Within My Heart

I must apologize because I am going to be reviewing quite of few of those silly historical fiction romance novels over the next few days.  You see, what I like about Bethany House's blogger review program is that they send out an email every few months or so with a list of books available for review, and you can request all of them at the same time- and generally receive each and every one.  And you know me, I'm not about to turn down free books...well, sometimes I would.  At any rate, Bethany House sent me five books this round and so I've been working my way through them this week.  Usually, it only takes me a few hours to get through books like these, so it's nice I can whip through them, write the review, and promptly await the next email from Bethany House.

I started and finished Within My Heart by Tamera Alexander last night (this is what happens when your husband works on a Friday night and you have no money to go out gallivanting around town on your own), and I was quite impressed with the story; the book is part of the Timber Ridge Reflections series, which tells the stories of different individuals living in a town of Timber Ridge in the Colorado Rockies.  It's one of those unique series where you can only read one book and not necessarily get lost.  Alexander alludes to the different story lines from other books, but always explains enough of the details so that the reader is not completely confused (but still snagging your interest just enough so you want to go and read the other books).

This particular story in the Timber Ridge series is that of Rachel Boyd, a young widow trying to fulfill her late husband's dream of owning a working and profitable ranch.  She struggles with daily life on the ranch while trying to take care of her too young boys as they still cope with their father's death two years before.  When one of her dearest friends in the town becomes seriously ill, she's forced to trust the town doctor Rand Brookston, a man whom she simply wishes to avoid.  He's a physician- just like her father- and that tells her everything she needs to know about the man.

Dr. Brookston graduated from one of the top medical schools in the east and turning down numerous prestigious job offers at large respected hospitals, ventured west with the dream of bringing modern medicine to the wilds of the Colorado Rockies.  When a patient's life is threatened, Brookston makes the decision to perform a new and complicated surgery, hoping and praying it's the right idea.

I like the stories set on the frontier- something about people leaving behind the 'ease' of life in the east to hack it out where life is difficult and demanding- always seemed rather inspiring to me.  One of the best things about this book was how Alexander described the beauty of the Rockies.  I was fortunate to live there for a few years, and can quite honestly confess it is one of the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen.  I can only imagine how life would be there without running water, indoor plumbing, or paved roads.  Still, the pristine beauty must have been a fair trade-off for most people.

Of course, you know from the outset what the book's ending will be, but just because you know the ending already doesn't mean you shouldn't go along for the journey, right?

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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."

What's On the Telly?

I feel quite pathetic admitting this, but there is something about the anticipation of the season of television show premiers each fall (even though it has most definitely not felt like autumn this week).  Maybe it has something to do with the back-to-school jitters that corresponded with returning shows and new series on the telly.  I don't do the back-to-school jitters anymore, and I honestly don't even watch a lot of television, but I do still feel a twinge of excitement when I realize it's time for the season premiere of a good show. 

So what are my favourite shows currently on television (because if we're discussing all-time favourites, that might be a bit difficult to determine.  After all, I still have much respect for David the Gnome...)?  Here are my top five, in no particular order:

The Amazing Race.  I know it's considered a reality show, but it's worth watching.  Teams (usually in pairs) race around the world for chance to win a million dollars and lots of other cool prizes.  With my perpetual wanderlust, this show is naturally ones of my faves.  However, it's also really cool to see the transformation some contestants make as they experience other cultures and begin to loose their prejudices.  And of course, it always affords some hilarious moments.  We usually have a group of friends that gather with us on Sunday evenings to watch the show and being with loved ones makes the experience even better.

The IT Crowd.  If you've spoken with me at all in the past month, you must have heard me proclaiming from the hilltops this as my new favourite show.  Really, this is by far the funniest show I have ever seen on television.  The series follows three coworkers in the IT department of Reynolm Industries.  Moss is a slightly socially awkward Brit with a side-parted afro (yes, an afro with a side part), and Roy is his sometimes-over-the-top Irishman coworker.  During the first episode, their boss hires Jen, who knows nothing about computers, to become their new supervisor.  What ensues is pure hilarity.  They just wrapped series four across the pond, and series five will begin next summer.  Rumor is that a sixth series has already been commissioned as well.  Apparently, they are also debuting an American version of the show on IFC...but you know the Americans usually muck up a quality British comedy.

The Office.  This is actually one time where we cousins were able to take a British comedy and get it right.  Nothing offers the classic awkward moments, unexpected moments, and pure comical genius like this show.  Admittedly, it was much better before Pam and Jim were actually together.  Their tenuous relationship was the centre of the show, and once it was resolved, the writers seemed to be grasping at straws more often than not.  I hope they actually end the show soon so that they go out on a high note, rather than stretching out the series into the land of low-ratings.  Take a clue from Ricky Gervais, my friends.

Spooks.  Oh goodness.  Nothing satisfies my need for some intense British drama and quick wit like this show.  The show follows Section D of MI-5 as they defend the Britain against domestic and foreign threats.  Be warned, the show is intense and the writers are ruthless.  Believe me, they are not afraid to kill off any of the main characters!  I don't know how many times I've finished an episode with my jaw in my lap as I say to myself, "Did so-and-so really just get shot in the head?" and "Did so-and-so really just fall off the grid like that?"  That's what keeps the show so realistic I suppose- there is no mercy is the world of espionage, friends.  Though Section D has gone through a number of different officers, Harry Pearce remains their faithful leader as the team works to catch terrorists, protect Britons' safety, and enforce security.  Even though the show is a drama, there is still a great bit of comedy throughout the show.  Series nine premieres in Britain this fall, and series eight can be seen on some PBS stations and on BBC America soon.

30 Rock.  This show is fast-becoming my favourite American comedy as The Office fizzles out.  Based loosely on Tina Fey's experience as the head writer of SNL, 30 Rock is the best thirty minutes of comedy on Thursday evenings.  Originally, 30 Rock didn't get very high ratings, but the audience has grown over the past few seasons; tonight is the season five premiere.  The show gets great guest stars, but I am most satisfied with Alec Baldwin's portrayal as Jack, the man sent in to retool the show for which Liz Lemon is head writer.  Tracy Morgan's character has the best one liners ("Live every week like it's Shark Week!"), but Jack McBrayer as the quirky and dedicated NBC page never fails to make me giggle.

To what shows do you look forward?

Would You Like To Know...

...one of my (not so) secret ambitions?  To be on NPR's Sunday Morning Puzzles.  Isaac and I listen usually listen to the show on the way to church, and I always imagine being on air and brilliantly answering all of Will Shortz's tricky puzzles.  But then the enthusiasm is usually dampened by the realization that I would probably make a complete idiot of myself on national radio.

Oh well.  A girl can dream, can't she?

An Education

I saw this brilliant film last night while my husband was locked away in another room studying for hours on end.  The entire piece was excellently done- the screenplay, acting, directing, score.  I wish all those Twilight-crazy teenagers would watch this movie instead.



"Action is character.  If we never did anything, we wouldn't be anybody."

Love's First Bloom

We're back from our fabulous mini-break to New York!  We met Mumsy at the airport and helped her complete her five items on her "New York Must Do" list between Thursday and Saturday before we attended the astronomically brilliant wedding of my lifelong childhood friend Laina.  Seriously, we met the first day of seventh grade.  And she was wearing pink overalls, for which we still poke fun at her.  Pictures, stories, and more details are forthcoming, so calm down a bit (Tracie, I'm talking to you specifically here).

We had a 6:00 am flight out of Laguardia today, and after a few minor mishaps (thank you Gypsy cab for taking us to the wrong terminal at 4:45 in the morning), we made it back to Louisville to the smiling faces of our good friends the Pascarellas who drove us home.  Fortunately, we walked in our door by 11:30 in the morning; unfortunately, I decided against taking a nap and instead opened the box of books waiting for me.  Bethany House sent me more of those cheesy historical fiction books, and the timing was impeccable since my brain was not functioning at its highest level after only acquiring approximately three hours of sleep the night before and riding the emotional roller coaster of watching one of my best friends marry the love of her life while getting to see some amazing 'family' (I am obsessed with Laina's family) and friends (No No and Jenny Mac, to be specific).

Love's First Bloom tells the story of Ruth Livingstone, the daughter of a minister in New York.  Ruth's father leads a controversial ministry reaching out to the 'fallen angels' of the city.  He visits brothels and tries to encourage the women to leave their lifestyle of prostitution; though he had many partners and supporters in this ministry, there were also many people who spoke against his activities.  When the Reverend is accused of murdering one of the young women whom he tried to help, he sends his daughter away to a nearby village and places a young child- the child of the murdered woman- in her arms.  Ruth must live the lie that she is Ruth Malloy, a widow who sought help from distant family in the small town in New Jersey.  As the suspense and drama of her father's trial heightens to a pitch, Ruth realizes that several reporters are diligently searching for her in order to determine the truth behind her disappearance.  All the while, Ruth must maintain her identity as the widow and hope her father is acquitted and can send for her soon.

Of course, this book is typical no-brainer read, but I did like the fact that Delia Parr drew attention to the issue of prostitution and ministering to those who are 'fallen' in the eyes of society and the world.  The book has a solid foundation of faith, and it is really much more than a sappy love story; in fact, I though the love story played a very minor role.  The book deals with issues in parenting, forgiveness, and the need to strive for truthfulness.  I read the book in one day- even running on my extreme lack sleep- and still enjoyed the story.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Behtny House Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Would You Like To Know...

...what I'm doing today?  The hubs and I are flying here:

to meet her:

Not your fairy godmother, by the one and only Mumsy.

so we can attend the wedding of her:

Beloved childhood friend in incredibly embarrassing picture from our New Year's Eve adventure...

And while we're there, we're going to see this:

Only my favourite Broadway show of all time...

Could I be anymore excited?  Let me check...No.

Immanuel's Veins

I've never actually read anything by famed author Ted Dekker, so when Thomas Nelson gave me the chance to review a new book of his, I jumped at the chance.  I've heard nothing but good things about his writing from various different people, but they all agree on one thing: it can be intense.

When I first looked at Immanuel's Veins, I could not figure out what the storyline was; the back of the book and the inside of the flap jacket weren't too forthcoming about the actual plot, and even the reviews were somewhat vague.  No character names were mentioned, not particular time...nothing.  Just some tidbit about love, evil, blood, and sacrifice.  Friends, I had no idea what that meant, but I decided to give it a try anyway.

I read the book in one sitting.  I kid you not, I picked up the book, and did not put it down until my husband made me by bringing home pizza and insisting it was time to eat.  I ate my dinner, and went back to finish the forty or so pages I had left.  I'm not going to lie, it was definitely intense at times.  It was an interesting story through and through, partly because going into the book you were completely clueless as to what to expect.  I'm not sure I should give any of the plot away either because then the story wouldn't be the same for you...

I will say it does have a vampire-like theme (okay, really, you can figure that out just by looking at the cover and title), but there is definitely a twist.  I'm not really a fan of vampire-themed books- remember when I was reading Dracula in the middle of the day and got freaked out?  Yeah, the same sort of thing almost happened at a few points in this book too.  However, I thought this story was well-written and engaging.  Toward the end of the book though, I started to get confused about the message Dekker was trying to convey.  All the ends just didn't tie together nicely.  When Isaac asked me what I thought of the book considering I read it in its entirety in just a few hours, I stumbled over my words.  "Well...I mean, yeah it was good...the story was interesting up to a certain point...I...I'm just not sure....not sure what Dekker to trying to say theologically."

And it's true; I'm still confused as to what Dekker was trying to convey in terms of Christ and love and just about everything else in between.  In fact, the end of the novel and the confusion surrounding just what the message was supposed to be muddled up the whole thing for me.  I agree that we need to live our lives in such as way that people see Christ in us, but not is such a way that people think we are Christ.  One of the characters kept saying, "Be her Immanuel."  Well, that's all nice and lovely, but really if you or I died for someone we love, that is admirable and shows no greater love...but that person isn't necessarily going to be brought back to life if they're already dead.  And neither are we.  Because we're not God.  We can make sacrifices and even die, but once we're dead...well, we're dead unless God Himself decides otherwise, and there really wasn't any mention of God playing a role in the whole dying and being brought back to life because of sacrificial love.  The whole God thing seemed more of an afterthought of anything else.

The book will keep you engaged, but you just might be scratching your head at the end.  In fact, I would really like it if someone else- preferably someone more intelligent then me- would read this book and give me their opinion.  Am I just missing something?

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.”