First Date - a BookSneeze Review

First Date, written by Krista McGee, was a sweet story that is perfect for teenage girls. Addy Davidson is a high school student in her senior year. When the principal of her Christian school suggests that she take part in a reality show called The Book of Love where the President's son chooses someone to be his prom date, the last thing Addy wants to do is be a part of it. A shy girl who prefers to stay out of the limelight and enjoy her quiet life, Addy finds herself being adamant when the cameras are thrust in her face.

She was practically forced by her uncle and principal to join the reality show. The principal told her, when asked if she could think about it, that her plane took off the next day. But when she was able to spend more time with Jonathon, the President's son, she soon realized that she wanted to stick around.

This story is an innocent story, sweet and lacks the heavy lovey-dovey tones that some YA books include. However, the story felt a little unrealistic in parts. How often would an uncle and a principal not give a girl a say in whether she wanted to be part of a reality show? In spite of that, it was a nice read and reminded me of books I used to read as a teen. If you're looking for a book that is geared toward teens, sweet and has a Christian theme, this one is sure to please.

Krista has another story planned as a spinoff of this one. I'll be anxious to see if I can get my hands on a copy!

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).

Forever Faithful - a Waterbrook Multnomah review

Forever Faithful, a trilogy by Karen Kingsbury, is a compilation of the novels Waiting for Morning,
A Moment of Weakness, and Halfway to Forever.

The first novel will introduce you to Hannah Ryan and her daughter Jenny. Hannah loses her husband and oldest daughter in a car crash. A drunk driver plows into the vehicle, and Jenny is the only one of the three remaining alive. When Hannah goes to the hospital, finding only her youngest daughter has survived, she vows to get revenge against the careless drunk who killed her beloved husband and daughter. This book is heart-wrenching and gut-punching. The first three chapters left me so emotional that I wasn't sure that I would be able to continue reading. However, since the trilogy is an astounding 1100+ pages in length, I simply put the book down until the following day after I'd had time to get myself calmed down.

Novel Number Two is the story of Jade Conner and Tanner Eastman, childhood friends who were separated during their adolescent years then reunited as young adults. When Tanner's wealthy mother determined that Jade wasn't good enough for her aspiring politician of a son, Jade and Tanner were tragically separated again for another decade. This is a powerful story that will move you and keep you reading to see if things get better for Jade and Tanner.

Novel Number Three is another gut-wrencher. This was another one that I had to keep the tissue box nearby. The characters from the two previous novels are joined together and are all friends. When Hannah and new husband Matt determine to adopt a young girl, they wind up having her ripped from their arms, leaving them bereft. When Jade comes down with a deadly disease, Tanner visions himself spending the rest of his life without Jade--this time, forever. I found myself at times skimming through this book because toward the end there was a case involving Matt that didn't seem to really add much to the story. It just felt like filler to me.

I'm a very avid reader of Karen's, but this series was way too emotional for me. If I'd not been given it to read for review, I'd have never finished it. Real life is hard enough, and when I read, I like to escape just a wee bit, so this trilogy was very hard to get through. However, if you like a good read with lots of emotion, this trilogy will definitely be for you.


I received Forever Faithful as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

The Wonder of Your Love - a BookSneeze review

Beth Wiseman, author of The Wonder of Your Love, has done it again! This newest novel is the second novel of the Land of Canaan series. (The first in the series is titled Seek Me With All Your Heart, which I also recommend!)

You'll follow the story of Katie Ann from Colorado, an Amish widow whose husband had left her for another woman then tragically died in a car accident. Katie Ann, after twenty years of infertility, has carried her deceased husband's child and has given birth. Her struggle with being a single parent is portrayed beautifully and so is Katie Ann's personality.

When she meets Amish widower Eli Detweiler from Ohio, she and Eli both secretly harbor feelings for each other and struggle with the long distance relationship. Holding back because of the distance and ties holding them to their individual states, Eli and Katie Ann both face the reality that it may not be in God's plan for them to be together.

In this story, you will also read about other characters' struggles (namely Martha who you would've been introduced to in Book 1). Beth does a fabulous job with weaving these characters' personalities. Martha is a hoot!

If you enjoy Amish fiction, check out Beth's newest novel today. You won't regret it!

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).

How Do We Know the Bible Is True - a Creation Conversations review

Written by Ken Ham (President of Answers in Genesis) and Bodie Hodge, How Do We Know the Bible Is True? is a book that I believe all pastors should have in their church libraries, and all Christians should keep on their shelves at home. This book is relevant to today's issues; it answers questions that many new Christians may not know, and it helps defend the faith.

The book tackles many topics, including my favorites (but not limited to):
- Is the Old Testament reliable? This chapter discusses how historical records were kept back in Biblical days.
- Is the New Testament reliable? This chapter explains why that it IS reliable.
- Is Genesis a Derivation from Ancient Myths? Is it all just hearsay or legends passed down?
- What about the Factual Claims in the DaVinci Code? I love this chapter!
- Polygamy in the Light of Scripture
- Laminin and the Cross - fascinating chapter!!
- How Were People Saved Before Jesus Died on the Cross?

This is a book that can easily be shared with a teen class at church or even included in a homeschool curriculum for older students. It would also be perfect for a church Bible study or a book discussion. Or if you're like me and you enjoy reading Apologia and Hermeneutics, you'll enjoy this one as well. :)

The Shadow of Your Smile - a Tyndale review

I was given the opportunity to review an advanced copy of The Shadow of Your Smile by Susan May Warren, one of my favorite authors.

This was a very enjoyable novel. It is a Deep Haven novel, a series of books set in a town called Deep Haven. Deep Haven is set in Minnesota, and the story takes place in the snowy winter months.

A horrible fall after running from the scene of a robbery, Noelle Hueston has lost her memory. She's lost the last twenty-five years of her life, including the memory of being married and having three children. In spite of that, Noelle could tell that her marriage to Eli was strained, but he wouldn't tell her why. Noelle desperately wanted to get her memory back, and slowly her family and friends opened up portions of her life that are missing, including the memory of losing her daughter in a horrific way. During the process, she learned that her relationship with Eli was something she wanted to build, not tear down.

In this story, you will also be thrust into the lives of Eli and Noelle's sons Kirby and Kyle, Kyle's girlfriend Emma and family friend (and Emma's mother) Lee Nelson, who had lost her husband at the same time that Eli and Noelle lost their daughter.

I loved the characters in this story. You could feel their sorrows and joy, feel Eli's embarrassment and frustration with himself, and the detail was just thoroughly enjoyable. Susan goes into detail with Emma's struggle to write lyrics to go along with her music, Noelle's frustration with her memory loss, the family struggles, and action scenes.

If you like a good, clean romance, this book will not disappoint. Way to go, Susan; this one's a winner! :)

Since this book is not released yet, I wasn't able to also post a review on amazon.com, so I reviewed it instead on Goodreads.

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.

A Lasting Impression - a Litfuse review

Tamera Alexander is an author that I am just now getting acquainted to, and I have to say I LOVE her writing! A Lasting Impression left a great impression on me! :) I loved it so much that I had a very hard time putting it down. At any rate, I'm going to say now: I HIGHLY recommend reading it, especially if you're a historical-romantic fiction lover like I am. What makes it even better is that it's also clean and not filled with language. I wish that I had four hands so that I could give this book four thumbs up; I like it so well! lol

Tamera weaved the story so very well, and the characters felt so real. I love it when I can delve into a book and feel the world simply fade away. If you decide to read this book, I've no doubt that you'll laugh with the characters and feel their emotions--the frustration, fear, anguish, and joy.

Claire Laurent, a painter who helps her father make a living from forging famous paintings for his gallery, comes upon a terrible trial when she comes home to find her father stabbed in the abdomen. She is sent away from Louisiana to Nashville to hide and take her craft elsewhere. When she is sent by her father and his friend to the home of a man with a seedy character, she runs to a chapel where her life drastically changes. She wants to put her forgery behind her and paint honestly and from her heart. But when her past follows her, she's worried that her trust in God might be for naught.

My favorite quote from the book is this: 

Handsome could've been used to describe him, but that would have been like calling Michelangelo's David "adequate."

I won't tell you more--you can pick this book up and read it for yourself. The storyline is so involved, detailed, and rich that you just have to check it out. Thankfully, Tamera has the first two chapters of the book on her site that you can read for yourself before you buy. Here's the link if you want to do that:

Read the FIRST TWO chapters of A Lasting Impression {here}!!
Click on the link that says "Read an Excerpt".

I've slowed down on my collection of books simply because I've nearly run out of room of the books that I want to collect. However, this book will be one I will not trade; it will find its place on a shelf . . . somewhere! lol

I've gotta say that this book is definitely . . .

About the Book:

A fake. A forger. More than anything, Claire Laurent longs for the chance to live an authentic life, to become the woman she wants to be. And she'll be given that choice. But will it come at too costly a price?

Claire Laurent's greatest aspiration is to paint something that will bring her acclaim. Yet her father insists she work as a copyist. A forger. When she's forced to flee from New Orleans to Nashville only a year after the War Between the States has ended, her path collides with attorney Sutton Monroe. She considers him a godsend for not turning her in to the authorities. But after he later refuses to come to her aid, Claire fears she's sorely misjudged the man. Finding herself among the elite of Nashville's society, Claire believes her dream to create a lasting impression in the world of art is within reach--but only if her fraudulent past remains hidden.

The Federal Army has destroyed Sutton's home and confiscated his land, and threatens to destroy his family's honor. His determination to reclaim what belongs to him and to right a grievous wrong reveals a truth that may cost him more than he ever imagined--as well as the woman he loves.Set at Nashville's historic Belmont Mansion, a stunning antebellum manor built by Mrs. Adelicia Acklen, A Lasting Impression is a sweeping love story about a nation mending after war, the redemption of those wounded, and the courage of a man and woman to see themselves--and each other--for who they really are.

 

About Tamera:

Tamera Alexander is a best-selling novelist whose deeply drawn characters, thought-provoking plots, and poignant prose resonate with readers. Having lived in Colorado for seventeen years, she and her husband now make their home in Nashville Tennessee, along with their two adult children who live near by. And don't forget Jack, their precious--and precocious--silky terrier.

For more information please visit www.tameraalexander.com

Kindle Fire Giveaway and Facebook Party from Tamera Alexander!

While Tamera and her book,  A Lasting Impression, are traveling across the country virtually (with a few international stops as well!), she will be hosting a Kindle Fire Giveaway (11/4 - 11/15) and preparing for a lavish Southern-Style Facebook Party (11/15) (dripping with hospitality, of course). She will be giving away Southern FoodBaskets, books, and an array of other fabulous freebies! Don't miss a minute of the fun. Swoon!


Read what the reviewers are saying here.

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Brand New Kindle Fire (shipped as soon as it releases)
• A copy of A Lasting Impression and 3 other special books Tamera wants you to have (for Kindle)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on November 15th. Winner will be announced at A Lasting Impression Facebook Party on the 15th. Tamera will be wrapping up the A Lasting Impression celebration with an author chat and giving away Southern Food Baskets (Loveless Cafe Food Baskets, books, Amazon & Starbucks gift certificates, and copies of Christy Jordan's Southern Plate cookbook), six gift certificates to Starbucks and Amazon.com, and copies of A Lasting Impression! So grab your copy of A Lasting Impression (it's okay if you don't have one yet- you might win one!) and join Tamera onthe evening of November 15th for an author chat, a trivia contest (How
much do you know about the 1860's?) and lots of Southern-inspired giveaways (complete listing here).

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER. Hope to see you on the 15th!

 

I received A Lasting Impression as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to give a favorable review; my opinions are my own.

Refuge on Crescent Hill - a Kregel review

Refuge on Crescent Hill is a Christian mystery written by Melanie Dobson. Set in a small town called Etherton, the story revolves around Camden Bristow, a broke, homeless and jobless photographer who decides to return to her grandmother with the hopes that things will get better for her. Crescent Hill, a mansion on a crescent-shaped hill, is where her grandmother lives. When Camden arrives home and finds that her grandmother has died and she's the estate beneficiary, she finds that the situation is not as easy as she thought. When mysterious sounds and a mysterious woman are found in the house and items turn up missing, Camden finds herself in a tailspin to figure out what's going on. What she doesn't realize is that she's not who she thinks she is, and that another family in town is just dying to get a hold of treasure that is supposedly hidden on the property.

Alex Yates, in charge of bringing new businesses (and profits) to the small town, finds himself involved when the city decides that Crescent Hill mansion was falling apart and is in need of condemning. Drawn by Camden and her family's history (and moved by Alex's own sad family history), he decides to help her in any way that he can, even if it means he loses his job.

This story kept me on the edge of my seat, and the characters drew me in. The intrigue was really good; at times when I thought I had the story figured out, I later discovered I was wrong. I love it when that happens! Refuge on Crescent Hill also was inspired by a real mansion. You can view the pictures at Ms. Dobson's website here.

I received Refuge on Crescent Hill as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Kregel Blog Tours. My comments and opinions are my own.