A Blessed Day

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Stunning Popcorn Ripple Crochet Afghan

image: http://static.primecp.com/images/easy_14.png

Crochet Hook: I/9 or 5.5 mm hook

Yarn Weight: (4) Medium Weight/Worsted Weight and Aran (16-20 stitches to 4 inches)

Read more at http://www.allfreecrochetafghanpatterns.com/Ripple/Stunning-Popcorn-Ripple-Crochet-Afghan#LFDi5SFdbHrBWqZV.99

Saturday, November 5, 2016

BOOK REVIEW- JILTING THE DUKE

Jilting the Duke (The Muses' Salon Series) by [Miles, Rachael]

Broken Promise, Broken Heart

Aidan Somerville, Duke of Forster, is a rake, a spy, and a soldier, richer than sin and twice as handsome. Now he is also guardian to his deceased best friend’s young son. The choice makes perfect sense—except that the child’s mother is the lovely Sophia Gardiner, to whom Aidan was engaged before he went off to war. When the news reached him that she had married another, his ship had not yet even left the dock.

Sophia does not expect Aidan to understand or forgive her. But she cannot allow him to stay her enemy. She’s prepared for coldness, even vengeance—but not for the return of the heedless lust she and Aidan tumbled into ten years ago. She knows the risks of succumbing to this dangerous desire. Still, with Aidan so near, it’s impossible not to dream about a second chance…AMAZON 3.5 STARS

I liked it but at times it seemed to be a bit long. I know it was only 384 pages long but a few spots it dragged and I wanted it to move along. There was a fair amount of things happening and I cared about both of the main characters but because of the angst, misunderstandings, anger and regrets it started to lose its spark for me. Sophia's late husband Tom, tried to manage Sophia's life beyond the grave. And while it was meant to help her, it was supposedly for her own good. I began to resent it right along with Sophia. Yes, he made sure that secrets would come out that needed to but it was kind of highhanded and the timing often wasn't the best for her. There were also good secondary people as well. Still, it just didn't totally gel for me. So, I guess I would call it a Mixed Bag.

Mark Chironna: 'Jubilee - Our Glorious Future!' and 'Our 'Net' Worth and 'Net' Work'

Fun Design- Crochet

Go From Circular Pattern to Beautiful Design
Expand your crochet imagination beyond flat projects by learning how to work in the round! Hi, I'm crochet author and instructor Kim Werker. Join me in my online Craftsy class, Crochet in the Round: Basics & Beyond, to pick up the skills you need to make circular projects like floor poufs, berets, mandalas and more.

My Note- This is not a free class but if you are interested, follow the link above.

Friday, November 4, 2016

BOOK REVIEW- NO DIRECTION HOME

No Direction Home (Sweet Home Colorado) by [Willhoff, Jude]

No Direction Home is about a woman who has lost everything that matters, an orphaned thirteen-year-old boy nobody wants and a charming ex-con.
Grace Sanders lost her health to a debilitating disease and her husband to another woman. Experimental surgery gave her back her health, but couldn't repair her heart. Only time will heal the damage left behind by an unfaithful man so Grace throws herself into a new project to save her trusting grandmother from being preyed on by a charming ex-con.
Convicted of a crime he didn't commit, Seth Taylor lost everything that mattered to him, years with his daughter and the belief he'll never love again. Released from prison, he finds a job as a ranch foreman at the Cactus Rose Ranch in Cedar Falls, Colorado. His widowed boss refuses to let growing old destroy her dreams for her granddaughter and she believes in second chances.
Second chances are what both Grace and Seth need to create their own Sweet Home Colorado. AMAZON 4 STARS

A good book and for the most part it flowed pretty well. There were a few times it bogged down a bit more than I like but it didn't last too long. The unusual facts of the debilitating disease that Grace dealt with, was handled so well in this story. I had never heard of it before, which I guess isn't all that surprising, there are a lot of medical conditions that I'm not aware of. The ways that she found to cope with chronic pain was eye opening as well. But don't think that this book is all about pain and the medical, physical and emotional aspects of her disease. This is also a romance, with really engaging main characters and great secondary people as well. It didn't take long for me to be pulling for both Grace and Seth to be together and to find their own HEA. They both had been through some really tough times, just different ones. Grace's grandmother Nana was a tough sweetheart, who was always there to help others. Jamie, Seth's little girl is as charming as you would expect her to be. And she has a great relationship with her father. Grace had some really good girl friends, who were there for her in all of their quirky ways. Cindy was probably the quirkiest of the bunch but lovable too. There was a quick look into Cindy's story at the end of this book. Her story is called, " Fly Away Home", Book 2.

I was glad that Jude Willhoff added her About the Author note at the end..that was-eye-opening as well.
It also explained a lot.
I really thought that the cover for the eBook was really attractive.