Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the Deseret Bookshelf Plus (DBS+ from now on). I actually borrowed the audio version, and I'm really glad I did. It is read by the author, and his voice is sincere and calming.
I gave this book 5 stars on Goodreads because I think it's a very important message for all members of the LDS Church and for members of other religions, as well. I think it's also important for members of the LGBTQ community. I love the way the author is able to represent his religious beliefs AND his life experiences as a gay man. I love what I learned from his parents. I love the importance of family in his life and how his parents and brothers and their families embraced him and his partner. It's a beautiful example of how family should be.
Clean.
Sunday, February 25, 2018
Friday, February 23, 2018
Before the Dawn (Carol Warburton)
Why I have this book: I had put it on my Amazon Wish List years and years ago, waiting for the price to drop. I'm pretty sure it was just a suggestion Amazon gave me one day. Anyway, when I joined the Deseret Bookshelf Plus, it was one of the free ebooks available to read, so I downloaded it.
It was okay. I gave it two stars on Goodreads. It felt very simplistic and somewhat predictable. It's like the kind of book a young teenager would love, even though it's about adults and is likely geared towards adults. It was good enough that I finished it, but I'm glad I didn't spend any money on it.
I found out that the author also wrote a book called Petticoat Spy, which I started and never finished a last year. There is one book of hers that has four stars on Goodreads, so maybe I'll try that one...
Clean. There is a situation or two of attempted sexual assault, but it's not described with much detail.
It was okay. I gave it two stars on Goodreads. It felt very simplistic and somewhat predictable. It's like the kind of book a young teenager would love, even though it's about adults and is likely geared towards adults. It was good enough that I finished it, but I'm glad I didn't spend any money on it.
I found out that the author also wrote a book called Petticoat Spy, which I started and never finished a last year. There is one book of hers that has four stars on Goodreads, so maybe I'll try that one...
Clean. There is a situation or two of attempted sexual assault, but it's not described with much detail.
Sunday, February 18, 2018
The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill (Julie Klassen)
Why I have this book: It was recommended to me because I've enjoyed other books by this author. It was also on sale at the time, but I actually found it on the ebook library, so I checked it out instead of buying it.
I enjoyed this book. I gave it 3 stars on Goodreads, because it neatly fell into the "like" category. It was just kind of a soothing, easy read. It kept my interest and was a nice way to lose myself in a book over the last few days. I have the next book in the series on hold and look forward to reading it, but it's not like I can't wait, if that makes sense.
Clean.
I enjoyed this book. I gave it 3 stars on Goodreads, because it neatly fell into the "like" category. It was just kind of a soothing, easy read. It kept my interest and was a nice way to lose myself in a book over the last few days. I have the next book in the series on hold and look forward to reading it, but it's not like I can't wait, if that makes sense.
Clean.
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
Any Dream Will Do (Debbie Macomber)
Why I have this book: A friend recommended it, so I borrowed it from the ebook library.
Meh. It was okay. I mean, it kept my interest, but I didn't find the characters to be very endearing or the story to be very deep. I think the storyline had potential, but I just didn't find it very believable the way it was written. I just didn't "feel" it.
Clean. There may have been a few mild swear words. There is a small amount of "domestic" type violence.
Meh. It was okay. I mean, it kept my interest, but I didn't find the characters to be very endearing or the story to be very deep. I think the storyline had potential, but I just didn't find it very believable the way it was written. I just didn't "feel" it.
Clean. There may have been a few mild swear words. There is a small amount of "domestic" type violence.
Saturday, February 10, 2018
Lies Jane Austen Told Me (Julie Wright)
Why I have this book: I bought it for Kindle with a Christmas Amazon gift card.
I really enjoyed this book! (I gave it 4 stars on Goodreads.) Very cute, happy, funny, and sweet... but still engaging enough to not be just a mindless, light read. I've gotten to where I don't want to spend money on books because I can borrow them, but this one wasn't available to borrow, so I splurged. I don't regret it.
It's written by an LDS author, but there isn't any religious slant to the story.
Clean.
I really enjoyed this book! (I gave it 4 stars on Goodreads.) Very cute, happy, funny, and sweet... but still engaging enough to not be just a mindless, light read. I've gotten to where I don't want to spend money on books because I can borrow them, but this one wasn't available to borrow, so I splurged. I don't regret it.
It's written by an LDS author, but there isn't any religious slant to the story.
Clean.
Thursday, February 8, 2018
Lady in Waiting (Susan Meissner)
Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the ebook library.
I really liked this book (gave it 4 stars on Goodreads) that was partly about a modern-day wife and partly about a young noblewoman from the 16th century. The author mixed fact with fiction to tell the possible story of love for young Lady Jane Grey of England. I haven't read a lot about Tudor history, so it was interesting to learn a little about it. I actually want to read more now, so I think I'll look into some other books about this time period.
I don't recall any swearing in this book, and while the "marriage bed" was mentioned, there is no graphic sexuality.
I really liked this book (gave it 4 stars on Goodreads) that was partly about a modern-day wife and partly about a young noblewoman from the 16th century. The author mixed fact with fiction to tell the possible story of love for young Lady Jane Grey of England. I haven't read a lot about Tudor history, so it was interesting to learn a little about it. I actually want to read more now, so I think I'll look into some other books about this time period.
I don't recall any swearing in this book, and while the "marriage bed" was mentioned, there is no graphic sexuality.
Monday, February 5, 2018
Jubilee Trail (Gwen Bristow)
Why I have this book: I read the print edition back in 2008 as part of a book club, but when the Kindle edition was available for $1.99, I bought that version so I could get rid of the paperback. (Trying to keep my bookshelves under control.)
I remember liking the book when I first read it, but not as much as some other "pioneer" type books. This time around I feel the same way. It's interesting because I did not remember a lot of this book. The one scene I thought I remembered never happened, so that's kinda weird (or a testament to my age).
***ETA: I just found an email where I wrote to a friend about it. This is what I said, "I just finished Jubilee Trail. It took quite a while to get ultra hooked, but once I was... well, I fell asleep in the tub a couple of times while reading, because I just didn't want to stop, but it was late!" So maybe I liked it even more than I remember...
You can tell this book was written in the 1950's. The dialog is evidence of that: "Why, yes, John. That's exactly what happened." That's not an exact quote from the book, but I can't even begin to estimate how often a sentence started with "why" in that way. The way she wrote about Native American "Diggers" was completely unacceptable by today's standards.
All in all, the book kept my interest and could have been awesome with a little more depth of character and better dialog. It's also very long (560'ish pages) and it probably could have been at least a hundred pages shorter.
There are a couple of handfuls of "mild" swear words. The book includes prostitution and murder, but it's all very "wild west" in nature. Nothing descriptive or sensationalized.
I remember liking the book when I first read it, but not as much as some other "pioneer" type books. This time around I feel the same way. It's interesting because I did not remember a lot of this book. The one scene I thought I remembered never happened, so that's kinda weird (or a testament to my age).
***ETA: I just found an email where I wrote to a friend about it. This is what I said, "I just finished Jubilee Trail. It took quite a while to get ultra hooked, but once I was... well, I fell asleep in the tub a couple of times while reading, because I just didn't want to stop, but it was late!" So maybe I liked it even more than I remember...
You can tell this book was written in the 1950's. The dialog is evidence of that: "Why, yes, John. That's exactly what happened." That's not an exact quote from the book, but I can't even begin to estimate how often a sentence started with "why" in that way. The way she wrote about Native American "Diggers" was completely unacceptable by today's standards.
All in all, the book kept my interest and could have been awesome with a little more depth of character and better dialog. It's also very long (560'ish pages) and it probably could have been at least a hundred pages shorter.
There are a couple of handfuls of "mild" swear words. The book includes prostitution and murder, but it's all very "wild west" in nature. Nothing descriptive or sensationalized.
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