The Pursuit of Mary Bennet by Pamela Mingle - TLC Book Tour

The enthralling story of Pride and Prejudice's middle sister, Mary Bennet—an enchanting modern sequel to the beloved classic
For most of her life, Mary, the serious and unpolished third daughter of the Bennet family, has been overshadowed by her sisters—beautiful and confdent Jane and Elizabeth, and firtatious and lighthearted Lydia and Kitty. But with nearly all of her sisters married and gone from the household, awkward, unrefned Mary has blossomed into an attractive young woman with a quiet poise of her own.

When a very pregnant Lydia unexpectedly returns to the Bennet home and scandalously announces she's left Wickham, Mary and Kitty are packed off to visit Jane and her husband, Charles Bingley, in Derbyshire. Yearning for the solitude of home, Mary is dismayed to discover Bingley's handsome and eligible friend Henry Walsh everywhere she turns. Unschooled in the game of love, Mary fnds Henry's warm attentions confounding. Is his interest genuine or does she foolishly mistake friendliness for something more? With her heart and her future at risk, Mary must throw caution to the wind to fnd the truth—a journey of discovery that will teach her surprising lessons about herself and the desires of her heart.

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Be still my heart.  Oh my.  I wish I could find enough words to describe how much I loved this book.

Being a die hard Jane Austen fan, I approach books like this quite hesitantly, because honestly nothing comes close to Miss Austen. 

This one however, I enjoyed so very much that I couldn't put it down. 

The story follows the Bennet sisters.  Lizzy is happily married to Darcy and they have twin girls, Jane is happily married to Charles and they have little ones as well.  Lydia is as scandalous as ever, it's quite hilarious at times.  Kitty is a spoiled little girl hell bent on being a woman.  And then there's Mary, who is the main character in the book. 

I fell in love with her from the get go, she's this sweet, shy girl who seems to be forgotten by the rest of the family.  She has developed this complex that she is not pretty enough and not smart enough and good enough, and so tries to remove herself from everything.  Until she catches Henry Walsh's eye and the struggle begins within her whether he is truly in love with her, or whether he is just looking for a mother for his child.

But I won't say anything more, other than, if you are a Jane Austen fan, you NEED to read this story and catch up with all your favorite characters.  It's truly like a step back in time :)

Huge, huge thumbs up.  I'm only sorry the book ended because I wanted to continue reading and living vicariously through these characters.  Kudos to Pamela Mingle :)

Thank you to TLC Book Tours for providing me with a review copy. 

Happy Homemaker Monday - 12/09/2013

I'm cold.....so very cold that my right hand is actually freezing as I type this up.  We're in the single digits and actually went into the negative last night, definitely a big change from Arizona LOL 

As I look outside my window:::
Snow, it still lays on the ground, even though now it's mainly ice but it's been so cold that it won't melt at all even with the sun shining.  This morning we are at -6 degrees but with the windchill it is -18.  Help me!!!  LOL 
  
Right now I am:::
Sitting in bed, as always when I type up this post.  Wearing this adorable black nightgown that says "Is it too late to be good?" Hahah
I'm listening to my husband as he tells me about his college grades and the next assignment he has coming up, all the while trying to keep myself warm.

Thinking and pondering:::
About Christmas.  My wonderful mother in law and father in law are arriving next week and we are so excited.  Also thinking about what I'll be cooking while they're here, as it will go from 8 of us to 10.  Oh boy, it's been a very long time since I've cooked for a big family. 
 
On my bedside table:::
On the last pages of The Pursuit of Mary Bennet by Pamela Mingle. 
Up next is Red Phone Box, for another review.

On my tv tonight:::
Catching up on:
Tudor Monastery Farm
Last night's The Witches of East End
The White Queen
Sherlock BBC so that I can be ready for the next season starting soon
 
Playing on the radio:::
Nothing at the moment, it's very quiet.


On the menu for this week:::

Monday - Chicago Style Hotdogs, Tater Tots
Tuesday - Baked Potato and Bacon Soup, Sandwiches 
Wednesday - Homemade Cheese Ravioli with Marinara Sauce, Salad
Thursday - Slow Cooker Chicken Curry
Friday - Sriracha Wings, Potato Casserole
Saturday - Copy Kat Papa John's Pizza
Sunday -  *Not sure yet, working on menus*


On my to do list:::
Homeschooling
Housework - laundry, sweeping, vacuuming, dishes etc

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::
Working on the crochet blanket, also making some crochet head bands for Jasmine and I. 

 
My simple pleasure:::
Church on a Sunday morning  

Lesson learned the past week:::
Not one for me personally, but one we've had to teach our children and remind them a few times.  It is difficult living in a house with two families, there are so many differing personalities and then there's the issue of privacy.  The kids often get irritated with each other and things can escalate quickly, so we've been reminding them that this is not forever, that it's temporary, but most importantly that they need to be respectful of each other, respect privacy, respect boundaries and everyone will get along much better. 
 
Looking around the house:::
Breakfast dishes are waiting to be washed, and the dinner dishes are on the rack waiting to be put away.  I need to give the living room a good dusting and vacuuming.  Also been rearranging some things here and there, so will continue with that. 

From the camera:::

Prayer List:::
My husband and brother as they continue their search for jobs.
My stepmom and dad as they continue to struggle with their separation.
Friends going through a difficult time.
Lady in church going through chemotherapy.

Bible verse, Devotional:::
Psalm 118:22-24 (NIV) - The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.

The Sweetest Thing by Cathy Woodman - TLC Book Tour

If only everything in life was as simple as baking a cake...

Jennie Copeland thought she knew the recipe for a happy life: marriage to her university sweetheart, a nice house in the suburbs and three beautiful children. But when her husband leaves her, she is forced to find a different recipe. And she thinks she's found just what she needs: a ramshackle house on the outskirts of the beautiful Talyton St George, a new cake-baking business, a dog, a horse, chickens...

But life in the country is not quite as idyllic as she'd hoped, and Jennie can't help wondering whether neighbouring farmer Guy Barnes was right when he told her she wouldn't last the year.

Or perhaps the problem is that she's missing one vital ingredient to make her new life a success. Could Guy be the person to provide it?




About

Cathy Woodman began her working life as a small animal vet before turning to writing fiction. In 2002 she won the Harry Bowling First Novel Award and is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association. She is also a sessional lecturer in Animal Management at a local college for land-based industries.

Her books center around the Otter House Vets, a practice set in Talyton St George, a fictional market town in East Devon (where Cathy lived as a child). Cathy now lives with her husband, two children, two ponies, three exuberant Border Terriers and two cats in a village near Winchester, Hampshire.

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My thoughts:

This was such a cute book to read, I can't even begin to tell you.

Let's start with the fact that it's a British book, and if you've known me for a while, you will know what a huge anglophile I am.  So that right there got me excited, then the cover added to the excitement because when I look at it, it actually reminds me of The Great British Bake Off which I LOVE watching.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, matter of fact it seemed to go by so quick.  It's a fun, cute, girly read and sometimes that is all I need in my crazy life.

Romance, horses, cake, I mean, come on, who wouldn't enjoy that?

I have to give it a huge thumbs up!!!

Thank you to TLC Book Tours for providing me with a review copy. 

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!

Well finally, we got our first real snow of the year.  We got a little dusting a few weeks back but nothing that would even stick around.

This morning, however, we woke up to a beautiful white winter wonderland and huge big flakes coming down.  It stayed this way for the whole day, and just now stopped.

I know it's cold, but I do love a good snow and seeing the earth blanked in beautiful white flakes.

I love it, the kids love it, the quails love it.....

My pugs however, not so much.

Especially Miss Lola who really really really and I mean reallyyyyyy hates it LOL

She just refuses to go out in that cold, even if we go out with her and stand there and try to coax her. Nope, not having it.

Miss Bella is not so bad, she'll go out, she'll walk around, do her business and quickly run back in.

We had to make a quick trip to Walmart for some snow boots for the kids and some thermal wear, because when it comes to winter clothes, we have none.  When we left to Arizona 7 years ago we got rid of them never thinking we would be heading back this way, but now I'm really regretting that decision because goodness, we are not equipped for this cold weather at all.

You know it's so funny in a way, being back here where the kids were born, and seeing things and experiencing things as if for the first time. They've grown so much since then, so it's exciting reliving it all through their eyes.

Humbling in a way, sad in another, but always exciting.

Well, I best get on out of here. I have a chicken pot pie in the oven, my fire is going, everyone is walking around with thick socks and hats and whatnot, snuggling under blankets and watching movies and playing games etc.

I am going to run and check on dinner, get the table set, eat, and then I'm thinking a hot shower, some comfy pj's and relaxing either with a good book or a Christmas movie with the family.

God Bless,
Sandra
xoxoxo

Paperless Kitchen Winner!

Thank you all for entering the contest.  Unfortunately there can only be one winner.

I used Random.org to draw one, and the number that came out was #7 Debby at Nanny's Place.

Congratulations Debby, will be contacting you shortly :)