30% off and free shipping from Waterbrook Multnomah

Waterbrook Multnomah, the publishers of so many of the books that I have read and loved this past year, are offering a special deal for Christmas shopping.

Save 30% off AND get free shipping on The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall (or any other title) when you use promo code CHRISTMAS11 at checkout on WaterBrookMultnomah.com. The coupon code expires on December 20th, 2011.





I love being able to get a taste of what a book is like. Here below is an excerpt from the first chapter (used with permission).
The Christmas Singing (Chapter 1 Excerpt)

A Sound Among the Trees by Susan Meissner

I have read and enjoyed a number of Susan Meissner's novels, including The Shape of Mercy, Lady in Waiting,and Why the Sky is Blue.  I had high expectations as I began to read A Sound Among the Trees; the book did not disappoint me, and it may be my favorite Susan Meissner yet.

The story begins at the garden wedding reception of Marielle and Carson. As they begin their life together, Caron and Marielle will be living at Holly Oak, the historical home of Adelaide,who is both the grandmother of Carson's dead wife, and the hostess of the reception. At the reception, one of Adelaide's friends tells Marielle that the house is haunted by the ghost of Adelaide's great-grandmother.The novel tells of Marielle's experiences as she builds a relationship with Adelaide and discovers the truth about the house's history and the women who lived there.

One of the characteristic traits of Susan Meissner's novels which I so enjoy is the story within the story, a miniature mise en abyme. In this case, Susannah Page, Adelaide's great-grandmother, reveals her story through letters that Marielle reads.

I liked that although it was a story about a house believed to be haunted, it was not spooky or stressful reading.

Along with a high recommendation, I also issue a warning to anyone who decides to read it - make sure you have several hours when you pick it up because you won't want to put it down!

Read an excerpt of A Sound Among the Trees. 

* *A Sound Among the Trees was provided to for me free by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.


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A Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family by Mary Ostyn

I absolutely loved every single word of this book! Every woman contemplating having children should read this book.  It debunks the myth that 10 kids is 5x harder and 5x more expensive than 2 kids. Beyond that, it was pure pleasure to read. It really resonated with me. It also opened my heart to the possibility of adoption. (I'm not saying that I'm going to end up with 10 kids. I'm also not saying that I'm not.)

Besides being an author, Mary is an amazing and faithful homeschooling mom of 10.  You can read an interview with her HERE. She blogs at owlhaven.net.

Family feasts for $75/week by Mary Ostyn

I read this book in September on a weekend getaway to Orlando. While I read, I jotted down ideas that I thought would apply to my family and cooking style.

Some of the specific things I jotted down were

• try cabbage in salads with grated carrots
• quit buying cold cereal and make your own breakfasts
• make homemade bread or find a day-old bread store
• serve fresh veggies at the table before dinner is served
• Throw chicken leg quarters in the crockpot with onion, celery, carrot. Pick the meat off the bones and freeze. Use the broth for cooking.

I enjoyed reading about Mary and her family, and the book inspired me to take action! After one month of implementation, I'm delighted to share the results of my money-saving efforts on groceries. For our family of 5, our grocery bill was $440 in October! That represents a savings of $237 compared to September. Thank you, Mary, for inspiring me to

• evaluate my food spending
• set goals regarding our food budget
• make a price book of foods we commonly use to get a grasp on prices at the different stores I visit
• plan meals and grocery lists and then stick to them (fewer trips to the store and fewer impulse buys)
• make bread rather than buy it

This month, I'm adding a new aspect to my meal planning - making sure I know what's for lunch. My kids traditionally eat school lunch, and my husband usually buys lunch at work, but I want to see if we can shave off more money from our total food budget with homemade lunches. (Our total food budget includes eating out, school lunch, etc.)  My husband is happy to eat leftovers; we just have to make sure he remembers to take them. I've found some great ideas for realistic lunch ideas for my kids over at Mel's Kitchen Cafe, which has quickly become one my favorite food blogs!

You can also check out Small and Simple Things, where I post weekly menus and recipes, among other things.

Bucket List

The proverbial bucket

I have never written down a list of things to do before I die. I don't know if I have even formulated one in my head before now. I mean, there are things that I want to do and see in my life, but some of the really important ones are also partly dependent on the choices of other people. For example, I am really looking forward to 2 weddings, that of my youngest brother and that of my youngest brother-in-law. Neither one is engaged or even dating anyone, BUT I look forward with an eye of faith to the happy days when our whole families are in the temple together to participate in those weddings. These are not things I can put on a bucket list because they are beyond the scope of my control.

However, now that I'm thinking about it, making a bucket list and deciding what I value most could be quite a valuable tool for planning my life. If these are things I truly want to accomplish, then I should be taking some sort of action to really get them done! I should have this posted on my fridge to let it motivate my choices!

The sweetness at the bottom of the pie (Flavia de Luz #1) by Alan Bradley

Flavia de Luz is an 11 year old girl who lives with her father and two older sisters. Fascinated with poisons, Flavia's life takes a turn for the "more interesting" when she finds a dying man in the cucumber patch under her bedroom window.

I listened to the unabridged audio of this book and really enjoyed it. At first, it was hard to suspend my disbelief that there could be an 11 year old like Flavia, but I got over that soon enough. Once the book was done, someone came to mind who could really be like her, one of my former violin students who always makes me smile when I think of her.

I love Flavia's character, her curiosity, independence, memory, and analytical mind. I love that when she wants to know something, she finds someone to ask or does her own experiment or goes investigating. I love that when she wants to go somewhere, she jumps on her bike and goes. I love her passion for  chemistry and that she serves her guests tea that she heats in a flask in her lab.

Definitely worth reading just to get to know Flavia. I'll be picking up the next in the series soon!

The Forever Faithful Trilogy by Karen Kingsbury

Yesterday was the perfect day to curl up with a good book, and I was very happy to receive a package in the mail from Blogging for Books with the complete Forever Faithful Trilogy. It's hefty - just over 1100 pages - and I was completely unfamiliar with the trilogy and the author when I chose this book. Once I started reading, I was sucked in.

Waiting for Morning is a story of change and forgiveness. Hannah Ryan's life is shattered and her faith destroyed when a drunk driver runs a red light, ramming the vehicle containing her husband and two teenage daughters. Only her youngest daughter survives the crash. Hannah is consumed by rage and vows revenge on the driver, ignoring her remaining daughter.

 I enjoyed discovering new scriptures from the Old Testament (mostly in Lamentations), placed at the beginning of each chapter. I was pleased to find discussion questions at the end and a note from the author, sharing her belief in Christ. I recommend this book to anyone who has wondered why bad things happen to good people and how they might cope with a truly heart-breaking situation or help a friend through a tough time.

Life In Spite of Me by Kristen Anderson

I finished reading this many months ago, but wanted to write about it anyway.

Kristen Anderson had a happy childhood, but as she entered her teenage years, her heart became burdened by the difficulties of life. She fell into depression and decided one night to end it all, laying down across the tracks in front of an oncoming train. Her miraculous survival, her physical and emotional recovery, and her discovery of faith in God are all chronicled in her book. It's a very personal account, one that she has made because she feels called to minister to others and to let them know that when they feel alone, they are not alone.

Birth Day: A Pediatrician Explores the Science, the History, and the Wonder of Childbirth by Mark Sloan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Of all the birthing books I've recently read (most of which I'm not going to bother reviewing), this is by far the most readable, the most interesting, and the most even-keeled, in terms of presenting information. I really enjoyed the stories he presented as a parent and a pediatrician who has been involved in many births.

The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party by Alexander McCall Smith

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love this whole series. They manage to be funny, compelling mysteries whose heroine has a wonderful sense of goodness and sincerity about her.  They are like homemade chicken soup - healthy, calming, and a joy to consume.

This book was my motivation to get the kitchen clean last night: read 2 chapters, set the timer and work for 5-10 minutes, read 2 chapters, work on the kitchen again... I finished the book and the kitchen:)

Coop: A Year of Poultry, Pigs, and Parenting

by Michael Perry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I loved this book! It juxtaposes the author's childhood on a farm with his present experiences on his own farm with his wife and daughters. He describes some of the challenges of managing his time as a dad, writer, and farmer, sharing stories that made me laugh out loud and others that had me sobbing. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is that there was a 4 page section on driving the tractor that I mostly skipped. I highly recommend this book.

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Extreme parenting, but an entertaining read in an unbelievable sort of way. May expand on this later, but too tired right now. (I read this in a bean bag in Elizabeth's room to help her settle down without a pacifier - she cried for an hour and half, then complained for another hour, then finally went to sleep around 11:15 pm.)

Babysteps in one corner of the kitchen

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I'm a fan

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Caramelized onion, bacon, and spinach pizza

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Let the composting begin!

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Coconut banana bread with lime glaze

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Ps and Qs of Classical Concert Etiquette

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Roasted rosemary garlic potatoes

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Easy homemade pitas

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My favorite room of the house

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The Dirty Life: On Farming, Food, and Love by Kristin Kimball

This was a fascinating book to me, both in terms of the adventure/struggle of starting a farm together AND in terms of the challenge of making a relationship work with two such different people. Frankly, I'm amazed that they survived the stress of both. 

I could not see the appeal of marrying what's-his-name, although I did admire his commitment and his work ethic.


My favorite part of the book is where Kristin is upset about giving up her last name. He insists that he dislikes hyphenated names for their children, and so he offers to take her name. It just goes to show that what is important to one person isn't important to another. I think it also demonstrates his love for her. 

I rate this 3 stars on the goodreads scale: I liked it.

And the winner is....

I know you've been holding your breath, waiting for the big announcement. Congratulations to Erin of Life with the Websters! Please email me your shipping address at erin dot rushforth at gmail dot com, so I can get the prize package mailed off to you! Happy Monday, everyone!

Giveaway!!!

Who among us does not enjoy the thrill of winning something? I can tell you, I love that feeling. Wish it happened more often:) 

From now until February 27th, you have the chance to win a free copy of Charlene Baumbich's Divine Appointments. Here's my quick summary of the plot, taken from my book review:

Get ready for a quirky, heartwarming story of change. Josie is a fiercely independent and wildly successful career woman. Her year consulting in Chicago is almost up, but things are not going as planned. An unexpected friend, hot flashes, unquenchable thirst, and a strange snow globe put Josie on an unforeseen path. Divine Appointments will tickle your funny bone and make you double-check your priorities.

The prize package also includes a natural clean burning wax candle (the wax can be used as massage oil/lotion, according to my aesthetician), and a Princessa Berry Cool Lip Color Brush. Beautify your lips, light your candle, and read away!

Here's how to enter the giveaway. You can get up to 6 entries; please leave a separate comment here for each entry:

1. Rate my review of Divine Appointments at Blogging for Books.You can also just scroll down on my blog to the end of the review and rate it here.

2. Follow my blog.

3. Rate my other 8 reviews. A word of warning: sometimes the Blogging for Books site is a bit slow. You can find all my reviews on my blog, too.

4. Blog about my giveaway and link back to this post.

5. Facebook or twitter about my giveaway and link back to this post.

6. Email 7 friends about my giveaway with a link to this post.

The winner will be chosen on February 28th and announced here on my blog. Let the fun begin!

Thanks to Blogging for Books/Waterbrook Multnomah for providing the book part of the prize package. Thanks to Carol Bly for providing the lip brush and candle.

Divine Appointments by Charlene Ann Baumbich

Get ready for a quirky, heartwarming story of change. Josie is a fiercely independent and wildly successful career woman. Her year consulting in Chicago is almost up, but things are not going as planned. An unexpected friend, hot flashes, unquenchable thirst, and a strange snow globe put Josie on an unforeseen path. Divine Appointments will tickle your funny bone and make you double-check your priorities.



One of the opening pages of the book quotes Jeremiah 17:7-8:

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD
And whose trust is the LORD.
For he will be like a tree planted by the water,
That extends its roots by a stream
And will not fear when the heat comes;
But its leaves will be green,
And it will not be anxious in a year of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit.

Divine Appointments light-heartedly addressing the droughts of this life and the inevitability of change. As we see in the story, jobs, health, and even our lives are temporary. It is interesting to see how the characters respond to the changes they encounter; for example, Barb prays and reaches out to encourage those around her, Marsha channels her anger into writing, and Josie retreats into herself, at least, at first. Ultimately, the challenges each faces refine them and move them onto new pathways for the future.

It took me a number of chapters to warm up to the characters here, and I admit to a few moments of utter disbelief, but by the second part of the book, I was thoroughly engrossed in the story. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever worked in an office, felt lonely, or wanted to make changes in their life.

You can download and read the first two chapters of Divine Appointments here.

Ramblings and confessions, followed by a review of When the Soul Mends (Sisters of the Quilt, Book 3)

Yes, I really am crazy enough to have read this entire book tonight, after I put my baby to bed. Yes, I did just finish the second one this afternoon. Yes, I know my kitchen is a mess. Yes, I also know that I have been in a Christian romance rut. It was thrilling when my Blogging for Books rating kept moving up, so I looked at the library to see what else I could review. I got all the way up to 9 out of 1412 bloggers for the year, AND even though I just joined, my lifetime rating is sitting at 16 out of 5105 bloggers. This is the sort of absurd affirmation I crave! No one rates my dishwashing or my meals. The only adult who recognizes it does so mostly as a favor to me when I bring it up, "Notice anything different around here?" He'll pause, look around, and put on his praising voice. "Wow, Erin, it looks like someone has spent some time working on the dishes." Now on to the book review.

Hannah has finally established a new life for herself - a potential husband, a satisfying career path, and meaningful studies - away from the Amish home she fled two years ago. A desperate phone call from her younger sister begging her to return turns the order of her new life upside down. As she confronts her parents, her siblings, her former fiancé, and her past, she learns lessons of humility, of forgiveness, and of healing which alter her present forever.

Of the three books in the trilogy, I found this one the most difficult to put down. I give it a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 and recommend it to anyone who likes a happy ending.

When the Morning Comes (Sisters of the Quilt, Book 2)

Cindy Woodsmall has done a fine job with this second novel, continuing the story of Hannah, who fled her Amish upbringing and the unfair judgments of her father to begin a new life with her aunt. Though I found the beginning of the book to be choppy, there seemed to be more continuity by the middle. I was happy to see some softening and regret from one of the harsh characters in the first book. Kudos to Ms. Woodsmall for writing believable banter - some of my favorite pages were mainly conversation. Overall, a sequel which does its job of keeping the reader hooked!

When the Heart Cries (Sisters of the Quilt, Book One) by Cindy Woodsmall

Hannah Lapp is 17 and questions her place among her family of Old Order Amish. She loves her family, but sometimes feels stifled by her father’s strict governance. When Hannah accepts the marriage proposal of her secret beau, Paul, who is a Mennonite, she knows that her relationships with her family will change forever. Over the next months, Hannah injustly suffers physical brutality, betrayal, and deep loss. Thanks to a few trusted friends, her own strength, and hope from a voice within, she emerges from tragedy determined to find her path.

I enjoyed this book, although it took me through quite a range of emotions. The harsh, inflexibility of Hannah’s father stung me, making Hannah’s courage and her triumph over misfortune all the more inspiring.

This is a terrific popcorn book, the kind you read to get away from your own life and troubles, great for a plane, the bathtub, or just a relaxing afternoon. I give it 3.5 stars out of 5.

God Gave Us Christmas by Lisa Tawn Bergren, art by David Hohn

Society bombards us with messages about Christmas, from the stores that put out the Christmas merchandise right after Halloween, to the advertisers who would have us believe that we must spend a lot of money in order to celebrate. Lisa Bergren combats those messages in this warm and thoughtful picture book. She asks and answers many of the questions that children have about Christmas and Santa, presented in the context of a family preparing for their holiday celebration.

When her daughter expresses curiosity about Santa and Christmas, Little Cub's mother takes her on a winter trek to "find God and see how He gave them Christmas". Together, they climb mountains, take in the Northern lights, visit glacial waters, watch a beautiful glowing star, and wonder at a tiny flower growing in the snow. Along the way, Little Cub's mother teaches her about God's majesty and power, and His great love for each of us in sending His son.

On one page, Little Cub asks, "Did God give us Santa?" Her mother wisely answers, "Santa Claus reminds us about many good things like generosity and care. But it is God and Jesus that we celebrate most come Christmas." On another, her mother teaches her that "Jesus is a present for everyone, grumpy or happy, mean or kind. God gave us all Christmas." The pages are full of simple, faithful teachings that children can easily embrace.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to remember the message of the Savior at Christmas.

God Loves Me More Than That by Dandi Daley Mackall, illustrated by David Hohn

This hardcover picture book would be a great addition to any library. It conveys one of the most important truths that the world needs to know, namely that God loves us. The book begins with a little boy asking the question, "How much love does God have for me?" The answer, as he stands atop enormous letters and strains to see all the way to the end of the alphabet: "More than the letters between A and Z." Whimsical illustrations and rhyming texts take this boy across every page, with more questions and answers, affirming the magnitude of God's love. We see the boy ride a bumble bee, explore outer space, ride a horse across the prairie, dive to the ocean floor, and perform with circus elephants, among other things. The last pages show him tucked into bed with his teddy bear, sleeping soundly, and the text reads, "Nice to know that my whole life through, God loves me more than that!"

There is a page near the end where the little boy is sitting at the edge of his treehouse. The golden just-before-sunset light is shining through the trees onto his upturned face, and the text reads: "Lord, it's great to be loved by you. Hope you know that I love you too." The illustrations really capture that personal moment of connection to God, surrounded by nature.

I recommend this book to all parents, teachers, and picture book aficionados.

*Full disclosure: I received a free copy of the book to review from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group via Blogging for Books.

The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner

This week, I'm on a steady diet of Susan Meissner novels. This is #3. It doesn't feel like an overdose; it feels nourishing, strengthening, enlightening. In addressing timeless questions, Ms. Meissner creates characters who feel like real people. She juxtaposes the past with the present in a context of faith and shows us that there is much to learn from history, that our lives and relationships have meaning, and that our choices matter. All this couched in an enjoyable storyline that leaves the reader in a pleasant state of self-examination.

The Shape of Mercy is both agonizing and irresistible, the kind of book that you close to give yourself a break from the emotional intensity, but open again after 10 seconds because you want to keep reading. Lauren is a college girl who wants to choose her destiny, rather than having it dictated to her by her affluent parents. She loves books and accepts a part-time job with Abigail, a retired librarian whose ancestor, Mercy, was killed in the Salem witch trials. As Lauren transcribes Mercy's diary, she grows increasingly troubled by its contents and by her own assumptions. Her life and relationships are forever colored by what happens next.... Pick up the book to discover the conclusion!

And then, if you love it, I just discovered a Susan Meissner blog, where the story continues!

Why the Sky is Blue by Susan Meissner

If you only have time for one book to read, this is it. An intensely personal, heart-rending story of a mother and her two daughters, one who is conceived as the result of a sexual assault. This book recounts the miracle of how Christ's atonement can transform ugliness and violence into love and hope, and how we can reconcile God's love with the reality of life. It tells of choices, regrets, dreams, hopes, consequences, and feels very real.

Susan Meissner is my new favorite author. I liked this one so well that I may read it again right away.

Lady in Waiting by Susan Meissner

Lady in Waiting is the captivating story of two women who share the same name. Jane Lindsay, married for 22 years, occasionally wonders how her life would be different if she had married a different man. When her doctor husband takes a job out of state and says he needs some time apart, she is forced to examine what, if anything, she values in him and in their marriage. A beautiful, centuries-old ring with her own name inscribed inside the band puts her on a path of discovery and change, in her view of herself, her relationships, and the course of her life.

The parallel story of fifteen year old Lady Jane Grey is fascinating. (Lady Jane is a real historical figure, although this story is mostly fictitious.) Through the perspective of her seamstress, the reader becomes acquainted with Lady Jane, her family, her studies, and her dreams. Her future seems set by her parents and the English court. Ultimately, however, Jane determines her own destiny.

I really enjoyed this book. The writing is clear and inviting, drew me in, and made me feel like I knew the characters. I especially liked seeing the varied relationships (parent/child, husband/wife, friend/friend) and how they affected the outcome of the story. Although previously unfamiliar with Susan Meissner's writing, I hope to find many more of her novels at my library!

*Full disclosure: I received a free copy of the book to review from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group via Blogging for Books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Under the Overpass - a journey of faith on the streets of America

Nice guy Mike Yankoski shares his experiences from choosing to live homeless for 5 months in Denver, DC, Portland, San Francisco, Phoenix, and San Diego, a personal mission he felt called to fulfill. One of his goals was to get an insider's view of being homeless and especially to see how Christian churches treated homeless people. Another was to support others in living their Christian faith. His third goal was to test his own faith.

Mike encounters what you might expect in terms of people and circumstances. He gets hungry, cold, wet, dirty, smelly, and tired. He meets druggies, alcoholics, people with mental illness, Christians, people who ignore him, people who buy him dinner... At the end of it all, when his time is done, he goes home.

The writing is not beautiful or powerful; it is full of I said, he said, I said, he said, I asked, he said. One thing I appreciated was that the language was very clean. The author deliberately omitted that aspect of street living, although in doing so, he removed some of the authentic grit which might have made the book more compelling.

I admire Mike for doing what he felt called to do, for sticking it out when he was hungry and cold, and for trying to live his faith. It did seem strange to leave his money home and go begging for 5 months, and I was quite surprised at the sense of entitlement he felt from churches. I would recommend this book to the curious and to those who'd like advice on how to respond to homeless people from someone who knows.

*Full disclosure: I received a free copy of the book to review from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group via Blogging for Books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”