At the River's Edge by Mariah Stewart - TLC Book Tour

Series: Chesapeake Diaries
Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Ballantine Books (January 28, 2014)

After taking stock of her life, Sophie Enright has decided it’s time for a break. Between a law career that’s become criminally dull and a two-timing boyfriend she’s done with once and for all, Sophie desperately needs some time to think and some space to breathe. The perfect place to do both is easygoing St. Dennis, Maryland, where Sophie can visit with her brother while she figures out her options. Once in St. Dennis, she discovers a shuttered restaurant and makes a bold move that is also a leap of faith. Sophie buys the fixer-upper in order to finally pursue her dream career.

But Sophie’s labor of love becomes a bone of contention for her new neighbor Jason Bowers. The local landscaper has big plans for growing his business—until Sophie scoops up the property he’s got his eye on. And no amount of buyout offers or badgering from him will get her to budge. It’s hardly the start of a beautiful friendship. But when they’re paired up to work on a community project, they agree to put their differences aside, and sparks begin to fly. Then Sophie’s cheating ex suddenly shows up, looking for a second chance—and threatening to make Jason a third wheel just when his hotheaded feelings about Sophie were turning decidedly warmhearted. All Sophie wants is a new life and a true love. But what are the odds of having both?

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My thoughts:

Oh Mariah Stewart, how I love thee!!!

You know when you find a book author that you could just read over and over and over and know that the books are always good?

If I had to pick a good romance writer, it would Mariah Stewart.

So this story is called At the River's Edge and it's about Sophie who has been dealt a bad hand.  Feeling like she needs a change of life, she heads to Maryland to stay with her brother and to figure out what is next in her life.  She's always had a dream of owning her own restaurant, and when the opportunity presents itself she jumps in without a second doubt.

What this new venture does is bring about a will to fight for her dream and a handsome love prospect in the body of Jason Bowers.

You know exactly how this is going to go right?  Annoyed, irritated with each other at first as the relationship slowly grows, but the problem is that just when things seemed to be going right, here comes Sophie's ex, her cheating boyfriend.

I loved this book so very much, it's a feel good, sweet love story with believable characters and written so vividly that you really do feel like you're there in the moment with them.  That is one of the things that captivates me in a book, not only a great character, but the way the author can make you feel as if you're really seeing, smelling, tasting what they're talking about.

Huge huge huge thumbs up for this one and I can not wait to read the rest of the books in this series.

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

Red Phone Box - TLC Book Tour

Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Ghostwoods Books (November 30, 2013)

Sinister forces roam London’s streets, skulking through the neon-lit rain. They are not alone. Haunted by memories of the man who abandoned her, Amber Goodman goes walking in the deep night. The phone box she enters takes her on a journey she could never have imagined, one in which the past and the future will be rewritten. Others follow in her footsteps, their lives intertwining, and the fate of the world hanging on their dance. Safran, pawn of unfathomable powers. Jon, who has lived and died and lived again. Gloria, who only intended to annoy her daddy. Cory, from a different world, on a desperate quest for allies. They and others will find themselves swept up as the playthings of gods who have managed to get along peacefully for millennia — until now.

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My Thoughts:

So, first and foremost, the reason this book jumped out at me, was because of the Phone Box. Being such a huge Doctor Who fan, I couldn't simple let a book with such an awesome cover slip by my fingers.

But it wasn't just the cover that pulled me in, the fact that it's a time traveling phone box, might just,  maybe, alright definitely have sealed the deal.

The story takes place in London and Amber is the first to step into this phone box, followed by a number of other characters, each being transported here and there and facing different situations.

I think what I most like about this book is that it is a number of different stories, some shorter than others, and all told by different authors, so you really do get a myriad of writing styles which make for quite an interesting read....but here's the fun part, it's like a bunch of puzzle pieces that do end up making the bigger picture.  

At times I almost felt like I was reading one of those fun mystery books we would have as kids, where you get to pick the ending and then go on to that page and the story takes off from there.  I will say that some stories were more interesting than others, maybe it was the characters involved that were more memorable or maybe the fact that there were so many different characters coming in and out that some tend to get lost in space.

Whatever it was, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and I will tell you that I wasn't sure I would because as much as I was curious and looking forward to reading it, I had read some not so favorable reviews which left me wondering if I would make it to the end of the book.

I did, and I'm glad I did, it was quite a fun read, never really knowing what was going on, sometimes left mystified and wondering what had just happened.  Fun indeed.  

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

On to the next.....

We received some unexpected news this afternoon.

The owners of the home we're renting, have decided to move back to the area and want to move back into their house when our rent agreement is up in June.

Very unexpected news considering they weren't planning on returning for a while.

It threw us for another loop, but then our lives the past 6 months seem to be up in the air and a jumble of questions and decisions.

My first reaction was to have a mini panic attack. After all, we JUST moved into this house 6 months ago and moving so soon again was completely out of our minds. Our minds, not God's, but ours.

See we seem to keep forgetting that everything is done in His timing and according to His will....and this house?  This neighborhood, this area?  Apparently not in His plans.

I could very well take this little wrench and freak out, wonder why or how or where we'll go from here, but my husband and I have long stopped pushing and pulling and trying to force things to happen our way.  It never ends well and only makes things harder for everyone involved.

When faced with something like this, it's quite easy to see only the bad in the situation.

• Just moved here, have to pick everything up and move again.  
• Hubby still hasn't found a job. 
• We are still transitioning from active duty military to retirement life and it's not easy at all.
• Won't be able to buy house for another year or so and will continue having to rent.

Or, I can look at it in another way.

• Will be able to house hunt and find the perfect rental place for us.
• Will take the next year to get better acquainted with the area, hubby will get a job, will pay off my car and make buying a home that much easier.

While I like the house we live in, there are so many things wrong with it and so many things I would love to change.  The small kitchen for one, no pantry, unfinished floors downstairs, not being allowed to garden, and many other issues, certainly not worth the monthly rent we are currently paying.

The prospect of finding a nicer home with a much cheaper rent is very appealing, and honestly this is just one more step to our dream home.

Do I wish I could be moving out of this house and into my own place?  Absolutely!

Do I yearn to set down roots and begin the new chapter in our lives right now?  Absolutely!

But again, not my timing.  I don't need to understand why things are happening the way they are, all I need to do is continue trusting in the Lord and the knowledge that He is working on our behalf, finding the perfect home, opening the right doors, placing the right employment for my husband.

It's all there, right there for the taking, and maybe we're not meant to see it quite yet, because truth be told by the time we do get there, we will be that much more appreciative.

One thing I will miss about this house are the views, the nature, the animals and the fresh air. That is one thing that I will look for in our new home, wherever that may be.

So onward and forward, always with our heads held high. 

Oh I'm sure I'll stumble and fall and cry and stomp my feet during the next few months, but it will be temporary and short lived because it solves nothing, other than ruining my make up and giving me red puffy eyes.

And just the thought of a new home with a nice big kitchen to get me excited about cooking again, is incentive enough to get my butt back in gear and push for what will hopefully be one of our last moves.  Let's hope!!!

Happy Homemaker Monday - 02/03/2014

Oh goodness, it's February already?  I'm afraid this year is going to zip by just as fast as the previous ones.


Hope you all had a fantastic weekend and are ready for the work and school week ahead.  Let's get on with our Happy Homemaker Monday.....by the way, I haven't forgotten that I'm wanting to change the graphic, just haven't had a chance to do it yet, but hoping it will be soon :)

As I look outside my window:::
30 degrees and it's snowing.  Really enjoyed the sunshine the past two days but I guess we're back to more bitter cold and white snowy stuff.  Have snow the rest of the week too so it should be quite a cold week. 
 
Right now I am:::
Typing up this post with a nice hot cup of coffee.  I'm also watching the snow flakes outside the window. 
 
Thinking and pondering:::
On our tax return.  Got everything turned in, am already waiting on the refund to come back and making a list of where that money is going.  We always use it to pay off debt and to put a little emergency money into our savings. 
  
On my bedside table:::
Playing St. Barbara, a book for a review.
On my Kindle I'm reading Love by the Letter by Melissa Jagears.
 
On my tv tonight:::
We finished Heroes and I wanted to cry.  I loved that show so much, it's sad that it got cancelled.  We've started Alphas but we're not really enjoying it as much, so not sure what we'll be watching.
I have Call the Midwife and The Musketeers to catch up on today. 

Listening to:::
Mix 106 Radio 

On the menu for this week:::
Monday - Zuppa Toscana, Homemade Olive Garden Bread sticks
Tuesday - Roast Chicken, Roast Potatoes and Broccoli
Wednesday - Beef Stew, Homemade Dinner rolls
Thursday - Cheesy Chicken Fettucine
Friday - Chili Dogs
Saturday - Burgers, fries
Sunday - Crab Rangoon, Chinese Fried Rice

On my to do list:::
Laundry, Iron, put away
Homeschooling
Walmart - Turtle food
Lucky Leaf Review

Plans for this week:::
Monday - Taking kids to Tae Kwon Do (depending on weather conditions)
Tuesday - Sewing (work a little more on my second quilt)
Wednesday - Clean carpets
Thursday - Baking day
Friday - Lucky Leaf Review on food blog, book review on this blog

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::
Working on my Crochet Mood Blanket. 
Have a quilt I started back in Arizona, but had to put it aside during the move, now I am really wanting to get back to it and finish it.
 
My simple pleasure:::
Reading old homemaking books 

Lesson learned the past week::: 
That what we're going through right now is not MY lesson to be learned but my husband's.  It's not easy when these guys transition from a military career to civilian life.  We had been warned and talked to about the process and how easy it is for them to slip into depression.  My husband is having a very difficult time right now, all while juggling full time college classes and looking for a job.  It's hard not to grab things and take control of them, but this is HIS battle and there is nothing I can do for him aside from prayer and hugs and support.  Not easy though, you don't ever want to see your husband suffering. 

Looking around the house:::
The living room needs a little tidying up.  The kitchen as well, I have to put away the clean dishes from last night and wash the breakfast ones.  

From the camera:::
Went to the Idaho Stampede vs Los Angeles D-Fenders game.  SO much fun. 

 

Prayer List:::
My husband, really need God to place his Hand on him and get him through these next few months. 

Bible verse, Devotional:::
But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. Psalm 59:16 NIV

PLEASE, don't add links to this list that are not part of the Happy Homemaker Monday. I've asked numerous times, and I'm frankly quite tired of having to remove links to other posts that shouldn't be in this list. Please be respectful of my request!

Slow Cooking Thursday - Super Easy Skinny Veggie Crockpot Lasagna

This one looks delicious and a pretty healthy version of a lasagna. Can't wait to try.  Thanks to the wonderful blog A Pinch of Yum.

Image credit:  Pinch of Yum

Super Easy Skinny Veggie Crockpot Lasagna

 Serves: 9

Ingredients

(2) 24 ounce jars or cans of Italian tomato sauce (see notes)
9 thick lasagna noodles with wavy edges (mine were called bronze cut)
24 ounces part-skim ricotta cheese OR cottage cheese
3-4 cups chopped vegetables of choice (I used kale)
2 cups shredded Mozzarella or Provolone cheese
Parmesan cheese for topping
fresh parsley for topping

Instructions

Spray the crockpot with nonstick cooking spray. Spread ½ cup tomato sauce to the bottom so the noodles don’t stick.
Break noodles so that they fit and mostly cover the bottom. They will probably be awkward looking – not a big deal. Cover with about one third of the ricotta, veggies, sauce, cheese, and end with noodles. Repeat layers two more times for a total of three complete layers. End with a layer of noodles on top, covered with a thin layer of sauce and a little bit more shredded cheese.
Cover and cook on high for 3 hours or on low for 5-6 hours. Turn the crockpot off completely and let the lasagna sit for at least one hour. This allows all the moisture to get soaked into the lasagna, and if you don’t do this it will probably be more like lasagna soup – still good, but not pretty. Depending on how long you let it sit, you can either scoop pieces out or just cut with a knife like normal lasagna.