Book Review: Dear Mr. Knightley, by Katherine Reay

“Samantha Moore has always hidden behind the words of others—namely, her favorite characters in literature. Now, she will learn to write her own story—by giving that story to a complete stranger.

“Sam is, to say the least, bookish. An English major of the highest order, her diet has always been Austen, Dickens, and Shakespeare. The problem is, both her prose and conversation tend to be more Elizabeth Bennet than Samantha Moore.

“But life for the twenty-three-year-old orphan is about to get stranger than fiction. An anonymous, Dickensian benefactor (calling himself Mr. Knightley) offers to put Sam through Northwestern University’s prestigious Medill School of Journalism. There is only one catch: Sam must write frequent letters to the mysterious donor, detailing her progress.

“As Sam’s dark memory mingles with that of eligible novelist Alex Powell, her letters to Mr. Knightley become increasingly confessional. While Alex draws Sam into a world of warmth and literature that feels like it’s straight out of a book, old secrets are drawn to light. And as Sam learns to love and trust Alex and herself, she learns once again how quickly trust can be broken.

“Reminding us all that our own true character is not meant to be hidden, Reay’s debut novel follows one young woman’s journey as she sheds her protective persona and embraces the person she was meant to become.”

I loved this book! As an avid reader, loving historical fiction as well as contemporary fiction, this book was the best of both worlds.

Although the story was pretty predictable, I loved it anyway.

Having a special place in my heart for foster care and adoption, loving a clean romance, and enjoying a fun read, this book was perfect. I appreciated the subtle Christian theme without it being overbearing as a lot of Christian novels are.

I would recommend this book to anyone who needs a quick escape from reality for a weekend. It’s an easy read, and the sweet romance that blossoms in the story gets you sighing at the end.

Definitely one of the better books I have read recently!

Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this book through the Booksneeze book review website.

Book Review: Francis, Man of Prayer, by Mario Escobar

Francis, Man of Prayer, by Mario Escobar, is a biography of the new Pope Francis of the Catholic Church. This book covers the life of the Pope when he was a child, teenager, young adult, and adult. It explains why he decided to become a priest for the Catholic Church. It also tells about the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. It explains their history and their activity in modern times. This book also goes into some of the things the recent popes have done during their service, and explains how a pope is selected, going into the details of the current Pope Francis’ election.

As a practicing Christian, I was pleased to find a brief history of the Catholic Church and explanations for why and how certain things are done in that religion. This biography of the new Pope was enlightening. I enjoyed learning about his background, his personal beliefs, and his goals for his ministry. It was interesting to learn about some of the recent problems the Church has been having, and how their leaders have dealt with those issues. It gave a more personal look into the new Pope, and helped him seem more like a real, every day person, instead of a mysterious leader of a religion different than my own.

disclosure: the publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze®.

Book Review: Domination, by Jon Lewis

Summary

“Their goal is simple: total domination.

With six arms and jaws that can snap a man in two, the warmongering race of aliens known as the Thule has conquered every planet they’ve attacked.

And now their invasion of Earth has begun.

Humanity’s only hope springs from a mysterious Thule legend about a Betrayer, who they believe will rise up and destroy their people. The American government tried to manufacture their own Betrayer by injecting children with Thule blood but time after time the experiment failed . . . until Colt McAlister.

A decade later, Colt is a 16-year-old cadet at the CHAOS Military Academy where he’s training to defend mankind. But he’s afraid that the alien blood may be turning him into a Thule—and he’s beginning to suspect that fulfilling his role as the Betrayer may cost him everything.

Experience a cosmic battle filled with high-tech gear, gateways to other planets, and ultimate stakes. Not everyone will survive. But heroes will rise up and step into their destiny in this earth-shaking conclusion to the C.H.A.O.S trilogy.”

Review

I truly enjoyed this book. I read the first two books in the trilogy first so I would have a clear understanding of the characters and plot, but soon discovered that wasn’t totally necessary. The author does enough reviewing of characters and plot that you could read this book without having read the other two. The plot was interesting, edge-of-your-seat-exciting, and unique. I was afraid it would be too much like other sci-fi plots, but there were enough twists and turns along the way to keep the reader guessing. I thought the character development was perfect and enjoyed the little bit of relationship/romance that was involved, and since it is geared towards young adults, it wasn’t trashy or graphic in the romance area. The reader gets attached to each character and hopes that they survive the thrilling ending. Without giving the ending away, I will just say it ended just right with no disappointment.

disclosure: the publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze®.

book review: The House that Love Built, by Beth Wiseman

“Brooke has only loved one man, her late husband. Owen’s rebuilding after a painful divorce. Can a mysterious house bring them together for a second chance at love?

“In the charming town of Smithville, Texas, Brooke Holloway is raising two young children on her own, supporting them by running the family hardware store. The last thing on her mind is falling in love. But she’s intrigued when a stranger moves to town and buys the old Hadley mansion. She’s always heard that house holds a secret—maybe even a treasure—and she can’t wait to see inside. When she meets the new owner and they spend time together, she can’t deny the attraction. Could God be giving her another chance at happiness? Or is she betraying her late husband’s memory by even thinking that way?

“Owen Saunders bought the Hadley place to spite his cheating ex-wife. She’d always wanted to restore an old house in Smithville. Now he’s going to do it without her. But if anything needs restoration, it is Owen’s heart. Then he meets Brooke and her kids and finds himself tempted by love. Can he bring himself to trust a woman again?

“Throw an eccentric uncle into the mix, along with the town’s teenage troublemaker, and even a finicky cat—and one thing becomes clear: God is bringing them all together for a reason.”

I loved The House that Love Built. At first I didn’t think I was going to like it. The writing was so much like other novels I’ve read, that I thought it would be too predictable. Yes, the story of the romance of the two main characters was a little predictable, but the other characters in the book that end up making the “unconventional family” really added to the story. I loved how everyone in the book learned that blood relationships aren’t as important as love, and that anyone can love someone and they can become family. It doesn’t matter if it’s biological or even a legally binding relationship, as long as they are committed to care for one another.

The mystery aspect of the story was also a great addition, giving the whole story a little suspense and the surprise relationship at the end warmed my heart. I have to say this book actually made me cry a little, and I don’t usually cry from reading novels.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a heartwarming, clean romance with a few little twists and turns along the way.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: Stumbling on Open Ground: Love, God, Cancer, and Rock 'n' Roll, by Ken Mansfield

“Stumbling on Open Ground: Love, God, Cancer, and Rock ‘n’ Roll,” by Ken Mansfield was a journal like look into Mansfield’s battle with cancer over the span of sixteen years. Ken relates his feelings upon learning his cancer diagnoses and takes us into his thought process on his relationship with God while dealing with these trials. It’s the story of his private journey made public because of the public/celebrity nature of which Mansfield is, a former member of the Beatles production company. Having become accustomed to being in the public eye, it makes sense for Mansfield to share his personal thoughts on a public level. There are also small letters from Mansfield’s wife about Mansfield’s condition at the beginning of each chapter, which lends another view of his trial and journey through.

The book as a whole is inspirational for anyone who has struggled with their own faith before. Certainly his trials with two different kinds of cancer and the knowledge that he will never be truly healed until he reaches the other side make most people’s trials pale in comparison. But his steadfast ability to return to faith through his slips into doubt make this story something anyone struggling with their own faith during a trial can hold on to and lean on for encouragement and support.

This book would probably be better read as a devotional type book over a period of time, instead of sitting down and reading it all at once. The chapters become a little monotonous after awhile. First he has a physical trial, he relates it to something spiritual, talks about how hard it is for him to hold on, but then tells us how he pulls through and his faith becomes stronger in the end. After reading about the half the book, it was a little taxing to finish it, but reading it over a longer period of time, days, weeks, etc, would make it a little easier to make it through.

Mansfield uses alliteration and word comparisons to paint a picture of what he feels in a way that makes it fun to read. His book overall was uplifting and something that should be shared with anyone who has faith or who needs a pick-me-up.

disclosure: the publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze®.

Book Review: The Founders' Key: The Divine and Natural Connection Between the Declaration and the Constitution and What We Risk by Losing It , by Larry Arnn

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Larry Arnn's "The Founders' Key." I was pleased that he included the "foundational readings" in the back of the book, as without those texts, the book itself would not make sense to the average reader. Reading this book has sparked my interest in early American (United States) history and the founding of the nation.

I agree with Arnn that the government today is a totally different government than what the founding fathers had envisioned for their infant nation. The documents studied in this book, The Constitution and The Declaration of Independence, are tied together so tightly that it seems surprising that anyone could claim that as a pair they have become obsolete. The arguments of those making such a claim seem weak and steered toward their own ambitions or benefit. I believe Arnn did a fantastic job proving the marriage of The Constitution and The Declaration.

My interest in this subject has also been piqued by an observation made in the late 1800’s by Eliza R. Snow quoting religious leader Joseph Smith, Jr. He recalled that Smith said, “… the time would come when this nation would so far depart from its original purity, its glory, and its love for freedom and its protection of civil rights and religious rights, that the Constitution of our country would hang as it were by a thread.”

I find that many of Arnn’s discussion points prove that that day is imminent if not already upon us. I appreciate his call to action on what the people of our country can do to help save our government and return America to the vision of what the founding fathers’ had for the most powerful nation in the world.

I encourage anyone who believes our nation is on the wrong track, and who sees our government as it should be in jeopardy, to read this book and study the enclosed texts, and take a stand against the falsehood surrounding the disconnect between the two documents discussed.

disclosure: the publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze®.

Thoughts on: The Call of the Wild, by Jack London

We just finished reading "The Call of the Wild," by Jack London out loud together.

I think I enjoyed this book better than some of the other ones we've read lately. I again liked how it was from the animal's perspective. It was full of action and adventure, and there were some emotional parts, too, where I got a little choked up.

My 6-year-old was totally caught up in the story. Her eyes were wide and her mouth open when we'd read an exciting part. She liked the end how the dog became a legend and lived in the wild. She loves animals and this was a great one for her.

I think we'll try "Little House on the Prairie" next. I hope we like it! :)

Thoughts on: Around the World in 80 Days, by Jules Verne

This was a fun book to read to the kids. The copy we checked out from the library had a map in the back that showed the route the characters took on their journey. When they passed through Utah, my 6-year-old became very excited since her favorite cousin lives in Utah. It was cute to see her reaction.

When they were traveling in other parts of the world it was nice to talk about different cultures and help them understand that the world is so big and people do things so differently all over the world.

I enjoyed reading this book to the kids as much as they enjoyed listening, often reading longer than I intended because I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next.

Thoughts on: Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell

This was another book about animals from an animals point of view. My kids seem to like these ones!

In Black Beauty (which my 6-year-old has named her new black kitten), we read about Black Beauty's experiences throughout his lifetime. A lot of the people were really mean, which led to some good discussions about the proper way to care for and treat animals. And some of the book was quite sad when he was taken away, treated badly, or another horse died.

I'm not sure if any of us really enjoyed this book a whole lot, but I guess I'm glad we read it.

Thoughts on: The Swiss Family Robinson, by Johann David Wyss

This book was suggested by my husband. He loves the old Disney movie version of this story, and thought the kids would really enjoy the book. The one we checked out was an illustrated version, and I'm not sure it was really the entire story. I need to check out a non-illustrated version and read it to myself to see if it's any different!

Nonethelss, it was still a fun book to read outloud. My 6-year-old's imagination went wild with thought of being shipwrecked on an island and encountering all the fun animals the Robinson's saw on their island! My 3-year-old had nightmares about some of the animal encounter's, though. And my 6-year-old was a little confused why they killed so many animals that they saw, too. It led to some good discussions and was overall a fun story, despite all the animal killing!

Thoughts on: Mr. Popper's Penguins, by Richard Atwater

I know I must have read this book when I was a kid, I was an avid reader! But I really didn't remember anything abou it.

We had fun learning about Mr. Popper, and "watching" (with our imaginations) his penguins dance on stage.

Let's just point it out now that the book is nothing like the new Mr. Popper's Penguins movie (which I still liked, anyway).

It was a shorter book that we read rather quickly, as we all couldn't wait to see what would happen next.

We all enjoyed this book and the kids like pretending to be penguins now, too!

Thoughts on: Peter Pan, by J.M. Barrie

The next book I read aloud to my children was Peter Pan. There are several different versions of this story out there, including the Disney version, but I wanted to read this one.

It was, um, different than what I was expecting. I don't think my kids understood everything that was going on, and some of the words/content were way over their head (and more adult...) but they followed the overall story. They've never watched the Disney movie of Peter Pan before, so they were not familiar with the storyline. They did, however, become very excited at the mention of Tinkerbell. Her character, however, is quite mischevious and often unkind in this story. I just told them that she has learned how to be nice since then. :)

My kids loved all the action and adventure, and really liked the ticking crocodile! You can often find them playing crocodile around the house, although they don't tick. :)

My 6-year-old asked lots of questions during this book, and it was fun to come up with answers to try to explain all the sword fighting and killing being done in the story while keeping it kid-friendly! Whew, that was a mommy-workout for sure!

In the end, we all did enjoy reading this book together.

Thoughts on: Charlotte's Web, by E.B. White

I don't really need to review Charlotte's Web, as almost everyone has read it in their lifetime.  But I thought it would be fun just to share some of my thoughts about it.

I have started reading out loud to my kids (6 & 3) at bedtime each night from a "long" book. We still spend time during the day reading picture books and easy readers that my 6-year-old reads to me, but for bedtime, they get tucked in and I read one or a few chapters from whatever book we're on.

We started with Charlotte's Web. I thought that since we are starting a little farm at our 1.5 acre rural homestead, it would be fun to read about farm animals. My kids thought it was great that the animals could talk to each other, and I'm sure will spend time trying to get our animals to talk to them!

My 3-year-old often falls asleep while I'm reading, but my 6-year-old is always captivated by the story. She loved this story about Wilbur and had fun trying to guess what would happen next, or share her feelings about things the people would do or say to or about the animals. It was great for her imagination and also good for real information about taking care of animals.

We all loved it!

Book Review: Tyndale: The Man Who Gave God an English Voice, by David Teems

I loved the book Tyndale: The Man Who Gave God an English Voice, by David Teems. It was fascinating to learn how the Bible we know and love today began. I personally read the King James Version of the Bible, so this book was especially interesting because so much of that version is what Tyndale translated. I love how he emphasized in his teachings that the scriptures and Gospel are about love. It was also eye opening to learn more about the Catholic Church in that time period and how against Tyndale and others of his contemporaries the church was.

My favorite quote of Tyndale’s, which I have heard before and didn’t really realize it came from him, was, “…if God spare my life ere many years, I will cause a boy that driveth the plow, shall know more of the scripture than thou dost,” speaking to a defender of the Pope and the belief that the everyday person should not have the scriptures readily available to them.

How different our world would be if the general Christian population did not have access to the scriptures. The scriptures teach us how to love our neighbors, how to serve those that need serving, and how to be like Christ. It is full of symbolism and stories that are relatable to all different kinds of people. Tyndale was a truly inspired man of God and was ahead of his time with his understanding of the true meaning of the Word of God. I find it fascinating that so much of the vocabulary we have in the English language came from a man trying to do the will of God. If more people knew and understood this, then maybe they would be more accepting of God and his teachings and apply them to their everyday lives. What a different world we would live in if that were the case!

disclosure: the publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze®.

Book Review: The Grace Effect, by Larry Alex Taunton

The Grace Effect, by Larry Alex Taunton, is a fantastic journey through the author’s  family’s adoption experience, meanwhile sharing how the Christian belief of grace can affect society as a whole.

As an adoptive parent, I thoroughly enjoyed his account of their roller-coaster journey to adopt their daughter, Sasha. The corruption and trials they faced along the way was heart wrenching. It is amazing that corruption like that still exists so long after socialism officially ended in Ukraine.

At first I wasn’t sure how Taunton was going to tie their adoption experience in with his theme of the “power of one life can reverse the corruption of unbelief.” It was clear that Sasha was going to have a life changing experience, but it was unclear how that would have any effect in “reverse(ing) the corruption of unbelief.” The final chapter and epilogue neatly tied the theme in with the observations and opinions stated throughout the rest of the book.

I also enjoyed the timeliness of this book with the events happening around the nation known as “Occupy Wall Street.” Many of the “occupiers” hope for a more socialist government in the United States, distributing the wealth of “the one ” percent  to the masses while eliminating Christian values, somehow hoping it will solve the nation’s economic difficulties. This book gives proof that socialism would not make America a better place, but would induce poverty and suffering as seen in the post-Soviet countries of Eastern Europe.

My favorite quote of the book: Fascists think society’s problems are a question of race… Communists think it a question of economics, a class war. Seize private property and redistribute it equally and-voila!- utopia. Atheists think the problem is religion. Environmentalists blame industrialization. Democrats blame Republicans. Republicans blame Democrats. Everyone agrees that there is a problem, but efforts to identify the source of it are incomplete, misguided, or evil.” (pages 214-215)

This perfectly sums up the problems of our nation and the world. Our society would indeed collapse with the removal of “the grace effect” passed around by the vast number of Christians. I hope and pray that the results of the former Soviet Union never show up here in America, or it would cease to be the nation that it was intended to be.

disclosure: the publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze®.

Book Review: Lonestar Angel, by Colleen Coble

I fully enjoyed “Lonestar Angel,” by Colleen Coble. This book is a romantic mystery, an unusual combination that really works. I loved the character development and the mystery was truly difficult to figure out. The story of lost love and a lost child was believable and really kept the plot moving forward as you watch the two main characters, Eden and Clay, struggle with their emotions and realize their continued love for each other. The other characters all seem to have their own secrets, some of which you don’t discover until the very end. The story was not at all predictable, which is refreshing from most other novels that I’ve recently read. The end of the book is a surprise and the twists and turns the plot takes you on is quite an emotional roller coaster. I love the connections between the different characters that go back into the past but somehow drew everyone together again. The writing by Colleen was strong and the book was a pleasure to read. She obviously did her homework on legal issues as well as the location of the story. I love an author who pays attention to detail. I also enjoyed the subtle Christian undertone. Although the characters think and talk about God occasionally, I didn’t feel like the religious aspect of it overpowered the rest of the story. I also enjoyed how clean the language and relationships were in the book. Overall, a must read for anyone who enjoys a nice romance with a little mystery and adventure thrown in!

disclosure: the publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze®.

Book Review: Sherman, by Von Hassell and Breslin

The book, Sherman by Von Hassell and Breslin (part of The Generals series) was insightful and a good read. It gave a good synopsis of General Sherman’s life, and what made him the man he was.

Although at times the book was a little slow and dry, overall it was a quick read. I wish there had been more detail to most of the stories. Unless you are someone who knows a lot about the Civil War, you might find yourself just skimming the dates and places because there aren’t a lot of details about the individual battles or events. It would have been nice to have had more story-like information about the battles that Sherman was involved in.

I did enjoy learning about Sherman’s family life and a little bit about his personality. Again, maybe a little more detail there would have made the book a better read. Other biographies I have enjoyed previously were much longer, giving a lot more about the person. This was good for a short book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys biographies, or who loves learning about history or war.  I look forward to reading more books in The Generals series.

disclosure: the publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze®.