Holly's Blog – May 2009 Archive (15)

Mating Rituals of the North American WASP

After a drunken evening in Las Vegas, Peggy Adams wakes up next to an unknown man, horrified to learn they're married. Luke is East-Coast WASP royalty in Connecticut and Peggy is pre-engaged to her live-in boyfriend,and lives in New York. When they attempt to get an annulment, Luke's eccentric great-aunt offers them a chance to make millions of dollars by remaining married for a year. Agreeing, Peggy soon finds herself immersed in the posh old-money… Continue

Added by Holly on May 30, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

The Secret

The first book in the Seasons of Grace series. I loved Beverly Lewis' Daughters of Abram series. So, I had high hopes for this one, and while I didn't hate it, I didn't love it. Like the title states, this is a novel full of secrets and questions.

The story revolves around the Byler family. Mother Lettie is haunted by secrets from her past, father Judah struggles with his wife's discontent and is unable to do anything about it, daughter Grace… Continue

Added by Holly on May 28, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Ruby Unscripted

A delightful book. After her parents divorce, 15-year old Ruby Madden moves from conservative, rural Northern California to liberal, affluent Marin County, near San Francisco. Her younger brother moves with her and her mother and step dad, while her older brother remains with their dad and step mom. Ruby struggles with not only trying to maintain friendships left behind and adjust to a new, very different school, but also with making new friends and… Continue

Added by Holly on May 21, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

A Lady of Secret Devotion

The third book in the Ladies of Liberty series by Tracie Peterson. Each book stands alone. Set in 19th century Philadelphia, Cassie Stover is hired to be a companion to Mrs. Jameston, a very wealthy, elderly woman. Cassie's father was killed when she was a teenager so she and her mother have always worked to provide for themselves and her younger sister. Living with Mrs. Jameston brings Cassie into a world she could have imagined.

When Mrs.… Continue

Added by Holly on May 16, 2009 at 12:12am — No Comments

A Lady of Hidden Intent

Growing up wealthy and privileged in Bath, England, Catherine Newbury's life changes forever, when her father is falsely imprisoned and his lands and fortune seized. Her own life in danger, Catherine is sent to America with her family's trusted servants. She must hide her identity and carve out a new life for herself. She becomes an accomplished seamstress and dress designer, with her patterns and designs sought by all. All the while, Catherine saves… Continue

Added by Holly on May 13, 2009 at 11:30pm — No Comments

Making Light of Being Heavy

I'm not quite sure what I expected when I agreed to review this book. The teaser certainly sounded great:

"These days everyone has a society-driven mindset and totally forget to laugh, especially at themselves. This may be cliche but I truly believe that laughter is the best medicine and I think everybody should laugh every day. Period. Over the years as a person blessed with the fat gene, I have been in many situations where if I could not… Continue

Added by Holly on May 13, 2009 at 11:00pm — No Comments

A Passion Redeemed

I'm glad to say that Charity redeemed herself. I really didn't like her in the first book, A Passion Most Pure. This one, though, is her story. Charity has always been the difficult O'Connor daughter: headstrong and tarty, with a deep disdain for her older sister Faith. As Charity's story unfolds, we learn about the past and the misguided reasons for Charity's hatred towards Faith.

At the end of World War 1, when her family returns to Boston,… Continue

Added by Holly on May 12, 2009 at 11:00pm — No Comments

A Passion Most Pure

The first book in the Daughters of Boston series. Faith O'Connor fell in love with Collin McGuire as a young girl. Collin is a bold, brash rogue who lacks Faith's devout faith in God. When Collin begins secretly courting Faith's younger sister, Charity, she isn't sure her heart can handle it. After circumstances bring them together a couple of times, Collin begins to realize he has feelings for Faith as well.

When America joins World War 1,… Continue

Added by Holly on May 11, 2009 at 11:00pm — No Comments

The Great Eight

I have always liked and admired Scott Hamilton. I loved watching him skate, and like many others, I remember his 1984 Olympic Gold Medal win in Sarajevo. Scott's struggles in his life, especially his sickly youth, are well-known. He's also a two-time cancer survivor, and a happily married man with two children.

When a person first learns to skate, they learn the compulsory figures. They trace a figure eight, over and over again on the ice. It's… Continue

Added by Holly on May 10, 2009 at 11:00pm — No Comments

She's in a Better Place

The third and final book of the Fairlawn Series. Of all three books, I enjoyed this one the most.

As Jennifer Graham is struggling to make the Fairlawn Funeral Home a successful business, she's also raising her children and studying for her national board exam to become a licensed mortician. Her life takes another turn when Gerald, her beloved friend and mentor, is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Wanting him to reconcile with his estranged… Continue

Added by Holly on May 7, 2009 at 11:00pm — No Comments

Crossed Wires

A real story, about real people. People with families you could understand. People you could possibly know, and certainly, people you would like.

Mina, a young single mother, works each day at a call center for an auto insurance company. Peter, a widowed, single father with twin daughters, teaches at Cambridge University. Their worlds are miles apart, literally and figuratively, but when Peter calls one day with an accident claim, something… Continue

Added by Holly on May 6, 2009 at 11:00pm — No Comments

Fifty is a Four-Letter Word

Once again I'm in the minority when it comes to my review vs. my fellow book bloggers. This one was hailed as fantastic, terrific and well worth reading. It wasn't my cup of tea, so to speak, and I didn't even finish it.

While I'm on the over 40 side of life, I'm not quite to my 50s yet. However, from the description this sounded appealing. Hope Steele, a top magazine editor has a terrific job, wonderful husband and son. Life can change quickly… Continue

Added by Holly on May 5, 2009 at 11:00pm — No Comments

The Lost Quilter

I've read the Elm Creek books and, with few exceptions, I've liked them all. The Lost Quilter picks up the story of Joanna, the runaway slave from The Runaway Quilt. As with the other Elm Creek books, this one begins with Sylvia discovering a new fact about her family or their quilting. While the beginning and end of the book are about Sylvia trying to find out information about Joanna, the book itself is, Joanna's story.

After her son was… Continue

Added by Holly on May 5, 2009 at 10:30pm — No Comments

The Side-Yard Superhero

The Side-Yard Superhero is subtitled, "Life in DeGraff: An Automythography". Author Rick Niece defines an "automythography" as, a work of non-fiction that looks reflectively at what we think we remember and how we think we remember it; an iridescent memory based upon truth and fact. This charming memoir is all that and more.

Dr. Rick Niece is the President of the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas and here he describes his… Continue

Added by Holly on May 3, 2009 at 10:30pm — No Comments

The House in Grosvenor Square

A sequel to Before the Season Ends.

In 1813 England, Ariana Forsythe is planning her wedding to Phillip Mornay, a wealthy man who shares her faith in God. Philanthropically minded, Ariana looks forward to being able to aid many of the impoverished people she has met.

As Phillip and Ariana make preparations for their marriage, multiple factors and people interfere. Mr. Mornay's housekeeper doesn't like Ariana and does what she can to… Continue

Added by Holly on May 2, 2009 at 10:30pm — No Comments