BOOK REVIEW- ONLY A PROMISE(#5The Survivors' Club)

The Survivors’ Club: Six men and one woman, all wounded in the Napoleonic Wars, their friendship forged during their recovery at Penderris Hall in Cornwall. Now, for one of them, striking a most unusual bargain will change his life forever.… 

Ralph Stockwood prides himself on being a leader, but when he convinced his friends to fight in the Napoleonic Wars, he never envisioned being the sole survivor. Racked with guilt over their deaths, Ralph must move on...and find a wife so as to secure an heir to his family’s title and fortune.

Since her Seasons in London ended in disaster, Chloe Muirhead is resigned to spinsterhood. Driven by the need to escape her family, she takes refuge at the home of her mother’s godmother, where she meets Ralph. He needs a wife. She wants a husband. So Chloe makes an outrageous suggestion: Strike a bargain and get married. One condition: Ralph has to promise that he will never take her back to London. But circumstances change. And to Ralph, it was only a promise.  AMAZON 4 STAR

A really good story with an interesting, different, plot.  I've read several of the stories in the Survivor's Club Series and this one didn't disappoint.   I liked both of the M.C.'s, they each approached life differently.  The book blurb only gives a hint of how turbulent things are about to get.  Each day is a struggle for Ralph, he's fighting to put one foot in front of the other.  He has crushed every emotion that he can, hiding behind a blank mask.   The only people who see behind that mask are the other Survivor's Club members.  These are the ones who know and have been there for each other when it comes to recovering from what they have been through in the war.  The emotions get pretty intense at times.  
Chloe had been through some tough Seasons in society and through no fault of her own has been humiliated and ostracized.  She considers herself ineligible for marriage because of rumor and slander.  She ran after the third time and wants nothing to do with the ton.  But now, she's through running when she sees an opportunity and she runs with IT.   The bargain is a pretty cold one and even after they marry, it stays that way for quite a while.  Both of them get what they want, kind of. 
Chloe is not quite the timid, little mouse that she appears to be but she does know how to fade into the background when she needs to.  At other times she shows a strength that maybe even she didn't know she had.   Ralph begins to see that Chloe, even when terrified had changed her ways.  She would stiffen her back, lift her chin and march right through whatever it was. Even while Ralph begins to admire her for that, he also resents that about her too.  She stirs up feelings, makes him want to run and just be left alone.   None of that is a good thing for a marriage of course and causes all kind of problems for them.  He runs hot and cold with Chloe. 
The other people in the story were good ones and added to the story.  
It's a long, hard fight to a HEA for Ralph and Chloe but they will get there.  In the end.  

There is a really good excerpt from another book in the Series, "Only A Kiss". And it's a good one, it really had a good hook and made me want to read it. I was happy it was next on my list of "To Be Read" books. I'll get to you on that one. And it involves the only woman in the group, Imogen Hayes. Now, there is someone who I wondered what her story was, for some time.

Unspoken - Christmas Everyday

OUR DIFFICULTIES ARE HIS OPPORTUNITIES- G. COOKE

It’s easy to fall prey to a life of circumstances, challenges, and obstacles that are sub-par to the place of fullness that God has for us.

I understand that life can be hard, but no hardship can outmatch the magnificence and majesty of God. He has already given us the upgrade and the answer.

We just have to know what to focus on!

Every time we encounter a difficult situation we have a choice:

1. Will I get stuck?

2. Or will I embrace this situation as an opportunity for growth, maturity and transformation?

I know where God gets excited! He wants our life circumstances to grow us. He desires more of Jesus revealed in us, because He is intentional about us maturing into His image. He is passionately committed to our freedom increasing. And He is brilliant at partnering with us in this process.

He has already determined how He is going to see our difficulties in life, and He is eager for us to experience Jesus in these circumstances. Through relationship with Him, we gain keys to an upgraded life of fullness and abundance.

This is the lifestyle He has made available to us!

Today, try meditate on these words from God. Perhaps your perspective might change. You may even find the key to your current challenge!

Beloved, your life is not how you find it. It is how I make it.

I know every pitfall, every difficulty that you will face in the course of your growing up in Me into a place of authority, fullness, maturity, and favor.

The answer to everything is always going to be found in the Person of My Beloved Son. There is no other name or way to be saved outside of Him.

There is no other discipling process in the way of salvation than by the incomparable Holy Spirit who is your Helper, Trainer, and Comforter. No one is more imaginative than your Heavenly Father at creating opportunities for growth and transformation.

Is anything too hard for Me? Is there any situation where I cannot be magnificent towards you? I know how to deal with every eventuality. In truth, you’re hurdles are not much of a challenge to the power of My loving-kindness, goodness, joy, and patience.

Jesus has already given us the answer and the breakthrough.

I hope you find your upgrade in Him today!   Graham Cooke

Time is flying (eye) Picture

Time is flying...

35 Characteristics of Safe People

35 Characteristics of Safe People: List of behaviors that helps you identify if someone that is likely to be a good partner or spouse.

BOOK REVIEW- COLORADO DREAM

In New York in 1877, Angela Bellini longs to become a concert violinist and get away from her abusive father. When her dream takes her to Greeley, Colorado, to purchase a violin from a master instrument maker, she learns she must wait three weeks until her violin is ready before she can head home.

Angela is determined not to let anything or anyone waylay her dream, but when she meets rough-and-tumble cowboy Brett Hendricks, her heart is torn. He is her opposite in every way—uncouth, cocky, and reckless. But she is hopelessly drawn to him, like a moth to flame.

Brett Hendricks is on the run—not just from an angry rancher who is tracking him down for shooting his son but from a dark and troubled past plaguing him with guilt and shame. A wild, untamable cowboy, Brett can break any horse with a soft touch and soothing word, but nothing in the world can bring him peace. He fears he will never stop running, never see his dreams of ranching realized.

But then, one evening, he hears sweet violin music that seeps deep into his soul--music that floods him with peace. He falls hard for Angela but knows she plans to leave Colorado. All his attempts to win her heart fail disastrously, and though he buries himself in the cattle roundup, when he helps thwart a rustling outfit, his enemies multiply.

Somehow he must find a way to gain Angela's heart and trust. And somehow Angela must break past her distrust of men to discover the love awaiting her with open arms.  AMAZON

Well written, with plenty of action and emotional times in it. I really liked it.   Both Brett and  Angela had come from some tough times.  While it happened  differently for each, they both did have mean fathers in common. No only mean but violent, dangerous ones. Those men sure caused plenty of damage to their children and wives.   There are lingering, harmful effects from it on both the main characters.  Something that they will have to fight their way through in the whole book.  Angela is running towards her dream and Brett is running FROM his past.  I really liked the both of them and it was easy to be drawn into their "drama".  A few times it felt like it dragged a bit because of the emotions that they were going through.  But it usually picked back up after because there really was a fair amount of things going on.  There was also plenty of other likable people in the story too, they added without distracting. They made for a very warm community with very likable people.
Imagine my surprise when I was reading about 3 of those other people (in a family) and I thought, "wait a minute, this sounds familiar.  I think I might have read their story before"  LeRoy Banks,  his wife Gennie, and his mom, Sarah Banks are the people I am talking about.  When there was a quick mention of their "history", I just had to check it out.  Yes,I had read it and liked it.  It was really great to see them in this story because they did add a lot to the story.  Sarah Banks all on her own was quite the interesting, mysterious person.  This is where I read about them first, just in case you are interested:

Wild Secret, Wild Longing: A Sweet Historical Western Romance Novella (The Front Range Series Book 3) Kindle Edition

This book does come to a very satisfying ending and towards the end the reader gets to see where the idea of the title comes from.  I like that. 
I really enjoyed the Author's Note at the end, it was very enlightening!

"I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review."

Break Every Chain by Jesus Culture Lyrics