Monday, September 13, 2010

Immanuel's Veins by Ted Dekker

Immanuel's Veins was a book that I couldn't put down. I wasn't sure what to expect when I first started reading the book, but boy was I pleasantly surprised by the depth of this novel. At first I couldn't imagine why Thomas Nelson had published a book about vampires, because that is where my mind went with this story, but once it was revealed the lineage of the people I presumed to be vampires then the whole thing really clicked for me.
This book has christian theme, but more than that its about the lengths one would go to for true love. Its also about the age old story of good versus evil. If your a fan of vampires you will probably enjoy this book.
I was provided a copy of this book from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Out Live Your Life

Out Live Your Life By Max Lucado, will grab your attention and make you take pause to consider just what you can do to make a difference.
It doesn't take a rocket scientiest to realize the world is on precarious grounds. Heck in the United States alone people go to bed hungry every night, children are often disgarded easier than yesterdays garbage,the elderly often choose between needed medicine and food, but it doesn't have to be that way. It takes change, and thats something each and every one of us can do. Yep each of us, just your plain average Joe can do something to make a difference. You don't have to worry about what you don't have to give, instead just give what you can. Because often what seems not so great to us is in fact just what someone else might need.
Mr. Lucado's writitng style is very easy and he uses personal stories, scriptures and antcedotal wisdom to get his point across.
This is a book you wont be able to put down and you will keep thinking about long after the last page, its a compelling message that the world needs to hear and we all need to start practicing.

I was provided a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson's booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Faithful by Kim Cash Tate

Faithful is written by a new to me author. I wasn't sure what to expect but I really was surprised. First the title had me fooled, its about being faithful to God, I thought it would have something to do with marriage.
The book kept surprising me, I thought it would wind up being chick-lit, but it was so much more than that. The author weaves a very believable story that is a christian fiction. With characters so real that you feel like your in the middle of the story, I could imagine women like these living in my neighborhood. I got a few laughs out of this story but also some times that were very emotional. A book that will hold your attention until the end.
I was provided a copy of this book for review from Booksneeze in return for an honest review.

Monday, September 6, 2010

The Boy Who Changed The World by Andy Andrews



















Product Description


Did you know that what you do today can change the world forever?
The Boy Who Changed the World opens with a young Norman Borlaug playing in his family's cornfields with his sisters. One day, Norman would grow up and use his knowledge of agriculture to save the lives of two billion people. Two billion! Norman changed the world! Or was it Henry Wallace who changed the world? Or maybe it was George Washington Carver?


This engaging story reveals the incredible truth that everything we do matters! Based on The Butterfly Effect, Andy's timeless tale shows children that even the smallest of our actions can affect all of humanity. The book is beautifully illustrated and shares the stories of Nobel Laureate Norman Borlaug, Vice President Henry Wallace, Inventor George Washington Carver, and Farmer Moses Carver. Through the stories of each, a different butterfly will appear. The book will end with a flourish of butterflies and a charge to the child that they, too, can be the boy or girl who changes the world.



Review: The Boy Who Changed The World is my first time reading anything by Andy Andrews, and even though it was a children's book I found the message very inspirational and message we often forget. That everything we do matters, Andy explains it as the Butterfly Effect. It's like every time we do something it causes a ripple effect that causes something else to happen.

Mr. Andrews shows us how ordinary people grew up to make a difference in the world, but the neat thing is that if each person in the chain of the ripple hadn't accomplished what they did then history could have turned out differently.

This is a beautifully illustrated book that will capture a youngsters attention, and then the story will give them a great message that they do matter. I would recommend this book to small children who would be captivated by the pictures to the older child up to 10 who could grasp the little history lesson along with the inspirational message.

A great book that belongs in every library. I highly recommend it.



I was provided a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson's booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Lee A Life Of Virtue By John Perry (review)



Lee A Life OF Virtue
Written By John Perry
Product Description
A powerful, compact biography of Robert E. Lee, focusing on how his intrinsic goodness shaped everything from his battle tactics to his treatment of his troops.
It's no surprise that Robert E. Lee graduated second in his class from West Point. His four years there were marked by exemplary conduct and nary a demerit. He went on to become one of the most successful generals of the Confederate army during the American Civil War, inspiring his troops with his unselfish character and devotion to duty. Lee's string of victories earned him praise on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line. He was admired for his tactical success in battle, and even after surrendering to Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomatox court house, his example of conduct for thousands of ex-Confederates made him a legend. After the war, he assumed the presidency of Washington College and devoted the remainder of his life to setting an example of conduct. He remains one of the most distinguished military heroes of all time.

About the Author:

John Perry has appeared on C-SPAN Book TV, The Janet Parshall Show, The G. Gordon Liddy Show, and other syndicated broadcast shows. He has published biographies of Charles Colson, Gov. Mike Huckabee, Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver, and Sgt. York.
My Review: I was very excited to get to read about Robert E. Lee. I am an avid history fan and wondered what this book might tell me about The Great General that I didn't already know.
It takes us back to the beginning when the first of the Lee family came to the new world. It also discloses to us that Lee was actually not fighting to preserve slavery for the south but instead that he was fighting to defend our Constitutional Freedoms.
It gives us an up close and personal look at the Generals life in a way that is easy to read and understand. If you have never read anything about Robert E. Lee then you would probably enjoy this book.
I was provided a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson's booksneeze program in return for an honest review!

Friday, July 16, 2010

A Review of Resurrection in May


Book Description:
A strange and wondrous friendship ignites the fire of love in May Seymour's life.
May Seymour graduated from college with the world at her feet and no idea what to do with it. A mission trip to Rwanda brought her a sense of purpose in loving others. So when the genocide began she chose to remain in the village, which was subsequently slaughtered. Only May survived.
May journeyed to heal on the farm of Claudius Borne, a sweet, innocent old man who understood plants and animals far better than people.
Years later, having not stepped a foot off Claudius' farm, May learns an old college flame, now a death-row inmate, is refusing to appeal his sentence. Can she convince him to grab hold of life once again? Their surprising friendship turns the tables, for the prisoner, Eli Campbell, has a deeper faith from which to draw than she. Eli slowly begins to pull May from her cloistered existence. With the help of Eli, their tiny town, and ultimately a renewal of faith, May comes to life once again.
My Review: This is a book that I really haven't decided whether I like or not. It is a gripping tale of May Seymour.
When Claudius Borne finds May drunk along the road and takes he home a story unfolds of how Claudius allows May-May to stay on his farm so that she can learn to come to grips with the things that happened in her life.
May had graduated college and went on a mission trip to Rwanda. While staying in Rwanda the villiage is wiped out by Genocide the only survivor being May. So when she finally makes it back to the states she is physically and emotionally scarred. So when she winds up on Claudius' farm she slowly learns to heal.
Some parts of this book are very hard to read such as the slaughter in Rwanda and I really didn't expect to read about the killing of chickens and turkeys in the story.
Even with the above mentioned issues this is a very well written book and the lessons I took away from it were well worth reading this book. The main themes of this book are forgiveness, grace and love. Although Claudius and May were strangers they form a family bond of sorts which is a great reminder that families aren't a group we are born into but rather they are the people who love us and take care of us when we need them most. I rate this book a solid 4.5.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Booksneeze for an honest review.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Sarah's Garden

Product Description
When Sarah realizes that she has fallen in love with an Englisch doctor, she must choose between loving a man and losing her family.
Deep in the heart of Pennsylvania's Allegheny Mountains, shy Sarah King is happiest when working in her vibrant Amish kitchen garden, but new family responsibilities lead her into the confusing world of the Englisch.
Sarah finds her life turned around when she encounters the community's new Englisch veterinarian, Grant Williams. His blue-gold eyes and his obvious concern for her people attract her immediately. Sarah seeks solace and direction from the Lord as she creates a quilt pattern which details her struggle between two worlds.
The Lord is guiding Sarah to follow His will, but will she listen?
My Review: I have never read an amish based story before but decided to give this book a try and was surprised that I liked it.
Sarah is a very shy Amish woman who would rather be working in her garden but when quite by accident she meets Grant Williams, she is drawn to him immediatly. Even though he is English and she is Amish can there love find a way for them to be together? Will Sarah follow her heart or stick to her traditional Amish ways?
If you have never read an Amish inspirational give this one a try. I think you just might like it.