Love in a Little Town by J.E. Buckrow

It's February, the month we celebrate love, and here is a most fitting book to celebrate. Celia Bassingdale was about to take a long journey—the longest on earth—from the unreal to the real.First line Celia’s romantic interest in a young man (whom her grandfather was convinced was only after the fortune she would inherit when … Continue reading Love in a Little Town by J.E. Buckrow

When Choosing Fiction, Don’t Settle for Less

To borrow and repurpose a related quote: The book you want exists. Don’t settle until you find it. It’s fun to browse around the library's “New and Notable” shelves. I read plenty of classic fiction so I appreciate it when others recommend new novels and authors. But I have noticed something in the past five … Continue reading When Choosing Fiction, Don’t Settle for Less

Hedgerow Tales, Mrs. Gatty’s Parables of Nature

Of all the revived, republished classic books available, the 4 Hedgerow Tales are my favorites. These were ahead of their time, "retold" back in the 1980s, forerunners of the latest trend. The illustrations by Sandra Fernandez are exquisite and appear on almost every page. (Note that these Hedgerow Tales are not related to Enid Blyton's … Continue reading Hedgerow Tales, Mrs. Gatty’s Parables of Nature

Valentine’s Day Toss-up: Something old, something new

With all the romance novels out there, it's hard to know where the good quality reads are. So here are some recommendations of clean, well-written romance novels I've read over the past couple years. Some are set in past history, others are set in present day, and one is both!   Falling for June by Ryan … Continue reading Valentine’s Day Toss-up: Something old, something new

A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson

What a joy to know that this 1885 book is still current, and still bringing the same wonder and delight to new generations of children--and adults!   A Child's Garden of Verses is my VERY favorite children's book ...as evidenced by the fact that I have 3 versions of it. It is the author's imagination … Continue reading A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson

Titus: A Comrade of the Cross – a classic novel for Easter

In 1894, a publisher held a writing competition to obtain the best manuscript that would inspire a child’s Christian faith. Florence Kingsley submitted her manuscript for Titus: A Comrade of the Cross and won the $1,000 award. In six weeks, 200,000 copies had been printed to meet demand. The story is about a young boy … Continue reading Titus: A Comrade of the Cross – a classic novel for Easter

Lonely Lily: a vintage children’s book by Mary L. Code

Lonely Lily or The Shepherd’s Call, a tiny thin book published in the U.K. in 1893, gently tells a sweet but powerful story of faith.  It is written for children, but nevertheless fascinated me with its suspenseful telling of the inner journey of hearts, from despair to comfort. I am struck by how much more serious … Continue reading Lonely Lily: a vintage children’s book by Mary L. Code

Summer Reads–Don’t Miss the Greatest Books

If you’re looking for some summer reads, may I recommend this list? The Greatest Books If you haven’t already discovered some of these, you don’t want to miss out on some excellent literature. Many years ago I found a similar list. With a goal of reading one or two from the list each year, I … Continue reading Summer Reads–Don’t Miss the Greatest Books