Ten difficult reads

For this week, the subject for Top Ten Tuesday is 10 books that were hard to get through, for various reasons.

1. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
I tried to get into this one, I really did. Part of my difficulty might of had to do with the pile of books I needed to get through. So, once that pile is down a bit, I will most likely pick it up again.

2. The Story Kepper by Lisa Wingate
I really wanted to read this one, so I stuck it out this last week. I am so glad I did! It is one of those rare books that, while the beginning might be a bit slow, totally sucks one into the story until the last page. I highly recommend it!

3. Divergent by Veronica Roth
I finished this one, but I haven't picked the other books up in the series. They are on my someday list....

4. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
This is another one that I tried to read and still haven't made it through the story. Which, is a shame, since I think it is right up my alley!

5. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Another one that I had a hard time getting into, so I set it aside. My aunt is bringing me her copy to read, so then I won't have an excuse.;)

6. War and Peace by Tolstoy
I made it through, but I don't remember a lot of the details of the story.;) It was a bear to keep all the characters straight!

7. Crime and Punishment by Dostoyevsky
Another one I made it through, but should of stuck with the cliff notes on.;)

8. Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell
I love the main character, since Molly is so sweet! I have to admit, her step sister drove me NUTS. And, the author died before finishing the story, though you know the gist of the ending.

9 The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by Lewis
I was pretty young when I first started the series, and didn't think I would ever get into it. Now, it is one of my very favorites!

10. Lord of the Rings Tolkien
My uncle, bless his heart, sent me some of his favorite books from his childhood. It took me a while to see the beauty of those books, like this series and Narnia, but I eventually did! I can see why they were his favorites, and they have become some of mine too.;)

What are some of the books you found hard to get through?

Sweet

Food Network Magazine editors have picked their all-time favorite treats and put them into one amazing book. In Sweet, you?ll find over-the-top brownies, super fun cupcakes, show-off layer cakes, one-of-a-kind cookies and so much more.

This great collection includes recipes for any occasion, with step-by-step instructions and full-page color photographs to help you along. You don?t need to be an experienced baker to get started. Every dessert in this book is easy to follow?and totally foolproof. Each recipe has been triple-tested, so you know it?ll come out just right. Flip through and you?ll find some fun surprises, too: a bowl made of chocolate, a spectrum of frosting colors and a cake that looks like a giant caramel apple
My personal favorites are the Samoa tartle, the lemon raspberry sorbet cake, and their peanut butter and jelly filled macaroons.
I appreciate that most of the baking recipes are totally from scratch, since I prefer not to use mixes when I bake. With this cookbook by your side, you will be the hit of any party!
I received this cookbook from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Hidden in the Stars

A quilt holds the secret to a killer still at large—and who his next victim will be.

Following an attack that killed her mother and stole her ability to speak, 21‑year‑old Sophia Montgomery has no choice but to accept her estranged grandmother’s offer to return to their family home. Although detective Julian Frazier is working hard on the case, Sophia unknowingly frustrates him because her inability to speak thwarts her eyewitness evidence. The fact that Julian is undeniably attracted to Sophia doesn’t help either, so Julian hides his feelings as concern for a trauma victim and focuses instead on finding the killer.

Little do they know, the clues to solving the case may be right in front of them, displayed in Sophia’s mother’s “special” quilt design. Who will realize the secret Sophia’s unwittingly been hiding in plain sight? When the truth comes to light, will Sophia find her voice again? Or will the murderer—still at large—silence her forever?

My thoughts: I picked this book up rather skeptically, since I wasn't sure how such a story could be packed into a relatively short book. Well, the author succeeded! I fell in love with the characters, as they try to unravel the mystery of Sophia's attack and her mother's murder. I like that the mystery had several layers to it, along with unexpected twists. It was well written and had awesome secondary characters. I look forward to trying out more books by Robin Caroll!
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

Feeding Baby

Your baby deserves the best in life — food is no exception! Feeding Baby is the ultimate guide to preparing and feeding wholesome foods for your infant, with helpful nutritional tips, picky eating solutions, and over 80 recipes. Once you discover how easy and affordable it is to make baby food at home, you’ll take comfort in knowing your child is receiving the best nutrition possible.
As a mother, I want to feed my little girl the best diet possible, to help her growth and development. In Feeding Baby, Clancy Cash Harrison provides parents with wonderful guide lines to help their babies to thrive. I like that she breaks down how to know when to feed your child what foods, and that she goes through some common ingredients in mass produced foods and gives parents the information necessary to make informed decisions on what they feed their little ones. I love having this book in my own collection and will look to buying more copies of it to give as gifts.
Buy the book.

Buried Beneath the Words

Words! Words! Words!

Words all over the place. Accusing, blaming, and degrading words are the worst of all. After hearing those words over and over again, we begin to feel the weight of them threatening to crush the very life out of us.

Buried Beneath the Words cleverly shares a true life story about the different ways someone can end up buried beneath the weight of negative words. Then it shares a Christian course for how God’s word can revive us. By putting the advice given within these pages into practice, you will experience an awakening of the real you—the you that has been buried way too long.

My thoughts: I enjoyed reading Betel's own experience with learning how to rise above different words or phrases that had defined her life. How she challenges readers to do the same thing. This book is a wonderful help, since it is full of scriptures and questions (complete with areas for one to write!) to get one thinking about how the book applies to your own life. This is an excellent tool!

The Promise

The Promise

Mallory’s search for happiness leads her to a faraway place. There she finds heartache, betrayal—and danger.

Mallory Hammond is determined that no one will stand in the way of her goal—to save a life. She had that chance years ago, and she failed to take it, leaving her adrift and in search of the real meaning of her life. Finally, she meets a man online from a volatile corner of the world who offers her the chance to find that purpose. But she will have to leave everyone she loves behind in order to take it.

Tate Webber has loved Mallory for many years. He understands that Mallory will never be happy with him until her deepest heart’s desire is satisfied. When Mallory decides to travel across the world to fulfi ll her dreams, Tate begs her not to go but tries to give her the space she needs. Mallory embarks on her dangerous journey only to discover how swiftly and easily promises can be broken. And Mallory can only pray that she will make it out alive.

Inspired by actual events, The Promise is a riveting love story that asks the question: how far will we go for love?

My thoughts: I enjoyed that this story is loosely based on a true story, and that it seeks as a warning, since Mallory's dilemma is not an uncommon occurrence (I don't know that I want to give away part of the story! Suffice it to say that, if a man over seas want's to marry an American woman just as a "good deed", be on your guard!) in today's world. I thought that it was well written and quite engaged! The only thing that I disliked about the story is that it was insinuated that some of the couples weren't waiting for marriage. This disappointed me, since this book is labeled as Christian. Otherwise, it is a wonderful story that is engaging and interesting. I found it quite enjoyable, while being educational as well!
I received a copy of this book from litfuse in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts on the book are my own.

The Sacred Year

The Sacred Year: Mapping the Soulscape of Spiritual Practice How Contemplating Apples, Living in a Cave and Befriending a Dying Woman Revived My Life

One searcher’s honest and fascinating journey to encounter God, love others, and discover his true self through a year of spiritual practices.

Frustrated and disillusioned with his life as a Christian, motivational speaker Michael Yankoski was determined to stop merely talking about living a life of faith and start experiencing it. The result was a year dedicated to engaging in spiritual practices, both ancient and modern, in a life-altering process that continues to this day. Whether contemplating an apple for an hour before tasting it (attentiveness), eating on $2.00 a day (simplicity) or writing simple letters of thanks (gratitude), Michael discovered a whole new depth through the intentional life.

Stirred on by the guiding voice of Father Solomon, a local monk, Yankoski’s life is slowly transformed. Both entertaining and heart-wrenching, Yankoski’s story will resonate with those who wish to deepen their own committed faith as well as those who are searching – perhaps for the first time – for their own authentic encounter with the Divine.

My thoughts: I was excited to get this book, since I read Michael Yankiski's other book, Under the Overpass, which really changed the way I look at homeless people (it really is a must, if you haven't read it! One of my top ten favorite non-fiction books). This book is very different. I don't mean that in a bad way either.
The Sacred Year challenges us to apply our faith to our lives. To unplug from a busy world and focus on the Lord and His beautiful creation. This book is beautifully poetic and will challenge and strengthen you as you seek the Lord in the everyday and the mundane, discovering that nothing is really mundane.