Seek Me With All Your Heart - Beth Wiseman

THE BOOK:

What would cause the Amish to move to Colorado, leaving family and friends behind?

Some Amish are making the trek to Colorado for cheaper land. Others are fleeing strict bishops with long memories.

For Emily Detweiler and her family, the move is more personal. Tragedy struck Emily in Ohio, shaking loose everything she believed was firm, including her faith. Her family took the bold step of leaving Ohio to resettle in a small Amish community in Canaan, Colorado, where they hope the distance will help erase the painful memories.

David Stoltzfus's family moved to Colorado for reasons he doesn't understand. But Canaan is turning out to be something other than the promised land they all anticipated. Fearing that a health condition will cut his life short, David plans to return home to Paradise, Pennsylvania, as soon as he can. But than he meets Emily, who stirs feeling in his heart despite his apprehension about the future.

Emily's growing love for David surprises her, but she fears that he will find out the truth about her past and reject her. But what if the truth is that they are made for each other? And that God longs to give them the desires of their hearts if only they will seek Him first?

MY REVIEW:

Star Rating: *****

What a refreshing, compelling novel by Beth Wiseman. I haven’t read a book by her yet, but this one instantly captured my attention and pulled me into the story. Emily and David both have pasts that, they believe, have cut off any chance of them marrying. Bonding together with the understanding that they would just be friends, things get complicated when they start wishing for more than friendship.

The book opens with a very memorable first meeting for David and Emily. The story was fun and light and the book was wonderfully written – taking me right into the minds and hearts of the different characters. My heart went out to Katie Ann over her heart-ache of trying to love a man who had stopped loving her. How awful! Martha cracked me up – hard and blunt on the outside, but on the inside, David and Emily discovered a elderly woman just longing for love and accepted. Her ‘arrangement’ for the two was humorous as well – what a crafty lady! And the issue with her Elvis – now that was just plan funny. But, evidently, not to her! My thoughts mirrored Jacob’s sentiments exactly. lol

There are only two thing that I need point out for younger readers. One of the characters is raped in this book. The author handled the issue very well—I wasn’t ever uncomfortable of where the scene might be going and nothing explicit was described. The other part I need mention was between Katie Ann and her husband, Levi. There are a few scenes where she thinks of their first night together, and then also when he finally comes to her in the middle of the night, which he hadn’t done in years. Again, nothing explicit is said, except that it happened.

Seek Me with All Your Heart had such a wonderful message in it. Emily, David, Katie Ann, and Martha all had to learn to trust blindly in the Lord even when their life seemed to be falling apart. They all had to learn to continually seek the Lord with their whole heart. It’s a great reminder for everyone.

While I am not generally very crazy about Amish fiction, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It makes me eager to read more by Beth Wiseman in the future – and I am certainly going to be looking forward to Beth’s next release in this series. I can’t wait to find out what happens to Katie Ann’s story. :-)

I reviewed this book for Thomas Nelson through BookSneeze. It was not required that I give a positive review, but solely to express my own thoughts and opinions of this book, which I have done.













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Book of Days - James Rubart

THE BOOK:

Young Cameron Vaux's mind is slipping. Memories of his wife, killed two years earlier in a car accident, are vanishing just as his dad predicted they would. Memories he knows he has to remember. His father tells Cameron that to save his mind he must find "the book with all the days in it" - the past and future records of every soul on earth.

When an obscure clue leads Cameron to a small Central Oregon town, he meets enigmatic Taylor Stone, a possible guide to finding the book who seems to carry secrets far deeper than anyone imagines. Local hotshot TV personality Ann Bannister thinks the legend of the book is a farce, but she has her reasons to join Cameron's search anyway. Finally, there is a fanatical New Age guru Jason Judah, who will stop at nothing to find the book of days before Cameron does.


MY REVIEW:

Star Rating: ****

When I first read the back of this book, I was a little skeptical. A physically book somewhere that God has the past, present, and future of every person that ever existed? That is impossible. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book – at all. However, after finishing the last page of this book, I was pleasantly surprised. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment in this book! Mystery filled this book from nearly the very beginning and suspense carried me through every page.

The characters were very complex. But even so, I felt very connected with them throughout this story. I felt like I understood each of the characters – Cameron’s fear of losing his memory, Ann’s struggle with her long-buried feelings for Cameron, Taylor’s heartache over his past, and Tricia’s desire to see her husband, Taylor, let go of his burden. While there were other characters woven into this story, these were the ones that stood out to me and that I personally felt a connection with.

There wasn’t anything that raised any warning flags as I read this book. There is a love story between Cameron and his late-wife’s best friend. The fight Cameron puts up is touching – he feels as if he will betray Jessie if he opens his heart to love again. He doesn’t want to lose her. It takes him a while, and a lot of events, to make him realize that just because he loves again doesn’t mean he will ever forget her.

This book is a wonderful thriller. There were continual twists and turns, intense moments, and things thickly clouded in mystery. I don’t want to give anything away, but the ending – when the mystery is all revealed – was really neat and unexpected. I love a mystery that, at the very end, takes me by surprise and throws me for a loop!

The ending was very satisfactory. As I went through the book, I kept having the mindset that if The Book of Days – what Cameron was searching for - turned out to be a physical book, I wouldn’t like this read. I just now God wouldn’t put something like that on earth. But, when I finished the story, I couldn’t have been more pleased. It held such a powerful message about leaving the past behind us and putting our trust in the Lord. All in all, I highly recommend this read! I will be keeping an eye out for more thrillers from James Rubart in the future!

I reviewed this book for B&H Books. It was not required that I give a positive review, but solely to express my own thoughts and opinions of this book, which I have done.













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Words - Ginny Yttrup

THE BOOK:

Ten-year old Kaylee Wren doesn't speak. Not since her drug-addled mother walked away, leaving her in a remote cabin nestled in the towering redwoods, in the care of a man who is as dangerous as he is evil. With silence her only refuge, Kaylee collects words she might never speak from the only memento her mother left behind: a dictionary.

Sierra Dawn is thirty-four, an artist, and alone. She has allowed the shame of her past to silence her present hopes and chooses to bury her pain by trying to control her circumstances. But on the twelfth anniversary of her daughter's death, Sierra's control begins to crumble as the God of her childhood woos her back to Himself.

Brought together by Divine design, Kaylee and Sierra will discover together the healing mercy of the Word - Jesus Christ.

MY REVIEW:

Star Rating: *****

Words took me for an emotional, heart-wrenching, thought-provoking journey. While this book touched on delicate subjects – sexual abuse and drug addictions – it breathed truth and honesty. Ginny wrote with such passion that I connect with Kaylee and Sierra almost instantly. They were so real. The emotional turmoil that Kaylee experienced was so well described it grabbed my heart. Having six sisters that are ten or younger, I can’t imagine one of them enduring what Kaylee endured.

You can’t help put want to reach out to Kaylee. Only ten years old, this girl held so much hurt and shame pent up in her little body she lost her ability to speak. I connect with Sierra the instant she saw Kaylee’s hurt and wanted to help her. It is exactly what I would do – what anyone with a heart would do. Even though Sierra carried her own guilt and hurt from her broken past, she set that aside to help Kaylee. In fact, reaching out to Kaylee helped her come to grips with her own sins and turned her back to the Lord after years of cold separation.

With all this praise, there comes a big warning. As I mentioned, this book deals with sexual abuse and drug addictions. While Ginny handled both subjects extremely well, the sexual abuse may be too much for teens. Nothing is outright described in detail, but enough is said and enough of Kaylee’s own emotions are conveyed to the reader to understand what is happening. I just urge caution for younger readers.

Ginny has done an amazing job in crafting this story. Her characters, scenes, and events come alive through her writing. The lesson that Sierra and Kaylee learn – The Truth shall set you free – is a lesson we could all learn. As I learned after I finished reading this book, Ginny learned this lesson herself, first hand. Now I understand the passion I feel in her writing. She sums it up well – “Part of (God’s) plan, I know, was to write this book – it is a means of sharing God’s hope, mercy, and grace with others and to let abuse survivors know that they’ll not only survive, but they can also thrive.” I highly recommend this book.

I reviewed this book for B&H Books. It was not required that I give a positive review, but solely to express my own thoughts and opinions of this book, which I have done.













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Angel Sister - Ann Gabhart

THE BOOK:

It is 1936 and Kate Marritt works hard to keep her family together. Her father has slipped into alcoholism, her mother is trying to come to grips with their dire financial situation, and her sisters seem to remain blissfully oblivious to all of it. Kate could never have imagined that a dirty, abandoned little girl named Lorena Birdsong would be just what her family needs.

In this richly textured novel, award-winning author Ann H. Gabhart reveals the power of true love, the freedom of forgiveness, and the strength to persevere through troubled times, all against the backdrop of a sultry Kentucky summer.

MY REVIEW:

Star Rating: ****

I’ve never read a book by Ann Gabhart before, so I was excited at the opportunity to read this new release of hers. After finishing Angel Sister I know I will read more from this talented author. This book was quiet a journey! Ann skillfully weaved in a story that was so alive and personal I looked up from the pages expecting to see Kate, Nadine, or Victor sitting across from me. Each character had such depth!

Kate Marritt is only fourteen years old, but she feels like she is her family’s anchor. Her mother is stressed out, her father is fighting the bottle, her older sister daydreams of handsome men all day, and her younger sister is still too young to be of much help. Kate was such a sweet character! Loving her father despite his addiction. Helping her family any way she could. Always trying to ease her mother’s burdens. She certain can be a role model to us girls!

While this book does have Kate’s story in it, there are two other main characters in this book – Nadine and Victor. I really loved the flashbacks to Nadine and Victor’s earlier years. I felt like I was reading two books rolled into one. The flashbacks were handled well so that I enjoyed traveling with the character down memory lane. Once or twice I almost didn’t realize when they started down that lane – but maybe that was just my bad. The book probably could have been shorter if the flashbacks didn’t go so in-depth, but that’s what I liked about the story. It just seemed to overflow with feelings and emotions. The characters were so personal.

There wasn’t anything inappropriate about this, except for a few remarks that are made after Nadine and Victor are married. It’s only hinted at and I didn’t find it in the least bit inappropriate. There were a few kisses and embraces, but I enjoy reading a book where the married couples express their love for each other in these little ways. Very sweet.

Even before I finished the book and read the author’s notes, I knew this was a story from the heart. It was such a personal journey – so in depth and touching – that I felt like I knew the author a little bit after finishing this book. The events in Angel Sister were sad and oftentimes heartbreaking – especially as I read about Nadine and Victor’s parents. How sad not to have parents who stand behind you and encourage you! But Ann writes so well that throughout all the dreary moments in the characters lives, there was an undercurrent of hope. And I saw that hope come to life at the end through the events surrounding a little girl named Lorena Birdsong. I highly recommend this book!

I reviewed this book for Revell. It was not required that I give a positive review, but solely to express my own thoughts and opinions of this book, which I have done.













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Another Dawn - Kathryn Cushman

THE BOOK:

What would you give for a second chance to make things right?

When life gets complicated, Grace Graham runs. She's lift romantic relationships, friendships, and even her family after the death of her mother. But now her sister, Jana, is giving her one last chance: Come home and help care for their father - whom Grace still blames for her mother's death - or never show her face in Shoal Creek, Tennessee, again.

With her son, Dylan, in tow, Grace returns home from California. But is she returning for the right reasons? And when costly decisions from the past suddenly put her son's life and the lives of other children in town at risk, will she have the strength to stand strong and await Another Dawn.

MY REVIEW:

Star Rating: *****

A sweet read with a powerful, controversial subject woven into its pages, Another Dawn will warm your heart. Always seeming to be running from her troubles, Grace packs up her bags and leaves a broken relationship and strained friendship behind to journey back home and care for her father after he has surgery. Her sister, Jana, gives her little choice in the matter, so Grace sucks up and goes to help a father she can’t stand to even be around. Her anger against him is long-standing – she blames him for her mother’s early death in life.

I got a chuckle out of Grace’s motherly ways with Dylan – certainly could tell she was a first-time parent. Dylan himself was so adorable within the pages that I looked forward to every scene that he was in. At four years old, he was mature beyond his years and his brotherly instinct toward his baby cousin was sweet.

When Grace finds out that Dylan’s life, and now many other young children, might be on the line, I felt her heartache and fear. Parenting comes with some tough decisions that we must make – and not all of them are easy to answer. Many can impact your child’s life forever, or effect them and others in some way. Grace was doing what she felt was best for her son. I ached with her when the town began to blame and accuse her. I understood Grace, who wished she could explain to the town her reasons for what she’d done. Everyone has a reason for why they do or don’t do something, but often we as humans are too quick to judge from our point of view to take the time to notice any others.

The book was very clean as a whole. Grace does have a child out of wedlock, but nothing is explain in depth about this besides that her then-boyfriend left her. She been hurt before and doesn’t want another man walking out of her life again. During the course of her visit to care for her father she learns that sometimes you have to give in order to receive and when it seems like an uphill battle, you just need to keep climbing and rest in the confidence that God is working on your side to smooth the way for you at the top. Kathryn did a great job at writing this novel – you learn some great lessons within these pages!

I reviewed this book for Bethany House. It was not required that I give a positive review, but solely to express my own thoughts and opinions of this book, which I have done.














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The Brotherhood - Jerry Jenkins

THE BOOK:

Boone Drake has it made.

He’s a young cop rising rapidly through the ranks of the Chicago Police Department. He has a beautiful wife and a young son, a nice starter house, a great partner, and a career plan that should land him in the Organized Crime Division within five years.

Everything is going right...until everything goes horribly, terribly wrong.

His personal life destroyed and his career and future in jeopardy, Boone buries himself in guilt and bitterness as his life spirals out of control. But when he comes face-to-face with the most vicious gang leader Chicago has seen in decades, he begins to realize that God is a God of second chances and can change the hardest heart . . . and forgive the worst of crimes.

MY REVIEW:

Star Rating: *****

Boone feels like he has the start to an awesome life – what more could he ask for? He has the prettiest wife and the cutest kid. Ever since he was young he wanted to ‘stop the bad guys’ and he couldn’t be happier with his job as a Chicago Policeman. After several life-altering events, Boone see’s his life collapsing around him. He wants to turn from God, to hate Him, but when God continually shows his hand in his life, Boone sees that God isn’t finished with him yet. He didn’t bring trials into Boone’s life just to watch him crumble, but to build him stronger and prepare him for things to come.

I was wowed with this book. Just 50 pages into the story and I was in tears. My heart ached for what Boone was going through. Such an event would forever change a person – both inside and out – that it literally made me stop and think. The sting operation was really neat, too! I was cheering the OCD (Organized Crime Division) on as they plotted to pull a sting that would land them the biggest gangster leaders ever. Talk about some tension! And Jenkin’s writing just brought everything to life!

One thing that stood out to me toward the beginning of this book is how short life can be. Life is a vapor. There’s no rule that says it’s for sure that you will live to be a hundred. And some people live their lives as if they had that many years to spend, but often such is not the case. We can be here one day and gone the next. It makes you want to embrace every new morning with thanksgiving to God. We should never take a day for granted.

The book was a bit graphic at times when explaining a certain characters wounds, which might disturb younger readers, but that is it. It holds great lessons and when you finally close the book on the last page…it stays with you. Jerry Jenkin’s did a wonderful job on this book and I will be keeping my eye out for more of his books in the future. You can check out his website here - www.jerryjenkins.com.


I reviewed this book for Tyndale House Publishing. It was not required that I give a positive review, but solely to express my own thoughts and opinions of this book, which I have done.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Lady in the Mist - Laurie Alice Eakes

THE BOOK:

By virtue of her profession as a midwife, Tabitha Eckles is a keeper of many secrets. Dominick Cherrett is a man with his own secret to keep: namely, why he, a British aristocrat, is on American soil working as an indentured servant.

In a time when relations between America and England rest on the edge of a knife, Tabitha and Dominick cross paths, leading them on a journey of intrigue, threats, public disgrace, and...love. But can Tabitha trust Dominick? Finding true love seems impossible in a world set against them.

With stirring writing that draws you directly into the story, Lady in the Mist takes you on the thrilling ride of love's discovery.

MY REVIEW:

Star Rating: ****

This story, centering on the life of a midwife during the early 1800s, captivated me from the very beginning. The sad delivery, cloaked with dark secrets, was instantly an attention-grabbed and I couldn’t put the book down. Tabitha’s first meeting with Dominick was memorable and humorous. I instantly liked the guy, even if he was a big flirt. lol The fact that he was a learned British aristocrat, yet in America as a redemptor, instantly sparked my curiosity right alongside Tabitha’s.

The mystery and suspense woven into this story was great. It kept me guessing to the very end who the traitor was. Every time I thought I knew who it was, something suspicious would come up on another character and I would second-guess myself. I love a book that will make me do that! I so enjoy trying to figure it out, and when I’m kept guessing to the end…well it shows you what a great mystery and/or suspense it really is.

There wasn’t anything inappropriate in this book that I need point out. There are a few kisses and caresses, but that is the extent of it. A few times in a high-action scene I would be a bit confused at what was/had happened. The way it was written, from the writers confused viewpoint, was just that – confusing – and I found myself rereading one or two scenes. One of the scenes, towards the end, I was disappointed it cut off at the height of the action. While in the next chapter it’s a week or so later and you are brought up to date with what had occurred during all the action, I wished I could’ve experienced it right alongside the hero and heroine. But besides this minor annoyance, I enjoyed this book from cover to cover.

Tension is felt throughout the whole book as each character seems to have their own personal agenda, and Tabitha can’t figure out if that agenda is good or bad for America. Along with the trouble on her seashore, Tabitha also struggled to uphold her midwifery – some people deeming her unsuitable for the position of bring babies into the world when she hadn’t even been married yet. I cheered Tabitha on when she stood up for herself before the counsel. All in all, the cover is lovely, the writing enchanting, and the story suspenseful. I would certainly encourage you to pick up Lady of the Mist and read it sometime very soon.


I reviewed this book for Revell. It was not required that I give a positive review, but solely to express my own thoughts and opinions of this book, which I have done.














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The Showflake - Jamei Carie

THE BOOK:

Christmas 1897

Ellen Pierce and her brother are determined to reach the Alaska gold rush. But when ice stalls their steamship, all seems lost, until Buck Lewis makes a decision: he'll lead all who dare to follow on foot toward Dawson City.

Buck is determined to leave behind a heartbreaking past. No amount of ice or weather will stop him. But he never counted on a woman joining a dangerous wilderness trek--or on falling in love with her.

As their journey unfolds and Christmas approaches, Ellen and Buck discover that the greatest gift of all can't be wrapped in paper and tied with a bow. It comes from, and is received in, the heart.

Come share in a soul-deep romance that gives a joyful reminder of a redeeming God who makes us each unique, yet loves us all the same.

MY REVIEW:

Star Rating: ****

The Snowflake took me by surprise. From the cover of the book, it looked like a sweet book about giving and having the Christmas spirit. However, only a few pages into this book and you discovered that it is far from this. Its 1897 and Ellen has been all but forced by her brother to journey with him to Alaska during the goldrush. When their ship becomes frozen in the waters, Ellen and her brother set out with a handful of others to trek across the territory to reach Dowson City. Buck Lewis, a man who has guilt riding firmly on his shoulders, heads the expedition. With Ellen the only female among them, he decides to keep an eye out for her along the way. But Ellen perseveres and pushes on right along with the men to reach Dawson before hunger and the cold claim her.

This is a sweet story about a young woman’s trek across Alaska soil and of her survival once she reaches Dawson City. I was instantly drawn into the story with Jamie’s descriptive writing. My heart when out to Ellen, trapped in a life of caring for a brother who scared, harmed, and degraded her at every turn. And once she reached Dawson City, her troubles were far from over.

There is almost nothing that I need to point out. At one time along the trek to Alaska, Buck holds Ellen close against him near the fire after she almost died that day. When the men all huddled together to stay warm that night, she remained beside Buck and shared his blanket. Nothing inappropriate happened and when you are cold to the point of nearly being frozen, propriety and proper behavior is thrown at the window – its stay warm or die. Once she reached Dawson City she ends up staying in a brothel until she regains her strength. She was sick for days after reaching the settlement so didn’t notice. But as soon as she did, she left the brothel. She ends up being a dance-hall girl, but of respectable character – all she was paid to do was dance with the men who came into the parlor for drinks. Jamie did a great job of writing these touchy subjects and keeping the book clean.

The love story between Ellen and Buck was rather sweet, if a little hurried. Since the novella is so short, I can understand why it went so quickly. Buck’s promise to Ellen and the way he keeps it is so touching and sweet. Ellen knew she had found a diamond in the rough when he kept his promise to her, even though it had cost him a lot to do so. The characters in The Snowflake were developed very well and I enjoyed learning about the characters throughout the book. If you want to snuggle close to the fire for a few hours and read a sweet story full of depth and love, then this is just the book for you!

I reviewed this book for B&H Publishing. It was not required that I give a positive review, but solely to express my own thoughts and opinions of this book, which I have done.













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Wrangler in Petticoats

THE BOOK:

Can the artist tame the cowgirl without breaking her spirit?

Tough Texan tomboy Sally McClellan heads to Montana to visit her pregnant sister Mandy. But when her traveling part is attacked, Sally is left for dead. Will the handsome rescuer who binds up her wounds give her the motivation to mend her manly ways?

Logan McKenzie  is a fine artist, but the beauty of the Rockies isn't the only thing thing he's passionate about. He can't help but be attracted to Sally, a cowgirl who prefers riveted jeans over ribbons and lace. Is there any way he'll be able to heal and tame this wild wrangler?

Danger prevails when outlaws return to permanently silence Sally, the only witness to their treacherous deeds. Will this fractured female survive long enough to capture the artists love - or find herself lost in a dreamscape rendered by her lonely heart?

MY REVIEW:

Star Rating: 3

This is another new author for me – though I have heard a lot about her work. The story started off strong, with the ambush of ?s party and her near-death experience. While the whole book isn’t an edge-of-your-seat read, it still had its tense parts! After being rescued by an artist that is extremely passionate for his craft, she’s taken back to his home to recuperate from a near-death experience, unaware that the ambushers are on her trail to silence her for good.

Great story plot. I enjoyed Sally’s witty character and Logan’s earnest love for his art work. I thought at some points he was a bit extreme in his passion for art over his care of people – but maybe that’s what Connealy was aiming for. :-) As a lover of art, I enjoyed reading about Logan’s artwork and the scenery about him. It sounded beautiful. I felt for him when the outlaws broke into his cabin. I can’t say that I ever grew attached to either the hero or heroine, but I had fun getting to know them during the read.

The one problem I had with this book was with the very prominent reverse in a man and woman’s role. Both main characters could do a fast draw – though it was Sally with a gun and Logan with a pencil. Sally just seemed like a tough take-care of herself girl and Logan a city-fella softie. Though I admit physically Logan wasn’t a softie, he still couldn’t use a gun well enough to protect anyone. I am not sure if the author intended it this way, but that is the way it came across to me and was the biggest thing that nagged me throughout the book.

The romantic tension added into the story also felt a bit unreal and too fast to seem realistic. But besides these two aspects, I liked the adventures within this book. I especially liked Wise Sister! So, while Wrangler in Petticoats didn’t appeal to me as much as I had hoped, I will still look into more books written by Mary Connealy. She has talent in her writings!

I reviewed this book for Barbour Books. It was not required that I give a positive review, but solely to express my own thoughts and opinions of this book, which I have done.













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The Confirmation - Ralph Reed

THE BOOK:

Chaos reigns in the nation's capitol...

Newly elected U.S. President Bob Long is weighing reports of nuclear weapons in Iran when he learns Justice Peter Corbin Franklin, eighty-six-year-old liberal conscience of the Supreme Court, has suffered a massive stroke. With pressing same-sex marriage and abortion laws as well as a huge antitrust case on the court's docket, the door is open for Long to appoint a conservative replacement, repaying the twenty-one million evangelicals who voted for him.

But it won't be that easy. Long suffers a series of political missteps while his court nominee, Marco Diaz, endures vicious character accusations in the media for his religious beliefs and rumors of a tragic past.

Meanwhile, terrorists in Iran have hijacked more nuclear materials and are threatening to bomb a major city if the U.S. or Israel attacks.

MY REVIEW:

Star Rating: ***

This book deals with the chaos, drama, and undermining that goes on behind the scenes in D.C. I’m not into politics that heavily, so didn’t think I would enjoy this book. I did, however, enjoy it to some extent. The story was face-paced and once I got far enough into the book it was easy to finish – though that took a little while. While I doubt I will pick it up again, I enjoyed getting a better look of how things are done in the White House and what a behind-the-scenes peak into the madness would be like. After finishing this book – which was filled with extreme pressure, dirty scandals, under the table dealings, backstabbing, and controlling possible leaks to the media – I know I wouldn’t want to go into politics! :-)

The book begins with the election of the new president, Bob Long – former California governor and the first independent president. He has big shoes to fill. Hard subjects like abortion and same-sex marriages are highly debated and fought. There are threats of nuclear warfare and terrorism. When Supreme Court Justice Peter Franklin suffers a stroke, the tension in the book heightens. Both “sides” in D.C. are realistically explained, confirming that this author is well knowledge in politics – always a plus to have authors write things that they really know about on a personal level.

With all that said, there are a few warning flags I need to throw out there for younger readers. There are several issues I had with some scenes in this book - women use their looks to coerce men into seeing things their way and men crudely study and talk about women’s features. There was one ‘romance’ between Jay and Gabriella that I wasn’t comfortable with – a lot of sensuality and physical description and touching. When a scene came with the two of them I skipped over the pages. And along with their romance there were a few other characters with the same problem – either having an inappropriate romance or men making crude comments about women.

While I wouldn’t recommend this book to teens, an adult would probably enjoy and appreciate the political truths and conspiracy. Be forewarned that there are many characters in this book and I often got confused who was who or forgot who a certain character was. Good thing I can flip back through the pages, though I would have preferred if it had fewer characters it focused on. Overall, it was an interesting novel and would be the perfect book for someone who enjoys politics.

I reviewed this book for B&H Publishing. It was not required that I give a positive review, but solely to express my own thoughts and opinions of this book, which I have done.














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Come to Me - Laura Davis

THE BOOK:

Step back in time and experience the life of Christ through the eyes of His mother. Come to Me offers the reader an intimate glimpse into the lives of Jesus and his family in a way that brings them to life. The theme of trusting in God and surrendering to Him are evident throughout this remarkable story.

From the cradle to the cross, Come to Me speaks to the hearts of those who are seeking and deepens the faith of long-time believers. It is a moving tale of the life of Christ from the mother who raised him to become the Saviour of the world.

MY REVIEW:

Star Rating: ***

Stepping back into the bible, I enjoyed reading and learning a little bit about Mary, John, Luke, and Matthew in the years after Christ's resurrection. The approach Laura took, to have Luke ask Mary to recount her life story, was unique and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Laura is very thorough in her recounting of what happened. Every scene or chapter in Mary/Jesus' life was thought out. A few times I questioned if it really would've happened that way - but since there is no knowing on certain aspects of Christ's life...I guess it's however you translate the scriptures. I don't want to give away anything in the book, so you'll have to draw your own conclusions on this!

There really wasn’t anything I need warn you about in this book. At the very beginning Mary does express some nervousness at what her life as a married woman is going to be like, but that is about all. She recounted Christ's Crucifixion well - I found myself wincing when he was nailed to the cross. As I read through this part it made me realized, yet again, God's mercies toward us by sending us a savior and Jesus' love for us by selflessly dying and taking our sins upon him.

For this being Laura Davis' first fictional book, I though she did well. There were a few times I felt that the scenes weren't fleshed-out enough or the way it was written was simplistic, but this all comes with practice. This didn't prohibit me from enjoying the book - I just noticed it on a few occasions. All in all, I thought it was a good read and a good reminder of everything Christ did and took upon himself to us to save us from our sins.


I reviewed this book for FIRST Wild Card Blog Tours. Thanks to Laura Davis for sending me a review copy of this book. It was not required that I give a positive review, but solely to express my own thoughts and opinions of this book, which I have done.














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The Rhythm of Secrets - Patti Lacy

THE BOOK:

Shelia Franklin has masqueraded as the precocious daughter of avant-garde parents in colorful 1940s New Orleans, a teen desperate for love and acceptance, and an unwed mother sent North with her shame.

After marrying Edward, Shelia artfully masks her secrets, allowing Edward to gain prominence as a conservative pastor. When one phone call from a disillusioned Vietnam veteran destroys her cover, Shelia faces an impossible choice: save her son and his beloved...or imperil Edward's ambitions.

Inspired by a true story, The Rhythm of Secrets intermingles jazz, classical, and scared music in a symphony trumpeting God's grace.
 
MY REVIEW:

Star Rating:  *****

The Rhythm of Secrets is my first introduction to this author and her work – and I love it! It was a bit slow at the beginning, but there were so many questions and so many hints of a bigger, more complex plot to come, that I was pulled along in the story. Patti writes with so much emotion packed into her words that you can’t help but feel exactly what Shelia went through during her painful childhood. While I never cried buckets of tears (though came very close!), I still felt for Shelia. Patti’s writing showed me what a frightened child she was, what a cold, loveless upbringing she had with her grandmother, how starved she was for someone to love her as she grew older – I couldn’t help but feel Shelia’s pain.

Patti liked using metaphors, and a few times I felt that she might be overusing them – but I soon forgot all this as I got wrapped up in the story, loving the detail she put into everything. The plot was intricately thought out and well developed as the story progressed. In the beginning, a lot is hinted at something big, but it isn’t until later that we find out what Samuel was really up to by searching out Shelia. The way the story is written – in Shelia’s present time with flashbacks to her growing up years – was well written.

In this book, while the beginning might seem a bit longwinded as she recounts much of her childhood, I never felt like the story lagged. I never once grew weary or bored of reading it. Patti has a very different way of writing than most authors out there, but it only makes her books stand out that much more! I can’t remember the last time I read a book that conveyed that much feeling – that showed you so clearly what kind of emotional war the heroine was going through. I loved it! It made me feel like I was inside of Shelia, feeling everything she felt and understanding every confused thought that passed through her mind.

The book dealt with several hard subjects, including having a child out of wedlock and prostitution – both in America and in foreign lands. Patti dealt with all this amazing well and kept it factual and rather clean, despite the subject. There is one scene where a character is nearly raped, but it is stopped quickly and not much is described. There is another scene with a man partying in a night club. While he is drugged and so doesn't know what he is doing, it's still in there - though it's told as the character felt it, through a haze. While I wouldn’t recommend this book to a young teen, I was fine with it and didn’t grow uncomfortable with where it might be heading.

Filled with twists and turns at nearly every corner, this book will leave you with so many lessons. One of the most prominent is showing that your sins will always find you out. You might be able to hide the past for the time, but (as Shelia discovered) it can’t be hidden forever. Another lesson we see is that God can forgive event the worst of sinners. His redemption can purge the filthiest and most sinful of people. I loved the part where God open Shelia’s eyes and she finally realized this. It was beautiful to see a young girl, scared of God’s wrath for everything she’s done, transform into a strong Christian well aware of God’s merciful saving and cleansing powers. Patti has done a wonderful job and I can’t wait to read more of her works in the future.

I received this book from LitFuse in exchange for writing this review. It was not required that I give a positive review, but solely to express my own thoughts and opinions of this book, which I have done.













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The Fire in Ember - DiAnn Mills

THE BOOK:

Between one woman's life and one man's heart ... a fire burns

Bert believed returning a stolen horse was the right thing for her to do. But she never imagined ranch hands would mistake her as a horse thief, then sentence her to hang. She couldn't tell them the truth. Neither did she want to die.

Deputy John Timmons's middle name is responsibility. He's been caring for his mother and younger brothers on his ranch for five years. He thought he was saving a boy from a hanging - his duty. But when he learns Bert is a girl, a whirlwind of emotions send his heart spinning.

Cattle rustlers have invaded the northern Colorado ranches, leaving murder in their wake. Bert is a suspect, especially when she refuses to give her real name or reveal what she's running from. John knows she's afraid of something, but what? He sees a sweet spirit, not a woman who's deceiving his family.

 MY REVIEW:
 Star Rating:  *****

With her hands tied behind her back and a rope about her neck, Ember’s chances of living don’t look good. This is the scene that unfolds to begin this gripping story. It captured my attention and carried me on through the book until I reached the final pages. I love when I shut a book after reading the last sentence…then open it to flip through the pages again, savoring each exciting moment! That shows you what I think of the adventures tucked within its pages – I want to relive every moment over again!

John was instantly a likable fellow. I loved how hard working he was and how he always looked out for those nearest and dearest to him. I found myself easily liking this hero and cheering him on as he wrestled with the spirited Ember (or who was better known as Bert, during her ‘boy disguising’ days). Ember also was easy to grow attached to. She had such a scarred and bruised past that she so desperately wanted to keep hidden so she could keep others safe. I think that’s one thing that completely attached me to her – she kept trying to run, but it was because she didn’t want to bring trouble to those she cared about. She’d rather deal with the dangers by herself than see a loved one hurt. What a heroine!

The Timmons brothers brought smiles to my face in the way they teased and roughed with each other. And when the boys discovered that Ember was not a boy – why I just about laughed out loud at their reaction! Another character that I grew attached to as such a wonderful mother-figure was Leah. She had suffered much in the past few years with the murder of her husband, but she had a houseful of boys and one lonely, scared girl on the run to care for. She never looked down on anyone, but treated everyone equally. I always loved when Leah imparted her wisdom to her boys or to Bert. She was a very endearing character and reminded me of the Proverbs 31 woman.

There is very little in this book that I need warn you about – DiAnn wrote it exceptionally clean and teen friendly. One of the characters does confess that she had been used in earlier years, but DiAnn wrote it with such care that I almost didn’t think it need warning! Through and through, it was clean and held valuable lessons about trust and finding redemption in Christ. The Fire in Ember is a great book with lessons hidden within – I recommend it to other historical fiction adventure/mystery/suspense lovers!














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