June Book Club Selection

The Measure of a Lady by Deanne Gist is going to be our book club selection for June. This book is historical christian fiction with some romance, which takes place during the San Fransisco Gold Rush. After reading the book and talking to others who have previously read it, I felt this would be a perfect "summer" read. :)

Here is a description of what the book is about:

"Rachel Van Buren arrives in Gold Rush San Francisco with two wishes: to protect her younger siblings and to return east as soon as possible. Both goals prove more difficult than she could imagine as her brother and sister are lured by the city's dangerous freedom and a missionary-turned-gambler stakes a claim on her heart. Rachel won't give up without a fight though, and soon all will learn an eloquent but humorous lesson about what truly makes a lady.

Speak Politely. Even when you're the only respectable woman around, protesting the decadence of a city lost to gold fever.

Dress Modestly. Wear your sunbonnet at all times. Ensure nobody sees your work boots muddied by the San Francisco streets.

Remain Devoted to Family. Protect your siblings from the lures of the city, even against their wishes.

Stand Above Reproach. Most difficult when a wonderful man turns out to be a saloon owner.

Rise Above Temptation. No, not even just a little kiss ....

When these rules become increasingly difficult to uphold,
can Rachel Van Buren remain a beacon of virtue in a city of vice?" (end quote)


This book is 320 pages long with a couple notes from the author telling you about the research she did for the novel to try to make it historically accurate. Many thanks go to book club member Christy Bledsoe for recommending this book. It is a book that can keep you turning the pages pretty fast, It's an easy read that I did not want to put down.

Kathy will be in touch with you all soon about a pre-order. I checked the $5 book store yesterday (5/13) And they did not have this book at this time.

We do hope to see some of you who haven't been in a long time attend a meeting soon. We miss your company and input. The June meeting will be Saturday June 26th.

**Don't forget the May meeting is coming up soon on May 22nd at 8:30 am - 10 am in Swift's new building, classroom 4. Feel free to bring your friends and family! We ask that you RSVP back to this e-mail and let me know if you will or will not be attending the May Meeting. I really appreciate it***


Happy Reading!

The Cross Gardener by Jason F. Wright

Recently I finished up reading The Cross Gardener by Jason F. Wright. I have read other books of his previously and this story intrigued me as well. This book is a Christian Fiction and about 293 pages long. Here is what I found to tell you about the book from the authors website:

The Cross Gardener is an inspiring story of a man touched by tragedy - and a quiet stranger who helps him rediscover the joy to be found in life, love, and family...John Bevan believed life was complete. Married to his high school sweetheart and father to a young daughter, John finally had the traditional family he lacked as an orphaned child. But that all disappears when a fatal car accident changes his world. Filled with sorrow, John withdraws from life and love. He erects two crosses at the scene of the accident and visits daily, grieving. Then one morning, he encounters a young man kneeling before one of the crosses, touching it up with white paint. Conversations with the mysterious stranger - known to him only as the Cross Gardener - begin to heal John's heart. But only when they undertake a journey together does John truly come to see what he must embrace in this world - from the secrets of his own past to the sorrow of the present - if he is to start his life anew. And only as the journey ends does John divine who his guide may really be. In The Cross Gardner, Jason F. Wright tells a timeless tale that explores the questions we ask when our lives are touched by loss: How do we carry on? Who will show us the way? The answers John Bevan finds may illuminate your world as they did his - for even in our darkest hour, we are not alone. (end quote)

I enjoyed the book for a bit and have to tell you it is a tearjerker but just never felt that "wow" factor. It was an easy interesting read and I'm glad I did read it. It helped me to understand how to empathize with those who put the memorials at roadside accidents. I never did understand why people would do that because it didn't make sense to me but now I have an idea and "get it" so to speak. I'm a little uneasy at the fictional idea of the who the cross gardener is and how things work out after someone dies. I don't think it will be a book club selection for our club for that reason and like I said before if it didn't wow me I'm not going to risk it on everyone else. But like Jason's other book, The Wednesday Letters, I was mediocre about it but another friend loved it. So as always don't take my word for it but discover a book for yourself. If you have lost a loved one, this book just might be helpful to you. Happy Reading!