Abram's Daughters

Abram's Daughters series
By: Beverly Lewis
Book 1: The Covenant
Book 2: The Betrayal
Book 3: The Sacrifice
Book 4: The Prodigal
Book 5: The Revelation


Synopsis: Abram's Daughters introduces readers to an Old Order family, a close-knit community and a devout people whose way of life and faith in God is as timeless as their signature horse and buggy.

Set against the backdrop of post-World War II, this compelling saga spans three generations of a Lancaster County Amish family. Abram Ebersol and his devoted wife are raising four courting-age daughters on a firm foundation of Plain tradition, and they expect their girls to carry on that heritage by joining the church and making a covenant with God.

But the "running-around" years known as rumschpringe are often a time of sowing wild oats. Each of Abram's daughters, choosing her own path, must come to terms with the Old Ways of thinking and living. And sometimes that path has detours and forks in the road with unknown destinations....

My review: I discovered Beverly Lewis by winning one of her books in a giveaway, which I really liked. Besides, who can resist books centered around the Amish? It's too fascinating a subject to pass up.

I decided to review this series as a whole because each ends on a cliffhanger with unanswered questions. Each book left me eager to get my hands on the next in the series. Most of the characters are very likeable, and sometimes they made me angry (but I won't give anything away). Beverly Lewis is very good at writing about the Amish, whose lives are completely centered on their religion and yet still including scandal in every series. She manages to load the Christian element into her writing without being overbearing and still making the reader recognize the very essence of how these people's lives are strictly ordered.

Rating: 5/5 stars. Beverly Lewis is a very simple writer and there is nothing challenging about reading her books. However, it fits the feel of the story. I was hanging on to every word and enjoyed absorbing the Amish culture. There's really nothing to complain about, and nothing in these books can be viewed as offensive.

The White Queen

The White QueenThe Cousin's War: Book 1By Philippa Gregory

Synopsis: The first in a stunning new series, The Cousins’ War, is set amid the tumult and intrigue of the Wars of the Roses. Internationally bestselling author Philippa Gregory brings this extraordinary family drama to vivid life through its women – beginning with Elizabeth Woodville, the White Queen.

Elizabeth Woodville, of the House of Lancaster, is widowed when her husband is killed in battle. Aided and abetted by the raw ambition and witchcraft skills of her mother Jacquetta, Elizabeth seduces and marries, in secret, reigning king Edward IV, of the family of the white rose, the House of York. As long as there are other claimants to Edward’s throne, the profound rivalries between the two families will never be laid to rest. Violent conflict, shocking betrayal and murder dominate Elizabeth’s life as Queen of England, passionate wife of Edward and devoted mother of their children.

My review: I discovered Philippia Gregory after watching The Other Boleyn Girl and deciding I might like the book. I was absolutely rivited by the book (better than the movie, as is usual) and began reading other books by Gregory and for the most part have really enjoyed myself.

This book is no exception. This book has action from beginning to end and left me breathless for the next book in the series. Gregory has a very interesting take on 15th century England and how life was lived. I really liked Elizabeth, the main character, and enjoyed the added element of witchcraft and the way it was presented.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars. It wasn't the most amazing book, but I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end and will definitely read the next in the series.

American Eve

American Eve
By Paula Uruburu

Synopsis: A superstar by turn-of-the-century standards, Evelyn Nesbit, model, actress, and advertising creation, represented an idealized version of American womanhood. When her unbalanced millionaire husband shot and killed her lover, renowned New York architect and man-about-town Stanford White, the stage was set for a virtual media circus. All the decadent details revealed at the trial were devoured by a public just as hungry to see young, beautiful, and successful women crash and burn as they are today. Uruburu draws some valid comparisons between then and now in this tell-all biography of one of the first in a long line of tarnished “It Girls.”

My review: This premise of this book is very interesting. Evelyn Nesbit's tumultuous life is fascinating, but the way this book is written isn't quite so engaging. I was drawn in by Nesbit's crazy life. Her mother is absolutely insane and it really seems as though the only people she can trust in her life are men, although they have less than pure motives.

Rating: 4/5 stars. The writing isn't what it could be, but Evelyn's story is no doubt fascinating.

Change of Heart

Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

Synopsis: Freelance carpenter Shay Bourne was sentenced to death for killing a little girl, Elizabeth Nealon, and her cop stepfather. Eleven years after the murders, Elizabeth's sister, Claire, needs a heart transplant, and Shay volunteers, which complicates the state's execution plans. Meanwhile, death row has been the scene of some odd events since Shay's arrival—an AIDS victim goes into remission, an inmate's pet bird dies and is brought back to life, wine flows from the water faucets. The author brings other compelling elements to an already complex plot line: the priest who serves as Shay's spiritual adviser was on the jury that sentenced him; Shay's ACLU representative, Maggie Bloom, balances her professional moxie with her negative self-image and difficult relationship with her mother. Picoult moves the story along with lively debates about prisoner rights and religion, while plumbing the depths of mother-daughter relationships and examining the literal and metaphorical meanings of having heart.

My review: I have read most of Picoult's books, which usually center on some ethical/legal/medical/social issue that is intended to get a big reaction out of the reader. Every one has made me cry, and this book was no exception.

These books are not based on any remotely possible situation, they are designed to get a rise out of the reader. To enjoy these books, you must be able to suspend reality to a degree, which with her other books I have been able to do. I just could not do it with this one.

***SPOILER ALERT***So inmates and guards start thinking this murderer, Shay, is Jesus reincarnated. I'm sorry, there is just no way for me to buy into this. I find it ridiculous and frankly blasphemous. Then Shay's priest becomes absolutely convinced he is Jesus on earth. PUH-LEEESE! A priest? Shouldn't a priest be looking for signs of the rapture instead of thinking wondrous thoughts about a murdering pyschopath? Gah! It was just wayyy too much for me.

Even though this book made me cry toward the end, it was more because I put myself in the mother's shoes, watching her daughter fade away slowly, rather than because of the book itself.

Rating: 2/5 stars. The plot is interesting, the way it is carried out is too unbelievable.

Stone's Fall by Iain Pears

Synopsis: British author Pears matches the brilliance of his bestselling An Instance of the Fingerpost (1998) with this intricate historical novel, which centers on the death of a wealthy financier. In part one, after John Stone falls to his death from a window in his London mansion in 1909, Stone's seductive, much younger widow, Elizabeth, hires Matthew Braddock, who works as a journalist, to trace a child of her late husband's she never knew existed until the child is named in his will. Braddock, a novice in the world of finance, uncovers evidence that Stone's actual net worth was far less than commonly believed, even as he finds himself falling for his client.

In part two, set in 1890 Paris, Henry Cort, a shadowy spy, provides another perspective on the bewitching Elizabeth. Stone's own reminiscences from his time in Venice in 1867 cast further light on the circumstances of his demise. The pages will fly by for most readers, who will lose themselves in the clear prose and compelling plot.

My opinion: This book took me over a week to tackle. A very long time, considering I was ill and spent nearly all my time reading this monster.

Rich man dies mysteriously and his beautiful widow hires Braddock to find an illegitimate heir. Sounds interesting, right? Well, that part is interesting. Braddock uncovers many findings about Stone's business dealings and they are so detailed that my eyes watered in boredom. I can barely do math and reading about complicated financial matters is more than I can comprehend.

The boring parts are excruciatingly boring. However, the interesting points are insanely exciting. I wouldn't want to give anything away, but let's just say that personal matters become increasingly fascinating as the book goes on. And the twist at the end blew my mind.

Rating: 4/5 stars. I'd give it three because some parts are so boring, but the ending made every boring part worth reading. I own this book and will probably read it again in a year or so.