Room

To five year old Jack, Room is his world and all he knows. An 11x11 shed is where he was born and where he has lived with his Ma for the last five years.  It's where he reads, eats, plays, and when Old Nick comes in the night Jack goes to the wardrobe where he is safe.

Although Room is home to Jack it is prison to Ma since she has been held captive there for the last seven years. Her determination to keep Jack safe and create a life for Jack leads her to devise a plan of escape that relies on Jack's bravery and luck.  Told from Jack's prospective, the reader is led into a world that although tragic is also all he knows.

I wasn't sure I was going to be able to get through the book when I started because of the way it is written with Jack's pronunciation, however, as  I continued I felt as though I was truly getting a glimpse of the world in which Jack and his mother survived. I was intrigued by what Ma did to keep Jack occupied and I felt her struggle with getting out of the Room but also I felt in incredible desire to keep Jack safe.

Jack's perspective on so many things that are taken for granted hit me many times when I read the book.  "In the world I notice persons are always stressed and have no time," "Also everywhere I'm looking at kids, adults mostly don't seem to like them, not even parents do. They call the kids gorgeous and so cute, they make the kids do all the thing all over again so they can take a photo, but they don't actually play with them, they'd rather drink coffee talking to adults."

Their journey was not easy and was an interesting read and a fast read that did pull you in.  I thought the book was good, but I don't think it was great.  Out of 5 stars I give it 3.

Happy Reading and Enjoy a cup of Tea!
Kara

Same Kind of Different As Me

Denver, a man raised under plantation-style slavery in Louisiana in the 1960's, is a man who escaped, hopping a train to wander homeless for 18 years in Dallas, Texas. No longer a slave, Denver finds life hard to deal with and still feels hopeless in his choices.  A godly woman by the name of Deborah and her husband, Ron, come into Denver's life and as the story moves forward no of them will be the same. Deborah's discovery that she has cancer and is facing death pushes her husband to have an unlikely friendship with Denver. This story is an emotional  journey to an incredible friendship narrated by both Ron and Denver and told with both laughter, real pain and doubt in each other and even in the power of God.

I really enjoyed the book and although sometimes it is hard to believe that people can live the way they do, I found it so beautiful how the story was such a wonderful tribute to the amazing light and love that Deborah had in her. She touched so many people by her spirit and her ability to unconditionally love mankind. Denver in spite of himself became easy to like in the book and his wisdom and simplicity at looking at life was given throughout the book.  The big lesson as he talked about his homelessness was to accept life for what it is. 

I thought Ron's candidness with not only his mistakes but also his feelings, not only about his wife and her illness but also Denver and even his judgments, made the story real and easier to relate to these men who most of us would never have the opportunity to talk with or even, in many cases, allow ourselves to.  I cried, I was inspired and  I will always remember the bond that is shared by Denver and Ron and what it meant.  POWERFUL story!

5 out of 5 stars

Happy Reading and Enjoy a cup of Tea!
Kara

The Hangman's Daughter

A historical thriller set in 1660's Germany, after a dying boy is pulled from a river with a mark tattooed on his shoulder, hangman Jakob Kuisl is called to investigate whether witchcraft is involved. When more children suddenly start to disappear and another orphan boy is found dead marked with the same tattoo, hysteria threatens to create the witch trials of the past all over again.  Before the chaos forces Jakob to torture and execute  the woman who brought many of the townspeople's children into the world, including his, Jakob must find the truth.  With the help of his daughter Magdalena and Simon, a young physician, Jakob discovers pure evil and that the devil is truly alive in his town.

This book is not a normal read for me and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by not only the pace but also the way the story played out.  I was truly intrigued by the mystery and actually the characters were very believable. I enjoyed this book and felt like I got my money's worth at the end.  I am glad the Pullman Page Turner's picked this and I am glad I got to visit Jakob. 

I give this 4 out of 5 stars.

Happy Reading and enjoy a cup of tea! 

Kara

Life Without Limits

Life Without Limits is the amazing story of an amazing man born without arms or legs.  Nick Vujicic, tells the story of how he overcame his disability to not only live a fulfilling life, but share that life through his motivational speaking.  Nick shares how his physical disabilities and emotional battles and the love and support of his parents and family have brought him the strength to share his main message, which is finding your life's purpose no matter what odds face you.

Nick shares how his faith in God is his main source of strength and when he found his sense of purpose he found the confidence to build a productive life without limits.

This book was an absolute joy to read. I LOVED the stories of Nick's relationship of love with his family and his dedication to God and what that has meant to bringing his story to the world. Throughout the book Nick shares personal stories of his lowest points, where he thought of ending his life, to joking around with his cousins and pulling pranks on unsuspecting plane passengers as he climbs in the baggage compartment. Nick has wonderful stories of miracles happening in front of him and shares those with us as he describes his travels around the world.


I felt his pain, I laughed at his humor and his practical jokes and I am in awe of his spirit.  What a bright light Nick Vujicic is in this world.  I feel so lucky to have read this book and feel a little richer for having read this treasure.

5 out 5 stars for this book!!! 

Cutting For Stone

Marion and Shiva Stone are twin brothers born to an Indian nun and  British surgeon at a mission hospital. Orphaned by their mother’s death in childbirth and their father’s disappearance, bound together by a connection that only twins know and can understand; they also come of age as Ethiopia is on the brink of revolution.  Their passion for the same woman will tear them apart and force Marion, just out of medical school, to escape his homeland. In  America, finding refuge in his work as an intern at an underfunded New York City hospital, Marion finds his father in an unsuspecting moment. When trouble causes problems for Marion again,  he must entrust his life to the two men he thought he trusted least in the world: the surgeon father who abandoned him and the brother who betrayed him.

I was unsure how I felt about this book when I started, especially with all of the reviews that are out there.  I found the beginning incredibly slow and actually very confusing with the names and even what was going on.  After the first couple of chapters it did pick up though.  I found the detail of the customs, the medical procedures and descriptions and even the character's interactions to be very detailed and colorful, so much so that I even dreamed about them. I loved the relationship between the twins: although Shiva was less than an admirable character, their dedication and bond was incredible. I loved the relationship between Ghosh and Hema, the two people responsible for raising the boys, and even Rosina's(the twin's nanny) daughter Genet, who truly was raised by Hema and ended up having a pivotal role in everyone's life as time went on.

Although the descriptions were wonderful, in some areas of the book I also found myself at times struggling to stay with the story and frustrated with the painstaking detail of the medical procedures that frankly  really weren't that important to the ongoing saga of the twins.  I felt  that the story may have been able to end sooner rather than later, especially when we got to Marion leaving the country.  I did like how it tied together in the end and of course was consistent throughout the family tie that bound Marion to his country and ultimately to Hema, his twin brother, and his allegiance to Gosh's legacy which  was what made me end the book with a great feeling of satisfaction. Overall a great story, however it's for a reader committed to really digging in for a detailed heavy read.

On a rating scale I would give the book 3 1/2 to  4 stars out 5.

Beyond All Measure

Ada Wentworth takes a journey to Hickory Ridge, Tennessee all the way from Boston.  Traveling alone and penniless after losing her aunt, father and her fiance, Ada accepts a position as an elderly lady's companion by the name of Lillian Willis.  With the hopes of starting a new life and intending to use her millinery skills, Ada hopes to save money and establish a future for herself.

Lillian Willis, a pillar of the community and her nephew Wyatt Caldwell, a wealthy bachelor who owns a lumber mill become Ada's main friends as well as a mulatto girl, Sophia, at a orphanage in town.  In a town still not completely healed from the civil war, Ada's friendship with the young girl creates tension and Ada is threatened when she refuses to end her relationship with Sophia. A cast of characters both good and not so good fill the story with interesting tales.  A relationship between Ada and Wyatt starts as a friendship and struggles both to grow and to maintain itself after Lillian dies and Ada is forced to look inside herself and trust in God.

Dorothy Love's novel Beyond All Measure was a wonderful read.  A historical romance that made the issues facing the south during that time period a main point.  It was a an easy story to get lost in by really enjoying the characters and story of a young woman coming to terms with who she was, what she wanted out of life and out of love. A great story of love, loyalty, friendship and character that will stay with the reader.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars

*I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze program. *

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://booksneeze%c2%ae.com/> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Saving Cee Cee Honeycut

Twelve year old Cee Cee Honeycutt has been her mother Camille's caretaker and with the lipstick smeared 1951 Vivaldi Onion Queen as your mother, life can be a little frustrating and embarrassing.  However, when her mother is hit by a truck her and her father decides he can't raise her, Cee Cee finds herself on the road to Savannah with her unknown great aunt Tootie Caldwell.

Tootie helps CeeCee begin her life with a cast of women who will forever change her life and bring her a summer she will never forget.  From Thelma Rae Goodpepper, the neighbor who bathes in her backyard bathtub, to Oletta Jones, the housekeeper who grows to love CeeCee and teach her what it is to live in a home filled with love, to Violene Hobbs, the town gossip. The Story is a southern novel with female friendship and charm that makes you laugh out loud and have to grab a box of Kleenex on the next page.

Not since the Secret Life of Bees have I smiled so much and my heart was actually singing when I read this book with the feelings of happiness.  I have bought this book for so many of my friends knowing they would love it.  I thought the characters were so likable and of course the wisdom and kindness of Ms.Gertrude Odell was my favorite.  I loved each one of these women and wished I could have them in my life.  I hope it becomes a movie!
 
On a scale of 1 to 5 this was a 5 for me!!!!!!!

Water For Elephants the Movie!!!

I try hard not to ever judge a movie by the book.  Mainly, because I try to think of it as two separate forms of entertainment and I don't want to combine or compare the two.  I have read books and thought they were okay then saw the movie and loved it, and of course loved the book and saw the movie and hated it.  In this case I LOVED both.  I thought the movie was wonderful!!!!

After sitting through the torture of the Twilight movie, I was not sure what to make of Robert Pattinson playing the part of Emile.  He was perfect for the role of the shy veterinarian who, after losing his parents, ends up working with the circus as a vet and falling in love with Marlena. I have to say he can act. I think this movie will allow him more serious roles and get out of the "teen heartthrob" role.

Reese Witherspoon was beautiful in the part of Marlena.  Although I didn't think this was her best acting, she played the part  well and believably. Actually, she seemed comfortable on an elephant which I can't imagine is easy. Although she was the headliner in the movie I don't believe this will be her most remembered role.

By the far, the best actor of the movie was Christoph Waltz, who was Marlena's husband August and the owner of the circus. You want to hate him and you want to like him and at one point you even start to feel a little sorry for him.  I thought he defined what the movie was about and really played August as he was portrayed in the book to a "T." 

Whether you have read the book or not, this movie is amazing - from the animals to the costumes and the storyline, I loved it and can't wait to buy the DVD (which, if you don't know me, I don't watch DVDs so that is saying something).  AWESOME!!!!!!

Every Last One

Mary Beth Latham is a mother of three teenage children: Ruby, 17, and twin boys Alex and Max,14. She has a career as a landscaper and her husband is a doctor. Taking care of her family is what her life is about and when her children have trials or wins in life she experiences those along with them. An act of violence shakes Mary Beth to her very soul and her sense of who she is and what her life will be is truly tested.

The very details of the everyday life hit very close to home and allowed me to feel as though I was in the kitchen or at the doctor's office as I read the thoughts that were going through Mary Beth's mind. I found myself feeling the tension between the characters in the story and as the violence happened I was shocked and mesmerized  by what happened next. I liked the characters and I love how they evoked emotion as they developed; some I grew to like and some even let me down. A worthwhile read with masterful storytelling that stays with you.

I found this book a great read and definitely a book to pass along. I give it a 4 1/2 stars out of 5.

Kara

Happy Mother's Day!!!!

As I was looking through my things for something to post for Mother's Day I found a copy of a poem that I had given my mom for Mother's Day a long time ago and decided to share it again.  Even after all this time this still fits and I still adore my mom! She is beautiful and graceful, gracious, smart and kind,loving, funny and truly one of  the best people I know.  I live each day hoping to be more like her.  I love you mom!

My mom and I

To Mom....
You've meant a million things to me,
You've stirred emotions in my heart .

When I was sick you cared for me
when I was sad you cried,
although some things are hard to get
you did your best and tried.

There have been days of sadness
and days of joy and glee,
In this whole world, I can't express
the things you've meant to me.

Sometimes I have forgotten you
and all your deeds so true,
but in my heart, there will always be
a place dear Mom, for you.

I could never repay you for
all the things you've done,
for all the happiness you've
brought the things for me you've won.

I could never forget you
forget your heart so true,
and always my ambition
is to be Mom, more like you.

Although your trials are many
and mine are very few,
there are three words,
Mom,please don't forget
and those are "I love you".
                               -Min Newbury



Another special mom and person in my life is my sister, Kris who is AMAZING!!!!! She has taught me so much about what it is to be a parent and to be a woman of grace. I love to share,cry, laugh,and talk with her and most of all we have the BEST adventures that are so unforgettable and always bringing us closer! She is an inspiration to me on so many levels and a key factor in me starting my blog! Love you!

Kris and I after our OWN Network debut

Let us see the Cake!

So I have to share this amazing cake my sister Kris..aka "Baker Extraordinaire" made for my niece Morgan's 14th birthday. I LOVE it and actually I like to look at it just to make me smile.  The cake fits Missy's(my name for her) personality so well and the best part of it is she got to share it with all of her friends.

So many exciting times ahead of her and I love to look at her face and think of all those happy memories of a precocious little girl who had and still has such wonder in her eyes. She lives her life to the fullest everyday and yet still has so many wonderful experiences to look forward to, I feel very lucky to be a part of it.

Happy Belated Birthday Missy and welcome to Novel and Tea