Treasuring Emma

Treasuring Emma

By Kathleen Fuller
Published by Thomas Nelson

Book Description

Emma has put everyone else first in her life. Now at nearly 25, has she missed her chance at marriage? Emma was Adam's first love but circumstances made them both choose different paths in life. Emma's heart breaks all over again when Adam returns to the Amish community of Middlefield, Ohio, years later. For the past ten years, Emma has been a care-giver. First for her mother who unsuccessfully battled breast cancer, and now for her grandmother who gets more frail with each passing year. Emma has always put the needs of others above her own. With more time on her hands, she determines to focus on herself and her dream of opening a rescue shelter for stray animals in the community. With Adam's return come feelings Emma's long buried. They're older and life hasn't turned out the way they thought it would. Adam's feelings for Emma are stronger than ever, but will he be able to convince her to put the past aside and give their love a chance?

This is one of the books that I got from Booksneeze.com. I don't really have much to say about it, but I have to post about it in order to get another book. 

 

Treasuring Emma was predictable for me - possibly because I've read Amish books so much, that they get to be a little predictable after a while. I've read this kind of storyline before, and the storyline and characters just didn't seem to have much depth. For me this book was boring. 

Confessions of a Bookaholic or How to Understand Them

After seeing these on another blog, I just had to share them with ya'll. Basically all these "confessions" are exactly how I am... I couldn't believe how well they hit the nail on the head! :) Not that I'm really confessing anything, cause I'm not sorry I'm a bookworm in the very least! :)

This is usually the case... which is great!

Exactly. That's what books are for anyway. :)

And because I don't want those stories to end, I think up continuing stories!

Yeah... of course, otherwise that's sacrilege!

Well, yes, but since I'm a visual person, then I want to think it up as a movie. :)

 

Yep - and then I get asked by family member(s), "what's so funny?" 

Well... this is one of those that is not completely true for me. Only sort of.

Nothin' better!

Ain't that the truth... plus I have a huge list of other fun things to do.

Yes, but not in my bed.

I've not done it that late, but I have done it.

Depends on the book...

Not every detail necessarily, for me.

 

I just don't have the money to replace it! Minor details...

Usually. Unless the books are ones like Fordythe's Sermons (think Mr. Collins from P&P) or some commentary by some reformer.

Now that I think about it, yep...

It's about time! :)

I won't die literally... just figuratively.

Not at four in the morning.

No, not really. It's just makes it a little inconvenient.

My relatives don't do that, but if I did get one I'd probably use it.

Didn't I already comment on something similar to this? Like the one above?!

Sounds a little hazardous to your health... but I can do it, if I want to.

 

Why leave it at home, may I ask?!

That is just... argh!

Amen!

Erm, yeah. Okay, next confession.

 

I'm drooling...

You better believe it! 

 

Nothing irritates me more than when they ruin a good book with a lousy movie "based" on the book. That's just laziness on their part.

Get to know them like the back of your hand would sum that up perfectly.

To some degree.

No, I go "What'd you do that for? I coulda seen that coming a mile off!"

If I hear them - and if I do, I'll realize I'm being talked to (but may not hear their question) and say "What did you say?"

Not that much.

So - can anyone else relate?

A Vision of Lucy

Recently I became a member of BookSneeze.com. BookSneeze is a website aimed purposefully at bloggers. They have a selection of books (both printed and e-book) that they will change every so often. If you see a book you think you'd like to read, then you just request it, and they will send it to you free of charge - the only thing they ask of you, is that you do a review on your blog once you've read the book. Oh, and you get to keep the book, too. :)

So, when I became a member, I saw an e-book (they send e-books instantaneously to your email) in the "Available Books" section that I thought would be interesting. It was called, A Vision of Lucy. Now I've finished it, so now I'm going to do a review on it. :)

A Vision of Lucy

Synopsis (from BookSneeze.com):
Lucy Fairbanks dreams of working as a photographer at the Rocky Creek newspaper. If she can earn money making photographs, then maybe her father will see that what she does is worthy, more than just a distraction. And her deepest hope is that he’ll see her as an artist, the way he thought of her deceased mother, a painter. But trouble follows Lucy on every photo shoot: a mess of petticoats and ribbons, an accidental shooting, even a fire.

When Lucy meets David Wolf, a quiet, rustic man who lives on the outskirts of town, she thinks she can catch the attention of the town with his photograph. She doesn't count on her feelings stirring whenever she's near him.

Two things happen next that forever change the course of her life: Lucy meets someone who sees her as no one else has—as the compassionate, creative young woman that God made in His image. And Lucy helps David uncover a secret that forces him to change his perspective on an event that left him deeply-scarred.

God’s arms are around this unlikely couple as they discover the truth about long-held assumptions and the importance of forgiveness.

My thoughts are... varied. I kind of like this book and kind of don't. Maybe I should just go through and list the pros and cons. :)

Pros:

• It's Christian fiction.
• It's interesting.
• You do end up liking some of the characters.

Cons:

• The story could have been improved - there weren't very many descriptive words used in the story, so I couldn't always picture what someone looked like, what the town looked like, etc.
• Sometimes the story seemed a bit too rushed, so it could have been improved by taking a little more time on a scene.
• The books seemed short and lacking in places (sometimes because of the above mentioned things).
• The romance comes in too early and too fast. At least for my taste.
• And one more thing... the story seemed like something I would write. I'm not good at writing books. I tend to leave story short and lacking, rushed and... well, you get the picture. I'm much better at writing reviews and short stories that can be rushed (cause they're short). :)
  

So, to sum up...

Would I buy this book? Probably not.
Would I read it again? Maybe. If I was really, really bored.
Would I recommend it? Maybe... if it's your cup of tea.
What ages would I recommend this for? 14 and up. But it all depends on the person reading it... I'd say no younger than 14 for sure, though.

Ratings (Scale of 1 to 5, 1 being the lowest):
Plot: ***
Characters:**
Keeps Interest:***

Overall: *** 

Book Reviews... Lot's of 'em!!

Recently, I finished reading something like... 3 or 4 books! Which included "The Princess Adelina", that I won from Jessica at Safirewriter not too long ago. All synopsis' are from Amazon (the links go to those books at Amazon; just click on each title) because I'm not very good at writing synopsis' without giving away too much of the plot.  My ratings are judged off of how clean the book is (language, etc.), plot, characters, and appeal. The ages that I recommend these books for are my own opinion only, and I base it off of subject material and reading difficulty.

The Princess Adelina
by Julie Sutter

My rating: *****

Synopsis (from Amazon): From eighth-century Germany comes the stirring tale of Princess Adelina, a virtuous young woman determined to fulfill God's call on her life. The daughter of an Irish missionary to the German people, Adelina's world is turned upside-down when a young pagan ruler, Hedan of Thuringia, falls in love with her and commands that she become his bride. As a wedding gift, Hedan promises Adelina that he will allow Christians within Thuringia to worship and evangelize freely, spreading the Gospel among his people. But Hedan's mother, Geila, hates both Adelina and Christianity, stopping at nothing to subvert her daughter-in-law and stamp out the fledgling German Culdee church.

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I really, really enjoyed this book. I can't say how much. It is a good, clean, book that makes you seethe when you hear how gentle, innocent Adelina is being treated, and rejoice when... well, I'll leave you to read the book to find out, but this story show how God can work in the most stubborn and evil person's life. I would recommend this book for 12 and up because of some difficult words to pronounce - or it could be a read aloud for the whole family.

Now before I leave this book to go to the next, I want to point out something interesting... the picture on the front of The Princess Adelina  looked strangely familiar to me.  It looked a lot like Baron Bomburst's castle from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.  When I researched it, I found out it was the exact same castle!!  It's a castle in Germany...

It's the Neuschwanstein Castle -
in Hohenschwangau, Schwangau, Bavaria, Germany to be exact.  Quite a mouthful!! :)










Song of the Silent Harp
by BJ Hoff

My rating:*****

Synopsis (from Amazon): In Ireland, Nora Kavanagh has lost her husband and young daughter, and now lives in fear of losing her home. She and her young son, Daniel, have only one hope for survival, the poet/patriot—and love of Nora’s youth--Morgan Fitzgerald. But his dangerous involvement with a band of Irish rebels keeps him in constant danger and puts the possibility of a future for him and those he loves in jeopardy.

Michael Burke, a close childhood friend of both Nora and Morgan, left his homeland for America and is now a New York City policeman. A widower with a difficult, rebellious son, he still remembers Nora with love and fondness and wants nothing more than to help her escape the cataclysmic famine and build a new life…with him.

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This book had some sad parts to it that brought me close to tears (and books rarely do that to me) because the characters were so... real.  I've never experienced a famine, and never been in these situations or had these peoples troubles and personalities, but the way the characters and story is written, it just seems to draw you into the story. For me I felt as though I had been there - could see everything in my mind's eye.  And I'm one of those people who loves Ireland and Scotland, and dreams of someday visiting those places.  I would recommend this book for the young adult level and up... because of material - it's not a kid's book, obviously.

I got started on this series when I read the last book an aunt of mine let me borrow, so I know the ending to the series, but nonetheless, I'm interested (maybe captivated is closer to the truth) in the series anyway. So here's my review of the last book.

Dawn of the Golden Promise
by BJ Hoff

My rating:*****

Synopsis (from Amazon): Morgan Fitzgerald, is confined to a wheelchair because of an assailant's bullet to his spine. Now he must confront the ultimate challenge to his faith a choice that could cost him everything the woman he loves, his family, even his life.

His wife Finola, faces her own moment of truth the hidden memories and dark secrets of her past that could well destroy her - unless she can find the strength to face them.

Michael Burke, is a New York City cop caught in the conflict between his faith and his obsession with bringing Patrick Walsh to justice.

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I won't say too much, so as to let out plot, but once again this books characters were so real and I wanted to help the characters with their struggles and decisions and bring the "bad guys" to justice. And this one did make me cry at the end (it includes Morgan and his life changing choice). And again I recommend this for young adult and up for the same reasons.

I am just reading the second book, "Heart of the Lonely Exile", (which I love so far) so I will be reviewing that soon, as well.

The Missing
by Beverly Lewis

My rating: ****

Synopsis (from Amazon): Twenty-one-year-old Grace Byler longs to find her missing mother and to uncover the secret that drove her to leave them three weeks before. Grace suspects the reason has to do with her father and his reserved, uncommunicative ways. This conviction led Grace to break off her betrothal to her quiet, staid beau, and she is now resigned to remain single. But when the young Amishman she thought was courting her best friend takes a sudden interest in her, Grace is befuddled and wonders if he can be trusted. "Englisher" Heather Lang has come to Amish country to relive fond memories of her mother and to contemplate a grave medical prognosis of her own. While in Bird-in-Hand, Heather meets Grace Byler and the two young women strike up a fast friendship, amazed by how well they click. Following the only clue they have, Grace and Heather travel together in hopes of finding Grace's mother and bringing her home. Will they find what they're looking for...or something much more?

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I liked this book, but it went a little too slowly for my taste and it didn't keep my interest nearly as well as Beverly's other books, thus the 4 star rating. The book was good - hope I didn't give the impression it was bad - the plot just needed to speed up.  I would recommend this book for young adult and up. 

The Telling
by Beverly Lewis

My rating: *****

Synopsis (from Amazon): Lewis picks up the story of Grace and Heather as they travel to Ohio to find Lettie and convince her to return to Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania. Lettie ponders both long-ago choices and her more recent decision to leave home and family behind on a quest to find her long-lost daughter. Meanwhile, Heather hopes a sojourn at the alternative-healing Wellness Center will help her deal with her debilitating illness, while Judah searches his soul for reasons Lettie may have left him and vows to do better, should she return.

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This book was much better than second book (see The Missing, above).  There was more happening and the plot seems to move faster.  I really, really liked this book.  This is the last book of the series, and Lewis wraps it up quite nicely.  I love the ending, especially.  And I would say this is a young adult and up book.

Jessica's giveaway!!

Jessica, over at Safire Writer is having a giveaway in honor of her 100th post.  The prize?  This book, The Princess Adelina:

The drawing for the giveaway is on the 30th of July... so better hurry if you want to enter!