Loved, loved, loved this novel! I couldn't put it down. Tristi Pinkston not only explores the physical struggles of the Mormon pioneers, but the emotional and spiritual struggles they endured. The story is about Tristi's great-grandmother and is based on historical fact. However, she writes it as if she was the one who lived it.
Sarah Williams is a young Welsh girl who immigrates to Utah to join her sister Mary Ann. When Mary Ann and her husband…
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Added by Holly on May 30, 2008 at 3:00pm —
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I think that this book is my favorite Wingate book so far. I simply couldn't put it down. The story follows Julia, a former ballet dancer whose career is cut short due to a life-threatening eating disorder. After she "recovers" she becomes a guidance counselor at a middle school and befriends Dell Jordan, who is living with Karen and James from The Language of the Sycamores and struggling to fit in at her elite arts school.
The format is the same…
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Added by Holly on May 29, 2008 at 3:30pm —
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A continuation of the story in Tending Roses, although this story is about Karen, Kate's sister. Karen loses her high-powered job and returns to the farm to find herself. Similar to Tending Roses, Karen finds herself through her memories of Grandma Rose and her experiences with her (no longer) estranged family, and a group of children.
As with Tending Roses, the story is somewhat predictable. But, full of homespun advice and inspiration, it is a…
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Added by Holly on May 28, 2008 at 3:30pm —
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As a rule, I don't like attempted sequels. I especially don't like attempted sequels of classic novels when those sequels are written by wannabe Jane Austens or Margaret Mitchells.
When I picked up Mrs. Darcy's Dilemma, I was prepared to dislike it. (When Austen wannabes try to be Jane, they fail miserably. No one can do that, so just stop trying, ok?) As I read the book though, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself enjoying it instead. It…
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Added by Holly on May 27, 2008 at 3:30pm —
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A sequel to
Bread Alone and continues the story of Wynter Morrison. Wynter has stayed in Seattle and become a part owner of the bakery. The story explores her relationship with Mac and how she comes to mentor/mother Tyler. The voice is the same and the bread recipes sound delicious. Mac leaves and ends up in the Yukon and begins to deal with his own issues, but communicates to Wyn by letter.
Wynter isn't as self-absorbed in this…
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Added by Holly on May 25, 2008 at 3:30pm —
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I was disappointed. I loved the premise: a group of women who get together to share their lives and love of chocolate, in a store called, "Chocolate Heaven." I'd love to be able to visit a place like that--sort of a Starbucks type chocolaterie. There were bits and pieces of the story that I enjoyed. The friendship and support between the women was great. I loved the scene when the girls get their revenge on the creep who stole Chantal's jewelry.…
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Added by Holly on May 20, 2008 at 3:30pm —
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I enjoyed the first book,
Carpe Demon. I couldn't get into this one. I finally settled for skimming it. A definite disappointment. In theory, these could be fun books: a Buffy wannabe becomes a soccer mom, complete with teenager and toddler.
Unfortunately, this one wasn't a fun read. In fact, I just found the whole thing annoying. There was no point, no reason to keep reading. It was tiresome and repetitive.
Don't…
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Added by Holly on May 17, 2008 at 3:30pm —
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It's no secret that I did not jump on the
Twilight bandwagon. I put my name on the hold list at the library for The Host, however, because I wanted to see if Stephenie Meyer had improved in her storytelling. I'm happy to say, "Yes, she did. To a point."
I would like someone tell me what her fascination is with sappy, overly dramatic dialogue, 17-year old girls and over-protective older men who carry them while running? Because there are…
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Added by Holly on May 16, 2008 at 3:30pm —
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I loved it. A quick, easy read. It is laugh-out-loud funny. Camryn shares her story: how she became an actress and the highs and lows along the way. She's forthright and funny. She doesn't apologize for who she is: a woman who happens to be fat.
What I found so interesting, is the perspective. Often when we meet people, our first reactions aren't that they're skinny or fat, our first reactions are how much we like or don't like them. But to…
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Added by Holly on May 13, 2008 at 3:30pm —
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I'd heard so many rave reviews about this book that I was tempted to not read it. Too much praise normally turns me off of books. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this one, which is based on the author's own experiences with her grandmother.
Kate Bowman and her husband arrive at her grandmother's farm to spend Christmas, but to also prepare the way for the rest of the family to inform Grandma that it's time to move to a care facility. Kate and her…
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Added by Holly on May 12, 2008 at 3:30pm —
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I'm an Osmond fan. I'll state that fact right up front! I reread this book recently and enjoyed it just as much as the first time. Donny shares his life and his career experiences. He's honest and forthright: at times his recollections are heart-breaking.
The Osmonds went through some incredible successes and just as incredible losses. As Donny talks about trying to find himself as an entertainer and the humiliations he endured, your heart just…
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Added by Holly on May 10, 2008 at 3:30pm —
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I almost put it down and didn't finish it, but it is entertaining, for the most part. A romantic, coming-of-age book for adults. In LA, Wynter marries a rich man, lives a life of leisure and luxury and then her husband finds someone else and leaves. She's lost and angry and finds her way to Seattle, where her best friend lives. She looks back into her past and her love of baking and bread and gets a job in a bakery. Along the way, she makes some…
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Added by Holly on May 5, 2008 at 3:30pm —
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