The Water and the Blood

This novel by Nancy E Turner author of "These Is My Words" is a gripping first person tale of Frosty Summers, a west Texas girl, growing up and out of the racial and social confines of her small town. Frosty comes of age at the end of the Great Depression, blooming into womanhood during WWII. Her nickname, Frosty, seems as ill fitting a "sunset woman" as she is later known as her perceptions and "color blindness" are in her Southern Baptist family. Though she desperately wants to find favor with friends of more established and respectable families she is drawn to the black Missionary Way church where "All" are welcome. Throughout the novel Frosty battles with the perceptions she was raised with and following what her heart knows is right. Her journey leads her to California to work in war plane factory and into the arms of her true love. But war, racial tensions, and social moorings pull at her, tearing her from what little happiness she seems able to carve for herself.

"The Water and the Blood" was riveting, thought provoking and thoroughly enjoyable. Nancy Turner tells a tale about race, bigotry, and love through intense vignettes that allow the reader to clearly picture each scene. Her word pictures stand alone without stooping to profanity or pornography to shock the reader or evoke emotion. Each artfully painted vignette draws the reader in and invites them to examine not only this world, but their own. I highly recommend this book and look forward to more from her.

Courting Trouble and Deep in the Heart

I posted another book by this author previously. Deaanne Gist is a Christian Fictional Writer. I have enjoyed the 3 books that I have read by her so far. These two books are a two book series. The first book was good, but the second book was my favorite - it had me laughing out loud!!



Tired of Waiting for a Match-Made-in-Heaven,She'll Settle for One Made in Texas Whether it's riding bikes, catching snakes, or sliding down banisters, Essie Spreckelmeyer just can't quite make herself into the ideal woman her hometown--and her mother--expect her to be. It's going to take an extraordinary man to appreciate her joy and spontaneity--or so says her doting oil-man father. Unfortunately such a man doesn't appear to reside in Corsicana, Texas. It's 1894, the year of Essie's thirtieth birthday, and she decides the Lord has more important things to do than provide her a husband. If she wants one, she needs to catch him herself. So, she writes down the names of all the eligible bachelors in her small Texas town, makes a list of their attributes and drawbacks, closes her eyes, twirls her finger, and ... picks one.But convincing the lucky "husband-to-be" is going to a bit more of a problem.Join Deeanne Gist for another unforgettable tale and find out whether Essie's plan to catch a husband succeeds or if she's just Courting Trouble.



Tony Morgan's new job with Sullivan Oil finds him butting heads with Essie Spreckelmeyer, who runs her father's oil company, when she contradicts his orders, drafts him in a bicycle race, and tangles with his ambitions. Simultaneous.

A Bride in the Bargain by Deeanne Gist

Deeanne Gist is a Christian Fictional Author. I found this book in my cousins room and was a little bit turned off by the title, but I ended liking it.

Synopsis:
In 1860s Seattle, a man with a wife could secure himself 640 acres of timberland. But because of his wife's untimely death, Joe Denton finds himself about to lose half of his claim. Still in mourning, his best solution is to buy one of those Mercer girls arriving from the East. A woman he'll marry in name but keep around mostly as a cook.
Anna Ivey's journey west with Asa Mercer's girls is an escape from the griefs of her past. She's not supposed to be a bride, though, just a cook for the girls. But when they land, she's handed to Joe Denton and the two find themselves in a knotty situation. She refuses to wed him and he's about to lose his land. With only a few months left, can Joe convince this provoking--but beguiling--easterner to be his bride?

Awesome Book, LONG NAME

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

I have recently joined a book club on my new side of the state, and my first book was amazing.
At first it took me a minute to get into it because it is written in letter format. Do not let that detour you. I think this book is for sure in my top 10. I laughed and cried. All the good makings of a good book wouldn't you agree?
Anyway I hope you take the time to find this book to read it, it was so worth the time.

Synopsis

"I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers." January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she's never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb....

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends--and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society--born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island--boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.

Santa Maybe

This is just a cute, light hearted Christmas story. I just got it at Seagul Book for $2.99. They have some super good deals on Christmas books right now.

With a successful bakery to run, super cute nieces and nephews to spoil, and plenty of good friends to keep her company, Abbie's not about to start crying over the fact that she doesn't have a boyfriend to spend Christmas with. But when her sister convinces her to write a note to Santa, Abbie has no idea that a little Christmas magic is about to land her the man of her dreams. Or rather, the man is about to land smack dab on the floor in front of her Christmas tree--with no memory of how he got there.

Now Abbie and Ben have to figure out where he came from, who he really is, and if he's actually availble.

Nicholas Sparks

Most of you are probably familiar with Nicholas Sparks. I have read most of his books, and I really like them all. They usually get me crying pretty good. Here are 4 of them that I would highly recommend:

The Notebook

The Choice

The Gaurdian

A Walk to Remember

This is my all time favorite book of his. Good lessons learned. I even had my teenage son read it. It's so much more than a love story.

They have made a lot of his books into movies. None of the movies do the books justice. So, read the book first, and then see the movie.

2 Books

The Best of Times and A Far, Far Better Place. Both of these books are by Anita Stansfield. I grew up reading her books in high school. I'll admit that I do like her books, but feel like they are all the same in a way or carry the same type of story line. I thought these books were good.

Sorry for not putting pictures, I'm lazy today.