Friday Finds - 15-06-2012

FRIDAY FINDS showcases the books you ‘found’ and added to your To Be Read (TBR) list… whether you found them online, or in a bookstore, or in the library — wherever! (they aren’t necessarily books you purchased).

So, come on — share with us your FRIDAY FINDS! 

As my To Be Read list continues to grow some more books I have added to my list this week include...

The Midwife's Confession - Diane Chamberlain

"Dear Anna, What I have to tell you is difficult to write, but I know it will be far more difficult for you to hear, and I'm so sorry..."The unfinished letter is the only clue Tara and Emerson have to the reason behind their close friend Noelle's suicide. Everything they knew about Noelle--her calling as a midwife, her passion for causes, her love for her friends and family--described a woman who "embraced" life.Yet there was so much they "didn't" know.With the discovery of the letter and its heartbreaking secret, Noelle's friends begin to uncover the truth about this complex woman who touched each of their lives--and the life of a desperate stranger--with love and betrayal, compassion and deceit.

Chasing Fireflies - Charles Martin

They have one summer to find what was lost long ago."Never settle for less than the truth," she told him. But when you don't even know your real name, the truth gets a little complicated. It can nestle so close to home it's hard to see. It can even flourish inside a lie. And as Chase Walker discovered, learning the truth about who you are can be as elusive--and as magical--as chasing fireflies on a summer night. A haunting story about fishing, baseball, home cooking, and other matters of life and death.

The Beach Trees - Karen White

From the time she was twelve, Julie Holt knew what a random tragedy can do to a family. At that tender age, her little sister disappeared-never to be found. It was a loss that slowly eroded the family bonds she once relied on. As an adult with a prestigious job in the arts, Julie meets a struggling artist who reminds her so much of her sister, she can't help feeling protective. It is a friendship that begins a long and painful process of healing for Julie, leading her to a house on the Gulf Coast, ravaged by hurricane Katrina, and to stories of family that take her deep into the past. 

The God Box - Mary Lou Quinlan

This is the transformational story of one woman's care and compassion. When Mary Lou Quinlan's beloved mother, Mary Finlayson, dies, her family is bereft - until Mary Lou finds her mother's "God Box", or rather, boxes. These simple containers are stuffed with tiny notes written by Mary, praying for everything from the right flooring for her daughter's new home to a cure for her own blood cancer. Mary's petitions for friends, family, and even strangers are presented with love and without expectation - the ultimate expressions of letting go. Note by note, Mary Lou unearths insights into her mother's compassion, faith, and perseverance. And through the journey, she discovers her own more empathetic, more engaged self - the woman her mother had believed in all along. Ideal as a gift book: Poignantly written and beautifully designed, "The God Box" is a gift for every mother, every daughter, every human being who, regardless of faith, trusts in the permanence of love and the power of family. Author is a renowned expert on women's issues: Mary Lou Quinlan is the author of three books and multiple features in women's magazines and other media. She is developing "The God Box" concept as a play, a mobile application, and an online.

The Bungalow - Sarah Jio

A sweeping World War II saga of thwarted love, murder, and a long-lost painting.

In the summer of 1942, twenty-one-year-old Anne Calloway, newly engaged, sets off to serve in the Army Nurse Corps on the Pacific island of Bora-Bora. More exhilarated by the adventure of a lifetime than she ever was by her predictable fiancé, she is drawn to a mysterious soldier named Westry, and their friendship soon blossoms into hues as deep as the hibiscus flowers native to the island. Under the thatched roof of an abandoned beach bungalow, the two share a private world-until they witness a gruesome crime, Westry is suddenly redeployed, and the idyll vanishes into the winds of war.

A timeless story of enduring passion, The Bungalow chronicles Anne's determination to discover the truth about the twin losses-of life, and of love-that have haunted her for seventy years. 

A Texan's Promise - Shelley Gray

Past promises will be tested as new ones are given... 

When Clayton Proffitt, foreman of the Circle Z Ranch in Texas, discovers Vanessa Grant is the victim of her stepfather 's advances, Clayton knows he must protect her honor and move her far away from the ranch and from the man she fears. 

As they make their way West, an unexpected, deep bond develops between Vanessa and Clayton far more powerful than a mere friendship or his sense of duty to her. But Vanessa 's stepfather won t let her go so easily. As Clayton and Vanessa place their faith in God and their trust in each other, will they find healing and hope for the future together?

What books have you added to your To Be Read pile this week?

If you would like to join and check out what other reads have added to their To Be Read lists then visit Friday Finds at Should Be Reading.

Friday Finds

What great books did you hear about/discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS! 

Until Forever - Darlene Shortridge

It was something she would never forgive herself for…

It wasn’t until lunchtime that Jessi remembered to call home. No answer. She tried calling several times while she ate her lunch. Still no answer. She closed her eyes and rested her arms and head on her desk. She breathed deeply, wishing she had remembered to call earlier.

Until Forever is a story of a young family that is torn apart by the devastating effects of alcoholism. Can healing take place in a relationship when an unforgivable act is committed? Will Jessi's pain and Mark's guilt keep them apart forever, or will unforeseen circumstances bind them together?

Double Knit Murders - Maggie Sefton

The first two books in the national bestselling Knitting mysteries- "Knit One, Kill Two" and "Needled to Death." In "Knit One, Kill Two," Kelly Flynn returns to Colorado for her aunt's funeral only to suspect that the woman's death was not an accident. With the help of the knitting regulars at House of Lambspun, Kelly's about to get a few lessons in creating a sumptuously colored scarf-and in luring a killer out of hiding. In "Needled to Death," Kelly visits her friend Vickie's alpaca farm, and finds her splayed out on her original hand-woven rug, blood seeping into the design. Kelly can't resist investigating-even if it means taking a break from the sweater she's been knitting in the round.

The Long Road Home - Mary Alice Monroe

Her husband's suicide left Nora MacKenzie alone, and his shady Wall Street dealings left the Manhattan socialite penniless. By a miracle she's held on to their mountainside farm--and she'll keep holding on, no matter what. The property is Nora's one chance to wring some dignity out of the sham she's been living.The Vermont locals think she's a city girl on a nature kick, but she's not afraid to get her hands dirty. Nora's serious about learning the farming business...if she can figure out where to begin. Against the locals' skepticism, she has only one ally: Charles "C.W." Walker.C.W. is hardworking, gentle with the animals and a patient teacher of the hundreds of chores Nora needs to learn. Slowly she starts to believe she'll survive in her new life, even flourish. She might even be willing to open her heart again. But she won't return to a life of lies...and the truth about C.W. may be more than Nora's fragile heart can bear.

Mother Of The Bride - Adrienne Sallay

Our house will not do for the wedding.

Our lounge room? far too small.

Our dining room? we don't have one.

A bar set up in our jungle? hopeless.

Frances Mainwaring takes us on a journey through the year that her younger daughter Angie prepares to be married.

All Fran wants is to see her elder daughter Sophie more often, a wedding for Angie that doesn't cost the earth, a renewed freshness to her own marriage, a lick of paint on the old house and time to make plans with Phillip for their empty-nest years.  Is this too much to ask?

You can renovate a house -

but can you renovate a marriage?

A light-hearted everywoman story, Mother of the Bride will make you laugh and make you cry, and ponder some of the big questions in life.

How To Give Your Kids $1 Million Each! (and it won't cost you a cent)

Ashley Ormond

This book appeals to every parents desire to provide wealth and security for their children, taking a simple, fun, low-risk approach. Ashley Ormond outlines a very simple plan for parents not only to build wealth for their kids but also to help teach them about money - how it works, how to manage it and how to make it grow. In a nutshell the plan is: $1.00 per day + 1 hour per month = financial security for life. If parents start on the plan when the child is born, put a dollar a day into an investment fund, invest in growth assets and reinvest all the earnings, the fund will grow to $1,000,000 when the child is 50 years old. As soon as your kids are old enough, you are encouraged to get them involved in their very own savings plan. The book comes with a money box that your children can cut out and piece together and start filling up! Sydney author, Ashley Ormond, has spent 25 years in the finance industry - 15 years in major banks and 10 years as a private consultant. He is a semi-retired 40-something and as well as embarking on a career as an author he sits on various boards. Ashley draws on his personal experience in developing the plan for his own two kids and his many years in the finance industry giving people financial solutions that actually work.

How Much Is Enough - Arun Abey & Andrew Ford

Why do happy people make better investors?  Why do most investors achieve less than half the returns they should?  Why are lottery winners no happier than the rest of us?  What makes mature women better investors than young men? Why do we let the Joneses next door determine what car we buy and where we take our holidays?  Why are the world's two richest people giving away their fortunes?  And why, if we're so rich aren't we happier?

How we think has a huge effect on our success in life and the financial markets.  We're richer, live longer, and have more choices than ever.  Yet many of us fail to choose the things that will make us happy.  And the mental mistakes that cause the failure also cause us to make poor investment decisions.

But making better choices is surprisingly easy.  All we need to do is understand what we really want from life, ignore distractions and change the way we think about money and success.

Drawing on research in psychology and behavioural finance plus their years of practical experience, Arun Abey and Andrew Ford show how to identify your values, set goals for each stage of your life, and arrange your finances to achieve them. This practical accessible guide will not only challenge the way you think about money and happiness, but my well inspire you to change your life.

Friday Finds is a weekly meme hosted by Should be Reading.  If you would like to participate or check out what other people have added as their book finds of the week then you can visit here.

Friday Finds - 4 May 2012

Just found a weekly meme that I thought I would join for the first time called Friday Finds.

What great books did you hear about/discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS! 

Some of the books that I have added to my wishlist this week are....

Marrying Miss Marshall - Lacy Williams

A Woman in a Mans Job.  Filling the shoes of her late husband as town marshal hasn't been easy for Danna Carpenter. She's not only fighting criminals, she's also fighting to earn the respect of the townspeople. So crossing paths with tenderfoot detective Chas O'Grady is the last thing she needs. He's hunting a band of cattle rustlers and isn't used to the rugged Wyoming landscape. Teaming up is their only option, but when circumstances place them in a compromising situation, the town forces a more permanent partnership--marriage. If they can let down their guards with each other they might find that love is the greatest catch of all.

The Homesteader's Sweetheart - Lacy Williams

To escape a dreaded arranged marriage, Penny Castlerock will face anything--even life on her grandfather's farm. But it isn't the rustic lifestyle that's got the Philadelphia socialite tied in knots. It's the handsome homesteader and his eight adopted children next door....With seven boys and a girl to raise, transplanted farmer Jonas White could sure use some help. He just didn't expect it to come from the high-spirited, copper-haired beauty he's always admired from afar. But surely working the land is no life for a woman like Penny. Yet a threat to Jonas's farm just might show him how perfect Penny is for him after all.

The Marshal's Promise - Rhonda Gibson

Mail-order bride Rebecca Ramsey arrives in the New Mexico territory full of dreams--but they're shattered when she discovers her intended husband has been killed. If it weren't for U.S. marshal Seth Billings's housekeeping job offer, she'd have nowhere to go. Rebecca loves tending to Seth's home, but the strong and silent lawman is harder to figure out. What secret is he hiding?Caring for Jesse Cole's would-be bride is the least Seth can do. If it weren't for him, the young man would still be alive. Seth had promised to look after Rebecca--and to keep her safe from Jesse's enemies. Now if only he can keep his heart safe, as well....

Wedding Transpires on Mackinac Island - Cara Putman

Join attorney Alanna Stone as she returns home despite her determination to never set foot on Mackinac Island again. Once again in close proximity to Jonathan Covington, her first love, she vows to protect her privacy and her heart from the man who still makes her pulse race. But when her worst fears are realized and history repeats itself landing her in the midst of a murder investigation Jonathan may be her only hope. Will they be able to lay aside the past and let God heal their hearts, or will reconciliation come too late?

Choose Joy - Kay Warren

We all know how to be joyful in the peaks of life, but what about the valleys? Acclaimed author Kay Warren shares the path to experiencing soul-satisfying joy no matter what you're going through. Joy is far more accessible than you might have thought - it comes from God, and it can be yours, today!

Lydia's Charm plus A Celebration Of The Simple Life - Wanda Brunstetter

Lydia's Charm

Visit Amish Country during the fall as Lydia King attempts to make Charm, Ohio, feel like home after losing her husband. But is her heart ready to open back up to love when gifts appear on her porch from a mystery source? Could it be from the widowed father of four energetic boys, or is it from the man who has rejected romance to be his family's caregiver? When life hands Lydia another challenge, will the gift giver be there to support her?

A Celebration Of The Simple Life

Celebrate the beauty of simple living and experience new appreciation for a slower-paced, more enjoyable life. Featuring the original poetry of Wanda E. Brunstetter, bestselling author of Amish fiction, and paired with dozens of devotional readings, this unique package will bring delight and warmth to your spirit.

To participate or check out what others favourite Friday Finds are visit here...