Marisa Carroll

Like most collections featuring multiple essays by a variety of writers, there's something here for everyone (at least, those who appreciate and practice yoga), and chapters one will likely choose to gloss over or skip completely. And that's okay. After all, yoga practice is about finding what works for you, and this book is no different in that regard.

I listened to the Audible audiobook, and the narrators were quite good, well suited for the material. This helped immensely, because talking about things as potentially "crunchy granola" as yoga and meditation can often veer into the deep and unforgiving waters of Flaky Lake. Thankfully, such moments are avoided, not only to the credit of the narrators, but to the essayists as well, all of whom are also professional writers in some regard. This is most fortunate, as they find the poetry of the practice not in the Sanskrit names of the poses, but in the power yoga has for facing - and dealing with - the pain of aging, relationships, disabilities, illness, abuse, brokenness, and our own personal demons. This is a book for people who wonder what yoga can do for them, and those who already know and want to hear from kindred spirits.

After a foreword by Cheryl Strayed ("Wild"), readers are treated to humor and heartfelt intimacies form the likes of Neal Pollack, Katherine Riegel, Claire Dederer, and Dinty Moore ("The Accidental Buddhist"), as well as over a dozen others.

This is the perfect book for those who see yoga as more than merely a form of exercise, but instead as a path, a tool, or even a way of life.… (mais)

Heartwarming Christmas story that held up well for a twenty-year-old book. Ben is on a leave of absence from his job with the highway patrol, recovering from injuries received while on duty. He's pretty much hiding out, avoiding people whenever he can, because of the scars on his face and body. Ben is also haunted by the circumstances of the accident, and blames himself for what happened. He doesn't know that another victim of that accident holds him responsible and wants revenge.

Ellie has lived in North Star all her life. She recently divorced her good-for-nothing husband and is pregnant with her third child. She was barely making ends meet with her woodcarving business when her home and inventory were destroyed by a fire. She might have lost her dog, too, if Ben hadn't come to their rescue.

The first meeting between Ben and Ellie was intense. He'd been out hunting when he came across their burning house. The protective instincts that he couldn't deny compelled him to help Ellie, and sent him into the burning building to rescue the family dog. I ached for him as the flames brought back memories of the accident that injured him, and how he pushed those memories aside to rush into the house to save the dog. Not wanting any attention or thanks, he disappeared again as soon as he could. Fate wasn't done with them yet, and crossed their paths again shortly thereafter. Ellie was trying to escape her troubled thoughts, her need to accept the charity of others conflicting with her independence. All she wants is a way to support herself and her kids until she can get back on her feet. Ben also walks to escape his thoughts. I liked this encounter as they talked a little, with Ben checking on how she is doing. There are sparks of attraction flickering between them, but both try to ignore them. Ellie stayed on Ben's mind, leading him to suggest her when his cousin needed help in his diner.

The more that Ben and Ellie encounter each other, the more they are drawn to each other. They have a mutual admiration thing going on while at the same time resisting the idea that there can be anything between them. I loved seeing Ben's protectiveness toward Ellie, and how he wanted to look after her. There are some pretty sweet scenes as the softer side of Ben emerged around Ellie and her kids. Ellie is just as drawn to Ben, but is afraid of becoming dependent on him. I liked how she saw past his scars and gruff exterior to the good man he is. I loved seeing them grow closer as they got to know each other. There were a couple of life-changing events that showed that they were meant for each other, if only they could get past their fears.

Their relationship got a little complicated when Ellie's ex-husband showed up, and tried to wiggle his way back into Ellie's life. I understood her reluctance to push him away too hard because he was the father of her children, but there were times I thought she was a bit of a doormat. I did like the way she stood up to him about the baby. I ached for Ben, who believed that he was losing Ellie to Lonny, and for Ellie, who could feel him pulling away. It was a lecture from a surprising source that made Ben realize he needed to fight for what he wanted. Ellie also needed to feel that he wanted her for the right reasons. I loved how they came together at the end, conquering their fears with the love they had for each other. The epilogue was fantastic, showing what a difference a year of love can make.

A big part of the story dealt with the event that had caused Ben's injuries. The teenager who was bent on revenge made his move early in the book. I loved Ben's understanding of the pain that Matt experienced, and how that understanding created a connection between them. Seeing Ben take Matt under his wing was amazing. I ached for Matt, who wasn't sure he could trust Ben. There were some terrific scenes with Matt and Ellie's kids. I loved the effect that her trust had on him. There were some issues toward the end caused by a lack of communication. There was a very moving scene as Matt had the courage to tell Ben what he wanted.… (mais)

This was an older book, but the challenges that faced Kara and Nick were much like those that face many of today's couples. It also had a very interesting beginning. Kara is on a Greek islands cruise with her older sister. Both of them are widows and enjoying getting away from their lingering grief. Nick and his father, Peter, are on the same cruise. Nick is an officer in the Canadian armed forces, who has served as a peacekeeper all over the world. His father had been a soldier during World War II and had served not far from where they will be touring. Peter has a special reason for being on this cruise, one that Nick doesn't approve of. Peter has also spent a lot of time with Kara's sister Lynne, and they have grown very close. Both Nick and Kara are worried when Peter and Lynne disappear during a shore excursion, though Nick has a good idea where his father is.

This part of the book was very exciting. Nick is a take-charge kind of guy and knew just what he had to do. He was not happy when Kara insisted on coming along. I liked seeing Kara stand up to Nick and how she was more intrepid than Nick expected. They certainly ran into some challenges before they caught up with Peter and Lynne. It was fascinating to hear Peter's stories of what happened during the war and what had brought him to this point.

Besides the obvious connection between Peter and Lynne, there was also a simmering attraction between Nick and Kara. This had been building for several days and finally came to a head that night as Kara watched over an ailing Nick. What they shared was intense and somewhat overwhelming. Nick had never felt like that with anyone else and found himself thinking about ways to build on their budding relationship. But Kara's reaction was the opposite. She wanted nothing to do with someone whose life is constantly at risk. Her husband had been an adrenaline junkie who died because of one of his adventures. She refuses to put herself through that kind of pain again, and lets Nick know that in no uncertain terms.

But Fate isn't done with Nick and Kara. While Nick returns to his peacekeeping duties, Kara and Lynne return to their lives in Baltimore. With Lynne and Peter continuing their relationship, Kara can't help hearing about Nick from time to time. Then she discovers that she is pregnant with his baby and doesn't know what to do. She won't allow herself to get closer to Nick for fear that she wouldn't survive if something happened to him. But she also knows that she has to tell him about the baby. I ached for the two of them when they met again. Nick wants to have Kara and the baby in his life, but to do so, he will have to give up something that is a huge part of who he is. I wanted to shake Kara for being so blind to what a huge sacrifice that would be for him. When he was called away on a mission, she was so bitter and unyielding in her attitude that I hurt for Nick. I wasn't sure how they were going to work things out. I loved seeing Nick in his element as a peacekeeper and the respect he had of the people around him. It was great to see Kara finally understand the importance of his work and realize the difference between Nick and her husband. I loved their big moment at the end and the prospects for their future.

I also enjoyed the parallel story of the relationship between Peter and Lynne. Their connection was obvious right from the start, though they also had their challenges. Peter is Canadian and Lynne is American. She has her businesses in Baltimore and can't just pack up and move to Canada to be with him. Making a success of a long distance relationship isn't easy. They also have to deal with their grown children and their opinions about the relationship. Lynne's daughter Lydia was especially obnoxious and added a great deal of strain to the relationship. I loved seeing what finally brought her around.

I thoroughly enjoyed the look at the role of peacekeepers in today's world. The dangers were intense, and I was on the edge of my seat during Nick's mission in Africa. The rewards were also realistically portrayed, and the scene with Nick and the child were especially moving. I liked the solution that Nick found that would enable him and Kara to be together.… (mais)