The Wedding Machine, Book #19

As a reminder, these posts that I am doing are completely and only my shallow opinion (I flunked English Lit 3x in college, folks, don't expect too much here!).  Please do not use these as a guide for yourself as to whether to read a certain book or not, and please do not use this to judge me.  

This book has been on my list to read for a while.  I was excited to find it on sale at my dear BAM! a few months back and finally worked my way down to it.  It is listed as a Woman of Faith Fiction book and since I had a few in my library at church already, I am always on the hunt to "fill in my holes". 

I must say I was a little disappointed in this.  Again, I guess I was looking for fun and summery, maybe a little sassy, but this book ended up being more serious than I imagined.  And again, I guess maybe my rose colored glasses still jade my view of what is proper and appropriate and acceptable before the Lord.  In this book there is a lot of social drinking, which may be ok for some, but our family feels it is wrong.  Also, there were many deep and heavy secrets that I felt weighed the book down for me.  I have decided against putting it in the library and instead left it at the cabin we vacationed at last week for someone else to enjoy. 


Welcome to Jasper, South Carolina. A place where Southern hospitality thrives. Where social occasions are done right. And where, for generations, the four most upstanding ladies of this community ensure that the daughters of Jasper are married in the proper manner.
Friends from school days, "the gals" have long pooled their silver, china, and know-how to pull off beautiful events. They're a force of nature, a well-oiled machine. But the wedding machine's gears start to stick during the summer their own daughters line up to tie the knot. In the lowcountry heat and humidity, tempers flare, old secrets leak out . . . and both love and gardenias bloom in unlikely places. (picture and description from amazon.com)

Seaside Letters, Book #18

 This book is the one we chose for our June Book Club and I must say I was a little disappointed in it.  Usually for the summer books we try to choose something light and fun and maybe a little beachy so this one seemed to fit the bill.  But either I didn't fully read the back summary, or was taken in by the cover (yes, even after all these years I confess I still judge a book by it's cover!) but it just really seemed to drag and drag and I thought I would scream my head off if the girl did not just spill the beans!!

But, that is me looking at this through my rose colored glasses and my goody two shoes life.  If I have learned anything through Book Club most people in this world have not lived my life.  Most people HAVE had trouble with affairs, cheating boyfriends, prodigal children, abusive parents, abortions, stepfamily issues, drugs, sex out of marriage, alcohol, the list goes on and on.  It takes me back to when I was in high school, probably a senior and we went to visit a local drug rehab place for teens.  When we left they gave us a sheet with statistics about how many teens do this illegal thing, that immoral thing, etc and on the bus ride home everyone was saying, "Oh yeah, I fit in that category, that category" and were laughing about it.  I could honestly say, at 17 or 18, I did not fit in any of those categories.  At first I felt "bad" about it, not being able to "brag" about what all I had done, and I tried to find at least one, but there was nothing I had done.  So I just kept my mouth shut.  But it wasn't too long before I realized how lucky I really was.  And so now, when I hear all these scary statistics about teens and high schoolers and think about my precious girls, maybe I won't be so scared.  Yes, it COULD happen to my girls, but I just pray they will be the "other" 50%, the "other" 75%, whatever, and that they will think on whatever is true, whatever is noble to guide them on their journey. 

Ok, wasn't expecting that little moment, but worth sharing nonetheless!

No matter where you are or how long until we can be together, I'll keep searching for you.-Tucker
Sabrina never intended to fall in love with Tucker McCabe, the man she serves coffee to every morning at a Nantucket cafe--especially since he's unwittingly tied to a past she deeply regrets. But she's fallen hard, though she's kept her feelings a secret.

When Tucker learns Sabrina is the research assistant for a local mystery writer, he asks Sabrina to help him with a little sleuthing of his own...locating an elusive woman he's fallen for online.

If Sabrina accepts the job, she'll spend her evenings in close proximity to a man who can never be hers. If she turns him down, he'll hire someone else--and that would be a disaster. Because if someone else sifts through all those letters and finds out the truth, Tucker will discover her secret...

That the person he's trying to find is her. (picture and descriptions from http://www.amazon.com/)

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In Search of Eden, Book #16

 
Just finished this book yesterday.  It started out really slow and I wasn't sure how I was going to be able to get through it, but about half way through it started getting good and I couldn't put it down!!!  I bought this book over a year ago on sale at BAM! because it looked interesting, but never had time to read it.  I put it in the library and the other week someone turned it in and raved about it, so I decided it was time to read it.  Never mind the other 16 books sitting on my bedside table or the new book club book or the other two new ones I bought that looked good too.  

I think I would recommend this if you can work through the first part.  Big shocker at the end!!!


Nichols’s latest effort follows the wanderings of Miranda DeSpain, a young woman who has been unable to recover from a painful adolescent experience. An upstanding drifter (she always finds gainful employment where ever she goes), Miranda finds herself in bucolic Abingdon, Virginia, where she meets an array of lovely Christian townsfolk, among them a spunky 11-year-old girl named Eden who helps Miranda find a job and a place to live. Nichols’s writing style is often engaging, and while some of her characters are clichéd (the ruggedly handsome, tough but tender leading man, for example), a few of her characters, most notably Eden, are quirky and real. Nichols blends the romance genre with a more problem-oriented women’s novel here. While there are few surprises and the many coincidences make it difficult to suspend disbelief, the plot holds together well enough, with likable characters fighting nobly against adversity and unlikable characters trying their best to change. Spiritual themes such as forgiveness and redemption are well integrated into the novel, and the Christian characters are genuine, openhearted and giving. Readers looking for sentimental yet well-written women’s fiction won’t be disappointed. (picture and review from amazon)

O:)
Melissa

The Search Committee, book #15

Just finished this this morning.  Still on the fence about how I feel about it.  There were some funny parts, but the others parts seemed very unrelated.  Books like this remind me I am no real english major, I flunked Freshman English three times!!!  All I know is what I like and don't know, but I don't always get themes, character development, etc.  I'll be curious to see what my Book Club Buddies think about it....

A mismatched team of seven hit the road in an Econoline church van on a mission to find a new pastor. They don't agree on much other than the stops at Hardee's for coffee and a biscuit. But they stick to the call, trying to slip undetected into worship services across the Southeast--all in hopes of stealing a preacher for their congregation. Each member is wrestling to balance their own busy life and personal struggles. And they're trying to keep their issues to themselves. Forced to spend countless hours together, these very different personalities from different generations begin to bond. And their lives are profoundly changed as they love and support each other through the difficulties in each of their lives. (picture and description at Amazon)

Dear Mom, book #14

 Seems fitting that this book about teenagers is #14, when Rebecca will be 14 this August.  I'm just random like that.

And, yes, this is nonfiction book #2 in one week and I'm starting another one tomorrow.  I have no idea what has gotten into me.  

But this book has ROCKED MY WORLD!!!  It says it was written by Melody Carlson (a popular YA Christian author) but I'm pretty sure it was actually written by Rebecca Campbell.  Melody takes on the persona of a girl teen when writing this book, thus making it seem like your daughter is actually talking to you.  And I'm pretty sure Rebecca Campbell would be saying these very things to me if she could.  For example, page 4:

..say I'm striving to be kinder to those around me.  I know it's the right way to be, so I'm thinking kind thoughts and asking God to help me change this area of my life.  Suddenly my younger sister, without even asking, borrows my favorite Lucky jeans and returns them ripped and dirty and buried in the bottom of my dirty-clothes hamper.

Well, that kindness goes right out the window.  Can you blame me? Yes, as a matter of fact, you can blame me, and you do.  After baby sister runs crying to you, saying that I just called her mean names and threatened her life (which may or may not be true), you side with her.  You put on your stern face and point out that I'm being selfish and mean, which really aggravates me. 

I cannot help defending myself, which only makes me look worse.  Okay, it makes me look way worse.  My voice gets loud, and my anger flares.  Will I back down? Will I admit that maybe I've been a bit harsh or a little cruel or even slightly vicious to baby sister?  Will I apologize right then and there?  Probably not, but I'm thinking about it.  Maybe I even want to bury the hatchet, but not when you're forcing me, Mom.  Not if you're scowling and shaking your finger at me ...

Well that pretty much how things start out and go "downhill" from there.  But oh my stinkin' cow did this book open my eyes and take all my question mark pieces I had about her and start putting them together.  Not all of them, for as the author says numerous times, "maybe I will, and maybe I won't.  Remember, I'm just a teenager."  All I all, I do see improvement coming to our relationship if I can just remember the things I learned.  Each chapter had a short list or two of the highlights, so I think I am going to copy those and just reread them every day.

Highly, highly, highly recommend to anyone with pre-teen or teenage girls!!!

Hear your daughter’s heart…
without the angst, arguments, or arm-wrestlingRaising a teen daughter can be like trying to chart a course underwater. You can drown in an ocean of one-word answers, defensive conversations, and unpredictable outbursts, and never get anywhere. Popular teen girls’ novelist Melody Carlson helps you cut through murky, deep, uncharted and seemingly unsafe waters so you can hear what your daughter’s really trying to tell you through her anger, silence, and mixed messages:

“I need you, but I won’t admit it.”
“I’m not as confident as I appear.”
“I have friends. I need a mother.”

Instead of focusing on outward behaviors, Dear Mom captures your daughter’s heart and soul. You can know your daughter’s hopes and fears, doubts and dreams about her identity, guys, friendships, and even you. And you can connect on a deeper, more intimate level that will carry both you and your daughter through the stormy seas of life.

(picture and description from amazon.com)

The Frazzled Female, Book #13

Ok, no I did not just read this book yesterday, but I could have, if I didn't have anything else to do.  But wait, I'm a Frazzled Female so I couldn't have had a day with nothing to do!!

I actually worked through this precious devotional book after the new year and mostly finished in mid-February.  Then I started with James from my BFF Beth Moore :) and didn't have the time to go back and recap what I learned from this.  But now, James is done and this morning I went back and reabsorbed this awesome book!  

I went through and made notes at the end of each of the six sections (one for each week) and ended up with no less than nearly 50 good things I want to remember.  I believe this book is one that is staying downstairs handy, and not shoved on a bookcase upstairs to be lost until I rediscover it again.  

I have done Cindi's short Bible Study on this before, but this particular book was a donation to the library so I grabbed it up.  I'm not even sure how long I have had it, but I thought it would be good to do this season.  I had no idea the roller coaster it would take me on!  What I love about Cindi's books on this topic is that she not only discusses the spiritual aspect, but also ties in practical information.  She takes verses that we all know and love, and totally applies them to handling your crazy, frazzled life.  And not in an "un-theological" way, but in a way that makes you realize God really does care about the dirty dishes and laundry piled up AND your attitude towards it!!!  

Here are a few of the high points of the book for me:

1. Thinking positively does not come naturally.
2. An accumulation of common daily hassles sneak up on us and rob us of joy and a positive attitude.
3. The power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power that we have to change our thought process.
4. What is in your life that the power of the Living God cannot handle?
5. We should let God schedule our day because when He is in control we can actually get done what needs to get done.
6. We should make Jesus the priority in our lives ~ we are the priority of His!!
7. Lord, when I am in a situation that makes me really mad, help to just make it not matter.
8. Sin is a THIEF that will rob you of God's blessings.
9. God doesn't want you to stay in a place of hurt, but He allowed these things to happen to bring you to a repentance.  And boy did He open my eyes to something that was BIG in my life and I didn't even see the sin in it!
10. Even when you don't feel free, you still are.

Ok, enough about me...  

If you are stressed, fatigued, overwhelmed, frustrated, and just outright exhausted to the core, you probably have the "Frazzled Female Syndrome." If you don't do something soon, your constant juggling-act will leave you a useless mess. Cindi Wood, author and speaker, teaches the "strung out and frazzled" how to manage the stresses of life with a close relationship with Jesus Christ. This 30-day devotional journal assists you in finding God's peace in the midst of chaos.(picture and description from christianbook.com)

O:)
Melissa

Secrets over Sweet Tea, Book #12

Like my new, catchy title?  Original, hunh?  Looks I only have about 113 books left for this year to make it to 125...


Instead of reading the book I needed to about how to deal with crazy teenagers I decided to jump into this one since once again Book Club was sneaking up on me.  Man, oh man, again Denise caught me off guard, made me laugh, cry, and do some soul searching for myself.  I know this book was probably hard for her to write with her history, but it was so very powerful!!!  Again, highly recommend!!!  


Secrets can be funny things. We think they keep us safe, but more often than not, they spill out when we least expect and make a mess out of everything. It’s a truth Scarlett Jo Newberry knows all too well—a truth Grace Shepherd and Zach Craig are about to learn the hard way. As the lives of this boisterous pastor’s wife, polished news anchor, and beleaguered divorce attorney intersect in the tree-lined streets of Franklin, Tennessee, scandal threatens to topple their carefully constructed worlds. Grasping at survival, they embark on a journey of friendship and courage, desperate to find a way back to laughter, love, and life. (picture and description from amazon.com)

O:)
Melissa