The Lightkeeper's Ball - Colleen Coble

I first fell in love with the cover of Colleen Coble's newest novel The Lightkeeper's Ball. From there, it only got better!

Olivia Stewart's sister is killed under mysterious circumstances while out west. Olivia has to get to the bottom of it and along the way gets to know the suspected murderer. With lots of twists and turns, this book kept me on my toes and guessing the whole time. I was sure I had it figured out toward the end (and I was close :)) but I was surprised when the truth was revealed.

It took me a few chapters to get into the story, but I really enjoyed this novel. Coble is a great writer: I enjoyed her descriptions and her character development. I have not read either of the two other books in the series, but The Lightkeeper's Ball was a good stand alone novel. I could tell that there were references to the other two books but the story wasn't lost on me due to that. Overall, an interesting read!

Thanks, Thomas Nelson, for a review copy. The opinions above are my honest opinions.

Save the Date - Jenny B. Jones

The last book I read by Jenny B. Jones (Just Between You and Me) had me, like my ten year old self, huddling with a flashlight and hoping no one would notice. And while this time it was an iPad and I was hoping my husband wouldn't notice, it felt the same to be so engrossed in a good book that I couldn't put it down. Reading Save the Date felt the same. I could NOT put it down.

Lucy needs money. Alex has money. Alex needs popularity for his election, and Lucy seems to provide it when she's near him. Let the mayhem begin. While I was a little put off by Clare and her continued presence, by the end of the book I was rooting for her and her hilarious companion.

Funny, heartwarming, and engaging...everything I hope for in Christian chick lit. I laughed aloud more times than I can remember and, at the end of it all, I really appreciated the deeper themes of trusting and abiding. Way to go, Jenny B. Jones. And, most impressive, she is a teacher! AMAZING! I can barely manage sleeping and eating, not to mention just thinking about thinking about maybe writing a chapter or a sentence. Or thinking about writing a blog post/book review for this book that I loved reading OVER two weeks ago. :)

Thank you to Thomas Nelson BookSneeze for providing a complimentary review copy of Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones. I really enjoyed it and, although I was not asked to write a good review, I can't say enough about how much I loved this book.

The Truth of the Matter - Andrew Klavan

Wow. I waited anxiously for this book after reading the second in the series, The Only Road Home. When I first saw that The Truth of the Matter by Andrew Klavan was up for review on BookSneeze, I practically squealed with joy. I really enjoyed the second book and was curious as to the truth of what really had happened to poor Charlie West. He awoke one day to find himself wanted for the murder of his best friend, on the run from a terrorist group he had once been a member of, and confused as to who the good guys were.

The Truth of the Matter begins and ends with suspense and the middle of the book is fraught with it. I read this book quickly, gobbling up the mystery and intrigue of Charlie's life. I was pleased to find out more about what had happened to Charlie and to get some answers! Finally!

Klavan writes suspense so well. While some of the plot devices seemed somewhat ridiculous (Milton 2?), this was a great read. My only issue was that I was not expecting another cliffhanger!!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing this lovely reading to me for free. This is my honest opinion about the book.

fear

A few months back during the summer, I received a free book from Thomas Nelson Publishing. It was a book by one of my favorite authors, Lisa Samson, and I was amazed at the power in its pages. I read it quickly, something I typically do with all books, and hadn't thought too much about it until recently. Last week, my husband was at work for two days one with a late shift, the next with an early shift. Since we live quite a distance from his work, it made sense that he should sleep there. During the evening while he was gone, I really enjoyed the alone time. I had dinner with a good friend (leftovers -- so I didn't even have to cook!), and after she left I wrote some more of my thesis, graded some papers, tried to bring myself to read a book that was just so hard to focus on, ate cookies and popcorn, and sang along to some of my favorite music. As it started getting dark, I closed the curtains and holed myself in, trying not to think about the darkness outside. I finally forced myself into bed far later than usual, and laid in fear for quite some time.

While I was laying there awake with my heart pounding and fear filling me, I thought of the book by Lisa Samson, Resurrection in May. I was scared, while alone in my home in Pleasantville, USA with locked doors (and even a garbage can hidden behind the door so I'd know if someone was breaking in) and windows. I said "Jesus" aloud to remind myself of the power of his name, then began to thank him. The fear I have is ridiculous. The likelihood of something "bad" happening to me was tiny.

All over the world, people live in honest fear. They are fearful of militias waiting outside their door in Darfur, of imprisonment if their government disagrees with something they say in China. They fear attacks on their lives in Mogadishu, attacks by people who are terrorizing a city to regain political control.

Our world is a place of fear, but it doesn't have to be. I know I can say this and it might not mean much because of the situation I am in: the city I live in, in the country I call home. But I believe that the paralyzing fear that I often feel can be and will be overcome by God, my God, the one who faithfully carries me (us/all) through all things.

Where Hearts Are Free - Golden Keyes Parsons

Typically, I read a book in one sitting (thank you, Mrs. Mico-Smith, for teaching the first grade “early birds” to speed read!), even if it isn’t of great interest to me. Unfortunately, Where Hearts are Free by Golden Keyes Parsons took me just over three weeks to finish. I got through about half of the book in my first sitting; after that, I don’t entirely know what it was, but I just couldn’t bear to make myself sit down and read it. I would start, then have to stop after about five minutes when I got to the end of a chapter and couldn’t push myself to go on to the next one. I found myself frustrated with the characters and their ridiculous actions, with the inevitable plot twists that I seemed to figure out pages ahead of their occurrences, with the horrid suitor who was all bad.

Bridget Barrington, the protagonist, only becomes somewhat likeable at the end of the narrative; until then, she is portrayed as either selfish, strong willed, or weak. Unfortunately, her character wavers between the three, never fully settling on one personality. Contrary to the author’s supposed intentions, this seems to make her an unrealistic, weak character. Also, there were a few storylines that were abandoned midway.

While I would say that Where Hearts Are Free was entertaining, I thought it had great potential that it did not live up to. Thank you, though, to Thomas Nelson who provided this review copy to me free of charge. My opinions are my own.

Outlive Your Life - Max Lucado

I have to confess: I judged Max Lucado. I've never been a big fan of the (what I considered) Christian "self-help" books. They were usually filled with cliches, numbered lists about how to improve your life, etc. So, when I received an opportunity to review a copy of Max Lucado's latest book, Outlive Your Life, I was hesitant to even request the book. I am thankful I did. I was pleasantly surprised, and almost feel like I should send an apology to Mr. Lucado (!). He has written a Scripture-based book that is a challenge to all Jesus lovers. I am passionate about social justice and I tend to be very compassionate. So, with that, his book spoke directly to my heart.

I sincerely hope his message penetrates the hearts of the church of America. When I read the title, I was sure the book was going to be lists of ways to get closer to God. I love that Lucado equated outliving life with loving people as they are Christ. I am looking forward to reading more of Lucado's books, and I owe him a sincere apology!

I received a review copy of this book from Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze program, thank you! My review is filled with my thoughts and opinions; I was asked to be honest about my experience with the book, and I was! :)

Love, Charleston - Beth Webb Hart

I was amazed at how much I enjoyed Love, Charleston by Beth Webb Hart. At first, it was frustrating, mostly due to my own ridiculousness and silly assumptions...I just assumed that this book was historical fiction, and let's be honest, a lot of Charleston fiction is historical. Plus the cover just made me assume! (A reading strategy I discourage my students against but fell prey to, oops.) Anyway, I reread the first chapter after seeing mention of the Super Bowl and thinking, "wait, when was the first Super Bowl?" Oops, my bad. I ended up having to reread most of the first three or four chapters and memorizing the back cover so I could figure out who everyone was in relation to each other.

Besides my struggles at the beginning, I came to really appreciate this book for its slow action and relatable characters. I empathized with Della, a character who feels trapped by financial worries, but found peace in her resolution. I was angry with the characters who seemed to be throwing their lives away, and not altogether pleased with the story's ending as it seemed somewhat rushed; some characters seemed to be left with loose ends.

Overall, it was a pleasant read and I enjoyed the story. Thanks to booksneeze.com for the review copy. My review was honest and true to my own opinion. I appreciate the good books you publish!

Resurrection in May -Lisa Samson

I was so intrigued when I first saw Resurrection in May posted as one of the review books on Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze. I waited anxiously for the book to arrive, thinking back on other books by Samson I've enjoyed. When it finally came, I was nervous to get started as I knew May, the main character, lives through the Rwanda genocide (something I am interested in, but also struggling with) and then cannot bear to live life as a typical American. I was amazed as I read this book, though, how real May was; how her struggles with PTSD and the American life were understandable. I rejoiced as she grew, cried as she lost battles against God and herself, grieved as her heart broke, winced as her pain washed over the pages.

Samson is a gifted storyteller, as evidenced in her past novels, but reinforced in this stunning novel of redemption and freedom. I would consider this book to be a new favorite, one I don't think is going to drop off my list anytime soon. Thank you, Thomas Nelson for the review copy. These views are my own, and I'm so thankful to have received such an incredible book free!

Love on a Dime - Cara Lynn James

What a good pick for my first book of the summer! I just finished reading Love on a Dime by new author, Cara Lynn James. The last day of school, while amazing, is always a long day and requires extra patience. While most definitely given that supernaturally, it also came from the excitement that I had a new book waiting for me when I got home. I was not disappointed!

Lilly, author of (horror!) dime novels, is torn between her allegiance to her family, her long lost love, and her "obligations" to society. I enjoyed the realistic emotions Lilly felt and the ways she interacted with the people around her; I felt it was true to life when so many novels lose that reality. I did not like the portrayal of Lilly's sister-in-law, Irene, or what felt like a sudden shift in Irene's character. I was also shocked by the number of typos I found, come on, Thomas Nelson! Overall, this was an enjoyable, quick read -- nothing too heavy or thought-provoking, but a fun story to get lost in for a few hours.

This book was provided to me free of charge in exchange for a review. These views are my own. Thomas Nelson, thank you for the book!

Greater Love - Robert Whitlow

Greater Love, the third novel in the Tides of Truth series by Robert Whitlow, shares the story of Tami, a new lawyer learning the ropes of the Savannah law scene. She is handed the case of Jessie, a teenage runaway with more than just the petty theft charges going on. As Tami delves into Jessie's case, she learns more about herself, God, Jessie, her friends, and life.

I was intrigued by the first chapter of Greater Love. Jessie's story grabbed me and I wanted to know what was going to happen to her and who she was going to encounter as she made her way through life. My heart dropped as I got to the second chapter and Tami and her family were introduced to the reader. I cringed at the cliched descriptions of the family. I knew before Whitlow even mentioned it that Tami was sure to have been homeschooled and could only "court" with her parents' permission. While I do not have much experience with homeschooling, I did not like the stereotypical portrayal of a devout fundamentalist homeschooling family. Tami's romantic encounters with Zach and Vince were, at best, boring and predictable.

While I enjoy legal fiction, I was disappointed that the legal world took a back burner to Tami's boooring romantic confusion. I wanted her to use her own brain to think with, and not just take her parents' decrees brainlessly. There were a few times I had to put the book down and come back to it the next day because I was so turned off by Tami's "yes ma'am" and "no, sir" with her parents.

At the end of the novel, I was happy to see all of the loose ends tied up, but it was a struggle to get through. Thank you to Thomas Nelson publishing (BookSneeze) for providing this book free of charge to me to review.

Jane Austen by Peter Leithart

In all honesty, I am not a big biography fan. So, when Jane Austen by Peter Leithart showed up as my next book from Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze program (thank you, by the way), I was a little bummed. Although I am a big Jane Austen fan (my 19th century Brit Lit class was one of my favorites at college), I was not particularly interested in her life. I had essays to grade, lesson plans to prepare, books to read, and life to live...and Jane was not high on my priority list.

However...as I read more and more, the more intrigued I was with not only the life Jane led, but also Leithart's writing. Rather than a boring, play by play retelling of Austen's life, I found an interesting and attention-grabbing look at a fascinating woman. I must admit it took me until about a third of the way through before I really jumped into the text. Many interesting facts about Austen's life.

Thank you, Thomas Nelson for this book! I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

maps, maps, maps! Nelson's Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts, Third Edition

I love maps. They've been an interest of mine since I was little. I remember looking at the atlas my family had for hours and hours, enthralled with all of the places. I am the same way now. We have a world map shower curtain (http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=114153&RN=382&) that is my excuse to take looong showers ("Honey, I'm not wasting water, I'm learning! Did you know that Antananarivo is the capital of Madagascar?") and it just draws me in every time I'm in the shower or bath.

So, when I saw that my next book from Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze was Nelson's Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts, I couldn't wait for it to arrive. Things seem to come alive to me when there is a map involved. Stories that had previously been somewhat confusing to me are clarified, which was my main excitement about this book.

I flipped open the book and was excited to see clearly marked colored maps. I paused for a moment to think back to the last confusing Bible Study I'd been in: 1 & 2 Kings popped right up. I opened to the section on 1 Kings and was amazed to see Elijah's life mapped out: different locations, and something resembling a timeline. Cool! And, wow, the summary of each book is well written and interesting. I had no recollection that Elijah's name meant "Yahweh is my God" (115). Besides the maps and timelines, there is another great piece to each sections: Themes and Literary Structure. As an English teacher, my heart smiles when I see this.

I do have to admit, though, that my favorite section is the New Testament. I love the stories of Jesus' travels with his buddies, but they were always moving...always heading somewhere new and different. It's helpful to see just where each of their adventures took them and to picture them there. I love seeing maps of the area and seeing the original names. Two of my favorite books are from The Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers. How amazing to see the places Hadassah and Marcus walked on their journeys with the Lord. (Okay, I know they're fictional, but they feel very real!)

Anyway, the book is intriguing -- the maps for books of the Bible I haven't read yet will no doubt get me to open my Bible and read. The tables are helpful and informative. And, I can't lie: I love timelines. A great help for us visual learners. This book was right up my alley. Thank you, Thomas Nelson for this book! I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I'm so thankful for this book and I cannot wait to use this book more and more as I dig into my Bible. It's a great resource for the visual learner and often-confused Bible reader!

WHOA - The Long Way Home by Andrew Klavan

I'm not going to lie...I'm not much of a mystery/suspense fan.  I get nervous when I'm home alone, I jump at every bump or creak the house makes, loud cars that go by at night startle me.  So, with all of that in mind, I was a little nervous when I picked up Andrew Klavan's latest young adult novel, The Long Way Home.

Charlie West does not remember the last year of his life.  His best friend is dead and he has been convicted.  He is running, though from the good guys or the bad guys, he is not sure.  All he knows is that his life is on the line and he needs to keep moving.

Boy, was I blown away.  I had decided I wasn't going to read it until the weekend because my husband would be home then and I wouldn't be as scared, but when my friend who is coming to visit for the weekend said he would be here this evening, I decided it would be a great way to start my relaxation as the semester is coming to an end (giving and grading a scantron freshman final tomorrow then I'm done! :)  Woo hoo!).  I got in the bath with the book to read for half an hour, an hour max.

Two and a half hours later, I emerged, pruny as could be, and I sat on my bed in awe.  During my two and a half hour bath, I entered a world of intrigue, lies, truths, chaos, love, fear, friends,  hope, but most of all, teenage boy.  Charlie is real and the life he is living jumps off the pages.  His faith is real, his doubts are real.  His passion for truth is inspiring.  And, boy, can he fight!

What a tangled, beautiful web Klavan weaves.  His storytelling is seamless and seems to go by frustratingly quickly.  I wanted the book to never end, but end it did with my interest piqued for the third book in the Homelanders' series.  My only complaint is that the next book doesn't come out until November 2010.  So far away!