"Wedding Cake"

Another book review! "Wedding Cake" by Lynne Hinton. (published by Harper Collins imprint, Avon)This book was a big disappointment to me. Aside from the scattered writing and too-quick-and-easy wrap up, it was not what I expected. From the description, I expected an inspirational fiction with Christian themes. Instead, I found characters who attended church (one was even a pastor!) but never talked about God, and who had no problems with, and even almost encouraged, homosexuality, adultery, pseudo-polygamy, cursing, stealing and other big issues. I found these characters to behave like immature college kids, despite the fact they were supposed to be between 40 and 70 years old. The writing itself was hard to follow at times and would mention things that we never heard about (it did touch on things from the previous books, which I have not ready, but the issues I had all pertained to this book). I would not recommend this book.

2/5 stars.

"Finding Jeena"

Another book review for you! This time, "Finding Jeena" by Miralee Ferrell. (published by Kregel Publishing) Jeena Gregory had arrived. A great new job, expensive new car and condo, a perfect new life. What could go wrong? When her well-planned life starts falling apart and shadows of her past come back to haunt her, Jeena must re-examine her heart. Will she like what she finds?

I found this book to be long, kind of boring and predictable. The writing was okay, but too detailed. Ferrell used the same analogies and thoughts repeatedly, making the story drag on. The message of God's unconditional love was clearly expressed as the main theme of the story, but I had a problem with how it all wrapped up. While it was stated several times that God is not a sort of Santa Claus waiting to grant every request, the moment Jeena turned her life over to Him, everything miraculously fell into place. Overall, it was a decent book but not one I'm likely to recommend.

2.5/5 stars

"The Vigilante's Bride"

I recieved "The Vigilante's Bride" by Yvonne Harris as part of the Early Reviewer program at LT last month. (Published by Bethany House)

Emily begrudgingly answers an ad for a mail-order bride expecting to find a new life in New Hope, Montana. What she doesn't expect is to be kidnapped from the stage on Christmas Eve and wind up helping at an orphanage with a handsome rancher, Luke Sullivan, the enemy of her would-be groom. Amidst apparent lies, missing cattle, and mysterious accidents and deaths, Emily loses her heart to Luke. Will love finally bring peace to his life, or more unease?

I really liked this book! Great story with plenty of action and drama. This was my first time reading anything by Harris but it won't be my last. She threw great little details into the story, even giving the horses adorable personalities! My one negative criticism is that Emily's character could've been better developed. There was a lot of potential, but it left me wanting more, especially compared with Luke's well-developed character and back story. All in all, a worthy read!

4/5 Stars!

What I Think of Travel

I know I haven't posted anything about Europe (or anything else for a while...). Its coming. I promise. As soon as I get a few minutes to myself to do anything but sleep. But, for now, a quote from Eat Pray Love that perfectly describes how I feel about travel:

...traveling is the great true love of my life. I have always felt...that to travel is worth any cost or sacrifice. I am loyal and constant in my love for travel, as I have not always been loyal and constant in my other loves. I feel about travel the way a happy new mother feels about her impossible, colicky, restless newborn baby- I don't care what it puts me through. Because I adore it. Because it's mine. Because it looks exactly like me. It can barf all over me if it wants to- I just don't care.

A Lifetime is Sooner Than You Think

Once in a lifetime is sooner than you think.

So why waste this one day, this one moment on the mundane, on the things that don't matter. Why sit back and let the world spin around you, when you could be out there spinning with it? Why always sit back and wait for something else to happen, for the "right moment"? There is no right moment. There is here and now. Take the chance. Jump in. Make mistakes. Get messy. Have no regrets. Don't let this time slip away. You don't want to wake up in 5, 10, 50 years and think "I wish I had...." or "I should have..." Today's the day to do it.

Make it count.

For The Love of Toenails

So today, I got hit on (I think) at Dollar Tree.

I was standing in the aisle that has posterboard, teacher's supplies and a few wedding-type stuff. I was looking at the bulletin board supplies when the big tall black man next to me says "I like that nail polish." I looked over and was just sort of like, "Um, thanks," which apparently was the go-ahead for him to continue. "I just looked over and was like, wow! Those are nice toes!"

Now, I know I'm single and not really into the whole dating scene, but is this really considered a pick up line?! Or an appropriate conversation starter at Dollar Tree?! From there he went on to joke about how you come in for one thing and leave with a whole basketful. When I walked away a minute later, he wished me a good day....and I promptly texted my friends about my weird happenstance. Any my toes don't even look particularly cute today! I stubbed both of my big toes while I was away so the nails are all weird and the nail polish is chipping.

Moral of the story: Always have cute toes. And Dollar Tree can be a hopping place for singles!

When God Shows Off

I love when God shows off, even if no one else sees it.

Yesterday I was working 7-3 (after staying out past midnight for karaoke). I walked in to my favorite unit to check the schedule and where I was going to be. I was assigned to a floor I've only been to a handful of times, a floor that's not my favorite, mostly because I don't really know the residents and their routine, yada yada.

I was walking away from my favorite unit to this other unit, I prayed that I would have a nice, easy day and that even though it never happens and will never happen, could I please walk onto the unit and have them send me to over my favorite unit. So as I sucked it up and walked onto the unit, I smiled and said good morning to a fellow nurse who then promptly said she had asked the supervisor and could we please switch units today and did I mind going to my favorite unit?

How awesome is God?! Like, INSTANT answer to IMPOSSIBLE prayer. Seriously, this is the kind of thing that just doesn't happen over here. Usually, its the opposite. I'll be assigned to a unit I like and someone will ask to switch. I love when God shows off! And I still had a nice, easy day :)