Elusive Hope by MaryLu Tyndall ~ Review

Lucie's Review: 

Picking up right where Forsaken Dreams  left off, the colonist have arrived in Brazil and are working together to establish a settlement. And everyone is working hard to make it work, except for the Scotts who were rich plantation owners before the war and think themselves too good for honest work. Their daughter Magnolia tries to help out, but nothing she does is good enough for his father, so she decides to find a way back to Charleston and to her former fiance.

Hayden Gayle was once a stowaway, but he has found his place, and had his own reasons for coming to Brazil, and the time has come to leave. So when Magnolia hires him to take her to Rio, he agrees.

There are plenty opportunities for Magnolia and Hayden to get to know each other over the course of their journey, even though initially there is plenty of name calling to go along with their bonding.

Back at the settlement they have discovered an ancient temple inhabited by evil spirits who have escaped and them commence forward to haunt the colonists, which led to a part of the storyline that I found weird and more than slightly disturbing.

My favorite parts of this book were the parts about Hayden and Magnolia, who both came to rely on each other so much during their journey as well as experience personal individual character growth.

Overall, the part about the temple was just really strange to me and I'm not completely sure if I can honestly recommend this book because of it. But for the most part I did enjoy this novel.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

MindWar by Andrew Klavan ~ Review

My Review:

Rick Dial used to have it all, the looks, the girls, and a football scholarship to Syracuse. But after a horrendous car accident that breaks both his legs everything becomes unclear. But when Rick is recruited by a top secret organization to engage in MindWars to protect the world as we know it, he cannot refuse, not when so much is at risk.
Can Rick succeed where others have failed, and be the hero that everyone believes him to be?

A fast-paced, action-packed, coming of age tale, set in a digital Realm where the trees are blue and the ground is red. MindWar is a book that is in many ways hard to explain without sounding crazy, yet the way it is presented, it all comes to life in vivid hues.

Rick is a likable young man, struggling to cope after his accident and his father left his family, the dangers he faces in the Realm are a secret that could put his family in danger if they knew about his activities.

I loved how Mr. Klavan created a world so unreal, and vivid, yet made it so believable and real. This is only the second book I have ever read by this author, and I've got to say that I'm hooked!

Overall this is a fantastic start to what is sure to be a fantastic trilogy, centered around a young man and an all out battle between good and evil in a digital age. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

Bridge to Haven by Francine Rivers ~ Review

My Review:

Found by Pastor Zeke, abandoned beneath a bridge, little Abra soon captures the hearts of those around her, but as her world shifts and changes around her she still feels like the unwanted child left under the bridge. A series of events and choices bring her to Hollywood and on the fast-track to becoming a big star. But the glisten and gleam of stardom are not what they seem, no one knows the price she has paid for such attention better than Abra...

A captivating and engaging novel that compelling tells of God's great love for us.

Now I don't know if this was just me, but I found Bridge to Haven to be strikingly, (in a completely good way), similar to the much acclaimed Redeeming Love as by Ms. Rivers. As it is a layered allegorical tale of God's never-ending and unfailing love for us, no matter how far we fall we are never out of His reach.

I loved how Ms. Rivers brought all of the threads of this compelling story together, through the heartbreak and imperfections, and gloom filled prisons, God's faithfulness was present in the whispers and the very fibers of the threads.

Some of my very favorite characters were only there for a few pages, but made a big impact on the story, like Murray the hairdresser, and Mary Ellen. And Joshua was the perfect hero in shining armor, honorable, and following God's beckoning, and leading, even when it meant waiting. My heart went out to Peter and Priscilla, who loved Abra dearly through it all.

Overall, this is a excellent novel by Francine Rivers, memorable, riveting, and powerful. I will be honest though, and tell you right now that you might need a box or five of Kleenex! I found myself glued to the pages and finished it in a impressive less than two days -- which is fast for me these days. A fantastic book, though I would caution younger readers to wait to read this book as it has mature themes and content, though much more toned down and not as explicit as it could have been! Definitely a book that I will remember for many years and would recommend to many others.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

Beneath the Dover Sky by Murray Pura ~ Review

My Review: 

Picking up right where Ashton Park left off, following the seven Danforth children as they travel the globe, marry, and have children of their own, in the looming shadow of WWII.

Filled with drama and rich in history, Beneath the Dover Sky follows the Danforths through new heartaches, and new loves, as their family grows and changes.

One of my favorite story threads was that of Libby and Michael and how they adopted a Chinese girl named Jane. Jane was easily my new favorite character, because of her stubborn determination, and sensitive observations, it broke my heart that her new grandparents struggled so to accept her as one of their own. And how she bonded with Terry warmed my heart and made me an instant fan of Terry, as his kindnesses to Jane truly showed the excellent caliber of his character.

Just a side note: I would recommend reading this series in order. Because reading the prequel will make many of the character motivations more clear and their pasts together more understandable.

Overall, this was a fantastic novel, a well written family saga full of diverse characters, each of which walk the earth in their own unique ways, following where the Spirit led. Definitely a series I would recommend for fans of family sagas such as Downton Abbey. 


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

Dancing for the Devil by Anny Donewald with Carrie Gerlach Cecil ~ Review

My Review:

Anny Donewald tells her story, sharing from her heart about her past and the great things that God has done and is still doing in her life.

Anny Donewald grew up the daughter of a famous NCAA basketball coach, with the eyes of a small town constantly upon her and family. Anny experienced sexual abuse at a young age, and again in college, and eventually found herself working as a stripper and raising her young daughter on her own.

Anny tells her story honestly and compellingly about the heartache, and struggles she faced, and many of the parts of the books are rather hard to read, my heart went out to her, and I rejoiced as I read about how she came to faith, and her strong desire and drive to follow God and help other women trapped by the sex industry.

I loved how Anny talks about how God used her to reach people, and even though she was doubtful, she followed his beckoning, which eventually led to her starting an organization called Eve's Angels to help women escape the sex industry.

Overall this was a heartfelt, and at times painful memoir. There are of course, adult themes in this book, but I do feel that she did spare many details in the telling of the story, giving the story enough edge to convey the story realistically and call readers to action, yet holding back many of the darker elements of the life that Anny previously experienced, mostly for the sake of the readers. I definitely think that the explicit elements were handled well, and fit very well with the kind of book that it is. Definitely one I would recommend, as a powerful story of redemption.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

Ragamuffin Movie Review + GIVEAWAY!

My Review:

Ragamuffin is a touching moving based on the life of Rich Mullins a gift song writer and recording artist, probably most famous for his song Awesome God. This movie gives an honest look at his controversial life and prodigal son like tale.

I will start out by saying that while this is Christian movie, the PG-13 rating is very fitting for the kind of content that this movie contains, such as mild but semi-frequent swearing. So this isn't the kind of movie that you would want to share with young children, but would be a good film for older teens.

I loved how this film dug deep, and really wasn't a fluffy, all is well kind of movie, but a raw and honest one, about a man who truly wanted to follow God with everything he had, yet struggled with demons, such as drinking and drugs, and found himself falling short. This isn't a movie about the perfect Christian, because honestly none of those exist, we are all constantly falling short of God's glory and the level of perfection that he requires. But that is why we have Jesus Christ. And that is what I thought was so cool about this movie, it was about a man who was honest about his struggles and imperfection. It's easy to look at others and think that we are better Christians, but are we? Nope. And I think that this movie did a great job of showing how much each of us is truly need a savior.

Overall, this was a good movie with a powerful message, yet at the same time I am hesitant to praise everything about how it was done, I personally believe that the swearing was unnecessary, and the timeline was a bit hard to follow. But overall a movie worth checking out.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

About:

RAGAMUFFIN is based on the life of Rich Mullins, a musical prodigy who rose to Christian music fame and fortune only to walk away and live on a Navajo reservation.

An artistic genius, raised on a tree farm in Indiana by a callous father, Rich wrestled all of his life with the brokenness and crippling insecurity born of his childhood. A lover of Jesus and a rebel in the church, Rich refused to let his struggles with his own darkness tear him away from a God he was determined to love. As he struggled with success in Nashville and depression in Wichita, Rich desired most of all to live a life of honest and reckless faith amidst a culture of religion and conformity.

“This film reminded me that what really made Rich special was how undistracted he was with the things of this world.” —Michael W. Smith (singer/songwriter

Rating: PG-13 (for thematic elements and smoking)

Official website: http://ragamuffinthemovie.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/richmullinsfilm

Twitter: https://twitter.com/richmullinsfilm

Find the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYXTnIKD-0kP67cvzjmS3ow

To enter the giveaway leave a comment answering this question: Do you think that swearing is ever necessary in a movie? Also leave your email address (youremail at yahoo dot com -- so spammers don't get it) so I can contact you if you win. The giveaway ends 7/15/14

Emma, Mr. Knightley & Chili-Slaw Dogs by Mary Jane Hathaway ~ Review

Lucie's Review:

Caroline Ashley grew up in the South, a place flush with ancestral mansions, social restrictions, expectations, and well to do families, much akin to Regency Era England. Caroline's one escape was when she left for college and worked for the Washington Post. But upon the death of her father she returns home, ever the dutiful daughter, to again take part in Southern society along side her mother.

Brooks is Caroline's best friend, and a college professor with a large hound named Absalom. He's known her for years, and been and inside observer of her parent's difficult marriage. Both Brooks and Caroline have their own theories about love and marriage and decide to test their theories at the many parties they are required to attend.

But will they ever realize that love might not be as impossible for them as they may think?

Ms. Hathaway puts a modern spin on a classic, with this rendition of  Jane Austen's Emma. There were multiple parallel themes and characters to Emma and it was fun to try and figure out who was who, and how the book would differ from its inspiration. I especially loved the idea of a Jane Austen themed barn dance!

I think that this book does just what it sets out to do, the South taqking on Jane Austen classic and giving them a fresh new feel, giving Caroline an Emma-like modern flair, and making Brooks the epitome of the perfect Southern gentleman who wants to get out of friend zone. I loved the interaction between Brooks and Caroline, it was very well done and had glimmers of  Knightley and Emma's relationship.

There are many colorful characters, and humorous situations, as well as some misunderstandings. This was an enjoyable read, that kept my attention throughout and was very engaging. Definitely a book to check out!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

Truth Be Told by Carol Cox ~ Review

My Review:
Amelia Wagner returns to her hometown to find her father dying of cancer. After her father's death it is up to her to carry on his legacy of letting the truth be told through the newspaper that her father left her. While looking for a newsworthy story, Amelia discovers her father's research into what appears to be suspicious dealing involving a prominent business that is buying up random properties.

Ben Stone is an employee of Great Western, running from his calling he wants to make a living working for Great Western. But when Amelia comes poking around, he finds himself questioning everything he thought the company stood for, as well as making him think about the past he left behind.

An engaging tale from the early days of Arizona, filled with wonderful characters that will make you want to stay in Arizona for a while longer. Brimming with western adventure and wonderful side characters, one of my favorites being Jimmy, who always put a smile on my face.

I loved how important the truth and integrity were for Amelia and her father, and throughout the story there were themes of redemption and obedience, with comparisons to Jonah of the Bible.

Overall, this was a fantastic read, with wonderful characters that had me cheering for them all the way through. I loved Amelia and Ben's dedication to truth no matter what the cost. An entertaining read, with a good old fashion western mystery, and heroes that make you want to cheer for them all the way through, along with lessons of faith and the value of the truth. Loved it!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

A Hero in the Making by Laurie Kingery ~ Review

Lucie's Review:


Nate Bohannan is an unlikely hero, he came to Simpson Creek as a banjo player & sidekick for a medicine show. He has his dreams, non of which include staying very long in one place.
Ella Justiss is determined to make it on her own, she puts everything she owns into making a go of her cafe, but the only place she can afford is the backroom of a saloon, so when the saloon gets torn up, so do Ella's dreams.

Can two unlikely people with different dreams come together to find what they both need?

Ella and Nate are both likable characters, who want to move forward with their lives. Many Simpson Creek regulars reappear to help them on their way, including the Spinster's Club which is still alive and well though their focus has changed.

This book has plenty of great interaction between the characters, as well as humor, drama, action, and the occasional inevitable misunderstandings. I loved how both Ella and Nate grew in their faith and character. This was a delightfully engaging read that stands well on it's own, though it is part of a series. I especially loved the ending--but I can't tell you about that! ;)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

Her Montana Cowboy by Valerie Hansen ~ Review

Lucie's Review:

This is a fun introduction to what is sure to be a fantastic new series about a small town in Montana, called Jasper Gulch. The townspeople are are a mission to breath new life into the town with a huge centennial celebration.

Ryan Travers is a rodeo cowboy who rides the roughstock, and saves his money. This is the first time in a long time that he'll be in the same place for three weeks straight. He intends to leave right after the rodeo, but he meets a young woman, Julie, who causes him to rethink everything he thought he believed.

Ryan is a forthright and honest man, telling Julie from the start that he isn't the kind of guy that she is looking for.

Julie is the youngest daughter of a Montana cattle rancher, with her own business raising sheep for their wool and selling it online. She knows that Ryan doesn't think that he is good for her, but Julie is hoping she can change his mind.

A wonderful read from beginning to end, perfect for lovers of cowboy romances. There was plenty of great interaction between the characters, as well as lots of fun rodeo action. The town is a warm community full of colorful characters, I especially loved the dog, Cowboy Dan :)

A delightful and entertaining read, interwoven with themes of faith and forgiveness.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."