Book Review: She Walks in Beauty

The book "She Walks in Beauty" by Siri Mitchell was a surprisingly good read. When I first received the book, I was not sure what I would think because the back cover description was very enigmatic. But the book was enjoyable.

The story centers around a young woman of 17 named Clara Carter. At the start of the book she is busy learning all that she can from her governess. But rather than learning the intracacies of Victorian society and how to dance and flirt, Clara is learning science, mathematics, and literature. In fact, Clara is doing so well that her governess is sure she will be ready to secretly try for acceptance into Vassar College--her only way out of officially debuting in society as an eligible female. Clara and her governess are hoping to beat the clock. She is supposed to debut after her 18th birthday.

Little does CLara know that life has other plans for her, or rather, her aunt has other plans. When CLara's aunt learns that one of the most elligible bachelors in New York is going to be looking for a bride this season, she jumps at the opportunity to usher Clara into society early and assures Clara's father that Clara will be the lucky lady that the suitor selects.

The following weeks and months are filled with lessons, frippery and Victorian silliness for Clara. Once the debut season begins Clara embarks on a battle for the hand of a man she doesn't even know, and her main competition is her best friend Lizzy. Lizzy and Clara promise to be true to one another throughout the season, but when the heir and his younger brother turn out to be different than they expected, their friendship and promises to test their friendship and their families.

Thrown in with all of this drama is the drama within Clara's family. As Clara becomes the socialite of the season, it becomes obvious that there is more to her family than she ever realized. And she learns that somehow her father, a doctor, is connected to the pain and devastation in the immigrant slums of New York City. And it could be that very connection which is keeping Clara in the public eye as the darling of the season.

I don't want to ruin the novel with more explanation, but suffice it to say, the novel is quite interesting and kept me up late one night just to finish the story. I will also say, that although it is very interesting and ends quite well, there were some frustrating loose ends that really needed to be wrapped up in order to maintain the integrity of Clara, the main character.

Even with that criticism, I would rate it a four out of five. It was a great story and I found it easy to loose myself within the beauty and tragedy of the Gilded Age.

Note for Full Disclosure: While I do not receive any monetary compensation for my book reviews, I am provided with free complimentary copies of each book. That being said, this review is completely my own, and free from the influence of Bethany House Book Publishers.

The Nugget Poll, Part 1

The Nuggster is doing quite well as far as I can tell. I "popped" yesterday and I am feeling pretty huge. I know that I will laugh at this post in the coming months, but it is how I feel. I can actually feel my belly stretching! Crazy.

We find out a little more about the Nugget on Tuesday. We are going to try to see if it lets us know if it is of the male or female variety. We're hoping the Nugget isn't too shy with this important piece of information. :) I'm thinking boy and Marc is thinking girl. We would be happy with either, we just want to know!

What do you think? Vote in the poll on the right sidebar. Time is running out! The mystery will soon move on to "Does the baby have hair?" and "Will the baby get the famed Anderson nose?"

So vote now before the mystery is history. Wow...that was lame.

But seriously, vote. It makes me happy. :)

Pregnancy Reflections Volume 1

Now that I've been rocking this pregnancy for a few months, I thought it was about time for an update. Here are some random thoughts.

-I think it is funny that people pat my belly. I COMPLETELY understand the urge to pat a rounded prego belly, I myself often have the same urge when I see pregnant acquaintances. I just think that being the pregnant person, it is a weird thing to get used to. That being said, if you see me, (edit: and actually KNOW me) feel free to pat the bump. I have no problem with the belly touching, it is just weird to suddenly surrender part of yourself... then again, I should probably get used to that now.

-I may or may not be feeling the baby. (Stop reading if the thought of bodily functions is disturbing.) It could just be gas. Either way, I'm ready for "really" feeling the baby. After several months of not a lot of pregnancy symptoms, I'm ready for this to all start feeling real. I mean, beyond the fact that my pants don't fit. :)

-Don't ever tell a pregnant woman that she is showing early unless you are SURE she will take it as a compliment.

-Tailbone pain sucks. Darn you South Dakota childhood and all your episodes of breaking/bruising my tailbone.

-Drinking so much water is hard. I am BAD at drinking a lot of water. Plus, drinking the water means going to the bathroom more, and I'm finally enjoying the second trimester break from the constant urge to pee!

-Don't laugh at me, annoyingly smile or pat my head when I tell you I want a natural childbirth (in the hospital, but with no drugs). Don't patronize me, people. I know it won't be easy, but I also know that people all over the world do it. I know it will hurt like I've never hurt before. But I also know that this is what we want and I could really use some positive voices on the subject rather than a bunch of downers. As a side note, don't assume that by saying I want a natural child birth that I am somehow saying you are less of a mother because you did not go the natural route. Just let me be me...you be you.

-I just slept through the night last night for the first time in months without having to get up to go to the bathroom. What a blessing. I know it won't last long, but the reprieve was nice. It also made me worry that something was wrong with the baby. I hear that this is normal, however.

-I love cheese. A lot.

-I am struggling a little with my body image. Being overweight to begin with, my pregnancy bump has a little extra padding. I'm just looking forward to the day when I sit down and have one belly bump instead of two. The belly button dividing line isn't cute in my opinion. Too much information? :)

-The hardest thing to give up during pregnancy has been spray paint. No, not huffing it! I miss being able to effortlessly transform household objects on a whim. Now I have to have Marc do it, and let's be honest, he lacks my expertise in the spray painting skills department.

That is it for now. Hope you enjoy my reflections, rants, etc. Thank you all for your support. I have some crafty things in the works, I've just had to put that on hold while we had family in town. Yay for family in town, though! :)

Book Review: Never Say Never

In Never Say Never, a book by Lisa Wingate, the heroine Kai Miller is trying desperately to escape the craziness of a Texas hurricane. In the process, she runs into some unlikely friends. Donetta Bradford and her elderly comrades are traveling from their small-town of Daily, Texas to Perdida, TX to leave on a cruise ship. When the hurricane puts their trip on hold and their lives in danger, their paths cross with Kai and they team up to beat Mother Nature. Their adventure, sometimes scary, sometimes heartwarming, leads them back to Daily where Kai is forced to stay temporarily until a safe route opens up to get her back to Perdida. In the meantime, Donetta Bradford's nephew begins keeping company with Kai and sparks fly.

I wasn't overly impressed with this book. It was okay, but once the flooding and fleeing was over, I started to lose interest. I also felt like the conclusion to the book was a bit rushed and seemed somewhat unlikely. I know, it is Christian fiction and unlikely is the name of the game, but I still prefer stories that seem plausible. All in all I give it 3 out of 5 stars. It was a good read, but I probably will never pick it up again.

Note for Full Disclosure: While I do not receive any monetary compensation for my book reviews, I am provided with free complimentary copies of each book. That being said, this review is completely my own, and free from the influence of Bethany House Book Publishers.

Book Review: The Rewards of Simplicity

The Rewards of Simplicity by Pam and Chuck D. Pierce is an interesting exploration of the meaning of simplicity in our culture and how we as Christians should exemplify simplicity and peace. I can warn you ahead of time that this will be a short review. I just didn't' have much to say about this book, either positive or negative. The book didn't give me any strong feelings or anything that I really feel are worth exploring in this review. So, I'll keep it short and sweet.

The book is divided in half into Pam's portion and Chuck's portion. This is important for several reasons. First, I found that just when I got used to Pam's narrative style, it switched to Chuck's section. Second, they are very different writers both in style and approach. I much preferred Pam's approach to the subject. I struggled to even finish Chuck's portion of the book.

All in all, it was a mediocre exploration of ideas such as Sabbath, simplicity, peace, anxiety and materialism. I appreciated the topic, but I didn't feel that the book gave me any practical skills or examples on how to really simplify my life. For that reason, I give the book a two out of five. I wouldn't really recommend it to anyone.

Note for Full Disclosure: While I do not receive any monetary compensation for my book reviews, I am provided with free complimentary copies of each book. That being said, this review is completely my own, and free from the influence of Bethany House Book Publishers.

Book Review: Closer

For this book review I had to employ the help of my hubby of four and half years, Marc. Closer is a couples devotional by Jim and Cathy Burns. If you are like me, you read the phrase "couples devotional" and threw up a little bit in your mouth. Don't worry, if you are part of a "couple" and you hate the typical "couples" devotionals on the market, this book might just be for you.

Jim and Cathy Burns divide this devotional into 2-3 page chapters that focus on a specific topics related to relationships and faith. The devotional is very narrative based and many of the entries tell stories from the Burns' past or stories from other couples. But the thing that sets this devotional apart from other devotionals of our past was the questions at the end of the chapter.

There are two sections at the close of each chapter that help you as a couple "dig deeper" into the topic in question. The first section is called "Faith Conversations" and it contains questions for couples to ask and answer. Here is an example: "When was the last time we had a significant conversation?" For the most part, they are deep questions. Marc and I call them coffee shop questions; the kinds of questions that you want to ask over a yummy iced latte (or your drink of choice).

The other section is called "A Step Closer" and it gives an activity that you can do as a couple to apply the things you talk about in the "Faith Conversations" section. Here is an example: "Decide when would be the soonest time, as a couple, that you could take a short sabbatical...for reflection, rest, refreshment, restoration, and recreation..." This section helps you to do what you learn rather than just talk about it. Very cool, in our opinion.

And the best part is that you can do one devotional a day, or one a week, or pick it up when you are able. I think devotional time as a couple is very important, but I know we haven't always been consistent over the course of our marriage. This book, by not dating the entries or telling you when you should do them, takes off the pressure and allows you to focus on God and one another, not your sense of guilt. Also very cool, in our opinion.

Overall, I give this book a five out of five. If you are a couple seeking a devotional that isn't all about women submitting to their husbands and is a lot more egalitarian, this is for you.

Note for Full Disclosure: While I do not receive any monetary compensation for my book reviews, I am provided with free complimentary copies of each book. That being said, this review is completely my own, and free from the influence of Bethany House Book Publishers.

The Silent Governess: A Book Review

The Silent Governess, by Julie Klassen was a delightful book. Set in the English countryside of the 19th century, it follows the story of Olivia Keene. When Olivia returns to her family home one evening to find her mother being strangled by her father, she quickly hits him squarely on the head. Assuming her father dead, Olivia flees the area and finds herself outside the walls of Brightwell Court during a party. As she stops to gaze at the party-goers, she overhears a conversation through an open window. Before she knows it she is being held captive by Lord Bradley who doesn't want the "message" she overheard to spread.

Bradley makes Olivia into a family governess to keep her, and the secrets she heard, close. As Lord Bradley spends more time with Olivia he falls in love with her. But in the process of falling in love he realizes that her life may just contain more secrets than his, perhaps even secrets that intertwine with his carefully guarded past. In the process of falling in love, Olivia must confront her past mistakes and learn the truth about her family.

It was hard to review this book without giving away too much information! The book was rich in imagery and very enjoyable. I give it a four out of five stars.

Note for Full Disclosure: While I do not receive any monetary compensation for my book reviews, I am provided with free complimentary copies of each book. That being said, this review is completely my own, and free from the influence of Bethany House Book Publishers.

I'm (ahem) We're back!

Wow! It has been a crazy year so far and I have a feeling it will only get more crazy! Sorry for the LONG absence, but it was for a great reason! Marc and I are expecting! Our little Nugget is due sometime in late October. Here are some images from the baby's first two photo shoots!





We have an amazing doctor who let me come in for a second early ultrasound just to reassure me since he knows I am a worrier. What a great guy, huh?! The first image is at 6 1/2 weeks and the second is at 8 1/2 weeks.

Now is the time for predictions. What will it be boy or girl? We will find out in June!

Beguiled: A Book Review

I recently read Beguiled, a book by Deanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand. It is a mystery/inspirational romance that follows the life of Rylee Monroe, a dogwalker. Yep, you read that right, she is a dogwalker. I was skeptical at first. I mean, what kind of book is so silly as to center around a dog walker, but once I got past my initial misgivings the book was really quite delightful.

Here is a brief synopsis. Rylee walks dogs in a ritzy neighborhood. Logan Woods is a local reporter. He mostly does crime reporting. He eventually crosses paths with Rylee when he is investigating some "Robin Hood" thefts in the ritzy part of town.

When it seems that all the thefts seem to be pointing directly to the lovely Rylee things start to heat up. You see, she works for most of the crime victims.

The rest of the book is a lot of sleuthing and gum shoeing. If you like a good mystery and you like a good romance, this might just be the perfect book for you. All in all I would give it a 3 out of 5 stars. But I'm not that into mystery.

Note for Full Disclosure: While I do not receive any monetary compensation for my book reviews, I am provided with free complimentary copies of each book. That being said, this review is completely my own, and free from the influence of Bethany House Book Publishers.