be perfect for great conflict and exciting action. But touring the penitentiary gave me a rush of plot ideas, especially upon hearing how 25% of the prisoners escaped (really!).

So, Wyoming Tryst is a sweet romance set against this backdrop, and yes, there are some tense moments in the prison.

I'm excited to share this fun new romantic adventure and hope you will share the news of the release! If you have friends who love Western romance, tell them about The Front Range series and have them join my mailing list. If you use this link to join my mailing list and get Wild Horses, Wild Hearts for FREE. That's the first book (novella) in the series

Title: WYOMING TRYST

Author: Charlene Whitman

Publisher: Ubiquitous Press

Pages: 360

Genre: Sweet Historical Western Romance

ORDER HERE!

The author of “heart-thumping” Western romance, Charlene Whitman spent many years living on Colorado’s Front Range. She grew up riding and raising horses, and loves to read, write, and hike the mountains. She attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins as an English major. She has two daughters and is married to George “Dix” Whitman, her love of thirty years.

The Front Range series of sweet historical Western romance novels (set in the 1870s) includes Wild Horses, Wild Hearts, set in Laporte and Greeley. Colorado Promise, set in Greeley, Colorado; Colorado Hope, set in Fort Collins; Wild Secret, Wild Longing, which takes readers up into the Rockies, Colorado Dream (Greeley), and Wyoming Tryst, set in Laramie, WY.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK

Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts - Sep 19

Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts is hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. This is a chance for book bloggers to dabble in areas besides books (but those are welcome too). Share your plans for the weekend, a rant on people not using their turn signals in parking lots, or your love of Sunday morning mimosas.

Do you have a least favorite chore? I was wondering, because I have two: laundry and vacuuming.

Hubby nicely bought me a robot vacuum for Christmas, but the dog is petrified of it. Every time I start the silly thing, he tries to bite it and barks like a madman, so it never gets used. The central vac is great, but it takes forever and it is so annoying pulling the hose out of one outlet and plugging it into the next one to keep going; especially when you have to move the couch first. Oh, wait, I don't have to do that anymore. The dog ate it, so I threw the couch away.

Laundry is just one of those things that is so never ending. First you have to sort it. Then you load it into the washer. Then you have to tug wet, heavy clothes into the dryer. Next you have to run to the dryer the minute it stops to fold the clean clothes or hang them so they don't wrinkle. And then you have to put them away. By the time you're done, there are dirty clothes in the laundry basket again. Why can't it be more like cooking/baking? Yeah, it takes a while, but you get a nice reward at the end.

I decided to do a few things for myself this week:

• Bring back to life Cheryl's Christian Book Connection
• Pay the in-laws' bills early so I can enjoy the rest of the month
• Skim some library books for research on my current writing project
• Spend time in the garden

What did you do for yourself this week? 

Task it Tuesday - Sep 18

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

This year is just flying by, and I swear I accomplish nothing some days. Oh, well. I'll just keep plugging along and see what this week brings. Here is what I want to accomplish:

1. Plant the fall garden - DONE
2. Clean my office - Maybe Friday
3. Listing photos at two houses - Today
4. Meet a friend for lunch - Wednesday
5. Pay bills - Yuck

What's on your to-do list?

Mailbox Monday - Sep 17

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Happy Monday! I hope you had a lovely weekend. My father-in-law turned 88 on Sunday, so we visited him at the Soldiers' Home and had a little party. On Saturday, the whole family had gotten together for dinner, so it was a weekend of celebrations.

I'm hoping to step out to the garden in a few and plant the garlic. Not sure it will happen since things are getting busy with work this morning, but I would love to get it done.

Lots of books this past week. One for review, three books for research, one because I love the time period, and a Kindle freebie (in that order).

So excited about all the new seasonal and holiday titles making their way onto the market right now. 

What was in your mailbox?

New Release: A Christmas by the Sea by Melody Carlson

So much fun to see the Christmas fiction come out this time of year.

When Wendy Harper inherits her family’s beachside cottage in Seaside, Maine, she sees it as a way to finally pay off the debts that have mounted since her husband died. Her twelve-year-old son Jackson sees it as an exciting new start in a life that has grown rather gray without his father.

Before it can be sold, the neglected property must be renovated. Wendy and Jackson move in—temporarily, she reminds him—in order to fix the place up before Christmas. But the charming town, along with local craftsman Caleb Colton, pulls on Wendy. She knows that the most responsible thing to do is to sell the cottage and return to Ohio, but the lure of the sea—and a fresh start—is hard to resist.

Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: Revell (September 4, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 080072271X
ISBN-13: 978-0800722715

Purchase from:

Christian Book
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Baker Book House

Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts - Sep 12

Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts is hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. This is a chance for book bloggers to dabble in areas besides books (but those are welcome too). Share your plans for the weekend, a rant on people not using their turn signals in parking lots, or your love of Sunday morning mimosas.

There are so many things going on right now, my brainy is a bit fried.

1. My house is filled with things from my in-laws' house just begging to find a permanent home, but my work schedule it crazy.
2. I listed a condo this week and will list two more properties by the end of the month. 
3. I'm desperately trying to find a charity to help an elderly homeowner with some deferred maintenance, so they can stay in their home as long as possible.
4. I ordered fall vegetable plants and need to carve out time to get them in the ground. 
5. The WriteAngles Conference is only two months away and I'm coordinating agent meetings this year in addition to being treasurer. 
6. I rejoined the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) because my writing has been ignored too long. 
7. I would love to plan a virtual book tour for November to promote my books, but not sure that will happen.
8. Exciting news that is writing related: I've been contracted as an acquisitions editor intern for 4 RV Publishing. They published my second book, A Christmas Kindness. If all goes well, I'll become a lead editor. 

Hope you have a blessed week. Please say a prayer for everyone down in the Carolinas as they brace for Hurricane Florence. 

May We Never Forget

In remembrance of those whose lives were lost and in gratitude for all those who responded and volunteered, we pause our blogging for the day. May God bless you all and may God bless America.

Photo credit: ShareFaith

Mailbox Monday - Sep 10

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

The cooler weather we have had the past few days has inspired me to post a fall mailbox photo. Thanks to Clipartix for the image.

Life is burbling along lately. The kids are in school. The in-laws' house is sold. I'm in the middle of planting the second season garden (probably a bit late), and this week will bring some new listings for me. I haven't been doing a ton of reading, but two new books made their way into my mailbox.

What was in your mailbox this week?

The Miniaturist Premiers Tonight on PBS Masterpiece

Photo Credit PBS.org

While checking out the fall lineup, I discovered that THE MINIATURIST, adapted from Jessie Burton's internationally best-selling novel of the same name, premiers this Sunday, September 9 at 9/8c.  Here is the description from the PBS Masterpiece website:

"In 1686, 18-year-old Nella Oortman (Anya Taylor-Joy, Split, The Witch) arrives in Amsterdam to meet her wealthy merchant husband Johannes Brandt (Alex Hassell, Genius: Picasso), but is instead met by his sister Marin (Romola Garai, Churchill’s Secret, The Hour). When Johannes appears, he presents her with a wedding gift: a cabinet that is a miniature replica of their home, to be furnished by an elusive Miniaturist, whose tiny creations mirror what is happening within the house in unexpected ways and seem to be predicting and unraveling the future with unsettling precision.

As Nella begins to uncover its secrets and those of the Brandt household she realizes the escalating dangers that await them all. Does the Miniaturist hold their fate in her hands? And will she be the key to their salvation or the architect of their downfall?"

I haven't read the book, but this sounds fascinating and I'll be recording it to watch later. Did you read the book? Will you be tuning in?

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood Movie to Premier September 17 on PBS

Are your kids fans of DANIEL TIGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD? Then be sure to catch the first-ever DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD Movie, premiering on September 17 on PBS KIDS. THE DANIEL TIGER MOVIE: WON’T YOU BE OUR NEIGHBOR? features a family that has just moved to the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, leaving it up to Daniel and his community to welcome the newcomers with open arms.

THE DANIEL TIGER MOVIE: WON’T YOU BE OUR NEIGHBOR? will repeat throughout the week of September 17 (check your local listings) on PBS KIDS and the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and live stream. It will also be available for free on pbskids.org and the PBS KIDS Video App. Additionally, two new episodes from DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD will debut throughout the week of September 17. The movie and episodes will explore themes such as making new friends and navigating unfamiliar social situations.

Jodi's First Day at School/Daniel Plays at Jodi's House
Premieres September 18

“Jodi’s First Day at School” - Jodi is nervous on her first day at a new school, so Teacher Harriet explains to Jodi that she can find something or someone she knows to help herself feel better. She spots Daniel Tiger, who is someone she knows! Daniel takes on the duties of “First Day Friend” to help Jodi feel comfortable at her new school.

“Daniel Plays at Jodi’s House” - Daniel goes to Jodi’s house after school. At first, Daniel feels a little nervous because he’s never played at Jodi’s house after school before. Then Daniel finds things he knows—like blueberries—to make himself feel better at Jodi’s house.

A New Friend at School/A New Friend at the Playground
Premieres September 20

“A New Friend at School” - Daniel can’t wait to race the crafty car he made at school with Prince Wednesday! But Prince Wednesday is busy playing with Jodi now. Is Prince Wednesday still Daniel’s friend? Of course he is.

“A New Friend at the Playground” - Daniel and Miss Elaina are playing together at the park. When their new friend Jodi shows up to play, Daniel worries that Miss Elaina likes Jodi more than him, but then Daniel is reminded that they’re all still friends.

This new movie and these shows are destined to help kids face the challenges of adjusting to new environments, like coping with a big move or starting at a new school.*


* No compensation was provided for this post. 

Coming September 11: The Personality Brokers by Merve Emre

An unprecedented history of a personality test devised in the 1940s by a mother and daughter, both homemakers, that has achieved cult-like status and is used in today's most distinguished boardrooms, classrooms, and beyond.

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is the most popular personality test in the world. It has been harnessed by Fortune 100 companies, universities, hospitals, churches, and the military. Its language--of extraversion vs. introversion, thinking vs. feeling--has inspired online dating platforms and BuzzFeed quizzes alike. And yet despite the test's widespread adoption, experts in the field of psychometric testing, a $500 million industry, struggle to account for its success--no less to validate its results. How did the Myers-Briggs test insinuate itself into our jobs, our relationships, our Internet, our lives?

First conceived in the 1920s by the mother-daughter team of Katherine Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers, a pair of aspiring novelists and devoted homemakers, the Myers-Briggs was designed to bring the gospel of Carl Jung to the masses. But it would take on a life of its own, reaching from the smoke-filled boardrooms of mid-century New York to Berkeley, California, where it was honed against some of the twentieth century's greatest creative minds. It would travel across the world to London, Zurich, Cape Town, Melbourne, and Tokyo; to elementary schools, nunneries, wellness retreats, and the closed-door corporate training sessions of today.

Drawing from original reporting and never-before-published documents, The Personality Brokers examines nothing less than the definition of the self--our attempts to grasp, categorize, and quantify our personalities. Surprising and absorbing, the book, like the test at its heart, considers the timeless question: What makes you you?

Pre-order here!

Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Doubleday (September 11, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0385541902
ISBN-13: 978-0385541909

I've taken this test and I'm fascinated with personalities and why people act the way they do. I just added this to my Goodreads Want to Read list. What do you think of this one?

Product Review: Mrs. Wordsmith The Social Journey

Mrs. Wordsmith--a UK-based education company--has launched The Social Journey in the United States. This monthly subscription program for children ages 3 thru 6 is said to focus on "developing social and emotional intelligence...Young children develop deeper social, emotional and academic skills with the right vocabulary."

So many kids I know love getting packages in the mail. Isn't it great to know that this package will help them learn important skills to better prepare them for school, foster creativity and a love of reading, and teach them how to manage their feelings.

My package arrived in a colorful blue box with an animated character on the front that would encourage a youngster to tear it right open and get started. Inside, I discovered a storybook, an activity book, word cards, a sturdy stand and instructions.

As you can see, the storybook, activity book and word card include matching artwork that allows your child to recognize all the month's words and concepts through repetition. The artwork and storylines are so funny, parents and kids can enjoy a chuckle or two to make learning easier for everyone. These pictures can't do the artwork justice. Vibrant colors and zany character antics and facial expressions ensure your child will be picking up the books numerous days out of the month.

The storybook gets you started, but then you have days and days worth of activities to increase word use and comprehension. Coloring, drawing, writing practice and more can be found within these sheets that are easy to tear out. It is suggested you place the activity book on the included stand so your child can try out the activities whenever they feel like it.

The word cards help when you are on the go or if you're looking to spend some extra time playing word games. The first card gives you some ideas, but you can probably think up some of your own too.

The Social Journey is available online for $22.49 a month (cancel anytime) or you can save $30 by making one payment of $239.40. Shipping within the United States is free.

I wish The Social Journey was available when my girls were this age. A program that makes learning fun, fosters creativity and a love of reading, and helps children manage their feelings is destined to have a great impact on generations of children.


I received a free Mrs. Wordsmith The Social Journey package thanks to Allison+Partners. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts - Sep 5

Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts is hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. This is a chance for book bloggers to dabble in areas besides books (but those are welcome too). Share your plans for the weekend, a rant on people not using their turn signals in parking lots, or your love of Sunday morning mimosas.

Welcome to September! I hope you had a nice Labor Day weekend. We took the girls into NYC as a belated birthday gift for the Lil' Diva (I should probably stop calling her that since she turned 17 last month).

We walked to Central Park on Sunday since Monday was going to be a scorcher. There was a little fair going on with amusement rides for the little ones. They posed in front of that and did some walking on the rocks. Sunday night we ate at John's Pizzeria and did some shopping in Times Square. Monday was filled with breakfast at a local cafe and more shopping (gosh, I swear that's all the girls like to do). The ride home was pretty easy, but we saw a ton of traffic driving back into New York Monday afternoon.

The kids in Central Park

Climbing rocks in Central Park

Times Square - Sep 2

Window shopping at Macy's--Found these cute piggies I would like to have in my house

We are happy that dance starts this coming weekend. The Lil' Princess might have soccer practice before dance. She will definitely be beat by the time she's done. 

It's a full work week for me. I keep hoping to take some time off to clean the house, but it never happens. I guess going to NYC instead of staying home to clean doesn't make me sound too worthy of sympathy. :) 

Hope you have a great week.