Departures

This is a review for "Departures" Two Rediscovered Stories by Robin Jones Gunn.


I have to start off by saying that I am a huge fan of Ms. Gunn's! I read all of her Christy Miller and Sierra Jensen's books multiple times the past couple of years and currently have several of the collections residing on my bookcase just waiting for me to pick them up again. It is one collection I look forward to finishing rounding out. I, however, did not realize that I had never read Departures until I had the pleasure of requesting the book and sitting down and reading it on this beautiful Saturday!


It is a no less than I have come to expect from Robin. She pulls you into her stories and makes you care about what happens to the characters. It was a great treasure to discover these two novellas, packed into one book, about some of my favorite characters that she writes about.

I would highly recommend it for any reader whether you have read any of her previous books or not!


In Christy Millers adventure "Now Boarding At Gate 10" we get to go along with the Miller family as they venture back to Wisconsin for the grandparents 50th wedding anniversary. It appears to be the first time they have been back to their home town since moving to California and Christy gets to see her old grade school crush Matthew Kingsley. Christy, however, is not in grade school any longer. She is freshly graduated from high school and this trip comes on the heels of her break-up with Todd Spencer. Somewhere along the way both Matthew and Christy have to decide what to do about long buried feelings and just how to deal with life as you are growing up and become an adult responsible for your own decisions.



In Sierra Jensen's novella " In The Event Of A Water Landing" you go along with Sierra as she accompanies her friend Jana, Jana's older brother, Gregg and his friend Tim as they all head for the families cabin in Montana for the 4th of July.
After witnessing how uptight Jana gets when out of her homey comfort zone Sierra has her doubts about this trip, but is already committed to it and is determined to make the most of her trip no matter what problems arise.

Sierra and Jana are both somewhat late bloomers and have never expressed interest in boys until this fateful trip. What happens when you pair two late bloomers and three good looking boys...not to mention accident prone Sierra? A charming story about two girls coming into their own on the brink of womanhood. One ready to be more outgoing and maybe like a boy for the first time and Sierra watching her friend leave her behind with her own confusing feelings to work through. Strap in for "In The Event Of A Water Landing!" It's sure to be an exciting adventure! ;)



Loved both novellas and glad I get to add this awesome book to my collection!



Happy Saturday!
Jenny





*Note* I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group in exchange for posting a review about it. I am not required to post a positive review. Any opinions expressed are my own and they are sincere.

No other words but WOW!

This review is for the book "Mine Is the Night' by Liz Curtis Higgs.

This book is the sequel to the book I previously reviewed, 'Here Burns My Candle'.
I finished reading this book today and will be honest in saying if you could devour a book, I did just that with this one. It is 442 pages of story and I almost could not put it down. I only hope someday to write a story as rich, lovely, and hard for someone to put down once they pick it up, as Ms. Higgs did with this one.

I am very picky about what I read and even more so about what I will keep in my bookshelf for re-reading in the future. I will assuredly be adding this to my every expanding book shelves and will dive into them again at some point. My only regret with these books is that this seems to be the last one that we will be able to enjoy the company of Elizabeth and her mother-in-law.

This story is based off of the story of Ruth and Naomi from the Bible. Not sure if I mentioned that in my first review of this series. I normally do not read things like that as I prefer the biblical account but I am ever so glad that I read this one!

Ms. Higgs has certainly been gifted with the art of storytelling and once again wraps you up in her words just as if you were wrapped in a plaid of your own and wandering the lowlands of Selkirk yourself. I can almost hear the birds and feel the mist as it rises off of rolling green hills. I already had a yearning to see Scotland but I confess I have an even greater one after reading this lovely series of books.

In this sequel, Elisabeth and her mother-in-law Marjory arrive in Selkirk to seek shelter with their distant cousin Anne Kerr. What they find when they reach her is far beyond what they ever could have expected. But the Lords hand is on them and have guided them in the right direction. Annie has grievances again Marjory and her late husband but takes them into her small abode as she knows she must. I admired her for doing the right thing even when the right thing had not been done by her. She shared what little she had and was blessed much in return. Just as we should do when we are able.

Elisabeth once again plies her needle as a trade, just as she once did before marrying Donald and becoming a Lady.

Both women have been stripped of their titles and thoroughly humbled by orders of the king, most especially Marjory Kerr.

Cousin Anne teaches lace making to two young well-to-do ladies and Elisabeth sews garments at home for a tailor. Marjory realizes she has nothing else to offer the household so she puts aside her former superiority and becomes the cook for the three women.

It was quite nice to see Marjory soften and go along her journey with God's will for her at the forefront of her mind. She is richly blessed for her obedience. As everyone who is obedient to Him is sure to be.

A dashing Admiral of around forty years old is introduced into the book as the new Master of Bell Hill manse and Elizabeth ends up having to seek employment there as the seamstress for his new, quite large, staff of servants. I will let you read for yourself and see what happens.

These women are known in the kingdom as traitors to the king and Admiral Jack served in his majesty's navy. How might a previous traitor fare in the employment of a loyal high-ranking subject?

Once again faith, hope, obedience and blessings are woven delicately throughout this lovely sequel. I admit to almost being reduced to tears by the end of the book and dearly wish that there were at least one more that Ms. Higgs might write using these wonderful characters.

Hope you all enjoy these books just as much as I have and am sure to again!

Happy Easter to all!
Jenny




*Note* I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group in exchange for posting a review about it. I am not required to post a positive review. Any opinions expressed are my own and they are sincere.

Another Book Read :o)

This review is for the book entitled 'in front of God and everyboy: Confessions of April Grace' by K.D. McCrite

The book is Juvenile Fiction but I read it anyway :)

It is about an 11 year old April Grace Reilly and her family, which includes an older teenage sister, who April Grace thinks, is just plumb ridiculous. The character of her sister is pretty absurd in my opinion, but that makes for an interesting character.

One of the main themes woven throughout this book is treating people as Christ would have us treat them. The girl's parents ensure that they follow this principle and try to make sure the girls do to. Whether it is apologizing for wrong doing or taking a stranger in need into their home, the parents exemplify what it means to love ones neighbor as thyself.

I, however, did not think that the author should have included them letting their 14 year old daughter watch Soap Operas. I feel that is hardly appropriate, especially for what the book is trying to convey. April Grace also tells a lie at one point in the book about their dog being tied up when it is not.

I did enjoy reading the book and will most likely read the next one in this series but I think the message would have come across better if the two above mentioned things had been omitted from the final cut of this book.


Hope you are enjoying a great book on this beautiful day!

Jenny


*Note* I received this book for free through the Booksneeze book review bloggers program in exchange for writing a review about it. I am not required to write a positive review. Any opinions expressed are my own and they are sincere.

Another Great Book by Denise Hunter

This is for 'A Cowboy's Touch' by Denise Hunter. It is A Big Sky Romance.

I had fallen in love with Denise Hunter's books when I read a 'Convenient Groom' and was so excited when I saw this book on the book list and beyond thrilled when I got a copy of it.
Once again Ms. Hunter does not disappoint. It certainly did not hurt that a ranch and horses are a key part of her story. I absolutely adore horses and could almost imagine myself riding along with Abigail and Maddy in the beautiful country of Montana.
I also have to add that I loved the name of the ranch, Stillwater Ranch. It sounds so peaceful there it makes you wish you could go and visit it.

This book is not only the story of Abigail, the investigative reporter, it is the story of a hurting father and his daughter.
The daughter is obviously in desperate need of a mother and it is nice to see Abigail be able to fulfill that role in whatever small way she can as her nanny.
You never know what someone might be carrying around with them. Whether it is guilt over a long ago situation or sadness over something you couldn't help.

These characters come alive as they struggle with everyday problems and trying to find balance in a crazy life. I'm sure many people can relate to the closed off feeling that Wade carries with him always. Once a deep hurt has reached someones very core it can practically take a miracle to pry it open again and the let light through.

I also have to commend Ms. Hunter on her background characters. They were just involved enough to keep the story interesting without being to large a focus and taking away from the main story point.
I especially like the quirkiness of Abigail's Aunt Lucy.

Abigail ends up stuck between a rock and a hard place like so many people do sometimes. Read this wonderful book for yourself and find out whether she makes the right decision in the end. :o)

While 'Convenient Groom' is still my favorite so far by Denise Hunter, I definitely will hang on to this book and look forward to reading her next one!

Happy Reading to you all!
Jenny


*Note* I received this book for free through the Booksneeze book review bloggers program in exchange for writing a review about it. I am not required to write a positive review. Any opinions expressed are my own and they are sincere.

A Very Good Read!

This Review is for the book 'Here Burns My Candle' by Liz Curtis Higgs.
I haven't read that many of her books but I usually love Scottish themed novels so I requested the book hoping I would like it.
I did in fact enjoy the book quite alot.
For me it started out a little slow as I had a bit of trouble keeping up at first with who was who. Two of the main characters share the same title and there are several women who are written about. After about a chapter, however, I got it straight. After that little hiccup this book was enjoyable from start to finish and I cannot wait to read the next installment of it.
I applaud the author as I know how much research writing a book of this caliber took. It is rich with Scottish history and I love learning things about it. I could envision the rainy Scottish town and the rolling green countryside. It made me wish I was there to see it for myself! Not in the books time period as there is a war being fought but current day would be lovely! :o)
You are drawn in with the characters and hold your breath right along with them when the plot gets a bit intense. I could easily envision the lovely dresses they wear and them reading and eating by candlelight.
Ms. Higgs does an excellent job of making you 'see' what she is describing. The heart of this book is family and faith. Joy when you are with the ones you love, heartrending pain when you are betrayed by the ones closest to you and grief over losing someone dear. Faith and God are delicatly woven throught the pages of this book, skillfully and not preachy or in your face, it is a gentle almost quiet presence throughout the book, quiet like our Lord himself. Gentle, patient and ever faithful. The mother-in-law only has her two sons left, and their wives. She holds secrets in her heart which pain her. The rest of them have their own secrets as well. The journey of faith that Lady Elizabeth takes is eloquent. She goes from being a simple weavers daughter to a Lady of title and seems to almost struggle with the two different worlds. What once was acceptable for her no longer is. Having a husband who is whispered about in the streets doesn't help her situation. I have to say that Elizabeth was my favorite character. I questioned her a bit at first but enjoyed watching her grow as the story progresses. I was skeptical the first few chapters but was thoroughly won over to this lovely book by the last page and will be reading the next installment.
I highly suggest this book and will look for more writing by this author.


What are you reading today?
Jenny










*Note* I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group in exchange for posting a review about it. I am not required to post a positive review. Any opinions expressed are my own and they are sincere.

Review for Izzy's Pop Star Plan~ Daily Devo

Izzy's Pop Star Plan is a daily devotional for tween/teen girls. It follows Izzy's journey toward trying to become a pop star while not losing herself and her walk with God. The difference between this devotional and others is this one reads like a novel with 90 days worth of devotional pages. It is set up like you are reading Izzy's blog day to day. I give it a thumbs up for uniqueness. There is even a website they put on some of the pages so that the reader can check it out on the computer as well as the book. I definitely think that the writing and the format that the book is in will encourage young girls to read their devotional for the day. I read it like a book and have to say that it kept me interested and entertained and I will be passing it along to my 10 year old niece. It seemed incredibly obvious that the writer modeled the singing competition off of American Idol but they did make it different by making it a competition with people from different countries. I am assuming by the ending of this book that there is another book to come and I have to say that I look forward to reading that one as well. I do suggest to the author that in the next book (if there is one) that they add a small place at the bottom of each page so the girl reading can write down her own prayer or thought for that day. In closing this review I will say that the book is well written and well thought out. A book that I will be proud and happy to pass on to my niece, confident in the fact that if she will read it, it will help point her in the right direction possibly when she will need it most. The book is not just well written, it has a point to it and is a light for goodness and morality in a dark world. Something daughters, nieces, friends, really any girl, needs in their book collection and their lives.

Happy reading to you all :)
Jenny

***Update***************
I just looked on a bookstore website and indeed there is a second book to this. It says it comes out in July of this year.
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Beautiful Mess

Sorry it has taken me so long to get this up!

This is a book review for the book 'A Beautiful Mess' The story of Diamond Rio with Tom Roland.

To start off I would like to give credit to the writer for producing this book. Books are definitely not an easy task to take on. While I appreciate the effort and time that was put into the making of this book, I did not enjoy it at all. To be honest, it was one of those books that start slow and stay slow. It got a bit better toward the end but not much. I found it dry and difficult to read. It was hard to concentrate and was not something I really cared to read. It might have been because it was my first time reading what was basically an autobiography written by someone else. But I didn't care for the style it was written in. I think that perhaps huge Diamond Rio fans would enjoy it though. You get a very good inside look at how the band came to be and the struggles that they each go through. The author does have an eye for detail and it is obvious that quite a lot of research went into the writing of this story. As I said in the beginning I appreciate the work put in by the author but it was just not this reviewer's cup of tea.