Showers Of Blessing

And I will make them 

and the places round about my hill a blessing; 

and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; 

there shall be showers of blessing.

- Ezekiel 34:26 -

There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;

There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.

There shall be showers of blessing—
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,

Sound of abundance of rain.

There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, O Lord!
Grant to us now a refreshing;
Come, and now honor Thy Word.

There shall be showers of blessing;
O that today they might fall,

Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!

- - Chorus - -

Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need;

Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

- - David W. Whittle - - 

It rained, my friends!
It rained here in dry Colorado

and it rained for most of the morning yesterday.

Oh, how it refreshed our dry and parched mountains!

I couldn't help but run outside and soak it in.

Standing there as the rain dropped upon my upturned face

I smiled. . .

I twirled around. . .

and I rejoiced. . . 

Rain, sweet blessed rain.

Indeed, we enjoyed "Showers of Blessing."

He shall come down 

like rain upon the mown grass: 

as showers that water the earth.

- - Psalm 72:6 - -

Blessings and love to you

on this Lord's Day!

Flash Sale at Rose Petal Blessings

It's an

"add to cart"

kind of day!

Hi friends!

I hope your Saturday is off to a fabulous start.

It rained a little here this morning

and the skies are dark

so I am hopeful that we will get rain throughout the day.

Oh, what a blessing that would be!

I wanted to let you know

that I am having a FLASH SALE

in my shop.

Enjoy 25% OFF your order of $10.00 or more

And don't forget that your order ships for FREE.

Take advantage of 25% OFF 

until Wednesday, August 22nd.

Simply enter the coupon code:
FLASHSALE

when you checkout.

Easy peasy, my friends.

Happy shopping at

Rose Petal Blessings

Because it's 

shop o'clock

somewhere!

Please remember that my shop is located on my blog now.

You can click on the links I've shared with you

or you can find it at the top of my site where it says SHOP.

{{{hugs}}}

What's In My Makeup Bag

Beauty begins

the moment you decide

to be yourself. 

- Coco Chanel -

A very good and happy morning to you,

lovely friends and followers.

Today I thought I would give you a little peek into my makeup bag

and share just a few items that I love.

I shared in the past 

that I have suffered from cystic acne for many years.

If you have never suffered from this form of acne

well, let me tell you, it's a beast!

Not only is it painful and ugly,

it also leaves behind terrible scars.
Thankfully, I have gotten it under control
with natural skincare products,
but unfortunately it left its mark on my face.

I have searched and searched for a good makeup product

that covers the acne/scars and doesn't leave my face greasy or streaky.

I have used expensive products such as Estee Lauder

and affordable products like Neutrogena.

While I love Estee Lauder 

I found the foundation to be too much on my face.

It was as if the makeup enhanced my scars 

which was most definitely NOT the look I was going for.
And to be quite honest with you,
I would much rather be as natural as I can.

So one day while reading a friend's blog

I came across Beauty For Real.

Madison from Breakfast at Madison's mentioned using these products 

and I must say that when she was done with her makeup 

I was quite impressed with how she looked.

The MVP Perfect+Protect is a tinted moisturizer and concealer.

This is what Beauty For Real has to say about their product:

It is formulated for long-wear with mineral pigment technology 

to build a custom skin smoothing matrix 

to deliver complexion perfecting coverage 

with a featherweight, filter-like finish, 

eliminating the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and pores. 

Epigenetic technology provides anti-aging benefits 

by flipping the 'on' switch for cell rejuvenation. 

Broad spectrum SPF 25 protects against harmful UVA/UVB rays.

I have been using it for some time now
and I love the coverage it offers without being thick and greasy.
I can't thank Madison enough
for introducing me to Beauty for Real.

My all-time favorite makeup product is mascara.
I have always loved mascara
and I confess that it's the one makeup item
I am willing to pay a little extra for.
I have used Estee Lauder mascara since I was a teen
and have switched it up once in a while
with products from Neutrogena and Cover Girl.
Estee Lauder has always won out and been a step above the rest,
but a month ago I found a new mascara that has taken 1st place.
I found the mascara by "accident."
In fact, maybe I should say the mascara found me
since it popped up as an ad on Pinterest.
I don't usually click on the ads, but I was intrigued
since the mascara was being advertised as "liquid lash extensions."
I have never worn lash extensions so I was curious about this "liquid lash."
I couldn't resist, my friends. . .
I bought it.
I love it.
I'm hooked.

And may I be so bold as to say
it's amazing.

The mascara is by Thrive Causemetics
and it is all-natural and vegan.
And do you know the mascara does just as it says. . .
it's literally a liquid lash extension.
I have average lashes, not very short, not super long,
and mostly blonde on the tips and dark at the roots.
When I swipe the wand on my lashes, look out!
Length meets volume in a beautiful way.

This is what Thrive has to say about their mascara:

This tubing mascara is powered by Orchid Stem Cell Complex™ 
to promote long-term growth + Fiber Potion™ 
that combines buildable fibers and Korean plant extracts 
to add dramatic length + curl, 
creating the glamour of faux-lashes without the glue.

What's in your makeup bag?

Do you have a favorite product that is your go-to?

I would love to hear so please feel free to share in the comments.

Please know that the links are not affiliate links.

I'm just a girl sharing what I love

and I am loving me some Thrive mascara.

A flower for you, my beautiful friends!

{{{hugs}}}

The Comforter Has Come

Oh, spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found,

Wherever human hearts and human woes abound;

Let every Christian tongue proclaim the joyful sound:

The Comforter has come!

The long, long night is past, the morning breaks at last,

And hushed the dreadful wail and fury of the blast,

As o’er the golden hills the day advances fast!

The Comforter has come!

Lo, the great King of kings, with healing in His wings,

To every captive soul a full deliv’rance brings;

And through the vacant cells the song of triumph rings;

The Comforter has come!

O boundless love divine! How shall this tongue of mine

To wond’ring mortals tell the matchless grace divine—

That I, a child of hell, should in His image shine!

The Comforter has come!

- - Refrain - -

The Comforter has come, the Comforter has come!

The Holy Ghost from Heav’n, the Father’s promise giv’n;

Oh, spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found—

The Comforter has come!

- - Frank Bottome - -

And I will pray the Father, 

and he shall give you another Comforter, 

that he may abide with you for ever; 

Even the Spirit of truth; 

whom the world cannot receive, 

because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: 

but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

- - John 14:16,17 - -

But when the Comforter is come, 

whom I will send unto you from the Father, 

even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, 

he shall testify of me.

- - John 15:26 - -

- - OIL - -

It is the Holy Spirit

that anoints and sets a believer apart for service.

- - WATER - -

It is the Holy Spirit

that cleanses us from the power of sin.

- - LIGHT - -

It is the Holy Spirit

that guides us in steps of truth and righteousness.

- - FIRE - -

It is the Holy Spirit

that purges and sets our devotion for God ablaze.

- - WIND - -

It is the Holy Spirit

that refreshes our often parched hearts.

Have a blessed Lord's Day, friends!

The House At Saltwater Point - Book Review

The dangerous beauty of Lavender Tides 

is harboring secrets that reach around the world.

Ellie Blackmore is making a name for herself as a house flipper. 

But when her sister Mackenzie disappears, 

Ellie can't focus on anything but uncovering what happened. 

Her only clue is the bloodstain on the deck of Mackenzie's boat. 

Ellie knows her sister isn't on the best of terms with her ex-husband, Jason, 

but he wouldn't kill her-would he?

Coast Guard intelligence officer Grayson Bradshaw 

believes Mackenzie faked her own death 

after stealing a seized cocaine shipment. 

The problem is convincing Ellie, 

who seems to view him as the true enemy.

Both Ellie and Grayson want truth, 

but truth-and family-is often more complex than it first appears. 

From international terrorism 

to the peaceful lavender fields of Puget Sound, 

The House at Saltwater Point is a thrilling race

to uncover the truth before it's too late.

My Thoughts

A handsome hero who seems to have the manners of a prince,

a beautiful, down-to-earth girl who can do anything she puts her mind to,

a lovely little town filled with charm and character,

and a storyline that has so many twists and turns 

it has your mind going in every direction.

A perfect combination for the perfect read, right?

Mmmmm...maybe not.

Colleen Coble is one of those authors I admire

I know I can pick up one of her books

and get lost in the story for hours and hours,

but with The House at Saltwater Point

well, it had the opposite effect.

This is the first book by Colleen Coble that I didn't love.

While the characters were delightful

and the romance between Grayson and Ellie sweet and perfectly paced,

the story itself seemed to have a lot going on. . .almost too much.

The suspense and drama had some good moments,

but mostly the whole storyline seemed a little far-fetched.

My dear friends, 

I have to be honest and say that this book simply fell flat for me

and it's one I wouldn't read again.

There are many excellent reviews out there about The House at Saltwater Point 

and I appreciate what others have to say about this book.

I am sharing my own personal thoughts and feelings,

but we all have different tastes and interests.

If this book sounds intriguing to you, 

please pick it up and read it. . .

you might thoroughly enjoy it.

I would like to point out that this is the second book in the  Lavender Tides series

and you really need to read the first one before you jump into this one.

And speaking of the first book in the series, 

you can find my review for The View from Rainshadow Bay

by clicking HERE.

I have to tell you that I absolutely loved the first book in the series.

It was one I couldn't put down.

** I was given a complimentary copy of this book 

from BookLook Bloggers for an honest review. 

All thoughts and opinions are my own 

and no other compensation was received. **

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Colleen Coble 

has written numerous romantic suspense novels including 

The Inn at Ocean’s Edge, Twilight at Blueberry Barrens, and Beneath Copper Falls.

Visit her website at www.colleencoble.com

Shabby Key Chains

Have not I commanded thee? 

Be strong and of a good courage; 
be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: 
for the LORD thy God is with thee 
whithersoever thou goest.
- Joshua 1:9 -

A very happy Tuesday to you, my friends!

How are you on this lovely day?

Well, I hope.

Tomorrow my hubby, son, and I will be taking a little road trip

and our destination will be the Rockies. . .

and by Rockies I mean our baseball team.

We are looking forward to a day in the sun

watching baseball and eating hot dogs.

Today I have a fun and sweet little project for you,

a shabby key chain.

Here is what you will need to make your own:

scrap fabric

fusible fleece

embellishments

key ring

Let's get started.

Simply trim your fabric to measure 3 x 4 1/2-inches.

The fusible fleece will measure 2 1/2 x 4-inches.

You also need to cut a piece of fabric that is 2 x 3-inches.

This is for the tab.

With this piece of fabric you will want to fold the two long edges to the middle

then fold in half and sew along the edge to seal.

Press the fleece onto the back side of the front piece.

Then embellish the front however you want.

I sewed on three rows of lace

along with two burlap hearts, a button, pearls, 

and a metal piece that says,

"Be strong and courageous."

Once you're done embellishing

you'll want to sew the two pieces together.

Fold your tab in half and tuck it in between the two pieces,

pin to hold everything together.

Sew along the edges and voila!

You're done.

Now you have a new beautiful key chain

to use for your keys, hang from a bag, 

add to a wrapped package, give to a friend, etc.

Here are a few others that I made. . .

Sometimes,

the best therapy

is a long drive and music.

This one has pink tulle trim on it

along with buttons.

This one is quite whimsical with the dandelion puffs

and the metal piece that says,

"just breathe. . ."

And this one 

has a vintage doily remnant sewn onto it.

These lovely little key chains are available in my shop.

Which reminds me. . .

I mentioned a while ago that I was closing my Etsy shop

and at the end of July I did just that.

I am thrilled to say that I have reopened my shop

right here on my blog.

I would be tickled pink to have you visit

by clicking on the link below:

Rose Petal Blessings

Thank you for visiting today, sweet friends.

I hope you have a beautiful week!

Love and hugs!

- - -Sharing with Wen at Simply Neutrals- - -

Once For All

For by grace are ye saved through faith;

and that not of yourselves,

It is the gift of God, not of works,

lest any many should boast.

- Ephesians 2:8, 9 -

Free from the law—oh, happy condition!

Jesus hath bled, and there is remission;

Cursed by the law and bruised by the fall,

Christ hath redeemed us once for all.

There on the cross your burden upbearing,

Thorns on His brow your Savior is wearing;

Never again your sin need appall,

You have been pardoned once for all.

Now we are free—there’s no condemnation;

Jesus provides a perfect salvation:

“Come unto Me,” oh, hear His sweet call,

Come, and He saves us once for all.

Children of God—oh, glorious calling,

Surely His grace will keep us from falling;

Passing from death to life at His call,

Blessed salvation once for all.

- - Chorus - -

   Once for all—oh, sinner, receive it;

Once for all—oh, doubter, believe it;

Cling to the cross, the burden will fall,

  Christ hath redeemed us once for all.

Ira D. Sankey, in his book,

My Life and the Story of the Gospel Hymns,

relates the following account of his use of this hymn 

while conducting a meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland,

upon seeing the noted Scottish preacher,

Horatius Bonar in the audience.

Of all men in Scotland,

he was the one concerning 

whose decision I was most solicitous.

He was indeed my ideal hymnwriter,

the prince among the hymnists of his day and generation.

Yet, he would never sing one of his beautiful hymns

in his own congregation, because he ministered in a church

that believed in the use of Psalms only.

With fear and trembling, I announced as a solo, the song,

"Free From the Law, O Happy Condition. . . ."

Feeling that the singing might prove only as entertainment

and not a spiritual blessing, 

I requested the whole congregation

to join me in a word of prayer,

asking God to bless the truth about the be sung.

In my prayer my anxiety was relieved.

Believing and rejoicing 

in the glorious truth contained in the song,

I sang it through to the end.

At the close of Mr. Moody's address,

Dr. Bonar turned toward me 

with a smile on his venerable face,

and reaching out his hand, he said,

"Well, Mr Sankey, you sang the gospel tonight."
And thus the way was opened f

or the ministry of sacred song in Scotland.

- - Grace Alone - -

Not saved are we by trying, from self can come no aid;

'Tis on the blood relying, once for our ransom paid.

'Tis looking unto Jesus, the holy one and just;

'Tis His grace that saves me - it is not 'try' but trust!

- Anonymous -

Blessings and love to you 

on this Lord's Day!

Hello August!

August. . .

it's like the Sunday of summers.

Happy August, my friends!

I trust July treated you well

and I hope August is on its way to being simply perfect.

I wanted to thank all of you for the lovely comments on my last post.

I truly appreciate your faithfulness in following along

and in reading my posts.

This summer I needed to just step away for a while

from writing, crafting, and the Internet in general.

I must confess that it has been good for me

and I feel very refreshed and ready to go.

I am eager to get back to my blog and have been busy changing things up here

as well as sewing up a storm in my craft room.

I look forward to reconnecting with you,

sweet friends and readers.

I hope each and every one of you are well.

Summer is still in full swing here

and my son and I are trying to get all of our fun in 

before school starts in a month.

We seem to be surrounded by wild fires this summer

and have had quite a bit of heavy smoke in our valley.

One night I was out for a run and I could feel the ash burning my eyes.

I guess now I understand the saying,

"Smoke gets in your eyes"

because that's exactly what it was doing.

I am so appreciative of the men and women who are fighting the fires in Colorado.

And oh, how thankful I am the fires have not reached our town.

We've had a couple of scares, but thankfully they were put out quickly.

God is good. . .all the time!

I will say that the smoke makes for beautiful sun sets.

Well, my friends, I have another book review for you.

It's titled More Than Meets the Eye by Karen Witemeyer,

one of my all-time favorite authors.

Many consider Evangeline Hamilton cursed. 

Orphaned at a young age 

and possessing a pair of mismatched eyes-one bright blue, the other dark brown-

Eva has fought to find her way in a world that constantly rejects her. 

Yet the support of even one person can help overcome the world's judgments, 

and Eva has two-Seth and Zach, two former orphans she now counts as brothers. 

Seeking justice against the man who stole his birthright and destroyed his family, 

Logan Fowler arrives in 1880s Pecan Gap, Texas, 

to confront Zach Hamilton, the hardened criminal responsible for his father's death. 

Only instead of finding a solitary ruthless gambler, 

he discovers a man not much older than himself with an unusual family. 

When Zach's sister, Evangeline, insists on dousing Logan with sunshine 

every time their paths cross, Logan finds his quest completely derailed. 

Who is truly responsible for his lost legacy, 

and will restoring the past satisfy if it means forfeiting a future with Evangeline?

My Thoughts

Karen Witemeyer. . .what a fabulous author!

All of her books have enchanted me

and left me with a smile on my face and a song in my heart.

She has a beautiful way of writing a tale 

that will leave the reader simply happy and content.

And oh, the quick wit she weaves throughout her stories is always perfect.

More Than Meets the Eye is a sweet story

about overcoming heartache and loss

and choosing joy and peace rather than hatred and bitterness.

Only the Lord can bring change

and throughout this book the reader will be drawn in by the love and hope

that comes only from the Heavenly Father.

I thoroughly enjoyed how the author wrote about the salvation and forgiveness

that is available through Jesus Christ.

The characters were very enjoyable

and Evangeline's sunny disposition was absolutely contagious.

I found myself smiling late at night while reading this book.

And dear Logan. . .what a charming and heartwarming young man.

The reader can't help but fall for him and cheer him on.

Along with Zach and Seth {Evangeline's brothers}

I felt the group of characters were very diverse 

which made for a good and interesting read.

My only complaint is that I felt the story dragged just a wee bit in the beginning.

The first few chapters were great and very exciting,

but then the storyline slowed down and it seemed to take a while to move on.

One last thing,

the book is historical fiction and starts out in 1879,

but I felt the characters were just a touch too modern.

These two personal "issues" are nothing serious,

but I thought I would mention them anyway.

More Than Meets the Eye is a clean, funny, charming, and inspiring story

and it's a book I would certainly recommend.

** I was given a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers for an honest review.

All thoughts are my own. No other compensation was received. **

About the Author

Winner of the HOLT Medallion and the Carol Award 

and a finalist for the RITA and Christy Award, 

bestselling author Karen Witemeyer writes historical romance 

to give the world more happily-ever-afters. 

Karen makes her home in Abilene, Texas, 

with her husband and three children. 

Learn more about Karen and her books at www.karenwitemeyer.com.

Have a most beautiful day, my friends!
Love and hugs!

The Road To Magnolia Glen

Hello, my sweet and wonderful friends!
HOW ARE YOU?
I sincerely hope you are enjoying your summer days.
Playing in the warm sunshine,
loving on your family,
and taking quiet moments to simply breathe it all in. . .
the blessings, the laughter, the memories.

All is well here with myself and my family.
Many of you have written to make sure I am okay
since I have not posted in quite a while. . .bless you!
Your love and thoughtfulness greatly touched my heart
and I can't thank you enough for thinking of me.
Since May, my days have simply filled up with summer activities
which caused me to pull away from the computer.
I must confess that I thoroughly enjoyed "unplugging" from the Internet.
In a nutshell, my days have been filled with playing baseball with my son,
going to Rockies baseball games, fishing,
splashing around in the pool, hiking the trails,
jeeping around the mountains, and having picnics in fields of wildflowers.

Oh, and did I mention my husband and I have been working on our house. . .
lots of staining and repairs along with replacing windows and trim.
We are hoping to put a new roof on before fall arrives.

I have been able to read only a couple of books
during the last month or so and I thought I would share them with you.
Normally I read at night for 2 - 3 hours,
but I have noticed lately I fall into bed exhausted from having a full day in the sun.
How about you, my friends, have you been keeping your nose buried in a book?

A couple of weeks ago I finished The Road to Magnolia Glen.
It's the second book in the Natchez Trace series.

About The Book
Bitter since his eldest brother abandoned their family in Ireland, 
Quinn O'Shea travels to Natchez, Mississippi, 
ready to shuck the weight of his duty and set off on an adventure of his own. 
It's time Connor, as head of the family, took responsibility for their younger siblings. 
While aboard ship, a run-in with three Irish sisters lands Quinn in the role of reluctant savior. 
Though it may delay his plans, he cannot abandon the Young sisters, 
especially the tenacious yet kind Kiera.
Upon arriving in the colonies, 
Kiera Young prepares to meet her intended and begin her new life. 
But she soon discovers the marriage her brother-in-law arranged was never meant to be, 
and a far more sinister deal was negotiated for her and her sisters.
Quinn offers to escort his charges safely to Breeze Hill Plantation and his brother's care, 
fully intending to seek his freedom elsewhere. 
But the longer he remains, the greater his feelings toward Kiera grow 
and the more he comes to realize true freedom might be found in sacrifice.

My Thoughts
Like I said, this book is the second in the Natchez Trace series
and yes, I would recommend reading the first one before diving into
The Road to Magnolia Glen.

The setting for The Road to Magnolia Glen
is simply lovely and absolute perfection. . .
beautiful in its own quaint and delightful way.
The characters will draw the reader in
especially Quinn with his Irish accent.
Oh, how I loved the Irish brogue. . .

I could almost hear it when I read the melodic words.

I felt the story began with a lot of excitement
and I must say that I was on the edge of my seat
wondering what would happen next,
but then the storyline slowed down. . .
in fact it slowed down a little too much.
Maybe it's because I had other things on my mind,
but I found it slightly tedious to read the middle of the book.
The beginning was good as was the ending,
but the middle just dragged along.
Don't get me wrong, the writing was very good
and I thoroughly enjoyed the interaction between the characters,
but there was just something missing. . .
I found it lacking any depth during the middle portion.

The Road to Magnolia Glen is a sweet historical romance novel
and one I would certainly recommend reading.
Just because I found the middle to be a tad slow
doesn't mean it wasn't a good book.
Also, the first book in the series,
The Promise of Breeze Hill,
was a very enjoyable read.

** I was given a free copy of this book from Tyndale Publishers for an honest review.
All thoughts are my own. No other compensation was received. **

I have one more book review that I will share soon,
but I wanted to let you know of a change that is going to take place.

Life is like a book,
some chapters are sad,
some are happy and some are exciting,
but if you never turn the page,
you will never know what the next chapter
has in store for you.
- Unknown -

After a lot of consideration and prayer
I have decided to close my Etsy shop.
While it's the perfect outlet for me to share my love for crafting
I have decided that it's time to close the doors.
Etsy supports and stands for some things that I disagree with
and cannot support so due to those issues
I feel it would be best if I pulled my support from them.
I am looking into other avenues for selling my handmade goodies
and will keep you posted.
There is not much left in my Etsy shop,
but I will keep it open until July 31st
so if you would like to purchase something please feel free to stop by.
Rose Petal Blessings

Enjoy 10% off your purchase.

I hope each and every one of you are enjoying your summer
and when things slow down here I will attempt to start sharing on my blog.
Until then please know that you are thought of often.
Love and hugs to you!

Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake

Oh cinnamon and sugar,

how I love thee.

Hello, lovely friends!

Today I have an oh-so-wonderful treat for you.

Are you needing a little something for your sweet tooth?

Or are you having company over

and you need a quick and tasty dessert?

Maybe you just want a cinnamon roll with your cup of coffee,

but don't want to make a whole batch. . .

well, this delicious cinnamon roll coffee cake 

is just what you're looking for.

This cake is easy peasy to whip up,

and it's filled with ooey gooey goodness

that will make your taste buds thank you after you've eaten a piece.

Ingredients:

CAKE

½ cup butter, melted

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

3 cups flour

2 tsp vanilla

4 tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

1½ cups milk

TOPPING

1 cup butter, melted

1 cup brown sugar

2 Tbsp flour

1 Tbsp cinnamon

GLAZE

2 cups powdered sugar

5 Tbsp milk

1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

For the cake,

mix all the cake ingredients together in a large bowl

until well combined.

Pour into a greased 9 x 13 pan.

For the topping, 

mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl 

until well combined.

Spread evenly on the batter and swirl with a knife. 

Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes

{the recipe says to bake it this long, 

but I had to bake mine for about 45-50 minutes}.

For the glaze, 

mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl 

until it is a consistency like pancake syrup.

While the cake is warm 

drizzle the glaze onto the top and it will set into a harder glaze.

Serve warm or at room temperature.

Serve this cake in the morning for brunch

or save it for dessert after supper.

And brew yourself a nice cup of tea or coffee.

Mmmm. . .

Mmmm. . .

Good!

Thanks for visiting, my friends!

I hope you have a delightful day!

Well, would you look at that,

someone finished off the cake and coffee. . . 

{{smiles}}

True Heroism

The brave die never, 

though they sleep in dust, 

their courage nerves a thousand living men.

- Minot J. Savage -

A man's country is not a certain area of land, 

of mountains, rivers, and woods, 

but it is a principle 

and patriotism is loyal to that principle.

- George William Curtis -

Have a blessed Memorial Day, dear friends.

Blind Betrayal - Book Review

Deputy U.S. Marshal Casey Sloane 

has worked at the St. Louis Marshals office for two years 

and is given a routine assignment to help transport a reporter to D.C. 

to testify before a grand jury. 

Valerie, the reporter, was writing a story about an up-and-coming environmentalist 

who suddenly disappeared and, she later discovered, 

whose backers purportedly have ties to a terrorist.

When the seemingly ordinary assignment suddenly takes a shocking turn, 

Casey is forced to put aside her own feelings 

about the unexpected reappearance of a man from her past as she 

and two other Marshals take Valerie on the run. 

And as it becomes dangerously clear 

Valerie's testimony has even bigger implications than they knew, 

they'll do whatever it takes to make it out alive.

My Thoughts

Blind Betrayal is book three

in the Defenders of Justice series.

You can find my reviews for the first two books

by clicking on the titles below:

Fatal Frost - Book One 

Dark Deception - Book Two

While Blind Betrayal had some exciting moments,

I have to admit that just like the first book

I found this one to be predictable and at times slightly unbelievable.

I found the plots to be repetitive, for example:

twice the characters are captured,

twice they are bound in a vehicle with their captors,

and twice they try to figure out how to escape the confines of the car.

There are 312 pages in the story 

and I feel as though the author's imagination could run wild 

with different plots, scenarios, and ideas.

For the most part I enjoyed the characters.

Casey, the Deputy U. S. Marshal was a likable gal

with a tough exterior, but a tender heart.

She has a few demons that haunt her every day

and throughout the book her "weaknesses" are exposed,

but in a good way. . .they make her stronger and better.

E. J., the man that Casey hates but loves shows up just before things go awry.

She can either turn her back on him and let things crumble around them,

or she can open up for them to work as a team 

in order to get them out of the mess they are in.

And then there is Valerie. . .the reporter Casey and E. J. are trying to protect.

She was probably my least favorite character.

She wasn't completely honest 

and at times her immaturity and cowardliness

rubbed me the wrong way.

Yes, there is suspense and maybe a nail-biting moment or two,

but not enough for me to give this book 5 stars. . .or even 4 stars.

I'm going to have to give it 3 stars.

I have always enjoyed Nancy Mehl's work,

but Blind Betrayal just didn't hit me in the right spot.

While Blind Betrayal is the third book in this series

I think it could be read as a stand alone book.

There are a few characters mentioned in the story

that were in the first and second books, but they don't play a big part.

** I was given a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers for an honest review.

All thoughts and opinions are my own. No other compensation was received. **

About the Author

Nancy Mehl is the author of 22 books, 

including the Road to Kingdom and Finding Sanctuary series. 

She received the ACFW Mystery Book of the Year Award in 2009. 

She has a background in social work and is a member of ACFW and RWA. 

Nancy writes from her home in Missouri, 

where she lives with her husband, Norman, and their Puggle, Watson. 

Visit www.nancymehl.com to learn more.