Black 'n' Gold Girl's Book Spot

Isn't that the cutest commercial? It's been playing every year on TV ever since I can remember and I always enjoy seeing it. That said, I hope you all enjoy a wonderful and safe holiday season! I won't be blogging for the next few days, as I expect many of you won't be either in favor of celebrating the season with friends and family. Thank you all so much for stopping by to chat and read my posts throughout the year. I love and appreciate you all so much! Also, just in case you didn't see, a mini-episode of BBC's  Sherlock was released today. Be sure to check it out!

Are you all as excited as I am about the Doctor Who Christmas special, "The Time of the Doctor"? I can't believe it's LESS THAN A WEEK AWAY! I'll probably cry a lot since it's Matt Smith's final episode, but it will also be (hopefully) a great new beginning for the 12th Doctor played by Peter Capaldi. Here's the exclusive BBC America extended trailer...

Rebellious Heart by Jody Hedlund Copyright 2013 Bethany House Publishers ISBN: 9780764210488 The Story: Massachusetts, 1763  A Love That Would Shape History Forever  Because she's a woman, higher learning was always closed to Susanna Smith. But her quick mind and quicker tongue never back down from a challenge. And she's determined to marry well, so she'll be able to continue her work with the less fortunate. Growing up with little to his name, poor country lawyer Benjamin Ross dreams of impacting the world for the better. When introduced to the Smiths he's taken by Susanna's intelligence and independent spirit, but her parents refuse to see him as a suitor for their daughter. When the life of a runaway indentured servant is threatened, Susanna is forced to choose between justice and mercy, and Ben becomes her unlikely advisor. But drawing closer to this man of principle and intellect lands her in a dangerous, secret world of rebellion and revolutio...

Made to Last by Melissa Tagg Copyright 2013 Bethany House Publishers ISBN: 9780764211324 The Story: Miranda Woodruff has it all. At least, that's how it looks when she's starring in her homebuilding television show, From the Ground Up. So when her network begins to talk about making cuts, she'll do anything to boost ratings and save her show--even if it means pretending to be married to a man who's definitely not the fiance who ran out on her three years ago. When a handsome reporter starts shadowing Miranda's every move, all his digging into her personal life brings him a little too close to the truth--and to her. Can the girl whose entire identity is wrapped up in her on-screen persona finally find the nerve to set the record straight? And if she does, will the life she's built come crashing down just as she's found a love to last?

A Most Peculiar Circumstance (Ladies of Distinction, Bk. 2) by Jen Turano Copyright 2013 ISBN: 9780764210198 The Story: Miss Arabella Beckett, defender of the down-trodden women of America, is returning from her travels in support of the women's suffrage movement when she makes a simple offer of assistance to a young woman in need. But things go sadly awry, and both ladies soon find themselves in dire need of rescue. Arabella, always loath to admit she needs help, is particularly reluctant to receive assistance from the arrogant, narrow-minded knight in shining armor who shows up just in time.  Private investigator extraordinaire Mr. Theodore Wilder is on an assignment that began as a favor to his good friend Hamilton Beckett, but swiftly evolved into a merry chase across the country. He is already in a less than pleasant mood, and when Hamilton's sister turns out to have radical ideas and a fiercely independent streak, he's at his wit's end. Much to their chag...

If you are a Whovian or have a Whovian on your Christmas list you'll definitely want to enter this giveaway -- I have one brand new copy of Doctor Who - The Doctors Revisited: Ninth - Eleventh on DVD to send to one lucky winner just in time for Christmas! All you need to do to enter to win is fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Open to US residents only.  Be sure to read all of the giveaway rules listed at the bottom of the form ! The form may take a few minutes to show up, but it's there! If you have any other problems with the form just leave a comment with an email address so I can get back to you or drop me a line at steelergirl83(at)gmail(dot)com. Giveaway closes to entries on December 14, 2013 @ 11:59PM EST. DVD Details:  In this triumphant 50th Anniversary year for  Doctor Who , we complete our celebration of the extraordinary actors who have starred as the Doctor with this look at three exceptionally gifted performers, Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant a...

For all those who need to unplug from our high tech world, Clash of the Titles presents a novel about reconnecting with those dearest to us, about turning off the cellphone and living in reality. Although written from the perspective of a new teen, Edna in the Desert applies to all ages. About Edna in the Desert: Edna is a precocious trouble-maker wreaking havoc at her Beverly Hills school. Her therapist advocates medication, but her parents come up with an alternative cure: Edna will spend the summer in the desert with her grandparents. Their remote cabin is cut off from cell phone service, Internet and television. Edna's determined to rebel until she meets an older local boy and falls in love for the first time. How can she get to know him from the edge of nowhere?

All photographs from BBC

Doctor Who -- The Doctors Revisited: Ninth - Eleventh (MSRP: $39.98 US/ $49.98 CAN) DVD Overview: The set features a select two-part story from the eras of three exceptionally gifted performers: Christopher Eccleston (Ninth Doctor), David Tennant (Tenth Doctor) and Matt Smith (Eleventh Doctor), accompanied by three specials that explore the unique qualities each actor brought to the iconic hero. The first 10,000 copies of this DVD also include an exclusive, limited edition set of 4 fridge magnets. *Bonus Material -- A specially recorded introduction to each two-parter by current series lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat *********************

I'm such a sap when it comes to Christmas movies -- the cheesier and mushier the better! For me, Christmas is the perfect time of year not just because of all of the holiday cheer and family traditions but because channels like ABC Family and Hallmark air a bazillion feel good movies. It's as easy to sit down on any given weekend following up to Christmas day and binge on tinsel-filled flicks as it is to binge on Netflix during the summer. Hey, it's okay to lounge around in sweats with a cup of cocoa (extra marshmallows, please!) once a year, right?

A Simple Christmas Wish by Melody Carlson Copyright 2013 Revell Books ISBN: 9780800719654 The Story: One girl in need of a home. One woman in search of a home for her heart. One Christmas where it all seems possible.  It felt strange to be out here in the middle of the night, still wearing the Amish dress--a dress that had belonged to Miri. Rachel's footsteps crunched in the snow, and halfway between the barn and the house, she paused to look up at the night sky, wondering if more snow was in store, but all she saw was velvety black and stars. Millions of twinkling stars. She had never seen stars like that before, so bright and so close, almost as if she could touch them with her hand. Rachel Milligan never imagined that she and her seven-year-old niece would spend the week before Christmas on a quaint Amish farm in Ohio. But with so many unexpected occurrences of late, perhaps she shouldn't have been surprised. With her young niece Holly in tow, Rachel anxiously...

Photo from BBC America.com   I couldn't possibly go without making note that today is the 50th Anniversary of the premiere of the very first Doctor Who episode waaaay back on November 23, 1963. It's really no surprise to me that it has lasted as long as it has and is gaining new fans everyday. The stories and characters are incredible. 

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book! You never know when I might play a wild card on you! Today's Wild Card author is: Brandi Boddie and the book: The Preacher's Wife Realms (October 1, 2013) ***Special thanks to Althea Thompson for sending me a review copy.***

This past Saturday I reached a new milestone on Pinterest -- I broke the 500 followers mark. It's so exciting when others share your interests and want to see what you are pinning next. Thank you so much for following me. If you haven't already done so and want to, just click the Pinterest link at the top of this blog or go HERE . To say thanks, I'm giving away books to two lucky winners. First prize:  The Governess of Highland Hall  by Carrie Turansky Beloved  by Robin Lee Hatcher Second prize: The Governess of Highland Hall  by Carrie Turansky

Rule number one: The Doctor lies. Rule number two: So does the BBC. That's all I'll say for now so I don't spoil it but if you're a Whovian, you'll know what I mean after watching this mini episode! "The Night of the Doctor: A Mini Episode" - Doctor Who : The Day of the Doctor Prequel by Steven Moffat

Blu-Ray/DVD Overview: As Denise (Joanna Vanderham, Dancing on the Edge , What Maisie Knew ) finds her feet as a lowly shopgirl, she must navigate her way through power struggles, intrigues and affairs. When the shop’s dashing and reckless owner, John Moray (Emun Elliot, Game of Thrones , Prometheus ) spots her talents, she knows she can use this opportunity to rise to great things. In a world as colorful and captivating as the silks on display in the store, The Paradise is a love story with a mysterious, dark secret at its heart. Bonus feature: Behind the Doors of Paradise includes a tour of The Paradise set, cast interviews and a visit to the show’s costume department.

On October 18, 2013 Veil of Pearls t ook home Clash of the Titles's Laurel Award.  Over the course of six weeks, the novel's first chapters were read and judged by avid readers of Christian fiction who determined Veil of Pearls to be the worthiest to receive the  2013 Laurel Award.

Beloved (Where the Heart Lives, Bk. 3) by Robin Lee Hatcher Copyright 2013 Zondervan Publishers ISBN: 9780310257776 The Story: Diana is ready to begin a new chapter in her life—until the husband she believed dead reappears at her engagement party.  Diana Brennan came west on the orphan train and was given a home with a loving couple who cherished and spoiled her. At 17, she fell hard for Tyson Applegate, the son of a wealthy mine owner. After a whirlwind courtship and marriage, Tyson took off for adventures around the world, including fighting with the Rough Riders in Cuba. Receiving no word from him in years, Diana’s infatuation with her dashing husband died an ugly death, and she is ready to move past the old pain and marry again, just as soon as Tyson is declared legally dead. But when Tyson returns, claiming to be a changed man, he wants to reunite with his wife and run for the senate. While Diana suspects the election is his real reason for wanting her by his sid...

Earlier this week we got word that the 50th anniversary Doctor Who special, "The Day of the Doctor", would air simultaneously around the world on November 23 @ 2:50PM EST, and that a trailer for the special would follow today! For those of us fortunate enough to get an early glimpse of the mini-trailer when it leaked on a BBC site late last night only to be quickly removed, it was a bit difficult to get to sleep! I know, crazy right? but if you're a Whovian you probably get it.  For those who may not have seen it, the BBC posted a full-length trailer for all to see this afternoon! Check out the trailer below and be sure to clear your schedules so you don't miss a second of what looks like an amazing episode!

Hello! I'm partnering with Justin Blaney to help him spread the word about his fun new book series, Isfits . He's launching the series with a Kickstarter campaign ---he wants to turn these fun/unique stories into full-color, hardback, glossy-paged books. Who's Justin? Justin Blaney is a virtuoso. He does a little of everything, but one of the coolest things he does (besides writing amazing stories) is run an organization called Innovate for Jesus (resources for pastors, ministry leaders, non profits, authors, etc.). The site features people like Francis Chan, Rick Warren, Pete Wilson, Matt Chandler, Mary DeMuth, and more. Besides the super cool graphics, what is special about Isfits? Justin is releasing his Isfits series in the general kids book market rather than as Christian releases. His hope is to spread the gospel message to children who aren't normally exposed to Christian content. What Is Isfits? Postmodern fairytales & cautionary confessions A...

In case you haven't noticed I've been absent for about a week, but I've had good reason -- jury duty. I apologize for my limited blogger presence, but after spending at least 8 hours a day at the courthouse, I was too pooped to do anything other than crash once I got home. Thank you so much for hanging in there and being patient with me. I promise more posts later this week and next, including a review of the BBC/PBS production, The Paradise ! I hope you all had more fun this week than I did. ;-)

Happy Halloween, lovies!  It's been a few years, I'm not going to say how many since I don't want to give away my age, but trick or treating was always one of my favorite things about fall. Really though, was there anything more fun than dressing up as whatever you could imagine or costume your parents could find in the store last minute, getting together with friends, all so you could amass loads of candy that you would never finish eating? I can't think of anything that came close to that experience when I was a kid besides maybe Christmas.

Oh. Em. Gee. We finally get a premiere date after waiting 550,000 years! Mark your calendars for January 19, 2014 @10pm -- Sherlock , Series 3 premieres on PBS. Can you tell I'm freakin' excited. My Day = MADE and I hope yours is too! :-D

Gunpowder Tea by Margaret Brownley Copyright 2013 Thomas Nelson Pubishers: ISBN: 9781595549723 The Story: In a case that could change her career, Miranda uncovers a love that will change her life.  When Miranda Hunt sees the classified ad for an heiress to the legendary Last Chance Ranch, she knows assuming the identity of Annie Beckman is the perfect cover. As one of the finest agents for the Pinkerton Detective Agency, Miranda has been tasked with apprehending the Phantom—an elusive and notorious train robber thought to be hiding on the sprawling ranch. But she isn’t the only one at the ranch with something to hide. Wells Fargo detective Jeremy Taggart is working undercover as well. Their true identities may be a secret, but it is impossible for Jeremy and Miranda to hide the sparks flaring between them. Neither is about to let romance interfere with such a huge case. Besides, Miranda hasn’t removed Jeremy from her list of suspects yet. The closer they get to uncov...

Glittering Promises by Lisa T. Bergren Copyright 2013 David C. Cook Publishers ISBN: 9781434764287 The Story: Lisa T. Bergren's popular Grand Tour series concludes as Cora Kensington journeys farther into Italy, wrestles with a terrible ultimatum from her father, and comes to terms with the Father who will never fail her. America's newest heiress must decide if her potential fortune is rationale enough to give up her freedom and all that God is leading her toward. And when her newly-discovered siblings are threatened with ruin, her quandary deepens. Then as Cora nears Rome, more journalists are tracking the news story of the decade---"Copper Cora," the rags-to-riches girl---and want to know more about her family and the men vying for her attention. Meanwhile, a charming Italian countess decides that if Cora isn't going to claim Will's heart, she might just try . . . My Thoughts: This story has me divided, on one hand I love the setting (who doe...

As you probably already know, I'm a huge fan of all things Masterpiece , especially the "Classic" dramas. Earlier this month, The Paradise , a drama set in a 19th century shop of the same name run by the enigmatic Mr. John Moray, began on Masterpiece . I have to say what I've seen so far has been excellent.

A Reluctant Courtship by Laurie Alice Eakes Copyright 2013 Revell Books ISBN: 9780800734688 The Story: A woman without a prospect. A man without a homeland. Can love give them a future? Honore Bainbridge has been courted by two men, one of whom turned out to be a traitor, the other a murderer. Banished to her family's country estate, where she will hopefully stay out of trouble, she finally meets the man she is sure is exactly right for her: Lord Ashmoor. Tall, dark, and handsome--what more could a girl ask for? But he too is under suspicion because of his American upbringing and accusations that he has helped French prisoners escape from Dartmoor Prison. If he's to keep out of a British prison himself and secure his place in British society, Lord Ashmoor needs a wife beyond reproach--something the vexingly beautiful Honore certainly is not. Though they find themselves drawn to each other, family obligations may conspire to keep them apart forever. For the sake o...

Save the Day -- November 23, 2013!

Benedict Cumberbatch at the international TIME magazine photoshoot.  

Howdy! First off, let me apologize for the dust. I'm currently in the process of updating and redesigning the look of my blog. I'm SO picky about getting just the right look so the process may take a few days. The current look is not final. I changed the template at least 5 times yesterday, so please bear with me. If you have any hints and tips for using HTML or finding a terrific template, please share them with me in the comment section. Thanks to tips I've already received from fellow bloggers (here's looking at you Rissi !) I think this blog will eventually look even better than it did!

The Journey of Josephine Cain by Nancy Moser Copyright 2013 Summerside Press ISBN: 9780824934279 The Story: A pampered socialite embarks on a journey to the Wild West where her life is changed forever. A setting populated by hundreds of laborers, outlaws, and Indians is hardly the place for a wealthy general's daughter from the nation's capital. But Josephine Cain is determined to visit her father, who supervises the day-to-day work involved in the grandest ambition of post-Civil War America: the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. Life with the railroad is far from the proper life Josephine is used to, and she faces deadly gunfights, harsh weather, and vigilante uprisings. She is torn between the West and the East; between her privileged upbringing and the challenges of a new frontier; between the pull of the suitable beau her parents approve of and an attraction to a rough but charming Irish railroad worker. But if Josephine is willing, and courageous, she...

I've read a bunch of rumors in the past few years of missing Doctor Who stories being recovered in strange or unusual places only to be disappointed that there wasn't any truth in them. The last few days I've been reading that hundreds of lost episodes have been found in Nigeria and told myself not to get too excited. Thankfully it was partially true and two classic Who stories, "The Enemy of the World" and "The Web of Fear", have been rediscovered and have been remastered and will be available for purchase on iTunes on October 11th! Have I mentioned how excited I am?! SQUEE! I have really enjoyed all the classic stories that I have seen so far and have faith that I will love these two new ones as well! I've posted a trailer and clip from the BBC below, to read more about the discovery, visit the BBC America site HERE .

Under a Blackberry Moon by Serena B. Miller Copyright 2013 Revell Books ISBN: 9780800721183 The Story: Which wilderness is more treacherous--the one she must cross to find her home . . . or the one she must traverse to find love? Just a few days after she gave birth alone in the northwoods, a recently widowed young Chippewa woman stumbled into a nearby lumber camp in search of refuge from the winter snows. Come summer, it is clear that Moon Song cannot stay among the rough-and-tumble world of white lumbermen, and so the camp owner sends Skypilot, his most trusted friend, to accompany her on the long and treacherous journey back to her people. But when tragedy strikes off the shore of Lake Superior, Moon Song and Skypilot must depend on each other for survival. With every step they take into the forbidding woods, they are drawn closer together, until it seems the unanswerable questions must be asked. Can she leave her culture to enter his? Can he leave his world to enter he...

Starting October 15, 2013, you'll be able to pick up Christian romance writer, Carrie Turansky's latest novel, The Governess of Highland Hall ! To celebrate the release, Carrie and her publisher, WaterBrook Multnomah are hosting a fabulous giveaway of not one or two but three great Edwardian themed prize packages RIGHT NOW! For all the details on how to be entered to win one of the prizes, visit Carrie's website here:  http://carrieturansky.com/index.php/governesslaunch/  but first check out my review of The Governess of Highland Hall below.

The Courier of Caswell Hall by Melanie Dobson Copyright 2013 Summerside Press ISBN: 9780824934262 The Story: An unlikely spy discovers freedom and love in the midst of the American Revolution. As the British and Continental armies wage war in 1781, the daughter of a wealthy Virginia plantation owner feels conflict raging in her own heart. Lydia Caswell comes from a family of staunch Loyalists, but she cares only about peace. Her friend Sarah Hammond, however, longs to join the fight. Both women's families have already been divided by a costly war that sets father against son and neighbor against neighbor; a war that makes it impossible to guess who can be trusted. One snowy night Lydia discovers a wounded man on the riverbank near Caswell Hall, and her decision to save him will change her life. Nathan introduces her to a secret network of spies, couriers, disguises, and coded messages -- a network that may be the Patriots' only hope for winning the war. When British ...

If you're not from Pittsburgh you might be wondering just what the heck BUCtober is, well, it's playoff time in the city! We're celebrating the end of the too long drought (over 20 years of losing seasons!) with a winning season courtesy of "Cutch", Byrd, Liriano, skipper Clint Hurdle and the rest of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization! Hopefully, last night's Wild Card win against the Cincinnati Reds is the beginning of a successful October for the Buccos.

Stranded by Dani Pettrey Copyright 2013 Bethany House Publishers ISBN: 9780764209840 The Story: When Her Friend Goes Missing, Every Minute Counts  Darcy St. James returns to Alaska to join a journalist friend undercover on the trail of a big story. But when Darcy arrives, she finds her friend has disappeared. Troubled by the cruise ship's vague explanation, Darcy uses her cover as a travel reporter to investigate further. The last person Gage McKenna expects to see during his summer aboard a cruise ship leading adventure excursions is Darcy. And in typical Darcy fashion, she's digging up more trouble. He'd love to just forget her--but something won't let him. And he can't help but worry about her as they are heading into more remote regions of Alaska and eventually into foreign waters. Something sinister is going on, and the deeper they push, the more Gage fears they've only discovered the tip of the iceberg.

Love's Awakening by Laura Frantz Copyright 2013 Revell Books ISBN: 9780800720421 The Story: The path to true love lies somewhere between two feuding families  In the spring of 1822, Ellie Ballantyne leaves finishing school and returns to the family home in Pittsburgh only to find that her parents are away on a long journey and her siblings don't seem to want her to stay. Determined to stand her ground and find her place in the world, Ellie fills her time by opening a day school for young ladies. But when one of her students turns out to be an incorrigible young member of the Turlock family, Ellie knows she must walk a fine line. Slaveholders and whiskey magnates, the Turlocks are envious of the powerful Ballantynes and suspicious of their abolitionist leanings. As Ellie becomes increasingly entangled with the rival clan--particularly the handsome Jack Turlock--she finds herself falling in love with an impossible future. Will she betray her family and side with the ...

Authors, take note! In SIX WEEKS, Clash of the Titles opens its doors for submissions to the 2014 Olympia . The Olympia is COTT's yearly contest for unpublished writers. The submissions are judged by their audience—readers well-versed in Christian fiction yet not associated with the CBA industry. Authors write for readers, so why not have readers be the judges? Finalists in the contest will also have their work read and judged by three industry professionals!

Thank you to everyone who made the Time Lord Party last week such a success. I'm thinking about making it an annual event, it was that fun. I loved chatting about the Doctor and his adventures with you all and I love giving out prizes! The four lucky winners have all been contacted and are listed below! Even if you didn't win this time, I encourage you to keep trying your luck. I have some great new giveaways coming up that you won't want to miss.

The Invention of Sarah Cummings by Olivia Newport The Story: In a world where everyone is putting on a show, there is a love that is genuine. Sarah Cummings has one goal in life--to break into Chicago's high society. Desperate to stop serving dinner to members of the wealthy Banning family and to start eating at society tables, Sarah spends her meager free time altering cast-off gowns to create the perfect wardrobe for her future life. When opportunity knocks at a chance meeting, she presents herself as Serena Cuthbert, weaving a fictitious past to go with her fictitious name. But as she gets closer to her goal--and closer to Simon Tewell, director of St. Andrew's Orphanage--Sarah finds that she must choose between the life she has and the life she dreams of. Can she piece together the perfect life from scraps? Or will it all come unraveled in the face of true love? My Thoughts: The Invention of Sarah Cummings is by far the best book in the Avenue of Dreams serie...

I don't know about you but I love a good book cover, unfortunately this year I haven't been impressed with what I've seen for upcoming releases. The cover for Love's Refuge , however, is totally gorgeous! I think I love it even more than the first book. The yellow title really pops on the mostly blue cover and really, who doesn't love the beach scene and a sweet kiss on the forehead? :-) I can't wait to read this one and hope you enjoy it too!  “ Love’s Refuge will be released November 2013. Visit Seasons of Humility that month for more information about the book’s release and the blog tour.” The Story:  Skye Larsen loves her peaceful life on Leeza Island in Puget Sound – the tranquility, the friendly neighbors, and especially the safety from big-city dangers. So when cruel pranks start to escalate and changes threaten to overtake the island, Skye is determined to fight for her haven. The presence of a handsome vacationer and the unexpected feel...

Doctor Who: Scream of the Shalka Feature: Approx. 78 mins Bonus Features: Approx. 60 mins Color DVD Overview: The TARDIS lands in a small English village in 2003, where the population is living in fear from a malevolent alien force. With the help of UNIT and his new friend Alison, the Doctor discovers that a race called the Shalka are residing underground, preparing to strip away the earth’s ozone layer and embark on a full-scale invasion of the planet. Voice talents include Richard E. Grant as the Doctor and Derek Jacobi as the Master. My Thoughts: Doctor Who: Scream of the Shalka is one of my all-time favorite Doctor Who episodes and that's saying a lot because I'm not normally a fan of animated features unless they're from Disney! I was more than a bit skeptical going into this. A few of the reasons that I enjoy the live action series so much is the little nuances and amusing facial expressions of the actors on the screen. It's impossible to catc...

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book! You never know when I might play a wild card on you! Today's Wild Card author is: Sandra Robbins and the book: Beyond These Hills Harvest House Publishers (September 1, 2013) ***Special thanks to Ginger Chen for sending me a review copy.*** ABOUT THE AUTHOR: In the romantic conclusion to the Smoky Mountain Dreams series, Sandra Robbins tells a story of love and loss. The government is purchasing property to establish the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Laurel Jackson fears s...