Book Review - A Heart Divided by Kathleen Morgan

A Heart Divided by Kathleen Morgan starts out in the late 1800's, with an old feud between the Caldwell and Wainwright families. The conflict started long before the children of these two patriarchs were ever born and never seems to end.

Unfortunately the kids got caught up in the thick of it. Sarah has some serious problems with getting involved at all but gets pressured into it. Her father and brothers have her distract what they thought was a ranch hand so they could go break in and rob the Wainwrights. But there was only one hitch. That ranch hand was actually a Wainwright boy. After that debacle she does her best to lay low, but running an errand in town gets her caught. The rest you won't believe. Does the feud live on? Or what will happen after Sarah gets captured by a Wainwright? Will something else bloom in the meantime? Only you will see when you read this novel!

Now I was pretty on the fence about this book. When I received it I was pretty positive I would only last a few chapters. Not knowing anything about Kathleen Morgan's novels or writing style in general didn't help. But I was really pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed the book. Her story keeps your interest and catches you off guard with so many twists and turns in this novel. One thing I didn't like though was the chapters were far too long for my tastes. And since this is a series there is the whole waiting game with the next book coming out. All in all it was a great read for sure. I definitely recommend it.

Available May 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

oh the social awkwardness of it all!

  For some reason I was just thinking about friends and church. You know how everyone has their group? I was thinking, wow I don't have that group. Its so weird.

But at the same time its not that weird at all. Looking back throughout my life I haven't ever been in a group really. I maybe had a few friends at a time that I hung out with. When I was little I had like one at a time. Kinda depressing really but I probably wouldn't change it.

And now its like somehow we hung out with all these people and then it stopped so abruptly. I don't really know what happened but I’m not really depressed about it. I was talking to someone the other day, I didn’t' go to this thing I was invited to. And then that person said “we missed you” and I thought... well you probably didn't even notice I was there. Honestly when I go places I’m pretty much the quietest person there. I'm socially awkward. Its just a fact, I’m not sad about it its just how it is.

And I’m not that lonely. (well I am when the boy isn't around). I have the best friend I could ever ask for in my life. The man I will marry. So things aren't that bad.

Then I have my hobbies, reading, photography, crocheting. I've always been into reading. I loved to do it from the very start when I learned. I was reading chapter books in 2^nd grade which was supposedly advanced for that age. I am super grateful for books. And I am beyond happy I get to review them and get them for free! Especially since I don't have a lot of money to buy books.

I don't feel bad about who I am, I like to have my nose in a book, I’m not the most social person in the world. It was just odd to think about it for a minute. I am just a lover of books I guess, its always been in me. And I wouldn't have that any other way.

so exhausted

I haven't had much energy to write in here lately. I am spent. I still am sick now I have that icky smokers cough. Ugh this isn't fun. Plus everything is just super crazy and stressful around here.

Hoping the boy gets a job soon. Cause money is running out and thats seriously freaking me out.

I need to read a lot more books soon. Right now I have to go cook soup. I am just really exhausted from being sick. But at least i'm reading great books. I just finished a heart divided by kathleen morgan and now i'm started on leaving by Karen Kingsbury. Reviews to come later on those! But remember my examiner page over there on the side. Check that out and subscribe to my reviews!

I dunno what else to say really. I mean to type up some long thing but I am just so exhausted I don't know whats what anymore. So pathetic. Maybe later when I can think clearly I will talk some more about things.

Book Review - A Cowboy's Touch by Denise Hunter

Abigail is a workaholic always on the search for the next story. She works for her mother's magazine. But when she is starting to have some health concerns, her mom thinks it's time for her to have a break.

So Abigail is sent off to Moose Creek, Montana for the summer. She has a great aunt down there who her mom is very worried about. So basically she is sent there to check up on her aunt and get rest in the process. And while she is there, Abigail does start to calm down and meets a few people. It's more peaceful then her hectic Chicago life. And it's there that she starts to seek out God more.

But she didn't really think that while in Moose Creek a nanny job would suddenly fall into her lap. She began to watch a little girl whose father was a widower and at times was super grouchy. He has a whole other story that is somewhat baffling too which the reporter in Abigail seeks to find out.

But while she was living in the house and taking care of the girl, she found much more than just a job. The rancher (the girl's father) wasn't who she expected. And she definitely didn't expect to melt under his touch... but will they fall in love? Only time will tell the stories of the people in this book.

Not having read any books by this author, it was tough to know what to expect. But boy oh boy, was this a great novel. It only left me wanting more, wishing there was another chapter or two. Denise does a great job with her writing and makes you really feel like you're there in the story. And the descriptions of the characters painted such an amazing picture. It could easily be made into a movie.

That said, please do check out A Cowboy’s Touch published by Thomas Nelson. Search for it at your local bookstore!

Thank you to B&B for providing me with this book for review, it didn't affect my thoughts about the book.

Book Review - Meet Mrs. Smith by Anna Smith

Does anyone ever wonder what the wife of a famous lead singer does? This book gives you a huge glimpse into what Anna Smith, the wife of Martin Smith, frontman for Delirious? does. And boy is she an amusing and amazing person. Basically this is a book that chronicles what has gone on in their lives from the time they were just starting to date to when they married and grew their family.

It is a really enjoyable read. Through the happiness and the heartache you truly learn what goes on with the wife of a band member - all the stress, the worry, and the cross country trips. It is really amazing what wives and the kids deal with when their husband/father is gone on tour.

They also open their home to tons of people at any given moment, which goes from being a hangout to a shelter for someone who was needing some support, all throughout their marriage, having 6 kids and then the general every day life things. And as if that weren't enough, they started a charity organization called CompassionArt along with other songwriters participating in the project. But with such a busy life, they still always had their eyes on each other and looked at what was best for their family.

Reading this was super enjoyable for me. This made a great transition back to non-fiction on a rainy Seattle day. Speaking of which, it was especially nice to read that while visiting the U.S. one of Anna Smith's favorite tour cities was Seattle. Does a native proud!

This book was hard to put down and reading it in two days made it really rewarding.

thanks to B&B for providing this book for me to review. that had no affect on my thoughts.

Book Review - Delirious by Martin Smith

Christian band Delirious? rocked the world and changed lives for 17 years, producing 15 albums and 22 singles in the process, much of which was played here on Seattle radio stations. This is the story of what went on behind the scenes and Martin Smith's life from childhood to life with his own family.

Delirious by Martin Smith spills his heart right from the get-go in this book. He talks not only about living as a Christian even in the other cultures that he toured through, but living a life of compassion and how he worked out all of that (including the touring) with his family life. Through all the ups and the downs, they stuck together and they learned that their family was bigger than just flesh and blood relations.

Martin tells of their trials throughout the recording industry. He touches on struggles he faced while being out for months at a time. Missing time throughout his childrens' lives while being on tour was one downside. But at the same time I'm sure he wouldn't have traded those experiences, some of which changed his life. One of which was an encounter with a lovely little girl in India whose situation stirred his heart at a deep level. This led to starting a charity, CompassionART, with his wife. Through it they helped to stop human trafficking.

But all through their whole life as a band, they had their families, and the now combined family they have formed with all the band members.

This is a great book to go along with his wife's more light-hearted and funnier Meet Mrs. Smith. Martin's book is intense with a lot of depth to it. Not only is it an autobiography but also his story of the band and his experiences with it. A must read for any Delirious? fan or just anyone in general, especially Christians who enjoy being both challenged and inspired.

thank you to B&B for sending me a copy of this for review.

what a stupid week.

Whew what a week. This week has been hectic and stupid all at the same time. There has been crap that has been going on. But yeah I’ll get to that in a second.

Since the last time I have gotten stuff from the postman! So that’s exciting. I am excited for what he will bring this week. That’s just such an exciting thing. Weird I know.

So I came down with a kinda bad cold the other day, so that REALLY sucked. I now have gotten through the night totally for once in the last few days. So that made me pretty happy. But I’m super exhausted anyways after getting up at the buttcrack of dawn for childrens ministry.

Friday my mom had a scare, she passed out while at the doctor after a blood draw and had to be transported to the hospital. And was there for a lot of testing since she was throwing up and had a hard time getting stable. It was so crazy. But shes just really tired so I think that’s what it was, just really tired and them taking too much blood at once. It was really stressful though. I had to go find out how to get her car. Luckily the boys roommate Alex is amazing and he took me down to get moms car. And he wouldn't let me pay him for gas either. Hes an amazing guy.

After that though I felt increasingly more horrible like my eyes were bulging and I felt like I had a fever. I just went to get stuff at the store like meds and drinks. But I haven't had much of an appetite the last few days. Kinda weird but food just isn't appealing at all.

Things with the boy aren't as good as they could be. I mean we are fine but just have normal things to work through I guess. More communication which is always good but this week has just been pretty rough.

Last week we went out to take pictures and that went good I got some really good ones. And then we went out to dinner at our friend janni and pauls house. We were there LATE. And before that after we took pictures we mowed the lawn it was so long. But we all did it as a surprise for my parents when they got home and boy were they surprised it was a huge success that’s for sure. But that whole thing was exhausting. And hard on the allergies.

Other than that I don't think anything else is going on. I do miss some people but I am excited about all my new followers on my blog and hope I’ll get to have some good blog friends now.

Easter is next week should be interesting. I am unsure of how that will go. Especially with my family being the way it is. My granny isn't really making any effort to spend time with us at all. We are gonna go see the tulip festival and she won't come cause she is taking care of too many dogs. Its always her excuse. She will always take care of dogs and not spend time with her family. Its really sad and infuriating. But its always the way it has been and probably always will be. What can you do right?

pictures to come later!