Review: Blackberry Winter

Blackberry Winter by Sarah Jio
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jio has outdone herself! I am officially a fan. I thoroughly loved The Bungalow so I was super excited to get my hands on Blackberry Winter, and it didn't disappoint.

We go back and forth between present time and 1933. It's May in Seattle and there is a freak winter storm. Vera is a single mother living paycheck to paycheck. She leaves her 3 year old son, Daniel, at home by himself during the nights she has to work and can't find anyone to sit for her.

In the beginning of this freak winter storm in May of 1933, Vera comes home to find Daniel gone. No one cares because she is poor and doesn't come from much.

Back to the present, a freak storm in May -- Claire works for the Seattle Herald comes across this story of a missing boy no one ever pursued. Claire and her husband Ethan lost a child last year.

I won't say any more. You will LOVE the way it all comes together, mystery and everything. I just have to say I really really disliked Ethan most of the book! Jio really outdid herself with this read. I really loved reading and thinking about the bond between mother and child. Beautiful beautiful story!!! I highly recommend to everyone.

I received a copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Dear Pen Pal

Dear Pen Pal by Heather Vogel Frederick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One of the best series I think. Each book gets better and better as the girls are growing up.

I love books that talk about books and so the mother-daughter book club has always been a favorite of mine. This year, grade 8 for our favorite girls, changes are in store. Jess has been offered a scholarship to a local girls boarding school and takes it because it seems her parents really wanted her to. Cassidy's mom married Stanley and they are having a baby! Along with the baby coming, Courtney, Cassidy's older sister, will be going to college back in CA where they are from. Megan's family is changing because Gigi, Mrs. Wong's mom, is visiting from Hong Kong. There seems to be a rift between Gigi and Mrs. Wong which creates tension between everyone. Becca is always Becca -- and then there is Emma, with her first love..

Read all about our favorite mother-daughter book club friends, and meet some new ones. Along with all the problems and solutions, we also hear talk about some great books. Off to check out Daddy-Long-Legs NOW!

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Review: No Ordinary Marriage

No Ordinary Marriage: Together for God's Glory by Tim Savage
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First principle of matrimony: we marry for the glory of God. Need I say more? I don't suppose I am glorifying God when I am selfish and don't submit to my husband as He has called me to do.

READ the book, the word submit isn't as ugly as it sounds. A Wife's Spirit chapter deals with a woman's heart. It will leave you feeling a bit unsettled but I am resolved to live for His glory and so I will reread this chapter over and over. Earnest prayer is at the heart of all of it. We can't do it without Him. Seek Him daily and you will reach peaks with your marriage and probably relationships in general.

In A Husband's Love, it deals with the husband and if both work on their own problems instead of worrying about each other, we would all be in a better place.

Let's do as Savage suggests, living our marriage for the glory of the Lord. Please take the challenge with me!

I will hand this book to everyone I know, newlyweds, it would make a great gift! Enjoy it, add it to your bookshelf -- set it next to your Bible, read it with your spouse. I hope to see more marriages healthy and thriving!



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Prairie Flower Farm: A Simple Party.......Just Because!!!!!

Prairie Flower Farm: A Simple Party.......Just Because!!!!!: Hi sweet ladies,  I had this little surprise planned all evening.......then the rain came......then the lightning and thunder came.........

Review: Calling Invisible Women

Calling Invisible Women by Jeanne Ray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Yay Jeanne Ray is back! She is one of my favorite authors so I was glad to see something new.

Calling Invisible Women is not her usual book. Don't get me wrong it is a cute book about invisible women and how invisible are we really. Clover goes invisible and no one in her family seems to notice. When she finds out that there are other women like her and what the cause is they ban together but also try to right some wrongs in this world.

This got me to thinking what I would do if I was invisible. Spy on my kids, try and fight crime? Maybe just enjoy myself! I really loved the whole plane idea. I would hop from plane to plane!

Clover and her band of invisible women are full of laughs and friendship that will leave you feeling all cozy.

Enjoy and please Ms Ray, don't be gone so long!

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Review: Love Anthony

Love Anthony by Lisa Genova
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Beautiful cover, and wonderful title, makes you want to know more. So get yourself cozy with a good glass of tea and make sure you have about five hours to read it because you will NOT want to put it down.

It starts off alternating between Olivia and Beth. 2 women who's paths will intersect in an amazing way. Olivia is on Nantucket, living in a cottage her ex-husband and her had purchased but now Olivia is living in it. Beth is married and has 3 girls. In the opening chapters, you will find Beth's husband, Jimmy, cheats on her and Beth doesn't know where to go from here. Olivia struggles with why. Why God was Anthony born and then taken so soon? Why did HE of all people have autism? Why God why?

The alternating between Beth, Olivia AND Anthony is not distracting at all. I thoroughly loved every minute of this book. Autism is a subject I haven't read anything on, and hearing from Anthony's point of view was brillant.

While Beth struggles to find where she wants to go next, she gets back her creative side, and comes up with a fiction book about a young boy with autism. Well, you can guess where everyone intersects at, but the ride is the best. Lisa Genova did a fantastic job weaving all characters into something believable and heart-warming.

Sure to be a huge hit this fall!

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