Tag: Books

Lots of War and Little Peace

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This week Molly and I read Volume 3 parts 1 & 2 of Tolstoy’s War & Peace.  The weather has been so nice here that Max did not read with me this week.  I have lost him to the sun and I’m okay with that.  This week was mostly about how the war with Napoleon was affecting everyone in Russia.  Moscow was being abandoned by all those who could afford to get out and fear and rumor spread.  It culminated in the battle of Borodino which was expertly told through Pierre’s eyes.  Okay, on to what happened to my people…

Prince Andrei has not recovered from getting dissed by Natasha.  He goes to Turkey as a general, but he’s really looking for Anatole so that he can force him into a dual over his behavior with Natasha.  He doesn’t find him but does find satisfaction in being a military man once more.  He is able to visit Bald Hills and gets into his first fight with his father over Maria.  The next time he goes to Bald Hills it will be abandoned due to the invading French.  On the eve of the battle of Borodino he meets Pierre on the battlefield and treats him cooly.  He may regret that the next day as he lay dying from wounds on the battlefield.  Will he live?  It doesn’t look good.

Princess Maria is finally getting a story of her own.  Her domineering and awful father dies of a stroke when they should be leaving their land for the safer Moscow.  As he dies he makes an attempt to apologize to Maria and being the most virtuous woman ever, she comforts him.  As she tries to leave she makes a generous offer to the families of her brother’s land and it backfires.  They hold her hostage there until Prince Nikolai, serving in the Russian army, saves her.  Sparks fly between them and as she makes her way to Moscow she fancies herself in love.  I have high hopes that she can flourish into a woman now that she’s on her own.

Vaska Denisov is finally back, a little.  He is now a hussar lieutenant colonel and he meets Andrei as they are both waiting to meet the new commander.  Vaska has solid ideas for war strategy, but they are ignored.

Princess Natasha after her busy time last week is recovering.  She is depressed and broken-hearted, but Pierre and the church seem to awaken some of her spirit.  I’m not sure of what’s brewing between her and Pierre.  I just don’t get it.

This week was heavy on the war and I liked it.  Last week at the halfway point Jason asked me for a grade and I told him a B+, but it could easily be an A.  I am really enjoying this book.  Maybe next week my review will be excerpts from the book only.  The storytelling is beautiful.  Now go check out Molly’s take on it.  She’s covering Nikolai and I wonder of what she thinks of this infactuation with Maria.

The Proof is in the Pudding, by Melinda Wells

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The Proof Is in the Pudding by Melinda Wells: Book CoverFinished 3-8-10, rating 3.5/5, mystery, pub. 2010

Book 3 in the Della Cooks mystery series (Book 1) (Book 2)

“We look like twin cat burglars,” I said.  “Maybe we should stop at a gas station and buy some black grease to cover our faces.”

Liddy shuddered.  That would be awful for our skin.  Open the glove compartment and take out a baggie.”

I did as directed and removed a Ziploc bag.  “What’s in here?”

“Two pairs of Bill’s powder-free latex examination gloves.  So we won’t leave fingerprints.”

Chapter 13

TV chef Della Carmichael is asked to host a fancy Celebrity Cook-Off for charity.  As one of three judges she walks around the gala mingling with the guests and judging the celebrity dishes.  When a smoke bomb goes off Della is thrown to the floor by a favorite author and when the smoke clears Della finds another judge stabbed to death.  Della is afraid because one of her oldest friends, John O’Hara, is the lead suspect and Eileen who is like a daughter to her has been dating the dead judge.  Della decides to do a little investigation of her own.  The dead judge had been blackmailing Eileen so her first order of business is to break into his house and remove the sex tape. 

I enjoy the Della Carmichael series and this was no exception.  They are fun cozy mysteries with a protagonist in her 40’s and recipes included in the back.  This one even contained a little story about the actress Linda Dano (and a recipe) who I watched back in the day on Another World.  I didn’t guess the killer, although I had my suspicions, until it was revealed, so that’s a big plus.  And there was a fight with her boyfriend Nicholas and I enjoyed the progression of their relationship.

A fun, light  series.

This was from my personal library.

Deadly Illusions, by Brenda Joyce

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Cover ImageFinished 3-13-09, rating 4/5, romance, pub. 2005

This is Book 7 in the Deadly series (Book 1) (Book 2) (Book 3) (Book 4) (Book 5) (Book 6)

Francesca had always assumed she would one day marry a man like her father, someone respectable, admirable, honorable, a reformer and an activist – someone like Rick Bragg.  Instead, she was engaged to the city’s wealthiest businessman and most notorious womanizer.  She still remained uncertain as to how this had happened, and so quickly.  One moment she was friends with the enigmatic and oh-so-charismatic Hart and he was under suspicion for murder.  The next, they were secretly engaged – until he had taken matters in his own hands, tired of her procrastination, making a public announcement.  How had she fallen in love with Calder Hart?  And was it even love?

Chapter 2

It’s now April 1902 in New York City and the beautiful heiress and brave sleuth Francesca finds herself engaged to a man whose very look can make her heat up.  When she begins investigating a murder Calder tags along and she is again caught between her fiance and former flame, Calder’s half-brother, Rick Bragg, the police commissioner.  Rick has enough personal problems of his own as his estranged and now handicapped wife comes home from the hospital.

The mystery in this one was very good.  Women were being attacked and even killed by the Slasher and there was no shortage of suspects.  And I love how there is never a wasted character in this series – they all show up again at some point, making it easy to get invested in their lives.  I loved this as a continuation of Francesca and Calder’s love story, but all is not smooth sailing for the couple.  They are both plagued by doubts and Francesca’s father has decided not to allow the engagement to continue. 

This was from my personal library.

Donating Books

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I have two purposes for this post.  The first is to thank giveaway hosts and to accept donations from any of you who would like to donate to a good cause.  The second is to share info on this very cool book that I won from Dawn at  She is Too Fond of Books.  This may be long because I’m in a rambling mood.

I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned New Clevelanders, a welcome group for ladies who move to the east side of Cleveland.  We’ve lived here almost 10 years now and I’ve been involved with New Clevelanders for 8 of those years.  The great thing about this social group is that they never kick you out 🙂  When you move without kids or a job it is very difficult to meet people so this group was essential to my mental health.  There are around 150 members right now and I’m in my fifth year on the board, my second year publishing the 8 page monthly newsletter.  It is mainly a place to make friends, so many of the activities are for fun, but once a year we have a British Tea at a country club where we drink tea, dine on some delicious food and raise money for a local charity.  Last year we raised over $11,000 for the Karen P Nakon Breast Cancer Foundation.  We mainly raise the money by silent auctions on many donated items.  I always donate a Mary Kay basket, but there are big ticket items like Cleveland Cavs tickets, Florida condos for a week, etc.

I have been blessed to win many books over the past few months from many of you awesome book bloggers.  I decided to keep only a few a donate the rest for a nice basket of books to be auctioned or raffled off for the British Tea.  This year we are raising money for Providence House, a crisis nursery offering emergency shelter to children.  So, I want to thank all of you who have randomly chosen me as the winner of your book giveaways 🙂 

Interested in New Clevelanders?  Click on over.  Do you have a new book that you’d like to donate to the cause?  Let me know by leaving a comment or emailing me and I’ll get you my address.  I have about 3 weeks before I need it done. 

Now on to my second book donation topic.  I won Give + Take from Dawn and there are were a few rules.  Concord Free Press published this book for free and they only ask that you donate to a charity in the amount of your choice.  Then you read the book and pass it on to someone who agrees to do the same.  I have made my donation to The City Mission on Cleveland that do amazing things for the homeless, the poor, the addicted.   I volunteered there a few years ago by sorting the donated clothes once a week and I have the greatest respect for the place.  So, I made my donation and logged it on the website.  Next week I plan to read the book and then pass it along.  If you would like to be the next person to read this book, make a donation, and pass it on, let me know. 

War & Peace & Natasha

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No picture this week, but I encourage you to hop on over the Molly’s post where she shares the state of her book and the notes she has taken in the book.  My cover isn’t as beat up, but it does look similar on the inside.  This is a book just begging to be marked up.

We finished Volume II this week and it was high in the drama department and it was all my Natasha’s fault, so I’ll start with her this week. 

Natasha is a messed-up, boy-crazy 16-year-old who I’ve liked until this week.  Natasha has ‘it’, you know, that spark that certain people have that draws everyone to them.  The men can’t get enough of her.  Boris, Prince Andrei, and Prince Anatole all proposed marriage to the girl and even Pierre admitted his tender feelings.  And as much as I hate to say it she treated them all poorly (except for Anatole, but who cares about that jerk?).  She doesn’t have a self-confidence problem, but she doesn’t seem to use her brain very often.  Maybe it’s the hormones and she’ll recover.  I hope she does because she’s going to run out of potential husbands soon.

Prince Andrei recovered from his deep depression and he became interested in military study going as far to submit his ideas to the top Russian decision makers.  Though they did not accept his ideas they did appointment him the head of the Legislative Commission.  He met Natasha and felt youth returning to him.  So much so that he proposed.  His father disapproved and Andrei decided to wait one year to marry.  During that time their engagement was to remain secret.  He went away to heal and when he came back a year later he found that Natasha had refused him.

Maria is a tough one to understand.  Her two loves are her religion and her family.  At one point she had decided to becomes a religious wanderer, without home or possessions, but luckily it has not happened.  She loves her brother Andrei very much and hates Natasha before they even meet.  She doesn’t like the woman who will take Andrei away.  When the two finally do meet the dislike is intense and mutual and she is happy when the engagement is called off.  Her father is still hateful to her and has told her to move out.  I think that would be the best thing for her.

Vaska Denisov was nowhere to be seen this week.  The only thing I learned was that Molly’s Prince Nikolai took over his regiment.  I hope he’s okay.

We’re at the halfway point.  Thanks so much for following along with us.  Now head on over to Molly’s post.  The pics of her book make it worth your time.

Lake Magic, by Kimberly Fisk

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Cover ImageFinished 3-1-10, rating 4/5, romance, pub. 2010

“I don’t need to look at any contract.  I am the sole owner of Blue Sky Air.”

He muttered something under his breath, and Jenny had the sinking feeling she should be glad she hadn’t  been able to understand what he’d said.  “You’re exactly like Steven described.”

“Excuse me?”

“Just like Steven said.  All package, no product.”

For a moment she couldn’t breathe.

He was lying.  Steven would never have said anything like that about her.

Chapter One

Jenny was trying to run the fledgling business that she had started with her fiance before he had died nine months before.  Jenny is not the black sheep of the family, but she is the youngest sibling and the one everyone protects from harm.  Jared blows into town and announces that he is a partner in the Blue Sky Air charter business and he would like Jenny to buy him out.  Only Jenny can’t pay him because the business isn’t making any money.  So, Jared moves in with her and helps her get the business in order, all the while waiting for the money that will give him the freedom he craves.

This is a sweet romance with lots of family drama.  I loved Jenny’s family and the way they all came together and loved each other even if they didn’t always get along.  Jenny’s sister and nephew are important characters in the story and Jared himself is a great hero.  The author does a wonderful job of really digging into Jared’s history and psyche. 

I really enjoyed this one, but I wish that Jenny and Jared could have been a little less physically perfect.  This is what Jared though about Jenny, “She’d look completely at home frolicking around Hugh Hefner’s mansion in a bunny suit.”  His nickname for her was Bunny.  As for Jared, “he was one of those men who always looked good, whether they’d gotten off a motorcycle, out of the shower, or out of bed,”  and so on.  For me, their perfection made them less interesting.  A flaw or two can make a character endearing, but being reminded the Jenny was drop dead gorgeous every time Jared called her Bunny was a bit much for me.  Maybe I’m just jealous 🙂

I received this from the Library Thing Early Reviewer Program.

Deadly Promise, by Brenda Joyce

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Deadly Promise by Brenda Joyce: Book CoverFinished 2-28-10, rating 4/5, Romance, pub. 2003

Book 6 in the Deadly series (Book 1) (Book 2) (Book 3) (Book 4) (Book 5)

“You have made this so very complicated by wishing to marry me.  A part of me wishes we could go back to the way things were a month ago!”

“A month ago Rick’s wife hadn’t returned and you were denying all the passion you feel for me.  Poor Francesca.”  He was only half-mocking.  “Torn between tawdry lust and true love.”

She trembled.  “That isn’t fair,” she tried.

“Life is rarely fair.  And do you deny it is Rick that you love?  Do you?  I am the man you merely wish to bed.”  He stared, waiting for her response, his eyes as hard as obsidian.

Chapter 1

It’s 1902 in New York City and Francesca is back from a month out of town when she went off by herself to contemplate her romantic predicament.  She is in love with Rick, an unhappily married man, but his half-brother Calder is her best friend and she accepted his marriage proposal.  But can she go through with a wedding when she loves another man?

There are young, beautiful girls being kidnapped from the streets and sold to brothels and Francesca is determined to find these girls alive.  Only this time Calder insists on accompanying her and causing more tension with Rick.  This book is more about the heat between Calder and Francesca and it was hot!  Calder is one of those bad boys that girls think they can tame, only Francesca doesn’t want to and he doesn’t want to stifle her ambitions either.  I love them together.

I know you are wondering when this series will end and you only have two more Sundays to read about Francesca’s exploits.  I encourage all you romance lovers to give this series a try.

 This book is from my personal library.

Free Books for March

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Leave a comment, tell me which book or puzzle you want and I’ll get it to you for FREE either by mail or personally if I’ll see you soon.  The first one to request each book or puzzle wins.  Once you’ve ‘won’ I can get your shipping address if I need it.  Also, you can come back and get a free book every month if you want.  These have all been read a few times.

1. Soft Landing Hoyle Jigsaw Puzzle.  1020 pieces.  Measures 18″ x 26″.  I bought this at a yard sale and it had been done once or twice before, but the pieces are all there and it’s a fun puzzle.  for Dawn

2. Storm Rider by Cassie Edwards.  Romance.  340 pages.  Pub. 2002.  Review here.  for Linda H.

3. A Night to Remember by Walter Lord.  First person account of the sinking of the Titanic.  If you watched the movie and want a different perspective, try this.  209 pages.  Pub. 1955.  Review here.  for sheere

4. The Carriage House by Carla Neggers.  Romantic Suspense.  376 pages.  Review here.  for Veens

Max is really into War & Peace

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When Max heard that the boys were going to war this week he really wanted to be involved.  So, I set up a nice little reading spot by the window and let him take it all in.  He liked that there were less girly parties and gossip and more battles and strategy.  Oh, and he thought it was very cool that he got to read about Napoleon, he’d heard about that dude before.  Max is giving these two parts two paws up.

So, this week Molly and I finished Volume I by reading Parts 2 & 3.  The men went off to war to battle for Russia against the French invasion.  We do take occasional visits to the Bolkonskys at Bald Hills, and the Rostovs in Moscow, but the bulk of the action is on the battlefield involving, mainly, two key players, Prince Andrei and Prince Nikolai.

So, a little about what happened to my four characters…

Vasily Denisov I finally met him.  From now on I’ll call him Vaska Denisov because that’s what he’s called in the book.  Here’s his physical decription…”a small man with a red face, shining black eyes, and disheveled black mustaches and hair.”  He has another physical characteristic that makes him easy to identify when reading.  He “swallows his r’s” so that started looks like staghrted when he talks.  I don’t know much about him except that he gambles and seems to distinguish himself in battle.  He’s friends with Prince Andrei.

Prince Andrei Bolkonsky He wants nothing more than to distinguish himself and to impress his father, who he writes to everyday.  He places himself with the right people and becomes an adjunct to the commander-in-chief.   He has a hero complex but he smart, haughty, and connected so I expect him to go far.  He is friends with Vaska, mixed it up with Prince Nikolai and challenged him to a fight at a later time. At the end of this volume he had been wounded and Napoleon himself had saved him from the battlefield.  As the French Army leaves him with locals he is not expected to live. 

Princess Maria Bolkonsky Last week I said I felt sorry for her and I still do.  Prince Vassily Kuragin shows up at Bald Hills with his son, Prince Anatole, and tries to make a match between the two.  Much was made of her plainness and even ugliness and she grudgingly let herself hope that the handsome Prince would love her as much as she loved him at first sight.  This was not to be and betrayal left Maria convinced she would never marry.

Natasha Rostov We meet up with Natasha when the family receives a letter from her brother, Nikolai.  She admits to Sonya that she is already forgetting her boyfriend Boris now that he has gone off to war and a comment is made that she (Natasha) has a crush on Count Pierre.  Time will tell.  Oh, and we found out that she is terrible at keeping secrets!

I liked these two parts less than the first, but I think military or history buffs (like Max) would appreciate the battle descriptions more that I did.  So, how did Molly’s characters make out?  I personally think that Prince Nikola has some real issues and am unsure about this Pierre/Helene pairing.  Go on over and see what she has to say.

The Story of My Life, by Helen Keller

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The Story of My Life by Helen Keller: Book CoverFinished 2-23-10, rating 4/5, autobiography, pub. 1905

While my days at Radcliffe were still in the future, they were encircled with a halo of romance, which they have lost; but in the transition from romantic to actual I have learned many things I should never have known had I not tried the experiment.  One of them is the precious science of patience, which teaches us that we should take our education as we would take a walk in the country, leisurely, our minds hospitably open to impressions of every sort.  Such knowledge floods the soul unseen with a soundless tidal wave of deepening thought.

Chapter 20

When Helen was a year and a half old she became blind and deaf due to a fever.  She lived in her isolated world until she was 7 and a teacher came to open up a world of communication to her.  Anne Sullivan taught her manual sign language, braille, and lip-reading.  She was able to travel to special schools and teachers in Boston and New York and eventually graduated from Radcliffe with honors.  She wrote this autobiography at the age of 22.

That’s the bare bones because I think most everyone knows more than I did about Helen Keller before I read this book.  Somehow I missed the movies and any detailed stories of her life, so I was in complete awe of what this girl accomplished.  Helen had a thirst for knowledge and her love of learning and books was intense.  She attended high school and college classes and succeeded.  I felt in turn inspired and embarrassed by her.  If she could lead a productive and fulfilled life with her handicaps surely any of my small problems were not important, but these things she was able to learn and do made feel like I was wasting my days away.  Helen learned French and Latin, sign language and lip-reading, and braille and how to speak without being able to hear a thing.  How amazing is that?

I cannot even imagine her silent and dark world and yet, this book did not contain self-pity.  Things that would be scary to any child, almost drowning, almost getting hit by a train, being stuck in a tree during a thunderstorm, could only have been more frightening to Helen.  I don’t know why it took me so long to read this! 

This book was from my personal library.