Reading Recommendations: The Last Song, Nicholas Sparks

Seventeen year old Veronica "Ronnie" Miller's life was turned upside down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alienated from her parents, particularly her father, until her mother decides it would be in everyone's best interest if she and her younger brother spent the summer with him in North Carolina.

Ronnie's father, a former concert pianist, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will be the centerpiece of a local church. Resentful and rebellious, Ronnie rejects all of his attempts to reach out to her and threatens to return to New York before the summers end. But soon Ronnie meets the last person she thought she'd ever be attracted to. As Ronnie slowly lets her guard down, she finds herself falling deeply in love, opening herself to the greatest happiness, and pain, that she had ever known.

An unforgettable story, first love, love between parents and children. The Last Song demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that love can break our hearts, and heal them.

And

What is the promise of the wolf? Never consort with humans. Never kill a human unprovoked.

Never allow a nixed blood wolf to live.

At least that's what the wolves of the Wide Valley believe. Until a young wolf dares to break the rules, and forever alters the relationship between wolves and the humans who share their world.

Set 14.000 years ago, Promise of the Wolf takes us to a land where time is counted in phases of the moon, distance is measured in wolf lengths, and direction by the scent of the nearest trail. Years of research into the world of wolves combines with mythical tale-telling to present an epic adventure of wolves, humans, and the remarkable bond we share.

This one is very different, hard to put aside.

And

I stumbled upon my mother's handkerchief in the cornfield early this morning. Halfway down the row I spotted it, white but soiled, cast in the mire of recent rains. Only one side of the stitched hem was visible, the letter L poking out from the furrow as if to get my attention. I stared at it, all the emotions of the past three weeks threatening to rise up and choke me right then and there.

Twice now, I'd walked the field where Mamma had sometimes wandered late at night. Like our sheep, she'd followed the same trails till ruts developed. I couldn't help wondering where the well trod path had led her by the light of the lonely moon. Honestly, though, 'tis only in the daylight that I've been compelled to go there, drawn by thoughts of her and the hope of some further word, whenever that might come.

"Mama, where are you?" I whispered to the breeze. "What things don't we know?"

One other book I'd like to mention. Dime Store Decorating, using Flea Market Finds with Style, Jill Williams Grover

How can you decorate on a dime and make your house look like a million dollars? This fun and easy recipe for home improvement success is equal parts inspiration and evocation, imagination, and expertise. There are no rules to follow, you need only trust your instincts, choose what you like, collect as much as you can, change often, and best of all, do it inexpensively. Once you see how much you can do with so little, you'll be well on your way to creating a warm haven that reflects your taste.

See you at Rylander!