The Crazy Life of a Bookaholic Mom

WINNERS!

2012-01-25T18:40:00.000-06:00

The winners chosen for my giveaway for One Moment, One Morning were chosen by random.org. The lucky winners are:

Mary-Bookfan
Miss Kimberly Stardust
Laura Fabiani

E-mails have been sent to the winners! Congrats to the winners!

Home Front

2012-01-24T06:08:00.000-06:00

Home Front by Kristin Hannah

Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (January 31, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312577206
ISBN-13: 978-0312577209

In her bestselling novels Kristin Hannah has plumbed the depths of friendship, the loyalty of sisters, and the secrets mothers keep. Now, in her most emotionally powerful story yet, she explores the intimate landscape of a troubled marriage with this provocative and timely portrait of a husband and wife, in love and at war.

All marriages have a breaking point. All families have wounds. All wars have a cost. . . .

Like many couples, Michael and Jolene Zarkades have to face the pressures of everyday life---children, careers, bills, chores---even as their twelve-year marriage is falling apart. Then an unexpected deployment sends Jolene deep into harm’s way and leaves defense attorney Michael at home, unaccustomed to being a single parent to their two girls. As a mother, it agonizes Jolene to leave her family, but as a solider she has always understood the true meaning of duty. In her letters home, she paints a rose-colored version of her life on the front lines, shielding her family from the truth. But war will change Jolene in ways that none of them could have foreseen. When tragedy strikes, Michael must face his darkest fear and fight a battle of his own---for everything that matters to his family.

At once a profoundly honest look at modern marriage and a dramatic exploration of the toll war takes on an ordinary American family, Home Front is a story of love, loss, heroism, honor, and ultimately, hope.

My Thoughts

Kristin Hannah does it again! You will need your tissues when you read this!

This story addresses some important issues. Jolene is a mom and wife but she also serves in the National Guard. When she is deployed to Iraq, she leaves behind her daughters and unhappy husband. I could feel the pain that our service members must feel when they have to leave their loved ones behind. They hurt but have to keep their heads on straight to do their job. Not an easy thing to do. I found myself admiring Jolene for her strength!

Michael is Jolene's husband. He struggles with his life being up ended. Michael is assigned a case where an ex-soldier has killed his wife. His client is not talking which makes his job difficult. To top it off he has to take care of his daughters while his wife is deployed.

I won't give away any more of the story. It would spoil it for the reader. This book is emotional and at times heart wrenching. It gives a look into the families who are left behind when a service member is deployed. My husband is retired military so I remember those difficult times. This book gives us a different look as mom is the one who is being deployed. The reader also gets to see what it is like for the service member when they are deployed.

Kristin Hannah always makes me see two or three sides to every story and this book is no different. She can take a character you are pretty sure you will hate and make you see things through their eyes. She does her research when she tackles a new book and subject. As a reader, I appreciate the work and research she puts into each story. I felt so many different emotions reading this book, which I pretty much read in one day. You can't put this one down! This is a book I won't soon forget. I look forward to Kristin Hannah's next novel!

I received this book for my honest review

Mailbox Monday January 23

2012-01-23T10:49:00.000-06:00

I have been neglecting the blog this past week. Sorry for that! My husband lost his job of 18 years very unexpectedly when the business he worked for was bought up due to bankruptcy that we knew nothing about! They were bought and shut down. We are devastated here. I am now working on my resume after being a stay at home mom for 25 years. I am looking for a job! It is a frightening time for us right now. I did manage to get a book read this weekend only because I needed to escape life for a bit. A book will do that for you!

Just a reminder that I have a giveaway that ends tomorrow. Please sign up if you haven't already! You can click on the side bar to find it. Winners will be announced on Wednesday!

Mailbox Monday is being hosted this month by Alyce at At Home With Books. Be sure to check out her blog!

I received one book for review from Librarything Early Reviewers. I have been bad about visiting blogs also and I hope to be able to catch up. I also hope to have a book review up this week. I read Home Front by Kristin Hannah which I enjoyed!

Knit One Pearl One by Gil McNeil

Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Voice; Original edition (December 27, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1401341675
ISBN-13: 978-1401341671

Summary

It's been a busy few years since Jo Mackenzie lost her husband. Life has brought adventure, surprises, unexpected pleasures and, of course, lots of knitting.

Jo's seaside yarn shop, with a brand-new cafe, has taken off, keeping her busier than ever. And being a single mum to two boys and a headstrong toddler, Pearl, is just as exhausting and enchanting as she thought it would be. On top of all that, celebrity diva Grace has a secret, Jo's firecracker best friend, Ellen, is launching a new television series, and lovable but hapless Martin continues his oft-misguided attempts to woo Jo. Just when Jo thinks she has about all she can handle, Daniel, Pearl's globe-trotting dad, turns up out of the blue...

With a little help from her friends and her beloved Gran, Jo is building a new life for herself by the sea, stitch by stitch.

Warm and witty, Knit One Pearl One will delight new readers to the Beach Street series and give the legions of existing fans a chance to visit the British seaside again, without having to worry about the weather.

Catching Fire

2012-01-17T10:32:00.000-06:00

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Reading level: Ages 13 and up
Hardcover: 391 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1st edition (September 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0439023491
ISBN-13: 978-0439023498

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

My Thoughts

I loved The Hunger Games even though it is not my usual type of read. You can check out my review here. I think I may have waited too long to pick up Catching Fire. It took me awhile to get into it. I found the first two parts of the book not as riveting as The Hunger Games. It still is a very good read. I just found myself putting the book down and walking away from it. The Hunger Games was glued to my hands until I finished it.

The third part of Catching Fire really redeemed the whole book for me! Finally, I found all the action I had enjoyed in the first book. It was exciting and once again left me hanging at the end. I am hoping to read Mockingjay to wrap up the whole series. I am also looking forward to The Hunger Games movie though I will probably wait for the dvd to come out.

I borrowed this book on my Kindle Fire through the Kindle Lending Library with my free Amazon Prime trial.

Mailbox Monday January 16

2012-01-16T13:41:00.000-06:00

It is Monday again. Time for Mailbox Monday. This month Mailbox Monday is being hosted by Alyce at At Home With Books.

I had a slow week which is kind of good since I have so many books to catch up on. Both of these book I purchased. I had to have the new Sarah Jio book and the cookbook I got an awesome deal on. It is an older cookbook and there is a newer version out so this one was on sale.

Be sure to check out out my giveaway at the end of the post or click on the link in my sidebar!

The Bungalow by Sarah Jio

Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook

Giveaway
One Moment, One Morning by Sarah Rayner

I am giving three copies away. Click above and be sure to enter!

Sunday Salon

2012-01-15T10:50:00.001-06:00

This week brought our first real snowfall this winter. We saw about 7 inches of the stuff. After being in the 50's the day before, it was a bit disheartening. But it is the Midwest and we have been very fortunate to get this far without the white stuff. I did enjoy playing with the dog in it for about 15 minutes. Once I was wet and cold, I was ready for spring! I am such a wimp!

I finished two books this week. I finally finished Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. I loved The Hunger Games but this book dragged for me in the beginning. It finished big though so I will have to read Mockingjay. I will review it this week, hopefully.

The other book I read and adored was The Thorn and The Blossom: A Two Sided Love Story by Theodora Goss. Be sure to check out my review here.

I also posted a giveaway for One Moment, One Morning by Sarah Rayner. Be sure to enter here! The giveaway ends January 24 and is open to readers in Canada and the US(sorry to my international followers, this is from the publisher).

Other than that my week was quiet until I started to hear all types of buzzing about a certain PBS series called Downton Abbey. Perhaps you have heard of it? I decided to check it out after seeing it posted on so many blogs and spoken of quite highly. I am now addicted and am all caught up on season 1 and 2 and ready for a fresh episode tonight. Thank you all for posting your love for this series! I would have hated to miss it!

Today is my mom's birthday. She is 87 today. We will be celebrating with her today! I bought her some new books by her favorite authors, Debbie Macomber and Robin Carr and also a DVD of The Help, since she enjoyed the book. I think it is awesome that my mom is still going strong at her age. She has had a few blips this past year but she is doing great!

I need to check out the new commenting system available on blogger. I see many have switched over. If you have, do you like it? I sure would love to be able to reply on the comments left on my blog. Some days I try to email a response but on some comments you can't do that since the poster doesn't have that enabled. Let me know what you think of the new system. I may give it a try later this week.

Have a great Sunday!

The Thorn And The Blossom by Theodora Goss

2012-01-14T15:18:00.000-06:00

The Thorn and The Blossom: A Two-Sided Love Story by Theodora Goss

Hardcover: 82 pages
Publisher: Quirk Books (January 17, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 159474551X
ISBN-13: 978-1594745515

Summary

One enchanting romance. Two lovers keeping secrets. And a uniquely crafted book that binds their stories forever.

When Evelyn Morgan walked into the village bookstore, she didn’t know she would meet the love of her life. When Brendan Thorne handed her a medieval romance, he didn’t know it would change the course of his future. It was almost as if they were the cursed lovers in the old book itself . . .

The Thorn and the Blossom is a remarkable literary artifact: You can open the book in either direction to decide whether you’ll first read Brendan’s, or Evelyn’s account of the mysterious love affair. Choose a side, read it like a regular novel—and when you get to the end, you’ll find yourself at a whole new beginning.

My Thoughts

This is a beautiful novella. The book is accordion-bound and tells two sides of a wonderful love story. The book is housed in a gorgeous slip cover. The artwork is stunning. This is one book I highly recommend buying the print version versus the e-book edition. The quality of the paper and cover are extraordinary! I tried to get a picture so you could see how beautiful the book is but these photos do not do the book justice!

One side tells the story from Evelyn's viewpoint. Evelyn travels to Cornwall for a week, where she meets Brendan in a bookstore. They both discover their common love for medieval literature. The love story between Evelyn and Brendan is full of magical twists and turns and reads much like a fairy tale, but it is an adult read. I don't want to give much of the story away. You really want to be surprised and experience this book as you read it. If I tell you too much, it will spoil the book for you which would be a shame! It is a short story at about 39 pages for Evelyn's side of the story. As soon as I finished Evelyn's story, I had to flip the book over to see how Brendan saw their story. I would recommend reading Evelyn's story first and following it up with Brendan's story, which is 38 pages in length. I was left wanting a bit more when I finished Evelyn's story and was thankful to have Brendan's side to read next. This is a quick read for an afternoon.

The writing and storytelling are stunning and charming. I could imagine Cornwall and forests in my mind as I read along. I was surprised that I got to know the characters so well in such a short story. The book does not feel rushed at all despite its length. The reader will have to use their imagination as they read this book. It is a modern fairy tale with a magical and romantic side.

This would make a wonderful gift for someone who appreciates unique books or one who appreciates romantic fairy tales. It is a book I will be proud to display on my bookshelves and one I know I will enjoy time and time again! It is a truly enchanting gem of a book!

I received this book through Amazon Vine for my honest review.

One Moment, One Morning Giveaway

2012-01-10T10:25:00.000-06:00

I have a giveaway for three copies of One Moment, One Morning by Sarah Rayner. I have heard good things about this book. I don't have a review for you as my copy must have been lost in the holiday mail. I keep hoping it will show up. I have seen some very good reviews for this book though.

One Moment, One Morning by Sarah Rayner

The Brighton to London line. The 7:44 am train. Cars packed with commuters. One woman occupies her time observing the people around her. Opposite, a girl puts on her make-up. Across the aisle, a husband strokes his wife’s hand. Further along, another woman flicks through a glossy magazine. Then, abruptly, everything changes: a man collapses, the train is stopped, and an ambulance is called.
For at least three passengers on the 7:44 on that particular morning, life will never be the same again. There’s Lou, in an adjacent seat, who witnesses events first hand. Anna, who’s sitting further up the train, impatient to get to work. And Karen, the man’s wife.
Telling the story of the week following that fateful train journey, One Moment, One Morning is a stunning novel about love and loss, about family and – above all– friendship. A stark reminder that, sometimes, one moment is all it takes to shatter everything. Yet it also reminds us that somehow, despite it all, life can and does go on.

About The Author
Sarah Rayner was born in London. She spent her childhood in Richmond, Surrey, then became a punk, spiked her hair and went to Leeds University to study English and get chilblains. She returned to London in the late ’80s, flattened her hair and worked in fashion PR for a bit, before her boss told her she was better at writing than schmoozing clients, and suggested she become an advertising copywriter.

Sarah's website

Giveaway Rules

1.Giveaway runs from January 10, 2012- January 24, 2012. Contest ends at midnight CST, January 24.

2.The books are being sent from the wonderful folks at St. Martin's Press, so the giveaway is only open to residents of United States and Canada. Sorry, No P.O. boxes either.

3.Simply leave a comment along with your e-mail address. No email address, no entry, sorry! It's not always easy to track people down.

4.Winners will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to respond.

GOOD LUCK!

Thank you to Sarah for offering such a fantastic giveaway!

Mailbox Monday January 9

2012-01-09T08:03:00.000-06:00

It's Monday and time for Mailbox Monday! I'll bet you are wondering why the spring mailbox. It feels like spring here in the Midwest. The fact that it is January and I have not had to touch a snow shovel or winter gloves is amazing! It really should look like the mailbox below. I am not complaining though! This fantastic weather is making me a very happy camper! The other day I was able to run errands with only a poncho on, not a parka that makes me look like the kid from Christmas Story. If it stayed like this all winter, I would not be sad. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that Mother Nature will come to her senses and bless us with some snow and cold. And the mailbox will look like this:

Mailbox Monday is being hosted by Alyce at At Home With Books. Thank you for hosting Alyce! Be sure to check out her blog.

I won a signed book from Goodreads, which I am very excited about. I saw the book trailer for this book and it really spoke to me. It is not my usual type of read but this is one of those subjects that haunts me. When I hear the words human trafficking, my stomach cringes. It amazes me that this is allowed to go on. While I think there will be parts of this novel that will be difficult to stomach, I am anxious to read it. The book has the most amazing feeling pages too. I love the weight of the paper. It is one of those books that is a pleasure to hold in your hands.

A Walk Across the Sun by Corban Addison

Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: SilverOak (January 3, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1402792808
ISBN-13: 978-1402792809

Summary

Corban Addison leads readers on a chilling, eye-opening journey into Mumbai's seedy underworld--and the nightmare of two orphaned girls swept into the international sex trade.

When a tsunami rages through their coastal town in India, 17-year-old Ahalya Ghai and her 15-year-old sister Sita are left orphaned and homeless. With almost everyone they know suddenly erased from the face of the earth, the girls set out for the convent where they attend school. They are abducted almost immediately and sold to a Mumbai brothel owner, beginning a hellish descent into the bowels of the sex trade.

Halfway across the world, Washington, D.C., attorney Thomas Clarke faces his own personal and professional crisis-and makes the fateful decision to pursue a pro bono sabbatical working in India for an NGO that prosecutes the subcontinent's human traffickers. There, his conscience awakens as he sees firsthand the horrors of the trade in human flesh, and the corrupt judicial system that fosters it. Learning of the fate of Ahalya and Sita, Clarke makes it his personal mission to rescue them, setting the stage for a riveting showdown with an international network of ruthless criminals.

These next books are ones I bought from Barnes and Noble online with my Christmas gift card. They were all $2.99 and for some reason I got one free. Maybe there was a buy 3, get 1 free sale? Not sure. These were all books on my wish list from the past.

Hidden by Shelley Shepard Gray
The Divorce Party by Laura Dave
The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown
Summer House by Nancy Thayer

That is my mailbox. What wonderful books made their way into your home?

The Violets of March by Sarah Jio

2012-01-05T10:47:00.000-06:00

The Violets of March by Sarah Jio

Paperback, 304 pages
Published April 26th 2011 by Plume
ISBN
0452297036 (ISBN13: 9780452297036)

Summary

A heartbroken woman stumbled upon a diary and steps into the life of its anonymous author.

In her twenties, Emily Wilson was on top of the world: she had a bestselling novel, a husband plucked from the pages of GQ, and a one-way ticket to happily ever after.

Ten years later, the tide has turned on Emily's good fortune. So when her great-aunt Bee invites her to spend the month of March on Bainbridge Island in Washington State, Emily accepts, longing to be healed by the sea. Researching her next book, Emily discovers a red velvet diary, dated 1943, whose contents reveal startling connections to her own life.

A mesmerizing debut with an idyllic setting and intriguing dual story line, The Violets of March announces Sarah Jio as a writer to watch.

My Thoughts

I am so glad this was my first read of the New Year! I loved this book! I saw it on so many best reads of the year lists. I pulled my copy out and dug right in. I sat down with the book and read straight through the first half. If I had been home alone, I would have read the whole book in one sitting. Yes, it is that good!

I loved the setting of Bainbridge Island. I have never been there but have always longed to go. The descriptions of the island put me on the island, as if I were physically there. I could feel the sand between my toes! Sarah's descriptions are simply wonderful!

Emily has been dumped by her husband for another woman. She goes to visit her great-aunt Bee on Bainbridge Island. In the room she is staying in, Emily finds a diary from the 1940's. Emily, being an author, is interested and starts to read the diary and before long is mesmerized by what she reads. The big mystery is, who are the characters in the diary and what happened to them. I love a good story that revolves around a diary or letters from the past. I was instantly taken with the diary, much like Sarah. I was dying to know what happened back in the 40's and how did it relate to Sarah and her family. Esther, the diary's author, is as broken as Emily. We have the Esther's diary storyline and the story line of Emily and her future. I love how the two story lines compliment each other nicely. The flow of the two stories was easy to follow along with. It was really well done! I found myself anxious to learn how each story would end. However, I was sad to see the story end as I was really enjoying reading it.

I am amazed that this is a debut book! I would have never guessed that! It is a wonderful read and I am looking forward to reading The Bungalow by Sarah Jio. This book will make my favorite reads list as well. I highly recommend it!

I personally bought this book last year. I read this book for the Just For Fun 2012 Challenge.

Mailbox Monday January 2

2012-01-02T10:30:00.000-06:00

It's a fresh new year and the first Monday of the year. I am getting ready to take down the Christmas decorations and then will probable spend some time reading. I started The Violets of March by Sarah Jio yesterday after seeing it on so many favorite reads lists. I curled up with the book and read the first half straight through. I would have finished it but the family wanted to eat. I'm hoping to be able to finish the book today. I can see why it made so many favorite reads lists! I am pretty sure it will make my favorite reads list for 2012! Not a bad way to start the New Year!

On to this weeks mailbox! This month Mailbox Monday is hosted by Alyce at At Home With Books. Thank you for hosting Alyce!

This week I have two books I purchased from Barnes and Noble. I stopped in the day after Christmas to see what goodies they had on sale. Not as big as a sale at our store compared to past years. Our store is looking more and more like a toy store these days. They expanded the toys and games section and now there are less books. It is the last bookstore in our area besides some used bookstores.

I also received two books for review from Amazon Vine and one book for a book tour for TLC Book Tours. I am excited about every one of these books. The Thorn and the Blossom is packaged beautifully and looks like a very unique book!

For Review

The Thorn and the Blossom: A Two-Sided Love Story by Theodora Goss courtesy of Amazon Vine

The Golden Hour by Margaret Wurtele courtesy of Amazon Vine

Baker Towers by Jennifer Haigh courtesy of TLC Book Tours

Purchases

Comfort and Joy by Kristin Hannah

America's Family Favorites Best of Home Cooking over 150 Timeless Recipes

Those are the books that made their way into my home. What wonderful reads made their way into your home?

Bookie Friends Favorites Challenge 2012

2011-12-31T20:42:00.002-06:00

I have decided to try this challenge. You post 5 of your favorite reads and your fellow participants do the same. Then you read 3-12 books from the others favorites lists. Vicki at I'd Rather Be at the Beach is hosting this challenge. You can read more about it here. Here are the rules:

Rules:
Challenge starts January 1, 2012 and ends December 31, 2012

1. Write a post on your blog about joining this challenge
Add links to your 5 favorite books
Don't forget to add the challenge button

2. Click on the "Sign Up" tab on the Bookie Friends Favorites Blog and leave the link to your challenge post, not to your blog's home page.

3. Visit the other participants and choose 3-12 of their favorite books to read.
You can choose them all at once or as you go.
Add the title to your original post, making sure to link back to the person whose favorite it is.

4. As you read each book:
Post a review on your blog and leave the link on the post for that months book reviews.

Now for the hard part, my list..I had a hard time narrowing it down to five. I have so many more books that I wanted to add. I decided to leave off the books almost everyone has read which made it a bit easier.

My Favorites

1. Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman
2. Every Last One by Anna Quindlin
3. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
4. Left Neglected by Lisa Genova
5. Eternal on the Water by Joseph Monninger

The Books I May Read and Whose They Are(this is subject to change)

1. Ghost on Black Mountain by Ann Hite (Alaskan Book Cafe)
2. June Bug by Chris Fabray (I'd Rather Be At the Beach)
3. Waterfall by Lisa T.Bergen (Christian Bookshelf Reviews)
4. Leota's Garden by Francine Rivers (Passions of My Life)
5. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (The Introverted Reader)

ARC Reading Challenge

2011-12-31T15:15:00.000-06:00

I have done this challenge two years in a row now and really find it works well for me. I love seeing what ARCs my fellow challenge readers are reading and what they think of them. I will start myself at the Bronze Level but will more than likely move up as I read. Teddy at So Many Precious Books, So Little Time hosts the challenge. Here is what Teddy says about her challenge:

This is the original ARC Challenge That I created in 2010,I hope all of you ARC Readers will join me again in 2012 for the ARC Reading Challenge. I welcome old and new participants. I don't know about you, but my ARC pile is way too big. The only change this year is with the levels.

Note: I use the term "ARC" loosely,any book a publisher or author gives you with the expectation that you review it, counts for this challenge.
The Levels

Level Bronze: .a. All of us who have or will have less than 12 ARCS must read all of the ARCS we have. Note, that if you have 11 ARC's and then receive a 12th one you will be bumped up to catagory b.

b. All of us who have or will have 12 or more than 12 ARCS must read and review at least 12.

Level Silver: Read 24 ARCS

Level Gold: Read 30 ARCS

Level Platinum: Read 35 or more ARCS

So go on over to Teddy's blog and sign yourself up!

End of Year

2011-12-31T14:56:00.000-06:00

As 2011 comes to a close, I thought I would share my very favorites reads for the year. I read many books that I really enjoyed but 5 of the books I have read really stood out for me.

The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: A Novel in Pictures by Caroline Preston

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznik

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznik

The Bird Sisters by Rebecca Rasmussen

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

It was really hard to narrow my list down to five books. I find I am getting a bit more particular in the books I accept and choose to read. This also means that most of what I read, I really enjoy. I think I had only a few books this year that were misses for me.

Reading Challenges

As far as this years reading challenges go, I was somewhat successful. I finished the Just for Fun Reading Challenge and I did well on The ARC Reading Challenge. The other challenges we won't mention since I did so terrible at them. Later today, I hope to post start up posts for next years challenges. I have three in mind. Three seems doable!

In 2012, I hope to read more of the books I have on hand, especially since they are starting to pile up everywhere.

I want to wish each and every one of you a safe and prosperous New Year! May the New Year be full of good reads! I know I have some books for next year that I am really excited about reading!

Exposure by Therese Fowler

2011-12-29T10:07:00.000-06:00

Exposure by Therese Fowler

Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Ballantine Books; First Edition edition (May 3, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345515536
ISBN-13: 978-0345515537

Summary

In Exposure, Therese Fowler has written her most gripping novel to date—a ripped-from-the-headlines story of ardent young love and a nightmarish legal maelstrom that threatens to destroy two families.

Amelia Wilkes’s strict father does not allow her to date, but that doesn’t stop the talented, winsome high school senior from carrying on a secret romance with her classmate Anthony Winter. Desperately in love, the two envision a life together and plan to tell Amelia’s parents only after she turns eighteen and is legally an adult. Anthony’s mother, Kim, who teaches at their school, knows—and keeps—their secret. But the couple’s passion is exposed sooner than planned: Amelia’s father, Harlan, is shocked and infuriated to find naked pictures of Anthony on his daughter’s computer. Just hours later, Anthony is arrested.

Despite Amelia’s frantic protests, Harlan uses his wealth and influence with local law enforcement and the media to label Anthony a deviant who preyed on his innocent daughter. Spearheaded by a zealous prosecutor anxious to turn the case into a public crusade against “sexting,” the investigation soon takes an even more disturbing and destructive turn.

As events spiral wildly out of control and the scandalous story makes national news, Amelia and Anthony risk everything in a bold and dangerous attempt to clear their names and end the madness once and for all.

A captivating page-turner, Therese Fowler’s Exposure is also a deftly crafted, provocative, and timely novel that serves as a haunting reminder of the consequences of love in the modern age.

My Thoughts

This story is very thought-provoking and fascinating. It takes a look inside the flaws in our legal system and sexting. Both subjects could be a book in themselves. What happens when two young teenagers send each other nude photos of each other? Should they be deemed sexual predators if they are in a relationship? I felt for the characters, Amelia and Anthony. They did some pretty unintelligent things, but then again most teenagers do make mistakes. When Amelia's father finds nude photos of Anthony on his daughters laptop, all hell breaks loose. What he doesn't realize that he is making matters worse for his daughter. Amelia's father is pretty easy to dislike. He is one of those overpowering fathers who doesn't have a clue as to what is going on in his child's life. Amelia's mother seemed pretty spineless to me. Anthony is raised by a single mom who lets things slide at times. She seems a bit too lenient as a parent. The two parents are different as night and day which adds so much to the story. It made me question what type of parent is better..the strict overpowering ones or the ones who are more laid back?

This story will make you think about sexting and the legal system. Should teenagers be subject to prosecution for sending such photos to their friends? Should they be marked for life if they are prosecuted? Where should the legal system draw the line?

Therese Fowler was inspired to write this book when her own son found himself in a similar situation. This is not his story but a fictional story based on his experiences.

I highly recommend this book! You won't be able to put it down!

I borrowed this book from my local library

WWW Wednesday December 28

2011-12-28T17:12:00.000-06:00

I finally found time to read and was able to finish a book. Hopefully my reading will pick up now. I still need to sign up for challenges for 2012. I want to keep it simple but I have seen many challenges that seem to be calling my name! By the end of the week I hope to have the ones I am joining in on posted. Check out what I am reading now!

WWW Wednesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

To play along, just answer the following three questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I am starting this tonight. I was able to borrow it for free on my Kindle Fire.

What did you recently finish reading?

Exposure by Therese Fowler

This was a very good read. What happens when a young couple uses technology in away it was not meant to be used? I hope to have a review up for this tomorrow.

What do you think you’ll read next?

The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson, Richard Dilallo

I want to get this read while it is still the holiday season!

That is what I am reading. What have you read lately?

Mailbox Monday December 26

2011-12-26T08:26:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a very nice holiday! We had a lovely day full of good food and family. Everyone was healthy yesterday which was the best gift of all! We are hoping to be done with viruses for awhile now! My mailbox is for the past two weeks. Three books are for review and one was a win from Michelle at Life in Review. Thank you Michelle!

First up though I want to share a video of one of my favorite Christmas gifts from my kids. I find myself stopping and playing with these wonderful characters quite a bit! They make me smile!

On to my mailbox! This month Mailbox Monday is hosted by Jenny at Let Them Read Books.

Her Sister's Shadow by Katherine Britton this was my win

All That I Am by Anna Funder- courtesy of Amazon Vine
Blue Monday by Nicci French-courtesy of Pamela Dorman Book/Viking
A Good American by Alex George- courtesy of Librarything Early Reviewers

And now to share a couple of my bookish Christmas gifts. I was not expecting anything but hoping for a Barnes and Noble gift certificate. I was very surprised when my son and his lovely gal gave me a Kindle Fire. I have played with it a bit and love it! Now I have a Nook and a Fire to read on!

That is what has come into my home the past two weeks! What wonderful books made their way into your home?

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T13:35:00.000-06:00

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! I am sorry that I haven't been around much! We had a nasty virus go through our home. We are all feeling much better now though and I plan to be back to speed this week. There are posts to be written and challenges I need to sign up for the New Year! I treasure each and every reader, follower, and author! You have made my reading year fun and fabulous! I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday full of family and fun, and of course, good books!

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

2011-12-13T11:02:00.000-06:00

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Speak (August 4, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0142419400
ISBN-13: 978-0142419403

Summary

Anna can't wait for her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a good job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. So she's not too thrilled when her father unexpectedly ships her off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair, the perfect boy. The only problem? He's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her crush back home. Will a year of romantic near-misses end in the French kiss Anna awaits?

My Thoughts

I thought this was an adorable read. Anna is a character that is easy to love. She is a fish out of water when she starts school in Paris. She can't speak the language and doesn't know a soul. As she settles into her new school, she meets the handsome Etienne St. Clair, who made me a bit nervous. He is the guy girls like to fawn over and he is in a relationship. That made me a bit nervous for Anna. Anna has a possible love interest back home but St. Clair makes her feel things she knows she shouldn't. She is determined to remain just friends. Will she be able to pull it off? Well, you'll just have to read and find out for yourself.

Anna and the French Kiss took me waaaay back to those school days, full of high school and teenage angst. I wouldn't go back there for all the money in the world but it sure was fun to live through Anna for a short time. This is one of those books that leaves you feeling good at the end. Pure fun!

Thank you to all those bloggers and reviewers out there who recommended this book! I would have never read it if not for those recommendations! This was so outside my usual reading genre but I enjoyed it very much!

I borrowed this book from my public library

Mailbox Monday December 12

2011-12-12T11:44:00.001-06:00

Happy Monday! The weekend sure was short! I was busy getting the living room ready for the tree. The tree is up and that is it. It is bare, not an ornament or a light on it yet. We get a real tree and this tree was very closed up. I gave it a fresh cut and trim, plopped it in some water and am waiting for the branches to finish relaxing. One year we made the mistake of decorating the tree right away and woke up the next morning to ornaments and lights on the floor. Hopefully we can decorate it tonight.

In other news, I have decided I am not happy with my weight. I was one of those gals others loved to hate. I could eat a whopper with cheese, a large fry and a milkshake and not gain a pound. Those days are over! Long gone those days are! Oh how I miss those days! I can not eat anything and I still gain weight. I avoid the scale. This weekend I was cleaning and decided to step on the scale. BIG MISTAKE! Let's just say it was shocking! I don't think I weighed this much when I was pregnant. Changes are coming to my diet. I did manage 1 hour on the treadmill on Saturday where I read 100 pages while walking. It's time to eat right and get moving. Any helpful tips anyone has would be more than welcome!

Now that I have totally depressed us all, on to Mailbox Monday! Mailbox Monday is the creation of Marcia from A Girl and Her Books. The meme is on tour and this month's host is Jenny Q at Let Them Read Books. Be sure to check out Jenny Q's fabulous blog! Thank you for hosting, Jenny!

I really didn't receive any books in my mailbox but did buy a couple of books on my Nook after reading reviews for two of this author's books on CMash Loves to Read. Cheryl's review had me curious and then I saw I already had one of this author's book on my nook. They all sounded like reads I would like. Thank you Cheryl for the review and the recommendations! I will let you know how I like them all!

Spinning by Michale Baron

When You Went Away by Michael Baron

I already owned this one but it is also by the same author so I included a link to it.

A Winter Discovery by Michael Baronhref

No review books or wins here but that is okay. Slow weeks are when I take a deep breath and try to do some catching up!

I am off to munch on some celery sticks. What wonderful books made their way into your home?

The Winters in Bloom by Lisa Tucker

2011-12-08T15:06:00.000-06:00

The Winters In Bloom by Lisa Tucker

Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Atria Books (September 13, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416575405
ISBN-13: 978-1416575405

This is the first book I have read by Lisa Tucker but won't be my last. The first part of the book caught my attention and demanded that I read on. Kyra and David Winter experience one of the the worst nightmares a parent can experience, their son, Michael is abducted. We get a glimpse of what they are going through in the beginning and also get a glimpse of Michael and his abductor although the abductor's identity remains a mystery.

The book then goes into the past lives of Kyra and David. We learn how they got to be where they are today and the many people who have been a part of their lives, from Michael's ex-wife to Kyra's estranged sister to their parents. All of the people involved are very interesting characters. They are all very flawed and dysfunctional. This part of the book, while very informative, drove me crazy! It did not move fast enough for me. I wanted to know who had this young boy and why!

It felt like it took forever to get Part 3 of the book where we finally learn who took Michael. Part 3 made up for the all the aggravation I felt reading the previous two parts. The suspense was intense until the end. The story is full of twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the very end.

If you like a good story about a dysfunctional family that is character driven, you may like this book. The story does bounce around a bit but if you have some patience, the ending is worth the wait.

I received this book for my honest opinion courtesy of Atria Books. This in no way influenced my review.

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

2011-12-06T11:15:00.001-06:00

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

This book was a surprise for me. First off, I would have never read this book if not for the great reviews of other reviewers, so thank you reviewers!

Jill is a teenage girl who is grieving over the death of her father. She is hurting and just wants her life to go back to the way it was. Her mother, Robin, is grieving also but decides she wants to adopt a baby. Jill doesn't understand how her mother can think this is a good idea. I sort of agreed with Jill at this point. It just didn't seem to be the time to be making these types of decisions. I think the thought of the empty nest really pushes this idea along for Robin. Jill tries to be supportive since she feels that is what her dad would want.

Mandy is a pregnant teen with tons of baggage! She has been raised by a mother who didn't want to be a mother. There is no love lost between the two. Robin and Mandy find each other and before you know it, Mandy is on a train to come live with Robin and Jill to finish out her pregnancy, the goal being Robin will adopt the baby and Mandy will be able to start her life over, away from her mother. Mandy comes off as very manipulative and cold, which is no shock with her upbringing.

Jill and Mandy are not teenagers that are easy to like. They both have flaws. Jill is rude and unkind to Mandy. Jill seems to shut people out since her father's death. Mandy doesn't seem to be honest about her life and the pregnancy. She is not open to having relationship with anyone, including Jill. The both do grow on the reader eventually.

The chapters are alternately told between the two girls. The story flows well despite this. In fact, it was interesting to see where each girl's head was at. It was a perfect way to tell this story. You can feel each girl's pain. Even though the two girls are as different as night and day, you can't help but feel for both of them.

The story is beautifully told. The title fits the story perfectly. It actually made me think about whose life was being saved. All three characters seem to be in need of some saving. There is also the life of the unborn baby which needs saving. The book takes a surprising turn at the end which made for a satisfying ending.

I think this would make a great read for book groups as there is much one could discuss. I also would recommend this book for both adults and high school aged readers. This is a book you won't want to put down once you start reading it!

This was my first read by Sara Zarr but won't be my last. She tells a good, emotional story with characters that have some depth. Her writing pleasantly surprised me! I highly recommend this book! A 5 star read!

I received this book through Amazon Vine in exchange for my honest review

Mailbox Monday December 5

2011-12-05T10:11:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday! I am not sure why but I am overly cheerful this morning! It has been dark and dreary in my neck of the woods. It kind of caused me to be lazy this weekend but this morning I woke up ready to face the week! It's rather shocking! Maybe I'm acclimating to the dark, dismal weather. I am reading a fun, light book right now so maybe that is the reason for my good mood. Maybe it is the holiday spirit working it's magic.

I am so not ready for the holidays. I haven't done a lick of shopping and haven't a clue what to buy anyone. It will all come together eventually. It always does. So, how many of you have all your decorations up and your shopping finished?

On to Mailbox Monday! Mailbox Monday is the creation of Marcia from A Girl and Her Books. The meme is on tour and this month's host is Jenny Q at Let Them Read Books. Be sure to check out Jenny Q's fabulous blog! Thank you for hosting, Jenny!

I received four books last week, three for review and one was a purchase to share with my mom. I knew she would love the book and I wanted to read it too. I love to share books with Mom. Our tastes in books have kind of changed over the years so when I find a book I know we both will enjoy, I jump on it. It's fun to talk about a book after we both read it. I love to hear when she gets excited and loves a book as much as I do.

Here is what I got last week:

Defending Jacob by William Landay

(This came with a matching bookmark which I forgot to include in the picture)
Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Press (January 31, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0385344228
ISBN-13: 978-0385344227
Andy Barber has been an assistant district attorney in his suburban Massachusetts county for more than twenty years. He is respected in his community, tenacious in the courtroom, and happy at home with his wife, Laurie, and son, Jacob. But when a shocking crime shatters their New England town, Andy is blindsided by what happens next: His fourteen-year-old son is charged with the murder of a fellow student.

Every parental instinct Andy has rallies to protect his boy. Jacob insists that he is innocent, and Andy believes him. Andy must. He’s his father. But as damning facts and shocking revelations surface, as a marriage threatens to crumble and the trial intensifies, as the crisis reveals how little a father knows about his son, Andy will face a trial of his own—between loyalty and justice, between truth and allegation, between a past he’s tried to bury and a future he cannot conceive.

Award-winning author William Landay has written the consummate novel of an embattled family in crisis—a suspenseful, character-driven mystery that is also a spellbinding tale of guilt, betrayal, and the terrifying speed at which our lives can spin out of control.

Received for my honest review from Random House

The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo

Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1 edition (October 17, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 031609739X
ISBN-13: 978-0316097390

The tree is decorated, the cookies are baked, and the packages are wrapped, but the biggest celebration this Christmas is Gaby Summerhill's wedding. Since her husband died three years ago, Gaby's four children have drifted apart, each consumed by the turbulence of their own lives. They haven't celebrated Christmas together since their father's death, but when Gaby announces that she's getting married--and that the groom will remain a secret until the wedding day--she may finally be able to bring them home for the holidays.

But the wedding isn't Gaby's only surprise--she has one more gift for her children, and it could change all their lives forever. With deeply affecting characters and the emotional twists of a James Patterson thriller, The Christmas Wedding is a fresh look at family and the magic of the season.

I purchased this book

I am so excited about these next two reads which I received for my honest review from Amazon Vine. I adore Kristin Hannah and always look forward to her next novel.

The last book, What Happened to Hannah is an uncorrected proof. I wonder if they will use the picture on the cover? I see Amazon is listing a different cover which is a good thing since the picture on my uncorrected proof looks so similar to the cover of Here, Home, Hope by Kaira Rouda. I really dislike when pictures are used over and over for book covers.

Home Front by Kristin Hannah

Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (January 31, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312577206
ISBN-13: 978-0312577209

From a distance, Michael and Joleen Zarkades seem to have it all: a solid marriage, two exciting careers, and children they adore. But after twelve years together, the couple has lost their way; they are unhappy and edging toward divorce. Then the Iraq war starts. An unexpected deployment will tear their already fragile family apart, sending one of them deep into harm’s way and leaving the other at home, waiting for news. When the worst happens, each must face their darkest fear and fight for the future of their family. An intimate look at the inner landscape of a disintegrating marriage and a dramatic exploration of the price of war on a single American family, HOME FRONT is a provocative and timely portrait of hope, honor, loss, forgiveness, and the elusive nature of love.

What Happened to Hannah by Mary Kay McComas

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; Original edition (February 7, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 006208478X
ISBN-13: 978-0062084781

As a teenager, Hannah Benson ran away from home in order to save herself. Now, twenty years later, the past comes calling and delivers life-changing news: her mother and sister have passed away, leaving Hannah the guardian of her fifteen-year-old niece.

Returning home to bitter memories and devastating secrets, Hannah must overcome her painful past to pave a future with her niece, the last best chance at a family for both of them. She begins to create a new, happier life with her niece and rekindles a relationship with Grady Steadman, one of the few people she’s ever called a friend.

But she can’t forget what she cannot forgive, or lay to rest those ghosts that will not die. Will love and trust—and the truth—give her the strength to stand her ground and fight for what she deserves?

So those are the books that made their way into my home. What wonderful reads made their way into your home?

Weekend Cooking-Yummy Sweet Potatoes!

2011-12-04T15:59:00.001-06:00

I love sweet potatoes and I am always looking for a new way to fix them. I saw this in my Kraft Food & Family magazine and thought it looked interesting. When we got to my sister's house for Thanksgiving she had made this recipe. My daughter and I loved it! In fact, I loved it so much I have a pan of it in my oven as I type! I thought I would share the recipe with you so you wouldn't have to miss out on all the goodness!

Photo and recipe from Kraft Food & Family Magazine/Kraft Recipes(I have a paid magazine subscription but you can find the recipe online for free)

Apple-Bacon Sweet Potatoes

1 large onion, chopped
4 slices OSCAR MAYER Lower Sodium Turkey Bacon, chopped
1-1/2 lb. sweet potatoes (2 large), peeled, cut into bite-size chunks
2 apples, chopped
1/2 cup apple juice
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 cup chopped PLANTERS Pecans

Heat oven to 375ºF.

Cook onions and bacon in large nonstick skillet on medium heat 7 to 8 min. or until onions are crisp-tender.

Place potatoes in 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Add apples, apple juice and cinnamon; mix lightly. Top with onion mixture; cover.

Bake 40 min.; top with nuts. Bake 15 min. or until potatoes are tender and most the liquid is absorbed.

This turns out really flavorful and it isn't too unhealthy either. The Kraft Food & Family Magazine is a favorite read in our home. We always find great but simple recipes in it.

Weekend Cooking is a weekly meme sponsored by Beth Fish Reads.
Weekend Cooking is a chance to share the food love. Be sure to check out all the yummy cooking posts on Beth's blog.

The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: A Novel in Pictures by Caroline Preston

2011-12-03T13:28:00.000-06:00

The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: A Novel in Pictures by Caroline Preston

This book is a book to be treasured! The story is wonderful and the way the story is told is fresh and new, at least to this reader. Caroline Preston tells us the story of Frankie Pratt through Frankie's scrapbook. At first I was afraid I would miss out on the story not being told in the traditional way one writes a story, through words. I was afraid I would get lost or miss out on something in the scrapbook. I need not worry. I caught on right away and before I knew it, I had read the whole book...in one sitting! The only thing that made me sad in this book, was turning the last page! I wanted it to go on and on!

In 1920, Frankie Pratt receives a scrapbook for her high school graduation, from her mother. Frankie dreams of being a writer but when circumstances force her to turn down a college scholarship, her dreams are set aside. Frankie keeps us updated on her life through her scrapbook. She uses her father's typewriter and her memorabilia to tell us her story. I found each and every page interesting. There are ticket stubs, newspaper articles, advertisements, postcards and so much more. On one page there were cards from a card game called The Authors card game by Walt Whitman. We had the same card game growing up, so it brought back great memories for me!

The story itself kept me reading. I had to know what happened to Frankie next. Her life is not always easy but she manages to rise above it all. Frankie finds her way into the reader's heart. She finds love, experiences scandal, travels abroad and through it all, Frankie grows as a person.

This is a book unlike any other! It is a book you will want to keep on your bookshelf to read again and again! There are delightful surprises on every page! This is a book not to be missed!

Be sure to check out the fun video below!

I purchased this book for my personal book shelf, where it will be for years to come!

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznik

2011-12-01T09:17:00.000-06:00

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznik

Reading level: Ages 9 and up
Hardcover: 533 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press; First Edition edition (January 30, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0439813786
ISBN-13: 978-0439813785

Summary:
Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.

My Thoughts

If you haven't read this book, by all means get it and read it! Brian Selznik tells a wonderful story through his writing and through his illustrations, which I must say are remarkable drawings. This author is extremely talented! He brings the words and pictures to life.

Hugo found a place in my heart right from the start. The mother in me wanted to take him in under my wing. Hugo is a brave boy who does what he needs to survive. He is driven to rebuild a automaton that his deceased father was trying to rebuild at the time of his death. I found the idea of the automaton quite fascinating.

Hugo lives in a secret world behind the scenes which adds to the mystery in the book. All of the characters in the book are well developed and to me all had a bit of quirkiness about them.

My thoughts cannot do this book justice. The format is unusual and works well with the storyline. I cannot imagine this story being told any other way. It is not only a great story but a work of art! Trust me, this is a book the whole family will enjoy.

I am looking forward to seeing how the story translates to the big screen! I hope the movie is as wonderful as the book!

I read this book which I purchased for the 2011 Just For Fun Challenge

WWW Wednesday November 30

2011-11-30T12:00:00.000-06:00

Winter has decided to arrive here which puts me in a reading mood. It is too cold to putter outside so now I have more time to read. I finished 4 books over the long weekend. Before you get too impressed, two of them were quick reads. It does feel good to be able to check four books off my tbr list!

WWW Wednesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

To play along, just answer the following three questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

The Winters Bloom by Lisa Tucker
(excuse the small book cover)

What did you recently finish reading?

South of Superior by Ellen Airgood click for my review

How To Save a Life by Sara Zarr- not yet reviewed

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznik- not yet reviewed

The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt by Caroline Preston- not yet reviewed

Be sure to keep an eye out for my upcoming reviews!

What do you think you’ll read next?

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

This has to get back to the library and so many readers have recommended this title to me.

South of Superior by Ellen Airgood

2011-11-29T16:56:00.000-06:00

South of Superior by Ellen Airgood

Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Riverhead Hardcover (June 9, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1594487936
ISBN-13: 978-1594487934

Summary

A debut novel full of heart, in which love, friendship, and charity teach a young woman to live a bigger life.

When Madeline Stone walks away from Chicago and moves five hundred miles north to the coast of Lake Superior, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, she isn't prepared for how much her life will change.

Charged with caring for an aging family friend, Madeline finds herself in the middle of beautiful nowhere with Gladys and Arbutus, two octogenarian sisters-one sharp and stubborn, the other sweeter than sunshine. As Madeline begins to experience the ways of the small, tight-knit town, she is drawn into the lives and dramas of its residents. It's a place where times are tough and debts run deep, but friendship, community, and compassion run deeper. As the story hurtles along-featuring a lost child, a dashed love, a car accident, a wedding, a fire, and a romantic reunion-Gladys, Arbutus, and the rest of the town teach Madeline more about life, love, and goodwill than she's learned in a lifetime.

A heartwarming novel, South of Superior explores the deep reward in caring for others, and shows how one who is poor in pocket can be rich in so many other ways, and how little it often takes to make someone happy.

About the Author
Ellen Airgood runs a diner in Grand Marais, Michigan. This is her first novel.

My Thoughts

As Madeline Stone is grieving the loss of Emmy, the woman who has raised her from a young girl, she tries to figure out where her life should go next. She is set to marry her well to do boyfriend and live in a nice suburb of Chicago. Madeline is approached by Gladys, old girlfriend of her grandfather's to move to McAllaster, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula to help care for Arbutus, her ailing sister. Madeline who is unsure about anything in life, breaks her engagement and treks off to McAllaster. I was sure she was crazy!

When Madeline arrives in McAllaster, she finds herself in a place much different from Chicago. Time seems to have stood still. People live much simpler and are often struggling. The characters seem very real and are very well developed. I could appreciate their struggles and strengths. Mary was one of my very favorite characters. She lives in a house made from two old tool cribs. She is a proud woman who sells syrup and fish that she catches to survive. There are many more interesting people in the tight knit town that you meet within the pages of the book. You really get the feeling of the community in the book.

As Madeline settles in to life in McAllaster, she discovers the sisters own a defunct hotel. The hotel is in need on renovations but the property on which it sits is very valuable. Someone wishes to buy it and tear the old victorian hotel. Madeline uses the hotel as her refuge when she wants to be alone. She has learn quite a bit about her mother, who abandoned her as a child and her grandfather, who refused to take her in. It is a lot for Madeline to take in and she appreciates the solitude she finds in the old hotel. It takes some time, but as Madeline's love for the hotel grows so does her love for the people of McAllaster. There is a love interest in the story but it is not an overpowering storyline. It is very complimentary and fits in the story nicely.

I enjoyed my visit to McAllaster. When I turned the last page, I felt a little sad, kind of how you feel when you leave your favorite vacation spot. The story moved at a slow pace at times but my interest in the characters and town kept me motivated to read on. I highly recommend this debut novel. Ellen Airgood has created characters that stay with you long after the last page. I look forward to seeing what characters Ellen Airgood comes up with next!

I received this book from Riverhead Books/Penguin books through Librarything Early Reviewers Group for my honest opinion, which in no way influenced this review.

Mailbox Monday November 28

2011-11-28T12:18:00.000-06:00

It's Monday and we all know what that means! Mailbox Monday! This month Mailbox Monday is back home at Mailbox Monday hosted by Marcia. Thank you Marcia for creating MM! My wish lists wouldn't be the same without you!

Monday is tough after a nice long weekend! I sure wanted to keep on lounging around this morning. It was nice to just hang out with the kids this weekend. I read and they played video games, shopped, watched tv, and slept. We ate the weekend away! Itw as a great weekend. I hope your weekend was great too!

I received two books last week. One I purchased used from a used book seller on Amazon. I'm not sure but I think the pony express may have been involved in the delivery. It took ten days to get here. Kind of a long time for an Amazon seller. It did get here though, so I am grateful. The other book I received for review.

My purchased book

Love Finds You in Victory Heights, Washington by Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Summerside Press (July 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1609360001
ISBN-13: 978-1609360009

Summary

The Second World War has stolen Rosalie's fiance from her. But rather than wallow, Rosalie throws herself into her work at the Boeing plant in Victory Heights, shooting rivets into the B-17 bombers that will destroy the enemy. A local reporter dubs her Seattle's Own Rosie the Riveter, and her story lends inspiration to women across the country. While Rosalie's strong arms can bear the weight of this new responsibility, her heart cannot handle the intense feelings that begin to surface for Kenny, the handsome reporter. Fear of a second heartbreak is a powerful opponent - but will it claim victory over love?

For review courtesy of Viking/Penguin

Drifting House by Krys Lee

Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Viking Adult (February 2, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0670023256
ISBN-13: 978-0670023257

Summary

An unflinching portrayal of the Korean immigrant experience from an extraordinary new talent in fiction.

Spanning Korea and the United States, from the postwar era to contemporary times, Krys Lee's stunning fiction debut, Drifting House, illuminates a people torn between the traumas of their collective past and the indignities and sorrows of their present.

In the title story, children escaping famine in North Korea are forced to make unthinkable sacrifices to survive. The tales set in America reveal the immigrants' unmoored existence, playing out in cramped apartments and Koreatown strip malls. A makeshift family is fractured when a shaman from the old country moves in next door. An abandoned wife enters into a fake marriage in order to find her kidnapped daughter.

In the tradition of Chang-rae Lee's Native Speaker and Jhumpa Lahiri's Interpreter of Maladies, Drifting House is an unforgettable work by a gifted new writer.

What wonderful reads made their way into your home?

Thankfully Reading Weekend Wrap Up

2011-11-28T07:34:00.000-06:00

I managed to finish 4 books! That sounds impressive but two were books that were extremely quick reads. Still I am happy with what I finished. Now I just need to get the reviews written. Thank you Jenn for hosting!

I finished

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

South of Superior by Ellen Airgood

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznik

The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt by Caroline Preston

Not a bad book in the bunch!

Thankfully Reading Weekend -What Book Are You Thankful For?

2011-11-28T07:31:00.000-06:00

I have been thinking about this question since it was posted. I think I finally narrowed it down to three books that I am truly thankful for. The list was quite extensive before I whittled it down to these three books which probably have had a huge influence on my becoming the reader I am today.

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

I fell in love with Ingalls family long before they became a tv show. I still keep a set of the series on my bookshelves.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

I so love this book. I have several different editions. I used to tell people I was named for Beth. I was not but a young girl can always fantasize, right?

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

I can't even tell you how many times I have read this. Such a strong spirit.

These are the books that I am thankful for. These are the books I read and reread over and over again.

Weekend Cooking- Betty Crocker-The Big Book of Slow Cooker, Casseroles & More

2011-11-27T10:39:00.000-06:00

This is one of my go to cookbooks! I have made several recipes out of this cookbook. The ingredients used for the recipes are ones that are readily available, either in my pantry and in a regular grocery store. There are some great full page pictures in the cookbook but not every recipe has a picture. I love that each recipe has nutritional information listed at the bottom. That came in handy when my mom was living with us. She had sodium restrictions so it was nice to know how much sodium was in each serving. Some recipes that we have tried and loved include; New Potatoes and Spring Vegetables, Mixed Vegetable Bake, Apricot Glazed Carrots, Cheesy Potato Soup, Parmesan-Butternut Squash Gratin, and Ultimate Slow Cooker Potatoes. We have many more recipes we want to try in the cookbook. There is a moment's notice menu planner and a metric conversion guide in the book. This is a great cookbook for the everyday cook.

This is one of our very favorite recipes out of the book. My kids request these potatoes quite a bit. You could make these healthier also by using fat free or low fat milk, sour cream and cream cheese. This recipe comes from page 292 of Betty Crocker The Big Book of Slow Cooker, Casseroles & More

Ultimate Slow Cooker Potatoes

prep time: 15 minutes start to finish:1 hour 45 minutes 12 servings(2/3 cup each)

3 cups boiling water
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup sour cream
1 package(8 oz)cream cheese, cut into cubes
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 cups plain mashed potato mix(dry)
Gravy or chopped fresh parsley, if desired.

1. Spray 3- to 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In cooker, mix water, milk, butter, sour cream, and cream cheese with whisk until blended. Add garlic salt, pepper, and mashed potatoes(dry); mix just until blended.

2. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 1 hour 30 minutes, stirring once after 1 hour.

3. Before serving, stir potatoes. Serve immediately, or hold in slow cooker on Low heat setting up to 3 hours, stirring every 30 minutes. If Potatoes become too thick, stir in additional milk, a couple tablespoons at a time. Serve with gravy or sprinkle with chopped parsley.

1 serving: Calories 250; Total Fat 17g(Saturated Fat 11g; Trans Fat 0.5g); Cholesterol 50mg; Sodium 230mg; Total Carbohydrate 20g(Dietary Fiber 1g); Protein 5g EXCHANGES: 1 1/2 Starch, 3 Fat CARBOHYDRATE CHOICES: 1

Weekend Cooking is a weekly meme sponsored by Beth Fish Reads.
Weekend Cooking is a chance to share the food love. Be sure to check out all the yummy cooking posts on Beth's blog.

Thankfully Reading Weekend 2011 Edition! Kick-Off!

2011-11-25T07:48:00.000-06:00

How was your Thanksgiving? I hope you all had a wonderful day! I am roasting a turkey today or tomorrow depending on when it thaws. It has been in our little fridge since Sunday! Apparently our little fridge is well insulated! We ate at my sister's yesterday. We like leftover turkey so I make one so we can enjoy turkey sandwiches all weekend. At some point I will be going shopping for our Christmas tree. I figure we will get it now and keep it outside or in the garden shed in some water. The kids have requested we get the tree before the wind chill falls below 0! It sounds like a good plan!

The time has come for the Thankfully Reading Weekend! Yay! I have a stack of books ready and will be starting shortly. I am keeping this readathon relaxed and won't be keeping track of pages or minutes read. Below is my stack of books. I won't get through them all. Two are half read, two are quick reads, and two are books I have been meaning to get to. I have been looking forward to this! Let the reading begin!

South of Superior by Ellen Airgood
How To Save a Life by Sara Zarr
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznik
The Winters in Bloom by Lisa Tucker
The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: A Novel in Pictures by Caroline Preston
Exposure by Therese Fowler

Check out the kick off post here.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T07:05:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am not cooking today which is nice. We will be eating at my sister's house. I will be cooking a turkey this weekend though. I can't pass up a good deal and I need to have some turkey leftovers to make my holiday complete. I am looking forward to a turkey sandwich on pumpernickel bread! Yum!

I am so thankful for all my family, friends, followers, fellow readers and book bloggers! I wish every one of you a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Check back tomorrow! The Thankfully Reading Weekend begins! I will be getting my stack of books together today!

Mailbox Monday November 21

2011-11-21T09:56:00.000-06:00

It's Monday and we all know what that means! Mailbox Monday! This month Mailbox Monday is back home at Mailbox Monday hosted by Marcia. Thank you Marcia for creating MM! My wish lists wouldn't be the same without you!

It's Monday again! I am not sure how but Monday seems to roll around pretty quickly! I am finally feeling like a human being again. The dogs are doing better and life is much more normal here! I went on a cleaning spree this weekend to try and catch up around here. There is a Butterball thawing in our spare fridge. Christmas catalogs are filling my mailbox and we are already talking about where to purchase our Christmas tree. It feels like I just took last years tree down! This year has flown by fast! I can't believe the holidays are upon us!

I received two books last week. One is for review and the other I purchased with a lovely Barnes and Noble coupon. I can't let a good coupon go to waste!

This weekend I will be participating in the Thankfully Reading Weekend! I can hardly wait! I have two books going right now which I rarely do anymore. I can use some severe reading catch up time. Go on over and sign up!

This book I received for review from Pamela Dorman Books/Viking. It looks like a thrilling scandal!

The Darlings by Christina Alger

Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books (February 16, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0670023272
ISBN-13: 978-0670023271

A sophisticated page-turner about a wealthy New York family embroiled in a financial scandal with cataclysmic consequences.

Now that he's married to Merrill Darling, daughter of billionaire financier Carter Darling, attorney Paul Ross has grown accustomed to New York society and all of its luxuries: a Park Avenue apartment, weekends in the Hamptons, bespoke suits. When Paul loses his job, Carter offers him the chance to head the legal team at his hedge fund. Thrilled with his good fortune in the midst of the worst financial downturn since the Great Depression, Paul accepts the position.

But Paul's luck is about to shift: a tragic event catapults the Darling family into the media spotlight, a regulatory investigation, and a red-hot scandal with enormous implications for everyone involved. Suddenly, Paul must decide where his loyalties lie-will he save himself while betraying his wife and in-laws or protect the family business at all costs?

Cristina Alger's glittering debut novel interweaves the narratives of the Darling family, two eager SEC attorneys, and a team of journalists all racing to uncover-or cover up-the truth. With echoes of a fictional Too Big to Fail and the novels of Dominick Dunne, The Darlings offers an irresistible glimpse into the highest echelons of New York society-a world seldom seen by outsiders-and a fast-paced thriller of epic proportions.

This book I purchased after loving Selznik's book, Wonderstruck! Once I saw the movie trailer for Hugo, I knew I had to read it too. Selznik's book are treasures! The artwork is phenomenal! I included a page from the book so you can see just how wonderful the artwork in the book is!

(The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznik, page 148 & 149)

I love this picture! A girl surrounded by books! It warms my heart!

What wonderful reads made their way into your home?

Just For Fun Reading Challenge 2012

2011-11-19T18:24:00.000-06:00

It's that time of year again! The new reading challenges are starting to post for sign ups. I love a good challenge even though I am not always successful when participating. This one is one I signed up for this year and I highly recommend it! I have loved participating. Lori over at Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book is the wonderful hostess of this challenge. Read one book a month from your tbr pile or list. One book just for fun! Not for review! Just For Fun! That is it! Easy peasy! I have enjoyed reading books that have been waiting for me to read that I never seem to be able to get around to. I have been able to read books from my tbr pile and wish list.

This year Lori is hosting the challenge on Goodreads. Click on the button above or on the button on my sidebar or on Lori's name above to go to Lori's blog and get the particulars! Then go on over to Goodreads and sign up!

Thankfully Reading Weekend 2011 Edition!

2011-11-17T12:08:00.000-06:00

I love a good read-a-thon and I can't think of a better thing to participate in while the turkey and goodies settle and while all the shoppers are out and about scoring their bargains! I am not a Black Friday shopper! The Thankfully Reading Weekend runs from from November 25 through November 27! I have tons of reading to catch up on so I will be there! Be sure to go on over to Jenn's Bookshelves and sign up! I participated last year and had fun. I love to spend Thanksgiving weekend being cozy at home, with my nose in a book. If you do too, join in on the fun!

WWW Wednesday on Thursday

2011-11-17T08:45:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was a crazy day here so I am a day late with this post. I am still dragging from this wonderful bug. This morning I am feeling a bit better after a night of over medicating and a whole bag of Hall's cough drops, which I do not recommend! My daughter had a band concert and I was determined to go and not cough through the concert. I was glad I went. It was a nice concert.

WWW Wednesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

To play along, just answer the following three questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

South of Superior by Ellen Airgood

I am enjoying this book. It takes place in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan or as we call it here, the U.P. I have never been there but I know several people who have. It is a very unique place which lends itself to a very good story with interesting characters.

What did you recently finish reading?

The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin

I finished this book last week. I read parts of it and listened to the audio for other parts. I can recommend both. My review is here.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

or

Exposure by Therese Fowler

These are both library books that will need to go back. Both books have been spoken of highly and I am looking forward to both of them.

The American Heiress

2011-11-15T06:50:00.000-06:00

The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin

Hardcover: 480 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (June 21, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312658656
ISBN-13: 978-0312658656

Audio CD
Publisher: Macmillan Audio; Unabridged edition (June 21, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1427212295
ISBN-13: 978-1427212290

Summary
Be careful what you wish for. Traveling abroad with her mother at the turn of the twentieth century to seek a titled husband, beautiful, vivacious Cora Cash, whose family mansion in Newport dwarfs the Vanderbilts’, suddenly finds herself Duchess of Wareham, married to Ivo, the most eligible bachelor in England. Nothing is quite as it seems, however: Ivo is withdrawn and secretive, and the English social scene is full of traps and betrayals. Money, Cora soon learns, cannot buy everything, as she must decide what is truly worth the price in her life and her marriage.

My Thoughts

Cora Cash has much to offer a groom so she travels abroad with her mother to find a groom who can give her a title in return. An accident puts in her the hands of Ivo, who's family can benefit from Cora's money. They wed and the scandals begin. Will their marriage survive? Will it be a marriage of convenience or one of love?

At first, I was not a fan of Cora Cash. She seemed like a spoiled young girl who really got on my nerves. She felt she could have whatever she wanted. As she readied herself for the wedding, I began to like her. I found she had a soft side that I was missing in the beginning. Cora seems very naive and sometimes I wondered how she could be so naive with so much going on under her nose. It seemed she was the only one who didn't question where her husband's heart lay. I guess that is why they say love is blind.

There is also a side story which involves Cora's maid, Bertha. Bertha stands by Cora through thick and thin, sometimes giving up her own happiness for her employer. It was nice to see the two stories woven together and see the difference between the two social classes.

The ending was not as I expected it would be but I was okay with it. I saw it going another way. I am wondering if possibly there will be more to this story.

This is a wonderfully detailed book. The descriptions are fantastic! It was a nice escape to 1890's England. If you like a good scandalous, historical read, you will enjoy this book.

I read this book and listened to parts of it. The audiobook was read by Katherine Kellgren who captured the essence of the aristocrat's voices beautifully. I enjoyed her voice and her interpretations of the characters.

Mailbox Monday November 14

2011-11-14T07:47:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday! Thank you all for your well wishes for our dogs! Our older dog, Cooper is getting around a little better and our other dog, Jake has finally turned the corner. He is doing much better and even eating without me begging him to eat. Hopefully his stitches will come out today. That will make him a happy camper.

We seem to have a flu bug floating around our house. Lots of coughing going on. I haven't been this sick in a long time. I stayed in bed most of the day yesterday and feel somewhat better today.

It's Monday and we all know what that means! Mailbox Monday! This month Mailbox Monday is back home at Mailbox Monday hosted by Marcia. Thank you Marcia for creating MM! My wish lists wouldn't be the same without you!

These four books came over the past two weeks. One was a purchase, one was a win from Dewey's Read-a-thon donated by Crystal at My Reading Room (thank you Crystal!), and two are for review.

The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt by Caroline Preston

I have read so many fantastic reviews for this book and I had to see it for myself and purchased it. The story is told through Frankie Pratt's scrapbook. I love anything nostalgic so this will be right up my alley!

The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy

This was my win from Dewey's Read-a-thon courtesy of Crystal. This was on my wish list so I was happy to win it!

The Magic Room by Jeffrey Zaslow

I received this book for review from Gotham Books through Librarything Early Reviewers

How To Save a Life by Sara Zarr

I received this book for review through Amazon Vine

So that is what came into my home the past two weeks. What wonderful reads made their way into your home?

WWW Wednesday November 9

2011-11-09T13:01:00.000-06:00

I'm baaack! At least for now. We seem to be over the hump with the dogs. Our younger dog, Jake has a ways to go yet but he is making some progress. He had some digestive troubles which resulted in surgery. We are not 100% sure what cause it but his seizure medicine is a prime suspect. The vet is changing his meds so we hope we are on the right track now. Our older dog is doing better too and we are looking to get some weight off of him to make it easier for his little legs to carry him around. He has perked up a bit which is a relief to see.

Thank you all for your kind words. It has been a rough 7 days. Reading did not happen during that time. I tried reading when I was up all night with Jake. I read words and turned pages but nothing registered. Finally on Sunday I took the book I was reading and since I had an audio copy, I snuck off to listen and follow along in the book. Somehow it felt comforting to be read to.

I have so much to catch up on. I am sure my google reader is overflowing. I will be trying to read everyone's posts and comment as much as I can.

WWW Wednesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

To play along, just answer the following three questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin

You can't go wrong with the audio version or the print version on this book!

What did you recently finish reading?

The America's Test Kitchen Menu Cookbook: Your Guide to Hosting Stress-Free Dinner Parties and Holiday Feasts

You can check out my review here.

What do you think you’ll read next?

South of Superior by Ellen Airgood

Weekend Cooking

2011-11-05T16:35:00.000-05:00

I have been missing in action again this week. This week has been a bad week for our dogs. Our older dog has a nasty bladder infection and is also having trouble getting around. 24 hours later our other dog was in surgery as we suspected he may have had something in his intestines. He did not but his gall bladder was found to be full and not working. He has been up and down here at home the past few days and we are not too sure what is causing his issues although we suspect his seizure medication may be the cause. He is a very sick pooch! Not much reading has been done here this week. I tried but nothing is sticking with me right now as I am worried. I did however, try a menu out of this cookbook since I am stuck at home with sick dogs. It was a nice distraction.

The America's Test Kitchen Menu Cookbook: Your Guide to Hosting Stress-Free Dinner Parties and Holiday Feasts

Hardcover: 344 pages
Publisher: Boston Common Press (October 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1933615907
ISBN-13: 978-1933615905

When you're entertaining, there's no room for failure--you want your food to deliver on taste and presentation--yet you want the recipes to be approachable enough so that you can enjoy the party, too. Menu planning is hard even for very experienced cooks, but with The America's Test Kitchen Menu Cookbook, we have taken the guesswork out of entertaining. The recipes are built and tested so that they complement each other, and all the logistics have been sorted out. You don't need to worry about oven space or temperature issues--we've done all that for you. And to keep the process stress-free, make-ahead instructions are built into individual recipes as well as each menu's game plan. Want to host a fall dinner party but don't want to get up at the crack of dawn? Try our Rustic Fall Pork Dinner. Simple ham and cheese palmiers made with puff pastry are a sure-to-impress starter, while the main course is an easy but elegant entree and side combo you can make on a sheet pan: roast pork loin with sweet potatoes and cilantro sauce. Tired of stressing out over Thanksgiving? Follow our timelines from start to finish and you'll be sipping a glass of wine along with your guests while the bird roasts. Want to bring the party outdoors? Try our Beat-the-Heat Grilled Shrimp Dinner or Dinner from the Garden. And themed menus like our Tapas Party, Pizza Night, Mexican Fiesta, and more are both fun and manageable. Stumped by appetizers but tired of serving crackers and cheese? You'll find plenty of options here, like our Simple Caramelized Onion Tart with Fig Jam, Blue Cheese, and Prosciutto (store bought pizza dough makes this a snap). Or our contemporary take on smoked salmon canapes that features an easy creme fraiche dip, potato chips, and sliced smoked salmon. Organized around the seasons with menus that serve eight, plus a special holiday and for-a-crowd chapter, The America's Test Kitchen Menu Cookbook takes all the guesswork out of putting together flavorful and practical menus. Packed with tips that will help you shop and budget your time, this book is a must-have for anyone who likes to entertain.

My Thoughts

This is a beautiful book as well as helpful by America's Test Kitchen. The beginning of the book lists items you may need for a well stocked kitchen. They explain how the kitchen items are used. They have a section on quick tips that make your food preparation easier. Also there is an emergency substitution list which is wonderful for the items you may have forgotten to pick up at the store. The rest of the book is full of menus divided up by the season. Each menu includes at least one picture which I find extremely helpful in a cookbook. Each recipe includes a small paragraph on why the recipe works. I love the little explanations. They are both helpful and informative.

My daughter and I chose a Fall menu, Farmhouse Chicken Dinner. We chose this one as we thought it was one of the easier menus in the book. Our menu consisted of Rustic Breaded Chicken with Brussels Sprouts, Honeyed Goat Cheese with Spice Walnuts and Figs, Herbed Barley Pilaf, and Autumn Pear Crumble. We found the chicken, the goat cheese and the pear crumble to be delicious and fairly easy to prepare. We had to substitute apples for the figs in the goat cheese recipe which was a suggestion made by the cookbook if figs were not available. We thought the pilaf could have been more flavorful if chicken stock had been used in the cooking process instead of water. The chicken was soaked in a brine which I had never done before and was very tender and juicy! I will be using that recipe again! The recipes in the menu were a nice compliment to each other.

I am not a beginner cook. I would say I am a everyday household cook. The menu took us all afternoon to prepare, a good 5 hours. The recipes all have several steps. There are some things that could be done a day ahead of time which they have been kind enough to point out in the book. I do wish there had been a timeline in the book telling me what I should be working on and in what order. The recipes are just listed and not necessarily in the order of how you should prepare them. At one point I had two things in the oven and needed to put a third item in there at a different temperature. The recipes were lovely but if I had been making this for a dinner party, I would have missed all the fun. These are recipes that will keep you in the kitchen. They are very involved. There are many other recipes I wish to try out of this cookbook but I don't think I would tackle a full menu again. I was exhausted after making a full menu.

I enjoyed many of the recipes in this book and all the helpful tips. If you love being in the kitchen for hours on end, you may like this cookbook. I think this is a cookbook for the serious entertainer or advanced home chef.

I received this book for review which in no way influenced this review

Weekend Cooking is a weekly meme sponsored by Beth Fish Reads.
Weekend Cooking is a chance to share the food love. Be sure to check out all the yummy cooking posts on Beth's blog.

Mailbox Monday October 31

2011-10-31T09:24:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween! We had trick or treat in our neck of the woods yesterday. It was cold, windy and rainy! Not ideal weather for trick or treaters. We had a few brave kids but not as many as we usually have.

It's Monday and we all know what that means! Mailbox Monday! This months hostess is Serena at Savvy Verse and Wit.

I received a few books this week for review, plus a surprise audiobook and a gorgeous bookmark I won from a mini-challenge during Dewey's Read-a-thon. It's a beautiful variegated knitted bookmark. My picture does not do the bookmark justice. Trust me, it is gorgeous! I won it from Fancy Terrible Book Reviews. Thank you ladies! Be sure to stop by and say "hi" to them!

These are the books I received.

The Third Reich(audiobook) by Roberto Bolano read by Simon Vance-courtesy of MacMillan Audio

The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott-courtesy of Doubleday Books

The World We Found by Thrifty Umrigar-courtesy of Harper Collins

The America's Test Kitchen Menu Cookbook-courtesy of Amazon Vine

So that is what came into my home last week. What new reads made their way into your home?

Yankee Doodle Dixie by Lisa Patton

2011-10-28T05:00:00.050-05:00

Yankee Doodle Dixie by Lisa Patton

Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books (September 13, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312556934
ISBN-13: 978-0312556938

Summary

A charmingly funny testament to second chances in life and love from the acclaimed author of Whistlin’ Dixie in a Nor’easter

Lisa Patton won the hearts of readers last year, her book Whistlin’ Dixie in a Nor’easter became a sleeper-success. Building on a smashing debut, Lisa’s poised to go to the next level—because whether in Vermont snow or in Memphis heat, Dixie heroine Leelee Satterfield is never too far from misadventure, calamity...and ultimately, love.

Having watched her life turn into a nor’easter, 34-year-old Leelee Satterfield is back home in the South, ready to pick back up where she left off. But that’s a task easier said then done…Leelee’s a single mom, still dreaming of the Vermonter who stole her heart, and accompanied by her three best friends who pepper her with advice, nudging and peach daiquiris, Leelee opens another restaurant and learns she has to prove herself yet again. Filled with heart and humor, women’s fiction fans will delight in this novel.

My Thoughts

This is the sequel to Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'Easter. This book could be read asa stand along since the beginning does bring you up to date on Leelee Satterfield's story but I would recommend reading both books in order. Why would you want to miss out on the fun?

This book picks up with Leelee arriving back home in Memphis. It doesn't take Leelee long to realize that life as she knew it in Memphis is about to change. She is now a single mother who needs to support her daughters and find a place to live. I admired how Leelee picked up her boot straps and took care of business, in her usual hilarious way. Leelee once again charmed her way into my heart and had me laughing.

Lisa Patton has introduced us to some new characters in this book while bringing back some old faces from the previous book. In this book we get to see more of Leelee's best friends, who are just as entertaining as Leelee. We also get to see more of Kissie, the woman who was hired to care for Leelee as a baby. Such a wonderful, gentle soul. There is also Riley, Leelee's extremely, annoying neighbor. I really wanted to wring his neck. Leelee has the patience of a saint with him. Not so sure I could have been as gracious. There are also many quirky characters where Leelee finds a job at a radio station. Wherever Leelee goes, fun is sure to follow.

This is another heartwarming, fun story. I hope Lisa Patton isn't done writing about Leelee yet! Leelee's story can brighten even the darkest day! It's pure adorable, Southern fun!

I received this book from Amazon Vine for my honest opinion

Whistlin Dixie in a Nor'easter by Lisa Patton

2011-10-27T05:00:00.044-05:00

Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter by Lisa Patton

Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books (September 29, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312556608

Summary
Leelee Satterfield seemed to have it all: a gorgeous husband, two adorable daughters, and roots in the sunny city of Memphis, Tennessee. So when her husband gets the idea to uproot the family to run a quaint Vermont inn, Leelee is devastated…and her three best friends are outraged. But she’s loved Baker Satterfield since the tenth grade, how can she not indulge his dream? Plus, the glossy photos of bright autumn trees and smiling children in ski suits push her over the edge…after all, how much trouble can it really be?

But Leelee discovers pretty fast that there’s a truckload of things nobody tells you about Vermont until you live there: such as mud season, vampire flies, and the danger of ice sheets careening off roofs. Not to mention when her beloved Yorkie decides to pick New Year’s Eve to go to doggie heaven-she encounters one more New England oddity: frozen ground means you can’t bury your dead in the winter. And that Yankee idiosyncrasy just won’t do.

The inn they’ve bought also has its host of problems: an odor that no amount of potpourri can erase, tacky décor, and a staff of peculiar Vermonters whose personalities are as unique as the hippopotamus collection gracing the fireplace mantle. The whole operation is managed by Helga, a stern German woman who takes special delight in bullying Leelee for her southern gentility. Needless to say, it doesn’t take long for Leelee to start wondering when to drag out the moving boxes again.

But when an unexpected hardship takes Leelee by surprise, she finds herself left alone with an inn to run, a mortgage to pay, and two daughters to raise. But this Southern belle won’t be run out of town so easily. Drawing on the Southern grit and inner strength she didn’t know she had, Leelee decides to turn around the Inn, her attitude and her life. In doing so, she makes friends with her neighbors, finds a little romance, and realizes there’s a lot more in common with Vermont than she first thought.

In this moving and comedic debut, Lisa Patton paints a hilarious portrait of life in Vermont as seen through the eyes of a southern belle readers won’t soon forget. A charming fish-out-of-water tale of one woman who learns to stand up for herself-in sandals and snow boots-against the odds.

My Thoughts

I adored this book! Leelee Satterfield is a somewhat spoiled southern belle but she caught my heart right off the bat with her charm. She is quite the character. When she follows her husband to Vermont to open an inn, something neither of them knows anything about, the fun begins! Leelee is a fish out of water but she is determined to make those around her happy. The cultural differences between Leelee's southern roots and Vermont are very entertaining. It is like night and day! Leelee kept me laughing through the whole book.

This is a cute story that is entertaining and will keep you laughing. It is not a serious, intellectual read but a humorous look at the differences between Southerners and us Yankees. It is a light read that will leave you feeling good at the end. Just sit back and enjoy! I am looking forward to reading more of Leelee's antics!

This book was a win from Dewey's Read-a-thon (quite awhile ago)

WWW Wednesday October 26

2011-10-26T16:30:00.000-05:00

The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin

I am loving this book. I have both the book and the audiobook and am using both.

What did you recently finish reading?

Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter by Lisa Patton

Yankee Doodle Dixie by Lisa Patton

These two books were fun and entertaining. Be sure to come back Thursday and Friday for my reviews on both books.

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznik

This is a fabulous children's book! Click on the title for my review.

What do you think you’ll read next

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

I'm hoping to swipe this back from my daughter who swiped it before I had a chance to read it.

Wonderstruck

2011-10-25T05:00:00.018-05:00

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznik

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 608 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1 edition (September 13, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0545027896
ISBN-13: 978-0545027892

Summary from Goodreads

Set fifty years apart, two independent stories—Ben's told in words and Rose's in pictures—weave back and forth with mesmerizing symmetry. How they unfold and ultimately intertwine will surprise you, challenge you, and leave you breathless with wonder.

Ever since his mom died, Ben feels lost.
At home with her father, Rose feels alone.

He is searching for someone, but he is not sure who.
She is searching for something, but she is not sure what.

When Ben finds a mysterious clue hidden in his mom's room,
When a tempting opportunity presents itself to Rose

Both children risk everything to find what's missing.

With over 460 pages of original drawings and playing with the form he invented in his trailblazing debut novel, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick once again sails into uncharted territory and takes readers on an awe-inspiring journey. Rich, complex, affecting and beautiful, Wonderstruck is a stunning achievement from a uniquely gifted artist and visionary.

My Thoughts

This was my first read by this author and I have to say I was very impressed! I saw a copy of this book in my local bookstore and was impressed with the artwork. The artwork had piqued my curiosity.

The book tells two layered stories, one through illustrations and one through words. The illustrated story is the story of Rose, who is enamored with a silent movie star named Lillian Mayhew. The written story is the story of Ben, who is grieving over his mother and wonders who and where his father is. Both Rose and Ben found a special place in my heart right away. You can't help but feel compassion for both characters. Rose and Ben's stories happen 50 years apart from each other and for the longest time I couldn't figure out how they were related. The suspense was building in me. Eventually the two stories come together in a way I never imagined! I found this a unique way to tell a story and I think it is a great way to tell a story to children. I don't want to say any more about the story as I don't want to spoil one moment of this delightful story for any reader. The story is a delectable journey that you will want to savor. I could not put this book down and read it straight through!

The pencil drawings are stunning and remarkable! The written story is creative and the descriptions are wonderfully vivid! Brian Selznick is extremely talented! This is a book you do not want to miss!

This is a wonderful story for all ages. I think kids and adults will enjoy this. The recommended ages are 9 years old and up or 4th grade and up. I have to agree with the recommended ages. There are some subjects that might be too sad or intense for younger children. I suggest you read it and decide if it is okay for your younger children.

I received this book through Amazon Vine for my honest opinion.

Mailbox Monday October 24

2011-10-24T07:37:00.000-05:00

It's Monday and we all know what that means! Mailbox Monday! This months hostess is Serena at Savvy Verse and Wit.

I survived Dewey's Read-a-thon! We should have t-shirts that say that! I managed to get three books read before conking out in the wee hours of the morning. Not bad seeing my day normally begins at 5 am. Sunday morning was painful! As soon as the dogs had been put out, fed and got their medicine, I went back to bed until 9 am! I never sleep that late. Last night we had a bad storm come through but I slept right through it all! Guess I was tired!

I only received one book this week. That is okay by me. I have many books to catch up on. I purchased this book with a coupon. I can't pass up a good book or a good coupon!

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam; Book Club (BCE/BOMC) edition (June 2, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0399157182
ISBN-13: 978-0399157189

Alice Love is twenty-nine years old, madly in love with her husband, and pregnant with their first child. So imagine her surprise when, after a fall, she comes to on the floor of a gym (a gym! she HATES the gym!) and discovers that she's actually thirty-nine, has three children, and is in the midst of an acrimonious divorce.

A knock on the head has misplaced ten years of her life, and Alice isn't sure she likes who she's become. It turns out, though, that forgetting might be the most memorable thing that has ever happened to Alice.

That is what I received last week. What wonderful books made their way into your home?

Dewey's Readathon End of Event Meme

2011-10-23T10:46:00.000-05:00

It's over. I had a blast. I read three books and was very happy with that. I didn't make the full 24 hours but I knew that I wouldn't. I finally gave up around 2 a.m. I tried again at 5 but my eyes and brain said no. Thank you to all the hosts and committee members who made it all possible! A special thanks to all the cheerleaders! You guys are awesome! See you in the spring!

1. Which hour was most daunting for you? From midnight on was hard for me. I finally gave up around 2 am and took a nap, woke up at 5 but my eyes hurt so I went back to sleep.

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? I enjoyed Wonderstruck by Brian Selznik. It was very different and was a quick read.

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? The only suggestion I would have is maybe some easier mini-challenges, at least during the latter hours of the readathon. My brain needed easier challenges then.

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? I liked the list of readers that was alphabetized.

5. How many books did you read? I read 3 books

6. What were the names of the books you read? Wonderstruck by Brian Selznik, Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'Easter by Lisa Patton, Yankee Doodle Dixie by Lisa Patton.

7. Which book did you enjoy most? I really loved all three books!

8. Which did you enjoy least? NA

9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? NA

10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? Of course I will participate again! I wouldn't miss it!

My Ending Stats

How many pages read since last update: 637
How many pages read total: 1110 pages
Number of books read since you started: 3
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 150 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 558 minutes

Mini-challenges completed: 5 mini challenges completed
Prizes won: The Bakers Wife by Erin Healey (yay!)

Dewey's Readathon Updated/Mini challenges

2011-10-22T13:31:00.003-05:00

I will keep updating under this post so I don't fill up my followers readers.

12:48

Sadly, I think I need to take a break and a nap. I finished another book but it did smack me in the face several times as my eyes got heavy and closed. I did pretty good this time. I am hoping to take a nap and get back to reading. I finished Starstruck and highly recommend it!

Thank you to all my wonderful cheerleaders! You have all been great!

How many pages read since last update: 637
How many pages read total: 1110 pages
Number of books read since you started: 3
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 150 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 558 minutes

Mini-challenges completed: 5 mini challenges completed

Food and beverages consumed since last update:
Crystal Light Appletini--yummm!

9:42

Mid-Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now? Starstruck by Brian Selznik
2. How many books have you read so far? 2
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? Starstruck
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? Declared it "Mom is not doing anything day!"
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? Yep, phone calls, dogs, kids, helping my son get spiffed up for a wedding. Just took a break and went with it.
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? That I am still awake and reading
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Nope it is all good!
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? Not get up at 5 in the morning, I get up to give my dog his medicine and I stayed up when I could have slept for two more hours before the readathon started.
9. Are you getting tired yet? Oh yeah!
10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered? Nothing I can think of

Updated Stats
What I'm reading now: Starstruck by Brian Selznick

How many pages read since last update: 293
How many pages read total: 473 pages
Number of books read since you started: 2
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 266minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 408 minutes

Mini-challenges completed: 5 mini challenges completed

Food and beverages consumed since last update:
rainbow sherbet with chocolate chips and toffee chips
dark chocolate reeses peanut butter cup
macaroni and cheese smothered in chili
milk
white cranberry peach drink

3:34pm
Book Sentence Challenge

This is a challenge hosted by Midnight Book Girl(who has an awesome blog!) where you take at least three book titles and make a sentence from them. My sentence isn't too good. I'll update my reading totals around the half way mark.

Cherries in winter wither east of the sun.

Just a little update. I was going pretty good but had quite a few distractions the past couple hours so I decided to do a quick update and get back to business.

What I'm reading now: Yankee Doodle Dixie by Lisa Patton

How many pages read since last update: 180 pages
How many pages read total: 180 pages
Number of books read since you started: 1
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 142 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 142 minutes

Mini-challenges completed: 3 mini challenges completed

Food and beverages consumed:
coffee/french vanilla creamer
banana oatmeal chococolate chip craisin muffin

white cranberry peach drink
turkey/swiss sandwich on whole wheat
Claussen pickle spear
veggie sticks
mini Milky Way bars

Dewey's Readathon Mini-Challenge -Characater Photo

2011-10-22T09:10:00.000-05:00

Alyce at AT Home With Books is hosting this challenge! Thank you Alyce! Here is what Alyce asked us to do:

"My challenge for you is to take a photo of something that represents a character in one of the books you are reading for the readathon."

I took picture that is not too original. The character I am currently reading about is Leelee Satterfield from Whistlin Dixie in a Nor'Easter by Lisa Patton. She is a southern belle at heart that has been uprooted to run an inn in Vermont. She just finished shoveling out her car, or so she thought, after an April Nor'Easter. This picture represents her. She's a peach out of her element and is not liking the rough Vermont weather and having to wear so much paraphernalia. I imagine her wearing a styling winter hat.

I am doing okay on the readathon and will update my totals later. I made my morning phone call to my mother and am now ready to get back to my book! So far, so good!

In another note, I can't believe that as soon as I took off my word verification off of comments, I got spammed.

Dear Mr. or Mrs. Spammer,
No, I won't be watching Jersey Shore anytime soon so you really don't need to leave me a link to watch it! And I sure won't be clicking on any links you might choose to leave me. I hope you can find a better way to enjoy your day!

Back to the books!

Dewey's Readathon Begins! Introduction Meme

2011-10-22T07:00:00.001-05:00

1)Where are you reading from today? I am reading from home in Southeast Wisconsin

2)Three random facts about me… I have three children, I played the violin growing up, I adore dark chocolate

3)How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours? 15...I won't get to them all but wanted an assortment ready to go

4)Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)? No set goals, just to read as much as I can and have fun

5)If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time? Just to have fun and maybe set up a template for updates. I found that having a template is helpful.

And we are off! Let the reading begin!

I am starting the day off finishing Whistlin in a Nor'Easter which I had hoped to have finished before today. I spent yesterday suit shopping with one of my sons for a wedding he is going to...today! He is my procrastinater. Do you know how hard it is to find a suit to fit a tall, skinny guy on short notice? Love the lady at Men's Wearhouse! She hooked us up and took excellent care of us!

I am ready to read. The dogs are fed. I have my favorite dog t-shirt on along with my favorite yoga pants. The weather is going to be beautiful, so some reading can be done outside! Yay! I have a lukewarm cup of coffee(coffeemaker is not my friend today) with french vanilla creamer in it. The house is quiet since everyone else is sleeping in.

Good luck and have fun everyone!

WWW Wednesday October 19

2011-10-19T15:43:00.000-05:00

What did you recently finish reading?

Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson

What do you think you’ll read next?

Yankee Doodle Dixie by Lisa Patton

Readathon Preparedness

2011-10-19T10:13:00.000-05:00

Just in case you didn't know, this Saturday is Dewey's Read-a-thon. I try to always participate. It's a lot of fun and a great way to do some catch up reading. In case you are unfamiliar with readathon, it takes place for 24 hours and you read as much as you can. There are mini-challenges and prizes. There are cheerleaders to help cheer you on! So check it out here and sign up. You can signup to read or cheer or both!

I am cleaning house this week and will be coming up with some meals to either make quickly or make ahead, so the day will be mine for the most part. I am trying to come up with easy and healthy snacks with a bit of chocolate thrown in.

I have come up with a stack of books as possible reads. I am a mood reader so I think this assortment will cover all bases. I picked so many books I had to show them in three pictures. I won't be reading all of these but I will be putting them in a crate or a tote so I can have them by me wherever I read.

As far as advice, farm out the kids(mine are self-sufficient) or encourage them to participate with you. Prepare food and snacks ahead of time. Get out your best comfy clothes, be it sweats or pj's. Take breaks often and maybe visit a few fellow readathoners or have fun with some of the challenges. Most of all...HAVE FUN!

These are two audiobooks I was sent for review. I am sure they will come in handy when my eyes get tired.

The Puppy Diaries by Jill Abramson read by Beth MacDonald

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides read by David Pittu

Next up, I have four library books in need of reading before their due dates. All of these have been recommended by fellow bloggers! Thank you!

June Bug by Chris Fabray
Alice Bliss by Laura Harrington
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Exposure by Therese Fowler

And last but not least, these are books I own. Some are for review and others are not.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
Yankee Doodle Dixie by Lisa Patton
The Train of Small Mercies by David Rowell
The Winters in Bloom by Lisa Tucker
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

As you can see I have a bit of everything in that pile. I was hoping to add Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs but alas my daughter has stolen it back. I guess I should have purchased two copies. I hope to get a few books read this time since I have some shorter length books in there. I am sort of planning to read all weekend. The weather is cool and crisp and I am reading to hunker down and read! My start up time is 7 a.m. central time. See ya' then!

Mailbox Monday October 17

2011-10-17T09:13:00.000-05:00

It's Monday and we all know what that means! Mailbox Monday! This months hostess is Serena at Savvy Verse and Wit.

This week I received two very great sounding books! I am loving the cover on Duty Free! The ARC I received has little headlines running on top of the pages of the book. I am not sure if the finished copy has it but it has me very intrigued! The Dressmaker is a book I am very excited about! I love reading stories set on the Titanic and am really looking forward to this one. I was thrilled to receive both of these books!

Duty Free by Moni Mohsin
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Broadway (September 6, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0307889246
ISBN-13: 978-0307889249

Jane Austen's Emma, transported to the outrageous social melee of 21st-century Lahore.

Our plucky heroine's cousin, Jonkers, has been dumped by his low-class, slutty secretary, and our heroine has been charged with finding him a suitable wife -- a rich, fair, beautiful, old-family type. Quickly. But, between you, me and the four walls, who wants to marry poor, plain, hapless Jonkers?

As our heroine social-climbs her way through weddings-sheddings, GTs (get togethers, of course) and ladies' lunches trying to find a suitable girl from the right bagground, she discovers to her dismay that her cousin has his own ideas about his perfect mate. And secretly, she may even agree.

Full of wit and wickedness and as clever as its heroine is clueless, Duty Free is a delightful romp through Pakistani high society -- though, even as it makes you cry with laughter, it makes you wince at the gulf between our heroine's glitteringly shallow life and the country that is falling apart, day by day, around her Louboutin-clad feet. Moni Mohsin, already a huge bestseller in India, has been hailed as a modern-day Jane Austen, and compared to Nancy Mitford and Helen Fielding. Duty Free is social satire at its biting best.

This was a win from Read It Forward.

The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott

Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Doubleday (February 21, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0385535589
ISBN-13: 978-0385535588

Just in time for the centennial anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic comes a vivid, romantic, and relentlessly compelling historical novel about a spirited young woman who survives the disaster only to find herself embroiled in the media frenzy left in the wake of the tragedy.

Tess, an aspiring seamstress, thinks she's had an incredibly lucky break when she is hired by famous designer Lady Lucile Duff Gordon to be a personal maid on the Titanic's doomed voyage. Once on board, Tess catches the eye of two men, one a roughly-hewn but kind sailor and the other an enigmatic Chicago millionaire. But on the fourth night, disaster strikes.

Amidst the chaos and desperate urging of two very different suitors, Tess is one of the last people allowed on a lifeboat. Tess’s sailor also manages to survive unharmed, witness to Lady Duff Gordon’s questionable actions during the tragedy. Others—including the gallant Midwestern tycoon—are not so lucky.

On dry land, rumors about the survivors begin to circulate, and Lady Duff Gordon quickly becomes the subject of media scorn and later, the hearings on the Titanic. Set against a historical tragedy but told from a completely fresh angle, The Dressmaker is an atmospheric delight filled with all the period's glitz and glamour, all the raw feelings of a national tragedy and all the contradictory emotions of young love.

PRAISE FOR THE DRESSMAKER
“We all know how the Titanic went down, we all saw the movie. But what happened after? This brilliant book shows the aftermath of the tragedy, seen through the eyes of a brave, young girl who was on board, on her way to America, to start a new life as a dressmaker. From the minute Tess sets foot on the doomed ship, this is the kind of novel you simply cannot put down and cannot forget.”
--Tatiana de Rosnay, author of Sarah's Key and A Secret Kept

“The Dressmaker achieves the remarkable -- it makes the sinking of the Titanic feel like a story never told before. By focusing on the search for justice in the aftermath of the tragedy, this compelling first novel examines humanity at its best and worst, as seen through the eyes of one of the ship's survivors, a courageous young woman who is determined to make her own way in America.”
--Lauren Belfer, author of A Fierce Radiance and City of Light

“This is a fascinating premise for a novel as well as a powerful, page-turning read. It's also a very valuable contribution to our understanding of the events surrounding the sinking of The Titanic, and its aftermath.”
--Isabel Wolff, author of A Vintage Affair

I requested a copy of this through Shelf Awareness but they ran out of copies. They were nice enough to offer me an e-book copy through Netgalley. Thank you Knopf Doubleday!

That is what came into my home last week. What wonderful reads made their way into your home?

Weekend Cooking-The Soup Bible

2011-10-16T13:27:00.000-05:00

The Soup Bible by the Editors of Favorite Brand Name Recipes

Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Publications International (September 8, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1605537241
ASIN: B0058M7NU0

Product Description
The Soup Bible is an all-in-one guide to creating delicious and satisfying soups, stews, and chilis. The cookbook includes more than 150 recipes, plus a 16-page guide that covers all aspects of soup preparation, including equipment, the history of soup, how-tos hints and tips, garnishing, and a glossary of terms.

You will find recipes that can be ready in as few as 30 minutes as well as a slow-cooker chapter. Discover new flavors as you cook your way through seven chapters. Here is a sampling of recipes in The Soup Bible:
Classics like Chicken & Homemade Noodle, Minestrone, and Black Bean Soup
Exotic flavors such as Pumpkin Soup with Bacon & Toasted Pumpkin Seeds, and Chinese Hot & Sour Soup
Hearty chowders, including Bacon Potato Chowder and New England Fish Chowder
Vegetarian options, including Mushroom Barley Soup and Lentil & Brown Rice Soup
Quick and easy recipes like New Orleans Fish Soup, and Creamy Tuscan Bean & Chicken Soup
Slow-cooker selections like Potato & Leek Soup and Beer & Cheese Soup

I picked this little gem of a cookbook up at Barnes and Noble on a half price clearance table. This book is on sale at Amazon also. It has many great looking soup recipes in it. Some are quick like the one I made today and others are all day soups. I made this quick chowder this afternoon which made for a perfect Sunday lunch. I had to change the recipe up a bit because I didn't have any corn but had a bag of mixed veggies which we thought worked out well. I put the whole bag in because we like lots of veggies in our soups.

Deep Bayou Chowder

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped onions
1 large green pepper, chopped
1 large carrot, chopped,
8 ounces red potatoes, diced
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
2 cups milk
1 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 1/2 teaspoons seafood seasoning (I used Old Bay)
3/4 teaspoon salt

Heat oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions, bell pepper, carrot; cook and stir 5 minutes. Add potatoes, corn, water, and thyme; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer approximately 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Stir in milk, parsley, seasoning, and salt. Cook for 5 minutes. Serve.

Makes 6 servings.

Weekend Cooking is a weekly meme sponsored by Beth Fish Reads.
Weekend Cooking is a chance to share the food love. Be sure to check out all the yummy cooking posts on Beth's blog.

Before I Go To Sleep

2011-10-14T13:11:00.000-05:00

Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson

Summary

'As I sleep, my mind will erase everything I did today. I will wake up tomorrow as I did this morning. Thinking I'm still a child. Thinking I have a whole lifetime of choice ahead of me ...' Memories define us. So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep? Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love - all forgotten overnight. And the one person you trust may only be telling you half the story. Welcome to Christine's life.

My Thoughts

This book just blew my mind! I was expecting a predictable read about a woman who has amnesia. This book is so much more!

Christina wakes up every morning not remembering much at all. She doesn't remember her husband who is in bed next to her. She doesn't know where she is. Every day she relearns her life. Christina has had an accident of some sort where she has sustained a brain injury which has left her in this state. Instantly the reader knows something is off and the twists and turns of the plot begin. I had my suspects in mind. I was wrong. Very wrong!

This is a wonderful debut book by S.J. Watson. She weaves a suspenseful plot that will keep you from wanting to put this book down. There were times I could honestly feel Christina's confusion. I didn't know who she should trust. And just when I thought I knew who Christina should stay away from, the story took an unexpected turn.

This is a great psychological thriller and I highly recommend it. It was written in such a way that I truly felt I was in Christina's mind. I look forward to seeing more from S.J. Watson in the future!

I checked this book out from our public library.

Mailbox Monday October 10

2011-10-10T10:38:00.000-05:00

It's Monday again! Time for another Mailbox Monday post. Mailbox Monday is the creation of Marcia from Mailbox Monday. The meme is on tour and this month's host is Serena from Savvy Verse & Wit. Thank you Serena for hosting this month!

I almost need to post a summertime mailbox this week! We have had temperatures in the 80's this past week. It sure doesn't feel like fall at all! It's been gorgeous!

I received two books this week, one for review and one was a purchase. I was wanting to read some creepy books this month, which is so unlike me. Don't worry, my creepy reads, I have a feeling, are very tame compared to what others are reading this month.

My daughter snagged Miss Peregrine the minute it came into the house. She says it is pretty good. You have no idea how it tickles me to see my daughter excited about books. She has never been a big reader. The cover gives me chills! Then again, it doesn't take much! I'm a pretty easy scare! And how fabulous is the author's name? Ransom Riggs! I love it!

Wonderstruck is a book I was admiring in Barnes and Noble, when I was last there. The artwork is phenomenal! When I had a chance to snag a review copy, I had to grab it. I miss having kids in the house reading kid books. This will be a treat for me!

For review

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznik

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 608 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press (September 13, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0545027896
ISBN-13: 978-0545027892

Set fifty years apart, two independent stories—Ben's told in words and Rose's in pictures—weave back and forth with mesmerizing symmetry. How they unfold and ultimately intertwine will surprise you, challenge you, and leave you breathless with wonder.

Ever since his mom died, Ben feels lost.
At home with her father, Rose feels alone.

He is searching for someone, but he is not sure who.
She is searching for something, but she is not sure what.

When Ben finds a mysterious clue hidden in his mom's room,
When a tempting opportunity presents itself to Rose

Both children risk everything to find what's missing.

With over 460 pages of original drawings and playing with the form he invented in his trailblazing debut novel, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick once again sails into uncharted territory and takes readers on an awe-inspiring journey. Rich, complex, affecting and beautiful, Wonderstruck is a stunning achievement from a uniquely gifted artist and visionary.

I received this book courtesy of the publisher through Amazon Vine

My purchase

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Quirk Books; Book Club edition (June 7, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1594744769
ISBN-13: 978-1594744761

A mysterious island.

An abandoned orphanage.

A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

This was a purchase from B&N who sends me lovely coupons to enable my obvious addiction!

So that is what I received. Have you read either of these? What fabulous reads made their way into your home?

Southern Fried Women

2011-10-06T07:07:00.000-05:00

Southern Fried Women by Pamela King Cable

Southern Fried Women
Author: Pamela Cable
ISBN: 978-1-9358740-7-2
Price: $16.95
Pub Date: August 2011

Summary

Pamela King Cable has woven together the music, the language, the religions, and the traditions of the South. The result is Southern Fried Women, a collection of nine short stories about Southern women, and a few men, struggling to find answers to unanswerable questions, hoping for forgiveness, seeking righteousness, and questioning the existence of God in their lives. Cable writes Southern fiction in the true spirit of the rural South. She can ruffle the feathers of the most stoic, mess with the beliefs of the strictest fundamentalists, and reel you into her stories like a stubborn catfish meant for the fryer. In stories with themes ranging from flea markets to coal mine strikes, once you have met her Southern Fried Women, they will be with you forever. A delightful collection of short stories that weave together the music, the language, the religions and the traditions of the South. Sometimes seriously and sometimes with humor, these stories examine everything from love and death to racial conflict and tragedy. The Southern Fried Women portrayed within each story are as realistic as any you have ever met, facing common situations and obstacles with all the charm and tenacity they can muster.

My Thoughts

This book of short stories is a treat to read! If you love the picture on the cover, you will be happy to see each story starts with a photograph and an introduction from Pamela King Cable explaining her inspiration for the story. I am a huge fan of old photos, so the photos really spoke to me. I found it interesting to get into Pamela's head and see how each character and their story was born. It made the characters and their stories very real to me.

The stories are very unique. These are not all feel good, sugary stories. These Southern Fried Women have not had easy lives. They are tough women battling problems some of us can only imagine. In the end, they overcome and stand tall.

Some of these stories are dark and disturbing as Pamela even warns us about in the introduction to one such story, Old Time Religion. I found myself gasping and thinking about many of these stories long after I read them. On the flip side, some of the characters had me laughing out loud at their thoughts and antics.

I highly recommend this book of short stories. Pamela King Cable is a wonderfully gifted storyteller! I look forward to reading more from her in the future. If you are a fan of Southern fiction, you will enjoy these stories.

Thank you to Julie from Satya House Publications for sending me this wonderful book for review.

Mailbox Monday October 3

2011-10-03T08:13:00.000-05:00

It's Monday again! Time for another Mailbox Monday post. Mailbox Monday is the creation of Marcia from Mailbox Monday. The meme is on tour and this month's host is Serena from Savvy Verse & Wit. Thank you Serena for hosting this month!

Can you believe it is October! This year has flown by! This week's mailbox is mostly purchases and one unsolicited audiobook. I purchased a few books that I have been dying for after reading reviews for them on other blogs! Some I purchased used. I also ran into Barnes and Noble because I was in the area and hadn't been there in a very long time. I was surprised at how empty the store was. It used to be a hopping joint. It is the only book store in our area for miles and miles now. It's sad to see it void of shoppers. They did have some clearance tables out so I perused them and found one cookbook and I also picked up a magazine from the U.K. that I have been looking for. The audiobook I received may not be of my taste. I am still thinking about it.

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides

Audio CD
Publisher: Macmillan Audio; Unabridged edition (October 11, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1427213089
ISBN-13: 978-1427213082

Summary

It’s the early 1980s—the country is in a deep recession, and life after college is harder than ever. In the cafés on College Hill, the wised-up kids are inhaling Derrida and listening to Talking Heads. But Madeleine Hanna, dutiful English major, is writing her senior thesis on Jane Austen and George Eliot, purveyors of the marriage plot that lies at the heart of the greatest English novels.

As Madeleine tries to understand why “it became laughable to read writers like Cheever and Updike, who wrote about the suburbia Madeleine and most of her friends had grown up in, in favor of reading the Marquis de Sade, who wrote about deflowering virgins in eighteenth-century France,” real life, in the form of two very different guys, intervenes. Leonard Bankhead—charismatic loner, college Darwinist, and lost Portland boy—suddenly turns up in a semiotics seminar, and soon Madeleine finds herself in a highly charged erotic and intellectual relationship with him. At the same time, her old “friend” Mitchell Grammaticus—who’s been reading Christian mysticism and generally acting strange—resurfaces, obsessed with the idea that Madeleine is destined to be his mate.

Over the next year, as the members of the triangle in this amazing, spellbinding novel graduate from college and enter the real world, events force them to reevaluate everything they learned in school. Leonard and Madeleine move to a biology Laboratory on Cape Cod, but can’t escape the secret responsible for Leonard’s seemingly inexhaustible energy and plunging moods. And Mitchell, traveling around the world to get Madeleine out of his mind, finds himself face-to-face with ultimate questions about the meaning of life, the existence of God, and the true nature of love.

Are the great love stories of the nineteenth century dead? Or can there be a new story, written for today and alive to the realities of feminism, sexual freedom, prenups, and divorce? With devastating wit and an abiding understanding of and affection for his characters, Jeffrey Eugenides revives the motivating energies of the Novel, while creating a story so contemporary and fresh that it reads like the intimate journal of our own lives.

Received courtesy of Macmillan Audio

Wildflower Hill by Kimberly Freeman
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
Cross Currents by John Shors
The Accidental Bestseller by Wendy Wax
The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain

Mollie Makes

This is the cutest craft magazine ever! However be sure to look at the price before you hit the checkout should you decide to buy it! It was $11.99! However, it did come with the neatest little MP3 player case kit. There are some cool patterns inside the magazine along with some very cool retro decorating ideas. I am not sure if I will purchase this magazine again but I ma enjoying this copy.

The Soup Bible

I picked this up on the clearance table at B&N. It was $4.98! We are big soup eaters in our home in the winter, so this will be a handy book to have. I have found quite a few recipes in it to try once the cold weather hits. Spring Pea & Mint Soup and Cheesy Spinach Soup are just two that I hope to try. This book will get a lot of use!

So that is what came into my home last week. I think it is time for a book buying ban for me. I do have one coming in this week. I needed a creepy read for October. Not my usual fare of book but I have been feeling like I need one spooky read for the month. It won't be too scarey! I am a huge chicken!

What wonderful reads made their way into your home?

A Sound Among the Trees

2011-09-29T07:04:00.000-05:00

A Sound Among the Trees by Susan Meissner

Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press (October 4, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0307458857
ISBN-13: 978-0307458858

Summary

A house shrouded in time.
A line of women with a heritage of loss.

As a young bride, Susannah Page was rumored to be a Civil War spy for the North, a traitor to her Virginian roots. Her great-granddaughter Adelaide, the current matriarch of Holly Oak, doesn’t believe that Susannah’s ghost haunts the antebellum mansion looking for a pardon, but rather the house itself bears a grudge toward its tragic past.

When Marielle Bishop marries into the family and is transplanted from the arid west to her husband’s home, it isn’t long before she is led to believe that the house she just settled into brings misfortune to the women who live there.

With Adelaide’s richly peppered superstitions and deep family roots at stake, Marielle must sort out the truth about Susannah Page and Holly Oak— and make peace with the sacrifices she has made for love.

My Thoughts

This was a different book than I was expecting. For some reason I was thinking it was going to be about a home that was haunted by a past relative. It is more a story of a home and family that is haunted by the past.

The book starts out with Marielle Bishop moving into the home of her new husband's deceased wife, Sara's family, where Adelaide, the matriarch of the family still resides. Sara was raised by Adelaide, who is her grandmother. Now doesn't that grab your attention? Right away, I thought Marielle was a special woman. I can't think of many women who would move in with the family of the former spouse's family.

Holly Oak, the antebellum house they live in is grand and has housed many generations. Some believe the home to be haunted by the ghost of Susannah Page who is thought by many to have been a Civil War traitor or spy. All is not what it seems.

This book is not a true ghost story but more the story of a family stuck in the past. There seems to be troubles with each generation of women who have resided in the home. All these women are very strong but yet vulnerable. Their stories are pretty involved but it all comes together in the end.

I love when a book includes letters written by the characters. One of my favorite parts of this book is Part 4 where we get to read letters written by Susannah Page. It gives a pretty important glimpse into the Civil War period and how many people did whatever they had to do to survive the war.

This is not a fast paced book. The story evolves slowly but I think that is because it is a very detailed story. The characters are well-developed and have complex issues which add to the story as a whole. It takes awhile to get all their facts out in the open. Even though it is not fast paced, it did keep my attention and I ended up staying up much too late to finish reading this book. I had to know how it all ended once I knew the story of each woman who lived in Holly Oak.

This is the second book I have read of Susan Meissner's. I also recommend her book, The Shape of Mercy. You can tell when reading one of Susan's historical gems that she does quite a bit of research before she tells the stories of her characters. I like how in both of these books, Susan mixes the present day with the past. I recommend both of these books.

I received this book from the publisher through Amazon Vine for my honest opinion. This is no way influenced my review.

This book takes place in Virginia so it counts toward my Southern Belle Challenge.

Mailbox Monday September 26

2011-09-26T10:02:00.000-05:00

It's Monday again! Time for another Mailbox Monday post. Mailbox Monday is the creation of Marcia from A Girl and Her Books. The meme is on tour and this month's host is Amused By Books.

I am a bit excited about my mailbox this week. I bought a couple of books that came this week in the mail. One is an old favorite and the other is probably the most talked about book of the season. I also received an audiobook unexpectedly, for review. It looks like a cute book.

The Puppy Diaries by Jill Abramson

Read by Beth MacDonald

Audio CD
Publisher: Macmillan Audio; Unabridged edition (October 11, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1427213186
ISBN-13: 978-1427213181

An instructive and marvelously entertaining chronicle of a puppy's first year, by the executive editor of The New York Times

One sparkling summer day, Jill Abramson brought home a nine-week-old golden retriever named Scout. Over the following year, as she and her husband raised their adorable new puppy, Abramson wrote a hugely popular column for The New York Times's website about the joys and challenges of training this rambunctious addition to their family. Dog-lovers from across the country inundated her with e-mails and letters, and the photos they sent in of their own dogs became the most visited photo album on the Times's site in 2009.

Now Abramson has gone far beyond the material in her column and written a detailed and deeply personal account of Scout's first year. Part memoir, part manual, part investigative report, The Puppy Diaries continues Abramson's intrepid reporting on all things canine. Along the way, she weighs in on such issues as breeders or shelters, adoption or rescue, raw diet or vegan, pack-leader gurus like Cesar Millan or positive-reinforcement advocates like Karen Pryor.

What should you expect when a new puppy enters your life? With utterly winning stories and a wealth of practical information, The Puppy Diaries provides an essential road map for navigating the first year of your dog's life.

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Paperback: 960 pages
Publisher: Scribner; 75 Anv edition (May 3, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1451635621
ISBN-13: 978-1451635621

I don't think I need to post the summary for this one. This is one of my very favorite reads and I had to have the 75th Anniversary Edition. Can you hear the theme song from the movie? I hear it every time I look at this book.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Doubleday; First Edition/First Printing edition (September 13, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0385534639
ISBN-13: 978-0385534635

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.

This book is beautiful! I passed up an advanced copy and later was kicking myself in the rear. Now that I have a gorgeous finished copy in my hot little hands, I am glad I bought the finished copy. It is beautifully done! From what I understand, the writing is beautiful also. This is a book I can't wait to get to!

So what goodies made their way into your home?

Next To Love by Ellen Feldmen

2011-09-25T12:46:00.000-05:00

Next to Love by Ellen Feldman

Next To Love is the story of three women and the role World War II plays on their lives. In the beginning of the story Babe, Grace and Millie all end up sending their men off to fight World War II. The three women have to deal with the separation of war and the constant fear of receiving bad news. Babe works in the Western Union office and gets to see the news that will change peoples lives on a daily basis. We see the women dealing with their lives back home while the men are off fighting the war. Grace is a young mother and wife, while Millie is expecting her first child as their husbands leave to fight the war. All three women have been friends since childhood and stand by each other during this difficult time.

The next part of the story deals with the women and how their lives change after men come home, and the war is over. I really don't want to say too much as I want this review to be spoiler free. Let's just say the war has long lasting effects on all involved. There are losses and demons to be dealt with.

As the storyline continues, we see changes in American history that also brings changes to the three friends and their families. Reading this book made me realize how much our country changed in the time period that the book takes place, 1941-1964. I knew the Women's Movement and the Civil Rights Movement changed life as it was but never gave much thought to the technology changes during this time period. I never thought much of the correlation between all these changes and the war but after reading this book, I see now how World War II played a role in our country's changes.

The author has written this book in a way I found most unusual. Some of the time periods and chapters overlapped. It sounds confusing but as long as I read the heading on the chapter with the date, the story flowed smoothly. The story was told through the viewpoint of each of the women. I found it interesting to read about a certain event through the eyes of two different women. The way the story was told was very effective.

I enjoyed the nostalgia of this book. It took me a very different time in our history and made me understand my mother a bit more, seeing she lived through this time period herself. I enjoyed taking this journey with Babe, Grace and Millie. I highly recommend this book.

I received this book from the publisher through the Amazon Vine Program which in no way influenced my review.

Escape

2011-09-23T19:54:00.000-05:00

Escape by Barbara Delinsky

In her luminous new novel, Barbara Delinsky explores every woman’s desire to abandon the endless obligations of work and marriage—and the idea that the most passionate romance can be found with the person you know best.

Emily Aulenbach is thirty, a lawyer married to a lawyer, working in Manhattan. An idealist, she had once dreamed of representing victims of corporate abuse, but she spends her days in a cubicle talking on the phone with victims of tainted bottled water—and she is on the bottler’s side.

And it isn’t only work. It’s her sister, her friends, even her husband, James, with whom she doesn’t connect the way she used to. She doesn’t connect to much in her life, period, with the exception of three things—her computer, her BlackBerry, and her watch.

Acting on impulse, Emily leaves work early one day, goes home, packs her bag, and takes off. Groping toward the future, uncharacteristically following her gut rather than her mind, she heads north toward a New Hampshire town tucked between mountains. She knows this town. During her college years, she spent a watershed summer here. Painful as it is to return, she knows that if she is to right her life, she has to start here.

My Thoughts

I am a big Barbara Delinsky fan. When I saw her new novel was out, I knew I had to read it.

This book starts off with a bang. Emily leads a very fast moving, stressful life. One day she has decided she has had enough and just ups and walks out of her job without so much as a word. She goes home, grabs a bag and off she goes, ending up in a town where she spent a very memorable summer. Yep, just ups and leaves her husband and job. There have been times when I would love to take off and just leave all my stress and worries behind so I felt a bit of envy for Emily. The responsible person in me thought Emily was nuts but let's face it, this could make for a great story.

Then the story began to drag for me. I kept waiting for something to happen. Then I found myself thinking, "am I supposed to be feeling like Emily when she realized how quiet life can be and she was contemplating what to do with her life?" Emily kept trying to decide who she was and what she should do next but in my eyes, she wasn't trying all that hard. I began to get very frustrated with her. Then to make things more fun, the guy who stole her heart that memorable summer, strolls into town. He was another character who seemed to have no responsibilities.

The last half of the book picked up again. There is a bit of mystery that comes into play and the story picks up momentum. Emily's husband also plays a bigger role in the story.

I would say this was an okay read. It wasn't my favorite Delinsky book. It kept me interested enough to finish it. If the whole book was as intense as the beginning, it would have made for a great story.

WWW Wednesday September 21 and Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-thon

2011-09-21T19:40:00.000-05:00

It's Wednesday and time for WWW Wednesday again. Where does the time go? This year is flying by so fast. In fact, I was shocked to see it is almost time for Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-thon. The read-a-thon is scheduled for October 22nd. Sign-up is open so go here and sign up. It is a blast! Save the date! I know I am! I never make the whole 24 hours but I still manage to have fun and get some reading done.

Escape by Barbara Delinsky

I am reading this for online book club. I haven't gotten too far yet so I am still undecided on it. It's much too early to tell.

What did you recently finish reading?

One Summer by David Baldacci

I read almost this whole book in one sitting. It was a great beach read, even though I was not on the beach. You can read my review here.

Stiltsville by Susanna Daniel

This was an okay read for me. I have seen a few really great reviews for it though so it may be a book you may like. Here is my review.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Southern Fried Women by Pamela King Cable

Here is the summary:

Every once in a while, an author comes along who's non-traditional, unconventional, and doesn't play by all the "rules." She writes Southern fiction - her way. We've got a live one on the Southern literature scene! She can ruffle the feathers of the most stoic, mess with the beliefs of the strictest fundamentalists, and reel you into the story like a mean catfish meant for the fryer. She has woven together the music, the language, the religions, and the traditions of the South. The result is SOUTHERN FRIED WOMEN, a collection of nine short stories of Southern women, and a few men, struggling for answers to unanswered questions, hoping for forgiveness, searching for righteousness, and questioning the existence of God in their lives. No Time For Laura, Vernell Paskins-Mobile Home Queen, Punkin Head, Cry, The Homestead, Old Time Religion, Pigment Of My Imagination, Beach Babies, Coal Dust On My Feet In the spirit of the rural South, Pamela King Cable may well be next on the Southern literature scene of unforgettables. These are the stories in this collection that examine - sometimes seriously and at other times with humor - themes of forgiveness, death, love, discovery, racial conflict, faith, tragedy, innocence, destiny, guilt, and overcoming insurmountable obstacles. Set in various locations and time periods in the South, Southern Fried Women is a compelling collection of stories from Pamela King Cable, a powerful new voice in fiction. Cassandra King, author of Making Waves, The Sunday Wife, The Same Sweet Girls, says . "If you don't find yourself devouring this delicious book of stories, by Pamela King Cable, then you are not a Southern Fried Woman (or Man). After laughing and crying your way through this collection, you will eagerly await new offerings from this talented writer!"

2011-09-19T08:08:00.001-05:00

It's Monday again! Time for another Mailbox Monday post. Mailbox Monday is the creation of Marcia from A Girl and Her Books. The meme is on tour and this month's host is Amused By Books.

It's a rainy Monday here this morning, which is a good thing. We have not had hardly any rain in the past month. My lawn will be happy again. It was looking brown and crusty.

My mailbox is very full this week. I went down to Illinois to pick up dog food and meds for the beasts and drove past Borders. There was a huge banner on the store that said "Last 3 Days!" I am sure you can see where this is going. I parked and the parking lot was pretty empty. There were a few cars but it was not hopping like usual.

I walked into see a big barren store with scatterings of bookshelves, some empty, some full. I thought this will be a quick run through, not expecting to find anything. It looked very picked over. 25 books later, I was checking out. In all fairness, 9 are for my mom. She reads every day and I found some christian fiction books for her. (I did not list those books). I didn't pay more than $2.70 a book! And after my order was totaled. The cashier took off another 15%. Then she told me to come back Friday before 3 for better deals. I resisted and did not go back. I kind of had mixed emotions. I got some really great deals but was very sad to see the store closing.

I did receive two books in my actual mailbox, one I won from Gaby at Starting Fresh. Thank you Gaby! I also ordered one that has been on my wishlist and I found on the B&N sale for $2.99. My momma raised a bargain shopper!

Take a gander and enjoy! I kind of panic when I see all these books, wondering when the heck am I gonna find time to read them all.

The Things We Share by Pam Jenoff This was my won from Gaby. Thank you again Gaby! I love Pam Jenoff! If you haven't read any of her books, give them a try.

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin This was on my wish list for a very long time so I was excited to see it on sale. I have seen many great reviews for this one.

I did not link the rest of these books.

My Reading Life by Pat Conroy
Daily Guideposts 2011
With Love and Laughter, John Ritter by Amy Yasbeck
Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal by Conor Grennan

Joy For Beginners by Erica Bauermeister
The Gap Year by Sarah Bird
To Be Sung Underwater by Tom McNeal
The Arrivals by Meg Mitchell Moore
The Moment by Douglas Kennedy

The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love by Beth Patillo
Charlotte Figg Takes Over Paradise by Joyce Magnin
Georgia's Kitchen by Jenny Nelson
Free to a Good Home by Eve Marie Mont
Reunion by Therese Fowler
How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly by Connie May Fowler

I just realized the last two authors have the same last name. Interesting. Have you read any of these books and if so did you like them?

So that is my mailbox. What lovely books made their way into your home?

Weekend Cooking - Big Book of Cupcakes

2011-09-18T14:23:00.000-05:00

Presented by Southern Living Big Book of Cupcakes: 150 Brilliantly Delicious Dreamcakes by Jan Moon

Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Oxmoor House (April 12, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0848734378
ISBN-13: 978-0848734374

Summary:

It's official: The cupcake craze has taken the world by storm. No longer are cupcakes solely for children-these handheld treats now must pass muster with taste-discriminating adults equally ravenous for the little frosted jewels. Big Book of Cupcakes sets a new standard with recipes for cupcakes that actually taste as great as they look. In addition to the traditional favorite flavors everyone craves, such as red velvet and carrot cake, this book offers fun, new flavor twists like Maple Bacon and Caramel Sea Salt Mocha, as well as easy decorating and serving ideas, from classic to creative. In this book, which is organized by season and the events readers want to celebrate with home-baked cupcakes-from New Years to Christmas, birthdays to "just-craving" days-author and cupcake-bakery owner Jan Moon shares her secrets and most requested recipes. Whether you're making the perfect batch of cupcakes for a child's birthday party or satisfying a very adult comfort-food craving, the nostalgic treats that fill this book are sure to delight and surprise. Plus, Jan's creative tips on how to serve and display cupcakes for parties are sure to be crowd-pleasers.

With more than 10 years of experience honing her craft in the Test Kitchens of Southern Living magazine, Jan Moon has embarked on a venture of her own and opened a bakery in Birmingham, Alabama. In addition to wedding cakes and custom made treats, Dreamcakes Bakery specializes in delectable cupcakes, and Jan's unique creations keep her loyal customers coming back for more.

About the Author
With over 10 years of experience in the Test Kitchens of Southern Living magazine, author Jan Moon has embarked on a venture of her own and opened a bakery in Birmingham, Alabama. In addition to wedding cakes and custom-made treats, Dreamcakes Bakery specializes in delectable cupcakes, and Jan's unique creations keep her loyal customers coming back for more. Southern Living, launched in 1966, is the heart of southern life. Nearly 16 million people turn to the magazine each month for definitive southern recipes, travel tips, gardening guides, and home decorating inspiration. Readers in every part of the country recognize it as the authority for all things southern. They use it, keep it, and live by it.

I won this cookbook from Karen at Bookin' With Bingo. I was very excited to have won it since we are all about the cupcake craze right now. We watch Cupcake Wars all the time here. My daughter and I recently bought some pastry bags and tips and have been experimenting with icing our cupcake creations. We were thrilled when we saw all the cupcake recipes and ideas in this cookbook.

The book begins with many helpful tips on every thing from ingredients to supplies. There is quite a bit of helpful information in the Cupcake 101 chapter. The chapters following are divided into the seasons of the year. Each season has plenty of lovely recipes and decorating ideas. There is a recipe for every level of the baker in this book. Each recipe includes a full page picture of each recipe. I love that in a cookbook. The recipes and instructions are very easy to follow. There is a resource page in the back of the book also along with metric equivalent charts. This is a great cookbook with a huge variety of different cupcake and icing recipes and ideas.

We decided to try the Maple Bacon Cupcakes this morning. I love the sweet/salty thing. I know, I am weird.

We first made the butter cupcakes. It was supposed to make 24 cupcakes but mine only made 18. We even measured the batter when we filled the regular sized cupcake tins. Not sure what the deal was, but no matter. 18 cupcakes are plenty for us. The cake recipe went together without a hitch other than not making 24 cupcakes.

The bacon was cooked and cooled, the cupcakes were cooling on the counter so we moved onto the icing. I am not sure if we didn't let the cooked part of the frosting cool enough(it felt pretty cool to the touch) or if maybe it was the weather. Our frosting never set up. It was more like a glaze. I probably should have added more powdered sugar but honestly after tasting the icing, it was so sweet already that I couldn't imagine adding even more than the 1 pound of brown sugar and the 4 cups of powdered sugar already in the recipe. My only complaint with this recipe is that it calls for 1(16-oz.)package of dark brown sugar and then it calls for 4 cups of powdered sugar. I would have preferred the recipe to have the exact measurements. I don't always have ingredients in the same size package that the recipe may call for. Especially this day and age when package sizes are changing. We went ahead and just spooned the icing on each cupcake and placed the bacon on top. It kind of was a disaster but we went with it anyway.

These sound really strange but were actually very good even though they didn't exactly turn out. It reminded us of pancake, syrup and bacon. Kind of perfect for a lazy Sunday.

Even though our first try at this cookbook didn't turn out so well, we will try another recipe another day. We are thinking maybe Chai Cupcakes or maybe Mint Chocolate Chip.

I am posting the Maple Bacon recipe below. If you need 24 cupcakes be sure to double the recipe. The cake was a very good cake. I will use the butter cake recipe again. The recipe appears on page 172 of Big Book of Cupcakes. That is the picture from the cookbook. Notice how yummy they look compared to ours.

Maple Bacon Cupcake

1 recipe Butter Cake
1recipe Maple Frosting
12 cooked Bacon Slices

1.Prepare Butter Cake as directed.
2.Frost each cupcake with Maple Frosting using metal tip no. 2D. Top each with bacon.

Butter Cake

1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose soft-wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
Paper Baking Cups
Vegetable cooking spray

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2.Beat butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.
Add eggs,1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition.
3.Combine flour, baking powder,and salt; add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla.
4.Place paper baking cups in 2(12-cup) muffin pan, and coat with cooking spra; spoon batter into cups, filling two-thirds full.
5.Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks, and cool completely. Makes 24 cupcakes.

(If you need 24 cupcakes you should double the recipe. We only were able to make 12 good sized ones and 6 wimpy ones)

Maple Frosting

1 cup butter
1(16-oz.) package of dark brown sugar
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 Tbsp. light corn syrup
4 cups of powdered sugar
2 tsp. maple flavoring

1.Melt butter in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar, bring to boil,stirring constantly. Stir in evaporated milk, baking soda,and corn syrup; bring to boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat,and let cool. Transfer caramel mixture to a large bowl.
2.Gradually add powdered sugar to caramel mixture; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Stir in maple flavoring. Beat at high speed or until creamy. Icing firms up quickly, so use immediately. Makes 3 cups.

Weekend Cooking is a weekly meme sponsored by Beth Fish Reads.
Weekend Cooking is a chance to share the food love. Be sure to check out all the yummy cooking posts on Beth's blog.

One Summer

2011-09-17T17:06:00.000-05:00

One Summer by David Baldacci

This is a great beach read to finish out the summer with.

Jack Armstrong is dying of a terminal disease. He is determined to live through Christmas so he can spend one last Christmas with his loving wife, Lizzie and his three children, Mikki, Cory, and Jackie. Jack writes a collection of letters for Lizzie, to be found after his death. Right before Christmas, Lizzie is killed in a car accident while picking up prescriptions for Jack. Lizzie's parents come to make arrangements which include putting Jack in a hospice facility and farming the boys, Cory and Jackie, out to their aunts while they take their teenage granddaughter, Mikki to Arizona. Jack is left alone to die in a strange place.

Then the unthinkable happens. Jack begins to show improvement and miraculously recovers. Some might think this is far fetched but go with it here. You'll be glad in the end you did. After a stint in rehab, he rebuilds his life and brings his children back home. They become a family once again but there are troubles to be had. Mikki is an angry teenager, Cory is having problems in school and little Jackie proves to be a handful.

When Jack inherits Lizzie's childhood home on South Carolina's beachfront, he packs up the family and moves there. Life is not much easier there. Jack revisits the letters he wrote to Lizzie to try and make sense of it all. Jack feels the need to reconnect with Lizzie any way he can.

The storyline was very fast moving and I had a hard time putting the book down. I found this book to be full the miracles of hope, love and family. There were many twists and turns in the story. Life can change on a dime and those changes can be quite unexpected.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The descriptions of the South Carolina were stunning. I could almost hear the crashing waves and feel the sand between my toes. The characters were well developed and I felt as though I knew them all, including the ones I was not fond of.

I have not read any books by David Baldacci and I understand this is not his usual type of book. I for one, am glad he broke away from his usual writings and gave us this little gem of a book.

Stiltsville

2011-09-15T06:43:00.000-05:00

Stiltsville by Susanna Daniel

Summary

When Frances accepts an invitation to visit Stiltsville, a community of houses built on pilings in Biscayne Bay, she has no idea that her simple "yes" to a new friend will determine the course of her life for the next two dozen years. Set in Miami from the late '60s to the 1990s, Stiltsville is a
sweeping journey seen through the eyes of one woman as she experiences love, motherhood, friendship, hurricanes, racial tension, and finally, a tragic death in slow motion.

In her debut novel, Daniel describes the experiences of three generations in one family whose spiritual heart is centered in a modest bungalow built a few feet above the water. When Frances meets and marries Dennis, she learns to live her life on the water, from bay to ocean to everglade to bayou. She navigates through it all — infidelity, empty-nest syndrome, and debilitating illness — sometimes with grace and humor, sometimes with anger and bitterness, but always with the same people by her side.

Daniel excels in capturing the flavor and decadence of Miami as it became a multicultural hotbed. In Stiltsville, she has woven factual events
into Frances's life from a tumultuous period that witnessed racial beatings, the cocaine wars, and Hurricane Andrew. The result is a riveting novel filled with pathos.

My Thoughts

This was an okay read for me. The book begins in 1969 when Frances finds herself in Stiltsville, where she meets Dennis and falls in love with him. I was drawn to their love story immediately. The story of their lives together goes on to them marrying and having a child. They go through several ordeals as a couple and parents. The house in Stiltsville starts out almost being a character in itself. There were times I was more concerned about the house on stilts than I was about Frances and what she was going through. By the end of the book, Stiltsville no longer even plays a roll in the story. The end of the book picked up again for me and I was satisfied with the way it ended although it was an ending that required kleenex. I think I was supposed to come to the conclusion that marriage is like a house on stilts? I would give this book 3 stars. The beginning and the ending drew me in but the middle just lacked something for me. Maybe it just wasn't the book for me. Maybe it was because I didn't connect with Frances and at times I really didn't even care for her as a person. Others have given this book glowing reviews, so be sure to check them out before making your decision to read this book. Maybe it just wasn't my cup of tea. It was a decent read but not an earth shattering read.

I read this book from the public library for the Southern Belle Challenge

WWW Wednesdays September 14

2011-09-14T09:58:00.000-05:00

It's Wednesday again! Today is our 26th wedding anniversary. We don't have any big plans. I am making a nice dinner. I also bought my hubby a new Farmer's Almanac. I have bought him one pretty much every year since we have been married. He enjoys following it during the year. He loves pointing out to us when it is right on with it's predictions. It does make for interesting reading. Pick one up sometime if you have never read one. They have interesting articles in them. The daughter has the day off of school so I am spending the day being a wife and mother and appreciating it. That is celebration enough for me. On to WWW Wednesday!

WWW Wednesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

To play along, just answer the following three questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

Excuse the different book cover sizes. I had troubles today. The control freak in me is really having a hard time seeing the different cover sizes. I am not sure why the one cover would not enlarge.

What are you currently reading?

Stiltsville by Susanna Daniel

I started out really enjoying this but it seems to be slowing down for me. We'll see what I think of it when I get to the end. I am just having a hard time seeing where the story is going. Have you read this one?

What did you recently finish reading?

The Butterfly's Daughter by Mary Alice Monroe

I loved this book! This was my first Mary Alice Monroe book but will not be my last. Click on the title for my review. This book was full of great female characters.

What do you think you’ll read next?

One Summer by David Baldacci

I am very curious about this. I hear this is not his usual type of book.

Mailbox Monday September 12

2011-09-12T06:28:00.000-05:00

It's Monday again! Time for another Mailbox Monday post. Mailbox Monday is the creation of Marcia from A Girl and Her Books. The meme is on tour and this month's host is Amused By Books.

That mailbox reflects how I feel today! I am glad that summer is on it's way out, for the most part. It has been a hot summer here. We don't have air conditioning. We have just never really needed it here before. Heat waves were short and sweet. Not this year. It has been a miserable one. Today should be our last hot day for some time. I am looking forward to the cooler temps, my favorite sweats coming out of hiding and drinking hot tea. I bought some loose herbal teas at our harbor market this summer and I am anxious to try them out with a good book in hand. I am sure at some point I will miss summer. Probably when I am shoveling snow. Although there were several times this summer, I wished for a snow bank to jump into. This winter, I'll be hoping for some warm weather to melt that snow bank. It's vicious circle.

I received one book this past week for review. It looks very interesting.

The Train of Small Mercies by David Rowell

Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Putnam Adult (October 13, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 039915728X
ISBN-13: 978-0399157288

In haunting and crystalline prose, The Train of Small Mercies follows six characters' intrepid search for hope among the debris of an American tragedy.

In New York, a young black porter struggles through his first day on the job-a staggering assignment aboard Robert F. Kennedy's funeral train. In Pennsylvania, a woman creates a tangle of lies to sneak away from her disapproving husband and pay her respects to the slain senator, dragging her child with her. In Maryland, a wounded young soldier awaits a newspaper interview that his parents hope will restore his damaged self-esteem. And in Washington, an Irish nanny in town to interview with the Kennedy family must reconcile the lost opportunity and the chance to start her life anew.

In this stunning debut, David Rowell depicts disparate lives united by an extraordinary commemoration, irrevocably changed as Kennedy's funeral train makes its solemn journey from New York to Washington.

I received this book from Putnam Books

What wonderful books made their way into your home?

9/11

2011-09-11T09:32:00.001-05:00

Today marks a day which changed all of our lives. I find it hard to believe it has been 10 years. I remember that day so vividly. I walked my two youngest kids to the bus stop and came home to Good Morning America on the tv. I always left the tv on when I walked the kids to the bus. I saw the tower on fire and then heard them say it was believed to be plane had crashed into it. It had just happened and there was much confusion. I figured it had to be a small plane and an accident. I phoned my mother as I did every morning at that time while watching the next plane crash into the other tower. That was the moment I knew our lives had changed. I knew it was not an accident. My eyes were glued to the tv all day. I struggled with the decision of leaving my kids at school or bringing them home. I chose to leave them at school so they could have a few more hours of innocence. Being in grade school, I knew my youngest kids were not told much of what transpired. My oldest son was 14 and in high school. His school was a fairly new charter school. They made an announcement. He really didn't understand the magnitude of what had happened until he was home.

That night was surreal. I couldn't help thinking while fixing dinner that night, of the families who would not be together due to this act of terrorism. My heart ached for them. The night was very quiet. We have a busy road that runs behind us and there was not a car on it. The skies were quiet as all airplanes were grounded. In the middle of the night I heard fighter jets flying overhead. Apparently, they were being moved to other locations. I remember feeling very uneasy hearing those jets.

Life changed for all of us that day. Some more than others. Some would never hold their loved ones again. To those people, our hearts go out to you. You do not mourn alone. We mourn with you. We will never forget!

I am editing this post to add this book. I read this long before I knew what a book blog was. I read this when it first showed up in my local library. It is a wonderful, heartwarming side to that fateful day. I highly recommend it.

The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede

"For the better part of a week, nearly every man, woman, and child in Gander and the surrounding smaller towns stopped what they were doing so they could help. They placed their lives on hold for a group of strangers and asked for nothing in return. They affirmed the basic goodness of man at a time when it was easy to doubt such humanity still existed."

When thirty-eight jetliners bound for the United States were forced to land in Gander, Newfoundland, on September 11, 2001, due to the closing of United States airspace, the citizens of this small community were called upon to come to the aid of more than six thousand displaced travelers.

Roxanne and Clarke Loper were excited to be on their way home from a lengthy and exhausting trip to Kazakhstan, where they had adopted a daughter, when their plane suddenly changed course and they found themselves in Newfoundland. Hannah and Dennis O'Rourke, who had been on vacation in Ireland, were forced to receive updates by telephone on the search for their son Kevin, who was among the firefighters missing at the World Trade Center. George Vitale, a New York state trooper and head of the governor's security detail in New York City who was returning from a trip to Dublin, struggled to locate his sister Patty, who worked in the Twin Towers. A family of Russian immigrants, on their way to the Seattle area to begin a new life, dealt with the uncertainty of conditions in their future home.

The people of Gander were asked to aid and care for these distraught travelers, as well as for thousands more, and their response was truly extraordinary. Oz Fudge, the town constable, searched all over Gander for a flight-crew member so that he could give her a hug as a favor to her sister, a fellow law enforcement officer who managed to reach him by phone. Eithne Smith, an elementary-school teacher, helped the passengers staying at her school put together letters to family members all over the world, which she then faxed. Bonnie Harris, Vi Tucker, and Linda Humby, members of a local animal protection agency, crawled into the jets' cargo holds to feed and care for all of the animals on the flights. Hundreds of people put their names on a list to take passengers into their homes and give them a chance to get cleaned up and relax.

The Day the World Came to Town is a positively heartwarming account of the citizens of Gander and its surrounding communities and the unexpected guests who were welcomed with exemplary kindness.

The Butterfly's Daughter

2011-09-10T09:48:00.000-05:00

The Butterfly's Daughter by Mary Alice Monroe

Summary

Four very different women embark on a transformational journey that follows the migrating monarchs across the United States to Mexico. The story begins when Luz Avila's grandmother, the local butterfly lady, purchases an old, orange VW bug for a road trip home to Mexico. When she unexpectedly dies, Luz is inspired to take her grandmother's ashes home. In the manner of the Aztec myth of the goddess who brings light to the world, Luz attracts a collection of lost women, each seeking change in their lives. The Mexican people believe the monarchs are the spirits of the recently departed and Luz taps into ancient rituals and myths as she follows the spectacular, glittering river of orange monarchs in the sky to home.

My Thoughts

I started reading this book just as the monarch butterflies were showing up in my yard. It was perfect timing to read this book. Each chapter begins with a tidbit about the monarch butterflies life and journey to their winter home in Mexico. I found it very interesting as I watched the butterflies make a quick stop in my yard on what I imagine is part of that journey.

At the same time Luz, the main character, is on a journey which coincides with the monarch butterflies journey. She is taking her grandmother's ashes to home in Mexico, which is where the butterflies are also heading. Luz meets some interesting characters along the way. Each plays a roll in Luz's growth and journey along the way as do the butterflies.

I enjoyed this book and found the journey of the butterflies and Luz beautifully written. This was my first Mary Alice Monroe novel but won't be my last. She captured my attention with her wonderful details and great characters.

As an added note, the book is also a bargain book on Amazon right now.

I received this book from Gallery Books through Goodreads First Reads Giveaway

Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer - Audiobook Review

2011-09-09T11:49:00.000-05:00

Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer

Summary

From the internationally bestselling author of Kane and Abel and A Prisoner of Birth comes Only Time Will Tell, the first in an ambitious new series that tells the story of one family across generations, across oceans, from heartbreak to triumph.

The epic tale of Harry Clifton’s life begins in 1920, with the words “I was told that my father was killed in the war.” A dock worker in Bristol, Harry never knew his father, but he learns about life on the docks from his uncle, who expects Harry to join him at the shipyard once he’s left school. But then an unexpected gift wins him a scholarship to an exclusive boys’ school, and his life will never be the same again.

As he enters into adulthood, Harry finally learns how his father really died, but the awful truth only leads him to question, was he even his father? Is he the son of Arthur Clifton, a stevedore who spent his whole life on the docks, or the firstborn son of a scion of West Country society, whose family owns a shipping line?

This introductory novel in Archer’s ambitious series The Clifton Chronicles includes a cast of colorful characters and takes us from the ravages of the Great War to the outbreak of the Second World War, when Harry must decide whether to take up a place at Oxford or join the navy and go to war with Hitler’s Germany. From the docks of working-class England to the bustling streets of 1940 New York City, Only Time Will Tell takes readers on a journey through to future volumes, which will bring to life one hundred years of recent history to reveal a family story that neither the reader nor Harry Clifton himself could ever have imagined.

My Thoughts

I was reading this book and was given the opportunity to review the audiobook also. I have been trying to get into audiobooks but have been struggling with it. I was enjoying reading this book so I hoped that the audio version would keep my attention as well. It really worked out well since this was a book that I found hard to put down. I could listen to the audiobook as I did housework or drove in my car. It worked out well. The book is read by Roger Allam and Emelia Fox who both did a wonderful job. The audiobook also includes a bonus interview with Jeffrey Archer, which I found very interesting.

I really loved this book and am looking forward to the rest of the series. I would recommend both the print version and audio version. Below is my review of the print version in case you missed it last month.

Book Review

I have never read a book written by Jeffrey Archer before. After reading this book I will be looking out for more of his books. What an amazing storyteller!

Only Time Will Tell tells the story of two families, the Barringtons, a well to do family and the Cliftons, a struggling family. The Barringtons are shipping magnates while the Cliftons are hard working people. Young Harry Clifton's mother, Maisie is a waitress while his uncle is a dock worker as was his father. Young Harry believes his father died in the war. Maisie will do what she needs to do to get her son the type of education he needs to break the cycle. Harry has a phenomenal voice which just may be his ticket to a good school. When Harry goes off to school he meets Giles Barrington and the two become fast friends. The two boys become connected without realizing they may have always been connected. As Harry learns the truth about his father, the world is getting closer to being at war and decisions are made which will affect them all.

Each chapter is told from the viewpoint of another character. I found this extremely interesting even though some of the same storyline was retold. It gave me a different look at the situation as it happened. Seeing the same situation through the eyes of another can be quite eye-opening.

The characters are well developed. I felt I knew each character very well. The author does a fantastic job creating each character's personality. Each character seems to be harboring some sort of secret by the time this book ends. Some of the characters are not very likeable but make for great reading. Every saga needs a good villain or two. Other characters such as Maisie and Harry will capture your heart. You can't help but feel for Harry and Maisie. I kept hoping life would get easier for them.

The book ends with a huge cliffhanger that has me dying to get my hands on the next installment of this series. I find myself wondering what will happen to each of the characters in the book. This book ends with many unanswered questions but I knew going into this book it was a series spanning many years and many generations. I adore a good family saga and this one does not disappoint! I loved all the unexpected twists. I can't wait to see where Mr. Archer plans on taking this storyline next! He has made me a big fan! I just hope we don't have to wait too long for the next book! I know I'll be reading all installments of The Clifton Chronicles. You don't want to miss this series!

I was given both the print and audiobook in return for my honest opinion. Thank you to Macmillan Audio and St Martin's Press.

WWW Wednesday September 7

2011-09-07T15:57:00.001-05:00

This week is just flying by! I haven't posted WWW Wednesday for awhile. It feels good to get back into the swing of things.

WWW Wednesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

To play along, just answer the following three questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

The Butterfly's Daughter by Mary Alice Monroe

I am loving this book! Each chapter begins with a fact on monarch butterflies. It's really very interesting, especially since I have seen a few monarchs in my yard this past week. It is also on sale at Amazon right now!

What did you recently finish reading?

The Art of Forgetting by Camille Noe Pagan

This book was a pleasant surprise for me. You can read my review here.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Stiltsville by Susanna Daniel

I really need to get this read and back to the library. It also is on sale right now at Amazon.

Mailbox Monday September 5

2011-09-05T09:37:00.000-05:00

It's Monday again! Time for another Mailbox Monday post. Mailbox Monday is the creation of Marcia from A Girl and Her Books. The meme is on tour and this month's host is Amused By Books.

I have been MIA lately in the blogging world. School started Thursday here. I always feel the need to organize and purge things when school starts. I cleaned out a closet and painted it. In the middle of a heat wave! Not smart! Hopefully things will get back to normal and I'll get some posting and blog hopping done. I'm hoping to settle into a routine this week. The heat is gone and it is 52 this morning! Everyone is complaining but not me! I think it feels good! I have had enough of heat this summer. I am ready to curl up with some hot tea and a good book!

This weeks mailbox is obnoxious. I hit Borders a week or so ago and haven't posted my finds there. The day I went the deals were not as great as they are now. Our store is in it's final 10 days now. It is so sad in the store. The employees are sad and who can blame them. There were quite a few employees there that I could always go to for suggestions or assistance. I will miss going there.

First up are my review books.

Ingenue by Jillian Larkin

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

These both came courtesy of the publishers(scholastic Press and Delacorte Press)through Amazon Vine. I have seen so many great reviews for both of these YA series so I decided to give both series a try.

The Winters in Bloom by Lisa Tucker

I received this book courtesy of Atria's Galley Alley.

The following books are my Borders treasures.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Easy Slow Cooker Recipes by cookbook resources
Deep Down True by Juliette Fay
Life Sentences by Laura Lippman
The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Vixen by Jillian Larkin
The Christmas Cookie Club by Ann Pearlman

This book I pre-ordered and it came this week. I found Angie's blog awhile back. She is a writer and speaker who inspires me to be a better person. I adored her first book, I Will Carry You so I knew I had to read her new book as well.

What Women Fear: Walking in Faith that Transforms by Angie Smith

Whew! That is what came into my home recently. What wonderful books made their way into your home?

Mailbox Monday August 29

2011-08-29T10:21:00.000-05:00

It's Monday again! Time for another Mailbox Monday post. Mailbox Monday is the creation of Marcia from A Girl and Her Books. The meme is on tour and this month's host is Staci at Life in the Thumb. Visit Staci's blog and check it out.

We are in the home stretch of summer vacation here. School starts the end of this week. This is the last year that I will have a child in school. Where does the time go. It just seems like yesterday I was putting three school-aged kids on school buses. We are trying to enjoy the last few days of summer and get organized again. I seem to let things get terribly unorganized during the summer months. It's time to get back to having a normal schedule. I did have one book in my mailbox last week that was a win from Karen at Bookin' With Bingo. Thank you so much Karen! The book is fabulous! I am looking forward to trying out the recipes in it. We are very into the cupcake craze that seems to be sweeping the country. How can you not smile when you see or eat a cupcake?

Presented by Southern Living Big Book of Cupcakes: 150 Brilliantly Delicious Dreamcakes

Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Oxmoor House (April 12, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0848734378
ISBN-13: 978-0848734374

It's official: The cupcake craze has taken the world by storm. No longer are cupcakes solely for children-these handheld treats nowmust pass musterwith taste-discriminatingadults equally ravenous for the little frosted jewels. Big Book of Cupcakes sets a new standard with recipes for cupcakes that actually taste as great as they look. In addition to the traditional favorite flavors everyone craves, such as red velvet and carrot cake, this book offers fun, new flavor twists like Maple Bacon and Caramel Sea Salt Mocha, as well as easy decorating and serving ideas, from classic to creative. In this book, which is organized by season and the events readers want to celebrate with home-baked cupcakes-from New Years to Christmas, birthdays to "just-craving" days-author and cupcake-bakery owner Jan Moon shares her secrets and most requested recipes. Whether you're making the perfect batch of cupcakes for a child's birthday party or satisfying a very adult comfort-food craving, the nostalgic treats that fill this book are sure to delight and surprise. Plus, Jan's creative tips on how to serve and display cupcakes for parties are sure to be crowd-pleasers.

With more than 10 years of experience honing her craft in the Test Kitchens of Southern Living magazine, Jan Moon has embarked on a venture of her own and opened a bakery in Birmingham, Alabama. In addition to wedding cakes and custommade treats, Dreamcakes Bakery specializes in delectable cupcakes, and Jan's unique creations keep her loyal customers coming back for more.

Thank you so much Karen!

I also picked this up at Target after reading about Plannergate on Book, Line and Sinker. Natalie posted the perfect planner! When I saw that some of the Blue Sky items were at Target, I ran right over to see what I could find to help me with my organization. Of course the Suzy Jack line was well picked over at our Target but I did find this set by Blue Sky which I think will fit my needs beautifully. Thank you to Natalie for posting her search for the perfect planner. The Blue Sky line is great and I would have probably missed it if it weren't for Natalie's post. For many years, I used a refillable planner that I dearly loved but sadly the refills were discontinued and I was never able to find one that I truly loved. I am really excited to start using this new set. It is not refillable but it costs much less than my refillable one. The calender will be used at my desk and the planner is small enough to be used at the desk and go with me in my bag. I'm looking forward to being organized once again!

So what fun books made their way into your home?

The Art Of Forgetting

2011-08-27T17:04:00.000-05:00

The Art Of Forgetting by Camille Noe Pagan

Summary

A moving and insightful debut novel of great friendship interrupted. Can the relationship survive when the memories are gone?

Marissa Rogers never wanted to be an alpha; beta suited her just fine. Taking charge without taking credit had always paid off: vaulting her to senior editor at a glossy magazine; keeping the peace with her critical, weight-obsessed mother; and enjoying the benefits of being best friends with gorgeous, charismatic, absolutely alpha Julia Ferrar.

And then Julia gets hit by a cab. She survives with minor obvious injuries, but brain damage steals her memory and alters her personality, possibly forever. Suddenly, Marissa is thrown into the role of alpha friend. As Julia struggles to regain her memory- dredging up issues Marissa would rather forget, including the fact that Julia asked her to abandon the love of her life ten years ago- Marissa's own equilibrium is shaken.

With the help of a dozen girls, she reluctantly agrees to coach in an after-school running program. There, Marissa uncovers her inner confidence and finds the courage to reexamine her past and take control of her future.

The Art of Forgetting is a story about the power of friendship, the memories and myths that hold us back, and the delicate balance between forgiving and forgetting.

My Thoughts

How far would you go for your best friend? In The Art Of Forgetting Julia and Marissa are best friends and have been since high school. Julia has always been the one who seems to be in control of the friendship while Marissa is the loyal friend who follows behind. When Julia is involved in an accident, she sustains a brain injury which changes her. Will their friendship be able to survive the trauma that changes the balance of their relationship?

I must admit that I thought this book would be more about Julia and her recovery and the role her injury would play in the friendship between Julia and Marissa. The story was more about Marissa, who seems to have always played second fiddle to Julia. With Julia's injury, Marissa has to be the friend who is alpha. Marissa is not so sure she likes the new role as she has always been the follower.

I admired Marissa in this book for not only stepping up to the plate when she needed to but for also forgiving and knowing when it is time to move on and when to stay. I was not a huge fan of Julia before or after her brain injury. To tell you the truth, she kind of got on my nerves. I thought she was a bit self centered, both before and after the accident.

This is a great book about friends, relationships, family, forgiveness and moving forward. I highly recommend it. It would also make a good book for group discussion.

This is a debut book for Camille Noe Pagan and it does not disappoint. The story is as graceful and beautiful as it's cover!

I read this book for The Just For Fun Challenge. The book was borrowed from my local library.

Southern Belle Challenge

2011-08-23T13:05:00.000-05:00

I know I need to join another challenge like I need a hole in my head but I couldn't resist this one! I adore Southern fiction. Some of my very favorite reads are set in the South, so I am looking forward to participating in this challenge. Be sure to check out the sign up post. It is being posted by Brenda Gail at Curling Up With A Good Book.

Mailbox Monday August 22

2011-08-22T12:20:00.001-05:00

It's Monday again! Time for another Mailbox Monday post. Mailbox Monday is the creation of Marcia from A Girl and Her Books. The meme is on tour and this month's host is Staci at Life in the Thumb. Visit Staci's blog and check it out.

Good gosh it has taken me forever to load this weeks mailbox picture. It seems the new Firefox browser is not compatible with what I am using to download pictures from my computer. Oh the fun of it all.

I got a lovely prize in the mail this week. Earlier in the summer I entered the Girls Gone Audio sweepstakes on the Macmillan Audio website. I was shocked to see I was a winner! And what a lovely prize it is! I am finally getting the hang of the audiobook listening. The right narrator sure helps. With school starting next week I will be spending more time in the van so the audiobooks will be put to good use. The tote will be handy for runs to the library. I love totes! I have quite a few but my bookish ones are my favorites!

(Excuse my horrible picture. It took several tries to even get this one. The plastic covering on the audiobooks and the lighting caused quite the glare. I finally had to have my daughter take the picture. Hers was much better than mine.)

Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews

Second Grave From The Left by Darynda Jones

Always Something There to Remind Me by Beth Harbison

American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin

And of course the lovely red tote bag!

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio!

What lovelies made their way into your home?

WINNERS

2011-08-20T07:33:00.000-05:00

My first giveaway is officially over! Winners were drawn using Random Org and have been notified. Thank you all for making my first giveaway a success! I wish I could have sent you each a copy of the book!

Winners

4 Jenny Q
9 Stacybuckeye
2 Vicki

Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer

2011-08-18T21:07:00.000-05:00

Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer

MY THOUGHTS

I have never read a book written by Jeffrey Archer before. After reading this book I will be looking out for more of his books. What an amazing storyteller!

Only Time Will Tell tells the story of two families, the Barringtons, a well to do family and the Cliftons, a struggling family. The Barringtons are shipping magnates while the Cliftons are hard working people. Young Harry Clifton's mother, Maisie is a waitress while his uncle is a dock worker as was his father. Young Harry believes his father died in the war. Maisie will do what she needs to do to get her son the type of education he needs to break the cycle. Harry has a phenomenal voice which just may be his ticket to a good school. When Harry goes off to school he meets Giles Barrington and the two become fast friends. The two boys become connected without realizing they may have always been connected. As Harry learns the truth about his father, the world is getting closer to being at war and decisions are made which will affect them all.

Each chapter is told from the viewpoint of another character. I found this extremely interesting even though some of the same storyline was retold. It gave me a different look at the situation as it happened. Seeing the same situation through the eyes of another can be quite eye-opening.

The characters are well developed. I felt I knew each character very well. The author does a fantastic job creating each character's personality. Each character seems to be harboring some sort of secret by the time this book ends. Some of the characters are not very likeable but make for great reading. Every saga needs a good villain or two. Other characters such as Maisie and Harry will capture your heart. You can't help but feel for Harry and Maisie. I kept hoping life would get easier for them.

The book ends with a huge cliffhanger that has me dying to get my hands on the next installment of this series. I find myself wondering what will happen to each of the characters in the book. This book ends with many unanswered questions but I knew going into this book it was a series spanning many years and many generations. I adore a good family saga and this one does not disappoint! I loved all the unexpected twists. I can't wait to see where Mr. Archer plans on taking this storyline next! He has made me a big fan! I just hope we don't have to wait too long for the next book! I know I'll be reading all installments of The Clifton Chronicles. You don't want to miss this series!

I received this book for my honest review courtesy of St. Martins Press.

If you think you would like to read this book be sure to enter my giveaway! Three copies are being given away. Click here to enter. Giveaway ends tomorrow!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

From the internationally bestselling author of Kane and Abel and A Prisoner of Birth comes Only Time Will Tell, the first in an ambitious new series that tells the story of one family across generations, across oceans, from heartbreak to triumph.

The epic tale of Harry Clifton’s life begins in 1920, with the words “I was told that my father was killed in the war.” A dock worker in Bristol, Harry never knew his father, but he learns about life on the docks from his uncle, who expects Harry to join him at the shipyard once he’s left school. But then an unexpected gift wins him a scholarship to an exclusive boys’ school, and his life will never be the same again.

As he enters into adulthood, Harry finally learns how his father really died, but the awful truth only leads him to question, was he even his father? Is he the son of Arthur Clifton, a stevedore who spent his whole life on the docks, or the firstborn son of a scion of West Country society, whose family owns a shipping line?

This introductory novel in Archer’s ambitious series The Clifton Chronicles includes a cast of colorful characters and takes us from the ravages of the Great War to the outbreak of the Second World War, when Harry must decide whether to take up a place at Oxford or join the navy and go to war with Hitler’s Germany. From the docks of working-class England to the bustling streets of 1940 New York City, Only Time Will Tell takes readers on a journey through to future volumes, which will bring to life one hundred years of recent history to reveal a family story that neither the reader nor Harry Clifton himself could ever have imagined.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jeffrey Archer was educated at Oxford University. He has served five years in Britain’s House of Commons and fourteen years in the House of Lords. All of his novels and short story collections--including And Thereby Hangs a Tale, Kane and Abel, Paths of Glory and False Impression--have been international bestselling books. Archer is married with two sons and lives in London and Cambridge.

Mailbox Monday August 15

2011-08-15T08:52:00.000-05:00

It's Monday again! Time for another Mailbox Monday post. Mailbox Monday is the creation of Marcia from A Girl and Her Books. The meme is on tour and this month's host is Staci at Life in the Thumb. Visit Staci's blog and check it out.

Not much reading done here again last week. This week will be different! I received some books that I purchased and I also received two audiobooks, one is the book I am currently reading which is wonderful! I will be listening today while I catch up on housework. I have always had problems listening to audiobooks but this one has really captured my attention. I guess I just needed a good narrator!

Be sure to check out my giveaway here. It ends Friday August 19!

First up are the two audiobooks I received, one was a surprise.

Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer
I received this courtesy of Macmillan Audio

Train Dreams by Denis Johnson
I received this as a surprise courtesy of Macmillan Audio

These books I purchased.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

I owned this and have read it but I loaned my copy out years ago and it is still being passed around. I love this book and can't wait to see the movie! If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it!

What Can I Bring Cookbook? by Anne Byrn

I recently read about this cookbook while visiting Sheila's blog, Book Journey. If you have never visited Sheila's blog, go visit her! You'll love her and her blog!

Ellis Island by Kate Kerrigan

I had checked this out from our library and did not get the chance to finish it. This is a book I know my mom would love to read so I went ahead and purchased it so I could share it with her.

I hope to catch up with everyone's blogs today. I am so far behind in just about everything in my life. I am determined to catch up on everything this week! Have a great reading week!

Teaser Tuesday August 9 - Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer

2011-08-09T15:24:00.000-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser comes from Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer, page 153 on my arc copy. This is one of those books that grabs you from the very first line.

Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer

(page 153)
I wouldn't even have remembered her name, if she hadn't later accused me of killing her husband.
It all began when my father insisted I accompany the workers on their annual outing to Weston-super-Mare. "Good for their morale to see the chairman's son taking an interest," he said.

Are you interested? Would you like to win a copy of Only Time Will Tell? I am giving away 3 copies and you can enter by clicking here

Falling To Pieces by Vannetta Chapman

2011-08-09T11:29:00.000-05:00

Falling To Pieces (A Shipshewana Amish Mystery) by Vannetta Chapman

Paperback: 366 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (September 27, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310330432
ISBN-13: 978-0310330431

Summary
In this first book of a three-book series, author Vannetta Chapman brings a fresh twist to the popular Amish fiction genre. She blends the familiar components consumers love in Amish books—faith, community, simplicity, family—with an innovative who-done-it plot that keeps readers guessing right up to the last stitch in the quilt.

When two women—one Amish, one English—each with different motives, join forces to organize a successful on-line quilt auction, neither expects nor wants a friendship. As different as night and day, Deborah and Callie are uneasy partners who simply want to make the best of a temporary situation. But a murder, a surprising prime suspect, a stubborn detective, and the town's reaction throw the two women together, and they form an unlikely alliance to solve a mystery and catch a killer.

Set in the well-known Amish community of Shipshewana, Falling to Pieces will attract both devoted fans of the rapidly-growing Amish fiction genre, as well as those who are captivated by the Amish way of life.

About the Author
Vannetta Chapman holds a BA and MA degree in English and has published over one hundred articles in Christian family magazines, receiving over two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She published an Amish novel with Abingdon Press called A Simple Amish Christmas.

My Thoughts

Callie Harper is still getting over the loss of her husband when her Aunt Daisy dies. Daisy owned a quilt store in Shipshewana, an Amish community. Callie comes to wrap up her aunt's affairs only to find herself running her aunt's quilt store until it can be sold. She meets Deborah Yoder, an Amish woman who wants Callie to help sell her quilts in the store to help out two of Deborah's friends who have fallen on hard times. Callie accepts the challenge of selling the quilts while she waits for the store to sell. Some of Callie's decisions concerning the sale of the quilts leads to controversy in the community which attracts the local newspaper editor, who doesn't exactly get the facts straight. When he is murdered, Callie becomes a prime suspect. The journey to solving the murder is quite suspenseful that will keep you guessing.

This is a fun, cozy mystery. Deborah and her friends, Melinda and Esther are the kind of friends a new gal in town like Callie needs. There is even Max, Aunt Daisy's dog who is quite entertaining. Of course there are a few hunky characters who also make the story interesting. I have been to Shipshewana and could easily imagine the quilt shop and the community. I enjoyed this cozy. It is a quick read for a lazy summer day. If you enjoy cozy mysteries or Amish fiction, pick this up. You will enjoy the time you spend with Callie and her friends. This is published by Zondervan but I didn't find it to be preachy at all.

I received this ARC E-book courtesy of Zondervan and Netgalley. This in no way influenced my review.

Be sure to check out my very first giveaway of Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer