Summer

I promised I have not abandoned this site. I am back!

Summer is usually a big reading season for me. This summer, however, has been quite the opposite. Numerous excuses - not feeling well, catching up with scrapbooks, and preparing to move across the country, have been most of the reasons I haven't been reading. (With the exception of children books so my boys can participate in the summer reading program at their library.)

I did manage to re-read the Twilight series while on vacation, as well as two new books that I reviewed below. If I hadn't packed my Twilight books already I might be re-reading them again right now. I am really looking forward to reading Breaking Dawn, but am sad that it comes out the first day of my almost 2000 miles drive across the western states. I hope I don't see too many spoilers before getting the chance to read it myself.

Is summer a big reading season for you? Is anyone excited - or not for Breaking Dawn? If you are excited - what are you reading now? I need some really good book suggestions to pull me out of my rut!

Hattie Big Sky

Hattie Big Sky
Kirby Larson
4 ½ Stars

Set in 1918, this is the story of orphan Hattie Brooks, who leaves what little family and friends she knows for Montana to settle her late Uncles claim. The book is a Newberry Award Nominee and a great historical fiction written for Young Adults.

I first saw this book recommended on another book blog and was so excited when I found it in the stores during a vacation. I loved the little stories of Hattie’s life, the work and dedication that settlers had in those days. At first I was disappointed with the end, it was a twist that I was not expecting, but after re-reading the ending I felt more closure. I do hope there will be a second book containing more of Hattie’s life.

The book was well-researched and made history fun to the reader. It totally made me grateful for all the modern convinces that we have today. The only reason that I didn't give it a full 5 stars is that I did have to think about the ending and re-read it. It wasn't so bad that I wouldn't recommend it, I actually liked it the more I thought about it. I recommend this book to anyone!

Tending Roses

Tending Roses
Lisa Wingate
5 Stars

A friend gave me this book to read when I was recovering from surgery and I absolutely loved it. Tending Roses is a book that makes you want to slow down your life and think about what is really important.

Kate Bowman finds herself on maternity leave at her Grandmothers farm in Missouri with the task of telling her Grandmother that she must leave the farm she has always known and move to a retirement home. Kate and her husband face difficult times and throughout the book find out what is important to them, to their family and what they really want out of life. One of my favorite quotes, "Maybe you should start wanting less." is something that rang true in this story.

I am so glad that I took the time to read this book. At times I get so sad that life is moving so fast that I am so busy with so many things and this book came at a time that was a perfect reminder. It reminded me about how glad I should be that I am taking the opportunity to spend these early years with my kids at home. Almost every time I picked up this book to read it – and still thinking about it now that I’ve finished it, the song Mayberry, by Rascel Flatts, comes to mind.

	Rascal Flatts - Mayberry
	Found at bee mp3 search engine