Tuesday, November 28, 2017

LitFuse Tour: Review: Christy by Catherine Marshall

(Copy and paste from the LitFuse launch page thing)
Christy (50th Anniversary Edition) (Evergreen Farm, October 2017)

New edition of Catherine Marshall’s inspirational classic!

The train taking nineteen-year-old teacher Christy Huddleston from her home in Asheville, North Carolina, might as well be transporting her to another world. The Smoky Mountain community of Cutter Gap feels suspended in time, trapped by poverty, superstitions, and century-old traditions.

But as Christy struggles to find acceptance in her new home, some see her — and her one-room school — as a threat to their way of life. Her faith is challenged and her heart is torn between two strong men with conflicting views about how to care for the families of the Cove.

Yearning to make a difference, will Christy’s determination and devotion be enough?


(Warning, I didn't actually reread this... I wrote it during an emotional high..)


I'm giving this book 5 stars and then rambling because this book refuses to be put into a 5 point outline. Christy is a, in my opinion, one of a kind book. It's hard to describe, and harder to forget. This isn't the first time I've read this book, and Lord willing it won't be the last. I love this book. It's setting is incredible. The Blue Ridge/Smoky Mountains hold a piece of my heart captive, and going there is a real treat. Being transported there by a book, well that's just all the better! The characters are so real you bout spect them to just show up behind you. And of course, the mountain accent infects me and causes my slight twang to become full on Southern gal. It's a book that has me eating up the pages. I love the characters.... Miss Henderson, Fairlight Spencer, Ruby Mae, Opal, Tom McHone, Lundy Taylor.... David and Dr. McNeil. And of course, Christy Rudd Huddleston herself. It's a book to make you laugh, to make you cry, to stir your heart. I'd absolutely recommend this book. (There are a few parts that make it seem more appropriate for older teens and up, but I've loved this book for years. It depends on the reader.) If you can't tell, I can't say enough good things about this book. The style is the classic, older style that touches me and makes my heart sing, but it might not appeal to everybody. I'd have to say, just give it a try. I didn't regret it, and I don't think you will either.


About the Author! (She's lit though!)

Catherine Marshall


Catherine Marshall (1914-1983), "The New York Times" best-selling author of 30 books, is best known for her novel "Christy." Based on the life of her mother, "Christy" captured the hearts of millions and became a popular CBS television series. Around the kitchen table at Evergreen Farm, as her mother reminisced, Catherine probed for details and insights into the rugged lives of these Appalachian highlanders. Catherine shared the story of her husband, Dr. Peter Marshall, Chaplain of the United States Senate, in "A Man Called Peter." A decade after Dr. Marshall’s untimely death, Catherine married Leonard LeSourd, Executive Editor of "Guideposts," forging a dynamic writer-editor partnership. A beloved inspirational writer and speaker, Catherine’s enduring career spanned four decades and reached over 30 million readers.


GIVEAWAY! Because you know you love it!

I hope you read this book and love it. And I hope you tell me if and when you do. I love to hear from you guys. Have a wonderful rest of your November. (Sorry I've been slightly radio silent this month. Crazy busy.) And an encouraging note to all you college students, three more weeks. You got this, my friends!!!!


Sunday, November 12, 2017

Answer A Question: Where is your favorite place to buy books?

Ollie's. It's Ollie's. They have an incredible inspirational section, and their prices are great. I can get some for as low as 2 or 3 dollars. I just need to be willing to sit on the floor and sort through them since their organizational system seems to be... non existent! After Ollie's though is definitely Barnes and Noble. In fact... If I had unlimited funds, I would be at B&N every day.

Where do you get your book fix from?

(P.S. Sorry it's been so long.... keeping up with school and a blog simultaneously is... challenging at times!)

Saturday, November 4, 2017

Review: Cherished Mercy by Tracie Peterson

From the back of the book....

Mercy Flanagan survived the Whitman Massacre as a child, and now her heart's cy is for peace between the native peoples and the white settlers inhabiting Oregon Territory. Unfortunately, most of the settlers want the tribes removed from the land completely, one way or another. At the request of family friend Eletta Browning, who is experiencing a difficult pregnancy, Mercy travels south to the Rogue River Valley to help. A the Browning Mission, she meets Eletta's brother-in-law, Adam. Despite her attempts to befriend him, Adam seems determined to focus on ministering to the local tribes and keeps her at arm's length. Why is he so intent on pushing her away? When tragedy strikes and tensions n the territory teach the combustion point, Mercy is pushed to the limit of her strength. She and Adam will have to rely on their faith in God and on each other in order to make it out alive.


Wow guys... I'm giving this book 5 stars.

It has been forever since I've written a review... or read a book... or done anything non-academic. (Actually, that's not true. I do non-academic stuff all the time.) Anywho... Cherished Mercy.
I've been a fan of this series from the start. I've always been interested in this topic, probably because my cousin Jennifer used to play Indian with us all the time. Cherished Mercy was an incredible climax to this series. The baby of the family finding her one and only, while the rest of the family is busy having babies. (By the way, I love how many kids are in this book!!!) And of course, with the theme of (unofficial, but whatever) adoption throughout this book I was on cloud nine. It honestly felt so good to read something that wasn't a textbook. I will admit that it took me a couple of chapters to get my sea-legs back. I kept seeing words and not the story. It was weird and I was not a happy camper, but then Tracie's writing swept me away, and I was reminded of how much I love forgetting that I'm reading, and the internal movie theatre takes over, and then I can see the story, really see it! Argh! I'm in love with this book, and with this series. And I've seen Tracie post things on Facebook about a possible sequel series with the children as the main characters. Can I just say, YeS PLEAsE!!!! (Also, I'm sorry about the really bad run-on sentences in this. It just feels so good to wrote something not on the topic of nuclear energy. And I don't really feel like fixing it. It just shows my enthusiasm right ;P) Oh, and did I mention the beautiful cover??? Cause I totally love it!

Let me know what you think, and I'm sorry if this review looks like it just jumped from a helicopter into the Arctic Circle. I'm unfortunately out of practice. Anywho... can't wait to hear from you.



I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest opinion.