Dear Enemy -- Jean Webster

In this sequel to Daddy-Long-Legs, Sallie McBride, college friend of Jerusha (Judy) Abbot, has been requested to become the new superintendent of the John Grier House, the orphanage in which Judy was raised. Though Sallie initially balks at the idea, she eventually decides to try out the position when her beau laughingly tells her she couldn't handle the position. Sallie is nothing if not up to a challenge!

And so Sallie McBride finds herself the superintendent of the orphanage, with charge over 113 children who range in age from babies to 16 years old. With the assistance of money provided by Judy and her husband Jervis (Daddy-Long-Legs), Sallie undertakes to make many improvements at the orphanage, using the stories Judy once shared as a basis for ways to make the home a happier and healthier place for the children who reside there. Also there to assist is Dr. Robin MacRae, the Scotch doctor who rubs her the wrong way from day one -- but whom Judy and Jervis feel sure she would take an instant liking to.

Sallie's intentions are for the position to be temporary. For she is a young woman with a politician beau in Washington, D.C. who is used to the finer things in life and a life of ease. But little by little she finds purpose in her position and the little children wiggle their ways into her heart, making it hard for her to consider leaving. And then there's the doctor...


***Another witty, cute book by Jean Webster. Loved this! Moments of chuckling, just as in Daddy-Long-Legs. Definitely worth the read and look forward to sharing it with my children in the years ahead!

Crazy in Love -- Dandi Daley Mackall

Mary Jane (aka Plain Jane... aka MJ) is a senior in high school. And she has a massive crush on Jackson House. But Jackson has a girlfriend, even though he HAS been flirting with Mary Jane. And his girlfriend just happens to be in Mary Jane's group of friends. So when rumors start flying about Mary Jane and Jackson... Well, things turn ugly. Her friends can't believe Mary Jane would betray a friend like that. But the truth is: nothing has happened! No matter, rumors fly fast. And soon Mary Jane's reputation is on the line.

As if high school life wasn't complicated enough. Mary Jane is already dealing with her best friend being away at college, her boss at the Twisted Pretzel being a big pain, and her "rents." And let's not even get started on how confused she is about love and everything else in the romance-world. While Mary Jane battles all the outside fiascoes of teenage life, there is a battle going on inside as well: the battle between Plain Jane and MJ, her two alter-egos with totally opposing viewpoints on sex and Jackson House. Because even IF Jackson did like Mary Jane, what would that mean? She'd promised to wait until she was married to have sex. She'd made a pact with her two best friends (both of whom are now away at college). She decides it's all a moot point anyway... Until things DO start changing with Jackson. And now Mary Jane must decide what she wants for her future and who she really is.


***I liked this book for a few reasons. I'd probably give it a little over 3 stars. The story, set in high school, was a little immature seeming most of the time. But that could be that my 34-year old self can't really relate to the high school angst anymore. But there were quite a few messages I appreciated in this book. Like how Mary Jane's best friend Alicia reasoned remaining abstinent until marriage: "Sometimes I feel like there's not so much of me to give, so I better save it for the man I want to marry. Like, I don't want to leave pieces of me all over the place... Plus, who wants to be married to this perfectly great guy but still be thinking about the super sex you had with some loser in high school?" I felt like there was a lot of depth in that. I also like that there wasn't a bunch of bad language in the book. That actually surprised me, and I liked it a lot!

No Unhallowed Hand -- Gerald Lund

It is a dark time in Nauvoo, Illinois, for the Latter-Day Saints: their beloved Prophet, Joseph Smith, and his brother Hyrum have been martyred. Amidst the grief and mourning, there is confusion. Who will lead the Church now? Or are those opposed to the Church correct: will the Church collapse now that their leader is dead? Many step forth, willing to take the reins left by Joseph. But the Lord is at the head of this work, and through a miraculous event, He makes known His will as to who will preside over the Church at this difficult time. Many do not agree and fall away, following others. But the Steed family remains firm in their faith. They witnessed the miracle, and they know who leads the Church. Willingly, they follow Brigham Young, the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

But still, hard times come. When the Church does not implode, as so many opponents to the faith believed would happen, the mobs begin again to terrorize the saints. They burn the homes and farms of families living in settlements outside of Nauvoo. The Governor of Illinois invites the Mormon people to leave the state; suggesting they will be better off somewhere out West. Rumors of the federal government getting involved -- and not to the benefit of the Saints -- also spark fear. And so, once again in the middle of winter, the Saints leave their homes and all they have worked hard to obtain and create in Nauvoo and begin the trek West.

During these troubled times, the Steed family experiences joy and sorrow; miracles and trials. Their lives will be forever changed. They will be called on to serve in a variety of ways and with a variety of difficulties. But serve they will. And they hold tight to the promise that one day they will be together forever.

***I enjoyed this book. I learned a lot about some of what was faced by these early pioneers, and again, it humbled me. I contemplated what I would do if required to leave almost all I have, and I realized how truly unimportant so many of my material possessions really are. I was sometimes surprised by how the Saints were treated in a country which was supposed to support religious freedom -- and I can't help but wonder if there will be similar days ahead.

I Remember You -- Harriet Evans

Tess Tennant and Adam Smith have been friends forever. They grew up across the street from each other and were inseparable in their youth. Most townsfold in the small English town of Langford figured they would be together forever.

But they went their separate ways after finishing high school. Tess moved on to London and college while Adam, though brilliant and with a promising future, stayed behind in Langford trying to deal with the sudden death of his mother -- the only parent, the only family he ever knew.

Thirteen years later, Tess finds herself back in Langford as her life takes an unexpected turn: she loses her job and her boyfriend dumps her. Back in Langford to teach Roman and Greek history at the local college, Tess is trying to find her niche; all the while getting used to being around Adam all the time again. Tess realizes she is becoming someone she didn't want to be while in Langford, but a school trip to Rome helps her come out of her shell and experience a romance with Peter, the American journalist.

But when one of the students on her school trip falls horribly ill, things change suddenly. Secrets come out and soon the entire town of Langford will never be the same; especially Tess and Adam.

***I am being generous with the 3 stars... I'd probably prefer to give it 2.5 or 2.75. As with the other Harriet Evans book I read, this was slow to get into, but picked up pace and more of my interest by 1/3 of the way in. Maybe I'm just over the British chick-lit phase of my youth, but a lot of the storyline was ho-hum. And some of it was even ridiculous in my opinion. I mean, the story was fine and once I got into it, I was interested to see HOW things would turn out the way I was pretty sure they would. But at the same time, I thought there was a lot that could have been condensed or cut. Definitely not adding any more by this author to my to-read list, though. Don't like them that much. But in my (crazy) desire to always read whatever I've ever put on my to-read list... Well, I read it. And now it's done.