WWW Wednesdays

WWW Wednesdays is a meme from Should Be Reading, where we answer three questions: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? and What do you think you'll read next? If you want to participate, answer the three questions, then put your link on the Should Be Reading Blog in the comment section. Happy reading!

What I am currently reading: Relentless by Robin Parrish - I was told about this book from an 18-year-old friend of mine. It is the first book in a series. She said they were some of her favorite books. Since we both like Ted Dekker and other authors, I thought I would probably like this as well. Well, I have read the first 90 pages, and I am intrigued. I'll probably want to read the others when I am finished with this one. I will try to write a review within the next several weeks.

What I recently finished reading: The Miracle of Mercy Land by River Jordan - I commented on another of Mrs. Jordan's books last week. This is one I received from Waterbrook Press, and will write a review for it sometime next week.

What I'll probably read next: Triumph by Carolyn Jessop - I read Escape by Ms. Jessop last year. This woman has an amazing story of her life in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a sect of the Mormon church that practices polygamy. I became interested in this group and Ms. Jessop in particular when the church's ranch was raided and the children removed after law officials learned about their illegal practices. I grew up in the town where the police took the children (and some of the mothers) to live while their case in court was decided. I watched on TV as they escorted them to and from the courthouse that I immediately recognized from my childhood. The whole situation is just so sad. I admire Ms. Jessop for her outspokenness and courage. You can read more about her here. Very, very interesting.

What are you reading this week?

Book Review: Predator by Terri Blackstock

In the library where I work, we are allowed to look at the carts loaded with books in the processing area (where they prepare the books to be ready for the shelves) and if we see any book we want to read, we can put our name in it and whenever that book is ready to be checked out, that person gets to be the first one to check it out. Needless to say, this is one of my favorite things about working there. I often go into processing and look at what new books have come in. There is seldom a time when I don't see a new book I want to check out and read.

I have several authors that I like so much that I have read everything they have written and when I see a new one by one of those authors, I automatically put my name in it so I can be the first to read it.

Terri Blackstock is one of those favorite authors. And Predator is one of the best she has written.

Before I tell you what I liked about the book, here is a synopsis form the Zondervan website:

"In Predator, the newest page-turner by bestselling author Terri Blackstock, a killer is stalking the online social network GrapeVyne. Determined to bring her teenage sister's murderer to justice, Krista Carmichael puts her own life on the line to bait the killer. But when this online predator turns his sights on her, will she be able to control the outcome?"

What parent is not at least a little concerned about the crimes that are being committed in the world of computers and social networks, such as Facebook, MySpace, etc.? It seems every day we hear stories about online predators, stalkers, and others who have met young people on the Internet and make them believe that they just want to be friends, when in actuality they want them to be their next victim in whatever evil they desire. Mrs. Blackstock demonstrates this well in her latest book. I read this one quickly as I followed the characters through their nightmare of tracking down the killer among them. I began to think about how I wanted to protect my own children (and myself) from such a terrifying situation. Although I know that God has us all in His hands, I think there are some practical things in this book that we can learn to do so that we will not fall victim to an online predator.

Mrs. Blackstock writes in such an engaging manner. Her chapters are very short, which kept making me want to read "just one more", then I realized I was halfway through the book in a short period of time. The characters are people you would meet every day, and the things they do are quite ordinary, yet the author pulls the reader along and keeps the suspense going so as to make the book exciting and the plot interesting. I recommend this book (and any other Blackstock book) to anyone who loves a great suspense novel.

I do believe that this book will be on my Top Ten List of 2010. I give it 5 out of 5 stars!    

Terri Blackstock has sold six million books worldwide and is a New York Times bestseller. She is the award-winning author of Intervention and Double Minds, as well as such series as Cape Refuge, Newpointe 911, the SunCoast Chronicles, and the Restoration Series.

(I checked this book out from the local library. So there is no need to say that I wasn't paid to do this review, because I never get paid for any review I do!)

WWW Wednesdays

WWW Wednesdays is a meme from Should Be Reading, where we answer three questions: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? and What do you think you'll read next? If you want to participate, answer the three questions, then put your link on the Should Be Reading Blog in the comment section. Happy reading!

What I am currently reading: The Messenger of Magnolia Street by River Jordan - Mrs. Jordan has a unique writing style, one that is interesting, yet somewhat hard to grasp. I consider myself a pretty intelligent person, but I'm not quite following the story like I feel I should. I'm hoping that all the questions I have about the plot and the characters will be answered when I reach the end, but I only have about 31 pages left, so I'm also skeptical. I'll try and write a review of this book soon.

I decided to read this one before reading The Miracle of Mercy Land, another book by Mrs. Jordan that I will be reviewing soon.

What I recently finished reading: Don't Look Back by Lynette Eason - The second book in the Women of Justice series. I liked both of the books so far in the series. I will be reviewing this one next week. You can read my (glowing!) review of Too Close to Home, Women of Justice #1, here. 

                                                  

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay - This one is definitely going on my Top Ten of 2010 list. I almost cried when I read it (I know a book has really touched me when I cry, because I seldom do when reading a book). The story of a girl who survives WWII under horrific circumstances and a reporter who discovers her story and the impact it has on the lives of so many is absolutely amazing. I wonder how Ms. Rosnay wrote such a book. I can't wait to read her next one, A Secret Kept. Review to come.

 

 

 

 

What I'll probably read next: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston - For the last few years, our city has participated in The Big Read, which is a program designed to encourage communities to read good books and share those with one another through programs such as discussion groups and movie viewings. This year, the people in our area of Knoxville, Tennessee are reading Their Eyes Were Watching God, so I will be reading this book next to prepare for watching the movie based on the book, which will be showing at our library in a few weeks.

 

 

 

What are you reading this week? Have you read any of the ones above? If so, what did you think? I'd love to hear from you!

 

Book Review: The Waiting by Suzanne Woods Fisher

(Be sure and read the bottom of this post to see how you can enter to win a FREE KINDLE!)

I remember a time when I thought I would have liked to be Amish. Think about it: simple, slow living, pacifistic, down-to-earth, and solid faith in God. Who wouldn't want to live like that?

Well, of course, there are many people who would go stir crazy living like the Amish. Because it would mean no cell phones, no electricity, no cars, no fancy clothes, etc. And I know my children couldn't imagine life without computers or movies! But I still think it would be nice (maybe for a week or two, anyway).

I do get a little wistful when I read books like The Waiting by Suzanne Woods Fisher. I tend to romanticize the Amish way of life and block out the hard work and sacrifices they make in order to live like they do. But, I suppose I am getting a little taste by reading books like this.

The Waiting is about Jorie King, who anticipates the homecoming of her friend, Ben Zook, who left with the promise to come back and marry her. And it is also about Caleb, Ben's brother, who realizes how much he loves Jorie and has decided he would like to ask her to be his wife. But when news arrives of Ben's death, everything that was once right seems to be very wrong. Jorie is torn between the two men she loves and Caleb's world is suddenly uncertain.

The setting of the novel is 1965 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Fisher paints a beautiful picture of the Amish life. However, she is also realistic in her writing when she tells of the Vietnam War, the hatred some people had for the blacks during that time, and the struggles the Amish sometimes have in living among "the English" people. There is a great sense of the time period in this book.

I liked this book. It was not "fluffy", nor was it all happiness. The conflict between good and evil were clearly shown and not treated lightly. I especially liked the way the author developed the romance between the characters and how she wrote about characters that seem very real. Anyone who likes to read Amish fiction would enjoy The Waiting.

I give The Waiting 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Available October 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the CBA bestselling author of The Choice, The Waiting, Amish Peace, and Amish Proverbs. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, W. D. Benedict, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Benedict eventually became publisher of Christianity Today magazine. Suzanne is the host of a radio show called Amish Wisdom and her work has appeared in many magazines. She lives in California. Find out more about Suzanne at http://www.suzannewoodsfisher.com/

Enter to win your very own KINDLE in Suzanne Woods Fisher’s KINDLE Giveaway! Enter at the link below and then be sure to attend Suzanne’s Lancaster Secrets Book Club Party on October 28th to see if you won (and to chat about books and win one of the MANY other prizes Suzanne is giving away)!http://www.litfusegroup.com/Blog-Tours/the-waiting-blog-tour.html

(I received this book from LitFuse and Revell Books for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation for this review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.)

The Golden Pathway by Donna McDine

I have always been fascinated about the events of the American Civil War and about slavery. Since I also find myself drawn to the time period of WWII, I think I must be sensitive to the whole issue of man's cruelty to man. I want to try and understand what is going on in the minds of the ones (like Hitler, the unjust slave owners, and even the criminals of today) who seem to actually enjoy hurting those who are different than they are, or those who appear to be threatening to them.

The Golden Pathway is a children's book (for ages 8-12) that tells the story of a boy who helps his father's slave escape the cruelty that the father has done against him. The boy gently attends to the slave's wounds, then asks a Quaker friend to help the slave find freedom.

The book is very short (about 10 pages of text) and would be easy for a young person to read quickly. The story is good, but it seems to be too sketchy and I feel that it could use some more detail to make it even more interesting. I'm not sure if a young reader would be satisfied with such a brief story. When I was reading it, I wanted to know more about the characters, where they lived, and some of the back stories that would have made this a much better book.

I give The Golden Pathway 3 out of 5 stars.

(I received this book from Pump Up Your Book! for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation for this review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.)

Book Review: The House on Malcolm Street

I've always loved old houses. I think living in one would be fun, especially if it had lots of cubbyholes and neat storage spaces and maybe a dumbwaiter. When I see one on TV, I want to go and explore it. So, when I saw the cover of The House on Malcolm Street, I fell in love with the beautiful house on the front cover. The wraparound porch really caught my eye. I could easily envision myself on that porch, sitting in a rocking chair with a lemonade in one hand and a book in the other.

The house in The House on Malcolm Street is a boardinghouse in a small Illinois town. Owned by Marigold McSweeney, it becomes a place of refuge for Leah Breckenridge and her daughter, Eliza, after Leah's husband and infant son die. Leah is angry at God for taking her loved ones away from her, and she is terrified about what the future holds. Nevertheless, after she moves in with her husband's Aunt Marigold, her heart slowly begins to heal. One person seems to stand in the way of her peace, however. That person is Josiah Walsh, a boarder at the house on Malcolm Street. Who is this man, and why does he keep calling Marigold "aunt"? And what is it about him that pulls at Leah's heart, her broken and fragile heart?

I liked the story at first, as I met the characters and empathized with their pain. Marigold is a likeable old lady, the kind you would want for a grandmother. And her neighbor, Abraham, is also a character you would want to meet. I liked the way that Mrs. Kelly developed these characters and placed them together in the story.

But, as I read more, I found myself losing interest in what was going on. The story dragged a little and too much time was devoted to Leah and how she couldn't get rid of her anger against God. What was good was how the author showed how Leah softened and had more faith as soon as she stopped focusing on herself and began helping others in need. Isn't that what we all should be doing? Getting our eyes off of ourselves and all our "problems", and looking outward to see who we can encourage and how we can "bear one another's burdens"?

I want faith like Eliza, who could see God's goodness in every situation, and who could be thankful in every circumstance. The faith of a child is oftentimes so much more strong than that of people who think they have it all together and who, when the tough times come, get angry at the one Hope that can see them through.

The book probably could have been better if it was a little shorter. But all in all, a pretty good book. I give The House on Malcolm Street 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

(I received this book from Revell Books for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation for this review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.)

Book Review: Immanuel's Veins by Ted Dekker

I don't know if I have mentioned this yet on this blog, but I am a writer. I have written several short stories and articles and have been published about four or five times. I have often thought about writing fiction that depicts the Gospel in a way that is meaningful to the reader without straying from biblical truth. I want my writing to glorify God, and to think about writing an allegory that speaks of God's love and redemption of man has excited me, but it also has caused me to keep the story in my head and not put it on paper for fear of misrepresenting the Truth.

I believe Ted Dekker has come very close to doing what I have feared to do. He has taken the Gospel story and placed it in the time of castles, queens, knights, and swords. He has shown us, as a great story does, what happens when man faces evil and what happens when loves conquers all. This, to me, is one of Mr. Dekker's best works.


The year: 1772. The place: Moldavia. The main characters: Toma and Alek, soldiers sent by Catherine the Great to guard and protect two sisters, Lucine and Natasha. They are challenged by a Russian by the name of Vlad van Valerik and his minions, Stefan, Sofia, and Simion. Here is how the plot is described on the back cover of the book:

"It is a dangerous tale of times past. A torrid love story full of deep seduction. A story of terrible longing and bold sacrifice.


Then as now, evil begins its courtship cloaked in light. And the heart embraces what it should flee. Forgetting it once had a truer lover.

With a kiss, evil will ravage body, soul, and mind. Yet there remains hope, because the heart knows no bounds.

Love will prove greater than lust. Sacrifice will overcome seduction. And blood will flow.

Because the battle for the heart is always violently opposed. For those desperate to drink deep from this fountain of life, enter.

But remember, not everyone is for this story."

If you like books that will challenge, stir and maybe even change you, then you will like Immanuel's Veins. I know I did.

I give Immanuel's Veins 5 out of 5 stars.

Published by Thomas Nelson Publishers, September, 2010.

(I checked this book out of the local library to read and review. No need to say anything else.)

WWW Wednesdays

WWW Wednesdays is a meme from Should Be Reading, where we answer three questions: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? and What do you think you'll read next? If you want to participate, answer the three questions, then put your link on the Should Be Reading Blog in the comment section. Happy reading!

What I am currently reading: Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay- I haven't finished this yet, so I can't be sure, but it looks like it may wind up on my Top Ten Favorite Books of the Year list. What a story! I can see now why I have heard so much raving about this book. I haven't wanted to put it down. I want to know what happens next! I'll try to review Sarah's Key on this blog soon. 

What I recently finished reading: The Waiting by Suzanne Woods Fisher - I will have a review of this book next week. It was very good. I like stories about the Amish that don't try to make them look perfect. The characters in this one seemed genuine.

 

 

 

 

 

What I'll probably read next: Don't Look Back by Lynette Eason - This is #2 in the Women of Justice Series. I received the book from Revell for review. It will be on this blog during the week of October 17-23. Since I enjoyed the first one so much, I'm looking forward to reading Don't Look Back.

What are you reading now? Have you come across any that you recommend? Let me know in the comments.

Hit Me! (Please)

I want you to hit me. You know, come to my blog and look around, get to know me a little. Click on the links. Stay a while.

If you are new to this blog, or even if you've been with me a while, I'd like to show you around. So, grab a cup of coffee (or tea, or chocolate milk - whatever) and come with me:

Have you tried any of the tabs at the top of the blog? I have several things to share there. My list of books I want to read (TBR list), books I've read from my local library, books that have been recommended by others, what I did during the Dewey Read-a-thon last April (the next one is coming up this Saturday!), my (feeble) attempt at reading all the New York Times bestsellers of 2010, some of my favorite websites, and a list of the books I have read so far this year (I have read 104 books to date!).

How about the sidebars? I have several things on the side of the blog: books I recommend, places on the internet where you can buy great books (Amazon, Monergism, and Westminster Bookstore), the companies/groups I review books for, other Christian blogs and book blogs, a link to my Twitter account so you can "follow me", and an archive of my posts. You can also see who my followers are as well as a few other things I am involved in and excited about.

If you are a new reader, please consider looking around and reading some of my older reviews. And, if you are not already a follower, if you like what you see, why not become a follower? I would love for you to join us!

Is there anything else you would like to see on this blog? Any constructive criticism? If you have any ideas for future posts or anything else you'd like to see on this blog, please let me know. Or, if you'd just like to tell me "well done", I would appreciate that, too. I'd love to hear from you.

Notable Blogs

I have come across some great posts from some interesting bloggers that I'd like to share with you:

Mary DeMuth - http://www.marydemuth.com/ - Mary shares with us 10 Reasons Why Christians Should Read Fiction. Thought-provoking.

Suzanne Woods Fisher - http://suzannewoodsfisher.blogspot.com/ - Suzanne interviews author B.J. Taylor and hosts a GIVEAWAY of the book The Complete Guide to Writer's Groups That Work.

Tim Challies - http://www.challies.com/ - Tim is giving away a copy of the movie Malatya. I'd also like you to see this post he wrote on What I Hate About Blogging. Very interesting!

And, at http://www.shereads.org/, Ellen Potter writes about The Big Fat Lie of the Author Bio. Funny!

What are some of your favorite blogs? Why do you like them? Please comment.