My June wish list

    

    

 
   

It's Monday! What are you reading is hosted by One Persons Journey through a world of Books. Each week we spotlight the books we are reading, planning on reading or just finished reading




Finished: The Daughter's Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick
             Contingency by Paula Wiseman
             Jump Off the Hormone Swing by Lorraine Pintus


Reading: Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran
             Secrets of the Heart by Jillian Kent
             Unbroken by Frank Stanfield


Next in line: The Girl Who Disappeared Twice by Andrea Kane
                  Tolstoy and the Purple Chair by Nina Sankovitch
                  Sideways on a Scooter by Miranda Kennedy

The Daughter's Walk book review...

The Daughter's Walk

by Jane Kirkpatrick

Waterbrook Press

In 1896, in order to save the family farm, Clara Estby reluctantly accompanies her mother on a cross-country journey that redefines a mother’s tragedy and a daughter’s desire. Over two decades, friends and faith help Clara move through a family betrayal and into a future of her own design.  But will the tentacles of the past keep her from finding the real joy in forgiveness?

Click here to download chapter one of The Daughter’s Walk.

My review:

The Daughter's Walk is an emotional read. You follow the journey of a mother and daughter (Clara) as they walk from Spokane, Washington to New York City. They have a strict deadline to follow which means they must keep going, no matter what. As they experience difficulties they must also make decisions on whether or not a small break from walking will still let them meet their deadline. 

Clara learns things about her family along the walk; things she'd have never guessed in a lifetime. Later as Clara decides to work outside of the home, she learns the way business other than farm life works, and decides to have her go at it. Clara decides to continue the walk without her mother.

 Don't miss this wonderful journey.

Buy it on Amazon.

About the author:

Jane Kirkpatrick is the author of more than fifteen historical novels based on the lives of actual women, and several nonfiction titles. Her books have collectively sold more than 500,000 copies, winning awards and critical acclaim, including Best Book of 2009 by Library Journal. She lives in Oregon with her husband, Jerry.

Mothers & Daughters book review

Mothers & Daughters

by Rae Meadows

Violet, Iris, Samantha. Three women, three generations, three lives. When a box of Iris's belongings arrives at Sam's doorstep, she discovers things about her mother she never knew--or could even guess. But she is puzzled by much of what she finds. She learns that Violet, the women she knows as her grandmother, left New York City as an eleven-year-old girl and found a better life in the Midwest. But what was the real reason behind Violet's journey? And how could she have come that far on her own at such a tender age?

My Review: 

This is a wonderful novel of three generations of women. You learn so much about each of them and the differences in how they each turned out due to their upbringing and surrounding and the the years in which they were growing up. As you read, you feel their struggles, you feel for them, and you wish them the best, even when you know what is coming. As you read, you realize that all three women are related, and this makes the book even more interesting. This is a novel that brings you through such heartache, which is inevitable in any life, but it also shows you that you can overcome those struggles and turn out OK in the end.

Author Info:

Rae Meadows is the author of Calling Out, which received the 2006 Utah Book Award for fiction, and No One Tells Everything, a Poets & Writers notable Novel. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Deepest Waters book review

The Deepest Waters

by Dan Walsh

What began as a fairytale honeymoon in 1857 for John and Laura Foster aboard the steamship SS Vandervere becomes a nightmare when a hurricane strikes and the grand ship is lost in the murky depths of the Atlantic. Laura finds herself rescued with the other women and children, but how can she feel any relief without her groom?

Talented author Dan Walsh skillfully tells an epic story through an intimate focus on two lost lovers. Inspired by real events, this moving novel will capture your heart as you dive into its pages.

My review: 

When Laura and John are separated in the beginning of their honeymoon due to their ship going down during a hurricane storm, they are both heartbroken, but they soon find that there isn't much time to mend their hearts with all the trials and troubles they are facing with just trying to survive. But even as these newlyweds are struggling to survive (separately) not a moment goes by that they aren't reminiscing about their time together.

The fact that they have their memories and I think even though they don't EVER voice or mention their hope...that their hope and the possibility of one day seeing each other again is what keeps them each going.

Their Christian faith comes through so strong with the way that they are both so quick to help others. This story will happen next. To me, it was like a historical, romantic suspense novel.

A MUST READ!!!

About the Author:

Dan Walsh is the award-winning author of The Unfinished Gift, and The Homecoming. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Dan served as a pastor for 25 years. He lives with his family in the Dayton Beach area, where he is busy researching and writing his next novel.

Thanks to Revell for providing me with a free review copy :)

I am in no way required to give a positive review, 

I always give my honest opinion on any book that I read !!!

Buy here.

Enjoy your day!!

Read a book or three while you're at it :)

Angel Sister book review

ANGEL SISTER

by Ann H. Gabhart

About the book: 

It's 1936 and Kate Merritt works hard to  keep her family together. her father has slipped into alcoholism, he mother is trying to come to grips with their dire financial situation, and her sisters seem to remain blissfully oblivious to all of it. Kate could never have imagined that a dirty, abandoned little girl named Lorena birdsong would be just what her family needs.

In this richly textured novel, award-winning author Ann H. Gabhart reveals the power of true love, the freedom of forgiveness, and the strength to persevere through troubled times, all against the backdrop of a sultry Kentucky summer.

My review:

This is a wonderful story of family secrets and forgiveness set during the Depression.

Sadly, little Lorena Birdsong's parents can't afford to take care of her anymore so the leave her on the church steps in hope that a nice family will take her in and care for her; but not before her mother tells her that the person who cares for her will be an Angel. So when Kate Merritt, aged 14, the middle sister of the new family who takes her in becomes her main care-taker, that is exactly what Lorena thinks Kate is...her Angel sister, sent by her Mommy to bring her food and make sure she is alright. Kate relates so well to Lorena because she is still  so emotionally young herself; being the middle child of a family caught in the middle of the Depression and a whole bunch of family secrets....

Make sure you have a full box of tissues before you read this one. I laughed and cried, which is exactly what I like in this type of book. There is just so much raw emotion, that you can't help but fall in love with this book and it's characters.

About the author: 

Ann is a country girl, born and raised on a farm in the Outer Bluegrass region of Kentucky.   She grew up working on the farm and enjoying the woods and animals. Her roots grow deep in the land, and she now lives on a farm just a mile away from the farmhouse where she was born and raised.

She started writing when she was ten and has been writing ever since. Her first novel, A Forbidden Yearning, was published by Warner Books in 1978 and was a historical romance about the settling of Kentucky. Since then she has published twenty novels for adults and young adults. She has been going to the same small country church since she was seventeen and used her memories of how it used to be in The Scent of Lilacs. She says, "I love small churches where everybody is like a big family and all ages interact with one another. My church was established in 1812 and I        like thinking about all the people who have served the Lord there." 

  http://www.annhgabhart.com

Buy a copy of 'Angel Sister' here.

Enjoy your day!!

~Steph

Dragonbreath book review

Danny Dragonbreath's Lunch vants to suck your blood!!

Danny Dragonbreath knows that school lunches can't be trusted.

But even Danny is surprised when his hot dog bites his best friend, Wendell.

Suddenly Wendell is having strange craving, sprouting back hair,

and itching like he's never itched before.

Could Wendell be morphing into...a were-wiener???

My boys and I absolutely loved this book. We were so generously given a copy of

this book to keep for reviewing it. My boys laughed so hard when I read it to them.

My eleven year old has since read it twice through on his own :)

This book is very funny, and the graphics are great!!!