A Room Of Books

 LeBeau Land is where three families are living. It is now spring. Each person has their personal way of seeing spring by the lake. Their thoughts about the scenery, the others or hunting is interesting. The hard part is remembering the names of the lake dwellers. I would not want to put the wrong wife with a wrong husband or the wrong mother with a child. A bit of Philosophy: Names are important. Besides, their names are important because one story bleeds into the next story. This keeps my stomach in a knot. Will I remember Jean is the one who runs the post office or...For now, I am interested in Sarah's floor loom. I wonder at the size of and is it truly relaxing.

 Jude's father has money. Jude Alexander Landon looks just like his father. For Julian, it is all about Landon Energy. It is a sad time. Juliaan has died. His son, Jude, is finding it hard to pull himself together. The funeral is crowded. Attending the funeral are only three Black people. One of those people is Genevieve Elizabeth Francis. So often we read about those Blacks who are at the poverty level or maybe in the middle of the economy. This is what makes this book exciting. It is about people we do not hear about often.

 These characters in Real Americans are authentic Americans. They feel what we have felt at one time. Lily faces  the adjustment to being American. It is difficult because of her Chinese ancestry. Lily wonders why she needs to become friends with every Chinese American. She does not know every Chinese person. In some complicated way she is missing out on being thought of as a full American. In a way, it is a lack of freedom. It is a way of boxing her into a stereotype. It is hard for them to believe you are one who has been born in America.  It is not complicated to Lily. It is complicated to Americans. I suppose Lily will have to accept the fact that some Americans have closed minds.

   Like all poems, these in The Span of a Small Forever by April Gibson , are very emotional. Your soul will connect to another human being unknown or known. In one,  I think of my mother who had cancer. However, thinking.of young people with such horrible symptoms is very painful. We can not reach deeply into their spirits but poetry almost takes us there. Illness takes us on an unwanted visit whether we are a parent or whomever we might know, relative or friend.  In the end, we come away with a better understanding. One of the many important thoughts is that illness is a common denominator. The rich are no different from the poor. The real pain, the dark dreams are the same in each case. They are just given another name. Also, the stellar question is asked why? Because of my lack in understanding of Religion, Ethics or Spirituality, I am not sure. In one verse, I hear the voice of a mother. Her children unwilling to leave her in that room, and she is distraught to see them go. The b

Both the Birders and the birds are exciting in Trish O'Kane's book. If you have never paid attention to birds, you will change. The book is great. You begin to care about a Bald eagle and a blind finch. Really, any bird will make you look up and around you. Birds are adored  for their beauty and their songs. There are so many reasons to love birds. Watching blackbirds fly in the sky as they match bird steps like those who walk in a parade. Their pattern is the same. They "tilt" to the side.Birds know all about coordination. We can learn from birds while having fun. It is a type of quiet or frenzied worship. There is a place and a purpose for all of us. Now, how much are those binoculars I would like to buy?

In one day Erin's world breaks apart like a glass Christmas ball. It just proves you can never put your whole heart into one thing or one person. More than likely you will face disappointment. Erin is so fragile. This makes me feel so sorry for her. She does not want pity. She just wants a way to carry on as if her boat is not sinking. Freya Kennedy's characters seem more than real. Easily, their problems become your problems. You just feel what they are going through. One lady is an author. When she experiences writer's block, she comes to the restaurant to get a sweet. You really feel her anxiety. Has her muse gone for good? I would certainly read another Freya Kennedy novel. The characters are wonderful. It takes place in Ireland. The street with the community shops is like one of those shops in a dollhouse. If you have time, cross your fingers in hopes that Erin will feel better and move forward. She is baking like a mad woman. So, I suspect everything is going to turn

 I have fallen in love with Baby Marlowe and Molly Pink. I like Peter too. He is quite the adventurer. My problem is that there are so many characters. I am falling over the feet of people. Plus, I wanted more talk about crochet.

 Oh boy, there is a fight beginning here. It is not a play fight either. Never one wanting to fight or to watch a fight I feel afraid for Marian. She is concerned with the preservation of the Mission House. Others wish to see it destroyed. I guess there are no longer many peaceful protests. Already, a dead body has been found in the Mission House. More and more there is the hope that more men and women will have the attitudes of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King. Being involved with the Mission House means sharing thoughts with the National Park Service. Some say the Mission House was never built there. So, it is on the way to becoming a place for the electric company and not a historical landmark. Differing opinions are jarring to the nerves. How will it all end? It is not the most exciting literary writing. I had to pull myself through each page. This does not mean the words in the book are not important. It brings to mind what we want to leave to our children and what we do not

 Felice  Worthington dreads taking Ryan to dinner at her home. It is there he will meet all of the family. The family has it all: they are wealthy and highly educated with careers. Around the table they are not just served coffee. They are serving dishes of ego. Felice cringes in her seat as Ryan is made to feel smaller than small. One wonders do we realize we are acting like fools or are we just pretentious? It is always fun to read about families.All families are so different. We can learn from them as they stand or fall apart. I would love to remember the statement written by Leo Tolstoy in Anna Karenina. I am sure it fits Lynn Ellen's novel Returning To Hattie.

 DeAndrea, little Nina and Malik, the father and husband, are on the way to a new life. They have been living in Atlanta, Georgia. Now, they are moving to Rolling Hills, Virginia where the population is mostly White. In Atlanta the majority of the communities are Black. De Andrea has many friends in Atlanta. She calls them her besties. Life seems perfect living close to Buckhead. Now, she will need to make new friends who will not necessarily understand her Black culture. Nor will she know anything about their way of life. Life will certainly become a challenge. Like on a roller coaster ride, she will need to hold on tightly and maintain some sort of self control for Nina, Malik and herself as they begin this current journey. She does not regret sharing this new experience with her therapist. She also keeps God in her thoughts. Ultimately, She wants to carve out time for herself. Giving so much to family time has caused her to lose herself. Her identity is fuzzy. Who am I has become a

 Luna is her name. She is traveling in her car with her mother's ashes. When she receives a call from home, the discussion is about how long she has been mourning her mother and looking for answers to what is unknown in her life. She is quietly, gently told it has been too long. She must let her mother go and live without mourning. The book is deeply personal. The cover shows that Luna, named after the moon, will find love and happiness again. I begin to wonder is there a number of days or months or even years when family or friends should stop thinking about the one or ones they have lost.As Luna searches her mother's past, mystery piles upon mystery.  Some times love is complicated.

The business  is concerned with the welfare of those who are grieving. Sophie knows how difficult it to maintain a straight head while striving to make sense of memories. In other words,  removing the clothing and settling the business affairs of those who have gone before us. Sherwood Forest is where Sophie is staying. Her new client is Hattie. Sophie explores the property with Gideon and Sophie. In  this family, there is a love of gardening.  Beth Moran's descriptions of the gardens and the orangery are wonderful. You feel as though you are at Sherwood. Hattie Hood begins telling her story to Sophie who is like a family historian. It is hard to maintain interest when a person travels far back in time. So, some of the details were lost to me. The writing is so sentimental and beautiful there is no need not worry about being lost for long. Sophie's problem is trying not to get too emotional. She has a family history too. If you are not afraid of hearing about the suffering of o

On a luxurious ship, Flora, a governess, finds a dead body. She gives the body a good looking over before calling for help. Her behavior does not seem like what the usual female sleuth would display when finding a corpse. Flora is determined to live life in the way she wishes to live it. She is very likable, easy going. The ship continues its journey. The food is good and the travelers are interesting. There is an actress and an author on board. There is no blood. What happened to Mr. Parnell? Maybe Bunny Harrington will add more news. They know next to nothing about this Mr. Parnell.

 Cassie has a dream to own, one day, a B&B. She finds the one she likes, Hindon House. However, everything that is happening is not joy, joy, joy. She has a pain in her heart. She is trying to wash all the hurt away. It does not go away quickly. She must work through it.Hoping that the emotional work will allow her to move forward to a new life. Cassie is very determined not to allow her past to follow her. She sells all her furniture and jewelry to get away from the hurtful memories. One friend hopes she is not making too many hasty decisions. The author, Valerie Keogh, has a great writing style. Can we move too quickly trying to heal our broken world? Find out in The Housekeeper.

if  Where is David? David is Jen's love. He has begged off for the holidays because of work in Greece. Is this true? I think he has been kidnapped. His behavior is very strange. He does not return any of Jen's phone calls. Jen has reached a spot in her life where much is unknown.  Still, it is Christmas. A time when she is happy and comforted She loves Christmas so much she wishes people would celebrate it every day of the. year. Thinking of Jen's idea makes sense. Think how many sad children could find happiness if they could celebrate it at any time of year no matter whether it is spring, summer or fall.. For now, Jen's plans quickly change because of David's dishonesty and betrayal. Jen decides to get back to the UK as soon as possible. Besides, she can not afford for Bonnie to keep lending her money. It is a shame Jen and Bonnie do not have the time to share a heart to heart conversation about the news Jen received on the phone.  Some chapters are titled with na

After reading the first couple of pages, it is easy to know you are holding a special book. One that will help you deal with the trials of life. There are questions after the chapters. It is also written like a daily devotional. The author, Debbie W. Wilson, has chosen wonderful scripture verses. These cause you to run for your Bible not away from it. After reading this book and meditating on it, you will walk with a bounce in your step. Thank you to Abilene Christian University Press and Leafwood Publishers and to Netgalley.

 After marriage to Paddy Murphy, Kate Murphy and he travel to Jewel Bay, Montana. She will work in their Mercantile store. Paddy is originally from Ireland. Then, moved to Wisconsin.  Very quickly a village can change from serene to tense and frightful feelings. They are thinking there is a gang of thieves our and about. Whoever perpetrated the crime has no heart. Something negative had taken over their bodies. Their killing takes place in a church at the altar.They had no respect for the preacher's life or God. Needless to say fingers are beginning to point in many directions. It is sad to realize people judge others with their heads not their hearts. Leslie Budewitz is great at writing about such an ugly incident while still giving hope. The neighbors in Jewel Bay are so willing to help. Still, motives for Reverend Haugen's murder continue to grow as fast as grass.

Shea's fiance gives her a family ring. It is an emerald.Shea ,finds herself thinking, of bad and good karma. In other words, what story does the ring tell. To her,  the engagement ring's past will affect her marriage to John. This means traveling back to Italy.The beauty in the book is all of the times when Jessie Rosen writes about Italy and the Italians love of life.  

b They knew killing the polar bears was most important. The bears were hungry, They gathered in packs. Since their food was dwindling, the polar bears were hungry. The other problem was the rigs. They were on fire. Any way you looked at it, they were trapped.  The novel is a winner: You can not eat. You can not sleep. You can not laugh until there is an ending. Thank you for a complimentary copy from Atmosphere Press.

 Without their dad and husband, Molly, Ellis and Lauren are starting a new life. Molly, the mother, must really walk carefully. It is a very emotional time for the children. Between moving and preparing to open a craft shop, her hands are full. I don't feel Molly is the best entrepreneur. She has not talked about advertising the Bramble Patch Craft Shop. I worry she won't have a steady flow of customers. One lady who is a part of the Knitter and Natters group brought some new ladies with her to the store. That was very thoughtful. It does help when Molly goes to community events. She attended the dance and stayed long enough to have a very good time with her first date.  I like Molly. It does bother me when she over and over puts her hair behind her ear. Maybe it is a nervous habit, or did the author not mean for us to pay attention to the repetitive behavior?  Molly really is under a load of pressure. Perhaps,  that is why it does not seem like the Bramble Patch Craft Shop is

Casey's life changes because her boyfriend, Gareth's life changes.  His father is in jail  Gareth blames his father's jail time on her because she reported the crime to the police. Oddly, he does not blame his father. He is single minded. Casey must pay for all the gossip about his family. I feel awfully sorry for Casey. She was just caught up in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Casey dated Gareth for four years. The novel is about serial killings. It is tough to read. There is a Beatles' song mentioned. It and other songs  are mentioned because Casey is working as a Dj at night. Parts of these songs are used by the killer as riddles. One song, the one sung by the Beatles, has such a pretty title. I hate to think of it being used to aid a killer kill women. The title is "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds." Keri Beevis must have done a great deal of painful research.  

 My family must own some secrets too. It seems the normal thing. If they have any skeletons rattling in the closet,  they have been more than silent. At the moment, I am looking at all of them with suspicious eyes.  "In From The Cold" is about a family in turmoil. So many relationships cluttered with a hush. Since it is a novel, I can read it with the joy of being uninvolved. I do not know what happens to the body as we make up lies to cover truths. It is all done because we want to protect someone from pain. As we protect them, they look around and see and feel that some thing is not right about their life. The one who is keeping the secrets searches for ways to cover his dishonesty: drinking, sex, running. It is all just balls scattered on the floor. No one can walk through them. You just get a bigger headache. This proves that secrets have a life too. They scramble and move around like crabs. Until one day they bust out of confinement. Then, trouble really moves in. There