Review of Rewritng History by Vera Dodge

  

 

 

Review of Rewriting history by Vera Dodge

 

From the back of the book:

Mary’s Mystery Bookshop is hosting a very special guest: beloved mystery author Addison Hartley. Hartley gives an intimate reading to the fans gathered in the story, but Mary’s eyes are drawn not to the famous author but to a familiar face in the crowd. Could it be Mary’s best friend from childhood, Claire Wilkes? As soon as Mary moves to greet her old friend, the woman disappears. Mary is certain it was Claire, but no one else seems to have recognized her and Mary begins to doubt herself. But when Mary reads Hartley’s new novel, she finds eerie parallels to her own history. And when terrible rumors surface around town about a secret relationship between Claire and Mary’s husband John, Mary is more determined than ever to track down Claire. What brought her to Mary’s store? When did she run away? What was her connection to the best-selling novel? And, more importantly, were the rumors about Claire and Mary’s husband true?

 

 

Leona's Review:

 

This is my first read by Vera Dodge and my first read of the Secrets of Mary's Bookshop series.  Rewriting History is book #2 of the series. On goodreads.com, there is a list of 16 books in this series and by several different authors so I am gathering the books are all stand alone reads, as this one was.

 

Mary is a widow and has bought a bookstore in the small town of Ivy bay that will take the reader to the similar area of Cape Cod.  She lives with her sister, Betty.

 

At one of the book signings at her bookstore, she thinks she sees an old friend. The book written by Addison Hartley, is so similar to her life and details of the friendship between her, her husband and her friend.

 

No murder in this mystery but a mystery of what really happened 40 years ago in the lives of the three and why the friendship ended.

 

The book flows easily and has other characters such as a pastor and his grandson, the employee at the bookstore and her daughter and the sister of Mary. I can see  other books follow up on some of the other characters.

 

I like the scenery descriptions of the area.  At the back of the book is a recipe for chocolate covered pretzel ice cream that sounds good.

 

Mary prays often in the book asking for guidance and the prayers to me are something many of us do on a routine basis.  This is a book about sister love, the  loss of and finding friendship, loss of a husband, good friends and a hope for the future.

 

There is "A Conversation with Vera Dodge" at the back of the book that is interesting.

 

I bought this book at Goodwill.  I will probably read other books in the series.

It is published by Guidepost Publications.

 

I give this a 4 star rating.

Leona Olson

http://www.mnleona.blogspot.com

 

Book Review of heart like mine by Amy Hatvany

From goodreads.com:

When a young mother dies under mysterious circumstances, those she leaves behind begin looking for answers in the past—and find a long-buried secret they could have never imagined.Thirty-six-year-old Grace McAllister never longed for children. But when she meets Victor Hansen, a handsome, charismatic divorced restaurateur who is father to Max and Ava, Grace decides that, for the right man, she could learn to be an excellent part-time stepmom. After all, the kids live with their mother, Kelli. How hard could it be?

At thirteen, Ava Hansen is mature beyond her years. Since her parents’ divorce, she has been the one taking care of her emotionally unstable mother and her little brother—she pays the bills, does the laundry, and never complains because she loves her mama more than anyone. And while her father’s new girlfriend is nice enough, Ava still holds out hope that her parents will get back together and that they’ll be a family again.

But only days after Victor and Grace get engaged, Kelli dies suddenly under mysterious circumstances—and soon, Grace and Ava discover there was much more to Kelli’s life than either ever knew.

Narrated by Grace and Ava in the present with flashbacks into Kelli’s troubled past, Heart Like Mine is a poignant and hopeful portrait about womanhood, love, and the challenges of family life.

Paperback, 370 pages

Published March 19th 2013 by Washington Square Press

more details...

ISBN

1451640560 (ISBN13: 9781451640564)

edition language

English

by Amy Hatvany (Goodreads Author)
 

When a young mother dies under mysterious circumstances, those she leaves behind begin looking for answers in the past—and find a long-buried secret they could have never imagined. Thirty-six-year-old Grace McAllister never longed for children. But when she meets Victor Hansen, a handsome, charismatic divorced restaurateur who is father to Max and Ava, Grace deci

My review:

I won this book from Romancing the Book. This is one of the hardest, emotional books I have read and one of the hardest to put down. It keeps you wanting to know the outcome.

Grace and Victor are recently engaged and plan to tell Victor's children of the engagement this coming weekend. Tragedy strikes when Kelli, the mother of the children, dies. Ava is thirteen and Max is seven years old. Ava and Max miss their mother and cannot understand what happened to her. Her death brings out her past.

Grace works for a center that helps abused women and Victor owns a restaurant.

The book chapters have the female characters telling the story. Kelli's is a flashback of what happened to her before her death. Ava and Grace also tell their story.

Emotional feelings as the reader gets to know each character and their what has happened in their lives. Heartbreaks for each character as each has their family problems and emotional ups and downs.

Because each "tells'" their story, you get the feelings of adult women as well as teenagers. The characters become well know to the reader and their emotions are with you.

Some sexual moments and some  bad language.

I am giving this a 4 star rating. A quick read but keep the tissues handy.

Leona Olson

www.mnleona.blogspot.com

Book review of Wings of Glass by Gina Holmes

 

 

Book review of Wings of Glass by Gina Holmes.

 

From Goodreads.com:

"From the best-selling author of Crossing Oceans comes a heartrending yet uplifting story of friendship and redemption. On the cusp of adulthood, eighteen-year-old Penny Carson is swept off her feet by a handsome farmhand with a confident swagger. Though Trent Taylor seems like Prince Charming and offers an escape from her one-stop-sign town, Penny’s happily-ever-after lasts no longer than their breakneck courtship. Before the ink even dries on their marriage certificate, he hits her for the first time. It isn't the last, yet the bruises that can't be seen are the most painful of all.
When Trent is injured in a welding accident and his paycheck stops, he has no choice but to finally allow Penny to take a job cleaning houses. Here she meets two women from very different worlds who will teach her to live and laugh again, and lend her their backbones just long enough for her to find her own.
Gina Holmes ’ stunning literary talent glistens like crystal in Wings of Glass. With subtle brilliance, she takes us into the very heart of what makes us hungry to love and be loved. Simply stellar!” Susan Meissner, Author of A Sound Among the Trees

Paperback, 1st, 384 pages

Published March 1st 2013 by Tyndale House"

 

My review:

I do not usually read a book like this because I like to read to escape or read about history. To be honest, I almost did not read it but I did turn to the back of the book to see the outcome.

This is a book of fiction for Penny but not a life of fiction for some many abused men and women; most of the ones getting abused are women though.

I remember my mother telling me if a man hits you, leave and I am over the age of 75. It held true then and it does now. I had lunch with two of my sons the day I read Wings of Glass and thanked them for treating women right.
It is a hard read and your heart goes out for the main character, Penny. Gina Holmes did a good job of writing a book about what happens in real life.

The back of the book has Discussion Questions that could be used for a woman's group or a church group.

It is a fast read and even though I knew the outcome, I did read the whole book. 

There is love, fear, friendship, caring, children, growing and God in this powerful book.

Gina Holmes has Acknowledgements on page xi. The first is: God, for giving me wings that will never shatter and the last one is: Last, but certainly not least-my parents and family.

This book is dedicated: For Mom and Chrissy.

I give this a 5 star.

I checked out this book from my library.

Leona Olson

www.mnleona.blogspot.com

bread & wine by shauna niequist

bread & wine, a love letter to life around the table, with recipes by shauna niequist

Dedicated: To my boys- Aaron, Haney, and Mac

This is such an emotional book and I had a hard time putting it down.

Shauna Niequist has written a book that goes right to the heart. bread & wine is about family, friendship, God, love, tears, loss and recipes.

I find in this book that God does not make anyone perfect. It is OK to cry and pray and talk to friends about something sad. Keep the tissues handy, because there are lots of happy moments but some sad ones also.

I am writing the first line of each chapter because it tells the story of the chapter.

Use it for a book club or church group. Give it as a gift. I suggest this book for a bridal shower for the bride; she will find that some things are not worth the worry.

The book has some wonderful recipes that are easy to make. Shauna uses a lot of balsamic vinegar, goat cheese and makes good use of her Dutch oven. There is a recipe at most of the end of the chapters. Many are gluten free for Aaron, her husband.

There are four parts in the book for club members to use for a four-week project.

I give bread & wine a five star.

I received a complimentary copy from booksneeze.com to read and review. The opinions are my own.

Shauna, I said the Hail Mary for you.

author's notes (page 9)

I am not a recipe writer, for the most part.

on bread and wine (page 11)

I'm a bread person-crusty, golden baguette; hearty, grainy, seeded loaves; thin, crispy pizza crust-all of it.

Part One (page 19)

"When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to yourself"

my mom's blueberry crisp (page 21)

My mom's dad is Irish, a storyteller and twinkling-eyed joker, and her mom is German.

what the table is for (page 28)

The light is fading, the sky bleaching from blue to white and then warming to the softest blush pink, like ballet tights, like a rosewater macaroon.

hungry (page 34 )

Years ago, when I worked at a church in Grand Rapids, I drove in early on Sunday mornings, when 28th Street was still silent and gray, as the pale morning sun rose over the pawn shops and used-car dealerships.

start where you are (page 40)

My friend Laura's New Year's resolutions is "start where you are."

go-to-risotto (page 49)

Risotto is my go-to entertaining meal.

enough (page 55)

Something extraordinary happened to me today.

the chopping block (page 60)

Last winter I went to a weeklong culinary boot camp at The Chopping Block, a recreational cooking school on the city.

 

on tea and pajamas (page 68)

During a three-month period after my last book came out, I traveled to twenty-two cities to speak at forty-four events

run (page 74)

I have long considered that there are two kinds of people in the world: people who can run marathons and people who can't.

hummingbird (page 83)

Aaron and I stopped "trying" to have a baby, because it was making me crazy and breaking my heart.

Part Two (page 91)

You say grace before meals.

delicious everywhere (page 93)

One of the best parts of my childhood was traveling with my dad.

jazz and curry (page 100)

I'm not really a recipe girl.

open the door (page 105)

It seems to me that women typically experience shame about two things: their bodies and their homes.

baking cookies with batman (page 112)

The year after we were married, just after we moved to Grand Rapids, Aaron's body stopped healing itself. slowly at first, and then all at once.

morning, noon, and night (page 118)

Winter turned to spring just when we were sure it never would.

what my mother taught me (page 123)

One of the most important things my mom taught me- or, really, is teaching me over and over even now- is that the best is yet to come.

cupcake in the oven (page 128)

I'm a big fan of breaking the rules, so for Blaine and Margaret's baby shower, we bypassed the traditional route-ladies, fruit salad, passing around little outfits- in favor of a Friday night dinner party for couples.

feasting and fasting (page 133)

A few summers ago, after a season of vacation and celebration, I began a fast.

love and enchiladas (page 139)

One of the best parts about our six years in Grand Rapids was the little band of friends we made, something like a tribe, very much like a family.

meeting mac (page 146)

Last year we spent Easter at the lake with my family, heading over after the holiday services at church were finished.

Part Three (page 151)

God never meant man to be a purely spiritual creature.

hail mary (page 153)

Right from the beginning, Mac was a dream- a snuggler, easy sleeper, a good eater.

magical white bean soup (page 161)

I love food that connects us to good memories, that tells us we're safe, that brings us back to sweeter times on hard days.

present over perfect (page 166)

Here we go again, Christmastime.

the bass player's birthday (page 173)

Every band should have a bass player like Nathan, and every person should have a friend like Nathan.

russian dolls (page 178)

There's something about our boys right now, about this split-second moment in time, that I want to hold in my heart forever and ever.

on scrambled eggs and doing hard things (page 184)

After Mac was born, my neighbor Lindsay brought over a pan of enchiladas and Jessie made an amazing pumpkin apple cake.

happy new year (page 190)

I've always had visions of a really great New Year's Eve party-fancy and fun, glamorous and stylish, with flutes of champagne and kisses at midnight.

swimming in silence (page 197)

In mid-February, which in Chicago is about the time you begin despairing that it will never be warm again, Ryan and Emily invited us to join them in Mexico- seven adults and five kids, a swimming pool right at the house.

Part Four (page 205)

Food and cooking are among the richest subjects in the world.

what money cant's buy (page 207)

On a clear, cool Saturday morning, the Cooking Club girls arrived at Cases house.

last-minute lunch party (page 213)

Our old friend Shane came to stay with us this spring, and the next morning after church, we had a last-minute lunch party for him and for the fiends who wanted to see him while he was in town.

city love (page 218)

Aaron and I have been ships in the night all week- a wedding, a trip, a recording project.

better late than never (page 223)

I promise we intended to dedicate Henry as a baby.

swimsuit, ready or not (page 229)

I'm a summer girl

the mayor of the river (page 234)

My brother, Todd, and I are both summer babies-his birthday in July and mine in August-so when I think about our birthdays, I always think about South Haven and about the lake.

pont neuf (page 241)

I started learning French when I was seven, and went to Paris for the first time when I was twelve.

take this bread (page 248)

I haven't baked bread since college, when I went through a brief but intense baguette phase, baking pan after pan of slim loaves, wrapping them in dish towels while they are still hot, cradling them like babies in the crook of my are, arriving in friends' house and neighbors' with still-warm, crusty, golden bread.

come to the table (page 256)

This is what I want you to do: I want you to tell someone you love them, and dinner's at six.

Appendix (page 259)

I love you like a fat kid loves cake.

four-week book club/cooking club discussion guide (page 261)

Bread & Wine is divided into four parts, so you can invite a group of friends (or your small group or book club or supper club) to go through this Four-Week Book Club/Cooking Club Discussion Guide.

four-week book club/cooking club menus (page 264)

(listed are the menus for each part)

on weeknight cooking, with pantry list (page 265)

my best entertaining tips, with sample menus (page 273)

recommended reading (page 280)

recipe index (page 281)

recipe index by category (page 282)

acknowledgements ( These are not in alphabetical. order. A nice long list.)

Starting Now: A Blossom Street Novel by Debbie Macomber

Starting Now: A Blossom Street Novel by Debbie Macomber

This is the first book I have read of the Blossom Street series and the first book I have read by Debbie Macomber in a long time. I was not disappointed.

The book begins with the attorney, Libby Morgan, losing her job. Months later, she calls an old friend, Robin, to have lunch with her for a talk. After lunch her friend needed to go to A Good Yarn Shop to buy some yarn for her mother and Libby goes with her. While there, Libby sees two teenagers knitting, or one is learning to knit. Casey is teaching Ava. Libby mentioned she used to knit. They are knitting hats for the preemies at the hospital and encouraged Libby to try to knit again. After a visit to the hospital to help deliver the hats, Libby becomes a volunteer in the nursery rocking and singing to the babies.

This brings the story to Libby making friends at the yarn shop and the introduction to Dr. Philip Stone at the hospital. Phillip is a doctor for the young and infants with heart problems. He is known as the Dr. Heart of Stone because he will not date anyone at the hospital.

The book is based on friendship, romance, love, trials, caring, family and disappointments.

We follow Libby through months of no job, her love for Phillip and her new friendships. At times, as the reader, I wanted to wring her neck and tell her what she should do.

Debbie Macomber has done a good job of pulling the characters and story together. No sex or bad language.

This was a fast read for me and a page turner.

I won a copy of Starting Now in a contest. The opinions are my own.

I give this book a 5 star.

Some characters are:

Libby (Elizabeth) Morgan-One of the main characters, an unemployed attorney

Dr. Phillip Stone- Heart Doctor at the Seattle Hospital

Robin Hamlin- Best friend of Libby

Lydia Goetz- Owner of A Good Yarn Shop on Blossom Street

Brad Goetz- Husband of Lydia

Casey- Adopted daughter of Lydia and friend of Ava also 13 years old

Ava- A pregnant 13 year old who closely connects with Libby

Darlene Carmichael- Grandmother of Ava

Margaret- Sister of Lydia and works at the yarn shop

Roy Bollinger- A Judge that Robin who Robin really likes and more than as a friend

Mrs. Martha Reed- A client when Libby worked at the law office

Hershel Burkhart- Libby's old boss. When he let her go he told her this was a beginning and not an end.

Sarah- Paralegal who worked with Libby at the law office

Mollie Morgan- Mother of Libby who passed away when Libby was a teenager.

Joe Wilson- Ex-husband of Libby

Robert Morgan- Father of Libby

Charlene- Step-mother of Libby

Sharon Jennings- A nurse at the hospital

Tumbleweeds by Leila Meacham

Tumbleweeds by Leila Meacham

The prologue begins in 2008 and then goes the book goes back into the past beginning in 1979. A story about three people and how lives can change and separate; how life does not always give you what you want and what you plan but how one can change when needed.

Trey Don Hall, John Caldwell and Catherine Ann Benson are the main characters who became friends at a young age. I will add Rufus, a dog given to Cathy by Trey Don and John. In this sometimes complicated book, the three go through many passions, friendships and love. The book is based in the Panhandle of Texas and how football is so important in the lives of the small town of Kersey and the people. I am from West Texas and football is very important to the whole town; something Cathy, who was from California, could never understand. (My mother who was from Colorado never understood it either but my father did.)

Families are involved and there is a feeling of small town closeness, sometimes good and sometimes bad.

Trey was quoted as saying "The Texas Panhandle breeds a bunch of us long, tall drink-of-water look-alikes. We're as common as tumbleweeds".

One life leads to football, another to become a priest and another one works in a diner.

I hate to review too much of the book as the reader will need to get into the book and feel the emotions of the characters. A book that covers decades and many lives.

John named his pickup, Old Red, my father had his International pickup he bought from Texas Electric and called it the Red Mule. Many Texas references to the colleges and universities and towns.

The recipe for Emma's Hot water Corn Bread is at the end of the book, a nice treat.

I give it a five star rating for the overall twists and turns and the page turner it is.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author and Grand Central Publishing. www.HatchettBookGroup.com. The opinions are my own. I wish to thank Leila Meacham for such a wonderful, and emotional, book to read and review.

Leona Olson

mnleona.blogspot.com

Chasing the Sun

Chasing the Sun by Tracie Peterson

Hannah Dandridge is in Cedar Springs, Texas near Dallas awaiting for the return of her father John, who has gone to Vicksburg, Mississippi to see his dying mother. His partner, Herbert Lockhart, has told Hannah he has been probably been taken prisoner by the Union and may be dead. This is in the middle of the Civil War, October 1863. Herbert Lockhard had been wanting Hannah to marry him but she does not love him. The siblings of Hannah by her step-mother are also worried about their father; Andy is 8 years old and Marty is 5 years old; their mother died at Marty's birth.

They came to Texas after the death of Hannah's step-mother because John Dandridge had become depressed. The ranch they now owned was confiscated by the government because the Barnetts left to fight on the side of the Union.

On the ranch there is also Berto Montoya and his wife Juanita who worked for the Barnetts. They have two children, Pepita and Pablo.

This is also the time of the Comanche raids in the area.

Andy has left the ranch as a Longhorn has wandered. He comes across a soldier who is coming home after being wounded. As they are trying to free the animal, a young Indian warrior comes towards them but his horse is spooked and he falls to the ground. Andy brings both home to the ranch; one is William Barnett and the other is Night Bear of the Comanche tribe. The author uses the word Numunuu which is what the Comanche's name for themselves. (All the books I have read, this is the first time I have seen this name. The author uses respect in this book for the Tribe.).

The book is one I have found to be very emotional and also fun such as the birth of a calf. The Civil war was a hard time for our country but the book is also about hardships in this time period. There is love, friendship, hardships, death, greed, family and history. This is a Christian Romance book. I give it a five star.

I have been to Vicksburg, Mississippi and have seen the graves of many soldiers who died. It is a startling fact and very somber.

I was given a complimentary copy of "Chasing the Sun" by Tracie Peterson from Bethany House to read and review. The opinions are my own.

The Twilight Garden

Twilight Garden by Molly Dean. Publisher is Wild Child Publishing in Culver City, California.
Daniel Weston, his Aunt Margo and her daughter, Sabrina (Bree) are spending the summer at Daniel's Great-Aunt Delilah's home. Daniel and Bree are city raised in Atlanta and the country will be boring to them, they have determined. Bree is 14 years old and has become a "brat" according to Daniel who now calls her mother by her first name, Margo. She is into poetry and wants to live in Paris.
Daniel meets Kat, Katherine McDougal, who is 11 years old at the beginning of the book and they quickly become friends. Daniel, who is 10 years old, does not tell Kat his age.
Aunt Delilah had gone to Ireland she says to find her long-lost granddaughter, Maggie Dell who has been gone for years. Kat said she is dead and is a ghost. Delilah has left instructions for Margo to take care of her 8 cats, which Margo detests.
Delilah had a beautiful garden years ago where Kat and Daniel spend a lot of their time. Daniel learns a lot about the flowers from Kat. The cats are a big part of this story also.
Adults seem to be a problem in this story and I am not sure they realize it. Dan's parents are separated; his father very business like and his mother more easy going. Kat's mother is on her step-father number six. Bree wants to be with her father who has not been in her life for a long time.
The characters are:
Delilah- the Great-aunt who is said to be in Ireland
Daniel Weston
Kat McDougal
Margo Hollister - Bree's mother and Daniel's aunt
Glen- the father of Dan
Ariel Bannister- a friend of Delilah and becomes a friend of Margo, he talks about his travels around the world
Franklin- Bree's mysterious father;
Colonel Nicolas Pepperidge- described as an old coot who does not have much of a memory left
Cary Bowman- the young handyman who becomes a good friend of Bree
Maggie Dell- red-headed granddaughter of Delilah
The kids make their own summer fun and activities. The garden is important and I will let the reader find why it is important to the children and why Colonel is also important to the story.
A good and sensitive read for adults and children of the ages of 9-13 (I am guessing at the ages). This story might help some adults remember when they were a kid and take life a little easier and be more patient. Daniel's father was a good example of this. ( )