You Belong With Me

You Belong With Me

By Tari Faris

4 stars. Thank you to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for sending me this book to review. 

I need to preference this review by being honest... I love Hallmark movies. They make me smile, laugh, feel all warm and fuzzy and sometimes shed some tears. Why am I sharing this with you? This book read like a Hallmark movie. Plus I’m a sucker for a story line with reuniting past loves. 

Hannah is the main character in this book. She is a realtor who is trying to keep her little town of Heritage a float. She has grand ideas for town improvements, but no collateral to make her dreams come true. Besides her Heritage City dreams she also has dreams of a long lost love, her best friend from high school- Luke. 

Luke has his own dreams- renovating his foster mother’s home, becoming a leader on the fire department, and finding a way to make it right with his best friend Hannah.

Thomas, Hannah’s brother, is also struggling with love and his past when his high school sweetheart returns from her last year in Paris studying as a pastry chef- Janie. Janie doesn’t know what turned Thomas away from her. They thought she would marry him and build a family together but he dumped her with no explanation.

An easy/ beach read that was really enjoyable. Looking forward to the next book by Tari Faris in the “Heritage” series.

Love Changes Everything... Book Review

Love Changes Everything: Finding What's Real in World Full of Fake 

by Micah Berteau

2 stars.  Thank you to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for sending me this book to review.  

I believe in honesty when reviewing books and I also strongly believe not every book "speaks" to every reader.  This book was disappointing to me.  I really have been struggling since 2016 with understanding the ways of the world and the fear and hatred that we read, see and watch every day.  I try to stay positive and am always searching for answers- I was hoping the title of the book was going to address my question on where to go, what to do, and how to navigate a hatred filled world.  I was hoping the answer was going to be Love.  I think the answer is Love and I believe Micah tried to give his own view on this subject, but I really struggled to understand and follow the outline of this book.  The biblical story of Hosea and Gomer is used as an example to portray different types of love and how love works in this hard world, but the tangents I just couldn't follow.  

Just not a chattynatty read.  I'm sure one day when I write a book and publish it readers will feel the very same way about my book.  No hurt feelings Micah! 

Forged Through Fire...Book Review

Forged Through Fire: A Reconstructive Surgeon's Story of Survival, Faith and Healing

by Mark D. McDonough, MD

4.5 star read.  Thank you to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for sending me this book to review.  Mark did an amazing job sharing his story with the reader.  His story starts August 13, 1976 with a house fire, in which Mark, his brothers and mother are engulfed in flames at their family home.  His father was away on business. Mark being the oldest of boys was left in charge while his father was gone for business.  I wondered if this "charge" put Mark in the position to undergo the severity of burns he experienced due to his responsibility to ensure all were safe.  This story is truly honest, raw, and does not hold back.  Mark's experience post fire is pretty graphic at times and I wonder if some readers would be turned off by the details or if they or a loved one had experienced past trauma, like Mark, would it turn them away from reading.  I luckily have never experienced this horrific of an event in my life.  I so appreciated Mark's trusting the reader with his story which didn't hold back.  He talks about his road to recovery, the pain and suffering he endured post fire, the dysfunction and challenges of his family and self.  I was amazed with Mark's perseverance and resilience despite many challenges throughout his life.  I also appreciated his ability to weave in his "faith journey" and relationship with God throughout the pages of this book.  His words made me want to talk to God more- if that makes sense.  Lastly, I have always wondered where God is in times of trial, tribulations and utmost suffering and pain.  Mark's answer to this question I have wanted was really helpful in moving me in my own "faith journey". Thank you Mark for the answer to this hard question.  Here is his answer in paragraph form...

page 254-255  "In the wake of a horrific event..., it's common to feel dumbstruck in confusion and anger, or to be left questioning our faith.  Given the magnitude of our pain and the senseless loss of life, we feel spiritually bankrupt.  At such times, I believe the best and only recourse is to surrender.  We surrender to win, bolstering our faith that God will see us through the storms of life and ultimately cultivating light and goodness from darkness and evil.  Though we live in a fallen world, he has not abandoned us.  ... While we may not be privy to his complete plan and will, there are signs and evidence of his omnipresence and omnipotence."

Lastly this is one of my other favorite lines from the end of Mark's story...

pg 263 "Contrary to the beliefs of many, nowhere in the Bible does it say that God won't give us more than we can handle.  But much is written about how God will provide the strength we need to survive those things we fear handling.  All things are possible in his world."  

August Reads...

I've been feeling like my book reviews are getting a little stale.  I'm in awe of all the reviews I read on line an am motivated and inspired by fellow readers to "clean up" my review process- brainstorming in process to come up with how I'm going to accomplish that.  I also have been thinking a lot about how it must feel to be an author and see 1, and 2, maybe even 3 star read reviews for works you poured your heart and soul into. 

So I need to share how I rate books on the 5 star rating scale.  I'm not an analytical reader.  I'm not looking at writing style or plot development.  I'm looking at whether a book gives me a great reading experience.  I'm an emotional reader- big surprise for those who know me. 

The kind of experience that ranks a 5 star read: a book that makes me want to share it with friends, families and strangers, a book that I can't stop thinking about or talking about, a book that makes me happy to the core of my heart/being, and even books that make me feel emotions such as fear, anger, and utter sadness.  The characters in a book also really affect my book ratings.  If I connect with a character and feel like I'm part of that person's world I'm more likely to feel invested in the story.  If a character annoys the sh*t out of me, or I'm so upset with the character's actions and "being" then I'm less likely to rank that book high. 

A four star read is a book that just doesn't quite reach the top of my "reading mountain" of happiness.  However, it is enjoyable, good characters, great moving story or plot and likely one I think about off an on or would suggest to friends to read.  It doesn't hit the "jack pot" of 5 stars as it just doesn't have the extra "hump" to get it to the top of the mountain.  For instance, a little long winded or slow reading style in places.  A character or two I don't understand their purpose in the story or again they make me angry or annoyed. 

A three star read is just a "meh" book.  One that I finished.  One that had an OK story line, but no fireworks with story, characters, or emotions during the reading process.  Sometimes these are the books I wonder that if I had a different "reader's eye" would I rate them higher?  They are not books I normally suggest to others.

A two star read is a book I have likely finished, but painfully finished.  The characters are a big part of me liking a book and so these two star books are normally filled with characters I really don't enjoy at all.  Also two star books have story lines that I just don't get or can't follow.  These books I have no problem not talking about or recommending to anyone. 

A one star read is a book I likely haven't even finished.  They are books that I think are a waste of my time as I don't understand the story or I don't like the story because of the character's demeanor, and presence in the story. I have no problem vocally proclaiming my disdain for these books.  I'm sorry for these authors and mean no hurtful harm to them personally, but their book/story was not one for me.

I'm a quote person and have been keeping notebooks filled with book quotes for quite some time.  I know a good book for me is one that I'm marking pages or underlining words, phrases or full paragraphs.  I don't have a great memory.  I can't recite quotes like some of my "bookies" can. I have this dream that one day I will write my own book about reading and include many of my favorite quotes from stories I've experienced during my reading life as a way to further honor authors and my favorite "reads". 

All that said here are the books I read this past month.  I hope these reviews entice some of you to pick them up and I hope that my reviews are seen as my reviews with no strings attached- meaning no hurt feelings to the author's whose book I didn't enjoy./didn't give high stars.  One day when I write a book I will be in the same boat of judgment and will remember we write for ourselves only, not for others approval. 

Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love

by Dani Shapiro

4 stars.  Audiobook.  High praise for Dani Shapiro's honest memoir about the quest to find who her father is/was.  Her writing reads like a journalist's clean, cut writing style with added bonus of emotion as she is writing about her own life.  She reads this book on audio and I think that is almost always a bonus when listening to a memoir or biography because hearing the author's voice reading their story adds to the reading experience.  This book brings to light what many may be experiencing with the boom of all the DNA testing now available to anyone who can order on line.  These tests bring out the desire for answers like "Where are you from?" and create a more in depth question and answer with their findings -"Where are you really from?".  This was one of the final books on my Modern Mrs Darcy Summer reading list and I was happy to finish my summer reading listening to this book.  

Kitchens of the Great Midwest 

by J.Ryan Stradal

4 stars.  Audiobook.  This is our September book club pick.  I couldn't get the book in hard copy so I went with the audiobook and I really enjoyed it.  I liked hearing the Minnesota and Midwest accents throughout the reading.  Eva Thorvald has a rough start to her life.  Book reviews are sometimes hard to write because I really don't want to give away too much of the story.  So I can't really tell you why Eva's life starts rough. Nor do I want to ruin the story of how her life continues onward and despite it's beginning she comes out in the end being much more than I, the reader, ever expected.  What I so enjoyed about the book were the people.  There are many side stories occurring throughout the book.  Towards the end I was a little frustrated and just wanted to get back to Eva, so that is ultimately why I couldn't give this book a 5 star review.  I wanted more of Eva and her metamorphosis.  The Midwest towns, accents, culture, and food were an added bonus to this read.  Can't wait to heart what the "bookies" think.

Verity by Colleen Hoover

5 stars.  This book blew me away and messed with my mind for days.  I was so impressed with the story line and the creativity in the author's writing style.  If the mystery doesn't hold your interest the steamy bedroom scenes will.  Verity is an author of a popular series of books.  She has an unfortunate car accident that puts her out of commission to finish writing the series.  So her agent, along with her husband decide to bring in an author to finish the series.  Lowen Ashleigh is that author.  I just felt so many emotions for Lowen throughout the book.  She was an aspiring author who had been given the opportunity of a lifetime.  This project could bring her financial stability and even more importantly could allow her to believe in her writing and become the writer she wanted to be.  The road she takes in completing this project is where the story gets interesting.  Again- this book messed with my mind- a page turner that kept me up at night.  Read it!

The Cruelest Month 

by Louise Penny

4 stars. Audiobook.  I'm really enjoying going back and listening to all of the books in the Armand Gamache series.  I have a lot of books on my "to be read" list so some may think why are you wasting time re-reading books.  Well this series is so good I think I could every several years revisit the people and the places that make Louise Penny's writing come to life.  I really think there is a real Three Pines, Quebec Canada.  I really think there is a man named Armand Gamache, head of homicide for the Quebec police force, "Surete Du Quebec".  Her writing reads like real life to me. This is the third book in the series and it shows Three Pines in a new light as the book doesn't take place in the harsh Canadian winter, but instead at Easter.  There is mystery, deception, secrets, revenge, and the village and villagers of Three Pines.  

I Know This Much Is True 

by Wally Lamb

4 1/2 star read.  This was my "big" read of the summer.  At 897 pages this book kept me quite preoccupied for most of August.  An epic family story revolving around some tough topics: mental health, race/bigotry, abuse (physical and mental), lies/deception, and death.  Dominick and Thomas are identical twins who look identical but are not wired identically.  The story revolves around their relationship and also Dominick's search for their father's identity.  This book reminded me of Middlesex, one of my all time favorites.  It is a story within a story for part of the story takes place through the eyes of Dominick and Thomas's maternal grandfather's eyes.  Dominick reads his grandfather's autobiography and by going back in time learns about his grandfather and his mother. He ultimately has to come to terms with the present and his relationship with his brother, step-father, and himself.  

Side note- I found it interesting that this book's main story line was the quest to find out who their father was.  This is the same main story line of Irving's "A Prayer for Owen Meany".  I didn't enjoy "Owen Meany" but I did enjoy this book.  I think it all came down to the characters for me.  Owen Meany grated on my nerves and Dominick I felt compassion, pain, and understanding for.  So sometimes the "Star rating" is really all about the characters.  

May It Be So: Forty Days with the Lord's Prayer

by Justin McRoberts and Scott Erickson

3 stars.  Thanks to WaterBrook for sending me this book to review.  @WaterbrookMultnomah#Partner.  I enjoyed the "Before You Begin" part of this book and underlined/highlighted quite a bit.  I appreciated the different types of prayer they highlighted in this book- all based around the Lord's Prayer: Guided Prayer, Contemplative Imagery, Meditations.  This book could be read in one sitting or used as a daily devotional for 40 days.  Themes/Chapters in this book are based on each line from the Lord's Prayer.

The daily prayers/reflections and the artwork that mirrored each prayer/reflection did nothing for me.  They didn't speak to me.  The reflections/prayers were fine, but the artwork I didn't get and found distracting from the reflection/prayer.  Art is very "subjective" so I think it just wasn't for me.  

Some of my favorite lines from the book... Before You Begin... "Prayer, at its heart, is about the love of God.  May it be that nothing, including prayer, stands in the way of your knowing that love."

"In countless moments throughout the course of my life and growth, the words of others have given me ways to hear myself, know myself, and see what is going on inside myself."  

"each phrase of the Lord's Prayer touches on a different aspect of life and relationship, eliciting a distinctive mental and emotional response; that's part of the prayer's richness."

"The essence of prayer is the love of God, not our ability to pray."- A good reminder for all of us.  

I Miss You When I Blink

by Mary Laura Philpott

5 stars.  Audiobooks.  I loved this read.  It was real and spoke to some of my own thoughts/experiences.  Bonus points as the author reads her own book- which although it says "Essays" read like a memoir to me.  One negative to listening to books is I can't highlight, underline, or mark up pages when I read a great quote.  This book was full of quotes/thoughts that I wanted to capture in my "book of quotes" book.  So I likely will go back and read this one in hardcover form.  

It is another book from the Modern Mrs Darcy Summer reading list and I'm so grateful for being introduced to Mary Laura Philpott's writing.  This book is about real life, even when you "check all the boxes" and you think you have every duck in a row.  Anxiety, identity crises midlife, motherhood, marriage and finding one self are themes in this reading.

A Fatal Grace 

by Louise Penny

4 stars. Audiobook.  The second in the Armand Gamche series.  The story line of this mystery is a death occurs right at Christmas.  A season of joy and celebration is halted by this death and the villagers of Three Pines are wrapped up within the murder mystery, whether they want to be or not.  Armand Gamache and his team are not only dealing with the murder, but also dealing with enemies of Gamache who want him out of a job within the Surete Du Quebec.  I always appreciate the way Louise has the ability to surprise me with twists and turns I don't see coming- even the second time reading.  

Still Life 

by Louise Penny

3 stars. Audiobook.  The first in the Armand Gamache series.  I was first introduced to Louise Penny's series by one of my dearest "bookies".  I read this book for the first time almost 7 years ago (October 2012).  I was hooked from the start.  Doesn't hurt that the characters who grace the pages of her stories are so full of depth, and interest.  Three Pines, the quaint little village, I want to visit one day.  I'm not sure there is a real Three Pines, but I can dream.  This mystery was not my favorite and I do feel her books that followed were more to my liking, however, it is an easy read with the hallmarks of every mystery: death/murder, deception, lies, and emotions tied to the kill.  

Well that is it for August.  Onto September and my current nightstand holds many "books to review" so I'm hoping to breeze through them and head back to some "lengthy" books on my TBR shelf in keeping with my goal to get some "quality not quantity reading" done in 2019.