This novel by Delia Parr tells the story of how a young widower with two children and an "old spinster" named Ellie fall in love. The story revolves around Ellie first becoming the nanny for Jackson's two sons, then entering a marriage of convenience with Jackson just to provide the children with a mother and Ellie with a home. Of course as with all marriages of convenience in novels, Ellie and Jackson eventually discover they love each other.
Overall I enjoyed this book. The descriptions of the island where Jackson lives with its large apple orchard make me want to visit it - even though it's a fictional place. The conflict Jackson must resolve of still thinking he's in love with an old girlfriend is also interesting. I wasn't completely sold on the conflict resolution between Jackson and Ellie, though. I can't put my finger on it, but it didn't quite ring true. Maybe because Ellie was so understanding and long suffering. I'm not sure how realistic her reactions were to Jackson's emotional unfaithfulness to their marriage - even if it was a marriage of convenience. That said, it was still a good book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, however the opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Book Review Sixteen Brides
Before I began this book I wondered how in the world the author was going to follow the stories of sixteen different women and create a coherent story out of it. Well, it turns out the story is really only about five of them - and the author does a great job of making each character's story interesting and easy to follow.
The premise of this book intrigued me. Apparently, in the aftermath of the Civil War when many families immigrated West there was also a subset of women - mostly widows from the war - who also went West in search of a new start. The fictional women in this book represented women who planned on homesteading on 160 acre tracts of land free to anyone (man or woman) who would live on it for five years. Although the people of the town of Plum Creek, Nevada had been told they were out west looking for husbands the women themselves had no intentions of marrying and left the "bride train" as soon as they found out they had been promised as brides at the next train stop west. From that point onward the book follows the stories of the five women as they settle their property and earn the respect of the people of Plum Creek.
This was an engaging book and quick read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and although no sequel was hinted at I would love to continue following stories of the homesteaders in Plum Creek.
Although I received a free copy of this book from the publisher the opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
The premise of this book intrigued me. Apparently, in the aftermath of the Civil War when many families immigrated West there was also a subset of women - mostly widows from the war - who also went West in search of a new start. The fictional women in this book represented women who planned on homesteading on 160 acre tracts of land free to anyone (man or woman) who would live on it for five years. Although the people of the town of Plum Creek, Nevada had been told they were out west looking for husbands the women themselves had no intentions of marrying and left the "bride train" as soon as they found out they had been promised as brides at the next train stop west. From that point onward the book follows the stories of the five women as they settle their property and earn the respect of the people of Plum Creek.
This was an engaging book and quick read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and although no sequel was hinted at I would love to continue following stories of the homesteaders in Plum Creek.
Although I received a free copy of this book from the publisher the opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Book Review - Mystically Wired
I will readily admit that my prayer life as a Christian is not as strong as it should be. Yes I pray daily but I often seem to find myself in a prayer rut of sorts. Therefore I was excited to get this book and work toward improving my prayer life. Unfortunately, this book fell short of my expectations. The first several chapters are more of a "science meets religion" primer on how the brain is wired to pray. I'm a science-oriented kind of person, but this book seemed poorly written and almost confusing as it jumped from topic to topic on how our brains are wired for prayer and where our brains "take us" when we pray.
My faith is strongly grounded, but for someone who is still searching or who is a new Christian, this book could get very confusing as it compares the Christian faith to Eastern religions and how meditation can be an important part of prayer life. Not that I don't see the author's point of view - meditating on Scripture should be a part of the Christian walk, but the way the book approaches the topic is off to me.
There were several good suggestions that I plan to implement, especially setting aside a quiet place to pray and praying outside in God's creation. Other suggestions were less appealing to me, especially praying through a particular set of pre-written prayers. I believe speaking to God is personal and I prefer using my own words when I pray. If pre-written prayers work for someone else, that's great, but this author really seemed to be pushing this particular book written by someone he knows. The book's title came up in several different chapters, which automatically turned me off from even considering it since he seemed to be pushing it at me.
Overall, I'm convinced there are better books on prayer out there than this one.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, but the view expressed here are entirely my own.
My faith is strongly grounded, but for someone who is still searching or who is a new Christian, this book could get very confusing as it compares the Christian faith to Eastern religions and how meditation can be an important part of prayer life. Not that I don't see the author's point of view - meditating on Scripture should be a part of the Christian walk, but the way the book approaches the topic is off to me.
There were several good suggestions that I plan to implement, especially setting aside a quiet place to pray and praying outside in God's creation. Other suggestions were less appealing to me, especially praying through a particular set of pre-written prayers. I believe speaking to God is personal and I prefer using my own words when I pray. If pre-written prayers work for someone else, that's great, but this author really seemed to be pushing this particular book written by someone he knows. The book's title came up in several different chapters, which automatically turned me off from even considering it since he seemed to be pushing it at me.
Overall, I'm convinced there are better books on prayer out there than this one.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, but the view expressed here are entirely my own.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Book Review - I Am Hutterite
I was so excited to begin reading this first person narrative of life in a Hutterite colony and of the transition the author faced when her parents decided to leave the colony for the English world. This is an amazingly honest and heartfelt accounting of both the positive and negative aspects of communal religious life. Although Mary-Anne Kirkby left the Fairholme Hutterite Colony when she was a young girl the book is rich in detail about colony life. Some of the stories made me laugh while others, one in particular, made me want to cry because it seems that the rigid rules of the colony may have cost her young brother his life.
The transition that Mary-Ann Kirkby lived through after leaving Fairholme was also touching. Although it is told without remorse or bitterness, the reader can certainly feel the heartache of a young child as she attempted to fit into a society that was completely foreign to her. Again, some of the stories she tells of trying to fit into the English world are amusing (for example her first experience with dish washing detergent) while others are difficult to read because you can clearly see the intolerance of children who do not see the person beneath the unusual manner of dress.
This story is very well written and engaging from the first chapter. The book reads very quickly and I especially enjoyed the photos at the beginning of each chapter and at the end of the book. This is an excellent book for anyone who wants a glimpse into the life of the Hutterite community.
As a daughter of the Appalachian Mountains, I was reminded that each of us has a unique heritage and while the world at large may not appreciate our roots those of us with less tolerated or understood backgrounds should be proud of where we come from, because our heritage plays a significant role in who we are today.
While I received a copy of this book from the publisher, the views expressed here are entirely my own.
The transition that Mary-Ann Kirkby lived through after leaving Fairholme was also touching. Although it is told without remorse or bitterness, the reader can certainly feel the heartache of a young child as she attempted to fit into a society that was completely foreign to her. Again, some of the stories she tells of trying to fit into the English world are amusing (for example her first experience with dish washing detergent) while others are difficult to read because you can clearly see the intolerance of children who do not see the person beneath the unusual manner of dress.
This story is very well written and engaging from the first chapter. The book reads very quickly and I especially enjoyed the photos at the beginning of each chapter and at the end of the book. This is an excellent book for anyone who wants a glimpse into the life of the Hutterite community.
As a daughter of the Appalachian Mountains, I was reminded that each of us has a unique heritage and while the world at large may not appreciate our roots those of us with less tolerated or understood backgrounds should be proud of where we come from, because our heritage plays a significant role in who we are today.
While I received a copy of this book from the publisher, the views expressed here are entirely my own.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Book Review - Plan B
Pete Wilson's book Plan B is an excellent resource for all Christians because we've all been faced with difficult circumstances in life. On the cover of the book the question is posed, "What do you do when God doesn't show up the way you thought He would?" I don't know anyone who hasn't at some point prayed and gotten a response of "No" , "Not now", or "That's not part of My plan for you". This book is an excellent reminder that God's ways are not our ways and that just because He doesn't answer your prayers the way you thought He would He still loves you very much and has a plan and purpose to draw you closer to Him through whatever trial you face.
This book offers no easy, pat answers. It isn't a "feel-good" book - if you do items A,B, and C God will always answer the way you want Him to. But we all know that isn't how God works anyway. As Wilson says in his book, "God does His best work in hopeless situations."
There are several biblical examples of how God worked in the lives of His people - often in unexpected ways. There are also many excellent examples of situations faced by believers in recent times. Many of these examples do not have a "happily ever after" ending. But in every one you can see the transforming power of God working in an individual's life to bring that person closer to Him. There are many types of "plan B" situations - sickness, relationship issues, the death of personal dreams such as marriage or family, financial trouble to name a few. These situation are very different from each other. Some we bring on ourselves and some just seem to randomly happen to us. No matter what the situation, God is with His children but His focus is on our growth, not just making our lives easy.
This book will make you reevaluate your relationship with God, especially when you're in the middle of one of life's Plan B's
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This book offers no easy, pat answers. It isn't a "feel-good" book - if you do items A,B, and C God will always answer the way you want Him to. But we all know that isn't how God works anyway. As Wilson says in his book, "God does His best work in hopeless situations."
There are several biblical examples of how God worked in the lives of His people - often in unexpected ways. There are also many excellent examples of situations faced by believers in recent times. Many of these examples do not have a "happily ever after" ending. But in every one you can see the transforming power of God working in an individual's life to bring that person closer to Him. There are many types of "plan B" situations - sickness, relationship issues, the death of personal dreams such as marriage or family, financial trouble to name a few. These situation are very different from each other. Some we bring on ourselves and some just seem to randomly happen to us. No matter what the situation, God is with His children but His focus is on our growth, not just making our lives easy.
This book will make you reevaluate your relationship with God, especially when you're in the middle of one of life's Plan B's
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Book Review - Wonders Never Cease
This book was a very quick read. One of the main characters, Kemp McAvoy, is a nurse who wants to live the high life but doesn't have the means at his disposal to afford his tastes. To solve this "problem" he concocts a scheme to write a book about a series of visits from an "angel" to one of his comatose patients. The angel will deliver a message that must be shared with the world in the form of a best-selling book - which will solve Kemp's financial woes. The problem is his scheme gets increasingly complicated as more and more people discover what he is doing.
The secondary plot revolves around Kemp's girlfriend Olivia and her daughter who keeps seeing angels. While Kemp is scheming - and consequently ignoring Olivia - Olivia contends with school officials who want to have her daughter tested because she keeps having what the school counselor considers psychotic episodes where she claims to see angels.
This book is very interesting with an uncomplicated story plot that moves quickly. Kemp is so easy to dislike since he's the quintessential sleazebag who can't see past his own wants to others' needs. We've all known folks like him who are so shallow you wonder how a great girl - like Olivia in the story - would get stuck with someone like him. I wondered at the beginning of the book how the topic of angels would be addressed, and while there's no great theological discussion in this book it makes you rethink angels and how they might be working in today's world.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
The secondary plot revolves around Kemp's girlfriend Olivia and her daughter who keeps seeing angels. While Kemp is scheming - and consequently ignoring Olivia - Olivia contends with school officials who want to have her daughter tested because she keeps having what the school counselor considers psychotic episodes where she claims to see angels.
This book is very interesting with an uncomplicated story plot that moves quickly. Kemp is so easy to dislike since he's the quintessential sleazebag who can't see past his own wants to others' needs. We've all known folks like him who are so shallow you wonder how a great girl - like Olivia in the story - would get stuck with someone like him. I wondered at the beginning of the book how the topic of angels would be addressed, and while there's no great theological discussion in this book it makes you rethink angels and how they might be working in today's world.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Book Review - Not A Sparrow Falls
The back cover on the back of this book especially intrigued me - "Two desperate people - one with all the answers... one with none." I couldn't wait to find out about these people and how their lives would intersect.
Mary Bridget Washburn's life up to this point had been defined by tough breaks and poor choices. As a result she is running from her past and attempting to begin a new life without facing the consequences for choices made in her past. Alasdair MacPherson is also trying to ignore his past instead of face it, with ominous consequences for his children. They both learn an important lesson about the power of God's grace.
I enjoyed this book more than most Christian fiction books, probably because of the character of Alasdair's oldest daughter who is twelve years old. She is suffering the fallout of her father's inability to face the past and what happened to her mother. I enjoyed watching the healing of the relationship between father and daughter.
Overall, this book is well written with a plot that stays interesting, and an incredibly good ending. I received a copy of this book from Bethany House publisher.
Mary Bridget Washburn's life up to this point had been defined by tough breaks and poor choices. As a result she is running from her past and attempting to begin a new life without facing the consequences for choices made in her past. Alasdair MacPherson is also trying to ignore his past instead of face it, with ominous consequences for his children. They both learn an important lesson about the power of God's grace.
I enjoyed this book more than most Christian fiction books, probably because of the character of Alasdair's oldest daughter who is twelve years old. She is suffering the fallout of her father's inability to face the past and what happened to her mother. I enjoyed watching the healing of the relationship between father and daughter.
Overall, this book is well written with a plot that stays interesting, and an incredibly good ending. I received a copy of this book from Bethany House publisher.
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