Moving to new blog - JaneYReads

Due to technical issues, I am moving to a new blog - it will make it easier when we move back to the States because my twitter name has Italy in it and this had Belgium in it... I plan to be reading and reviewing for a long, long time and this will be a better fit. So please follow my new blog here at Blogger called "JaneYReads"!

San Francisco, Tuscany, Paris and Wine - who could ask for more?

The Winemakers by Jan Moran is a story of winemakers for sure but it is also a love story that spans generations. It starts in the Napa Valley in a vineyard that began with cherished vines that traveled from France to Italy and then to America. The characters have a depth to them that shows a dedication of the author to tell their stories. Each of the characters have had many challenges in their lives and continue to do so throughout the book. There is beauty, love, frustrations between parent and child, and most of all the warmth of Tuscany depicted in a very realistic manner. Since we had the privilege of visiting there, the words on the pages brought it all back to life for me -- the food, the wine, and the relaxed lifestyle of the Italians but also the fierce loyalty to family that they possess.

Since the book is set in the mid 1950's, you have to remember that life was much different then. Relationships between men and women were more restrained and the strong Catholic faith exhibited by the families caused them to order their lives in a way that would not be an issue now in our world where everything goes and is to be accepted. It was a charming but trying time for those who lived. Having to remember that there was no advanced technology to make their lives "easier" was important while reading!

There are secrets hidden throughout the book and are meant to protect others from harm in many ways. These secrets come back to haunt them and there are dangerous situations that arise as a result. All of these elements make this book a journey not to be missed. You will find yourself, like I did, that things work out for Ava, Rafael, Caterina and Santo. I would definitely read it a second time just to be able to visit with the characters again and to spend more time with them! Pour yourself a nice glass of Italian wine and start reading!

Thank you Net Galley and Jan Moran for providing this book to read!

The Rejected Writers' Book Club (Southlea Bay) - Suzanne Kelman

Quirky people are found in Southlea Bay. A marauding raccoon is causing Janet and her husband frustration every morning when they find that their trash can has been raided and emptied across their yard. Her husband is a fun character that will make you laugh at his round about ways of dealing with situations. Janet meanwhile is pulled into the Rejected Writers' Book Club since she works at the library and they felt she could help them share their failures as part of a 500th rejection letter celebration they are planning. But right after attending their meeting, the worst thing possible happens and the club is aghast. You'll have to read the book to find out what happens! I've smiled, shook my head and laughed at the antics of these characters. I hope you will too!

This book was made available to me through Net Galley which is a great way to discover new authors and favorites!

The Shop on Main - Kay Correll

Something that draws me to books is small town life. I've been living away from my hometown now for 32 years following my husband in his assignments in the military and now with the federal government. The thought of living in a small town where you know most of the people there and little shops and restaurants to visit really appeals to me. That's why I really enjoyed spending time meeting the folks of Comfort Crossing. The name itself makes me sigh and smile. The lives of the characters are much like yours and mine. They are not without conflict or problems. But the one thing that resonates is the fact that they all have each others' backs and want the best for one another.  When you look at the news these days, this sort of thing sure doesn't jump out at you. In fact, that is a really good reason to read this book and many others like it as a way to escape the hardness and sharp tendencies of life today.

I would love to visit Bella's shop and eat at the Magnolia Cafe! The descriptions of these places and the food and friendship were well written.

This book is part of a series but can also be read just by itself and be enjoyed. I look forward to reading more books by Kay Correll!

Broken Homes and Gardens by Rebecca Kelley

I was attracted to this book by its title because I love gardens and I had to find out why the homes were broken. I guess this sounds crazy but it's true. Set in Portland, a place I'd like to visit, Joanna meets Malcolm and a strange and quirky friendship is born. As the story progresses, you really feel sorry for Joanna as she pushes people away from her in fear of getting attached to them. This is a really good story as it doesn't always go in the direction you think it will. I read it on my Kindle and couldn't turn the pages past enough to see how it would all come out in the end. Would Joanna end up happy or alone? Read it to find out yourself!

The Amish Clockmaker

This was a really good look into the life of the Amish plus a side story of one dealing with a handicap and how that affected their outlook on life and how others dealt with them. It is very well written and I think that those who enjoy Amish fiction will definitely want to add this one to their bookshelves! I read this book through Netgalley. It's a great way to have access to many books when you really enjoy reading!

At Water's Edge

What a great adventure! I was intrigued by the description of this book and was hooked from the very first page. The characters are really well developed and you grow to love or hate them accordingly. I was drawn in by the drama of a trek across the ocean during WWII and how difficult that must have been and then the odd trio as they began a search for a mystical monster. It is definitely a well written story and will keep you reading just one more page until you reach the very end and wish you could read some more! I highly recommend this book! I received the free advance galley for it from NetGalley.

Wide Open World - quite the family adventure'

What would your kids do if you told them you were going to pack up and take a trip across uncharted territory and volunteer at animal reserves and other missions? You have to read this book! To learn more about their travels, visit Marshall's website at johnmarshall.com. A whole new world may fascinate you and draw you in so you want to take this sort of journey too! I was able to preview this book through Netgalley and I'm so glad it was available to me. In the midst of so many unhappy things happening in our world, this book reveals so many caring and thoughtful people working in unusual places.

The Fragile World by Paula Treick DeBoard

Just finished reading and was moved by the tragic accident that altered this family's foundation. We live our lives as if every day is a guarantee and this story showed that it just isn't so. I felt so sorry for the remaining daughter who needed her parents to help her feel worth and to get her through the big transition they faced together. This didn't happen smoothly and the suspense of what will happen keeps you reading to the very end. I highly recommend reading this! Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin for making it available to me!

The Summer Wind

What a perfect book for the Summer! I loved getting to know the characters

in this book. A family of women with different struggles brought back to the

place they knew as children as a peaceful haven with their grandmother. I had

tears at the end and was sad that it was over. I'd love to find out what the

author had planned next in each of their lives. This book was written by

Mary Alice Monroe and I received a free galley to read from NetGalley. To get

to read wonderful books for free by just giving my thoughts afterwards is a

very good thing indeed! 

A strong memoir of a life of overcoming - Hattie Kauffman

I just finished reading this book - started it yesterday and had to read it to the end. Her description on the cover "A memoir of Overcoming" is an understatement. To learn of her humble and impossible life growing up and see where her life took her is amazing. Most would not survive under such challenges. Hattie is an encouragement to all of us to take the chances that God places in our paths. She toiled hard throughout her adult years to work as a reporter. The lessons she learned along the way eventually led her to a strong faith in God despite the struggle of faith not having a place in her field of work. Her dear Aunt Teddy planted the seeds and Hattie eventually saw these seeds grow into a full blown love of the Lord. This book should be on everyone's reading list!

glitter and glue by Kelly Corrigan

I was first drawn to this book by the title because who doesn't like glitter and glue, right? When I learned that the title actually described the way her mother felt her role  in the family was vs. that of the father's, it made total sense. Kelly has a way with words and made her father come to life on the pages. On the other hand, she communicated well her mother's role and behavior in their family's life. It took her going on her big adventure and having to take a money gathering break to have time to reflect on how much she was in fact like her mother in so many ways! Growing up we spend so much time invested in our own thoughts and ideas and often it takes a life changing situation to open our eyes and help us to see life through the eyes of others. Kelly made me stop and think about my own mother and our relationship through the years. It is so true that mothers are very often the glue that holds the family together and takes care of the mundane day to day needs and is often the serious one who keeps track of who is going where and when that there's no energy left to be shiny like glitter!

There are those who have reviewed this book thinking that something was missing. I think maybe they haven't reached a point in their lives yet where they can relate to the family roles described here. I loved the book and wanted to read on and see what would happen next. That's the mark of a good book in my view!

Sous Chef by Michael Gibney

For all of the foodies out there, this is the book to read! Michael Gibney takes you on a station by station tour of the kitchens that prepare your food in all restaurants - whether it is an upscale dining establishment or a neighborhood eatery. The bottom line is that the way food is prepared in a restaurant is far different from the way we put our meals together for our families. Attention to first the workplace, then the tools and finally the ingredients is painstaking, if done properly. I have a newfound respect for all of the chefs and the kitchen staffs in the preparation of my lone order. The night they had 300 expected for the evening was incredible, scary and amazing all at the same time. It's unbelievable that one small restaurant could achieve service (high quality at that) to so many diners in one evening with a small crew working behind the doors of the kitchen! Bravo Mr. Gibney for taking us on this tour!

I must say that the book did start out slowly as I referenced in a prior posting but it soon had me under its spell to keep reading to find out more and more about the journey of our food from start to finish!

Slow going... Sous Chef is great for foodies but...

I was extremely excited to be given access to this book. So far, it is not what I expected but I'm going to give it a little more time. There aren't many books that I just can't tackle. Here's hoping it isn't one of them!

Time to post on great books!

Ever since living in Italy when I started to download books through NetGalley, I have had the goal to enjoy reading some great books and sharing my thoughts on my blog. I have done a few reviews but not enough to really do justice to the great writers that are represented by the galleys on NetGalley. Starting this week, I plan to blog about at least one book every week. Free books are great but need to be read and not just loaded into my Kindle library. I don't know about you but these digital books are just like digital pictures - you take one but then it is gone in a blip of time and takes up space but you lose the memory of it quickly. These reviews will help me remember the words and stories that others have shared!  The first book to be read and reviewed is Sous Chef.