Pegg Thomas

Twisted Lies

Twisted Lies by Robin Patchen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Here’s “the rest of the story” on Nate Boyle from book #1, Convenient Lies. (Which is good, because I really, really liked him in that book.) In true Patchen fashion, the story peels back its layers amid intrigue, sometimes gut-wrenching emotion, and danger. A great combination! Marisa Vega – the heroine – will grab your heart as she works to help others while burying herself. (You’ll have to read the book to understand.) I recommend reading Convenient Lies first for more insight into the character of Nate Boyle. Because you’ll want to know what this guy has already been through!

American Pharoah

American Pharoah: The Untold Story of the Triple Crown Winner’s Legendary Rise by Joe Drape
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you love horse racing – read this book. It’s that simple. If you watched American Pharoah and cheered him on to the Triple Crown – read this book. Plenty of behind-the-scenes history about his owner, his trainer, his handlers, his jockey … it’s just all good.

The Mark of the King

The Mark of the King by Jocelyn Green
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Could not put it down. Jocelyn Green once again delivers a story that deserves the word “epic” to describe it. Filled with twists and turns, she takes the reader on a roller coaster ride of 18th century New Orleans. She makes the colony come alive with its sights and smells and dangers. Her characters are multi-faceted, interesting, and sometimes not what they appear. All in all, a combination that makes it all but impossible to not turn the next page.

Condemned of a crime she didn’t commit, Julianne Chevalier’s only hope of escaping her Paris prison is to marry a man she doesn’t know and sail for the French colony of New Orleans. Her one bright spot in the hope, however slim, that she might find her brother, a French soldier sent to tame the vast wilderness for the King.

No spoilers here, you’ll have to read it for yourself. But be warned … you may find yourself still reading long after you should have turned out the light!

Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates

Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates by Brian Kilmeade
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A book well worth reading if you like American history or are interested in the history of the Barbary Coast in the early 19th century. While not the most in-depth book, it hits all the highlights and explains the motivations behind the major players. Most importantly, it does so in a very readable format that won’t put the reader to sleep.

One of the takeaways for me in this book is how often great men – and great ideas – fail before they succeed. We live in a culture that doesn’t value failure as a way to learn, grow, and adapt. We want our children to walk on their first try. We want to win a trophy on our first attempt. We want to earn our first million before we’re thirty-five. Thankfully, our forefathers were much wiser, and that wisdom is reflected in this book.

The Christmas Bride Wore Boots

The Christmas Bride Wore Boots by Terri Weldon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you’re looking for a feel-good, Hallmark-ish contemporary romance Christmas story, this is a good one. Nothing complex or complicated, just a bit of Christmas cheer.

Molly Kincaid is the tomboy grown to veterinarian of the town. Jacob Thompson is the widowed pastor and father of young Emma. While Molly has harbored an attraction for the pastor ever since he came to town, she knows she’s not the stuff a pastor’s wife is made of. But she gladly volunteers for the position of director of the living nativity for Christmas. Being in close contact with Jacob on a regular basis is raising eyebrows from some in the church. Some who agree that she is not what the man needs in a wife.

A tumble of emotions with the required ending for a satisfying Christmas story.

The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill

The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill by Julie Klassen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this type of historical. It’s not romance, although there is some romance in it. It’s a much broader and richer story than you can get in a romance novel. This is more like a PBS period drama. Think Downton Abbey or Poldark. The characters are layered and diverse, and their backstory is dribbled out as a tease throughout the book. The setting is a quaint town in 1820 England. We meet all levels of that society, from the gentry to the lowliest kitchen pot scrubber. Fascinating glimpse into that time and place.

Jane Bell inherits The Bell coaching inn upon the untimely death of her husband. Left to run an inn she was never involved in with the help of her brother-in-law, a shady character, and her mother-in-law, who never approved of her, Jane finds help and strength in unexpected places.

This is obviously only book one of a much longer series, and I can’t wait to read the second installment. Well done, Julie Klassen!

Legacy of Love

Legacy of Love by Christine Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another cozy romance with characters who will warm your heart from Christine Johnson. Set in the same era as Downton Abbey, her stories take you back to a time more simple – or was it? A touch of suspense keeps you guessing until the end.

Anna Simmons dreams of faraway places and hidden treasures. Brandon Landers wants to make his family’s old summer place his home. Sparks fly when they realize how intertwined their families are, and not for the good. Will the rumors of a hidden treasure bring them together, or separate them forever?

A story well worth reading!

The Dreaded Thomas Family Christmas Web Page

It’s that time of year again! But the good news is:

We were exceptionally boring this year! Yeah! You won’t have to wallow through too much of this drivel to be able to say you survived until the end. 🙂

January and February:

It snowed. But the good part was, it snowed at least once while Michael was home to do the cleaning out! He was still working in Traverse City at this point, driving across the state on Mondays, coming home late Friday night. Most snow storms while he was doing this occurred mid-week. So Pegg was *truly* happy whenever he was home to help clean out the snow.

Of course while at his sister’s, he also did snow removal duty. But without the John Deere.

When he wasn’t moving snow, Michael was getting back into the hobby of home-brewing beer. Like a mad scientist on a mission, he was boiling and steeping, fermenting and bottling to his heart’s content.

March:

Pegg signed her first book contract with Barbour Publishing. The book will be released in April 2017. It’s a historical romance, part of collection of stories that center around the Pony Express. Her story is the final one in the collection, taking part at the very end of the Pony Express’s 18-month run. The story includes a special horse, one based on Jeff’s black thoroughbred, Jason, who passed away two years ago.

Barbour books are generally available in WalMart as well as any Christian bookstore. Pegg also has her own page on Amazon now! Anyone interested can follow her by clicking on the “follow” bar under her photo. Hopefully this won’t be a one-shot-wonder and she’ll find a home for one of several other stories either finished or in-the-works.

April:

More snow. It’s a Northern Michigan thing. But the boys – Jeff and Murphy – were having a good time in it!

The BIG NEWS for April – which I don’t have a photo for – was Michael accepting a position in the Tawas office of DHHS. It’s just over an hour drive one-way, but it’s a whole lot closer than Traverse City and he’s home for a late supper every night.

greenhouse-set-up-4-17-16 Winter hung around a long time this spring. It took forever for the snow to melt and the ground to warm, but Pegg started her garden inside in the window, and moved it to the greenhouse as soon as she could, so all was ready to plant when the garden thawed out
.

The end of April saw the arrival of a new truck, named Mosby – the Gray Ghost. Our first Dodge Ram. Yes, Pegg does hear Sam Elliott’s voice when she starts it up.

May:

bundled-to-mow-in-the-snow-5-15-16 Yes. This really is Michael mowing on May 15th with snow flurries falling around him. Winter didn’t want to let go!

Mother’s Day was a trip to Mackinaw City and a visit to Fort Michilimackinac. It’s the longest continuous archaeological dig site in the United States. So much great history there! Getting to see the bridge a couple of freighters was just a bonus. 🙂

June:

Camping! First at Ludington State Park where we had a mini-reunion with the Thomas clan. Jeff and Michael took the Badger across Lake Michigan to Wisconsin while Pegg and Murphy hung out at the camper. We took a day trip to the Soo for Father’s Day to see a few boats and enjoy a West Pier burger. Then back up to the Soo for Engineer’s Weekend which included the Boat Nerd Dinner Cruise where we met the Edwin H. Gott while Pegg was wearing her Gott shirt! That was fun.

July:

SHEEP RETURN TO TWIN WILLOWS FARM!

After a long and difficult year and a half, it’s wonderful to see sheep in the pasture again.

August:

We camped at Wilderness State Park, visited the Rendezvous at Mackinaw, and met up with Janet and Marsha for lunch at Scalawags. We went out to McGulpin Lighthouse – for some reason we’d never been there – and enjoyed walking the forest path with all its history signs to read along the way.

Pegg scored a sweet deal on Craig’s List and became the owner of this antique spinning wheel. Research leads us to believe that the wheel is about 200 years old. It’s consistent with wheels made in the New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland areas. The wheel has blacksmith-forged nails holding it together. The bench is most likely hand-hewn, but the legs and uprights are turned.

The sheep were sheared on Labor Day and some of the fleece was spun on this old workhorse. While it has all it’s original parts, Pegg has ordered a new spindle. The original will be kept but no long used as it’s in a rather fragile condition.

September:

Pegg had a very special week when friends from childhood, sisters Beth and Ann, came to visit. The whole visit started from a reunion on Facebook and Beth’s desire to learn to spin. Ann got pulled into it – all the way from California! – and it was a great visit. Besides spinning and walking in the woods, they also took a trip to the Straits, crossed the Mackinac Bridge, and visited Mackinac Island. Happy memories were made that week.

October:

More changes! Jeff took a job teaching 8th grade history in Caro, MI. Before he was even fully moved into his new apartment, he hit a deer and totaled his pickup. It’s been an interesting time for him, but he’s doing well.

Michael’s sister had a milestone birthday and celebrated it on Mackinac Island. What she didn’t expect was to have her three brothers show up for lunch! There were a few happy tears and a lot of smiles.

Pegg had surgery on her right hand in early October, correcting both carpal tunnel and trigger finger. Not fun, but good to have it done. She’s ready to type, spin, and knit for years to come.

November:

Jeff was the hunter this year at deer camp. While this buck didn’t have many points, he had a nice 12″ spread and plenty of meat for the winter. Michael never even saw a buck to shoot at. The weather was weirdly warm, windy, and rainy. Not the best conditions for hunting.

December:

We went to muzzle-loader camp at South Branch at the beginning of December to visit with Uncle Ron, Harvey, and Jeff. Family traditions. Priceless.

And that’s it. The highlights of our 2016. We hope your year was as full of family and friends as ours was.

We wish you all the joy of this Christmas season.

May God bless each of you.

Suitor by Design

Suitor by Design by Christine Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This Love Inspired Historical includes a bit of suspense, making it a fun read all the way around.

Minnie Fox wants to marry a “swell,” a guy with money and connections. Even though Peter Simmons loves her, he knows she’ll never settle for a garage mechanic with no family of his own. When an old friend of Peter’s shows up in town, will he be the answer to both of their dreams?

I enjoy Christine Johnson’s characters. They are lively and interesting. Set in roughly the same era as the popular show Downton Abbey, the characters are caught between the old world and the modern. It makes for some interesting situations.

A Package Deal

A Package Deal by Robin Patchen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A story that does what Robin Patchen’s stories do best, tug at your heart and wring out every ounce of emotion. The emotional give and take of characters who are bruised by life and bloodied by failures. Powerful stuff! Human stuff. You’ll cheer Jo and Carter on as they discover that some things are worth risking your heart for.