Books, #4

Wrapped in a cloud of steam, the engine rolled to a stop, the screech of metal against metal filling the frosty air. Snow blew across the railway platform and around Meg’s calfskin walking boots. The weather definitely was not improving.

She ordered tea with milk and sugar, eying the currant buns and sweet mincemeat tarts displayed beneath a bell jar.
Later, perhaps, when her appetite returned. At the moment her stomach was twisted into a knot.

“Anything else for you?” the cashier asked as she handed over the tea, steaming and fragrant.

Meg was surprised to find her fingers trembling when she lifted the cup. “All I want is a safe journey home.”

“On a day like this?” the round-faced woman exclaimed. “None but the Almighty can promise you that, lass.”   (description and picture from Amazon)

Another fun book that was a fairly quick read, although I needed to stay snuggled under the covers to read it, it made me so cold!!!  :)

Funny story about this one.  It was on my list to read (aka, nightstand) but I knew I was going to be very busy the last few days and was trying to best to resist the temptation.  But then my mom called on Monday and told me her Book Club had read it and loved it.  AND, since Liz Curtis Higgs lives in Louisville (where my parents are) she actually came to their little meeting!  Of course, living here in NashVegas we are used to famous people around all the time (ha!) but my mom was in awe of meeting the author, and especially someone as famous as LCHiggs.  So then I had to toss everything aside and get started on it so I could see how awesome it was!  

Hoping to take a reading break, but this week and travelling (or getting snowed in!) looks like prime reading opportunities to me!

0:)
Melissa

Books, #3

You’ve heard it said, “Be careful what you pray for.” But it may also be a good idea to be careful who you ask to pray. Because when folks like Hattie Hopkins talk to God…anything can happen! Stuck in the semi-reclusive life she’s built for herself, Olivia Harmon is still recovering from the tragic loss of her husband and daughter five years before. Though she loves her job at Vermont’s department of tourism, she longs for something more–so she asks her landlady Hattie to pray for a little volunteer work for her to do.

Things don’t work out exactly as she had planned, however, and soon Olivia finds herself bursting out of her carefully built cocoon to undertake the nurturing of three rambunctious street children. Even her heart seems out of control, causing her to fall for Zach Springer, the handsome handyman who rode a mudslide right into her sun room. Can a woman so accustomed to self-imposed solitude adjust to a new life, a new love, and the new challenge of Raising Cain…and His Sisters? (picture and description from amazon.com)

Yep, another one down.  To be quite honest, I'm not sure where this book came from, except to say it was on my nightstand, but we all know that can mean anything ....

I'm suspicious it came from one of two places : my mother snuck it in there on her last visit (she's a bibliofile like myself) or it was a donation to the church library.  No matter where it came from, it was a *really* good read, even if a little heavy on details.  I personally LOVE details in a book, but if you are looking for "sticking to the story" then you might want to pass on it. 

I am not putting this in the library at church, but if anyone is interested in reading it, let me know!

O:)
Melissa

Books, #2

Amazingly, I already finished another book.  This one was a quick read, and fit the bill for our monthly Book Club meeting next Tuesday.

Judith Graber has always been the obedient daughter. When her older brother Josh struggled with his love life, she offered wise counsel. When her younger brother Caleb flirted with the idea of leaving their order, she firmly told him he was wrong. Over the years, she’s watched her younger siblings, helped around the house, and worked in her family’s store during her spare time. Judith feels overworked, overlooked, and underappreciated this holiday season. 

But everything changes when her father hires Ben Knox. 

(descrip and pic from amazon.com)

I liked this book for the most part.  The only thing I struggled with was the speech.  Sometimes these modern day Amish, Mennonites, and englischers spoke in normal language, sometimes in german, and sometimes with a southern drawl.  And I kept trying to wrap my mind around reading a book about modern day Amish with the worrd Facebook and laptop in the story!