Friday, April 30, 2021

Dear Abby - Videos That Abby Likes: Rescued Piglets Find a Special Home


Dear Friends,

I hope you are having a good week! It is almost hot here in the deep south now ... not that I am complaining. (I still find time to burrow in my blankets, no matter how warm it is outside!)

I have a special video to share with you today. It is from the Dodo channel on Youtube (one of my favorites and one I very highly recommend if you love animals).  

This is the story of a mother pig who was rescued ... and she gave birth to five little piglets. Two of the piglets traveled together on a cross-country road trip with a llama. The wonderful animal rescuer took them to an animal sanctuary in Oregon that looks like an amazing place! They settled in there and became friends with rescued dogs. One of my favorite things about their story -- the llama who traveled with them befriended the piglets and loves to watch over them.

Without further ado, meet these sweet piglets!

Momma is now saying she would like to adopt a piglet or two. Since we live in the city I do not think this will actually happen!

Have a wonderful day,

Love,

Abby xoxoxo


 

Book Review - National Geographic’s Backyard Guide To The Night Sky


My Review

Backyard Guide to the Night Sky from National Geographic (author Andrew Fazekas) is a unique guide to stargazing for absolute beginners.

I was interested in reading this book because I loved stargazing as a little girl. We had a telescope that we used in the backyard, and my favorite annual school field trips were to the planetarium. I even had a big star map on my bedroom wall! I never studied astronomy in high school or college, so I consider myself a real "newbie" stargazer.

This is a lovely book. It's small enough to carry outside but it's so nicely made, full of beautiful color photos, charts, diagrams, and little sidebar information tidbits.

I love that the book suggests starting by just looking at the sky at night with your eyes - no fancy equipment:

"Exploring that universe requires nothing more than a walk outside and an open sky. The naked eye remains the most important piece of gear, and a focus on easily seen objects is the best way to build a foundation. Your first tasks as a sky-watcher may appear simple, but they will reveal much. Study the phases of the moon, track the motion of the stars and planets over weeks and months, and learn to recognize a handful of the brightest constellations visible in each season. Such observation will show you how the heavens work and allow you to build an appreciation for the fainter, more distant wonders you will discover later" (p. 11).

The book has an interesting focus on following the seasons, since as earth orbits the sun, constellations and our glimpse of the sky changes nightly. There are large sections in the latter half of the book focusing on the different seasons. I found them fascinating! For instance, Spring features Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Leo the Lion, Virgo the Virgin, Cancer the Crab, Canes Venatici: The Hunting Dogs, etc.

I live in a city where there is often smog that obscures the stars. There is a useful chapter on skywatching in the city, with great tips on how to see the stars despite light pollution.

I have always been interested in the phases of the moon and found the chapter on Lunar Movements, with night by night illustrations of the moon from waxing crescent up to full moon and down to waning crescent.

There is a short chapter on exploration of the moon. As someone who grew up as a child watching the space program, I wish this chapter had been longer, with more details about the different landing missions.

There is also a section on annual showers with annual dates of meteor showers. I always want to see these and never knew when to look for them. This is so helpful and interesting!

I stayed up at night enjoying this book and peeking out at the sky. I recommend Backyard Guide to the Night Sky for anyone interested in stargazing. It's a perfect introduction to the wonders of the evening sky!

Book Synopsis

Explore the star-studded cosmos with this fully updated, user-friendly skywatcher’s guide, filled with charts, graphics, photographs, and expert tips for viewing — and understanding — the wonders of space.

Stargazing’s too much fun to leave to astronomers. In these inviting pages, “Night Sky Guy” Andrew Fazekas takes an expert but easygoing approach that will delight would-be astronomers of all levels. Essential information, organized logically, brings the solar system, stars, and planets to life in your own backyard. Start with the easiest constellations and then “star-hop” across the night sky to find others nearby. Learn about the dark side of the moon, how to pick Mars out of a planetary lineup, and which kinds of stars twinkle in your favorite constellations. Hands-on tips and techniques for observing with the naked eye, binoculars, or a telescope help make the most out of sightings and astronomical phenomena such as eclipses and meteor showers. Photographs and graphics present key facts in an easy-to-understand format, explaining heavenly phenomena such as black holes, solar flares, and supernovas. Revised to make skywatching even easier for the whole family, this indispensable guide shines light on the night sky–truly one of the greatest shows on Earth!

Purchase Links

National Geographic | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 

Book Review and Giveaway - Whole Latte Murder (All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery #5) by Lena Gregory


My Review

Whole Latte Murder is a cozy mystery that takes place in Boggy Creek, Florida, near Ocala. Gia Morelli owns an all day breakfast cafe. When her best friend Savannah, a realtor, disappears after showing an old Florida estate, Gia goes looking for her ... and finds herself embroiled in a complex murder with lots of local drama and danger between warring families.

I wanted to read this book because I liked the first book in the series. I have not kept up with the other books but remembered enjoying it.

This was a fairly complex mystery with a large cast of characters. The author, thankfully, included a cast of characters list -- and it was so helpful!

I enjoyed the small town Florida setting, especially the breakfast cafe (owning a similar cafe is one of my dream jobs!). Gia is a smart and resourceful amateur detective - although she and Savannah take some big risks that put them in jeopardy.

There is even a lovable dog (Thor, the Bernese Mountain dog) and kitten (Klondike). Pets always make cozy mysteries even nicer!

The mystery is well written and fast paced. It kept me guessing right up to the denouement!

I recommend Whole Latte Murder (and the series) to fans of cozy mysteries, and especially for anyone who enjoys southern settings, small town mysteries, and foodie fiction.

Book Synopsis

Ex-New Yorker and local diner owner Gia Morelli is still getting used to the sweltering Florida sun. But this summer she’ll have to deal with a more dangerous kind of heat—when she’s hot on the trail of another murderer . . .  

Summer in Boggy Creek has arrived, and Gia’s best friend, successful real estate agent Savannah, is getting hitched. Now she’s enlisted Gia’s sleuthing talents in a desperate search for the perfect wedding dress. But when Savannah mysteriously vanishes after showing a mansion to a bigwig client, Gia investigates the house Savannah was trying to sell. The first clue she finds is Savannah’s car in the driveway. Inside the house, they stumble on Savannah’s potential buyer—dead. Someone had apparently closed the deal—with a two by four full of nails to the client’s head. Soon afterward, a woman’s body is fished from the lake near the same house. The townsfolk are now sweating bullets over the murders, and the heat comes down on poor Gia to find her missing friend, and track down the killer . . .


Author Bio

Lena Gregory is the author of the Bay Island Psychic Mysteries, which take place on a small island between the north and south forks of Long Island, New York, and the All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries, which are set on the outskirts of Florida’s Ocala National Forest.  

Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.

To learn more about Lena and her latest writing endeavors, visit her website at http://www.lenagregory.com/ and be sure to sign up for her newsletter http://lenagregory.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=9765d0711ed4fab4fa31b16ac&id=49d42335d1.

Author Links 

Newsletter: https://lenagregory.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=9765d0711ed4fab4fa31b16ac&id=49d42335d1

Website:  http://www.lenagregory.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/lena.gregory.986

Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/Lena.Gregory.Author/?fref=ts

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/LenaGregory03

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14956514.Lena_Gregory?from_search=true

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/lenagregoryauth/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lenagregoryauthor/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lena-gregory

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lena-Gregory/e/B01BKZQES0?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1591718042&sr=8-1

Purchase Links:

Amazon    Barnes & Noble      Kobo    Kensington     Apple    Google Play

Giveaway

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Book Review - Blackberry Beach (Hope Harbor #7) by Irene Hannon


My Review

Blackberry Beach takes place in the small coastal town of Hope Harbor, Oregon. Katherine Parker is an actress who has come to town to escape a messy scandal. She meets coffeehouse owner Zach Garrett and romantic sparks fly as they slowly get to know each other. There is the question about what Kat (Katherine) wants long-term - as well as the question of distance - that they have to resolve if they will have a life together.

I wanted to read this novel because the small town coastal setting sounded appealing. This is book #7 in the Hope Harbor series. I have not read the previous books but was able to jump right in and enjoy this novel as a standalone.

The pace of the book started slowly for me. It took me a while to get to know the reserved Kat; Zach was a more immediately sympathetic character. However, as the book went on, I started to really enjoy their story. I also really loved the sweet story of Zach's aunt, Stephanie, who has a courtship of her own with retired postal worker turned barista, Frank. It was nice reading a story about a 60ish couple as well as the younger pair.

Kat loves making chocolate and I loved the chocolatier/foodie aspects of the novel. (I found myself craving blackberry truffles!)

This is a Christian novel and the faith element was handled skillfully, in a way that never overpowered the characters or book's narrative. 

I enjoyed Blackberry Beach and will probably look for the earlier books in this series at some point. I recommend this novel for fans of cozy small town romances and heartwarming reads.

Book Synopsis

Her lifelong dream is in sight, but does a new--and better--future await in Hope Harbor?

Katherine Parker is on the cusp of having everything she ever wanted--fame, money, and acclaim. So why isn't she happy? In search of answers, she comes incognito to Hope Harbor on the Oregon coast for some R&R. Maybe in her secluded rental house overlooking the serene Pacific she'll be able to calm the storm inside.

Coffee shop owner Zach Garrett has found his niche after a traumatic loss--and he has no plans to change the life he's created. Nor does he want to get involved with his reticent new neighbor, whose past is shrouded in mystery. But when Katherine and Zach are recruited to help rehab a home for foster children, sparks fly. As their lives begin to intersect, might they find more common ground than they expected . . . and discover that, with love, all things are possible?

Come home to Hope Harbor--
where hearts heal . . . and love blooms


Author Bio

Irene Hannon is the bestselling author of more than sixty novels, including the long-running Hope Harbor series, as well as Point of Danger and the Code of Honor, Private Justice, and Men of Valor suspense series, among others. Her books have been honored with three coveted RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, and she is a member of that organization's elite Hall of Fame. Her many other awards include National Readers' Choice, Daphne du Maurier, Retailers' Choice, Booksellers' Best, Carol, and Reviewers' Choice from RT Book Reviews magazine, which also honored her with a Career Achievement Award for her entire body of work. In addition, she is a two-time Christy Award finalist. Learn more at www.irenehannon.com.


Friday, April 23, 2021

Dear Abby - Videos Abby Likes: A Deaf Puppy Finds The Perfect Rescue Home


Dear Friends,

I hope this note finds you enjoying some warm days and sunshine.  (No snow! Never any snow, especially in Spring.)

My friends Aliceson and Emily (Emily is a little dog like me) sent me a sweet video and I want to share it with you.

This is the story of Moz, a little deaf puppy. Moz was living with a foster dad and walking every day and he met a little 2 year old girl named Lillian and her family. Lillian just LOVED Moz. She learned to walk him, and puppy-sat him ... and eventually he found the perfect home with her family.  There is a line in the video: "The girl who can't stop talking and the guy who can't hear anything."

I love this story and hope you will too:

Wishing you a good day! Thanks for stopping by.

Love,

Abby xoxoxo  (ALWAYS a fan of a sweet rescue story!)



Book Review and Giveaway - An Invincible Summer by Mariah Stewart


My Review

An Invincible Summer is the story of Maggie Flynn. Recently widowed, she returns to her hometown of Wyndham Beach for her 40th high school reunion and finds a connection with her best friends Liddy and Emma and an uneasy spark with her high school boyfriend, Brett Crawford.  When Maggie decides to relocate back to her hometown - along with her grown daughters, Emma and Natalie - she reopens some unfinished business from the past, with surprising results.

I wanted to read this novel because it sounded like such an appealing beach read.  It even has a beach setting!

This was a delightful read with warm, sympathetic characters and a charming small town beach community. I am close Maggie's age and found her high school memories and the reunion aspect of this story especially fun. I loved her friendship with Liddy and Emma.

Maggie and Brett's story is the heart of the book. They were high school sweethearts in the 1970's but a secret separated them. When the secret unexpectedly resurfaces in present day, they are thrown back together ... with the same old connection, and choices to make.

This is the first book in a new series, and I already look forward to reading the upcoming books. I would love to read more about Maggie's friends Liddie and Emma, or her daughters Grace and Natalie. It will be interesting to see where Wyndham Beach leads in future books!

I thoroughly enjoyed An Invincible Summer and recommend it - as a beach read, or weekend read, or a perfect "staycation" treat. It is the heartwarming, engrossing story of characters readers are sure to care about.

Book Synopsis

It was a lifetime ago that recently widowed Maggie Flynn was in Wyndham Beach. Now, on the occasion of her fortieth high school reunion, she returns to her hometown on the Massachusetts coast, picking up right where she left off with dear friends Lydia and Emma. But seeing Brett Crawford again stirs other emotions. Once, they were the town’s golden couple destined for one another. He shared Maggie’s dreams—and eventually, a shattering secret that drove them apart.

Buying her old family home and resettling in Wyndham Beach means a chance to start over for Maggie and her two daughters, but it also means facing her rekindled feelings for her first love and finally confronting—and embracing—the past in ways she never thought possible. Maggie won’t be alone. With her family and friends around her, she can weather this stormy turning point in her life and open her heart to the future. As for that dream shared and lost years ago? If Maggie can forgive herself, it still might come true.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

Author Bio

Mariah Stewart is the New York TimesPublishers Weekly, and USA Today bestselling author of several series, including The Chesapeake Diaries and The Hudson Sisters, as well as stand-alone novels, novellas, and short stories. A native of Hightstown, New Jersey, she lives with her husband and two rambunctious rescue dogs amid the rolling hills of Chester County, Pennsylvania, where she savors country life, tends her gardens, and works on her next novel. She’s the proud mama of two fabulous daughters who—along with her equally fabulous sons-in-law—have gifted her with six adorable (and yes, fabulous) granddarlings.

Connect with Mariah

Website | Facebook | Instagram

 

Giveaway 

One lucky reader will win the book An Invincible Summer. Giveaway is open to readers in the U.S. and Canada. Giveaway closes midnight on 4/28. Winner will be notified by email and needs to respond within 48 hours or another name will be drawn. Enter at the Rafflecopter below. Good luck!

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Book Review, Spotlight and Excerpt - Before Summer Ends by Susan Mallery


My Review

Before Summer Ends is the story of Nissa Lang, a teacher who decides to work extra jobs over summer to finance her dream trip to Italy. She even rents out her home, but then finds herself surprisingly in need of a place to stay. Her brother arranges that she can stay with his best friend Desmond Stilling. The problem? Nissa has had an unrequited crush on Desmond since high school.

I wanted to read this novel because I always enjoy Susan Mallery's books. 

This is a relaxing read, a sweet love story about two people who so clearly belong together. At first I wasn't sure about Desmond; I was put off a bit by his wealth and privilege. However, as the book went on, I came to like and admire him for his decency and kindness, and I found myself really hoping that Nissa and Desmond would work things out.

Before Summer Ends is a heartwarming story, with Nissa's wide-ranging summer jobs (doggy day care worker, florist helper, bakery worker, sign spinner), two very different families (Nissa's and Desmond's), and Nissa and Desmond working together to help her friend Marisol's family when Marisol undergoes life-saving surgery.

This would be a wonderful Hallmark movie! It's a real feel-good story. I recommend Before Summer Ends for fans of heartwarming romance. It is a light, relatively short read, perfect for a weekend or a couple of reading evenings.

Spotlight

A long, hot summer with her secret crush…

What could possibly go wrong?

Nissa Lang knows Desmond Stilling is out of her league. He’s a CEO, she’s a teacher. He’s gorgeous, she’s…not. So when her house-sitting gig falls through and Desmond offers her a place to stay for the summer, she vows not to reveal how she’s felt about him since their first—and only—kiss.

Desmond should’ve known better than to bring temptation into his house. He decided long ago that his best friend’s sister was too sweet, too good, for him. She deserves a guy who can give his heart. For her sake, he’s stayed away. But as her laughter breathes life into his lonely mansion, he’s not sure how long he’ll be able to resist.

From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

Purchase Links

Harlequin | Amazon | Barnes and Noble 

 

Excerpt

    He tried to shake off those thoughts and return his attention to his work, but quickly realized that wasn’t happening. He obviously wasn’t going to get anything done until Nissa arrived and got settled. For some reason, he was more focused on that than the Asian sales report.

 

    He got up and crossed to the large window in his study. The late-June days were long and sunny, and the garden flourished. The grass was dark green, flowers provided plenty of color in the planting beds, the trees looked healthy. The gardeners did a good job, regardless of the seasons, but in the summer, their hard work paid off.

 

    He turned at the sound of the vacuum cleaner being turned on somewhere upstairs. Hilde had been in a state since he’d told her Nissa was coming to stay. There had been cleaning and washing and other tasks he couldn’t begin to imagine. The refrigerator overflowed with food and there were fresh flowers everywhere in the house.


    Her burst of happy activity made him feel guilty. His housekeeper obviously didn’t have enough to do in a day. The house was large, but there wasn’t any­one to make a mess. He rarely ate dinner at home, so she wasn’t spending much time cooking. He would guess she was bored working for him—a problem he didn’t know how to solve. If he’d stayed mar­ried to Rosemary, they would have had kids by now. That would have increased the workload. Of course if they’d stayed together, he and Rosemary would have been living in different wings of the house, barely seeing each other, except when they passed in the hallway.

 

    His phone buzzed. He pulled it out, then smiled when he read the text.

 

I’m here. Just giving you a heads-up because the house is so big, I thought you’d need an extra min­ute or five to walk to the door and I really don’t want to be kept waiting.

 

    He was still chuckling when he heard the doorbell ring a few seconds later.

 

Author Bio

No.1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming, humorous novels about the relationships that define our lives – family, friendship, romance. She’s known for putting nuanced characters in emotional situations that surprise readers to laughter. Beloved by millions, her books have been translated into 28 languages. Susan lives in Washington with her husband, two cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur.

Connect with Susan

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Friday, April 9, 2021

Dear Abby - Videos Abby Likes: A Funny Prank


Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by today.  A special thanks to friends who leave comments - they make me so happy and I appreciate them!

Today I have a short and fun video shared by my friend Michelle. Michelle loves animals and especially beautiful poodles. This video was put together by the South Australian police as an April Fools Day joke.  The narrator talks about how the police force is moving away from German Shepherd dogs for police work and towards using dachshunds because they are little and easy to lift and can climb under things to investigate. It is all very silly and made me laugh!

Here's the video - hope it gives you a chuckle too:

On the run today ... with a head's up that I am taking next week off from blogging. My Momma doesn't have a book review next week so we are both going to take a week off from blogging.

Have a wonderful day!

Love,

Abby xoxoxo



Book Review and Giveaway - The Corpse Who Knew Too Much (Food Blogger Mysteries #4) by Debra Sennefelder



My Review

The Corpse Who Knew Too Much is a cozy mystery featuring food blogger Hope Early. Hope finds herself playing detective to help solve the case of a missing person. Her high school friend Devon's mother disappeared twenty years ago. Devon has started a true crime podcast and asks Hope to help solve the mystery.  As Hope investigates, more murders occur and she finds herself in danger.

I wanted to read this novel because I love "foodie" books, was intrigued by the blogging theme, and find missing person cold cases fascinating.

This is the fourth book in the Food Blogger Mysteries series. I have not read the earlier books and had a hard time keeping up with all the characters in this novel. A cast of characters page would be tremendously helpful. I suspect this is a novel best read in order with the series, not as a standalone.

The book is well written, with strong descriptions.  Hope's food blogging was very interesting, and there is even a section with delicious sounding recipes, including Three-Cheese Lasagna, Rustic Apple Pie, and Sugar Cookies.

There were a number of possible suspects and the mystery kept me guessing! Hope discovered the murderer's identity before I did.

I always love cozy mysteries that feature pets, and enjoyed Bigelow, the rescue dog, and Princess, the cat.

I think that cozy mystery readers who also have an interest in cooking or blogging will be especially interested in The Corpse Who Knew Too Much

Book Synopsis

Food blogger Hope Early takes on a cold case that’s heating up fast . . . Building on her recipe for success with her food blog, Hope at Home, Hope is teaching her first blogging class at the local library in Jefferson, Connecticut. She’s also learning about podcasts, including a true-crime one called Search for the Missing, hosted by Hope’s childhood friend, Devon Markham. Twenty years ago on Valentine’s Day, right here in Jefferson, Devon’s mom disappeared and was never found. Finally Devon has returned to solve the mystery of what happened to her mother—and she asks Hope to help. The next day Hope discovers Devon’s apartment has been ransacked. Her laptop with the research on her mother’s cold case is missing, and Devon is nowhere to be found. When her friend’s body is later discovered in a car wreck, Hope is convinced it’s no accident. Clearly, Devon was too close to the truth, and the cold-blooded killer is still at large in Jefferson. Now it’s up to Hope to find the guilty party—before the food blogger herself becomes the next subject of another true-crime podcast . . . Includes Recipes from Hope’s Kitchen!


Author Bio

Debra Sennefelder is an avid reader who reads across a range of genres, but mystery fiction is her obsession. Her interest in people and relationships is channeled into her novels against a backdrop of crime and mystery. 

Her first novel, THE UNINVITED CORPSE (A Food Blogger mystery) was published in 2018. When she’s not reading, she enjoys cooking and baking and as a former food blogger, she is constantly taking photographs of her food. Yeah, she’s that person

Born and raised in New York City, where she majored in her hobby of fashion buying, she now lives and writes in Connecticut with her family. She’s worked in retail and publishing before becoming a full-time author. Her writing companion is her adorable and slightly spoiled Shih Tzu, Connie.

Author Links – Website & Blog Facebook Instagram

WEBSITE: http://bit.ly/2lQwSNi

NEWSLETTER: http://bit.ly/2jBx9oV

FACEBOOK AUTHOR PAGE: http://bit.ly/2qjwHyT

INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/2EQh6da

Purchase Links

Amazon – Barnes & Noble –  KensingtonKoboGoogle Play

Giveaway

One lucky reader will win the book The Corpse Who Knew Too Much (print book). This contest is open to readers in the USA and Canada. Giveaway ends at midnight 4/15/21. Winner will be notified by email and needs to reply within 48 hours or another name will be drawn. Good luck!

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Book Spotlight and Giveaway - The Test of Gold by Renee Yancy


Book Synopsis

Heiress Evangeline “Lindy” Lindenmayer has been groomed since childhood to marry into the British aristocracy as her mother’s ultimate ambition is a royal title for the family name. But literature fascinates Lindy far more than ballgowns, and she spends all her free time in the library, the only room in the Fifth Avenue mansion where she can safely indulge her passion for reading and find refuge from the prying eyes of her mother.

Jack Winthrop is studying for the ministry at Union Theological Seminary and has been invited to use the Lindemayer’s library for his studies. His sole experience of upper-class young women has occurred at his uncle’s church, where he has found these young debutantes universally featherbrained. When he meets Lindy, he is pleasantly surprised to discover she has wide-ranging interests and is highly intelligent. Although cautioned by his uncle to stay away from her, he finds Lindy a kindred spirit and over animated discussions of books and life, they fall in love.

But to reach happily ever after, Lindy will need to challenge her mother’s long-laid plans, and weathering the approaching storm will take more backbone than she even knew she had.

Amazon (Kindle) | Amazon (Paperback) | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound


Author Bio

Renee Yancy is a long time history and archaeology nut who has been living vicariously through historical fiction since she was a young girl. Now she writes the kind of books she loves to read—stories filled with historical and archaeological detail on every aspect of living in a different time period, interwoven with strong characters and a tale full of pathos and conflict. She wants to take you on a journey into the past so fascinating that you can’t put the story down.

When she’s not writing, Renee Facetimes with her twin grandbabies, and lives in Kentucky with her husband and two mutts. She enjoys reading, antiquing, and collecting pottery.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway

Enter to win an eBook of The Test of Gold by Renee Yancy! Two eBooks are up for grabs!

The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on April 14th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

The Test of Gold


 

Friday, April 2, 2021

Dear Abby - Vintage Easter Cards With Dogs

Dear Friends,

Happy Easter and Happy Spring! I found some sweet vintage Easter cards, postcards, and children's book illustrations that feature dogs. They make me happy and I thought you might enjoy them too.

This postcard has a dachshund popping up to meet a friendly bunny rabbit.

 

Vintage Easter postcard with a circus theme -- one of the dachshunds is dressed like a clown!

A little girl dresses her cocker spaniel in an Easter bonnet. They are surrounded by chicks!

The next two postcards feature a little brown and white dog meeting a friendly chick. This dog looks like one of my dog friends, so I especially like these cards!


A vintage Easter card with a hound dog delivery boy:

I believe the same dog is pictured in both the following postcards. He found some giant Easter eggs!


Two little Jack Russell terriers watch a chick hatch on this postcard.

A Jack Russell Terrier eats a carrot that two bunnies want!

This vintage Easter postcard features a big Saint Bernard and a little girl.

A Scottie dog takes some Spring flowers to a friend:

A dog, cat, and bunny rabbit are painting an Easter egg when a chick hatches. What a surprise!


I hope you enjoyed these photos! Wishing you a wonderful weekend, whether you are celebrating Easter, Passover, or just enjoying Spring.  💗

Love,

Abby xoxoxo


Book Review and Giveaway - The Indebted Earl by Erica Vetsch


My Review

The Indebted Earl is a historical romance set during the Regency period (1814 England). Captain Charles Wyvern is a Naval captain who feels guilty that one of his friends, Major Rich Richardson, lost his life while saving him. He decides to visit Rich's fiance, Lady Sophie Haverly, to express his sympathy. He arrives as Lady Sophie is losing her home, and he jumps in to help her. This coincides with Charles becoming an Earl, and they travel together, along with Rich's mother, whom Sophie has been living with, to the coastal estate that Charles has inherited. When he discovers he has also "inherited" three young charges, he proposes a marriage of convenience to Sophie, who accepts. There is a mystery at the estate as well as a slow building romance between Charles and Sophie.

I wanted to read The Indebted Earl because I read, and enjoyed, the first book in this series (The Lost Lieutenant). I have not read the second book (The Gentleman Spy), but had no problem catching up with this novel. I think it would work fine as a standalone.

I love historical fiction and enjoy the Regency period. Erica Vetsch does something unusual in this series, which focuses not just on the female protagonist, but on the male lead as well. I feel this adds an extra nuance to the storytelling.

Captain Charles Wyvern is a wonderful romantic lead - strong, caring, and complex. Sophie has a bright, sunny personality, and they are well matched in their differences. Their romance builds at a slow but sure pace and it was so enjoyable to read.

There is also a strong mystery storyline as Charles uncovers a smuggling operation at the estate. He has worked his whole life to uphold the honor of his country, and suddenly he finds his new home is involved in a dangerous criminal operation!

I thoroughly enjoyed The Indebted Earl. I recommend this book (and the series) to fans of historical fiction, and especially to readers who enjoy Regency romance.

Book Synopsis

Can Captain Wyvern keep his new marriage of convenience all business--or will it turn into something more?

Captain Charles Wyvern owes a great debt to the man who saved his life--especially since Major Richardson lost his own life in the process. The best way to honor that hero's dying wish is for Wyvern to escort the man's grieving fiance and mother safely to a new cottage home by the sea. But along the way, he learns of another obligation that has fallen on his shoulders: his uncle has died and the captain is now the Earl of Rothwell.

When he and the ladies arrive at his new manor house in Devon, they discover an estate in need of a leader and a gaggle of girls, all wards of the former earl. War the new earl knows; young ladies and properties he does not. Still wishing to provide for the bereaved Lady Sophia Haverly, Charles proposes a marriage of convenience.

Sophie is surprised to find she isn't opposed to the idea. It will help her care for her betrothed's elderly mother, and she's already fallen in love with the wayward girls on the Rothwell estate. This alliance is a chance to repay the captain who has done so much for her care, as well as divert her attention from her grief. When Wyvern returns to his sea commission, she'll stay behind to oversee his property and wards.

It sounds so simple. Until the stalwart captain is arrested on suspicion of smuggling, and Sophie realizes how much he's come to mean to her. Now she'll have to learn to fight, not only for his freedom but also for his love.


Author Bio

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling and ACFW Carol Award–winning author. She is a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota with her husband, who she claims is both her total opposite and soul mate. 

Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks.

A self-described history geek, she has been planning her first research trip to England.

Learn more about Erica Vetsch and her books at www.ericavetsch.com. She can also be found on Facebook (@EricaVetschAuthor), Instagram (@EricaVetsch) and Pinterest (Erica Vetsch).

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