Songs of Willow Frost (Jamie Ford)

Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the ebook library.

I really liked the author's first book (Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, reviewed earlier), so I definitely wanted to read this, his second novel.

This book was just heavy and depressing all the way through. The ending could have pulled it up a bit, but it left me wondering if things actually worked out. It would have been nice to have an epilogue with some good news... because the way life had been for the characters up to that point, I was really doubtful that things were going to go well. ;)

One of the main characters is a 12-year-old boy who doesn't think or talk or act like any 12-year-old boy I've ever known. Maybe if he was seventeen, I would have found his personality and decisions believable.

I also thought there were too many unanswered questions.

I wouldn't tell anyone NOT to read it, but I also wouldn't recommend it. I'm disappointed to say that, because I think the author is a good writer and I like his style.

Non-graphic incidents of suicide, rape, molestation, and the implication of incestuous molestation. Two uses of what is often considered a swear word, but in this case is used to describe a child born out of wedlock.

The Zook Sisters of Lancaster County (June Belfie)

Don't judge.  :)

Ruth's Dilemma
Emma's Choice
Katie's Discovery

Why I have these books: The first one was a free borrow from Amazon Prime, and I ended up buying the second two because they were pretty inexpensive.

My aunt actually read the first one and said it was "so-so," but then gave it four stars on GoodReads. It was free to borrow, and I wanted a light read during this hectic Christmas month, so I gave it a try.

You'd think that since I ended up buying the next two, that the first one was an amazing story. Not really, but they were all nice, easy reading stories. The second and third one had a line or two that made me cringe/laugh because the wording was more fitting for a more "sexy" book than an Amish book.

Anyway, they were a nice way to spend the week leading up to Christmas. Nothing spectacular, but just what I needed to relax in my reading.

I wonder what the Amish think of all these Amish books.  Haha.

Clean. 

Divergent (Veronica Roth)

Why I have this book: I have thought about reading it off and on ever since it became popular... and it went on sale one day for pretty cheap, so I bought it.

I haven't quite decided if I like it or not. The writing is good, the story is definitely engaging. The characters are well-developed. I guess the problem I have is that when I was at about 88% of the book (reading on my Kindle), I just didn't feel like I wanted to deal with the violence. At that point, I wondered if I would want to finish the series.

I pressed on and the book grabbed my interest again. Now I know I want to read the next book, but I'm not sure I want to pay the $6.99 the Kindle version costs on Amazon. I put it on hold on the e-book library. The thing is, I already have the third book because it was also on sale for under $4. I would probably buy the second one if the price dropped a bit. Seems silly to have Books One and Three, but not Book Two. Who knows? Maybe I'll buy it at $6.99 after I finish the series because I want the whole set.

So... if you like dystopian stories, this is definitely a good book. The violence isn't descriptive, really. I just got this hopeless feeling when that part started. I wasn't sure I wanted to immerse myself in it for three books. But if I had the second book right now, I would be starting it, for sure. :)

There are sad and scary things that happen in this book, including non-descriptive violence and suicide. The name of God is used as an exclamation a couple of times, but I don't recall any other swearing. There are a couple of sexual comments and "scenarios," which seem unnecessary to the story. (Nothing happens and none of it is really descriptive.)

Just Ella (Annette K. Larsen)

Why I have this book: I saw that a couple of my real-life friends were reading it when I was browsing Goodreads, so I decided to read it, too. I needed a light read since my kids are sick and the weather is yucky!

This fit the bill. It was a nice, light, enjoyable book with an unpredictable (for the most part) storyline. What I mean is that for a good part of the book, I wondered how it would all work out. The bad guy was so badly bad... that part was a little hokey to me, but I could easily overlook it because I liked Ella and Gavin so much. This book felt a little "young" for me, but that's because the main characters are only in their teens when they meet and a couple years older when the book ends. Even so, I liked it. I think my young adult girls would like it, too.

I enjoyed it enough to recommend to others. Nothing to strain your brain, and just a good escape when you need one.

Clean.

Spontaneous Happiness: A New Path to Emotional Well-Being (Andrew Weil, MD)

Why I have this book: It popped up in recommendations, and since I've read other books by Dr. Weil that I found interesting, I decided to read it.

I'm not quite finished with the book yet, since the last part of it is an 8 week program of making changes in one's life that will help with mental well-being. But I think I can review the book at this point.

There are a lot of studies mentioned in the book... I like that and dislike it at the same time. I like that it validates the author's theories, but I found that I skimmed some of that. I just wanted to get to a simple explanation of what one should do with that information. I don't agree with everything he says (I sense that he doesn't put a lot of stock into believing in God... at least not the Christian God), but there are a lot of good and simple suggestions that I think would be helpful to anyone who feels like they can improve their mental well-being. (Some examples: Limit the amount of time reading/listening to the news, have more social interaction, do more service, go on walks, enjoy nature...)

I'm going to look through the 8 week program and write down the suggestions that ring true to me. There are definitely some things he talked about that I know would be an improvement in my life.

So all-in-all, good book.

Clean.

Losing It: How I Lost an Entire Person (Denise Stevens)

Why I have this book: Somehow it came up on Amazon - I don't remember how - and it was free to borrow, so I borrowed it.

You know I'm a sucker for weight loss success stories.

To be honest, I didn't have high hopes going into it. I'm pretty sure it was self-published, there were no reviews... I figured it would be short and non-inspiring. But since it was free to borrow and I hardly ever borrow with Amazon Prime, I figured "Why not?"

I actually really liked it. From what I can tell, the author kept a blog on Weight Watchers' online site and this is just a publication of that blog. What I liked was reading about her normal, everyday life and the challenges it threw her way as she tried to stay focused on her weight loss goals. I was impressed with the way she didn't allow the obstacles of real life to throw her off her commitment. She sometimes was more strict than other times, but she logged all her food and kept going. She ended up losing 130 pounds over the course of about a year and a half. (I think. I can't remember how long it took her... somewhere between one and two years...?)

There are a couple handfuls of random swear words and one really off-color joke that she re-told after hearing it at a comedy club. I could have done without that, for sure. It wasn't funny and was just completely unnecessary. For that reason alone, I'm glad I didn't pay the $2.99 to buy it.

ETA: I actually ended up purchasing this in 2017, because it was no longer available to borrow, I wanted to see if it was inspiring in my never-ending quest to lose weight. I didn't like it as much this time... I found it somewhat tedious to get through. I'm still impressed by her accomplishment, though. I looked her up on Facebook, and it looks like she put some of the weight back on, which is such a bummer for her. I don't know why it's so hard just to lose weight and keep it off! (I'm feeling a little cranky right now.) I'm going to delete it off my account, just because I won't read it again.

21 Principles (Richard G. Scott)

The rest of the title: Divine Truths to Help You Live by the Spirit

Great book. I love Richard G. Scott. I could hear his calm and soothing voice as I read his words, and I love his insights and compassion. My Kindle edition is very bright and cheerful with all my yellow highlights.

Highly recommended.

Clean.

A Portrait for Toni (Annette Lyon)

Why I have this book: I like the author and the book showed up on Amazon at a good price...

This review pains me to write.

What a disappointment! I actually checked the publication date because I wondered if it was the author's first book. (It's not. It was published about two months ago.) I have enjoyed several of her other books, so I am really surprised at this one.

1) This book is an editing mess. So many mistakes. It's almost like it was a rough draft.

2) The protagonist has body image issues, yet her feelings for her male buddy change when she sees him without glasses (he switches to contacts) and when his shirt is off and she sees how "hot" he is. Seriously??? Are we in junior high? These two are in their late 20's. She can't see him as attractive with glasses on? Is he Clark Kent??? Give me a break. And how pathetic is it that she feels judged by how she looks, yet she suddenly is in love (lust) with her long time best friend when she sees him with his shirt off? She even says how she has been "turned on" all week since she saw him in only his towel. And really... best friends since junior high and she's never seen him without a shirt on or without his glasses on? Ugh.

3) The "other man" is so pathetic. The fact that Toni is even with him makes her pretty unlikeable.

4) The only decent and believable character is Brooke.

5) This book has several heavy topics and does not carry them well at all.

So... yeah. I'm not sure I could come up with anything decent to say about this book. I still wonder if this is the same Annette Lyon that wrote the other books I enjoyed. (It is.)

(Did I mention this is an LDS author who typically is published by an LDS publisher? The fact that this is published by Amazon Digital Services might explain why the editing is so bad (since it's a "self-publishing" service), and also why I was surprised by stuff that normally isn't in LDS fiction books.)

 There is some swearing in this book. There is also some talk that is about "putting out", being "turned on", etc.

Unbroken (Laura Hillenbrand)

Why I have this book: It was a book club book from years ago. I never read it... maybe it was around the time I went to Korea, maybe it was the next year when I was overwhelmed with other things. I don't remember why I didn't read it when I first bought it, but it was worth the wait.

I'll point out first that this is a true story... really, a biography that reads like a novel. It's so smooth and easy to read that I often forgot that it is non-fiction.

I could gush for paragraphs about this book, but I'll try to restrain myself. AMAZING. Really, one of the most worthwhile books I have ever read. Not only was it very well written, the story itself is emotionally gripping and deeply moving. I was hooked from the first page and when I finished the last page, I felt very touched by all the facets of this story. It is impossible to put into words the enormity of not only this story, but how this time in history affected our world.

I wish I could read Phil's story in more depth. (He is an important, but secondary, character in this book.) So unfortunate that every soldier and every person can't have their story told so completely. There are many heroes in our world who go largely unnoticed. (Heroes, in my opinion, are often ordinary people who quietly do extraordinary things.)

I loved it and will recommend this book to everyone. I know I'm late to the party on it (they are making it into a movie now), but anyone who hasn't read it yet...? Yes, read it.

There is a handful of swearing in this book, including one F-word. I believe every swear word is quoting somebody, not just random swearing by the author. There are painful wartime and POW experiences which are obviously not pleasant, but this is not a graphic book... it's just an honest portrayal of what war is like.

Finding Hope: Where to Look for God's Help (S. Michael Wilcox)

Why I have this book: It was a good deal on the deseretbookshelf app.

The short book (64 print pages) is another Time Out Classic. I enjoyed it. Some parts of it really resonated with me and earned their highlighted status. Some parts didn't make that connection, but overall, I liked it. It made me want to study The Old Testament more.

Clean.

Ruby's Secret: A Newport Ladies Book Club Novel (Heather B. Moore)

Why I have this book: Because I love this series.

I enjoyed reading this book as much as any of the others in the series. It was a little weird for me, because I pictured Ruby as a much older woman in the earlier books. I would have guessed her to be in her mid-70's, although I may have missed or not noted her age if it was mentioned before. Apparently, she is only 62. It was hard for me to picture what she looks like in this book compared to how I pictured her before.

This book was more of a romance than any of the other books, and the romance seemed more of a focus than any other part of the story. I was a little disappointed in that, because it seemed less about Ruby's strength as a woman and friend than it did about the new relationship. I still enjoyed it, but it wasn't what I expected after having read the other books. I also didn't find their relationship that believable. He was a little too good to be true... plus I kept picturing him younger than her. Not just by a couple of years, but by a good 15 years. It was just hard to get the picture in my mind of them together. (I'm glad they are, though! Haha!)

My Wannabe Editor has a few things to say... but I will resist all but this fact: It is nearly impossible to read on an iPad in the bright son, and yet, Ruby reads outside in the sun more than once. Now, if she had brought a Kindle (and not just the Kindle app on an iPad), it would have worked. Perhaps it's possible, but it sure wouldn't be a great experience. If you have an iPad and have tried to read it (or take pictures with it) while outside in the sun, you know what I mean.

It is a curse to have a Wannabe Editor brain.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and am not at all sorry I read it. It was just different than the other books. Also, I find I am having a hard time keeping all the characters straight from the previous story lines. I think if I could read them all right in a row instead of waiting months between books, that wouldn't be as much of a problem.

Clean.

The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, etc... (Gretchen Rubin)

Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the e-book library because my friends' book club is reading it and I sometimes read what they are reading.

To be honest, if the book hadn't been available to borrow, I wouldn't have read it. I had read a lot of reviews about it when it first came out and I was negatively influenced by the one-star reviews. I was pretty sure I was not going to like this book (or the author) at all, but since I didn't have to shell out a dime to read it, I figured I would give it a try. The premise of the book was intriguing to me.

So... I pretty much loved this book. Oh, I have a few critical opinions... like, in the first part of the book I kept thinking that maybe she didn't need to be quite so honest. I thought she was a little harsh in sharing some of her frustrations about her husband. The whole "Just because you CAN say something doesn't mean you SHOULD" idea, ya know? But as the book went on, I realized she was more than fair on sharing her own shortcomings and gave her husband plenty of credit for putting up with her.

Also... big words. So glad I was reading this on my Kindle so I could highlight and find definitions for a lot of the words she used. I don't think I'm a dumb person... I think (or thought!) I'm fairly well-read. (Ignore my overabundance of Christian/Amish lit and just know that I have read plenty of "difficult" books before I started this blog. Haha!) But her reading choices for her various areas of study and the words she used... Well, she definitely runs in a more intellectual circle than I do. (I found myself wondering if she kept looking things up in a thesaurus or if she really talks like that in normal life.)

At the end of her book, she lists the books she read in her research on "happiness." I didn't really agree with her selection of Anna Karenina as a choice for "Some of My Favorite Novels About Happiness." I mean, obviously that's her list and she can put any book she wants on it. But that was one of the most depressing books I ever read! Did I miss something? On the other hand, her choice of Elizabeth and Her German Garden is one I can agree with...

Now that I've read the book, I would (and just might) buy it. I highlighted a lot of her thoughts and have new ideas of books to read and things to think about. I found her personality to be similar to mine (speaking mostly of weaknesses) and sometimes I found myself smiling because I could relate to her experiences. Her husband and family sounds great, too, and even though they live a completely different lifestyle than I ever will (or would want to), I found myself connecting with her on many levels.

Clean. There may have been one swear word, but I'm not even sure about that.

The Rent Collector (Camron Wright)

Why I have this book: It was recommended by a friend and was also our book club choice for the month.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I thought it was an enjoyable read and a great story line. The setting was intriguing (and disturbing), the characters and their relationships were interesting, the background of the Khmer Rouge taking over Cambodia added strong emotion...

On the other hand, I think a lot more could have been done with the story. It seemed as though the main characters' personalities and interaction changed very quickly. It seemed out of character for both of them, from what we had seen up to the point. There was an unanswered question or two, some simplistic and unrealistic things that happened. It was a good read, but it could have been amazing with some more depth added to it. There was just so much more story to tell.

Also, one of the reviewers on Amazon mentioned that he/she thought it was odd that the characters were based on real people, using their real names and photos and even some of their circumstances, and then writing a fiction story about them. I tend to agree. I'm not sure what the point of that was. Why not just make up characters to tell the story you want to tell?

If the point was to shed light on the circumstances of the people of Cambodia, then it worked for me. It renewed my interest in reading another book I've had on my wish list for years... When Broken Glass Floats: Growing Up Under the Khmer Rouge. If it came within my reach, I would also watch the documentary the author's son made about the people whose lives were the basis for this book. My eyes have been opened (once again) to the way people have to live in this world, and it reminds me to not only be grateful for what I have, but also to remember how many people need our help. And... even more important... how amazing the human spirit is to survive the most tragic and difficult of circumstances. I admire their strength of spirit.

All in all, I did like the book. It definitely has left me wanting more, which isn't always a bad thing.

Clean for the most part. There are two swear words that I remember, and some sad and disturbing realities described. There is some playful intimate banter between husband and wife. (Which is another thing... the author is using real people. Shouldn't their intimate relationship be off limits? There was nothing offensive about it, but still. Seems like it's not his place to add that to the story.)

My Loving Vigil Keeping (Carla Kelly)

Why I have this book: I bought it a long time ago for my Kindle. I think maybe it was a good deal.

I liked this book very much as a reader. It kept my interest and was written in a way that it was easy to get into the story.

As a Wannabe Editor, I would have done a little work on it. For example, the word "shy" was used way too often. And...

... when you hear the phrase "no harm, no foul", what do you think about? Basketball? Yeah, me, too. I even looked up the origin and meaning of the phrase, in case I was wrong, and I found nothing other than it came from basketball. One site even said the phrase came into being via basketball in the early 70's. I'm assuming they mean the 1970's.

So when one of the characters used that phrase, it totally jolted me out of the story. (The story is set in about 1900.) If I'm missing something in the origin of this phrase, please let me know.

I also thought the ending was a bit too "perfect" for the protagonist, considering how it worked out for everyone else. And I wish the story would have continued a bit beyond where it ended. It was just too big of an event to leave the story behind. And, I found it a little annoying that the heroine was also like some kind of goddess in the community. Everyone practically worshipped her. It just seemed a little silly.

I did learn a lot about a part of Utah history, and like I said, the story itself was engrossing. In spite of my complaints, I did enjoy the book. I would read other books by the author, and from the look of it, she has written quite a few. I'll have to look into them and see which ones interest me.

(Did you know that you can spell worshipped with either one P or two? (worshiped) Which one looks right to you? Because spell check says it's one P... which to me looks completely wrong. According to my google results, it can go either way.)

Clean.

The Erma Bombeck Collection (Erma Bombeck)

If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits?
Motherhood... the Second Oldest Profession
The Grass is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank

Why I have these books: It's actually one book, an e-book collection of the three titles listed. I saw that someone online read one of her books and it reminded me that I read them when I was about 12... and I remember liking them.

So I didn't really like them now. They just had a somewhat negative (albeit joking) tone to them. In three whole books, there were probably three times that I actually found anything funny enough to get a chuckle out of it. I don't know... yeah, maybe her thoughts are kind of true when it comes to raising kids or whatever, but it just seemed a little too sarcastic for my taste for the most part.

I'm not really sure I should have thought they were funny back when I read them as a kid. My friend (we were both about 12 years old) had a set of them and she loaned them to me. WHY did I think they were funny? I'm not even sure I would have gotten the humor. I probably couldn't relate to what she was even talking about, since most of it is about motherhood and being an adult.

So all in all, I wasn't very enthralled with them. It took me a long time to finish, because I just read a little at a time. I finally forced myself to get through the last book of the collection so I could put them away. Also... they are outdated. If I hadn't grown up in the 70's and 80's, I wouldn't really get what she was talking about sometimes. Haha!

The Lord's name is used as an exclamation of expression several times.

The Amish Bride (Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould)

Why I have this book: I bought it a long time ago when, if I remember correctly, it was on discount. It's been sitting unread on my Kindle ever since.

This is part of a series, and I read the first two books (and reviewed them) a while ago. I'll admit I've become disenchanted with the whole Amish genre after seeing stories about some of their communities on the news. As far as Amish books go, though, this series has more depth than most. I did enjoy reading the book, although I think the ending fell flat when the "love story" played out the way it did. It was somewhat silly to me.

Clean.

Out of My Mind (Sharon M. Draper)

Why I have this book: My friends' book club was considering it for a selection a while ago, and it sounded good, so I bought it. Then my other friend told me she read it, which reminded me that I had it in my Kindle. So... I finally read it.

I think every school teacher (including special education teachers) should read this book... and I think every teacher from maybe 3nd grade up should read it to their class. In fact, pretty much everyone should read it.

It took me a few chapters to get completely sucked in, but once I did, I was in for good. It's a story told from the perspective of an 11-year-old girl with cerebral palsy. Her mind is brilliant, but because of her disability, she has limited control of her body... including the ability to speak.

I was sooooooo happy when she received a computer to help her express herself. What a blessing technology is!

This is such a worthwhile read. I highly recommend it.

Clean, other than using the "other F-word." We don't say that word in our house... we say "toot" or "fluff."  :) Well, my grown-up kids have become corrupted and THEY come visit and say the "other F-word" in front of my little kids and then I have to keep my little ones from being corrupted, too. Haha!

Shannon's Hope (Josi S. Kilpack)

Why I have this book: I finished my other "lonely weekend" book purchase long before the lonely weekend was over, so I had to have another "comfort read" to carry me through. ;)

This is the fifth book in the Newport Ladies' Book Club Series.

The heavy topic of drug addiction was the focus of this book. It was not really a light read... I could feel the stress of the situation, but I still enjoyed it and it was an "easy" read as far as being able to get into it and away from real life for a bit. (Although my real life is much nicer than the situation in the book.)

Another keeper by Josi Kilpack.

Clean, although the subject of drug addiction often involves other difficult topics, none of which are graphically described.

Rocky Road (Josi S. Kilpack)

Why I have this book: My husband made plans to go on a camp-out AND a college football game on the same weekend. Not with me. (Both events are with my teenage son, so it's a good thing.) Anyway, two days of being home while he is out playing made me feel totally justified in buying a book that was on my Amazon Wish List.

After reading a couple of "heavy" books, I really needed this nice, clean, light read in Josi's culinary mystery series. They have just the right level of suspense for my sensitivity to creepiness. This one wasn't really creepy at all, which I am just fine with! I just enjoyed the whole thing without feeling any yucky shivers.

It was also fun that it was set in St. George, Utah. I've been there enough to be able to picture it in my mind. And, as always, there are lots of good recipes that I really should try.

One problem with this one: Now I really want some Pork Barbacoa from Cafe Rio.

Whether in print or ebook (mine are all ebook), these books are keepers for me.

Clean.

The Curiosity: A Novel (Stephen Kiernan)

Why I have this book: It was our book club pick for this month.

I would like to begin my review with a quote from the main character in the book (The Honorable Jeremiah Rice) in regards to the foul language he hears all around him:

"Had no one told them that coarseness lacks dignity?"

I find it very ironic that the author penned those words on behalf of his dignified and respectable protagonist, then filled the rest of the book with vulgarity. Hmmm... really? Might want to listen to what your friend, Judge Rice, has to say.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, the story is interesting. I thought the general plot was good. The last third of the book kept me pretty engaged... I stayed up past midnight to finish it so I would know what happens. The conflict of ethics was somewhat thought-provoking, except that the scenario seems pretty far-fetched. It doesn't lend itself to deep thought for me. (Then again, maybe I'm just ignorant about what is happening out there in the scientific world.)

On the other hand... the writing was mediocre. The story is told by four characters. The female voice sounds... not distinctly female. (I know the author is male, but the author of Honolulu - reviewed earlier - managed to pull off a female voice even though he is male...) One character's way of speaking is almost like the author tried too hard to make him sound "different" than the others. In fact, even with Jeremiah, it sounds like he is trying too hard to "create" his early-1900's personality. I don't know... for the most part, the writing just didn't mesh for me. And the early chapters were entirely too scientific and boring.

I cared about a couple of the characters, not so much about anyone else.

The strength of the story isn't really worth wading through the muck of the profanity.  So... if this was a print edition, I'd probably donate it to the library. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. I'll be deleting it from my Kindle.

Tons of profanity, including abundant use of the F-word. A couple of sentences mention sexual attraction. Some coarseness in male oggling of women.

The World's Strongest Librarian: A Memoir of Tourette's, Faith, Strength, and the Power of Family (Josh Hanagarne)

Why I have this book: A friend of mine checked it out of the library and had me read it before it was due overdue by too many days.

I had seen this author on the local news several months ago.... I found his story interesting then, but had no idea he had written a book. (Maybe it was mentioned in the news story and I just didn't catch it.)

So my first impression is, "I loved this book!" In fact, when I closed it at the end, the first thing I said to my husband was, "What a good book!" And it is. I enjoyed his writing style, I learned some new things about Tourette's, libraries (mostly that I'm even more convinced that I prefer to buy new books or borrow on my Kindle than actually go to a library and borrow books that have been who-knows-where), and humanity. I really admire his family life. What a neat woman his mom must be! What a great dad! His wife seems amazing, as well. Really, for examples of pure love, his family is tops.

A few disappointments: Why, oh why, must authors use profanity??? I understand that in some stories, to keep things true, the use of profanity paints the picture the author wants the reader to see. I think that's very rare. I also don't think this book is one of those books. The story would have been just as complete without the profanity, and would have been easier to recommend to others. Really, he uses the "big" bad words, and not just a few times. It's curious to me that his devout LDS mom and wife didn't persuade him to leave them out, if his own LDS background alone didn't convince him. Even leaving religion out of it... isn't there just a standard of decency authors can choose to follow?

Also, there were a few things in there pertaining to sexuality that didn't need to be shared. Really. Not necessary.

The story of his religious journey is well written. I found it interesting and touching... and somewhat contradictory at first glance. But I think there are many people who have undeniable spiritual experiences who still doubt.

The stories of his family of origin and the family he created are inspiring. There are such good people in this world, and most live quiet lives that nobody notices... except those who are touched by them. There is a lot to respect in those who live extraordinary lives without needing fanfare.

All in all, this book was thought-provoking and enjoyable to read. I'm glad I read it and will totally recommend it to those who can overlook the profanity and other unnecessary passages to see the deeper story of humanity.

One question though: Did he win? At the end of the book... Did he win the contest???

This book contains profanity, including the worst of it, and not just a few times. There are a few not-really-graphic sexual references, as well.

P.S. The Amazon page for this book contains a "book trailer" video in the words of the author.

Also, a couple of quotes I liked from this book. (I usually highlight in my own books, but as this is a library book...)

pg 208: "A mind can be lost without its owner's death. A mind that no longer questions only fulfills the rudimentary aspects of its function. A mind without wonder is a mere engine, a walking parasympathetic nervous system, seeing without observing, reacting without thinking, a forgotten ghost in a passive machine.

The mind that asks and experiments and evaluates will die one day, but will provide a richer life for its owner."

pg. 244: "If your body is your biography, then you are, at any given time, a perfect representation of all of your resolved and unresolved stresses."

(You can see this book covers a lot of topics the author has thought about.)

The Book Thief (Markus Zusak)

Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the e-book library when my friends mentioned that they were reading it for their book club.

My own (former) book club read it years ago, but I didn't. I don't remember why... but I know I wasn't really itching to read a book narrated by Death. The very idea of that sounded creepy, dark, and depressing. I actually borrowed it on the ebook library in the last year sometime, but decided to return it without reading it for the same reason.

This time I braved up and began the book. It starts a little slow and it takes a bit of time to figure out the rhythm of the writing, but once I did, I fell in love with the story.

The book is set during the Holocaust in Germany, but it's not really about that, in my opinion. It's about people and relationships and how life continues on during unbelievably horrific circumstances. It's about the choices we make and the choices others make. It's about humanity... and it is deeply moving.

I've already recommended it to several people and if I owned a copy, it would definitely be a keeper.

This book isn't dark and creepy, but it does involve the Holocaust, death, and war. There are difficult family issues that are touched on, and there is quite a bit of swearing (including using the Lord's name as an exclamation of emotion.) For me, the enormity of the story overshadows the muck.

Attitude is Everything: Change Your Attitude... Change Your Life! (Jeff Keller)

Why I have this book: It was recommended somewhere... I can't even remember where or by whom...  Anyway, I bought it on Kindle because it was only $2.99.

This book totally reminded me of books by Dale Carnegie. It had the exact same feel to it. To be honest, that was a bit of a turn-off for me, because it just seemed like it wasn't really original. The message is good, but it wasn't anything that couldn't have been written in a magazine article. And it was a little like being at a motivational convention. Kind of "rah-rah"...

It also seemed mostly directed towards business situations, so I couldn't relate to that... I had to think a little harder to make it applicable to my life.

Overall, a good message and a quick read. Nothing new as opposed to the Dale Carnegie books, although the stories and examples are more current. (Dale Carnegie died in 1955, so obviously his stories - although not the meaning behind them - are dated for a younger generation.)

Clean.

Confessions of a Molly Mormon: Trading Perfectionism for Peace, Fear for Faith, Judging for Joy (Elona K. Shelley)

Why I have this book: I was browsing the book table at Costco (which I hardly ever do anymore, because I buy most of my books for Kindle), and I saw it. It looked good, so...

I liked this book. At one point, I thought, "Sheesh, this lady was sure an over-thinker for most of her life!" (Takes one to know one?) But really, I liked the perspective she put on how we often "live the gospel" based on rules and guilt and fear... and how different it can (and should) be.

Her words gave me a lot of good things to think about. She put down on paper how I have often felt about this very subject and it was helpful to see it through her experience. I'm really glad I read it.

Clean.

Keeping it Together in a Pull-Apart World (Mary Ellen Edmunds)

Why I have this book: I bought it for the Deseret Book app.

This is a short book (64 pages in the hardcover edition) and I read it in an evening. Another lovely book by MEE. I just love her. In fact, I have two of her books still on my wishlist.

You can't go wrong with books by MEE. :)

Clean.

Moloka'i (Alan Brennert)

Why I have this book: I've had it for years. It was a book club pick a long time ago, but this is the first time I've read it.

This is a novel set in the leper colony of Hawaii on the island of Moloka'i. I don't think most Amercians are really familiar with leprosy... it's not a disease that is common in the States in this day and age (thankfully), and until I saw a documentary on it a few years ago, I didn't even know it was still common in other countries.

I liked this book for the most part. I liked it a lot... for the most part. There were things that could have been left out of the story and it still would have invoked the same emotions for those who were the victims of this disease and all the social repercussions it brought.

In both this novel and the other I read by this author (Honolulu, reviewed a few posts ago), there is quite a bit of talk of sexuality. It's not graphic or vulgar... it's just treated as a natural urge that is a part of life. There is no morality attached to it, really... he doesn't seem to have an opinion one way or the other on religion. He writes about it in a detached way, I think. He also brings a character into the story who is transgender. I'm not sure why... he doesn't mention this character as a "real" person in the author notes, so it must just be a storyline he threw in there to make things interesting. It didn't bother me (she is actually a likable character), but I wonder what the point was.

Interestingly, he talks about "The Church of Latter Day Saints" on the island. He not only got the name wrong (should be "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints"), he also didn't do his research on how the ministry works. He called the congregation leader "pastor" and referred to a "deacon"... which was used more in the way a deacon would be used in a Protestant church. It's something that would be overlooked by any reader who isn't familiar with the LDS Church, but I found it curious that with all the research he did on other subjects, this fell through the cracks.

All in all, I'm glad I read it. It was informative, interesting, and emotionally compelling.

This book contains some bad language (including the Lord's name as an exclamation of emotion), non-graphic sexuality (although I now know the Hawaiian word for "boy parts"), some descriptions of the wounds caused by leprosy, and there is plenty of death for obvious reasons. There is also a transgender character.

Getting rid of a few more books...

In keeping with the purpose of this blog (getting rid of books I don't want... which I really am not focusing on, it seems), I am tossing out a handful of books:

Five Reader's Digest condensed book volumes. I am passing them on to other readers.

The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck. I read this 2 or 3 years ago. I didn't love it. I would have gotten rid of it then, but my husband liked it... anyway, he'll never read it again, so it may as well move on to the thrift store.

An LDS book about teaching youth moral choices. I bought it years and years ago and have never read it and probably never will. Or maybe I did read it. I don't know. Anyway, it can go. Some of the pages are falling out, so I will throw it in my recycle bin.

So not a big dent in my bookshelf piles, but still progress!

Honolulu (Alan Brennert)

Why I have this book: I bought it several years ago on the recommendation of a friend and it has sat there all these years. This is actually a "real" book. My book club decided to read it this month, which worked out great for me!

I loved this book. First of all, I had no idea that the protagonist was Korean. I have a special connection to Korea, so that was a bonus for me. I love learning more about their culture and history.

Second, the author is a man, but wrote the book through the eyes of a woman. The book has the same kind of view point as The Help... it's a story about women. There are men in the book, but they play a secondary role. I find it fascinating and impressive that I really never heard anything other than a female voice as I read the book. I even double checked the cover once to make sure I remembered correctly that a man wrote the book.

Third, the fictional story intertwined with real life people and real life events. After a while, I found myself checking online to see if this character was real or that event was real. It was amazing how smoothly the real events and people of Hawaii came into this story.

This isn't a complete history of Hawaii. It covers the early 1900's, for the most part. Just a brief time in their history, but eye-opening as to what most tourists don't even think about as they visit those beautiful islands. There is a very rich history, and it explains why the "locals" might have some strong feelings about their home. I wish I had read this before I went. I will see things a little differently if I get to go again. (I hope so! It's such a alluring place... at least when you're visiting.)

There is some nasty language from one character, who also happens to be a prostitute. I could have done without quite so much "colorful" dialect, but it's a relatively short part of the story.

This book is a keeper for me.

This book contains some bad language, including one or two instances of the "f" word. The Lord's name is also used quite often as a swear word (nearly all of this is from one character.) Outside of that character, swearing is rare. There is also some content involving marital relations, rape and attempted rape, abuse, and prostitution. None of it is glorified (although you might find the prostitute to be a likeable character), and none is really graphic.

Damaged: A Violated Trust (Melody Carlson)

Why I have this book: It was one of the old freebies/cheap reads I downloaded a long time ago.

I think this book has value, as it covers the topic of date rape. I'd say it plays out a bit predictably and ends pretty neatly (although it never said if the "girlfriend" of the rapist ever believed that it happened or how she dealt with it.) I would have my girls read it, though, just to help them be mindful of what can happen.

This is Christian literature. There is no bad language and the rape scene is not really descriptive. There is a lot of "making out," but again, not really descriptive.

The Reluctant Bachelorette (Rachael Renee Anderson)

Why I have this book: My friend recommended it and it was free to borrow on Amazon, so I borrowed it.

It was cute. I enjoyed it. It probably would make a cute romantic comedy on the big screen.

Clean.

Flowers in the Attic, etc. (V.C. Andrews)

The first three books in this series.

Why I have these books: I read them as a young person and wondered what I would think now that I'm an adult.

I returned them for a refund. Reason: Objectionable content.

Don't read them. That's all.

Standing in the Rainbow (Fannie Flagg)

Why I have this book: A friend recommended it, so I borrowed it from the e-book library.

I couldn't finish the book. Maybe it's my brain, maybe it's the book. I don't know. I got through page 300+ and still was waiting for something to happen. I got on Amazon and read the reviews, and the one-star reviews all mentioned that nothing ever ends up happening. So I just stopped reading it.

I rarely stop reading a book.

It was kind of cute, but it just didn't keep my interest. Maybe it would if I didn't have so many other things going on right now.

There was some swearing in this book.

Unfriend Yourself: Three Days to Detox, Discern, and Decide About Social Media (Kyle Tennant)

Why I have this book: It was one of the last freebies I downloaded from Inspired Reads.

It was free, or I wouldn't have bothered with this one. I don't FB and I don't post in online chat rooms, although I used to belong to a couple of online forums based around adoption, parenthood and/or religion. I don't Tweet, either. But I have to say, my lack of social media usage isn't because I'm out of touch. I seriously just choose not to. (Four hours after opening a FB account, I closed it. It reminded me of high school.)

I thought the author made a lot of good points about the effect social media has on our lives. He doesn't at all suggest eliminating it completely, but to take some time to do just what the title says... detox (take three days off from social media), discern (see how it affects your life both positively and negatively), and decide how much you want social media to be a part of your life.

It's a good suggestion to take control of social media instead of letting it control you.

Clean.

Peony in Love (Lisa See)

Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the e-book library.

I put off writing this review because I'm not sure how I feel. On the one hand, I enjoyed the writing, the culture (Chinese), the history. I even did extra research on Chinese foot binding, as that was a significant part of the story. (And may I say, "Ew." For so many reasons.) The author based her story on real people and real events... but obviously, very artistic liberty was taken.

The repression of women was a significant part of the story... but at the same time, the author made it seem as though the women - to some degree - felt honored even in their repressed state. There is a depth in the relationships and the feelings of the characters that unfolds as the story goes on. The Chinese traditions are fascinating.

I found some parts of the writing disturbing. There is a sensuality to the story which is more than subtle, but not graphic for the most part. (There is one paragraph where I said, "Whaaaaatttt? Yuck!")

Based on this book, I would not likely read any other of the author's books, but a friend of mine said she and her sisters read another one and really liked it, so I'll give it a try. I put it on hold at the e-book library.

Very sensual and at times, sexual, undertones. Not extremely graphic, but the context of some of it was uncomfortable (and icky) to me. I don't recall any swearing.

The Amateur Marriage (Anne Tyler)

Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the e-book library. I had seen the book around several times over the years, but had never read it.

I just finished the book and I'm not sure what feeling I'm left with. I can say the ending was really unsatisfactory. Not that it was a bad ending... it just didn't feel complete. Nothing about the story felt complete, but at the same time, I think it really represented life accurately. There is nothing neat and tidy about life, about families, about most marriages. So maybe leaving things untidy was the only way to end this book.

I liked it, but it wasn't really a happy book. Some of it was funny to me, but the overall tone became less funny as the book went on and just kind of left me feeling melancholy.

Clean, for the most part. I think the Lord's name was used in vain once, and there may have been a swear word or two, although I don't really recall any specifically. Just being on the safe side with that. There was some suggestion of marital intimacy, but nothing graphic.

Children's books...

I did a quick clean out of some of my little ones' books. There were a few I had no sentimental attachment to, and they also just weren't great books. Those are easy to let go. A couple of them, though, I feel a bit of "mommy" attachment to. I just can't part with them easily... or at all...

My Goodnight Book (Eloise Wilkin) - Our copy is messed up. I think it must have been in a diaper bag when my older kids were little and had milk spilled on it. It's a board book (Amazon still has pictures, even though it's not in print anymore), but the inner pages were obviously stuck together at some point, because there are rips across the tops of several pages. Just a sweet book with wonderful memories. I'm keeping our battered copy, just because it brings back memories of a special time of life with little ones.

Babies and Baby Animals (the one with the puppy on the cover) (Gyo Fujikawa) - I love these two books. I can't find the animal one... somewhere in my mind I think one of the kids drew in it to the point that I didn't keep it anymore? Or maybe it will turn up as I keep going through books. I still have the Babies one, and I am keeping it.  My kids have loved it, and it's just a sweet book that I can share with my grandkids.  :)

Baby Faces (by Funfax) - This little board book was a favorite of our younger three kids. It's so torn up. I'm going to buy a new one for our granddaughter for her upcoming birthday, and maybe a new copy to keep here at Grandma's house...

Potty Time (Jonathan Langley and Anne Civardi) - Another book that was used numerous times with all my older kids. Obviously, it's about potty training. We don't need it anymore, so I'll pass it on to my daughter-in-law for when our granddaughter is ready for potty training. I'm glad we're not going through that stage again around here, but it's still fun to look back and remember the sweetness of little ones learning to do new things. Special times.  :) There are several pages that have been taped back together because one of our children actually took scissors and cut them out. I have a good guess at which one of them did that...

Pooh Dreamy Songs - This is one of those board books with the music buttons along the side. More good memories as I remember singing, "Good Night, Tigger", "Silver is the Moonlight" and "Are You Sleeping (Baby Roo)", and "Sleep, Eeyore, Sleep." I love it, but time to send it on to our grandbaby...

Here Comes Winter (Janet Craig) - This is a first reader that we've had from the time our oldest was learning to read. It's falling apart (already been stapled back together.) I don't really feel anything sentimental with this book... it just has been a part of our lives for a long time. I am just going to recycle it with other papers, but maybe it deserved a mention. We certainly have read it a lot of times around here. If it was in better condition, I'd keep it.

Also a couple of "personalized" books that belonged to my oldest sons. You know the kind... their names are part of the story. One of the grandparents gave them to my older kids... and I'll just pass them on to them.

There there are the DK board books... My First Words. One is random everyday stuff, one is animals. I had a love/hate relationship with these two books. The little kids loved them and I did, too... until there were little pictures with things kids don't recognize because they aren't a part of their world or look nothing like the version that IS a part of their world... or they used a word we don't use, like "sofa" instead of "couch." I don't know why that bothered me. They really were cute books that we used a lot. If they were in good shape (someone took a permanent marker to one... and I haven't seen the other one yet. I think it might have gone away in a previous clean out, because it was damaged, too), I would keep them.

Okay, one I have strongly disliked all these years... I Used to Be Afraid by Sally Hudson McMillan. The idea of the story is good (be brave even when you are afraid), but I don't know. I just didn't like the flow or the whole little gnome (or elf? I don't even know) friend who says, "I am Kandu, I am your friend..." My kids all liked it, but I'm not sad that it's now falling apart and I can get rid of it. Mean, I know.

There are so many more books, more than I can mention. Some I am handing down to the cute grandbaby, some are too trashed and are going in the garbage, and many are still being enjoyed here at home.

Between Two Minds (Dr. Judith Stay Moore)

Why I have this book: I saw it while browsing LDS e-books on Amazon.

The rest of the title: Healing from Depression and Anxiety for LDS Women.

This book took me a while to read... a few months, I think. Not because it wasn't good... I just stopped reading it for a week or two at a time - several times.

I should have a degree by now with all the books on depression and anxiety I've read lately. After I finished this book yesterday, I had a thought. Do we assume that we or others have clinical depression when we/they are actually just unhappy with our/their lives? I actually googled the question and there have been studies to indicate that depression is over-diagnosed and over-treated with drugs, and that many cases of depression are actually more about just being unhappy with how we are living. There were questions to ask to determine when it's depression or when it's just unhappiness.

*I know that depression is a real medical condition. I have no doubt about that. I know too many people who have battled severe depression to suggest otherwise.*

Anyway, back to the book... I liked this book. There was a lot of focus on the Savior, as well as scientific information on neuropathways in the brain and how they relate to depression. I think it would be helpful for anyone battling depression or for those who care about them.

Clean.

Swimming to the Surface (Kristin Billerbeck)

Why I have this book: It's another of the freebie/cheapies I used to download.

For the record, this is the one that has sent me over the edge and compelled me to unsubscribe from the inspiredreads e-mail list (and to go back and delete even more books I have on my "to read" list in my Kindle.) Besides the fact that they only offer one free book each day now (as opposed to the three they used to offer), this was another book that was so bad that I couldn't wait to finish it. I was getting anxiety just waiting for the book to finish. I was skimming through the pages, just to be done. (I know I could have just stopped reading, but it takes a lot for me to quit reading a book in the middle of it.)

Disjointed story, disjointed characters, disjointed dialogue. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

Ridiculous. And now I officially know not to put too much weight into Amazon reviews. I'm not sure the best way to find book recommendations anymore.

Clean'ish. There is some implication of a character being homosexual... but like the rest of the story, it's just weird.

Three books about image overhaul. LOL

Stop Dieting and Start Losing Weight (Jen Brewer, RD)
Finished Being Fat: An Accidental Adventure in Losing Weight and Learning How to Finish (Betsy Schow)
Staging Your Comeback (Christopher Hopkins)

Why I have these books: The first two I saw at the local bookstore, and after flipping through them, I decided they looked interesting enough to check to see if they have ebook editions. They did (for less money), so I bought them. I am a sucker for success stories on weight loss.

The Staging Your Comeback one... well, I was looking at YouTube videos of haircut before and afters while waiting for a hair appointment. (Doesn't everyone do that???) Anyway, the author of this book does these whole makeover days at his salon... hair, make-up, dress... all sort-of geared toward ladies over 40. A lot of the women in the videos had read his book, and since I'm feeling frumpy lately, I thought it might be helpful.

I liked all three books. The one by Betsy Schow made me laugh aloud several times. Very entertaining! The other two were both informative and helpful. All three are keepers.

Clean. The Staging Your Comeback one might have had a swear word or two, but maybe not. I don't remember, and to be honest, I skimmed through a lot of it and only read the parts I was interested in.

The Secret Keeper (Kate Morton)

Why I have this book: It is our book club book this month.

Good book! There is a lot going on in the story, and you have to settle in and absorb all the characters as it sets up what ultimately happens. I was easily kept enthralled, and didn't expect the twist in the plot as the book came to an end.

What a creative mind the author has! I can't even imagine how some authors (certainly not all!) come up with their stories. My mind doesn't think like that.

It's on my Kindle, but if it was a real book, I'd probably keep it. It's one of those books (to me) that I would say to (select) others, "You should read this book."

And... maybe it's just me, but I'm so glad I had this book on Kindle. I looked up so many words! The author used a lot of words in this story that aren't commonly used. If I had been reading a printed book, I'd have been able to deduce the meanings, but since I could just tap the word and have the definition right there instantly, I did that. Love that feature!

There were a handful of swear words, including using the Lord's name as an exclamation of expression. There were a few suggestive moments, but nothing graphic.

Four Books by Rachel Ann Nunes

The Ariana Trilogy
     Ariana: The Making of a Queen
     Ariana: A Gift Most Precious
     Ariana: A New Beginning

A Glimpse of Eternity

Why I have these books: I bought the trilogy on Kindle a while ago. All three books in one publication for just over $10.00. I had never read them, but saw them all the time back when they were first published (starting in the mid-1990's), so I kinda wanted to see what they were about. The fourth one I listed is a sequel of sorts to the Ariana books. The author also has several other books that tie-in to the series.

So... I did like the Ariana books. I thought it was interesting to tackle the subject of AIDS, and in my opinion, the author did a good job of lessening the stigma associated with the virus. In general, I'm glad I read them. Kinda nice to have a setting outside of Utah and have less of the typical LDS culture.

The fourth book was okay. Some of it was a little too Saturday's Warriors for me. I wouldn't read it again.

Clean.

Two more culinary mysteries by Josi S. Kilpack

Tres Leches Cupcakes
Baked Alaska

Why I have these books: I have no self-control. I just needed my fix. But, now... the next book isn't released until this fall!!! ARGH!!!

So, I still like these books. A lot. These two had more loose ends than the others... actually, the one set in Boston (Pumpkin Roll) also had a major loose end. I'm guessing at least some of those things will be cleared up as the series continues.

Not sure if I would have used the word "snogging" in regards to Sadie and her man's activity on deck, but it is what it is.  ;)

snogging: kiss and caress amorously

Clean, other than the murder mystery aspect of it, which is not graphic.

Never Stop Holding Hands... and Other Marriage Survival Tips (Shara Grylls)

Why I have this book: It was a freebie.

I actually read this a while ago and forgot to put it on the blog. Maybe because it was sooooo short. Seriously maybe took 20 minutes to read it. Maybe.

The author is the wife of Bear Grylls... you know... Man vs Wild? When I saw the book, I thought it would be interesting to get the perspective of marriage from someone married to a man who eats slugs and scorpions and drinks his own urine while teaching others to survive in the wild.

The book is actually just a collection of "tips" they received from their wedding guests. Each was asked to leave a piece of advice for the newlyweds. It was a cute book and they seem like they have created a cute family with good values. I'm glad it was free.

Clean. It might mention marital intimacy in one or two of the tips. I can't remember for sure.

What Would a Holy Woman Do? (Wendy Watson Nielson)

Why I have this book: It was another of those $3.99 books on the DB app.

This one was worth the money. The author pondered the thought of making choices as a holy woman, and challenged several of her friends to spend three days choosing to do some of their activities with a conscious effort to do it as a holy woman would.  In the book, she shares some of their experiences and some of her thoughts on the subject, and then challenges the reader to try the experiment themselves.

While this book was also short... I think it has less pages than the last one I read, although I have no idea on font size or dimensions in the print edition... it has a lot to offer in it's short message.

Clean.

The Faith Experiment (Laurel Christensen)

Why I have this book: It was one of those $3.99 books I mentioned in the previous post.

I don't think this should be called a book. It's sooooooooo short. The description says 64 pages (the print version)... I read the e-book version, so no page numbers. And I read it on the DB app, so remember? Scrolling down every chapter. It must be a tiny book in dimension (or a big font) if it took 64 pages to get the words in.

Really, I'm kind of disappointed the author didn't go into more detail about the way her journey actually transpired. I think there is a great story there... it just didn't get deep enough to really inspire me. I'm guessing it's based on her presentation at TOFW, and she probably only had so much time to talk. I wish she would have expanded her story for this book.

I think I would have felt more satisfied with a 99 cent price for what this book contained. And I'm sure I would have loved hearing the actual presentation in person, but there just wasn't enough bang for the buck with this tiny book. (I'm glad I didn't pay the higher price on Amazon!)

Clean.

Deseret Bookshelf heads-up

So I was looking through the Deseret Book catalog that came today in the mail. There was a book by MEE (Mary Ellen Edmunds) advertised. I checked on Amazon for the e-book price. It was over $9 for a book that was less than a hundred pages long! Too much. As much as I love MEE, that is just not a great price.

Later I looked through the catalog again (so many distractions around here) and I noticed the e-book price in there was $3.99 for the same book. Then I noticed several of these short e-books for that price. I guess they are books that are talks from Time Out for Women...

Anyway, I checked on Amazon at the same books, and all of them were over $9 on Amazon, and they were $3.99 on the DBookshelf. I don't know about you, but I'm willing to put up with the DB app for that much of a savings on a book... especially when they are little books that will take an hour or less to read.

Just sharing... sometimes the DB app is worth using for the price of the e-book!

Pumpkin Roll and Banana Split (two books by Josi S. Kilpack)

Two more books in the culinary mystery series by Josi Kilpack:

Pumpkin Roll - set in Boston
Banana Split - set in Hawaii

I'm sad I only have two more books in this series to be caught up with Josi's published books. I think I read somewhere that there will be a few more books in the series... but I will have to wait for each one to come out, I guess. :(

I think Banana Split was my favorite in the series so far. The murder was less about a body and more about a person. The emotions were deeper. And I was seriously surprised by "whodunit."

I enjoyed them both. I am resisting buying the last two for a bit. Partly because I need to read some books I already have and also to help make the enjoyment of the series last longer.

Murder mystery clean... no swearing, no graphic scenes... but they are murder mysteries and can have some creepiness and all that goes on with that kind of thing.

Blackberry Crumble (Josi S. Kilpack)

Why I have this book: Because I read these culinary mysteries of Josi's. (I've read enough of them now that I can call her by her first name.)

These are my favorite escape books of late. I just enjoy them.

I'm not sure I'll hold off on getting the next one very long. I'm calling them MY spring break. (Everyone else around here is having fun... why not me?)

Clean, other than the murder mystery stuff. This one does deal with cancer, as well.)

Between Two Worlds: My Life and Captivity in Iran (Roxana Saberi)

Why I have this book: It was another loan from the e-book library. (They all seem to come up at one time after being on hold for weeks or longer.)

To be honest, after reading this book, I'm afraid to put down my thoughts about Iran. (The author was monitored, followed, arrested, etc. while living in Iran.)

In addition to telling the story of her captivity, I think she did a beautiful job of portraying the Iranian citizens and their culture with the respect and love she feels for them.

Life in prison is described, but nothing graphic.  There may have been one or two mild swear words.

Tears of the Desert: A Memoir of Survival in Darfur (Halima Bashir)

Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the e-book library.

We hear news reports about what is happening around the world... but it's not often we really understand or internalize the reality of it.

This book is about the Sudanese genocide. It is beautifully written, educational, and heartbreaking. Such horrific things happen in our world... and most of us have no idea, or we only have a surface knowledge. Maybe that's all we want to know, because we can't fix it.

These news stories are people. They have lives... lives that were normal and everyday, just like ours... until everything changes.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to open their heart to the plight of our brothers and sisters in the world.

This book describes the horrors of the Sudanese war, including crimes against women and children. Female circumcision is also discussed.

Perfect Brightness of Hope (Phil Simkins)

Why I have this book: I've seen it around and it looked interesting. I waited until it was available on Kindle, then I bought it.

This is written by an LDS alcoholic. He was a respected and admired professional seminary teacher early in his adult life, a husband and father... and he lost it all and more as his alcoholism and other addictions began to control his life.

I found his story compelling and heartwrenching. Anyone with a desire for compassion and understanding should read it.

Clean... although, it IS a book about addiction and all the consequences it brings.

Two books by Jen Stephens

The Heart's Journey Home
The Heart's Lullaby

Why I have these books: They were "almost" freebies on inspiredreads.com. I actually cleaned out all the books I had bought, but had not read yet. I deleted the ones that looked like they would be "good", but not "better" or "best." These two, because I had paid for them, I kept.

I kind of liked them. For the most part, the story lines were good, the writing was okay. I liked how she did a contest, where readers could submit a person in their lives they wanted to honor, and the author created a character in the book who represented that person and his/her strengths. That was a neat idea, I thought.

The things I didn't like: Some parts seemed very unrealistic... coincidences that most likely would not happen in real life.

The author repeated themes over and over... for instance, characters would talk to themselves aloud, and someone would always walk in and catch the end of what they were saying. In the second book, this always made the one talking to herself get all put out. So... maybe don't talk aloud to yourself? I don't know. It became a bit tedious.

And repeated phrases... like, "She curled her lips into a smile." "He curled his lips into a smile." "Her lips curled into a smile." More than a few times.

I am a bit fascinated by the ease in which the characters discuss their Christian faith. I really have never known anyone who so openly discusses their faith all the time. I remember one person (I think it was the lady who did my nails back when I was in high school) who was like that. Frankly, it made me uncomfortable back then. I don't know... I know a lot of people of faith. Most wear it a bit more close to their hearts than the characters in this book. I'm not really sure what I think about it.

I don't think I would read these books again. If they were in print version, I'd probably donate them to the library.

Clean, but the stories include a child born out of wedlock, rape (minimally described), war, and the loss of loved ones to death.

The Light Between Oceans (M.L. Stedman)

Why I have this book: It's our book club book this month. I bought it for my Kindle.

I liked this book very much. (It is always so nice to read books that are not just "fluff" books. Hence my previous post with my decision to dispense of books that are just "good" and stick to books that are "better" and "best.") This book was deep and emotional and engrossing. I was able to get to know each character in depth, even many of the peripheral characters. Very well-written.

I highly recommend this book.

There is a handful of swearing, including one use of the "F-word" and some taking of the Lord's name as an exclamation of emotion. There is a suggestive, but not graphic, moment described with a married couple. (Really, just one sentence.)

Update on Inspired Reads and some deep thoughts... ;)

So the website with all the Christian freebies... inspiredreads.com... ?

When I first started using it, it had three free books every day, then about two "hot deals" offerings.

A few weeks ago, it started having two free books, and a few hot deals.

Today there is one free book. The rest are hot deals.

I don't know if it's going to keep having only one, but in some ways, I'm okay with that. I was kind of getting tired of the hit and miss of free Christian literature. Even if the book was enjoyable, there is still only so much "fluff" that I can read. I still have tons of those freebies on my Kindle, waiting to be read. So... it's okay that there's only one free book. Lately, I haven't really been downloading too many of them, anyway. I'm trying to be selective so that my time spent reading is worthwhile.

I'm reminded of a talk by Dallin H. Oaks. He says there are often choices we make between "good, better, and best." When it comes to books, I see it like this:

Good - It was fine, not damaging, light reading, no real impact on my life other than the time invested in reading. Books in this category often aren't really well-written.

Better - Still entertaining and enjoyable, but adds a benefit to my life. Brings a satisfying feeling of gratitude that the time spent reading it enriched my life in some way. It may be in a simple way - like it gave me a genuine chuckle, helped me learn a bit about history, etc. Books in this category are generally well-written, and often have a moral in addition to the entertainment factor.

Best - Stretches me, opens my eyes to the world around me. Improves me in some way, as in making me more grateful, more aware, more compassionate, etc. This type of reading is often the most difficult, but it is worth the effort.

I am probably going to go through the freebies I've downloaded (that haven't been read yet) and decide which probably will fit into the "good" category and delete them. I know it's hard to say in advance if they are "good" or "better", but I'm going to give it a good shot. There are so many books to read in this world... I'd rather spend my time in the "better" and "best" categories.

Have a New You by Friday (Dr. Kevin Leman)

Why I have this book: I would love to be a new me by Friday! I can't remember if this was a freebie or if I bought it (if I did, I'm sure it was cheap.)

I was a little surprised by the "plan" of becoming a "new me"... the author talks about birth order, personality, love languages. Stuff like that. Then you're supposed to take that information and sort of get an idea of why you are the way you are, and then take baby steps to change the things you want to change.

It sounds boring, but it was actually interesting to read and while I wouldn't say I fit into his birth order mold, I could find myself in some of the things he said. Over all, I liked the book.

I'd probably pass it along to the library or to a friend if it was a print book. I did make some highlights and took some notes, but I probably wouldn't read it again unless I was specifically looking up something.

Clean. There are a few references to physical intimacy.

Drops of Gold (Sarah M. Eden)

Why I have this book: I saw it while browsing the LDS section of Amazon. It was inexpensive, so I bought it.

It was pretty good. It had the same sort of plot line as old Harlequin Romances... predictable conflict, secrets to be revealed, everything works out in the end, etc. It was well-written, and there was enough depth in at least one of the conflicts to keep it from being too shallow, but really, it was a simple and predictable romance.

If it was a printed book, I'd probably pass it on to friends.

Clean.

Until Forever (Darlene Shortridge)

Why I have this book: It was a freebie.

Gaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Ugh, SO glad this one is done. Honestly, I checked my progress at 76% percent of the book (on my Kindle) and was just ready to run outside and scream that I still had to read 24%.

I did have one quote that I really liked from this book: "God wants our firsts, not our leftovers." I really liked that thought. In other words, our time spent in study and worship and tithe and so on should be our first priority... not just if/when we have time or money or whatever.

But other than that, I really wanted to put the book down and go running and screaming. That's all I'm going to say. Ugh, ugh, ugh from both a literary standpoint and the over-the-top religious tone. (I'm a Christian and love books that promote faith... but this was too much for me.)

That's all. I won't even keep it on my Kindle.

Clean.

The Well Lived Laugh (Rachel St. John-Gilbert)

The Well Lived Laugh: Designing a Life That Keeps You Smiling is the complete title of this book.

Why I have this book: It was another freebie from inspiredreads.com. (Btw, they seem to be only offering two free books a day now. And since I'm still being picky, I'm going days in between finding a book I want to download. Still, it's worth checking out!)

I liked this book. I get the impression the author is maybe a Christian motivational speaker... ? In any case, she has a cute sense of humor and I enjoyed her words. I could relate to her musings and agreed with a lot of her points. The premise is examining so many of the expectations we and/or society put on women (and men) and making the choice to let go of the things that cause pressure and stress so we are free to enjoy life more.

I highlighted quite a few words in this book and it's a keeper for me!

Clean.

Key Lime Pie (Josi S. Kilpack)

Why I have this book: Because I still love this series.

What can I say? I've been eyeing the next book in the series, trying to decide if I can justify buying it now or not...

I can't believe I waited so long to read these books. I've never been a big mystery/suspense fan, but I am hooked on Josi's Culinary Mysteries.  :)

Interesting tidbit: Did you know you can spell "eyeing" either as "eyeing" or as "eying"...?   Did you know that spell check underlines it when you spell it "eyeing" and not when you spell it "eying"...?

I think "eyeing" looks better.

Anyway, Key Lime Pie is definitely another keeper. I don't think I'll wait too long to read the next one.

Clean.

Be Still - Using Principles of the Gospel to Lower Anxiety (G. Sheldon Martin)

Why I have this book: I saw it while browsing either on Amazon or in a bookstore catalog... can't remember exactly. It looked good, so I bought it.

I'm not sure the book lives up to it's title. Don't get me wrong... I really liked the book and thought it had some great counsel about handling life's challenges and the way we see them. First, it didn't deal with anxiety, as in the mental health type of anxiety. I would say it deals more with stress, or even with what I would call just negative thinking, or even just feeling overwhelmed. I'm sure the ideas presented would be helpful for those dealing with real anxiety, too, but it didn't go that deep.

Still, the book was good and I highlighted a lot of thoughts that I could certainly use in dealing with my own negative thinking. :)

If it was a real book, it would stay on my shelf.

Clean.

Six books going away...

I decided today to get rid of five books, but somehow I ended up with six. I just made a quick decision on this... hopefully I won't regret it later!

Paul Harvey's The Rest of the Story
More of Paul Harvey's The Rest of the Story - Compiled by Paul Harvey, Jr. (So interesting, but his stories are online, so I don't need the books. Also, these are two of my purchases from my 2001 Amazon list, so that counts for something!)

Going Rogue: An American Life - Sarah Palin (I bought this shortly after her run for VP. I never read it, and now I'm not that interested. It's probably very good, but her family has just had way too much exposure and that has made me less interested.)

What to Expect the Toddler Years - Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi E. Murkoff and Sandee E. Hathaway B.S.N.  (My youngest are past the toddler stage, so I don't need it anymore. I do love these books, though. I highly recommend them!)

The Activity Book - a bunch of activity ideas for youth leaders. (I don't think we've ever, ever used it, even when we've worked with the youth in our church.)

Whiter Than Snow - Sandra Dallas. (I said I was going to donate it to the library when I reviewed it a long time ago, and here it still sits.)

I love getting rid of stuff.

Stealing Jake (Pam Hillman)

Why I have this book: It was a freebie from a long time ago when I first opened my Kindle account.

This book took me several days to read, even though it was under 300 pages long. It wasn't difficult... it just wasn't compelling enough to keep picking it up.

Maybe it's just me, since the book won a Christian writer award. The reviews on Amazon made it sound amazing... but I just didn't feel it.

Clean.

Family Size (Maria Hoagland)

Why I have this book: I was browsing LDS fiction on Amazon and this one was there. I had read another book by the author (Nourish and Strengthen - reviewed earlier) and liked it, so I gave this one a try.

I liked it, too. As in her other book, the "feel" of the book is interesting. Again, it's like snippets of events, a day here or there, where it's like you're peeking into the world of the characters. I can't really describe it, but it just has a different feel to it than most other books I read. It's not a bad thing... just different.

This book focuses on three different women more in depth than the other characters in the book. They each are struggling with their own challenges. It's just like real life... we often don't know what people are going through. We only see what they are willing to show, and sometimes we see things that cause us to assume things that aren't true. There is a good message about not judging.

The one oddity to me is the character of Elise. I still can't decide if I like her or not, but interestingly, we only see her at the surface. Maybe if we knew more about her life, it would be easier to like her. There are hints that she is a good person at heart, but she has a judgmental streak that overshadows her strengths, at least for me.  Anyway... she was a bigger character than most, but not as big as the three main characters, so... ?

It was also interesting to read the thoughts the women would have. The things they would think about themselves, about others... the labels, the expectations, the measuring sticks we use. Interesting to "see" those thoughts from the outside. Kind of sad, really, how women can think about other women and about ourselves.

This book also had some strong similarities to the book I just reviewed previously. Sometimes in my mind, I had to separate the two stories... they just had a few things that blurred together for me. (Maybe I shouldn't read two books so close together!)

Clean.

She Makes It Look Easy (Marybeth Whalen)

Why I have this book: It was a freebie from Inspired Reads.

I liked this book a lot. I thought the writing was smooth. It was easy to get absorbed into the setting and the characters. It was a 'thinker' book... not difficult to read, but it made me ponder and think about how we live our lives, how we relate to others, how we make assumptions, and how we never really know what is going on in others' lives.

I was sorry to get to the last page of this book. It left me feeling not really satisfied, and kind of sad, in a way... but I'm glad I read it. (There is no tragic surprises... the sadness is more in relation to the choices people make.)

This is a Christian book, but it does cover the topic of adultery. There is no swearing.

The Company of Good Women Series (Nancy Anderson, Lael Littke, Carroll Hofeling Morris)

Three books:
Almost Sisters
Three Tickets to Peoria
Surprise Packages

Why I have these books: When I downloaded the DB Bookshelf app, I did some browsing and found the first in this series. I remembered that a friend had read it years ago and liked it, so I gave it a try on the DB app. After that, I had to read the next two. (I downloaded the next two to my Kindle, though!)

I really, really loved these books. They begin in 1980 and end in 2005. Three women meet at Education Week in 1980 and then share the next 25 years of their lives through mail, phone calls, e-mail, and occasional visits. The books chronicle their experiences and the things they learn from life lessons. I found so much of it touching and pertinent, and I could relate to many of the feelings they had through those years.

My only two complaints:

1) I wish Gabby had more of a voice. As often as she is credited with wisdom and comfort for the three ladies, she really should have been more of a consistent character. She obviously had complex challenges, as well, but they just aren't covered much. I feel like the way her character was handled didn't support the idea of her influence on the other three characters... or at least, that was my perception of it.

2) There are sooooooo many peripheral characters that come into the story over the years. Obviously, that's what happens as our children grow and our worlds expand, but it was really hard for me to keep track by the time I got into the third book. I'd have to stop and think, "Wait, who is that again? How does that person fit into the story?" Anyway, if you read this, you might want to keep a notebook and jot down those characters and how exactly they relate to the main characters. (Or maybe it's just me...)

In three books, there was one sentence where I went, "Huh? That should have been edited." Not bad for about 1200 pages of writing!

So glad I read these books. I really recommend them for readers who are in mid-life. There is just more to relate to if you've been through the years of experience these books cover. I think they would make good book club books... you could easily read all three in one month. (They are LDS fiction, so obviously would work best in book clubs made up of LDS women.)

Clean. Some challenging life experiences are discussed, including same-sex attraction, death, out of wedlock pregnancy, drug addiction, etc.

Addendum #2 (Kindle vs DB Bookshelf)

This one goes to the Deseret Book Bookshelf. You can buy books directly from the app. With Kindle, you can buy from your Kindle Device, but not from the Kindle app for iPods, iPads, etc. That's too bad. I think it would be advantageous to Amazon to have that option, but whatever! It's not like they are hurting in the sales department. :)

Addendum to Kindle vs Deseret Book App

So, as I've continued to read the book on my Deseret Book Bookshelf app, I have two more points to make.

1) You can change the DB app to work either in a scroll or in a page format. That made me excited... until I tried the "page" option. The "turning" of the page was sooooooo slow. I ended up going back to the scroll method.

2) I made a "note" next to one highlight. It was so easy and I loved the little "sticky note" it left near the note. It made me curious about how that works on the Kindle app. I've made a note or two on my actual Kindle device before, and it's not super slick since you have to use the keyboard. Anyway, on the Kindle app, it's just like the DB app. You use the touch keyboard, and it leaves a little "note" on the spot. Not as cute as the DB little yellow sticky, but just as slick. So I'd call that a tie.

I'm still convinced the Kindle/Kindle app is the better of the two options, and since Amazon appears to sell any e-book that Deseret Book sells, the choice is obvious for me.

Kindle vs Deseret Book Bookshelf

I downloaded the Deseret Book Bookshelf e-reader app on my iPod yesterday. The reason I did this was because... um... I don't remember. I think I had a specific reason, but now I can't think what it was.  :/

So here's what I've discovered in using the Deseret Book app:

Some books are actually less expensive on the DB app. Not by much... usually only about fifty cents. However, there was one book that was a whole $4 cheaper on DB!!! Seriously? I left a message on Amazon about the price difference. (They have a link specifically for that purpose!) I'm going to leave messages on all the books I find that are cheaper. Maybe Amazon will lower their prices to match Deseret Books e-book prices.

On the other hand, sometimes Amazon is less expensive. It probably all comes out in the wash.

To be honest, that's the only thing positive I can say about the DB app/ebook system. Here's where Kindle wins:

1) Amazon has amazing customer service. If you download a book and you change your mind, decide it's not what you wanted, find issues with the content, etc., Kindle will refund your money if you contact them within a certain amount of time. In other words, you can "return" the e-book. Deseret Book does not offer this service.

2) You have to be able to hook to WiFi or 3g to use the DB app. I was in a long, long line today at a store, and I thought, "Hey, no problem! I'll just read that book I bought last night!" Nope. Couldn't get into my account without signing in. Can't sign in without a connection.

On Kindle, once you download the book, you can read it whether or not you have a connection. You can't move books from your "cloud" to your device without a connection, but once it's on your device, you can read it anytime.

3) On Kindle, you turn the page. Well, you turn it by touch or you push a button and it turns. On the DB app, at least on the couple of books I glanced through and on the one book I'm actually reading, you scroll downward through the chapter. It's just not as comfortable. It's harder to get absorbed, because it feels like you're reading an article on the news instead of a book. And with a screen as small as an iPod screen, you have to scroll a lot. It's hard to keep your eye on the sentence you're reading. Bah!

4) If you buy an e-book from Amazon, you can read it on your Kindle or on another device, such as your iPod, iPad, Android, etc. with the Kindle app. It's nice to have options. If you buy an e-book from DB, it can't go on your Kindle. And again, if you don't have a connection for your device, you can't read your book on the DB app.

So... even if the Kindle price is slightly higher than the DB e-book price, in my opinion, it's worth what you get in return. I luckily have only purchased one book from DB (I did get some free books just for downloading the app), and I won't purchase any others. I would just rather have them on my Kindle and Kindle app.

Five cookbooks that are outta here!

To be honest, the cookbooks aren't on my bookshelf, and they aren't technically books I "read." But I got an inkling today to just get rid of some.

So after going through some of them and thinking of how seldom (never) I use them, I'm getting rid of these cookbooks:

The Mormon Diet: 14 Days to Vigor and Health (Earl F. Updike)
Utah Valley Favorites  (from our church congregation way back when we had a young family.)
The Diet Solution: Weight Loss, Wellness, and The Word of Wisdom (Peggy J. Hughes)
Healthy Foods (Leanne Ely)
The Frantic Family Cookbook (Leanne Ely)

With all the internet recipe sites, are cookbooks going to be a thing of the past???

Even though these don't affect my bookshelf space, it does clear a little room off one of my pantry shelves.

Clean. Of course.

Letters of a Woman Homesteader (Elinore Pruitt Stewart)

Why I have this book: I can't remember where I read about it, but I think it was on a discussion online and I decided to download it to my Kindle. I have the free version... I notice on Amazon there are ebook versions that cost money, and several versions in print. Not sure if there is any difference in the editions, but the one I have (which is still free) is the Kindle Edition one with the plain yellow cover.

I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of letters written by Elinore Stewart to an old friend. She tells stories of life as a Wyoming homesteader in the early 1900's in such a delightful and interesting way. The book is short... just under 100 pages and a quick read. If you like pioneer/settler stories, you'll really enjoy this book.

Clean. The "N" word is used a handful of times... not in a derogatory way, so much. It was more just a reflection of the times. (Still a bit uncomfortable to read!)

Beyond the Storm (Carolyn Zane)

Why I have this book: It was a freebie.

This book is part of the Quilts of Love Series. I haven't read any of the other books in the series, and I'm not sure how or if they overlap with each other.

I liked this book. It had more depth than a lot of Christian fiction, and the religious tone wasn't too over the top, even though it definitely shared the gospel. The "storm" mentioned in the title is a tornado... an EF5 tornado. This is the level of force that hit Joplin, Missouri a couple of years ago. Reading about the destruction and devastation made it easier to imagine what it must have been like, although I know nothing could prepare one for actually going through that.

Overall, I thought this book was a worthwhile read. I would probably donate it to the library if it was the printed version.

Clean. Two of the characters are a young couple who "had" to get married, and the husband contemplates cheating. There are also descriptions of death after the tornado, but nothing graphic.

Three Kindle books deleted...

The Words with Friends Word Engineer (William Spaniel)

The Books of Rachel (Joel Gross)

The Lives of Rachel (Joel Gross)


The WWF one I bought when I first started playing Words with Friends. I thought it would be good to learn some words that would come in handy. I want to be clear: I never cheated with this book! I think there was a way to put what letters you have in the program and it would help you find words. I never did that. The list of words (two letters, three letters, etc) was complicated to get through... so really, I read through part of it once, and have never opened it again. So why keep it? 

The "Rachel" books were recommended to me. I think they really have the potential to be good books, but as it was, I only could read the first handful of chapters in one of them (can't remember which one), and I had to put it down. Such vulgarity... the worst of the words, yucky sexual content. It's just not for me. I think I would have enjoyed the storyline if I could have edited out the yuck. Disappointing. (And the author's last name being "Gross" seems fitting in this case.)

So... three books leaving my Kindle bookshelf. :)

Legwork (Roland Smith)

Why I have this book: A friend told me about it. It's only available as an ebook.

My son loves Roland Smith, so when my friend told me about this book, I quickly bought it. I figured at 88 pages long, it would be a good way to introduce my son to the Kindle way of reading.

I read it this morning and I loved it! Oh, there were a few typos (commas in random places, etc), but the story was exciting and intense. I even went to Roland Smith's website to see if he was going to continue this story with a series. He easily could. (I can't see that he has plans to as of yet.)

This was a story he wrote back in 1996, if I remember right. He dug it up again and updated it a bit, then republished it himself as an ebook only. He talks about it on his website, along with his conversion to Kindle reading. (www.rolandsmith.com)

I can't wait for my son to get home so I can hand him my Kindle and tell him, "Read!" (Thank goodness I have my Kindle app on my iPod. I won't have to stop reading while he uses my Kindle. Ha!) I know he'll love this little book as much as I did. If it was a book in print, it would be a definite keeper on our bookshelf.

Clean.

In Need of a Good Wife (Kelly O'Connor McNees)

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

Soooo... I'm conflicted on this one. On the one hand, I enjoyed the book. It had an easy flow to it, and after the first few chapters (I messaged a friend to ask if it was going to get better), I did get into it.

The first chapters were all over the place... confusing and hard to sort through. After that, things narrowed down and became easier to follow. The story lines all had the potential to be very interesting, but the author seemed to mostly skim the surface of what was happening. Only one story line got deeper than that, and it became my favorite one.

I was bothered by the lack of morals that never seemed to be addressed (such as an upstanding man visiting a brothel and there not really being any kind of disgrace about it as far as I could tell. Not really the case back in the pioneer times... right?) Relationships weren't developed very deeply, except in the case of the story line I mentioned above. I don't know... so much potential, but it really didn't cinch it for me.

Somewhat enjoyable, but not something I would keep if it was in print form. 

Not quite clean. There were some immoral situations that were thrown in there with no moral context (although not graphic), and a handful of swear words. A few scenes almost seemed religious in tone, as if it was a Christian historical fiction book. Strange contradiction.

Becoming Fearless: My Ongoing Journey of Learning to Trust God (Michelle Aguilar)

Why I have this book: It was a freebie.

Michelle Aguilar was the winner of Season Six of The Biggest Loser. I think I watched part of that season, so her story was somewhat familiar to me, but not enough for me to even know she had won.

This book was interesting. It seemed more like a way for her to get out on paper her experiences for her own benefit more than anything. I admire her for her commitment to God and her desires to live a life devoted to Him. I admire what she has accomplished in her physical goals.

All in all, the book was a decent read, but I wouldn't keep it if it was a printed book. I would donate it to the library.

Clean, as far as I remember. Possibly a swear word or two?

Band of Sisters: Coming Home (Annette Lyon)

Why I have this book: I saw it and I bought it. Haha. It is a sequel to Band of Sisters (which I reviewed earlier. Click on "B" on the right and you can find my review there.)

I remember that I said in my review of Band of Sisters that I probably wouldn't read it again, because it was sad. Apparently, I lied. I had to read it again so I could remember each character and their story prior to reading this sequel.

I enjoyed the first one just as much the second time and it wasn't as sad because I knew what was coming. I mean, the story definitely had some sad parts, but I was braced for them...

Anyway, I liked this book, as well. The ending seemed a little too sweet in moments, but overall, another good read. The writing is such that you can really understand the characters' emotions and personalities.

*I need to get a job as an editor. I don't know if the printed books have the same editing issues, but both of the these books on Kindle have a couple of mistakes that need to be cleaned up.*

All in all, a great set of books. I do recommend both of them, and you for sure want to read them in order.

Clean.

Nourish and Strengthen (Maria Hoagland)

Why I have this book: I received it free. (Long story... it came through an LDS email group.) It's available though Amazon, and is inexpensive as an e-book. ($2.99 at the time I'm writing this.)

So, this book was interesting to read. It didn't have the feel of other books... it was like there wasn't really a typical plot line, per se. (conflict/climax/resolution.) It felt like I was just seeing glimpses of the characters' lives, scene by scene.

Having said that... I really enjoyed the book. It felt like being with a group of friends - on their walks with them, having the conversation with them, etc. It was easy to get absorbed into the story. I could relate to so many of the emotions of the main character... the emotions that come along with being a mom and wife and an LDS woman.

Most of the focus of the book was dealing with Type I Diabetes, and I learned some new things about that medical condition. 

If it was a "real" book, I'd keep it on my shelf.

Clean.