Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist {Book Review}

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Georgie Gail is the switchboard operator in a rural area of Texas, but her job allows her independence that few women of her time have. She isn’t very happy when the telephone company send someone out to oversee her work and do some line work in her area.

What Georgie isn’t aware of is the new telephone salesman and repairman is actually an undercover Texas Ranger. Luke Palmer is working to break up a gang of train robbers that are believed to be hiding out somewhere in the area of Brenham, Texas.

Georgie and Luke immediately begin to butt heads over the most trivial things. She considers him fairly uncouth in his overalls and mannerisms, but as she begins to spend more time with Luke and learns more about him, she feels herself drawn to him.  Luke is cautious, knowing the danger that could entail if Georgie discovers his true identity ~ not only for himself, but especially for her. Will their budding relationship survive her longing for independence and his undercover project? 

My Thoughts

Deeanne Gist is truly one of my favorite historical romance writers. She always manages to create quirky and fun characters that are memorable. Love on the Line introduces a few more characters and adds another book to my bookshelf that I love!

Part of the fun from this book involves the quirks of the characters ~ Georgie’s love for birds and the stir that she causes in town with a local hatmaker, Luke’s true profession and the local’s perceived understanding of the Ranger, and the hilarious happenings from party-lines {makes me so thankful we have privacy today!!}.  Gist throws several twists into the plotline, so just when you think you have things figured out,  a new factor is put in the mix.

Gist has done some wonderful research into the history of telephone switchboards, birdwatching and more. If you are looking for a book that combines quality writing with clean romance, you will enjoy Love on the Line. Read an excerpt from Love on the Line or any of Deeanne Gist’s other books by clicking here.

Find Out More

~ Visit Deeanne Gist’s website

~ Buy Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist in paperback or Kindle format.

This book was provided for review by Bethany House. All opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

The Lady’s Maid by Susan Page Davis {Book Review}

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Lady Anne has lost most of her family and most recently her father. According to British law, she cannot inherit her father’s estate and instead it will be turned over to her uncle, David Stone. Unfortunately, her uncle left for America years ago and hasn’t been heard from in years. If he cannot be found, the estate will turn over to another relative.

Determined to find him, Lady Anne sets out with her personal maid, Elise Finster on a journey across the American frontier, beginning in St. Louis. They discover that David headed West years ago and the only way to see if he is still alive is to travel with a wagon train headed to Oregon. What the ladies do not know is they are being followed and someone is trying to find David Stone before they do.

Neither lady has much experience to offer, but they do find help in one of the scouts leading the train, Eb Bentley. As much as he thinks they should not be on the wagon train, he does all he can to make things easier for both of them, but especially one of the ladies in particular. Will they both survive the trip to Oregon and will one of them find a reason to stay in America instead of returning to England?

My Thoughts

I do love the premise of the book series and the adventure that the two ladies take to find Anne’s uncle. I cannot even begin to imagine the challenges that so many faced as they headed West to settle ~ surviving the trip alone would have been a feat. The two traveling in this story came from a proper upbringing and were accustomed to all the modern conveniences of the time. Their attitudes in the process were absolutely wonderful, not wishing for others to think differently of them or know who they really were. They ended up giving up and selling much in the process to try to better fit in with those around them.

I have to admit, however, that this wasn’t my favorite book read lately. While I loved the overall plot of the book, I was a little frustrated at the end of the book because things weren’t all ‘neatly’ tied up and finished. It is a part of a series {it says ‘Book 1’ on the front cover ~ I missed that} and while one part of the plot was wrapped up, it was done rather quickly and almost a bit too hastily in my opinion. Not to give anything away, but if you are hoping for resolution on the finding of David Stone…you’ll have to wait until more of the books are released.

That said, I already have my hands on the next book in the series {Lady Anne’s Quest} where the adventure to find the missing uncle continues {and I attempt to appease my curious mind}. I have no complaints at all about Davis’ writing style or the book otherwise, but I suppose I’m being stubborn. :) 

Find Out More

~ Visit Susan Page Davis' website

~ Buy The Lady’s Maid ~ Prairie Dreams Book 1 by Susan Page Davis in paperback or Kindle format.

This book was provided for review by Barbour and NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

Christmas Ornament Show & Tell 2011

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Last year I shared a few of our special ornaments from our Christmas tree and I’d love to share a few more with you this year ~ and also see and hear about some of yours.  Each year it’s becoming more fun to hang the ornaments on the tree as the kids remember the stories behind the ornaments that we pull out of our box.

This year we have a new ornament on our tree that we picked up somewhere south of Mexico on a little island we stopped on during the cruise that Rick and I took in January. The store that we bought it in was initially one we stopped in to get a respite from the pouring rain, but we were so excited to walk in and hear worship music playing so far from home.

The classic Pooh ornaments are truly some of my favorites. Rick and I bought a few when we were dating {right before we get engaged} and it reminds us of the trip we took to Colonial Williamsburg with friends that year. Much fun and laughter. :)

Each of our children also has a special ornament from the year that they were born. I wanted something unique for each of them and love the one that we found for McKenna ~ the baby s’more. Just makes me smile every time that I see it!

<a href="http://www.noordinarymomentsblog.com/search/label/Christmas%20Ornament%20Show%20and%20Tell" target="_blank" _blank?="_blank?"><img style="margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv146/homeschoolcreations/ChristmasOrnamentShowandTell.jpg" /></a>

Ready to share your ornaments and the stories behind them? Write a post on your blog and share pictures of your favorites ~ then link up below. Grab the button coding above to add to your post, so that others can join in the fun too. :)  The linky will be open until December 23rd, so start linking!

Please note: this is NOT a linky to share how-to crafts {although those are fun}. This is to share special memories from over the years that we retell every year or remember each year when we pull out all those ornaments to decorate our trees.

 

 

Reading and Drinking?

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On the bright side, Zachary is really trying hard to read any and everything around him and really showing interest in what things say.

On the down side, we went out to eat tonight and when the waitress came to the table, he handed her the bottle of ketchup and asked if he could trade it for a Bud Light {via a sign on the table}.

She laughed a bit and then said, “Oh, the things they pick up in school.”

Most likely didn’t help any when I mentioned we homeschool.

{sigh}

Christmas Ornament Show & Tell 2011 ~ Coming Soon!

This post may contain affiliate or advertiser links. Read my full disclosure policy here.

Last year I hosted the Christmas Ornament Show & Tell and it was so much fun visiting so many of your blogs and hearing the stories behind some of the special ornaments hanging on your trees.

Would you like to do tell a few more stories? I only share a few of our ornaments last year and would really love to hear more from you all as well!

<a href="http://www.noordinarymomentsblog.com/search/label/Christmas%20Ornament%20Show%20and%20Tell" target="_blank" _blank?="_blank?"><img style="margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv146/homeschoolcreations/ChristmasOrnamentShowandTell.jpg" /></a>

Write a post on your blog and share pictures of your favorites, and on Thursday, December  8th, I’ll be posting a linky where you can link up your posts and we can have fun telling a few stories. The linky will stay open until December 23rd, so you have plenty of time. :)

Go grab your camera, snap some shots and get ready to share! If you’d like to include the button above in your post when you link up, the coding is right below it. I can’t wait to read your posts!

 

Tired ~ Five Minute Friday

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{go}

We’re rushing around and getting ready to leave the house early this morning. The light is barely peeping through the windows. One of the kids is still missing and everyone needs breakfast still.

As I look around the house I can see several things that need attention today and am making a mental list of what I should do this afternoon. I should really be making a physical list because my brain is never going to remember all of the things that I need to do today.

Teach co-op.

Bake bread.

Finish decorating the mantle.

Hang the ornaments and decorations in the dining room.

Wash the kitchen floor.

Rest.

At the moment I’m just feeling incredibly tired. Exhausted. Wiped. A wee bit overwhelmed. A few weeks ago I thought to myself “Things will slow down in a bit.” Now I’m looking forward to the time after Christmas and thinking…”in a few weeks.”

I want to rest. Relax. Enjoy. Soak it all in during the season. No rushing.

Today I’m pondering this verse and repeating it in my mind:

“Come to ME all you who are weary, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28

{stop}

Five Minute Fridays is hosted by The Gypsy Mama and is a meme where we write for only five short, bold, beautiful minutes. Unscripted and unedited. We just write without worrying if it’s just right or not. Join in here…