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. 

Deadly Treasure by Jillayne Clements

There was a lot of substance to this book.  It had a great love story and I really grew to like the character of Lexi.  Lexi lives in Park City, Utah.  She works at the Tanger Outlets.  She just broke up with Ron when he cheats on her.  Then for the summer she is thrown into a situation where her Grandfather is killled over a map to the Lost Rhoades Mines.  The killer doesn't find the map but, now she seems to be in danger.  She is also thrown into a situation of two brothers, one is her best friend and one has been someone she tried to get his attention when she was younger.  Suddenly her thoughts are not of Ron but of the new challenges and situations she is working through.

I picked this book especially because of the Lost Rhoades Mine.  I have heard of this mine and know someone who writes about them and so that part intrigued me to buy it.  I loved hearing familiar names of Park City, Springville, BYU, UVU, Utah State, Heber, Orem and Salt Lake City.  These are all places that are familiar to me and it was fun to read them in a book.

I loved the twists and turns of this book.  There were constantly new creative situations that Lexi was in.  I was impressed with this book.  It wasn't the same ole love story.  It had punch and mystery.  I am glad I finally picked it up after having it for more than two years.

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.

Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale

I have a confession to start with.  I prefer the young adult books Shannon Hale writes compared to her Adult Fiction.  But, I like her Adult Fiction.  It is much better than most Adult Fiction.  But her young adult books are in my top favorite.  So, in comparison her adult fiction books are just not my top favorite.  So, while I enjoy her adult fiction, it just isn't as much of a favorite as her young adult books.

Confession over.

This book is about a lady named Charlotte Kinder.  Charlotte is a woman who has two children, a good business, and an ex-husband.  She loves her children and is accidentally successful at her business.  Her business started out as a hobby.  Now she has plenty of money.

Now that she is divorced, she gets set up on dates a lot.  To get away from it all she decides to go on a vacation.  Upon looking into things, she is told about a 2 week vacation place where they dress in fancy clothes, eat authentic "Austen" food and pretend to be in the days of Jane Austen's novels.  She decides to try it out.

She finds things hard to determine what is real and what is  part of the game.  Especially when she thinks she felt a dead body while playing games in the mansion.  This has a fun story to it.  I was intrigued with the mystery to it.  I'd definitely recommend this book as a fun getaway book.

Secondhand Charm by Julie Berry

I really enjoyed this book.  I loved her last book "The Amaranth Enchantment" and so I happily picked up this book.  I wasn't disappointed.   I couldn't put this book down.  It was about everything I love in a book.

Evie is interested in healing.  She helps with birthing babies and is intrigued by medicine and helping people get better.

She is from a small cozy villge.  Much happens in this story when a King comes to visit their village.

This book has adventure, snakes, Princesses, kings, castles, and of course, romance.   It really is a great book.  I really enjoyed reading it!  BRAVO!

The Kissing Tree by Prudence Bice

December 8th is the day this book will officially come out.  It is fun to have read it before it has come out.  This was a gift to me from a great friend who has more connections than I.  I had loved Prudence Bice's first book the Widower's wife.  This one was great too...if not even better. 

I love the story line.  It is just fun.   It starts with the young girl, Georgiana (Georgie) stealing a kiss from Ridge, one of her best friends.  Little did she know that she wouldn't see him for 5 years after the kiss.   Her family went to New York for what she thought was a visit and it ended up that her family stayed there.

This is a love story and I loved every minute of it.  It's another one of those books I just couldn't put down.  I love the characters and I love the way they interact with each other.  It was just so fun.   I can hardly wait for her next one.

Peasant Queen by Cheri Chesley

This was a fun little tale that I enjoyed.

Krystal is a girl that her brother's take care of since her mom is blind and her father has died.  Her brothers set up an arranged marriage for her.  She is not happy about it and runs away.  As she runs away though she is surrounded by some guards and kidnapped.  Magic is used and she is very far from home and taken to a castle and to King Gregory.  This is a different life and there is lots of adventure in this distant land.

One thing about the book I would have liked to have different is I kept wanting to make the main character eat. It seemed she never ate. She was always too involved in what was going on around her to bother eating.  Her stomache was often upset.

This book has magic, romance, kissing, adventure, beauty and is just a fun read.  I enjoyed it.

Mrs. Mike by Benedict & Nancy Freedman

I have my friend Brittney to thank for lending this book to me.  Her copy looks like the biggest image in this blog.  I was happy to see it is still available and you can find it to buy.  Also, our library has group copies for book groups and such.  Who would've knew?  And I'd never even heard of it. 

This is a beautiful story based on the real life of Katherine Mary Flannigan.  Katherine goes to Canada to help with her pleurisy.  I had to look that word up.  Here is the definition given:

"inflammation of the pleura that is typically characterized by sudden onset, painful and difficult respiration, and exudation of fluid or fibrinous material into the pleural cavity"

While Katherine is there she meets Mike.  This is book is about what follows.  It is romantic and serious.  I saw a review that said that this story isn't flashy but it stays with you a long time.  I'd have to agree with that.  It touches and inspires.  It is a beautiful book.

312 pages

The Widower's Wife by Prudence Bice

The Widower's Wife is a fun, light read.  I think it is well done.  I enjoyed just sitting and reading for fun.  I had a hard time pulling myself away from this book.

Jillian Grey is going to become a mail order bride to Dalton McCullough.  They have been corresponding through mail.  They have both arranged an agreement that she would take care of his children and become his wife but both have an understanding there would be no romance.  When Jillian & Dalton finally meet they both discover it may be hard to keep that promise.

You'd think this book would be just a simple story but, the author tells beautifully how they manage.  I was intrigued by this story and think you will be too.  I recommend it.

The Undaunted by Gerald N. Lund

This book is 802 pages long! When I got it from the library it was "daunting." I figured I had to read 5 chapters a day to get it done it time. So, I waited till the last minute like a dummy and had to go on a reading spree.

I forgot how fast the chapters go and how good an author Gerald N. Lund is. I got so caught up in the book I didn't even have to try to be on a reading spree. I was on one due to the pure joy of the story. I even learned a true fact or two along the way.

What a great courage of love, prayer, and perseverance!!!

I love his notes at the end of the chapter that helps us to know what the real facts are too. I like his take on things too. He seems to put it all on perspective.

So many things I like about this book. I love how it starts out with the coal miners. And later it is easy to see how that fits into the story. In his notes he even quoted from one of my favorite authors Susan Campbell Bartoletti. She wrote "Growing up in Coal Country."

This was a very exciting pioneer story with great characters that I really grew to love. I highly recommend reading this book.

The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale

This book is amazing. At about half way through, I stopped a while and thought about it. I really liked this book, but it seemed so much had already happened and how can there be that much more of the book to read? I was enjoying it thoroughly but didn’t know it could get any better.

Becky Jack is a housewife and she is perfectly happy with her life. One day she meets her favorite star. His name is Felix Callahan and finds it interesting to converse with Felix. Before they know it Becky and Felix are talking all the time and call each other best friends.

I found myself experiencing many emotions during this book and couldn’t conceal a giggle or two here and there. Shannon Hale does a great job with helping me to feel great range of emotion.

This book has amazing twists and turns and things I didn’t expect and can’t mention without spoiling the book.

It really was a top notched book!

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

On the acknowledgements page at the end of the book it says: "This story is based on the fairytale "Maid Maleen" as recorded by the Grimm brothers, though I took many liberties with the original in my quest to find Dashti's story."

This is a story about Dashti. Dashti is a mucker. She has a talent of singing and with that song she can heal. When she sings to a mistress to ease her aches, the mistress decides to train Dashti to be a maid for Lady Saren. So, Dashti learns to read, write, and care for her. It takes many months to just train.

So after her training, and barely becoming Lady Saren's maid, she goes to a very busy house and meets Lady Saran. Lady Saran right away makes her pledge to serve her.

Next, She finds out Lady Saren's father is going to lock her up into a tower for seven years because she would not marry the man her father had decided on for her. Lady Saren had another man in mind.

Dashti finds her self having to take care of Lady Saren in a cemented tower and writes it all in a book day by day. I couldn't help but want to keep reading this book. They have many adventures and I really liked discovering them for myself and I think you will too!

Loved this book, and I'd love to read it again.

Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon & Dean Hale

Shannon & Dean Hale (are married)

Illustrated by Nathan Hale (not related)

This is a graphic novel. It is a fun adventure with Rapunzel in Western Style. It's fun how Rapunzel uses her braids like a rope and lasso just like the Wild West.

Rapunzel is living with Mother Gothel. At first Rapunzel doesn't know that Mother Gothel isn't her real mother. She decides to take a view over the gigantic wall and notices that life is much different than her little world.

The pictures here are great. It is fun to just to look at the pictures alone. The story is intriguing and they just get into one adventure after another. I couldn't stop reading.

My sons age 14 and 11 both read this fun book and really enjoyed it too.

If you have a reluctant reader--this would be a great book.

I look forward to the continuation called Calamity Jack.

Austenland by Shannon Hale

If you think I am on a Shannon Hale kick, you are ABSOLUTELY right!

First, I have a caution with this book. I would not want my 16 year old son to read this book. There are some details between boy and girl that I don’t want him to dwell on. I think that this book is for an older audience than that. I would classify this as an adult book as most others do also. She handles situations very respectful, well, and tactful.

I couldn't put the book down, which probably doesn't surprise you with a book from Shannon Hale. Most of her books I would read more than once though, and this one I probably will just read once, but who knows.

Jane loves "Pride and Prejudice" especially on DVD with Colin Firth. It is the secret that she feels guilty about. She hides her DVDs because of that guilt.

Her great aunt, Carolyn comes to visit. She notices the hidden DVDs and when she passes away she leaves Jane a vacation to Austenland. In Austenland, they recreate the time period of Jane Austen's books. They dress like, talk like and act like this time period.

Jane decides to do it go there and has quite the adventure.

I really enjoyed this story. I do recommend this book and getting caught away in a fun bit of romance and men. I think there are many things about it to get caught up in too.

Happy reading to yah!

River Secrets by Shannon Hale

This is a great book. I love the character of Razo. He is a fun, loving guy. This book follows him and what a fun adventure it is!

The Tiran people come and offer an exchange of people. A select few of the Bayern people will go to Tiran and another select few of the Tiran people will go to Bayern. This is done in hopes to promote peace among the two countries.

Razo finds himself among the group that goes to Tiran along with Enna, Finn and Talone. He wonders why. He doesn't think he has anything special about him. The people seem hostile and want war with his country. He discovers some things about himself he didn’t know about before.

I enjoyed the twists and turns of this book, it is great. I look forward to Forest Born on September 19, 2009 where the story can go on.

Enna Burning by Shannon Hale

This book doesn't disappoint. It is adventurous, fun, romantic, and thought provoking. Enna is Isi's (Anni's) friend. Enna's brother finds a piece of vellum and learns how to use fire. He seems to change because of it and not in a good way.

Meanwhile, Isi is having a problem with the wind. It is very loud and her husband finds her a place that doesn't have as much wind that is low in the castle.

War is on the horizon with a country that wants to take back their land from many generations ago.

I enjoyed the twists and turns of this book. It is a delight. I had a hard time putting this book down. It is wonderful!

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

I am officially a Shannon Hale fan. This book was wonderful and I want more. Fortunately, there are more books about this same place called, "The Books of Bayern." I will be reading them.

I was hooked on his book by page 2. I recounted what had happened so far from page 2 to my husband. When I said it aloud I realized that everything was intriguing and so much happens even by page 2. I relished every word and couldn't put the book down.

Ani is born with her eyes closed. She doesn't open them until her Aunt comes and tells her stories in the middle of the night. She is close to her aunt and her Aunt teaches her many things and stories that come in handy later on in the story. I don't want to say too much because there's much to be discovered on your own.

I highly recommend this book and would love to read it again--if I didn't have more of her books to try.