"To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all of the miseries of life." W. Somerset Maugham

Friday, July 29, 2011

Shadows of Brierley : A Far Horizon (Anita Stansfield)

The journey had been long and difficult and full of mishaps— even deadly ones. But the words in Ian’s mind seemed . . . as if they encompassed all they’d endured and experienced; all their losses and sorrows. . . . You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be, Ian. It was true. He knew it was true. He was exactly where God wanted him to be, and so were those who constituted his family. . . . They were where God wanted them to be; they were on the right path, in the right place at the right time, and they would soon achieve their goal and be united with God’s people.
In volume two of her compelling new Shadows of Brierley series, renowned LDS author Anita Stansfield once again weaves a rich narrative her readers can savor. Remarkably poignant and magnificently moving, this is the story of a family whose lives are anything but ordinary . . . a family whose journey takes them from the luxuries and comforts of a privileged Scottish heritage to the raw realities of a fledgling American frontier and a people who are true to their God and their faith despite relentless persecution.
With characters that leave an indelible impression on the reader’s heart, and a series of misfortunes that threatens to break spirits and extinguish faith, A Far Horizon will prove to be a spiritually significant destination well worth the journey.

I love the way that Anita can make you feel the characters in a story. I have really enjoyed this family's story. I am hoping that there are more in this series to share the story of other members of this family.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Foggy with a Chance of Murder (GG Vandagriff)

What should have been a peaceful walk on the beach turns tragic when best-selling suspense author Chloe Greene fails to save a ten-year-old boy from drowning along the California coast. For Chloe, the boy's death is simply more evidence that God does not exist - that anyone or anything can be taken by random chance, just as her own father was taken five years earlier.Rob Stevens, the boy's grieving father and a recent widower, isn't sure he believes in God anymore, either, but when he becomes the target in a chain of violent attacks that are anything but random, he is forced to examine what he believes and what he has to live for.As the pair search for answers, Chloe is introduced to a new religion that offers her the first hope and peace she has felt in years. That peace is threatened, however, when Chloe's old boyfriend, Luke, reenters her life and stirs up old memories and old desires.Chloe finds herself at a crossroads of the heart as well as of the soul, but her chance for a new beginning could be destroyed when a dense fog provides the perfect cover for an unknown assailant and one final attack.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Larkspur Cove (Lisa Wingate)


Adventure is the last thing on Andrea Henderson’s mind when she moves to Moses Lake. After surviving the worst year of her life, she’s struggling to build a new life for herself and her son as a social worker. Perhaps in doing a job that makes a difference, she can find some sense of purpose and solace in her shattered faith. For new Moses Lake game warden Mart McClendon, finding a sense of purpose in life isn’t an issue. He took the job to get out of southwest Texas and the constant reminders of a tragedy for which he can’t forgive himself. But when a little girl is seen with the town recluse, Mart and Andrea are drawn together in the search for her identity. The little girl offers them both a new chance at redemption and hope–and may bring them closer than either ever planned.


This is a cute small town, night in shining armor story. I am not overly excited about this authors writing style, but it was a good story.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Shadows of Brierley : The Wanderer (Anita Stansfield)

As he neared the edge of the crowd, Ian could hear a loud voice preaching some kind of sermon. He bristled from the inside out. The very thought of God encouraged his guilt and tempted him to turn back to the pub, where he could purchase the means to drown out the taunting voices of shame that had taken up comfortable residence in his tortured mind.
Nevertheless, with a few of his remaining coins, Ian purchases a copy of the book from which the “preacher” is quoting, an act that somehow gives this troubled prodigal the courage to leave the dark alleyways of London and begin the long journey home — home to his beloved Brierley and to the woman whose heart he hopes to win.
Little does he realize the impact this book will have on him and his family as they struggle with the grim consequences of unrestrained compulsions and passions, and the seemingly insurmountable challenges of mental illness. As the threads that hold the tapestry of the MacBrier family together threaten to unravel, Ian realizes that . . . The Book of Mormon had been destined to come into his hands, and he was destined to follow where it led him.
In The Wanderer, set in the lush highlands of nineteenth-century Scotland, Anita Stansfield is at her storytelling best. Filled with past regrets and new beginnings, this volume is an extraordinary journey toward faith and peace — a sweeping emotional experience from start to finish.

Monday, June 13, 2011

The Kiss of a Stranger (Sarah M Eden)

When Crispin, Lord Cavratt, thoroughly and scandalously kisses a serving woman in the garden of a country inn, he assumes the encounter will be of no consequence. But he couldn't be more mistaken — the maid is not only a lady of birth, she's the niece of a very large, exceptionally angry gentleman, who claims Crispin has compromised his niece beyond redemption. The dismayed young lord has no choice but to marry Miss Catherine Thorndale, who lacks both money and refinement and assumes all men are as vicious as her guardian uncle. Trapped between an unwanted marriage and a hasty annulment, which would leave his reputation tainted and Catherine's utterly ruined, Crispin begins guiding his wife's transformation from a socially petrified country girl to a lady of society. Their unfolding relationship reveals encouraging surprises for both of them, and privately, each of them wonders if theirs may become a true marriage of the heart. But their hopes are dashed when forces conspire to split asunder what fate has granted, and as a battle of wits escalates into a life-threatening confrontation, will it be possible for Crispin and Catherine to live happily ever after?

I am loving this author and her romance stories. I just found out that all but 3 of her books and no longer published, I guess that means I have to go searching the used book stores to find more from her. Her characters have awesome personalities and she knows how to add humor to the romance without over doing.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Pieces of Paris (G. G. Vandagriff)

Is it possible to forget who you once were?Annalisse and Dennis seem to be living the American dream until Annalisse's secret past threatens to destroy their family.This skillfully crafted novel from Whitney Award winner G. G. Vandagriff explores the long-term effects of personal tragedy in haunting flashbacks of Annalisse's former life--flashbacks that are interwoven with a passionate romance to reveal a person entirely different from the woman Dennis thought he had married.But as Annalisse struggles with long-buried memories, Dennis's investigation of a toxic waste incident ignites the wrath of a former political ally and an industrial firm that will go to any lengths to cover up a shocking crime.Can Annalisse reconcile her turbulent past with her present life before it's too late? And can Dennis find a way to save his family and the town they've called home?


I had a hard time will all of the flashbacks, trying to keep the present information seperated from the past. It had a great story, but it wasn't one of my favorite Vandagriff books.