Book Review: Room For Hope

Room for Hope by Kim Vogel Sawyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed "Room for Hope" because of the story setting, small town in the 1930's. It was a little out of my typical reading interest, seeing as I'm more into historical fiction set either in the Regency period or Civil War/post-Civil War.

The plot grabbed my attention from the beginning, a husband and father living a double life and leaving behind his wife to pick up the pieces after he dies. It is a story of forgiveness, overcoming shame, and learning what it means to love.

At some points it had me turning pages quickly to find out what would happen, and then there were moments I was near tears because the characters stirred my heart.

I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review.

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Book Review: A Lasting Impression

A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this story. In the beginning of the book I wasn't sure it would draw me in, but the characters were interesting enough to pull me in. Then the theme of the book made the story memorable for me. Claire, Mrs. Acklen and Sutton were interesting to read about. Although each of them came from different stations within society, they all shared one thing in common. Shame.

This is part of why I enjoyed the story so much. I've been going through a Bible study for the last 6 months about the shame we experience in our sinful and human state. It doesn't matter who you are, you have either done shameful things or are associated with someone who has brought shame on you. That's exactly what Claire, Mrs. Acklen and Sutton were all dealing with privately within their hearts, and they were seeking how to overcome it.

I highly recommend this book, and I am looking forward to book 2 of the Belmont Mansion series.

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Book Review: Transforming Prayer

Transforming Prayer by Daniel Henderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It seems like prayer is one of those areas of the Christian disciplines that I'm always working to improve at. I've read several books on prayer, and this book is one of the better titles I've found.

Christians need to be most concerned with God's will as they pray, rather than seeking their own will. Henderson teaches much about the worship - based prayer, and I find it very helpful. As I've begun to practice looking for the character of God within the psalms and praying through them, I am finding that a worshipful prayer comes much more readily. Remembering and meditating on the character of God makes all the difference when you pray and prepare to go out into your day ready for spiritual battle. This is a book I will be recommending to friends.

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Book Review: Invisible

Invisible: How You Feel Is Not Who You Are by Jennifer Rothschild
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the first book I've read by Jennifer Rothschild. A friend had recommended it to me, and I wanted to see what it was about. Jennifer writes in a down-to-earth style with humor, as if she's having a chat with her girlfriend, using little quirky words to make the truths she's talking about simple and to stick in our minds.

I believe her teaching on the believer's identity in Christ is helpful. This is a doctrine that many Christians fail to grasp, and as a result, they end up living bound in chains of guilt and self-condemnation that God has released us from at the moment of salvation. Christ lived under the law, died and rose again that we could live freely by grace when we put our faith in Him.

I have read other books on the believer's identity in Christ, and I would categorize this one as entry-level reading. If you are a new believer, have not learned about your position in Christ, or do not consider yourself to be much of a reader, this is a good starting point. She teaches in a simple way, and you don't walk away wondering what she meant.

Beyond this book I would recommend two others, Found in Him by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Shame Interrupted by Ed Welch. They are excellent and go much deeper into the doctrine, really opening up the scriptures to teach how Christians should deal with their shame.

There are a couple things that Jennifer refers to in her book that make me squirm a bit and would cause me to be cautious in recommending the book to a new believer. She refers many times to self-esteem, which is a psychology term, not a biblical one. Scriptures do not teach anything about having a good or bad self-esteem. The one thing I can say about her references to self-esteem is that she never tells you in this book how to have a good self-esteem, which makes me a little less concerned about it. The other thing that didn't sit well with me was her statement, "You aren't redeemed because you are worthy, but because you are worth it." I feel like we're treading on thin ice a bit here. The only worth I have is because Jesus saved me, not why He saved me. Salvation is not about our worth to God. It is about showing the glory of God and the riches of His amazing grace. But maybe I'm splitting hairs.

My last observation of the book is that I felt concerned for the gals who read the book who are unbelievers and might think that everything she's saying applies to them too. Jennifer's teaching in Invisible only applies to believers who have put their faith in the Lord Jesus, and I'm not sure she makes that clear.

Although it's not the first book I would recommend to people on the topic of identity, it is useful and has its place.

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Book Review: The Rose of Winslow Street

The Rose of Winslow Street by Elizabeth Camden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Elizabeth Camden has written an intriguing story that held my attention from beginning to end. The story takes place in Colden, Massachusetts and is about a legal battle between Professor Sawyer, one of those absent-minded professor types, and a large bully of a man named Michael Dobrescu, who just arrived from Romania with his two sons, the mysterious Lady Mirela, and his friend Turk. Professor Sawyer lives in an old house on Winslow Street, but Michael Dobrescu arrives in town and claims the house was willed to him.

Of course, the professor's lovely daughter Libby gets caught in the middle when she strikes up a friendship with the Dobrescu clan, even though everyone in town shuns the Dobrescus and her father warns her to stay away from this dangerous Romanian. As the story progressed I could not figure out how any of the matter could be resolved peacefully in the end.

The book was excellent. I especially loved the characters, which were all palpable with layers to be peeled back, and the dialogue gripped me so I could empathize with each of their troubling situations, even Michael's character, who drove me nuts in the beginning.

There was so much mystery woven throughout the story concerning the Dobrescu family background and their reasons for arriving in Colden, Massachusetts. I found it hard to put the book down. The writer unravels the mystery slowly as the book progresses, and sometimes a question would be answered only to produce three more questions in its place.

I highly recommend the book and would enjoy reading other works by this author.

I appreciate Bethany House Publishers for providing me with an advanced copy for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.


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Book Review: Sweeter Than Birdsong by Rosslyn Elliott

Sweeter Than Birdsong by Rosslyn Elliott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kate Winter is a painfully shy young woman, but she has a stunning soprano voice that gets the attention of anyone who hears her sing. She's set on escaping to freedom from the secret pains her family brings, a controlling mother and a drunken father.

Ben Hanby, a young man anticipating becoming a minister, has a secret of his own. Just as his parents before him, he desires to aid fugitive slaves to escape through the Underground Railroad.

Ben and Kate's relationship quickly moves from college acquaintances to family friends, and through circumstances beyond her control, Kate finds herself helping others on their journey to freedom. It causes her to take a good, hard look at her own life and wonder if she really needs to escape after all.

This book had plenty to hold my interest. I'm fascinated with stories about slaves escaping to freedom and learning what kind of hardships they overcame to gain freedom. I also enjoy stories with characters who endure tough times and grapple with who they are, then experience a change after gaining a different perspective on life.

This is historical fiction and romance. It contains a fair amount of romance, which isn't my first choice in genre, but I still enjoyed the book very much. It also had a bit of suspense thrown in, which I always love in a story. The author includes the historical information at the end of the book, which I always appreciate.

Although this is the second book in The Saddler's Legacy, you don't need to read the first in the series to enjoy this book. It does fine as a stand-alone novel.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

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Book Review: Wonderland Creek

Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin

In this somewhat humorous story we meet Alice Grace Ripley, a young lady who always has her nose in a book and her head in the clouds. After losing her boyfriend and her job, she decides a little time away from home might do her good.

Since she'd been collecting some books for a small, needy library in Kentucky, she thought it might be nice to deliver them in person. Upon arriving at the library to help out for a couple weeks, she finds herself smack dab in the middle of a backwoods, mining community full of distrusting people and plenty of secrets. Alice quickly learns that there is more to life than what she's been living.

I love just about anything written by Lynn Austin, and she didn't disappoint me in Wonderland Creek. If you're an Austin fan, you should enjoy this one. I love her characters because sometimes they're sassy and make me laugh, and I can feel what they're feeling.

The story grabbed me from the very beginning. It had humor, mystery, nutty people, suspense, and books. What's not to love about this book? I'm rating it 5 stars and highly recommend it!

Thanks to Bethany House Publishers for providing me with a free copy for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Review: House of Secrets

House of Secrets by Tracie Peterson

Have you ever kept a heavy secret (or maybe several) from a loved one simply because you believed you were protecting them for their own good? What happened when the truth came out? Did it feel like your whole reality was coming apart at the seams? Is there healing for someone with such painful wounds?

House of Secrets by Tracie Peterson is just such a story. It is a page-turner and a heart-breaker. As I started the book I was immediately pressed to keep reading because I wanted to know the family's secrets. What could be so terrible about these sisters' pasts? Why didn't they want to return to their family's summer home of 15 years ago?

This is a story about family, forgiveness, and victims becoming victors over their past. I give it 4 stars and highly recommend it.

I appreciate Bethany House Publishers providing me with a copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

 Read the first chapter....

Book Review: His Steadfast Love by Golden Keyes Parsons

His Steadfast Love by Golden Keyes Parsons
4 of 5 stars

I was drawn to this book first of all for the setting. It takes place in the south during the Civil War. I also was intrigued by the plot. Amanda Belle, a young southern woman, is caught between her love and loyalty to her brother, a Confederate soldier, and a developing interest in Captain Littlefield, a Union officer.

As both men go off to war, Amanda struggles at home with her father and young sisters, waiting for the day this bloody war will be over and their brother returns to them. Her father is a pastor, and although she has been a woman of faith, she's uncertain that God is hearing her prayers anymore as the Civil War rages on.

I loved the characters in the story, the plot, and the interaction between the Belle family and their slaves. I could feel for Amanda's plight as her heart was torn between honoring her father and brother and following her desire to remain in communication with Captain Littlefield.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories set in the Civil War period. This is my first reading of anything by Golden Keyes Parsons, but I plan to read more of her books in the future.

I received a review copy in e-book form from Booksneeze.com. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Review: Shadow in Serenity by Terri Blackstock

Shadow in Serenity by Terri Blackstock
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Carny Sullivan has seen plenty of cons, having been raised by parents who were carnival people and taught her all the tricks. When Logan Brisco blows into her small, close-knit town she knows his promises to the locals of making money in his investment opportunity are nothing but a scam. Carny does everything she can to convince her town that he's a con and refuses to tear down her personal walls of defense. But just when she believes she's got Brisco all figured out, he surprises her.

The book synopsis calls this a modern day "Music Man". It is that type of story, and I hadn't expected that when I planned to read it. I think I enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first. Carny's constant nagging about Logan Brisco's con for the first half started getting on my nerves, but somewhere in the middle of the book I got over it.

I give the book 3 stars because it just didn't "wow" me. I was looking forward to suspense because it was Terri Blackstock, but the suspense just wasn't there. I would've enjoyed it more if it had been. Overall it's a fun read, and I found the background of the life of the con men and the "carnys" interesting.

*I received an advance copy of this book for review purposes from Shelton Interactive. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed here are my own. 

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Book Review: Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris

Dug Down Deep: Building Your Life on Truths That Last. by Joshua Harris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading the testimony of Joshua Harris as he talked about his teenage years in a mega church youth group and his lack of being grounded in correct doctrine. The premise of his book is to help the reader understand that we need doctrine, and we need right doctrine in order to live in a way that's pleasing to God. If our doctrine is wrong, we'll live wrong.

Harris writes about some of the basic doctrines of the Christian faith, but he does it in a simple way so the average reader can grasp it. He doesn't use big words, and if he does, he explains what they mean. He covers the doctrines of salvation, sanctification, scripture and more. My favorite chapters were on the doctrine of Jesus and the doctrine of the church.

When I requested the book for review I was anticipating it would be a very good resource for the teens at my church. I would recommend it for older teens, but there is one chapter that hits briefly on a subject that's of a sensitive nature, and I would recommend a parent read the book first to determine if it's appropriate for their teen.

I have already recommended the book to friends because it's excellent. I think if you read it with other people, it would generate some good discussion. It would especially help someone who is a new Christian or someone who needs to have a better understanding of the basic doctrines of the Christian faith. It does include an in-depth study guide at the back of the book for small groups.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

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Book Review: Stained Glass Hearts by Patsy Clairmont

Stained Glass Hearts by Patsy Clairmont
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The book is about how God makes the broken pieces of our lives into something we can use to change us. We are broken people, but we need God's perspective on what He's doing and how He's working in our lives.

Patsy encourages us to focus on gratitude to God for where we are and what He has given us, looking for God in our circumstances, and thinking Biblical thoughts. She shares personal stories of troubling seasons in her life and how God gave her His perspective through them.
Although Patsy is quite a humorous speaker, this book did not use humor as you might expect from her, except for one chapter where she talks about aging. I enjoyed that one the most because that's the Patsy I am familiar with. Beyond the humor, though, Patsy does have a way with words and describing beauty around her. You can tell she loves words and puts them well to use.

As for the spiritual impact of the book, I was left feeling like something was missing. It doesn't delve deeply into spiritual truths as much as I would like, and I probably won't remember much from the book in days to come. It was a bit on the "fluffy" side, in my opinion. I also don't go in for "self-esteem talk", which was mentioned a couple times.

I probably would not recommend this book to a friend, simply because I believe there are better resources available for women who need encouragement in their spiritual growth.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

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Book Review: Water's Edge by Robert Whitlow

Water's Edge by Robert Whitlow

Rating: 5 stars

Attorney Tom Crane travels to his small hometown in Georgia to close down his deceased father's law practice. In the process of working to get his father's clients hooked up with other attorneys who can take their cases, he finds a large sum of money in a secret bank account and must investigate who the money belongs to. He runs into unexpected trouble, and what he believed would be a simple task, lands him in a web of mystery and uncertainty over who he can trust.

I loved this book. I think it took off a little slow, but once it got going I was glued to the pages. If you enjoy legal thrillers, you will enjoy this book. There were some exciting twists and turns at the end.

What I really loved about the story was that it was written from a Biblical worldview, meaning the characters who were believers in Christ worked to handle their problems in relation to their faith. This is exactly what I am looking for in a Christian novel.

The main character, who didn't have faith, was challenged to seek God by other characters in the story. The Christian characters were concerned with prayer and church attendance and actually had meaningful relationships with the Lord. These are elements that are missing far too often in Christian fiction as well, and I am thrilled that Robert Whitlow included these in this book. I will read more of his work because of it.

Ready to read it? Download Water's Edge to your Kindle right now!

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

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Book Review: Leaving by Karen Kingsbury

Leaving by Karen Kingsbury
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Bailey Flanigan has dreams of performing on Broadway, so she is thrilled when she is given an opportunity to audition for her favorite show Hairspray. At the same time she's nursing a broken heart because her family friend-turned-boyfriend, Cody Coleman, walked out of her life without explanation. She still misses him after months of no phone calls or texts, but at the encouragement of her mother she tries to move on.

The characters in this story are connected to the Baxter Family series, none of which I've read. As I started into the book it was a little hard to discern who belonged to whom, and it seemed like there were so many characters to keep track of. After a few chapters it started falling together for me, and it wasn't a problem.

I liked the characters Bailey and Cody. I felt like they had depth and were relatable. I felt drawn into Bailey's life, particularly, and was left at the end of the book wanting to find out what happens next.

The one thing I especially appreciate about Kingsbury's writing is that she includes characters who have a genuine relationship with God, and they have regular conversations with Him when they face adversity and in their decision making. I wish more Christian writers would include this element in their books.

I have enjoyed a few of Karen Kingsbury's other books more than this one. Unlocked is by far my favorite of the few I have read. Having invested time into this story and getting caught up in Bailey's character, I will probably have to read the next in the series to find out what's next for Bailey, as well as a few of the other characters.

If you're a fan of Karen Kingsbury, I'm sure you will enjoy the book.

I would like to thank Zondervan for providing me with a free copy of the book for review. I was not required to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

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Book Review: Promises To Keep by Ann Tatlock

Promises to Keep by Ann Tatlock
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading this story about 11-year-old Roz, whose mom relocates her, her brother, and her baby sister to a small town to get away from her drunken, abusive father in the 1960's. Although she knows her dad was frightening at times, Roz wants to remember all the good things he did for her and hopes one day her family can be together and whole again.

Tillie is an eccentric, elderly woman who makes herself at home with Roz and her family shortly after they arrive in town, and even though she's a little odd, they soon find she's just who they need in their lives.

Then there's Mara Nightingale, a friend from school who befriends Roz. As their friendship grows they share everything with each other, including their deepest secrets. They make a pinky-swear promise to one another that they will pray for each other, that God will make both of their greatest desires come to pass one day.

Ann Tatlock is a new author to me, but I will enjoy reading more of her books. This story held my attention and had my interest from the first page. It was a fast-paced read and hard to put down.

I would've enjoyed the book even more if the faith aspect had been stronger. It was rather weak for my personal taste, but I still highly recommend it for the plot and storytelling.

I appreciate Bethany House Publishers for sending me a free copy for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

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Book Review: Courting Miss Amsel by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Courting Miss Amsel by Kim Vogel Sawyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Edythe Amsel is single, pretty, independent, and the new schoolmarm at a one-room schoolhouse in Walnut Hill, Nebraska. Although the single men in town would like an opportunity to court her, she has only one goal in mind. She wants to teach her students, not be a wife and mother.

Miss Amsel's students love her, but the school board is quite irritated with her discipline, teaching methods, and broad subjects, since the children will simply become farmers when they graduate. Miss Amsel believes the children should know of the opportunities beyond Nebraska farming, though.

When she pushes the school board's limits by proposing the students travel to see Susan B. Anthony and a suffrage speech, Miss Amsel may be out of a job.

I enjoyed this story, even more than other books by Kim Vogel Sawyer. Although there are plenty of stories written about schoolteachers of this time period, this one held my interest.

I enjoyed the characters like Edythe, Luthenia, and Joel and his boys. I also liked the conversations between Edythe and Luthenia about God and faith. The crisis that brings Edythe to a moment of decision had me turning pages quickly.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction set in the 1880's. It's a lighter read but a good story about family, choices, relationships and faith.

I would like to thank Bethany House Publishers for providing me with a free copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

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Book Review: The Daughter's Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick

The Daughter's Walk: A Novel by Jane Kirkpatrick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In a daring effort to save their family farm in 1896, Norwegian American Helga Estby takes her adult daughter Clara on a walk from Spokane, Washington to New York City to win $10,000.

Leaving their family behind and neighbors scoffing at her decision, Helga is willing to take a risk if it means she can help her family. But the journey is much more than she bargained for. It is harsh, secrets are revealed, and she returns home to loss and consequences that will be far reaching.

Upon returning to Washington, Clara goes in search of something that she can't find at home. She makes the decision to continue her own journey, leaving her family once again.

I found the story fascinating, particularly because it is based on real people and true historical events. The research Jane Kirkpatrick did to put this book together was extensive and intriguing, and she shares that process at the end of the book.

Although the characters stray from my own biblical view that a wife should honor and respect her husband as the head of the home, the Estbys were real people and this is their story. There were serious consequences which resulted from choices that were made, even though the choices were made with good intentions. I can't say that any of the Estbys responded to their hardships in a way that brought unity to their home, and unfortunately it wasn't an altogether happy story.

I highly recommend this book! The storytelling was terrific and engrossing. I found it hard to put the book down. It's amazing that Helga and Clara accomplished what they did, and it's worth reading the book to hear their story, a story that was almost lost forever.

If you would like to see a trailer of this book, check it out on Amazon. 

I wish to thank WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group and their Blogging For Books program for providing me with a free Advance Reading Copy. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.

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Book Review: Screen Play by Chris Coppernoll

Screen Play: A Novel by Chris Coppernoll
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have had this book on my to-read list for quite some time because I so enjoyed his first book Providence a few years ago. This book did not disappoint either.

I am fascinated with theater and drama, so I was sucked into the pages pretty quickly. I loved all the behind-the-scenes drama with the actors and preparation for the play's opening night.

Chris has a way with words that's not flowery yet puts me right into the story. I love that.

I would've enjoyed getting a little more backstory on Harper's previous relationship. I felt like I didn't know enough about it to really feel her loss. I also found the story's end to be surprisingly abrupt. It wasn't what I was expecting.

No matter. I enjoy Chris' writing and look forward to more of his books.

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Book Review: Crazy Love by Francis Chan

Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I didn't have any intention of reading this book. I don't think I had read a single review on it. I typically steer clear of authors that I am unfamiliar with, especially if everyone "jumps on the bandwagon". I figure if a book is popular with the masses, then there must be something theologically wrong with it.

So I guess I finally broke down and downloaded it to my Kindle because it was cheap, and I wanted to know what all the hype was about. I also noticed some of my Goodreads friends with similar reading tastes to mine had given it high ratings, so I figured I must be missing something.

Now I know that I've definitely been missing something. I had no idea what Francis Chan's theology is, but I like him. He is narrow, and that's a good thing in my consideration.

What a challenge! He's making me think. He's making me question myself. What is my life about? Do I love God rightly? Do I love my neighbor the way God has told me to? So much to evaluate, and I have so much to change.

My conclusion is that I will be paying more attention to Francis Chan in the future. I guess you could say I've become a fan.

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Book Review: Blood Ransom by Lisa Harris

Blood Ransom by Lisa Harris
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In the Republic of Dhambizao there have been rumors of Ghost Soldiers raiding villages and all the people simply disappearing, but young Joseph Komboli has seen it with his own eyes as he watches his family attacked. Desiring to find his father before he's killed, he seeks the help of Natalie Sinclair, an American woman working for disease control, but she has no idea of the web of danger that she is about to get tangled in.

I liked the book, but I'm sorry to say I just didn't love it. The suspense was there, although more so toward the latter half of the book. I found the story somewhat difficult to get into, though. It could be that I didn't care very much for the characters, as they didn't have much depth to me.

I'd say my biggest struggle with the book was with the portrayal of the characters. I know for sure that Natalie and Chad were Americans, but I'm not certain who else was American. Since the story was set in Africa I had to assume that all the other characters were African, but they seemed very American in all the dialog. I felt like there should've been a better distinction made in the storytelling.

I will say that I appreciate Lisa Harris as a Christian writer who writes a "clean" romance. Some Christian authors just go a bit over the top for me.

I'm giving Blood Ransom 3 stars.

I wish to thank Zondervan for providing me with a free copy of the book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

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