The Wife - Short Story by Washington Irving

                            THE WIFE

                   by Washington Irving, 1800's

note - this story has been moved. It can now be found at The Legacy of Home Press on the following page:

"The Wife"

The Ladies of Ivy Cottage - Review

Book:  The Ladies of Ivy Cottage

Author: Julie Klassen

Publisher: Bethany House

Paperback, 444 pages.

This book has a beautiful cover which makes one think of England.  The story itself is reminiscent of a sort of Jane Austen - style of writing.  I very much enjoyed reading about quiet, day-to-day living in "Ivy Hill" in England.

The book includes a map in the beginning so you can look back to see where everyone lives, or where the businesses are located in town.  This is so helpful, particularly when some of the characters are taking a walk and you want to see how far they have to travel.

We are treated to a fascinating description of what it used to be like to form and operate a public library.  Guests had to pay a subscription for the privilege of borrowing books.  The main character, in this story, is the proprietress of a newly formed library which she started with the books from her father's personal library.

I loved the courteous way about the characters. Their manners and social graces were refreshing.

As much as I enjoyed reading this story, I hesitated when readers were introduced to the suspicious character, Mrs. Haverhill.  The reference by local residents that she was some sort of terrible person, complete with the author's description came off as something during the season of October, which I would never choose to read.  I started to wonder if I could trust the author by continuing to read, hoping she wouldn't take me to a "place" in her story that I would not want to go.  This seriously troubled me and made me not want to read any further.  I started to skim over the next several pages and found Mrs. Haverhill to be nothing of what she insinuated and was relieved.  However, because of this, I would not recommend this book to my family or friends.  It is not the type of thing I have any interest in reading.  I was really shocked by it and was not expecting this.  For me, I would much rather have read a quiet, pleasant story of a town in England, and the distinguished people, without the bold - sort - of - cinema - attraction coming through some of the pages.

Regardless of my thoughts on this story, Julie Klassen is very talented and an excellent writer.


*  Disclosure - This book was provided for review purposes. *

Barbara and Susan's Guide to the Empty Nest - Review

Book:  Barbara and Susan's Guide to the Empty Nest (Revised and Updated)

Authors: Barbara Rainey and Susan Yates

Publisher: Bethany House

Paperback, 247 pages.

For anyone going through the stage of an empty nest, there is going to be sadness.  It is very difficult when all your children have grown up and moved out into the world.  It is a painful loss, but a part of life.

In this book, Barbara and Susan encourage women from all walks of life to cheer up, and find good things to come in the next stage of mothering.

They share many stories from their own lives, and from others.  The authors explain that in these times, it is not like when their own mothers were going through this. Their mothers, and those of that generation, knew who they were for life: Mothers and Wives.  They did not have the type of empty nest we think of today.  They may have had a bachelor or maiden adult child always living with them, or perhaps an aunt, grandmother, or uncle was a permanent part of the household.  In those days, when all the children grew up, wives would focus just on continuing to be a good wife and taking care of the home.  (Personally, this is the kind of mother and wife I will always want to be.)

But for many women of today, they start a new career, begin a ministry, travel, or go back to school.
They crave more friendships with other women, say the authors. 

This book would be best for modern Christian women who want ideas and encouragement to get through the empty nest. 

*  Disclosure - This book was provided for review purposes. *

The Proving by Beverly Lewis

Book:  The Proving

Author:  Beverly Lewis

Publisher: Bethany House

Paperback, 342 pages.

I wanted to read this book because I was intrigued with the idea of what it would be like to stay in an Amish bed-and-breakfast.  I very much enjoyed reading about all the work that needed to be done by the innkeeper and staff. I loved the quiet, simple, life with the focus on God.  The descriptions of the rooms, the cozy fireplace, serving coffee early in the morning, and preparing breakfast for the guests was wonderful to read.

The story itself was a little difficult for me to understand in the beginning.  Two separate scenes were introduced early in the book, which were not related in any way. I had trouble getting through those brief portions, but the story slowly weaved itself together and made more sense. 

There is a modern worldliness surrounding the Amish way of life throughout the book.  The story mostly contained modern technology (cell phones, texting, worldly conversations, etc.) which one must expect when an Amish business is open to the outside world.  If you are looking for a peaceful book consisting only of the Amish way of life, this is not the book.

The story was wholesome, entertaining, and would make a nice television movie.

*  Disclosure - This book was provided for review purposes. *

Playing with Sunbeams

The following is a very sweet, short story written by Mrs. Elizabeth Prentiss, 1879.

Playing with Sunbeams (image) from Elizabeth Prentiss story, 1879.

NOTE - this story has been moved. It can now be found at The Legacy of Home Press on the following page:


Playing with Sunbeams by Elizabeth Prentiss.

What Does Your Home Say About You?

I saw a great quote at a "Sword of the Lord" ministry page.  Here it is:

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G. Campbell Morgan said: 'My father came into my house soon after I was married and looked around into every room, and then he said to me, 'Yes, it is very nice, but nobody will know, walking through here, whether you belong to God or the Devil.' I went through and looked at the rooms again, and I thought: 'He is right.' So we made up our minds straightway that there should be no room in our house, henceforth, that had not some message, by picture or wall text, for every corner should tell that we serve the King."


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I love this!  We ought to have beautiful, cheerful things in our home that show we belong to the Lord.  What does your home say about you?

Sacred Privilege by Kay Warren

Book:  "Sacred Privilege:  Your Life and Ministry as a Pastor's Wife"

Author:  Kay Warren

Publisher: Revell

264 pages, hardcover

I was expecting this book to be a guide to how to be a good wife to a husband in the ministry. I thought it would be like a cheerleader to the readers for doing good work in the home and in the church.  But I could not get past the first chapter.

 The author explains in the preface that she is going to be "raw" and "transparent."  I didn't realize she was going to describe some of the sins and terrible experiences in her own life.  This is not what I thought the book was going to be about. Perhaps others will find help in reading this, but I found it discouraging and depressing.  I was looking for rest and peace and sweet holiness.  There was none of that in the first chapter. I cannot get past that. The title is a bit misleading.


*  Disclosure - This book was provided for review purposes. *