The Civilized World - A Review

Henry Holt is proud to present the stunning literary debut from Susi Wyss: The Civilized World. Set in Africa, the novel follows five women as their lives intertwine in surprising and even explosives ways.

When Adjoa leaves Ghana to find work in the Ivory Coast, she hopes that one day she'll return home to open a beauty parlor. Her dream comes true, though not before she suffers a devastating loss—one that will haunt her for years, and one that also deeply affects Janice, an American aid worker who no longer feels she has a place to call home. But the bustling Precious Brother Salon is not just the "cleanest, friendliest, and most welcoming in the city." It's also where locals catch up on their gossip; where Comfort, an imperious busybody, can complain about her American daughter-in-law, Linda; and where Adjoa can get a fresh start on life—or so she thinks, until Janice moves to Ghana and unexpectedly stumbles upon the salon.

The Civilized World is a deeply moving novel that “beautifully and effortlessly captures the essence of human connection” (Library Journal). 

What did I think? I like reading books about women who live in different cultures and settings than I do. Some of my more favorite reads over the last little while have been exactly that. This is no exception as it takes place mainly in Africa and is about women who want essentially the same things as I do, but get these things in different ways. I really liked the characters and found myself thinking about the story after I'd finished reading it - a sure sign of a good read or was it that the author was a little vague in places? She hinted at something meaningful that I didn't always quite catch, which may say something about my own literary prowess or a lack of details, I'm not quite sure which one. 

At any rate, I enjoyed reading this book and had no issue finishing it quickly. The well developed characters were a joy go get to know. And this story, which focused on women's lives and not just about romance and getting the man, was refreshing and interesting.

Thanks to Henry Holt for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Defiant Joy: The Remarkable Life & Impact of G.K. Chesterton by Kevin Belmonte - A Review

In Defiant Joy: The Remarkable Life & Impact of G.K. Chesterton, Kevin Belmonte explores Chesterton's works and analyses the impact they had in England and North America. Chesterton wrote poetry, fiction, literary critics, essays and theology. He is a celebrated, Catholic author who did his part to inject some optimism and focus on God during the early 20th century, which according to this book was a pessimistic age. His works are still read and useful for today's reader.

I will admit that I'm not particularly well read. Owing in part to my Protestant background, I've never read anything by Chesterton, but after reading this book, I hope to take the time to dig into some of his works in the future. This book was interesting to read and left me wishing that I'd read Chesterton's work before. This book was a good overview (in my limited knowledge) of Chesterton's work and it did an excellent job of explaining how this man did his part to change the world. With no knowledge going in, I feel that I now know a good deal about Chesterton and his work.

I received this book from BookSneeze in exchange for an impartial review.

Passport Through Darkness - A Review

Kimberly Smith was an average American churchgoer, wife, and mother—until she dared to ask God His dreams for her life. Traveling around the world and deep in to the darkness of her own heart, Kimberly’s worst fears collided with her faith as she and her family discovered the atrocities of human trafficking. But it was in that broken place that a self-centered life was transformed into an intentional effort to save thousands from modern-day slavery, persecution, disease, and genocide.

Through painful trials, serious errors, and gut-wrenching fear, Kimberly reminds us of what God will do when one person puts her life on the line for His purpose. Along the way, she inspires you to discover your own story—to live your purpose and feel God’s pleasure. Here you will find courage to live the life God dreamed of when he first dreamed you. 


Kimberly Smith shares her journey of writing Passport Through Darkness

The journey into my own soul was scariest and hardest thing I’ve ever done. Yes, even more challenging than building an orphanage in the war-zone of Darfur, nearly 2,000 miles away from our nearest supply chain in Nairobi, Kenya. My world was rocked not so much by the darkness I had to pass through, but by the beauty I found buried within.

Finding that beauty---glimpses of what God dreamed of for me---changed everything dear to me, but most profoundly my marriage.

I had walked through hell in Sudan to listen to others’ stories, and comfort them with mercy and compassion. But, when it came to my own pain, somehow shame got mixed in there, choking out the truth and driving me to sin and darkness. I couldn’t seem to hear the same God of comfort I heard for others. Fear of being found unlovable, unworthy, plain old “Un,” drove me to lock entire parts of myself away from even those I loved the most.

The woman who defied boundaries—flying straight into war zones—had constructed her own no-go zones within, where even she wouldn’t dare to go. And she hurt anyone who dared to breach the heavily-armed border.

I’d heard Believers referred to as “soldiers” the whole of my Christian life. I just never thought much about it personally…until I realized a battalion of troops had been sent out looking for me. They literally fought to save my life. And while it might sound strange—coming from a woman whose life is supposedly about saving lives—their pushing me to share my story inPassport through Darkness is what ultimately saved mine.  My heart had been broken for the men, women, and children I’d met in Sudan who’d survived trafficking, rape, persecution, and genocide. I felt angry on their behalf that greed, corruption, and oppression stamped out their voice so I wanted to be their voice by writing their stories.  That’s what first set my fingers to the keyboard—to make a place for their story, to honor their suffering, to show their dignity in the midst of it all.

But as I wrote, the cloak of their darkness wrapped itself around me so tightly I often felt paralyzed. There were days and long period of times when I couldn’t separate their pain and shame from my own. I knew much of my stuckness came from the shame that bound me. But still I hunkered down, hiding.

I thought I could control how much I would let others see. I would tell the stories I heard and witnessed, but not my own—especially not my sin. Maybe I even thought somehow I could serve some sort of penance by being the voice for the voiceless, and never have to hear my own, or even remember its sound.

I was wrong. Diving into the darkness of others awakened my own, and each day as I wrote their stories, I found myself coming more undone. I felt out of control. Falling apart. And, desperate for help.

That’s the state I was in when the troops found me: undone. First on the scene was my precious husband, Milton, standing ready. He’d been waiting for years for the walls to collapse so he could finally enter the places I’d shut off from him. God used Milton—and others—to listen, love, guide, confront, press, and hold me until one word, one tear, one memory, one confession at a time my story unfolded like morning glories opening to the rising sun after a long night of darkness. Through the telling I found parts of myself I’d pushed so deep into the darkness that even I didn’t know they existed.

Ultimately, I knew it was not just the stories of modern-day slaves to human traffickers I must tell, but my own story of slavery to fear, shame, and sin—and how God has delivered me, and is delivering me.

I have two prayers for Passport through Darkness. First, that it helps us to save more babies from genocide and slavery. Second, that it helps others to understand God has a unique dream for each and everyone one of us, and He will even descend into the depths of our self-made hell and carry us out to find and live it.

If it’s true that all we Believers are soldiers in His army, then I am nothing more than a Private. Private Kimberly. He withholds no good thing from us, not even from a Private. He sent and is sending troops to fight lies, speak truth, be His Light in my darkness...and yours, too.

Love, your sister along the journey, 

Kimberly Smith

Passport Through Darkness: A True Story of Danger and Second Chances by Kimberly L. Smith

January 1, 2011/ISBN 978-1-4347-0212-8/224 pages/softcover/$14.99

www.MakeWayPartners.org ~ http://kimberlylsmith.com

What did I think? Oh my goodness, what an amazing story. Amazing. I loved reading Kimberly Smith's story. Well written and engaging, for an autobiography, it was a good read. 

Smith finds a good balance between sharing the story of the people she serves and revealing her weakness and struggles. I appreciated how Smith was willing to show that life is not perfect, even when we're risking our lives to serve others and God. She shares her passion without laying down a guilt trip... though I'll admit I felt convicted to help the weak and helpless victims in the world.

This book is not for the faint of heart, it does not skimp on the human suffering that Smith saw. I found myself in tears several times. It left me feeling angry and sad all at the same time. I have a huge respect for Smith and her journey. 

Check out the mission's website here or you can read her blog here.

Thanks to the The B&B Media Group for sending me this book for free in exchange for an impartial review.

Love Food & Live Well - A Review

You don’t have to hide it. You can love food right out in the open—and lose weight at the same time. With the latest release from Chantel Hobbs, Love Food and Live Well, you’ll know when to have carrot cake and when it’s time to just have a carrot.

Let life coach and fitness expert Chantel Hobbs show you how to lose pounds to reach the weight that is right for you and then maintain it while enjoying healthy, delicious food. Built into this amazing plan is knowing that you can count on the occasional splurge with absolutely no guilt.

Using personal inventories, original recipes, and simple eating plans, plus new exercises for strength training and aerobic fitness, Hobbs will inspire you to live well in every area of life. Her positive and highly motivating approach is changing the way dieters look at food and will inspire you to pursue a life of lasting health in body, mind, and spirit.


Hobbs isn’t like other fitness and nutritional experts. She doesn’t just have the knowledge of what to eat. She’s experienced the heartache of feeling unworthy. In her book she says, “We’ll look at the deal the world has been selling us all of our lives—the message that we’re not good enough, not pretty enough, not thin enough, and just basically that we’re not enough.” Hobbs doesn’t just offer expert advice. She offers hope.


She exposes the lies that trap dieters in self-defeating habits and shows them how to break free from destructive attitudes toward food. You will no longer need to hate food or be limited to eating boring, bland, unsatisfying meals. You can learn to live with freedom.


Chantel Hobbs is a life coach, marathon runner, personal trainer, wife, and mother of four. Her amazing story of losing two hundred pounds and keeping the weight off has been featured on Oprah, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox & Friends, Life Today with James Robison, The 700 Club, and Focus on the Family Radio—and in People and First magazines. Hobbs hosts a weekly radio show and is the on-air fitness expert on the WAY-FM radio network. She is also a regular guest on the KLOVE radio network. Hobbs is a frequent speaker to women’s groups and makes personal appearances at fitness conventions. The developer of The One-Day Way Learning System and the author of four books, including Never Say Diet and The One-Day Way, Chantel lives with her family in south Florida.

Love Food and Live Well by Chantel Hobbs

WaterBrook Press/December 2010

ISBN: 978-0-307-45784-4/240 pages/hardcover/$19.99

www.chantelhobbs.com

What did I think? Hobbs gives a very God centered, balanced approached to weight control.  Having herself lost 200 pounds, you know that she must get the issues that those of us that struggle with weight deal with.  That's always good for a start.


This book did not give me a lot of information that I didn't already know, but if a person were unfamiliar to nutrition and exercise, there are chapters that give good explanations of both.  And I did learn a few things. She gives a way to make sure your diet is balanced and explains calorie usage (though it is a little more work than say the Weight Watcher's method).  She includes a few recipes (that I'm not sure I'd ever use) and several exercises with instructions and pictures (that I may just use).  I agree with her approach.  I like it because it makes good sense and I think if a person followed it, they would have success. Since I haven't read her other two books, I'm not sure how well this one stands alone for a beginner. Hobbs does refer to her other works a few times through this one, so they may be a good supplement.


What I think I liked the most about this book is that she spends a lot of time dealing with what's going on inside.  She talks about self esteem, self image and spirituality.  It's important to have a healthy diet and to exercise, but without dealing with the things that are causing you to eat more than you need, it will be a temporary fix.  She has a good perspective.


Hobbs is upbeat.  She brings a lot of energy to this book, writing in an engaging way the keeps one's attention pretty much throughout.  The book is not too long and can be finished fairly quickly.


So, if you've decided to lose weight this New Year and your current way isn't working as well for you as you'd like (or it is and just want some supplement), you may want to consider giving this book a try.


I received this book from B&B Media in exchange for an impartial review.

Muslim Women Reformers by Ida Lichter - A Review

Muslim Women Reformers

Inspiring Voices Against Oppression

By Ida Lichter

In a world where the strident demands of Islamic extremists capture the media's attention, the courageous protests of Muslim reformers barely receive any notice. These include a surprising number of women who are prepared to challenge institutionalized persecution, risking derision, arrest, physical harm, and even death.

In this inspiring compilation of Muslim women's stories from around the world, the voices of these long-oppressed women ring loud and clear as they question ideology and culture, patriarchal and religious beliefs, and demand the social and political rights women lack in many Muslim countries. The reformers speak out with passion, humanity, and sometimes humor in these compact and often poignant biographies, bringing alive the harsh realities for women in many parts of the world.

By surveying a wide range of Muslim reformers, not only in the Middle East but also in Europe and North America, author Ida Lichter uncovers some significant emerging trends. For example, she notes that the majority of Muslim feminists would like to see reform contained within Islam. Many criticize their patriarchal culture for suppressing egalitarian views that they believe the Koran expresses and so they advocate a reinterpretation of the holy text. Some demand changes to discriminatory Sharia-based laws. Others campaign openly for political and educational reforms.

Complete with a glossary and a list of helpful Web sites, this vibrant anthology makes use of reliable translations from original languages to demonstrate the groundswell of grassroots change that promises eventually to bring even the most conservative sectors of Islam into the twenty-first century.

Ida Lichter, is a clinical and research psychiatrist and contributor to The Huffington Post. Living in London for over 12 years focused her interest on the large Muslim populations in the UK and Europe and brought her closer to the eye of the storm in the Middle East. She lives in Sydney, Australia.

Muslim Women Reformers

By Ida Lichter

Prometheus Books | ISBN-13: 978-0984301706

US $27.98 | Hardcover | 513 pages

 

What did I think? Where to begin?  Well, this book is not for the faint of heart, both in content and in length.  Resembling more of a text book than light reading, this book is 400 pages.  And that total doesn't include the notes or the glossary.  It is a big book.  It took me quite a while to read.

Part of the reason it took me so long to read was the length.  Part of it was that Christmas came and I finally decided I had to put it down in order to get things done.  But mostly it was because I was riveted.  When I first started reading this work, I thought that I would likely skim much of it as it's a fact based collection of women's lives and work in the Muslim world.  As I delved deeper however, I could not bring myself to skim anything.  I needed to read every word.  And I did.  I felt that each woman's story deserved my attention.  I think what I found especially compelling was the quotes that Lichter used.  Every woman's story is peppered with their own words and as I sat reading about their lives, their words hit home just how dire it is for women in some parts of the Muslim world.  I was aware it was bad.  I've watched documentaries and I see the news, but reading so many of these brave women's struggles somehow made it more real to me.

Honor killings, domestic abuse, illiteracy, lack of rights, burkas, isolation, female circumcision (or mutilation depending on your view).  These are all everyday realities for many women in the world.  And that's just the beginning.  It's unfathomable for me to imagine what their lives must be like in that misogynistic society.  And it's allowed in the name of religion.  Religion.  It is sickening, the human abuse that happens every single day.  

This book has drastically changed how I - a female, relatively liberal Christian and North American - look at this religion, culture and politics.  Drastically.  I'm grateful to Ida Lichter for sharing this information with us.  

While this book is slightly repetitive and long, you may want to tackle it anyways.  I think this is information all of us should read.

Thanks to Lisa, the Online Publicist, for this opportunity to review this book.  Lisa sent me this book in exchange for an impartial review and I was under no obligation to give it a positive one.

The Tapestry Shop - A Review

Carol Fass Publicity & Public Relations sent me this book in exchange for an impartial review.  Here's what they say about it:

The Tapestry Shop, by Joyce Elson Moore, is an historical novel based on the life of Adam de la Halle, a poet/musician who left behind a vast collection of secular compositions. While researching Adam's music, Moore discovered a little-known fact; the earliest version of the Robin Hood legend may have been Adam's play, Le Jeu de Robin et Marion. Because Adam was patronized by royalty, his play was probably performed in English courts, and would have changed, as legends do. In the retelling, Robin became an English hero, and Robin's companions became the Merry Men. The book draws the reader into the Middle Ages, where women joined the crusades and students held discourse on the Street of Straw, but the overriding appeal of The Tapestry Shop may be Adam's connection to the popular legend of Robin Hood, the celebrated outlaw who was immortalized in later ballads, and who continues to draw fans around the world to films that center on this elusive hero.

PRAISE FOR THE TAPESTRY SHOP "The Tapestry Shop evokes the sights, smells, sounds, and moeurs of thirteenth century France while creating a plausible biography of Adam de la Halle based on the small number of facts known about his life.  Intertwined with facts known about Arras, Douai, Cambrai, and Paris in the 13th century, imagined events, individuals, and relationships play out against a backdrop of history. The reader is privileged to experience life in the 13th century while rubbing shoulders with mostly fictitious characters. The rapport between serfs and landowners is portrayed in all its unfairness subject to arbitrary decisions. Catherine's marriage portrays the fate of women at this time even those with enlightened, loving fathers. The reader fears for the safety of travelers in the desolate and dangerous countryside between villages where they constantly risk being robbed, beaten, or even murdered. The stimulation and excitement of the trading fair in Troyes comes to life as Catherine and Adam look at all the goods available for sale and deal with vendors trying to get the highest price. The eighth Crusade led by Louis IX (later Saint Louis) in 1270 is portrayed from within showing the diverse motivations of the participants: vows made to the Virgin, desire for profit, restlessness that pushed men and women to seek adventure and risk in unknown experiences. Exploitation of the naïve is often balanced by deeds of kindness and mercy. The reader can feel the teeming crowds of humanity, the confusion, noise, and smells associated with disorganized masses launching themselves into the unfamiliar. After spending many years studying and reading and writing about the Middle Ages, I enjoyed immensely being immersed in the thirteenth century in the company of a poet whose work I know well but whose life and experiences I had never imagined."   From Dr. Deborah Nelson-Campbell Department of French Studies Rice University Ed. and Trans. The Lyrics and Melodies of Adam de la Halle     "The Tapestry Shop evokes a colorful, vibrant world which has long deserved to be woven into a story like this one.  It's a pleasure to see the pioneering trouvère Adam de la Halle at the center of it, and to read this imaginative treatment of his life and times."   From Dr. Carol Symes Assoc. Professor of History and Medieval Studies Univ. of Illinois Author of A Common Stage: Theatre and Public Life in Medieval Arras About the Author: Joyce Elson Moore is an award-winning author of historical fiction. In addition to her novels, her work has appeared in major newspapers and national publications, poetry journals, and anthologies of selected writers.  She lives on the west coast of Florida with her rescued boxer dog, rabbits, tree squirrels, a resident coyote, and several gopher tortoises that call her wooded three acres their home. Joyce is an unabashed Francophile who also enjoys ballroom dancing, RVing and overseas travel, book groups, yoga, visiting with her family, and taking classes in almost anything she has not tried. Affiliations, past and present, include Historical Novel Society, Florida Writers Assn., Romance Writers of America, Toastmasters International (Area Governor), and National League of American Penwomen, as well as several other writers' organizations. Readers can contact the author through her website, where excerpts from her work are posted: www.joycemoorebooks.com.

The Tapestry Shop By Joyce Elson Moore Published by Five Star, a part of Cengage Learning October 2010 / $25.95 / Historical Fiction ISBN 918-1-59414-899-6

And here's what I say: I enjoyed this book.  About halfway through reading it, I misplaced the book for a few hours and I was very upset not knowing exactly how it ended (I was quite relieved when I found it).  I'll give the author that... she definitely kept me guessing.  The pace was good and I generally liked the characters.  There was something about the heroine in this story that turned me off a little bit.  I'm not really sure what it is, but perhaps it was simply her naiveness.  How she made decisions based on completely ludicrous ideas. But, I must remember that this was the 1200's and people did think like that back then.  And really, I did like her and genuinely wanted to make sure she was happy.  So overall, an interesting read.

The Nativity Collection by Robert J. Morgan - A Review

The Nativity Collection is a small gift book that contains a collection of 6 heart warming, Christmas short stories. Each story centers around a Nativity and tells of vastly different people in vastly different situations during different times.  These stories are directed to adults, but could be read to almost any age.

This is a lovely little collection of short stories.  The stories are Christmas and Christ oriented and made me smile.  The message is clear and inspiring.  In terms of the way it looks, I like the way it looks on the inside.  There are many pictures that add visual interest and are nicely done.  The inside of the book has a much different aesthetic than the outside. The exterior of the book is a little masculine for me to give as a gift book, though I do think it's nicer with the dust cover off.   Over all, a nice book to read or give at Christmas .

Thank you to BookSneeze for sending me this book free of charge in exchange for an impartial review.

The Boy Who Changed the World, by Andy Andrews - A Review

The Boy Who Changed the World is an inspiring book that tells the true story (as far as I know) of 3 men who made a big difference in the world.  The illustrations are lovely and interesting.  The story is well told.  I read this book with my 5 year old and he enjoyed it.  For awhile afterwards, he was talking about how he could change the world.  I love that way of thinking and I love that my son might grow up thinking about what kind of impact he can make in the world.

Thank you to Booksneeze who provided a free Ebook copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

City of Veils - A review

City of Veils by Zoe Ferraris


Description from the publisher: Women in Saudi Arabia are expected to lead quiet lives circumscribed by Islamic law and tradition. But Katya, one of the few women in the medical examiner's office, is determined to make her work mean something.

When the body of a brutally beaten woman is found on the beach in Jeddah, the city's detectives are ready to dismiss the case as another unsolvable murder-chillingly common in a city where the veils of conservative Islam keep women as anonymous in life as the victim is in death. If this is another housemaid killed by her employer, finding the culprit will be all but impossible.

Only Katya is convinced that the victim can be identified and her killer found. She calls upon her friend Nayir for help, and soon discovers that the dead girl was a young filmmaker named Leila, whose controversial documentaries earned her many enemies. 

With only the woman's clandestine footage as a guide, Katya and Nayir must confront the dark side of Jeddah that Leila struggled to expose: an underworld of prostitution, violence, exploitation, and jealously guarded secrets. Along the way, they form an unlikely alliance with an American woman whose husband has disappeared. Their growing search takes them from the city's car-clogged streets to the deadly vastness of the desert beyond.

In CITY OF VEILS, award-winning author Zoë Ferraris combines a thrilling, fast-paced mystery with a rare and intimate look into women's lives in the Middle East.

What did I think?  City of Veils is the follow up novel to Zoe Ferraris' first book Finding Nouf (a novel which I now think I need to read).  It was interesting and well paced with likable and diverse characters.  I like the inner struggles the characters deal with:  independent women in a conservative society, devout men struggling with their faith, Americans in a foreign country.  Fascinating.  A really enjoyable read.


* Thank you to Hachette Book Group for giving me this book free of charge to review.

The Messenger of Athens - A Review

The Messenger of Athens by Ann Zouroudi

The publisher's description:  
Idyllic but remote, the Greek island of Thiminos seems untouched and untroubled by the modern world. So when the battered body of a young woman is discovered at the foot of a cliff, the local police - governed more by archaic rules of honor than by the law - are quick to close the case, dismissing her death as an accident.

Then a stranger arrives, uninvited, from Athens, announcing his intention to investigate further into the crime he believes has been committed. Refusing to accept the woman's death as an accident or suicide, Hermes Diaktoros sets out to uncover the truths that skulk beneath this small community's exterior.

Hermes's methods of investigation are unorthodox, and his message to the islanders is plain - tell the truth or face the consequences. Before long, he's uncovering a tale of passion, corruption and murder that entangles many of the island's residents. But Hermes brings h0is own mystery into the web of dark secrets and lies - and as he travels the rugged island landscape to investigate, questions and suspicions arise amongst the locals. Who has sent him to Thiminos, and on whose authority is he acting? And how does he know of dramas played out decades ago?  

Rich in images of Greece's beautiful islands and evoking a life unknown to most outsiders, this wonderful novel leads the reader into a world where the myths of the past are not forgotten and forbidden passion still has dangerous consequences.

What did I think?

I'm on the fence on this one.  I can't quite decide if I loved it or hated it.  This is an exceptionally descriptive book.  The author took time to describe everyone and everything... painting a vivid picture but slowing the pace down significantly.  For my personal taste, I felt it was too much and quite frankly had I not been reviewing this book, I likely would have stopped reading sometime during the first 200 pages.  

Also, not being Greek and not having a lot of contact with the Greek community, I found it hard to follow with all the long Greek names - and there were a lot of characters in this story.  A few times I found myself flipping backward to figure out who we were talking about.

Having persevered, however, I enjoyed the ending.  I did like the main character, Hermes, though I would have enjoyed more character development on him (and less on others).  I liked the basic story line and the message, it just felt really, really long.

* Thanks to the Hachette Book Group for sending me a free copy to review.

Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall & Denver Moore with Lynn Vincent: A Review

Same Kind of Different As Me, by Ron Hall & Denver Moore, with Lynn Vincent.  A true story written by the men who lived it.  A story of redemption, second chances and devastating pain and loss.  I was not prepared for what this book would be like, but it was beautiful.  As these men, who had been through so much, continued to claim God's providence and goodness, I was moved.  Well written, I fell in love with the people in this book.  It read like fiction, so it was enjoyable to read, but because it is true, it's also inspiring.  I feel as if my view of life has opened up having read this book.  God forgive my arrogance.  Now I need to figure out what to do with what I've read.  Of all the books I've read this year, I would say this is the one I would recommend the most.

Thank you to Booksneeze who sent me this free book in exchange for my impartial review.

Healer - A Review

Sixth-century Arthurian Britain provides the backdrop for Linda Windsor’s latest novel, Healer. First in The Brides of Alba Series, Healer gifts readers with the story of Brenna of Gowrys, a woman orphaned during a twenty-year blood feud and destined to spend her life in hiding with only her wolf and her faith in God as companions. Brenna flees as much from her mother’s dying prophecy as she does from the clan that seeks her life and clings tenaciously to her faith in Christ amid the lonely hills of Scotland. When a stranger is left to die surrounded by the carnage of a nearby ambush, Brenna rescues him from certain death. However, the stranger’s delirious rants leave her to wonder if his spirit will survive the darkness that enshrouds him.

Brenna’s life is trapped between an enemy clan that wants her dead and her own clan who is seeking a warrior queen to lead them to military victory over their oppressors. The stranger who enters her life makes her believe that she has found the answer to her deep loneliness. Raised by a Sister of Avalon, Brenna harbors a firm belief in Christ and His forgiveness. Yet the more she learns of her wounded guest, the more she is left to wonder how God expects her to fulfill the strange destiny prophesied by her mother those many years ago. How can she possibly “bring a peace beyond the ken of [her enemy’s] wicked soul”? Unknown to her, the wandering mercenary to whom she administers her healing finds that his own heart is softened both toward Brenna and her God. The relationship that grows between them will provide answers that both of them seek.

Award-winning author Linda Windsor creates an epic tale of two desperate and lonely people whose destinies have been engineered by the church to preserve the ancient Davidic and holy apostolic bloodlines and their Judeo-Christian faith. This well-researched tale will introduce readers to little known facts of British church history, as well as provide information for an effective witness for family and friends misled by New Age and Wiccan theories. Fans of Celtic and medieval tales as well as lovers of Arthurian legend and Lord of the Rings-like settings will find much to enjoy in Windsor’s latest novel. Healer is a story that reveals God’s hand in the lives of broken hearts and wounded souls and the grace that will heal a land and a people, replacing darkness with His light.

The Healer (Book 1 in the Brides of Alba Series) by Linda Windsor

David C Cook/June 1, 2010/ISBN 978-1-4347-6478-2/351 pages/softcover/$14.99

www.davidccook.com ~ www.lindawindsor.com

What did I think?  There was something about this book.  I don't know if it's the time period, or the way the author described the characters, but the book grabbed my attention from the very first page.  It got a little slow in the middle for me as she took time to explain some things about the story, but over all it had me enthralled.  It's a nice break from the typical Christian romance.  I'll be looking out for more of Linda Windsor's books in the future.

The Mailbox - A Review

A rural mailbox stands alone on an isolated North Carolina beach, and within its unobtrusive confines lay the hopes and dreams, the heartaches and joys of countless strangers. Tending the lone mailbox on this deserted beach is an anonymous reader called the Kindred Spirit…drawing hearts toward healing and hope. Marybeth Whalen’s debut novel, The Mailbox, is set around this real-life landmark. She explores the possibility that this isolated and mysterious message center can reunite two people who have been separated by a lifetime of regret and confusion. Because of the mailbox, second chances arise in the face of painful loss, and the promise that enduring love and faith can overcome the destruction of long-kept secrets rings true.

Lindsey Adams begins her visits to the Kindred Spirit mailbox as a young teen. There, she finds her first love, Campbell Forrester. But twenty years later, she returns to the beach as a woman whose husband, Grant, has divorced her after a string of infidelities. Remembering her first love, and wondering whatever became of Campbell, Lindsey allows the salty beach air to reengage her sense of hope. She begins to imagine that Campbell might not be long lost after all.

Meanwhile, Campbell faces his own hardships—including his broken relationship with his daughter and his longing to undo his inadequacies as a father. When Campbell learns that Lindsey has returned to the beach, he cannot help but feel hopeful that he may discover love again.

Whalen’s heartfelt and freshly evoked story explores how memories—and good-old-fashioned, hand-written letters—can not only haunt us, but also can heal us. She explores the memories of first romance while also taking a look at painful life circumstances. Marriage, parenting, and personal integrity are brought into focus in this edgy romance, as is the struggle to come to terms with God’s love for us and His plan for our lives. Using letters from the Kindred Spirit mailbox, Whalen delves into the hearts of two people who truly desire to experience the transformation of enduring love.

The Mailbox by Marybeth Whalen

David C Cook/June 1, 2010/ISBN 978-0-7814-0369-6/384 pages/softcover/$14.99

www.davidccook.com ~ www.marybethwhalen.com

What did I think?  This is a nice, light summer read.  It was a feel good romance that went by really quickly.  I enjoyed the story.  A small focus on God, but not overwhelming or preachy.  A great way to wile away a summer afternoon.

Billy Graham: His Life and Influence By David Aikman - A Review

Most of us have heard of Billy Graham.  Even as a Canadian, I can identify who he is.  I had the chance to go to one of his rallies once.  I didn't go.  Now, having read this biography and realizing just how big of a deal Billy Graham is, I wish I had.

This is the first biography of Billy Graham that I've read.  I enjoyed it.  I liked how it isn't just a play by play on the events of his life.  Instead, David Aikman puts into context Graham's life.  He discusses the events and pressures that made Graham who he was as well as how Graham affected the world.  Not just the United States, but the world.  Very interesting.

I loved reading about his relationship with Ruth - that's my girly side coming out in me - and would have loved hearing more about her.  But this wasn't the point of the book and I'm sure I can get my fill of that in another autobiography or biography.  Also, I found my mind wandering as Graham's relationships with the US presidents was discussed.  It was interesting, but 3 chapters?  That felt a little long.

Overall, a fantastic read if you're interested in world events or Billy Graham.

* I received this book for free from Booksneeze in exchange for an impartial review.

Claim - A Review

Driven by a Promise….Mining for the Truth

A Prodigal’s Search for Elusive Peace

Info from the publisher:  Dominic St. Clair has fought his way back from desperate circumstances and now has an opportunity to reunite with his sisters in Colorado. Lisa Bergren’s latest novel, Claim: A Novel of Colorado, reveals a man heartsick over his failure to keep a promise to his dead father and his inability to protect his two sisters from life’s harsh punishment. In an effort to find the peace that has always eluded him, Dominic begins a new venture in an old mine deep inside the Rocky Mountains. As he struggles to find success and meaning in this rugged landscape, Dominic discovers the affection of the local school teacher among the hidden treasures of the area. Will he finally claim his true inheritance, or will he succumb to the restlessness that has dogged his life since leaving Colorado years before?

Set amid the harsh and often unforgiving life of the early mining industry, Claim is the final installment in Bergren’s Homeward Trilogy and offers a look at God’s willingness to hold on to His children even though they reject His guidance and love. The reader walks with Odessa and Moira St. Clair as they experience their journey toward truth in the first two books of the series, Breathe and Sing, and in this final story, Moira must once again renew her trust in God as she struggles to accept God’s claim on her life and the love in her heart for a troubled man. 

Fans of historical fiction and romance will find much to enjoy in this dramatic finale to Lisa Bergren’s Homeward Trilogy. Claim reflects the rugged journey that the St. Clair prodigals have made toward the truth of grace and forgiveness. As old wounds are healed, new struggles arise, and each of the St. Clair children must face the final battle that lies ahead as they struggle to make their way homeward. Once again, Bergren’s strong voice weaves a tale that will cause readers everywhere to examine the prodigal moments in their own lives and renew their faith in the One who is able to reach them no matter how far they run.

Claim: A Novel of Colorado by Lisa Bergren (Book Three in the Homeward Trilogy)

David C Cook/June 1, 2010

ISBN: 978-1-4347-6706-6/386 pages/softcover/$14.99

www.davidccook.com ~ www.lisatawnbergren.com

What did I think?  I want to preface my review by saying that I have a love/hate relationship these days with historical/Christian fiction.  As a young adult, I could not get enough of them.  I ate them up.  Which I suppose was a good thing, though I sometimes wonder at the worldview they gave me - I won't expand on that.  But as an older, slightly (or greatly) more cynical person, I don't necessarily enjoy these the same way.  So, I'll review this book as it is intended; as an escape.  Not particularly thought provoking or challenging, but a way to wile away a few hours from my otherwise chaotic life and imagine being in a different place at a different time.

As you may remember, I reviewed the 2nd book from this trilogy (Sing) not too long ago.  I enjoyed reading it.  I enjoyed the characters, but it took me a while to get into it.  Reading Claim was a little easier because I was already familiar with the characters.  I think it really increased my enjoyment of the story because she didn't completely rehash the previous book, which often happens in sequels.  The characters were likable - though not necessarily totally believable all the time.  The story was interesting.  Some of the words used didn't always ring true to me of the era we were in (though I'm no expert on that).  Everything was tied up nice and neat, which is what you want in this kind of novel.  Overall, I did enjoy this book and think Lisa Bergren's Homeward Trilogy is worth a read if you're into this genre.


*David C Cook sent me this free book in exchange for an impartial review.