Monday, August 31, 2015

Book: Irish Meadows

Faced with an uncertain future, sometimes all you have left is the courage to dream.

Brianna and Colleen O'Leary know their Irish immigrant father expects them to marry well. Recently he's put even more pressure on them, insinuating that the very future of their Long Island horse farm, Irish Meadows, rests in their ability to land prosperous husbands. Both girls, however, have different visions for their futures.

Brianna, a quiet girl with a quick mind, dreams of attending college. Vivacious Colleen, meanwhile, is happy to marry---as long as her father's choice meets her exacting standards of the ideal groom. When former stable hand Gilbert Whelan returns from business school and distant relative Rylan Montgomery visits Long Island during his seminary training, the two men quickly complicate everyone's plans.

As the farm slips ever closer to ruin, James O'Leary grows more desperate. It will take every ounce of courage for both sisters to avoid being pawns in their father's machinations and instead follow their hearts. And even if they do, will they inevitably find their dreams too distant to reach?

***

In some ways this is your typical romance novel, you know which girl is going to end up with who and the story is in the twists and turns until they get there.  In other ways this is not your typical romance because the characters have some very hard lessons to learn and it didn't turn out in the way I expected at all.

The biggest lesson was that every action has consequences, both for yourself, and for everyone around you.  It's hard to write much more than that without giving away much of the story, but the father, James' actions, were the most obvious.  He was so desperate to save his farm that he made choices that hurt everyone around him.

I really enjoyed this book, it's the first in a series and I hope to read the rest when they come out.  There are other siblings who's stories are waiting to be told.

***

Read other reviews and purchase your own copy of the book!


Susan Anne Mason's debut historical novel, Irish Meadows, won the Fiction from the Heartland contest from the Mid-American Romance Authors Chapter of RWA. A member of ACFW, as well, she lives outside of Toronto, Ontario, with her husband and two children.


I received this book from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Get It All For Fall: Tea Collection Sale!

I know, summer can't be over already, right?  Well, we've got 2 more weeks until school starts, but now's the time to get everything stocked up!

Tea Collection has a sale going on just in time and the more you buy, the more you save, up to 20% off. 

Now through Monday only use code SHOPFALL for 10% off 3 items, 15% off 4, and 20% off 5 or more items.


Check out the new Argentina and Bolivia collection from South America in fun and rustic colors and layers for fall and winter.

And while you're there, enter the Back to School sweepstakes for lots of fun goodies to get your year started off right!

Back to School Sweepstakes at Tea Collection!

*This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated a small amount if you make a purchase after clicking on one of my links.

Friday, August 07, 2015

Angry Mommy

When my boys look back on their childhood I'm afraid that what they will see is me, angry all the time. I wonder how much counseling that will cost them. 

I'm overwhelmed. All the things are overwhelming to me. The kitchen thrown in on top of everything else this summer has been too much. I need schedule and routine and time to plan things and I got none of that. 

We had an anniversary trip planned and I thought it would be a good break, that it was a good thing we had it planned before the kitchen came upon us or we never would have gone. It turned out to be a disaster. The place we stayed was too hot with all the city noise of a big holiday weekend and windows open. I'm sure hormones didn't help, but I am still the angry mommy.

And so we ruined our trip and came home early and I'm wondering after 10 years if there's any way to get along with someone who is your polar opposite in everything.

And I am undone. Wondering if there is any hope left to be had. Wondering why the people I talk to most I've never even met in real life. Wondering if I am so angry because I'm truly crazy.