Saturday, December 31, 2011

The Doctor's Mission by Debbie Kaufman- Adventurous!

Amid the lush backdrop of the Liberian jungle lurk unseen dangers, always ready to torment and challenge its victims.

Determined pastor William Mayweather, still in grieving over the untimely death of his wife Alice, is taken back with the arrival of the new doctor. Fully expecting a man to emerge from the waiting vehicle he discovers it is not a man at all, but a woman, an outspoken Dr. Mary Ohara emerges greeting William.During their journey through the jungle, along with escorts, on the way to the village of Nynabo they encounter an native tribe. Mary soon realizes the dangers involved. After they reach Nynabo and access the situation they discover the need is greater than they had anticipated. In the wake of despair is it possible for William and Mary to put their differences aside and work together as a team?

I found in reading this book that the characters really seemed to "come alive" almost midway into the storyline. Character development was strong and at that point it became hard to put down and pushed my rating to a solid four! The language of the natives added to the charm of the dialogue. It is a romantic suspense novel that was entertaining. I found the overall message to be inspiring and I would recommend this book to others. Thanks to Goodreads and especially to the author who provided me this complimentary copy to read and review.

Friday, December 30, 2011

The Band That Played On by Steven Turner- Easily 5 Stars!!

8 Brave Men
8 Different Life Stories
All come together to form 1 band for the ill-fated Titanic

A fitting tribute to the members of the band who so heroically kept playing to calm and avoid panic amongst the other passengers before and during the sinking. Their music and religion made each man who they were, but in the end very sadly, all lost their lives.

The families and loved ones had been left with their grief and also left to try and recover compensation for the loss of their sons/brothers/husbands and fathers. Also covered in the book are the stories of the family members and loved ones left behind after the tragedy.

Expertly reseached and written this book offers history, captivating and amazing photos of the band members, their lives and surroundings and other important document photos. First hand accounts taken from passengers that survived the sinking and so much more. I was drawn to the book from the beginning and it held my attention until the end. Very highly recommended! Very well written!

Thursday, December 29, 2011

The Exceptional Life by Stephen Arterburn- Insightful and Helpful!

Are there aspects of your life that need changing?

Would you like help combating issues such as guilt, anger, or isolation?

Would you like to grow closer to God despite road blocks that keep you from becoming all you can be?

The answers to these and many others can be found within the pages of this book. Many points are touched on incl. forgiveness, change, sharing God's love with others, shedding resentment and so many others. At the end of each chapter there are questions for discussion and/or reflection. I did enjoy the many scripture and prayer references as well as connecting with stories of the author and other's first hand experiences, "from those who have been there", relating to each topic so the reader can better grasp each chapter. A keeper book that can be referenced again. I feel that not every section will apply to every person, but perhaps that each reader will be able to identify with at least one chapter.
I found the overall message to be inspiring and I was challenged in my faith. I would recommend this to others. I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers for this review.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

An Inconvenient Match by Janet Dean- Enjoyable!

A devastating tragedy, two families torn apart by its aftermath, soon becoming at odds with each other. Can hope and faith change the fate of heartbreak and repair that which is broken?

Abigail Wilson knew that even though Wade caught her eye, dining with a Cummings was out of the question. Wade Cummings, quite the eligible bachelor, paid for the privilige to eat with the preparer of the box lunch Abigail, that he had won in an auction. Abigails family as well as several others depended on the benefit auction for much needed income. When Wade offers Abigail a way to help her family she hesitantly accepts. She finds out that this will be quite a challenge indeed. She is determined to fulfill her part of the bargain but will she lose her heart in the process?

An entertaining book from start to finish. I enjoyed connecting with these well rounded characters. This is a romance that kept me reading and I found it hard to put down once I became involved in it. Dialogue, scenery and description all worked well together. I found the overall message inspiring and I would recommend this book to others.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Miracles Are For Real by James L Garlow and Keith Wall- Fascinating Book!

Yes, miracles still happen everyday in this age, yet there are some who need to see a miracle or the aftermath of one to truly believe. This informative and fascinating book pulls together miracles from history and intermingles creatively with the present, causing the reader to grasp a clear understanding of miracles and how they touch and heal lives. Some of the points addressed in the book include: What kind of miracle are you seeking, different types of miracles, false prophets, miracles and sceptics, powerful promptings and many others. Included in this book are real life stories of those whose lives have been touched and changed by miracles.

I was not sure what to expect when I started reading this book but I quickly became glued to the pages. It is very enlightening as well as entertaining. It touched on many things that I have wondered about. I found the overall message inspiring and it challenged my faith. I will definately be reading the previous volumes before this one: Heaven and the Afterlife and Encountering Heaven and the Afterlife. I highly recommend this book to others! Very well researched and written! I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers for my review.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Beyond the Farthest Star by Bodie and Brock Thoene- Highly Recommend!

Anne, daughter of Pastor Adam and Maurene Wells watches her father's every breath whose life depends on a ventilator machine.Adam was in his element as a preacher. His profession, his calling, led him and his family from California to Leonard, Texas to a dying church. The Well's family traveled from place to place frequently and Anne always had a hard time fitting in as the new kid in school. The plan by the town council and Adam was to display a wooden nativity scene for all to enjoy, not being aware of the complications that arose from their actions. A family torn, trying desparately to hold themselves together, a devastating secret, and yet beyond their world, in the darkened sky, lies the farthest star.

Highly entertaining, I enjoyed every minute spent getting to know these realistic and well developed characters. This book drew me in from the beginning and held my attention throughout. This novel offers everything a reader could want heartbreak, suspense and romance. Dialogue, scenery and plot worked well with no dull parts. The overall message is inspiring and I was challenged in my faith. I would recommend this well written novel to others. Thank you to Zondervan Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC for my review.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Ten Plagues by Mary Nealy- my review

Keren Collin, a competent detective for the Chicago PD has learned how to separate her emotions from her job. Paul Morris a former detective, now preacher, has the capability to draw others to him. Both are former coworkers. When a serial killer is discovered using the ten plagues of Egypt in the time of Moses in present day America, the two join forces along with others to try to save lives and to locate the person responsible for creating them. The killer targets the very people Paul has looked out for at the shelter. As Keren and Paul share their lives with each other they realize that time is running out and their lives may be in jeopardy as they struggle to bring peace and justice to their city.

A intense journey that brings suspense, detective, romance and a bit of scifi together in this creative read. I found myself immersed into the plot and as it reached the climax I was glued to the book wondering what would happen. Fans of detective novels will surely enjoy this read. Character development, dialogue and scenery worked and I was challenged in my faith. I would recommend this novel to others but don't expect to finish it in an afternoon. Thanks to Barbour Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC for my review.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

The Accidental Bride by Denise Hunter- My Review

You know what they say... the past will usually come back to haunt you when you least expect it...
Shay Brandenberger is trying on a wedding dress in Lucy's store to play the part in a Founders Day reinactment ceremony when rodeo superstar Travis McCoy walked into Lucy's store and back into Shay's life. Seeing Shay again brings back so many memories and Shay seeing him again brings back only one, the day he left her at the altar. When Travis was asked to participate in the play alongside Shay he realizes just what he gave up 14 years ago. Shay is a self sufficient woman and does not need or want help from anyone, for herself or her young daughter. When a mixup surfaces Shay looks for a way to get past this. But like it or not, could Travis' idea be the one she has counted on all along? Or will this be just another one of his surprises?
Excellent novel concept, creativity and storyline. One you can "get into" from the beginning. This book although the second in a series works as a stand alone novel. Character development was excellent, loved the character of Travis, seemed real and genuine, I liked Shay's character but felt I did not connect to her as much as I wanted to. Dialogue and scenery worked, I enjoyed the conversations between Shay and Travis as well as peering into their past history together. I did feel however that the book had a couple of sensual parts, not explicit, but still made me feel a little bit uncomfortable. There were many inspiring moments as well and I was entertained. Thanks to Thomas Nelson Inc and Netgalley for the ARC for my review.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland by Roseanna White - 5 Stars! 5 Stars! 5 Stars!

5 Stars! 5 Stars! 5 Stars!Larksong Benton and Emerson Fielding engaged 2 years are to be married, sometime... Lark growing tired of waiting for the day to arrive, wonders at what extent Emerson's love for her lies. Lark's brother Wiley is very protective of his sister and her interests. When their cousin Penelope arrives to stay for awhile at their home, she is not favored by either of them due to her flirtatious ways.
Lark travels to Maryland and Emerson harbors deep regret for her decision. Upon arriving Lark finds a kindred friend in Sena, daughter of the family she is staying with. Sena, having only brothers has longed for a sister to share things with. Humorous with a cherry personality is just what Lark has needed. Will different scenery and friends soften Lark's heart and will she be able to escape the hurts of her past?
Extremely well written this book also hosts a few well known figures of history. Travel back to the 1700's in a way no history book can provide! Romance, humor, heartbreak and civalry will take hold of your attention and fill your hours with pleasure. This hard to put down book comes alive with well developed characters, rich scenery, interactive dialogue along with a gripping ending that will leave you wanting more. I was highly entertained, I found the overall message inspiring and will recommend this novel to others! I hope to read more from this author in the future!!!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

The Reluctant Outlaw by Karen Kirst- A Fantastic Read!

Julianna happened to be at the wrong place, she is taken hostage by an outlaw and made to journey far from her home. Evan, an outlaw with a big heart is searching for the person or persons responsible for the brutal slaying of his brother Daniel. He feels responsible for Julianna's present predicament and vows to protect her with his life. Complete with suspense and romance I felt as if I were there along with the characters, listening to the conversations and riding the terrain. I really loved Evan's character, tough yet tender!
I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent getting to know these well developed characters they captured me and made the west come alive! I found the overall message to be inspiring and the book certainly challenged my faith. I hope to read more from the author in the future!! Very well written!

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Hannah's Journey by Anna Schmidt- My Review

Levi Harmon, satisfied with his life and fortune, he has built for himself. He receives a visit from Hannah Goodloe, an Amish woman searching for her 11 yr old son Caleb who has run away and thought to be amongst the staff of his traveling circus. Levi makes her an offer to accompany him on his circus train to search for and bring back her son. When she approached the bishop about Levi's offer, the bishop requested two others of her family need to accompany her. Onboard, Levi comes up with a business arrangement to help Hannah continue her journey after her traveling partner insists she returns home to Florida to tend to her duties there. What Hannah finds is what she never thought she has been missing. What Levi finds is not what he is seeking.
A quick read that the more I progressed into the book the more I enjoyed it. I do read Amish fiction from time to time and I recommend this one for a different kind of read. Even though they have smaller parts in the book, Fred the clown and Lily the performer captured my heart, they seemed so down to earth and easy to relate to. Plot, description, dialogue and scenery all came together well. I found the overall message inspiring and I was entertained!

Friday, December 2, 2011

The Earl's Mistaken Bride by Abby Gaines- A Book You Can Really Get Lost In !!!

Well respected and confident Marcus, Earl of Spenford of England is in search of a Christian bride to honor his mother's wishes.Rev. and Mrs. Somerton have 5 daughters, one of whom caught the eye of Marcus on a previous encounter. During the wedding ceremony when Marcus lifts his young bride's veil a startling discovery is made.Through the feelings of inadequacy Constance maintains her dignity as best as she is able.Highly aware of how others view him, Marcus feels he must be on his best behavior at all times, even at the expense of others.Will duty keep them together or drive them apart?Can Constance and Marcus bury their differences?His heart is guarded but can she crush his reserve?
I enjoyed every minute spent peering into the lives and hearts of these interesting, well developed and personable characters. Quite difficult to put down from the beginning, this book will hold you captive and leave you satisfied in the end! Plot, dialogue, description and scenery all worked well in this romantic novel. I found the overall message inspiring and will recommend this well written book to others. I hope to read more Love Inspired books in the future by this author!