Kindle Deals August 29, 2019

Books by Authors I Like:



Books to Add to My Reading List:

Kindle Deals July 29, 2019

Christmas in July Sale!

Some of my favorite authors have teamed up to offer a $.99 sale through Wednesday on some of their Christmas tales. You can find the link for all of the novels here Christmas in July but here are a few of my favorites that I recommend:

My top three here? Delay of Game (though I don't recall Christmas in it), Love in Light and Shadow, and Her Crazy Rich Fake Fiance.

Books by Authors I've Read and Liked

Christian romance in which a PR consultant returns home to deal with her uncle's newfound desire to make amends for generations' worth of misdeeds. Best of all? It's free.

Books I've Added to My Reading List

Being a lover of history and historical romances, I've been fascinated lately by the Mercer voyage and relish the opportunity to read more about it.




Ever since I saw Sahara (obviously not the Bogie version and reportedly not much like the book), I've wanted to read Cussler but have yet to make the effort. Discounts are always a good way to remind me of reading goals.




The movie was nominated for countless awards and it was a beautiful movie (though I admit I watched it edited). Someday I shall get around to reading my paperback copy that I picked up years ago. A novel of a friendship, devastating events, and an ultimate chance at redemption.

The Boys in the Boat

In 1936, Hitler held the Olympics in Berlin, Germany, meticulously planning years ahead to make a good impression on those visiting in order to hide his darker deeds. Across the sea in the United States, the Great Depression was in full swing and the great dust storms were sweeping the country and causing havoc and devastation everywhere. Unaware of the political aspirations of Germany's leader, dealing with food and money shortages, loads of classwork, and awful storms, heat, and headwinds, a boatload of boys and their coaches from the University of Washington trained tirelessly for the goal of representing their college and their country in the Olympic Games.

I loved the stories of Joe Rantz, his family, his coaches, and his teammates. Joe and his wife are truly inspirational people! He was neglected and physically abandoned so much of his life that naturally he didn't trust easily, or almost at all, but thanks to this amazing group of whole-hearted individuals he was able to learn to become one with others, wholly trustful in them. His words to the author at the beginning of the book highlight this transcendent experience as he admonished him to make the book about more than him: "It has to be about the boat."

And what about the boat? The skill with which it was crafted? Rules, physics and logistics of the sport? Weather and rowing conditions around the university and other racecourses? The coaches who trained up teams of successful, powerful rowers year after year, honing their choices down to the chosen nine who will represent their college? The aspiring crop of rowmen who will work tirelessly day after day to build up the necessary stamina to last a whole race, if not win it outright? Brown is amazing in his ability to draw upon all of these aspects to weave together a complete picture of what it means to be part of a rowing crew and how it pushed each boy and coach to be his best for those on the team.

Brown had the opportunity to interview Joe Rantz at his daughter's home many times before his death, the second-to-last remaining member of that memorable crew who competed in Berlin. Through interviews, books, letters, journals, and even films, Brown put together an intimate look at life during the Depression, living in mine towns, doing back-breaking labor to earn enough money to pay for another year of school, and--most importantly--what it means to be part of a crew of individuals working tirelessly toward a common goal. He highlights not only Joe's experiences at college, but his childhood, his relationship with his wife, the lives of his team, the basics of rowing, and the grand moments Joe felt part of something more than himself. It was beautifully written! The boat races are exciting (I occasionally felt like I was reading a John Flanagan battle scene), the childhood tales are heart-wrenching, and the historical contexts that Brown includes are insightful and thought-provoking. If you want to know how the race horse Seabiscuit fits in to the timeline, or even Hitler's tactics and motivations for the Olympics, the author brings them all to bear with a masterful hand for detail. There is so much more to the story than a few young men beating the German, Italian and English rowing teams in Berlin!

If you want the highly condensed version, you could watch the PBS American Experience production The Boys of '36, available free for Amazon Prime members on Amazon Video. 

The Heart of a Vicar

I've waited a long time to finally read Harry's story!!! For those of you who haven't discovered the joys of Sarah Eden, please give her a try if you like historical romance at all. This book continues the Jonquil series as the second-to-youngest brother rediscovers a romance from his past.
Harold Jonquil is the butt of the many jokes his brothers make, seemingly forced into his position as vicar in his brother, the Earl of Lampton's, parish. He knows he must be circumspect at all times and always do the right thing with no levity if he is to be seen as competent in his position. But his heart is not circumspect! He can sing every tavern song in existence and regularly climbs the walls of a ruined manor to keep up his skills. He may present a dull, disinterested exterior to his parishioners, but he longs for the confidence to be the religious leader his people need or to find another existence altogether. Enter former love Sarah Sarvol.

Sarah visited her uncle's estate a few times growing up, developing a friendship with the Jonquil boys and a real bond with Harold on her last stay in the country, but he broke her heart. She returns with her brother when their uncle demand his heir take up his duties. Hated by the uncle, she grows increasingly shut-in and cut off from her brother's deep friendship. At first she is horrified to find Harold Jonquil in residence, but increasingly seeks him out as she tries to make a place for herself in the neighborhood. She finds the current Harold dull, disconnected and disheartened. In order to again spark life within him, she challenges him to prove who can be the better vicar, she or Harold. But her triumphs seem only to spur on his determination to leave his post if he can't act the part. As the contest unfolds, what was a friendly competition becomes a partnership that means the world to them both.

To be honest, I spend the first third of the book simply thinking poor Harry! Each of the Jonquil brothers has struggled to some extent to find his place the world, but only Harry sees himself as the outcast, continuously ridiculed for his faith and his place in the Jonquil hierarchy. He doesn't socialize with his family unless his mother is in residence. He lives in a leaky hovel because the former vicar Throckmorton neglected repairs to the house and to the church, feeling inadequate that his professors never taught him how to exist upon his meager salary. Throughout the previous books I have always enjoyed his mastery and quotation of scripture (and I've especially enjoyed his nod of benediction whenever his brothers apologizes for their language), but it was fascinating to read the struggles behind his serene mask. Sarah Eden deftly brings to life his feelings of isolation, self-doubt, and the struggle to fit within the mold others have set for him. Sarah, too, is struggling to find her footing and losing more of herself every day as she interacts with her uncle, who has never forgiven her for aiding the match between Harry's brother Layton and his first wife (Sarah's cousin). The romance seems almost a side note in the greater story of two souls finding better versions of themselves within each other. Some might argue that is love itself.

As always, it was great to check in with the rest of the Jonquil and Lancaster families that have started to overlap within the last few books. I was especially touched by the struggles of Phillip, the earl, and his wife Sorrel as she goes through another pregnancy guaranteed to end in defeat and possibly death. It was heartbreaking! If I spent the first third of the novel pitying Harry, I certainly spent the last third praying for a miracle for Harry's family. Eden is just amazing in her ability to create emotion and heart within a story. But even in all of the drama, it provided a means for Harry to again find his footing within his own family and again be seen as the compassionate individual he is at heart.

I'm not sure how much I will reread this novel (like I constantly reread so many of Eden's) simply because of it's heavy emotions, but Eden is a master of always bringing humor and light into everything and I know I will return again and again to revisit a few of my favorite scenes and witty exchanges. This is now on my list of favorite Eden novels along with Drop of Gold, The Kiss of a Stranger, Seeking Persephone, and Friends and Foes.

(Some) Favorite Sarah Eden Novels:

If you like Sarah Eden, Give These Authors a Try:

Kindle Deals July 8, 2019

Christian Romances by Authors I Like

Clean Contemporary

Books to Add to My Reading List

Stormling princess Aurora comes from a long line of powerful magicians, but has yet to demonstrate a speck of magic herself. Her mother arranges a match with a prince from a neighboring kingdom, but she wonders if there might be another alternative before her.




What happens when your new safe haven becomes just as dangerous as your home had been? TWo sisters are sent away from London during the bombings, but find trouble finds them again and they begin the long journey towards home once more.




Evidently, Torey Hayden is an especially gifted special education teacher who chronicles her achievements in best-selling books. Sounds like it could be interesting--especially as it's something I know so little about.




Another curated guide (like Trelease's Read-Aloud Handbook) of book recommendations and ideas to get your children interested in reading.




I always get excited about retold fairy tales and am excited to try this series--especially since it's on sale.

Kindle Deals for the Fourth of July!

SEAL Deals

My favorite of the books on sale is The Peaceful Warrior by Banner, but all are worth a read if you're looking for clean romances about Navy SEALS.

More by Authors I Recommend

Christian author Liz Isaacson can be a treat to read, though a few of hers are rather repetitive in language. I fell in love with Margaret Peterson Haddix after reading Running Out of Time as a child and need to catch up on her last two series! Lastly, I was surprised to find I liked Louis L'Amour and his Western adventure tales; so far, all I've read are worth a read.

Those I'm Adding to My Reading List

And, if you're an Amazon Prime member, head over to their website and checkout the great deals on Kindle Unlimited Memberships this week or keep checking back closer to Prime Day.

Kindle Deals June 17, 2019

Books by Authors I Like:

Jim Trelease takes on the Herculean task of teaching parents how to help their children love reading--and makes it seem easy and logical. In this latest edition is research into hows and whys of reading to children and even lists of great read-aloud books broken down by age. Every household should have a copy of this book lying around (according to my amazing mother who taught me to love reading).




Rebel security task force operative protects country-music star from her stalker. He takes her to his hometown to lay low while they draw out the culprit. Not my favorite, but an enjoyably clean read with engaging side characters.


Two broken characters find love as they build houses for hurricane victims in Puerto Rico. Not a great novel by any means and the romance moved too quickly for me to find it believable, but it was worth a read if you need another clean romance. It's just not one I would reread, so Kindle Unlimited was fine for me.

Books I'm Adding to My Reading List:

This is the first book in a romance quartet of Orphan Train tales. A woman takes her two younger siblings on the orphan train as an outplacement agent and finds her calling in life as she strives to protect and place her charges. Evidently involves a wide scope of true-type incidents to paint a vivid picture of life for the orphans farmed out for hard labor or even brothels.



Five Christian novels where lost mail leads to unexpected happiness. Best part? It's free.



London perfumer takes a journey to Turkey with her neighbor to discover her past and decide her future. Marc Levy is an author that's been on my list for a while (Me Before You, P.S. From Paris) but I haven't actually read. Worst things said about this novel? A little boring in places and doesn't quite have the gravitas to deal realistically with the main event she can't remember from her past--not enough to discourage me from giving this a try.




A classic on sale this week for fans of the PBS/Masterpiece series. Ross Poldark returns from war to find his father dead, his home a wreck, and his love engaged to his cousin. Instead of running away or moving on, he decides to stay and fights to build a new life for himself. This is part of a twelve-book saga about generations of Poldarks in Cornwall. Something new I learned? This was only written a hundred years ago, when I was under the impression it was a Nineteenth-Century classic.



I'm not much for alternate realities, but this novel really grabbed my attention: a literature-obsessed England where dodos are the bird of choice and you can literally live moments from your favorite novels. But a wanted criminal is stealing characters from their own novels--most notably the redoubtable Jane Eyre. Heroine Thursday Next is on the case!

 A Few Nonfiction Titles to Shed Some Light on NASA Life:

Chasing New Horizons takes us inside NASA politics and engineering to the decades-long fight to send a successful probe to find out what lies beyond Pluto. We get to learn the backstory to the amazing photos that captured the interest of the world on July of 2015--and see some of the photos reproduced in the book. Journalist Tom Wolfe brings to life the major players' struggles and contributions in the American Space Race in The Right Stuff. Someday I hope to make it through the 1983 movie adaption, but it had a lot of language in it! The Mercury 13 tells the story of the first trained female astronauts at NASA--who were never allowed to go into space though they passed the same tests as the men. I'm definitely interested to know what they sacrificed to get to NASA, to stay there through the training, and what they managed to accomplish after their dreams fell through.

Kindle Deals June 14, 2019

Books I love and recommend:



 Books by authors I've read and like:



Books I've added to my reading list:

Kindle Deals Wednesday May 29, 2019

I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade

 

It's always amazing to me how a well-written book can pull you out of your own life and into another's experience. I've been reading a lot of junk (though clean) romances lately and thought I was enjoying myself...until I found this on my shelf and had to read it again. Diane Wilson immediately draws me into the steppes of Mongolia under the rule of Kublai Khan. She brings in sights, smells, landscapes and traditions that transports her readers to another time and head-space.
Oyuna believes her fate is controlled by the devastating accident of a horse breaking her foot beyond repair. Such bad luck! The first years of her life are spent indoors doing mending and cooking, tied to the hearth by her crippled foot. But her heart longs to fly with the horses and her parents finally allow her the freedom she needs. Eventually she chooses a horse of her own, a broken-down mare (with a crippled foot of her own) instead of the racing champion of which she dreams. Disappointed in the fate that led her to such an awful choice, she wallows in despair until her grandmother stops by her village long enough to share some life-changing advice with her: you can grab your own fate from the world around you. Suddenly, her life is open, no longer constrained by the dictations of good and bad luck. So begins her long journey of self-discovery as she rides across the steppes, mountains, and deserts toward the palace of the Khan with a precious delivery and valuable knowledge.
The most interesting part of this novel for me is the fatalistic views of her people that decides so much of what they do--or don't do. Oyuna is a strong character, driven to succeed and bring her family luck forever, but she is always fighting against the limitations others place upon her. This is something I believe we all deal with today. We're not necessarily hobbled by superstitions or physical limitations, but we can easily allow ourselves to be guided by voices that shouldn't have a part in our lives. As we learn to ignore the clamor around us and listen to the guiding voice inside us, we become stronger than we can imagine. We create our own destinies.