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

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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.

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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.

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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!