Thousand Words by Jennifer Brown

Thousand Words by Jennifer Brown
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Ashleigh's boyfriend, Kaleb, is about to leave for college, and Ashleigh is worried that he'll forget about her while he's away. So at a legendary end-of-summer pool party, Ashleigh's friends suggest she text him a picture of herself -- sans swimsuit -- to take with him. Before she can talk herself out of it, Ashleigh strides off to the bathroom, snaps a photo in the full-length mirror, and hits "send." 

But when Kaleb and Ashleigh go through a bad breakup, Kaleb takes revenge by forwarding the text to his baseball team. Soon the photo has gone viral, attracting the attention of the school board, the local police, and the media. As her friends and family try to distance themselves from the scandal, Ashleigh feels completely alone -- until she meets Mack while serving her court-ordered community service. Not only does Mack offer a fresh chance at friendship, but he's the one person in town who received the text of Ashleigh's photo -- and didn't look. 

Acclaimed author Jennifer Brown brings readers a gripping novel about honesty and betrayal, redemption and friendship, attraction and integrity, as Ashleigh finds that while a picture may be worth a thousand words . . . it doesn't always tell the whole story.

My thoughts: Excellent message of the utmost importance. The story gives the perspective from the naked girl's perspective but also provides a few peeks into the ex-boyfriend and the felony charge he faces along with possibility of being on a sex offender's list which I have long maintained is too broad and needs an overhaul.

The reason for only 3 stars is that, although the story is convincing and gives a fair portrayal of those in a sexting case, the powerful scenes where Ashleigh or anybody else makes a point that is supposed to stick, lacks punch and conviction. Ashleigh's words to Rachel sounded like a Charlie Brown grown up when they really needed to sing.

What I liked is that it brings to the public forum that the consequences if texting a nudie are far reaching and non controllable. It also aptly illustrates the multitude of victims. In this story, although Ashleigh is the obvious victim, so is Kaleb. He didn't ask for a picture but she sent it. Possession of nude photos of children under the age of 18 is also a felony, which is not pointed out. That would make thousands culpable. Distribution of the picture is also a felony as well as downloading it. Her parents become victims as her dad's job is in jeopardy. Completely believable. There are parents in every community that have pursued educators to ruin, guilty or not.

It is a tough subject to tackle and I admire the author for taking it on. It simply wasn't my favorite book on the subject and sometimes felt more like a lecture.

Unwritten: A Novel by Charles Martin

Unwritten: A Novel by Charles Martin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Description:An actress running from her past finds escape with a man hiding from his future.

When someone wants to be lost, a home tucked among the Ten Thousand Islands off the Florida coast is a good place to live. A couple decent boats, and a deep knowledge of fishing and a man can get by without ever having to talk to another soul. It's a nice enough existence, until the one person who ties him to the world of the living, the reason he's still among them even if only on the fringes, asks him for help. 

Father Steady Capri knows quite a bit about helping others. But he is afraid Katie Quinn's problems may be beyond his abilities. Katie is a world-famous actress with an all too familiar story. Fame seems to have driven her to self-destruct. Steady knows the true cause of her desire to end her life is buried too deeply for him to reach. But there is one person who still may be able to save her from herself. 

He will show her an alternate escape, a way to write a new life. But Katie still must confront her past before she can find peace. Ultimately, he will need to leave his secluded home and sacrifice the serenity he's found to help her. From the Florida coast, they will travel to the French countryside where they will discover the unwritten story of both their pasts and their future.

My thoughts: This is not the book I thought it would be. It is not predictable and the ending charmed me. Both characters have much to hide and choose suicide as their only option. Both characters find that there is another option they had not previously examined. One chooses it on purpose. The other kind of follows it because it comes up. Both characters use the down time to heal, pray, find themselves, and become reborn.

The use of symbolism throughout the book offers an extra layer to the story. The book is about gifts, loss, grief, and healing. It is about God and not hiding the proverbial candle under a bushel.

Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman

Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Description: A Southern novel of family and antiques from the bestselling author of the beloved Saving CeeCee Honeycutt

Beth Hoffman’s bestselling debut, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, won admirers and acclaim with its heartwarming story and cast of unforgettable characters. Now her unique flair for evocative settings and richly drawn Southern personalities shines in her compelling new novel, Looking for Me.

Teddi Overman found her life’s passion for furniture in a broken-down chair left on the side of the road in rural Kentucky. She learns to turn other people’s castoffs into beautifully restored antiques, and eventually finds a way to open her own shop in Charleston. There, Teddi builds a life for herself as unexpected and quirky as the customers who visit her shop.  Though Teddi is surrounded by remarkable friends and finds love in the most surprising way, nothing can alleviate the haunting uncertainty she’s felt in the years since her brother Josh’s mysterious disappearance. When signs emerge that Josh might still be alive, Teddi is drawn home to Kentucky.  It’s a journey that could help her come to terms with her shattered family—and to find herself at last.  But first she must decide what to let go of and what to keep.

Looking for Me brilliantly melds together themes of family, hope, loss, and a mature once-in-a-lifetime kind of love. The result is a tremendously moving story that is destined to make bestselling author Beth Hoffman a novelist to whom readers will return again and again as they have with Adriana Trigiani, Fannie Flagg, and Joshilyn Jackson.


My thoughts: I am really trying to determine if this is a 4 or 5 star book. I'm leaning more to 5 star. It's not a book that moves quickly or hits the reader with a big "AHA!" but more of a quiet life, moving along that sneaks up on you by a reflection of life through one of the character's passions.

I don't really know how to explain what the book is about except perhaps a glimpse of the way we make our choices and and choose our paths. We don't get to choose for others but we do get to choose our perspectives and amount of optimism. Our life often reflects our attitude.

Hoffman paints her world with splashes of word color. I've never been to Kentucky but I've seen enough in my head to want to go to Teddi's childhood home. I want to meet Teddi's grandmother in Charleston, if she is still alive. I want to walk into Teddi's shop and watch Albert work his magic and listen to Inez. Of course these are all fictional people but I kept forgetting that was true. Hoffman is truly an artist.

Admittedly, I forgot more often than not to watch for the symbolism in the writing. It was just a book I enjoyed quietly. In retrospect, however, I realize that much of Teddi's life is reflected in work. When struggling through an intricate piece, she is working out a complex life problem. When making repairs on a particularly beautiful and expensive piece of furniture, it is indicative of something in her life. When one of her favorite antiques goes missing from her collection, she mourns the loss only until she finds it and does not reclaim it. It is symbolic of her heart.

Josh is near and dear to my heart for personal reasons reflecting on my own life. Josh is the baby brother of Teddi who becomes one with nature. He is closer to animals than people and becomes symbolic of the Raven, making right the wrongs. The big mystery is if Josh is still alive or if he is dead. He simply disappeared one night. This was his red, white, and blue. Teddi's was the car from her father and some cash to get her through. Also, her chance crossing with Mr. Palmer who changed her life. Later, she pays it forward.

The themes repeat throughout the book and could be studied and discussed at great lengths. The characters can be compared and contrasted in regard to optimism, hope, resistance to change, giving spirit, freedom, work and love. It is apparent when Teddi opens herself to love and uncertainty as she opens herself not only to a man but to life, in general. She becomes more generous and able to let go of memories and physical objects. She also gains much more in return.

Interspersed throughout the book are also Teddi's memories of her childhood; of Josh, her Grammy, her mother and father. New information is offered by Stella and Grammy, along with discoveries as she cleans out the house and barn. The characters are contrasted by their acceptance of what life has dealt them, their willingness to see opportunity or become bitter, and how they either hang on or let go.

The book is much deeper than the story. It touches on many life lessons but I need more time to think about it for a couple of days. Beautifully written.

A Certain Summer by Patricia Beard

A Certain Summer by Patricia Beard
My rating: almost 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads: "Nothing ever changes at Wauregan.” That mystique is the tradition of the idyllic island colony off the shore of Long Island, the comforting tradition that its summer dwellers have lived by for over half a century. But in the summer of 1948, after a world war has claimed countless men—even those who came home—the time has come to deal with history’s indelible scars.

Helen Wadsworth’s husband, Arthur, was declared missing in action during an OSS operation in France, but the official explanation was mysteriously nebulous. Now raising a teenage son who longs to know the truth about his father, Helen turns to Frank Hartman—her husband’s best friend and his partner on the mission when he disappeared. Frank, however, seems more intent on filling the void in Helen’s life that Arthur’s absence has left. As Helen’s affection for Frank grows, so does her guilt, especially when Peter Gavin, a handsome Marine who was brutally tortured by the Japanese and has returned with a faithful war dog, unexpectedly stirs new desires. With her heart pulled in multiple directions, Helen doesn’t know whom to trust—especially when a shocking discovery forever alters her perception of both love and war.

Part mystery, part love story, and part insider’s view of a very private world, A Certain Summer resonates in the heart long after the last page is turned.

My thoughts: This is barely under 4 stars for my tastes.

This book is a lot of history following WWII that is rarely addressed in other books. On the island of Wauregan, the reader sees a microcosm of society following a horrific period of history. It's summer and the quietly elite return to their summer homes to resume life like before the war. Of course, there are absences felt as some of the men did not return. Also becoming apparent is that the men who did return left a vital piece of themselves behind. The scars left on them are rarely ones that can be seen. This is how we meet Peter, a younger man who spent time in a psych. ward before returning to society. This is looked upon with some abhorrence. Peter must be weak if he had to go to the nut house. Of course, it becomes much more apparent that Peter may be a lucky one to have had the time to talk and process the horrors of the war. The other men simply came home with the expectation they would insert themselves into their old lives, carrying their horrors and memories stoically and without repercussions.

Helen doesn't know if she's a war widow or not. She is raising her teenage son while her husband, Arthur, has been missing in action for the past four years. He joined the OSS. and was reported missing. His best friend, Frank, keeps coming around and he intimates that he will find out more as he is in the infancy of the CIA but it is clear from the onset that something is weird about Frank.

The history and glimpses into the lesser known elements of post war are very well researched and covered in the book. Peter returns with a German Shepherd that was used as a scout in the Pacific. There is a history on the use of dogs in war and how they were retrained afterward. The story shows the complete dedication the dogs had to their trainers and owners. This is touching and interesting.

The story gives snippets of the men on the island and the way they are adapting back into civilian life. Some have turned to liquor. Others have become withdrawn. Most have nightmares and awaken to themselves screaming. All have seen and experienced horrific scenes. Other books describe the horrors of war and specifically this war. This book is really about what happened after the conflict ended.

The story itself was interesting although it didn't grab my attention as much as other books have. At the same time, I really did enjoy knowing more about the post war experiences and the way everybody learned to adapt. I was particularly drawn to any of the characters besides Peter and Max. Even Helen was mostly uninteresting to me.

I did like the ending quite a bit. There is appropriately closure with an open invitation that is accepted but the reader is not privy to the actual scene. But the ending is very appropriate.

A Certain SummerA Certain Summer by Patricia Beard

A Certain Summer by Patricia Beard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Description: "Nothing ever changes at Wauregan.” That mystique is the tradition of the idyllic island colony off the shore of Long Island, the comforting tradition that its summer dwellers have lived by for over half a century. But in the summer of 1948, after a world war has claimed countless men—even those who came home—the time has come to deal with history’s indelible scars.

Helen Wadsworth’s husband, Arthur, was declared missing in action during an OSS operation in France, but the official explanation was mysteriously nebulous. Now raising a teenage son who longs to know the truth about his father, Helen turns to Frank Hartman—her husband’s best friend and his partner on the mission when he disappeared. Frank, however, seems more intent on filling the void in Helen’s life that Arthur’s absence has left. As Helen’s affection for Frank grows, so does her guilt, especially when Peter Gavin, a handsome Marine who was brutally tortured by the Japanese and has returned with a faithful war dog, unexpectedly stirs new desires. With her heart pulled in multiple directions, Helen doesn’t know whom to trust—especially when a shocking discovery forever alters her perception of both love and war.


My thoughts: This book is a lot of history following WWII that is rarely addressed in other books. On the island of Wauregan, the reader sees a microcosm of society following a horrific period of history. It's summer and the quietly elite return to their summer homes to resume life like before the war. Of course, there are absences felt as some of the men did not return. Also becoming apparent is that the men who did return left a vital piece of themselves behind. The scars left on them are rarely ones that can be seen. This is how we meet Peter, a younger man who spent time in a psych. ward before returning to society. This is looked upon with some abhorrence. Peter must be weak if he had to go to the nut house. Of course, it becomes much more apparent that Peter may be a lucky one to have had the time to talk and process the horrors of the war. The other men simply came home with the expectation they would insert themselves into their old lives, carrying their horrors and memories stoically and without repercussions.

Helen doesn't know if she's a war widow or not. She is raising her teenage son while her husband, Arthur, has been missing in action for the past four years. He joined the OSS. and was reported missing. His best friend, Frank, keeps coming around and he intimates that he will find out more as he is in the infancy of the CIA but it is clear from the onset that something is weird about Frank.

The history and glimpses into the lesser known elements of post war are very well researched and covered in the book. Peter returns with a German Shepherd that was used as a scout in the Pacific. There is a history on the use of dogs in war and how they were retrained afterward. The story shows the complete dedication the dogs had to their trainers and owners. This is touching and interesting.

The story gives snippets of the men on the island and the way they are adapting back into civilian life. Some have turned to liquor. Others have become withdrawn. Most have nightmares and awaken to themselves screaming. All have seen and experienced horrific scenes. Other books describe the horrors of war and specifically this war. This book is really about what happened after the conflict ended.

The story itself was interesting although it didn't grab my attention as much as other books have. At the same time, I really did enjoy knowing more about the post war experiences and the way everybody learned to adapt. I was particularly drawn to any of the characters besides Peter and Max. Even Helen was mostly uninteresting to me.

I did like the ending quite a bit. There is appropriately closure with an open invitation that is accepted but the reader is not privy to the actual scene. But the ending is very appropriate.

Brandenburg: A Novel by Glenn Meade

Brandenburg: A Novel by Glenn Meade
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Description: 60 years ago, the greatest crime against humanity was committed. Today it's only a heartbeat away from happening again.

In the pulse-pounding tradition of Robert Ludlum, John Le Carre, and Frederick Forsyth, Glenn Meade, the acclaimed, bestselling author of the blockbuster thriller Snow Wolf, delivers unrivaled suspense, unforgettable characters, and a brilliantly absorbing story with a mind-blowing surprise ending.

In Paraguay, a young reporter is found brutally murdered. In Berlin, a political activist is gunned down in the street. In Strasbourg, an international policeman is given the name of a beautiful young German woman-- and the first key to an extraordinary plot...

Joseph Volkmann knows that a string of killings around the world are linked by a single purpose. And he knows that Erica Kranz, whose journalist cousin had stumbled on the story, is linked to the plot. Haunted by the ghosts of the past, driven by the specter of the future, Volkmann and Kranz are about to plunge through a realm of terrorism, fanaticism, and deception-- as they stare at the true face of evil...

My thoughts: This is my second Glenn Meade book and I enjoyed it very much. I really enjoyed The Romanov Conspiracy. This one takes place in present day but draws from the events of German WWII. The evidence is sparse in the beginning and early leads seem to dry out. The protagonist is not a Jason Bourne type but a son of immigrants who lived through the Holocaust. He learned little from his father who was a young Jewish teen at the beginning of the war. What he did learn was mistrust of Germans but particularly children of former SS officers. Which is where Erica enters.

Erica is a beautiful German woman whose first cousin was recently murdered in Paraguay. He had hinted before her departure that he was working on a big story. What she nor Joseph Volkman know is that eventually Erica would have become part of the mystery whether she had contacted the international police or not. The players in the mystery are children of those who had made a pact years before. There is a shocker in the story that the reader might see coming. I did. What I did not know until the end was if Erica was part of the plan or not.

It is a carefully laid out spy thriller. Enjoyable read.

Parallel by Lauren Miller REVIEW

Parallel by Lauren Miller
My rating: 4.75 of 5 stars

Goodreads: Abby Barnes had a plan. Get into a great college, major in journalism, and land her dream job at a major newspaper. But on the eve of her 18th birthday, she's stuck on a Hollywood movie set instead, wishing she could rewind her life. But the next morning, she’s in a dorm room at Yale, with no memory of how she got there. A collision of parallel worlds has left Abby living a new reality every time her younger parallel self makes a new decision. Forced to live out the consequences of a path she didn't choose, Abby must let go on her plans for the future and learn to focus on the present, without losing sight of who she is, the boy who might just be her soul mate, and the destiny that’s finally in reach.


My thoughts: You will notice that I took .25 stars from 5 stars. That's for my own inability to completely conceptualize string theory, space time continuum, and anything having to do with the brilliance of Albert Einstein. That's right. My pride.

This is a similar concept as a book I recently read called Pivot Point. Also, a movie I saw from the Sundance Film Festival called Sliding Doors. Essentially, one decision or event alters the trajectory of a life. This would be an easy enough concept to write about. Safe, tried and true. Instead, the author includes a theory basically based on String Theory. For every decision, parallel lives are lived out on different planes or possibly the past is changed based on the changes made and everybody's memory is rewritten. That's where my comprehension suffered. Because I don't get String Theory. Not that the book is written in a difficult form. It's pretty straight forward and I actually really liked the idea of introducing physicists or astronomy science with Dr. Mann and Wagner.

So Abby falls asleep the night before her 18th birthday and feels some kind of collision occur in her sleep. She wakes up and it's the day before her 17th birthday and her senior year is being rewritten because there was some sort of tremor that knocked out the power and she's late for school. This changed her elective class and the trajectory of her life. In her "real" time, which starts on her 18th birthday, everybody's history has been rewritten and they remember it in the rewritten form. Abby only remembers it one day at a time which is exactly one year and one day behind today.

So Abby senior year is significantly different than the one she lived a year ago. Every day is just a little bit different and more information is added. She is introduced to different people at different times in her parallel lives. Although the book is not touted as a religious book, and it isn't, there are Deity undertones that add a nice stabilizing effect to the story. There is some discussion of fate vs. chaos and chance. Does the collision of parallel lives and Abby's subsequent memories cause events to occur? How much free will does she have?

The characters are well written and multi-layered. The first chapter sets up Abby's whirlwind senior year and the events leading to her current circumstances. It's a nice life and the reader would be drawn to that reality. The next chapters leap frog between the new reality caused by the collision that reset events a year ago and the events from a year ago. Unlike other books I've read with alternate realities, this one paints both with pros and cons. The ending is a little abrupt for my taste but succinctly answers the questions of free will, fate and parallels.

Altogether, a very enjoyable read.

View all my reviews

I Never Promised You a Goodie Bag: A Memoir of a Life Through Events--the Ones You Plan and the Ones You Don't by Jennifer Gilbert

I Never Promised You a Goodie Bag: A Memoir of a Life Through Events--the Ones You Plan and the Ones You Don't by Jennifer Gilbert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads: When Jennifer Gilbert was just a year out of college, a twenty-two-year-old fresh-faced young woman looking forward to a bright future, someone tried to cut her life short in the most violent way. But she survived, and not wanting this traumatic event to define her life, she buried it deep within and never spoke of it again.

She bravely launched a fabulous career in New York as an event planner, designing lavish parties and fairy-tale weddings. Determined to help others celebrate and enjoy life's greatest moments, she was convinced she'd never again feel joy herself. Yet it was these weddings, anniversaries, and holiday parties, showered with all her love and attention through those silent, scary years, that slowly brought her back to life.

Always the calm in the event-planning storm--she could fix a ripped wedding dress, solve the problem of an undelivered wedding cake in the nick of time, and move a party with two days' notice when disaster struck--there was no crisis that she couldn't turn into a professional triumph. Somewhere along the way, she felt a stirring in her heart and began yearning for more than just standing on the sidelines living vicariously through other people's lives. She fell in love, had her heart broken a few times, and then one day she found true love in a place so surprising that it literally knocked her out of her chair.

As Gilbert learned over and over again, no one's entitled to an easy road, and some people's roads are bumpier than others. But survive each twist and turn she does--sometimes with tears, sometimes with laughter, and often with both.

Warm, wise, alternately painful and funny, "I Never Promised You a Goodie Bag" is an inspiring memoir of survival, renewal, and transformation. It's a tale about learning to let go and be happy after years of faking it, proving that while we can't always control what happens to us, we can control who we become. And instead of anticipating our present in a goodie bag at the end of an event, we realize our presence at every event is the real gift.

My thoughts: As a general rule, I don't read many memoirs. Far too often the author lacks objectivity and self-understanding. This is definitely not the case with Jennifer Gilbert. In fact, the clarity for which she often understood her self-sabotaging behavior was insightful and intriguing.

Chances are slim that the ordinary reader is going to be randomly targeted, followed, then repeatedly stabbed with a screwdriver by an enraged stranger. On the other hand, at some point in many reader's lives, there will be a period of time where she learns that the world is not a safe and predictable place. Gilbert takes the reader on her journey of rediscovering joy and contentment after having the safety net ripped out from under her.

I found the book enlightening from a human nature standpoint. Like most adults my age, I have experienced the shocking reality that through no fault of my own, decisions and actions taken by other people can have a devastating impact on me. Feeling helpless often equaled feeling hopeless. When I rebuilt my life after my experiences, I erected false walls that were supposed to keep me safer. Gilbert did the same then spent the next 20 years discovering herself and the truth about safety. It's a wonderful journey that dips into her pity party but moves on to what she did with her grief and fear. How she overcame erroneous beliefs and how she reconnected with people and relearned how to live.

*I received a free copy of this book from publishing company in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins

School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Goodreads: Fifteen-year-old Izzy Brannick was trained to fight monsters. For centuries, her family has hunted magical creatures. But when Izzy’s older sister vanishes without a trace while on a job, Izzy's mom decides they need to take a break.

Izzy and her mom move to a new town, but they soon discover it’s not as normal as it appears. A series of hauntings has been plaguing the local high school, and Izzy is determined to prove her worth and investigate. But assuming the guise of an average teenager is easier said than done. For a tough girl who's always been on her own, it’s strange to suddenly make friends and maybe even have a crush.

Can Izzy trust her new friends to help find the secret behind the hauntings before more people get hurt? 

Rachel Hawkins' delightful spin-off brings the same wit and charm as theNew York Times best-selling Hex Hall series. Get ready for more magic, mystery and romance!

My thoughts: This review is not a fair one since I read the book two weeks ago. However, I DO remember that I enjoyed the book for a number of excellent reasons:

1. Plot. It's an introduction of Izzy and her mother with a phantom of her older sister who disappeared in a routine witch warren hunt. The book establishes Izzy is a girl who has not had a typical childhood but one with hand to hand combat training, witchy spells. This book starts with Izzy botching a vampire capture which takes her to a small town to ghost hunt to build up her confidence. This puts her in a real high school where she makes friends. Absent are the stereotypical "in" crowd, trying to make Izzy's life miserable. Glad to miss that one.

2. Character development. So very excellent. Izzy is funny and full of great reactions. She has no idea how to interact with "friends" and mostly wings it while hoping she's doing it right. Supporting characters are just enough quirky to be memorable. Not over the top but definitely quirky. Best supporting role definitely goes to the man in the mirror.

3. Relationships. Between Izzy and her new friends. Between Izzy and love interest. Between Izzy and the man in the mirror. Very funny, by the way, although I don't trust that guy. Best of all, between Izzy and her mom. The edges soften as they redefine their relationship with the sister missing yet I really did like Izzy's mom.

4. The ending. No dangly strings yet clearly the first in a series. I look forward to reading this series. I did not tire of it even for a moment.

5. Clean. I'm handing it to my daughters to read. That's a 5 star deal right there.

One Drop at a Time by M. Russell Ballard

One Drop at a Time by M. Russell Ballard

Book Description: Do you sometimes wonder if your little efforts could possibly make any difference at all? Consider a simple example from nature.

Honey is “one of the foods that includes all the substances— enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and water—necessary to sustain life,” writes Elder M. Russell Ballard. And yet, “Over its short lifetime of just a few weeks to four months, a single honeybee’s contribution of honey to its hive is a mere one-twelfth of one teaspoon. Though seemingly insignificant when compared to the total, each bee’s one-twelfth of a teaspoon of honey is vital to the life of the hive.”

Your simple, daily acts of service matter, and this charmingly illustrated little book will lift your heart as it demonstrates the power of many righteous people working together to fill the world, one drop at a time, with the sweet truths of the gospel.

My thoughts: This book is an adaptation of M. Russell Ballard's talk given in the L.D.S. General Conference talk entitled, "Be Anxiously Engaged." There are a few differences in word but the overall message remains the same: Our service matters.

Using the analogy of the honey bee, he uses his words to paint a picture of a colony of bees. Over the short lifetime of a honey bee, one of insect produces 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey. It seems so insignificant on its own yet, each bee depends on one another and work in tandem to make a hive productive and workable. This concept has been building on my mind all week, even before I read this book and was reminded of this talk.

A friend of mine is suffering an unimaginable tragedy. He and his wife are bereft and completely heartbroken. I felt presumptuous talking to them two nights ago. Although he is a dear and old friend, his wife and I are mere acquaintances. Yet in the weeks following the tragedy, I have felt a growing urgency to see her. What could I offer that others hadn't given her? Or maybe it was him. Still, I felt like it was not my place to offer condolences or words of possible comfort as I pulled up in the driveway and sat in the living room with my friend.

My inferiority and doubts of even showing up solidified when his wife walked in the room and my wonderful, shiny degrees that I hung on my walls that proved that I was a trained counselor, fell tarnished as I followed my gut. I walked up to her, wrapped my arms around her and we sobbed. And sobbed. And then we cried and talked for the next two hours. Leaning heavily on the crying part. 

It isn't as if they are not surrounded by friends and family so I wondered what I had to offer that was unique. Maybe nothing. Probably my visit will disappear in the blur of the aftermath they both want to forget. But I was at least one of the twelve who were willing and able to give what I have. I am convinced that anything I said was not life altering. I believe I provided a little comfort for a short time. Somebody else could have done what I did which was show up, listen, and cry with them. My contribution is not outstanding but I showed up.

During the visit, her brother materialized. She had requested a blessing and I was honored that my friend asked me to stay. In the short, chaotic moments after her blessing, my friend turned to me and told me that he had a challenge for me. Write another verse to the popular poem, "Footprints in the Sand" that addressed the idea of looking back and seeing the hundreds of footprints in the sand of the people we meet along the journey that buoy us up, sometimes carry us, encourage us, and pray for us. The collective and proverbial village is holding the family up.

My contribution may only be 1/12 of a teaspoon. But it is a privilege to look back on the sand and know my footprints are mixed with great men and women who served these good people by offering all they have and those whose offering was to simply show up. Our footprints bisect and intersect one another. The sand is stained with the tears we shed with one another over a particularly heavy indentation as we leaned upon one another and lightened our loads by sharing the burden even for a few moments. Yet eventually we will notice the strong, steady prints that never deviate from our path. They are on a higher plane and often only seen after leaning on the many, touching them and being touched by them. No single man or woman can carry our burdens for long but One has been carrying our burdens all along. 

The Face of the Earth: A Novel by Deborah Raney

The Face of the Earth: A Novel by Deborah Raney
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Goodreads: When Mitchell Brannon’s beloved wife of twenty years kisses him goodbye one morning, he has little idea that his life is about to change forever. Mitch returns from work early that evening, surprised Jill’s car isn’t in the garage. But her voice on the answering machine makes him smile. “Hey, babe, I’m just now checking out of the hotel, but I’ll stop and pick up something for dinner. Love you.” Hours later, Jill still hasn’t returned, and Mitch’s irritation turns to dread.

When the police come up empty, Mitch enlists the help of their next-door neighbor, Jill’s best friend, Shelley, to help search. As days turn into weeks and weeks into months, Mitch and Shelley’s friendship grows ever closer––and decidedly more complicated. Every lead seems to be a dead end, and Mitch wonders how he can honor the vows he made to a woman who has seemingly disappeared off the face of the earth.

My thoughts: The story is a good one. What happens when your spouse is unaccounted for? How do you move on? Do you move on? In this case, Jill leaves a message for her husband that she is on her way home then never makes it. The days turn to weeks and the weeks to months. In the meantime, the attraction between Mitch and Shelley grows. What is the moral and ethical way to handle this?

I liked the way the author handled the topic. I loved the way the marriage was treated as sacred even when Mitch didn't know if Jill was taken, left, or died. Mitch still viewed the marriage promises he made to Jill and to God as a sacred covenant even when he briefly questioned Jill's dedication. (view spoiler)[Now that I write that last sentence, I understand the reason for bringing the old boyfriend into the story. I thought it was a weird, random story line but I now I realize that the reader needed to wonder about all of the possibilities in order to fully appreciate Mitch's dedication. (hide spoiler)]

It's a well written novel that provides a stark contrast to the eroding societal beliefs on marriage. For that I give it five stars. For the rest (story interest, engagement, character development), I give it 3.5

A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty

A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goodreads: Madeleine Tully lives in Cambridge, England, the World – a city of spires, Isaac Newton and Auntie’s Tea Shop.

Elliot Baranski lives in Bonfire, the Farms, the Kingdom of Cello – where seasons roam, the Butterfly Child sleeps in a glass jar, and bells warn of attacks from dangerous Colours.

They are worlds apart – until a crack opens up between them; a corner of white – the slim seam of a letter.

A mesmerising story of two worlds; the cracks between them, the science that binds them and the colours that infuse them.

‘Perfectly strange, and absolutely comical and heartfelt ... Jaclyn Moriarty is one of the most original writers we have.’ – Markus Zusak

My thoughts: Absolutely delightful! The humor is hilariously subtle. The best part of the book (I know I should say it was the story) is the relationships between the characters. The second best part of the book (still not the story) is the dialogue between the characters. Really, we could just put the "Heading" of the best part as being the humor. It is British humor; not over the top but enough to get the giggle going.

The concept is very clever and unique. There is a land that decided to close itself off to the rest of the world based on the Black Plague. It was really nasty business, the Black Plague, and just easier to avoid by closing off the borders. I don't know where this other land exists but it is not on the physical earth as we know it. On the other hand, occasionally, a crack shows up and there can be some communication between this world and the other world which is exactly what happens. Just a corner and not big enough for a person to fit through but enough for a note or a letter. This is how Elliot and Madeleine communicate and help one another with life biggest questions.

It is utterly strange and unique. I can't wait for book 2.

The Originals by Cat Patrick

The Originals by Cat Patrick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A riveting new story from Cat Patrick, author of Forgotten and Revived.

17-year-olds Lizzie, Ella, and Betsey Best grew up as identical triplets... until they discovered a shocking family secret. They're actually closer than sisters, they're clones. Hiding from a government agency that would expose them, the Best family appears to consist of a single mother with one daughter named Elizabeth. Lizzie, Ella, and Betsey take turns going to school, attending social engagements, and a group mindset has always been a de facto part of life...

Then Lizzie meets Sean Kelly, a guy who seems to see into her very soul. As their relationship develops, Lizzie realizes that she's not a carbon copy of her sisters; she's an individual with unique dreams and desires, and digging deeper into her background, Lizzie begins to dismantle the delicate balance of an unusual family that only science could have created. 


My thoughts: I really love Cat Patrick. She brings "Novel" back to novels. Sure, she includes relationships and some of the teenage drama that goes with it but she always adds a twist. The twist is introduced in the beginning and the details work themselves out by the end. One book was about a girl who has no memory of yesterday. Only the future. Every night her mind resets. Another was about a girl who died a lot. The twist is that she could be revived.

This time the story is about Elizabeth Best who lives with her single mother. The twist is that Elizabeth is three people who are living as one person but they are clones. The problems arise when they begin to exert their individuality because, although they look identical, they are very unique. They are living as one person so they are not found. Their mother is the scientist who cloned them.

Any more info will ruin the conflict but the POV is told by Lizzie, the unconventional and artistic of the three. Ella is more preppy and academic while Betsy is simply more adventurous and willing to plot ways around the rules. Enter Dave who Ella likes and Sean who Lizzie likes. That is a catalyst. But there is so much more because that is the way Patrick writes. The girls are spunky and make the story more interesting with dialogue.

Loved it.

The Beginning of Better Days (Mother's Day Spotlight that Doesn't Make You Feel Guilty)

Mother's Day Spotlight

How important are women in the restored church of Jesus Christ? We learn something about the answer to the question from a simple historic fact: In 1842, the Prophet Joseph Smith took time to attend several meetings of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo and give personal instruction to the women there. He did this at a time of great personal turmoil, when persecutions were raging and his responsibilities were heavy. He did it at a time when society barely acknowledged women as having any kind of status at all. On six separate occasions, he taught the women personally about their privileges, their opportunities, their obligations, and the blessings the Lord had in store for them in His kingdom.

The Beginning of Better Days includes Joseph Smith's six timeless sermons to the women of Nauvoo, along with personal essays from Sheri Dew and Virginia H. Pearce that help us better understand the sermons and their relevance for Latter-day Saint women today. "We have attempted to share a little about our own processes of discovery regarding the sermons," writes the authors. "This is what worked for us. What works for you may be similar — or it may be completely different. The important thing is to dig in."

Read the Entire Article: LDS Women's Book Review of The Beginning of Better Days by Mindy (Click Here)

The Time of my Life by Cecelia Ahern Review

"Dear Lucy Silchester, You have an appointment for Monday, May 30, 2011. Yours sincerely, Life."
Lucy Silchester keeps receiving this appointment card and sweeping the envelope under the rug. Literally. Instead, she has busied herself with work (a job she doesn't love), helping out friends, fixing her car, feeding her cat, seeing her family, and devoting her time to their life dramas. But she's stuck in a rut and deluding everyone. Only Lucy knows the real truth.

Then one day life shows up at her door, in the form of a rather run-down man in an old suit, who is determined to bring about change. Life follows Lucy everywhere—the office, bars—meets her flabbergasted friends, and won't let Lucy off the hook. What she learns in the process is that some of the choices she's made, and stories she's told, aren't what they seem either. Now her stubborn half-truths are going to be revealed in all their glory . . . unless Lucy learns to tell the truth about what really matters to her.

My thoughts: I started the book with an open mind. First of all, there is British humor which is becoming astonishing more like American humor, although still more subtle. I like that. I found the writing style to be mostly easy and flowing. One reviewer complained about run on sentences but I found that it lent itself to the way Lucy thought which was without pause. She didn't have time for her life and certainly had no time for punctuation. 

The story is quite clever and nothing I would have dreamed of. Lucy is nearing her thirtieth birthday and her life is in shambles. Once upon a time she had a fabulous job, a beautiful boyfriend, and a huge flat. Not an apartment, mind you. A flat. British colloquialisms used yet nothing we American readers haven't heard. I've read other British books and been flabbergasted by colloquialism meaning. This one is written in American style so there are no errors in interpretation. So 

Back to Lucy, today she lives in a tiny apartment with an illegal cat. She hates her job which is writing descriptions for appliances in four different languages including Spanish except that she lied about the Spanish and employs someone on the side to write that part for her. And she's single and still mourning the loss of her last relationship with Blake who is now traveling the world and making a weekly television show. This is where Life enters. And this is where I found myself drawn in. Life is a man of unknown age. He is rumpled and unkempt. Life is a personification of Lucy's life which she hasn't paid attention to in three years. Perhaps more. Life has been tasked with fixing Lucy's life and that is all he does.

What I most enjoyed about the story was the relationships between Lucy and Life, Lucy and her brother, and Lucy and her mother. I liked the developing relationship between Lucy and Don but the best was Lucy, Life, and Blake. Particularly when Life gets his first good look at Blake. I actually laughed out loud. Well written scene that played out in my mind's eye. Life is very funny.

Inevitably, Life makes Lucy accountable which makes her life a little more messy. On the other hand, when Lucy stops believing her own lies and telling her lies, Life and her own life clarify themselves. When Lucy takes the time to really make a decision about what she wants in her life, the story comes to a natural conclusion and I was sorry to see the personification of her life change. Loved his rashes, pimples, "I hate you!" and all the other foibles that were very easy to watch in my head. I thought the neighbor's belief in her own story was an interesting extension.

Overall, I liked the book. It was good entertainment. Not life changing (for me) but I know I like Cecelia Ahern and the way her mind creates a new idea.

Transparent by Natalie Whipple Review

Transparent by Natalie Whipple
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goodreads: Plenty of teenagers feel invisible. Fiona McClean actually is.

An invisible girl is a priceless weapon. Fiona’s own father has been forcing her to do his dirty work for years—everything from spying on people to stealing cars to breaking into bank vaults.

After sixteen years, Fiona’s had enough. She and her mother flee to a small town, and for the first time in her life, Fiona feels like a normal life is within reach. But Fiona’s father isn’t giving up that easily.

Of course, he should know better than anyone: never underestimate an invisible girl.

My thoughts: Okay, I read a digital ARC so I can't really be quoting this book. But if I DID quote the opening paragraph, it would read something like this:

"I nearly died the second I was born. The doctor dropped me, but it wasn't his fault. When I smacked the floor and let out a screeching cry, all anyone could see was the semitransparent umbilical cord. The poor guy scooped me up, grasping in shock at my invisible body."

Sold on the first paragraph. But you should see the first chapter past the Prologue. Wow.

Here's the premise: Driven by fear of radioactive poisoning due to the Cold War, people took a little blue pill called Radiasure. It was supposed to protect from radiation poisoning. Whether it did or not is beside the point. There were side affects that could not be foreseen. Small for the generation that took the drug, their DNA was rearranged to some small degree. It played out more acutely in their children. Then their children's children. What they birthed were children with mutations that included anything from unwanted hair to weird abilities. Fiona is the only known case of invisibility. She's never even seen herself.

So some of the powerful crime lords either recruit or couple with others who have mutated DNA to create super criminals. Fiona is a child of a crime lord and she wants out for reasons set up in the book. She may be invisible but she is not immune to mobsters and thugs, particularly those with super abilities.

I want to say more but I'm afraid I'll give spoilers. Let me simply say that the story's pace is well timed, the character depth and detail is well developed, and the supporting characters are consistent without being boring.

It's an original story line with interesting characters with fun quirks. Expect some farm words and a bit of violence but an overall clean read. I enjoyed the unexpected twists and the fact that the book can stand on its own or continue into a series. I don't know if there is another down the road but if there is, I'll read it.

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