These two books, though, have been waiting patiently for me to mention them and share them.  If and when you read them, do share your thoughts!  :)

Through the Open Window, by Anne Faye

I received Through the Open Window as a review copy, and I’m glad I did…otherwise, I might have missed a delightful story!  It’s a quick read (which is a plus in my world these days), and a story I found myself engaged in.  I found the characters to be people I wanted to sit down with and talk to.

I can’t speak to the men in the audience on this, but I was sort of engaged by the romantic undertones.  Dare I suggest this as a gift for your Valentine?

This is Anne Faye’s debut novel, and I look forward to reading her future work.  She wrote this as part of National Novel Writing Month (also called NaNoWriMo), which is also the event that brings her characters together.

Now, I must say no more, lest I ruin the plot.  (I just hate reviews that spoil the book, don’t you?)

Bless Me Father, For I Have Kids, by Susie Lloyd

How could I not buy this book?  Susie has long been a favorite writer of mine in places like Faith & Family and I can add nothing to the praise of this book.  It’s funny, it’s well-written, it’s Catholic.  What’s not to love?

Well…I’ll give that a try.  Here’s what I didn’t like:

I didn’t like that I snorted my coffee as I tried to snuggle up with it one morning.

I didn’t like that I couldn’t get comfortable while I was reading it, because I was laughing.

I didn’t like the looks my husband was shooting me across the living room as I laughed — OUT LOUD, FOR REAL — and interrupted his peaceful football viewing.

I don’t like waiting for my friend to finish reading it so I can reread it.

I didn’t like that it ended.