Soul's Gate

I received a copy of Soul's Gate by James Rubart from BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review.
"Every now and then we get a break from reality. A glimpse into the other world that is more real than the reality we live in 99 percent of our days. The Bible is about a world of demons and angels and great evil and even greater glory.”
What if you could travel inside another person’s soul? To battle for them. To be part of Jesus healing their deepest wounds. To help set them free to step boldly into their divinely designed future.

Thirty years ago that’s exactly what Reece Roth did. Until tragedy shattered his life and ripped away his future.

Now God has drawn Reece out of the shadows to fulfill a prophecy spoken over him three decades ago. A prophecy about four warriors with the potential to change the world . . . if Reece will face his deepest regret and teach them what he has learned.

They gather at a secluded and mysterious ranch deep in the mountains of Colorado, where they will learn to see the spiritual world around them with stunning clarity—and how to step into the supernatural.

Their training is only the beginning. The four have a destiny to pursue a freedom even Reece doesn’t fully fathom. But they have an enemy hell-bent on destroying them and he’ll stop at nothing to keep them from their quest for true freedom and the coming battle of souls.

I really enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down.  I haven't read anything like it.  Rubart did a great job of infusing his story with Scripture.  Each of the characters begins to have deeper faith as their training goes on.  They each also gain much needed healing.  Aren't those the things we all need?  If only there was a Reece in all of our lives.

Killer Crust

I received a copy of Killer Crust by Chris Cavender from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 
Eleanor Swift isn't amused when Laughing Luigi - the sketchy frozen pizza dough baron - walks into her Timber Ridge, North Carolina pizzeria.  But his pizza-making contest seems on the up and up...and sprucing up her beloved pizzeria, "A Slice of Delight", with $25,000 in first-prize money would be a dream come true.  But Luigi is soon up to his snicky tricks, and Eleanor and her sister Maddie aren't the only contestants who find the pizza dough king distasteful.  Then Luigi is found dead on the floor, with a slice of poisoned pizza!  If Eleanor and Maddie want to find the real killer and win the $25,000, they're going to have to juggle seriously surreptitious sleuthing with the pressure-packed pizza-making performances...before the real killer dishes them their own slices of death!
This is a good book and has some twists that I didn't see coming.  All of the pizza-making contestants had motive all the way through the contest.   Up until the end I was sure that a couple of the other characters had been in the murder together.  This is one of the Pizza Lovers Mysteries books and since it's the first I've read I was surprised to find a recipe at the end.  The author says that the first book also has a recipe at the end.  I wonder if all Cavender's book will have one.

Dark Eyes, Deep Eyes

I received a copy of Dark Eyes, Deep Eyes by T. Neal Tarver from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.

  Life, death, faith and hope paint paths to Heaven and Hell as two men find their way in modern-day San Antonio. College grad Nick doesn’t trust God. He wears a simple message across his heart: “God, you’re not welcome here.” Former pastor Wayne has a heart held hostage by his past failures and a feeling that he isn’t God’s man. When death’s specter burns both men’s names into its appointment book, each embarks on an amazing journey—one doused in dread, the other dripping with delight.
  This is a great book!  I've read a couple books about people going to Heaven, but never a book about someone going to Hell.  This book describes 2 men's journey after death - one to Heaven, the other to Hell.  The chapters rotate back and forth from each man's journey.  Wayne experiences the highs of Heaven while Nick experiences the depths of Hell.  Each chapter is so real it's like you're traveling with each of the men.  The one thing that I didn't see coming is how the Devil is described - "The Beautiful One".  When Nick finally sees the Devil it all makes sense.  I love how Nick finally sees that it's not what's on the outside that counts. 

Sceretly Smitten

I received a copy of Secretly Smitten by Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.
  Summer, fall, winter, spring—Smitten, Vermont, is the place for love . . . and mystery!
  There’s a secret in Grandma Rose’s attic—a forgotten set of dog tags belonging to her first love. But David Hutchins was killed in action and never returned to Smitten. How did the dog tags end up in the attic?
  The mystery intrigues Rose’s three granddaughters—Tess, Clare, and Zoe—and they decide to investigate, though their mother, Anna, warns against meddling. But as the seasons turn and the mystery unravels, the three young women and their mother encounter some intriguing mystery men of their own. Has a sixty-year-old puzzle sparked something new for this close-knit family of women?
  Join popular romance novelists—and real-life BFFs—Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter for four delightful intertwined tales of mystery and sweet intrigue.
  This is the first book I've read that has four sections by four different authors, but one storyline.  I enjoyed reading each authors take on the same story.  Each section focused on a different character and her love life. The mystery of the dog tags that were found in Grandma Rose's attic continues throughout all the sections along with mini story lines of Tess, Clare, Zoe and Anna.  We learn a lot about each woman's fears and dreams.  Together they find the courage to face their fears and see their dream come true.  If only we all had family like that to lean on.

Every Perfect Gift

I received a copy of Every Perfect Gift by Dorothy Love from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.
  Ethan and Sophie long to share a future together. But the secrets they’re not sharing could tear them apart.
  Sophie Caldwell has returned to Hickory Ridge, Tennessee after years away. Despite the heartaches of her childhood, Sophie is determined to make a home, and a name, for herself in the growing town.  A gifted writer, she plans to resurrect the local newspaper that so enchanted her as a girl.
  Ethan Heyward’s idyllic childhood was shattered by a tragedy he has spent years trying to forget. An accomplished businessman and architect, he has built a majestic resort in the mountains above Hickory Ridge, drawing wealthy tourists from all over the country.
  When Sophie interviews Ethan for the paper, he is impressed with her intelligence and astounded by her beauty. She's equally intrigued with him but fears he will reject her if he learns about her shadowed past. Just as she summons the courage to tell him, Ethan’s own past unexpectedly and violently catches up with him, threatening not only his life but their budding romance.
  I don't normally pick books written about the 1800s but am glad I did this time.  This is a good book that was easy to follow.  I did have to look up a few words.  I think it's interesting how a new resort can bring a dying town back to life and how women struggled to do things we take for granted now.

Christmas Stories

I received a copy of Christmas Stories by Maz Lucado from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.
A heartwarming collection of Christmas stories and reflections from Max Lucado
These stories—like your favorite Christmas ornaments—come in all shapes and sizes. They unfold in a variety of settings, from ancient Bethlehem to rural England. From a small Texas town to the heavenly realms. Some are short. Others many chapters long. Some offer reflections. Others imagine Christmas through the eyes of a burnt-out candle maker, a lonely business man, or heavenly angels.
Yet all are vintage Lucado, and all resonate with the wonder of the season.
"In the mystery of Christmas," Max writes, "we find its majesty. The mystery of how God became flesh, why he chose to come, and how much he must love his people. Such mysteries can never be solved, just as love can never be diagrammed. Christmas is best pondered, not with logic, but imagination."
That's what each of these unique Christmas stories help us do. In the midst of the bustle and hurry that often distracts us this time of year, these stories free us to explore the ways in which Christ's coming has forever changed history—and us.
This is a collection of stories that will really make you think.  The first one I'd read before but can't remember where.  The one I enjoyed the most was An Angel's Story.  It was written from the perspective of the Angel Gabriel.  I hadn't ever thought about Satan trying to keep Jesus from being born.  But doesn't it make sense that he would? 

Solomon's Tale

I received a copy of Solomon's Tale by Shelia Jeffries from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 
Solomon's Tale is a gripping story with strong emotion, humor, and gritty relationship themes. Sheila Jeffries has also woven a thread of spirituality throughout the tale, which focuses on reincarnation, angels, and how the soul survives death. Solomon, a cat who can see angels, who is chosen to be born again to help a family endure traumas of separation and poverty, narrates the quirky but heartwarming adventure. Solomon embarks on a perilous journey to find his home. He falls in love with another cat, Jessica, whose outrageous behavior brings life and humor into the challenging situations he must face, including the repossession of his family home, relocation to a cramped caravan, and a lonely, desperate time of surviving the wild. A tear-jerker with an interesting twist at the end, Solomon's Tale will make you laugh and cry and lift your spirits. It was inspired by two real cats and will appeal to fans of cats and spiritual fiction.
This is a different book than I've read before.  It's written from the perspective of Solomon.  We hear about how cats can sense how people feel and if they're good or bad.  Solomon has a very good sense of where his Ellen lives and finds a way to her.  He has an angel and sees other angels along the way.  We learn how hard it is for Solomon to full fill his mission and promises.  Solomon and Ellen have so much in common that helps them each to cope with the situations they find themselves in.

Take the Trophy and Run

I received a copy of Take the Trophy and Run by Gail Sattler from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Like Mitford and Lake Wobegon before that, Bloomfield is a place we could all call home. Here, the residents enjoy a splash fountain in the town square, dine at the "Fancy Schmantsy" on tree-lined Main Street, and dream of reaching the 10,000 population mark -- only 22 more folks to go! 

The Bloomfield Garden Club, an all-ages group of lovable oddballs that will stop at nothing to make everything beautiful, maintains this piece of heaven on earth. But even such idyllic places as this have their share of 
dramatic characters and stories to be told.

Take, for instance, craft store owner Amber Weathersby. She wants to be a member of the garden club but has never received the blessing of a green thumb. Her friend, Stan the mechanic, has helped as much as he can -- even adding a timed sprinkler system to Amber's garden -- but the results never live up to the club's expectations. 

Her only claim to fame with that gang is her semi-famous garden gnome, Gnorman, who gets to hold the prized trophy each year in the Bloomfield Spring Fling contest's winning garden. 

But this year, instead of being the life of the party, her little star is gnomegnapped, and worse, the club's irreplaceable trophy has gone missing with him. While Amber is chasing the gnome around town trying to win the trophy, Stan is chasing Amber, trying to win her heart.

This was an interesting book.  I loved all the situations that Gnorman got into.  Many of the things that Amber went through are situations that I can totally relate to.  Why do we all want to be Super Man and fix everything ourselves?  This story helped me to see that we all need someone to lean on.  Many times that person is right under our nose.

Heaven Changes Everything

I recieved a copy of Heaven Changes Everything Living Every Day with Eternity in Mind by Todd Burpo and Sonja Burpo from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.
Live every day with the hope of heaven!

A shattered leg, kidney stones, and a lump diagnosed as hyperplasia. Times were tough, money was scarce, and the bills and frustrations were piling up. It was into this kind of stressed out life that God sent Todd and Sonja Burpo the interruption of a life-threatening illness and emergency surgery for their almost four-year old son Colton. An interruption that included his unforgettable journey to heaven.

How did they cope? And how can they help us keep thoughts of eternity in mind in the midst of our own overly busy, stressed out lives?

In fifty unique inspirational readings based on excerpts from their story, Todd and Sonja share their family’s responses and reactions to the Heaven Is for Real experience. They answer questions about what it’s like to struggle with and question God, to doubt, even get angry with Him. And offer new insights into what God might be doing with those interruptions he allows into our lives. Each reading closes with a scripture to provide biblical reinforcement of the ideas shared and a take-away thought or action point to help readers incorporate the reading's inspiration into daily life.

Keep the hope of heaven alive in your life. Heaven truly is for real, and it changes everything!

Heaven Changes Everything by Todd and Sonja Burpo is an extension of the first book, Heaven is For Real. In the first book, Colton Burpo, retells his story of visiting heaven.  If you haven't read Heaven is for Real, I'd really recommend reading that before picking up this devotional. Otherwise, you might feel somewhat lost.

This book has 42 inspirational readings based on excerpts from their first book. The readings share more personal experiences and thoughts based on their story and their lives since sharing Heaven Is For Real. In this book, Sonja shares her perspective as a Mom for the first time. These readings offer more comfort and encouragement for everyday life such as financial difficulty, stress and parenting.

 

A Wedding Renewal in Sweetwater, Texas

I received a copy of A Wedding Renewal in Sweetwater, Texas by Kim O'Brien from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
 Sylvia longs to feel loved and cherished by her husband, Wilson—just like the heroines in the romance novels she reads. After she starts her own campaign to rekindle their marriage, Wilson worries his wife is having some sort of mid-life crisis. Her crazy behavior couldn’t come at a worse time. His business is booming, and he’s up for a big promotion. As Sylvia and Wilson continue to work at cross purposes, their entire life seems to be slipping out of control. Can they muster up the faith to let God revitalize their marriage, or is it already too late?
This book was good but seemed to have an abrupt ending.  I liked that Sylvia and her friends came together to help her be a "Proverbs woman" for her husband.  The situations that Sylvia gets herself into to help get the marriage she wants are very entertaining.  I can totally relate to making plans and having them go very differently than planned.  Like Sylvia I need to trust that things will work out for the better.

The Yellow Packard

I received a copy of The Yellow Packard by Ace Collins from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
After George Hall buys a late spinster’s 1936 Packard, a myriad of good fortune comes his way—until his daughter Rose is kidnapped and the car stolen. When the auto comes into the possession of down-and-out salesman William Landers, his luck seems to turn around—until he’s accused of a crime he never committed. Now in the custody of FBI Agent Helen Meeker, the luxury auto leads her into romance, intrigue, and danger. Will Helen discover the Packard’s secrets in time or become a villain’s next victim?
When I started this book I didn't know if I was going to like it.  I'm glad I didn't stop reading it because it's a good book.  There are so many characters that are impacted by the Yellow Packard and many twists that I didn't see coming.  Collins does a great job of keeping you guessing as to how each character is going to gain or lose from owning the Packard and how that impacts the story and other characters.  The ending was definitely something I didn't see coming.

The Bridge

I received a copy of The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Molly Allen lives alone in Portland, but her heart is back in Franklin, Tennessee, where five years ago she walked away from a man she cannot forget, a rare sort of love she hasn't found since.
Ryan Kelly lives in Franklin and spends plenty of time at The Bridge-the oldest bookstore in historic downtown Franklin-remembering the long hours he and Kelly once spent there.
Now, Ryan and Molly's favorite bookstore is in trouble. For thirty years, Charlie and Donna Barton have run The Bridge, providing the people of middle Tennessee with coffee, conversation, and shelves of good books-even through dismal book sales and the rise of eBooks. Then in May a flood tore through Franklin and destroyed nearly every book in the store. By Christmastime, the bank threatens to pull the lease on The Bridge and is about to take the Bartons' house as well. Despondent, Charlie considers ending his life. And in the face of tragedy, miracles begin to unfold.
This is a great book!  I hadn't read any of Karen Kingsbury's books before and I think I'll be ready more of them now.  The story shows how much one person can impact the lives of others.  The way everyone comes together to help get The Bridge back in business helps me remember all the good in the world.

What Every Christian Ought to Know

I received a copy of What Every Christian Ought to Know by Adrian Rogers with Steve Rogers from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Available for the first time in paperback, one of the last books written by revered late pastor Adrian Rogers is also one of his best-selling, a bold yet approachable guide to the ABCs of Christianity that Publishers Weekly calls, "(a) beautifully simple primer on essential truths."

What Every Christian Ought to Know provides readers with a well- organized, well-reasoned grasp of such topics as salvation, eternal security, prayer, the Holy Spirit, resisting temptation, finding God's will, as well as the authority of the Bible and how to understand it better. A valuable volume for new Christians and young disciples, it's also a suitably instructive resource for believers of all ages.

This new edition includes an introduction from Steve Rogers, president of the Adrian Rogers Pastor Training Institute, plus discussion questions for personal reflection or group study.

Adrian Rogers (1931-2005) was one of America's most respected Bible teachers, communicating to millions through his Love Worth Finding radio and television ministry that continues today. He was also senior pastor of the 27,000-member Bellevue Baptist Church near Memphis, Tennessee, and a popular author whose books include Unveiling the End Times in Our Time and The Incredible Power of Kingdom Authority.

Steve Rogers is president of the Adrian Rogers Pastor Training Institute.

This is a good book for new Christians, old Christians or anyone else.  I've been going to church since I can remember and many of the things that Adrian and Steve talk about in this book I didn't know.  Or I couldn't explain if I wanted to.  They explain everything so clearly and completely that I can now defend my faith.  This will be a book that I come back to frequently.

Point of Retreat

I received a copy of Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Layken and Will have managed to overcome the obstacles that threatened to destroy their love, proving that they are perfect for one another. What they are about to learn, however, is that the things that have brought them together may be the very things that ruin their connection forever. Layken is left second-guessing the relationship and Will is jumping over hurdles to prove his love for her. What the young lovers discover about themselves along this journey may change their entire world and the lives of those who depend on them the most.      
This book made me think about what would happen if my parents had died when I was 19 and I had to raise a younger sibling.  Would I be strong enough to put my life on hold?  This is the situation Lake and Will both find themselves in.  They do a good job of handling the situations normal parents face with raising children.  They find that having someone in the same situation to help bounce ideas off of is priceless.  Like anyone in a relationship they have problems but together they can get through anything.

Wisdom Meets Passion

I received a copy of Wisdom Meets Passion by Dan Miller and Jared Angaza from BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review.
Baby Boomers have relied on wisdom to pave the way to success. Education, knowledge, investing strategies, 401ks, real estate leverage and carefully contrived career paths were expected to lead to success in one's golden years. seeing the overall failure of that formulaic approach to life, younger generations today have relied on passion as the guiding principle for their version of success.

And yet both are necessary. Regardless of age, those using wisdom only to achieve their goals are likely to end up disappointed and unfulfilled-feeling as though they have been chasing empty rainbows. Those trusting passion alone may lose the power of wisdom and end up underachieving, falling short of their potential and unable to attain their worthy goals.

Wisdom without passion is a Ferrari with no gas in the tank. Passion without wisdom is a tricked out 57 Chevy with no steering wheel. In Wisdom Meets Passion, bestselling author Dan Miller and his entrepreneurial son Jared Angaza show how to blend the two-equipping you to accomplish your greatest goals, experience the thrill of fulfilling relationships, create meaningful work, and to complete your purpose and calling here on earth no matter which age group you represent.

I've read Dan's 48 Days to the Work You Love and found it helpful.  I really liked this book also.  I think what help make it relate able was hearing Jared's story and comments.  Jared has moved to Africa and lives in a way most of us can't even fathom doing.  I love that he's so committed to helping that he jumped in with both feet.  Where would the world be if everyone was that committed to what we believed in?

My Journey to Heaven

I received a copy of My Journey to Heaven by Marv Besteman and Lorilee Craker from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
As Marv Besteman lay in a hospital bed, visions of celestial beauty were the last thing on his mind. He had just had surgery to remove a rare pancreatic tumor. Alone after visiting hours ended, Marv tossed and turned, wanting more than anything else to simply sleep and escape the excruciating pain and misery for a while.
He was about to have an experience he never could have imagined--and could never forget.
In My Journey to Heaven, Marv Besteman shares the true story of his experience of heaven with astounding detail. You'll meet the angels who accompanied him to the gate, overhear his conversation with St. Peter, and feel the joy as he recognizes friends and family members who touched his life.
If you are grieving the loss of a loved one, or even if you just wonder about what happens after we die, you'll find peace, comfort, and encouragement in Marv's story.
I love reading stories about people who've been granted a glance at Heaven.  Marv's story is a little different than others I've read.  He gets to see and talk to Peter, 5 very close people, and lots of babies.  Marv talks a lot about the sky in Heaven.  He says it's like the 4th of July with all kinds of fireworks exploding in so many colors - some he's not ever seen on Earth.  His journey changes his life forever, but then who's wouldn't be changed?

Mixed Signals

I received a copy of Mixed Signals by Jane Tesh from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.It’s Christmas in Parkland, North Carolina, and PI David Randall is looking forward to his mother’s visit to 302 Grace Street, even though he knows she’ll want to talk about his daughter, Lindsey, who died in a car accident. Then he and his friend Camden find Camden’s friend Jared Hunter brutally stabbed. Cam has violent flashbacks to the crime, making him fear he’s linked with the killer. The suspects include Boyd Taylor, who hires Randall. Randall’s investigations reveal Jared served time for breaking into the Parkland Museum of History, and Bert Galvin, son of Ralph Galvin, editor of the Parkland Herald, was also involved.
Randall believes inept superhero, the Parkland Avenger, is a set up by award-hungry Herald reporter, Brooke Verner. The Super Hero Society of Parkland insists the Avenger isn’t one of them. To his dismay, Kary, wanting a more active role in his cases, joins the SHS.
Brooke tells Randall she saw a letter from Bert promising not to tell about the museum funds. By comparing museum records and newsletters, Randall discovers a collector of valuable letters was never paid the full amount and died in a car crash suspiciously soon after the sale. He realizes Galvin used the museum break in to cover up this embezzlement scheme.
A map found in Jared’s comic collection leads Randall and Cam to a series of tunnels underneath several stores that have been recently robbed. Kary, in her guise as Wonder Star, helps them trap Galvin in the tunnels and end Cam’s troubling visions.
I enjoyed this book.  It had me guessing until the last few chapters.  I found out after I started reading the book that it's the second in a series.  I really wish I would have read the first one before this one.  There were somethings that weren't completely explained about the characters that would have helped to know.

The 13: Fall

I received a copy of The 13: Fall by Robbie Cheuvront, Erik Reed, and Shawn Allen from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Former Black Ops specialist-turned-CIA operative Jonathan Keene is investigating the disappearance of border agents along the US/Mexico border when he’s called to join a battle against an enemy no one saw coming. . .yet waits right at America’s doorstep. Keene teams with Christian FBI agent Megan Taylor—a woman who’s as reluctant to work with guarded Keene as Keene is wary of Megan’s God. As the US is pushed into a situation it hasn’t seen since its inception, a conflict awaits that will test the limits of Keene’s strength and force him to come face-to-face with the demons of his past.
This book will really make you think about the future of our country.  I know it's a fiction book but it's very real and for me hits home.  The events that unfold are not so far fetched that it couldn't happen if we don't go back to the values of our founding fathers.  This is the first book in a series and I can't wait until the next one.  It's definitely on my must read list.

Chasing the Wind

I received a copy of Chasing the Wind by Pamela Binnings Ewen from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
At 8:47 A.M. on Wednesday, October 12, 1977, new-to-town businessman Bingham Murdock flew his small plane into New Orleans, banking it in such a way that a ray of sunshine shot through the city at light speed.
Amalise Catoir saw the flash from her sixteenth floor law office window. Finally feeling alive after the death of her abusive husband, she imagined seeing the plane was a fate for her eyes only; a special connection between the unknown giver and she, the recipient of light.
But someone else saw it, a six-year-old Cambodian refugee in foster care for whom a sudden burst of brightness reminds him of artillery fire.
Destined to cross paths with the man and the child, Amalise doesn't yet know the deeper spiritual lesson she will learn: that we are responsible not only for the things we do, but also for the things that we don't.
This was a good book.  It took place in 1977 so it was hard for me to think about how long it took for changes to a document to be made.  Everything had to be hand written and then typed up by a typing pool and then copies made.  It's nothing like now when a laptop can be taken to a meeting and have the changes made right then and there.  The ending really made me think.  Is it possible that something like that could really happen?

Coming Home

I received a copy of Coming Home by Karen Kingsbury from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Coming Home is a novel about tremendous victory and unprecedented loss, a story of faith and a forever kind of love, love that will stay with you long after the last page. This stand-alone novel will serve as either a grand introduction or a beautiful conclusion in the saga of the Baxter Family. The Baxters make plans to come together for a summer lakeside reunion, a celebration like they haven't had in years. But before the big day, the unthinkable happens. As the Baxter Family rallies together, memories come to light in the grief-stricken hours of waiting and praying, memories that bring healing and hope during a time when otherwise darkness might have the final word. In a season that changes all of them, the brilliance of family love overshadows even the valley of heartache as the Baxters draw closer to God and each other. Along the way, secrets are revealed and the truth about the Baxter Family history is finally made known. Ultimately, in this portrait of family love, the Baxters cling to each other and to God's promise of forever.
I didn't realize until after I finished the book that this is the last one Karen wrote about this family.  There are 22 other books that she's written about this family.  Since I didn't know anything about the family's past I did have to do a lot of catching up, but the book was really good.  Karen does a good job of showing how a family can come together to get through a great loss.

Waiting for a View

I received a copy of Waiting for a View by Debby Mayne from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Pushing 40, Bloomfield's garden club vice president Sherry Butler has never moved out of her family home, still works at the same card shop where she landed a job after high school, and so resists change that she never accepted years of marriage proposals from Theo, the only man she ever loved.

Once he moves on, Sherry is pursued by Brad Henderson, an old friend who always seems to be there when she needs a helping hand. His kindness only annoys Sherry until one day she is shocked into self-reflection when a little girl points to her and asks her mother if she's "the sad woman who will wind up being an old maid."

With a friend's encouragement, Sherry plans a turnaround, putting her house on the market and her name on the waiting list for a nice apartment with a view of the lake. She also agrees to go out with Brad, another bold step outside her comfort zone.
Letting go of the past is about as simple as an elephant picking up a pea, but for the first time in her life Sherry will leap into the exhilarating world of the great unknown, a place where faith is crucial and true love is waiting.

I enjoyed this book.  It's based on a small town with characters that many of us have in our lives.  There's the motherly older lady, the snoopy and bossy peer who we're deep down scared of and a new friend that we didn't expect.  No matter what happens everyone in town is there to help when needed.  When Sherry finally decides things in her life need to change she finally realizes that she wasn't really living or happy.  Maybe we could learn something from Sherry.

The River

I received a copy of The River by Michael Neale from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.
"You were made for The River . . .”
Gabriel Clarke is mysteriously drawn to The River, a ribbon of frothy white water carving its way through steep canyons high in the Colorado Rockies. The rushing waters beckon him to experience freedom and adventure.
But something holds him back—the memory of the terrible event he witnessed on The River when he was just five years old—something no child should ever see.
Chains of fear and resentment imprison Gabriel, keeping him from discovering the treasures of The River. He remains trapped, afraid to take hold of the life awaiting him.
When he returns to The River after years away, his heart knows he is finally home. His destiny is within reach. Claiming that destiny will be the hardest—and bravest—thing he has ever done.
This is a book that will get you to thinking.  Gabriel had a terrible thing happen it him when he was young and struggled with it for the rest of his life.  He knew his life in Kansas wasn't what he wanted but he didn't know what else there was.  His friend Jimmy changed all that when he took him and other friends to The River.  Being at The River changed Gabriel forever.  The question you're left with is what am I missing?

Trinity: Military War Dog

 

I received a copy of Trinity: Military War Dog by Ronie Kendig from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
An ex-Green Beret. His war dog. On the greatest mission of their lives. And probably their last.
A year ago in Afghanistan, Green Beret Heath Daniel’s career was destroyed.
Along with his faith.
Now he and his military war dog, Trinity, have a chance to redeem their skills through the A Breed Apart organization. The job works. But his passion is to be back in the field. The medical discharge says it can’t happen due to the traumatic brain injury that forced Heath to the sidelines.
Until. . .
Military intelligence officer Darci Kintz is captured and the geological survey team she’s covertly embedded with is killed while secretly tracking the Taliban in the beautiful but brutal Hindu Kush. It’s clear only one dog can handle the extreme conditions to save her. And only one man can handle Trinity.
Time is running out on the greatest—and most dangerous—mission of their lives.
I really liked this book.  I had to keep reminding myself it was a fictional book - it seemed so real.  The characters were very well established and relate able.  I really liked how Trinity was as large a part of story as his owner Heath was.  I'm for sure going to look for more books by Ronie Kendig.

The Search Committee

I just finished reading The Search Committee by Tim Owens. 
A mismatched team of seven hit the road in an Econoline church van on a mission to find a new pastor. They don't agree on much other than the stops at Hardee's for coffee and a biscuit. But they stick to the call, trying to slip undetected into worship services across the Southeast—all in hopes of stealing a preacher for their congregation.

Each member is wrestling to balance their own busy life and personal struggles. And they're trying to keep their issues to themselves. Forced to spend countless hours together, these very different personalities from different generations begin to bond. And their lives are profoundly changed as they love and support each other through the difficulties in each of their lives.

This is a really good book that has me thinking about a lot of things.  I think everyone knows someone like each of the members of the committee and that we're like at least one of them.  I really like the ending and didn't see it coming.

Confessions of a Male Nurse

I received a copy of Confessions of a Male Nurse by Michael Alexander from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
From stampeding nudes to inebriated teenagers, young nurse Michael Alexander never really knew what he was getting himself into. But now, sixteen years since he was first launched into his nursing career - as the only man in a gynaecology ward - he's pretty much dealt with everything: Body parts that come off in his hands; Teenagers with phantom pregnancies; Doctors unable to tell the difference between their left and right; Violent drunks; Singing relatives; Sexism; . . . and a whole lot of nudity.
This is a great book.  Michael gets himself into some funny situations.  I know they weren't funny at the time but now he can laugh about them.  He tells it as it is and with a great sense of humor. 

Tidewater Inn

I received a copy of Tidewater Inn: A Hope Beach Novel by Colleen Coble from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.
Welcome to Hope Beach.
Where the sea breeze is fresh, sun sparkles on sand . . . and trouble appears with the force of a hurricane.
Inheriting a beautiful old hotel on the seaward shore of Hope Island could be a dream come true for Libby. The inn cries out for her restorer’s talent and love of history. She’s delighted to learn of family she never knew she had. And the handsome Coast Guard lieutenant she’s met there on the island could definitely be the man of her dreams.
But Libby soon realizes that only way she can afford the upkeep on the inn is to sell it to developers who are stalking the island. The father who willed her the inn has died before she could meet him, and her newfound brothers and sisters are convinced she’s there to steal their birthright. Worst of all, her best friend and business partner has been kidnapped before her eyes, Libby’s under suspicion for the crime, and her handsome lieutenant clearly doubts her innocence.
Libby’s dream-come-true is becoming a nightmare. Can she find her friend and establish her innocence? Must she sell Tidewater Inn and lose her family again? Or can she find a home for her heart on the beautiful shores of Hope Island?
This book took me a little bit to get into.  It was very action packed from the first chapter.  There was a difference in the mystery in this book than other books I've read.  Many of the key players were reveled as the story unfolded, but one person who linked them all together was missing.  This is the first book I've read by Collenn Coble and I look forward to reading more.

Beauty to Die For

I received a copy of Beauty to Die for by Kim Alexis and Mindy Starns Clark from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Juliette Taylor walked away from her career as a supermodel twenty-five years ago. Now approaching fifty - an emotionally complex milestone -- she co-owns a beauty supply company that makes skincare products for salons and spas. Her niche is pampering Christian women who usually spend more time caring for others than for themselves under the slogan: Isn't it time someone took care of YOU for a change?When Juliette arrives at the Palm Grotto Spa to host a spiritual retreat, she runs into an old modeling colleague, Raven, who had always been disliked in the industry for many reasons. She isn't there for the retreat; in fact, her presence at the spa is somewhat mysterious.Not long after Raven makes a cryptic threat to Juliette, the unsympathetic back-then beauty is found dead, poisoned by something in the green clay of a chai soy wrap. The following morning, a banner for the retreat has been unceremoniously altered:It's your turn to be nurtured, to be restored . . . to be murdered.Suspicion is directed at Juliette who has history with Raven and certainly knows how to use beauty products. But for murder?! Now she must find the real killer before the police really take care of her.
I really enjoyed this book from beginning to end.  It was a great mix of mystery and romance.  There were several twists that I didn't expect or see coming.  I'm looking forward th Kim's next book.

Attracted to Fire

I just finished reading Attracted to Fire by DiAnn Mills.  Special Agent Meghan Connors’ dream of one day protecting the president of the United States is about to come true. Only one assignment stands in her way. After the vice president’s rebellious daughter is threatened, Meghan is assigned to her protective detail on a secluded ranch in West Texas. Unfortunately, working with Special Agent in Charge Ash Zinders may be as tough as controlling her charge. Ash has a reputation for being critical and exacting, and he’s also after the same promotion as Meghan. But when the threats escalate and security on the ranch is breached, it becomes clear this isn’t the work of a single suspect—it’s part of a sophisticated plan that reaches deeper and higher than anyone imagined. And only Ash and Meghan can put the pieces together before it’s too late.
This book was a little hard to get into in the beginning.  Ash's hate of women agents and terrible attitude toward Meghan made it hard for me to get into the story.  I have to admit that it was worth staying with.  The book was very suspensful and hard to guess who the demon was.  I can normally figure out who the bad guy is not far into the story, but this one was so involved that it took me much longer.  It has just the right mix of suspense and romance.

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The Touch

I just read The Touch by Randall Wallace.  Andrew Jones was once one of the few surgeons in the world to have that rare, God-given ability called The Touch. But after failing to save his young fiancée, Faith, at the scene of a car accident, Jones abandons his gift and shuns the operating room.

Lara Blair owns a Chicago-based biomedical engineering company developing a surgical tool that will duplicate precisely the movement of a surgeon’s hands, reducing or eliminating failed surgical procedures. Lara has pursued the best surgeons in the world to test this surgical tool, and all of them have failed.

As Lara pursues Jones’s skill for her project, Jones’s stubborn resistance cracks, and he begins to open up to her about the wounds that still haunt him. But when Jones discovers the urgency behind Lara’s work, he must choose to move beyond his past. As each is forced to surrender secret fears, they are bonded together through the lives of the people Jones serves and by the healing secret that Faith left behind.

This is a really good book.  There are many twists and turns that I didn't see coming.  Lara and Andrew were so much alike that it was hard to think they could get along.  But in the end they each needed love that they had been denying themselves for so long that they couldn't stay apart.  It reminded me that your faith can really help you get through anything.  You just need to keep looking up.

Winning Balance

I received a copy of Winning Balance: What I've Learned So Far about Love, Faith, and Living Your Dreams by Shawn Johnson from Tyndale Blog Network.

Twenty-year-old American gymnast Shawn Johnson is a four-time Olympic gold and silver medalist; a national- and world-champion athlete. Already a popular role model to all ages, in 2009 she captured the national spotlight again when she won the widely popular Dancing with the Stars. Yet Shawn is no stranger to hard work and adversity. Her loss of the major gymnastics prize everyone expected her to win in Beijing, the all-around Olympic gold medal, was the loss of a dream she’d worked for since childhood. And later, she suffered a potentially career-ending injury in a skiing accident that forced her life to a halt and made her rethink what was really important. She wasn’t sure who she was anymore. She wasn’t sure what her goals were. And she wasn’t sure she was satisfied with where she was with her faith and God. Could she find the right kind of success in life—the kind that doesn’t involve medals or trophies, but peace, love, and lasting joy? This is the amazing true journey of how the young woman who won an Olympic gold medal on the balance beam became even more balanced.

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  I didn't watch the 2009 Olympics and really hadn't heard of Shawn before reading her book.  I really enjoyed it.  There were many times that I had to remind myself that she was only a teenager when most of the things that she talked about happened.  She's done and learned so much more than most of us have in our lifetimes.  She showed me that there are many times we need to trust God and realize that he's got bigger and better plans for our lives than we can ever image.  I was very disappointed to find out just before I finished reading her book Shawn had to retire from gymnastics.

The Fight of Our Lives

I received a copy of The Fight of Our Lives Knowing the Enemy, Speaking the Truth, and Choosing to Win the War Against Radical Islam by William Bennett with Seth Leibsohn from BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review.

Want to know the dirty little secret in the war on terror? Some of us have already surrendered.
Since the dreadful events of 9/11, America has waged an international war on terrorism. But are we prepared to win, or are we practicing surrender? We have foiled dozens of terrorist attacks since then. But while the Fort Dix terrorists were stopped, an Islamist terrorist at Fort Hood unleashed hell on American servicemen. Despite Maj. Nidal Hasan’s shouting “Allahu Akbar” as he pulled the trigger, the official Pentagon report refused to mention Islam or use the word Muslim. And said the army chief of staff, “As horrific as this tragedy was, if our diversity becomes a casualty, I think that's worse.” As William J. Bennett and Seth Leibsohn show, for lack of clarity, conviction, and determination, America is on the verge of declaring preemptive cultural surrender in the war on terror. The Fight of Our Lives will reinvigorate the discussion and embolden those who wish to win the war on terror.

I'm trying to be more informed before the next presidental election and reading books like this have been very helpful.  The Fight of Our Lives is an eye-opening book on the evolution of American policy toward Radical Islam and Terrorism.   It is an amazing wake up call to all who care about America, and the great Nation she once was.  This book by Bennett and Leibsohn chronicles the 10 year period between September 11, 2001 and now. It shows what has happened, what could happen, and what needs to happen to be sure this never happens again.  It is both a history lesson and a call to action.

Dog Is My Copilot

I received a copy of Dog Is My Copilot from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Dog Is My Copilot tells the story of Pilots N Paws, a high-flying animal-rescue operation founded "accidentally" in 2008 when a private pilot offered to fly a mission of mercy to save an abused dog for a friend. Once on the ground, the pilot asked his friend if there was a big need to transport shelter animals from one part of the country to another. She responded, "You have no idea." Since that time, Pilots N Paws has grown to include thousands of pilots who have transported tens of thousands of "death-row dogs" (and a fair amount of cats and other animals), sometimes more than 1,000 miles away to new homes or no-kill shelters, where they have a much higher chance of adoption.

The true heart of Dog Is My Copilot are the 24 real-life rescue stories collected from pilots and their animal-rescue counterparts on the ground. The short, captivating stories are accompanied by more than 100 charming, poignant, color photos—most taken by the pilots themselves—of their canine passengers in flight.

Unexpected things can happen when dogs reach cruising altitude, and the stories in Dog Is My Copilot run the emotional range from hilarious to heart rending—but the endings are always happy. These dogs are the lucky ones, and most of the pilots will tell you that when they get on the plane, they know it. After all, waiting for them on the ground hundreds of miles away is a second chance at a happy life with a loving forever family.

Before reading this I never thought about how animals were moved around.  I didn't realize that there were people out there that would be willing to get an aminal from a shelter many states away just to keep it from being put down.  I think it's amazing that there are pilots that would donate their time and plane to help an animal.  Another thing that amazes me is that the animals seem to know that the people and planes involved are there to help them.  This is a great book that has opened my eyes to what it takes to save an animal.

The Girls

I received a copy of The Girls by Helen Yglesias from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
These days the news is full of reports about the graying of America, yet it's rare that old people appear in contemporary fiction except as stock characters: the indulgent grandmother, the wicked witch. In her first novel in a dozen years, the acclaimed author of How She Died and Sweetsir gives us four grand old ladies, sisters, each unique and indelibly real, in a poignant and very funny story about the last American taboos, old age and dying.

As the novel opens, Jenny, the youngest at eighty, has flown down to Miami-that gaudy, pastel-hued haven of the elderly-to look after her two failing oldest sisters: Eva, ninety-five, always the family mainstay, and Naomi, ninety, who is riddled with cancer but still has her tart tongue and her jet-black head of hair. The fourth sister, Flora, still has her black hair too, straight out of the bottle, but no head for the hard decisions facing Eva and Naomi. An energetic eighty-five, Flora spends her time dating ("He's mad about me, I only hope he can get it up!") and making the rounds of the retirement homes with her standup routine, the Sandra Bernhard of the senior set.

The Girls gives us these four full-if-wrinkled-fleshed women with all their complaints and foibles, their self-absorption and downright orneriness, their unquenchable humor and immense courage. Aches and pains, wrinkles and hearing aids, wheelchairs and walkers-out of these, and out of the human spirit, Helen Yglesias fashions a novel that moves us, opens our eyes, and makes us laugh out loud.
This book wasn't as funny as I was hoping it would be.  Having 2 sisters I could relate to much of the interactions that Eva had with Flora.

Truth Be Told

I received a copy of Truth Be Told by Larry King from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A surprisingly candid look inside the monumental career of one of the most powerful and legendary talk-show hosts, and the final year of the nightly television program that has been close to all our hearts.

After more than a half century of asking questions, in 2010 Larry king suddenly found everyone wanted answers from him. why was Larry King Live, CNN's highest-rated program, ending after three decades? was Larry getting divorced again? Truth Be Told is a deeply revealing look at the broadcast legend as he dealt with marriage upheaval, the ensuing paparazzi and tabloid controversy, prostate cancer, the twenty-fifth anniversary of Larry King Live, and ultimately, his decision to leave the show to pursue a secret dream -- stand- up comedy.

Larry reflects on how much the world has changed around him over the course of his fifty-year career, and the riveting conversations he's had with the most compelling figures in politics, entertainment, medicine, and technology. in these pages, Larry also shares his most memorable moments with singers and songwriters (from Sinatra to Lady Gaga); actors (from Marlon Brando to Al Pacino); billionaires (the high-profile Donald Trump and the low-profile Carlos Slim); world leaders (Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad); crooks (Bernie Madoff, the interview that got away); comedians (from Lenny Bruce to Jerry Seinfeld to Chris Rock); and a host of others.

I knew of Larry King but hadn't watched his show.  I honestly didn't know it had been cancelled.  I thought the things he told about the people he interviewed to be very interesting.  The layout of the book was a bit odd.  It seemed to be written in a random manner.  Kind of like Larry was sitting around reminiscing and wrote what ever came to mind about who ever he thought of.  At times I found it hard to follow because he bounced around a lot.

My Story, My Song

I received a copy of My Story, My Song by Lucimarian Roberts as told to Missy Buchanan with reflections by Robin Roberts from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In this heartwarming memoir, Lucimarian Roberts, mother of Good Morning America’s coanchor Robin Roberts, tells how God has sustained her throughout life, guiding and encouraging her through people of all ages and races. In her late 80s, Mrs. Roberts still enjoys playing the piano and singing hymns and spirituals from her childhood. She credits hymns with helping her live faithfully through the Great Depression, segregation, and the loneliness and prejudice she experienced as the wife of a U.S. Air Force officer. My Story, My Song brings together key moments of Lucimarian Roberts’ intriguing life with personal reflections from her daughter Robin. Their story will inspire and challenge you. This book was different than I expected.  Lucimarian tells different things about her life.  They really aren't in chronological order.  Lucimarian is a strong woman that has many opportunities that other black women her age were not as fortunate to have.  She made the most of every opportunity she was given.  She passed this determination on to her children.