Author Melody Carlson's Website . Click on the book cover to go to the Amazon page.
Book Description:Kendall's managed to wrangle her grandmother's house-free and clear-except for the rules. No male roommates. But that's ok, with the right ad she'll pull in some girls, their rent and if she's lucky, she won't have to go to work any time soon.
For their part, Anna, Lelani, and Megan all have their reasons for wanting to move in: Anna has got to get out from under her overprotective parents; Lelani can't take another day in her aunt's tiny crackerbox house overflowing with toddlers and Megan needs a place free of her current roommate from Hades.
Though they come with assorted extra baggage filled with broken hearts and dreams, they will discover they also have a vast array of hidden strengths. And they struggle to become the women they want to be, they'll find new hope and maybe even Kendall will learn a thing or two about life, love and the true meaning of friendship.
Sound great? Just click hereto read the first chapter.
My Review: Each character brings a pile of baggage and a box or two of issues as the Bloomberg series begins. Kendall, Megan, Lelani and Anna are strangers who become new intimates. Toes are stepped on, space is invaded and renovation occurs within each character before the book ends. However, there is much room for future character development as the obvious and not so obvious issues barely began to unpack in book one.
There are several chick-lit style scenarios, girlfriend bonding, job shuffling and guy stuff, but the story is told in 3rd person POV through the four different female characters. Because of the style, chick-lit lovers may find it less than satisfying because there is limited intimacy. Fans of Yada-Yada books may enjoy the multi-character format, but there is a limited amount of God talk. It was a quick and enjoyable read, perfect if you want a light serving of drama.
I didn't have a camera but I've begged for a few pictures so I can share the amazing sunset/incoming thunderstorm I experienced this evening.
This series of still shots with rainstorm audio will just have to do.
Tonight, the western sky looked exactly like pink Black Hills Gold. Imagine huge cotton balls dipped in liquid rose-gold piled in the sky and then illuminated. The damp grass on the hill below glowed in the unusual light and it danced as the wind picked up.
Lightning began playing tag in the clouds and sneaking down to touch base on the ground far below. As we watched, awed by the immensity of God's powerful creation, the sky darkened into pewter, and opened up in a deluge of cold, fat water drops.
I am always humbled by a tiny display of God's power and creativity. I can't imagine what He has in store in heaven.
Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
Howard Thurman
Another quote from 30 Days to Live. Of course this isn't true if what makes you alive is a selfish thing. But I feel that disclaimers really take away from the quippiness of a profound saying. That said, I'm done adding words.
Entertaining and campy with several "yeah right!" moments. Fans of National Treasure should appreciate the same characters as they banter, argue, fight and solve clues.
National Treasure Two takes us to Europe and below ground. Nearly clean fun lacks family unfriendly language and sexual content.
The intensity of the themes -- treasure hunts/hunters, shootings, car chases and skeletons in various degrees of decay might make it a little too much for very sensitive viewers.
If you can suspend disbelief and just go along for the entertainment factor, you'll probably be able to enjoy this quick moving film.
My biggest struggles were with some unrealistic moments between characters, but the interaction is still fun and full of sarcastic dialogue. .
Though no one can go back and make a brand-new start, anyone can start now and make a brand-new ending.
Carl Bard
First Peter came in handy today.
No, that's not someone's nickname.
It's a book of the Bible with five very packed chapters full of great wisdom.
Did you know that God will give us direction and even wisdom if we'll ask? I asked, and He took me to Peter. Since I've been talking about quotes...here are a couple from Peter.
1 Peter 2: 9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests,[f] a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 3:11 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
I think that sums it up for me. Peace. We've been doing a study at church on the names of God. Jehovah Shalom means God is my peace. Our pastor says one of the roots of peace is wholeness. I want to be whole and I'm tired of feeling like I'm missing parts and particles of what I need to be someone who looks like Jesus.
Okay, Jehovah Shalom...I need the pieces of peace I'm missing in my life. Help me find it.
Today, everyone in the family had plans. The girls were going to the amusement park two hours from home. Rob had work to do. Me...well, I had cleared my schedule to sit through hours of lecture on radiation safety.
Weather forecasts blew the girls plans out the window. Lack of interest (go figure) canceled my class. Rob had trouble with humidity and drywall mud drying. So, for the first time since I don't know when, we all piled into the van and went to a coffee shop for breakfast. We talked and laughed and lingered. Then the girls and I shopped, and shopped and shopped. I hate shopping. But I love spending time with my girls.
Muggy Iowa was a great place to be today. I'm going to go on record to thank God for an unexpectedly sweet day.
Apparently, I've hit a patch of melancholy. It happens -- far too often during some seasons. I'll try to keep it contained to a small slick so you don't slip in it.
I'm reading the book I mentioned yesterday called "One Month to Live..." Each of its thirty chapters start with two quotes. I happen to love quotes. Looking around my living room, I can count ten items with a quote or a saying or a statement about life. A primitive wall hanging right across from me shares Proverbs 24: 3-4 By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established: by knowledge it's rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.
Over my left shoulder is the wooden sign stating, "Dwell in possibility" Emily Dickinson
Sometimes, when the house is clean and the clutter doesn't cover these favorite items, I stop what I'm in the middle of doing, take a deep breath, read the words and ponder what they mean to my life, right now.
When I decided to write, to take it seriously, my mother bought me a giant pencil that says "Write On." I wonder if I shouldn't have a sign above my bed saying, "Seize the day." But since I stumble around before the first cup of coffee, there would be a loss of effectiveness.
Bottom line. I don't want to squander what God has invested in me.
I'll leave you with two quotes from the book. Do they speak to you? What can you do today to live life to its fullest in the areas you've embraced? I can't answer for you. But I'm going to keep on learning and growing and giving today. And tomorrow, too.
The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration but its donation.
Corrie Ten Boom
I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I have just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well.
