Thoughts on a Few Non-Fictions

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
by Stephen King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An engaging read. I can't say I learned a lot about the craft that I didn't already know, but King did a great job with his no-nonsense presentation. Here are a few of my favorite quotes . . .

"What made me think I had anything worth saying?"
I love that even one of the most prolific and successful writers I know has doubts about his abilities.

"Fiction writers, present company included, don't understand very much about what they do--not why it works when it's good, not why it doesn't when it's bad."
Whew. I can finally stop looking for a magic formula because apparently there isn't one.

"The scariest moment is always just before you start. After that, things can only get better."
Amen.

My biggest takeaway value from this book is that it validated my sometimes angst over writing a story, that I'm not the only one who carries around a basket of doubts.

The Broken Way: A Daring Path into the Abundant Life by Ann Voskamp
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Blown away.

Yep, once again Voskamp's amazing writing style kills me with a thousand different phrases. I totally mutilated this book with highlights and dog ears and tears. Here are just a very few of the awesome things Ann had to say . . .

"Who doesn't know what it's like to smile thinly and say you're fine when your'e not, when you're almost faint with pain?"

"There are graves coming, there is dark coming, there is heartbreak coming. We are not in control, and we never were."

"Great grief isn't made to fit inside your body. It's why your heart breaks."

"Maybe our hearts are made to be broken. Broken open. Broken free. Maybe the deepest wounds birth deepest in wisdom."

"What matters in life is not what happens to you but what you remember and how you remember it."

I could go on and on but what's the point? Go buy the book already!

View all my reviews

Weird Friends and Strange Books

I've got some strange friends. Not that the people in and of themselves are strange, mind you. What I mean is I've got some very close friends that I wouldn't normally gravitate towards, but because of circumstances throwing us together, we ended up becoming best buddies. Opposites do indeed sometimes attract.

And it's the same for books. There are some titles I wouldn't have normally picked up, but for whatever reason did, and now they hold a special place on my bookshelf.

The Night Watchman

Mark Mynheir

If I'm going to grab a book, it's either going to be historical, YA, or sci fi. This isn't any of those. This is a story of a washed up detective in modern day Florida. Why do I like it? Honestly, I don't know. The hero, Ray Quinn, just kind of grew on me. I think he reminded me of several cranky male teachers I've had throughout the years. I keep waiting for him to put out more, but he hasn't yet.

Blurb:
Eleven months ago, Ray Quinn was a tough, quick-witted Orlando homicide detective at the top of his game--until a barrage of bullets ended his career…and his partner’ s life.

Now medically retired with a painful handicap, Ray battles the haunting guilt for his partner’s death. Numbing the pain with alcohol and attitude, Ray takes a job as a night watchman at a swanky Orlando condo.

But when a pastor and an exotic dancer are found dead in one of the condos in an apparent murder-suicide, Ray can no longer linger in the shadows. The pastor’s sister is convinced her brother was framed and begs Ray to take on an impossible case--to challenge the evidence and clear her brother’s name.

Ray reluctantly pulls the threads of this supposedly dead-end case only to unravel a murder investigation so deep that it threatens to turn the Orlando political landscape upside down and transform old friends into new enemies. As Ray chases down leads and interrogates suspects, someone is watching his every move, someone determined to keep him from ever finding out the truth--at any cost.

I am Hutterite

Mary-Ann Kirby

I live, eat, and breathe fiction. This one isn't. This is a freaking biography. But it's so interesting that I couldn't put it down. Here's a blurb:

I Am Hutterite takes readers into the hidden heart of the little-known Hutterite colony in southern Manitoba where author Mary-Ann Kirkby spent her childhood. When she was ten years old her parents packed up their seven children and a handful of possessions and left the security of the colony to start a new life. Overnight they were thrust into a world they didn't understand, a world that did not understand them.

Before she left the colony Mary-Ann had never tasted macaroni and cheese or ridden a bike. She had never heard of Walt Disney or rock-and-roll. She was forced to reinvent herself, denying her heritage to fit in with her peers. With great humor, Kirkby describes how she adapted to popular culture; and with raw honesty her family's deep sense of loss for their community. More than a history lesson, I Am Hutterite is a powerful tale of retracing steps and understanding how our beginnings often define us.

Controversial and acclaimed by the Hutterite community, Kirkby's book unveils the rich history and traditions of her people, giving us a rare and intimate portrait of an extraordinary way of life.

Breakfast of Champions

Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

This is a really strange read and NOT for the, umm, sensitive or easily offended crowd. Okay, let's just say it's rated R, shall we? Why do I like it so much then? Probably because it continually throws surprises at the reader, from line drawings to interesting paragraphs that make you think.

Blurb:

In Breakfast of Champions, one of Kurt Vonnegut’s most beloved characters, the aging writer Kilgore Trout, finds to his horror that a Midwest car dealer is taking his fiction as truth. What follows is murderously funny satire, as Vonnegut looks at war, sex, racism, success, politics, and pollution in America and reminds us how to see the truth.

So, what about you? Any strange reads to recommend?

2016 Gold Medal Winner

I read lots of fantastic books this past year by some awesome authors, so it was really hard to narrow the field down to one favorite. But I did, so you should probably snatch up a copy of it if you haven't already read this little gem . . .

The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn
by Lori Benton

BACK COVER:

In an act of brave defiance, Tamsen Littlejohn escapes the life her harsh stepfather has forced upon her. Forsaking security and an arranged marriage, she enlists frontiersman Jesse Bird to guide her to the Watauga settlement in western North Carolina. But shedding her old life doesn’t come without cost. As the two cross a vast mountain wilderness, Tamsen faces hardships that test the limits of her faith and endurance.

Convinced that Tamsen has been kidnapped, wealthy suitor Ambrose Kincaid follows after her, in company with her equally determined stepfather. With trouble in pursuit, Tamsen and Jesse find themselves thrust into the conflict of a divided community of Overmountain settlers. The State of Franklin has been declared, but many remain loyal to North Carolina. With one life left behind and chaos on the horizon, Tamsen struggles to adapt to a life for which she was never prepared. But could this challenging frontier life be what her soul has longed for, what God has been leading her toward? As pursuit draws ever nearer, will her faith see her through the greatest danger of all—loving a man who has risked everything for her?

MY REVIEW:

Okay. I admit it. I am a super jaded reader. It takes a creative plot, larger than life characters, and some sweet turns of phrases to even slightly tickle my reader bone. THE PURSUIT OF TAMSEN LITTLEJOHN not only meets those requirements, it rockets right to the top of my favorite reads list.

And Lori Benton is one of my new favorite authors. I don't have many faves, folks, so this is quite the feat indeed.

So, let's get down to the nitty grittiness of why the heck I'm making such wild claims. I suppose it mostly boils down to how thoroughly the hero, Jessie Bird, stole my heart right along with the heroines. He is seriously "da man." What red-blooded woman wouldn't swoon for a fella who looks out for her safety, is gentle yet tough enough to fight off enemies even when he's shot and bleeding, and sports a serious six-pack beneath his shirt. Whew. Is it hot in here?

Okay, so besides my obvious man crush, let's talk plot. There are some great twists and turns in this one. In fact, you don't find out some very important information until near the end of the book. Don't panic. No spoilers here. Just know that you're in for a real treat of a surprise.

I also love the history lesson woven throughout the story. No dry textbook dates and names, just plenty of true action.

I picked up this title because of the recommendation of a friend. So here I am, friends, passing that recommendation along. This is a keeper. Now then, I'm off to buy every last other title of Lori Benton's even if it makes my credit card smoke.

2016 Silver Medal Winner

The Nightingale
by Kristen Hannah

BACK COVER:

FRANCE, 1939

In the quiet village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac says goodbye to her husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn't believe that the Nazis will invade France … but invade they do, in droves of marching soldiers, in caravans of trucks and tanks, in planes that fill the skies and drop bombs upon the innocent. When a German captain requisitions Vianne's home, she and her daughter must live with the enemy or lose everything. Without food or money or hope, as danger escalates all around them, she is forced to make one impossible choice after another to keep her family alive.

Vianne's sister, Isabelle, is a rebellious eighteen-year-old girl, searching for purpose with all the reckless passion of youth. While thousands of Parisians march into the unknown terrors of war, she meets Gäetan, a partisan who believes the French can fight the Nazis from within France, and she falls in love as only the young can … completely. But when he betrays her, Isabelle joins the Resistance and never looks back, risking her life time and again to save others.

With courage, grace and powerful insight, bestselling author Kristin Hannah captures the epic panorama of WWII and illuminates an intimate part of history seldom seen: the women's war. The Nightingale tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France--a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women. It is a novel for everyone, a novel for a lifetime.

MY REVIEW:

This book was raw. Not like thawing hamburger left out on the counter. More like gritty, real, the kind of feeling you get when your shin drags across the carpet and burns. The Nightingale is the tale of two women during World War II.

And the ending will blow your mind.

This is the first Kristin Hannah book I've read but it won't be the last. Her writing is fresh, evocative, and totally pulls you into another world. Granted, war torn France isn't really where I'd like to hang out, but the emotion of this book grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go.

There is some violence, some sex, but all play into the story and make it what it is . . . a moving read.

2016 Bronze Medal Winner

It's that "Best Of" time of year. You know the drill. Lists galore featuring the best fill-in-the-blank of 2016. And, as always, I will cave to peer pressure and list my best reads from the past year. I didn't get as many books under my belt as I would've liked, but of the 14 titles that I read, I narrowed it down to the top 3. Today, I present to you the 3rd place winner.

Awe
by Travis Thrasher

BACK COVER:

The mystery only deepens. After his best friend disappears and his girlfriend abandons him, Brandon finds himself alone with few answers about what's happening in the small town of Appleton. Nobody knows the whereabouts of Devon, so Brandon decides to get the help of a private investigator who warns him of bad things ahead. At every possible turn, Brandon seems to meet a roadblock. With Marvel's dangerous uncle, Carlos. With the mysterious Otis Sykes. Even with Marvel herself. What darkness awaits them as the story unfolds? The third in The Books of Marvella series after Marvelous and Wonder.

MY REVIEW:

Gah! Be forewarned: this one leaves you hanging in a beautiful yet must-have-the-next-book kind of way.

In usual Thrasher style, the writing of Awe is quick-paced yet connects you to the characters so much, you feel like you're one of them. Brandon and Marvel's relationship is so right and so wrong at the same time. Without giving any spoilers, there are a lot of answers in this 3rd installment of the Marvella series, but not all -- and even leaves you with a few new what-the-heck's by the time you close the book.

God's love is clearly portrayed through story in this dynamic sequel to Marvel and Wonder. If you haven't read the first 2 books, don't start here. Snatch those up and then grab this one. -- and then join me with my nose pressed against the glass door of the bookstore while waiting for the next one!

Best Audiobooks of 2016

It's that list time of year. You know . . . the ol' best of the best for everything from the year's greatest hot dog topping to wiener dog of the year. But the list I'll share with you today is a bit more valuable than that.

I'm not a huge audiobook fan, mostly because I hate having earbuds stuffed into my skull. Those knobby things have a tendency to poke out the piercing on my tragus. No, that's not a fatal disease. Just an annoyance. Anyhoo, when I really love me a good audiobook is when I know I'm going to be stuck in traffic or am on a long car ride. And so I give to you -- and me --

Audibles Top Picks for 2016

AUDIOBOOK OF THE YEAR
The Nix by Nathan Hill
performed by Ari Fliakos

A Nix can take many forms. In Norwegian folklore it is a spirit who sometimes appears as a white horse that steals children away. In Nathan Hill's remarkable first novel, a Nix is anything you love that one day disappears, taking with it a piece of your heart.

It's 2011, and Samuel Andresen-Anderson - college professor, stalled writer - has a Nix of his own: his mother, Faye. He hasn't seen her in decades, not since she abandoned the family when he was a boy. Now she's reappeared, having committed an absurd crime that electrifies the nightly news, beguiles the Internet, and inflames a politically divided country. The media paints Faye as a radical hippie with a sordid past, but as far as Samuel knows, his mother was an ordinary girl who married her high school sweetheart. Which version of his mother is true? Two facts are certain: She's facing some serious charges, and she needs Samuel's help.

To save her, Samuel will have to embark on his own journey, uncovering long-buried secrets about the woman he thought he knew, secrets that stretch across generations and have their origin all the way back in Norway, home of the mysterious Nix. As he does so, Samuel will confront not only Faye's losses but also his own lost love and will relearn everything he thought he knew about his mother and himself.

CLASSIC
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
performed by Maggie Gyllenhaal

Leo Tolstoy's classic story of doomed love is one of the most admired novels in world literature. Generations of readers have been enthralled by his magnificent heroine, the unhappily married Anna Karenina, and her tragic affair with dashing Count Vronsky.

MYSTERY

A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny

performed by Robert Bathurst

When an intricate old map is found stuffed into the walls of the bistro in Three Pines, it at first seems no more than a curiosity. But the closer the villagers look, the stranger it becomes.

Given to Armand Gamache as a gift the first day of his new job, the map eventually leads him to shattering secrets. To an old friend and older adversary. It leads the former Chief of Homicide for the Sûreté du Québec to places even he is afraid to go. But must.

And there he finds four young cadets in the Sûreté academy, and a dead professor. And, with the body, a copy of the old, odd map.

Everywhere Gamache turns, he sees Amelia Choquet, one of the cadets. Tattooed and pierced. Guarded and angry. Amelia is more likely to be found on the other side of a police line-up. And yet she is in the academy. A protégée of the murdered professor.

The focus of the investigation soon turns to Gamache himself and his mysterious relationship with Amelia, and his possible involvement in the crime. The frantic search for answers takes the investigators back to Three Pines and a stained glass window with its own horrific secrets.

For both Amelia Choquet and Armand Gamache, the time has come for a great reckoning.

SCIENCE FICTION

Dawn of Wonder: The Wakening, book I, by Jonathan Renshaw

performed by Gerard Reynolds

When a high-ranking officer gallops into the quiet Mistyvales, he brings a warning that shakes the countryfolk to their roots. But for Aedan, a scruffy young adventurer with veins full of fire and a head full of ideas, this officer is not what he seems. The events that follow propel Aedan on a journey that only the foolhardy or desperate would risk, leading him to the gates of the nation's royal academy - a whole world of secrets in itself.

If none of these piqued your interest, there's more where that came from. Just click on the list HERE and discover other great audiobooks.

And don't forget to sign up to win your own signed copy of another great read . . .

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be on the Lookout

Two of my writerly buddies have books coming out in the very near future that are both fanfreakingtastic and you won't want to miss them. Here's what to put on your Christmas list.

The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill
(book I in the Tales From Ivy Hill series)
by Julie Klassen
Release Date: December 6

The lifeblood of the Wiltshire village of Ivy Hill is its coaching inn, The Bell. But when the innkeeper dies suddenly, his genteel wife, Jane Bell, becomes the reluctant owner. Jane has no notion of how to run a business. However, with the town's livelihood at stake and a large loan due, she must find a way to bring new life to the inn.

Despite their strained relationship, Jane turns to her resentful mother-in-law, Thora, for help. Formerly mistress of The Bell, Thora is struggling to find her place in the world. As she and Jane work together, they form a measure of trust, and Thora's wounded heart begins to heal. When she encounters two men from her past, she sees them--and her future--in a different light.

With pressure mounting from the bank, Jane employs innovative methods to turn the inn around, and puzzles over the intentions of several men who seem to have a vested interest in the place. Will her efforts be enough to save The Bell? And will Thora embrace the possibility of a second chance at love?

A Moonbow Night
by Laura Frantz
Release Date: January 3

**Bonus** the paperback version of this is currently on sale for $8.56

On the vast, uncharted Kentucky frontier of the 1770s, Temperance Tucker has learned to be fleet of foot, accurate with her rifle, and silent about the past. But her family secrets complicate her growing attraction to a handsome Virginia land surveyor with a harsh history of his own. Will the hurts and hardships of the past prevent them from a fulfilling future?

Laura and Julie really are spectacular authors. I hope to be like them when I grow up. If there's any chance your name is on the naughty list and you don't think Santa will put these in your stocking, run (don't walk) over to Amazon and snatch up a pre-order for yourself.

3 New Books on the Writing Craft

Has your writing hit the summer doldrums? Is your story dead in the water? Here are some new craft books on the market that you might want to check out (besides, of course, WRITER OFF THE LEASH: GROWING IN THE WRITING CRAFT which is currently on sale for $4.99) . . .

A Writer's Guide to Active Setting: How to Enhance Your Fiction with More Descriptive, Dynamic Settings

by Mary Buckham

Setting is one of the most underutilized and misunderstood elements of the writing craft. And when writers do focus on setting, they often pull readers out of the narrative and jolt their attention from the action on the page.
A Writer's Guide to Active Setting will show you how to create vivid, detailed settings that bring your story to life. You'll learn how to deepen character development, anchor readers to a specific time and place, reveal backstory without slowing things down, elevate action sequences, and more.

On Being Stuck: Tapping Into the Creative Power of Writer's Block

by Laraine Herring

Writer’s block. If you are a writer, you know it can be a haunting, terrifying force—a wolf at the door, a vast conspiracy, something that keeps you up at night, spinning your wheels, going nowhere. But what if we’ve been thinking about writer’s block all wrong? What if, by paying attention to its qualities and inquiring into its hidden gifts, we can release that power?
On Being Stuck is an empowering guide to working with your blocks and finding the friend within the beast. Using deep inquiry, writing prompts, body and breath exercises, and a range of interdisciplinary approaches,On Being Stuck will help you uncover the gifts hidden within your creative blocks, while also deepening your relationship to your work and reawakening your creative process.

How to Write Like Tolstoy: A Journey into the Minds of Our Greatest Writers

by Richard Cohen

For anyone who has ever identified with a hero or heroine, been seduced by a strong opening sentence, or been powerfully moved by a story’s end, How to Write Like Tolstoy is a thought-provoking journey inside the minds of the world’s most accomplished storytellers, from Shakespeare to Stephen King.
Behind every acclaimed work of literature is a trove of heartfelt decisions. The best authors put painstaking—sometimes obsessive—effort into each element of their stories, from plot and character development to dialogue and point of view.

A New Audiobook Gem

My all-time favorite book . . . wait a minute. I see your frowny face, your index finger rising, aiming square at my chest. "But Michelle! You can't choose a favorite book! That's like picking a favorite child."

To which I gently but firmly place my tongue between my lips and blow a voracious raspberry.

Now that we've got that childish business behind us, my all-time favorite book is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Why? Because the heroine has such a strong moral code, remains so true to herself, that she gives up the man she loves and keeps her integrity. Now that's a role model.

Anyway, I'm super excited to announce that there's a new audiobook version that just came on the market yesterday read by Thandie Newton, an awesome voice talent. HERE is a sample of her reading, and HERE is the Amazon link to snap up your own copy.

And if you've never had the pleasure of reading Jane Eyre for yourself, it's available on Kindle right now for free.

Why Do You Read?

Successful people read. Bill Gates says:

“Reading is one of the chief ways that I learn, and has been since I was a kid. These days, I also get to visit interesting places, meet with scientists and watch a lot of lectures online. But reading is still the main way that I both learn new things and test my understanding.”

~ Bill Gates on Books and Blogging

So I'm starting off the new year with a new read. Here's what I've got going . . .

And here's a blurb . . .

In an act of brave defiance, Tamsen Littlejohn escapes the life her harsh stepfather has forced upon her. Forsaking security and an arranged marriage, she enlists frontiersman Jesse Bird to guide her to the Watauga settlement in western North Carolina. But shedding her old life doesn’t come without cost. As the two cross a vast mountain wilderness, Tamsen faces hardships that test the limits of her faith and endurance.

Convinced that Tamsen has been kidnapped, wealthy suitor Ambrose Kincaid follows after her, in company with her equally determined stepfather. With trouble in pursuit, Tamsen and Jesse find themselves thrust into the conflict of a divided community of Overmountain settlers. The State of Franklin has been declared, but many remain loyal to North Carolina. With one life left behind and chaos on the horizon, Tamsen struggles to adapt to a life for which she was never prepared. But could this challenging frontier life be what her soul has longed for, what God has been leading her toward? As pursuit draws ever nearer, will her faith see her through the greatest danger of all—loving a man who has risked everything for her?

Now then, what's on the top of your reading docket for 2016? Share in the comment section.

Books of the Year ~ Gold Medal Winner

DISCLAIMER: True, I write fiction. Fiction is what I devour, love, breathe. But you should know that this year's winner is a non-fiction book. Why? Because the writing is so stellar, the prose so weepingly beautiful, that it just had to be in first place.

One Thousand Gifts

By Ann VoskampZondervan
978-0310321910

BACK COVER:

It's only in this expressing of gratitude for the life we already have, we discover the 

life we've always wanted...a life we can take, give thanks for, and break for others. We come to feel and know the impossible right down in our bones: we are wildly loved--by God.

MY REVIEW:

Awesome. With a side of awesome sauce. Ann Voskamp rocks. Not only does she have fantastic, insightful, inspirational things to say, but she says them in ways that make this writer's jaw drop. Her prose is a-freaking-mazing. Do yourself a favor and snatch up a copy of this book. You will NOT be sorry.

Books of the Year ~ Silver Medal Winner

Marvelous
By Travis Thrasher
TH1NK Books
978-1612916231

BACK COVER:

Brandon Jeffery’s summer started out with a bang―as in, a friend crashed his car and now he has to work two jobs to pay it off. It’s at Fascination Street Records that he’s introduced to a beautiful but quiet girl named Marvel. She’s new to Hidden Cove and looking for a summer job, so Brandon secretly strikes a deal with their boss to work for free so she can be hired.

When a classmate is found murdered, however, their summer takes a turn for the mysterious. Brandon’s friend Devon is sure he knows just who’s to blame: the creepy recluse of the town quarry. But the police have few leads, and Brandon has the sneaking suspicion he’s being watched.

That’s not what’s in the forefront of on his mind, though. More than trying to pay off his car to his unemployed, alcoholic father and protecting Seth Belcher from the school bullies, he’s determined to date Marvel. He doesn’t understand why they seem so close and she refuses to date him, but as the mystery behind her tragic past begins to unravel, Marvel finally confesses her reason: God has revealed she’s destined to die saving others―and it’s going to be soon.

MY REVIEW:

Thrasher knocks this one out of the park. Loved it. The thunderstorms. The lurking danger. The complete lack of safety anywhere. Marvelous is one creepy read, but not too creepalicious. I seriously expected one of the characters I cared about to die by the end of the book. Yeah, there are two deaths, but none that wigged me out. Whew. Dodged the bullet this time, but I seriously need the next book NOW. As in why am I typing a review when I should be over at Amazon buying WONDER, the next book in the series?

My favorite character is Brandon, the hero. He's not perfect, which makes him totally believable, but his heart is big. He's got a lot of questions about God that go unanswered. Again, just like real life, eh? I have hope for him, but there's also a certain amount of dread because there's lots of foreshadowing that goes on in this book. I have high expectations for the next one, but I'm pretty confident Travis Thrasher can pull it off.

If you know a teen that likes scary, I heartily recommend this book.

Books of the Year ~ Bronze Medal Winner

Mist of Midnight
Sandra Byrd
Howard Books
978-1476717869

BACK COVER:

Rebecca Ravenshaw, daughter of missionaries, spent most of her life in India. Following the death of her family in the Indian Mutiny, Rebecca returns to claim her family estate in Hampshire, England. Upon her return, people are surprised to see her… and highly suspicious. Less than a year earlier, an imposter had arrived with an Indian servant and assumed not only Rebecca’s name, but her home and incomes.

That pretender died within months of her arrival; the servant fled to London as the young woman was hastily buried at midnight. The locals believe that perhaps she, Rebecca, is the real imposter. Her home and her father’s investments reverted to a distant relative, the darkly charming Captain Luke Whitfield, who quickly took over. Against her best intentions, Rebecca begins to fall in love with Luke, but she is forced to question his motives–does he love her or does he just want Headbourne House? If Luke is simply after the property, as everyone suspects, would she suffer a similar fate as the first “Rebecca”?

A captivating Gothic love story set against a backdrop of intrigue and danger, Mist of Midnight will leave you breathless.

MY REVIEW:

Hot dang! I'm a jaded reader, so it's a rare occurrence when I find a new author that I actually like. Sandra Byrd is the lucky winner this year. In her book, MIST OF MIDNIGHT, I discovered some sweet turns of phrases in a setting that I wouldn't mind packing my bags and moving into right now.

What's not to love about a manor home in England? A handsome captain who may or may not be a bad boy? Lots of intrigue and a French maid that you kind of want to slap? All these ingredients make for a fine read to cozy up with this winter.

I loved heroine Rebecca Ravenshaw. She's brave, with just enough fear to make her believable. The entire story is told in her point of view. Honestly, I would've liked to have been in Captain Luke Whitfield's head a time or two to know his reactions and feelings to situations.

There's a twist at the very end that I didn't see coming. An interesting one -- that I won't give away. Just know there's a "Surprise" after the credits, so to speak.

Summer Reading

It's that beach bag time of year. What are you tossing into yours? How does your reading list match up to Oprah's top pix? I took a looksie at a few of O Magazine's recommendations by finding them on Amazon and clicking on the Surprise Me preview for each book (which basically gives you a few random pages of the novel to read.) Here are the first 5 on a list of 42 . . .


Bennington Girls Are Easy by Charlotte Silver

Blurb: A ruefully funny coming-of-age novel that follows two recent Bennington grads who are determined to make it in the Big Apple.

Surprise Me: I read about some girl washing her lingerie, was cranky about not having hummus, and dropped an F-bomb

Would I buy it? Nope.

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

Blurb: What should be a cozy and fun-filled weekend deep in the English countryside takes a sinister turn in Ruth Ware’s suspenseful, compulsive, and darkly twisted psychological thriller.

Surprise Me: There wasn't any surprises because this book doesn't release until August 4th.

Would I buy it? Possibly. The back cover copy sounded interesting, but I'd like to sneak a peek at the surprise section first.

Stalin's Daughter by Rosemary Sullivan

Blurb: A revelatory biography of Svetlana Stalin, a woman fated to live her life in the shadow of one of history’s most monstrous dictators—her father, Josef Stalin.

Surprise Me: No sex, swearing or violence, just a lot of meh.

Would I buy it? No. Boring. Not the actual history, mind you. I just wasn't pulled in by the writing style. It was fine, but not spectacular.

Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf

Blurb: A spare yet eloquent, bittersweet yet inspiring story of a man and a woman who, in advanced age, come together to wrestle with the events of their lives and their hopes for the imminent future.

Surprise Me: Kind of read like a grocery list. This happened, then that happened, yada, yada.

Would I buy it? Unh-unh. It didn't grab me by the throat and give me a little shake.

Kissing in America by Margo Rabb

Blurb: A wonderful novel about friendship, love, travel, life, hope, poetry, intelligence, and the inner lives of girls.

Surprise Me: Loved the preview. The writing was excellent. My only bugaboo is that I could only see the first few pages, not in the middle. I'm wondering how explicit it gets, but I don't know.

Would I buy it? Perhaps. The first few pages were snappy and creative.

There you have the top 5 Oprah pix. Interested?

Price of Privilege

It's a rare book that pulls me out of reality and immerses me in a story world so much that I'll willingly park my heinie on a chair and allow the world to go by. It's an even rarer author who writes so beautifully that my eyes get all watery and I want to throw away my laptop because I know I'll never be able to pen such haunting prose. Price of Privilege by Jessica Dotta is just such a book.

Here is a taste of some of the word pictures taken from the story . . .

Thus we were caught up in our daily affairs like dogs running at full speed, when reality finally pulled hard on our leashes, catching us by surprise.

I felt as though I were walking over a slippery beam as I crossed the chamber on Isaac's arm.

Tormented eyes searched mine. It seemed as if, on the other side of an unreachable shore, Isaac was silently screaming and pleading for help behind his polished mask. Then his eyes went vacant as if something vital had died inside him.

This book took guts to write. It's not an easy thing to kill off a beloved character (don't worry, no spoiler as to whom), nor is it a piece of cake to expose layer after layer of hurt caused most often by verbal but sometimes physical abuse. Make no mistake, this is not a light read. That being said, this trilogy is on my keeper shelf because the story and the characters demand they will not be sent away.

If you love historical fiction and really want to get a feel for Victorian England, from the pulpy street view to the upper echelons of society, then run -- don't dawdle -- to the nearest bookstore and snatch yourself up a copy.

What's the Most Popular Children's Book Ever?

Pop quiz! Yeah, crappy way to start out a Monday, but that's life, buckaraoos. Now then, back to our pop quiz.

Name your favorite children's book for ages 10 and younger. Go ahead and think for a minute. As a bonus, instead of music-on-hold while you're noodling the question, I'll fill in the white space with an off-the-top-of-my-head list when I asked myself this question. 

First book that popped into my mind is Little House on the Prairie, but then I second-guessed myself and wondered if that's really for 11 or 12 year olds. 

Thinking younger, I came up with (in this order):

A Wrinkle in Time By Madeline L'Engle

Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater

Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnet

The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Okay, your time's up. What did titles did you come up with? Leave them in the comment section. 

I do, however, have a "for real" answer. BBC.com Culture polled dozens of international critics, asking them to name the best English-language children's book of all time for children 10 and younger. Ready to find out? Drum roll, please. In the #1 slot is:

Charlotte's Webb by EB White

Runners up are Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne; Little Women by Louisa May Alcott; and Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.

Operation Attitude Gratitude

It's that time of year. Peeps are everywhere. I've eaten more than my share of chocolate bunnies, ears first. And I just finished making a batch of Matzo Crack (recipe following post). Yes, indeedy, spring is in the air, so that means it's time for thanksgiving . . . as in gratitude, not the turkey feast.

I'm not a huge non-fiction fan, but a book I've stuck my nose into and haven't wanted to pull it out, even to smell the Easter goodies baking in the oven, is One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. Her writing is so beautiful, it makes me want to weep -- and I'm of stoic Norwegian roots, so you know her prose is dang good. Granted, it's not a quick read and it's not for everyone, but if you appreciate a poetic slant, this is the book for you. Here are some examples:

"He gifts with seeds as small as moments, grace upon grace, and the unlikely here and now, it shall sustain you, feed you. Do not disdain the small. The promise of feast is within the moments. Our enough is always in the now, because He never leaves us."

"The hard discipline is to lean into the ugly and whisper thanks to transfigure it into beauty. The hard discipline to give thanks for all things at all times because He is all good."

"The only way to see God manifested in the world around is with the eyes of Jesus within. God within is the One seeing God without."

"How we behold determines if we hold joy."

The whole premise of One Thousand Gifts is to be thankful for the mundane, to see God in everything, everywhere. Her challenge is to start your own list of a thousand things to be grateful to God for.

And what better day to start than on Good Friday?

Now then, as promised, here is that recipe, because whoa baby, I am surely grateful for this little gem.

Motzo Crack

6 squares matzos
3/4 cups pecans, walnuts or sliced almonds
1 cup butter
1 3/4 cups brown sugar
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350. Arrange matzos in large baking pan in one layer. Spread nuts evenly over matzos. Place several sheets of waxed paper on the counter or on another baking sheet to use later.

2. In a medium saucepan, melt butter & brown sugar. Stir and bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes, stirring often.

3. Pour hot butter mixture over matzos. Immediately place in oven for 10-15 minutes and bake until matzos begin to brown and caramel is bubbly.

4. Remove matzos from oven. Take off of baking sheet and put onto prepared wax paper. Scatter chocolate chips over the top. Allow the chips to melt, then spread over the top with a knife.

5. When cooled, break into pieces and store in a covered container.

You can NOT eat just one piece of this yumminess. Nope. Can't.

Books Worth Sneaking Off to Read

Okay, so yeah. Shameless advertising. Cut me some slack. The high here in Jotenheim is going to be a freeze-your-patootie-off minus four fahrenheit. Apparently Minnesota didn't get the global warming memo.

But there's no better time to curl up with a great read! Here's what's near the top of my stack in case you're looking for some ideas . . .

MARVELOUS
By Travis Thrasher

Brandon Jeffery’s summer started out with a bang—as in, a friend crashed his car and now he has to work two jobs to pay it off. It’s at Fascination Street Records that he’s introduced to a beautiful but quiet girl named Marvel. She’s new to Hidden Cove and looking for a summer job, so Brandon secretly strikes a deal with their boss to work for free so she can be hired.

When a classmate is found murdered, however, their summer takes a turn for the mysterious. Brandon’s friend Devon is sure he knows just who’s to blame: the creepy recluse of the town quarry. But the police have few leads, and Brandon has the sneaking suspicion he’s being watched.

That’s not what’s in the forefront of on his mind, though. More than trying to pay off his car to his unemployed, alcoholic father and protecting Seth Belcher from the school bullies, he’s determined to date Marvel. He doesn’t understand why they seem so close and she refuses to date him, but as the mystery behind her tragic past begins to unravel, Marvel finally confesses her reason: God has revealed she’s destined to die saving others—and it’s going to be soon.

PRIME OF LIFE
By P.D. Bekendam

Ben thinks the retirement home where he works should be called “Heaven Can Wait a Little Longer While I Golf” instead of Heritage Gardens. But who asked him? He’s just the janitor, after all. Of course, his inept boss, the cantankerous residents, and even his attractive podiatrist friend don’t know one important thing about him: he was recently a cardiothoracic surgeon, not a broom-pushing custodian.

Ben is in search of a stress-free life with a little freedom from the past thrown in. But will it be that simple to escape who he used to be—and all he used to fear?

THE REICHENBACH PROBLEM

By Martin Allison Booth

Arthur Conan Doyle is on the run from his own fame. Taking a much needed holiday, Doyle flees to a picturesque village in Switzerland nestled beneath the imposing Reichenbach Falls. There he hopes to find anonymity, but even in this beautiful rural setting, peace eludes him when he finds himself immediately recognized by a fan who pressures him into looking into the death of a fellow visitor.

All too soon, Doyle’s somewhat unwilling gentle probing into the case begins to cause the finger of suspicion to turn towards him. But can the creator of the famous detective actually do the sleuthing himself? Although able to pen the character of Sherlock, he soon begins to learn he does not share his leading creation’s characteristics, but rather Watson’s. Can the “sidekick” see enough of the picture to solve the case for once?

Sherlock Holmes has fascinated readers ever since he first burst into fiction, over one hundred years ago. In this novel, the first in a trilogy, we meet his author and discover the difficult relationship between them.

So . . . what's on your stack? Share the love by tossing in more reading ideas in the comment section.

Books of the Year ~ Gold Medal Winner

Drum roll. Cymbal crash. Hushed silence waiting . . . waiting . . . waiting for the

big gold medal reveal. One more cymbal crash just because I love the noise.

Ready?

My favorite book of 2014 is BORN OF PERSUASION by Jessica Dotta.

The year is 1838, and seventeen-year-old Julia Elliston’s position has never been more fragile. Orphaned and unmarried in a time when women are legal property of their fathers, husbands, and guardians, she finds herself at the mercy of an anonymous guardian who plans to establish her as a servant in far-off Scotland.

With two months to devise a better plan, Julia’s first choice to marry her childhood sweetheart is denied. But when a titled dowager offers to introduce Julia into society, a realm of possibilities opens. However, treachery and deception are as much a part of Victorian society as titles and decorum, and Julia quickly discovers her present is deeply entangled with her mother’s mysterious past. Before she knows what’s happening, Julia finds herself a pawn in a deadly game between two of the country’s most powerful men. With no laws to protect her, she must unravel the secrets on her own. But sometimes truth is elusive and knowledge is deadly.

MY REVIEW:

All right. I’ll admit it. I LOVE the villain in Born of Persuasion. Mr. Macy is the most suave and endearing creepy character I’ve ever met…hence my honorary title of President of the Macy Fan Club. No, really. When you’ve finished reading the book, check the acknowledgements.

Author Jessica Dotta has penned quite a memorable novel debut—not a light and fluffy read. The writing is exquisite, with danger and intrigue shadowing every scene. A strong undercurrent of who to believe and what to believe runs throughout. This is the kind of book to curl up with on a dark, windy evening with a cup of tea and candlelight.

Julia is the heroine. Sometimes you’ll ache for her, other times you’ll want to shake some sense into her. Either way, she will evoke emotion in you. Hers is a haunting story, sad and forlorn, yet glimpses of love and hope are sprinkled in at times.

Other characters step directly off the pages of an Austen novel or appear to be from Downton Abbey. Nancy, the say-it-like-it-is lady’s maid. Mrs. Windham, a Mrs. Bennett wannabe. Lady Foxmore, conniving and underhanded. All of them are an unforgettable cast. The settings are just as spectacular, think Bleak House mixed with Jane Eyre.

Do not expect all your questions to be satisfactorily answered by the end of this first book. In fact, you’ll likely have just as many questions as when you start—which will make it all the more exciting to devour books 2 and 3 when they come out. This is a series that has earned a permanent place on my bookshelves. Highly recommended.

Books of the Year ~ Silver Medal Winner

The Secret of Pembrooke Park
By Julie Klassen

Abigail Foster fears she will end up a spinster, especially as she has little dowry to improve her charms and the one man she thought might marry her--a longtime friend--has fallen for her younger, prettier sister. 

When financial problems force her family to sell their London home, a strange solicitor arrives with an astounding offer: the use of a distant manor house abandoned for eighteen years. The Fosters journey to imposing Pembrooke Park and are startled to find it entombed as it was abruptly left: tea cups encrusted with dry tea, moth-eaten clothes in wardrobes, a doll's house left mid-play . . .

The handsome local curate welcomes them, but though he and his family seem to know something about the manor's past, the only information they offer Abigail is a warning: Beware trespassers who may be drawn by rumors that Pembrooke contains a secret room filled with treasure.

Hoping to improve her family's financial situation, Abigail surreptitiously searches for the hidden room, but the arrival of anonymous letters addressed to her, with clues about the room and the past, bring discoveries even more startling. As secrets come to light, will Abigail find the treasure and love she seeks...or very real danger?

MY REVIEW:

Warning: stock your freezer with frozen pizzas because you won’t be feeding your family until you’ve finished this book.

THE SECRET OF PEMBROOKE PARK is by far the finest to date of author Julie Klassen’s novels. Danger. Love. Intrigue. A mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. You’ll find all the ingredients of a historical romance with a gothic flair in this latest release.

Heroine Abigail Foster struggles with feelings of self-worth, magnified by her younger sister’s beauty. When an opportunity presents itself for her to depart from family for awhile and prepare a country home for their residence, she jumps on it. In the process, she discovers a house full of mystery. . . and a very handsome curate to help the solve the puzzle.

William Chapman is everything a hero should be. Compassionate. Trustworthy. Big biceps. More than that, though, he truly cares about the souls of his parish, Abigail’s included.

Which makes it even harder for Abigail to choose when the former love of her life shows up. Don’t worry. I won’t give anything away. You’ll have to wonder like I did until nearly the end of the story.

PEMBROOKE PARK is a fantastic tale, sure to make you drop all your responsibilities and hole up on the couch for a few days. Plan ahead and have plenty of tea and scones available, because seriously, you will NOT put this one down.