Mother Had a Secret (Tiffany Fletcher)

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

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

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

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

Band of Sisters (Annette Lyon)

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

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

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

Clean.

Where Willows Grow (Kim Vogel Sawyer)

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

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

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

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

Perfectly clean.

A Thread So Thin (Marie Bostwick)

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

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

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

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

This edited version was clean.

The Nine Lessons (Kevin Alan Milne)

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

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

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

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

Silks (Dick Francis and Felix Francis)

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

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

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

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

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

My Ridiculous, Romantic Obsessions (Becca White)

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

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

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

Absolutely clean.