Happy Valentine's Day from South Africa!

Welcome to my Picture Perfect

Party Linky #230!

Robbie spoiled us this morning with a freshly sliced fruit salad, an egg dish, and fresh brewed coffee. Of course, being Valentine's Day, a bowl of chocolates was also required. He had it all ready in time for us to eat and get to school. I also had to be at one of the schools. I teach a grade 4 Bible class at Amanda's primary school once a week and this was my morning. I also teach a Level 2 high school German class to two grade 10 girls at Samantha's school.

Tonight we're drinking bubbly wine from uniWines and Jessica and her boyfriend are cooking in our kitchen a chicken curry. Jessica also made a Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake for today. I'm a lucky mom. I'm kind of off duty! I wish everyone, wherever you may be, a Happy Valentine's Day!

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Click on my photos to see them at their best!

Our yummy Valentine's Day breakfast
prepared by Hubby.

The bubbly wine from uniWines that
we're drinking this evening.

Jessica's Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake

Robbie and I from a previous
Valentine's Day

***************************

My latest post

on 1camera1mom:

uniWines in Rawsonville - Part 1

*********************

My Latest Book Blast

with a Giveaway:

Dream Horse Adventures Series

My Latest Book Review:
Novus (Book 1)

*********************

Now on to my blog hop...

Come link up your Wordless Wednesday

(with or without words) or any picture post

at this Picture Perfect Party Linky.

Join me on this fun and easy blog hop!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free
to link them on my Blog Hops page!

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Pinterest 

Twitter 

Facebook
Instagram

and

Here are the easy rules:

• Follow me on one or more links above or via email.
• Link-up your post with a picture and follow as many new blogs as you like.
• If possible, copy the button code below and add it on your linked post or blog's side-bar.
• Tell others about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.

The Button Code:

<center> <a href="http://abooksandmore.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Amanda’s Books and More" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitS14XLc-z2uSUW00dIvyZc7lEfLP2tkPgO3qmU3NWi_UObDs_d7XqpYhjp0BBeROyZot-8YlEFU9rguELrZYu3arN1qHHNpB4_ezrb-TlBlfHRSOvP7pBA0VI-j1RkUkF77wJxUc7M7ye/s150/Picture%2520Perfect%2520Party%2520Linky.jpg"/></a></center>

This is a Wordless Wednesday blog hop.

Visit my Blog Hops page to see the hops that I often link up to.

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Pretty Homes in South Africa with Linky

Welcome to my weekend blog hop -

Make My Saturday Sweet #208!

My series of photos today are of pretty South African homes and home security. I don't have a photo of the front of my home, but I have included a link at the end of this section, before the book blast and book review.

Many of my readers know that last year we were burgled while we slept. It wasn't a nice feeling waking up in the morning and finding out that someone was in our house. Besides losing many valuable electronics, what bothered me the most was knowing that our girls were in harms way. For that reason, a few months later I got a bigger dog. Our girls named him Koda and you can learn more about him on my post, Adopting an Adult Dog.

Towards the end of last year, we also put burglar bars in the windows that are accessible. These ones are made of Plexiglas. On the same day the burglar bars were being installed, we were outside hanging up the laundry on the washing line and heard two gunshots being fired. My husband jumped into his car and drove down our street to find out what had happened. A man had been trying to pry his way through burglar bars on a neighbor's property in broad daylight and the owner of the house spotted him and shot twice, presumably in the air. Other neighbors responded quickly and together managed to corner the man.

Dogs and burglar bars do not stop all crime. We also pray every morning and at night for our safety. "Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain" (Psalm 127:1 NIV).

This blog is best viewed in Google Chrome.

Click on the images to see them at their best.

A pretty thatched home in our neighborhood

A house and boat in Paternoster on
South Africa's West Coast.

A thatched cottage and bike in Tulbagh,
Western Cape winelands

Poem - My Home

Let my home be a safe haven

One to be counted among the best

May its walls build hope and the floors mercy

And may its rooms offer peace and rest

May its roof be a symbol of protection

May its ceilings teach us Your ways

And may the gates stand for honor

Together adding joy to our days

by Christina Morley

Our New Burglar Bars ~

Before and After Photos

Before

After (from inside)

After (from outside)

Our Neighbor's New Security ~

Before and After Photos

Before (a few years ago)

After (more recently)

After (more recently)

If you want to see the front of my home,

visit my post, My Entrance.

*********************

My Latest Book Blast

with a Giveaway:

Dream Horse Adventures Series

My Latest Book Review:
Novus (Book 1)

*********************

Make My Saturday Sweet is a weekend blog hop for all family friendly blogs. You are welcome to link your favorite post from the past week(s) and to visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment. It's a really easy and fun way to make new friends and to catch up on old acquaintances.

Now on to my blog hop...

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.

All family friendly blogs are welcome!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to

link them on my Blog Hops page!

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Pinterest 

Twitter 

Facebook
Instagram

Here are the easy rules:

• Follow Tina (your host) on one or more links listed above.
• Link up a post from your family friendly blog.
• Please try to add my hop button on your post or side-bar.
• Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.
• Visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment.

Blog Button Code:

<center> <a href="http://abooksandmore.blogspot.co.za/" target="_blank"><img alt="Amanda’s Books and More" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWaX10yWr7xxEQ5BBMhOqdZxobJ0omJBq-v8ENFn3YNNebsnsYBHwcGyje-XzSlHSJOIlZ1rEOp89LyNI97XrPFZtdeH_AvaNV3F8hOvHfsuwe29ALNQw75ibK34buYq7nhpGGZJ8UTnoB/s150/Make+My+Saturday+Sweet.jpg"/></a></center>

Weekend Linky

Visit my Blog Hops page to see
what link-ups I take part in.

Read More

Novus - The Cresecren Chronicles

Novus (Book 1)

The Cresecren Chronicles

by Crystal Marcos

About the Book:

Title: Novus, Book 1 in the Cresecren Chronicles | Author: Crystal Marcos | Publisher: Cat Marcs Publishing | Pages: 319 | Genre: Dystopian Future, Action-Adventure, Suspense, Romance | Age Group: Young Adult

Book Description:

Ideal for Hunger Games and Divergent fans, Crystal Marcos delivers Novus, a riveting novel set in a dystopian future of action-adventure, suspense, and romance. Intriguing characters and a gripping storyline keep the reader turning page after page.

Being a teenager is hard enough. And what if your life's path is predetermined? On top of that, you aren't even Human?

Cayden was given life as a Cresecren. He expected to live out his days with the dysfunctional Human family he was assigned to serve. One fateful night, however, landed him in Gavaron, the home of maimed, elderly, or defiant Cresecren.

Beyond its borders is the Den, an area much more dangerous than he ever imagined. Now seventeen, Cayden unwittingly becomes involved in a conspiracy and is one of a handful of survivors fleeing a deadly attack. They set off on a perilous journey in search of refuge and the truth. Along the way, Cayden begins to comprehend the difference between fully living and merely surviving, while trying to balance his emotions and a forbidden love.

Purchase on Amazon

Kindle | Paperback

My Review:

Novus is a gripping novel set in the future. Ms. Marcos' description of her dystopian world is quite unique with the humans and non-humans that live there. It also has enough references to things that are familiar in our world to help us understand it well. The main character, Cayden, is not your typical hero, because he has a couple of weaknesses and makes a few mistakes. This makes his character endearing and reminds us that he is young.

Cayden is a Cresecren teenager who was created by the Humans and not fully human himself. All Cresecren were made to serve Humans just like a slave. Cayden, like the rest of his kind, was taught from a young age how to serve and show deference to all Humans. Ms. Marcos' unconventional hero is very believable. I am looking forward to watching him grow up and gain more confidence in future sequels.

The adventure is fast paced. The characters are lively. There is enough romance to be intriguing. I am always happy to find a love story that is clean. There are good twists in the story to keep one guessing. I would have preferred for some of the explanations to be less succinct. I also found some of the violence to be extreme. Overall it is a great book and will be enjoyed by many young adults.

About the Author:

Crystal Marcos

Award-winning author Crystal Marcos has been a storyteller her entire life. As the oldest of five children, she had to do a lot of entertaining. She lives on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington State with her husband, daughter Kaylee, and infant son Jaxon. Crystal is the author of BELLYACHE: A Delicious Tale and HEADACHE: The Hair-Raising Sequel to BELLYACHE. Novus, her third book and first Young Adult novel, is Book One of The Cresecren Chronicles.

Visit Crystal Marcus on her

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Disclosure: I received a free digital copy of this book for my honest review.

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Athletic's Day with Linky

Welcome to my Picture Perfect

Party Linky #229!

Amanda's primary school recently held an athletics day. Only three kids in her class made the cut. Even though Amanda was one of them, she didn't want to go at first, because her regular group of friends wasn't going to be there. I encouraged her that it was going to be a short day, because they gave the younger ones permission to go home after they were finished. She ran the 60m and 80m. There will be another day when all the foundation phase kids get to participate. This day, though, was for the entire school.

This blog is best viewed in Google Chrome.

Click on my photos to see them at their best!

Related Post: 1st Week of Grade 3

(about the sports that Amanda is learning at school)

***************************

My latest post

on 1camera1mom:

Catching Waves - Part 2

*********************

My Latest Book Blast:

Dream Horse Adventures Series Giveaway

*********************

Now on to my blog hop...

Come link up your Wordless Wednesday

(with or without words) or any picture post

at this Picture Perfect Party Linky.

Join me on this fun and easy blog hop!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free
to link them on my Blog Hops page!

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Pinterest 

Twitter 

Facebook
Instagram

and

Here are the easy rules:

• Follow me on one or more links above or via email.
• Link-up your post with a picture and follow as many new blogs as you like.
• If possible, copy the button code below and add it on your linked post or blog's side-bar.
• Tell others about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.

The Button Code:

<center> <a href="http://abooksandmore.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Amanda’s Books and More" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitS14XLc-z2uSUW00dIvyZc7lEfLP2tkPgO3qmU3NWi_UObDs_d7XqpYhjp0BBeROyZot-8YlEFU9rguELrZYu3arN1qHHNpB4_ezrb-TlBlfHRSOvP7pBA0VI-j1RkUkF77wJxUc7M7ye/s150/Picture%2520Perfect%2520Party%2520Linky.jpg"/></a></center>

This is a Wordless Wednesday blog hop.

Visit my Blog Hops page to see the hops that I often link up to.

Read More

Dream Horse Adventures Series Giveaway

Dream Horse Adventures

by Susan Count

Book Blast Giveaway

---

About the Books

Title: Mary's Song (Dream Horse Adventure Book 1)
Author: Susan Count
Genre: Children's Fiction
Number of Pages: 122
Publisher: Hastings Creations Group
Release Date: October 20, 2016

Book Description: Mary’s heart breaks over the pending destruction of a beautiful, but damaged filly. When life is not fair, the courageous challenge the obstacles. Twelve-year-old Mary was disabled at the age of four by the same virus that took the life of her mother. While she longs to have a horse of her own, she’s limited to reading horse books. A talented artist, she spends her days on a blanket in the grass sketching the horses at the farm next door. She falls in love with one of the foals and is outraged to learn the filly is considered worthless as it was born lame. Mary befriends and enlists the help of twelve-year-old Laura, whose family owns the horse farm. Against the better judgment of the farm manager, a brief reprieve is negotiated for the foal’s life. The girls conspire to raise money to save her, but time is running out. Sadly, it appears the expensive surgery the foal needs has little chance to correct her problem anyway. Mary isn’t about to give up. She sacrifices what she holds dear, including the trust of her papa, to gain her heart’s desire. Will she lose everything in her struggle to save the foal?

Check out my review of

Mary's Song here!

Title: Selah's Sweet Dream (Dream Horse Adventure Book 2)
Author: Susan Count

Genre: Children's Fiction 

Number of Pages: 198 

Publisher: Hastings Creations Group 

Release Date: December 15, 2015

Book Description: American Horse Publications - FIRST PLACE - Equine Fiction..... Feathered Quill - GOLD Award..... Readers Favorites - GOLD Award..... Twelve-Year-Old SELAH (Say-la) aspires to be an equestrian superstar. That would require a horse. HER DILEMMA: Grandpa wants nothing to do with horses. THEN: Selah sees buzzards circling the grasslands behind Grandpa’s farm. They are stalking a horse trapped in wire and Selah is its only hope. DANGEROUS: The horse is wild and defiant - jeopardizing Selah’s dreams. FOILED: The legal owner searched for the horse for two years and wants it back. BUT: Selah is confident that God will provide her heart’s desire. MEMORIES: Grandpa shows Selah a video, from long ago, of a phenomenal equestrian. Selah declares that she wants to be like her and Grandpa explains the rider was her grandmother. HOPE: A world renowned horse trainer offers to train SweetDream and Selah. FOILED AGAIN: Her parents could ruin everything unless Sweet Dream’s unruly behavior ruins it first. LOST: Selah’s opportunity to mirror the equestrian talent of her renowned grandmother evaporates when the horse causes mayhem at the trainer’s facility. NEVER GIVE UP: Will Selah gather her courage and face up to the trainer to save her aspirations?

About the Author

 

One day...I began to write with no preconceived ideas about anything. I’d read what I had written the day before and add another scene to the adventure. No one could have been more astounded than I was when it turned into a book. The whole process gave me great joy and restored my spirit after a season of loss. My motivation was my desire to bless one particular young lady with a story to show her a love relationship in a family, with the Lord, and with a horse. I truly thought the story would remain in a drawer until she was old enough to read it. Surprise. 

I write at an antique secretary desk which belonged to the same grandmother who introduced me to horse books. The desk has secret compartments and occupies a glass room with a forest view. Bunnies and cardinals regularly interrupt my muse, as do my horses grazing in a clearing. 

Though I am a rider and lover of horses, I make no claims of expertise in any riding discipline. I hope that my research keeps me from annoying those who would know. 

The only thing more fun than riding might be writing horse adventure stories. Saddle up and ride along!

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Dream Horse Adventure Series Giveaway

Prize: One winner will receive a copy of Mary's Song and Selah's Sweet Dream
Giveaway ends: February 22, 11:59 pm, 2017
Open to: US and Canadian Residents Only
How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is hosted and managed by Stacie from BeachBoundBooks. If you have any additional questions feel free to send an email to stacie@BeachBoundBooks.com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Holiday Cakes with Weekend Linky

Welcome to my weekend blog hop -

Make My Saturday Sweet #207!

I have had so many neat things to share on this blog that I still have Christmas holiday photos! My mother-in-law made two holiday cakes, besides all of the wonderful meals. By the way, she is fearless in the kitchen. She used to own a small restaurant and country inn that served fine dining. She was also the head chef and she is mostly self-taught.

On our Christmas holiday, she made the fruit cake. Jessica and Samantha decorated it with a snowman while Amanda watched. He looks like he's dancing a jig.

This blog is best viewed in Google Chrome.

Click on the images to see them at their best.

For Christmas lunch, my mother-in-law made a Bombe Alaska (Baked Alaska). Instead of baking it in the oven, she used a blow torch. The one she had was for removing paint, but that didn't deter her! We kept screeching at her and making her laugh in the kitchen as we watched her set the sugar in the meringue on fire. Somehow, she managed to keep the delicate fresh raspberries around the bottom of it intact!

*********************

Make My Saturday Sweet is a weekend blog hop for all family friendly blogs. You are welcome to link your favorite post from the past week(s) and to visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment. It's a really easy and fun way to make new friends and to catch up on old acquaintances.

Now on to my blog hop...

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.

All family friendly blogs are welcome!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to

link them on my Blog Hops page!

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Pinterest 

Twitter 

Facebook
Instagram

Here are the easy rules:

• Follow Tina (your host) on one or more links listed above.
• Link up a post from your family friendly blog.
• Please try to add my hop button on your post or side-bar.
• Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.
• Visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment.

Blog Button Code:

<center> <a href="http://abooksandmore.blogspot.co.za/" target="_blank"><img alt="Amanda’s Books and More" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWaX10yWr7xxEQ5BBMhOqdZxobJ0omJBq-v8ENFn3YNNebsnsYBHwcGyje-XzSlHSJOIlZ1rEOp89LyNI97XrPFZtdeH_AvaNV3F8hOvHfsuwe29ALNQw75ibK34buYq7nhpGGZJ8UTnoB/s150/Make+My+Saturday+Sweet.jpg"/></a></center>

Weekend Linky

This is a blog hop!

Visit my Blog Hops page to see
what link-ups I take part in.

Read More