Whispers on the Dock- The thrilling conclusion to the Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn trilogy!

My Thoughts:

I was beyond delighted to visit Misty Harbor Inn once again!  I honestly wish that the series would never end as I adore the characters, love meeting new guests at the inn, and finding clues to the mysterious disappearance of Hannah Montague.  Whispers on the Dock is the enchantingly mysterious conclusion to the Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn series.  A wedding is in the works, more mysteries are uncovered about the inn, an elderly guest at the inn shares puzzling information about the sisters' mother, and the quest to create a winning blackberry cobbler is keeping Sam busy in the kitchen.  Mysteries, love and food- adore them all!  Whispers on the Dock is simply delightful.  In fact, this is one of my favorite series!  Hidden rooms, vintage love letters, the lovely island of Nantucket, freshly baked scones and an engaging mystery await you.:)

About Whispers on the Dock: Three sisters. A charming inn. Hints of mystery and romance. And a gorgeous seaside setting. Escape to Misty Harbor Inn.

As Nantucket reaches the pinnacle of its summer glory, and the Marris sisters welcome guests at Misty Harbor Inn, youngest sister Sam Carter enters her mother's cobbler recipe in the Summerfest baking contest. But she faces a formidable opponent, a past winner who is determined to keep her title even if it means stooping to dirty tactics. Can Sam's newfound faith help her rise above the fray and reach out to this lonely woman? Meanwhile, an elderly guest arrives who knows the inn's history, and the sisters are stunned to learn that their late mother lived there as a child. But she told them she'd never been to Nantucket until her honeymoon! Through the woman's reminiscences and photos, the sisters make an intriguing discovery --- not only about the mysterious Hannah Montague, the young woman who disappeared from the house in 1880, but also about their own family history.

Readers will delight in the inviting Nantucket setting and be enthralled by the adventures of these sisters who reunite to bring their mother's Misty Harbor dreams to life.

About the authors: Evangeline Kelley is the pen name for the writing team of Patti Berg, Pam Hanson & Barbara Andrews, and Camy Tang, the four authors who collaborated to create Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn. Each of them has published novels individually, but this is their first series together. 

Book three in the Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn series, Whispers on the Dock(Guideposts Books) is now available. Come back to Nantucket and be enthralled by the final installment of the cozy intrigue of Misty Harbor Inn.



Enter to win the entire set of Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn.





Three winners will receive:

• Seaside Summer, Sunflower Summer and Whispers on the Dock by Evangeline Kelley


Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on August 31st. All winners will be announced September 2nd at the Litfuse blog.







Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit the Litfuse blog on the 2nd to see if you won one set! (Or better yet, subscribe to our blog (via the box in the top right sidebar) and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox!)

*I was given a copy of this book from Litfuse Publications in exchange for my honest opinion.  No other compensation was received.*

August Cara Box Partner - Michelle

Cara Box time again!

For the month of August my partner was the amazingly creative Michelle!

Michelle is an absolute sweetheart and created a lovely and thoughtful box of love just for me.:)

There were pink polka dotted napkins...

and a sunshine yellow polka dotted bowl!

The softest Ralph Lauren wash cloth...

and tiny ball trim in a rainbow of colors along with fabulous buttons!

These yummies were gone within minutes.  I'd never tried cassava chips but am now officially hooked! They are crazy delicious- and gluten free.;)

I'm over the moon in love with these gorgeous bookmarks Michelle created for me!  Lovely colors (turquoise!) and the pages are from the book Little Women- another one of my favorites!

How precious is this handmade card??  I tell you, Michelle was a bit worried that I'd think her package was "lame".  Far from it, sweetie!  I loved each and every treasure!  Thank you so much!  

Alone Yet Not Alone- Review and Giveaway!

The winner is #5- Julie!  Congratulations!!

My Thoughts:

Alone Yet Not Alone is the incredible, true story of two sisters, Barbara (12) and Regina (9) Leininger, who were abducted by Allegheny indian warriors in the autumn of 1755.  Shots rang out and their house was set on fire but that was only the beginning of their nightmare...

Before reading Alone Yet Not Alone, I really knew nothing about the French and Indian War.  This book is an exciting, occasionally terrifying, insiders look into what occurred during the battle. I was amazed at the hostility and brutality, but then war is never pretty, is it?  Babies were murdered, women were burned at the stake and families are ripped apart- sometimes permanently.  The story is real- and raw- but the constant focus on the Lord is what carried many of these people through their ordeal.  I appreciated how Tracy Leininger Craven wrote the story with God at the center of it.  She made it inspirational instead of a horrible tragedy. The Allegheny warriors refused to let their captives speak English, they dyed their skin and hair, but they were unable to take away their love of God.  History, Bible, and Adventure all in one!  I'd recommend this book for ages 10+.

Flyby Promotions has generously given me a copy of Alone Yet Not Alone for one of my readers!  Would you like to win it?

Here's what you need to do...

#1- Leave a comment on this post for 1 entry.

#2- Leave a separate comment telling me you're a follower of my blog for 1 additional entry.

#3- Post about this giveaway on your blog for 1 additional entry.  Leave a comment about this.

#4- Like Alone Yet Not Alone on facebook for 1 extra entry.  Leave a comment about this.

**I'll randomly choose a winner on September 2nd.  Good luck!**

A movie, based on the book, is coming out September 27th!  My girls and I can't wait to see it.  Alone Yet Not Alone has pictures from the movie in the middle of the book and it looks amazing!

Releases in theaters Sept 27th, 2013 - Find a Theater Here: http://seatzy.com/main/moviedetail/alone-yet-not-alone

About Alone Yet Not Alone (novelization):

Settled in the Blue Mountains of Pennsylvania, deep within America's new frontier, the Leininger family celebrates the blessings of a beautiful homestead and bountiful harvest. That is, until tragedy strikes with the beginning of the French and Indian War and the devastating raid known as the Penn's Creek Massacre. 

The lives of this simple, God-fearing family are forever altered when Barbara and Regina, two young sisters, are carried away by the Delaware tribe. Driven by their faith in God and the powerful bonds of family, Barbara and Regina hold firmly to the belief that they are never alone, even in their darkest hour, and that they will be reunited again. 

Rich in historical details, Alone Yet Not Alone is an inspirational, true story of a family caught in the cross fire of the French and Indian War. 

About The Author: 

Tracy Leininger Craven loves history and retelling real-life stories in her historical fiction books. She also loves spending her free time in the great outdoors with her husband David and their four children.

  Bring Alone Yet Not Alone to Your City: http://seatzy.com/main/moviedetail/alone-yet-not-alone

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aloneyetnotalone

Movie Twitter: https://twitter.com/AYNAthemovie

Movie Website: http://www.aloneyetnotalone.com 

*I was given a copy of this book from FlyBy Promotions in exchange for my honest opinion.  No other compensation was received.*

Standing Up- Family Movie Giveaway!

*The winner is Tristan!  Congratulations!*

Standing Up.

A movie with a very important message.

For the whole family.

Most of us have been bullied at some point in our lives.  Sadly, it happens every day.  Standing Up is a movie about two children pushed into a tragic situation and how they refuse to give up.  They're even able to discover strength they never knew they possessed.  Movies like this are moving, exciting and potentially life changing.

I couldn't wait to tell you about it!

Based on one of the most beloved Young Adult novels of all time and directed by the acclaimed D.J. Caruso, Standing Up follows two kids who get bullied by a vicious summer camp prank. Left together on an island, their adventure begins once they decide not to be victims, and instead they Stand Up! 

Standing Up is an adorable and heart-warming gem of a movie with an important anti-bullying message that’s suitable for the whole family! Get the DVD now!

What can be done to help the bullied “stand up” for themselves?

One of the best things we can do to understand the problem and discuss solutions is to be inspired. The movie “Standing Up” is THAT inspiration.

After watching the preview, I can't wait to order this movie for my family.  Take a peek (click link above) and you'll see what I mean!

Would you like to win a signed copy of this movie?

Here's what you need to do-

#1- Leave a comment on this post for 1 entry.

#2- Leave a separate comment that you're a follower of my blog for 1 additional entry.

That's it!  I'll randomly choose a winner on September 1st!  Good luck!

 *Arc Entertainment is responsible for this giveaway.  Thank you!*

Sheila, the Bat Ray

Getting to the end of summer here.

Nope, we haven't started school yet at our house.

Still time to work on our Bucket List.

So, on Friday we headed to the Tulsa Aquarium!

Petted the shrimp.

Told the little fellas I loved eating them.;)

Visited the fish, crabs and squid...

Turtles and alligator, too.

Then, it was time for the SHARKS!

Can you even imagine diving with them?

Or getting in one of those flimsy cages??

Nope, this is close enough.

Our favorite animals were the stingrays.

The girls fed them shrimp on those little plastic poles (below).  

Stingrays are quite frisky when it's feeding time!

Then we got to pet them!

The one in the center (below) is a Bat Ray.

Her name was Sheila.:)

Sheila was as friendly as a little puppy.

Sweet girl.

The Southern Stingrays are more like cats.

They can take you or leave you.

Stingrays feel almost velvety, but a tiny bit slimy.

They are precious.

Their barbs are a but tricky, but these little sweeties have theirs capped.

We could have petted them all day...

The girls made many trips through the shark tunnel.

Because it's reallllyyy cool.

Tulsa Aquarium has the largest collection of Bull Sharks in the U.S.

You can even "sleep with the sharks" there- 

slumber party style.

Could you sleep with sharks swimming above and next to you??

Jellyfish are truly gorgeous but boy do they pack a punch of pain with their tentacles!

I was stung once and it felt like my leg was on fire!

Yikes!

Eerily beautiful.

Nemo fish!

Don't be crabby.;)

Moray eels are another frighteningly amazing creature.

I'm endlessly in awe over God's creations.

Wow.

Dark Halo by Shannon Dittemore- Review and Giveaway!

My Thoughts:

Dark Halo, by Shannon Dittemore, is the thrilling third book in the Angel Eyes trilogy.  It's a combination of drama/romance/battle between good and evil.  This book will leave you breathless!  The main characters, Jake and Brielle, are gifted with special abilities from the Creator (God) and this makes them appealing to the dark side, particularly the Prince of Darkness (Satan).  At the end of Broken Wings Jake is taken away by a demon and Brielle is heartbroken and longing to find a way to save him.  She's willing to do anything and this is what the dark side is banking on.  When presented with a proposition from the Prince of Darkness, Brielle falters in her faith in order (she believes) to protect her loved ones.  Angels and demons are battling in the small town of Stratus and Jake and Brielle are in the middle of the chaos.

Dark Halo's characters truly make the story special.  Jake and Brielle are "quality" characters with depth and compassion and this makes the reader want to find out more about them.  Shannon Dittemore gives her teen (and adult!) readers more than a "kiss and tell" story- this is a battle between good and evil!  I loved how Olivia, Marco and Kaylee added layers to the adventure, in that they all had their own stories.  Damien, the demon, is absolutely terrifying.  Every time his name was on the page I could feel my heart start to race!  This may be a YA novel but it certainly kept my attention and had me racing through pages to discover how it would end.

About the Author

Shannon Dittemore is the author of the Angel Eyes Trilogy. She has an overactive imagination and a passion for truth. Her lifelong journey to combine the two is responsible for a stint at Portland Bible College, performances with local theater companies, and a focus on youth and young adult ministry. When she isn’t writing, she spends her days with her husband, Matt, imagining things unseen and chasing their two children around their home in Northern California.
ANGEL EYES was Shannon’s debut novel and the launch of a young adult supernatural trilogy. It was published in the summer of 2012 by Thomas Nelson. The sequel BROKEN WINGS hit shelves in February, 2013 and the final novel in the trilogy, DARK HALO, will be available August 20, 2013.

Author Links:

    

*I was given a digital copy of Dark Angel by YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for my honest opinion.  No other compensation was received.*

new favorite- Nerf Rebelle Heartbreaker Bow

We can't stop playing with it.

Yes, I said "we".

My whole family is in love with this!

BzzAgent doesn't require me to blog about the Nerf Rebelle Heartbreaker Bow, but it's such fun that I just had to tell you about it!  (It's designed for girls but when boys see it they're going to want one, too.)

My girls have been playing with it for days.  As soon as we get home they go right back to it!  Pretending, giggling, running outside, seeing who can shoot the farthest.  The darts are really soft so it wouldn't be a problem if they played inside- I just prefer them enjoying the sunshine.:)

I believe they are being released in stores on September 1st and will sell for $19.99.

My girls are already planning on splitting the cost and buying another one!

Target practice.;)

Good thing big sister is a good sport!  lol!

Ruby wanted to have a turn, too.  I think?  

*BTW-I have some coupons for the Nerf Rebelle, so let me know if you'd like one.*

*I was given a Nerf Rebelle by BzzAgent in exchange for my honest opinion.  No other compensation was received.*

zona rosa and a day at the races

My husband had business to attend to in K.C. and was sweet enough to invite his girls to tag along.

He headed to work and we headed to Zona Rosa- a fabulous outdoor mall with oodles of shopping and restaurants!

The perfect photo op!  The only thing missing was One Direction.;)

We were greeted by the sweetest dog in this shop!

He headed straight for Mandy and kept her company while Katie and I looked around.

Precious.

I thought this gray dress was striking with the red necklace.

Absolutely.

We ate lunch at Bravo!

The weather was absolutely perfect.

Around 80 with a soft breeze.

The little girls giggling in the water (center, below) set the scene.:)

(We dined outside underneath the far left umbrella.)

Here we are!

Later the girls went swimming and I read.

The next day we went to the American Girl store in Oak Park Mall...

then had lunch at Nordstrom where Katie created a notebook with colorful washi tape.

Fun! (We found this washi tape set later at Target!)

After lunch we were off to the races!

Again, the weather was perfect.

80's in August??  It just doesn't happen- unless you're really lucky.;)

I love how you can see the blue sky and clouds mirrored on this Lamborghini.

Mandy posed inside the Mazda car.:)  Later, it won the race!

The girls posing in the pit.  (Those are all computer screens where they keep track of everything you could imagine- and more.  Fascinating.  I had no idea there was so much going on behind the scenes.)

The girls posing with one of the drivers- Tristan Nunez.  He's just 17 and so friendly and charming!  That's his car in the back- the one Mandy posed in earlier.  (There are actually 2 drivers as each car must have two.)

No words.

I got in on the action, too.  As little as possible, thank you! 

There were fireworks after the race- and champagne sprayed on the winners!

The weekend was wonderful.  

Now it's time for me to get back to work planning for school.

Next Monday is our kick-off!