Top Ten Tuesday

This week's Top Ten list is of book covers I would frame as art. This is right up my alley, since I am a total sucker for gorgeous book covers.;)

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And Life Comes Back

“Now I know that every single day, the best and the worst, only lasts for twenty-four hours.”
—Tricia Lott Williford, And Life Comes Back
When things fall apart in life, where do you turn? In And life comes back, Tricia Lott Williford sgares openly about how her life made a turn for the unexpected when she suddenly became a widow at 31. Left with two young sons, Tricia had to work through her grief and learning how to handle single parenthood.
This book is a wonderful addition to one's church library or personal bookshelf, as we all experience loss. It would be a great tool to give a young widow or widower. It will make you hold your loved ones a little tighter and the importance of finding joy in the moment, since nothing (other than God's love) is a guarantee. 

Thankful

10 years earlier, Aden Reese saved Christina when she fell through some thin ice while skating. Even though her parents view him as one of their children after taking Aden in when his parents dies, Christina can't help but think of him as more than a brother. But, things never stay the same. If Christina doesn't open up about her feelings for Aden, she may wind up losing him forever.
I loved this story! It was an enjoyable return to Sugarcreek. I like that Shelley Shepard Gray's stories are like making new friends and catching up with old ones. Christina's story is a charming tale that readers will fall in love with for years to come.

Life Behind the Wall

I grew up reading Robert Elmer's books, so when the Life Behind the Wall trilogy came up for review through Booklook, I was excited. The three books span over 40 years of Berlin's history. In Candy Bombers, Erich and his cousin struggle to help their mothers help makes ends meet in their war torn city. Showing the early difficulties with East and West Berlin, I thought this story was quite interesting.
In Beelte Bunker, Sabine finds a bunker from the war that just might help her family escape under the wall.
Finally, in Smuggler's Treasure, Liesl lives in a more peaceful time than Berlin has seen for some time. But, when a school paper leads her to dig into family secrets, she is also caught up in protests for the wall to come down.
Written for young teens, all of the hero/heroines are 13, but this series will delight older readers too. I very much enjoyed the on going themes and all the history that is included in the books. Written in a way that will keep one reading, these books are far from dry and boring. Two thumbs up!

 

A Table by the Window

Juliette D'Alisa has never found it easy to be the youngest of five in a Italian-French restaurant dynasty. In a family full of chefs and bakers, she tried her hand at culinary school only to find that she is better at the business side of things. Now, as a food critic, she feels torn when her brother tries to get her to leave her comfortable job to start another restaurant.
With a mystery underfoot about her grandma's past  and with her love life finally looking up, things are just getting interesting for Juliette.
I loved this novel! There are tons of quirky, fun characters. I felt right at home with Juliette and her crazy family! The recipes look amazing, I can't wait to try them.:) I look forward to the next book!

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten fictitious characters who would be my BFF's in real life.;)

1. Lucy Pevensie from The Chronicles of Narnia would be one of my top picks, since she is sweet and curious, imaginative and cute. I also would of defended her/wanted to mother her when her siblings didn't believe in Narnia.;)

2. Juliette in A Table by the Window with her recipes and crazy restauranteur family. I would love to just bake up a storm with them.;)

3. Bixby from One Realm Beyond is quirky and fun, a friend who would just leave me laughing.

4. Kianna in Dysfunction Junction, especially when I was single. I would of loved to be part of her group!

5. Kate in Blackmoore. I would of been right there with her, saying that I wasn't going to get married and would rather travel the world, all the while secretly wanting to marry.:)

6. Adora in The Staff and the Sword series. I would of thought she was prissy at first, but then she blossoms into her own as she learns how to work the sword.

7. Emma in The Tutor's Daughter. With her unconventional ways and active imagination, she would of been a bestie.;)

8. Hermione from the Harry Potter series, as I would of been a total nerd with her. I probably would of tried to keep up with her and failed.;)

9. Rose Campbell in Eight Cousins. Another character I would of wanted to mother.;)

10. Anne in Persuasion would of been a friend, one who I would of enjoyed and tried to liven up a bit. lol.

The Color of Justice

In 1964, Cooper Lindsay has just moved back to his hometown of Justice, Mississippi to start a law practice there. When a desperate woman from the "wrong side of the tracks" comes to his office to ask Coop to defend her son in a murder case, Cooper must decide if he is willing to sacrifice his practice and his family's reputation in order to defend a man who he feels is innocent.
Almost 50 years later, Coop's grandson and namesake comes back to Justice to clear up the disappearance of his grandfather and the man he defended. But, Justice is again divided over a murder, this time where the victim is African American and the suspect is white and from a despised wealthy family.
I thought that this novel was fantastic! There were a few things in the conclusion that I would of liked to have changed, but I understand why the author did it that way. The characters were wonderful though, and I thought it was an interesting comparison to reverse the prejudice. Ace Collins did an awesome job dealing with a sad part of American history. Two thumbs up!