Loving to Read the Story

2012 Completed Books and Reviews

2012-01-06T21:29:00.002-07:00

1. "The Touch" by Randall Wallace

Completed: January 4, 2012

Rating: 7.5/10

Review: Jones is a young doctor with amazing neuro-surgeon abilities. But when he is unable to help his fiance at the scene of an accident, Jones is shaken to the core and leaves surgery in favor of teaching in a medical school. When Lara Blair, the owner of biomedical engineering company comes calling on his door to help develop a robotic surgical tool that goes deep into the brain his immediate reaction is thank you but no. But Lara is a determined young woman for urgent reasons way beyond the thrill of invention and money. As their friendship develops Jones must push beyond his fears and find the courage to re-enter the surgical suite as more than a teacher.

While a little slow moving for me in a few places this was a wonderful story of love and pain, the courage to move beyond and of recognizing God's gifting in your life. The research on robotic surgery really showed but was placed into the story in a very easily readable, and definitely not dry, way. Lara and Jones relationship was very interesting as it developed beyond the pursuit of business.

2. Love Lifted Me by Sara Evans with Rachel Hauck

Completed: January 10, 2012

Rating: 9.5/10

Review:

2011 Completed Books and Reviews

2011-01-26T10:00:00.071-07:00

Another new year. And lots of great books on my want to read lists. Last year was awesome on the reading front. My goal was 32 and I finished 42. I seemed to have some really great reads that just kept me rolling. Found some new authors that I love, too. And I even completed quite a few non-fictions which is a real accomplishment for me. So this year, I'm going to try to push past that achievement yet a bit more. I'm going to set my goal at 45 for the year. Hopefully, I'll surpass it again this year.

1. "Under the Overpass" by Mike Yankoski

Completed: January 6, 2011

Rating: 10/10

Review: While in college, living a very comfortable upper middle class life, the author feels in his heart to go and experience what it is like to live amongst the homeless, not as a mission worker but as a homeless person. Giving up everything for 5 months, he and another friend embark on a life of having no home, not knowing where their next meal will come from, facing the fear and challenge of survival of living on the streets of 5 cities in America.

The book is definitely one of those true stories that will change your life and mind set, that is, if you let it. I was drawn in from the first chapter to the last and really liked the epilogue where the author goes over more of what he has learned after being away from the experience for five years. To read this book and not be challenged in your Christian walk, in the way you think about and view the homeless, and how you respond both as an individual and as God's church, is next to impossible. I was very challenged from the very beginning even as I read how a young college student, living very comfortably, felt the call of God to go live amongst the homeless and become homeless himself giving everything up for 5 months. Would I be obedient to such a call? As I read how he encountered the reactions both good and bad of the very place where hurting people are supposed to find love, I felt myself searching my own mind and heart to my reactions and thinking when it comes to the homeless of my own city. As I read the people's stories whom the pair encountered, I was challenged to account for my own assumptions.

I highly recommend a read of this book at least once, whether you are a professing Christian or not. A deep look into a life and culture that most of us will never experience first hand but should be able to somehow in some way touch will give us a bit of knowledge and understanding and thereby remove some of the fear and anxiety of coming across the homeless. Be prepared to be challenged and to think and search your own mindset and attitude especially if you are a Christian.

2. "A Time to Surrender" by Sally John & Gary Smalley

Completed: January 24, 2011

Rating: 9/10

Review: Book 3 in the Safe Harbour series, A Time to Surrender delves further into the life of older sister Jenna. Jenna is struggling with life as her husband, a marine, has been sent overseas to serve in a volatile area of the world. To add to her fear and lonliness she is bitter over the fact that he enlisted without discussing it with her first. When she meets a fellow teacher in the school who's husband is also overseas they start to form a tentative friendship, one Jenna doesn't really want. But things change when while attending a funeral of a soldier, protesters plant an small bomb at the church and Jenna and her friend are injured. And while her lonliness and bitterness build, her boss, the "Ice Man" principle, steps in to try to encourage her but lines start to become blurred.

Also introduced is a new character, Skylar, whom the Grandmother hires to cook at the family's retreat centre. But Skylar comes with mystery, and just when Danny, the suspicious brother begins to warm up to her it looks like she may know more about the explosion at the church than she lets on.

I really enjoyed this read. I was really drawn into Jenna's story and it's look at fear, resentment, failure, true surrender and forgivenss. Watching her come to faith in a good God was believeable and well written for her circumstances. I liked that the author did not sugar coat her failures or made her a "perfect" character but one with lots of flaws and attitudes. There have been negative reviews concerning the limited amount of background on the characters but I think that if a reader wants to know the total backgrounds of characters they need to read the whole series. It is impossible to give thorough information like that in a series such as this that has lots of charcters, focusing on a couple of them and their story lines in each addition to the series. Some characters must take a back seat and their stories given a skeleton review in order to build the new ones. I read the first two books so I had no problem sorting out background info. I found it built nicely upon the foundations already made. All in all I'm really enjoying this series and hope this is not the last of it.

Book 1 in the Safe Harbor Series, "A Time to Mend" is reviewed here. Scroll to #17.

Book 2 "A Time to Gather" is reviewed here. Scroll to #21.

3. "Her Daughter's Dream" by Francine Rivers

Completed: February 17, 2011

Rating: 9.5/10

Review:
A story of reconcilliation. It spans the time between the 1950's to present day and covers essentially the lives of 3 women. It really delves into the hopes and dreams of three mothers for their daughters but it also looks at how we communicate or not communicate that love and the effects it has on the next generation. It is emotional and I found myself crying at times for the different characters and what they were going through and anger at the reactions and attitudes that appeared in certain characters. I must admit there was a character that I just wanted to shake at times. LOL. And that is a good thing because it means the author was able to really draw me into the story. Because of the extent and hugeness of the story at some points it seemed to moved rather quickly and jumped with just passing mentions over the years but I think it was necessary to do it that way otherwise the book would have been even longer. Focus and time was spent on those parts of the women's stories that really affected their lives while smaller details were kept with passing mentions.

A very standout part really spoke to me. The reaction of the church to Carolyn when she returns home really spoke to my heart about how we as a church treat those "prodigal children". The discussion guide at the end of the story asked very thought provoking questions. This series was well worth the read!

4. "A Billion Reasons Why" by Kristin Bellerbeck

Completed: February 27, 2011

Rating: 5/10

Review: go here

5. "New Mercies" by Sandra Dallas

Completed: March 11, 2011

Rating: 7/10

Review: coming soon

6. "Feed Your Pet Right - the authoritative Guide to Feeding you Dog and Cat" by Marion Nestle and Malden C. Nesheim

Completed: March 21, 2011 (Spring Reading Thing)

Rating: 8/10

Review: This is a very comprehensive look at pet food and what to feed your pet. It starts with the history of pets, what we've fed them in the past, delves into the pet food industry, and who regulates what, and takes a look at ethical questions regarding research and the marketing of pet foods to consumers. Considering the topic and complicated nature of the industry, this book was fairly easy to read, definitely written for the average pet owner. Some of the chapters on the government agencies were harder to plug through just because of the fact that how interesting can that topic be? But I picked up the book because my husband and I think differently about how to feed our puppy and with the pet food scares of the last few years, I thought this would help. There is tons of information in this book and sometimes it is hard to remember and sort it all but at the end of the day it did make me feel better about our decision to feed our pet a mix of commercial and home cooked meals. I especially liked the last chapter which sort of condensed the whole book with what the authors felt summed up their findings and the recommendations they had for the governing agencies, pet food producers, vets, and pet owners.

7. "Unlocked" by Karen Kingsbury

Completed: March 25, 2011 (Spring Reading Thing)

Rating: 9.5/10

Review: Unlocked is one powerful love story. But not the kind of mushy gushy love story you first think of. It's an exploration into autism, a story about bullying, a story about true friendship, a story about courage, a story about the faith & hope of a mother for her child and it's a story of seeing past how people appear on the outside to find who that person is on the inside. A story about realizing we are all locked up in some way and so are really no different from one another.

Holden Harris was a beautiful, energetic little boy of three when after a huge series of immunizations he started to change. Within days he started to withdraw and play alone lining up his cars all by himself, much to the bewilderment of his childhood playmate Ella. As Ella's family started to pull away from Holden's family and eventually move away, Holden's Mom finds herself facing Holden's diagnosis pretty much by herself. Out of guilt and not knowing how to handle losing the son he once had, Holden's father takes a job as an Alaskan fisherman in order to make money to finance all of Holden's therapies.

Once in high school, the kids don't get Holden and all his quirky behaviors. That is until he runs into Ella. His Ella from childhood. Noticing that Holden loves the music from the school's drama practices, Ella convinces her teacher to start allowing Holden to sit in on them. Little did she know that soon she would figure out that this was her childhood best friend and nothing will stop her from helping Holden to experience a miracle.

This story had me enthralled from the beginning as Karen Kingsbury puts a voice to an autistic character. Having worked with autistic children it was of great interest to me how she would treat it. Little did I know she would also tread on the high school world of bullying and cliques. I found she treated Holden's character with sensitivity and let us in to her interpretation of what might be going on in the mind of one child with autism. While I loved the story, I thought at first it might be wrapped up too nicely but then I read in her letter to readers at the end of the story how this book was actually based on a real person and how music and acceptance helped to unlock his world of autism. While the author fully acknowledges that some autistic persons are locked away their whole lives, this is a story based on one who wasn't. It is beautiful and definitely a box of tissues is needed right beside the reader.

If I had one criticism of the book, it would be that I wished when she was talking in Holden's voice within himself the letter's would have been italicized. Toward the end of the book, sometimes to me, it was unclear whether Holden was actually voicing the words out loud or whether they were still within him. I had to go back and read the paragraphs again just to settle it with myself in which voice he was speaking. But that is more of an editorial thing than an author thing or it could have just been me. And that is the only reason why I gave this book a 9.5 instead of a 10 out of 10.

8. "Undressing the Moon by t. greenwood

Completed: April 3, 2011 (Spring Reading Thing)

Rating: 8/10

Review: Thirty year old Piper Kincaid has cancer and is dying. All alone except for her childhood best friend, who happened to move back to town just when she needed her, Piper is adrift in memories from her past. Specifically the year she turned 14. The year that changed her life forever.

This story is beautifully written. Descriptive and detailed it paints the story of hurt that runs deep and the consequences of choices that came from trying to bury the deep pain. I won't lie, I found the story extremely sad, with only sporadic moments of lightening up. My heart hurt for the main character throughout most of the story as she takes loss after loss in her young life and for what she was going through in her present life. Even her moments of relief are shadowed with sadness as you, the reader, knows it cannot turn out good. The moments of inappropiateness between teacher and student were hard to read as they broke my heart and angered me and I found myself really angry for all those characters throughout the story that had a part in heaping such hard burdens upon a young girl's life. The selfishness of the adults blew me away in spite of the fact that they were also hurting. Because of the fact that I am a Christian and therefore view things through the Christian world view, I was grieved for the unredemptive nature of the story. If not for the beautiful friendship between Piper and her friend Becca and the brother and sister bond she has with her brother Quinn, it would have been a story that I probably couldn't have finished. What it did do though, was again bring to mind that there are people doing things in their lives, trying what they can, grasping at what seems good, to cover deep, deep hurts and just try to make it through the days, and that they could use real love and real friendship. So because of that reminder, and because of the style of the writing, I am glad that I read this book and gave it the higher rating I did.

9. " Lazarus Awakening" by Joanna Weaver

Completed: April 3, 2011 (Spring Reading Thing)

Rating: 9/10

Review: For many of us, moving the truth of God's love from our heads to our hearts is a lifelong process. As we consider our inadequacies or grieve our shattered dreams, we find it difficult to believe that God cares for us personally.

Now, in the final installment of her renowned Bethany trilogy, best-selling author Joanna Weaver shows you how to embrace the truth that Jesus loves you apart from anything you accomplish, apart from anything you bring. Just as He called Lazarus forth to new life, Jesus wants to free you to live fully in the light of His love, unbound from the graveclothes of fear, regret, and self-condemnation.

This was my first book to read by this author and I will definitely be reading the other two books in this series (the Bethany Trilogy). Joanna Weaver takes the story of Lazarus and does an indept study on the idea that Jesus loves us apart from anything we bring to the table, in this book focusing on Lazarus. From the time Jesus receives the message Lazarus is gravely ill and could He please come, to Jesus tarrying to finally arriving and giving Lazarus the gift of resurrection and life again, the author takes us through lessons that show us that even in the hardest times, God has a plan, and truly loves us and that He can move us from those things that entomb us and keep us in grave clothes to true freedom and living in truth.

Though an indepth study, I found this book easy to read and took many, many notes. I especially liked the 10 week study in the back that can be used with small groups and the appendixes that teach "who we are in Christ", "Identifying Strongholds", and "Hints for Unwinding Grave clothes". If I had one criticism of the book if would be the small sections within each chapter that were intermittently stuck in in a grey blocked area. While the thoughts and info in them were great to read I find them distracting to the body of the text. I either had to stop reading the main body or remember to go back and read them. But that is just a personal preference and I definitely would recommend this to anyone struggling to know God's love for them or for anyone wanting to help those who struggle.

10. "God's Guest List - Welcoming Those Who Influence Our Lives" by Debbie Macomber

Completed: April 5, 2011 (Spring Reading Thing)

Rating: 8.5/10

Review: In this non-fiction book, Debbie Macomber encourages us to become aware of "guests" that God sends into our lives and what blessings they bring. She suggests keeping record and making a list so that we become more aware, become more committed to discovering those He sends, so that we move through life with our eyes open and we appreciate people in a whole new way. She writes that "each guest that God brings into our lives leaves us with a unique gift. Once I fully understood this truth, I began to intentionally look for and recognize these gifts." pg.8

Using stories from her own life and those she knows she takes us through many examples of those God has brought into her life and what gift they bought. She then gives suggestions that have you "R.S.V.P.", pass on those gifts to others.

This was an easy and enjoyable read. I finished it in one day. I love this concept. I love how she went from making a list of people she wanted to meet, and consequently being disappointed with a lot of those meetings, to starting to notice those that actually cross paths with her in her life and the gifts they have that they leave with her to bless her life. I really liked how the book didn't just focus on how we can take notice of others blessing ourselves, but also showed how we can bless and influence the lives of others, teaching us to anticipate and seize moments to touch others. Great lessons and a great read.

11. "How to Raise the Perfect Dog - Through Puppyhood and Beyond" by Cesar Millan

Completed: April 8, 2011 (Spring Reading Thing)

Rating: 9/10

Review: If you watch Dog Whisperer on TV, then this is Cesar's book using the same principles, to raise a puppy. Choosing and raising 5 different breeds, Cesar puts the principles and techniques that he used to raise these puppies into a simple, interesting to read format for the person wanting a puppy. Starting right from the beginning on how to choose a breed and dog that's right for your family and energy, he tells the reader the techniques he used for everything from feeding to housebreaking to what to expect from the adolescent dog. Using his "Exercise, Discipline, Affection" format he lays out guidelines for the reader to use to accomplish the end goal of a happy, balanced, calm dog.

I really enjoy Cesar's show so when we got the new puppy I was interested to read this book. I made mega notations and really like the easy to read format. I liked how he laid out what to expect, how he discussed the morality and pros and cons of neutering, how to discipline correctly without harshness or anger and how to give boundaries and how to "read" your dog. I find he makes a lot of sense. Thoroughly enjoyed the book.

Take note that this is not a book if you already have a problem dog. He's got other books out for that. This is about how to choose a dog that is right for your family and how to raise them from day one to avoid problems.

12. "The Kitchen Boy - A Novel of the Last Tsar" by Robert Alexander

Completed: April 14, 2011
(Spring Reading Thing)

Rating: 9.5/10

Review: Mikhail Semyonov (Misha) is 94 year old year old Russian immigrant. With his wife passing away recently he is leaving a "letter" to his granddaughter, Katya, in the form of a video cassette.In it he tells Katya that what she has known of her grandfather has been a lie and he wants to tell her who he really is. So starts the story of Leonka (Misha) as a 14 year old kitchen boy who served the Romanovs while they were in captivity in Siberia, Russia before their murders. Taking us through the tumultuous revolution and the final days of the Romanovs, Leonka tells the story of the Romanovs and the kind of people they were in private, of their faith and their love for one another, of their hope for rescue and eventually his part in the passing of secret letters. And sadly he details the last day and then what he saw of their firing squad execution and the events afterwards. But Katya cannot even talk about it all with her grandfather as he passes away and that is when the cassette makes it's way to her. But with the cassette comes instructions to return priceless artifacts back to Russia. What is the link between these artifacts and a simple kitchen boy and why was it left to her to accomplish this task?

This was historical fiction at it's best. In the past there has been much mystery surrounding the death of the Romanov family and I must admit I have been fascinated before by their story. The author has done much research and it shows throughout the story even though it is fiction. When researching, the author was struck by a couple of lines in one of the surviving letters that the Tsarista wrote questioning what had happened to the kitchen boy that the family had become close to. Basing his fictional account on that mysterious line, he built a very believable story about the final captivity and death of the Romanov's and the disappearance of two of the family member's bodies. It was an excellent read. Gripping me from the very first page where it set up a mystery to the final pages of twists and turns, it is a heartbreaking and tragic story of a whole family's demise. For the author's video on the book go here but be prepared to be captivated and want to read the book yourself.

13. "The Midwife of St. Petersburg" by Linda Lee Chaikin

Completed: April 30, 2011 (Spring Reading Thing)

Rating: 9.5/10 for the story but bumped down to 8/10 because of the unresolved story lines with no follow up books

Review: Karena Peshkova is a young Russian landowner's daughter who dreams of following in her mother's footsteps and becoming a midwife and nurse. Unfortunately, her admittance to medical school is being hindered by the fact that her family has Jewish roots.

While visiting her cousin who moves in high society Russia, Karena meets a Colonel in the Russian army, who it is said might be her cousin's fiance in the near future. But sparks fly, good and bad, between Karena and the Aleksnadr Kronstadt. Leaving Kazan, Karena thinks she will never see the Colonel again, but as Russia moves into turbulent times, her family comes under investigation when her brother becomes involved with the Bolshevik uprising and Karena and her mother must flee the family farm. As Alex faces his feelings for Karena he must risk his own military career in order to keep her safe and hopefully have a future with her.

This book started off a bit slow for me but really started to pick up once past the first chapter or so. It was interesting that I picked this up soon after I read "The Kitchen Boy" (review #11) as it is written about the same time period. This book was also rich in historical detail and while the Kitchen Boy dealt mostly with the Romanov families last days, this story filled in a few details of the uprising and turbulent time that brought the Tsar down.

The fictional story was very interesting and the growing attraction between the main characters was sweet. The tension from the events surrounding the uprising and how the family was dragged into it really kept this book a page turner for me. However, there was many loose ends left at the end of the story. It's like it was written with a part 2 in mind but no part 2 is there that I can find. It's unfortunate, because I would have loved to have found out what happened to each character. The author wrote the characters so well and I really became invested in them as the story went on. In the end, I felt like I was left hanging with so many things left unresolved. Still I really enjoyed the story though to me it was not a stand alone story left as it was.

14. "Experiencing the Resurrection" by Henry and Mel Blackaby

Completed: May 5, 2011 (Spring Reading Thing)

Rating: 8/10

Review: From the back: The resurrection is the foundation of your total freedom and complete victory in Christ. And so it is an event-an experience-that's worthy of your daily celebration. In this book the authors offer you a deeper understanding of the glorious, joyous dimensions of the resurrection, with the goal of revealing the living Lord at work in your daily life.

I wanted to read this book as a heart preparation for the Easter season. The resurrection is the foundation of my faith and I wanted to take the time to study what it means for my life today. What a powerful little book this proved to be. It is not heavy in theological terms that most don't understand, but lays out in everyday language all that God has done for us in raising his Son, Jesus, from the dead. It's a book that invites you to live day by day, moment by moment with the living Christ through the peace, joy, power, authority, confidence and hope He has provided through the resurrection. Chock full of scripture it's easy enough to use as a devotional, per say, or to guide you into a more in-depth study. "Experiencing the Cross", antoher book in the sereis. is definitely on my list to read sometime in the next year.

15. "To Be Perfectly Honest - One Man's Year of (Almost) Living Honestly Could Change Your Life. No Lie" by Phil Callaway

Completed: May 18, 2011

Rating: 8.5/10

Review: Phil Callaway is a humorist who was challenged by his publisher to not lie for a year and then write a book about it. Though not thrilled at first, he accepted the daunting challenge. This is the written culmination of his year, the good, the bad and the ugly. Sometimes funny, sometimes eye opening, and at times daunting, Phil writes the book in the form of a daily journal. Catching himself in little white lies, experiencing successes at full truth, then at times struggling to be totally honest and fielding questions from all sorts of people out of his past that want to know the truth about past situations, we are taken on the author's journey of always telling the truth. Each chapter ends with an "honest confession" by the author where he gets really real with himself and his readers.

Not only is this book laugh out loud funny, but I also found myself being challenged to take a look at my own ways of telling "untruths", even to myself. I really liked how he wrote an honest, vulnerable summary at the end of each chapter and how easy the format of the book was to read. The last couple of chapers really touched my heart as they dealt with the death of his mother and we just went through a similar situation and could really relate to it. A fun read with a serious element that will have the reader laughing out loud even while asking themselves if they could take on such a challenge and how one's life would be changed if total honesty were the only option.

16. "Secrets" by Robin Jones Gunn

Completed: May 24, 2011 (Spring Reading Thing)

Rating: 7.5/10

Review: Jessica Morgan arrives in Glenbrooke, a small town to start her life over as a teacher in the high school. But not only does she want to start fresh but she wants to run away from her old life and forget about it. Changing her identity had seemed like such a good idea but things start to catch up with her as she has to cover her tracks. It seemed so simple when she didn't know the people of Glenbrooke, but as she gets to know them, she finds it harder and harder to be decietful especially when she catches the eye of the local paramedic who has secrets of his own.

This is my first book by this author and in most respects I really enjoyed it. It was an easy read romance that was clean and heart warming. The "secrets" intrigued me but when revealed weren't as huge as it was built up to be. This was the author's first adult novel as she usually writes for a teen audience and in a few details I could sort of tell that, especially in the last sentence that ended the story. The character of the new principle really mystified me as I felt her negative reactions to the main character, a new teacher in her school, very over the top and vicious. I couldn't quite believe a new principle would be that unprofessional as laid out in the story and would direct vendettas to a member of their staff almost immediately upon meeting them when in my experience principles try very hard to build unity in their staff. I thought her actions quite immature and unworthy of her position. Some of the reactions of the main character also surprised me considering her age was 25 in the story. That said it was a good story line and a sweet romance.

17. "Standing in the Rainbow" by Fannie Flagg

Completed: June 3, 2011 (Spring Reading Thing)

Rating: 8.5/10

Review: Standing in the Rainbow is a story of the life stories of the folks in a small town in Missouri. It starts in the 1940's and wraps up in the '90's. The characters are richly written and varied. From Dorothy who broadcasts a radio show from her own livingroom that touches people all the way into other states, to the gospel singing Oatman family, to Hamm Sparks the tractor salesman turned Governor to his wife Betty Raye who was an Oatman and just wanted a quiet settled life, to Tot, the hairdresser who turned people's hair purple and just couldn't get a break in life.

It's a very heartwarming read with moments touching every emotion. You are drawn right into the members of this little town and become invested with their lives. You rejoice with them, are sad for them, get angry with some of their circumstances and want to have a good chat with them when they make bad decisions.

In spite of all the varied lives and the details thereof, I never felt the book bogged down or got confusing, it moved at a really good pace, slowed down when needed and clipping right along when it had to. Though there were parts in the story of certain characters that were decidedly not in keeping my own values, they were a part of the story and happens all the time in "real" life and the author did not gratuitously spend time getting into the physical details of it but rather the emotional aspect of it. All in all, I loved the story and will read another Fannie Flagg book soon.

18. "The Bride's House" by Sandra Dallas

Completed: June 10, 2011

Rating: 8/10

Review: "The Bride's House" follows the lives of 3 women within the family. Neallie moves to Georgetown as a teenager in order to get away from her abusive father. While working at a boardinghouse, she meets two men who will profoundly affect her life. Charlie Dumas, a miner, loves her and wants to court and marry her but when she meets Will Spaulding, a mining executive, her heart goes to him. When her and Will come across a house being built, that they affectionately nickname the Bride's House, Neallie has dreams of it one day becoming hers. When Will abruptly leaves Georgetown and doesn't return Neallie's life is turned into upheaval but the the ever faithful Charlie is still there wanting to marry her. As a surprise wedding gift, Charlie gives her the Bride's house as her home but Neallie sometimes has a hard time separating the house from her first love.

Pearl is Neallie's daughter who grows up in the Bride's House who dreams of being married there but as her father, Charlie, tightens his grip on her life it seems that dream will never come true as she is way past the marrying age.

Susan, Pearl's daughter also has dreams of being married in the Bride's House but bad life choices may make that dream disappear.

I was excited for Sandra Dallas's new novel to hit the library and in fact, had a hold on it before they even catalogued it. And it didn't disappoint. As with some of her other novels (Prayers for Sale, Whiter than Snow) she transported me, the reader, to a little mining town in the Colorado Mountains. As I was drawn into Neallie's young life, I hoped for her and cried with her story, and then her daughter and granddaughter's life also brought out an array of emotions for me. I groaned as they made some of the same mistakes and hoped with them as they hung onto some of the same dreams. As with the other novels, Sandra takes on a wonderful journey of storytelling through women's lives and takes us on some twists and turns. Loved the story.

19. "When Sparrows Fall" by Meg Moseley

Completed: June 19, 2011

Rating: 7.5/10

Review: Miranda Hanford is a young widow, trying to raise her 6 small children quietly in the home her husband provided for them. But when her dominant, controlling pastor announces that he is moving to another state and that the whole church must move with him, Miranda knows she will not go. Already labeled a trouble maker and "pariah" by the pastor, Miranda wonders how she will make a stand without having the pastor use "secrets" that were revealed to him in counselling years back against her to make her move. As Miranda tries to seek God and what He would have her do, she has an accident that lands her in the hospital. Having just named her brother-in-law, whom she had only met once, as legal guardian over her children, he receives a call from her son asking for him to come until Miranda is well. No one is more surprised than Jack Hanford as he had no relationship with his brother at all. Leaving immediately to help the family, he is confronted by the extreme sheltering of the children and the controlling religious views that his brother had. As Miranda is recovering, she not only has to still try to figure out what to do with the move, but now she also has Jack challenging how she has raised her family to contend with.

This is the debut novel for this author and it is a good debut. The story of Miranda finding herself after years of being told what to do and having no choices really drew me in. My heart ached for her predicament of wanting to seek God's will and yet trying to reconcile it with the harshness and controlling factor of her husband's and church's beliefs and her feeling of having her hands tied because she was afraid of the consequences. It was easy to cheer her on as she tried to find freedom for her and her children, yet to stay within the parameters of what she felt was God's will. I really enjoyed the relationship that Jack built with the children as the story went on. Though I felt he overstepped his bounds on many an occasion in regards to his interference, given his frustration with the hard control of the pastor over his congregation, his suspicions with the motives behind the congregational move, and his desire to see the children with some freedom, that interference was understandable. I thought the story flowed along well and I finished it within a few days. The characters where well written and the conversations seemed real given their motivations and brokeness. A good story that makes you think about the lines between the freedom we have in Christ and blind and complete obedience to another person.

20. "The Seeker" by Ann H. Gabhart

Completed: July 5, 2011

Rating: 8/10

Review: Charlotte Vance is the daughter of a Kentucky Senator and has big plans for her life. Raised in privilege, she is used to having black slaves on their estate to do the family's bidding and do the work of the estate. After her mother passed away, Charlotte became her father's helper in planning the parties his job required and in essence became the lady of the house. So her heart was really with the estate and it's continuation and growth. Her plans were to marry her childhood friend who had the property next to theirs so that the estates could be combined, but those came abruptly to an end when several circumstances, including meeting a handsome artist who stole her heart and the unscrupulous machinations of her father's new wife, combined to derail all her well laid plans. In a desperate attempt to free her personal slave who was like a sister to her, Charlotte ran away to join the Shaker community. Thinking her involvement with the Shakers was a quick and temporary fix to her problems, those plans also got thrown into a tailspin when the Civil war hit and moved right through their community. Now Charlotte must stay with the Shakers much longer than planned and while there she starts to realize who really is in control of her life and whose plans are the best.

I really enjoyed this story. It is rich in character development and historical detail. I never knew anything about the Shakers before I read this and the author did a wonderful job in weaving details of their beliefs into the story while not making it sound like a text book lesson. I could totally relate to the main character and her being a planner and committed to making those plans work and then having to face the fact that we, actually are not in control. This was a great summer read and I'm going to look for the other titles by the same author.

21. "Save Me" by Lisa Scottoline

Completed: July 14, 2011

Rating: 9.5/10

Review: Rose McKenna is on her first shift as a volunteer lunchroom mom at her daughter Melly's new elementary school. After having just moved here because of bullying in Melly's other school, Rose is dismayed to see her daughter running to a washroom to avoid the teasing of another child. Making her way over she determines to talk to the girls about bullying but in the middle of their conversation an explosion occurs in the kitchen. When Rose comes to, chaos abounds as fire is tearing through the building. Now she must make a split second emergency decision. Take the girls she was talking to to safety or go look for her daughter who is hiding. An impossible choice in the middle of a nightmare. Making the decision, she acts upon it but it very quickly comes back to haunt her and her family as accusations and mob mentality take over the community. Acting against the advice of her husband, a lawyer, and her attorneys, Rose takes matters into her own hands putting herself in danger as she starts to uncover what really happened with the explosion.

An emotional, page turning story, I could not put this book down! My heart broke for Melly and the teasing she had to endure, and Rose's dilemma of when to step in, and then the consequences of her decision to confront the bullies, and her decisions in the midst of the emergency. I had to cheer her on in her one track mindedness to get to the bottom of things and her determination to stick to what she believed was the right thing to do even though others with more experience were advising her differently. There is twists and turns in the story as she pursues her decisions that the reader doesn't see coming which kept it edge of your seat. The chapters are short and quick paced throughout the book and it makes you not want to put it down so you can see what happens next. This story really makes you explore as a Mom, "What would I do if that happened to me?", "How would I react if I was the other parents, or school staff, or a member of this community". It also made me think about the role media plays in our lives and our "right to know at all cost" mentalities.

22. The Redemption by M.L. Tyndall

Completed: July 21, 2011

Rating: 7.5/10

Review: Lady Charlisse Bristol sets sail on a ship for two reasons. To get away from her abusive uncle and to find the father she has never met. On route she finds herself shipwrecked, the lone survior, washed up on an unknown island. After weeks by herself, other humans finally show up on the island but her joy is short lived as they prove to be a band of pirates. The captain, Emund Merrick, is a strange pirate, being a believer he has a moral code he lives by. Charlisse accepts his help to find her father but when Edmund finds out who he is torn as the man turns out to be the meanest pirate sailing the Caribbean. And Edmund has been on a search for him for years. As Edmund battles his conscience and conviction he also finds himself falling in love with Charlisse.

This is not my usual reading fare, but I thought it would be a fun series for a summer read. Think the adventure and swashbuckling of the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie crossed with a clear Christian theme crossed with a love story and you've got the premise of this book. I liked how the author brings Edmund Merrick's moral struggles into the picture. It added a depth to the story. A fun, easy beach read for sure.

23. "The Daughter's Walk" by Jane Kirkpatrick

Completed: August 2, 2011

Rating: 7/10

Review: In 1896, Helga Estby and her daughter, Clara, embark on a journey that would change the course of their lives and alter their family dynamics forever. In order to save the family farm, Helga takes on a challenge by a team of sponsors to earn $10,000 by walking from Spokane, Washington to New York City within 7 months and with the condition they are to earn their own way, wearing the new "Reform Dresses". Being the mother of several children, the youngest younger than two, her Norwegian husband strongly disagrees with the venture, but Helga is determined, seeing it as a way out of foreclosure for her family. Forcing her 18 year old daughter, Clara, to quit her job and accompany her, she strikes out on an amazing journey that brings many hardships and dangers but also many joys. Receiving shocking news on several fronts, the two return home after having been gone a year, having accomplished the walk, but also failing to collect the money when the sponsors don't pay up, facing criticism from both family and a community that is scandalized by what they did. Criticism so harsh that it causes a rift within the family. Forbidden to speak of the journey, Helga's spirit is crushed and she retreats into her everyday life, while Clara leaves her family to make her own way starting a rift that would last 20 years.

Based on the true story of these two women's lives, Jane Kirkpatrick writes a story filled with historical fact and weaves fictional story into it to fill in the unknown pieces. I found the writing of the actual walk fascinating as was the suffragette movement, it's involvement in the women's walk and the reactions of the day to what many considered a shocking endeavor. It was also fascinating to me to be drawn into the relationship between mother and daughter, their reactions to one another, and their understanding of one another as the journey progressed. I was kept mesmerized throughout that part of the story. The story did start to slow down for me in the middle, however, during all the explanations of the fur industry of the time, not something I'm particularly interested in. However, the compelling emotional aspects of the characters and wondering if the rift would be healed kept me reading and I'm glad I did. A must read at the end is the Author's Notes and Acknowledgements. It fills in all the details of the historical facts and what parts were fiction. It made the story come to life. I'd recommend this story just for the study of what drives people, what makes us decide to do the things we do and for the fascinating true story of two women who went against the society norm in the hopes of bettering life for their family.

24. "Tombstones and Banana Trees" by Medad Birungi with Craig Borlase

Completed: August 13, 2011

Rating: 9.5/10

Review: “My story changed beyond all recognition. Everything that was made ugly by pain and anger was turned to beauty by one simple, revolutionary thing—forgiveness.” Medad Birungi was once a boy who begged to die by the side of the road, a teenager angry enough to kill, a man broken and searching, yet today he is a testimony to God’s transforming power. In his life story, Tombstones and Banana Trees: A True Story of Revolutionary Forgiveness, Birungi charts his outrageous journey through suffering, abuse, despair and revenge to unexpected forgiveness and healing.

Birungi grew up with a violent father in the war-torn country of Uganda in the 1960’s. His childhood was scarred by extreme poverty, cruel suffering and unbearable sorrow that few of us can even imagine. Yet from that trauma came the lessons that we can all appreciate: the impoverishment of life without Christ, the redemption of the cross and the revolutionary power of forgiveness. His story deals in nothing less than pure, God-given transformation. Tombstones and Banana Trees has the dual quality of being both uniquely individual yet universally relevant, holding together the grandest of themes and the most intimate of testimonies. Birungi’s life is so comprehensively renewed that any reader sharing in his journey will feel the impact. Trough his story of healing, Birungi calls readers to find healing for their own emotional scars.

To describe this book in one word, the word would be "Powerful". If we could all take to heart, the message of revolutionary forgiveness that the author is relating through his own personal story, it would change the world. I won't lie, the parts of his childhood that were filled with emotional and physical abuse are at times hard to read but the author continually weaves a theme through it that offers hope. He doesn't offer a "pat" solution saying it is easy and instantaneous, he shows how hard forgiveness is, and how it is a daily, moment by moment choice. But he also shows that if we continuously make that choice and move into revolutionary forgiveness, it can allow God to move in the most horrid and unimaginable of situations and bring beauty and change and celebration. I highly recommend this read.

25. "The Reliance" - Book 2: Legacy of the King's Pirates" by M. L. Tyndall

Completed: August 17, 2011

Rating: 8/10

Review: The story continues with Charlise and Edmund married and expecting their first child. Edmund is still patrolling the waters feeling called to rid the Caribbean of the worst of pirates. When the town they are in is attacked by a notorious pirate and the church Charlise is in trying to protect children blows up, Edmund's world is shattered as he believes she is dead. Throwing him into a downward spiral of drink and loss of his faith, he turns towards revenge and finding the pirate whom he believes is responsible. Meanwhile, Charlise finds herself kidnapped aboard another pirate ship, her death staged as a revenge against her husband. Not knowing of his struggles, she feels abandoned as they are driven farther and farther apart. Yet she hangs onto her faith and trusts God knows her plight.

Another edition full of adventure and piracy, revenge and misunderstanding, love and faith. I find this series very intriguing as the author weaves a story of faith in amongst a story of pirates. In my mind that is hard to wrap around but I feel the author has done it successfully. There were some very emotional moments in this edition of the series and lots of drama. Your heart was drawn to both the main characters in their struggles through their situations. While at times, the story seemed to be a stretch to be believable, taken for what it is, it was a good adventure/romance/fictional faith read and a great summer read if you enjoy the genre. It had enough in it to make me want to read the last installment to find out how the story shakes out.

26. "Tiger Lillie" by Lisa Samson

Completed: August 20, 2011

Rating: 9.5/10

Review: Lillie Bauer is a 32 year old single woman with what seems a full life. She owns a wedding co-ordinating business planning "extreme" weddings for those who want something different, has a wonderful relationship with her episcopallion priest father and mother, and has loving and caring friends and business partners. But she is struggling. Struggling with her weight and self image, struggling to get over the disappearance of the love of her life 15 years before, and struggling trying to navigate the dating scene seemingly ending up with one disaster after another. Desiring the type of marriage her parents have, she also struggles with watching her sister's troubled marriage get worse. When circumstances build in both business and personal life, Lillie must dig deep and find the strength and fortitude to do the courageous, something she is not sure she can.

Lisa Samson's very real characters always grab me and draw me into their stories and this was no exception. This was a story told by two sisters, one wishing for marriage and the other struggling through hers. It's the story of two sisters, each one trying to find themselves within their respective lives. And it's the story of two sisters, each trying to live out their faith, trying to deepen it within the situations they find themselves in. Most of the story is told by Lillie but is interspersed with thoughts from Tacy. As the story unfolds, you are gripped by what is being revealed. I laughed out loud with some of Lillie's quirkiness and humor, and I found myself crying in other parts, grieving for the characters. Other parts found me cheering on each sister as they tried to reach for the seemingly impossible, trying to find the courage and strength to do what each must. The book left me literally breathless at the end and I found myself replaying it in my mind over and over. It is a story I couldn't put down. Though some circumstances in the book are extremely emotional and sad, the story has a redemptive theme woven throughout. I thought it was extremely well told and is now one of my favorites by Lisa Samson.

27. "Chasing Lilacs" by Carla Stewart

Completed: August 24, 2011

Rating: 9/10

Review: It's the summer of 1958 and Sammie Tucker is planning on enjoying her last summer before junior high writing a "newspaper" for her small town with her best friend. But her life takes a sharp turn when her mother must be admitted to a hospital for her "nerve" problems. When her mother returns, Sammie hopes she will have a "regular" mother who does "regular" things with her, and her hopes seem to be coming true except for those confusing times when her mother says awkward things or can't seem to remember significant things out of their lives. Then something happens that totally turns Sammie's world upside down and changes it forever. Trying to cope, she is unsure who she can turn to in her pain.

This was an incredible story. The author caught me from the beginning and the story never slowed down for me. I wept with the story of this young girl's life as it is turned upside down while she herself is trying to find herself at a vulnerable age, trying to get rid of a stigma of mental health problems put upon her. I rejoiced with her as she found friendships that would become her rock and I loved how the author wove a story of hope and faith throughout the most difficult of circumstances without if seemingly put on and unreal. I can't say too much else without giving away story but I thought this debut novel by the author was outstanding.

28. "Rasputin's Daughter" by Robert Alexander

Completed: September 1, 2011

Rating: 6.5/10

Review: Maria Rasputin is the oldest daughter of the infamous "Mad Monk", the supposed "healer" that all of Russia either loves or hates. When Maria finds herself being interrogated after the fall of the Romanov's about the final days of her father, she tells a story of secrets, odd happenings and murder.

I was really wanting to read the two other books by this author after reading "The Kitchen Boy" which I loved (#12 in 2011 reviews). Although good, this didn't quite hit me the same way. It's a story taken from the viewpoint of Rasputin's oldest daughter, who lives with him and her sister and a housekeeper in the city away from her mother and other siblings. Maria loves and respects her father and because she is living with him is naturally drawn into the craziness that is his life. She is there to observe the constant demands on her father, mostly women lining up at her father's doorstep from morning until night, she is privy to his some of his strange teachings (including his weird dietary beliefs), knows that he is called upon by the Tsarista at all hours to come to the palace, but finds herself genuinely appalled and shocked when she comes upon her father in immoral acts. As a result she is thrown into confusion trying to justify these acts against the goodness she sees in her father and seeing his (percieved) devotion to God (which is mixed up in the revering and worshipping of icons) and his devotion to helping people. The actual story of Rasputin, from lack of another word coming to me, is so odd. Not because of the way the author writes, I think he did a remarkable job of explaining the controversies surrounding the mystic, but because of the sheer craziness of the beliefs of the time, the willingness of the people to so easily accept occultic thoughts and practices and the weird, twisted truths and outright false teachings that Rasputin, amongst others, put out there. There was so much twisting of scripture, absolute sin and debauchery, all hidden behind a veil of spirituality done both by Rasputin and by other secret sects of the time. Rasputin believed that giving in to temptation had to happen in order to experience repentance and salvation and for him it was sex and alcohol abuse. He would claim to be cleansing the women while committing adulterous acts with them and in their desperation they believed him. It was actually grieving to me to read how people were deceived into such devotion to an absolutely immoral man.

Thrown into the historical facts that come with the man Rasputin is the story of Maria and her meeting with a young poet named Sasha whom she falls in love with. When an attempt on her father's life is made right in front of her and it looks like Sasha may have had a part she feels betrayed, hurt and angry and does not see him again for years. But then unexpectedly he again turns up in her life claiming innocence yet there are secrets surrounding him. Can she once again trust him especially as she feels the same drawing towards him as the first time? As her father starts to predict his demise and Maria's life starts to spin out of control she becomes desperate to gain any information she can about attempts against her father in order to try to protect him, she puts her own life into risky situations. At times during Maria's story, the parts between actual historical fact and author license were a bit blurry for me I couldn't actually tell at times what was real and what was coming from the author's imagination. But that is good writing on the part of the author. Although the author did have a note at the back telling us the chronological order of the politcal happenings and what happened to the "real" characters from the story, I wished he would have added a bit of detail as to what events narrated in the story concerning Maria were actually historical facts.

The book is a fascinating read of religious deception, desperation of a people as a whole and as a nation, political revolution, all mixed in with a young girl with a strong love of family coming of age in the midst of it all. The author has lived in Russia and you can see the research of the history of the time all throughout his books. If you like this kind of a mix, I would say read but with a caution. I feel the need to insert a warning that there are several parts of the book that, in my opinion, deserve an "R" rating though the story is not over-run with them. It is definitely an adult read and has the ability to offend. The story would have been just as good without detailed descriptions of some instances of the sexual immorality. In all honesty, reading of the way the people were so deceived, totally makes me want to study my bible more so that I would know truth from falsity and deception.

29. "Cherished" by Kim Cash Tate

Completed: September 10, 2011

Rating: 7.5/10

Review: Growing up in Saint Louis, Kelli London dreamed of becoming a songwriter and glorifying God with her songs of praise. But after falling into sin, she walks away from her dreams. Heather Anderson’s life has spun out of control—first an affair with a married man and then a one-night stand with the drummer of a popular Christian band. Broken and alone, she discovers the only one who can save her. Brian Howard grew up as a science geek. But after making the worst mistake of his life after high school, he finds forgiveness in Christ and is being led down a completely different path. Now he must choose whether to continue pursuing his PhD in biochemistry or to become a full time Christian rapper.

Tate’s characters bring a reflection of our own poor choices. Readers walk away knowing that despite their worst mistakes, they are cherished by their Creator. “The enemy will try to make you feel guilty about your past, and he’ll use your own thoughts or he’ll use other people. But if you know who you are, he won’t succeed,” says Tate.

My Thoughts: While the book started off a touch slow for me it really started to draw me once the character of Kelli moves back to Saint Louis and all the characters start coming into play in the story. It really is a story that really points out how God cherishes us and wants to forgive us. It really brings home that no matter what we have done, what wrong choices we have made, God is ready and waiting to forgive and wants us to repent so that He can start healing our hearts and bring us into the life He wants for us. I really liked how the author did not just make a pat story where everything goes just fine for everyone once they've repented but that the characters did have some tough stuff to deal with even after they had repented and turned to God as did the characters who had to deal with the fall out of someone else's sins. It showed how each had to turn to God for grace to walk through it. Granted it did seem to all wrap up nicely by the end but in reality the novel would have to be a huge tome if that part of the story is dragged out.

The story also made me think of the church's reactions (read: my reactions) to others and forgiveness. It brought up some interesting aspects and made me really look into my own heart. Why do we find it hard sometimes to forgive people their sins even when we believe in God's forgiveness and we, ourselves, have been forgiven? When more than one person is involved in the sin, why do we sometimes receive one person back "into the fold" but still hold it above the other person's head? Why if we believe that" God throws our sins as far as the east is from the west" do we find it hard to forgive ourselves or others? And why do we make ourselves and others keep "paying" for it?

All in all, I thought it was a great story that made me think, and when a novel can entertain me and yet cause me to think and search my own heart, that makes it a very worthwhile read.

30. "Sifted" by Rick Lawrence

Completed: September 24, 2011

Rating: 8/10

Review: Sifted is a book that takes a look at troubles, problems and pain in our lives through the scripture in Luke 22: 31-32 where Jesus tells Peter he will be sifted as wheat. The two sentences within that scripture and broken down and explored in detail in reference to why we go through things today. It is an honest and challenging exploration but one that leaves the reader with encouragement to become who God wants us to be.

This a tough subject and one I think we have to face our own resistance to and I think the author dealt with it well, exploring the sifting process using scripture throughout and examples from his own life. While some of the thoughts and teaching in the first half are challenging, they are definitely worth exploring and the second half of the book is full of hope and encouragement. It was a bit of struggle to get into the book in the beginning because of writing style, but I'm glad I persevered because it all started to "click" in the second half.

31. "The Restitution" by M.L. Tyndall

Completed: September 26, 2011

Rating: 7.5/10

Review: This is the last in the "Legacy of the King's Pirates" series. The story continues with Lady Isabel Ashton who was kidnapped aboard the pirate ship of Captain Kent Carlton in the last book. Finding herself pregnant with the captain's child when she finally is rescued she finds herself living at the church in Port Royal. Her fledgling faith is taking faltering steps as she works to learn the Christian faith from the Reverend Thomas. She struggles to come to terms with the spurning of her family and her loss of position in society, but still hangs onto the hope of returning some day to privilaged society. Then the unthinkable happens and a pirate who is out for revenge against Carlton kidnaps the baby.

Meanwhile Kent Carlton's life has been changing as he seeks Isabel in every port to gain her forgiveness and hopefully win her heart. He has no idea he has fathered a child and is shocked to learn of the baby when Richard Sawkins, with whom he has a not good history, shows up telling him of the kidnapping and where Isabel is. When her father refuses to help look for his grandson, Isabel turn to Captain Carlton to help find their son, even though she still mistrusts him and his intentions.

I found this a good wrap up to the series. The story was an adventure and it was fast paced as Isabel and Kent found danger around every bend as they searched to find their son. I really like how this author wove, in all three installments, the struggles of each characters faith as they were thrown into situations both of their own making and ones thrust upon them by others. Isabel's coming to terms with her need to marry into title and wealth at the expense of love and happiness was an interesting journey. As was Kent's journey into faith. The addition of a deceiving nobleman after Isabel's hand in marriage was storyline that kept me guessing and the twist of his past with Captain Carlton was unexpected. They're resolving of deep, hurtful issues was also woven seamlessly into the story, it wasn't choppy at all, everything flowed. While some of the adventures and circumstances made me wonder if something like that would happen, it didn't take away from an adventure story that has a faith story involved. I really liked the footnotes at the back telling about the real life pirates who were a part of this book. All in all, it was a great series for a summer read of the historical/romance/faith genre.

32. "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

Completed: October 1, 2011

Rating: 10/10

Review: (from the cover): Doctors took her cells without asking. Those cells never died. They launched a medical revolution and a multi-million dollar industry. More than twenty years later her children found out. Their lives would never be the same.

A few words I would use to describe this book: Wow, shocking, unbelievable, informative, thought provoking, scary, moving, sensitive, stuff of science fiction but real life. This is the story of the first "immortal" human cells grown in culture in a lab. And they were taken from a black woman who was a poor tobacco farmer in the early '50's without her knowledge or consent. "HeLa" has since become the most widely used cell line in the world for research, numbering in the trillions and still exists today. It has brought scientific breakthroughs such as the polio vaccine, invitro fertilization and gene mapping. They have tried to clone them, inject with poisons, develop cures for cancer. They have shown scientists how viruses work and the effects of the atom bomb. And yet the family didn't know until twenty years after they took Henrietta's cells. The author tells such an incredible true story weaving between the scientific viewpoint to the human side to the family's struggles with the news and outcome. I could not put this book down. It is definitely not dry and textbook-y. Yet you learn so much. It brings up subjects of ethics, racism, human rights, consent, privacy, ownership, reimbursement all while bringing your emotions to the surface in what the family has gone through and the struggles of the daughter who never knew her mother in trying to get answers and some recognition for her mom and her contribution to the world. As I was reading it, I kept thinking this would make a great movie, and have since found out that Oprah has picked it up for her OWN network. I highly recommend this read.

33. "The Wishing Trees" by John Shors

Completed: October 19, 2011

Rating: 7.5/10

Review: Ian deeply loved his wife of 15 years, so when she passed away, leaving Ian with a young 8 year old daughter, he was devastated at at the loss and stuck in how to move on and how to help his daughter, Mattie. A year after her death, he is still struggling when on his birthday he opens a package that Kate had left for him to open on that day. Inside he finds canisters containing letters both to himself and to Mattie that they are to open in the various countries that him and Kate had travelled to along with a request from Kate to take Mattie to those places. Honoring her request they go on a journey to refind and redefine themselves as a family without a mom and wife. While journeying, Mattie leaves drawings of the places they have visited and notes and wishes for her mother in old "wishing" trees (taken from the beliefs of one of the countries they visit) as a way to connect with her mom. As Kate's letters guide them they search for the healing of their hearts.

I have to say I'm having a hard time reviewing this book. The story was extremely touching but also so sad at times my heart felt heavy in my chest. Reading of a husband's and a little girl's trying to make sense and move on from the death of wife and mother was heart wrenching and while the story had bright and lovely moments it was still underscored with that sadness of them trying to find their way. I did love how the author used the character of Kate's letters to point Ian and Mattie to look beyond themselves into helping others, that was definitely a high point of the story. Seeing Mattie find joy as she gave to others was uplifting. This is not a novel from written from a Christian perspective so I was not expecting any theological explorations of a Christian world view about death. But as the story progressed, the viewpoints on death of the various cultures was outlined. All it seemed except a Christian worldview, in fact, there was one comment in the book which was a total derogatory comment towards God. And taken in the context you knew the author was referring to the God of the Bible. And that is the only time the God of the Bible is mentioned. And that made me sad and angry, in all honesty. All views were spoken of with respect, except the God of the Bible. Coming from a Christian perspective and world view, I felt grieved throughout the whole story as Mattie tried to make sense out where her mother might be and if she would see her again. I kept wanting to say, "I have without a doubt the answer". And again I'd remind myself that this is not a story written from a Christian view. So all in all the story left me sad, even though the author tied it up with a pretty bow.

34. "Sunrise on the Battery" by Beth Webb Hart

Completed: October 28, 2011

Rating: 9/10

Review: Jackson and Mary Lynn Scoville are on their way up in Charleston society. They are accomplishing all they set out to do in their family goals and are one step away from the very top. But at what price? Every once in a while the desire for a family dedicated to God surfaces in Mary Lynn's heart and silences the social drive. When she finally asks for prayer at the church she attends occasionally, she is unprepared for the radical change that is about to come upon her family.

I loved this story. One can't help but be drawn to the characters, because as a mom, who doesn't want the best for their children and to give their children better than what they had? I may not go to the extent of wanting the social prestige that the couple in the book did or go to their extremes to get there but their desire is still relatable. Each character was portrayed so well and you could understand the feelings and reactions of each one, which I find a real accomplishment for a writer. Jackson's drive to better his and his family's lives by being a driven, self made man who pushes that drive onto his family, Mary Lynn's desire to have the very best that a place in society can give her girls but still desiring her family to be a family that loves God. The girls reactions to being pushed to always being better and feeling they never measure up. And then Mary Lynn's shock to a very radical change in her husband she didn't expect when he finally becomes a Christian and her whole world, that they have worked so hard for, is turned upside down. These were all aspects of the story and characters that no matter what station in life a person is can be related to. This was, in my opinion a great contemporary read and will make the reader question what such a radical change from what they put their reliance on in this world to a faith that "walks the walk" would do in their own life and family.

35. "The Orchard" by Jeffrey Stepakoff

Completed: November 4, 2011

Rating: 9/10

Review: Grace Lyndon is at the top of game, quickly becoming a rising star in the field of flavors and perfumes. When she's chosen to take on an a major account developing flavor for a drink company, by all accounts she has arrived. But issues arise which go against her grain, so when she comes across a type of apple that surpasses any she's ever tried, she is determined to track down where the apple has come from.

Dylan Jackson is a man in grief over the loss of his wife a few years ago. Unable to move on, he is still has not even cleaned out the closet of her clothes. Farming the apple orchard that his wife loved, he buries himself in his work to raise the best organic apples while trying his best to raise his 10 year old daughter. When Grace approaches him to study his apples he immediately declines, but Grace is a determined young woman. But the apple and the study of it is the very thing that will change both of their lives.

I loved this story. From the beginning to the end it was a wonderful read. The author has a real way of drawing you into the world of flavorists and perfumers and makes it so interesting. I had no idea the two were connected. The love story is sweet and totally believable. Totally Hallmark movie written all over it.

36. "Hope Underground - The 34 Chilean Miners: A Story of Faith and Miracles" by Carlos Parra Diaz

Completed: November 13, 2011

Rating: 9/10

Review: Who does not remember the Chilean mining disaster from the year 2010? It was all over the news and who doesn't remember the joy and celebration of when those miner's ascended and came out of the Phoenix capsule, every one of them having their lives spared and everyone of them proclaiming the goodness of God? It was an amazing story. This is the story written from the unique perspective of the chaplain of "Camp Hope", one of 15 who ministered to the families and loved ones camped around the mine entrance for 10 weeks while the rescue operation was in progress. He shares the hopes and prayers of the those waiting in the desert, the efforts of the government and rescue team and how they never gave up and the joy of communications with the miners. As news came that all the miners were alive and the news of their faith that was holding them together 700 metres below the earth started to trickle upwards through notes being sent back and forth, the world waited with bated breath to see if the miners would actually make it out alive. And make it out they did, with testimonies of the "34th" miner, of a God who preserved them and who manifested Himself to them in their entrapment. Chaplain Carlos recounts an amazing story of how people stood together in faith and then watched God work a miracle through those who wouldn't give up. An excellent read and one that will help you view trials and hardship through a perspective of hope.

37. "Softly & Tenderly" by Sarah Evans with Rachel Hauck

Completed: November 20, 2011

Rating: 8.5/10

Review: Softly and Tenderly is a multi-layered story that just drew me in right from the beginning. In the words of the main character, she married into a Southern soap opera. And the book is definitely filled with lots of drama. But believable drama. It's the story of a family's life of secrets. And what happens when one convinces themselves that keeping a secret is for the good but then the secrets start to rise to the surface. It's a story of loss and reconcilliation and of God providing in ways that we would never have imagined. It begged me to ask the question would I be willing to find the blessing in the way God chooses to provide rather than in the way I would imagine. I found it well written and was surprised to find after reading it that it's actually a second in a series. The book can stand well on it's own and I was never lost or confused. The characters are all so relatable in their reactions and emotions. The only thing that was a negative for me and it's just a small oversight in my opinion, was that the character who throughout the whole book who was refered to in the story as June all of a sudden started to be refered to as Mom in the later chapters. Which sort of threw me and I had to think who they were talking about. But I definitely enjoyed the story and would love to get ahold of the 1st in the series and look forward to the 3rd coming next year.

38. "The Encounter" by Stephen Arterburn

Completed: November 30, 2011

Rating: 8/10

Review: A very quick and easy read, "The Encounter" was nevertheless a very moving story of the deep pain within a man's life. Through Johnathon Rush's story the topics of rejection/abandonment, deep seated pain and rage and their consequences in a life, fear, healing, acceptance and restoration are touched upon as are learning the truth and not making assumptions. Written by the man who started Women of Faith, the story stems from two real incidents in his own life. It shows that confronting the pain and allowing forgiveness opens God's doors to healing and freedom. The story is very relatable in the sense that most of us will face deep pain brought on by rejection at some time in our lives. We may not face the same circumstance as the characters but the consequences of holding anger and bitterness deeply affect us all. There are questions in the back of the book to help the reader take a look at their own lives and start the steps towards allowing God to intervene.

39. "Angel Sister" by Ann H. Gabhart

Completed: December 13, 2011

Rating: 7.5/10

Review: Set in Kentucky during the 30's, Angel Sister is the story of a family who have a deep love for each other and yet have struggles within themselves. Victor, the father, is a veteran from the war who has a very tense relationship with his own controlling, vindicative father. Things were going seemingly well for a while but then dreams from his past started to take their toll and he drowns his insecurities in the bottle. His wife Nadine is the love of his life and while she loves him dearly, the drinking starts to take it's toll on her. Being raised with a preacher for a father, she knows the Lord wants to take her burdens but it is just becoming too much. Kate is the responsible middle daughter who does everything right. When she comes upon an abandoned little girl left on her grandfather's church steps she brings her home. But when the family immediately accepts her as one of their own it sets in motion a turn of events that they never imagined, raising feelings and memories they never wanted.

The reader is caught up in waves of emotions from joy to sorrow as the story unfolds. The raw emotions of some of the characters are right up front and felt by the reader. Though selfishness and unforgiveness are the catalyst for some of the awful things that happen the grace of other characters leave the reader with hope for every hard situation.

40. "Faithful" by Kim Cash Tate

Completed: December 27, 2011

Rating: 7.5/10

Review: Faithful is the story of three friends all in different walks in their lives but who are all faced with choices to be faithful to their beliefs and/or spouses. Cyd is turning 40 and still single. A committed Christian, her beliefs are put to the test when she meets a man who tries to charm his way into her life, one who professes to be a Christian but obviously has one thing on his mind. Dana is also a Christian who leads a marriage group at her church along with her husband. But her world and beliefs come crashing down around her when she finds her husband having an affair with a fellow church member. Phyllis, also a Christian, has a happy marriage but is married to a man who is very resistant to anything to do with church and Christianity. As her struggles to juggle her beliefs and her husband's wishes become harder, she starts to lose hope for all the prayers and hope she has had over the years for her husband to embrace Christianity. When away by herself at a high school reunion, she runs into a former schoolmate who she finds herself becoming attracted to because of his strong Christian beliefs, she must take a good hard look at her own heart.

Faithful takes an honest look at Christian's lives and struggles with purity of heart and mind and what it means to be faithful to God and to your spouse and to yourself in the midst of temtation. The characters all go through some very difficult situations that any person may face and their struggles to make the right choices and to trust God are written very well. The characters are likeable and relatable. Woven into the story are spiritual and practical ways that the reader can take away to help deal with these kinds of situations.

2010 Completed Books and Reviews

2010-01-10T09:49:00.090-07:00

Wow, the start of not only a new year but a new decade! So many books so little time as always. I finished last year just shy of one book of my yearly goal of 30 but I had lots of review books and some good non-fiction throughout the year. Those always slow me down a bit. But we're off to a new year, fresh clean slate. Because 20-30 seems to be my norm, I'm going to challenge myself with 32 to finish for 2010.

As always, I am not a professional reviewer. It's just my opinions on the stories and how I felt about them. This is mostly for my own records. Sometimes I just want to remember what a book was about and whether I liked it or not.

1. "Freefall" by Kristen Heintzmann

Date Completed: January 9, 2010

Rating: 8.5

Review: When a young woman who

can't remember who she is shows up at

Nica's Kauai home, her first instinct is to call her brother who lives on the mainland. Fearing for Monica's fragile

emotions Cameron, a fraud investigator immediately flies to Hawaii to check out who this person is that his sister is drawn to help. With no memory at all of who she is or why she was in the mountains of Kauai, Nica gives the name Jade to this stranger. But Cameron is at his most suspicious, wondering if the amnesia is all an act. To complicate matters when it turns out that Jade is really Gentry Fox, a rising star, Cameron also has to fight his emotions being involved. Can he trust that this Gentry is being up front and as honest as possible as they crazily return to the mountain on the hunch that Gentry has that she

has left someone behind up there and that they may be in trouble. But as Gentry's memory starts to return in bits and pieces, the mystery only deepens about what really happened up by the waterfall.

I really enjoyed this suspense/romance. The romance that budded between the main characters even as one struggled to figure out who she was and what was going on her life, and the other one fought any relationship due to past hurts was well written. I enjoyed their dialogue and related to their one ste

p forward/two steps back relating in the beginning due to mistrust. Issues of forgiveness, trust, integrity, struggling with life changing circumstances and Christian values rising to the top.

2. "Halos" by Kristen Heitzmann

Completed: January 14, 2010

Rating: 9/10

Review: All her life Alessie Moore has taken halos as a sign of good things to come. So when she pulls into the town of Charity to fill up with gas, after driving from Florida, she is mesm

erized by the quiet beauty of the small town. And when she sees halos around the streetlights she just knows something good is coming for her. But as she pays for her gas things are set in motion that will leave her with nothing and everything good and positive she believes in is tested as she is left stranded in the town. With not much help from the local sheriff or it's citizens who refuse to acknowledge anything bad can happen in their town, an evil darkness threatens to take over which sets Alessi up as it's victim.

Loved this story. It held me riveted and I couldn't put the book down in spots. I never guessed until the end what was going on. The author skillfully slowly revealed bits and pieces of the mystery of the town but didn't fully expose what was going on until the end so I never guessed. The climax near the end left me breathless and tearful as I kept turning the pages wondering the outcome. The only reason I didn't give it a 10 in the rating was the love story between the main characters. While the story was wonderful with great dialogue, I always find the "falling in love" within a couple weeks of meeting between characters a little unbelievable. Maybe I'm getting old and forget what young love is like. LOL. But an awesome read notwithstanding.

3. "Stepping into Sunlight" by Sharon Hinck

Completed: January 25, 2010

Rating: 8.5/10

Review: Penny has had so many changes in her life lately. A big move leaving friends and family behind, her husband bein

g deployed as an navy chaplain and caring and helping her 7 year old son adjust to it all, that when the tragedy of witnessing a crime happens right before her husband leaves, it just becomes too much too to process. She withdraws further and further, her days becoming harder and harder to manage even as she tells her husband in their emails that everything is just fine so that he won't worry. When simple tasks such as taking her son to the bus or picking up groceries totally overwhelm she wonders where God is. But God

is there the whole time sending Penny help in the most unusual ways. But can Penny grab ahold of those helps or will she continue on trying to help herself out on her own strength.

My first read by Sharon Hinck has me hooked. A sensitive story that takes you through every emotion imaginable, I really felt for the characters. Every woman can relate to wondering where God is when life hurts and the author really was able to show how things we don't even think of can be those helps that we need at just the right time if only we will take them.

4. "A Flickering Light" by Jane Kirkpatrick

Completed: February 1, 2010

Rating: 8.5/10

Review: Jessie Gaebele wants nothing more than to

be a professional photographer one day owning her own studio. At age 14 she is thrilled to land a job at

one of top studio's in the town of Winona, Minnesota where she is employed for the next 3 years. As she learns the ins and outs of studio photography including the

posing, the lighting and the workings of a darkroom, her dream is well under way. Her business ability shines through when the owner, F.J. Bauer must take extended time off to heal from mercury poisoning, obtained from exposure to the toxic chemicals needed to print the portraits. But with her successes also comes tempations and trials she never thought she would face in the form of attraction to her married employer.

Jane Kirkpatrick has written many historical novels about real pioneer women and in this series she is finally telling a bit about her own family history. From interviews, artifacts, and articles about her own grandmother, she puts together a compelling story of a real family member. While the story touches on areas that are hard to read as a Christian, namely the attraction between Jessie and her married employer, the author explores the nature of men and women working closely together in a business setting. The author, to me, also showed clearly how sin works it's way into a person's life slowly even while one is denying the whole time that sin is taking a foothold. Also shown was how when we live with guilt from past events in our lives, we may make seriously wrong decisions that affect our futures. Through the story telling we are shown how Jessie clearly did not want to see what others were seeing and how it took the embroiling of others into her wrongdoing that finally opened her eyes. We are also shown how hard, at times, it is to leave that sin behind and how it may take drastic measures to do what is right.

One thing I really enjoyed too, while reading Jessie's story, is the factual and well researched area of photography in the early 1900's. I loved how the author wove all the information about how dangerous and life threatening it could be, and the technical aspects of it right into the story. I learned something without even realizing I was actually learning. Love that. Looking forward to the next in the series.

5. "Prayers for Sale" by Sandra Dallas

Completed: February 5, 2010

Rating:10/10

Review: Hennie Comfort has lived in Middle Swan, a mountain mining town, for seventy years. At 86 years of age, Hennie is content and loves her mountain in Colorado, but her daughter would like to move her to Iowa with her family for what remains of her life. But Hennie is not ready for that, and as she meets a young wife who has just moved to Middle Swan, Hennie senses God wants her to befriend the young girl. When the girl, Nit, reads a "Prayers for Sale" sign on Hennie's fence post, she feels compelled to leave a nickel and ask for a prayer. Hennie, never selling the prayers at all, but always ready to pray for someone, invites the young woman in. As they grow closer, Nit finds a friend in old Hennie, a wise woman who can show her the ways of the mountain. And by befriending Nit, Hennie finds an avid and engaged listener for her beloved stories of the mountain town and it's people.

A story of friendship and love, harsh and difficult lives, and the secrets surrounding them. I loved this book! Could not put it down. The author weaves a story that spans the civil war in the late 1800's to the depression through the life of Hennie, the main character. The characters are rich and well developed. The stories skillfully and beautifully woven. My heart was torn at the harshness of life these people endured and rejoiced with them in their blessings. I hated to see the story end. But felt such satisfaction that I'd just read something wonderful.

6. "In Search of Eden" by Linda Nichols

Completed: February 15, 2010

Rating: 9/10

Review: Miranda has felt without hope and guilty ever since giving birth to a baby at age fifteen. Noreen, her mother, took over the decision to adopt the baby and would not even let Miranda see or know anything about the babe. Given to wandering and being uncommitted in all aspects of life, Miranda has wandered from job to job, city to city in an effort to forget. When her mother falls ill with cancer and subsequently dies, Miranda is left to handle the estate. Coming across an envelope that contains a picture of a baby and a faded postmark, Miranda is on a quest in hopes of finding her child who would now be 11.

I enjoyed the story. The characters were well written and believeable and I loved the personality of Eden, the young girl who befriends Miranda. I thought the author wrote very interesting connecting stories of the other main characters and wove them all together in a thoughtful and sensitive way. Miranda's journey to find her child turned into a lovely story of also finding herself.

7. Beneath a Southern Sky by Deborah Raney

Completed: February 23, 2010

Rating: 9.5/10

Review: Deborah Raney is one of my favorite authors. She takes wonderful real characters and plunges them into situations that look impossible and then lets the story unfold all the while totally grabbing ahold of your emotions and never letting go until the end. And even then her stories stay with you for a long time in their tim

eless message. It is the same with this story. We meet Daria and her doctor husband, Dr. Nate Camfield, serving as missionaries to a remote tribe in Columbia. With a deep love for each other and desire to serve God in their calling, they are living in the midst of a rainforest ministering to a trible called the Timone. When other villagers come asking Dr. Nate for his help little do they know as Nate leaves that their lives are about to change forever. When Nate doesn't return in the time set, Daria is torn between calling in help and holding off thinking he just got delayed. When news finally comes that Nate has died in a tragic turn of events, Daria heads home to Kansas with a broken heart and Nate's child growing within her. As she goes through the process of grief and tries to rebuild a life for her and Nate's young daughter, it seems God has brought a wonderful Christian man into her life to do just that. But as she ignores a small voice within her and marries Cole, a telegram will come that plunges all they know into an impossible situation and forces her into making a heart rending decision.

I couldn't put the book down. From the beginning, I was right into the story and could relate to all the emotions the characters displayed throughout the story. I thought the author beautifully wove in the themes of faith, forgiveness, trust and sacrifice in a story that I couldn't get out of my thoughts for days. I highly recommend this one.

8. "Here's the Deal-

Don't Touch Me" by Howie Mandel

Completed: February 26, 2010

Rating: 5/10

Review: I wanted to read this story of Howie Mandel's because of the the component of OCD and adult diagnosed severe ADHD that he deals with in his life. While I did learn a lot about what he has to face on a daily basis and a basic knowledge of how an adult with ADHD, OCD would be acting and why, and a small smidge of what it would be like to live with a germophobe/hypochondriac, I should have known that with him being a stand up comic there would be vulgarity in the book. I always have a hard time reviewing books like this because it is an autobiography so how can I give it a not good rating when he is writing about his life and some of his stories are gut wrenchingly honest and you really feel for what he has gone through his whole life. But on the same token I do not enjoy books with f-bombs scattered through out and "R" stories within them. While there were some laugh out loud moments there were very many cringe worthy moments within the book as he relates some of the jokes he has taken too far and a whole chapter that I feel didn't even need to be in there but was just in there for crudeness sake and shock value. I do, however, acknowledge the fact that this must have been very difficult for him to write, that the world would now have a very different picture of him. I also wish he would have spent a bit more time relating how he controls on a daily basis his OCD, germophobia, and ADHD rather than so many stories of how they got him in trouble.

So there ya go, on the one hand a good score for allowing his life to be open so that we can have a better understanding of all those lettered mental health issues though he could have stuck much more to those themes and a low score because did I really need to know some of the more vulgar happenings in his life that got him to where he is today. Average came out to 5/10.

9. "Screen Play" by Chris Coppernoll

Completed: March 11, 2010

Rating: 8.5/10

Review: Actress Harper Gray is at loose ends with her life in Chicago. With no acting jobs now for a year, her best friend moved to New York and a break up that knocked her for a loop she was thankful when a call from an old friend who was producing a remake of a famous play, asking her to come and be the understudy for the main actress. With nothing to lose she packed up for New York never dreaming that that move would change her life in more ways than one. Just when she thinks that her life can not be more blessed, something happens that rocks her to the core.

For me this story took a couple of chapters to really get rolling but once it did, I really enjoyed it. The characters are real with flaws and everyday situations that can be related to even though the main character is an actress, a world I have nothing to do with. I really like the character of Harper who after having a year of some really difficult issues to overcome, walked out her faith in the very difficult setting of first Broadway and then Hollywood. I thought the romance part of the book was sweet and engaging with a realness attached to it. All in all a fun read with a message that explores Broadway, Hollywood, internet dating, love and faith.

10. "Glaen" by Fred R. Lybrand

Completed: March 12, 2010

Rating: 8.5/10

Review: After Annie is told about her parent's divorce, everything she knows about relationships is up for questioning. When th

e opportunity to attend a writing class at her university is available, Annie decides to research and write about what the secret is that makes relationships last a lifetime. With the help of her knowledgeable, albeit strange profressor, she embarks upon a journey that will lead her to the truth and cause her to examine what she herself believes.

A very easy read, Glaen is a story with big lessons. It's a fictional story that teaches biblical relationship principles. The author suggests reading it once for the story and then reading it again to learn. There is plenty of room on each page for personal notes and underlining. It's a great resource to use to teach your own children or a youth or young people's group what romance, love and relating really are from a biblical perspective and it would easily open up conversations between the readers. A study guide is also available.

11. Here Burn s My Candle by Liz Curtis Higg s

Completed: March 27, 2010

Rating: 7.5/10

Review: Set in 1745 Scotland, this is the story of a family full of secrets. Lady Elisabeth Kerr loves her husband of 3 years but cannot bring herself to tell him of her belief in the old ways of her family of the Highlands. Lord Donald Kerr is a Lowlander with secrets that he works hard to hide. His mother Lady Dowager Marjory Kerr takes great pride in her title and in her sons but has secrets of her own she is hiding.

As Scotland is thrown into war loyalties must be chosen, but did they choose correctly. Can they get past all their secrets to remain a family as war brings hardship and heartache.

I loved the way the author took the story of Ruth and Naomi and gave it a different backdrop, 18th century Scotland. I enjoyed the story but admittedly I was one of those who struggled in the beginning quarter of the book because of the Scottish dialect woven throughout and the old way of speaking represented in the book. But once I got into the rhythm of that then the story flowed along. I loved the historical aspect to the story and thought is was well presented. You learned of the historical goings on of the time without the story becoming dry and bogged down allowing the relationships playing amongst the main characters to be forefront.

12. "An Absence So Great" by Jane Kirkpatric k

Completed: April 7, 2010

Rating: 8/10

Review: In this novel, Jane Kirkpatrick continues the story of Jessie AnnGaeble as she continues to pursue her dream of owning and operating her own photographic studio. In trying to put aside her guilty feelings about her feelings for her first boss, she heads off to Milwaukee to help out another woman run a studio. Jessie continues to move around to other studios carefully putting money aside and with the solid goal always before her of owning a studio. When one comes available for sale in her hometown she pursues it and eventually becomes the owner but at what cost to her.

I was very much looking forward to this continuing story of the author's own grandmother. I loved how she wove struggles with integrity, guilt, forgivenss, and listening to God in your heart into the story and didn't hide the bad consequences of wrong decisions. Many emotions were raised in me as Jessie was forced to face forgiving herself, and Fred and Mrs. Bauer faced very hard facts about their lives. It was very interesting reading about the exploration of family issues and divorce, blended families and women's struggles to prove themselves from the beginning of the 1900's. While I am not one to choose a book that exalts divorce within it's story , I felt this did not look at it in that vein. It clearly showed the heartache in the breakdown of a family and how decisions affected more than the individuals involved, but it was still hard to read about a young woman who professed to be a Christian and her part in it. Those parts left me feeling sad and disappointed. But I also realize that it was a fiction novel based on the author's real grandmother and therefore part of her story. As always, the author's research into the time period and into the customs and attitudes of the culture at that time were well brought out in the story as was her research into photography and working women's issues.

13. "Tallgrass" by San dra Dallas

Completed: April 11, 2010

Rating: 10/10

Review: Rennie is a young 13 year old girl who lives in the small town of Ellis, Colorado. Her days are spent as most girl's of the '40's, going to school and helping out on the family farm. Rennie's family is a close one and she loves her simple farm life. Then Pearl Harbour happens and the government builds an interment camp for the Japanese just outside of their town. The town is turned upside down and loyalties become divided as the war progresses and people in the town are either suspicious of the Japanese people or struggle to support them against the town's very vocal naysayers. When a young local girl is brutally murdered and the blame is put upon the Japanese men in the camp tensions continue to grow to a breaking point.

I don't know what it is about Sandra Dallas' writing but she grabs me from the first page to the last. This book is no different. There is so much emotion drawn out of the reader and her characters caused me to look deep within my own heart and question how I would react if this were ever to happen again. My own pastor and his family, when he was a boy, was a Japanese family here in Canada who were put into a local camp and lived through the experience of being taken from your home and put into government camps with everything taken from you and your citizenship questioned. This story by Sandra Dallas really pointed out some of the things his family may have gone through. Very moving with richly written characters, Tallgrass really explores an awful time in our history, looks at the bad and the good of humankind and causes one to ask which side they would be on.

14. "The Right Call" by Kathy Herman

Completed: April 19, 2010

Rating: 9.5/10

Review: Based on 2 Peter2:19b:

"For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him". The Right Call demonstrates how we are all slaves to something, either to God or to the flesh.

Ethan Langley has returned to Sophie Trace for the summer to work at his uncle's construction company in order to pay for his university. But there is other things drawing him to Sophie Trace, namely the lovely young daughter of police chief Brill Jessup. But Ethan returns to find his cousin and best friend Drew in the midst of deep grief over the shooting death of his roommate. Before they know it others are dying in drive by shooting and the town is in turmoil. When Drew falls victim and Vanessa and her baby son are witnesses, the stakes are even higher and Ethan must make choices when they are threatened. Can he do the right thing even when it might mean danger to all involved?

This 3rd installment to the Sophie Trace Trilogy had everything. Edge of your seat suspense, a little romance, solid characters. I've really enjoyed reading this series by Kathy Herman. The suspense was right up my alley. Fast paced & grabbing ahold of me right from the very beginning and holding my attention right to the end. I'm not a fan of the scare your pants off club but I do love a suspense mystery where I can't put it down because I just have to find out what's going on and what's going to happen. This is the kind of suspense that this book presents. And woven around the suspense is truths of life about our choices and their consequences, whether for the good or for the bad. I found the characters solid and believable as they struggled to understand what was going on around them. All in all a great read individually or as a series.

15. "Cook This, Not That" by David Zinczenko & Matt Goulding

Completed: April 16,

2010

Rating: 10/10

Review: Love this set of books. This one deals with our favorite foods at restaurants. It details what is used to make them taste so good to us and most of the time it is not good. Then it gives many recipes or substitutions that we can make at home to get a similar version to our favorites at specific restaurants but of course much healthier. It also gives us better options at the restaurant itself. Lots of bright wonderful pictures. I'll be buying this one as the recipes look absolutely delicious.

16. "Unexplainable - Pursuing a Life Only God Can Make Possible" by Don Co usins

Completed: April 20, 2010

Review: 10/10

Review: I usually never finish non-fiction teaching type books. But this one I did. And I loved it. The author takes us through the Christian walk and living a life that is Unexplainable apart from God in every area of our daily living. And then he left the last chapters to help us understand that all the steps are unattainable apart from the grace of God. I found it a great encouragement in everyday Christian living and living it in a way that 'causes others to notice because it is unexplainable. Definitely a keeper to refer to again.

17. "Why Manners Matter - the case for civilized behavior in a barbarous world" by Lucinda Holdforth

Completed: May 5, 2010

Rating: 8/10

Review: I picked up this book at the library because I must admit I do like manners and I do think they are important. They title totally grabbed me and I'm glad I got it. The author makes the case for manners by taking us through different centuries and introducing us to different civilizations and the people who set the manners of the day and how they used them in their day and takes us to the present and where we sit with manners now. From the courts of Louis XIV to the salons of France to today's workplace the author shows that manners do matter. I also loved this book because it's really quotable and I do love a good quote. The only thing that was a downside for me was the occasional F bomb thrown in which is really ironic considering it is a book on manners.

18. "The Silent Gift" by Michael Landon, Jr. & Cindy Kelley
Completed: May 5, 2010

Rating: 10/10

Review: A young mother, Mary, with a fierce, protective love for her deaf/mute child yet hiding secrets of her past and her young boy, Jack, born under unusual circumstances with no way to communicate seemingly living in a world of his own find themselves alone and afraid and broke on the streets of Chicago. When they seek shelter at a Salvation Army a strange and unusual gift presents itself through Jack and suddenly their lives are very much changed. With the depression hitting people hard, news of Jack's strange and prophetic gift quickly spreads as people are looking for hope and now Mary must make decisions that will protect Jack in the present and his future.

I loved this story. I could not put it down. As the story unfolds I was drawn more and more into Jack and Mary's world. My mom's heart broke for Mary's as she had to make extremely difficult decisions and then cried as she struggled to face things that were happening and still keep her fledgling faith in tact. I think I went through every emotion while reading this book. Which to me meant it was an awesome read as I was totally caught up in the story.

19. " Food R ules - An Eater's Manual" by Michael Pollen

Completed: May 6, 2010

Rating: 10/10

Review: Easy, simple to read, easy to implement in real life. I read this in one sitting. An easy to read format of one

rule per page with an easy explanation

makes this book easily digestable. Most are pretty self explanatory and there were a few surprise ones, to me anyway, that I can easily put into my daily life towards a more healthy diet and lifestyle. Highly recommend to anyone looking to follow a more natural way of eating rather than the highly additive containing way in which most North Americans eat.

20. "Whiter Than Snow" by Sandra Dallas

Completed: May 12, 2010

Rating: 10/10

Review: Sandra Dallas once again brings a gripping story about mining life in Colorado. The people of Swandyke, Colorado are going about their lives as usual when a huge avanlanche rolls

down the side of the mountain changing their lives forever. While very different circumstances have bought them to the town and different things and attitudes and hurts separate them, when emergency and tragedy strike all that is laid aside as they work sacrificially to help each other.

Through her incredible gift at story telling the author builds her characters in rich detail and the reader is totally caught up in their lives. Each chapter looks at a different life of one of the characters or families that are directly affected by the avalanche. As a reader I was caught up in their histories and what brought them to Swandyke and the circumstances they found themselves in, the harshness of mountain and mining life leaving their mark upon them. Through her characters the author shows how none of us is perfect and none of us are without sin and one never knows what brings a person to where they are at. The story is heart breaking, read with kleenex handy, but not without hope in the end.

21. "Indivisible" by Kristen Heitzmann

Completed: May 24/2010

Rating: 7.5/10

Review: Police Chief Jonah Westfall is a committed

police chief in a small mountain town. When weird animal mutilations start occuring he is on high alert and determined to find the culprit before it escalates. But clashes with a child hood friend keep coming up and his six year sobriety is put to the test. When the new vet in town starts to develop an interest in him that is more than professional it starts to put his world into a spin as secrets start to surface.

It took awhile for me to get into the story. I found the first half of the book was filled with vague references that were later answered as the story progressed but left me a little confused at times. The animal part of the story was disturbing to me and I had a hard time with reading those parts of the story but I found the story of the germophobe a pleasant side story.

22. " The Wednesday Letters" by Jason F. Wright

Completed: June 4, 2010

Rating: 7.5/10

Review: When both of their parents pass away at the same time in each other's arms, the adult children of Jack and Laurel gather from all over the world to say goodbye and lay their parents to rest. While going through their parents personals they come across boxes and boxes of letters their father had written to their mother over the course of their 39 year marriage, one every Wednesday. But the letters reveal more than some of them want to hear, some shocking truths about their past. But they must be careful not to make assumptions and continue to read to get the full truth. Definitely a story of true love, forgiveness and living out your values.

23. "Jordan's Crossing" b y Randall Arthur

Completed: June 17, 2010

Rating: 8/10

Review: Pastor Jordan Rau believes he alone is in charge of his destiny, so when the opportunity to work overseas with a Missions agency is offered to him, he takes the position against the wishes of his whole family and for all the wrong reasons. Believing this position can monetarily get him ahead he takes his wife, epileptic 17 year old son and 14 year old daughter to Germany. But soon after they arrive, tragedy grabs the family as their son and friend are murdered. Awashed with guilt, hate and anger, Jordan sets his whole focus of finding his son's killers. Returning to the States, he is blinded to the fact that his actions are really destroying the rest of his family when they need him the most.

This is Randall Arthur's second book that deals with different issues in the church. The first (#24, 2009 list) dealt with legalism and this one delves deeply into liberalism. Pastor Jason Faircloth from the first novel makes an appearance in this one also as a friend who comes alongside the devastated family. I thought the book was fast paced and showed how becoming embroiled in hate and revenge and a belief of ourselves controlling our lives can quickly take over our lives and ruin everything around us. While this story leaned heavily on the relationship aspect of the church and how we should be there for each other, reading the first book helped in bringing a balance to what this story was saying. Relationship is very important in church but God's Word must be first and foremost, His truth is what sets us free. The relationships should be there to support that.

24. Her Mothe r's Hope by Francine Rivers
(Marta's Legacy Pt. 1 )

Completed: June 26, 2010

Rating: 9/10

Review: Twelve year old Marta grows up in a small town in Switzerland with a hard working and loving mother and a tyrant and abusive father. When her father decides she is old enough to be pulled from school and hires her out to work taking all her wages, Marta is determined to be more than a servant. With her mother's encouragement to "fly" she leaves home to attend a housekeeping school for girls. Being a good student she learns all she can about housekeeping and cooking and uses her wiles to earn some extra money for her mother. She develops a dream of one day owning her own inn but those dreams almost shatter when she must decide whether to go home to her ailing mother and dependant sister or to keep on pursuing her own goals. When news comes of her mother's death and her father's demand for her to return home so she may work for him, she makes the decision to move to Canada to pursue her own life. There she meets Niclas Waltert and falls in love but she is unprepared for the sacrifices marriage and family make on her. Following her husband to across Canada and into the U.S., she tries to forge a better life for her family. Using her strong personality and tough love she tries to make her own daughters into strong women, but possibly at the cost of relationship.

I love Francine Rivers and was very interested in this story as with it she explores her own family history and tries to make sense of rifts between her own mother and grandmother. I kept going back and forth between mother and daughter in my emotions as each struggled to find their place in the world. My heart broke for Hilde as she always felt she never had her mother's love and for Marta as she tried to show her love by making Hilde strong and not dependent on her. The story line was really interesting and it was a fairly fast read for me considering it is quite a big book, although at times I found the writing a little "terse" and choppy. But the story of a mother's hopes and dreams for her children and a daughter's desire for acceptance and love came through. Looking forward to Pt. 2.

25. "Higher Hope" by Robert Whitlow
Book 2 in Tides of Truth Series

Completed: July 9, 2010

Rating: 6/10

Review: Higher Hope continues the story of Tammy Lynn Taylor (Tami), a law student clerking for the summer at a prestigious Savannah law firm. She's aggressive when it comes to digging for the truth, and goes for it at all costs. After winning her first case, she is now faced with being assigned to find information on a local preacher who has allegedly been slandering a business man. But as Tami checks into the preacher's actions and words, a prophetic ability on the preacher's part comes into focus. But is speaking the truth according to the preacher just cause in a libel suit. Add to the internal struggle of her work, Tami is also facing a struggle with critical choices as two men show interest in getting to know her better thank just as a colleague.

I wasn't really into the first story in this series. I reviewed it last year (#20 in the 2009 reviews). But I wanted to read the second to see if I warmed up to the main character at all in the second. The story continued showing how she tries to live out her strong religious values in every aspect of her life including work and relationships even while living apart from her sheltered existence with her family in a small town. Being in a busy, worldy law firm presents many challenges and she must make choices seemingly on a daily basis. Again I found the story all right. I still didn't warm up to any of the characters except maybe Mrs. Fairmont, the elderly, sickly woman whom Tami lives with and helps to care for. Her plight in the story tugged on my heart. Maybe I'm just not cut out for legal stories. There is a third in the series but I don't know if I'll get to it or not.

26. "In a Heartbeat - Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving" - Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy with Sally Jenkins.

Completed: July 20, 2010

Rating: 10/10

Review: I loved the movie

"The Blind Side" and have watched it several times with different people. It has always provoked much great conversation afterwards, which I love, and much inspiration. I remember saying to my friend, who took me to see it in the theatre: "I want to be like her (Leigh Anne Tuohy) when I grow up!" But being a movie, I knew there had to be more to the story than what can be shown in a couple of hours and I wondered how much of the movie story was artistic license. So when this book came up for review written by the actual couple who lived the story, I immediately wanted to read it.

This book is not so much a huge rehashing of the movie, though it does tell the story a bit, and then it gives some background to Leigh Anne and Sean's lives growing up, but it is more about the philosophy of giving that the Tuohy family live by. This aspect fascinated me. The fact that they actually had a giving philosophy that was discussed and decided upon, then lived and walked out and deliberately passed on to their children. They were giving before they were wealthy. They were givers before Michael came along so it was almost a natural progression for them to see the need in Michael and then work to meet it. Their deep personal belief of being cheerful givers and "trying to help those that pop up right in front of you" has directed and focused their lives.

There were so many deep truths and inspirations written in the book that I did much underlining. It's a book I will read again most definitely.

27. "Sometimes a Light Surprises" by Jamie Langston Turner

Completed: July 28, 2010

Rating: 9/10

Review: Ben Buckley had to face the tragic loss of his wife when they had a young family. But in dealing with his grief he shut his children out and wasn't there to help them deal with their own grief, choosing instead to throw himself into work and allow his own mother to basically raise them. Now he is still reaping the neglect he sowed into his family in their own relationships with him. But what really bothered him was just weeks before her death, his beloved wife was turning "religious" on him. Twenty two years after her death he is still dealing with guilt over how he treated her in the weeks before her death. But Ben's very ordered life is about to be rocked when the daughter of the woman whom he blames for his wife's conversion applies at his business for a job. Not quite understanding why he gives the job to Kelly, he starts to get a glimpse into her own family's life only to find that her mother is now terminally ill. Over time Kelly's honesty and hard work and eventually her faith start to break down the walls around his heart just as his own daughter is trying to put their own family back together.

I really enjoyed this read. It was nothing really profound or surprising but the characters were so well written that I was drawn into their worlds. I could really empathize with all the main characters in things they were going through right down to the nosy secretary. There were moments when I reached for tissue and moments that made me smile. The ending wasn't neat and tidy and I liked that. It showed the character to be on more of a journey than the neat ending I would have thought would have wrapped up the story. A very good, satisfying summer read.

28. I Am Hutterite by Mary A nn Kirkby

Completed: July 4, 2010

Rating: 10/10

Review: Mary Ann Dornn was born and raised on a Hutterite colony in Manitoba, Canada. As a child her life was a happy one on the colony, attending school, playing with friends and having her family close. Then when she was 10, her idyllic world was turned upside down when her parents made the life changing decision to leave the colony. Thrust into a culture that she and her siblings didn't understand and one that didn't understand them, she struggled for years to fit in her peers.

"I am Hutterite" is her story of her family's life on the colony, the circumstances that led to their leaving and her teenage years as overwhelming as they were living poor and trying to be accepted.

I picked up this book because we live in a area that has many Hutterite colonies and I have a very close Hutterite friend that has left her colony and is like part of my family. Her family has become our friends and we have visited them on the colony and they are now in transition to leave and it is a major thing. I loved this book. It is written with much honesty and it opened my eyes to what life is really like on a colony, good and bad. It is heart breaking at times in it's directness and openness and in telling the story and circumstances and made me realize how difficult it is for colony members to make a decision to leave and how hard it is for them to relearn a different way of life totally foreign to a colony.

In all the telling though, I loved how Mary Ann ended the story. Her last paragraph left me smiling and with a feeling of satisfaction and of hope and encouragement for life's circumstances and her epilogue is beautiful. It is a story of love and conflict, a clash of cultures and where we fit in and forgiveness and hope. I love a line in her epilogue: "...it is only when we embrace our past that we can find true fulfillment in our future." An excellent read!

29. "The Astronomer" by Lawrence Goldstone

Completed: August 17, 2010

Rating: 7.5/10

Review: The Astronomer takes place in France during the Inquisition, a perilous and dangerous time. The clashing of religion and science has come to a head and many are losing their lives as they are caught having secret meetings. The clash between protecting the then Catholic belief of keeping science out of religion and telling the people what to believe and the fledging Lutheran group trying to bring about a Christianity of openness and knowledge to the people comes to a head.

I found the story interesting buy confusing. I get very bogged down when unfamiliar names are used for the characters and even though because of its setting this story had to make use of all strange to me names, I found it really hard to keep the characters straight and there were many of them. Some of the things related going on during the inquisition were hard to read and because of the nature of everything going on I had to really focus to "get" what was happening. I'm not doing a really good job with the review because I no longer have the book in my hands and can't refer to it, but that shows too that even though I finished out the story I still did not really become absorbed by it.

30. "When You Look Like Your Passport Photo, It's Time To Go Home" by Erma Bombeck

Completed: August 20, 2010

Rating: 10/10

Review: Erma's fun take on the perils, adventures and fun of travel. Having always travelled and wanting to instill in her own children a love of the

world and it's different cultures, Erma and her husband have travelled extensively with their family and without. Here she takes us through airpor

ts, into hotels, and on tours with her usual hilarious take and her experiences. A fun, perfect summer read.

31. "Look Again" by Lisa Scottoline

Completed: August 27, 2010

Rating: 9.5/10

Review: Philadelphia newspaper reporter

Ellen Gleason comes home one day from work to find a missing child flyer in her mail. Giving it a quick glance she is shocked to see the child pictured looks an awful lot like her adopted son Will. Putting it aside, she focuses on her child and her job which is having layoff issues. But the flyer eats at her. Eats at her to the point of Ellen literally putting her job on the line to get at the truth. What begins as an internet search just to put her mind at ease turns into a mystery that she never thought she'd ever encounter. One that involves way more than she bargained for. One that will turn her life upside down.

In my goal this year to read outside of the Christian genre a bit more this year, I found this book reviewed on another site. It sounded very interesting so I picked it up. Oh my word, I'm so glad I did. This book gripped me from the very first pages and didn't let go until the very end. I couldn't put it down and would read snatches of it all day long whenever I could grab a minute in between dayhome drama. I personally, didn't find a dull moment in the writing. Even the less intense sections held my interest and added to the story instead of just being filler. The author had me second guessing my conclusions, which were many, right until the end. Just when I thought I knew what would happen or thought the story was finished I'd look and I still had lots of pages left to read. I personally loved the way the author wrapped it up even though some have said the end fell flat. I found it satisfying in it's portrayal of a mother's love for her child and wanting to find the truth and do the right thing even though it would cost her. Even though some have critisized her character not calling the birth parents immediately, I could relate to her hesitations and wanting to think through each step and make sure she was absolutely right before she turned her and Will's lives upside down. What parent would't. Would we so immediately have called on a suspicion had we been in her shoes? I found her fears and confusion totally real. She might have been wrong in the way she went about things, trying to solve it on her own, but I think the fact that she wanted to do what was right according to the truth she would find out, without involving a whole bunch of people, was true to her character of being a news reporter. I think because of that, she totally would have wanted to "sniff" out the facts herself. The fact that she blew off deadlines at work even though it might mean the loss of her job in order to pursue her finding out the truth was also true to her character as a mother who loved her adopted child and knew this could change all their lives as was going against her lawyers advise to just forget about it and go on living her life. Yes, some things in the story seemed to be wrapped up all of a sudden but I personally thought it went int

o line with how the story was playing out. The only thing I found unrelatable was how easily she forgave her co-worker for the seemingly unforgivable. That I found wrapped up a little too easily considering the fall out.

All in all I loved this story. Definitely had the "What would I do..." aspect throughout.

32. " Sweat, Blood & Tears" by Xan Hood

Completed: September 2010

Rating: 7/10

Review: I said yes to this book on two counts: First, my son was interested in reading it and true stories/testimonies are his preferred genre of read and second, there is not a whole lot of testimony type books out there written by young contemporary fellas.

The author takes us through his life being raised in a privileged family having everything he wanted. Come his early adulthood h

e noticed that the easy access to stuff was not fulfilling his heart. This is his story of how God lead him to understanding what He wanted his life to be, what constitutes a Godly man and the path his life took to work towards it. From taking the author from an expensive neighborhood and an expensive education to showing him how to really work hard, to connecting with the land through hunting and fishing, this is definitely a guy's book. LOL. I have to admit I did get a tad bit bogged down in the hunting & fishing stuff and the male psyche involved but in the end I get what he was saying. The chapter that really stood out to me was the one on learning and how the author shared how he had to learn that education and knowledge was not the same as experience. I also liked his strong belief in mentorship. Throughout the book it was enjoyable and encouraging as the he revealed his "aha moments". I know my son will enjoy reading this young man's story.

33. " Words Unspoken" by Elizabeth Musser

Completed: September 17, 2010

Rating 8/10

Review: Lissa Randall is a young high school student who future is full of promise. She is a very high academic achiever and pretty much has her choice of colleges to attend. But her life takes a tragic turn when coming home from one of the colleges they are visiting, as she is driving, her and her mom get into a fatal car accident which kills her mother. Left with crippling guilt and grief, Lissa has dropped her ambitions and 18 months later is content to work quietly in a small library getting her rides from others. But she cannot work past her guilt or the voices within that keep saying it's all her fault and they halt her from getting behind the wheel of a car. In desperation, she signs on to take driv

ing lessons from a man who specializes in young people who are afraid and hesitant in driving. Little does she know that Ev McAllister, the instructor, not only teaches driving but life lessons along the way. Coinci

dences and characters start to merge together until their lives are thrust together centering on the kind Mr McAllister.

This is one of those books that for me, took a while to get into. Not that the story was slow or boring or tedious in any way, but there was just so much introduction of characters in a short period of time and each had their own story going that it was almost hard to keep it all straight. It seemed like it was a handful of stories all going on at once in the beginning. But I stuck with it because I knew somehow they had to all connect at some point. And connect they did in very interesting and unusual ways. I loved the thread of hope that was woven throughtout the story, even though heartache and tragedy were happening in the lives of some of the characters. I'm glad I stuck with it.

34. "Intervention" by Terri Blackstock

Completed: September 22, 2010

Rating: 8.5/10

Review: Barbara's 18 year old daughter Emily has had a rough few years. After the family watched their beloved husband and father succumb to cancer, Barbara tried to juggle her grief and keeping things "normal" for her daughter and son. But now Emily is in trouble and has been since her father's death. Turning to drugs she handled her grief in the worst way. And it has come to the point where Barbara has felt she must do an intervention. She hires a Christian drug treatment centre she finds on the internet and together they talk Emily into going for treatment. On the way, though, the interventionist is found dead in her vehicle and Emily has disappeared. With the police thinking Emily did it, Barbara and her young son try to find Emily. With a deep belief that she couldn't have committed such a crime and a text message from Emily crying for help, Barbara sometimes steps on the toes of the very patient detective in charge.

I love Terri Blackstock's suspense and this one didn't disappoint. It's fast paced and moves along with no dragging parts. At a few parts I was a little frustrated with the son and his interference but he was just in a desperate place to find his sister too. I was touched when at the end of the story Terri wrote a little of her own struggle with interventions and her own daughter and drugs.

35. "the Moment Between" by Nicole Baart

Completed: October 1, 2010

Rating: 10/10

Review: Abigail Bennett finally has her life in control. She's become partner in an accounting firm in only 5 years, has a posh office & a great apartment. Life is on track after being raised

in a home full of stress and chaos, rejection and unrealistic expectations. Abigail was 5 years old when her sister Hailey was born and her whole world turned upside down. She went from only child to having a sister who grew to have many problems and yet their father's heart which directly impacted everything in Abigail's growing up years. Feeling the pressure to always put Hailey's needs first Abigail finally is able to break away from her family and start a new life. But then tragedy strikes and Abigail is pulled into path that seems headed for destruction. Leaving everything behind she sets off on a search for a man who she assumes must answer for the tragedy.

As I write this review, I must admit I am still literally breathless from the story. It is so beautifully written and is so heartbreaking and emotional that I cannot get it out of my mind. In dealing with her present situation Abigail must also deal with her past and the point to which it has brought her. As Abigail tries to find redemption for herself the bond, resentments, obligations and love between sisters takes on a new meaning with this story as it works it way through three time periods at once and how mental illness affected the family and it's results on all involved. Yet the

re is never confusion as to what is happening or where you are in the story. Very gripping. Kleenex recommended from the beginning.

36. "After the Leaves Fall" by Nicole Baart

Completed: October 8, 2010

Rating: 9/10

Review: I originally read this book in 2008, review is here. I really enjoyed it then and remember how the character of Julia really drew out my emotions and empathy. I reread this just to remind myself of everything before I went on to the second book in the series. I still really liked it the second time and still felt those emotions and empathy towards the main character. So well written.

37. "Summer Snow" by Nicole Baart

Completed: October 15, 2010

Rating: 8/10

Review: Summer Snow is the sequel to After the Leaves fall and continutes the story Julia DeSmit. Pregnant with nothing, Julia quites college and returns to her childhood home to live with her grandmother. She is ready to start over and the best she can until the baby arrives. Trying to keep the pregnancy a secret as long as possible because she doesn't want to deal yet with the small town fall out, she goes about her days working and trying to fit back into life. But then yet another shock enters her life as the mother who abandoned her when she was nine returns. And brings with her a small five year old boy who it turns out is Julia's half brother. This was a curve ball that sets in motion feelings and events that Julia is not ready to face especially with everything else on her plate. How many times must she face rejection and not be expected to crumble.

I looked forward to reading this sequel because the first one so affected my emotions. The author again delivered with an emotionally tugging book. Each character was so well defined and their side of the story so well written that you could really relate to each even if you didn't agree with them. As Julia is forced to get to know her mother, I could feel all her anger just bubbling under the surface as she tried to hold her tongue for her grandmother's sake. I thought the story in a sad and yet hopeful way and was satisfied with Julia's place in life as it was left.

38. "Gotta Have It!" by Dr. Gregg Lantz

Completed: October 18, 2010

Rating: 9/10

Review: Each of us has a "never enough" activity, food, or behavior and we're ready to throw a grown up tantrum when we don't get it. Dr. Lantz calls it excessities and it takes over when our excessities become our necessity. They are our rewards, our coping mechanisms and an illusory answer to our pain. We use them to insulate ourselves from a difficult world. But our real needs such as purpose, hope and security and we tend to starve them and grow our hungers for those things we think are satisfying when in truth they are strangling us.

In this book, we are taken through steps that eventually will teach us to identify those controlling urges, compulsions, addictions, patterns and behaviors that have taken hold in our lives and eventually take over lives. We are taught that when we stick to our excessties we hold back the life God has planned for us. This book teaches and encourages us to know God is there and the life He has purposed for us is one where excessities have no place. A life where we can have true freedom and realize our true needs.

I first said yes to this book because I thought it would delve into excessities such as too much spending on certain things but it is so much more than "things and stuff". It gets into behaviors and patterns in oneslife, ways of reacting and go to methods we have taken on that we think help us to cope. And totally what I needed. Now how did God know to get me this at this time? :v) The book is broken down by chapters that first define the difference between excessities and true needs, then goes through each true need and then what God provides. Each chapter has questions that lead you through the process of examining in your own life what that particular chapter was talking about. I loved the process though some questions were extremely hard and I must admit about halfway through I just started to read straight through. But I definitely plan on going back to it in a couple of months to keep working through it. I don't want to quit just because the examination at times was hard. It is so worth it.

The book was well laid out, easy to read and understand, and didn't use big, complicated terms or ideas which sometimes this kind of book can do. The thoughts and processes were step by step with lots of encouragement. It didn't leave you feeling heavy and guilty but yet left me wanting to finish the process even though sometimes it was really difficult to work through the answers because of the result at the end of the road. I highly recommend this book to anyone even if you don't think you have issues.

39. "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

Completed: October 29, 2010

Rating: 9.5/10

Review: Set in 1960's Jackson, Mississippi "the Help" brings together a narrative of 3 women working together to have their stories told. Skeeter, born in privilege on a cotton plantation, was pretty much raised by the black maid, Constantine, and had a special relationship with her. But when she comes home from college, Constantine is gone. And no one will talk about it or tell her what happened. Aibleen, is a nuturing black maid currently working for Skeeter's school friend raising her two year old daughter. Their paths cross as Aibleen serves lunches at the weekly bridge club hosted by her employer which Skeeter attends. Minny is a brash and bold black maid, with several children and an abusive husband. She has been fired from lots of jobs for her bold mouth and is currently working for what the "league" ladies consider white trash.

Skeeter longs to leave Mississippi and pursue writing but her need to know what happened to Constantine keeps her in Jackson. Taking a job ghost writing a cleaning column for the local paper, she enlists the help of Aibleen. Eventually, because of the things she witnesses of the way the black maids are treated, she convinces Aibleen to rally some maids together to secretly tell their stories. In a volatile time and setting, they were literally putting their lives at stake. At first, no one would help except Minny. Then when a fellow maid is jailed for something she didn't do, the anger pushes the women to begin wanting to talk.

The Help was an amazing read and I couldn't put it down. The characters are so richly written and multi faceted, not just one dimensional. Their hopes and dreams and feelings really shine through as does their suppression and abuse and how they lived in fear of doing anything about it. Stories were told of harshness and heartbreak and total injustice and yet stories of lovely relationships between white women and their black maids also were also injected. My heart broke from this book, as a Canadian who was nowhere near to any understanding of this time in American history. I love how the author summed up why she wrote the book: "Wasn't that the point of the book? For women to realize, We are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought. All that said, I did think some of the loose ends were wrapped up just a little bit too easily, but not enough to ruin the main reason for the story. Loved this book and highly recommend it.

40. "God Knows My Name" by Beth Redman

Completed: November 10, 2010

Rating: 8.5/10

Review: In this book, Beth Redman shares her testimony and how her life changed when she got ahold of the fact that God deeply loves each one of us and understands us and knows each of us. Even though He knows our past, He still works for our futures and defends us, not leaving us alone. He restores us to Himself. Using lots of scripture and weaving her testimony through out this is a study that really came at a time when I need it. I think every young girl should read it and do the study. As Beth teaches, once you get a revelation of this, life can throw what it may and you will know beyond a shadow of a doubt where you stand with God. Easy to read, very uplifting, pointing constantly to God. Great study.

41. City of Tranquil Light by Bo Caldwell

Completed: December 13, 2010

Rating: 9/10

Review: I excitedly said yes to this book tour because I have very good Mennonite friends who are right now missionaries in China. So it intrgued me to read a novel based on the author's own grandparents and other missionaries to China. The story is breathtaking, taking you through the life of a young man in the early 1900's who said yes to the appeal of another missionary visiting his church, to come to China and yes to the call of God. On the way there Will meets Katherine, a nurse, who is also going to China to serve the people. Katherine and Will take turns telling their story, Will through a narrative and Katherine through journal entries. The story spans their life together as husband and wife ministering to the people in the city of Kuang P'ing Ch'eng -City of Tranquil Light. Tested spiritually, mentally and physically, they rise to the daily challenges of the time: poverty, bandits, warlords, changing governments and a people who don't trust them.

The story is beautiful and heartbreaking, challenging and eye opening, historical yet relevant for today. Not only do we get a glimpse into the life of a missionary as they totally lay their lives down for a people, but we get a peek into how all the hardships and the joys affects personal faith and marriage against the backdrop of early 19th century China. I don't think you have to want to be a missionary to be touched by this story.

42. "It's No Secret" by Rachel Olsen

Completed: December 2010

Rating: 8/10

Review: I really enjoyed this book. It's written in an casual, conversational style but has lots of solid biblical based teaching for women. Truths that never change but offered in a contemporary way for our everyday issues. Hitting on twelve areas that all women deal with at some point (such as: God's source of spiritual beauty and strength, overcoming comparisions, embracing our need for rest, to name a few), the author leads us to finding our answers in the Lord and connecting to Him and to our sisters in Christ. Each chapter is followed by a short study that further encourages the reader to dig into the Word for themselves and make it real in their own lives. I liked how each chapter brought nuggets of truth that created more of a desire to search out the scriptures for myself for what God was saying to me about the different areas.

2009 Completed Books and Reviews

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1. "Between Sundays" by Karen Kingsbury

Completed: January 8, 2009

Rating: 9/10

Review: The lives of a young foster boy, his foster mother and a popular, egotistical pro quarterback intertwine in this story of the perils of the foster care system in America. It is a story that points to the importance of family and hanging onto truth, God's grace and keeping promises.

The characters drew me in and I really felt for seperate one. My heart was broken for Cory, the young boy who lost his mother at age 6 and how he hung onto the truth of who his mother told him his father was even in the midst of nobody believing him. And I desired to be more like his foster mom who was a strong woman who had a big heart for all foster children, not just her own. My heart was broken for back up quarterback who made a promise to his dying boy and this was his last chance to fulfill that, and even for Aaron the selfish quarterback who lived only for himself. In the midst of all their lives, and God working in each one, the theme of our lives not being defined by just what we do on Sundays, but what we do between those Sundays, comes through loud and clear.

2. "On Sparrow Hill" by Maureen Lang

Completed February 1, 2009

Rating: 9/10

Review: The second in the "Oak Leaves Series" the story continues in the country side of England. This part of the story explores surrender and servanthood. It continues in the same vein as as the first book going back and forth between a diary from the 1800's and present day characters who's lives become intertwined by the Fragile X gene. The diary this time belongs to Berry who ran the school that Cosima had dreamed of in the first book. The real time story deals with Dana who is a present day relative of Cosima and is a carrier of the fragile x gene and her cousin in England who is starting a relationship with the manager and curator of his family's historical countryside home.

As each character deals with the events that thrust them together and also threaten to devestate them, the author weaves in a lovely story that challenges the reader to examine their own beliefs about surrender to God's plans and servanthood and what it means in their own lives.

3. "Skid" by Rene Gutteridge (Book 3 - Occupational Hazard's Series)

Completed: February 6, 2009

Rating: 10/10 for a fun escape

Review: A quirky cast of characters surround Hank as he tries to the job he's been hired to do reviewing the crew on an Amsterdam bound flight. Unbeknown to him until the story unfolds, joining him on the flight is a very nervous man returning diamonds to his grandmother, a jewel theif, an emotionally challenged woman with a pot bellied pig, a pilot who once crash landed in the Bermuda triangle, a co pilot with conspiracy theories, a flight attendant with an attitude and a young lady who's mantra is "What would Oprah do". Throw them all together with a suspiciously acting cokpit reviewer and you've got yourself one hilarious story with a message.

Laugh out loud funny, the ridiculousness of the situation and what happens on board left me laughing long after the story was finished. With a main character that displays a quiet, strong faith in the midst of crisis, this was a perfect "take me away" book.

4. "I Do Again" by Cheryl & Jeff Scruggs

Completed: Feb. 12, 2009

Rating: 9/10

Review: This is the real life testimony of the author's and how God worked a restoration in their marriage. With what seemed to be the perfect marriage to any one else looking from the outside, Cheryl was living a lie. Feeling no intimacy, she succumbed to the attention of someone willing to give what her heart was crying for. Keeping the affair secret for years, then blindsiding Jeff with a divorce she struggled to find happiness. Then God got ahold of heart and started speaking to her of restoration. For seven long years she believed God for what she felt He was speaking to her heart, even when faced with criticism and advice to let it go. A beautiful story of what can happen when we take God at face value and truly believe for what He says and speaks to our hearts. Cheryl and Jeff now have a very vibrant marriage and work helping other couples with allowing God to bring restoration to their marriages.

5. & 6. "Dinner with a Perfect Stranger" & "A Day with a Perfect Stranger" by David Gregory

Completed:

Rating: "Dinner" 5/5 "A Day" 3/5 (Kay's rating age 19)

Review by guest blogger: daughter Kay - 19, bible school student

Dinner With A Perfect Stranger was a surprise for me. The name sounded like another failed attempt to make Jesus sound more modern and applicable to us in the 20th century. However, right from about chapter 1 and a half, I felt myself being drawn in to the depth of it. There aren’t any shocking twists in the book for me to ruin, so I will lay down the gist of it. What happens is a man (Nick) gets an invitation in the mail to go to dinner with someone who says he is Jesus. At first Nick thinks it’s just a prank by his co-workers, and he plays along because they always have something crazy up their sleeve. But in his attempts to expose this ‘Jesus’ for the hired prankster he was, Nick is drawn into a surprisingly deep conversation about God. This 100-page book was actually inspiring for me. It covered a quick to-the-point basis of world religions such as Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. I’m not saying that if you read the book you are automatically educated and ready to take on any Buddhist in a heated debate, but you do have quite a few holes to poke in their philosophy. For me, it served to spark an interest in other world religions, which was probably the author’s intention anyway. After discussing world religions the characters are thrust into a deep conversation about the world, Christ, and life in general. It’s one of those books that you become tempted to memorize for the sake of debate with every atheist you chance to meet. Keep in mind, folks, that not all atheists will ask the same questions as Nick did.

Day With A Perfect Stranger was the sequel in the series, and for me it definitely felt like that: a sequel. It wasn’t as inspiring or motivating for me, probably because it dealt more with a specific area in the life of the character. The area happened to be problems in marriage and career, and since that doesn’t personally apply to me. I had difficulty identifying with the book more. Those who are in that phase of life, of course could relate. It’s just less universal. It’s still a worthy read, though. It was key to the story but not as exciting for me.

In conclusion, both books are great coffee-time reads: they are perfect to sit down and read with a pot of coffee and a free afternoon. The question they inspire to ask oneself would be ‘what areas would Jesus challenge my thinking in?’ In my opinion they are the perfect length with surprising intensity. I would recommend it for anyone.

7. "Blue Heart Blessed" by Susan Meissner

Completed: February 20, 2009

Rating: 9.5/10

Review: This is my second book by this author and the more I read her stories the more I like her writing. Her stories are so relatable. She brings spiritual truth without being preachy and the romance is subtle and sweet with humor woven throughout. A totally charming read!

This story centers around Daisy who opened a second hand bridal store after being terribly hurt when her fiance called off the wedding 10 days before the date. Not having the heart to get rid of her dream dress and needing to get away from her job where she would see him daily, she opened the store. Since childhood Daisy loved brides and weddings and wedding dresses and opening the shop was her way to heal by allowing dresses to "have another story" so to speak. Inside each dress she sews a little blue heart, blessed by her friend, a retired Episcopal priest who lives in her building. But Father Laurent does more than bless her little hearts, he is her voice of reason and wisdom as she tries to navigate out of the hurt of her lost dreams. But her world is rocked yet again when health issues threaten Father Laurent and it brings his son into their lives and her ex gives her a call.

8. "An Irish Christmas" by Melody Carlson

Completed: February 28, 2009

Rating: 9/10

Review: I know, a Christmas book in February. But the story isn't really about Christmas it just happens to happen at that time of year. The story centers around a seemingly perfect 1960's family. When the father passes away, it brings the son home from college. There is rifts in the family as the father has dreamed for the son to take over the family business but the son has dreams of his own. Those involving music. When he comes home the distance and troubles seem to continue with his mom. In an effort to build bridges, she takes them to Ireland for Christmas to supposedly get away. But both have secrets they must reveal that may break their already shaky relationship.

The story is written in chapters alternating between the mother's and son's viewpoint and thoughts which is an interesting concept. A touching story about relationships and secrets, forgiveness and restoration.

9. "Rescued" by John Bevere & Mark Andrew Olsen

Completed: March 10, 2009

Rating: 9.5/10

Review: Contemporary, relateable, intense, shocking, thought provoking. All these words describe this collaboration.

The story centers around Pastor Alan Rockaway who pastors a mega church in Denver. Highly successful in everyone but his ex-wife and oldest son's eyes, he has asked his 17 year old son along on the church's couples retreat to the Caribbean to film the sessions and provide live feed back to the congregation back home and in the hopes that he can possibly re-build some kind of relationship with his son. In what should have been a fun excursion and report back to his congregation, Pastor Alan leaves his son to film on the pier while he, along with his new wife and other members from his church, goes on a touring submarine. But no one could be prepared for the horrendous accident and subsequent events that follow. With Jeff left to watch trying to figure out what to do as help seems to dwindle, Pastor Alan is faced with a hard look at himself and everything he has told himself is about to be turned upside down.

This book was very hard to put down. Although I found it a little slow and confusing at the start, I'm glad I stuck with it as it all came together at the end. The story uses present day and flashback style of writing rotating between the viewpoint of father, son and another character named Lydia. While I related to Jeff (the son) in some ways; his confusion, his anger, his stand offishness, some of the other main characters I found darn right unlikeable. I found myself angry and disgusted with Pastor Alan for things he had allowed to happen and the justifications that went on within himself and to his congregation and how they followed right along with him. But that is today's Christian world. And that is what made this story very contemporary and relateable. But this novel does not leave it at that.

This story will have you going "Wow" in the end and taking a good hard look at what you believe to be true in your own life.

10. "Oceans Apart" by Karen Kingsbury

Completed: March 29, 2009

Rating: 9/10

11. "Why the Sky is Blue" by Susan Meissner

Completed: April 9, 2009

Rating: 8/10

12. "The List" by Robert Whitlow

Completed: April 20, 2009

Rating: 8/10

Review: Renny Jacobson is a lawyer working in the banking division on his law firm but his heart's desire is to write a book. When his father passes away he's sees the inheritance as a way to help achieve that dream by allowing him to quit the law firm, but surprises come when he finds out he has been left basically nothing in the will except title, rights and interest in a mysterious Covenant List of South Carolina, Ltd. Renny is devasted but soon finds out that there is riches and power he couldn't even fathom associated with belonging to the List that dates back to the Civil War. But the price is high, very high as he and his girlfriend soon find out.

The List is a page turner for sure. Mystery and spriritual battle ensues as good and evil colide for Renny's soul. As God is drawing Renny to himself, spiritual forces are battling for his soul as Renny struggled to do the right thing but the results had devestating effects as he learned he cannot do it without God. The book held my interest from beginning to end. The storyline developed at a nice pace with first the will and then Renny meeting and developing a love interest that soon became entangled in the whole plot. The spiritual battle was held off until 3/4 of the way through the story which is what made it so interesting. Nothing was given away too quickly. I also really liked that the story wasn't a scare the pants off of me type of spiritual story but yet very clearly got the message across.

13. "My Heart Remembers" by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Completed: April 26, 2009

Rating: 10/10

Review: My Heart Remembers is the story of Maelle, Mattie and Molly Gallagher, children of Irish immigrants in the 1860's. When the Gallagher's parents are tragically killed, they are sent to an orphanage who in turn sends them on train to be adopted by families out west. After arriving the three siblings end up being separated and sent with different families. With great heartache, the oldest, Maelle, promises her brother that she will find him one day.

I loved this book. Beautifully written, the story is told from the perspective of all three siblings and goes back and forth between them as Maelle continues her life long search of her siblings. The book brought out many emotions as the characters really came to life for me. I felt their emotions as they struggled through their lives and the book brought me to tears many times as well as allowing me to feel their joys, fears and triumphs. A beautifully written tale that brought to my knowledge the plight of the "orphan train children" and other children who suffered homelessness in America at this time in history.

14. Clutter-Free Christianity by Robert Jeffress

Completed: June 8/09

Rating: 8.5/10

Review: I remember a quote going around back in the '80's when I first came to the Lord that said, "Don't be so spiritually minded that you're no earthly good". It referred to those who had the attitudes that unless they were studying heavy duty out there doctrinal things and had their heads in such a place that they didn't even know how to relate on a daily basis to people, those who thought they were spiritually better than others. Well this book really is the opposite of that kind of thing. A back to basics book on how to rid yourself of things that are holding you back from living out God's kingdom here on earth. An easy reading format with each chapter dealing with a different area that can affect our lives and how to recognize and deal with it effectively so that we can walk in God's plan for us. The author uses lot's of examples from his own life most of which I thought illustrated his points well although in a few places I thought there were too many examples. That said, I thought the book was perfect for both the baby Christian who is just learning how to walk out his faith and for those of us who have been Christians for a while but just need a reminder of what the important basics are.

15. "Never the Bride" by Cheryl McKay and Rene Gutteridge

Completed: June 13, 2009

Rating: 9.5/10

Review: Love, love, love this story. The perfect summer read. Go here for my thoughts.

16. "Every Now and Then" by Karen Kingsbury
Book 3 in the 9/11 Series

Completed: June 26, 2009

Rating: 7.5/10

17. "The Guernesy Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Completed: July 5, 2009

Rating: 8.5/10

18. "The Heretic's Daughter" by Kathleen Kent

Completed: July 17, 2009

Rating: 9.5/10

Review: The Heretic's Daughter is the story of Sarah Carrier Chapman. It starts with an aging Sarah writing a letter to her granddaughter of a well kept secret. It is her first hand account of the Salem Witch Trials and her family's imprisonment and trials.

The author, Kathleen Kent, grew up listening to stories about her ancestor Martha Carrier, who was tried at trials in Salem. She spent five years researching the Salem witch trials. Written from the perspective of the daughter of Martha Carrier, this is a story that was very hard to put down. It starts with the families move to nearby Andover and gives history of the area and the superstition and fear that was starting to grip a communty. As news comes of the impending arrest of her mother, Sarah is asked by her mother to speak a lie that will surely condemn her mother but save the family.

The Heretic's daughter is totally emotionally gripping. Well researched, the author is able to really convey the fear that comes out of superstition. My heart was ripped as I read of the imprisonments of innocent men, women and children and cried for Sarah and her family. A very moving story that hopefully would help us learn from the mistakes of history.

19. "A Mile in My Flip Flops" by Melody Carlson

Completed: July 29, 2009

Rating: 7.5/10

Review: When life throws her a heartwrenching curve ball, Gretchen withdraws into herself. Becoming an HGTV and ice cream addict, she hides herself away in her home. Finally deciding that she needs to break the pattern, she buys herself a fixer upper in the hopes of renovating and flipping it during her summer off from teaching. But life again gives her a curve, and she must deal with her Dad's medical emergency in the middle of her time restrained flip. Being forced to admit she cannot do it on her own, she must hire someone to help her. But one never knows what will happen when control issues are finally relaxed and God is allowed to move.

Melody comes up with another wonderful, heartwarming summer read. Everyone can relate to Gretchen, first as she withdraws and then as she tries to grab ahold and control her life. Humorous moments resulting from Gretchen's iron grip on control are chuckled along with as well as moving moments when she comes to some realizations about herself. Great summer read.

20. "Deeper Water" by Robert Whitlow

Completed: August 17, 2009

Rating: 7/10

Review: Tammy Lynn Taylor comes from a deeper traditional, religious family. As a young law student she is offered a summer job as a clerk for a prestigious Savannah law firm. When she is given her first case, which seems to be an easy one, betrayal and deception start to surface which likely involves senior partners in her own firm. Tammy must make decisions on what to pursue, truth or good standing with the lawyers she works with so that she would be offered a full time job after law school.

I found it hard to really, really enjoy this book as I didn't like the main character very much. I liked her family's strong tradition Christian values that were portrayed but in her hunt for the truth I wondered at some of what I percieved was disrespect for other lawyers in the firm and an arrogance about her. The way she spoke to them was not a way I, as a young intern, would think to speak to my superiors without expecting a consequence. Maybe I read through the book too fast and didn't get the jist of her personality but I didn't really get what I percieved at discrepencies in her personality.

That said it was a good story of pursuing justice even in the face of very hard circumstances.

21. "A Time to Gather" by Sally John and Gary Smalley

Completed: September 11, 2009

Rating: 9/10

Review: This second book in the series takes the story of and farther by taking a look at how the father's not being there for his children has affected their adult lives. It mainly focuses on two of the siblings, Eric and Lexie both of whom have major issues as adults. Even as their father has asked them to forgive him for his abandonment of their childhood in favor of pursuing his career, they struggle to accept that he has really changed. Eric, a local star on the evening news, has turned to alcohol to help dull his hurt and Lexie, while still dealing with trauma from the wildfire of last year, has been bulimic all her adult life. When they meet up with a cop named Rosie who has a deep compassion for hurting people, they realize they must face those issue in their lives that are strangling them.
Loved this story. It was an honest look at the destruction that choices we make as parents can have on our children's lives even into adulthood. I thought the characters of Lexie and Eric portrayed well what can happen when as adults they also make poor choices to hide their pain. And I love that fact that a character was brought in who showed compassion and looked beyond the insanity to find the real people hidden underneath the facades that they carried.

21. "Matters of Faith" by Kristy Kiernan

Completed: Sept. 29, 2009

Rating: 8.5/10

Review: The story is told moving between the two viewpoints of mother and son. After witnessing the death of his friend at a young age, Marshall is thrown on search for faith throughout his teenage years. His mother allows him to explore different faiths but his father is adamantly against this search which sets him at odds with his son and sometimes Chloe (the mom). Chloe is caught up in being a good mom and being sensitive to both Marshall's needs and the needs of their younger daughter who is severly, life threateningly, allergic to peanuts. When Marshall brings home a new college girlfriend, who has very definite beliefs about sickness and healing, events occur which change the lives forever for each member of the family.
I could not put this book down. It dealt with so many issues and wove the together in a way that was moving, infuriating, thought provoking and intense. Each character and their emotions and confusion was totally relatable. The only thing I felt a little let down with was the consequence to one of the characters. Each character's story line seemed to be wrapped up at the end except the one. But maybe that is how the author wanted it. Maybe there is another story to come focusing on that particular character. I don't know, but I felt the character had no closure with regards to the story.
I'm glad I stepped out of my regular "Christian" genre and tried this author.

23. "In the Arms of Immortals" by Ginger Garrett

Completed: October 17, 2009

Rating: 6.5/10

Review: For the book tour here.

Note for myself: The only reason I gave this book a 6.5 rating which for me is a bit low, is that I was confused about certain characters for a long time throughout the book. I felt the characters and what they were doing in the novel could have been defined a little clearer. Might have been just me and my mindset at the time of reading, too, though.

24. "Wisdom Hunter" by Randall Arthur

Completed: October 24, 2009

Rating: 9.5/10

Review: A story that never slowed down or let up. My review is Here.

25. "The Last Word" by Kathy Herman
Book 2 in Sophie Trace Trilogy

Completed: November 12, 2009

Rating: 9/10

Review is here

26. Double Cross by James David Jordan

Completed: November 18, 2009

Rating: 10/10 (Loving this series)

Review is here

27. "Julie and Julia-365 days, 524 recipes, 1 tiny apartment kitchen" by Julie Powell

Completed: November 26, 2009

Rating: 3/10

Review: The true story of Julie Powell, a 29 year old married secretary who was very dissatisfied with her job and feeling the biological time clock ticking, took on the project of cooking through Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking in one year and blogging about it to give herself focus and a goal.

Sigh. How to review this book. I'm having a hard time because as you can see by the rating, I didn't enjoy the book. I loved the movie and that is why I thought it would be fun to read the "real" version straight from the author and also the other book that the movie was based on, "My Life in France" by Julia Child. Not even near a quarter of the way through the book I wanted to quit.

Maybe I'll start with what I liked. I really like the cooking "story" of the book. I liked how she had enough gumption to take on something when she was so floundering in her life. I was taken in by the difficulty of the task she set for herself and I liked how she related her frustrations and failures and not just successes. I liked how she stuck to the project even when it was difficult. I loved how she made her husband come across as a man who loved her and stuck by her even in the craziness when some were telling her to quit.

What I didn't like was the constant and continuous f-bombs and swearing, the in your face sexuality, the rude, disparaging remarks against Christianity, the self-indulgent tone, the run on sentences. I don't know why I pushed myself through the book, I normally would never bother to when there is that much swearing, real life or not, good story or not. Except maybe it was to see if it redeemed itself somehow (and because I so loved the movie). For me it didn't. Yes, she finished the project. Yes, she gives credit to Julia for "saving" her when she was drowning. Yes, she is a big time writer now, sitting in pajamas in her living room to work, as the back cover states. But how has her heart or her character changed from her experience? But is she a less negative person? Less self-indulgent? Has she viewed others or the world differently than when she started? Has something in heart changed? Is she kinder? I don't know. Those questions were not answered for me. For me the book was a total disappointment.

I know, I know, the movie version is not the "real" Julie. They changed her, cleaned up her language, toned her down. Quite a bit, as I can now see after reading the book. The movie was sweet and charming. The book, not. I guess it's a matter of opinion which version one prefers to partake in. Sorry guys, I really, really wanted to love the book, but I just couldn't.

28. "Until We Reach Home" by Lynn Autstin

Completed: December 7, 2009

Rating: 8.5/10

Review: The fictional story of 3 Swedish sisters who emigrate to the U.S. in 1897. After the untimely separate deaths of both their parents, the sisters find themselves living with their uncle and aunt who have come to take over the family farm. As they grow, Elin, the oldest finds life with them unbearable and as she promised her mother she would take care of her sisters, she takes measures to have the three of them move to the U.S. to find a better life, but things don't work the way she dreamed and they are met with one challenge after another. Their survival depends upon pulling together and staying close, but with secrets amongst themselves, this becomes a difficult task. Without being preachy, the author shows how in the midst of the hardest of times with pain and heartache, God is there and provides a way through.

This is a beautiful, historical novel that really brings out the plight and hardships of immigrants who came to America looking for a better life. I loved how the author developed each of the characters and one could really understand why each reacted to the different situations in such different ways. I thought the end wrapped up a little too neatly but I'm going to see if there is a second book that continues their story. It would be nice to find out how their lives continued on.

29. "John 3:16" by Nancy Moser

Completed: December 31, 2009

Rating: 9/10

Review: The story of a young man's witness and favorite scripture and how it affected some of the lives that it touched. When a tragic accident happens to one of Nebraska's new football stars, his defining scripture comes to light and starts to affect the lives around Nebraska. From a father who refused to have anything to do with God, to a woman trying to hide her past, to a young college couple facing the consequences of their actions to a young woman who has spent all her savings trying to become a mother.

I loved how all the lives somehow intersected in the story and how all the characters were flawed people but were touched by the life of a young man who was destined to be a star athlete but lived his life of faith upfront. The characters were not glossed over and unbelieveable but seemed like real people dealing with very real everyday problems and consequences of decisions they had made. Very upfront without being preachy, the book is a story of redemption and how each of our lives touch the lives of others.