Review: 14 Secrets to Better Parenting

14 Secrets to Better Parenting by Dave Earley

So many things to discuss from this book. It is full of wisdom straight from your own Bible, but more! Proverbs is one of my favorite books -- We start with the basics and you will think, I know this why am I not doing it? Sometimes we need reminders. As the book says, we start with wisdom. Prayer is very important! Foundations are of the utmost!

I won't go into a lot of detail, as I think it is important for you to read yourself. I know I will re--read this book over and over, to see what I am doing, not doing and remind myself.
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Review: Riversong

Riversong by Tess Hardwick

Wonderful debut! Coming from the Pacific Northwest this book interested me from the beginning. However, I could NOT put it down. Lee Tucker is a well developed character and very likable. You see a lot of yourself in her, well I did anyway.

Lee's husband commited suicide after their latest game wasn't working. When Lee learns that her husband owed someone a LARGE sum of money and they want it NOW, her best friend Linus helps her sneak out of town to the small town in Oregon where she grew up. She is there originally because her alcoholic mother just recently passed. Lee figured she could fix up the old place and sell it to pay back Dan's creditor.

Then Lee is thrown another life-changing event. She learns she is pregnant. With no income and needing to fix up the house, she goes in search for a job. Upon meeting Mike, a local restaurant owner, he offers her a proposition. One that might end up with Lee staying there forever.

When love walks in in the form of Tommy, will Lee be able to stick to her plan of leaving this small town and all that have come to love her? Very good storyline. Sure it has been done before, but these are all winsome characters, especially Ellen White, whom you will come to adore.

This is a wonderful first book, I think we will come to love Ms Hardwick!

Review: An Atlas of Impossible Longing

An Atlas of Impossible Longing by Anuradha Roy

This was a beautifully written book. Such imagery made you feel like you were really there, in Calcutta with Mukunda or across the road at Mrs. Barnum's. This story was told in three different parts, each one by a different person.

The story is difficult at first to delve into, but it will grab you when you start to learn who is who, and when you finally get it you won't want to put it down until the end. The first part we establish a bit about our cast of characters; each one being so unique you can't help but love them all for their differences.

I love books about India and this one taught me a lot of the words I didn't know -- We get to go through the lives of some of the family members, and one "adopted" son whom Amulya had put in a orphanage many years ago to help one of his workers out at the spice factory. Then we get to see through another's eyes, that being Nirmal, Amulya's son. Nirmal got married to Shanti and they had a daughter. However, Shanti didn't get to meet her daughter, her father's house flooded a month before she was due and Shanti passed.

So Bakul, Shanti and Nirmal's daughter never met her mother -- and then you have Mukunda whom is adopted by the family. I think the story lies with these two. Both of them searching through life and trying to find their way.

Fantastic mesmerizing first book! This WILL be an author to keep your eye on!

Review: When a Woman Inspires Her Husband

When a Woman Inspires Her Husband by Cindi McMenamin

I am blessed beyond meausure to have read this book. I knew it would probably challenge me, but I am overwhelmed with the messages I received. So many parts talked to my heart. One of my favorite quotes from the book was live life with the man you love, not with the man you THINK he should be. Isn't that profound when you stop to think about it. I really thought about the part where Cindi talks about how much we might be praying to God to change our husbands, and when he isn't changing, that is God saying it is US he wants to change.

I loved the acronyms as well. C-H-E-E-R will be stuck in my head and heart, as well as the ABC's. I can't wait to come up with some of my own!

I have been singing the praises about this book for a long time. I am planning on re-reading over and over. I know my husband and family will be greatly blessed by the changes that are taking place in my heart and attitude. I think most of us know these things, but it is good to read them and put them into practice. Sometimes in our daily lives, we forget about what our purpose really is.

I looked up all of the other books as well and can't wait to read them too! Read this book, you WILL be blessed beyond measure.

Review: Better Than Ever, Again

Better Than Ever, Again by Mitch Davies

Better than I expected! I wasn't too sure at the beginning of this book what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised! Ben works various jobs. When one ends in Idaho, he sees in the paper someone looking for help on a yacht,no experience necessary. Surrounded by a bunch of shady characters, Ben just wants to learn how to sail and to do the job he was hired for.

Ben doesn't put up with much either. When he falls in love, will he have to leave her to continue his job?

This book has a bit of a mystery, what is the real story with this yacht, Carl and Duane. Not to mention Ms Malloy and Rudy as well. I finished this book in one sitting, I wanted to know how it would turn out for Ben. He seemed like such a nice guy, he didn't know what Carl was really up to!

The only thing I could have done without is some of the sex scenes. Not for my personal taste. All in all, a really good book! I did find one error, on page 121 poor = pour --

Review: What Alice Forgot

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

Going to be one of the best books this year! It all begins when Alice is at the gym, falls off of her bike and loses her memory. When she comes to, she knows that is her friend Jane, but Jane is looking a bit different. That isn't even the half of it! What would Alice be in a GYM for? She hates exercise. Besides she is pregnant with their first child. People Alice doesn't even know are talking to her.

But it isn't 1998 like Alice thinks, it is 2008. Things are a whole lot different in 2008. Besides the fact that Alice seems to be a bit on the snappy side, things don't seem right with her sister, Elisabeth. They seem distant and not close like they used to be. Mom, what happened to mom? Married to Nick's dad Roger? But what is even worse it seems that her and Nick had 3 children, children she doesn't remember having! Nick, what happened to her and Nick? He yelled at her when she called him and then hung up!

No indeed, 2008 doesn't seem like what Alice had envisioned for her life. However, without the memories, will Alice be able to make her life what she wanted it to be instead of what it has become, or will her memory return and things go back the way they were?

This book was so good I didn't want to put it down and talk about it constantly. I can't even imagine missing 10 years. This book wasn't just about Alice though, we went through struggles with her sister Elisabeth as well. Elisabeth and her husband Ben have been trying for over 10 years to have a child, only to have miscarriage after miscarriage. So we get a diary piece at the end of every chapter almost. What a refreshing way to write! I loved this book and will recommend it to everyone! Perfect book to take to the beach!

Review: Dreams of Joy

Review: Dreams of Joy by Lisa See

I have loved Lisa See's book since Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. Then came Shanghai Girls. What a wonderful story about 2 sisters --

Now we have Dreams of Joy to continue the story. I thought it does well enough to stand on its own, but it is helpful to have read Shanghai Girls first to get a little background. The story narrates between Pearl and Joy, which I thought was very enjoyable.

Dreams of Joy starts off with Joy, being May's daughter but Pearl, May's sister raising her her whole life. Joy overhears a conversation between the sisters, finds out May is really her mother. She has grand ideas of returning to her family's homeland of China and helping with the revolution. Also she would like to find her real dad, Z.G. When she finds him and they go to the countryside for what Joy thinks as he is teaching painting to the peasants, really he is being banished.

In the countryside of Green Dragon, Joy thinks she has found it all. Love and happiness, helping her country as she is told. However she has no idea that Pearl is in the country trying to find her. When she finally finds her back in Shanghai, Joy is upset and still angry, and in love, she thinks anyway.

Pearl, Joy and Z.G. make a trip back to the countryside, Joy thinks her happiness will be there with Tao. After they are married though, Joy finds out a completely different side of Tao. She also finds out that the country she has been supporting maybe isn't everything they promised, making them work non-stop and not feeding them in return. The Great Leap Forward may not be so great. Will Joy be able to make it out?

This book was hearbreaking at times but a wonderful book continued about 2 sisters love for each other, even in the hard times. Also it has a bit of a love story and the best part is our love for our children, whether they be biologically or not! Enjoy, Lisa See is a master storyteller!

Review: She Makes It Look Easy

Review: She Makes It Look Easy by Marybeth Whalen

When I read The Mailbox, I raved about it for days. Loved the whole idea! Then I couldn't believe it when I found out Marybeth was coming out with a second book! How awesome is that I ask you!

She Makes It Look Easy is a bit more thought provoking and really hits home in a lot of areas. Especially for women I think. We all think each other has it so much easier or at least I think everyone else has it easier and does it so much better than I do. However, appearances aren't always what they seem. Someone might have it so put together on the outside but might be falling apart on the inside.

Ariel has just moved with her husband David and 3 rowdy boys to her dream neighborhood, Essex Falls. She wants everything to be perfect. When she meets Justine, the neighbor that lives behind them, she sees a potential friend. However, something always seems out of place. Ariel doesn't listen to this nagging feeling though, she tries her hardest to impress and befriend Justine.

Justine is up to no good though, an affair-in-the-making on the skirts and I don't think Justine knows the word friend as it really means to be a friend. It is all too true that even though people like Justine get up in front of ladies at church, and speak and seem to have it all, they really don't.

I loved Ariel, she had such a heart and even though things were hectic in her home, she knew the one person to go to, our Lord. Even better were Betsy's words at the end. We have to make sure we don't fall into that trap of wanting what other people have, being content with what WE have. What He has given us, indeed is what WE need.

I loved this book, it went by way too fast. What more can you ask for? Marybeth hit the nail on the head with this one! We all need a wake-up call sometimes to be careful what and who we idolize and follow.