Quadmama Reads

Kasey to the Rescue

2010-12-14T05:05:00.001-08:00

What a delightful, honest book. I, as a mother of children who spent several weeks in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) don't wish to by any means say I understand what her life is like. I can say that having gone through ups and downs of the medical roller coaster I fully appreciate this mothers honesty in telling her story. Her job is tough but the reward of being able to care for her son trumps the toughness. I like that she is honest about the lows while still celebrating the highs. This story is tough to read, it is about a serious life altering experience,and to imagine what life would be like may be too much for some to think about- however the positivity and the strength of character of both the son and mother shines through.

Russian Winter

2010-08-08T06:33:00.000-07:00

What a fantastic, interesting read!! This story by Daphne Kalotay was full of intrigue, drama and misunderstandings that wound up shaping peoples lives in an instant. This story takes place split between present day in Boston and post WWII Russia. The story is linked together by a ballerina named Nina and the people whose lives she touches. I had such a hard time putting this book down. This would make a great book club selection. I predict that this will be a very popular book.

Stash

2010-07-11T14:13:00.001-07:00

This novel is about a stay at home mom in her 30's who occasionally still uses pot for recreation. Her family is planning a weekend away to their recently purchased 2nd home on the lake when she gets into a car accident. The accident wasn't her fault, however the police discover pot in her car and come down really hard on her. The main character tries to do the right thing but I find her frustrating because she doesn't think through her decisions to well and more often than not makes things even more complicated then they need to be. The famous quote that kept running through my mind while reading this story is "oh what a tangled web we weave...." I think that this would be a very interesting choice for a book club read. There is a lot of discussion possibilities. Discussing this story with friends may lead you to learn more about each other. This was an enjoyable, thought provoking read. It reminded me of those "choose your own adventrues" I kept thinking what would I do next while reading. My first thought is I wouldn't get in this situation to begin with :)

Claude and Camille

2010-04-11T06:21:00.000-07:00

I was very excited to receive this book and have the opportunity to read/review [claude and Camille]. This was an interesting story based on historical facts regarding Monet his wife, Camille and their other famous friends. It was very interesting to read of all the struggles these amazing artists struggled through. I was glad I didn't look up the picture of the woman in the green dress until I finished the story. I had imagined Camille in a completely different way. I would recommend this book to those who are interested in historical fiction and the impressionist art movement.

Not My Daughter by Barbara Delinsky

2010-04-10T19:41:00.000-07:00

"Not My Daughter" by Barbara Delinsky is a story dealing with teen pregnancy and the pact that is made between close friends to all become pregnant at the age of 17. Obviously there are many sensitive topics discussed including miscarriage, abortion, birth defects, fertility issues and obviously pre-marital teen sexual activity.
The writing was very intriguing and it drew me in quickly. However, I was disappointed in the ending. I felt as thought there was a lot of build up and a lot of good topics introduced but it felt like everything wrapped up too neat and nicely at the end. I would recommend this book as an interesting read and a book that causes the reader to think about these topics.

Somewhere to Belong by Judith Miller

2010-02-28T16:44:00.001-08:00

I just finished reading this lovely story. I learned a little about the people of Amana. I am fascinated by the concept of a simpler life, a life where focus on family and God are clear and everything else that we are familiar with in our modern world wasn't present to interfere with those most important things. This story is about two young woman and how they learn from each other and grow in both there understanding of themselves and their faith. I am happy to have had the opportunity to read this story and look forward to future books in this new series. I also look forward to reading more from this author. Thank You Ms. Miller for a wonderful read! If you are a fan of Janette Oke books as I am then this would be a great read for you!

Arcadia Falls by Carol Goodman

2010-02-27T08:52:00.000-08:00

Great Read. Set in an upstate NY town, Meg and her daughter Sally move to a remote boarding school that focuses on the arts. Meg as a teacher and Sally as a student. The students and staff participate in many rituals that follow along with the history of the school. When a student dies, mirroring the death of another student in the 1940's at the start of Arcadia's school history, many questions arise and the mystery deepens.
It was definitely a book that I couldn't put down.

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

2010-02-09T16:23:00.000-08:00

This was a wonderful, engaging story about a two grown sisters and keeping their promises to their father on his death bed. The author told this story in such a beautiful way. I was intrigued by many of her writing tricks in this story. She started the story with a lot of detail, that was not boring which can be a fine line in story-telling. Her detail allowed me to feel as though I was traveling through this story in real time. I felt connected to the characters and really felt like I could feel their emotions. She also had a beautiful flow over who the voice telling the story was. Most books are written in either one person telling the story from their point of view or the story is told with alternating voice between chapters. Kristin Hannah told this story in such a flowing way that one characters voice suddenly took over another characters voice mid-thought. It was very intriguing. I won't give away any of the details of the story line however I will say that I was sobbing at the end.

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

2010-02-02T17:32:00.000-08:00

This was a great quick read by new novelist Beth Hoffman. The story is about a young girl and the struggles and triumphs that shape her life. This young girl, CeeCee, is a wonderful little girl who rises above her situation and learns to grow up too quickly but still is able to maintain her innocence of youth. I found myself rooting for CeeCee throughout the story. I also found myself longing to move to the south with all the wonderful descriptions of the weather and hospitality. I was so glad to find this book,it was a great quick read. I didn't want to put it down. I look forward to more books from this author in the future.

South of Broad by Pat Conroy

2009-07-29T14:25:00.001-07:00

This story started out a little rough for me. I was not instantly drawn into the book in a "can't put it down" sort of way. However I kept reading it and was soon drawn into the characters and the intricacies of their friendships. At times I found myself longing for the intimacy and history with a group of friends such as these characters possessed. I also realized how blessed I am to not have experienced all of their tribulations.

This story had so many layers and background story lines that flowed into making the history of this group of friends. The details that initially left me not as interested proved to be pertinent.

Warning there are many sensitive topics touched upon in this story including multiple versions of violence against children and adults. Strong language is also used however it seems like a perfect fit to add the appropriate richness to the story.

Perfection

2009-07-04T11:02:00.001-07:00

Perfection by Julie Metz is toted as a memoir of betrayal and renewal. I was struck by the honesty with which Ms. Metz shared her story with the world. The life that she was thrown into, not by choice, but by consequences of the choices her husband made was tough to say the very least. Ms. Metz had to deal with situations where most people think they would bury their heads and hide, Ms. Metz chose to dig her self out and research her husband’s choices to better understand them as well as to come to a better understanding of herself. I applaud Ms. Metz for her willingness and bravery in sharing such intimate details of her life with us. This was a very intriguing book. I definitely felt at times that I was snooping in someone’s diary. I applaud Ms. Metz her successes in life and congratulate her on her strength and determination

The Crying Tree

2009-07-04T10:58:00.001-07:00

The Crying Tree by Naseem Rahka is a story told in an alternating time line between the past and present. The story centers around the shooting death of a 15 year old boy and the fall out of his death on his family and the community.

Gripping, roller coaster of emotions bringing you on a journey to places that are, often, too uncomfortable. Places where you wish that such things didn’t exist
But ultimately, this story is about the human spirit and compassion. We are all simply travelers on this journey with our own stories to tell. This was a great, interesting read. I had trouble putting it down, my only complaint is that I couldn’t devote a large enough block of time to finish it in one sitting- as I went about my daily activities my mind kept drifting back to this book.

Sweet Waters: An Otter Bay Novel

2009-04-22T12:41:00.000-07:00

Sweet Waters: An Otter Bay Novel by Julie Carobini
Sweet Waters: An Otter Bay novel by Julie Carobini is a story mainly about Tara Sweet and her development into a new woman after making several big changes in her life. Also highlighted in the story are her sisters and a bit about how they mingle together in their relationships. This story, not due out for several months, seems a bit incomplete in different areas. It feels as though the author didn't complete her thoughts in several spots. It is difficult to tease out if the spots where I was left confused are due to editing that remains on the book or if more background information would have been helpful. The author does make use of some very beautiful sentences throughout the story which demonstrate her skills as a writer.

While My Sister Sleeps by Barbara Delinsky

2009-03-01T14:08:00.000-08:00

Another excellent book by Barbara Delinsky. What I find so refreshing about this author is that the quality of her books are consistent, she isn't an author simply writing a story for the sake of writing one- she has important, interesting and emotional topics that are very engaging to the reader.

This story centers around the Snow family. This family, to the outside world, appeared put together and in control. However, tragedy strikes the family and secrets are revealed that were never meant to come out. The family relationships are put to many tests and the true strength of the family will be revealed through their reactions to the situations.

This is an excellent read. The reader should be warned that there are sensitive topics in the story including end of life decisions. I highly recommend this book.

Everyone Is Beautiful: A Novel by Katherine Center

2009-03-01T14:00:00.001-08:00

This is a very interesting story about the life of Lanie Coates, a wife and young mother of 3 small children. The story centers around the families move from Houston, Texas to Cambridge, Ma. to support her husbands music career. This is a great story that I feel can be very relatable to young mothers trying to balance the responsibilities and demands of raising 3 young children, keeping a marriage strong and trying not to loose yourself in the process. One of the biggest changes for her with the move is that she moved away from her family and her support system. So now she is in a small cramped apartment trying to stay sane while her husband is busy with all of his work. The story takes us through many believable transitions as Lanie searches to achieve the balance she craves. This is a great book that I would recommend, strongly, to young mothers and wives who are going through some of these same situations.

bring on the blessings by Beverly Jenkins

2009-02-04T04:54:00.000-08:00

Ms. Jenkins shares a very inspirational story that one can only imagine would occur in fiction. This story centers around a woman by the name of Bernadine Brown who comes into a fortune. She chooses to use this money to bring good to people. She decides to buy a small town that is in trouble and she has great plans on how to make this small town, rooted deep in history, thrive again. This is a story of faith, hope and dreams. It was a feel-good story, with a few deeply sad tid-bits thrown in that added depth to the story appropriately. The end of the book left the reader expecting a follow-up, which I hope happens I would love to see where all of the characters end up next.

Forever Lily by Beth Nonte Russell

2009-02-04T04:46:00.000-08:00

Forever Lily is a beautifully written story following the path one mother takes to adopt her first daughter, Lily. The path to bring Lily home is an unusual one in comparison to what one might assume when imagining an adoption. Beth Nonte Russell agrees to travel to China with her friend Alex to help her adopt and bring home a little girl from an orphanage there. From the start of the journey we are able to pick up on the anxieties and insecurities Alex faces in relation to the adoption. Alex panics and decides, after a roller coaster of emotions, that she can't adopt the little girl. By this point Beth relizes that she can't leave this little girl behind. This story follows the ups and downs of both "mothers" outward reactions as well as the interpretation of feelings through Beths narrative. I was very impressed with the authors ability to share this story without "bashing" Alex- it seems like that would have been an easy thing to do. However, Beth is able to share this story and state just the facts leaving emotions out when sharing Alex' outward reactions to situations. This is a very moving story that leaves you feeling that justice was served in the end and that teh happy ending occured for this little baby girl.

firefly lane by Kristin Hannah

2009-01-30T04:35:00.000-08:00

Firefly Lane-wow, take a deep breath and get yourself ready for this one. This story is an excellent read if you are in the mood and ready for an emotional heavy, friendship roller coaster type of book. This story, beautifully written by Kristin Hannah, describes a tumultuous relationship between two best friends, unlikely as they seem at first. The ups and downs of "TullyandKate" as they are referred to in the story, are the background, the basis of the story. Along the path of their friendship we are also touched by the impact of the mother daughter relationship and how that can shape us. This is a long one with 479 pages but worth the read. I had difficulty during some parts but that was due to my own impatience in wanting to complete the book. At times it seemed a bit word heavy in certain descriptions of things but it all weaved together in the end making you wish there was a way to extend the story line. Ms. Hannah also brings in excellent references to pop culture that allow the characters to become more alive as teh reader relates to the events and styles. One of my favorite style-references is when Kate is throwing an outfit together quickly since she was so caught up in the lifes of those around her that she forgot to get dressed herself and she wonders to herself if stirrup pants are still in style. I would recommed this book to someone who has the time to dedicate to this story, giving it the proper time it deserves rather than trying to rush through as I did. I think I will go back and read this story again sometime since there is so much to it that I know as a reader you would gain more from it with each new read.

the tutu ballet story and illustrations by sally o. lee

2009-01-29T14:03:00.001-08:00

This is a cute story about forest animals coming together in a ballet class. Each animal/student in the class has a preferred move and talent within the class. Their teacher, Ms. Berry, finds each students unique quality and incorporates them into a recital. This story is simple with a deeper meaning hidden within if you choose as the reader to dig deeper into the story presented. The words themselves are a bit difficult to read on certain pages due to the fact that they blend in with the illustrations. The strength of this book lies in the beautiful illustrations which are created according to the copyright page description, as being "rendered in watercolor and pen and ink on paper." I think that any beginning ballerina would enjoy this story as they can imagine themselves practicing the moves and being in a recital themselves.

When the Soul Mends by Cindy Woodsmall

2008-11-26T10:01:00.001-08:00

I really enjoy this authors style of writing. "When the Soul Mends," is the 3rd (and I believe the final) book in this series. The main character, Hannah, struggles with many fall-outs due to a tragic, life-changing event that happened in her life. She has to struggle to discover who she really is, what God is calling her to be, and what will ultimately serve her purpose. She faces many ups and downs along the way and learns about forgiveness and trueness to self. This is a wonderful story about self-discovery and love.

One Perfect Day by Lauraine Snelling

2008-11-08T09:00:00.001-08:00

This book was a very good read- I read it in 2 days (took that long only due to other responsibilities that demanded my time). This is a very emotional topic that touches upon many different emotionally charged topics. The story begins with the character Nora's desperate attempts at creating the perfect Christmas for her family. The focus on perfection quickly looses its importance when tragedy strikes the family.
The author uses the back-and-forth writing style that I enjoy very much. We next meet Jenna who is a single mother of a 20 year old daughter awaiting a heart transplant while quickly loosing her strength in life.
This story takes very emotional, tough subjects and presents them in a way that allows the reader to both grieve and rejoice with the families.
I enjoyed reading this book and plan to recommend it to friends for use in a book group. I also plan to investigate more books by this author.

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

2008-11-08T08:52:00.001-08:00

I enjoyed this book. The topic presented is a very emotional one- that of the french occupation of Jews during the 1940's. This story traces the path basically surrounding one certain apartment and its occupants. The story tells of the different responses of each person and how they were affected.
It was one of those stories that you wish for a different outcome than the one you know is coming- but still as a reader I was hopeful for the good in people. This book would make an excellent book group read. There are many aspects/emotions that could be explored in a group discussion. I also enjoyed the writing style of the author- she presented the story in a back-and-forth manner telling a little bit about the past and present families.

Find the magic (Rip Squeak) by Lee Cohoen

2008-10-31T21:40:00.000-07:00

Beautiful illustrations, breathtaking pictures- the pictures really enhance the quality of this book- the paintings are very detailed yet not overwhelming. The story is a simple story encouraging children to "find the magic" through discovering different adventures in books. ( )

Forsaken

2008-10-31T21:39:00.000-07:00

A very thought-provoking topic which leads the reader to question what would they do in this situation. This book touches on a lot of subjects which include terrorism and faith in God. If someone were to pose the question to you in a non-urgent, hypothetical way you may be able to answer but in the real heat of the moment the choice may not be as clear.

Schooled

2008-08-26T09:26:00.000-07:00

Schooled by Anisha Lakhani is a cleverly written book with an interesting topic. This story is about an idealistic first year teacher, Anna, who has plans to change the lives of her students through a love of learning and literature. Her dreams are quickly squashed when she begins teaching in a private school on Manhattans Upper East Side. Anna's ideas of education are vastly different than the ideas of this school environment, she is praised and encouraged when she doesn't teach and gives no assignments and reprimanded by administration and parents when she expects anything productive from her students. She is also having little success financially as a teacher and as a way out she is swept into the world of tutoring students from other private schools. Through this tutoring experience she is shown the other side of her students lives.
I highly recommend this book- I think the author used a great balance of humor, sarcasm and drama to keep the reader interested.

2008-07-31T17:10:00.001-07:00

When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads, Revised Edition: Proven Guidelines for a Healthy Multiple Pregnancy… by Barbara Luke

as a mother of quadruplets, i found this book to be very comforting while pregnant- it was a book i was constantly referring to and it provided a lot of quality information and assurance that typical pregnancy books could not offer me

Catching Genius

2008-07-31T17:09:00.001-07:00

Catching Genius by Kristy Kiernan

i enjoyed this book. i like the way th author was able to keep my interest and kept giving little pieces of information about characters as she progressed through the story vs all at once or nothing until the end. i found that the way the information was presented i kept wanting to read and figure out what was going on - it was a perfect balance of characters and situations- i wasn't bored nor frustrated at the lack of info. i also felt that there were enough twists without being too much.

The Sugar Queen

2008-07-31T17:08:00.001-07:00

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

Once again Sarah Addison Allen was able to capture the reader with her ability to flowingly connect the characters in her book, The Sugar Queen. The story follows the character Josey who is blindingly going through her life as is expected of her- her secrets are revealed and her personality is able to come alive as more characters are added to her story. The way the characters intertwine is captivating. Ms. Allen is able to balance just the right amount of information about situations and characters to keep the reader interest while not allowing boredom or frustration while waiting for the next secret to be divulged. The magic that is dabbled throughout this book also offers the reader with a sense that this all could happen and be believable. Without giving any of the story away I will say that I wouldn’t mind having the gift with books that the Chloe possesses. This story was a quick and captivating story- where I found myself wishing the best for all the characters even the ones who had questionable backgrounds. I highly recommend this book. ( )

Summer Blowout

2008-07-31T17:07:00.000-07:00

Summer Blowout by Claire Cook

I liked this book and would recommend it as a chic-lit, Summer Beach read. The main character works for the family beauty business and she goes through many trials due to her sometimes too-close knit family which includes all of her fathers children from his different marriages. I found that sometimes things were unnecessarily descriptive- those sections were hard to get through. However I will admit to learning some beauty tips and enjoyed the creativity that the main character possessed. ( )

"As Good As It Got" By Elizabeth Sharpe

2008-07-17T10:58:00.001-07:00

"As Good As It Got" was a very intriguing title to me. I was interested to see how this title played out with these characters. We are introduced to the three main characters in the first three chapters where we are provided with their background stories and how they wind up at this camp for woman who find themselves suddenly single . Each woman comes with her own individual situation but they each are able to see each others situations from a different view. I fully enjoyed the sarcasm that was sprinkled throughout this book. Ms Sharpe wrote in a way that allowed the reader to, almost, make up their own story about the characters. There were tidbits of information provided but I realized after completing the story that what I "read" might be different from how others will read this book. In that sense I feel that this would be a great book-group read. I think it would be very interesting to listen to others feelings and views which would be based on their own experiences. As the characters in the book projected their own experiences on others stories I feel that could occur in a book group, hopefully without all the drama. I enjoyed the book and was a bit sad at the end because I found that I wanted to know more about where the characters would go next but not in a way that I felt there might be a sequel to this story. All in all I enjoyed this book and will recommend it as a good, quick vacation or beach read.

2008-07-14T09:38:00.001-07:00

so I decided to start my own blog- not sure who will see it or read it but my plan is to write about books, books I am reading, want to read or my reviews of books. I also plan to use this space to comment on recipes baking and meals.
If you wander on to my blog please leave me a message to let me know someone has been here- thanks :)Publish Post