A Lady in Attendance // Book Review

About the Book: 

"Five years in a New York state reformatory have left a blemish on Hazel's real name. So when she takes a job as Doctor Gilbert Watts's lady in attendance in 1898, she does so under an alias. In the presence of her quiet and pious employer, Hazel finds more than an income. She finds a friend and a hope that if she can set her tarnished past in order, she might have a future after all.

As Gilbert becomes accustomed to the pleasant chatter of his new dental assistant, he can't help but sense something secretive about her. Perhaps there is more to this woman than meets the eye. Can the questions that loom between them ever be answered? Or will the deeds of days gone by forever rob the future of its possibilities?

Rachel Fordham pens a tender tale of a soft-spoken man, a hardened woman, and the friends that stand by them as they work toward a common purpose--to expunge the record of someone society deemed beyond saving--and perhaps find love along the way."

Book Review: 

A Lady in Attendance was such a fun read with likable/sweet characters and a exciting lil' mystery to go along with it! I really enjoyed reading this book, and I have to say, it grew on me towards the end! 

I love the uniqueness of having this book centered around dentistry and I immediately felt more connected to the book. Also, can I just say that I LOVE the cover!? 

The book started off slower than I'm used to reading and it honestly didn't grab my attention until I got over half way into it. But nothing was really wrong with the first half, I just needed to get into the characters head more and adjust to the writing style. After I let myself really enjoy it, (at first I was way too critical about small details that seemed unbelievable like dancing with blistered feet after they made such a big deal about it...) but then, I started to really enjoy the storyline and the love story was cute too. There was a big backstory dump that disrupted the flow of the reading but thats a small little nitpick as well.

The characters: 

Hazel. She was such a fun character and so unpredictable! As a "redhead" I thought I'd see more of a feisty side to her character but this side only came out once or twice, (that slap tho!) mostly she was kind-hearted and somewhat sensitive. Her past seemed so out of character for her, but then again, people can make drastic changes and that seems to be her story. I loved seeing how she overcame those past mistakes and learned from them. I love how she was honest with her past and the themes of forgiving herself towards the end were spot on. 

Gilbert. OK, yes, I'm a Anne of Green Gables fan so having a main character named Gil really added to the story. He was just perfect for Hazel! (Always knew what to say) I loved that he was a dentist and I loved their jokes and wit with each other. I was expecting him to be more quiet, but no, he was definitely more bold and a not-so-quiet dentist after all. I also appreciate how he respected Hazel so much to give her space to make up her mind and adjust to a free life, but he also made it clear how he felt (Honesty is such a good thing!) I also liked that he painted... He honestly didn't have many faults besides his horrible thoughts towards Alberta, lol.

I will mention the side characters, Ina and Duncan. They were so sweet and made for a perfect side character romance/friend group! Also, Eddie rubbed me the wrong way but the other difficult character, Alberta, was quite comical.

(A side note. I didn't respect her parents at all for shunning her like they did.)

Concluding thoughts: 

This story started out slow but ended so so sweet and I liked the last half of the book more than I thought I would. The themes of forgiveness and overcoming the past were done really well but I would have liked to see more Christian content especially with the forgiveness message (that would have been a perfect opportunity!) There was also a neat spin on being different and not accepted into society. Well done on balancing the deeper themes with the fun banter. 

It's a solid 4 star and I'd definitely recommend this to any historical romance fans! 

*Thanks Revell Reads for a complementary copy of this new release! All thoughts are my own.

Have you read this new release yet? Does this look like a book that you would read? How did you like my lil' book photoshoot! XD Comment Below with your current read! 

Many Blessings, 

Brooklyne Elysse 

College Advice from My Freshman Year // LUO

I started Liberty University Online in August, 2020. Throughout my freshman year, I've discovered some small nuggets of advice for new college students. This lovely Wednesday morning, I'll be sharing some of these. These tips can also apply to anyone currently in school! 

#1. Get Up Early (and go to bed early)

In public school, if you don't get up early enough, you miss the bus. In homeschool, if you don't get up early enough, you end up still doing school late into the day. Online college is no different. Getting up early will almost always guarantee you a productive morning and jump start on assignments. How early is early enough? Good question. Here's how you figure out that answer to meet your personalized schedule. Make a list of all the things that are top priority for your morning routine. (Devotion, workout, breakfast, animal chores, etc.) Then, give those priories *realistic* time slots. Basically write out an ideal schedule. No schedule is going to work perfectly, but it's good to have a goal to reach for. College students have to do a lot of self-motivating. Getting up early (even if you are not a morning person) is truly a life saver! 

When you get up early, you better go to bed earlier as well. Don't try to run off of 4 hours of sleep and a extra tall coffee. (Why is that trend so popular?) Sleep is SO IMPORTANT to help you function. Try for at least 8 hours of sleep a night. I try shooting for 5:30-6 AM and 9:30-10 PM.

#2. Manage Procrastination

The ability to manage your time also means dealing with procrastination. The definition of procrastinate is, according to the dictionary, "the action of delaying or postponing something." I feel like everyone has dealt with procrastination at some point in their lives, especially students. Lets face it, no matter how much we love school, sometimes studying feels like a pain and our assignments seem like way too much work. So how do we manage procrastinating and wanting to delay schoolwork? 

First, we have to identify when we are procrastinating so we can catch ourselves red-handed. When we catch ourselves reaching for our phones or wanting to eat something, (anything at all, just where's my secret chocolate stash!!!) then we can remind ourselves that there's a time for social media. There's a time for eating and most likely, you're not even hungry. There is a time for schoolwork, and that time is now. So set your timer for 30 minutes and really buckle down and study. Then, take a break. A planned break that you'll have then earned. Set healthy boundaries so that you don't burn out. But when you feel like putting something off for later, take a moment to really consider what needs to get done and the best time to do it.

Procrastination is definitely a hard habit to curb! But it's so freeing to know that you have the ability to choose how you spend each minute of your day. 

#3. Take Breaks 

As mentioned above, planned breaks make studying so much more manageable. When I first started college, I was sitting down at my computer for a solid five hours a day. My eyes would get tired of staring at the screen, I'd get frustrated faster, and get uncomfortable in my sitting position. I thought if I didn't get it all done in one setting that I'd have to do lots of work at the end of the week. I wanted to stay on top of things, but I wasn't taking into consideration that I needed breaks or I'd burn out. Taking breaks sounds lazy, but they say you actually need breaks to let the information you're learning really sink in. So I started planning breaks. I'd work for an hour, then get up and stretch. I'd take a drink of water. I'd take a walk to the mailbox and back. I'd break for lunch. Whatever the break was, I'd plan ahead for it. 

I shoot for starting school around 10am. I go for two hours, taking smaller breaks (averaging ever 30 minutes or so). Then I try to take an hour break at 12pm. And get back to it, finishing up at 3-4pm.

#4. Pray

Oftentimes, this piece of advice gets overlooked. I'm still learning to make prayer a habit before each school session. In the end, God wants us to succeed & He will bless our efforts. God has given us the ability to learn and made it possible for us to have the schooling we receive. So it is my hope that I can make prayer second nature when I sit down to do classes.

#5. Manage Test Stress 

I don't know about you, but new students are bound to feel stress while taking tests and quizzes. I know I did, and I still do! There's this overwhelming pressure to get as close to 100% as possible. The time is ticking and with each second counting down, it can be a disaster. Because when you're stressed, you can't think as well. When you're all in a tizzy, you're most likely going to overlook answers that you'd normally know. So how does one overcome this test anxiety? 

Lets take a look at some simple, practical, and easy ways to manage test stress: 

~Breathe. Your not going to be able to comprehend anything at all if you cut off your oxygen! So take a deep breathe and zone out your surroundings. Just focus on whats at hand. 

~Forget the time. If you are constantly worrying about how many minutes you have left, you are wasting those very minutes when you could be working on your test.

~Stop overthinking. Go with your instinct. If you've put the time in studying, you have to go with your gut. Because it's super easy to overthink each problem and still get it wrong. You were probably right the first time. 

~ Go back through. If you have any time to spare, it's hugely important to go back through your work before submitting it to be graded.

~Cut yourself some slack. Hard fact: You are going to get answers wrong. It's life, and the world is not going to end if you miss a question or two. Now, by all means, do your best! But don't beat yourself up if your best doesn't get a 100%.

#6. Take Advantage of Practice Tests

Notice above that I mentioned "if you put the time in studying." It can be easy to accidentally self sabotage by not studying or by skipping the practice tests. But that's not taking advantage of the study resources you've been given.

Find what study techniques work best for you and go with it. Maybe it's flashcards. It could be practice tests provided by your teachers. Maybe it's memorizing while jump roping. Whatever it is, it's important to put quality time into studying.

#7. Change Up Your Workspace 

Sometimes your workplace can get boring. So my advice to you would be to spruce it up! Buy a candle for your desk. Get a new office chair. Go outside for a couple hours. Lay in a hammock while you read. 

etc. etc. etc.

#8. Know How to Take *Useful* Notes

I have SUCH a hard time with this one! So that's why I'm encouraging you to learn how to take notes that are actually helpful for you! I'm famous for taking notes that are absolutely no help. I write down facts that I think will be on the test, but are actually no help at all. It's very frustrating when you put time into writing things down and you can't even use them. 

#9. Make Sure You Have the Right Equipment 

There's these wonderful contraptions called blue light blocking glasses. Check them out! Especially if your classes are online. Also, make sure you have an abundance of lined paper to take notes! A desk is also important otherwise you are sitting cross-legged on your bed (it kills your lower back). 

And don't forget pens, and most importantly, a CALENDAR! Having a calendar really helps plan out your week and divide what kind of classes need to be worked on with which days of the week. 

#10. Keep It Fun

Yes, that's right. Keep it fun. This is a season in your life where you are literally chasing your dreams. Don't lose sight of the happy moments by choosing to be stressed out over assignments due. Celebrate a good grade. Reward yourself if you've diligently stuck with your schedule. Cherish the weekends. Each small victory deserves to be celebrated! Connect with people and journal lots. School has the potential to be super fun and the challenge of learning is truly a gift!

I hope this post was able to give you some advice whether you are a newbie or not. Thanks for reading and I'd love to hear some of your own advice in the comments! 

What has helped you with school?

Many Blessings, 

Brooklyne Elysse

Memorial Day Poem

 

Today is Memorial Day. 

A day to remember the military men and women who served in the U.S.A. We honor their lives because they paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

Let us always remember those who lost their lives serving our country.

It's a Showers of Blessing tradition to re-post a poem I wrote for Memorial Day. So without further ado, here it is:

Let Us Remember

Written by Brooklyne

Let us remember 

The ones who taught

Let us remember 

The ones who fought

Marching proud for the U.S.A

Let us remember 

The ones who braved 

Let us remember 

The ones who saved

Fighting for the land of the free

Let us remember 

The ones who doctored 

Let us remember

The many who died 

For the freedom of our country

Let us remember

The ones who stayed

Let us remember 

The ones who prayed

On their knees for the battlefield 

Let us remember 

The ones who trained

Let us remember 

The ones in pain

Making a noble sacrifice 

Let us remember 

The ones who’ll never forget

Let us remember 

The ones the battles blow hit

Home of the free because of the brave 

Let us remember 

The One who is true

Let us remember 

The One who brought us through

Victory is In God We Trust!

1 John 5:4

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. 

And this is the victory 

that has overcome the world- our faith.

Many Blessings, 

Brooklyne Elysse 

The Supernatural

So, if you clicked on this post, you are probably curious about the title. Maybe you are a writer. Maybe you are a reader. Or a movie marathoner. But whichever group you fall under, we all encounter a choice on what types of entertainment/hobbies we allow into our lives. You and I have a choice with what we expose ourselves to. 

In this post, I'll be talking about some of the reasons *why* I don't read, write, or watch things that are dark themed, spooky, or supernatural. These are my own opinions and I will be clear... I have a very strong opinion about this because a few months ago, I experienced a very real situation and thus it's made me extra sensitive/aware. 

If you love fantasy or love dark/scary themes in fictional entertainment, please read my thoughts and know that this is based off of my own experiences. I'm not telling anyone what they should or shouldn't read/write/watch, I'm just sharing a little bit about my own conclusions. 

Please ask questions. Do some research. Come up with your own conclusions. And know that I am praying for each person who reads this. 

Ok, I'll stop rambling now. 

Ever since I was young, I've been sensitive to dark themes. When I say dark themes, I'm talking about the paranormal. I'm talking about "Ghosts", magic, supernatural, evil, extreme gore, extreme violence, extreme content, etc. These things have always made me uncomfortable. Uneasy. Scared. 

Growing up, my mom and dad didn't encourage dark fantasy and even today I've never seen some of the movies that everyone seems to rave about or read some of the most popular books. My parents sheltered me from supernatural books and movies for a reason. Now that I'm mature enough to decide what genres I read/watch, I'm faced with questions about why there is all this hype? 

Why is something that is creepy to little kids so sought after and popular by young adults? Why do we live in a world that is drawn to the paranormal? 

Here's the deal, there is a great controversy much bigger going on. The ultimate battle of light and darkness. We live in a world where satan tries to deceive so many people away from the Light of Jesus. 

And he knows just what tactics to uses, sometimes so sugar-coated that what we think seems good is really evil. As a Christian, I know that Jesus has already won the battle. He defeated death, the tomb was empty. He is our only Hope in a world of darkness. Jesus defeated the darkness of sin with His Light.

I don't know where you are at in your walk, but in my own walk, I've come to the conclusion that with the knowledge I've been given, I ought to use my critical thinking ability to guard my mind from evil things. This is so hard with a world so filled with grey areas, and I have to trust God to guide me through each decision. If we are in a relationship with God, He will guide us and make a way for us. He has given us the Holy Spirit to impress upon our hearts what is good and what is evil.

I mentioned above about a experience I had. I won't be sharing a lot of detail, but this experience has given me much deep thought and clarity on what kind of things I should be guarding my mind/heart from when it comes to dark supernatural themes. 

There was a situation that someone we knew was telling us about. This conversation took an unexpected turn towards the supernatural and lead to a few sleepless nights and a meeting with our pastor. I was disturbed and scared. And if these same feelings are what others experience while watching horror movies or going trick-or-treating, then I want nothing to do with it. The world expects us to react to the dark themes with fear. It's become normal and fun to scare people with skeletons, spiderweb decorations, and terrifying costumes. It becomes normal and popular to fangirl over worlds, kingdoms, creatures, etc. that are in the supernatural.

I believe that ghosts are not dead people who have come to life. Ghosts are satan's evil angels. Witches are evil. Ouija boards are evil. Anything dark/sinful of this world is of satan & not of God. So, if I knowingly watch something or go somewhere that is evil, I am putting myself on the enemy's ground. Satan will use so many things to get more and more people to follow him. He wants more power and tries every device to get us away from Jesus. Because he knows that if we are filled with the Light of Jesus, then he cannot harm us. Light overcomes darkness.

The God I serve is the complete opposite from the scary things mentioned above. He says, "Do not fear." (Isaiah 41:10 NKJV)  Jesus doesn't want me to be afraid. And this fact gives me assurance. He has already won the battle and by serving Him, I know that I am safe.

I don't know your story. I don't know if you love sci-fi or fantasy or darker themes. If you do, I pray this post has given you some food for thought. I am not judging your choice in entertainment. I'm just sharing what has been heavy on my heart lately.

Some questions we should all ask ourselves: Does the content we expose ourselves to reflect godly values? Does it give us peace and assurance that we are safe and secure through Jesus? 

I've made a personal decision based off of my biblical belief and biblical guidance that dark themes are not honoring to God. With the knowledge I have, I then have to look at the books I read and the movies I watch and the places I go. Because this is no joke. This is real with real consequences if we willingly take the sugar-coated bait from the enemy. 

I share this post because I think it's a message that is shied away from too often by young Christians. In a world where your peers and friends are all going crazy about the latest movies or novels, it's easy to wonder, "how bad can it really be?" But it's when we start splitting hairs or compromising our beliefs, that things can get tricky. When we feel this weight of a decision (because you *do* have a choice), we ought to take a step back and really consider light and dark, good and evil. 

To my younger readers, I encourage you to go to your parents, older siblings, mentor, whoever's opinion you trust, go to them and ask them their thoughts on this topic. If you are faced with a decision regarding what kind of entertainment you allow yourself to be around, ask yourself questions, do some research, and pray about those decisions! 

Do you have any questions about this topic? Comment below! 

What are your thoughts/opinions on this topic? 

Many Blessings, 

Brooklyne Elysse

Never Miss // Book Review

I'm so excited to be sharing another book review here on Showers of Blessings! I hope you like reading my thoughts on this book! 

Back of the book blurb:

"Former CIA sniper Kadance Tolle possesses a special set of skills and a rare pedigree. She comes from a family of assassins, and by saving Lyndon Vaile's life she risks being found by them. Despite the danger, Kadance feels compelled to help Lyndon discover who is after him--and his research that seems to prove that the Ebola virus was manmade and is about to be weaponized.

With shadowy figures pursuing them and a Mastermind watching their every move, Kadance and Lyndon must scramble to stop an impending bioattack at the State of the Union address. But their warnings fall on deaf ears, and it becomes increasingly clear that there's no one they can trust--except perhaps each other.

Strap in for a breakneck story that will have you up all night, hurtling toward the last page as the clock ticks and time runs out."

My review: 

Never Miss 

★★★☆☆

2.5 Star! 

Hmmm, how do I formulate ALL my thoughts on this book in one review...? Lets start with the basics! First off, what caught my eye about this book was not the back blurb but rather the cover design. Okay, there, I said it. I have a soft spot for quality covers! I absolutely love the cover. It's just plain stunning! And can we just take a moment to appreciate how well the cover matches the story inside? Don't ya just love it when that happens?! 

Never Miss was a fast-paced read with an intriguing plot. It speaks volumes for me to finish a book in under a week. According to Goodreads, this book took me four days. By the first few chapters, I was invested enough in the story to keep reading as I just HAD to see how it all ended. The characters made for a interesting and wild ride. The plot was complicated and very intricate, and tbh, very twisted-thinking. (However, that usually goes hand in hand with the suspense genre.) I found many aspects to be quite unbelievable almost as if this was a fantasy about two superheroes set out to save the world. I mean, it basically was just the two of them out against all odds.

Characters: 

Wanna know my favorite character? Mac! I know, I know, for those who've not read the book yet, Mac is the much lovable, ultra smart, and intuitive cat! Kandances' cat who acts like a dog and let me just say the meaning behind the name is brilliant. Also, I'm dead serious. Mac is my favorite and this may be because I'm a animal person, but Mac is the star of the show. :) 

Kandace. First off, cool name, but--Wow, she has been through a lot. Her backstory was extreme. Like, she'd need some serious counseling... But despite this dramatic family past, her traumatic time as a CIA sniper, and her fear of betrayal, we see a young woman who desperately wants to do the right thing. We see her struggle with putting up a wall and doing what she does best--her job, no matter how cold and hard it is to do. Yet, we see other sides of Kandace as well. She's considerate, she's calm in stressful situations, always trying to ease the pain of others, and diligently caring for her pet (Mac!!) I would have liked to see more character development as the Christian worldview was kinda thrown upon her and no one really followed through with that. At the end of the book, she was still trying to adjust to a Christian mindset and way of life that we don't see her really have time to grow into a new understanding. 

Lyndon. (Another cool name, btw!) As awesome as he was, something about him didn't click for me. We see this dude who's mega smart. So smart that he got headaches from his brilliance. We're talking, three doctorate degrees before age 30. Not only is he this crazy intelligent scientist, he also has a photographic memory. Oh, and he can fist fight like Rocky. This guy is basically superman. Supposedly he's geeky, but good looking and all that too. The only thing this guy can't do is tell a lie! So despite these overwhelming standards for his personality, I will say that I liked how loyal he was to Kandace and he didn't push her at all when it came to her opening up to him about her past. That was good. However, he claimed to be a Christian but readers are given contradictions through some of his actions. 

A couple things made me take off stars for this review. One thing I found to be super annoying was their romance. It was all attraction. And that just made it awkward. Secondly, are we to assume this whole book takes place in a little over a week? That was just a lot of information, plot twists, etc. for that short amount of time. Many things about this book were unrealistic and far fetched, yet with all the virus talk, it almost seemed dystopian. (Or on the other hand, too realistic for the conspiracy theories out there...)

I expected a much different climax. The whole story built up the image of this "mastermind." I can't give much details without spoilers, but this person behind all the creepy messages and warnings was so messed up. The author did really good building the backstory of the plot yet when it came down to tying up loose ends, it was almost lacking somehow. However, it was a good mystery with a very intriguing storyline!

Concluding thoughts: 

I'm really glad I got the opportunity to read this suspense novel! There was some things that affected the star rating, and because of those reasons, this book wasn't my cup of tea. If you are looking for a exciting read with some crazy intelligent characters and an awesome cat sidekick, then this book might be for you! 

*Thank you Revell Reads Blogger Program for a complementary copy of this new release! These thoughts are my own. 

Do you like books that keep you on the edge of your seat? What is the last book that you couldn't put down? Have you read Never Miss? Comment below! 

Many Blessings, 

Brooklyne Elysse

At Lighthouse Point // My first blogger book review!!!

At Lighthouse Point 

Back of the book: 

"Blaine Grayson returns to Three Sisters Island with a grand plan--to take Camp Kicking Moose to the next level. Her dream starts to unravel when she discovers Moose Manor's kitchen has been badly remodeled by her sister, Cam, who doesn't know how to cook. Added to that blow is the cold shoulder given by her best friend, Artie Lotosky, now a doctor to the unbridged Maine islands.

As old wounds are opened, Blaine starts to wonder if she made a mistake by coming home. Little by little, she must let go of one dream to discover a new one, opening her heart to a purpose and a future she had never imagined. 

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to the coast of Maine for a story that reminds you to release what doesn't matter and cling to what does: faith, family, and friendships."

My Review: 

★★★★☆

3.5 stars! 

At Lighthouse Point was a heartwarming story about the Grayson’s family journey to finding what truly matters—each other. The setting was a quaint little island with saltwater vibes, a old fashioned community, and realistic main characters who got to call this Hallmark setting “home.” The takeaway message was multi-layered and light enough for most all audiences. I really enjoyed this book. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to read book one and two, but I felt like this book could also be read as a standalone as most backstory was talked about and I didn’t feel like I missed much except for a couple mentions that were probably discussed in the previous books. 

Characters: 

Paul Grayson—Paul is the father of three adult children. From his POV, we see him struggle with his relationship with his own father, the somewhat loss of his voice which cost him his career, and witness a budding romance with a dear friend. (Which he somehow manages to keep a secret from his daughters? Knowing those three, I think they would have figured this out sooner rather than later!)

Camden (Cam)—Ah, Cam had quite the uptight, micromanaging side yet she was truly the oldest sister and from a readers perspective, we can see how much she cares and puts a lot of effort into all that she sets her mind to do. I love the slight plot twist to her pregnancy and how her husband (Seth) lovingly brings to her attention some areas that she needs to give to God.

Maddison (Maddie)—Maddie is the middle daughter and I not only can relate to her on that level, but she is also the peacemaker in the family, the quiet one, and the one who worries. I only get a small glimpse of her character but from what the reader does see of her in book three, we can see how she really struggled with letting fear cloud her faith that God would take care of her little family.

Blaine (MC?)—Although Paul, Cam, and Maddie had POV’s, Blaine’s was the most prominent story and the reader also got a special glimpse into her past with small “flashback” stories. We see Blaine grow from being the “baby” of the family into a independent adult who yes, made mistakes, but learned her way through them just like the rest of us. She came back home to find her dream and that she did! She struggled with depression and also with anger towards her siblings (holding grudges from the past). However, with the help of her friend and with some time on her own, she was able to overcome some of those challenges. Her friendship/romance with Artie wasn’t what I was expecting… I’ll touch on that next. 

Artie—Sadly, Artie was my least favorite character! This was totally unexpected as all the points added up for him to be a great guy. Supposedly good looking, great career, dedicated to his patients, easygoing name… but his personality was totally buzzkill for me. He was flat out rude and irritating. Maybe in the other books there was more to his character but in what I read, their relationship just wasn’t working. And at the end…. OK, that was too fast.

Peg—She was the typical older lady (with not so typical pigtails!) who offered advice and ran Lunch Counter. She also had a side political role for the Three Sisters Island. Her opinions were much valued with sound reasoning. She actually reminded me a lot of one of the characters I wrote for my WIP. 

Jean-Paul—Poor Jean Paul!! The accident prone couch potato with a life coaching side gig. Need I say more? 

Concluding Thoughts: 

I love all the food talk! Like, coming from a girl who took a cooking class and has 8372021 pins on her Menu Plan Pinterest board, you could say I’m somewhat of a foodie. So having Blaine whip up any of her culinary creations had me craving to do some cooking myself! The grilled peaches and the breakfast omelet especially stood out to me. Great, mouthwatering descriptions! I’m also familiar with Maine’s potato candy (but still a skeptic of it!).

Honestly, this book was on the slower side with small plot twists here and there. It gave me major Chesapeake Shores vibes with family drama and complicated character arcs. However, I did still enjoy these stories and I look forward to future books by this author!

*Thank you Revell Reads Blogger Program for a complementary copy of this new release! These thoughts are my own.

Does this look like a book that you would want to read? Do you like lighthouses?? Have you watched Chesapeake Shores? What are you currently reading? Comment below! 

Many Blessings, 

Brooklyne Elysse 

Blast From the Past

 

Good Morning! 

Today's post is super fun because I take a look at my first interview here in the blogosphere. I got the privilege of being interviewed by the lovely Firefly Girl (aka Faith <3) when she was doing a Sisters in Christ series on one of her blogs. Chosen Vessels isn't currently running anymore, but check out Stories by Firefly! First, I just want to say how special it was to me that Faith interviewed me. New to the blog, that was just super cool. Looking back over my answers, I see how far I've grown. Three years ago, I was so different. 

So to celebrate 3 years since the day this interview was originally posted, I'll be reposting it with some updated commentary by yours truly (that will be in the italics).

I hope you enjoy! This was apart of my blogging beginnings:

~~~

"Welcome to Chosen Vessels, Brooklyne! 

Hi everyone! My name is Brooklyne. I’m a seventeen year old, homeschooler, animal lover, bookworm, cowgirl, middle sister, DIYer, Seventh-day Adventist, vegetarian, writer at heart, introvert, and most importantly a daughter of The One True King! Some of my hobbies are gardening, riding my horse Rosie, hand lettering, woodworking, exercising, and taking pictures.

(First, I'd like to just comment on the fact that I obviously couldn't decide on how to describe/introduce myself... Just hit everyone with a mile long, descriptive list. Was I trying to make a long story short or was I trying to overwhelm my potentially new friends?)

I love that! :) Since we met through blogging, let's talk about that. What inspired you to start a blog?

Well, as soon as I started reading about all these bloggers who were around my age, I realized that this was something I could do to make a difference. Honestly, the idea of starting a blog was exciting, crazy, and scary. I had to step out of my comfort zone, and still do with every post. I’m not great with computers, and I have never had Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any other social media site. But I do write. I write devotionals, poems, and stories. I don’t have all the answers, but I feel like God has given me words to write and starting a blog gives me the chance to share these words with people all over the world! I am so blessed to be given the resources to start a blog.

("It's funny, back then, it was a new concept for me to find people my age doing similar hobbies such as reading, writing, etc. That's why, when I first came across blogs... it blew my mind! ahhhh! I love how honest I am with the next part! Since then, we can see how far I've come. It now is not scary to post on my blog. Sure, the thought of everyone reading my content is somewhat unnerving... but not like when I first started! Also, my computer skills have grown so much as well as my use of the dreaded "social media sites." The writing passion has not changed. Writing isn't my top priority at this point, but it's definitely still close to my heart.)

Did you read other blogs before starting your own, or was starting a blog what thrust you into this amazing world we call The Blogosphere? ;)

Yes and no. I really only started reading blogs the beginning of this year. I was really into The Circle C Adventures by Mrs. Marlow when I was around 13 years old. As I got older, I was more into the contests and one day I was reading on her blog about the contest judges and that’s when I found a blog by a homeschooler. I would read over her blog and then find more blogs to read. It was like a ripple effect. Each blog would most likely have a list of other blogs they read. So, I went blog crazy and read so many blogs, I can’t even remember which ones I read.
But, before 2018 I really hadn’t read any blogs, except Andi’s Blog (Circle C Adventures).

(I'm still amazed at how I found the Blogosphere like I did. Starting a blog was really a great transition for me to make out of high school. Although, somedays I wish I would have found blogger friends sooner. But maybe I needed a time when I didn't feel like I had many friends to really appreciate the friends God brought into my life though this blog.)

How did you find my blogs?
I found your blogs sometime when I was going blog crazy:-). So, I don’t know exactly how I came across them, but I do know that I found Stories by Firefly before finding Chosen Vessels. And, I have to say, I really like both of your blogs!!!

(Still do!)

Aww, thank you! 

The blogging community can be a very encouraging place to me—so many people blogging about their faith! What's your favorite Bible verse, chapter, and book? Why?

Oh, this is so hard to choose!!! One of my favorite verses are 2 Corinthians 12:9 because it is a reminder that God’s grace is sufficient in my weaknesses. One of my favorite chapters is Psalm 23. The lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want… there is something so peaceful about this chapter. Oh, and I like Philippians 4 too! I can’t decide on a favorite:-). My favorite book in the Bible is James. I like that it is short enough to read in one setting and I like that it is relatable.

(I still have a hard time deciding these questions!)

What Bible verses have really helped you through some rough times?

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” And Philippians 4: 6,7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests by made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard you hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” These two verses are the first to go through my head when I need a reminder that Gods got it.

(Great verses!)

What is one event in your life that really strengthened your Christian walk?

(1) Our move to our farm was a very big faith builder. Hints the name, Winds of Faith. (2) My baptism was another event that strengthened my Christian walk. (3) I believe trial’s have strengthened my Christian walk also. One big trial was in 2015 when my Dad had a heart attack. He was forty-one and had to have two stints placed in his widow maker. This was very scary and we really had to trust God with our worries. Since then we have really changed the way we eat to be more plant strong and healthy.

Wow... <3 

(Moving to our property was a huge event that strengthened my walk. That tends to happen when you have to learn the lesson of what you think you want (Kansas) might not really be what God has planned. And-- trials can also strengthen Christian walks, for sure. My dad's heart attack was just the beginning of a rough season. I'm super glad that in that time, I was able to really cling to Jesus. He's never left my side.)

Any Bible reading tips?

I’m not one to be giving advice in this area. (lol) Sadly, all to often, my time to read the Bible gets cut short or pushed back and this is something I want and need to change. I think reading the Bible has to be a huge priority. To purposefully choose to spend time reading the Bible. A lot of times I use the concordance in the back of my Bible to look up words for different verses and this helps me get on a roll;-).

(Yes, getting in the habit of reading the Bible is hard but a truly great habit to cultivate in your life! I'm currently reading the Bible cover to cover and its been going well!)

Speaking of reading... On a scale of 1-10, how much of a reader would you consider yourself? What about a writer?

For a reader, I would say I’m a 8-9. And for a writer, I’d say a 7-8. This would be for books that were amazing and if I didn’t have writers block…

(I'm pretty sure I over thought this answer... Now? Hmm, I'm probably a 6-7 reader and a solid 7 writer.)

Where's your favorite place to read and/or write?

Definitely in my room. And sometimes I will read in the car if it is a really good book! ;-)

(I'd say this answer hasn't changed!)

Who are your favorite authors? Favorite books by them?

I can’t pick a favorite, it’s too hard! I really like Stephen Bly’s writing style. My favorite books written by him are Skinners of Goldfield series and Homestead series. There are lots more authors and books but the list is too long! ;-)

(Ah! somehow I'm always trying to skirt my way around this answer... To save me endless rambles about favorite books, just go HERE to my Goodreads. That series by Stephen Bly was pretty epic, though I'm not sure if it would entertain me quite so much now as it did then.)

Hehe, isn't that like the worst question? ;) (yessss!) What are some books that really impacted your young life?

I really enjoyed reading Pony Pals, Sisters in Time, Circle C Adventures, and The Serenity Inn series when I was younger. But I would say that the one book that really impacted my life was iChoose His Way by Hannah Rayne. If you haven't heard of it, look it up and read it. I totally recommend it for anyone, but especially us teenagers! It was written by a teen for us teens. This book just really impacted me.

(Circle C Adventures!!!)

Alrighty. Time for a few random questions, before we have to say farewells. :D If you had to use one word to describe yourself, what would it be?

Um, maybe creative. I don’t know.

(Good word, and it hasn't changed much...)

Any pet peeves?
I walk around like everything is fine, but deep down, inside my boot, my sock is sliding off! A bunched up sock is the worst! :-)

(lol, this is my attempt at being funny/witty. Although, the above mentioned pet peeve is, indeed, the worst!)

Favorite songs?

I like quite a few songs and types of music, so this is kind of hard to choose! I really like country music. Some I like are I Don’t Dance by Lee Brice, Fight Like a Girl by Bomshel, Jesus Take the Wheel by Carrie Underwood, Road Less Traveled by Lauren Alaina, May We All by Florida Georgia Line, Austin by Blake Shelton, and lots of others!

(Carrieeee! Lauren Alaina also rocks.) 

Anything else to add? Goals for the rest of this year?

Some of my goals for 2018 would be to ride Rosie, a lot more than I have been. And start writing more too! Like starting a book series I have in mind… and to keep writing devotionals and poems. A big time goal would be to publish some of my writings but this will most likely not take place in this year. Also, to blog! I have lots of great ideas for Showers of Blessings and can’t wait to perfect my blog style, add more pages, etc.

(Oh this is fun. Let's assess the goals of young and naïve Brooklyne. Rosie: True, I've been making more time for her. But I can't say I've quite hit my goal. I still am writing so that's good. Although my poems have slowed down a bit. *clears throat* haven't made much progress with that book series...)

And I want to say, thank you so much, Faith, for hosting Sister’s in Christ! This was such a great opportunity for me to get to know other bloggers in this blogosphere and for them to get to know me too. These were great questions and they were very fun to answer! Thanks for letting me participate in this blog series! ;-)

I enjoyed it as well! Thanks for coming over! <3"

(Yes! Thank you again, Faith! Your friendship means a lot!) 

~~~

Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed this little "Blast From the Past!"

In what ways do you think my writing has changed since then? Did you like reading this interview? Were you around the blogosphere when this was first posted? Comment below!

Many Blessings, 

Brooklyne Elysse