Why I have this book: I saw it and I bought it. Haha! (On my Kindle, of course!)
This is a book about understanding what it means to have a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I thought parts were slow, but overall, it was a worthwhile read. Definitely a good one to have on hand if you have youth or others in your life who wonder how to, well, know if they "know." And to let them know it's okay to not "know," but maybe it's enough to believe… or even to want to believe. It's okay to have questions, and it's good to know how to listen for God's answers and direction.
I thought the best part was the last part of the book, but maybe different people would feel connected to different chapters in the book. I think maybe it depends on how one's mind works or what affects one's testimony the most.
I'm glad I read it and would recommend it to others.
Clean.
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Saturday, October 25, 2014
The Husband Maker (Karey White)
Why I have this book: I think after I read another of this author's books (My Own Mr. Darcy), I looked her up on Amazon to see what else she had written. This book was pretty inexpensive, so I bought it quite a few weeks (months?) ago.
I read it this weekend and really, really liked it. Maybe even loved it. I knew there was a second book in the series (possibly going to be a trilogy?), so when I finished this one, I went to Amazon to buy it so I could get started right away. Too bad it's not going to be released until November 1st! I pre-ordered it and will try to wait patiently until next week when it will be delivered to my Kindle. :)
It's a bummer that the third book probably won't be out for quite a while if the second one is barely coming out. Oh, well… something to look forward to!
There were a few editing issues, but nothing big. It was a nice, smooth read with a great storyline, nice character development, and a bit of a different format than you typically see in a romance novel. I'm still stumped as to what is going to happen in the next book.
I am really liking this author. I still have another of her books on my Kindle (unrelated to this series), so I'm happy about that.
Clean.
I read it this weekend and really, really liked it. Maybe even loved it. I knew there was a second book in the series (possibly going to be a trilogy?), so when I finished this one, I went to Amazon to buy it so I could get started right away. Too bad it's not going to be released until November 1st! I pre-ordered it and will try to wait patiently until next week when it will be delivered to my Kindle. :)
It's a bummer that the third book probably won't be out for quite a while if the second one is barely coming out. Oh, well… something to look forward to!
There were a few editing issues, but nothing big. It was a nice, smooth read with a great storyline, nice character development, and a bit of a different format than you typically see in a romance novel. I'm still stumped as to what is going to happen in the next book.
I am really liking this author. I still have another of her books on my Kindle (unrelated to this series), so I'm happy about that.
Clean.
Friday, October 24, 2014
My Name Used to Be Muhammed: The True Story of a Muslim Who Became a Christian (Tito Momen with Jeff Benedict)
Why I have this book: I wanted to read it after hearing about it from several sources, so I bought the Kindle version for my husband for Christmas when I also gave him his first Kindle. :)
I actually had bought it on the DB app first, but I just couldn't stand the idea of reading it there once I had tried the app a bit more. Giving it to my husband on the Kindle was the perfect excuse to read it on MY Kindle, too, since we use my Amazon account.
This book was great. I mean, it has it's difficult moments, but it's inspiring and interesting. I'd say the author is very brave to share his life story, considering the danger in converting from Islam to Christianity. His memoir reminded me that we need to be careful to not take for granted our religious freedom, and also to cherish our Christian faith. I love that he is a member of the LDS Church and is matter of fact about the Church being a Christian church, and it's members being Christians.
This book discusses domestic abuse, sexual sin, conditions of prison (including homosexuality between prisoners), religious abuse, and other difficulties he dealt with. None of it is graphically described.
I actually had bought it on the DB app first, but I just couldn't stand the idea of reading it there once I had tried the app a bit more. Giving it to my husband on the Kindle was the perfect excuse to read it on MY Kindle, too, since we use my Amazon account.
This book was great. I mean, it has it's difficult moments, but it's inspiring and interesting. I'd say the author is very brave to share his life story, considering the danger in converting from Islam to Christianity. His memoir reminded me that we need to be careful to not take for granted our religious freedom, and also to cherish our Christian faith. I love that he is a member of the LDS Church and is matter of fact about the Church being a Christian church, and it's members being Christians.
This book discusses domestic abuse, sexual sin, conditions of prison (including homosexuality between prisoners), religious abuse, and other difficulties he dealt with. None of it is graphically described.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Rock Solid Relationships (Wendy Watson Nelson)
Why I have this book: I think it was recommended in another book I read…
The premise of this book is that we need to use the word of God to build our relationships upon the Rock of our Redeemer. (Hence… ROCK Solid Relationships.) Meaning, if we are following the Savior and His teachings, and studying the scriptures, we can find answers to the problems in our relationships with others. Not just answers that we read, but things to do and actions to take to change the way we see situations and choose to handle them.
The author takes scriptures and uses them to make the reader think of things to do to heal and strengthen relationships. I found a lot of it to be really helpful and thought-provoking. There were a couple of ideas that felt a little out of my comfort zone, but in general, there was a lot of good advice.
The author was a professor of marriage and family therapy for 25 years and is now married to an apostle - Elder Russell M. Nelson - of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
The formatting in this Kindle version is pretty wacky throughout. Not every page or every sentence, but there were quite a few instancesofthesentenceorpartofthesentencelookinglikethis.
Clean.
The premise of this book is that we need to use the word of God to build our relationships upon the Rock of our Redeemer. (Hence… ROCK Solid Relationships.) Meaning, if we are following the Savior and His teachings, and studying the scriptures, we can find answers to the problems in our relationships with others. Not just answers that we read, but things to do and actions to take to change the way we see situations and choose to handle them.
The author takes scriptures and uses them to make the reader think of things to do to heal and strengthen relationships. I found a lot of it to be really helpful and thought-provoking. There were a couple of ideas that felt a little out of my comfort zone, but in general, there was a lot of good advice.
The author was a professor of marriage and family therapy for 25 years and is now married to an apostle - Elder Russell M. Nelson - of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
The formatting in this Kindle version is pretty wacky throughout. Not every page or every sentence, but there were quite a few instancesofthesentenceorpartofthesentencelookinglikethis.
Clean.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Habits of Happiness (Wendy Ulrich)
Why I have this book: It's on my Deseret Bookshelf app. I am trying to read through the books I put on there back when I thought it was an okay option. I think this one was probably on sale when I bought it. (I'm glad I only have three more books to read in this app. I don't know that I will continue to use it once I read the ones I already have.)
I liked this short (64 pages in the print edition) Time Out for Women talk. It had great suggestions for changing the way we look at things. Instead of focusing on what is hard, where we are weak, etc., we can look at things a bit differently and act a bit differently to completely change to a positive momentum. I know! Crazy!
I think that comes naturally to some and not as much to others. I liked the way she easily showed how a change of perspective can totally change the way things look. Good, quick read!
Clean.
I liked this short (64 pages in the print edition) Time Out for Women talk. It had great suggestions for changing the way we look at things. Instead of focusing on what is hard, where we are weak, etc., we can look at things a bit differently and act a bit differently to completely change to a positive momentum. I know! Crazy!
I think that comes naturally to some and not as much to others. I liked the way she easily showed how a change of perspective can totally change the way things look. Good, quick read!
Clean.
Monday, October 13, 2014
Two books by Carla Kelly
Borrowed Light
Enduring Light
Why I have these books: My friend recommended them and they were pretty inexpensive for Kindle. I had also read another of the author's books earlier (My Loving Vigil Keeping) and had enjoyed it enough to know I would be happy to read more of her books.
I really liked Borrowed Light. It was one I would recommend to others, no doubt.
Enduring Light was also enjoyable… except it certainly went to a "romance" level that was surprising considering it was written for an LDS audience. The author typically writes romance, so…? Honestly, though, when I was reading it in the sense of it being an LDS fiction book, I was a bit uncomfortable with some of the conversations and things that happened… like how the guy liked to move her hand up higher on his thigh when they are just sitting there talking. Or how he told her he couldn't wait for her to measure from his crotch to his ankle when she was helping him with a suit. It was just… odd. I mean, odd for an LDS book. I'm not a prude (my mom would disagree!), but it just didn't fit in with the LDS genre, at least in my experience. I also was a bit perplexed at the laissez faire attitude about visiting brothels...
I would call the first book a historical LDS fiction book with adventure, personal spiritual growth, and some romance.
I would call the second book a romance book, heavy on the sexual overtones, with a little spiritual/religious motivation. Oh, and some adventure/bad guys.
Also, don't read the second book while you're eating dinner. There is a scene in there where the "food" they cook and eat while out on the range will make it very difficult for you to swallow your meal. Seriously… it's super disgusting.
So… I definitely recommend the first one. I didn't hate the second one… just be aware that it's a different tone than the first and really pushes the envelope (in my opinion) on what is typical in an LDS romance book.
Clean, by worldly standards, although the second book is heavy (for an LDS book) on the sexual banter/discussions, all with a commitment between the characters of not having relations before marriage. Nothing is graphic... there are no descriptions, but you certainly know what is going on. There are also some difficult life events in the books, such as death and mental illness. There may have been a swear word or two…? I might be wrong on that, but it's possible.
Enduring Light
Why I have these books: My friend recommended them and they were pretty inexpensive for Kindle. I had also read another of the author's books earlier (My Loving Vigil Keeping) and had enjoyed it enough to know I would be happy to read more of her books.
I really liked Borrowed Light. It was one I would recommend to others, no doubt.
Enduring Light was also enjoyable… except it certainly went to a "romance" level that was surprising considering it was written for an LDS audience. The author typically writes romance, so…? Honestly, though, when I was reading it in the sense of it being an LDS fiction book, I was a bit uncomfortable with some of the conversations and things that happened… like how the guy liked to move her hand up higher on his thigh when they are just sitting there talking. Or how he told her he couldn't wait for her to measure from his crotch to his ankle when she was helping him with a suit. It was just… odd. I mean, odd for an LDS book. I'm not a prude (my mom would disagree!), but it just didn't fit in with the LDS genre, at least in my experience. I also was a bit perplexed at the laissez faire attitude about visiting brothels...
I would call the first book a historical LDS fiction book with adventure, personal spiritual growth, and some romance.
I would call the second book a romance book, heavy on the sexual overtones, with a little spiritual/religious motivation. Oh, and some adventure/bad guys.
Also, don't read the second book while you're eating dinner. There is a scene in there where the "food" they cook and eat while out on the range will make it very difficult for you to swallow your meal. Seriously… it's super disgusting.
So… I definitely recommend the first one. I didn't hate the second one… just be aware that it's a different tone than the first and really pushes the envelope (in my opinion) on what is typical in an LDS romance book.
Clean, by worldly standards, although the second book is heavy (for an LDS book) on the sexual banter/discussions, all with a commitment between the characters of not having relations before marriage. Nothing is graphic... there are no descriptions, but you certainly know what is going on. There are also some difficult life events in the books, such as death and mental illness. There may have been a swear word or two…? I might be wrong on that, but it's possible.
Friday, October 10, 2014
Intertwine (Nichole Van)
Why I have this book: Thankfully, I just borrowed it from Amazon when it was chosen as a substitute book club book after we decided not to read the original choice.
One of the gals in my book club is neighbors/friends with the author, so she suggested we read this quick, time-travel romance to support her friend as a first-time published author.
I, sadly, didn't love it. It was an extremely light read… really, no depth at all. I never could invest in any of the characters… I simply didn't care at all what happened to any of them.
The writing was fine if you like a book written in the style of most mommy-bloggers… kind of cutesy and witty and with lots of incomplete sentences to make a point of emphasis. Several of the women at book club did enjoy it, which is good for the author. Anyone brave enough to write a book deserves happy readers.
I guess it crossed my "light read" threshold and I just couldn't take it seriously at all. Maybe that was the intent?
Clean, with a little bit of the main characters having the hots for each other.
One of the gals in my book club is neighbors/friends with the author, so she suggested we read this quick, time-travel romance to support her friend as a first-time published author.
I, sadly, didn't love it. It was an extremely light read… really, no depth at all. I never could invest in any of the characters… I simply didn't care at all what happened to any of them.
The writing was fine if you like a book written in the style of most mommy-bloggers… kind of cutesy and witty and with lots of incomplete sentences to make a point of emphasis. Several of the women at book club did enjoy it, which is good for the author. Anyone brave enough to write a book deserves happy readers.
I guess it crossed my "light read" threshold and I just couldn't take it seriously at all. Maybe that was the intent?
Clean, with a little bit of the main characters having the hots for each other.
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