First, I have to say that I am ranking these books under protest. I prefer to say that I really liked all three
without having to say I really liked one more than the others or even more than
I really liked a few I’m not including. Picking the top three was hard enough without having to put them in order.
A Tailor-Made Bride stood out as
one reread from the past year that I enjoyed as much as the first time I read
it. The banter between the
1800-something dressmaker and her love interest is amusing but at times
surprisingly thought-provoking. He
thinks she’s promoting vanity. She
thinks she’s helping women feel good about their appearances.
Neither is fully right or wrong. There is value in beauty. When is the cost of seeking it too high? And in what forms can we find it? I find beauty in the promise of a happily
ever after, something this book delivers. No, that’s not a spoiler. It’s a
love story.
Jericho "J.T." Tucker wants nothing to do with Coventry, Texas's new dressmaker. He's all too familiar with her kind--shallow women more devoted to fashion than true beauty. Yet, except for her well-tailored clothing, this seamstress is not at all what he expected. Hannah Richards is confounded by the man who runs the livery. The unsmiling fellow riles her with his arrogant assumptions and gruff manner while at the same time stirring her heart with unexpected acts of kindness. Which side of Jericho Tucker reflects the real man? When Hannah decides to help Jericho's sister catch a beau--leading to uproarious consequences…
There’s a quote I’ve seen attributed to CS Lewis that a children’s story
that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story. I agree wholeheartedly. Though this book is aimed at children, and I
did in fact read it with two of mine, I’m sure I enjoyed it as much as they
did.
The book centers on two children whose parents are facing difficult
circumstances. The closeness of the
siblings keeps the tone from being overly depressing as they set out on a quest
to improve the situation. Some might
classify the book as magical realism, some might say it’s a tale of a modern
miracle, and others will say it’s simply an unreliable narrator.
I know which camp I’m in, but what matters is
that the story takes many pleasantly unexpected turns. One of my kids was immensely proud of herself
when she recognized the significance of the names of the three people who pop
up to help the siblings. Kids who don’t
see that or a few other clever references will still find a sweet
page-turner. Parents will alternate
between wanting to laugh and wanting to cry every time Simon says, “Cheese.”
A magical adventure about two brave siblings determined to find a treasure that could save their family.
When eleven-year-old Pet Martin’s dad falls from a ladder on their family farm, it isn’t just his body that crashes to the ground. So does every hope her family had for the future. Money is scarce, and Pet’s mom is bone-tired from waiting tables at the local diner, and even with the extra hours, it’s not enough for a third surgery for Pet’s dad. Her five-year-old brother, Simon, now refuses to say anything except the word “cheese.” Worst of all? The ladder accident…
I’ve read several books by Matthew Kelly, and I finally got around to Resisting
Happiness this year. It’s now one of
my favorite nonfiction reads. (One of my favorites, not the favorite because I
don’t do that.)
I tend to read
nonfiction very slowly, taking the time to absorb and reflect on the
material. This book seems to be designed
for people like me. Each chapter is
pretty short and ends with key points to consider and suggested action
steps. The primary focus is on
cultivating and maintaining good habits, positive habits that can yield greater
happiness.
To be clear, the book is not
self-help but spiritual development. Readers who want God’s help will get the most from it.
A true story about why we sabotage ourselves, feel overwhelmed, set aside our dreams, and lack the courage to simply be ourselves... and how to start choosing happiness again!
Are you happy? It may be the wrong question. Most of us think we are relatively happy, while at the same time knowing that we could be happier maybe even a lot happier. Ordinary people and the finest philosophers have been exploring the question of happiness for thousands of years, and theories abound. But this is not a book of theory. Resisting Happiness is a deeply personal, disarmingly transparent look at…
The plot in a nutshell: boy meets girl. Boy sticks foot in mouth repeatedly. Fortunately, boy has more help than he wants
in winning girl. The Art of
Introductions is the first book in my latest series of Christian romantic
comedies. It’s the third of my books to
receive a fiction award from the Catholic Media Association.
