Well I'm back. Holidays are done and the weather is finally feeling like winter here-we had our first big snow last week. The kids ran right out and built their first snowman of the year. They are enjoying it! I'm freezing though! Makes it good weather for snuggling under the blankets and reading a book!
I received another book from Bethany House Publishers awhile back. Miracles Are For Real: What Happens When Heaven Touches Earth. It took me awhile to get into it and the running around all over the place to visit relatives during the holidays didn't help me get it finished any faster either.
Another reason I didn't finish it very quickly was the fact that it is another non-fiction book. This book was written by James L. Garlow and Keith Wall. It is told from their own personal experiences with miracles they have observed and also miracles they are still praying for. One of the author's wife has cancer and they are praying for their own miracle so this is a very touching subject for their family since they have been praying but they haven't seen their own miracle yet. That would be hard. Seeing all of these miracles happening everyday but not getting the one that you want. You would wonder why not us? What did we do wrong to not deserve this?
This book is an overall view of what miracles really are and gives a biblical view of miracles and why they happen. Like I said, I didn't really like it but the miracles they told in the book were fascinating! But read it for yourself and decide.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Monday, November 7, 2011
Better Than I Thought It Would Be
Well, I got my free book to review from Bethany House Publishers. Only it wasn't the one that I thought was coming. This was one that I had signed up to review but I never heard back from them about it so I figured I wasn't chosen. I was surprised when I opened my package and there it was.
The book, A Good and Perfect Gift is a non-fiction book, by Amy Julia Becker, you know I don't read those very often, that I actually liked! It is about how a woman's opinion of something can be changed completely around after something that wasn't "perfect" happens to her. All her life, Amy Julia Becker has had a "perfect" life. Perfect schooling, perfect husband, and now perfect children. Or so she thought. When Amy Julia and her husband's daughter is born they are faced with challenges that neither of them ever thought that they would have to deal with. By learning to trust and lean on God completely they find a way to break free of their expectations for their little girl and learn to love her as an individual and not just as another statistic.
I did enjoy this book, even if it is a biography. I'm not too fond of those. While there were some things in the book that I don't agree with, such as her being a minister, overall the book was good and goes to show how placing your complete trust in God can help you overcome some incredible obstacles.
The book, A Good and Perfect Gift is a non-fiction book, by Amy Julia Becker, you know I don't read those very often, that I actually liked! It is about how a woman's opinion of something can be changed completely around after something that wasn't "perfect" happens to her. All her life, Amy Julia Becker has had a "perfect" life. Perfect schooling, perfect husband, and now perfect children. Or so she thought. When Amy Julia and her husband's daughter is born they are faced with challenges that neither of them ever thought that they would have to deal with. By learning to trust and lean on God completely they find a way to break free of their expectations for their little girl and learn to love her as an individual and not just as another statistic.
I did enjoy this book, even if it is a biography. I'm not too fond of those. While there were some things in the book that I don't agree with, such as her being a minister, overall the book was good and goes to show how placing your complete trust in God can help you overcome some incredible obstacles.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
New Exciting Opportunity!
I am so excited! A while ago I gave my information to Bethany House Publishers to do book reviews for them. Since then I have gotten sporadic e-mails from them but last week I got two! One was for me to pick from three books that were available in the Historical Romance genre. When I saw Deeanne Gist's, yep you know I love her, new book Love On the Line available for review I jumped at the chance! I saw this book on Amazon last month and seriously considered pre-ordering it but never got around to it. So I am excited to be getting a free copy of the book! Yay for free books! The other book that I chose from a separate e-mail on Contemporary Romance was Alice J. Wisler's A Wedding Invitation. I am super excited about reviewing these two books because in order to get to preview these books you had to be one of one hundred people to chose these books first. I made the cut! Now to just wait patiently for them to arrive. Uh huh. That's going to be hard : ) Oh well, with God all things are possible right! Oh the best part about doing a review for these books is that I am required to write a review here on my blog too! So you will know what the books are about and if you think they will be something that you will find interesting enough to read or track down from your library.
Sorry I've been gone.
I am sorry I've been MIA for so long. This summer has been crazy! Now that school has started maybe life will slow down a little. Probably not but I can wish right? ; )
So on to what I've been reading this summer and right now. I have been on a huge Susan May Warren kick lately! I have been reading everything I can get my hands on from her! I really like her style of writing! I came across her PJ Sugar series when I was in my little library a couple of weeks ago. Wow! These books are great reads! Because I didn't realize these books were actually a series I unknowingly read the second book in the series first but it didn't make that much of difference when I went back and read the first one.
Book One-
Nothing But Trouble-Susan May Warren
In this book PJ Sugar returns to her hometown after being gone for many years. She left right after high school graduation and hasn't been back until now and that's only for her sister Connie's wedding, 10 years later! PJ ends up moving in with Connie, her new husband, Sergie, Connie's son, and Connie's husband's parents. PJ has a past history of getting into trouble with her old boyfriend, Boone, who is now the town's Police Chief! Trouble has a way of finding PJ as she starts to investigate what really happened to her former teacher and who really is to blame for his murder! Boone is ready to convict PJ's best friend's husband of the murder but PJ isn't so sure he's the one who did it. PJ gets into some pretty funny situations in this book.
This is a really good book. It does provide a nice background for the following books in the series and leads right into the second book. I love books that just pick up where the last one leaves off. The only problem is waiting for the next book in the series to come out!
Book Two -
Double Trouble-Susan May Warren
Since PJ did so well on uncovering the truth behind her former teacher's murder she has decided she wants to add Private Investigator to her long list of jobs that she has done since leaving Minnesota 10 years ago. She joins up with Jeremy Kane, a PI with his own business, who decides to teach her the ropes so that she can get her own PI license. PJ became a Christian while she was away from her hometown and has been trying to stay out of trouble but it just seems to follow her! In Double Trouble she is house-sitting for a young women who is in the Witness Protection Program. She is "supposed" to be watching the house and pretending to be Daley, the young women in the protection program. It's not "supposed" to be dangerous but once again PJ gets into trouble when someone thinks she is the real Daley! PJ tries to solve the puzzle that is unraveling around her and trying not to get killed at the same time! This book also introduces a new love interest by the name of Jeremy Kane. Yep, her boss and Boone doesn't like it! Can you say love triangle?
This book, like the first, has some pretty funny parts. Like when PJ has to go to work as Daley, or when she gets a tattoo like Daley's-only hers isn't real. It's all part of the plan to trick whoever really wants to hurt Daley. This book is good. Like I mentioned above, I accidentally read this book first but I would recommend doing them in order ; )
Book Three-
Licensed For Trouble -Susan May Warren
Just so you know I haven't finished reading this book yet but I am half way through and I know I like it! In the third book in this series PJ is still working toward her PI license and is still part of the love triangle although partway through the book that becomes a little clearer. PJ unexpectedly inherits a big house known to all of the towns patrons. She has no connection to the previous owner and has no idea why the house was left to her. She is trying to figure out that mystery and also that of her handyman, Max, background. He washed up on shore and has no recollection of anything from before he woke up in the hospital. He doesn't know who is or what he's done. He has a very distinctive tattoo on his arm and his hands have been severely burned. PJ hires him to fix up her house and he hires her to "find him." Everything is going along great until PJ discovers some startling information that could possibly convict Max of arson and murder! But PJ doesn't believe it and sets out to prove Boone wrong about Max. In the mean time Jeremy and Boone are getting jealous of all of the time that she's spending with Max. Who will prevail in this love triangle? I don't know yet! Hahaha! I haven't finished the book yet. I hopefully will get to do that tonight!
Well that is the PJ Sugar Series as I know it right now. I am not aware of any more books in the series as of right now and depending on how the last book ends up there might not be anymore to come. I hope you will take the time to read these books. I thoroughly enjoyed them and I hope you will too.
So on to what I've been reading this summer and right now. I have been on a huge Susan May Warren kick lately! I have been reading everything I can get my hands on from her! I really like her style of writing! I came across her PJ Sugar series when I was in my little library a couple of weeks ago. Wow! These books are great reads! Because I didn't realize these books were actually a series I unknowingly read the second book in the series first but it didn't make that much of difference when I went back and read the first one.
Book One-
Nothing But Trouble-Susan May Warren
In this book PJ Sugar returns to her hometown after being gone for many years. She left right after high school graduation and hasn't been back until now and that's only for her sister Connie's wedding, 10 years later! PJ ends up moving in with Connie, her new husband, Sergie, Connie's son, and Connie's husband's parents. PJ has a past history of getting into trouble with her old boyfriend, Boone, who is now the town's Police Chief! Trouble has a way of finding PJ as she starts to investigate what really happened to her former teacher and who really is to blame for his murder! Boone is ready to convict PJ's best friend's husband of the murder but PJ isn't so sure he's the one who did it. PJ gets into some pretty funny situations in this book.
This is a really good book. It does provide a nice background for the following books in the series and leads right into the second book. I love books that just pick up where the last one leaves off. The only problem is waiting for the next book in the series to come out!
Book Two -
Double Trouble-Susan May Warren
Since PJ did so well on uncovering the truth behind her former teacher's murder she has decided she wants to add Private Investigator to her long list of jobs that she has done since leaving Minnesota 10 years ago. She joins up with Jeremy Kane, a PI with his own business, who decides to teach her the ropes so that she can get her own PI license. PJ became a Christian while she was away from her hometown and has been trying to stay out of trouble but it just seems to follow her! In Double Trouble she is house-sitting for a young women who is in the Witness Protection Program. She is "supposed" to be watching the house and pretending to be Daley, the young women in the protection program. It's not "supposed" to be dangerous but once again PJ gets into trouble when someone thinks she is the real Daley! PJ tries to solve the puzzle that is unraveling around her and trying not to get killed at the same time! This book also introduces a new love interest by the name of Jeremy Kane. Yep, her boss and Boone doesn't like it! Can you say love triangle?
This book, like the first, has some pretty funny parts. Like when PJ has to go to work as Daley, or when she gets a tattoo like Daley's-only hers isn't real. It's all part of the plan to trick whoever really wants to hurt Daley. This book is good. Like I mentioned above, I accidentally read this book first but I would recommend doing them in order ; )
Book Three-
Licensed For Trouble -Susan May Warren
Just so you know I haven't finished reading this book yet but I am half way through and I know I like it! In the third book in this series PJ is still working toward her PI license and is still part of the love triangle although partway through the book that becomes a little clearer. PJ unexpectedly inherits a big house known to all of the towns patrons. She has no connection to the previous owner and has no idea why the house was left to her. She is trying to figure out that mystery and also that of her handyman, Max, background. He washed up on shore and has no recollection of anything from before he woke up in the hospital. He doesn't know who is or what he's done. He has a very distinctive tattoo on his arm and his hands have been severely burned. PJ hires him to fix up her house and he hires her to "find him." Everything is going along great until PJ discovers some startling information that could possibly convict Max of arson and murder! But PJ doesn't believe it and sets out to prove Boone wrong about Max. In the mean time Jeremy and Boone are getting jealous of all of the time that she's spending with Max. Who will prevail in this love triangle? I don't know yet! Hahaha! I haven't finished the book yet. I hopefully will get to do that tonight!
Well that is the PJ Sugar Series as I know it right now. I am not aware of any more books in the series as of right now and depending on how the last book ends up there might not be anymore to come. I hope you will take the time to read these books. I thoroughly enjoyed them and I hope you will too.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Susan May Warren's Nightingale
I just finished reading Nightingale, by Susan May Warren, another of my favorite authors. This book was a little change of pace for me as it is more Historical Romance than I normally like. But overall it was still a good book.
This book takes place during World War II. Locations in this book include both America and Germany. Esther Lange commits a one time mistake that results in her daughter, Sadie, with a soldier who has swept her off her feet, Linus Hahn. They become engaged, even though they don't love each other they know it's the right thing to do. (To make things more complicated Linus loves another.) So Esther moves in with Linus's parents and then the pressure starts to build. They see her only as someone who has seduced Linus and gotten in his way. Of course that isn't how it is at all but they refuse to see her as anything other than guilty.
Esther is a nurse and is very good at her job. While Linus is away in battle news comes in the form of a letter from a medic, Peter Hess, who tells Esther that Linus has died and that he did all he could to make his end better. Which includes sending her the letter that Linus gave him for her. Esther writes Peter back asking for more details about Linus's last moments and if he spoke of her at all. Peter writes back again and they engage in a correspondence that soon turns to something more than just wanting information about Esther's fiance`. Throughout this whole time Peter has returned to the States and is not too far away from Esther traveling as a medic with the German POW's that are working in the fields. Or is he? Esther has this big desire to see him and meet him finally in person so she travels there to see him and after one look at him she runs away! I won't tell you what happens because that would ruin the whole story for you!
After that meeting their trust slowly rebuilds and in the meantime Linus shows up back in the States, not dead. But he is a different man than the one who left, as a lot of soldiers who had been in battle were when they returned home.
There are a lot of twists and turns in this book that keep it interesting and the letters between Peter and Esther do keep things interesting as they are sprinkled throughout the book. If you enjoy World War II history and don't want a book that is all shooting and enemy strategy then this is a book you'd enjoy. It focuses mostly on the medical field of the war and not the war itself. It was worth the time to read it. And plus like I mentioned, I like the author so I knew I'd like it : )
This book takes place during World War II. Locations in this book include both America and Germany. Esther Lange commits a one time mistake that results in her daughter, Sadie, with a soldier who has swept her off her feet, Linus Hahn. They become engaged, even though they don't love each other they know it's the right thing to do. (To make things more complicated Linus loves another.) So Esther moves in with Linus's parents and then the pressure starts to build. They see her only as someone who has seduced Linus and gotten in his way. Of course that isn't how it is at all but they refuse to see her as anything other than guilty.
Esther is a nurse and is very good at her job. While Linus is away in battle news comes in the form of a letter from a medic, Peter Hess, who tells Esther that Linus has died and that he did all he could to make his end better. Which includes sending her the letter that Linus gave him for her. Esther writes Peter back asking for more details about Linus's last moments and if he spoke of her at all. Peter writes back again and they engage in a correspondence that soon turns to something more than just wanting information about Esther's fiance`. Throughout this whole time Peter has returned to the States and is not too far away from Esther traveling as a medic with the German POW's that are working in the fields. Or is he? Esther has this big desire to see him and meet him finally in person so she travels there to see him and after one look at him she runs away! I won't tell you what happens because that would ruin the whole story for you!
After that meeting their trust slowly rebuilds and in the meantime Linus shows up back in the States, not dead. But he is a different man than the one who left, as a lot of soldiers who had been in battle were when they returned home.
There are a lot of twists and turns in this book that keep it interesting and the letters between Peter and Esther do keep things interesting as they are sprinkled throughout the book. If you enjoy World War II history and don't want a book that is all shooting and enemy strategy then this is a book you'd enjoy. It focuses mostly on the medical field of the war and not the war itself. It was worth the time to read it. And plus like I mentioned, I like the author so I knew I'd like it : )
Head in the Clouds
This was a super good book! Author Karen Witemeyer definitely knows how to write! And this is only her second book! I'm expecting many good reads to come from her in the future. Like I mentioned I had read A Tailor-Made Bride before and have been wanting to read Head in the Clouds for awhile. You know how some books you look at the cover and instantly want to read it? Well this is how this book was for me. I know you aren't supposed to judge a book by it's cover but in this case I did : ) How can you not want to pick it up and read it when on the cover there is a picture of a young woman reading a book while walking on a porch. Then you flip the book over to read it's description on the back and it shows the girl falling off the steps with her legs flipped up in the air and the book flying! You have to know what happens!
I loved everything about this book and I think I may have finished it in record time! In Head in the Clouds Adelaide Proctor is a romantic. She has a suitor by the name of Henry Belcher who visits her every time he's in town. Which isn't very often. But she's convinced that he's the one for her so she quits her job as a school teacher and follows him to Fort Worth Texas. There she not only finds him but also an unpleasant surprise that has her looking for a job to help her save herself from further humiliation. She takes a job as governess to Isabella, a little mute girl whose father, Gideon Wescott is a sheep herder. Adelaide finds herself falling in love with not only Isabella but also Isabella's father. But Adelaide is being more carefully about her romance life this time around and has some trouble believing that things can actually work out for the better.
In the meantime Isabella's Uncle, Viscount Reginald Petchey, will do anything he has to get his hands on Isabella and her fortune. Even if that means killing, again. Dum, Dum, Dum! (Sorry that's my excuse for dramatic music : )
This book was super entertaining to read, if you haven't figured that out already from reading this post. I don't know what else to say except go rent it, borrow it, buy it anything you can to get your hands on a copy of it. Okay, I'm being a little dramatic I know but I did like it and I hope you will too.
I loved everything about this book and I think I may have finished it in record time! In Head in the Clouds Adelaide Proctor is a romantic. She has a suitor by the name of Henry Belcher who visits her every time he's in town. Which isn't very often. But she's convinced that he's the one for her so she quits her job as a school teacher and follows him to Fort Worth Texas. There she not only finds him but also an unpleasant surprise that has her looking for a job to help her save herself from further humiliation. She takes a job as governess to Isabella, a little mute girl whose father, Gideon Wescott is a sheep herder. Adelaide finds herself falling in love with not only Isabella but also Isabella's father. But Adelaide is being more carefully about her romance life this time around and has some trouble believing that things can actually work out for the better.
In the meantime Isabella's Uncle, Viscount Reginald Petchey, will do anything he has to get his hands on Isabella and her fortune. Even if that means killing, again. Dum, Dum, Dum! (Sorry that's my excuse for dramatic music : )
This book was super entertaining to read, if you haven't figured that out already from reading this post. I don't know what else to say except go rent it, borrow it, buy it anything you can to get your hands on a copy of it. Okay, I'm being a little dramatic I know but I did like it and I hope you will too.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Another new author!
I have found a new author that I really like! Loree Lough has been around for awhile but I've just discovered her for myself. I just finished reading Beautiful Bandit. I really liked this one! This is the first book of hopefully many, that I'll be able to find of hers. I know there is at least one more in this series available because my librarian told me that she just brought Beautiful Bandit back yesterday when I went to the library and she was taking #2 home with her that night. Yeah for my awesome library! My librarian, who I am not on first base names with yet since we just moved, liked the book too.
In Beautiful Bandit Kate Wellington is held hostage during a bank robbery and made to look like part of the posse that did the robbing! She manages to escape but not before the ringleader does his damage on her. She is rescued in the middle of Texas by Joshua Neville who is on his way home from San Antonio, Texas where he not only sold some of his family's land but also witnessed the bank robbers leaving the bank! But he can't remember where he knows her from. So Kate makes up a fake name, Dinah, and goes home with Josh falling in love with him the whole way.
This story is about Kate and how she must learn to trust people again and God. She believes that he doesn't care about her anymore because of what she has gone through in her life. But we know that's not true. God cares about everyone big or small, robbers or innocents.
I liked this story because the way the author writes it just pulls you into the story. You feel like you're riding right beside Josh and Kate as they across the big state of Texas to get to the Neville ranch. You experience everything that the characters do. I love stories that do that! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did and I'll let you know if #2 is as good as #1 was!
Tonight I'm going to start to read Head in the Clouds. It is by Karen Witemeyer. She also wrote A Tailor-Made Bride and To Win Her Heart . I've read A Tailor-Made Bride but haven't read To Win Her Heart yet. I'll have to add that to my list of books to look for at my library. For such a small town library my library sure is stocked up on great christian fiction books! I love that!
In Beautiful Bandit Kate Wellington is held hostage during a bank robbery and made to look like part of the posse that did the robbing! She manages to escape but not before the ringleader does his damage on her. She is rescued in the middle of Texas by Joshua Neville who is on his way home from San Antonio, Texas where he not only sold some of his family's land but also witnessed the bank robbers leaving the bank! But he can't remember where he knows her from. So Kate makes up a fake name, Dinah, and goes home with Josh falling in love with him the whole way.
This story is about Kate and how she must learn to trust people again and God. She believes that he doesn't care about her anymore because of what she has gone through in her life. But we know that's not true. God cares about everyone big or small, robbers or innocents.
I liked this story because the way the author writes it just pulls you into the story. You feel like you're riding right beside Josh and Kate as they across the big state of Texas to get to the Neville ranch. You experience everything that the characters do. I love stories that do that! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did and I'll let you know if #2 is as good as #1 was!
Tonight I'm going to start to read Head in the Clouds. It is by Karen Witemeyer. She also wrote A Tailor-Made Bride and To Win Her Heart . I've read A Tailor-Made Bride but haven't read To Win Her Heart yet. I'll have to add that to my list of books to look for at my library. For such a small town library my library sure is stocked up on great christian fiction books! I love that!
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