What has happened to society?

As I write this, safely ensconced in my home, I am still physically shaking from the event that transpired about thirty minutes ago.

My son and I were returning home from a trip to the library. Driving west on Creasy/Brady Lane, I noticed a young lady in a navy blue sedan wedge her car snugly behind mine. She proceeded to travel dangerously close to my back bumper. I was a bit confused, as the stretch of road we were on had another lane to our right. There was no one in that lane. I glanced at my speedometer. I was surprised to see that I was going 45. The speed limit is 35. I would usually get upset and increase my speed to create a distance between my car and the tailgater. I did not do that this time. I decided that if she was in such a hurry, she could EASILY pass me. She did not. We approached the intersection of Creasy/Brady Ln and Concord Road. I put on my left turn signal and braked, waiting for the oncoming traffic to pass so that I could safely turn left. The light turned yellow. Since I was already "out in the middle", I decided to make my turn. This is when a young man in a navy blue pickup heading east on Brady decided to gun it. He was already driving at a high rate of speed, and had come up on the intersection rather quickly. I saw him and stopped, but not before he honked at me as he passed, yelling, honking and waving his middle finger at me. Even though I knew the light was red, I proceeded into my turn, as I was already committed. I was shocked to also realize that Miss navy blue sedan was still glued to my back bumper!

At first I was upset that this young man, a total stranger, would dare be so violent and ugly when he was the one clearly in the wrong. I wanted to turn around and chase him down, and explain to him the events of this year that have changed my life forever. Two things stopped me: the young woman still tailgating, and the sad realization that it just wouldn't matter. Besides, my son was in the back seat exclaiming that he thought he was going to have a heart attack. He was with me two weeks ago when our car was t-boned at an intersection.

I continued on to my destination, thanking the Lord for his protection. It is sad, though, that a simple drive home was jeopardized because of the rude, selfish and reckless acts of two young drivers. My husband thinks that, since our rental car is a Grand Marquis with Nevada plates, both drivers thought I was an out-of-towner and I didn't know my way around. Does it matter, though? Is this how we have raised our children? I am saddened by this.

Ruby's Slippers by Leanna Ellis

Ruby's Slippers by Leanna Ellis

published by B&H Publishing Group

www.bhpublishinggroup.com/fiction/books.asp?p=9780805446982

Before I begin, I want to say that I am reviewing this book of my own free will. I did not receive an advanced copy of this book, nor have I been solicited to review this book. Its all me....

I picked up Ruby's Slippers because I had read Elvis Takes a Back Seat, by the same author, earlier this year, and found it delightful. I loved the both the characters and the story, even if I was never an Elvis fan.

I absolutely loved Ruby's Slippers! Once again, I felt the characters were rich in character and easy to love. I identified with Dottie at first, being the oldest of two sisters, and feeling like she had the obligation to look after her mother and her younger sister, Abby, in light of her father's mysterious departure when she was four years old. As a teenager and then into adulthood, she feels as if she is standing in her aspiring actress sister's larger-than-life shadow. She remains where she is comfortable, at the family farm in Kansas, even if that is not where she is content, sheltered from the outside world.

She is seriously injured when a tornado rips through her farm, leaving the farm completely destroyed, and only a small box of personal possessions. She awakens after being in a coma for three months and one week with a brain injury that takes time to heal. She learns that her sister has moved her to a rehabilitation facility in California and has put the family farm up for auction. She also discovers a pair of ruby slippers that her father, who she has not seen for thirty years, has left for her while she was in a coma.

While recovering, she meets and befriends Sophia, an older lady with a big heart, as well as an adventurous streak. They embark on a journey to find Dottie's father in Seattle, with few clues to go on.

Dottie meets her long-lost Uncle Tim, and he accompanies them on their journey. Tim offers Dottie a perspective of her family that she never before had. He tells her things about her parents she would have never known...of their youthful dreams and heartaches. The group expands to four when Sophia meets up with her son Leo. Leo has been living in a cabin in the woods, tucked away from society, nursing emotional wounds inflicted by a trusted associate.

The group encounter adventures on the way to Seattle, but are determined not to give up.

Dottie finds herself drawn to the wild but big-hearted Leo, and it seems he is drawn to her as well.

The group finally arrives at their destination: the home of Dottie's father. She is deeply disappointed to be turned away at the gate, being given the request to return only when she has Abby with her.

I am not going to give any more details, but I found the conclusion immensely satisfying. While I found myself wishing Abby would get her comeuppance, I was delighted to see that Dottie had come to terms with the pain and loss of her past, and realized that she had always had the best Father ever, and feeling confident in His love, was able to make a sacrifice that surprised and at first dismayed me. I understood why she made the sacrifice, though, and was able to take away a lesson of my own.

To anyone who reads this review, if anyone at all, please forgive me for rambling. I wanted to capture the feelings and lesson I learned from reading this book. In many ways I am like Dottie, feeling like the plain invisible one in a family that demands to be seen and heard, and seeking comfort hiding from the world. The lesson I took away from this book is this: all of us as human beings are broken and fragile creatures. We will be hurt and disappointed, and we will hurt and disappoint others. Our Heavenly Father will never let us down. Sometimes the lessons we learn will hurt, and our loved ones will never live up to expectations. Our Father calls us to love, and in doing so, we are healed and restored. Also, sometimes family can be the ones who love you and accept you for who you are when your own family does not or can not.

I cannot say enough about this book. I enjoyed it immensely, and I am going on a quest to find Lookin' Back Texas, another of Leanna Ellis' books. I have a feeling I will again be delighted, entertained, and glean another of His nuggets. I love reading fiction that brings me closer to Him!

Rose House by Tina Ann Forkner

My Review of the Rose House, by Tina Ann Forkner

published by Waterbrook Press

www.waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781400073597

I just wanted to add that I am reviewing this book on my own. I did not receive a free copy from anyone!

I couldn't wait to read this book, having loved the first book, Ruby Among Us, and the characters within the book.

Rose House is the story of Lillian. When the story begins, she is grappling with the overwhelming grief of losing her husband and two children in a suspicious accident. She is also dealing with the pain of secrets and betrayal involving her sister and her husband. She visits the Rose House in the midst of her grief, and is unknowingly captured in a portrait painted by a local landscape artist, Truman. She flees from La Roseda, cutting her vacation short, when she suspects someone is stalking her.

Four years later, she is still grieving and having difficulty coming to terms with her many losses. She returns to La Roseda, shocked and at first angry to see the portrait Truman has anonymously donated to the local gallery. The artist seemed to have captured her pain and grief perfectly, leaving her conflicted. She cultivates a friendship with Paige, owner of the local bed and breakfast where Lillian is staying, and Paige helps to discover the painter's true identity.

Lillian and Truman begin a tentative romance. Lillian is not sure she is ready to give up the memory of her husband, and, even though they are strongly attracted to each other, Truman is not sure she is ready. He leaves to give her space, and Lillian is surprised to discover how much she misses him.

I felt that Lillian's sister, Geena, and their history were interesting, but not fully developed. I did not have much sympathy for Geena, and found her to be self-serving. It was hard to have any kind of sympathy for her. Was she really sorry for how she hurt her sister, was a party to the betrayal as well as the "accident" that claimed Lillian's family, or did she feel sorry for herself because her lover was now dead? I wasn't convinced she was truly remorseful.

I also felt that the suspense of whether or not someone was stalking her was good, but also not fully developed. The climax was kind of confusing. Again, I liked the suspense of wondering about whether or not something sinister was happening, but I did not completely understand when it all came out. This too, I felt was not fully developed.

Having said all that, I still loved the book, and would recommend this author to any of my friends. I love the characters that reside in La Roseda, and would love to "visit" again. I would love to get the chance to know and understand Geena better. Hmm...maybe that is what the author had in mind? :)