In a Heartbeat

In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving by Leigh Anne Tuohy

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy tell the story, in their own words, of meeting Michael Oher, featured in the wonderful movie "The Blind Side." The couple also talk of their own upbringing, of cheerful giving, and why they feel compelled to look out for other children and teens. Very funny in parts and inspirational, the Tuohy also question why everyone can't do their part and make a difference in someone's life.

Photos included with interludes from their children, Collins, Michael, and Sean Junior, and Tim McGraw and Sandra Bullock.



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In a Heartbeat

In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving by Leigh Anne Tuohy

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy tell the story, in their own words, of meeting Michael Oher, featured in the wonderful movie "The Blind Side." The couple also talk of their own upbringing, of cheerful giving, and why they feel compelled to look out for other children and teens. Very funny in parts and inspirational, the Tuohy also question why everyone can't do their part and make a difference in someone's life.

Photos included with interludes from their children, Collins, Michael, and Sean Junior, and Tim McGraw and Sandra Bullock.



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Embers of Love

Embers of Love by Tracie Peterson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The book begins with Deborah Vandermark helping her best friend, Lizzie, ditch her betrothed at the altar in Philadelphia, hop a train and flee to the Vandermark home in the backwoods of Texas. Back home, she begins to help with the family logging business by cleaning up the bookwork and assisting the new doctor in town. When Lizzie's suffragette mother and ex-fiance appear out of the blue to take her home, Deborah's entire family, especially her brother, G.W, work together to keep Lizzie in Texas. Deborah finds out that bookkeeping isn't as interesting as doctoring.


Book 1 in the Striking a Match series.
Historical fiction mixed with romance and inspiration.



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to Win her Heart

To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Levi Grant has paid his debt to society and finished his prison term, but he still carries a mountain of guilt. When he tries to start over as the town blacksmith in Spencer, Texas, Levi remains on his guard - that is, until he meets a pretty and outspoken librarian. Eden has also been on her guard, her ex-fiance jilted her, - trust and integrity is hard to find in this town. As Eden begins to trust the brawny smith, especially when she learns of his love for books, Levi fears his past will undo everything.

A sweet story of historical romance, forgiveness, and hard-won second chances.





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Promises to Keep

Promises to Keep by Ann Tatlock

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


It's the 1960s, the middle of the Cold War and eleven year old Roz's world has been turned upside down. Her mom has left her dad, taking Wally, her teenage brother, baby sister Valerie and Roz to a small town in Illinois, where her Grandpa lives. Even though her father had abused her mother, Roz still wants them back together. When she makes a new friend named Mara, who misses her own father, both plot to get their dads back. The stabilizing force in the middle of all this chaos is wise, old Tillie Monroe, who helped build the house that Roz and her family now occupy, and decides to move right back in and take over.



This is one of the best books I've read, and as a child of the 60's I can relate to so many of the external events. Definitely a feel good book told from the eyes of an eleven year child with wonderful, interesting, lovable characters like Tillie.



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His Other Wife

His Other Wife by Deborah Bedford

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Left alone to raise her son Seth, Hilary is still trying to terms with sharing him with her ex-husband Eric, his new wife, Pam and their children. Even though Hilary has raised a very mature young man, she has leaned on him heavily through the years, maybe too much. Now at Seth's graduation, the "new family" all want to appear and share in the fun. When tragedy occurs at a senior party, both families have to learn to work together to help Seth and themselves.



I really enjoyed Bedford's writing style - inspirational, but not too heavy and preachy. Her characters struggle with their faith in God when bad things happen and easily blame each other for the mistakes that have happened, although in the end they realize what they need is to help each other. A very real-life story of today and the world we live in.



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Wintergirls

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I read this as a e-book through my library while I was training on a Barnes and Noble Color Nook. Laurie Halse Anderson is a wonderful author of teen books and this work of fiction deserves 5 stars. I couldn't put it down and worried incessantly about the main character all the way through the book. I've known a few teens who have cut themselves to alleviate emotional and/or physical pain, but this gritty book gave me more insight on that and the everyday stress many of our teens are under.

Lia has an eating disorder, as does Cassie, who at one time was her bestie. They had made a pact years before to be the skinniest girls in the class. Both also had messy family lives. Now grown apart, on the night of her death, Cassie called Lia's cell 33 times - but Lia hadn't answered and now, guilt-ridden, continues the pact of losing weight. Will Lia accept help or spiral down to death like Cassie?



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Once Upon a Time, There was You

Once Upon a Time, There Was You by Elizabeth Berg

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Irene and John, never should have gotten married. Now divorced, the only thing they have in common is their beloved 18 year old daughter, Sadie, who is on the verge of going away to college. Living for the most part in California, with a few weeks spent in Minnesota with her Dad, Sadie tells a lie about going rock climbing with friends to her over protective mother - but instead has plans to spend a few days with her boyfriend, Ron. When Ron doesn't arrive on time at the rendezvous spot, Sadie makes a huge mistake and catches a lift with a older, handsome man. In the meantime, Irene has been plagued with doubts about letting Sadie go on her trip, but is told over and over that she has been smothering her daughter. Days later, after filing a missing person report, even the local police station racks it up as just a teenage prank. When Sadie still doesn't come home, Irene finally sounds the alarm and reaches out to John for help.



Elizabeth Berg has a way of reaching into our lives and putting into words how we think and feel. Although this is not my favorite read of hers, I still enjoyed the characters and trying to figure out why John and Irene were married in the first place, with such a cold and tragic background between their childhood lives. I also enjoyed the thoughts of Irene and Sadie as they were both trying to loosen the smothering bond between them.











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All She Ever Wanted

All She Ever Wanted by Lynn Austin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Another book on how secrets and poor choices can affect many generations. Even though the book begins in the present day with secretive Kathleen distraught over her teenage daughter, Joelle, caught shoplifting - it all began in Ireland, with lovely, young Fiona moving to America with her father in a quest for all that they couldn't have back in the green Isles. Fiona's choices affect her son and daughter, Elenore, in turn during the war years, whose bad choices and secrets affect Kathleen - who only wants to forget her shameful childhood years. It's also a book about laying down one's fear, shame, and offering forgiveness.

It was very easy for me to get caught up into the life of each of the female characters and the times they lived in. The ending is a little far-fetched where almost everything seems to be resolved, but all in all, it was very good read.



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