Review: Remembrance Book: He Will Remind You. from John 14:26

Remembrance Book: He Will Remind You. from John 14:26 by Anna K. Payne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was offered to me so that I could review it. What follows is an honest review.

This is an interesting book and different from what I have read of Ms. Payne's books before. In this book she has taken scriptures that had spoke to her and wrote them out in a paraphrased version as she understood them. She then added short notes on them as well as prayers. There are 30 in all so this book could be used as a daily devotional for a month, and then repeated as often as necessary. There is space, if the book is printed, to add you own comments and/or thoughts. If you keep it in electronic form I would encourage using a journal for this.

While there is no theology conflict, that does not make this book a light weight. It deals with stuff we will face in our day to day lives.

I recommend it to all who are believers and need something to reflect on each day.

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Review: Seveneves

Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Available at Amazon

This book was a free one at bookshout.com for me. Not sure how I got it free from them but I did.

It was a long read. It has taken me since July to read it using the Bookshout app and reading the equivalent of 2 books a month.

It held my interest at times, and then at others it was boring as all get out. It reminded me of a book that I read when I was growing up. That book was The Last Days of the Late Great State of California. In that story, an earthquake moves across the state line of California, causing it to sink into the sea. The book gives the history of the various parts of the state up till the time the earthquake happens. The opening of the book is much like that. A unknown thing has struck the moon causing it to shatter and it will destroy the earth in about three years. All the nations combine together to send people and supplies to create a space ark to keep the population from becoming extinct. So that is the first part, the technobabble to create the Space Ark.

The second part comes in as we try to make sure the human race survives. But they all fight with each other, so in the end, the human race is reduced to just 7 people, all female. Oh, one just happens to be a geneticist, and we learn of the techno babble that allows them to recreate people from just the eggs, and each woman breeds into their offspring, what they think they will need to survive. Well, if you do not believe in God, then make everyone in your image and you are one. By the way, the woman screw it up but I am not sure the men would have done it better.

The last part they have arrived on earth thousands of years later and making what appears to be first contact, but with what or with whom. While the technobabble is here as well, it is not as much as this part of the book really comes as pure fiction.

As I stated, it did remind me of that book. Why? Because we got a history book of California, almost like they could have used in a history class. In this book, we get a science lesson. And I wonder if people might try to use it as a science textbook.

I would have loved to given this more stars but it just dragged in to many places and I almost gave up reading it.

Safe for all to read. Not sure who I would recommend it to, maybe some science geeks.

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The Secret of the Jewel Shop (A Blooms, Bones and Stones Cozy Mystery - Book Two)

4 Stars out of 5

I received an advance copy for review. What follows is an honest review.

Quick short read, less than an afternoon I would say (I read it mostly on work breaks over two days).

It was more of a romance book than a mystery book to me.  I would not put it in the mystery category as much as a suspense category. Mysteries tend to be who did it and why.

In this story the hero of the story is opening up her own jewelry shop with the help of her friends. While opening it there is a strong smell of lavender in the shop.  Since she is a believer in the power of crystals and that type of thing, she sets out to find out why the resident ghost is still there.  The story revolves around her and her friends trying to figure out why.  Along the way they meet a person or two that wants to stop them.

It is a clean story, our hero and one of her male friends start a romance but there is nothing that you would not want a child to read going on.

This type of story involves things I do not believe in, but I do not review based on that. My only real gripe with the story is being able to believe that she has that many friends who can just drop what they are doing to help her out so she can run around figuring out why the ghost will not go to the next life.  I am sorry,  if I had 1/10 of the friends that would do that, I would be happy.

Recommend to those who want a quick, quirky, story that is clean. 

This Body Won't Break by Lea McKee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the story. The characters, especially the one that we see the story through, were quite believable. And the story line was good as well. I really dislike it when an author drops us off in the middle of the story, so that is why I gave it 4 stars. It was not a bad a drop as I have seen in other book, but it did leave me hanging.

It is a short read, took less than an afternoon at a slow day at work.

Our hero is an orphan in the care of the state. She knows that soon, when she turns 18, that she will have to make it in the world outside the home and that is a bit of a scare because of the virus that has destroyed the earth after the humans have killed each other. We follow her as she leaves her group home and goes to the 'training' facility that will determine what job she should take.

There was enough suspense to keep me interested. While the story could be read by most everyone, there could be a bit of a fear generated by younger children. Otherwise, it is recommended for people looking into a story of what happens after we as human beings destroy ourselves.

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Review: Spiral/Torn

Spiral/Torn by D.U. Okonkwo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a review copy of this book and the other one in the series and from that I am giving an honest review.

I really wanted to give these book 5 stars, honestly. It had a great story, lots of tension, great character development, all the things I look for in a book. Why give it 4 stars then. When I get to the end of a book I want an ending. This book leaves us with no resolution at all. It obviously sets up for book number 2 of the series which I received a review copy of also. But Book 2 does the same thing. Another great story where I am left hanging. Please make a bigger book or smaller story. I love the background of the characters, but I would take less if you could put the story in one book.

There is so much to be said for both of these books. They show people like they really are, even though they are in a surreal experience of a plane crash. People who do not like each other forced to work together for the good of all.

The cast is
The crew of the pilot, co-pilot, and the stewardess
The owner of a hotel chain and his two estranged sons
Three members of the lawyer team for the owner who he has invited to network with others. One has brought his wife and their infant child.
Nina's sister and twin brothers (Nina is one of the lawyers who had to raise the siblings when parents died) as well as her boyfriend
Various others who move in and out of the story.

Book 1 tells of the preparations for the flight, the takeoff and the crash. They are miles from anywhere and have no one to rely on but the pilot and one of the passengers. As noted in the cast above, they are an interesting collection, not for what they are, but for the secrets that they are hiding amongst themselves.

Book 2 continues with these secrets and the prospect that one of them may die because of the actions of another. Here is where the secrets start to come out and could tear apart the group.

I would recommend this set to others as soon as I would see that the third book was available and that it finished the story. There is no violence (though there really could be some) and a touch of a romance seems to be happening.

It is safe for all readers.

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Review: Planted Flowers Bible Study Workbook

Planted Flowers Bible Study Workbook by Anna K. Payne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

While I am not the intended target for this book, I have read many of the author's books and decided to review this as part of her review team. That means I got a free copy in order to review her book.

This workbook goes hand in hand with her Planted Flowers book series. Each month one of the books is used and we follow that woman's life from the book and study about what God has in store. Each week a different part of the month is studied. There is a lesson to learn and some questions and answers to work out. These exercises work best when done in advance.

It is designed for women to study in a group session and with a leader.

I see no problem with the theology here. It is written so that most any denomination could use it straight out of the box. The theology in it is basically that all who call themselves Christians should be able to agree on.

I would recommend this book to a woman who is looking for material to lead a Bible study.

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Review: The Universe Builders: Bernie and the Wizards

The Universe Builders: Bernie and the Wizards by Steve LeBel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book. It was not afraid to tackle hard subjects (being abandoned by father, young love, killing when not needed, etc.) but did it in such a way that was not preachy. I do not know if the author is a man of faith, but what he shared shows we have much the same beliefs.

Basic story. Bernie is a god on a planet of gods. Not all gods can create worlds, but all can own them. 'The Company' makes worlds for the buyer on demand. The buyer has the people of the world he owns grow crops that he collects and then sells in the world of the gods.

One planet is not producing like it should. Bernie is hired to troubleshoot the problem since he has just won a prestigious award which, was last won, years ago by his now absent father. Bernie is now a celebrity that he did not want to be. Dad returns, people swarm Bernie and he has to focus on fixing a world. Meanwhile falling for a girl and being clueless to love.

How he goes about it is the big part of the story. Bernie's boss wants Bernie to blink the planet's population out of existence, but Bernie feels that each person there is important. Bernie wants to take time to fix it, but there is a mean person stopping the growing going on and the owner is losing money.

So how will it end. You will have to get the book, but in the end, it is a satisfying result.

This is one of the first young adult book that I have picked up that felt more like what I thought a YA book should be. The writing is fairly clear and there is no sexual innuendo much less sex in it (although there is a kiss or two). In other words, it is safe for all age groups to read.

I recommend it for any people who like the category it falls in. What category you ask? Good question, it has a little time travel, a little fantasy, a little coming of age, and I am sure some other areas as well. You might just like it.

I own a copy of this book that the author gave out as part of a promotion.


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Review: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An interesting book. Was not sure about it but have found it to be interesting. It is a little bit fantasy, science fiction, time travel and coming of age. I borrowed the ebook from my public library.

The characters are an interesting group of people. An old man who sees monsters no one else can see, his grandson who he shows a lot of weird pictures to and tells strange stories about, and an off the wall psychiatrist who should be not allowed to practice law. You ask what all this has to do with peculiar children? If I told you that then their would be spoilers. When Miss Peregrine and the children join the story we are well into it.

Writing is tight, and the story seems to wander a little bit, but every bit of it is necessary for later in the story.

My only complaint, the story while it finishes, does end on a cliffhanger to set it up for the next in the series.

I recommend this to all who want a light hatred story .

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Review: The Temporal

The Temporal by C.J. Martin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Excellent book. While there is a fairly good size cast of characters and it seems to take a while for you to figure out how they all tie together, they do, and if you can stay with the story long enough you can see where it all comes together.

The basic idea behind the story, there are people who exists that can listen to events, some from the past, some from the future. They can also cause time to freeze in a way for short periods of time. The hero of our story at one point says to his mentor, 'does that make us superheros?' and that is a good question. The people in our story are really superheroes and villains, they just work behind the scenes. The good guys are the temporals, and they exist as freaks of nature, that seem to happen during earthquakes.

While there is some violence it is mostly like you would see in comic books. There is no sexual innuendo, but the hero and his new lady friend seem to it off in a nice way. In other words, this book would be safe for all to read.

I would recommend this to people who like an action book with a touch of sci-fi to it.

I received a review copy from the author and have given my honest review of the book.

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Review: Heaven on Earth: God's Call to Community in the Book of Revelation

Heaven on Earth: God's Call to Community in the Book of Revelation by Michael Battle
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from Westminster John Knox Press and Netgalley.com. What follows is an honest review.

I wanted to read this because the title interested me. I have to say I was disappointed. To start with, my beliefs in how God works are totally different than the authors. I would not let theology get in the way of a review of any book, so that was not the problem. I can learn from anyone.

Most of the book has little to do with Revelation, the chapters each begin with some scripture from Revelation and there is a chapter or two that focuses on the book, For the most part, this book becomes a effort by the author to tell me that my beliefs, that not all are going to heaven at the end of the world, are wrong, and I need to adjust my way of thinking to his, everyone goes, maybe even Satan himself. Each chapter is focused on telling the reader that a personal salvation is not what Jesus came for, that we can only be complete if we are in community and the only way we can have that is if all go to heaven.

First, his arguments are straw men. He basically says that personal salvation means that I do not care if anyone else makes it there. That is a false statement. I do care. I want to have everyone go to heaven with me. However, if they choose not to accept the gift given to them, then I and God will not force them to accept it.

Next, he does with the scriptures what he accuses the other side of doing. He cherry picks the scriptures to meet what he wants them to say. At one point he uses Jesus story of the sheep and the lambs. Jesus said when you feed the hungry, take care of the poor, clothe the naked, that we are doing it for Him and that brings heaven to earth. I can agree with that. However, a few verses later it talks about those who do not do these things will be sent to an eternal hell saved for the devil and his angels. So use a scripture to support and ignore the ones that disagree with you, even though they are in the same story.

Lastly, he hits us over the head with this, over and over. I could understand that this in one or two chapters but it seems to be the focus on each chapter. To set the record straight, if I was reading something that said his point of view was wrong and they said it over and over again, then I would most likely say the same thing. Pounding a point of view over and over again is just not a good idea. I thought this book was to be a study of Revelations, I was sadly disappointed.

I really cannot recommend this book to anyone.

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Review: Carritos the Assassin : A Temporal Story

Carritos the Assassin : A Temporal Story by Clay Boutwell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Short read, less than an hour.

A man with the ability to stop time, and never age. Is it a blessing or a curse. If you could do it what would you do. Jackson has two rules, family first, and thou shall not kill. Almost 80 years after the event that changed him he is asked to break his rules and murder a man or his grand niece dies. What will he do.

I received a copy of this book from a free offer from the author. This is a honest review.

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Review: Mars Journey: Call to Action: Book 3

Mars Journey: Call to Action: Book 3 by Bill Hargenrader
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Part thee of this series picks up where the other two left off, and I mean that literally. Each book in this series has three distinct parts to it. Each story is complete in itself. When you take the books together in a series, each story lets us in on a little more of what is going on.

If you are a science fiction reader, the you will enjoy this as preparations are happening in our near future for a journey to Mars. While most of the world wants a fly bye, one group is staging a reality contest to see who will get to settle on Mars when the sent to the planet during the loop around the planet. That is, if the group can raise the money. And that is the person we are following.

Good short book, well written and enjoyable.

I was provided a copy for review and this is an honest review.

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Review: Fatal Analysis

Fatal Analysis by Tom Bierdz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I did receive a copy of this book from the author. What follows is an honest review.

A story of a alcoholic psychiatrist does not really sound like it would be interesting. To skip over this book would be a mistake. If you like a good tale of suspense, and a little mystery as well, then this is a book that you would want to pick up.

I felt it started a little slow but it really needed to because it takes time to introduce the myriad of characters that populate Grant Garrick's life. If you can stick with it, you will have a story that will keep you interested to the end.

The writing is tight, giving you the detailed information that you need to keep the story going. There are no sudden twists where you feel cheated because the author brings something up at the last minute to solve the problem.

I recommend this to most anybody. Sexual relations are hinted at but not explained in detail like so many authors feel like they have to do of late. If you like a good mystery/thriller, this is the book for you.

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Review: Breaking Good: A Señor Bueno Travel Adventure

Breaking Good: A Señor Bueno Travel Adventure by Mike B. Good
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this book as a promotion that the author was doing to get people interested in his book. I was interested in this book because a lot of it takes place at the time I was growing up. Graduated High School in 1971 and Nixon was in the White house for his first term. So I was hoping for a trip down memory lane. I got it. I remember a lot of the songs the author mentioned. But that is where the connections end. I only smoked one joint in my entire life. A girl I was going with insisted we get high when we went t see the movie Tommy. All it did was give me a headache. So, the hero of the story and myself have little in common that way.

I did not consider myself a hippy though my long hair and a desire for peace in life and more liberal ways (I am more middle of the road now with leaning towards conservative) tended to let people think I was. Mike (our hero and first person teller in the book) do at least have that in common. We did not like Richard Nixon (Uncle Dick), and we did not like the war. But I never wanted to grow weed, live in a commune, etc.

I did enjoy the book when it did not get into slapstick, which is most every chapter. I know you are saying how can a book do slapstick. Running joke in the book:

Person: You know Mike that you are a great grower
Mike: I am?
Person: See I knew you knew it

Variations on that dialogue are in every chapter and often many times in a chapter. To me that and others like it become written slapstick. The thing with slapstick is it has to be done in small doses. Look at the Three Stooges, one of the best slapstick teams around. Any of their movie shorts has slapstick in it, but there is really more story being told that slapstick. In a fifteen minute short they may have one or two routines. And that is what is a problem with this book for me. Too much verbal wordplay, too often. Take out some of it and it might have gone up another star.

I would recommend this to people who would want to see the type of life that was lived by the true hippies of that era. It would be recommended for people who would enjoy some drug and crude humor references. It has its moments of brilliance.

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10 Secrets to a Superhero Body and Mind -Markus A Kassel

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars I found this booklet on the Instafreebie site. It is a short read, not more than an hour I would say.  The basic premise is that a superhero is someone that we all look up to and so we would want to be like one. It really doesn't matter that superheros do not exist, and that some of his examples fall flat (Spider Man may talk a good game but his whole story has to do with his lack of confidence in himself).  Still, the booklet is a look into what makes a successful person a success. Much of what we see in a person who is a success is what we see in the comic superheros as well.

 It is not a booklet that I can recommend to everyone. The title indicates that this is for body and mind.  A quick look at the books I could find show that this author has a few books on physical training.  This book seems to focus on that as well. And while I consider training a good thing, I do not see it to be the most important thing.  Another is the difficulty in finding it.  As noted, I found it on the Instafrebie web site and nowhere else.  All of the normal online eBook sites did not show it for purchase or to be given away.   While an interesting read, it is a niche book, mostly for those who want to get fit.  The book if written as a general book, making a person better, would be better. The book starts out that way but then seems to go more into the fitness area.

Review: Iris

Iris by Anna K. Payne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have been provided a complimentary eBook and am providing an honest review.

This is the 2nd book in a series written by Ms. Payne. Like the first one, there are two stories that are weaved together with the hero Iris as the lead in both of them. One story involves someone who had a crush on her that is not healthy, the other is her trying to find a greater faith in the God that she sort of believes in. As we get deeper into the mystery of who is sending her pictures of Irises painted in blood, we find out people who are around her are in danger, especially her neighbor and the one thing that she trusts in life, his dog, and through this, she is learning to trust God and her small group of Bible study friends.

I would recommend this to people who are wanting to learn more of what it means to trust God, and/or who want a light mystery. I say light mystery because I had figured out who done it very early on. Again, like the first book in the series, Lilly (who makes an appearance here), it is more like how are they going to get caught. It is a short read, I would say 2 hours or less.

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Review: The Elven Stones: Abundance: An Elven Legend Quest

The Elven Stones: Abundance: An Elven Legend Quest by P. A. Wilson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book so that I could review it, what follows is an honest review.

I am expanding my horizons and have decided for a little bit of fantasy. The Elven Stones: Abundance, is the second in a series of books by P. A. Wilson. I will read anything but so often books in a series rely on you to have read the previous story. So going in I was a little worried, not having read the fist story. I should not have worries. The author did a masterful job of weaving what we needed to know of the first book into the narrative of this one.

In this world, elves are not as plentiful as they were. They do not seem to be giving birth as much to keep the population growing. We find out that it because the stone of abundance, one of the three elven stones, is missing along with another one. The guardian of these stones wants to put them back into their rightful place, but first they have to find them. The problem is the guardian is near the end of his lifespan. Into our story come the two stars of the previous story, elves who were orphans who have a vested interest in finding the other missing stone, the stone of the orphans, so they can gain back the credibility they lost when it disappeared. That story obviously has to wait for the next book.

At times, I wished the story moved along a little faster. However, the adventure quest turns into an epic journey. And while two stories are advanced here, the choice for a new keeper and the quest for the stone, both get the time they need. And they both come to a conclusions that satisfies but leaves you wanting to know what happens in the next book. The ending, while a surprise, was hinted at throughout the whole story. I just did not see the clues.

I would recommend this book to any who are into the fantasy world of elves and other races. It is also just good as a light reading fare.

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Review: LEADERSHIP: As Seen Through the Eyes of a Follower

LEADERSHIP: As Seen Through the Eyes of a Follower by George Vucin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I want to thank Dog Eared Publishing and Net Galley for a chance to read this book. It was provided by them and this is my honest review.

Leadership books can be a little tricky to write. Most all of them I have read tell you how to be a leader, and that is OK. But to have a leader, you have to have a group of followers. That is where this book differs from most other leadership books. The follower is not ignored. In fact, you are taught that what you do as a leader can affect your followers.

To often a leader wants to stay with the style that got them where they are. The reason for that is simple. It worked before so it must work now, and no one likes to change. The thing is, as you move up the ladder, the people that report to you change, and you have to know how to change with them.

Leadership principles are discussed. In that way this book is no different than any other leadership book. What is different than most is that once they are taught, then the view of the different types of followers are talked about. What works for one type of follower will not work for another. And they type of people change with what you do.

An example of my own life shows a major point of this book. I work retail on weekends, I have for almost 10 years. Started out in the back room unloading the truck each day I worked. This store rotated managers around about every 6 months. We worked well with one type of manager, but rather than send us that type, the ones that would roll up their sleeves and work with, we often got the ones that would come in, say do the work and then move on. Now I work on the sales floor and that is the way the management works. If you had a manger doing the work with you, then it would be looked at as he did not think you could do the work yourself.

This is the core I got out of this book. Be the manager the people who follow you need you to be. I have been involved with volunteer leadership with churches I have attended for years now. This is the book that I wish I had years ago. What worked in one place did not work in others. I had to learn to change.

I recommend this book for anyone looking at being a leader of any sort. It is excellent in teaching what one needs to know.

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Review: Beginnings: Driving with Anna

Beginnings: Driving with Anna by Anna K. Payne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a short series of five very powerful devotionals. If one were to take a few minutes each day and to read and meditate on them, there would be a change in their life.

Each devotional follows the same pattern. A short story from her life, some scripture, a prayer and then a place for you to write notes for yourself about what you have learned.

I recommend this to Christians and those seeking for answers to things in their life. Even if these devotionals do not highlight problems you face in life, just reading the scriptures may help you to focus on what you need from God.


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Review: Blindsided

Blindsided by Tom Bierdz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As a start us story for what appears to be an interesting series, this tells the story of a psychiatrist who is driven to succeed, a wife who is left behind and a son who decided death was better than life. This is not an action heavy story, but there is some action to it. It is a story of the grief that happens when a child dies and nothing is left to hold a marriage together. What will happen and why are the core parts to this story.

I enjoyed it though I can say I honestly see why some people might not. It was a short read, maybe an hour and a half, but is packed with character development.

I would recommend it to anyone interested in a quick short read about people.

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Review: Avenging Angel

Avenging Angel by Angelique Conger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a short easy to read ebook. It took me less than an hour to read.

There is so much of the Bible that many of us who read it would like to know what happened. We know, for example that Adam and Eve had children, many of them . What happened to them and the children? This author has pieced together in her mind stories of the woman of the Bible, ones that we know are not necessarily true, but give us idea of what could have been.

In this story we look at Eve in her later years. Finally able to take a journey with her husband they travel to teach the grandchildren about God, and during this time Adam is taken hostage. What will Eve do to get her husband back. Trust me when I say, the author does not paint a picture of a meek woman.

For the most part it was a good read. In a few places I though it could be tightened up a bit but it was for the most part well written.

I would recommend it to Christian woman. Though I am a guy and liked it, I am not sure for the most part that most men would like it.

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Review: 4 Years Trapped in My Mind Palace

4 Years Trapped in My Mind Palace by Johan Twiss
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book of this book for review. What follows is an honest review.

All I can say is WOW!.

Johan Twiss has written a second book that has held me interested till the very end. There is no classification for this book. It has ,a little bit of sci-fi, a little bit of psychology, a little bit of fantasy, a little bit of a lot of things. But all that adds up to make a lot of good.

Our hero, Arron has a rare form of meningitis as a young teen, leaving him paralyzed, and unable to move. His doctors think he is brain dead and is moved to a nursing home. If you think this is far fetched, it actually has happened. It is from that real life story that the author came up with the idea for this story.

To keep from going completely insane, Arron creates a world in his mind that he can travel to and do so many things. Only there can he feel complete because no one really treats him like he is alive.

From this life of solitude a room mate is given to him, Solomon, a former jazz musician, who is in his late years, having survived the depression, World War 2 and other events of history. Now in his twilight years he begins to suffer dementia.

So as one is wanting to start his life, one is ending his and reliving his glory days. The interesting thing is that Solomon can talk to Arron. He hears what Arron says in his mind and that is a wonderful thing for Arron, now he can communicate, even if no one believes that they can talk.

To tell you much more gives the story away. But it is a great story, and it is amazing how the author has once again not wasted one word. An interesting thing for me was the whole story was told from Arron's point of view. So much I have read of late has chapters that go back and forth and tell the story, this is all Arron telling the story.

I recommend it for all. I think everyone could get something out of this story. As I said before, not one word is wasted, and all weave together to tell a fantastic story.

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Review: The Last Arrow: Save Nothing for the Next Life

The Last Arrow: Save Nothing for the Next Life by Erwin Raphael McManus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In The Last Arrow, McManus takes an obscure story from the Bible (I have mentioned it to many and most have no idea it is in the Bible) and creates a rich story for how one should live their lives. When Elijah is near death, the King of Israel calls Elijah to pray for him and Elijah gives him two tasks. Shoot an arrow out a window and then, to take the rest of the arrows and strike them on the ground.

The king strikes them three times then stops. God never said how many times and to stop at three was not good. He should have kept striking, but he does not. He stops at three, and though the king could have won over his enemies, now he will only have three years of success.

Some might think this is petty of God. But in our lives we have to learn that we have to do what we are asked of God until there is nothing left, until the last arrow is gone. And that is the basis of the book. What have we done that if we had not stopped, we might have been given the victory in.

Throughout the book are examples of other events in the Bible, most from the life of Elijah, as to exemplify each point he is making. We do not get from God because we do not ask specifically what we need, we stop before we start, we settle for the life we have in place of the life we should have.

I recommend the book for all, but I know it will appeal to the Christian people I know. The lessons learned can and should be learned by all. But the Christian message is not compromised and I am sure that will turn a few people off.


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Review: 30 Red Dresses

30 Red Dresses by Johan Twiss
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was not a book I would have picked up on my own. The title suggest a book that might appeal to female readers. The description indicated a subject of human trafficking. But a strange thing happened. I offered to advance read a different book for the author and I got sent a copy of this book with that cover. It was an honest mistake, but I realized it as soon as I started it. The writing style drew me in.
An 8 year old orphan in the care of her abusive uncle is sold into a brothel. A man on a book tour to Cambodia has to take refuge in the same during a flood. Their paths cross.
This book grabs you and will not let you go. Writing is clear and concise and no word is wasted. You start to feel something for each person in the story. You either love them or hate them, there is no in between.
I recommend this to everyone. Considering the subject, though we are talking about sex trafficking, there is not real sex that takes place in the book, There is more violence in the book than sex. It is safe for all to read. Grab a copy and have your life changed.

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Review: Pineapple Beach House: A Pineapple Port Mystery: Book Five

Pineapple Beach House: A Pineapple Port Mystery: Book Five by Amy Vansant
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ms. Amy has another winner in this interesting series. In fact I think other than book number one, this was the best one. It is nice, even though some of the regular cast is there, we get to get away from the series namesake of Pineapple Port. Even thought the cast is slimmed down we pick up a few others along the way to make up for the ones left behind.

The premise is that Charlotte, her boyfriend, his uncle and two of the husband.wives who raised her in the retirement home she was double orphaned in (read the early books to make sense of that sentence) are going on a working vacation over the Thanksgiving holidays. They agree to repair a beach property owned by a friend in exchange for use of it. Except, it is on the South Carolina coast and there is a huge storm out there. Things get interesting when they find a finger in frozen trash. Did I forget to say there is Nursing Home (Elder Careolina.... get it, North Carolina.... if I have to explain it to you it is just not funny!), that seems to be missing a few residents?

With the weather bad what is a private detective in training going to do? Do I really need to ask? You got it, since the police cannot come to them, they are going to solve the mystery themselves.

This is a fun book, though by the description you might not think so. Amy does a wonderful job of making this cast of characters come to life. I recommend it to anyone wanting a fun mystery. As I have said before, this is not a cozy mystery series. It does not have violence or sex, but it hey it has body parts (just wait till you see the part about the eye!)
As part of the author's street team I was allowed to read the book for free. This is an honest review. If I thought it was bad, you would know it.

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Review: Old Earth or Evolutionary Creation?: Discussing Origins with Reasons to Believe and BioLogos

Old Earth or Evolutionary Creation?: Discussing Origins with Reasons to Believe and BioLogos by Kenneth Keathley
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

IVP press and Netgalley provided a copy that I could review.

I always though that the problems with evolution and the like came down to Christians v. science. I was wrong. In the middle are Christians who are scientist, and even then they cannot agree.
I may have oversimplified the opening point, but I think that it gets the point across. Even among people of faith, there are varying levels of what they believe just as their are people of science.

This book is an attempt at dialogue between two groups of Christians as they discuss things that matter to them in the attempt to have scripture and the world seem to co-exist in a relevant way.
Though they try to imply that this is a series of moderated writings, it comes across as a series of public debates. BioLogos and RTB has sponsored a series of these moderated by the Southern Baptist Convention so it is not that much of a stretch.

There were many times that I was able to push through and read a lot at one sitting and be interested. Other times I just felt that I was fighting my way through the material. I suspect that was more me and the topics that I seemed to have an interest in. I would imagine that the same would be true for others as well. This is not a book that you will have an interest in every topic.

The layout is familiar for each topic:
*moderator introduces topic
*one group speaks
*other group speaks
*moderator brings up rebuttal topics
*one group speaks
*other group speaks
*moderator sums things up

Each chapter a different subject. Each one covered in detail.

I liked the format, and I especially liked that they could disagree on a topic and not get disagreeable. They were polite and even talked about points of agreement that they had.

I am not sure I could recommend this to anyone I know. Maybe someone taking a philosophy class would enjoy it. I enjoyed the book but I am thinking that this might be an acquired taste for me.

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Review: Religion Saves: And Nine Other Misconceptions

Religion Saves: And Nine Other Misconceptions by Mark Driscoll
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this audio book years ago from Christian Audio (http://christianaudio.com/) as part of their monthly free audio book. For some reason I never listened to it but chose to go through some of the books I had and gave it a listen.
Mark Driscoll was the pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle Washington area. When this was written/recorded I am sure the church was still very active. Within a few years Mr. Driscoll would step down from the church because of claims of him bullying staff members. The church would at that point close it doors within a month. Not having been a member and not knowing much about him, this is all from what I read from sites like Wikipedia. I would tend to think it was true based on the tone of this book. While in a few places he says this is what I believe, the majority of the book is he way it is, take it or leave it.' That is where the problem starts because of what this book is supposed to be.
The theory behind this book is that the church opened up a web site to ask people to post their questions about Christianity and then people could vote on them. The top 9 questions questions would get a sermon based on them. I find it hard to believe that the number 1 question was about the emergent church, but I will have to take him at his word. The topics were wide ranging from sex and birth control to dating to the way churches should be run. Through it all Mr. Driscoll tells you how it should be. While I agree with him on quite a few things, I do not with all. So now, am I less a Christian just because I do not agree, or maybe I am not a Christian at all.
The main problem with a book like this is that it tries to tell you what Christians should be, but in the 2000 years since Christ died, every generation has tried to tell us that. Why should his book define it any better than any others. In listening to it I felt like I was back in my Catholic days and I was having to take what the Pope said because the Church said he heard from God.
The recording was OK. I have heard much better readings of books than this one. Mr. Driscoll read it himself. I would think that he would have had a better understanding of his book, but often there are pauses where there should not be and where they should be, they are not.
I cannot not really recommend this book. I gave it three stars because the content was for the most part OK. The attitude of the author comes through quite clearly.

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Review: RASPUTIN'S LEGACY

RASPUTIN'S LEGACY by Lee Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received this book as an advanced reader book. In exchange I offered an honest review.

One of the nice things about being able to read eBooks is that I can look at a lot of different types. When I was much younger I read a lot of different types of books. As I got older with less time to read, most of what I read was for school or work. I am now coming around to reading a variety of books. Rasputin's Legacy was a book that looked interesting so I picked it up.

Our hero, with the interesting name Atcho, has done a service to the Russian/US relationships during the Regan era that took place during the first book in this series. To the authors credit, this not one of those books that you have to read the rest of the series to understand this one. What little you have to know is conveyed in a quick and concise style as it is needed.

Because of his service to both countries from the first book, when a man claims to be a descendant of both the czars of Russia and Rasputin, a mystic to the last of the czars, Atcho is chosen to try to stop him. Why? Because in the first book, Atcho had killed him, or so he thought. Also, the CIA and the KGB can not act openly, so things have to be done rather secretively. And, by the way, the man happens to have a nuclear bomb.

With the backdrop of the cold war, our hero and his team, some willing but not all, try to make there way to stop the takeover of Russia.

Stay till the end. Some people are not whom they seem to be in this story.

Writing is clean, and true to the characters. I recommend it to anyone looking for a good suspense story. Except for the violence, it is one that I could recommend to most people I know. Of course, a cold war era book has to have some violence so that is to be expected if you pick it up.


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Review: Pineapple Land Wars

Pineapple Land Wars by Amy Vansant
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

To start with, the copy of this book I received was in exchange for an honest review.

So, our story of the Pineapple Port detective continues. I said in my review of her first book, this has the makings of a ensemble cast comedy. (Netflicks are you listening?) This does nothing to change how I feel. The characters stay true to the form set up for them in the opening three books. So there is no surprise there. The surprise is in how this author can take some of the typical things in life and weave a great mystery story out of them. I recommend that if you do not know the players then you should look at books 1 to 3 in the series. Basically, Charlotte is a 25 year old woman who lives in a retirement neighborhood called Pineapple Port. If you have to ask why, well you need to read the early books in the series. She is trying to get her Private Eye Licence (again, read the early books) and helps her boyfriend's and her neighbor's husband the police man to qualify for the hours.

Into all of this a man falls off a balcony on to the mast of his boat and dies. Was it a murder or an accident. Our hero is hired to find out but only because the owner of Pineapple Port wants to buy the land that is up for sale because of her death and so does someone else. Who ever solves the mystery and some other silly events, will get the land.

My only down side to the book is that the bad person still gets to go free again. But a good villain is a horrible thing to waste. The good part is that we are introduced to a two legged cat. Yes, I said that right.

Recommenced it to people who are looking for a light mystery with a lot of humor.

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Review: Lily

Lily by Anna K. Payne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Short, quick read.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

There are really two stories that are going on here and the intertwine with each other. Lily is at the end of her rope. She is divorced three times and pregnant with her third child, all from different dads. She is invited to a Bible Study and wonder why God would ever want her.
Meanwhile she witnesses a murder during a freak storm at the beach and now the killer is out to get her, and she keeps calling the undercover cop who rescued her, she just does not know why.

Will Lilly make until the end of the story or will the bad guy kill her? Will the cop and Lilly ever realize how they feel? Will Lilly accept Jesus? I am fairly sure you can guess the answers. But take a look anyway.
Recommend to those who want a light simple read of a Christian nature. While I have seen some call it a cozy, to me a cozy has a mystery. This is not a mystery in that we know who did it. It is more a drama of what will happen in the day to day life of the title character.

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Review: Pineapple Puzzles

Pineapple Puzzles by Amy Vansant
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The third in the series of Pineapple Port and the characters are much the same. Before I go further, I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review. I am also part of the author's street team that promotes the series.
Amy has again written an interesting story. There is a murder out there who is killing people and making them look like accidents. Then, so that people know, the killer is leaving pieces of a puzzle behind as a sign that it is them doing it.
Charolette, our hero, is trying to figure out the person doing the killing as part of her training for being a private eye under the auspices of her neighbor the police chief and her boyfriend's uncle, Samus, who was a private eye at one time. Telling you much more of the story gets to giving clues to how it ends.
The one gripe I have about this, and it is the reason it only got 4 stars, is that the ending did not wrap things up. Someone who should be in jail is not. I suspect that is so the author can set things up for a future book but I am old school and like my stories not to be continued. Still, it is not a bad ending, and I have seen a lot worse than this in stories that I have read lately.
I recommend to anyone who wants a fun, light-hearted mystery. Though the series has been promoted as a Cozy, I would not recommend it as a Cozy. It is not bad, just there are some things in it that do not fit in the Venn diagram of what makes a Cozy.


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Review: The Last Librarian

The Last Librarian by Brandt Legg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am not sure where I picked up this book, just that it was in my  library and it looked interesting.  I was a little hesitant in reading it at first.  It was coming across as a 'save the whales' type of book. That was just the leaning of the author I am sure.  In reality, a book about saving books has to be a little bit about saving the environment.  I get ahead of myself.
Our story takes place in the near future. There has been a natural disaster, a plague, that has killed off a large percentage of the population of earth. In order to survive, the war that naturally follows, a one world government is created.  As that government flourishes so does the population of the earth, and the prosperity as well.  In order for things to continue to flourish, the government puts rules in effect for everything from reproduction to reading.
Everyone also has their own computer devices.  They do everything for them.  Even provides them the books they are going to read.  This makes the needs for libraries a thing of the past.  One small device can hole a library of books.
Eventually all the libraries are closed, except for one. And the Last Librarian is soon going to be out of a job. Or is he, a close friend has discovered that words are being changed in books and comes up with an idea to save the most important books in the library.  It is a race against time and the risk of losing his life but our hero takes it on.
Fun stuff in the book comes in the form of quotes from authors we know. Liberal quotes from Fahrenheit 451 and 1984 are scattered through out the book.  Another thing scattered through out is cussing, but it is safe  cussing. It reminded me of the original Battlestar Galatica.  In order to get cussing past the censors, they made up a few words.  Same here, but I am sure that it was not done to get it past the sensors.  There is one moment of intimacy hinted as well but I had to read the paragraph twice just to make sure I read what I thought I read.  This book is safe for kids, though I am sure many would get a little bored with it.
My only real problem was the ending. In order to make sure the second story would have a place to start we are left with many of the plots in the story left hanging.  If I could have I would have taken off a 1/2 star for that. 
In the end a good book. It is kind of long (or seemed so to me).  I would say that any one looking for a good adventure story would like it. 

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Review: Purgatory of the Werewolf

Purgatory of the Werewolf by Brian S. Ference
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dorian wakes with a weird dream, he was destroyed by a large wolf, but here he was, in the forest, naked, bloody, but alive. He could not really understand what was going on. He feels renewed, healthy, and whatever scars he had were now gone.
So starts the Purgatory of the Werewolf, the second in the Wolf of Dorian Gray series. I have not read number 1, but I was allowed to review an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.
The book held my interest, which is saying a lot as I am not much of a horror/supernatural reader. I may have to track down book number one for a look at it to see how Dorian got this way in the first place.
Dorian does realize that he is the beast and with help, takes steps to distance himself from the population so as not to kill anyone else. It takes him to a British ship where he helps to battle the Chinese during what is the Opium wars of the late 1800's.
The author takes time to set each scene up, painting it with enough words but not too many as to over do it. Likewise, the points of view of each person telling the story ring true to the person they are. It was clear that the author took some time to put thought into each person.
While there is a small amount of violence in the story, that would be expected when you are telling a story of a werewolf. There are also some battle scenes. All of the violence is necessary to advance the storyline.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes horror/supernatural types of story but would not limit it to them. I did find it an enjoyable read.

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Review: Pineapple Mystery Box

Pineapple Mystery Box by Amy Vansant
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another good book by the author.
Some may think that these are cozy mysteries, they are not. A Cozy implies to me that this might be a book you could tell your pastor you had read. These books have a little hint of violence and/or innuendo, but they are safe.
In book two, Charlotte is now trying to be a private eye. As the youngest of the retirement community she lives in (25, do not ask, read the books to find out why), her friends get her set up on a case because someone has switched all the Halloween decorations in their community. But all of a sudden one case blossoms into three and she (and her chalkboard wall) are on the way to solving all of them.
Declan, her maybe boyfriend is their as the owner of the pawn shop move into a Taco Bell name Hocko Bell (take a run for the hoarder) along with his ex-girlfriend who wants him back, or at least the pawn shop. At one point in the book he literally becomes the butt of some of the best jokes in the book.
If you like your mysteries on the spooky or serious side, this book is not for you. If however you love a good laugh, then his book is for you.
I want to tank Ms. Amy for a copy provided for an honest review. In further disclosure, I am part of the street team she has put together to advance her soon to be released 5th book. This is an honest review however. If I though the book was bad, you (and she) would know it.

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Review: Volunteering: A Guide to Serving in the Body of Christ

Volunteering: A Guide to Serving in the Body of Christ by Leith Anderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the Netgalley web site and the publisher, Zondervan in exchange for an honest review.
A short quick guide but with a lot of information in it.
I have been in volunteering in one way, shape or form in the 35 years that I have been a Christian. I have led departments (sound) and been a background person (kid's ministry) and a little bit of everything in between. I did not think that this book could tell me a lot about it, but I wanted to get some new ideas and thought this might do the trick. I was surprised and not disappointed.
While most of my Christian ministry of late has been online and this book deals with the local church, a lot of the material can be used for the online world.
The book deals mostly with the one in the trenches. One thing that it talks about finding your gift so you can serve effectively. So often we do not know where our gifts are and so if we do volunteer we do it in the wrong place, get discouraged and never volunteer again. So the authors encourage you not to quit but to seek someplace else to use your talents. There is even a guide to what your spiritual gift could be.
One think I liked that is not talked much about is that the authors gave a whole chapter to burnout. I speak from experience, it is real in Christian ministry volunteering. They talk about sensing it, and what to do about it from both sides, the leader and the person who volunteers. This was a powerful chapter.
I recommend this book to any who will be leading or volunteering in a Christian ministry. If you are a breathing Christian, this means you.

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Review: A Matter of Life or Debt

A Matter of Life or Debt by Edward S. Blythe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I like to pigeon hole my books as I read them. Some I know in advance what they are because of the description. Others, the description does not give a good idea, so I tend to try to figure them out as I go along, they usually fall into mystery, science fiction, romance (do not read many of them), etc. I think you get the idea. And there falls my first bit of trouble with this book. It does not fit any category that I have in my thinking. This does not make it a bad book, it just means that I do not know where to pigeon hole it.
We open at a time years ago, the people who are the leads in the book each have their own voice as they tell the story. Each speaks true to his character. This has been a problem with some books I have read as late, telling the story from the eyes of the character but not staying in it. Here they stay true to who they are as we listen in on their thoughts. The author has a good eye for the people he has populated this world with.
We journey with them, as they go through high school, military, prison, marriage, struggles, etc. While at times there seems to be a little too much information, looking back after it was done, it really was necessary.
I do not know why, I did not see anything that tipped me off, but the guy who was the big bad guy at the end was the one that I expected it to be, I just did not expect the ending as it was. It left me wanting to know what happened to the main focus of the story, Levi. Did they live happily ever after, did he go back to work on the border patrol? I would assume that there will be another book by the author to let us know. While the story did wrap up, it would have helped to know what happened to the main characters afterwards. That is why I knocked it down one star.

Recommend it people that like to look at character studies and what makes people tick. Thank you to the author for letting me read it in advance.

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Review: Into the Storm

Into the Storm by Amy Quick Parrish
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

I received this book for free and voluntarily reviewed.

Into the Storm picks up where book one left off, a few months later. It has a much different feel than the first book does. We know the characters so other than a few references to bring readers up to date that have not read the first one, we can get into the story.

While the previous book dealt with establishing Jamie and seeing how she was able to learn her powers. Book 2 deals more with time travel. I love time travel, have since I was a kid, but I have finally hit a time travel story that I did not like as much as I have others. The main downfall here to me was there was so much of it. We did not go back in time to one point and stay there. The characters seem bounce around time like a ping pong ball in the middle of a game. It got a little hard for me to keep up with where they were. At one point, near past, next 20 years ago, then to the present then to the deep past then almost to present again, if you understand what I am trying to say.

Other than that, the book is well written. The characters appear to stay true to form. While the time travel was confusing, the plot moved along and was interesting. We get to see into the background of one of them and that helps us to understand him better.

This is a YA book and I am a much older person, so maybe the time travel bouncing would appeal more to the younger crowd. The story did hold my interest. And that takes a lot for me.

Recommend it to people who have read book 1, and to others if you want a good story line of travel through time trying to right wrongs.

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Review: Pineapple Lies

Pineapple Lies by Amy Vansant
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I had second thoughts about accepting this book. We are going to make fun of us old people (I am 64), and yes fun was made of them, but that is OK. They make fun of themselves as well.

The premise is one that could be a TV comedy show. I can see an ensemble cast doing great justice to the cast of characters in this book. Charlotte is in her mid 20s and lives in a retirement community. She is able to do this because her grandmother (who she moved in with when mom died) passed away leaving a young teen in a group of retired people who love on her. Now she is feeling she has to do something with her life so she paints the wall of her kitchen so she can make notes about herself. As she digs up her backyard to make a garden, a skeleton shows up and now she has a purpose, find the killer.

While most of the story is told from the eyes of Charlotte some of the others tell the story from their points of view as well. The author nails it hear. Each voice is quite clear. Charlotte can be scatter brained, we get to see that in her random drifts in to other topics that have nothing to do with what she should be doing and become a neat side trip in to other areas. Declan, her not quite a boy-friend (who is the son of the person she found) is another voice we hear from. His tends to be business like, and that makes sense as he owns the local pawn shop.

There are enough turns and twists that you will keep changing who you thought did it. While the ending was not as clean as I thought it would be it did make a lot of sense as to how the body got where it was.

Though it has some innuendo, there is no real sex, which made the book an enjoyable read for me.

Need a nice cute romantic mystery, this might be a book to enjoy and I will enjoy making a run at the rest of the series.

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Review: Spirit-Empowered Theology: A Concise, One-Volume Guide

Spirit-Empowered Theology: A Concise, One-Volume Guide by Charles Carrin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

To start with the review, I got asked to review this book as part of a 'Blog Tour' I received an advanced copy of it through the author agent in this respect and from NetGalley.

When I read a nonfiction book I try picture where it would be used at. Christian books are usually a type of self help book or a Christian Education (aka Sunday school) type of book. This book does not meet either of those. While it is scholarly it is not something that would be used in higher education either.
Simply put, it is a encyclopedia of sorts. The author has put together what he thinks are important questions that should be asked and answered by all Christians. I will say the collection of questions are good, the answers brief and understandable and should be a good reference for the average Christian.
There is one 'but' though. Not all Christians believe the same. His theology leans towards the charismatic/pentecostal teaching. I have no problem with that. I believe much the same way. I have only small difference with what he says but that may be just a matter of semantics. Others who differ strongly with the pentecostal teachings can get a lot out of the other parts of the book, but that could be a stumbling block to many denominational members.
I think this is a book that should be in every Christian's home as a good reference book when questions about certain things come up. I recommend it to all. It may help non-Christians understand some of what their friends are talking about.

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Review: Heart Of Destiny: Book One Of The Heart Of The Citadel

Heart Of Destiny: Book One Of The Heart Of The Citadel by Susan Faw
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An engaging fantasy adventure. Magic has been banned, or so it seems. 12 young girls go missing from the 12 provinces of the known world, that is run from the citadel. There is bad on the way, but who are the good people and who are the bad.

Engaging to the end. And a setup for a future series.

I received a free copy as a beta reader. I looked for editing problems. This is an honest review.

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Review: Mars Journey: Call to Action: Book 2

Mars Journey: Call to Action: Book 2 by Bill Hargenrader
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This picks up prior to where book 1 left off. It was a little confusing, but I understand why we could not have the events at the beginning of the book appear in the timeline of book 1.
Newer characters take the field and established ones get some depth to them.
The author does not ramble on about a scene like a lot of what I have read lately. However, if the words are necessary he is not afraid to use them either.
Since it is free for a review for book 1, which was free, there is not a lot invested here but your time, and the books are both short reads. Just because they are free does not mean they are not worth your time.
Recommend to all who like science fiction. Worth your time.

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Review: Mars Journey: Call to Action: Book 1: A Science Fiction Thriller

Mars Journey: Call to Action: Book 1: A Science Fiction Thriller by Bill Hargenrader
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Was given a free copy, as I believe all the copies of this book are. It is an introduction to a series of books ( I would call them short stories individually). There are people who will complain about buying three 'books' (actually eBooks) but in the end, right a review and get book 2. Only one you are paying for is book number 3.

Characters to me were believable. We are set down in the middle of a disaster in the making, and we are forwarded to the point where plans are being put into motion for a Mars mission. While set in what could be considered current time, it has to be some short time into the future.

Enjoyed the book and recommend it to all. Good solid writing. Looking forward to book number 2.

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Review: Jackie Robinson: A Spiritual Biography: The Faith of a Boundary-Breaking Hero

Jackie Robinson: A Spiritual Biography: The Faith of a Boundary-Breaking Hero by Michael G. Long


I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I want to thank Westminster John Knox Press and NetGalley for the chance to read this book.

I am not sure that I would call this a biography. I would call it a history book whose central figure would be Jackie Robinson. He had a tremendous impact on history and the period of time he was alive was certainly one that needs to be reviewed, especially in what this book talks about, civil rights. It is a history of the civil rights movement. Many times we branch off on the people and events that are part of his life, but we always come back to it.

This period of time is important to me. Jackie broke the racial barrier in the late 40's and I was born n the early 50's. While I grew up in this time frame, until we get to the 70's much of it was new history to me. And a lot of it rung true to me. I can remember my father telling me that the negro needed to have his rights. I also remember, when a negro family moved in to the area and I went to play with them, I came home with a beating from my dad that I was never to go to that area again. So I can say that much of the problems between the races that is talked about was quite evident in the years I grew up.

The book is not political. It is a history of what happened. And it all revolves around Jackie Robinson. I would gladly recommend this book to anyone. It is not a book that preaches at you, but faith was a part of his life.


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Review: The Book Thief

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

I enjoy reading something different and this was. I borrowed it as an eBook from my local library. I did not realize until I was finished that it was considered a YA book. I think there is something for everyone in this book.
I loved the fact that Death was the narrator. A non-spoiler spoiler, everyone dies. I am not going to tell you how, but remember that Death is telling the story.
I have seen people complain about the language in the reviews. I did not notice, maybe because I do not speak German. Taking place in World War Two Germany, we follow the story from the country that lost the war. And we follow the story as Death tells us about the 'Book Thief', a girl who really does not steal a lot of books.
Enjoyable fiction. Take time to read it.


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Review: Millie's Angel

Millie's Angel by Kim Petersen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this book for free and voluntarily reviewed.

I enjoyed this book for most of it. It was an interesting character study of people and how they reacted to each other. I felt compelled to continue reading it even though I kind of figured out what was going to happen to the various characters. The only big question was what would happen at the very end to one of the characters. We could see the wheels being set in motion long before they happened. It did not end the way I expected it would, but that is OK.

The characters were well thought out and showed growth and development throughout the book. The progression of the years in the story flowed easily with what looked like some very natural breaks in their struggling lives.

Some might say if I though that well of everything, why do I only give it three stars. I guess I would have to say that I do not mind a little preaching at but when you spend pages trying to teach me your spiritual philosophy that I get put off. Most of the book I could see hints of New Age philosophy and that was OK. I am not going to put an author or a book down just because I disagree with what they believe to be true. If I did that, I would only read what I myself would write. I also expect the authors I read not to try to force their beliefs on me as well. I was interested in the characters and how things would progress but then all of a sudden, Millie, our main character goes on and on and on about her (and I suspect the writer's) point of view on how our world is all one stream of consciousness that we form our world around us with our thoughts. I felt like I was reading an advertising brochure for a new age religious organization. I felt like I had an investment in these people and now that I was hooked I was being spoon fed the belief of the author. Take that chapter (and it seemed like it was a whole chapter) and pull it out of the book, I would have given it a 4 star, maybe even a five star review.

To be clear, I do not begrudge the author her point of view, not do I think she is a bad writer. As I said, I enjoyed much of the book. I do not remember why I picked this out of a list of books to look at, only that it looked interesting.

I could recommend this to people only with the understanding that it does become a recruitment for the author's beliefs.

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Review: Shattering Time: Book 2

Shattering Time: Book 2 by K.J. Waters
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this book for free and voluntarily reviewed.

I love a good time travel story. The other day I found reruns of a 60's show called Time Tunnel. I loved the movie 'Final Countdown' as well as 'Time after Time', both obscure to many. That said, when I had a chance to read a time story as an advance copy I decided to go for it.

I was not disappointed, well not a lot shall we say. Like most books lately it is part of a series of books. In reading any of these, if you do not start with the first one, you can get confused. Here I was book 2. However, the author was able to work the basic storyline of book 1 into the opening chapters in a way that I did not need to read it. And I can see that there is another book brewing, but this one left with a complete story.

I have two major problems.
1) Sex. Ok, I understand it sells books. It seems like there were multiple sexual acts described in full detail. I cannot see most of them led to the the continuation of the story. Only one really. Others could have been covered with how the heroine though back of the night they shared or something like that.
2) Out heroine who seems to be a got it together 2o something, seems to not have it together in romance at all. She seems to hate her boyfriend but stays with him (Stockholm Syndrome). And yet seems to fall in love with her soul mate(s) time after time (pun intended).

The science nature seems plausible even though we know that time travel can not be done. Historically it seems accurate based on what I know. Story wise, great characters that appear well thought out.

Would I recommend it. I would if you can get past the over use of sex in the story. I might have give it another star if it had been toned down.

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Review: Murder at the Jolly Jester

Murder At The Jolly Jester by Ian   Thompson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Name sounded interesting and I received this book from the author as part of a promotion.

I am thankful for one thing in this book. While there was some romance hinted at there was not any sex scenes in it at all. So many of the fictional books that I have been reading of late feel that there must be sex in it for it to sell.

There is a murder at the Jolly Jester, a pub in a quaint English town. One of the regulars has been murdered. So now we have a physical game of Clue going on. We know what they did it with, just not where, how it was done and who did it, as well as how did the dead body get into a locked room. The proprietor of the Jester knows he cannot trust the police to clear his name so he goes to investigating it himself.

I was slightly disappointed in the ending. I did not feel that it fully led to its potential, i.e. not enough pointed to one of the bad guys. But it did make sense.

Good light hearted read that has just enough to keep you going.


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