Book Review: The Widower's Wife

This is another recent Nook acquisition I obtained for a vacation I took over the holidays (I put four books on my Nook to read--and read all of them). Prudence Bice's book The Widower's Wife I read in a day or so. I really liked the concept for the story in this book and felt the author handled it well. The romance was excellent, but I felt the challenge the main character faced with the children could have been ramped up a bit more to make it more realistic. Bice also does a good job of writing the protaganist; he was definitely scary!

Synopsis:
When Jillian Grey answers Dalton McCullough s newspaper advertisement requesting a mail-order bride to take care of his three young children, they both agree that their marriage is one of convenience and nothing more. But when they realize their growing attraction for each other, they must decide if giving in to their feelings is worth the risk of upsetting their new family s delicate balance. This engaging debut from Prudence Bice is a wholesome love story that satisfies and uplifts while reaffirming your faith in the human spirit.

One other thing--one of the negative aspects of this book for me was that there were too many flashbacks. I really wish the author would have trimmed these down a bit.


Read additional reviews on Goodreads here.

BTW, this book was included in LDS Publisher's contest for the best cover designs of 2010. I agree that this cover is well done!

Scripture of the Day: D&C 88:63

Cultivating Gratitude #7

When I saw this cute little picture (credit here) I decided today I would be grateful for carrots. Did you know I eat carrots pretty much every day? They are portable, healthy, tasty, and fast (especially if I use baby carrots). Occasionally I pack some dip to eat with the carrots, but mostly I just chomp away at them plain. Since I have to eat at least one meal on the go during the weekdays, carrots have become a go-to item for me. And on Sundays I pretty much always throw some in with our roast.

So today when I am eating my carrots I will feel extra grateful the Lord has provided me with such a great food option.

Scripture of the Day: 2 Nephi 25:26

Happy Birthday Sweetie Peach

To my ever-smiling Sweetie Peach,

I hope you always have flowers to smell and brighten your days.

I hope your skirts always whirl when you twirl about.

I hope you are always willing to dive in and get your hair wet (even if you are missing a tooth or two).

And that your smile never fades away.

Happy birthday! All my love, Mom

Scripture of the Day: 3 Ne. 13:33

Book Review: The Kiss of a Stranger

I was so excited for Sarah M. Eden's newest book to be released--and even though it was not available for my Nook, I bought it anyway. And I am happy to report I was not disappointed by The Kiss of a Stranger! Eden's fun sense of humor remains in full play in this book (love the whole fairy cakes episode), despite a heroine who has suffered greatly at the hands of an unkind uncle. Definitely a fun, worthwhile read.

Synopsis:
When Crispin, Lord Cavratt, thoroughly and scandalously kisses a serving woman in the garden of a country inn, he assumes the encounter will be of no consequence. But he couldn’t be more mistaken— the maid is not only a lady of birth, she’s the niece of a very large, exceptionally angry gentleman, who claims Crispin has compromised his niece beyond redemption. The dismayed young lord has no choice but to marry Miss Catherine Thorndale, who lacks both money and refinement and assumes all men are as vicious as her guardian uncle. Trapped between an unwanted marriage and a hasty annulment, which would leave his reputation tainted and Catherine’s utterly ruined, Crispin begins guiding his wife’s transformation from a socially petrified country girl to a lady of society. Their unfolding relationship reveals encouraging surprises for both of them, and privately, each of them wonders if theirs may become a true marriage of the heart. But their hopes are dashed when forces conspire to split asunder what fate has granted, and as a battle of wits escalates into a life-threatening confrontation, will it be possible for Crispin and Catherine to live happily ever after?

Read additional reviews on Goodreads here.

PS, If anyone has a copy of Sarah Eden's book Seeking Persephone, I would love to borrow/buy it!

Scripture of the Day: Alma 27:18

Cultivating Gratitude #6

I am thankful today is Saturday because Saturday means pizza for dinner. Lame, I know... but still, I am grateful for pizza.

Pizza night means no real cooking, kids not complaining about their dinner, and yumminess.

Even pineapple and ham pizza. Yum.


And tonight we have the missionaries coming for dinner. I have contemplated serving them something better than take-out pizza. Having been a missionary myself, I know they would likely much prefer more of a home-cooked meal. I know I should feel more guilty for not living up to my heritage of Mormon motherhood (not to mention Relief Society).

But I don't. Because I am grateful for it being pizza night.

Maybe I will add a salad and some cut up fruit to the meal to salve my conscience.

Yay for pizza night.

Scripture of the Day: D&C 88:63

Sweetie Peach's Baptism Pics

Just a few sweet pictures we had taken of Sweetie Peach for her baptism that is coming up. Thanks so much to Sunshine and Shade photography for taking these--she did a great job despite being handicapped by my choice of location. Here are some of my favorites.

I like seeing her teeth in this next one--she has been doing the tooth-less smile a lot lately because of missing teeth. She even lost one more since this was taken last week.

Scripture of the Day: D&C 38:39

Book Review: Finding Rose

I won Finding Rose on a blog tour over the holidays--actually, I hit them up for an eBook version instead (my bookshelves are overflowing!). Written by Stephanie Humphreys, a first time author, this was a fun read. I found her characters to have well-rounded personalities (although Rose herself was a bit immature--but she starts off as a 19 year old, so maybe she would be immature at that age) and the plot moved at a good pace. Although not a perfect book, I applaud Humphrey's on her first novel and look forward to seeing more of her work in the future.

Synopsis:
On his deathbed, Rose Sterling’s father asks her to consider Miles Crandall as a suitor. Then Rose is sent to live with an uncle in Spring Creek, Montana, far from her carefree life with her family in Utah. Miles is returning to his hometown of Spring Creek to set up a medical practice, so Rose is certain her being sent there is a setup. Yet Miles doesn’t seem interested in her, and after Rose falls ill in Montana, he seems content to act as her physician and friend. When Rose captures the attention of Miles’s younger, flamboyant brother as well as the town sheriff, Miles retreats even further from
any attempt at courtship.

How can Rose honor her father’s last wish if Miles doesn’t even try to court her? Will she have the courage to put her heart on the line and fight for the one she really loves.

Read additional reviews on Goodreads here.

Scripture of the Day: 1 Timothy 4:7