May 31, 2010

Quote of the Week


"I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library." -- Jorge Luis Borges

May 23, 2010

I Am Hutterite by Mary-Ann Kirkby




Titles and book covers are the first things that grab my attention. I Am Hutterite sparked my curiosity upon first sight when I was browsing Thomas Nelson's site, www.booksneeze.com. I had never heard the term before. After reading other reviews, the book description, and a quick Google search, I decided I was interested enough to learn more.

I Am Hutterite is a detailed memoir by Mary-Ann Kirkby. She shares her own true story of the Hutterite culture. She describes her ancestors, the close-knit and often isolated community life on the colony, & the impact when her father did the unthinkable and left.

First, let me provide a brief history of the Hutterite faith. It began in the 16th century when an Austrian hatmaker led a group of Anabaptists to a new kind of Christian community. Their vision of a society was unity, shared property, adult baptism, and an overall belief in community life. The Hutterites established their first colony on North American soil near South Dakota. It is still recognized and in operation today. Some communities moved to Canada during WWI. Mary-Ann’s home colony is in Manitoba, Canada. Today, the approximate population is 45,000 Hutterites on 400 colonies.

Mary-Ann was very detailed in telling her fascinating true story. There are some points that were too descriptive, but overall every passage was essential. I finished the book knowing what a Hutterite is, which was why I chose it in the first place. I recommend this book to those who are open to learning about different cultures and lifestyles.


Rating: ♥♥♥

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

I review for BookSneeze

Book Sneeze

I review for BookSneeze


Thanks to a friend, Christin, for introducing me to Book Sneeze. If you like to read and review books on your blog, check the site out. Its free!


Happy Reading from Yours Truly,


♡ Literary Marie ♡

May 22, 2010

Quote of the Week

"To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all of the miseries of life." -- W. Somerset Maugham

May 2, 2010

A Reader's Judgment

I teased my blog readers with a preview of the first 26 chapters of The 9th Judgment FREE. Hopefully everyone had a chance to read it. If you haven’t, please scroll down for the archived post. If you have, please join me for the official review.

Our favorite female detective, Lindsay Boxer, returns with two new cases. A killer is on the loose in San Francisco. An ordinary looking man publicly kills mothers & their babies in cold blood, and then leaves his signature in the victim’s red lipstick. There is also a cat burglar, nicknamed Hello Kitty, who steals jewelry from the upstairs safe while the victims are downstairs hosting a dinner party. At the blink of an eye, one of the robberies goes terribly wrong and turns into a high-profile murder.

Lindsay’s club members Cindy, Claire, and Yuki, have cameos in this 9th installment. Unlike the other books, details of their personal lives are brushed over. The predictable plot focuses on the two cases and the investigations. It was NOT one of the better books of the series.

Perhaps it is time for James Patterson to partner with a different co-author. This isn’t the first time I’ve been disappointed with a Maxine Paetro & James Patterson WMC collabo. I can only hope that the 10th book of the WMC series will be better.


Rating: ♥♥♥

Lip Smackers & BFF's



The author of Shoe Addicts Anonymous and Secrets of a Shoe Addict has penned a third fiction novel titled Hope in a Jar.

Ever dreaded going to your high school reunion? Hesitant to meet people you didn’t really care about back then, but anxious to see the best friends you’ve grown up with?  Allie and Olivia were the best of friends in high school. Allie was the pretty popular girl, while Olivia had the brains. They were close and shared moments of trading Lip Smackers until a mysterious event caused them to fall out and end their friendship. Now 20 years later, they meet again. Through current happenings and flashbacks, the best friends stories unfold.

As both a chick lit and beauty junkie, Hope in a Jar drew my attention. I read Beth Harbison’s other two chick lit novels and enjoyed them both. She has a way of combining multiple storylines, while keeping it simple and entertaining. This book first reminded me of Jennifer Weiner’s BFF, as it has a similar predictable storyline. The difference is I actually enjoyed this novel, and couldn’t stand to finish Jennifer Weiner’s failed attempt at best friends reunited.

If you are looking for a quick, light read then pick up this book. If you are looking for a serious plot with deep writing, then save Hope in a Jar for a lighter day.



Rating: ♥♥♥