Sunday, October 27, 2013

"Welcome to Tyler; Whirlwind," by Nancy Martin

"Welcome to Tyler; Whirlwind," by Nancy Martin

The first in a new romance series introduces readers to Tyler, a traditional small town where people are still good neighbors and family and friends are still an important part of everyday life.

This book was actually published back in 1992, so over 20 years old.  What attracted me to this book was the cover.  It's not a bad book to read though the leading female character Liza can be just plain annoying and childlike.  However she is just what Cliff needs to bring him back to a regular life.

There is enough romance in there to keep you interested and the murder mystery part of the story also kept you interested.

Stars out of 5 : 4 If I see anymore of these books I will definitely be reading them, good way to pass a couple of afternoons.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

"He Wins, She Wins," by Willard F. Harley, Jr.

"He Wins, She Wins," by Willard F. Harley, Jr.


Every conflict in your marriage is an opportunity to fall more deeply in love.
You've probably heard a lot of advice on how to resolve conflicts in your marriage. What you may not know is that if a resolution comes only in order to keep the peace, it's no resolution at all. Marriage expert Willard F. Harley, Jr., says there's a better way.

What's different about the He Wins, She Wins approach is the ultimate goal--for you and your spouse to grow in your love for each other. This win-win model for negotiation starts with a simple rule: Never do anything without an enthusiastic agreement between you and your spouse.

Think that sounds impossible? In this book, Dr. Harley will show you how it's been done in his marriage of over fifty years--and in the marriages of the thousands of couples he's counseled. He'll explain the art of marital negotiation, show you how to resolve common conflicts the right way, and help you overcome these common obstacles:

· emotional reactions are preventing calm discussion
· neither of you wants to talk about an issue
· one or both of you are indecisive
· one of you is happy with the status quo
· being enthusiastic about anything doesn't seem possible

And above all, he'll show you how every decision you make together will increase your love for each other.


I ordered this book by mistake.  This is not really my "type" of book.  However I figured to be fair I would give it a go and see if I could learn anything after 30 years of a reasonably successful marriage.

The book is split into three sections; The Art of Marital Negotiation, Resolving Common Marital Conflicts with Negotiation and Common Problems with Marital Conflict Resolution.  I felt each section had parts with are applicable for all stages of marriage, whether newlyweds or couples who have been married 50 years.  Also each section had problems and solutions for situations you encounter throughout your married lives.  For example, who hasn't had conflicts over friends and relatives, or children?

The one thing the author does refer to time and time again is his website Marriage Builders, which delves further into what covers this book and other parts of day to day living.

Stars out of 5 : 4 Did I learn anything; yes, but each couple has their own way of dealing with things and what works for some doesn't work for others.  Will you learn anything by reading this book; I think you will.  So would I tell you to buy or borrow this book, yes as it doesn't do any harm to have a refresher of the way of negotiating situations in your marriage.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Sunday, October 13, 2013

"The Long Awakening," by Lindsey O'Connor

"The Long Awakening," by Lindsey O'Connor



The riveting true story of a life-threatening coma, a miraculous awakening, and the long quest to regain what was lost.
The day our baby came into the world was the day I left. A day that began all smiles and excitement and anticipation and joy ended with running and panic and blood and tears. And then coma.

I lay suspended in the deep, my newborn unknown. Nothingness. Layers where dark pulled from below, light called from above, and me, trapped in between, longing to break the surface.

To live.

Forty-seven days later when I first saw my husband's face leaning close to me, I knew where, and who, I was. But other things took much longer to know. Learning to restitch life--and love--when everything's changed, and finding who we are afterward, can be the longest journey of all.

I'm Lindsey O'Connor, and this is the story of my long awakening.

This is an interesting real life story, something that you will probably never hear of again.  It is well worth the read; though I do question some of the statements made.  Also was this a miracle?  I am not fully sure of that.  Though the question why God saved this lady and did not save others is a very valid question.

Stars out of 5 : 3.5  I would try and read this book in big chunks as it will make more sense, than picking it up and reading a few pages here and there.  It's well worth the read and I'm glad I read this book.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".


Tuesday, October 1, 2013

"A Bride for Keeps," by Melissa Jagears

"A Bride for Keeps," by Melissa Jagears

Everett Cline will never humiliate himself by seeking a mail-order bride. Not again. He's already been jilted by three mail-order brides and figures a wife just isn't in his future. However, a well-meaning neighbor hasn't given up on seeing him settled, so she goes behind his back to bring yet another woman to town for him.

Julia Lockwood has never been anything more than a pretty pawn for her father or a business acquisition for her former fiance. A mail-order marriage in faraway Kansas is a last resort, but she'll do anything to leave her life in Massachusetts and the heartbreak she's experienced there.

Although Everett doesn't see how a beautiful, cultured woman like Julia could be happy sharing his simple life, he could really use a helpmate on his homestead. Determined to prove she's more than just a pretty face, Julia agrees to a marriage in name only. Faced with the harsh realities of life on the prairie and hesitant to explore the tentative feelings growing between them, can Everett and Julia ever let each other in long enough to fall in love?


You can't help love Everett and Julia in this book, even though you just want to knock their heads together at the way they act towards one another.  Julia's determination and Everett's stubbornness makes them perfect for one another in every way.  Just takes a while and a lot of adventures along the way for them to realize that.

You will be cheering for them along the sidelines hoping one of them sees sense at some point!!

Stars out of 5: 5 I read this book in a day, as I couldn't put it down and needed to know what happened next. This is Melissa's first book and I loved it.  Look forward to reading many more of her books over the years.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 

Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

"An Untamed Heart," by Lauraine Snelling

"An Untamed Heart," by Lauraine Snelling

The Long-Awaited Prequel to the Red River of the North Series

Twenty-year-old Ingeborg Strand is certain she is destined to be an old maid. It's not that she's lacked suitors, but now she no longer can have the one she loved.

With the future looking bleak, her mother suggests that she leave Norway and start afresh in America, as so many others have done before her. But how will she accomplish that with little money and no one to accompany her?

Roald Bjorklund is a widower who has been planning to go to America, lured by the promise of free land. He's a good man, a hard-working man--with a young son who desperately needs a mother. Ingeborg can tell Roald is interested in her, but what about love? This isn't how she's always imagined it.

Ingeborg Strand has a heartrending decision to make...


I really enjoyed this book, but was very confused.  I read the back cover of the book and couldn't understand what that description had to do with the actual book I was reading.  It wasn't until closer to the end that it all began to make sense.  If you have read Lauraine's Red River of the North Series this book may be even more interesting.  However if you haven't, like me; it will encourage you to read the Red River of the North Series to see what happens to Ingeborg next.

I read this over two days as I really enjoyed it and it was interesting to read about the history of Norway back in the late 1800's.

Stars out of 5 : 4 Enjoyed the book but the story and the description on the back cover made it confusing at times.  Big fab of Lauraine's though and do love her writing.


"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 

Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

"The Hidden Palace," by Dinah Jefferies

 "The Hidden Palace," by Dinah Jefferies 1925.  Among the ancient honey-coloured walls of the tiny island of Malta, strangers slip...