Ramblings-n-Writings

Archive for February, 2010

ABOUT THE BOOK

Against a backdrop of thievery and murder in Bridal Veil Falls, Oregon, a historic logging community, a schoolteacher is torn between the memories of a distant love and the man who could be her future.

Sixteen-year-old Margaret Garvey had given her heart to Nathaniel Cooper the night he disappeared from town. Four years later, just as she’s giving love a second chance with Andrew, a handsome logger, Nathaniel suddenly returns. He steams back into Bridal Veil on a riverboat to work at the nearby sawmill to town with a devastating secret.

While grappling with the betrayal of those she trusted most, Margaret risks her reputation and position by harboring two troubled runaways who might be involved in the murder of a local man.

When disaster strikes the town and threatens the welfare of its citizens, Margaret will be faced with the most important choice of her life.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon, go HERE
MY THOUGHTS

Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon is the first book I’ve read in the Love Finds You series published by Summerside Press. The plans are to include at least one book set in each of the 50 states. According to the note in the back of this book, “each fictional story draws on the compelling history or the unique character of a real place. Stories center on romances kindled in small towns, old loves lost and found again on the high plains, and new loves discovered at exciting vacation getaways.”

At this point, 16 of the 50 states have books, and I have to say some of them have piqued my interest. I grew up not too far from Hershey, Penna., so I’m curious to read the one set there. Then there’s the ones with city names like Miracle, Romeo, Humble, Last Chance, Revenge … Don’t those sound fascinating? Of course, I have to wonder what the miracle is that happens in Miracle, Kentucky, or the revenge in Revenge, Ohio.

But enough about the series. I’m sure you’re curious to know what I thought of what happened in Bridal Veil, Oregon. I enjoyed this book, but I admit it probably isn’t one I would pull off a shelf to read. I know I shouldn’t judge a book by its cover (and I don’t!) but this cover just did absolutely nothing for me. I can’t even seem to place what the cover has to do with the story since it appears as if the main character is wearing a bridal veil and a wedding never occurred!

It took me a couple of chapters to warm up to the characters in this story, but once I did, they felt like old friends. Margaret shows a strength of character that many women far older than her seem to lack in today’s world. The tragedies she endured during her short 20 years make her sympathetic to the plights of others, yet vulnerable to things of the heart.

While most of the story focused on Margaret, the character of Andrew Browning became my favorite. Initially, I didn’t care for him most likely because I felt like he was interfering with Margaret’s relationship with Nathaniel. As the story progressed and Andrew played a larger part in the story, my sentiments changed and I found myself liking Andrew and thinking Nathaniel was the cad.

To me, the overwhelming theme of Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon, is trust. From Sammie and Joel learning to trust Margaret to Margaret learning to trust God for her future, author Miralee Ferrell imparts lessons about how we need to respond the situations life puts us in.

Thank you to Summerside Press and CFBA for providing this free book for my review. The words contained under “My Thoughts” are my own with no affiliate links. “About the Book” information is provided by CFBA.

So we were forecasted to get a bunch of snow … ya know, 6-12 inches which for around here is a lot. All the milk and bread disappeared from store shelves. Schools closed their doors. And everyone prepared for the worst … that never came.

Only a dusting of about 3 inches of really light powdery snow filtered from the sky during the past 48 hours. Definitely beats the 2-3 ft of snow that landed in my home state of Pennsylvania!

I guess things could’ve been a lot worse, like back in December when we really did get 12 inches of snow. That blast of snow sent our county into a blackout with many not having electricity for 5 days or more.

So I’m grateful that we didn’t get another 12 inches. But either way, I learned a few things from all this snow …

1. Our road crews are definitely doing a better job this year with road care. I’ve seen more snow plows and cinders this year than in the previous four winters combined! While this may not sound significant, it’s a really big deal when you’re used to not being able to drive on the roads for at least 48 hours after an inch of snow. In fact, from what I’ve heard, they’ve actually treated the roads so well this year that they ran out of salt/cinders/sand and had to purchase some from another county.
2. It is physically possible for cows to eat the entire center out of a round bale of hay and leave the outside layer still standing and in tact. I really wish I had a photo of this, but imagine a huge round bale of hay standing up on it’s side (the rounded part, not the flat side). Then make a great big hole right through the center, and keep the top of the bale still in place so all it looks like is someone drew a great big circle of hay and forgot to fill it in.
3. Electricity and internet are luxuries. Heat is a necessity. Gas stoves are marvelous appliances. I can do a lot of things without electricity, and quite a few more things when I’m not distracted by the internet. However, if I’m cold, I can’t do a thing! And you can always cook a meal on a gas stove.
4. If the snowflakes are big enough, it is possible to see the individuality of each of them. If you’ve never seen the detail of a snowflake, it is truly amazing. I saw some of the most beautiful flakes, each one unique. Some of the flakes looked similar – maybe the same tips on the points but different centers. I imagine the snowflakes are just like us. God made each of us unique yet we have some of the same characteristics – hair color, eye color, voice accents – yet we’re all different. The design of our human bodies is intricate with so many parts relying on other parts to make up the whole. To me, a snowflake reflects the same intricacies.
5. And finally, the most profound lesson … if you want the electricity to stay on, don’t bother resetting the clocks to the right time. Inevitably as soon as you do, the electricity will go off again … even if for a split second but enough to start the clock flashing again!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Every family has secrets. Few will go as far as the Baxters to keep them. Bestselling novelist CJ Baxter has made a career out of writing hard-hitting stories ripped from his own life. Still there’s one story from his past he’s never told. One secret that’s remained buried for decades. Now, seventeen years after swearing he’d never return, CJ is headed back to Adelia, NY. His life in Tennessee has fallen to pieces, his grandfather is dying, and CJ can no longer run from the past. With Graham Baxter, CJ’s brother, running for Senate, a black sheep digging up old family secrets is the last thing the family and campaign can afford. CJ soon discovers that blood may be thicker than water, but it’s no match for power and money. There are wounds even time cannot heal.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Hunter’s Moon, go HERE

MY THOUGHTS:

I feel really weird saying this, but I have no idea if this book is good or not. I’m pretty sure I received my review copy through CFBA because I vaguely remember the cover art. However, I have absolutely no clue what I did with the book! I haven’t gone so far as to look under the sofa cushions, but maybe I should?

I’ve said in previous posts that I always read the books that I post about, whether or not I include a review, so I just wanted to let you know that I haven’t actually read this book. If I do find my copy, I will definitely update this post to include my thoughts. If you’ve read the book, please leave a comment and let other readers know what you thought!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Don Hoesel was born and raised in Buffalo, NY but calls Spring Hill, TN home. He works as a Communications Department supervisor for a Medicare carrier in Nashville, TN. He has a BA in Mass Communication from Taylor University and has published short fiction in Relief Journal.

Don and hopes to one day sell enough books to just say that he’s a writer. You can help with that by buying whatever his newest novel happens to be.

He lives in Spring Hill with his wife and two children.

This book was sent to me through Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for the book tour. The words under “My Thoughts” are my own, and the rest is promotional material supplied by CFBA. No affiliate links are in this post.

Ever have one of those days when you want to blog but can’t think of a single thing to write?

Yeah, I know it’s hard to imagine, but it’s happening to me. Ack!!! Usually the ideas are spinning in my head and I have little notes of things to blog about … but my note pile is exhausted and my head is silent.

I think part of my problem is I feel pressured to write at certain times because the “schedule post” option isn’t working on my blog. (The dreadful gremlins are back at it again!) So I feel like I have to write something on my “office” days instead of being able to write it whenever and just schedule it for later.

I suppose I could write the posts, save them as drafts, and just publish them on the days I want … but that requires remembering to actually publish them.

Since I’m having such a hard time finding things to write about, can you give me some suggestions?

• What do you want to know about me?
• Is there anything that I haven’t blogged about recently that you’re wondering about?
• Curious about my opinion on something or what I like/dislike?
• I’d love to start a blog series on something but am unsure of what. Any suggestions?

C is for … what else but CAT! Did you seriously think I would come up with a better C word? (I did … once. You can see the CAVES here.)

Sassy Lou is my only kitty furbaby that I have left. She’s definitely my little sweetie!

Most of my cat herd went to new homes this past summer / fall. It was starting to get too expensive paying for food, shots, flea prevention, and vet visits for 6 cats!!!

Winks and Sylvester, my two boys that I had for about 7 years, disappeared during 2009. Both went outside and never came home. Thankfully it wasn’t at the same time but about 9 months apart. Part of me wonders if they found new homes or exactly what happened.

Buttercup went to a new home not too far away along with two rescue kitties that were found along the road. (Yep, at one point, there were 8 cats/kittens in the house.) The lady that adopted them said all three were the best cats she ever had in her life!

Buttons moved in with a three-year-old girl and I’m positive that they are the best of friends and spend hours and hours playing together.

Penelope ventured to the next door neighbor’s farm where she has a barn full of mice all to herself. Why share a barn with other cats when you can have your very own? I still see her every couple of days on my way out of the hollow.

So while all of my furbabies have found new homes, I’m glad Sassy Lou is still around. She’s a great companion, prefers getting in my face when I type, and has the quietest meow of any cat. (Who wouldn’t love a quiet kitty?)

One day soon I’ll introduce you to the two kitties that I cat-sit during the week…

To see more ABC Wednesday photos, click here.