Killing Lincoln

What a great book!  It is a true story (obviously) about the assassination of President Lincoln, but at times I felt like it was a novel.  It kind of goes back and forth between novel like and strait up facts (text book).  But even the text book kind of writing was intriguing.

It was so interesting and so good to read that I honestly carried it with my all over the house (minus the bathroom...it was a borrowed book) so that if I had a minute I could stop doing what I was supposed to be doing to read a chapter (which were awesomely short!!).

There was a lot about Lincoln's assassination that I didn't know, for example I don't remember ever learning (although I bet I did) that it was a group thing...that there was a handful of men all with different leaders to kill and that it was probably MUCH bigger than that even...perhaps a conspiracy *gasp*.  I also didn't know that Lincoln felt his time was coming to a close; or what happened to Booth after words.  I knew he was apprehended but not how.  It was a lot of fun to read especially since I had been to many of the places mentioned in the book.  Another positive point is that I felt so smart after reading it...usually when I read non-fiction I really skip around but I read ever page.  It was that good! 

READ IT.  Learn something this summer!

A Heart Divided

You know those times when you just want a nice sweet story that is sweet, clean, easy, and a page turner...this was that kind of book for me.  I just wanted something nice to read that wasn't boring and I will be reading more from this author in the future.

A Heart Divided is about the Caldwell Family who has held a grudge against the Wainright Family.  The book never really went into the how...something about a bad card game, loosing the farm and shooting a son...you know small stuff.

Sarah has spent her life helping her brothers and father simply survive but funds run out and they decide to rob their arch enemies to get the money they need.  Sarah is caught by the family they are robbing and held as a prisoner until the town's sheriff returns.  Amazingly enough Sarah is young and pretty and the two Wainright brothers are young and handsome.  See where this is going?

I was excited to read it and see how it ended, but I would be lying if I didn't tell you it was a little predictable...simply because in the first two pages I knew who would end up together I just didn't know how.  Another thing about this (and so many other country love stories) the rough tough cowboys say things that no man would really actually say.  For example:

Older Brother Nick says to younger Brother Cord, "When are you going to unlock that iron cage round your heart, Cord?"  I just can't see my brothers saying that to each other...so it kind of makes me laugh to imagine. 

But it had both a sweet love story and a great message of forgiveness and moving on.  On of my favorite quotes from this book was:

"Ask yourself, where can I accomplish the most good?  Not that doing the most good might not be the hardest thing of all to do.  God never promises to make the road easy just because He asks some particular thing of you.  On the contrary, oftentimes what He asks is the hardest road of all.  But on what other road will you fulfill your life's true mission and find the deepest, most lasting peace?

Happy Reading!