The School of Essential Ingredients

I am not exactly sure where the new craze for "foodie" or "recipe" type books came from but I am loving it. I just finished The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister and wow, just wow. The book was one of my favorite books I have read all year. It was the type of book that has passages that I would read and then re-read just to feel the words again.

One of my favorite passages that I read multiple times is this amazingness: "He sank into the warmth of his child's fragile body against his shoulder, watched in awe that a baby, still essentially asleep, could keep a death grip on the blanket that meant the world was safe and loving, marveling at the thought that it was he and Helen who gave the feeling to the blanket, and the blanket to the child."

That was just a little taste of the book. The book is amazing!

The book is about a cooking class that is held once a week. The story is told by devoting a chapter to each of the attendees at the cooking class, telling their stories and weaving in their participation in the class and the lessons they learn. It begins with the instructor, Lillian, who is a master of matching spices to individual moods. She began cooking at a young age out of self-preservation and used food to draw out her emotionally absent mother. Lillian has a beautiful ability in her cooking classes to tie cooking into each of her student's lives in a subtle and extraordinary way.

The story continues with each of the students stories interwoven with the weekly course. The characters are so delightfully described that you wish you had been in the class with them just to learn from each of them and get to know them personally. I felt invested in each of their lives and treasured the pages dedicated to each of them. I felt so happy when I finished the book and I have nothing but absolute rave reviews for this book.

Read it. Buy it for yourself for Christmas!

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

My blip about a lovely book:

Holy smokes. What took me so long to read this? It was incredible, beautifully written, totally captivating and a little odd. All things this reader (me) LOVES. Just a little bit of genius this week.

Jaclyn's (my fellow book snob friend) more eloquent way of putting it:

From the moment I read the opening pages, I was entranced by Krauss' novel. Her storytelling ability is complex and beautiful. She approaches love and loss without trite cliches and placating explanations. Reading this book reminded me why we fall in love and why it's so hard to let go when love leaves and then why it's so important to fall in love again. Truly an exceptional book--

And a few words from Ms. Krauss herself:

"He wondered if what he had taken for the richness of silence was really the poverty of never being heard."

"Desire was born early, as was regret."

The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews

I realize Katie recently reviewed another Andy Andrews book, The Butterfly Effect, but they didn't have that one at my library, so I picked up his other one, The Traveler's Gift. Just to warn you, I was feeling particularly high-browed and literary when I read this...

I feel like a jerk giving this book two stars, because the advice given is pretty well thought out, and I think this is probably Andrews' compilation of all the advice he'd like to give to his children. However, if you want to write a novel, WRITE A NOVEL. If you want to give advice, just give it and call it self-help. I felt like I was gagging down horrendously presented motivational quotes intermingled with NO style.

That said, if you need advice, this might be a good place to go.

Deep Dish by Mary Kay Andrews

A darling book about two cooking shows having a face-off, each trying to win syndication of their own cooking show in the "big time." Tate and Gina are the classic protagonists, hating to love each other. Set in Georgia, there is definitely a healthy dose of Southern charm and fried food tangled in with some clever moments meant to spark a completely fabricated but lovable romance.

I really enjoyed reading this, although there wasn't as much "foodie talk" as I was anticipating. It was a cute little love story, and a good break from the intellectual reading I've been doing lately. There was a bit of language, but nothing too totally abrasive. I enjoyed the story and finished the book in about four hours.

3 stars. It's a library read, for sure.

A Path Less Traveled by Cathy Bryant

Earlier this year, I reviewed this book and loved it. A couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to get the chance to review Cathy Bryant's new book in the series, A Path Less Traveled. The second book in the series is just as charming as the first.

Trish James is stubborn and doesn't want help from anyone, especially since everyone is trying to rescue her and her son after the tragic death of her husband. She is determined to make it on her own and prove to everyone that she can take care of herself. Her new business is failing and she is on the verge of bankruptcy, but she refuses to reveal the depth of her struggles to anyone. The only option she can see is to move her and her son away from Miller's Creek, the town she loves and the only support system she has ever known.

Andy Tyler is a successful attorney who knows the struggle it takes to build a successful life from nothing. His personal life is struggling after his heart was broken when his engagement came to a heartbreaking end the night before the wedding. Andy is looking to start over and take on a new business challenge as the town attorney for Miller's Creek. He is unprepared for the sudden instinct to protect Trish James and come to her rescue, even though she makes it clear she is determined to not be rescued.

The story and the characters is so charming and I loved it just like I loved the first book in the series. I really wish the third book would come out tomorrow! It is a great read and I recommend them for a sit by the fire book this winter.

Juliet by Anne Fortier

While reading Juliet by Anne Fortier, I never found a good way to explain this book when people asked me what I was reading. So to be completely lame, here is the synopsis from Barnes and Noble:

Twenty-five-year-old Julie Jacobs is heartbroken over the death of her beloved aunt Rose. But the shock goes even deeper when she learns that the woman who has been like a mother to her has left her entire estate to Julie’s twin sister. The only thing Julie receives is a key—one carried by her mother on the day she herself died—to a safety-deposit box in Siena, Italy.

This key sends Julie on a journey that will change her life forever—a journey into the troubled past of her ancestor Giulietta Tolomei. In 1340, still reeling from the slaughter of her parents, Giulietta was smuggled into Siena, where she met a young man named Romeo. Their ill-fated love turned medieval Siena upside-down and went on to inspire generations of poets and artists, the story reaching its pinnacle in Shakespeare’s famous tragedy.

But six centuries have a way of catching up to the present, and Julie gradually begins to discover that here, in this ancient city, the past and present are hard to tell apart. The deeper she delves into the history of Romeo and Giulietta, and the closer she gets to the treasure they allegedly left behind, the greater the danger surrounding her—superstitions, ancient hostilities, and personal vendettas. As Julie crosses paths with the descendants of the families involved in the unforgettable blood feud, she begins to fear that the notorious curse—“A plague on both your houses!”—is still at work, and that she is destined to be its next target. Only someone like Romeo, it seems, could save her from this dreaded fate, but his story ended long ago. Or did it?

Now for my views on the book....I loved it. The story was so intriguing and the main character, Julie, sucked me right in. For most of the book, the chapters alternate between modern day and the original story of Romeo and Giuletta. At first I was a little distracted and wanted to just read the modern day ones and then the original story. But, after the first few chapters, it all came together and I loved learning the tidbits as the main character discovered the history. It made me feel like I wanted to be in Siena with the character.

The book was really everything that I love in a book, history, intrigue and a bit of love. The book is going into my top 10 favorite books of the year. I highly recommend it. I loved it.

Talent Is Overrated by Geoff Colvin

My husband, oldest kid and I are doing a 52 books in 52 weeks challenge. This was my first book selection and it was a good start-up book.

Colvin effectively convinced me that I can be really, really, ridiculously good at something if I really want to be. He shares his research about deliberate practice and its effect on performance. He uses anecdotes from the lives of Chris Rock, Tiger Woods, violin virtuosos and champion chess players.

I particularly enjoyed the chapter about the age/performance ratio and the role of intelligence and memory.

That said, this is a very technical book. It isn't a story and doesn't read like one. It is meticulously written and if you're only mildly interested, you WILL get bored.

Where Hearts are Free

I signed up to review Where Hearts Are Free by Golden Keyes Parsons so they sent me a copy of the book and I finally picked it up last week.

As a young child, Bridget Barrington witnessed a murder and it has haunted her for years. Philippe Cavell, a former French noble that escaped France with his family, came to live with the Barrington family, but as an indentured servant. Bridget was instantly in love with him and shares her secret nightmares of the murder with him.

Six years passes by and Philippe’s servant days with the family are soon to be over. Bridget wants to finally tell him that she is in love with him, but instead, she tells her parents. Her parents are unhappy with the revelation because Bridget and Philippe belong to different churches. They end Philippe's contract as servant a few weeks early and send him home to his family hoping Bridget will forget about Philippe. Bridget's parents then insist that Bridget be courted by Edward Moorehead, an older man, who Bridget has no love for and actually repulses her.

Edward has a secret of his own and is of, shall we say, "questionable character". Bridget’s dark past comes back to haunt her and she cannot forget about the man she really wants to be with.

The book was on the typical side of things but overall, I enjoyed reading the book.

Two Books...

It is your lucky day! Two book reviews in one post! I have read a lot of books lately but only two really warrant a review: The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin and The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman.

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin is an absolutely amazing book. Gretchen Rubin decided that she wanted to be happier. She was already happy and had a good life but she wanted more, she wanted to enjoy her life more. So she came up with a plan, she would take one year and make goals in 12 different areas of her life (marriage, work, parenting, self-fulfillment, etc.). Each month she came up with a few things that she could work on specifically within each category, such as go to bed earlier or organize her house or not criticizing her husband or not gossiping. Each month was specialized and by the end of the year, she feels more balanced. The year did not go perfectly but she learned things about herself and her relationships.

The book is inspirational and much more entertaining than most self-help books. Gretchen has a very witty writing style that makes it a very easy read. I found a lot of great tips in the book and while I don't have the desire to take an entire year of my life, I found myself thinking of the things I can change in my every day life. She made a really good point on how she is a "gold star" person and she wants to get a figurative gold star when she does something good. For instance, when she makes a good meal, she wants someone to tell her it was good (gold star). Then she realized she needed to not seek recognition but just give herself a gold star in her head if needs be. I recognized that I am similar and I need to not expect gold stars. See, I learned something!

Now for the The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman. I just finished this one last weekend and I really liked it. The characters were so intriguing and the story was great. I started it and next thing I know, I couldn't put it down and when I did, I couldn't stop thinking about the characters. The story is about two sisters in California, the older sister, Emily, is CEO of a major tech company that is about to go public and the younger sister, Jess, is a tree hugging grad student at Berkley who works at an antiquarian bookstore.

The book is about the relationship between sisters and about their individual struggles in life. I absolutely loved the relationship between Emily and Jess. Maybe it is because my sister and I are BFFs, but I love stories about sisters because it reminds me how awesome it is to have someone that knows you so well you don't have to say everything to be understood. Beyond the relationship between Emily and Jess, the story shares the lessons they learn as they each try to fight the allure of power, money and relationship struggles.

I loved both books. The Happiness Project gets 5 stars and The Cookbook Collector gets 4 stars.

The Butterfly Effect by Andy Andrews

Have you ever read The Travelers Gift by Andy Andrews? No? Well you should. You should also read this little book by the same author called The Butterfly Effect: How Your Life Matters. The book is very short and very worth the read. It is inspiring and makes you realize just how much you, and especially what you do, matter.

The story begins with an explanation of the scientific principle of the butterfly effect. The butterfly effect is a complex metaphor that explains how small things produce big things in the long term (that is a very, very simple explanation because that's about all that my brain can understand). The story then blossoms into examples of how the butterfly effect applies to people. Things that you do will effect your children and so forth down the line of generations.

The book is quick and very interesting so take about 20 minutes and read it!

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

I did it again...I went to Costco to buy food and checked out with two books in my cart. One of them was Nicholas Sparks' new book, Safe Haven. Now, now, don't judge me...I like sappy love stories sometimes. Courtesy of Amazon, here is a summary of the book:

When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.

But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo's empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven.

Now for my thoughts. I was really enjoying the book and I really loved the story. BUT, I feel like I needed another chapter at the end. Also, there were parts of the ending that I didn't really like and left me a bit on the confused side. These thoughts propelled me to give the book 3 stars on Goodreads. All in all, a great Nicholas Sparks read that took very little time to finish and left me with the satisfaction of a sappy love story. Mission accomplished.

In A Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving by Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy

This book was a positive beacon in my book pile this week. I had 9 books checked out from the library that I had accumulated and only 1 week to read. So, I did what any red-blooded English major would do. I read the first 10 pages, and if the book didn't grab me, I took it back. Suffice it to say, by the time I closed this one, I had read 54 pages. And naptime was over.

I have been on a "finding more happiness" kick in my reading recently, and this book really caught the essence of how serving and helping and giving will teach you to be happy. Of course, it doesn't hurt that the authors of the book have an incredible legacy of giving (think The Blind Side...) and being recognized for it.

I loved the occasional snarky writing, loved the down-to-earth personality of the authors, and just loved the message that you can ALWAYS find someone who needs what you have to offer, whether it be money, time or love.

"Insignifcant Moments" by Jeremy Asher

Insignificant Moments by Jeremy Asher is a book telling the story of three characters over a five year period. Jaye is a 27 year old librarian that is overly cautious in his life and is struggling with a quarter life crisis. Julie is a young woman trying to figure out how much compromise is too much in her marriage and when she will get the chance to have a say in her life. Anna is a young widow with two children who is searching for stability after her life fell apart following her husband's death.

The three characters, each in their own way, find strength in those small and seemingly insignificant moments. The book is predictable yet very charming. It was a feel good book that was a quick read for a day you want to be reminded to enjoy the moment. I suggest this for one of those rainy fall days when all you want to do is read a book and eat delicious fall soups!

Holy...Mockingjay comes out tomorrow!!

We can't wait. And to top it off, Katie is coming to Texas for a GLORIOUS 10-day visit. Can I get a yee-haw?

The Lacemakers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri

LOVED IT!!

I am glad that I took a course in contemporary Irish theatre (it was a capstone class for my English major) because I feel like I appreciate better anything belonging to the Emerald Isle.

The concept of this story is about a woman running from her problems in the states to her ancestral home of Ireland. Initially, this idea turned me off big time due to my issues with Eat, Pray, Love, but I think Barbieri really took the novel to a different place. I love that she actually helped this little hamlet of Glenmara, and I loved the premise of doing it through lingerie. (If that's not a tantalizing tidbit that makes you want to read it, we probably don't have the same taste.)

I especially enjoyed her landscape descriptions...I want to go to Ireland in a big way, and this was just another stone in the pot.

4 stars.

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe

This novel was a little slow for me at the beginning, but it was a very interesting take on a classic (reminiscent of The Crucible). Rather than blaming the Salem witch trials on chauvinism or religious repression, it brings the concept of alchemy into the picture. I thought it was interesting.

I would recommend it for anyone interested in the period or the Salem witch trials. Otherwise, it may be a little difficult to get into it.

3 stars.

Peace out.

Covenant Hearts: Marriage and the Joy of Human Love by Bruce C. Hafen

I have slowly read Covenant Hearts: Marriage and the Joy of Human Love over the last few months. I would read a chapter here and there but didn't read it consistently. It wasn't because it wasn't a good book, but really more that it was a book that gave me so much to think about that I took it slowly and one part at a time. A few weeks ago, I picked it up again and decided it was time to finish it. The author, Bruce C. Hafen, offers an LDS perspective on marriage and human love. The book really gave me a lot of good ideas to utilize in my own marriage and gave me perspective on all relationships. I especially enjoyed the chapter on charity and I am trying to implement it more in my life. I highly recommend this book regardless of whether you are married or how long you have been married. It gave me a lot of perspective on why a marriage is not only important to the couple but to their family/children and also their community. It is a great read so check it out!

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Almost every time that I go to Costco, I walk past all of the books and see what catches my eye. Even though I have a never ending stack of books on my night stand, I always want more. I am selfish like that with my books. A couple of months ago, I was on my regular walk by and I saw this book, Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay. This is one of my best finds and I would like to thank Costco for always providing me with books to read (and with good food to eat while I read the books...)

Rather than go into the plot from my perspective, mainly because I am still processing everything I read, this is a synopsis from Barnes and Noble:

Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is brutally arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup, but not before she locks her younger brother in a cupboard in the family's apartment, thinking that she will be back within a few hours.
Paris, May 2002: On Vel’ d’Hiv’s 60th anniversary, journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article about this black day in France's past. Through her contemporary investigation, she stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that connect her to Sarah. Julia finds herself compelled to retrace the girl's ordeal, from that terrible term in the Vel d'Hiv', to the camps, and beyond. As she probes into Sarah's past, she begins to question her own place in France, and to reevaluate her marriage and her life.

Tatiana de Rosnay offers us a brilliantly subtle, compelling portrait of France under occupation and reveals the taboos and silence that surround this painful episode.

Along with that synopsis, I just add my recommendation that it is a really great read. The story is fascinating and so well written. I don't know what it is lately, but I have really enjoyed the last several books that I have read. I hope the trend continues because I am loving these books.

These Is My Words by Nancy E. Turner

Have you ever read a fictional novel and when you turn the last page, you wished it was a true story? After finishing These Is My Words, I really wished it was a true story so that I could google the name of the character and learn more about her life. These Is My Words is a novel of journal entries from a feisty western woman named Sarah Agnes Prine. Sarah was 17 when the book begins and she and her family are traveling in a wagon train from the Territories to Texas. She has no formal education and only a rudimentary knowledge of the alphabet, but she taught herself to read and write. Sarah is nowhere near the polite and lady-like woman that others expect and some look down on her for her seriously awesome survival skills (which obviously baffles me considering the fact that I just called them seriously awesome).

The journal covers twenty years of Sarah's life and, believe me, there is enough in those twenty years to keep you turning the pages. Sarah is a very feisty and independent woman who fights to keep her family alive as they encounter tragedy after tragedy as they travel along the trail, including the loss of Sarah's father and little brother. The best news is that she and her remaining family end up in the Arizona Territory, familiar and not far from where they began their journey.

Life in the Territories is rough business and there isn't really a dull week in her life. These Is My Words is a fabulous book and I REALLY recommend it. I got so obsessed with her story that I really was disappointed that it was fiction because I wanted Sarah to be real so that I could find out everything about her.

To wrap it up, read the book, you will love it. If you don't, I am sorry.

Have A Little Faith by Mitch Albom

I loved Tuesdays With Morrie but didn't really love The Five People You Meet In Heaven as much so I didn't know what to expect when I picked up Mitch Albom's new book but I ended up loving it as much as I did Tuesdays With Morrie.

Have A Little Faith is a true story about Mitch Albom being asked to give the eulogy at his childhood rabbi's funeral. He was shocked because he felt unworthy because he had gradually pulled away from his faith over the years and would not be the person to eulogize such a great spiritual leader, but he agreed. He spends several years getting to know the rabbi more personally than he had when he was younger and in the process, he finds faith again. During this time, he also meets a fascinating preacher in his hometown of Detroit who changes his attitude on judging people.

The story is inspiring and I really liked it. It gives a few tidbits to add to your life and reminds you of the importance of faith.

Story of my life...

I know that we started this blog with the intention of us being all critique-y and stuff, but seriously? Where does my life keep slipping away to? (AGH, English major, don't end a sentence with a preposition!!) Due to personal life getting in the way, my reading has gone RIGHT out the window.

That being said, I was talking to one of my teacher friends about reading and writing (yeah, teachers are that weird...We really talk about work ALL THE TIME), and it got my English heart all a-flutter. I can't wait to get reading again. Hopefully, next week with our 26-hour drive to Texas, I can squeeze a few hours in. Yes, you read that right...26 hours, two kiddos under 3, dead heat of summer. Crazy? Yes.

Here's the list of books in my future: (hopefully...It is my birthday on Monday, and all of my birthday money is allotted to building my library)

*Extraordinary Groups: How Ordinary Teams Achieve Amazing Results (don't ask)
*The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews (looks like a little brain candy)
*The Lace Makers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri
*The Color of Lightning by Paulette Jiles
*Private by James Patterson (I think Katie will love this)
*Her Fearful Symmetry by Audry Niffeneger (author of Time Traveler's Wife)
*Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner
*In A Heartbeat by Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy (Think Blind Side)
*Foreign Influence by Brad Thor (another one with Katie in mind)
*The Rembrandt Affair by Daniel Silva

And, just for my own self, I'm totally buying the new Williams-Sonoma cookbook at Costco...Entertaining with the Seasons...Can't wait.

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

I know that I am behind on the times here but I just finished reading The Screwtape Letters for the first time. Why did I wait so long to read it? It is such an amazing book and I can't stop thinking about it. The satire is incredible and every page gave me more and more to think about. It made me consider how I was handling my life and whether or not I was letting Satan have power over me. Lewis sheds light on how the little things are how we are brought down.

One of my favorite parts of the book is a commentary by C.S. Lewis at the end of the book. C.S. Lewis says, "Though I had never written anything more easily, I never wrote with less enjoyment...But though it was easy to twist one's mind into the diabolical attitude, it was not fun, or not for long. The strain produced a sort of spiritual cramp. The world into which I had to project myself while I spoke through Screwtape was all dust, grit, thirst and itch. Every trace of beauty, freshness, and geniality had to be excluded. It almost smothered me before I was done. It would have smothered my readers if I had prolonged it."

The entire book was fascinating and I loved it! If you are someone that hasn't read it, I suggest you do.

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

Every time that someone asked me lately what I was reading and I told them I was reading The Postmistress, they gave me a questioning look. No, this book is not about a mistress. Read this review and then read the book, it is a great World War II era book.

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake is a remarkable novel about three women whose lives are loosely intertwined during World War II. The war is ravaging in Europe but America is not yet involved.
Iris James is a single woman who arrives in Franklin, Massachusetts to take the position of postmistress (a woman in charge of a post office, aka postmaster). Iris prides herself in the order and reason of her post office. She is at the center of Franklin society and knows almost everything about everyone but keeps things in confidence. Emma Fitch is the new bride of the young town doctor who has just arrived in Franklin. Emma has dreamed for years to find the feeling of home after her parents died when she was young. She feels lost and empty when her new husband leaves to volunteer in war torn London, promising to return in six months. Frankie Bard is an American journalist reporting from London, delivering powerful and heart-wrenching stories. Frankie is reporting on the blitz in London hoping to wake up Americans and make them see what the war is doing to Europe.

Each woman questions how the stories of life are written and whether or not they have a say. Do things just happen or do we have control? Are there things that are better left unsaid or is it our obligation to share our experiences and share things with the world? What is our role in life?

It was a book that has left me thinking long after I finished the last page. I really enjoyed it!

Term Limits by Vince Flynn

So since I love political novels, people have been telling me to read a Vince Flynn book. I finally got the first book that he wrote and I loved it. It is called Term Limits and it is pretty intense. The book is about the corruption in Congress and national politics and begins at the crazy time of year when the president is trying to pass his budget for the year. The budget time of year is just as crazy in real life so I felt like I could relate to the book! The president and his staff are rushing to get the votes for the budget to pass and twisting plenty of arms, bribing and blackmailing to get those necessary votes.

At the same time, some angry former military men have been planning for several months to take matters into their own hands and demand that reforms are made in the government. They are tired of the corruption in the government and the leader of the group has a personal vendetta against a certain politician. On the eve of the big budget vote, the group acts and murders four of the most powerful, and corrupt, politicians in office.

A young freshman congressman who already abhors the corruption in DC and has decided to not run again and remain a one term member is brought into the middle of everything when he realizes that he knows who committed the murders. However, he isn't sad that the four men murdered are gone. He is more worried about the killers.

The book had pretty much everything I love: mystery, politics, DC life, and military history. All rolled into one book. I loved it and I think I will go and read the next Vince Flynn book now...

Texas Roads by Cathy Bryant

I was given a copy of Texas Roads by Cathy Bryant to review for another book blog. The novel grabbed my interest from the very beginning of the book. I started the book before work, read on my lunch break and then picked it up as soon as I could that evening and finished it, in other words, I loved it and I finished it ridiculously fast.

Texas Roads is a Christian novel about Dani Davis, a woman from the big city of Dallas who embarks on a trip to visit her aunt, that she has never met, in small town Miller's Creek, Texas. Dani is searching for a place to call home and for any type of peace after her father dies and her already unhappy marriage ends when her husband is killed in a car accident.

As she nears Miller's Creek, her car runs out of gas, she locks her keys in the car and a Texas rain storm makes the situation even worse. She is saved by a cowboy who she instantly alienates with her city attire and her sour attitude. She doesn't realize until she arrives at her aunt's home that the cowboy, Steve, is a pseudo son that watches over her aunt and she will have to work to change her first impression. As time goes by, the relationship with Steve goes through several bumps as they struggle with the tension and mistrust of each other as they develop a friendship.

During her stay in Miller's Creek, she falls in love with the town and wants to help revitalize the town, which has been struggling since the railroad cut the route through town. Just as she begins to feel peace and feel like she is needed, malicious rumors begin in town and she is alienated from the town and people she has grown to love. She continues to fight for the town but feels the pain of loneliness return.

Cathy Bryant has an exceptional writing style that skillfully develops lovable characters, highlights so many traditions of small town Texans, and tells a dramatic story of a woman who struggles with trust after being betrayed by her husband and searches for meaning in her life and a place to call home. The story is inspirational and well written, I recommend it if you want a novel that portrays good values and tells a good story!

The Hand of Fate by Lis Wiehl

The Hand of Fate is centered on three friends, one is a crime reporter, one is a federal prosecutor, and the other is an FBI special agent. They work together to solve the high profile murder of a nationally known radio talk show personality, Jim Fate, who was known for making people angry with his outspoken views on his polarizing talk show. Cassidy, the crime reporter, knows Jim more personally than she is letting on, even to her friends Allison, the prosecutor and Nicole, the special agent. The secrets she keeps add interesting twists throughout the book.

Cassidy, Allison and Nicole each struggle with their own personal demons as they investigate the death of Jim Fate. Each of their stories touch on struggles that women everywhere face. Lis Wiehl skillfully crafts a thriller novel that kept me focused on the book and forgetting my to do list. I really enjoyed this book and I liked the way that she told each individual story while continuing a center focus that brought everything together.

The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood

I can't put my finger on why I couldn't get through this book. I typically love Margaret Atwood's writing, but this book just couldn't grab my attention. It was way too fragmented at the beginning. I followed my 50 page rule, and let's just say that it was a relief to close the book and pack it away in my suitcase on page 51. I was traveling, and wanted something I could get into quickly...This did not suffice. I guess I'll save this one for a time when I don't have 50 other books sitting on my shelf waiting to be read.

I love the cover, though.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Even though I realize we are not the first to read this series, we thought we'd add our names to the pile.

The second book in the trilogy, Catching Fire, was way more awesome than the first in my mind. I felt more desperate to finish (didn't think that was possible after Hunger Games) and MUCH more let down to have to wait for the next one.

I love the relationship between Peeta and Katniss. It just makes me SO excited to see how Collins resolves it.

And I loved the way I felt like I was also trying to "solve the arena" in this one.

So, my husband is reading it right now...Therefore, while this is not a review at all, this is going to count as my opinion of Catching Fire. I consider this a MUST READ.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is an amazing book and I loved it. It also fulfilled the Youth Fiction category on this.

The Hunger Games is set in the future and in the area that was formerly North America. It is a new nation with an overwhelmingly powerful government, called the Capitol, that oversees 12 districts that the government created. Every year, the Capitol holds the Hunger Games, a gruesome and horrible competition. A girl and a boy between the ages of 12 and 18 is chosen from each of the 12 districts to compete for their district. The competition is a fight to the death and the last one standing wins. Katniss is 16, from District 12, and after her little sister's name is the one chosen, she volunteers to take her sister's place in the competition. She knows it is a death sentence for herself but she knows she has a better chance than her little sister. Katniss knows a lot about survival but she is going up against others from the richer districts that have trained for the event for their entire lives.

I highly recommend this book and I think you should all read it. Megan read it too and I am sure she will sing the praises as well.

Body for Life for Women

I have found some indispensable information in this book for my clients. I would recommend this book if you want to get in shape but don't know exactly where to start. The author, Dr. Peeke, is very educated but down-to-earth in the narration.

She deals with the "mind" element of losing weight, which is usually the greatest obstacle for most women trying to lose weight.

While the "muscle" section is a bit general (for good reason), it is a good jumping-off point. I don't have much use for it since I have a little more in-depth knowledge of that area, but if you're trying to lose weight on your own without a professional (like a trainer or something), this would be a great reference.

The most useful part for my clients has been the "mouth" (food) section. This is where, in my opinion, you have the most control.

I recommend this book...It's a goodie.

Belong to Me by Marisa de los Santos

I love this author's voice. This book is a sequel of sorts to a book I read a couple of years ago, called Love Walked In. For a great and thorough review of this book, see here. (thanks Jac)

Marisa de los Santos paints words. There is no other way to describe it. Everything feels so beautiful. If nothing else, this book is worth the read simply for the language....the metaphors, OH, the metaphors.

So, theme. The story deals with belonging: friendship, romantic and family relationships alike. There were so many twists to the relationships (particularly the Lake/Dev, Cornelia/Piper, and Cornelia/Teo) that my brain was kind of spinning once I picked up on the intertwined story.

The cons: some parts were predictable, and some language - not as bad as Love Walked In if I remember right, but enough to be mildly offensive to some.

I don't want to give anything away, but I very much enjoyed this book. Pick it up. You'll like it.

The Anatomy of Peace by The Arbinger Institute

Is anyone else ADDICTED to self-help books? Because I sure am. And this was an AWESOME one.

It begins with a story of a dad and mom who have taken their son to a wilderness rehab program. The parents are required to go through a two-day seminar to prepare them to treat their child differently when the child completes the program.

The principles they are taught are what make up the meat of this book. I felt completely inspired to get "out of the box" and always try to see and treat people as people rather than objects.

I loved this book, which I read based on a suggestion by one of our ecclesiastical leaders. He recommended this book in conjunction with Leadership and Self-Deception, also by the Arbinger Institute. I read that one a few years ago with my family. The Anatomy of Peace was a perfect reminder and expander for me. Hopefully someday I'll be a better person after all this reading!

Plain Pursuit by Beth Wiseman

Plain Pursuit by Beth Wiseman is exactly like a Hallmark movie. The book is very predictable but yet a feel good book that you smile and cry just a little as you read. Plain Pursuit is about a woman named Carley that is forced to take a vacation from work as a journalist after a car accident takes the life of her mother and seriously injures her. Her editor felt like her writing was suffering and the only solution was to force her into vacation. Carley decides to take the time to visit her best friend that had recently converted to the Amish faith and lifestyle and was living in Amish country, Pennsylvania.

When she arrives in Pennsylvania, she is almost immediately thrown into the middle of a crisis. She finds a great deal of peace with the simplicity of the Amish life and begins to find herself that she had lost when her world crashed down after the accident.

The story is touching and very Hallmark. If you like Hallmark movies (which, I will admit, I totally do) then you will probably like this very quick read.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

The Help by Kathryn Stockett is a novel set in Jackson, Mississippi during the 1960s, in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement. The story is about three women, two black women who are the hired help that raise white babies but are not trusted to polish silver or touch valuables and a white woman that begins to realize that changes need to be made in Jackson. The story is eye opening and incredibly inspiring. This book truly deserves the rave reviews that I have heard from many different people.

I really can't do a synopsis justice, the book is just so amazing and I can't seem to paraphrase it. I will just say to all of you, READ IT!

Potty Training in One Day by Narmin Parpia

I guess I'm not really qualified to review the book since I haven't actually tried its methods yet, but I felt that the book had good information and I'm willing to try this technique with my little buddy. I like the idea of not dragging potty training out if we can at all help it. I really like the modeling concept taught in the book.

On the downside, I think it takes a certain personality in a kid for this to be possible. I'm hoping mine has that personality, but I have lots of friends whose children DON'T have it. So, that is rough. According to the book, timing is everything with potty training. I'm worried that we're going to miss our window, but the book does lay out some specific guidelines as to when you kiddo is ready.

Anyway, more later to let you know if it worked for my little one.

The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean

This novel was an interesting fusion of dealing with Alzheimer's and shocking history. The main character, Marina, is an old woman who is losing touch with the present while recalling in perfect detail her past experience as a museum tour guide in the Hermitage in Leningrad during World War II.

I loved the art described in the book. It was beautiful, and made me run to the Hermitage's website to get a better mental image of the paintings and the halls.

I was also intrigued by the siege of Leningrad, not something I have ever heard or read about. As the author says, "I had never been taught in school about the Soviet Union's role in the Second World War...I had never heard about the siege of Leningrad." One of the Russian women she spoke with responded, "But we stopped Hitler...Over 2 million people died." I was disturbed a bit by the fact that we DON'T learn this in school.

It was a great book. Read it.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli & Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

As part of this goal, I picked up Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli to fulfill the youth fiction category. It is a book about a high school in Arizona. There is a girl that has been home schooled her entire life but then decides to go to a public school. She is incredibly different and everyone thinks she is completely crazy. She doesn't care what people think about her and she continues to do whatever she wants. Slowly, people begin to recognize the beauty of her being different. One of my favorite lines in the books is, "It is a rebellion she led, a rebellion for rather than against."

It is a fabulous book and I highly recommend it!

After I finished Stargirl, I also read the sequel Love, Stargirl that continues the story. I didn't love the sequel as much as the first book, but I did still enjoy it. Go read at least Stargirl!!

MIA

I've been frantically reading so I would have something to post on this blog. However, in all of my frantic reading, I've now started 7 books and finished none.

So, rather than review any, just wanted to give you a heads up for what to look forward to...Here are the books I'll be reviewing. Hopefully before my children move out.

*Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child
*Cleopatra's Daughter (don't have to review it thanks to my sis)
*The Anatomy of Peace
*You Belong to Me
*On My Own Two Feet (I'm re-reading this one since I just got my own copy)
*Parenting With Love and Logic
*Body for Life for Women

I also started but don't plan on finishing:

*A New Earth
*Find Your Strongest Life

Tell me if you think I'm making a mistake by passing on these two.

Also on my bookshelf for future reading:

*Nefertiti
*The Heretic Queen
*Women of Covenant (I've been "reading" this for about a year)

I saw The Moment Between by Nicole Baart as a recommended book on Amazon and I am pretty glad that I took the recommendation. Although the story was a little slow at times, I really enjoyed the book. Instead of trying to summarize it myself, I am going to just steal the synopsis from the back of the book because it was what drew me in.

"Abigail Bennett was completely in control of her life until tragedy pushed her to the brink of something she’d never experienced: obsession. Now, she’s given up everything she’s ever worked for to chase down the object of that obsession. His name is Tyler Kamp. As Abigail follows him across the border into Canada to a beautiful winery in British Columbia, her journey is awash in memories of family and childhood, especially those of her younger sister, Hailey. Dangerously beautiful yet indefinably needy, Hailey seemed to take all the risks Abigail avoided. Until now. But even as Abigail races into her future, her past continues to pull her back. Only when she is brought to the edge of her obsession will she be able to come to terms with the tragedy that ignited it. A breathtaking story about the emotional risks of relationships, The Moment Between explores the cost of regret, the desire for revenge, and the redemptive power of forgiveness."

It was an interesting look at the effect that mental illness has on an entire family. The story was intriguing and I thought it was well written. If you have a hard time getting through it at the beginning, keep reading, the story really is intriguing.

Books, Books, Books

I saw an idea on a friend's blog, who saw it on another friend's blog, to read 100 books in a year. The way that she is going to accomplish her goal of reading 100 books is to choose 10 categories and then choose 10 books from each of those categories. Hence, you have 100 books. I like this idea so that I can expand my reading. However, I don't think I can really do the full shebang so I am going to alter the goal for myself...I am going to just start with 1 book in each of the 10 categories and go from there.

Here are my 10 categories:

1. Biography/memoir
2. Classics
3. Oprah's book club list
4. Books written or published in the year I was born (1984)
5. Books set in my hometown (currently Northern Virginia/Washington, D.C.)
6. Marriage/relationships
7. NY Times Best Sellers List
8. Books that were made into movies
9. Historical fiction
10. Youth fiction

If anyone has any suggestions for any of the categories, let me know, I would really appreciate it!

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

I absolutely loved Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. It is a story about Henry, a Chinese American, who was born in the Chinatown of Seattle. The story is set in the 1940s and also in the 1980s as Henry is looking back on his childhood. Henry was raised by his strict Chinese parents to embrace his Chinese ancestry. Therefore, Henry becomes confused when his parents take him out of the Chinese elementary school he was attending, enroll him in an all-American elementary school, and then forbid him from speaking their native language of Cantonese and insist that he speak English at all times even though they can only understand a small percentage of English. Because his parents can hardly understand English and he cannot communicate with them in Cantonese, he feels completely isolated from his parents. Not only is he isolated at home but he is ostracized at his new elementary school so he feels very alone, until he meets a new friend.

His new friend, Keiko Okabe, is a Japanese American girl that is also enrolled in the all-American elementary school. Keiko is also ostrasized and forges a deep relationship with Henry. The two of them become very close despite the prejudices of the time period. As the friends grow closer and closer, all of the Japanese Americans were evacuated to internment camps by order of the government, despite the fact that many of them were American citizens. Henry is, of course, completely devastated but promises that he will find her again.

This book is amazing and I highly recommend it, especially if you like a little bit of history in your novels. Enjoy!

Fearless by Max Lucado

I just read Fearless by Max Lucado and I have to admit, I really didn't like it. I have heard so many rave reviews of Max Lucado's books so I decided to give one a try and I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I felt like the thoughts were too scattered and the book lacked the depth that I expected. I did like the overall theme of not allowing fear to overtake your life, but I personally did not feel like the chapters flowed together nor that the ideas came together.

I have heard that some people have absolutely loved the book so if you have enjoyed Max Lucado books in the past, give it a try. But, as my opinion, I read better books over my holidays!

The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone

This is by no means a new novel. In fact, it was first published in the early 1960's. However, the premise of this novel is timeless, as it's capturing the art and life of Michelangelo.

Even after finishing this lengthy novel, I still can't pinpoint exactly what it is that kept me reading. Perhaps it fascinated me that the researcher (Stone) was so precise, so I felt that it was extremely accurate. Or maybe it was watching Michelangelo develop as he learned to channel his love of art into incredible works that I have seen multiple times but never appreciated as a concept coming from a human mind. Possibly, I loved it because I secretly want to take a one-month trip to Italy just to sit in front of old paintings and statues. Whatever the reason, I loved this book.

Read it. I know you'll love it. (Extra points for whoever can name that movie.)

*Thanks to Amazon.com for the picture

The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance by Elna Baker

If you have ever spent any time as a single person in the LDS culture, you may or may not be able to relate to this novel. I laughed out loud at multiple parts of the book, mostly while cringing and recollecting some horrendous dating experiences of my own.

There is definitely more raunchy content in this book than most penned by LDS authors, so watch out. I think the author phrases it well when she cautions her parents at the beginning of the book that there are "9 F-words, 13 Sh-words, 4 A-holes" and that they should avoid chapters 21-23 and most of the ending.

This is not a must-read, but it's a could-read if you have a thicker skin and don't get offended by people who question their faith in compromising situations.