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Oct 15, 2009

Nora rated it:

”Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness. Let the bones which Thou hast broken rejoice,” Charlene starts her book out quoting Psalm 51:6-8 and begins to bring some of that scripture to life inside the pages of this book.

This story is nestled in the middle of a quaint town where you discover friends and their families you’ll just adore. I loved how Carlene shows the funny, honest and serious side of family relationships and how they can work together More...

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Oct 02, 2009

Jemima rated it:

Stray Affections is set in a small Midwestern town. The protagonist of this story is named Cassandra. She is the mother of four little boys and she has struggled all her life with self-doubt. While she is at a collector's convention she purchases a snow globe that has a little girl with the same hair color as her own, surrounded by three dogs. The snow globe sets in motion thoughts of her long buried dream of becoming a veterinarian as well as many other childhood memories and troubles that have More...

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Sep 11, 2009

Nely rated it:

Cassandra Higgins has decided to go to the Collectors’ Convention on her own this year since her best friend Margaret can't make. There she finds a snowglobe containing the figures of three dogs and a little girl. Although it is a bit on the expensive side, she decides that she must have it since it reminds her of when she was a young girl and one of the dogs resembles her own pet when she was young. She can’t resist purchasing this unique globe - even if means wrestling another shopper for it!
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Sep 10, 2009

Kelly rated it:

In the beginning I moved slowly through Stray Affections, but by the third chapter, I was in deep! This is not to say that the book moved slowly, it was just how it began to build for me. I thoroughly enjoyed Stray Affections. Cassie seemed like wonder woman to me. I couldn't quite understand why she didn't give herself the credit that she deserved, but then I realized it is the power of the way you are raised. The words of the mouth have a strong impact on a child. Well actually they have a str More...

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Sep 07, 2009

Clockstein rated it:

Stray Affections by Charlene Ann Baumbich is a Snowglobe Connections novel, the first in a series. Cassandra Higgins has lived her entire life with a huge hole in her heart. Told by her grandfather that she would be the best veterinarian in Minnesota, she counted on that dream to make up for the way she felt she betrayed her childhood dog, Toby. But when she couldn't pass the classes, Cassie felt as though she failed Toby and God, so she settled for a life as a day care provider and mother More...

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Sep 09, 2011

Cassandra rated it:

A very quick read. Interesting plot. Fairly well developed characters. Saw the ending coming from a mile away.

The cover endorsement says: "so joyous... so magical." The "magical" felt a bit more creepy than magical until the halfway point. And the book was far from "joyous" until after page 200. The story spent so long setting up WHY the characters were struggling with their past that I felt weighted down with emotions. Usually this is a good thing as i More...

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Sep 11, 2009

Kathy (Bermudaonion) rated it:

Cassie Higgins has a busy life – she’s married, has four young boys (all under the age of 7) and runs an in-home daycare. She and her best friend, Margret, go to The Collectors Convention together every year. Margret can’t go this year, so Cassie ends up going alone. She spots a beautiful, old snowglobe that contains a young girl with three dogs. The girl resembles her as a child and one of the dogs looks like her childhood pet. The snowglobe is expensive, but she feels like she has to have More...

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Sep 11, 2009

Jennifer rated it:

I really liked this book. As I learned about Cassandra's past I felt sorry for her. I don't think pity is the emotion this book was trying to elicit but for some reason that was all I could feel. I think some of it was because I related to a few of the things she went through. The guilt she went through with her dog Toby was touching to me because I am a dog lover. The warnings from her cautious and seemingly "cold" mother were similar to those I've gotten (not from my mother) from peo More...

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Apr 28, 2010

Cafelilybookreviews rated it:

Animal lovers - get ready to cuddle up with a cozy, heart warming story!

Dog-loving author, Charlene Ann Baumbich, celebrates man's best friend in this fast moving, easy read which combines small town charm and a bit of holiday magic.

Hardworking stay at home mom and daycare owner, Cassandra Higgins, finds herself on an emotional journey which forces her to face some of the deep hurts of her past.

Read my complete review here:
http://redlilycafe.blogspot.com/2009/09/... More...

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Nov 12, 2009

Christine rated it:

I have to admit it was the cover that attracted me to this one. While it is not fine literature and is somewhat predictable, this is a quirky but pleasant story. The action is fueled by an odd encounter with a snow globe and weaves Christian faith throughout. While each character suffers their own personal tragedies they all seemed a little too polite to be real but are likable nonetheless. It reminded me of those holiday movies on Lifetime, the Hallmark Channel and ABC Family that flood the air More...

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Jan 16, 2010

Wrighty rated it:

The last thing that Cassandra Higgins expects out of her Sunday is to be mesmerized at a collectors’ convention by a snowglobe. She’s enjoying some mommy time, with husband Ken at home tending their brood of four young boys, when she’s utterly charmed by the one-of-a kind globe containing figures of three dogs and a little girl with hair the color of her own. She can’t resist taking the unique globe home– even if means wrestling another shopper for it!

The beautiful snowglobe sparks l More...

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Aug 25, 2009

Renee rated it:

I was hesitant to read this book as I'm not much of a dog person but I'm glad I took the chance. Stray Affections is about much more than dogs; it's about family relationships, healing and even a bit of fantasy. While not realistic fiction (don't want to spoil it but the snow globe is unique), it was a very enjoyable story of Cassandra coming to terms with her past and mending relationships in the present. There is also a side plot of Cassandra's friends trying to become parents and that is nice More...

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Jan 14, 2010

Wanda rated it:

A heartwarming book. To me this book was about second chances and the belief that if we hold out our hearts and hands to God another chance can/will come our way. Similar to the Father Tim series, this is a small town into which you will want to move and live for the rest of your days.

Thank you, Lin, for gifting this inspirational, heartwarming book to me. I look forward to another Snowglobe Collection book from this author.

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Feb 13, 2010

Krista rated it:

Cassandra Higgins is a young mom of four boys. She still struggles with the suicide of her father when she was a young girl. Her mom, "Bad Betty" and her do not get a long. Not only does she have all of this on her plate but she discovers a snow globe at her annual shopping trip at a collector's convention, that sparks her interest. Does this snow globe hold the answers to all of her problems? But how can it? It is just a snow globe isn't it? Cassandra not only finds answers she did no More...

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Oct 22, 2009

Usako rated it:

What a beautiful and uplifting novel. The relationships between characters and the plot reveals warm the heart. My life, personally, has been in pain and I neared a moment of continuing down the same path of Bet -- day in and day out the same. Reading about these second chances brought tears to my eyes and I rejoiced with these characters. I will keep this book on my shelf forever.

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Oct 25, 2009

Teri rated it:

Just came in the mail today. Won through the firstreads program.

Sweet, uplifting. I really enjoyed reading it. The storyline was quite creative. This book explores a complicated relationship between a mother and daughter. The main character is the daughter who struggles to resolve the past. Good story about not only forgiving others, but yourself. Liked all the characters. Especially Burt Burt.(not a typo, his name is really Burt Burt.)
I believe this is the first in a serie More...

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Nov 08, 2009

Toni rated it:

I picked this book up because I enjoyed the author's Dear Dorothy series. It is a easy to read, heartwarming holiday story about family, forgiveness, friendship and pets and everyday miracles. If you like the Mitford Series by Karon ,you would probably like it. It is not meaty or deep,just a holiday story.

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Jun 14, 2010

Jenn rated it:

I don't what it is lately about all this books having weak main characters! It must be like the summer movie season. This was hard to get through because the main character was whiney and weak spined so you didn't like her, thus not enjoying the book because you didn't like who you were reading about.

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May 09, 2010

Leanne rated it:

This was a sweet story about how animals can bring healing to emotional needs. There is a mystery; what happened to the animals in the snow globe? The characters were a bit quirky which added appeal to the story.

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Nov 08, 2009

Pam rated it:

This was a great book! I was hooked from the start. Great characters. I especially liked Cassandra and Bad Betty and their realizations about each other. Even close to the end when I knew where the book was headed it was fun to read. A definate great read

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Oct 31, 2009

Debbie rated it:

I enjoyed this book that dealt with forgiveness which can really be a hard thing especially when dealing with deep family hurts. Using a snow globe to illustrate God working miracles in Cassie's life was unique and interesting. I will definitely read more of this author's work.

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Sep 21, 2009

Lynn rated it:

I found the book very entertaining, hilarious in parts and a few emotional tears. I feel that no matter who you are there will be one area of your life that you can identify with as you read.. I know I did. This is a very cleanly written Christian Fiction and one I would recommend from the Teenager to the Elders. This is one that will stay on the shelf and read over again.

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Apr 06, 2011

Gmr rated it:

An interesting read from a genre I don't generally frequent, Stray Affections offers readers a little bit of everything. Family drama, a love of creatures great and small, heartache, happiness, and everything in between. Though the book is a part of the Snowglobe Series, there really wasn't much of the actual snowglobe in the book, but when it's presence was made known it gave the reader something else to contemplate altogether. The characters have a journey to travel within this book and tho More...

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Nov 07, 2009

Andrea rated it:

This is a heartwarming story about a family torn apart my sadness and misunderstandings and learning to love again. I really enjoyed every aspect about this novel, I had a hard time putting this one down

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Aug 26, 2009

Sandra rated it:

To be fair, I only read the first 3 chapters of this book. The style just wasn't for me so I couldn't get into it.

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Nov 10, 2009

Deeanna rated it:

I really enjoyed this book. I laughed out loud and also got teary eyed while reading this book. I LOVE dogs and have two of my own,one of which was a stray that I found, so I could really relate to that aspect of the book. I look forward to reading more books by this author and am thankful that I was chosen as a first-reads winner.:)

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Jan 04, 2011

Donna Jo rated it:

Kind of a cute easy to-read book.

By the author of the Dearest Dorothy books.

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Nov 30, 2009

Lauren rated it:

Light chick lit. Not exactly my type of book, but overall was a good light read.

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Nov 20, 2009

Maureen rated it:

I really enjoyed this book. It started out a bit slow and then really picked up. I enjoyed the fact that is was so uplifting and inspirational. I personally related to the protagonist. I have three small sons, a mother named Betty and deceased father and three stray cats. I don't collect snowglobes or critters!

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Nov 15, 2009

Ldlimes rated it:

anyone who has a love for family and dogs will love this story.

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