Review: Five Bells

Five Bells: A Novel by Gail Jones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ok I must say I have no clue about what went on in this book. At first I had a hard time getting into it, and I picked up and put it down several times. But I forced myself to finish it today. And I flew through it!

I know we are following 4 different people. All converging on the same area in Australia. Each with their own things to sort through. Of course. But it was brilliantly written! I loved each one of the characters, even Catherine. My favorite though was Pei Xing. I loved her spirit. I was named after Tonya in Dr. Zhivago so that drew me in even more.

I felt so deflated when James and Ellie were sitting at the table, I was begging James, TELL HER JUST DO IT! (Side note, one daughter of mine is named Ellie so I loved that too) I could feel their passion, their own pain about what happened between them. And James chickened out. Didn't know what to say. Dang it James!

Someone said all these people were depressed, but I didn't get that after reading through it more. Of course everyone struggles, but there were only moments.

Like I said, I am probably not one to be commenting on a book so deep, but from this reviewer's point of view, I loved EVERY single stinkin minute of this book and I am sad that it came to an end.

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Review: Finding Our Way Home

Finding Our Way Home: A Novel by Charlene Ann Baumbich
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When we come upon this magificent story, we have Evelyn a young lady, living in Sasha's home, being a caretaker. Sasha is a famous ballet dancer who was injured, probably to never dance again. Evelyn is a spirited young lady. You will love her from the very beginning. Both ladies you will love, but Sasha takes awhile for her to grow on you!

Both going through different problems; Sasha not talking to her husband/dance partner or best friend since the accident. And Evelyn, Evelyn is engaged to a playboy. Didn't like Jorden from the get-go. But together they make a wonderful team and can concur the world!

I loved this book, I didn't want to sleep last night and I looked forward to picking it up this morning to finish. I love the spirit and the resounding word throughout the book, GRACE. Finding our way home, each of us, our own paths, but perhaps together as well.

Charlene Ann Baumbich is a fantastic writer, one I have fallen in love with so quickly. I want to read every one of her books now. Thanks Ms. Baumbich you have created a unique and magical place.

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Review: Picture This

Picture This: A Novel by Jacqueline Sheehan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh how I wish I had read Lost & Found first. Might have given me more of a background. But it is what it is, and so I find Rocky adjusting to her husband Bob dying suddenly and leaving her a widow. In this book, a girl calls Rocky claiming Bob was her dad. Natalie appears to have had a rough childhood, being tossed to and fro from one foster home to another.

On a whim, wanting Natalie to really be Bob's unclaimed daughter, she buys a house on the island badly in need of repair. Much like Natalie, maybe Rocky thinks she can fix the house and Natalie and have a daughter, like she always wanted.

The dog that saved Rocky, from Lost and Found, Cooper reads humans. He loves Rocky of course, and a 17 year old neighbor, Melissa. But he gets a weird feeling from this Natalie girl. When Melissa spies Natalie stealing jewelry, she knew there was something wrong with who Natalie is claiming she is. But what is it?

I don't want to give anything here, so pick this thrilling book up asap. The first hundred pages I was a bit lost and bored, but after that I couldn't put it down. Sucked me right in. So if you have been wondering where I was at, it was stuck in my chair with this book! Go NOW, get it!

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Review: The Ingredients of Gumbo

The Ingredients of Gumbo: Funny, loving stories about a Southern family by Julia Schuster
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Nonsense. Complete babbling and nonsense. At first, I thought, ok this will be interesting to see where it is going. And where did it go? All over the place, this way and that, with no clear direction.

I don't mind if something is made up but this was so this way and that -- The very last story was worth reading but don't waste your time for one little blurb.

I am not one for poems either so they really weren't enjoyable for me. The pictures, some were drawn nicely, others not so much.

Really, if you want something halfway worth understanding, don't bother.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: The Encyclopedia of Me

The Encyclopedia of Me by Karen Rivers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So very fun. Young girls are going to get a HUGE kick out of Tink, or Is, or Isadora.. whatever it is she ends up wanting to be called.

Isadora is an 8th grade girl, who is very vibrant, witty and engaging. I loved her personality, she is someone most girls will identify with. She lives with her parents and 2 brothers. One of has autism which leaves the family stressed and a bit broken. But they all lean on each other, and Tink will have you laughing out loud.

Karen Rivers has a wonderful talent, one I hope she continues -- This book will be hot this fall when kids are going back to school. I know I am going to recommend it to everyone I know!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Wednesdays Were Pretty Normal

Wednesdays were Pretty Normal: A Boy, Cancer, And God by Michael Kelley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Normal, how normal could life be if your 2 year old son was diagnoased with leuekmia? Michael Kelley opens up about his struggles with his faith in God once his son Joshua was diagnosed and they moved through treatments and beyond.

He clearly states what passages he read, trying to find out why God would let this happen. Why wasn't God showing up to heal Joshua and make everything right again? Was it because Michael and his wife didn't truly have faith?

Read their story of God's message to all of us with struggles. I think when he said they felt like they were walking through quicksand and saw one set of footprints, it was God's, He was carrying them. He carries us through these trials.

If He brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

Blessings to the Kelley family. I loved this heartwarming, honest and truthful story of your sincere struggles and coming to realize where God really was.

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Review: The Garden of Happy Endings

The Garden of Happy Endings by Barbara O'Neal
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was blown away with this book. My first O'Neal .. but it won't be my last.

Elsa is a minister in the Unity church. She loves her congregation but experiences heartbreak and feels she can't hear God any more and really where was He when one of her own, a 14 year old girl, Kiki was murdered? Why would a loving God let something so bad happen? So Elsa is asked to take a break and she goes back home, to Pueblo. To Joaquin, a man Elsa was engaged to but felt he was called to be a priest instead of marrying her. And why would Elsa's God let that happen too?

Elsa knows that the best way to get get through your own problems is to help others. So that is where she starts, helping out in Joaquin's parish with the soup kitchen day, which grows into helping making a sore ugly area behind the church into a community garden. A gentleman friend of Joaquin's, Deacon, helps as well.

Interwoven in the story is also Elsa's sister, Tasmin, who's life is falling apart when her husband goes missing, saying he was involved in a Ponzi scheme. Everything Tasmin knew, her nice cush life is taken from her, only allowing to take her personal items and leave her dream house.

You will find out how Elsa comes to terms with bad things that sometimes happen in our lives as well as her sister Tasmin and a whole host of other characters you will come to love.

Need I say more? GO go now and get the book... Don't wait, you don't want to miss out on this one!



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