Laura
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Title: WAITING FOR SUNRISE Author: Eva Marie Everson Publisher: Revell June 2012 ISBN: 978-0-8007-3437-4 Genre: Inspirational/ contemporary /women’s fiction
Patsy Sweeney a hard life. Her stepfather is abusive, her mother brings in laundry to help out, and...more
Title: WAITING FOR SUNRISE Author: Eva Marie Everson Publisher: Revell June 2012 ISBN: 978-0-8007-3437-4 Genre: Inspirational/ contemporary /women’s fiction
Patsy Sweeney a hard life. Her stepfather is abusive, her mother brings in laundry to help out, and Patsy has the care of the house and her two younger brothers, Billy and Harold. Until one day when Patsy tries to stop her stepfather from beating her mother and he notices her another way…
Desperate to save her daughter, Patsy’s mother puts Patsy on a bus to go live with a family that adopted her brother when he was just a baby. Patsy has a loving family, a great set of new friends, and even better—a future spouse waiting for her at the end of the ride.
But, now, years later, Patsy isn’t happy. She’s never recovered from the loss of her mother. Why did her mother give her up? Why did she keep Patsy’s younger brothers and not her? What will it take for Patsy to finally learn the truth about her past?
WAITING FOR SUNRISE is the newest book by Ms. Everson. It is a page turner. I started reading this book and hours later closed it, every word read. I cried through parts of it. This is a book that will reach the heartstrings and hold on, making the reader care.
I couldn’t understand exactly why Patsy couldn’t move on, having never been in that situation. I also couldn’t understand why she didn’t understand the truth behind it a lot earlier. She’d seen her stepfather’s looks, barely escaped his clutches a few times, and that never crossed her mind that her mother was protecting her? But the author handled it well. Billy’s story is also included in this book, and the ending is heartbreakingly sad—but satisfying. Don’t miss WAITING FOR SUNRISE. This is a book to read and remember. $14.99. 390 pages.(less)
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Title: THE WINGS OF MORNING Author: Murray Pura Publisher: Harvest House Publishers February 2012 ISBN: 978-0-7369-4877-7 Genre: Inspirational/historical/Amish
Lynndaya Kurtz is working in her garden when an aeroplane flies overhead and then lands in the h...more
Title: THE WINGS OF MORNING Author: Murray Pura Publisher: Harvest House Publishers February 2012 ISBN: 978-0-7369-4877-7 Genre: Inspirational/historical/Amish
Lynndaya Kurtz is working in her garden when an aeroplane flies overhead and then lands in the hayfield. She and everyone else in the community run out there to meet the pilot, who turns out to be Lyyndaya’s friend, Jude Whetstone. Jude takes the bishop up first, then Lynndaya, flying upside down and everything at Lynndaya’s demands.
The community is scandalized by Lynndaya’s behavior in the plane, and she’s barely back on solid ground when her parents are scolding her for having anything to do with Jude Whetstone. Much to Lynndaya’s dismay, she’s forced to write Jude a letter, breaking things off before they even begin.
When war breaks out, Lynndaya and Jude find themselves separated by more than just disapproving parents. Thousands of miles and an ocean now separate them. Not to mention a forced shunning because Jude enlists to fight in the war. What will it take to bring Lynndaya and Jude back together? Or, is it too late for both of them?
THE WINGS OF MORNING is the first book I’ve read by Murray Pura but I’m sure it won’t be the last. I wasn’t sure what to expect of this book. I loaned it to a friend who handed it back to me with the comments that he has all his historical facts wrong. I didn’t see anything wrong, though I did double check a couple details for accuracy.
I couldn’t help but fall in love with Lynndaya—a spunky Amish girl who’s a tomboy at heart, and Jude, an Amish man with one foot in the world. Historical fiction fans and Amish fans alike will love this novel. Don’t miss THE WINGS OF MORNING. $13.99. 300 pages.(less)
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Title: PATTERN OF WOUNDS Author: J. Mark Bertrand Publisher: Bethany House July 2012 ISBN: 978-0-7642-0638-2 Genre: Fiction / Suspense
Detective Roland March is on the case again. This time, it’s personal. Very personal. So much so, that I almost didn’t re...more
Title: PATTERN OF WOUNDS Author: J. Mark Bertrand Publisher: Bethany House July 2012 ISBN: 978-0-7642-0638-2 Genre: Fiction / Suspense
Detective Roland March is on the case again. This time, it’s personal. Very personal. So much so, that I almost didn’t recognize him. The issues involved in the latest string of murders have touched him at the core of his very being, and he will never be the same man again.
This is not a book for the comfortable Christian who has it all figured out. Through his detective hero, J. Mark Bertrand tackles many tough issues that do not have pat answers, and shows just what it takes to make it through day after day of constant exposure to evil in its various forms. Every area of March’s life is touched by his latest case, and he teeters on the very brink of mental and moral destruction.
Bertrand’s characters are so bitingly real, you feel like you are right beside them the whole way. But don’t expect them to pull any punches. That’s not in the book. This is a great read, and I fully expect and eagerly anticipate the next in the Roland March series. 5 stars. 367 pages. $14.99.(less)
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Title: TEMPTATION Author: Travis Thrasher Publisher: David C. Cook April 2012 ISBN: 978-1-4347-6417-1 Genre: Young Adult/Christian mystery/supernatural suspense
TEMPTATION is the third book in Mr. Thrasher’s Solitary Tales Series. It is the story of Chris...more
Title: TEMPTATION Author: Travis Thrasher Publisher: David C. Cook April 2012 ISBN: 978-1-4347-6417-1 Genre: Young Adult/Christian mystery/supernatural suspense
TEMPTATION is the third book in Mr. Thrasher’s Solitary Tales Series. It is the story of Chris Buckley’s soul-wrenching journey as he goes deeper into the darkness that threatens all he loves best.
Chris is a reluctant student at Harrington High’s summer school, and there he meets a fun-loving girl who is a welcome diversion from Chris’ past. Chris stops searching for truth about the town of Solitary, and no longer tries to piece it’s shadows, or his role in the mysteries surrounding it.
So, Chris makes a new choice—he runs. But he doesn’t realize he’s running the wrong way—and is very close to being beyond any choices at all…
Okay, I’ll be honest. I didn’t read Solitary or Gravestone so I was totally lost when I tried to get into TEMPTATION. I didn’t know the previous story, and I felt like I was dropped into the end of a very confusing drama. So, if you haven’t read the first two books in this series, then make sure you do before starting TEMPTATION.
TEMPTATION isn’t just for young adults. If you like supernatural suspense, then TEMPTATION is a book for you to consider. We are fighting a spiritual battle, and TEMPTATION is a good reminder of that. The book ends with Chris needing to make a major decision, an excellent draw into the final book in the series Hurt, releasing in January 2013.
I am not a fan of supernatural suspense, nor mysteries, so I am definitely the wrong person to review this book. So, even though this book didn’t exactly excite me, it might be just the one you’re looking for. The writing was great, scary, edge-of-the-seat style. The characterization, fantastic. So, basing my rating on that, four stars. $9.99. 336 pages. .(less)
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Title: THE BEST FRIEND Author: Melody Carlson Publisher: Revell June 2012 ISBN: 978-0-8007-1963-0 Genre: Inspirational/young adult
Lishia Vance thought she had some really good youth group friends. But then suddenly a new girl comes to town, and she loses...more
Title: THE BEST FRIEND Author: Melody Carlson Publisher: Revell June 2012 ISBN: 978-0-8007-1963-0 Genre: Inspirational/young adult
Lishia Vance thought she had some really good youth group friends. But then suddenly a new girl comes to town, and she loses all her friends. In a miff, Lishia gets up to move away from the table and goes to sit with another girl, a cheerleader, who is sitting alone.
Riley is Lishia’s middle school friend and suddenly she’s claiming Lishia is her best friend, except she’s asking her to do some really dishonest and mean stuff. Lishia is uncomfortable with this, but she does what Riley asks because that is what best friends do.
Now Riley has gotten Lishia on the cheerleading squad and Lishia is finding it isn’t all what it’s cracked up to be. She hates the person she’s become. And she hates being Riley’s puppet. But is she willing to do what’s right and face what could be public humiliation?
THE BEST FRIEND is the latest book by Ms. Carlson and my daughter was anxiously waiting for me to finish it so she could read it. Ms. Carlson really writes books that appeal to teens and tweeners. Some of the issues are rather adult and edgy, so if you are protective—or ultra-conservative, you might want to be careful, but it deals with real issues that, unfortunately, teens face today.
Lishia is a very realistic teenager – desperate enough for a friend and to be accepted that she was willing to do anything to achieve that. I hated some of the bad decisions she was making and that even her family seemed to support her bad choices by encouraging her to spend the night with Riley, despite knowing her reputation, and by bragging about her getting on the cheerleading squad, like that was the ultimate, even better than her perfect GPA. Not that cheerleaders are bad—my best friend was one—but most of the ones in this series were really messed up.
If you are looking for a new Melody Carlson book for your favorite young adult then THE BEST FRIEND is a great book to consider. $12.99. 215 pages.(less)
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" The Amish have a lot of repeated names, which is why wives tend to be known by Samuel's Miriam (husband's name and wife's) and children are known the...more
The Amish have a lot of repeated names, which is why wives tend to be known by Samuel's Miriam (husband's name and wife's) and children are known the same way Samuel's Micah (dad's name and child's)(less)
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Title: FOREVER HILLTOP Author: Judy Baer Publisher: Guideposts May 2012 ISBN: 978-0-82494-529-9 Genre: Inspirational/contemporary
FOREVER HILLTOP features two of award-winning author, Judy Baer's books in one novel.
In An Unlikely Blessing: Alex Armstrong...more
Title: FOREVER HILLTOP Author: Judy Baer Publisher: Guideposts May 2012 ISBN: 978-0-82494-529-9 Genre: Inspirational/contemporary
FOREVER HILLTOP features two of award-winning author, Judy Baer's books in one novel.
In An Unlikely Blessing: Alex Armstrong is a former college professor in his hometown of Chicago, but now he’s finding himself going to North Dakota to serve as a first-time pastor. His first assignment is two churches that are too small for a pastor, so they want one pastor to share the load and the churches.
Alex and his nephew, Jared, arrive a day early, but are welcomed into the community right away. Visitors stop by the parsonage on a minute-by-minute basis sometimes, but the pantry is well stocked, the families are nice, and the farming community is about as far from city life as Alex can get.
But things don’t seem as idyllic after Alex is there for awhile. It seems that everyone has their problems. Is Alex in the place God has him? Or did he jump from the frying pan into the fire?
In Surprising Grace, Alex Armstrong is beginning to get used to his life as the rural pastors of two different North Dakota churches. He now houses some homeless geese that one of the children in the area wanted to save, and is getting to know the members of his different congregations. But Alex is lonely, and under impulse fires off an email to his former fiancée.
Alex’s flock needs help and counsel like he never imagined, and he grows to love each and every unique individual he comes in contact with. But when his ex-fiancée responds—is he going to be forced to choose between the woman he used to love and the people he currently serves? Or does God have someone else in mind?
Both An Unlikely Blessing and Surprising Grace are quiet, sweet stories about a pastor serving in his first church. Ms. Baer did an excellent job describing the North Dakota landscape and the type of farmers that live there. She also pretty much has the pastoral role of a small town country pastor down pat.
Alex might have felt like a fish out of water but he definitely tried to put his best foot forward in this community. I couldn’t help but applaud him as he faced everything from tipped over pickups, loose hogs, and runaway cows in his first twenty-four hours in town. And that was just the beginning. Recommended. $16.99. 573 pages.(less)
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Title: THE BLOOD SUGAR SOLUTION Author: Mark Hyman, MD Publisher: Little Brown February 2012 ISBN: 978-0-316-12737-0 Genre: Healthy living
THE BLOOD SUGAR SOLUTION is a book for those individuals who want to be on an ultra-healthy program for losing weigh...more
Title: THE BLOOD SUGAR SOLUTION Author: Mark Hyman, MD Publisher: Little Brown February 2012 ISBN: 978-0-316-12737-0 Genre: Healthy living
THE BLOOD SUGAR SOLUTION is a book for those individuals who want to be on an ultra-healthy program for losing weight, preventing disease, and feeling great. Dr. Hyman is the best-selling author of other medical books for the general public, and he maintains that fifty percent of all Americans have diabesity, which is the spectrum of imbalance ranging from mild insulin resistance to prediabetes, to full-blown type 2 diabetes.
The latest research shows that insulin imbalance is the major cause of weight issues and diabetes, as well as heart disease, cancer, dementia, and most other diseases. You may have diabesity and not know it.
In THE BLOOD SUGAR SOLUTION, Dr. Hyman presents his scientifically based program for rebalancing insulin and blood sugar levels. He identifies the seven factors in achieving wellness: peak nutrition, regulated hormones, reduced inflammation, optimized digestion, maximized detoxification, better energy metabolism, and a calm mind.
Included in THE BLOOD SUGAR SOLUTION are self diagnostic tests, advice on supplements and medication, stress-reducing strategies, a menu plan and recipes, as well as a six-week action plan.
If you follow the advice in THE BLOOD SUGAR SOLUTION, you will gain back your health.
The reading of this book is rather dry—and it does suggest working with your medical doctor, so your physician will need to be open-minded and accepting of Dr. Hyman’s approach and views. The recipes included sound wonderful, but pricy, and also includes a shopping list so you can make sure you have all the ingredients on hand (some are hard to find). Also, the supplements recommended seem to be only available on his website for a pricy amount. If you are looking for a healthier lifestyle then pick up THE BLOOD SUGAR SOLUTION is a book to consider. $27.99 hardcover. 420 pages.(less)
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