Sarah Holman's Blog, page 115

Top Ten Books on 2012

10. To Birmingham Castle 
 A wonderful historical tale. If you like G. A. Henty, you will love this book

9. Tales of the Heartily Homeschooled Laughed so hard while reading this book. Great for the whole family.

8. The River
Very powerful. A wonderful example of letting your story speak for its self.
7. Interrupted: A Life Beyond Words
This book is one I wouldn't mind rereading soon. If you know me, I normally don't want to reread a book for at least three years.
6. Red Rain
I loved this story. It is so hard to find good, Christian Sci-Fi. I can't wait to read her next book.
5. The Messenger
This was a story that made me go out and buy more books by this author. Not only was it a great adventure, it honored the deeply held beliefs of others.
4. The Misunderstood God Wow! This book was amazing. It made me rethink many of the things I have thought about God. Not a perfect book, but a good one.
3. The Abolitionist 
Elisabeth Allen does it again! She pulled me into a story and left me changed. God is being truly glorified by her work.

2. Beyond Waiting
I don't think there is a better book out there for single young girls

1. The Gospel of Yes
This was the best book I read this year. It's message is one that I wish I could share with everyone I know.

Crusoe

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Description: Get ready for the adventures of the world's most famous castaway as every thrilling episode of Crusoe comes to DVD! Loaded with action, exciting inventions and romance, the ultimate battle for survival begins as Robinson Crusoe (Philip Winchester) sets sail for the New World. But after a dangerous onboard attack, he finds himself stuck on a remote tropical island with only the assistance of native friend Friday (Tongai Arnold Chirisa) to help him prepare for his hopeful journey back home. 
In a day in age when things like faithfulness to one’s spouse, faith, and strong and healthy male friendships are considered laughable, it is hard to find good movies. I love modern movie magic as much as the next person, but I am not willing to watch most of the really well made films because they are morally bankrupt. Crusoe is a wonderful exception.
My Mom heard this series was good so she bought it for us. Once we started watching, I didn't want to stop, and I didn't want it to end only 13 episodes later. However, I have a new favorite that has a guy who never compromises his standards, even at his weakest moment.
[image error] There was only one thing and it happened twice in the whole series and can easily be skipped. I guess since the most scandalous thing Crusoe does is walk around some with his shirt off, they felt the need to have a character that made up for it in some way. One character (Olivia) with her back to the camera takes her shirt off and another time it is implied that she takes off more. She doesn't do this in front of the people but still.. These two moments were very brief and quickly forgotten in the story. However, I would recommend that you skip these parts. One is pretty obvious when it is coming because she is near a pool of water and looks around for people. The other, when Crusoe falls off a cliff when she is there, just hit the fast forward button until you see them walking again. You won't miss a thing I promise. Some people also may find some of this a little gruesome as many people die and are killed.
However, my favorite part of this series is the fact that Crusoe not only loves his wife, but if faithful to her. He has been on the Island six years when the series starts, and he doesn’t know if his wife even knows he is alive. Yet, even at his weakest moment when there is a girl there who wants to comfort him, he stays faithful. My favorite moment is when the girl tries to kiss him. He pushes her away and holds up his wedding ring, telling her he made a vow, and he was going to keep it.
I also love the friendship between Crusoe and Friday. It is 100% guy and so much fun to watch. They look out for each other, teach each other, and encourage each other to be better men.
I highly recommend this series for older teens and adults.

One of those weeks

Some weeks just seem to keep you so busy, you barley have time to breath. This has felt like one of those weeks. I feel like I have worked everyday, enjoyed a couple hours of  entertainment in the evening, then I crash into bed only to waken before I am ready and the process to start over again. Whats worse, my work has all had to do with blogs, e-mails, and my job, nothing to do with the stories that are dancing in my head, waiting to be written.

Sometimes, life keeps you busy then you would like and from the things you love to do. However, I am learning that to rejoice in the work and business, even though it keeps me from my writing. I mean, how many other people are distracted from their writing because homeschool authors our begging to be interviewed on their site? How many people are part of a team of friends plotting next years adventure? And how many people have such an amazing internship that I have at the Texas Capitol? I am truly blessed.

Today, even thought things might be crazy, take a moment to be thankful for the work you have. You might be surprised with how thankful you can be for all the chores.

Book Review: Against the Tide

Age Appropriate For:Ages 15+ for drug use and intense moments.

Description: As a child, Lydia Pallas became all too familiar with uncertainty when it came to the future. Now, she's finally carved out a perfect life for herself -- a life of stability and order with no changes, surprises, or chaos of any kind. She adores her apartment overlooking the bustling Boston Harbor, and her skill with languages has landed her a secure position as a translator for the U.S. Navy. However, it is her talent for translation that brings her into contact with Alexander Banebridge, or "Bane," a man who equally attracts and aggravates her. When Bane hires Lydia to translate a seemingly innocuous collection of European documents, she hesitantly agrees, only to discover she is in over her head. Just as Bane's charm begins to win her over, Lydia learns he is driven by a secret campaign against some of the most dangerous criminals on the East Coast, compelled by his faith and his past. Bane forbids any involvement on Lydia's part, but when the criminals gain the upper hand, it is Lydia on whom he must depend.
I have to admit, I requested this book simply because of the breathtaking cover. I was pleased to find that the story inside was as wonderful as the cover. The story gripped me from the beginning and kept me turning the pages until the end.
After reading a disappointing book with typical romance, this was just what I needed to read. The romance was not typical. Instead of denying their feelings for each other, they admit it. That alone was a refreshing change. The only thing about the romance that I didn’t like is that the two of them decide at one point that even though they know they can’t be serious about each other, they will indulge in a flirtation. However, even that has a redeeming quality to as they soon realize that that is impossible. Also Bane is a Christian and Lydia is not when they start their romance. It didn’t bother me much, but I wish she had become a believer before Bane became serious about her.
Lydia was a character that I could instantly fall in love with. She had a hard early life, but she worked hard to overcome it. She is a wonderful mix of sweet and strong. In fact, all the characters in this book were amazing and well done. They are all complex, all make mistakes, but in the end, the good guys do what is right. I also really enjoyed the complex character of Bane.
I didn’t know how I would feel about reading of efforts to end the opium trade, but I was fascinated.  Elizabeth Camden brought history to life in this story without making it too disgusting to read. She managed to show how opium hurt many people of the time without going into so much detail that it made you want to put down the book.
I think this book would be a great book for parents and teens to read together and discuss everything from how much drugs can cost you, to why casual romance is problematic (and can even be dangerous), and many other topics.
I highly recommend this book for those who love historical fiction, unique characters, thought-provoking stories, or just a great, page turning read.
I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.  I was under no obligation to write a positive review.  The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

Book Review: Unending Devotion

Age Appropriate For:16+ for mature subject matter.
Description: In 1883 Michigan, Lily Young is on a mission to save her lost sister, or die trying. Heedless of the danger, her searches of logging camps lead her to Harrison and into the sights of Connell McCormick, a man doing his best to add to the hard-earned fortunes of his lumber baron father. Posing during the day as a photographer's assistant, Lily can't understand why any God-fearing citizen would allow evil to persist and why men like Connell McCormick turn a blind eye to the crime rampant in the town. But Connell is boss-man of three of his father's lumber camps in the area, and like most of the other men, he's interested in clearing the pine and earning a profit. He figures as long as he's living an upright life, that's what matters. Lily challenges everything he thought he knew, and together they work not only to save her sister but to put an end to the corruption that's dominated Harrison for so long.
Warning, this review contains some spoilers (though no major ones).
After seeing a lot of my friends give this book five stars on Goodreads, I decided to request a review copy of Unending Devotion. I wish I had taken a few more minutes to read the actual reviews so I wouldn’t have been surprised about the subject matter in the book.
I really wanted to love this book, at first I thought I would. Jody Hedlund is a very gifted writer, and her style pulled me in. She obviously does her research and adds some wonderful historical tidbits. However, a lot of the enjoyment was taken out of the book because of the subject matter.
Lily is working to help end prostitution. She helps girls escape from it as she works to find her sister who ran away to start in that profession. Although I think this is a noble goal, and I am glad there are people out there that fought this evil back then and continue to fight it today, it is not a subject I like reading about.
One of the other things I did not enjoy was a particular situation that Connell and Lily find themselves in. Lily gets caught out in a storm and Connell saves her and takes her to an abandoned cabin. When Lily wakes up, she finds that Connell removed some of her clothing to keep her from getting chilled. Although I understood the medical need, I just didn’t like the whole situation.
With all that said, the book did have some redeeming qualities that kept me from hating it. Connell and Lily are both very committed to keeping pure and living an upright life. Several times I was pleasantly surprised when they took a step back from each other or did some other such action so as to be honorable toward each other.
I also really enjoyed reading about a time, place, and industry that I know very little about. As a lover of history Jody gave a wonderful glimpse at a part of American history that isn’t as well-known as many others.This book would be great for those who are concerned about the white slave trade, lovers of historical fiction, or those looking for a romance story where the characters act in honor.
I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.  I was under no obligation to write a positive review.  The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

Book Review: American Patriots: Answering the Call to Freedom

Age Appropriate for:All Ages
Book Description:The United States of America was founded and established by ordinary citizens just like you and me. In their struggle for independence, these heroic men and women willingly shed their blood, sweat, and tears -- often sacrificing their own lives and fortunes in order to hand down the precious legacy of freedom we all enjoy today. Now is the time for a new generation of American patriots to rise up and join in the fight. Now is the time for every American to return to the virtues, values, and ideals that formed our foundation of freedom, and enable America to remain a great nation, a powerful democracy, and a beacon of hope for the world. "American Patriots" highlights the heroic men and women who valiantly fought to secure our God-given rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness -- not only for themselves and their children, but for countless future generations. Their stories are a true reminder of the extraordinary faith, courage, and determination that set this country on the path to greatness centuries ago, and an inspiration for future generations of great American patriots.
I was really excited to get my hands on this book when it came out. Being a fan of History and an admirer of Rick Santorum, this seemed like a perfect book for me.
This book is a wonderful little gem for patriots and history buffs alike. Rick Santorum takes us through the rights mentioned in the Declaration of Independence (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness) by sharing the stories of the forgotten heroes of early America.
I really enjoyed reading about people I had never heard about. Each and every story was inspiring, many were thought provoking, and some will stay with me for a long, long time. In our modern culture of people who think getting stuck behind a red light is a hardship, it is nice to read about men and women who were willing to give so much so that I could live in a free country today.
One of my favorite stories was the story of Phillis Wheatley. She was a slave during the Revolution who wrote poetry. Her master and mistress saw at a young age she was very smart. They made sure she was educated and helped her publish a book of poetry. They also helped her to send a poem to George Washington, which he sent a personal thank you note to Phillis for. It is amazing to me that people like Phillis aren’t celebrated more in the African American community. Even though she was a slave, she didn’t let that stop her from doing great things.
If you want to be inspired by the heroes and heroines of the past, want a quick read, or are looking for a refreshing view on history, I recommend American Patriots.
I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.  I was under no obligation to write a positive review.  The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

After Giving Thanks

You know, I realized a trend that is happening across the social networks and in my own home. It was a trend that I noticed in myself and I don't like it. This trend has caused me to think that perhaps a name change for the day after Thanksgiving. Perhaps, we should start calling Grumblegiving or Unthanksgiving.

It is so easy to be ungrateful after a day of over eating, spending a lot of time with family, and the like. I got up this morning after not sleeping well with a sore back. As I was sitting on the couch, thinking about how awful I felt, I began to read my social network updates. Funny, many people where doing the same thing I was; grumbling. Others also had bad nights sleep, family arguments, or a scale that showed they had lost progress they had made.

Well, I am bucking the trend. I am going to swim against the flow. I refuse to join in Grumblegiving or anything like it. Today, I will be grateful for what I have and despite how I feel. I will not take out my restless night on my family, or at least that is my plan. Join me in to be Grateful even after Thanksgiving

Some of my Blessings

I have many blessings, many things that I am thankful for. However, today I would like to thank God for some of the amazing people he has brought into my life.
For the girl who constantly is inspiring me to be daring

C. S. Lewis once said; “Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one.” this author and I said "You too?" a lot this weekFor the two girls who are as dear to me as sisters
For the one who added so much sparkle and will be missed on MOHL
For the newest member of the MOHL team, who has jumped right in and been a blessing

For the many authors I got to know this year
For the girl who I met briefly, and texts me often
For the sister, who listen's to all my idea's
For my wonderful Parents
My collage going brother
My youngest sister who likes to dream

My sweet and quite sister 
The sister with a servant's heart 
For the God who holds me in his arms and never lets me go

Goodbye NaNo

Well, I wanted to do NaNo, but God had other plans. You see, I got sick right after starting (hence the lack of posts) and am now two far behind to catch up.

Sometimes, life does not go as planned and it is so frustrating. As a writer, I wish I would write myself into a plan that wouldn't be changed. I get frustrated that my writing loses in a battle to the Flu, but such is life.

I am despratley trying to get caught up on all my work and commitments, but will do more blogging as soon as I can.

NaNoWriMo Day 1

Well I'm off to a good start! 500 words already done! Here are some of the things I did to keep me inspired today.
1. Wrote what I thought was a killer opening (sometimes the magic happens)
"Some men are for a time and a season. They live their life and pass into the next without many people even being aware of their existence. Other men inspire not only their generation, but the generations to come. This is a tale of people who did just that. They led their people to greatness in their day and inspired greatness in the generations to come...." Copyrighted 2012 Sarah Holman
2. Watched the first episode in Month of the Novel
3. Started a pin board