The Inconvenient Marriage of Charlotte Beck

Unlikely romance is sometimes just an inconvenient marriage away.

Charlotte Beck may be entering adulthood, but she can’t seem to keep to her stubborn, independent spirit from bucking social protocol. Fed up with her behavior, Charlotte’s father Daniel pressures her to settle into a nice marriage despite knowing she is set on going to college. Then Daniel sees Charlotte with the handsome but annoying English astronomer Alex Hambly, and everything changes.

Though Alex and Charlotte can barely stand one another, Daniel offers them a deal they can’t refuse: if they agree to marry, he will save Alex’s family from financial ruin and grant Charlotte the freedom to go to college. Reluctantly the couple agrees, but in private they plot to annul the marriage as soon as possible.

But when Alex’s feelings change and he refuses to dissolve their contract, will Charlotte find a way out of her vows? Or will she discover that maybe this marriage isn’t so inconvenient after all?

MY THOUGHTS:

The story revolves around Charlotte's adventures and run-ins with Alex while she attempts to prove to her father that she is capable of running the family business. She also desperately craves his permission to attend college for mathmatics, but her attempts failed.

I found this to be a very predictable novel - boy and girl meet and have a strong distaste for each other and want nothing to do with each other, only to be thrown together by an arranged marriage, which ultimately has a happy ending. Predictable and luke-warm in it's Christian references.

I recieved a free copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah in exchange for an honest review

My best back to school advice

My best back to school advice:

1. Make sure your kids know their name and address in case of emergencies. It is better to be prepared.

2. Look for back to school items on sale or coupons to save money. My husband and I rarely pay full price for anything

3. If your children are older, go over the rules with them. If they have cell phones make sure they know when they need to check in with the parents, and when to put the phone away.

4. With the first weeks of school, try to keep your kids focused on getting work done. It's hard to get back into that routine, but tasks get done more quickly if they have 100% attention and focus.

Check out Masterlock's FB page: www.facebook.com/masterlock

Disclaimer: This post is an entry into the a contest for a Master Lock back-to-school prize pack as a member of the Mom Bloggers Club.

FASHION IDEAS:

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DIVINE APPOINTMENTS by Charlene Ann Baumbich

About this book: Josie Brooks is a woman whose life is consumed by her career as a consultant. She is driven to get in, get the job done as quickly and efficiently as possible, and then move on to the next challenge, leaving no time for developing relationships, which has served her well thus far. A woman in her 40’s, she is starting to deal with hot flashes and an unusual sense of loneliness. She purchases a mysterious snow globe, with an enticing stream and landscape that she is inexplicably drawn to. Through the people that she meets at her current assignment, she slowly starts to allow herself to explore new relationships, and she begins to change her perception about what is really important. She comes to realize that relationships are valuable, and that first impressions are not what they may first appear to be. My thoughts: The story is an easy, quick read, and I could relate to the themes of mid-life issues and company lay-offs, which is definitely a current issue many are dealing with. The characters are relatable and readers will probably be able to recognize them as someone they know in their own lives. There’s the new boss, Buzz, who seems to be all flash and show at first. There’s the very kind, service-oriented Barb, who makes every effort to encourage those around her. And then there’s Lyle, who at first seems like a ‘bleeding heart’ to Josie until she gets to know him better. For me, the element of the mysterious snow globe seemed to be an unnecessary ‘gimmick’. Although I fully understood the metaphor that the author was using the globe to represent, I thought the story would have been just as good without adding this ‘mystery’ element. disclaimer: this book was provided for review by Waterbook Multnomah Blogging for books!

The Bridge of Peace

About The Book:

Lena Kauffman is a young Old Order Amish schoolteacher who has dealt all her life with attention raised by a noticeable birthmark on her cheek. Having learned to move past the stares and whispers, Lena channels her zest for living into her love of teaching. But tensions mount as she is challenged to work with a rebellious young man and deal with several crises at the schoolhouse that threaten her other students. Her lack of submission and use of ideas that don’t line up with the Old Ways strengthen the school board’s case as they begin to believe that Lena is behind all the trouble.

One member of the school board, Grey Graber, feels trapped by his own stifling circumstances. His wife, Elsie, has shut him out of her life, and he doesn’t know how long he can continue to live as if nothing is wrong. As the two finally come to a place of working toward a better marriage, tragedy befalls their family.

Lena and Grey have been life-long friends, but their relationship begins to crumble amidst unsettling deceptions, propelling each of them to finally face their own secrets. Can they both find a way past their losses and discover the strength to build a new bridge?

About the Author
CINDY WOODSMALL is a New York Times best-selling author whose connection with the Amish community has been featured on ABC Nightline and on the front page of The Wall Street Journal. Cindy lives in Georgia with her family.

My Thoughts:
I have read a few other books by Cindy Woodsmall, and I am definitely a fan. I not only enjoy her writing style and creative plots, but I also enjoy the population she chooses to write about: The Amish. Ever since I was younger I've been fascinated with this population and this lifestyle. I used to read every book I could on the Amish, and have visited Amish homes in Lancaster, PA and got to try their cooking and see how they lived. It's a very siimple lifestyle, and this book was no exception to Cindy's work, as it's another great book.

disclaimer: review copy rec'd