Full Disclosure

Full Disclosure

Dee Henderson

Special Agent Paul Falcon is delighted to receive more information on a cold case he's been working for years. But he's even more delighted to meet the investigator, Ann Silver, who brought him the information. Falcon is deep into a disturbing cold case involving a hired shooter and approximately thirty victims. He certainly doesn't have time to be chasing an investigator with more secrets than his case files. But that doesn't seem to stop him. Can the case ever be solved and will he ever gain Ann's trust enough to learn her secrets?

Henderson has once again delivered an outstanding book. The attention to details and smooth flow of the story line are just a few reasons I enjoyed the book. The twists that pop up even at the end of the book are another. I enjoyed all of the investigative work and cringed at the horrible stories of the victims. But what surprised me was to see so many of the characters from her previous novels and learn how they came to be in the story. I stayed up until the early morning hours because I knew I'd never go to sleep without reading the end. This book was well worth the wait.

I received this book free of charge from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

Kiss and Make Up

Kiss and Make Up

Katie D. Anderson

            Emerson has a very serious problem. She wants a boyfriend, but every time she kisses a guy she can read his mind. It is freaking her out and she decides to stop kissing. She really needs to be focusing on her homework. Her aunt has threatened to pull her out of school if she doesn’t raise her grades. Quite by accident she learns that reading someone’s mind can have its benefits. So she begins kissing all of the nerdy, smart boys in her school so that she can excel at school. But something happens that convinces Emerson that perhaps kissing for knowledge isn’t the best way to get a boyfriend or good grades. This book is all about fun girl things like make up, boys and best friends. But it’s also about trust, friendships and peer pressure. Girls will love this book that portrays a fun, but completely normal teenager and parents will love the lessons of honesty, family, and adjustment.

This book is for ages 12 to 18.

I received this book free of charge from Children's Literature in exchange for my honest review.

No Ordinary Marriage

No Ordinary Marriage

Tim Savage

Marriages are failing miserably. Even marriages that don't end in divorce are often floundering in stagnant, meaningless relationships. Savage wrote a book that takes the spouses to a level of marriage that is both God based and self-less.

I just couldn't get into this book. Savage brought out some really great points. But it just seemed to be very repetitious and overdone for me. If you enjoy reading about relationships than this book might interest you enough to glean out the occasional gems. It's lots of reading without any practical advice and this is what I usually look for in a relationship book. It wasn't a bad book. It was just too much writing without enough how-to for me.

I received this book free of charge from Crossways in exchange for my honest review.

Short-Straw Bride

Short-Straw Bride

Karen Witemeyer

Meredith has always been secretly in love with the reclusive and mysterious Travis Archer. After hearing of a plot to destroy his barn she heads into the mountains to warn him. But when she is injured and forced to spend the night she finds out her uncle is forcing one of the four brothers to marry her.

She comes into the room to find the brothers drawing straws to figure out who "gets" here.

Can she have a marriage of love and respect when she's the short-straw wife?

This book was really fun to read. It was fast paced and entertaining. There were several tense or funny situations that kept the story engaging. I loved the interaction between the brothers. This is definitely an author that I will try again. 

I received this book free of charge from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

The Case of the Diamond Dog Collar

The Case of the Diamond Dog Collar

Martha Freeman

 

Hooligan is a wild and crazy dog who almost creates an international incident. Afterwards, he is given a dog collar with fake diamonds from a neighboring country’s president, as a token of his forgiveness. When Hooligan decides to chase a helicopter Tessa notices that one of the fake diamonds on his collar is missing. This is just the type of mystery that Tessa and Cammie like to solve. But what happens when the diamonds might be real, the suspect list includes Grandma’s boyfriend and Hooligan is acting strange? The girls solve the mystery and help their mom, the president, catch a criminal. It is a book that will captivate and enthrall young audiences with its details and entertaining story line. The characters are believable and the emotions within the family are realistic. Every child will be able to relate to missing a parent who works too much or being scolded for getting dirty. This second book in the “First Kid’s Mysteries Series” will be enjoyed by both boys and girls who love a good mystery.

This book is for ages 7 to10.

I received this book free of charge from Children's Literature in exchange for my honest review.

Do You Know Dewey?

Do You Know Dewey?: Exploring the Dewey Decimal System

Brian P. Cleary

            Most children probably think the Dewey decimal system is boring. This book takes children through their library and explains everything in colorful detail. It talks about how the system got started and then goes through each set of numbers and explains, in easy to understand language, what types of books you can find. The illustrations are fun and add well to each explanation.  As each section is talked about the illustrations fill the page with visuals. The rhyming verses help commit the topics to memory and make the book more entertaining to read. At the end of the book is a page that describes the system in more detail and gives instructions on how to find a particular book at the library. The author took something that could potentially be very boring to children and made it fun while still being educational. This is a must have for any school library and would be a good addition to any home with book lovers as well.

This book is for ages 7 to 10.

I received this book free of charge from Children's Literature in exchange for my honest review.

Basketball

Basketball

Danton Stone

               

Basketball is fun for all ages.  A “Rookie Read-About Sports” book starts with simple language to describe the game of basketball. All of the terms used in the game are described with both words and pictures. It ends with several pages of information that include tips for good sportsmanship, health tips, and fun facts about basketball, such as when the first orange basketballs were used. Most of the illustrations are pictures of children playing basketball. This works well to get children enthusiastic about playing the game. The words are basic enough for an early reader to be able to read. In fact, it’s so simple that some children might be easily bored. The book has 32 pages including the index and publishing information. If children are reading the book to themselves it is probably enough to keep them entertained. But the information could be too basic and short to keep a child entertained who has any previous knowledge of the game.

This book is for ages 4 to 8.

I received this book free of charge from Children's Literature in exchange for my honest review.

Return of the Library Dragon

Return of the Library Dragon

Carmen Agra Deedy

    

Miss Lotty, the librarian, is retiring. The children love her and are unsure about her replacement. But on her last day of work she walks into the library and realizes that all of the books have been kidnapped and replaced with computers. She gets so angry that she turns into a dragon, the library dragon. A lady named Molly walks in helps Miss Lotty return from being a dragon. She is the new librarian and promises to bring back the books. The illustrations are fun and colorful. The story is about the importance of books. While the story is fun and entertaining, it also brings home the importance of reading to children. Books are important and what could be better than showcasing this point with a book that is fun, entertaining and educational. The inside covers are filled with quotes on about books and the importance of reading.

This book is for ages 5 to 8.

I received this book free of charge from Children's Literature in exchange for my honest review.

The Big Something

The Big Something

Patricia Reilly Giff

                Something strange is going on next door. Jilli and Jim think they see a witch through the fence. While they peer through the fence, their dog Fiercely, is busy digging a hole under the fence. The children run inside to get a better look from the upstairs window. But while spying on the building from their house, they notice Fiercely has dug a hole under the fence and is now in the witches’ yard. Dressing up to appear scary and getting some food to entice the dog to return they creep over to the fence. But to their surprise, the witch turns out to be their teacher and she shows them the new building that will soon be their school. This is a fun little mystery that children will enjoy solving. The story is very realistic and will be well understood by readers of similar ages. The illustrations are fun and help to tell the story as well. The words are simple enough that this could be a level 2 reader.
On a more personal note - neither of my children were very interested in this story. They don't care for witches or scary things so this might have had something to do with it. 
This book is for ages 5 to 8.

I received this book free of charge from Children's Literature in exchange for my honest review. 

Good Luck, Martha

Good Luck, Martha

Susan Meddaugh

            Martha, the talking dog, is petrified that she is cursed. Martha lives with her friend Helen. She hears about bad luck from Carole, another friend. She begins to wonder if she is cursed after walking under a ladder and breaking a mirror. She sees people stumbling and making mistakes around her and makes the assumption that her bad luck is contagious. Helen is finally able to convince Martha that mistakes happen and none of the things that she saw were happening because of a curse. This book was fun and easy to read. The illustrations fit well with the story and were very humorous. The story did a great job of explaining superstitions. The difficulty of the words fit well with the level given on the front of the book. Both web addresses on the back of the book include places to purchase more books and places for children to play games and learn more about Martha and the lessons she teaches.

This book is for ages 4 to 8.

I received this book free of charge from Children's Literature in exchange for my honest review. 

Kali’s Song

Kali’s Song

Jeanette Winter

                Kali lived thousands of years ago. He is about to become a man and go on his first hunt. To help him prepare, his dad has given him his first bow and arrows. Kaili heads out to the woods to practice. But he learns that he can make a beautiful sound with his bow and his mouth. So every day he heads to the woods to practice. But he’s practicing his music and not his hunting skills. The day of the big hunt arrives. When he spots the mammoths in the distance he runs to a hill to get a closer look. But he forgets all about the hunt and begins to play his music. The animals are entranced and come closer to hear the music. His tribe members assume he is a special shamam with magical powers. Everyone is proud of him and he grows up to cure many people and do great things. But he never forgets his music even in his old age. This book has a heartwarming message about following your heart and being your own person. I also liked that it promoted not killing the animals. The illustrations are well done and fit the cave man story line.
This book is for ages 4 to 8.

 I received this book free of charge from Children's Literature in exchange for my honest review.

The Smiley Book of Colors

The Smiley Book of Colors

Ruth Kaiser

               

Smiles not only boost your mood, they are also contagious. Seeing the positive and the smiles in everything will improve your life. The rhyming words and cheerful message wrap around smiley faces found in everyday life; such as headphones, coffee pots and wagon tongues. If you look, you can find a smile anywhere. Each page has pictures with every day things that have a smile on it. Each page features a different color. The book teaches colors while also teaching about cheerfulness. The age group for this book is 3 to 6, but adults will enjoy the book just as much as the children. If you are interested in submitting your own photo, there is a website that donates $1 for every photo uploaded, to Operation Smile. Operation Smile provides free surgeries for children born with facial deformities. So this book is not only fun, cute and uplifting; it is supporting a good cause.

This book is for ages 3 to 6.

I received this book free of charge from Children's Literature in exchange for my honest review. 

Falling Immortality

Falling Immortality

Robert Downs

Casey Holden is a private detective that quit the police force so he could play by his own rules. A self-proclaimed ladies man he enjoys playing the field and dating more than one woman at a time. He is hired by a woman to find out who killed her husband. The police have labeled it a cold case after two years and she isn't satisfied that they did a good enough job finding the killer. Holden is an annoying tenacious character that doesn't give up despite almost dying repeatedly.

The mystery part was good, although the ending didn't really solve anything and was left with too many questions for me. The part that made this book so difficult to read was the dialogue with the main character. Holden couldn't or wouldn't shut up. What he considered funny was just as annoying to me as it was to the other characters in the book. 99% of his conversations with people could have been omitted and then I might have enjoyed the book. As it was I would have to give it 2 stars.

I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

Pass It On!

Pass It On!

Marilyn Sadler

Illustrated by Michael Slack

                Bee can’t find his friend, the cow. When Bee finally finds his friend, he realizes that Cow is stuck. Bee dashes off to find someone to help him. He asks his friend Frog for assistance and returns to Cow. Frog, in turn, passes on the message of help.  Each time the message is repeated it gets changed just a little bit. Soon Bee and Cow are joined by a large group of animals wanting something different based on the message that they received. Cow gets the assistance she needs and offers to feed them honey and milk as a way to say thank you. The book plays on the popular children’s game called telephone and each message rhymes in some way as it’s passed along. The detailed and expressive illustrations help tell the story and add a touch of whimsy. It is simple enough for an early reader to be able to read solo.
This book is geared towards ages 4 to 8.

I received this book free of charge from Children's Literature in exchange for my honest review.

Blog Give-Away

Today is the give-away for the book
 

Luke Goes to Bat

Rachel Isadora
 

Congratulations

Shawn Pope!

Please contact me at timamurrell(at)ymail(dot)com

with your mailing address.

Thank you to everyone who participated. I have another give-away coming soon so please let everyone know about the blog. Thanks!

Promise Me This

Promise Me This

Cathy Gohlke

Annie watched her brother sail away on the Titanic, bound for America. She's already lost her parents and is all alone in the world. Her brother hopes to send for her once his business is going strong. But life doesn't go as planned and she learns that her brother saved a young boy at the expense of his own life. She hates Michael for taking her brother's place and the bitterness is eating her alive.

This book was not a simple love story. Combined with the Titanic and World War II it is a saga of love, life and death. It could make you cry as well as smile. It was a very long story that at times seems a bit drawn out. The parts dealing with the aunt are frustrating and a bit over the top. The ending seemed very cheesy and unrealistic. But despite all of this, I'm extremely glad that I read this story. It had a beautiful message of forgiveness, one that shines throughout the story. If you have a bit of time, it's definitely worth the read.

I received this book free of charge from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.

The Bride Wore Blue

The Bride Wore Blue
The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek Book 3

Monda Hodgson

Vivian is the youngest of four sisters. Sometimes this means unwanted advice and difficult shoes to follow. Vivian is finally joining her sisters in Cripple Creek, Colorado. But after making some disastous mistakes, she feels unworthy. Her mistakes do not stop once she reaches Cripple Creek. Feeling ashamed of her mistakes she refuses to believe anyone can forgive she turns down the attentions of the local sheriff's deputy. But can her family, her friends and God possibly forgive her and love her anyway?

This book was interesting, but not gripping. It felt like I was reading a very familiar storyline. This plot, or variations of it, have been used numerous times before. But the author was able to make it entertaining enough that I didn't mind hearing it again. The characters were fun and believable and despite her annoying tendencies I kind of liked Vivian. It's not a huge hit with me, but it was good enough that I'll probably check out the next book in the series.

I received this book free of charge from Waterbrook in exchange for my honest review.

Date Your Wife

Date Your Wife

Justin Buzzard

This is a husband's guide to dating his wife. Most men stop dating their spouse when the marriage vows are said. Mr. Buzzard wrote this book to encourage men to step up and begin dating their wives again.

I'm the wife, not the husband, so wasn't sure what this book would be like from my perspective. But it was really well written. I enjoyed the stories and his basic way of encouraging men to step it up. It is a relatively small book so men (like my husband) will not get bogged down in the details. It has easy "instructions" to follow and is fun to read. At the end of the book is a small chapter written by Mrs. Buzzard to the wives. I'm passing this book on to my husband in the hope that he will enjoy it as well.

I received this book free of charge from Crossway in exchange for my honest review.

The Flinch

The Flinch

Julien Smith

The premise for this book is that everyone flinches or doesn't take chances. We start out as children bravely doing things that adults flinch at. But over time we learn to flinch and it soon becomes the norm. We aren't courageous or daring anymore. We flinch at things that would be good for us. We settle into a routine and never deviate. The author takes the reader on a path to courageous, flinch-less living. If we can accustom ourselves to a bit of pain and stress we will have better lives because of it.

I didn't really like this book. The idea behind it was great. But the style of writing and the author's ideas on how to achieve the desired goals were a bit amateur and annoying to me. The author made some assumptions that didn't ring true with me and seemed to be a bit extreme in the desire to prove a point. Conceptually interesting, executed poorly.

I received this book free of charge from Shelton Interactive in exchange for my honest review.

A Wish in the Woods

A Wish in the Woods

Faerieground Series

Beth Bracken and Kay Fraser

Illustrated by Odessa Sawyer

 

           

Fairies are not always the kind and beautiful creatures that people imagine them to be. A very long time ago fairies and humans lived in harmony. But something happened and now fairies are bad and the woods that they inhabit are strictly off limits. But for best friends Soli and Lucy, the woods are a short cut to their school and their private secret. Soli, dark and shy, is the counterpart to the bright and bouncy Lucy. Soli confides her secret crush to Lucy one day and Lucy offers to talk to him since Soli is so shy. But catching them kissing is the ultimate betrayal. Soli, crushed, runs crying into the woods. What Soli has forgotten is that a wish made in the woods always comes true. Soli wishes her friend away, and in that instance, her friend is gone. The book is written alternating between both girls’ voices. It seems a bit juvenile for the age it is written for, but the illustrations redeem it. The illustrations are realistic sketches and dark in nature. But the fairies are being portrayed as dark so the pictures seem to fit well with the story. The book ends rather abruptly, but will probably pick up with volume two in the “Faerieground Series”.

This book is for ages 10 to 13.

I received this book free of charge from Children's Literature in exchange for my honest review.

Blog Give-Away

I have an extra book to give away on my blog.

I've just read the book and I'm excited that I can share it with my readers.

Please leave a comment on this post or the review post and I will randomly pick a winner on Friday, July 20th.
 

Luke Goes to Bat

Rachel Isadora
 

Rules:

1. Please leave your name and an email address I can reach you at. You will not be entered into the drawing if I have no way of contacting you. 

2. If you do not respond to my email announcing you have won by one week, I will pick another winner and you will forfeit the book.

3. I can only mail this book in the US. Sorry!

Stealing Air

Stealing Air

Trent Reedy

           Three young boys with stolen airplane material can only lead to disaster.  Brian is getting ready to attend a new school because of his dad’s new job. He enjoys skateboarding, flying airplanes and hanging out with his friends. But his dad sold their Cessna to pay for the new business and Brian needs to make new friends. His first day of meeting people doesn’t exactly end well. He makes an enemy of the local bully, gets befriended by a social outcast, and must begin keeping secrets from his family. Brian must decide how to handle the bully, commit social suicide and fly a plane without a cockpit in this wild and crazy tale of boys growing up. If he can make the right decisions he’ll be able to make lifelong friends, save his dad’s business and stay alive. Young boys will revel in the daring exploits and moan with sympathy at the stories of school and social life. The book is about life, decisions and trust. While the crazy stunts that are pulled are not for timid parents, the message is something that every parent wants their child to embrace.
This book is geared towards ages 8 to 12.

I received this book free of charge from Children's Literature in exchange for my honest review.

Here Comes Hortense!

Here Comes Hortense!

Heather Hartt-Sussman

Illustrated by Georgia Graham 

           

A Nana stealer is not a good surprise. A little boy is excited to spend some time with his Nana and her husband Bob at the amusement park. But when their surprise turns out to be Bob’s granddaughter Hortense, he finds out that not all surprises are good ones. Hortense is spending too much time with his Nana and he experiences some jealousy. But he finds a friend in Bob who he begins to call Gramps. When he finally talks to Hortense he realizes that they can share their grandparents and the surprise turns into a good one. This story was sweet and touching. It brought jealousy, love, sharing, and misunderstanding to the young reader’s mind. The reasons for rivalry are not always valid if the situation is considered from another perspective. The author did a great job of telling the story from the child’s perspective and with realistic feelings. The illustrations were hilarious and added such a funny element to the story. My children really enjoyed reading this book and looking at the detailed pictures.

This book is geared towards ages 4 to 7.

 

I received this book free of charge from Children's Literature in exchange for my honest review.

Cock-a-doodle-doo, Creak, Pop-pop, Moo

Cock-a-doodle-doo, Creak, Pop-pop, Moo

Jim Aylesworth

Illustrated by Brad Sneed 

           

Pops, clucks and drips are just a few of the fun sounds on a farm. Join a large family as they wake up and go about their chores, their playing, and their family life. The rhyming words tell an entertaining story about life and sounds during a day on the farm. The illustrations are beautiful, comical, and larger than life. Each picture adds so much to the story and will fascinate young readers. The old fashioned mill wheel, water pump, and stove will give the children an idea of an earlier life and prompt discussions about the things we no longer use in our homes. This book brought a charm to every day farm life that my children loved. The words are simple enough for an early reader to handle. The story and pictures are geared toward ages 3 to 6, but adults will enjoy it as well. We will be keeping this book to enjoy and will definitely be looking for more books by this author and illustrator.
This book is for ages 3 to 6.

I received this book free of charge from Children's Literature in exchange for my honest review.

Dancing with the Dinosaurs

Dancing with the Dinosaurs

Jane Clarke

Illustrated by Lee Wildish
             

Have you ever seen a T. Rex dancing the tango or a Baryonyx dancing the rumba? Bold, bright pictures tell a funny story about a dinosaur dancing competition. The story begins with a list of all of the contestants, each with their correct scientific name. It features several different types of dinosaurs and their dance styles. The rhyming style of writing makes it an easy and enjoyable read. It ends on a funny note with the announcer trying to eat the contestants and judges. The illustrations are bright and colorful and fit well with the story. This book will appeal to any child, but the dinosaur lovers will enjoy it the most. The large print and easy-to-read words also make this a great book for beginning readers. Both of my children (ages 3 and 5) enjoyed the book. Their favorite part was the illustrations. It is a cute, fun little book that will be enjoyed for many years.

This book is for ages 2 to 5.

I received this book free of charge from Children's Literature in exchange for my honest review.

Blog Give-Away

Today is the give-away for the book 

 

Faith and Other Flat Tires

A Memoir

Searching for God on the rough road of doubt

Andrea Palpant Dilley

 

Congratulations

Beth-Anne!

Please contact me at timamurrell(at)ymail(dot)com

with your mailing address.

Thank you to everyone who participated. My next give-away will be starting on Monday. It's a children's book so please be sure to let your friends and family know.

Unstuck

Unstuck

Your Life. God's Design. Real Change.

Arnie Cole & Michael Ross

The premise for this book is the theory that every Christian becomes "stuck" in their walk and needs a little push to get back into the joy of following Christ. It's a 45 day challenge to encourage you to dig into the Bible and become reacquainted with God. At the end of each chapter is gives scripture and a question for the next several days. There is also a website to compliment the book and further your Bible study.

This book was a bit of a drag for me. I loved the idea and was really excited to read it. But after the personal testimonies were finished, in the first part of the book, I was stuck. I had to really make myself read through the rest of the book. It was so full of facts and research. I honestly couldn't see myself plowing through it if I was really stuck spiritually. It certainly isn't something I'd give a friend who confided being stuck. Just go read your Bible and don't bother with the book. I think the authors had a great idea and somehow it just didn't come through.

I received this book free of charge from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

The Book of New Family Traditions

The Book of New Family Traditions

How to Create Great Rituals for Holidays and Every Day

Meg Cox

The title really explains it well. This book is full of ideas on how to create lasting rituals with your family that are fun and unique. The author polled families to find out how they celebrated holidays, milestones and everyday rituals. It also has websites to visit, informational pages about rituals and holidays and ways to work with blended families, adopted children and different family issues.

This is definitely a book that I will be keeping. Not only was it interesting to read, I found several great ideas I want to incorporate with my family. I've dogeared quite a few pages as I read through it.

I love the author's style and can't wait to check her website.

I received this book free of charge from Goodreads in exchange for my honest review.

Luke Goes to Bat

Luke Goes to Bat

Rachel Isadora

Luke really wants to play baseball with his older brother and friends. But he's just too small. After a trip to the ball game with his grandmother he learns that he needs to keep trying and never give up.

This was a really cute book. My kids both enjoyed it. The pictures are beautiful and fit well with the story. The author used word pictures to create a story that was a learning experience as well as enjoyable.

The Convenient Groom

The Convenient Groom

A Nantucket Love Story

Denise Hunter

Kate is in a huge mess. She's a relationship doctor. And four hours before her wedding her fiance walks out. If she doesn't go through with the wedding her career is over. So Lucas, her landlord, offers to marry her. They will stay married for a year and then divorce. What Kate doesn't realize is that Lucas is in love with her. It leads to some complications she hadn't planned for.

This book is a cute, fast read. It seemed a bit surreal and fluffy, but I liked it okay. One of my complaints was that I didn't realize it was supposed to be Christian fiction. I truly thought I was reading a regular novel. There wasn't anything that clued me in that it was Christian until I finished the book and started reading the discussion questions at the back. I guess this changed how I viewed the novel. If something is supposed to be Christian, at least have some mention of it in the book. If you aren't looking for that aspect, it was an okay story. Not really any depth, but cute.

My Stubborn Heart

My Stubborn Heart

Becky Wade

Kate is accompanying her grandmother to Pennsylvania to help her restore a home that has been in the family for generations. Kate loves antiques and needs a break from her job, so this is the perfect opportunity. She's been praying for a husband for years, but never suspects that this trip just might be the answer to her prayers. Nor does she expect to find the contractor, repairing her home, to be as broken as the house.

This book was a wonderful surprise. I thought it would be good, but I didn't expect it to be so good that I kept reading late into the night. It was fun, refreshing and sweet. The characters were realistic and loveable. While you assume they will get together in the end - it is a romantic story after all - it had some twists that I didn't see coming. It's a story about listening to your heart and God.

I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

I received this book free of charge from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

The Guest Book

The Guest Book

MaryBeth Whalen

Macy and her family spent a few weeks every summer at a beach house in the Carolinas.

Each year she would draw a picture in the guest book. And every year she would return to find a picture from a boy in response. Years go by. After the death of her father the family quits their yearly visits. But in order to heal they feel the need to return. Will Macy find the guest book again? Will she finally get to meet the mysterious artist?

I loved this book. Maybe it's in part because I grew up in the Carolinas and spent quite a bit of my adult life there as well. But even without that connection I know I would enjoy reading this author's books. The visuals were perfect for picturing the guest house and beach. The characters are well thought out and engaging. I found myself loving each family member and caring about them. The plot was enough to keep me entertained in the story, but the main character and her daughter were the main draws. Definitely a good summer (or any other season) read.

I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

Blog Give-Away

I have been given an extra book to give-away on my blog by Handlebar Marketing.

I've just read the book and I'm excited that I can share it with my readers.

Please leave a comment on this post or the review post and I will randomly pick a winner on Friday.

 

Faith and Other Flat Tires

A Memoir

Searching for God on the rough road of doubt

Andrea Palpant Dilley

 

 

Rules:

1. Please leave your name and an email address I can reach you at. You will not be entered into the drawing if I have no way of contacting you. 

2. If you do not respond to my email announcing you have won by one week, I will pick another winner and you will forfeit the book.

3. I can only mail this book in the US. Sorry!

Faith and Other Flat Tires

Faith and Other Flat Tires

A Memoir

Searching for God on the rough road of doubt

Andrea Palpant Dilley

Andrea spent the first few years of her life in Kenya. Moving to the US was shocking and challenging. Her next few years as a teenager and young adult were spent trying to decide where she fit in. Not just in society, but in her Christian walk with God.

Memoirs are a bit difficult to review. Every person's story is different and will therefore resonate with every individual differently. This book seems to end abruptly. There isn't really a "closing" chapter in my opinion. But the author's story isn't finished yet; so, I suppose, it's impossible to put an ending where there isn't one. The book was filled with interesting stories and antidotes that made the book more enjoyable to read. This book certainly isn't for everyone, but some of the questions she asked will give the reader pause to think and consider their own walk with God.

I received this book free of charge from Handlebar Marketing in exchange for my honest review.

Memories

Memories

Deanna Lynn Sletten

The book begins as a woman stands at her husband's funeral, reminiscing over their marriage. Then it jumps back to when they met eighteen years before. But this wasn't the first time they had met. So the story of their first meeting is interwoven into the second story.

Michael wasn't the same after returning from Vietnam War. He jumped from woman to woman until he finally found a woman who could understand. But then when tragedy strikes he abandons her. Years later Danielle and Michael meet again and must learn to forgive and forget the past in order to move forward.

The story is written in such a way that the reader knows how it will end. There are no surprises. This was alternately good and bad. I didn't really like knowing that he was going to die from the very beginning. It set a rather sad tone to the book. The love story was beautiful, but since the book was about getting to the love story it was mostly filled with conflict and misunderstanding. I would rather have read more of their story instead of how they got to their story. The character development was good. I found myself liking the characters and getting frustrated with their many attempts to connect. It was a sweet book that I enjoyed reading. The blub in the back of the book about her next book was intriguing enough that I want to read it was well.

I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

The City of Lost Secrets

The City of Lost Secrets

A Mara Beltane Mystery

Katie McVay

Mara is a chick-lit author and is searching for something with a bit more meaning. After seeing a documentary on a grave site she heads to Jerusalem to see if this burial site actually contained the body of Jesus and his family.

This is the author’s first book and I think she did well.  It was a fun, fast read. I enjoyed the story and the characters. The characters were well written and relatable. The author didn’t tie everything up with a neat little bow at the end. She left some questions and an opening for the next book in the series. While this book isn’t super deep, it was enjoyable to read. I will be checking out her next book.

I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

Moonblood

Moonblood

Anne Elisabeth Stengl

Prince Lionheart has made a bargain with a dragon to ensure his country’s prosperity. Once he’s made the terrible choice between love and duty he can’t seem to find his courage and finds himself banishing his best friend. When he realizes she is in danger he must make the decision to rescue her, even if it means losing his throne.

This book is a Christian allegory. The imagery is amazing. The author has a wonderful imagination (which is key to writing a good fantasy) and uses it well in this book.

I’m not a huge fan of fantasy or allegories (although I enjoyed the Narnia series). This may have factored into my opinions about the book. I was confused for much of the book. While it was easy to identify who the Princes and the dragons were, I had a hard time figuring out how each character played a part in the story. I was lost several times as the story changed characters and scenes. This might be typical of this genre. My guess is that a fan of fantasy would absolutely love this book. For me it was just okay.

(Update: I found out after writing this review that this is book three in a series. This would explain my confusion for most of the book.)

I received this book free of charge from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.