Review: When Sparrows Fall

Review: When Sparrows Fall by Meg Moseley

"I'm a sinner, Lord," he whispered, "but I'm Your sinner. May I always be in a condition accessible to mercy. So may we all." -- I think this statement sums up this whole entire book.

Miranda is a widowed woman in her 30's with 6 young children. When her Pastor calls an emergency meeting telling the single women and 2 widowed women of the church that he has had a message from the Lord that they all are moving to another place, Miranda knows it isn't for her. She and her children can't leave behind their home and land that has been in her deceased husband's family for ages. But as the black sheep of the church family she knows she must not make trouble. What will she do? She fasts, to get an answer from God. Hungry and a bit dizzy from fasting, early one morning before the children arose she was out at the cliffs by the house and she took a terrible tumble. Thank goodness she had changed her will and left them in the care of Carl's half brother Jack. However Jack might cause a few waves. It might be worthwhile though.

Meg Moselely wrote so beautifully, and although this is a fiction story, I do have to believe that this goes on a bit even today. People being bullied in churches.. I loved Miranda's spirit and all of the kids were priceless. Timothy had a struggle, but you knew he would come along.

There will be a few surprises in there for you, a few hidden gems. So enjoy the ride and I wrote down the quote at the top. Something I never want to forget. None of us should.

Review: At Home with the Templetons

At Home with the Templetons by Monica McInerney

What a book! Monica knocked my socks off! This was my first book but it won't be my last by a long shot! The Templetons are a big imposing bunch, each with a big personality! We start out with Gracie arriving at what we know at the end to be "Templeton Hall", with some dark, curly, handsome stranger greeting her. Who was he? Then we go back to what happened to get to that moment.

Eleanor, the mother of the crew, she was an iffy character, didn't hate her but didn't care for her either. Too wishy-washy for me. Stand up for yourself love! The dad, good ole liar himself, Henry -- he is a liar, but a smooth character, a ladies man I suppose eh. Then we have the children. The oldest is Charlotte, who went to boarding school and eventually threatens to not come home until they make Aunt Hope go away --- which I think she just used as an excuse. Then we have Audrey, who is a theatrical girl. She gets a part in a play, then comes the big day. She gets up there, oh darn, stage fright! From that day on she doesn't speak to anyone. Falls in love with a therapist. Find out what happens to her...

We have one of the best characters in my opinion, Gracie next. Gracie is the most lovable, easiest to get along with character. Even Tom thinks so! Speaking of Tom, you will meet Tom and his mom Nina along the way too. Nina is another one that you will either come to understand or hate. I think there is no middle road.

One character I think we can all hate is Hope. At one teeny tiny point I thought there might be hope for Hope, but alas she ruined that one. Hope is detestable. But she makes the book enjoyable and keeps you guessing the whole entire book, highly entertaining!

And last but not least we have the youngest, the spoiled brat Spencer, who a lot of things wouldn't have happened without him. You either love him or hate him too. He didn't have many goals in life, maybe that is what being the youngest and hanging around Hope did for him.

Monica knows what readers want, and she gave it. I can't wait to get my hands on her other books. I will recommend this book to everyone! Perfect book to take to the beach, makes you forget all your own drama for a day!

Review: The Snowman

The Snowman by Jo Nesbo

When you think you have figured out who the snowman is about five or six times but you are wrong, that is a good book! This isn't my normal kind of read, so for me to give it 5 stars is quite the deal! I really loved all the details, someone might get bogged down in them, but I really thought it made the story so complete.

Some of the details I wasn't sure what they had to do with the story, but much like a detective, you aren't sure what they have to do with the case, but file them away for future use. They all came together like a puzzle. A perfect cresendo.

The book starts out with Detective Harry Hole getting a letter from some source claiming to be "the snowman" --- from there you have missing women, a snowman body with a severed head on top -- I don't want to go into more details and spoil it but you will enjoy the thrilling, heart stopping ride. I did!

Who would have guessed!!!! If you do guess, maybe you are a better detective than I am I suppose! However, I thought Jo Nesbo did a wonderful job writing this wonderful thriller. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Review: Declaring Spinsterhood

Declaring Spinsterhood by Jamie Lynn Braziel

What a good little story -- for her first story I thought it was really good. Emma was a really likeable character, her mother was really unlikeable --- Brian was so-so, he could have been more developed, but I enjoyed him. I thought Emma's father was ok, I wanted him to be more developed and involved.

Emma has a best friend/neighbor Brian but it turns out that she is in love with him. However he is dating the terrible Delilah. All of Emma's family picks on her constantly because they think she needs to get married. Her mother keeps trying to set her up with all these different men, and one of her old boyfriends, Steve.

Also, Emma runs into a handsome man on a little business venture her and her friend/employee Kathy are at, John -- John comes and takes Emma out to dinner -- but is John what Emma is looking for?

Or will Emma stick to spinsterhood?

Cute story, I know as time goes on Ms Braziel will get better and more refined! Keep up the good works!

Review: The Peach Keeper

The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen

When a body is found underneath a peach tree outside The Blue Ridge Madam, that sets of a series of strange events in the small quaint town of Walls of Water. Two of our main characters, Willa and Paxton, polar opposites, collide -- making up most of the book. You will find out why the body is there, who it is and enjoy only the way that Sarah can write.

She writes with such force that you feel like you can taste or smell as if it is right there. Such magic in itself. Don't get me wrong, all the other books have been wonderful, but Garden Spells will always be my favorite.

The Peach Keeper came along at a perfect time though, with spring coming. This one had a little hint of mystery too, which was wonderful. I loved Willa too, she was a bit feisty. She was one of my favorite characters. What you get is more than just a book about mystery, you get friendship, love and tradition, as it says! Enjoy it will go by way too quick!

Review: Between A Rock and A Hot Place Why Fifty is NOT the New Thirty

by Tracey Jackson


I wish once again I hadn't waited so long to read this book! Less than 24 hours later this book is finished! Tracey Jackson has a way of writing exactly what every woman is thinking, come on you know you are! I won't go into every point but the 4 stages of breasts, totally true!!! The spongebob thing, I had to read it outloud to my husband and had to re-read it because I couldn't stop laughing.

I loved the Virginia Woolf quote, "Arrange whatever pieces come your way." I think that is probably the turning point for Tracey. When I see Crisco I will forever think of her grandma, if my oldest teenager read this book I think she might try it -- she tries EVERYTHING these days.. hahaha

If anything I got out of this book, I think the most important thing I got was EXERCISE. I do believe that is key. The endorphins that come from it have a whole lot to do with depression and feeling better about yourself in general. Every chapter had a little piece of information, but I couldn't help but laugh when the online dating chapter came up. Too funny!!!

I thought this book would be whiny and superficial, however I will be recommending to everyone -- and MAKE SURE you pick up Tracey's movie Lucky Ducks on Amazon as well!!!

By the way, I didn't get the memo that my children are on loan!!! Just kidding! I am still debating on which room to turn into a den vs craft room etc..

Review: Crunch Time by Diane Mott Davidson

Whew! Talk about overload! I felt like a lot was going on. I had to go over it and over it. However, I LOVED every minute of this book. I love Goldy, Tom and all the cast of wacky characters Diane Mott Davidson always brings for us. She always starts out with a bang. I think Goldy has gotten more savvy with detective work and knows more what clues to look for and that is why she really gets herself into more tangles, which makes for more fun.

This time, Yolanda and her great aunt are displaced when the man that they are living with is found murdered. So Goldy and Tom insist that they come to stay with them temporarily. With a whole list of supsects, Goldy caters a dinner that goes terribly wrong and gets a ton more clues -- we all know the path Ms Davidson goes down, but the ride is always a blast!

I personally love how we don't need vulgar language, or any raunchy scenes, just a lot of fun, a few nail biting moments and a few laughs! The descriptions of all the food items make me so ravenous no wonder I am starving after I read her books! The recipes in the back are ALWAYS delicious and never fail!

So make some Crunch Time Cookies, curl up with a nice up of your favorite coffee and Crunch Time and see what Miss G is up to!