Book Blogger Hop: June 29-July 5

Crazy-For-Books -- Book Blogger Hop Link

This is a weekly meme hosted by Crazy-for-books.  Here is this weeks question: Do you have a keeper shelf for books you loved? What books are on that shelf and why?

I have a box that I keep my keepers in. I used to keep them on my shelf but I ran out of room so I had to move them. I have Diana Gabaldon's Outlander Series, Rhys Bowen's Molly Murphy Series, Laura Childs' Tea Shop Series, Scrapbook Mystery Series and Cackleberry Series and Gone with the Wind, as well as a few other books. 

I would like to hear your response and see what books you like to keep. Also visit the link above to find more blogs to visit.  

Midwife of the Blue Ridge by Christine Blevins

Title: Midwife of the Blue Ridge

Author: Christine Blevins

Genre: Historical Fiction

Source: Bought used from half.com

Published: Berkley Trade (August 5, 2008)

Type: Paperback - 432 pages

ISBN: 9780425221686

Synopsis of book: They called her Dark Maggie for her thick black hair, but the name also had a more sinister connotation. As the lone survivor of an attack on her village, she was thought to be cursed - and unfit for marriage.

Maggie is not cursed but gifted with quick wits, skilled in medicine, and trained as a midwife. Venturing to the colonies as an indentured servant, she hopes to escape the superstitions of the old country, help women bring new life into the world, even in the most primitive and isolated corners of an unsettled land - and find a  home of her own.

What she discovers is a new world fraught with new dangers - and, having given up her own freedom to join a people that yearn to be free, she must rely on her talent for survival now more than ever ... *taken from teh back of the book

Why I read this book: I am a historical fiction fan and it has been awhile since I have read one. I actually one a book by this author and went looking for other books written by her. The subject and time period also drew me in. 

What I liked: I liked Maggie and how strong of a person she was no matter what problems she ran into. I also liked how Maggie and Tom came to be a couple but it they struggled to come to terms with loving each other. Maggie endured so much and just held her head up and would not let anything get her down. I enjoyed how all of the settlers rallied and helped each other when needed. 

What I didn't like: Sometimes the description was a little graphic - although I think it was needed to complete the story. There was not too much I did not like about the book other than maybe the character Cavendish. He was a nasty person and I see why his father sent him to America to get rid of him.

Overall impression: I thought this was a good book and it kept my attention from page one. I will be reading the other two books I have that this author wrote. I am going to give this book 4 stars.

Book Blogger Hop - June 22nd-28th

Crazy-For-Books - Book Blogger Hop Link

This meme is hosted by Crazy-for-books:

Here is this weeks question - Blogging Question: Do you immediately write a review upon finishing a book or do you wait and write multiple reviews at once?

Here is my answer: I write each of my reviews as soon as I am finished with the book. I have trouble remembering things so if I don't write is right away I would forget what the book was about. 

How about you - when do you write your reviews? 

W.W.W. Wednesdays - June 20th

W.W.W. Wednesday Link to Should Be Reading

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

My answers:

I am currently reading - A historical fiction book that I am enjoying. It has been awhile since I have got to read a historical fiction book. I am enjoying how the characters are coming together

I recently finished - This was a great book that held my attention throughout the book. See my review below.

Next I will be reading - Time to read another cozy, lol. I am looking forward to reading this book with a friend. Also Heather is a great author and I have enjoyed all of her books I have read so far

I would love to hear your responses. 

The Messenger by Siri Mitchell

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
• ISBN-13: 978-0764207969 

Hannah Sunderland felt content in her embrace of the Quaker faith...until her twin brother joined the Colonial cause and ended up in jail. She longs to bring some measure of comfort to him in the squalid prison, but her faith forbids it. The Friends believe that they are not to take sides, not to take up arms. She is not allowed to visit him, even if she were able to secure a pass.

Jeremiah Jones, a Colonial spy, needs access to the jail to help rescue men important to the cause. Upon meeting Hannah, a plan begins to develop. Who would suspect a pious Quaker visiting a loved one?

But Jeremiah is unprepared for Hannah, for her determination to do right, to not lie. How can one be a spy and not lie? Hannah, in turn, is surprised by Jeremiah...for the way he forces her to confront her own beliefs, for the sensitivity and concern that he shows her despite the wounds he still carries.

In a time of war, can two unlikely heroes find the courage to act? - taken from the back cover.

I enjoyed this book for more than one reason. It was about Quakers and in the Revolutionary War/colonial period. A couple of my things I like to read about.This was my first book by Siri so I did not know what to expect. I will say that I enjoyed this book and will be looking for more books by her. I like how the characters were so real. I also like how the story was told from both points of view - Hannah's and Jeremiah's.

 I think it would have been hard to choose whether or not to see my brother even knowing what my faith said was right and wrong. I think I would have done like Hannah and went to see my brother. I also enjoyed the relationship between Hannah and Jeremiah

I give this book four stars.

* I received this book from Bethany House Publishing for an honest review.

Book Blogger Hop - June 15th-21st

Crazy-For-Books Link to Book Blogger Hop

This weekly meme is sponsered by Crazy - For - Books. Here is this week's question:

Do you belong to a book club, either online or in real life?

Here is my answer:

I belong to a book club online called Novel Ladies thru Goodreads.  I also belong to a few others on Goodreads but the one I am most active with is Novel Ladies. I wish I belonged to a book club in real life but have not had the pleasure of finding one yet. I love talking books with people but my family nor co-workers are big readers and think I am nuts for buying and reading so many books.

How about you? Do you belong to a book club? I would love to hear about it, what type of books do you read, how often do you meet, etc. Thank you for stopping by.



W.W.W. Wednesdays - June 13th



W.W.W. Wednesdays - Should Be Reading Link

This is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

W. What are you currently reading?
W. What did you recently finish reading?
W. What do you think you’ll read next?

 

I am currently reading - So far I am enjoying this historical fiction book.

I currently finished - Check out my review of this upcoming novel

Next I am going to read - I love my cozies

Let me know what you are reading lately.

Teaser Tuesday - June 12th

Teaser Tuesdays Link to Should be Reading

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is my teaser:

"But, Cap'n, she'll not be able to steer clear if he purchases her contract at auction ..."

"Don't worry, Joshua, I'll see to it. Duke's son or no, Maggie Duncan is too good for the likes of that drunken scoundrel." - pg. 38

Midwife of the Blue Ridge by Christine Blevins

What are you reading?

Musing Monday - June 11th

Should Be Reading - Musing Monday Link

This Meme is hosted by Should be Reading.

This week’s musing asks… What is the longest book you have ever read? How long did it take you to read it?

Two of the longest books I have read is Pillars of the Earth and World Without End by Ken Follett. I think the books took me about a month each or a little longer. I enjoy reading long historical fiction books even if they take me a long time. I have also read The Outlander by Diana Gabaldon and Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell just to name a few more. 

What long books have you read? 

Book Blogger Hop June 8th - 14th

 

Crazy-For-Books Blogger Hop Link 

This meme is sponsored by Crazy-For-Books. This week's question is:  If you were to write a book, what type of book would you write?

My answer: I would write a historical fiction book. I am a history buff and would love to do the research it takes to write an accurate historical fiction story. I also think it would be fun to write a story about how you see someone's involvement in that part of history. I would choose the Revolutionary War or Civil War time period as my first choice. Another thing I always wanted to write was a book about Laura Ingalls Wilder. I have always been a fan of hers and have many many books about here but I always wanted to write a trivia book about her. 

What would you like to write about? I would love to hear your answers.  

The Good Dream by Donna VanLiere

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• ISBN-13: 978-0312367770 

1950 Tennessee, a time and place that straddles the past and present. Ivorie Walker is considered an old maid by the town (though she’s only in her early thirties) and she takes that label with good humor and a grain of salt. Ever since her parents passed away, she has hidden her loneliness behind a fierce independence and a claim of not needing anyone. But her mother’s death hit her harder than anyone suspects and Ivorie wonders if she will be alone forever.

 

When she realizes that someone has been stealing vegetables from her garden—a feral, dirty-faced boy who disappears into the hills—something about him haunts Ivorie. She can’t imagine what would make him desperate enough to steal and eat from her garden. But what she truly can’t imagine is what the boy faces, each day and night, in the filthy lean-to hut miles up in the hills. Who is he? How did he come to live in the hills? Where did he come from? And, more importantly, can she save him? As Ivorie steps out of her comfort zone to uncover the answers, she unleashes a firestorm in the town—a community that would rather let secrets stay secret. - Taken from Amazon.com **This book is not available for purchase until July 3, 2012. 

I received this book from Donna to read and review. Being a fan of Donna's Christmas books I jumped at the chance to read it. I enjoyed this book. The characters were very real to me and I felt for each of them. I wanted to reach thru the book and get a hold of "the man" and hurt him for what he was doing to Peter. I was hoping beyond hope that Ivorie could help Peter. I will not say much more about the actual story as it would ruin it for you. But if I were you I would run out and pre-order this book right now. It is every bit as good as the Christmas series. I am thankful I got a chance to read this book and did not have to wait. This was a story of strength and healing.  5 Stars for me.

* I received this book for a honest review from the author.

WWW Wednesday - June 6th

W.W.W. Wednesday Link to Should Be Reading

This weekly meme is sponsered by Should Be Reading.



To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

Here are my answers:

 



Currently Reading:

I am about a third of the way thru this book and am enjoying it more and more. I received this book from the author for a review.

Recently Finished:  

This was one of the best books I have read this year and can't wait to start the second in the series.

Next Up:

It has been awhile since I have read a historical fiction book and that is my first love of genres. So I can't wait to get started on this book.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own WWW Wednesdays post, or share your answers in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). I can't wait to see what you are reading.


Teaser Tuesdays - June 5th

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Should Be Reading's Link to Teaser Tuseday - June 5th

Here are my teasers:

I lean in closer. “Do you live up in those hills?” I ask, gesturing toward them.

He doesn’t move and his stillness is excruciating.

-page 84 of The Good Dream by Donna VanLiere

The Next Always by Nora Roberts (Inn Boonsboro Trilogy #1)

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Berkley 
• ISBN-13: 9780425243213

The historic hotel in Boonsboro has endured war and peace, changing hands, even rumored hauntings. Now it's getting a major facelift from the Montgomery brothers and their eccentric mother. Beckett is the architect of the family, and his social life consists mostly of talking shop over pizza and beer. But there's another project he's got his eye on: the girl he's been waiting to kiss since he was fifteen. After losing her husband and returning to her hometown, Clare Brewster soon settles into her life as the mother of three young sons while running the town's bookstore. Busy, with little time for romance, Clare is drawn across the street by Beckett's transformation of the old inn, wanting to take a closer look ...at the building and the man behind it. With the grand opening inching closer, Beckett's happy to give Clare a private tour - one room at a time. It's no first date, but these stolen moments are the beginning of something new - and open the door to the extraordinary adventure of what comes next ... (from the back of the book)

I can't tell you how much I loved this book. In a lot of ways this book reminds me of the wedding quartet series that Nora wrote which I also loved.  I fell head over heels for Clare and Beckett from page one. The whole town is just a perfect little town that you would love to be living in. Clare has very close friends in Avery and Hope as well as Beckett and his brothers are so close. I like how each character plays off of each other. Another part of the book I like reading about was "Lizzy". I like the part that she plays sort of as the first "guest" of the inn. I hope we find out a little more about her in the next book. There is also a little adventure/mystery with Sam that all plays out in the end. I think Sam was slime. I can't wait to read the next book in this series. 5 Stars for me.