WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: TEA WITH THE ROSE GIRLS 10.6.15

TEA TIME !

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Definitely a Joy moment finding Victoria Connelly's royal mail stamped package in the post ! Making for a delish Summer Tea Time with her New Novel 
THE ROSE GIRLS
Thirty-year-old Celeste Hamilton’s life is at a crossroads: she has just left a disastrous marriage, and her estranged mother has recently died, leaving the family’s rose business in jeopardy. Reluctantly, Celeste returns to the family home, a moated manor house in Suffolk, to help her two younger sisters sort out the estate and revive the business.

Having endured the fallout from her mother’s Narcissistic Personality Disorder when she was younger, Celeste is filled with self-doubt and crippling insecurities. But she must find the strength and courage to take charge and make some tough decisions to keep the old house from falling down around them.

The Rose Girls is an uplifting, tender and romantic story of courage, perseverance and the healing power of family.  

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#Audiobook  #AudioMonth  #20booksofsummer

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Topped off with a taste of Summer ~ Peach Apricot tea...
Join me for a Tea Time Joy break?

 ~*~

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~*~
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LENT WEEK 1 DAY 4 : YOU ARE THE BELOVED OF GOD 26.2.15

Meditations in  Being and Becoming the Beloved  as we walk the path of Lent with Henri Nouwen * * Conclusion to Becoming the Beloved.
Community is not to be a hideout from life.   It's a calling to go.  To a life given. Coming closer to the heart of God in ministry.  Serving. Live aware of our own limitations.   We are a fellowship of the weak. * "Once you are in deep communion with the poor, you are able to discover your own poverty, your own weakness, your own brokenness and not be afraid of it." * Keep space for hearing God's Voice. Forming community without possessiveness.  Going out. Claim your Truth.  You are the Beloved of God. * LIFE OF THE BELOVED  Available in print  * and Audio CD  LIFE OF THE BELOVED: Spiritual Living in a Secular World * * Beginning of this LIFE OF THE BELOVED video series HERE 2nd of the series 3rd of the series 4th is Lent 1st Sunday 5th of series

6th in the series
7th in the series

*
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BOOK TOUR + GIVEAWAY! : THE SECRET OF PEMBROOKE PARK by Julie Klassen 26.2.15

 WELCOME !
I've looked forward with pleasure to today's
Blog Tour Spotlight for this 5* novel

THE SECRET OF PEMBROOKE PARK Julie Klassen's newest release!
*

* Published by Bethany House [Baker Publishing Group] December 2. 2014  Genres: Regency Romance / Gothic Romance / Historical Fiction / Austenesque / Inspirational Fiction 
*

*

AudioBook Published by Recorded Books December 12. 2014

Narrator: Elizabeth Jasicki  ~  Length: 18 hrs 3 min  unabridged

*

Congratulations, Julie,
on your newest delivery !

* The storyline ...?

In the spring of 1818, twenty-four-year-old Abigail Foster fears she is destined to become a spinster. Her family’s finances are in ruins and the one young man she truly esteems has fallen for another woman — her younger, prettier sister Louisa. Forced to retrench after the bank failure of Austen, Gray & Vincent, the Foster family optimistically pool their resources for another London Season for her sister in hopes of an advantageous alliance. While searching for more affordable lodgings, a surprising offer is presented: one twelvemonth's use of a country manor house in Berkshire, abandoned for eighteen years. Abigail and her father journey to the imposing Pembrooke Park and are startled to find it entombed as it was abruptly left. Tight-lipped locals and the handsome local curate offer a stern warning: Beware trespassers drawn by rumours of Pembrooke Park's secret room filled with treasure. . . Eager to restore her family fortune - and her dowry - Abigail begins her search into the heavily veiled past with spirited determination and the aid of cryptic journal pages postmarked Brighton from an unnamed resident. But eerie sounds at night and footprints in the dust reveal she isn't the only one secretly searching the house.   As old friends and new foes come calling at Pembrooke Park, secrets come to light. Will Abigail find the treasure and love she seeks...or very real danger? *

Here's author, Julie Klassen, hosting a wee tour for us,  providing a peek into Great Chalfield Manor,
the English manor {and church} inspiring the story ...

* I absolutely love the unique oriel and stained glass window features, gardens of wisteria and tulips, pathways, and stairway scenes in the book from  this spectacular property.
What a delight to share the tour with Julie!
Thank you, Julie, for including us in bringing the story to life via your firsthand experiences.

I loved the suspense, romantic twists, and variety of characters in this novel.
Truly a pleasure to read !  and a strong 5* recommendation.

*

AUTHOR BIO: Julie Klassen loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. Three of her books have won the Christy Award for Historical Romance.  She has also won the Midwest Book Award, Christian Retailing’s BEST Award, and has been a finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Awards, Minnesota Book Awards, and ACFW’s Carol Awards.  Julie blogs at inspiredbylifeandfiction Julie and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of
St. Paul, Minnesota.



* ~ Find and Follow Julie online ~ Julie's Website Julie Klassen Facebook  Julie on Goodreads  Julie Klassen Twitter  @Julie_Klassen, @Bethany_House Tweet the Tour hashtags:
#PembrookeBlogTour, #JaneAusten, #HistoricalFicton, #RegencyRomance, #Reading, #GothicRomance, #Austenesque

* Purchase Links ~ Book Depository  * Barnes & Noble *  ChristianBook *  *   Indie Bound  *  Amazon *  Audible Audiobook * * Add it at Goodreads  + the next 2 due later this year ~ Lady Maybe  and   The Painter's Daughter

My thoughts on Julie's novels include ~ The Maid of Fairbourne Hall   *   The Dancing Master  The Tutor's Daughter
*

* Award winning historical romance author Julie Klassen tours the blogosphere
February 16 through March 2 to share her latest release, The Secret of Pembrooke Park. Twenty five popular book bloggers specializing in historical and Austenesque fiction will feature guest blogs, interviews, book reviews and excerpts of this acclaimed gothic Regency romance novel.
A fabulous giveaway contest, including copies of all of Ms. Klassen’s eight books and other Jane Austen-themed items, is open to those who join the festivities.    * ~ Grand Giveaway Contest ~ *

**Win One of Four Fabulous Prizes** In celebration of the release of The Secret of Pembrooke Park,
4 chances to win copies of Julie’s books and other
Jane Austen-inspired items are being offered.  Three lucky winners will receive one trade paperback or eBook copy of The Secret of Pembrooke Park, and one grand prize winner will receive one copy of all eight of Julie’s novels:
*
Lady of Milkweed Manor
The Apothecary's Daughter
The Silent Governess
The Girl in the Gatehouse
The Maid of Fairbourne Hall
The Tutor’s Daughter
The Dancing Master and
The Secret of Pembrooke Park
one DVD of Northanger Abbey (2007)
and a Jane Austen Action Figure

*

To Enter the giveaway contest :
simply leave a comment on any or all of the blog stops on
The Secret of Pembrooke Park Blog Tour starting
February 16, 2015 through 11:59 pm PT, March 9, 2015. Winners will be drawn at random from all of the comments and announced on Julie Klassen’s website on March 16, 2015. **Winners have until March 22, 2015 to claim their prize. The giveaway contest is open to residents of the US, UK + Canada. [Digital books will be sent through Amazon or Barnes & Noble]. 

Good luck to all!
Be sure to hit the G+ button to spread the word - TY!!
[bottom of post]

*

FIND and FOLLOW 

THE SECRET OF PEMBROOKE PARK
 BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

at

Julie's Events Page

*

And don't forget to comment here at FHC for your 

GIVEAWAY entry

through 11:59 pm PT - March 9. 2015

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LENT WEEK 1 Day 2: BEING and BECOMING THE BELOVED by Henri Nouwen 24.2.15

Meditations in Being and Becoming the Beloved  as we walk the path of Lent with Henri Nouwen *

* First of the next 3 sessions of Living as the Beloved of God, Henri Nouwen explores Christ's model of Communion with God. In the midst of noise and distraction, busyness around and within us, we must create that spiritual whitespace where we can hear the Voice calling us to communion, to relationship, to hear we are Beloved of God. *
Brief and beautiful meditation that challenges as it inspires a new way of
being in our world.   A call to reclaim what we're meant to be... * LIFE OF THE BELOVED  Available in print 

and Audio CD  LIFE OF THE BELOVED: Spiritual Living in a Secular World

* Beginning of this LIFE OF THE BELOVED video series HERE 2nd of the series 3rd of the series 4th is Lent 1st Sunday 5th of series FIND MORE FHC on BOOK DEPOSITORY | PINTEREST | TWITTER | GOOGLE+ | GOODREADS | FACEBOOK | NETWORKED BLOGS | LIBRARYTHING
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LENT 3: BEING THE BELOVED by HENRI NOUWEN 20.2.15

Day 3 of our Lenten Journey I'm sharing brief daily segments of Henri Nouwen's BELOVED.
Thoughtful reflection to inspire and inspirit our contemplation of who we are as we begin this journey. . .

* *   "Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the "Beloved." Being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence.” 

― Henri J.M. Nouwen

*
* LIFE OF THE BELOVED available in print Initially written in response to a Jewish journalist's question
 [which began their friendship],  "How does one live a spiritual life in a secular world? " Life of the Beloved has become Henri Nouwen’s greatest legacy to Christians around the world.  Epistolary writing, this personally sincere and powerful invitation to the spiritual life offered in Christ is an uplifting guide. * 160 pages paperback
Publisher:  Crossroad Publishing Company Published:  October 1st 2002
[Originally published 1992] *

Life of the Beloved : Spiritual Living in a Secular World

Audio version:  2 cds 2.5 hrs
Read by Henri Nouwen
Publisher:  Servant Books Published: February 13. 2007
"How does one live a spiritual life in a secular world?" Henri Nouwen responds from the depths of his heart to this dilemna posed by his friend Fred Bratman. Newly available on CD for the first time, this audiobook is recorded by Nouwen himself. His own interpretive reading of the text lends a sense of immediacy to the production. 2 CDs/2.5 hours (approx.) *

Nouwen, born Henri Jozef Machiel [Nouen] in Nijkerk Netherlands January 24th 1932.

Nouwen authored 40 b0oks on spiritual life.  His books are widely read today by Protestants and Catholics alike. The Wounded Healer, In the Name of Jesus, The Life of the Beloved, and The Way of the Heart are just a few of the more widely recognized titles.

After nearly two decades of teaching at the Menninger Foundation Clinic in Topeka, Kansas, and at the University of Notre Dame, Yale University and Harvard University, in 1986 he accepted the position of pastor and went to share his life with mentally handicapped people at Daybreak, the L'Arche community, founded by Jean Vanier, near Toronto, Canada.

After a long period of declining energy, which he chronicled in his final book, Sabbatical Journey, he died in September 1996 from a sudden heart attack.

* * Available in print and audiobook Find Henri Nouwen online *
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TEASER TUESDAYS and INTROS: THE RIVERS RUN DRY [RALEIGH HARMON 2] 13.1.15

Tuesday ~ Intros and Teasers *
Joining Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea 

                1st Chapter  1st Paragraph -  Tuesday Intros
Share the first paragraph or (a few) of a book you're reading  [or thinking about reading].

* From Sibella Giorello's 'THE RIVERS RUN DRY'~ * "Armies of cedar and fir and hemlock marched up the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, long limbs glowing with a peculiar shade of green I'd seen only once before:  when a six-carat emerald rolled across a stainless steel examination tray in the FBI's materials analysis lab.  That gem's green facets glowed with a hue so verdant, so luscious, it whispered sibilant promises in the ears of greedy men." 
* and

MizB 's Teaser Tuesdays

Anyone can play along! 
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences -
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! 
[ don’t give too much away! You don’t want to spoil the book for others!] 
• Share the title and author, so others can add the book to theirTBR Lists if they like your teasers!

* Here's Today's Teaser...
*

"You got the film?"
I lifted the box and we walked down the hall."A tall, scowling man stepped from the management offices..."You put that stuff down right now.""The warrant's signed by a federal judge," Jack said, trying to get past him. "Get out of my way." "What did you say to me?" The man stepped into Jack's path, baring his teeth.

It was one of those primal confrontations where you can hear the fuse getting lit, heading toward detonation.
I wasn't about to let Jack ruin this search."

* Sibella Giorello's Raleigh Harmon series Book 2 *

                                                              Synopsis ~

When a routine case turns deadly, forensic geologist Raleigh Harmon finds her career on the rocks...and her life at stake. 

Special Agent Raleigh Harmon is good at her job, but not as good at bureau politics. As one of the few females on the team, she finds herself in a strange land when she's transferred from Richmond to drought-stricken Seattle. When a hiker suddenly goes missing and a ransom note arrives, Raleigh realizes there's no time for transitions. Vowing to find the missing college girl, she must rely on her forensic geology skills to uncover the truth, leaving no stone unturned. 
*
**Find more audios and info at Oasis Audio
*

 Gritty and poetic, with an evocative sense of place, a quirky cast 

of characters, a fast-twisting plot, and a compelling, complicated heroine, this superbly crafted mystery will keep you listening compulsively as hope runs short, the clock runs down, and the rivers run dry.
*

Sibella Giorello is author of the Raleigh Harmon series, featuring the forensic geologist who insists luck doesn't exist. 
In addition to winning the Christy Award for best first novel, Sibella's writing has garnered dozens of journalism awards, including two nominations for the Pulitzer Prize. 
A fourth-generation Alaskan, Sibella now lives in the mountains of Washington state with her husband and children.

Narrator:  Cassandra Campbell  Find more at - ©2009 Sibella Giorello; (P)2012 Oasis Audio  

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