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!!

Monday Mailbox - 7/20/09 Edition

Mailbox Monday is a weekly event hosted by Marcia over at The Printed Page. While on vacation I completed 2 review books. When I came home three more books were waiting for me!

This last week, I welcomed three new book into my home and onto my ever growing TBR pile.

I received an (Advance Reading Copy) of Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin from Bethany House Publications. A publications date of October 2009 is expected for this book.

Product Description for Though Waters Roar:
Harriet Sherwood has always adored her grandmother. But when Harriet decides to follow her footsteps to fight for social justice, she certainly never expected her efforts to land her in jail. Nor did she expect her childhood enemy and notorious school bully, Tommy O'Reilly, to be the arresting officer.

Languishing in a jail cell, Harriet has plenty of time to sift through the memories of the three generations of women who have preceded her. As each story emerges, the strength of her family--and their deep faith in the God of justice and righteousness--brings Harriet to discovery of her own goals and motives for pursuing them.

I am participating in my first Blog Tour sponsored by WaterBrook Multnomah's Blogging for Books Program and received The Hope of Refuge by Cindy Woodsmall to read for the tour. The tour will be taking place August 3rd - 11th. The Hope of Refuge is due out in paperback on August 11, 2009.

Description of The Hope of Refuge by Cindy Woodsmall:

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?

Lastly, I welcomed The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny into my home. The Brutal Telling will be on-sale October 1, 2009 by Minotaur Books.

Product Description for The Brutal Telling:

With those words the peace of Three Pines is shattered. As families prepare to head back to the city and children say goodbye to summer, a stranger is found murdered in the village bistro and antiques store. Once again, Chief Inspector Gamache and his team are called in to strip back layers of lies, exposing both treasures and rancid secrets buried in the wilderness.

No one admits to knowing the murdered man, but as secrets are revealed, chaos begins to close in on the beloved bistro owner, Olivier. How did he make such a spectacular success of his business? What past did he leave behind and why has he buried himself in this tiny village? And why does every lead in the investigation find its way back to him?
As Olivier grows more frantic, a trail of clues and treasures— from first editions of Charlotte’s Web and Jane Eyre to a spider web with the word “WOE” woven in it—lead the Chief Inspector deep into the woods and across the continent in search of the truth, and finally back to Three Pines as the little village braces for the truth and the final, brutal telling.

What books came into your house last week? Don’t forget to stop by The Printed Page and leave a link to your Monday Mailbox post for others to view!


Happy Reading!

Books Read in 2008

January
Lottery: A Novel - Patricia Wood - (4/5)
Tess of the d'Ubervilles - Thomas Hardy- (5/5)
Leap Days - Katherine Laphner - (3/5)
The Worse Things I Have Done - Ursula Hegi - (3.5/5)
The Rest of Her Life - Laura Moriarty - (4/5)
Astrid & Veronika - Linda Olsson - (4/5)

February
Family Tree - Barbara Delinsky - (4/5)
The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox - Maggie O'Farrell - (4.5/5)

March
Budget Time Again - No Time to Read for Fun!

April
Fool's Puzzle (A Benni Harper Mystery) - Earlene Fowler - (3.5/5)
Black Girl, White Girl - Joyce Carol Oates - (3/5)
While the Locust Slept: A Memoir - Pater Razor - (3/5)

May
Birth Of Venus - Sarah Dunant - (4/5)
Fall on Your Knees - Ann Marie MacDonald - (4/5 )
The Golden Road: Notes on my Gentrification - Caille Millner - (2.5/5)

June
Case Histories - Kate Atkinson - (4/5)
Water For Elephants - Sara Gruen - (4/5)
Mistress of the Art of Death - Ariana Franklin - (4.5/5)
A Painted House - John Grisham - (4/5)
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress - Dai Sijie - (4/5)
The Bastard of Istanbul - Elif Shafak - (4.5/5)

July
The Septembers of Shiraz - Dalia Sofer - (4/5)
The Stone Diaries - Carol Shields - (3.5/5)
Daughter's Keeper - Ayelet Waldman - (4/5)

August
Creation in Death - J D Robb - (3/5)

September
Stalked - Brian Freeman -(4/5)
Unaccostumed Earth - Jhumpa Lahiri - (3/5)

October
Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism - Jenny McCarthy - (4/5)

November
There If You Need Me - Kate Braestrup - (3.5/5)
More Than it Hurts You - Darin Strauss - (4/5)

December
The Last Lecture - Randy Pausch - (4.5/5)