True Love Story

Francine Howard has her life all mapped out  until the soldier she planned to marry at WWII's end writes to tell her  he's in love with a woman in England.  Devastated, Francine seeks a fresh start in the Appalachian Mountains,  training to be a nurse midwife for the Frontier Nursing Service. Deeply affected by the horrors he witnessed at war,  Ben Locke has never thought further ahead than making it home to Kentucky.  His future shrouded in as much mist as his beloved mountains,  he's at a loss when it comes to envisioning what's next for his life. When Francine's and Ben's paths intersect,  it's immediately clear that they are from different worlds and value different things.  But love has a way of healing old wounds . . .  and revealing tantalizing new possibilities. My Thoughts First let me just say, "WOW!" These Healing Hills is an amazing story that will first touch your heart and end with your soul. If you don't read anymore of th...

Happy day to you, friends! I wanted to let you know that  today and tomorrow are the last two days to sign up for the Tea Cup and Mug Exchange. You can click on the link below to read more about the exchange and to sign up: 11th Tea Cup and Mug Exchange I hope you're able to join the fun, sweet friends. Also, several of the handmade items in my Etsy Shop have been marked down by 25% {no coupon necessary}. A fun little end-of-summer sale so we can make room for new goodies. Stop by for a peek: Rose Petal Blessings. Love, hugs, and blessings to you!

***Registration is now closed*** Tea is to the body as music is to the soul. - Earlene Grey - Sweet friends, it's time for the 11th Tea Cup and Mug Exchange! If this is your first time participating in the exchange  than let me warmly welcome you - I am so glad you are going to join the fun. If you are a returning participant than let me just say "Welcome back!" The past Tea Cup and Mug Exchanges have brought many women together from all around the world and lasting friendships have been made. The idea of this exchange formed one day while I was looking at my collection of tea cups and I thought to myself that it would be a joy to bring ladies together over a cup of tea. The first exchange was a success and soon mugs were included since everyone has different tastes and styles. At the end of this post you can visit the links to previous exchanges and see what others have been blessed with. Now, lets go over a few details  and hopefully I will answer all of your questions ...

Let your light so shine before men,  that they may see your good works,  and glorify your Father which is in heaven. - Matthew 5:16 - Jesus wants me for a sunbeam, To shine for Him each day; In every way try to please Him, At home, at school, at play. Jesus wants me to be loving, And kind to all I see; Showing how pleasant and happy, His little one can be. I will ask Jesus to help me To keep my heart from sin; Ever reflecting His goodness, And always shine for Him. I’ll be a sunbeam for Jesus, I can if I but try; Serving Him moment by moment, Then live for Him on high. Refrain: A sunbeam, a sunbeam, Jesus wants me for a sunbeam; A sunbeam, a sunbeam, I’ll be a sunbeam for Him. - Nellie Talbot - I was looking through an old hymnal the other day and I came across this beloved song. I haven't thought of it in years and when I began reading the words  I was taken back to my childhood and the many times I sang it  in Sunday School or with my mom. While this might be a "ch...

Tess O’Rourke dreams of becoming  the first female chief of police in Long Beach, California.  As commander of the East Division, she is well on her way . . .  until the night she responds to an officer-needs-assistance call  and fatally shoots an unarmed teenager.  Despite being cleared of wrongdoing by a grand jury,  Tess is so hounded by the public that she takes a job in Oregon to escape the bad press. Winning over the residents of Rogue’s Hollow might be more difficult  than adjusting to her new role as police chief in the small, backwater town.  Especially when her closest friend, the pastor’s wife,  goes missing and the woman’s cousin is found shot.  Tess finds an ally in sheriff’s deputy Steve Logan,  but as they track down Rogue’s Hollow’s first murderer,  she worries that she’s breaking one of her rules and getting too close to him. My Thoughts Crisis Shot  is my first book by Janice Cantore and it certainly won'...

A very happy Wednesday to you, friends! How are you on this lovely day of September? Today I have some delightful goodies to show you that were handmade by my dear friend Sarah. Sarah has her own Etsy shop Prairie Rose Sewing  where she sells modest clothing,  handmade items such as quilts and wooden toys, and vintage delights like tea cups and beautiful china. I mentioned to Sarah that I had a pattern for a skirt that I would never get around to making so I asked if she would be interested in sewing one. . .or three for me. She graciously said yes - what a dear! I picked out the fabric, took my measurements, and sent everything her way. This sweet floral print is perfect for summer. Next up is this darling sunflower print that shouts out autumn. And the third skirt has lovely little dandelion puffs all over it. I must confess that I am in love with this one. A year ago Sarah made me a beautiful dress which you can find HERE. Sarah does beautiful work and you can tell she puts...

Happy Labor Day,  sweet friends! I hope your day is simply delightful and ever so relaxing. Two things I wanted to let you know. . . I wanted to apologize for my lack of hymn posts for the last two Sundays. I shared with you that my laptop was giving me fits, and while some days it worked okay, other days it didn't work at all. My hard drive finally crashed in my Toshiba so just recently my hubby and I went laptop shopping and we purchased a Lenovo Yoga 720 2-in-1. So far I am loving it! If any of you have this model or even a different Lenovo model I would love to hear your thoughts. So I say all that to let you know that with a new laptop my posts and blog visiting should return to normal since everything is working well again. Thank you for your patience, my friends. Also, I wanted to let you know that everything in my Etsy shop is 20% off right now until Wednesday, the 6th. And please remember that I offer free shipping to all USA residents. Stop by Rose Petal Blessings . I ...

Can a railroad man and a Southern Belle turned teacher  find a way to work together to achieve their dreams  in the new reality of the post-Civil War South? Sylas Rutledge, former gambler and new owner of the East Line Railway,  invests everything he has into this venture, partly to see if he can do it— but mostly to avenge his father.  One man holds the key to the railway’s success— General William Giles Harding of Nashville’s Belle Meade Plantation.  Sy needs someone to help him maneuver in high society,  and when he meets Alexandra Donelson, he quickly decides he’s found his tutor. Spurning her family’s wishes that she marry,  Alexandra Donelson is pursuing her passion for teaching at Fisk University,  the first freedmen’s university in the United States.  But her family does not approve, and ultimately,  her father expels her from the family home and cuts her off completely. Through her friendship with Mary Harding,  Alexandra i...