2 Kids and Tired Books

Everything Romance...Wildcard!

2012-02-01T05:59:00.005-07:00

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 authors are:

David Bordon and Tom Winters

and the book:

Everything Romance: A Celebration of Love for Couples

WaterBrook Press (December 20, 2011)

***Special thanks to Ashley Boyer, Publicist, WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group of for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

David Bordon and Tom Winters are partners in Bordon-Winters, LLC, a book concept and packaging company that produces successful books and gift products. Among their previous titles are the popular “101 Things You Should Do” series. This volume joins another one of their beautiful gift books, Everything Christmas.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Everything Romance is a gift book overflowing with heartwarming ideas to keep that special relationship fresh and exciting. Whether you’re a newlywed or celebrating 40 years of wedded bliss, this book offers a treasury of ways to capture your love’s heart daily. Love letters, inexpensive date night suggestions, tantalizing recipes, conversation starters, and inspiring love stories will all help you romance the love of your life in creative and meaningful ways!

Product Details:
List Price: $14.99
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press (December 20, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0307729311
ISBN-13: 978-0307729316

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

A Marriage Blessing

Most gracious God, we give You thanks for Your tender love in sending Jesus Christ to come among us, to be born of a human mother, and to make the way of the cross to be the way of life.

We thank You, also, for consecrating the union of man and woman in His name. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, pour out the abundance of Your blessing upon this man and this woman. Defend them from every enemy. Lead them into all peace. Let their love for each other be a seal upon their hearts, a mantle about their shoulders, and a crown upon their foreheads. Bless them in their work and in their companionship; in their sleeping and in their waking; in their joys and in their sorrows; in their life and in their death. Finally, in Your mercy, bring them to that table where Your saints feast forever in Your heavenly home; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with You and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, forever and ever.

Amen.
(from The Book of Common Prayer)

PERFECT PAIR PIZZA-PITA SNACKS

2 whole-wheat pita breads
4 teaspoons basil pesto
1 cup cottage cheese
2 tablespoons Roma tomatoes, chopped
2 teaspoons fresh basil, chopped
Fresh Parmesan cheese (optional)

Toast pita breads until they are crispy and firm. Spread half of the pesto on each pita. Next, spread half of the cottage
cheese on each pita. Top with chopped tomato and fresh basil. If desired, sprinkle with fresh grated parmesan cheese. Slice each pita into two or four wedges and enjoy!

Romance Trivia

A team of medical experts in Virginia contends that you’re more likely to catch the common cold virus by shaking hands than by kissing.

Excerpted from Everything Romance by David Bordon and Thomas J. Winters Copyright © 2011 by David Bordon and Thomas J. Winters. Excerpted by permission of WaterBrook Press, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

Threads of Hope...Review

2012-01-31T06:00:00.048-07:00

When Kristin Eikaas arrives in America, she encounters prejudice and destructive superstition that is infecting the town. Will she have the courage to stand up for what is right—even against her own family?

The year is 1848, and Kristin Eikaas has sailed from Norway to make a new life for herself in Wisconsin. It doesn’t take long for her Uncle Lars to warn her about the Sundberg family. When she asks why, Lars tells her that Karl Sundberg’s second wife is an Indian who “casts evil spells on the good people of this community.” Having just left the old country where superstitions abound, Kristin believes her uncle and heeds his warning.On the day after her arrival, the family attends the wedding of a fellow church member. At the reception that follows, Kristin meets Sam Sundberg and thinks he’s charming. Still, she can’t help but remember her uncle’s warning. After coming to the rescue of Sam’s half-sister, Kristen is ostracized by her family and the entire community and sent to work at the only place that will take her in—the Sundberg farm. When she learns of Sam’s true nature, his benevolence toward others, his care and concern, she’s finally able to lay her belief in superstitions to rest and put her entire trust in the Lord. Furthermore, she can’t help but fall in love with Sam, the man who helped her understand this truth. She knows her uncle will never approve of the match. Will she have the courage to follow her heart?

After the death of her family, Kristin Eikaas leaves Norway and arrives in Wisconsin at her uncle's farm. Anxious for a new start, Kristin quickly discovers that her uncle was less than honest about his situation and she finds herself in a difficult, abusive home. Her uncle has a deep dislike for the Sundberg family because Sam Sundberg's stepmother is Indian. Sam's father doesn't like the Sundberg's because he believes they stole silver from him years before. Yet, Kristin and Sam find themselves drawn to each other and when she helps his young sister, her family kicks her out. Sam's family brings her into their home as household help and Kristin finds herself falling in love.

As the feud between the Sundberg's and the Eikaas' grows, the town and church congregation find themselves divided. Discovering how, and if, that divisiveness can be healed makes Threads of Hope a compelling novel.

Some of the dialogue was a bit stilted and formal at times, but this was a sweet story about love and forgiveness. Andrea Boeshaar has a gift for creating realistic characters and situations. I've enjoyed everything I've read from her so far and as this is the first book in the Fabric of Time series, I eagerly look forward to more.

Thanks to Jon of Charisma House and First Wildcard for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Andrea Boeshaar here. You can read the first chapter here. You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 1/12

* * * *
4/5 Stars

Threads of Hope...Wildcard!

2012-01-31T05:59:00.012-07:00

Today's Wild Card author is:

Andrea Boeshaar

and the book:

Threads of Hope
(Fabric of Time)

Realms (January 3, 2012)

***Special thanks to Jon Wooten of Charisma House for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Andrea Kuhn Boeshaar is a certified Christian life coach; a popular speaker at writers’ conferences, workshops, and women’s groups; and the author of numerous published books, including the Seasons of Redemption series: Unwilling Warrior, Uncertain Heart, Unexpected Love, and Undaunted Faith.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Kristin Eikaas has her hopes set on a new life in America.

The year is 1848, and Kristin Eikaas has traveled from Norway to Wisconsin with dreams of a new life. But when she arrives, she finds one disappointment after another. Worse, her superstitious uncle now believes that his neighbor’s Oneida Indian wife has put a curse on Kristin. Everyone knows the Sundbergs put spells on people…

Everyone except Kristin. Her run-ins with Sam Sundberg only prove that he is a good man from a Christian family. But when her uncle discovers she’s been associating with Sam, his temper flares. To escape his wrath, Kristin gratefully accepts a job as the Sundbergs’ house girl, finding solace at the family’s spinning wheel.

In the time Sam and Kristin spend together, their friendship develops into much more, and Sam prays about a match between them. But opposition threatens to derail their newfound love. Will they have the courage to stand up for what is right—even against their own families?

Product Details:

List Price: $13.99

Paperback: 304 pages

Publisher: Realms (January 3, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1616384972

ISBN-13: 978-1616384975

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

September 1848

It looks like Norway.

The thought flittered across nineteen-year-old Kristin Eikaas’s mind as Uncle Lars’s wagon bumped along the dirt road. The docks of Green Bay, Wisconsin, were behind them, and now they rode through a wooded area that looked just as enchanting as the forests she’d left in Norway. Tall pine trees and giant firs caused the sunshine to dapple on the road. Kristin breathed in the sweet, fresh air. How refreshing it felt in her lungs after being at sea for nearly three months and breathing in only salty sea air or the stale air in her dark, crowded cabin.

A clearing suddenly came into view, and a minute or so later, Kristin eyed the farm fields stretched before her. The sight caused an ache of homesickness. Her poppa had farmed . . .

“Your trip to America was good, ja?” Uncle Lars asked in Norwegian, giving Kristin a sideways glance.

He resembled her father so much that her heart twisted painfully with renewed grief. Except she’d heard about Onkel—about his temper—how he had to leave Norway when he was barely of age, because, Poppa had said, trouble followed him.

But surely he’d grown past all of that. His letters held words of promise, and there was little doubt that her uncle had made a new life for himself here in America.

Just as she would.

Visions of a storefront scampered across her mind’s eye—a shop in which she could sell her finely crocheted and knitted items. A shop in which she could work the spinning wheel, just as Mor had . . .

Uncle Lars arched a brow. “You are tired, liten niese?”

“Ja. It was a long journey.” Kristin sent him a sideways glance.

“I am grateful I did not come alone. The Olstads made good traveling companions.”

Her uncle cleared his throat and lowered his voice. “But you have brought my inheritance, ja?” He arched a brow.

“Ja.” Kristin thought of the priceless possession she’d brought from Norway.

“And you would not hold out on your onkel, would you?”

Prickles of unease caused Kristin to shift in her seat. She resisted the urge to touch the tiny gold and silver cross pendent suspended from a dainty chain that hung around her neck. Her dress concealed it. She couldn’t give it up, even though it wasn’t legal for a woman to inherit anything in Norway. But the necklace had been her last gift from Mor. A gift from one’s mother wasn’t an inheritance . . . was it? “No, Onkel.”

She turned and peered down from her perch into the back of the wooden wagon bed. Peder Olstad smiled at her, and Kristin relaxed some. Just a year older, he was the brother of Kristin’s very best friend who had remained in Norway with their mother. She and Peder had grown up together, and while he could be annoying and bad tempered at times, he was the closest thing to a brother that she had. And Sylvia—Sylvia was closer than a sister ever could be. It wouldn’t be long, and she and Mrs. Olstad would come to America too. That would be a

happy day!

“You were right,” John Olstad called to Uncle Lars in their native tongue. “Lots of fertile land in this part of the country. I hope to purchase some acres soon.”

“And after you are a landowner for five years, you can be a citizen of America and you can vote.” The Olstad men smiled broadly and replied in unison. “Oh, ja, ja . . . ”

Uncle Lars grinned, causing dozens of wrinkles to appear around his blue eyes. His face was tanned from farming beneath the hot sun, and his tattered leather hat barely concealed the abundance of platinum curls growing out of his large head. “Oh, ja, this is very good land. I am glad I persuaded Esther to leave the Muskego settlement and move northeast. But, as you will soon see, we are still getting settled.”

“Ja, how’s that, Lars?”

Kristin heard the note of curiosity in Mr. Olstad’s voice.

“I purchased the land and built a barn and a cabin.” He paused and gave a derisive snort. “Well, a fine home takes time and money.”

“Oh, ja, that way.” Mr. Olstad seemed to understand.

And Kristin did too. One couldn’t expect enormous comforts out in the Wisconsin wilderness.

Just then they passed a stately home situated on the Fox River. Two quaint dormers peered from the angled roof, which appeared to be supported by a pair of white pillars.

“That is Mr. Morgan Martin’s home. He is a lawyer in town.”

Uncle Lars delivered the rest of his explanation with a sneer. “And an Indian agent.”

“Indians?” Kristin’s hand flew to her throat.

“Do not fret. The soldiers across the river at Fort Howard protect the area.”

Kristin forced her taut muscles to relax.

“Out here the deer are plentiful and fishing is good. Fine lumber up here too. But the Norwegian population is small. Nevertheless, we have our own church, and the reverend speaks our language.”

“A good thing,” Mr. Olstad remarked.

“I cannot wait for the day when Far owns land,” Peder said, glancing at Mr. Olstad. “Lots of land.” The warm wind blew his auburn hair outward from his narrow face, and his hazel eyes sparked with enthusiasm, giving the young man a somewhat wild appearance. “But no farming for me. I want to be rich someday.”

“As do we all!” exclaimed Mr. Olstad, whose appearance was an older, worn-out version of his son’s.

Kristin’s mind had parked on land ownership. “And once you are settled, Sylvia will come to America. I cannot wait. I miss her so much.”

She grappled with a fresh onset of tears. Not only was Sylvia her best friend, but she and the entire Olstad clan had also become like family to her ever since a smallpox epidemic ravaged their little village two years ago, claiming the lives of Kristin’s parents and two younger brothers. When Uncle Lars had learned of the tragic news, he offered her a place to stay in his home if she came to America. Onkel wrote that she should be with her family, so Kristin had agreed to make the voyage. Her plans to leave Norway had encouraged the Olstads to do

the same. But raising the funds to travel took time and much hard work. While the Olstads scrimped and saved up their crop earnings, Kristin did spinning, weaving, knitting, and sewing for those with money to spare. By God’s grace, they were finally here.

Uncle Lars steered the wagon around a sharp bend in the rutty road. He drove to the top of a small hill, and Kristin could see the blue Lake Michigan to her left and farm fields to her right.

Then a lovely white wood-framed house came into view. It didn’t look all that different from the home they’d just past, with dormers, a covered front porch, and stately pillars bearing the load of a wide overhang. She marveled at the homestead’s large, well-maintained barn and several outbuildings. American homes looked like this? Then no wonder Mr. Olstad couldn’t wait to own his own farm!

Up ahead Kristin spied a lone figure of a man. She could just barely make out his faded blue cambric shirt, tan trousers, and the hoe in his hands as he worked the edge of the field. Closer still, she saw his light brown hair springing out from beneath his hat. As the wagon rolled past him, the man ceased his labor and turned their way. Although she couldn’t see his eyes as he squinted into the sunshine, Kristin did catch sight of his tanned face. She guessed his age to be not too much more than hers and decided he was really quite handsome.

“Do not even acknowledge the likes of him,” Uncle Lars spat derisively. “Good Christians do not associate with Sam Sundberg or any members of his family.”

Oh, dear, too late! Kristin had already given him a little smile out of sheer politeness. She had assumed he was a friend or neighbor. But at her uncle’s warning she quickly lowered her gaze.

Kristin’s ever-inquiring nature got the best of her. “What is so bad about that family?”

“They are evil—like the Martins. Even worse, Karl Sundberg is married to a heathen Indian woman who casts spells on the good people of this community.”

“Spells?” Peder’s eyes widened.

“Ja, spells. Why else would some folks’ crops fail while Karl’s flourish? He gets richer and richer with his farming in the summer, his logging camps in the winter, and his fur trading with heathens, while good folks like me fall on hard times.”

“Hard times?” Peder echoed the words.

“Ja, same seed. Same fertile ground. Same golden opportunity.”

Uncle Lars swiveled to face the Olstads. “I will tell you why that happens. The Sundbergs have hexed good Christians like me.” He wagged his head. “Oh, they are an evil lot, those Sundbergs and Martins. Same as the Indians.”

Indians? Curiosity got the better of her, and Kristin swung around in the wagon to get one last glimpse of Sam Sundberg. She could hardly believe he was as awful as her uncle described. Why, he even removed his hat just now and gave her a cordial nod.

“Turn around, niese, and mind your manners!” Uncle Lars’s large hand gripped her upper arm and he gave her a mild shake.

“I . . . I am sorry, Onkel,” Kristin stammered. “But I have never seen an Indian.”

“Sam Sundberg is not an Indian. It is his father’s second wife and their children. Oneida half-breeds is what we call them.”

“Half-breed, eh?”

Kristin glanced over her shoulder and saw Peder stroke his chin.

“Interesting,” he added.

“How very interesting.” Kristin couldn’t deny her interest was piqued. “Are there many Indians living in the Wisconsin Territory?”

“Ja, they trespass on my land, but I show my gun and they leave without incident. Sundberg brings his Indian wife to church.” He wagged his head. “Such a disgrace.”

“And the Territory officials do nothing?” Mr. Olstad asked.

Uncle Lars puffed out his chest. “As of three months ago, we are the State of Wisconsin—no longer a territory.” Uncle Lars stated the latter with as much enthusiasm as a stern schoolmaster. “Now the government will get rid of those savages once and for all.” He sent Kristin a scowl. “And you, my liten niese, will do well to stay away from Indians. All of them, including our neighbors, the Sundbergs. You hear, lest you get yourself scalped.”

“Ja, Onkel.”

With a measure of alarm, Kristin touched her braided hair and chanced a look at Peder and Mr. Olstad. Both pairs of wide eyes seemed to warn her to heed Uncle Lars’s instructions. She would, of course. But somehow she couldn’t imagine the man they’d just passed doing her any harm. Would he?

Sam Sundberg wiped the beads of perspiration off his brow before dropping his hat back on his head. Who was the little blonde riding next to Lars Eikaas? Sam hadn’t seen her before. And the men in the wagon bed . . . he’d never seen them either.

After a moment’s deliberation he concluded they were the expected arrivals from the “Old Country.” Months ago Sam recalled hearing talk in town about Lars’s orphaned niece sailing to America with friends of the family, so he assumed the two red-haired men and the young lady were the topics of that particular conversation. But wouldn’t it just serve Mr. Eikaas right if that blonde angel turned his household upside down—or, maybe, right-side up?

He smirked at the very idea. Sam didn’t have to meet that young lady to guess Mr. Eikaas would likely have his hands full. Her second backward glance said all Sam needed to know.

The word plucky sprang into his mind. He chuckled. Plucky she

seemed, indeed.

But was she wise enough not to believe everything her uncle said?

Sam thought it a real shame. Years ago Pa and Lars Eikaas had been friends. But then Pa’s silver went missing, insults were traded, and the Eikaases’ prejudice against Ma, Jackson, and Mary kept the feud alive.

The Eikaas wagon rolled out of sight, leaving brown clouds of dust in its wake. A grin threatened as Sam thought again of that plucky blonde’s curious expression. Maybe she did have a mind of her own. Now wouldn’t that be something? Sam thanked God that not everyone around here was as intolerant of Wisconsin Natives as the Eikaas family. There were those who actually befriended the Indians and stood up to government officials in their stead. Like Pa, for instance. Like Sam himself.

The blistering sun beat down on him. Removing his hat once more, he wiped the sweat from his forehead. He started pondering the latest government proposal to remove the Indians from their land. First the Oneida tribe had been forced out, and soon the Menominee band would be “removed” and “civilized.” As bad as that was, it irked Sam more to think about how the government figured it knew best for the Indians. Government plans hadn’t succeeded in the past, so why would they now? Something else had to be done. Relocating the Menominee would cause those people nothing but misery. They’d stated as much themselves. Furthermore, the Indians, led by Chief Oshkosh, were determined not to give up their last tract of land. Sam predicted this current government proposal would only serve to stir up more violence between Indians and whites.

But not if he and Pa could help it.

In the distance he heard the clang of the dinner bell. Ma didn’t like him to tarry when food was on the table. Across the beet field, Sam saw his younger brother run on ahead of him. He wagged his head at the twelve-year-old and his voracious appetite.

With one calloused hand gripping the hoe and the other holding the bushel basket, Sam trudged toward their white clapboard home. Its two dormers protruded proudly from the second floor.

Entering the mudroom, he fetched cold water from the inside well, peeled off his hat, and quickly washed up. Next he donned a fresh shirt. Ma insisted upon cleanliness at the supper table. Finally presentable, he made his way into the basement where the summer kitchen and a small eating area were located. The cool air met his sun-stoked skin and Sam sighed, appreciating the noonday respite.

Next he noticed a cake in the middle of the table.

“That looks good enough to eat,” he teased, resisting the urge to steal a finger-full of white frosting.

Ma gave him a smile, and her nut-brown eyes darkened as she set the wooden tureen of turkey and wild rice onto the table. “Since it’s Rachel’s last day with us, I thought I would prepare an extra special dessert.”

Sam glanced across the table at the glowing bride-to-be. In less than twenty-four hours Rachel Decker would become Mrs. Luke Smith. But for the remainder of today she’d fulfill her duties as Ma’s hired house girl who helped with the cooking, cleaning, sewing, washing, and ironing whenever Ma came down with one of her episodes, which were sometimes so intensely painful that Ma couldn’t get out of bed without help. Rachel had been both a comfort and an efficient assistant to Ma.

“I helped bake the cake, Sam.”

He grinned at his ten-year-old sister, Mary. “Good job.”

They all sat down, Mary taking her seat beside Rachel. Sam helped his mother into her place at the head of the table then lowered himself into his chair next to Jackson, who’d been named after Major General Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of this great country.

“Sam, since your father is away,” Ma began, “will you please ask God’s blessing on our food?”

“Be glad to.” He bowed his head. “Dearest Lord, we thank Thee for Thy provisions. Strengthen and nourish us with this meal so we may glorify Thee with our labors. In Jesus’s name, amen.”

Action ensued all around the table. The women served themselves and then between Sam and Jack, they scraped the bowl clean.

“Good thing Pa’s not home from his meetings in town,” Jack muttered with a crooked grin.

“If your father were home,” Ma retorted, “I would have made more food.”

“Should have made more anyhow.” Jack gave her a teasing grin. “No seconds.” He clanged the bowl and spoon together as if to prove his point.

“You have seconds on your plate already,” Ma said. “Why, I have never seen anyone consume as much food as you do, Jackson.”

His smile broadened. “I’m growing. Soon I’ll be taller than Sam.”

“Brotherly competition.” Sam had to chuckle. But in the next moment, he wondered if his family behaved oddly. Didn’t all families enjoy meals together? Tease and laugh together? Tell stories once the sun went down? According to Rachel, they didn’t. The ebony-haired, dark-eyed young woman had grown up without a mother and had a drunkard for a father . . . until Ma got wind of the situation and took her in. She invited Rachel to stay in the small room adjacent to the kitchen and offered her a job. Rachel had accepted. And now, years later, Rachel would soon marry a fine man, Luke Smith, a friend of Sam’s.

Taking a bite of his meal, he chewed and looked across the table at Mary. Both she and Jack resembled their mother, dark brown hair, dark brown eyes, and graceful, willowy frames, while Sam took after his father, blue eyes and stocky build, measuring just under six feet. Yet, in spite of the outward dissimilarities, the five Sundbergs were a closely knit family, and Sam felt grateful that he’d known nothing but happiness throughout

his childhood. He had no recollection whatsoever of his biological mother who had taken ill and died during the voyage from Norway to America.

Sam had been but a toddler when she went home to be with the Lord, and soon after disembarking in New York, his father met another Norwegian couple. They helped care for Sam and eventually persuaded Pa to take his young son and move with them to Wisconsin, known back then as part of the “Michigan Territory.” Pa seized the opportunity, believing the promises that westward expansion touted, and he was not disappointed.

He learned to plant, trap, and trade with the Indians, and he became a successful businessman. In time, he saved enough funds to make his dreams of owning land and farming a reality.

Then, when Sam was a boy of eight years, his father met and married Mariah, an Oneida. Like her, many Oneida were Christians and fairly well educated due to the missionaries who had lived among them. In time Sam took to his new mother, and she to him. Through the years Ma cherished and admonished him as though he were her own son. She learned the Norwegian language and could speak it fluently. As far as Sam was concerned, he was her own son—and Mariah, his own mother.

They were a family.

“Was that the Eikaas wagon driving by not long ago?” Mary asked.

Sam snapped from his musing. “Sure was. It appears they have relatives in town.”

“Mr. Eikaas didn’t stop and visit, did he?” Mary’s eyes were as round as gingersnaps.

Sam chuckled. “No, of course not. I can’t recall the last time Lars Eikaas spoke to me . . . or any of the Sundbergs, for that matter.”

“Erik is nice to me at school.” Mary took a bite of her meal.

“Glad to hear it.”

“I can’t wait to begin school next week.”

Sam grinned at his sister’s enthusiasm. He’d felt the same way as a boy.

“Sam, what made you assume Mr. Eikaas transported relatives in his wagon today?”

He glanced at Ma. “A while back I’d heard that Lars’s niece was coming to America, accompanied by friends, and since I didn’t recognize the three passengers in the wagon this morning, I drew my own conclusions.”

“Is she pretty?” Jackson’s cheeks bulged with food.

“Is who pretty?”

“Mr. Eikaas’s niece . . . is she pretty?”

Sam recalled the plucky blonde whose large, cornflower-blue eyes looked back at him with interest from beneath her bonnet. And pretty? As much as Sam hated to admit it, she was about the prettiest young lady he’d ever set eyes on.

Jackson elbowed him. “Hey, I asked you a question.”

Sam gave his younger brother an annoyed look. “Yeah, I s’pose she’s pretty. But don’t go getting any big ideas about me courting her. She’s an Eikaas.”

“You’re awful old to not be married yet.” Jack rolled his dark eyes.

“What do you know about it? I’m only twenty-one.” Sam grinned. “Hush up and eat.” It’s what the boy did best. “So . . . did everyone have a pleasant morning?” He forked another bite of food into his mouth, wondering why he tried so hard to shift the subject off of Lars Eikaas’s niece.

Kristin looked around the one-room shanty with its unhewn walls and narrow, bowed loft. Cotton squares of material covered the windows, making the heat inside nearly unbearable.

Disappointment riddled her being like buckshot. Although she knew she should feel grateful for journeying safely this far, and now to have a roof over her head, she couldn’t seem to shake her displeasure at seeing her relatives’ living quarters. It looked nothing like her uncle had described in his letters nor the homes she’d glimpsed on the way.

“Here is your trunk of belongings,” Uncle Lars said, carrying the wooden chest in on one of his broad shoulders. With a grunt, he set it down in the far corner of the cabin. “Where is my inheritance? Let me have a look at it.”

“Right now, Onkel?”

“Ja, ja . . .” Impatience filled his tone.

Pulling open the drawstring of her leather purse, she reached inside and extracted the key. She unlocked the trunk and opened its curved lid. Getting onto her knees, Kristin moved aside her clothes and extra shoes until she found what she searched for. Poppa’s gold watch. She held the black velvet-covered box reverently in her hands for one last, long moment before she stood and presented it to her uncle.

“This belonged to my poppa.”

“Ah . . .” Uncle Lars’s face lit up with delight as he opened the box. Looking to Aunt Esther, he nodded. “This will bring a fair price, do you think?”

Disbelief poured over her. “But . . . you would not sell Poppa’s watch, would you?”

“None of your business!”

Kristin jumped back at the biting reply. Her opinion of her uncle dropped like a rock into a cavern.

“Anything more?” Her uncle bent over the wooden chest and quickly rummaged through it, spilling clothes onto the unswept floor.

“Onkel, please, stop. My garments . . .”

“Does not seem to be anything else.” Uncle Lars narrowed his gaze. “Is there?”

“No.” The necklace Mor had given her burned against her already perspiring skin. Still, Kristin refused to part with the gift. “Nothing more. As you know, Poppa was a farmer. He supplemented his income by working at the post office, but no money was ever saved. After my parents died, I sold everything to help pay for a portion of my passage to America. I earned the rest myself.”

“Any money left?”

Kristin shook her head as she picked up the last of her belongings, careful not to meet her uncle’s stare. A little money remained in the special pocket she’d sewn into her petticoat. For safety, she’d kept her funds on her person throughout the entire voyage. The last of her coinage would purchase muchneeded undergarments. She’d managed to save it throughout the journey for the specific purpose of buying new foundations when she reached America. It wasn’t inherited. She’d worked hard for it.

With a grunt Uncle Lars turned and sauntered out of the cabin.

“You will sleep in the loft with your cousins.” Aunt Esther’s tone left no room for questions or argument. Wearing a plain, brown dress with a tan apron pinned to its front, and with her dark brown hair tightly pinned into a bun, the older woman looked as drab as her surroundings. “Your uncle and I sleep on a pallet by the hearth.”

“Yes, Tante. I am sure I will be very comfortable.” Another lie.

“Come, let us eat.” Aunt Esther walked toward the hearth where a heavy black kettle sat on top of a low-burning fire. “There is venison stew for our meal.”

“It sounds delicious.” Kristin’s stomach growled in anticipation. She’d eaten very little on the ship this morning. Excitement plus the waves on Lake Michigan made eating impossible. But after disembarking in Green Bay, her stomach began to settle, and now she was famished.

Aunt Esther called everyone to the table, which occupied an entire corner of the cabin. Her three children, two girls and one boy, ranging in ages from seven to sixteen, came in from outside, as did the Olstads. After a wooden bowl filled with stew was set before each person, the family clasped hands and recited a standard Norwegian prayer . . .

I Jesu navn gar vi til bords,—We sit down in the name of Jesus,

Spise drikke pa ditt ord,—To eat and drink according to Your

Word,

Deg Gud til are, oss til gavn,—To Your honor, Oh Lord, and

for our benefit,

Sa far vi mat i Jesu navn.—We receive food in the name of

Jesus.

Amen.

Having said grace, hands were released, and everyone picked up a spoon and began to eat. Kristin noticed her cousins, Inga and Anna, eyeing her with interest. They resembled their father, blonde curls and blue eyes.

“What do you like to do on sunny afternoons such as this one?” she asked cheerfully, hoping to start conversation. After all, Inga’s age was close to hers. Perhaps her cousin would help her meet friends.

“We do not talk at the table,” Aunt Esther informed her. “We eat, not talk.”

“Yes, Tante.” Kristin glanced at Peder and Mr. Olstad who replied with noncommittal shrugs and kept eating.

Silently, Kristin did the same. The Olstads always had lively discussions around their table.

When the meal ended, the girls cleared the table and the men took young Erik and ambled outside.

“May I help with cleaning up?” Kristin asked her aunt.

“No. You rest today and regain your strength. Tomorrow we are invited to a wedding, the day after is the Sabbath. Then beginning on Monday, you will labor from sunup to sunset like everyone else in this place.”

“Except for one,” Inga quipped. No one but Kristin heard.

“Who?” Her lips moved, although she didn’t utter a sound.

“Far, that is who.” Disrespect seeped from Inga’s tone, which was loud and clear.

Hadn’t Aunt Esther overheard it?

Tante suddenly whirled around and glared at Kristin. “Do something with yourself. We are working here.”

With a frown, Kristin backed away. Her aunt’s brusque manner caused her to feel weary and more homesick than

ever. She missed her parents and her little brothers. Why did God take them, leaving her to live life without them? And Sylvia . . . how she longed for her best friend!

Kristin knelt by the trunk and carefully lifted out a soft, knitted shawl that had once belonged to her mother, Lydia Eikaas. Mor had been an excellent seamstress, expert in spinning wool into yarn and thread, as well as in weaving and sewing garments. She’d taught Kristin everything she knew about the craft. Surely Kristin could now put her skills to good use in this new country, this land of opportunity.

She sighed and glanced over to where her aunt and two cousins continued straightening up after the meal. Inga and Anna barely smiled, and her aunt’s expression seemed permanently frozen into a frown. Is that what this country really afforded . . . misery?

Allowing her gaze to wander around the dismal cabin once more, Kristin began to wish she had not come to America.

Summer of Promise...Review

2012-01-30T06:00:00.032-07:00

About the book:
Though she had planned to spend the summer in Vermont with her sweetheart, Abigail Harding cannot dismiss her concerns over her older sister. Charlotte's letters have been uncharacteristically melancholy, and her claims that nothing is wrong ring false, so Abigail heads West to Wyoming. The endless prairie seems monotonous, but when her stagecoach is attacked, Wyoming promises to be anything but boring. Luckily, the heroics of another passenger, Lieutenant Ethan Bowles, save the day.

When circumstances—and perhaps a bit of matchmaking—put Abigail and Ethan together, there's certainly attraction. But Abigail is planning to marry another man and return to life in Vermont as soon as she is finished attending to her sister. And Ethan loves his life in the Army and the wilds of Wyoming. When summer ends, will Abigail go back East? Or will she fall in love with this rugged land herself?

Book 1 of the new Westward Winds series, Summer of Promise is a tale of following your heart to unexpected places. Readers will enjoy Amanda Cabot's passionate characters and vibrant setting in the beautiful high prairie.

I love stories about strong women and Summer of Promise delivers a charming one. Abigail plans on marrying a fellow teacher, but before her wedding, she travels to Wyoming to spend the summer with her sister Charlotte who is married and expecting her first child. The journey out west is an adventure itself with a robbery attack on her coach. A young soldier traveling on the same coach saves the day and once at Fort Laramie, Abigail finds herself often in the company of Ethan Bowles. She doesn't love the army life nor the rugged Wyoming countryside, but as she is drawn to Ethan, she wonders if she can ever go back to Vermont.

Abigail must find out why her sister's life isn't as charmed as she once thought and as stagecoaches continue to be robbed and equipment goes missing from the fort, Ethan must not only discover who at the fort is the traitor, but what Abigail Harding will do with his heart. This is a delightful, compelling story with a strong heroine and an element of intrigue and one I thoroughly enjoyed.

I haven't read Amanda Cabot before, but I'm so glad to know that this is the first in a series. I look forward to more.

Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Thanks to Donna Hausler of the Baker Publishing Group for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Amanda Cabot here. You can purchase your own copy here.

1/12

* * * *
4/5 Stars

Where Wildflowers Bloom...Review

2012-01-28T06:00:00.029-07:00

About the book:
The War Between the States stole a father and brother from Faith Lindberg-- as well as Royal Baxter, the man she wanted to marry. With only her grandfather left, she dreams of leaving Noble Springs, Missouri, and traveling west to the Oregon Territory to start a new life, away from the memories that haunt her. But first she must convince her grandfather to sell the family's mercantile and leave a town their family has called home for generations.

When Royal Baxter suddenly returns to town, Faith allows herself to hope that her dreams might come true. Does he truly love her? Or could another man claim her heart? Will she find that following her dreams may not mean leaving home after all?

The characters in Where Wildflowers Bloom jump off the page and into the reader's heart. Author Ann Shorey infuses her characters with the virtues and quirks that bring them fully alive as they search for contentment and love.

After Faith Lindberg loses her father and brother in the Civil War, she wants to leave Missouri for a new start in Oregon. Her grandfather wants nothing to do with leaving and wants Faith to run his mercantile so he can write his memoirs and stay in his home. As Faith begins managing the store, she secretly makes preparations to go west. But, life and God have other plans for her.

I enjoyed these characters although I though Faith was somewhat clueless and selfish at times. Curt and Rosemary were terrific as was Amy. This was simply a sweet novel about love, family and friendship. I look forward to the rest of the series.

Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Thanks to Donna Hausler from Baker Publishing for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Ann Shorey here. You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 1/12

* * * *
4/5 Stars

The Sound of Red Returning...Review

2012-01-23T06:00:00.055-07:00

About the book:
After losing everyone she loves, concert pianist Liesl Bower has nowhere to go but to escape into her music. Searching for the peace she usually finds in her concertos and sonatas, Liesl can’t shake the feeling that she is being haunted by her past . . . and by someone following her. When she spots a familiar and eerie face in the audience of a concert she’s giving for the president in Washington, DC, the scariest day of her life comes back to her with a flash. It has been fifteen years since Liesl watched her beloved Harvard music mentor assaulted on a dark night in Moscow and just as long since the CIA disclosed to her that he’d been spying for Russia. She had seen that man--that eerie face--the night Professor Devoe was attacked. And now he’s back--and coming for her.

On the run and struggling to rely on the protection of CIA agent Ava Mullins and handsome newspaper reporter Cade O’Brien, Liesl learns she is the prey of an underground cell of Russian KGB agents determined to restore their country to its former Soviet might. But what she doesn’t know is that she is in possession of something--a piece of sheet music--that Russian intelligence is now frantic to find. Inside that music is a secret code, the hidden transcriptions of her deceased mentor, that clearly identify a Russian mole operating inside Israel’s Department of Defense, a mole with enough power and access to execute a daring assassination that no one would see coming.

Caught in a deadly conflict between American and Russian undercover agents, this innocent young pianist is just trying to survive her own personal trauma. Through it all, Liesl must learn that no matter how dark her world grows or how fiercely her enemies pursue her, God is still in control--if only she can yield herself to His grace.

As a child of the 60's and 70's and a teenager in the early 80s, I grew up very much aware of the Cold War. Russia was the enemy and spies were real. As a young adult, I began working for a government laboratory in the late 80s, where we had security clearances, badges and guard gates. One poster that I remember being on the wall of our copy room showed the earth with a satellite orbiting it and two red lines. One went from Russia to the satellite and from the satellite to our location and cautioned that anyone could be listening. I took Russian classes as a young college student because I'd grown up fascinated by that country and I was studying that language as the Berlin Wall fell and Cold War communism became a memory, or so we've all believed.

The Sound of Red Returning takes us into today's world of the CIA and KGB where national secrets are still desired, spies still lurk in our midst and the art of guarding and discovering intelligence is an integral part of national security.

When Liesl Bower's beloved mentor was murdered and revealed to be a Russian spy, her life was disrupted in ways she couldn't imagine as the CIA didn't believe that she wasn't an accomplice. But life does go on and Liesl became a renowned pianist, putting her past behind her. 15 years later, information comes to light that leads Russian and American intelligence agencies to her door and Liesl must discover what information she has, where it is and who she can trust.

I enjoyed this novel so much. These characters are likeable and you care for them immediately. The intrigue and suspense are fast paced, but perfect and not predictable. I loved the musical aspect and the cleverness of sending codes through sheet music. Amazing. I am thrilled that this is the first in a trilogy and I look forward to more from Sue Duffy.

Thanks to Amy at Litfuse Publicity for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Sue Duffy here. You can purchase your own copy here. You can read an excerpt here. You can see other reviews and tour stops here.

Read 1/12

* * * *
4/5

Small Space Organizing...Review

2012-01-20T06:00:00.017-07:00

About the book:
While we may admire the spacious rooms in large homes we see in magazines or on TV, let's face it: most of us don't live in rambling estates. Instead, we live in homes, apartments, or condos with small rooms and even smaller closets. But you can enjoy an organized, beauty-filled life no matter what the size of your space. In this practical book, readers will learn how to

-perform a room-by-room audit of their space to see if it's functioning at its best

-make the most of existing storage space and find clever ways to add more

-find creative ways to arrange furnishings and accessories that maximize space and bring harmony and style to the home

Whether empty nesters who are downsizing, newlyweds who are setting up their first nest, or anyone who needs creative new ideas, readers will love these strategies, tips, and solutions to maximize their space and enhance their quality of life.

This is a terrific go to guide for downsizing and organizing. We really do have too much stuff these days and many of us don't have huge houses in which to keep it all. Kathryn Bechen approaches organization from the aspect of not having a lot of space to begin with. She takes you through each room in your house and gives suggestions for eliminating, storing and maximizing.

This is a book you can read straight through as well as being a book you can pick up simply for help with one particular room or issue.

My only complaint is that the book is written for small spaces, but not necessarily small budgets. There are lots of suggestions for buying this or that to update or improve a space and that's not always realistic for people.

Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Thanks to Donna Hausler of Baker Publishing for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Kathryn Bechen here. You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 1/12

* * * *
4/5 Stars

Robin Takes 5...Review

2012-01-12T21:14:00.001-07:00

It's 5:00 PM. Everyone's hungry. It's takeout or fakeout, meaning nuking a processed meal from the freezer. But there's a third option that doesn't include processed food or an unhealthy heap of calories and fat--Robin Takes 5.

Imagine quickly preparing delicious meals for yourself, your friends, and your family with just 5 fabulous ingredients. Does it get any better? Absolutely, with Robin Takes 5. The book features 500 recipes and each dish is a mouthwatering 500 calories or less. Two-color recipe text complements full-color photography inserts. In addition, helpful icons note ideal recipes for holidays and entertaining as well as recipes with less than 500 mg of sodium. That's not all--nutritional information is given for each recipe.

In Robin Takes 5, 500 recipes highlight at least 10 different ethnic cuisines, and dishes range from soups, pizzas, and pastas, to chicken, beef, pork, seafood, side dishes, and desserts. Consider 70 recipes just for chicken, such as Cashew Crusted Chicken with Roasted Jalapeno-Mango Chutney, and 50 dessert recipes, such as Orange Marmalade Tart with Chocolate Covered Almonds. Consider yourself armed for mealtime. The next time the clock strikes 5:00 PM and you want both noshing and nourishment, check out Robin Takes 5.

I was not familiar with Robin Miller before I received her book. But, I love cooking and as we're trying to eat healthier at our house, this sounded terrific. Every recipe has just about 5 ingredients and is less than 500 calories. I've marked it up. Seriously, it's full of post-it tabs.

I do wish there were more photos, but it's easy to read and the recipes are easy to follow. Most recipes are fairly fast to make and not time intensive and the ingredients are ones you are likely to have on hand. I prepared the Pork Chops with Sauteed Apples for dinner and my family loved it. It received rave reviews and has earned a place in our dinner rotation. The leftovers are perfect on top of a salad. Next on my list is Smothered Steak with Onions, Mushrooms and Mashed Potatoes.

Thanks to Eric at Planned Television Arts for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Robin Miller here. You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 1/12

* * * * *
5/5 Stars

Books, Reviewing and Blogging

2012-01-07T16:50:00.002-07:00

As I've cruised through the book blog world, I've noticed a few things. First, lots of year end wrap ups and postings of favorite books read. I love those posts and did one myself. I've enjoyed perusing so many favorite books and I've added quite a few to my reading list. The second thing I've noticed is several posts from bloggers who are re-evaluating their blogs, reviewing, etc. I've been doing the same thing myself.

I love reading. I was always the kid who had her nose buried in a book and I became an adult who always has her nose buried in a book. I love reading and it's why I started this blog. I wanted a place to keep track of the books I read and what I thought about them. The reviewing part just sort of happened and, for the most part, I've enjoyed it. I love receiving complementary books in the mail. I have enjoyed "meeting" authors and bloggers. I get a kick out of seeing a new comment on my blog.

One thing I've finally admitted to myself, though, is that I don't enjoy reading for deadlines. I understand the reasoning behind scheduled book tours and I know that publishers/authors want the books they send out to be reviewed. However, I've learned that sometimes you have to be in a certain mood for a certain book. There have been DNFs and one and two star books that I think I might have liked, if I could have read them within my own time frame and not someone else's.

Towards the end of 2011, I didn't want to visit book blogs, I didn't even want to read because of the pressure to finish certain books. And, let me tell you, not wanting to read is a very disconcerting, strange feeling.

So, I've decided to be more discerning about the books I accept for review and that means less self published books and fewer scheduled blog tours. I won't give up on blog tours altogether though as there are authors whose books I will always, gladly review. But I also want to read more of the unread books lingering on my shelves. As well, instead of always accepting review books I'd like, I will utilize my library to find those books on my own time, not for someone else's deadline.

What about you? Is everything in your blogging life staying status quo or are you changing things up?

The Keeper...Review

2012-01-03T06:00:00.039-07:00

About the book:
Julia Lapp has planned on marrying Paul Fisher since she was a girl. Now twenty-one, she looks forward to their wedding with giddy anticipation. When Paul tells her he wants to postpone the wedding--again--she knows who is to blame.

Perpetual bachelor and spreader of cold feet, Roman Troyer, the Bee Man. Roamin' Roman travels through the Amish communities of Ohio and Pennsylvania with his hives full of bees, renting them out to farmers in need of pollinators. He relishes his nomadic life, which keeps him from thinking about all he has lost. He especially enjoys bringing his bees to Stoney Ridge each year. But with Julia on a mission to punish him for inspiring Paul's cold feet, the Lapp farm is looking decidedly less pleasant.

Can Julia secure the future she's always dreamed of? Or does God have something else in mind?

When Paul Fisher postpones their wedding, yet again, Julia Lapp is understandably frustrated. When she realizes that he did so after talking with Roman Troyer, she's incensed. With her father in ill health, she has her hands full and dealing with Roman Troyer is not something she looks forward to. However, as often happens in life, God has other plans for both of them.

Another delightful novel from Suzanne Woods Fisher. I loved these characters. I enjoyed Fern and seeing her take over the family and become a welcome addition, even with her prickly nature. The Lapp family is terrific and the Lapp daughters are strong and spunky. I can't wait to find out what happens to M.K. and Sadie and I'm thrilled that this is the first of a series. I appreciated the topic of organ transplant and the strong case made in support of organ donation, even as I was sad over the loss of a beloved character. I wish more people understood the importance of organ donation.

Thanks to Amy at Litfuse Publicity for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Suzanne Woods Fisher here. You can purchase your own copy here. You can see other reviews and tour stops here.

Read 12/10

* * * *
4/5 Stars

2011 Wrap-Up

2012-01-01T06:00:00.065-07:00

As near as I can tell, I read and reviewed 160 books in 2011. Of those, 5 were DNF. I wanted to beat my 2010 record of 163 and if you count the books I re-read, I definitely went over that number. But, 160 new books this year is still just over 3 books per week, so I guess it is an accomplishment. I've gotten a little burnt out on scheduled book tours and reading for deadlines, so it will be interesting in 2012 to see what the number is.

Some of my absolute favorites:

The Colonel's Lady
Paradise Valley

Blessed: Living a Grateful Life
Unexpected Love

Life Without Limits
The Violets of March

The Little Women Letters
The Kitchen Daughter

(dis)Abilities and the Gospel
Remembering Christmas

Some not so favorites:

How to Love an American Man
Best Staged Plans

The Arrivals
The Last Letter

Next to Love
Mrs. Tom Thumb

True disappointments:

None But You/For You Alone

Thanks for stopping by this past year. Thanks for your comments and suggestions. Here's to a fantastic 2012 and many more good book discoveries!

Real...Review

2011-12-21T18:00:00.000-07:00

About the book:
First-time author Shelley Malcolm announces the Second Edition of her non-fiction book, Real, now available in hardcover. Malcolm delivers a remarkable work of inspiration with 60 biographical stories, each illustrated by a captivating photo by professional photographer Terilee Dawn Ouimette. The stories are deeply revealing, while the photos are anonymous, focusing only on each subject’s hands. Research for the coffee table-style book was accomplished through a series of interviews and photo shoots, with subjects ranging from adolescent to elderly, from former gangster to humble homeless, international refugee to hero-housewife, from pro athlete to Hollywood celebrity.

Focusing on her subjects’ hands instead of their faces allows Malcolm’s subjects to share more freely about their lives, tragedies, hopes, dreams, loves, and toils. Ouimette displays an uncanny ability to capture each character’s essence on film by depicting one of more sets of hands at work, at play, giving or receiving help. The result shows the genius of the project, the use of anonymity displaying a greater level of intimacy and vulnerability than might have been possible by any other means.

Malcolm states that her inspiration for the book came from a dream with similar images, revealing the beauty in imperfections in a person’s hands. “The hand image is made beautiful by the life behind it,” she explains. “More anonymous than a face or even eyes which show identity and emotion, our hands portray our work, our affection, scars…even our mistakes.”

According to photographer Ouimette, “People can feel even more connected to photographs of hands than faces. There is a little bit of mystery to each one – allowing the reader to visually connect with the inspiring story.”

Confronting the importance of status and beauty in our society, Real honestly unveils the life stories of remarkable individuals through moving images and stories that range from tragic to hopeful to triumphant.

Originally published in March 2011, the book has been popular among widely diverse groups including youth and teens, women, parents and grandparents, men between the ages of 35 – 65, craftsmen, surgeons, hand, massage and physical therapists and many others.

People say that faces are the most telling, but I think a person's hands are even more so. In a person's hands, we see experiences and skills, strength and warmth. We feel comforted when hands are placed on our heads or shoulders. We feel loved when that special someone takes us by the hand or when a small child grasps it and looks up trustingly. Shelley Malcolm and Terilee Ouimette have created a lovely tribute to people in their book, Real. They showcase ordinary, every day people who have amazing stories to share and they do it with first names, honest text and photographs of each person's hands.

This is, quite simply, a gorgeous, thoughtful book. The photographs alone are beautiful, but when coupled with moving, often poignant text, the book becomes heartfelt and extraordinary. This is a book that would make a wonderful gift.

One of the best things about this book, as well, is that 100% of the proceeds from book sales go to support the work of several charities. It is a gift that gives a gift. You can learn more about that here.

Thanks to Christen at Litfuse Publicity for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Shelley Malcolm here. You can purchase your own copy here. You can see other reviews and tour stops here.

Read 12/12

* * * * *
5/5 Stars

CHICKtionary: From A-Line to Z-Snap, the Words Every Woman Should Know...Review

2011-12-20T06:00:00.054-07:00

Your bestie, biffle, and GMF rolled into one!

You’re all over the definitions of “low lights,” “ruching,” and a “tankini.” But can you spot a “Mrs. Potato Head” when you see one?

That’s where The CHICKtionary comes in. The CHICKtionary is a humorous dictionary of the words and phrases women use—and what they really mean when they use them. The book corrals more than 450 terms, including some you know (uterus) and some you might not (flexting), and defines each from the perspective of a typical contemporary woman—a woman who avoids accidental pageant hair, is frenemies with her robotic vacuum and only occasionally relies on her high-waisted jeans to hold up her strapless bra.

Ask any man and he will tell you that women have a language all their own. It's true. There are issues related to being female that are universal and understood by women of all ages, nationalities, creeds, races, whatever. You don't have to be bosom friends or even speak the same language to understand when another woman says to you, "Does this make me look fat?". This was probably my most favorite definition:

Does This Make Me Look Fat? (phrase)
A seemingly straightforward yet treacherous question that requires different responses depending on the gender of the person to whom it is addressed. When asked of a male, the reply must be a swift and emphatic, “No!” Ideally, this will be followed immediately with glowing modifiers such as, “You look hot!” and “Are you kidding? You need to gain a few pounds, hon!” When asked of a female, an honest response is acceptable, provided it is couched in camouflage comments that blame the unflattering appearance on the hateful designer, lousy dressing room lighting, and/or cheap construction of the offending garment.

Seriously a funny book. I don't know that it's one you'd sit down and read cover to cover, but it's one that is hysterically funny to read in snatches. It would make a terrific gift for the girlfriend with a healthy sense of humor.

Many of the topics and definitions are mature (definitely a PG-13+ rating), but I found nothing profane or inappropriately vulgar. Rather, many definitions were straightforward. I found myself educated and enlightened at times as there were many words that I didn't know. This is just a funny book and one that will have you nodding in understanding and laughing out loud.

Thanks to Lisa at TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Anna Lefler here and here. You can purchase your own copy here. You can see other reviews and tour stops here:

Monday, November 14th: Life in Review
Tuesday, November 15th: Amused by Books
Thursday, November 17th: Reviews from the Heart
Friday, November 18th: Chick Lit Reviews
Monday, November 21st: I Am A Reader, Not A Writer – author Q&A
Wednesday, November 23rd: The Betty and Boo Chronicles
Friday, November 25th: Melody & Words
Monday, November 28th: Silver and Grace
Thursday, December 1st: Chick Lit is Not Dead
Friday, December 2nd: Overstuffed
Monday, December 5th: Silver and Grace – author guest post
Monday, December 5th: A Musing Reviews
Tuesday, December 6th: Peeking Between the Pages
Wednesday, December 7th: Peeking Between the Pages - author guest post
Thursday, December 8th: Sara’s Organized Chaos
Monday, December 12th: Write Meg!
Tuesday, December 13th: Suko’s Notebook
Wednesday, December 14th: She is Too Fond of Books - Spotlight on Bookstores
Thursday, December 15th: Life… with Books
Friday, December 16th: Colloquium - author guest post
Monday, December 19th: A Chick Who Reads
Tuesday, December 20th: 2 Kids and Tired

Read 12/11

* * * *
4/5 Stars

The Christmas Singing...Preview

2011-12-10T18:00:00.002-07:00

About the book:
After Gideon coldly broke her heart, can the warmth of the season revive Mattie’s hopes?

Mattie thought her childhood sweetheart adored her until he abruptly ended their engagement on Christmas Eve.

Three years later, will learning the truth behind his rejection restore her Christmas joy – or open the door to even deeper heartbreak?

Spend Christmas with the Amish in this story of love, romance, heartache, and restoration.

Read the first chapter here:
The Christmas Singing (Chapter 1 Excerpt)

The Outer Edge of Heaven...Review

2011-12-10T06:00:00.068-07:00

About the book:
Montana truly is heavenly. Especially those handsome cowboys.

Her parents want a clout wielding attorney, safely enthroned in an appropriately high end Mercedes sedan and a tailored business suit.

She just wants to teach kindergarten.

When her “all-powerful” parents actually choose her future husband, who just happens to be a divorce lawyer named Elroy, Charlie opts out and heads for Big Sky Country. After all, who marries a divorce lawyer? She and her best friend Fo, who have been buddies since the third grade, go to work on his cousin’s sprawling ranch in the heart of the Montana Rockies.
Filled with colorful characters of all shapes, sizes and species, including an orphaned baby pig, most of the Langston family put the fun in dysfunctional, -give or take a couple of black sheep. There’s one in every family, isn’t there? Add to that glorious scenery, a horse of her own, and one extremely attractive cousin rancher, Luke Langston, and it makes for a summer never to be forgotten. Which might not be a good thing. She has the time of her life, but her heart may never recover.

Charlie has difficult parents who want to run her life. Instead of returning home after graduation, she travels to Montana with her best friend, Fo, and obtains a job working on his uncle's ranch. She finds herself attracted to his cousin, at odds with his uncle's wife and trying to avoid unwanted attention from other men around the ranch.

Charlie was just too good to be true. She arrives in Montana and within a day has Luke's entire family just eating out of her hand. She solves all the children's behavior problems, reconciles Luke with his dad, helps a young woman decide on adoption, and it goes on and on. Her parents are ridiculous and unbelievable.

There are a lot of topics covered in the Outer Edge of Heaven and it's almost too much. The LDS elements are scarce to the point that they seem like afterthoughts, rather than something that should be intrinsic to an LDS novel. For example, Luke's dad is on the high council and yet his third wife is openly unfaithful with little plausible explanation about how they came to be married in the first place. Charlie's parents' obsessions with status and society and running their daughter's life and arranging her marriage didn't mesh with LDS values of temple marriage and family.

I think Jaclyn Hawkes has a lot of potential and these characters had a great deal of promise. I enjoyed her first novel A Journey of Honor and looked forward to reading The Outer Edge of Heaven. Unfortunately, this one didn't have the same appeal and I would have loved to see this story after it had been more developed and edited.

Thanks to the author for sending me an unsolicited copy. You can learn more about Jaclyn M. Hawkes here. You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 12/11

* *
2/5 Stars

Cold River...Review

2011-12-08T06:00:00.045-07:00

About the book:
Mandy Steenburg thinks her doctorate in education has prepared her to run any school district - until she tangles with the moonshine-making, coon-dog-owning denizens of a tiny district in Pacific Northwest timber country. She's determined to make a difference, but the local populace still looks to the former superintendent for leadership. When Mandy lands in the middle of an old feud and someone keeps trying to kill her, instinct tells her to run. And though she has to literally swim through perilous waters, she finds a reason to stay and chance the odds.

Mandy leaves Albuquerque for the Pacific Northwest and a school superintendent position. When she arrives, she finds a classic small town with southern roots and a tight community that doesn't welcome outsiders and doesn't welcome her. As she discovers the reasons why her arrival was not eagerly anticipated, she wonders how she'll ever break through the barriers. Determined, she decides to stay and finds unexpected friendship and romance, even as an unknown assailant wants her dead.

Cold River was an entertaining read, but something was just missing for me and I had a hard time taking the premise seriously. I liked it, I didn't love it. There are some great, quirky characters, but I would have liked to see more depth and back story. Liz Adair has created some terrific characters and they deserved to have more fleshed out details in their stories.

I haven't read Liz Adair before, but I would definitely read more of her books in the future. Even with my frustrations with the story, this is a light, entertaining, wholesome read and a nice diversion and one I can easily recommend.

Thanks to Tristi Pinkston Book Tours for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Liz Adair here. You can purchase your own copy here. You can see other reviews and tour stops below:

December 1:
http://camicheckettsbooks.blogspot.com/
http://www.shesgotthewritestuff.blogspot.com/

December 2:
http://lynndeniseparsons.blogspot.com/

December 3:
http://www.laurielclewis.blogspot.com/
http://danicapage.blogspot.com/

December 5:
http://www.queenofchaosandjoy.blogspot.com/

December 6:
http://imsofunny.blogspot.com/

December 7:
http://www.ifonlylifecouldbethatsimple.blogspot.com/
http://www.lalasbooks.blogspot.com/"

December 8:
http://2kidsandtiredbooks.blogspot.com/
http://www.mindingspot.blogspot.com/

December 9:
http://coopedup.blogspot.com/
http://susandayley.wordpress.com/

December 10:
http://www.terirodeman.blogspot.com/
http://www.margothovley.com/

December 12:
http://vampirekiss1967.blogspot.com/

December 13:
http://cherylsbooknook.blogspot.com/
http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/

December 14:
http://www.ldswbr.com/

December 16:
http://fromthetbrpile.blogspot.com/

December 17:
http://cmichellejefferies.blogspot.com/

December 19:
http://debbiesinkspectations.blogspot.com/

December 20:
http://mariahoagland.blogspot.com/

December 27:
http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/

December 28:
http://totallytinascott.blogspot.com/

December 29:
http://www.readingforsanity.blogspot.com/
http://www.renaeswritespot.blogspot.com/

December 30:
http://www.karenadair.com/

Read 12/11

* * *
3/5 Stars

A Wedding Invitation...Review...DNF

2011-12-07T08:17:00.001-07:00

About the book:
After returning home from teaching English at a refugee camp in the Philippines, Samantha Bravencourt enjoys her quiet life working at her mother's clothing boutique in Falls Church, Virginia. When she receives an invitation to a wedding in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, she looks forward to reconnecting with her college friend. Instead her life collides with Carson, a fellow teacher and the man who broke her heart, and a young Amerasian refugee named Lien who needs Samantha and Carson's help to find her mother before Lien's own wedding. When the search for Lien's mother reveals surprising secrets from the past, Samantha must reevaluate her own memories and decide whether to continue to play it safe or take a risk that could change her life.

I really don't like first person and I really don't like first person present tense. I know there are some who think it more dramatic or real, but it annoys me. I can often look past it, but not here. Part of that, too, was that I just couldn't find a reason to keep reading. I didn't like Samantha, I couldn't believe her relationship with Carson. There was nothing in this story that compelled me to keep reading. Fans of Alice J. Wisler will love it, but it wasn't for me. This is the second of her books that I've tried to read and I think it will be the last. There are authors you connect with and authors you don't and this is one that just doesn't work for me.

Thanks to Bethany House for the opportunity to review this. You can learn more about Alice J. Wisler here. You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 12/11

*
1/5 Stars

Pumpkin Roll...Review

2011-12-06T18:00:00.001-07:00

About the book:
Sadie Hoffmiller is looking forward to spending her favorite baking season of the year making delicious New England recipes in Boston, Massachusetts, with her favorite leading man, Pete Cunningham, as they babysit his three young grandsons. But when the boys insist that Mrs. Wapple, the woman who lives across the street, is a witch, Sadie and Pete are anxious to distract the boys from such Halloween-induced ideas. However, it gets harder and harder to explain the strange things that keep happening, particularly after Sadie learns the eccentric Mrs. Wapple has been attacked in her home.

As the unexplained occurrences escalate, Sadie finds herself embroiled in yet another mystery with life-or-death consequences. Can Sadie discover whoever—or whatever—is behind the mystery before anyone else gets hurt? Or will this be Sadie’s last case?

Sadie's back! She has accompanied Pete to Boston where they are caring for his grandsons while his son and daughter in law are away. Sadie relishes the role of pseudo-grandma and having new people to cook for. When the boys start talking about their weird neighbor and are convinced she's a witch, Sadie sets out to take her some cookies and prove them wrong. Faster than she can say "Whoopie Pie", Sadie finds herself once again involved in an investigation.

This installment of Josi's culinary mystery series is more Halloween themed with potential ghosts and unexplained events. I loved learning more about Pete and his history and I wish Shawn would play a more major role in these books. He's such a great character. I also must say that I don't like Jane at all. I'm getting tired of her antics and I hope that she can finally be finished and put away.

While I didn't like this one quite as much as the others in the series, I still love Sadie and enjoyed her latest adventure. I can't wait for the next one.

Thanks to my local bookstore that had a copy I could purchase. You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 11/11

* * *
3/5 Stars

Wonderland Creek...Review

2011-12-05T06:00:00.002-07:00

About the book:
Alice Grace Ripley lives in a dream world, her nose stuck in a book. But the happily-ever-after life she's planned on suddenly falls apart when her boyfriend, Gordon, breaks up with her, accusing her of living in a world of fiction instead of the real world. Then to top it off, Alice loses her beloved job at the library because of cutbacks due to the Great Depression.

Fleeing small-town gossip, Alice heads to the mountains of eastern Kentucky to deliver five boxes of donated books to a library in the tiny coal-mining village of Acorn. Dropped off by her relatives, Alice volunteers to stay for two weeks to help the librarian, Leslie McDougal.

But the librarian turns out to be far different than she anticipated--not to mention the four lady librarians who travel to the remote homes to deliver the much-desired books. When Alice is trapped in Acorn against her will, she soon finds that real-life adventure and mystery--and especially romance--are far better than her humble dreams could have imagined.

I like Lynn Austin and I love stories about bookish women. Wonderland Creek sounded fantastic and I was excited to read it. And while I did enjoy the story, it didn't quite live up to my expectation. I liked Alice for the most part, but I couldn't quite believe she was as clueless as she was made out to be. Reading a book during a funeral, simply because it was dull? I'm sorry. I love books, and I can guarantee that I usually have a book in my bag at all times. However, I would never, ever, pull it out during a funeral and read.

Alice's adventure in Acorn, Kentucky brings many quirky characters into her life and I loved Mac and Lillie. She also finds herself having experiences she could never have imagined. Overall, the premise is a bit implausible, but it's also compelling and you want to finish the book to find out what really happens.

I found the historical aspect of packhorse librarians fascinating. To make books available to those who lived away from town or in the back hollows of America is a relief program I could support.

Thanks to Bethany House for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Lynn Austin here. You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 11/11

* * *
3/5 Stars

Maman's Homesick Pie...Giveaway Winner

2011-12-03T11:08:00.001-07:00

Thanks to random.org, the winner of the Maman's Homesick Pie Giveaway is:

Anne at The Book Garden!

I've already received her mailing information. Thanks to all who entered!

Beyond All Measure...Giveaway Winner!

2011-12-03T06:00:00.002-07:00

Thanks to random.org, the winner of the Beyond All Measure Giveaway is:

Carrie at Journey Through Words!

I've already received her mailing information. Thanks to all who entered!

Merry Christmas Stories...Review

2011-12-02T06:00:00.038-07:00

About the book:
Merry Christmas Stories is a collection of 25 Christmas tales that emphasize the value of Christmas love and laughter. These short stories will make you laugh, smile and just feel good about this magical time of year. These delightful stories, written in a variety of genres, all reflect Christmas love, hope and charity.

A firm believer in the power and importance of laughter, Spalsbury employs humor in his books and hopes the stories will provide some Christmas cheer for all who read them. The stories represent a variety of genres ranging from the traditional to romance to science fiction.

There are stories of adventure along with humor, unexpected surprises, romance and poignant moments. These are feel-good stories, to uplift your spirit and to leave you with a smile or a warm feeling. Just the way Christmas should feel.

Merry Christmas Stories is a delightful compilation of short Christmas vignettes. It can easily be read in a couple of sittings or you can just sit down and read one or two at a time. These stories span a broad range of genres and a variety of settings. Most are about every day people who have remarkable experiences and learn valuable lessons. I loved the story of Tiny and the Bear. Such a sweet tale and one that I wish was longer. And Nick Tracer? What a great character. I loved his story and I'd love to see Jeff write a book just about and his detective adventures.

I love Christmas and I love Christmas stories. I have collected Christmas books for years and I love bringing them out and re-reading my favorite stories year after year. Merry Christmas Stories is a book that will become one of those that I re-read each year.

Thanks to Lisa at TLC Book Tours. You can learn more about Jeff Spalsbury here. You can purchase your own copy here. You can see other reviews and tour stops here.

Monday, November 21st: The Road to Here
Tuesday, November 22nd: Reviews from the Heart
Friday, November 25th: A Chick Who Reads
Monday, November 28th: I Am A Reader, Not A Writer - Q&A/giveaway
Wednesday, November 30th: Cheryl’s Book Nook
Thursday, December 1st: Life in Review
Friday, December 2nd: 2 Kids and Tired
Monday, December 5th: Laura’s Reviews
Tuesday, December 6th: Book Maven’s Blog
Wednesday, December 7th: My Bookshelf
Thursday, December 8th: Deb’s Book Bag
Friday, December 9th: Living Outside the Stacks
Monday, December 12th: Along the Way
Tuesday, December 13th: By the Book
Wednesday, December 14th: Nailing Jello to a Tree
Thursday, December 15th: Book Reviews by Molly

Read 12/11

* * * *
4/5 Stars

Remembering You...Review

2011-11-29T06:00:00.048-07:00

About the book:
Television producer Ava Ellington cannot refuse her grandfather's last wish--that she accompany him to Europe on a tour of World War II battle sites. Ava has little interest in historical battles, but this may be her last chance to break down the barriers that have grown up between them, and she sets off, camera in hand, ready to record and report on their journey. She and Grandpa Jack are greeted in Paris by Paul, her grandpa's best friend, and his grandson Dennis. The Dennis who just happens to be Ava's first love.

History comes alive as the group travels across Europe--from the romantic sights of Paris to the bleak battlefields of Belgium to the Austrian labor camp these men liberated so many years before--and Ava sees a side of her grandfather she's never known before. As he shares his memories of those bitter days on the battlefield, she begins to understand how his experiences in the war made him the man he is today. Throughout the journey, Ava and Dennis are drawn together in ways neither of them expected. Can their memories of the past lead to a bright new future?

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I say that because I haven't completely enjoyed Tricia Goyer's books in the past, but the topic of World War 2 is one that fascinates me and I was game to give Tricia another chance. I'm so glad I did.

Ava loves her job as a television producer, but a broken engagement has wreaked havoc with her life and purpose. When her mother asks that Ava accompany her beloved grandfather on a trip to Europe to revisit areas that he was instrumental in liberating during the war, she can't refuse. Once in Europe, and after meeting her grandfather's best friend, Ava discovers that her first love, Dennis, is also accompanying his grandfather. Excited at the chance to document the trip and use the footage to boost her show's ratings, Ava steps on a lot of toes before she learns her lesson about what is truly important in life and relationships.

I enjoyed the historical aspect of the novel and the reminiscing that the two grandfathers share. And, although a bit prickly to begin with, Ava grew on me and I enjoyed discovering what would happen with her relationship with Dennis.

Tricia includes an extensive author's note where she documents and shares her research and information. First-hand interviews with WW2 veterans are the best way to learn about what really happened in the trenches and front lines of Germany, France and Belgium.

An enthralling, enjoyable historical read and one I easily recommend.

Thanks to Christen at Litfuse Publicity for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Tricia Goyer here. You can purchase your own copy here. You can see other reviews and tour stops here.

Read 11/11

* * * *
4/5 Stars

Don't Sing at the Table: Life Lessons from My Grandmothers...Giveaway Winner!

2011-11-28T08:43:00.001-07:00

Thanks to random.org, the winner of the Don't Sing at the Table: Life Lessons from My Grandmothers Giveaway is:

Karen B!

I've already received her mailing information. Thanks to all who entered! Check the sidebar for other, current giveaways.

The Doctor's Lady...Review

2011-11-17T06:00:00.010-07:00

About the book:
Priscilla White knows she'll never be a wife or mother and feels God's call to the mission field in India. Dr. Eli Ernest is back from Oregon Country only long enough to raise awareness of missions to the natives before heading out West once more. But then Priscilla and Eli both receive news from the mission board: No longer will they send unmarried men and women into the field.

Left scrambling for options, the two realize the other might be the answer to their needs. Priscilla and Eli agree to a partnership, a marriage in name only that will allow them to follow God's leading into the mission field. But as they journey west, this decision will be tested by the hardships of the trip and by the unexpected turnings of their hearts.

Eli and Priscilla want to be missionaries. He wants to go to the frontiers of Oregon and she to India. When the missionary board rejects their applications, they reluctantly marry in order to serve and Priscilla agrees to give up her quest for India and travel to Oregon with Eli.

I will admit to finding the premise a bit implausible: that this man and woman who barely knew each other, would marry for convenience simply so they could be missionaries. But, the story was compelling and quickly drew me in. Priscilla and Eli were characters I grew to care about. Their travels from New York to Oregon by wagon train were difficult and arduous, but very true to life. Yet, as they journey, faith in God and a growing love and faith in each other shows them that anything is possible. I enjoyed reading their story and seeing the growth in themselves and their relationship.

I also enjoyed the author's note that shared the true life inspiration for the novel. I liked, but didn't love Jody's first novel, The Preacher's Bride, but I thoroughly enjoyed The Doctor's Lady.

Thanks to Bethany House for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Jody Hedlund here. You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 11/11

* * * *
4/5 Stars

Remembering Christmas...Review

2011-11-16T06:00:00.004-07:00

About the book:
Rick Denton lives his life on his terms. He works hard, plays hard, and answers to no one. So when his mother calls on Thanksgiving weekend begging him to come home after his stepfather has a stroke, Rick is more than a little reluctant. He's never liked Art and resents the man's presence in his life, despite the fact that his own father abandoned the family when Rick was just twelve. When what was supposed to be just a couple days helping out at the family bookstore turns into weeks of cashing out old ladies and running off the homeless man who keep hanging about, Rick's attitude sours even more.

Still, slowly but surely, the little bookstore and its quirky patrons--as well as the lovely young woman who works at his side each day--work their magic on him, revealing to Rick the truth about his family, his own life, and the true meaning of Christmas. With skillful storytelling, Dan Walsh creates a Christmas story will have readers remembering every good and perfect gift of Christmas.

Rick Denton is a fairly selfish man. He's pulled away from his family and from God. When his step-father suffers an aneurysm and his mother asks him to come home to tend their little bookstore, Rick is unenthusiastic and more than a bit resentful. Yet, he comes and he finds himself drawn to Andrea, the other store employee and her young daughter. And, as he comes to know his mother and step-father again, he begins to see not only them, but mostly himself, in a very different light. As he discovers secrets from his past and learns answers to questions he wasn't sure he had, Rick discovers that God does know who he is and what he needs in his life.

Christmas is magic and it's often a time when hearts soften and forgiveness is given. People are more likely to be in a giving mood and when you give, you receive so much more in return and I think you're more susceptible to true reason for the Christmas season, that of celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Dan Walsh is a terrific storyteller and he's captured that magic and written a warm, captivating, comfortable Christmas novel.

I love Christmas. I love Christmas stories and collect them, so I'm always excited to find new ones each year. Remembering Christmas is one that I will gladly add to my ever growing collection.

Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Thanks to Donna Hausler of Baker Publishing Group for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Dan Walsh here. You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 11/11

* * * * *
4/5 Stars

Hope Underground: The Chilean Miners and Their Story of Faith and Miracles...Review

2011-11-14T06:00:00.039-07:00

About the book:
"God has never left us down here"
Thirty–three miners – trapped beneath the Chilean desert. _their situation, at first, seemed hopeless. Yet instead of abandoning hope, the miners, their families, communities of faith, the Chilean government and rescue workers united in an effort to achieve the impossible. What drove these people to defy failure and persevere against all odds? How did a small, white butterfly, a wayward probe, and a '34th miner' all play a significant role in the unfolding of this incredible story? While most reports of this stirring drama focus on what human effort can achieve, Hope Underground reveals the spiritual nature of the miners' experience, highlighting amazing details of how God's providence turned a potential tragedy into the most successful mining rescue of all time.

I don't think there are many people who didn't follow the saga of the miners trapped in a Chilean mine, and there are even fewer who didn't watch their miraculous rescue. But, what happened to them while they were in the mine, and what happened to their families and the community who held a vigil outside the mine entrance?

Carlos Parra Diaz, a pastor who became the Chaplain of Camp Hope, shares his story of what happened. Pastor Diaz went to the mine to help the people, to pray for them. He soon found himself in the unofficial position of camp chaplain. He came to know the families of the miners and the politicians who came and went from Camp Hope. Once communication with the miners was established, Pastor Diaz was instrumental in sending 33 tiny Bibles down to the miners, to help sustain their faith.

There were some language and sentence structure issues that were simply due to differences in translation and were fairly easy to overlook. The book is a terrific account of an amazing 10 weeks. The Camp Hope community was a community in every sense of the word. People who came together during a crisis to sustain and help one another. Truly amazing. Pastor Diaz shares a straight-forward, honest narrative, and shows us that God is indeed aware of His children and hears our prayers.

Thanks to Audra Jennings of the B&B Media Group for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Carlos Parra Diaz here. You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 11/11

* * * *
4/5 Stars

A Lasting Impression...Review

2011-11-11T06:00:00.045-07:00

A fake. A forger. More than anything, Claire Laurent longs for the chance to live an authentic life, to become the woman she wants to be. And she'll be given that choice. But will it come at too costly a price?

Claire Laurent's greatest aspiration is to paint something that will bring her acclaim. Yet her father insists she work as a copyist. A forger. When she's forced to flee from New Orleans to Nashville only a year after the War Between the States has ended, her path collides with attorney Sutton Monroe. She considers him a godsend for not turning her in to the authorities. But after he later refuses to come to her aid, Claire fears she's sorely misjudged the man. Finding herself among the elite of Nashville's society, Claire believes her dream to create a lasting impression in the world of art is within reach--but only if her fraudulent past remains hidden.

The Federal Army has destroyed Sutton's home and confiscated his land, and threatens to destroy his family's honor. His determination to reclaim what belongs to him and to right a grievous wrong reveals a truth that may cost him more than he ever imagined--as well as the woman he loves.Set at Nashville's historic Belmont Mansion, a stunning antebellum manor built by Mrs. Adelicia Acklen, A Lasting Impression is a sweeping love story about a nation mending after war, the redemption of those wounded, and the courage of a man and woman to see themselves--and each other--for who they really are.

A talented artist, Claire Laurent is forced to work as a copyist who forges famous paintings, when she only desires to paint her own work. When her father's illicit occupation forces her to flee her New Orleans home, she finds herself adrift in post-Civil War Nashville. A chance encounter with Sutton Monroe leads her to a position in the home of the city's most prominent women.

Claire adapts to her new role and her new life and as she finds herself falling in love with Sutton, she worries that her past will come between them. I loved the setting: post-Civil War Nashville, the world of art and the Belmont Mansion. Claire's story is both richly elegant and humbly redeeming and Sutton is a dashing, yet very mortal hero. This is a charming, engaging novel and one I was sad to see end.

I've read Tamera Alexander before and didn't completely love what I read then. But, A Lasting Impression sounded terrific and the cover was gorgeous. I had to read it simply for that. I'm so pleased that the book lived up to my expectations. It appears to be the first in a series and I look forward to more Belmont Mansion stories.

Thanks to Amy at Litfuse Publicity for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Tamera Alexander here. You can purchase your own copy here. You can see other reviews and tour stops here.

Read 11/11

* * * *
4/5 Stars

The Three Trees...Review

2011-11-08T06:00:00.027-07:00

About the book:
Three forest trees dream of what they will one day become. One dreams of becoming a royal throne; one of being a ship that can withstand any storm; and one longs to stay in the forest and grow as tall as tall can be. When they are felled, it seems their dreams are over. But as each tree is crafted into a new item - a manger, a fishing boat, and a rugged cross - it becomes clear that through the role they play in one important life their hopes are more than fulfilled. This traditional folktale is accompanied by stylish artwork from a highly sought-after children's book illustrator, and will help set the Christmas and Easter stories into the overall context of the Christian faith.

This is one of my favorite stories and one I always read at Christmas. This retelling is illustrated in a rich folk style. While not my most favorite style of art, it's still a gorgeous book. The story is short and concise and perfect to share with any age.

I collect Christmas books and we read them all season long. Our family tradition, dating back to when I was a girl, is to read our favorite stories on Christmas Eve. We each choose a story and read it aloud and then we finish with reading the birth of Jesus from the Bible. It's one of my favorite parts of the Christmas season and is the perfect way to usher in Christmas. This little book will go into my collection, to be read each Christmas season.

I think it would make a lovely gift as well.

Thanks to Kregel Publications for the opportunity to review this book. You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 11/11

* * * *
4/5 Stars

The Christmas Shoppe...Review

2011-11-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

About the book:
The small town of Parrish Springs is not quite ready for Matilda Honeycutt. A strange woman with scraggly hair and jewelry that jangles as she walks, Matilda keeps busy stocking and arranging her new shop on the town's quaint and lovely Main Street. When rumors start to fly about what might be going on behind the papered-up windows and the locked door, the image-conscious residents start looking for a way to get this woman and her wares out of their town before Christmas.

But Matilda Honeycutt has a little something for each one of them sitting on those cluttered shelves, just waiting to be discovered.

Last year, I really enjoyed Melody Carlson's Christmas novella, Christmas at Harrington's and so I was excited to see a new one from her this year. The Christmas Shoppe was just as charming.

New city manager Susanna Elton is still trying to get her bearings when Matilda Honeycutt shows up and purchases a prime storefront. An angry councilman wanted the building and is determined to see Matilda run out of town. As Susanna and Tommy Thompson, newspaper editor, try to uncover Matilda's secrets, they discover much more than a store full of odds and ends. It's not long before Matilda's magic manages to touch the entire town in one way or another.

A charming Christmas novella about finding oneself and purpose in life. With subtle Christian themes of forgiveness and love, this is a sweet Christmas story. It's short and easily read in one or two sittings, perfect for relaxing by the fire.

Thanks to Donna Hausler of Baker Publishing for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Melody Carlson here. You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 9/11

* * * *
4/5 Stars

(dis)Abilities and the Gospel...Review

2011-11-07T06:00:00.066-07:00

About the book:
Each day, parents and Church leaders struggle to teach individuals with special needs. Using real-life stories and a touch of humor, this inspiring book guides you to teach effectively, overcome communication barriers, and build strong relationships with people of all ages with disabilities. Discover each person's ability to learn and grow as you help them feel like a valuable part of your life.

Having a son who has Asperger's, I was very anxious to read (dis)Abilities and the Gospel. I think this is a long-needed and much welcome resource. The authors speak from personal experience as each has children with special needs.

The book is one you can read straight through, but it's also one that you can pick up and just search or read a chapter. General information about special needs as well as specific information about particular diagnoses is included. I particularly appreciated that there are chapters covering different ages/stages: Primary, Young Men/Young Women/Adults and Families. There are hints and suggestions for both parents and teachers. Suggestions on not only how to survive getting through Sacrament Meeting, but how to teach special needs children about prayer, and about Heavenly Father, scouting, etc.

This is a fantastic resource. I think that every ward should have a copy and every auxiliary president as well as any teacher who has a special needs child in their class should read it.

While written from an LDS perspective, this is a book that is applicable and adaptable to any denomination or classroom.

Thanks to Mariah at Cedar Fort Publishing for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Danyelle Ferguson here and Lynn Parsons here. You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 11/11

* * * * *
5/5 Stars

The Power of a Praying Wife...Wildcard!

2011-11-04T06:00:00.001-06:00

Today's Wild Card author is:

Stormie Omartian

and the book:

The Power of a Praying® Wife Devotional: New Ways to Pray for Yourself, Your Husband, and Your Marriage

Harvest House Publishers (August 1, 2011)

***Special thanks to Karri James of Harvest House Publishers for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Stormie Omartian is the bestselling author (more than 13 million books sold) of The Power of a Praying® series, which includes The Power of Praying® for Your Adult Children, The Power of a Praying® Wife, The Power of a Praying® Husband, and The Power of Prayer™ to Change Your Marriage. Her many other books include Just Enough Light for the Step I’m On, The Prayer That Changes Everything®, The Power of a Praying® Woman, and The Power of Praying® Through the Bible. Stormie and her husband, Michael, have been married more than 37 years and are the parents of two adult children.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

New from bestselling author Stormie Omartian is a book close to her own heart—The Power of a Praying® Wife Devotional. Following up on the insights and prayers of The Power of a Praying® Wife (more than 3.5 million books sold) 100 brand-new devotions, prayers, and supporting Scriptures offer a praying wife fresh ways to pray for her husband, herself, and her marriage.

These easy-to-read devotions will increase any wife’s understanding, strength, and peace, as well as provide her with perspective on the situations and challenges she faces. And each prayer will help both husbands and wives be more attuned to the Holy Spirit so they can do what’s right without allowing negative emotions or unclear thinking to get in the way.

A must-have for anyone wanting God’s best for this most important relationship.

Product Details:

List Price: $14.99
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (August 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736926925
ISBN-13: 978-0736926928

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

When I Desire Greater Persistence in Prayer

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,
in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

As a wife, you need the kind of prayer habit that doesn’t give up or allow discouragement to get in the way, but instead persists and keeps on praying and asking.

When God told Abraham He intended to determine if Sodom was deserving of destruction, Abraham then interceded, praying on behalf of however many righteous people might be there. He asked God if He would destroy Sodom if fifty righteous people were found there, and the Lord said He would not. Abraham then asked if He would destroy the city if forty-five righteous people were found there, then forty people, then thirty, then twenty. Each time Abraham asked, God said He would not destroy it for that many people. Finally Abraham said, “Suppose ten should be found there?” And God said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten” (Genesis 18:32). As it turned out, only four righteous people were there, so God destroyed it. But Abraham had stopped asking at ten.

We need the kind of persistence in prayer that causes us to continue asking as Abraham did. Too often we stop short. Perhaps Abraham stopped asking because he couldn’t imagine that there wouldn’t be at least ten righteous people in Sodom. Or perhaps by then God had proved His point and revealed His intentions. God knew the city was wicked enough to destroy, but He saved the four righteous people—which were Lot, his wife, and their two daughters (Genesis 19:29).

Your prayers are powerful to save too. So keep asking and continue seeking, and don’t ask for crumbs when God wants to give you the banquet. When it comes to praying for you and your husband and your marriage, ask God to help you persist in prayer for even what may seem impossible. Ask for your marriage to not only be saved, but to be good. Ask for it to not only be good, but to be great. God doesn’t say “No” to what is His will. If your husband has a strong will that refuses to submit to God’s will, persist in praying that God’s will wins out.

My Prayer to God

Lord, I pray You would help me to be persistent in prayer—to ask and keep asking for what I believe is Your will. I know anything less than love, selflessness, kindness, peace, and generosity of soul is not Your will in my relationship with my husband. Help me to persist in praying for nothing less than the high standard You have for our marriage. Give me a vision of how You want me to pray. Show me the way You want our marriage to be and help me to pray accordingly so that it becomes all that.

I know I cannot force my husband’s will to be anything other than what it is, but You can touch his heart and turn it toward You. I pray You would do that. May he welcome Your Lordship in his life. Help me to pray consistently and passionately, and to persevere no matter what is happening. I thank You in advance for the great things You are going to do in both of us and in our marriage.

In Jesus’ name I pray.

Maman's Homesick Pie...Review and Giveaway

2011-10-31T06:00:00.051-06:00

About the book:
For Donia Bijan’s family, food has been the language they use to tell their stories and to communicate their love. In 1978, when the Islamic revolution in Iran threatened their safety, they fled to California’s Bay Area, where the familiar flavors of Bijan’s mother’s cooking formed a bridge to the life they left behind. Now, through the prism of food, award-winning chef Donia Bijan unwinds her own story, finding that at the heart of it all is her mother, whose love and support enabled Bijan to realize her dreams.

From the Persian world of her youth to the American life she embraced as a teenager to her years at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris (studying under the infamous Madame Brassart) to apprenticeships in France’s three-star kitchens and finally back to San Francisco, where she opened her own celebrated bistro, Bijan evokes a vibrant kaleidoscope of cultures and cuisines. And she shares thirty inspired recipes from her childhood (Saffron Yogurt Rice with Chicken and Eggplant and Orange Cardamom Cookies), her French training (Ratatouille with Black Olives and Fried Bread and Purple Plum Skillet Tart), and her cooking career (Roast Duck Legs with Dates and Warm Lentil Salad and Rose Petal Ice Cream).

An exhilarating, heartfelt memoir, Maman’s Homesick Pie is also a reminder of the women who encourage us to shine.

I had no idea who Donia Bijan was before I read her memoir, but I certainly loved her story. After the death of her mother, Donia reflects on her life as she begins the task of sorting through her mother's things. Those reflections take us to her childhood in Iran, her family's subsequent exile to America and their new life here and Donia's own experience opening her own restaurant.

Relationships and memories often involve food: the preparing, the eating and the sharing of it. Maman's Homesick Pie is a heartwarming journey through one family's memories and recipes. Donia's reflections and narrative are warm, eloquent and vibrant. Donia's love for her family is tangible, as is her love of good food and cooking. Her mother's influence on her life and the lessons she learned at her mother's table are inspiring.

The book also includes family recipes; exotic Persian dishes that sound delicious.

Thanks to Lisa at TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Dona Bijan here. You can purchase your own copy here. You can see other reviews and tour stops here.

Monday, October 10th: Books, Movies, and Chinese Food
Monday, October 17th: girlichef
Wednesday, October 19th: Melody & Words
Thursday, October 20th: Unabridged Chick
Monday, October 24th: Luxury Reading
Monday, October 24th: Unabridged Chick – author interview
Wednesday, October 26th: Chocolate and Croissants
Thursday, October 27th: Love, Laughter, and a Touch of Insanity
Friday, October 28th: Peeking Between the Pages
Monday, October 31st: 2 Kids and Tired Book Reviews
Tuesday, November 1st: A Bookish Libraria
Thursday, November 3rd: Mockingbird Hill Cottage
TBD: Chick Lit Reviews

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GIVEAWAY:
Because I enjoyed Maman's Homesick Pie, thanks to the publisher, I'm offering a giveaway.

It really bugs me when you have to jump through tons of hoops in order to enter giveaways, so a comment with your email address will suffice.

However:
If you change your profile to have your email address visible, if it isn't already, you will gain an additional entry.

I ask this because it's so annoying to have someone leave a comment you would like to respond to, but can't, because their email is hidden. This is especially annoying if a question is asked in said comment.

If you choose to become a follower or tell me you already are, you can gain an additional entry too.

If you wanted to blog or tweet about it, that's great too, and you'd get an extra entry for that.

Just tell me in your comment if you've done any of the extras. You don't need to leave separate comments for each thing (too annoying!). Seriously though, just commenting is enough for me.

U.S. or Canada addresses only and no P.O. Boxes. Sorry!

This giveaway is now closed.

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Read 10/11

* * * *
4/5 Stars

I Am In Here...Review by the Doctor

2011-10-29T06:00:00.027-06:00

About the book:
Elizabeth Bonker is profoundly affected by autism and can’t speak, yet she illuminates the inner world of autism through poems that she types one finger at a time. I Am in Here: The Journey of a Child with Autism Who Cannot Speak but Finds Her Voice by Elizabeth Bonker and her mother Virginia Breen is the story of Elizabeth’s courage, determination, and optimism, and the relentless love of a mom who knew her daughter was "in there."

Over many years, Elizabeth learned to type independently on a letterboard and computer. Because the process is tedious, she began to write poetry, and has since written more than 100 poems. This child, who had been diagnosed as mentally retarded, is at last able to reveal her gifted mind in I Am in Here. The book is about:

Faith: Elizabeth’s poetry reveals a deep spiritual life, "contemplating God in a way that went beyond what she learned in Sunday School," Virginia says. "The burden of autism has helped us both understand one of life’s great mysteries. The most tangible way we experience God is through the presence of the people God has placed in our lives."

Clinging to Hope: "Autism Moms must find a way to cling to hope with a tenacity that is stronger than autism’s grip on our children," Virginia says. "My answer is finding the joy in the smallest of moments…a conscious choice to seek these small flowers of joy in the crannied wall."

Drawing Inspiration from 'How' People: 'How' people ask, 'how can I move forward?' rather than 'why me?' Elizabeth, with her overwhelming challenges, is the ultimate 'How' Person. The book also includes a gallery of the 'How' people whose inspiring stories are told in the book. "Elizabeth is my little flower, relentlessly breaking through autism with her poetry," Virginia writes. "Like the flowers in the sidewalk cracks, she is a quiet miracle."

There are some books that you read that you can't put down. You race from page to page desperate to know the ending. These books are the best sellers, because they give us a chance to escape reality for a while, to forget the trials and tribulations of our everyday lives as we drown our sorrows in the magic of a mythical happy ending.

However, sometimes you read a book that deserves to be a bestseller because it's not about a happy ending, and it's not a chance to escape reality, but an understanding of how to live your life better.

As a father of a boy with an autism spectrum disorder, I didn't think reading this book would be easy. And in large measure it isn't, not because it is a well-written (because it is) and not because it isn't heartwarming (because it is).

At its heart, this is a book about the harsh realities of life, and the struggles of a mother and a daughter to rise above diagnoses and despairs, and transform their lives into something wonderful, meaningful and illuminating.

Elizabeth Bonker is a young woman who cannot speak, but her words speak volumes of the power of the human spirit. Her mother, Virginia, redefines the role of what it means to be a mother, a friend, and a fierce champion for her daughter in the face of daunting and difficult odds.

As we are led through Elizabeth's life, Virginia gives us a side-by-side comparison of her works on behalf of Elizabeth, and on behalf of autistic children everywhere.

This book will move you to both tears and laughter, joy and sadness. Rarely does a book come along that reflects the humanity of our struggles everyday, and gives us hope that we too can rise above our own limitations, and become something more in the lives of others.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book. It will change how you feel about those with autism, and it'll give you hope for the struggles you have to fight every day.

Available October 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Thanks to Donna Hausler of Baker Publishing for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Elizabeth and Virginia here. You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 10/11

* * * * *
5/5 Stars

Don't Sing at the Table: Life Lessons from My Grandmothers...Review and Giveaway

2011-10-28T06:00:00.073-06:00

About the book:
New York Times bestselling author Adriana Trigiani’s gift for illuminating the profound challenges and issues defining women’s lives has propelled her novels to the top of bestseller lists and earned her a wide, devoted readership. Now, she shares the roots of those insights—the wisdom handed down to her from her unforgettable grandmothers, Lucia and Viola, which she began collecting for her own daughter—with readers everywhere.

Filled with practical, sage advice, and infused with Trigiani’s trademark warmth, love, and humor, Don’t Sing at the Table introduces a pair of feisty, intelligent, and strong forces of nature whose lives embody the story of 20th-century America itself. Between them, the extraordinary Lucia and Viola lived through the century from beginning to end, surviving immigration, young widowhood, single motherhood, four wars, and the Great Depression. Culled from their remarkable experiences, this heartfelt guide, at turns hilarious and poignant, offers answers to the seminal questions in a woman’s life, from getting married to saving money, nurturing the soul to keeping calm in a crisis, raising children to finding private comfort.

This is a warm, poignant tribute to the author's grandmothers. That Adriana loved and admired her grandmothers is very apparent. The life lessons learned are relevant to us today. I have not read anything by Adriana Trigiani and wasn't familiar with her at all before I read this book and so to me, this was simply a lovely accolade to two women who lived normal, ordinary lives but who, to one woman, were exceptional. I love memoirs and family histories and this tribute was poignant and thoughtful. I have a great deal of love and respect for my grandmothers, I learned many life lessons from them and I miss them.

Many of the life lessons in this book are simply rooted in common sense, but Adriana shares stories and anecdotes that emphasize and enrich them.

I have two complaints about the book. First, for a book that is so vividly rich and descriptive, there were annoying grammatical issues. I just have a thing with verbs and tenses agreeing. Second, towards the last part of the book, the author became preachy on her views and ideas of religion and raising children. That tone really disappointed me. Overall though, this is a sweet tribute by a granddaughter to her grandmothers. The inclusion of some favorite recipes is a bonus.

Thanks to Trish at TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Adriana Trigiani here. You can purchase your own copy here. You can see other reviews and tour stops here.

Tuesday, October 4th: Books Like Breathing
Wednesday, October 5th: Life In Review
Thursday, October 6th: Write Meg!
Tuesday, October 11th: Bookstack
Wednesday, October 12th: The Bodacious Pen
Thursday, October 13th: Book Hooked Blog
Monday, October 17th: Among Stories
Tuesday, October 18th: Good Girl Gone Redneck
Wednesday, October 19th: A Bookish Libraria
Thursday, October 20th: Laura’s Reviews
Monday, October 24th: Alison’s Book Marks
Wednesday, October 26th: The Road to Here
Thursday, October 27th: Amusing Reviews
Friday, October 28th: 2 Kids and Tired Book Reviews
Monday, October 31st: Redlady’s Reading Room
Tuesday, November 1st: Chocolate & Croissants
TBD: StephTheBookworm

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GIVEAWAY:
Because I enjoyed Don't Sing at the Table, thanks to the publisher, I'm offering a giveaway.

It really bugs me when you have to jump through tons of hoops in order to enter giveaways, so a comment with your email address will suffice.

However:
If you change your profile to have your email address visible, if it isn't already, you will gain an additional entry.

I ask this because it's so annoying to have someone leave a comment you would like to respond to, but can't, because their email is hidden. This is especially annoying if a question is asked in said comment.

If you choose to become a follower or tell me you already are, you can gain an additional entry too.

If you wanted to blog or tweet about it, that's great too, and you'd get an extra entry for that.

Just tell me in your comment if you've done any of the extras. You don't need to leave separate comments for each thing (too annoying!). Seriously though, just commenting is enough for me.

U.S. or Canada addresses only and no P.O. Boxes. Sorry!

This giveaway is now closed.

----------------------------------------

Read 10/11

* * * *
4/5 Stars

Wings: A Novel of World War II Flygirls...Review

2011-10-27T06:00:00.067-06:00

About the book:
Sally Ketchum comes from dirt-poor farm folk. She has little chance of bettering her life until a mysterious barnstormer named Tex teaches her to fly—and becomes the first person worthy of her love. But Tex dies in a freak accident, leaving Sally to make her own way in the world. She enrolls in the U.S. military’s Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program, and in a special school located in West Texas begins learning to fly the biggest, fastest, meanest airplanes the military has to offer. She also reluctantly becomes involved with Beau Bayard, a flight instructor and aspiring writer, who seems to offer her everything she could want. But many people see no place for a “skirt” in the cockpit, and Sally soon finds herself pitted against a high-powered Washington lawyer who wants to disband the WASP once and for all. Their battle is a story of extraordinary women who broke society’s rules and became heroes, and of men who stood in their way.

Sally's life is inherently unhappy, except for her brief time with Tex, the man who taught her to fly and the man with whom she fell in love. After his death, she learns about the WASP program and enrolls to become a female military pilot. Once at school, however, she learns that there are those who want the program disbanded and of one individual, in particular, who has a personal vendetta against her.

While historically, this is a very rich novel, it's not a particularly happy story. Sally's life is hard and it never gets easier, although she's tough and plucky and manages to overcome obstacles and adversity. She meets an a assortment of young women in the WASP program, all of whom have their own secrets and reasons for joining up. Their collective story is fascinating. Moderate profanity and innuendo is noted.

I think Karl Friedrich has done a terrific job of portraying a time in our history that was difficult for all: those who went to war and those who were left behind. Women rose to the occasion and took on many jobs that until the war came, had been male only jobs, including flying military jets. I'm appalled at the treatment these women received at the hand of our government and I'm proud of them for the pathway they paved for future women.

Thanks to Lisa at TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to review this book. You can purchase your own copy here. You can see other reviews and tour stops here.

Monday, October 3rd: A Bookish Librarian
Tuesday, October 4th: Life in Review
Wednesday, October 5th: Acting Balanced
Monday, October 10th: The Life (and lies) of an inanimate flying object - guest post
Tuesday, October 11th: Diary of an Eccentric
Wednesday, October 12th: “That’s Swell!”
Thursday, October 13th: Man of La Book
Saturday, October 15th: Man of La Book - author Q&A
Tuesday, October 18th: Reviews from the Heart
Wednesday, October 19th: A Bookish Affair
Thursday, October 20th: Bags, Books & Bon Jovi
Friday, October 21st: Flight to Success
Monday, October 24th: Melody & Words
Tuesday, October 25th: Unabridged Chick
Wednesday, October 26th: Staircase Wit
Thursday, October 27th: 2 Kids and Tired Books
Tuesday, November 1st: Joyfully Retired
Wednesday, November 2nd: The House of the Seven Tails
Thursday, November 3rd: Life on the Road as a Pilot
Date TBD: A Cozy Reader’s Corner

Read 10/11

* * *
3/5 Stars

A Necessary Deception...Review

2011-10-21T06:00:00.001-06:00

About the book:
When young widow Lydia Gale helps a French prisoner obtain parole, she never dreams she will see him again. But just as the London Season gets under way, the man presents himself in her parlor. While she should be focused on getting her headstrong younger sister prepared for her entrée into Society, Lady Gale finds herself preoccupied with the mysterious Frenchman. Is he a spy or a suitor? Can she trust him? Or is she putting herself and her family in danger?

Discover a world of elegance and intrigue, balls and masquerades as Laurie Alice Eakes whisks you into the drawing rooms of London Society on this exciting quest to let the past stay in the past--and let love guide the future.

Lydia's husband went to war with France after a week of marriage. After his death, she received cryptic instructions which told her that one day she would have the chance to help a friend of her husband's. When that time comes, she's surprised to find out that she's helping to free a French prisoner. With unanswered questions she, nevertheless, fulfills her obligation. As she then travels to London to prepare her younger sisters for one's entrance into society and another's marriage, she's surprised to once again meet this mysterious Frenchman. Lydia has no idea that her actions have drawn her into a dangerous game of intrigue and secrets.

I grew frustrated at times with chapters that ended and then didn't pick up again, but went onto something different. I'm sure it was the author's attempt at suspense, but I often felt like I'd missed something. Lydia's family was difficult to like and it was easy to see her frustrations with them. Her parents left her sisters' lives and futures in her hands and we never really understood why. The story has its moments, but I felt like there were too many unanswered questions and not enough detail.

I read Eakes' Lady in the Mist and while I didn't love it, I was curious about this new one as I enjoy the regency time period. However, both books were rather ordinary and unexceptional and I've decided that this is just an author who doesn't resonate with me. Fans of the regency time period and Laurie Alice Eakes, however, should enjoy this.

Available October 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Thanks to Donna Hausler of Baker Publishing for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Laurie Alice Eakes here. You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 10/11

* * *
3/5 Stars

The Story of Beautiful Girl...Review

2011-10-20T06:00:00.000-06:00

It is 1968. Lynnie, a young white woman with a developmental disability, and Homan, an African American deaf man, are locked away in an institution, the School for the Incurable and Feebleminded, and have been left to languish, forgotten. Deeply in love, they escape, and find refuge in the farmhouse of Martha, a retired schoolteacher and widow. But the couple is not alone--Lynnie has just given birth to a baby girl. When the authorities catch up to them that same night, Homan escapes into the darkness, and Lynnie is caught. But before she is forced back into the institution, she whispers two words to Martha: "Hide her."

And so begins the 40-year epic journey of Lynnie, Homan, Martha, and baby Julia--lives divided by seemingly insurmountable obstacles, yet drawn together by a secret pact and extraordinary love.

Locked away in an institution, circumstances arise that force Lynnie and Homan to attempt escape. They find themselves seeking shelter at Martha's farmhouse and when she opens the door to them, Martha has no idea the future that awaits her or how her life will forever be connected to theirs.

The story moves between characters over the course of 40 years. Admittedly, I found Homan's viewpoint hard to follow at times because of his deafness but, at the same time, I was enthralled with his perspective and how he related to people and situations. I loved these characters, especially Lynnie and Kate and their relationship. As the story progresses and we see where time and experience take everyone, I didn't want to put the book down. I will admit to both liking and disliking the ending though.

Rachel Simon did a fantastic job in her setting and in her treatment of these people who might be delayed, but by no means were unintelligent. Homan, especially, was a wonderful character: a man who was simply hearing impaired and who communicated with a form of sign language not understood by others, ended up in an institution. I don't begin to understand the psychology and reasoning behind these institutions and schools, although I can see why people would be afraid of those with disabilities. Even with our enlightened understanding of disabilities today, there are still misconceptions and judgments. In her writing, the author showed us both the good and bad in humanity and the difference that perseverance, love and a sprinkling of charity can make in a person's life.

I loved the author's note and acknowledgments at the end of the book where she explains why she wrote the book and her personal connection to it. This is a captivating story and I one I wholly enjoyed.

Thanks to my local library for having a copy I could borrow. You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 10/11

* * * *
4/5 Stars

The What's for Dinner? Solution...Review

2011-10-19T06:00:00.001-06:00

About the book:
For many women, dread turns to panic around 4:00 in the afternoon. That’s when they have to answer that age-old question, “What’s for dinner?” Many resort to another supermarket rotisserie chicken or—worse yet—ordering dinner through a drive-thru intercom.

In The “What’s for Dinner” Solution, popular author and speaker Kathi Lipp provides a full-kitchen approach for getting dinner on the table every night. After putting her 21-day plan into action, women will

* save time—with bulk shopping and cooking
* save money—no more last-minute phone calls to the delivery pizza place
* save their sanity—forget the last-minute scramble every night and know what they’re having for dinner

The book includes real recipes from real women, a quick guide to planning meals for a month, the best shopping strategies for saving time and money, and tips on the best ways to use a slow cooker, freezer, and pantry.

With Kathi’s book in hand, there’s no more need to hit the panic button.

I don't know any woman responsible for a home who hasn't, at some point in her life, stood in the middle of her kitchen at 5:30 and wondered what she was fixing for dinner. I think this scenario happens to most of us on a very regular basis. I'm a fairly organized homemaker who plans menus, and I still hit 5:30 on some days and have no idea what I'm doing.

Kathi Lipp has put together a terrific resource for not only the experienced cook, but also the novice. She has a very straight forward way of writing and the book is short and easily read in one or two sittings, or by chapter.

In a nutshell, we're better cooks when we take the time to plan and organize. It's as simple as that. It's not new information. It's not the proverbial light bulb. It's something we all know. Here, however, Kathi gives us solid ideas and ways to be more organized and on top of things. With chapters covering grocery shopping and shopping strategies, using your slow cooker and your freezer, organizing your kitchen and pantry and planning for leftovers, Kathi shares tips and tricks and lots of family-friendly recipes.

As I read this book, I noticed a lot of things I already do (planning menus according to my family's schedule, using my crock pot and freezer cooking) and I discovered a few new helpful hints and suggestions, as well as more than one recipe I want to try out.

I think this would be a great gift for any cook/homemaker, and it would be a terrific resource for someone out on their own for the first time. Wrap it up with a dish towel and casserole pan for a cute presentation.

Thanks to First Wildcard and Harvest House Publishers for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Kathi Lipp here. You can read the first chapter here. You can purchase your own copy here
.
Read 10/11

* * * *
4/5 Stars

Beyond All Measure...Review and Giveaway

2011-10-18T06:00:00.072-06:00

Add caption

About the book:
Unless she can trust God's love to cast out her fears, Ada may lose the heart of a good man.

Ada Wentworth, a young Bostonian, journeys to Hickory Ridge, Tennessee, in the years following the Civil War. Alone and nearly penniless following a broken engagement, Ada accepts a position as a lady's companion to the elderly Lillian Willis, a pillar of the community and aunt to the local lumber mill owner, Wyatt Caldwell. Ada intends to use her millinery skills to establish a hat shop and secure her future.

Haunted by unanswered questions from her life in Boston, Ada is most drawn to two townsfolk: Wyatt, a Texan with big plans of his own, and Sophie, a mulatto girl who resides at the Hickory Ridge orphanage. Ada's friendship with Sophia attracts the attention of a group of locals seeking to displace the residents of Two Creeks, a "colored" settlement on the edge of town. As tensions rise, Ada is threatened but refuses to abandon her plan to help the girl.

When Lillian dies, Ada is left without employment or a place to call home. And since Wyatt's primary purpose for staying in Hickory Ridge was to watch over his aunt, he can now pursue his dream of owning Longhorns in his home state of Texas.

With their feelings for each other growing, Ada must decide whether she can trust God with her future and Wyatt with her heart.

Having lost her fortune, family and fiance during the Civil War and its aftermath, Ada Wentworth answers an ad for a position as a lady's companion and finds herself in Tennessee, a long way from Boston. While her greatest desire is to own her own millinery shop, she realizes she must first fund it and Wyatt Caldwell wants her to put her full attention toward caring for his crotchety aunt. Ada also has a painful past and must learn what it is God wants her to do. Naturally, Ada and Wyatt are attracted to each other, but a jealous school teacher wants Wyatt only for herself.

I enjoyed watching Ada and Lillian's relationship grow and it was refreshing to see the townspeople begin to soften towards Ada as they put aside their Yankee prejudices. This is a book packed full of adventure and experiences and the KKK aspect and overt racism brought a different perspective.

Beyond All Measure is a charming, clean Christian novel. While I enjoyed the novel, I found some of the characterizations a bit extreme. However, this is a story that does draw you in and I'm glad to know it's the first of a series. I look forward to the next installment.

Thanks to Lisa at TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Dorothy Love here. You can purchase your own copy here. You can see other tour stops here.

Monday, October 17th: A Fair Substitute for Heaven
Tuesday, October 18th: 2 Kids and Tired
Wednesday, October 19th: Reviews by Molly
Thursday, October 20th: A Chick Who Reads
Monday, October 24th: Reviews from the Heart
Tuesday, October 25th: All Grown Up?
Wednesday, October 26th: I Am A Reader, Not A Writer author Q&A
Thursday, October 27th: Luxury Reading
Friday, October 28th: Life in Review
Tuesday, November 1st: Deb’s Book Bag
Wednesday, November 2nd: Cheryl’s Book Nook
Thursday, November 3rd: Life in the Thumb
Friday, November 4th: Southern Sassy Things
Monday, November 7th: By the Book
Wednesday, November 9th: Christian Bookshelf Reviews
Monday, November 14th: The Overweight Bookshelf
Wednesday, November 16th: Peeking Between the Pages

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GIVEAWAY:
Because I enjoyed Beyond All Measure, thanks to the publisher, I'm offering a giveaway.

It really bugs me when you have to jump through tons of hoops in order to enter giveaways, so a comment with your email address will suffice.

However:
If you change your profile to have your email address visible, if it isn't already, you will gain an additional entry.

I ask this because it's so annoying to have someone leave a comment you would like to respond to, but can't, because their email is hidden. This is especially annoying if a question is asked in said comment.

If you choose to become a follower or tell me you already are, you can gain an additional entry too.

If you wanted to blog or tweet about it, that's great too, and you'd get an extra entry for that.

Just tell me in your comment if you've done any of the extras. You don't need to leave separate comments for each thing (too annoying!). Seriously though, just commenting is enough for me.

U.S. or Canada addresses only and no P.O. Boxes. Sorry!

This giveaway is now closed.
----------------------------------------

Read 10/11

* * *
3/5 Stars

The What's for Dinner Solution?...Wildcard!

2011-10-17T05:59:00.001-06:00

Today's Wild Card author is:

Kathi Lipp

and the book:

The "What's for Dinner?" Solution

Harvest House Publishers (October 1, 2011)

***Special thanks to Karri | Marketing Assistant, Harvest House Publishers for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kathi Lipp is a busy conference and retreat speaker, currently speaking each year to thousands of women throughout the United States. She is the author of The Husband Project and The Marriage Project and has had articles published in several magazines, including Today’s Christian Woman and Discipleship Journal. Kathi and her husband, Roger, live in California and are the parents of four teenagers and young adults.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

For many women, dread turns to panic around 4:00 in the afternoon. That’s when they have to answer that age-old question, “What’s for dinner?” Many resort to another supermarket rotisserie chicken or—worse yet—ordering dinner through a drive-thru intercom.

In The “What’s for Dinner” Solution, popular author and speaker Kathi Lipp provides a full-kitchen approach for getting dinner on the table every night. After putting her 21-day plan into action, women will

* save time—with bulk shopping and cooking
* save money—no more last-minute phone calls to the delivery pizza place
* save their sanity—forget the last-minute scramble every night and know what they’re having for dinner

The book includes real recipes from real women, a quick guide to planning meals for a month, the best shopping strategies for saving time and money, and tips on the best ways to use a slow cooker, freezer, and pantry.

With Kathi’s book in hand, there’s no more need to hit the panic button.

Product Details:

List Price: $12.99
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (October 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736938370
ISBN-13: 978-0736938372

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Girl Meets Kitchen, or Not

Necessarily a Love Story

“Happy and successful cooking doesn’t rely only on know-how;
it comes from the heart, makes great demands on the palate and needs enthusiasm and a deep love of food to bring it to life.”

Georges Blanc, from Ma Cuisine des Saisons

I was not the kind of kid who grew up at my mom’s knee, helping her chop carrots for Sunday night’s chicken soup. I never really helped with any meal preparation, preferring to turn my attention in the kitchen to baking. There was always some social event with friends or a youth group party where I needed to bring brownies. The one memorable time I tried to make instant potatoes? Instead of the specified one-quarter tablespoon of salt, I used a quarter cup salt. That incident happened over twenty-five years ago, and I have yet to stop hearing about it from my loving and encouraging family.

Suffice to say, I was a bit ill-prepared for the cooking adventures that lay ahead as I lived on my own for the first time. And to complicate matters? My first apartment was in Uji, Japan, approximately seven thousand miles from my mother’s loving embrace and her pot-roast recipe (as if I could afford beef in Japan).

The recipe cards were stacked against me. No cooking skills to speak of, living in a foreign land where most of the time I couldn’t identify what I was eating much less figure out how it was prepared, a kitchen the size of my coat closet back home, and an oven so small it made me long for the Easy-Bake one of my childhood.

I was terrified going to the supermarket without an escort and a translator. I didn’t speak the language (as a short-term missionary teaching conversational English, speaking Japanese was actually a disadvantage in my job), and as unfamiliar as I was with food shopping in the U.S., shopping in Uji was like watching a foreign movie without subtitles and then having to write a paper on the plot.

Oh, and eating out? So not an option. While my cooking skills were limited, my food budget was near nonexistent.

A few things were easy to recognize. The bread in Japan was amazing. It was buttery and flaky and perfect. And there was some really lovely cheese and ham. So, for the first three months of exploring this exotic new culture, I ate ham and cheese sandwiches every single night for dinner.

As I started to get to know some of my students and coworkers better, I had this urge to invite them over to hang out with me. But I had a sneaking suspicion they would want to be fed. I knew that my students would love some authentic American dishes. The question was, Who would I get to cook them?

Another short-term missionary, Diana, had a cookbook called More-With-Less. This wonderful little book produced by the Mennonite community had tons of recipes that used simple ingredients most cooks would have in their kitchen. While I didn’t have a lot of pantry staples in my four-story walk-up, I was now armed with a grocery list as well as an English-to-Japanese dictionary for my trips to the store.

I started to look for simple things I could make: salads, sandwiches, curries, and mini-pizzas out of English muffins and ketchup. (I promise, my culinary skills and taste have gotten better over the years.) As I grew braver in all things cuisine, I started to ask my mom to send some of my favorite recipes from back home.

In fact, when I threw a Christmas celebration with my friend Spenser in my micro-sized apartment, we managed to make a fondue-potless version of my mom’s Pizza Fondue. Shopping for the ingredients proved challenging, even for Spenser who spoke near-fluent Japanese. After several attempts to translate cornstarch into the native language (One would think corn + starch = cornstarch, right? Wrong. It’s pronounced korunstarcha.), we headed back to my kitchen and made one of the best meals I have ever eaten—lots of tomato sauce, some ground beef, loads of cheese, and just the right amount of korunstarcha.

Pizza Fondue
(Connie Richerson)

½ lb. ground beef

1 small onion, chopped

2 10½-oz. cans pizza sauce (I use marinara sauce)

1 T. cornstarch (or korunstarcha, if you prefer)

1½ tsp. oregano

¼ tsp. garlic powder

2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

1 loaf French bread

Brown the ground beef and onion; drain. Put meat, sauce, cornstarch, and spices in fondue pot. When cooked and bubbly, add cheese. Spear crusty French bread cubes, then dip and swirl in fondue. This is also delicious with breadsticks. Serves 4 to 6.

From that point on, I was hooked on collecting my favorite recipes. I bought my own copy of More-With-Less when I got back to the States, and when I got married a few months later, I received my very first copy of everyone’s favorite red-and-white-plaid Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book, with every recipe an emerging home cook could want.

I think most of us home cooks have a similar story to tell. OK, you probably didn’t have your first significant cooking experience in Uji, Japan, but I bet the first few times you got dinner on the table all on your own, you might as well have been in a different country.

Maybe your mom had you peeling potatoes before you could walk. Maybe you have a rich heritage of recipes passed down from your grandmother. None of our cooking histories are going to look the same, but we do have one thing in common: We all need to get dinner on the table.

I am not a professional cook. Tom Colicchio will never be critiquing my braised kale and chocolate with bacon foam on Top Chef. But over the past twenty years I have put dinner on the table almost every single night. And while my family still likes a pizza from the neighborhood shop, our kids who have left home really look forward to coming back for a home-cooked meal.

That is all the reward I need.

Why This Book?

So, you discovered my deep dark secret—I’m not a professional chef. I don’t have my own show on Food Network, my own brand of spatulas, and I’m not going to be appearing on any morning show making a frittata for Kathie Lee Gifford.

Still, I’m required to feed our large family almost daily. So when I come across a cookbook, I have an unnatural need to own it. I’m always looking for new recipes to keep dinner interesting at our house. I have an entire bookshelf in my kitchen for my ever-growing collection.

But to be honest with you, most of the money I’ve spent on those cookbooks could have been better spent on a good set of knives or a heavy iron skillet.

I have found that most cookbooks are aimed at the fantasy life many of us aspire to—entertaining regularly, having unusual and exotic ingredients on hand, and hours and hours in the kitchen to create these masterpieces, from scratch.

And then there is my reality. Yes, sometimes I like to spend a Saturday afternoon cooking up a big feast for friends and family. But most days? I want to get a delicious, healthy meal on the table quickly.

My test when I’m purchasing new cookbooks? I flip to a half dozen or so recipes throughout the book and ask myself, Can I imagine cooking this recipe in the next couple of weeks? If most of the recipes fail the test, the book stays at the store.

I want the reality. I want dinner on the table every night without being seduced by pictures of stylist-arranged food that—let’s be honest—I’m never going to prepare.

While those books offer up a lot of grilled-chicken-in-a-peanut-sauce-in-the-sky dreams, I need some reality. It’s not just about the recipe; it’s about all the aspects of getting dinner on the table.

By the end of this book, my hope for you is that you will be able to:

save time, money, and energy when it comes to
preparing meals
have less stress when it comes to shopping
get your kitchen prepared for battle
learn some stress-free ways to get dinner on the table
get out of your cooking rut
This book is all about the process, the how of getting dinner on the table. It reflects the collective wisdom of hundreds of women who don’t have prep cooks or a crew of interns trying out new recipes. We are the women who spend a significant part of our days thinking about, shopping for, and preparing dinner. And all these wise, wonderful women are going to show you a better way to get dinner on the table no matter what your cooking background or skill level.

This is the book I wish I’d had when I first started cooking, as well as when I was raising my brood of pint-sized food critics.

Don’t worry, there will be plenty of recipes. We all love to find that one recipe that is going to become a family favorite! But this book has much more than that. My hope is that you will be able to use the recipes you already have, the ones in this book, and the new ones you find along the way to set a big, bountiful table for your family.

Baby, it's cold outside...Review and Giveaway

2011-10-15T06:00:00.021-06:00

About the book:
Dottie Morgan has no desire to share her home or her heart over the Christmas holidays. After all, her Christmas spirit froze over when Dottie lost her son in World War II. But when a blizzard of the decade traps Dottie in her home with four near strangers, she just might discover that opening her door might also open her heart to a Christmas miracle and a new reason to celebrate Christmas.

Dottie has a life of regrets and a loss of faith over the death of her only son during World War 2. Gordy has always loved her from afar. Violet and Jake must learn to trust one another and little Arnie is lonely and lost in his imaginary world of Flash Gordon. When a sudden blizzard brings them all together in Dottie's house, she's not sure she can handle the emotions that begin to come forth. But, as each life touches the others, hearts are opened and feelings shared and a Christmas miracle brings them all home.

What a sweet story about faith and forgiveness. Dottie was a bit prickly, but she really grew on me as her heart softened and she discovered herself again. These are characters who you come to love and care for and this book is a perfect way to start off the holiday season.

Thanks to Amy at Litfuse Publicity for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Susan May Warren here. You can purchase your own copy here. You can see other reviews and tour stops here.

Read 9/11

* * * *
4/5 Stars

-------------------------------------
Warm up to Christmas early this year with Susan May Warren's Baby, It's Cold Outside! To celebrate the release of her new Christmas book with Summerside Press, she and the publisher are giving away a Kindle Fire and hosting an early Christmas Party on Facebook!

Read what the reviewers are saying here.

One festive winner will receive:

A brand new Kindle Fire
Baby, It's Cold Outside by Susan May Warren

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. Giveaway ends on 10/26!

But, wait there’s more! Join Susan May Warren on 10/27 for merriment and a few early Christmas presents at her Baby, It's Cold Outside Christmas party! Grab your Christmas sweaters, socks and pj’s and join Susan and a few friends for a fireside chat about her recent books (Heiress & Baby, It’s Cold Outside), holiday traditions, favorite Christmas recipes, a trivia contest and more! Invite your friends and don’t miss the fun!

RSVP here and we'll see you on October 27th at 5 PM PST / 8 PM EST!

The Alias...Review

2011-10-14T06:00:00.017-06:00

About the book:
After a long and difficult divorce, Jacey thinks the worst is over. Little does she know she'll soon be forced to go undercover to protect her family, and in the process, she'll risk losing her identity, her future, and her heart. With a lightning pace, a good dose of humor, and a plot that's full of suspense, this thrilling novel is an edge-of-your-seat read.

When Jacey Grayson is finally able to divorce her abusive husband, she finally believes she will be able to move on with her life. However, when the FBI shows up and begins asking questions about her ex-husband's mob ties, she has no idea what they're talking about. Fearing for her life and the life of her son Blaze, Jacey assumes her best friend Melissa's identity and flees to rural Utah. As Jacey and Blaze are welcomed by Melissa's family, Jacey is torn from the need to lie and protect her son, and the desire to reveal her secrets to the wonderful people who have sheltered them.

The Alias has terrific elements: a charming hero, a sweet heroine, a precocious child, suspense and intrigue. I thought that the author covered the issues of spousal abuse well. Jacey's situation wasn't handled with a heavy hand, nor was it glossed over. The LDS elements are subtle and woven into the story in a natural, non-preachy way. And Grant and Helen? Fantastic characters, and just like everyone's favorite aunt and uncle.

While I liked these characters, I did find some of them to be somewhat one-dimensional, especially the ex-husband and the FBI agents. I also, personally, hate the endearment "babe". It always sounds wrong to me and Jacey uses it quite often, especially when referring to her son, Blaze, which is a name that I'm really curious about. It sounds like the name for a romance novel hero, not a sweet, precocious child. But, the author seems to like different names and unique spellings and both of those things are certainly more common these days. I think I'm just old.

Those issues are mine, however, and I think that this is a terrific debut novel from an author with a fantastic potential. I look forward to more from Mandi Slack.

Thanks to Virtual Book Tours by Tristi Pinkston for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Mandi Slack here. You can purchase your own copy here. The Kindle version is currently $3.99!

Read 10/11

* * *
3/5 Stars

Coming Up for Air...Review

2011-10-13T06:00:00.006-06:00

On the coast of Alabama, there is a house cloaked in mystery, a place that reveals the truth and changes lives...

Ellie Calvin is caught in a dying marriage, and she knows this. With her beloved daughter away at college and a growing gap between her and her husband – between her reality and the woman she wants to be – she doesn’t quite seem to fit into her own life.

But everything changes after her controlling mother, Lillian, passes away. Ellie’s world turns upside down when she sees her ex-boyfriend, Hutch, at her mother’s funeral and learns that he is in charge of a documentary that involved Lillian before her death. He wants answers to questions that Ellie’s not sure she can face, until, in the painful midst of going through her mother’s things, she discovers a hidden diary – and a window onto stories buried long ago.

As Ellie and Hutch start speaking for the first time in years, Ellie’s closed heart slowly begins to open. Fighting their feelings, they set out together to dig into Lillian’s history. Using both the diary and a trip to the Summer House, a mysterious and seductive bayside home, they gamble that they can work together and not fall in love again. But in piecing together a decades-old unrequited-love story, they just might uncover the secrets in their own hearts…

This was one that I really wanted to like. It was meant to be a heartwarming and beautiful novel about a woman searching for truth about her family and discovering what she really wants out of life. Unfortunately, Ellie wasn't someone I really connected with. Her mother was a shrew and her husband was a one-dimensional selfish jerk.

I liked the southern beach setting and I enjoyed Ellie's discovery about her mother's past and how it explained Ellie's relationship with her mother. I just wish I could have liked Ellie.

Thanks to Emily from Wunderkind-PR for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Patti Callahan Henry here. You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 10/11

* *
2/5 Stars

Autumn Song...Review

2011-10-11T06:00:00.002-06:00

About the book:
Why does everyone think a girl’s only lot in life is to find a husband and settle down?

Kathleen Muldoon is twenty-three and tired of ranch living. Fiercely independent and determined to become a nurse, she has left her family’s ranch to study medicine under Old Doc Jensen and live in town with her Aunt Mae, who runs a boardinghouse. Daniel Monroe has just arrived in Porterfield to set up his law practice. Sparks fly when he is introduced to Kate at the boardinghouse, but the initial attraction quickly dissolves into an argument—the first of many. Daniel is enamored with Kate but uncomfortable with her independent spirit and dreams of becoming a nurse.

When trouble erupts between the ranchers and lumberjacks over timber rights, Kate is furious to learn that Daniel has worked out an agreement she believes will destroy her father’s land. Can they overcome their pride and help each other become everything God wants them to be? Set in the late 1800s, the Seasons of the Heart series follows the lives of four women and their families, weaving together their stories of faith, life, and love as they bond in friendship only God could orchestrate.

Kathleen wants nothing more than to be a nurse. She doesn't want to get married, she doesn't want to fall for the town's new lawyer and she wants her family to let her be. Daniel just wants a chance to practice law and finds himself attracted to Kate even as he struggles with her desire for independence. As the two get to know each other, sparks fly and so do challenges. Together they must manage to figure out their own paths in life and how to merge those paths into one that is pleasing to God.

Second in the Seasons of the Heart series, this is a sequel to Summer Dream. While it adds depth to have read the first one, it's not necessary and this stands alone well. Like Summer Dream, the language was a bit stilted and formal, but easy to get past. Kathleen was quite prickly and prone to over reaction which grew a bit tiresome. However, I liked her and I really liked Daniel. I enjoyed their story and while somewhat predictable, it was still charming and an entertaining, light read. I look forward to the third book, Winter Promise.

Thanks to First Wildcard and Charis Media for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Martha Rogers here. You can read the first chapter here. You can purchase your own copy here
.
Read 9/11

* * *
3/5 Stars

Autumn Song...Wildcard!

2011-10-11T05:59:00.004-06:00

Today's Wild Card author is:

Martha Rogers

and the book:

Autumn Song (Seasons of the Heart)

Realms (October 4, 2011)

***Special thanks to Kim Jones | Publicity Coordinator, Charisma House | Charisma Media for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Martha Rogers is the author of Becoming Lucy; Morning for Dove; Finding Becky; Caroline’s Choice; Not on the Menu, a part of a novella collection with DiAnn Mills, Janice Thompson, and Kathleen Y’Barbo; and River Walk Christmas, a novella collection with Beth Goddard, Lynette Sowell, and Kathleen Y’Barbo. A former schoolteacher and English instructor, she has a master’s degree in education and lives with her husband in Houston, Texas.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Why does everyone think a girl’s only lot in life is to find a husband and settle down?
Kathleen Muldoon is twenty-three and tired of ranch living. Fiercely independent and determined to become a nurse, she has left her family’s ranch to study medicine under Old Doc Jensen and live in town with her Aunt Mae, who runs a boardinghouse.

Daniel Monroe has just arrived in Porterfield to set up his law practice. Sparks fly when he is introduced to Kate at the boardinghouse, but the initial attraction quickly dissolves into an argument—the first of many. Daniel is enamored with Kate but uncomfortable with her independent spirit and dreams of becoming a nurse.

When trouble erupts between the ranchers and lumberjacks over timber rights, Kate is furious to learn that Daniel has worked out an agreement she believes will destroy her father’s land. Can they overcome their pride and help each other become everything God wants them to be?
Set in the late 1800s, the Seasons of the Heart series follows the lives of four women and their families, weaving together their stories of faith, life, and love as they bond in friendship only God could orchestrate.

Product Details:

List Price: $13.99
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Realms (October 4, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1616384573
ISBN-13: 978-1616384579

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

August 1889

Kate Muldoon, I simply can’t understand why you haven’t found yourself a husband among all the eligible men in this town.” Sarah picked up a book from the bedside table in Kate’s room. “You’re twenty-three now, and hiding yourself away to read and study all the time will not help you find the right man.”

Kate grabbed the book from her sister-in-law, who had wandered into her room for a chat. As usual, the talk had turned to men. “I don’t need a man,” Kate declared.

“How can you say that?” Sarah gasped.

Kate shook her head. Marriage and family ranked last in the things she wanted out of life right now. Kate fought against the swelling tide of anger that had landed her in trouble on more than one occasion. Why did everyone think a woman’s only role was that of a wife and mother? Sarah meant well, but then she loved living on a ranch and taking care of her husband Donavan Muldoon. Sarah believed everyone should be in love, as did her other sisters-in-law.

Once again Kate tried to explain. “Sarah, I do not intend to marry a rancher or anyone connected with cattle. I was born on a ranch, grew up on a ranch, and have lived around cattle and horses all my life so far, and I don’t plan on spending the rest of it on one.” Despite her love of horses and riding, the ranch held no pull or fascination for her as it once did when she was younger. Kate hugged her textbook to her chest. “Why do you think I’ve studied everything about Florence Nightingale and nursing and moved into town to help Aunt Mae?”
Sarah waved her hand airily, dismissing Kate’s plans. “I don’t know about that, but I do know Auntie Mae’s boardinghouse is full of men who are not ranchers. Why, there’s my cousin Seth who just moved out here to pastor our church, and then there’s Doc Jensen’s nephew who came to town to assist his uncle with the infirmary. They’re both unattached. Sometimes I think you’re just too picky.”

Picky wasn’t exactly the word Kate would choose, but preachers and doctors held no interest for her other than as people she could work with. She did enjoy working with Doc Jensen and his nephew, Elliot Jensen, but they were teaching her to be a nurse. Besides, Elliot wasn’t really a friendly sort even if he did have an excellent bedside manner with his patients.
Kate sighed. Her sister-in-law was raised in an upperclass family in Boston, where the entire focus of her life in the last few years had been on her whirlwind romance, marriage to Donavan, then moving to Texas and having Jeremy. How could she possibly understand Kate’s dreams? “I’m learning all I can about nursing and treatments so I can work more with Doctor Jensen,” she explained with as much patience as she

could muster. “He lets me help with some of the lighter cases and says I’m getting good at recognizing symptoms. Besides, I was thinking that the preacher would make a wonderful match for Erin.”

Sarah brightened at the thought. “That might not be a bad idea now that she is of marrying age. Erin would be a good wife for Seth and a good mother for their little ones. She loves little Jeremy and has been a big help to me in taking care of him.” She turned to leave. “I’ll look for you Sunday at church and then afterward for dinner out at the ranch. Now I need to rescue Auntie Mae from Jeremy.”

As if Aunt Mae needed rescuing. Kate waved her hand in the air to say good-bye. Dinner with the Muldoon clan meant much food and lots of laughter, but it also meant another boring afternoon listening to talk of cattle drives and auctions and horses by the men, and talk of babies and mothering by the women—none of which held any interest whatsoever for Kate.
Three older brothers—Brody, Donavan, and Ian—had ranches of their own, and that’s all they talked about. The fourth older brother, Cory, had his sights set on being a lawman and had moved into town to be a deputy for Marshal Slade. Erin, the baby of the family, still lived on the ranch. She’d just turned nineteen and was by far the prettiest of the Muldoon clan.
Kate welcomed Cory’s company and his presence at the boardinghouse. At least he wasn’t interested in finding a bride, and he didn’t pester her about finding a mate. He had his sights set on being a marshal himself one day and figured that job too dangerous to take a wife. Kate snorted. So it was OK

for a man to be unmarried and pursue his dreams, but not a woman.
She laid aside her book and sauntered down to the hallway to find the mail from Aunt Mae’s boarders. One of her jobs at Aunt Mae’s included taking care of the mail. With a start, she realized she’d have to hurry to get there before the afternoon train arrived.

One afternoon train from the west would be picking up mail headed for the East Coast. An earlier train had dropped off its delivery, and that mail waited for her now at the post office. Ever since the railroads had been completed, Kate had seen more men coming to town to work the ranches around the area as well as find their own land and start farming or ranching. All the land around Porterfield belonged to ranchers

and farmers, but in a state as big as Texas, there seemed to be plenty of land to go around.

She donned her wide-brimmed straw hat to ward off the sun’s rays and hurried out to complete her task. The Grayson General Store and Post Office beckoned her to hurry. The train would be here any minute. Her feet kicked up puffs of dust as she walked. Her shoes would need a good cleaning later, but she didn’t mind as she enjoyed the four-block walk to the general store that housed the post office.

When Kate stepped into the store, the balding proprietor grinned and tilted his head. “Is that mail from the boarders at your aunt’s house?”

Kate plopped the letters on the counter along with coins

for stamps. “Yes, it is.”

Mr. Grayson affixed a two-penny stamp to each envelope. “How many boarders are there now?”

Kate closed her eyes to vision the count. “Counting Cory and me, there’s eight. All but one of the rooms is filled, and Aunt Mae is happy as a lark. For some reason, men come to this town, like it, and stay.”
Mrs. Grayson joined her husband. Her blue eyes sparkled as she gazed at Kate. “And when are you going to choose one of these men here for your own?”
Heat rose in Kate’s cheeks. Everyone thought they had to ask that question. “I don’t plan on marrying anytime soon. I’m studying to be a nurse, and besides, who’d help Aunt Mae take care of the house and all the meals if I wasn’t around?”

The plump, rosy-cheeked Mrs. Grayson laughed. “She’d do fine without you, and I’ve seen how Mr. Fuller over at the bank looks at her. Wouldn’t surprise me if she takes a husband one of these days.”
“That’s hard for me to imagine.” The very idea of her aunt with another man after the love she shared with Uncle Patrick caused Kate’s insides to quiver like the branches of a justfelled tree. Aunt Mae did have a few of the men, including Mr. Fuller, looking her way, but she paid them no mind. If Aunt Mae did decide to marry, Kate wouldn’t interfere, but she’d have no part in bringing about that possibility.
As soon as Mr. Grayson dropped the envelopes into the outgoing mail bag, he headed outside and toward the depot. Mrs. Grayson handed her mail from the boardinghouse box. “Thank you.” Kate slid the envelopes into her pocket and wiggled her fingers at Mrs. Grayson. “Bye, now. It’s time to get things started for dinner at Aunt Mae’s.”
On her way back to the boardinghouse, the idea of Aunt Mae marrying danced through her head. Would Aunt Mae give up running the boardinghouse if she married? Kate knew how much her aunt loved visiting with the boarders and preparing their meals. It was impossible to think of her ever leaving the place. Certainly she had found her calling, and for once in this town it didn’t focus only on being a wife and keeping house! Still, when Uncle Patrick was alive, Aunt Mae had combined being a wife and managing all those boarders without much trouble. Perhaps Kate could do the same sometime in the far distant

future.
Daniel Monroe finished his letter and sealed it in an envelope. In a few days he’d leave for the greatest adventure of his life, and he wanted Seth to know when to expect him. He reread the post from his friend telling him that the mayor was more than willing for Daniel to come to Porterfield, Texas, and practice

law as they had no lawyers in the town. If lawyers were needed in Porterfield, then that’s where he’d head.

Seth Winston had gone to Texas last year to pastor the church where his cousin Sarah and her family were members. The idea of going to Porterfield had grown more appealing as Seth had described it when he’d returned to Briar Ridge for his sister Rachel’s wedding this past spring. True, Texas was a long way from Connecticut, but images of the untamed West and all the adventures Daniel could have outweighed the

distance.
He envisioned cowboys, gunfights, saloon brawls, and train robberies. The tales he’d heard about Texas rolled through his mind in an endless stream of pictures. All the action and excitement sounded much better than the quiet town of Briar Ridge where he spent most of his time writing wills and taking care of legal documents for land sales or contracts for service. He’d already reassigned all his clients to other lawyers in

Briar Ridge, and none had truly complained, which only served to emphasize the fact that he wasn’t really needed here. Daniel cleaned out his desk and put it all in a box to carry home. He planned to have the desk, a gift from his parents, shipped to Texas with him. Now all he had to do was purchase his train ticket and say good-bye to family and friends. Since his parents, especially his mother, didn’t approve the move, he didn’t expect a going-away party.

Father seemed on the verge of understanding Daniel’s desire to travel to new frontiers and make a life for himself. Mother, on the other hand, wouldn’t and couldn’t accept the fact that her only son wanted to leave home and move thousands of miles away. His sister, Abigail, would hardly speak to him, but that did not keep Daniel from making arrangements to leave. After his twenty-fifth birthday last month, the desire

for a change came over him, and Texas seemed the best place to do just that.
On the way home he stopped at the depot and purchased a ticket that would begin his trip. He’d have stops in Philadelphia, St. Louis, Oklahoma City, and Dallas before the last leg of the journey to Porterfield.
The ticket agent handed Daniel his passage. “That’s a mighty long trip. I take it you’re heading out West to join Seth Winston. I can see the need for a preacher out west, but what’s a fancy lawyer like yourself going to do there?”

Daniel laughed. His mother had asked the same question. “Not sure, but I hope to help tame some outlaws.” How he’d do that he had no idea, but it sounded good when he said it.

“Well, now, just don’t go and get yourself shot by one of ’em.”
“I don’t plan to, Mr. Colley.” He tipped his hat and walked back out to his rig. At least he knew how to ride a horse well. With all his many long trips to Hartford by horseback, he figured he’d have no trouble riding in Texas. The rig today was simply a convenience for carting home his personal belongings from his office. Tomorrow the desk would be crated and shipped westward.

He entered the foyer of the comfortable, two-story home he still shared with his family. At his age, many other men had places of their own, but Ellie’s cooking and the free lodging had tempted him to stay.
After handing over his hat to Stevens the butler, Daniel turned toward the voices he heard in the drawing room on his left. He knocked then pushed open the doors. “Good evening, Mother, Father.”

His mother stood and hurried to him. She wrapped her arms around him. “Oh, Daniel, please tell me you’ve changed your mind and are staying in Briar Ridge. I can’t bear for you to leave us.”

He patted her back and glanced at his father, who simply lifted his gray bushy eyebrows and shrugged. He turned back to his mother. “I’m sorry you feel this way, Mother, but I purchased my train ticket on the way home this evening and will leave the beginning of next week.”
She pushed away from him and held a handkerchief to her nose. “I simply can’t believe it. I don’t understand why you have to go all the way to Texas to practice law. New Haven and Hartford are much closer. Why, even Boston would be better than way out West.”

“We have a multitude of fine barristers in the cities here in the East. As I’ve said many times, this will give me the opportunity to travel and see what is happening in the rest of our great country.” No matter how many times he explained, his mother would never truly understand his desire to move on. She had grown up in this town, as had his father, and she would never leave it or her beautiful home.
Stevens appeared in the doorway. “Mr. and Mrs. Monroe, dinner is served.”
Mother hooked her hand into Daniel’s arm. “Thank you, Stevens. Tell Ellie we’ll be right in.” She patted Daniel’s hand now resting on hers. Although she held her head high, he noted the slight tremor in her voice as she spoke. “I had Ellie prepare your favorite meal tonight. She’ll be serving all your favorites until your departure.” She swallowed hard as she walked beside Daniel into the dining room.
Daniel’s younger sister, Abigail, bounded down the stairs but stopped short when she saw her parents and Daniel. Her next steps were much more sedate. “Good evening, Daniel. I didn’t know you were home.”

Father waited to escort her into dinner. “And what is your great hurry, my dear girl? Is Ellie’s food that tempting?”

“No, Father, I’m just happy about my trip to see Rachel and Nathan in Hartford next week. I haven’t seen her since the wedding, and I’m anxious to visit and talk with her.”

Daniel assisted his mother in her chair at the table. “I’m sure you two will have much to talk about. What’s it been? Two, three months since the wedding?”
She turned to glare at him. A month ago she wouldn’t have minded the teasing, but since his decision to leave, she had been less than sisterly. “Three, if you must count, but it may as well be three years.” Abigail dismissed him and turned to her mother. “I truly miss having Rachel here in Briar Ridge.”

Father held her chair while she seated herself. He bent and brushed his lips across her hair. “Then I’m glad you will have this chance to visit Rachel in Hartford.”

After his father said grace, Ellie brought in a platter emanating the most delicious aroma. His favorite roast beef as Mother had promised. Along with it came perfectly creamed potatoes, buttered asparagus, carrots, fresh baked bread, and his favorite sweet pickles. “What, no soup tonight?”

Mother pressed her lips together. “You said you didn’t care for soup at every meal, and since this is your meal, we skipped it.”

“Thank you, I prefer to fill up on the main course and not the first one.” He glanced over at Abigail, who scrunched up her nose as the asparagus was passed to her. “Not to worry, dear sister, after I’m on my way to Texas, you won’t have to worry about asparagus. Ellie only cooks it because she knows how much I like it.”

“Humph, that will be one good aspect of your leaving.” She placed two stalks on her plate and handed the bowl to their father.

As his parents began discussing their day, he noted the total lack of reference to his leaving the coming Monday. His mother believed if she ignored it, that perhaps it wouldn’t really happen. Father cast a wistful eye Daniel’s way a few times, as though he wanted to talk with his son. Perhaps after dinner he and Father could have a conversation.
Daniel gazed around at the opulent surroundings. Sparkling crystal, fine china, silver cutlery, and damask table cloth and napkins reminded him of his parent’s wealth. He would find nothing like this in Texas.
Then he glanced again at his mother and swallowed a lump in his throat along with a bite of potato. He didn’t want to hurt her, but he could see in her face and the way she only moved the food around her plate without actually eating it that he had done just that.

How could he make her understand his desire to move away and seek a new life? Somehow between now and Monday he must convince her that God had called him to the frontier. He had spent many hours in prayer over this move, and now he gladly embraced the future and all it held in the grand state of Texas.

The Measure of Katie Calloway...Review

2011-10-10T06:00:00.036-06:00

About the book:
Her heart seeks sanctuary in the deep woods. But will trouble find her even here?

The Civil War has ended, but in Katie Calloway's Georgia home, conflict still rages. To protect herself and her young brother from her violent and unstable husband, she flees north, finding anonymity and sanctuary as the cook in a north woods lumber camp. The camp owner, Robert Foster, wonders if the lovely woman he's hired has the grit to survive the never-ending work and harsh conditions of a remote pine forest in winter. Katie wonders if she can keep her past a secret from a man she is slowly growing to love.

With grace and skill, Serena Miller brings to life a bygone era. From the ethereal, snowy forest and the rowdy shanty boys to the warm cookstove and mouth-watering apple pie, every detail is perfectly rendered, transporting you to a time of danger and romance.

When Katie flees the South and her abusive husband, she never dreams of finding a new life in a northern lumber camp. But, in Robert Foster's lumber camp, she finds safety and security for herself and her young brother. She keeps her past a secret, but as she cooks for these lumberjacks, she comes to care for them and they for her. She discovers hidden strengths and new love. Robert learns to open his heart again as this lovely and competent woman takes over his life and his camp. When her past returns, Katie and Robert wonder if there is a future for them.

I loved this novel. I couldn't put it down. Katie and Robert are fantastic characters. And the lumberjacks! What a terrific supporting cast of rough hewn, yet compassionate men. I loved every one of them and I laughed out loud in some parts and sniffled my way through others as Katie grew attached to them and they to her.

Serena Miller has crafted a wonderful, charming story rich with adventure and romance. This is a book I will read again and I anxiously await more.

Thanks to Donna Hausler of Baker Publishing for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Serena Miller here. You can purchase your own copy here
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Read 9/11

* * * * *
5/5 Stars

Little Black Dress Giveaway Winner!

2011-10-07T12:07:00.000-06:00

Thanks to random.org, the winner of the Little Black Dress Giveaway is:

Heather of Cerebral Girl in a Redneck World!

I've already received her mailing information. Thanks to all who entered! Check the sidebar for other, current giveaways.

Maggie's Journey...Wildcard!

2011-10-07T05:59:00.010-06:00

Today's Wild Card author is:

Lena Nelson Dooley

and the book:

Maggie’s Journey

Realms (October 4, 2011)

***Special thanks to Kim Jones | Publicity Coordinator, Charisma House | Charisma Media for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lena Nelson Dooley is an award-winning author with more than 650,000 books in print. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers—where she received the Mentor of the Year award in 2006—DFW Ready Writers, and Christian Authors Network. She lives in Hurst, Texas, with her husband of over 45 years.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

A girl who’s been lied to her whole life…

On her eighteenth birthday, Margaret Lenora Caine finds a chest hidden in the attic containing proof that she was adopted. The daughter of wealthy merchants in Seattle, she feels betrayed both by her real parents and by the ones who raised her.

Maggie longs for a place where she belongs. But her mother’s constant criticism and reminders that she doesn’t fit the mold of a young woman of their social standing have already created tension in their home. With the discovery of the family secret, all sense of her identity is lost.

When Maggie asks to visit her grandmother in Arkansas, her father agrees on the condition that she take her Aunt Georgia as a chaperone and his young partner, Charles Stanton, as protection on the journey. Will she discover who she really is and, more importantly, what truly matters most in life?

Product Details:

List Price: $13.99
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Realms (October 4, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1616383585
ISBN-13: 978-1616383589
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

September 1885

Seattle, Washington Territory

Margaret Lenora Caine sat in the library of their mansion on Beacon Hill. Because of the view of Puget Sound, which she loved, she had the brocade draperies pulled back to let the early September sunshine bathe the room with warmth. Basking in the bright light, Maggie concentrated on the sketch pad balanced on her lap. After leaning back to get the full effect of the drawing, she reached a finger to smudge the shadows between the folds of the skirt. With a neckline that revealed the shoulders, but still maintained complete modesty, this dress was her best design so far, one she planned to have Mrs. Murdock create in that dreamy, shimmery green material that came in the last shipment from China. Maggie knew silk was usually a summer fabric, but with it woven into a heavier brocade satin, it would be just right for her eighteenth birthday party. And with a few changes to the design, she could have another dress created as well.

Once again she leaned forward and drew a furbelow around the hem, shading it carefully to show depth. The added weight of the extra fabric would help the skirt maintain its shape, providing a pleasing silhouette at any ball. She pictured herself wearing the beautiful green dress, whirling in the arms of her partner, whoever he was. Maybe someone like Charles Stanton, since she’d admired him for several years, and he was so handsome.
“Margaret, what are you doing?”

The harsh question broke Maggie’s concentration. The charcoal in her hand slipped, slashing an ugly smear across the sketch. She glanced at her mother standing in the doorway, her arms crossed over her bosom. Maggie heaved a sigh loud enough to reach the entrance, and her mother’s eyebrows arched so quickly Maggie wanted to laugh . . . almost, but she didn’t dare add to whatever was bothering Mother now. Her stomach began to churn, a thoroughly uncomfortable sensation. Lately, everything she did put Mother in a bad mood. She searched her mind for whatever could have set her off this time. She came up with nothing, so she pasted a smile across her face.

“I’m sketching.” She tried for a firm tone but wasn’t sure it came across that way.
“You don’t have time for that right now.” Florence Caine hurried across the Persian wool carpet and stared down at her. “We have too much to do before your party.”

Of course her mother was right, but Maggie thought she could take a few minutes to get the new design on paper while it was fresh in her mind. She glanced toward the mantel clock. Oh, no. Her few minutes had turned into over two hours. She’d lost herself in drawing designs again. No wonder Mother was exasperated. She jumped up from the burgundy wing-back chair. “I didn’t realize it was so late. I’m sorry, Mother.”
Florence Caine took the sketch pad from her hand and studied the drawing with a critical eye. “That’s a different design.”

Maggie couldn’t tell if she liked the dress or not, but it didn’t matter. Designing was in Maggie’s blood. Her grandmother was a dressmaker who came up with her own designs instead of using those in Godey’s Lady’s Book or Harper’s Bazar. And, according to Mother’s sister, she never even looked at a Butterick pattern. Aunt Georgia had told her often enough about all the society women who wouldn’t let anyone but Agatha Carter make their clothing. They

knew they wouldn’t be meeting anyone else wearing the exact same thing when they attended social events in Little Rock, Arkansas. Not for the first time, Maggie wished she could talk to her grandmother at least once.
With the news about people being able to converse across long distances with something called the telephone, someday she might talk to her that way. But Maggie wanted a face-to-face meeting. Knowing another dress designer would keep her from feeling like such a misfit. Mother kept reminding her that she didn’t really fit the mold of a young woman of their social standing in Seattle. At least, Daddy let her do what she wanted to. She didn’t know what she’d do without him to offset Mother’s insistence, which was becoming more and more harsh.

According to Aunt Georgia, the business Grandmother Carter started was still going strong, even though her grandmother had to be over sixty years old. Maggie planned to go visit her relatives in Arkansas, so she could tour the company. She hoped her journey would happen before she was too late to actually meet Agatha Carter. Her deepest desire was to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps, since she had inherited her talents.

The sound of ripping tore through her thoughts. Aghast, she turned to catch her mother decimating her sketch. She lunged toward the paper, trying to save it, but Mother held the sketch just out of her reach.

“What are you doing?” Tears clogged her throat, but she struggled to hide them.
Dribbling the tiny pieces into the ornate wastepaper basket beside the mahogany desk, her mother looked up at her. “Just throwing it away. You had already ruined it anyway.”

Anger sliced through Maggie’s heart, leaving a jagged trail of pain. She still wanted to keep the sketch. She could use it while she created another. Her plan was to ask her father to help her surprise Mother. The design would set off her mother’s tall stature and still youthful figure. She planned to ask him for a length of the special blue satin brocade that would bring out the color of Mother’s eyes. The dress would make Mother the envy of most of her friends when

the winter social season started in a couple of months. Now she’d have to begin the drawing all over again. So many hours of work and her dreams torn to shreds.
“Darling.” That syrupy tone Mother used when she was trying to make a point grated on Maggie’s nerves. “When are you going to grow up and forget about your little pictures of dresses?” Little pictures of dresses? The words almost shredded the rest of Maggie’s control. She gripped her hands into fists and twisted them inside the folds of her full skirt.
They’d had this discussion too many times already. She gritted her teeth, but it didn’t help. In a few days she would be eighteen, old enough to make decisions for herself—whether her mother agreed or not.

She stood as tall as her tiny frame would allow her. “Those aren’t just ‘little drawings,’ Mother. I am going to be a dress designer.” The icy disdain shooting from her mother’s eyes made Maggie cringe inside, but she stood her ground.

“Margaret Lenora Caine, I am tired of these conversations. You will not become a working girl.” Mother huffed out a very unladylike deep breath. “You don’t need to. Your father has worked hard to provide a very good living for the three of us. I will not listen to any more of this nonsense.”
Maggie had heard that phrase often enough, and she never liked it. Mother swept from the room as if she had the answer to everything, but she didn’t. Not for Maggie. And her sketches were not nonsense.

She tried to remember the last time she pleased her mother. Had she ever really?
Her hair was too curly and hard to tame into a proper style. And the hue was too red. Maggie wouldn’t stay out of the sun to prevent freckles from dotting her face. She could come up with a long list of her mother’s complaints if she wanted to take the time. She wasn’t that interested in what was going on among the elite in Seattle. She

had more things to think about than how to catch a husband. Maggie wanted to get married someday. But first she would follow her dream. Become the woman she was created to be. That meant being a dress designer, taking delight in making other women look their best. If it wasn’t for Grandmother Carter, Maggie would think she had been born into the wrong family.

The enticing aroma of gingerbread called her toward the kitchen. Spending time with Mrs. Jorgensen was just what she needed right now. Since she didn’t have any grandparents living close by, their cook and housekeeper substituted quite well in Maggie’s mind. She pushed open the door, wrinkling her nose and sniffing like the bunny in the back garden while she headed across the brick floor toward the cabinet where her older friend worked. “What is that

heavenly smell?”

Mrs. Jorgensen turned with a warm smile. “As if you didn’t already know. You’ve eaten enough of my gingerbread, for sure.”

Pushing white tendrils from her forehead, the woman quickly sliced the spicy concoction and placed a large piece on a saucer while Maggie retrieved the butter from the ice box. Maggie slathered a thick coating on and watched it melt into the hot, brown bread. “Here’s something to drink.” Mrs. Jorgensen set a glass of cold milk on the work table in the middle of the large room.

Maggie hopped up on a tall stool and took a sip, swinging her legs as she had when she was a little girl. Mother would have something else to complain about if she saw her. That’s not ladylike and is most unbecoming. The oft-spoken words rang through Maggie’s mind. But Mother hardly ever came into the kitchen. Mrs. Jorgensen met with

Mother in her sitting room to plan the meals and the day’s work schedule.
“This is the only place in the house where I can just be myself.” Maggie took a bite and let the spices dance along her tongue, savoring the sting of spices mixed with the sweetness of molasses.

“Ja.” The grandmotherly woman patted Maggie’s shoulder. “So tell me what’s bothering you, kära.”
Tears sprang to Maggie’s eyes. “Why doesn’t Mother understand me? She doesn’t even try.”
She licked a drip of butter that started down her finger, then took another bite of the warm gingerbread. Heat from the cook stove made the enormous kitchen feel warm and cozy, instead of the cold formality of most of the house.
Mrs. Jorgensen folded a tea towel into a thick square, then went to the oven and removed another pan of the dessert. “What’s the bee in her bonnet this time?”
Maggie loved to hear the Scandinavian woman’s quaint sayings. “She won’t consider letting me continue to design dresses.”

Maggie sipped her milk, not even being careful not to leave a white mustache on her upper lip. “I’ve drawn them for our seamstress to use for the last five years. As many of them have been for Mother as for me. And she’s enjoyed the way other women exclaimed over the exclusive creations she wore. I don’t understand why she doesn’t want me to continue to develop my artistic abilities.”

“Your father is a very wealthy man, for sure.” The cook’s nod punctuated her statement. “Your dear mother just wants what is best for you.”
“Why does she get to decide what’s best for me?” Maggie felt like stomping her foot, but she refrained. That would be like a child having a tantrum. She would not stoop that far now that she was no longer a child. “Soon I’ll be eighteen. Plenty old enough to make my own decisions.”
“Yah, and you sure have the temper to match all that glorious red hair, älskling.” She clicked her tongue. “Such a waste of energy.” After enjoying the love expressed in Mrs. Jorgensen’s endearment, Maggie slid from the stool and gathered her plate and glass to carry them to the sink. “You’re probably right. I’ll just have to talk to Daddy.”

The door to the hallway swung open. “Talk to me about what?” Her tall father strode into the room,

filling it with a sense of power.

“About my becoming a dress designer.”

A flit of pain crossed his face before he smiled. “A dress designer?” Maggie fisted her hands on her waist. “We’ve discussed this before. I want to go to Arkansas and see about learning more at The House of Agatha Carter.”
Her father came over and gathered her into a loving embrace. “I said I’d think about letting you go. There are many details that would have to be ironed out first. But I didn’t say you couldn’t go.”

Maggie leaned her cheek against his chest, breathing in his familiar spicy scent laced with the fragrance of pipe tobacco. “I know. But Mother won’t let me. Just you wait and see.”

He grasped her by the shoulders and held her away from him. “Maggie, my Maggie, you’ve always been so impatient. I said I’d talk to her when the time is right. You’ll just have to trust me on this.” His eyes bored into hers, and his lips tipped up at the ends. She threw her arms around his waist. “Oh, I do trust you, Daddy.”

“Then be patient.” He kissed the top of her head, probably disturbing the style she’d worked so hard on this morning.

Mrs. Jorgensen stopped slicing the gingerbread and held the knife in front of her. “I thought you weren’t going to be home for lunch, Mr. Caine.”
“I’m not. I’ve only come by to pick up my beautiful wife. We’ll be dining with some friends at the Arlington House hotel downtown.” He gave Maggie another hug and left, presumably to find her mother.

“Would you be wanting another piece of gingerbread, kära?”

Maggie shook her head. “I don’t want to ruin my lunch. I have some things I need to do. Can I come back to eat a little later?” She hoped her father could prevail against Mother’s stubborn stance on the question of a trip to Arkansas.

Mrs. Jorgensen waved her out the door. “You’re probably not very hungry after that gingerbread.”
Maggie went into the library to retrieve her sketch pad, then headed upstairs to her bedroom. She wanted to get the drawing on paper again before she forgot any of the details. She pulled her lacy panels back from the side window and scooted a chair close. With a few deft strokes, she had the main lines of the dress on the thick paper. Then she started filling it in. As each line appeared on the drawing, she felt an echoing movement in her spirit. Deep inside,

she danced through the design as it took shape, much faster than the first time. She was so glad she could recall every detail.

While she drew, her thoughts returned to Grandmother Carter. Everyone said she took after her grandmother . . . everyone except Mother. Why isn’t she happy about my talent?

Maggie wandered through her memories, trying to recapture how it was when she was a little girl. She remembered Mother playing with her when they lived in the smaller, but comfortable house in Oregon City. They didn’t have servants then, but the three of them laughed and enjoyed life together. Then for some reason, her mother had started talking to her father every chance she got about moving to a larger place. Now that Maggie looked back on those memories, she realized that her mother seemed almost frantic to get away from where they lived, as if something were wrong with the town. Maggie never understood why.

She couldn’t have been more than five years old, but some of the events stood out. The hurry to leave town. The long trip. For quite a while after that, she missed playing with her friends. And she didn’t make new ones when they arrived. No other small children lived in the neighborhood. Even when she started school, she stayed to herself. She had been shy as a young girl.
After they moved to Seattle and her father bought one of the empty buildings and opened Caine Emporium, Mother changed. She became more distant, almost cold. She was no longer the laughing woman. If Maggie didn’t know better, she’d think something made Mother bitter. Maybe that was one reason she wanted to design this special dress. To brighten her mother’s life. Bring back the woman who sometimes flashed through her memory at odd times, making her long for the warmth she had luxuriated in as a small child. Finally, the drawing met her approval. Just in time to eat lunch. Maybe this afternoon she could finish the other sketch with the changes to make the dress more appropriate for her mother than herself.

Once again the kitchen welcomed her, and she enjoyed eating there with Mrs. Jorgensen. If Mother had been home, they would have had the meal in the formal dining room, complete with china, crystal, and silver. Such a fuss for an ordinary day.

“Margaret.” Her mother’s voice rose from the foyer below. “I’m home.”
Looking at the names of people she’d placed on the invitation list, Maggie finished writing Charles Stanton’s name and put the pen down. “Coming, Mother.”
She rushed out of her room and stood at the top of the staircase. “Did you want me?”
“Yes, dear. I thought we could get some shopping done this afternoon.” Her mother still wore her gloves and cape.

“Is it cold?”
Mother nodded. “It’s a bit nippy, so wear something warm.” “I’ll get my things.” Maggie hurried back to her room and gathered a light jacket, a handbag, and her gloves. When she arrived in the foyer, Mother stood tapping her foot

impatiently. “I had hoped we could buy most of the things we’ll need today.”
Maggie bit her tongue to keep from reminding her that she wasn’t the one who had frittered away so much of the day. If Mother wanted to go shopping, why didn’t they do it earlier? She could have gone along for the lunch with Daddy. But evidently Mother preferred spending time with Daddy instead of her. She took a deep breath and followed her mother to the coach sitting in front of the house. Mrs. Jorgensen’s son, who was their driver, stood beside the open

door, ready to assist them into the conveyance.

“Erik, please take us by the Emporium.” Mother took hold of his hand as she stepped up into the vehicle.

Maggie followed suit. “Why are we going to the store? Are we going to shop there?”
The door snapped shut, and Erik climbed into the driver’s seat. “I forgot to get money from your father when we were at lunch.” Mother settled her skirts as the coach lurched forward. “I believe your father is signing papers with young Charles Stanton this afternoon. It will be nice to see him again. Did you add him to your guest list?”

Maggie nodded, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. She hadn’t seen Charles since she was about sixteen, but she still remembered the girlish secret infatuation she’d had when she was younger. He’d been so handsome, and kind too. Would he be changed since he’d graduated from university? She would soon find out. She settled back into the carriage seat, suddenly looking forward to the afternoon’s events.

Look for my review at a later date in the near future.

Hello, Hollywood!...Review

2011-10-03T06:00:00.028-06:00

About the book:
Athena Pappas is the head writer on one of the most popular sitcoms in television history. But when Vegas comedian Stephen Cosse is brought in to beef up the show's suddenly sagging ratings, she starts to worry about her job. Sparks fly as the competition--and attraction--between the two writers heats up. Athena has never had a problem scripting the romances of her characters. So why is her own love life so hard to script?

With humor and a Hollywood-insider viewpoint, Hello, Hollywood! delivers lots of laughs as the characters discover that not being in control of the plot of their lives might just be the best thing that ever happened to them.

Athena may be the head writer of a popular television show and her best friend a famous actress, but she still lives at home with her loud, loving Greek family and sleeps on Strawberry Shortcake sheets. When a new writer is brought in to help improve the show's ratings, Athena feels threatened. When she finds herself falling for Stephen, the creativity she is able to bring to her writing fails her and she uncertain of her future.

Second in the Backstage Pass series, this is just another fun book from Janice Thompson. All your favorite characters from Stars Collide return and we get to meet Athena's loud, large and very loving Greek family. Janice not only gives us an entertaining story, she gives us a sweet story as well. When Stephen comes to LA, he brings with him a young daughter in need of love and attention. As Stephen and Athena's relationship grows, so does the relationship Brooke has with the Pappas family. The result is a tender look at what being part of a family really means.

Thanks to Donna Hausler of Baker Publishing for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Janice Thompson here. You can purchase your own copy here
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Read 9/11

* * * *
4/5 Stars

The Surprising Way to a Stronger Marriage...Review

2011-09-30T10:07:00.005-06:00

The most significant act of love we can do for our spouse is the single act of taking personal responsibility or "the power of one." We cannot reach satisfaction in our marriage relationships if we don't first look at ourselves and see where we need to change. Personal responsibility is the fuel that drives the actions of a healthy marriage.

Usually, each spouse blames the other for their problems; this attitude only leads down a path of unfulfilled expectations and heartache. But marriages can be transformed, literally overnight, when a husband or wife learns the power of one. By accepting personal responsibility for their own emotions and reactions, spouses can learn how to love their mates to the fullest and create a stronger marriage relationship with the power of one.

I love the concept of personal accountability or responsibility. I teach my children that they are responsible for their actions and their choices. Michael and Amy Smalley share this same belief in their book. There are two people involved in a marriage (well, actually three including God), but individually we can strengthen and improve our marriages.

With short chapters, and challenges and scriptures, the Smalley's have written a terrific book full of wisdom and insights. The power of one person is really remarkable.

Thank to Tyndale House Publishers for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Michael and Amy Smalley here. You can purchase your own copy here

* * * *
4/5 Stars

The Preacher's Bride...Review

2011-09-27T16:28:00.040-06:00

About the book:
In 1650s England, a young Puritan maiden is on a mission to save the baby of her newly widowed preacher--whether her assistance is wanted or not. Always ready to help those in need, Elizabeth ignores John's protests of her aid. She's even willing to risk her lone marriage prospect to help the little family.

Yet Elizabeth's new role as nanny takes a dangerous turn when John's boldness from the pulpit makes him a target of political and religious leaders. As the preacher's enemies become desperate to silence him, they draw Elizabeth into a deadly web of deception. Finding herself in more danger than she ever bargained for, she's more determined than ever to save the child--and man--she's come to love.

When Elizabeth agrees to become the housekeeper for a newly widowed preacher, she has no idea what awaits her. Betrothed to another man she does not love, Elizabeth struggles with new found feelings toward this distant, grieving widower as she not only falls in love with him, but comes to love his children as well. She soon discovers that she will need to make choices that will anger and hurt some, but are what God wants for her. And since preaching without a license is illegal, John's enemies soon target Elizabeth and the two of them must face their fears and follow their hearts.

Historically, I found this a fascinating story. The Puritans have always intrigued me and I was curious to discover that the author based the novel on the historical life of John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim's Progress, and his wife.

I liked Elizabeth and John. The protagonists were mean and evil and I was frustrated that there was no accountability or consequences for those who betrayed, assaulted and murdered. Those characters who were so mean and vindictive, all in the name of God, should have received some punishment or consequence for their actions towards John and Elizabeth.

I admit to becoming tired of the language. I realize the Puritans had a specific way of speaking, but the whole "Methinks this" and "methinks that" got old really quickly. Especially since it was only John who spoke that way.

The story is compelling and I do think this was a great debut novel and I look forward to more from Jody Hedlund.

Thanks to my local library for having a copy I could borrow. You can purchase your own copy here
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Read 9/11

* * *
3/5 Stars

Just My Type Giveaway Winner

2011-09-26T13:50:00.000-06:00

Thanks to random.org, the winner of the Just My Type Giveaway is:

Alyce of At Home with Books!

I've already received her mailing information. Thanks to all who entered! Check the sidebar for other, current giveaways.

Stars Collide...Review

2011-09-24T06:00:00.047-06:00

About the book:
Kat Jennings and Scott Murphy don't just play two people who are secretly in love on a television sitcom--they are also head over heels for each other in real life. When the lines between reality and TV land blur, they hope they can keep their relationship under wraps. But when Kat's grandmother, an aging Hollywood starlet with a penchant for wearing elaborate evening gowns from Golden Age movies, mistakes their on-screen wedding proposal for the real deal, things begin to spiral out of their control. Will their secret be front-page news in the tabloids tomorrow? And can their budding romance survive the onslaught of paparazzi, wedding preparations, and misinformed in-laws?

From the sound stage to a Beverly Hills mansion to the gleaming Pacific Ocean, Stars Collide takes readers on a roller-coaster tour of Tinseltown, packing both comedic punch and tender emotion.

Actors on a television show, Kat and Scott play two people who are secretly in love. They also happen to be in love with each other in real life, they just haven't admitted it quite yet. As their television characters find themselves headed toward the altar, Kat and Scott find themselves headed into the uncharted territory of misunderstandings and confusion. Kat's beloved grandmother Lenora, herself a former movie star, has raised her and wants nothing more than to see her granddaughter married. In the early stages of memory loss, Lenora confuses the television wedding with real life and hilarity ensues.

Janice Thompson just writes fun books. They're clean, Christian and funny with quirky, endearing characters. I loved Kat and Scott and I adored Lenora. The interactions between Kat and her grandmother were funny, yet tender and poignant. This is a light story, but serious issues are covered and treated with appropriate respect. The Christian elements are strong, but not overly preachy and it's refreshing to see a Hollywood based story with strong aspects of faith. Lenora's quirkiness was charming and the movie quoting entertaining.

First in the Backstage Pass series, I have book two waiting in the wings!

Thanks to my local library for having a copy I could borrow. You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 9/11

* * * *
4/5 Stars

The Wounded Heart...Review

2011-09-23T06:00:00.048-06:00

About the book:
When a business offer turns into something more personal, Amelia is torn between what logic tells her is right, and the desire of her heart.

A widow with two small children, Amelia Beiler is struggling to make ends meet. She is running her late husband's business, but it's not what she was raised to do, which is run a home. When she gets an offer for the business from Eli Fischer, she's only too relieved to consider it-especially when it looks like Eli's interest might include more than just the shop. But when she begins to experience strange physical symptoms and is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, it's difficult not to question God's will. If she pursues the treatment she believes in, she risks going under the bann. But how can she allow Eli to court her when she can't promise him a future?

Includes instructions to make the quilt block featured in the novel.

Amelia Beiler never wanted to be a business owner, but after her husband's death, she finds herself running a pallet business. When a medical diagnosis stuns her world, she is faced with the choice of pursuing a controversial treatment or submitting herself to the decisions and will of her religious leaders. Amelia realizes that she must find out for herself if God's will for her is the same as that of her ministers.

While I very much enjoyed this novel, I admit to being frustrated at the men in Amelia's congregation. I understand roles and I understand that men and women have different roles in families and in religious communities. But, the utter disregard these men had for Amelia's well being and instead only being concerned about their congregation was a bit frustrating. Of course, the story is resolved and resolved well, but at times, I really struggled with the attitudes. Attitudes that I can only assume are correct, given my limited understanding of the Amish. I respect their faith, but I can't begin to understand it.

I liked Amelia's spunk and her desire to do what was right not only for herself but right in the eyes of God.

A Wounded Heart is first in a trilogy about three friends. Amish communities are close-knit by nature, and here Adina Senft explores the relationships between three young women, each with her own heartache and struggles. As Carrie and Emma stand by and support Amelia, they must face their own heartaches, both of which will be discovered in future books, and as much as I hate waiting for sequels, I look forward to learning their stories.

Thanks to Sarah at FaithWords for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more Adina Senft here. You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 9/11

* * * *
4/5 Stars

A Heart Revealed...Review

2011-09-22T06:00:00.056-06:00

About the book:
Ten years ago, Emma Malloy fled Dublin for Boston as a battered woman, escaping the husband who scarred her beautiful face. The physical and emotional wounds have faded with time, and her life is finally full of purpose and free from the pain of her past. But when she falls for her friend Charity's handsome and charming brother, Sean O'Connor, fear and shame threaten to destroy her. Could Sean and Emma ever have a future together? Or is Emma doomed to live out the rest of her life denying the only true love she's ever known?

Filled with intense passion and longing, deception and revelation, A Heart Revealed will hold readers in its grip until the very last page.

I was so anxious for Emma's story. I have loved The Daughters of Boston series and its sequel, The Winds of Change series. A Heart Revealed is the second book in The Winds of Change series and here we learn Emma's story and how it's intertwined with Sean's. The O'Connor's are back in full force and personality. Emma's past comes back to haunt her and although she has fallen in love with Sean O'Connor, their path to romance is thwarted when their pasts catch up with them. The pain and hurt that each carries must be faced and forgiven.

My one complaint is the idea that men are helpless and unable to resist manipulative women. Tempted, maybe. But, not able to control themselves? I don't think so. As Sean found himself manipulated time and again by Rose, I wanted to scream. It was so frustrating. Fortunately, he came to his senses, but until he did, I was frustrated and annoyed!

Julie Lessman has done it again, however, and given us a delightful new book. Sean and Emma discover new strengths in themselves as well as each other. As Emma's best friend, Charity is back and in fine form, still finding ways to coerce and trick her men into doing what she wants. Katie and Luke are learning about marriage and Marcy and Patrick are revisiting parenthood with a challenging young foster daughter.

While you could read this as a stand alone, the book is so much richer if you've read the previous books and know the back history of the O'Connor family and how Emma comes to be a part of it.

Thanks to Donna Hausler of Baker Publishing for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Julie Lessman here. You can purchase your own copy here
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Read 9/11

* * * *
4/5 Stars