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Saints & Sailors by Pam Rhodes The Dunbridge Chronicles

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I've traveled on a joyful Christian journey to Iona, Guernsey, Scilly Isles and around other pieces of the British Isles with Pam Rhodes and congregants of Bishop of Bedford and his wife, Margaret in Saints & Sailors by Pam Rhodes . Amazingly, Pam Rhodes has written herself into this novel as a character. The Christian cruise is filled with the happy and sad moments of the passengers. It is also filled with quotes from the mouths of Christian saints. There are quotes from St. Columba, St. Ninian and St. David and Christian leaders like Charles Wesley. I could never tell all that happens on the sea trip. The book review would become too long. This is a small taste of it. There are many characters in Saints & Sailors. I didn't think it possible to see each character as an individual. However, I soon found the characters beginning to stand up and shout "look at me. I'm important. You will learn something from my life on this ship!" I first became concern

Regret by Charlotte Bronte

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http://www.theguardian.com Long ago I wished to leave "The house where I was born;" Long ago I used to grieve, My home seemed so forlorn. In other years, its silent rooms Were filled with haunting fears; Now, their very memory comes O'ercharged with tender tears. Life and marriage I have known. Things once deemed so bright; Now, how utterly is flown Every ray of light! 'Mid the unknown sea, of life I no blest isle have found; At last, through all its wild wave's strife, My bark is homeward bound. Farewell, dark and rolling deep! Farewell, foreign shore! Open, in unclouded sweep, Thou glorious realm before! Yet, though I had safely pass'd That weary, vexed main, One loved voice, through surge and blast Could call me back again. Though the soul's bright morning rose O'er Paradise for me, William! even from Heaven's repose I'd turn, invoked by thee! Storm nor surge should e'er arrest My soul, exalting then: All my heaven was once thy

I Love My Brown Skin Because....by Julie Davis

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  This is a good non-fiction book for children, young adults and any other groups. I am an adult. While reading it, I had a chance to rethink my values and meet a few famous people I had never known.  This book is a way to learn how to cherish oneself. When parts of society decide you're worthless, you must have a way to heal yourself. The ultimate medicine is to love yourself at all times. One way to love yourself is to look at role models. It doesn't matter whether these role models are alive or dead.  The only criteria, is that these people have served and have the desire to always help others. For example, the first two Black college presidents were Booker T. Washington and Mary McLeod Bethune. It doesn't seem like they ever had a thought about self. They always thought of teaching and serving people in and out of their surroundings. With this goal in mind, they didn't allow obstacles to stop them. "I Love My Brown Skin Because..."by Julie Davis i

Book Beginnings (netgalley)

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"I like my brown skin because beautiful African families make me very proud and very happy to be brown like them. Let me tell you the story of these beautiful African families. Before they were brought to North America to build the United States, African people had created outstanding civilizations on the huge, mineral-rich continent where they lived." rosecityreader

Come Back to Me by Thomma Lyn Grindstaff

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I was attracted to this novel, Come Back to Me, by Thomma Lyn Grindstaff because of the music and the age of the Maestro, seventy-six years old. He is much older than his protegee. I also like to read Time Travel novels. The young lady fall back from the future 2010 to 1973. In the future, Maestro is dying of Pancreatic Cancer. This part of the book really moved me. Emotional. I suppose death is always hard to take. In 1973, he is young. He has a wife whom he will remarry and a son named Kurt. It's all very intriquing. thommalyngrindstaff.com/blog/

Plants And Flowers

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I've visited the White House. So long ago it's indecent to write the year I visited it. Unfortunately, I remember the rooms more than the gardens. At that time, I didn't know about my sister's Green Thumb. When she moved to a country setting, I saw her raise beautiful annuals and perennials like petunias, zinnias and geraniums. Still, I had my mind more on boys than on flowers. Not until I returned home did it hit me. The wonderful passion for houseplants. We didn't have a lawn in the city. I had two bedroom windows. One faced east. One faced north. Plus, there were wonderful stores especially the Five and Dime. There you could find the ordinary and the exotic indoor plants. I didn't raise outdoor flowers until marriage. I loved digging in the soil. I tried planting roses and spring bulbs. The planting in the soil was just like playing in a sandbox. I loved to watch the water spray from the garden hose. It sparkled. As they had time, my family got invol

Friday 56

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fredasvoice.com      "When Mark glanced towards Jill a few minutes later, he was alarmed to see her absent-mindedly scratching the back of her hand until her skin looked red and raw. Still Rob didn't come, not even after the time it took for Pete and Callum to help her mother into a nearby seat. Jill's scratching became more and more frantic."