A Modest Proposal by Michele Ashman Bell

This new offering, A Modest Proposal, by Michele is one of my favorites. Michele really knows her stuff and she brings the modesty issue where it needs to be. I really like how she brings this Butterfly Box into the mix.

The story is centered around 6 close friends in high school and the tragic accident that brings them even closer and allows them to get together once a year to celebrate their friendship and what matters most in life. Since this is the first in a series, we follow Lauryn in her dreams of becoming a designer of modest evening gowns for the every woman. We find how ruthless and cutthroat the fashion design business can be, but in being true to her ideals, how successful she can be.

I really liked how Michele worked with the romantic aspect of the story and implemented a top notch fashion show with her YW and used her co-workers to help. Helping her young step-sister to realize her dreams and to set righteous goals was great. I look forward to the next installment in The Butterfly Box. And, I agree, Modest Is Hottest!!!!

I will leave you with the backliner:

All my life I had dreamed of changing the ordinary girl's world of fashion by designing modest formal gowns — ones that you'd actually want to wear. With my super-hero stitching I would save you mothers and daughters crying in dressing rooms over yet another "the straps are just too small" prom dress. Don't worry, I even thought of a catchy tagline for my brand: "Modest Is Hottest." I told you I was good!

So I moved to New York and am finally living that dream . . . well, almost. I am at one of the top fashion companies, and my designs are definitely modest — but let's face it, when it comes to outerwear, would you want to buy a skimpy trench coat? Didn't think so.

Even though I don't have my dream job, my family is a mess, and my love life stinks, I have a feeling things are going to change. I mean, they have to soon, or I'll be forced to marry Jace. I did promise to become his wife only if I turned thirty and was still single, but I honestly didn't think it was possible. Now twenty-nine, I'm cutting it way too close. Right now I'm flying back to Utah for our Butterfly Girls reunion. And since it is the Mormon Mecca, I might find myself a modest proposal. Utah engagements can take mere weeks. Never mind, I'm not that desperate. Really.

But maybe the girls can help. We've been best friends since high school. We Butterfly Girls are not the typical Pink Ladies, although we've definitely had our share of drama. We'll laugh and cry over memories, from pageant glory to tragic endings, but the ones stored inside our butterfly box will surprise you most. We only open it when we're all together, and our lives never seem the same after.

Until next time,
Teri

Forever Friends Rating: 5 Stars By Teri

Binding: Trade Paperback
Publisher: Covenant
ISBN: 139789781598116375

Purchase A Modest Proposal here.

The Bishop's Bride by Elizabeth A. Watkins

I thoroughly enjoyed The Bishop's Bride. I thought this was an absolutely delightful romp. It was a quick read, had a lot of laughs interspersed with the story of how a widower finds a new bride as the most important duty of his upcoming calling of bishop of a new ward, as he is told he has to find a wife in three weeks!!! Andrew McCammon is being called, as the stake is being changed. Andrew doesn't know how his adult children will react to this new scenario. Even the police chief gets into the fray, with a couple of dead bodies along the way to stir up things. I really liked Gina, the fairly new RS President, who Janette stays with, as she has no home to go to and finds out why Gina has a difficult time with charity. Janette helps Gina analyze her dreams of continuous tombstones appearing in her dreams. If you like Genealogy, you'll love this madcap romp. I sure did!!! I could relate to this story, as I married a widower, with a small daughter, but she endorsed the union wholeheartedly.

Binding: 6x9 Trade Paperback
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc. (2007)
ISBN-10: 1598113143
ASIN: B000WZYSVK
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,752,948 in Books

Purchase The Bishop's Bride here.