A Chance in Time – Ruth Ann Nordin – 3*

I actually feel a little guilty of only giving this book 3*, perhaps I should have given it 4* as I would definately re-read this book.

This book is based in history and involves time travel, only in this story the time-traveller is a man.  Most other books I have read with time-travel as a theme involve women travelling, although I guess the ultimate time-travellers are Dr Who and that guy from Back to the Future.

Anyway back to a Chance in Time; Penelope (the main character) was widowed about a year previously and had been living off the small farm that her and her husband owned.  She was a mail-bride and left a wealthy family to pursue a marriage for love, or rather a marriage where her being unable to have children would be an issue.

One day, whilst going to the near-by town to purchase the goods she needs, she finds a man laying on the side of the track.  He is unconscious.  With somewhat more strength than youd imagine she would possess, she manages to secure the man to her horse and take him back to her cottage.  She nurses him back to health and in the process falls in love with him.  He also, reluctantly, falls in love with her; however he knows he must leave her.

Distraught by the knowledge of his leaving, he does what he can to improve the farm so she can survive.  He vows to time-travel, find some gold and bring it back to her, leaving it somewhere she will find it.

You could really sense the feelings growing between Penelope and the man – it was a gentle and very moving progression of emotion under circumsatnces that had been forced on them both. 

I found myself caught up in their emotions and really felt their pain and love for each other.

To find out whether he succeeds in returning with gold, leaving her for good for his own time or remaining with her dispite everything you’ll just have to read the book for yourself and find out.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004G095J2/ref=r_ea_s_t

QI: The Second Book of General Ignorance – John Lloyd etc – 4*

Well I treated myself to this when it was on the kindle deals, and wasn’t disappointed in it.

At times it feels a bit random, but then I guess there’s no logical way of writing about facts that people thought they knew but actually didn’t.  For a book of facts it is written in a way that makes the facts accessible to everyone, and by not staying on a particular topic for too long you don’t end up with glazed-over eyes wondering when it will be over.

One thing is for sure with this book – be prepared to learn things you ‘knew’.

Questions looked at include:

How many legs does an octopus have? (and NO it isn’t 8)

Who made the first aeroplane flight?

Update

The second year of my law degree officially starts in 2 days time (ok technically it starts tomorrow seeing as it is past midnight).  I have been busy preparing for the course to start and checking that all the forums, software and databases are working.

I have also been asked to crochet a blanket for a wheelchair user (in the same colours as the rainbow poncho)  I’ve been inspired by ChrissyFresh: A Granny A Day Project and have decided that I am going to crochet enough granny squares to make this blanket – I have a plan and know exactly what colours I’m using for each square, I just have to find the time to get the hooks out.  I currently have 3 squares for the blanket (pics up soon) and I am also doing a rainbow blanket for Elise.

My eldest son, Ryan, has been unwell this week, I received a phone call from his school on Monday morning and I had to pick him up.  We got half way home and he decided he was going to vomit all over the inside of my car and down the windows too as he tried to get his head out the window – poor kid was so upset and kept apologising to me because he had made a mess.

In between being a ‘nurse’ to Ryan I have been taking in an engagement party dress – I have been horrified at the construction of this dress and, although it does look absolutely beautiful from the outside, the stitching quality and fabric placement has been just awful.  I did a fitting tonight after band practise and just need to do a couple of minor adjustments for a final fitting on Sunday, which should also be the time I hand it back and think myself lucky I won’t have to see it again (here’s hoping).

Talking of band practise, the little girl I’m teaching to play cornet is making me so proud, and is now on a planned introduction to the band rehearsal, she should hopefully be playing out with them in 5 weeks time when the band is next responsible for providing the music in our morning Church service.

I will hopefully get the book reviews out the way tomorrow (or should that be later today?) I haven’t slept yet so it’s still today (Thursday).  Will have to arm myself with Twitter and my Kindle so I can refresh my mind on the books and get the reviews done.  I honestly haven’t forgotten that I have a back-log, it’s just someone has hidden the life-remote-control and life is currently running on fast-forward.  I wish someone would return the life-remote-control so I can press pause for a few minutes and get some peace.

30 Things About Me:

https://jdaviesx.wordpress.com/about/30-things-about-me/

This was a Twitter trend and I decided to write this up on a page instead of writing it all in a blog entry

Tell me what books and authors you would recommend

https://jdaviesx.wordpress.com/you-recommend/

Leave me a message on the above thread and I will get through as many as possible

Clawback – Gemma Rice – 5*

Although I have tagged this with “Christianity” and “faith” it’s not what I would describe as a religious book.  I have added these tags due to one line when Steffani is getting a tatoo of a cross done on her hip –

Sometimes we’re nailed to that cross; sometimes we’re carrying that cross; sometimes we find salvation and peace through that cross.

She describes how she is into symbols and that this is the reason she is getting the cross tatoo, and this quote really stood out for me.

I’ve also tagged this as being “controversial” and “may be disturbing to some”, this book records the story of Steffani being in an abusive relationship and details the cheating, isolation and fear that she experiences and goes on to show the good new life she forms for herself when she is finally able to break free completely and become a survivor.

I normally struggle when reading stories about domestic violence as I have been there.  However, I have to admit that this story was so accurate and believable, making me want to continue reading to find out how the story ended.  There wasn’t masses of detail about the types of abuse that Steffani experienced, but it clearly showed the way a person slowly and surely becomes the centre of your world and isolates you from everyone else you know and everything you like.

This is one of the few books that has made it to a 5* rating with me, and one that I will definitely re-read.

They say that every story has an element of truth to it, and I just pray that the writer of this book wasn’t modelling her character on herself.  It was written in a way that makes you wonder if she has personally been there.  If she has been there, it certainly looks like she has come out the other side – but then is this just a fantasy of how she would like it to end; her hopes and dreams?  I do not know and would not like to make something of nothing, but there is an accurate truth and insight with this story.

So many people wonder why when someone is in an abusive relationship that the person doesn’t just get up and leave – this book explains it perfectly and would be a real insight to someone who hasn’t been through it personally or by knowing someone who has gone through it.

QI: The Pocket Book of General Ignorance – John Lloyd et al – 4*

This was a great read (not a favourite read though).  I found it funny, informative and quite often shocking (not in a bad way – just questioning what I thought I knew)

There are a wide range of subjects, all of which appear to be well thought out and presented.

Maybe a treat for today, as the second book is available for 99p – hope it’s as good as the first

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/feature.html/ref=tsm_1_fb_s_kin_lxqklb?ie=UTF8&docId=1000577623

Don’t Make Me Come Up There – Kristen Welch 5*

This is basically a mum’s account of the day-to-day struggles that every parent faces.

The refreshing difference with this book is that Kristen admits to the failings within their family and doesn’t try to brush everything under the carpet.

Although each chapter is short, it is direct and to the point.  I laughed and cried whilst reading this, feeling and knowing all the emotions spoken about.

My favourite part though would have to be how Kristen has complimented each chapter with a scripture passage and prayer – passages that give reassurance, and prayers that everyone can relate to.

Arousing Love – M.H. Strom 4*

This was a refreshing look at the relationship between 2 young people.  It showed the struggles of Christian youth to honour their faith at the same time as starting to explore the feelings that come with being in a relationship.

Parts of it were almost like an attack on the church as we know it, not an unwarranted attack though, one comment that really stands out to me was “Jesus wouldn’t be welcome in most churches as he would be too radical”.  It’s a sad time that the doctrines of the church have, in a lot of cases, moved so far from the messages of love and tolerance that Jesus taught.

Both young people involved in this story tested God’s will for their lives and whether they were meant to be together, asking for signs to confirm God’s plans.  When these signs were given to them, in ways that they did not expect, they became betrothed to each other.  It was an interesting insight in how marriage was historically looked at (the joining of 2 people) instead of the ceremonies that have grown up around the idea of marriage.

Cross Stitch (Outlander 1) Diana Gabaldon 5*

I discovered this book some years back, totally by accident and fell in love with the attention to detail and imagery that Diana created.  I was so pleased to find out that this book was the first in a series, and eagerly collected and read each one.

Before, I was lucky and didn’t have to wait (apart from delivery) for the next book – now I am faced with waiting until sometime later this year for the next book (book 8) to be finished and published.  I can hardly wait!

Jamie and Claire (the main characters) are wonderfully developed and within minutes of their introductions, there is a feeling of ‘knowing’ them personally.  Diana writes with such clarity than the emotions of the characters come to life on the page, and through her words their emotions echo within my mind.

It’s a story of love, challenge, hardship and despair.  A tale of time-travel, which doesn’t seem too far-fetched, and of historical interests.

Set in post-world-war-II Scotland, Claire, finds herself transported 200 years back in time, by ‘falling’ through the stones of a henge.  She meets the 6x great-grandfather of her husband and finds out the truth behind the name he earned of ‘Black Jack’, and desperate to find protection from him, she agrees to marry a Scottish Highlander (Jamie).

What fills the pages of the book next is a dramatic (yet believable) account of their time together, the mental battles that Jamie faces in providing for and protecting Claire; the grief that is felt when Jamie finds out the truth about Claire and takes her back to the stones so she can return to her life and time.