"The Divorce Party"

Author: Laura Dave
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Penguin Group, 2009
Pages: 272
Rating: Highly Recommend

Synopsis: Two women at opposite ends of a marriage are trying to answer the same question: When should you fight to save a relationship and when should you begin to let go?

On their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary, Gwyn Huntington and her husband, Thomas, invite friends and family over for a most unusual celebration. Their home, Huntington Gall, has been in the family for generations after surviving the Great Hurricane of 1938, which tore Montauk apart. Instead of celebrating their life there, Gwyn and Thomas are toasting their divorce.

The weekend also marks the first time that their son, Nate, brings his fiancee, Maggie, home to Montauk. But Maggie finds herself wondering if it will be the last, because she discovers a secret Nate has kept for years.

A multigenerational novel about love, family, and what it means to build a life with someon, The Divorce Party brings us two immensely appealing women: Gwyn, at the end of her marriage, and her future daughter-in-law, Maggie, at the beginning. Though they make very different choices, both women ultimately discover how to create the lives they most want to lead.

Review: This book was much better than I expected. It's told from Gwyn's and Maggie's points of view in alternating chapters. The characters feel very real and it is easy for the reader to become a part of their lives.

Laura Dave takes her reader on an interesting exploration of relationships. This is a page-turner, but not a fast read. It has some qualities of Chick Lit, but with much more depth.

I guarantee this will make you think and reflect on your own relationships.

"Living Dead Girl"

Author: Elizabeth Scott
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Publisher: Simon Pulse, 2008
Pages: 169
Rating: Recommend


Synopsis: Once upon a time, I was a little girl who disappeared. Once upon a time, my name was not Alice. Once upon a time, I didn't know how lucky I was.

When Alice was ten, Ray took her away from her family, her friends - her life. She learned to give up all power, to endure all pain. She waited for the nightmare to be over. Now Alice is fifteen and Ray still has her, but he speaks more and more of her death. He does not know what she longs for. She does not know he has something more terrifying than death in mind for her. This is Alice's story. It is one you have never heard, and one you will never, ever forget.  

Review: While this book is considered "young adult" fiction, I found the copy I read in the adult section of my library, with good reason. The content and subject matter are extremely disturbing and I wanted to stop reading, but I could not put the book down.

I did enjoy the author's writing style and the story is well-told. 

"With Wings as Eagles"

Author: Elaine Schulte
Genre: Christian Lit
Series: California Pioneers Series (Book 4)
Publisher: LifeJourney Books, 1991
Pages: 275
Rating: Recommend

Synopsis: With Wings as Eagles is the fourth book in the exciting story of the Talbots, a Christian Family determined to penetrate the west with the reality of God's love.

Review: I'll admit it, I'm tired of this series. This book was not unlike the others in the series of course and introduces yet another couple. Again, one could read this without having read the others in the series. The first book in the series, The Journey West, is still my favorite.

Eternal Passage

Author: Elaine Schulte
Genre: Christian Lit
Series: California Pioneers Series (Book 3)
Publisher: LifeJourney Books, 1991
Pages: 185
Rating: Recommend

Synopsis: Louisa Abigail Setter is fleeing her abusive husband, a Virginia slave market manager. If she acn only make ti to the California Territory, her relatives will take her in. But life becomes more complicated as she realizes her deepening feelings for the man who made her journey possible. And Louisa is more certain than ever that her only hope is in God.

Eternal Passage is the third book in the exciting story of the Talbots, a Christian Family determined to penetrate the west with the reality of God's love.

Review: In typical Schulte fashion, Eternal Passage is heartwarming and sweet.

Golden Dreams

Author: Elaine Schulte
Genre: Christian Lit
Series: California Pioneers Series (Book 2)
Publisher: LifeJourney Books, 1991
Pages: 252
Rating: Recommend

Synopsis: Her fiance's death has pushed her into the arms of his twin brother, but Rose Wilmington knows this is not God's plan for her. In desperation, she boards a clipper ship to sail from Boston to California. But she soon becomes confused as to the intentions of a tall and handsome fellow passenger, and troubled by thoughts of what strange new experiences await her in the California - quickly becoming known for gold and greed.

Golden Dreams is the second book in the exciting story of the Talbots, a Christian Family determined to penetrate the west with the reality of God's love.

Review: Ever predictable, these stories can be heartwarming. I read the first in this series Journey West and like it. I had hoped the second book would pick up where the first book left off, but this is a whole new storyline.

While I like reading a series in order, it is not necessary in this instance.

Wyoming Brides

Author: Debbie Macomber
Genre: Christian Fiction
Publisher: Mira
Pages: 464
Rating: Recommend


(Dana's Note: This is 2 books in 1, Denim and Diamonds and The Wyoming Kid)


Synopsis: Denim and Diamonds: Rancher Chase Brown has always loved Letty Ellison, but nine years she left their small town for a different kind of life. Now she's come home to Red Springs with her dreams in tatters - and a five-year-old child in tow. She's ready to trade the false glitter of Hollywood for the true happiness of being a rancher's fie. Chase's wife. But is it too late? 


The Wyoming Kid: Rancher Lonny Ellison is an ex-rodeo cowboy who's used to the adulation of women. But that's something he doesn't get from Joy Fuller. In fact, they argue constantly. His sister, Letty, says it's because he's interested in Joy. . .and Lonny figures she's right. Can he convince Joy that marriage to the Wyoming Kid will be as exciting as an eight-second bull ride and can be as sweet as the cookies she likes to bake. 

Review: Denim and Diamonds was my favorite of the two. The Wyoming Kid was slightly drawn out and repetitious. However, Macomber does a great job of tying these stories together in one novel. 


Macomber is one of my favorite authors for sweet, cute (non-trashy) romantic reads. While predictable and formulaic, I can't help but wish my life was as such a neatly wrapped package as the characters' in her books.


If you like Debbie Macomber, this is a must read. If you've never read Debbie Macomber, these two novels are a great introduction of her style.

The Journey West

Author: Elaine Schulte
Genre: Christian Lit
Series: California Pioneers Series (Book 1)
Publisher: LifeJourney Books, 1991
Pages: 274
Rating: Recommend

Synopsis: So far, Annie Windsor Talbot has enjoyed a life of wealth and priviege. But suddenly she finds herself orphaned, bankrupt, and dependent on teh assistance of her Christian relatives who are moving west. Stunned by the turn of events, she must learn to cope with the physical and emoitional strain of a wagon train journey in the company of a family whos faith she cannot understand, and a young man whose presence disturbs her.

The Journey West is the first book in the exciting story of the Talbots, a Christian family determined to penetrate the west with the reality of God's love.

Review: Not the best of the Christian writers (I still prefer Janette Oke), but I enjoyed this story for what it is. I picked it up off the table at a book sale and for $.50 it was well worth my time. I'd like to see if I can find the other books in this series. If you like Christian fiction, then I recommend this book.

Seasons: A Real Story of an Amish Girl

Author: Elizabeth Byler Younts
Genre: Memoir
Publisher: CreateSpace
Cost: $6.99 on Amazon
Pages: 192
Rating: Recommend

Synopsis: As the oldest child in an impoverished Amish family, Lydia Lee knows little more of life beyond hard work, sacrifice and extreme hunger. Yet, even as a young girl she strives to be content with all God has provided.

Against the backdrop of the Great Depression, Lydia’s childhood unfolds as her family struggles to survive, finding strength from their Amish faith. But, when tragedy strikes, that very faith is tested beyond what any child should have to endure. When all hope seems lost, Lydia is reminded that all things have seasons.

The spring of her life has been spent planting prayers in the soil of sadness and heartache. Will she see a summer of true love? Will there be a harvest of happiness? 

Review: The author is the granddaughter of Lydia Lee, the main character of Seasons. The storyline was interesting and it was a quick read. My only complaint is that it ended much too soon and rather abruptly.

I've been in the mood to read fluff lately, but this book surprised me. It's not really a feel-good fluffy read although it's not meant to bring a person down either. It is amazing what some people have endured.

My Heart Remembers

Author: Kim Vogel Sawyer
Genre: Christian Fiction / Historical Fiction
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers, 2008
Pages: 352
Rating: Highly Recommend

Synopsis: Orphaned in a tenement fire, three Irish immigrant children, hoping to be adopted, are sent to Missouri aboard an orphan train. Despite eight-year-old Maelle's desperate attempts to keep her siblings together, each child is taken by a different family. Maelle vows that she will never stop searching for her siblings and that they will be together one day. Sixteen years later, Maelle is still searching. So are her brother and sister. United by blood, divided by time, will they ever be reunited?

Review: My Heart Remembers won't appeal to everyone, but this is a tear jerker that I thoroughly enjoyed. Don't expect a lot of substance, but it is based on an actual event.

"A Prince for Jenny"

Author: Peggy Web
Genre: Romance / Chick Lit
Publisher: Kindle edition
Cost: $.99 on Amazon
File Size: 311 KB
Rating: Recommend

Synopsis: Touched By Angels, sequel - Born special, Jenny, an artist, has had to struggle for every achievement. The things ordinary women take for granted - love marriage - children - are only a dream for her. When divorced businessman, Daniel Sullivan brings his children to sit for a portrait, Jenny begins to believe that her prince has finally come. But can Daniel love a special woman without destroying her? Can she withstand the media attention that comes with his high-powered profile? Can she survive the nasty custody battle with his ex-wife? Can there be a fairy tale ending for jenny and her prince? This unusual love story is one of the author's most heartwarming.

Review: Touched by Angels is the better of the two books, but A Prince for Jenny is sweet, albeit unlikely, convenient, and a more neatly wrapped package than life ever is. However, at face value, this is a nice story.

What I didn't find out until read the epilogue is that Jenny's character is based on a little girl named Cooper, to whom the author was related. Cooper passed away before she had a chance to grow up, but the author lets her live through Jenny. This is the way Cooper's life *might* have been, had she lived.

"Touched by Angels"

Author: Peggy Web
Genre: Romance / Chick Lit
Publisher: Kindle edition
Cost: Free on Amazon
File Size: 288 KB 
Rating: Recommend

Synopsis: Sarah was a mother looking for a miracle; Jake was a tormented man looking to forget. She was raising a special child alone. He was testing the limits of recklessness on his motorcycle and in his plane. But when a little girl ran in front of his of his car, Jake risked his life for real in order to save her. Jenny - and her mother Sarah - tugged at his heart and made him want to be the hero Sarah imagined. But could such love ever silence the ghosts that haunted him? Could Sarah and Jenny be his second chance?

Review: This is a sweet, not trashy, romance novel. I wanted to try out my new Kindle by downloading a free book. This book is a fantastic, easy read. While it has a predictable ending, I got caught up in the journey that took me from beginning to end. In fact, I just logged into Amazon to download the sequel, A Prince for Jenny which cost frugal me a whole $.99.

It's not unusual for a line or paragraph to jump out or resonate with me, and I absolutely love this line from Touched by Angels, "That who you love is not nearly as important as who you are with the person you love".

Think about it.

Oh, and if you're wondering how I like my Kindle - I love it.

"Learning to Fall: The Blessings of an Imperfect Life"

Author: Philip Simmons
Genre: Collection (essays)
Publisher: Random House Publishers, 2003
Pages: 157
Rating: Highly Recommend

Synopsis: Philip Simmons was just thirty-five years old in 1993 when he learned that he had ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, and was told he had less than five years to live. As a young husband and father, and at the start of a promising literary career, he suddenly had to learn the art of dying. Nine years later, he has succeeded, against the odds, in learning the art of living.

Now, in this surprisingly joyous and spirit-renewing book, he chronicles his search for peace and his deepening relationship with the mystery of everyday life.
 
Set amid the rugged New Hampshire mountains he once climbed, and filled with the bustle of family life against the quiet progression of illness, Learning to Fall illuminates the journey we all must take — “the work of learning to live richly in the face of loss.”

"Philip reminds us that life is terminal and that it never turns out as we expect it to. Loved ones die, careers crash, health fails. We are always falling down. And it is in the very falling that we discover the preciousness of life."
 
From our first faltering steps, Simmons says, we may fall into disappointment or grief, fall into or out of love, fall from youth or health. And though we have little choice as to the timing or means of our descent, we may, as he affirms, “fall with grace, to grace.”
 
With humor, hard-earned wisdom and a keen eye for life’s lessons — whether drawn from great poetry or visits to the town dump — Simmons shares his discovery that even at times of great sorrow we may find profound freedom. And by sharing the wonder of his daily life, he offers us the gift of connecting more deeply and joyously with our own.

Review: Philip Simmons was an associate professor of English at Lake Forest College in Illinois. That alone made me question my real desire to read this book. I know all about English professors and their worlds of symbolism and deep thought. However, based on my personal experiences over the last 11 years, the book synopsis interested me more than reading it scared me. And thank God for that. Without a doubt, and even with 3.5 months of reading left in the year, this is my #1 recommended read for 2011.

As I started reading, I began bookmarking pages and paragraphs that held the bits of wisdom that I wanted to discuss during this review. However, it quickly became apparent that each paragraph and each chapter (essay) leads to insights and revelations that cannot be simply summarized in my short review. I would have done my readers an injustice in trying to compress Philip Simmon's words.

Learning to Fall is not meant to be read; it is meant to be savored. Read each chapter as the stand-alone essay it was meant to be and at the end of each, take some time (a day or longer) to think about what you read. Reflect on the content and the wisdom. Then, move to the next chapter/essay and do the same.

Philip Simmons lived. . .really lived, and leaves the world with a beautiful gift, not a story.

"The Lady of Bolton Hill"

Author: Elizabeth Camden
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers, 2011
Pages: 334
Rating: Highly Recommend

Synopsis: Female journalists are rare in 1879, but American-born Clara Endicott has finally made a name for herself with her provocative articles championing London's poor. When the backlash from her work forces a return home to Baltimore, Clara finds herself face-to-face with a childhood sweetheart who is no longer the impoverished factory worker she once knew. In her absence, Daniel Tremain has become a powerful industry giant and Clara finds him as enigmatic as ever. However, Daniel's success is fueled by resentment from past wounds and Clara's deeply-held beliefs about God's grace force Daniel to confront his own motives. When Clara's very life is endangered by one of Daniel's adversaries, they must face a reckoning neither of them ever could have foreseen.

Review: While parts of this story are too fantastical in nature to be even remotely realistic, the story line is a sweet love story in which I became completely absorbed. The ending was rather predictable, but it was fun getting there. Couldn't put this one down.

"Where Do You Stand with the Church?"

Author: John T. Catoir, JCD
Genre: Religion, Catholic, Non-Fiction
Publisher: Alba House, 1997
Pages: 82
Rating: Highly Recommend

Synopsis: The full title of this book is "Where Do You Stand with the Church? The Dilemma for Divorced Catholics". For more information, click here.

Review: I found this book when I was searching for books about annulments and the process of having a marriage annuled. Easy-to-read, concise, and informative this is a good book to start with if this is a subject you're interested in, either for yourself or someone else.

This is an "Annulments for Dummies" guide, but written more intelligently and in a serious tone. It answered all my questions, dispelled some myths, and provided insight.

Prior to my experiences the concept of the "internal forum" would have been over my head, but the way Father Cantoir explains it, it makes total sense. The internal forum is a person's conscious and I was surprised to learn just how much value and trust the Church places on the individual. It's an interesting thing.

For anyone who takes a hard-nosed stance against the Church and feels the annulment process is simply a money-maker for the Church, they owe it to themselves to at least hear Father Cantoir out.

"Prairie Tale"

Author: Melissa Gilbert ("Laura" on the tv series Little House on the Prairie)
Genre: Memoir

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Adult Publishing Group

Pages: 384

Rating: Highly Recommend

Synopsis: To fans of the hugely successful television series Little House on the Prairie. Melissa Gilbert grew up in a fantasy world with a larger-than-life father, friends and family she could count on, and plenty of animals to play with. Children across the country dreamed of the Ingalls idyllic life-and so did Melissa.

 

With candor and humor, the cherished actress traces her complicated journey from buck toothed Laura "Halfpint" Ingalls to Hollywood starlet, wife, and mother. She partied with the Brat Pack, dated heartthrobs like Rob Lowe and bad boys like Billy Idol, and began a self-destructive pattern of addiction and codependence. She eventually realized that her career on television had earned her popularity, admiration, and love from everyone but herself.
 
Through hard work, tenacity, sobriety, and the blessings of a solid marriage. Melissa has accepted her many different identities and learned to laugh, cry, and forgive in new ways. Women everywhere may have idolized her charming life on Little House on the Prairie, but Melissa's own unexpectedly honest, imperfect, and down-to-earth story is an inspiration.

Review: Easy to read and candid, this is one of the better written memoirs I've read. Melissa Gilbert had me from page 1. She is is easy to relate to and feels real, even though she grew up in Hollywood. While Little House on the Prairie (the tv series) is mentioned often, it is not the focus of this memoir. Melissa lets the reader into her life and her world.

As someone in the middle of a divorce and feeling as though my world is kind of mess right now, this book was a good dose of "I'm not the only one who's been there". Granted my lows aren't quite as low as Melissa's, but the lessons learned are the same.

This memoir is just a great read and you don't need to be a fan of Little House to enjoy it.

"Wedding Season"

Author: Katie Fforde
Genre: Romantic Comedy / Chick Lit
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pages: 424
Rating: Recommend

Synopsis: Sarah is a wedding planner hiding a rather inconvenient truth - she doesn't believe in love. But as the confetti flutters away on the June breeze of yet another successful wedding season she finds herself agreeing to organize two more events, on the same day, and only two months away. And while her celebrity bride is all sweetness and light, the other bride, Sarah's own sister, quickly starts driving her crazy with her high expectation and very limited budget. Luckly, Sarah is aided in her seemingly impossible task by two best friends, Elsa, an accomplished dress designer, and Bron, a multi-talented hairdresser. All three are very good at their jobs, but romance doesn't feature very prominently in any of their lives. As the big day draws near, every moment is spent preparing for the weddings, and they certainly havn't got any time to think about love, or have they?

Review: I really wasn't expecting great things from this novel and actually thought that it would be quite silly. It was cute with more substance than I initially expected. I enjoyed it.

My favorite part was the British language and humor. Or shall I say, "humour"? It did read differently with the use of British English phrases and words than it had if it were written in American English. It was fun.

The characters were easy to relate to, but overall the plot was convenient (for the author) and the ending predictable, but still, enough substance to be worth my while. This is just a fun read.

"Jimmy's Girl"

Author: Stephanie Gertler
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Penguin Group, 2001
Pages: 274
Rating: Recommend

This is my favorite Stephanie Gertler novel.

Synopsis (from the book jacket): Do you ever think back on your first love? This acclaimed debut novel explores the "what if" questions that live in every woman's heart.

Emily Hudson should be happy. She has achieved modest success as a painter and lives a good suburban life with her husband and four children. But one day, somewhere between the train schedule, orthodontist appointments, and bake sales, Emily stopped and remembered who she was when she found love with James Moran - the young man she kissed beneath her parents' Ping Pong table - the boy who made her Jimmy's Girl.

It's been thirty years since they went their separate ways. But Emily cannot stop herself from thinking about Jimmy nor can she resist using the Internet to find his address and telephone number and placing the phone call that will change both their lives forever.

When Emily and Jimmy decide to meet again, they risk the lives they've made for themselves and the happiness of their respective families. In one unforgettable weekend, the will learn what went wrong between them and find out together if it deserves a second chance.

Told from the perspective of both Jimmy and Emily, each in turn revealing their lies and their truths, this remarkable novel shows with tenderness and heart-rending accuracy the differences between what men and women say and what men and women hear. The debut of a writer of extraordinary talent, Jimmy's Girl is a novel for anoyone who ever left love behind and dared to wonder "what if?"

Review: This is a difficult review to write because it hits close to home, very close to home actually. I loved this novel and almost feel as though Gertler should have stopped writing once this debuted. It would be impossible to top with another novel. She came close with Drifting, but clearly this is the masterpiece of her career.

This novel didn't end the way that I wanted, but few ever do. It ended in the way that I dreaded it would which didn't make for a bad or even disappointing ending, but rather a difficult ending. On an emotional level. It ends the way it "should" though. Gertler does a good job of ensuring her characters stay true to themselves.

While I loved this book, the majority of those who gave their opinions on the tiny slip of paper attached to the last page of the novel for that very purpose, found it "too drawn out", "boring", and thought it "strayed from the plot". I wholeheartedly disagree with each of those opinions and of course have no idea who wrote them or their individual situations, but I find it hard to believe that anyone who ever wondered about a lost love or "what might have been" would find this drawn out or boring. I couldn't put it down.

And that is why I have a hard time rating this one. I loved it and would have "highly recommended" it had I not read the opinions in the back. When four of six reviewers didn't care for it, I hesitate to give it a "highly recommend" rating. Perhaps a reader has to experience a lost love situation such as this to fully appreciate all this novel has to offer. I would love for anyone reading this to weigh in with your own opinion.

Read reviews of other Stephanie Gertler novels:
Drifting
A Puzzle Barktree

"Drifting"

Author: Stephanie Gertler
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Penguin Group, 2003
Pages: 258
Rating: Recommend

Synopsis (from the book jacket): Although raised by a loving father, Claire is still haunted by the absence of her mother, who abandoned her as a baby. Now a mother of two, she has made a life for herself in the coastal town of Drifting, Connecticut, where she and her husband, Eli, run a Victorian inn. With her children grown, her maternal instincts are reawakened when Nicholas Pierce and his blind seven-year-old daughter, Kayla, come to stay at the inn. As the young child's affinity for Claire begins to resonate within her, Claire finds herself drawn into a struggle to save Kayla when the dark truth emerges about Nicholas. Ultimately, the challenge to save Kayla unleashes Claire's desire to find her missing mother. It is only then that Claire embarks on a courageous journey to understand her past.

Fearlessly plumbing the depths of the heart, Stephanie Gertler has crafted a wise and moving novel that tests the bonds of mothers and daughters and their ability to transcend any obstacle.

Review: I read The Puzzle Barktree some time ago and liked it enough to want to read another Stephanie Gertler novel. Drifting was a page turner and I think it's a better storyline than that of The Puzzle Barktree, but both are good reads.

Drifting is a tear jerker at times and I did feel an emotional bond with the characters.

There was a lot going on plot-wise and one storyline did feel a bit like an afterthought, but somehow it works too. Gertler writes a solid novel that most will enjoy.

Read reviews of other Stephanie Gertler novels:
Jimmy's Girl
The Puzzle Barktree

The Starlite Drive-In

Author: Marjorie Reynolds
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: William Morrow and Company, Inc.
Pages: 282
Rating: Recommend

Synopsis: When land developers uncover human bones at the site of the old drive-in, Callie Anne Benton realizes that she alone knows the identity of the victim who mysteriously disappeared thirty-six years ago. In The Starlite Drive-in Callie Anne recalls the tumultuous summer of 1956. Nearly thirteen, she's stuck at home with her parents during a long, hot summer in rural Indiana. Her father, an angry, bitter man, runs the drive-in, and the only time she ever feels close to him is when they're in the projection booth watching movies. Her mother is an agoraphobe who hasn't left the house in five years, effectively trapping her husband in a job he's grown to hate. When a drifter named Charlie Memphis comes to work at the drive-in, the sweltering summer becomes more bearable. Both mother and daughter fall for Memphis's charms, but Callie Anne's father remains suspicious of his secretive past. A disastrous turn of events changes all of their lives forever, and it's up to the grown-up Callie Anne to unlock the secret of the decades-old mystery.

Review: The drive-in makes an interesting backdrop for this well-written story. I would have liked a few twists and an ending that was less predictable, but it was impossible to not identify with the characters, flawed though they were. I was drawn into Callie Anne's world and hated to leave it behind when the novel ended.

This excerpt, found on page 167, especially resonated with me:

"Didn't you ever think of marrying before?"

"Once."

"Why didn't you?"

He pondered for a moment. "Guess you might say she had expectations. Her daddy owned a big company in the center of town. Hell, her father owned the town. She got this idea of me working in this factory office he had, sorting through stacks of paper and making some sense of them. I tried to tell her I wasn't built like that, but she thought if I loved her. . .well, finally it began to occur to me a man don't love the way a woman does. He just loves.

That's a powerful line within the story, and one that has means something to me. It will stay with me for a long time, I'm sure.

It's a Wonderful Life, A Novel

Genre: Christmas novel / Fiction

Publisher: HarperPaperbacks, 1996

Pages: 152

Rating: Highly Recommend

Synopsis (from the book jacket): Few movies in history have succeeded at enchanting generations of moviegoers like Frank Capra's 1946 Christmas favorite, It's a Wonderful Life. Here is the timeless tale of George Bailey, a small town nobody who wants to make a difference without realizing that he already has. Seen and loved by billions around the world, It's a Wonderful Life is the bestselling Christmas video ever. It is a simple story that captures the heart and spirit of everyone who sees it, no matter how many times.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of this perennial film favorite, here, for the first time is the novel, It's a Wonderful Life. Here are all the characters we know and love: George, his steadfast wife Mary, Zuzu, Tommy, Janie, Pete, absentminded Uncle Billy, Mom and Pop Bailey, Harry, Mr. Gower, Vi, and of course, Mr. Potter.

In its poignant and sensitive way, It's a Wonderful Life encourages us to ask the question, "What would life have been like if we hadn't been born?" During a crisis-filled night, in the little town of Bedford Falls circa 1945, George Bailey -- father, husband, and president of the Bailey Building and Loan, facing the prospect of scandal and ruin, finds out.

With the not-quite-an angel Clarence at his side to show him, Geroge is given a gift anyone might wish for: to see the world as if he had never lived in it. As if he had never met his wife, saved his family's business, rescued his brother from drowning, or single-handedly freed his lovely town from the greed and selfishness of a rich old man.

And the discovery that George makes on this Christmas Eve night -- that one life tuoches so many -- is a lesson to us all. Not just during Christmas, but all year long.

Review: I have never watched this movie. I didn't know what it was about and there was always something else that I thought I'd enjoy more. I hope to watch it this Christmas. What a sweet story with a timeless message.

"Seaside"

Author: Terri Blackstock
Genre: Christian Lit / Fiction
Publisher: Zondervan, 2009
Pages: 122
Rating: Recommend

Synopsis: Sarah Rivers has it all: successful husband, healthy kids, beautiful home, meaningful church work.Corinne, Sarah's sister, struggles to get by. From Web site development to jewelry sales, none of the pies she has her thumb stuck in contains a plum worth pulling.No wonder Corinne envies Sarah. What she doesn't know is how jealous Sarah is of her. And what neither of them realizes is how their frantic drive for achievement is speeding them headlong past the things that matter most in life. So when their mother, Maggie, purchases plane tickets for them to join her in a vacation on the Gulf of Mexico, they almost decline the offer. But circumstances force the issue, and the sisters soon find themselves first thrown together, then ultimately drawn together, in one memorable week in a cabin called 'Seaside.' As Maggie, a professional photographer, sets out to capture on film the faces and moods of her daughters, more than film develops. A picture emerges of possibilities that come only by slowing down and savoring the simple treasures of the moment. It takes a mother's love and honesty to teach her two daughters a wiser, uncluttered way of life---one that can bring peace to their hearts and healing to their relationship. And though the lesson comes on wings of grief, the sadness is tempered with faith, restoration, and a joy that comes from the hand of God. Seaside is a novella of the heart---poignant, gentle, true, offering an eloquent reminder that life is too precious a gift to be unwrapped in haste.

Review: I really struggle with novellas. I love that they are short and there's instant gratification in that I can start something and finish it within a reasonable amount of time, BUT there's little character development and depth. I feel like an English teacher as I read, "develop this thought", "more descriptive language needed here", etc.

This storyline was trite. In typical novella fashion the storyline flew along and leaves the reader thinking, "wow, they came to terms with that quickly".

If you're a fan of this genre or Terri Blackstock, you won't be disappointed. However, for those readers who want to savor, reflect, and almost becomes characters in the story themselves, this book will leave you wanting more.

"The Picture Book"

Author: Susannah Keating
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2000
Pages:  244
Rating: Highly Recommend

Synopsis: Fresh from school, Patrizia Orman, 22, works as a gallery assistant in Soho, and is dreaming of success in the art world, when her mother is killed in an accident. She is still reeling from shock when her godmother presents her with a cache of letters from the father she never knew. A Roman art dealer, he had once given her mother a terrible choice: their relationship, or their unborn child. Hurt and confused by the revelations, but longing to know the truth, Patrizia travels to Rome to find her father, and weaves her way into his life—all the while concealing her identity. In Italy, Patrizia feels revitalized, and indulges her artistic passion as well as her deepening interest in a young Italian named Andrea. But her unresolved relationship with her father threatens her happiness, when she begins to fear that like her father before him, Andrea might also abandon her, and surrender his chance to deserve her love. The Picture Book is sure to be one of the most moving, memorable, and inspiring love stories of the season.

Review: This was a sweet story with the wonderful backdrop of Rome. In fact, while I was reading this, I kept thinking, "I really need to go back to Rome" (I was there in 2000).

It would be impossible to write about Italy/Rome without including a romance, but there is plenty of substance and depth.

The Picture Book is a neatly wrapped package and one of my favorite reads in a long time.

"Escape from Andersonville"

Author: Gene Hackman and Daniel Lenihan
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: St. Martin's Press, 2009
Pages: 342
Rating: Recommend

Synopsis (from the book jacket): An explosive novel of the Civil War about one man’s escape from a notorious Confederate prison camp---and his dramatic return to save his men.

July 1864. Union officer Nathan Parker has been imprisoned at nightmarish Andersonville prison camp in Georgia along with his soldiers. As others die around them, Nathan and his men hatch a daring plan to allow him to escape through a tunnel and make his way to Vicksburg, where he intends to alert his superiors to the imprisonment and push for military action. His efforts are blocked by higher-ups in the military, so Parker takes matters into his own hands. Together with a shady, dangerous ex-soldier and smuggler named Marcel Lafarge and a fascinating collection of cutthroats, soldiers, and castoffs, a desperate Parker organizes a private rescue mission to free his men before it’s too late.

Exciting, thoroughly researched, and dramatic, Escape from Andersonville is a Civil War novel filled with action, memorable characters, and vividly realized descriptions of the war’s final year.

Review: Explosive, this is not, but it is interesting. I wanted more of the book to be about the actual escape and less about details that I'm not convinced added to the storyline (ie LaFarge's gambling habits). The plot and characters kept me interested, but I found myself reading a chapter or two and then setting it down to return to later.

If you like history or like reading about the Civil War, this probably won't be the best book on the subject you will ever read, but it is worth checking out.

I would estimate that Gene Hackman is a better actor than writer. 

"The Modern Magi: A Christmas Fable"

Author: Carol Lynn Pearson
Genre: Fiction / Fable
Publisher: St. Martin's Press, 1994
Pages: 90
Rating: Recommend

Synopsis: All her life, Annabelle Perkins has dreamed of traveling to Bethlehem and bringing a gift to the birthplace of Jesus. But when it finally happens, what actually occurs is not what Annabelle expects.

Review: I must preface my review with this. . .between graduate school, kids, and work I've felt dissatisfied lately with my ability to get through a book in a reasonable amount of time. It's frustrating for a fast reader such as myself to spend a week (or longer) on one novel, when I am more accustomed to instant gratification from a book. Meaning, I am used to finishing a novel in one day preferably, but two or three is acceptable (and admittedly, more realistic these days).

I hit the library, sans kids, on Monday with the sole intention of finding books short in stature and thin in width, not content. You know the kind I'm talking about. The librarian noticed my stack of 13 short, thin books and commented. I shared my sob story, "I just want to finish something."

The joke is on me though, I finished this book in under 30 minutes tonite and was left feeling under-satisfied. I was just getting into the story and it ended. Just like that. . .and very predictably as well.

If you want a quick read that won't give you much food for thought, but will give you the satisfaction of finishing something in a "reasonable" amount of time, this is well worth your while. It is a "warm and fuzzy" kind of story.

"Secret Life of Bees"

Author: Sue Monk Kidd
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Penguin Group, 2003
Pages: 336

Synopsis: Sue Monk Kidd's ravishing debut novel has stolen the hearts of reviewers and readers alike with its strong, assured voice. Set in South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily Owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. When Lily's fierce-hearted "stand-in mother," Rosaleen, insults three of the town's fiercest racists, Lily decides they should both escape to Tiburon, South Carolina—a town that holds the secret to her mother's past. There they are taken in by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters who introduce Lily to a mesmerizing world of bees, honey, and the Black Madonna who presides over their household. This is a remarkable story about divine female power and the transforming power of love—a story that women will share and pass on to their daughters for years to come.

Review: If we're comparing debut novels (and it's hard not to since I read these back to back), The Help was a better written, more interesting story. However, I enjoyed this and at times found it hard to put down. On the other hand, I don’t feel compelled to watch the movie.

"Baker Towers"

Author: Jennifer Haigh

Genre: Historical Fiction / Family Saga

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishing, 2005

Pages: 368

My Rating: Highly Recommend

Synopsis: Baker Towers is an intimate exploration of love and family set in a western Pennsylvania coal town in the years following World War II. Bakerton is a town of company houses and church festivals, union squabbles and firemen's parades. Its ball club leads the coal company leagues. Its neighborhoods are Little Italy, Swedetown and Polish Hill.

For the five Novak children, the forties are a decade of tragedy, excitement and stunning change. George comes home from the war determined to leave Bakerton behind and finds the task impossible. Dorothy is a fragile beauty hooked on romance. Brilliant Joyce holds the family together, bitterly aware of the life she might have had elsewhere, while her brother Sandy sails through life on looks and charm. At the center of it all is Lucy, the volatile baby, devouring the family's attention and developing a bottomless appetite for love.

Baker Towers is both a family saga and a love letter to our industrial past, to the men and women known as the Greatest Generation; to the vibrant small-town life of America's Rust Belt when it was still shiny and new.

Review: I have yet to read a family saga that I didn't enjoy. The author did a great job of tying the characters' lives together, and without giving the reader too much information in which to get lost.

It is unfortunate that the author did not delve more deeply into Rose, as a widow and a mother. The reader sees her only through the eyes of her children.

I wish the author would have noted the years of a particular chapter or section at the beginning. There were plenty of clues throughout the chapter, style of dress, who the President was at the time, etc, but I missed that reference.

This book is set in a small coal mining town in Pennsylvania and captures the growth, height, and decline of such towns. Having grown up in small town Pennsylvania, I could relate. I also understood the characters' desires to leave their town, and the reasons they had to return.

While the conclusion could leave some readers hanging, others will appreciate the simple ending. Check this out and decide for yourself.

"The Story of Country's Living Legend, George Strait"

Author: Mark Bego

Genre: Biography

Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation, 1999

Pages: 256

My Rating: Do Not Recommend

Synopsis: This biography of George Strait presents the in-depth story of a small-town Texas boy who rose to fame and stardom in the world of country music, breaking Elvis Presley's record for the most sold-out performances at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Review: I found this book interesting, but it is outdated enough to not be worth reading. A more current biography, King George: The Triumphs and Tragedies in the Life of George Strait, was published in 2010. Look for a review soon.

"Lilah"

Author: Marek Halter
Genre: Historical Fiction / Religion / Romance
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group, 2006
Pages: 272
My Rating: Do Not Recommend

Synopsis: Set in the magnificent culture of the Middle East more than four thousand years ago, Lilah is a rich and emotionally resonant story of faith, love, and courage

Living in exile, Lilah is in love with Antinoes, a Persian warrior. They have known each other since they were children, and Antinoes dearly wants to make Lilah his wife. Yet Lilah does not feel she can marry without the blessing of her brother, Ezra. She and Ezra are close, and Lilah knows her brother well—he does not want his sister to have a husband outside their faith. Ezra is a scholar of the laws of Moses, and Lilah believes it is her brother’s destiny to lead the Jewish people back to the Promised Land. While Antinoes pressures her to accept his proposal, Lilah realizes that before she can consider her own happiness, it is her duty to help her brother accomplish the seemingly impossible task that is before him.
 
Putting herself in grave danger, and with the help of Antinoes, Lilah wins Ezra an audience with Artaxerxes II, the King of Kings, who grants permission to lead the exiles on their journey back to the Promised Land. After a hazardous trip across the desert, Lilah, Ezra, and the thousands who join them arrive in Jerusalem. But the hardship of rebuilding the Temple takes its toll, and the religious enthusiasm of some turns to extremism. Ezra, listening to the zealots, orders all non-Jewish wives and their children banished from Jerusalem. Lilah, whose love for Antinoes has never wavered, is horrified by this command. She knows she must now choose between her brother and her conscience, which tells her that the time has come to defy him.

Lilah is a timeless story of one woman’s stand against intolerance; it will linger in the reader’s mind long after the last page has been turned.

Review: Of the three books that make up The Canaan Trilogy this was my least favorite. Actually, it was not a favorite. I got through it. It was the darkest of the three, but also had the most "fluff". I finished reading it simply because I had read the other two. I wanted to give up many times.

Lilah takes place four thousand years ago, but lacked an existing biblical tale to embellish. As a woman in the 21st century I found it very difficult to follow her reasoning and don't know if much of this would have happened this way 4000 years ago anyway.

This also fell short as a love story/romance.

Read the synopsis above and you will have no reason to read this book. I've read 400 page books that seemed shorter than the 272 this one is. The storyline is drawn out and slow moving. Reviews on Barnes and Noble are no less favorable.

I recommend Lilah if you are reading The Canaan Trilogy (see Sarah and Zipporah) and wish to finish out the series. Otherwise, you can sit this one out.

If you only want to read one book in this trilogy, I recommend Sarah. The other two cannot compare.