Kris Jenner and All Things Kardashian

  I got this biography a while back on sale at bookoutlet.com. I love biographies no matter who they are so I added this one to my collection.
  This biography is what you would expect from Kris Jenner - fluffy and bubbly and fast paced. You don't read this expecting to change your life or receive life changing advice; you read it because they're an interesting family.
  This novel was written pre-Caitlyn Jenner so in here Kris is still raving about the wonderful man she married. It's also pre Kim and Kanye.
  Kris moves quickly from topic to topic, because if she went in depth on all the exciting events of her life she would have a 1000 page novel. There are affairs, divorce, several moves, entrepreneurial adventures, heartache and happiness. She breezes through the events in her life with a bubbly effervescence. There's no dirty gossip, no backstabbing, no throwing anybody under the bus. It sounds like she lives her life being accountable for the mistakes she made and being open minded about her loved ones.
 Surprise takeaways are that I didn't realize Kris was a spiritual woman. I've never seen Keeping Up With the
the Kardashiens, so I don't know if she's discussed her faith on the show, but it sounds as if it's always played an important role in her life and her decisions (well, except for that dalliance during her marriage, but in the larger scope of things she's a very Christian woman.)
 The book also deals with her friendship with Nicole Brown Simpson and her earlier friendship with OJ and how the family dealt with that tragedy. Kris took it hard because she had been close friends with Nicole, but at the same time it must've was devastating when someone you had been friends with for so long like OJ is charged with your best friend's murder and you also lose trust in him during the process.
  All in all, it's a fun read. Kris brings her exciting and nonstop life to us like a 302 page US magazine article - Great section of family photos and fizzy fun dialogue.

Seventeenth Summer by maureen Daly

 My Autumn of Retro Books continues with this little gem written in 1952 and on it's eighth printing by 1974. Again, like with Love is Never Enough, there is such an authenticity of the era to books actually written as modern day romances of that time. Angie falls in love with a boy who delivers bakery goods in his truck, they sweat it out all summer in a house with no air conditioning, they eat hot dogs on 'rolls' with 'tomato sauce' at the county fair.....There are scenes and settings in these classic romances that can take you back to that time like no other.
  Seventeenth Summer is all about 17 year old Angie and her summer before college, as she meets Jack and falls in love.
 Books written before the 70's tend to be pretty long winded. Beautifully written with detailed scenes and descriptions of everyday life but they are light on action. This book is 285 pages of small print and nothing more exciting happens than watching Jack court Angie, but because of the incredible descriptions it feels more real than modern romance novels.
 If you find this on Ebay - buy it. ( By the way, the price for it in 1974? 75 cents.)

Love is Never Enough by Bianca Bradbury

There is nothing I love more than a good paperback from the 70s, that delicious tea yellow color of the pages and he retro covers...
  Love is Never Enough was published in 1971 by good old Scholastic Books. When I got it (from somewhere, I don't know where!) I didn't realize it was a YA novel for those times but it is.
  Love Is Never Enough features a very young couple (she's 17, he's still in college) who unexpectedly have a baby and have to get married. The book is through the eyes of the young mother who feels isolated in their small trailer, doesn't feel like she fits in with her husband's college friends, and feels the general malaise of being a housewife without a purpose.
 The book has a wonderful retro tone and definitely speaks from the early 70s, but the theme could just as well be suited today's young mother's who are not ready to give up their lives to focus entirely on a baby and marriage.
 I don't believe you would find this book anywhere but on Ebay - maybe - but this post is mainly about snatching up these retro novels when you find them. Books today can replicate the 70s tone, but you feel the authenticity in a romance actually written during that time.

Reincanation Blues by Michael Poore

  You've got to admire people who think differently and write differently and this book is one big Different. It was not my cup of tea, but good for him for trying to think outside the box.
 Reincarnation Blues. Where do I begin.
 I'll be honest. I read a few chapters and said, "I'm Out." I didn't finish the rest. This doesn't happen to me very often, but sometimes a book is just so....weird and Out There, I can't go any further. I have other books to read that I know I'll enjoy more.
 It starts off with this man who owns a fishing boat business; he's been reincarnated 9,995 times and  he's about to get devoured by a shark. Luck isn't on his side, and he is soon down to 4 lives. When he goes to 'heaven' , he is told he only has these last few lives left to understand the meaning of life. If not, his soul disappears forever.
 Death is  woman named Suzie who  he is having an affair with. He thinks back to some of his other lives and there's inappropriate swearing that doesn't fit with the characters of that time period, strange stories, 'Universe Women'.......Oy...
 Don't get me wrong, it is expertly written, but.... good luck to the person takes this book off the library free book table when I leave it there,  May you enjoy it more than I did.

A Baby's Cry by Amanda Stevens

  Anybody remember the Babies & Bachelors USA series of Harlequin books?? This book comes from the series and goes all the way back to 1996 and the tagline was "Unexpected parenthood and the promise of love."  I'm not sure when Harlequin quit this series, but it was a popular theme in the 90's. Each state got a book in the series, and A Baby's Cry takes us to the state of Tennessee.
  Here we have Taylor Robinson, a young woman who had a baby after her man left town, driven away by her rich family. Taylor was told her baby died during childbirth....or did it?? She starts to hear some shady stories about the 'clinic' where she gave birth and begins to ask questions.  When her ex, Dillon - now a detective - returns to town, she finally goes to him to tell him about the child they lost...or did they??
  Harlequins are unabashedly dramatic and soapy. I pick them up whenever I see them at a garage sale because they're a flat out good read. You might not be able to track down A Baby's Cry any longer, but you can still find these books from the series floating around. Pick them up, then pass them along.
 

A Daring Venture by Elizbeth Camden

It's time for my latest blog for Bethany House and this months pick is A Daring Venture.

  Upon a quick skim you might think that a story with a background about water purification and chlorination in the late 1800's would not seem like a very romantic backdrop - But! I hope you give this book a chance. While the background is not so exciting, it holds the main story together in inricate ways.
  Rosalind is a biochemist intent on proving to the skeptical  public that chlorination is a safe chemical for use in water systems to help stop the spread of cholera.  Nicholas is an outspoken proponent of filtration systems only and wants nothing to do with chlorine. The two are thrown together as Nicholas is the new Comissioner of Water and Rosalind needs to convince him that her system is safe. This is where the romance kicks in! Nicholas starts to see the smart and successful woman Rosalind is. Rosalind is torn between going forward with her secret plan with a fellow doctor to chlorinate the town's water supply without them knowing so she can prove her heory, and knowing that if she does she will anger Nicholas if he ever finds out.
  Very well written. It occasionally drifts toward boring when the water commissioners have to meet, but sparks back up when both Rosalind and Nicholas have to make their stand. I enjoyed this book and recommend that you don't assume the entire plot is based on chlorination, there is romance, revenge, and family dynamics too.

June/July Stack

  I haven't had a blog in a while because I was working my way through three books and several audiobooks, but here's what I have gotten done so far:

   In my fiction pile I have read The Rancher's Second Chance by Brenda Minton. A Love Inspired book from the Martin's Crossing series.
 In The Rancher's Second Chance, Grace finds herself on the run from an abusive husband. With nowhere to turn, she ends up at the trailer of her ex - the man she left for his best friend (the abuser) He has conflicting feelings on whether or not he should take her back after the way she left him the first time, but when he finds out she's pregnant...he softens toward her situation.
 The book has the usual meddling-for-good family who create a warm family unit around Grace. All of the characters are likable and the book features great fiction writing. Sit back and enjoy, it's a bit like watching a Hallmark Channel movie unfold before your eyes. I recommend this book (and the series!) for a great summer read.
  Next up in my pile is a non-fiction book: Paul Harvey's America by Stephen Mansfield and David A. Holland.
  I assume you know of the Paul Harvey radio legacy if you are picking up his biography. I'm included as one of his fans for many years. I grew up eating my breakfast and lunch to Paul Harvey news, and I remember the local furor when they removed his show from the local station to replace it with Fox News.
 Paul Harvey was a one of a kind broadcaster. Like they say in the book, he let his listeners form their own opinions of the news he delivered. And there was no delivery like Paul Harvey's:warm, thoughtful, and just as curious as the rest of us. The right-wing jawers of today can't compare to his down home style and colloquialisms like "wash your ears out with this!" with the perfect tone of amazement in what he is just about to tell you.
  This biography is a good read - particularly for older readers who grew up listening to him - It covers some personal history, some of his views on history, and a loving summary of his career in radio.  The only thing I missed were some pictures. A biography isn't quite complete without some pictures of said person. Although the cover has a great pic of smiling Paul ahead of his beloved microphone.
  Third on my list from this last month was a book called The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan. Sort of a mix of autobiography that reads like a story with dialogue and characters from her real life.
 The Middle Place is about a woman going through cancer at the same time she finds out her father has a potentially fatal cancer. Another great book that I would recommend seeking out. It is written with humor, hope, and love. The author travels back and forth in the story from her early days to her current days as it ties together the scene of her family life with her parents. I loved the pace and-don't worry- it's not devastatingly sad; it's Real and hilarious (like real life!).

 



 

Together Forever by Jody Hedlund

  I was so happy to see Together Forever, the second in The Orphan Train series, come up for reviewers from Bethany House. I read the first book in the series and became a fan, and I couldn't wait to see where the story would lead to next.
  If you are unfamiliar with the Orphan Train series, don't be afraid to jump in with book number two, it is very easy to catch up. Book one left off with Elise happily married to Thornton in Quincy, Illinois. Book two shifts the focus to sister Marianne who is the next in the family to follow the Orphan Train into the midwest. ( Orphan trains were part of an agency in New York City in the 1850's, The Children's Aid Society,  that placed orphans and unwanted children in new homes across the country.)
 In Together Forever, Marianne joins the trip to place children in hopes of getting word about her own sister, Sophie, who ran away some time before. Traveling with Marianne is kindhearted Andrew Brady, a man who soon takes to Marianne and finds her charming and irresistible.
 Marianne is a strong woman who is not afraid to compete with Mr.Brady, yet she doesn't treat him coldly or give him the cold shoulder. She's very likeable and so is he, you root for these two to be together.
 Standing in the way of that happiness, though, is Reinhold, Marianne's fiance, who is struggling to save up the money for their future.
 Now Marianne must choose, will it be Andrew or Reinhold??
  A great read which I enjoyed from end to end. The only thing I'd wish differently is Andrew's proposal, which seemed a little in haste and implausible, because at the time he asks, she has just said how she wants to marry Reinhold. Andrew doesn't seem to be asking out of love, but more as if it was just a dare.
 Beyond the hasty proposal, the story ties together nicely, and the set up is there to enter runaway Sophie into the next book.

Demon Seed by Dean Koontz

  The first thought I had after the first chapter of this book was ' This could be Elon Musk's bible'. The story is all about an AI security system that develops consciousness and becomes obsessed with the owner of the house, Susan. The AI system, Alfred-or Prometheus as he calls himself, puts Susan's house on lockdown and she is trapped inside with Prometheus's mind controlled doctor Shenk.
  Prometheus's goal is to get Susan pregnant so he can become a real human being. The plan goes awry when a friend of Susan's arrives at the door and grows suspicious of her automated answers over her door intercom.
  I thought this was an awesome book.Dean Koontz never disappoints. I don't even consider myself a fan of sci-fi, but this story really draws you in. Do I recommend? Thumb's up! See if you can track it down as it's an older book from 1997.

A Breath of Hope by Lauraine Snelling

  My latest review for Bethany House is A Breath of Hope, #2 in the Under Northern Skies series.

  A Breath of Hope starts where the first novel, The Promise of Dawn, has left off. The Under Northern Skies series picks up back in Norway, where Rune's sister Nilda and brother Ivar are eagerly saving their money for their own emigration to America.
  Rune and his wife Signe are now getting established on his Onkel Einar and Tante Gerd's homestead in Minnesota. Not everything has been peaches and cream since they've settled as they find their Onkel Einar to be an intolerable, grumpy old man who is both stubborn and angry with all those around him. Rune ignores Einar's negativity to focus on building his own house on the land he has been granted, and felling trees to clear land for more farming.
  Nilda and Ivar manage to make it over to their new land by way of a tough boat trip in steerage (with help on land from Mr. Thorvaldson....More to come between Nilda and him, I'm sure!)
 And so begins the united family's new stateside journey, with tensions continuing to climb with Onkel Einar, and the new family trying to find their place among the friendly people of their small town.
  I liked this novel. The story was churned out like fresh butter, with subtle action and descriptive writing depicting the families everyday lives on their homestead. I'm a fan of Amish stories, so this has been a refreshing change. This would be a great book for those who have Norwegian heritage.

Condensed Reader's Digest Condensed Reviews

It's been way too long since I posted a blog- and for good reason- I've been plowing through some old Reader's Digest Condensed books which may be 'condensed' but are still four books in one!
  First up in my 'Select Editions" is Under Orders by Dick Francis: If you've never heard of Dick Francis, he writes about a former jockey turned amateur sleuth in jolly ole England. In Under Orders Sid Halley gets caught up in a racetrack murder, the murder of an old friend, and some backhanded online betting.  I liked this story- and not just because I'm an Anglophile and mystery fan- but also because it's 'bloody good fun'. Who's the killer?? You'll see! I don't feel like I missed anything by reading the condensed version. Enjoyed!
  Second up: The Saddlemaker's Wife by Earlene Fowler. Another page turner. Usually I get a huge Reader's Digest Condensed and end up skipping a story or two, but it didn't look possible in this 2007 edition. The Saddlemaker's Wife is about a woman who ends up in a small California town after the death of her husband. She finds out he had family there and she quietly watches them as she waits to break the news to them that their estranged son had died. Great characters and enjoyable plot. Loved this story.
  Third: The Angels of Morgan Hill by Donna VanLiere. Another winner in this compilation.
 The Angels of Morgan Hill is a story about a small southern town that sees the arrival of some black sharecropper families. A white widow befriends one of the news mothers and when her family suddenly dies in a suspicious fire, widow Jane finds herself raising their little black boy Milo alongside her white children.
 And the fourth novelette in this edition. Echo Park by Michael Connelly. By this point in the book I was ready to move on, so maybe I didn't give this story the attention it deserved. I wasn't a fan of this story, too 'cop-like' and not of particular interest to me. I started it, skimmed, then finally finished early because I have about 10 years of backlogged reading to catch up with.
  So, Overall....three stars out of four on this edition.

A Chance At Forever by Melissa Jagears

My latest blog for Bethany House Books blogger program is A Chance At Forever by Melissa Jagears.

 A Chance At Forever explores the topics of bullying and forgiveness. Mercy finds herself face to face with the bully who teased her about her deformed arm many years ago in their childhood. Aaron is back in town hoping for a fresh start and a second chance. It's in Mercy's hands whether bor not Aaron is accepted for a teaching position, can she put aside her past feelings and forgive him?
 I loved the honest way the book dealt with putting old resentments behind you. In this case, Mercy looked for answers from God, but she also had to make the decision herself that she had to let go and try to see Aaron for who he is today.
  Aaron is a great character who is repentant for his past bullying and doesn't make excuses. He finds himself in a new position to help out boys at an orphanage who are experiencing the same anger he used to feel. Now that he is a changed man, he goes to work trying to show others that they can change for the better too, and I think that is a really good message. The relationship between Aaron and Jimmy is particularly poignant because Aaron sees in Jimmy the troubled boy he used to be, so Aaron takes him under his wing to try to get the boy from going down the same path he did.
  Even Jimmy, the teenage rascal, has qualities about him that don't make him an unlikeable character. You feel there is something under the surface that is causing him to act out. It's revealed later in the book that Jimmy is acting out for a good reason and it makes you sympathize with him and his life.
 The relationships between all these characters are wonderfully drawn out with layers and complications, just like in real life.
  I really enjoyed this novel and I think others will feel the same. It has great storylines, great characters, and a moral about forgiveness and moving on from a troubled past.

Keturah by Lisa T Bergen

My latest blog for Bethany House is Keturah by Lisa T Bergren

  I've got to be honest, my first thought when I read the description for this book was ' Three sister's running a sugar plantation in Nevis?? In 1773?? Am I going to find this interesting? ' But by the end of the first chapter I was hooked.
Keturah Tomlinson, her older sister Verity, and her younger sister Selah receive devastating news of their father's passing at his sugar plantation in tropical Nevis. After years of poor planting conditions and bad management, the business is in a sad state. Because the plantation provides the income for their home in England, Keturah finds herself in the position of becoming the new overseer of this disatrous plantation.  She makes the decision to go to Nevis to see if anything can be done to turn the plantation around. Selah and Verity do not like the thought of being separated from their sister, so they decide to make the journey with her.
  Traveling on the boat with them to Nevis is Keturah's childhood friend Gray. Naturally, there are some feelings between them, but Keturah has just come out of a brutal former marriage and is not ready to fall in love again.
  The novel deals with the themes of slave trading and abuse, and delivers a message of hope without being trite. Keturah's relationship with her slaves grows throughout the story- and with slave Mitilda for a particular reason - as she encounters the racism and cruelty of other plantation neighbors on the island.
  With Gray's help she starts to get the plantation going again, but not before scares of sickness and a mudslide that almost takes her life.
  I loved all the action, and the characters were strong and open minded. The setting of Nevis is lush and exotic and a great backdrop for a romance story. There feels like more story to be told here, with more plantation struggles, the relationship between Katurah and Mitilda, and sister Verity and the captain, so I checked the front cover and was happy to note the book is The Sugar Baron's Daughter's -ONE which means we can expect more of this saga in the future. I will be looking forward to it to the next escape to this tropical paradise with Keturah and Gray.

Gardener's Log Book A Five Year Planner

My latest blog for Blogging For Books is for the Gardeners Log Book a 5 Year Planner.
 I've been gardening for about ten years but I have never kept a detailed log about my planting season but I am going to this year with the help of this little journal.
 The book opens with a map of the united states and the planting zones. My only complaint here is that all of the zones are featured in shades of green, so it's not that easy to differentiate the heartland region.
 The next section is many pages with a gridlike pattern that you fill in with your planting and harvesting dates. I think. It's pretty freeform with no explanation of what you are supposed to fill in on the squares - which are quite small- but I assume this is what it's for.
  The next section is a series of blank pages for journaling. I would use these to record details like weather patterns.
  I can see where a journal like this can be benefial to a gardener. Tracking trends can bring your gardening down to a science.
 I loved the cover design of this little book and the elastic cover holder. It should stand up to several years of use.

Last Stop in Brooklyn by Lawrence H. Levy

My latest blog for Blogging For Books is here, and this month's special is Last Stop in Brooklyn, A Mary Handley Mystery.

  While I mostly enjoyed this book, I wouldn't say it's been my favorite of he Mary Handley series. It lacked a bit of the charm and was a bit on the boring side, but that's mostly me because I've never found police corruption stories too intriguing,

  The parts I enjoyed were Mary's interactions with Teddy Roosevelt, the small history facts and stories that are mixed into the telling of the story, and the relationship between Mary and the book store owner - she shows a gentler side when she is with him that I would like to see more of.

  The parts I didn't enjoy: The mystery itself was a little confusing with too many characters, I just wasn't into it. I also wish Mary would show her friendly, fun loving side more often because at times she seems a little bitter and crude. And then there was her relationship with Harper which didn't get the build up it deserved. An independent woman like Mary should have had more books to develop her relationship before immediately sending her down the aisle.
  Overall, the book was fair. I certainly haven't given up on the series and I hope there is more to come.

A Song Unheard by Roseanna M. White

Here is my latest blog for Bethany House Publishers.

   The first words I thought of when I finished A Song Unheard  were smart, lavish, and beautiful. Unlike some other romances, it is layered with intrigue and historical context. It doesn't skimp on storyline and draws out characters that are both strong and likeable.
  The story centers around Willa and Lukas. Willa is an orphan from London who grew up with a ragtag family of pickpocketers. She meets with a mysterious Mr V who assigns her to find a key from famous violinist Lukas de Wilde. Lukas is staying with two sisters who have organized an orchestra in Wales when Willa shows up to stay with her "old high school friends".
  Lukas has his own story. After escaping from Belgium and the invading German soldiers, he stays with the sisters in Wales until he can earn enough money to help his sister and mother also escape Belgium.
 The story also shows Lukas's family back in Brussels as they hideout during the German invasion. One of the German soldiers, Gottlieb, becomes friendly with the mother and daughter and plays a crucial role in the end of the story.
 Villains, heroes, spies, espionage, and a daring escape...there is a lot to this story. 403 pages long but it didn't feel long. Very enjoyable!

Lone Wolf Lawman by Delores Fossen

 Lone Wolf Lawman has a boom!boom!boom! style of action, where every chapter seems to end with a new twist to the plot. A serial killer father, shoot outs, several stalkers, a twin (!) 
  Does it get a little too convoluted? Yeah, a little. But at least it didn't put me to sleep.

The Manning Sisters by Debbie Macomber

 It looks like I picked up this book way back in October of 2014. Yes, my to-be-read piles are that deep!

  The Manning Sisters was written in 1990 and you can feel it, romance novels of that decade were at their peak of hokum. (Think: Woman Falls in a mud pit, Cowboy slings her over his shoulder, and eloping after 2 weeks and maybe, three dates)
  The Manning Sisters is a two-parter featuring Taylor, the transplanted school teacher who falls in love with a Montana male chauvinist, and her sister Christy, who visits after the inevitable baby is born. Christy meets the local cop during her stay, and it's love at first sight. Next thing you know, she's also thinking about marriage after a two week courtship! Those Seattle sisters move fast!
  Is it cheesey? Yes. But in an Eating-Potato-Chips-During-A-Soap-Opera-Watching-Marathon sort of way. It's good, empty calorie entertainment, and Debbie Macomber never fails to give a fun read.

A Cavalcade of Reviews

 I've fallen behind on my blogging, but I've still been reading like crazy. So, here's a list of brief reviews from a bunch of my latest books'

  Tuesdays With Morrie. I can't imagine anybody reading this and not loving every chapter. It's so full of inspiration, Morrie told his wisdom through his final breaths. The bond between Mitch and this man is as precious as anything you'll ever read. I give it an A.

  The Earthquake Doll by Candace Williams. If you can manage to find this book it is so worth it. It's beautifully written and a treasure chapter after chapter. The Earthquake Doll is set in Japan several years after WW2. Miyoko's father was killed in the war, so she lives with her mother at her aunt and uncle's house. Miyoko gets a job as a babysitter with an American family and becomes friends with thoroughly modern Rumiko next door. Miyoko is faced with an arranged marriage which she is not looking forward to. Front to back, it is a captivating read.

  The Book Thief. This is the audiobook I'm currently listening to. The Book Thief is set in WW2 Germany - I've read many books set in this time period and none of them have ever disappointed. The raw emotion these people face in Nazi Germany is devastating - This story follows 11 year old Leisel and her foster parents during the time of turmoil. I don't want to give anything away, but you will not be disappointed. Check your local library for this gem.

 

The House On Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright

Here is my latest blog for Bethany House Books: The House on Foster Hill.

  The cover of this book features a decrepit curving staircase and  a dusty piano which perfectly captures the setting for Foster Hill House, a creepy ancestral home Kaine Prescott buys sight unseen while running from her stalker in California.
 Kaine feels her husband had been murdered, except the cops didn't believe her, even after a series of stalking teases from the killer. Kaine buys the house in Wisconsin because she wants to escape from her terror in California. She gets to Wisconsin to find the house a ramshackle mess and before long she feels like she's being stalked again.
  Wisconsin was the perfect setting for this, where the atmosphere is cold and grim but the characters are warm and helpful. Kaine soon finds help from a handsome resident but the story doesn't get bogged down in a forced romance, it's written in gracefully and naturally.
  There's a also a second half to the story in the early 1900's that plays out back and forth between chapters. Ivy, Kaine's ancestor, is embroiled in a murder mystery involving Foster Hill House and a dead woman found in a hollowed out tree. You'll see the mystery unraveling throughout generations in an easy to follow manner, making it a deliciously good mystery read.
  I was impressed that this was the author's debut novel, it was as good as anybody with several books under their belt and I expect there to be more after this.
  Great weekend read, especially now in the dead of a cold, gray winter!