Not by Sight

Over the past few years I have read several books by Kathy Herman.   Her newest book is called Not by Sight.  I was looking forward to reading this first book in the Ozark Mountain Trilogy, and once I started reading I did not want to stop.

Abby Cummings and her family have mourned the disappearance of her Dad Micah and little sister Riley Jo for the past five years.  They seem to have just vanished.  One day Abby thinks she sees a little girl in town who has an amazing resemblance to her baby sister.  Her family dismisses her feelings and thinks she is probably imagining things as she has done in the past.  Her best friend Jay is willing to help her try to find the little girl again to determine if it is really Riley Jo.  Then she starts getting mysterious phone call warning her against continuing her search.  Does someone know what happened to Micah and Riley Jo?  Will Abby and Jay be able to figure it out?

There are many twists and turns that keep you reading.  This may just be my favorite book by this author so far, and I really look forward to the next book!  I would also add that she has chosen a beautiful setting for this series.  If you enjoy mysteries, be sure to check out this book and author.  Add it to your summer reading list!

I received the latest book in the mail recently from the author. Thank you for sending it to me!

Have a day of blessings!

Book review: False Pretenses

I finished reading book #1 in the Secrets of Roux River Bayou series called False Pretenses by Kathy Herman.  I have had this book sitting in my pile to read for several months.  When I picked it up to read, I had a hard time putting it down!  And I am excited that book #2 (Dangerous Mercy) just came out last week.  I look forward to reading it as well. 

In False Pretenses we meet Zoe Broussard who owns a Cajun eatery with her husband, Pierce.  She loves her town and the people there including her neighbors Vanessa and Ethan (characters from the Sophie Trace Trilogy).  When she starts getting anonymous notes in random places, she is afraid for her life, her business, and her marriage.  She is scared that a secret she has hidden for years is going to end up causing danger for herself and those she loves.

Meanwhile, Vanessa and Ethan want to begin work restoring the Langley Manor. They have a disturbing mystery of their own though.

I enjoyed reading this book.  It was a real page turner for me!  I enjoyed the characters and the setting of Louisiana.  This is an area I do not know anything about so it was interesting for me to read as it had some Cajun dialect thrown in here and there.     

Have a day of blessings!

Book Review: The Fitting Room

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” –Colossians 3:12

Today I would like to share with you a wonderful book called The Fitting Room by Kelly Minter.  

In this book Kelly Minter breaks down the verse Colossians 3:12.  Chapter by chapter she explains how we can put on the virtues of peace, kindness, humility, compassion, patience, and joy. We have to realize that these aren't just things that we can suddenly be.  They are all things to work on; they don't come naturally to us in our own self.  They come from Christ living in us.   

I appreciate her writing style and how the book has the feel of a conversation with a friend. Her honesty in sharing real life stories as well as her humor really add to this book.  There were so many little "nuggets" in this book that made me stop and think as I was reading. 

One part that really stood out to me was in one of the chapters on peace. She talked about Jonah and his running from God and how sometimes it's our own choices that hinder us from having peace.

I'm glad I had the opportunity to read this book and recommend it to you.  It has study questions in the back and I could see it being very appropriate for a group study with friends or a church group.     

Thank you to Audra at The B & B Media Group for providing this book for my honest review. 

Have a day of blessings!
 

Book Review: That's Where God Is

I received this book a while back and have not shared it with you. It is a children's book called That's Where God Is by Dan & Ail Morrow with illustrations by Cory Godbey.

A young boy asks Grandpa a question that many of us may have wondered ourselves: "Where is God?" Grandpa encourages the boy to look for God in the coming week. As the boy goes about his daily life he finds God every day...with the animals He created, when we share, and when we forgive. At the end of the week the boy shares with Grandpa where he has found God.

This book is appropriate for preschool through early elementary aged children. Besides the spiritual message, this book also incorporates the days of the week. Also, each day has a different verse related to the place that the boy found God that day. The illustrations were not my favorite for a children's book. The layout and font were easy to read. Overall I enjoyed this book.

Thank you to David C Cook book review program for providing me a review copy of this book.

Have a day of blessings!

2010 Book #24: The Mailbox

I have finished reading The Mailbox by Marybeth Whalen.

As a teenager on vacation, Lindsey started writing letters to the "Kindred Spirit" at the mailbox on Sunset Beach. It turned into a yearly tradition for her. Now 20 years later she is visiting Sunset Beach again for the first time since her husband left her and their kids. Lindsey's first love Campbell still lives at Sunset Beach and she encounters him on her vacation. She isn't sure she can trust him because of how he acted in the past, and he is working on building his relationship with his teenage daughter.

When I got the information about this new book, I thought it sounded interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Mailbox. It is a great book to read in the summer too since it is about summer vacations. This is a touching story of forgiveness and second chances. I like the book cover too!

Thank you to the Karen Davis at The B & B Media Group for sending me a review copy.

Have a day of blessings!

2010 Book #14: The Right Call by Kathy Herman

I finished book #3 of the Sophie Trace Trilogy The Right Call by Kathy Herman from David C Cook. After reading the first two books in this series, I had been looking forward to number three!

Ethan Langley is back to Sophie Trace to work for the summer with his uncle to save money to pay for college and also see where his friendship with Vanessa Jessup, daughter of police chief Brill Jessup, might lead. About the time he gets back in town there are several murders, including the death of Ethan's cousin Drew. One of Ethan's coworkers shares some private knowledge with him regarding the shootings. Ethan must decide if he should share the information with Brill even though it could endanger both Vanessa and her son Carter.

This was another wonderful book from author Kathy Herman. This is a great series. I feel like the characters are real people I know, and I look forward to finding out more about these characters in the next series she is writing now.

Thank you to Audra at David C Cook publishers for sending me this book as part of their blogger book review program. Thank you also to the author.

Have a day of blessings!

2010 Book #13: "BE Authentic" by Warren W. Wiersbe

Yes I know I've posted many reviews this week! I always seem to finish several books at a time! I am excited to have a couple fiction books to share with you in the coming weeks.

I've enjoyed this Bible study by Warren W. Wiersbe called BE Authentic from David C. Cook publishers. It covers Genesis 25-50. Since I reviewed and enjoyed BE Hopeful on I Peter last year, I thought I would enjoy another study. I was not disappointed.

Through these 13 chapters the author covers the lives of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. I enjoyed the author's insight about each of these men, showing how God used each of them for His purpose. I also really liked how he tied it all together in the end of the book. The reader is encouraged to realize God uses all people. We need to be authentic in who we are, not trying to be someone we are not.

Have a day of blessings!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from David C Cook's Reviewers Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

2009 Book #48: The Church of facebook by Jesse Rice

The Church of facebook by Jesse Rice is the latest book I've finished reading.

In case you haven't noticed, Facebook is extremely popular right now. What started as a social network for college students has turned into a "community" for all ages. This book explores the aspects of Facebook that has made it so popular in such a short amount of time.

The author takes what I found to be an interesting approach with this topic. He does not speak against Facebook. He includes many historical examples as well as psychological studies and applies these situations and lessons learned from them to the Facebook phenomenon.

I enjoyed reading this book. It was different from many books I read in its focus and style. I learned some new information by reading it.

We need to consider the ramifications of participating in online communities. Are we being our true selves or pretending to be something we aren't? Are we being intentional in our interactions and relationships? Some times we need to stop and consider how we are spending our time online. This book has caused me to think about my online relationships in a new way and the relevance of them to my life.

Thank you to David C Cook for providing this copy for review.

Have a day of blessings!

2009 Book #46: Not So Fast by Ann Kroeker

I am so glad I read the book Not So Fast Slow-Down Solutions for Frenzied Families by Ann Kroker. This is a timely book with a much needed message for our current society. I finished it over Thanksgiving, just haven't finished my review of it till now!

From the publisher (David C Cook):
We're raising our kids in a high-speed, high-pressured, 24/7 world. Pushing children to get ahead, we cram everything possible into our days to maximize their chance at success. We're overloaded, overextended, overcommitted, and over-caffeinated. And we're paying a price: Our relationships are anemic; our health, in jeopardy. Half-awake and half-hearted, we can't sustain this pace. But how can we possibly downshift without missing out?


My thoughts:
Ann Kroeker is right on, and I couldn't agree more with what she shared in this book. We all need to slow down. She shares her own experiences of life at a slower pace as well as the lives of other families who have made the choice to live at a slower pace. Our mentality has become such that we feel we have to constantly be connected, our kids have to be in every sport or activity possible, and we have to live with the newest gadgets, biggest houses, and fastest cars. What are all of the activities and fast-paced living really getting us though? This is a book that makes you stop and consider how you are spending your time and what values you are passing on to your children. I highly recommend you read this book.

Have a day of blessings!

2009 Book #43: Chrisitianish by Mark Steele

I've finished another book. This is one I've been working on for a while. At times it was harder for me to read through. I guess I just had to be in the right mood to read this book for it to hold my interest.

The basic message of this book is that as Christians we aren't always truly following Christ. Saying we are Christians and actually following Christ are not the same. We may think we are following Him when in reality we are not. Often we just sort of go along and do all the things we think are "right" without following Christ. Too often we get caught up in programs or rituals instead of a relationship. This is not being a true example of Christ to the world. The author gave many examples and stories from his own life to make his points.

One quote from the book that I liked was this on page 44: "The world is looking for Jesus, but they don't know they are looking for Jesus because they believe they are looking for truth. You and I know that truth is Jesus. But them? They do not know that truth is Jesus because you and I are supposed to be Jesus--and you and I couldn't look less like truth."

This was a good book for the most part; I just had trouble focusing on it. It did not hold my attention too well. I thought the author has a good point though. Have a day of blessings!

Giveaway + 2009 Book #41: The Last Word by Kathy Herman

I’ve finished reading The Last Word, book two of the Sophie Trace Trilogy by Kathy Herman. I had been excited for this to come out after reading book one The Real Enemy. I was not disappointed! This is another great read, and I found it hard to put down.

Sophie Trace Chief of Police Brill Jessup must be on guard at all times because someone she convicted years ago is now out of prison and has threatened Brill. He’s already gone after others and Brill is next on his list. Besides this danger, Brill’s daughter Vanessa comes home from college seven months pregnant. I thought the author did an excellent job telling this story and making a strong point through the book about the importance of the witnessing as Christians.

One thing that I liked about this second book of the series is that the author did not spend pages and pages referring to the first book. She did make mention of events from book one. It wasn’t necessary to read book one to enjoy this book though. I’ve read some books in a series that I feel spend too much time repeating what happened in previous books which is information I don’t want to reread. I really liked how Kathy Herman mentioned things from book one but didn’t dwell on it in great detail.

I enjoyed this book and look forward to number three!

****Also I want to give away a copy of this book to one reader. Please leave a comment on this post. I will have a random drawing on Tuesday, October 27 and announce the winner. Giveaway open to US residents.

Have a day of blessings!

2009 Book #36: How to Raise a Modern-Day Joseph

I was excited to get to read How to Raise a Modern-Day Joseph from David C Cook publishers by Linda Massey Weddle.

Each chapter in part one focuses on a different age group from birth through high school. Ideas are given based on a “master life thread” for each age period. For example, the topic of the preschool age is respect. These chapters share ideas of things to do as a family to teach that concept. It also explains characteristics of the children in that age group. This is particularly beneficial information for to help parents relate to their children on an appropriate level for their interests and understanding. Part two of the book discusses ways for the church to partner with parents through each age group. This is an excellent resource for both your home and church library.

I loved the ideas presented and they way in which they were shared. As parents we cannot rely on a couple of classes done a couple times a week to teach our children Gods word. We must actively participate in training up our children to know the Lord. This is a very practical book that helps in the goal of raising children who know, serve, and love God.

~~~~~~~~~

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6

2009 Book #34: BE Hopeful by Warren W. Wiersbe

Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe has written the “BE” series of study guides and a new revision is available from David C Cook publishers. I finished BE Hopeful, which is a study of the book of I Peter. The author breaks down the book of I Peter into sections that he discusses in depth. This study guide has 12 chapters. Each chapter is followed by a list of study questions. It is easy to see the relevance of I Peter to us today, and this is a valuable study to do because of the encouragement one can receive because of the hope we have, even in suffering.

This was a very enjoyable study for me, and I feel like I really learned a lot from reading it. I appreciated the questions at the end of the chapters to remind me what I’d read. I’d be interested to read others in the “BE” series.

I will close with one verse that particularly stuck out to me as I was reading.

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." I Peter 1:18, 19

2009 Book #32: You Make Me Feel Like Dancing by Allison Bottke

Author Allison Bottke has a new series for women called “Va Va Va Boom,” and I’ve just finished the first book in this series , You Make Me Feel Like Dancing.

From the publisher:
Did you realize that there are over seventy-eight million baby boomers alive today? There has become a growing demand for women’s fiction that deals with age-appropriate issues in recent years. Out of the ever-increasing number of novelists that feature characters in their 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s, best-selling author Allison Bottke is a standout in the genre of “boomer lit”.

This first book centers around Susan, who owns and operates a popular, successful salon in Las Vegas, the Disco Diva. It is filled with memorabilia from the disco era that she has collected through the years. Her life is full with running the salon and everything related to it where she encounters many young showgirls whom she encourages and mentors. She also has an online group of friends, the Boomer Babes. Susan and her husband will be celebrating their twenty-fifth anniversary the same year she turns 50, her husband turns 60 and is preparing to retire. She is given an amazing business opportunity by her dear friend that is just taking off when Susan’s world is shaken when she comes face-to- face, literally, with someone from her past. She is not sure her marriage will last or that she’ll be able to fulfill her dream.

This book is a wonderful read, and women will find it easy to relate to Susan and her friends. This is a story about relationships, communication, pride, secrets, and self. Although it is written for an older audience it was enjoyable to me as well because of the variety of characters and the various issues they faced. I look forward to other books in this series.