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A Memory Between Us – Revell Blog Tour

Posted by html404 on October 2, 2010
in Books

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

A Memory Between Us is the second book in the Wings of Glory series, which follows the three Novak brothers, B-17 bomber pilots with the US Eighth Air Force stationed in England during World War II.

As with the first book in the Wings of Glory series, Sarah Sundin, does a wonderful job of intertwining a love story with the historical job of B-17 pilots during the second World War. Only this time she tells the story of a war nurse as well.

Ruth Doherty is a female character with whom many women might just relate to more than they’d care to admit. Ever swear off men at some point in your life? Whether silently or outwardly? Yeah, me too, back in my college days. Well, Ruth is a woman that had plenty of reason to do so and had to learn to trust again.

Like any relationship, trust only comes when a person feels safe and loved for who they are. Ruth had to first deal with her past before she could open up and fully trust again.

I love Ruth for her desire to support her siblings and for her bravery, but I think she hid behind her responsibility.

Jack was the male lead in this book and he was gentleman, but somehow let his pride trip him up. Our pride is an ugly thing especially when it leads us to think we are better than others. In Jack’s case, his pride got in the way of his work and relationships.

You will laugh and cry in this historical romance as it reveals a journey of two people as they allow God to change their old ways to make room for the blossoming new ones.

“Available September 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

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Choosing to SEE – Revell Blog Tour

Posted by html404 on September 2, 2010
in Books

I received the following book in exchange for writing a review. While I consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, my review is my honest opinion and thoughts of the book.

Choosing to SEE bookcover-page

When I read the pitch for the Choosing to SEE (by Mary Beth Chapman with Ellen Vaughn) blog tour from Revell, I knew that I really wanted to read Mary Beth Chapman’s book. Having lost babies in utero, my dad and grandmother I understood the grief process and even though it has been a few years for some of my losses, I still grieve for them. I also knew that Mary Beth understood grief in a big way since she and her family lost their youngest daughter, Maria, in 2008 and I am always on the look out for books on grief written by credible Christian sources.

Choosing to SEE is Mary Beth’s life story. Her journey with God. I found Mary Beth as real as she could get. I laughed with her and cried with her as she shared her story. I empathized with her as she struggled to grasp where God is when things fall apart.

I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the wife and family of Christian artist/song writer/musician, Steven Curtis Chapman, whom I have listened to since the late 1980s. I found their story encouraging and inspiring.

Choosing to SEE isn’t a book on grieving, that’s just one of my reasons for desiring to read it. Choosing to SEE is for anyone, as I am sure Mary Beth’s story will touch the hearts of all who read her story.

I love the quote Mary Beth has on her website:

Love of God is pure when joy and suffering inspire an equal degree of gratitude.

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Review: The Seeker – A Revell Book Tour

Posted by html404 on July 25, 2010
in Books

I received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While I consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, my review is my honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

The Seeker

The Seeker by Ann Gabhart is a story of a jilted young woman who joins a Shaker community to escape her own struggles while the country is on the brink of Civil War. The story is set during the 1860s, the main character Charlotte Vance is a pampered Southern woman with a mind of her own. Thinking she knows what she wants, her fiance throws her for a loop when he joins the Shakers, which is a religious group that does not allow marriage. This leaves Charlotte spinning for her barrings. Then her father brings home a new wife, surprising and hurting Charlotte even more.

Circumstances leave Charlotte little choice as her household is in a turmoil of changes and the civil war about to begin, to do some quick thinking to get her life back to the order she desires so badly. Little does she realize how her decisions will ultimately change the course of her life.

I learned a lot about the Shakers reading this novel. They had some interesting beliefs, but they definitely loved one another and were a community that helped not only their own but others that were a part of the greater community in which they lived.

There were some surprising events in the book, but it was a heart warming story with heart wrenching details of a country ravaged by the war during the 1860’s. Included was an unexpected love story between a young woman, her Savior and a man she never expected to be reunited with.

As controversial as slavery was and is, I always love the stories that portray a love and devotion between the owners and their slaves, even those who have been freed. I like to think of it as a picture of God’s love for us when we are entrenched in our mire of sin. He’s forgiven us so much and continues to do so over and over again.

“Available July 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

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Book Review of Courting Morrow Little – A Revell Blog Tour

Posted by html404 on July 18, 2010
in Books

I received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While I consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, my review is my honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

Courting Morrow Little

Courting Morrow Little was an intriguing novel based in the frontier time. I really liked the story line, as tragic as that time period was with the unrest between the Native American Indians and the settlers. The main character, Morrow Little, was no stranger to tragedy either.

The story touched on many issues prevalent in that time period. However, the issue that stood out to me most was Morrow’s struggle to deal with the past and move on from her own personal tragedy to embrace her future.

I really enjoyed Morrow’s love story and how the author intertwined it with her personal conflict. It was interesting how Morrow learned who her real friends were, but yet it corresponded with how we all realize at some point or another who our true friends are and who are not. Life lessons often come with some hurtful knocks along the way. True friends need to be treasured because they are hard to come by and need to be nurtured to some degree to keep the bonds close. Other friendships will come and go.

This was another riveting story that I stayed up late to read.

“Available July 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

{2 comments}

What Happened to My Life? Revell Book Tour

Posted by html404 on May 26, 2010
in Books

I received the following book in exchange for writing a review. While I consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, my review is my honest opinion and thoughts of the book.

What Happened to My Life

What Happened to My Life? was written by Danna Demetre. It is a book about finding new passion, purpose and joy. Mrs. Demetre’s introduction includes these questions:

~ If you are discontent with your life today…this book is for you.
~ If you are bored, angry, or frustrated…this book is for you.
~ If you are stressed-out and running like a hamster in a wheel…this book is for you.
~ If you are unhappy, but don’t know hwy…this book is for you.
~ If you are discouraged beause life isn’t fair…this book is for you.
~ If you have had more heartbreak than one woman can handle…this book is for you.
~ If you have created more heartbreat than one woman should…this book is for you.
~ If you are living in mediocre complacency…this book is for you.
~ If you cannot find joy and purposse most days despite your circumstances…this book is for you.

In the first half of the book, Mrs. Demetre shares some of her personal story, as well as stories of about six of her friends. Their stories made my life seem like a piece of cake compared to what they have gone through. Yet parts of their stories I could definitely relate to and I am sure most women could.

The second half of the book is a 40 Day Journey or plan to reclaim your life. It is forty short devotionals that do require some effort on the part of the reader, but is meant to help us slow down, make wise choices, assess our lives, have more realistic expectations, recoginze the lies we are believing and start pursuing God’s promises with renewed vigor.

I cannot say that I have arrived, however, the book certainly made me think and I am convinced that the way I think is the biggest influencer in my life right now. Mrs. Demetre talks quite a bit about how God has changed her thinking patterns over the years and I believe it may be a life long process for me.

This is definitely a book to be read by those struggling with contentment or for any of the reasons stated in the opening paragraph from the introduction to What Happened to My Life?

“Available May 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

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This Fine Life – Revell Blog Tour

Posted by html404 on May 19, 2010
in Uncategorized

I received the following book in exchange for writing a review. While I consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, my review is my honest opinion and thoughts of the book.

I enjoyed the book, This Fine Life. It is a book about growing up and in Christ. It shows real characters struggling to find out who they are in Christ. The story is set the deep South in the late 1950’s and reveals the struggle of a young lady, Mariette Putnum, who doesn’t know what she wants to do with her life after high school graduation. Each of her parents have their own ideas as to what she should do, but she is quite undecided. The book takes a turn when Mariette is changed by one event. From that point on there is excitement and strain in relationships, which affect each of the characters’ decisions and emotions .

Based on the description of the book, the story was different than I expected in many ways, so I am hesitant to give away too many details because if you choose to read the book, I want you to have that same element of surprise of the unexpected.

I was able to take something from the real life struggles of the characters in This Fine Life. It really made me think through life’s trials and how we can always see the “finer” side of things if we try, if we persevere and have faith that God has everything under control.

“This Fine Life proves that growing into love can rip one apart, quitting might be the easiest thing, but walking away is out of the question. I bled with these characters as they struggled to become who they were meant to be. So real and so true to life.”
—Lauraine Snelling, author, Daughters of Blessing

Eva Marie Everson is a successful speaker, a popular radio personality, and the award-winning author of Things Left Unspoken. She is coauthor of The Potluck Club series and The Potluck Catering Club series. She lives in Florida.

“Available May 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

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How Do You Tuck in a Superhero? – Revell Book Tour

Posted by html404 on May 1, 2010
in Books

I received the following book in exchange for writing a review. While I consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, my review is my honest opinion and thoughts of the book.

I mentioned that I had started reading a book back at the end of March about Life with Boys and have been trying to finish it up amidst everything else so I can post my review. So here I am on the last day of the Revell Book Tour posting my review. I have thoroughly enjoyed Rachel Balducci’s book, How Do You Tuck in a Superhero? It has been a very good book. Rachel knows what life with boys is really like since she has five sons. In her book, she shares the mysteries of raising a crew of boys.

This book isn’t about her spiritual journey in raising boys, so don’t expect to see great exhortations about how the Lord has inspired Mrs. Balducci to parent boys. It is a book about the nitty-gritty details of boyhood. How Do You Tuck in a Superhero? is a refreshing look at life with boys. As I have stated, I have grown very frustrated with my boys on more than a few occasions. Mrs. Balducci helped me see the beauty and the normal-ness of what if means to be a boy. Like I said in my March post, I grew up with ALL girls. Having an all girl family is much different than having and all boy family or even a mixed gender family – so many differences that affect the dynamics of family life.

I loved the short chapters of the book – I think Mrs. Balducci realizes how busy we parents are! The short snippets of stories about her boys gave me a chance to either laugh or ponder the incredible task we have in raising boys. Her experiences also made my life with my own boys seem almost normal too. I love the fact that Mrs. Balducci has embraced her calling as a mother of all boys because I think it is important for us as mothers, as parents, to embrace the family He has blessed us with. He didn’t make a mistake when He put our families together, but sometimes I think we can mistakenly think that when the going gets rough. If only we could all find joy in the tough, real moments of living together, how much better would those “bad” days be!

I think this book is a must read for anybody trying to figure out the male gender. As Dr. Kevin Lehman is quoted on the back of the book, “This book is a celebration of boyhood in all its glory.”

“Available April 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

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In Harm’s Way – Revell Book Tour

Posted by html404 on April 18, 2010
in Uncategorized

I received the following book in exchange for writing a review. While I consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, my review is my honest opinion and thoughts of the book.

In Harm’s Way was another suspenseful book that was a good read. I found it a bit more predictable than I did Too Close to Home, but it was a good story line with a bit of romance tucked in for the romantic at heart.

This book is actually the final in a series called, Heroes of Quantico, but each of the books can be read without reading the others, so it wasn’t like I felt I was missing any details. It was about another FBI agent who is hard pressed to solve an uncanny, yet intriguing mystery. All because of a rag doll. I loved how the author wove the story line of this together. She did catch me off guard with the spin she put on one aspect of the story.

What struck me in this book was how badly some people want children, but cannot have them. One character in this book wanted children so badly she was willing to do anything to have a baby. It is sad and I realize how much I take for granted my ability to conceive. Not that I haven’t had my own difficulties with our losses, but still I have seven children here with me. The rest just happen to be waiting in heaven.

Another topic of interest In Harm’s Way deals with is the intuition between twins. I find that intriguing and I know that this isn’t just some phenomenon, like ESP, which is touched on in the book as well. Before I even told my mother I was expecting again, she outright asked me if I was pregnant. I was taken aback and asked her what made her ask and she said she just had a feeling. Now, that doesn’t happen all the time or with every pregnancy and is certainly of a different calibur of intuition that that of twins; which I happen to believe in because I don’t doubt God’s ability to give such close siblings the ability to feel and “know” something about a person who was knit together with them in their mother’s womb. Intuition is just one of those uncanny things you just cannot explain. And it is one aspect of the story that the main character must deal with too.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a change of pace in their normal reading. It is another good, clean mystery that I really enjoyed.

“Available April 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

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Too Close to Home – Revell Book Tour

Posted by html404 on April 13, 2010
in Books

I received the following book in exchange for writing a review. While I consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, my review is my honest opinion and thoughts of the book.

The book Too Close to Home was a refreshing change from the historical romances that I usually enjoy and receive for reviews. It is about Special Agent Samantha Cash entering an investigation with Homicide Detective Connor Wolfe to crack the case of what appears to be a series of unsolved murders and disappearances of teen girls. Of course, intertwined within the case is a budding romance too. The story was filled with suspense and intrigue. It kept my attention and made me want to read until I found who committed the crimes.

This story also comes close to home to parents or it should. Due to the advances in technology, we all need to be watchful of our children’s activities online. I don’t think a week goes by without there being an article on how the police have arrested some person for solicitating sex from a minor online. I also found the details of Too Close to Home interesting in how investigators track and find these perpetrators.

Too Close to Home should also give us, as parents, pause as far as how busy we are in relation to how much time we spend with our teens. Teens need us as much, if not more, than younger children because of the many temptations that are bombarding them. Are we available and open and ready to listen to them when they need us? If we aren’t, then they are going to find someone else who is and just who will that person be?

I really enjoyed this suspenseful book and am looking forward to the next book in the Women of Justice Series, since Ms. Eason left me with a cliff hanger at the end of the last chapter! Reading this book was like watching a really good, clean detective show, seriously. Too Close to Home is Book One is the Women of Justice Series.

“Available April 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

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