Book Covers

One of my favorite parts of new books is seeing and absorbing the cover. Lately, authors have some of the most beautiful book covers.  I thought I would write some likes and dislikes about what I like on a book.    

I don’t like seeing the face of the main character on the front of the book.  Although, there are certain situations that seeing the main character is a plus. 

 If the book is part of a series I like to come to my own conclusion of what they look like.  If the book is a standalone novel, I don’t mind seeing the face as it is a quicker read and right away I will see what they look like. What I love about Deeanne Gist's novels is that you see part of their face.  

I like the historical novel covers the best.  They are always in some pretty dress.  One of my absolute favorite book covers is Karen Witemeyer’s “A Tailor-Made Bride.” I bought this one in the store just because of the cover.  I’m so glad I ended up loving the story.  This book actually goes against my first dislike as it is a standalone novel but it is such a pretty cover she can get away with it.

I dislike series covers if they don’t flow. A good example of this is Karen Kingsbury’s Bailey Flanigan series.  

The first two books are similar but the last two don’t seem to fit.  But the books didn’t flow so it I guess it works for the series.

There are some older novels that don’t have the fancy covers and there are some dramatic differences between the old covers and new covers.

 

A good example of this is Lori Wick’s “The Californians. 

The ones I have were being sold at our library’s book sale, so there is a lot of wear and tear in them.  When I went online there is a dramatic improvement on the covers.  The Californians

Do you judge a book by its cover?

Miscellaneous updates

“Loving” is not ready for checkout at the library yet.  I have gone through many different feelings about this book this week.  I’m sure my family can attest to the fact that I have some pretty strong emotions toward this story's conclusion.  So while I am waiting on the library to have “Loving” ready for pickup I am going to be in the middle of three different books. 

The first one is “Every Breath You Take” by Travis Thrasher.  I won this book in 2009 from Travis Thrasher on his website and in the front he wrote "To Katey, With many thanks! Enjoy! I have read it before and really enjoyed it, so I am reading it again. When I started reading it on Thursday I kept thinking it reminds me of the song "Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlise. If this song does not make you cry, I don't know what to say. You might want to read the rest before listening to the song.  

 I requested “Never the Bride by Rene Gutteridge, and McKay Cheryl.  This one is ready for pickup at the library so when I go to work today I can pick it up.  I have read this one several times and enjoyed it a lot.  When I get it I will post one of my favorite scenes.

 Then I really want to reread Blink of an Eye by Ted Dekker. That was the very first book by Ted Dekker I read and I want to read it again.  I guess I am not reading anything new but I will post some reviews up about these though when I am done. 

On Ted Dekker’s Facebook page he has had some really fun, inspiring, and though provoking statuses.  Here is one that he posted in December of 2011. “Four rules for life: 1. Live to discover. 2. There is no greater discovery than love. 3. All love comes from the Maker. 4. Live as you will as long as it leads to love.” Ted Dekker

On the kindle fire for free there was a book “What’s your story? Icebreaker questions for Small Groups" by Cheryl Shireman.  It has some pretty fun questions to think about and it made me think of a question that I would ask all of you.  My mom, sister and I went shopping yesterday and I saw the word rendezvous and I pronounced it wrong but when mom corrected me, I thought to myself “I really like that word.”

So, what is your favorite word? Let me know in the comments.  If you don't have a gmail account, you can comment through the name/url feature.  

Book Review: A Great Catch by Lorna Seilstad

From the back cover: 


She wants to change the world.
He wants to change her mind.

It's the beginning of a new century at Lake Manawa resort in Iowa, but some things never change. When Emily Graham's meddlesome aunts and grandmother take it upon themselves to find her a husband among the resort guests, the spunky suffragist is determined to politely decline each and every suitor. She has neither the time nor the need for a man in her busy life.

Carter Stockton, a recent college graduate and a pitcher for the Manawa Owls baseball team, intends to enjoy every minute of the summer before he is forced into the straitlaced business world of his father.

When their worlds collide, neither Emily nor Carter could have guessed what would come next. Will Carter strike out? Or will Emily cast her vote for a love that might cost her dreams?


My Review:
I had tried reading this book once before and I couldn't get into reading it.  I seen it at the library and I just knew I had to try reading it again because the cover was so intriguing.  I am so glad I did.  I really got into the story this time and enjoyed it immensely. 


I didn't realize that this book is the second in a series called "Lake Manawa Summers." It reads like a stand alone novel so you don't have to worry about reading the first book, but I will be requesting it from the library.  


"A Great Catch" has a sweet romance, humor, history, and a great spiritual lesson of learning to put God first in your life.  


This is Lorna Seilstad's second novel.  

Book Review: Maid to Match by Deeanne Gist

Synopsis (From Deeanne Gist's blog)

From the day she arrives at the Biltmore, Tillie Reese is dazzled--by the riches of the Vanderbilts and by Mack Danvers, a mountain man turned footman. When Tillie is enlisted to help tame Mack's rugged behavior by tutoring him in proper servant etiquette, the resulting sparks threaten Tillie's efforts to be chosen as Edith Vanderbilt's lady's maid. After all, the one rule of the house is no romance below stairs.

But the stakes rise even higher when Mack and Tillie become entangled in a cover-up at the town orphanage. They could both lose their jobs, their aspirations ...and their hearts.

My Review

Ever since the first book by Deeanne "A Bride Most Begrudging" I fell in love with her books.  "Maid to Match" was no different than her other six books.  This book takes place in 1898 in North Carolina.  This is one of my favorite time periods to read about.  The characters that Deeanne writes about seem so real and I felt like I was right there with Tillie and Mack in the Biltmore Estate.  

It is a quick historical read with a sweet romance entwined.  It is a stand alone book so you don't have to worry about reading a sequel.