Currently reading
The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook: Wickedly Good Meals and Desserts to Die For
Death of a Salesman
Conscripts: The First Book of The Off World Trilogy
Vivian Versus The Apocalypse
Hitler's First Victims: The Beginning of the Holocaust and One Man's Fight to End It
Charlie Chaplin
The Heart's Frontier
3.5 starsLori Copeland and Virginia Smith have teamed up to create an entertaining and sometimes humorous novel. Taking place in Kansas in 1881, they transport the reader back to cowboy rustling times when it's really not safe to travel, let alone travel without a gun.
Although I enjoyed the story line, I did have some problems with the reality of the characters and timeline. A week does not seem a long enough time to take an Amish girl that is solid in her faith and make her want to challenge it. Sorry, but that time frame didn't totally work for me. The decisions and the actions of the Amish family didn't ring true as well - especially the ending.
If you are looking for a heartwarming tale with a nice underlying Christian message, this book will certainly entertain. However, if you need realistic Amish characters, you will find this one falls short.
The Maid of Fairbourne Hall
Set in 1815 England, this beautifully written story will captivate the heart of the reader from the very first page. Well researched and wonderfully detailed, The Maid of Fairbourne Hall will transport the reader back in a time where servants were never to be seen and barely ever thought of as a person with feelings. With extremely well developed characters, one will forget this is a work of fiction and be swept away into a world of Upstairs/Downstairs.My favorite characters were not always so at the beginning. Margaret was a spoiled well-off girl who had servants to do everything for her. Not until she realized that she had no choice but to leave a bad situation, did she start becoming a bit more tolerable. As she grew and matured, I ended up adoring her. Nathaniel was different. I liked him from the beginning and fell in love with him by the end of the book. He was a wonderful, responsible and humble man who kept God at the center of his life.
Julie Klassen is a new-to-me author who captured my heart with this book. She has a wonderful style of writing that kept me from wanting to put the book down, and made me want to finish the book to see what happened, but also made me terribly disappointed the book ended. Her characters and the lessons they learned will be with me for a very long time!
The Maid of Fairbourne Hall is definitely one of my favorite books and had me out and looking for other books to read by this amazing author. With that said, Julie has also made my favorite authors list. I can't wait to get started on another one of her books!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
The Realms Thereunder
Freya and Daniel are closer than they will ever want to admit. The are connected in many ways: they went to the same school, they were both born on the same day, and they both went on the same class trip that ended up changing their lives forever.From the beginning, Mr. Lawhead knew just how to capture my interest and he wove such a fantastical story that I read it in two sittings (and that was only because I had to sleep). Crossing between time periods and worlds, this story reminded me a little of "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" yet with more of an adult appeal.
The story focuses on three characters: Freya, Alex and Daniel and jumps between them as well as past and present. I found this switching kept me on my toes and very interested of what was going to happen next and to whom.
Fast paced and full of action, this book may be even better than Lawhead's father's "Bright Empire" series. I could be biased though, as I love books that center around "special" children that have a specific task they must accomplish. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series as I need to know what these three will do next!!
This book was provided by the Book Sneeze program and was used in conjunction with CSFF Tours. I was not required to write a positive review, but instead, one that gives my honest opinion.
Asenath
I usually avoid reading novels about Biblical figures because they never seem to match my idea of what those figures are like, but there was something about "Asenath" that made me really want to read this one.Told through the eyes of Asenath, one quickly develops a connection with her. She's strong, captivating, innocent and curious, and most of all, she has a beautiful heart. At a young age, she was captured and enslaved, then was adopted by an Egyptian priest and priestess. Her life runs parallel to Joseph's and it only seems natural that she would befriend him. This creates a captivating and quite well written love story that brings to life Egypt during the time of Joseph and makes the reader feel like they are there and involved instead of "watching" from the sidelines.
There were a few times this novel didn't ring authentic for me. I couldn't help but wonder if women really were allowed to travel alone or with only one male? I got the sense that it was "normal" then, but it didn't feel "right" to me. I kept wondering why women weren't required to protect their virtue like they did later on in history. I also had trouble getting used to modern language being used in a story of a different time period. One example that sticks out in my mind was when Asenath was "hanging out" with her animals. I would find that after allowing myself to be "transported" back to that time, sometimes the 21st century phrases would break the "mood" for me and I'd remember I was reading a book.
These details shouldn't dissuade one from reading "Asenath", but it did keep me from rating this as a 5 star book. The story itself was very captivating and most definitely worth reading! Anna Patricia did a wonderful job capturing the essence of what I would imagine Joseph and Asenath to be like.
To Love and to Cherish
This emotionally charged novel starts out with the unexpected and tragic death of Emma Shirack's parents. This tragedy tests the family over and over and topped with a few other incidents, creates a compelling and heart-tugging story. The Amish way is to forgive, but Emma and other members of her family struggle throughout the story with forgiveness. It is in this one act that they will heal and give them a freedom that they need, but forgiveness is not easily done.
I found this whole story mesmerizing and somewhat different from other Amish fiction I have read in the past. The struggles Emma and her family face are not easily handled and that made for a true-to-life scenario for me. One tragedy can affect so many people in many different ways, add in guilt, shame, wrong choices and broken hearts, the effect can be astounding.
This story is one about love, loss, guilt, trauma, faith, forgiveness and healing. It is so well written that I found it impossible to put down. Kelly Irvin captures the essence of family and faith in this book. It is the first book of her Bliss Creek Amish series, and after reading this one, I can't wait to get my hands on the next book to see what happens in Emma's family!!
Unhallowed Ground
Unhallowed Ground is the fourth book in the "Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon", however it is easily read as a stand-alone. This is the first of the series I have read, and I found no problems with starting at this point. There is enough information and character development that I could easily connect and not feel lost.Taking place in 14th Century Bampton, England, Unhallowed Ground centers around Master Hugh de Singleton who is both a surgeon and bailiff to Sir Gilbert. Master Hugh is a walking contradiction because he's looked at with suspicion because of his job as bailiff and revered because of being a good surgeon. This makes for a very interesting protagonist.
Written in first person and being able to see through the eyes of Master Hugh was fascinating and made for a captivating and unforgettable story. When he sees Thomas atte Bridge hanging from the tree and studies him, he discovers that the apparent suicide is possibly not a suicide at all. As he continues his investigation, he discovers not only was Thomas atte Bridge a despicable man (worse than he originally knew), but he wrestles with the thought of possibly arresting a neighbor or "good" person who was involved in the murder.
Master Hugh is newly married and discusses this information with his wife, Kate. She is an intelligent woman who also noticed from the beginning that Thomas atte Bridge's death was not as it seemed. With each dead end Master Hugh would hit, Kate would be there as a sounding board and help him decide if it was worth continuing the investigation.
This book was an amazing read! I am so taken with the writing style of Mr. Starr, that I really want to read all the books in this series. He is truly a brilliant writer who seems to effortlessly bring to life 14th Century England. His prose and ability to describe in detail day-to-day life transports the reader back in time and allows on to actually feel like they are a part of that time period.
This book comes HIGHLY recommended!
First Snow
Novellas are the type of story that will either really capture my interest or will bore me because of the lack of good character development. "First Snow" won me from the get-go. It handed me characters that I both enjoyed and felt a connection to. Penelope (Nell) was a woman that felt real and true to life with an honest desire and fear. Hasan, Nell's friend, was not as connectable for me - at least not in the beginning, but by the end, I was adoring him.This story is based around the Christmas holiday, but could be an anytime read. It is sweet, clean, and had a nice cozy quality that I thoroughly enjoyed. With this being the first volume in the series, I'll be anxiously awaiting the next as I really want to find out what the next chapter in Nell's life holds!
Abarat
First let me say that this is classified as a young adult, but is darker than most with some strong language, so I would suggest this for older teens.This book was a total surprise coming from Clive Barker. I wasn't expecting such interesting characters - different from what I'm used to from him. I enjoyed this book and found that Abarat was a fascinating and interesting place and Candy made the story for me. I really enjoyed her.
I found this and enjoyable and interesting read. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series!
Life Is Not a Stage: From Broadway Baby to a Lovely Lady and Beyond
Florence Henderson became a household name with the TV series "The Brady Bunch", but did you know that she was an entertainer many years before and after that show? This memoir allows the reader to get to know and appreciate the woman behind the entertainer/star. She tells about her childhood, her challenges, abuse, and so much more. She becomes human and a woman that shines through all the challenges she has faced.
I enjoyed this book and found it to be well written and very interesting. I have come to appreciate Florence even more since reading this memoir.
Redeeming the Rogue
This hitstorical romance kept me turning the pages as I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I adored Michael Rafferty and found him crush and swoon worthy. Sigh...Even though this is the 3rd of the Chambers Trilogy, I really didn't feel as if I had missed out on anything - it reads like a stand alone. I enjoyed this book and am going to put it back in my TBR pile. I am going to look for the others in the trilogy to read them from beginning to end.
Coming Up for Air
This book was so-so for me. I liked Uncle Cotton, but really couldn't take to the main character at all. Ellie was selfish and very self-centered and all I wanted to do was smack her at times. The mid-life crisis was boring - done way too many times: woman doesn't like marriage and focuses on old boyfriend. UGH! The family secrets and diary were interesting, but all-in-all, I wasn't grabbed by the story or characters.
Yankee Doodle Dixie
You can take a girl out of the South, but you can't take that love for the South out of the girl. After a divorce, LeeLee finds she doesn't enjoy Vermont, and sells her Inn and moves back to her beloved South.This sweet southern-style type book will help you escape and just enjoy yourself. It is the perfect book for a nice stormy day or beach read. The story line is fun with lots of humor but is predictable.
I enjoyed 'Yankee Doodle Dixie' enough to buy the first book to read. I'll probably put this back in my TBR pile so that when the 3rd book comes out, I'll read them all in order.
Baby's Little Bible: Pink Edition
There is really no other word to describe this story Bible than precious. Unlike many of the other baby's Bibles I have seen, this one is to be used, read to, and understood by your sweet baby as he/she grows up. The illustrations are beautifully done, and will hold your little one's interest as you read the simple prose of some of our most beloved Bible stories.As your baby grows older, it can be used as their own book to read from, something like "The Beginner's Bible". This is a book that will be used for many years, and will be well loved.
The padded cover makes a comfortable book to hold and to easy to wipe little fingerprints from. This is a wonderful first book to add to your child's library or would make a wonderful gift for the new/expecting parent. Truly this is something that will make a treasured and well used gift!
Farsighted (Farsighted, #1)
The first thing that grabbed me was the cover. I couldn't get over his likeness to a teen-age Anthony Michael Hall. Once that happened, I couldn't get Anthony Michael Hall's voice out of my head - I made them one and the same.Could it be coincidence? Alex, the main character, was blind and had a gift of second sight - and so did one of AMH characters, Johnny Smith (although he wasn't blind - he was still disabled and used a cane).Emlyn Chand did a fantastic job creating her characters, especially Alex. She took a blind teen and gave him a very realistic voice. She tackled some difficult character traits: a teen, a male, an outcast, and blindness, but she pulled it off and did it very well.
"Farsighted" was a great young adult novel. It dealt with being young and different and the journey one travels. Each chapter starts with a Rune and a reference of the path that the "traveler" is on. These, of course, coincide with what happens to Alex in that chapter.
What I found most intriguing about the story, was Alex's point of view and how he "saw" the world. We never really got to "see" his friends or family - just how he "saw" them by smells, sounds, etc. Then when he starts having his "visions" it gives even a more interesting twist, because he visions are with his other senses and he doesn't know what is real or his "second sight" in the beginning.
These visions prove to be an important part of the story - giving mystery and suspense as you try to figure out who, how and why... It certainly keeps one interested in the story and makes it difficult to put aside, as the need to know grows greater with each chapter.
Emlyn wrote an exciting young adult story that will please adults as well, and with the suspense and surprise ending, this is definitely one to add to your must read list!
I received an e-copy of this book from the author to read and honestly review.
 - Emlyn Chand)
The Book of Names
This young adult fantasy was an very good read. It reminded me of a mixture of "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" and "The Lord of the Rings" with a Celtic twist. I enjoyed the characters and they seem to be developing well. Since this is the first book in the series, I think the pacing is perfect - getting glimpses of backgrounds of some and still holding mysteries of others.The storyline was good and used traveling to a different world where there is strife and evil. It contained everything I like in a good fantasy: magic, other dimensions/worlds non-perfect heroes, good vs evil, a "puzzle" and unlikely "chosen ones". This kept me interested and made it difficult to put the book down.
I am so looking forward to reading the next in this series.
Turn of Mind
I don't know how to review this book. It was difficult for me to read because of the subject matter, and at times was disjointed because it came from the point of view of one suffering from dementia. The story line was interesting and I enjoyed the mystery. I did have difficulty with some of the characters because of their greed and hatefulness, but it's that way with every family, isn't it?This was a good read and anyone that enjoys medical type fiction or mysteries will like this book.
