books and ladybugs

This was a delightful audiobook. Not only did you get the benefit of Dolly’s “dream more” thoughts, but you were entertained with jingles of songs she sang.

No matter what age you are, where you come from, or what you do for a living, this is a book that will speak to you. Dolly is such a down-to-earth soul and her thoughts, drawn from her University of Tennessee commencement speech, are presented with a cheerful attitude, basic honesty, and a sense of self-deprecating humor. She is an amazing and giving person. She is not too impressed with herself and expresses her philosophy of life in a clear and touching manner.

While listening to the audiobook is entertaining, the money (ALL of it!) as well as her book is donated to her children’s literacy foundation, Imagination Library.

I loved this book! Lots of laughs and quirky characters. Plus all of the honey bee facts were delightful!

Dorothea Benton Frank does a great job of bringing you into the story and making you invested in the lives of several of the characters. The two boys…Tyler and Hunter…are precious and I fell in love with them. The story is funny and you will find yourself either laughing or rolling your eyes at the crazy antics and life choices.

I love southern chic lit and this one fits the bill!

Oh my goodness! This was a wonderful book! As I sent a text message to two friends who loaned the book to me, I told them that my heart ached, my spirit was filled, and I felt inspired. That’s a wonderful thing to say once you’ve closed last page of a book.

I kept feeling uncomfortable at the beginning of the book. As a Christian, I couldn’t figure out why the ministry of Abel and Emma Rose bothered me. But I eventually figured it out. And as the story develops and you become more invested in their many forms of ministry, you will discover a new depth to serving the Lord and questioning your willingness to serve. Are you ready to make a commitment and explore what is really important.

This is definitely one to put on your to be read list!

This was an interesting take on the typical story of a wife who discovers her husband has cheated on her. The way Elle takes recipes and describes the emotions she is experiencing while she bakes delightful creations is entertaining. You could find yourself feeling every heartache, insecurity, and anticipation.

The book goes back and forth from before and after Elle discovers her husband’s infidelity. This is handled well and does not distract you from the primary theme of the book. You will discover the background behind Elle and Tom’s relationship, their individual past histories, and the present day and what has led them to this point.

The author has done a great job of developing the characters, having you hold onto hope, and experiencing grief and anxiety as you travel through the angst of a marriage falling apart.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book! You will find yourself hanging on to every word and waiting to see what happens next as Arthur begins a journey of discovery. I listened to the audiobook version and found myself gasping and laughing and getting teary as the story progressed.

The author does a wonderful job of developing the characters. You will travel along with Arthur and fall in love with the various individuals he meets along the way. Be prepared as you experience a variety of feelings…love, loneliness, fear, anxiety, insecurity, a sense of purpose, etc. Your heart will swell as Arthur realizes things are not always as they seemed.

I would love for this book to be made into a movie. It is definitely one I would see at the theater!

I enjoyed this short story that is a prequel to the author’s book, Small Great Things. I think this will be a great introduction to the story.

The characters are well developed and bring you into their lives and have you wanting to learn more about them and see what life holds in store.

This was a good novella. As a quick read, it delivered enough details that you could enjoy the characters and the story built around them. In some ways, this was a difficult read because it was hard to envision Arlene’s life after such a traumatic event.

The author does a good job of bringing the characters to life…with all their quirks and crazy antics. The book will find you laughing and crying, your heart aching, and feeling that you can find good things in the midst of tragedy.