Thursday, June 30, 2011

BEYOND ALL MEASURE by Dorothy Love

A Hickory Ridge Romance
published by Thomas Nelson Publishing

Ada Wentworth, born in Boston, is heading to Hickory Ridge Tennessee to be a companion for Miss Lillian, an elderly woman.  She is slightly bitter, her father has died, leaving her penniless, after paing her fiance to break off their engagement.

Met at the train station by Wyatt Caldwell, who will deliver her to her new job with his aunt.  But  before they hardly get out of town, they get in a disagreement, and she decides to walk.

Once she meets Miss Lillian, she wonders if she will manage to last until she makes enough money to find a different position.  When Miss Lillian's hat needs repair, she uses the talents taught her by her mother, who was a hat maker. And before long, she is making hats for other ladies in the community, until Wyatt tells her he is paying her to take care of his Aunt, not run a business.  He doesn't realize that he is barely paying her enough to survive.

Will they ever see each other as a person, or will he always see her as Northerner, from Boston?  Will she ever see him as anything but her employer?  What will happen to her, if Miss Lillian passes away, how will she survive?

A very interesting book, not just a 'romance novel',  I think the author has succeeded in making what would be a time worn 'story', very different.

I received this book to read and review from Booksneeze.  I received no other compensation.  I am  not required to give a positive review.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Petit Jean Meats: 4th of July Giveaway

Petit Jean Meats: 4th of July Giveaway: "Would you like to host the perfect 4 th of July get-together? Petit Jean Meats can help. We are giving away a 4 th of July prize pack cons..."

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Announcement

Ive made a decision to limit my book reviewing to no more than 3 books a month,  for the foreseeable future.  In the past year, I've reviewed almost anything that was offered, and I'm going to be much more picky in my choices from now until at least this winter,  when I'm suffering from cabin fever.  I'm not yet getting 'burnout' but at times I do feel overwhelmed, when I have 4 or 5 books that are waiting to be read and reviewed, and some of them have a posting date that is speeding toward me like a firecracker on the 4th of July..

I love reading, I also love reviewing books, so don't give up on me, if I don't post something new quite as often. 

Monday, June 20, 2011

HOW HUGE THE NIGHT by Heather Munn & Lydia Munn




This book really caught my attention. It is the story of war, and how it affects many different young people, who aren't quite adult enough to fight, but are old enough to know what war is about.

Julien is unhappy, he didn't want to move from Paris France, where his friends were, to the little town in Southern France where his father was born. He knows no one there, and can't understand why his father insisted they move.
Benjamin, a young Jewish boy, doesn't want to be there, he wants to stay with his parents in Paris, and go to school, but his parents insist he live with the Losier family to be safe from the Nazis..

Nina and Gustov, who left home when their father passed away.  They are trying to follow his instructions on how to get to France so they will be safe.  Nina cuts her hair, and dresses as a boy, trying to hide, but she is scared, hungry, and almost dead when  finally arriving in Tanieux.

It isn't a light read, it is very realistic, and very well written. I really feel that the authors knew of what they were telling, their research was very authentic, and I give them high marks for making the book something that they can be very proud to have their name on the cover.

I recieved this book from Kregel Publications to read and review. No other compensation was given. All opinions expressed here are my own, and I am not required to give a favorable review.

link to christian books reviews
http://www.christianbook.com/how-huge-the-night/heather-munn/9780825433108/pd/433108?item_code=WW&netp_id=856137&event=ESRCN&show_all_cr=1#customer_reviews

Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond

Published by Thomas Nelson

Susannah, the daughter of a vet,  is headed to the Dakota territory to meet Jesse Mason,a man she has never met, but married, before she left Detroit.  He is the brother of the pastor of their church, and he has asked his brother to find him a wife, to help him on his farm.

Upon arrival, she discovers she will be living in a small sod house, barely large enough for the necessary things to survive.  Her husband is surprised at her small stature, but when his ox is having problems with delivering her calf, he finds his wife is much more suited to farm life than he suspects.  Her vet training by helping her father saves the mother and the calves.

When grasshoppers eat most of their crops, Jesse decides to leave Susannah to teach the local children in the settlement, while he goes to make some money to help them survive the coming winter.   When he doesn't return, and there is no way for Susannah to get in touch with him to tell him she is pregnant, she survives on potatoes for most of the winter, sharing with others the use of her soddy, and trading vet duties to settlers for taking care of the animals.

Meanwhile Jesse is in an Indian village recovering from almost drowning, with no way of knowing if Susannah is alive, or even still in the Dakota Territory.

This is a very interesting book, one I would recommend to anyone who enjoys reading about life before modern times.  Personally, this is my favorit era to read about.

I recieved a copy of this book, free, to read and review, no other compensation was given.  All opinions expressed here are my own.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Hidden Affections by Delia Parr

Annabelle Tyler was married for her small inheritance, then her new husband took the money, disappeared, divorced her and married a wealthier woman.  Since she could no longer teach, since the town new she was divorced, she gets on the stage and heads to Philadelphia to apply for a job in a candy shop.  On the way, the stage is held up, her meager funds were stolen, and she is handcuffed to Harrison Graymoor, a wealthy
bachelor, with a reputation for being fast and loose with young women.  When discovered, a day or so later, the sheriff insists that Graymoor marry the young woman to protect her reputation.

When they finally reach Philadelphia, Harrison has no intention of telling anyone he is married, and they plan to get an annulment.  But according to law, they can't get the annulment, so his lawyer concocts a way to get a divorce in another state.  They move into the 'country estate' where Irene, the housekeeper takes Annabelle under her wing, and Annabelle teaches her to read recipes so dessert isn't always Apple Pie.

Annabelle has never gotten around to telling her new husband that she was married and divorced, imagine her surprise when at a party, she comes face to face with her former husband, who decides to blackmail her for funds so he can divorce his wife,  and move south with his on money.

I loved this book, it is set in the early 1830s which to me is a very interesting period in American history.
This is the 2nd of Delia Parr's books I have read, and she is an excellent writer, which makes her books a page turner.

I was given a copy of this book to read and review.  No other compensation was given.  All opinions expressed here are my own, I'm not required to give a positive review.

Tuesday, June 07, 2011

The Miracle of Mercy Land by River Jordan

"The Miracle of Mercy Land"
Published by Waterbrook press


As she works for Doc Phillips at the local paper, Mercy Land does what is necessary to become indispensable. Then, early one morning, Mercy gets information about a huge story, the biggest she has ever worked on, but she can't print any of it. Mysterious things start happening like: Mercy meeting a man named John Quincy in her dreams (will he help or hinder her), a book floats in the window onto Doc's desk, words are constantly moving on the pages, and Mercy and Doc can see lives when their hands enter the book. What is this book and how can it change lives? Why are Doc and Mercy involved an how will their livesbe changed? Will Mercy's past come back to haunt or help her? This book can definitely make the reader think about the choices he/she makes.

This book was a different genre for me. Normally I don't pick up books with a mystical theme, but this one was different. The characters and story line kept me interested and I wanted to know how the story would be resolved. I recommend it to anyone who wants an adventure in reading.

I was given a copy of this book to read and review, no other compensation was given.  All opinions expressed are my own.  I'm not required to give a favorable review.