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06 March 2012

Diana Reviews Walks Alone by Sandi Rog



Walks Alone 
by Sandi Rog
(WhiteFire Publishing, 2012)

Review by Diana L. Flowers

5 stars *****

A "Captivating" Read!

Sandi Rog has crafted an unforgettable, gripping tale of a young Dutch woman who comes to America to find her dream, and ends up in the savage wilderness abode of the Cheyenne Indians! Ten year old, Anna van Stralen has left her homeland of Holland, along with her beloved widowed father, to find their dream in Colorado Territory. Upon reaching America's shore, Anna's father passes away and she is left in her abusive uncle's care for six long, miserable years. Anna, however, never loses sight of her dream, and scrimps and saves every penny until she is able to catch a train to Denver, far away from her uncle. Because of her naivete, something goes terribly awry, and Anna finds herself on the back of a horse, held captive by the fearsome Cheyenne, and headed into the savage wilderness home of the Indians.

White Eagle is disturbingly handsome, with mesmerizing blue-green eyes, and speaks English better than Anna. In exchange for Anna's freedom and safe passage to Denver City, she agrees to a platonic marriage to White Eagle, a kindhearted and gentle man, with a haunting secret. As Anna learns to live alongside of these gentle, but strange people, she learns some valuable lifelong lessons about prejudice, the color of a person's skin, and the true beauty that lies within a man. 

Finally on her way by stagecoach to Denver, her coach is robbed by highwaymen, and before she is knocked unconscious she sees a pair of beautiful sea green eyes above the mask of her attacker. Who is this tenderhearted, but deceitful and fierce man she has married, called White Eagle, and will she ever make it to the place of her and her father's dreams? Is the answer to all of her dreams right inside of her carpetbag? Will she ever be able to let go of her bitterness towards God because of the abuse she has suffered? Will White Eagle find forgiveness in his heart towards the white man, and find peace with God?

Sandi Rog has written a beautiful story of forgiveness and forbidden love--heartrending, exciting, and heartwarming--it's all in there. White Eagle is based on a true character in our country's history, who Sandi Rog gleaned alot of the Cheyenne's cultural practices from, and lends to the authenticity of the storyline. With a deep spiritual thread throughout, alot of twists and turns, and a climactic, satisfying conclusion, this one will definitely have the reader burning the midnight oil! Very nicely done, Sandi Rog!

*I was sent an Advance Reader’s Copy by the publisher, WhiteFire, and was not required to write a positive review.


Walks Alone and Sandi's other books are available through Amazon and other bookstores.



GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of Sandi’s books, choice of format.





70 comments:

  1. Awesome review, Diana! I downloaded this book to my Kindle some time ago. Now to find time to read it... :)

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  2. I really want to read this one! I love Native American history.

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  3. HI, Marian! I know what you mean, but put this one at the top of that stack! LOL!

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  4. Welcome, Christina! I love reading about Native Americans as well, and I fell in love with Sandi's characters!

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  5. I am looking forward to reading this review. Thanks so much, Diana!

    Oh, we should let readers know that SANDI ROG had a busy day yesterday that wiped her out. DIANA and I know how that goes. But Sandi doesn't have a Diana to back her up - well this week she does, lol, but Sandi said she so appreciates the comments and will pop by again.

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  6. Yes, we do know how that goes, and we don't want to tire Sandi out. So get your rest, Sandi, and we'll hold down the fort here. :)

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  7. Okay, you did it *again!* Let's add another delightful sounding book to my stuffed-to-the-gills shelves! AHHHH I love stories like these! Thank you for bringing this book to my attention ~ I'm going to add it to my Amazon wishlist. That way, if I don't win, I'll remember what the title was :)

    Thank you Diana and Carrie ~ y'all have such a fun blog!

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  8. Thank you, Amanda!!...and you are such a fun person! Love that groan...lol! I understand it only too well.:) Please do put this one on your wishlist; it'll be well worth it!

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  9. LOL, you're so sweet! The fun-ness is all *you* & *Carrie!* ;) Anywho ~ already went to Amazon, created a new list, tweeted your giveaway, and tweeted the book. Y'all had me at the sea green eyes...and I laugh in the face of the *platonic* marriage. How can you be platonic for long when sea green eyes and disturbingly handsome are involved?!

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  10. Wow, sounds like an awesome read. Thanks for the review, Diana!

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  11. Hmmm, Amanda, no spoilers here...maybe you can have one, maybe you can't! lol But I sure fell in love with him! You are too cute, Amanda! Thank you so much for doing all that! You're the BoMb!

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  12. Welcome, Sarah! I know you will enjoy this one! Good luck in the giveaway!

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  13. I like being the BoMb...I mean let's face it. When people see a bomb, they ALWAYS have a reaction. Never mind that it's usually running away screaming. Let's just focus on the fact that the BOMB will always be remembered! And talked about. ;)

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  14. You will definitely always be remembered, especially by us here at OTT!! You're such a sweetheart!

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  15. Great review Diana, I have this on my Kindle and I can't wait to read it. Sounds like Sandi did a wonderful job. :)

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  16. Thank you, Teresa! She did an awesome job...loved this book!

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  17. DIANA, I love reading your review. I could read it over and over again! It just makes my day! lol MARIAN, it's so good to see you here! There are some words and fun in Walks Alone that you'll especially be able to appreciate. *wink* CHRISTINA, if you love Native American history, this story has it all. Even "courting games" they used to play. It was so fascinating to learn about their culture. AMANDA, Carrie and Diana are awesome, so that's why they have such an awesome blog. They've been a HUGE support to me in every way. I don't know what I would do without them.

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  18. AMANDA, thanks for making me laugh! You're so right about how it could be a "platonic" marriage with such a handsome guy. lol SARAH and TERESA i hope you get the chance to read Walks Alone. I had so much fun writing it! It was the kind of story I had been looking for. When I couldn't find it, I decided to write it myself. lol

    DIANA and CARRIE, thank you for your patience with me (I'm far from 100 percent yet). I absolutely love your blog and feel honored to be here.
    Love you both! xxx

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  19. Even I don't remember what being 100% is like, Sandi, and I haven't been through anything close to what you have!

    Thank you for the lovely compliments to Carrie and me...and now we have 2 more great contributors to the blog; Teresa Mathews, and Marian Baay! So now we are a quartet blog for the Lord!

    And I'm glad you can't stop reading my review, b/c I surely can. LOL! We are our own worse critics I suppose. Now if everyone else will read it and buy your book, I will feel satisfied. :)

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  20. I've seen Sandi's books around...and have been drooling over them! Each one of them looks SO good, but this newest one takes the cake. Walks Alone looks like MY kind of book!! It's definitely on my wish list!!

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  21. We love you right back SANDI and thanks for your kind comments! AMANDA, THANKS for the tweets and messaging for Sandi's book!

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  22. You're more than welcome, Carrie, Sandi, & Diana! I'm always glad and thrilled to help get good books out to the masses! And, yes, one of those lovely books WILL be on my shelf, Sandi. :)

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  23. Diana, I love quartets in Southern Gospel. Fun to be part of The Legendary Reviewing Quartet. How does that sound? LOL
    I guess Carrie is the lead singer... er... reviewer. :))

    Sandi, ik ben nu wel heel beniewd naar wat je geschreven hebt in Walks Alone! :)
    So glad you are feeling good enough to be with us!!

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  24. That's too cute, Marian. We'll be the LRQs of OTT! I haven't heard Carrie sing, but that Teresa sure can belt one out! She has a beautiful voice! Guess that's why she is the worship leader in our church, and I'm not. Some people have ALL the talent.

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  25. Katie, it's nice to see you again! This book MUST find its way into your hands, gf! Perhaps a win for you here, but if not it will be well worth the money to order it. The price of the Kindle version was pretty inexpensive last time I looked. Not sure what it is now, but soooo worth it!

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  26. Only $3.03 on Kindle...can't beat that with a stick!

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  27. Ok. I'd like to know - Sandi, for those of us that don't win your lovely book, is it possible to get a book plate or a signed copy? I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I'm getting the paperback - one way or the other!! You just HAD to menton disturbing good looks and sea green eyes...

    *fanning myself* ;)

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  28. Sandy??...I'll leave this question for you. We BOTH mentioned those sea green eyes and disturbing good looks, Amanda. hehe Oh, and did I mention the sleek black hair, and the tan, muscular physique? I think Amanda just ran to order the book, y'all! LOL!

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  29. GASP!!!! Diana, you're ROTTEN! ;)
    Yes. I just knocked over my chair in my haste to order a copy...

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  30. Rotten to the core. Now don't leave your besties out...order them each a copy, too! ;)

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  31. Diana - great review, sounds like a lot of action in this book. Have not read any of Sandi's books, but this looks good.
    Sharon
    smoore at tcq dot net

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  32. Sharon, thank you for stopping by! This book is full of action, twists and turns, and just "plain out" enjoyable reading as we say here in the South. Good luck in the giveaway!

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  33. "Walks Alone" sounds like a great book. I'd love to read it. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.

    pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

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  34. Hey, Pam! Throwing your name in the proverbial hat!

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  35. DIANA I had to laugh when you said you can stop reading your review. I can totally relate with my own writing. LOL

    TERESA and MARIAN, welcome to this wonderful blog! I’m sure everyone here will make this a fine quartet! :-)

    KATIE, I hope you love Walks Alone and can get it soon!

    AMANDA, YES, thank you for getting word out about my book! I haven’t been able to do as much marketing as I’d like, so this is a huge help to me. Thank you!

    MARIAN, ik ben ook heel beniewd naar wat je gedachten zijn over Walks Alone, vooral omdat je een Nederlander ben. Ik wil zo graag dat mijn boek in Nederland kon uitgegeven worden. Een uitgeverij is het aan het lezen! Maar . . . we zullen zien. Och. Mijn Nederlands is niet zo goed meer.

    AMANDA, if you email me privately after getting your hands on the hard copy, I’d be happy to send you a signed book plate.

    DIANA, you and Amanda are cracking me up with all the sea green eyes talk. I’m laughing over here. Yes, White Eagle is definitely a hotty! Lol Funny though. He’s kind of based on my hubby and his personality, but their looks are like night and day: my hubby is blond. :-)

    Okay, hearing noises outside our house. Both hubby and I are on high alert. Pray it’s just the wind. Got the phone next to me to dial 911. Gotta go.

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  36. What a gripping tale - can't wait to read it! Thanks for introducing me to a new author

    babykf629 at gmail dot com

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  37. Hope everything was ok at Sandi's with the high winds and all.

    Kim, this is Sandi. Sandi this is Kim. Now you are officially introduced! :):) Kim, Sandi's books are all five star books, so I hope you can get your hands on one. Thank you for coming over, and here's hoping for a win for you!

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  38. Sandi, je Nederlands klinkt prima... of leest prima! :)
    Welke uitgeverij is je boek aan het lezen? Zoals je misschien nog weet werk ik voor Kok, dus het zou leuk zijn als je boek daar uitkomt.

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  39. Really, Marian! I was wondering about that! JK

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  40. Okay, I'm back! All is well on the home front. I was certain I heard someone walking outside and then they knocked down my plant holder which is a "trike." But then we heard bangs on the back of the house, and when we saw the wind, we were hoping it was just that. We ended up leaving a number of lights on in the house when we finally went to bed. We figured burglars wouldn't want to "walk into the light." Anyway, all is well, so that's all that matters. We don't see any tracks outside, although my planter is still down. Hard to imagine the wind could have taken that down because he's on the side of the house that blocks the wind, but these days with the wind picking up trucks, etc, I guess a little plant holder is nothing.

    PAM, I'm so glad you were able to stop by. I'd love for you to read Walks Alone. And KIM, it's nice to meet you! Thank you for introducing us, Diana! :-) You all are great!

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  41. MARIAN, Mozaiek is Walks Alone aan het lezen. Zij hebben ook The Master's Wall en Yahshua's Bridge gelezen. Zij zijn heel aardig geweest. Ik herken beide uitgevers (Kok en Mozaiek), maaar ik geloof dat Kok groter was/is. Ik heb veel vrienden in Nederland en Beligie die mijn boeken in het Nederlands willen. Dat zou hartstikke fijn zijn! :-)

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  42. Oh my gosh, I would love to read Sandi's book! I love Native American romances. :-)

    gwen[dot]gage[at]gmail[dot]com

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  43. Well then, Gwen, this is a MUST read for you! You will love this one!

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  44. SANDI, afwachten dan wat Mozaiek doet. Ik zal proberen om Walks Alone wat naar boven te halen op m'n stapel te lezen boeken. Als Mozaiek het niet uitgeeft dan kan ik het boek misschien bij Kok aanbevelen. Ik heb alleen The Master's Wall gelezen en, hoewel ik het een mooi boek vond, denk ik dat Kok dit niet zal uitgeven. Dit is inderdaad meer in de lijn van Mozaiek.
    Het klopt dat Kok groter is. Kok is de grootste op het gebied van christelijke fictie.

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  45. I'm feeling like I do when I'm getting my nails done and everyone around me is speaking Vietnamese. LOL!

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  46. GWEN, I love your name! That's my middle name! Actually, it's only "Gwen," but your name, Gwendolyn, is perfect for a romance heroine! :-)

    MARIAN, I'll do that! Thanks!

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  47. thanks for the chance to read this wonderful story :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  48. DIANA, you're half Dutch. Don't you have a clue what we were talking about?
    Maybe Carrie will use Google translate and we can laugh again. :))

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  49. You're welcome, Karen! Hope you will get a chance to read it!

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  50. Yes, I will ask Carrie to interpret. Destroy the publisher's manuscripts, Marian! That was too funny! LOL! I give her kudos for attempting it, though...that had to have taken some time and work!

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  51. Diana, we were talking about publishing Sandi's work in the Netherlands. There's a Dutch publisher reading her books and I asked her who that publisher is. I hope her books get translated, because she has friends in Holland and Belgium who liked to read her books in their own language.

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  52. That would be so awesome. I knew Sandi lived in Holland for about 13 years, but didn't know she was so fluent in Dutch. Thanks for the translation!

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  53. Thanks for stopping by KAREN! I hope you will get to read it someday. :-)

    MARIAN and DIANA, I didn't realize we had so many Dutch people on board. Actually, I think you told me that once, Diana. How could I forget! Oh, and my Dutch is quite rusty! I'm glad Marian is being nice and not pointing out all my mistakes! :-)

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  54. Yes, I did, Sandy. My mom was full Dutch and I remember telling you that was one reason why I was so excited about your book!

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  55. Thanks a lot for this review. Seems to be a very lovely book to read.
    I wonder what all happens in the story.
    God bless you.

    @ Sandi: Het nederlands is best goed hoor. Prima te lezen. Ik ben benieuwd naar je boeken. Een super review. Gods zegen en vrede gewenst.

    Groetjes/Greetings,
    Erika

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  56. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  57. Erika, it's great to see you here! Put this one at the top of your wishlist, for it is indeed a "lovely book to read", as you so aptly put it. :) Thanks for coming by and good luck in the giveaway!

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  58. I'm with Erika, Sandi! Your Dutch is good!!

    How old were you when you lived in Holland?

    Erika is from Holland. And there is another Dutch friend, Mirjam, who is also visiting this blog. I think she commented on your interview.

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  59. When Carrie said we now have an international blog...she said it right! LOL!

    Wonder how Amanda Stephans is doing? With all that swooning earlier, I hope her breathing has returned to normal! LOL!

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  60. Look who's got jokes today --- you are a brat, Diana! Not really - but you are super funny :)

    No, my breathing hasn't returned to normal, I'm almost positive Sandi thinks I'm stalking her, and Amazon is going to put the kabash on my account because I'm on their site so much they're going to think I'm a cyber-terrorist.

    Don't worry though. When the men in black come looking for me, I'm throwing YOU under the bus and telling them it's your fault... ;)

    You are too much fun, girl!

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  61. So are you, Amanda! I'm literally laughing out loud right now. I love that word "kabash"...hmmm don't think I've ever used it before. I have to find a way to fit it into one of my reviews.:) Kabash...I like that.

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  62. Hehehe, I like making people laugh and smile!

    If you like that word, you should hear some of the other ones I use. But, my personal best and most requested?

    Singing Happy Birthday in Pig Latin. (could be because I dance with it as well...)

    Not nearly as impressive as Dutch (I'm jealous) but it is something...

    ;)

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  63. You must make a you tube video of that, Amanda. We ALL want to hear you sing in Pig Latin! LOL And see you dance, of course.

    I'm half Dutch, and I can't speak a lick of it either. My mom spoke it a little. It's a very lovely language.

    Totally hoping you win a copy of Sandi's awesome book, Amanda! :)

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  64. If I win, perhaps I'll take you up on the suggestion of making a video...

    all of a sudden, I'm wishing everyone ELSE the best of luck!

    ;)

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  65. I would love to read this book.
    ldwrncpn@comcast.net

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  66. Lori, we have something in common, I would love for you to read this book, too!:) Gotcha entered!

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  67. ERIKA it’s so nice to see you again! Thank you for the compliments on my Dutch. And thank you MARIAN! I moved to Holland when I was 22 (my husband is Dutch), and I lived there 13 years. The Dutch are so flexible. I’d go to the market to buy something and speak Dutch with folks, and upon hearing my accent, they’d speak English. I’d be speaking Dutch while they were speaking English. I finally told them I’d never learn their language if they kept “helping” me. LOL

    DIANA and AMANDA, you both are cracking me up!

    LORI, I hope you get a chance to read Walks Alone. I have to admit, even I enjoy re-reading some of my favorite scenes.

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  68. This book keeps calling to me from my Kindle! Especially after Diana did her fabulous review. I think I will "pretend" it is in the colonial era and read it, lol! Then I can count it as reading my comparables and keeping up, right?

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  69. Thank you for the kind compliment, Carrie. If it's calling you, you need to answer it! LOL! You love books with forbidden romance (I KNOW you do):)...well here you go then. And it has Indians and soldiers just like the colonial era, so whatcha waitin' on, gf?

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  70. CARRIE and DIANA, you two are great!

    Thank you so much, ladies, for all your encouragement, your support and for having me on your blog. It's truly been a pleasure. And I've learned a lot through this!

    Lots and lots of hugs!

    Sandi xxx

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