Daisy by Josi S. Kilpack

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Jun 302012
 

Daisy: The Newport Ladies Book Club

Author: Josi S. Kilpack

Publisher: Deseret Book

Published: April 2012

ISBN13: 9781609070083

Paperback: 269 pages

FTC FYI: Review copy

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary: Motherhood is not for the faint of heart. And no one knows that better than Daisy. Raising two kids as a divorced, single mom, Daisy has faced each and every one of the obstacles in her life with courage and determination.
Now with her oldest daughter ready to have a baby of her own, her youngest daughter ready to graduate from high school, and her new husband, Paul, ready to embrace the life of an empty-nester, Daisy feels like she might finally be able to check “motherhood” off her list of things to do.

Except life often has a mind of its own. When, at age of forty-six, Daisy suddenly finds herself facing a very different future than the one she had planned–and an uncomfortable evaluation of the past she thought she understood–she realizes that there is still some growing up she needs to do.
Looking for a distraction to escape the growing tension at home, Daisy joins the Newport Ladies Book Club, where she meets Paige, Athena, and Olivia–unlikely friends who offer encouragement and support when Daisy’s perfectly crafted life is turned upside-down.

My Review

Daisy has had a difficult life.  She was pregnant at 17, and never married her daughter December’s father.  They broke up, and Daisy went home to her Catholic parents.  She worked, while her mother helped by taking care of December.  She then met Jared about 10 years later, and had Stormy.  They married, but things weren’t perfect.  Daisy got pregnant again, and this baby was supposed to save their marriage. Daisy miscarried, and her and Jared divorced.  Daisy knew all about the life of a single mother.

Daisy know has been married to Paul, her “prince”, for 3 years.  They both have older kids, and are looking forward to a life without kids and responsibilities they bring.  Every though Paul’s daughter Mason is older, as well as Stormy, Daisy seems to be counting the days Stormy moves out, and her and Paul can have the life they have both always dreamed of.

Life doesn’t always happen the way you plan…

I loved this book.  I enjoyed getting to know the characters of the Newport Ladies Book Club through Daisy’s eyes. Enough time has passed since I read Olivia by Julie Wright, and the details of the book club meetings are now in Daisy’s perceptive.  I enjoyed the book club meetings, and it was as if reading them for the first time.  I loved Daisy’s character, she is a very strong, smart gal.  I enjoyed her journey, and the lessons she learns about herself, her family, and also the joys of close friendships.  Most of all, how she needed to ask others for help.

4 1/2 out of 5 stars.  Read more about the Newport Ladies Book Club.  The next book is Paige by Annette Lyon, and it comes out in August of this year.

Follow Josi S. Kilpack on FACEBOOK and  TWITTER.

DESERET BOOK / AMAZON / BARNES AND NOBLE / SEAGULL BOOK

 

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer Annie Barrows

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Apr 222010
 


The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Review by Mindy


Wow, my first review… I picked this book, because it was one that I loved instantly. There was something about it that caught me right away. What I liked most was the humor, and the sweet story. It takes place in 1946, after WWII. A little back ground information: the occupation by the Germans in Guernsey happened during the war, and they stayed for five years. This book is based on those events, just with fictional characters. I loved the creative way in how this is written. It’s a series of letters written to, from, and about the main character Juliet Ashton, and others in her life. Juliet is a writer who wrote a collection of popular newspaper articles about the war, that were published into a book. She receives a letter from a gentleman named Dawsey, who lives in Guernsey of the Channel Islands. They share a common like for Charles Lamb’s writings. In one of the letters written to Juliet from Dawsey, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is mentioned, and over a series of more letters, Juliet is hooked on the islands history, the people, and a character whose story is told by many who live on the island. Elizabeth is her name, and she’s the reason the society received its name and most importantly, how it came to be. During the book, Juliet is pondering on what to write her next book about, and eventually choses to write about Guernsey, and there finds the true subject of her book. So many entertaining things happen to Juliet and her friends along the way as she makes her way to visit Guernsey to tell their story of the occupation.
I could go on and on, but I don’t want to give too much away. However, there are some great lines in the book. One I thought was so funny, and one that describes my love of reading. Isola (a Guernsey resident, writes to Sidney Juliet’s friend and publisher) writes: “Mrs. Gilbert has always been a nasty one, but now I know that she can’t help it–she’s got a big pit in her Benevolence spot. She feel in a quarry when she was a girl, and my guess is she cracked her Benevolence and was never the same since.” And the part that spoke to me was a line from Juliet when she writes that books have “secret sort of homing instinct that brings them to their perfect readers.” Ahhhhh. Love that :)
One of my favorite parts of the book was the end. Isola wrote detection notes because she was trying to figure some things that were happening, and she wanted to be like Miss Marple. I was laughing out loud. I also cried in a spot, but I can’t give that away. After you read the book, let me know if you cried, and at what spot, and we’ll compare notes.
(There is a couple instances of language in the dang family.)
I hope that everyone enjoys this book as much as I did. I really could go on and on and tell you so many more great things. Read it for yourself. It put a smile on my face, and I always have a smile when I think about it.
My rating: 5 stars
Would I read it again: Absolutely. Many, many times
Recommend it: Yes, yes, yes
Would I read others books from these gals: Already have
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society

Authors: Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
Publisher: A Dial Press/A Division of Random House
Published Date: August 2008
ISBN: 978-0-385-34099-1
Hardcover; 274 pages
Dearest FTC FYI: I received this book as a gift.