Blogging for Books

This month I had the opportunity to review Finding Our Way Home by Charlene Ann Baumbich. It was a wonderful story of how love and grace can help a person grow and heal and LIVE. The novel actually has two main characters that take their turns playing lead. A dancer who has been injured and is recuperating and the young woman who is helping her at her home. I loved major portions of the book and I loved the story line. There were a few small portions of the book, that made me just a little bit uncomfortable, I just didn't love the way she handled certain situations.  That being said, it was agreat story of grace and love. 
Sasha is recovering from more than her physical injuries,  she needs to heal a lot more.  Even when she is difficult to live with Evelyn just keeps her plucky attitude and keeps doing what needs to be done.  As the story progresses we find that the women need each other and the support they provide one another. 
Check it out.  You will love the book. 
If you want to see more check out the Author's Website, Author's Bio, and More About the Book.
Thanks WaterbrookMultnomah for providing me with a copy to review. My opinions are my own.

A Sound Among the Trees by Susan Meissner. ~ Blogging for Books

Can I just stop for a minute and confess that I found as I was reading this book that I have a bit of prejudice, or at the very least a preconceived notion, that I wasn't aware that I held.  I have found that as I read a book that I know is from a Christian author I just assume the main characters are Christians, or at least will have close contact with a Christian immediately that will help them make life changing choices.  I started reading this book with that notion and was a bit confused, I found myself getting sucked into the "ghost" side of story, but waiting for someone to share the love and joy of Jesus Christ and it just didn't happen.  All of the sudden I realized, that it was because it wasn't necessarily based on Christian characters, when it did get down to the character who had a changed life based on the love of Christ all of the sudden came together for me.  Ahhh, now I get it :)

This book was good.  It was a story that spanned a few generations of a family.  A story that kept you in the here and now, but spun the story of the family's history.  I loved the deep history and the very personal stories of civil war life.  The civil war was unique in that many of the families that were affected had roots on both sides of the line.  The girl that the story followed had been raised in Maine and was now living in Virginia with her mother's family after the death of her family.  With a grandfather fighting for the south and cousin fighting for the north her world was a mess, it fully brought out the realities of war.  The story that was told in the present was great too, but I was really pulled in by the historical sections.  If you want to know more about what the story is about look here.

If you want to get a glimpse of this great book you can read the first chapter. For more on Susan Meissner see here or here or you can follow her on twitter.  I enjoyed every moment of this book and I hope you check it out.

 Thanks WaterbrookMultnomah for providing me with a copy to review. My opinions are my own.

Required Reading for Teenage Girls - and Their Parents

I love Robin Jones Gunn - I love the way she writes, I love her characters, I just love her.  This month I was given the opportunity to read an older series that she wrote.  It is coming out now in "volume version"  The Sierra Jensen Collection Vol. 1 is the first 3 books in the Sierra Jensen series.  Gunn allows her characters room to feel, make mistakes, and stand up for themselves and their God and I love that about her.  When her characters make decisions she makes sure that the readers understand where those decisions are coming from.  Sierra is a 16 year old girl that is ready to grow up, but is reminded again and again to enjoy the time she has as a teenager.  She goes through all of the typical teenage growing pains, and she survives and even thrives.  I love the author incorporates scripture and the joy of the Word in every book that she writes and that she writes about families and the joy and pain of being apart of one.  I think that both the Christy Miller Series and the Sierra Jensen Series should be required reading for teen girls, because it gives a lot of food for thought and it makes you think about the way you do things (especially where boys are concerned) and why you do them.  Moms gift these books to your daughters today! 
Thanks WaterbrookMultnomah for providing me with a copy to review. My opinions are my own.

The Wild West meets Victorian England

The Inconvenient Marriage of Charlotte Beck was a humorous book that had me laughing immediately. It is an interesting combination of wild west and Victorian England. One of the stories even included a display Buffolo Bill put on in Englad. It is (of course) a love story in a world and time where marriages were often arranged to be convenient to both families involved. Charlotte is a strong minded woman, longing for the opportunity of both education and business experience. She's young, strong willed, and, perhaps, self-centered. Alex Hambly on the other hand is also intelligent, mature, and by nature prone to put others ahead of himself. The meeting of these two independent thinkers will keep you amused as will every encounter thereafter. Thanks WaterbrookMultnomah for providing me with a copy to review. My opinions are my own.

Blogging for Books - The Canary List

My most recent read from the "Blogging for Books" program was The Canary List by Sigmund Brouwer. It is the story of an unloved foster child and the world she gets wrapped up in. It is a fictional look at the Catholic church, and all the inner workings of the Vatican City, complete with how it might be affected by that same foster child.
I enjoyed the book, but some of it was a little to close to home, and other parts were completely far fetched. I know that the Catholic church isn't perfect, as much as I know that there are both good and bad men that have become priests. Some of those men who have not made Christ the center of there lives may have even worked themselves up in the hierarchy of the church, but this author takes it to the extreme. The book as interesting, viewed as a work of fiction, but I am sure some will be offended by the portrayal. That being said, you may enjoy it :). I'm going to give it a 3 out of 5 star rating.
You can check out the book here. You can even read the first chapter while you are there.
Thanks to WaterBrooks Multnomah Publishing Group for providing a free copy for me to review. My opinions are my own.

Another Amish Adventure - The Harvest of Grace

This month I recieved my second Cindy Woodsmall book, The Harvest of Grace.  I loved it.  It was a wonderful story of Failure and then Redemption.  The book focused primarily on the farm of Michael and Dora Blank and all that occured there, but wove in stories of several different couples and relationships throughout.  It not only was a story of flawed people that got together after allowing forgiveness in, but it was also a story of how a daughter forgave an absent father after years of hurt and anger. 
The Amish way is different then how I live my life (obviously, I am going to guess that they don't blog!) but sometimes when you see an idea from another's eyes it brings new meaning or perspective to your own life.  I felt that way as I read this book. 

Thanks to WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for providing a free copy of this book for me to review. My Opinions are my own.

Amish Romance at Christmas time

I love a good Amish story.  I don't know why, but the culture, the tradition, and the lifestyle all fascinate me.  Cindy Woodsmall does a great job with the Amish stories, and from what I understand of the culture I think she writes it fairly accurately.  This story is called The Christmas Singing.  It follows characters that Woodsmall created a long time ago, but you don't need to know any background to enjoy the story.  It is a story of broken hearts, lies, and the mending of broken lives.  I really enjoyed my venture back into amish country. 

If you want to check out the first chapter of this book, look here.
If you prefer to watch a short video you can check it out here.
Thanks to WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for providing a free copy of this book for me to review. My Opinions are my own.

Blogging for Books ~ The Corruptible by Mark Mynheir

I love a good detective story, but I often have a hard time finding  a good story that I feel is both "lifelike" but still clean.  Obviously if you need a detective then something unseemly must have happened, but I want to read and solve the crime, but not be covered in the detail of the crime or being overcome by curse words.  The Corruptible had this for me.  Their was an interesting crime that took brains to figure out, but I wasn't dragged down by language or sordid detail.  This is a "Ray Quinn Mystery"  and I thought Ray was an enjoyable character.
I enjoyed working at the office of Ray Quinn and seeing his colleagues in action. As a private investigator that had retired from the police department he got to work the case with all the help the police department could give him, but with out all the red tape they have to go through.  I really also enjoyed getting to know his associate Crevis.  Crevis seemed to be a man that was loyal to a fault, and I loved it.  Loyalty is an amazing motivator. 
This book was a great read.  I really enjoyed it. 

Thanks to WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for providing a free copy of this book for me to review. My Opinions are my own

Blogging for Books - Love Food & Live Well by Chantel Hobbs

This week I received Love Food & Live Well from Waterbrook Press. I choose to review this book because I would like to lose a few pounds and I thought I might get a bit of a jump start with the help from the book. Chantel's story is motivating. She has lost 200 pounds and kept it off for ten years all while managing to be a wife, mother, and author. I loved hearing her story and a the few personal stories in the book, but if you are looking for a meal plan and scripted exercise then this is not the book for you. Well over the first half of the book was about getting your head and heart right and then the last 3 or 4 chapters had a few recipes, an interval training plan, and a strength training plan.

The book serves a purpose, but I found it to be more motivational than helpful for planning for weight loss. While I did find useful information, I felt like I there was more reading about general information than setting out my personal weight loss plan.

If you need a broad, informational startup for weightloss then this is the book for you. Complete with motivational stories. If you are looking for a scripted plan, you will find yourself disappointed.

You can read more about Chantel Hobbs and her books at her website http://www.chantelhobbs.com/

Thanks to WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for providing a free copy of this book for me to review. My Opinions are my own

Another Dragon Tale - Blogging for Books

A Review of The Dragons of Chiril by Donita K. Paul (previously printed as The Vanishing Sculptor)

I have been participating in a program that allows me to preview and review books and I have really enjoyed it.  Through Blogging For Books I have been introduced to the author Donita K. Paul.  I love to read, and will read almost anything, but do not typically choose fantasy books.  Donita K. Paul may have changed my mind.

I really enjoyed The Dragons of Chiril.  It is the first in a series about the land of Chiril and it's introduction to the Creator - Wulder.  It is filled with stories of people all of different races and temperments and their introduction to the idea of a God that created them and loves them.  If you read the Dragon Keeper Chronicles it has a couple of my favorite characters from there (Wizard Fenworth and the librarian Librettowit) that have travelled away from Amara and are helping to solve a dramatic problem in Chiril.

The story revolves around a young lady who has had to take over care for her family's estate (with help from a trusted friend) because her mother is a bit out of it, and her father hasn't been seen in years.  To help provide for her family she has begun to sell her artist father's artwork one piece at a time.  She soon finds out that her father has not been seen because he is stuck and she can help save him, but to do so she has to hunt down 3 specific pieces of his artwork. 

The story is full of twists and turns and is perfect for the fantasy lover at your house.  Did I mention it even has dragons? I have really enjoyed getting to know this author and hope you do too.

Thanks to WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for providing a free copy of this book for me to review. My Opinions are my own.

Blogging for Books - INDIVISIBLE by Kristin Heitzman

This month I read Indivisible by Kristen Heitzman for "Blogging for Books."  I had heard of Heitzman before, but had never read anything by her. I think after this I will have to try some more out.  The books centers around a small colorado town and the characters who live there.  It is a suspense or thriller type of novel that all starts with finding two racoons that have been sewn together.  Who would do such a thing, and will they escalate to crimes that will involve humans?  Police Chief Jonah Westfall is on the job, but he is also trying to rid himself of his own demons.  Each character was multi-dimensional and interesting (although some  you just want to smack over the head and tell them to get a life and talk to the others).  Beyond the search for the culprit of the crime the author takes the time to introduce you to several characters and what is going on in their lives.  There is of course a good romance (or two) involved, but also the story of community and loyalty.  I really enjoyed it. 
You can read the first chapter for free and find the book here or here.
You can follow Kristin Heitzman online at http://www.KristinHeitzman.net
Thanks to WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for providing a free copy of this book for me to review. My Opinions are my own.

Blogging for books - Dragons of the Valley by Donita K. Paul

Donita K. Paul is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine.  I had never heard of Paul before I started Blogging for Books, but I have loved every minute getting to know her.  Dragons of the Valley was great, I wish I had realized when I started reading that it was part of a series, because I had a hard time getting into at first (I had a lot of characters to keep straight in my head). 

This is a story has everything fantasy lovers will enjoy.  Princess, prince, reluctant hero, not to mention wizards, dragons and even Kimen (these guys are cool!).  The land of Chiril is on the brink of war and this band of heroes has to keep a treasure safe and learn how to defend themselves.  I love the way spiritual truths are interwoven in the story.  Like CS Lewis used the land of Narnia and Aslan to teach spiritual truths Paul uses Chiril and Wulder to do the same. 

Once I figured out the characters I really enjoyed the book.  If you are interested in purchasing the book you can find it here or here.

Thanks to WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for providing a free copy of this book for me to review. My Opinions are my own.

Blogging for Books - God Gave Us the World

 God Gave Us the World by Lisa Tawn Bergren; illustrated by Laura J. Bryant

I recieved  God Gave Us the World by Lisa Tawn Bergren; illustrated by Laura J. Bryant as part of the Blogging for Books program yesterday.  My Daughter loves it (She's two).  I love that it shows God's creativity in a way she can understand.  The book is written about a polar bear family where "Little Cub" is learning about God's creativity by learning about how different bears live.  A bears around the world exhibit ends up being a great jumping off point for questions and answers.  My kid loves the pictures of different types of bears and loved following "Little Cub."  If you have a bear lover in the family, it is a great way to introduce them to God's creativity.  You can get the book here or here.

Thanks to WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for providing a free copy of this book for me to review. My Opinions are my own

God Loves Me More Than That - Book Review

I got my new book from Waterbrook this week and it was a children's book. God Loves Me More Than That by Dandi Daley Mackall and Illustrated by David Hohn. My Daughter and I (2.5 yrs) both loved it. She loved the pictures (especially one that had the ABC's in it) and I loved the sing-songy way the wording flowed. We read it over and over the day we got it, and she wants it to be read to her again and again. It gives great metaphors for how much God loves you. You can get the book from here.

Thanks to WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for providing a free copy of this book for me to review. My Opinions are my own.

Book Review - Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist by John Piper

John Piper’s book can be summed up in one sentence. You should strive to find joy and happiness in God. I loved the point of the book. I loved that he went a little bit more in depth when looking at stories where people were suffering to show that ultimately they were striving to find happiness and that God not only honors that, but desires that too. Psalms 37:4 says “Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” For me that was the whole crux of the matter.
With all of that being said, I did not love this book. I did love the idea of the book, but I found it to be too long and in depth to hold my attention for long. I didn’t need all the extras, and even found it to be tiresome to come upon the defense of the term Christian Hedonism again and again. I did not need the term defended, I don’t love the term, but understood Piper’s reference the first time he explained it. I think it would be a great study resource, but for me there was too much minutia to dig through. I would recommend the book to people who love to study and cross reference, but if you are looking for light reading this is not the book for you.

You can find this book here or here

Thanks to WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for providing a free copy of this book for me to review. My Opinions are my own.

Bookin' It!

It is the time of year to share reading plans and goals. I love to read, and I am just giving myself a little bit of structure to keep myself on track. This year I'll be participating in the "Assigned reading" from Life as Mom (at least most months) and I'm hoping to have at least two other books to comment on each month. I also joined Blogging for books and will be reviewing books for them as well that I will be adding to my write ups. Since the last booking it in December I have actually done a lot of reading.

I read Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul and loved it. You can read my review here. It was a quick, fun read.

Fiddler's Gun by A.S. Peterson - This was a great book and Fiddler's Green just came out. I am looking forward to getting a hold of it. It is a historical fiction book and I loved that it focused on a strong female lead. I am already looking forward to how Fin Button will change and grow in the next book. It is written during the civil war and includes ship life and even pirates. Check it out!.

The Last Mango in Texas by Ray Blackston - I love Ray Blackston. I found him by accident because his books were next to Terry Blackstock at my library. He is funny! I really enjoyed Flabbergasted and went and tracked down the other books he had written outside of that series. This one is all about boy meets girl and boy pursues girl. I love how the book follows the lead and what he is thinking.

I've already started reading 3 books for next month I'll be reading The Happiness Project (assigned), Desiring God Meditations of a Christian Hedonist by John Piper (this is from my blogging for books projects) and then The Inn at Angel Island by Thomas Kinkaide and Katherine Spencer (for fun). Can't wait to see how it goes. :)

Two Tickets To the Christmas Ball- Donita K. Paul

Yesterday I read Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball, and it was wonderful. I loved that the book was not only the typical romance, but that it involved family relations as well. While neither family highlighted was a carbon copy of mine, it was not hard to relate to them and their relations to each other. The author did a great job of including Wonder and Mystery while making sure to give God the glory for things miraculous and remarkable. Some will cringe at the first mention of Wizards and a "Wizard Ball," but the distinction is made between sorcery and witchcraft and the original meaning of the word wizard (wise one). Overall I was impressed and thoroughly enjoyed the book. What a great Christmas time book.

Here is a link to a video trailer for the book.

Thanks to WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for providing a free copy of this book for me to review. My Opinions are my own.