Mary Emma and Company by Ralph Moody

This was such a good book! It was one I couldn't put down, such a classic. I love the Little Britches series. I think this is the 4th of 5th book.

The whole family moves to Boston. They start a family business and get odd jobs. Of course the adventures just keep coming. They are also a very blessed family and even when times are hard they stick together and rely on God and hard work to get through.

Ralph makes the bad boy book at the police station but he is the best kid ever. Gracie gets really bossy but is very talented. The little kids finally get to shine too and we also meet some uncles in this book.

I am so glad we don't have coal burning furnaces!

This book is also a math classic.

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In the Company of Cheerful Ladies: A No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Novel (6) by Alexander Smith McCall

Another fun book in the soap opera of detective agencies in Africa. I don't know why I keep reading this series. Sometimes I laugh, sometimes I cry and sometimes it is nice to have some positive things to think about far away.

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Calamity Jack by Shannon, Dean, Nathan Hale

This is a graphic novel, sequel to Rapunzel's Revenge. I liked it but thought the first book was better. Jack was a bit wimpy despite his character was supposed to be tough and quick witted guy. He wined too much about stuff but not out loud because it was in his voice in his head. Anyway, I could see maybe the authors were trying to get boys to like this one but he still sounded like a girl.

There was adventure and romance...overall it was a nice comic about a fairy tale character's real life, like behind the scenes and continued type stuff. And I love happy endings.

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The Full Cupboard of Life #5 by A. McCall Smith

Really, why am I still reading this series. It isn't getting better it is just flat-lining. I still can't get over the guy writing this from an African woman's perspective. He makes fun of the male population over and over. I wonder if he hated his dad.

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The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery

What an awful book. Okay it wasn't that bad, just a bit disappointing after reading her Anne of Green Gables series and loving them. This was a predictable love story. It was clean, sappy and dripping with drama.
BUT I love happy endings and this one wins the prize!

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Bells On Their Toes by Frank B. Gilbreth

This is the sequel to Cheaper By The Dozen...not the Hollywood watered down movie version but the original classic story! These are hilarious books about a family with so many children and the parents are the founders of motion study way back in the early 1900's.

This books starts off right where the other book ended. The father died and left the mom with a whole slew of children from 2 to 18 yrs. old. She takes over the business and enters a mans world at the work place while the kids are so organized at home they keep it all together, pinch their pennies and make it through some tough times with humor. It is amazing what can be down when everyone in the family is invested together in a good cause. I loved this book.

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The Kalahari Typing School For Men by McCall Smith

I am hooked on this series of books but they are starting to go down hill. I liked all the detective stuff but now it is just stuff about the characters daily lives. Their lives are complicated and interesting but the author seems to be really trying too hard. UHHHGGG, maybe it is time to move on to another series.

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Leaning Into The Curves by Nancy Anderson and Carroll Hofeling Morris

I was asked to review this book as a favor to a friend and publisher who is doing a favor for Deseret Book. So get the word out because this is a Fun Book!

Having said that, I am reminded of the old saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover!" To start out I read the little description on the back of the book...a retired couple joining a Mormon motorcycle gang..."uh would there be anything I could relate too?" I thought. Surprisingly, I loved this book! It was slightly cheesy yet funny and insightful. I related more then I thought because I also am not the biggest fan of my husbands hobby of riding motorcycles. After reading this book, which presented quite a few facts and different view points on motorcycling, I can honestly say I would love to ride a motorcycle and have my husband ride more too! I'm sold!

The book turned into motorcycle therapy for me, as well as the main character. Her name is Molly. She also had to work through some issues with riding. She was so afraid of motorcycles that she was completely blinded to anything good about them and was putting her hysteria and biased onto her children and grandchildren. After she learned step by step everything there is to know about motorcycles from a really good friend, she was able to come to terms with riding and excepting her husband love of riding. Their relationship improved and they started new in planning their future together in their retired years.

I love the interaction between the husband and wife in this book. It was so real as they argued or did the silent treatment or tried to second guess each other. Luckily they also took time to pray and were patient enough to listen for inspiration before their marriage became one more sad divorce. They reminded me of my mom and dad after my dad retired. I can also see a bit of my husband and myself going through some of their same conflicts. I think reading this book will actually help me look at my life and relationship with my spouse a little different.

Even though the book was about an older couple I would recommend this book to anyone that just wants to read a good adventure between two people, or if you like motorcycles or not it would be a good one to read. Plus it might even make you laugh. I did.

I didn't know there was a Mormon motorcycle gang which is actually called TRA - Temple Riders Association. So they technically aren't a gang just a group of people that like to ride and do Temple work along the way. Most of the people are retired couples and they ride touring bikes like Gold Wings. The wife usually sits behind her husband. They map out a route with plenty of tourist attractions and sightseeing along the way to a temple somewhere in the USA. Sometimes the trip takes a week or two and sometimes it is a day trip. There are also single members in the group and women sometimes ride their own motorcycle. There are even people that aren't Mormons in the group. You never know when you might need a Ferret-sitter. (ha ha read the book to find out what I mean.)

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