Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

Okay, so this book is just downright romantic!  I loved reading this romance.  It was clean and filled with high morale and made me want to work on my home relationships.

Marianne has lost her mother.  Her father seems to have taken off after her mom's death.  Her twin sister is away for the summer in Town.  Marianne prefers the country.  Marianne is heading to Edenbrooke to be with her sister as her sister tries to get the eldest son to ask her marry him.  Her sister gets everything she wants. 

Marianne is so excited to go.  Not only because it is in the country but to get away from her Grandmother's critical yet concerned view.

Even her trip to Edenbrooke is eventful.   There are many twists and turns that I was really quite surprised about.

If you love clean romance, you will love this book.  I enjoyed every moment and couldn't put it down.

It was great!

Here are some characters: 

Marianne--main character

Philip--man Marianne meets

Betsy—Marianne’s maid

Marianne’s Grandmother—wealthy, cranky Grandmother

Aunt Amelia—Marianne’s Aunt.  Lives with Marianne’s Grandmother

James—the coachman

Mr. Whittles—guy who is crazy about her and writes poems and who is very slobbery

Mr. Kellet (cousin, a bit of a player)

Highwayman

Lady Caroline—wealthy mother who Cecily is going to stay and attempt to court the oldest son who has the inheritance

Wyndhams—Lady Caroline’s family (the children's names in order Charles, Philip, William

Rachel—Married to William

Louisa—Lady Caroline’s daughter who becomes buddy, buddy with Cecilly

Charles—Philip’s brother

Cecily—Marianne’s sister

Mrs. Fairhurst—old bitty who tries to discourage Marianne

Miss Grace—sweet daughter of Mrs. Fairhurst

Mr. & Mrs. Clumpett—also visiting the Wyndhams

Meg—the horse

Mr. Beaufort—a young man who likes Marianne.  ( a suitor)

Beyond the Blackboard by Stacey Bess

"Beyond the Blackboard" is full of stories from teaching at the "School With No Name."  This is a school offered to homeless children in Salt Lake City, UT.  The author gives touching story after touching story of teaching, homelessness, love, family, poverty, and sometimes even miracles.  This book helps get a glimpse of this aspect of society that no one really wants to think about or talk about because it requires a look at the reality of real troubles in society.  It's a book that will probably come to one's mind even after the book is closed.

Uneasy Fortunes by Mandi Ellsworth

Pete has had a rough life.  He shows up at the Betteridge Ranch ready to work.  He is a hard worker but doesn’t say much. 

June has also had a rough life.  When Pete shows up she thinks of him as just another hired hand.  She is hard to get to know because her defenses are up and keeps to herself. 

Pete starts to quietly do things for June which seems to make her upset. 

This book has so much in it to captivate one’s attention.  There are so many parts to the story, so many twists in plot. 

I really enjoyed reading this book.  It was really fun.  There were parts that I found a tear escaping my eye without even realizing it at first.  This is one of those books I will probably read more than once. 

Winning Mr. Wrong by Marie Higgins

Cute, romantic, funny little story. This book is a really fun read. It was the kind of feel good reading that I often crave. It was a story about a girl named Charley. In High School, Charley had a crush on a boy from her High School.  His name is Max.  She is surprised to find out that he is now employed at the same place she is.  She reads an article on the internet about “10 Ways to Win Your Man.” She decides to try the ideas on Max. She has quite a bit of help from a neighbor who ends up being a big part of the story.

I loved every part of the book but, there were some parts of the book that I really smiled because the story is really fun.

I recommend this book for anyone wanting to read a “get away from life” book. It is a great book to read to get totally involved in a good story. I liked this book.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

This book was fun to read as I waited in line to see the Hunger Games at 3:15 am.  I had great seats to see the movie and the book kept me awake and totally thinking about the same type of society as The Hunger Games.  It is about a Dystopian Society just like the Hunger Games.

This society (a Dystopian Chicago) in this book is divided into 5 factions (it talks about this inside the cover.)

1. Candor (the honest)
2. Abnegation (the selfless)
3. Dauntless (the brave)
4. Amity (the peaceful)
5. Erudite (the intelligent)

Each year, all the sixteen year olds have to pick a faction.  They can either stay in their current faction or they can choose to change to another one.


Beatrice Prior is the main character and she has grown up in the Abnegation faction and the people around her are selfless.  She loves her family but has a big decision to make.


I really loved this book and noticed the next book in the series is going to be coming out in May.  I can't wait.  It is such a great book.  I couldn't put it down it was so wonderful.  It is intriguing and there is a little love thrown in there.  I am glad for a son who told me about this great read.

Tris & Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison

This was a love story and adventure.  Mettie Ivie Harrison has such a unique way about writing.   I really like this book.

Izzie is in love with Mark.  Her mom is a witch.  She has a best friend that is acting strangely toward her and she doesn't know why.  Then a new boy comes to the school named Tristan.  Life changes dramatically when he comes to the school.  I'll let you discover that for yourselves but, I never expected the fun in the story plot.

Hunger Games & Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

I went away for Labor day to Island Park to a cabin.  I had these visions of reading Hunger Games and Catching fire.   Well, I can't read in the car, it makes me sick.   The only time I could read is after we reached our destination.  Reading was harder than I thought with my kids and their cousins running too an fro and with our agenda of things we wanted to do and to talk with family.  It took me many days to get about 3/4 of the way through Hunger Games.  I'd have to stop at night and then I'd sit and think of the story and not sleep and not able to read.  Well, I got home yesterday and read the rest of Hunger Games and ALL of Catching Fire.  Wow!  I am really into these books and I plan to start "Mockingjay" today.  Mostly I am starting because I can't get the story out of my head and I can't seem to focus on anything else!!!  I need to get on with my life!

Hunger Games is a book about a girl named Katniss Everdeen, I remember her name because her childhood friend calls her Catnip.  Katniss lives in a district that mines coal.  Their are other districts that do other things but all are highly controlled by the Capital.  The Capital is what took over the ruins of North America.  Their Nation is the nation of Panem.  To keep the districts in line they have a boy and girl from each district go to a televised event called the "Hunger Games."  In this deadly game, only one will live through until the end.  The goal is to be the last one living.   It is kill or be killed.  This is a very intriguing story and one that doesn't lose my interest throughout.  I must admit after "The Hunger Game" ends I felt urgent about reading "Catching Fire" to find out more of the story.   But after "Catching Fire,"  I feel I am catching my breath a little better.   I don't know why that is so because from the ending  can tell there is much action ahead.  In fact, I think I'll go read it!

I recommend these books but also recommend putting aside enough time to read them....they are all encompassing, thought promoting books.

Becoming Kate by Dixie Owens

Great Read!  I really like the cover of the book but, the inside is just as fun as the outside.

I thought this was fun, light reading and I wasn't able to figure out what was going to happen in the story next.  There was great intrigue in this book.

Liz has a great life, wonderful husband and two children.  She is happy.  Then she gets in a car accident and wakes up in the body of little girl named, Kate.  She is the first successful brain transplant.  This book is about her new life and how she deals with the situation life has dealt her.

I couldn't put the book down.  Definitely worth reading!  Made me wonder when Dixie Owens will have another book.  I guess this book is her debut.

Mir, Mirror by Mette Ivie Harrison

This is a book I am really having a hard time deciding what I think about it. While I like the characters and really grew attached to them, I am nagged at the gruesomeness of some of the parts. I think it IS meant for an older audience that what the publisher recommends for sure. Mette Ivers Harrison is a great writer. She really did hold my attention throughout the book but it’s scenes from the book that make me not sure how I feel about it. The gruesome actions didn’t seem justified and I don’t think that justice was felt in the end for those gruesome parts. So, I’ll just tell you that and know that I still don’t know what to think of it.