An Uncommon Protector by Shelley Shepard Gray

As I began reading An Uncommon Protector by Shelley Shepard Gray, I was immediately reminded of the  1978 Western, Goin' South, starring Mary Steenburgen and Jack Nicholson.  Both the movie and the book focused on strong single women who, after the Civil War, found themselves alone and in need of help.  At that time, it was possible to secure penal laborers for a fee.  Similarities end there.

In the movie, Ms. Steenburgen, needing someone to work in her mine, saved a horse thief, Mr. Nicholson, from hanging by agreeing to marry him.  In the book, An Uncommon Protector, there was no marriage requirement. The convict, Sergeant Thomas Baker, in jail for his inability to pay gambling debts, was released into the custody of Miss Laurel Tracey, becoming an indentured servant, receiving room and board for one year in exchange for his labor on her thousand acre cattle ranch near Sweetwater, Texas.   Laurel had inherited the ranch and was desperate for ranch help, especially when she noticed squatters on her property.  And, although a neighboring rancher had attempted to court Miss Tracey, she was not interested in his solution to her problem. 

Sgt. Baker was not exactly a hardened criminal.  Through flashbacks to the Sergeant's stay in a Confederate Officers' POW camp, the reader gets to know this man and the bonds he formed with fellow officers imprisoned there.  It is this man who becomes not just a ranch hand but a protector when trouble, literally, arrives on Miss Tracey's doorstep and only escalates from there. 

The book, described as Historical Christian Fiction, was quite enjoyable.  Although, I thought it was very predictable. The author has a gift for wonderful descriptions and well-developed, believable characters.  This an independent second book in a series of three.  The Kindle version I read included discussion questions, making it a good book group selection, but also giving the reader pause for thought.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers  book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

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As promised, today I am posting a card for the final challenge at 

A Day For Daisies blog.  

Not to worry, they are only closing the blog NOT the shop.

And they are currently having a hop to showcase some of their

 DT members' favorite ADFD images.

 The digi image is Pet Lamb for Easter.

Challenges:

A Day for Daisies Challenge #160 - A Celebration of Favorites

Little Red Wagon Challenge #382 - Down on the Farm 

Cardz 4 Galz Challenge #41 - Cards 4 Teenz 

Aud Sentiments Challenge #174 - Animals + Sentiment

Glitter n Sparkle Challenge #228 - Anything Goes 

 

The Cherished Quilt by Amy Clipston

     The Cherished Quilt is the third and newest book in Amy Clipston's The Amish Heirloom Series.    Set in Bird-in-Hand, Lancaster County,Pennsylvania, which is about 50 miles from my home, this warm story is sure to please.  

    It did not matter that I had not read the first two books in the series.  Ms. Clipston immediately introduces the reader to  Christopher Hochstetler, the main character in this book.  Chris is a young man from Ohio struggling with grief and guilt after an accident kills his younger brother.  He travels to Pennsylvania to work in his uncle's leather shop, hoping the change in his surroundings and distance from his father, who has always expected him to take over the family horse farm, will help him deal with his brother's sudden death and, perhaps, find his place in the world.  Chris doesn't have the same affinity for training horses as his older brother, who is a successful horse farmer himself, a fact that causes constant friction between father and son.  

   As Chris is reacquainted with his Aunt and Uncle and meets Leroy, his uncle's partner, and his family, the reader meets them also.  As Chris gets to know them and they get to know him, the reader does too.  And when Chris and Emily, Leroy's youngest daughter, embark on a friendship neither had expected, the reader smiles.  

I found this book well written and the characters well developed.  The story moves along nicely with a few unexpected twists and turns.  You might find yourself learning a bit of Pennsylvania  Dutch, with several frequently used words popping up in the dialog.  Many of the words I recognized, coming from the area I do, but there is a handy glossary in the book for the reader who may occasionally need a translation.  

As this story of Christopher Hochstetler comes to a close, the discovery of a hidden document in the family hope chest sets up the premise for the 4th book in the series, The Beloved Hope Chest, which is scheduled for release in May 2017.

Thank you, Amy Clipston, for a wunderbaar book that even an Englisher will enjoy.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

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The title, The Cherished Quilt, refers to a log cabin design quilt being made in the story.    The design is supposed to represent life; the center is the heart of the home; the surrounding strips are the logs of the cabin; one side is light for the sunny or happy times in life;  the other side is dark for those unhappy and hard times.

I love making cards using quilt designs.  

So today I have a log cabin quilt card to share with you.

 The center square should really be red, but I took some license and used the pretty sea glass color that matches this Sugar Rush paper from CTMH and added a heart embellishment in the middle.

The vintage label die cut was a freebie from Our Daily Bread Designs, the sentiment is a digi from Beccy's Place and the embossing folder I used to make the quilt part look like a quilt is from Stampin' Up.

Challenges:

The Crafty Addicts Challenge #33 - Anything Goes 

Frilly and Funky Challenge - Be My Valentine 
Word Art Wednesday Week 268-269 -  Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Color of Love
Crafting by Designs February Challenge -  Anything Goes
 

Beneath the Pines by Sandra Gowan

The book, Beneath the Pines by Sandra Gowan, immediately pulls you into the story of a young woman, Amanda Jane Horseman, orphaned at an early age and raised by her elderly grandparents.  Set in 1916, Ontario, young Amanda Jane grew up overly indulged in a home also occupied by her much older Uncle Frankie.  Unfortunately the two never bonded, with Amanda Jane seeking to corner the market on her grandmother's love, often at her uncle's expense.  As the story begins, Amanda Jane is leaving the only home she has ever known, the entire estate being left to Uncle Frankie when her grandparents died.  Forced to leave her home and somehow provide for herself, she embarks on a journey to Ministers Island in Southern New Brunswick to become a personal secretary to retired General Spencer. Having answered a want ad and only communicating with her new employer by mail, Amanda Jane isn't sure what is waiting for her at the end of her journey.  And the book is written in such a way that the reader wants to know, too.

To me, the book was a bit frustrating to read because of the poor editing, with errors in word choice, and general grammar.  Marketed as a mystery, I found it difficult to recognize a plot.  Then over half way through the book, the story line takes a huge turn and the reader has no choice but to search for a new plot.  It isn't until the end of the book, that the plot is actually revealed.  I'm used to a killer being revealed at the end of a book, but I have never read a book that waits until the end to tell you why you were reading.  For me, Beneath the Pines, was a quick, often difficult, and very disappointing read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerni

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Send a Smile 4 Kids will be receiving this Easter/Spring card.

Once again I am using CTMH papers and a Gerda Steiner digi image.

Challenges:

Gerda Steiner 28th Share Your Designs Challenge - use a GSD digi

The Crazy Challenge #239 - 3 of a Kind (3 squares of dp behind the image; 3 sparkles)

Crafting From the Heart Challenge #142 - Always Anything Goes 

Through the Craft Room Door Challenge Week of Jan 10th - Always Anything Goes

 

 

Horse in the Wilderness by Debbie Eckles

Warning: Do not start this book if you still have Christmas cards to get out, cookies to bake, gifts to buy, etc.  

  

I normally would not pick up a book about a horse unless it came highly recommended or the author was a favorite of mine.  Neither was true about Horse in the Wilderness.  The online description of this book, however,  about a missing horse and then a missing child, peaked my interest.   This wonderful story is not just about being lost and then found, but also about trust, forgiveness, and love.

Set in the mountains of Arkansas, in the small town of Orchard Springs, Autumn Parker returns home to work in her father's store; her cousin, Jerry, and his son return to the family cabin because they need a place to live; and Brent arrives to take a mid-year music teacher position; and a mysterious vandal is making life pretty miserable for one of the local farmers.  Their lives intermingle as each begins to find their way in this enjoyable read. 

I would classify the book as a Christian romance/mystery.  It is well written, although it does contain a few typos.  (Typos really annoy me!)  I read the Kindle version and thought the ending was disappointingly abrupt.  I was surprised that it did not have discussion questions included, as I think it would be great for a book club.**

**Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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I finished the book this morning and then headed out in 24 degree temperatures to get some Christmas shopping done.

When I returned home, 4 hours later, I dropped the packages on the floor and headed right to the kitchen to turn on the tea kettle!

My feet were so cold, I wish I could have crawled into the cup like the cute kitty on this Christmas card.

 I paper pieced the striped CTMH paper onto the digi image tea cup.  Then stamped JOY onto it.  The cat was colored with markers.  I fussy cut the dollop of whipped cream, pushed it into the versamark pad and then added white embossing powder and heat embossed it for texture. The entire image was then popped onto the die cut hexagon.

Challenges:

Through the Purple Haze Challenge #113 - Anything Goes 

Crimbo Crackers Challenge #122 - Animals

Show Us Your Pussies Challenge #13 - Christmas

Crafty Ribbons Challenge #180 - Christmas

Polkadoodles Challenge Week 50 - Anything Goes

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #394 - Christmas

Crafty Girls Creations Challenge #31 - Anything Goes

Stay safe this week-end!  

We're expecting some snow overnight.

 

Just finished reading: The Captain Takes a Wife The Captain Chronicles, 1875 By Doris Durbin

Today I'm wearing my new "book review" hat for the very first time.   Let's see how well it fits.  I hope my loyal followers won't mind this deviation from my normal card posts from time to time.  Perhaps, I'll even include a card reflecting some aspect of the book. 

Now that's a novel idea. 

      The Captain Takes a Wife The Captain Chronicles, 1875 by Doris Durbin was such a delightful read, I am sorry I'm finished. 

     As the book begins Harry Richardson, The Captain, has just received his theology degree from Mercer College and is about to embark on a new chapter in his life, as a circuit preacher in the mountains of northern Georgia.  The Captain really has no immediate thoughts of marrying, although his Aunt had told him that in his new position as a country minister a wife would certainly be an asset.  And then, before boarding the train, Harry comes across a young lady who enlists his aid.  Not only is she in trouble, but she's also in a wedding dress, trying to escape an unwanted arranged marriage.  
    Seeing Harry with Sarah at the train station, his friends reach the conclusion that there is an elopement in the works.  They decide to buy tickets and surprise The Captain with a proper wedding aboard the train.  Also on the train are a young reporter and photographer, ambitiously following what looks to be an interesting story, Reverend Peterson, one of Harry's college professors, and his wife on their way to Atlanta,  several deputies searching for Sarah, as well as a man who looks like a hired gunman.   Why is the man Sarah was supposed to marry going to such lengths to find her?  Poor Sarah has no clue in what she has unwittingly become involved.  But, as promised, Harry does his best to protect her from whatever danger is following her.  A very eventful train ride ensues, with several twists and turns along the way, as this very enjoyable story unfolds. 

This book has wonderfully developed, very likeable characters.  Although occasionally it seemed a bit predictable, there was ample plot movement and various surprises to keep the reader turning the pages.   Once finished, the first thing I did was check to see if there was a sequel available.   And there is!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Under the circumstances, I think a wedding card is in order:

For this card I used a velum flourish die cut,  a Verve stamp, and
a doily embossing folder from which the center flower was fussycut in 2 layers and popped, sheer white ribbon bow, and glitter gem.

Card Challenges:

Aud Sentiments Challenge #169 - Anything Goes + a sentiment 

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes 

Word Art Wednesday Challenge Weeks 258-259 - Anything Goes 

A Bit More Time to Craft Challenge #33 - Anything Goes