These is My Words

Moving and Heartfelt. It feels as if you are living life with Miss Prine as you read. I often had to remind myself when I would set the novel down that I lived now and it wasn't necessary to grab a pistol and a shotgun to protect myself every time I leave the house.

What a strong and courageous woman who lives out a true and real love story. If you know me, you know I hate romance novels but Miss Prine's love story with Jack Elliot is not sensationalized, just real and sweet.

The Virgin Blue

The Virgin Blue is The Virgin Mary. A tory that crosses hundreds of years and goes back and forth between

Girl with a Pearl Earring

Cold Mountain

Fame, Glory, and Other Things on My To Do List

Okay, this is the greatest book. I am not usually a big fan of Young Adult Fiction, but this one had me reliving High School and laughing out loud! The main character reminded me a bit of one of my best friends in High School Robyn. Mostly because of her nack to fill her life with embarrassing moments.

I just got to see West Side Story at Highland High School last month so it was fresh in my head as I read this book. I think that made it all the funnier as the characters in Fame, Glory and Other Things... put on a very unique version of West Side Story. Honestly I was laughing out loud so hard that I was crying and my nose was running!

Janette Rallison is definitely one I will seek out again.

Home Below Hell's Canyon

The Survivors

This book is a flop!
Okay so the first day I got this book from the Library, I read the first 200 pages without putting it down. It was riveting and nail biting. I actually said to Lance as we were getting ready for bed, " I don't want to quit reading, this is a great story."
Well morning came and the book failed miserably. It went from a subtle LDS Fiction with great action to a slow paced theological comment on a secret society of the pure descendants of the Nephites?. or something like that. Too Strange, Too Slow, Too Lame, and Too Convenient to keep up the original stories tempo. Which is all really Too Bad because Luke did have a good thing going.
FLOP

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

This novelwas very intriguing, disturbing and intense. It makes you question every move you make as a parent and look at all those tormented kids in high school with new open eyes.

Very Short Synopsis: A tormented 17 year old kid opens fire on his high school for 19 minutes after years of being bullied. The story follows his youth and his trial. The novel looks at the relationships between parent and child and different peer groups.

BUT... I would NOT recommend this book. It used the "f" word about 300 times and had several 'teen sex episodes.' I was looking for another novel by this author called My Sister's Keeper, but when the library did not have it in, I picked up this one. Picoult is a great writer and keeps you glued, but as someone who does not have a TV in my home and does not watch R rated movies, I was not prepared for the language and content.

The Operative by William Boyd Gardner

FBI operative goes undercover to save an FBI operative in Iran who has been captured.

It sounds more exciting than is was, but it had some interesting turns and a very slight rekindling love story between an estranged husband and wife.

I probably will not pick up another one by this author.

Echoes by N. C. Allen

Okay, not Mrs. Allens forte. She should stick to Historical Fiction.

She is a wonderful writer notheleless, so the story moved quickly and kept you interested. But it was a lot like reading a very clean Soap Opera. Amnesia, money, stumbling accross your identical twin that you didn't know you have, someone always trying to kill you, etc.

Not a bad read if you are looking for a fun almost thrilling, almost romantic read.

Letters for Emily

Loved this novel. In fact I don't even want to loan it to anyone because I want it for future reference. I have never reread a novel right after finishing it but his one I did. I flipped back the the first chapter and then for three nights read parts of it to Lance as he appeased my enthusiasm and drifted off to sleep.

It was beautiful and hopeful and uplifting. The kind of novel you will read and read again!

Through the Perilous Fight

10 10 10

This is the very best series I have ever read. I felt a little hallow when I finished it. I will miss the characters, their wisdom, strength, and growth. And I will forever have a deep respect for those who lived through the trials of the civil war on both fronts.

It was sobering and educational. I would recommend this series to anyone!

To Make Men Free

Pg 14 "It was ironic, he supposed, to be looking for peace while going to war, but the peace he sought was internal."

Wow. This series is easily one of the best I have ever read. Now I have only finished book 2 of 4 so that is a little premature, but wow.

When Lance and I sold pest control in New Orleans, LA several years ago, we went to tour a beautiful plantation home called Oak Alley. At the time, I was fascinated by the architecture and the perfect restorative condition of the main house. I remember reading a little about the slaves and viewing some of the outhouses, but now I would love to visit again with the history and viewpoint of this book in my mind. I know I would have an entirely different visit after reading this novel.

Allen, the author, spent much time reading personal narratives, journals and accounts of people who lived through the ever changing, dramatic years of the civil war and it is as if those people come alive again through her thoughtfully constructed characters. She is so devoted to historical accuracies that when, for the sake of the story, she changes events even slightly she notes the chapter and the actual history in the back of each novel.

I can't get enough of these novels and the second I finished this one was back to the library to pick up the third book.

Allen's eloquent and descriptive writing at times leaves you holding your breath, angry, tearful, shocked, proud, hurt, dismayed, downright gleeful and on and on.

The Sound of Rain

This is a fast cozy read that at times is a little to highschoolly and scripted. The authors favorite line between the two main characters is "Oh, Jayson" "I love you." And it never does get deeper than that. At times it moved so slowly that I found myself just reading the dialouge and skipping large portions of text.
With that rant out of the way, however, I did find myself liking the book in the end. I know I would have loved it in High School. The story was predictable and that is what made it cozy. One thing I loved about the book was Jayson's mother had an uncaning ability to talk her son through some of life's biggest trials with such maturity and strength of mind. I found myself thinking when Calista is in Highschool I might read this again and committ some of her advice to memory.
Although this is an LDS Author, there was only one mention of the LDS church and it was quickly dismissed. This is the first book of five in the story of Jayson Wolfe and my guess is the next book will delve into religion a little more.

I interupted the Faith of our Father's series to read The Sound of Rain bcause I couldn't get my hands on the second FOOF book for about a week. So I probably won't pick up book two of the Jayson Wolfe series untill I have finished the FOOF which is compelling and deep and very good.

Faith of Our Fathers A House Divided

Coming