Unrivaled review

Summary: Three-Time Christy Finalist Pens Another Winning Historical Romance
Lucy Kendall always assumed she'd help her father in his candy-making business, creating recipes and aiding him in their shared passion. But after a year traveling in Europe, Lucy returns to 1910 St. Louis to find her father unwell and her mother planning to sell the struggling candy company. Determined to help, Lucy vows to create a candy that will reverse their fortunes.
St. Louis newcomer Charlie Clarke is determined to help his father dominate the nation's candy industry. Compromise is not an option when the prize is a father's approval, and falling in love with a business rival is a recipe for disaster when only one company can win. Will these two star-crossed lovers let a competition that turns less than friendly sour their dreams?

My Take:

I am such a fan of Siri Mitchell that her books are nearly always on my "must have" list -- even before I know what they're about or what the reviews are like. This one does not make my favorites list though. The premise is good but it lacks . . . the depth that is normally present in her books. Her books are normally rich with material on theme, symbolism, character growth and qualities, historic information . . ..

There were two gems in this one: the candy descriptions and information (recipes would have been fun) and Charlie's character. I started off the book thinking Lucy was a great character but she seemed to sink lower and lower -- doing mean and bad things with irritating frequency. She was also self-absorbed. She didn't think about her friend Sam having a life, dreams, desires. She really only thought of how he could help her. 

Charlie seemed to nearly always think of other people. He supported his mother and sisters at home, then wanted to help Lucy and make her more comfortable, wanted to help the workers at the factory, and he tried to please his father. He wasn't perfect, but you could see him trying and it was easy to relate to him. He tried to do the right thing. 

The candy and historical information was fun, but it lacked real romance and sparks between our two leads.

The things I wasn't as fond of in this book wouldn't stop me from suggesting several of her past books, or reading something published by her in the future. 

The Tutor's Daughter - Review

Summary: Emma Smallwood, determined to help her widowed father regain his spirits when his academy fails, agrees to travel with him to the distant Cornwall coast, to the cliff-top manor of a baronet and his four sons. But after they arrive and begin teaching the younger boys, mysterious things begin to happen and danger mounts. Who does Emma hear playing the pianoforte, only to find the music room empty? Who sneaks into her room at night? Who rips a page from her journal, only to return it with a chilling illustration?

The baronet's older sons, Phillip and Henry, wrestle with problems--and secrets--of their own. They both remember Emma Smallwood from their days at her father's academy. She had been an awkward, studious girl. But now one of them finds himself unexpectedly drawn to her.

When the suspicious acts escalate, can the clever tutor's daughter figure out which brother to blame... and which brother to trust with her heart?

My Take:

I'm a huge fan of Jane Austen, Bronte's Jane Eyre, and Julie Klassen so this had an irresistible flavor for me. I'm a carb lover and this was like homemade bread fresh out of the oven or warm chocolate chip cookies. It hits my favorite list.

What I liked was although this book evoked the same kind of feeling you get with Austen and Bronte, it isn't a carbon copy of them. 

The characters are truly interesting and well rounded. There are places that make you laugh -- and others that you end up reading as fast as you can to see what is going to happen next. This is one of those books I could see myself re-reading from time to time.  

Windows 8

Right before we moved my computer died. It is interesting to note it was exactly four days after the warranty expired. Four days. {sigh} I use and depend on my computer for so much that I needed a replacement fast.

So, I bought a new computer and it came pre-installed with Windows 8. I hadn't heard much about it at the time and I thought it was just an upgraded Windows 7.

I was wrong. Very wrong.

Here is my completely unprofessional (I'm not a computer expert) opinion of my experience with Windows 8 . . .

I hated it.

Okay, so that wasn't very helpful. Windows 8 appears to be designed to use on touchscreens. It operates like the apps you use on your phone or e-reader. That is great if you have a touchscreen -- not so much if you are using a regular computer. There is no start button and a lot of your programs are hidden away and difficult to find.

Navigation in general is very different in Windows 8. Your control panel and other settings that used to be so easy to find with a start menu are . . .  hiding. I stumbled upon the control panel once and then couldn't remember how I got there the next time because I had tried so many things. {grrrr} You hover your mouse on the sides or bottom of the screen to try and access other menus. Make sure you hit just the right spot though . . . or it won't pull up.

The music isn't handled by Media Player anymore; they use the X-Box music software. A lot of people love that on the X-Box, but it isn't as user friendly for the computer. The same goes for their pdf reader. I couldn't print anything from it - so unless you just want to look at the pdf, it was basically useless and annoying. The same sort of thing is true for the program that handles pictures.

The good news is that you can install a start button that pulls up a start menu and replace the standard music, pdf, and photo programs with more user friendly and familiar versions. I did that and I now have a good mix of both worlds.

I'm still learning the system and maybe with more time it won't feel so awkward. Anyone else started using Windows 8? Do you love or hate it?

Hanging Jewelry

Moving forces (I mean offers you the opportunity) to think about how you've been doing things and make changes. Storage is always an issue and I discovered a new way for me to organize my jewelry.

The picture on the right is of two (out of four) tie racks that I hung in my closet to hold my necklaces. Each rack has twenty-seven hangers. :o)  That is so much better than trying to store them all in those jewelry chests that have up to twelve hangers. I have used wire racks on the floor too.

I like these because they were inexpensive ($8.00 each), they don't take up half the space of the other options I've tried, the necklaces and bracelets don't get tangled like when they're stored in cubbies or drawers, I can space them so even my extra long necklaces fit, and I can see them all in a glance. It makes me happy every time I walk into my closet. :o)

I make jewelry too, so having the space to display all my jewelry is wonderful.

Okay - back to unpacking . . .

So Shines The Night

Summary: In a city teetering at the brink of anarchy, Daria finds hope among people of The Way.

She escaped a past of danger and found respite in beautiful Ephesus, a trading center on the Aegean coast, serving as tutor to Lucas, the wealthy merchant who rescued her.

But the darkness she fled has caught up with her.

The high priests of Artemis once controlled the city, but a group of sorcerers are gaining power. And a strange group who call themselves followers of The Way further threaten the equilibrium. As Daria investigates Lucas s exploits into the darker side of the city, her life is endangered, and she takes refuge in the strange group of believers. She s drawn to Paul and his friends, even as she wrestles with their teachings.

When authorities imprison Lucas for a brutal crime, Daria wonders if even Paul s God can save him. Then she uncovers a shocking secret that could change everything Lucas s fate, her position in his household, and the outcome of the tension between pagans and Christians. But only if she survives long enough to divulge what she knows.

My Take: I am a big fan of Tracy Higley because she makes history come alive. I can feel the elbows and shoulders pressing into me as she fights the crowds. I can imagine the tall columns of the temple, the smell of people and animals . . . She describes everything in a very powerful way.

The characters are complex and interesting. I like watching them grow and learn -- the evolution of their beliefs and motivations. I can relate to them as well. Lucas - driven by his desire to assuage his own guilt and exact revenge for the death of his wife and child. Daria trying to make a secure place for herself, to understand and control the world around her, and to know whether the darkness in Lucas is something she can save him from. They both struggle with their ideas about faith and the groups vying for control over the people.

This was a great story that will stay in my memory for a long time. I want to thank Thomas Nelson for providing my copy in exchange for this honest review.

Every Perfect Gift

Summary: Sophie has spent a lifetime guarding her heart and a long-held secret. It will take all of her courage to speak the truth and embrace the future God has planned for her.

The year is 1886, and Sophie Robillard returns to Hickory Ridge, Tennessee, after living in Texas for 15 years as the ward of Ada and Wyatt Caldwell. Now that the town's population has exploded, her intention is to reopen the long-defunct newspaper office that so captivated her when she was still an orphan. The rejection she experienced as a child because of her mixed parentage has left deep scars that she hopes can be healed by succeeding in this new venture.

Ethan Heyward was uprooted from his home as a boy following an unspeakable tragedy. Horace Blakely, a millionaire businessman, took Ethan under his wing and eventually put him in charge of the construction and opening of Blue Smoke resort in Hickory Ridge.

They meet when Sophie arrives at Blue Smoke to interview Ethan for her newspaper. As their attraction deepens, each hides a secret that, if revealed, could end their relationship.

My Take:

This warrants a 3 1/2 stars. I loved the way this book tied into the past and characters we're familiar with. There is a lot of explanation about those relationships but they are side plots that don't interfere with the main story. It also has a truly beautiful cover that I kept looking at over and over.

Sophie is a bit of a puzzle to me. In some regards she seems a strong and determined woman. She moves away from home to own and run a newspaper. That was a brave and atypical move for a woman in that era. She has constant doubts though. She doesn't think people will accept her because of her biracial status - but there aren't any incidents in the present to indicate that. She actually receives a lot of support (other than those who believe her work is unacceptable). She doubts Ethan's love and forgiveness despite his visits, gifts, kisses, smiles . . . After a while I wanted to yell at her that it was obvious he loved her and had moved past it. I admired the way she stood up for her friends and for what she believed was right.

Ethan is a good man who is very talented at his work - but finds his boss (and the boss' methods) frustrating and unacceptable. He also has a past that haunts him.

This was a satisfying and enjoyable end to a wonderful series.
I was offered an e-book of this title for review by BookSneeze - but I had already purchased it for myself. Their offer has in no way influenced my review.

Through Rushing Water

Summary: When the life she planned for herself is snatched away, Sophia's eyes open to the life God has planned for her.

Sophia Makinoff is sure that 1876 is the year she's going to become the wife of an up-and-coming congressman. But when the congressman humiliates her by proposing to her mousy roommate,
Sophia wants nothing more than to disappear and avoid the wedding plans. She grasps at her first opportunity for escape and signs up for the Board of Foreign Missions.

She thinks she'll be going to China . . . but even running away doesn't go as planned when she's instead sent to the Ponca Indian Agency in the Dakota Territory. It's an abysmal, primitive place for a lady of society, but as she gets to know the people, she discovers she can't abandon them. The motives that led her there were anything but pure, but she finds a new purpose in trying to protect "the least of these."

The water rushes around her—literally and figuratively—as Sophia learns that the only way to fulfill her purpose is to ignore the distractions and focus on God's leading.

My take:

One of the things I enjoyed so much about this book was how easy it was to relate to the charachters. Sophia starts off a little proud and overly sure of herself and what her life will hold. Working with the Indians makes her feel . . . small and insignificant. She sees so much need and doesn't know how she can make a dent in the problems.

Many of us can relate to these feelings. Ignoring the rushing water is a concept I hope I never forget.

The conditions for the Indians made my heart break. The fascinating thing was how positive they were most of the time -- and how grateful for every small thing they were given. Instead of sitting around and complaining, they worked to try and make their situation better, take care of each other, and preserve their culture while still learning new things to better cope in their changed world.

This was a very inspirational book and I want to thank the publisher for providing my copy. It in no way influenced my review.