The Clouds Roll Away by Sibella Giorello

The Clouds Roll Away

by Sibella Giorello

Raleigh Harmon is a forensic geologist with the FBI. She has returned to Richmond Virginia fron an assignment in Washington state, and is hoping that things will be better for her in Virginia but has quickly learned that her suprevisor is apparently hoping to get Raleigh booted out of the FBI. Raleigh is facing pressure at work and at home. Her mother is elderly and not in the best of health mentally. At work Raleigh is dealing with a hate crime involving a well known rap artist. There are a lot of twists and turns with this case, including drugs, the kkk and diamonds.
Although this is the third book in this series, it is the first one that I have read. In the beginning it seemed a bit slow, but after awhile it did pick up and held onto my attention through to the end. Things left dangling will hopefully be addressed in the next book or books that will be written. I did enjoy reading this story and am going to look for the preceding two books and read them also.

I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers to read and review.

The Pirate Queen by Patricia Hickman

Saphora Warren seems to have it all. Beautiful homes, a successful husband and adult children, but something is missing. After a photo shoot for Southern Living, Saphora plans to escape to their summer home in Oriental North Carolina. She hopes to just have quiet time to do whatever she wants, when she wants. Her escape is cut short when her plastic surgeon husband comes home early, and before she can get on the road he tells her that he is dying. Life can change in an instant and how Saphora copes with it and the many people around her, is the premise of this story.

Dealing with all the sudden changes in the life of Saphora and her husband is a somewhat complicated story. The adult children, some married and with children of their own and even the children's friends add to this story. Saphora's husband Bender and his doctor friends and the ladies that he has had flings with also add to the story and give us a look at what Saphora has put up with during her marriage to Bender. Somehow it feels like too much of this story is left out. I get the feeling that Bender and Saphora have been living separate lives, but living in the same home. It was a bit difficult for me to understand how Saphora seemed to be a bit out of touch with Bender and was more concerned with her own need for time alone when he was on limited time here on Earth. Did she really need to go off alone on a fishing trip alone or go sneaking through the fence to spy on the neighbor guy when her first concern should have been her husband? I know that not everyone will see this story the way that I do, but that's what makes life and reading books interesting. I wasn't happy with the ending of the story either. It seemed nuts. The few encounters these people actually had doesn't seem like a romance that will endure.

Read the book and decide for yourself. I did enjoy reading it, but was annoyed at a few turns in the story, but most of my annoyance was with Saphora. She had a lot in her life, and did welcome others and help quite a few people, but there was also this feeling that she was just selfish toward her husband and toward Sherry who had her own life, but seemed to always have to give up her own life to run when Saphora called.

This book was provided to me by WaterBrook Press to read and review.

Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor by Chuck Black

Sir Quinlan known as Twitch because of a nervous muscle spasm in his cheek, leaves his friend Tav and the family that has taken care of him since the tragic death of his parents. He plans to set off with Sir Baylor and join the Swords of Valor. During a horrible battle with the evil Shadow Warriors, Sir Baylor is killed. Because of a mistake made by Sir Quinlan, the other Knights blame him for this tragedy and the Swords of Valor are disbanded. Sir Quinlan wanders the kingdom until he meets Taras a Silent Warriorand former trainer of Valor Knights. After a grueling time of training, The Prince speaks to Sir Quinlan and he decides to get the Valor Knights to come together and fight the Dark Knight and his evil cohorts who plan to take over the Kingdom of Arretthtrae.

This is a really good story of knights and the traditional good and evil battle that everyone faces every day. This book is part of a series of stories for young teens and pre-teens. I definitely enjoyed reading this book and know that young people who like adventure and knights will love this book and enjoy the story that does teach about what strenght we find when we band together and inspire others to overcome apathy. There is always strength in numbers especially when the numbers are people of valor and truth.

This book was provided to me to read and review by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing.
 

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul

   

The scene is a snowy little town during the Christmas season. People are hurrying to get shopping done and baking the goodies that their family will enjoy. Not everyone is with their family though and some are not with the person they should be with. A mysterious little group of matchmakers are working hard to bring certain people together for Christmas and for the rest of their lives. If you are lucky enough to shop at Warner, Werner and Wizbotterdad's booksellers, you just might come away with a very special ticket tucked into your book for the Christmas Ball.

This book is so enchanting to read, I could not put it down. Every chapter brought a new element to the story. Everyone needs a little magic in their lives and this book is just full of fun and some really magical twists that will make you want to read more. 

I highly recommend this book to everyone.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. If you would like to read the first chapter, then click on the link.

CHAPTER 1

A Rush of Wings by Kristen Heizmann

Noelle St. Claire has taken flight from her home on her father's estate in New York. She doesn't know where she is going, but is determined to get away from whatever it is that she fears the most. She winds up in Colorado and finds a place to stay at a ranch owned by Rick Spencer and his brother Morgan. Will Noelle find comfort and a chance to just be herself and not be afraid of whatever it is that has brought her to this place?
On the surface I liked this book. Getting to the end was a real challenge because of the anger and frustration that I often felt with Noelle. She seemed to be a headstrong, spoiled rich girl who wasn't willing to accept anyone's rules. That's fine for some things, but when it comes to other people's property and especially the animals under their care, I can't accept the audacity of a person to just do what they want regardless of what someone else has told them not to do. Maybe some people think it's cute for a sweet, pretty rich girl to go against authority, but I kept finding it to be terribly annoying. I don't like people taking their own problems out on innocent animals, either directly or indirectly.
In spite of my occasional aggravation with  Noelle and how she acted throughout the book, I did enjoy the book. Anger isn't something that should be held onto, and Noelle did have a lot of reason to have problems with enjoying her life and opening herself up to people who want to help her. In the end, the story does have a good conclusion that should satisfy almost everyone.

I received this book from Bethany House Publishers to read and review.

The Waiting by Suzanne Woods Fisher

http://www.litfusegroup.com/Blog-Tours/the-waiting-blog-tour.html

Jorie King is waiting. Waiting for Ben Zook to return to Lancaster County. Waiting for Ben to join the church and to settle down. Waiting for Ben to marry her.

News arrives that Ben has been killed and Ben's brother Caleb becomes a source of comfort for Jorie. Their friendship developes into more and they talk of a future together. Suddenly both of their worlds are turned upside down. How will they cope with all the changes in their lives and also with gossip and the insensitive, ignorant behavior of some outsiders.

There are many twists to this story that will grab you and make you not want to put this book down. You will want to know what happens because it will really tug at your heart. I really enjoyed reading this story and getting to know a little more about the lives of some of the Amish people in Pennsylvania. I'm sure that if you like to read this type of story too, you will want to get this book and read it from cover to cover.

The Waiting was provided to me by Litfuse to read and review.

Within My Heart by Tamera Alexander

Rachel Boyd is a young widow and the mother of two small boys. Her husband Thomas died leaving her with his dream to maintain a ranch in the Colorado Rockies. Is running a ranch Rachel's dream too or does she have other dreams that would better use her natural gifts?

Dr. Rand Brookston came to the west to bring modern medicine to the wild Rockies. His example of good medicine gradually leads the people of Timber Ridge to understand that he is there for them and will help them with their medical needs and also by listening to their fears and offering his advice. He likes Rachel Boyd, but she keeps him at a distance. Many obstacles seem to lie in the path of love. Will Rachel and Rand find a way to be together?

I enjoyed reading this historical romance. Once Rand and Rachel began to open up to each other about their own fears and needs, things began to get better for their relationship. I guess the lesson to be learned is that honesty clears the path to better understanding.

This book was provided to me by Bethany House Publishers.

Love's First Bloom by Delia Parr

Reverend Livingstone ministers to fallen women, helping them to find a better life. When one of these ladies is murdered, he fears that he will be accused of the murder and seeks to protect his daughter and the child of the murdered woman. He sends them to a secret safe home under assumed names. Ruth Livingstone is not happy about leaving her father and pretending to be a fallen but redeemed woman with a child and taking on a new name. Ruth must be on her guard against newpaper writers seeking to find the daughter of the Reverend Livingstone, thinking that she may be hiding evidence of his guilt or that she may also be a victim of murder.

Ruth is taken in by a couple who also help Reverend Livingstone with caring for the special ladies who have been saved. While living in their home in Tom's River, New Jersey, she meets Jake Spencer who appears to be a man with an injured back, but who is in fact a newspaper reporter looking for her. Love blooms between the two, but neither of them know all the facts about the other. As pressures mount from many sources, it appears that Ruth and Jake may not be able to be together.

I really enjoyed this story and recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical romance type stories. The book is well written and the story unfolds nicely and leads to a very sweet ending.

This book was given to me by Bethany House Publishers to read and review.

In Every Heartbeat by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Three friends who grew up in the same orphanage go off to college to pursue their dreams for the future. Libby aspires to be a famous journalist, Pete is called to become a minister and Bennett just wants to fit in, be accepted by a fraternity and have fun. Making friends and finding their own place on campus is the main driving force at first. Gradually they each begin to pursue their own interests outside of campus. Libby begins to write romance stories for a women's magazine, Pete seeks out his birth parents to confront them about throwing him out of their home at a young age and Bennett bears his resentment that he will never measure up to Pete and Libby.

Libby and Pete's quests cross paths when Libby finds out that a young boy is to be executed for a crime that she believes he did not commit. This boy turns out to be Pete's brother. Many problems arise as the story continues and Libby wakes up to the fact that God loves her and she has an awakening to His love. I don't want to reveal too many plot lines. The book is well written and you will just have to read it yourself. There really is so much more to this story and well worth reading.

This book was provided to me free, to read and review, by Bethany House Publishers.

Masquerade by Nancy Moser

Charlotte Gleason learns that her family is about to take a downturn in society. With no money and a scandal brewing with her father, she is about to be sent to America to marry a rich man. Charlotte has always had her own way and she insists that she will only marry for love. When her mother becomes ill, the decision is made for Charlotte's maid Dora to accompany her to New York instead of Charlotte's mother. During the passage across the ocean, Charlotte hatches a plan to swap identities with Dora, thus giving Dora the chance to live the life of a rich heiress. Things don't go as planned and Charlotte has a lot of obstacles to deal with and Dora has pangs of guilt from having to maintain the lie that she is Charlotte.

If you enjoy historical fiction, this is a good book for you to read. The descriptions of the clothing and the rules of society during the gilded age are very interesting to read. It was also interesting to read about the awful conditions in the slums of New York City during that time of high immigration from Europe and Asia to this new land of opportunity. I have to admit that Charlotte was more then a bit irritating at times and rather selfish. I suppose that her privileged upbringing was the main cause of her headstrong behavior, but it still irritated me. The swings between her selfishness and the generosity to help less fortunate people in spite of her own limited ability to help seemed a bit out of character. Overall I did enjoy the book very much in spite of my irritation with Charlotte's behavior.

I received this book to read and review from Bethany House Publications.

The Vigilante's Bride by Yvonne Harris

Emily McCarthy is on her way to the Montana Territory. She expects to become the bride of Bart Axel, a widowed and wealthy man whom she knows nothing about. On her way to Bart's ranch, the stagecoach is stopped by a cowboy with a grudge to settle. The cowboy takes money from the lawyer in the coach, thus settling part of his grudge, and also manages to save Emily from being taken to Bart's ranch to become his bride.

After looking at the cover of this book, I was a bit reluctant to read this "cowboy" book. I'm so glad that I overcame my initial reaction and began to read this exciting story. I really enjoyed meeting the characters in this book. One scene that I especially enjoyed was the change of clothing between the cowboys and Indians. There was humor in this scene but also the message that people of different backgrounds can get along when the truth is recognized by everyone and a common good needs to be achieved. By the end of this story, I was ready to read more. I do hope that there will be additional stories with Emily and the cowboy Sullivan.

I received this book from Bethany House Publishers to read and review.

The Thorn by Beverly Lewis

The Thorn

Book 1 of the Rose Trilogy

by Beverly Lewis

The setting is Amish country in Pennsylvania. A beautiful place where Amish people live their lives, mostly isolated from the hectic pace of cities and suburbia. This story centers on Hen, her younger sister Rose and various people in their lives who seem to have their own needs that may not be best for these two sisters who were brought up in the plain ways of the Amish. Hen has married outside of the sheltered environment of her family. After realizing that her own daughter is not getting the type of love and discipline that she experienced in her own family home, Hen wants to find a way to return to her roots and remove her daughter from the fast ways of MTV on TV and being spoiled with worldly goods. Her husband is not cooperative in any way and claims to be agnostic. Rose is friends with a boy who was adopted by the Bishop, but has never really given up his worldly ways or become a true Amish son to the Bishop. Rose is interested in a Amish young man, who has shown interest in her and wishes to court her.

I really enjoyed reading this book. There are many characters within the book who add a lot of layers and texture to the main story. I've never read any of Beverly Lewis's other books, but look forward to reading more about Hen and Rose and how their lives progress. This book is worth reading and you won't be disappointed with the characters and the story. The book has definitely left me wanting more and as far as I am concerned, that is a high recommendation for this book.

Bethany House Publishers provided an ARC for me to read and review.

Love Finds You in Victory Heights, Washington by Tricia Goyer & Ocieanna Fleiss

Love Finds You in Victory Heights, Washington is set during WWII in Washington state. The main character is Rosalie who works at the Boeing plant as a riveter on B-17's. She has lost her fiance in the war and is doing a sort of penance by staying busy at work and helping wherever she can to support the war effort. Eventually she meets a local reporter who does a story on her and makes her the local 'Rosie the Riveter" which leads to a lot of new experiences, some of which really force her into a spotlight that she doesn't want to be in.
I really enjoyed reading this story. Historical romances are always fun to read and sometimes we can learn something new. I hadn't known about the fake town roads and homes that were placed on top of big, strategic buildings like Boeing that could have become targets for the enemy to bomb. There were two things that I wasn't happy with in the story. One being Kenny using the term Doll when he spoke to Rosalie. It just seems a bit slangy and not necessarily a term that a guy would use for a woman he respected. I'm probably wrong that, but that's how I feel. It's not that important to the whole story, so maybe I shouldn't have even mentioned it. The other thing that seemed a bit out of the norm is how the Lanie character managed to be so easily forgiven by Rosalie. She didn't seem all that trustworthy to me and to make her a bridemaid doesn't seem like something someone who was hurt by her underhandedness would do. Yes, it's good to forgive, but sometimes it can take a little while to work things out for the best. Overall, I did enjoy this book very much.

http://www.litfusegroup.com/Blog-Tours/love-finds-you-in-victory-heights-washington.html

This book was provided to me by Litfuse to read and review. I was not paid for my review.

Amish Proverbs by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Amish Proverbs is such a sweet little book packed full of wonderful old sayings that are still meaningful today. Reading through each chapter/subject was such a journey of memories for me. Many of the proverbs were familiar to me from my childhood. My mother was a source of never ending sayings that either brought fear or laughs depending on what it was that I was doing. I remember my mom saying that the Pennsylvania Dutch had an odd way of saying things. One of her examples was "throw papa down the stairs a pair of shoes". That always made me laugh. I could understand that sometimes saying things can be mis-understood by others. I can only hope that I learned from that example.
As wonderful as the proverbs are, the photos throughout the book are a testament to how beautiful the simple things in life really are. Each photo will either bring memories of drives through the Amish areas of Pennsylvania and other states or just show you a small part of how beautiful well kept farms really look. There are also many photos of simple tools, crafted items, quilts, food and many more lovely images that you will enjoy looking at.
I highly recommend this book to everyone. It's a joy to look at and read over and over again.

I received this book from Litfuse and the review is my own opinion.

Amish Proverbs and Your Family Proverbs

I have tried and tried to think of some family proverbs or family sayings, but have not had much luck thinking of any. My own mother used to say all sorts of things, that I just refer to as mommisms. Maybe that is really what most call proverbs, who knows for sure. My mom and grandmother often told me that if I kept making faces it would freeze that way. I didn't think it was true when I was a kid, and fortunately I was right or I'd be in really big trouble now. My grandmother also told me not to hang upside down on my swing set, because all of my blood would go into my head. I'm not sure that that would have been such a bad thing, but who knows. In order to keep granny happy, I wouldn't hang upside down when she was looking.
If anyone reading this would like to share their own family proverbs, please just post them in a comment. I will be giving away a copy of Amish Proverbs to one lucky winner chosen at random by a member of my family who has not yet been appointed to perform this task.

Amish Proverbs by Suzanne Woods Fisher Book Give-Away and Family Proverb Discussion

Suzanne's Amish Proverbs just hit the shelves. To celebrate she's giving away a KINDLE and throwing a party! Let the fun begin. See below for info and links.

Find out more about the book, Suzanne and the blog tour here.

Enter Suzanne Woods Fisher's Simple Wisdom KINDLE Giveaway!

One Grand Prize winner will receive a Kindle preloaded with Suzanne Woods Fisher titles. The Prize Pack (valued at over $205.00) includes:

* A brand new KINDLE, Free 3G, 6", Latest Generation

* Amish Peace by Suzanne Woods Fisher

* The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher

To enter, simply click on the icons below to fill out the entry form, then tell 5 or more friends about the contest.

Oh, and enter soon! Winner will be announced on September 1st.

 
Join Suzanne for a Wrap-up Party on September 1st!

She’ll be announcing the winner of the Simple Wisdom KINDLE Giveaway, chatting with readers, and giving away copies of Amish Proverbs and The Choice! Be sure to join us on Wednesday , September 1st at 8PM EST at Suzanne’s Author Page

Be sure to check out the blog tour here or purchase a copy of Amish Proverbs: Words of Wisdom from the Simple Life!

Angel Song by Sheila Walsh & Kathryn Cushman

Angel Song is the story of a young woman returning to her Southern home in Charleston to celebrate with her sister who has earned her master's degree. Unfortunately before the sister gets her degree, there is a terrible accident that she does not survive. The story evolves as Annie must get her family home ready to sell. The neighbor boy, 12 has Down Syndrome and has the uncanny ability to see and hear angels. Annie doesn't believe in God or angels so little Keith, although very sweet and lovable, makes Annie a bit uncomfortable with his drawings and stories about the angels that he sees.
Annie meets Ethan who has offered to help her get her house spruced up for sale. He also helps her to understand about how God is reaching out to her and trying to send her a message about His love for her. There are hints that a real romance will develop between Ethan and Ann even though Ann believes that she belongs in New York City, not back home in the South.
I enjoyed reading this book. It is easy to read and a good clean book for anyone to enjoy.

I received my copy to read and review from Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Somewhere to Belong
by Judith Miller

The Amana colonies are the home for devout Christians who live a cooperative way of live as simply as possible. Johanna has lived there all of her life and Berta has been brought there by her parents when she is about 17. Johanna is given the task of helping Berta to learn the ways of Amana and to fit in with the others, no easy task for anyone. Berta is willful and not happy to be where she is in Amana. Johanna doesn't understand why Berta is so rebellious and cannot do her assigned tasks without protest and childishness. As the story evolves, secrets come out. Secrets that threaten both girls faith in their families and in themselves.

I had a difficult time getting into this story for several chapters. The rebellious Berta did manage to get on my nerves a bit. She seemed more like a 10 year old rather then a young woman. As the story progressed, and more details and secrets were revealed, I found it more interesting to read and eager to see how things would turn out for everyone. Perhaps the hardest part for me was accepting that the worldly family of Berta Schumacher would so willingly give up their life and move to the Amana colonies and expect their almost grown daughter to just accept the stringent rules of Amana.

I can't give this book the full 5 stars, because the Berta character was just too irritating and not always believable. Some of the descriptions of life in Amana remind me of a commune, only worse in some ways. On the good side,  it is a book that will show us that secrets within families are rarely good for all involved. Secrets hurt everyone, those who keep them and those whom the secrets are supposedly trying to protect.

This book was provided to me by Bethany House Publishers free of charge to read and review on my blog.

Love On A Dime

by

Cara Lynn James

Around the time of the turn of the century, society had it's rules to be followed. Reading what were called dime novels, was not something a lady from society should be doing. Writing these cheap novels could bring shame and loss of respect by others, to anyone who authors these novels. Lilly is the main character who just happens to write "dime novels' under the nom de plume of Fannie Cole. While vacationing in Newport Rhode Island and working on her latest dime novel, Lilly finds that a house guest from her past is also there. The man she was in love with has returned as a self-made successful business man, not the poor young man that her family had feared Lilly would want to marry. Lilly is being courted by a somewhat dull, but rich man that her family approves of. The story brings us through the trials and tribulations of coming to grips with Lilly's painful decision to marry her current beau or go against what everyone thinks is best for her.

Although you might think that the story will go as you expect it to, there is a lot of interesting turns to this story. Various family members have their own secrets and problems and the personalities of some of the other characters will hold your interest throughout this book.

This book was provided to me for review by Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Scars and Stilettos Blog Tour

http://www.litfusegroup.com/Blog-Tours/scars-and-stilettos-blog-tour.html

For more information on the blog tour please use the link up above.

Scars and Stilettos by Harmony Dust.

This book is about an exotic dancer who is able to turn her life around. The author tells us about her childhood, the lack of guidance by responsible people, and how she wound up as an exotic dancer but found her way to Christ.

If you have ever wondered about the how and why of exotic dancers, this book will open your eyes. After reading Harmony's story about the abuse, rapes and lack of decent role models throughout her childhood, you will begin to understand how a girl/woman can turn to exotic dancing to make money and support themselves. Unfortunately there isn't any real satisfaction in this type of occupation. Money isn't everything and lack of self-esteem just leads to more unhappiness.
  
Scars and Stilettos is a gripping story that will hold your interest through until the very end. It's nicely written and I recommend it to anyone who is in this line of work and wants to get out or to anyone who just wants to understand how or why women get into this type of work.

Scars and Stilettos was provided to me by Litfuse to read and give my personal review of the book.

Hearts Awakening by Delia Parr

Secrets and misunderstandings abound in this historical romance book. Elvira Kilmer is in need of a job and Jackson Smith needs a housekeeper and someone to help with his two young sons after the death of his wife, the boys mother.

There is some tension in this book. Tension between the characters and tension in the reader wanting to know how this story will finally end. The author leads us through the story without a lot of explanation, so we are often wanting to know more, but answers come at the author's own pace. "Every wrong should be made right, and no right should be forgotten." (Gram, a character in the story), It is an interesting story and does keep your interest throughout the entire book.


This book was provided to me by Bethany House to read and review.

Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson

Sixteen widows who are left to carry on their lives without their husbands are given the choice of being at the mercy of relatives, or going west to Nebraska to start a new life claiming land and supporting themselves. Unbeknownst to the women involved, they were meant to be brides, not land owners when they arrived at their destination. Some of the ladies were satisfied to become brides again, but others were not happy with that idea at all. This is the story of those brave women who continued with their quest to own land and to support themselves.



I really enjoyed reading and learning a little about what women and men faced in setting up a new homestead on the prairies of Nebraska. The characters are interesting and likable and that makes the story easy to read. This book has much to offer anyone who is interested in how women lived back in the 1870's. The story flows nicely and is hard to put down once you start reading this story.



Bethany House Publishers provided this book to me free, to read and review.

Plan B by Pete Wilson

This book is about those times in our lives when things don't go as planned. How do we face those challenges and how do we draw from our faith to find answers to some of life's most challenging times. The author writes in an easy to read conversational style. He touches on bible stories and current stories of people he knows. The examples of how Plan B comes into effect are interesting to read and easy to relate to when faced with life's curve balls.
Life doesn't always go the way we planned. Sometimes we need to know that others are going or have gone through similar things that we must face also. It is reassuring to know that we can and will get through the rough spots if we just trust that God knows what He is doing and hasn't abandoned us. Although the book is well written, I have a problem with the simplicity of dealing with life's catastrophes by just believing that God is watching out for us and we just need to trust that He is watching over us and everything is just a part of His plan. Sometimes we just need to face reality and find help for ourselves. Yes, trust in God, but also use whatever resources are available to help you deal with whatever you must face.

Plan B by Pete Wilson was provided to me by Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Booksneeze.com book review bloggers program.

The Secret Holocaust Diaries

by

Nonna Bannister

with Denise George
and Carolyn Tomlin




"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" These words said by George Santayana are just as true today as they were when he first said them. This book, The Secret Holocaust Diaries by Nonna Bannister is a reminder and an actual account of things that happened in Russia and Germany during and just before WWII. This book tells us about a good family who had a comfortable life in Russia. Nonna tells us about her family and about the wonderful times she had growing up and enjoying her life as all children should. Great turmoil was going on in the government and the years of Stalin changed everything for the people of Russia. The author kept these secret diaries to herself until her own children were grown. She didn't want her husband and children to be saddened by the atrocities that she had witnessed and endured.

I cannot say how much I recommend this book to everyone. This book is one that I will re-read many more times. Nonna's diaries will stay with me for years to come. I thank her husband and family for getting this book out for us to read and learn from. Forgiveness and the love of God are such an important part of this woman's life. We should all read her words and never forget her life and what she endured at the hands of corrupted governments.

Tyndale Publishers provided this book to me. The review is my own opinion.

Saint Patrick 

Christian Encounters Series

By Jonathan Rogers

 

 

 The life and times of St. Patrick are explored in this book. There is some information about Patrick and the conditions that existed in Ireland during the time when the Romans occupied the British Isles. Ireland was considered to be a place of heathens and ignorant people, so the Romans were not interested in going there. Unfortunately for Patrick, he was taken there as a slave, after the Romans had left England. Exact dates are not known for when St. Patrick was born and when he died and a lot of what is "known" about him is a mix of speculation, stories, exaggerations, legends and some facts.

I did look forward to reading this book and did like it. It wasn't a book that kept my interest for long spans of time, but I did talk about it with my family, so it must have been interesting to me on some level. I hate to sound so negative, and I'm really not. I did like the book and have always wondered about St. Patrick. I just wish that more information was available. The author did a good job with the informations that is avaiable, so I don't blame him for any lack of facts. I think this book is worth reading if you have any interest in the life of St. Patrick.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Making Money From Home by Donna Partow

In these trying times, many of us are looking for ways to make money. Making money from home is the best way to add to the family bank account or to just make some extra money for a cushion. In 'Making Money From Home', Ms. Partow shows us many ways to earn some cash from home, using our computer. The knowledge that she shares with us will help anyone to get started. In addition to her book, there is also a website where more information can be found. There is a lot of information contained in all of the chapters. Some of their titles include: Foundations For a Home Based Business, Exploring Your Options, Business Basics and Marketing Your Business. This book really gives you the tools and answers to help you get set up quickly. I can't stress enough how much good and practical information is included in this book.

Reading 'Making Money From Home has really inspired me to take a look at possibly starting my own at home business. If you are thinking about starting your own at home business, then you really need this book and all the help links, suggestions and basic business know-how that you will find within the chapters. Ms. Partow also covers various points of handling the home distractions while maintaining order and peace within your office.  This is such a good source of information that you will need and can use, that I recommend that you buy this book and study it, to help you get your new business up and running.

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book. The review is my own opinion. I am not paid for my opinions.

Lies The Governent Told You by Judge Andrew P. Napolitano

Lies The Government Told You by Judge Andrew P. Napolitano




Judge Napolitano does a great job of interweaving various points from the United States Constitution,lawsuits and past and present happenings. He shows us the many ways that our government has lied to us and let various opinions take precedence over the original intention of our constituiion.

This book will really open your eyes to so many wrongs that have occured over the years and continue to be in effect today. There is much that will be shared with you about how various groups have gained power over our govenment and are doing so by lies that too many of us are willing to listen to and believe to the detriment of our country. This really isn't a partisan book, both major parties have done things over the years that need to be studied and learned from so that we can make better choices in who we elect to government office.

Everyone who has an interest in our Constituion and what it means, needs to read this book and learn from the writing of Judge Napolitano.



I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com bloggers book review program. The opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Beautiful Things Happen When a Woman Trusts God

Beautiful Things Happen When a Woman Trusts God by Sheila Walsh

Sheila Walsh writes about her own experiences while giving us excerpts from the Bible to show us that others have also faced challenges in their lives. The main message throughout the book is let us know that God is in control and that we must trust God and allow ourselves to follow Him. We all have tough patches to get through, but trusting that God will bring us through if we just trust Him is what we need to do.

Although this type of book is not what I normally read, I did enjoy it and recommend it to others. At times some of us feel like we are the only ones who have ever had troubles in our lives. Hearing stories from the Bible helps to remind us that everyone has rough patches along the way in life and that we must not give up or be ashamed if we feel that we have failed in some way. At times in this book, I felt a bit sceptical about the simple message to just follow God. It's not always that clear to most of us as to which way to go or what to do. It would make everything a lot easier to just be able to accept that God has a plan for each of us. I do recommend this book to everyone, especially women who have doubts about their own lives and need to be reassured that God does have a plan and that we all can follow Him where he leads us.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Snow lol

For whatever reason, we didn't receive any mail on Friday of last week. Saturday mail delivery was canceled because of the "big" snow storm. Whatever happened to "neither snow nor sleet nor gloom of night, shall keep these brave curriers from their rounds"? Nevermind, I guess they just don't make mail personnel like they used to lol. Just kidding, I know safety is most important. Anyway, there wasn't much mail of importance delivered today. Most importantly, I was hoping for some new books to review, in my mailbox today. Now it's snowing again and I kind of think there won't be any mail delivery again tomorrow.

Sue Grafton

Did I mention that Sue Grafton is one of my favorite authors? Well she really is one of most favorite. She writes mysteries that have each started with a letter of the alphabet in order, such as A is for Alibi, B is for Burglar. The newest one is U is for Undertow. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy and read it. It's a bit sad that she is running out of alphabet. Maybe numbers will be next or who knows what will be next. I just hope she keeps writing and uses her main character, Kinsey Milhone in many more books to come.

Lethal Legacy by Linda Fairstein

I love a good mystery and Linda Fairstein writes really intriguing ones, set in New York. There is always a bunch of interesting information thrown in concerning the sites used in her story. This story delves into the theft of missing maps, books and artwork that have been donated to the main library system in New York City. Facts about restoration are interesting to read if you like old books as I do. The plot involves murders, thefts and much more as you learn about the various characters and the history of the New York Public Library. I recommend this book highly.

The Devil's Queen by Jeanne Kalogridis

This is a novel about Catherine de Medici. I am not a historian, so I have no way of knowing how accurate this story is. It held my interest throughout the story and is an enjoyable read. There are parts that are quite graphic and if you are sensitive to violent descriptions of sex and corporal punishment, then parts of this book may offend you. In spite of Catherine's dependence on Ruggiero, a medieval psychic, spells and good luck charms, I enjoyed reading it very much. It is a complex tale of how royalty spread their influence into many areas of the world. Wars and weddings were used to unite or to take over various kingdoms. This may not be totally factual, but it is interesting to read.

Why should I review books?

Have you ever read a negative review on the back of a book? Hopefully I will be able to give you both sides of a review. There are few books that I absolutely hated, but a few that were a bit hard on my nerves to get through. For instance, some of the books by Diane Mott Davidson have really tried my patience with her relationship with her son. She is a bit too protective in my opinion and it bothers me the way she handles him. Her relationships with various men in her life is also a bit bothersome to my way of thinking. I have read most of her books and do like them though. I have even tried a few of the recipes found in her books and enjoyed them.

Some of my favorite authors

Most of the books that I read are mysteries with strong central women characters. Here are a few of my favorites: Lisa Scottoline, Anne Perry, Jan Burke, Carol O'Connell, Kathy Reichs,  Carolyn Hart and Laura Lippman. I also read Mauve Binchy and a few other non-mystery writers.

Books

This blog will be where I post personal reviews and recommendations of the books that I read.