Adventure, Love and A Womanly Hero!

These Is My Words by Nancy E. Turner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I do believe I am enamoured of this book. I read it through once, and now I'm going back again and again to my favorite parts.

"A storm is rolling in, and that always makes me a little sad and wistful so I got it in my head to set to paper all these things that have got us this far on our way through this heathen land."

Thus we meet the narrator, Sarah Agnes Prine and learn about her journey and life through the Arizona Territories. I was hooked with that first sentence.

What can I tell you about Sarah? I so admire her. She is tough, resourceful and brave. She wants to learn to read and write. She feels things deeply, but not everyone knows that. She can shoot, and do what needs to be done to survive, yet, she wants to be a lady. She protects her friends and her family. She's loyal. When we meet her, she's single--I get a kick out of how she refers to a book "The Happy Bride" for advice on being a lady and on men. She's real. Here's a scene that I can relate to:

"I wouldn't be fit to keep company with a grizzly bear lately. My hands are raw and cracked open from being wet all the time and working in the cold, my hair had a tangle I couldn't get out so I cut it loose and now there is a short place on one side, and I caught sight of my face reflected in the window while I was washing up from supper and I looked meaner than a scorpion."

Who hasn't had a day, or days, like that!

There is a tastefully spicy chapter that deals with love and the Song of Solomon that was sweet. Additionally, this book has one of the best love letters ever!

The "feel" of this book reminded me of Peace Like a River in that it was a wonderful yarn full of adventure, love and loyalty. If you have a Kindle or a Nook, you are in luck - you can purchase it for $1.99! Finish up your summer with this wonderful story!

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You Won't Want to Put This Book Down!

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I can't believe I never reviewed this book. I have just finished a 2nd reading, and yes, it was just as good as the first time through.

Vida Winter, is a prolific author who has invited Margaret Lea to write her biography. This is an unprecedented invitation as Ms. Winter has never divulged her history to any journalist during the course of her career, instead, inventing one fantastic story after another, leading them all down a wild goose chase and no true facts about her history.

Margaret Lea is more at home with books than people. She did write one biography to limited acclaim, but that's it. Why was she chosen?

At first Margaret is inclined to say no, but after reading Ms. Winter's books is drawn into a desire to meet her and know more.

So begins the mysterious telling of Ms. Winter's story. Comprised of madness and mystery, ghost girls and dysfunctional families, Margaret begins to "live" the story of Ms. Winter along with her own secret story that colors her own family dynamics.

You can't go wrong with this book. I have recommended this book to so many, and of them all, only one couldn't get into the story - a bookphile herself I am still totally surprised by her disinterest.

If you have not yet read Thirteenth Tale, start today!



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