Monday, October 23, 2017

The Dishonorable Miss Delancey Review!!!!!!!

The Dishonorable Miss Delancey

by Carolyn Miller

Book Description:

Will a damaged reputation and desire for society's approval thwart the legacy of grace?
Tainted by scandal and forced to leave London for the quieter Brighton countryside, the Honorable Miss Clara DeLancey is a shadow of her former society self. She's lost the man she loved to another and, in a culture that has no patience for self-pity, is struggling with depression. A chance encounter brings her a healing friendship with the sisters of an injured naval captain. But Clara's society mama is appalled at the new company she's keeping.
Captain Benjamin Kemsley is not looking for a wife. But his gallant spirit won't let him ignore the penniless viscount's daughter--not when she so obviously needs assistance to keep moving forward from day to day. Can he protect his heart and still keep her safe?
When they're pushed into the highest echelons of society at the Prince Regent's Brighton Pavilion, this mismatched couple must decide if family honor is more important than their hopes. Can they right the wrongs of the past and find future happiness together--without finances, family support, or royal favor?

My Opinion:
Nice ending. I've loved this series from the start! And even though I didn't devour this one quit as quickly as the previous two, that had nothing to do with Clara Delancey being the main character. On the contrary I felt that Carolyn started leading me to feel sympathy for Clara in the last book, since I felt she was a victim of a manipulative mothers as much as Nicholas. But if your sympathy string was not affected by the last book like mine was, Carolyn makes sure it gets a great big tug from the very beginning! I love how she just throws you into the story in the beginning. And while I loved all the characters, old and new, the reason I didn't devour this story like the last is due to me feeling the pace has lulls this time. But the end of the story picks up with the action and then I love how Carolyn wraps up the ending. I was SO happy that my favorite characters, the Hawkesburys, returned. While I enjoyed all the hero characters in this series I've always loved Nicholas the most! ;) This is a redemption story through and through however, and I LOVE all of the faith scenes (though personally I wish Clara had done somethings differently towards the end of the book). But fans of this series are not going to be disappointed with this final addition! Faith, adventure, romance, and so much more await and it's all wrapped up in an absolutely GORGEOUS cover! :) Overall this is a nice ending, leading into new beginnings!

Oh yeah and if, like me, your saddened by this being the last book, we don't have to be to biblio-depressed! Carolyn's new series is due in Spring of 2018!!! :D And dare we hope to see our favorite characters again and again along with meeting new ones along the way? Now I know next spring is quite a while to wait, but I've got a feeling the wait will be more than worth it! ;)
Songs: "Broken Things" by Matthew West, "Mercy is a Song" by Matthew West "Forgiveness" by Matthew West (can you tell he's my favorite musical artist?) and "Different" by Micah Tyler
Songs etc. May be changed and/or added in the future. ~ASC

Psalm 57, Proverbs 3:6

~ASC

*I requested and received this book from Kregel for the purpose of reviewing it. This in no way affected my opinion and the above are my true thoughts and feelings about The Dishonorable Miss Delancey. ~ASC

Guest Post Book Announcement by Miranda Atchley

Hello, and welcome to the Of Things To Come blog tour! We’re celebrating the release of the third book in The Abi Hensley Series, which releases on October 27, 2017. Read further to find out more about the book and the giveaway.

About The Book:

After enduring the First World War, most of the world is hoping to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives and move forward in the year 1919. Yet for Abi Hensley the happiness she felt upon the end of the war has been short lived. Grief stricken from the passing of a dear friend, she cannot seem to overcome the loss. Amidst her grief, she is also struggling with her writing, something that has always been a comfort to her. In light of these circumstances, she finds herself questioning many things in her life for the first time.

Can Abi get back to all that she loves and look forward to things to come?

About The Author:

Miranda Atchley loves books of all sorts, but has always had a special place in her heart for historical fiction. Writing is her favorite thing to do and she has published three historical novels and three contemporary young adult novels. Her novel A Castle in the Sky was a finalist for Read Free.ly’s The 50 Best Indie Books of 2016. She also writes the blog A Real Writer’s Life. When she isn’t writing, you can usually find Miranda with her head in a book, taking a walk, or watching Downton Abbey at her home in Arkansas.

Find Miranda at:

arealwriterslife.blogspot.com

Goodreads

Twitter

Facebook

Giveaway:

Three winners will each receive a Kindle download of the book Of Things To Come. The giveaway begins October 20 and ends October 28.
The giveaway is open internationally.
Must be 18 or older to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Abi Hensley Series

Want to read the first two books in The Abi Hensley Series?
Just click here!

Blog Tour Dates

10/20 Amber at Seasons of Humility

10/21 Julie at My Favorite Pastime

10/22 Grace at She Hearts Fiction

10/23 Amada at ASC Book Reviews

Thank you for stopping by and showing your support for Of Things To Come!

Disclaimer: I have not read Of Tings To Come therefore I can't give my thoughts or feelings about it's content. ~ASC

Monday, October 16, 2017

Where We Belong by Lynn Austin!

Just had to drop you a quick note! Next on my need to read list is Lynn Austin's latest! So a review is coming! :)

I have REALLY enjoyed Lynn's style in the past and can't wait to start reading! An adventure with camels?! Come on you can't get much better than that! :D For as long as I can remember I've loved camels, well not the spitting part but still! ;) I don't know what it is, maybe their kind eyes with long eyelashes, or maybe just because I think the babies are SO cute!!!!!!! Do you know they have camel dairies? And I once saw a picture of at least a dozen baby camels in all different colors lining up for their bottles! :) But I digress! ;)

Image may contain: one or more people and text

Image may contain: one or more people and text

I just love that quote, and that cover is gorgeous! :) Bethany House out did themselves on that one! This quote resonates with me even though I really don't have any sisters, at least none that will claim me nor want to be my sisters. Though this quote seems to sum up my relationship with my mom! Boy has The Lord brought us through some wild and fun adventures! ;)

So weather or not you wait for me, a self proclaimed slow reader, to read all of the 400+ pages and post my review, or you grab a copy (Christianbook.com has it on mega deal for 9.99 right now) and join me. I have a feeling this is gonna be one to watch out for! :)

Happy Reading ~ ASC

Saturday, October 14, 2017

The Great Truffle Mishap!

Ok so it wasn't that great a Mishap, but still...LOL!

First let me start off by saying that even though I LOVE baking and making desserts there are just some things that no matter how much I practice or how many times I try I just can not make them! For example.......To this day my mom has to make buttercream frosting for me! No lie! For some reason I (unless it also contains peanut butter.....for some odd reason) I CAN'T seem to make it right!

Well apparently ganache truffles is another one of those things. :/ A quick search online will lead you to many easy recipes, but they are all different ratios. And I had heard once that the ratio for truffles is 2 chocolate to 1 cream! Simple enough right? NOT FOR ME! And I've tried more than once! LOL!

Well this last time I read that instead of cream you could use liquid coffee creamers! :D I was SO excited! So I thought I'd try again, and I found a small chocolate peppermint coffee creamer!!! But once again they're too sticky and soft. :/ I made both white and semi-sweet chocolate ones and then crushed peppermint candies for the coating. But after scooping, rolling, and coating in the peppermint candy, I happily set them on the plate and watched as the started to pool and spread out. :(
Instead of the pretty little balls of deliciousness I was going for they're just little globs of chocolate. Now some of you may be like my mom and say "Hey they still taste good", but sadly the perfectionist in me is not happy! HA!

Right about now you might be thinking, "Why is she telling me this?" ;) Well since the truffles are too sticky and smooshed The Lord struck me woth Inspiration! I placed one white and one semi-sweet truffle in a mug and poured milk over them. Place it in the microwave and you know what you get? THE BEST HOT CHOCOLATE I'VE EVER TASTED! :D

Doesn't it even look tasty?

And isn't that just a great way to think about somethings? It reminds me that sometimes when we try something that doesn't work out or come out right, that God can still use it and make something GREAT out of it!

So if, like me, you try your hand at chocolate truffles and find they just didn't come out right, toss them in a ziplock, freeze them, and break them out for a delicious cup of hot chocolate this winter! ;) Then try again! LOL!

And yes since, I've found a use for my Mishaps, I will be trying truffles again! (And here's the stubborn streak in me y'all) I WILL NOT stop until I make some Great, Round, and Firm, chocolate truffles!!!!! ;)

Many Blessings everybody!

~ASC

Thursday, October 12, 2017

A Semi-Sweet Summer Review and GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!

A Semi-Sweet Summer by Jan Elder

Book Description:

Cassidy Cooper never wanted to set foot in Crystal Falls again. Ten years ago, she gave her heart to a boy who, in turn, humiliated her deeply. Now, back in town as the sole beneficiary of her sister's estate, she’s determined to make her sister's dream of an upscale chocolate truffle shop, come true.

Hunter Gray is intrigued by his new neighbor. His escape artist cow, Marigold, engineers an introduction…but it's not quite the first impression he's hoping for. Baffled by the nagging suspicion he’s seen this woman before, he plots to win Cassidy’s heart at every opportunity.

With the object of her unrequited love living within shouting distance, Cassidy prays for strength to forgive and forget. And Hunter? He just wants to get back to his own dream to grow his farm and get to know the pretty girl next door. If she'll let him.

My Opinion:
Semi-Sweet? More like a REALLY Sweet read! :) I really enjoyed this book! This was my first from Jan and the only thing that was hard on me when I read this was the fact that it made me hungry! LOL! I absolutely LOVE the characters in this book, from searching Cassidy through to the sub characters striving to help her! This book made me want to open my own truffle shop, but then I sadly realized I'd eat all the inventory! LOL! :D The thread of Faith woven throughout is fantastic! And I always love the addition of animals! Jan's descriptions of them are just right, I could just picture their antics! There are also threads of sorrow and healing that I found added an extra depth to Cassidy's character! Overall this is a lovely story woven together in a fun and beautiful way.

WARNING: reading this book may leave you wanting to make truffles! At least it did for me! ;) Stay tuned for The Great Truffle Mishap post and a GREAT and Delicious tip on how I was Inspired to fix said mishap! ;) Look for it on the 14th!

Songs: "He Leadeth Me" Cluster Pluckers
Songs etc. May be changed and/or added in the future. ~ASC

Psalm 34:8, Jeremiah 29:11

~ASC

*I requested and received this book as a member of Celebrate Lit for the purpose of reviewing it. This in no way affected my opinion and the above are my true thoughts and feelings about A Semi-Sweet Summer. ~ASC

About the Author:

JAN ELDER is an inspirational romance writer with a passion for telling stories other women can relate to on a deep level. She strives to write the kind of book that will strengthen the reader’s faith, introducing the reader to a loving and forgiving Lord who walks beside us in our daily lives, while also providing an entertaining and engrossing love story.

Happily married for fourteen years to loving (and supportive) husband, Steve, the two live in central Maryland along with Jamie (a chubby black and white tuxedo cat), and Shu-Shu (a willowy tortoiseshell cat). On the weekends, Jan and Steve comb the nearby countryside in search of the perfect ice cream flavor.

Giveaway:

Click the image or link below to enter! :)

https://promosimple.com/ps/c1fd

Guest Post from Jan Elder

How did you come up with your premise? Is there a story behind your book? How did the story grow?

When I first parked myself in front of my laptop, preparing to write A Semi-Sweet Summer, I was waxing nostalgic. Shortly before that, I joined a Facebook group, people from a church I had attended when I was a teenager. Memories flooded through me and a myriad of feelings, some quite strong, rose up to assault me. There were a great many pleasant remembrances, but what I recall the most about being in those “stuck in the middle” years was that there was a great deal of anxiety, the sensation of being so very different—certainly not part of the “in” crowd.

A large part of this book harkens back to my teenage years, my thoughts swinging to a boy I had the biggest crush on in high school. He was three and a half years older (I still remember his birthday) and he was definitely in the “elite” segment of our church youth group—the cool kids I so longed to be a part of. Sorry to say, I followed him around like a puppy, learned all of his favorite foods, chosen hobbies, etc. I try not to think I actually stalked him, but I was very aware of his presence, and searched for ways to be near him.

In A Semi-Sweet Summer, I tried to transfer some of that raging angst into fodder for Cassidy’s discomfort in finding her unrequited love living right next door. Cassidy never really fit in, hardly that enviable cheerleader, not a person that anyone would notice. Rather, she sees herself as sort of an ugly duckling. Now she’s back ten years later and it’s a tough situation. By this time, my characters have grown and changed from the people they were in high school. They are well on their way to the path God has set before them. And by the end, they are very different—kinder, gentler folks who have learned a bit more of what it means to truly love.

I like to think that God can use our experiences to help others through similar situations. Maybe this novel will provide some hope or closure for those who have been in the same boat, and spur them on to get past the pain. And hey, who doesn’t love a good story about baked goods, happy cows, and chocolate truffles?

As for me? The funny thing is, my husband has the same first name as my first love. He even has the same color hair, the same easy grin as that other guy. I guess one could say I am attracted to a certain type. But oh, my sweetheart is so much better. My guy is the man God had waiting for me. The other was only a pale imitation, just practice for the real thing.