The content kept me from truly enjoying this book. The F-word is used frequently. (There's also a few sex references.) This is a short, very quick reaThe content kept me from truly enjoying this book. The F-word is used frequently. (There's also a few sex references.) This is a short, very quick read, so it's a lot packed into such a small story. (Yes, I've been called a prude plenty of times. ;) I'm not judging anyone else, though, I assure you.)
Aside from the content, it is a nice choice for a rainy day. It has its sweet moments. (Arthur is the best!) It also has its annoying moments! It's not a deep read, by any means, but it does pull on the heartstrings.
If you're like me and don't care for "extra" content, pass this one up. If you don't mind the content, and want a quick and light read on the sentimental side, this might be just what you want.
There's a bit of content(sex scene) that would keep me from completely recommending this book, but otherwise it's a gorgeous book. It's also one that There's a bit of content(sex scene) that would keep me from completely recommending this book, but otherwise it's a gorgeous book. It's also one that kept me rapidly turning the pages, and kept me up well past when I should have already been asleep. It's a bit of a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I can't say I was overly fond of the leading man. He takes his role as Beast seriously, apparently. I love the old fashioned feel to it, though. It's violent at times and very dark, but there's still such beauty in it. I do hate that the sexual parts were there, and it seems like they were just thrown into an otherwise clean and lovely book just to make it more "adult". If you think you can skip over those parts, it's otherwise a worthy read.
Content: An almost sex scene and a full out sex scene. Mild profanity. Violence....more
I quickly grew tired of reading Amish/Mennonite fiction after only a few of them. I don't typically touch them anymore. The AThis book is so, so good!
I quickly grew tired of reading Amish/Mennonite fiction after only a few of them. I don't typically touch them anymore. The Alliance is unlike any I've ever read, though, and is definitely worth reading, whether you typically enjoy them or not.
Reading this book will probably scare you into learning survival skills, and make you think about a world that you might not have even imagined, if you're like me. Though parts of the story are slower moving, there's still plenty of parts that are heart-racing. I was quickly turning the pages through it all.
I loved the leading lady, Leora. She has a great deal packed on her shoulders, but she's brave, even though she's also terrified. I also adored the fact that she was written to wear glasses. During my second pregnancy, something changed with my eyes, and contacts are super painful now. I've fought it hard until recently, when I finally accepted that it's glasses for me. Probably because of that, but I loved the glasses on a leading lady. Leora isn't your typical leading lady, but really there's nothing "typical" about this book. It's unique and refreshing!
There IS romance within the book, and even a love triangle, but it wasn't overdone. I didn't roll my eyes, so it wasn't corny. I felt the whole book, including the romance portion, was very well written. (Well, except for the repeated use of "could care less". "COULDN'T care less", people! I don't understand how this makes it through in so many books.) ;)
My biggest complaint is the fact that the story ends with a major cliffhanger, and now I have to wait a whole year to find out what happens. It's highly unlikely I would have picked up the book had I known this fact, and I'm super annoyed that it wasn't made clear.
Just to note, there's references to Matthew 24:1-26 , believing that it is a description of the end of times. I believe those verses to actually be a description of the destruction of the temple that was to come, not the end of times. As long as you know I don't support that line of teaching, and you don't mind waiting a whole year for the ending, I wholeheartedly recommend The Alliance! I greatly enjoyed it.
*I was provided a review copy, in exchange for my honest opinion. ...more
I LOVE the movie, Austenland, and it just might be my most favorite movie at the moment. I've watched it several times, and it never ceases to make meI LOVE the movie, Austenland, and it just might be my most favorite movie at the moment. I've watched it several times, and it never ceases to make me laugh. It's so sweet and corny, and just plain fun. I even love the music, and have it on my Amazon playlist. As opposed to a comfort read, it's my comfort watch.
Being in an Austenland mood, I decided to give Midnight in Austenland a chance. I don't recall being overly fond of Austenland, the book, but I was still curious about this one. I think I've stayed away from it until now based on the fact that I wasn't sure the romance was scriptural within it. I decided that if it wasn't, I'd just put it aside. Thankfully, it is, and I was able to read with complete ease.
I had such fun reading Midnight! It was one I didn't want to put down. I'd heard it mentioned before that this one was much darker than the first book, and it is! There's a mystery taking up a large chunk of the book, and I found some of it surprising. Despite being a light and funny read, it has its dark and serious moments. The romance portion was actually much smaller than I imagined it would be, but I'm actually glad of that. It was somewhat thrown in there carelessly, even though I somewhat had my suspicions from the beginning. I still had such fun reading the book, though, that I'm willing to overlook it.
I can't talk about Austenland and not mention Jennifer Coolidge. She plays the part of Miss Elizabeth Charming and she is THE perfect person for this part. She makes the movie, for me. I can't imagine I'd like it near as much without her, even though I do love Keri Russell and JJ Field in their parts, too. It was thrilling to discover that Miss Charming plays a large role in this book, too, and it was simply too easy to picture Jennifer Coolidge while reading her part. I could hear her voice, and it was just perfection. I chuckled and smiled throughout.
If you're in the mood for a super light, but fun read, I recommend reading the first book(even though it wasn't my favorite), and then watching the movie. Then, pick up this book! At the very least, you'll get in some laughs. If you're in the mood for a deep read, save these for another time, though. For me, it was just what I needed at the moment.
*Austenland, the movie, is rated PG-13 for suggestive content/crude humor, and for good reason. There's plenty of it, but it's still a pretty clean movie, especially considering it's PG-13. I've only heard one word of profanity, and most movies of that rating have plenty more.
**Midnight in Austenland has a bit of mild profanity(more so than what I'd read in a content review, so I'm wondering if it was revised or something)....more
I would have read this one straight through if I could have! I didn't want to put it down. With the type of story that it is, I almost hate to say I lI would have read this one straight through if I could have! I didn't want to put it down. With the type of story that it is, I almost hate to say I loved it, but I did. It's not the kind of read I could read on a regular basis, but I greatly enjoyed it.
The Glass Casket is a retelling of Snow White and Rose Red, I believe, though mildly. It definitely stays true to the original style of fairy tales, meaning it's gruesome at times and very dark. It stays mysterious throughout, and I was guessing until the end about how things would play out. Just like many of the old fairy tales, everything isn't tied up in a nice, neat bow, either. Things remain bittersweet, and it doesn't end in rainbows and sunshine.
It's divided into 3 parts. The first part is only a little creepy at the beginning, but it's mostly letting us get to know the characters. The 2nd part is where the creepiness and just plain odd parts begin. It remains through the 3rd part, but that's where things start tying together. For those easily creeped out, I'd recommend not reading it at night, though it's not THAT bad. It was worth the read for me, and I'm not into horror type stories. I'd label this one as a mild horror. Although it's labeled as YA, I don't think it fits the YA mold at all, and can easily recommend it to adult readers of fairytale retellings, and even mystery fantasies.
If you're looking for a sugary sweet romance, with corniness on top, look elsewhere, because you won't get that in here. Though there is a bit of romance, and even a case of insta-love, I found things were leveled out nicely with another romance and happenings. This book isn't about the romance, though!
I have to mention that cover briefly. I think it's just awful! I've looked at it many times, and I'm still not even sure what's going on with it. Don't judge the book based on it, other than it being weird and creepy.
If you don't mind a bit of fantasy-like/gruesome violence, I definitely recommend giving this one a try. I thought it was beautifully written, and just a great read!
Content: No profanity There's a bit of kissing, mild passion(in only one spot that I recall) and reference to sex, but not detailed at all. It gets pretty gruesome at times, so there's definitely violence.
*I was provided an ARC, in exchange for my honest opinion....more
((I read this one back in January, and now I can't remember if I was leaning towards 3 or 4 stars. I'll go with 4!))
I'm slowly making my way through L((I read this one back in January, and now I can't remember if I was leaning towards 3 or 4 stars. I'll go with 4!))
I'm slowly making my way through Lucy Maud Montgomery's books, with the encouragement of the yearly Lucy Maud Montgomery Reading Challenge @ Reading to Know. This year, it also doubled for the January Reading to Know Classic Book Club. I chose to read The Blue Castle, which was the pick for last year's book club pick. Due to my pickiness concerning font size while reading, I ended up passing on the read, and instead read Kilmeny of the Orchard. THIS year, there was a lovely kindle edition of The Blue Castle, which was perfect for me.
I truly do love Montgomery's books(generally, and so far), but I often find myself with a baffled look on my face while reading. Unfortunately, I also allow my sarcasm to come out too often while reading her works. I'm almost tempted to put some of her books, this one included, on my "wonderfully weird" list. ;) I probably mention this every year, but they are also slow reads for me. As much as I'm enjoying the story, I don't find myself pulled back to it without the added encouragement of the reading challenge. That's why I'm so grateful for it!
I've also been slowly making my way through some of Montgomery's short stories. I think I've discovered a new tradition for myself during the month of December. Her Christmas short stories couldn't be more perfect for Christmas time. Short and sugar sweet! There are some of the regular stories that have annoyed me, though. It seems to be the ones with a male narrator. I don't overly like the way Montgomery writes her men, with a few exceptions. I find myself wanting to smack them upside the head(with a pillow).
To the subject of this post now!
In The Blue Castle, we meet Valancy Sterling. She is 29 and no hope of marriage is in sight. She's sad about this, and the fact that she's never allowed to have any fun, thanks to the strict nature of her mother and extended family. She even has to sneak moments to read, and then feels guilty about it. I felt sorry for her, and I can't imagine how bored I would have been with the life she was forced to lead. She sometimes lets her imagination take her to her Blue Castle, though, where she creates different "lovers" to fit her mood.
When she learns that she has a heart condition that will take her life at any moment, most certainly within the next year, she decides to have some fun.
I both loved and hated this book!
I loved the portion of the story where Valancy decides to have fun. She goes a bit crazy, and I found it all humorous. I also felt a little guilty about it, because she was being awful mean at times. She became excessively judgmental to her family, even if she still loves them. I admit, they had plenty of faults, and needed a wake-up call. (Unfortunately, I don't feel they ever learned their lesson, or became accepting of the person Valancy truly was.) Also, I just liked Valancy. I couldn't help but cheer for her as she learned who she was and had fun with it.
I didn't like the way everyone felt the need to point out to her that she wasn't a beauty. My word! If everyone I met felt the need to tell me I wasn't a beauty, I would curl up in a ball, and never leave my room. The truth doesn't always have to be said out loud! (A lesson I constantly need to remind myself of.) I suppose that just shows another great personality trait for Valancy. She took it all in stride, and didn't seem to let it bother her.
I really enjoyed the little mysteries that unfolded through the story. I guessed part of them, but not the other part. I've grown to expect an ending with Montgomery that ties everything up in a nice, neat, unrealistic(sometimes ridiculously so) bow.
Again, I DO enjoy Montgomery's writing, though so far, none of it has compared to Anne of Green Gables. I enjoyed The Blue Castle, for the most part, and I'm looking forward to exploring more of the worlds that were created through Montgomery's imagination. I also grabbed a lovely combination kindle copy of Pat of Silver Bush + Mistress Pat. I MAY even visit those stories before next year's challenge! :)
*Side note: The version I read "bleeped" out several words, which I imagine were mild profanity. (One didn't get bleeped out.) I couldn't help but snicker, and wish that all kindle books had a way to "bleep" out certain words. ...more
**spoiler alert** I read To Kill a Mockingbird in high school, but that's been so long ago that this seemed like the first time I'd read it. The court**spoiler alert** I read To Kill a Mockingbird in high school, but that's been so long ago that this seemed like the first time I'd read it. The court scenes were the only parts that were even vaguely familiar. Since I did vaguely remember the court scenes, I had in mind that this book revolved around those particular parts more so than they actually did. I was surprised about how much of the book simply revolved around the life of a little girl, named Scout. (Of course, it's obvious there's so much more going on than that!)
As I first started the book, I realized that this could very well end up being a favorite read of mine. As I finished it, I realized it's probably not a book I'll ever read again, even though I DO appreciate it. I can't help but admire the fact that there's so much going on within the story that I could always be learning something new with each read. That's where the major debate in my mind has started. Will I reread it? I'm still not sure. A black crayon does an amazing job of marking out words I don't care for.
The language is probably my biggest issue concerning the book. There are a couple of words of religious profanity, which is usually enough to make me immediately put down a book. Due to the way it was used, I kept reading, though. (I don't claim I made the right choice, but it is the choice I made.) There was also the constant use of the "n" word. Mercy, how hate that word. I know that it's used in a "true" fashion for the times, but I still hate it. I live in the South. It's still used here. (Since I've never lived outside of the South, I don't know how much it's used in other parts of the world.) If you were to go into a Southern nursing home and let the residents tell about their past, I can pretty much guarantee you'll hear that word, and it's always an uncomfortable position to be in if you dislike the word as much as me. Its use is not limited to elderly folks, though. There's still racism, in many forms, for many skin colors/religions/beliefs. I'm thankful we've came so far from what is in this book, though. I've been reading other books lately about the prejudices towards Jews and anyone with any form of deformities, even birthmarks, during the time of Hitler, Japanese and Mexican Americans during WWII, and Native Americans. I fear for the future of Christians now.
I know perfectly well that eyes are rolling at me for the fact that some of the language *might* keep me away from this book again! For memory's sake, I want to make note of the huge debate that's been happening in my mind, both while reading the book and after I finished it. There's the uncomfortable feeling when reading/watching something that's a good thing...a challenging thing, and there's the uncomfortable feeling that bothers my conscience. I don't claim to always make the right choices, but when my conscience is bothered by something it's time to stop. That's not always an easy choice! (The Chronicles of Narnia is a perfect example right here, because I WANT to finish reading them so badly, but I don't feel right about it, so I don't. The Help is another perfect example.)((Please know that I'm *never* judging someone else for reading/watching something that I don't/can't....unless it's similar to a certain series with a number in it....there might be some judgment there, unfortunately.)) ;)
Here are some things I did like about the book.
SPOILER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One thing that I appreciated was how Lee made it so obvious that Tom was innocent. At first, I kind of sneered at that very fact, but as the story progressed I realized what she had done, and I realized the brilliance of it. I'm saddened that racism was ever that bad. I also appreciated the tie in to Hitler and the Jews at the end. More brilliance!
I also liked the school parts, concerning education. It drives me insane when schools or even doctors change their minds and adapt new methods with every little test/survey/study that comes along with different results. I'm not against public school! I have several nephews in public school, and I know many wonderful teachers that do their best to make sure their children are learning the best way they can, while still trying to work within the boundaries they've been given(and don't care for). Reading this book made me realize that issue has always been around. The whole "common core" change is really nothing new. There will always be changes.
And, Boo! I wish more was told concerning him. Was he social phobic and/or mentally challenged? Was this due to something that happened in his past, or was it just the way he was born? Was he pale due to being cooped up in his house all day, every day, or was he "albino"? This is where I realize how much a reread would do me good, because I feel like I may have missed little details that would give me answers. And then there may not have been answers. Boo just left me wanting more information concerning his life, though. (This is the issue with reading a kindle edition. It's much harder to "flip" through and reread specific parts.)
END SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!
Once again, I'll say how much I appreciated this book, BUT it's a difficult read due to the subject matter. I'm glad I read it again. There are many parts to give one "food for thought"! ...more
A couple of years ago, I read The Girl Who Chased the Moon, and while I enjoyed it, I didn't see what all the fuss was about. Determined to give AllenA couple of years ago, I read The Girl Who Chased the Moon, and while I enjoyed it, I didn't see what all the fuss was about. Determined to give Allen's books another chance, I grabbed this book. Discovering it was a sequel to Garden Spells, I bought that book for my kindle, only to have to mark it as a "didn't finish". It was with a bit of trepidation that I made my way in to this story.
I was pleasantly surprised! Maybe it was the fact that I needed a quick, super sweet story to read on Christmas Eve, but I really enjoyed this particular story. It's considered "magical realism", and I've learned that if done well, I'm fond of these kinds of books, especially when it involves a house with a bit of personality. This one was done well, in my opinion.
If you like magical realism stories that are short and sweet, give this one a try! Though it's a sequel to Garden Spells and contains some of the same characters, it can be read perfectly fine as a standalone.
Content: Mild profanity and one sex scene that doesn't go into detail at all. (Garden Spells does contain f-bombs.)
*Thanks to Amazon vine for providing me with an arc, in exchange for my honest opinion. ...more
When I first started reading this book, I knew it was a re-telling of Rapunzel. What I didn’t realize was that it is loosely based on the true story oWhen I first started reading this book, I knew it was a re-telling of Rapunzel. What I didn’t realize was that it is loosely based on the true story of Charlotte-Rose de la Force. She wrote the original fairy tale while banished to a convent.
This book mostly focuses on 3 women, though we learn about others, too. It goes back and forth through time quite a bit. For the most part I was able to keep up, but it does get a little confusing at times. If done well, I’m typically a fan of books that move back and forth in time. In that area, I think this book was very well done.
Content:
This is not a book I can recommend to just anyone. It is very dark! I’m *highly* sensitive, but I was so disturbed at times that I was sick to my stomach. It gets violent, and one of the main characters is a witch, doing dark, gruesome magic. There are also several sex scenes. Some of them were willing, but some of them were rape scenes, and disturbing. There’s also profanity, including the F-bomb. It has very mature content, so I recommend reading with caution. ...more
I firmly believe that you shouldn’t go through a Christmas season without reading something from Donna Van Liere. Her books are short and sweet, with I firmly believe that you shouldn’t go through a Christmas season without reading something from Donna Van Liere. Her books are short and sweet, with a light romance. They’re clean, and always bring people together in unexpected ways. Small little connections turn into big ones, and heartstrings are always pulled. I’ve yet to make it through one of her books without tears.
I’ve read (and enjoyed) almost everything Van Liere has written. My momma has, too, and she’s not even a big reader. This book has characters and connections from her other Christmas books, but it’s been so long since I’ve read them, that I didn’t recognize everyone like I would have liked. That means I need to spend this Christmas catching up with some re-reads!
In this particular story, the focus is mainly on 4 groups of people, though we DO get to know many more, both old and new. Jennifer has a 6 year old daughter that can’t move past her dad’s death. Ryan and his daughter are looking for a new place to live, while still learning to deal with his divorce. There’s also Kaylee, who is pregnant at 16, and feeling guilty at the changes happening to her family. Stephen and Lily befriend Kaylee and try to cheer her up with all jokes, but she soon learns that the have their own heartbreak happening.
I can easily recommend this book. Add it to your Christmas line-up, for sure!
I’ve been in the mood for biographies lately, and I picked this one somewhat for sentimental reasons. In high school, I had to give a report in front I’ve been in the mood for biographies lately, and I picked this one somewhat for sentimental reasons. In high school, I had to give a report in front of the class about a person from history, and I chose Charlie. Other than the fact that I mumbled my way through that presentation, I don’t remember a single other thing about Charlie from my research. I wanted to refresh my memory of why I chose him.
If the point of this book was to make me dislike Charlie Chaplin, well then, mission accomplished. Seriously, I don’t remember a single positive thing about Chaplin after finishing this book, except for the fact that it *randomly* mentions Charlie was left handed. As a lefty myself, I’m always on the lookout for that trait in other people. Other than that, it was nothing but negativity. I’m torn between wanting to try another biography concerning him, or just leave the horrible image I have left of him after this book.
The book starts with Charlie’s childhood. We learn that he had a rough childhood. Slowly, he makes it to the big time, though. We learn that he was a sex addict. (For the sarcastic out there….more so than the average guy.) There were more details about his sex life than I cared for. He cheated and cheated and cheated! He created lots of babies, even bragging about abortions. Two of his wives were due to creating babies with underage girls. He was an angry man and was mean to his children, making them scared of him. The book goes on and on and on about what a horrible man he was.
Honestly, I didn’t enjoy this book at all. Once again, I’m left wondering if he really was such a horrible guy, or if this book just painted him that way by leaving out any good from his life.
I can’t recommend it unless you don’t like Charlie and want to learn more negative things about him.
Content:
Sexual details concerning Charlie.
Profanity, including F-bombs and “g++D+++” at the very end. ...more
Since August is the month dedicated to reading Jane Austen(both original and "retellings"), I decided to go ahead and put Austenland on my re2.5 stars
Since August is the month dedicated to reading Jane Austen(both original and "retellings"), I decided to go ahead and put Austenland on my reading list. I haven't allowed myself to watch the movie until I read the book, and I really want to watch the movie! Plus, I've enjoyed a few of Hale's other books(Book of a Thousand Days, Princess Academy and Goose Girl).
I know a lot of people that have loved this book, so I almost hate to admit how much I didn't like it. At first, I really did enjoy it! (I actually read it pretty quickly!) The more and more I read, though, the more I got annoyed. The longer I spent away from the book after finishing, the more I disliked it.
I don't want to say that I didn't like Jane. I know people in real life that have some of her ways, and I like them just fine. I didn't like her ways, though! She seemed to jump at any guy that looked at her fondly. I *should* have been happy with the ending, but I wasn't. I just felt sorry for a certain person, because Jane was so wishy-washy concerning her men. I was just shaking my head at some of her decisions. (which is really hypocritical of me, considering how wishy-washy I am with my decisions, though not the ones that truly matter!)Jane did have a really rough time with guys. I think more than anything, the way the story was set up, things looked much worse than they really were.
Also, though not the reason for my dislike(at least completely), the book was much less innocent than I thought it would be. There's passionate kissing, profanity(though it doesn't pass into the high category), and lots of "not innocent" things, though NO sex. I know some people roll their eyes at me for this kind of stuff, or even get angry in the secular world(I'm NOT judging you!), but I just thought it would be sweeter. As an adult read, I'd definitely still label it as a clean read, though.
I DO still plan on watching the movie, though I don't know when. Trying to rent a movie is so "iffy" for us. :S
I've saw the movie cover, and I know that Jennifer Coolidge plays a part. Though not an actress one would think I'd like, I simply love her as an actress! If it's family friendly at all, and she's in it, I want to watch it. I immediately figured out who she plays in the movie while reading the book. They could NOT have done a better job picking an actress for the part of Miss Charming. To see her part in the movie has me more excited than anything else.
So, overall I was disappointed, but this is such a well-loved book, I still recommend you give it a shot!
*Thanks to my local library for lending me an e-copy of this book to read! ...more
This is another mystery, and another one I enjoyed, and another one I didn't guess correctly concerning "who did it". The next book is on my list and This is another mystery, and another one I enjoyed, and another one I didn't guess correctly concerning "who did it". The next book is on my list and hopefully soon. It was fun and sweet. Amelia is now one of my favorite fictional characters(so far, at least). In many ways, she seems so naive, but she's smart and sarcastic and just fun. I liked her!
Content: I think there was very mild profanity, but honestly, I don't remember if there was any at all for sure. (It's been a few weeks since I finished it.) IF there was, it was mild, or I wouldn't have finished it. ...more
This is only my second book of Christie's to read, but I want to read them all now. I love her style of writing, and I love the little challenge to myThis is only my second book of Christie's to read, but I want to read them all now. I love her style of writing, and I love the little challenge to my brain. Being a stay at home mom is wonderful in many ways, and such a blessing, but it does get "routine", if that's really possible with 3 little ones. I've grown to greatly enjoy mysteries, especially Christie's, and the joy of trying to figure out "who did it".
One thing about this book that made me especially fond of it was the fact that Christie includes her own name in a list of famous authors within the story. There's one scene where a little boy is bragging about the famous author signatures he has, and Agatha Christie is included in the list. I had to stop a moment and make sure I was reading what I thought I was, and then I smiled. It shows the author's sense of humor, and made me more fond of her. She's on my list of authors that I want to read more about concerning their lives outside of being an author.
Just in case you're wondering: No, I did not guess correctly.
After finishing the story, and being horribly sick one day(several days!), I decided to watch the movie based on The Body at the Library. It was fun! Of course, there were lots of little additions and subtractions, but it stayed pretty close to the story. I still recommend the book over the movie, though!
The Vicar's Wife swaps between two women struggling with homesickness. Alice's story is told during the 1930s-40s. She is young(19) when she marries tThe Vicar's Wife swaps between two women struggling with homesickness. Alice's story is told during the 1930s-40s. She is young(19) when she marries the love of her life. She doesn't know how to cook or clean or crochet like a "good" vicar's wife would do. Knowing only a life with her father, it's quite an adjustment when she moves to a new home with her husband, David. Life doesn't turn out like she expected.
Jane moves to Cumbria after her daughter is negatively influenced by her friends in the U.S. and her husband declares his desire to move back to his homeland. Her husband is British, and he's made the sacrifice for her for the past 16 years to live in New York, after all. It's what any good wife would do. She has a difficult time adjusting to her new life, to say the least.
When Jane finds an old shopping list, she starts doing a little research and discovers that her and Alice shared a bit of the same heartache.
While this book is a bit depressing, I still found it to be a beautiful, cozy(ish) read. I fell in love with Alice's character. She was sweet and innocent, but still had her struggles. There was one part of me that could relate to Jane. I'm suffering through some intense winter blues, and I could feel her pain. On the other hand, I didn't so much connect with her. I long for a life of simplicity, and she can't bear it. She's left behind a world of "go-go-go" and she misses it. I was a little jealous of the cozy little world she couldn't seem to live with.
A couple of things to note:
I wouldn't label this book "Christian" at all. It is clean, though(very mild profanity). Also, if you're looking for a romance, you won't get it in this book. Surprisingly, these two factors made me enjoy the book more. Maybe it's the kind of mood I'm in right now!
Overall, I enjoyed my time in this relaxing English village, even it it did come with pain and heartbreak.
*Thanks to Kregel Publications for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion. ...more
Just like Love's Refuge, I found this story a relaxing one. This time of year is my favorite, but I always crave lighter, relaxing reads as far as ficJust like Love's Refuge, I found this story a relaxing one. This time of year is my favorite, but I always crave lighter, relaxing reads as far as fiction goes. (I tend to crave non-fiction more than ever, too, judging by my reading stack this coming month.) The Price of Victory proved to be a perfect story to balance the stress of the season. It would make an even better "beach read", since it takes place during the hot months.
This is now the third book of Sandra's I've read, and I actually think it may have been my favorite. Love's Miracles was a little dark and edgy. Love's Refuge and The Price of Victory have both been light reads, with a touch of "sweet and sappiness", which was just what I wanted right now. I love that Sandra's books have all taught me something in the midst of the story, too. With this particular story, I learned more than I ever knew(which was nothing, unfortunately) about women's cycling. It was pretty interesting to pull my thoughts into that world for a bit. I also loved that a little ethnicity was thrown into the mix of this story!
I found The Price of Victory to be a quick, light read, with a sweet dose of romance. ...more
I think I have a new favorite author on my hands. I loved this mystery and can't wait to read more!
Full Thoughts:
When theShort and Sweet Thoughts:
I think I have a new favorite author on my hands. I loved this mystery and can't wait to read more!
Full Thoughts:
When the Vicar finds a dead body in his study, the search for the killer begins.
Growing up, when I heard the name Agatha Christie, I thought of those cheap, trashy romances. I don't know why! It wasn't until more recent years that I realized she was actually a mystery writer and a Classic author. The urge to read a great mystery, along with Juju's mention of Miss Marple gave me just the push I needed to crack open this one. Oh, how I loved it! I can easily see why Christie was put in the hall of Classics, unlike some Classics I read in bafflement. She knows how to weave a mystery plot, I tell you!
This is the first book in which Miss Marple makes her appearance. Her role was much different than I expected. Instead of front and center, she's doing her solving as a secondary character, in the background, which is just how she prefers it! It's obvious she's still important, though. Murder at the Vicarage is told from the point of view of the Vicar. One particular sermon he gives provided a few laughs! There was actually random bits of humor throughout that only endeared me to the book more. The Vicar's wife, Griselda, as annoying as she was, was actually quite humorous, too!
Throughout the whole story, I had my murderer picked out, and was feeling a little proud that I already knew who he/she was. I was wrong! ;) Reading this story, you will be provided with plenty of suspects from which to pick from, but good luck picking correctly! It's a very "cozy" mystery. I lost no sleep and suffered no nightmares during its reading. If I can say that, I think just about anybody else could, too!
I always feel so unqualified to say anything at all about Classics. I will say, though, I can now highly recommend you give this one a try. My hands are itching to get ahold of the next one, The Body in the Library. It looks like an order from Abebooks at some point, since my library doesn't have it!
*Originally posted on Memorial Day(to explain those reference)
This was a huge leap from my typical read! I don't tend to read "war" related books, bec*Originally posted on Memorial Day(to explain those reference)
This was a huge leap from my typical read! I don't tend to read "war" related books, because they're generally more "gritty" in nature. I thought it fitting to read Love's Miracles in remembrance of Memorial Day, though. After all, it's not "National Bar-B-Que" Day! Not only does the wars affect these soldiers long after it's over, but it also affects those that love them long after, too.
Sandra did an amazing job of bringing the world of war-related PTSD to the pages of this book! Dominic(Zane) has flashbacks of when he fought in the Vietnam war in Love's Miracles, and they aren't always easy to read! It's actually quite painful to think of what our soldiers go through for us! It put me in a more grateful state of mind today.
Love's Miracles takes place in the 1980s. I found that an interesting aspect to the story. It's not too often that I escape to that time period, other than my childhood memories. ;) The descriptions of the clothing that is worn makes it the most obvious. Otherwise, you wouldn't really know you'd stepped back 25-30 years ago. I couldn't help but smile thinking about how much clothing choices have changed since then.
Just a word of warning, this is NOT a Christian book. It has been edited and reprinted as a "generally clean romance", but it's still pretty passionate(without going too far) at times. There's also a few words of mild profanity. It's kind of like an "edgy" Christian book, so don't let that deter you!
Overall, while it wasn't *always* pleasant to read(because of the pain of the flashbacks), I enjoyed escaping into it's pages, and I'm glad my mind was reminded of what today is all about!
*I was provided a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion. ...more
While Blackmoore is the first book by Julianne Donaldson that I've read, I'm pretty sure I officially have a favorite author on my list! I simply can'While Blackmoore is the first book by Julianne Donaldson that I've read, I'm pretty sure I officially have a favorite author on my list! I simply can't wait to read Edenbrooke if there is any comparison at all between the two. From the high praise I've been hearing, I have no doubt I would love it just as much.
Kate is trying hard to remove the name "Kitty" from her past. She's determined to rid herself of her family's embarrassing, flirting ways. The name "Kate" sounds more mature. Her mother's constant, scandalous behavior with men has rubbed off on her older sister, and Kate feels nothing but shame for her family. Her two best friends, Sylvia and Henry are the bright spots of her days growing up. For one month out of the year, Sylvia and Henry go to Blackmoore, and leave Kate behind. Due to unfortunate name her mother has brought to the family, Henry's mother won't allow Kate to go despite her dream to finally see the place that has captured Henry's heart. Kate's dream eventually becomes to travel India with her aunt. Her mother has decided to never allow it, though. A proper young lady is supposed to dream of marriage! When a "deal" is made, Kate realizes she has a chance at making her dreams come true. She simply has to reject 3 proposals when her opportunity finally presents itself to visit Blackmoore.
Blackmoore is the kind of book you close with a blissful sigh! There is such great emotion packed in the pages that you can feel the characters' pain radiating right off the page. I love being transported so deeply into a character's feelings that I cry with them, or laugh with them, or feel my own face burning with their embarrassment. I know at that point I've found an exceptional author. Donaldson succeeds at pulling those emotions out of me as I read Blackmoore.
It was *painful* to read at times. The tension of chemistry is so thick that you know there are secrets being hid. It's made obvious to the reader just how much these two are in love with each other, but they each suffer attempting to hide it from the other. Kate has vowed to never marry, but with a man like Henry at her side, you can't imagine what's going through her mind! And, Henry! When it comes to fictional guys, you just can't get better than Henry. He was sweet, and so in love with Kate you just wanted to give that boy a hug for the pain he was enduring!
It's through the use of flashbacks that Kate's secrets are eventually revealed and then understanding comes to mind. Slowly filling in the details warmed my heart to the story more and more.
In case you couldn't tell, I *adored* this story! It's a wonderfully *clean*, romantic escape to the regency world.
*I was provided an e-ARC through Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion, but I found it worthy of adding a permanent copy to my library! ...more
I enjoyed Baked Alaska! I almost *know* I would have enjoyed it more if I'd read any of the other books, though! This is the 9th book for Sadie, and wI enjoyed Baked Alaska! I almost *know* I would have enjoyed it more if I'd read any of the other books, though! This is the 9th book for Sadie, and while I wasn't lost in the story, I do feel I could have connected with the characters more if I'd learned more about their quirks and personalities in the other books. I'm sure a great deal has happened in the previous nine stories.
In Baked Alaska, Sadie is on an Alaskan cruise with her boyfriend, Pete, and her two adopted children, Breanna and Shawn. When a woman that Shawn has been mysteriously talking to shows up deathly sick, Sadie starts trying to solve the mystery of just what happened. Breanna is soon getting married also, but is having some setbacks with her future mother-in-law. Sadie struggles with both of her children knowing when to stay out of their lives and when to offer her assistance.
I think my biggest issue with Baked Alaska was the constant telling of how Sadie was feeling, and what she was thinking. I wanted to experience those things a bit more instead. Bless her heart! Sadie has quite a lot of things going through her head! She worries a great deal, and kind of came off insecure in this book. Aren't we all sometimes, though! She definitely has her humorous moments, and I can tell she's a sweet lady! ;)
The mystery is light and cozy-ish, despite deaths happening. I was able to figure out part of the mystery immediately, but other parts I didn't see coming. For the most part, I didn't find it predictable at all. It's a cute little book and I enjoyed myself while in Sadie's new adventure. I'd love to start from the beginning of the series, though, and fill in some details!
*I was provided an e-ARC through Netgalley. ...more
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