Dear Abby - Videos Abby Likes: Dachshund and Woman Share Watermelon

Vintage children's book illustration by Roy McKie

Dear Friends,

I hope you had a happy 4th of July!   We had 5 days in a row of fireworks here, which is 5 days too many, if you ask me.

I have a fun video to share with you today.  It features a little dachshund sharing some very delicious looking watermelon with her person.


Doesn't that look like fun?  I have had a little bite of watermelon before and I liked it.  My Momma learned that it is safe in small amounts for dogs, with no seeds and with no rind.  Here is a nice article about fruits and vegetables that dogs can - and can't - eat.  It is from the AKC.    I am very fond of bananas, carrots, and green beans.  I get "no salt" green beans on top of my kibble every day.  

If you have a dog, what type of fruits or vegetables does he or she like?   I would love to hear from you in the comments, below.

Hoping you have a great weekend ahead!

Love,
Abby xoxoxo

Book Review - The Captain's Daughter by Jennifer Delamere

Book Synopsis
When a series of circumstances beyond her control leave Rosalyn Bernay alone and penniless in London, she chances upon a job backstage at a theater that is presenting the most popular show in London. A talented musician and singer, she feels immediately at home and soon becomes enthralled with the idea of pursuing a career on the stage.

A hand injury during a skirmish in India has forced Nate Moran out of the army until he recovers. Filling his time at a stable of horses for hire in London, he has also spent the past two months working nights as a stagehand, filling in for his injured brother. Although he’s glad he can help his family through a tough time, he is counting the days until he can rejoin his regiment. London holds bitter memories for him that he is anxious to escape. But then he meets the beautiful woman who has found a new lease on life in the very place Nate can’t wait to leave behind.

My Review
Rosalyn Bernay is on the run in 1879 London when she stumbles upon a unique opportunity -- to work backstage at a theater performing Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore.  This job leads to new friends, possible romance, and the chance to act onstage.  However, first she will need to escape her past ... and the people who pursue her.

The Captain's Daughter is the first book in the new London Beginnings trilogy.  This book focuses on Rosalyn, one of three sisters.  It looks like the other two books will focus on her sisters.  I enjoyed this novel and look forward to the upcoming books in this series as well.

The historical details are very interesting in this book.  I love Gilbert and Sullivan, so found the theater scenes particularly fun to read.  I loved reading about backstage life.

Rosalyn is a brave, admirable character.  She keeps her faith in the midst of danger and stress, and remembers it as she begins a new life in London.  I also liked Nate, a military man who recently returned from India.  His rapport with Rosalyn was delightful, and their scenes together were particularly strong. 

The Captain's Daughter was a strong beginning for a new series, and I think other fans of historical fiction will enjoy it as much as I did.  Recommended!


I received a copy of this book from Litfuse.

Dear Abby - Vintage Dogs at the Beach

Hi friends!

It is almost the 4th of July, so I thought I would share some pictures of dogs enjoying the beach!  These are all vintage advertisements.  I like them, and hope you will too.

This is a famous advertisement of a Cocker Spaniel and a little girl (1960's).  It advertises Coppertone suntan lotion.

The next two ads feature a Scottie dog and Westie advertising Black and White Scottish whiskey.

This handsome English bulldog advertises Four Roses Society.  (It looks like he is also having a picnic!)

This Kodak ad features a majestic Great Dane with a baby at the beach.

This 1950's advertisement, for Jantzen swimwear, also features a cute Beagle!

A little Poodle is enjoying the beach in this Pepsi advertisement. 

This is the oldest of the advertisements  A little girl and a Jack Russell Terrier (or JRT mix) are watching a ship.  The ad is for Southern Pacific Steamships.  

I hope you have enjoyed these vintage ads, and I also hope you have a fun 4th of July!  Do you have special plans for the holiday?  And if you have pets, do they enjoy participating in the holiday too?   I enjoy spending time with my Momma, friends, and family.  At night I get lots of cuddling and attention because I don't like fireworks!

Thanks for visiting!  Have a great weekend.

Love,

Abby xoxoxo

Dear Abby - Videos Abby Likes: A Dachshund is Reunited With His Favorite Toy

Dear Friends,

I hope you are having a good week and staying cool!  I have an extra special dachshund video to share with you today.

In this short (1 minute) video you will meet Finn the dachshund.  He had a favorite toy named Piggy when he was a puppy.  He chewed the toy up but his person found another toy just like it -- five years later!  Finn is so excited to meet Piggy again that he makes some of his puppy noises again.   It is a very sweet video.



If you have a pet, does he or she have a favorite toy?   I have several favorites and like to cuddle with them.    One is a Lamb Chop toy in a little Santa hat. 

The other is a little fuzzy tan dog toy that belonged to my late brother Barney Fife.  I love it very much and like to take a nap with it.

I hope you have a good weekend!  Thank you for visiting my blog.

Love,

Abby xoxoxo

Book Review - The Light in Summer by Mary McNear

Book Synopsis

It’s summertime on Butternut Lake, where the heat of noon is soothed by the cool breezes of the evening, where the pace grows slower, and sometimes, just sometimes, the summer light makes everything clearer… 

For the lovely Billy Harper, Butternut Lake is the place she feels most at home, even though lately she feels the only one listening to her is Murphy…her faithful Labrador Retriever. Her teenage son, Luke, has gone from precious to precocious practically overnight. Her friends are wrapped up in their own lives, and Luke’s father, Wesley, disappeared before his son was even born. No wonder she prefers to spend time with a good book, especially ones where everything ends in perfection.

But Billy is about to learn that anything is possible during the heady days of summer. Coming to terms with her past—the death of her father, the arrival of Cal Cooper, a complicated man with a definite interest in Billy, even the return of Wesley, will force her to have a little bit of faith in herself and others…and realize that happiness doesn’t always mean perfection.

 

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

My Review
The Light in Summer tells the story of Billy Harper, a small town librarian in Butternut Lake, Minnesota.  She is a single mom dealing with a rebellious 13 year old and the recent loss of her father.  When Cal Cooper comes to town after his recent divorce, the connection between Billy and Cal is immediate.  Will they be able to build a relationship that helps them both heal?

This is a lovely summer beach read about good people trying to make their way in the world.  There is so much I enjoyed about this book.

The small town Butternut Lake setting is delightful.  I read the first couple of books in this series and enjoyed them, and then picked the series back up with The Light in Summer.  This book would work fine as a standalone for anyone new to the series.

I love that Billy is a librarian and she really loves books.  She goes out on her porch at night and reads Jane Austen to relax.  She loves suggesting books for library patrons, and even recommends my favorite series (Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace) to a young girl.

Cal is a strong and likable man, and I really liked his relationship with Billy.  It was based on friendship and mutual respect as well as romantic sparks.  I loved these characters together and was pulling for their happiness.

The story of Billy's son Luke and his attempts to find his place in Butternut Lake as he enters his teen years with friends and with his missing birth father is a touching aspect of the book.

And there is even a lovable dog -- Murphy the yellow lab, who is so warm and empathetic that Billy has silent conversations with him out on the porch each night.  

The Light in Summer is such a heartwarming, uplifting book, perfect for a leisurely summer read.  I recommend it highly for fans of women's fiction, small town fiction, and contemporary romance.

Author Bio
Mary McNear, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Butternut Lake series, writes in a local doughnut shop, where she sips Diet Pepsi, observes the hubbub of neighborhood life, and tries to resist the constant temptation of freshly made doughnuts. Mary bases her novels on a lifetime of summers spent in a small town on a lake in the northern Midwest.

Connect with Mary on Facebook.

 

I received a copy of this book from HarperCollins and TLC Book Tours.