The Secret of the Villa Mimosa

This was a free paperback book. I have never read this author, but the cover looked interesting. This was a romance/suspense novel. It sort of was too graphic for me - the violence described. I enjoyed some of the twists, but it was fairly predictable.

Basic story line was about a girl that gets thrown into a ravine and almost dies. She loses her memory. A psychologist tries to helps her sort it out with the help of the local detective. The plot thickens as the girl slowly regains her memory.

I wanted to finish it because I only had 20 pages left, but I knew the main ending about half way through. Probably won't intentionally read this author again.

Blessings

Just Beyond the Clouds by Karen Kingsbury

This is the follow-up book to A Thousand Tomorrows by Kingsbury. Have I said before that I just love her writing! The book picks up a few years later with Cody, the rodeo star. He moves back to his parents ranch to figure life out. He has a younger brother with Downs Syndrome. This is a touching book about letting go and living life. Cody learns about life from his disabled brother and falls in love in the process. I always recommend Kingsbury. The Lord has given her amazing ideas for stories.

Blessings

Spring Reading Thing 2008

I am so incredibly late at joining this reading challenge held over at Callapidder Days. Here is my short list. All novels this time. I just can't seem to get the non-fiction completed! Argh!

*The Note by Angela Hunt

*The Elevator by Angela Hunt

*Private Justice and Shadow of Doubt. NewPointe 911 series by Terri Blackstock

With the daughter's synchro, end of year grading and activities, I will be lucky to get these 4 books read. I am going to go peruse some lists and add to my ever growing pile.

Happy Reading!

Mosiac: Pieces of My Life So Far by Amy Grant

I have grown up with Amy Grant music in my life since I first became a believer in high school. The contemporary Christian world no longer plays her music, except an occasional Christmas song here and there. The book Mosiac isn’t the typical autobiography, but little journal entries of the important moments in her life. If you are looking for the details of her divorce and why, this is not the book. It is a true insight into what makes her think, how God met her along this journey called life. She has a deep passion for her music and the impact it has for the kingdom of God. Her is life not compartmentalized. Her music is a part of her like water is to life, she can't help but write songs that come from her heart - wherever the path may lead.

I have to repent and not join the crowd in thinking that divorce is the worst thing she could do. If all our sins were that public. I am even planning on pulling out my old cassettes and CD's and doing some deep listening of her lyrics - they say more then we can imagine.

If you are an Amy Grant fan, this would be worth reading.

Blessings

The Cinderella Hour by Katherine Stone

When I first picked up this book, I thought, "It will be one of those typical romance novels". This was not the case. It is not a christian book, but it was also not filled with descriptive love scenes that accompany these paperback novels either. It was more suspenseful with twists and turns in the story line. You wanted the best for these characters, you wanted them to stop hiding from each other and just talk it out.

The story is written in a flashback form. It was about two abused kids that meet and create a lifelong connection - love. It is the story of being saved by love and connection with others. I didn't really like the ending - way too convenient. I like ending that are believable. I am not really a writer, but I suppose that is hard to create this great plot and then finding a "happy" ending. I guess that life doesn't always work out that way. I am enjoying books that have real endings.

Blessings

Breaking Free by Lauraine Snelling

I have read several of Snellings books. She often tackles the theme of forgiveness and starting over. This book is no different. Breaking Free parallels the recover of a retired racehorse with the recovery of the humans taking care of it. Many of the characters have issues of unworthiness and anger to deal with before they can start over. This was not a typical come to Jesus and be forgiven type of a book. It was a pleasant diversion. Not too intense in subject but not forced either. The story felt genuine. The characters have to overcome some obstacles, but finally learn to lean on God in all circumstances.

When I read, I always try to predict the outcome. The ending was not real surprising to me. Somewhat predictable, but sometimes I need a book like that.

Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary w/Eli

This is the second book in the mouse and the motorcycle series. Eli and I enjoy reading about the adventures of this independent mouse. In this book, Ralph gets sick of his relatives always bugging him about his motorcycle and doesn't want to share. He ends up leaving the hotel that he grew up in and finds a summer camp full of kids. He ends up being caught and put in a cage. His adventures include run ins with cats, dogs, hamsters and lonely little boys. Not a page turner, but full of fun for young minds to think about. It has been fun sharing this time with my boy. Soon he will be too big to want to snuggle and read.

Thanks for reading.

Cyndee