Once Upon A Prince

 I am not generally a romance reader but I thoroughly enjoyed this Christian romance novel by Rachel Hauck.  The main characters Susannah and Nathaniel are very likeable characters who have had their hearts broken in the past.  They are both at points in their lives when they are faces decisions on how to move forward.  It is not at all convenient for them to fall in love with each other.   But the heart knows what it wants.  Their relationship is not without its bumps and interferences, but they way they handle the situations and the support they provide each other is wonderful to read.  So often books are full of flawed characters and relationships,  This is not a book where everything goes right all the time, in fact there are lots of impediments to them being together.  The reader is certainly cheering them on to succeed though.

I appreciated that the outcome was not the fairy tale ending that would have been so easy to write.  Rather, the Cinderella like story has some twists and the evil step mother and sister are well disguised.  All in all if you are looking for a book with a positive message and an underlying faith in God then you will enjoy this book.

Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am not generally a romance reader but I enjoyed this book. I appreciated the depth of the principles of the main characters and their willingness to do what was the best for others rather than what would make them most happy. The growth Susannah experiences is apparent as is her relationship with God. Her conviction helps Nate reawaken his beliefs and trusts in God as well. I thought their spirituality felt authentic and not pushy or preachy as other reviewers have said. I also liked that the ending was not the predictable easy happily ever after that it so easily could have been.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #127
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #137
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #152
4. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #22 lost royalty 
5. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #9 A book with a family tree 
6. A Pretty Mess Challenge #9. Favorite book to movie 
7. Pick your Poison #6-1 A book about millennials 
8. Bookworm  #19.) Read a book with a form of royalty in the title
9. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  Yes Georgia

Where the Sidewalk Ends

 I sat down the other afternoon and reread a childhood favorite by Shel Silverstein.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading some of the funny poems I remember well from growing up.  There were also many I didn't remember at all but found so fun.  Who will ever forget Sarah Sylvia Stout who would not take the garbage out.

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2021  Book #15
2. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #151
3. Humor  Book #7
4. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #29 Childhood favorite
5. BooklistQueen   #35 Childhood favorite
6. A Pretty Mess Challenge #13 Childhood favorite
7. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #45 purchased years ago
8. Bookworm  #3 Reread a book that makes you happy  
9. Magic in the Books 
• Book 3 #5  reread a favorite
10. Pick your Poison #8-4 A children's book about body parts 
11. 52 books in 52 weeks # 3-1starship 
12. Unruly Reader Bingo  #8 instant classic 

The Four Winds

 This is the second book I have read by Kristin Hannah.   She does a wonderful job of capturing historical settings.  This book is set in the Texas Panhandle during the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s.  Her characters, Elsa, Tony, Rosa and Rafe, all represent the strength and frustration of the human spirit during an unbelievably challenging time.  

Character development is a strength of Hannah's talent.   It is easy for the reader to put themselves in the story and to feel attachment to the characters.  As you read, it would be difficult not to feel sorrow and frustration just as Elsa does during the saga.  Hannah develops her as a strong female character who truly does not believe in her own strength and resilience.  Her's is a hard life, but she soldiers on and does what is necessary for her family.

It is easy to envision the scenery and the strife that the farmers and other residents of the Great Plains experienced in this unbelievable period of time.  Hannah's descriptions are vivid representations of the hardships and the terrain the people of the time and region suffered.  Her ability to draw a reader into her story is amazing.

This novel is a very engrossing read and I look forward to reading more of Hannah's works;  I have The Great Alone on my shelf and may prioritize it now that I have read this work. I had previously read The Nightingale and it is also a great demonstration of female strength and resilience.  

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kristin Hannah's ability to draw you into the lives of her characters is an amazing talent. As I read it was easy to visualize myself in the place of the characters. The angst and the heartbreak come through in her writing. Her descriptions of the terrain in Texas and CA is vivid and moving. I truly cannot imagine what it was like to live during the Dust Bowl or to have experienced this level of uncertainty for your own survival. Hannah's ability to tell a story that draws you in continues in this latest work

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  TX
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #61
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #73
4. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #8
5. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #21 Book By Kristen Hannah
6. BooklistQueen   # 51. Borrowed from a Friend
7. A Pretty Mess Challenge # 4. Borrowed from a friend
8. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #24. BETWEEN 460 - 495 PAGES
9. Bookworm  #51.) Read a book with the word "wind" in the title
10. Pick your Poison #17- 1 A book with a primarily black cover
11. Diversify your reading #DYRC21  May: History & Biography

The Answer Is

 This memoir by Alex Trebek is a five star read for me.  I loved the short snippets of stories that were presented in each chapter.  It made for easy reading between activities that you didn't have to worry about flipping back a few pages to remember where you were in the narrative.  The book covers all aspects of Alex's life, from childhood in Sudbury, Ontario, his early career in Canada and into the days that lead to Jeopardy hosting.  There are personal life stories as well as stories relating to the shows he has hosted.  He includes stories about the behind the scenes workings of Jeopardy and some of the most famous contestants.  

His writing style was much like you were sitting in his living room with him while he regales you with stories from his life.  He comes across as a down to earth man who values his family greatly as well as believing in the power of hard work.   The story touches briefly on his current battle with pancreatic cancer and some of his philosophies about this struggle and others in life.  There are brief tidbits about political and environmental issues but by no means does he use this book as a pulpit to try to preach about either.   He just expresses his opinion and feelings about the country and the impacts the topics are having upon us as a culture.  

I absolutely enjoyed the format and his writing style.  He definitely feels like someone I would want to have dinner with if you were playing that what if game.  I challenge anyone to be able to read this book and not hear his voice narrating his stories he tells.  I highly recommend this book as a refreshing view into the life and history of a pop culture celebrity.

The Answer Is…: Reflections on My Life by Alex Trebek
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Feels like conversing with an old friend

This is a great book by Alex Trebek. It feels like part biography part philosophy and part snippets of his show biz career. It’s written in nice little chapters that are self contained so you can read a bit and then pick it up later and not feel like you got lost in the story. It’s a wonderful tale by a seemingly wonderful man. I challenge you to read it without hearing his famous voice telling you the stories

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #25
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes CA
3. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #42 person on the cover
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #33
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #36
6. Memoir  #16. _ Written by someone from a country different from your own
7. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge # 4. A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign
8. Around the Year in 52 Books #46. A winner or nominee from the 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards
9. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #4 An Author That Is Deceased
10. BooklistQueen   # 26. Bestselling Memoir
11. A Pretty Mess Challenge #  25. Book you saw someone reading
12. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #8. NYT BESTSELLER
13. Magic in the Books  Book 1 #4 By a celebrity 
14. Pick your Poison #14-4 A book about terminal illness 

American Royals

 This was an unexpected find in this novel by Katherine McGee.  I really had no idea what this novel was about when I put it on my hold list at the library.  I had spotted it right after finishing Red, White and Royal Blue (see blog post here)  It is a fun spin on the history of the US.  What if instead of becoming a democracy we had become a monarchy?  Fast forward to the modern day and the newest generation of heir coming of age.  This story is about that royal family and all the obligations and responsibilities that come with being royal.  The different family members have different perspectives and feelings about their royal responsibilities and the expectations of them.  The book allows us to see the growth of the siblings both individually and with each other.   This is definitely a YA book with lots of optimistic relationships and young love but it also is forthright about the difficulties of growing up and finding oneself while in the public eye.  The reader can definitely sense the weight of this responsibility and the burdens that come with the privileges.   I must say this book definitely reinforced my belief that I would not wish fame upon my worst enemy.  The story is a fun book that has its moments that cause deeper reflection but all in all it is a YA book at heart and is mostly about the relationships particularly of the romantic variety.  There are additional books in the series that I assume will expound upon the relationships found in this book.    

American Royals by Katharine McGee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fascinating book of alternate history

This book is a nice blend between a chick lit and a alternate historical fiction. It’s set in present day but based upon a change in the history of the US. What if we’d taken on a new king versus becoming a democracy. The book has many layers and develops the characters well. They are believable and realistic in their actions and emotions. The book definitely had me thinking about what it would like to be to grow up with a pre determined future and always live your life knowing your role and place. I found myself considering what it would be like to be Kate and William or Harry and Meghan. This provides a different perspective on those relationships
I’ve always said I wouldn’t wish fame on my enemies and I feel that way even more after reading this novel

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #23
2. Around the Year in 52 Books #27. A book with a character who can be found in a deck of cards
3. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #39 An Alternate History Novel
4. BooklistQueen   # 48. Genre You Don’t Usually Read
5. A Pretty Mess Challenge # 8. More than 400 pages
6. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #32. A DASH OF ROYALTY
7. Magic in the Books Book 5 #7 Read a love story
8. Pick your Poison # 1-1 A book about an empire
9. 52 books in 52 weeks  #8 paradox