Kauffman Amish Bakery Series: Books 1 and 2 (Amy Clipston)

A Gift of Grace
A Promise of Hope

Why I have these books: I really don't. They are on my Kindle. I think my mom downloaded the first one, and then I ordered the second one.

Okay. I did like these books. Obviously... or I wouldn't have downloaded the second one. The stories were good and kept my interest. The writing wasn't the best. I don't mean to be critical, but there were so many phrases the author used over and over again. I can't tell you how many times " his eyebrows careened up towards his hairline" or how many times someone "ran her fingers through the condensation on the outside of her glass" or how many times "she cleared her throat so she wouldn't cry". I don't know. The repetition was distracting. I'm surprised the editor or friends who read through the transcript didn't mention it.

Anyway, they were enjoyable and I'd read more of her work. If I actually owned the books, I'd send them on to my grandma. She'd like them, too.

Clean.

Lost and Found (Jacqueline Sheehan)

Why I have this book: It's half of the latest Reader's Digest Condensed Books.

I actually really liked this book. I got sucked right in and stayed up late to finish it.

I'll read the second half (another book) and then send it on to my grandma.

This edited version was mostly clean. I think the regular version could possibly have a little more "stuff" in it, but I could be wrong. There was no swearing that I remember.

Understood Betsy (Dorothy Canfield Fisher)

Why I have this book: This is one of my 2001 purchases. I bought it on recommendation of my friend, L. I've now read it three times!

I love this book! It was published in 1917, and is written in a truly delightful way. Seriously. It just has to be described as "delightful". :)

Interestingly, the author was named as one of American's Ten Most Influential Women by Eleanor Roosevelt. Mrs. Canfield also brought the Montessori Method of child rearing to America. She has written many other books, so I'm going to go look her up on Am*zon and see what else looks good.

***Just checked and there were three of her books available for K*ndle for FREE! I downloaded Understood Betsy, in case my mom wants to read it, and two other books by DCF for me to read. Yea! for free books!***

Definitely a keeper. I just wish my girls liked books like this. I think they both read it once, but they aren't as much into "Little House on the Prairie" or "Anne of Green Gables" like I am. This book is along those lines.

Perfectly clean.

What happened to my challenge???

I see that I'm not really accomplishing what I set out to do: Read all the books on my bookshelf. Instead, I keep reading new books.

So I have a new plan. I looked at my buying history on Amazon. Did you know that they have a history of everything you've ever purchased? Kinda fun to go back and remember some of those books. My earliest purchases were in 2001, so I wrote down the books I bought that year, and I will start reading them again for My Bookshelf Challenge. I think I will try to read one of those in between each "new" book I read. That should help me get back on track with my challenge!

Lancaster County Secrets, Books 1 and 2 (Suzanne Woods Fisher)

The Choice
The Waiting

Why I have these books: I don't. They are both on the Kindle account I share with my mom. Actually, the first one was one there already, and after I read it, I downloaded the second one. A third one will be out early next year.

I really liked both of these books. Yep, they are Amish stories... but besides that, I enjoyed the author's style. There were some fun extra twists that made these books a little off the beaten path of Amish stories.

I wish I had the hard copies, because I would definitely send them to my grandma. She'd really like them.

Clean.

Mother Had a Secret (Tiffany Fletcher)

Why I have this book: My friend told me about it, so I used my gift card (see previous post) to buy it.

Wow. Such a sad, but powerful story. It's actually a true story of a mother with mental illness and how it affected her family. I cried so hard towards the end, as the author (one of the daughters) learned to reconcile her feelings for her mother. So much love, so much pain... and redemption. Really, it is a great book. It was simply written, but had such a powerful message. Even though it was really sad... the overwhelming message is of love.

I will pass this one around, too. Incidently, the friend who recommended this book is the wife of the author's cousin. They have firsthand knowledge of the impact of mental illness on a family

Clean, but somewhat disturbing in some parts in relation to how the mother's mental illness affected her personality.

Band of Sisters (Annette Lyon)

Why I have this book: I received a gift card to a local bookstore for my birthday, and this is one of the books I chose. :) (Thanks, Honey!)

I really enjoyed this book. The author did a great job describing the characters in such a way that I cared about what happened to them. I could relate to each of them in different ways, so I felt emotionally connected to the storyline. I'm not gonna lie... it was sad and happy both. It just is one of those books that I think describes LIFE and friendships and pain and joy.

I will probably pass this book along to some of my friends and have them pass it along when they are done. It's a good read, but I don't know if I would read it again... just because it had some sad parts.

Clean.

Where Willows Grow (Kim Vogel Sawyer)

It's been a whole month since I read a book???

Why I have this book: I threw it in my Am*zon cart to get free shipping. LOL! I know I probably spent more this way, but at least I ended up with something to read.

I like Kim Vogel Sawyer. As with some of her other books, this one is fairly simple and predictable... but her books are clean and filled with the example of faith. I enjoy them for those reasons. This one did leave one story line unresolved, which doesn't bother me. I was just a little surprised that it didn't neatly tie up at the end.

I would keep this one, but I know my grandma would like it. I'll be sending it on to her.

Perfectly clean.

A Thread So Thin (Marie Bostwick)

Why I have this book: It's half of a Reader's Digest Condensed Book.

I enjoyed this book... I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it has a quilting theme. The ending wasn't my favorite, but it was okay.

I get the feeling this author is similar to Jennifer Chiaverini. It looks like it might be part of a series. I'm going to do more research on what else she's written.

Note: I will not read the second half of this RD book. I knew within pages that it was going to be one of those books where the mother/wife dies, and I'm just not going to read it. Sorry, but I don't like those kinds of books.

This edited version was clean.

The Nine Lessons (Kevin Alan Milne)

Why I have this book: It's the second half of a Reader's Digest Condensed books.

Eh. Another whatever. It had potential, but really didn't move me. I never like a story where the mother has died/dies. It was somewhat corny... a bit too nicely tied up. It reminded me of Christmas Jars... it was just that kind of book. I have no doubt that there are lots of people who would think it's a great book. I'm just not one of them.

Going with the other half (see previous post) to my grandma.

This edited book was clean, as far as I remember. It actually took me a couple of weeks to get through it because I really didn't care what happened next.

Silks (Dick Francis and Felix Francis)

Why I have this book: It's half of a Reader's Digest Condensed book.

Eh. Whatever. I didn't love it. There was lots of "British swearing", the story was okay, but it didn't thrill me.

And in case I haven't mentioned this before... a friend of mine checked one of the other edited RD books I read out of the library. She checked out the regular edition, I mean, not the edited/condensed version. Now I know that the RD versions are edited for content. Just because the version I read is "clean", that does NOT mean the regular version is. Just an FYI.

This one is going to my grandma, since she like large-print books.

This edited version contains some British-type swearing, maybe other swearing, too. I can't remember what else... but I wasn't impressed.

My Ridiculous, Romantic Obsessions (Becca White)

Why I have this book: I bought it for my oldest daughter because she tends to read romance books. Not the sleazy kind... the fairy-tale kind. The main character of this book is obsessed with romance books, so I thought it was a good fit for my daughter.

I loved this book. At first I thought it was weirdly written... kind of random and nonsensical. But it didn't take long to get me H.O.O.K.E.D. I ended up reading for about three hours straight because it sucked me right in. SO good, so fun, so romantic (SO romantic), and just lots of good stuff all the way around.

Definite keeper... which is good, since it's not mine anyway. :) But if my daughter ever wants to get rid of it, I'm keeping it for myself. (For the record, both my daughters loved it, too.)

Absolutely clean.

5 books I'm getting out of the house...

I am past the stage of being pregnant and having new babies. Yep. It's true.

Sooooo... these books are either going in the trash or to new owners:

The Very Best Baby Name Book in the Whole Wide World (Bruce Lansky) It's falling apart and will go in the trash. Good memories from this book: all the markings through each name I didn't like during my 5th pregnancy... and then finding his name was actually one of those I had marked through. And finding my 6th baby's name solely because of the meaning when we discovered he had survived a medical situation that should have ended his life. I also have lists of names in the back that were possibilities during various pregnancies... and now I wonder WHY I liked those names

The Nursing Mother's Companion (Kathleen Huggins, R.N.M.S.) Helpful book to get one through the challenges of nursing.

What to Expect When You're Expecting (Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi E. Murkoff, and Sandee E. Hathaway B.S.N.) I loved this book while I was pregnant. I laughed at the part that is highlighted by my husband. He did that to give a Family Home Evening with the kids in my last pregnancy about why mom is sick and to tell them to be nice to me. (I think it was mostly to remind himself that I wasn't faking it and that he needed to be nice and patient, too.)

What to Expect the First Year (Same authors as above) So helpful when I had a preemie to keeps tabs on his development. My two youngest are older than a year, so I can pass this one on.

Jane Fonda's Workout Book for Pregnancy, Birth, and Recovery (Femmy DeLyser) At my request, this was a gift from my parents during my first pregnancy. I didn't do the exercises in it - until I got the videotape during my second pregnancy - but this book was a wealth of information for me! Seriously. Femmy DeLyser was a natural childbirth instructor and I learned a lot about pregnancy, birth, recovery, AND taking care of a newborn from this book. I have lots of good feelings when I see this book. Thanks, Mom and Dad!

3 books by Ann Rinaldi

In My Father's House
Time Enough for Drums
The Fifth of March

Why I have these books: I bought them in an Ann Rinaldi reading frenzy moment.

I liked them all. One was about the Civil War era, and the other two are Revolutionary War era. Ann Rinaldi's books are always interesting, and I like how she has an "author's note" at the end that explains more about the time period and which parts of her stories are fact or fiction.

Keepers

There is some occasional/rare swearing, including using the Lord's name as an exclamation of emotion. One book does mention a woman being pregnant outside of marriage, and the choice a character makes to not let her beau pressure her into doing more than holding hands.

The Missing: Books 1, 2, and 3 (Margaret Peterson Haddix)

Found
Sent
Sabotaged

Why I have these books: I read a preview chapter of Found at the end of another book by the same author, and it looked really, really intriguing

Well, they didn't turn out to be as intriguing as I thought they would be... but they are still good. They actually ended up to be about time travel, so there are some interesting historical storylines that turn up once you get past the first book. The first book is the most interesting as far as the "intrigue" goes, because you keep wondering what's going on. Once you get your answer, they are sort-of like the Magic Tree House series... only for older readers.

They are keepers.

I have read more books since finishing these, so I can't recall if there is any bad language. If there is, it's minor... but if I had to call it, I'd say they are clean.

The Aloha Quilt (Jennifer Chiaverini)

Why I have this book: It's a Jennifer Chiaverini book. Of course.

It's another keeper. What else can I say?

Oh, I guess I can say that it was fun to learn about Hawaiian history and culture a bit. It was also fun to learn about Hawaiian style quilting.

I also enjoyed reading about places in Hawaii that we visited when we were there eight years ago.

I liked it, just like all of her books!

Clean... with one or two instances of using the Lord's name as an exclamation of emotion.

The Hunger Games Series (Suzanne Collins)

The Hunger Games
Catching Fire
Mockingjay

Why I have these books: My friend (that same one!) recommended the first one... and I liked it so much that I had to get the rest of the series.

I liked all three of the books. I had heard that the first was the best, then the second was not quite as good, and then the third was not great. I completely disagree. The third was a little harder for me to get into, but that could have been because it was a stressful couple of days and I couldn't stay focused. Once I got into it, though, I couldn't put it down.

The end of the last book of the series left me speechless. I can't imagine it ending any other way... and even though I don't know if I would call it a happy ending, it felt complete to me.

Definite keepers. These books are page turners, but there is so much more to them: Government control, good vs evil, human nature, the resilience of the human spirit, etc. I wonder if the readers who got caught up only in the love story were some of the ones who were disappointed in the third book. It was so much more than that.

The subject matter is heavy - a lot of war violence, plus a disturbing game that involves killing for entertainment. I don't recall any swearing, but the third book had some mention on punishment by prostitution and another character who used women for his gain. This series is for mature readers.

The Elements of Style (William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White) 4th Edition

Why I have this book: I remembered flipping through my friend's copy several years ago, and decided to get my own copy.

This is a little book about grammar rules and other helps for writers. I made my way slowly through it... just a page or two at a time. It was good to see what I'm doing right. There were a couple of rules I needed to learn. However, I don't think I'll ever understand the whole "lie, lay, lain, lying" vs. "lay, laid, laid, laying". And, yes, they had "laid" in there twice, too. I just don't get it and I generally change my sentences if I have to use one of those words, just to avoid having to figure it out.

I'm keeping it.

Clean.

Spoken from the Heart (Laura Bush)

Why I have this book: My MiL loaned it to me.

I love biographies/autobiographies, and I particularly loved the autobiography of Barbara Bush. I was interested to see how it would compare to this autobiography of her daughter-in-law, Laura Bush.

I enjoyed this book... It was interesting to read, and it's always fascinating to peek inside someone else's life. I learned some things I didn't know before and I was also reminded of events that occured during President Bush's administration. Some of it was hard to read, as she talked about the terrorism that hit our nation in 2001 and the scary uncertainties we faced as Americans in the following months/years.

I felt, in some ways, that this book was a rebuttal to the perceptions the media spewed forth during her husband's presidency. I can't say I blame her. I do wish I would have felt like I got to "know" her as much as I felt I got to "know" Barbara Bush from reading her autobio. This one didn't seem as personable, but I did enjoy it and I'm glad I read it.

It's not mine, so no decision to make about whether or not to keep it. If I did own it, I would probably keep it as a history reference if my kids wanted to know more about these years in American history.

Clean.

Wings of Refuge (Lynn Austin)

Why I have this book: It was recommended by my friend, L.

I really, really liked this book. I've enjoyed other books written by Lynn Austin, but I think this one is my favorite so far.

There are several stories told in this book... modern, ancient, and (relatively) recent history. Each story is one of struggle, faith, hate, forgiveness, and peace. The setting is Israel, the Holy Land... and I have to admit that I find the history of Israel to be fascinating. This book reminded me of the book series The Zion Chronicles by Brock and Bodie Thoene. It actually makes me want to read them again.

I would like to keep this one, but I think I will send it to my grandma. She liked the other books by Lynn Austin that I sent to her.

Perfectly Clean.

ETA: I ended up getting the Kindle version in 2017 when it was on sale. I just re-read it in February of 2019. I still liked it, although I think I got into it more deeply the first time I read it. It definitely has a strong message of redemption through the power of God.

Brooklyn Bridge (Karen Hesse)

Why I have this book: I checked it out of our elementary school library... because apparently I'm not working on reading the books I already have on my personal bookshelf. :)

I kind of liked this book, and kind of didn't. It was good... but... I don't know. It had a creepy side story... well, creepy to me. I get creeped out easily. It wasn't really that bad, but I didn't love it. The main story was fun and sort of interesting... but... ???

It was good enough, but it wasn't one that I would say, "Hey, you need to read this book!" If it was mine, I'd probably donate it to the library.

I think it was clean... it is written for the young adult/teenage/upper elementary age. I don't remember anything inappropriate.

The Quilt Trilogy: A Stitch in Time (Ann Rinaldi)

Why I have this book: I checked it out of our elementary school library.

I really liked this book... and thus was very disappointed when I discovered that it really IS a trilogy and I won't know what happens unless I find the other two books. (I thought the title was a play on words, since the story does involve a quilt that is split in three so that each of the three sisters can take a part with them.)

Anyway, our library doesn't have the other two, and they aren't in print anymore. I'm going to have to figure out what to do about it.

This Ann Rinaldi book is loosely based on real characters, but not to the extent of other books she has written.

Clean.

Wolf by the Ears (Ann Rinaldi)

Why I have this book: My friend, L, loaned it to me.

I am a big fan of Ann Rinaldi, and I'm glad my friend shared this book with me. It reminded me how much I enjoy her books. She writes historical fiction for young adults, and often her main characters are people who are "real" historical figures.

The main character of this book is Harriet Hemings, the alleged illegitimate daughter of Thomas Jefferson. Her mother is his alleged slave mistress, Sally Hemings. I always learn a lot from reading Ann Rinaldi's books. She makes history come alive, but in the way that makes one think about the individuals who were a part of history. It's one thing to think about slavery, but it's another thing to think about what it meant to be a slave, specifically a slave child whose father is (again, allegedly) the "master" of the plantation. In this book, that master happens to be Thomas Jefferson.

I love historical fiction, and I love Ann Rinaldi's books. If this book was mine, it would be a keeper.

There is nothing graphic in this book, but obviously, there is information about mistresses and illegitimate children. There is also one attempted sexual assault by a white man against a black servant.

Sink Reflections (Marla Cilley - The Flylady)

Why I have this book: Because I'm a fan of Flylady. :)

This is the best organization/housecleaning book I've ever read. She totally "gets" the way my brain works, so her system works for me.

Definite keeper.

This cleaning book is perfectly clean. Ha, ha.

Sommerfield Trilogy (Kim Vogel Sawyer)

I'm playing catch-up now... I have a handful of books I've read lately, but I'm really behind in my posting! I also am reading so many "new" or "borrowed" books that I'm not making much progress on my goal to clean out my bookcase. Oops.

Bygones
Beginnings
Blessings

I have all three of these books in one volumn... and I have them because a friend recommended them to me.

Still in my Amish/Mennonite phase, obviously. I enjoyed all three, but the first two were just sort-of nice stories to me. There wasn't any compelling storyline in either one. The third one had more conflict, and there was more to think about. I had to consider how I felt about the struggle the main character was having, and how the author chose to play it out.

I will be sending this trilogy to my grandma. She has really enjoyed the other books of this genre that I've sent to her.

Completely clean.

Fields of Grace (Kim Vogel Sawyer)

Why I have this book: It was another bargain book by this author whose books I have been reading these last couple of months.

Okay, so this was not a favorite for me. Considering that the main character experienced some major tragedy in the book (the loss of her husband and son), I felt that the author could have written more deeply about the grief and healing that surely would have been a huge part of her life. (I admit... I sat and cried on my bed while snuggling with my boy and reading the part where her young son dies in the book. I think I cried more than the main character did!)

Anyway, it was still a good book... I did enjoy reading it. I just think the relationships and emotions weren't developed enough... and thus it didn't seem super realistic to me.

I also think the journey of faith could have been explored a lot more, especially in relation to the healing she needed to do after the loss of her loved ones.

I still like the author and will read more of her books. The one will be heading with my mom to my grandma.

Totally clean.

The Sugar Queen (Sarah Addison Allen)

Why I have this book: It was half of the latest Reader's Digest Select Editions. (The other half happened to be The Lucky One - which I already read - it's it's full version - and reviewed.)

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was just kind of a quirky and fun story. I would like to read the full version, just to see what I am missing.

A hint of passion here and there, and one swear word in addition to using the name of God as an exclamation one time. This was the condensed version, so I don't know what was edited out.

Four books by author Beth Wiseman

The A Daughter of the Promise Series

Plain Perfect
Plain Pursuit
Plain Promise
Plain Paradise

Oh, look... four more Amish books. :)

Why I have these books: My friend recommended them.

What can I say? I just really like them. These four were good... again, not super complex stories, but they are great stories of faith in God... or more specifically, about choosing to have faith in God. I also liked that it was acknowledged that faith can come to all of God's children, whether Amish, Catholic, Protestant, etc.

It's interesting how different authors portray the Amish and their beliefs. There is no doubt that Beth Wiseman believes that the Amish teach faith in God to each individual member. These books didn't suggest that the Amish don't have personal relationships with God like other books I've read. So interesting... but then, I know that the LDS faith can be represented in different ways, as well. I guess it's just how it is when books are written about various religions. It really is up to the interpretation of the authors.

I loved these books enough to keep them, but I will be sending them to my grandma who will also enjoy them.

Perfectly clean.

Three books by the author Kim Vogel Sawyer

Waiting for Summer's Return
Where the Heart Leads
A Promise for Spring

Why I have these books: One was recommended by a friend, and because all three were 'bargain books', I bought them all. :)

I really liked these books. The stories and characters were simple, and the message of each book was the same: have faith in God, turn to Him, and trust Him to lead your life. I appreciated that and am glad my friend told me about the one she read. I will be reading more books written by the author.

Because these books reminded me of my grandma and her faith in God, and because I know she will enjoy them, I am sending two to her. (I'm keeping one for myself, because I think I will want to read it again someday.)

Completely clean.

The Candy Shop War (Brandon Mull)

Why I have this book: I bought it for my son's birthday.

Okay, so... I didn't love this book and I didn't hate it, either. The story is fun... I can see 10-year-olds loving it. I guess I thought it was almost too much... too many things going on, too many details. Sometimes I was excited to see what would happen next, and sometimes I wondered when this book would ever end.

One thing that caught my attention (and made me a bit perplexed) was the author's tendency to throw in a description of race... such as "the ice cream man handed the cone to a black kid". (Those might not be the exact words, but it was along those lines.) It was like he was trying to be PC by having different races in the story, but when he did, they had nothing to do with the story. I didn't get that. It was actually kind of distracting to me. (Note: no mention was made of the main characters' races, except when they morphed and their features became those that would typically belong to another race.)

I wonder if all the studying I've done over the last two years about transracial adoption made me more aware of this... or would I have noticed anyway?

Anyway, I'll keep this book because I can see that children would find it exciting and fun.

Clean, although there is some "magic"-type violence and death of a bad guy or two.

Captain Matrimony (Robert Farrell Smith)

Why I have this book: I'm sure I bought it on the Bargain Shelf at a local bookstore.

Okay, I was prepared to give this book away, since it's one of those silly LDS fiction novels. It's just too funny, though... I'm keeping it. This is the author of Baptists at our Barbecue , which was made into a movie. I never read that book, but thought the movie was pretty good. It's just light-hearted and fun... and this book is the same way.

I'm interested to read some of his other books to see if they are all the same, since this one and the Baptist/BBQ one are similar. They both have "out of town" heroes who come into Small Town Utah and encounter all sorts of lovable, but backwards characters. (Or should I say "backwards, but lovable"???)

Perfectly clean.

Kimchi & Calamari (Rose Kent)

Why I have this book: I purchased it during the wait for our daughter from S. Korea.

This is a great book about a 14-year-old boy who was adopted as a baby from S. Korea into a VERY Italian-American family. A school assignment to write about his ancestors causes him to question who he really is. Is he a "real" Korean? Is he a real part of his family?

I think this book was written really well. It handles a heavy topic pretty thoroughly, but keeps it humorous and positive. There are lots of good supporting characters, as well. I think it will be a good book for our girl to read someday.

(A couple of uses of the name of God as an expression of emotion.)

A Quilter's Holiday (Jennifer Chiaverini)

Why I have this book: I'll just say up front that I'm a huge Jennifer Chiaverini fan. LOVE her books about quilting and women and friendships and family.

This one did not disappoint! I look forward to more of her books in the future! (I believe she signed for three more in the series... which will bring it to 19?)

If you've never read her books, make sure you read them in order. Some do stand alone, but most build on each other. You can go to her website: elmcreek.net to find a list of her books "in order".

I wonder how many thousands of women have started quilting because of her books? I have!!!

Completely clean.

Water, Stone, Heart (Will North)

Why I have this book: It's the other half of my RD Select Editions.

This one didn't move me. The story and characters didn't grab my attention and I never connected with anyone or anything about the story. Maybe the editing? I don't know... it was okay, but forgettable.

Since it's stuck together with Italian Lessons (see previous post), it will be passed along.

Not "squeaky clean", but not anything horribly huge, either. The original version may have had more of a "scene" in it and the editors left a bit to keep the storyline intact?

Italian Lessons (Peter Pezzelli)

Why I have this book:This is one half of another Reader's Digest Select Editions.

I really enjoyed this story about a young man who learns Italian and travels to Italy to search out an exchange student he met once (and with whom he fell in love!) at his university. A side story about his Italian instructor gives it a bit more depth. Nice story!

Since it is a large print/special edition, I will pass it on to others who would like some quick reads without eye strain. :)

This edited version was totally clean.

The Wedding (Nicholas Sparks)

Why I have this book: I've had it for a long time. I'm thinking I bought it at Costco?

This is the third time I've read this book, and I really thought I'd be giving it up after this reading. I surprised myself by liking it AGAIN and it's staying on my shelf.

It's one of the author's better books, in my opinion. His male characters are generally more sensitive than most men I've known... I still want to know if he is as sensitive as the men he creates in his stories...

This book is better suited for those of us who have been married for a while... it's about a couple who have been married 30 years. I love it.

BTW, I think every married man should read this. :)

(No swearing and one love scene that is very mild.)

Prayers for Sale (Sandra Dallas)

LOVED this second half of my Reader's Digest Special Editions book! (See previous post for my review of the first half!)

I have liked other books by Sandra Dallas, and had seen this one advertised on Amazon. In fact, I had it in the "save for later" part of my shopping cart... waiting for it to come out in paperback, to be honest. (insert sheepish look here)

Anyway, I enjoyed this book a great deal. It's about an elderly widow who befriends a young newlywed in a Colorado mining town. Off the top of my head, I can't recall the exact time period, but it's back in the early 1900's... maybe 1920 - 1930? I'll have to double check on that.

No matter... this is a wonderful book about friendship, redemption, and love. Great story line, loved that there is some quilting thrown in, and a satisfying ending to finish it all up nicely.

(No swearing or anything else... but again, this is an edited version and I don't know what is in the original version.)

Grace (Richard Paul Evans)

Why I have this book: It's half of the "Reader's Digest Select Editions" book my grandma has subscribed for me. And... it's Large Print. :) She must know that I have four pair of reading glasses around the house.

I did like this book... but it took an unexpected and sad turn that was pretty depressing. The story is good... but it just was sad in the way that real life sometimes is. There is sometimes no way to make things all better, even if good does come of tragic circumstances.

Since it's half of a Large Print RD Select Edition, I will probably pass it on to another reader and hope it makes it way to those who need Large Print books. If I had the original book, I'm not sure if I would keep it. I just don't think I'd read it again.

(Okay... RD Select Editions are edited/condensed, so I don't know how much, of any, of this book has been edited out. As far as I know, books written by this author are clean, so I'm assuming this one is also. Part of the story involves the molestation of a teenage girl by her step-father.)

Christmas Jars (Jason F. Wright)

Why I have this book: It was on sale at the bookstore for $1.99 or something.

No offense intended, but I'm not a big fan of the books written by this author. This is the third one I've read, and they all leave me with the same feeling: "This was almost a good book."

Halfway through this book, I was really surprised that I was liking it so much. I had my nose stuck in it, wanting to know how things would turn out. I figured I was wrong, having gone into it not planning to like it.

Then the ending... it just fell flat for me. One of the other books he wrote did the same thing at the end. I just don't "feel it" by the time I close the covers. Anyway, I almost liked this book, but I can't say it's a keeper. I know my husband liked it, so I'll ask him if he needs it on our shelf. If not, I'll offer it to the kids. If any of you want it, let me know. If nobody here has grabbed it up, I'm happy to hand it off!

(Completely clean.)

The "Among..." Series (Margaret Peterson Haddix)

Why I have these books: I bought them for my son's upcoming 11th birthday.

Among the Hidden
Among the Imposters
Among the Betrayed
Among the Barons
Among the Brave
Among the Enemy
Among the Free

I really, really liked these books! I bought them for my son's birthday, but decided to read them first as per the advice of a friend. The reading level is ages 8-12, but I would have rated them 12 and up because of the plot.

The books are about "a world where families are allowed only two children. Illegal third children - shadow children - must live in hiding, for if they are discovered, there is only one punishment: Death."

Pretty heavy for an eight-year-old... and I'm a bit "iffy" on the 11-year-old. My daughter said when she was in the same grade as my son, everyone was reading them. Both of my daughters read the first two, but now that we have the whole set, they'll read them all.

I'm no longer giving them to my son for his birthday. (He's seen me reading them all week!) When he's ready, though, I'll suggest he read them. I'm sure he'll be as engrossed as I was.

At the end of the last book, there was a "preview" of another series by the same author: The Missing. Two books, Found and Sent, and from the little preview I read, I have chills. I think they are going into my Amazon cart very soon. :)

(Age appropriate for content (12 and up) and no bad language. The subject is heavy, and there are some dead bodies and talk of death and bodily harm, but nothing graphic. If you are the parent of a pre-teen, I would suggest reading the series first yourself.)

The (New) Strong Willed Child (James Dobson)

Why I have this book: My friend loaned it to me... because, um, she noticed I have a strong willed child...?

So... I'm not one of James Dobson's strongest fans for few different reasons. I won't go into it here. I read the book, though, and gleaned some helpful information from it. I don't agree with all his philosophies, but there were some things that were good for me to think about.

Since this book was a loaner, I don't have to decide whether I should keep it or not. I'll be returning it to my friend. Thanks, K! :)

Eating Chocolate and Dancing in the Kitchen; Sketches of Marriage and Family (Tom Plummer)

Why I have this book: I must have bought it at a local LDS bookstore at some point...?

Okay, I know for a fact that this is the second time I've read through this book, thinking it would be heading for the "donation" box. And again, I have decided to keep it.

It's just a little memoir of sorts, written by a BYU professor of German language and literature. It's about his family and his marriage. Why do I want to keep it? I don't even know him!

I love how he writes. I love the little things he remembers about raising his children. I love how he and his wife make the best of things, and how much fun they have in life. I love the lessons I learn from reading his stories: Appreciate life. Record life.

I love this book.

(Pretty clean, although there are some silly comments between husband and wife and a bit of irreverence that is kind of refreshing, considering he is a BYU professor. :) )

The Sound of Sleigh Bells (Cindy Woodsmall)

Why I have this book: Recommended by my friend, L...

Another story set in Amish country. This was a nice, light, clean love story that I enjoyed. I know my grandma would enjoy it, too, so I'm sending it to her.

(Very clean!)

The "When" series (Cindy Woodsmall)

Why I have these books: Recommended by my friend, L... and I'm always glad to read an Amish story. :)

When the Heart Cries
When the Morning Comes
When the Soul Mends

This book series is about an Amish girl who finds herself at odds with her upbringing, her community, and her family. (Every Amish book seems to have the same general theme...)

I've read other "Amish" books by another author, and this series has way more depth than the others I've read. There were lots of good stories branching off of the main one. It is intersting to contrast their way of life and their beliefs with my own and my community's.

Honestly, I really want to know more about the Amish. All these books hint at their beliefs and their way of life in ways that almost seem a bit negative without coming right out and saying it. I don't know what to think.

I know my grandma would like to read these books, so I'm sending them on to her. I enjoyed them a lot, but I don't know if I would read them again...?

(The books deal with rape and it's aftermath, but there is no graphic description and no swearing that I can recall.)

ETA: I'm adding this note in December, 2015. Apparently,  I forgot to check my blog, and since Amazon only informs you of a prior purchase if it's the exact same item, I bought these for the second time! Oops. This time I bought them on my Kindle (I had bought print before), and didn't check the blog until I was starting to read them. The good news is… I did remember a lot of the story (but not so much that it spoiled it), so I didn't feel like I'm losing my memory entirely. Also good news: I really enjoyed them, maybe even more than the first time. :) So all-in-all, not a big deal… but I need to remember to check my blog to make sure I haven't read something before!

It reminds me of my grandma telling me that she enjoys a book just as much the second time, because she can't ever remember what happens. haha...

Peak (Roland Smith)

Why I have this book: My son - who is just becoming a strong and committed reader - liked other books by Roland Smith AND it was also recommended by my friend, L, whom I always trust with reading suggestions.

I really enjoyed this "young adult" book (recommended age on the back cover is 12+) about a 14-year-old boy who attempts to summit Mt. Everest. There is so much more to the story than just the climb... and the book is very well written. My (almost) 11-year-old read it and enjoyed it, and it was entertaining for me, as well. In fact, I had to leave my home to pick up my daughter at a school event just as I was getting to the end of the book, and it was hard to put it down for those 20 minutes. It reminded me of a non-fiction book about Mt. Everest and those who attempt to summit. It's not even in my "Top 10,000 Things I Hope To Do" list... but it sure is interesting that for some people, it's a dream they are willing to risk their lives to achieve.

Definitely a keeper. (One swear word that was already crossed out by my son, and a couple of mildly suggestive comments... I'm pretty sure my son wouldn't have picked up on them at all, but I do have to wonder why they are even in the book.)

The Lucky One (Nicholas Sparks)

Why I have this book: I always head to the book table at our big warehouse store to see what's there... and this seemed like the perfect book to take on the plane to Korea... something easy to read so I could be distracted from the fact that I would be 35,000 feet above the ground. I actually didn't take it with me after all, since my mom gave me a Kindle (electronic reader) and I read books that way instead. :)

This typical Nicholas Sparks story was a light read, perfect for a day on the beach or a long bath... but not a keeper for me. Within a day I had forgotten what it was about. It's going to the library. I have to wonder... is Nicholas Sparks as sensitive as all the heroes in his books? Just curious. (A "love" scene or two -I'm never very impressed with his writing in this regard - and maybe a swear word here and there. I can hardly remember the storyline, much less the content!)

The Help (Kathryn Stockett)

Why I have this book: It was our March book club book.

LOVED this book. It's the kind of story you can't get out of your head. In fact, two of my friends didn't even want to (or couldn't) start another book for days after finishing this one. I was completely drawn into the story, so much so that I dreamed about it at night. It is that compelling. Set in Jackson, Mississippi in the mid-60's, this story about the relationship between whites and their "colored help" is a definite keeper. I love the way the author writes. I love the way she made me interested in each character. I love that I have to think more and feel more because I've now "seen" more. So glad I read this book.

(Some language and one weird scene involving a naked intruder.)

My Bookshelf Challenge...

Okay, I have five bookshelves... all of them are cheap, pressed wood, about six feet high and 2 and a half feet wide. All of them are overflowing. I also have oodles of children's books in my kids' rooms.

So... my challenge: To read every book on my shelves, whether I've read them before or not. I think I've read most of them, but I know there are a few I haven't plowed through yet.

There are exceptions. I won't be reading the piano books that also have a home on my bookshelves. Ditto Sunday School manuals, reference books, etc.

My main purpose is to see what has to stay and what can go. I think I've outgrown a few of the books, and I'm not going to be selfish and hang onto them if someone else might enjoy them. The small library in a nearby town might be glad of a donation or two. (Books I can't stand will also go that way!) I'll probably offer them to family and friends first, though...

I also think I need to make a deal with myself. I have to read, say, ten books already on my shelf before I buy any new books. (Exception: Book club books. If I need it, I need it!)

So there you have it. My Bookshelf Challenge.