Review: The Last Forever

The Last Forever

About the Book:

Beginnings and endings overlap in this soaring novel of love and loss from bestselling author and National Book Award finalist Deb Caletti, whose writing SLJ has called “reminiscent of the best of Sarah Dessen.”

Nothing lasts forever, and no one gets that more than Tessa. After her mother died, it’s all she can do to keep her friends, her boyfriend, her happiness from slipping away. And then there’s her dad. He’s stuck in his own daze, and it’s hard to feel like a family when their house no longer seems like a home.

Her father’s solution? An impromptu road trip that lands them in a small coastal town. Despite all the beauty there, Tessa can’t help but feel even more lost. Her most cherished possession—a rare plant of her mother’s—is starting to wither, and with it, Tessa’s heart and her hope.

Enter Henry Lark. He understands the relationships that matter. And more important, he understands her. Though secrets stand between them, each has a chance at healing…if first, Tessa can find the courage to believe in forever.

My Comments:

Losing your  mother is hard, even when you are a mom in your forties yourself.  I can't imagine how awful it must be to lose your mom when you are a teenager.  In Tessa's case, she not only lost her mom, in some ways she lost her dad too.  Instead of parenting her, he chose to spend his time stoned, until one day when he realized that a change of scenery might help and he packed her off to his mother's (who Tessa didn't know) while he found himself.  During her time there Tessa gets to know new people who give her a dream and help make it come true.  

One of the major characters in the book is a plant, yes, that's right, a plant, and no, it's not one that talks or eats people or anything like that.  Pixiebell was planted by Tess' grandfather and kept by her mother.  She has always been told it may be the last of its kind.  When Tess and her father head off on their road trip Pixiebell comes too, and starts to die.  

I've read that all of us have a God-shaped hole in our heart and those who don't know God seek other things to fill that hole, most of them destructive.  I think part of that seeking of God is a seeking for immortality.  Because we are meant to be with God, the idea of ceasing to exist bothers us.  Religion is not mentioned at all in this book and Pixiebell is how Tessa seeks immortality.  

This is a coming of age novel.  Tess moves from her first boyfriend to her first love and then to realizing that love can mean a lot of different things.  She watches her dad grow from a pothead she has to care for to a father who can care for her.  She learns that dreams can come true--and that sometimes they aren't meant to.  

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via Edelweiss.  Grade:  B+

Blossom Street Brides: My Review

Blossom Street Brides: A Blossom Street Novel

About the Book:

Lauren Elliott has waited years for her long-term boyfriend, Todd, to propose, yet he seems more focused on his career than their relationship. When Lauren learns that her younger sister is pregnant before she herself even has an engagement ring, she feels overjoyed yet disheartened. Knowing she can’t put her future on hold, Lauren prepares to make a bold choice—one that leads her to a man she never dreamed she’d meet.

Newly married to her second husband, Max, Bethanne Scranton is blissfully in love. But with Max’s job in California and Bethanne’s in Seattle, their long-distance marriage is becoming difficult to maintain. To complicate matters, Bethanne’s cunning ex will do anything to win her back.

Lydia Goetz, too, is wonderfully happy with her husband, Brad, though lately she worries about the future of A Good Yarn. As she considers how to bring in business, she discovers that someone has beaten her to the punch. Baskets of yarn are mysteriously popping up all over town, with instructions to knit a scarf for charity and bring it into Lydia’s store. Never before has her shop received so much attention, but who hatched this brilliant plan?

As three women’s lives intersect in unexpected ways, Lydia, Lauren, and Bethanne realize that love heals every heart, and the best surprises still lay ahead.

My Comments:

Fans of Macomber's Yarn Shop books will enjoy this newest installment to the long-running series.  While this book and others in the series stand along better than the soap operaish Cedar Cover books, it is clearly part of a series.  Picking up where A Turn in the Road (my review) leaves off,  Blossom Street Brides follows Bethanne through the first months of marriage and dealing with the reality of sharing a family with an ex-husband who'd like to be a part of the family.  It also follows the romance between Max's friend Rooster and Bethanne's friend Lauren.  While this is not a Christian novel, the characters do not end up in bed until after marriage and we are left outside the bedroom door.  

The part of the story I found most interesting was the thread about Lydia's adoptive daughter and her grandmother.  That is a thread that looks like it will be carried over to the next book as there was no resolution and it is clear that something is going to happen.  

In short, if you enjoy Macomber's sagas, this should be right up your alley, but I'd read A Turn in the Road first.  I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via Edelweiss.  Grade:  B.  

My Review: The Chance by Robin Carr

The Chance (Thunder Point)

About the Book:

With its breathtaking vistas and down-to-earth people, Thunder Point is the perfect place for FBI agent Laine Carrington to recuperate from a gunshot wound and contemplate her future. The locals embraced Laine as one of their own after she risked her life to save a young girl from a dangerous cult. Knowing her wounds go beyond the physical, Laine hopes she'll fit in for a while and find her true self in a town that feels safe. She may even learn to open her heart to others, something an undercover agent has little time to indulge.

Eric Gentry is also new to Thunder Point. Although he's a man with a dark past, he's determined to put down roots and get to know the daughter he only recently discovered. When Laine and Eric meet, their attraction is obvious to everyone. But while the law enforcement agent and the reformed criminal want to make things work, their differences may run too deep…unless they take a chance on each other and find that deep and mysterious bond that belongs to those who choose love over fear.

My Comments:

I liked Eric; he seems like a guy with his head on straight; a guy who has had some rough times but who has decided that that life is going to get better.  He made a nice contrast with two of his employees--one a man his age who has been running from life for many years; the other a teen who seems to be heading down the wrong path--or is he?

Somehow Laine just didn't ring true with me; it's not that I didn't like her, it's that the various parts of her personality didn't add up.  When she and Eric get together things get very steamy very fast, and we have front row seats.  

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.  This was a light easy read with the requisite happy ending, and it was just what I needed when I read it.  Grade:  B.   

The Cottage on Juniper Ridge: My Review

The Cottage on Juniper Ridge (Life in Icicle Falls)

About the Book:

How to Change Your Life… 

Can a book change your life? Yes, when it's Simplicity, Muriel Sterling's guide to plain living. In fact, it inspires Jen Heath to leave her stressful, overcommitted life in Seattle and move to Icicle Falls, where she rents a lovely little cottage on Juniper Ridge. And where she can enjoy simple pleasures—like joining the local book club—and complicated ones, like falling in love with her sexy landlord, Garrett Armstrong. 

Her sister Toni is ready for a change, too. She has a teenage daughter who's constantly texting her friends, a husband who's more involved with his computer than he is with her, and a son who's consumed by video games. Toni wants her family to grow closer—to return to a simpler way of life. 

Other women in town, like Stacy Thomas, are also inspired to unload their excess stuff and some of the extra responsibilities they've taken on. 

But as they all discover, sometimes life simply happens. It doesn't always happen simply!

My Comments:

In today's world it is so easy to become over-committed or to spend too much time on things that, in the end, just don't matter.  Email and VPNs allow us to work without going to the office--but they also make us available all the time.  Cell phones make it possible for teens to reach parents instantly, and vice-versa, but they also make it tempting to tune out people you are with in favor of the latest text message or phone call.  Video games can be a fun pastime, or consuming addiction.  Most people  have paid jobs; those who have the time and willingness to volunteer can find themselves with the equivalent of a full time unpaid job.  There is more stuff to buy than at any time in history, but is it worth the effort that we have to expend to acquire it--and then to store it?  

In a light-hearted way, The Cottage on Juniper Ridge (Life in Icicle Falls) looks at today's overly busy lifestyle, its consequences in people's lives and how we can use out power of choice to decide what to keep in our lives and what to discard.  

As noted in the summary, a book titled "Simplicity" encourages Jen to leave a life that she has grown to hate.  She moves to the small town of Icicle Falls (you can search my archives for other books about it) and while there she joins a book club that is reading the same book.  We watch how the other members of the group put the principals of the book to work in their lives.

While Jen's romance with her landlord is an important part of the story, the book goes beyond just a simple romance.  It is also squeaky clean--no bedroom scenes or mention of anyone engaging in intimate activity. 

I'd like the thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.  Grade:  B.

Blog Tour: 99 Stories from the Bible

About the Book:

Following the narrative of the Bible, this collection of 99 stories starts with At the Beginning, and covers a wide variety of key events, including Samuel Listens, Esther, A Blind Man Sees, and Jesus Walks on the Lake, through to One Day Jesus Will Return. Each story is told over a double page spread with vibrant illustrations and some full page art.

My Comments:
I thought my nine year old might  enjoy this book but it was a little young for her her. Nevertheless it was beautifully illustrated and most of the stories are well-told.  As a Catholic reviewing  children's Bible story books I have several stories I look for/at.  This book has The Wedding at Cana,but while it mentions that Mary was there, no mention was made of her intercession.  Peter's profession of faith and being given the keys to the Kingdom isn't there.  The Last Supper is included but while the washing of the feet was described, as well as the conversation with Judas, and we are told that Jesus blessed the bread and wine and shared them with His friends, no mention is made of "This is my Body..."  While it mentions that Jesus' family and friends watched the crucifixion, no mention is made of John and Mary being given to each other.

I'll admit that another thing I look for in children's Bible stories is a lack of gore.  I know the crucifixion was awful; I just don't want to deal with nightmares.  In this book the crowd is looking into the distance at the crosses.  No blood is visible, and crowing with thorns and the scourging at the pillar aren't mentioned.

As the book basically just retells the stories, and doesn't add any commentary about what they are supposed to mean, I don't think a Catholic parent would find anything objectionable in it, the only problem is what isn't here.

I'd like to thank the publisher for providing a complimentary review copy.  Grade:  B.

Review and Comments: Inside These Walls

Inside These Walls

About the Book:

For Clara Mattingly, routine is the key to enduring the endless weeks, months and years of a life sentence in a women's prison. The convicted murderer never looks back at who she once was—a shy young art student whose life took a sudden tragic turn. And she allows herself no hope for a better future. Survival is a day-to-day game. But when a surprise visitor shows up one day, Clara finds that in an instant everything has changed. Now she must account for the life she has led—its beauty as well as its brutality—and face the truth behind the terrible secret she has kept to herself all these years.

Critically acclaimed author Rebecca Coleman brings you the haunting story of a woman's deepest passions, darkest regrets and her unforgettable and emotional journey toward redemption.

My Comments:

I know people who are or have been in prison.  It is an unfortunate part of doing criminal defense work.  These men (and in my case they are all men) and I had, during the pendency of their case, a co-worker type relationship.  I didn't consider any of them friends; they were clients, I saw them frequently at work and did my best to help my boss provide them with a defense. Still, as with co-workers, I came to know that they had families, hobbies, likes and dislikes.  

A reality of the system is that the obviously guilty do not often go to trial; they plead guilty in return for a small or large (depending on the circumstances) favor when it comes to sentencing.  What that means from my point of view is that defendants in the cases we take to trial are not generally obviously guilty of some heinous crime, nor are they obviously innocent.  Seeing these clients regularly and interacting with them as human beings has given me a different perspective on criminals that I had when I started in this business.  One thing I'll admit I've been curious about is what happens when we are done?  What happens after the sentence has been passed and the defendant has been taken into custody?  Inside These Walls is a novel that tells the story of one definitely guilty woman, what her life in prison was like, how she got there and how life changed.

Clara is a devout Catholic.  She goes to Mass weekly and confession often and the confessional plays a major part in her earthly redemption.  The chaplain tries to lead her to forgive herself and those involved in her crime; though I doubt he realized all that went into putting her in that position.  MILD SPOILER TO FOLLOW

Part of what got Clara into the situation that landed her in prison was the priest abuse scandal.  I think Rebecca Coleman did a good job of showing the collateral damage done by these priests (and those who covered for them) without bashing the Catholic church.  In fact, the Church as a whole comes out looking pretty good.  Confession clearly comes across as a medium of growth.  The chaplain is a good guy who genuinely cares for the women in his flock.  

The story was told in the first person by Clara.  Part of it is just her mental musing; other parts are letters to journalist who came along at the time when she needed to tell the story.  I liked the writing style and found it very effective.  

Honestly, I don't think the end of the book was very realistic, but it was happy, and given the publisher (Harlequin MIRA) I guess that was to be expected.  I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.  Grade:  B+

Island Promises: Review

Island Promises: Hawaiian Holiday\Hawaiian Reunion\Hawaiian Retreat (Harlequin Anthologies)

About the Book:

THE EX-WIFE

Megan McNeil is genuinely happy to escort her little girls to their father's wedding in Kauai, Hawaii—even though she feels like a third wheel. One gorgeous groomsman definitely disagrees. But are they both carrying too much baggage to begin a new romance?

THE BEST MAN

Devlin Marshall won't let anything spoil his buddy's big day—not even his own rocky marriage. Secrets and mistrust have divided him from his Amy, but the love in the air seems to be catching….

THE SISTER

Family comes first. Deep down, Gabi Foster knows it, but this holiday is hurting her career. Can a sweet, sexy surfing instructor convince her that love is worth more than a business deal?

My Comments:

RaeAnne Thayne is one of those authors whose books I grab when they show up on NetGalley, so this one went on my reading list.  It is a pretty typical Harlequin anthology--three short romances connected by setting and a couple of characters.  Everyone is in Hawaii for a wedding.  Devlin and Amy manage to rekindle their romance and the other couples meet and fall in love.  The first two stories are squeaky clean, but the third is not, though it isn't terribly graphic. I liked the first story best of the three.  I was looking for a quick mindless read when I picked this one up and I got it.  Grade:  B-.  Thanks to the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.   

Book Review: Big Sky Secrets

Big Sky Secrets (Hqn)

About the Book:

Self-made tycoon Landry Sutton heads to Hangman Bend's Ranch to sell his land to his brother Zane. Though he's got cowboy in his blood, Landry plans to return to city life before the dust even settles on his boots. Of course, he didn't count on falling for Big Sky Country…or Ria Manning. 

Ria's starting to settle into country life herself…until she has a close encounter of the terrifying kind with a buffalo. Turns out the peeping monster belongs to the cowboy next door—and he has her running even more scared than his bison. She wants a home where the buffalo don't roam, and the men don't either. Could Landry's homecoming be her heart's undoing?

My Comments:

Neither Ria nor Landy had the storybook upbringing.  Both have tried to fit in, and failed, (though strangers would consider both to have been successful) and both moved to Montana to do what they wanted, not what was expected.  They move quickly from animosity to lust to love, just like most of the characters in this series.  Landry's brother Sutton is the only one of the other Big Sky characters to play a major part in this story, but many of the others get mentioned.  However, they aren't mentioned enough to confuse anyone who hasn't read the other books, and their appearance doesn't seem to be a useless add-on like in some series books.

If you like Linda Lael Miller books, you'll like this one; if you don't, it is no different than the rest, which of course means it has a really steamy scene.  Grade: B

Thanks to the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.

Review: The Biographical Bible

Biographical Bible, The: Exploring the Biblical Narrative from Adam and Eve to John of Patmos

About the Book:

The Biographical Bible offers an engaging overview of Scripture through the lens of the fascinating figures who populate its pages. Through insightful reflections on the lives of over eighty individuals, this unique book captures the essence of these colorful characters, warts and all. They are people who have much in common with twenty-first century people of faith. Here the reader will find a lively and insightful narrative that brings the Bible to life as no other book does.

My Comments:

I've mentioned at different times that one thing I like about Biblical fiction is that it fleshes out and brings to life characters about whom we really know little.  This book looks at the world as it was in Biblical times and tries to tell "the rest of the story".  As with any book like this, there is quite a bit of supposition.  

I didn't read the whole book.  I don't know if my copy from NetGalley was similar to the copy I would get if I purchased a Kindle edition, but if it was, I don't recommend the Kindle edition.  You can "look inside" on Amazon and see that the book is filled with pictures and with sidebars or text inserts quoting various scripture scholars over the years.  While the varying colors and typefaces may work on the paper edition or perhaps on a color tablet, on my black and white Kindle, it just made the text seem redundant.

A couple of the characters about whom I read stuck in my mind.  Abraham sacrificing Issac was mentioned.  After wondering why God would ask such a thing of Abraham, it was suggested that perhaps Abraham loved Issac too much--that in some ways he had made a god of Issac.  His willingness to sacrifice Isaac proved that the Lord was God, not Issac.  The book also mentioned that we never saw Abraham speaking to Isaac after that.  Regarding how easily Isaac was fooled by Jacob, the author postulated that perhaps Isaac had Downs Syndrome, which would explain his lack of fertility and the fact that he did not fight back when Abraham tried to sacrifice him.  

The book is definitely written from a Protestant perspective.  It talks about all the sons of Mary.  

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.  Grade:  B-

Review: The Christmas Cookie Collection

The Christmas Cookie Collection

About the Book:

The New York Times Bestselling Author of The First Love Cookie Club returns to Twilight, Texas,with one brand-new story and three stories never before in print!

There's a legend in Twilight, Texas. It says that if you throw a penny in the fountain, you will live  happily ever after with your high school sweetheart.

Carrie, Raylene, Christine, and Flynn are all members of the Christmas Cookie Club. Each has a story to tell, and each discovers the miracles of the season and the power of love.

Carrie: Reconnects with her high school sweetheart . . .the only man she's ever loved.

Raylene: Discovers that the daughter she gave away at birth is living right in Twilight . . .

Christine: Has given up on love . . . until the man of her dreams walks through her shop door.

Grace: It's Christmas Eve and Flynn and Jesse Calloway are thrilled to be expecting a new baby. Then Flynn's car hits a patch of ice, and Jesse must move earth . . . and heaven . . .to save her and their unborn child.

My Comments:

If you are a fan of Lori Wilde's Twilight Texas books, you'll enjoy this sweet Christmas edition.  All these stories are short, all have steamy scenes (except Grace) and all are just a little too over-written for my taste.  Still, if you like sweet Christmas romances, you may like these.  Grade:  C+

Last Chance Knit & Stitch: My Review

Last Chance Knit & Stitch

About the Book:

Molly Canaday wishes she could repair her life as easily as she fixes cars. She was all set to open her own body shop in Last Chance when her mother ran off and left her to manage the family yarn shop instead. Now guided by the unsolicited-though well-intended-advice of the weekly knitting club, Molly works to untangle this mess. But her plan unravels when the new landlord turns out to be difficult-as well as tall, dark, and handsome.

Simon Wolfe returns to quickly settle his father's estate and then leave Last Chance for good. Still wounded by a broken heart, Simon is surprised when the town's charming streets and gentle spirit bring back good memories. Soon the beautiful, strong-willed Molly sparks a powerful attraction that tempts him to break his iron-clad no-commitment rule. Can Simon and Molly find a way to share work space-and build a future together in Last Chance?

My Comments:

I've been reading this series from the beginning and always enjoy my visits to this small Southern town.  Like many series books this one includes a lot of characters who have little involvement in the story but who add to the homey atmosphere.  Ms. Miriam is still playing matchmaker.  

Molly and Simon both grew up in Last Chance.  Molly was the daughter of the revered football coach; Simon's dad owned the car dealership.  Both are talented and working in fields they love.  Both know they are not what their parents want them to be.  Both need to learn some self-love before they are ready to give love to others.  While they are the main couple in the book, Molly's friend Les also finds love; not Molly as everyone in town expects but with an older woman.  

While this book can by no means be considered a serious read it does deal with serious topics including how our marriages affect our children, how parents need to allow children to chart their own courses in life and how spouses need to pay attention to each other's needs and desires (and I'm not just talking about bedroom desires). Hope Ramsay's "take-away" idea in this book is that we tend to have more regrets about the things we did not do than the things we did.  

While definitely not a chaste book, it is not terribly graphic either.

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.  Grade:  B+

Review and Comments: Just Like Other Daughters

Just Like Other Daughters

About the Book:

Alicia Richards loved her daughter from her very first breath. Days later, when tests confirmed what Alicia already knew—that Chloe had Down syndrome—she didn’t falter. Her ex-husband wanted a child who would grow to be a scholar. For Alicia, it’s enough that Chloe just is.

Now twenty-five, Chloe is sweet, funny, and content. Alicia brings her to adult daycare while she teaches at a local college. One day Chloe arrives home thrumming with excitement, and says the words Alicia never anticipated. She has met someone—a young man named Thomas. Within days, Chloe and Thomas, also mentally challenged, declare themselves in love.

Alicia strives to see past her misgivings to the new possibilities opening up for her daughter. Shouldn't Chloe have the same right to love as anyone else? But there is no way to prepare for the relationship unfolding, or for the moments of heartbreak and joy ahead.

With grace and warmth, Colleen Faulkner tells an unflinching yet heartrending story of mothers and daughters, and of the risks we all take, both in loving and in letting go.

My Comments:

Some of the most difficult decisions parents of handicapped children have to make involve deciding how normal to allow their child to be.  My autistic son isn't interested in social relationships so I'm not particularly worried about him coming home one day declaring he is in love.  For us, the main decisions so far have involved driving, and our choice has been a compromise--yes, he does drive but we limit where and when.  Chloe in this book isn't autistic, she has Down's Syndrome, and like the stereotypical person with Down's Syndrome, she's affectionate.  This is the story of her love life.  Eventually, her mother makes much the same choice about marriage that we have made about driving--yes, she allows Chloe to marry, but she puts up limits in an attempt to protect her daughter (and herself and society).  

The book is told in the first person in three voices.  Most of the story is told in flashback by Alicia.  Every now and then we hear Chloe's take on the scene Alicia has just related.  Then, there are periodic episodes that tell us how Alicia is feeling now, but we don't realize until the end why the story is told that way.  

The characters were an interesting lot.  Alicia is a college professor of English at a small liberal arts school.  Her department head is her ex-husband, Russell, who seduced her when she was a graduate student, and who left her for another graduate student.  Her best friend lives next door.  Jin is a lesbian who raised a son with another lesbian.  Jin and Abby have gone their separate ways but are considering a reconciliation.  Mark is a plumber who becomes a good friend to Alicia (who of course would not consider a relationship with a blue collar guy). Thomas is Chloe's love and he loves Thomas the Tank Engine too.  Chloe loves kittens and Disney movies.  While Alicia is a Quaker who quit believing when God gave her a handicapped child, Thomas's parents are still married to each other and are devoutly religious.  They see the sexual attraction between Thomas and Chloe as and indication that they should marry.  

One topic the book makes you consider is the nature of marriage and intimate relationships. Thomas and Chloe love each other and enjoy being with each other.  They also enjoy sex with each other.  However, they are also like a couple of six year olds; when it comes right down to it, they'd prefer to be home at night and of course each has a different home.  Their relationship reminded me of a couple of six or seven  year olds, with the addition of sex drives.  

The book also deals with Alicia's romantic life.  She remembers how she became involved with Russell, and why they split.  She tries dating several guys and listens to a counselor tell her that she is using Chloe as a shield from romantic involvement.  Will she find love?  Will she recognize it?

Another topic touched on is what to do with adult handicapped children as far as living arrangements.  Russell and the counselor wonder if Alicia is overly protective; not allowing Chloe as much independence as she is able to handle.  It is mentioned that one advantage of a group home is that it provides continuity of care even after the parents pass away.  That's another topic we've thought about.  My son has made it clear that he has no desire to move out.  Now, his level of independence is far higher than Chloe's.  He has real high school diploma, he can get himself where he needs to be when he needs to be there.  While I might not trust him to babysit a helpless infant or a clueless toddler, I don't hesitate to leave my nine year old with him, and have done so for a couple of years.  He cleans my house and is able to fix meals.  What he hasn't been able to do is find a job.  I also question whether he could manage the details of life like bills, though we've never given him the chance to try.  Do we allow him to live with us indefinitely?  It is certainly no bother for us, and honestly, having someone else to do the housework is handy.  But what about when we are gone?  My dad wanted him to live with him as a caretaker/housemate, but my son didn't want to be away from home long-term (my dad lives 80 miles away).  If we don't provide some sort of transition plan, dealing with my son will be left to my daughters.  Who knows where they will choose to live, or how their husbands (if they marry) will deal with their autistic brother.  

You'd think that having a handicapped child would make you more compassionate towards and less judgmental of other handicapped people, and I'll admit that I'm a work in progress in that regard.  I had to smile when one of Alicia's response to realizing Chloe was in love was to think how retarded Thomas looked and acted (he did not have Down's syndrome, his physiological appearance was normal) followed by a realization that the term "retarded" was offensive to her.  I get the same reaction when I see the autistic young adults in my son's group.  My beloved son isn't like that, is he?  Yes, he is.  He's not the same of course, just like my daughters aren't just like their friends but yes, I can see why people who do not know him do not react well to him.  

Well, I've written quite a bit.  Yes, this book touched me.  I liked the characters, I liked the respect for all human life, I liked the realization that even the parents of handicapped kids aren't perfect when it comes to attitudes about the disabled.  I'm giving this one an A.  Thanks to the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.  

Review: Sweet Nothings

Sweet Nothings

About the Book:

When Ruby McMillan’s husband announces one morning that he’s dumping her for another woman, she’s unable to decide which indignity stings the most: the dissolution of their eighteen-year marriage or the deflation of her white-chocolate soufflé with raspberry Grand Marnier sauce. Without a good-bye to their two teenaged children, Walter leaves Ruby to cope with her ruined dessert, an unpaid mortgage, and her failing bakery.

With only royal icing holding her together, Ruby still manages to pick herself up and move on, subsidizing her income with an extra job as a baking instructor, getting a “my-husband’s-gone” makeover, and even flirting with her gorgeous mortgage broker, Jacob Salt. For as long as she can remember, Ruby has done what’s practical, eschewing far-fetched dreams and true love in favor of stability. But suddenly single again at the age of forty-four, she’s beginning to discover that life is most delicious when you stop following a recipe and just live. 

My Comments:

When I saw the cover, I figured this would be a breezy, almost silly read.  Surprisingly, it had some depth to it.  I'm on the practical side like Ruby.  I try to act based on fact and not emotion.  I don't chase dreams, I live in the here and now--and sometimes I wonder if the grass is greener on the other side.  Ruby's husband decided the grass was greener and he left her and their two teenagers.  I've read and heard of this happening enough to know it is not an imaginary scenario for too many people, but I've always wondered how men (I don't usually hear of mothers abandoning families) can do that.  I can understand leaving a spouse you don't love for one who catches your eye, but abandoning your children and not providing for them?  Anyway, I digress...

I liked watching Ruby pick herself up and deal with the hand she was dealt.  She grew strong, she took care of her children and she found a new love (I think a little too quickly, but that's me, the logical practical one).  

There is an non-marital intimate scene but I've read racier ones.

I'd like to thank FSB Media for providing a complimentary review copy.  Grade:  B.  

Book Review: Secrets on Cedar Key

Secrets on Cedar Key

About the Book:

In the wake of her husband Andrew's sudden passing, there's nowhere Marin Kane would rather be than back on Cedar Key. Marin plans to run the needlepoint store next to her mother Dora's yarn shop, and settle once more into her tranquil hometown. Then a bombshell arrives: a secret daughter Andrew never revealed to anyone.

Now nineteen, Fiona was the product of a summer affair Andrew had when he was out of town teaching--while Marin was home with their two small sons. All Fiona wants is a chance to meet her half-brothers and Marin--and through them get some sense of the father she barely knew. Marin isn't sure she can ever overcome her sense of betrayal. But buoyed by old friends--and a new love--the answers may unfold, guiding both Marin and Fiona to a true refuge at last.

My Comments:

When you my age and spend a lot of time reading romance novels you spend a lot of time reading about women closer to your daughter's age than to your age.  One think I liked about Secrets on Cedar Key is that it was about a woman close to my age; a woman with grown children whose husband passed away unexpectedly.  

I can't imagine what it would be like to learn many years after the fact that my husband had been unfaithful and had a child without me.  I can't imagine what it must be like to know your father is out there and that he doesn't want to be part of your life.  I really enjoyed watching Fiona and Marin get to know each other.

Marin meets a new man in this book and I really liked him and the way he obviously cared about her.  

The book is part of series and I haven't read any of the others.  I wondered why all those characters showed up so early in the book and it took me a while to keep them straight.  I figured it must be part of a series, and sure enough, it was.

There are pre-marital intimate scenes but they aren't terribly graphic.

Thanks to the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.  Grade:  B.

Heaven Is Here: My Review

Heaven Is Here: An Incredible Story of Hope, Triumph, and Everyday Joy

About the Book:

Stephanie Nielson began sharing her life in 2005, drawing readers in with her warmth and candor. She quickly attracted a loyal following that was captivated by the upbeat mother happily raising her young children, madly in love with her husband, Christian (Mr. Nielson to her readers), and filled with gratitude for her blessed life.

However, everything changed in an instant on a sunny day in August 2008, when Stephanie and Christian were in a horrific plane crash. Christian was burned over 40 percent of his body, and Stephanie was on the brink of death, with burns over 80 percent of her body. She would remain in a coma for four months.

In the aftermath of this harrowing tragedy, Stephanie maintained a stunning sense of humor, optimism, and resilience. She has since shared this strength of spirit with others through her blog, in magazine features, and on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Now, in this moving memoir, Stephanie tells the full, extraordinary story of her unlikely recovery and the incredible love behind it—from a riveting account of the crash to all that followed in its wake. With vivid detail, Stephanie recounts her emotional and physical journey, from her first painful days after awakening from the coma to the first time she saw her face in the mirror, the first kiss she shared with Christian after the accident, and the first time she talked to her children after their long separation. She also reflects back on life before the accident, to her happy childhood as one of nine siblings, her close-knit community and strong Mormon faith, and her fairy-tale love story, all of which became her foundation of strength as she rebuilt her life.

What emerges from the wreckage of a tragic accident is a unique perspective on joy, beauty, and overcoming adversity that is as gripping as it is inspirational. Heaven Is Here is a poignant reminder of how faith and family, love and community can bolster us, sustain us, and quite literally, in some cases, save us.

My Comments:

Memoirs aren't always my thing.  It takes real talent to write one that doesn't get self-absorbed.  Stephanie Neilson succeeds.  She had a horrific experience and came through it with grace and faith.  Neilson is a devout Mormon and talks about the daily aspects of her faith--being blessed by loved ones, listening to Mormon leaders etc. without being preachy or suggesting that others have to join her faith.  I definitely recommend this one.  Grade:  A.  Stephanie is a blogger; you can read her writing at Nieniedialogues.com.  

I'd like to thank my friend Renee for sending me the book.  

Review: Walking with Mary

Walking with Mary: A Biblical Journey from Nazareth to the Cross

About the Book:

Mary appears only a few times in the Bible, but those few passages come at crucial moments. Catholics believe that Mary is the ever-virgin Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven and Earth. But she also was a human being--a woman who made a journey of faith through various trials and uncertainties and endured her share of suffering. Even with her unique graces and vocation, Mary remains a woman we can relate to and from whom we have much to learn.

In Walking with Mary, Edward Sri looks at the crucial passages in the Bible concerning Mary and offers insight about the Blessed Mother's faith and devotion that we can apply in our daily lives. We follow her step-by-step through the New Testament account of her life, reflecting on what the Scriptures tell us about how she responded to the dramatic events unfolding around her.

“This book is the fruit of my personal journey of studying Mary through the Scriptures, from her initial calling in Nazareth to her painful experience at the cross,” writes Edward Sri “It is intended to be a highly readable, accessible work that draws on wisdom from the Catholic tradition, recent popes, and biblical scholars of a variety of perspectives and traditions. With the riches of these insights, we will ponder what her journey of faith may have been like in order to draw out spiritual lessons for our own walk with God.” He add, “It is my hope, therefore, that whether you are of a Catholic, Protestant, or other faith background, this book may help you to know, understand, and love Mary more, and that it may inspire you to walk in her footsteps as a faithful disciple of the Lord in your own pilgrimage of faith.”

My Comments:

One problem non-Catholic Christians have with Marian devotion is that they say it isn't scriptural.  This is a book that looks at what the Bible does say about Mary and what it means.  Why does Jesus address her as "woman"?  What are Mary's famous last words?  What are the parallels between the Annunciation, the Presentation and the Crucifixion?  

One story in the Bible that has always confused me is the Finding of Jesus in the Temple.  Why is that story there?  Why do we make such a big deal of it, making it a mystery of the rosary?  I liked Sri's explanation--that we will have times in our lives when we experience the type of frantic  pain that Mary must have suffered when looking for Jesus, and we aren't going to understand all the whys at the time, but God has things under control, even if we don't like them.  

I enjoyed this book and its scriptural approach to Mary, and thank the publishers for making a review copy available via Blogging for Books. Grade: B+

A Cold Creek Christmas Surprise: My Review

A Cold Creek Christmas Surprise (The Cowboys of Cold Creek)

About the Book:

Hardened rancher Ridge Bowman has long told himself he has no need for love—just work and his little girl are enough to get him through. But when his "cleaning lady," Sarah Whitmore, gets injured on his staircase, well, of course he has to invite her to spend the holidays with him. It's only the responsible thing to do.

Only, Sarah isn't really there to work on his house. She came bearing precious artwork belonging to Ridge's late mother, and possibly a secret that could devastate them both. But as Christmas draws closer, so does Ridge—and Sarah convinces herself that she will tell him what she knows as soon as the holiday is over. She might be the key to his past—if only he could be a part of her future….

My Comment:

I've read a bunch of Christmas romances this year, and so far this has been the best of the bunch, which is odd, because I usually prefer longer books than these short romances.  Still, Rae Anne Thayne has gotten to be a favorite author so I usually grab her books when they show up on NetGalley.  The premise of this one, like the premise of many romance novels, is a little far-fetched, but I really liked both Ridge and Sarah and enjoyed "catching up" with the rest of Ridge's family and celebrating Christmas with them.  Like Thayne's other books this one includes some hot kissing but doesn't go beyond that.  In short, this is a well-written heartwarming clean Christmas romance filled with snow,  a sleigh ride and plenty of hot chocolate around a warm fire.  Grade B. (better than I usually give these short formula romances).  

Review: Tools for Rebuilding

Tools for Rebuilding: 75 Really, Really Practical Ways to Make Your Parish Better

About the Book:

In their barn-burning first book, Rebuilt, Michael White and Tom Corcoran shared their story and vision of building better Catholic parishes. Now, in their eagerly-anticipated second book, White and Corcoran lay out seventy-five proven tactics for getting the job done. 

Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran know that the fundamental work of the Church is to evangelize--to introduce people to Christ and make them disciples. Still, they're the first to admit: "the difficulty comes when we reach down into the details and get to work." In Tools for Rebuilding, White and Corcoran share seventy-five foundational tactics that helped to rejuvenate their parish. Their candid, hands-on advice gives a clear way forward--one that will make church matter to the people in the pews and that anyone working in parish ministry can implement. 

Principles/tactics include:

• Get the Right People on the Bus
• Christmas Is Over, So Throw Out the Dead Poinsettias
• Stop Advertising (Other People's Stuff) in Your Bulletin
• Don't Let the Insiders Take All the Good Seats
• Just Because It's Slow Doesn't Mean It's Holy
• When It Comes to First Communion, Just Surrender
• Funerals Are Scud Missiles
• Preach the Announcements
• Start Getting Rid of Fundraisers
• Everything Takes Longer (Than You Think)
• Pastor, It's Not All About You
• Stop Trying to Make People Go to Church and Make Church Matter

My Comments:

I read this book in August, no too long after writing about attracting young families to your parish and about parishes being welcoming.  About the same time someone on my alumnae listserve started a thread about churches and churchgoing.  In short, I'd spend more than the average amount of time thinking about parish outreach and when I saw this on NetGalley I grabbed it.

In short, this book is written by the pastor and a pastoral associate of a large parish in suburban Baltimore.  They have adopted many of the programs and models of the Evangelical megachurch to the Catholic parish.  While this book does not give numbers to validate its approach, it claims to want to get people in the door and then to move them to discipleship.  

Tools for Rebuilding is very readable and it uses scripture quotes to defend why things are recommended.  The recommendations vary quite a bit from what I often see on Catholic websites and/or blogs about increasing Mass attendance.  For one thing, the authors are very pro-church nursery.  While the version I had was an ARC and subject to change before final publication, I have to agree with this statement "Where in the churchworld did we develop the idea that we should force our youngest kids to sit through a service that is incomprehensible to them such that they distract everybody around them in the process?" Their parish offers a church nursery and Liturgy of the Word for Children and cryrooms.  If a crying child is not removed by his/her parent, the usher will encourage them to do so.  While not specifically advocating any particular style of music, the authors note that the people they are trying to reach don't turn on organ music in their cars. They point out that vestments may be very important to church people but non-churchgoers don't care about them and don't decide whether or not to attend church based on the style and quality of the priests' vestments, or other decorations in the church.

The book advocates creating a vision and mission statement for your parish and then evaluating all programs, activities etc. to see how they fit into that vision and mission, and stopping them if they don't.  It reminds us that churches are in the communication business and advocates a well-done internet presence and making sure the the messages they are trying to communicate are clear.  One thing I really wish the average preacher would do that was suggested was to summarize your homily in one sentence about what you want them to know and then give a once sentence suggested activity.  For example:  What do you want them to know?  God wants you to trust him.  What do you want them to do?  Spend six minutes a day in the coming week in quiet time/prayer time to demonstrate and strengthen your trust.  

Usually those trying to reach unchurched Catholics mention the life-passage moments--baptism, marriage, funerals--as times that can give you the opportunity to reach those who otherwise do not darken your doors.  While not talking about weddings, this book does talk about Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation and funerals.  While the authors do not advocate holding the sacraments hostage to lousy (or even good) preparation programs, they sound like funeral masses are more trouble for them than they are worth to the non-practicing Catholic.  I really don't like that attitude, though I can see their point.  

The main complaint I have about this book is that it seems heavy on the slogans and low on the particulars.  I'm sure that's by design but there are ideas I would like to have seen fleshed out a bit more.  

You can read more about the parish at their website.

I'd like the thank the publisher for making a review copy available at NetGalley.  Grade:  B.

Blog Tour and Review: Don't You Forget About Me

Don't You Forget About Me

About the Book:

Mary Catherine Whelihan made it out of Walkerville alive once before.  Can she pull it off this time?  Bullies, sexual harassment, finding a corpse in the local creek…. Cate’s childhood in 1980s Walkerville was murder!  So what could possibly tempt her to return?  A cryptic email from Eugene Marcasian, MD, her grade school crush, might do the trick.  Can Cate and Gene find the cause of the mysterious illness afflicting nearly all of the girls in their graduating class, including Cate herself?  Or will corporate bullies continue to take down anyone who gets in their way?  More importantly, can Cate stay alive long enough to get one more slice of tomato pie?

My Comments:

Not too far into this book there was a mention of health problems being treated by birth control pills.  A bit later there was a reference to something causing health problems in a bunch of women.  Considering where I got this book (Full Quiver Publishers) I rolled my eyes and figured I was about to quit reading some diatribe about birth control pills causing all sorts of health problems.  I was wrong.  Birth control pills are not the villain in the story, though a drug company is.

There were a lot of things I liked about the book.  I really related to Mary Catherine.  She was a very bright girl who never fit into her home town.  She's the girl the other kids picked on, the one who had few if any real friends, the one who left town and never looked back.  She never realized why the other kids didn't like her but on this trip back one girl does tell her--and yes, I could see that in myself as well.  If a characteristic of a good writer is getting readers to see themselves in characters, Erin Cupp nailed me in Mary Catherine.  

Cate now has good friends and a satisfying life, and she has never had any desire to return to her hometown.  However, as noted above, her grade school crush, who also never quite fit in with the others, piques her interest and when a principal who took Cate under her wings dies unexpectedly, Cate returns to her hometown to face her past.  She and Gene set out to learn not only why the principal died but also why so many of their classmates suffer from reproductive ills.  

I'm not really a mystery/thriller kind of reader and when I do read them they tend to have a religions bent.  I often say they seem unrealistic, and yes, this one does too, but it was a good, well-written read.

It is Catholic fiction.  One problem I have with it is that Gene mentions that his sister began suffering with gynecological ills and the doctor, going against their faith, prescribed birth control pills.  That is, from everything I've read, an inaccurate statement of Catholic teaching on birth control pills.  If his sister was celibate, there is absolutely no problem with taking birth control pills.  If she was not, and she was taking them for some medical reason other than contraception, they are still allowed.  Whether the pills are the best or an appropriate treatment for a particular problem is a discussion I'll leave to those more knowledgeable than I am.  

Other than that line, I found the religious elements well integrated into the story.  Cate is a fallen-away Catholic who during the course of this story sees true faith in action.  She also sees folks who are in church every week who are almost as fallen-away as she is.  Cate does not suddenly return to the Church of her youth as a result of events of the book.  Gene gives a great example of someone who has clung to his faith even though it could be hard at times.  

One thing I did not like about the book is that the ending is clearly a set-up for another book.  This story is told, there is a satisfying ending, and then we learn about another bad guy out there watching Cate.  I have no problem with series books.  I have no problem with reusing characters.  I don't even have a problem with including a teaser chapter for your next book at the back of this one.  I don't like it at all when books end with cliff-hangers.  

I'd like to thank the publisher for providing a complimentary review copy.  Grade:  B.  

Blog Tour and Review: The Smart Woman's Guide to Planning for Retirement

About the Book:

What does a woman want to do when she retires? Travel? Pursue hobbies? Spend time with friends and family? We all have dreams about what those days will be like. But when it comes to turning those dreams into reality, women's retirement confidence and know-how is low. According to a 2012 survey, 92 percent of women of all ages in this country don't feel they're educated enough to reach their retirement savings goals. For the woman who doesn't know where to start or would like a knowledgeable guide who speaks her language, financial expert Mary Hunt offers a comprehensive but approachable resource for saving and planning for retirement.

Whether she feels entitled to retire at age 65, hopes she'll be able to stop working someday, or is convinced she'll never be able to retire, every woman will find real help in these pages. With her signature no-nonsense, energetic style, Hunt assures women that it's only too late if they don't start now. She clearly covers every aspect of retirement planning during every season of a woman's life, giving women the confidence they need to shape their futures.

My Comments:

Unfortunately, this is not the book that is going to tell you how you can live it up today and still manage to have money in the future.  It is another one of those control your expenses and save your money books.  While aimed at women, it has advice that both men and women should follow.  Mary Hunt recommends getting out of debt, saving regularly, buying half the house you can afford and paying the house off early.  She recommends maxing out your Roth IRA before putting more money than necessary to gain an employer match in a 401k plan because of the high fees associated with 401k plans.  

While most of the book will appeal to anyone looking for a basic financial planning information., there is one chapter that discusses financial planning in relation to the Bible, particularly as it relates to the parable of the talents. There are also small references to God in other places in the book.  If you are looking for a book that honors Christian religious beliefs while discussing financial planning, this may appeal to you.  

In general the book is short, easy to read, and is written in a conversational style.  It manages to convey basic information without assuming the reader is stupid.  

I'd like to thank the publisher for providing a complimentary review copy.  Grade:  B.  

“Available November 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”