Plain Wisdom

Novelist Cindy Woodsmall might seem to have little in common with Miriam Flaud, a woman from the Old Order Amish. With nine children and almost 60 years of marriage  between them, Cindy and Miriam have found secrets to facing life with strength and grace.

With poignant recollections, unexpected insights and humorous tales, the women welcome the reader into their unique friendship. With glimpses of traditions and ways of the Amish, Miriam also shares her traditions and even some family recipes.Truly a celebration of God, womanhood, and the search for beauty that unites us all.

I loved reading this book, not just because of the way it was told , although I felt like I got to know each one as an individual, but also I found myself savoring each moment I had with these friends.  I wanted to sit down and write a letter or call and see how the garden was coming or the milk inspection. The tenderness and yet the strength was so vivid that I would feel completely taken care of with either one of the friends. The sense of humor was enduring as was the stories shared by each writer. Many times after a charter I would reflect on the small pieces of advice  and find I just may have a place for it in my day.

I wrote down the recipes and even the poem. I can not wait to share this book with some very special people in my life an I am lucky to have met Miriam and Cindy!

I gave this book 4 out 5 stars!

Happy Reading and enjoy a cup of tea!

Kara

I received an advance copy of this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

What Matters Most

What if you could live one time in your life over? What if you could make a different choice that would make everything right?  For Bernadette and Tom, it is to return to their roots in Ireland and a love that broke every rule and one that broke their hearts. For James and Kathleen, the bond is what enabled them to survive an orphanage and a trip across the ocean to America when one gets adopted and the other is left with their dream to be together forever. Four lives come together in a confrontation that will challenge each of them to their very core and challenge them to leave behind the past and all that was important to at last embrace what is most important.

I read this book in one day, with characters who are in love and believe that all will work out. Bernadette and Thom were a little more complicated then James and Kathleen and the relationship was a little more detailed. Sometimes it was predictable and I felt as though maybe Tom should have fought a little harder for the "love of his life."   

The end was a little too clean for me as to say it all worked out a little too perfectly, however I felt like this was a good read to help escape with for a while. Overall it is what it is...a quick read and not real deep.  

I gave it  2.5 stars out of 5

Happy Reading and enjoy a cup of tea!

Kara

Night Road

Jude Farraday's entire life revolved around her twins Mia and Zach.  In eighteen years,Jude did everything to keep them safe and on track for college. When Lexi Baill, after losing her heroin addicted mother and living in foster home after foster home, moves into the small community, she is welcomed into the Farraday family as one of their own, becoming Mia's best friend and the love of Zach's life. Life has always been easy until one decision rips the family apart and changes the Farraday family and Lexi forever.

In the years to follow, each must face the consequences of those choices and find a way to heal, forget, and live with the choices. The hardest part of that decision is finding that courage to forgive. A heartbreaking novel that captures pain of loss and the power of hope.

I was excited to read this book as I am a fan of Kristin Hannah; of course, this book did not disappoint.  A story that was full of twist and turns as it went on, I enjoyed the plot line and found myself  engaged in the story.  The character's were complex and yet I liked the relationship between Mia and Lexi.  I felt like we got to be let in on their friendship as the reader.  The family dynamic, although over the top, was also believable and as a mother I felt many of the emotions Jude felt in wanting to protect her children (although I like to think I'm not as bad as her).

I did find myself needing a box of tissue at some points in the story and I did feel many times a real connection to the characters. Overall a great book and definitely a book that will stay with me, as will the characters. Not a light read but a great read!!!!  Enjoy it!

I rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars!!!!

Happy Reading, and enjoy a book and Tea!

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