The Ladies of Ivy Cottage

The Ladies of Ivy Cottage

by Julie Klassen

What a fun series!  The Ladies of Ivy Cottage is Book 2 in the Tales from Ivy Hill Series by Julie Klassen!  

I read Book 1 The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill several months ago and this continues the story and catches back up with the central characters, townspeople, and adds some new characters!

When a series is good, you feel you are part of the town, have a vested interest in how things turn out for all the characters!  That's what makes it so fun - checking back in with old friends!

I was happy to reconnect with the main characters, old friends in the village Jane, Mercy, and Rachel.  The girls grew up together and in the course of life, as things happen, friendships cool and are rewarmed in this series!

The girls are now approaching the 30 year mark, Jane a widow and Mercy and Rachel yet unmarried.  Part of the strife of this book is the unresolved romance between characters.  I hate to name any names as this book is too enjoyable to not pick up and read for yourself!

When we pick up the story, Jane is widowed and running The Bell, a coaching inn, Mercy is running her girls school in her childhood home, and Rachel has lost her home and family and is living in a bedroom with Mercy, and Mercy's Aunt Matilda.

Rachel is trying to find a way to support herself and earn a living, she has a standing proposal but just can't bring herself to accept just for comfort and convenience.  We come to see, as we suspected, her heart is already taken.

Rachel begins a circulating library, in the drawing room of Ivy Cottage, which is a place for many conversations and gatherings throughout the book!  

Mercy is resigned to remain unwed and feels the girls school is her life, teaching is her calling and she if fulfilled.

Jane has shed her mourning clothes, has the inn running well, and is working to resolve her fears and accept her loss of her husband and her unborn children.

Will Rachel's library become a success, will she be able to support herself?  Will her heart ever heal or will she resolve things with her first and only love?

Will Mercy continue the school?  A few wrinkles are tossed her way via her parents ultimatum and potential husband they bring to visit.  

And what of the story of the little girl Alice, a student at the girls school whom Mercy has grown to love?

And what of the mysterious Mrs. Haverhill?  What is her story, surely she isn't a 'witch' as some of the villagers have claimed.

There are many questions that arise pretty early in this book, and some are resolved and some are to be left for Book 3!

I'm anxiously awaiting what becomes of Jane and her new possibilities!  And what of Mercy, will she lose her school, Alice, or will she find security and happiness?

This book reads like an old friend, the romantic writing like Jane Austen, as you watch the story weave and unfold, weave and unfold, slowly as you savor every word!

I just loved this book and December is a long time to wait for #3

I was given a free copy of this book from Bethany House as part of the Blogger Review program, all comments are my own!

A Breath of Hope by Lauraine Snelling

A Breath of Hope

by Lauraine Snelling

A Breath of Hope continues Lauraine Snelling's second book in her Under Northern Skies series.

A quick refresh, this series follows a family from Norway and their immigration to America!  Einar and Gerd Strand have a farm in Northern Minnesota, they have a farm to care for, a home, and acres of big tall pines to fell.  They can't do this on their own and they have no other family there with them.  So they write a letter to their cousin, Gunlaug Strand Carlson in Norway asking if her son and his family would like to come to Minnesota to help them!  Rune Carlson and his wife Signe agree to immigrate to America, with their three sons, as things in Norway are not very promising.  The dream of owning land, a home, and a farm drive their decision to go!

Read  the first book in this series, The Promise of Dawn, to learn more!

Rune, Signe, and their three sons Bjorn, Knute, and Leif are settled in their new home with Einar and Gerd and are getting closer to their dream - their own land and their own home.  So Einar realizes that he will need more help, and someone to stay with Gerd, who is still not strong enough to do all the things around the home and farm by herself.

Enter Rune's sister, Nilda.  She has the same offer from Einar and Gerd that Rune and his family received.  Passage to America in exchange for work!

Next, Rune and Nilda's brother, Ivar - he longs to go as well.  He doesn't want to be indebted to Einar as he has heard rumor of his meanness!  Nilda and Ivar and the rest of the family finally earn enough to cover Ivar's passage!

Nilda has dreamt of going to America for so long, and even more so since her brother and his family have gone.  Nilda and Signe were best friends back in Norway as well.  And a new baby has been born, Kirstin, that she hasn't even met!

It's all she can do to be patient to go, working odd jobs like Ivar to earn his passage.  Additionally, their father does not think it wise for Nilda to travel alone.

In one of the jobs Nilda accepts is working for a wealthy family cleaning their home.  She has a run in with their son, his unwanted advances horrifying her.  Of course, she is fired as his mother blames her for the situation.  Nilda learns she isn't the only girl to have this happen.
She learns that he has been banished by his father - to America.

Finally, Spring is here, there is enough money for Ivar's ticket and Einar has sent Nilda hers! Her dream is going to come true!

But what awaits them in Minnesota?  They are about to find out!  Ivar and Nilda have set sail!
They have an interesting passage, even meet a young man headed to Blackduck, which is one stop before Benson's Corner!

Once they arrive at Uncle Einer's, they begin to understand and see what Rune and Signe have been doing the past year - working!  It is so good to reunite with Rune and his family, and neither Ivar nor Nilda is afraid of hard work.  Soon things are running smoothly, everyone is hard at work, garden is in, crops are in, and Rune is busy getting their home built.  Everyone is happy and content except Uncle Einar - why can't anyone make him see what is really important, family!

See what happens next, grab your copy of A Breath of Hope!  See what God has in store for this family, how he hears and answers their prayers - what is that one the breeze...A Breath of Hope!?

Thank you to Bethany House, I received a free copy of this book to read and review through the Bethany House Blogger program.  All opinions and this review are my own!

The Promise of Dawn by Lauraine Snelling

The Promise of Dawn

by Lauraine Snelling

I'm a big fan of Christian fiction and historical fiction - and I am a huge fan of Lauraine Snelling, so I was delighted to receive this book to read and reveiw!

"The Promise of Dawn" is the first book in a new series from Lauraine Snelling - Under Northern Skies!

This story follows a family as they emigrate to America from Norway.  It's a easy book to read, it's a pleasure as you get to know the family in Norway and how their chance to go to "Amerika" comes about, you are introduced to the main characters in their homeland of Norway, what their circumstances are and why the need to go and why they might want to go.  You also feel their excitement for a better, new life, and their sadness to say goodbye to their family members in Norway!

The story begins with a letter from America, to Gunlaug Strand Carlson, from her cousin and his wife, Einar and Gerd Strand.  They are an older couple, with no children of their own, and need help on their farm in Minnesota.   They are asking Gunlaug to see if her son, Rune, and his family (wife and three boys) would like to come to America, help them on their farm in exchange for their fare.

This offer gives them the chance to start a new life with hope of owning their own home, and having their own land, eventually.  What they didn't know was what was waiting for them once they arrived in Minnesota.  What would life be like, what were Einar and Gerd like, it was mentioned in the letter that Gerd was ill.

As the book moves on, it takes you through their experience on the long journey, on the ship, boats, and trains to finally reach their destination.  We also learn that Rune's wife, Signe is pregnant.  Not an easy time to travel!  We get to know each of their son's, Bjorn, Knute, and Leif.  

Once in Minnesota, they quickly realize that Rune's Uncle Einar is not a friendly man, the house is in terrible condition, the garden is full of weeds and the house full of mice!  They also realize that Gerd is far sicker than they imagined.  

But God is not done, and through the course of this book you see God at work!  The small steps, the family getting closer, the house getting in shape.  

So I don't give the story away, suffice it to say that through this book we learn a lot about farming, tree felling, and life in the early1900's in rural northern Minnesota!  We also get to know this family, a few townsfolk, and what it took to survive!

We see Signe's faith questioned, does God really hear our prayers?  What is the use in prayer if you don't have faith that God hears you!?

I love the way Lauraine Snelling writes, she simply tells the story of each day, as it comes, what hardships arise, what work need to be done.  As she does this you get to know each character and see them evolve from the beginning. 

How much stronger is each character becomes by the end because how much can you take from demanding people that don't seem to like anyone!?

Will they ever have their own home, will their debt ever be paid?

Throughout this book we keep in touch with other family members back in Norway through letters sent back and forth.  This will pave the way for the next books in the series!

I've read many of Lauraine Snelling's books and lots of her series through and find them compelling, it's a step back in time - where the work is had but the life is simple.  People are mostly kind and faith is most important.

Come along with the Strand and Carlson families in this exciting new Under Northern Skies series by Lauraine Snelling!

Book Two - A Breath of Hope review coming soon!

A big thank you to Bethany House for the free copy to read and review through their Blogger Review Program, my review and opinions are 100% my own.

Yardley London Moisturizing Bath Bar

     Yardley London

         Moisturizing Bath Bar

If you're like me - "me time" is an important luxury and one you don't take for granted! So when you get that special time - be it hours or minutes - you want to make sure you treat yourself well!

I've been given the opportunity to try Yardley London's newest bath bars complimentary and they are wonderful! They are moisturizing and come in delightful scents and varieties! Pictured above are the three beautiful bath bars I received! 











When I get the opportunity to escape to the shower I want to treat my senses and my skin. I love that these soaps give me a sense of relaxation and rejuvenation! They all lather up so much and leave my skin feeling clean, soft, and moisturized! 

English Lavender Moisturizing Bath Bar

This bath bar has an amazing scent and we all know that lavender is known to calm and soothe, so it's a little aromatherapy as you shower! This bar is made with pure lavender extracts and essential oils, allows you a few moments of relaxation. And I love the lather and the moisturizing - leaves skin soft, smooth, and soft!

Oatmeal & Almond Naturally Moisturizing Bath Bar

This bar is know to soothe dry skin and feels like a dream! It contains real oatmeal that gently exfoliates your skin, leaving it soft, soothed, and smooth!

The Oatmeal & Almond has a light scent and luxurious lather!

Creamy Coconut Naturally Moisturizing Bath Bar

This is the newest and another awesome bath bar from Yardley!

The scent reminds me of going on vacation - another 'me time' little escape!

You have to love the ingredients - shea butter, aloe, and vitamin E - my skin just loves the moisturizing effect and the way this one lathers - as luxuriously as the others!

All of Yardley's Moisturizing Bath Bars are paraben free and sodium lauryl sulfate free!



You can find out more here:

yardleylondon.com rel="nofollow"
facebook.com/YardleyLondonUS/ rel="nofollow"

You might think with all the delicious ingredients, skin loving moisturizing, and awesome scents these might be expensive luxuries - but the Yardley  Moisturizing Bath Bars are extremely affordable - ranging from .97 to $1.49 per bar! What you say!?? You can find them for .97 at Walmart, and they are also available at most mass, drug, and food stores! Look for them at Walgreens, HEB, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, CVS, Rite Aid, and many more!



Pamper yourself with Yardley's Bath Bars, they are definitely luxurious and also beauty on a budget.


I received these bath bars complimentary from Yardley and Brandbacker to facilitate this review and post.

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How to Walk Away by Katherine Center

How to Walk Away

by Katherine Center

I absolutely loved this book! It's so well-written and easy to read you feel like you are there versus reading the pages.
I found myself with a rollercoaster of emotions as I read the story of Margaret, I think there were some pages I was laughing and crying at the same time! Very deep, but written so cleverly it didn't hurt. The witty banter of the characters as they learn to navigate a new normal, reconnect, and even discover a family secret is enjoyable despite the circumstances.

Everything is looking up for Margaret, she's graduated with her MBA, she's in love with the perfect man, she has landed her 'dream job' and now is she going to finally get engaged? She didn't want to go flying, didn't want to go up in the airplane - but Chip is almost a pilot and he wants to make this date extra special.

What happens when you have life all figured out and then everything changes. A life-changing injury and then what. This is a brilliant story, it's heartbreaking, funny, sad, sarcastic, and triumphant all at the same time! With an awesome cast of characters you will love this book.

I received a free Advance Readers' Edition of this book through SheSpeaks from St. Martins Press, all opinions and ideas expressed here are my own.

This book goes on sale on May 15, 2018 - be sure to grab your copy right away!

I loved it so much I'm looking up her other books!

A Most Noble Heir by Susan Anne Mason

 A Most Noble Heir

by Susan Ann Mason

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it a fun and relaxing read, but it's not without it's tense twists and nerve-wracking turns.

I enjoy a good historical fiction getting the history and the feel of the setting and era.  This one, set in England in 1884, gives you the whole feel for the upstairs/downstairs, aristocracy versus servant life.

Nolan is an honorable stable boy who learns, on his mothers deathbed, that he is actually the son of the very Earl whose estate he works.  He is not fond of this man, doesn't respect him and actually somewhat fears him.  

Nolan is in love with the lovely kitchen maid Hannah and as far as he is concerned he is buying a nearby farm and marrying Hannah despite this new-found knowledge.

Once the bombshell is released by his mother things are about to change and although Hannah and Nolan are in love, it's not that simple anymore.

Take this journey of faith with Nolan and Hannah--will true love be enough?  As soon as things seem ironed out and a plan is set along comes a reason or an event that changes that plan.  

You find yourself pulling for the Hannah and Nolan as they face the changes, their own doubts, as they try to figure out if there will ever be harmony and acceptance.

Another note that makes this book more authentic and interesting is that this story is loosely based on actual events in her family history!  So cool!

Pick up a copy for yourself available on amazon, barnes & noble, Christrianbook.com and wherever good books are sold!

I received a free copy of this book through the Bethany House Blogger program, review is my own.

Jan Marini Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant

Jan Marini

Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant

Broad Spectrum SPF 33

When Spring hits we are all anxious for warm sunny weather and with that we are all thinking of protecting our skin from the sun.

What we don't think about is the fact that the UV rays are always out there, and the potential for skin damage is always there, no matter the season!

Jan Marini Skin Research Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant is the perfect solution!  This product is broad spectrum which means it protects you from both UVA and UVB rays, SPF 33, and waterproof for 80 minutes!

This protectant is lightweight, smooth, and invisible!  It also hydrates and contains antioxidants!  This lotion absorbs quickly and is not sticky or heavy!

They even added microscopic particles to aid in oil control, so this is perfect if worn alone or with makeup! Great light scent!

Take care of your skin this year!

I was given a complimentary product to facilitate this post, all opinions are my own!  

I find myself reaching for this lotion now that I have re-educated myself about the dangers of sun damage.  I apply this after cleansing and before other skincare products and any makeup.  It goes on light, absorbs in and I don't otherwise feel it.  It feels moisturizing and keeps my skin soft without being sticky, which is a main complaint with sun protecting products on the face.

I also like the scent!

Be proactive this year and protect your skin for the dangers and potential damage from the suns UV rays!

Remember - 

UVA rays are present year round - they don't burn the skin so you may not be aware of over-exposure!  They can cause skin cancer and increase the signs of aging.

UVB rays are the burning rays - burning your skin and increasing the risk of skin cancer and premature aging of the skin.  These are more prevalent during certain times of year and certain times of day.

Thank you to Jan Marini for sharing this product with me, I'm happy to protect my skin and appreciate the information regarding UV exposure.

For more information and other great products from Jan Marini Skin Research, please visit their website.  

https://www.janmarini.com/skin-care-products/SPF/antioxidant-daily-face-protectant-spf-33-tube

And check out their Beauty in Bloom even and sign up for updates, and weekly giveaways here:

https://www.janmarini.com/BeautyInBloom/?r=bb

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