A Passion Most Pure--Julie Lessman A Review

A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman the first in the series of The Daughters of Boston is Faith O’Conner’s story. Faith and her sister Charity share more than a last name. They both love the same man. The twists and turns in this book have you turning pages at a fast pace to discover who Faith will marry in the end. Is it the childhood friend, Collin? Or the charming Irishman Mitch? Which man Faith wants so does her sister Charity.

How Lessman pulls this off is pure pleasure for readers. Lessman’s writing has the edginess of Kristen Heitzmann, and depth of Jodi Picoult. Go ahead, pick this one up and fall in love with the entire O’Conner family. Just make sure you have a lot of time to read because this is one book you don’t want to read a little bit at a time.

The Restorer by Sharon Hinck: a review

The Restorer by Sharon Hinck is one of the most thought provoking books I've read in awhile. I found it on my Powell's trip and remembered meeting her at Mt. Herman at a writing conference. I had to have the book. I needed something to distract me on the plane trip back from Oregon. I don't like to fly.

I identified with Susan, the main character right away. She knows she has a great life but longs for something just a bit better, to help others and she's depressed. Yep, could have been me in the book. I settled into my seat at the airport, this would be a good comfortable read.

Wrong. This book was fascinating, character driven, with a plot that twisted like spaghetti on a fork.

By the time we were in the air, Susan had left her home and traveled to a place that doesn't exist in our world. I read, turned pages and read more, the air miles went by and soon we landed in Kansas City. I didn't relish having to stop living in this magical world where soccer moms can use a sword! Still I had to deplane and wait for the connecting flight to St. Louis. As soon as I could respectfully ignore my husband and read, I yanked that book back out of my bag.

What makes this book so special to me is the idea of how dangerous one thought can be. At first when I read this book I thought Hinck very clever to use an evil thought to throw a community into chaos. A week later I'm identifying thoughts of my own that are leading me in the wrong directions. Thank you, Sharon for helping me to see how poisonous those wrong thoughts can be.

Would I buy the next two books in this series? You bet. I can't wait for them to arrive.

Here is the book blurb:

Meet Susan, a housewife and soccer mom whose dreams stretch far beyond her ordinary world. While studying the book of Judges, Susan longs to be a modern-day Deborah, a prophet and leader who God used to deliver the ancient nation of Israel from destruction. Susan gets her wish for adventure when she stumbles through a portal into an alternate universe and encounters a nation locked in a fierce struggle for its survival. Now stranded in a strange culture filled with poisonous enemies, Susan must overcome tremendous odds to deliver a desperate people and restore hope to a world far from her own.

Get it at Amazon!

Books and Me

I've been tagged by Jen! This is a fun quiz for a writer to fill in, and I hope you learn more about me as you read about my likes and dislikes.
1. One book that changed my life. Hands down the bible, but I won't count this one for this quiz because it's an easy answer. So, that means I have to come up with another. That's hard there are many! Everytime I read a how to book my life is changed in someway, I learn to knit, write a better descriptive passage or become a better wife. I'm stalling! I think I'll have to say Little Women, because it cemented my desire to be a writer.

2. One book I read more than once? Are you serious? There are three that make it over the more than 10 times list. Harriet the Spy, Little Women and Gone with the Wind.

3. One book to take on a deserted island? Without a doubt it would be the bible.

4. One book that made me laugh? If you can't Decorate it, Lose it! by Anita Renfroe.

5. One book that made me cry. Little Women

6. One I wish I had written? The Church Ladies by Lisa Samson

7. One I'd wish had never been written. I won't answer that because if I don't like it, I'd rather not give that author any acknowledgment.

8. What am I currently reading?
I just finished reading The Restorer by Sharon Hinck. Amazing book, review to follow later this week.
A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman. Julie is in my ACFW critique group so I've had a sneak peak at the writing of this book. It rocks. The reviews of her book are outstanding as well. So it is the next book on my list.

9. Book I've been meaning to read? Persuasion by Jane Austen. It's on my to be read stack.
Now I'm tagging Casey, Sharon, and Georgiana! Anyone can play,
leave a link in the comment section so others can find you!

Portland, Waterfalls and More

I'm back from my fun trip to Portland. Powell's bookstore was amazing. There were lofted floors, red, blue, yellow and green rooms, oh my! I had fun looking through each section, trying to decide what to purchase. I did well, I was able to pack everything into my suitcase. I came home with two Jane Austin books and a The Restorer by Sharon Hinck. I'll review it later.

Ed also took me to the Mill End Fabric store which for me was a touch of heaven. Where I live most of the stores carry a huge quantity of quilting fabrics and little apparel fabric. Mill End had row after row of fine apparel fabric. Again, I was was controlled. :) Nothing like a packing limit to keep yourself from over spending.

Tuesday, we explored the Colombia River Gorge, hiked up a few trails to get a better of few waterfalls. It was beautiful and cold! My fingers were tingling from the frigid air!
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The trip was over fast. I was prepared with my maps and places marked I wanted to go but I can see a need to return someday. There is a lot of things to do in this city.
AND while we were there it only rained once.

ONE WORD--play along!

Georgiana Daniels hassent me this quiz! Thanks!se a tough challenge for writer's today. Can you go it? ONE WORD--play along!

Being a writer is often difficult. Some struggle with word count, never able to fill the pages with their desired quota. Other authors type on and on, barely able to rein in at the desired quota. How do you do? Here's a fun game.... You. Can. Only. Type. One. Word. (not as easy as you might think!) 1. Where is your cell phone? counter 2. Your significant other? sweet 3. Your hair? curly 4. Your mother? amazing 5. Your father? dead 6. Your favorite thing? books 7. Your dream last night? fire 8. Your favorite drink? tea 9. Your dream/goal? retirement 10. The room you're in? office 11. Your ex? none 12. Your fear? pain 13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? oceanside 14. Where were you last night? resturant 15. What you're not? thin 16. Muffins? chocolate 17. One of your wish list items? washer 18. Where you grew up? Missouri 19. The last thing you did? shower 20. What are you wearing? jeans 21. Your TV? Men in Trees (messed up! That's 3 words!) 22. Your pets? cat 23. Your computer? humming 24. Your life? best 25. Your mood? distracted 26. Missing someone? Pebbles 27. Your car? empty 28. Something you're not wearing? lotion 29. Favorite Store? Archievers 30. Your summer? hot 31. Like someone? Ed 32. Your favorite color? Blue 33. When is the last time you laughed? Jan. 34. Last time you cried? December 35. Your favorite animal? terrier 36. Last thing you ate? oatmeal 37. Dream vacation spot? Michigan Wanna play along? Leave a comment so I can visit =)

Lee Jeans Rock

I am so excited. Last October I found the best jeans for me, Lee Jeans with this secret tummy control. They work or at least give me the feeling that I am smaller than I am.

But, then the pocket tore. Please keep in mind I do not put things in my back pocket. I have no need of any extra poundage back there! So with great regret I folded them and put them on my shelf, every once in awhile I'd pull them out and think, maybe there is a way they could be fixed. Then sadly, I'd shake my head knowing I'd never fix them, refold them and stick them back on the shelf.

I emailed the Lee Jean company and explained how sad I was about the demise of my barely worn jeans, I no longer had the receipt and didn't' think the store I purchased them from would take them back. NOW THIS IS WHERE LEE JEANS REALLY ROCK! They emailed me back and explained how to return them to the store! I printed a copy of their email and hit the highway. I had no problem getting them exchanged once they saw the correspondence from LEE! So there you have it, once again I have a great pair of jeans and my illusion of being 2 sizes smaller is once again real.

New Year New Options

Like everyone else I'm thinking about those resolutions we either make or make an effort not to make. In the past I've made long lists and of course I accomplish nothing. This year I'm doing something different. I'm re-naming the resolution to options. I don't like to be tied to a specific thing, you guessed it I'm not very good at goal setting either!

Options give me the freedom to choose, like FREEWILL! Woo hoo! Isn't that awesome? It's a God thing. Thump, that was the sound of my realizing it really is a God thing. I want my choices/options to be pleasing to Him, to show others His amazing grace, now the pressure is on, how will I accomplish that?

Wait, I have it! I don't have to do anything! God's grace is not earned. Relief! I can however choose to continue writing books with Christian characters. I like that option, I think I'll keep it.

I can continue my sewing, but how can I use that to show God's love and mercy? I have several projects in mind for that but need to do some research on how to donate. I'd like to make burial dresses for premies/stillborns. If anyone has any information on how to do that please let me know. I'm going to continue sewing at least one quilt top a year for the ladies of BSLC to quilt and send to Lutheran World Relief.

So far my options aren't so scary and do able.

I'm also going to use my option to monitor my intake of food, and exercise. Hmmm, that sounds like a resolution EXCEPT there is no number associated with this option. So it gets to stay!

So anyone with me here? Dump the resolution treadmill and climb on the options horse. :)