The Chocolate Jewel Case, written by JoAnna CarlChocolate, burglary, and murder in a tourist town are what drives the plot of this mystery. Throw in the lack of air conditioning in the heat of summer and more houseguests than is comfortable for good measure. This book was the December part of a year-long gift from a friend, one book to unwrap and read each month.
A Christmas Memory, written by Richard Paul Evans
This novel, which is based on actual events in Evans' childhood, is a sad story of loss, grief, guilt, and loneliness. It's also a sweet story of friendship, compassion, hospitality, and loyalty. It's a tender story about the importance of meeting people where they're at, serving them in whatever way we're able, and encouraging them to keep moving forward.
p. 86, "There are two ways of being strong: one is pushing people down, the other is pulling people up."
p. 115, "I never wanted to be someone who lived his whole life collecting all his injustices in a tin cup."
p. 175, "We hate grief because it hurts. But not everything that hurts is bad. Whatever grief may be, it's one thing for certain. Grief is the truest evidence of love. And we should always be grateful to have something to love, even if it means that we have to lose it."
The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride, written by Joe Siple
A ten year old boy in need of a heart transplant has a list of five wishes he'd like to come true before he dies. An unhappy 100 year old man who wants to die has chosen the date to do so. An unlikely friendship they're originally resistant to, but don't realize they both desperately need.
p. 138, "It's an important thing to know, to win with grace. And to lose with dignity, too."
p. 168, But that's the thing about words: once they leave your mouth, there's not taking them back. And sometimes, when a man's hurting, he lashes out and hurts others too. Like there's some part of us that can't handle hurting alone.
p. 207, Its true that honesty's the best policy, but it's a policy that compassion sometimes breaks in two.
The Mistletoe Inn, written by Richard Paul Evans
An aspiring romance author, someone whose own experiences with romantic relationships have been bad, is given the opportunity to hear her favorite author speak at a weeklong writer's conference. This novel is about seeing and caring for others, as well as being seen and cared for by them. It's about honesty, vulnerability, and not giving up on what matters most.
p. 11. They say love is blind, but it's not. Infatuation is blind. Emotional neediness is blind. Love sees the fault - it just sees beyond it as well.
p. 43, Sometimes the most whole people are those who come from the most broken circumstances.
p. 65, Why is it that, so often, those with the least are the most eager to give?
p. 150, "We don't appreciate the things that come easy to us as much as we do the things we have to work for. I think that's true for love as well."
p. 182, "That whole 'love is never having to say you're sorry' crap is just that, crap. Love is learning how to say you're sorry. It's the trial and error and correction that makes it worthwhile."
p. 235, "Books are important things."
The simple words reverberated with authority throughout the darkened room. It was like God has spoken.
"Books are more than paper and glue and ink. They are more than digital imprints. They are sparks. Sparks that ignite fires. Sparks that ignite revolutions."
p. 279, "Depression is a horrible thing. It overtakes a person like a parasite, feeding off their hope and self-esteem until there's nothing left."
p. 280, "But anger isn't strength. It only masks itself as strength. It's weakness. At its core, it's fear. Fear of facing what might be the truth."
p. 299, Real love is not to desire a person but to desire their happiness - sometimes even at the expense of our own happiness. Real love is to expand our own capacity for tolerance and caring, to actively seek another's well-being. All else is simply a charade of self-interest.
Noel Street, written by Richard Paul Evans
A widowed, single mom. A suffering veteran. A sweet, predictable story about the value of friendship, the importance of honesty, the power of both humility and forgiveness, and how we heal ourselves when we care for others.
p. 50, I've always believed that there are none so impoverished as those who deny the blessings of their lives.
p. 52, "Some people don't even have TVs."
He looked absolutely amazed. "What do they watch?"
I kissed the top of his head. "Life."
p. 165, "Belief and knowledge aren't the same thing. Belief is much more powerful."
p. 187, I would rather have someone show me love and not tell me than tell me and not show me. I think we're all that way.
p. 274, Some own up to their past. Some are owned by their past. The wise take what they can from the past and then leave it behind.
A Winter Dream, written by Richard Paul Evans
A modern retelling of the biblical story of Joseph, this novel's about a man who's wrongly banished from the family advertising agency he's been part of for several years and faces consequences for a false accusation in his next job, but eventually discovers the hard path he's walked has led him exactly where he wants and needs to be.
p. 51, The greatest falls - of towers and hearts - happen when beliefs are built upon assumptions.
p. 103, Time exposes all secrets.
p. 164, Relationships, by nature, require trust, and trust cannot grow in the fog of secrecy.
p. 165, Is painful truth better than ignorant bliss?
p. 221, Caution never breeds greatness. Caution is the birthplace of mediocrity.
The Wish Book Christmas, written by Lynn Austin
Best friends since their childhood overseas and navigating complications in their relationship and lives as adults in America, two single moms are raising their young sons together. When it becomes clear that the boys are completely obsessed with what they can receive at Christmas, the moms set out to shift their focus to giving.
p. 169, "It's natural to mourn the people we love and to cling to them in our memory. But there comes a time when it's also natural to be happy again. It doesn't mean that we loved them any less. In fact, I think it's a sign of our great love for them that we can still remember what love feels like and be willing to give it and receive it once again."
Wishtree, written by Katherine Applegate and narrated by Nancy Linari
I randomly decided to listen to an audiobook a couple days ago, but wanted one that was short and available immediately on Libby. I ended up with this middle grade novel by an author I've read once before, a short book to finish during one walk and two late night puzzle sessions. It's about a very old tree that's been part of an annual community tradition for many years and is about to be cut down. But it's also about being kind to people who are different than us, the importance of trees to animals and people, and doing what we're individually able for the greater good. Plus there's a little bit of magic.
Ch. 7, Making others feel safe is a fine way to spend your days.
