The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper

Summary:

The future is clearly mapped out for New York socialite Eugenia “Gennie” Cooper, but she secretly longs to slip into the boots of her favorite dime-novel heroine and experience just one adventure before settling down. When the opportunity arises, Gennie jumps at the chance to experience the Wild West, but her plans go awry when she is drawn into the lives of silver baron Daniel Beck and his daughter and finds herself caring for them more than is prudent–especially as she’s supposed to go back to New York and marry another man.

As Gennie adapts to the rough-and-tumble world of 1880s Colorado , she must decide whether her future lies with the enigmatic Daniel Beck or back home with the life planned for her since birth. The question is whether Daniel’s past–and disgruntled miners bent on revenge–will take that choice away from her.

About The Author:

Kathleen Y’Barbo is the best-selling, award-winning author of more than thirty novels, novellas, and young adult books, with more than a half-million in print. A graduate of Texas A&M University , she is currently a publicist with Books & Such literary agency.

Interested?  Go here to order The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper. 

Kathleen Y’Barbo is a great author that I recognize and admire.  For that reason,  I’ll be reading this book in my near future despite the fact that I’m not a big wild west fan.  When I complete it I’ll be sure to post again and let you know what I think. 

Truth is, there are lots of styles and genres available at Random House to suite a wide variety of readers.  Find a book you can’t put down at Random House.

* I was given this product free to review on behalf of Random House, August 2009 

Rose House

A vivid story of a private grief, a secret painting, and one woman’s search for hope.

Still mourning the loss of her family in a tragic accident, Lillian Diamon finds herself drawn back to the Rose House, a quiet cottage where four years earlier she had poured out her anguish among its fragrant blossoms.

She returns to the rolling hills and lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley in search of something she can’t quite name. But then Lillian stumbles onto an unexpected discovery: displayed in the La Rosaleda Gallery is a painting that captures every detail of her most private moment of misery, from the sorrow etched across her face to the sandals on her feet.

What kind of artist would dare to intrude on such a personal scene, and how did he happen to witness Lillian’s pain? As the mystery surrounding the portrait becomes entangled with the accident that claimed the lives of her husband and children, Lillian is forced to rethink her assumptions about what really happened that day.

A captivating novel rich with detail, Rose House explores how the brushstrokes of pain can illuminate the true beauty of life.

About the author:

Tina Ann Forkner is the author of Ruby Among Us. Originally from Oklahoma , she now lives with her husband and three children in Wyoming , where she serves on the Laramie County Library Foundation’s board of directors.

My (brief) thoughts:

Personally, I’m approaching a move very soon.  Boxes are everywhere and the contents of my house are become less and less.  Even still, this book has remained beside my bed.  Rose House has a beautifully written plot.  It’s a powerful story that I couldn’t wait to read and hate to put down each night.  You’ll love this book!

Go here to order Rose House.  Check out more great books at Random House.

* I was given this product free to review on behalf of Random House, August 2009 

The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love

Once a month, the six women of the Sweetgum Knit Lit Society gather to discuss books and share their knitting projects. Inspired by her recently-wedded bliss, group leader Eugenie chooses “Great Love Stories in Literature” as the theme for the year’s reading list–a risky selection for a group whose members span the spectrum of age and relationship status.

As the Knit Lit ladies read and discus classic romances like Romeo and Juliet, Wuthering Heights, and Pride and Prejudice, each member is confronted with her own perception about love. Camille’s unexpected reunion with an old crush forces her to confront conflicting desires. Newly widowed Esther finds her role in Sweetgum changing and is surprised by two unlikely friends. Hannah isn’t sure she’s ready for the trials of first love. Newcomer Maria finds her life turned upside-down by increasing family obligations and a handsome, arrogant lawyer, and Eugenie and Merry are both asked to make sacrifices for their husbands that challenge their principles.

Even in a sleepy, southern town like Sweetgum , Tennessee , love isn’t easy. The Knit Lit ladies learn they can find strength and guidance in the novels they read, the love of their family, their community–and especially in each other.

About the author:

RITA Award-winning Beth Patillo combines her love of knitting and books in her engaging Sweetgum series. Pattillo served churches in Missouri and Tennessee before founding Faith Leader, a spiritual leadership development program.

My (brief) thoughts:

I’m not finished reading about the ladies of Sweetgum, but I’m sure enjoying an escape into their world.  With every page turned I feel like a privileged inside member of the Knit Lit Society.  These ladies are as smart, funny, witty, strong and entertaining as any friend I’d hope to have.  The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love is a great southern read.

Go here to order this book.  Random House has a lot of great selections, stop by and see for yourself.

* I was given this product free to review on behalf of Random House, August 2009 

The Friends We Keep

Summary:

During a particularly painful time in her life, Sarah Zacharias Davis learned how delightful–and wounding–women can be in friendship. She saw how some friendships end badly, others die slow deaths, and how a chance acquaintance can become that enduring friend you need.

The Friends We Keep is Sarah’s thoughtful account of her own story and the stories of other women about navigating friendship. Her revealing discoveries tackle the questions every woman asks:

• Why do we long so for women friends?
• Do we need friends like we need air or food or water?
• What causes cattiness, competition, and co-dependency in too many friendships?
• Why do some friendships last forever and others only a season?
• How do I foster friendship?
• When is it time to let a friend go, and how do I do so?

With heartfelt, intelligent writing, Sarah explores these questions and more with personal stories, cultural references and history, faith, and grace. In the process, she delivers wisdom for navigating the challenges, mysteries, and delights of friendship: why we need friendships with other women, what it means to be safe in relationship, and how to embrace what a friend has to offer, whether meager or generous.

My Thoughts:

In her book, The Friends We Keep, Sarah Zacharias Davis expresses the complex nature of female friendships.  This book is an inside look at the varying degrees of friendship and how they all blend together to shape us into the women we’ve become.

Sarah Zacharias Davis references books, plays and movies that capture the depths of friendship.  Using many great examples, she writes about the ups and downs that all relationships face.  She confront the necessity of betrayal and the conflicts that pull a friendship together and make it stronger than it was.

Again, using wonderful parallels from literature, Sarah lays out the different faces and dimensions of friendship.  She addresses the importance of trust in a relationship and the value of respecting the secrets of friendship. 

Sarah gives wonderful wisdom on how to be a true friend, not by control and domination, but by quiet questioning and gently holding up a mirror of self examination.

She tackles the sticky subject of forgiveness and I love what she says:

“We forgive because, if all relationships bear a betrayal of some kind, then eventually we, too, will be in need of forgiveness.”

Sarah covers the stages and phases of friendship that travel the length of our lives through awkward self-discover to the forming of who we are and what we will become.  It’s the truly special friendship that ride the waves with us.

Readers will learn about soul friendships defined as ” . . .full disclosure, confession, sharing deep wounds and slow healing . . .”

This section is, to me, the most poignant and beautiful description of love.

The Friends We Keep discusses all forms of friendship from seasonal friendship, soul friendship, unplanned friendship and distanced friendship.  Friendship is lined up against fictional references, movie references and biblical imagery.

The Friends We Keep is beautifully written.  Even the cover is beautiful.

This book would make a wonderful gift for a friend.  It contains a detailed discussion guide at the back of the book that  leads readers to dig even deeper into the ideas and nature of friendship.

 Author Bio:

Sarah Zacharias Davisis a senior advancement officer at Pepperdine University , having joined the university after working as vice president of marketing and development for Ravi Zacharias International Ministries and in strategic marketing for CNN. The daughter of best-selling writer Ravi Zacharias, Davis is the author of the critically-acclaimed Confessions from an Honest Wife andTransparent: Getting Honest About Who We are and Who We Want to Be. She graduated from Covenant College with a degree in education and lives in Los Angeles , California .

Want to know more?

You can read an excerpt of  The Friends We Keep here.

You can find The Friends We Keep at Christianbook.com for only $9.99.  Go here to order.

* I was given this product free to review on behalf of WaterBrook, August 2009 

The Friends We Keep

Summary:

During a particularly painful time in her life, Sarah Zacharias Davis learned how delightful–and wounding–women can be in friendship. She saw how some friendships end badly, others die slow deaths, and how a chance acquaintance can become that enduring friend you need.

The Friends We Keep is Sarah’s thoughtful account of her own story and the stories of other women about navigating friendship. Her revealing discoveries tackle the questions every woman asks:

• Why do we long so for women friends?
• Do we need friends like we need air or food or water?
• What causes cattiness, competition, and co-dependency in too many friendships?
• Why do some friendships last forever and others only a season?
• How do I foster friendship?
• When is it time to let a friend go, and how do I do so?

With heartfelt, intelligent writing, Sarah explores these questions and more with personal stories, cultural references and history, faith, and grace. In the process, she delivers wisdom for navigating the challenges, mysteries, and delights of friendship: why we need friendships with other women, what it means to be safe in relationship, and how to embrace what a friend has to offer, whether meager or generous.

My Thoughts:

In her book, The Friends We Keep, Sarah Zacharias Davis expresses the complex nature of female friendships.  This book is an inside look at the varying degrees of friendship and how they all blend together to shape us into the women we’ve become.

Sarah Zacharias Davis references books, plays and movies that capture the depths of friendship.  Using many great examples, she writes about the ups and downs that all relationships face.  She confront the necessity of betrayal and the conflicts that pull a friendship together and make it stronger than it was.

Again, using wonderful parallels from literature, Sarah lays out the different faces and dimensions of friendship.  She addresses the importance of trust in a relationship and the value of respecting the secrets of friendship. 

Sarah gives wonderful wisdom on how to be a true friend, not by control and domination, but by quiet questioning and gently holding up a mirror of self examination.

She tackles the sticky subject of forgiveness and I love what she says:

“We forgive because, if all relationships bear a betrayal of some kind, then eventually we, too, will be in need of forgiveness.”

Sarah covers the stages and phases of friendship that travel the length of our lives through awkward self-discover to the forming of who we are and what we will become.  It’s the truly special friendship that ride the waves with us.

Readers will learn about soul friendships defined as ” . . .full disclosure, confession, sharing deep wounds and slow healing . . .”

This section is, to me, the most poignant and beautiful description of love.

The Friends We Keep discusses all forms of friendship from seasonal friendship, soul friendship, unplanned friendship and distanced friendship.  Friendship is lined up against fictional references, movie references and biblical imagery.

The Friends We Keep is beautifully written.  Even the cover is beautiful.

This book would make a wonderful gift for a friend.  It contains a detailed discussion guide at the back of the book that  leads readers to dig even deeper into the ideas and nature of friendship.

 Author Bio:

Sarah Zacharias Davisis a senior advancement officer at Pepperdine University , having joined the university after working as vice president of marketing and development for Ravi Zacharias International Ministries and in strategic marketing for CNN. The daughter of best-selling writer Ravi Zacharias, Davis is the author of the critically-acclaimed Confessions from an Honest Wife andTransparent: Getting Honest About Who We are and Who We Want to Be. She graduated from Covenant College with a degree in education and lives in Los Angeles , California .

Want to know more?

You can read an excerpt of  The Friends We Keep here.

You can find The Friends We Keep at Christianbook.com for only $9.99.  Go here to order.

* I was given this product free to review on behalf of WaterBrook, August 2009