I was given the chance to review Lovely Knits For Little Girls by Vibe Sondergaard for Net Galley. I flipped through all the photos and there are some cute sweaters in there, but they are above my abilities. There's one hat towards the back called Hat with Eyelets I'm going to give a try. Everything else appears above my ability.
So far I would say this book isn't for amateurs.
Has anyone checked this book out? I don't believe it's gym approved. =)
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
The Lesson: A Stoney Ridge Seasons Novel
I just finished reading the Stoney Ridge Seasons novels. I'm reviewing The Lesson by Suzanne Woods Fisher for NetGalley, but hadn't read The Keeper and The Haven so over the last week and a half I read them.
With all three books I quickly found myself caught up in the stories. Suzanne does a great job of weaving people's lives together, throwing in some conflict and a little bit of romance. You don't get a wedding story in any of the books; I was slightly surprised and disappointed by this. I always want to know if they had kids, how many and so forth. I spend a lot of time getting to know the characters and cheering them on so I like to be rewarded with a "happily ever after". In The Haven we learn Julia and Rome got married and moved to Ohio, but nothing else is mentioned about them. Did they have kids? In The Lesson we learn during the seven year span between The Haven and The Lesson Amos and Fern got married as well as Sadie and Gid. Sadie and Gid live local and have redheaded twins; a boy and a girl. I felt more informed about Sadie then I did Julia, but we eventually learn that Julia has four boys. We didn't hear anything about Joe-Jo until the end of the book. =( I was really hoping to hear he lived close to Amos and Fern or at least know how he's doing.
In The Lesson we get to know Mary Kate (M.K.). She's 19 and still acts like a kid. She's VERY irresponsible. How many 19 year olds do you know would ride a scooter down a hill with their eyes closed? Well, her immaturity cost her big time when she runs her scooter into the Amish teacher and is forced to grow up and take her place. At first she's lousy at it, but after hearing some of the kids opinions of her she decides she wants to be the best teacher she can. She seeks out Erma Yutzy an almost 100 year old Amish woman who used to be a teacher. Erma is a sweet old lady who surprisingly lives alone and does very well for herself. Once M.K. takes her teaching serious she becomes really good addressing the needs of her students.
Back on the farm Amos needs help doing things that could make him sick like plowing the fields. On the same day he asks for help Chris, a 20 year old raising his kid sister, started looking for work. They just arrived in the town to claim their grandfather's house; it's their inheritance and will officially belong to Chris when he turns 21. For now it's in their drug addict mother's name. She's off at a rehab in Ohio. Chris starts working for Amos and uses all his wages to fix up the house and to take care of his sister. He avoids all personal conversations in fear someone will learn about his mother. His scumbag mother has spent more of her children's lives in either rehab or jail. Chris and Jenny are actually English, but were mostly raised by Old Deborah, an Amish healer, so when the time came Chris was baptized into the church.
Everything seems to be going well. M.K. is becoming a great teacher; her students are actually learning. Chris and Jenny's house is coming along. And then Jenny starts writing her mom who is about to get out of rehab. Somewhere at this point the roller coaster began. Suddenly Jenny is missing, someone is gambling, dreams are crushed, a future business is lost, and the truth of M.K.'s mother's death is revealed.
Although I was left with questions it's still a great book.
With all three books I quickly found myself caught up in the stories. Suzanne does a great job of weaving people's lives together, throwing in some conflict and a little bit of romance. You don't get a wedding story in any of the books; I was slightly surprised and disappointed by this. I always want to know if they had kids, how many and so forth. I spend a lot of time getting to know the characters and cheering them on so I like to be rewarded with a "happily ever after". In The Haven we learn Julia and Rome got married and moved to Ohio, but nothing else is mentioned about them. Did they have kids? In The Lesson we learn during the seven year span between The Haven and The Lesson Amos and Fern got married as well as Sadie and Gid. Sadie and Gid live local and have redheaded twins; a boy and a girl. I felt more informed about Sadie then I did Julia, but we eventually learn that Julia has four boys. We didn't hear anything about Joe-Jo until the end of the book. =( I was really hoping to hear he lived close to Amos and Fern or at least know how he's doing.
In The Lesson we get to know Mary Kate (M.K.). She's 19 and still acts like a kid. She's VERY irresponsible. How many 19 year olds do you know would ride a scooter down a hill with their eyes closed? Well, her immaturity cost her big time when she runs her scooter into the Amish teacher and is forced to grow up and take her place. At first she's lousy at it, but after hearing some of the kids opinions of her she decides she wants to be the best teacher she can. She seeks out Erma Yutzy an almost 100 year old Amish woman who used to be a teacher. Erma is a sweet old lady who surprisingly lives alone and does very well for herself. Once M.K. takes her teaching serious she becomes really good addressing the needs of her students.
Back on the farm Amos needs help doing things that could make him sick like plowing the fields. On the same day he asks for help Chris, a 20 year old raising his kid sister, started looking for work. They just arrived in the town to claim their grandfather's house; it's their inheritance and will officially belong to Chris when he turns 21. For now it's in their drug addict mother's name. She's off at a rehab in Ohio. Chris starts working for Amos and uses all his wages to fix up the house and to take care of his sister. He avoids all personal conversations in fear someone will learn about his mother. His scumbag mother has spent more of her children's lives in either rehab or jail. Chris and Jenny are actually English, but were mostly raised by Old Deborah, an Amish healer, so when the time came Chris was baptized into the church.
Everything seems to be going well. M.K. is becoming a great teacher; her students are actually learning. Chris and Jenny's house is coming along. And then Jenny starts writing her mom who is about to get out of rehab. Somewhere at this point the roller coaster began. Suddenly Jenny is missing, someone is gambling, dreams are crushed, a future business is lost, and the truth of M.K.'s mother's death is revealed.
Although I was left with questions it's still a great book.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Material Witness
I'm not a runner and at almost 36 I probably never will be, but I felt like I was sprinting to keep up with the pace of this book. It was INTENSE!!! I felt like death was or could be around every corner. I kept expecting the murderer to show up at every location. I'm a bit surprised he didn't go to the one place several people were staying; surely he would have found out they were there.
Material Witness found a lot of our friends in grave danger. Someone that we've read about since Falling to Pieces dies in town on the year's busiest weekend in Shipshewana. While tourist are flocking to the town law enforcement are on high alert for the killer. Cops are everywhere. The killer and his accomplice keep showing up.
A random inheritance seems like one big puzzle that may just point to a treasure. Our friends are both hunting for the killer (did you think they would leave it up to law enforcement) and buried treasure.
Material Witness doesn't disappoint. You have your intense chase of a killer who keeps popping up and love blossoming. Finally I get my unicorns and rainbows at the end of a good mystery. =)
Now go read it!
I reviewed this book on behalf of NetGalley and loved it!
Material Witness found a lot of our friends in grave danger. Someone that we've read about since Falling to Pieces dies in town on the year's busiest weekend in Shipshewana. While tourist are flocking to the town law enforcement are on high alert for the killer. Cops are everywhere. The killer and his accomplice keep showing up.
A random inheritance seems like one big puzzle that may just point to a treasure. Our friends are both hunting for the killer (did you think they would leave it up to law enforcement) and buried treasure.
Material Witness doesn't disappoint. You have your intense chase of a killer who keeps popping up and love blossoming. Finally I get my unicorns and rainbows at the end of a good mystery. =)
Now go read it!
I reviewed this book on behalf of NetGalley and loved it!
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Update: Material Witness
Why am I on here and not reading? I don't know. I found myself glued to the book while my five year old (almost six) was playing at Chick-fil-a. I realized it was getting late so I had to stop reading and bring her home. I'm 47% into the book and people are fleeing their homes. I'll admit I find it intense. Alright my daughter is heading for the shower so it's my time to get in some quick reading.
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| My reading buddy when I'm not beating my body at the gym |
Reading: Material Witness
A Perfect Square
I recently finished A Perfect Square by Vannetta Chapman. It's the second book in the Shipshewana Amish Mystery series. I actually liked it better then Falling to Pieces (book one). To be fair in Falling to Pieces Callie is the prime suspect in the murder and I really identify with her. We're both from Houston. We both understand losing a child; I lost a set of twins March 2011. And although our situation is different, I know what it's like to live without my husband. And I have to give Callie props for learning how to quilt. When in the mood I like to sew, quilt, and do crafts. Now why would I prefer someone like myself to look guilty? I wouldn't. Needless to say I was happy when they solved the case.
In A Perfect Square a body is found in a pond on an Amish farm. The land owner becomes the prime suspect and he won't defend himself. How do you clear someone who won't talk? Deborah takes the task on to prove the innocents of her friend. Callie still has her ongoing battle with the other quilt shop owner in Shipshewana. Esther finds herself in love with Tobias and two weeks away from her wedding when she finds the body in the pond. The only problem is her fiancee lives on the farm with his cousin; the one being held for the murder of the girl. The cousins are close. Will Tobias still want to get married? And who is the girl in the pond and how did she get there?
In the middle of all the dead body and hearings chaos Callie has an interesting visitor that starts a hunt for answers.
I really enjoyed this book. I found myself staying up late more than once trying to finish a chapter which always led to one more. After about the third time I woke up holding my Kindle I would finally put it away for the night (early morning). Now go check it out for yourself. As for me I'm now reading book three, Material Witness. Now that I've gotten to know the characters better I'm enjoying it better.
In A Perfect Square a body is found in a pond on an Amish farm. The land owner becomes the prime suspect and he won't defend himself. How do you clear someone who won't talk? Deborah takes the task on to prove the innocents of her friend. Callie still has her ongoing battle with the other quilt shop owner in Shipshewana. Esther finds herself in love with Tobias and two weeks away from her wedding when she finds the body in the pond. The only problem is her fiancee lives on the farm with his cousin; the one being held for the murder of the girl. The cousins are close. Will Tobias still want to get married? And who is the girl in the pond and how did she get there?
In the middle of all the dead body and hearings chaos Callie has an interesting visitor that starts a hunt for answers.
I really enjoyed this book. I found myself staying up late more than once trying to finish a chapter which always led to one more. After about the third time I woke up holding my Kindle I would finally put it away for the night (early morning). Now go check it out for yourself. As for me I'm now reading book three, Material Witness. Now that I've gotten to know the characters better I'm enjoying it better.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Falling to Pieces
The book was a great read. I asked someone recently if they read Amish books (no) or mystery books (yes). I suggested she try the series out. You get a great combo of the two.
Most of the book takes place in town where a body is found and someone keeps hunting for a lost package. Callie was the last known person to talk to the deceased and she's also the person who found the body so she became the prime suspect. While dealing with the cops and their never ending accusations Callie and her new Amish friends decide to launch their own investigation. It's through their efforts everything comes out in the open.
It's intense at moments, heartwarming, and makes you wonder with which guy romance is budding.
I enjoyed the book, but probably shouldn't be reading it while my husband is out of town. =)
Most of the book takes place in town where a body is found and someone keeps hunting for a lost package. Callie was the last known person to talk to the deceased and she's also the person who found the body so she became the prime suspect. While dealing with the cops and their never ending accusations Callie and her new Amish friends decide to launch their own investigation. It's through their efforts everything comes out in the open.
It's intense at moments, heartwarming, and makes you wonder with which guy romance is budding.
I enjoyed the book, but probably shouldn't be reading it while my husband is out of town. =)
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