Tag Archives: book review

Book Review – July 2015

3 Aug

Hello again!

I am so very excited about the new look and direction for SGL! As I, even with the best of intentions, rarely posted crafts or recipes, I am going to focus on books, writing (what I’m working on and tips and encouragements), chronic pain management and will be continuing the Virtue Series until the end of the year. So far, these seem to be the topics that you, my lovely readers, are interested in. You will undoubtedly see other changes coming along over the next few months (me being an Amazon associate hopefully will be the first one!). I hope you like this new look and direction – but for today, we have the book review for July.

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I picked up a few books while at an antique store in Cali on vacation, To Kill a Mockingbird and The Mayor of Casterbridge. The former I read way back in high school and enjoyed it so I am interested in reading it again with a different perspective. The latter ,well, you’ll have to keep reading to hear what I think of it!

And yes, I am very excited about Harper Lee’s new book, Go Set a Watchman, but am far too cheap to pay full price for a book. Plus while in Ca, my mom and I got given two bags of novels from my aunt that I have never read any of! Who needs to buy books when you’ve got such family and friends??

The Mayor of Casterbridge – Thomas Hardy – While intoxicated, Michael Henchard sells his wife and young daughter. Upon realizing what he has done, he makes a vow to never drink again. Years pass and he rises up in wealth until he is the Mayor. Unexpectedly reunited with his wife and daughter, the shame that he has always had of his past is now put to right….or is it?

~This was such a great book!  Henchard is a tragic hero,  always seeming to get in his own way.  As I read more of the story, the harder it was to put down! The twists weren’t what I had expected and even the satisfying conclusion followed that pattern.  There is a moral lesson being taught throughout,  but I won’t spoil it for you – go read it for yourself!

Courting Morrow Little – Laura Frantz –Returning home to Kentucky,  Morrow Little’s memories of the day Shawnee warriors destroyed her family come back full force. Will dealing with them while taking care of her ailing father, who has befriended two Shawnee, and the chaos of the war between the whites and ‘savages’ , be too much? Will she choose to marry a man she doesn’t love instead of letting go of her bitterness – and betraying the memory of those she loved – and pursue a life with a man of contradictions?

~This Book! Ah, this book. I have never read a book with this setting and story line – the struggle during the war raging in the 1760’s. I got sucked in the first page and was sad when it was over. I will admit to getting upset about 3/4 of the way through that something else had gone wrong. But it was still a great historical-romance-fiction-i’ll-be-reading-it-again-book!

The Secret – Charlotte Bronte –  A collection of short stories by Charlotte and her siblings are in this light read. Each are set in the imagined world of Verdopolis and are full of intrigue, lies and love.

~It has been fun reading through these again – being full of the beautiful maiden, heroic duke and crafty villian. If you are a fan of the Bronte’s, you must read these as they were written when they were young and still learning their own style of writing.

Elantris – Brandon Sanderson – I know, only last month I gave a review on it,  but I really hadn’t read it since March/April and it was the PERFECT book to read while on vacation! I loved it just as much the second time, picking up on different things said and referenced, which made it fun.

The Sherwood Ring – Elizabeth Marie Pope – After her father dies, Peggy Grahame Is sent to his ancestral home,  Rest-and-be-thankful.  She meets Pat Thorne, a British scholar , who is promptly tossed out by her Uncle Enos. As she is left to herself, and wondering when she’ll see Pat again,  Peggy learns the family’s history, and that the mansion really is haunted!

~This was such a fun read, and due to the fact that I read it while traveling, it was also a quick one! The storyline was unique and the characters – in both modern time and historical – were engaging.  I always enjoy a book that can pull off 2 different times. It would be great even for preteens. It is absolutely a book I’m going to be reading again.

The Problem of Pain- C.S. Lewis – ” How human suffering raises almost intolerable intellectual problems”- Lewis addresses one of man’s most frustrating questions, why do we suffer if there is a loving God?

~I haven’t finished this book but it has been very good so far.  His way of wording things is different enough that I’ve had to go back sometimes and read a section again but that’s not a negative for me. It’s been nice to read about a question that I have struggled with off and on, I’m sure most of us have! Very enlightening and I’m only on the fourth chapter.

~If you purchase a book from Amazon by following a link here on SGL, I will get a percentage of the sale =) ~

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Book Review- June 2015 (part 2)

25 Jun

As promised, here is part two of this month’s book review.

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Wrangler in Petticoats by Mary Connealy (Sophie’s Daughters bk 2) – Sally Mclellan is a total tomboy, and proud of it. But when artist Logan Mckenzie rescues her, she realizes that wearing a dress and being a woman isn’t so bad. But can she survive the outlaws that are intent on killing her, the only witness to their murdering, in order to really decide about loving a man who loves to paint the land instead of work it? And can she let her guard down and flourish as a woman? ~ I don’t think I’ve ever read a novel set in these times about an artist out in farming/ranching country. Loved the story line. Loved the characters. Definite re-read!

Sharpshooter in Petticoats by Mary Connealy (Sophie’s Daughters bk 3) – After a disastrous marriage that has left her the focus of a feud, Mandy Mclellan Grey has sequestered herself and her children in order to stay alive. It will take everything Tom Linscott has to convince her to come to his ranch and marry him. The way he figures it, she should have as soon as she finished burying her worthless husband, five years ago. When Tom goes up the mountain to get Mandy, he gets a whole lot more trouble that he expected – a great deal of that from the deadly-accurate sharpshooter he loves. ~ The final book in this series, Connealy keeps the fun and suspense in this novel. While this one has a slight more ‘adult theme’ it is still very tastefully done. And of course, you get to catch up on Beth and Sally’s lives. Another great read.

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien – A precursor to the Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit  tells the story of Bilbo Baggins’ adventures with the dwarves that are going back to the Lonely Mountain in order to reclaim their homeland and treasure that was stolen from them by the dragon, Smaug. Through trolls’ snares, goblin tunnels, Mirkwood Forest and an angry Elvenking must they survive, before they even reach the deadliest of foes – the wily dragon who slumbers amid his horde of gold. ~ I just finished this a few hours ago and what a writer Tolkien is! I cannot wait to get the LOTR series now. The only part I didn’t thoroughly enjoy was the spider part –which makes perfect sense if you know me… An honest to goodness classic that I don’t know how I hadn’t already read.

The Bride Bargain by Kelly Eileen Hake ( Prairie Promises bk 1) –  Clara Fields is determined to get herself and her aunt to Oregon in order to start a new life there. But when they are booted from the wagon train, they must seek help in the small town along the Platte River. Striking a bargain with a shopkeeper, Clara agrees to help find his visiting son a bride in exchange for the shopkeeper’s house. The only problem is that  Dr. Saul Reed is not interested in getting married and settling in Buttonwood – he’s got a practice ready to start in Boston. ~ This is one of those I like to call ‘fluff’ books. Easy to read in a doctor’s office or a park but still well written to be worth reading and keep you interested. The circumstances throughout the book are laugh-out-loud ridiculous but definetly keep you turning the page. A very fun, quick read.

Book in a Month by Victoria Lynn Schmidt –  Guiding you through each day with advice, encouragement and worksheets, this book helps you stay focused on writing a book in 30 days. It is put out by Writer’s Digest. ~Gasp. I am SO excited about this book. I am not committing to writing a book in a month, but i am using it more as a guideline and to help me get the momentum back on the novel I’m currently working on. Which can make it a little difficult, what with having almost 40 pages written, and the intent is to start on day 1 with a blank page…errr, blinking cursor/blank document. I am excited to keep working through it and working out the kinks in my novel along the way.

~Sorry there’s no pictures or links for these books this month, but I’m getting these written out and scheduled for I’m heading for vacation tonight! So, while it’s not necessarily a ‘pretty’ post, the reviews are genuine and the books are awesome! Enjoy!

~Laura

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Book Review- June 2015

21 Jun

How many months has it been since we’ve had a book review?!? Too many, and I am here to fix that! I have been reading all over the genres lately – thanks to the stack of books my mom gave me and other gifts by wonderful friends!

I am going to cover the books that I read since our last review in March and work forward from there, this might just be a two-part review.

Let’s begin shall we?

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Anne of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery (book 6) –   Anne is expecting another child but to the family’s dismay, Aunt Mary comes to visit, for a long time. To add to the difficulty, Anne starts to wonder if Gilbert still loves her. But, still full of spunk and imagination, Anne is ready to make her husband fall in love all over again.

~  Ah, this book was probably one of my favorites of those later in the series. I loved the children being young, a difficult relative coming and staying indefinitely and seeing Anne older and wiser but still full of dreams and imagination.

Rainbow Valley by L.M. Montgomery  (book 7) – Anne and Gilbert now have six children, and their amusing antics are carried out in Rainbow Valley. Their new neighbors, two boys and two girls who only have a minister father, join them in the valley and add to the escapades.

~ This book was a delight to read. While I grew up out in the country, I certainly didn’t have adventures like these! You will fall in love with these children.

Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery (book 8) – Only young Rilla is left of the Blythe children at Ingleside. Pretty 15 year old Rilla is only focused on getting to her first dance and hopefully, her first kiss from Kenneth Ford. But when the world erupts into war, her world is turned into one of drama and challenges. Not only do her brothers go off to fight, but she rescues an abandoned baby in a soup tureen.

~ I must admit that this one was harder to read, with it being focused on the war. But because of that fact, it was the best ‘account’ of what life was probably like for them during those days, so for that, I appreciated it. I like how Rilla grew up throughout the challenges and years.

Elantris by Brandon Sanderson (book 1) – Elantris was once a golden city in Arelon – literally glowing from the magic of the Shaod. It was the epicenter of trade and the demigods used their power to help others. 10 years ago, all that changed – the Elantirans became like lepers, and the city became their prison. In the devastation, a new capital has risen, Kae, in the shadow of the walls of Elantris. From across the waters, Princess Sarene of Teod comes to wed Prince Raoden – eager at last to meet and fall in love with this enigmatic man, but instead finds out that he has died and according to the laws of Kae, their engagement vows are as binding as marriage vows. Hrathen is a high priest of the Fjordell empire, and stepping into Kae hours after Princess Sarene has only two goals – convert the people of Kae in a few months’ time or they will all be killed. As Sarene battles politics in order to save both Teod and Kae from Fjordell control, she finds out the truth of Prince Raoden. He had become an Elantrian – outcast in the decaying city, and while trying to help the wretches there, he just might find the answer to the secret of Elantris.

~ Yes, this book deserves a long review. I LOVED this book. I never would have chosen it myself, but thank goodness for friends that send you books out of your ordinary! This quickly became a favorite of mine. The story line twists and turns so that I never knew how it was going to end and the characters were very well written. Neither Sarene nor Raoden are your typical royalty, and even the villian, Hrathen, has depths that intrigued and kept him from being someone you grew bored of. All in all, an excellent book full of suspense and lacking in anything sensual or ‘sketchy’. I’m even contemplating taking it on my trip to Cali with me!

Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame – Mole, Rat, Toad and Badger are the main stars in this delightful children’s classic as their adventures range from the constant river,stolen  motor cars, the Wild Wood and gypsy caravans. Originally published in 1908, these friends have long delighted readers. Mole and Rat are the best of friends , as well as being the best type of friend to others; Toad is peevish, thinking only of the fun he longs to have and Badger is the bachelor who knows everyone and is the wisest of them all.

~Some friends recommended this book and I scored an older copy at Powell’s bookstore in order to read it. Delightful. Absolutely delightful. It will certainly be a yearly read.

Doctor in Petticoats by Mary Connealy (Sophie’s Daughters #1) – Having trained as a nurse, Beth is on her way back home to her sister’s wedding. But when a stagecoach accident nearly kills them all, Beth struggles to help the injured by herself. When she realizes the incoherent bum she’s barely tolerated, is a doctor, she forces him to help her. Once in her hometown, her younger sister Sally has an accident and in order to be able to help Alex continue caring for Sally, Beth agrees to marry Alex. As time passes and Alex starts to show signs of being sane, and Beth starts to fall in love with him – everything else goes wrong, a bounty hunter intent on taking Alex in for deserting the Army and Alex decides to turn himself in and face the firing squad.

~ Happy sigh again with this book. It is a light, you-know-it’s-going-to-end-happily type of book but well written with a good twist on the ‘usual’ Christian western story line.

Part two will be later this week – with the rest of Sophie’s Daughters series and more! Come back and check it out!

Have you ever been pleasantly surprised when reading outside your regular genres?

~Laura

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Missing in Action

30 May

I am typing this on our tv, and little keyboard. While this set up is great for what we want it for – netflix, video games, etc, it’s not the  best or easiest for blogging… The reason being is that my relatively new laptop went on the fritz! So sad. So, right when I was going to get together a book review for you all (which I have missed for far too many months, I am so sorry!) as well as work on my novel, I went to my desk and the thing wouldn’t turn on. heavy sigh. i did scribble out the bit for my novel before it deserted me, like most writing ideas do if you don’t pay them proper attention.

I am hoping to have my fabulous laptop back in working order next week with a book review and then a post on the Virtue series (another series that I have missed a time or two!).

But for now, kick your feet up, enjoy the fabulous weather that seems to have settled in and pray that our AC will get hooked up quickly. hehe. I’m kidding. (but really, i’d love it if it could get hooked up tomorrow!)

Thanks for stopping by,

Laura

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And guess what?!?!?! I almost forgot to tell you. Right before the laptop went to sleep, I bought my own domain!! More changes will becoming , but for now, I’m just going to revel in the fact that I own my own domain!! (fyi- no longer does my blog address have the …..wordpress.com attached to it, now it’s just …..com!!)

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Book Review February 2015

2 Mar

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Book Review time again! I am deep in my current book, and so so glad that i have the whole series so that i don’t have to wait before starting the next one! Aside from having company twice this month (so fun!) I have been snuggled on the couch under one of my two favorite blankets, tea on the coffee table and Lady laying near me while I’m reading, reading, reading.

  • Torah Rediscovered by Ariel and D’vorah Berkowitz –  This book shows how Jews and non-Jewish believers can honor the Torah. And also how years of neglect and abuse have muddled the difficult issues in the Torah, and clarifies them.  You might recognize this title as I started reading it mid last year, but as I never finished it, I am halfway through it and it is such a well-written book, and written so that I can understand!
  • Happy Wives Club by Fawn Weaver –  One night, Fawn started a club to get women who love being married together and speak positively about marriage. Very quickly it spread like wildfire across the world – and Fawn traveled around it to speak with some of these women/couples in order to find the secrets of a great marriage. I have enjoyed reading this so far. I am reading it as a part of the Meaningful Marriage Study group that I am a part of on facebook. It is a light read and getting to ‘meet’ these couples has been a joy and through each couple something new stands out to me and makes me pause in contemplation. I very much recommend it!
  • Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery  – Anne Shirley is an awkward, gangly redheaded orphan that is adopted by Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, siblings who live on the homestead, Green Gables, they grew up on. Anne is prone to get into more scrapes and adventures than any other youngster in Avonlea, which proves for an interesting time for all. As she meets her ‘bosom friend’ and a few enemies in her new life, she quickly steals your heart as she grows up. I have owned this series for years and years but have never made it halfway through this book before! I have no idea why. I have completely fallen in love with the way Montgomery writes.
  • Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery –  Anne has grown up to be a fashionable young lady of sixteen and has gotten a job to teach at the Avonlea school. But she is still the mischievous and spirited young girl that arrived on Prince Edward Island all those years ago, proving that she isn’t all that different from her students.

on the to-read list: Heal Your Headaches by David Buccholz ; The Complete Adventures of the Borrowers by Mary Norton and the rest of Anne series! Plus, I’ve added to my long term reading list some of your suggestions of past months, so watch for those reviews too!

Have you been able to start the year out with quality reading time? What book has surprised you or disappointed you? 

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Book Review – January ’15

29 Jan

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Welcome to the first book review of 2015!!! How exciting!! On goodreads, I have a goal of reading 50 books this year. Seems quite reasonable to me, that’s only 4 books a month, right? Easy peasy. I mean, I’m currently reading 4 right now, with another one on the bottom of the stack to start whenever. My fellow book-lovers, that made perfect sense to you, I know it did.

Well, I’ll get right to the reviews!

  • Torah Rediscovered -by Ariel and D’vorah Berkowitz –  This book shows how Jews and non-Jewish believers can honor the Torah. And also how years of neglect and abuse have muddled the difficult issues in the Torah, and clarifies them.  You might recognize this title as I started reading it mid last year, but as I never finished it, I am starting it all over again and will finish it this time! It is such a well-written book, and written so that I can understand!
  • Happy Wives Club – by Fawn Weaver – One night, Fawn started a club to get women who love being married together and speak positively about marriage. Very quickly it spread like wildfire across the world – and Fawn traveled around it to speak with some of these women/couples in order to find the secrets of a great marriage. I have enjoyed reading this so far. I am reading it as a part of the Meaningful Marriage Study group that I am a part of on facebook. It is a light read and getting to ‘meet’ these couples has been a joy and through each couple something new stands out to me and makes me pause in contemplation. I very much recommend it!                                                    bookreviewjan2015
  • Wildwood Dancing -by Juliet Marillier – Jenica and her sisters and father live in the Transylvania woods, in Piscul Draculi – a castle that hides a portal to the Other Kingdom. Every month, with her sisters and pet frog, on the Full Moon, they go through the portal and dance the night away. But at home, in their world, everything is changing, and soon, events will bring their two worlds together and change everything. Forbidden love – Unswerving anger over an act of betrayal – an enchanted frog – and the ultimate test of trust. I mean, really, can you get any better than that in a story?? Sigh of contentment. A friend suggested this book to me years ago and I now read it a few (or several) times a year. I am pretty sure I’ve talked about it here on SGL before too. If you like a bit of magic and fantasy, this book is for you. (for those of you that are not sure, let me also say that I don’t read very much magic/fantasy but still love this one) Plus, my OH surprised me recently with a copy of my very own!

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  • Mrs. Mike – by Benedict and Nancy Freedman – A love story between a young Irish girl, Katherine Mary O’Fallon, new to the Canadian wild, and Sergeant Mike Flannigan of the Canadian Mounted police.  I am only a quarter of the way in, in this book so cannot give it a full recommendation yet. I can say that the opening is fantastic – it sucked me in quickly. It did lose me a little bit as it went on though, with a drunken right-hand man and some other random scenes that I can’t quite recall. But, i give it a tentative review so far. Check back next month for a full review! ( this was a Christmas gift from a friend, and you can see the packaging in the back of the photo, I didn’t waste any time starting it!)
  • Lousia May Alcott : Her Life, Letters and Journals – Edited by Ednah Dow Cheney – This book gives an intimate look at one of America’s most beloved authors.  It was originally published in 1889 (!!), just one year after her death. Combining her letters and journal entries with comments from a family friend (Cheney), shows how ‘faithfully and fully she performed whatever duties circumstances laid upon her’.  I really enjoyed this book, even though it took me over a month to complete it. I talked about it here and still recommend it for any young/older woman to read as motivation to keep at our tasks of loving and taking care of our families.

And for the book that’s on my list to start in the near-future – Heal Your Headache by David Buchholzm M.D. – this book has the “1-2-3 program for taking charge of your health”.  With answers to questions that nearly all headache sufferer asks, this book is a treasure-trove of information, based on ‘the breakthrough understanding that virtually all headaches are forms of migraine.’   “Step 1 – Avoid the Quick-Fix. Step 2 – Reduce Your Triggers. Step 3 – Raise Your Threshold” – I have owned this book for a few years now, after having been recommended to it for years by several doctors. While I have read bits and pieces of it, I haven’t ever read all of it. I highly recommend it to fellow headache/migraine sufferers from the bits I’ve read though.

Two boards for you to check out on my pinterest page – SGL (that way you’ll never miss a post if you don’t want an email!) and my quotes and books board!

Happy reading friends!

~Laura Starr

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Book Review – Dec. 2014 and Happy New Year!

31 Dec

this honestly is probably the most pathetic book review i’ve ever done, and probably ever will do! What with being on vacation for the last two weeks and sleeping the first two weeks of the month, I have only read half of one book.

GASP.

I know, I’ll wait a second for you to recover from the shock of that. . . . . . .

Okay, while I waited for you, I researched where the closest public library is to our house! 10 minutes away, I can handle that. Let the checking-out begin!

~Louisa May Alcott : Her Life, Letters and Journals – Edited by Ednah Dow Cheney  -Originally published in 1889 by a family friend, this book gives an intimate picture of one of America’s most beloved authors. Through commentary, surviving letters and journals, it shows how Alcott ‘fully and faithfully performed whatever duties circumstances laid upon her’.   Like I said above, I am only halfway through and love it love it. I have decided that every woman – young or old – should read about this persevering woman.

I am excited to start a new marriage study with a group online, this time around we are going through The Happy Wives Club. (which means, I have got to get it soon!!!)

As almost everyone else, I am thinking about the new year and what I would like to accomplish in it. No, this is not a list of goals that I am going to write out, feel good about planning such lofty things, and then promptly forget about it. I am talking about things that I have been saying I want to do once we got a little more settled here in our new home.   To help me accomplish some of them,over the holiday break, my OH bought me an office chair so I can write and blog without stressing my hip out! I am very excited to set up my little ‘office area’ with an inspiration board and whatever else finds its way there. I am planning on some new series here on SGL and hope by years’ end to be self-hosted.

So please, if you have anything you’d like me to start writing about – let me know and we’ll see what happens! For right now though, Happy New Year and I’ve got to get ready for an impromptu party with some friends tonight.

God Bless,

Laura Starr

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Book Review Oct 2014

28 Oct

What with packing-cleaning-eating-sleeping-doctor appointments-meeting with friends, I am not going to be able to do a full book review with you this month! I will list them out for you and you can check them out for yourselves!

A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers (not going to finish, didn’t like it enough to)

Libby’s Story by Judy Baer (still haven’t finished)

Castles: Maidens Meet Their Knights by  Tracie Peterson  (loved!)

Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne  (loved!!!)

The Whitney Chronicles by Judy Baer  (love love)

Our house is pretty bare right now, and it’s only a few days until we load up the uhaul truck! I am excited, nervous, ready and kind of scared. This is the biggest move I’ve done – ever, so it’s a little hard on the nerves! But it will be so nice to have my OH home every evening, have a synagogue to be a part of, have a nice house and yard and to start a new adventure. I am not sure when I’ll get back on here – it will be a week or so I imagine.

But for today and until then, I leave you with these  deep words courtesy of Dutch Bros (and my mom’s cup) Book Review Oct 2014

Any favorites or new books you’ve found that just have to be shared??? 

don’t forget – you can find me on goodreads!!! 

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Book Review – Sept 2014

30 Sep

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“The Smallest Bookstore Still Contains More Ideas of Worth

Than Have Been Presented in the Entire History of Television.” -Andrew Ross

I disappeared there for a while, didn’t I? So sorry, I thought about you guys a lot if that’s any consolation. Not only has my body decided to behave worse than normal by adding in a few more pains and frustrations, it was Rosh Hashannah last week! My OH and I were able to go to a local community’s service for it. It was the first time I had been a part of a service for this special day so it was cool to be able to attend. This week is Yom Kippur, so I don’t know if I’ll end up missing posting again but for today we have this months’ book review!

I must say that I love the quote for this month. It kind of makes me chuckle for the truth of it.

And now let’s get on to the books! I didn’t get near as much reading done this month but two of them I have absolutely LOVED!

  • The Merchant’s Daughter – by Melanie Dickerson — Once the daughter of a wealthy merchant but now an indentured servant, Annabel faces danger and and choices she’d never dreamed of. Caught between the slimy baliff who presses his attentions on her and the new Lord Ranulf who is rumored to be beastly and absolutely terrifying, she believes that life in a nunnery is the way to solve her problems. But as her encounters with Lord Ranulf result in feelings of safety and happiness, Annabel must struggle to face her feelings and decide which plans she will follow – hers or God’s. ACK! I love this book. Last month I had just started it and mentioned it briefly in the review for August. It is now one of my favorites that I will probably end up buying.
  • The Healer’s Apprentice – by Melanie Dickerson  — As a woodcutter’s daughter, Rose knows that her opportunity to train under the healer of Hagenheim Castle is a rare opportunity. Even though she gets squeamish at the sight of blood she wants to prove herself capable. When Lord Hamlin is injured and Rose is the one to heal his wound, she feels emotions toward him that she knows are forbidden, for he is betrothed to a mysterious lady in hiding. —and yes, she did it again folks!! another favorite! The twists and turns that she incorporates into her stories are wonderful.
  • A Voice in the Wind – by Francine Rivers — Falling in love with a handsome aristocrat is ridiculous but that’s just what Hadassah has done. She clings to her faith that God will deliver them from decadent Rome while struggling with her feelings.  — I don’t know about this one. I’m really trying to like this novel . I feel like there are too many characters that seem to have no connection to each other and no real forward movement with the plot line…. I’m 80 pages into the almost 500 and still not sucked in. Normally at this point I just give up on it but I’ve been told that it is really good so I’ll probably dive back into it in the next few days. I’ll let you all know if my opinion changes.
  • Libby’s Story – by Judy Baer — A chance encounter brings together tenderhearted and loyal Libby Morrison and sensitive and angry Reese Reynolds. While Libby is struggling to take care of her aging parents and Reese is nursing self-pity over being paralyzed, their friendship slowly blossoms. — I really enjoy this book. It is actually the third in a ‘series’ ( i can’t find anything that says it is actually a series…) It is enjoyable on its’ own but much more so after having read the first two. Each covers the story of the three friends, Jenny, Tia and Libby. (Jenny’s Story, Tia’s Story and this one, Libby’s Story)
  • An Unexpected Match – by Gayle Roper — As an upstanding Amish woman, Rachel Beiler can’t believe what she’s doing. She begins a hidden life as a college student. All she wants to do is learn but she doesn’t know yet how it will change her and what it will cost her. On the first night of class she meets two people – Amy Steiner who has secrets of her own and Rob Lanier an army vet. — ummm, YES! As I’m sure you know if you’ve read at least a few of my book reviews, I love stories about the Amish. And this one has a plot that I’m not used to seeing so it was very fun to read and I definitely got drawn in quickly.

And that’s it! I think this is the least amount of reading I’ve done all year! But, I’m all set to start one of my favorite novels, Mara: Daughter of the Nile and have another favorite coming from the library!

Happy Reading friends and do share what you’ve been reading lately!

~Laura

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Book Review – June 2014

30 Jun

“You know you’ve read a good book when you turn the last page

and feel a little as if you have lost a friend.”

Paul Sweeney

 

Can I admit to being completely wiped out from this past month? Granted, a good part of that is because of my ever-frustrating health. But, my OH graduated a few weeks ago, we had a party for him that same night and then the next day he left for Portland for his new job (that i’ve already told you about!)  and I think I’ve found a doctor that might be able to help get my health back on track. My mini-garden is ready to transplant, which I’m hoping to do this week  and I’m loving driving my classic 1968 VW Bug again. That sums up my month in a very tiny nutshell. 

And now, on to the books!

I got hooked on a series so the other books I’ve been reading suffered because I just couldn’t put the book down! But, now that I have to wait for the third book in the series at the end of the year, I can get back to those I’ve been postponing. As I had hoped last month, I made it to all of the books on my list – so let’s get to it! 

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Take Hold – by Ariel and D’vorah Berkowitz – Yes, i started this last month but I am thoroughly enjoying the (albeit slow) read! This book teaches about the unity and equality between Jewish believers and non- Jewish believers through Messiah;  the inheritance of non -Jewish believers through the covenants of Israel. As the back cover states “What is your relationship to the Land, the People and the Scriptures of Israel?” It is published through First Fruits of Zion, where we also get our Torah Club (messianic commentary on the weekly portions)

The Twelve Dancing Princesses – selected and introduced by Alfred David and Mary Elizabeth Meek – my mom got me this(!) it was printed in 1974 and I got so excited about it because of the re-write of the dancing princesses story, Wildwood Dancing by  Juliet Marillier. This book is a compilation of fairy tales from Germany, Russia, France, Scandinavia, England and America. Some are familiar and some I’ve never heard of before. All though, are different from the fairy tales that we know. Darker. Sadder. More detailed and in depth than what they have turned into. I am loving grabbing this when I only have a few minutes to read. 

 

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A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander –   Book 1 of the Belmont Mansion Series . a Great Historical novel! It already went back to the library, so if you try to search for it in the photos, you won’t find it =) Set one year after the War Between the States ended. Claire Laurent has a dream of becoming a well-acclaimed painter, but her father insists she is only a copyist. She has to flee New Orleans to Nashville and meets Sutton Monroe. When he doesn’t turn her in to authorities, she thinks he is a godsend. But as events unfold, she wonders if she misjudged him. Sutton Monroe wants to set the wrongs done against him and his family, right and to reclaim what is due him. But at what cost to him – and the woman he loves?  yes, it really is that good. I had the hardest time putting this down! 

A Beauty So Rare by Tamera Alexander – Book 2 of the Belmont Mansion Series – set in late 1868 on. Eleanor Braddock is plain and practical. She wants her life to have meaning, even though she knows she will never marry. She arrives at her aunt’s house, Belmont Mansion, poor and struggling to take care of her ailing father. Her Aunt Adelicia is one of the most demanding women, and her goal is to see Elanor wed. But Eleanor finds herself helping the widows and fatherless children from the Civil War, knowing that her aunt will not approve. Hiding his royal identity, Archduke Marcus Gottifried hopes to live life as he wants, combining his love of beauty in nature and architecture with the building of the widows and children’s home with Eleanor. As the work brings them closer, a love blooms. But the one person that knows Marcus’ secret is about to reveal it. ACK! i love this novel. I just finished it last night and I almost feel like I could just pick it up again. You must read this series. I love the twists and turns that these books bring. 

Finding Betty Crocker- by Susan Marks – who doesn’t love Betty Crocker? I have a new habit of wandering the cookbook section at the library, not only searching for cookbooks but also memoirs. This one I was excited about and while I am only about halfway through it is an interesting read. It goes through the history of Betty Crocker – ‘born’ in 1921 and how she was welcomed into kitchens and hearts. She became an icon- having her own radio show, answering fan mail and cooking classes around the country. Along with a wonderfully written biography on Crocker, history through the war years is given also. There are even recipes tossed in before the chapters! If you grew up with Betty Crocker, this is for sure a book you’ll want to read.

A Tiger in the Kitchen by Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan – a memoir of food and family – yes, another food memoir. I am not very far along in this book either but so far it’s proving a good read. Cheryl grew up in Singapore, in the most food-obsessed city in the world. At eighteen, she left for America and became a fashion writer. In her thirties, though, the call to learn to cook the dishes her family made became undeniable and she braved the kitchen to try and recreate them. But was it too late? While cooking with her aunts, she learns not only the recipes but also family stories. 

Your Older Dog by Jean Callahan – this book indicates that I realized Lady is old. See, I’ve always thought of her as my puppy. The fact that she turns 9 this summer means nothing —until I started thinking about how slow she gets up in the morning, how much more she sleeps than she used to and she seems to be a little more attached to me and the OH. It makes me sad to realize it. But I grabbed this book since I want to get her out walking/jogging with me each week and don’t want to cause her pain. This book covers aging, first aid and preventive care, natural remedies, guide to most age-related problems and end stage issues. I of course flipped to the section of ‘exercise to keep your dog agile’. It has good content and am thinking it might be a good one to own.

DIY Dog Grooming by Jorge Bendersky – I admit, the cover is off-putting but I went through it the other day before I groomed Lady and learned a lot.  It first has you identify what hair type your dog has , tells you what tools to use and then step by step through the dog on brushing, trimmming, cleaning etc… Also includes solutions to common problems, picture tips and grooming solutions from your pantry (there’s even a page on essential oils and dogs).  Well done book. This is another one that I would like to own, but I would probably have to put a book cover on it… if you want to know what I’m talking about, just google it.

The Belly OFF Diet by Jeff Csatari – I wrote about this one last month and while I didn’t read too much more in it – majority of it left is the exercises they recommend, I did go through them and contemplate doing the work outs…. That’s as far as it went sadly. But I do love some of the recipes in here! They are going to stay in my ‘repetoire’. That taco salad is amazing. For a more thorough review on it, click here –  https://thestartofagoodlife.wordpress.com/2014/05/29/book-review-may/

 

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Fast, Fresh and Green by Susie Middleton – an amazing vegetable cookbook. It covers – quick-roasting, quick-braising, hands on sauteing, two-stepping, no cooking, stir frying,grilling and baking gratins. Yes, it’s that cool. I have fallen in love with a new cauliflower dish. YUM. I originally got this from the library, showed it to my mom who scored getting a few from amazon at a great price. Thanks mom!! The pictures are fantastic. The recipes are delicious. If you are looking to get vegetables in your diet more, this book is the way to do it. 

And that’s it my friends! What have you been reading this month? 

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