Comparison Shopping

   

     I found myself nodding my head so many times in agreement with the author, Kay Wills Wyma, as she talks about contentment in "I'm Happy for You." Wyma uses humor, real life experiences, and a conversation style writing that is easy to follow as she talks about our culture's obsession with comparison. I had not thought of myself being apart of the comparison game, but after reading this book, I had to rethink that thought. Wyma writes "the longing to know we belong compels us to race after anything that offers to secure our feelings of importance and worth" (p. 2015, p. 32). I particularly liked the chapter on yardstick living: how do we measure up or how do we measure ourselves to others. This book offers a way back to living a simpler, more contentment filled life.  
     I received this book free to review from waterBrook Press.

Potter and Artist

        "The Potter's Lady" is the second book in the series Refined by Love by Judith Miller. Before I read the book I did read the first one in this series. Although this second book would stand on its own, it was nice to have the background going into it. With that said, Judith Miller does a great job building the characters and setting. Rose McKay is a strong female character who knows what she wants. After graduating from design school she travels back home to live with her brother, Ewan, and his family. Ewan has been displaced from his job and is looking to purchase a brickyard with financing from his mother-in-law. Ewan and Rose visit a pottery that is for sale in the same town as the brickyard. Rose convinces her brother and his family to purchase the pottery. But problems begin to pop up from the workers and to lack of contracts. On the other hand, Rose's beau, Joshua Harkness' pottery is doing a great job at landing contracts. Rose fears the pottery may not have been a good choice until a letter arrives from her former headmistress about an art contest. Ewan insists that Rose and Rylan Campbell work together to produce a winning entry.  Will they be able to put aside their differences and create a winning entry? Will they figure out why they cannot obtain more contracts to grow the pottery business?
     This is a historical fiction set in West Virginia. There is reference to several sites well known for their pottery. I happen to live near a few of these sites and so this novel intrigued me. If you like historical fiction with romance mingled in, then pick up "The Potter's Lady."
   I received this book free from Bethany House to review.