The Dance by Dan Walsh

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Janet

Can a woman be in love with her husband and hate him at the same time? Marilyn is tired, tired of playing a role she doesn’t feel. After 27 years, leaving was her only hope of getting the man she married to wake-up and love her like she needed to be loved. The end of her happiness with Jim began the day they were married and the moment he failed to join her on the dance floor.

Marilyn loved to dance and had asked Jim to take dance lessons with her many times over their years together. So, signing-up for dance lessons was her first order of business after leaving Jim. When the dance instructor becomes enamoured with Marilyn’s dancing skill and asks her to join him in a dance contest, feelings of romance begin to grow.

The Dance is about relationships, growing and overcoming fears that keep us from truly loving our partner as they need to be loved. With Dan Walsh’s ability to write and Gary Smalley’s ability to deal with relationships this is a very enlightening & touching story.

Daylight Saving by Edward Hogan

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Janet

Daniel is a boy that has lived most of his life being made fun of because of his weight. The last thing he wants to do is go to Leizure World were sports and exercise is the thing. But his father, who is depressed and has been drinking too much, insists that it will be the perfect healing place for them both. On the way to the resort, Daniel saw a girl in the middle of the road and made his dad swerve to miss her. He thought he saved her life. Later, he sees her again, swimming in the lake. When he finally meets her, he notices that she has wounds & bruises that seem to be getting worse instead of better. Another thing Daniel notices is that her watch is ticking backwards. One more strange thing happened when he took some of the boys to the lake to meet her and they could not even see her and then of course they think he is crazy. Daylight Saving, is a book of friendship, a different kind of friendship but an endearing one.

Sweet Sanctuary by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Janet

This story set in New York and Boston during World War II, centers on Dr. Hatcher’s envolvment with immigrants coming into the United States. Lydia Eldredge living in Boston with her son Nicky, was surprised when Dr. Micah Hatcher showed up on her Father’s doorstep. Why would her father summon Dr. Hatcher to Boston with the accusation of being Nicky’s father? Micah, had been even more surprised when he had received the letter from Mr. Eldredge, proclaiming him to be his grandson’s father. Micah and Lydia had worked together at the Schofield Station Hospital, when she had hurriedly left Oahu because of a “mysterious emergency” he hadn’t thought much about, but now he knew.

When Micah met Nicky, the little boy captured his heart. Then when Lydia explained the dilemma they faced, he was even more drawn into the Eldredge’s lives to help find safety for the little boy. But his responsibilities with the immigrants in New York, kept him from being available when the Eldredge’s needed him most. Kim Vogel Sawyer has once again touch my heart with her inspiring story in Sweet Sanctuary. It is another book you won’t want to put down.

The Peach Keeper

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Janet

by Sarah Addison Allen

Something just didn’t add up as I read this story, I knew there was a mystery lurking in the background, but I wasn’t sure what it was or why. Secrets were behind every turn. Willa Jackson had just moved back to Walls of Water, North Carolina. Her grandmother, Georgie Jackson, was in the nursing home there and seemed to be worried about peaches.

Paxton Osgood, now lived in The Blueridge Madam mansion, which at one time had belonged to the Jackson family. Paxton’s grandmother, Agatha Osgood, was Georgie’s best friend. Paxton decided to have a grand party to celebrate the social woman’s group that Agatha and Georgie had started years ago. Willa wasn’t interested in the event to honor both grandmothers, but when the peach tree was taken out and a skeleton was found, the secrets come out. Then we find out about the traveling salesman, Tucker Devlin, who had worked his charms on the town when Agatha and Georgie were young women. By the end of the book, both Willa and Paxton fall in love, secrets are unraveled, and everyone lives happily ever after.

A Time to Dance

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Janet

by Karen Kingsbury

Every one believes that John and Abby Reynolds are and have always been madly in love. After 22 years of marriage, no one but John and Abby know the truth. The day they had decided to tell their children that they were filing for divorce, was the day their daughter announced her engagement. They couldn’t tell them now, not until after the wedding six months down the road. How could they keep up the farce for that long.

They have left there faith by the wayside and now their love for one another doesn’t exist. Abby believes John is having an affair, despite John’s insistence that he is not. John believes Abby is envolved with her editor, but Abby insists it isn’t true. Although, A Time to Dance is mainly about John and Abby, there are many other interesting characters involved with this story of life. I read this book from the Sunflower eLibrary, but it is available in hard copy too.

A Plain and Simple Heart

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Janet

by Lori Copeland

Rebecca just knew Jesse Montgomery would join the Amish life in Apple Grove, Kansas, if she could just find him. When she hears of his whereabouts, she decides to take off to Lawrence, Kansas to find him. Leaving home at age 17 by herself probably wasn’t the smartest thing she ever did, but finding Jesse was worth any trouble she might face.

Little did she realize that trouble would be time in a jail cell for disturbing the peace. The women, all of whom are marching for temperance, help Rebecca. But her ninety day sentence may just get the best of Sheriff Colin Maddox. Colin only has a few more weeks before the new sheriff arrives and he is free to pursue his calling of becoming a minister. But with a woman in his jail cell and wanted men being sighted in town, that few weeks seems like an eternity. I actually read A Plain and Simple Heart from Sunflower eLibrary on my tablet, but it is available in hard copy. Highly recommended to those that enjoy this genre!

Bitter Melon by Cara Chow

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Janet

This young adult book is about Francis, a Chinese American young woman. Bitter Melon tells of Francis’ struggle to try please her mother. You see her mother was never pleased by anything Francis did. Finally, Francis decides that if nothing she does pleases her mother, she will please herself. Her mother expected Francis to excell, and she did, but never quite well enough. When Francis accidentally ends up in Speech instead of Calculus, Francis chooses to stay. Here Francis finds something she loves and is extremely well at. Only, her mother must never find out.

A Walk on the Beach

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Janet

by Joan Anderson

A friendship begins with A Walk on the Beach of Cape Cod and ends up with a hike on the Inca Trail in Peru. Joan Anderson finds a friend and mentor while walking the beach in Cape Cod. She had fled there to find herself. “One of the most significant gifts the beach has given me was Joan Erikson, an elderly woman whom I met accidentally on a foggy February day. She was to prod me to find myself again, even when I thought all was lost.” Ms. Erikson turned out to be the wife and collaborator of Erik Erikson, a leading psychoanalyst whose stages of human development influenced the field of contemporary psychology. “There I was in a midlife crisis, when I met the person whose husband coined the term ‘identity crisis’!” The relationship that grew from this chance meeting by the sea was one of mutual gain to both parties.

Ms. Erikson even at 90 was a very active person, so the situations these two got into were amazing at times. It was fun to go along on their journey together. Eye opening in places, but also entertaining along the way.

Pillsbury Crossing

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Janet

by Donna Mabry

Donna Mabry wrote an endearing book set in the late 1800′s about the Manhattan, KS area. The story starts with Emma, age 9, stumbling into Pillsbury Crossing and Akecheta, age 12, rescuing her. A bond is set between the two as they grow up. Akecheta, alias Isaac Matthew, heads to College in New York City and leaves Emma behind to finish her high school years. While in New York, Akecheta is exposed to a whole new world and falls in love with a beautiful woman there. Emma has her heart set on marrying Akecheta, so when she finds out he intends to marry another she is heart broken. Pillsbury Crossing tells the story of a country boy who is given the chance to see and be a part of a totally different world.

I Want to Be Left Behind

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Janet

Finding Rapture Here On Earth a Memoir

by Brenda Peterson

Brenda Peterson tells her story of her love of this earth and all nature. She sat by the ocean and watched over seal pups. She went down the Colorado River in the depths of the Grand Canyon. She tells of many of her adventures in nature. She loved the earth and all it’s pleasure. She tells of her family of Southern Baptists and there ideas, which were ideas she had rather leave behind. Even her nieces and nephews called her Aunt Wuu Wuu, because of her strange ideas. I Want to Be Left Behind is told with much humor and you’ll grow to care about Brenda and her family.

Buddy: How a Rooster Made Me a Family Man

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Janet

by Brian McGrory

Pam, a veterinarian, and Brian, a writer, have differing opinions about the chicken that has come to live with them. Pam’s children raised the chick for a science project and fell in love with her. Brian who usually gets along great with animals and children, doesn’t relate to the fowl and the chicken doesn’t much like Brian either.

Buddy the Rooster is thought to be a hen until about half way through the book. It’s the Brazilian cleaning lady that sets them straight. Roosters aren’t known for being friendly, so the family fears that Buddy will have to go, and that makes Brian happy, although he would never have admitted it to Pam and her girls. Throughout the book Brian’s hopes of ridding his life of Buddy are dashed. But in the end Buddy has a special place in his heart.

When Hope Blossoms

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Janet

by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Amy Knackstedt moved to Weaverly, Kansas in hopes of starting anew. Her husbands death, when he fell, or did he jump, from the top of a grain elevator has been hard for her to deal with. Weaverly, based off of the actual town of Waverly, KS, promises to be a great place to raise her children.

When Hope Blossoms, is also about Tim Roper. He owns the property next to Amy’s and runs a prospering apple orchard. Tim, a former Mennonite, isn’t too happy about having a Mennonite family living next door. But circumstances, with the help of Amy’s children, bring the two together, each of them in time of need. Kim has a way of gathering you into her story. The characters come alive and you just can’t help becoming a part of their lives.

The Scent of Rain

Posted on December 3, 2012 by Janet

by Kristin Billerbeck

Her life in Paris as a perfume creator, given up, for what? An embarrassing moment at the altar with no groom. Daphne Sweeten left Paris for the man she thought she loved. When he neglected to make their wedding, she was devastated. Now she must endure life in Dayton, Ohio, where she and her missing fiance were suppose to work together, creating household fragance. After being jilted at the altar, she soon realizes she has also lost her sense of smell. How can she keep a job that hired her for her nose, when she has lost it?

Jesse Lightner, soon to be Daphne’s new boss, didn’t want to add the expense of a ”nose” into the budget. But, he had no choice in the matter. Now, he not only has to balance the already tight budget, find something for Daphne and her nose to do, but also come to Daphne’s rescue. The Scent of Rain is a quick engaging read and Billerbeck throws in a few twists to the plot. Of course Jesse and Daphne get it all worked out and live happily ever after.

Birds on the Couch

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Janet

The Bird Shrink’s Guide to Keeping Polly from Going Crackers and You Out of the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ruth Hanessian

If you have birds, like birds, or have friends that like birds, Birds on the Couch is a great book to help you learn about the antics of these feathery pets. Even if you don’t care for birds as pets, you will enjoy Hanessian’s bird stories that she has accummulated during her years as a pet store owner. They are entertaining, educational, and just plain fun. Find out why Polly says the things you really don’t want her to say and how you can get her to stop. If you are considering getting a bird, especially one that talks, you definately need to read this book before you buy.

Ysabel

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Janet

by Guy Gavriel Kay

Ysabel is a mixing of two worlds, the now of Ned Marriner and the forever of Ysabel, Phelan, and Cadell. Ned is spending time in Provence, France with his father, who is a well known photographer on assignment. When Ned senses the powers of a mysterious being, he is entranced with becoming involved. That desire brings about fights with wolves, dogs, and druids which leads to the disappearance of Melanie, one of his father’s assistants, who is eventually taken over by Ysabel. Ned must win the hunt to find Ysabel before Phelan or Cadell, so that they can get Melanie back. The existence of these beings is disturbing to Ned, his father, and those working with them. Never knowing what they will do, or to what extent they will go to win the race to be the first to find Ysabel. Ned experiences severe nausia at one point in the journey, later finding out that the place was the site of a bloody sacrifice over 2,000 years ago. Those findings do not bring any comfort to the group, nor do the strange powers that Ned seems to have acquired. It’s a mixed-up time for Ned’s family and friends, but it also brings healing to otherwise broken relationships.

Little Apple Bookworm

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