Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay

This enjoyable read from new author Katherine Reay is delightful for any fans of "Daddy Long Legs" or anyone who appreciates a good, easy read with charming characters.
Samatha Moore is a survivor, after a brutal childhood and being tossed about in the foster care system she longs to get into a graduate writing program and when an anonymous benefactor she dubs "Mr. Knightley" makes that dream possible with the only stipulation being that she write him to update her on her progression she is beyond thrilled. As Sam writes Mr. Knightley  over the course of her studies she learns a lot more about herself and as she befriends a young hurting teen and learns to find her own voice. When Sam finds out who Mr. Knightley really is will that hurt or help her become what she want to be?

I really enjoyed Mrs. Reay style of writing and look forward to reading more books by her.Overall I really enjoyed this book,the only downside being that she majorly ripped off the Daddy Long Legs idea so I knew what was coming,but she did make the journey to get there most enjoyable.

A Grimm Legacy by Janna Jennings

Yet another YA novel I was able to review from Netgalley that was an enjoyable read.I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series as the book kind of left you hanging.
Andi saw herself as an ordinary teen, but when she and 3 other young people wind up in a world where animals talk and fairy tales really do come true they realize that this world is anything but normal!

I really enjoyed this book and liked how it was told from all of the 4 young peoples perspectives as it made it more well rounded and enjoyable.I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes fairy tales and interesting YA books.

Dating,Dining and Desperation by Melody Carlson

I have always enjoyed Melody Carlson's books as they are enjoyable,easy reads with a good message and the 2nd book about Daphne Ballinger was no exception.
When we left Daphne in the first book it was looking like she was well on her way to fulfilling the stipulations of her Aunt/ Grandma's request to be married within a year as things were beginning to develop with her and her lawyer Jake, but just when she thought things were getting serious Jake abruptly leaves on vacation without telling her and she finds out his ex-wife went along too,is it possible she was reading into something that never existed?
As Daphne tries to navigate her love life, the grand entrance of a new neighbor and a motherless little girl threatens to overturn her already crazy life.

I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next book in the series,as always it kept me guessing about who Daphne will end up with, which is in no way resolved in this book!
The only down side to the book is the fact that there are a ton of guys coming out of the woodwork in this book,I cannot believe someone who only had one serious relationship suddenly has 5+ guys interested in her,still the book is a charming read and it does not turn me off from the story at all.

Manor of Secrets by Katherine Longshore

For anyone who is a fan of Downtown Abbey or is just a fan of the Edwardian era, this is a delightful YA book. I personally found this book to be enjoyable and sweet, I was glad that it was YA appropriate without a bunch of junk or drama in it.
Lady Charlotte Edmonds feels neglected and bored,as the only daughter of a wealthy family she is expected to marry well, but the young man her Mother is pushing at her seems stuffy and boring. What Lady Charlotte longs for is adventure and romance, but will she be brave enough to embrace the opportunities that are thrown at her?
Janie Seward is a practical, hardworking servant who is afraid of change. When it looks like her Mother might leave her to work elsewhere Janie is afraid what other changes might come to pass.
When a long lost relative of Lady Charlotte's shows up, things around the manor are about to change and as Lady Charlotte and Janie befriend each other the find that they have more in common than they ever though possible.

I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good historical YA read that has interesting characters, a good plot and is clean.

10 days without by Daniel Day

This is a little book that packs a big punch! In a world that is all about comfort, this book is a great reminder that we need to step out of our comfort zone and realize that so many people do not have the many things that we take for granted.
Daniel Day felt like he was just going through the motions in his Christian life and was loosing his fire and passion for the gospel. What he was inspired to do was for 10 days at a time, go without something, whether it be shoes,media, a coat,etc.While doing this Daniel blogged about his experiences to help others be more aware.

This is a great read for anyone who has been feeling apathetic and wants to live a life fuller than you are now.This would make a great book to read as a family, in a book club or to give as a gift.

Pilgrimage by Lynn Austin

I am a huge fan of Lynn Austin fictional work so I was excited to read her work of non-fiction and I thoroughly glad that I did! Lynn Austin is very honest and authentic in this book as she candidly talks about her struggle in her Christian walk where her spiritual life felt flat and is experiencing empty nest, all of that is about to change as she goes on a pilgrimage to the Holy Lands to walk where Jesus walked.

As Lynn walks the places that Jesus walks she is able to experience the scriptures in a new and enlightening way.I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good nonfiction book where they are able to see the holy lands through the eyes of a very talented author who describes everything in rich, beautiful details.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House in return for my honest review.

The Global War on Christians by John L. Allen Jr.

This is a hard hitting, eye opening book that I highly recommend to anyone who thinks that the persecution of Christians is a thing of the past. This is no a good, comfortable read, but is rather a great, eye opening, make-you-feel-uncomfortable kind of book.
Too many people think that persecution of Christians is something that is not our world today, but as author John Allen points out that is a misnomer and there is a whole lot more persecution going on than just in Muslim countries but it affecting places in Europe, Africa, Asia,etc.
So if you are looking for a great book to wake you up and realize what is really happening to Christians today I highly recommend this book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher but the views expressed are entirely my own.

Where courage calls by Janette Oke

Janette Oke is the first Christian author I ever read,I remember my Mom loved her books so when I was 12 or so I started reading them and I have been a fan ever since. I was absolutely delighted to find out that Janette Oke and her daughter Laurel Oke Logan collaborated once again and brought such a delightfully sweet story.
Beth Thatcher has grown up in a life of privileged and due to her weak constitution her Mother thinks she is unfit to teach in the wilds of Canada, but Beth is determined to teach on Coal Valley a mining community. As Beth follows the Lord's leading's in her life she finds that God has a lot more in store for her than she imagined for the town of Coal Valley is not what she expected, most of the women in town are widows from a mining accident and there is a lot of ignorance and hard feelings. As Beth tries to teach the children and make an impact in the community she is tested and tried. Beth's love life is complicated as well as two Mounties vie for her hand, one her childhood tormentor Edward and quiet, strong Jack, will she know to whom God has for her?

This book was a sweet, enjoyable read one that I would recommend for all ages, reading it made me realize why Janette Oke is one of the most famous Christian authors and why she is beloved by so many.

Critical reaction by Todd Johnson

Since reading Todd Johnson first book "The Deposit slip" last year I have been eagerly anticipating Mr. Johnson next book and this book was worth the wait! This author is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors as he does an excellent blend of mystery,suspense with just a hint of romance. I did not think I was big into legal thrillers,but this author is making me reconsider.
After its heydays in the Cold War a nuclear power plant is hanging on,  the workers are told is safe and everything is under control, which they believe until an explosion in the middle of the night. Workers Poppy and Kieran believe they were lucky to survive the blast, but as they find a bunch of loose ends and unanswered questions they realize that more may be going on then they were previous told. As Kieran involves his old friend Emily to defend him in court, but she does not have the experience so she asks for her semi estrange Father, Ryan's, help. As they come closer to the truth they realize just how much someone is trying to hide the truth from them.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed a good read that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House but the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Cloak of the Light by Chuck Black

I was so excited to get my copy of this book as it looked really good and intriguing,which is exactly what it was! I had not read any books by Chuck Black before, but I really enjoyed this one and look forward to trying out some of his other books in the future.

Drew Carter is a young man who is faced by heartbreak and tragedies, but he is hoping to leave that all behind when he goes to college, unfortunately tragedy seems to follow him as an explosion caused by a Physics experiment  leaves him blind and his friend Benjamin is missing.
As Drew sight starts to recover Drew realizes that he has a heightened neuron activity which help him see beyond what a normal man is able to see, but the result of this causes him to question his own sanity.
As Drew receive helps from Sydney a mysterious girl, they both try to find out what happens to Benjamin, but as things get darker will the truth ever come to light?

This book was an engaging interesting read and I highly recommend it!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion, all the views expressed are entirely my own.

Emma of Aurora by Jane Kirkpatrick

Jane Kirkpatrick is one of the premier Christian authors who writes fiction based on real people in history. The Change and Cherish trilogy about Emma Wagner Giesy a women who dared stand up for herself in a time where women had little rights. The 3 books follow Emma across her life as a young married women and  see as her life twist and turns. Emma is a strong women and I love the rich detail the the author wove into the story all the while trying to keep it as historically accurate as possible. The fact that it was based on a real person made the book all the more intriguing !

This book was a interesting read,at times it dragged a bit and Ms. Kirkpatrick's writing style is not my favorite,but I would still recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading about a women who dared to speak up in a day where women were usually seen and not heard.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review but the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

A call to resurgence by Mark Driscoll

I had heard the name of Mark Driscoll before but had never read anything by him before,but after reading "A call the resurgence" I think that is about to change!  I haven't read such a refreshingly engaging book about the condition of the church in this day and age in a very long time.
Mark is honest and open about the fact and is not afraid to shy away from the issues at hand and the one he is talking about in the book is the fact that in America we are living in a post-Christian nation and what are we going to do about it? Are we going to get out of our funk and do something or are we going to be content to let Christianity fade away?

I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to anyone who wants a future for Christianity. This was a very engaging, good read.

I received a copy of this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.

Christmas in Apple Ridge by Cindy Woodsmall

If you are looking for some heartwarming stories to get you ready for the holiday cheer than this book is for you! Nothing is quite so nice as curling up with a good book when it gets cold outside and being that this book is made up of 3 novella's this is the perfect read!
Author Cindy Woodsmall writes 3 stories about 3 young couples navigating the matters of the heart, whether is is recovering from heartbreak and looking for second chances or getting over prejudices these stories are sure to delight!

Although none of the stories were horribly original they were enjoyable quick reads and I recommend them to anyone who enjoys Amish fiction.

Every waking moment by Chris Fabry

For anyone looking for a heartwarming store then you will enjoy "Every waking moment" by Chris Fabry. Treha is a young women who is very ordinary,except for a very special gift she has as a whisperer of sorts to older people in the nursing home she works at. Miriam sees Treha's potential and wants her to develop it. As Miriam looks more into Treha's past she see that Treha is an enigma and is very mysterious.

I really liked how Chris Fabry was able to weave several stories together into a very satisfying ending. The book was a bit slow going at times,but it was still an enjoyable read and I recommend it.

I received a copy fro Tyndale in exchange for my honest review,all opinions expressed are my own.

Martyr's Fire by Sigmund Brouwer

For anyone who likes breathtaking adventure and intrigue, this is a must read! This book is the 3rd in the series "Merlin's Immortals" and we find our young hero Thomas posing as a beggar as he attempts to escape the Priest of the Holy Grail who have taken over the castle and appear to do miracles and great wonders. As Thomas goes to the Holy Lands with his longtime friend Gervaise. As Thomas is tested he comes face to face with the powers that the Druids and Merlin have been searching for.

This book is very good and really pulls you into the story,thus making it a real page turner! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good read with lots of twists and turns.

I received a copy of this book from the publishers but the opinions stated are my own.

Take Flight:A sisterchick devotional by Robin Jones Gunn and Cindy Hannan

I have always enjoyed and appreciated Robin Jones Gunn's books and I was delighted to read the devotional by her and Cindy Hannan.
Usually I am not a huge devotional person,but this was a fresh,interesting devotional full of lots of great life lessons and examples from both women and I really found it encouraging. This was a quick read, not a super big book, but it just what one needs to refresh the soul!
This book would make a great gift for a friend or for any females in your life!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher,but the opinions expressed are my own.

Little book of great dates by Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley

I have always appreciated the marriage related book by the Smalley's so I was super excited to hear that they came out with a book that looked just like something I need! "Little book of great dates:52 creative ideas to make your marriage fun" by Dr Greg and Erin Smalley is a little gem of a book that is great to give as a wedding gift or to a couple who has been married any length of time! The book is packed full of great ideas that are creative, inexpensive ways to keep the romance alive in your marriage. I have to say that being poor college students I really appreciated most of the ideas, and a lot of them are things we could totally do! I also like how upfront and honest the Smalley's are, willing to share their struggles and give helpful suggestions for way to improve your marriage.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is getting married, thinking of getting married or is already married, as I think it would benefit any of the above!

I received a copy of this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review, but the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Return to me by Lynn Austin

I have always enjoyed Lynn Austin's books and her newest book " Return to me" did not disappoint. The book chronicles the lives of a Jewish family during a time of upheaval, when the Jews were able to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. It is a story of heartbreak and loss as Iddo tries to get his family to turn away from the Babylonian culture that is infiltrating their lives, as Iddo and some of his family leave Babylon to  rebuild the temple they are faced with more hardships than they ever could of imagined, and yet God is always there as they return to Him.
The story is also about Iddo's grandson Zechariah who is trying to help rebuild the temple, no matter the cost.As he loves a women who is following pagan traditions,will his prayers be enough to get her to turn from those ways?

I thought this was a beautiful book, the rich detail that Lynn Austin added to it made the book all the more enjoyable and I could hardly put it down! I recommend it for older readers as it does deal with some of the things that the Babylonians and Samaritans did at the time, which were not good to say the least.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House, but all of the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Clear winter nights by Trevin Wax

I had never heard of Trevin Wax,much less ever read one of his books before, so reading "Clear Winter Nights" was a unexpected treat for me. The book is about Chris a young man who is wrestling with what he believes, and as he questions his faith and Christianity he spends the weekend with his Grandfather where they talk about his doubts and questions, wrestling with what it means to be a true Christian. This was an engaging book that dealt with the theology of Christianity in a fictional manner which made for an enjoyable read.

I recommend this book to anyone who has doubts, questions or just want to strengthen their faith.

I received a copy of the book from Multnomah, but that in no way influenced my review,all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

"Dangerous: Engaging the people and places no one else will" by Caleb Bislow

I am always excited to come across a Christian book that calls us to live radically for Jesus, and this book is exactly that kind of book. Caleb Bislow is a man who tries to live a life dangerously for the Lord, he is not willing to settle for the apathetic lifestyle that so many of us do,but he tries to live outside of his comfort zone. In this book Caleb tells us of his trips to Sudan and many other dangerous place and how he shared the gospel, oftentimes with amazing results.

I highly recommend this book to everyone,because in reality we all need to get out of our comfort zone and live dangerously, and that is exactly what this book calls us to do.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House publishers, but the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Redeeming love by Francine Rivers

Francine Rivers is one of the premier Christian authors and there is a reasons why. She is willing to tackle difficult issues (like abortion in the book "Covenant Child") and weave them into a story in such a powerful way that leaves the story resounding in your sole long after you have finished the final pages. As with her other books, Francine Rivers' "Redeeming Love" does not disappoint. We are swept into a story loosely based on the story of Hosea and Gomer in the Old Testament. Angel has endured nothing but cruelty at the hands of the men in her life, sold into prostitution as a child,Angel has used anger and hatred of men to help keep her going. Enters into Angel's life Michael Hosea, a godly man who feels like God wants him to marry Angel. As Angel struggles to comprehend Michael's love for her, and even more importantly God's love for her,she runs, back to that ugly things of her past. Will the redeeming love that is shown to Angel be one that she can ever accept?

Because of content issues I would only recommend this book to older mature teenagers or adults.It is not an easy light read that is enjoyable.It is a good read,but it deals with some very unsavory stuff, that even as an adult can be hard to take. That being said it does a great job at making the story of Hosea and Gomer all the more alive and for that reasons alone I highly recommend it.

I received this book in from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.All of the views expressed are entirely my own.

A home for my heart by Anne Mateer

For anyone who got hooked on Christian fiction because of authors such as Jannette Oke then author Anne Mateer will not disappoint! This is the 3rd book I have read by her and she is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors as her books always have likable characters, wonderful dialogue and intriguing plots and "A Home for my heart" was no exception!
Young Sadie loves her work at the local orphanage,but she also longs to someday marry her wonderful beau, Blair, all of those plans might be in jeopardy as the headmistress of the school is going to get married, thus making Sadie the head of the orphanage which is something Sadie longs to do. But will Sadie be able to make a choice between having a home of her own or taking care of the children she loves?

As always I thoroughly enjoyed Anne Mateer's writing,she has wonderful plots and great characters. If you are looking for a enjoyable, good read then look no  further!

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House but the opinions stated in this review are entirely my own.

Saving Casper by Jim Henderson and Matt Casper

When I had read "Jim and Casper go to church" years ago, I absolutely loved it! I mean how often do you get to read a book about how an atheist views believers and various churches? And it was written in a thought provoking way. So after several years we get to hear again from Pastor Jim Henderson and his atheist friend Matt Casper. Many people have wondered if Casper ever got saved and what became of this dynamic duo. This books goes about answering that question, and once again offers raw, authentic insight to how Christians can have the best intentions but go about it all wrong, and ways we can improve.

I thought this was an interesting, thought provoking book. I wasn't quite as sold out on it as I was the first book by these authors,but I thought it had some good insights and was an interesting read. That being said I think this book has some very valuable advice and is given from a unique perspective.

I received a copy of this book from Tyndale, but the opinions state here are entirely my own.

Strangers at my door by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove

I am all about Christian books that talk about stepping out of ones comfort zone and radically following the Lord, and this book was one of the best! Jonathan Wilson- Hartgrove not only wanted to read his scriptures, but he and his wife wanted to live out the scriptures so they decided to open their home to anyone who came knocking, what followed was an exciting journey full of many unexpected turns, some sorrow, but most importantly full of joy as Jonathan and his wife answer the call and seek to reach out to those around them in need.

This book was wonderful and I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to be encouraged and challenged by the saying of Jesus "I was a stranger and you welcomed me" and the results that followed.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, but the opinions expressed are my own.

Born of Persuasion by Jessica Dotta

I was so excited when I received this book as the premise of it sounded so wonderful and the cover was so beautiful. Unfortunately, the book turned out to not be nearly as good as I was hoping. :( The book was about Julia who has not been shown kindness in her short life and when she is left an orphan at the tender age of 17 she quickly realizes that her life is not really her own. As Julia quickly finds herself as a pawn between two powerful men and finds out more about her Mother's mysterious life and death she is not sure where to run.

I was really wanting to like this book, it sounded exactly like the sort of books I would adore, but I was not crazy about the style of writing nor the subject matter she choose to put in the book. I thought for a Christian book it was a bit more sensual writing than I cared to read.
I am sure that some people would enjoy this book,but I personally did not find it to be to my taste.

I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.

Unforeseeable by Nancy Mehl

I was so exited to receive a copy of the 3rd installment in Nancy Mehl's "Road to Kingdom" series and "Unforeseeable" did not disappoint. If you have not read the two previous books,I recommend you do as they are really good and it will mention characters from the previous books.
Callie is thrilled with the direction her life is going,she is finally engaged to the love of her life, Levi, and she has a job she loves,working with great people. Very soon her life is turned upside down when a person is killed outside of Kingdom, and it appears to be done by a serial killer. As the small town of Kingdom deals with the prospect that there might be a killer among them, Callie wrestles with her own past and also is struggling with why her fiance seems to know more than he is telling. When things get desperate Callie quickly learns where her strength lies, but will God get her through alive?

I have enjoyed Nancy Mehl's books in the past as they are always enjoyable reads with enough mystery to keep them interesting.This book was did not disappoint and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes a good read.

I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

What once was lost by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Christina Williems was finally recovering from the loss of her parents and carving out a life for herself running the Brambleville Asylum for the Poor. She thinks that is where God wants her and where she can enjoy a family. But one night a fire takes the building away from her and she finds herself having to farm out her dear little "family". When Christina is forced to approach a reclusive mill owner to take in one of the little boys she does not expect that her paths will cross Levi Johnnson's much, but as things happen and Christina is challenged in ways she could not imagine she finds herself growing closer to Levi,but will Levi ever open himself to the Lord's guidance?

As always I enjoyed Kim Vogel Sawyer's writing.She is not a earth shattering author, but you can always count on her books to be good, well written, clean reads that never disappoint.

The outcast by Jolina Petersheim

I am not usually a big fan of Amish fiction,it really is just not my thing,so I was a bit reluctant to give "The Outcast" by Jolina Petersheim a try. Also,I am not a huge fan of retelling of classics as I really don't think anyone can measure up to those authors.So I started this book with low expectations and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was a lot better than I thought.
When old order Mennonite Rachel becomes pregnant as a young single women, she is quickly shunned especially when she will not name the father of her child. As Rachel learns to adapt to life outside of anything she has ever known she quickly finds that there are kind and loving people everywhere. When  Rachel's young son is found to have cancer then some things come out and Rachel hurts those around her love her the most.

Overall I really enjoyed this book,despite the subject matter. I thought some of the content was a little more than I would of expected for a Christian book so I would not recommend it to a younger audience. Still I really enjoyed the authors writing style and look forward to reading her forthcoming books.

Rules of murder by Julianna Deering

Drew Fathering has always enjoyed reading a good mystery,but he never imagined one happening on his estate.When he throws a weekend party and it is ruined by a murder Drew finds himself quickly swept up into trying to solve it as the police do not seem to be getting anywhere. With the help of Drew's best friend Nick and the beautiful American, Madeline, they try to solve the mystery before one of them ends up a victim. What starts as all fun with using mystery techniques they picked up from books so becomes much more serious as things take a more sinister turn.

I thoroughly enjoy a good mystery and when it is a Christian book to boot it sounds like a winning comibination to me. Overall I found the book to be pretty good,but it did not totally arrest my interest like I had hoped it would.I still recommend it for anyone who likes to curl up with a good mystery.

Chasing Hope by Kathryn Cushman

I have read several of Kathryn Cushman's books in the past and have enjoyed her beautiful writing style and here endearingly flawed and believable characters."Chasing Hope" was just as good as Ms. Cushman previous books and is one that sticks with you well after you finish the final page.
Sabrina Rice was a talented young runner who had a chance at the Olympics,until that dream was taken away from her never to be realized. Sabrina thought that she could use her talents for the Lord,but now she feels rejected and alone,but when a troubled young girl Brandy with running potential of  her own comes in Sabrina's life will she be able to get over her own disappointments and help her out?

This was a rich,wonderful book that speaks to most anyone as it talks about broken dreams and yet how God can take those broken dreams and use them for His glory.

Every breathe you take by M.K. Gilroy

This is the second book that M.K. Gilroy wrote and he is quickly becoming a favorite of mine! Detective Kristen Conner is about to get immersed in the online world of dating as she goes undercover to find a serial killer they strike again. I found Kristen to be an overall very likable character and I thought the mystery aspect was quite good.I think I might of liked the first book in the series slightly better,but this one was really good too.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good,clean mystery with a very memorable and likable female lead.

Anomaly by Krista McGee

It seems like futuristic young adult books are becoming more common in the Christian book industry and this one was certainly a good read. It is the first in a series and I look forward to reading the other books in the series.
Thalli knows she is not like everyone else as she questions the authorities.She quickly finds that there are more sinister things afoot and when she starts to develop feelings for her best friend she realizes that maybe there is more to life than what they were taught to believe.

Frame 232 by Wil Mara

For any history buff and suspense fans this is an amazing read! This is one of the best suspense books I have read in a long time and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Sheila Baker finds out after her Mother's death that her Mother carried a heavy secret never revealing it to anyone, she was the famous babushka women who witnessed JFK's assassination and had a camera with her. Will what she comes across in the film shed light on what really happened on that fateful day? It appears so because as soon as watching the film Sheila is running for her life.Enters Jason Hammond into her life,he is a rich philanthropist who spends his life trying to solve historical mysteries and he quickly finds that someone is trying to bury the truth forever.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good historical suspense. It was thrilling page turner.

Stranded by Dani Pettrey

This is the 3rd book in the Alaskan Courage series by Dani Pettrey which tells of the adventures about the McKenna family. Darcy St. James has had a hard time forgetting the McKenna family and Gage McKenna in particular,after several months of not hearing from any of them there paths again cross when a friend of Darcy's disappears. As Darcy and Gage dig deeper into what happened to Abby they find out that things on the cruise ship are much more sinister than they seem.

I have enjoyed all of the other books in the series,but this one is probably my least favorite,that being said it was still and easy and engaging read.

The cutting edge by Ace Collins

In a world that is obsessed with beauty I found this to be a refreshing read. Leslie Rhoads is a small town girl who is on the verge of making it big in the modeling world with her flawless beauty.When she is approached with a make or break opportunity she takes decided to go home,not knowing that decision will change her life forever. When Leslie is brutally attacked and left without her beauty she quickly learns that beauty truly is only skin deep. When Leslie befriends a young girl who has similar scars will she be able to help young Angel heal and in the process find healing for herself? Will they find who disfigured Leslie before he strikes again?

This book had a lot going for it and I really enjoyed it. The suspense was page turning and the characters growth and development was realistic and well plotted. 

Critical Pursuit by Janice Cantore

This is the 2nd series by Janice Cantore that I have read and I think that overall I liked this series better and I look forward to reading the future adventures of Brinna.
The premise of the book is about Brinna who makes it her personal mission as a cop to find children who have been abducted like she was when she was a child and to save them. When Brinna is under fire because of a shoot out she is teamed up with Jack who was once an outstanding cop but is not reeling from the death of his beloved wife. As they learn to become a team, Jack is going to find it very difficult to keep Brinna from someone in her past who wants to celebrate the anniversary of her abduction. 

This was a quick paced,interesting read.The subject matter was very hard to read as it dealt with unsavory issues such as child predators,etc and that is really hard to read. I thought the author handled the subject well and did a great job at engaging one in the book.

I would not recommend this book for just anyone,but if you like a good suspense/thriller and can handle the subject that are brought up,then this is a great read!

I received a copy of this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Governess of Highland Hill by Carrie Turansky

If one wants to go back in time to an era long gone, then this book is the perfect escape! Carrie Turansky dished up a delightful novel about Julia Foster who grew up in India doing missionary work with her family,because of her Father's bad health she is forced to find a job as a governess to the widower Sir  William Ramsey who has recently inherited a title and large estate.As Julia struggles to find her place at Highland Hall and what God wants her to do there, Sir William is struggling with his feelings for the kind new governess,but with his finances in shambles will he have to chose money over love.

I thought this was a well written, engaging story.The premise of the story was not very original,but I think that given the subject the author did a good job.What I really appreciated about the author is that she had several different stories woven into the book and did a great job at developing secondary characters. I enjoyed the authors writing style and look forward to reading more books by her in the future!

I received a copy of this book from Multnomah Books in exchange for my honest opinion,but it in no way influenced my opinions,which are entirely my own.

The church builder by A.L Shields

If you are a fan of suspense/thrillers than I cannot recommend this book enough! This book has the perfect blend of unexpected twists and turns,character  development and intrigue that kept me reading on.The only word of warning I have is that this is the first of a series so it leaves off at a rather bad spot so I can hardly wait for the next book to come out.
The story starts off with seemingly average Bethany Barclay who is a lawyer in Washington D.C., her life is pretty predicable and normal until a few months after her dear friends death when she gets framed for several crimes and is on the run for her life trying to piece together what exactly her friend knew that got her killed. At stake is a battle between good and evil, but with Bethany caught in between the two groups will she actually make it out alive?

This was a great read and just when you think you have things figured out something else happens.I loved how the author pieces things together and ties together an absolutely thrilling read!

Lock,Stock and Over the Barrel by Melody Carlson

Melody Carlson has always been one of my favorite authors if you are looking for a enjoyable easy read and her new series about Daphne did not disappoint.
Daphne has always dreamed big and when she went to New York City 10 years previous she had thought she was going places,fast forward 10 years and she is working the same job for the New York Times writing about weddings.All of that changes when her Aunt Dee passes on and leaves Daphne everything,but they come with some strange stipulations. What ensues is Daphne trying to figure out more about her mysterious Aunt Dee and wondering if she will be able to meet the stipulations before her year runs out.

I found the book to be really enjoyable and easy to read.I really like the character of Daphne and cannot wait till the next book in the series comes out! The only thing I found slightly unrealistic is that after having only one guy interested in 10 years all of the sudden she has a bunch of guys after her,but that did not take away from the book too much.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good chick flick with a heartwarming message.

Burning Sky by Lori Benton

"Burning Sky" is the debut book by Lori Benton and what a wonderful debut it was. I found Mrs. Benton's writing style to be rich in detail and easy to read.
The story is about Willa Obenchain who has spent nearly half of her life among the Mohawk Indians, she is finally able to make it back the where she was raised only to find that much has changed. As Willa tries to piece together who she is and where she belongs her life is made more complicated by the arrival of a injured young Scottish man who is a botanist.  When her friend Tames-the-horse comes will she be able to decide which life she wants to live and who she wants to spend it with?

I really enjoyed all of the characters,they were engaging and interesting with a lot of depth to them.I thought the plot was interesting,the only down side was it a was a bit drawn out and could of been a hair shorter. Overall I really enjoyed the book and look forward to reading some of the author's future books.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

Faking Grace by Tamara Leigh

This humorous entertaining read by Tamara Leigh was a delightful,enjoyable read. I had not read any of Tamara Leigh's books before,but after reading this book, I look forward to reading some of her other works!
When Maizy Grace Stewart is trying to get her big break in the journalist world,but in the meantime she is trying to pay the bills so she gets a job at a local church and despite not being a Christian claims she is one in order to get the job.Thus ensues a hilarious as Maizy learns a lot more about grace.

I found Ms. Leigh book to have likable, realistic characters and she had a good story line and great dialogue. I highly recommend her book to anyone who wants a nice, enjoyable read!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher but this is my honest opinion

The Hero's Lot by Patrick Carr

Ever since finishing "A Cast of Stones" I have been anticipating the 2nd book in the Staff and Sword series,and the book did not disappoint! I find with many series that I adore the first book,but the other books fall flat in comparison,but that was not the case with "The Hero's Lot" and I found myself liking this book even better than the first one,which is saying a lot!

Errol Stone has come a long ways from being the village drunk to a powerful pawn in the hands of the church.Still,there are some days where he wishes he was still the village drunk as life was less complicated. Now Errol finds himself under a compulsion to kill Sarin Valon which seems like a suicide mission. Meanwhile Martin,Luis and Cruk go to Errol's birthplace to try to figure out the significance of Errol and how it will affect the future of the nation.

Some things I was not as crazy about: I thought the romance between Errol and Adora was lacking,there wasn't much build up or development to it,to be honest I liked the secondary characters romance better.
Another problem was that the book started out a bit slow,it took me a bit to get into it,but once I got into it I consumed the book as quickly as I could.

Some of my favorite things about this book: I really love how Patrick Carr has a complex,fascinating story line that he has developed,does it get confusing at times? Yes, and sometimes it is hard keeping all of the characters straight,but you have appreciate the fact that there really is a great story going on and that it is well thought out and deep.
I also love how Patrick Carr actually developed secondary characters,so many authors don't do anything with other characters,which really makes books very dull, but Patrick Carr did a fabulous job developing various characters and not just focusing on one person which made the book all the more delightful!

I highly recommend this book and cannot say enough how I am beyond thrilled with the series so far and am greatly anticipating the final book in the trilogy, due out early 2014!

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House publishing for my honest opinion.

Greater by Steven Furick

This is the first book by Steven Furtick and it was a good, inspiring read. In the book "Greater: Dream bigger.Start smaller. Ignite God's vision for your life" the author talks about how God's dreams are much greater than we can dream for ourselves and how we need to ignite that God's vision for our lives and not our own.
I found the book to be well written,engaging and interesting.I thought Mr. Furtick used a wonderful blend of scriptures, personal stories and humor to make it a read that would engage most people.
I liked how he talked about so often we are just living and not dreaming big,not living up to our full potential.

For anyone in need of encouragement and insight this is a great read!
I received a copy of the book from the publisher for my honest opinion.

A Most Peculiar Circumstance by Jen Turano

This is the 2nd book by Jen Turano I have read,and to be quite honest I am not a fan of her writing.This books centers around Arabella Beckett who wants to help the downtrodden women of America. Unfortunately along the way she falls into all sorts of trouble and her brother's friend
Theodore Wilder who is a private investigator is loathe to help her. Along the way they fall into all sorts of scrapes and just when things get dire,they might just be falling in love.

Overall I would not rate this book very highly as I found the storyline to be VERY predictable, the characters not horribly likable and the writing style was not very engaging.I think this book was a vast improvement from Jen Turano's previous books,but she still has a long ways to go till she is a author that I will enjoy reading.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House in return for my honest opinion.

Misery loves company by Renne Gutteridge

I had never really read any books by Christian mystery/suspense author Rene Gutteridge,but after reading this book I am going to check out some of her other books! I literally read this book in a day as it was that engrossing with likeable characters and enough action to make it a page turner.
The story is about Juliet Belleno who has become reclusive since the death of her husband who was a cop. The only link Juliet has to the outside world is her blog where she shares about her life and blogs about her favorite authors. When Juliet disappears it is up to her husband's best friend Chris and her Father to find out if her favorite  author Patrick Reagan has anything to do with it or not.

This book was well written and interesting.The mystery could of had possibly more to it,but it made for a engaging, easy read.I found the characters likable, it could of had a bit more interaction between some of the main characters,but overall I found it very enjoyable and am looking forward to checking out some of Mrs. Gutteridge other books.

Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson

Julianne Donaldson is an up and coming author of regency books along the lines of Jane Austen."Blackmoore" is the first book I have read by Julianne Donaldson,but after reading this one I am eager to go back and read her first book "Edenbrooke". I think Mrs. Donaldson does a delightful job of writing about the regency era without trying to rip off Jane Austen stories as her stories are uniquely her own.
Kate Worthington has two great desires in her life one is to get away from her troublesome family and go to India with her spinster Aunt Charlotte  and the other is to  see her best friend Henry Delafield ancestral home, Blackmoore. Right before leaving to see Blackmoore she strikes a deal with her evil Mother (think cross between Mrs. Bennett and Cruella de Vil) that if she is able to secure and reject 3 marriage proposals that she is free to India,but if not she is left to the mercy of her Mother. While at Blackmoore Kate quickly realizes proposals are harder to come by,especially with the  reputation her family has,so she devises another plan, but will it cost her that which her heart desires the most?

I thought Julianne Donaldson did a delightful job of blending a story that was engaging and interesting.The story alternated between the present and several years previous. The heroine was delightful,she was flawed and someone you could relate to.
All in all,this was a delightful read that I highly recommend.

I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley, but it in no way influenced my opinion of the book,all of the views and opinions are my own.

The Tale of Mally Biddle by M.L. LeGette

The tale of Mally Biddle by M.L. LeGette was a clean,good,easy young adult fiction that I highly recommend. The story starts off when the royal family is getting killed off and the young princess is presumed dead.16 years later the knights are running the kingdom and people are suffering. When rebel Ivan goes to the country he finds a young girl Mally Biddle who would make the perfect servant for the castle. As Mally Biddle gets to know people inside the castle she quickly finds that all is not as it seems and that the young princess may not of died,but how will they find her? Can the kingdom be restored from the knights?

This was a engaging read that was really cute and was a nice young adult piece of fiction.

The Chalice by Nancy Bilyeau

The Chalice is the 2nd book by Nancy Bilyeau and as with the first book in the series " The Crown" I thoroughly enjoyed it. The book is a historical mystery and is set in the days of King Henry VIII. Joanna Stafford is trying to rebuild her life along with the other displaced nuns and monks after their monasteries and abbeys are closed down. As Joanna tries to figure out what her role is in the prophecy that has been told to her by three different people and what her role is in the instance of the chalice which is also a part of that prophecy.

This was an interesting,good historical fiction. In many ways I liked the first book better,but overall this was a good continuation of an intriguing story written by an author that does an excellent job at bringing history to life with rich historical detail.
Unlike most of the books that I read this was not Christian,but overall it was quite clean and because of Joanna being a former nun it mentions Christianity in a positive light.

Stress test by Richard L. Mabry,M.D.

Stress test by Richard L. Mabry,M.D. was a exciting,easy read. The book is about Dr. Matt Newman a successful Doctor who after getting kidnapped and narrowly escaping with his life is framed with the murder of a women he barely knows. Sandra Murray is a successful lawyer who is a devoted Christian and decides to take on Matt case believing him to be innocent. As things get worse for Matt will he be able to prove his innocence and get back what he lost? As Sandra finds out more Matt,she finds herself developing feelings for him,but will things work out for them?

I really enjoyed this medical thriller.It was a exciting read that took me no time to finish.The characters were likable enough, a bit unrealistic at times,but overall fine. I thought it was a good book with a good story line and highly recommend it to anyone who likes a good thriller.

The Real win by Colt McCoy and Matt Carter

I recently got the book "The Real Win: a Man's quest for authentic success" by Colt McCoy and Matt Carter, which is a book for men and is one that I hope to get my husband to read,but if I waited to post a review until he read it...well that would be awhile.:) I realize that my opinion is somewhat distorted as this is a book that is by men for men,so some things I did not get,but overall I found this book outstanding! The authors both used a lot of football analogies (probably because one of the authors is in the NFL), so that was not something I can relate to,but a lot of men like that sort of thing.
The things that were talked about in the book were phenomenal! It talked about the things that really matter in life and how so many men get caught up in their jobs that they miss out of God and time with their families.

I highly recommend this book to anyone, whether a female to help understand her man and ways to encourage him,or obviously to a man to help realize what it means to really win.

I received a free copy of the book from the publisher but my opinion was in no way influenced.