When I worked at a Christian Book store many customers would tell me how great an author Charles Martin was. I actually bought two of his books that are in my bookcase still waiting to be read. I picked this from Booksneeze to review and knew it was a repackaging but it sounded so good.
My, oh my, oh my-it was not just good, it was superb. This has to be one of the most heartwarming books I have ever read. As you read this story you laugh at some pages, you are enraged at some pages, and there are tears at some pages. He covers so much emotion and his writing style is so unique that I found myself so engrossed in reading and loving and rooting for the characters in a way I have never done before.
The main character Tucker Mason (Rain) has had a childhood straight from the pits of Hell with and evil father who doesn't care a lick for him or his brother Mutt. All the father cares about is making money and lots of it along with alcohol binges. Tuck and Mutt were raised by Miss Ella Rain who loves these two boys like her own. She is the only stable person in their lives and she is a Christian who instills the scriptures in their lives along with prayers to cover the evil they all endure. I was so amazed that one person could be so evil to everyone around them. Tucker is forced to return home and face his own tragic past along with Mutt who has escaped from a mental hospital with lots of problems of his own. Also enter a former girlfriend with a five year old son running from an estranged husband. Put these all together and you have one amazing story. At the end of the book and really all the way through, I wished I could have had a Miss Ella in my childhood. I loved how Tucker could still hear her voice and her prayers even after she had died and how he would talk back to her.
This book really shows how forgiveness and redemption can change lives along with peace and grace only found through our amazing Lord and Savior.
I would give this book 10 stars if I could. I am heading to my bookcase to read the other books I have by Charles Martin and I bet they will be as good as this one.
Thank you Thomas Nelson for sending me this copy free to review for my honest opinion,
-- Grace Elizabeth --
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
Money Secrets of the Amish
I love to save money in all different ways so this book is right up my alley. Being retired and on a fixed income involves a totally new way to look at frugal ways to save money. In this book we learn from the best at making things last and the art of recycling.
The author found during 2008 during the economic collapse that her work was drying up also. She started investigating the Amish culture to be serene, simple and rooted in centuries past that held financial wisdom to me. During her period of "extreme thrift" she researched the Amish way of wealth. She learned tips on saving, spending and investing and how to live a lifestyle extravagant in peach, sharing, family and community closeness. One of her funny quotes "Could a clotheshorse, spendthrift, clueless about-cash girl like me actually spend less, save more, and make shoofly pie?'.
We Americans are a blessed society with enormous wealth to spend our money any way we want to. To think that God actually only wants 10% of HIS money and lets us spend 90% how we want to is mind boggeling. This book helps you retrain your brain to be more frugal with practical and simple money saving ideas.
My favorite chapter was Shopping Secondhand. She shops at a secondhand store and saves a ton of money then heads to Goodwill and buys 9 items that would have cost $237.48 and she spent $25.50 for a savings of @211.98. Now that is "fun shopping" As the Amish say "You don't have to buy something new to buy something good".
She has chapters on: Pay on time-rethinking gifts-saving-de-spoil the kids-to bulk or not to bulk-bartering-and the best things in life are free.
Great book, fun read, lots of tips to help my frugal life more and a good book to give to a newly married couple or kids going off to college.
I received this book free for my honest opinion of it and so appreciated this great read.
The author found during 2008 during the economic collapse that her work was drying up also. She started investigating the Amish culture to be serene, simple and rooted in centuries past that held financial wisdom to me. During her period of "extreme thrift" she researched the Amish way of wealth. She learned tips on saving, spending and investing and how to live a lifestyle extravagant in peach, sharing, family and community closeness. One of her funny quotes "Could a clotheshorse, spendthrift, clueless about-cash girl like me actually spend less, save more, and make shoofly pie?'.
We Americans are a blessed society with enormous wealth to spend our money any way we want to. To think that God actually only wants 10% of HIS money and lets us spend 90% how we want to is mind boggeling. This book helps you retrain your brain to be more frugal with practical and simple money saving ideas.
My favorite chapter was Shopping Secondhand. She shops at a secondhand store and saves a ton of money then heads to Goodwill and buys 9 items that would have cost $237.48 and she spent $25.50 for a savings of @211.98. Now that is "fun shopping" As the Amish say "You don't have to buy something new to buy something good".
She has chapters on: Pay on time-rethinking gifts-saving-de-spoil the kids-to bulk or not to bulk-bartering-and the best things in life are free.
Great book, fun read, lots of tips to help my frugal life more and a good book to give to a newly married couple or kids going off to college.
I received this book free for my honest opinion of it and so appreciated this great read.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Thunder Dog
What a blessing the Booksneeze program is. This book is one of the examples of getting to read a wonderful book for free. It does not get any better than that!!. This was a book when I saw it up for review I knew I had to read it. I was not disappointed at all. This is one of those "heartwarming" books that make you feel better after you have read them.
This book is a true story of Michael Hinson who is blind and his guide dog Roselle who actually made it out of the Trade Center Tower #1 before it collapsed. That, in itself, makes for an interesting storyline. Michael takes you back 10 years to that "day that changed America" to relive what happened. He goes to work as usual getting ready for a seminar when his life and many others are changed forever. He works on the 78th floor of the north tower when the building is hit and the tower leans to the south. His co worker David and he immediately head for the stairs and begin the long trek down stairwell B with his dog by his side. He smells the jet fuel but knows he needs to stay calm to keep Roselle calm. Neither panic and start working their way down-ten stairs, turn, nine stairs. When they get to the 34th floor they see the firefighters are coming up with water but they don't have any information to pass along so everyone is still guessing what has happened to the building. In just over an hour since they left the office they are outside when a police officer screams, "Get out of here! It's coming down!" Now Michael and Roselle are literally running for their lives when the dust from the buildings completely cover them. We have to get out of the dust or we are going to die. But even in the dust cloud, with my guide dog now blind, too, I feel God's presence. He is with me. I am not alone. I am running with Roselle.
Michael Hinson is one special person who never let his blindness stop him from doing anything. He has ridden a bike and even driven a car. He was determined to achieve parity in a sighted world and it was a true pleasure to read his story.
Thank you Thomas Nelson for this free copy to review for my honest opinion.
This book is a true story of Michael Hinson who is blind and his guide dog Roselle who actually made it out of the Trade Center Tower #1 before it collapsed. That, in itself, makes for an interesting storyline. Michael takes you back 10 years to that "day that changed America" to relive what happened. He goes to work as usual getting ready for a seminar when his life and many others are changed forever. He works on the 78th floor of the north tower when the building is hit and the tower leans to the south. His co worker David and he immediately head for the stairs and begin the long trek down stairwell B with his dog by his side. He smells the jet fuel but knows he needs to stay calm to keep Roselle calm. Neither panic and start working their way down-ten stairs, turn, nine stairs. When they get to the 34th floor they see the firefighters are coming up with water but they don't have any information to pass along so everyone is still guessing what has happened to the building. In just over an hour since they left the office they are outside when a police officer screams, "Get out of here! It's coming down!" Now Michael and Roselle are literally running for their lives when the dust from the buildings completely cover them. We have to get out of the dust or we are going to die. But even in the dust cloud, with my guide dog now blind, too, I feel God's presence. He is with me. I am not alone. I am running with Roselle.
Michael Hinson is one special person who never let his blindness stop him from doing anything. He has ridden a bike and even driven a car. He was determined to achieve parity in a sighted world and it was a true pleasure to read his story.
Thank you Thomas Nelson for this free copy to review for my honest opinion.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Inside Threat
Inside Threat by Jason Elam and Steve Yohn is the 4th book of the Riley Covington series. I picked this book to review from Tyndale without reading the other three. I figured each book would be a story in itself and the beginning of the book filled me in on lots of Riley's background. To be honest, I was not sure I could finish this book. The first 196 pages drug for me-it was an effort to pick the book up to continue reading but I kept on and was glad I did. On page 200 the action and real storyline begin and WOW, it was hard to put down.
Riley Covington is a football player who also, in the previous books was in the military fighting terrorists. There is a bunch of homegrown Islamic terrorists who kill a prominent senator and during his funeral, this group overruns the National Cathedral and takes members of Congress and others hostage. What Riley finds out is that his former girlfriend Khadi is part of that hostage crisis. Riley devises a dangerous rescue plan which really puts you on the edge of your seat. Can't tell you more-must read the book to find out how and if he succeeds.
The scary part of this book is that it could have come from the headlines of the newspaper instead of the authors head. We never know what evil lurks around the corner but the co-authors have put lots of scripture throughout this book and we, as Christians, know the "end of the story"
Thank you so much to Tyndale Publishers for this free book just for my honest opinion. I will be picking up the other 3 Riley Covington books to read.
Riley Covington is a football player who also, in the previous books was in the military fighting terrorists. There is a bunch of homegrown Islamic terrorists who kill a prominent senator and during his funeral, this group overruns the National Cathedral and takes members of Congress and others hostage. What Riley finds out is that his former girlfriend Khadi is part of that hostage crisis. Riley devises a dangerous rescue plan which really puts you on the edge of your seat. Can't tell you more-must read the book to find out how and if he succeeds.
The scary part of this book is that it could have come from the headlines of the newspaper instead of the authors head. We never know what evil lurks around the corner but the co-authors have put lots of scripture throughout this book and we, as Christians, know the "end of the story"
Thank you so much to Tyndale Publishers for this free book just for my honest opinion. I will be picking up the other 3 Riley Covington books to read.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Enemies of the Heart
I think Andy Stanley is the BEST!!. I think he is a gifted preacher and a superb book author. I requested this book Enemies of the Heart by Andy Stanley and was surprised. Surprised that it was a book that came out in 2006 titled-It Came From Within. I am sure I read it when it came out but rereading his books is always enlightening.
What makes his writing so enjoyable is you can see him, on his stool, teaching this to the congregation along with his humor. He has personal stories throughout this book along with some "knock them dead" teaching on breaking free from the four emotions that control you-guilt, greed, anger and jealousy. All these are a "heart" issue and he digs deep into these topics and gives help on conquering these emotions. He explains how these damage our relationships and can destroy our homes, career and friendships. He helps us understand why we do the things we do and how to take charge with biblical direction. Confess, forgive, give and celebrate, theses are the habits that will change everything. These four habits set us free to love as God intends for us to love. Anger, greed, guilt and jealousy are the four monsters that can grow unchecked in your heart which will make your efforts to love short-lived.
This book has so much practical advice and help for anyone. I found myself highlighting pages and will read this one again and again-it is that good.
Thanks to Waterbrook/Multnomah for sending this free copy for my honest review.
What makes his writing so enjoyable is you can see him, on his stool, teaching this to the congregation along with his humor. He has personal stories throughout this book along with some "knock them dead" teaching on breaking free from the four emotions that control you-guilt, greed, anger and jealousy. All these are a "heart" issue and he digs deep into these topics and gives help on conquering these emotions. He explains how these damage our relationships and can destroy our homes, career and friendships. He helps us understand why we do the things we do and how to take charge with biblical direction. Confess, forgive, give and celebrate, theses are the habits that will change everything. These four habits set us free to love as God intends for us to love. Anger, greed, guilt and jealousy are the four monsters that can grow unchecked in your heart which will make your efforts to love short-lived.
This book has so much practical advice and help for anyone. I found myself highlighting pages and will read this one again and again-it is that good.
Thanks to Waterbrook/Multnomah for sending this free copy for my honest review.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
God's Love Letters to You
I must confess-I am a devotional-holic!!!. I love devotionals and usually read 10 different ones each morning before my bible reading. Love insights by different authors. When I saw this one on booksneeze I jumped at the chance to review it. I have Larry Crabbs 66 Love Letters and loved it so I knew I would love this on and I did. This one is just a 40 day devotional which is nice when there aren't days to follow. This devotional is so unique, it's short, packed with conversation with God (that is as good as it gets), and new insights on how to think about love. He has taken a different book each day to discuss. For example, Day 8 is about Ruth with a subtitle of my love can overcome all obstacles. The best part is you are reading from God's perspective and in the first person which makes it so much fun to read. After the story is a series of questions-take a moment to reflect which are very thought provoking and interesting. Last is a prayer to God and how it reflects the story you just read.
I guarantee you will "fall in love with the Savior" after this devotional is done. You relationship with Him will be deeper. Consider this your personal letter from God to you. This is a book I will go back over again and again-it is that good.
Thank you Thomas Nelson for sending me this free just for my honest opinion.
I guarantee you will "fall in love with the Savior" after this devotional is done. You relationship with Him will be deeper. Consider this your personal letter from God to you. This is a book I will go back over again and again-it is that good.
Thank you Thomas Nelson for sending me this free just for my honest opinion.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
When Sparrows Fall
I passed this book up the first time and after reading the reviews on it, I was bummed I had not picked it. When it appeared again, I jumped at the chance to read it and I was not disappointed at all.
This is one of those books you read that you just "really like". It was hard to believe this was her first novel and I hope she keeps writing,
The storyline deals with Miranda, a widow, with six children to raise by herself. She has a controlling pastor that wants to move the flock (a call by God) to another area and wants the congregation to foot the bill with their land sale. Miranda refuses to sell her land so the pastor threatens her to reveal secrets from her past. The plot thickens when Miranda falls from a cliff and is hurt. Enter her brother-in-law Jack who is a widow also to take care of her kids while she is in the hospital. Miranda named him legal guardian of her children while she recovers. Jack discovers that the kids are so sheltered and brings life and change into the family. The kids had never seen marshmallows!!. Jack can't understand Miranda and her secrets and keeps trying to persuade her to let him help her while falling in love with her.
The ending was a surprise and her secret was a surprise also. This is just a joy to read.
Thanks to Waterbrook/Multnomah for my free copy to review just for my honest opinion
This is one of those books you read that you just "really like". It was hard to believe this was her first novel and I hope she keeps writing,
The storyline deals with Miranda, a widow, with six children to raise by herself. She has a controlling pastor that wants to move the flock (a call by God) to another area and wants the congregation to foot the bill with their land sale. Miranda refuses to sell her land so the pastor threatens her to reveal secrets from her past. The plot thickens when Miranda falls from a cliff and is hurt. Enter her brother-in-law Jack who is a widow also to take care of her kids while she is in the hospital. Miranda named him legal guardian of her children while she recovers. Jack discovers that the kids are so sheltered and brings life and change into the family. The kids had never seen marshmallows!!. Jack can't understand Miranda and her secrets and keeps trying to persuade her to let him help her while falling in love with her.
The ending was a surprise and her secret was a surprise also. This is just a joy to read.
Thanks to Waterbrook/Multnomah for my free copy to review just for my honest opinion