Keeping it G

SOOOO if you read my blog on a regular basis you probably know that I really have TWO main hobbies....crafts and READING.  Sometimes one takes over for the other and sometimes they share nicely, but they are what I do when I have a spare minute.  I love looking back and remembering all of the crafts that I have made, but I also like to look back and see the books that I have read.  I cannot wait to see how many make it in in 2010.  Anyway....as I go on and on....I was looking back the other day to find an author that I had liked in the past and realized something about the books that I have read this year----they are ALL very different.  Anything from LDS, historical, mystery, crap....a little of everything.  I also noticed that MANY of them were not books I was necessarily proud to admit that I had read.  You know those books that start off great, get you hooked, and then turn into a lust-fest---not pretty.  Anyway....I was reminded of the books I read growing up.  My mom reads as much or more than I do, so did my Grandma Louise before she passed away.  They were both MORE than willing to share the books that they read.  My mom never said..."no that is not a good book for someone your age."  Which made me realize....she was obviously choosing books that were appropriate for everyone to read---Classy!!!  SOOOO I started thinking.  What if Emersyn goes back into my blog books someday (because I print my blogs up) and chooses books off of my READ list.  Would I be ok with her reading ALL of the books that I have read.  NOPE!!!  Then my dear sweet naive mommy asked me if I had any good books she could borrow.  I had NONE!!!  Not a good moment.  My mom had always been a good example for me---letting me grow up with such amazing books as Little Women and Anne of Green Gables and here I was reading Nora Roberts and not willing to pass them on to my mom to read.  SOOOOO my new leaf (the one I have just turned over) is to try to read books that are both good and GOOD.  Now if only books had ratings like movies.....
Here is my first success though...Plain Jayne by Hillary Manton Lodge....LOVED IT!!!

This was a great start into my....new start.  Jayne is a reporter who goes into Amish country to gain information for a story.  She lives with an Amish family and learns about their lifestyle and troubles.  She also realizes that her life is not quite what she wants it to be either (not that she wants to turn Amish or anything).  If you notice on the cover there is also a guy in the picture.  I wont ruin it by telling you who he is, but it is a good twist to the story.  I loved this one and will be reading the next one in the series--Simply Sarah---as soon as the library gets it in.  AND FYI I passed this one on to my mom and she loved it.  It felt good to be able to share BACK with her....so my new leaf is already starting off successful:)

Here is a quick run-down of the books I read before this....there are a lot so I will keep it short and sweet!!

Bound by Sally Gunning.  GREAT BOOK.  This one is about a 7 year old who comes to America from England only to be sold as an indentured servant upon her arrive.  She grows up and is sent to a new master who begins raping and beating her---horrible I know.  She runs away from him and this book chronicles the struggles she faces as a free person.  This book was so full of history from the period of the Boston Tea Party---I was amazed at all that I did not know about all of the "white slaves" of America.  If you are into historical fiction---this one is a must.

The Best Of Times by Anita Stanfield.  This one is an LDS book---so yes of course it was clean.  It was an ok story, but a little on the cheesy side.  You know....a little too happy-ending-ish.  It is about an FBI agent who comes to a bed and breakfast to escape from the deaths of some of his partners.  The inn owner is LDS and single.  You do the math.  If you like a good love story with a Disney Ending---this one is for you.  If you like a little conflict, not so much.

Honest Illusions by Nora Roberts.  I read this one a while back and the details are hazy....but I know it is typical Nora.  It is about a family of illusionists who are also jewelry theives.  If you are a Nora Roberts fan, than this one will not disappoint.  If you don't like steamy romance---not for you. 

Angels Fall by Nora Roberts.  I know I KNOW.....more Nora Roberts.  I got these for free at a yard sale and I guess I should have known better.  This one DID have a great mystery.  The main character comes to Angel Falls to escape her past.  She was the sole survivor in a murder of a number of her friends and family.  She stops in town only long enough to get her car fixed and make a few bucks and ends up staying and getting a job.  She then witnesses a murder while hiking in the woods, but since she is the only witness and there is no evidence, the people in town start to think she is crazy.  The murderer also tries to convince HER and the town people that she is in fact crazy.  So her and her new love interest go in search of the murderer and the victim.  Good story---not G rated.  I am a master of skipping pages at opportune times, and this DOES have a good story in between the skippable stuff:)

Lavender Morning by Jude Deveraux.  This one was one of those books that is not good or bad....just there.  Not a great story, not great writing....just time filler.  The main character inherits a house from her old friend who dies.  She moves to the small southern town where her new home is and begins to learn about all sorts of secrets from her friend's past.  BTW---in the will her old friend tells her who she should marry and he happens to be the lawyer in charge of the house--how convenient.  He ends up being the perfect guy, but he has a cousin who is the gardner at the new house who is much more interesting.  You get the picture....good for a beach or vacation read---not going to make you any smarter:)

PHEWWWW....being pregnant and sick has lead to much laying around and reading.....I need to get a life:)  On a sidenote---if you love your library as much as I do I found a great help in my quest for cleaner reading.  On the binding of many books there is a cross (you know like a Christian cross).  These books are considered Christian reading and thus have higher moral standards than some others.  They do have Christian undertones, so if that is not your cup of tea, than books with crosses are not for you:)

I know there are lots of good books out there just waiting for me to read them (and pass on to my sweet momma).