Dear Friends, I hope you are having a good week! I have a nice story - and video - to share with you this week. Cadbury had a big contest to pick a new Easter bunny this year. They made a great choice -- a dog named Lieutenant Dan. Lieutenant Dan is a Tree Walking Coonhound. He was born with a deformity in his rear legs and tail, which were later amputated. But Lieutenant Dan still lives a full and active life. He hops (like a bunny!) and also sometimes uses a cart. I'm really glad he was chosen as the new Cadbury Bunny! You can visit Lieutenant Dan's Instagram here: lieutenant_dan_the_twc I think you'll also enjoy this short video about Lieutenant Dan. He looks so cute in those bunny ears! Have a good weekend with your favorite person or people! Love, Abby xoxoxo
My Review One Little Lie tells the story of Jane Harper. As a young woman she escaped from a cult with her father. Years later, she becomes the interim sheriff of Pelican Harbor, Alabama, when her father retires. Then in quick succession, her father is framed for theft and murder; a serial killer is loose in the area; a documentary filmmaker, Reid Bechtol, comes to town and wants to include her in an upcoming film. There are romantic sparks with Reid but she isn't sure whether she wants to get involved. I wanted to read this book because I love Colleen Coble's fiction! Her mysteries are fast paced and engrossing, and she does a great job with atmospheric romantic suspense. This was a strong start to the new Pelican Harbor book series. I am definitely hooked and plan to read the upcoming books in this series! I really like Jane as a protagonist. She is strong and brave and resourceful. I like her loyalty to her friends and father, and her honest, direct manner. Because of her honesty, she has a hard time with a lie from her father and some secrets Reid has kept from her. I also like Reid, and enjoyed the way his backstory slowly was revealed. The setting of Pelican Harbor, a small town near Mobile, Alabama, was great -- I could picture the little town from the descriptions in the book. (And I love a southern setting!) I recommend One Little Lie for fans of romantic suspense. It was one of those "can't put it down" books, and I know other readers will enjoy staying up late to read it as well. Book Synopsis
It started with one little lie. But Jane Hardy will do
everything in her power to uncover the truth in this gripping new
romantic suspense. Jane Hardy is appointed interim sheriff in Pelican Harbor, Alabama,
after her father retires, but there’s no time for an adjustment period.
When her father is arrested for theft and then implicated in a recent
murder, Jane quickly realizes she’s facing someone out to destroy the
only family she has. After escaping with her father from a cult fifteen years ago, Jane
has searched relentlessly for her mother—who refused to leave—ever
since. Could someone from that horrible past have found them? Reid Bechtol is well-known for his documentaries, and his latest
project involves covering Jane’s career. Jane has little interest in the
attention, but the committee who appointed her loves the idea of the
publicity. Jane finds herself depending on Reid’s calm manner as he follows her
around filming, and they begin working together to clear her father. But
Reid has his own secrets from the past, and the gulf between them may
be impossible to cross—especially once her father’s lie catches up with
him.
Best-selling romantic suspense author Colleen Coble’s novels have won or
finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, the ACFW
Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the Holt Medallion,
the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice, and the Booksellers
Best. She has nearly 4 million books in print and writes romantic
mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of
American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her husband Dave in
Indiana.
The other night when I was on Facebook with my Momma I saw a phrase: "What a year this week has been." A lot has happened in the world this past week. I am a little dog and I don't understand it all, but I know it is very serious, and it means that my Momma is spending extra time at home with me. (This is the silver lining of the situation, if you ask me!)
I just wanted to send a note to my friends and let you know that I appreciate you all and am sending love and care. Please be safe and stay well!
I am trying to think of one nice thing a day. This helps. Today my thought is this: I am grateful that I have a soft, comfortable place here.
What are you grateful for today? Take care, and I look forward to talking more soon! Love, Abby xoxoxo
My Review The Happy Camper tells the story of Dillon Michaels. Dillon leaves her dead end job and commitment-phobic boyfriend in Colorado. She heads home to Oregon, where her grandfather and estranged mother live on the family farm. After a few nights sleeping on the old sofa, Dillon's grandfather gives her a vintage camper. This novel tells the story of how Dillon's life changes as she restores the camper into a little tiny home. Along the way she grows closer to her family, works on the farm, teaches swim classes, and even finds a new romance. I wanted to read this novel because I love vintage campers. I even have a Pinterest board about them! The camper in this book is a 1964 Oasis Aloha and I spent way too much time looking up photos, descriptions, specifications, and old brochures of this model. I absolutely loved the vintage camper details in this book. The author meticulously describes the process of restoring and decorating an old camper. It was a lot of fun to read about! Dillon is a very likable character. She is warm, kind, and caring, a hard worker with a strong independent streak. I enjoyed reading about her growth as a person. By finding that she loves restoring campers, she also finds herself. Jordan Atwood, who owns the small town hardware store, makes a fine book boyfriend. He is a genuinely decent, good guy -- and to Dillon's delight he also is a vintage camper fan. I loved the slow building romance between Dillon and Jordan, even as they dealt with the unwanted complication of her persistent old boyfriend. The Happy Camper is a fun, upbeat read - perfect for a leisurely weekend. It would also make a great beach read! I recommend it for fans of women's fiction, sweet romance - and of course, vintage campers! Book Synopsis Home is the place to heal . . . right?
At least, that's
what Dillon Michaels is hoping as she leaves her disappointing career
and nonstarter love life behind to help her grieving and aging
grandfather on his small Oregon farm. The only problem? Her eccentric
mother beat her there and has taken over Dillon's old room. After a few
nights of sleeping on a sagging sofa, Dillon is ready to give up, until
she receives an unlikely gift--her grandfather's run-down vintage camp
trailer, which she quickly resolves to restore with the help of Jordan
Atwood, the handsome owner of the local hardware store.
But just
when things are finally beginning to run smoothly, Dillon's noncommittal
ex-boyfriend shows up with roses . . . and a ring.
Author Bio Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over 200 books
with sales of more than 7 million, including many bestselling Christmas
novellas, young adult titles, and contemporary romances. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including Finding Alice. She and her husband live in central Oregon. Learn more at www.melodycarlson.com.
Dear Friends, I hope you are having a great week! This past week one of my friends sent my Momma a link about Baby Peggy (Diana Serra Cary), who was a silent movie star. Baby Peggy recently passed away, and there was an interesting article about her silent movie career. (Thanks, Shari, for sending this!) The article had a clip with one of Baby Peggy's movies. I watched with Momma and guess what? The movie clip costarred a famous dog I'd never heard of!
Brownie the Wonder Dog was a 1920's dog actor. He appeared in 51 movies between 1918 and 1924. I was not able to find out much about his life - where he came from, who he lived with, etc. I did read that there was a French comic strip based on his life from 1926 - 1927, Les Aventures du Chien Brownie. I wanted to share the little three minute clip from Playmates (1921) starring Baby Peggy and Brownie the Wonder Dog. It is fun to watch, and I hope you enjoy it too! Wasn't that fun?! I loved learning about an old time famous dog I'd never heard of before this week. Love, Abby xoxoxo
