Book Review: A Change of Fortune

No one seems to understand strange governess Eliza Sumner, who makes a fool of herself at a party where a majority of New York society is in attendance. But what no one realizes is that Eliza is really Lady Eliza Sumner, a woman that has lost her family, her fiance, and her faith. She is in America to find Lord Southmoor, the man who took advantage of her family and stole her fortune.

Unfortunately, Eliza’s ideas don’t go as planned, and her mishaps lead her straight into the arms of Hamilton Beckett, a young man that every woman in New York is hoping to marry. But widower Hamilton has no plans to marry again, as he is busy taking care of his two children.

When the two of them discover that they share a common enemy, they join forces. With the help of Eliza’s friend Agatha and Hamilton’s brother Zayne, they may stand a chance at catching those who have wronged them. But are their enemies too powerful and dangerous? Could their quest for revenge cost them their lives?

Read the rest of this review at Luxury Reading.

Not enough time...

Life as a mom is harder than I expected.

Every morning I wake up and take a [short] shower, if time allows.

I cuddle with my daughter, all the while getting ready for work.

After her first feeding, we get one last kiss and head out the door.

I fight back tears when we drop her off at the sitter.

I work my 7 hours, all the while thinking about her and wishing I was home.

After we pick her up, we play, we feed, we nap, we play again.

And after she goes to bed [at 8 or so] I find myself thinking "It's just not enough time."

I find myself thinking that a lot lately.

There's not enough time in the evening to spend with her.  I feel guilty that I have to work.  And while we might have been able to make things work with one income, we made the mutual decision that it would be better for us both to work...to pay off debt and to pay sure that we had the type of savings and cushion we feel we need.  But still, the feeling of wanting to be with her during the day never goes away; I don't know if it's something I'll ever learn to live with.

There's not enough time to worry about how I look.  Though I've lost all of my baby weight, my body feels...different.  It looks different too.  It's not the same.  And I want to invest time in taking care of it, but by the time Nora's in bed, I just don't feel up to popping in that Zumba dvd.  And my hair and makeup?  Forget it!  I'm lucky if my hair is combed [and washed] when I walk out the door. 

There's not enough time for sleep.  I am tired ALL the time.  Even if I do somehow manage to get into bed at a decent hour, I feel like I don't sleep as well as I used to...it isn't as restful somehow.

There's not enough time to clean my mess of a house.  My husband would probably tell you it's not as bad as I think [and I'm sure it's probably not] but lately I lack the time and devotion to give my house the deep cleaning it really needs.  And now as we're getting ready to move at the end of the summer, I'm dreading the organization and cleaning that REALLY needs to happen.

But the thing that gets me the most lately...

There's not enough time for God.  Sometimes after I've laid down in bed, I find myself thinking "Did I read my bible today?" or "Did I really pray today?"  Sure, I whisper short prayers throughout my day, but it's sad when I've realized that I've gone through an entire day without devoting a block of time to thanking God for this crazy, full life that He's given to me.

It's easy to feel that I'm just going through the motions.  From work, to motherhood, to aiding in the maintenance of our home, sometimes I feel overwhelmed.  I never want to lose sight of all that I have.  I never want to forget all of the moments that make this busyness worth every second.  Being a mom is hard.  But it's the most rewarding job I'll ever have, and I'm thankful.

Blog Tour: Duchess

Heiress Rosie Worth has transformed into starlet Roxy Price, an actress at the top of the world in the Golden Age of Hollywood. Her studio mogul husband, Dash and the fans that love her have almost made her forget her painful past. But soon, Roxy faces disappointing losses that could mean the end of everything she’s worked so hard for, until the dashing Rolfe Van Horne swoops in, promising her a role that is sure to save her career.

Rolfe’s film takes Roxy overseas, and it is there that her feelings for him begin to grow. She discovers that she encountered him very long ago, before she was married, before she experienced a heartache she will never forget. And while Rolfe sometimes seems to share her growing feelings, he begins to push her away. But is he simply trying to protect her from growing trouble in Europe – an explosive conflict that could jeopardize both of their lives?

Read the rest of this review at Luxury Reading.

Book Review: Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen

It is summer of 1813 and Jane Austen is recalling her encounter with a young traveler from Virginia, Fitz Darcy. Their meeting leaves a lasting impression on the young author, and impression that will influence and shape her greatest literary work.

Fast forward to present day, where pragmatic New Yorker Eliza Knight discovers a letter from Jane Austen to Fitz Darcy. On a mission to discover if the Fitz Darcy of 1810 really did meet Jane Austen, she travels to Virginia to speak with Mr. Darcy’s great-grandson. But after getting to know the current Mr. Darcy at the Pemberley Farm Heritage Ball, Eliza is shocked when he reveals the truth about the letter.

Read the rest of this review at Luxury Reading.

Who is this for...

...Is what I've been asking myself lately when it comes to this blog.

I used to know the answer.  I used to write for myself.  I used to share my thoughts.  I used to love the weaving together of words, the lyrical sound of it all.

But lately I feel that my posts lack substance.  I can't remember the last time I sat down and wrote something that really meant something to me.

Did the desire to write become replaced by something else?  By wanting more followers?  More daily visits?  I remember a time when I didn't even notice that sort of thing when I logged into my account.  Now it's the first thing I look at.

That should not be.

So again I ask, who is this for?  What am I doing if my heart's not in it?