Cold Case by Susan Sleeman

Eryn Calloway is the computer tech for Blackwell Tactical. When her computer is hacked and her life is threatened Trey Sawyer steps in to be her bodyguard until the danger is over. Trey has had a crush on Eryn for a long time, but Eryn has sealed off her heart after her husband died. Eryn is determined to ignore her growing feelings for Trey while she investigates who is behind the hack and why. But when circumstances remind her that God is in control will it be too late for her and Trey?

I really enjoyed book 4 in the Cold Harbor series. Susan Sleeman always manages to keep the reader in suspense. What I appreciated in Cold Case was the spiritual aspect of the story. Both Eryn and Trey needed to learn to trust in the Lord with circumstances in their lives. I liked how that was portrayed in the story. I also loved Trey and Eryn as a couple. Trey was attentive and caring for both Eryn and her daughter and that is hard to resist! Cold Case was a great addition to the Cold Harbor series and I'm looking forward to the next team-members story.

Sense and Sensibility Final Discussion

This is the final discussion for Sense and Sensibility hosted by Amber on Seasons of Humility. Check out her blog for all of the information. If you have read the book feel free to hop in on the discussion.

My Thoughts On This Last Section:

Willoughby is still a jerk, I have no patience for Elinor feeling sorry for him! I can't stand John and Fanny Dashwood! Once again, what makes people want to keep their thumb on others and not wish someone good out of the pure pleasure of thinking themselves better than someone? I definitely don't think John has any jealousy towards his sisters, but he is led around and easily swayed by a wife that he refuses to check. I think he is a weak man! Can you tell that these characters were not my favorites? Lucy...don't even get me started. Gold-digging trollop! I still think that Colonel Brandon is too old for Marianne, but those big age gaps were quite common in those days so I guess no big deal. I love that there was something from their first meeting that drew him to her and his infatuation never waivered after that. I do think that it seemed like everything was tidily settled at the end, but I kind of like that. I like knowing that the characters I have come to like in a book all get their "Happily Ever After" in the end.

Quotes and Things That Caught My Attention:

"Fanny is in her own room, I suppose, said he:-I will go to her presently, for I am sure she will not have the least objection in the world to seeing you.-Very far from it, indeed. Now especially there cannot be but however, you and Marianne were always great favourites." How blind John is to his wife's desires and cattiness. And then this scene cracked me up in how long it took him to finally go get Fanny. Ugh!

"Willoughby, poor Willoughby, as she now allowed herself to call him, was constantly in her thoughts; she would not but have heard his vindication for the world, and now blamed, now acquitted herself for having judged him so harshly before." Elinor has too nice of a heart. Is that possible? She is not fooled by his apologies, but yet she can still have a bit of sympathy for him. Ugh! But yet she is one of those people that can go to bed with a clear conscience. 

"There was always a something-if you remember-in Willoughby's eyes at times, which I did not like. Elinor could not remember it-but her mother, without waiting for her assent, continued." This cracked me up and reminded me of Mrs. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, they always think they saw the flaws after the fact! LOL!

"By reading only six hours a-day, I shall gain in the course of a twelve-month a great deal of instruction which I now feel myself to want." Oh Marianne...but I loved this!

"This only need be said-that when they all sat down to table at four o'clock, about three hours after his arrival, he had secured his lady, engaged her mother's consent, and was not only in the rapturous profession of the lover, but, in the reality of reason and truth, one of the happiest of men." ahhhhhhhhh(big sigh)

"His heart was now open to Elinor, all its weaknesses, all its errors confessed, and his first boyish attachment to Lucy treated with all the philosophic dignity of twenty-four."LOL!!!

"What he might say on the subject a twelvemonth after, must be referred to the imagination of husbands and wives." Awwww, I love this, so sweet.

"Her family had of late been exceedingly fluctuating. For many years of her life she had had two sons; but the crime and annihilation of Edward a few weeks ago, had robbed her of one; the similar annihilation of Robert had left her for a fortnight without any; and now, by the resuscitation of Edward, she had one again." This made me laugh!

"Marianne could never love by halves; and her whole heart became, in time, as much devoted to her husband, as it had once been to Willoughby." I love that she got over Willoughby and was able to love Colonel Brandon with all of her heart. And also it seems that she has matured in the couple years that elapsed to become a very loving wife.

Questions Amber Asked On Her Blog:

1. What did you think of Willoughby's confession? Did it change your mind about him in any way?

It may have appeased Elinor, but to me he was just there to see if there were any options for him to continue with Marianne even though he was married. I am sure he must have had many dalliances during his marriage. So no, his confession did  not change my mind on him. Marianne was saved a very miserable life!

2. Which character ended up surprising you the most based on what we knew about them at the beginning and where they ended up by the last page?

I don't think there were any surprises since I have read the book before and seen the movie. Maybe the surprise of Lucy switching from Edward to Robert, that might have raised an eyebrow at one time. Lol!


3. Whose "happily ever after" did you most enjoy reading about? (That is, which character's story brought you the most satisfaction? It doesn't have to be about romance. :))I guess both Elinor and Marianne. Marianne more because by the last paragraph I could see a maturity had set in with her. She was still passionate about her loves, but there was a settling down and a proper focus for that passion. I still love how the sisters were so close and by the last paragraph in the book they got along well and had no coolness in their relationship or in their husbands relationship. 

Well, there you have it! The end of Sense and Sensibility has come. It wasn't my favorite Austen read, but it had its moments of Austen humor that I have come to love. We've read these 6 books together:

Pride & Prejudice
Emma
Persuasion
Northanger Abbey
Sense & Sensibility
Mansfield Park

Pride and Prejudice is still my all-time favorite. Do you have a favorite Austen read? 

Hope you enjoyed the read-along and I am definitely looking forward to the next one! 

Sense & Sensibility: Discussion II

Today is part II of our discussion of Sense and Sensibility. To see all of the details head over to our host Amber's blog Seasons of Humility. If you have read S&S or are reading it feel free to join in on our discussion.

Thoughts for this week:

First off, Elinor is much more patient and kind than I would ever be! Each time she gets together with Lucy I want to roll my eyes and make a face! Is Lucy clueless to what Edward meant to Elinor or is she fully aware and rubbing her nose in it that she and Edward are engaged? I just want to slap her! And what the heck is up with Edward? He obviously had feelings for Elinor, but is engaged to Lucy? Good grief! I guess it could be admirable that he wants to honor his original engagement to Lucy, but it is obvious he has no feelings for her. Moving on to Marianne...does nobody see that she is pining away? Grrr to Willoughby! What an awful man! I do love how Marianne and Elinor are so close. Each one wanting to protect the other and stand up for the other. Marianne is still a bit impulsive in her outbursts, but she does feel things so deeply that her passion cannot be suppressed. Colonel Brandon is still in love with her for sure and will play a bigger part in the last section of the book...I hope! Mr. Dashwood and his wife Fanny are odious human beings! I guess I can't blame John Dashwood too much, but he does allow his wife to have too much influence over him. Ugh! They sure get the tables turned on them! Looking forward to seeing how it all wraps up...

Quotes I liked:

"When Sir John called at the cottage one morning, to beg, in the name of charity, that they would all dine with Lady Middleton that day, as he was obliged to attend the club at Exeter, and she would otherwise be quite alone, except her mother and the two Miss Steeles." Then a few paragraphs later,

"The young ladies went, and Lady Middleton was happily preserved from the frightful solitude which had threatened her." Oh my goodness! This made me laugh because it shows once again Jane Austen's humor.

"Even Lady Middleton took the trouble of being delighted, which was putting herself rather out of her way." Oh Lady Middleton...

"Elinor, who knew that such grief, shocking as it was to witness it, must have its course." I love that Elinor had this understanding of human nature. It is better to "let it all out" sometimes in order to be able to move on.

"so far from the common decorum of a gentleman, as to send a letter so impudently cruel"

Willoughby's letter to Marianne was awful! No remorse for how he treated her, and to handle it so callously...Ugh! 

"She then went away, walking on tiptoe out of the room, as if she supposed her young friend's affliction could be increased by noise." Oh Mrs. Jennings! She is well-meaning, but truly clueless

"At last the affair was decided. The ivory, the gold, and the pearls, all received their appointment, and the gentleman having named the last day on which his existence could be continued without the possession of the toothpick-case, drew on his gloves with leisurely care, and bestowing another glance on the Miss Dashwoods, but such a one as seemed rather to demand than express admiration, walked off with a happy air of real conceit and affected indifference." Oh my goodness...the oldest Ferrar's brother takes after his sister! 

"But that was not enough; for when people are determined on a mode of conduct which they know to be wrong, they feel injured by the expectation of any thing better from them." TRUTH!

Questions from Amber's Blog:

1. Which hero holds the most appeal for you so far, Edward or Colonel Brandon? What draws you to his character?

At this point in time I'm going to say Colonel Brandon. He is the only constant so far it seems. Edward seems to be in a situation he doesn't know how to get out of and so I just have no patience for him, he is seeming weak to me. 

2. Which scene in Volume II tugged on your emotions the most, either positively or negatively? (Was it Willoughby's letter? Colonel Brandon's revelation? Edward's arrival? Or some other moment?)

I'm honestly not connecting with these characters. But Willoughby's letter irritated me, Colonel Brandon's revelation was nice, but nothing that brought any emotions. And Edward's arrival was just frustrating with all of the Lucy mess...

3. Imagine yourself in Elinor's shoes for this trip to London. Do you think you would have responded the same or differently to Marianne's situation and Lucy's company?I definitely would have put on a good front so yes, I would probably behave just like Elinor, but add a few snide remarks under my breath! ha! 

Join us next week for our final discussion!

Sense & Sensibility Read-Along Discussion I

This is the first Discussion of Sense & Sensibility. Amber at Seasons of Humility is hosting us so head over to her blog and check out her thoughts of this week's section.

My Thoughts:

I don't know if it is because I am on vacation or what, but I am having a hard time getting into the story this time. I can't stand the brother and wife that kicked the Dashwoods out! That woman is a real piece of work! See, I can't even remember their names! That's terrible! I have read Sense & Sensibility before, and seen the movie countless times and still can't remember. The Middleton's seem nice enough. Although the husband kind of talks too much. The wife and children are annoying! ha! As for the Miss Steele's...UGH! Talk about fly in the ointment! Elinor and Marianne are totally opposite of each other, but they do love each other. Marianne wears her heart and emotions on her sleeve and Elinor is much more reserved. I like them both. I honestly didn't remember how much older Colonel Brandon is than Marianne. But I really like him. As for Willoughby I think he is a playboy and plays on Marianne's emotions. I'm on chapter 23 now and it is just now starting to get interesting with Lucy's revelation to Elinor.

Quotes I Like:

"Certainly not; but if you observe, people always live for ever when there is an annuity to be paid them; and she is very stout and healthy, and hardly forty" Good grief! barely 40 so yeah, she does have a bit more life to live! 

"Mama, the more I know of the world, the more am I convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much!" Oh Marianne!

"Brandon is just the kind of man, said Willoughby one day, when they were talking of him together, whom every body speaks well of, and nobody cares about; whom all are delighted to see, and nobody remembers to talk to." Poor Colonel Brandon, but he gets his time.

" It was rather a wish of distinction, she believed, which produced his contemptuous treatment of every body, and his general abuse of every thing before him. It was the desire of appearing superior to other people." Ugh, the Palmer's! 

"Lady Middleton resigned herself to the idea of it, with all the philosophy of a well-bred woman, contenting herself with merely giving her husband a gentle reprimand on the subject five or six times every day." I laughed out loud at this! 

Questions from Amber's Blog:

1. So far, do you relate more to Elinor or Marianne? Do you find it more important to act properly and rationally, or do you prefer to speak your mind and express your true emotions? I am definitely more of an Elinor. I might act as Marianne sometimes with family, but with the "public" I am very reserved.

2. Imagine you're invited to tea at Barton Park and have to make conversation with Sir and Lady Middleton and Mrs. Jennings. What would you talk about? How would you survive the afternoon? :) (Feel free to round out the imaginary occasion with other guests of your choosing, like Colonel Brandon, Willoughby, Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, or the Miss Steeles.)I'll be interested in reading what people do with this one, I'm not much of a "pretend" kind of gal nor a role play gal so I've got nothing on this. I guess if I were with this group I would be a more "smile and nod" kind of person and move along as soon as possible. 

3. How would you respond to Lucy's revelations at the end of Volume I if you were Elinor? Would you keep Lucy's secret from everyone? Would you continue to remain "friends" with Lucy? Not really knowing Lucy I would hope I would check into her allegations instead of taking her word for things and I hope that I would give Edward a chance to explain himself. I feel bad for Elinor because she is so stoic and it is difficult for her to show her feelings. She was counting on Edward's attachment and to have those hopes dashed has got to be devastating for her. 

Have you read Sense and Sensibility? Are you reading along with us? If so feel free to leave a comment and jump into the discussion. Join us next Friday for Discussion II. 

Flowers and Foul Play by Amanda Flower

Fiona's fiance leaves her for another woman making it much easier for her to go to Scotland and claim the inheritance her godfather has just left her. When Fiona arrives at Duncreigan she is greeted by her godfathers longtime friend and caretaker of the grounds Hamish. Hamish is very insistent that Fiona go and visit her godfather's garden behind the house. Remembering how the garden was on former visits Fiona is disappointed with how the garden has died away. What really startles her though is the dead body of her godfather's lawyer! Chief Inspector Craig comes to investigate the body. It seems that right before Fiona's eyes the garden starts coming to life. Could it be possible that the rumors are true? That the garden is magical? Why was her godfather's lawyer killed? Will Fiona make Duncreigan her home as her godfather wished? And what is this attraction that the Chief Inspector and Fiona seem to have going between them?

All of those questions are answered in this delightful cozy mystery! As always it wouldn't be a mystery by Amanda Flower without some fun animal characters. In Flowers and Foul Play we meet Hamish's pet squirrel and Fiona's new pet cat Ivanhoe. Even though they are animals they steal some of the scenes with their cute/funny personalities.

The characters in the book are also interesting. Fiona is determined to find out the who-done-it. Asking questions that put her in jeopardy, she and the Chief Inspector butt heads about her involvement in the case. Neil Craig is rather a handsome Chief Inspector and I'm looking forward to seeing how he and Fiona develop their relationship in future books. We get a peak into the mystery of the garden and what it is capable of and what it means for Fiona, and we get to meet some of the townsfolk that Fiona will be getting to know in future books. I enjoyed this beginning to a new series by Amanda Flower and look forward to more books in the future!