The Youngs: 2012

Friday, December 14, 2012

Book Review - "No Safe Harbor" by Elizabeth Ludwig

"No Safe Harbor" by Elizabeth Ludwig takes place in New York City in 1897. This historical setting of this novel is very interesting and Ludwig pulls you into 1897 with her story telling. Her heroine, Cara Hamilton, is a brave single young lady that made her way from Ireland to America in search of her twin brother Eoghan whom she had thought to be dead.

The book takes you along with Cara's search for her brother including the sights and conditions of 1897 NYC all the while meeting various other travelers coming to America to start a new life for various reasons. Cara's questions and search for her brother lead her into another plot she had no idea she was getting involved with and her life is put in danger as a result.

I received this book from Bethany House for review. The review and opinions are solely mine.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 2 movie review

Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 2 movie review

The best ever! And that's from a book reading, first in line movie goer! Go see it. Love is beautiful. Family is fantastic. Yes, it's fiction but the underlying values are wholesome when you get past the vampire/drinking blood/werewolf sugar coating!

Friday, November 16, 2012

A Simple Christmas ebook 99 cents

Crystal's 99 cent ebook available at

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A62H3CA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00A62H3CA&linkCode=as2&tag=ereagirl-20

Monday, November 5, 2012

Book Review - Serpent of Moses by Don Hoesel

As a fictional book, “Serpent of Moses” by Don Hoesel was an enjoyable read. It was fast paced with an Indiana Jones type plot and setting with action and suspense. Apparently this is the second book in the Jack Hawthorne series and I felt “Serpent of Moses” stood well enough alone without reading the first book.

Disclosure: Bethany House provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Book Review - Understanding World Religions in 15 minutes a Day by Garry R. Morgan

Understanding World Religions in 15 Minutes a Day by Garry R. Morgan was an interesting read. The author writes of the very high level basics of about 36 of the world's major religions in very short chapters. Since the book title is 15 Minutes a Day, the book is not vastly comprehensive nor expected to be in my opinion. The book though is nice for people who at least want to become familiar with other religions and open their mind to understanding others a little more.

Disclosure: Bethany House provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Sock Monkey wine coozie

Sock Monkey wine coozie Craft Idea

Buy tan Fox River red heel socks at Hobby Lobby.

Sew buttons where the monkey's eye are.

Done! Cute way to dress up your gifts of spirits.

Online these sell for $10 - $15.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Burlap Wreath

Who enjoys Pinterest??

We made this Burlap Wreath today following http://www.lifeonmarsblog.net/2012/03/easy-burlap-wreath.html blog. Looks great!

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

"Full Disclosure" by Dee Henderson Book Review

FULL DISCLOSURE book review

The main female character is Ann Silver who is a many-sided, 40-ish, never-been-married, single, pilot, cop, author, murder investigator, budding painter and lone-wolf among other things. The main male character is Paul Falcon who is an adopted, wholesome, God loving, 40-ish single, never-been-married, FBI agent, heir to a large family business, interested in family and looking for marriage. The author Dee Henderson creates well rounded, in-depth characters in Ann and Paul. You can feel warmth, conflict, love, work pressures, self-doubt and all kinds of human emotions in Henderson's main characters. I thought Henderson wrote amazingly well.

The story line interweaves between Paul and Ann's jobs and the ending brings it all to a close professionally. Personally, Paul and Ann work on a long distance relationship and take a long time getting to know each other. Both are well written and interesting.

This Advanced Reader's Edition copy was provided to me for review for free and all opinions are mine and are not influenced by outside sources.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

"Touching the Sky" by Tracie Peterson BOOK REVIEW

"Touching the Sky" by Tracie Peterson

This is Book 2 in Tracie Peterson's Land of the Lone Star Series, a historical fiction romance novel. After the recent Civil War, this book takes place in Corpus Christi TX and is a wonderful tale of rebuilding/reuniting the country after the war with views from Union, Confederates, commoners and aristocrat, and slaves.

The main character is Laura Marquardt, a daughter of wealthy Union supporter. When Laura first meets Brandon Reid, a white office of a Union colored troop and pastor's son from Indiana, their encounter is anything but pleasant involving a back alley attempted mugging and criminals and misunderstanding.

But when the two are seated together at a dinner party, they soon find that they share similar interests--Laura desires to educate blacks, and Brandon supports her cause.

When Laura's younger self-centered sister, Carissa, marries her Confederate beau after a very short courtship, Laura finds herself in a difficult situation when she overhears him plot to kill Union soldiers. Though in her heart she feels she should share this information with Brandon, Laura fears she will betray her sister's trust.

This book is a wholesome read with references to God and bible verses. The historical aspect, although in a fictional tale, is very interesting. I would recommend this book to friends.

Bethany House Publishers provided a free copy of this book to review but the review was mine.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Book Review

Chasing the Sun by Tracie Peterson
Land of the Lone Star - 1

"Hannah is desperate for help in protecting her siblings and Texas ranch. William is determined to regain his family’s land—the land Hannah says she owns. Bound by need but divided by their dreams, Hannah and William form an uneasy truce. In the face of unforeseen challenges, can the blush of first love survive?" excerpt from Bethany House Publishing email

This novel is set in Texas during the Civil War. A young woman, Hannah Dandridge, finds herself in charge of a ranch and her two younger half-siblings, after her father, a Confederacy supporter, leaves to visit his sick mother in Vicksburg, MS. Meanwhile, the previous ranch owner, a wounded Union soldier, William Barnett, who returns to Texas, claiming that the Dandridge ranch legally belongs to him since it was awarded to the Dandridge's by the Union Army. Furthermore, Hannah's father's partner Lockhart is vying for Hannah's hand in marriage (and the ownership of the ranch too it appears). And Hannah has to deal with her confusing feelings regarding William Barnett---does she love him or is he the enemy since her father was on the side of the confederacy?

This novel was an enjoyable read and heavy on the Christian bible verses and bible discussions. A very wholesome read. I thoroughly enjoyed the historical setting and the details of life in Texas during the Civil War. I will read the next book in this series that comes out in June.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy from Bethany House Publishers so I might review this book.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Entrelac Pillow

My first Entrelac knitting project......

Monday, May 28, 2012

Walden on Lake Conroe Golf Course

Happy Memorial Day!
Only two tee times scheduled after 4pm today Memorial Day. Amazing. Packed until then...I guess everyone's bar-b-queing in the evening. [We'll be golfing!] lol.