"Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."

Thursday, June 30, 2016

June Books

Room for Hope by Kim Vogel Sawyer -- a library book my mom had not taken time to read so I did instead; it's about Neva and the shocking news that her husband and his other wife died when he was away on his business trip (wink, wink).  Other wife?  What in the world?  And who are these three children who have been brought to Neva to rear? 




You Know When the Men Are Gone by Siobhan Fallon -- a fairly easy read; I read the bulk of this book while at the children's museum with Zach today (6-3).  That either tells you that it was super-short/easy to read or that we were at the museum a long time.  Some of both, really.  Oddly the first chapter is about a lady named Natalya so I about flipped when the 8 year old Zach was playing with introduced herself at Natalya.  Weird.  (Those two had so much fun playing together!)  This book deals with life at Ft. Hood, Texas.  Each chapter is a snapshot of one family or one character.  There is no resolution to the stories, but it gives you a glimpse of how people live on base. The author is the wife of an Army major who lived at Ft. Hood at one time.



When Love Returns by Kim Vogel Sawyer  -- I read the first two books in this trilogy last year, and remembered to check if they had the final one. They did!  This is the story of Suzanne Zimmerman, Anna-Grace, Alexa, and adoption and reuniting with birth mothers.




Country Driving by Peter Hessler -- I read one of his books a few years ago, and when I saw this one at Barnes & Noble, I checked to see if my library had it before putting it on my Amazon Wishlist. I received this for my birthday.  The book starts with Peter obtaining his Chinese driver's license.  In section one he travels along the Great Wall, and documents people he meets, hitchikers' stories, and observations on the scenery and towns.  I enjoyed section two more when he rents a house in a small village and we get to know certain people in that town.  The final section talks more of factories and their growth.




Emma's Gift Leisha Kelly -- this is a follow-up book of one I read last month; the first book dealt with Julia and Samuel Wortham arriving on a farm and how Emma allowed them to stay. In this book it's about seven months later, and two deaths cause a lot of upheaval among the neighbors.




Katie's Dream by Leisha Kelly -- Another book about the Worthams and Hammonds and the neighbors.  Samuel Wortham's brother (recently released from prison) pays the family a visit and brings along a small girl whom he claims is his brother's daughter.  This book was a reminder to me to forgive often, to love others even when they are mean and don't deserve it, and how God can soften hearts.  Also, I'm amazed at giving and selfless, welcoming people.




Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin  -- A rather cute story about a librarian Alice who always has her nose in a book.  Until she left her home near Chicago to take some books to a poor region in the hills of Kentucky where she met Leslie, thinking Leslie to be a woman with whom she can stay during her two week visit.  She quickly learns how living in the real world can be as exciting as books.



Bridge to Haven by Francine Rivers  -- The story of a baby born under a bridge, found by a local pastor and raised in a northern California town.  Abra Matthews later leaves with bad boy Dylan with hopes that someone will finally love her and she will be somebody.





A Promise for Spring by Kim Vogel Sawyer -- a predictable book, but still an easy read about a lady from England coming to Kansas to marry the guy she was engaged to several years prior. Only she has doubts when she gets to this prairie land and sees this man again






Gap Creek by Robert Morgan -- the story of a young lady who marries and moves down the mountain with her young husband.  Whew, what a rough life!   People back then sure knew how to work hard to survive!





Rorey's Secret by Leisha Kelly -- This chronicles more of the Hammond and Wortham families that I was introduced to in a previous book, Emma's Gift.  It tells of hardships and pulling together with family and neighbors when the Hammonds' barn and half the fields burn.



Rachel's Prayer by Leisha Kelly  -- This continues the story of the Hammonds and Worthams as they deal with several of the young men being sent off to fight in World War II. 



Sarah's Promise by Leisha Kelly -- The final book in the series mentioned above.  This one is about Frank as he leaves the family to make his own way in the world. 





Deeper Water by Robert Whitlow -- I decided to try this book which I found on the NEW book shelf despite the copyright being 2008 (weird). It's in the Tides of Truth series and I already put the other books on hold so I can read more about the progress of the law career of Tammy Lynn Taylor aka Tami Taylor from North Georgia.  I wasn't sure if I'd like this book, but decided to keep reading despite the weirdness of her family.   I guess it interested me enough to go ahead and see what else happens to this law student.




Now and Always by Lori Copeland -- the story of Katie - a mid-thirties, single woman - who opened her home to a few battered women.  This story is about someone who can't budget, control her spending, or get a grip on her finances, but has a generous heart and wants to help needy people or horses.






The Other Side of Darkness by Melody Carlson -- a look at how people with OCD are more vulnerable to cult-like churches; told through the story of Ruth who does her best to purge the evil from her life and her home. 




Murder Simply Brewed by Vannetta Chapman -- An "English" person teams up with a young Amish lady and Tate, the widowed farmer who lives near the Village to investigate the sudden death of a Village employee.  Was it just a heart attack as the police and EMT said, or was something more sinister going on?



A Treasure Concealed by Tracie Peterson -- saw this on the new books shelf and needed another easy read because I'm not in the frame of mind for something heavy (summer brain, I guess).  This is the story of a young lady - Emily - who lives with her family in a tiny cabin on a mining claim in Montana back in the late 1800s.  Fairly predictable book, but OK otherwise. 




These Boots Weren't Made for Walking by Melody Carlson -- I read a book by this author a couple days ago that was pretty dark and spiritual, but this one was more lighthearted and fun, if not predictable.  It was about Cassie and her getting fired, getting dumped, moving to live at home with her mom, and how things turned out with that.  Also, she did buy some expensive new boots.