Semi Wordless Wednesday 8-31-11 #WW

*While you are here, don't miss the chance to win two great novels - "The Colonel's Lady" and "Blue Skies Tomorrow"!

So Murphy has become my new best friend during this deployment...

First it was $800 worth of car repairs, then it was a new hot water heater (at 2 am), then a hard drive for my laptop, next it was a new fuel pump for the suburban and a windshield.

I really thought I was through, that I had reached my quota of crazy things that I couldn't even make up.

But I was wrong...

This week, it was an emergency vet visit at 11pm and a $300 bill - thanks to the porcupine that has taken up residence in our backyard.

If you have time, please come and visit. I am the one in the corner - wearing the straight jacket - muttering to myself about normal and wanting my mommy.

It may be time for another Starbucks Pity Party...

Love,

"Blue Skies Tomorrow" Review & Giveaway

*Before you get started, don't miss the giveaway for "The Colonel's Lady" or the latest free book posting.

Ever since I got my hands on my first Tricia Goyer book, I have been slightly obsessed with World War II. Now, when you have a favorite author - that totally rocks a time period - it can be hard to open a book by someone else. But, can I just say... Sarah Sundin is AMAZING?!

"Blue Skies Tomorrow" was one of those books where I just kept telling myself, "Just ten more minutes, then I will go to bed!". Only to have finally finished around 2am (good thing I don't have a real job!)

About the book: 

It is 1944 and America longs for the war to be over so their boys can come home. This war has taken too many lives and made too many widows, orphans, and broken hearts. However, the homeland continues to pull together and buy bonds to support the troops, and Helen Carlisle has become the town’s war widow heroine. Doing her part with her son, she faithfully appears at community events asking people to support the troops. But deep down she is troubled. How much longer can she do this? Is she living a lie? Was her dead husband a hero? How can she live with the past?  

Lt. Ray Novak prefers to follow his calling into ministry rather than the cockpit. But his current position offers him the luxury of a personal life since he is stateside training B-17 pilots. His interest in Helen, the young war widow, grows, but he knows she is hiding a painful past under a frenzy of volunteer work. Ray is called to fly a European combat mission at the peak of the air war. Their romance is tense because Helen is afraid, but Ray cannot help because he is in Europe. As Helen tries to make ends meet and confronts the past, Ray encounters a deadly enemy of his own. Will they find the courage to face their challenges? Will the truth come out? Will hope and redemption ring true for Helen?

About the author: 

Sarah Sundin received the 2011 Writer of the Year Award from the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, and her second novel, A Memory Between Us, is a finalist for an Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award.  She is the author of A Distant Melody and A Memory Between Us. Her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force in England during WWII. Sarah lives in California with her husband and three children. For more interesting information about Sarah and to enter her contest for a vintage apron and Kindle, visit her website.

My thoughts: 

Sarah is a wonderful writer. She weaves not only an incredible tale, but an adventure that makes you feel like you are a part of the story. 

The main characters, Helen and Ray are 'real' and believable. They aren't perfect and the troubles they face and struggles they are working through make you want to cheer for them to find peace and end up together in the end. 

As a history addict, inaccuracies can really ruin a book, so I appreciate the research and thought put into the details. I was really impressed when I found out that Sarah actually toured a B-17!

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and didn't want to put it down and I was sad when it ended. I want to read more about Helen and Ray and what life brings them in the future.

"Blue Skies Tomorrow" is number three in the "Wings of Glory" series, but is a 'stand alone' novel. However, after reading it, you will want to download both A Memory Between Us and A Distant Melody.

Thank you Sarah for a wonderful book! I am looking forward to the next series.

"Blue Skies Tomorrow" is available August 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Now for the giveaway!

How to enter:
1. Main entry - Leave a comment answering the following question:  In "Blue Skies Tomorrow", Helen was so busy keeping secrets, trying to maintain the 'perfect' illusion. Have you ever lived your life that way?  

Bonus entries - Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

2. Like "Our Crazy Life" on Facebook (or if you already do, leave a comment letting me know!)

3. Share this post on Facebook - or any other Social Networking Site using the "Share the Love" buttons below the post. One Bonus entry per 'share', make sure to leave a comment for each entry! (P.S. You can share 1x a day for each site!)

4. Follow me on Google Friend Connect (or if you already do, leave a comment letting me know!)

5. Add my button to your blog (Worth two entries, leave two comments!)

Make sure you leave a way to contact you, either by having your reply-to email address set or by leaving your email address in your posts.

Contest will end Monday, 9/5/11, at 10:00 pm CST and the winner will be chosen by a random number generator.

Winner will be mailed a copy of Sarah Sundin's "Blue Skies Tomorrow" via media mail.

*Fine Print: I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. The opinions expressed are all mine and I was not required to give a positive review.

I hope you win! ;)

Love,

Semi Wordless Wednesday 8-24-11 #WW

*While you are here, don't miss my current giveaway or the most recent free book post.

If you saw last week's Wordless Wednesday, then you know I was off to Colorado to see my favorite tenor, Anthony Kearns, perform in Die Fledermaus. It was a special birthday treat from the Soldier and I had a great time.

Steamboat Springs was beautiful, I got to see my sweet friend Fay and the opera was amazing! I haven't heard a voice that can compare...

I was even able to attend a private solo concert the next night (on top of the mountain, even rode the gondola!) before flying home. It was a wonderful way to celebrate my 29th (give or take a few years...) birthday!

Me with Irish tenor, Anthony Kearns, at the Diva Gala

Driving down Rabbit Ears Pass (something like 9,000 feet)

It was beautiful!

Love, 

Free & Bargain Ebooks for Kindle 8-22-11

August has been just flying by and it is hard to believe that summer is almost over! I know I haven't been the most consistent blogger, but I have been traveling a bit and hope to get some posts and pictures up soon. 

Today is a big day, as our oldest is starting college. It doesn't seem possible that she is grown up (and it doesn't seem possible that I am old enough to be the mother of a college student!) Most of this afternoon will be taken up trying to figure out what to wear to freshman orientation. I suppose I need to look like a grown up ;0)  I do wish her father was here for this, but I know we are in the finishing stretch of this deployment and it will be over soon.

While you are here, don't miss my contest to win a copy of "The Colonel's Lady" by Laura Franz and come back later this week to win a copy of Sarah Sundin's "Blue Skies Tomorrow". (Don't miss Sarah's Kindle giveaway!) I love being able to give books away and my Soldier loves that they don't take up space on the overflowing bookshelves!

The usual reminders and disclaimers:

• Prices change often and without notice. Books are usually only free (or reduced) for a limited time. Always check the price before clicking 'download'.
• You can read these books, even if you don't have a Kindle, by downloading the free app for your computer or phone. For a full list of apps, please click here. If you have been holding off on getting a Kindle, Amazon now has a reduced price one with special offers (i.e. ads on your screensaver) for only $114.
• Please consider following my blog on Google Friend Connect or by 'liking' my Facebook page. I will post books as soon as I find them on Facebook and they aren't always free long enough to make it to the blog.
• If you download a book, please 'Share the Love' by using the buttons below each post to let your friends know. And please leave a comment, I love to hear from you!
• If you enjoy the free book posts, please consider shopping through my links when you do purchase from Amazon. The small commission I receive for your purchase helps me justify all the time I spend on this blog to my Soldier! Thanks :)
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bargains! 12 Learning Games from Amazon for $.99:
(active content does not work on Kindle for PC)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a wonderful week! 

Love,