"You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore." ― William Faulkner
Counting Miracles begins like a gentle drift do"You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore." ― William Faulkner
Counting Miracles begins like a gentle drift down a sunlit river—fingers trailing in the water and not a care in the world. For much of the novel, I followed three distinct lives: Tanner, a former Delta Force soldier searching for his identity; Kaitlyn, a single mom and doctor who is stretched thin; and Jasper, a reclusive man who is judged by his scars but is blessed with a quiet wisdom.
Their paths converge in unexpected ways, and in the final sixty-three pages, I found myself swept into a vortex of emotion that I hadn’t anticipated.
Though the blurb doesn't mention it, this is unmistakably Christian fiction. If you're looking for a story that blends emotional depth, faith, and healing, this one might be for you.
"The greatest thing is to have someone who loves you and—and to love in return. People who haven’t got it—or had it—don't believe that, but it’s the t"The greatest thing is to have someone who loves you and—and to love in return. People who haven’t got it—or had it—don't believe that, but it’s the truth."
Ross Poldark rides back into Cornwall, fresh from fighting in the American Revolutionary War, expecting warm hugs, a cozy hearth, and maybe a kiss or two from his beloved Elizabeth. Instead, his father is dead, Elizabeth is engaged to his cousin, and his estate is being run by two perpetually pickled servants. Chickens, without a responsible human to keep them in check, have taken over the parlor. Not exactly the welcome-home party he had in mind!
But Ross isn't one to wallow (at least not outwardly). With grit in his soul and nothing left to lose, he rolls up his sleeves and sets out to rebuild his life. What follows is a deliciously dramatic tale of resilience, romance and reinvention, all set against the wild, windswept beauty of Cornwall.
Winston Graham serves up an 18th-century saga brimming with a brooding hero, sharp-tongued locals, and fortunes that hinge on copper mines and card games. Ross is the kind of character who makes you want to cheer, sigh, and occasionally shake him by the collar.
So go ahead—step into the late 1700s, where the wigs are powdered, the stakes are high, and emotions run deep. You’ll be glad you made the trip!...more
The Neon Rain is the first book in the Detective Dave Robicheaux series, and it's a humdinger! Robicheaux, a hardb"One day you'll have a quiet heart."
The Neon Rain is the first book in the Detective Dave Robicheaux series, and it's a humdinger! Robicheaux, a hardboiled detective patrolling New Orleans' French Quarter, has to cope with a chronic drinking problem and a broken heart. To make matters worse, he has a brother who associates with mobsters.
James Lee Burke brings these characters to life with vivid detail. I could almost smell the whiskey and felt the oppressive humidity. I found myself squirming as the detective became embroiled in the death of a young prostitute, placing him squarely in the middle of a storm that threatens his life and the lives of everyone around him.
First published in 1987, I appreciated the dark atmosphere that permeated each page. A word of warning to sensitive readers: the book contains language and scenes of violence that might be triggering.
Burke's cinematic writing in this gripping thriller made it difficult to put down....more
Du Maurier was a genius at creating delicious, atmospheric scenes. In her capable hands, the setting o"Respectable folk don't go to Jamaica anymore."
Du Maurier was a genius at creating delicious, atmospheric scenes. In her capable hands, the setting of the Jamaica Inn on Bodmin Moor became a hauntingly beautiful one. The main character, Mary Yellen, possessed both an endearing vulnerability and inspirational strength as a sinister mystery unfolded around her.
"… a silence on the tors that belonged to another age; an age that is past and vanished as though it had never been, an age when man did not exist, but pagan footsteps trod upon the hills. And there was a stillness in the air, and a stranger, older peace, that was not the peace of God."
Although this book didn't quite reach the pinnacle of Rebecca, it came a very close second and was easily my favorite read of the year....more
"Some of the greatest criminals I have known had the faces of angels…"
As I teed up this second book in the Hercule Poirot series, I peeked over the br"Some of the greatest criminals I have known had the faces of angels…"
As I teed up this second book in the Hercule Poirot series, I peeked over the brilliant Belgian’s shoulder to read a letter penned by Monsieur Paul Renauld urgently summoning the detective - and Hastings, his faithful companion - to France. This letter promised to supply all the details once they had arrived. Below the signature was a despairing and almost illegible scrawl: "For God’s sake, come!"
With their interest piqued and suitcases packed, the men boarded a ship anticipating their new adventure. But upon arrival, they found that the author of the letter, their very reason for traveling, had been murdered. Mon Dieu!
In true Christie fashion, her literary twists and turns had me hanging onto my Kindle for dear life yet enjoying every minute. Would Poirot hit a hole-in-one or shank it? I don’t want to spoil the fun for anyone who hasn’t read The Murder on the Links. (Despite its title, no golfers were harmed in the making of this story…)
Christie’s masterful storytelling has left me hungry for more. On to book three!...more
"Every book has a soul, the soul of the person who wrote it and the soul of those who read it and dream about it."
I again traveled to Zafón’s Barc"Every book has a soul, the soul of the person who wrote it and the soul of those who read it and dream about it."
I again traveled to Zafón’s Barcelona with high expectations set on his sequel to The Shadow of the Wind. Discovering that it was a prequel was quite a surprise!
David Martin is a young man struggling to make a splash in the literary world. As he repeatedly takes one step forward and two steps back, the life he dreams of remains just out of reach. But young Mr. Martin has an ace up his sleeve—a rare talent that can make words come alive in a reader’s mind.
With a dismal career holding him back and his health failing by the day, David is flattered when wealthy publisher, Andreas Corelli, recognizes his unique gift and, to all intents and purposes, offers him a way out that is paved with heavenly banknotes. But has the money, along with its owner, oozed up from a darker place?
This is a story steeped in failure and fame, love and loss, mystery and misery. A devilish price must be paid when one plays The Angel’s Game…
After being completely swept away by The Shadow of the Wind, I settled in expecting the same level of enchantment that I had experienced in those pages. While The Angel’s Game was a terrific story that hints toward a Faustian deal, it was missing that sparkling something I found in the first novel. That being said, the writing is dreamy, and the story is Gothic gold. I would certainly recommend this book.
"A writer never forgets the first time he accepted a few coins or a word of praise in exchange for a story. He will never forget the sweet poison of vanity in his blood and the belief that, if he succeeds in not letting anyone discover his lack of talent, the dream of literature will provide him with a roof over his head, a hot meal at the end of the day, and what he covets the most: his name printed on a miserable piece of paper that surely will outlive him. A writer is condemned to remember that moment, because from then on he is doomed and his soul has a price."
"Do you know the best thing about broken hearts? They can only really break once the rest is just scratches."
"Poetry is written with tears, fiction with blood, and history with invisible ink."...more
"There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about." — Oscar Wilde
Published in 1905, The House o"There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about." — Oscar Wilde
Published in 1905, The House of Mirth was set in New York in the late 1800s — America's Gilded Age.
Miss Lily Bart was one of the 'in crowd'; high society was what she was born and bred for. She was blessed with remarkable beauty and her prospects of a 'good marriage' seemed to be set in stone. But no one in her well-to-do circle should have counted those unhatched chickens, for Lily had a streak of independence a mile wide — and it went against her baser instincts to accept any of the suitors who had dented her sofa cushions over the years.
But an unfortunate illness left Miss Bart without family or means and placed her at the mercy of an aunt's reluctant offer to take her in. Lily quickly realized her situation was tenuous and, at twenty-nine, had resigned herself to bite the bullet and choose from one of the Dapper Dans, whose numbers were dwindling by the day.
Enter Lawrence Selden, the Rhett Butler of this story, darkly handsome with a twinkle in his eye. Mr. Selden had been upfront with Lily. He had no wish to marry her but found her game-playing with the other fellows all very amusing. She could be herself with him because he wasn't a prospect; so good friends they would be.
The rich and the righteous had set standards for unmarried young women. Even a toe over the line of what was considered proper would get one tossed out of society on one's ear, and there were those who would have loved nothing more than to witness the downfall of charming Miss Bart. Will Lily succeed in walking the line?
As one of the most beautiful snowfalls I've ever seen softly coated Kansas in white, I read the final pages of this captivating novel. This did not have the same humor I experienced with my previous read of her work, but the characters leapt flamboyantly from each page. The tale was touching and sometimes harsh, with writing that was dependably on-point. I shed a few tears before all was said and done and the brilliant, unexpected ending put this squarely in the five-star category.
The House of Mirth will be a hard one to beat this year. If you are a fan of the television show The Gilded Age, this book is for you.
A few of the quotes that I highlighted: "She was so evidently the victim of the civilization which had produced her, that the links of her bracelet seemed like manacles chaining her to her fate."
"Miss Corby's role was jocularity: she always entered the conversation with a handspring."
"It was one of those still November days when the air is haunted with the light of summer…"...more
"I had never known the pleasure of reading, of exploring the recesses of the soul, of letting myself be carried away by imagination, beauty, and the m"I had never known the pleasure of reading, of exploring the recesses of the soul, of letting myself be carried away by imagination, beauty, and the mystery of fiction and language. For me, all those things were born with that novel."
Barcelona, 1945. Ten-year-old Daniel and his father inhabit a modest apartment situated above a bookshop specializing in rare collectors’ editions and secondhand books. In this shelved world of forgotten tomes, a unique kind of magic can be found.
"Come, Daniel, get dressed. I want to show you something," Father said.
"Now? At five o’clock in the morning?"
"Some things can only be seen in the shadows,"
Vendors in search of rare publications lost to time occasionally hit upon curious establishments. The Cemetery of Forgotten Books is one such place, and its labyrinthine location is a secret Daniel’s father has never revealed to anyone — until now. “Every book, every volume you see here, has a soul. The soul of the person who wrote it and of those who read it and live and dreamed with it.” Daniel’s first visit to this dusty domain sets events into motion that will echo throughout the rest of his life. I hesitate to give away too much because joy lies in discovery, but I will say that this story made me ponder whether our destiny is driven by choice or fate. I think it may be a bit of both…
"… a book is a mirror that offers us only what we already carry inside us, that when we read, we do it with all our heart and mind…" It is not easy to pinpoint what makes one book rise high above the rest. I’ve read many novels overflowing with sentences that made my heart sing and traveled the world and beyond within their pages. But only a few epic tales have bewitched me as The Shadow of the Wind has. I’ve walked the streets of Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s Barcelona, and my world will never be the same. A Gothic mystery brimming with deception, love, and misfortune, I can’t recommend this book highly enough.
"Time has taught me not to lose hope, yet not to trust too much in hope either. Hope is cruel, and has no conscience."
Many thanks to my Goodreads friends Cheri and Kevin. Their fabulous reviews pointed the way....more
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