Book Club Friday

Hey guys! Sorry I've been sorta MIA this week. We've been having some struggles around the house lately, so I've been focusing on that rather than the blog. Nothing to worry about, just minor issues! But I decided I'd check in before the weekend and share a book I just finished.

It may come as a surprise to you that I'm sharing another historical fiction book. (*wink, wink*) I fell in love with this particular author a while back {while Joe was deployed, I think} and somehow totally missed this book. 

{Thanks, Amazon!}

Here's Amazon's synopsis:

In 1860s Seattle, a man with a wife could secure himself 640 acres of timberland. But because of his wife's untimely death, Joe Denton finds himself about to lose half of his claim. Still in mourning, his best solution is to buy one of those Mercer girls arriving from the East. A woman he'll marry in name but keep around mostly as a cook. 

Anna Ivey's journey west with Asa Mercer's girls is an escape from the griefs of her past. She's not supposed to be a bride, though, just a cook for the girls. But when they land, she's handed to Joe Denton and the two find themselves in a knotty situation. She refuses to wed him and he's about to lose his land. With only a few months left, can Joe convince this provoking--but beguiling--easterner to be his bride?

My thoughts?

Well, it was a little slow-going at first. She gives you a good chunk of the character's back stories before the two main characters meet. Sometimes I enjoy this, sometimes I don't. Turns out I was a little impatient while reading this book. =P

Once they do meet, though, things definitely get interesting! I'm sure you can imagine given the synopsis. This wasn't my favorite of her books, but it was good! I love the way that Joe and Anna flirted and talked to each other. Sort of reminded me of Joe and I. =) Anna's stubbornness irritated me, and I loved all of Joe's attempts to woo her. All in all, it was a fun read. It also offered a lot of insights into Seattle and lumber-jacking, neither of which I know much about. And, as always, I'm a sucker for historical fiction!

Add this one to your list and let me know what you think!

What are you reading next?

Book Club Friday!

Hey guys! I'm linking up for Book Club Friday again this week. I've been reading a lot lately... Does it show? ;-) Last week I finished this awesome book:

Here's the synopsis from Amazon:

Never pretty enough to please her gorgeous mother, Allie will do anything to gain her approval--even marry a man she doesn't love. Lt. Walter Novak--fearless in the cockpit but hopeless with women--takes his last furlough at home in California before being shipped overseas. Walt and Allie meet at a wedding and their love of music draws them together, prompting them to begin a correspondence that will change their lives. As letters fly between Walt's muddy bomber base in England and Allie's mansion in an orange grove, their friendship binds them together. But can they untangle the secrets, commitments, and expectations that keep them apart? A Distant Melody is the first book in the WINGS OF GLORY series, which follows the three Novak brothers, B-17 bomber pilots with the US Eighth Air Force stationed in England during World War II.

I am a total sucker for historical fiction. Love, love, love. So when this came up as a suggestion on my Goodreads page, I grabbed my Kindle and bought it. =)

After reading 2 Karen Kingsbury books, I was having a hard time trying to find something else to read - not to mention adjusting to another writer's style. {I have issues with that sometimes.} I had zero problems getting into this book! The author's writing style is similar to other authors I read, which helped a ton. Also, the storyline is fantastic. Girl meets cute flyboy, likes cute flyboy, but has a boyfriend. She writes flyboy while he's deployed anyway, and the things that happen while they're apart are interesting, amazing, and sometimes frustrating. I'll admit there was one point when I was so frustrated with the two main characters, Allie and Walt. But I'm pretty sure it's because I was pretending they were real people who needed to get it together! Haha. =) I tend to do that a lot too. 

Anyway, this book was a great read. I read it in about a week. It took me that long because I was rationing it out - not wanting it to end. This is a book in a series, but I haven't decided if I want to read the others because it follows the Novak brothers instead of just Walt - I got a little attached to his character. I downloaded a sample of the next one, so we'll see! But seriously if you like historical fiction, or a little bit of military love, get this book! ;-) I hope you love it as much as I did. {Also, if you've read the next book in the series (or the whole series), let me know what you thought!}

Happy weekend, y'all!

Book Club Friday: Coming Home

Today I'm sharing one of my favorite books and linking up for Book Club Friday! =D

I read a lot (and a lot more now that Charlotte isn't a newborn anymore - yay!) so I thought I'd share a recent favorite today - Coming Home by Karen Kingsbury.*

{via}

Here's the synopsis from Amazon:

Coming Home is a novel about tremendous victory and unprecedented loss, a story of faith and a forever kind of love, love that will stay with you long after the last page. This stand-alone novel will serve as either a grand introduction or a beautiful conclusion in the saga of the Baxter Family. The Baxters make plans to come together for a summer lakeside reunion, a celebration like they haven't had in years. But before the big day, the unthinkable happens. As the Baxter Family rallies together, memories come to light in the grief-stricken hours of waiting and praying, memories that bring healing and hope during a time when otherwise darkness might have the final word. In a season that changes all of them, the brilliance of family love overshadows even the valley of heartache as the Baxters draw closer to God and each other. Along the way, secrets are revealed and the truth about the Baxter Family history is finally made known. Ultimately, in this portrait of family love, the Baxters cling to each other and to God's promise of forever.

In case you've never read any of Karen Kingsbury's books before, this is the last book in The Baxters series. I think I read before that there are 22 books in this series. 22! That's a lot of history with these characters. I thought it would be hard to read because of all the catching up, but it really wasn't. The Baxter family is in and out of a couple other series (like the Bailey Flanigan series), so you're sort of able to keep up. 

Anyway, this last book was phenomenal. I'm a huge fan of KK anyway, and this book was definitely up to par. It took a turn I wasn't really prepared for, and I shed many tears while reading. Honestly, though, that's not something new with her books! I read Coming Home in less than a week because I just couldn't stop reading it! I think that even if you haven't read the rest of the series she sums up the characters pretty well - describing their backgrounds and things that happened in their past. And when the whole family gets together... That's when things really get interesting. Her books are always hard to put down and this one is no exception. I encourage you to try out her books, even if you've never read Christian Fiction before. I promise you won't be disappointed!

*I received no compensation for this review. I just love this book and the author and wanted to share with my lovely readers!

Tour of Duty

While Joe was home on R&R, I received a copy of this lovely book:

She even signed it! *gasp* Woohoo!

I was lucky enough to be one of the chosen few to review it.* =) The Facebook site for Tour of Duty put out a post asking for 25 bloggers to volunteer. I, of course, jumped right on that bandwagon!

I didn't have much time to sit down and read it - what with Joe being home and traveling back to the mainland - but I have thoroughly enjoyed it.

The author, Sara Horn, does an amazing job of explaining to the reader that military wives are NOT in this journey alone. The book focuses mainly on the challenges, ups and downs, of deployment. All military wives face them and, generally, we all have the same struggles. I think what I love the most about this book is the way in which she compares our struggles with that of Biblical characters.

We are not much different than the men and women in the Bible. Just like them, God has called us to serve Him. Everyone is called by God to do something. We are called to be military wives. Like the author, I believe that the military is a mission field.

She urges us to cling to God not just in the good times, but in the rough times - like deployment - as well. This is something that each of us has probably heard at some point in our lives. Personally, I felt like Sara Horn did a wonderful job of describing the benefits of a continued relationship with God during deployment.

Throughout the book, you can really see the heart that Sara Horn has for all military wives. I absolutely love what she says on page 33:

"I don't want this study to serve only as a soothing balm for our hurts. If I speak in generalities and platitudes, you could close this book and feel better for a day or two but then go right back into a sea of despair, struggling over an approaching or current deployment. Instead, I want to encourage you to grow closer to God during every season of your life, even the season rocked by deployment. If we want to see God more clearly, if we want to know Him better, if we want to face life's hurdles with hope, we need to trust His heart."

I think this would be perfect for anyone about to go through a deployment or currently going through deployment - like me. It will comfort you, lift you up and encourage you to continue a strong relationship with Christ even in the midst of a storm. It would even be great for a group of wives, too!

If you are going through - or about to go through a deployment - run, do not walk, to the bookstore and buy this book!

*I received a free copy of this book in order to do a book review.*