The Queen's Fool

The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory

By the author of The Other Boleyn Girl, comes this book, which takes place after Henry the VIII.  His daughters......Mary from his first wife, Kathrine of Aragon, and Elizabeth from his sordid mistress and second wife, Anne Boleyn, are at battle over the crown and fighting over the religious tone the country should take.

The story is told through the fictional character of Hannah Greene.  Hannah is a young Jewish girl, chased from her Spanish homeland when her mother was burned for being a Jew.  Hannah and her father finally end their terrible flee from persecution, in London.  Hannah's father is a book printer/seller.  When it is discovered by Sir Robert Dudley (vying for position for religious freedom) that Hannah has the 'sight', Hannah is begged as Queen Mary's fool.  She is pulled between the sad and stoic Queen Mary and her beautiful and dangerous half sister, Princess Elizabeth as they value Hannah's ability to see the future. 
Hannah is living the dangerous life as one of 'The People' in hiding.  She must not forget the old ways, while living the life of a Christian in a court where she could be slaughtered for her beliefs.  Hannah is betrothed to Daniel Carpenter, another Jew.  She must grow up and decide whether Daniel's faithful love and her heritage are more important than her girlish desire for Robert Dudley and her allegiance to a queen that is destined to fail miserably.

I loved the historical aspect, the religious themes, and the romance.  The book does open with a rather descriptive sexual scene but really tames after that.

Rating 4
Rating PG 13  sexual scenes

The Miracle of Forgiveness

The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball

After all of these years, I have never read this book before.  I finally found it at a library sale for fifty cents and decided to buy it.  I started months ago and wasn't feeling it.  But once I had one of those intense PMS days, where you see your life stretching out before you.........as you struggle up the down escalator of life...and I felt like since I was already down I could take a good kick in the teeth. (You know how sometimes you're down and you just want to really GET DOWN?)  So I set out with my pen to mark up the book.
I can't say that I am behind every word uttered in the book.  I've never been called a prude (well I take that back) so don't believe what I say......but I don't feel like I'm a sinner when I wear shorts.  Also, I drove a car in my teen years and made it to adulthood fairly unscathed.  I also have a much more tolerant view of homosexuality.  That said, the actual doctrine of repentance was five star.  There were some amazing quotes and my book is totally written all over.
In the beginning I will say that it seems harsh, but I like harsh.  Don't hold back on me.  I know Heavenly Father loves me despite the fact that I am a cold hearted, quick to anger, justice seeking, judgemental fool. And I had a lot of hope that if I can just be merciful to others, (if I can just.......be.......merciful.....) then I will also be given mercy.
My fave quote..."You can't flirt with sin and be repentant."  ......er something like that.  I guess I better stop batting my lashes then.
Grade 5
Grade PG 13 Frank discussion about homosexuality and sex.

First Love Second Chances

First Love Second Chances by Anita Stansfield

Well it seems I wasn't quite finished with being sentimental.........and I took in the second book. 
Clean, romantic, foreign, struggle with emotions and problems unique to the LDS culture.  Sigh.  I felt fulfilled.

This is the second book put out by Stansfield YEARS ago.  Loved it maybe a hair less than the first one.

Hopefully I am now able to move on to other literature.
Rating 5
Rating PG

First Love and Forever

First Love and Forever by Anita Stansfield

This was the first book I ever read by Stansfield and that is when I fell in love.  After my last read of hers, I was feeling a little sentimental so I reread First Love and Forever.

Emily is in an unhappy marriage to the man that she felt compelled to choose after much prayer.  Ryan was able to give her the one thing that the 'other' man couldn't, a temple marriage.  The 'other' man is Michael Hamilton.  A published Australian nonmember author that Emily met at BYU.  And as far as I can tell besides being an nonmember Michael is nearly perfect.  That aside, Ryan and Emily aren't making happy memories when, after ten years Michael comes back into the picture asking Emily to leave Ryan and marry him. 
What will she do?  Even though all works out in the end..........it is a painful process.
Stansfield at her best.  This is probably my number one top pick out of all of her books....actually her first five were great.
So if you either haven't read this particular Stansfield or you just need to revisit the Hamiltons......it is a nice cozy, romantic escape.
Rating 5 I've read it at least half a dozen times.  I love Michael Hamilton.....I will admit after this reading Emily started to wear on me........but then there was Michael.......
Rating PG   Kissing, reference to marital sex.

Under The Banner Of Heaven

Under The Banner Of Heaven by Jon Krakauer

I found this little prize stuck in the back corner of my library.  I picked it up under a misguided assumption that it was about polygamy.  Honestly I was in it for the dirty details.  Polygamy is something I can't wrap my brain around and I was interested in what this book might entail.

The book happens to center around the murder of a young woman and her baby.  Her husband's brothers and himself begin straying from the path of mainstream religion and become beyond fundamentalist.  When one of them receives a revelation that she and a group of others must be exterminated because they are in the way of the work, the young woman and baby end up with their heads nearly severed in small town America.

Krakauer, in order to illustrate his point about the violent faith of fundamentalist, deems it necessary to pull forth the ugly past of the current LDS church.  His writing style is gripping.  He is a truly skilled writer and his historical and nonfiction accounts are made palatable by his gift of writing.  On the other hand, from the blurb on the front cover until the last page, you are inundated with ugly and terrifying facts (?) that make a mainstream religion seem like its VERY ugly stepsister, the fundamentalists.  Although some say that the distinction is clear between the LDS church and the other fundamentalist groups, including various polygamous sects, it really wasn't.  Krakauer delves back to the roots of the LDS church.  It is understandable why he does this. But his back and forth style, from past to present and right to left, leaves the lines blurred, and a harmless, God loving community pegged as the murderers and rapists next door.

I did enjoy Krakauer's skilled writing ability.  I wasn't scared off by what I read.  I am however saddened that a service and faith oriented religion is even spoken of in the same breath with the other crack job, spin offs.  And I am sure as I say that, that those people probably shouldn't be pigeon holed either. Also the LDS religion's faith in God was basically ignored and replaced with the worship of Joseph Smith.  Not at all factual in that instance.

Rating 4 for skill 2 for sticking to what should have been the main idea.  It would be like me wanting to bring to light what I consider to be misdeeds of Catholics and going so far back in history that I drag in the Jews and turn on the spotlight.
Rating R Murder, rape, incest, drug abuse, language.

The Lost Symbol

I was entertained.........so shoot me.  I didn't go into this book thinking that I was reading Chaucer, Shakespear, or even Hemmingway (whom I can't stand, yet other's love).  I knew I was reading this to zone out and have a good time.

The main point of the book was the symbolism in Washington D.C. and it's relation to Freemasonry.  Completely interesting and thought provoking.  I wasn't looking for a scriptural experience so I don't necessarily take what he is saying as truthful even if he did investigate his facts.  I did not enjoy his pot shots at religion through his character Robert Langdon.  If you want to include various religions and your character doesn't believe them then great, but snide little comments by the author, shrouded as character are crappy.

I felt like I moved through the book slowly even though I was enjoying it.  I especially liked the theories of Neonetics (mind over matter/faith/hope/belief studied scientifically).

Rating 4
Rating PG 13  Murder, dismemberment, mutilation, torture.

The Silence of Snow

The Silence of Snow (Jayson Wolfe series #5) by Anita Stansfield

Jayson is just ready to release a new album. Times should be wonderful but he is about to learn the lesson of opposition. Tabloid rumors, rumors in his own ward, and illness bring him to another breaking point.

As always Stansfield has great core subjects. I was pleased that she chose to broach opposition. Jayson and his family come through clearly and without so much emotional turmoil that you can't understand what is happening anymore. This book also delved into dealing with chronic illness. Jayson began suffering debilitating migraines and a family member was diagnosed with Celiac Disease.

The Celiac Disease part was great. I was happy that she showed what a rigid, life/world changing disease this is and how little it is acknowledged by food companies.

The book was sweet, clean, fun and fast. She dropped most of her 'words' that I always look for. She picked up a few others....'glorious', and 'joyous'. Kind of funny.

I want to hear the music created by this character........I may also want to marry him. Mostly because he works from home.........

Rating 4
Rating PG The family talks to their teen about chastity. The ex-wife is abusing drugs.

Slivers of Reality

Slivers of Reality

First of this book was wacked. I picked up the book when I saw our public library was having an author signing. I easily sped through the book because I was in bed with a fever. This may not have been the best time to read about a psychotic episode. I began to feel just as freaked out as the main character.

John has suffered a hailstorm of life altering events, all at once. His ill father becomes so sick that the family must decide whether or not to take him off of life support. John's first son Josh is found in the basement in the middle of a heroin reaction. John has had two bad marriages and most of his family relationships are on the rocks. He also has a lot of anger.
Once John and his live in girlfriend Kate decide that they will have to let John's father die, they begin to believe that they are receiving messages from his disembodied spirit. While this seems plausible, John delves even deeper and begins a sever but acute mental breakdown. John thinks that as his father breathes his last breath, he transfers his Power to John. With grandiose and paranoid thoughts John is unable to sleep for days. He finally ends up in UNNI under sedation.

At times I didn't think that John would ever recover. His girlfriend Kate did not have a breakdown but fed into his psychosis at the beginning by encouraging his thoughts and behavior. Wildly strange! I did however feel for the character despite the strangeness.

Super weird book that I don't recommend reading while you are sick. I am wildly curious how the author ever came up with this idea.......eep. John's father was LDS so this religion was brought up at times in the book. No biggie really except there were parts that didn't seem to really carry through. At one point John sort of says he is Joe Smith (I take this to mean Joseph). Also John was given a blessing by his father's bishop. The blessing was called an LDS blessing, which I have never heard spoken of that way before.

Rating 3 I felt for John. I was taken in by the whole story although it did take some time. At first I was put off by John seeming very angry. Which he has every right to be, it just took some getting used to.
Rating R Language, mental breakdown, drug use, scary.

The Holy Secret

The Holy Secret by James Ferrell

By the author of 'The Peacegiver' (rating 5) comes the next instructive parable. I hate to lay it out there like this.......but it wasn't quite as good. Basically the book is a conversation between two adult men about learning to love things that are holy including the temple and the scriptures. A younger family man comes to an elderly ward member looking for answers after hearing him speak in sacrament meeting. He comes to realize during the talk that he doesn't love the temple or the scriptures. He wants to learn how.
It felt to me like the book began strong. It had a good break down of how to go through the scriptures asking questions in order to participate or have a conversation with the scriptures....thus gleaning more than merely buzzing through them just to gain another tally mark. The elderly man spoke about finding similitude's of Christ in other scripture stories. This is something I may have EVENTUALLY come up with, but I liked having it pointed out. I suspect for those of you who were either active as youth or didn't skip institute to make out with your boyfriend may have known these things already. So this book could be a great reminder.
Another aspect of the book that may have been one of the best parts, was the break down of the sacrament prayers. I took notes.
By the end, when we were getting to the temple parts......which is what I was truly interested in, it began to fade a little for me. I am on board with the vicarious work thing so I guess this part was just reminder for me. But who doesn't need a refresher? And then it ended......and I mean abruptly.
Rating 4 Some great info. made easy to read. Some of it was just refresher. Not up to par with Ferrell's first book.
Rating G

Eve And The Choice Made In Eden

Eve And The Choice Made In Eden by Beverly Campbell

This was not my first reading of this book so I may be more critical this time. There was nothing wrong with the book first off. I am just not a go get em' feminista. I have never thought that one gender was any more important than the other. I do believe that each gender has some unique and specific roles better played by them. I do not want to be a man. I have never thought Adam and Eve made a mistake. I have never thought it was all Eve's fault (although I have had a poorly educated religious leader tell a group of young women that......boo hiss! I promptly corrected his male chauvinist attitude.).

The back cover states, "Understanding what happened in the Garden can change your life." I guess that is possible if you have any misconceived notions such as the ones stated above. Considering that I don't.........my life is still the same.

The book does try to pump up Eve which I don't have a problem with. She certainly rocked or she wouldn't have been Eve. I would only hate for anyone to read and feel superior. Adam and Eve were equal in intelligence and power. They were just different.....which is why it is so great. I feel like hopefully Campbell put this across.

I do however LOVE that Campbell explains through doctrine the difference between sin and transgression AND the fact that there was transgression in the Garden......not sin. She also hits on mercy vs. justice which is a topic I always enjoy. And the information also covers the thought that Adam and Eve probably had a trying time contemplating what to do. This may have taken years, not like one afternoon. The author also delves into the difference in ways that men and women assess morality, decision making and risk taking. To round it all out she makes us aware that this was all part of the Plan and not a mistake or whim. Adam and Eve had to use their own agency to leave the Garden and the presence of God. God made a Plan whereby this would take place and then there would be a way already in the works to be able to return. Campbell also puts forth the thought that although Satan tried to thwart the Plan, he really just helped the right thing to happen.

In all I really enjoyed the book especially the points with doctrine to uphold it. My life wasn't changed because I already believed I am divine in my own right......and that women are just as great as men. I do like that this may strike a chord with those thinking that women of our faith submit like a beaten puppy. Not so. We make our own choices and only follow men of faith.

Rating 5 I give it a five because I feel like this is something you could read every few years. Mostly my favorite parts were the ones about the difference between transgression and sin. This is something I like to keep straight in my mind and I need to brush up on the specifics.

Rating G

Standing For Something

Standing for Something by Gordon B. Hinckley

This is not a first time read for me. If this book were ever timely when first published, is now extremely timely. President Hinckley lays out the road less traveled. A road that he professes can save humanity if we will all begin the journey in our own lives and homes. Only can we change the world if we start with ourselves.
Although written by the former President of the LDS church, the book is one that should hold great value for all Judeo/Christian sects. Hinckley simply lays out ten virtues that he believes should be our ground work. These virtues may seem to many of us, now lay by the way side in modern society. The ten virtues are love, honesty, morality, civility, learning, forgiveness and mercy, thrift and industry, gratitude, optimism, and finally faith. He goes on to talk of the guardians of these virtues which are marriage and the family. Hinckley has it right when he says that 'we can save our nation by saving our homes'.
Standing for Something is uplifting although it speaks of serious topics and brings to mind our duty to make life better in a time where virtue and morality seem to be quickly fading from our forethought's.
I would recommend this book to anyone whether LDS or not. I didn't feel like any religious sect was at the forefront, only basic Christian principles.
Rating 5 I spent a lot of time underlining thoughts since this was not my first reading.
Rating G

Love's Enduring Promise

Love's Enduring Promise (#2 Love Comes Softly series) by Janette Oke


This is the sequel to Love Comes Softly. Marty and Clark are settled in their marriage and in their small frontier community. Their children are thriving and the settlement has decided to build a school and find a teacher. The family continues to grow. This includes Marty taking in two neighbor girls after their mother dies and their father feels that they will slow him as he continues with his life.
The school is completed, a teacher procured and a parson found. Land is cleared for a new cemetery. Marty's children grow quickly. Marty tries to help Tommy the neighbor boy after he falls in love with an Indian squaw. Marty's older girls marry. Marty and Clark build a new house.

The tale is sweet and gentle. I wish that Tommy and his love ended up together, it would have made for a better story with more depth. The fact that he ran off and found a white girl was a let down. I had a hard time telling how much time had passed at the beginning of the chapters. Sometimes it was days, or months, or years. By the end of the book time began flying and Marty's daughter Missy had grown up and moved away. There were endearing parts that brought a tear to the eye. I wasn't wildly entertained.
Rating 3 But this is a low 3. It was clean and sweet but not spectacular. It didn't have anything I hated about it so I hesitate to rate it lower.
Rating G

The Angel

The Angel by Carla Neggers

Keira has a deep Irish history. She is an American artist that illustrates Irish folklore. Keira decides to pursue one mysterious legend about an angel statue all of the way to Ireland. As she delves into the legend of fairies, three Irish brothers and a missing angel statue, a chain of events is set off in Boston and Ireland. Ultimately eerie murders and mysterious happenings are soon attributed to the devil himself. Keira's uncle a Boston detective and her new found love interest Simon try to unveil the murderer........

Loved the Irish setting. I've always found Ireland and its folklore intriguing. I also really liked the detectives. I always have a soft spot for the uniforms. It was a hair scary when you began to wonder if the devil really was the one killing everyone.

Rating 3.5 Great summer read. I liked the romantic parts and the mystery. Nothing breath taking or super unique.

Rating R Murder and sex but not overwhelming amounts.

The Shack

The Shack by William Paul Young

The Shack is a book about more than one story I would say. First there is the story......and then there is the theology. The story intrigued me. I was drawn in by the cover of the book and then I read the back. A child kidnapped and then the father's healing by spending a weekend with God in the 'shack' where the child was held.

I should have known that I wasn't going to love this book like the zillions of other people that read it because......a) zillions of others liked it.........b) I had to put it down when I realized what was happening to the child..........c) zillions of others liked it.

I hate to say that I don't like this book because I feel like it was a truly faithful and heartfelt endeavor by the author. However I do not like this book and would caution against reading it. If you already have a religion.......you are going to be upset by the messed up theology. If you don't, I would hate for you to read this book and think that it held truth.

On the flip side I am happy that this book has touched so many because that means that there are people out there searching for a personal relationship with God. And that relationship can only bring good to their lives.

The story did make some good points. That God, Jesus and The Holy Ghost are three separate people. The are only one in the sense that they basically have the same mind set about everything. Also I did feel like it did a great job of explaining free agency and its vital importance to everything. God explained that He cannot stop people from making choices because if He stopped one choice He would have to stop all choice..........that making everything pointless. He also explained how he does not create 'bad' things but He will use them to His advantage in bringing to pass 'good'. These were great explanations and I hope that any one that reads this book concentrates on these things.

Also I did like the magical quality and the beauty that was described. The 'story' was a good story.

The things that were clearly horrible were the way that Adam was made to seem like he messed up the whole 'plan' by the choice he and Eve made. This is not so. Without choosing to become mortal the 'plan' had no where to go.

Also the Commandments or basically any rule was made to seem foolish. I believe God actually told Mack (the main character) that he did not have to follow any rules. There was a confusing explanation why this was so.

It also seemed like Jesus was the good guy and God was the bad guy. But then the book really never gave Jesus credit for everything he did. Which if you are a Christian means EVERYTHING.

A huge thing for me also was the way that God was portrayed. I did not like the 'character' he was given to play. If that is what God really was I would not have a problem. But it isn't.

There were surely touching and poignant scenes and some great bits of truth but they were so mixed with untruth that I cannot recommend this book.

Rating 2 I wasn't gagging but I also didn't have a very good feeling when I read this. Many of you may now laugh because I admit to reading unsavory things now and then. However they are put out as unsavory.......not as gospel. I cannot give this book a 1 because there were some points made that were really really good. I am mostly certain that I will throw this book away instead of passing it on.
Rating G

Spies, Lies and a Pair of Ties

Spies, Lies and a Pair of Ties by Sheralyn Pratt

Rhea (Ray) Jensen is a 24 year old P.I. (Not my favorite subject already). Rhea is cute, smart, athletic and crushing on an old boyfriend that she professes to be 'emotionally married' to. Rhea is working on an important embezzlement case that could endanger her life the closer she comes to the truth. While on a stake out, Rhea runs into a pair of missionaries.

Rhea reminds me a lot of Kinsey Malone of the Sue Grafton novels (minus the sex). She is spunky and brilliant and I loved her. She also has her own moral code in which her dead mother played a large role. I really like finding characters that live a moral life because it is healthy and makes sense even though they may not have a religious reason. Religion did not play a large part in this book. When Rhea had to deal with it, she did it like she does her job. I like the way she looked at issues and brought them up in a manner that didn't seem like this was just an LDS author popping in some religion just for her publisher.

This book was an accidental find. I wasn't sure it was up my alley but I couldn't pass it up for the awesome sale it was on. (Woo Hoo I love library book sales!). I am so glad that I picked it up. I can't wait to read the follow ups 'Welcome to Stalk Lake City' and 'Idle Playgrounds'. I am desperate to know about what happens with Rhea's old crush.

Rating 4 Loved it and loved the character.

Rating PG There was a moment of intense desire that Rhea didn't give in to even though she wanted to (and frankly I did too there for a minute).

Shelter From The Storm

Shelter From The Storm by Anita Stansfield

This is the fourth novel in the Jayson Wolfe series. Previously things seemed happily wrapped up. This time Jayson and Elizabeth are happy and progressing nicely when Jayson has some mental drama over a nosy ward member. She believes that Jayson is Hell bound because he plays rock and roll. She refuses to let her son have any contact with him. Jayson is released from his Young Men's calling because of this. Jayson spirals downward emotionally. He used to think that his musical talent was a gift from God. Now he is not so sure.

I always profess to be a Stansfield fan. I still am. Does it sound like I am about to say but? I am. I do adore her and will read her books over and over. However (but) there are some that are better than others. I loved the first three books in this series. This one seemed like a stretch and somewhat pointless. Also as Stansfield tends to do at times.........very mentally harrowing. One person wants to keep their feelings bottled up and the other one won't stop nagging them to just dump their emotion all over the floor like Kool-Aid. This gets tedious. By the end though, Jayson sees his former counselor and she actually wraps up the trauma with a great and concise explanation.

The reason I love Stansfield is because her characters have great character and grit. They abide on a spiritual plain that will take me eons of eternity to reach. So they give me things to think about. Her message.....however long it takes her to reach it......is always worth considering. I like that she is willing to broach timely subjects unique to the culture. I do love that many characters are independently wealthy.......truly helpful, but I would love to have a good juicy story about a daddy cop that has to work 7 jobs to keep the family fed, therefore not truly able to hold most callings where dependability is needed.....nor can he make it to every FHE or scripture reading. I wonder how he would ever make it on such a lofty spiritual plain. Please consider writing this and giving me some ideas. Just a thought.

Rating 4 ish.........love you Anita.
Rating G

As Long As I Have You

As Long As I Have You Hearts of the Children Vol. 5 by Dean Hughes

The end of the war finally comes for the Thomas family. Everyone except poor sweet Gene returns home to Utah. Even the Stoltz family is brought to America. At first the book seemed to be wrapping up nicely. Then we come to find that the boys (Alex, Wally and Richard) have varying degrees of PTS (post traumatic stress).

Wally makes it home first. He is shipped around to different hospitals. He is fattened up, checked for diseases, and vaccinated. When he returns home he quickly learns to enjoy life again. He seems even better than the old Wally. Much deeper. Lorainne by some miracle is only engaged, not yet married. Once she sees Wally, she knows that she still loves him. Wally and Lorrainne are engaged and married quickly. Wally begins working for President Thomas as the family parts plant. His life seems set and happy.

Bobbi is the next to return. There are moments that are incredibly tense and weird feeling between Richard and Bobbi. She wants him to want her. (Who doesn't?) He is still suffering with feelings and flashbacks from being blown to high heaven by a Kamikaze pilot. They finally marry and they still have a stiff, strange relationship. At one point Bobbi has a miscarriage. Richard has been working for President Thomas so that he can give Bobbi the lifestyle he thinks is important. Finally Bobbi can't take anymore weirdness and confronts Richard about his pent up feelings and the fact that she thinks he does not enjoy his job. Richard tells Bobbi about some things during the war that he never wanted to share with her. He also agrees to go back to college and do something with his life that he will truly enjoy.

Peter shows up in the same German LDS branch that Alex has just been given a calling in. He finds that Alex is now his brother-in- law and that his family is still alive. It may have been a little contrived and tightly wrapped up at this point, but I am glad that Peter was able to reconnect with his family. Peter is reunited with the Stoltz family and moves to America with them. They live in Salt Lake where President Thomas has made jobs for Heinrich and for Peter. He has also provided a house and a car for them. Peter does not like America as much as the rest of his family. He does not learn the language as quickly either. He wants to return to Germany and help rebuild it. He also has fallen in love with the young daughter of the family that took him in and saved his life.

LaRue is growing up and becoming more serious. She doesn't date and she doesn't seem to care for clothing as much as she did in the past. High school is ending for her and she is able to receive a scholarship to a college out East. President Thomas is concerned for LaRue. He is afraid that once she leaves the valley, her faith with subside and she will be brainwashed by the liberal thinkers she meets. LaRue wants to leave for this reason. The more she ponders, the more she wonders if her faith is really strong enough. She has many doubts which become strikingly more evident when she talks with her friend Cecil and her younger sister Beverly. LaRue hopes that leaving the family will make her rely on her own faith more.

Alex is the last to return home. He has a very hard time adjusting to being a father of a one year old that he has never met. He realizes that he has hardly spent any time with Anna. President Thomas wants to put Alex right back at the head of the family business but Alex has other ideas. Alex suffers with anxiety and anger from the horrors he saw and feels like he committed while in the Army. He refuses to say anything about what occurred while he was away. He is angered that anyone would think he is a hero. Finally Wally and Richard help Alex begin talking about some of the things that are plaguing his mind after Alex freaks out at the plant where he works. Alex realizes that they do understand him and that he can speak to them frankly about his fears and regrets. He gets closer to Anna and his baby Gene. He and Anna are soon expecting another baby. Alex decides that he may stay with his father's business and later enter politics.

If felt like the story wrapped up fairly neatly. I am sure some people find that not really true to life, but there is another series to follow this one. I like feeling like most things have been resolved. I really loved this series and felt like I learned a good deal of history while coming to love the characters.

Rating 5
Rating PG war stories of the violence that occurred to the soldiers.

To A Child Love Is Spelled T-I-M-E

To a Child LOVE is Spelled T-I-M-E by Mac Anderson & Lance Wubbles

Super short read, which I will probably pick up now and again just to keep me focused on being the right kind of mom. Anderson and Wubbles have compiled great thoughts on parenting along with some fabulous quotes. As I was reading it, I immediately had it pointed out to me that no matter how tired or hurried I am I need to give time to my children. So I let the baby fall asleep on my bare stomach as he is prone to desire, and I read the whole book. Then I promptly got up this morning to read to one of the other little ones.

A favorite quote: "Our greatest danger in life is in permitting the urgent things to crowd out the important. -Charels E. Hummel

I was reminded over and over where to keep my focus. I think I will keep this next to my bed to read frequently. Topics range from responsibility, time, love, listening, marriage relationship, traditions, and discipline.

Quote: "At every step the child should be allowed to meet the real experiences of life; the thorns should never be plucked from his rose." -Ellen Key

Rating 5

Rating G

Soldier Boys

Soldier Boys by Dean Hughes

Dieter and Spence are two boys caught up in WWII. Spence an American boy wants to prove his worth to those back in his home town. Dieter has joined Hitler Youth and wants to help Hitler wipe out the evil Americans and kill the filthy Jews.

Each boy finds that the glory of war is not what they thought it would be. They are starved, frozen and wounded. They see the baseness of humanity. As their lives are on the line and quickly coming to an end, they realize the hatred that they carry is not the men they want to be. Spence risks his life to help Dieter as he lay dying after battle. His kind and charitable hand is paid with the price of his own life when German soldiers gun him down as he drags Dieter to medics.

Quick tender read. Very reminiscent of Children of the Promise series. Great in helping understand history, current and future war events.

Rating PG violence, war
Rating 3.5

Love Comes Softly

Love Comes Softly by Janette Oke


I am learning that this author and these books are quite popular and from the picture I assume they are also movies. This series was recommended to me and so I thought I would give it a whirl.

Marty (Martha) is a young bride, in love with her husband Clem and pregnant with his child. They have moved west to settle and make their way. They have no land or home, just a wagon. Clem is killed in an accident with his horse, leaving Marty alone on the frontier. As the neighboring homesteaders come to help bury her husband, Marty sits in shock.

Clark, one of her new neighbors, bashfully and with great price, asks Marty if she will marry him. He knows she is all alone and he cannot offer her shelter if they are not married. Clark as a one year old daughter that he needs a mother for. If Marty agrees they will be married by the visiting preacher before he leaves the settlement. She will be the mother to Missy. Clark will move from the house into a lean-to. He will let Marty leave in the spring and take Missy when the time comes, if she decides not to stay.

Marty of course struggles with the loss of Clem and becoming an instant mother and wife to a stranger. Clark is a good and kind man that is supportive and positive. He is soft spoken and gentle with Marty as she learns about running a home and farm. He teaches her about God, whom she comes to love.

Marty meets the neighbors and learns to love and rely on them. Clark finally realizes that Marty is pregnant with Clem's baby and makes arrangements for her to be cared for when her time comes. Clark takes the baby as his own just as Marty did for Missy. Clark and Marty become increasingly comfortable with each other as they struggle on the western front. They make it through the destruction of their barn and much of their grain. They see through the death of a dear neighbor. Clark and Marty plant a garden and care for their children, adding more rooms onto their home. Finally when their new son nearly dies by accident, the two realize that love has finally come to them.

Sweet story. I can see why they are popular. I sometimes felt like Marty didn't give Clark a chance and thought poorly of him when he was trying to be supportive of their predicament. My biggest complaint is the speech. I'm not saying Oke made a mistake in the way she chose to have her characters talk, but it was very distracting for me to read.

Would be very interested to see the movie version.

Rating 3.5 Sweet
Rating G Great clean read