"The Chaperone," by Laura Moriarty

"The Chaperone," by Laura Moriarty

New York Times bestseller, The Chaperone is a captivating novel about the woman who chaperoned an irreverent Louise Brooks to New York City in the 1920s and the summer that would change them both.

Only a few years before becoming a famous silent-film star and an icon of her generation, a fifteen-year-old Louise Brooks leaves Wichita, Kansas, to study with the prestigious Denishawn School of Dancing in New York. Much to her annoyance, she is accompanied by a thirty-six-year-old chaperone, who is neither mother nor friend. Cora Carlisle, a complicated but traditional woman with her own reasons for making the trip, has no idea what she’s in for. Young Louise, already stunningly beautiful and sporting her famous black bob with blunt bangs, is known for her arrogance and her lack of respect for convention. Ultimately, the five weeks they spend together will transform their lives forever.

For Cora, the city holds the promise of discovery that might answer the question at the core of her being, and even as she does her best to watch over Louise in this strange and bustling place she embarks on a mission of her own. And while what she finds isn’t what she anticipated, she is liberated in a way she could not have imagined. Over the course of Cora’s relationship with Louise, her eyes are opened to the promise of the twentieth century and a new understanding of the possibilities for being fully alive.

This is our book club choice for September.  I was under the impression it was more about the silent film star Louise Brooks, but the book actually focuses more on Cora Carlisle, who was Louise's chaperone one summer in the 1920's.  It's a book of both fact and fiction, and is full of historical references throughout.

I have to say some of the things that happened took my breath away and I know I said to myself:

"Well I didn't see that coming!"

Cora's life was certainly full of surprises and it was a joy to see her "grow" throughout the book.  Going from a straight laced, prim and proper lady, to a woman whose mind was open to living life and seeing things from other people's point's of view.  However all through her life she could never let go of making sure people only saw her as that prim and proper lady.

Stars out of 5 : 5 A great read that you will not want to put down.  What happens throughout parts of the book made you go "WHAT??"  It also makes you think about how relationships change throughout the years.  This is a book that you should read, very interesting.  A great book club choice.

"The Potter's Lady," by Judith Miller

"The Potter's Lady," by Judith Miller

In the beautiful rolling hills of West Virginia, Rose McKay seeks a measure of success--in business and in love.

When Rose McKay convinces her brother, Ewan, to invest in a pottery business, she's determined to assist him in making the endeavor a success. A recent graduate of the Philadelphia School of Design for Women, she believes she can design pieces that will sell well. Rose also reconnects with Joshua Harkness, who oversees his own family's pottery works and promises to help her.

Rylan Campbell has never liked change, but the new owners of the pottery seem to be decent folks. He just wishes Rose wouldn't insist on changing the way they do things. Then McKay Pottery begins to lose business to the Harkness company, and Rylan suspects Joshua may be secretly taking advantage of Rose.

When Franklin Hotels announces a design contest, it could be the opportunity McKay Pottery needs to achieve recognition and clients. Rose and Rylan work together to create something magnificent. With Joshua's company as their main rival, can Rylan convince Rose her trust in Joshua may spell ruin for them all?

This is the second book in the "Refined By Love," series.  I reviewed the first book, "The Brickmaker's Bride," here.  For some reason I thought this would be a very "light" book with not much to keep my attention, but I was proved totally wrong.  There is more to this book than meets the eye.  It has a "deeper" side to it and due to strange things that keep happening you need to know what will happen next.

Although this book is part of a series, it is an excellent stand alone book also; meaning you don't have to read the first one to enjoy the second one.  A lot of the characters from the first book appear in the second though, so it wouldn't hurt to read the first one. You will not be surprised at the ending, but a good book all the same.

Stars out of 5 : 4 A very easy read and one that kept my attention.  Well worth reading and it will fill a couple of afternoons for you.  

"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".

"Through Waters Deep," by Sarah Sundin

"Through Waters Deep," by Sarah Sundin

It is 1941 and America teeters on the brink of war. Handsome and outgoing naval officer Ensign Jim Avery escorts British convoys across the North Atlantic in a brand-new destroyer, the USS Atwood. On shore, Jim encounters Mary Stirling, a childhood friend who is now an astute and beautiful Boston Navy Yard secretary.

When evidence of sabotage on the Atwood is discovered, Jim and Mary must work together to uncover the culprit. A bewildering maze of suspects emerges, and Mary is dismayed to find that even someone close to her is under suspicion. With the increasing pressure, Jim and Mary find that many new challenges--and dangers--await them.

This is one of those books that will fill in a few hours if you fancy a light read.  It's a pleasant book that has a bit of romance and intrigue in it.  

I will say I am not a huge fan of war books and felt this was a little light on details.  I didn't know about the convoys that escorted freight ships via Iceland, so that was something new I learned.  I will say though it took me a while to figure out "who dun it!"

Stars out of 5 : 3 I will not remember this book next month.  It is the first in a new series by Sarah called "Waves of Freedom."

"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".

"Global Girlfriends: How One Mom Made it Her Business to Help Women in Poverty Worldwide," by Stacey Edgar

"Global Girlfriends: How One Mom Made it Her Business to Help Women in Poverty Worldwide," by Stacey Edgar

Seven years ago, Stacey Edgar had a $2,000 tax return and a deep desire to help provide economic security for women in need. She knew that of the 1.3 billion people living on less than $1 per day, seventy percent are women. What she didn't have was a business plan. Or a passport. But that didn't stop her from creating a socially conscious business that has helped poor women in five continents feed their families and send their children to school.

Global Girlfriend has since grown into a multi-million dollar enterprise that specializes in handmade, fairly traded, ecoconscious apparel, accessories, and items made by women all over the world. Global Girlfriends is Stacey's inspiring story of following her convictions, as well as her passionate argument for simple actions we can all take to eliminate extreme poverty. Stacey Edgar refused to be paralyzed by the size of world poverty; she started by taking several small steps, personal responsibility firmly in hand, and never looked back.

I had never heard of Global Girlfriend prior to reading this book.  It's an American company set up to sell products made by women in need from various countries throughout the world.  As mentioned above it was started by a woman who wanted to make a difference and despite starting the "business" with only $2,000 has turned it into a multi-million dollar company that has helped thousands of women.

The book tells of how Stacey started small by helping a few women, and has gradually grown and grown helping many woman.  It shows how just helping one person can translate to helping many in a community.  I loved the different examples of how she helped various woman, as it explains their back story.

I also liked how Stacey had the common sense to make sure what she bought to sell were things that people in America would actually want to buy and use and the quality of these items were what Americans were used too.  Some of the stories told were enough to break your heart at the hardship some of these women had been through.

I liked the chapter, Afterword: and Beyond," as there are multiple websites listed of what you can do to help, also suggestions on what you can do locally.  It does give you food for thought this book.

Stars out of 5 : 5 well worth the read and makes you think.  Although it's an American company a lot of what Stacey says can be applied to whatever country you come from.  I like she doesn't sugar coat what she says and I commend her on what she has done.

If nothing else pop by the Global Girlfriend site and support a great cause.

"Rurally Screwed: A Memoir of Losing Myself For Love," by Jessie Knadler

"Rurally Screwed: A Memoir of Losing Myself For Love," by Jessie Knadler

Jessie Knadler was a New York City girl, through and through. An editor for a splashy women's magazine, she splurged on Miu Miu, partied hard, lived for Kundalini yoga, and dated a man-boy whose complexion was creamier than her own. Circling the drain both personally and professionally, Jessie definitely wouldn't have described herself as "happy"; more like caustically content. Then one day, she was assigned a story about an annual rodeo in the badlands of Eastern Montana.

There, she met a twenty-five-year-old bull rider named Jake. He voted Republican and read Truck Trader. He listened to Garth Brooks. He owned guns. And Jessie suddenly found herself blindsided by something with which she was painfully unfamiliar: a genuinely lovable disposition. In fact, Jake radiated such optimism and old-school gentlemanliness that Jessie impulsively ditched Manhattan for an authentic existence, and an authentic man. Almost overnight, she was canning and sewing, making jerky, chopping firewood, and raising chickens. And all the while one question was ringing in the back of her head: "What the !#*$ have I done with my life?"

A hilarious true-life love story, Rurally Screwed reveals what happens to a woman who gives up everything she's ever known and wanted-job security, money, her professional network, access to decent Thai food-to live off the grid with her one true love (and dogs and horses and chickens), and asks, is it worth it? The answer comes amid war, Bible clubs, and moonshine.

Must say I did enjoy this book.  Didn't think it was hilarious as described above, but it did have it's fun moments.  I could see why she was attracted to Jake with the way she described his behaviour, a true gentleman through and through.

One thing for sure her life went from one extreme to another and no wonder she questions her sanity and her reasons for doing it. Although she digs deep into her life, she doesn't dig right down the the nitty gritty and I think that shows in her book, as you do feel as though you are missing something.  It's a bit like saying you only had a couple of teeth out when in reality you had all your teeth removed, if that makes sense?

Stars out of 5 : 3 At the end of the day I did enjoy this book, but I will probably not remember it in a month or two's time.  Glad I read it though.

"Hope Harbor," by Irene Hannon

"Hope Harbor," by Irene Hannon

Tracy Campbell never wanted to leave Hope Harbor, Oregon, or the idyllic three-generation cranberry farm where she grew up. But life--and love--altered her plans. Now she's home again--with a floundering farm to run . . . a tragic secret . . . and a wounded heart. Romance is not on her agenda.

Nor is it on Michael Hunter's. The visitor from Chicago has daunting secrets and devastating regrets of his own. But when Tracy recruits him to help with a project that is close to her heart, winds of change begin to sweep through Hope Harbor, bringing healing, hope, and love to countless lives--including their own.

I am a fan of Irene's books; however they are normally romantic suspense novels, so this for me was a change as this is strictly a romance novel.  Yes there were some "secrets" that have to be uncovered but overall it was a romance.  Tracy and Michael were prefect as the lead characters.  Also I liked how the "God works in mysterious ways," theme was woven in the story.

I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason, and it was quite clear that was happening throughout this story.  It's no surprise how this novel ended.  If I had one complaint, it was that there was no recipe for the Cranberry Nut Cake.  After reading about it, I would have loved to make it!

Stars out of 5 : 4  An easy read, well worth reading.  A good book to while away an afternoon or two.  Loved the description of Hope Harbor and would love to visit it, if it exists!

"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".

"In Good Company," by Jen Turano

"In Good Company," by Jen Turano

After growing up as an orphan, Millie Longfellow is determined to become the best nanny the East Coast has ever seen. Unfortunately, her playfulness and enthusiasm aren't always well-received and she finds herself dismissed from yet another position. 

Everett Mulberry has quite unexpectedly become guardian to three children that scare off every nanny he hires. About to depart for Newport, Rhode Island, for the summer, he's desperate for competent childcare.

At wit's end with both Millie and Everett, the employment agency gives them one last chance--with each other. As Millie falls in love with her mischievous charges, Everett focuses on achieving the coveted societal status of the upper echelons. But as he investigates the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of the children's parents, will it take the loss of those he loves to learn whose company he truly wants for the rest of his life?

This book was a fun read; just thinking about the flour and water "incident," makes me smile.  There were a series of funny incidents throughout the book that made me laugh out loud.  I think the picture on the front of the book, shows how much fun Millie is.  The interaction with all the characters made for a fun read and a one with many twists and turns.

Millie's interaction with the children though made the book for me.  As you both feel sorry and then want to wring the children's neck for all the trouble they cause.  The peacocks are so funny in it as well.  I know who knew peacocks could be funny!

Stars out of 5 : 4.5 A fun book to read, and one that doesn't require too much concentration or thought.  A perfect book to while away an afternoon or two.  Some of the characters from Jen's other books also make an appearance or are referred to in this book.  However you don't need to read any of her other books to enjoy this one.

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".