"The Rose of Winslow Street" by: Elizabeth Camden
The Rose of Winslow Street is a tale set in 1879 Massachusetts and revolves around Libby Sawyer a 28 year old spinster who lives a solitary life with her father in a well-appointed, quiet neighborhood home. Libby is a talented young woman who delights in painting botanical illustrations, nurturing her deceased mother's rose garden, and loving on her five year old niece. She is a woman of character, strength, and infinite patience with her elderly, absent minded, inventing professor father.
She is also a woman who has lived an unnoticed life.
However, this book opens not with Libby but with a mysterious stranger shepherding a lady, two small children and several men into Libby's vacated-for-the-summer home under the cover of darkness. The man is Michael Dobrescu who has recently arrived from Romania and is now laying legal claim to Libby's father's house! Michael is a physically imposing man who fiercely protects his family even as he tries the best way he knows how to provide for them. But just like Libby, Michael is a multifaceted character who holds secrets and proves surprising at every turn!
As Professor Sawyer and Michael tumble into a fiercely contested legal battle for the house Libby finds herself torn between her father's outraged demands for fealty and the shunning of the interlopers and the surprising kindness, acceptance, inspiration and purpose she finds amongst Michael and his family. Despite the inward and outward turmoil it causes Libby finds herself reaching out in Christian charity to the people who occupy her home and quickly finds Michael himself occupying her heart. But why should anyone love a forgotten woman like her? And who will find themselves the true owner of the house on Winslow Street? These questions and more are answered with such satisfaction and storytelling skill that the reader will be amazed at where this tale ends!
One of the surprising things about this book is that the supporting characters are just as well crafted and important to the story as the main characters! From Michael's sister the quiet and broken Lady Mirela to Libby's sister-in-law the ingratiating and conniving Regina, these characters add so much to the story that they help to bring to life and further highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the main characters. One supporting character that I had a great deal of trouble putting up with though, much less liking, was Libby's father Professor Sawyer. The Professor is an ill-tempered, off balance, and even at times unhinged old man who has used Libby's artistic talents to have technical drawings of his inventions made while all the time looking at and treating her as a burden and a "mental deficient" because of her illiteracy and her singleness. His verbally harsh treatment of her in a number of scenes broke my heart but throughout it all Libby amazingly honors her father and never retaliates in any way and continues to care for her father's wellbeing until her long awaited exit comes.
This book is driven by the conflict and resolution of the issue of the house but is graced with the gentle love story of Libby and Michael. It is a love that slowly develops and is uncontrived and unforced- something that is refreshing to see in any current piece of fiction!
This is the first book I've read by Elizabeth Camden and after this it cerainly won't be the last! From the very beginning to the final pages the author grows a story that is, just like a rose, deeply layered and revealing it's true beauty as time goes on to finally be fully mature and produce the sweetest of fragrances. It is a true pleasure to read and I hope you do!
My rating is 5 out of 5 stars!
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and opinion of the product.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Book Review: "No We Can't"
Today's review is for "No We Can't: Radical Islam, Militant Secularism and the Myth of Coexistence" by Robert Stearns.
Well this book isn't quite my normal review fare but when it came up offered on Bethany House's review program I knew it was I book I wanted to read! For quite a while now I have been interested in learning more about Islam from a historic perspective and Islam from a Christian perspective and this book really filled the bill!
Mr. Stearns begins his book by laying out the cultural landscape of today's world and explaining multiculturalism, coexistence and what the Bible says about understanding the times we live in; additionally exploring current events and Biblical end times prophecy and how each of these things operate as cogs in the ever turning wheel of our world. His approach is methodical and clear in laying out the historical background, current cultural relevance and future likely significance for what he calls the 'three houses'. These three houses 'Radical Islam', 'Militant Secularism', and 'Judeo-Christianity' are each given their own chapters to delve deeper in to the worldviews of each and how they have reached out and affected the world we live in today. The book wraps up with three final chapters where Stearns steps back from looking at each of these houses and takes a look at the ultimate house- God's House. In these wrap up chapters Stearns really explores how Christians today are to be living and that is ultimately with eternity and Christ's kingdom in view!
I really enjoyed Stearns style and the way he put this book together, it reads smoothly and brings the reader along for an enlightening ride that is sure to wake up those still asleep in the tumultuous river of current events and buoy up those who are already awake and riding those rapids. At times I do find Stearns repeating themes and thoughts but I didn't find it detrimental to the book just reinforcing and building of his theme. I truly appreciated the wrap up of this book and the clear and inspiring call that is given to the Church today to rouse themselves and remember who they are and what God expects of them and what they can do about that. It personally saddens me that at large the Church does seem to be uninspired and uncaring to what is happening in the world around them. After reading this book I don't know how any Christian can remain uncaring of what is happening and uninspired to do something! It was a great read with lots of great information for the informed reader (my book is highlighted within an inch of it's life!) and a great read with lots of food for thought for the uninformed friend or relative that you should definitely be passing this book along to!
This book deserves every one of the 5 stars I'm giving it!
Well this book isn't quite my normal review fare but when it came up offered on Bethany House's review program I knew it was I book I wanted to read! For quite a while now I have been interested in learning more about Islam from a historic perspective and Islam from a Christian perspective and this book really filled the bill!
Mr. Stearns begins his book by laying out the cultural landscape of today's world and explaining multiculturalism, coexistence and what the Bible says about understanding the times we live in; additionally exploring current events and Biblical end times prophecy and how each of these things operate as cogs in the ever turning wheel of our world. His approach is methodical and clear in laying out the historical background, current cultural relevance and future likely significance for what he calls the 'three houses'. These three houses 'Radical Islam', 'Militant Secularism', and 'Judeo-Christianity' are each given their own chapters to delve deeper in to the worldviews of each and how they have reached out and affected the world we live in today. The book wraps up with three final chapters where Stearns steps back from looking at each of these houses and takes a look at the ultimate house- God's House. In these wrap up chapters Stearns really explores how Christians today are to be living and that is ultimately with eternity and Christ's kingdom in view!
I really enjoyed Stearns style and the way he put this book together, it reads smoothly and brings the reader along for an enlightening ride that is sure to wake up those still asleep in the tumultuous river of current events and buoy up those who are already awake and riding those rapids. At times I do find Stearns repeating themes and thoughts but I didn't find it detrimental to the book just reinforcing and building of his theme. I truly appreciated the wrap up of this book and the clear and inspiring call that is given to the Church today to rouse themselves and remember who they are and what God expects of them and what they can do about that. It personally saddens me that at large the Church does seem to be uninspired and uncaring to what is happening in the world around them. After reading this book I don't know how any Christian can remain uncaring of what is happening and uninspired to do something! It was a great read with lots of great information for the informed reader (my book is highlighted within an inch of it's life!) and a great read with lots of food for thought for the uninformed friend or relative that you should definitely be passing this book along to!
This book deserves every one of the 5 stars I'm giving it!
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
A Cherry Blossom Journey
As many of you know since last fall I have been involved with a girls discipleship group called Bright Lights. An old childhood friend and I lead the group and in our bi-weekly meetings teach about eighteen 7-14 year old girls lessons in 'Being Radiant In Godliness, Holiness and Testimony'. The lessons range from Developing a Close Relationship with Your Parents to Having a Clear Conscience with many in between. These last number of lessons we have been studying about sharing the gospel and and decided we would have a little hands on in the field training for some of our older girls. We planned to take advantage of a local festival to do street witnessing in one of the roughest little towns in our area. This is the post event journaling that I posted on our Wadsworth Bright Lights website sharing my perspective on that day.
I thought you might enjoy it as well....
(Sorry Dani that it's taken me so long to get this up!)
Summer Reading List
First of all I'd like to take this opportunity to let the world know that I am in fact not dead.
I know that my absence from the blogosphere over the last few months has likely provided more than enough evidence to the contrary but I assure you, dear reader, that my exile to real life was alas, entirely against my will....
Now, down to business.
Do you know that the summer is already half over??!
Yes, it is, and that realization last week at the Summer Solstice was enough to send me into a full blown mental panic! What do you mean summer is half over? I haven't even begun most of my summer projects! It is my friends, a mere eight weeks until school begins again and ten until BSF begins again!
The mind boggles.
So with that in view I'm doing a couple of things this week. First, I'm doing my spring cleaning! (Don't laugh.) And second, I'm making my summer reading list.
Here is the official list:
For Learning-
1) No We Can't: Radical Islam, Militant Secularism and the Myth of Coexistence -BH Robert Sterns
2) The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam and the Crusades Robert Spencer
3) The Truth About Islam and Woman John Ankerberg & Emir Caner
4) When You Rise Up R. C. Sproul Jr.
5) Family Shepherds Voddie Baucham
6) Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts Jerry Bridges
7) Raising Maidens of Virtue Stacy MacDonald
8) Washington's Spies: The Story of the First American Spy Ring Alexander Rose
9) The Letters of John and Abigail Adams
10) 50 People Every Christian Should Know Warren Weirsbe
11) Sinful Silence: When Christians Neglect their Civic Duty Ken Connor & John Revell
12) William Symington: Penman of the Scottish Covenanters Dr. Roy Blackwood & Michael LeFebvre
13) The book of 2 Thessalonians
14) The book of Nehemiah
For Pleasure:
1) Cowgirls Don't Cry Christine Linxwiler
2) The Betrayal Douglas Bond
3) Against the Tide: The Valor of Margret Wilson Hope Irvin Marston
4) The Rose of Winslow Street -BH Elizabeth Camden
5) The Messenger -BH Siri Mitchell
6) My Stubborn Heart -BH Becky Wade
7) The Great Christmas Bowl Susan May Warren
8) Chasing Mona Lisa Tricia Goyer & Mike Yorkey
9) Heiress Susan May Warren
10) Baroness Susan May Warren
11) Jane Austen Made Me Do It 22 assorted authors in a compilation
12) To Die For Sandra Byrd
13) The Merchant's Daughter Melanie Dickerson
14) Echoes of the Titanic Mindy Sterns Clark
15) By the Light of the Silvery Moon Tricia Goyer
16) Promise Me This Cathy Gohlke
17) Deep Haven Series #1-5 (Opt. as time allows) Susan May Warren
18) Irish Healer Nancy Herriman
19) The Hunger Games Suzanne Collins
20) Death Comes to Pemberly P.D. James
Well, isn't that quite the list! Now if I can only manage to actually read all of these I'll feel quite accomplished!
To note a few things, the "BH" designation after several books is for Bethany House and are books I have selected to receive as a part of their book reviewers program. I have in fact actually just finished finishing this particular part of my stack and anticipate getting all (ok, most) of the reviews written and published to the blog by the end of the week.
Also, once I have finished a book I plan on doing two things- #1 crossing it off of this list and #2 writing a review of it- even if it is not a BH review book.
Now to the disclaimer.... I know the 'learning' books I have chosen are sound and from respected authors....However the fiction department is a bit up in the air! I have a number of authors that I love and you will see their books repeated in my old and new lists and reviews but there is other fiction that is by new authors that is just sometimes trash no matter how good it seems from the outside! I am good at picking really good books and usually don't have a problem but with all the new authors on the Christian fiction market at the moment is a bit overwhelming.... So- until I post a review I have no opinion on the content or quality of any given fiction book. Thanks!
SO, I think that's everything for now. Let the reading begin!!
I know that my absence from the blogosphere over the last few months has likely provided more than enough evidence to the contrary but I assure you, dear reader, that my exile to real life was alas, entirely against my will....
Now, down to business.
Do you know that the summer is already half over??!
Yes, it is, and that realization last week at the Summer Solstice was enough to send me into a full blown mental panic! What do you mean summer is half over? I haven't even begun most of my summer projects! It is my friends, a mere eight weeks until school begins again and ten until BSF begins again!
The mind boggles.
So with that in view I'm doing a couple of things this week. First, I'm doing my spring cleaning! (Don't laugh.) And second, I'm making my summer reading list.
Here is the official list:
For Learning-
1) No We Can't: Radical Islam, Militant Secularism and the Myth of Coexistence -BH Robert Sterns
2) The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam and the Crusades Robert Spencer
3) The Truth About Islam and Woman John Ankerberg & Emir Caner
4) When You Rise Up R. C. Sproul Jr.
5) Family Shepherds Voddie Baucham
6) Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts Jerry Bridges
7) Raising Maidens of Virtue Stacy MacDonald
8) Washington's Spies: The Story of the First American Spy Ring Alexander Rose
9) The Letters of John and Abigail Adams
10) 50 People Every Christian Should Know Warren Weirsbe
11) Sinful Silence: When Christians Neglect their Civic Duty Ken Connor & John Revell
12) William Symington: Penman of the Scottish Covenanters Dr. Roy Blackwood & Michael LeFebvre
13) The book of 2 Thessalonians
14) The book of Nehemiah
For Pleasure:
1) Cowgirls Don't Cry Christine Linxwiler
2) The Betrayal Douglas Bond
3) Against the Tide: The Valor of Margret Wilson Hope Irvin Marston
4) The Rose of Winslow Street -BH Elizabeth Camden
5) The Messenger -BH Siri Mitchell
6) My Stubborn Heart -BH Becky Wade
7) The Great Christmas Bowl Susan May Warren
8) Chasing Mona Lisa Tricia Goyer & Mike Yorkey
9) Heiress Susan May Warren
10) Baroness Susan May Warren
11) Jane Austen Made Me Do It 22 assorted authors in a compilation
12) To Die For Sandra Byrd
13) The Merchant's Daughter Melanie Dickerson
14) Echoes of the Titanic Mindy Sterns Clark
15) By the Light of the Silvery Moon Tricia Goyer
16) Promise Me This Cathy Gohlke
17) Deep Haven Series #1-5 (Opt. as time allows) Susan May Warren
18) Irish Healer Nancy Herriman
19) The Hunger Games Suzanne Collins
20) Death Comes to Pemberly P.D. James
Well, isn't that quite the list! Now if I can only manage to actually read all of these I'll feel quite accomplished!
To note a few things, the "BH" designation after several books is for Bethany House and are books I have selected to receive as a part of their book reviewers program. I have in fact actually just finished finishing this particular part of my stack and anticipate getting all (ok, most) of the reviews written and published to the blog by the end of the week.
Also, once I have finished a book I plan on doing two things- #1 crossing it off of this list and #2 writing a review of it- even if it is not a BH review book.
Now to the disclaimer.... I know the 'learning' books I have chosen are sound and from respected authors....However the fiction department is a bit up in the air! I have a number of authors that I love and you will see their books repeated in my old and new lists and reviews but there is other fiction that is by new authors that is just sometimes trash no matter how good it seems from the outside! I am good at picking really good books and usually don't have a problem but with all the new authors on the Christian fiction market at the moment is a bit overwhelming.... So- until I post a review I have no opinion on the content or quality of any given fiction book. Thanks!
SO, I think that's everything for now. Let the reading begin!!
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Confessions of a Bookaholic
Wanted: Minimally noisy, comfortable, well lit spot to catch up on my growing pile of books.
Well I've done it again. See those two books at the top of the stack? I bought those today. Yup, me who has five other books in progress or begging to be picked up and read have just added two more to the stack.
Aggh!
The thing is, like always, I can't resist and good book.
Opening a new book is like opening a present! Opening a new book- even opening the wrapping makes me giddy with pleasure!
But its not just me right? Doesn't everyone love a new book? For me it's one of the most satisfying things in the world to open up a book fresh off the presses and smell that new ink and freshly milled paper! Doesn't everyone feel that anticipation in getting your hands on a new book? Do you wonder what the book-binders have come up with now in the texture and feel of a cover? Is it just me that cares about how important the feel of the cover is in the book reading experience? Gripping its smooth or glossy or soft matted or grainy surface for hours affects the whole of the reading experience... Don't you just love drinking in the fine details and saturated hues of the artists rendering that draws you from cover to under cover? Do you appreciate fine paper and disdain cheep grainy stock paper? Is it just me that cares about the font used and the way the publisher lays out page breaks?
What has a electronic book or book reader got on the read deal? Nothin'. Kindles and iPads may be convenient now but can you pass your book on and share it when your done? Will you ever get the same in-love feeling when you pick up the cold, artificial casing of an e-reader as you get when you touch and connect with the real, living, natural feel of a paper book?
While I'm confessing my book love affair let me confess one of my deepest darkest reading secrets (the one that drives my sister nuts!) and ask you this- how do you read a book? Yes, I'm serious! I mean do you read from front to back? Do you skip forward to see what's happening? Do you flip through before you begin to 'get the feel'? Do you read the end before you begin? That last one I will admit is my weakness. *blush* It's a shameful thing for an avid book reader to admit but honestly- I just can't get through a book without looking! The suspense kills me and have to be able to know that things will turn out fine in the end for me to be able to enjoy what I'm reading and so inevitably I sneak the last paragraph or two before I even begin!
My problem is that during this time of year I have no time for reading! It is a sad but true fact. From the time I begin BSF in the fall to the time we wrap up in May- essentially the whole of the winter/'school' year- I'm lucky if I get to read one or two books! It's pitiful, abominable, and tragic but that's the way it is. (Which is probably the reason I never am without a book in the summer!) However, I had to get involved with the reviewers program with Bethany House! I thought that one book at a time couldn't hurt and it would allow me to keep reading during the winter but although I have tried to keep up the problem is that books are my Lay's- I can't have just one...
Here's a quick run down on what I wish/need to finish in the next month...
From Bethany I am currently reading "No We Can't" a great book on Islam and Secularism...and have been since the middle of December... Sigh. I also have "The Rose of Winslow Street" which is from a new author and looks like it has potential for being a good period drama/rom story set in 1879 Massachusetts.
From the section titled 'Books on my Christmas List' we have Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey's "Chasing Mona Lisa" which is a sequel to "The Swiss Courier". I am eagerly looking forward to this one as I enjoyed the first, and in my eyes at least, Goyer can do no wrong when it comes to the WWII novel. Additionally, there's the seemingly charming "The Great Christmas Bowl" which promises and short and humorous look at family and the holidays.
Ah, yes them there is the fab chick lit compilation novel "Jane Austen Made Me Do It". I'm about half way through this little jem and having been picking my way back and forth through its short stories and have barely found a dud among them! For any Austen fan it is shaping up to be a must read- but more on that later...
So that's it, my book addiction in a nutshell. Obsessed. Impressed. Depressed.
Sigh.
In the end there must always be a moral to a story and mine is this- Don't bite off more then you can chew...unless it's a book- then put aside that other stuff, get busy and dig in!
Wanted: One minimally noisy life, comfortable and well lit, with time conducive for frequent book reading....
Friday, March 2, 2012
Voting our Sacred Honor
If you have been following this blog for a while you have likely figured out that I am...politically minded. ;)
As we round the corner and head for Super Tuesday we are now down to the wire in terms of making our decision. I have had my decision made for some weeks and have made my appeal to you regarding my belief that Rick Santorum is the Conservative in this race and I have meant every word of that. If, however, you still remain undecided or not firmly committed then I URGE you to watch the video below. If you have not heard Santorum speak before YOU MUST watch this video before Tuesday's election!! This year we have a voice and we have a choice in our state and the race has not wrapped up! This video is of a speech Santorum gave tonight in Cleve. and although the speech is nearly an hour he uses the hour well covering everything in his platform.
Fantastic speech!
Fantastic man!
VOTE SANTORUM!!
Santorum Speaks at GOP Dinner in Ohio C-SPAN
As we round the corner and head for Super Tuesday we are now down to the wire in terms of making our decision. I have had my decision made for some weeks and have made my appeal to you regarding my belief that Rick Santorum is the Conservative in this race and I have meant every word of that. If, however, you still remain undecided or not firmly committed then I URGE you to watch the video below. If you have not heard Santorum speak before YOU MUST watch this video before Tuesday's election!! This year we have a voice and we have a choice in our state and the race has not wrapped up! This video is of a speech Santorum gave tonight in Cleve. and although the speech is nearly an hour he uses the hour well covering everything in his platform.
Fantastic speech!
Fantastic man!
VOTE SANTORUM!!
Santorum Speaks at GOP Dinner in Ohio C-SPAN
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Best laid plans...
Ok, so here's the thing, life doesn't go according to your plans.
Inspired thinking there, huh?
Right now I'm sitting here writing a post that I've been longing to write for the past week when I should be doing any of six other things- and it's frustrating. But of late, my life has been a Series of Frustrating Events. I don't like it and I think its time I sat down and dealt with it (but that's another story). A week and a half ago I had what I thought was a Brilliant Idea for a blog post and have been trying to get it written out but life, real life, has been thwarting me and I am ready to throw in the towel and forget that I still have another batch of cookies to bake and cool, forget I haven't finished (much less had any progress starting) my BSF lesson this week, (again!*headdesk*), and that I have two books from Bethany House waiting my attention- not to mention the two others I got for Christmas and haven't had time to touch and just write what comes to heart...
So here was my Brilliant Idea: This February is Leap Year.
This February is the one that comes every four and gives us an extra day.
This February I will have one extra day to Do Something.
The Psalmist makes a point of telling us: 'This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it' (Ps. 118:24) but I wonder in how many of our days we heed that? As I started thinking about what Leap Day is or means I wondered if Leap Day was a day that comes every four years and acts like a wake up call for us- or could act like a wake up call for us.
We live our lives day by day, we pack in all the activity and busyness and life, real life that it can hold and we move into the next day on the calendar, usually asleep, day by day by day.... What Leap Day has reminded me of this year is that each day no matter the measure of productivity or busyness or level of frustration is a day given to me by God. It's a day to rejoice in, be glad in. A day to redeem with service to God.
When I posted my Brilliant Idea I really wanted to be able to say I had figured out how to do that. I wanted to be able to say that I had thought of something amazing to do on Leap Day that would redeem my time, that would be useful and good and inspiring... The thing is, right now I'm working on the rejoice part and the be glad part. Thing is, I'm (still!!) working on life not going according to plan.
So if today when you wake up and stare Leap Day in the face and try to treat it the same way you treat every day take a second look at it. Take a second look at how you can redeem it and Do Something in it if you can. But if like me, you have been having a Series of Frustrating Events take a look at Leap Day and say Today is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad it in.
And in four years, maybe I'll have it together enough to be just a bit Brilliant on Leap Day....
Inspired thinking there, huh?
Right now I'm sitting here writing a post that I've been longing to write for the past week when I should be doing any of six other things- and it's frustrating. But of late, my life has been a Series of Frustrating Events. I don't like it and I think its time I sat down and dealt with it (but that's another story). A week and a half ago I had what I thought was a Brilliant Idea for a blog post and have been trying to get it written out but life, real life, has been thwarting me and I am ready to throw in the towel and forget that I still have another batch of cookies to bake and cool, forget I haven't finished (much less had any progress starting) my BSF lesson this week, (again!*headdesk*), and that I have two books from Bethany House waiting my attention- not to mention the two others I got for Christmas and haven't had time to touch and just write what comes to heart...
So here was my Brilliant Idea: This February is Leap Year.
This February is the one that comes every four and gives us an extra day.
This February I will have one extra day to Do Something.
The Psalmist makes a point of telling us: 'This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it' (Ps. 118:24) but I wonder in how many of our days we heed that? As I started thinking about what Leap Day is or means I wondered if Leap Day was a day that comes every four years and acts like a wake up call for us- or could act like a wake up call for us.
We live our lives day by day, we pack in all the activity and busyness and life, real life that it can hold and we move into the next day on the calendar, usually asleep, day by day by day.... What Leap Day has reminded me of this year is that each day no matter the measure of productivity or busyness or level of frustration is a day given to me by God. It's a day to rejoice in, be glad in. A day to redeem with service to God.
When I posted my Brilliant Idea I really wanted to be able to say I had figured out how to do that. I wanted to be able to say that I had thought of something amazing to do on Leap Day that would redeem my time, that would be useful and good and inspiring... The thing is, right now I'm working on the rejoice part and the be glad part. Thing is, I'm (still!!) working on life not going according to plan.
So if today when you wake up and stare Leap Day in the face and try to treat it the same way you treat every day take a second look at it. Take a second look at how you can redeem it and Do Something in it if you can. But if like me, you have been having a Series of Frustrating Events take a look at Leap Day and say Today is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad it in.
And in four years, maybe I'll have it together enough to be just a bit Brilliant on Leap Day....
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