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   I love Historical Romance along with other genres. "The Dare And The Doctor" by Kate Noble is wonderful. It came in my mailbox at the perfect time. Autumn mornings have a crispy chill here in my "neck of the woods." In the book, it's spring, at least for now. It's delicious reading about forced bulbs, jasmine vines and rose shrubberies. For the first time, I'm allowing myself to drop out of the present season and in to a season that is months away. So this morning I'm smelling roses and thinking of colors like light lime, sky blue and lilac and walking through a park with a gentleman. Of course, I'm already in love with Rhys. I especially like the spelling of his name. He seems as gentle as spring. Well, I'm enchanted. Vauxhall Gardens (pinterest.com)

"...they stood quiet, entranced by the wizard Louis and his magical horn." http://www.biography.com/people/louis-armstrong-9188912

On the cover of Beth Moran's, novel are these words to describe the novel. "...chick-lit as it should be." If Chick Lit is no longer trending in bookstores, that is sad. "The Name I Call Myself" is great. Along with lighthearted days, there are very serious situations taking place in the novel.  This Christian novel is basically about survival and song. Yes, the wedding gown is part of the novel, not a big part. I think the cover of the book and the blurb on the back might mislead readers. Don't look to read much about a wedding trousseau. The most important part of the novel is that a dangerous man named Kane is getting out of prison. It is possible he might harm Faith and her brother, Sam, again. He has already caused the family tremendous physical pain and loss. With all that is going on in her life, Faith continues to attend church and to take care of her brother who has drug and mental problems. Faith is in the church choir. The chur

  http://www.rosecityreader.com/ "When, in my younger days, I idly contemplated the time I might one day go wedding dress shopping, it never crossed my mind that it would be a covert operation, accompanied by oversized sunglasses and a floppy hat." ( Lion Fiction) Yes, this is about Larissa's, best gift. It's a wedding dress for Faith, her future daughter-in-law.  The horrible wedding dress is why I chose the novel. It's just that now I'm more involved with the relationships in Faith's life. I've almost forgotten about the ugly wedding gown.

  https://mailboxmonday.wordpress.com/ Thank you to Lake Union Publishing "                   " Pocket Books

Death isn't always a quiet affair in a room with only the buzz of a fly. The person dying is still very much aware of the psychological processes of the people close to her. This is the case for Joanna DeAngelis. She is in the last stages of cancer. She is very aware of her daughters and the men in her life, a husband and a boyfriend. As I read about Joanna in "The Next" by Stephanie Gangi I felt dying is tough not just because of the pain and other human indignities but because loved ones seem to become more solid, more real. There is the feeling 'now I know how you really feel, what you really are willing to do for me.' I'm more aware that death might not bring those whom I love closer to me. It's possible death might lead them away from me. For years, some married couples thought another child would make them grow closer to one another. Not necessarily so. And so the fact that my days are shortened won't necessarily stop a man from

This poetry book, "My Love For You Before I Met You" by Yong Ho Nam is about love and marriage. The poetry is broken up into three sections. These poems are a way of leading us back to see the beauty of love and marriage. Each poem is written for the wife of the speaker. Some poems really spoke to me while others did not move me at all. I did have the desire to widen the net and capture all loving relationships. However, I wasn't sure how the author, Yong Ho Nam, would feel about my idea. It just seems like these poems could fit marriage or friendship or a family relationship. Because there is always a need for inspiring thoughts, helpful thoughts about change and struggle as we journey through life. Here are a few lines that speak volumes and make me think about not having the one I love with me or not having the chance to share a beautiful moment with that person. Don't you know that I need you? That I need you in my arms That every shooting star that

Have you ever been called egotistical or arrogant? If so, this is the perfect book for you. Pat Williams With Jim Denney shares a description of haughtiness and how to change the characteristic. It's a medium sized non-fiction book packed with simple ways to become more humble. Best of all I liked the stories about different famous people. I did not expect to become so interested in Abraham Lincoln again. After all, there are many, many books written about his life. However, these stories were new to me. The author does seem opinionated at times. It is good to keep your thinking cap on and choose how you feel about the people mentioned in the book. The quotations at the top of the chapters are very helpful. In the end, it is definitely not easy to understand humility. It is a book that takes hard thought. Thank goodness, the authors leave hope at the end of the rainbow. "Humility is a learnable skill." I am grateful to Barbour Publishers for my review book. It is

I can't imagine living on an island. I suppose that's one reason "The Cottage" by Michael Phillips fits me. I have visited the Sea Islands in Georgia. It's such a different feeling knowing you're on a piece of land that has an end and a beginning. Land where the water surrounds you. These islands are the Shetland Islands. The blurb on the back speaks of peacefulness. Reading about the author I learn that he, Michael Phillips, and his wife have chosen to live in California and only visit Scotland. In the plot of "The Cottage," there is an inheritance for Loni. I love reading about inheritances, European locations and treasure. I've already read about a journal. I like to read about journals in a novel too. I hope this journal plays a big part in the novel. Here are the other books for my Mailbox Monday: 1. The Name I Call Myself by Beth Moran 2.The Courtesan by Alexandra Curry 3.Game of Queens by India Edghill 4.The Next by Stephanie G

I can't imagine living on an island. I suppose that's one reason "The Cottage" by Michael Phillips fits me. I have visited the Sea Islands in Georgia. It's such a different feeling knowing you're on a piece of land that has an end and a beginning. Land where the water surrounds you. These islands are the Shetland Islands. The blurb on the back speaks of peacefulness. Reading about the author I learn that he, Michael Phillips, and his wife have chosen to live in California and only visit Scotland. In the plot of "The Cottage," there is an inheritance for Loni. I love reading about inheritances, European locations and treasure. I've already read about a journal. I like to read about journals in a novel too. I hope this journal plays a big part in the novel. Here are the other books for my Mailbox Monday: 1. The Name I Call Myself by Beth Moran 2.The Courtesan by Alexandra Curry 3.Game of Queens by India Edghill 4.The Next by Stephanie G

I can't imagine living on an island. I suppose that's one reason "The Cottage" by Michael Phillips fits me. I have visited the Sea Islands in Georgia. It's such a different feeling knowing you're on a piece of land that has an end and a beginning. Land where the water surrounds you. These islands are the Shetland Islands. The blurb on the back speaks of peacefulness. Reading about the author I learn that he, Michael Phillips, and his wife have chosen to live in California and only visit Scotland. In the plot of "The Cottage," there is an inheritance for Loni. I love reading about inheritances, European locations and treasure. I've already read about a journal. I like to read about journals in a novel too. I hope this journal plays a big part in the novel. Here are the other books for my Mailbox Monday: 1. The Name I Call Myself by Beth Moran 2.The Courtesan by Alexandra Curry 3.Game of Queens by India Edghill 4.The Next by Stephanie G

I appreciate Glennon Doyle Melton's journey toward becoming in touch with herself in her book "Love Warrior." It's not an easy journey. It's one where she learns knowing what she needs, what she desires and what she doesn't want in her life will lead her closer to the joys in life. The truths she learns do not come without extraordinary pain. Along the way, it felt good to read a person's true opinion about our churches. There are still cracks among the congregations of these Holy places. There are a few congregants who still have not discovered how to speak to another person's pain. Instead certain ones still come with a list of what you should have done and what you need to do now in order to fix your problem. Are they like Job's friends? I feel free to mention Job here because the author does mention God in the memoir. It was my feeling that she traveled to the churches of God first for help. I felt sad to read about pornography. It is s

I have enjoyed another cozy. This one, "Murder in the Secret Garden" by Ellery Adams involves chilling poisonous plants like the mandrake and chemicals like Arsenic. From what I can understand poisonous plants can also have good benefits along with those too awful deadly ones. There are also facts about rare books. One character goes so far as to steal an Herbology which is small enough to fit inside a waistband. There is the Gutenberg Bible, monks and what can go terribly wrong in an order, in this case the Benedictine order. It seems we are unafraid to do wrong in the most holiest of places. Of course there is murder where Ellery Adams taps into the idea of why good people murder other people. In a roundabout way she writes about the length of anger. If it is not addressed, it grows into "rage." These are only a few of the important issues that are addressed. On the lighter side is the description of the book retreat, Storyton Hall where rooms and pools are n

I have enjoyed another cozy. This one, "Murder in the Secret Garden" by Ellery Adams involves chilling poisonous plants like the mandrake and chemicals like Arsenic. From what I can understand poisonous plants can also have good benefits along with those too awful deadly ones. There are also facts about rare books. One character goes so far as to steal an Herbology which is small enough to fit inside a waistband. There is the Gutenberg Bible, monks and what can go terribly wrong in an order, in this case the Benedictine order. It seems we are unafraid to do wrong in the most holiest of places. Of course there is murder where Ellery Adams taps into the idea of why good people murder other people. In a roundabout way she writes about the length of anger. If it is not addressed, it grows into "rage." These are only a few of the important issues that are addressed. On the lighter side is the description of the book retreat, Storyton Hall where rooms and pools are n

It begins with 1909. It's March. Unfortunately, it's not a autumnal month of the year. There is trouble, anger, jealousy, an affair, and guess who is involved? Mark Twain. I'm not a fan of Mark Twain. Well, I loved Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. I've always felt unsafe with his racial values. Perhaps, I have judged him by his appearance: The white goatee, the white suit, the whole look. I just never wanted him to make me laugh. I wouldn't give in and read  "The Celebrated Jumping Frog Of Calveras County.  twain.lib.virginia.edu/huckfinn/jumpfrog.html   At last, I'm going to read this short story. It's followed me for years. I pray it won't make me laugh. If I laugh, it will mean Mark Twain is in line to become an author I like.I hope along the way to read to learn about this author's personal life. I'm already feeling sorry for that woman, but that's not right. Maybe I'm thinking of Anna Karenina. Well, I'm off to read about Isabel

It begins with 1909. It's March. Unfortunately, it's not a autumnal month of the year. There is trouble, anger, jealousy, an affair, and guess who is involved? Mark Twain. I'm not a fan of Mark Twain. Well, I loved Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. I've always felt unsafe with his racial values. Perhaps, I have judged him by his appearance: The white goatee, the white suit, the whole look. I just never wanted him to make me laugh. I wouldn't give in and read  "The Celebrated Jumping Frog Of Calveras County.  twain.lib.virginia.edu/huckfinn/jumpfrog.html   At last, I'm going to read this short story. It's followed me for years. I pray it won't make me laugh. If I laugh, it will mean Mark Twain is in line to become an author I like. Yummy, the first page has taken me away to somewhere else where there is a "painting of the Pitti Palace in Florence." sbas.fi.it/english/musei/palatina/ This man, Mark Twain, is very complicated. He's not a Hum

"He didn't even feel it. So he tried again, this time digging in his nails. He just wanted to feel something, physical pain, to tell him that he was alive, that this was all happening." adailyrhythm.com

This is a simply written and beautiful written Bible book. Children and grown-ups will enjoy it. I especially relished looking at the colorful paintings. These pictures seemed to fit the stories so well.Then, there are the prayers and scriptures. All information is easy to find and fun to glance over again and again. The book begins with the Creation story and ends with the New Jerusalem. I would like to end by mentioning the poetry. One stanza in particular is great for grace before a meal. "At this table / Take your place: / Feast upon / God's love and grace." Both The Old Testament and New Testament are shared within the pages of the book. The content pages are very easy to follow allowing a reader to choose randomly what to read for that day or night. kregel.com/lois-rock/the-bible-and-me/

It has been a light and heavy week with " Murdered in Argentina" by Dianne Harman. The heavy part was the murder of Ray, a CEO, who loved Fly fishing. The light and fun part was the armchair visit to Argentina. I didn't know anything about Argentina. Now I know there is a high production of my favorite sweet, chocolate. There is also a high production of leather. I have to mention the foods which made me feel hungry for a bit of beef or tomatoes. I felt happy to see the recipes at the end of the novella. Oh, the Fly fishing was fun too. I thought of the movie titled A River Runs Through It." I have fallen in love with Dianne Harman's mysteries because they are simply written. There isn't a lot of folderol. At times she might slide into too much detail. However, this doesn't happen often. I really liked the fact that the solution in this one makes perfect sense. I shocked myself by solving bits of it before the end of all the drama. There is the w

Colson Whitehead's The Underground Railroad has led to a desire to widen my net of genres. I haven't read Alternative Histories often. In this one, I felt deeply hurt not to read Harriet Tubman's name within the pages. However, I kept in mind that this is an invented history. A uniquely designed history is one where the author has the option to fictionalize the past as much as he or she may desire. I understand that point well. Therefore if I have a deep desire to read more research about Harriet Tubman I must choose another genre rather than an Alternative History. I did like reading about the tunnels and the railroad mechanisms. I tried very hard to gather a picture in my mind. Thinking that this railroad would not look like the engines I'm use to seeing. I could also feel the places in the novel where I thought Colson Whitehead's enthusiasm glowed. At times, I thought his light glowed too brightly. Then, I had to catch myself like a fisherman catc

Naive? Maybe. I can't name anything bad about this book. Honestly. I loved the whole book. I especially liked learning about Jacqueline Woodson's family and sense of place through poetry. While reading the book, her family became my family. I won't forget her favorite uncle and his troubles. Neither will I forget her mother and her gentle way of teaching obedience. I will remember her friend, Maria and Maria's mother's cooking. I recalled the History of New York from what I had learned in my elementary school: the Dutch, Peter Stuyvesant and the slaves. In brown girl dreaming , I came away loving the trips so many of us have made from the North to the South and back again. I will think more about the role religion plays in our lives. I found it easy to put away the negative words I have heard about a place called Kingdom Hall and congregations called Jehovah Witnesses. Most of all I will continue to ponder the importance of a girl coming of age in the United St

Add caption bibliophilebythesea.blogger.com North Texas May 1877 "Are you lost, miss?" Startled, the woman turned in her saddle and glared wide-eyed at him. Beneath the brim of her dark hat, vibrant blue eyes watched him.