Three Great Books!

Maid to Match - Deeanne Gist

Deeanne Gist is another Christian writer.  This is the second book of hers that I have read. Deep in the Heart of Trouble was the first.  It was a book club book.  She writes books that have strong willed female leads, and they are usually pushing the limits in society.  Maid to Match is about a maid in a grand estate.  Anyone who has watched Downton Abby will be able to picture her life.  Her greatest dream was to become a ladies maid, and it looks like that may happen.  However a man enters the scene, which does not follow the predetermined plan!  It was a fabulous book, and another clean one as well, which I am appreciating more and more.

Mrs. Mike - Benedict and Nancy Freedman

This is a fabulous book. It was recommended by a friend. It was originally published in 1947.  It takes place in Canada in the late 1800's.  Katherine (Mrs. Mike) goes to the Canadian territory to live with her uncle to make breathing with her pleurisy easier.  She is sixteen, and the only white woman there. She meets Mike, a Mountie, and hates him at first.  However, that changes and they marry.  The story follows them through Canada and its vast wilderness.  It is a beautiful story of how love grows and strengthens, of leaving your world behind and cleaving to your spouse, and of getting through hardships.

 Love on the Line - Deeanne Gist

The third book by Deeanne Gist!  This one again is a strong willed woman who is a telephone operator, which was not common at the time.  She lives in a small town.  Luke is an undercover Texas Ranger, trying to capture and infamous train robber.  Their relationship is fun to watch blossom, and makes for a great read as well!

Another Catch Up!

Several books read since I last posted.  Again some Lori Copeland books.  She writes good clean romances.  One more from my friend Annette Anthony. Two mysteries, that where just o.k.. But my favorite was a Jodi Picoult book that she wrote with her teenage daughter!

Hope- Lori Copeland

The Island of Heavenly Daze
Lori Copeland

Beneath the Aspens
Annette Anthony

The Perfect Poison
Amanda Quick

Between the Lines
Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite writers, but she usually rights about hard situations, and uses lots of language I would prefer not to read.  However this book she wrote as a youth fiction with her daughter, and it is a fun book.   Imagine the characters in the books come to life inside the book when you close it.  Then imagine if somehow you are able to talk with one!  It's fun, it's a romance, and it deals a little with teen drama.  If you have girls who want a happily ever after, and the prince from their favorite book, this is a fun read!

Arranged - Christine McKenzie

This book was one I was excited to read.  It is about a modern day girl who stumbles on a company that does arranged marriages. She has failed so far at romance, so she decides to take a chance.  The set up and the idea were intriguing to me, but the book was not good.  Horrible language, drinking, sex.  No wonder she had no luck, she was not a very good person!  I read it to the end, and liked the way it ended, sort of.  I hope that it was not a true reflection on the "real world."  I am glad I live "out of the world."

The Winds and the Waves - Dean Hughes

Dean Hughes is one of my favorite LDS authors.  I loved his Children of the Promise series.  This is a new series.  This book follows some converts from England to Nauvoo in the 1800's, and some present day members who are in Nauvoo.  The two main families are related to each other, so it is fun to watch the first family start out in Nauvoo, and the second family discover their roots there.  Dean Hughes is an excellent story teller, and presents these stories beautifully.  The early saints went through so much!  Their testimonies were so strong!  I am so grateful for their examples and their strength.  I can't wait for the next book!

June - Lori Copeland

Another mail order bride book from this christian romance writer.  June is Faith's younger sister.  This tells her story of moving to Seattle to meet her husband to be.  He works with a famous evangelist, and June is excited to be a preachers wife and serve the Lord like her daddy.  Of course things don't turn out as expected.  This is another fun, sappy, clean romance.  It is a lot cheesy, but still a good read!

Playing Catch Up

So I have been reading a lot, but not updating this blog.  I blame it on school being out and having to share the computer with my daughters!  So this post will catch me up on the last few books I have read.

Room - Emma Donoghue
This is a remarkable book.  A young woman kidnapped, and locked in a shed.  She gives birth to a boy, and raises him in "Room."  Room is his whole world.  He does not know that life exists outside.  He does not know he is a captive.  It is an amazing look at survival, a mothers love, and society.  I would recommend this to anyone.

Edenbrooke- Julianne Donaldson
This is a fun, clean romance.  Set in England, Jane Austinish, great book for young women.  Twin sisters that are very different, one looking for love, one looking for marriage and status.  There are fun twists and turns, and it is all very appropriate!

The Lucky One - Nicholas Sparks
Typical Nicholas Sparks.  If you like his books, you will like this book.  I liked it, but I wish they didn't always sleep together so quickly in his books!  This was good story, I am excited to see the movie, although I have heard it is not the greatest.

Definitely Not Mr. Darcy - Karen Doorenbos
I love books that play on Jane Austin books.  This was just ok though.  There was to much mention of "unmentionable" body parts, and the desire to use these parts!  The story took some interesting turns, but not worth the rest!

Faith - Lori Copeland
This is another "mail order bride" book.  I seem to be drawn to them.  This one was a very good, fun, clean read.  Faith goes to Texas to marry Nicholas Shepherd,  She encounters a very moody man, and much moodier mother in law to be.  Fate keeps interfering with the actual ceremony.  Was she wrong to come?  Would he ever actually talk to her and let her in his life?  What should she do with this ornery woman!  This was a fun book!  Good for teens and moms!

Bittersweet - Annette Anthony

Warning... I grew up with the author of this book.  She was my best friends little sister, and I am sure a twerp, but I may be a little biased on this review!
I know people who have written books.  I know people who have written books well!  This was a fun book.  It is a romance.  It takes place in Denver, Colorado in its early stages.  It is a mystery, there is a murder.  It is not a perfect book, but I loved it!  I hope everyone I know will read it and enjoy it as well!