Moonraker's Bride

Moonraker's Bride
by Madeleine Brent
young adult fiction
4/5

Finished!. I was sad when I finished this book. I loved the mystery with just a touch of romance. It was one of those books that as you were reading it drew you in and when you put it down it left you forgetting something. When ever I paused from reading, I was still thinking about Luci and her trials of running an orphanage in China all by herself and only being seventeen. When her luck changed and the mission field came in to relieve her of her duties, Luci was sent to England to be with a family that agreed to donate money to the orphanage and take her in as her their own daughter. Of course there was a down side to all this and Luci was finding herself entangled in a dark mystery of treasure hunting and family feuds extending from generations before she was even born. I really enjoyed this book. I am not one for heavy romance nor mystery but I was pleasantly surprise at how smoothly the author kept me interested.

Three cups of Tea

Three Cups of Tea
by Greg Mortenson
Non-fiction
4*/5

Three cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson is truly an inspiring story about one mans mission to change the lives of others and to combat terrorism through education. After his sister Christa's death and his failure to finish the K2 climb in honor of her, Mortenson found himself exhausted and alone. Saved by the people of the impoverished community Korphe, he vowed to help build schools for their children and give them a chance for a decent education. It also gave him the opportunity to honor his sister in a more profound way. I was in awe at his determination and his sacrifices. Greg was determined to keep his promises. He slept in his car for over a year, aka: LaBamba, took showers in a gym, and attempted to raise money one hand typed letter at a time. After five hundred letters were sent out to every celebrity he could think of, only one came back. I found his story uplifting and hopeful. A must read for those who believe in the dedication of humanitarian aid.