tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48080562585742021082024-03-13T05:43:46.365-07:00A Garden of DelightBeckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525260114530965231noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808056258574202108.post-60357329398992570902015-07-29T06:08:00.003-07:002015-07-29T06:08:27.508-07:00Love's Pursuit<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0_ltXYZKbI0/VbjQKJAKSxI/AAAAAAAAAWc/hy8DYJ74e9A/s1600/Love%2527s%2BPursuit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0_ltXYZKbI0/VbjQKJAKSxI/AAAAAAAAAWc/hy8DYJ74e9A/s1600/Love%2527s%2BPursuit.jpg" /></a>Title: <i>Love’s Pursuit</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Author: Siri Mitchell<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Market: Christian<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Genre: Historical Romance<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Series: Against
All Expectations Collection (Book 2)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Length: 336 pages<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Pub. Date: June 1, 2009<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Description (from Amazon):<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In the small
Puritan community of Stoneybrooke, Massachusetts, Susannah Phillips stands out
both for her character and beauty. She wants only a simple life but soon finds
herself pursued by the town's wealthiest bachelor and by a roguish military
captain sent to protect them. One is not what he seems and one is more than he
seems. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In trying to
discover true love's path, Susannah is helped by the most unlikely of allies, a
wounded woman who lives invisible and ignored in their town. As the depth,
passion, and sacrifice of love is revealed to Susannah, she begins to question
the rules and regulations of her childhood faith. In a community where grace is
unknown, what price will she pay for embracing love?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>My Review:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have read books by Siri Mitchell in the past, and I have
both loved and liked her work. <i>Love’s Pursuit</i> falls into the former
category. This book did not disappoint
me!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The writing is phenomenal.
This book was very difficult for me to put down, and I was thinking
about it when I had to put it away. I
connected with this book on a variety of levels. I, too, was a member of a high control religious
group that was very legalistic, and I totally understood the mentality from
Susannah’s side, the Captain’s side, and the townsmen’s side. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I really enjoyed Susannah’s character. She was the “good girl” who knew how to play
the part, and she hated that she really wasn’t good at all. Honest and beautiful, she was blissfully unaware
of dangers. With all the events in the
book, she changed. The change wasn’t forced but came about
naturally. She is the typical “girl next door” that many seem to love to hate
because she seems so well put together, but unfortunately they don’t completely
know her because of the dictates of religious control. With the legalism of her society, she couldn’t
allow others to see her flaws. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Captain… What an
amazing man. Although not a Puritan, he kept peoples’
secrets as they would (no gossip), and he was insightful, like Small-Hope. He was
an honorable protector, and he was underestimated because of his “heathen” status. I loved his patience, insightfulness into the
human spirit, and the ability he had to read situations. To a degree, the townsmen were blinded from
these same situations by the daily tasks they had to complete and trust for
others in their group. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I loved to hate Simeon Wright. This character was well written, and it
caused me to reflect on appearance. Some
people appear beautiful on the outside, but on the inside they are wicked. The Bible might call them “dry bones,” and I
call them “white-washed fences.” Small-Hope
and the Captain saw right through his façade.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This story is about survival, perseverance, and hope. To me, it begs for a sequel. Siri Mitchell, if you’re reading this, please
consider a sequel. Yes, even after all
this time. Questions that I would like to
have answered in a sequel are: 1) Does
the grandfather believe as Daniel did regarding the Lord? 2) What happens with Joshua? 3) Do Susannah and Small-Hope remain
friends? 4) Does Susannah eventually
leave the Puritan faith? 5) Is there a
future encounter with Levi Wright or the mother?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I absolutely loved this book. It prompted many trips to the Kleenex box,
and the characters will stay in my memory for some time. It’s very realistic, and Mitchell did a great
job researching the Puritans. This book
is suitable for anyone who enjoys Christian fiction. I’ve looked at the reviews of others (since
writing my own), and some didn’t like the fate of a character. I didn’t like it either, but that is
life. Not everything works out the way
we want it to. However, a sequel could
make a completely happy ending, which is what usually happens with this
genre. Even without the happy ending, I
still loved this book!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>My Rating:</b> 5 out
of 5 stars (Nearly perfect)<o:p></o:p></div>
Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525260114530965231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808056258574202108.post-25356474537766491112015-07-18T12:04:00.002-07:002015-07-18T12:04:53.487-07:00Blood of the Prodigal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xvheBO-waH4/VaqjFIAabiI/AAAAAAAAAWE/D4rvID4eGW4/s1600/Blood%2Bof%2Bthe%2BProdigal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xvheBO-waH4/VaqjFIAabiI/AAAAAAAAAWE/D4rvID4eGW4/s320/Blood%2Bof%2Bthe%2BProdigal.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Title: <i>Blood of the Prodigal</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Author: P.L. Gaus<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Publisher: Ohio University Press<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Market: Mystery<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Genre: Fiction<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Series: Ohio
Amish Mystery Series #1<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Length: 230 pages<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Pub. Date: June 1, 1999<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Description (from Amazon):<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #c00000;">From the choppy waves of Lake Erie's Middle Bass Island
to the too-tranquil farmlands of Holmes County's Amish countryside, mystery and
foreboding lurk under layers of tradition and repression before boiling up to
the surface with tragic consequences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #c00000;">For Jon Mills, the journey begins with his decision to
retrieve his ten-year-old son from the hands of the Bishop who had ten years
earlier cast Mills out of the Order, the same Bishop who is Jon Mills's father.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #c00000;">When Mills turns up dead, dressed in Amish garb, and with
the boy missing, Professor Michael Branden plunges headlong into the closed
culture to unravel the mystery and find the boy. Working in tandem sometimes
and at cross purposes at others with his old friend Sheriff Robertson,
Professor Branden digs through the past, recent and otherwise, to uncover the
truths that many would prefer to leave undisturbed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #c00000;">In the tradition of Tony Hillerman, P. L. Gaus depicts a
culture that stands outside the norm, but one that is every bit as susceptible
to the undertow of the human spirit as any we might know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>My Review:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
At the
library, I was looking for an Amish book that was different from the usual
romances that I enjoy. This one jumped
out from the card catalog, and I selected the first book in the series. This is the first book I’ve read by P.L.
Gaus, and I appreciated the disclaimer in the front of the book that says this
is a complete work of fiction, not based on actual events.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I really
liked the mystery with the Amish setting, and it is evident that Gaus is
familiar with Amish culture. The
descriptions of the bishop and women fit with other Amish books that I’ve
read. Prayer, as a way of handling
problems, was both realistic and frustrating for someone who comes from our
modern culture.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I did like
Mike Branden’s character. He was respectful,
knowledgeable, and played by the rules of the Amish. Michael didn’t show off his knowledge, and he
showed strength of character. I find it
ironic that the bishop thought Branden was prideful. Robertson was a bit brash. I questioned his motives and character on
more than one occasion, which may have been Gaus’ intent. I liked Neill, too. I wondered if there was going to be a plot
twist with his character, but none came up in this novel.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
This mystery
kept me guessing the whole time. I
thought I had the suspects narrowed down, but in the end I was wrong. The fact that the bishop was not transparent
from the start was upsetting, but within the character of an Amish person
speaking to an “English” person. The
action really picked up in the last quarter of the novel. In the end, the mystery was solved, but I’m
not sure I’d call it a completely happy ending.
Usually I like a happy ending.
Gaus did a great job writing, and I enjoyed his writing style, but I
would have liked to see more of the end at the beginning. You know, maybe a flashback type of novel
showing Jonah’s past with present and the company he was keeping. I am fascinated by the Amish (maybe because I
was a JW – another high control religious group- for 10 years). However, they frustrate me beyond belief,
too. The “must-keep-separate-from-the-world”
philosophy is prideful in itself.
Following a religion or a book (the Ordnung) rather than Christ is
craziness to a Christian.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
If I could
change something, I would have have learned more about Jonah’s character and
background rather than be limited to what the bishop or Miss Beachy had to say.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bottom line,
I liked the book. It wasn’t fast paced
until the end, but it was still interesting and cultural. I would recommend this book to anyone who
wants to learn more about the Amish and won’t be too frustrated by their closed
yet interesting lifestyle. I plan to
read more books in this series.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>My Rating:</b> 3.5
out of 5 stars <o:p></o:p></div>
Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525260114530965231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808056258574202108.post-65196479903665775612015-07-18T09:44:00.003-07:002015-07-18T09:44:50.590-07:00Regency Buck<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HPmTE3XaJaI/VaqCRSg92MI/AAAAAAAAAV0/MOvdEtWqGTw/s1600/Regency%2BBuck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HPmTE3XaJaI/VaqCRSg92MI/AAAAAAAAAV0/MOvdEtWqGTw/s320/Regency%2BBuck.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Title: <i>Regency Buck</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Author: Georgette Heyer<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Market: Regency Romance<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Genre: Historical Fiction<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Series: Alastair-Audley
Book #3<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Length: 402 pages<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Pub. Date: June 1, 1999<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Description (from Amazon):<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #c00000;">An altogether unsatisfactory arrangement<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #c00000;">After their father's death, Miss Judith Taverner and her
brother Peregrine travel to London to meet their guardian, Lord Worth,
expecting an elderly gentleman. To their surprise and utter disgust, their
guardian is not much older than they are, doesn't want the office of guardian
any more than they want him, and is determined to thwart all their interests
and return them to the country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #c00000;">With altogether too many complications<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #c00000;">But when Miss Taverner and Peregrine begin to move in the
highest social circles, Lord Worth cannot help but entangle himself with his
adventuresome wards...<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>My Review:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I came
across this book at the library. I was
looking for a historical fiction piece, and I liked the front cover. It was advertised to be in the same category
as Jane Austin (My mind went to Julie Klassen – Love her!). This is the first book by Georgette Heyer
that I have read.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I liked the
time period and Heyer’s descriptions of the scenery, clothing, and characters. The book flowed at a steady pace, but I think
I may have missed something because this is book three in the series. Judith is a bit of a free spirit who doesn’t
like to be told she can’t do something.
She doesn’t observe the social rules of the day by choice, and it shows
her immaturity. There is a good amount
of conflict between Judith and Lord Worth, her guardian, and there is a bit of
a mystery of who she should trust.
Should she trust her cousin or her guardian? With the recent death of her father, Judith
needs to think about which man has her best interest at heart. Being wealthy, both men (as well as many
others) would benefit from a union with Judith Taverner. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The male
characters are very different. Perry is
young and reckless. If he were alive
today, he would be a drinker and drug user, yet he wouldn’t be malicious. He is ignorant of how life works, and he
wants to experience everything it offers.
Lord Worth is a proud, wise man who doesn’t communicate. He withholds a lot of information, but he is
well connected and respected in society.
He is abrasive, controlling, and in today’s society, he’s a first-class jerk. The Taverner’s cousin, on the other hand, is
a good communicator. He is expressive
and seems to be a good friend, but we never quite know what is truly going on
in his head. He is not part of high
society. There were other male
characters, but these were the most prevalent ones.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
There is
also a mystery to solve in this book because someone is trying to kill one of
the Taverners. The mystery and the
pursuit of Judith’s hand in marriage move this book along at a nice, steady
pace. This book brings out how important
it was to marry for money and status rather than for love.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Something
that took me a few pages to figure out is that Peregrine is Perry. I have never heard of the name Peregrine
prior to this book. Although this book
was republished in 1999 (first publication was in 1935), the author passed away
in 1974, so the book is several decades old.
There was a bit of a language barrier possibly for that reason. There were things I didn’t understand; the
humor was one thing. Another thing I
didn’t understand was the “taking of snuff.”
It seemed like they sniffed it up their noses. Really?
And women? Yuck!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The bottom
line is that this is a good book. I
enjoyed it, but I wouldn’t say that I loved it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My
Rating:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> 3 out of 5 stars </span>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525260114530965231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808056258574202108.post-46512527779054932622015-07-18T06:50:00.004-07:002015-07-18T06:50:52.585-07:00The Sister Circle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KfsPpds71WU/VapZU_I7GhI/AAAAAAAAAVk/FtgeSWtS8vo/s1600/The%2BSister%2BCircle%2B063015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KfsPpds71WU/VapZU_I7GhI/AAAAAAAAAVk/FtgeSWtS8vo/s320/The%2BSister%2BCircle%2B063015.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Title: <i>The Sister Circle</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Author: Vonette Bright and Nancy Moser<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Market: Inspirational<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Genre: Fiction<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Series: The
Sister Circle Series #1<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Length: 352 pages<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Pub. Date: December 31, 2002<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Description (from Amazon):<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: red;">The Sister Circle, book one of this charming contemporary
series, introduces Peerbaugh Place, the quaint Victorian house that becomes a
refuge to seven women of vastly different ages, personalities, and backgrounds.
When Evelyn Peerbaugh hung the ancient sign in front of her house, she had no
idea how life was about to change. In a matter of days, she became the newly
widowed owner of a busy boardinghouse, trying to cope with the lives and
emotions of the most incompatible group of women ever gathered under one roof.
Through struggles and triumphs, the women forge a special bond of sisterhood.
Readers will find their own place in the circle, gaining insight into their own
spiritual gifts, as they laugh and cry with each of these women.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>My Review:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Without
having an e-reader, I found myself looking at the shelves in the library for
books. Because I haven’t read anything
by Bright or Moser prior to this book, I decided to check it out. I liked the idea of a group of women from
different backgrounds coming together. I
was not disappointed by this book.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I enjoyed
how real the characters were. I could
see their flaws in me or another person I know.
I loved seeing how God was working in each of their lives, and how He
used each of them to teach one of the other women. The book seems to answers critics. For example, May talks about how long it
takes men to get to know each other versus how long it takes women to get to
know each other. The women quickly come
to know details of each other’s lives, and they encourage each other to become
better. Their lives come together and
provide for each other in ways the women didn’t know that they needed. It’s amazing how different the characters are
– personalities, behaviors, patterns of speech, and the authors keep true to
each character.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Through
reading this book, I identified with personality traits of one of the
characters, and frankly, I didn’t like it.
What I did like is the thought that God loves all people, no matter
their flaws. God puts people into our
lives to allow iron to sharpen iron and work out those negative personality traits. Thank you Jesus! There is good character development in this
book. The women recognize their flaws,
and the allow God to change them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The writing
was great. There was a nice mix of
background and dialogue. I believe there
is some foreshadowing to what the next book in the series may explore, but I could
be wrong. Without spoiling a scene,
there is one thing I hope is answered.
There is acceptance of a situation in this book, yet it is a loose
end. It’s something I want to know how
it turns out. I wonder about the
connection, and it makes me want to read the next book to find out!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I didn’t
like how quickly one character went from where she was to being saved. I would have liked to know more about what
she was going through. I also don’t know
if I liked the romance between Evelyn’s son and another resident. These are minor issues. They aren’t deal breakers. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Overall, I
really enjoyed this book. I want to
continue with the other books in the series.
I would recommend it for anyone who likes stories about women learning
to get along while edifying and encouraging each other. It’s a book that will bring tears to your
eyes in places, and make you smile and chuckle in other places. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My
Rating:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> 4
out of 5 stars </span>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525260114530965231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808056258574202108.post-55184706723459085312015-07-02T07:30:00.003-07:002015-07-02T07:30:40.839-07:00Secrets of Sloane House<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xx66uqKtFLI/VZVK4oGL41I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/zZl0ij8BnCs/s1600/Secrets%2Bof%2BSloane%2BHouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xx66uqKtFLI/VZVK4oGL41I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/zZl0ij8BnCs/s1600/Secrets%2Bof%2BSloane%2BHouse.jpg" /></a>Title: <i>Secrets of Sloane House</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Author: Shelley Gray<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Publisher: Zondervan<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Market: Christian<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Genre: Fiction (mystery and romance)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Series: The
Chicago World’s Fair Mystery Series Book 1<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Length: 328 pages<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Pub. Date: July 8, 2014<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Description (from Amazon):<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Against the
backdrop of the 1893 World’s Fair, a young woman finds employment with an
illustrious Chicago family—a family who may guard the secret of her sister’s
disappearance.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sloane House
is among the most gilded mansions of Gilded Age Chicago. Rosalind Perry, the
new housemaid, pours the morning coffee before the hard gaze of her mistress.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“It’s
simple, Rosalind,” she says. “I am Veronica Sloane, heiress to one of the
country’s greatest fortunes. You are simply one in a long line of unsuitable
maids.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Back on the
farm in Wisconsin, Rosalind’s plan had seemed logical: Move to Chicago. Get
hired on at Sloane House. Discover what transpired while her sister worked as a
maid there—and follow the clues to why she disappeared.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Now, as a
live-in housemaid to the Sloanes, Rosalind realizes her plan had been woefully
simple-minded.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
She was
ignorant of the hard, hidden life of a servant in a big, prominent house; of
the divide between the Sloane family and the people who served them; and most
of all, she had never imagined so many people could live in such proximity and
keep such dark secrets.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Yet, while
Sloane House is daunting, the streets of Chicago are downright dangerous. The
World’s Fair has brought a new kind of crime to the city . . . and a lonely young
woman is always at risk. But when Rosalind accepts the friendship of Reid
Armstrong, the handsome young heir to a Chicago silver fortune, she becomes an
accidental rival to Veronica Sloane.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
As Rosalind
continues to disguise her kinship to the missing maid—and struggles to appease
her jealous mistress—she probes the dark secrets of Sloane House and comes ever
closer to uncovering her sister’s mysterious fate. A fate that everyone in the
house seems to know . . . but which no one dares to name.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>My Review:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I selected
this book because of the historical Midwestern theme. The book’s cover is unique with the two
triangles (two paths, sisters, outcomes, and two sides of Chicago). I have previously read and enjoyed books by Gray.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
This book is
about the journey of a young woman who lives on a farm in Wisconsin, and she
travels to Chicago, which is made larger by the World’s Fair, in search of her
missing, more vibrant sister. This
journey also illustrates the changes that take place in Rosalind. She is changed by her experiences in the
showy home of the very wealthy Sloane family.
Rosalind is a likeable character, and her immaturity shows in some of
her decisions. Although I enjoyed her
character, I didn’t connect with her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The romance
in the book was a bit surprising. Reid
was wealthy and had one foot in society and the other foot in the working
class. He was her go-to guy in Chicago,
but the romance was developed rather suddenly without many clues alluding to
their mutual attraction. There were a
few times that I noticed Reid’s appreciation of how slim Rosalind was. The attraction had to go beyond the physical,
but it wasn’t shown through dialogue or description.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
To say that
this book has a dark side is an understatement.
However, I don’t think it was unrealistic to show an extremely wealthy
family believing that they are above the law.
It was sad to read how the wealthy can destroy people who are not, and the
poor are treated as if they are sub-humans. It was also sad to read the devastating effects
wealthy men may have had on wealthy women.
Yes, this novel has a dark side.
I didn’t like the injustice in the book.
Sadly, the injustice is undoubtedly factual. I would have liked to see people be
prosecuted for their crimes or some sort of happy ending for the evil situations. There was also backbiting amongst the poor,
demonstrating their need to survive over a need to connect with other people.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I would
recommend this book to anyone over age 18 who enjoys a bit of a darker read
with Christian undertones. If this were
a movie, it could be rated PG-13 if the scenes were alluded to but not shown. If dark scenes were shown, it would be rated
R. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My
Rating:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> 3
out of 5 stars</span>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525260114530965231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808056258574202108.post-48036271423017219662015-06-17T05:48:00.004-07:002015-06-17T05:49:35.795-07:00Self Helpless<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9SfBKLkja28/VYFsd_c7xUI/AAAAAAAAAU8/TyztetbuyCo/s1600/self%2Bhelpless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9SfBKLkja28/VYFsd_c7xUI/AAAAAAAAAU8/TyztetbuyCo/s1600/self%2Bhelpless.jpg" /></a>Title: <i>Self Helpless</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Author: Rachel Hall<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Publisher: Peninsula Psychology Publishing<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Market: Chick-lit<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Genre: Fiction (humor and romance)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Series: ---<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Length: 318 pages<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Pub. Date: March 12, 2014<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Description (from Amazon):<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jenny
Peterson is a single, self-help junkie looking for her soul mate. But despite
being an expert in self-improvement, her life still seems to be stuck in a rut.
Her designer clothing rental business, even with its well-heeled Orange County
clientele, is mysteriously losing money. And although it goes against every
fiber in her moral makeup, the one guy she pines for happens to be her best
friend’s husband. But are her fortunes about to change? A super-cute mystery
guy has just recommended a new self-help book, and from the moment she opens
the pages of A Better Life, her world is turned upside down in ways that not
even Dr. Phil could have predicted.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>My Review:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
This is the
first book I’ve ready by Rachel Hall.
Part of what attracted me to the book was that Jenny is a fashionista
and funny, and it reminded me of the Finley Anderson Tanner mysteries by Rhonda
Pollero (Sadly, she no longer writes books).
It was definitely worth my time to read this book.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Yes, Jenny
is great with fashion, and she’s funny.
We read her sarcastic thought that are left unsaid. Jenny is an imperfect main character. Being a little overweight and having some
acne in an appearance dominated profession are two obstacles in her life. I enjoyed her character. However, there is one event in the book that
I really wish wouldn’t have happened.
Jenny, what were you thinking?!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Hall has
done a great job writing this book. I
loved Jenny’s character right away, and I wanted to find out how her obsession
with Marc ended up and if anything was going to happen with Brice. Reading this is like listening to your own
internal monologue at times. It helps
you connect to Jenny and understand her better. She’s an underdog that I cared about and
rooted for throughout the book. There
are a couple of things that happen in the book that are surprising, and one of
those is a bit shocking, too. I didn’t
see it coming.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The book
that Jenny buys helps her to grow and mature throughout the story. Again, she is an imperfect character, and she
doesn’t always do the right thing. Isn’t
that true with all of us though?
Everyone makes poor choices from time to time, but fortunately for
Jenny, there are people in her life who are willing to give her a second
change. She has people to pick her up
when she has fallen.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I would
recommend this book to anyone over age 18 who likes chick-lit, humorous stories
about fashionistas, and female underdogs who enjoy self-help books to help them
succeed in the romance department.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Thanks to
Goodreads First Reads and Rachel Hall for providing a copy of the book in
exchange for my honest review.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My
Rating:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> 4
out of 5 stars </span>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525260114530965231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808056258574202108.post-71563856916231956572015-06-11T20:14:00.000-07:002015-06-11T20:14:06.346-07:00Honest and for True<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DkiWaNf3rvA/VXpORwcvrHI/AAAAAAAAAUo/gyEl5XzHkr8/s1600/Honest%2Band%2Bfor%2BTrue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DkiWaNf3rvA/VXpORwcvrHI/AAAAAAAAAUo/gyEl5XzHkr8/s1600/Honest%2Band%2Bfor%2BTrue.jpg" /></a>Title: <i>Honest and for True</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Author: Jane Lebak<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Publisher: Philangelus Press<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Market: Women’s Fiction<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Genre: Romance<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Series: Adventures
of Lee and Bucky (Book 1)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Length: 312 pages<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Pub. Date: May 5, 2015<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Description (from Amazon):<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
29-year-old
Lee has a Park Slope apartment with easy access to Manhattan, loves her job as
an auto mechanic, and can see her guardian angel (a wisecracker with a
fascination for the Rumours album.) That's kind of a full life for a kid in the
world's biggest playground. Despite what everyone thinks, she doesn't need, or
want, a romantic relationship. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Far more
comfortable in blue jeans and flannel than in heels and satin, Lee finds
herself lying to every man she dates. To the physical trainer, she's a
preschool teacher; to the guy at the bowling alley, she's a secretary. The lies
keep romance at arm's length even as they drive the angel to distraction until
the day she realizes she's fallen for a straight-laced accountant who's
exploring his dark side through bizarre foods (please note: sea cucumber is not
a vegetable). But now he thinks she's someone she's not. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Now she's
got to turn those mechanic skills on herself to diagnose and repair the most
important relationships in her life. And just think, she used to find it tough
repairing a transmission! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Long-time
comedy writer and novelist Jane Lebak serves up a hilarious comedy with angels
and spare tires and a recipe for the best omelets you've ever tasted. Also what
may be the most romantic toilet-fixing scene in the English language. But there
really isn't an award for that, so we’ll never know.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>My Review:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
This is the
first book I’ve read by Jane Lebak, but it won’t be the last. What drew me to the book was the cover (Yes,
I do judge books by their covers.) and the element of humor. I was in the mood for something funny, and
this book delivered.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I really
liked Lee’s carefree and spunky personality.
Over the course of the book, I really felt like I knew her because the
book is so well written. It’s not just
Lee that the reader gets to know. We
have pretty good insight to Beth, Avery, and Hal as well. There were parts of the book that had me chuckling
and parts that had me in tears. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I’ve never
read a book with a character like Bucky.
Reading about angels really made me stop and think about guardian
angels. The only problem I would have
with being able to speak with our guardian angels is that we probably wouldn’t
have a close relationship with God. Bucky was a cool part of Lee’s life, and it
seemed like it could be real, too. It
wasn’t written like a far-out fantasy novel.
Reading about Bucky was biblical without being religious, dogmatic, or
pushy. Instead, it was thought-provoking,
inventive and fresh.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
There is
some conflict between Lee and other characters.
With the variety of conflicts, we see other sides of Lee, and I wanted
to know what happened next with each of the relationships. The book was pretty fast paced, and I didn’t
want to put it down. Yes, I lost sleep
reading this book.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Anyone who
likes angels, non-traditional female characters, and humor mixed with serious
issues will enjoy this book. It’s not a
comedy, but the characters are funny at times.
There is one four lettered f-word (Hint:
The word is not “free.”) that might offend some readers, but it’s only
once, and it’s toward the end. Other
than that, this book is appropriate for conservative readers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Thanks to Jane
Lebak, Goodreads First Reads, and Philangelus Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange
for my honest review.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Pros:</b> Funny,
thought-provoking, and fun<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Cons:</b> One
four lettered word<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My
Rating:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
4.5 out of 5 stars </span>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525260114530965231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808056258574202108.post-62403829966635346232015-05-25T06:30:00.000-07:002015-05-25T06:30:07.647-07:00After a Fashion<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gjR7am0xPVs/VWMjhzHAzrI/AAAAAAAAAUU/cuJ7h5vLh4c/s1600/After%2Ba%2BFashion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gjR7am0xPVs/VWMjhzHAzrI/AAAAAAAAAUU/cuJ7h5vLh4c/s1600/After%2Ba%2BFashion.jpg" /></a>Title: <i>After a Fashion</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Author: Jen Turano<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Market: Christian<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Genre: Historical Romance<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Series: A
Class of Their own (Book 1)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Length: 353 pages<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Pub. Date: February 14, 2015<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Description (from Amazon):<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Miss Harriet
Peabody dreams of the day she can open up a shop selling refashioned gowns to
independent working women like herself. Unfortunately, when an errand for her
millinery shop job goes sadly awry due to a difficult customer, she finds
herself out of an income.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Mr. Oliver
Addleshaw is on the verge of his biggest business deal yet when he learns his
potential partner prefers to deal with men who are settled down and wed. When
Oliver witnesses his ex not-quite-fiance cause the hapless Harriet to lose her
job, he tries to make it up to her by enlisting her help in making a good
impression on his business partner.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Harriet
quickly finds her love of fashion can't make her fashionable. She'll never
truly fit into Oliver's world, but just as she's ready to call off the fake
relationship, fancy dinners, and elegant balls, a threat from her past forces
both Oliver and Harriet to discover that love can come in the most surprising
packages.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>My Review:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I am a fan
of Jen Turano, and this book did not let down my high expectations. Jen generally has a fun, feisty female
character, and Miss Harriet Peabody fits that description. If you have never read a book by Turano,
you’re missing out. She is a fabulous
writer, and her stories are all page turners.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The writing
in this book is so good that it invites the reader to stay up past your bedtime
to read just one more chapter. The
characters are described well by both the dialogue and the narration. Each character’s true colors were clear, and
some stereotypes regarding professions were challenged. I love the surprising plot twist that takes
place near the end of the book. It
caught me unaware.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I love Miss
Harriet Peabody’s character. Although
she is not as funny (maybe quirky is a better word) as Turano’s previous female
main characters, she is quick witted and emotionally strong. Her high morals and love of people regardless
of social class make her a fantastic main character, and she is super
likeable! As an independent woman, she
doesn’t seem to notice how beautiful she is on the inside as well as the
outside. Social status may have a role
in that, too.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Mr. Oliver Addleshaw
is an admirable character, too. He is an
honest businessman who also cares about people, but he has been too wrapped up
in making money to see that he hasn’t always made the wisest choices in
business partners. Not everyone has his
standards. Sadly, this has not changed
in today’s society. Snake-like people still
try to use others for their own personal gain without regard for the welfare of
others.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
There is a
good amount of conflict and tension in this story. Conflict or tension arises between Harriet
and her employer, Harriet and Mr. Addleshaw’s “fiancé,” Harriet and Mr.
Addleshaw, and Harriet and her aunt Jane.
Each situation is different, and each shows Harriet’s strengths and
vulnerabilities. They keep the story
moving along at a fast pace, but not to worry, there isn’t an overload of
conflict. The romantic tension is like a
flower opening in the spring. The
characters grow and change, and eventually they become aware of those changes,
so they acknowledge their budding romance.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Throughout
the story, Harriet never lost her faith in God.
Even the pastor was a father figure to her, looking after her, making
sure she was okay. The theme of this
story could be that all things work together for the good for those who love
God (Romans 8:28). I love this genre
because the lady always gets the right man, and there is always a happy
ending. This story didn’t deviate from
that path. However, the method of
arriving to that end was not predictable, and it made the story interesting.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I recommend
this book to anyone who loves the historical fiction, Christian romance, and
clean romance genres. If you love Jen
Turano’s books, this novel is for you.
She is in my favorite authors group, and you will definitely enjoy her
writing!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Thanks to Net
Galley and Bethany House Publishers for providing a copy of the book in
exchange for my honest review.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Pros:</b> Vivid
characters, exciting plot twist, great read<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Cons:</b> None<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>My Rating:</b> 5 out
of 5 stars (Nearly perfect)<o:p></o:p></div>
Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525260114530965231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808056258574202108.post-17485940072148393792015-04-28T15:57:00.001-07:002015-06-17T05:49:48.851-07:0052 Things to Pray for Your Kids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mls87lH4Vmo/VUAQHgWoNeI/AAAAAAAAAT4/Q87nozg2TRE/s1600/52%2BThings%2Bto%2BPray%2Bfor%2Byour%2BKids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mls87lH4Vmo/VUAQHgWoNeI/AAAAAAAAAT4/Q87nozg2TRE/s1600/52%2BThings%2Bto%2BPray%2Bfor%2Byour%2BKids.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Title:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <i>52 Things to Pray for Your Kids</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Author:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Jay Payleitner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Genre:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Non-Fiction, Christian<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Publisher:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Harvest House Publishers(February 1,
2015)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pages:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> 192 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">From
the back cover<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You thought you were doing okay, and then you
became a parent. All of a sudden you see how imperfect you are. So how are you
supposed to raise your children up into godly young men or women?<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Popular speaker, author, and father Jay Payleitner
knows the power of sustained prayer over his children. In his new book, he
gives practical insight into<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">finding hope and encouragement in prayer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">modeling a fervent prayer life for your children<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">going to God for help in everyday problems<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">praying for your children's safety, health, and
character<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">seeking godly wisdom as you make decisions<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Great for moms, dads, and small groups, this
resource will help you pray powerfully for children of any age.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My
Review<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The title says what the book offers: 52 things to pray for your kids. This could be grandkids, students, neighbors,
and any other kid group you may have contact with. Although I’ve been praying for my own kids
for a few years, this book gives a fresh perspective. There are stories of Payleitner’s experiences
and sample prayers at the end of each “thing” you can pray. Personally, I enjoyed reading how other
people pray. It was encouraging and
enlightening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Payleitner writes from the dad’s perspective. He has written several books, many with the
theme of being a dad and what each family member needs from dad. He’s also a father. Thankfully, he’s a father who writes and
publishes books along with his other responsibilities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The book has a relaxed tone, like having a
conversation. I found it easy to relate
to, and I gained some ideas on how to bring up spiritual conversations with my
kids. Unfortunately, I’m not as creative
as Payleiter is, but I can certainly learn from him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I enjoyed this book, and it’s a nice reference
book when I pray. Sometimes I get into a
rut, but this book has 52 different things to pray about, so it helps me to
focus on different areas of prayer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This isn’t just for parents, but it is a great
resource for parents. I would recommend
this book to anyone who prays for kids, whether they are your own kids or
not. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
received a free ebook in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Harvest House Publishers and NetGalley.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525260114530965231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808056258574202108.post-31543913163246940792015-04-24T19:11:00.003-07:002015-04-24T19:15:03.252-07:00Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bHE_0WHlG2s/VTr3rn0rc3I/AAAAAAAAATM/rGR0hqf6oFA/s1600/Shadows%2Bof%2BLadenbrooke%2BManor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bHE_0WHlG2s/VTr3rn0rc3I/AAAAAAAAATM/rGR0hqf6oFA/s1600/Shadows%2Bof%2BLadenbrooke%2BManor.jpg" height="200" width="130" /></a>Title: <i>Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Author: Melanie Dobson<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Publisher: Howard<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Market: Christian<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Genre: Historical Romance<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Series: --<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Length: 352 pages<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Pub. Date: June 16, 2015<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Description (from Amazon):<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
When Heather
Toulson returns to her parents’ cottage in the English countryside, she
uncovers long-hidden secrets about her family history and stumbles onto the
truth about a sixty-year-old murder.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Libby, a
free spirit who can’t be tamed by her parents, finds solace with her neighbor
Oliver, the son of Lord Croft of Ladenbrooke Manor. Libby finds herself
pregnant and alone when her father kicks her out and Oliver mysteriously drowns
in a nearby river. Though theories spread across the English countryside, no
one is ever held responsible for Oliver’s death.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sixty years
later, Heather Toulson, returning to her family’s cottage in the shadows of
Ladenbrooke Manor, is filled with mixed emotions. She’s mourning her father’s
passing but can’t let go of the anger and resentment over their strained
relationship. Adding to her confusion, Heather has an uneasy reunion with her
first love, all while sorting through her family’s belongings left behind in
the cottage. What she uncovers will change everything she thought she knew about
her family’s history.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Award-winning
author Melanie Dobson seamlessly weaves the past and present together, fluidly
unraveling the decades-old mystery and reveals how the characters are connected
in shocking ways. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Set in a
charming world of thatched cottages, lush gardens, and lovely summer evenings,
this romantic and historical mystery brings to light the secrets and heartaches
that have divided a family for generations.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>My Review:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I have read
Melanie Dobson’s work before, so I was excited to read her newest book. I loved her book<i> Chateau of Secrets</i>, and I had high hopes for this book. Dobson is a master at her craft, and I
absolutely loved this book, too. In fact, it surpassed my expectations and was a real treat to read.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
This novel
is a story within a story, and it is told from different points of view. I was a little confused in the beginning
because I didn’t know the characters. Once I figured out who everyone was
and what their relationship was to each other, it was exciting to read the different perspectives. I had no difficulty
knowing who was telling their story. The
dialogue was fresh and real, and I felt present in the story. I loved each of the characters, and I was
brought to tears by their pain. The
characters felt as real as Libby’s butterfly friends.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
From the
very beginning, I was drawn into this story, and I did not want to put the book
down. The characters grow and change
over the course of the novel as the past and present collide. There were also a lot of surprising twists to
the story! The struggles reach a conclusion, and the romantic aspect was sweet if not a bit dramatic (in
a good way). The vivid imagery allowed
me to experience the cottage, gardens, and the manor home in my mind. I could smell the flowers and feel the cool
river on my toes. This is beautifully
written, and the words excite the senses.
Overall this family story is beautiful, heart wrenching, engaging, and
joyous.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Although many books address the topic of
forgiveness, this book presents the topic in an inviting way. It does not preach to the reader. Instead, the growth and maturing of
characters brings wisdom and revelation of a need to offer and accept
forgiveness.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I would
recommend this book to anyone who loves the historical fiction genre, whether
or not you like Christian books. The
Christian message does not overpower the story.
I would recommend parents read the book before younger teens read it due
to the subject matter. I would also
recommend it to anyone who appreciates characters with Autism. Although
the book doesn’t name the disorder, it’s quite clear to those who know people or work with
people who are on the Autism spectrum.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Thanks to
Edelweiss and Howard Publishers for providing a copy of the book in exchange for
my honest review.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Pros:</b> Beautiful
story, engaging characters, fast paced<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Cons:</b> None<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My Rating:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> 5 out of 5 stars (Nearly perfect)</span>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525260114530965231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808056258574202108.post-5319749009841632472015-03-29T16:47:00.003-07:002015-03-29T16:47:58.750-07:00An Amish Man of Ice Mountain<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ScUo9_3wbXs/VRiO3YgToZI/AAAAAAAAAS0/nWSr__PNlCY/s1600/An%2BAmish%2BMan%2Bof%2BIce%2BMountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ScUo9_3wbXs/VRiO3YgToZI/AAAAAAAAAS0/nWSr__PNlCY/s1600/An%2BAmish%2BMan%2Bof%2BIce%2BMountain.jpg" /></a>Title: <i>An Amish Man of Ice
Mountain</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Author: Kelly Long<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Publisher: Zebra<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Market: Christian<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Genre: Contemporary
Romance<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Series: Amish
of Ice Mountain<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Length: 352 pages<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Pub. Date: April 8, 2015<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Description (from Amazon):<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joseph King
has good reasons to work an oil rig far from his beloved Ice Mountain . . . and
to mind his own business. He hopes to protect his younger brother Edward from
worldly influences. And maybe he can finally forget how yielding to temptation
forced him to leave home in disgrace. Still, no honorable Amish man would let
Priscilla Allen and her four-year-old daughter remain homeless, living out of
their car. And how can he not be drawn to the feisty waitress's bravery and
hidden strength . . . <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Offering
Priscilla a home on Ice Mountain as his wife-in-name-only gives her a place to
start again. For Joseph, it's also an unexpected chance to regain his
reputation and standing in the community. But Priscilla's warmth, caring, and
determination to adjust to Amish society are renewing Joseph's long-buried
hope. Now as his guilt and her wrenching secrets threaten the fragile trust
growing between them, they will need the riskiest of miracles to put the past
to rest--and fulfill a promise only love and renewed faith can bring.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>My Review:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Overall I
liked this book. The story line was
interesting, and I appreciated that the characters each had a past that they
didn’t want exposed. Isn’t that true of
most of us to some extent? I liked
Pricilla’s character. Although I don’t
personally know anyone who has experienced her type of abuse in a relationship,
her sweet, submissive character seems to fit that role well. I also
liked Joseph’s character – strong, protective, and loving. He reminds me of my dog Jack (yes, that’s a
compliment) – a gentle giant, and that image proves true to the end of the
book. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
My favorite
part of this book was Joseph rescuing Pricilla.
It’s a lesson that many could learn today – help those who are in
need. I also appreciated Pricilla’s
willingness to help others. I didn’t
love the intimate scenes, but I’m pretty conservative. I did read Beth Wiseman’s 2014 interview with
Kelly Long. In it, Long stated that she
had an Amish reader, Dan, who advised her not to “neuter his people”. Hence, we have some very intimate scenes,
which I didn’t expect. Surprise! <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Something else
I appreciated about this book was the Amish mountain viewpoint. We have a couple of Amish communities near my
home, and I forget that culture is different in each of these communities. They have the same core beliefs, but overall they’re
different. Long’s depiction of the
bishop made him seem like a normal guy.
He seemed to be a bit fun and eccentric, too. In my area, the Amish wear black, blue, and
dark green. Long’s Amish wear more colors. The healer in this book was also unlike any
Amish healer I’ve ever read about.
Wow! This woman was on fire for
the Lord, and what a relationship she must have had with Him to have such open
communication with the Lord. This book
reminded me that all Amish books won’t be the same either. Thank you Kelly Long!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I live in a
rural setting, and this Ice Mountain sounds like a great place to visit. I’d love to see the ice mine. I wouldn’t want to get stuck in there, but I
would like to see it. The rigs, on the
other hand, hold no interest for me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Scripturally,
I feel the message of this book could be from Psalm 34:22 that says, “The LORD
redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who take refuge in Him will
be condemned.” We may hide from our past
sins, but God can take them and use us to help others. I would recommend this book for anyone who is
interested in Amish culture and romance.
However, I caution the sensitive reader that there are intimate scenes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Pros: </b> Interesting story line, interesting insights
into the Ice Mountain Amish community<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Cons:</b> A little too intimate for me<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>My Rating:</b> 3 out
of 5 stars (Good)<o:p></o:p></div>
Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525260114530965231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808056258574202108.post-58581275506590558332015-03-03T15:07:00.000-08:002015-03-03T15:07:37.791-08:00Then Sings My Soul<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qNQotnUWdTY/VPY-Rhkf-1I/AAAAAAAAASc/9hyw845DMeM/s1600/Then%2BSings%2BMy%2BSoul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qNQotnUWdTY/VPY-Rhkf-1I/AAAAAAAAASc/9hyw845DMeM/s1600/Then%2BSings%2BMy%2BSoul.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t"
path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75"
style='position:absolute;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:152.5pt;height:228.45pt;
z-index:251658240;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;
mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;
mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;
mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:left;
mso-position-horizontal-relative:margin;mso-position-vertical:top;
mso-position-vertical-relative:margin;mso-width-percent:0;
mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:margin;mso-height-relative:margin'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\Becky\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"
o:title=""/>
<w:wrap type="square" anchorx="margin" anchory="margin"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><b><i><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Then
Sings My Soul</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Author:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Amy K. Sorrells<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Website:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<a href="https://amysorrells.wordpress.com/">https://amysorrells.wordpress.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Number of Pages:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
360<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Publisher:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
David C. Cook <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ISBN-13:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> 978-1434705457<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Release Date:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
March 1, 2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Market:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Christian<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Genre:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Fiction<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My Rating: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5
of 5 Stars<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Description
(from the back cover):</span></b> <span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When Nel Stewart returns home due
to the sudden death of her mother, she realizes her beloved father, Jakob, is
struggling with dementia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With the reappearance of a high-school sweetheart,
deliveries from Ukraine addressed to her, and the discovery of a mysterious,
vintage aquamarine gemstone, Nel senses God is pulling her into the past to
restore their faith and their futures. Told partially through Jakob's
flashbacks of fleeing genocide-ridden eastern Europe at the turn of the
twentieth century, the novel combines elements of mystery, history, faith and
romance to reveal how God redeems the broken years ... and our future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How and Why I Acquired this Book<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
received a free copy of the book from the publisher David C. Cook in exchange
for an honest review. I did not receive
any monetary compensation for a favorable review.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My Expectations<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Holocaust and events leading up to it intrigue me. My expectations were high because of it. Also, I really like the simple cover, and I
wondered how the title would play into the story. I appreciated the author addressing that very
issue after the story was over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Were My Expectations Met<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yes,
yes, and yes! I absolutely love this
book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Writing<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
story is split between the father’s experiences as a boy and 1994-1995. There are dates at the beginning of the
chapters to alert the reader to the time change. Sorrell definitely has a gift for
writing. Excellent job!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Storyline<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To
sum up the story in one word: beautiful.
This is about a family, mainly the father and daughter, who have issues
with letting people be too close to them.
They both have walls for different reasons. This story evokes so many emotions that the
reader should have tissues handy. It’s a
story of letting go, overcoming, and accepting that God never leaves us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Spiritual Aspect<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">God
does not lie. When He says “I will never
leave you nor forsake you,” (Heb 13:5) He meant it. Nothing can separate us from the love of God
that is in Christ Jesus (Ro 8:39) no matter how alone we seem to be. Great ending!
I love the vision (Should I call it that?).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Audience Appropriateness and
Appeal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Anyone
who likes stories about surviving horrific conditions will appreciate this
story. I would caution parents to read
it before their tween or teen picks it up.
Although the story is not graphic, there are a few historic scenes that
my mind was able to visualize the horror of the moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
book is historic, realistic, and amazing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pros:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">History
comes alive<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
writing is amazing and stirs up emotions<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cons:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">None<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525260114530965231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808056258574202108.post-70114283431129986502015-02-23T16:48:00.000-08:002015-02-23T16:48:24.978-08:00Heaven Help Heidi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jfgy5pJ_DGs/VOvJjG8SwLI/AAAAAAAAAR8/fy4uKXW1V9U/s1600/Heaven%2BHelp%2BHeidi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jfgy5pJ_DGs/VOvJjG8SwLI/AAAAAAAAAR8/fy4uKXW1V9U/s1600/Heaven%2BHelp%2BHeidi.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Heaven
Help Heidi</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Author:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Sally John<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Website:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
www.</span> <span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">sally-john.com/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Number of Pages:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
352<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Publisher:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Harvest House Publishers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ISBN-13:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> 978-0736954686<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Release Date:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
February 1, 2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Market:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Christian<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Genre:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Fiction<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My Rating: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">4.5
of 5 Stars<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Description
(from the back cover):</span></b> <span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Welcome to the Casa de
Vida--eleven quaint bungalows located three blocks from the Pacific Ocean in
tiny Seaside Village, California. Owner Liv McAlister never advertises
vacancies beyond a small hand-lettered sign out front, preferring to trust that
God will send the right tenant at just the right time. And He always does.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Heidi Hathaway's life
has been turned upside down. After an accident leaves her injured, unable to
work, and incapable of negotiating the stairs in her multilevel oceanfront
condo, she leases her home and moves into a cozy little cottage in the charming
garden complex where her friend Piper lives. There she finds so much more than
a place to rest and recover.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Piper Keyes knows
Jared is not coming back from Afghanistan. After making it through the fifth
anniversary of his death, she wonders if she's at last ready to get on with
life. She gingerly explores new avenues--photography, cooking, and buying her
own boutique--and learns to open her heart again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 10.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The most comforting
thing about living at the Casa is that the women there become each other's
mentors and confidantes, learning from their own mistakes and arriving at new,
healed places in their lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How and Why I Acquired this Book<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
received a free copy of the book from Harvest House Publishers via NetGalley in
exchange for an honest review. I did not
receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My Expectations<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
is the first time reading Sally John’s work.
I liked the cover, and Harvest House has a good reputation for
publishing awesome books.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Were My Expectations Met<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Absolutely! I will definitely read more books by Sally
John.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Writing<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
writing flowed smoothly, and I enjoyed Sally John’s writing style. I could <i>hear</i>
the characters talking in my head and <i>see</i>
the various locations in the story. I
felt like I was actually present, not just reading a second hand account of the
story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Storyline<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There
are so many different stories going on that this could become a TV show. It was great!
The characters were realistic.
They were all flawed in some way.
Wounded. Broken vessels. Yet, together they formed a beautiful
community to help each other grow and heal with Mama Liv at the center of it
all. The story is also about friendship,
change, and how we can show love to others in need.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Spiritual Aspect<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">God
is the center without being thrown in the face of the reader. I feel like this novel really shows us how to
be Jesus with hands…how to act out true love for God and others in daily
life. It shows how to come beside
someone in need without beating them over the head with the Bible. It’s a beautiful story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Questions I Have<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
do want to know what happens with Val and Livvie. Do Val and Adam figure out their mother’s
lie? Who moves into the Casa next? Is this story “to be continued?” I hope so!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Audience Appropriateness and
Appeal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">People
who like stories about overcoming tough obstacles will like this story. Also, those who don’t like a lot of mushy
romance will enjoy this book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
is a great book! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pros:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Real
characters that offer different points of view<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Great
theme and writing style<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cons:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It
ended<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525260114530965231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808056258574202108.post-65490268227127548212015-02-02T18:26:00.000-08:002015-02-02T18:26:21.334-08:00Better All the Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AdAKreK0StM/VNAxjEP7eYI/AAAAAAAAARs/wsRMQye1dcE/s1600/Better%2BAll%2Bthe%2BTime.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AdAKreK0StM/VNAxjEP7eYI/AAAAAAAAARs/wsRMQye1dcE/s1600/Better%2BAll%2Bthe%2BTime.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Better
All the Time</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Author:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Carre Armstrong Gardner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Website:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1361474648">www.</a></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1361474648"> </a><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://carregardner.com/">carregardner.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Number of Pages:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
416<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Publisher:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Tyndale House Pubishers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ISBN-13:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> 978-1414388151<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Release Date:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
April 2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Market:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Christian<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Genre:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Fiction<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My Rating: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5
of 5 Stars<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Description (from the back
cover):</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Seraphina Darling has always struggled to stand
out. With her weight issues at the forefront of her mind, Sephy prefers to
place herself comfortably in the background. But when Sephy’s best friend and
older brother announce their engagement, she vows to make a permanent change in
her appearance and her life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Meanwhile
her younger sister, Amy, lands her dream job: coordinating the restoration of
the community theater’s arts programs. As the deadline for the project’s
completion approaches, Amy continues to run herself ragged, struggling to
delegate and trust anyone but herself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As
the Darling sisters move through tragedy and triumph, between shadows and the
limelight, each must find a path into the freedom of who God intended her to
be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How and Why I Acquired this Book<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
received a free ebook from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My Expectations<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
is the first time reading anything by Carre Armstrong Gardner. I have previously enjoyed books published by
Tyndale, and I liked the cover of this book.
I was attracted to the happy title font, and I love the beach, which is
a real treat for someone from Wisconsin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Were My Expectations Met<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My
expectations were exceeded. I completely
enjoyed this book. It was fabulous!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Writing<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
details in this book were vivid, and the dialogue flowed smoothly. The personality of each character was
beautifully portrayed, and although there were several characters, I didn’t get
them mixed up. As I read, I recognized
people from my own life in some of the Darling family members. I think I can say that there are stories
within the larger story of Sephy’s life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Storyline<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sephy’s
story is the main storyline, a story of being invisible, overlooked, taken
advantage of, and wondering if her prince will ever come. When she makes the decision to change her
life, not everyone is supportive of her.
Sephy experiences setbacks, but she also overcomes obstacles. God is the center of this big, boisterous,
albeit dysfunctional at times family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Not
only is there conflict in Sephy’s life, but there is conflict in nearly all the
characters’ lives. The conflict makes
the book hard to put down. I found
myself constantly making predictions of what was going to happen to each of the
characters, and I was often wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Spiritual Aspect<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Darlings are a praying family, and the message that God loves us, hears our
prayers, and answers us comes gently off the pages of this book. This family lives according to God’s word
(most of them), and it’s encouraging to see busy people who regularly talk to
God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Questions I Have<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
wonder if the Hallmark or Up Channel will make this book (probably the series)
into a made-for-tv movie. I would LOVE
to see this on the screen even though I generally believe that the book is
better than the movie. I’d still watch
it…several times. Oh! My question about the book is: will Sephy eventually
reveal what happened to her at the airport to Liberty or Justice? Yes, this is a minor issue in the book, but
still I’d like to know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Audience Appropriateness and
Appeal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
book comes with a G-rating. It would be
great for anyone, especially for those who identify with Sephy and her
appearance issues. Anyone who enjoys the
Hallmark or Up Channels with their encouraging stories of overcoming challenges
will enjoy this book, too. I haven’t
read the first book in the series, but I am definitely going to go back and
read it, and I will read future stories of the Darling family, too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Overall,
this book is worth your time and effort to read it. I give it two thumbs up! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pros:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
characters were believable<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There
was a variety of conflict <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s
part of a series (Yeah!)<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cons:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
have to wait (maybe a year) for the next book in the series to come out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525260114530965231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808056258574202108.post-11355483990785017812014-12-31T13:22:00.000-08:002014-12-31T13:22:34.541-08:00Like a Flower in Bloom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BqIz_dcPmhE/VKRolYZL_sI/AAAAAAAAARI/bFuBEPlSDR8/s1600/Like%2Ba%2BFlower%2Bin%2BBloom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BqIz_dcPmhE/VKRolYZL_sI/AAAAAAAAARI/bFuBEPlSDR8/s1600/Like%2Ba%2BFlower%2Bin%2BBloom.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Like
a Flower in Bloom</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Author:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Siri Mitchell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Website:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<a href="http://www.sirimitchell.com/">www.sirimitchell.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Number of Pages:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
368<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Publisher:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Bethany House Publishers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ISBN-13:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> 978-0764210372<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Release Date:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
January 6, 2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Market:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Christian<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Genre:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Inspirational, Romance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My Rating: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3.5
of 5 Stars<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Description (from the back
cover):</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It's
all her uncle's fault. For years Charlotte Withersby has been free to pursue
her love of plants and flowers by assisting her botanist father. But now that
she's reached the old age of twenty-two, an intrusive uncle has convinced her
father that Charlotte's future--the only proper future for a woman--is to be a
wife and mother, not a scholar. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Her
father is so dependent on her assistance that Charlotte believes he'll soon
change his mind...and then Edward Trimble shows up. A long-time botany
correspondent in the South Pacific, Trimble arrives ready to step in as
assistant so that Charlotte can step out into proper society--a world that
baffles her with its unwritten rules, inexplicable expectations, and
confounding fashion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Things
aren't perfectly smooth between Trimble and her father, so Charlotte hatches a
last gasp plan. She'll pretend such an interest in marriage that the thought of
losing her will make her father welcome her back. Only things go quickly awry,
and she realizes that the one man who recognizes her intelligence is also the
person she's most angry with: Edward Trimble, her supposed rival. Suddenly
juggling more suitors than she knows what to do with, Charlotte is caught in a
trap of her own making. Will she have no choice but to leave her beloved
flowers behind?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How and Why I Acquired this Book<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
acquired a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My Expectations<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
have read a Siri Mitchell book before, and I enjoyed her work. I liked the cover and what appeared to be a
flower theme. Of course, I really enjoy
Christian romance books. I feel like my
expectations were met.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Prose and Dialogue<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Because
I read a review e-copy, the book wasn’t in its final form. There were lines of dialogue from two
different people in the same row. The “ff”
was missing in all words that required them, and I’m certain these minor
inconveniences will be fixed before the book is printed in final form. The dialogue was natural, and it really
helped to bring out the personality and upbringing of each of the characters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Characters and Viewpoints<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There
were a nice amount of characters without having too many to keep track of. They were developed enough for me to understand
them. Unfortunately, I completely
identify with Charlotte’s lack of filing ability. I, too, am one who makes piles of papers. I would have liked to read more description
of the people – what did they look like?
The physical description was more sparse than rich.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Story Structure and Pace<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There
was a lot of backstory, but it was almost necessary to help show Charlotte’s
personality. Scientific minds are
definitely different from creative minds.
Charlotte was a bit slow in awakening to her emotions. She was so scientific it made her naïve to
being a woman. I would have liked to see
her awaken prior to finishing 60% of the book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Conflict and Tension<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
story is moved along by Charlotte’s false search for a husband and her learning
how to perform in social situations. At
the beginning of the novel, her bantering with Mr. Trimble was funny, but the
romantic tension wasn’t there until the end.
Charlotte did grow and change over the course of the novel, but it did
develop slowly. She was definitely
single focused until the end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Research and Story World<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Siri
Mitchell did an excellent job displaying the research she did for this
novel. She also captures the public
sentiment on women’s roles and responsibilities. I do appreciate the picture she paints of
Charlotte’s life and how it all seems to fall apart, yet truly comes together
for her own good as the story moves along.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Romantic Tension<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
thought the beginning was funny, and I found myself laughing out loud. However, the characters weren’t being
romantic at the time. It is probably
time and personality of the characters (which is true for some in life), but
they did seem to have difficulty expressing romantic feelings. Charlotte did overcome both personal and
external conflicts, while Edward’s were not focused on at length. I’m glad they ended up happy in the end, but
I would have liked to see more tension amongst the major characters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Spiritual Aspect<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
spiritual aspect of this book wasn’t emphasized. It did bring out a relationship between
religion and science. How? vs Why? That is certainly realistic. With a rector, there was some spiritual talk,
but it was more muted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Questions I Have<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
would like to know the story of Miss Templeton and Mr. Stansbury (in another
book?) as well as what happened to Charlotte’s father. What does life look like in New Zealand?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Audience Appropriateness and
Appeal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
book will appeal to people with knowledge of botany and those who don’t want a
bunch of romance. I think non-Christians
would enjoy this book because it doesn’t have a strong spiritual message.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Engagement, Entertainment, and
Investment<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
felt a range of emotions while reading this book: I laughed.
I cried. I was suspicious of Miss
Templeton. Definitely, a person who
loves plants in a scientific way will enjoy this book. I think there is room to write another book
that focuses on Miss Templeton and what happens next in New Zealand. I would read that next book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Overall,
this book didn’t fit the normal pattern for inspirational romances. Normally, the romantic conflict starts by
chapter 4. I can excuse that because I
see Charlotte as someone who lost herself in botany and helping her father,
while ignoring typical social obligations of the day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pros:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Intelligent,
strong female character<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Funny<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nice
depiction of life for a female botanist<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cons:</span></b> <b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px; text-indent: -24px;">§</span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Slowness of the romantic
development</span>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525260114530965231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808056258574202108.post-9819713109131917082014-12-29T07:25:00.002-08:002014-12-29T07:30:26.063-08:00Small-Town Billionaire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qq8Kd8otWzo/VKFyDQpXzcI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/GLjIWuigHxY/s1600/smalltownbillionaire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qq8Kd8otWzo/VKFyDQpXzcI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/GLjIWuigHxY/s1600/smalltownbillionaire.jpg" height="320" width="202" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Small-Town
Billionaire</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> (Love Inspired)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Author:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Renee Andrews<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Website: </span></b><a href="http://www.reneeandrews.com/"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">www.reneeandrews.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Number of Pages:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
212<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Publisher:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Love Inspired Books<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ISBN-13:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> 978-0-373-87909-0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Release Date:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
September 2014<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Market:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Christian, Romance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Genre:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Inspirational<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My Rating: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">4
of 5 Stars<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Description (from the back
cover):</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As the CEO of Brooks International, Ryan Brooks
has money, power and a sought-after family name. But here on his sister’s ranch
in Claremont, Alabama, the billionaire only wants to be loved for who he really
is. So when small-town shop owner Maribeth Walton ignores him and his valuable
business advice, he’s determined to figure out why. Problem is Maribeth knows
he’s not sticking around and she won’t let him get close. Or could it be she’s
keeping a secret, one that may hold the key to why she’s so reluctant to admit
she’s falling for the billionaire?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How and Why I Acquired this Book<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
entered a contest online, and I won this book!
It actually came in a pack of 10 free books. Does it get any better than that? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My Expectations<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Renee
Andrews was a new author to me. However,
I recently finished a Love Inspired book, so I had expectations of reading a
sweet story. At the beginning, I was
guessing or hoping that Maribeth didn’t want to expand her business because she
was perhaps a billionaire herself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Were My Expectations Met<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
book had a great storyline. It was
well-written, and there were some really interesting plot twists. Was Maribeth a billionaire? You’ll have to read it to find out. I don’t like to give away the ending. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Prose and Dialogue<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
finished this book in a day. It was
difficult to put down, and I enjoyed every page of the book. The dialogue was natural and believable. The descriptions in the book make me want to
visit a dude ranch in Alabama. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Characters and Viewpoints<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s
nice to see the viewpoints of both Maribeth and Ryan. They each have baggage from past
relationships, and that baggage influences their actions and holds them
back. I really appreciated that we saw how
Ryan thought through the big issues in his head. It seemed very likely that a business man
would think like Ryan did. It also
showed some spiritual maturity, or maybe that was spiritual newness. Maribeth, as is often characteristic of women
(sorry!), was highly emotional, and wasn’t ready to think the issues through
until Ryan showed up at her apartment to help her see truth. In both cases, we see imperfect people who
are loved and forgiven by an awesome God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Story Structure and Pace<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
story had some very interesting twists!
I didn’t want to put it down, which should be obvious because I finished
it in one day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Conflict and Tension<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
book had a good amount of tension from the beginning. Ryan, as CEO of a Fortune 500 company, is
used to getting what he wants, so he pushes for what he sees as a smart
business move. Maribeth resists, and we
don’t exactly know why…until the big conflict that spans the last few chapters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Spiritual Aspect<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
love the scripture quoted before the story starts. It’s from Luke 12:2, and it says, “There is
nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made
known.” In other words, you can run, but
you can’t hide from your past. Although
this is true, the story also shows that “As far as the east is from the west, so
far has He removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12).”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Questions I Have<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Because
I received the book free, I didn’t look it up to see if it was in a
series. As I was writing this review, I
noticed that it is part of the Claremont series. Hopefully the books can be read
independently. I wonder how much
information about each of the characters in this book has been revealed in a
past book. Hmmm….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Audience Appropriateness and
Appeal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
book is totally appropriate for anyone who enjoys romantic, Christian fiction. This will appeal to anyone who lives with
secrets from his/her past or has a hard time forgiving him/herself for past
actions. It’s therapeutic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
is definitely a good read. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pros:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
enjoyed the conflict.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
message is appropriate for our culture and times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Great
writing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cons:</span></b><b style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nothing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525260114530965231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808056258574202108.post-87225227440531888772014-12-25T20:53:00.001-08:002014-12-25T20:53:25.411-08:00Mist of Midnight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2H8K2TY2BdU/VJzpeyW78eI/AAAAAAAAAQo/Ss676Iu13Cc/s1600/Mists%2Bof%2BMidnight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2H8K2TY2BdU/VJzpeyW78eI/AAAAAAAAAQo/Ss676Iu13Cc/s1600/Mists%2Bof%2BMidnight.jpg" height="320" width="209" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mist of Midnight</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Author:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Sandra Byrd<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Website:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<a href="http://www.sandrabyrd.com/">www.sandrabyrd.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Number of Pages:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
384<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Publisher:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Howard Books<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ISBN-13:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><b><span style="background: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">9781476717869</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Release Date:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
March 10, 2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Market:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Literature/Women’s Fiction<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Genre:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Gothic Romance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My Rating: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5
of 5 Stars<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Description (from the back
cover):</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> In the first of a brand-new series set in
Victorian England, a young woman returns home from India after the death of her
family to discover her identity and inheritance are challenged by the man who
holds her future in his hands.<br />
<br />
Rebecca Ravenshaw, daughter of missionaries, spent most of her life in India.
Following the death of her family in the Indian Mutiny, Rebecca returns to
claim her family estate in Hampshire, England. Upon her return, people are
surprised to see her...and highly suspicious. Less than a year earlier, an
imposter had arrived with an Indian servant and assumed not only Rebecca's
name, but her home and incomes.<br />
<br />
That pretender died within months of her arrival; the servant fled to London as
the young woman was hastily buried at midnight. The locals believe that perhaps
she, Rebecca, is the real imposter. Her home and her father's investments
reverted to a distant relative, the darkly charming Captain Luke Whitfield, who
quickly took over. Against her best intentions, Rebecca begins to fall in love
with Luke, but she is forced to question his motives—does he love her or does
he just want Headbourne House? If Luke is simply after the property, as
everyone suspects, will she suffer a similar fate as the first “Rebecca”?<br />
<br />
A captivating Gothic love story set against a backdrop of intrigue and danger, <i>Mist
of Midnight</i> will leave you breathless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How and Why I Acquired this Book<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
received a free ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My Expectations<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
read another review on Goodreads, and it was very positive, so I expected this
to be a very good read. I expected it to
be creepy and suspenseful since it was called a gothic romance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Were My Expectations Met<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Absolutely! This book had just the right amount of eerie
creepiness mixed with suspense, romance, and Christianity. I loved that Luke was always in question
throughout the story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Prose and Dialogue<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
book was very well written. There were
two or three grammatical errors that I am confident will be corrected in the
final version (electronic and print forms).
I loved the background that was given, and the dialogue amongst the
characters was natural, but it didn’t give away too much information at
once. The reader is kept in suspense
about several things, and all are revealed in the end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Characters and Viewpoints<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Rebecca
was very likeable, flaws and all. I
appreciate her perseverance and strength.
She was very gracious and didn’t condemn others. I disliked Michelene from the beginning, and
she did not disappoint me in the end.
Luke was the big mystery throughout the story. I enjoyed the seed ideas that he was both
good and bad that were planted throughout the story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Story Structure and Pace<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
book moved along smoothly, and I was able to finish in a couple of days. It’s a story that I didn’t want to put
down. I wanted to find the ending, and
it was a very good ending.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Conflict and Tension<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There
was passion and conflict throughout the story.
The passion and conflict changed per person and from scene to
scene. There were tense moments up to
the end of the story. This was very well
done!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Spiritual Aspect<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As
a daughter of a missionary, Rebecca was able to quote plenty of scripture. A scripture theme for this book could be, “</span><span style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">By this shall all<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><i>men</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> know that ye are my disciples, if ye
have love one to another” (John 13:35).</span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Questions I Have<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
wonder if Luke became a believer rather than a doubter in the end. I personally like to believe he did because of
the ending and the epilogue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Audience Appropriateness and
Appeal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
is a book that women will love. It’s
romantic and mysterious. Anyone who
loves Christian fiction and gothic romances will enjoy this book. The cover looks great, too!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Overall,
I loved this book. I recommend it to
anyone who likes to read Christian fiction.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pros:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There
is a lot of conflict and tension, but not too much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All
mysteries are solved at the end of the book.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
book is a page turner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
is the first in a series, so there is more to come!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cons:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
book had to end. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525260114530965231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808056258574202108.post-16674890799450238952014-12-20T17:40:00.000-08:002014-12-20T17:46:24.043-08:00The Deputy's New Family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zNEIptZ0eRQ/VJYkj5m304I/AAAAAAAAAQY/Z1kt-d-Q0jQ/s1600/Deputy%2BNew%2BFamily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zNEIptZ0eRQ/VJYkj5m304I/AAAAAAAAAQY/Z1kt-d-Q0jQ/s1600/Deputy%2BNew%2BFamily.jpg" height="320" width="202" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Deputy’s New
Family</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> (Love Inspired)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Author:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Jenna Mindel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Website:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<a href="http://www.jennamindel.com/">www.jennamindel.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Number of Pages:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
217<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Publisher:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Love Inspired Books<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ISBN-13:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> 978-0-373-87910-6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Release Date:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
September 2014<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Market:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Christian, Romance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Genre:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Inspirational<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>My Rating: </b>4 of 5 Stars<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Description (from the back cover):</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Because of her painful past, teacher Beth Ryken has one rule when it comes to
men and marriage: never fall for a cop. So
when Nick Grey, the new sheriff’s deputy asks her to tutor his young son, she
agrees to work with the boy while hoping to avoid the handsome widower. How will she possibly protect her heart from
breaking all over again?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How and Why I Acquired this Book<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
entered a contest online, and I won this book!
I received a signed copy from the author. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My Expectations<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
have been reading Christian fiction for about 18 months, and I’d never read
anything by Jenna Mindel before. I also
had never read a Love Inspired book.
Because it was a division of Harlequin, I was not sure if it was going to
be a sweet romance or if it was going to be a little more involved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Were My Expectations Met<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
book turned out to be a very sweet romance. I was really happy that it did not get racy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Prose and Dialogue<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
book was well-written. There was a nice
mix of conversation amongst the characters and prose that provided good
insights into the characters.
Punctuation and grammar helped this book to be a very quick read. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Characters and Viewpoints<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
was able to identify with Beth as a teacher.
She is a caring person, but she chooses the safe path. She has a great relationship with her mom,
yet, there is a communication issue, too.
They never truly talked through her father’s death. Neither of them fully healed, but they
function fine on the outside. When Nick
and his son Corey come into their lives, Beth is faced with her fears, which
does lead to her healing. There is a
point in the book where Beth and Nick both say that the other comes with a lot
of baggage. Is not that true of all of
us?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Story Structure and Pace<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
book was an easy read. I could have read
it in a day if my schedule allowed it.
It was paced well. There were no
places where I wished it would hurry up and move on to the next scene. It did a nice job leading up to the predictable
ending. I read this type of book because
I like happy endings, so predictable is a good thing for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Conflict and Tension<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
conflict is not very intense in this book.
There are obstacles, but most of them are easy to pass through. The most intense moments center on the boat
ride at the end of the book. There is
tension, but there is not nail-biting suspense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Spiritual Aspect<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
scripture quoted before the story begins is Isaiah 43:1-2. It perfectly sums up the book. Another scripture that would fit is Isaiah
41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you.”
Everyone in this book has a Christian background. The big issue is Beth being able to trust God
with what she can’t control in her safe little world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Questions I Have<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
wonder why Beth had her car at school in the parking lot while she tutored
Corey (p155). She lived across the
street. Why would she drive to school? I think this may have been an author oversight. Oops!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Audience Appropriateness and
Appeal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Everything
in this book is totally appropriate. It’s
innocent and sweet. Anyone who enjoys
Christian fiction that is evenly paced will enjoy this book. Anyone who enjoys a clear spiritual message will
enjoy this book, too (Trust God, and do not fear!). If you’re from the Lake Leelanau area of Michigan,
you may be particularly interested in reading this story. It’s fun to read books that feature your
geographical area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Overall,
I really enjoyed this book. I was
engaged, and there were times that I didn’t want to put it down. Personally, I recommend this book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pros:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
characters were likable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There
was a happy ending. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It
was a sweet, innocent romance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cons:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It
could have had more intense conflict. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525260114530965231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808056258574202108.post-62729624492279884402014-12-13T18:28:00.000-08:002014-12-13T18:28:45.858-08:00Living from the Unseen: Reflections from a Transformed Life<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t"
path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75"
style='position:absolute;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:134.25pt;height:186pt;
z-index:251658240;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;
mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;
mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:left;
mso-position-horizontal-relative:margin;mso-position-vertical:top;
mso-position-vertical-relative:margin'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\Becky\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="Living from the Unseen"/>
<w:wrap type="square" anchorx="margin" anchory="margin"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7qFQD4YePTo/VIz1Vh8TpGI/AAAAAAAAAQI/Yz2XcWT2270/s1600/Living%2Bfrom%2Bthe%2BUnseen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7qFQD4YePTo/VIz1Vh8TpGI/AAAAAAAAAQI/Yz2XcWT2270/s1600/Living%2Bfrom%2Bthe%2BUnseen.jpg" height="200" width="132" /></a></div>
<b><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Living from the Unseen</span></i></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Reflections from a Transformed Life<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Author:
Wendy Backlund<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Website:
www.ignitedhope.com<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Number
of Pages: 104<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ISBN:
978-0-9854773-6-3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">From
the back cover: We are first and foremost a spirit living in a natural body -
learning to see, hear and access the spirit realm and its principles. Learning
to live life through the eyes of the spirit is transforming and freeing. Living
from the Unseen reveals that we can live life through the eyes of the spirit
and with an awareness of the spiritual realities and principals that affect our
everyday lives. This is a book that shares insights on how to obtain a
transformed life through renewing the mind. Wendy's journey and these insights
are meant for those Christians who intuitively know there is more to
"walking in the Spirit" than traditionally understood by the Church.
This book will also help Christians who are tired, discouraged, hopeless or
hungering for their destiny and identity to be fully developed and released. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
book will help identify beliefs that block the reception of God’s blessings and
hinder our ability to live out our destiny. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You
will learn that:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Believing differently, not trying harder,
is the key to change. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You cannot do what you don't believe you
are. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You can only receive what you think you
are worth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Rather than learning how to die – it is
time to learn how to live.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
bought this book on Amazon because a group at my church was reading it. It sounded interesting, and I had never read
anything by Wendy Backlund prior to this book.
I really liked the cover, and I was surprised at the size of the
book. I found a lot of useful and
wonderful information in very few pages.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
really like that the chapters are so short in this book. The topic is covered, and Wendy gives examples
from her own life of what she previously believed and what she did to encourage
transformation in her life. There were
times when I thought the words could have been written by me because I have the
same thoughts that she had. I definitely identified with her writing and
thoughts she had when she viewed the world through the natural eye.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At
the end of each chapter, there is an application section. Wendy asks the reader to think about his or
her own life and how the topic personally relates to him or her. Sometimes she asks the reader to write something
down, but she always asks the reader to ask God for help in transforming the
mind in the given area. At the end there
is a declaration, which reminds me of “the power of positive thinking,” but in
a supernatural, spiritual way. I have
typed these declarations, and I try to read them out loud every day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
really enjoyed this book. One of my
favorite quotes in the book is a message from God to Wendy. He told her, “Who you want to be is who you
really are. That is why you want to be
that way” (page 55). That quote inspires
me to be more confident, joyful, and hopeful.
In other words, we want to be who God uniquely made us to be. This is a book that I will re-read slowly in
order to get the most benefit out of it.
I really love that the chapters are short because it will make the
second (third, fourth, etc.) read easier to do when I already have a busy
schedule. On a scale of 1-5, I would
give this book a 4.5. It is an excellent
read.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Anyone
who wants more of God and the supernatural in their life will enjoy this
book. It walks the reader through how to
work with the Spirit to transform negative thought patterns and have a correct
understanding of his or her identity in Christ.
Personally, I have a lot of transforming to do, and I’m looking forward
to seeing big changes in my life. How
about you?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525260114530965231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808056258574202108.post-47793101987911889032014-12-13T10:17:00.000-08:002014-12-13T10:17:25.341-08:00A New Blog<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Welcome
to </span><i style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A Garden of Delight</i><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">!</span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How time flies!</span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I created this blog some time ago and never
posted anything.</span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I was waiting for
“inspiration” as life got in the way.</span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ve had so many ideas for this blog, and as the ideas kept coming, I
wasn’t writing.</span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So…I’m going to focus on
writing book reviews.</span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ll stick to that
idea.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
love to read. Most of the time I read
Christian fiction - all types - Amish, Contemporary, Suspense, Historical,
etc. I also enjoy Christian non-fiction,
especially books on prayer. From time to
time I read mysteries or romance books that are not Christian, and I also read
some non-fiction for my job. I read
kids’ books, mostly adventure, with my son.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
enjoy reading books for free. The public
library is one place I enjoy visiting, but I also hope to blog for books. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Really, it’s a win-win situation. I get to read some awesome books in change
for an honest critique. What could be better
than that? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
hope you enjoy reading my reviews. Feel
free to comment constructively.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525260114530965231noreply@blogger.com0