Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Be Still My Soul by Joanne Bischof- My Review


Be Still My Soul by Joanne Bischof


When it comes to the heart love is sometimes not an option.

Lonnie is a quiet soul who feels the sting of violation that remains in the shadows of dusk.
Gideon is outgoing but consistantly seeks the acceptance of others.
Joel father of Lonnie is a cruel man who rules the home with a fist of steel. Convinced Lonnie is a victim of circumstances he insists that a wedding be on the front.
Neither Lonnie nor Gideon are too keen on the arrangement having only known each other briefly and love not entering into the equation.
Will time soften the brittle edges of their hearts or will the past drive them apart?

A story of reality, regret and sensitivity. On a positive note the scenery was impeccable and I could just feel as if I were there on the Blue Ridge Mountains running through the fields. The secondary characters Jebediah and Elsie I connected with rather well were enjoyable and down to earth adding needed substance to the novel. On a less positive note I found that the storyline would lose momentum and at times the voices of the main characters seemed forced and unnatural. Sometimes the book did not flow smoothly and seemed confusing as plot shifted back and forth between description and character dialogue.
However I did enjoy the book. A nice first novel. I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

http://www.joannebischof.com/
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601424211
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/blog/2012/http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/author-spotlight.php?authorid=15754804/06/sneak-peek-be-still-my-soul-by-joanne-bischof/



Saturday, August 25, 2012

The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury- Heartfelt

The Bridge



In the loomy uncertainty of a heart's core lies the vast promise of a giving love.

The Bridge, the oldest bookstore in Franklin is a place where dreams and friendships are built.

Charlie and Norma Barton, owners of The Bridge, lost their entire book inventory as a result of a devastating flood. To them and many others the bookstore represented more than just a building full of books.

Molly Allen college student left her heart in Nashville with Ryan Kelley. Years later her life has afforded a different turn, to now run an animal rescue shelter for unwanted animals. Left with her memories of the past she takes solice by reminicing on special occasions.

Ryan wonders where his dreams and life have led him, yet even in his success he is enslaved by a memory from the past that refuses to stop taunting him.

Romance, sacrifice, heartbreak and reality highlight this enjoyable quick to read novella, perfect for the upcoming holiday season. This book has easily identifyable characters that could be your close friends, your next door neighbors or maybe even yourself. I did not find any slow or drag parts thoughout and the plot flowed smoothly and did not disappoint. I love the cover from the book it captures the story from within well. I found the overall message to be inspiring and will recommend this book to others. Thanks to Howard Books and Netgalley for the ARC copy for my review.

Friday, August 24, 2012

The Reason by William Sirls- Don't Miss This Book!


The Reason, William Sirls


The members of one church find out what it truly means to be at the center of a most unforgettable day.
When the cross is destroyed that has become a comfort to many a weary soul and a symbol of faith for the St Thomas church on one strange and stormy night the pastor and parisoners wonder how it will be fixed without adequate funds and manpower.

Brooke, mother to a young vivacious red haired boy Alex, comes to realize the biggest challenges are those that sometimes lie unfulfilled. Alex's timid and kind hearted friend Charlie, is a protector of Alex and a man of few words.

Macey, pediatric physician meets a young man Kenneth, who offers to lend a hand to help fix the cross at the church. She wonders if she has met him before he seems so familiar.

Confident Zach has always possessed a worldly view of faith, but he is about to receive a startling wake up call.

Will one physicians efforts be enough to save a young patient?

Wow!! I truly loved this read! What an faith affirming inspiring book to spend the day with! This not to be missed impossible to forget story will stick with you as you discover The Reason. So many down to earth, well developed, and interesting characters make up the storyline along with easy to follow dialogue, crisp and smooth flowing plot and realistically clear scenery. I was highly entertained by this heartfelt novel. Hope to read more from this author in the future. I will highly recommend this book to others. Very Well Written 5 Stars!! Thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishers and Netgalley for this ARC copy for my review.

Faith and Gardening It Just "Grows" Together- My thoughts for the day...

I am asked by others often (just a representative) "What should I grow here?" What looks good together aesthetics wise?" "When and how do I divide my plants", or "How do I grow a tomato or persimmon tree from seed successfully?" Each answer is diverse depending on the individuals particular situation, soil type, color choice and location. Before I plant I pray over the seeds and plants because I know that God's hand is in the growing of everything. Have you ever wondered how so many cucumbers, squash, daisies, tomatoes, marigolds, beans etc can be grown from one tiny seed. How with water, sunlight, patience and love a seed becomes something that can feed so many and create a more beautiful world. It is truly amazing. Faith is like a plant seed that grows with longing, nurturing, patience and love. So it just makes sense to me to say that faith and gardening just go "Grow" together.

Maybe the next time you see a breathtaking flower longing for your view, a tree bursting with life giving fruit or perhaps a field laden with wildflowers as far as the eyes can focus you might just ask yourself, just what has faith got to do with this? Well.... everything....

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Abducted by Janice Cantore- Realistic!





Always striving to be one step ahead of the criminals, the Las Playas police force sometimes find keeping the streets safe can be a challenging feat indeed.

Carly Edwards is in a complicated relationship with ex husband Nick who cannot decide what part he has in the outcome of their situation.

Carly's police officer partner Joe King loves being a dad to four month old AJ. When his wife Christy is admitted into the hospital AJ goes missing. Set on high alert time is critical and the danger is mounting. Will AJ be saved in time?

Abducted is like a realistic police action drama movie but on the written page. With never a dull moment this book offers lots of twists, turns and surprises to delight and satisfy action and intrigue fans. Kept me entertained while turning the pages, and was highly suspenseful and tense until the ending. This well written hard to put down book sports well developed and engaging characters, smooth flowing plot and easy to follow dialogue. Although it is part of a series the book can stand on its own without reading the first one. I will recommend this novel to others. 4.5 stars. Thanks to Tyndale House Publishers for providing me with a complimentary copy for my review.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Dying to Read by Lorena McCourtney- Enjoyable!


Dying to Read, Lorena McCourtney, 978-0-8007-2158-9




Cate Kincade, in her search for employment decides to work for her Uncle Joe. Her first assignment in investigating seems an easy task for Cate but when foul play is suspected, the more complicated it gets and her job becomes more than she was anticipating.

Willow has a history of a challenging life, a product of misfortune which seems to follow her very closely.

The members of the Whodunit Book Club, lovers of mysteries and mayhem have a new mystery in front of them, which is not of the book kind, that involves one of their own.

This well written suspense was a delight to read, the author serves her audience with plenty of twists and turns to keep the story fresh, interesting and flowing, along with well formed characters which added to the vision of the storyline, accurate description of the plot, and a little romance for the ahh factor. I found the overall message of the book to be inspiring, I was entertained and would recommend this book to others.  4 Stars
I received a complimentary copy for this blog tour from Revell Publishing for my review.
"Available August 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group."

Lorena McCourtney is the award-winning author of dozens of novels, including Invisible (which won the Daphne du Maurier Award from Romance Writers of America), In Plain Sight, On the Run, and Stranded. She resides in Oregon.



Thursday, August 16, 2012

Unconditional by Eva Marie Everson- Make this book your next read!


                                                                           



Love goes beyond what the eyes can see.

Samantha Crawford (Sam), creator of children's stories, has a gifted talent for art and the written word. When her husband dies tragically one night her world becomes compromised but she soon discovers that her greatest challenge lies ahead.

Joe Bradford appeared in recognizable form, a face and voice from the distant past that Sam was as drawn to then as she is now. Sam wondered where Joe's life has taken him since she had last seen him. She is about to find out.

In the cruelty of loss, memories can remain in the heart ready to burst forth with keen accuracy.

Unconditional is unforgettable! I absolutely loved and cherished this engaging read!! You will smile, cry and wrestle with raw emotions with a storyline that has honesty and faith woven throughout with absolutely no dull parts whatsoever. I sat on my comfy chair to read this book and before I knew it I was finished. The book cover first drew me in, I feel the cover accurately portrays how the characters might look themselves, and from the first chapter I was hooked literally, but that is the way it is with all of the author's books that I have read, I became so involved into the storyline the pages flew. Excellently creative character development (feels like they are friends), smooth flowing crisp and captivating plot and believably realistic scenery make this book stand out among others. Very well written and impossible to put down! Make this book your next read! I will highly recommend this book to others. Thanks to B&H Publishing Group and Netgalley for the ARC for my review.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

A Sound Among The Trees by Susan Meissner- Great Read


A Sound Among the Trees by Susan Meissner


Much like the people who inhabit them, old houses keep secrets hidden deep within its walls.

The Holly Oak, a Civil War era home clocks a long and tortuous history. Not only housing Adelaide and her family, but an appartition as well. Held captive to the past, there remains a presence that cannot leave and a house that will not die.

Adelaide creates sought after Civil War reinactment uniforms and is a generational resident (like her mother before her) that still occupies her family home.

Carson, widower, his family, and his new wife Marielle, decide to stay with Adelaide despite opposition from unseen forces.

Will secrets be revealed? Can The Holly Oak finally come to rest in the serene backdrop of the South?

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical southern novel full of family, mystery and suspense. Being drawn to the storyline from the beginning this original and hard to put down novel is complete with interesting and remarkable characters with believable voices, exquisite scenery, and creative engaging smooth flowing plot with no broken or dull parts. I recommend this entertaining faith inspiring novel which will not disappoint. Well written 4.5 Stars!

Serpent of Moses by Don Hoesel- My Review


Serpent of Moses, Don Hoesel, 978-0-7642-0925-3


Resting in Libya lies a valuable treasure beckoning from the deep that comes with a price. There are those who would do just about anything to acquire it.

Former Professor Jack Hawthorne well known in the world of archaelogy is possessor of ancient artifacts. His desire for one in particular will lead him on a journey alone to discover and acquire of its well preserved hiding place before others realize he has gone.
As danger lurks in the foreground will the treasure be gained at the risk of lives?

Slightly reminicient of an Indiana Jones adventure, this novel brings action filled storyline, dangerous suspense and tense moments from the beginning. Although at times the reading drug slightly, it quickly picked back up again and I would find myself once again lost within the pages. This book seems to be a continuation of the first novel Elisha's Bones where Jack is introduced. Not reading the first one yet, I feel reading in order would definately help with beginning story development and clarity. Plot was well flowing, scenery realistic and dialogue original and felt as if I were there at the scene. I found the overall message inspiring and was challenged in my faith. I was entertained and would recommend this book to others but will suggest reading Elisha's Bones prior to reading this one. I received a complimenary copy from Bethany House Publishers for my review.

The Life Giver by Joey LeTourneau- Unique

                                                                         


  • The Life Giver


The Lord gives life so we can share with others.

The author weaves a different yet familiar outlook of Jesus as the giver of life. The authors visions of eternity, his promised land, and lessons learned about how to live while still on Earth will teach you how to share with others the love, joy and laughter that arise from heaven. Although very personal and different this is one part of the book I really enjoyed reading because the visions were very lifelike, descriptive and loving.
He shares family experiences, adopting Anna and how she taught them so much of the love of Jesus, and the people who visited his mission in Ethiopia.
Also included are stories and passages from the bible and explainations and interpretations in his own words.

I did enjoy this book and there were some parts I found to be very beneficial but other parts not so much. Everyone takes different parts of a book they consider helpful and draws benefit from that. It did take a while to get through and process this volume because it is so packed with information. My advice is to have an open mind when reading The Life Giver. I am not sure if I can fully grasp the uniqueness of this read but it certainly is "food for thought"!
My review is based on the free ebook that was given to me by the publisher. 

Wednesday, August 8, 2012


                                                                                 
                                                                           
Too Good to be Truman (Truman, #1)

There is a mystery brewing and Truman is on board!

Aspiring writer Harry Truman divorcee, has trouble dodging to demands of his exwives. His discoveries take him on quite a journey of disguise, mystery and mayhem.

IRS agent Marion Russell is curious about a dollar amount that has slipped through Harry's hands.

Tina Davis coworker of Harry's becomes quite an asset in the quest of finding the truth.

These interesting well developed characters along with a host of other unforgettable ones, will keep the reader satisfied, glued to the pages, and longing for more!

As the clock ticks and time runs short, danger proves to be necessary obstacle. Will the discovery be made in time at the risk of lives?

Loved this book 5 Stars! Extreme comedy, mystery and suspense team up to bring a fantastic novel with many twists, turns and laugh out loud moments. This well written impossible to put down book is a must for everything you loved about a Fletch movie with new, fresh and original content. Smooth flowing plot, captivating dialogue and realistic scenery mesh together well to create a read with absolutely no dull parts. I was highly entertained by this inspiring read and will recommend this novel to others. Thanks to Mr. Well for providing me with a complimentary copy for my review.

Some interesting facts about composting

Some of the benefits of composting are increased moisture retention and aeration in the soil.

As you keep adding wastes to your compost pile the wastes on the bottom will become compost sooner than the top

Organic matter is decomposed by living creatures during the composting process

Lack of air and or too much nitrogen causes foul odors

A good sized compost pile will reach 140-180 degrees F in the center of the pile

It is important to turn the compost to incorporate air and to get the outer materials to the center for heating to break down the matter.

Grass clippings, leaves, fruit and vegetable scraps, egg shells are best for a compost pile do not incorporate meat and bones, fats and oils into the pile

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Lethal Legacy by Irene Hannon- Loved this fast paced read!


Lethal Legacy, Irene Hannon, 978-0-8007-3458-9


Kelly Warren's fathers death is being deemed a suicide but she isn't buying that. She chooses willingly to be involved on the sidelines in the investigation
Cole Taylor is one of the detectives involved in solving Kelly's fathers death. He wants to believe that it was a suicide but he has strong convictions.
Alan Carlson looks back to the last few years. Enslaved to a issue he cannot withdraw from, recalls bitter memories as he dulls his mind with liquid poison.
Mark Rossi is content with his life but finds his past keeps surfacing to haunt him.
When a crucial secret is dicovered lives are at serious risk. Time becomes the enemy in a race to discovery.

Romance, mystery, suspense and danger perfectly create one hard to put down read. The book held my interest throughout and kept my attention high while the pages turned. I became involved in the story from the beginning peppered with twists and turns, realistic scenery and dialogue and high character development created absolutely no dull parts whatsoever and makes this a must read book for the summer. Although this is book three in a series it can easily make it as a stand alone novel. I was highly entertained by this fast paced faith challenging novel. Highly recommend!!
I received a complimentary copy for this blog tour from Revell Publishing for my review.
"Available August 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group."





Irene Hannon is the author of more than 35 novels, including the bestselling Heroes of Quantico and Guardians of Justice series. Her books have been honored with two coveted RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, a Carol Award, a HOLT Medallion, a Daphne du Maurier Award, and two Reviewers' Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews magazine. Booklist also included one of her novels in its "Top 10 Inspirational Fiction" list for 2011. She lives in Missouri.
For more information about her and her books, Irene invites you to visit her website at www.irenehannon.com.


                                                                         

Raising Financially Confident Kids by Mary Hunt- Very Informative!


Raising Financially Confident Kids, Mary Hunt, 978-0-8007-2141-1


The idea to "train" her children about managing finances came about when the author's children were young. She gave them an excellent starting point for life and the use of cash as opposed to credit when she had realized her family was heading towards excessive financial debt.
She revealed her kid's plan, how she started, what methods were used and how each child did on the plan. The book has three chapters on how to best devise your own customized debt proof way of life family plan. This informative volume also has valuable information to begin to apply a plan for preschool through the teen years. Many interesting points and examples highlight this must read book.

I enjoyed this honest, sensible and highly informative book on making wise choices and implementing financial plans that will grow with your child. I have learned alot myself especially concerning entitlements, secured and unsecured debt. The question and answer session at the end were beneficial. There is something here for everyone, and whether you have young children or older ones or if you just want to change your priorities and mindset on handling money the reader will find much useful information to apply to their finances. I highly recommend this book very well written! I received a complimentary copy for this blog tour from Revell Publishing for my review.
“Available August 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

                                                     
           


Mary Hunt is an award-winning and bestselling author, syndicated columnist and sought-after motivational speaker who created a global platform that is making strides to help men and women battle the epidemic impact of consumer debt. She is founder and publisher of the interactive website Debt-Proof Living, which features financial tools, resources, and information for her online members. Her books have sold more than a million copies and her daily newspaper column is nationally syndicated through Creators Syndicate, and is enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of Everyday Cheapskate readers. Hunt speaks widely on personal finance and has appeared on shows such as Good Morning America, Oprah, Dr. Phil, and Focus on the Family. She and her husband live in California.



Thursday, August 2, 2012

The Resignation of Eve by Jim Henderson- Surprising and Revealing

                                                                                                                   


Some women want to have an active role in the Evangelical church, some have fled to other churches where their voices and contributions can be appreciated. Some have resigned themselves to fit into the mold of a church where women are not a dominant voice. The central part of this book are the interviews discussing the lives, traditional and nontraditional viewpoints, and experiences of many different women concerning the woman's role in the church and home life. What is a woman's influence in the different available church positions and are they being utilized with what they are capable of contributing?

What an eyeopener this book was to me. Not giving much thought before to a woman's role in the success/failure of a church, I now have a good understanding of the whys and viewpoints that make up some of the women in the churches population today. Also beneficial to me was what bloggers wrote at the end of each interview/chapter. They added greatly to the conversation and brought a whole new perspective to the material that was being presented. I did not know what to expect when I first started reading The Resignation of Eve and was surprised at how much I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend this book to others especially to those who feel their voice is surpressed when it comes to voicing concerns in the church.