Wednesday, December 1, 2010

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Tuesday, November 16, 2010

"The Way Home" (DVD) published by Lionsgate

What I have to say...
     In “The Way Home,” a DVD published by Lionsgate, a father is tasked to watch his two-year-old son while packing the van for family vacation. He becomes distracted and returns to find his son missing. He and his wife frantically search the area for sign of their son. As they are tested by this difficult circumstance an outstanding amount of support is shown by their community.

     This is definitely an acceptable movie for family night. However, the plot seems more promising of a good story than it is. I watched it with my sister and we both felt the same way; the movie was good but it wasn’t great. I was actually shocked to find out that the movie was a true story, simply because the writing didn’t seem very realistic. Some of the characters reactions and verbal responses seemed like they were just “the right things” to say if you’re a Christian in this circumstance rather than “the real things” you do and say as a Christian who is walking with God through a difficult situation. I really wish I could say this movie was better; I was looking so forward to watching it. While it would not be a waste of your time to watch it, I wouldn’t put it at the top of your list.

To purchase this dvd go here:
http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/product_detail.asp?sku=1400316936&title=The_Way_Home
or here:
http://www.amazon.com/Way-Home-Sub-Ac3-Dol/dp/B003WJ6VE0/ref=sr_1_2?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1283354457&sr=1-2
I review for BookSneeze
**I received this dvd free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.**

Friday, September 10, 2010

"Outlive Your Life" by Max Lucado


What I have to say...
Max Lucado’s Outlive Your Life is a study on Acts unlike any other I’ve seen. Lucado challenges the reader to take after the example of the early church we read about in Acts and get up and make a difference in the world around us for the Lord. Each chapter starts with a scripture verse and ends with one along with a prayer. At the end of the book you’ll find a discussion and action guide that has suggestions to take action that are both reasonable and impactful. Our world is a distant one covered with a façade, we are called to have compassion on this world, to not just see those in need, but to really see the heart of them and to take compassion on them. To use those action words. We really should live in a way that we would be proud if our great-great-great-grandchildren heard about how we responded to the world around us. In a way that we will be excited when the Lord holds are actions accountable to us, to have confidence that we made our Daddy proud! This book has truly challenged me in the way I respond to those around me, especially to those I may not be particularly fond of.
http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/product_detail.asp?sku=0849920698&title=Outlive_Your_Life&author=Max_Lucado
http://www.amazon.com/Outlive-Your-Life-Were-Difference/dp/0849920698/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281477971&sr=1-1
For more Max Lucado:
Facebook.com/upwordsministry
Twitter.com/maxlucado
Twitter.com/lucadoteam
Community.maxlucado.com
I review for BookSneeze
**I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.**

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

“You Changed my Life: Stories of Real People with Remarkable Hearts” by Max Lucado


What I have to say...
Max Lucado’s, You Changed my Life: Stories of Real People with Remarkable Hearts, is one of those reads that is bound to challenge, inspire, and change your life. It is a short read with small but hugely powerful stories. Designed to give as a gift to someone who has changed your life, it even comes with space for you to write your own story of appreciation to the receiver of the book. There are many stories of unknown heroes who had courage to do both small and big things that impacted someone’s life for the better. Some of these actions took great courage, while others may be easily overlooked. They are separated into different categories from compassion to friendship. These stories are accompanied by pictures that inspire my love of photography and little inspirational quotes. It’s the perfect size for a “coffee table” book and the stories are the perfect size for any library. Some stories you may recognize from other works by Lucado, but every one will inspire you to tell the people in your life just how much they matter in yours. We often do not thank those who change our lives, but they are exactly who we do not want to overlook. This book is a great way to thank them!
http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/product_detail.asp?sku=1404187839&title=You_Changed_My_Life
buy on Amazon
**I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.**
I review for BookSneeze

"The Boy Who Changed the World" by Andy Andrews


What I have to say...
Best selling author, Andy Andrews, does a wonderful job illustrating with the art of words exactly what the butterfly effect is in his children’s book The Boy Who Changed the World. Philip Hurst does his job well in the wonderful illustrations that add to the story. The story starts with how a boy named Norman changed the world, and throughout his story a butterfly follows along. Once you finish reading about Norman you find out that really a boy named Henry changed the world and there you see a new butterfly following him along. Then you find out that Henry really didn’t change the world but in fact it was…you get the picture. Not only do you find out how 4 different boys changed the world, but you may actually recognize some historical figures. This is a great book for any child who is old enough to sit and listen to a story that has more than one sentence on the page. In fact, I think the adult reading it to them will enjoy the story and learn something from it as well. Not only does the lesson ring loud and clear that every good choice you make, no matter how small can change the world, but I think the challenge will be heard by the children who read it and confidence to make those choices instilled within them.

**I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.**
I review for BookSneeze

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

"Havah: the Story of Eve" by Tosca Lee


What I have to say...
You know a book is good when you finish reading it and think to yourself “Man, do I love to read.” That is what happened to me when I read Tosca Lee’s Havah: the Story of Eve. When I wasn’t reading it, I was literally dreaming about it. We know about Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, and Lee fills the reader in on the in-between-the-lines as she would imagine it to have been. Havah starts off with a poetic feel, which is fitting, I think, coming from the female voice-that of Havah’s. I think sometimes we get stuck in these stories we’ve always heard, barely understanding. Lee finds the heart of Eve in this story, connecting the reader to that which we came. I’ve recently started to track my family tree, and as I find things out about my ancestors I find out why I am certain ways. We are so lucky to have accounts of our earliest ancestors and Lee finds their humanness, connecting us to where we came. You will have to keep telling yourself that this is fiction; that it is not fiction at all. As soon as I closed the back cover, I cracked open Genesis, I just had to see where the lines crossed! I don’t think I will ever read my bible the same again; I will try to look at the heart of who I am reading about.
http://www.bhpublishinggroup.com/fiction/products.asp?p=9781433668791#about
Havah: Author Spotlight video
Havah: Book Trailer video
http://www.amazon.com/Havah-Tosca-Lee/dp/1433668793/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282668567&sr=1-1

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

"Demon:A Memoir" by Tosca Lee


What I have to say...
Demon: A Memoir, by Tosca Lee, is one of those books that make you think. The title’s strong; it will draw you in or make you run away. If the title turns you away I urge you to read specifically about what led Lee to write this novel. The questions she asks are ones that you’ll wonder why you’ve never asked yourself. If it draws you in, let it continue to work its magic. This love story that God is so intricately writing, Lee retells in a way that you probably have never heard nor read; from the view-point of a demon. Maybe the least important aspect is how the demon feels, which is what propels the story--therefore making it the most important. Let me explain, through the demon’s story you will find your own. Lucian, the demon, is ravenously jealous over God’s love for humans who mess up repeatedly. This is why “it” wants to tell this story through an editor. The editor, who is cleverly named Clay, becomes wholly enthralled into this task. In the end he faces an ultimate decision, the same as us all. Clay symbolizes every one of us-- those who have heard of God’s love, of his sacrifice, and those who have not. Either way we all must make the same choice, or choose not to make it, that’s still a choice. I urge you to make the choice to read this book.
sample chapter
http://www.bhpublishinggroup.com/books/products.asp?p=9781433668807

Thursday, July 15, 2010

"Cast of Characters: Common People in the Hands of an Uncommon God" by Max Lucado


What I have to say...
Cast of Characters: Common People in the Hands of an Uncommon God definitely tops my favorites list when it comes to books written by Max Lucado. There is just something about his writing style that I love. Each chapter is the story of a different person from the bible. The way Lucado tells each story is uncommon, suitably so since these are stories about “common people and an Uncommon God.” He tells their stories as if they are happening today. I think this aspect helps the unbeliever to understand and the believer to understand stories that they’ve heard and read a million times in a fresh way. You’ve probably heard these stories before, and if you’ve read a lot of Lucado’s books you’ve probably even heard them the way that he tells them. Little did I know I had already read one of the stories that spoke to me most; I guess this was just the time in my life that I really needed to HEAR it. I love how each separate story comes together to form the entire book and an overall message that I think is most magnified in the last couple chapters, those about Lazarus and Peter. These aren’t just their stories, this is your story.

I review for BookSneeze
This book was provided for review by Book Sneeze.

Friday, June 25, 2010

"Facing Your Giants" by Max Lucado


What I have to say...
Max Lucado’s book Facing Your Giants is modernly poetic. Lucado’s style of writing is sophisticated yet understatedly simple. In this book Lucado takes the reader on a journey through the life of biblical hero David. You see David’s good and bad and how he faces his giants the different times of his life. I think it’s important to learn from other people’s mistakes, it allows you to save yourself from the misery of making the same mistakes and having to face the consequences of such. Lucado does a great job of relating David’s giants; to the giants we face today. I mean how many of us will be gunned down by our best friends father because we were just declared king? My guess is none. My favorite bit of advice from Lucado is the fact that David took five stones to fight Goliath. He suggests using your five fingers to remember those five rocks and what they stand for the fight your giant. In fact I am constantly looking at my fingers reminding myself of those stones. If a young-teenage Sheppard boy can beat his giant, I can beat mine. There is also a very helpful study guide to finish the book off.
I review for BookSneeze
*This book was provided for review by booksneeze*

Monday, May 24, 2010

"The Last Christian" by David Gregory

What I have to say...




David Gregory’s novel, The Last Christian, is about the future. In this future “tolerance” has come to pass and Christianity no longer exists. Abigail Caldwell grew up in a remote jungle in Papua New Guinea. A disease killed her village, forcing her into a “real world” that she has no connection to except a dated message from her grandparents, a mission to return the Christian faith to America. Technology now offers eternal life, but at an expense. Abigail, with a little help from a professor and an ousted FBI agent, takes on the most powerful players in America in order to show the world what real eternal life is.


The future in the book is eerily not so far in the future anymore. It’s almost scary how easily the reader can imagine the circumstances in the story coming to pass. The faith aspect of this story is very thought provoking; the reader will definitely look at the gospel in a brand new light. There’s a heavy focus on life, a little love, and a tolerance that isn’t so tolerant. Christ freely gives what the world tries to sell, but cannot come through on. So America, what life are we going to buy into?
buy "The Last Christian" by clicking here

*This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.*

Summary (as seen on randomhouse.com)
In the future, it’s possible to live forever—but at what cost?


A.D. 2088.

Missionary daughter Abigail Caldwell emerges from the jungle for the first time in her thirty-four years, the sole survivor of a mysterious disease that killed her village. Abby goes to America, only to discover a nation where Christianity has completely died out. A curious message from her grandfather assigns her a surprising mission: re-introduce the Christian faith in America, no matter how insurmountable the odds.

But a larger threat looms. The world's leading artificial intelligence industrialist has perfected a technique for downloading the human brain into a silicon form. Brain transplants have begun, and with them comes the potential of eliminating physical death altogether—but at what expense?

As Abby navigates a society grown more addicted to stimulating the body than nurturing the soul, she and Creighton Daniels, a historian troubled by his father's unexpected death, become unwitting targets of powerful men who will stop at nothing to further their nefarious goals. Hanging in the balance—the spiritual future of all humanity.

In this fast-paced thriller, startling near-future science collides with thought-provoking religious themes to create a spell-binding "what-if?" novel.
About the Author (also taken from randomhouse.com)

David Gregory is the coauthor of two nonfiction books and a frequent conference speaker. After a ten-year business career, he returned to school to study religion and communications, earning two master's degrees. David lives in Texas, where he works for a nonprofit organization.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

"The Cross Gardener" by Jason F. Wright

What I have to Say...
Jason F. Wright’s newest novel, The Cross Gardener, is a quick read with a huge heart. Although some of the theology is questionable, Wright knows how to weave his stories into your heart for good. The reader is taken along main character, John Bevan’s story, from being born on the side of the road, to learning how to overcome a lifetime of loss. Most readers will not be able to imagine the kind of loss the John suffers in this story, and those than can I’m sure will connect to this book unlike anyone else could. You follow John’s story from meeting the girl of his dreams in elementary school, to their first date, to her death and that of their unborn child. John makes the accident site into a memorial, which he visits daily. He is so consumed by his loss that all else in his life comes in a far second, and he can’t figure out how to help his daughter with the loss, which has left her mute. I hope this book finds its way to the New York Times Bestselling list, because I’m sure that it would do extremely well there. It’s life in the purest form. It’s realistic, there’s death, love, and life. I urge you to read this book and discover how John comes to heal, and better yet find out who helped him heal.

"Never Let You Go" by Erin Healy

 

Buy

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Summary
Losing everything has Lexi clinging to her daughter. Hell is determined to loosen her grip.

It's been seven years since disaster struck her family. Lexi Solomon has held it all together since then--just barely.

But now Lexi is losing it. The husband who deserted her is back in town, wanting to see their daughter Molly. Her sister's shameless murderer is up for parole. An unsavory old friend is demanding payment for debts that Lexi knows nothing about and can't begin to meet.

And something else is going on--something Lexi feels but can't explain. A dangerous shift is taking place between this reality and the next. Forces beyond her imagination are vying for control.

A rare novel that will satisfy a wide range of readers, Never Let You Go explores the high-stakes decisions played out in the thin spaces between heaven and earth. As the enemy's grip tightens around Lexi, she will have to decide what's truly worth holding on to.

"Keeps you glued to the pages until the very last."--Tosca Lee, author of Havak: The Story of Eve


What I Have to Say...
Ask any loyal reader of Ted Dekker who Erin Healy is, and they can most likely tell you. Her first independent novel, Never Let You Go, I believe takes her from award-winning editor to an author that should be award-winning as well. Healy definitely knows how to write a page turner. This novel will leave you wondering what is real and what is not, where do the spiritual and physical realms meet? These lines become blurred in the novel as main character Lexi deals with her not so ex-husband’s bad decisions of the past, as well as poor decisions that she has made. Old acquaintances threaten to ruin the life that she has worked so hard to give her daughter. As soon as these old acquaintances reappear, so does Lexi’s husband, as well as trouble. Unexplained events take place that leave Lexi wondering what is really going on. I wanted to read this novel because I extremely enjoyed Kiss, a novel Healy co-wrote with my favorite author, Ted Dekker. Healy blew away my expectations. I was hooked to every page, every word she wrote. This may just be one of the best written novels I have ever read. Healy definitely knows what she is doing, and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for readers next.
click to buy now

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

"The Bride Collector" by Ted Dekker


What I Have to Say..
Ted Dekker has done it again, he has written another brilliant thriller. This newest novel is called The Bride Collector. It is about a serial killer who murders women leaving a bridal veil at each crime scene. The novel starts with the death of his fourth victim and you read through his pursuit of his seventh and final, who in his perspective is God’s favorite and perfect bride. Dekker dives into the subject of mental illness, asking the question are those who are dubbed mentally ill really normal and those who are dubbed normal really the ones who are mentally ill. Not for the light of heart, the killings are gruesome and it was hard for me to read at first. Dekker used a great name as an underwear brand though; maybe that’s what hooked me. ;) Dekker is one of those minds that dare to ask the questions no one else wants to think about. Maybe that’s what makes this book so brilliant. If we all just understood each other; if we understood that we are all God’s favorites because He loves us unendingly we wouldn’t pin false stigmas upon one another. I dare you to open your mind to Dekker’s questions.

*This book was provided for review by Center Street*

Click for options to purchase this book

Friday, April 9, 2010

"Forget Me Not" by Vicki Hinze


Summary
A mother who cannot face her future.
THEIR ELUSIVE ENEMIES TOOK EVERYTHING. NOW THEY WANT MORE.

Crossroads Crisis Center owner Benjamin Brandt was a content man—in his faith, his work, and his family. Then in a flash, everything he loved was snatched away. His wife and son were murdered, and grief-stricken Ben lost faith. Determination to find their killers keeps him going, but after three years of dead ends and torment, his hope is dying too. Why had he survived? He’d failed to protect his family.

Now, a mysterious woman appears at Crossroads seeking answers and help—a victim who eerily resembles Ben’s deceased wife, Susan. A woman robbed of her identity, her life, of everything except her faith—and Susan’s necklace.

The connections between the two women mount, exceeding coincidence, and to keep the truth hidden, someone is willing to kill. Finding out who and why turns Ben and the mystery woman’s situation from dangerous to deadly. Their only hope for survival is to work together, trust each other, and face whatever they discover head on, no matter how painful. But will that be enough to save their lives and heal their tattered hearts?

About the Author
Vicki Hinze is an award-winning author of twenty-three novels, three nonfiction books, and hundreds of articles. Selected for Who’s Who in America in 2004 as a writer and educator, Hinze is active in Romance Writers of America and serves as a Vice President on the International Thriller Writers Board of Directors. Vicki lives in Florida with her artist husband, a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel. Visit www.vickihinze.com to learn more about Vicki’s books, blogs, and writing programs.

What I Have to Say...
Author Vicki Hinze’s first work of Christian fiction, Forget Me Not, is a must read. If you like a book to keep you on the edge of your seat, this will surely do it. A woman who looks exactly like main character, Benjamin Brandt’s, diseased wife shows up at their crisis center. In her pocket is Ben’s wife Susan’s necklace and a card bearing her name. This woman has been left for dead and has no memory except that someone had tried to kill her. Nameless and homeless, Ben takes her in trying to figure out who she is and how her case links to the death of his wife. This is a story of mystery, love, and faith. I have never read a book that was better at showing how bad things still happen when you’re a Christian and that faith takes effort. Faith isn’t a one time deal, it is a continuous thing. You’ll find this book to have a shocker or two. I could not ask for more in a story, it had everything in it. I sincerely hope that Vicki Hinze takes to writing more Christian fiction. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for it!

*This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.*

Click to find where to purchase
available in Trade Paperback and eBook

Thursday, April 1, 2010

"An Absence So Great" by Jane Kirkpatrick


Summary
While growing in confidence as a photographer, eighteen-year-old Jessie Ann Gaebele’s personal life is at a crossroads. Hoping she’s put an unfortunate romantic longing behind her as “water under the bridge,” she exiles herself to Milwaukee to operate photographic studios for those owners who have fallen ill with mercury poisoning.

Jessie gains footing in her dream to one day operate her own studio and soon finds herself in other Midwest towns, pursuing her profession. But even a job she loves can’t keep painful memories from seeping into her heart when the shadows of a forbidden love threaten to darken the portrait of her life.

About the Author
Jane Kirkpatrick is an award-winning author of sixteen historical novels, including A Flickering Light, the first part of Jessie Gaebale’s story, and three nonfiction titles. Known for her unique insights into the exploration of community, family and faith of actual historical women, the Wisconsin native and her husband have called their ranch in Oregon home for the past 25 years.

What I Have to Say...
An Absence so Great by Jane Kirkpatrick caught my attention because it is about a young female photographer living in an early 1900 Midwest. Her journey particularly takes her to southeastern Wisconsin. A really interesting tidbit about this book is that it was inspired by actual photographs taken by the author’s grandmother. As you read through the book you will also see actual photos and get to read the story behind them. Jessie Gaebele’s continuing passion of photography keeps her connected to her past, mainly to the mistakes she’s made. She distances herself from those mistakes with time and distance but as long as she photographs she stays connected. She later on discovers that her photography is not the only thing tying her to her mistake, but the mistake itself. This mistake eventually caused everything she thought to be true in her life to be a lie. This mistake stole from Jessie what she thought to be the very definition of herself. Jessie runs from this mistake again, this time tying all loose ends, and her photography pulls her through. Kirkpatrick does a great job at delving into the most passionate emotions of humankind. This novel is a must read.


*This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.*

Follow link to purchase this book
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781578569816
available in Trade Paperback, unabridged audiobook download, and eBook

Friday, March 5, 2010

"Dancing with My Father" by Sally Clarkson


Summary
The reality of living in a broken, fallen world can leave women feeling overcome by fear, guilt, and weariness. Many develop “sawdust souls,” numb to any sense of joy.



In this warm and wise book, author Sally Clarkson invites readers to take God’s hand and let Him lead them into a life of anticipation, passion, and purpose. With the voice of a trusted mentor, she reveals how, by getting in tune with the rhythm of God’s presence, women can nurture an inner attitude of anticipation and celebration even in the stressful seasons of life.



Through rich biblical insights woven with real-life stories, women will be inspired to recapture a spirit of joy as they follow God’s lead on the dance floor of life.

About the Author
Sally Clarkson is a popular speaker, known across the nation and internationally for her work with women. She is the author of several books, including The Mission of Motherhood, The Ministry of Motherhood, and Seasons of a Mother’s Heart. She has worked in various ministries, including Campus Crusade for Christ. With her husband, Clay, she is cofounder of Whole Heart Ministries, which encourages and equips Christian parents. The Clarksons, parents of four, live near Colorado Springs , Colorado .

What I Have to Say...
I normally would not pick up the book Dancing With My Father, by Sally Clarkson, simply because of the title. The word dancing draws me, however my first thought is that it’s a book about father-daughter relationship. Maybe it should say heavenly father. When I read the back of the book, it really interested me. “Are you overwhelmed by weariness, fear, or discouragement?” I’m at one of those “stuck” times in life. Yes, I have hope for the future but I would like to have more joy! The answer to that, Clarkson says, is dancing with God. Did you know I’m a dancer? God definitely placed this book in my lap! It is Scripture based and has wonderful real life stories that make the points real to me. Each chapter ends with the most thought provoking questions I’ve ever had a book ask me, and a beautifully crafted prayer. Clarkson definitely knows the heart of a woman. This book came out of her life. She was at a down place and realized she needed to let go, take God’s hand, and let Him lead her through the dance of life. I would and will definitely recommend this book to every Christian woman out there!

*This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.*

Follow link for options to buy this book:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307457066&ref=externallink_wbp_dancingwithmyfather_sec_0119_01

Thursday, February 25, 2010

"Yesterday's Promise" by Linda Lee Chaikin


Summary
He fought to seek his fortune.
Would he lose a greater treasure: the love he left behind?

As the son of the squire of Grimston Way, aristocrat Rogan Chantry has fought hard to win his independence from Sir Julien Bley and the British South Africa Company. Now, his pursuit of a mysterious deposit of gold, marked on a map willed to him by his murdered uncle, Henry Chantry, is challenged by a new complication: the impending British colonization of South Africa. Can Sir Rogan find the gold in the midst of escalating tensions among the native tribesmen, the missionaries sent to win them, and the new colonists?

Meanwhile, Evy Varley, the woman Rogan loves back in England, is headed for a brave yet dangerous confrontation with Henry’s killer–but at what price? With so much against Rogan and Evy, a reunion seems improbable, if not impossible. Can yesterday’s promise hold them faithful to the hope of future freedom and a victorious love?

About the Author
has written numerous best-selling and award-winning books and series, including the Silk series (Heart of India Trilogy), A Day to Remember series, The Empire Builders, Royal Pavilion Trilogy, Arabian Winds Trilogy, The Buccaneers Trilogy, and For Whom the Stars Shine, a finalist for the Christy Award. She and her husband make their home in Northern California.

What I have to say...
For me the novel Yesterday’s Promise, by Linda Lee Chaikin, was a little bit hard to get into. I figure this is due to the fact that it is the second book of Chaikin’s “East of the Sun Series,” and the first book of the series I’ve read. However, being that I hadn’t read the first book of the series I don’t feel that took anything away from the story. If I would have read the first book this one would have been richer for me of course, but I still really enjoyed it. The only historical novels I would call myself a fan of are those of world war two era, which this one is not. It takes place in the late 1800s, with both historical and fictional characters, in England and South Africa. This novel was full of adventure, murder, mystery, aristocratic politics and faith. Chaikin focused separately on characters Evy and Rogan. When I was reading about one, I was wondering what was happening with the other. I enjoyed the end of the book the most and am anxious to find out what happens to Evy and Rogan in the third installment of the series.

*This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.*

You can purchase this great book here:
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9780307458759

Available in Trade Paperback and eBook.

Monday, February 22, 2010

"secrets" by Robin Jones Gunn


Summary
The Glenbrooke Series

Jessica ran from her past...but can she hide from love?

Jessica Morgan wants desperately to forget the past and begin a new life. She chooses a small, peaceful town tucked away in Oregon’s Willamette Valley as the place to start over—Glenbrooke. Once there, Jessica conceals her identity from the intriguing personalities she meets—including the compassionate paramedic who desires to protect her and the jealous woman who wants nothing more than to destroy her.

Will Jessica’s deceit ruin all hope for the future? Or will she find a deeper peace that allows her to stop hiding the truth from those who love her most of all?

This heartwarming bestseller, book one in the Glenbrooke series, introduces the fascinating people of Glenbrooke in a compelling tale of romance and spiritual truth.

About the Author
Robin Jones Gunn is the much-loved award-winning author of the Glenbrooke, Sisterchicks(R), Christy Miller, and Sierra Jensen series, with more than three million books sold worldwide. Robin lives with her family near Portland, Oregon.

What I have to say...
Author Robin Jones Gunn started out writing articles and children’s’ books, and then was persuaded to write teen fiction. Secrets is her first adult novel and it kicks off “The Glenbrooke Series.” Honestly, after I read the summary I thought the book would be decent but I wasn’t overly excited to read it. Main character Jessica is looking for a new life in a small town, but will her secret keep her from the new start she dreams of? Throughout the book I could not for the life of me figure out what that secret was. The plot is good, the characters and relationships are intriguing, and I was hooked. I could not set this book down. I particularly enjoyed the small touch of romance throughout the story. I wanted to know what would happen next, what Jessica’s secret was, and what would happen between Jessica and the fireman that saved her. I’m thrilled that this is only one of a series and can’t wait to read the next. I like the fact that the next book is about a different character from this story, however I do hope I still get to read about the same characters as well. I’m invested.

*This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.*


You can purchase this great book here:

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601422736
comes in eBook and Trade Paperback!


Value Fiction For Your Spring Break



Colorado Springs, CO— Fiction lovers don’t need to budget to travel this spring break with Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group’s six full-length novels by beloved Christian authors (WaterBrook, February 16, 2010). At the low cost of only $5.99, these well-read “get-aways” provide quality entertainment at a price that any reader can afford.



Full-length novels offered include:



Secrets

by Robin Jones Gunn - Jessica has moved to a new town to start a new life. But a friendly fire-fighter and a suspicious boss both want to know what she’s hiding.



Beneath a Southern Sky

by Deborah Raney – Daria Camfield is expecting her first child when her husband Nate is reported dead on the mission field. Devastated, she returns to the States and soon marries again. But two years later Nate is found alive in the jungle. How can Daria possibly choose between he two men who love her?



The Golden Cross

by Angela Elwell Hunt – Aidan O’Connor may be a poor barmaid but she’s also a gifted artists. When a famous cartographer takes her on as a student, Aidan is swept into an adventure that will bring her back to her heavenly Father, and into marriage with the love of her life.



Deep Harbor

by Lisa Tawn Bergren – Tora, Elsa, Kaatje, and Karl face trouble, tragedy, and treachery across the Wast, Hawaii , Japan , and the high seas. These four immigrants from Bergen , Norway , each grow closer to God and learn afresh the value of faith, family, and coming alongside each other in times of need.



Faithful Heart

by Al and Joanna Lacy – The adventures of certified medical nurse and dedicated Christian Breanna Baylor continue as she travels by wagon train to visit her sister, Dottie, in California . Little does she know that her most dangerous encounter might be with Jerrod, her brother-in-law, who’s suffering from dementia caused by combat fatigue.



Yesterday’s Promise

by Linda Lee Chaikin – Rogan Chantry faces danger from tribesmen, ruthless politicians, and his own family as he searches for gold in South Africa . In England , his beloved Evy is injured by a mysterious assailant. The greed and intrigue surrounding the diamond mines could very well drive them irrevocably apart.