The Christian Mama's Guide to Baby's First Year Book Review

Title: The Christian Mama's Guide to Baby's First Year.

Author: Erin MacPherson.

Genre: Christian, Nonfiction, Humor, Parenting, Self-Help.

Plot: Having read and enjoyed The Christian Mama's Guide to Having a Baby by the same author way back in April, it occurred to me that I didn't really know much about what to do with the baby once it was born. So I requested the sequel and then found out I was pregnant in mid-to-late May. Of course, that made me want to read the book even more, and I did, very easily. The hard part was writing the review later on because morning sickness set in shortly after and what with that lasting four lovely months and trying to find a doctor/midwife/somebody, I was swamped. So, here is a very belated review.

While this book is very informative and helped me learn new things that I well, didn't know before {like lochia and other postpartum stuff}, a lot of it was just common sense stuff. Like, for example, the author describes her experience trying to trim her baby's tiny little finger nails for the first time and having it backfire on her so badly that she recommends just leaving the nails alone. The easiest and smartest way to trim baby's nails is the way my mom taught me; you do it when they're asleep and you have good lighting. Duh. It also wasn't as funny as the first book, which I was a bit disappointed with because I'd really enjoyed the exaggerated humor of the first book {of course, I didn't realize just how exaggerated it was till after I read it and started experiencing it all for myself}.

I do think it gives a good rundown of information, such as breastfeeding and formula feeding, sleep training and making sure you take time out for the helpful new father and any older siblings the baby might have. It was well written and had a good flow to it, neither too fast nor too slow. It was interesting and informative without being boring, and I liked it. Just not as much as I liked the first book.

Rating: PG-15 and up, mainly for content {it's for married women who've just had babies, so things like postpartum sex with your husband are briefly discussed}.

Date Report Written: December 13th, 2013.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. I wasn't required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

Hiya!

Hello, hello, hello. Long time no see, eh? There's quite a story behind that. First off, I couldn't post nearly as much as I wanted to over the summer because I didn't have the energy to write the posts because I had very bad morning sickness and was throwing up all over the place. It was nasty. When it finally started to clear up in September, guess what? We have to take my computer in to get the CD player fixed before the warranty expired and it was in the shop supposedly getting fixed from the beginning of September to the end of November. It was so very frustrating. I couldn't even do NaNo!

But now I have my computer back with a working CD player {the number pad doesn't work but whatever}, I'm all done throwing up and am gearing up for the final leg of 2013 and my first pregnancy. I'm currently 31 weeks pregnant by my calculations, though the doctors add an extra two weeks so according to them I'm 33 weeks along. We have two more birthing class sessions left, a bunch of doctor appointments coming up for routine checks, a birth plan to write, Christmas to shop for, a baby shower on Saturday and then we get to impatiently wait for the due date in mid-January to arrive and then fly by. ;) I also have a ton of blog posts to write and catch up on so hopefully, this blog will get a little more active. One of the only things I could while down with morning sickness was read, so there are a lot of reviews that need to be written and posted. ;) See ya soon!

The Snake, The Crocodile and The Dog Book Review

Title: The Snake, The Crocodile and The Dog.

Author: Elizabeth Peters.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Action/Adventure, Mystery, Thriller, Humorous, Egypt.

It took me awhile to get through this one, due mainly to my library since I was halfway through it the first time around when it had to go back. Just as entertaining, exciting and refreshing as the other delightful books in this series, this latest adventure in the lives of Prof. and Mrs. Emerson will keep you turning the pages till the final shocking conclusion.

With danger seemingly dogging their heels as soon as they land in Egypt, Amelia and Emerson are caught in an odd position of expecting an attack, yet being totally unprepared for it when it does arrive. Having just returned from a trip to a mysterious Lost Oasis, the motive behind the attack is easily deduced. It's the resulting effects of it that prove the most distressing; Emerson has lost his memory. Determined to protect the oasis and regain her husband's love, Amelia returns to that enchanted spot where once before Emerson had first loved her. The attempt to jog his memory isn't her only concern however; foes lurk around every corner and news from home is equally distressing. But still, deep down, the hardest trial to bear is Emerson himself.

This past winter, my husband and I had had long entertaining discussions and reenactments based around the question of what would we do if either of us lost our memory? We concluded that we would probably traumatize each other. But this book offers a wonderful fictional example of what one woman did when faced with that terrible possibility-turned-reality. Quite a thought-provoking story all in all.

Rating: PG-15 and up, mainly for reading level, violence and tastefully veiled marriage humor.

Date Report Written: August 3rd, 2013

Mythmaker Book Review

Title: Mythmaker: The Life of J.R.R. Tolkien.

Author: Anne E. Neimark

Genre: Biography, Nonfiction, True Story, Historical.

Plot: Tolkien's famous works, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, etc., have captured readers' attention for decades now, but few know about the man behind the myths. This little book, numbering only one hundred thirty-six pages, weaves the pieces of Tolkien's life into a easily digested story that hints at the much bigger even more impressively illustrated tale that is J.R.R. Tolkien.

Beginning in the hot dusty Continent of Africa, three year old Tolkien first starts exploring the world around him and unconsciously, unknowingly, forming the friends and foes that would decorate the pages of his stories that would be birthed so many years later when he was older and wiser. But for now, he gleefully ran away from his nurse, hoping to climb that one little tree beckoning to him, and instead finds himself opposed by a fearsome tarantula spider that bites his little foot. As he and his younger brother grow up in a harsh world, enduring the loss early on of their father and then, eight years later, their mother, Tolkien's imagination lies in wait, gathering information and inspiration then storing it away for when the time to use it would come. And when that perfect time did come, oh how unprepared the world - and Tolkien himself - were for the depth and width of his creation.

Likes/Dislikes: This was a beautifully written biography in wonderful story form, not at all boring. It made me further appreciate the author of one of the greatest literary works that will grace our bookshelves for years to come. I especially found the accounts of how his widowed mother came from a Protestant background to convert to Catholicism {my husband is Catholic}, the difficulties Tolkien and his sweetheart endured before they could finally marry, and the little interesting fact that his wife, Edith, converted to Catholicism prior to their marriage. All very interesting. Their were parts of the story that moved me very deeply - such as the eighteen years of grueling work to give birth to The Lord of Rings, ending in wild triumph. But the best part was that after his wife's death, Tolkien still wore his wedding ring. When one friend advised him to take off the ring to lessen his grief, "he flatly refused. 'I am still married,' Ronald said. On Middle-Earth, he told his friend, Sauron's One Ring had been filled with negative power, exhausting the strength of Frodo, Gollum, or anyone wearing it - but the gold band on his own finger, worn for fifty-five years, contained the eternal powers of goodness and love." That kind of love is a beautiful thing.

Rating: G- Recommended for all ages. Highly recommended!

Date Report Written: April 27th, 2013.

Quick Update

I haven't been able to post anything for awhile due to some personal things I'll keep under wraps for now. But I haven't forgotten my blog or followers, and will try to get something posted for you when I can. Thanks for your patience. :)

Murder With Mirrors Book Review

Title: Murder With Mirrors.

Author: Agatha Christie.

Genre: Classic, Mystery, Historical Fiction.

Plot: Spending an afternoon catching up with her old friend Ruth is always a wonderful experience. But this time, when the subject of Ruth's sweet sister Carrie Louise is brought up, Miss Jane Marple switches from old school friend to amateur detective in a flash. While Ruth had grown up, married two or three times, and eventually resettled in America, Carrie had stayed in England. Of course, she too had gone through two prior marriages that had ended badly, and her family tree was all a muddled mess with stepsons, adopted children, a lovely granddaughter, and one very deprived daughter who'd grown up in the shadow of her older adopted sister, long since passed on. But what really pricks Miss Marple's interest is Ruth's very strong yet very vague sense that something isn't right with Carrie Louise. And setting loyal Marple on the case might just be the best decision she ever made.

When Miss Marple arrives at Carrie's house, Stonygates, she begins to seek out what the trouble is. But she only ends up with a very cluttered confuse picture of the busy dysfunctional atmosphere. She encounters some very colorful characters that range from the widowed Mrs. Strete who is Carrie's blood daughter and still harbors a bitterness over all the attention her sister - and now her sister's daughter - receive from everyone. Then there's Gina, the half Italian seemingly happy granddaughter; she is married to a bored and very unhappy American named Walter while enjoying the affect she has on all the other young men around her, including two of Carrie's adopted stepsons, Alex and Stephen. And then there is, of course, Carrie's current husband, her companion/nurse Juliet Bellever, and that odd young man Edgar Lawson who seems to be fine one day and then completely insane the next.

With such a cluttered web weaving in, out and all through the house, it's no wonder that when murder strikes, nobody is prepared for it. Not even shrewd Miss Marple. But, working together with Inspector Curry, it is she who finally untangles the mystery and drags the culprit into the light. But will she solve this riddle in time before tragedy strikes again?

Likes/Dislikes: Of the half dozen Agatha Christie mysteries I've so far read, this is probably by far my favorite of the lot. It's so deliciously written, so cleverly woven and populated with wonderfully odd and real characters, and so much fun to read. I especially liked that Miss Marple took more of a central role in the story and that it had a lot told from her perspective that didn't necessarily have anything to do with the mystery itself, such as rambles about tea and fashion. So wonderful and beautifully written! I highly recommend this novel, especially to first-timers to Agatha Christie's world! Also goes by the title of They Do It With Mirrors.

Rating: PG-15 and up, mainly for reading level and content. It's a murder mystery after all.

Date Report Written: April 5th, 2013.

A Song on the End of the World Poem

On the day the world ends
A bee circles a clover,
A fisherman mends a glimmering net.
Happy porpoises jump in the sea,
By the rainspout young sparrows are playing
And the snake is gold-skinned as it should always be.

On the day the world ends
Women walk through the fields under their umbrellas,
A drunkard grows sleepy at the edge of a lawn,
Vegetable peddlers shout in the street
And a yellow-sailed boat comes nearer the island,
The voice of a violin lasts in the air
And leads into a starry night.

And those who expected lightning and thunder
Are disappointed.
And those who expected signs and archangels' trumps
Do not believe it is happening now.
As long as the sun and the moon are above,
As long as the bumblebee visits a rose,
As long as rosy infants are born
No one believes it is happening now.

Only a white-haired old man, who would be a prophet
Yet is not a prophet, for he's much too busy,
Repeats while he binds his tomatoes:
No other end of the world will there be,
No other end of the world will there be.


-Czeslaw Milosz, A Song on the End of the World

To Win Her Heart Book Review

Title: To Win Her Heart.

Author: Karen Witemeyer.

Genre: Christian, Historical Fiction, Romance, Humorous.

Plot: Levi Grant has just been released from a stay in prison after an unintentionally crime had landed him there, and derailed all his youthful plans for the future. Feeling tarnished yet hoping and praying for a new future, Levi puts his trust in God and travels to a small town where no one knows about his past so he can start anew. Having learned the trade of blacksmithing from his father before he went astray, Levi now recalls to mind the skills of his past and agrees to a trial-run to convince the leaders of Spencer, Texas that he has what it takes to do the job. But trouble still finds him and more often than not, in arrives in the form of Eden Spencer.

After a bad break-up with a dishonest man who almost married her, Eden has swore off men and spends her time running the small lending library out of her home and representing her father in the little town. Constantly butting heads with the banker, Mr. Draper, and fending off the unwanted attentions of the sheriff, Mr. Pratt, Eden isn’t prepared for how she starts feeling whenever Levi comes around to her library to borrow a book. Daring to hope she’s finally found an honorable man, she begins exchanging letters with Levi. But when she learns the truth about his past, Eden fairly flies out the window and shuts herself off from everyone, especially Levi.

Likes/Dislikes: With a cast of well-drawn characters that include a girl named Chloe, a fiery Scotsman named Duncan, and of course, our heroes and villains, Ms. Witemeyer weaves a wonderful story of forgiveness, hope and relying on the Lord. While the beginning started off a bit slow for me, I did find this to be overall a very engaging fun story. I cheered for the heroes and booed the villains. I didn’t much care for Eden however, as she seemed very judgmental and rather full of herself at times. I loved how they get to know each other by hiding letters in books. All in all, a good clean afternoon read.

Rating: PG-15 and up.

Date Report Written: April 1^st, 2013.

I received a copy of this book free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

The Girl in the Gatehouse Book Review

Title: The Girl in the Gatehouse.

Author: Julie Klassen

Genre: Christian, Historical Fiction, Romance, Humorous, Regency England.

Plot: After committing a fatal mistake that shatters her reputation, Mariah Aubrey is banished from her childhood home, separated from her mother and younger sister. With only faithful Susan Dixon as her companion, Mariah travels to a distant aunt’s house and takes up residence, in secret, in the gatehouse that no one uses anymore. Slowly, she begins to make new friends in her strange new surroundings, beginning with the gardener, her aunt’s manservant Martin, the children from the nearby poorhouse, two elderly sisters who brighten Mariah’s darkest days, and the new resident of the estate, Captain Matthew Bryant.

Her aunt having suddenly passed away and her suspicious cousin in need of money, he leases the estate to the naval captain who enters the estate thinking of the girl who broke his heart so long ago. Determined to reclaim her, he is not prepared to be so intrigued by the mysterious girl living in the gatehouse. As the two become friends and Mariah’s secret novel writing begins to take off, scandal arrives on the estate’s doorstep and all secrets are blown wide open.

Likes/Dislikes: I really enjoyed this novel. With intrigue, mystery and tantalizing hints thrown about, who couldn't enjoy this wonderful novel set in Jane Austen’s enchanted era and with a heroine who supports herself by secretly writing novels. Some of the scandal hit a tad close to home in relation to my personal life, but all in all it was a wonderfully beautifully written story of second chances. I did think that Captain Bryant majorly overreacted the second time but that’s okay. Highly recommended!

Rating: PG-16 and up, mainly for content as it is about a scandal.

Date Report Written: April 1^st, 2013.

I received a copy of this book free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

The Life and Times of Miss Jane Marple Book Review

Title: The Life and Times of Miss Jane Marple.

Author: Anne Hart.

Genre: Fiction, Fictional Biography, Fictional Character Profile, Miss Marple Companion Book.

Plot: One of Agatha Christie's most famous sleuths is the ladylike Miss Marple, with her knitting needles and harmless appearance disguising her sharp mind. Miss Marple is also famous simply as a lady sleuth, in a world dominated by male detectives, sleuths, investigators and those yucky people who are always in the wrong place at the right time. Miss Marple, brought to life by the talent of Agatha Christie, has thrilled readers for generations and will most likely continue to do so for many more years to come. But what was she really like?

Taking a creative path in her debut book, Anne Hart explores Christie's silver haired sleuth as a biographer would explore Christie herself. Having carefully {and joyfully} read all of Christie's books featuring Miss Marple and taken careful note of the clues hidden about our favorite sleuth in the pages of these books, Ms. Hart lays out a wonderful in-depth biography that will thrill all Miss Marple's fans everywhere. In just thirteen short wonderful chapters, Ms. Hart lays all the facts out in neat order for us to treasure and study over and over again. It also makes a lovely reference book.

Likes/Dislikes: This book was beautifully written, not at all boring like you'd expect most biographies to be. While each of Miss Marple's stories were talked about in minor detail and quoted from, the spectacular endings weren't spoiled - a thoughtful gesture on the author's part. This is the first fictional biography I've come across or read before, and I quite like the idea.

Rating: PG-14 and up, for reading level and mild content. Highly recommended!

Date Report Written: May 8th, 2013.

4:50 From Paddington Book Review

Title: 4:50 From Paddington.

Author: Agatha Christie.

Genre: Classic, Mystery, Historical Fiction.

Plot: Elspeth McGillicuddy doesn't lie, and when she tells her old friend Miss Marple that she saw a woman being murdered a train passing hers, Miss Marple believes her. But, after reporting this interesting fact to the proper authorities, the question remains; what to do about the murder. Feeling her years weighing on her, Miss Marple decides the best course of action is to hunt up her much younger efficient friend, Lucy Eyelesbarrow to do the foot work for her. Getting herself established at Rutherford Hall, Lucy handles the housework and makes life much easier for the daughter of the house, Emma Crackenthorpe. When she's not scrubbing the kitchen table or cooking delicious food, Lucy stomps around the grounds looking for clues and, more importantly, the body of the dead woman.

When the body, now three weeks old, is finally discovered, Rutherford Hall becomes the center of attention, making the various Crackenthorpe family members very nervous. Detective Inspector Craddock is set on the case and finds himself with one very tricky puzzle on his hands. With seemingly all the clues in hand, Craddock believes he has the case wrapped up - until people start dropping dead. With even the police baffled, it is up to Miss Marple to bring the final piece to the puzzle. But will she be in time before another murder takes place?

Likes/Dislikes: This was an exceptional novel! I thought I had it all figured out {and I did get most of it right}, but then someone dies and my whole theory, rather like Craddock's, came crashing down, leaving me wondering how on earth this story could be resolved. I really liked Lucy and Craddock; very well written wonderful characters. Miss Marple didn't feature in the story too much, just the beginning, end and a little in the middle, but I was fine with that. I really liked this story; I'd recommend it to anyone interested in a good solid read with a twist at the end.

Rating: PG-14 and up, mainly for reading level and content {it's a murder ya know}.

Date Report Written: May 2nd, 2013.

Excerpt 4:50 From Paddington

On her way up to bed, Lucy encountered Cedric on the stairs.

"Look here, Lucy, there's something I want to say to you."

"Do you want me to marry you and come to Iviza and look after you?"

Cedric looked very much taken aback and slightly alarmed.

"I never thought of such a thing."

"Sorry. My mistake."

"I just wanted to know if you've a timetable in the house?"

"Is that all? There's one on the hall table."

"You know," said Cedric, reprovingly, "you shouldn't go about thinking everyone wants to marry you. You're quite a good-looking girl but not as good-looking as all that. There's a name for that sort of thing. It grows on you and you get worse. Actually you're the last girl in the world I should care to marry. The last girl."

"Indeed?" said Lucy. "You needn't rub it in. Perhaps you'd prefer me as a stepmother?"

"What's that?" Cedric stared at her, stupefied.

"You heard me," said Lucy, and went into her room and shut the door.

                                                                     ~ Excerpt from 4:50 From Paddington by Agatha Christie.

The Rose of Winslow Street Book Review

Title: The Rose of Winslow Street.

Author: Elizabeth Camden.

Genre: Christian, Historical Fiction, Romance.

Plot: Arriving in the dark of the night, Michael and his family – consisting of two young sons, two faithful man servants and his poor sister – reclaim a house that has been in their family for quite some time. Finally daring to hope that here, in Colden, Massachusetts, they will finally be safe from his brother’s wrath, Michael begins to relax. But first things first; the rose bush in the garden has to go.

Libby Sawyer, the grown daughter of an eccentric inventor, leads a very quiet predictable life that often has her wondering what she’s missing out on. When she and her father return from visiting her older brother and his family to discover that foreigners have invaded their house and claim that it’s deeded to them, Libby’s life is no longer quiet or predictable. Brokenhearted at the loss of her mother’s rose bush, Libby takes a dislike to gruff Michael who has the odd habit of sniffing her whenever she comes around. However, despite her initial feelings, she is nonetheless intrigued by the enigmatic man and his little family. She begins to befriend him and his children, while being warned away from his sister. When his secrets come to light, Libby finds her loyalties being tested and no longer finds herself willing to live the rest of her days with her father. But will the scarred past and uncertain future taint her growing affections?

Likes/Dislikes: I've wanted to read this book ever since I first saw the cover. It’s a beautiful cover and roses do play into the story, but not, as I discovered, in the way I’d initially thought. Beautifully written, I found myself greatly enjoying the story and falling for all the characters {except the bad ones of course}. Each character is so wonderfully drawn and brought to life. I could also relate to Libby in many ways. When Michael’s secrets come to light, I quite liked him for being so sacrificial and giving up everything for his sister. And I felt so sorry for her. I could never imagine {nor would want to} go through what she went through.

Rating: PG-17 and up, mainly for content involving Michael’s sister. I recommend this story to history lovers as it really does cover history, instead of just being a romance set in a historical time period.

Date Report Written: April 1^st, 2013.

I received a copy of this book free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. I wasn’t required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

Striped Flowers

Because I'm bored, thinking a lot about gardening and it's Thursday which is normally when I post random things, here are a bunch of gorgeous striped flowers for ya all! 

Portulaca Sundial Peppermint

{I have these in my garden}

Tiger Eyes Viola

{These are gonna end up in my garden}

Striped Carnation

Striped roses!

{Oh, I wish I had a whole bunch of these in my garden!!}

Striped Lilies

Striped Snapdragons

Striped Zinnias

Striped Marigolds

Striped Sunflowers

Sex, Dating and Relationships Book Review

Title: Sex, Dating and Relationships.

Author: Gerald Hiestand and Jay Thomas.

Genre: Christian, Nonfiction, Relationships.

Plot: In our culture, sex and dating are the norm. But what does the Bible say about sex before marriage? Why is sex so important to God anyway? And if dating is so wrong, what should we be doing in order to meet people and find our true love in a safe way?

First off, I have to say that I didn’t finish this book. I’ll explain that in the section below. I did however, really like the part on engagements and I will quote one particular paragraph. “Make a beeline to the altar. And one last word about timing: if things work out and you get engaged, keep your engagement short. Engagement exists for one purpose only – to plan a wedding. It is not a final vetting process or an attempt to buy time while your parents warm to the idea. Too many Christian couples are sacrificing their purity on the altar of a perfect wedding day. So don’t think of engagement as uber-dating, where you buy more time and have the benefit of a closed deal. Engagement is there to plan a wedding. Once she says yes, it’s beeline time.” My husband and I had a really hard time going from engaged to married because my parents dragged their feet and threw wrenches into the plans at every opportunity. So I’m a strong believer in short engagements. I often wish they had read this book when my husband and I were courting.

Likes/Dislikes: One of my major dislikes about this book and the reason I didn’t finish it is that the authors will make a point, say in the first two pages of a chapter, and then spend the next six pages going over it three or four more times. It got very boring very fast and going over it again and again didn’t strengthen their point or add more weight to it. It just made me bored. Another dislike I had was their take on dating. Personally, I prefer courtship over dating. Their idea of having “friend-dates” was fun sounding though. All in all, I really liked what I read from this book; it just wasn’t for me. I really enjoyed the first chapter on the history.

Rating: PG-17 and up, mainly for content as it’s about sex and getting married.

Date Report Written: April 1^st, 2013.

I received this book free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. I wasn’t required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

Procrastination Quotes

“Never put off till tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well."

                                                                                                                ~ Mark Twain

“Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.” 

                                                          ~ Martha Troly-Curtin.

“You can't just turn on creativity like a faucet. You have to be in the right mood. 

What mood is that? 

Last-minute panic.” 

                          ~ Bill Watterson

“I never put off till tomorrow what I can possibly do - the day after.” 

                                                                                      ~ Oscar Wilde

“I Can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow.” 

                                                                                                    ~ Margaret Mitchell

“If it weren't for the last minute, nothing would get done.”

                                                                                       ~ Rita Mae Brown 

“Someday is not a day of the week.” 

                                       ~ Janet Dailey

“It is easier to resist at the beginning than at the end.” 

                                                            ~ Leonardo da Vinci

“The thing all writers do best is find ways to avoid writing.” 

                                                                  ~ Alan Dean Foster

“Never put off till tomorrow the book you can read today.” 

                                                                 ~ Holbrook Jackson

The Icecutter's Daughter Book Review

Title: The Icecutter's Daughter.

Author: Tracie Peterson.

Genre: Christian, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance.

Plot: Living with her widower father and four older brothers has it's perks and benefits - she gets to help raise the horses and run around in trousers without worry - but it also has it's draw backs, and one of those is that at nearly twenty-one, Merrill Krause is still unmarried. Her brothers keep the undesirable suitors away, but they also intimidate the potentially desirable ones too. And while she hasn't felt the want of a husband and family of her own before, it's still a hope nestled deeply in her heart. At least her cooking is the best in the town and wins prizes all the time.

But when Rurik Jorgenson arrives in town to help his aging uncle with the furniture business, Merrill isn't prepared for the wave of renewed hope for a family of her own. Because Rurik, unlike most men, is not in the least intimidated by her brothers. He in fact gets along marvelously with them - probably because he has brothers himself. With a small flower of love blooming in their hearts, the two are caught unawares when Rurik's former fiancee` and her brother roll into town, disrupting daily life and making things increasingly difficult for Rurik. With scandal and gossip whirling around the town thicker than snow, rising to a very serious pitch, Rurik and Merrill have never needed their trust in God more than now. But will it be enough?

Likes/Dislikes: This is my first Tracie Peterson novel and I rather liked it. It was a wonderful change to have characters with Swedish and German lineage, with words and phrases from their respective homelands thrown into the mix. I also really enjoyed that, despite it being a romance and the characters falling in love much too quickly for my taste, that there wasn't a lot of the usual jabberings about stolen glances, secret smiles, and all the butterflies in the stomach when their hands accidentally brush. Very refreshing in that sense. I didn't like how the description protrayed Merrill as having a "lack of femininity," because she was very feminine in my opinion. Of course, she wore trousers to keep her legs warm and didn't go in for all the lacy frilly stuff - I don't either - but she was very feminine. She dressed like a lady, wore her hair long, and delighted in baking, cooking, cleaning and all the feminine things. I liked that. I didn't care for the former fiancee` and her brother though; I have the tendency to wish certain characters would just die, but that didn't happen. *winks* All in all, a pretty good book.

Rating: PG-14 and up, mainly for reading level and content {hints of someone being pregnant out of wedlock, but not graphic}.

Date Report Written: April 9th, 2013.

I received this book free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. I wasn't required to write a positive book review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

The Christian Mama's Guide to Having a Baby Book Review

Title: The Christian Mama’s Guide to Having a Baby.

Author: Erin MacPherson

Genre: Christian, Nonfiction, Pregnancy, Guide, How-To, Self-Help, Humorous.

Plot: With a hilarious sense of humor and a wonderful easy-going style of writing, Mrs. MacPherson takes you on a fun-filled journey through pregnancy and helps you navigate this most fulfilling and often unpleasant phase in life. She also gives you pointers on how to draw closer to God during your pregnancy, especially on days when you’re too sick to do anything besides moan and throw up.

With a detailed chapter on what to expect during each trimester, followed by equally detailed yet not at all boring chapters on baby gear, maternity clothes, exercising during pregnancy, morning sickness and how to eat healthfully when you’re carving junk food, this book is definitely one of the keepers you’ll want on hand to answer a lot of your pregnancy questions. It walks you through the doctor/midwife’s office, explains some of the tests they do, gives you an in-depth look at the actual birth of the baby {which is probably the most stressful of the whole nine-month journey}, and covers breast-feeding as well, which can be a pretty tricky thing for new moms to learn. It also has tips for pregnancy sex and a chapter written by husbands of pregnant women for husbands of pregnant women. I made my husband read that chapter and he said he really liked it, and that the big difference between it and other books I’ve shoved into his hands is that it was written by actual guys.

There are also wonderful little sections in each chapter with Bible verses and a prayer to help you along in your daily meditation on God’s word while pregnant. The chapter on food is very deliciously detailed so I recommend you take the advice in the opening paragraph and get a snack before reading it.

Likes/Dislikes: I’ve read maybe close to half a dozen pregnancy books in the last several months as my own personal homework {ya never know when this knowledge will come in handy!}, and this book is, by far, the most fun of the lot. It also addresses the emotional side of pregnancy a lot better than the other books did. On top of that, it’s Christian and has tips for drawing closer to God during pregnancy – something the other books definitely didn’t dig into. It was written in a hilarious easy-to-relate-to style that flowed really well and made sense. There wasn’t all that medical jargon to confuse and wade through. The only issues I had with it are pretty minor; in the food chapter it lists canola oil as being good to take when pregnant. It is, in fact, not at all healthy for you. Also, it described the various options open to women when it comes time to give birth {which is a good thing}, putting stress on having an epidural and also saying that when the nurses whisk your newborn baby off to test it and give it shots, it’s a good thing. Now, I have nothing against epidurals {I just don’t particularly want to take one because it’s a big needle that gets poked into your spine and could cause a lot of damage if they poked it wrong}, but I don’t agree with the tests and shots on the little newborn. That’s me personally. I really liked that the author was such a huge fan of breastfeeding. In all, I highly recommend this book to any expectant {or hoping to be expectant} moms. I will personally be keeping it close on hand when I have my first baby.

Rating: PG-16 and up, mainly for content. It’s about having babies after all.

Date Report Written: April 1^st, 2013.

I received a copy of this book from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

And Yet the Books Poem

And yet the books will be there on the shelves, separate beings,

That appeared once, still wet

As shining chestnuts under a tree in autumn,

And, touched, coddled, began to live

In spite of fires on the horizon, castles blown up,

Tribes on the march, planets in motion.

“We are,” they said, even as their pages

Were being torn out, or a buzzing flame

Licked away their letters. So much more durable

Than we are, whose frail warmth

Cools down with memory, disperses, perishes.

I imagine the earth when I am no more:

Nothing happens, no loss, it's still a strange pageant,

Women's dresses, dewy lilacs, a song in the valley.

Yet the books will be there on the shelves, well born,

Derived from people, but also from radiance, heights.

                                                                                                                        ~ Czeslaw Milosz

A Round of Blog Posts 23

While I haven't been doing this particular post series as much as I used, I still read everyone's blogs! So, here are some of the latest links that I rather liked. Enjoy! And keep blogging!

Jessica at SafireWriter tells us, in a tag, about two of her current book projects.

A very neat post on what it means to be a man at the blog A Holy Experience

Amber at Seasons of Humility has a wonderful book review to share.

Turns out that Ruth at BookTalk and More is just as excited about David Tennent's return as me. :)

Also from Jessica at SafireWriter is the writer-humor post that just made my day. *huge grin*

Hannah at Candy Apple Books has a beautiful review on Inkheart.

And over at Bloom! we have a wonderful touching story of how God works in our lives through prayer.

Short-Straw Bride Book Review

Title: Short-Straw Bride.

Author: Karen Witemeyer.

Genre: Christian, Historical Fiction, Romance, Humorous, Western, Adventure.

Plot: When Meredith Hayes first heard about the mysterious Archers - more particularly the fearsome firstborn Travis Archer - she was just a little girl of ten being bullied by Hiram Ellis. When the bigger boy throws her lunch pail into the woods and dares her to go get it, Meredith takes hold of her courage and stomps into the woods, her ears ringing with stories of the Archers and their man-eating hounds. However, she quickly discovers that the hound dogs are not as fearsome as she was led to believe, and that Travis Archer isn't nearly as big and mean as she'd thought.

Twelve years later, now an orphan and living with her beloved cousin Cassie, her mellow uncle, and sharp-tongued aunt, Meredith finds herself on the brink of an arranged marriage with no love in it. All these years she's treasured the secret thought and hope of one day marrying Travis. But since the four Archers never leave their land and anyone who steps on it is shot at or scared off, it seems her girlhood dream will remain in her past as just a dream. And then she overhears her intended husband making some very dangerous plans to steal the Archer land, and Meredith decides it's time to cash in a long-standing debt. When a late-night ride to Archer territory and a fight with a barn fire leave her injured, Meredith finds herself with a shattered reputation and thrust upon the Archers' permanently. Not entirely perturbed by this latest development, Meredith soon begins to wonder if Travis will ever fall in love with her or if she's just another added responsibility to him.

But when danger threatens their combined families, will Meredith learn to trust her husband with her protection and will Travis learn to trust God with his family's safety?

Likes/Dislikes: This was a wonderful sweet story and definitely a fun way to pass time and take a break from some of the heavier reads I've been indulging in lately. I've always found these type of historical romances to be engaging and fun; they do have the tendency to dance close to the line of appropriateness so I don't always feel comfortable recommending them to everyone. The characters were wonderfully well defined and unique in their own way. I liked that they were flawed characters too, something that is tricky for authors to pull off. I did find Meredith to be annoying after awhile; the way she went on and on whining about whether Travis loved her or not when it was so obvious that he did. Also, she didn't trust him enough to protect her or everyone else, though he'd obviously been doing so successfully for over ten years now. I ended up just shaking my head when she purposefully deceived him and went off to "help" rescue the endangered family member. She ended up making things worse. Oh well. Due to content {some violence and suggested marriage-related feelings and conversations, but nothing graphic, thankfully}, I wouldn't recommend this to younger readers, but anyone fifteen and up would enjoy it.

Rating: PG -15 and up.

Date Report Written: March 26th, 2013.

Excerpt from Short-Straw Bride

Could she read his thoughts? Was he frightening her? 'Cause he was sure as shootin' scaring himself.

"I didn't mean to make you angry, Travis," Meredith said, her expression more stubborn than fearful, thank the Lord. "But I can't promise to do something that may violate my conscience."

Angry? What was she talking about? "I'm not mad at you, Meri."

Her brow furrowed. "You're not? I could have sworn you were counting to ten or something, trying to keep your temper in check."

Travis nearly laughed aloud. His sweet, innocent wife had no idea what he'd been trying to keep in check. And he wanted to keep it that way. At least until he learned how to control it a little better.

"I promise I'm not m-"

Meredith's gasp cut him off.

"Oh my stars!" Her panicked eyes darted past him to the house and had him reaching for his rifle to confront the threat. "My cornbread!" She grabbed a fistful of skirt and sprinted down the path and across the yard.

                                    ~ Excerpt from Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer.

Note: For those readers who've read this book, you might be wondering why I picked this scene to share on my blog. While I chopped off the beginning paragraphs, this scene had me laughing out loud which rarely happens when I read books.

Random Pinterest

These are some random but interesting pictures I found on Pinterest one day when bored. And I thought I'd share them with you. :)

The Kraken. Such a cute depiction! 

Hmm, which would be the more dangerous I wonder?

So random! This picture cracks me up every time I see!

This is true; my husband will never admit it though. *winks*

I feel bad for my daughters already. *grins*

Breath-taking! Especially for such a long picture.

Sherlock is the best!

Murder at the Vicarage Book Review.

Title: Murder at the Vicarage.

Author: Agatha Christie.

Genre: Classic, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Miss Marple.

Plot: Lenard Clement, vicar to the little village of St. Mary Mead, has his hands full with vicar duties, visiting his parishioners, soothing over hurt feelings and miscommunications about pound notes, writing out his sermons, raising his sixteen year old nephew Dennis, and dealing with the housekeeping of his young wife Griselda. He doesn't need Colonel Protheroe's complaints to add to his burdens, and he certainly doesn't need a murder either. But when the Colonel comes to pay a call on the vicar when he is out, murder is exactly what the vicar ends up with. For the Colonel is found dead in Mr. Clement's own study.

Considering that nobody liked the deaf interfering old Colonel, finding a suspect to link the murder to is a hard task for energetic Inspector Slack and Chief Inspector Melchett. And then people start accusing themselves of the crime, beginning with artist Lawrence Redding who had had a rather uproarious disagreement with the Colonel before his unfortunate death. But how could he have possibly killed the Colonel when the Colonel's own wife is likewise confessing to the crime?

In Miss Marple's debut novel, Agatha Christie spins an intriguing web of misdirection, red-herrings and mysterious phone calls for her famous amateur sleuth to test the waters and unravel.

Likes/Dislikes: I really quite liked this particular Agatha Christie novel. I guessed one character's true identity early on in the story {it was quite obvious to me}, but I hadn't bothered to form any suspicions around who could have killed the Colonel and was wonderfully surprised when Miss Marple revealed the answer. This is the first novel in which Miss Marple is introduced and there are at least fourteen to sixteen sequels featuring the little old lady-sleuth. I personally didn't care for the vicar, the narrator of the story, as he seemed around a dull man. I also don't usually like first-person stories, although some authors pull them off very well. Note: two characters are having an affair in the story and one is married, but there is nothing graphic at all. Just hints and mild suggestions in a very delicate fashion. All in all, a very good mystery.

Rating: PG-14 and up for reading level and content. It's a murder mystery after all. Recommended.

Date Report Written: March 16th, 2013.

The Spring Poem

Now that the winter's gone, the earth hath lost

Her snow-white robes, and now no more the frost

Candies the grass, or casts an icy cream

Upon the silver lake or crystal stream;

But the warm sun thaws the benumbed earth,

And makes it tender; gives a sacred birth

To the dead swallow; wakes in hollow tree

The drowsy cuckoo, and the humble-bee.

Now do a choir of chirping minstrels bring

In triumph to the world the youthful Spring.

The valleys, hills, and woods in rich array

Welcome the coming of the long'd-for May.

Now all things smile, only my love doth lour;

Nor hath the scalding noonday sun the power

To melt that marble ice, which still doth hold

Her heart congeal'd, and makes her pity cold.

The ox, which lately did for shelter fly

Into the stall, doth now securely lie

In open fields; and love no more is made

By the fireside, but in the cooler shade

Amyntas now doth with his Chloris sleep

Under a sycamore, and all things keep

Time with the season; only she doth carry

June in her eyes, in her heart January.

~ The Spring by Thomas Carew.

A Little Help

Hiya! I've lately been trying to think of ways to improve this blog, and to come up with ideas for more posts since I don't always do the book reviews that I should be doing when I'm supposed to be doing them. So, in addition to the poll to the right side of this post, could you all please take a minute and tell me what you guys would like to see more of on this blog? And in the comments, could you please add some ideas that I probably didn't include in the poll? Like, do you want more book related posts or would my attempts at trying out different recipes be more up your alley? Please help me out and give me your feedback on this. I would appreciate it so much. Thank you!

A Pocket Full of Rye Book Review

Title: A Pocket Full of Rye.

Author: Agatha Christie.

Genre: Mystery, Classic, Historical Fiction, Miss Marple.

Plot: Rex Fortescue, a king in his own right of his financial empire, drinks his last cup of tea at his office one brisk morning. Inspector Neele, his inner musings on the case propelling most of the story, begins investigating at once and discovers plenty of clues. Now, if only he could string them together into something coherent and solve this puzzling case!

Fortescue, it seems, was on the brink of insanity and left behind not only a crumbling empire, but a dysfunctional rather nasty family. His second wife, much younger than himself, married for money and has an on going affair with her "golf partner," Vivian Dubois. His two sons by his first marriage, Percy and Lancelot  are complete opposites. Percy, -self-righteous and uptight, has always been billed as the good boy. Yet, he has his own motives and agendas. Lance, the adventure-loving reckless black sheep of the family, hasn't seen his father in years - or has he? And then there are the daughters of the family. Percy and Lance have a sister, sweet and innocent in so many ways and yet deep in her own troubles; Elaine is the only one to show genuine grief for her father. Yet his death means she can finally marry Gerald - the suitor her father heartily disapproved of. Percy's wife, Jennifer, was a nurse before her marriage and now finds herself bored out of her mind with all the luxury surrounding her. Patricia, Lance's wife, is more at home with horses and dogs than in the world of her husband's relatives.

When everyone has a motive, figuring out who the villain is becomes increasingly difficult for Inspector Neele. And then two more people are found dead. Enter the tiny but brilliant Miss Marple, bent on avenging one of the deaths. With her crucial insight into human nature and her non-threatening appearance, Miss Marple supplies Neele with the missing clues he needs to solve this baffling case once and for all.

Likes/Dislikes: I quite enjoyed this novel. It is the seventh Miss Marple mystery and really was very interesting and baffling. I wish Miss Marple had been in it more than she actually was, but Inspector Neele was a wonderful lead character. The secondary character I liked, however, turned out to be the villain. Pity. Oh well, it was definitely a twist I didn't see coming!

Rating: PG - 14 and up, for reading level and content. I mean, it's a murder mystery ya all. It's not graphic though so no worries on that score.

Date Report Written: March 9, 2013.

OMG! ZITS!

Considering that I haven't posted in awhile {my bad}, I need to think up new post ideas. While I do have several book reviews I'm supposed to write and post but which I'm procrastinating on, I don't really have any good post ideas that are more-or-less related to this blog and interesting enough to get me to sit down and, well, write them. And then it dawned on me; why not share my favorite comic strip? I will probably turn out three or four posts on this and save them for ammunition for posting days when I just don't know what to post. Anyway, here are the ones that I shared on Facebook last week, with my very valuable commentary. *winks*

I liked this particular scene because I can relate, and I get "love and Gravel" all the time. *winks* It's a play on my new last name. 

I feel bad for my husband and future children sometimes. Muhahaha!

This just made my husband and I laugh so hard.

Sometimes my future children and husband can relate. *giggles*

I used to have to do that all the time for my parents. Except that I would lock it and block all the bad channels, and then my mom would come by and unlock everything then not know how to fix it again.

Exactly, right?

Oh the horror, a suit and tie! *grins*

I know, right? My brothers usually just leave. At least my husband is sweet enough to take an interest in most movies I put on. Since haven't gotten him to sit through the "six hour really good version of Pride and Prejudice."

This is how my husband feels sometimes. *winks*

My husband can also relate to this, though he usually admits that he didn't finish the book.

Poor guys. *evil grin* I have to go make a quiz, be back later.

My mom is like that. But I don't understand abbreviations anyway so I don't use most of them.

Guys don't listen or remember, do they? *winks*