Pause to Rewind (Aimee Alexander) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

31. Pause to Rewind by Aimee Alexander
      Prompt: book by an author who uses a pen name

Synopsis:
Jenny Dempsey has exchanged life in the fast lane for freelance journalism and being a mum. She doesn't look back. Why would she? A broken engagement to her fiancé, Dave. A falling-out with her parents. And a night in a hotel room best forgotten. Life is simple now. Jenny's little boy, Charlie, is starting school, beginning to build a life independent from her. She needs to get her own back.
Life, though, has other plans. When Charlie's diagnosed with leukemia, Jenny is forced to confront her past and all that she has turned from. But she will do anything for Charlie.

My Review:

This is the story of a little boy's journey with cancer. It is told well in first person from the perspective of his mother. No one wants their child to have cancer and Jenny is no different. Through Charlie's journey, Jenny has no choice but to ask for help from people from her past that she cut off in her life as she comes to terms with his diagnosis. She comes to realize just how strong she is, the importance of family, and who her friends are.

The thing that I appreciated was that Aimee didn't shy away from the dreaded word of cancer. She provided just enough medical information about Charlie's leukemia that gave some insight to what he was going through, but didn't slow the book down. That's something you really don't see in a lot books. Some authors won't really get into the information part of cancer treatment and how it effects people, both the patient and family. Aimee did a great job at that, especially the process and way that Jenny came to terms with the cancer.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

The Inn at Eagle Point (Sherryl Woods) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

30. The Inn at Eagle Point by Sheryl Woods
      Prompt: first book in a series you haven't read before

Synopsis:
It's been years since Abby O'Brien Winters set foot in Chesapeake Shores. The Maryland town her father built has too many sad memories and Abby too few spare moments, thanks to her demanding Wall Street career, the crumbling of her marriage and energetic twin daughters. Then one panicked phone call from her youngest sister brings her racing back home to protect Jess's dream of renovating the charming Inn at Eagle Point.
But saving the inn from foreclosure means dealing not only with her own fractured family, but also with Trace Riley, the man Abby left ten years ago. Trace can be a roadblock to her plans...or proof that second chances happen in the most unexpected ways.

My Review:

I decided to start reading this series because of the TV show, Chesapeake Shores, on the Hallmark Channel. The show is based on this book series by Sherryl Woods.

When Jess O'Brien runs into trouble trying to renovate the Inn at Eagle Point, her sister Abby comes to the rescue by returning back home. Abby is in for more than she realizes as she not only has to deal with problems at the inn and her dysfunctional family, but an old flame as well. When Abby left or essentially walked out on Trace years before, she never expected that he would be the one who can destroy Jess's plans (and Abby's measures to rescue the inn) to revitalize the inn. Will the inn be saved? Will Jess mess up yet again? Will Trace and Abby get back together? 

All these questions will be answered. I appreciated the backstory as it helped to explain why the O'Brien family was the way it was: dysfunctional and kind of broken. While I did say that, I want to take the time to point out that no family is perfect. Every family has its secrets or things that you necessarily don't want everyone to know about. Abby's mom left the family when Abby was around 11 if I remember correctly. As the oldest of five, Abby took on the role of mother and nurturer to her younger siblings. This is especially true as their father travelled for work a lot and they were left in the hands of their grandmother. Jess, as the youngest, was and has been known as the wild child who doesn't seem to take things seriously and has made lots of mistakes. In the midst of it all, Jess only wanted love, respect, and acceptance of her father. Her father had a tendency to only look at her faults and mistakes and not pay attention to her good qualities; she did/does have a good heart, but just struggled with the family's situation.

While the story was good in itself, I liked the supporting characters better than the three main characters of Abby, Jess, and Trace. All three managed to annoy me at times. I really enjoyed Trace's interactions with Abby's twins. My favorite person throughout the entire book was Nell, Abby's grandmother. Nell was the one who everyone could talk to and she would hold no judgment. She offered her advice, explained things in a calming and different way, but wasn't afraid to give some tough love at times either. Nell is a role model type of character and held the family together, even if members didn't speak to each other or whatever type of situation was going on.

I found myself comparing this to Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove series, which also became a TV series for three seasons on Hallmark. Both of these series' are about similar things, but they do differ a bit. And when it comes down to it, I enjoyed Cedar Cove better. There was a better connection to the characters and the story just flowed better. With the first book of the Chesapeake Shores series, I couldn't get through it as easily, as it did drag a little. It was harder to pay attention to the characters, as some weren't as fully developed as I would have liked. I do plan to continuing the Chesapeake Shores series, though, as this book was still good; it was just a little underwhelming compared to Cedar Cove.

~Meg~

Thursdays at Coconuts (Beth Carter) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

29. Thursdays at Coconuts by Beth Carter
      Prompt: book with a month or day of the week in the title

Synopsis:As the go-to wedding planner, Suzy can’t find her own wedded bliss and has one shocker of a wedding day. It doesn’t help that she’s still pining for her high school sweetheart, the one who got away. Handling neurotic brides is the best part of Suzy’s day until her son brings home a bombshell from Europe.
Alexandra, a beautiful marketer with a “touch” of OCD, falls for a bad-boy cop who's married and possibly stalking her. But he sure is sexy. Alex tries to stay at arm’s length after she puts her job—and life—on the line for the officer who isn’t always a gentleman.
Hope hates her name, looks, and frizzy hair. As a high school counselor, she dishes out sage advice to students, yet can’t see she’s enabling her deadbeat, stuck-in-the-seventies hippie parents. After tragedy strikes, she reexamines their relationship and discovers a secret that almost went to the grave.
Friends since high school, the thirty-something women meet every Thursday at Coconuts for their own form of friendapy.

My Review:

One of the best books I read in 2017.

Three friends get together every Thursday at a bar/restaurant for "friendapy." They share the ups and downs of their lives, all the while dishing out advice and endless support for each other. This book is the perfect definition of friendship goals. The characters and their circumstances were well developed, even if it was a bit clichéd at time. Suzy, Alexandra, and Hope are all successful in their careers, but not necessarily successful in the romance category. There were funny times, crazy times, happy times, and sad times, but they were by each other through thick and thin. I appreciated how Beth decided to write from the perspective of all three, as I think it definitely aided in adding dimension to the story development. It also featured interesting side plots in the midst of the main theme involving the three friends.

I only have two more book reviews to post before doing my 2018 Book Awards.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

Gone Girl (Gillian Flynn) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

28. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
      Prompt: book with an unreliable narrator

Synopsis:

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?

My Review:

I saw the movie version of this a couple years ago and of course, I wanted to read the book. Yes, I'm one of those who believes that the book is always better than the movie. There are some rare exceptions, though. I ended up being disappointed and underwhelmed with both. Originally, I was interested in  Gone Girl because of all the hype about it, but I didn't feel that it lived up to the expectations in either version. I will say however that the book was slightly better than the movie.

I did like the aspect of reading from the perspectives of both Nick and Amy. I thought that was a clever idea of Gillian Flynn to incorporate. If it had only been Nick's point of view, it probably would have sufficed. Amy's diary entries were indeed interesting to know what was going on inside her head. It also led me to believe that there was something wrong with her. Could she have had a mental disorder? Maybe so, maybe not. It does take a lot of cleverness and cunning skills to devise your own disappearance and murder, in addition to the clues she left framing Nick. Even though Nick wasn't innocent in all that went on since he started fabricating lies as well, I found myself on his side for the most part. And if there's one thing I learned, it would be not to be evasive or lie to the police or detectives, making you look even more suspicious, like Nick did. 

I liked the concept of the scavenger hunt. You don't usually find a lot of books like that and I thought it was different. Scavenger hunts can be fun while you're figuring out the clues that lead to a great surprise or prize at the end. It obviously wasn't like that in this story since there was a little twist involved. 

Note: I am almost finished with the book reviews for the books that I read in 2017. I believe I only have three or four more to go before I do my 2018 Book Awards for all the books I read last year and before I start posting the book reviews for this year.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

White Fang (Jack London) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

27. White Fang by Jack London
      Prompt: book set in the wilderness

Synopsis:
White Fang is part dog and part wolf, and the lone survivor of his family. In his lonely world, he soon learns to follow the harsh law of the North--kill or be killed. But nothing in White Fang's life can prepare him for the cruel owner who turns him into a vicious killer. Will White Fang ever know the kindness of a gentle master?

My Review:
This is the story of White Fang, a wolf-dog, who has to survive in the wilderness. It begins from the time he was just a small pup and continues as he grows up into adulthood. I believe he was under a year old when he became the only survivor of his family. While he did learn some survival tips from his mother, White Fang had to learn most of what he knew on his own, essentially known as survival of the fittest. At times, he was by himself and at other times, he was under the watch and care of self-proclaimed owners. A couple were kind and cared about his well-being, while most were harsh and taught him to kill, as in brutal dogfighting. This is a story that asks can a wolf-dog be tamed and domesticated in a world of surviving the harsh realities of life? The answer lies in the wonderfully crafted ending.

I wasn't really expecting to like this book. The theme and plot is something I usually wouldn't read. I liked the perspective of a wild animal and how they survive in the outside world, whether that be the wilderness for wolves and bears or the ocean for whales and dolphins or anywhere else for whatever wild animal there are. There are parts that are heart-wrenching and pulled you into the story. I feel that animals are just like humans, in that sometimes they just want to be loved, which describes White Fang. Since he was part wolf, he had an instinct to attack and kill, but since he was also part dog, his other instinct was to be gentle and playful and just be loved by someone, like I just mentioned.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

Summer at the Lake (Linda Barrett) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

26. Summer at the Lake by Linda Barrett
      Prompt: book with one of the four seasons in the title

Synopsis:

Veteran NY cop, Rick Cooper, heads to his family’s lake house after losing a hostage negotiation, resulting in the death a child. He brings only his dog and his saxophone for company. His agenda includes lots of fishing while figuring out an appropriate career change.
Single mom, Kristin McCarthy hears the sound of the saxophone gliding through the night air…a healing sound for her daughter. She begins a search for the person who can play so beautifully. Her high hopes fall, however, when the musician turns out to be a cop. The police fell short when she and Ashley needed them most. But still…if this cop could make a difference…if he can help Ashley…well, Kristin would do anything for her young daughter.
An attractive widow with a damaged kid are the last people Rick needs in his life, and he tries hard to remain aloof. The ladies, however, knock down his barriers simply by being themselves. Fearful but brave, smart but silly. Before long, warm feelings grow between him and Kristin. Feelings that spark potential for a future together.
However, before Kristin allows herself to dream, Rick must prove he’s a man she and her daughter can trust. Can they count on him forever?

My Review:

This was a good, heartfelt romance. Kristin and Rick are struggling to come to terms with tragic experiences that happened to a child while under their care. As they come together to help Ashley regain her confidence and strength, Kristin and Rick form a simple friendship. It was filled with sincerity as it slowly developed into a warm romance.

At the forefront of this story was the healing and recovery of Ashley after she endured sexual assault/abuse. The author did an incredible job of dealing with such a sensitive topic, all the while avoiding the actual attack on the page. Everyone reacts differently when they suffer a trauma. For Ashley, she shut down completely. No parent wants to see their child hurt and unable to express their feelings and like any other parent, Kristin would do anything to help her daughter enjoy life again, to regain the innocence of childhood back. With the help of a therapy dog and music brought by Rick unexpectedly, Ashley begins to recover and get back to what she loves to do. Obviously, I don't think anyone gets over a traumatic event in a short amount of time, as in the pages of a book, but it was still nice to see Ashley start her way on her healing journey. 

What I enjoyed the most about this book was how much music was incorporated into the story. Ashley's father was a musician who passed it on to his daughter, even though he died several years prior. Ashley, herself, is considered to be a music prodigy and plays the piano and flute. Rick and his family are also music players. I, myself, have played the piano. I also tried playing the flute, but I ended up quitting because the music teacher was horrible. She didn't really teach and expected you to know everything right off the bat and yes, starting with the very first lesson.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

Peace of Time (Ros Rendle) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

25. Peace of Time by Ros Rendle

Synopsis:Jen and Mike Lucas are happily married, or so Jen thinks. Recently Mike has been short tempered and cranky, but Jen puts it all down to his stressful job at a finance company. Jen, on the other hand, loves her job as a teacher. She also makes more money than Mike, which he mentions at any given opportunity. As they drift further apart, Jen tries everything she can think of to save their marriage but all Mike wants to do is spend more and more time at the gym. When one of Jen’s students, young Charlie Mayhew, suffers a terrible fall from his bike, Jen lends a helping hand to his father, Christopher, a single parent who lost Charlie’s mother to cancer. Jen does her best to ignore the gossip that Mike was seen getting friendly with a red head at the gym, but a few days later, Jen discovers something that turns her world upside down. After Mike moves out, Jen realizes that she’s reached a crossroads in her life. Does she give Mike a second chance? Or does she take Christopher up on his offer of a date? As the summer draws to a close, Jen has some life changing decisions to make and what she decides will shock everyone, but most of all herself.

My Review:

This was a well written book that made the characters seem real and authentic. It brings up the issue of unfaithful marriages, as well as dealing with a friend's betrayal. Sometimes a couple just drifts apart for a number of reasons and they create a relationship or connection with someone else. Cheating is one thing, but what happens if a spouse cheats with a friend of their partner's? You'll find out during the story. Jen and Mike have to cope with what I just mentioned, but at the end of the day, they're still just husband and wife, well for some time anyway. Before any proceedings of a divorce can go through or even get started, Mike has no one else to turn to when he gets diagnosed with cancer. Sometimes you just need your spouse or significant other because there's a special bond there like no other and just because people may drift apart doesn't mean that they stop caring about each other.

While this book is about Jen and Mike, the main point of view comes from Jen. At the beginning, she's happy with her job as a teacher and her marriage. She has everything she could hope for. The struggles that she deals with, as I mentioned above, were brilliantly handled by the author. There were some surprises and an ending you don't see coming. It was an enjoyable read even if it goes against what I believe in, like adultery.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

A Place Called Bliss (Ruth Glover) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

24. A Place Called Bliss by Ruth Glover

Synopsis:Sophia Galloway, a rich and pampered lady of Scotland's renowned house of Heatherstone, and Mary Morrison, a simple servant, share a dream of traveling to a new land of freedom, promise, and opportunity: Canada. On the tumultuous journey overseas, Sophia and Mary both give birth. Neither mother knows how closely their destinies will be intertwined by a secret with the power to shatter their lives.

My Review:
In most stories (and not just in books), you read or hear about people moving from other countries to the US for freedom and opportunity. In this book, it follows the same concept except that it involves two families immigrating to Canada. However, getting to either place wasn't easy; many had difficult and tumultuous journeys. And for Sophia and Mary, it was no exception, made even worse that they were both pregnant and subsequently gave birth on their travels over to Canada.

A Place Called Bliss started off slow, which was when the two families were traveling by boat to Canada to start over in a new land. Once reaching Canada, they went their separate ways to opposite sides of the country. Sophia and her family had an easier time adjusting to their new surroundings since they had relations already there. It was more of the frontier life for Mary and her husband. Each family had their difficulties and struggles and stayed in contact with each other from time to time by mail. It was during this that it became more interesting and enjoyable to read.

What Mary and Sophia didn't expect was to find out a secret that changes everything that they used to know. The particular secret goes back to when they gave birth on the boat, but things didn't go as expected for both of them. Sophia and Hugh had somewhat of a distant marriage, but it made sense once the secret is found out. And no, I can't say what happened because that would be giving it all away.

A Place Called Bliss is a book filled with rich vocabulary and historical significance. Some of that was part of the reason why it dragged at times - for me, it was mostly in the beginning. The descriptive and detailed writing was enlightening. It was good to get to know more about Canada and its history.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Maya Angelou) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

23. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
      Prompt: book by a person of color

Synopsis:
Sent by their mother to live with their devout, self-sufficient grandmother in a small Southern town, Maya and her brother, Bailey, endure the ache of abandonment and the prejudice of the local "powhitetrash." At eight years old and back at her mother’s side in St. Louis, Maya is attacked by a man many times her age—and has to live with the consequences for a lifetime. Years later, in San Francisco, Maya learns that love for herself, the kindness of others, her own strong spirit, and the ideas of great authors will allow her to be free instead of imprisoned.

My Review:

I've wanted to read this book for quite some time and I'm glad I finally got the chance to. Maya Angelou was a poignant and powerful woman in not only the US, but an inspiration for many around the world.

In this autobiography, Maya tells of her experiences of being a woman of color growing up as a child and adolescent in the South. Dealing with racial prejudice, abandonment, and getting sexually abused, she also told of her insecurities of being African American, as well as her image. For a female, it's quite common for us to question our image at some point in our lives no matter the color of our skin and it's very relatable when you're reading this book (obviously I can't relate to the African American side of it).

There are moments in life where we have to deal with the impact it leaves on us for the rest of our lives. For Maya, it was when she got sexually abused several times as a child. There's a pain and shame involved for victims that Maya had to start dealing with at such a young age. Writing of that time must have been freeing all the emotions of those experiences. In society to this very day, rape and sexual abuse are not really talked about because it's considered to be more or less a taboo topic for several reasons that I'm not going to get into at this time. But I don't think not talking about it really helps those victims to heal and realize that it wasn't their fault.

Maya was a survivor. The way she wrote about her experiences was interesting and poignant. Some parts of her story are relatable to every female. I did appreciate reading about how people of color see things in life. Too often, we see things one-sided when there are two sides to every story. Maya exhibited an incredible strength to write about some of horrific moments in her childhood. But she also wrote about times when she was able to celebrate little things, such as getting a new dress for Church, and you could celebrate those moments with her.

While Maya was going through these experiences and other hard times, she found an escape and comfort in reading (and food as well). I really enjoyed her sharing and describing her favorite books and authors she was reading (like Shakespeare), as I have always loved reading as well. Books have a way of taking you somewhere you can only imagine going to.

Maya exhibited that you can survive and be a role model for others going through similar experiences. I might create another post of some of my favorite quotes from I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

From the Wreckage (Michele G Miller) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

22. From the Wreckage by Michele G Miller

Synopsis:

“In a matter of minutes on a Friday night, I lost my school, my identity, the security of my first love, the personality of my sweet fearless brother, my best friend, my town, everything as I knew it. Everything changed.”

"Minutes - that’s all it takes to change your entire life. How do you deal with that?”

For high school senior Jules Blacklin surviving the storm is only the beginning. Faced with the new reality of her life, she must find a way to rise From The Wreckage and answer the question - how do you get back to normal, when everything that was normal is gone?

My Review:

For most high school students, Friday nights means going to football games, cheering on their respective schools, and then going out to eat/celebrate/hang out at a local pizza place, or wherever it might be, after the game. And for Jules and her friends, that Friday night was no exception. Like any other teen, they didn't think anything bad would happen, except for maybe the occasional fight with their rivals.

Jules and her friends were celebrating their football team's win when they heard something that no one wants to hear: a tornado siren. Unfortunately for them, there was not much time to run for cover and before they knew it, a tornado ripped through the town. Afterwards, while the teens are taken to the hospital for treatment, their parents have to navigate through the devastation to see if their children made it out alive.

From the Wreckage is told in a video format as Jules tells her story of survival in front of a camera for a college admissions project. As she takes us through her experience, we also experience it right along with her. It provides an accurate depiction of what it's like to go through a traumatic event, no matter what it may be. Jules tells of her grief and the healing process of not only herself, but her family, friends, and town as well. She goes on her own personal journey of discovery, growth, love, etc, as anyone would when they go through something like this. It's through the hard times that we learn the most about ourselves.

While From the Wreckage was well-written and told of the many emotions one experiences in tragedy, there were only a couple things that bothered me. It went back and forth between the past, as she was telling her story of that fateful night, and the present, as she struggles to move forward and accept the new normal. It was hard to differentiate between the two at times, but it also kept you wanting to keep reading. And even though her friends were also experiencing the same things as she was, there were times where it felt like only she was going through it. She acted like no one understood, when in fact, there were her classmates who did in fact understand, as well.

How do we move on from tragedy or loss or any rough time in our life? How do we accept having a new normal when everything that we know changed forever? From the Wreckage does a good job at trying to explain and show that. The answer is that there is no easy answer. It becomes a day by day process, taking things one step at a time. While time may make things easier, better, and more acceptable as everyday life starts returning back to "normal", the fear, grief, anger, and any other emotion doesn't ever truly go away; we just don't deal with those emotions as much as when it first happened. Nothing stays the same forever and change is hard for anyone to overcome, but it is possible. And it's important to remember that the grieving process can take any length of time; while it might take a month or so for one for example, it could take a year for another. We all grieve differently, in our own time and place and no matter how long it takes, it's okay. There is no definitive answer as to when it is acceptable to move on.

While I am writing this, our country is once again dealing with a mass shooting tragedy with the school shooting in Parkland, FL. While things need to change, like banning assault weapons, I can only offer prayers to those dealing with loss and fear. I know it's not enough, but I think about it like this. Right now, they're dealing with grief of losing friends, children, teachers, etc, and even if there would be a gun control change, those seventeen people still lost their lives and their friends and loved ones will still have to deal with their loss.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

Set Change (T'Gracie and Joe Reese) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

21. Set Change by T'Gracie and Joe Reese

Synopsis:

The residents of sleepy little Bay St. Lucy are thrilled to learn that a world class production of Shakespeare's Hamlet is to be done in their town. They are shocked, on the other hand, to experience the leading actor's vicious personality.
Murder will out--and it takes all of Nina Bannister's sleuthing ability to put it back in again.

My Review:

First off, I got this book because I like theatre and have acted in shows before. I am also familiar with Hamlet. 

Set in a small town, everyone is excited that there will be a professional production of Hamlet done in their community. After the production, the lead actor and celebrity is murdered and it's up to amateur sleuth Nina to figure out the case.

It was interesting to see a small community get recognition for once because they are often overlooked by big cities. Unfortunately, it got off to a slow start and I was still left unimpressed throughout the course of the book. There were several times in which I wanted to stop reading it altogether, but I like to finish what I start.

Nina definitely knew her Hamlet and a lot of the lines were used throughout the story. Honestly, I think that was overdone a little bit. I felt it took away from the premise. What I did like about this book was the ending. And not just because it meant I didn't have to read the book anymore. The pace picked up near the end of the story and it became an unexpected finish.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

Love Comes Softly (Janette Oke) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

20. Love Comes Softly by Janette Oke

Synopsis:

Marty and Clem set out for the pioneer West full of hopes and dreams. They would stake a claim of their own on the new frontier, and build a home for themselves and their family.
But just after they'd arrived and Clem had chosen the perfect setting for their new home, an accident took his life...leaving Marty alone and pregnant. Then, on the day of his funeral, Clark Davis came along...and asked Marty to marry him!
Marty was infuriated -- but with no money, no shelter, and a baby on the way, what choice did she have? Besides, Clark said he only wanted her to be a mama to his baby girl, Missie. If Marty was still unhappy come spring, he would pay for her ticket back East.
Determined not to be a burden to Clark, and intending only to earn her keep. Marty threw herself into her new role of "Mama." But she had never been anyone's mama before, and she didn't even know how to keep a house! If only she could do right by this lonely man and his daughter just long enough to earn her train fare back home...
Now, Marty must learn wholeness and love through patience and faith.

My Review:

This story takes you back to the pioneer days. When Marty's husband dies in an accident right after making it out west, Clark just happens to show up on the day of his funeral. And to her surprise, Clark asked her to marry him and be a mother to his daughter. Marty had no other option but to accept his offer. It was agreed that it would be for a trial period and if she still wasn't happy after a few months, then Clark would pay her way back east. Things got off to a rough start, as Marty was inexperienced in housework, like cooking, and didn't know how to take care of a baby/child. She learned all that she could as she worked toward her goal of doing enough to earn her way back home. It took some time, but as the days and weeks went on, Clark and Marty grew accustomed to each other and their ways, as well as Missie getting to know Marty as a mother. During this whole time, Marty was still grieving the loss of her husband, but was also starting to get used to letting another man into her life and by the end of the story, they have a romance brewing. Both also grow in their faith, especially Marty, who exhibited a transformation throughout the course of the book. They come to the realization that they both needed each other in their lives.

Love Comes Softly was a good hearted story of romance and what it was like, especially for women, in the pioneer times. Marty was a strong female character who, despite her grief and struggles, strived to be the best at what she was given. She didn't want to be a burden to anyone and that showed when she married Clark. She didn't settle for nothing less than trying and being the best, as I've already stated.

Although I have read a couple of Janette Oke's books before, this one did move slow at times. The only main issue with Love Comes Softly was the dialogue between Clark and Marty. Both spoke with strong accents, which was hard in the beginning to understand a little bit, but became easier once I became accustomed to their accents.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

Missing Kylie (Mark Myers) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

19. Missing Kylie by Mark Myers
      Prompt: a book about a difficult topic

Synopsis:

None of us like to hear the word no – especially as an answer to prayer. So how does a father reconcile a lifelong faith in God when confronted with the word no regarding something as critical as the healing of his youngest child?
This book is a two year journey through that wilderness of no. It contains few answers and many questions, but ultimately a faith that there is a loving God who chose a path we will never understand on this side of heaven.
When Kylie was diagnosed with cancer in April of 2014, her father believed that she would be completely healed and become a living testimony to God’s faithfulness and goodness. That is not the story that God wrote. A writer and blogger, Mark began posting about his struggles of heart and faith with a unique ability to mix humor and heartache. His genuine and often raw style seemed to resonate with many hurting people and his words were shared on many platforms.
Upon Kylie’s death in February 2015, he began a journey to find purpose among the ruins heaped on him, his family, and his faith – documenting both progress and set-backs. With several never-before published writings including an especially poignant letter written by Kylie just days before her death, this book is a compilation of blog posts and journal entries that allows you to walk alongside him for this season. It will bring both smiles and tears. You will feel his hope and faith while he faces the struggle, endures the pain of devastating loss, then embarks on a desperate search for meaning, while always: Missing Kylie.

My Review:

No one wants to hear the word cancer, especially when it's a child. But that's what happened to Mark and his family. His daughter Kylie was diagnosed with cancer and Mark only wanted to believe that she would survive. But it was an aggressive form of cancer that ultimately led to her death ten months later. Mark writes about the effects his daughter's cancer journey had on not only Kylie, but the rest of his family, before and after her death. The most poignant writing came on his journey of searching for purpose and meaning after Kylie died. There's no book out there that tells you how to grieve after someone dies because everyone is different and everyone deals with loss and heartbreak differently. Mark's struggles with hope and faith is understandable as it's real and genuine, but he also mixed it with a touch of humor which actually worked in an unique writing style. What I particularly enjoyed was the letters that Mark, his wife, and his other daughters wrote to Kylie around a year after her death.

Final Note: It's okay to question faith and God during hard times. But it's also important to remember that He's always with you and He will get you through it. It won't happen overnight, but with time and prayer, we, with God's support and grace, have the power to overcome those hard times.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

An Unforgivable Secret (J. E. B. Spredemann) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

18. An Unforgivable Secret by J. E. B. Spredemann

Synopsis:

Hannah has a good life. A beautiful home, a loving husband, and a wonderful Amish community are only a few of her daily blessings. But she has carried a heavy burden for years: a secret that no one must know. When tragedy strikes, her secret threatens to be revealed, jeopardizing everything she’s ever loved. Will Hannah be able to face her greatest fear and find God's purpose for her life?

My Review:

Hannah, Christian, and Samuel have all grown up together and throughout the story, you get glimpses of that through the years. Just like anybody else, the Amish have their secrets, but the consequences are even worse if those secrets are found out about. It is incredible in how the choices we make can impact us (and those around us in some cases) for the rest of our lives. The author did a great job of keeping it real and authentic. This is a story about love, forgiveness, and healing. It deals with heartbreak and tragedy, which turns into triumph. It reminded me of a saying that goes like this: when one door opens, another one opens. God blesses us in mysterious ways and sometimes we have to go through times of sadness and tragedy to receive a gift or blessing that's even better, that is more special and rewarding.

This was really hard to write without giving away spoilers. It deals with issues that can be hard to write about or even think about.

I would definitely recommend this book to others.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

Amazing Grace (Danielle Steel) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

17. Amazing Grace by Danielle Steel

Synopsis:

On a warm May night in San Francisco, the Ritz-Carlton ballroom shimmers with crystal and silver as a glittering, celebrity-studded crowd gathers for a charity dinner dance. The evening is perfect–until, just minutes before midnight, the room begins to sway. Glass shatters. And as the lights go out, people begin to scream….

In the earthquake’s aftermath, the lives of four strangers will converge.… Sarah Sloane, the beautiful wife of a financial whiz, watches her perfect world fall to pieces…. Grammy-winning singer Melanie Free, the event’s headliner, comes to a turning point in her life and career…. Photographer Everett Carson, a former war correspondent whose personal demons have demoted him to covering society parties, finds new purpose amid the carnage…and Sister Maggie Kent, a nun who normally works in jeans and high-tops with the homeless, searches through the rubble–and knows instantly that there is much work to be done….

As the city staggers back to life, a chain reaction of extraordinary events will touch each of the survivors.… For Sarah, it begins with the discovery of a crime and a betrayal, then a strength she never knew she had. For Melanie, volunteering at a refugee camp will open new worlds of possibility. And Everett will be shaken by the unlikely relationship he forges with Maggie, who helps him rebuild his shattered life–and upends her own in the process. But as a year passes, and the anniversary of the earthquake approaches, more surprises are in store–as each discovers the unexpected gifts in a tragedy’s wake…and the amazing grace of new beginnings.

My Review:
Danielle Steel delivered once again. Amazing Grace follows the lives of four people who come together in an unexpected way. When Sarah planned the annual charity event for work, she didn't expect the evening to end with tragedy as an earthquake strikes and shatters everything. Each of the four characters brought something unique to the story as they learn more about themselves during the aftermath. For Sarah, her life was perfect and her husband treated her well with whatever she wanted. She didn't know that he lived a private life as an embezzler and once he can't finish a transaction, the world as she knew it crumbles beneath her. Sarah discovers an impeccable strength in herself as she deals with his court case played out in public, the sentencing, and deciding to file for divorce because she can't look behind his betrayal. For Melanie, a pop singer who had it all, her life was controlled by her stage mom manager. She was the most sweetest and humble person. As she volunteers with a field hospital/refugee camp type of thing, Melanie finds out that there's more reward in helping others than there is in the power of money, no matter how much a person makes. She comes of age as she realizes she has free choice and can speak up and control her own life as a celebrity and incorporate her other dreams at the same time. For Everett, as a recovering alcoholic, he was back to covering celebrity and society parties for photography instead of what he really wanted to photograph. Through Maggie's help. Everett starts to rebuild all he lost from his past mistakes, including trying to reconnect with his son. He may have hit rock bottom, but he also finds a strength he never knew he had and learns that it's never too late to start over. And then there's Maggie, a nun who honors her life and work to the vow she made to God. She gives from the heart and enjoys helping people as she also provides medical assistance to everyone injured in the earthquake. As an unexpected relationship starts to form with Everett, she questions everything she gave up to become a nun and explores other options in a way.

All four characters grow and realize how much they got out of going through a tragedy during the aftermath throughout the course of a year. They each get their own amazing grace as they embark on new beginnings.

In this story, the earthquake they experience is said to be the biggest earthquake that San Francisco ever had. Since it's fiction, that's not true, but San Francisco did experience one of the biggest earthquakes in the world with the 1906 earthquake. Some of the things incorporated in the story comes from that.

As this book is called Amazing Grace, it has special meaning to me as Amazing Grace is my favorite hymn and song of all time. I just love the meaning behind it and how God is always there for you in times of struggle.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

Daniel (Robin Merrill) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

16. Daniel by Robin Merrill

Synopsis:

Open Door Church has served as a homeless shelter for more than a decade, but when their pastor dies unexpectedly, those who remain struggle to take up the reins to keep the ministry going. And then there’s young Daniel, who seems to be working miracles in their midst, which of course, isn’t possible. Or is it?

My Review:

When a pastor started up a church, he also opened it up as a homeless shelter. Everything was going well for quite awhile, but it's thrown into disarray after the pastor dies suddenly and unexpectedly. Then it becomes a story of survival as there was no one left in charge in the event of his passing. I believe that those who took in the church for shelter had to attend the services, in addition to pitching in around the church as well. Since there was no protocol, they decide to sort of vote on who gets to lead them and it's someone who has been a crucial help to the church, although not homeless. While some good-hearted parishioners attempt to follow in the footsteps of the former pastor, there's a group of men who believe that they are supposed to be in charge and wants to ruin all the hard work put into the church and shelter by turning it into everything that it's not supposed to be.

At the heart of this novel (as it's aptly named after him) is Daniel, a little boy who can perform miracles by healing people. But only those he's supposed to heal. While his mom tries to keep it hidden, his secret comes out and all of a sudden he's supposed to heal everyone. Daniel doesn't know why he has this ability, but he also has a strong faith in God. Since he's only a kid, he can't put up with the pressure. And he's in further deep water when his taking about God and his faith gets them thrown out. Daniel was my favorite character because even though he has this special gift, he's just a sweet kid. He's one of the few people who believe that that church and shelter will go back to what it was supposed to be.

Daniel was definitely a page-turner. I enjoyed getting to know the families and parishioners of the church and shelter. There will be ones you love and ones you just love to hate. 

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

A Cat to Die For (Maria Grazia Swan) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

15. A Cat to Die For by Maria Grazia Swan
     Topic/Prompt: a book with a cat on the cover

Synopsis:

Mina Calvi's new Furry Friends Foundation is a dream come true for the formerly footloose young woman. Her no-kill shelter rescues and places dogs and cats into new forever homes, and it gives Mina a purpose in life.
But changes are looming on a perfect Sunday afternoon at the Dana Point Marina where she is minding the adoption booth.
A Greek heiress, young, petite and beautiful, shows up on the arm of the love of Mina's life, Diego Moran. And worse, she wants to adopt Mina's calico cat, Houdini. The spoiled woman will not take no for an answer. Why is she so insistent on getting Houdini when she already owns a look-alike cat?
When Houdini is cat-napped, the cat-sitter murdered, and the ransom demand sent to the heiress, Mina has to keep her wits about her to get her beloved cat home safely, and to keep her heart from getting broken again by Diego, who inexplicably pops up at every turn of the unfolding drama.

My Review:

This book is considered to be a cozy mystery, but it's slightly different from other cozy mysteries. 

Mina is an Italian American character, the first that I've really read. She puts her heart into everything she does. She does this moreso for cats and dogs with her no kill shelter for rescues. She goes by the philosophy that every cat and dog that are brought in to her foundation shelter deserves to be placed in a permanent home. However, trouble seems to follow her wherever she goes, no matter her intentions. Whether it's a former love of her life who she can't decide if she wants to risk heartbreak again or when her cat gets kidnapped and the sitter winds up getting murdered. 

The whole storyline or plot with Diego was annoying. With that, Mina just plain got on my nerves. However, the mystery plotline turned into something different than I have ever read before. The ending is one you may not have seen coming. It turns into something like a ploy or scheme.

While this book wasn't necessarily my cup of tea, it is ideal for cat lovers. I did appreciate how Maria stressed the importance of no kill animal shelters, as it needs to be talked about. I don't believe that animals should be put down for overcrowding or whatever reason in shelters.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

The Not So Secret Emails of Coco Pinchard (Robert Bryndza) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

14. The Not So Secret Emails of Coco Pinchard by Robert Bryndza
      Topic/Prompt: book by an author from a country you've never visited (United Kingdom)

Synopsis:

Coco Pinchard always dreamed of being a successful writer, but then life got in the way. She married young, had a son, and put her dreams on hold. But now she's 40, and her first novel is about to be published! Her husband Daniel has greyed nicely into a silver fox, and her son Rosencrantz is all grown up. Shouldn't it be time to enjoy life?
That is, until the annual family Christmas when her hideous in-laws come to stay, and Coco opens her gift from Daniel. It's not the jewelry she chose, but an iPhone. This marks the start of Daniel's mid-life crisis and Coco catches him in bed with a younger woman.
The iPhone becomes a confessional, and as Coco's life unravels, she documents her seemingly endless (and often entertaining) run of bad luck through emails to loyal friends Christopher, an ageing trustafarian, and Marika, a slightly alcoholic schoolteacher.
Then Coco meets the hunky Adam and she's back in the world of dating as a single 40-something. Listen to the heart warming and often hilarious tale of Coco picking up the pieces, in this fun, feel-good romantic comedy.

My Review:
This story was told in a one sided email format. It does work once you get used to the style. It's also easier once you get to know the characters - because of the format, the characters aren't really introduced like normal as they are the recipients of the emails. It does take a little while to figure them out, but once you know who's who, it's much easier to follow along. There's one other thing that threw me for a loop and that would be the British humor. I am in no way knocking British humor; it is just that I am not accustomed to it. 

Coco tells all of her bad luck through a collection of emails to her friends and son. It's her way of venting about those times when life doesn't always go the way we want it to. No matter how her luck may be, she powers through with humor and the support of her friends. It may come off as whiny at first, but who doesn't complain like that when bad things happen to us. However, Coco becomes a prime example of how to handle whatever comes her way by complaining about it for a bit, but then moves on from it and fights her way through it. 

While I did like the email format, as I usually don't read this style, the story lacked the zest that I look for in a book. It was good, but not great. The best thing that I can say about this book is that it is like a romantic comedy without the predictable outcome.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (John Tiffany and Jack Thorne) (J.K. Rowling) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

13. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by John Tiffany and Jack Thorne (based on an original story by J.K. Rowling)

Synopsis:
The Eighth Story. Nineteen Years Later.
Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play received its world premiere in London’s West End on July 30, 2016.
It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.
While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

My Review:

As a Harry Potter fan, I was excited to read this book. It's weird, though, because if I didn't have to read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone for school in 7th or 8th grade, I don't know if I would have ever read the Harry Potter series or not.

Since this is a play version and written as a script, you can't expect this one to be like the original Harry Potter series. There's a different vibe during this story and it didn't feel like the eighth book in the series. Yes, I am one of those people who felt that the series should have concluded with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. That book just felt right for the story to end at that point; I felt that it was the right conclusion to the series.

It was hard to feel connected to the kids in this, especially Albus, as they just weren't going to compare to their parents. There was something magical in Harry, Ron, and Hermione and the rest of the characters and I felt like since it was written as a play format, you couldn't feel the magical connection to their kids.

I can appreciate the format of this book because I have performed in plays and musicals in the past, but at times, I was left bored and disinterested. It ended being more nostalgic as I liked meeting Harry and everyone else in his class again as I grew up with those characters (as someone who is 30 now, I feel as if I got older with them as they got older). It was nice seeing the original group change into the adults they are in this story because we all change as we grow into adults and figure out who we are.

Now, let's actually talk about the story itself, as that's what this review is supposed to be about. Albus feels the weight of the world on his shoulders as the son of Harry Potter, something he never asked for. Throughout Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Albus struggles with that and he wants nothing more but to try to do whatever possible to create his own identity and distance himself away from being Harry's son. He finds help with Scorpius (Draco's son) and together they team up to create some mischief, but don't realize how dangerous that can be, just like Harry and Ron used to do. It causes the past and present to come together and keep things interesting, as I don't want to give the story away.

There were a couple things I enjoyed. First, I appreciated the relationship between Albus and Harry. They may have been in conflict with each other more often than not, but I thought it kept the story interesting. Second, I enjoyed how Albus and Scorpius became friends despite being sorted in different houses and what the lack of friendship was like between their fathers. I feel like it can be applied to the world today. Too often, there are people who tell us not to be friends or associated with so and so because of different beliefs, race, etc. As long as we have things in common or similar interests with others, it shouldn't matter what race, religion, beliefs (they have), sex, identity, etc, they are.

Final Thoughts:
I had a love-hate relationship with Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

1. Don't compare it to the original Harry Potter series. You'll just end up being disappointed.
2. While I didn't mind the play format, I thought it got in the way of the dynamics of the actual story.
3. It would be better to see this performed than to read it. (And yes, I usually like the book more than a movie or play version)
4. As a Harry Potter fan, you will still enjoy getting to know Harry, Ron, Hermionie, and Draco as adults.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

The Shack Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

12. The Shack by William Paul Young
      Topic/Prompt: book that's becoming a movie in 2017

Synopsis:

Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation, and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his "Great Sadness," Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend.

Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever.

My Review:

I read this book several years ago, but wanted to read it again since the movie was coming out this year. I can honestly say that I really enjoyed it both times. When I read it the first time, I was left feeling confused after I finished it. This time around, I had a better understanding of what the book was truly about.

Mack's daughter was abducted and murdered in a shack in the wilderness. Several years later, Mack receives a letter from God inviting him back there for a couple days. He's basically given a choice and decides to take Him up on the offer. While Mack doesn't want to revisit that nightmare, he figures he has nothing to lose. In the several years since his daughter died, Mack had doubted and questioned his faith. During the weekend, he has conversations with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. These conversations are meant to answer his questions about why it happened and how he can overcome this dark time in his life and any other questions he has to help him re-discover God and his faith.

Controversial at best for its theological viewpoints, I wrote this review not from the theology view, but about the story itself. When we go through hard times in our lives, we often question God and everything we believe in. While this book and the God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit presented in the story are not a substitute for the Bible and God's Word, it does help provide answers to some questions you may have like why did God let this happen? The book is about the relationship between Mack and God and what God means to him. It provides some thought provoking and life changing (for some people) conversations that you may ask yourself. If you ever find yourself doubting or questioning God, you should first and foremost seek out God's Word in the Bible, but this book can be a start. It was a story filled with moments of happiness, as well as sadness, and pretty much every emotion people go through when they lose a loved one.

I enjoyed the story and the concept. When a book is fiction, you should be able to distinguish between what's real and not when it comes to a spiritual subject like God and religion.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~