Carly is the kind of girl whose nickname should be Calamity Jane. Wherever she goes on her pink bicycle, disaster follows--not on purpose--NEVER on purpose. She's just full of ideas and energy. She works at Sweet Life--a Mennonite home for the elderly, especially those with some kind of dementia. She loves the residents and wants to help them all feel less lonely. Her friend, Adam, volunteers in the woodworking shop, helping the residents make things. He's been friends with Carly and her brother, Jimmy, since before Carly dated his cousin Dale, and he's in love with Carly.
That sets things up for this story to move forward. One of the residents, Martha, remembers an early love named James, that she met near a covered bridge when she was just a young girl. Carly goes looking for the bridge but gets mixed up with which bridge it is. She wants to find out what happened to James for Martha's upcoming birthday.
Dianne Christner has written a sweet novel about the bumps in the road to a love that conquers everything. Her characters are real and believable, and her settings are a delightful addition to the story. Her plot is not overly slow, but it does lag a time or two. That still does not detract from the overall story and the book is hard to put down for most of the tale. You get to know the residents of Sweet Life so well, they become friends.
This is a five-star, two thumbs up, and a pink bicycle for your travels.
My thanks to Barbour Press for allowing me to read and review this book
Friday, January 29, 2016
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Thread Your Needle
Delphinia's father made an arrangement where a man is allowed to purchase her services as a housekeeper and cook so that he could go to the gold fields. The man, Jonathan Wilshire, gets on Delphinia's last nerve by refusing to call her Delphinia, but only calling her Phiney. He has hired her to take care of his brother's five children--Tessie, Josh, Jacob (?), Nettie and Nate--the twins, and to cook and clean the cabins where they all live. His brother's mother-in-law is taking care of the children while Jonathan brings Phiney home and is a steadfast companion to Phiney, especially in overcoming Tessie's resistance to Phiney's presence. It takes an act of supreme bravery for Tessie to come around, but the change is complete and the two are forever friends. One of the things that brings Tessie around is the quilt that Phiney puts on her bed, a quilt made with her mother that holds all the memories Phiney has of her. Tessie has part of a quilt her mother started and allows Phiney to help her finish it.
While a lot of Threads of Love revolves around Phiney and the children, there is a significant portion that includes the relationship growing and budding between Phiney and Jonathan. When Phiney's father asks for her presence in Denver, Jon tells Phiney that he will be asking for her hand in marriage when she comes back.
As a bonus, the story Woven Threads is included in the review copy I received. Tessie has grown up, gone to college, and become a doctor when she applies for a job with the Santa Fe railroad. She is stationed in Florence, Kansas, and the man who has hired her, Charlie Bannion takes every opportunity to be in Florence and to see Tessie. While Tessie is on the train to Florence, she meets two sisters--Lydia and Addie (who is deaf), and her heart wants to reach out to both of them. Lydia has come to Florence to be a Harvey Girl, but has no one to take care of Addie. Charlie gets Addie a job in the Harvey House as a dishwasher while Lydia works waiting tables. Lydia is a bitter girl who can't see beyond the end of her nose. When she gets herself pregnant, she dumps Addie on Tessie and leaves with her boyfriend.
The road to true love is a rather bumpy one for Tessie and Charlie, especially when an Englishman breaks his leg and becomes Tessie's patient. She visits him daily and while he's rather forward with her, she becomes a bit star-struck in his presence. All of this adds to a long, hard row to hoe for love to find its home with Tessie and Charlie.
Judith McCoy Miller is a seasoned author, one whose books I thoroughly enjoy. Her characters have depth and substance, her settings are utilized well within the story she writes, and her plots are incredible.
Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a quilt of love to keep you warm.
My thanks to Barbour Books for allowing me to read and review this book.
While a lot of Threads of Love revolves around Phiney and the children, there is a significant portion that includes the relationship growing and budding between Phiney and Jonathan. When Phiney's father asks for her presence in Denver, Jon tells Phiney that he will be asking for her hand in marriage when she comes back.
As a bonus, the story Woven Threads is included in the review copy I received. Tessie has grown up, gone to college, and become a doctor when she applies for a job with the Santa Fe railroad. She is stationed in Florence, Kansas, and the man who has hired her, Charlie Bannion takes every opportunity to be in Florence and to see Tessie. While Tessie is on the train to Florence, she meets two sisters--Lydia and Addie (who is deaf), and her heart wants to reach out to both of them. Lydia has come to Florence to be a Harvey Girl, but has no one to take care of Addie. Charlie gets Addie a job in the Harvey House as a dishwasher while Lydia works waiting tables. Lydia is a bitter girl who can't see beyond the end of her nose. When she gets herself pregnant, she dumps Addie on Tessie and leaves with her boyfriend.
The road to true love is a rather bumpy one for Tessie and Charlie, especially when an Englishman breaks his leg and becomes Tessie's patient. She visits him daily and while he's rather forward with her, she becomes a bit star-struck in his presence. All of this adds to a long, hard row to hoe for love to find its home with Tessie and Charlie.
Judith McCoy Miller is a seasoned author, one whose books I thoroughly enjoy. Her characters have depth and substance, her settings are utilized well within the story she writes, and her plots are incredible.
Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a quilt of love to keep you warm.
My thanks to Barbour Books for allowing me to read and review this book.
Lassoed by Love
The Cowboy's Bride is a collection of nine novellas, each with a cowboy and/or cowgirl and assorted other characters--sometimes a child and sometimes a cranky father, but always a horse or two. Each of these stories makes for an entertaining afternoon or evening read. Actually, they are all entertaining no matter what time you wish to read them.
The authors of the stories are all seasoned writers who know their craft and ply it well. While no one story sticks out in my mind right now, I loved each and every one of them. I tried, for the most part, to read each story in one sitting and it was totally worth it. The last story in the book--The Cowgirl's Lasso has CJ employed as Jonah's ranch foreman (forewoman?), but he won't let her do her job without undermining her at every turn. It takes an old cowboy named Charlie to bring them together as a working team and as a partnership in marriage. Both had pride issues to overcome, and both had to really take hard looks at themselves to see how they could become a team and really make the ranch work.
This is a five star collection, with two thumbs up, and a cow-pony to do the hard work.
My thanks to Barbour Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.
The authors of the stories are all seasoned writers who know their craft and ply it well. While no one story sticks out in my mind right now, I loved each and every one of them. I tried, for the most part, to read each story in one sitting and it was totally worth it. The last story in the book--The Cowgirl's Lasso has CJ employed as Jonah's ranch foreman (forewoman?), but he won't let her do her job without undermining her at every turn. It takes an old cowboy named Charlie to bring them together as a working team and as a partnership in marriage. Both had pride issues to overcome, and both had to really take hard looks at themselves to see how they could become a team and really make the ranch work.
This is a five star collection, with two thumbs up, and a cow-pony to do the hard work.
My thanks to Barbour Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Visits with Old Friends
I finished reading the Love is Patient Romance Collection today and it was like a visit with several old friends. Three of the novellas were in the Spinster Brides of Cactus Corners. With a cup of tea and a comfortable chair, I felt I had had a chat with some very dear friends. That was what reading this collection was like. I had not read all of the stories before, but they were all just as comfortable as if I had. All of the novellas take place in the late ninteenth century when horses and buggies were the primary mode of transportation, telegraphs were the major communication between towns, and sometimes bankers were poisonous like snakes--ready to take advantage of helpless widows.
All of these authors have the ability to weave a tale that holds the reader's attention while surrounding the readers with a comfortable blanket and a cup of tea. Nine stories will fill some afternoons with pleasant distraction when the weather won't allow other activities.
Definitely five stars, two thumbs up, and a cup of tea with a friend.
My thanks to Barbour Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.
All of these authors have the ability to weave a tale that holds the reader's attention while surrounding the readers with a comfortable blanket and a cup of tea. Nine stories will fill some afternoons with pleasant distraction when the weather won't allow other activities.
Definitely five stars, two thumbs up, and a cup of tea with a friend.
My thanks to Barbour Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.
Monday, January 18, 2016
Do You? I Do
I never thought I'd see the day when I'd find a writer of historical romance that I would like better than Karen Witemeyer, but I have found one story I like better than Karen's. With This Ring is a collection of four romance novellas in the wild, wild west by such authors as Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings, and Melissa Jagears. As I read each of the tales, I fell in love with each one more than the one before--which, if you follow the logic, means I liked the last one best of all.
Harrison Gray is extremely myopic and depends on his glasses to get him from place to place, and to be able to correct the papers of his students. Charlie Andrews is a tomboy who outshoots, outrides, outranches anyone around; and she doesn't mind humiliating anyone who wants to try to compete with her. When Harrison's glasses are broken on Charlie's ranch, she feels obligated to help him out in his classroom until his new ones come in. What she doesn't realize is how intimidating she is to other men and that is why no one has dated her. The only thing she is not good at is kissing, but Harrison is more than willing to help her improve her skills with more practice. When she asks the brother of the school bully she grew up with to marry her, Harrison has to stop her and make her realize what true love is. This would be my jacket blurb for Melissa Jagear's "Engaging the Competition."
All four of the tales are fun, quick, and entertaining reads. They will fill an afternoon of bad weather, bad mood, or bad hair day, and allow the reader to escape to simpler times and tougher lifestyles. This is a five star, two thumbs up book, with a kissing competition thrown in for good measure.
My thanks to Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this book.
Harrison Gray is extremely myopic and depends on his glasses to get him from place to place, and to be able to correct the papers of his students. Charlie Andrews is a tomboy who outshoots, outrides, outranches anyone around; and she doesn't mind humiliating anyone who wants to try to compete with her. When Harrison's glasses are broken on Charlie's ranch, she feels obligated to help him out in his classroom until his new ones come in. What she doesn't realize is how intimidating she is to other men and that is why no one has dated her. The only thing she is not good at is kissing, but Harrison is more than willing to help her improve her skills with more practice. When she asks the brother of the school bully she grew up with to marry her, Harrison has to stop her and make her realize what true love is. This would be my jacket blurb for Melissa Jagear's "Engaging the Competition."
All four of the tales are fun, quick, and entertaining reads. They will fill an afternoon of bad weather, bad mood, or bad hair day, and allow the reader to escape to simpler times and tougher lifestyles. This is a five star, two thumbs up book, with a kissing competition thrown in for good measure.
My thanks to Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this book.
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Until the Dawn
Elizabeth Camden has written several books wrapped around and in various mansions in different locations throughout the United States. Until the Dawn resides in the Dierenpark Mansion owned by the Vandermark family in New Holland, New York. The Vandermarks have been absent from the mansion for nearly sixty years. There is a fabled curse on the mansion that has been talked about for generations and often is the subject of tours for vacationers. When Sophi Van Riijn finds out that the family is returning, she knows she has work to do getting the house ready for the family. She is not prepared for Quentin, Pieter, and Nicholaas, nor the upheaval they will bring to the area.
Quentin is very rabidly anti-God, anti-myth, anti-anything that cannot be touched, seen, tasted, smelled, or heard. When he arrives at his mansion, he dismisses every staff member that remained at the house. Sophie couldn't be fired because she was never employed, but she did need access to the house because she was a volunteer for the national weather service and had a station on the roof. Because she appealed to Quentin's scientific mind, he allowed her to continue her weather research. Because she had a kind heart with her scientific mind, he wanted her to tutor his son, Pieter. Because she could cook like a dream, he hired her to do the cooking for the household.
When Grandfather Nicholaas moves in and brings in a number of professors in biology and anthropology to find out if the curse is true, Sophie has to move in to be able to feed the new guests at the mansion. Due to Sophie's proximity, Quentin begins noticing her and enjoying her company. Pieter has blossomed under her tutelage and Quentin could hardly resist her for loving his son. The only fly in the ointment is Quentin's lack of faith and Sophie's total dependence on God.
Elizabeth researches her subject well and uses her research to tell a compelling, page-turning story that won't let the reader rest until it is finished. Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and Sophie's Blueberry Muffins.
My thanks to Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this book.
Quentin is very rabidly anti-God, anti-myth, anti-anything that cannot be touched, seen, tasted, smelled, or heard. When he arrives at his mansion, he dismisses every staff member that remained at the house. Sophie couldn't be fired because she was never employed, but she did need access to the house because she was a volunteer for the national weather service and had a station on the roof. Because she appealed to Quentin's scientific mind, he allowed her to continue her weather research. Because she had a kind heart with her scientific mind, he wanted her to tutor his son, Pieter. Because she could cook like a dream, he hired her to do the cooking for the household.
When Grandfather Nicholaas moves in and brings in a number of professors in biology and anthropology to find out if the curse is true, Sophie has to move in to be able to feed the new guests at the mansion. Due to Sophie's proximity, Quentin begins noticing her and enjoying her company. Pieter has blossomed under her tutelage and Quentin could hardly resist her for loving his son. The only fly in the ointment is Quentin's lack of faith and Sophie's total dependence on God.
Elizabeth researches her subject well and uses her research to tell a compelling, page-turning story that won't let the reader rest until it is finished. Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and Sophie's Blueberry Muffins.
My thanks to Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this book.
It May Not Be Bug Tussle, But It's Home
My favorite contemporary fiction author is Sally John. She writes with compassion and understanding to the issues women face. I may have to change my mind about this. Deborah Raney has a series of books that take the reader to the Chicory Inn near Cape Girardeau, Missouri. In Another Way Home, Danae Brooks has been going through fertility treatments for nearly four years at great expense and disappointment when they do not work. Her husband, Dallas, is supportive, but tired too. He wants Danae to find something to get her attention off whether or not she's pregnant and when she's going to have her own baby. When there is an announcement at church about the local women's shelter needing new volunteers, Danae feels this is something she can put her attention to. Now Dallas is a bit apprehensive about Danae's working at the center, who knows what kind of crazies will show up there? God has this all under control and every step is ordained by Him.
Deborah has worked gratitude, faith, and providential provision into a novel that on the surface is filled with angst. One of the residents of the center has a little boy that she asks Danae to keep for the Thanksgiving weekend while she goes to visit her family. Only she knows she won't be coming back. This opens the door for Dallas and Danae to become parents, but it is a long row to hoe. Also the mother is pregnant with another child and because of her circumstances, she wants Dallas and Danae to take this child too.
Because this is a continuation of a series of books, the characters get more complex and more real. The settings are the same as the others in the books and the plot works so well. While each book centers on one of the children of Audrey and Grant, all of the children are present throughout the book, modeling the life of an extended family filled with love--especially on the Tuesday dinners. I wish I could do six or seven stars, but since five is all I can give, I will give it the full five stars, two thumbs up, and a family dinner once a week.
My thanks to Abingdon Press for allowing me to read and review this book.
Deborah has worked gratitude, faith, and providential provision into a novel that on the surface is filled with angst. One of the residents of the center has a little boy that she asks Danae to keep for the Thanksgiving weekend while she goes to visit her family. Only she knows she won't be coming back. This opens the door for Dallas and Danae to become parents, but it is a long row to hoe. Also the mother is pregnant with another child and because of her circumstances, she wants Dallas and Danae to take this child too.
Because this is a continuation of a series of books, the characters get more complex and more real. The settings are the same as the others in the books and the plot works so well. While each book centers on one of the children of Audrey and Grant, all of the children are present throughout the book, modeling the life of an extended family filled with love--especially on the Tuesday dinners. I wish I could do six or seven stars, but since five is all I can give, I will give it the full five stars, two thumbs up, and a family dinner once a week.
My thanks to Abingdon Press for allowing me to read and review this book.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
At Love's Bidding
Regina Jennings writes wonderful historical romance. I truly enjoy her books and this one is just as wonderful as her others.
Miranda Wimplegate's family owns an auction house in Boston that deals in art and antiques. When they accidentally sell the wrong painting, Miranda and her grandfather, Elmer, go to Missouri to try to get it back and save the family auction house. The first person they meet as they get off the train is Isaac Ballentine. As he loads their luggage onto his wagon, his brother, Wyatt, comes out of the woods and flattens him, then takes off in the wagon, leaving Miranda and Elmer to walk to town. And thus begins the adventure of trying to recover the painting.
Regina has taken on the illness of Alzheimer's before such a diagnosis was available. Elmer's confusion and hijinks allow some humor to be injected into a rather sad situation. Watching someone's mind dim while the rest of his life is still vibrant is one of the saddest things we as humans will ever encounter.
In trying to recoup the painting, Elmer buys the local sale barn thinking that the auction house in Missouri will be quite like the one in Boston, except that it isn't. The Missouri sale barn is a livestock auction house and Wyatt Ballentine is the auctioneer, and Wyatt has first impressions to overcome with Miranda after taking the wagon away from his brother in the beginning of the book.
Miranda wants to tell Wyatt what she's looking for, but secrecy is the first order of the day, especially when someone from Boston shows up looking for the painting too.
It was not until the end of the book that I realized that Regina had used the romance "formula" in her story, but it happens to work well with this one. Part of the separation between Miranda and Wyatt happens because Miranda has to go back to Boston with her grandfather.
My favorite character in the book is Betsy. She's a minor player but she's such a busy-body for a pre-teen that she's hysterical. She has a way of finding out everything about everybody that there are no secrets in town. The rest of the characters are richer because of her interference. The community is one of those where someone is mad at someone else for something or other most of the time and the trick is to keep the feuding parties apart. Wyatt seems to be the only one everyone gets along with. I've lived near small communities that resemble this one. It is easy to imagine the mountainous setting with the woods and trails.
This books is Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and an heirloom painting.
My thanks to Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this book.
Miranda Wimplegate's family owns an auction house in Boston that deals in art and antiques. When they accidentally sell the wrong painting, Miranda and her grandfather, Elmer, go to Missouri to try to get it back and save the family auction house. The first person they meet as they get off the train is Isaac Ballentine. As he loads their luggage onto his wagon, his brother, Wyatt, comes out of the woods and flattens him, then takes off in the wagon, leaving Miranda and Elmer to walk to town. And thus begins the adventure of trying to recover the painting.
Regina has taken on the illness of Alzheimer's before such a diagnosis was available. Elmer's confusion and hijinks allow some humor to be injected into a rather sad situation. Watching someone's mind dim while the rest of his life is still vibrant is one of the saddest things we as humans will ever encounter.
In trying to recoup the painting, Elmer buys the local sale barn thinking that the auction house in Missouri will be quite like the one in Boston, except that it isn't. The Missouri sale barn is a livestock auction house and Wyatt Ballentine is the auctioneer, and Wyatt has first impressions to overcome with Miranda after taking the wagon away from his brother in the beginning of the book.
Miranda wants to tell Wyatt what she's looking for, but secrecy is the first order of the day, especially when someone from Boston shows up looking for the painting too.
It was not until the end of the book that I realized that Regina had used the romance "formula" in her story, but it happens to work well with this one. Part of the separation between Miranda and Wyatt happens because Miranda has to go back to Boston with her grandfather.
My favorite character in the book is Betsy. She's a minor player but she's such a busy-body for a pre-teen that she's hysterical. She has a way of finding out everything about everybody that there are no secrets in town. The rest of the characters are richer because of her interference. The community is one of those where someone is mad at someone else for something or other most of the time and the trick is to keep the feuding parties apart. Wyatt seems to be the only one everyone gets along with. I've lived near small communities that resemble this one. It is easy to imagine the mountainous setting with the woods and trails.
This books is Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and an heirloom painting.
My thanks to Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this book.
Short Trip Over the Edge
I will generally pick up any book about prayer to read and learn from. The passion for prayer began in 2003 when I attended a conference on deepening my prayer life, and it ramped up after my mother passed away. My mother was crippled and couldn't get around much at all. So she kept a list beside everywhere she sat in the house and on that list were the people she prayed for. When she passed, those prayers passed with her and it took me a couple of months to realize this is a legacy meant to be carried on. With that in mind, I chose to read and review Short Trip to the Edge: A Pilgrimage of Prayer.
Unfortunately, the book wasn't what I expected; I thought I'd read about how Scott Cairns came to a deeper relationship with God through his prayer journey. It was a journey of the monasteries of the orthodox tradition in Greece. Periodically, there would be a snippet of wisdom to glean, but the book was more about his journey through Greece and some interactions with the monks.
My favorite bit of wisdom in the book is one he quoted by Paul Evdokimon:
I wish there has been more about prayer and less about travel in this book. Three stars.
My thanks to Paraclete Press for allowing me to read and review this book.
Unfortunately, the book wasn't what I expected; I thought I'd read about how Scott Cairns came to a deeper relationship with God through his prayer journey. It was a journey of the monasteries of the orthodox tradition in Greece. Periodically, there would be a snippet of wisdom to glean, but the book was more about his journey through Greece and some interactions with the monks.
My favorite bit of wisdom in the book is one he quoted by Paul Evdokimon:
It is not enough to say prayer; one must become, be prayer, prayer incarnate. It is not enough to have moments of praise; all of life, each act, every gesture, even the smile of a human face, must become a hymn of adoration, an offering, a prayer. One should not offer what one has, but what one is.
I wish there has been more about prayer and less about travel in this book. Three stars.
My thanks to Paraclete Press for allowing me to read and review this book.
Monday, January 11, 2016
The Painter's Daughter
Julie Klassen is one author whose books I will never give away, discard, or otherwise dispose of them. She writes high quality all of the time. I have only missed reading one of her books, but it will definitely be in my TBR pile before too long.
About an hour ago I finished reading The Painter's Daughter, and that's because I still had about half of the book to read at 1:00 AM today and I felt I needed some sleep.
Sophia Margaretha DuPont is the daughter of a sought-after artist. Her father often allows other aspiring artists to come and hone their craft under his tutelage. One of those artists is Wesley Overtree, eldest son of the Overtree Estate owner. Stephen, the second son, and a captain in the Royal Army, has arrived to bring Wesley home, but finds his cottage empty. Sophia offers to help him clean out the cottage and ship Wesley's belongings home. Stephen is a bit more perceptive than Sophia would like and figures out that his brother has left her pregnant while he sails to Italy to find his "muse." Because of his loyalty to his family, his sense of right and wrong, and his desire to please God, Stephen offers to marry Sophia. They elope to the Isle of Guernsey, and then travel to Bath to tell her father and her step-mother, and then to Overtree to tell his family. Sophia's welcome is not gracious at either place, but then her stepmother has three young children of her own, and Stephen's mother feels her son married beneath him.
Soon Sophia's pregnancy becomes apparent, Wesley returns home, Stephen goes into battle against Napoleon after he escapes Elba, and then all hell breaks loose in the Overtree home. When Sophia's friend and neighbor, Mavis, comes for a visit, Sophia decides to go back with her to have her baby in a calm environment.
This is the kind of book that will have the reader hanging onto every single word until the last page is turned and the last word is read. It's just that good. The characters are who they are, but they have depth and pathos and are incredibly believable. The settings are beautiful, and the descriptions of the artworks are awesome. Five stars, two thumbs up, and a beautifully painted portrait for your gallery.
My thanks to Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this book.
About an hour ago I finished reading The Painter's Daughter, and that's because I still had about half of the book to read at 1:00 AM today and I felt I needed some sleep.
Sophia Margaretha DuPont is the daughter of a sought-after artist. Her father often allows other aspiring artists to come and hone their craft under his tutelage. One of those artists is Wesley Overtree, eldest son of the Overtree Estate owner. Stephen, the second son, and a captain in the Royal Army, has arrived to bring Wesley home, but finds his cottage empty. Sophia offers to help him clean out the cottage and ship Wesley's belongings home. Stephen is a bit more perceptive than Sophia would like and figures out that his brother has left her pregnant while he sails to Italy to find his "muse." Because of his loyalty to his family, his sense of right and wrong, and his desire to please God, Stephen offers to marry Sophia. They elope to the Isle of Guernsey, and then travel to Bath to tell her father and her step-mother, and then to Overtree to tell his family. Sophia's welcome is not gracious at either place, but then her stepmother has three young children of her own, and Stephen's mother feels her son married beneath him.
Soon Sophia's pregnancy becomes apparent, Wesley returns home, Stephen goes into battle against Napoleon after he escapes Elba, and then all hell breaks loose in the Overtree home. When Sophia's friend and neighbor, Mavis, comes for a visit, Sophia decides to go back with her to have her baby in a calm environment.
This is the kind of book that will have the reader hanging onto every single word until the last page is turned and the last word is read. It's just that good. The characters are who they are, but they have depth and pathos and are incredibly believable. The settings are beautiful, and the descriptions of the artworks are awesome. Five stars, two thumbs up, and a beautifully painted portrait for your gallery.
My thanks to Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this book.
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Pssssssssst. . .
I rarely will pick up a mystery to read. For some reason, I will watch murder mysteries on television--in fact, I'd choose it over a chick flick even though I'd rather read chick flick type material. But, I picked up Whispers in the Reading Room--maybe I didn't realize it was a mystery at first, or I thought the romance that was woven into the story would be enough to overcome the mystery involved. I was right--the mystery was just enough to keep the plot moving, and the romance was all that it could be.
Lydia considers herself to be nothing more than a well-read, mousy librarian, but she has a favorite patron. She only knows he comes in to read and then he leaves. He doesn't talk to anyone, he doesn't check out any books, he just comes in most afternoons to read for a couple of hours and then he leaves. Little does Lydia know that he is the owner of a gambling spot in the slums of Chicago, but the elite of the elite frequent his club.
Sebastian Marks (aka Samuel Marx) comes to the library to watch Lydia more than to read. He finds her fascinating and he wants to know her better. Nothing is beyond his ability to find out, because money will buy a lot of information.
Thus the romance begins. The mystery involves Lydia's former fiance. When he winds up at Sebastian's club door, stabbed to death, the whodunit begins. After everyone in the club is eliminated as a suspect, except for Sebastian, his maid, his assistant, and Lydia; it takes all night for them to be questioned and then released. After that Lydia's reputation is shot, so Sebastian steps in to offer her marriage.
I have a picture to describe this book:
It really is hard to put down. The plot moves along at a fast enough clip to keep the reader involved until the book is finished. The characters have a realness to them that makes them believable, relatable, and even likable. Even the settings in the book make the story more readable. While the author, Shelley Shepard Gray, used the romance novel formula, it fits the tale quite well and makes for enjoyable reading. Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a brand-spanking new library card.
My thanks to Zondervan for allowing me to read and review this book.
Lydia considers herself to be nothing more than a well-read, mousy librarian, but she has a favorite patron. She only knows he comes in to read and then he leaves. He doesn't talk to anyone, he doesn't check out any books, he just comes in most afternoons to read for a couple of hours and then he leaves. Little does Lydia know that he is the owner of a gambling spot in the slums of Chicago, but the elite of the elite frequent his club.
Sebastian Marks (aka Samuel Marx) comes to the library to watch Lydia more than to read. He finds her fascinating and he wants to know her better. Nothing is beyond his ability to find out, because money will buy a lot of information.
Thus the romance begins. The mystery involves Lydia's former fiance. When he winds up at Sebastian's club door, stabbed to death, the whodunit begins. After everyone in the club is eliminated as a suspect, except for Sebastian, his maid, his assistant, and Lydia; it takes all night for them to be questioned and then released. After that Lydia's reputation is shot, so Sebastian steps in to offer her marriage.
I have a picture to describe this book:
It really is hard to put down. The plot moves along at a fast enough clip to keep the reader involved until the book is finished. The characters have a realness to them that makes them believable, relatable, and even likable. Even the settings in the book make the story more readable. While the author, Shelley Shepard Gray, used the romance novel formula, it fits the tale quite well and makes for enjoyable reading. Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a brand-spanking new library card.
My thanks to Zondervan for allowing me to read and review this book.
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Forgotten Recipe
Amy Clipston writes great Amish fiction, and I have reviewed a couple of her books on my blog. I really enjoy the way she puts her novels together, but with this one, I didn't enjoy it quite as much. I have mentioned before the stale formula for romance novels--boy meets girl, boy gets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back and marries her. Amy fell into the formula with her newest novel--The Forgotten Recipe.
Seth's death has left Veronica devestated and unable to move beyond her grief. Jason was Seth's best friend and wants to share his grief with Veronica, but he can't bring himself to tell her that he was there when Seth died.
One of Veronica's coping mechanisms is cleaning--upstairs, downstairs, and anything in between. One day she decides to take on the attic and finds a box with a recipe in it--a recipe for raspberry pie. She begins baking the pies and becomes well known in her area for the delicious pies. Because she has a surplus of raspberries, the task of making the pies is a welcome distraction. She gets her father to build her a baking stand, where she sells her pies once a week. This is where Jason connects with Veronica and where he begins to hide his friendship with Seth.
Jason has much to overcome in breaking down Veronica's defenses and breaking through the wall she built up after he tells her about knowing Seth.
I truly enjoyed the book until I saw that it was going to follow the formula, and then it lost its appeal for me. Four stars because it's not all bad. ;-) The other criticism I have is that the electronic copy of the book I read didn't have the raspberry pie recipe in it. Sigh.
My thanks to Zondervan for allowing me to read and review this book.
Seth's death has left Veronica devestated and unable to move beyond her grief. Jason was Seth's best friend and wants to share his grief with Veronica, but he can't bring himself to tell her that he was there when Seth died.
One of Veronica's coping mechanisms is cleaning--upstairs, downstairs, and anything in between. One day she decides to take on the attic and finds a box with a recipe in it--a recipe for raspberry pie. She begins baking the pies and becomes well known in her area for the delicious pies. Because she has a surplus of raspberries, the task of making the pies is a welcome distraction. She gets her father to build her a baking stand, where she sells her pies once a week. This is where Jason connects with Veronica and where he begins to hide his friendship with Seth.
Jason has much to overcome in breaking down Veronica's defenses and breaking through the wall she built up after he tells her about knowing Seth.
I truly enjoyed the book until I saw that it was going to follow the formula, and then it lost its appeal for me. Four stars because it's not all bad. ;-) The other criticism I have is that the electronic copy of the book I read didn't have the raspberry pie recipe in it. Sigh.
My thanks to Zondervan for allowing me to read and review this book.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
And We're Goin' to the Chapel,...
And we're gonna get married . . .
Rachel Hauck has written a book that takes place over sixty years, contains two romances, and a bit of skullduggery.
Jimmy Westbrook has a wedding chapel on his land that he built when he fell in love with Colette, hoping that she would become his bride. When she rebuffed him, he wanted to burn it down, but his father refused to allow him to do so.
Colette has been Vivica on Always Tomorrow from the show's inception until its closure. She is now at loose ends and unsure what to do next.
Taylor Branson is a photographer who wants to get her chops in advertisement photographer. She has been married for only six months, but she is having doubts about her husband's love for her.
Jack Forrester is an advertising executive who just lost his most important account, and he is Taylor's husband. Taylor and Jack eloped on Martha's Vineyard with the "backdoor" to the marriage, saying that if it didn't work out, they'd walk away, "no muss, no fuss."
Taylor has been offered a photography job in Heart's Bend, Tennessee, to take pictures of Jimmy's wedding chapel for Architecture Quarterly--the kind of job she has been looking for. While she is in Heart's Bend, she takes the time to go through her grandmother's house that had been left to her and finds secrets that have been hidden for sixty years.
Rachel uses several devices to pull this story together, Jimmy, Colette, Jack, and Taylor each get to tell the story from their own point of view. She also flashes back to 1948 to set the stage for Jimmy and Colette to fall in love, and for Colette's sister to drive the wedge between them. I found the flash-backs and the transitions between character/narrators to be rather distracting in understanding the story well. The story has a good premise, but I feel there might have been a less-cumbersome way to tell it. I give the novel four stars, because it's pretty good in spite of the clunkiness.
My thanks to Zondervan for allowing me to read and review this book.
Rachel Hauck has written a book that takes place over sixty years, contains two romances, and a bit of skullduggery.
Jimmy Westbrook has a wedding chapel on his land that he built when he fell in love with Colette, hoping that she would become his bride. When she rebuffed him, he wanted to burn it down, but his father refused to allow him to do so.
Colette has been Vivica on Always Tomorrow from the show's inception until its closure. She is now at loose ends and unsure what to do next.
Taylor Branson is a photographer who wants to get her chops in advertisement photographer. She has been married for only six months, but she is having doubts about her husband's love for her.
Jack Forrester is an advertising executive who just lost his most important account, and he is Taylor's husband. Taylor and Jack eloped on Martha's Vineyard with the "backdoor" to the marriage, saying that if it didn't work out, they'd walk away, "no muss, no fuss."
Taylor has been offered a photography job in Heart's Bend, Tennessee, to take pictures of Jimmy's wedding chapel for Architecture Quarterly--the kind of job she has been looking for. While she is in Heart's Bend, she takes the time to go through her grandmother's house that had been left to her and finds secrets that have been hidden for sixty years.
Rachel uses several devices to pull this story together, Jimmy, Colette, Jack, and Taylor each get to tell the story from their own point of view. She also flashes back to 1948 to set the stage for Jimmy and Colette to fall in love, and for Colette's sister to drive the wedge between them. I found the flash-backs and the transitions between character/narrators to be rather distracting in understanding the story well. The story has a good premise, but I feel there might have been a less-cumbersome way to tell it. I give the novel four stars, because it's pretty good in spite of the clunkiness.
My thanks to Zondervan for allowing me to read and review this book.
Monday, January 4, 2016
What Every Christian Needs to Know About . . .
Jesus was born to a Jewish mother and father, was raised in a Jewish household with all of the Jewish traditions. But many Christians overlook His heritage and His education and upbringing. Because of one question, Rabbi Evan Moffic wrote a book--the question was, "What should Christians really know about Jesus' Jewishness?" He takes the teachings of Jesus and puts them in a Jewish context--especially the first century context. What the Jews of the times wanted was a Messiah who would free them from Roman Rule and Roman domination. Jesus offered this, but not in the way they expected--He offered a peace that reigned in spite of circumstances. He took Talmudic law and turned it on its head by offering peaceable solutions to human problems.
One part of Rabbi Moffic's book that I wish to restudy is how The Lord's Prayer fit into Jesus' Jewish culture.
Rabbi Moffic's style of writing is conversational and easy to read. He explains things so that even the lightest Bible scholar can understand them. He reminds the reader of Jesus' many references to the book of Deuteronomy. I want to study that too.
I give this book four stars. I've read better treatises about Jesus' Jewishness, but this was a good treatment of the subject.
My thanks to Abingdon Press for allowing me to read and review this book.
One part of Rabbi Moffic's book that I wish to restudy is how The Lord's Prayer fit into Jesus' Jewish culture.
Rabbi Moffic's style of writing is conversational and easy to read. He explains things so that even the lightest Bible scholar can understand them. He reminds the reader of Jesus' many references to the book of Deuteronomy. I want to study that too.
I give this book four stars. I've read better treatises about Jesus' Jewishness, but this was a good treatment of the subject.
My thanks to Abingdon Press for allowing me to read and review this book.
Oh For a Huckleberry Patch of My Own
Anna and Felty are at it again--trying to make a match for their granddaughter with the local doctor, and even though neither are Amish, Anna feels that Dr Reynolds will be the perfect match for Cassie. Anna has to have a skin cancer removed from her foot and Cassie is coming to stay with Anna until she is able to be back on her feet.
There is a long row to hoe to get the doctor and Cassie together, to get their faith on solid footing, to come to a complete understanding of each other. Jennifer Beckstrand has well out-done herself in writing this book. I had a hard time putting it down, even though I had many other bids for my time. I did manage to finish crocheting a mitten while I was reading, although Anna's claim to fame is her knitting--especially potholders.
In the workings of the story are events like the death of a young boy from a heart that was too weak to withstand the stress his surgery put on it, finding faith when it seemed to be totally gone, maple sap tapping, an Amish haystack dinner and auction to benefit a woman with medical bills, a wrestling match, and a constant stream of cookies.
I found the characters to be real in their emotions and actions. There is a depth to the characters I haven't often seen--an overprotective and overbearing brother, a proud mother who cared more about other people's opinions, compassionate cousins, and loving family members. The doctor's reaction to the young boy's death was the reaction of someone who had come to care so much for the boy, but had no real understanding of who God is. I had tears rolling down my cheeks in several portions of the book. It is so easy to relate to the characters.
I wish I could give this book more than five stars, two thumbs up, and a plate of cookies, but these are the limits of my abilities.
My thanks to Zebra Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.
There is a long row to hoe to get the doctor and Cassie together, to get their faith on solid footing, to come to a complete understanding of each other. Jennifer Beckstrand has well out-done herself in writing this book. I had a hard time putting it down, even though I had many other bids for my time. I did manage to finish crocheting a mitten while I was reading, although Anna's claim to fame is her knitting--especially potholders.
In the workings of the story are events like the death of a young boy from a heart that was too weak to withstand the stress his surgery put on it, finding faith when it seemed to be totally gone, maple sap tapping, an Amish haystack dinner and auction to benefit a woman with medical bills, a wrestling match, and a constant stream of cookies.
I found the characters to be real in their emotions and actions. There is a depth to the characters I haven't often seen--an overprotective and overbearing brother, a proud mother who cared more about other people's opinions, compassionate cousins, and loving family members. The doctor's reaction to the young boy's death was the reaction of someone who had come to care so much for the boy, but had no real understanding of who God is. I had tears rolling down my cheeks in several portions of the book. It is so easy to relate to the characters.
I wish I could give this book more than five stars, two thumbs up, and a plate of cookies, but these are the limits of my abilities.
My thanks to Zebra Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.
Sunday, January 3, 2016
My Mother's Quilts
Ramona Richards has put together a devotional book that meshes spiritual thoughts with quilts in her family. Each chapter is a different quilt, a scripture and a prayer to go with it, and a complete description of the quilt and its importance to her. I have loved reading about the quilts, how and why they were made, the colors, the block designs, and how the quilts have impacted Ramona. She has a wisdom to share through her thoughts on the quilts. Her scriptures match the quilts and their patterns quite well and her prayers help the reader take the quilt patterns to a new level.
Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a quilt to keep you warm.
My thanks to Worthy Inspired Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.
Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a quilt to keep you warm.
My thanks to Worthy Inspired Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.
Lassoed by Marriage
Nine novellas about arranged marriages, marriages of convenience or expediency, and marriages that happen first and love grows later--this describes the contents of Lassoed by Marriage. While the lasso gives a decidedly Western idea of the book, some of the stories are not Western in nature or geography. The first marriage takes place in London and has a biblical feel to it, when Gwen's parents substitute her for her sister in the wedding to Elliott (think Jacob and Leah/Rachel). One marriage takes place in a small Colorado town (which could be Western) and the rest of the story is about fitting into Denver society. There is a "Hatfields-McCoys" type feud, a "witness protection" type wedding, and most interesting of all--a "save the man from the gallows" wedding.
One thing I noticed about the book is that the stories are arranged in alphabetical order by author's last name. It has no significance on the quality of the writings, or how interesting the plot lines are; the only significance is that I did notice it.
This olio is much like any other collection, there will be tales that appeal to some readers while other stories are less appealing. The quality of writing is pretty even among the nine novellas. The plots and characters are fairly equally developed without a standout story among them. The only reason one tale is more liked than another is a matter of taste of the reader. Four strong stars for likable stories to entertain on snowy afternoons.
My thanks to Barbour Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.
One thing I noticed about the book is that the stories are arranged in alphabetical order by author's last name. It has no significance on the quality of the writings, or how interesting the plot lines are; the only significance is that I did notice it.
This olio is much like any other collection, there will be tales that appeal to some readers while other stories are less appealing. The quality of writing is pretty even among the nine novellas. The plots and characters are fairly equally developed without a standout story among them. The only reason one tale is more liked than another is a matter of taste of the reader. Four strong stars for likable stories to entertain on snowy afternoons.
My thanks to Barbour Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.
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