Window on the World

I am a wife and mom of two grown children (who can't seem to move out) and two furbabies. I write about my family life, as well as causes that are dear to my heart, with recipes every Wednesday and book reviews every Friday. My favorite genre is historical fiction.

A Crouton Murder (Book 2 Deadly Bakery Series) - J.M Griffin

A Crouton Murder is a quick read, but lots of fun.  I have not read the first book in the series, but I found the book stood on its own with enough necessary references to A Crusty Murder (Book 1 Deadly Bakery Series) so I didn't feel like I'd missed anything.  Still, I think it would be fun to go back and read the first book also.

My favorite part of A Crouton Murder was the descriptions of all the bakery good that Melina made.  I love to bake also, and all the yummy food in the book made me think of what I want to bake next!!  Maybe some flat bread or challah?

I also appreciated the very helpful scene where Melina's friend Vinnie shows Melina and Betty Jo how to defend themselves from an attacker.  The scene fit naturally into the story line but also gave some really excellent tips.

Melina and Betty Jo are likeable, girl next door, type characters and I found themselves rooting for both of them throughout the book.

I give A Crouton Murder 4 stars.  It's not overly filling, really only giving a bit more than a taste, but that only means it will leave you wanting more!!

Source: http://wp.me/p28w15-2Bm

A Fascinating, Inspirational Read

She Does Not Fear the Snow - Bobbie Ann Cole

She Does Not Fear the Snow is part journey of discovery, part love story and part Christian testimony.  It all makes for a fascinating, inspirational read.

Bobbie Ann Cole tells the story of her battle with cancer, the dissolution of her marriage and her search for "something more".  She stumbles upon Christianity and, as a Jew, struggles with whether she will be disowned by her friends and family for her new beliefs.  I admire her strength to tell her friends and family the truth, even though some of them were not as receptive as others.

This is also the story of Bobbie and Butch - how they found each other and how they overcame their apprehension from previous failed relationships in order to trust God that this one was right.  I especially enjoyed Butch's perspective at the end of the book.

Since Bobbie's life is still a work in progress (as are all of us), the book did leave me wondering where some things ended up.  Did all of the prophecies Bobbie was told come true?  What happened to her friend Terry (Butch's sister)?

Source: http://teressamorris.com/2014/04/fear-snow-book-review

All for Hope Book Review

All For Hope - Olivia Hardin

All for Hope is a sweet bit of fluff.  The characters are fully developed, through flashbacks throughout the book, which kept me reading in order to find out Hope or Brennan's motivations for their actions.  It is an enticing read.  I would have loved to have a whole day to read it in one sitting.

Olivia Hardin writes in an extremely optimistic tone, which, depending on your mood, can leave you feeling hopeful or annoyed.  The ending is slightly predictable, but fun.  My only real complaint is that I would have liked to see more description of the surroundings and the characters.  I usually like to have a picture in my head of what a character looks like, and in this case that was impossible.

Source: http://teressamorris.com/2014/02/hope-book-review
Ember - Liz Schulte

Ember (The Jinn Trilogy) starts shortly after the end of Consequences (The Guardian Trilogy).  Holden and Olivia have been waiting for the other shoe to drop, when suddenly, Olivia starts hearing voices.  Baker, Femi and Quintus all come to help and the usual demonic mayhem ensues.

My favorite part of the book was finding out some of Baker's back story.  It was very interesting to learn what type of "otherworldly" creature Baker is.  The chapters alternate between Baker's, Holden's and Olivia's perspectives and it was nice to get Baker's opinion on events.  I would love to see a few books about him.

Will Holden and Olivia release the jinni?  Are either of them strong enough to hold their own against Lucifer or the Angel of Death?  Does Heaven trust the fallen lovers enough to let them live?  Will Femi lose any more of her nine lives?  Only time will tell.

There is strong violence and some sexual content, but it is not graphic.

Source: http://teressamorris.com/2014/02/ember-liz-schulte-book-review
Give Me Desire - Zoey Derrick

Give Me Desire (Reason Series) is the continuation of a modern day fairytale which Zoey Derrick began in Give Me Reason (The Reason Series).  I appreciated that Mikah doesn't just rescue Vivienne - he gives her a way to help herself.  Also, he doesn't put her under any obligation to love him (although I think she does ;-)

This book is a little more steamy than its predecessors.  There are some topless descriptions and the beginnings of sexual situations.  I think it would be suitable for older teenagers and above.

I am very excited to see what the future holds for Vivienne and Mikah, as well as seeing how Zoey Derrick fleshes out Riley's descent into Hell.  Can he be redeemed?  We'll have to wait for the next book in the series to find out.

I give Give Me Desire 4 1/2 stars.  It's a luxurious, face-fanning

Source: http://Give Me Desire (Reason Series) is the continuation of a modern day fairytale which Zoey Derrick began in Give Me Reason (The Reason Series). I appreciated that Mikah doesn't just rescue Vivienne - he gives her a way to help herself. Also, he does
The Weight of a Feather and other stories - Judy Croome

The fun thing about The Weight of a Feather: and Other Stories is that it has a range of literature.  There are one stanza poems as well as one or two page stories and some longer ones.  There are stories with a happy ending, those with a sad or angry ending, and stories with a Twilight Zone-like twist.

 


The whole book has an exotic feel, talking about places I have never been (in South Africa) and using phrases I had never heard (in Afrikaans).  In some places, the situation was so far removed from my life that it was difficult for me to identify with the character, but in other stories, even though the character and I were separated by thousands of miles, I could completely understand how he or she was feeling.

 

This is not a book to read in one sitting.  It is best to savor one or two stories at a time or read a few poems when you need a short refresher.  Otherwise the diversity of tales can be a bit overwhelming.

Source: http://teressamorris.com/2014/01/weight-feather-book-review
Trace - Patricia Cornwell

To date, I have read 17 of Patricia Cornwell's novels, the majority of which all had the same heroine: Dr. Kay Scarpetta.  So reading Trace (A Scarpetta Novel) was much like going home.  It was (for me) a warm, cozy comforting read.

But be forewarned; if you haven't read Cornwell's Scarpetta novels before, these are not warm, cozy books.  Kay Scarpetta is passionate about her family, her friends, her food and her job.  She can also come across as cold-hearted to those who don't know her well.  She is probably my all-time favorite female character.

One of my favorite parts of Scarpetta novels, which was missing from Trace, is the cooking scenes.  Cornwell describes the food in such loving and intimate detail that it borders on food porn.  Her vivid narratives of the sights, smells and tastes; of prepping and cooking, border on food porn.

Trace focuses on following the trace evidence.  I did not make the connection to the actual killer until it was pointed out to me in the book.  But once I read the connection, it all made sense.  Just as it should.

I don't want to give too much away (although if you are a Scarpetta fan, you are probably way ahead of me since this book was published back in 2004).  Suffice it to say that if you love mysteries and strong, semi-dysfunctional female characters, you will love this book!!

Source: http://teressamorris.com/2013/12/trace-patricia-cornwell-book-review

Poirot is Witty and Charming, As Usual

Hercule Poirot and the Greenshore Folly - Agatha Christie

I had never read an Agatha Christie story before reading Hercule Poirot and the Greenshore Folly (Hercule Poirot Mysteries), but I had watched many episodes of Miss Marple and Poirot on Masterpiece: Mystery!  Of these two detectives, Poirot is by far my favorite.  His determination, clarity and bravado far outweigh the disadvantage of always being out of his comfort zone.  M. Poirot always seems a bit put out by any request that is made of him, but he always gives a case his utmost attention once he takes it on.

I have not yet seen the last season of Poirot, which I understand has an episode based on Dead Man's Folly, the book which Agatha Christie developed from Greenshore Folly.  Since reading this story, I am really looking forward to seeing the episode based on it.  Poirot is witty and charming, as usual.  Christie uses his character to mock the culture of middle and upper class England of the time.  The character of Ariadne Oliver is a mystery writer, and I believe that Christie makes fun of herself through some of Ms. Oliver's opinions and style.

Hercule Poirot and the Greenshore Folly is a fun, quick read for fans of period-style mysteries and, of course, Agatha Christie fans will love this new addition to the well-loved series.

Source: http://teressamorris.com/2013/12/hercule-poiroit-greenshore-folly-book-review

A Fun Read that Stays True to the Original Story

Death of the Mad Hatter - Sarah J. Pepper

Death of the Mad Hatter is a breezy, fresh take on Alice in Wonderland,  Set in the present day, the story alternates between the narrations of Alice herself and Ryley Edgar, who may be related to Wonderland royalty.

Alice is originally from the "Otherworld" (our world) and talks about her fall through the rabbit hole and her run-ins with the Queen of Hearts, the Mad Hatter and other familiar characters from the well-loved tale. She is on a mission from Wonderland and may or may not be a double agent.

Ryley moved more than 20 times until his father was committed to a mental hospital and he and his mother finally settled down. He is most concerned with being as typical a teenage boy as possible and is thrown for a loop when Alice Mae arrives at his school.

I love the Alice character.  She is obviously at a loss in the modern world, although I think she might have fit in with steampunk kids.  She is very Victorian in her attitudes and style of dress, with just a hint of the modern world thrown in.

Ryley is a typical teenage boy, reminding me very much of my own kids.  I was impressed by how he matured through the book and learned to not just think about himself.

All-in-all I really enjoyed this story.  It was a fun read and stayed true to the original tale.  In addition, it was a fresh take I had never read before.  However, I did feel that the new version was a little over-simplified.  Lewis Carroll's original version had a layer of political satire under the "children's story" which does not exist in this version.

Source: http://teressamorris.com/2013/11/death-mad-hatter-book-review

Just as Intriguing as the First

Give Me Hope (The Reason Series) - Zoey Derrick

I was already invested in the story of Give Me Hope (The Reason Series) even before I started reading it, having already read the first book in the series, Give Me Reason, which I thoroughly enjoyed (read my review). The second book is just as intriguing as the first.

Although there is not quite as much excitement in Give Me Hope as there was in its predecessor, there is still plenty of mystery.  Who are angels and who are demons?  Who are just plain folks? If you are an angel (or demon) will you recognize one of your own kind (or the opposite)?  Are Mikah and Vivienne soul mates or will fate keep them apart?

There is a tiny bit of sex in this book (maybe a 2 at the most out of 5).  The hope that Mikah and Vivienne will eventually get together (and you know it will be awesome!!) is what drives the reading of this sequel.

Not surprisingly, there is a third book coming in the series, which I hope will tie up all the loose ends and finally give us readers some satisfaction.

Source: http://teressamorris.com/2013/11/give-hope-book-review

A Really Well-Written Storyline

Fighting to Forgive - J.B. Salsbury

I am not a fan of fighting.  Don't like boxing, wrestling, and especially not MMA (mixed martial arts).  Fighting to Forgive would not normally be my cup of tea.  There is too fighting, bad language and sexual situations.  It's not exactly Jane Austen.

But backing up the cursing and bashing and mashing is a really well-written storyline.  The contrast between Blake and Layla and their different ways of handling their abusive pasts is both heartbreaking and maddening.  Layla's "tiny tough girl" image is funny and infuriating.  I love how she puts Blake in his place, but I also felt bad that she couldn't let herself relax and trust him, even when she wanted to.

The couple begins to fall in love as they reveal their deepest secrets to each other.  When Layla's estranged husband finds her, their worlds fall apart again.  I won't tell you how it ends, but you will want to stick with the story all the way to its finish.

Source: http://teressamorris.com/2013/11/fighting-forgive-book-review
Children of the Knight - Michael J.  Bowler

"Once upon a time in the City of Angels, chaos was king, and carelessness ruled."

So begins Children of the Knight, a heart-tugging new young adult fantasy.  The picture the author paints of life on the streets of Los Angeles is brutal, and, I'm afraid, mostly true. I know of children who have been kicked out of their houses in my own small, Northern California town, so I can only imagine how many kids are living on the streets in a big city.

But King Arthur comes back to help the children take back the streets; to kick out the pimps and dealers; to renovate whole neighborhoods.  Sound a little cheesy and too good to be true?  It probably is, but it is a fantasy novel, after all.

Although this book is labelled as young adult, there are some pretty strong scenes in it.  Child abuse and prostitution are both depicted (although not graphically), as are two death scenes.

The strongest theme in Children of the Knight, for me, was the theme of acceptance.  Arthur, in the book, in many ways is like Jesus Christ - accepting and encouraging anyone who wants to give up their old way of life to "come, follow me."

I found the book to be a little long, but I could not put it down as I waited to see how Arthur's crew would fare in their mission and watched the poignant relationship between Arthur and his "kids of the Round Table."

Source: http://teressamorris.com/2013/10/children-knight-book-review
Infernal Gates - Michael J.   Webb

I was sucked into the drama of Infernal Gates from the first chapter.  The book reminds me of the Left Behind series or Frank Peretti's This Present Darkness, but with a fresh take.  There are three distinct sections: The Kingdom, The Powers, and The Glory (get it?).  In the first section we are introduced to all the major players.  There are different religions represented including Catholicism, Protestantism, Judaeism, Muslim and Native American beliefs.

In the second section we learn about the characters' backgrounds and how many of them are interconnected.  The forces for good are led by Tabitha, a Guardian and direct descendant of Lazarus, who is directed by the angel Gabriel. The forces of evil are led by The Unmentionable, a demon released from The Abyss, along with his minions, The Nine.

It is in the third section that the real battle between good and evil takes place.  There are many signs and portents along the way, some from the Bible and some from other sacred texts and myths.

Infernal Gates is well-researched and inspirational, scary and fascinating, heartrending and heartwarming.  It is an emotional rollercoaster that will leave you guessing to the very end.

Source: http://teressamorris.com/2013/10/infernal-gates-book-review
Cross the Ocean - Holly Bush

Cross the Ocean is a fun, romantic romp through the world of late 19th century England and America.  The book begins with the fish-out-of-water story of Gertrude Finch, a strong, self-sufficient woman who stands up for herself in the world of Victorian England, where women of means are supposed to be pretty and quiet.  Blake Sanders, the Duke of Wexford, is a womanizing chauvinist, used to a life of complete privilege.

When Blake and Gertrude meet, it's like stars colliding as they fight their attraction for each other and try to adjust to the changing times and conflicting cultures.  When Blake follows his runaway son to the U.S.  he becomes the fish-out-of-water on Gertrude's turf.  The resulting conflict between Blake, Gertrude and Gertrude's friends and relatives is at once both hilarious and endearing.

I was reminded of a Doris Day-Rock Hudson movie with the witty banter and drama/silliness arising from misunderstandings. I think this book would make an excellent movie.  I know I would watch it.

Source: http://teressamorris.com/2013/11/cross-ocean-book-review
Ivory - F.M. Sherrill

I was initially turned off by the opening chapter of Ivory.  The book starts fairly violently, which I was not prepared for.

But after the conflict, the healing begins.  Ivory is kidnapped by the Lecs and learns that everything she has grIvory book reviewown up believing has been a lie.  How the truth is revealed to her and how she deals with that knowledge make up the remainder of the book.

I consider myself a fairly empathetic person, which made this book an incredibly difficult read.  Time and time again I felt hope along with Ivory, then had my hopes dashed.  I felt the anger and betrayal she could not seem to put aside even when she knew they were misplaced.  I felt as if my heart had been ripped out of my chest, kicked around the room a few times and put back dirty.

My greatest hope for this book was in a happy ending, but instead I got a cliffhanger.  To say I feel hung out to dry right now would be putting it mildly.  I smell a sequel, or at least, I am begging for one.

Source: http://teressamorris.com/2013/10/ivory-book-review
Infernal Gates - Michael J.   Webb

I was sucked into the drama of Infernal Gates from the first chapter.  The book reminds me of the Left Behind series or Frank Peretti’s This Present Darkness, but with a fresh take.  There are three distinct sections: The Kingdom, The Powers, and The Glory (get it?).  In the first section we are introduced to all the major players.  There are different religions represented including Catholicism, Protestantism, Judaeism, Muslim and Native American beliefs.

In the second section we learn about the characters’ backgrounds and how many of them are interconnected.  The forces for good are led by Tabitha, a Guardian and direct descendant of Lazarus, who is directed by the angel Gabriel. The forces of evil are led by The Unmentionable, a demon released from The Abyss, along with his minions, The Nine.

It is in the third section that the real battle between good and evil takes place.  There are many signs and portents along the way, some from the Bible and some from other sacred texts and myths.

Infernal Gates is well-researched and inspirational, scary and fascinating, heartrending and heartwarming.  It is an emotional rollercoaster that will leave you guessing to the very end.

Source: http://teressamorris.com/2013/10/infernal-gates-book-review