Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

books

An invitation to do it all differently: Review of Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist

I really love the way Shauna Niequist puts words together and the lessons she learns that she shares with us, her readers. And the message of her latest book, Present Over Perfect, that we can let go of our frantic lives to take hold of something more meaningful and simple, is one my heart/mind/soul needs to hear. (Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of the book in exchange for my review.) present-over-perfect

There are some writing gems in this book, like:

“The inciting incident for life change is almost always heartbreak.

And,

“It seems to me that Christians, even more than anyone else, ought to be deeply grounded, lying a courageous rhythm of rest, prayer, service, and work.”

Also,

“In season of deep transformation, silence will be your greatest guide.”

So, there are some great take-aways from this book. However, I just wasn’t excited about the format. It’s set up as a series of essays, somewhat connected to a theme, but I couldn’t get into a flow when reading. A lot of great writers and books use this collection-of-essays format, but it just didn’t work for me here. I like a book I can’t put down, and this one almost begged you to set it down and walk away. Although now that I think about it, maybe that’s the best way to read this book and let its message sink in.

Overall, I was encouraged by the book and challenged by some of the questions about how my life is lived and what I might need to say no to. It’s a good read for the fast-paced world in which we live.

Regency fiction at its finest: Review of Dawn at Emberwilde by Sarah E. Ladd

When it comes to Regency era fiction writers, Sarah Ladd is one of my favorites, and though I missed the first in her new Treasures of Surrey series, I couldn’t put this second book down.

dawn at emberwildeIn Dawn at Emberwilde, Isabel’s transition from ordinary obscurity to familial life of privilege showcases Ladd’s storytelling abilities and had me turning page after page to find out what would happen to her as two potential suitors took notice. (Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book in exchange for my review.)

Sometimes with historical romance, I wonder if there are any new ways left to tell the same kinds of stories, but Dawn at Emberwilde has a fresh feel to it, despite some common themes. I didn’t once feel like I’d read this story somewhere before with just slightly different characters. That’s a skill I appreciate from authors. And Isabel is as lovely a character internally as she is described externally. Charged with the care of her younger half-sister, she instructs:
We must be kind, even when the world is not. (p. 16)
She is not thrilled with their new circumstances towards the book’s beginnings but she reacts with the kind of grace that demonstrates her true nature. Not everything goes as Isabel has planned for her life, and she learns some things about her past that unsettle her. But in the end, she finds what she has always been longing for. Book two stands alone as far as I can tell, so I don’t feel like I missed anything by not reading book one (except another excellent story). Ladd is a must-read author in my mind.