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.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Thursday, February 7, 2013
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. :)
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.
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.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
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.
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?
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?
Sunday, February 3, 2013
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.
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.
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.
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