Guess What Today Is

Today, Thursday, October 29 is National Cat Day! So how do you plan to celebrate this lovely day? Well, if you need some ideas here are some purr-fect cat sites:

LOLcats: wanna see pictures of cats with funny captions then this is the site for you!

Simon's Cat: here you will find some cute animated films about Simon's cat...if you are owned by a cat you will totally relate to these..very cute. :)

Stuff On My Cat: a great place to see a ton of cute pictures of cats.

Garfield: You can't celebrate National Cat Day without Garfield!

Happy National Cat Day!! Here are some pics of my furry babies. :)

Wisdom Hunter and Shadow Government Blog Tour

In Wisdom Hunter Pastor Jason Faircloth knows what he believes. His clear faith, in fact, is why he is one of the most prominent pastors in Atlanta. He relies on it to discipline his daughter, his wife, his church. He prays daily that others would come to see God’s ways as he does.

And it is about to cost him everything.

Groping for answers in the face of tragedy, Jason begins a search for the only family he has left: the granddaughter kept hidden from him. Soon he finds himself on an international adventure that will take him straight into the depths of his soul. He is determined not to fail again.

A fast-paced suspense novel rich in spiritual depth, Wisdom Hunter explores what it means to break free of Christian legalism—and discover why grace can mean the difference between life and death.

Author Bio:

Randall Arthur is the bestselling author of Jordan’s Crossing and Brotherhood of Betrayal. He and his wife have served as missionaries to Europe for over thirty years. From 1976 till 1998, he lived in Norway and Germany as a church planter. Since 2000, he has taken numerous missions teams from the United States on trips all over Europe. Arthur is also the founder of the AOK (Acts of Kindness) Bikers’ Fellowship, a group of men who enjoy the sport of motorcycling. He and his family live in Atlanta, Georgia.

Security cameras, surveillance of private financial transactions, radio frequency spy chips hidden in consumer products, eavesdropping on e-mail correspondence and phone calls, and Internet tracking. No one is protected, and privacy is a thing of the past.

An ultra-secret global elite, functioning as a very real shadow government, controls technology, finance, international law, world trade, political power, and vast military capabilities. These unnamed, unrivaled leaders answer to no earthly authority, and they won’t stop until they control the world.

In Shadow Government, prophecy expert Grant Jeffrey removes the screen that, up to now, has hidden the work of these diabolical agents. Jeffrey reveals the biblical description of Satan’s global conquest and identifies the tools of technology that the Antichrist will use to rule the world.

Readers will have their eyes opened to the real power that is working behind the scenes to destroy America and merge it into the coming global government. Armed with this knowledge, readers will be equipped to face spiritual darkness with the light of prophetic truth.

Author Bio:

Grant R. Jeffrey is the internationally known prophecy researcher, Mideast expert, and author of Countdown to the Apocalypse, The New Temple and the Second Coming, The Next World War, and twenty other best-selling books. He is also the editor of the Prophecy Study Bible. His popular television program, Bible Prophecy Revealed, airs weekly on TBN. Jeffrey earned his master’s and PhD degrees from Louisiana Baptist University. He and his wife, Kaye, live in Toronto.

*These books were provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.


My Thoughts:


I have to be honest and say that I didn't finish reading Wisdom Hunter because it just wasn't my cup of tea. But please don't let that stop you from checking it out if it sounds like something you would like because the writing was fine and there wasn't anything wrong except it just wasn't what I like to read.


Now Shadow Government is non-fiction which means it takes me a long to read it all the way through. But what I have read is very interesting and to be honest a little scary but then I just have to remind myself who is in control: God. But I do recommend it because it's an eye opener for sure.

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"The blissful sounds of the picnic fell away, and her mind flooded with alarm. He can't possibly remember." ---White Picket Fences by Susan Meissner

Top Ten Books On My Wish List

It's Monday again...and that means that it's time to share
the Top 10 Books on My Wish list for this week. Here's how it works:

~ Look thru all of your wish lists (I'm sure you have more than one...just like me!)
~ Decide which 10 you're really wanting ~ at least for this week *grin*
~ Create a post on your blog, linking back to Some of My Favorite Things, and post your link there
~ You can list books from any genre ~ It doesn't matter if they are: already available for purchase, newly released, coming soon, etc.
~ If you have a book(s) on someones WL that you're willing to get rid of...let them know... they may be willing to swap for something on your WL...I know I would!

Here is my list for this week:

1) Glazed Murder: A Donut Shop Mystery by Jessica Beck
2) A Passion Redeemed by Julie Lessman
3) Fit To Be Tied by Robin Lee Hatcher
4) Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Whitson
5) Beguiled by Deeanna Gist
6) The Sweet By & By by Sara Evans & Rachel Hauck
7) Sweet Caroline by Rachel Hauck
8) Dreaming in Technicolor by Laura Jensen Walker
9) Splitting Harriet by Tamera Leigh
10) On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle

Moggy Monday

It's Moggy Monday!! Today you will get to meet Matthew. Matthew is Luke's brother and they are a team. I told my husband that we should have named one "Double" and the other one "Trouble". But as ornery as they are they're both sweeties.

As I mentioned last week I fell for Luke almost the minute I saw him well Matthew set out to make my husband fall for him and he has succeeded. :D The first night they were home with us Matthew climbed up on the couch and got right behind my husband and then put his little head on his shoulder. My husband looked down and said, "They have a way of getting to you, don't they?" lol I think from that moment on Matthew was his favorite.

That is Matthew's sweet side but he also has such a bad side. Matthew will decide that he wants to play with Carmel but Carmel isn't interested and lets that fact known by hissing and growling. What do you think Matthew does? Leave Carmel alone? Nope! He proceeds to chase him around the house all the while poor Carmel is hissing and growling. I will finally have to intervene. Also, Matthew and Luke get into everything. A few weeks ago my husband had to open up the door where the hot water heater is and to make a long story short...Matthew got locked in there for about an hour. Luke would have been in there too but my husband saw Luke fixing to go inside and shooed him away he didn't know Matthew was already in there. Oh, Matthew will also attack one of our dogs! I think he's playing but it sure is funny to see him try and jump on Shelby. So that is Matthew extremely sweet but also a little sour. ;)

Shadows of Lancaster County

Shadows of Lancaster County is the first book that I have ever read by Mindy Starns Clark but I don't think it will be the last. I guess you could say this is a mystery with a little romance thrown in for good measure. The only "bad" thing I can say about this book is that it started off with a bang (good) and then (for me at least) it slowed down a bit and I almost stopped reading but I am so glad I kept reading because it picked up again and didn't slow back down. So if you read this and you feel like things start getting a little slow my advice is hang in there cause you won't regret it. The ending took me by surprise...didn't see that coming. It was really an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to reading more of her books.

Product Description:
Anna thought she left the tragedies of the past behind when she moved from Pennsylvania to California, but when her brother vanishes from the genetics lab where he works, Anna has no choice but to head back home. Using skills well-honed in Silicon Valley, she follows the high-tech trail her brother left behind, a trail that leads from the simple world of Amish farming to the cutting edge of DNA research and gene mapping.

Anna knows she must depend on her instincts, her faith in God, and the help of the Amish community to find her brother. She also must finally face her own shadows-and pray that she's stronger than the grief that threatens to overwhelm them all

Good News!!!

I know there has been a lot of buzz about the FTC's new guidelines regarding reviewing books on your blog. Well, I have some good news for ya: The FTC says the guidelines are for advertisers & marketers not for individual bloggers. You can check out the article here.

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"I'm dead. The powerful engine gunning behind him drowned out every other thought."
--Shadows of Lancaster County by Mindy Starns Clark

Moggy Monday

I thought I would start a new thing on my blog. I don't know if y'all will enjoy it but I hope so. Moggy Monday is all about my cats. :) Moggy is another word for cat in case your wondering.

So today I thought I would introduce y'all to Luke since I use his picture for my google picture. Luke arrived in my life last summer, my neighbor found him and his brother in his yard and was afraid his dogs would hurt them so knowing that I'm a cat person he brought them to me. Well, between us I fell in love with Luke the minute I saw him but we really didn't need any more cats so as much as I didn't want to do it I took them to the clinic (I work there part time) to find them a home. Every time I was at the clinic I would fall more in love with Luke..he's so cute. Anyway, my husband asked his mom if she would be interested in them and she ended up taking both Matthew and Luke. Well, to make a long story short they ended up with ringworm so it was back to the clinic and back to finding them a home. It was in October when the ringworm was all gone and they still didn't have a home so I brought them home with me and well I haven't regretted it for one moment. The bottom picture is when I first brought them home they were a little scared and wouldn't come out of the carrier. In the middle picture you can see that Luke loves to eat. The top picture is of him "helping" me put the clothes up. He loves to "help" me when I'm doing the laundry. He's always getting into something so he keeps things interesting. Luke is a sweetie and even though he's only been in my life for about a year now he has quickly found his way into my heart.

Next week I'll share a little bit about Matthew who has quickly become my husband's favorite.

And The Winner Is.....

Renee G.

Congratulations!! :)

I had my hubby draw a name from his hat. :D

BOOK GIVEAWAY!!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Sound of Sleigh Bells then just go here. :)

These Boots Weren't Made for Walking

I bought this book a few months ago at a local Christian store...it was on the bargain shelf. Love finding books on the bargain shelf. :D Anyway, this is a funny and heart-warming story about Cassie who when we first meet her, life is not going that great. I loved Cassie--following her on her journey was a hoot. Melody Carlson is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. If you enjoy chick-lit then I highly recommend These Boots Weren't Made for Walking.

Product Description:

Willing to make the necessary sacrifices---even skipping the occasional latte---to ensure career success, 31-year-old Cassidy Cantrell "invests" in a chic pair of boots, certain they'll make a spectacular impression and help seal the deal on a long-anticipated promotion from her Seattle employer.

But reality tromps all over her expectations. Cassie's job is abruptly eliminated---and her love life obliterated, when her longtime boyfriend dumps her for a "friend." Her self-esteem in tatters, Cassie limps home to the resort town she once so eagerly fled---only to find her recently divorced mother transformed into a gorgeous fifty-something babe with a thriving social life. Cassie wrestles with envy and apathy as she considers the dismal shape of her own physique and romantic prospects. What will it take for her to jump back into life and regain her stride?

This sassy and hilarious novel leads readers on a romp through the wilds of relationships, romance, career, and spirituality, revealing that, while God's plans may look drastically different than our own, it'll always be a perfect fit.

Miss Match by Sara Mills

Miss Match is the second book in the Allie Fortune series and I am hoping there will be a third book. If you haven't read the first book, Miss Fortune, then I suggest you do before reading this one. Cause you will be wondering who David is and why he's so important to Allie. Plus in the first book you get to see how Jack and Allie met. I really enjoyed this book...pretty much read it in one day. It's like watching an old 1940s detective movie which I'm a big fan of. Very good read, keeps you turning those pages. :)



Product description:

FBI agent Jack O’Connor receives a letter from Maggie, a woman he used to love, saying she’s in trouble in Berlin. The FBI refuses to get involved, so Jack asks Allie Fortune to help him investigate. Allie and Jack pose as a missionary couple who want to bring orphans back to the United States.

A child finds important documents that everyone in the city—Soviets and allies alike—want for themselves. Maggie refuses to tell Jack what the documents are, saying if things go wrong, they are better off not knowing.

Through the course of the search, Allie’s past has been brought back to her, half a world away from home.

Wordless Wednesday

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"Is is possible to kill yourself with an overdose of Correctol? Or would it just be terribly messy in the end?" --These Boots Weren't Made for Walking by Melody Carlson

The Sound of Sleigh Bells Blog Tour & Giveaway

Product Summary:

Beth Hertzler works alongside her beloved Aunt Lizzy in their dry goods store, and serving as contact of sorts between Amish craftsmen and Englischers who want to sell the Plain people’s wares. But remorse and loneliness still echo in her heart everyday as she still wears the dark garb, indicating mourning of her fiancé. When she discovers a large, intricately carved scene of Amish children playing in the snow, something deep inside Beth’s soul responds and she wants to help the unknown artist find homes for his work–including Lizzy’s dry goods store. But she doesn’t know if her bishop will approve of the gorgeous carving or deem it idolatry.

Lizzy sees the changes in her niece when Beth shows her the woodworking, and after Lizzy hunts down Jonah, the artist, she is all the more determined that Beth meets this man with the hands that create healing art. But it’s not that simple–will Lizzy’s elaborate plan to reintroduce her niece to love work? Will Jonah be able to offer Beth the sleigh ride she’s always dreamed of and a second chance at real love–or just more heartbreak?

My Thoughts:

I usually don't read novellas because I feel like the story is rushed and they don't have enough character development. Well, I am happy to say that neither is true with The Sound of Sleigh Bells, I loved the characters and the story never once felt rushed.

I could really relate with Beth and enjoyed seeing her work through her issues. Like Beth I've had to fight a lot of fears and seeing her finally break free of her fears really hit home with me. This is an enjoyable read that would be perfect to read during the busy holiday season since it is fairly short.

I highly recommend The Sound of Sleigh Bells and if your thinking, "I'll pass" because it's Amish fiction..don't! Give it a try and I think you will be pleasantly surprised....I know I was. And here's a really easy way to give it a try....just leave a comment and you will be entered to win The Sound of Sleigh Bells. :) Sorry but this is only open for US/Canada residents. I will pick a winner on Monday, October 19.

Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

"On one hand, I felt very special....I'd been the first one to hear my father's good news, and he actually danced with me. But another part of me felt uneasy and confused...and I wasn't even sure why." --Limelight by Melody Carlson

Top Ten Books On My Wish List

Lori @ Some of my Favorite Things has started meme! :) Here is how it works:

• Look thru all of your wishlists (I'm sure you have more than one...just like me!)
• Decide which 10 you're really wanting ~ at least for this week
• Create a post on your blog, linking back to Some of my Favorite Things, and post your link there
• You can list books from any genre
• It doesn't matter if they are: already available for purchase, newly released, coming soon, etc.
• If you have a book(s) on someone's WL that you're willing to get rid of ~ let them know ~ they may be willing to swap for something on your WL...I know I would!!

So here is the top ten books on my wish list...for the moment. ;)

1. Diamond Duo by Marcia Gruver
2. Surrender the Wind by Rita Gerlach
3. Before the Season Ends by Linore Rose Burkard
4. A Passion Redeemed by Julie Lessman
5. To Love Anew by Bonnie Leon
6. Hail to the Chef by Julie Hyzy
7. Psych:Mind Over Magic by William Rabkin
8. Mr. Monk and the Dirty Cop by Lee Goldberg
9. A Murderous Glaze by Melissa Glazer
10. Murder at Longbourn: A Mystery by Tracy Kiely
    

Rose House

The Rose House is the second book in the La Rosaleda series, I haven't read the first book in the series but I don't think you have to to enjoy the second book. The Rose House isn't a book I would normally read but surprisingly I did enjoy it. The main character, Lillian, has to work through her grief to move on with her life (and her love life) and I have to say Tina Ann Forkner did a nice job. You felt for Lillian but you never got really depressed reading about what she going through. I've read books that had characters dealing with grief and I had to put the books down because I found them so depressing. There is also a bit of suspense/mystery that leaves you wondering what is going on until the end. But the romance between Lillian and Truman was what had me turning the pages. It was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it.

Product summery:

A vivid story of a private grief, a secret painting, and one woman’s search for hope. Still mourning the loss of her family in a tragic accident, Lillian Diamon finds herself drawn back to the Rose House, a quiet cottage where four years earlier she had poured out her anguish among its fragrant blossoms.

She returns to the rolling hills and lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley in search of something she can’t quite name. But then Lillian stumbles onto an unexpected discovery: displayed in the La Rosaleda Gallery is a painting that captures every detail of her most private moment of misery, from the sorrow etched across her face to the sandals on her feet.

What kind of artist would dare to intrude on such a personal scene, and how did he happen to witness Lillian’s pain? As the mystery surrounding the portrait becomes entangled with the accident that claimed the lives of her husband and children, Lillian is forced to rethink her assumptions about what really happened that day.

A captivating novel rich with detail, Rose House explores how the brushstrokes of pain can illuminate the true beauty of life.

Over The Top Blog Award

I just received the Over The Top award from Lori @ Some Of My Favorite Things

Thank you, Lori! :)

Okay ~ here are the rules for this award...

USE ONLY ONE WORD! It’s not as easy as you might think.
Copy and change the answers to suit yourself and pass it on.
It’s really hard to use only one-word answers so try your best.

1. Where is your cell phone? Desk

2.Your hair? Dark Blonde

3. Your mother? Caring

4. Your father? Awesome

5. Your favorite food? Chicken

6. Your dream last night? Crazy

7. Your favorite drink? Tea

8. Your dream/goal? Happy

9. What room are you in? Office

10. Your hobby? Reading

11. Your fear? A lot

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Happy

13. Where were you last night? Home

14. Something that you aren’t? outgoing

15. Muffins? Blueberry

16. Wish list item? books

17. Where did you grow up? Indiana/Texas

18. Last thing you did? let-cat-in

19. What are you wearing? T-shirt

20. Your TV? Flat

21. Your pets? Wonderful

22. Friends? Online

23. Your life? Blessed

24. Your mood? Sleepy

25. Missing someone? no

26. Vehicle? Xterra

27. Something you’re not wearing? hat

28. Your favorite store? Kohl's

29. Your favorite color? Pink

30. When was the last time you laughed? yesterday

31. Last time you cried? week

32. Your best friend? Hubby

33. One place that I go to over and over? HEB

34. One person who emails me regularly? Mother-in-law

35. Favorite place to eat? Cotton Patch Cafe