Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson

My friend Alyson recommend Hattie Big Sky to me. Set during WWI, it shares the story of a young orphaned girl who bravely goes to Montana to homestead. Sharing her experience through letters to her friend serving in the military, she learns more about family, friendship, and what truly matters as she works her tail off trying to do the work of a whole family all by herself. This was a fast and interesting read and great for all ages.

Favorite Quotes:

"We'd both signed on for something we'd envisioned as heroic and glamourous. The heroiusm and glamour might be there somewhere, btu you had to dig and scrape and scrabble through the dirt, pain and misery to find it. Assuming youc ould find it."

"It's the company, not the cooking, that makes the meal."

"Rather, the lessons this life has planted in my heart pertain more to caring than to crops, more to the Golden Rule than gold, more to the proper choice than to the popular choice."

A Shadow of Night

The sequel to a Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night was a great read! I neglected my laundry and house in general but gobbled it up in one day. The historical parts of this novel were fascinating (nothing like historical fiction to make you grateful!) although I did think their relationship a little different in this book. I loved the ending and really can't wait for the third book. I almost went to this book signing (before nasty early pregnancy nausea got in the way) but will make a point to go for the third book- I hear she is amazing in person and can't wait. 

See more about the All Souls Trilogy here.

Favorite quotes:

"All children need is love, a grown-up to take responsibility for them, and a soft place to land."

"We women own nothing absolutely, save what lies between our ears. Our virtues belongs first to our father and then to our husband. we dedicate our duty to our family. As soon as we share our thoughts with another, put pen to paper or thread a needle, all that we do and make belong to someone else. So long as she has words and ideas, Annie will always possess something that is hers alone."

"One should fine wholeness in marriage... but it should not be a prison for either party."

"Nightmares are like Master Harriot's star glass. They are a trick of the light, one that makes something distant seem closer and larger than it really is." "Oh." Jack considered Matthew's response. "So even if I see a monster in my dreams, it cannot reach me?" Matthew nodded. "But I will tell you a secret. A dream is a nightmare in reverse. If you dream of someone you love, that person will seem closer, even if far away."

Discovery of Witches

The first in the All Souls Trilogy, A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness is another book recommended by the Phenomenally Decisive Book Club. Although I'd checked it out before and never made it past the first little bit, Jules' recommendations haven't let me down so I decided to forge ahead. I ended up LOVING this book and agreed with the comparison to a 'grown up Harry Potter and Twilight'. Similar in the 'lore', witches, vampires and daemons mingle with humans.

Diana Bishop comes from a long line of witches but tries to deny her power until the supernatural world ends up coming to her. Armed with a great vampire, she learns about her true history, family, and priorities in a fight for her life. This book was very smart and well written and researched (the author is a professor). The historical, cultural and scientific references were even entertaining to my husband and we both really liked this book. I always think the supernatural rules and worlds are fascinating. In this 'world', vampires can eat food (but have diets more like wolves), supernatural creatures aren't allowed to mingle or mix races (making a vampire-witch relationship tricky!), and witches have varying gifts that were really interesting. This was a really great read and I can't wait for the last one now (dang sequels!)

Favorite quote:
"Somewhere in the center of my soul, a rusty chain began to unwind. It freed itself, link by link, from where it had rested unobserved, waiting for him. My hands, which had been balled up and pressed against his chest, unfurled with it. The chain continued to drop, to an unfathomable depth where there was nothing but darkness and Matthew. At last it snapped to its full length, anchoring me to a vampire.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I'd heard a lot about the Book Thief but just barely read it. Narrated by Death itself, it tells the story of a young German girl during WWII and how she deals with losing her family, finding a foster family, and coming of age in such a difficult time. With the help of her sweet foster father (my favorite character in the book) she deals with her grief through learning and books. The humanity and sadness in this book was almost too much at times but I am so glad I read it (and glad to be me!)

Favorite quotes:
"It's much easier, she realized, to be on the verge of something that to actually be it." Wise insights for a little girl!

"A human doesn't have a heart like mine. The human heart is a line, whereas my own is a circle, and I have the endless ability to be in the right place at the right time. The consequences of this is that I'm always finding humans at their best and worst. I see their ugly and their beauty, and I wonder how the same thing can be both. Still, they have thing I envy. Humans, if nothing else, have the food sense to die."

The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon

Of all the Lord John books, this is the one I was dying to read! When I first met Diana Gabaldon she was getting ready to tour for this book so I heard a lot about it then. Of course, I hadn't read any Outlander yet so I didn't know what a can of worms I'd just opened! But this book did not disappoint. Lord John is forced to put personal conflicts aside and work with Jamie to help a friend and prevent some serious political problems. Because the Lord John books take place during the 3rd Outlander book, I 'knew' how Jamie and Lord John would end up eventually but seeing the process was fascinating. There were some really great discussions in this book that left a big impression on me. Although I never agree with the morality of all the characters in these books, they always leave me searching and thinking, grateful for my life and my family and hoping to be and do better each day.

Favorite quotes from the Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon:

"He could feel the child's imagined weight on his shoulders, warm and heavy, smelling faintly of wee and strawberry jam. There were some chains you worse because you wanted to."

" 'No matter how much a man may try to do what is right, the outcome may not be the one that he either foresees or desires. And that's grounds for regret- sometimes verra great regret,' he added more softly, 'but not for everlasting guilt. For it is there we must throw ourselves on God's mercy and hope to receive it.' " So so true!

Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade by Diana Gabaldon

The second Lord John book, I was grateful I had it right on hand to follow the first! I'm not sure why it took me so long to read these but I really liked them. This one opens with Lord John's mother remarrying and he and his brother's doubts about the new family and step brother. Lord John and Percy (who Outlander fans know to be a bad apple later on) develop a romantic relationship that's fraught with peril, as homosexuality in the mid 18th century military was exceedingly dangerous and frowned upon. In all honesty I didn't mind flipping pages a few times when things heated up but I couldn't stop thinking about the book and the moral conflicts. Jamie and Lord John have a big talk about sexuality and of course, the perspective of a traditional catholic and a progressive gay man are quite different although they both value family and honor above all else. Although I'm very conservative myself I couldn't help but appreciate both sides and feel for the characters and their seemingly impassable conflict. This was a fascinating read for the history and culture alone and as always made me appreciate my life and freedoms even more.

Favorite Quotes:
"Dead is dead, Major," he said quietly. "It is not a romantic notion. And whatever my own feelings in the matter, my family would not prefer my death to my dishonor. While there is anyone alive with claim upon my protection, my life is not my own." (Jamie knows about death and duty more than anyone, poor guy! Have to admire his convictions!)

"I have loved my wife beyond life itself, and know that love for a gift of God."

Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon

This is the first in the Lord John Series, a shoot off of Diana Gabaldon's amazing Outlander books. While I totally understand that it takes forever to write her amazing books, waiting is still rough! The Lord John books are a fun Outlander distraction and I loved catching a glimpse of Jamie that you don't see in the Outlander series. This book starts with a personal dilemma- Lord John realizes that his cousin's fiance might be 'poxed' and doesn't know what to do. In the course of the novel things get sticky personally and professionally but Lord John handles it with courage and grace that has slowly made him one of my favorite characters (and I never thought I would say that!) This is a stand alone novel but extra enjoyable if you're an Outlander fan... and you should be! The insights into London in the 18th Century and military life were also really great (especially since I typically read the Welsh/Scottish side and tend to forget about the 'feelings' of the English!)