The Clouds Roll Away - a Litfuse Review

The Clouds Roll Away, written by Sibella Giorello, was an awesome book. It was a thriller mystery with a hint of romance thrown in. At a little over 300 pages, this book was a pretty quick read for the most part. At first, I had a hard time sorting through all of the characters in the story, but after going over some of the story again, I was good to go. It could've been the fact that I've been interrupted multiple times during the reading of this book, so I won't put Sibella at fault for my confusion!

The story revolves around Raleigh Harmon, the main character in the story whose life has been dealt some pretty sad cards. As if the murder of her father, a boss transferring her out of state, a kooky mother, indifferent sister, and issues with a previous beau were not enough for Raleigh to shoulder, she also is now thrust a difficult case as an FBI agent. Bigotry abounds in her area of the US, and a hate crime was committed. Now it's up to her to solve the mystery and line up her suspects--BEFORE the new year--or else! With limited time and multiple problems caging her in, Raleigh's adrenaline heats up as the problems all come crashing in at once.

This story had me sitting on the edge of my seat the entire time. As soon as I had the crime pegged to someone, my discovery was proven incorrect. I love reading a story that has some unpredictability thrown in!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Here's the run-down of what I think of the book:

Ease of reading ..................... 4/5
Supporting Details ................ 5/5
Sufficient Length ................... 5/5
Ability to hold my interest ... 5/5
Overall Impression ........ 4.5/5
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Also, Sibella is having a giveaway! If you're interested in sweepstakes, you will want to take part in this one! Here's what you can win:

One Grand Prize winner will receive:

• Latest Generation KINDLE with Wi-Fi
• $25 gift certificate to Amazon.com

To enter simply click on the icon on the front page of my blog. Winner will be announced January 3, 2011 on Sibella's blog: http://sibellagiorello.blogspot.com/.
The giveaway has now ended.

If you're interested in reading more reviews on this wonderful novel, click the link below!http://litfusegroup.com/Blog-Tours/sibella-giorellos-the-clouds-roll-away-blog-tour.html

About Sibella: Sibella Giorello grew up in Alaska and majored in geology at Mount Holyoke College . After riding a motorcycle across the country, she worked as a features for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Her stories have won state and national awards, including two nominations for the Pulitzer Prize. She now lives in Washington state with her husband and sons. Find out more about Sibella and her other books at her website, www.sibellagiorello.com


I received The Clouds Roll Away as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Litfuse Publicity Group

When you see this image, it represents books that I highly recommend!

Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor - a Waterbrook Multnomah Review

Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor, written by Chuck Black, is a YA fantasy book. It's published by Waterbrook Multnomah, a Christian publishing company. The novel is 176 pages in length, with discussion questions and answers following. Also in the back is a scoresheet of a song entitled Ride of the Valiant written by Emily Elizabeth Black, Chuck's talented daughter. (Also if you go to the series' website, Arrethtrae, you will find a CD of music written and performed by Emily that you can buy! You can also hear a demonstration of music.)

I was a little hesitant to start reading this book (the fifth one in the Knights of Arrethtrae series) without having read the previous four. I'm obsessive about chronology, so I love reading books in the order they were written. However, I delved into the book and had no trouble getting "knee deep" in the story. The action and intrigue is gripping, and it captured my attention quite quickly.

The main character is a young man referred to by friends and family as Twitch. Twitch received his name because of a twitch that would appear in his cheek when he became nervous or stressed. Twitch and his pal Gustav, whose nickname was Tav, lived together with Tav's family after Twitch's parents tragically died. Twitch and Tav are learning to become knights for the Prince (aka Jesus).

After a bizarre type of pet infiltrates the Burkfield haven where the boys were training, many of the young knights lost interest in serving the Prince. When Tav's uncle, Sir Baylor, arrived to recruit Tav as a Sword of Valor, Twitch's interest is piqued. Tav refuses to follow his uncle, but Twitch wants to go. At Mount Resolve, Twitch kneels and determines to follow the Prince, to give himself to whatever the Prince should want for him. What results from that resolution to the King was a tumult of hardship that he'd never have imagined.

I won't ruin the story for you, but Twitch, now called by his given name Quinlan, learns that following the Prince isn't always going to be a bed of roses. The fight is fierce, it's often nasty, but in the end the journey to the Kingdom Across the Sea (aka Heaven) is what we long for and is worth the wait!

I highly recommend this book for people who love fantasy. It's a great book for adolescents as well. I plan on purchasing the other books in the series so that I can read them and pass them on to my sons.

Here's the run-down of what I think of the book:

Ease of reading ..................... 5/5
Supporting Details ................ 5/5
Sufficient Length ................... 5/5
Ability to hold my interest ... 5/5
Overall Impression ........ 5/5

I received Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers.

When you see this image, it represents books that I highly recommend!

The Secrets Beneath - a BookSneeze Review

The Secrets Beneath, written by Kathleen Fuller, is the second book in The Mysteries of Middlefield series. At 271 pages, this YA novel is a good read. The setting is in the town of Middlefield, and young Amish girl Rebekah Yoder finds herself plunged into a mystery that would rival the stories from her Nancy Drew books that she enjoys. When Bekah discovers an old man mysteriously searching on the property of an empty home, her curiosity is piqued.

Bekah's family has their own mystery to solve when Bekah's cousin Amanda moves in. Amanda's father brought her to the Yoder house, but no one had told Bekah why. All she knew was that Amanda was going to live in her house for a year. Just like in her Nancy Drew books, Bekah is determined to solve the mysteries!

This is a delightful book that I would highly recommend for a YA or for anyone who loves Amish-related fiction.

Here's the run-down of what I think of the book:

Ease of reading ..................... 5/5
Supporting Details ................ 5/5
Sufficient Length ................... 5/5
Ability to hold my interest ... 5/5
Overall Impression ........ 5/5

I am a member of BookSneeze, a fabulous program through Thomas Nelson. BookSneeze sends members free books to read and keep in exchange for written reviews on a blog and on a major retailer's website (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble).

When you see this image, it represents books that I highly recommend!

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball - a Waterbrook Multnomah Review

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul is a novella about two people who work at the same place but who really don't know each other at all. Through a little act of mystery and magic, the two end up bumping into each other quite frequently, even being invited to a mysterious Christmas Ball that no one else in town seems to know anything about.

The two main characters in this book, Cora Crowder and Simon Derrick, will make you smile. The supporting characters, Simon's sister Sandy, the Wizbotterdads and the Booterbaws will make you laugh.

This Christian novella will delight you with a little mystery, a little fairy-tale like magical "happily ever after" feel while at the same time making you wonder if happily ever after may ever happen for the characters in this book.

I heartily recommend this delightful read. It was a pleasant read, a quick read, and I wish there was a sequel! A girl can dream, right?

Here's the run-down of what I think of the book:

Ease of reading ..................... 5/5
Supporting Details ................ 5/5
Sufficient Length ................... 5/5
Ability to hold my interest ... 5/5
Overall Impression ........ 5/5

Here's a video trailer of the book:

I received Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers.

When you see this image, it represents books that I highly recommend!

Son of Hamas - a Tyndale Review

Son of Hamas, the story of Mosab Hassan Yousef, is a gripping story of the eldest son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a founding leader of Hamas.

Mosab starts his story with a little history of Islam and the founding of Hamas. He talks about being raised under his father's belief in and devotion to Allah and his care for the people. Mosab has a high respect for his father, a caring man whose love and compassion for others rubbed off on Mosab. However, as Hamas' reputation for violence grew, Mosab became more accepting of that violence. As a young man, he praised Saddam Hussein's war efforts and celebrated the loss of life.

The book divulges history of the strife between the Palestinians and the Israelis and Mosab's involvement with both--as the middleman. As an adult, Mosab became more disenchanted with Hamas' role in terrorism. Mosab became a "collaborator" with an Israeli group, in an effort to stop the killing. Through his efforts, Mosab was able to spare many lives while risking his own life in the process. During his time working with them, Mosab also became friends with some Christians. After having been given a New Testament, Mosab's mind began opening to the truth of Jesus' words, and over six years' time, Mosab began to realize that Jesus' focus on loving our neighbors is more important than who owns a piece of land.

I loved reading Mosab's account of his life. It was such a blessing to read of his coming to Christ after having dealt with all he had during his young life. I highly recommend this book. You won't be able to put it down! The danger, the frustration, and the seeming hopelessness of Mosab's story will grip you.

Here's the run-down of what I think of the book:

Ease of reading ..................... 5/5
Supporting Details ................ 5/5
Sufficient Length ................... 5/5
Ability to hold my interest ... 5/5
*Organization of material ..... 5/5
Overall Impression ........ 5/5

*Specific to non-fiction reviews.

If you're interested in reading a teaser, go to Tyndale's website to read the first chapter. You won't be disappointed!

I am a member of Tyndale Blog Network, a fabulous website that sends free books to read and keep if you write a review for your blog and for a major retailer (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble). Tyndale Blog Network is through Tyndale House Publishers.

When you see this image, it represents books that I highly recommend!

Heaven is for Real - a BookSneeze Review

Heaven is for Real, written by Todd Burpo, was a really nice read. The book is about Burpo's son Colton, who had a near-death experience while having an emergency appendectomy.

Colton was able to describe heaven. He described God's throne and how truly BIG God was and, even more, how big God's love is for His children. He described how Jesus looked, down to what He was wearing and his facial description. He told his parents about who he saw in heaven: Jesus' cousin John who baptized Jesus, the angel Gabriel, his great-grandfather (whom he'd never met), angels, and other people.

He was able to describe in such detail that his parents simply felt that what four-year-old Colton described was indeed true.

Parts of the account drew my skepticism (such as people in heaven with wings), but overall it's a nice story. It would be fitting for those who like to read accounts of visions or near-death experiences. It is not a difficult read; I was able to read it in a 2-hour sitting. It was gripping and entertaining at the same time.

Here's the run-down of what I think of the book:

Ease of reading ..................... 5/5
Supporting Details ................ 4/5
Sufficient Length ................... 4/5
Ability to hold my interest ... 4/5
*Organization of material ..... 4/5
Overall Impression ........ 4/5

*Specific to non-fiction reviews.

I am a member of BookSneeze, a fabulous program through Thomas Nelson. BookSneeze sends members free books to read and keep in exchange for written reviews on a blog and on a major retailer's website (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble).

Unlocked - a Zondervan Review

First, I'll just get this little confession out of the way right now.

I AM A KAREN KINGSBURY FANGIRL. lol I discovered her nearly two years ago, and I feel like I've deprived myself of the years that I could've already been reading her books! She's truly been given a God-given gift of writing what she refers to as "Life Changing Fiction". It is definitely that, and for any of you who have read her books, I'm sure you would nod and smile your agreement. So now that I've made my confession, let's get on with my review. . . .

Unlocked, written by Karen Kingsbury, is an amazing story about a high school boy trapped inside himself. Having been autistic since the age of three, after what his mother suspected was too much exposure to mercury during vaccinations, Holden Harris and his loved ones found themselves trapped in a different type of world--a world of pain, sorrow, lost opportunities.

When Holden is reunited with his childhood playmate, Ella, a remarkable transformation is witnessed by his loved ones and his classmates.

This is an incredible story, the characters are portrayed beautifully, and if you don't find yourself tearing up, I would really be surprised. Karen has truly outdone herself with this one.

I don't want to give away more of the story, but I will say this: You simply must read this one!

Here's the run-down of what I think of the book:

Ease of reading ..................... 5/5
Supporting Details ................ 5/5
Sufficient Length ................... 5/5
Ability to hold my interest ... 5/5
Overall Impression ........ 5/5

I received Unlocked as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Zondervan.

When you see this image, it represents books that I highly recommend!

The One Year Book of Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament - A Tyndale Review

I received The One Year Book of Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament as a complimentary gift from Tyndale House Publishers.

The One Year Book of Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament by Nancy Guthrie is a one-year devotional. The copy I'm reviewing is paperback and 386 pages long.

If you've seen the Bibles that take you through one year, this is just like that--but on a devotional level. One page is devoted to a day of the year. Each devotion covers an aspect of Jesus that is discovered in the Old Testament.

In the back of the devotional book is a schedule that shows what scripture you are to read for each day. I wish this was included on the devotional page itself, because the scripture index is not categorized by date, but by scripture. That means that I have to scan down each page to find the date so that I know what scripture I'd be reading for that particular day's devotion. Kind of confusing, but not horrible.

The following versions may be found being used in the devotions: NLT, NIV, NIrV, NKJV, KJV, ESV, NASB.

This would be a nice book for folks who enjoy reading devotionals.

Here's the run-down of what I think of the book:

Ease of reading ..................... 4/5
Supporting Details ................ 4/5
Sufficient Length ................... 5/5
Ability to hold my interest ... 4/5
*Organization of material ..... 4/5
Overall Impression ........ 4/5

*Specific to non-fiction reviews.

I am a member of Tyndale Blog Network, a fabulous website that sends free books to read and keep if you write a review for your blog and for a major retailer (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble). Tyndale Blog Network is through Tyndale House Publishers.

The Gospel According to Jesus - A BookSneeze Review

I received this book as a BookSneeze member to read and review.

I'll say that when I received The Gospel According to Jesus, I expected to read accounts from Jesus' perspective, from the title of the book. When I opened the book to start reading, I felt like the title didn't seem to fit.Chris Seay, the author, right away went into the topic of righteousness. He expounds on what righteousness is NOT for several pages, and then at the end of the chapter, has a few paragraphs explaining what he feels righteousness means.

I was disappointed at this book. As I said, I feel that Seay's title doesn't quite fit with the direction of his book. At times, I felt like the direction was going a bit off. It wasn't an easy book to follow. At times, I was somewhat confused by what he was trying to say. For example, in discussion of the gospel and what it means, Seay seemed like he was going to hit the nail on the head so to speak, but there were several areas I felt he should've hit on: namely, the cross. The cross was not avoided being mentioned, nor His death and resurrection, but I felt that Seay could've expounded on this more. After all, the title of the book is "The Gospel According to Jesus".

I wish I could rate this book a bit higher, but I'm afraid that I cannot highly recommend it. I think there's a lot that is left out in "showing" the gospel of Christ. I think Seay should've focused on the gospel and have left it at that. There was too much confusing filler that left me disenchanted.

Here's the run-down of what I think of the book:

Ease of reading ................ 2/5
Supporting Details ............. 3/5
Sufficient Length .............. 4/5
Ability to hold my interest ... 3/5
Overall Impression ............. 3/5

I am a member of BookSneeze, a fabulous program through Thomas Nelson. BookSneeze sends members free books to read and keep in exchange for written reviews on a blog and on a major retailer's website (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble).

Elmer's Crafters' Campaign - BzzAgent

I received this kit in the mail today as a campaign from BzzAgent. As a Bzzer, I am able to qualify (through my interests) for campaigns to join, such as this Elmer's campaign. If you're not a member of BzzAgent, I highly recommend it. You get free products to try just for "buzzing" (telling others) about it.

I received my box of Elmer's items today. Included in the box (as you can see from the picture) are two pairs decorative edge scissors, permanent glue tape runner, glue spots, a glue pen, a glue stick, and a corner rounder punch. I keep a scrapbook for my kids (though I rarely make time to work in them), and these tools will be handy for that. Also, I love making homemade cards, and these will also help with that!

Thanks to the Elmer's brand and to BzzAgent for these crafty items! They will definitely come in handy. :)

What in the World is Going On? - A Book Sneeze Review

I received this book as a BookSneeze member to read and review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have never read anything by Dr. David Jeremiah (yes, I've been deprived), but I love reading about prophecy. Dr. Jeremiah touched on several different aspects regarding "end times", but his biggest focus is how what's going on in our world today stacks up against the ticking clock that will mark the end of life as we know it.

This book was published in 2008, and while much of the information is reported from the year 2007, it still remains quite meaningful. If you've paid any attention at all to world events since 2007, you would realize that we're even closer to Christ's return.

In this book, Dr. Jeremiah discusses the role that Israel has played and will play in prophecy, how he feels that the nations in Europe (and probably the US too) will unite under the emblem of the EU, the ever-present situation with terrorism, whether or not America plays a role in prophecy, the Antichrist, Armageddon, and the return of the King.

This was a very interesting read, very easy to follow. Dr. Jeremiah's thoughts and speculations are backed by scripture (not the version that I read, but hey, it gives me another opportunity to flip through my Bible, doesn't it?). I enjoyed the entire book, but especially the end where he discusses the return of the King! What believer doesn't anticipate the day when Jesus will establish Himself as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Faithful and True is He!

Here's the run-down of what I think of the book:

Ease of reading ................ 5/5
Supporting Details ............. 5/5
Sufficient Length .............. 5/5
Ability to hold my interest ... 5/5
Overall Impression ............. 5/5

I am a member of BookSneeze, a fabulous program through Thomas Nelson. BookSneeze sends members free books to read and keep in exchange for written reviews on a blog and on a major retailer's website (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble).

No Girls Allowed - A Tyndale Review

I received No Girls Allowed: Devotions for Boys as a complimentary gift from Tyndale House Publishers.

No Girls Allowed: Devotions for Boys, authored by Jayce O'Neal, is a great book for young adolescent boys. At 249 pages in length, the book is divided into devotion lessons. Each lesson is four pages in length: two pages for the lesson, and two other pages with a puzzle and activities that can enrich the lesson. Topics included in the devotions: gossiping, bullying, anger, discernment, eating right, keeping the Sabbath holy. Activities include: crossword puzzles, secret codes, and word searches. There are also extender activities that can be done through the week, like helping with chores, reading specific scriptures from the Bible, being kind, etc. Also, there are quotes and verses that go along with each lesson topic to reinforce the lessons.

My two boys are ten and six, and my eldest has been reading the lesson and they've been doing the enrichment activities together. The lessons are written for boys ages 8-12, but they can definitely be used by a younger boy as well as a read-aloud. The scripture used in the book is NLT (New Living Translation). We do not use that translation, so instead I had my son read the scriptures from his Bible so that there would be no confusion.

Overall, I found this book to be a nice supplement for our family devotional time.

Here's the run-down of what I think of the book:

Ease of reading ................ 5/5
Supporting Details ............. 5/5
Sufficient Length .............. 5/5
Ability to hold my interest ... 5/5
Overall Impression ............. 5/5

I am a member of Tyndale Blog Network, a fabulous website that sends free books to read and keep if you write a review for your blog and for a major retailer (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble). Tyndale Blog Network is through Tyndale House Publishers.

Faithful - A Book Sneeze Review

I received this book as a BookSneeze member to read and review. The author delved into controversial topics that are a problem in today's world, even among our churches: fornication and adultery.

There are three main characters in this story: Cyd, Dana, and Phyllis. Cyd is a 40-year-old never-married woman who is determined to remain pure until marriage. When she meets a bold, attractive man who certainly doesn't have the same goals as she does, she fights to remain firm in her promise to God. Dana is a married woman who finds herself facing her husband's infidelity and the image of catching her husband plagues her and threatens to push her toward divorce, even in spite of her husband's public confession and desire to make the marriage work. Phyllis is a married woman whose husband is not a believer. When he refuses to go to church, Phyllis finds herself at a college reunion meeting up with old friends, including a now-widowed male friend who is a believer. Phyllis gives in to the desire for more than friendship.

Overall, this story is well written. The author had me a bit confused at first, because it seemed that she switched characters too quickly. As I got more into the book and was more familiar with the characters, it wasn't as difficult to transition to each different character. This story was emotion-packed; it drew me to tears several times. I feel that her character portrayal was very good.

Here's the run-down of what I think of the book:

Ease of reading ................ 4/5
Supporting Details ............. 5/5
Sufficient Length .............. 5/5
Ability to hold my interest ... 5/5
Overall Impression ............. 4.5/5

I am a member of BookSneeze, a fabulous website where you can read free books and keep them if you write a review for your blog and for a major retailer (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble).

Let's Do Lunch - A Book Sneeze Review

I received this book as a BookSneeze member to read and review. I'll say first of all that it was a pleasant, quick read. It wasn't confusing; the author went right to the point.

This book is a "diet" book, written by Roger Troy Wilson, who once weighed over 400 pounds. After he tried and failed multiple diets, saw nutritionists and doctors, he woke up one morning with an epiphany and began eating differently. His focus is to eat fruits for breakfast, your BIG meal at lunch (protein, veggies, etc.), and a smaller dinner. The author was able to lose hundreds of pounds and has kept it off for many years through the use of this new eating style.

The book tells the reader how he was able to lose weight just by eating, and with little exercise (he likes to golf). However, he suggests that exercise and/or resistance training can aid in weight loss endeavors. The book also has letters from individuals who have written to tell about their success in weight loss the "Let's Do Lunch" way.

The end of the book includes many recipes and also gives a link to his website where more recipes can be found. All in all, this was a very nice book, and an easy read. It was a type of dieting I've never tried before, so I think I may give it a whirl!

Here's the run-down of what I think of the book:
Ease of reading ................ 5/5
Supporting Details ............. 4/5
Sufficient Length .............. 4/5
Ability to hold my interest ... 4/5
Overall Impression ............. 4/5

I am a member of BookSneeze, a fabulous website where you can read free books and keep them if you write a review for your blog and for a major retailer (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble).

Beyond Opinion - A Book Sneeze Review

I received this book as a BookSneeze member to read and review. This book is divided into three parts: a section for challenges Christian face and suggestions for facing those challenges, a portion for understanding those questions and answers Christians face, and the last part focuses on living life with apologia.

This book is written with a beginner in mind, but I'll be honest and say that he "lost" me at points in the book. As someone who juggles several books at once, this was a book that I had trouble continuing. I love the topic of apologia, and Zacharias makes some very very good points, but at times the book lost my interest. This book would be a great supplement to a beginning Apologetics course.

All in all, this is a book that I feel is valuable. It will remain on my Bible reference shelf as a good source on Apologia.

Here's the run-down of what I think of the book:
Ease of reading ................ 3/5
Supporting Details ............. 5/5
Sufficient Length .............. 4/5
Ability to hold my interest ... 3/5
Overall Impression ............. 4/5

I am a member of BookSneeze, a fabulous website where you can read free books and keep them if you write a review for your blog and for a major retailer (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble).

The Heart Mender - A BookSneeze Review

I received this book as a BookSneeze member to read and review. First, I will say that I am giving away this book. Click here to get your chance to win a copy of this book for free!

Now, on to the review.

I will say that this book was quite an interesting read. As a writer myself, I was attracted to the way Andy Andrews wrote this book. His use of foreshadowing flowed quite nicely, I thought. The switching from the "now" to the "then" wasn't choppy, which I thought was really great. However, when I got to the end of the book, the story just ended. It felt to me like there were some things that remained untold. And maybe there were a few things--it was based on a true story, and one of the "real life" characters seemed uncomfortable with Andy sharing her and her husband's story. I'll explain why later. I was a bit disappointed that Andy included some profanity in the telling of the story. It wasn't the F-bomb, but I discourage the use of any foul language, whether it seems mild or heinous. It's all the same to me--it all stinks.

The story begins as Andy finds some WWII paraphernalia while digging a root out of the ground on his property. After having done research, talking to a few of the older locals, and putting together all his evidence, Andy found the owner of the items left in an old can, buried in the sand. And from there, the story begins. The owner of the WWII items was a German U-boat marine, and after a difficult experience on the submarine, he was shot and washed ashore onto the beach, where a woman named "Helen" found him. I don't want to tell the whole story, but Josef (the German) stayed with Helen for a while to recover, pretending to be a Brit. Only a handful of people ever ended up knowing that Josef was in fact a German on duty on a submarine. The worry of Josef being discovered as a German continually plagued Helen and Josef, even at the time of The Heart Mender's publishing. They asked Andy Andrews to change the names in his story so that they could hold on to some anonymity, and to ease their concern for Josef's safety, obviously.

The Heart Mender is a story of forgiveness. You'll have to read to find out why. ;) I thought it was a very lovely story, and it was definitely a touching story.

Here's the run-down of what I think of the book:
Ease of reading ................ 5/5
Supporting Details ............. 5/5
Sufficient Length .............. 4/5
Ability to hold my interest ... 5/5
Overall Impression ............. 4.5/5

I am a member of BookSneeze, a fabulous website where you can read free books and keep them if you write a review for your blog and for a major retailer (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble).

BookSneeze Book Review - Plain Paradise

(This is copied from my old blog for posterity.)

I've recently had the opportunity to read a book that I've really enjoyed. The title is Plain Paradise by Beth Wiseman.


This is a fiction book about the Amish. The heroine in the story finds out that she's been adopted by her Amish family after an English woman she doesn't know comes knocking on their door. Her birth mother has only a short time to live, so she wants to know the daughter she'd given away when she was two weeks old. Meanwhile, the Amish folks who'd raised this young lady struggle with fear that the English woman will take away their daughter.
The entire story kept me wondering how the end would turn out. It was a great story, drew me to tears a few times. The characters seemed very real. I hope to find the rest of Beth Wiseman's books--I'm hooked now!

Basically, here's the run-down of what I think of the book:
Ease of reading ................ 5/5
Supporting Details ............. 5/5
Sufficient Length .............. 5/5
Ability to hold my interest ... 5/5
Overall Impression ............. 5/5

I am a member of BookSneeze, a fabulous website where you can read free books and keep them if you write a review for your blog and for a major retailer (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble).

BookSneeze Book Review - John Bunyan

(This is copied/pasted from my old blog for posterity. :P)
I am a member of BookSneeze, a fabulous website where you can read free books and keep them if you write a review for your blog and for a major retailer (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble).

I enjoy a good biography. However, it is not often that I read a biography about someone who lived so long ago as John Bunyan. In fact, I'd never read anything about John Bunyan's life. I read The Pilgrim's Progress while in high school, but never knew anything personal of Bunyan. The title "John Bunyan," written by Kevin Belmonte, is a nice book for someone like myself who knows little about John Bunyan. This title is part of a series of biographies by Thomas Nelson Publishers called "Christian Encounters." The book is written in an easy, flowing manner. The titles are not lengthy. The book is only 169 pages, including the Epilogue, bibliography, and some notes.

The book brings out the major points of Bunyan's life--his birth as a brazier's son, small details about his childhood, his life as an adult, his spiritual journey, his writing, and his struggles. However, I wish that this book had gone into more detail about his spiritual walk. As I mentioned, his spiritual journey was discussed, but I feel that more time could have been spent on that aspect of Bunyan's life.

For someone who has never read anything about John Bunyan, I feel I've come away from reading this book with a greater understanding about one of history's most brilliant writers. I now have a greater appreciation for The Pilgrim's Progress, and I want to soon read it again.

Basically, here's the run-down of what I think of the book:

Ease of reading ................ 5/5
Supporting Details ............. 4/5
Sufficient Length .............. 5/5
Ability to hold my interest ... 4/5
Overall Impression ............. 4/5