Jonah, book #31

Just finished Jonah today.  I have read this several times and heard the story about 1000, but Jay's take on it this past Sunday was super interesting.  Hint, it's not all about the whale.  Take a listen here.

O:)
Melissa

Two are Better, book #30

Several weeks ago this book showed up on our doorstep ~ and the doorstop of everyone in our neighborhood!  The authors, Tim and Debbie, live in our neighborhood now and as a "Corona-Gift" gave a copy to everyone here.

I loved reading this book and following along nervously and excitedly with them.  This video gives a recap of the book, although I just found it today after I finished the book.    

If you are in the mood for adventure or curious if dreams are really worth it, I highly recommend you get a copy of this book today!

Waiting upon the Lord takes on new meaning when you've been searching for companionship for over thirty years. Such was the case for Tim and Debbie Bishop. At age 52, the couple finally found in each other that special someone they'd been searching for years to marry. They moved from marriage proposal and wedding, to Tim's "retirement" and relocation, to embarking on their cycling adventure in only ten weeks. (picture and description at Amazon)

Happy Reading!

O:)
Melissa

Old Testament Books, books #14-29

And since I am reading the Bible through this year, I cannot forget to record those books!

Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
1 Chronicles
Job
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon

Roger, Katie and I are reading the Bible through with our church.  It's really fun to read along with Katie at breakfast (during our "stay at home" time, not sure what it will look like next week when I go back to work) because some of these stories are the first time she is reading them, or seeing Bible stories she heard growing up in context.  We are following a plan by George Guthrie called "Reader's Guide to the Bible."  

I hope I can keep up with her because there is some serious shaming that goes on when you get behind!  ;)

Happy Reading!

O:)
Melissa

Summer of Promise, Book #13

Just finished reading this for Book Club.  Another 5 star for me ~ 1880s wild west.  No pioneers or indians, but still love the time period!


Though she had planned to spend the summer in Vermont, Abigail Harding cannot dismiss her concerns over her older sister. Charlotte's letters have been uncharacteristically melancholy, and her claims that nothing is wrong ring false, so Abigail heads west to Fort Laramie, Wyoming. When her stagecoach is attacked, Wyoming promises to be anything but boring. Luckily, the heroics of another passenger, Lieutenant Ethan Bowles, save the day.  Abigail plans to marry when she returns to Vermont, just as soon as she attends to her sister. As the summer passes, she finds herself drawn to this rugged land and to a certain soldier determined to persuade her to stay. When summer ends, will she go back East, or will she find her heart's true home?  (picture and description at Amazon)

And, since this is the first book in a series, there is the eternal debate ~ do I go read the next ones in the series, even though I have plenty of other books to keep me busy, or just leave the other sisters out there, forever wondering what happened to them??

Alas ....

O:)

Melissa

Little Fires Everywhere, Book #12

So this was interesting.  I had seen the ads for the show and had our home girl Reese Witherspoon in it.  It looked interesting but I didn't think much else about it.  When we were in Huntsville the other week I saw Rebecca had this book and she told me I should take it and read it.  Her last recommendation to me, Just Mercy, ended up being good so I decided to read this too.  

It took me a while to get into it, but in the end I loved it - for a non-Christian book.  Sorry not sorry if that offends, but I just prefer to not read books with lots of language and sex in them.  All the characters had troubles, but I think Izzy's trouble is the one that broke my heart the most.  Not to give too much away, but about 1/3 of the way through the author tells a back story about when Izzy was born and if Elena had explained to her why she seemed to "be on her" more than the others it might have made her not be so rebellious.  

I do love the way the author would be in the present and very easily ~ before you even realize it ~ slip into the past, or into another scene that was playing out simultaneously, then bring you right back where she started.  It made the story all the more rich, without feeling like you never knew which "time" or "place" you were in.

In Shaker Heights, a placid, progressive suburb of Cleveland, everything is planned—from the layout of the winding roads, to the colors of the houses, to the successful lives its residents will go on to lead. And no one embodies this spirit more than Elena Richardson, whose guiding principle is playing by the rules. Enter Mia Warren—an enigmatic artist and single mother—who arrives in this idyllic bubble with her teenaged daughter Pearl, and rents a house from the Richardsons. Soon Mia and Pearl become more than tenants: all four Richardson children are drawn to the mother-daughter pair. But Mia carries with her a mysterious past and a disregard for the status quo that threatens to upend this carefully ordered community. When old family friends of the Richardsons attempt to adopt a Chinese-American baby, a custody battle erupts that dramatically divides the town—and puts Mia and Elena on opposing sides.  Suspicious of Mia and her motives, Elena is determined to uncover the secrets in Mia’s past. But her obsession will come at unexpected and devastating costs.  Little Fires Everywhere explores the weight of secrets, the nature of art and identity, and the ferocious pull of motherhood—and the danger of believing that following the rules can avert disaster.  (picture and description from Amazon)

Now back to our Book Club Book since we are FINALLY meeting next week IN REAL LIFE!!!  

Keep Reading!

O:)
Melissa

A (wildly) Wonderful Wedding, book #11

Great little quick read.  Like watching a Hallmark movie, you know how it is going to end, but you want to see how its going to get there ...

They may be the worst maid of honor and best man in the history of weddings…  Five years ago, Drake and Danielle had a whirlwind summer romance—but on the day they were going to elope, Drake got cold feet and took the coward’s way out. Now a successful business owner, Drake is more than a little concerned when his best friend announces his upcoming nuptials—to the woman he’s only dated a little over a month.    Danielle is shocked when her best friend announces she’s getting married—in two months—to her boyfriend of a whole whoppin’ month. And then she meets the best man. Drake? Her friend is marrying the best friend of her ex-fiancé? She has to do something to help her friend see that this hasty wedding is a mistake. But she can’t do it alone. Will Drake and Danielle be able to work together to stop this crazy, wild wedding, or will they lose their hearts again in the process?  (picture and description at Amazon)

Wonder how much time I'll have to read once I get back to work?  For now I'm just plugging along down my list ...

Keep Reading!
O:)
Melissa

The Quilter's Daughter and The Bishop's Daughter, books 9 and 10

   

Well, I'm finally done with this series.  I guess it has just been a while since I have read Wanda Brunstetter, or maybe I just haven't read three books straight of hers, but it got a little old.  In all three books there was a sub-plot going on and I was more interested in the sub-plot than the actual story.  I'm glad they were all published when I read them because I would not have wanted to wait for a year or more to find out what would happen with this insane sub-plot.  And this sub-plot literally resolved on the very last page of the book.  

No spoilers, but if you have questions I'll be happy to answer them.  

The Quilter's Daughter:

Abby Miller leaves her successful quilt shop and patient fiance in Ohio to help her newly-remarried and now pregnant mother in Lancaster County. While she's away, Abby's world is shattered in one fell swoop. How can God make anything good come out of this tragedy? With shaken faith, Abby is forced to look for answers away from friends and family. Will she find them in the ashes of the past, in her love of quilting, or in the heart of an overlooked Amish man?  (picture and description at Amazon)

The Bishop's Daughter:

Leona is Bishop Jacob Weaver's daughter and a dedicated teacher in a one-room Amish schoolhouse. After her father's tragic accident, Leona's faith wavers. How could God allow something like this to happen to one of His servants? Outlander Jimmy Scott comes to Pennsylvania in search of his real family. When he is hired to paint an Amish schoolhouse, Jimmy and Leona find themselves irresistibly drawn to each other. Can anything good come from the love between an Amish woman and an English man? What secrets will be revealed and what miracles await God's people in Lancaster County? (picture and description at Amazon)

Anxious to start another book before I go back to work, but since BOOK CLUB I FINALLY MEETING THIS WEEK I'm going to see what Robi has for us!!

Keep Reading!

O:)

Melissa