She turned up at the Beverly Hills Hotel two weeks later, and checked into Bungalow 2. She felt like a boomerang by now. She kept coming back to the same place. Like a bad penny that kept turning up. She rearranged the furniture the way she liked it, put out the photographs of the children, and got in the tub and turned on the Jacuzzi, and then sat smiling to herself. It felt good. It was like coming home. (p. 277)
Tanya Harris: devoted wife, mother of three, freelance writer. Tanya is more than satisfied with her almost too good to be true life of family, friends, and writing short stories and scripts for tv soap operas. Her dream is to some day write a screenplay for a movie in Hollywood. One day her agent calls with an offer to make that dream come true. Tanya's husband convinces her to take the once in a lifetime opportunity. Two of her kids support the decision; one makes her feel the decision is an act of desertion and betrayal to their family. Tanya's best friend offers help the family during her absence. Not wanting to waste this exciting chance to take her writing to the next level, Tanya decides to write a screenplay for a famous producer who asked for her personally. She moves into Bungalow 2 at the Beverly Hills Hotel for the next nine months while working on the film. Then, life throws its curve balls and Tanya begins to experience a whole new life.
Bungalow 2 by Danielle Steel is a typical "get lost in the story" novel by this author. Somewhat predictable at times, I found myself rooting for Tanya almost from the start. I enjoyed this book from cover to cover and recommend it to other lovers of Danielle Steel.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Whitethorn Woods
Father Brian Flynn, the curate at St. Augustine's, Rossmore, hated the Feast Day of St. Ann with a passion that was unusual for a Catholic priest. But then, as far as he knew he was the only priest in the world who had a thriving St. Ann's well in his parish, a holy shrine of dubious origin. A place where parishioners gathered to ask the mother of the Virgin Mary to intercede for them in a variety of issues, mainly matters intimate and personal. (p. 9)
Father Flynn had an old battered car to take him on his travels. He rarely used it within the town of Rossmore itself since the traffic was very bad and parking almost impossible. There were rumors that a great bypass would be built, a wide road taking the heavy trucks. Already people were in two minds about it. Some were saying that it would take the life out of the place, others claimed that it would return to Rossmore some of its old character. (pp. 18-19)
The new road would run through Whitethorn Woods and, thus, through the shrine as well. This has created a controversy between neighbors in Rossmore. Maeve Binchy's Whitethorn Woods is a collection of stories within a story about the community of Rossmore and its families and friends. Each story is narrated by two different characters that are related in some way. And each story has some kind of connection to the St. Ann's well found in Whitethorn Woods. Stories of family, stories of old and new love, and stories of various discoveries bring together a collection of characters who have been affected by the shrine or by those who have visited it. Believers and non-believers alike, the community isn't ready to acknowledge the changes that will happen to the town of Rossmore when the construction begins. But their tales do tell quite a history.
I found Whitethorn Woods entertaining with its lighted-hearted stories that weave together a novel of "The Road, The Woods, and The Well." It is a change of pace from Maeve Binchy's usual novels. I enjoyed the book, though not as much as other books that I have read by this author who continues to be one of my favorites.
Father Flynn had an old battered car to take him on his travels. He rarely used it within the town of Rossmore itself since the traffic was very bad and parking almost impossible. There were rumors that a great bypass would be built, a wide road taking the heavy trucks. Already people were in two minds about it. Some were saying that it would take the life out of the place, others claimed that it would return to Rossmore some of its old character. (pp. 18-19)
The new road would run through Whitethorn Woods and, thus, through the shrine as well. This has created a controversy between neighbors in Rossmore. Maeve Binchy's Whitethorn Woods is a collection of stories within a story about the community of Rossmore and its families and friends. Each story is narrated by two different characters that are related in some way. And each story has some kind of connection to the St. Ann's well found in Whitethorn Woods. Stories of family, stories of old and new love, and stories of various discoveries bring together a collection of characters who have been affected by the shrine or by those who have visited it. Believers and non-believers alike, the community isn't ready to acknowledge the changes that will happen to the town of Rossmore when the construction begins. But their tales do tell quite a history.
I found Whitethorn Woods entertaining with its lighted-hearted stories that weave together a novel of "The Road, The Woods, and The Well." It is a change of pace from Maeve Binchy's usual novels. I enjoyed the book, though not as much as other books that I have read by this author who continues to be one of my favorites.
Friday, May 8, 2009
The Pearl
... a pearl as large as a sea gull's egg, as "perfect as the moon." With the pearl comes hope, the promise of comfort and of security . . . . When the news of Kino's great find --- the "pearl of the world" --- spreads through the small town, no one suspects its power to deceive, to corrupt, to destroy. (back cover of book)
I love John Steinbeck, so I was excited to read yet another book by this author. The Pearl is an easy, quick reading Mexican folk tale that makes one reconsider how a great find can create a life changing experience. Centered around Kino, his wife Juana, and their infant Coyotito, the story describes the events following Kino's capture of a precious pearl. The young family's life changes drastically as they struggle to decide what to do with the treasure that is supposed to bring them good fortune. I enjoyed this book and recommend The Pearl to others.
I love John Steinbeck, so I was excited to read yet another book by this author. The Pearl is an easy, quick reading Mexican folk tale that makes one reconsider how a great find can create a life changing experience. Centered around Kino, his wife Juana, and their infant Coyotito, the story describes the events following Kino's capture of a precious pearl. The young family's life changes drastically as they struggle to decide what to do with the treasure that is supposed to bring them good fortune. I enjoyed this book and recommend The Pearl to others.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Series Challenge Season 3 - Completed
I have completed another challenge, and because of this challenge I have also completed a fourteen book series. This season I read the final four books of Karen Kingsbury's Baxter Family Drama, called the Sunrise Series:
Sunrise
Summer
Someday
Sunset
I highly recommend Karen Kingsbury as an author as well as this entire series that includes: the Redemption Series, the Firstborn Series, and the Sunrise Series.
And thank you Kathrin for hosting the Series Challenge again this year!
Sunrise
Summer
Someday
Sunset
I highly recommend Karen Kingsbury as an author as well as this entire series that includes: the Redemption Series, the Firstborn Series, and the Sunrise Series.
And thank you Kathrin for hosting the Series Challenge again this year!
Sunset
John felt a lump form in his throat. You are truly good, Lord. We don't deserve all You've done.
Jeremiah 29:11 came to mind immediately, the verse he and Elizabeth had drilled into the heads of their kids while they were growing up. John let the words fill his heart and mind. "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" The picnic spread out before him was proof of that again and again and again.
"You're taking stock, aren't you?" Elaine's words were unhurried. She wore sunglasses, but she shielded her eyes as she looked at him.
"I am." He was warmed by the fact that she already knew him so well, that at times like this he was bound to survey his growing family and the way God had brought them through another year, another set of trials and triumphs. (pp. 266-267)
Sunset by Karen Kingsbury brings the Baxter Family Drama to a close in the fourth installment of the Sunrise Series. The story does a nice job highlighting the many events of the Baxter family and their friends throughout the Redemption Series, the Firstborn Series, and the Sunrise Series. It draws some closure in some cases and it opens up possible new stories for the future. And it leaves the reader an open ending so that life can go on with the characters even though the author has stated that the series is now complete.
"I don't feel like a Baxter." He didn't want to bring down the mood, but he had to be honest.
"Hey . . ." She hadn't looked at him this seriously since the day she connected with him on the campus of Indiana University... "Being a Baxter doesn't mean you're perfect." She looked deep to the places the two of them had shared since they were very young. "We bend and sway; we go through trials and temptations and heartbreak. But Baxters don't break, and we don't walk away. We keep getting up and dusting ourselves off and turning to God. As many times as it takes." (p. 71)
And the Baxter family has had their share of trials, temptations and heartbreak. Their story continues in Sunset as well as that of the story of the Flanigan family. New life, new love, new struggles, and new starts are found in this book as it also resolves old issues from other books in the series. Kingsbury continues to make the characters and events of her stories so true to life that you might look out your window thinking that the Baxters and the Flanigans actually live down your street.
The only answer was the verse [from Psalm 130] again: "Put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption." (p. 82)
And it is the faith, love and devotion of these families that also shines throughout the storylines of Sunset. A family that may face divorce, a family that may face the loss of a loved one in combat, a family that will face the fear of bringing a new life into the world, and a family that brings closure to one life in order to begin another. The celebration of opening night, the celebration of a new union, the celebration of finding young love, and the celebration of new family members. All can be found in this final book of the Baxter Family Drama.
Yes, God's redemption was sure and true. Ashley would always remember that, and when she did, she would return to the place where God first saved her, where her heart would always rejoice in what God had done for all of them. One day there would be that great reunion, but until then, as Dayne's life proved, no amount of fame would be better than what they had together, right here in Bloomington.
Here, the hurts of the past are forgiven, and the life they'd found was more than any of them could've dreamed. They had family, and even if they didn't have forever, they would enjoy every day God gave them. Life was like a sunrise, full of newness and hope and opportunity, but in this, the summer of their lives, there was no more reason to long for someday. The hope and life they'd longed for was here. Now Ashley remember what Maddie had just told them, and she smiled at her new home, her family, and all the future held.
Because on a night like this, there really were a million colors in the sunset. (p. 307)
I found this a fitting end (with all fourteen titles of the three series included in this final passage of Sunset) to a beautiful reading experience. I highly recommend all three series of the Baxter Family Drama by Karen Kingsbury.
Jeremiah 29:11 came to mind immediately, the verse he and Elizabeth had drilled into the heads of their kids while they were growing up. John let the words fill his heart and mind. "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" The picnic spread out before him was proof of that again and again and again.
"You're taking stock, aren't you?" Elaine's words were unhurried. She wore sunglasses, but she shielded her eyes as she looked at him.
"I am." He was warmed by the fact that she already knew him so well, that at times like this he was bound to survey his growing family and the way God had brought them through another year, another set of trials and triumphs. (pp. 266-267)
Sunset by Karen Kingsbury brings the Baxter Family Drama to a close in the fourth installment of the Sunrise Series. The story does a nice job highlighting the many events of the Baxter family and their friends throughout the Redemption Series, the Firstborn Series, and the Sunrise Series. It draws some closure in some cases and it opens up possible new stories for the future. And it leaves the reader an open ending so that life can go on with the characters even though the author has stated that the series is now complete.
"I don't feel like a Baxter." He didn't want to bring down the mood, but he had to be honest.
"Hey . . ." She hadn't looked at him this seriously since the day she connected with him on the campus of Indiana University... "Being a Baxter doesn't mean you're perfect." She looked deep to the places the two of them had shared since they were very young. "We bend and sway; we go through trials and temptations and heartbreak. But Baxters don't break, and we don't walk away. We keep getting up and dusting ourselves off and turning to God. As many times as it takes." (p. 71)
And the Baxter family has had their share of trials, temptations and heartbreak. Their story continues in Sunset as well as that of the story of the Flanigan family. New life, new love, new struggles, and new starts are found in this book as it also resolves old issues from other books in the series. Kingsbury continues to make the characters and events of her stories so true to life that you might look out your window thinking that the Baxters and the Flanigans actually live down your street.
The only answer was the verse [from Psalm 130] again: "Put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption." (p. 82)
And it is the faith, love and devotion of these families that also shines throughout the storylines of Sunset. A family that may face divorce, a family that may face the loss of a loved one in combat, a family that will face the fear of bringing a new life into the world, and a family that brings closure to one life in order to begin another. The celebration of opening night, the celebration of a new union, the celebration of finding young love, and the celebration of new family members. All can be found in this final book of the Baxter Family Drama.
Yes, God's redemption was sure and true. Ashley would always remember that, and when she did, she would return to the place where God first saved her, where her heart would always rejoice in what God had done for all of them. One day there would be that great reunion, but until then, as Dayne's life proved, no amount of fame would be better than what they had together, right here in Bloomington.
Here, the hurts of the past are forgiven, and the life they'd found was more than any of them could've dreamed. They had family, and even if they didn't have forever, they would enjoy every day God gave them. Life was like a sunrise, full of newness and hope and opportunity, but in this, the summer of their lives, there was no more reason to long for someday. The hope and life they'd longed for was here. Now Ashley remember what Maddie had just told them, and she smiled at her new home, her family, and all the future held.
Because on a night like this, there really were a million colors in the sunset. (p. 307)
I found this a fitting end (with all fourteen titles of the three series included in this final passage of Sunset) to a beautiful reading experience. I highly recommend all three series of the Baxter Family Drama by Karen Kingsbury.
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