Wordless Wednesday - A Sweet Valentine's Day

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It looks like the plate says "Cherish Mom" (which isn't at all a bad suggestion!), but it actually says "Cherish the Moments". That was the very delicious flourless chocolate cake with ganache topping that I made on Valentine's Day.

The girls made plates of chocolate covered strawberries for their sweethearts.

My daughter's flowers from her boyfriend

This post is linked at Wordless Wednesday, hosted by Life on Chickadee Lane, and at Pictoral Tuesday, hosted by Peabea Scribbles.

Pictorial Tuesday

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The Blizzard Bride

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The Blizzard Bride by Susanne Dietze - Things have been tough for Abigail since her father died - was murdered - but she is finally presented with a chance to help federal agents catch up with the killer, a dangerous counterfeiter. She's asked to go as a schoolteacher to a small town in Nebraska because that's where the counterfeiter's young son is, and they expect him to show up looking for the boy. Abby is glad to play a part in bringing the murderer to justice, and she knows she is a good teacher too.

But the agent that has been tracking the counterfeiter, and who will be her contact and protector in the town is none other than her former sweetheart, Dash Lassiter. Abby is still angry over the way he left her without explanation years before, and has hardened her heart against him. And against God too, because she's all but given up on prayer and Bible reading.

Dash is determined to do his job - and to protect Abby from harm -  and if he can find a way to make amends and win her back, that's what he really wants. He realizes that he'll need to earn her trust again, and tell her the real reason he left and hope she'll forgive him.

Abby is confronted with the need to extend grace and forgiveness, and to avoid being cold-hearted and bitter; and both Dash and Abby must set aside their own past hurts to work together when a sudden blizzard puts them and all the schoolchildren in danger. And when that crisis is past, will a more immediate danger be their undoing when they identify the counterfeiter?

This is the first novel from Susanne Dietze that I've read, and I greatly enjoyed her writing style. Abby is a flawed heroine with her stubborn hardness, but so likable as the sweet character underneath is revealed in her interactions with her students. Dash is rather like his name - dashing and bold - and the supporting cast in the town are realistic and interesting as well. The characters and their interactions were engaging and very well-written, so I was drawn into the story even though I felt some of the background information and motivations were not as clear as I would have liked. Overall, this is a great addition to the series and tells a story about a historical event (the Children's Blizzard) that I was not familiar with.

From the publisher:

A Blizzard Changes Everything

Abigail Bracey arrives in Nebraska in January 1888 to teach school . . . and to execute a task for the government to identify a student as the hidden son of a murderous counterfeiter - the man who killed her father.

Agent Dashiell Lassiter doesn't want his childhood sweetheart Abby on this dangerous job, especially when he learns the counterfeiter is now searching for his son too, and he'll destroy anyone in his way. Now Dash must follow Abby to Nebraska to protect her . . . if she'll let him within two feet of her. She's still angry he didn't fight to marry her six years ago, and he never told her the real reason he left her.

All Dash wants to is protect Abby, but when a horrifying blizzard sweeps over them, can Abby and Dash set aside the pain from their pasts and work together to catch a counterfeiter and protect his son - if they survive the storm?

Join the adventure as the Daughters of the Mayflower series continues with The Blizzard Bride by Susanne Dietze.

Other books in this series: The Mayflower Bride, The Pirate Bride, The Captured Bride, The Patriot Bride, The Cumberland Bride, The Liberty Bride, The Alamo Bride, The Golden Bride, The Express Bride, The Rebel Bride (Coming in 2020: The Chisholm Trail Bride)

Book Eleven in the Daughters of the Mayflower series.

Visit Barbour Publishing for more info on where to buy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

©2008-2020 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Scripture and a Snapshot - Love Is

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

~I Corinthians 13:4-7, 13~

So many beautiful expressions of love around St. Valentine's Day, and most are romantic love. It's so sweet to see a young man bringing flowers to his girlfriend, or a young lady choosing a gift to let her boyfriend know how much he means to her. I also adore seeing couples who have been married many years exchanging flowers and gifts, or sharing photos on Facebook remembering when they met and those happy memories. Love certainly can be romantic and sweet, and cards and flowers are tangible ways to express the sentiments.

But there's more to love than sentimental feelings. Celebrating romantic love and giving Valentines wishes to our loved ones might also be a reminder to us to consider whether we are showing the truest kind of love as described in the well-known "Love Chapter". Are we patient and kind? Are we faithful in protecting those we love? Are we truthful and trusting in our relationships? Do we believe and hope for God's best for our loved ones, and persevere in doing good for them?

That's a love that remains only when it's Christ working in us and loving through us. That's a love that builds strong families and loyal friendships. And yes, that's also the love that builds marriages that endure and thrive through the years.

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I also link up at Sunday Scripture Blessings, hosted by Peabea Scribble Pad; and at Seeking Sabbath, hosted by A Spirit of Simplicity.

 ©2008-2020 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Connect Five Friday - Featuring a Heart

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee - thank you!

The Friday Five Link Up is a List Link Up hosted by The Book Date. It can be five connections of any kind. Books can have been read last year or any year. Books can be used more than once. They may not have been read yet. . . It can be as simple or as complicated as you like. Maybe it's not a list of actual books, but things connected to books - e.g. favourite book shops, recipes etc. It might even be five movies related to books or five poems or five poets or five bookish moments, five thoughts about reading - be creative! The link-up will be open each Friday and will close on Thursday. Use the hashtag #connect5books

Today being Valentine's Day, the obvious connection to look for is something to do with love. I thought it would be easy to find five books I've read that have hearts featured on the cover. It turned out to be much harder than I'd expected. I did find these in the archives of my blog:

Alex and Eliza: A Love Story by Melissa De La Cruz - It took me awhile to get invested in this book, but once I did, I quite enjoyed this imagined love story between Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler. (Read my full review HERE.)

Ticker by Lisa Mantchev - absolutely loved this young adult steampunk novel. Truth is, I was hooked just looking at the cover! (Read my full review HERE)

Kind Is the New Classy: The Power of Living Graciously by Candace Cameron Bure - Practical and real-world ways of expressing godly kindness and grace in all areas of life from the popular actress, producer, and celebrity. Good recommended reading! (Read my full review HERE.)

A Christmas Valentine by Jamie Carie - A light reading romance novella. The hearts on the cover are pretty small, but since the word "Valentine" is also in the title, it made my cut! (Read my full review HERE.)

Read For the Heart: Whole Books for Wholehearted Families by Sarah Clarkson - This is one of the earliest reviews that appeared on this blog and I'm not completely sure this book is still available. Anyway, it's a guidebook for reading out loud and reading together in the family, along with a ton of suggested book. (Read my review HERE)

©2008-2020 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Wordless Wednesday - Hershey Bears

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Saturday evening we went to Hershey, PA for the Bears hockey game with a group of friends from church, and of course our family (including the auxiliary kids!) - another Bears win, and a great family fun night too!

This post is linked at Wordless Wednesday, hosted by Life on Chickadee Lane, and at Pictoral Tuesday, hosted by Peabea Scribbles.

Pictorial Tuesday

©2008-2020 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

What I'm Reading - February 10, 2020

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee - thank you! 

This weekly reading list meme is hosted at Book Date. Join in to see what others are reading and maybe get some ideas of what to read next! Although the Book Date link-up happens weekly, I don't manage to post that often. At this point, I am posting and linking about once a month!

I finished reading . . . 

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie - Finished this classic with my Lit class quite awhile ago, but hadn't yet posted the review when I did my last update. (Read my full review HERE.)

The Friendly Persuasion by Jessamyn West - a sweet, homey collection of short stories following Quaker couple Jess and Eliza Birdwell through the years. (Read my full review HERE.)




The Blizzard Bride by Susanne Dietze - Abigail goes as a schoolteacher to a small Nebraska town, but her secret purpose is to help the government identify a student who is the son of a dangerous counterfeiter. Turns out her old flame Dash Lassiter is the government agent on the job. (Read my full review HERE.)

I'm currently reading . . .

Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals - Okay, but I admit I AM crying from time to time as I read this memoir from one of the Little Rock Nine. It's hard to wrap my brain around the fact that so many people were hateful and vicious enough to treat kids like this. Reading for the Lit class I teach, and it was supposed to be finished already, but I am still wrapping up!



Emma by Jane Austen - This classic was chosen for an online book club I'm in, and I know I won't be able to finish it before the discussion, but it's such a fun read anyway!




Until the Mountains Fall by Connilyn Cossette - As a young and childless widow, Rivkah is expected to marry her late husband's younger brother, but she doesn't want to. Would it change her mind if she knew how much Malakhi loves her?

The Curse of the Healing Kiss by Mark McClelland - This novella is in the style of a medieval French fairy tale. A beautiful and vivacious young woman is cursed by her jealous friend after a relationship gone wrong.




The Next Always by Nora Roberts - I chose to read this contemporary fiction because I discovered Roberts is a local author and this particular series is based in a town not far from me.

Next on the stack... 

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
From Sky to Sky by Amanda G. Stevens

      

On my blogs recently . . . 

Besides the reviews, here on Just A Second you'll find:

Scripture and a Snapshot posts
Wordless Wednesday - Canadian Coffee
Monthly Bookshelf Review - January 2020 with Connect Five Friday
Share Four Somethings - January 2020
Wordless Wednesday - Cat Life
Connect Five Friday - Prejudice

And on my homeschool blog, Homeschool Coffee Break:

Twenty-Six Lists #3 - Getting Out of Town #twentysixlists
Coffee Break Reading List (February 3, 2020)
Homeschool Highlights - Winter Break
January Photo Album
Twenty-Six Lists - Random Acts of Kindness #twentysixlists
Coffee Break Reading List (Martin Luther King Jr Day 2020)
Homeschool Highlights - New Schedule!
Auxiliary Kids

What I'm Highlighting . . . My friends that read Just A Second are invited to join me at Homeschool Coffee Break for the Twenty-Six Lists link-up. It's every other week and the list prompts are for everyone, not just homeschoolers.

What are you reading?

©2008-2020 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.