Library Loot: 2/20/10

FEBRUARY 20th, 2010

Library Loot Event is a weekly event hosted by Eva at A Striped Armchair and Marg at Reading Adventures. that encourages bloggers to share the books they have checked out from the library. I always find many new books to add to my reserve list!

I did not make much of a dent on my pile of books that came home from the library with me last week. I am almost done listening to The Help by Kathryn Stockett. It is a great listen! I am still working my way through The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud. I am not kidding in saying I am working through that one! It is an average book, but I am finding it a slow read for some reason.

The following book found their way home with me on Saturday, February 13, 2010:

1. True Colors - Kristin Hannah
2. The Murderer's Daughters - Randy Susan Meyers

I am off to read and nap a bit. What a lovely day!

Happy Reading!!

Library Loot: 2/13/10

FEBRUARY 13th, 2010

Library Loot Event is a weekly event hosted by Eva at A Striped Armchair and Marg at Reading Adventures. that encourages bloggers to share the books they have checked out from the library. I always find many new books to add to my reserve list!

Saturday, February 13, 2010
1. The Emperor's Children - Claire Messud
2. Accidental Mother - Rowan Coleman
3. The Blue Notebook - James A. Levine
4. The Little Giant of Aberdeen County - Tiffany Baker

COMPLETED:
Duggars: 20 Kids and Counting - Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar

I am off to see what others have checkout from their library this week and fill up my TBR list!


Happy Reading!!

LIbrary Loot: January 9th

Library Loot Event is a weekly event hosted by Eva at A Striped Armchair and Marg at Reading Adventures. that encourages bloggers to share the books they have checked out from the library. I always find many new books to add to my reserve list!

Saturday, January 9, 2009

1. A Disobedient Girl - Ru Freeman (discovered at Luxury Reading)

2. Duggars: 20 Kids and Counting - Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar

3. Family Feast for $75 a Week - Mary Ostyn

I am very excited to read each of the books that make it into my home from the library this week. I couldn't decide which to read first so I am reading a chapter in each until one grabs my attention away from the others.

I am off to see what others have checkout from their library this week and fill up my TBR list!

Interesting Books from Other Library Loot Posts:

1. The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker

2. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery.

Happy Reading!!

Jen's "To Be Read" List

How often do you read a review on a blog and think, I have to read that book? I do ALL the time and promptly forget all about the book within moments. So I am going to use this post to hopefully remember a few titles that have caught my eye.

I found a great new bookish blog, Luxury Reading. Vera seems to have similar taste in reading as I do! I have already found a few titles on there to add to my list.

Jen's To Be Read (TBR) List

Mennonite in Little Black Dress - Rhoda Janzen
The Disobedient Girl - Ru Freeman
Say You're One of Them - Uwen Akpan
The Secret Bride - Diane Haeger
The Queen's Mistake -Diance Haeger

1/10/09
Ten Thousand Sorrows - Elizabeth Kim (Luxury Reading)
The Girl With Glass Feet - Ali Shaw
Small Kingdoms by Anastasia Hobbet

Luxury Reading's - Best Books of the Year
Dragon House - John Shor
The Possiblity of Everything 0 Hope Edelman
Lost Boy - Brent W Jeffs - (polygamy/LDS)
Seducing the Spirits - Louise Young
A Change of Altitude - Anita Shreve
Cleopatra's Daughter - Michelle Moran
After You - Julie Buxbaum
Honolulu - Alan Brennert
Clara's War: One Girl's Story of Survival - Clara Kramer
Undiscovered Gyrl - Allison Burnett
In the Land of Cotton - Martha A Tayor

Hope you enjoy the list and share must read titles with me as well.

Happy Reading!!

Best Books of 2009

It has been a very slow year for reading for me. Life and work have gotten in the way of my sitting around and reading into the wee hours of the night. Since I am no longer going to Duluth for work each month, my nights to read in the hotel room are gone as well. I have also taken a break from accepting books to review. I still have a few to get to! Alas, I have only read 28 books in 2009, but some very good ones!!

Jen's Best Books of 2009

1. The Hour I First Believed - Wally Lamb (5/5)

2. The Crying Tree - Naseem Rakha - (5/5)

3. A Year On Ladybug Farm - Donna Ball - (4.5/5)

4. At Home on Ladybug Farm - Donna Ball (4.5/5)

5. The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown (4.5/5)

6. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle - David Wroblewski (4.5/5)

7. The Kindness of Strangers - Katrina Kittle (4.5/5)

8. Lace Reader - Brunonia Barry - (4.5/5)

9. Moloka'i - Alan Brennert - (4.5/5)

10. Things I Want My Daughters to Know: A Novel - Elizabeth Noble - (4.5/5)

I love making my list of best books each year. I forget about all the great books I read in the beginning of the year! I am looking forward to reading other book bloggers lists as well to make my "To Be Read" list even longer!

The year end brings no greater pleasure

than the opportunity to express

gratitude and good wishes to my readers.

May your New Year be filled with much happiness!!

Happy Reading!!

BLOG TOUR: The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall (and giveaway)

Hardcover: 208 Pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-307-44653-4

Blog Tour: October 12-16

Summary:

Beth Hertzler works alongside her beloved Aunt Lizzy in their dry goods store, and serving as contact of sorts between Amish craftsmen and Englischers who want to sell the Plain people’s wares. But remorse and loneliness still echo in her heart everyday as she still wears the dark garb, indicating mourning of her fiancé. When she discovers a large, intricately carved scene of Amish children playing in the snow, something deep inside Beth’s soul responds and she wants to help the unknown artist find homes for his work–including Lizzy’s dry goods store. But she doesn’t know if her bishop will approve of the gorgeous carving or deem it idolatry. Lizzy sees the changes in her niece when Beth shows her the woodworking, and after Lizzy hunts down Jonah, the artist, she is all the more determined that Beth meets this man with the hands that create healing art. But it’s not that simple–will Lizzy’s elaborate plan to reintroduce her niece to love work? Will Jonah be able to offer Beth the sleigh ride she’s always dreamed of and a second chance at real love–or just more heartbreak?

Author Bio:

Cindy Woodsmall is the author of When the Heart Cries, When the Morning Comes, and The New York Times Best-Seller When the Soul Mends. Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families. A mother of three sons and two daughters-in-law, Cindy lives in Georgia with her husband of thirty-one years.

My Review:
Common themes in Amish fiction are family and faith. The interesting thing about "The Sound of Sleigh Bells" is that the two main characters are older single Amish women who run a store together. The older of the women, Aunt Lizzy wants to see her neice Beth to find love after being in mouring for an extended period of time. Aunt Lizzy goes about matching Beth to an Amish artisan whose work Beth admires. Though Aunt Lizzy's intentions were good, she goes about her matchmaking in a deceitful manner. I found the characters likeable and felt I understood their feelings. I really likes the young Amish artisan, Jonah.

I expected "The Sound of Sleigh Bells" to be a Christmasy sort of story, which it really isn't . None the less it was an enjoyable book and will be enjoyed by fans of Amish Fiction. This is the second book I have reviewed by Cindy Woodsmall and I find that she strings a bit of mystery into her stories that keep me intriqued. I completed this book in about a day and stayed up a bit too late to finish it!! My hubby woke up in the middle of the night and told me to turn the pages quieter...poor guy!

My Rating: 4/5 - Great - I would reccomend to my friends. Easy read to be enjoyed by fans of Amish fiction.

GIVEAWAY: I have two copies of "The Sound of Sleigh Bells" to give away. To enter the giveaway for this book, please leave a comment with a Christmas book recommendation for me and a valid email address to be entered into the drawing. I will randomly select and contact via email two winners on October 24th! You must live in the continental US to enter.

Looking for Free Books????
Book Giveaways will become a regular feature on my book blog. The publishers are generous and I have to regularly make room on my book shelves! I hope to post a book giveaway at least twice a month.

If you would like to purchase "The Sound of Sleigh Bells" by Cindy Woodsmall, stop by the Random House Website to review their purchase options.

Happy Reading!!

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

BLOG TOUR: The Hope of Refuge by Cindy Woodsmall

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press (August 11, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1400073960

Blog Tour: August 3-11, 2009

Summary:

Raised in foster care and now the widowed mother of a little girl, Cara Moore struggles against poverty, fear, and a relentless stalker. When a trail of memories leads Cara and Lori out of New York City toward an Amish community, she follows every lead, eager for answers and a fresh start. She discovers that long-held secrets about her family history ripple beneath the surface of Dry Lake , Pennsylvania , and it’s no place for an outsider. But one Amish man, Ephraim Mast, dares to fulfill the command he believes that he received from God–“Be me to her”– despite how it threatens his way of life.

Completely opposite of the hard, untrusting Cara, Ephraim’s sister Deborah also finds her dreams crumbling when the man she has pledged to build a life with begins withdrawing from Deborah and his community, including his mother, Ada Stoltzfus. Can the run-down house that Ada envisions transforming unite them toward a common purpose–or push Mahlon away forever? While Ephraim is trying to do what he believes is right, will he be shunned and lose everything–including the guarded single mother who simply longs for a better life?

Author Bio:
Cindy Woodsmall is the author of "When the Heart Cries", "When the Morning Comes", and The New York Times Best-Seller "When the Soul Mends". Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families. A mother of three sons and two daughters-in-law, Cindy lives in Georgia with her husband of thirty-one years.

My Review:
I have read Amish fiction in the past and didn't find it very fullfilling. That was not the case with "The Hope of Refuge" by Cindy Woodsmall. I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. "The Hope of Refuge" had me engrossed within the first few pages. I found the characters, Cara and Ephrian to be believable and very likeable characters.

I grew up in South Dakota. I lived near a Hutterite community and knew members of the community. This community is somewhat similiar to Amish, therefore, I am particularly interested in the Amish community, their rules and values. As with any book worth reading, I lost a few hours of sleep wanting to discover the outcome of "The Hope of Refuge", but it was well worth it!

My Rating: 4/5 - Great - I would recommend to my friends!

If you would like to purchase "The Hope of Refuge" by Cindy Woodsmall, stop by the Random House Website to review their purchase options.

Happy Reading!!