Kara M

• Rated 2 stars

“I found it hard to follow at the end,not my favorite book by this author.”

Kara M wrote this review Tuesday, September 11, 2012. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“I found this book incredibly hard to get through. Courageous author and of course I wanted to hear it however I found it hard not to take a break form the slim this man was.”

Kara M wrote this review Thursday, July 26, 2012. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“Very funny but I will say so much better if you listen to it read by Fey herself. Her voice inflections and what she adds to it are the key ingredients to the reason I laughed so hard I snorted!”

Kara M wrote this review Monday, July 11, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 4 stars

“After growing up believing she is the daughter of Hugh and Lil, Nell is told a secret, one that she spends the rest of her life hiding and trying to figure out as she creates a life for her and her granddaughter. After Nell's death, Cassandra is alone and a little shocked after she is left with a cottage, a secret garden, a scrap book and a mystery to follow her grandmother's life and who she really is. Cassandra travels to Cornwall, England to see the cottage and find more about her grandmother's past as well as heal and move on with her own life.

A novel that spans from 1913 to 1975 to 2005, this story includes a family saga, a mystery, fairy tales and even a bit of love. This book was a Pullman Page Turner selection for the month of June and July and I was excited to read it. In the beginning I felt let down because it was not an attention getter at all and I originally had a difficult time following the story, especially with the jumping back and fourth from the various years.

I will say thank you to my friend Roz, who insisted that I keep going and although I did not love this story I did end up liking it. I was able to figure out what happened relatively quickly as the clues were pretty clear, however, I do think it overall was a good story!

”

Kara M wrote this review Monday, July 11, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“AMAZING book, I read this in one day and can't stop thinking about it. It will forever touch you.”

Kara M wrote this review Monday, July 11, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Novelist Cindy Woodsmall might seem to have little in common with Miriam Flaud, a woman from the Old Order Amish. With nine children and almost 60 years of marriage between them, Cindy and Miriam have found secrets to facing life with strength and grace.

With poignant recollections, unexpected insights and humorous tales, the women welcome the reader into their unique friendship. With glimpses of traditions and ways of the Amish, Miriam also shares her traditions and even some family recipes.Truly a celebration of God, womanhood, and the search for beauty that unites us all.

I loved reading this book, not just because of the way it was told , although I felt like I got to know each one as an individual, but also I found myself savoring each moment I had with these friends. I wanted to sit down and write a letter or call and see how the garden was coming or the milk inspection. The tenderness and yet the strength was so vivid that I would feel completely taken care of with either one of the friends. The sense of humor was enduring as was the stories shared by each writer. Many times after a charter I would reflect on the small pieces of advice and find I just may have a place for it in my day.

I wrote down the recipes and even the poem. I can not wait to share this book with some very special people in my life an I am lucky to have met Miriam and Cindy!

I gave this book 4 out 5 stars!



I received an advance copy of this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. All opinions expressed are my own. ”

Kara M wrote this review Wednesday, June 29, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“Jude Farraday's entire life revolved around her twins Mia and Zach. In eighteen years,Jude did everything to keep them safe and on track for college. When Lexi Baill, after losing her heroin addicted mother and living in foster home after foster home, moves into the small community, she is welcomed into the Farraday family as one of their own, becoming Mia's best friend and the love of Zach's life. Life has always been easy until one decision rips the family apart and changes the Farraday family and Lexi forever.

In the years to follow, each must face the consequences of those choices and find a way to heal, forget, and live with the choices. The hardest part of that decision is finding that courage to forgive. A heartbreaking novel that captures pain of loss and the power of hope.

I was excited to read this book as I am a fan of Kristin Hannah; of course, this book did not disappoint. A story that was full of twist and turns as it went on, I enjoyed the plot line and found myself engaged in the story. The character's were complex and yet I liked the relationship between Mia and Lexi. I felt like we got to be let in on their friendship as the reader. The family dynamic, although over the top, was also believable and as a mother I felt many of the emotions Jude felt in wanting to protect her children (although I like to think I'm not as bad as her).

I did find myself needing a box of tissue at some points in the story and I did feel many times a real connection to the characters. Overall a great book and definitely a book that will stay with me, as will the characters. Not a light read but a great read!!!! Enjoy it!

I rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars!!!!”

Kara M wrote this review Wednesday, June 29, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Judith is turning nineteen and sure her future is set with the courting and marriage of Levi Plank. When Judith's younger brother Samuel is hurt in an accident at a barn raising, she is sure she sees an angel. In her quest to convince the Amish community of what she has seen an heard from the angel named Tobias she ends up alienating herself and turning members of family and her community against her.

Through this time her friendship with Andrew, the bishop's son becomes stronger. Andrew believes Judith and many times is her only friend. As time goes on many of the people in Judith's life show true colors and through it all Judith and Andrew stay true to their faith and each other even if it means losing their family and community.

This was my first time reading the Amish Genre and I read this book in one sitting. I was taken with the characters and I loved Judith's deep love for her family and deeper faith. Her connection and her desire to do what was right in the eyes of God was heartwarming to read. Andrew's patience, awkwardness and his ultimate love for Judith and God was so touching and as a reader I was routing for him at the turn of each page. I found the story completely transfixing,entertaining and so worth the read! I loved it and I am looking forward to the next in the series!

This book was given to me by Booksneeze in exchange for the review. ”

Kara M wrote this review Wednesday, June 29, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“Interesting book with a lot of underlying points to catch should you choose. The story of a woman and her son in a tool shed is disturbing however the way the story is told I was more intrigued by the routine she created and things she did as survival to really create a "normal" life for him as possible considering the circumstance. I enjoyed Jack's simplicity and his way of looking at this big world in a way that made me smile and think. ”

Kara M wrote this review Monday, May 30, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Normally not my kind of book and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised! This was a book club pick and I read it on my Kindle. I really enjoyed the books although I was not a fan of some of the gore I liked the main characters and the pace of the book was fast and kept you wanting more. In the end the story's mysteries are all tied up and I felt like I finished a goods meal. Satisfied.”

Kara M wrote this review Tuesday, May 24, 2011. ( reply | permalink )