Emma, Mr. Knightley, and Chili-Slaw Dogs

From the bestselling author of Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits comes a new and comical contemporary take on the perennial Jane Austen classic, Emma.

Caroline Ashley is a journalist on the rise at The Washington Post until the sudden death of her father brings her back to Thorny Hollow to care for her mentally fragile mother and their aging antebellum home. The only respite from the eternal rotation of bridge club meetings and garden parties is her longtime friend, Brooks Elliott. A professor of journalism, Brooks is the voice of sanity and reason in the land of pink lemonade and triple layer coconut cakes. But when she meets a fascinating, charismatic young man on the cusp of a brand new industry, she ignores Brooks’s misgivings and throws herself into the project.

Brooks struggles to reconcile his parents’ very bitter marriage with his father’s devastating grief at the recent loss of his wife. Caroline is the only bright spot in the emotional wreckage of his family life. She’s a friend and he’s perfectly happy to keep her safely in that category. Marriage isn’t for men like Brooks and they both know it… until a handsome newcomer wins her heart. Brooks discovers Caroline is much more than a friend, and always has been, but is it too late to win her back?

Featuring a colorful cast of southern belles, Civil War re-enactors, and good Christian women with spunk to spare, Emma, Mr. Knightley, and Chili-Slaw Dogs brings the modern American South to light in a way only a contemporary Jane Austen could have imagined.

My thoughts: I do believe that this series is one of my favorite re-telling of Jane Austen's beloved stories! The author sticks to the original story well enough, though I like that she has added her own style to it, making it Southern and a tad different from the original. Though, never fear, for Emma and Mr. Knightley are every bit as loveable in this one too! I look forward to reading the next book in the series!

take ten

This week`s top ten subject is to come up with ten characters who would of sat at one`s lunch table at school. To celebrate going back to school, I suppose.
1. Katniss from The Hunger Games. Because she is self sufficient and someone you want on your side. In all honesty, she probably wouldn`t want to be at anyones table. lol.
2, 3, 4. Ron, Hermoine, and Harry from The Harry Potter books. There would never be a dull moment with these three! I think I would have a very ecclectic group of kids.;)
5. Lucy from The Chronicles of Narnia. She would be quite the peace maker and just sweet. I would of appreciated her stories of another world, even though I wouldn`t of entirely believed her.
6. Sir Percy from The Scarlet Pimpernel. He`s a loveable fop, but brilliant under his facade.
7. Cinder from Cinder. She can fix just about anything, and would be a fun person, er, Cyborg.
8. Lizzy from Pride and Prejudice. Her quick tongue and wit would be great fun to have around!
9. Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables. Another fun and witty character!
10. Skeeter from The Help. She is interesting and can go against the norm when it means making the world a better place.
So, there you have it! I would have quite the

How Much Do You Love Me?

It's December 1941, and the Japanese have bombed Pearl Harbor. Politicians fuel anti-Japanese hysteria and campaign to segregate Japanese Americans. During this period of hate and racial frenzy, Keiko and James, a Japanese American and a Caucasian, fall in love and marry.Before long, James goes off to war and Keiko to an internment camp.

Sixty years later, Keiko has a stroke and lies near death, while James suffers from Alzheimer's. Coincidentally, ac hance incident makes their daughter, Kazuko, born in the camps, suspect a  

family secret . Fighting the clock before her mother's death, she races to unravel the mystery. What she uncovers represents nothing short of the epitome of human love and self-sacrifice. But beyond Kazuko's dramatic discovery, only the reader knows that this is only half the story.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this book and the rich history that the author incorporated, even though it was not a pretty time in American history. I thought that he handled it well and that it was interesting to see through the eyes of a couple who was on both sides of the issue. The secret is a little out there, and I thought that it would of been nice to give the story a bit longer to develop, but  it is still worth taking the time to read this one!

Answering Your Kids Toughest Questions

Mother/daughter team Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson will carefully walk you through difficult conversations, one topic at a time. Speaking from personal experience, informed by child development research, these two moms offer practical insights and age-appropriate guidance. Talking about tough topics may not be as hard as you think, and, more important, you'll see how these conversations can lead to meaningful discussions of God's unchanging goodness.

Packed with scripture references and guidance, this book is an excellent resource to have in your hands and on your bookshelf for those times when kids get inquisitive . Not only is this a great book for parents to have on hand, but I think that it would also be a wonderful resource for Sunday School teachers, or even Christian teachers to have on hand. I like that the authors draw on personal experience, and it was fun to read it from the perspective of a mother/daughter writing team. Two thumbs up!

Take Ten

Top Ten books I want to read but don't own yet

1. The Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas
Ever since I read Dear Mr. Knightley, I have wanted to pick this one up, since it was the one classic that she referenced quite a bit that I have not read. (granted, a lot of the books that were referenced were Jane Austen.;))

2. The Story Keeper by Lisa Wingate
I like most of her novels, so I would like to try this one out.

3. The Secret of Pembrooke Park by Julie Klassen
This is another author who's books I have, for the most part, enjoyed. So, I would like to read this one!


4. The Princess Spy by Melanie Dickerson
This one looks cute!

5. Rebels by Jill Williamson
I want to find out what happens in this series!

6. Bridge to Haven by Francine Rivers
I loved her Mark of the Lion series, so I want to try this one (though, I realize it will be very different!).

7. The Door in the Hedge by Robin McKinley

I enjoyed a lot of her books when I was younger, so I thought I would try this one, sometime...

8. Secrets of Sloane House by Shelley Gray
This one just looks interesting.:)

9. An Unsuitable Match by Stephanie Grace Whitson
This is another author who's books I enjoyed when I was a bit younger. I like the historical detail.:)

10. The Chiveis Trilogy by Bryan M. Liftin
This series just looks interesting.:)
So, what books are on your top ten list?

The Wonder Within You

This book is such a beautiful resource! It celebrates the beauty of motherhood and pregnancy with neat 3D images of a baby`s growth each week, web links to ultrasound videos, advise on proper nutrition and the need for different vitamins, and stories from other moms. I enjoyed all of the different categories throughout the book, but I especially liked the stories of different mothers and their experiences.
This book also has sections for one to include their own pregnancy experiences.
This book would make a beautiful gift to an expecting mother!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.

little book of Book Making

Where was this book when I was planning my wedding? lol. I would of loved to have it on hand when I got the bright idea to make my guestbooks, rather than buy them. I could of even come up with a fun and unique way to bind it!
This book is a fun combination of new, intovated ways to make a bpok, backed up with the classic way to go about making books. I love that the first part goes through and shows you different independent bindaries, how they go about  making unique vooks. Then, the author equips readers with the knowledge on how to go about making your own books.I love this book!