pursit of Tamsen Littlejohn

The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn by
> Lori Benton is the newest historic romantic novel by this
> author.  This novel is set in the late 18th century of
> the state of what is now Tennessee.  At the time was
> called Carolina (as a part of North Carolina) or as Franklin
> depending upon their political leaning or it could be called
> by the particular tribal names is one happened to be one of
> the native people in the areas quickly filling with white
> people claiming ownership to the land.  It was a time
> of ownership—ownership of peoples of different races or of
> women—either by title or merely by lack of rights.
> Tamsen Littlejohn has grown into womanhood being groomed to
> be married above her station by her stepfather who uses
> might and anger to control Tamsen’s mother as well as
> Tamsen herself though her mother takes all the punishment
> from his hands.  When her stepfather, Hezekiah Parrish,
> kills her mother in a fit of rage after Tamsen rejected his
> latest choice for her husband Tamsen flees the town with a
> man she has just met, Jesse.  When Tamsen runs she
> doesn’t even know his name for the first few days.
> This story tells of the hardships faced not only by the
> whites settling the new areas as well as the well-settled
> natives of the area who are constantly having their lives
> upset by new treaties and breaking of the old ones
> previously signed.
>
> This book is a good one by Ms. Benton that anyone would
> enjoy reading.  She has remained true to history as
> well as written a novel which holds the readers
> interest.  It is a difficult to put down novel though
> it is too long to be easily read in one setting (378
> pages).  This book tells how a person can remain true
> to their faith in Christ even when faced with severe
> adversity and only resorting to violence when faced with
> their own death or that of loved ones.  I would
> recommend this novel to any woman or teen.
>
>
> This book was provided by Waterbrook Multnomah Press for
> this review.
>
>

rich in years review

Rich in Years is an uplifting book about aging in America.  Mr. Arnold tells many stories of the priviledge all of us who have lived life here on Earth and have less time ahead of than we do behind us.  But in this book also is a reminder that we do not know the day or the time of our death and that we always should be prepared for the end here on Earth and the beginning that awaits us.  He tells us of the time that we now have that we did not have when we were raising our children and that we should use that time wisely doing productive things for those around us.  We should be not only doing and sharing with and for those that we love but also making amends to those to whom we have done wrong.  Our forgivness of others is not only for them to be able to go on celebrating with more happiness but it is for the forgiver also.  The weight is now off our shoulder and onto God's.  This walk that we call life we should enjoy.  Take the time to thank those in your life who have made your life more blessed. The life that we have been given is a gift.  Take a look around and see all the blessings that are around us--the simple and the complex--the Lord God He made them all.  Mr. Arnold and his wife have taken the time to interview many older people who are now facing death and letting them tell their story so that we do not feel afraid to walk through that door of death that Jesus is on the other side of-"for it is only when we die will new life begin."(page 151)  Some of these people have spent a lifetime celebrating and working for God's plan for them and some only come to God as it is obvious that their life is short.  All came though and all are rewarded in God's plan for no matter how much we do we only can come to the Father through Grace. 

When I picked this book I did not expect it to speak to me as it did.  I expected it to be a sad book but I have to say that it is a happy book on preparing for one's own death and it is easier now to look forward.  As it is stated in one of the stories that I do not know what it on the other side of heaven's door but I do know who is there and I look forward to that time whenever it comes.  It is a quick good read for anyone facing death and we all are--some sooner/some later.  The book has scripture throughout to support the view stated and that would make it a good study companion for a group study also.

This book was provided for this review by Handlebar.

quilted heart review

The Quilted Heart is 3 novellas in one book.  All of which have in common Mrs. Elsa Brantenberg's quilting and Bible study.  The women of the little St. Charles community meet here to try to understand the trials of their life after the ending of the Civil War.   In the first, Dandelions on the Wind, Maren who is an immagrant to the country as a jilted mail order bride too poor to return back to her home she lives with Mrs. Brantenberg and cares for her little 4 year old granddaughter, Gabi.  She has grown quite close to the family that is until Gabi's father returns from war Maren becomes uncertain of her future and gets a job in town so that she can earn money for her passage home--buuuuut she feels pulled toward Wooly, Gabi's father.  What to do, what to do.  Bending Toward the Sun continues the story but takes it up for the point of view of Emilie, another community woman from the quilting/Bible study.  Emilie has been helping her father run the general store of St. Charles.  While all of her friends are paring off with new male interests she has no real interests outside of helping her aging father run the store but Mr. Heinrich has bigger plans for his daughter, he wants Emilie to go to the University and further her education.  Then just to spice things up she meets again a boy who has grown into a man during the war.  He has an Irish background and her father is sure that an Irish man is not good enough for his daughter.  The story continues on in Ripples Along the Shore Caroline has all during this book not heard from her husband.  She is afraid of what to think--she doesn't think he could have been killed.  She would have felt it wouldn't she have?  Garrett Cowlishaw has come into town in order to lead a wagon train to the west and into California.  Caroline instantly hates him because he was a Confederate soldier.  Even though St. Charles is in Missouri which had gone with the south this group is decidedly antislavery and Caroline just can't stand the thought of this Confederate in her town--that is before he told her he would see if he could find out the where abouts of her husband and so she decides to trust him.

 

These stories are all good and I like that though the story is a continuation of each the plot is different in each.  I have like all of Ms Hodgson's books and so of course I liked this one.  I think that this is the best that she has done so far.  This book would be good reading for girls and women of any age and I would encourage your reading this book.

 

I recieved this book from Waterbrook Press for this review.