tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24311349240641738662024-02-19T04:15:28.437-06:00British MissivesFor those passionate for all things British.Therese Stenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09661037805476353298noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431134924064173866.post-84165190664095569412014-01-23T18:38:00.001-06:002014-01-23T18:38:29.670-06:00Final Letter on British Missives<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hey all. I hope you have enjoyed sharing my anglophile obsessions, but as my books continue to sell wildly and I have more fan mail to sort through, and trying to stay focused on writing my latest book, I am going to have to close British Missives. But you can still stay in touch with me at <a href="http://www.theresestenzel.com/">www.theresestenzel.com</a> and if your wanting to become part of my favorite readers loop and get free copies of my books, read the first chapter of my next book, be asked your opinion on a book title or a chapter, send me your e-mail at <a href="mailto:tmstenzel@cox.net">tmstenzel@cox.net</a> and I'll add you to the list. <br />
<br />
My e-books:<br />
<strong>Blue Africa</strong>-set in turn-of-the-century British East Africa <a href="http://amzn.to/1aQ4218">http://amzn.to/1aQ4218</a><br />
<strong>The Pretend Princess</strong>-set in England incl.the mystery of the Hope Diamond <a href="http://amzn.to/M0On9C">http://amzn.to/M0On9C</a><br />
<strong>Bride of Thistleloch Castle-</strong>set in the Highlands of Scotland <a href="http://amzn.to/1jr9GyG">http://amzn.to/1jr9GyG</a><br />
<strong>A British Bride by Agreement-</strong>contemporary story with a British heroine <a href="http://amzn.to/1aNBrN0">http://amzn.to/1aNBrN0</a><br />
<strong>Dunstable Park House-</strong>Victorian time travel--like Downton Abbey <a href="http://amzn.to/1eWvEUO">http://amzn.to/1eWvEUO</a><br />
<strong>Incubation</strong>--coming out 2014<br />
<br />
Therese StenzelTherese Stenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09661037805476353298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431134924064173866.post-26162203024959948742013-12-15T17:05:00.001-06:002013-12-15T17:05:43.013-06:00Jane Austen Birthday<ol>
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Tomorrow, December 16th is Jane Austen's birthday. </div>
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Here is some information on her brief life.<br />
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English novelist Jane Austen is born on this day in 1775, the seventh of eight children of a clergyman in a country village in Hampshire, England. Jane was very close to her older sister, Cassandra, who remained her faithful editor and critic throughout her life. The girls had five years of formal schooling, then studied with their father. Jane read voraciously and began writing stories as early as age 12, completing a novella at age 14.<br />
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Austen's quiet, happy world was disrupted when her parents suddenly decided to retire to Bath in 1801. Jane hated the resort town and found herself without the time or peace and quiet required to write. Instead, she amused herself by making close observations of ridiculous society manners. After her father's death in 1805, Jane, her mother, and sister lived with one of her brothers until 1808, when another brother provided them a permanent home at Chawton Cottage, in Hampshire.<br />
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Jane concealed her writing from most of her acquaintances, slipping her writing paper under a blotter when someone entered the room. Though she avoided society, she was charming, intelligent, and funny, and had several admirers. She actually accepted the marriage proposal of a well-off friend of her family's, but the next day withdrew her acceptance, having decided she could only marry for love. <br />
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She published several more novels before her death, including <i> Pride and Prejudice</i> (1813), <i>Mansfield Park</i> (1814), and <i>Emma</i> (1815). She died at age 42, of what may have been Addison's disease. Nearly 200 years after her death, she is one of a handful of authors to have found enduring popularity with both academic and popular readers.<br />
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<em>"The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, </em></div>
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<em>must be intolerably stupid." Jane Austen</em></div>
Therese Stenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09661037805476353298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431134924064173866.post-77127509533710992662013-12-10T22:03:00.000-06:002013-12-10T22:03:00.991-06:00<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">FAVORITE CHRISTMAS FICTION<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Compiled by Therese Stenzel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Therese Stenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09661037805476353298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431134924064173866.post-88245824622628755012013-11-04T21:37:00.002-06:002013-11-04T21:37:46.094-06:00New British historical!My latest e-novel,<strong> Dunstable Park House</strong>-<em>A Victorian Time Travel Romance</em> is available on Amazon! For fans of Downton Abbey you'll love this book. The link to the new historical is <a href="http://amzn.to/1hIYR8S">http://amzn.to/1hIYR8S</a><br />
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Here is the first chapter...<br />
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Present-Day
London, England<o:p></o:p></div>
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CHAPTER ONE</div>
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</div>
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Visiting England
was better than death.</div>
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Brenna Keelin
stared out the window of her English tour bus at an early morning fog. The mist-swathed
countryside lay in a gray blanket that shrouded any view of the bright emerald
fields and crisp white sheep she’d hoped to see.</div>
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Just when Brenna
thought the gray view and the stale bus air might undo her well-organized to
plans to have a desperately-needed vacation, the bus finally drove past a sign
for Cambridge, the second stop on their two week tour of England. </div>
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The fog cleared
just enough to reveal an inn that could have been featured on a British
postcard, with its rose-tangled doorways and row upon row of centuries old
stacked-stone fencing protecting the perimeter.</div>
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“Come on,
Sleeping Beauty.” Brenna elbowed her sister Janelle, who dozed against the
padded headrest, her mouth gaping open. “We're here.”</div>
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Janelle slicked
on some lip-gloss, then followed Brenna out of the bus. Once they had loaded
themselves down with suitcases and bags, mostly Janelle's, Brenna lead the way
through the chilly air toward the pension, fought with an unforgiving revolving
door, and finally stumbled into a quaint lobby.</div>
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Brenna released
handles and shrugged straps until the luggage clunked to the floor. She
stretched to ease the ache in her shoulders. Looking around the reception room
at all the plates and platters hanging on the walls, she nodded at the décor.
Very British. “Like the place?” She looked for her sister.</div>
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Janelle was
chatting up their tour guide, Jacob. </div>
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Two hotel staff
we`re watching her from behind the desk, as Janelle was a blonde hair,
blue-eyed torpedo as their father used to call her. Any man in a ten-mile
radius would be under her allure.</div>
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“Well, I love
it,” Brenna said to no one in particular. She stepped toward a blue plate that
caught her eye. The plate showed a faded painting of a woman in a wedding
dress. An ache lodged in her chest. Her idle wedding dress still hung in her
closet. She wrapped herself with one arm, not sure this trip was such a good
idea. But it was better than wishing to be dead.</div>
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“We are in
England.” Janelle gave Brenna a hearty side hug. “Aren’t you happy now?”</div>
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“Yes,” Brenna pasted
on a smile. “Now all I need is a cup of tea.” She nodded at the hotel employee
who handed her a room key. “Thank you.”</div>
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“Oh Bren—you
sound just like an English woman,” Janelle whispered as they passed their
handsome leader on the way to their room. “What I need is a British boyfriend.
What do you think of Jacob our tour guide?”</div>
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“First, he’s
Austrian, oddly muscular, and a little like a football player who has taken a
few too many hits,” Brenna said as she unlocked the door and collapsed onto the
bed. “You need to find someone smart and reliable like Dad.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“You are
hopeless...lighten up.” Janelle fluffed her white-blonde hair in the mirror.
“And with your good looks, it wouldn’t do you any harm to start paying
attention to men again.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“My good looks?
Oh please, don’t do that, I’ll humor my older sister thing. We all know who got
the beauty in the family.” Brenna playfully pulled on her sister’s hair. She
then leaned over and pulled out a stack of postcards she’d bought at the
airport, trying to think of whom to send them to.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Bren, what’s
happened to you? You were the most sought after event planner in Virginia.
People booked you a year in advance.” Janelle flounced onto the bed. “Tell me
again why you quit.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Brenna twirled a
lock of her hair around and around as was her habit whenever she felt
overwhelmed. “You know.” She had to admit, she did miss the excitement of her
previous job. “That last wedding I did really got to me. All those happy
people...I couldn’t stand there and smile, pretending nothing was wrong—”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
A gentle knock
on their door distracted them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Janelle bounded
up to answer it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Hello,” greeted
their brawny Austrian tour guide. “I’m sorry to disturb you, but a few of us
are going out to a pub. Want to come?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Sure thing.”
Janelle grabbed her jacket. “You want to go?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“No, thanks.”
Brenna let go of her hair and pretended to get something from her suitcase.
“I‘m pretty tired.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Jacob’s grin
dropped. “We won’t be out late.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I think I’ll
turn in early. I want to unpack, get organized.” She held up a book on English
history and fixed a smile in place. “But you all have fun—ah, Janelle, don’t
stay out too late.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Janelle made a
face. “Brenna is never up passed ten. She’s an attached lady you know—I mean,
she used to be—” Janelle cast an, I’m sorry, look toward her sister. “Well, I
guess we’d better go.” Almost out the door, Janelle ran back into the room and
planted a kiss on her sister’s forehead. “Are you gonna be okay?” she asked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
But before
Brenna could answer, her sister skipped out the door.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Brenna sat on
the edge of the bed as her anxiety flowed through her veins like a champagne
fountain. This was better than suicide.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
***<o:p></o:p></div>
The next day,
the city of Cambridge worked its charm on Brenna with its outdoor markets and
quaint shops. But the most fascinating excursion took place on their second day
in the enchanting town, a ride in the long, narrow boats that glided on the Cam
River behind the colleges of Cambridge. Brenna felt her melancholy trailing
away as the view of the ancient bricked buildings along the water brought an
unbelievable sense of being back in time. It was as if one could just lean over
and touch history.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
She held her
face up to a peek of sunshine, fighting to get through the gathering clouds. A
smile touched her lips as the short-lived warmth filled her body—until she
remembered the boat accident. The sail-boat that was discovered drifting off
the Virginia coast with no one aboard. The body of her fiancé that was never
found—</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
The boat rocked
as Jacob moved from his center seat and sat down next to her, his tight black
t-shirt bulging with muscles. “Are you looking forward to the rest of the
tour?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I’ve always
wanted to come to England.” She dipped her fingers in the cool water and a
shiver went up her spine.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Jacob flexed his
muscles and stretched his arm along Brenna’s back.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
The smell of his
musky cologne filled her nose.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Isn’t this trip
supposed to help you get over your loss?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Brenna shook her
head. <i>Janelle</i>. Her gaze drifted to the college students lounging by the
river. The grassy slope that overlooked the water provided a quiet place for
them to read, talk, study. With Stephen gone, she had nowhere to feel safe. “I
think so. I mean yes, of course. I’ll be ready to get back to work as soon as
we’re home.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“If you don’t
mind my asking…what happened?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“My fiancé died
in a boating accident three months ago.” She nodded. It felt good to put the
horror of it all into one orderly sentence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I’m so sorry.
Do you think you’ll ever want to date again?” His arm tightened around her.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I don’t know
when I’ll be ready for that.” She would never allow herself to be that
vulnerable again. She flitted her gaze away from Jacob’s steely blue eyes.
“Where did Janelle’s boat go? That girl, I turn my back for a second—”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“If you ever
want a private tour of Vienna,” he handed her his card. “I’d be very happy to
oblige.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
She read, Heit
World Tours: Jacob Heit-Tour Organizer and Guide.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“We have offices
in London, York, and Vienna. If you ever need anything, or if you are ever back
in England, call me.” Jacob’s voice sounded husky.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I’ll remember
that.” She sat up straighter, distancing herself from his touch as she filed
his card in a card organizer in her purse. “So, where are we off to next?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“The medieval
city of Yorkshire. One of my favorite places to visit.” Jacob raised his brows
and smiled mischievously.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Oh really? So
what’s the surprise?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
He shook his
head. “No, no, it’s just that the settlement has retained so much of its
medieval structure, it’s like walking back in time. Very mysterious, that
village.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Really? In what
way?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“You’ll see.”
His face was engulfed in an admiring grin, his eyes twinkling. “It used to be a
city of marshes before it was settled, so people often went missing.” He nudged
her shoulder. “It would be a good idea for you to stay close to me.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Brenna widened
her gaze. “Okay, thanks for the warning.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Don’t worry, I
haven’t lost a client yet.”</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
***</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Early in the
morning, the tour bus headed toward the city of York and its famous cathedral,
the York Minster. As Brenna and Janelle made their way up a crumbly set of
stone stairs and entered the Great West Door, a cool swath of air swept over
Brenna’s neck, sending a chill down her spine. The cold seemed to leach off the
ancient walls and seep into her bones.<o:p></o:p></div>
Janelle was
decked out in a white fur vest, while Brenna went with sweats and jeans. She
was very proud of how organized her clothing selection was for the trip.
Sturdy, practical, multi-functional. No wonder she always felt like the
step-sister to Cinderella? She tucked her long hair behind her ears. After
being Janelle’s sister for eighteen years, you’d think she would be used to
being the wallflower by now. She rubbed at the chill in her arms as she
followed the tour group farther into the cathedral.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Brenna’s head
almost involuntarily swung upward toward the breath-taking vaulted ceiling. But
as she stepped forward, each of her steps thudded loudly. She cringed and
looked around at the fifteen or so other tour members in her group, but no one
else seemed to notice the sound.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“The York
Minster, England’s largest church, was constructed beginning in 1220 and was
completed in 1472...” Jacob motioned their group forward as he began his
lecture.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Half an hour
into the tour, Brenna drifted from her sister’s side, to admire the beautiful
stained-glass windows. A sense of holiness filled the air around her. Perhaps,
it was the vaulted ceiling, or the other-worldly quietness that lulled one into
a sense of peace. The vast size of the cathedral made her feel small, as if
there was a world beyond what she could see. Hope rose in her heart. Maybe
there could be a new start for her just around the bend.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
As she walked
farther down, well beyond her travel companions, she rounded the corner to the
middle section of the Minster. She stepped up into a semi-circle shaped alcove
that overlooked the rear of the church. Right in her line of vision was a
small, wooden door.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
With a glance
over her shoulder, she stepped over and gave the aged door a gentle tug. Poking
her head in, and peering up to the left, the smell of dank, musty drafts filled
her senses. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she saw a set of narrow,
wooden stairs. Dust and glistening particles hung in the air, illuminated by a
shaft of light coming down from the top where there was an opening.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Brenna continued
to study the stairway, as if, for a brief second, she could hear the tread of
shoes and the rustle of skirts climbing up the wooden corridor. She had the
sense of touching time, if one could do such a thing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
She glanced
behind her to find only a few tourists taking pictures in the distance, none of
whom were paying any attention to her. Adjusting her purse straps farther up on
her shoulder, she licked her lower lip. A compelling longing to climb the
stairs overcame her normal reserve and fear of doing the wrong thing. She
pressed forward. The door closed behind her with a thud like the final gong of
a clock. The passage was a tight fit, but she could just make it through. The
sense of countless days gone by seemed engraved into the space. If only these
walls could talk…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Each wooden step
creaked and protested her unfamiliar weight as glistening particles swirled
around her. She ran her hands along the roughhewn walls. The same walls that
people from centuries ago had touched. The enclosed area made her heart race as
the sound of her careful tread echoed around her. An intoxicating sense of
destiny beckoned her forward. What was at the top of these stairs?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
She wiped the
moisture from her forehead. Further and further she continued. Something
important waited for her, some discovery. Curiosity propelled her up the
cramped steps to what? A secret passage way? A hidden room? She cast a look
behind her at the steps that disappeared into the darkness. She swallowed. What
was she doing?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Once she reached
the top, she stepped out onto a choir loft that overlooked the back of the
church. Brushing some of the dust and smudges from her jeans and dark gray
sweatshirt, she imagined herself singing in the church. But as she looked over
the rear of the Minister, she frowned. Where had all the tourists gone?
Everyone had vanished, except for one cleaning woman, sweeping the floor
between rows of wooden pews. The scrape of a straw broom was all that could be
heard.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Brenna craned
her neck, leaning over the balcony to get a better view of the front of the
church, trying to see her sister, Jacob, or any of the tour group. The
cathedral looked vacant and deathly quiet except for a few people dressed in
some sort of Victorian costumes coming down the walkway. Were they getting
ready to put on a play?<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
Therese Stenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09661037805476353298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431134924064173866.post-8408966681271880162013-09-18T22:41:00.002-05:002013-09-18T22:41:38.997-05:00
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-hide: all;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-hide: all;"><o:p></o:p></span></b> </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-hide: all;"><o:p></o:p></span></b> </div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 1.5pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 100%px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">English Life in the 1500's</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Found
by Therese Stenzel (Not sure who the author is)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
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</v:shape><span style='mso-element:field-end'></span><![endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The next time you are washing your hands
and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think
about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the 1500s:<br />
<br />
Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May,
and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell,
so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the
custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.<br />
<br />
Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had
the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then
the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water
was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, Don't
throw the baby out with the Bath water..<br />
<br />
Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood <br />
underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats
and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof When it rained it
became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof.
Hence the saying . It's raining cats and dogs.<br />
<br />
There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house.. This posed a
real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your
nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top
afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.<br />
<br />
The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the
saying, Dirt poor. The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in
the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep
their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you
opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was
placed in the entranceway. Hence the saying a thresh hold.<br />
<br />
In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always
hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot.
They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew
for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start
over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for
quite a while. Hence the rhyme, Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas
porridge in the pot nine days old..<br />
<br />
Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When
visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign
of wealth that a man could, bring home the bacon. They would cut off a little
to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat.<br />
<br />
Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused
some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This
happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes
were considered poisonous.<br />
<br />
Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the
loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust.<br />
<br />
Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes
knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road
would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on
the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and
eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of
holding a wake.<br />
<br />
England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to
bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a
bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25
coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they
had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the
corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a
bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard
shift.) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, saved by the bell or
was considered a ...dead ringer.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
Therese Stenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09661037805476353298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431134924064173866.post-8550506551567042872013-07-26T21:02:00.001-05:002013-07-26T21:02:56.579-05:00AN AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE IN LONDON excerpt two
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCAbZd5tHwqrc0LMQzpLjz46oGrhU2B9cTs9UTTAVsCTSapYSMzEZoMQgs67IZhyphenhyphenXAOx4ElUS0Aw8ybCd7_bSM64dwlRrESfTbB8JvkoolhbSBe8tjQCzM-MCCpiNjHvxu2GJTqooxRVj/s1600/family+picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCAbZd5tHwqrc0LMQzpLjz46oGrhU2B9cTs9UTTAVsCTSapYSMzEZoMQgs67IZhyphenhyphenXAOx4ElUS0Aw8ybCd7_bSM64dwlRrESfTbB8JvkoolhbSBe8tjQCzM-MCCpiNjHvxu2GJTqooxRVj/s1600/family+picture.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In 1998, my accountant
husband said the three little words all anglophiles long to hear, "move to
England." So we packed up our two boys and our belongings and shipped off to
Bedfordshire for eight months with his company. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">An excerpt from my
non-fiction as yet unpublished book;<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
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<b><i><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">An American Housewife in
London</span></u></i></b><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One weekend My husband
and I and our two young sons had the original idea to travel to old English
town of Cambridge, but when we got there, to our surprise we found there was an
entire tourist industry set up and running to service our </span></b><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">original </span></i></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">idea. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The drive to Cambridge
was like a trip back in time. We drove past crumbly old kirks, thatched roofed
cottages, cobblestone streets, and meadows that revelaed a patchwork of farms
and fields. Cambridge is a beautiful historical town with an
"oldy-worldy" feel to it. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The highlightof our
visit was a trip to Cambridge University which is not one university but
thrity-one distinct colleges. Our favorite was King's College. The first stone
was laid in 1441 and was completed in 1515. It contains a dark oak screen that
was a gift from King Henry VIIIth and bears his initials and those of Anne
Boleyn.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But one of these visits
was life-threatening to our one and half year old son. Benjamin was sitting in
his stroller, sucking on a lollipop, when all of a sudden he started making
these awful strangling noises. I paniked. Immediately I tried to get him out of
the stroller but in my hysteria I couldn't get the clasp released. My husband
pushed me out of the way and calmly undid it. My mind raced with --where was
the closest ER? We had parked miles away how would we get to our van in time?
Could an ambulance pull up to a chapel built in 1441? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Benjmian's eyes were
bulging as we slapped his back over and over, finally he threw up the lollipop
and everything else in his stomach all over the himself, the stroller and the
ancient chapel floor. I grabbed my son and hugged him firmly to my chest.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A few weeks later, a
friend who was with us at the time put the incident into an amusing news flash.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AP Newswire--The
building and grounds of Cambridge University will reopen their chapel after an
unforeseen shutdown over the weekend. The grounds were closed after an incident
involving some American tourists. Apparently, the youngest member of the group
expelled large quantites of gastric fludis onto the sacred stones of King's
Chapel. Chapel officals reported that the situation seemed to escalate when a
blonde-haired woman tried to dismantle a stroller with her bare hands to
release the child. Onlookers were agast as the object finally dislodged from
the child's throat, shot fifty meters across the courtyard, bounced off a
statue, and impaled a pigeon." <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Therese Stenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09661037805476353298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431134924064173866.post-6677621587578538032013-07-16T21:13:00.000-05:002013-07-16T21:13:28.024-05:00AN AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE IN LONDON<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_WARLXPdx-XhpbHjBvpVwq3n6jKKoMcRuWQQ8vjcYH14LK29IW3Q5zpS0lIA_CiqlDPn9zLWHZcoS_ZyeOhglhTJmbpMXWYWIwW9h8ZNN9cmx5h0pP3ehxIlSsMTmzsV0V7XOd4mu5Ek/s1600/stenzel+animal+kingdom+better+picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_WARLXPdx-XhpbHjBvpVwq3n6jKKoMcRuWQQ8vjcYH14LK29IW3Q5zpS0lIA_CiqlDPn9zLWHZcoS_ZyeOhglhTJmbpMXWYWIwW9h8ZNN9cmx5h0pP3ehxIlSsMTmzsV0V7XOd4mu5Ek/s320/stenzel+animal+kingdom+better+picture.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In 1998, my accountant husband said the three little words all
anglophiles long to hear. "Move to England." So we packed up our two
boys and our belongings and shipped off to Bedfordshire for 8 months with his
company for the adventure of a lifetime.. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">An excerpt from my non-fiction as yet unpublished book;<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><i><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">An American Housewife in London</span></u></i></b><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh, for an American
bathroom.” I would mutter as I sat in a bathtub in the early morning hours.
Unbelievably, our seven-year-old English home did not possess a shower. So
every morning, as my husband was shaving, I sat in a pale pink tub, covered in
frothy bubbles, relaxing when I should be trying to wake up. I soon discovered
that bathtubs, not showers had always been the custom in English bathroom. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I noticed this
bewildering attachment to tradition over and over during our stay. The homes in
our neighborhood were not hundreds of years old, most had been built in the
last ten years, but baths were simply how it was done and how it would be done
regardless of modern inventions like an invigorating, hot shower.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In contrast, Americans
are known to be constantly looking for a new and better way to get things done.
A throw-the-tradition-out-with-the-bath-water kind of attitude. In my humble
opinion, a steaming, brisk shower would be more efficient in the morning, but
in British minds, baths were far cozier, and in England, coziness was next to
godliness.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<strong>Our master English
bathroom was quite large, but we missed our familiar spacious sprawling counter
top framed with a large mirror and individual double sinks. Instead, this room
had one tall thin sink and one tiny slip of a mirror. There was no linen
closet. Actually, the entire house had no closets rather the English tended
toward using an armoire in the bedroom, or had closets built in around the bed.</strong><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong>Our bathroom’s sink’s
were quite confusing too. There were two spigots pouring into the sink. One had
hot water and the other cold. But how did one mix the two without scalding one
hand and freezing the other? The English may have been credited with inventing
the bathroom in the 1800’s, but us Yanks made them much more comfortable. <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong>Three months later,
despite being in a rental home, we paid to have a shower put in!<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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</span>Therese Stenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09661037805476353298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431134924064173866.post-62090241237726296742013-06-24T12:41:00.002-05:002013-06-24T12:41:19.224-05:00BRITISH TIME TRAVEL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPb1x4P7FHcdSz3KxTikd4OFW6ZGgfQQ_YQiTzOr5aFLLf-Fs794MjlBl0W0Gp_6R5nxOrVkDXKTJMze65fT56tKvFdpBQyPKgVlihl2Dkf7Oa7B3CbVWNsNHNGYZIybPN2TRT_9ksN02/s1600/Dunstabe+Park+House+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPb1x4P7FHcdSz3KxTikd4OFW6ZGgfQQ_YQiTzOr5aFLLf-Fs794MjlBl0W0Gp_6R5nxOrVkDXKTJMze65fT56tKvFdpBQyPKgVlihl2Dkf7Oa7B3CbVWNsNHNGYZIybPN2TRT_9ksN02/s1600/Dunstabe+Park+House+II.jpg" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">DUNSTABLE PARK HOUSE</span></strong></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">Book one in the English Time Travel Series</span></em></div>
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I am working on my next British Historical that will be a three book time travel series--a sort of Downton Abbey with supernatural twists! I thought you might like to read a bit of what is to come...</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt;">As Brenna walked further down, well beyond
her travel companions, she rounded the corner to the middle section of the York
Minster. She stepped up into a semi-circle shaped alcove that overlooked the
rear of the English church. Right in her line of vision, was a small, wooden
door. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt;">With a glance over her shoulder, she gave
the aged door a gentle tug. Poking her head in, and peering up to the left, the
smell of dank, musty drafts filled her senses. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt;">As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she
saw a set of narrow, wooden stairs. Dust and glistening particles hung in the
air, illuminated by a shaft of light coming down from the top where there was
an opening. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt;">As Brenna continued to gape at the
stairway, it was as if, for a brief second, she could hear the tread of shoes
and the rustle of skirts climbing up the wooden corridor. She had the sense of
touching time, if one could do such a thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt;">She glanced behind her find only a few
tourists taking pictures in the distance, none of whom were paying any
attention to her. Adjusting her purse further up her shoulder, she licked her
lower lip. A compelling longing to climb the stairs overcame her normal reserve
and fear of doing the wrong thing. She pressed forward. The door closed behind
her with a thud. The passage was a tight fit, but she could just make it
through. The smell of countless days gone by seemed engraved into the space. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If only these walls could talk…</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt;">Each wooden step creaked and protested her
unfamiliar weight as glistening particles swirled around her. She ran her hands
along the roughhewn sides—the same walls where people from centuries ago had
touched. The enclosed area made her heart race as the sound of her careful
tread echoed around her. An excruciating sense of destiny beckoned her forward.
What was at the top of these stairs? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt;">She wiped the moisture from her forehead. Further
and further she continued on. Something important waited for her, some
discovery. Curiosity propelled her up the cramped steps...to what? A secret
passage way? A hidden room? She cast a look behind her and the stairs behind
her disappeared into the darkness. She swallowed. Was this a good idea?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt;">Once she reached the top, she stepped out
onto a choir loft that overlooked the back of the church. Brushing off some of
the dust and smudges from her jeans and dark grey sweatshirt, she grinned at
her fertile imagination. Those stairs were simply how one got to the choir
loft.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt;">For a moment, she imagined herself singing in
the church. But as she looked over the rear of the Minister, her breath caught
in her chest. The area she had just been in was empty. Everyone had vanished, except
for one cleaning woman, sweeping the floor between rows of wooden pews. The
scrape of a straw broom was all that could be heard. Where had all the tourists
gone? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt;">She craned her neck, leaning over the
balcony to get a better view of the front of the church, trying to see her
sister, Jacob, or any of the tour group. The place was vacant and deathly quiet
except for a few people dressed in some sort of Victorian costume just coming
down the walkway. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt;">Where they getting ready to put on a play?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Therese Stenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09661037805476353298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431134924064173866.post-31856329597735802262013-06-06T12:06:00.004-05:002013-06-06T12:06:53.803-05:00FREE CONTEMPORARY BOOK WITH A BRITISH HEROINE!
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <img alt="" id="main-image" rel="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81VBEKrKHWL._SL1500_.jpg" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51jU59pbNaL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-60,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" style="display: inline;" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A British Bride by Agreement</b>—a contemporary
marriage-of-convenience story is a a <strong><u>FREE</u></strong> download on Amazon. You can download it to your Kindle, Ipad, Computer, or Iphone. Just downlaod the free Kindle app first. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Here is the link; </span><b><i><span style="color: #63b5dd; font-family: "Adelle","serif";"><a href="http://amzn.to/19LPWj7"><span style="color: #61b3de; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://amzn.to/19LPWj7</span></a></span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Here is the blurb:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Widowed and far from her
native England, Emma Banks is devastated to realized the scope of her dead
husband’s financial disaster created by his secret addictions. Facing eviction
from her cottage on the Steller estate, and morally unable to accept her
con-artist parent’s money, she is terrified of being sent to prison. Is a
marriage-of convenience proposal from Jonathan Steller, heir to the Steller
beverage fortune an answer to her prayers? Still reeling from being jilted at
the altar, Jonathan Steller must find a wife and produce two kids to meet his
father’s requirements to be considered the heir apparent to the three
generation family business, and to prevent his older, ruthless cousin from
taking his place. Unpretentious Emma strives to adapt to the overwhelming
expectations of this wealthy lifestyle, but she never expected to fall in love
with her blue-eyed, blond-haired husband, when their marriage was merely an
agreement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Therese</span><br />
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Therese Stenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09661037805476353298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431134924064173866.post-9222827609485070592013-06-03T20:36:00.001-05:002013-06-03T20:36:12.022-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>QUIRKY ENGLISH BOOKS</strong></div>
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If you're like most anglophiles, you love coming across a quirky English book. Here is a few of some of the gems I have come by. You may have to dig around on the internet for used copies, but they are sooo worth it!</div>
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<strong>84 Charing Cross Road</strong> by Helen Hanff. A coorespondence between and outspoken New York lady and a gentile book store owner in England, set in the late 40's early 50's.</div>
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<strong>I Capture the Castle</strong> by Dodie Smith. Seventeen-year-old Cassandra and
her family, live in not-so-genteel poverty in a ramshackle old English
castle. Here she strives, over six turbulent months, to hone her writing skills.
She fills three notebooks with sharply funny yet poignant entries. Her journals
candidly chronicle the great changes that take place within the castle's walls,
and her own first descent into love. By the time she pens her final entry, she
has "captured the castle"--and the heart of the reader--in one of literature's
most enchanting entertainments.</div>
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<strong>In Search of England</strong> by H. V. Morton. </div>
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Currently in its 40th printing with its original publisher in the UK, this is the book that one British newspaper has called "travel writing at its best. Bill Bryson must weep when he reads it." Whether describing ruined gothic arches at Glastonbury or hilarious encounters with the inhabitants of Norfolk, Morton recalls a way of life far from gone even at the beginning of a new century.</div>
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<span class="swSprite s_expandChevron"></span><a class="showMore" href="http://www.amazon.com/In-Search-Of-England-ebook/dp/B001GXQNVU/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370308076&sr=1-1&keywords=in+search+of+england+morton#">Show more</a> </div>
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<strong>My Love Affair With England</strong> by Susan Allen Toth. A wonderful American Anglophile's tales of her trips to England and how she came to fall in love with this counry from tea to crumpets.</div>
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<strong>Twopence to Cross the Mersey</strong></div>
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<strong>Liverpool Miss</strong></div>
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<strong>The Waters of Loverpool</strong></div>
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<strong>Lime Street at Two</strong> by Helen Forrester If you buy any book here, buy these four. This is the captivating,heart-wrenching, true story of her childhood growing up poor in Liverpool. I've reread and reread and reread these stories. </div>
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Therese Stenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09661037805476353298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431134924064173866.post-17252457668141487682013-05-12T15:52:00.001-05:002013-05-12T15:52:28.125-05:00British History Books for Reading<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">By Therese Stenzel<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I asked some very prolific historical authors who write European based stories what books do they keep at their fingertips while writing. Some of these you might just enjoy reading if you are as obsessed with English history as I am!.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Household Management by Margaret Willes<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Inside the Victorian Home: A Portrait of Domestic Life in Victorian England </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Judith%20Flanders"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Judith Flanders</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Isabella%20Beeton"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Isabella Beeton</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The Essential Handbook of Victorian Etiquette by <span class="ptbrand">Thomas E. Hill<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew by Daniel Pool<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">REGENCY RESEARCH<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A Regency Companion.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Laudermilk"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Laudermilk</span></span></a> (O</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ut of print and very expensive--considered the Bible of the Regency period.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Georgette Heyer's Regency World </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Jennifer%20Kloester"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Jennifer Kloester</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Jane Austen's Guide to Good Manners: Compliments, Charades & Horrible Blunders </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Josephine%20Ross"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Josephine Ross</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Jane Austen For Dummies </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Joan%20Elizabeth%20Klingel%20Ray"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Joan Elizabeth Klingel Ray</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The Writer's Guide to Everyday Life in the 1800's by Marc McCuthceon<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">SEVENTEENTH <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CENTURY RESEARCH<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Seventeenth Century, Everyday Life by Silver Burdett (A children's book)<br />
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Seventeenth Century: Everyday Life </span>by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Laurence%20Taylor"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Laurence Taylor</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The Story of Civilization VIII, The Age of Louis XIV by Will and Ariel Durant <br />
The Splendid Century, Life in the France of Louis XIV by W.H. Lewis<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">MEDIEVAL RESEARCH<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Culpepper's Color Herbal by</span><em><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></em><span class="ptbrand"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Storey Publishing</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Writer's Guide to Everyday Life in the Middle Ages:The British Isles from 500 to 1500 by <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sherrilyn Kenyon<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fast and Feast:Food in Medieval Society by Bridget Ann Henish<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Black Death by Philip Ziegler<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Marriage and Family in the Middle Ages</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> by Frances and Joseph Gies</span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">English Through the Ages by William Brohaugh<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Daily Life in the Middle Ages by Paul B. Newman<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Year 1000 by Robert Lacey<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Life in a Medieval Village by Frances and Joseph Gies<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The Ties That Bound: Peasant Families in Medieval England by Barbara Hanawalt.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The English Medieval House by <span class="ptbrand">Margaret E. Wood<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><u>PIRATE RESEARCH</u></strong><u><o:p></o:p></u></div><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">A General History of the Pyrates by Daniel Defoe <o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Pirates, Privateers, and Rebel Raiders of the Carolina Coast by Lindley S. Butler<o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The Pirate Primer:Mastering the Language of Swashbucklers & Rogues by George Choundas<o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Under the Black Flag by David Cordingly<o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></div><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <strong><u>SHIPS AND SAILING RESEARCH<o:p></o:p></u></strong></div><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Nelson's Navy 1793-1815 by Brian Lavery<o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Seamanship in the Age of Sail by John Harland<o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The Visual Encyclopedia of Nautical Terms under Sail by Basil W. Bathe<o:p></o:p></div><br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">COSTUME RESEARCH<br />
</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">20,000 Years of Fashion: The History of Costume and Personal Adornment by Francois Boucher</span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
Historic Costume for the Stage by Barton</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
Historic Costume in Pictures by Braun and Schneider<br />
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</div>Therese Stenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09661037805476353298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431134924064173866.post-37702046651114162102013-03-25T21:28:00.000-05:002013-03-25T21:28:00.568-05:00A British Bride by Agreement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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NEW E-BOOK FOR ANGLOPHILES</div>
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<strong><em>A BRITISH BRIDE BY AGREEMENT</em></strong></div>
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A CHRISTIAN CONTEMPORARY</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPv3tdno-AJYoojmlxaJmuL85BcCniUKzjYMUZk_I9kKnh4NRDo3q_jV5inXbtdef1ug6knVasySgoTLg5GupbotzGEcqtP_cUuisgzPiNUzbeZ7GQi81lX-aJWruIeduWo0H-N5BcCJG/s1600/British+Bride+by+Agreement+-+Copy+smaller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPv3tdno-AJYoojmlxaJmuL85BcCniUKzjYMUZk_I9kKnh4NRDo3q_jV5inXbtdef1ug6knVasySgoTLg5GupbotzGEcqtP_cUuisgzPiNUzbeZ7GQi81lX-aJWruIeduWo0H-N5BcCJG/s320/British+Bride+by+Agreement+-+Copy+smaller.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Widowed at 26, and far from her native England, Emma Banks is beginning to realize the financial devastation created by her husband’s secret addictions. Facing eviction from her cottage on the Steller estate, and morally unable to accept her con-artist parent’s money, she is terrified of being sent to prison. Is a marriage-of convenience proposal from Jonathan Steller, heir to the Steller beverage fortune an answer to her prayers? Still reeling from being jilted at the altar, Jonathan Steller desperately needs a wife and two kids to meet his father’s requirements to be considered the heir apparent to the family business. And prevent his older, ruthless cousin from realizing his dream. Unpretentious Emma strives to adapt to the overwhelming expectations of this socialite lifestyle, but she never expected what would come next...</span></strong><br />
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<strong>BUY NOW AT</strong> <a data-mce-href="http://amzn.to/13rTXc1" href="http://amzn.to/13rTXc1">http://amzn.to/13rTXc1</a>Therese Stenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09661037805476353298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431134924064173866.post-68341850780085852932013-02-03T21:12:00.001-06:002013-07-29T12:36:14.155-05:00How You Too Can Become an Aristocrat!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHrY1NjwjVPnqiIUCtg2kWJiJfR9ES8v9tfbnBJg66usWWwgCNUpQtAEDZ-GpGDLD3gkBEmbFJotUvvyzBdLtT485AITy52Qc9EQcEmLsdeT6XVX5SLw363IqbcL1kGTt1Y7fxle9i6dJ/s1600/woman+staring+off.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHrY1NjwjVPnqiIUCtg2kWJiJfR9ES8v9tfbnBJg66usWWwgCNUpQtAEDZ-GpGDLD3gkBEmbFJotUvvyzBdLtT485AITy52Qc9EQcEmLsdeT6XVX5SLw363IqbcL1kGTt1Y7fxle9i6dJ/s1600/woman+staring+off.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have recently had the distinct pleasure of becoming a Scottish Aristocrat. I am now Lady of Dunans as I have come to own a square foot of land at Dunans Castle in Argyll Scotland and I have the paperwork to prove it!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Actually, the idea came from a clothing catalog called Soft Surroundings. <a href="http://www.softsurroundings.com/">http://www.softsurroundings.com/</a> I noticed they had this offer for $25.00 to purchase a small plot of land on the grounds of Dunans Castle, the proceeds going to help with the restoration. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I promptly ripped out the page and handed it to my daughter and suggested it as a Christmas present. Well, the paper work came and the offer is legitimate. It will be framed and hung in a prominent spot in my home, er castle.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Now my greatest problem is, how should friends and family address me? Lady Dunans? Therese, Lady of Dunans? Lady Mother? Lady Therese of Dunans?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I can even go and visit my plot of land on the castle grounds. I can have a free tour of the castle and I can even fish in the Alt a Chaol Ghleann river with the proprietors. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Now I just need to convince my <em>braw</em> husband he looks good in a kilt and work on my <em>wee</em> Scottish accent!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Sincerely,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Therese Stenzel, Lady of Dunans, of Scotland and Tulsa</span>Therese Stenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09661037805476353298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431134924064173866.post-35952233546815834962012-12-10T11:46:00.001-06:002012-12-10T11:46:19.602-06:00FAVORITE CLASSIC BOOK LIST<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here is a collection of the most beloved classic novels as reccomended by His Writers, a group of historical writers who are also avid classic book readers. I combined their reccomendations with Amazon's rankings and this is the list I got.<br />
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Happy Reading!<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">FAVORITE CLASSIC
BOOKS compiled by Therese Stenzel<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Byington; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Top Ten in order of recommendation</span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; mso-bidi-font-family: Byington; mso-fareast-font-family: Byington;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington;">Jane
Eyre <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; mso-bidi-font-family: Byington; mso-fareast-font-family: Byington;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington;">Gone
With The Wind </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; mso-bidi-font-family: Byington; mso-fareast-font-family: Byington;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pride & Prejudice </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; mso-bidi-font-family: Byington; mso-fareast-font-family: Byington;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington;">To Kill
a Mocking Bird </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; mso-bidi-font-family: Byington; mso-fareast-font-family: Byington;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington;">Wuthering
Heights </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; mso-bidi-font-family: Byington; mso-fareast-font-family: Byington;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Black Beauty <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; mso-bidi-font-family: Byington; mso-fareast-font-family: Byington;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Count of Monte Cristo <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; mso-bidi-font-family: Byington; mso-fareast-font-family: Byington;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sense and Sensibility <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; mso-bidi-font-family: Byington; mso-fareast-font-family: Byington;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1984 <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span></b></div>
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Top Favorites-Amazon<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>4 ½ stars and up</span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rebecca
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Little
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Phantom of the Opera<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anya
Seton <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Katherine
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anne
of Green Gables <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Les
Miserables<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Great Gatsby <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Blue Castles<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Scarlet Pimpernel <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Brothers Karamazov<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Three Musketeers<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Byington;">Emma<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></b></div>
Therese Stenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09661037805476353298noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431134924064173866.post-30526269252245537722012-11-11T19:34:00.001-06:002012-11-11T19:34:51.975-06:00FAVORITE CHRISTMAS FICTION
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnw4Nj-gvn_GlimnFxkGEzOUqFnVclOuTg8WCaxqj1RCPGYNm6clzMVp9HUc5uEyr1KAAf7U_gNeq_Jbc8BbVqBkdtoBmSlGjEcXNSOJll_FGRkTjjuomvYORnezG0yE4gDouqNf0MhAe/s1600/queen_victoria_on_sledge_000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnw4Nj-gvn_GlimnFxkGEzOUqFnVclOuTg8WCaxqj1RCPGYNm6clzMVp9HUc5uEyr1KAAf7U_gNeq_Jbc8BbVqBkdtoBmSlGjEcXNSOJll_FGRkTjjuomvYORnezG0yE4gDouqNf0MhAe/s1600/queen_victoria_on_sledge_000.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">FAVORITE CHRISTMAS FICTION</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Compiled by Therese Stenzel</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.theresestenzel.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;">www.theresestenzel.com</span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
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<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Top Book Recommendations</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Christkindls Gift by Kathleen Morgan</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Forever Christmas by Chris Lynxwiler </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens </span> </div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Authors Most Mentioned</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Angels Everywhere by Debbie Macomber</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Trouble With Angels by Debbie Macomber</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Those Christmas Angels by Debbie Macomber</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Where Angels Go by Debbie Macomber</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Gideon's Gift by Karen Kingsbury</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Maggie's Miracle by Karen Kingsbury</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Sarah's Song by Karen Kingsbury</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Hannah’s Hope by Karen Kingsbury </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Christmas Candle by Max Lucado</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Christmas Child by Max Lucado</span> </div>
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<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Christmas Novellas 4 1/2 stars and up</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">A Bride by Christmas </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Montana Mistletoe </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold;">Prairie Christmas</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold;">Victorian Christmas Quilt</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
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<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">General Fiction 4 1/2 stars and up</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">A Carol for Christmas by Robin Lee Hatcher</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">A Christmas Story by Jean Shepherd</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">A Texas Christmas Legacy by DiAnn Mills</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">A Wish For Wings That Work by Berkeley Breathed</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Boo Humbug by Rene Gutteridge </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold;">Home Another Way</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold;"> by Christa Parrish</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Miracle On 34th Street by Valentine Davies</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Old Christmas by Washington Irving</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">One Perfect Gift by Kathleen Morgan</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Skipping Christmas by John Grisham </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Angel Doll by Jerry Bledsoe</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Christmas Shoes by Donna VanLiere</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Shepherd, The Angel, and Walter The Christmas
Miracle Dog by Dave Barry</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Two from Galilee by Marjorie Holmes</span></div>
Therese Stenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09661037805476353298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431134924064173866.post-14544245888494634352012-11-07T06:43:00.000-06:002012-11-07T06:43:11.383-06:00ANGLOPHILE MUSINGS
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9YoK11l0rDA48XTjsHuEGk-nZSmogpjXi1xpBlPNPyS-NtK0E8BK3MoD_2OXdXWod27guiLNA7K_vJXXoy4qE7xKjpzvObjelNtjOPCXgYY9M_krFNPpxf_A2DicYFdGNtbbjsXzXL3rJ/s1600/cottage+next+to+a+lane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9YoK11l0rDA48XTjsHuEGk-nZSmogpjXi1xpBlPNPyS-NtK0E8BK3MoD_2OXdXWod27guiLNA7K_vJXXoy4qE7xKjpzvObjelNtjOPCXgYY9M_krFNPpxf_A2DicYFdGNtbbjsXzXL3rJ/s320/cottage+next+to+a+lane.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">BRITISH POEM<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">When I come home<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Dear folk o’ mine<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">We’ll drink a cup <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Of olden wine;<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">And yet however<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Rich it be<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">No wine will taste so go to me<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">As English air<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">-Leslie Coulson<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">BRITISH
BOOK-Fiction<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">HEARTS
IN THE HIGHLANDS by Ruth Axtell Morren is a delightful read. Set in England and
Scotland, the story weaves in an interesting backdrop of archeology and society
in the late Victorian era. The romance is refreshingly written in a slow
tantalizing manner that will keep you avidly reading to the very end.
Warning—don’t start this book late at night, otherwise you might never sleep!<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">BRITISH
BOOK-Non-Fiction<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">MY
LOVE AFFAIR WITH ENGLAND by Susan Allen Toth is a must read for any self-respecting
Anglophile. This true story chronicles a woman’s passion for all things English.
Not just another travel memoir, Ms. Toth brings England vividly to life in
description and settings but also in that singular passion that all British lovers
understand. Come stand in the rain soaked streets of London, walk the paths of
the Lake District, and take a trip to the seaside village of Exmoor and fall in
love all over again. <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">BRITISH
MOVIE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Elizabeth
Gaskell’s WIVES AND DAUGHTERS is a deliciously engaging costume drama in the
tradition of Jane Austen. Set in a richly portrayed society, well stocked with
eccentric nobles and marriage minded mothers, the story centers around 17 year
sold Molly Gibson, the only daughter of a respected country doctor. The well-ordered
world of her childhood is complicated by her father’s decision to remarry.
Molly’s faltering efforts to cope with an impossible stepmother, a charming stepsister,
and a promising romance makes for an absorbing movie.<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b></div>
Therese Stenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09661037805476353298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431134924064173866.post-86187253397953793742012-10-28T16:46:00.001-05:002012-10-28T19:27:24.293-05:00NEW SCOTTISH HISTORICAL<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">My new Scottish historical e-book, Bride of Thistleloch Castle
is out on Amazon!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Link: <a href="http://amzn.to/QOCwsK"><span style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"><span style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">http://amzn.to/QOCwsK</span></span></span></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJo3akp5T5GTmxrpD5tVrwV5aOKqGrBwDTC0IvklbH0ebKHqLdTd9zMshQYEKMT2tUL43fxlcifSFEYqz3uNVfBUtAawqfx_x3GoVIJ-hupSaOkt_BK9oolY7GKEXTj-SWt1cAx75gStgx/s1600/Bride+Thistleloch-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJo3akp5T5GTmxrpD5tVrwV5aOKqGrBwDTC0IvklbH0ebKHqLdTd9zMshQYEKMT2tUL43fxlcifSFEYqz3uNVfBUtAawqfx_x3GoVIJ-hupSaOkt_BK9oolY7GKEXTj-SWt1cAx75gStgx/s320/Bride+Thistleloch-cover.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>
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</o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">A young English woman is thrust into the
barbaric Highlands of Scotland—to a country that she has been taught to
despise. But to stay alive, she must overcome prejudices that have festered for
generations. She must accept that the God of heaven loves her. She must wed a
Scottish savage.</span><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">English woman, Laren Stewart travels with her family to visit their relations in
Scotland only to be forced into a terrifying situation. She finds herself
bartered, wed, and widowed all within forty-eight hours. Now kidnapped by a
rival clan, the barbaric MacLennens, and believed to be the wife of another
laird, she is dragged further north to be held for ransom. Laren, a despised
Outlander desperately clings to the hope that no one will discover her
secret—that she was not wed to the clan chief. All she wants is to go home to
civilized England and to save her sister from her same fate—but when the truth
is revealed about who she is, all that will keep her alive is to agree to a
handfasting to yet another Scottish savage.
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<span class="swSprite s_expandChevron"></span><a class="showMore" href="http://www.amazon.com/Thistleloch-British-Missives--Adventure-ebook/dp/B009VPJMI6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351460633&sr=8-1&keywords=Bride+of+Thistleloch+Castle#">Show More</a> </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;">Therese
Stenzel</span></b><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;">-British Historical author<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;">Blue Africa</span><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;">Forever and a Day</span><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;">Bride of Thistleloch Castle</span><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;">-available on Amazon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;">Blog</span><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">-</span><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Blackadder ITC"; font-size: 16pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">British Missives</span><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;">at <a href="http://www.theresestenzel.com/"><span style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"><span style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">www.theresestenzel.com</span></span></span></a></span><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Therese Stenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09661037805476353298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431134924064173866.post-58801011945537293442012-10-13T15:19:00.003-05:002012-10-13T15:19:39.365-05:00CLASSIC BOOK CHALLENGE
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69QdBkdjKwqvDz-DEGBeLSizeS8SEDGth7_Bf9x-3_DRqQmdpSo1r_4QS7XfYsDPQMATli0X8ieKFMENOsiZsEQm-8HCBXq1Mc2QHeKZtQo0tEHC7RVpjALpmPZHnOuDG4-dYmKlGypar/s1600/girl+at+desk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69QdBkdjKwqvDz-DEGBeLSizeS8SEDGth7_Bf9x-3_DRqQmdpSo1r_4QS7XfYsDPQMATli0X8ieKFMENOsiZsEQm-8HCBXq1Mc2QHeKZtQo0tEHC7RVpjALpmPZHnOuDG4-dYmKlGypar/s320/girl+at+desk.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I remember one summer
ten years ago when my boys were little and life was all about sippy cups and
diapers, challenging myself to read Jane Austen--I needed something to feed my
brain and Dora the Explorer wasn't doing it. </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></b></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I started with Pride and Prejudice
and struggled to get through it, until I watched the movie, and then I could
keep all the characters straight and </span></b><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">loved</span></i></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> the book. That summer I read three of Jane's
books.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Lately, I've been
missing that classic literature. I have piles of really good English
historicals written by contemporary authors, but I miss the classics written by
British writers whose mastery of the English language proved that they are indeed from
the same island as Shakespeare. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">I want to reread
Elizabeth Bennett’s first refusal of Mr. Darcy, all the naval banter in a
Horatio Hornblower book, follow the heart ache of Jane Eyre. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">So here's my challenge--finish up the novel you're reading, then blow off the dust of a
classic you've been meaning to get to, or have already read. Return to old
England. Escape to a time when manners and exquisite speech meant everything.
</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">I've just finished watching the BBC version of Emma--it absolutely transported me in time for several delightful hours. Now I plan on settling down to read Emma again. With a cup of tea.
And a biscuit. Or two.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">With much felicity<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "French Script MT"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Therese<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
Therese Stenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09661037805476353298noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431134924064173866.post-50935957061588223612012-10-01T23:14:00.002-05:002012-10-01T23:14:26.668-05:00FREE BRITISH HISTORICAL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqst6MzS7wkxbps8tO_0RUEUZNfbhSMZFjJDZzlmswEaCKgA7iTmSkkhd6MsahFHdIQ9bWTNxNjwflAr0qr3i0FrK7aanV5ehRkDpk6MDZ_pMtztsOgNsC-fWKTmLNZ7NPzaJ4N3G1dnO/s1600/FAAD+cover+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqst6MzS7wkxbps8tO_0RUEUZNfbhSMZFjJDZzlmswEaCKgA7iTmSkkhd6MsahFHdIQ9bWTNxNjwflAr0qr3i0FrK7aanV5ehRkDpk6MDZ_pMtztsOgNsC-fWKTmLNZ7NPzaJ4N3G1dnO/s320/FAAD+cover+final.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FOREVER AND A DAY is an e-book that normally sells for $5.97 is a FREE
download <strong>Oct 1-5</strong>. Here is the link, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://amzn.com/B009467Z0O"><span style="color: blue;">http://amzn.com/B009467Z0O</span></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FOREVER AND A DAY: In a world where position and rank are everything,
can two souls stand firm in their desires and their faith?<br />
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In the courts of King Louis XVIth and Marie Antoinette, a storm is brewing that
will overthrow a monarchy. Caught up in the maelstrom is a young girl, who
becomes a pawn in a hopeless attempt to quell the peasant rebellion. But the
cost to her is greater than she could ever imagine.<br />
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FOREVER AND A DAY is a tale of an impoverished girl who is forced to leave her
family to live as a pretend princess in the French royal court to appease the
growing unrest among the peasants. Unfortunately, pretending to be royal
requires that she accept a betrothal to an English duke. Now living in the
Queen’s House (Buckingham Palace) and awaiting her marriage, she clashes with
the duke’s secretary, the man who could reveal her true identity. But when his
life is at stake, can she learn to wait the Lord to give her the desires of her
heart?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Forever-British-Missives-Series-ebook/dp/B009467Z0O/ref=sr_1_11?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1349064088&sr=1-11&keywords=forever+and+a+day"><span style="color: #003399; display: none; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;">Show More</span></a><span style="color: black; display: none; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Forever-British-Missives-Series-ebook/dp/B009467Z0O/ref=sr_1_11?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1349064088&sr=1-11&keywords=forever+and+a+day"><span style="color: #003399; display: none; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;">Show Less</span></a><span style="color: black; display: none; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Therese Stenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09661037805476353298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431134924064173866.post-9521450964784873272012-09-23T20:15:00.000-05:002012-09-23T20:28:12.509-05:00British Author Birthdays<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOolG0YS1xyrrdDe09cjL6i80mULv_Eho2T3jxZ58ESYRaHvhsHylgBK8g-qzTgRwiqkt1uYilj4XkRJX7-rjVG9s9tmVV77yssC7LtRrGZeuM6BqLb2kK5fRtXeDue7HguskL6b_tp8lm/s1600/Elizabeth+Gaskell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOolG0YS1xyrrdDe09cjL6i80mULv_Eho2T3jxZ58ESYRaHvhsHylgBK8g-qzTgRwiqkt1uYilj4XkRJX7-rjVG9s9tmVV77yssC7LtRrGZeuM6BqLb2kK5fRtXeDue7HguskL6b_tp8lm/s1600/Elizabeth+Gaskell.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elizabeth Gaskell </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What famous British
author do you share a </span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">birthday with?</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em>Jan-</em> E. M. Forester</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em>Feb-</em>Charles Dickens</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em>March-</em>Elizabeth Barrett
Browning</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em>April-</em>Charlotte Bronte</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em>May-</em>Robert Browning</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em>June-</em>Thomas Hardy</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em>July-</em>Emily Bronte </span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong><em>Aug-</em>Georgette Heyer</strong></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em>Sept-</em>Elizabeth Gaskell</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em>Oct-</em>John Keats</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em>Nov-</em>George Eliot</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><em>Dec-</em>Jane Austen </span></b></div>
Therese Stenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09661037805476353298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431134924064173866.post-54833674011447047042012-09-08T12:27:00.001-05:002012-09-08T12:27:31.816-05:00FAVORITE HEROS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-GiG3X7XI-ohtJ1VT4b9Wvc9X3G19W4Dnsk1omujJso32vEIjwBYm-5O8EFEs5w0PFwHlJXWbMG0EMHEvpD124UtQDn4I0AYf1FYuI7VaA7nhDrqcnJuqIqBTvAO66KKpCBhDN73AXyh/s1600/Rupert+Penry+Jones.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-GiG3X7XI-ohtJ1VT4b9Wvc9X3G19W4Dnsk1omujJso32vEIjwBYm-5O8EFEs5w0PFwHlJXWbMG0EMHEvpD124UtQDn4I0AYf1FYuI7VaA7nhDrqcnJuqIqBTvAO66KKpCBhDN73AXyh/s1600/Rupert+Penry+Jones.bmp" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">FAVORITE HERO LIST<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Complied by Therese
Stenzel <a href="http://www.theresestenzel.com/"><span style="color: #273a24; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">www.theresestenzel.com</span></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Thanks
to all the readers who responded to my question--</span></b><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">who
is the one hero who stayed with you long after you finished a book?</span></i></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> I have read some of
these books and the heroes will not disappoint you.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">I
have listed the top five, and then to make it easier for you to find a hero you
like, I broke it down by genre. Enjoy!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Top
Five Heroes in order of popularity:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Rhett Butler, from Gone
With The Wind</span></b><b><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Jamie Fraser, from
Outlander</span></b><b><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Fitzwilliam Darcy, from
Pride and Prejudice</span></b><b><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">John Knightly, from Emma</span></b><b><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">John Thornton, from
North and South</span></b><b><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">BY
GENRE:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Young Adult<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Pony
Boy, from The Outsiders <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Historical Fiction</span></u></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> (American)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Atticus
Finch, from To Kill a Mockingbird <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Harold
de Vries, from She Walks In Beauty<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">John
Murphy, from Vienna Prelude<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Michael
Hosea, from Redeeming Love<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">“Nevada",
from Forlorn River<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Rhett
Butler, from Gone with the Wind <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Historical Fiction</span></u></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> (English)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Captain Alex Randall,</span></span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> from Shadow of the Moon<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Collin
McGuire, from A Passion Most Pure <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Fitzwilliam
Darcy, from Pride and Prejudice<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Jamie
Fraser, from Outlander <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">John
Knightly, from Emma<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">John
Thornton, from North and South<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Lord
Damerel, from Venetia<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Ruark
Beauchamp, from Shanna <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Historical Fiction</span></u></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> (Biblical)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Ari
Ben Canaan, from Exodus <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Judah
Ben Hur, from Ben Hur<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">The
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<b><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Suspense<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Ty
Buchanan, from the Ty Buchanan Series. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Fantasy</span></u></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Roland
Deschain, (aka Roland of Gilead), from the Dark Tower series<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Thomas
Covenant, from the Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever series. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Wedge
Antilles, from Starfighters of Adumar<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Therese Stenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09661037805476353298noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431134924064173866.post-84956366978103935322012-09-05T17:09:00.003-05:002012-09-05T17:09:26.685-05:00New British Historical<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The second book in my British Missive series, FOREVER AND A DAY is available on Amazon for $3.97 <br />
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In a world where position and rank are everything, can two
souls stand firm in their desires and their faith?<br /><br />In the courts of King
Louis XVIth and Marie Antoinette, a storm is brewing that will overthrow a
monarchy. Caught up in the maelstrom is a young girl, who becomes a pawn in a
hopeless attempt to quell the peasant rebellion. But the cost to her is greater
than she could ever imagine.<br /><br />FOREVER AND A DAY is a tale of a
impoverished girl who is forced to leave her family to live as a pretend
princess in the French royal court to appease the growing unrest among the
peasants. Unfortunately pretending to be royal requires that she accept a
betrothal to an English duke. Now living in the Queen’s House (Buckingham
Palace) and awaiting her marriage, she clashes with the duke’s secretary, the
man who could reveal her true identity. But when his life is at stake, can she
learn to wait the Lord to give her the desires of her heart.</div>
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Here is the link if you want to take a peek: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Forever-Day-British-Missives-ebook/dp/B009467Z0O/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1346882837&sr=1-3&keywords=therese+stenzel">http://www.amazon.com/Forever-Day-British-Missives-ebook/dp/B009467Z0O/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1346882837&sr=1-3&keywords=therese+stenzel</a> </div>
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Therese Stenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09661037805476353298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431134924064173866.post-77836847547881085562012-08-09T11:18:00.000-05:002012-08-09T11:18:00.682-05:00DEAR JANE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just by accident I caught the second half of a documentary on Jane Austen. The show centered around how she is celebrated in England today. There is one day (her birthday?) where lots of people, men and women, dress up in Georgian costume and parade around. It was lovely to see the cotumes and to know that I am not alone in my love for her writing. <br />
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That show started a craving in me to reread Mansfield Park. So I started last night. It is always an adjustment to read something written over 100 years ago, but once I get into the rhythm of it, I find I can read pretty fast. Mansfield Park is not my favorite of Jane's novels, Pride and Prejudice will steadfastly remain my all time beloved book, but I thought instead of reading that one for the tenth time, I should try again to get through MP.<br />
<br />Sigh, the manner of speech, the profuse politleness, interesting pursuits of country life absolulty capture me. And of course, Jane always weaves in one or two ridiculous characters to make the stories real.<br />
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So entranced by Jane's writing, once I even wrote out the first chapter of Pride and Prejudice with pen and ink on parchment, just to have a feel of what it might have been like to be like her. To walk in her "slippers." <br />
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I guess you could say I am an obsessed Anglophile with Jane Austen overtones :)Therese Stenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09661037805476353298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431134924064173866.post-1348034706139055552012-08-05T17:55:00.001-05:002012-08-05T17:55:06.090-05:00TOP TEN BRITISH MOVIE LIST<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib78E9F0NKqAXdGzbEit79_jL7ELgsyggl42xK6YrxfGYKpnixAdQWhYXWfwfaEhzDjv6jkBOWnE23oZ8WffgELJ-PUxu69gWTVSL7PxBuWZlttdKzIGMs1IvCxJgKXIL7G4oojoyHtykB/s1600/41EF8WBS8HL__SS500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib78E9F0NKqAXdGzbEit79_jL7ELgsyggl42xK6YrxfGYKpnixAdQWhYXWfwfaEhzDjv6jkBOWnE23oZ8WffgELJ-PUxu69gWTVSL7PxBuWZlttdKzIGMs1IvCxJgKXIL7G4oojoyHtykB/s200/41EF8WBS8HL__SS500_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Movie List<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.
Pride and Prejudice (BBC version)</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 6.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.
North and South</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 6.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.
Wives and Daughters</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 6.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4.
Pirates of the Caribbean series</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 6.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5.
King Arthur</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 6.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6.
Persuasion (BBC version)</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 6.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7.
Gosford Park</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 6.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8.
Sense and Sensibility (Emma Thompson version)</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 6.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9.
Howard's End</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">10. Under the Greenwood
Tree</span></b>Therese Stenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09661037805476353298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431134924064173866.post-77049643916335513972012-07-28T17:43:00.003-05:002012-07-28T17:43:52.250-05:00FREE HISTORICAL BOOK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Blue Africa is a <strong><u>free download</u></strong> today on Amazon and for the next four days. Click here to get your free copy!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/British-Missives--adventure-romance-ebook/dp/B008BMELJ0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1343514784&sr=1-1&keywords=blue+africa"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.amazon.com/British-Missives--adventure-romance-ebook/dp/B008BMELJ0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1343514784&sr=1-1&keywords=blue+africa</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 242;">Therese Stenzel<o:p></o:p></span></div>Therese Stenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09661037805476353298noreply@blogger.com0