Book Review: Gift from the Storm

"One cold, dark evening a young stranger appears outside the Morgan home with two small children. Injured and on the verge of complete exhaustion, she will only say that her name is “Amy.”
Where did she come from? Who is she? And what has she been through? Dr. Justin Morgan and his family look for answers as they struggle to minister life and health to the needy ones in their midst."

Since I love Rebekah Morris's writing style and saw this book's gorgeous cover, I decided to award this book a place in my famous Amazon cart.   I was not disappointed in the least. After reading through the book in a day or so, I immediately spent the same amount of time reading it to one of my sisters. It is that good. : )

The Setting:
I loved the cozy, mountain cabin setting through each of the seasons it was portrayed in. It was so accurate and descriptive that it reminded me very much of a place I've been to and loved before.

The Characters:
Amy was favorite character. Her struggles were realistic and captivating. The love of the Morgan family, Adam's quiet speeches, Sarah's enthusiasm, and Justin's doctor-liness were all a delight. And Danny was a crack up!

The Story:
I enjoyed the plot twists and the well-crafted mystery so much! It would be a bit on the slow side for readers looking for a ton of action, but I found it amazing. Add to the story a powerful Gospel presentation and wonderful Spiritual lessons!

The Concerns:
Parents may want to use caution in choosing this book for younger reader's because Amy's story is a sad/scary (but not immoral) one. There is some question if she is the children's unmarried mother, but the thought is dispelled early in the story.

Altogether, I found this book to be an intriguing, godly mystery that is now added to my list of favorites!

Crazy Author Quotes

We've had a very busy week (more about that later), but I've managed to read Daddy Long-Legs by Jean Webster somewhere in the cracks. I enjoyed how the story was told through her hilarious letters, and the ending was a bit of a fun surprise. (I didn't enjoy the feminism or the Fabian stuff, though.)

Some of the quotes were quite hilarious, ones that an author like myself (if I may call myself one) can especially relate to. I thought I'd share some of them with you all.

"I saw a street car conductor today with one brown eye and one blue. Wouldn't he make a nice villain for a detective story?"

Webster, Jean (2011-03-30). Daddy-Long-Legs (p. 65)  Kindle Edition.

"Eleven pages— this is a letter! Have courage. I'm going to stop."
Webster, Jean (2011-03-30). Daddy-Long-Legs (p. 67). Kindle Edition.

"I came up with a pen and tablet hoping to write an immortal short story, but I've been having a dreadful time with my heroine— I CAN'T make her behave as I want her to behave; so I've abandoned her for the moment, and am writing to you."
Webster, Jean (2011-03-30). Daddy-Long-Legs (p. 78). Kindle Edition.

"This new book is going to get itself finished— and published! You see if it doesn't."
Webster, Jean (2011-03-30). Daddy-Long-Legs (p. 124). Kindle Edition.

"Isn't it fun to work— or don't you ever do it? It's especially fun when your kind of work is the thing you'd rather do more than anything else in the world. I've been writing as fast as my pen would go every day this summer, and my only quarrel with life is that the days aren't long enough to write all the beautiful and valuable and entertaining thoughts I'm thinking. I've finished the second draft of my book and am going to begin the third tomorrow morning at half-past seven. It's the sweetest book you ever saw— it is, truly. I think of nothing else. I can barely wait in the morning to dress and eat before beginning; then I write and write and write till suddenly I'm so tired that I'm limp all over."
Webster, Jean (2011-03-30). Daddy-Long-Legs (pp. 126-127). Kindle Edition.

"With beautiful scenery all about, and lots to eat and a comfortable four-post bed and a ream of blank paper and a pint of ink— what more does one want in the world?"
Webster, Jean (2011-03-30). Daddy-Long-Legs (p. 128). Kindle Edition.

Are all writers alike? Even fictional ones? I get this crazy when I'm writing something, I just don't always bother my pen-pals about it as much this character does. ; )

Update : )

I'm back, and probably sooner than any of you expected! I was only gone for as long as it took for me to race through those amazing books... ; ) So, here's a quick update on what I've been doing the past few weeks in no particular order. So many amazing things, and I'm grateful for each one of them!

• Catching up on letters and emails
• Doing school (I can see the light at the end of my Grammar studies tunnel!!)
• Trying to fit blogging in somewhere ; )
• Learning ebook formatting
• Selling used books on Amazon (and shipping them out! That part is the best!)
• Cleaning house and then cleaning it again
• Baking really yummy things (Banana cake, cinnamon rolls...pie next)
• Helping a friend out with her beading business
• Doting on the babies (they are so amazing!!)
• Reading
• Thinking about reading some more
• Writing stories (well, not so much really lately--I'm hoping to get back to it soon)
• Painting tiny fingernails
• Writing to-do lists
• Battling seasonal allergies
• Watching "Granite Flats" with my family
• Washing dishes
• Doing a service project with my family and my aunt
• Reading some more
• Going to a bookstore with my family to trade used books for credit (So much fun!!)
• Formatting baptismal certificates for church
• Coming up with ideas for stories
• Searching free images for a blog button I am supposed to be making
• Discussing true worth in Christ with Paul
• Joining in toddler dance parties (Irish music, Messianic Jewish music, classical music...)
• Making new friends
• Watching "Penguins of Madagascar" (in which Benedict Cumberbatch can't say the word "penguin"!)
• Learning my true worth in Christ
• Celebrating Christ's death for us at a Good Friday service
• Celebrating Christ's resurrection for us at our Resurrection Day service
• Watching the wonderful nephews and some little friends hunt Easter eggs
• Laughing with family and friends as we ate our Easter dinner
• Reading (Ha, ha! There it is again!)
• Helping run/plan a fabulous church picnic (Tyler won a 5k, and Mom and Pearl took home blue ribbons for their chili and cookies!)
• Helping the little kids at said picnic make their own icecream
• Feeling sore that day and the next after shaking so much icecream ; )
• Cleaning rock salt off the chairs the kids used for the icecream project
• Making new friends and hanging out with old ones
• Enjoying every minute of the hayride
• Learning origami with and from a little friend
• Singing songs around the campfire with wonderful friends
• Cleaning the house again
• Discussing which characters in "Granite Flats" are spies and which sides they are on
• Listening to a sermon on the Gibeonites deception of Israel (really good!)
• Pondering the reviews I must write
• Discovering that a nephew (or two) chasing a laser light is one of the funniest things in the world!!!
• Learning to live in what Christ has done (and is doing) for me

What about you? What have you been doing?

Guess What I Got in the Mail...

When life (or one of your sweet aunts) hands you an Amazon gift card, buy books. I suddenly found myself armed with book money and so many delightful possibilities. I chose two with beautiful covers and interesting sounding storylines. They came on Monday. Two days early. I love it when packages come.

 

See? They are gorgeous!

 

And the spines are even better, since they are so thick!!!

 

Since Monday, I've read Gift from the Storm once; and now I'm almost finished reading it to one of my younger sisters since it is so good. Dreamlander is waiting tantalizingly for me; but I've decided to wait on that one a little bit. Don't worry, reading isn't the only reason I've been gone from this blog for over two weeks. I've been doing a lot of other life too, and when I finish my reading I hope to be back here to tell you all about it. Expect a general update, reviews (of course), and even some pictures of our Resurrection Day celebrations. Until then--where is my bookmark?





Psst!! Just so you know--Perry made the cover of Gift from the Storm. You can see other fabulous things like it at www.perryelisabethdesign.blogspot.com.

Random and Awesome

First of all, I'd like to say Happy Monday and Happy Spring!

Second, I'd like to say read this, young ladies. It is so encouraging... and convicting. And hilarious!!!

And third, I'd like to say read this everyone--authors, writers, readers, etc. It will blow you away and really bless you!

And fourth, I'd like to say that was all really random and awesome.

Book Review: Be Thou My Vision

"The church was empty when I dragged myself out of the pew and headed out the door. As I opened the door, the corner of my eye caught a flicker of movement which I chose to ignore. I walked down the steps and was nearly bowled over by two wild boys. With arms grown strong and quick from man-handling two brothers growing up, I grabbed the two boys before they had a chance to escape me.

Anna Stuart is comfortable with her life. She may be a 30 year old spinster, but she has her routine and enjoys taking care of her father and older brother. One letter shatters all her routines, comfort, and enjoyment. After learning of her brother’s death, Anna feels like her life will never be the same again.

Then she meets two motherless boys. Did God place them in her life to lead her to a new vision of life? Can she trust God to give her the desires of her heart before she even knows what they are?"

I picked up this book by Faith Blum partly because I had always been interested in trying out her writing but mostly because the Kindle version is free to download through today. And who doesn't love free books? I wasn’t really interested in reading the first book, so I skipped to this book second in the Hymns of the West series. Here's what I thought...

The Setting:
I loved the Ol’ West setting.

The Story:

Interesting story that can also stand alone without the first book if you choose to read them out of order. I loved the conversations of spiritual matter, Anna’s journey, and the sweet friendship-based and Christian romance. It was also very neat how the song the book is named after worked into the story. I did think that the story ended on an abrupt note, but it seems like it overlaps somewhat with the next book so I’m sure everything gets resolved.

Tbe Characters:

I enjoyed Anna. She was both realistic and interesting, and her eventual servant’s heart was inspiring. I loved how complicated and nice both Caleb and Miles were. Other favorite characters included James, John, and Wilma (everyone should have a friend like her!).

The Concerns:

Parents may want to have caution in considering this book for younger readers because of some mild romance and adult themes. It is mentioned in passing that an outlaw character in the previous book “violated a young woman” and murdered people but nothing in much detail. Also, a father in the story very much hates his children and is a drunkard. My biggest concern, however, was the jealous women of the town are falsely accusing the main character of committing adultery (possibly even with the person she is engaged to), and they go into detail about what they think she did.

 

Altogether, I enjoyed this book for its sweet and hilarious moments where Anna is mothering the boys and for its godly romance!

And it has a great cover!

 

The Little Things

Over the last few days, so many wonderful things have happened. They've been small, so I find it easy to let them slip by unnoticed. That's why I've decided to sit down and list all the things I am grateful for...

• Books! Books from the library, books to sell online, books to dream of getting, and books to get for free! (I can't wait to download this one onto our Kindle and test it out!)
• The fact that I'm over halfway through my last Grammar textbook. : )
• My nephew nicknaming me "Cakie". He calls us all by names of his own creation. : )
• Our DQ adventure. Yesterday, they were passing out free ice cream cones to celebrate the anniversary of their chain. We, um, visited two in a night. Don't tell anyone.
• The other nephew learning to walk!! (And say "yeah" and "oh, wow".)
• My writer's block was over for a bit. I wrote a story called "The Red Notebook" and started another. Now I have to muster my creative juices for that contest...
• Weeds. No really, they are a lot of fun. Especially when you are out picking them with your mom and your brother by the light of the moon and the arena lights. Great discussions too.
• Popsicles.
• Swinging. So much fun. Especially when you slow down and your nephew commands you, "Go!" (He was enjoying watching me...) ; )
• All of us scrapbooking together. That was a ton of fun! I got to rip up two pages of old love songs and turn them into something really pretty. : )
• Dad's expository narrative sermon at church about the Israelites crossing the Jordan. Paul got to help out a bit by asking what the stones mean.
• Decorating books to look through. Cupcake books to look through. Cookie books to look through. Ah...
• Correspondence to catch up. Sending out letters means that in about a week, I just might start getting replies!
• Hilarious and meaningful family devotions.
• God's love and thunder. 'Nuff said.

Today, what are you grateful for?