Wednesday, September 28, 2016

My Thoughts On Banned Books-Banned book week September 24-Oct. 1



September 2016:

Every year this week comes around and I think of this post I put up in 2011. There have been so many GOOD books over the years that have been banned. Find a list over time and see what wonders have made the list. A few that come to mind are of course The Bible, and who can forget Gone With the Wind? As my little 2-cents states, I am not for banning books. I am for stepping up and being a parent and being aware of what our children get their hands on. Should books be banned? No! Should all books be read though? Again a resounding NO! So, once again, here are my thoughts on banned books:


Repost from 2011:

Such a touchy topic! I’m not an essayist, and I’m not a very deep thinker, but I do have an opinion on the topic.  So I’ll just jump in:

While I do not believe that books should be banned (wasn’t the Bible banned somewhere and sometime in history?), I do believe in Self-Censorship and censoring what our children read. As parents we need to be involved in our children’s lives. That means we need to be aware of what they are reading.

As my daughters went through public school there were a few times that I questioned the reading material that was sent home with them. If it didn’t agree with what we were teaching in our home then we discussed it. We then made a choice. Would we allow our daughter to participate, or would we request that an alternate assignment be given. Did we ever march up to the school and demand a book be removed from the curriculum? NO! Did we feel like it? Of course!

Did you see that “request that an alternate assignment be given”?  As parents that is our right! These are our children and we determine how we want them to be raised. We are the ones that determine the morals and beliefs that we want our children taught. If that means not allowing a questionable piece of literature to be read then so be it. BUT, that is a decision for us to make for ourselves. NOT for the masses. To me just as one student does not determine what the masses read, so the masses shall not determine what one student reads.

That is just how we dealt with a public school setting. That doesn’t mean that I never went to a school and questioned motives and reasons behind assignments. It just means that decisions were made for MY child, not everyone else’s. 

Regarding my own Self-Censorship, I used to read pretty much anything and everything. But as the saying goes, “Garbage in, Garbage out”, I have found that to be true in my own life.  I choose not to read books with sexual content or excessive foul language. It is my own choice, my own conviction. I don’t try to foist that on any other person.  My daughters are now adults; they choose for themselves what they want to read. Have I read any banned books? You betcha! 

There is so much out there on the topic of banned books and censorship. I could never cover all that I feel on the subject. These are just some of my thoughts for this week that is set aside for celebrating banned books. 
This is a verse that is over the front door in our home:

Joshua 24:15
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

We hope to live that verse out in our daily lives. What we read, what we say and what we do is a reflection of whom we are serving.


Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Emma Read-Along


You are invited to join us for an EMMA Read-Along. Visit Amber Stokes' blog Seasons of Humility for all of the details and schedule for the Read-Along! Looking forward to discussing this with my fellow Austen fans! I'll be on vacation the month of October but I hope to be able to keep up with the reading and discussing. If you have never participated in a Read-Along you are in for a treat! Join us and have fun!!


Thursday, September 22, 2016

Love Everlasting by Julie Lessman


Shannon has no interest in flirting with player Sam, who's earned the nickname of Dr. Love. Shannon has gone down that road before and gotten burned. Shannon's brother Jack knows that Shannon is the perfect person to ask to get Dr. Love home after he's had too many drinks. Jack knows his sister won't fall to Dr. Love's charms.

Sam and his girlfriend have just broken up. Again. Sam is used to the dance and is sure that Jazz is the woman for him. Once he gets over his drunk Sam enlists Shannon's help in getting Jazz back. Sam and Shannon become the best of friends. Unfortunately Shannon isn't as immune to Dr. Love as she thought! Sam is dedicated to getting Jazz back and will do anything to prove that he is a changed man. Anything, including developing a faith in the God whom Shannon swears will give Sam the love everlasting he so desires.

I'm loving this Isle of Hope series! I love the characters. In Love Everlasting we catch up with all of the characters from Isle of Hope. Jack and Lacey have been married for a year now, and Ben has  arrived home only to find that he may have a rival for Tess's attention! Sam and Shannon's story is beautiful. I love how their friendship develops. I love how strong Shannon's faith is and how she is no-nonsense with Sam. She tells him like it is! I love the spiritual lessons that the characters learn. While the love stories play out among the characters, the ultimate love story of God's love for us is clearly presented. While author Julie Lessman is known for her passionate and drama-ridden characters, there is also an element of humor that lightens a scene. Speaking of passion...ooohhhhhh la la!*fans self*  Love Everlasting does not disappoint in that subject! If you are a fan of sizzling kisses that leave a character weak in the knees, then be prepared! While steamy kisses and smoldering looks abound, they are always tastefully portrayed and not carried beyond the bedroom door. Love Everlasting proves once again why Julie Lessman is at the top of my favorite author list!

Check out my review of:

Isle Of Hope






Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Song for September by Holly Schindler


Michael left Finley years ago to pursue his dream in Nashville of becoming a singer. He lasted all of two weeks and then had to return home. Working in his mother's coffee shop, Michael sees his life as a failure. Stifling his dream of singing, Michael has settled for a life of daily drawing pictures into customers coffee orders. Roped into singing as backup for Gary, Michael is even more dissatisfied with his life.

When Michael meets George Hargrove something magical happens. Michael once again finds his voice and maybe, just maybe is instrumental in building a bridge for legendary couple Amos and Finley to find each other.

Favorite Quotes:

"In the meantime," Michael finished, his words now rote, lacking any enthusiasm at all, "The spirit of Amos is here, in town, granting wishes, Making dreams come true."

"Love was alive. His love of music was still breathing. And by sending it out into the world--he had created a bridge. The kind of bridge that could bring a happily-ever-after to the town's oldest legend."

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed Michael's story. I loved how he started out feeling defeated, but eventually, with the help of the mysterious George Hargrove, found his confidence and love of music once more. I loved the one-step-closer to Amos and Finley finding each other story. As always, I'm looking forward to the next installment of the Finley Short Story Cycle!

Check Out My Reviews Of The Other Finley Books:

Come December
January Thaw
Forget February
Dearest March
April's Promise
Mayday Mayday Mayday
Chasing June
A Hundred Julys
Under The August Moon

AND...

Miles Left Yet where the town of Finley is introduced.




Saturday, September 3, 2016

Downtown Green by Judy Christie



With the new highway bi-pass diverting people around Green, downtown is dying. Can Lois come up with a plan to help save their small town?

It sure seems that everyone pins a lot of responsibility on Lois to get them out of a bind! Chris and Lois now have a baby boy that keeps them on their toes. Lois is a good momma to baby Eddie, but she needs to loosen up a bit, she takes overprotective momma to a new level!

There are changes coming to Green, the question is, will Green survive them? Since coming to Green Lois has found herself in the middle of all of the happenings of small town life. She loves Green and is determined to do all in her power to keep Green from dying. The first thing that she and Chris do is purchase the old run down ice cream parlor. All of their friends help restore it.

All of the characters that we have come to love in Green are back. Also some that we are not so fond of. Major is now out of jail and up to his old tricks. I love all of the lives that Lois has touched through her move to Green. She has grown a lot since she has come to Green and hopes to raise her son in this small town where she has found love and purpose.

I enjoyed reading the Green series. I think this was the last one in the series although I don't think it really ended so there may be more...I hope!