Michelle Lynn Brown's Blog, page 5

Win a Kindle Copy of my new book, Unopened

Unopened
Deploying Faith Series – Volume One
Available March 25, 2016
Summary:

“Hannah smiled – a ghost of a smile – happiness long since buried under the cruelty of circumstances. Their life had become a funeral of sorts where they were always grieving the loss of a child, the loss of a soldier, and now the loss of their love.”

Keith and Hannah Anderson have been through three miscarriages, multiple deployments, and shared in the loss of friends to the tragedy of war. Retirement should be easy – a fresh start for the weary couple. But Keith sees the move back home to their small Oklahoma town as a step backward in a long line of failures – and Hannah as the one who left him with no choice. Hannah views Keith’s grumbling and unwillingness to embrace their new life as a reminder of the things she was unable to give him. Staring at the empty doorway of their marriage, both want to see things to change, but are unsure how to navigate all the hurt between them.

Then Hannah finds a box of unopened letters from an unknown woman. She believes they could help her understand the mother she never knew. When Keith begs her to leave the letters alone, they become another point of contention in their already troubled marriage. Hannah hopes the truth in the letters will bring healing to her battered heart – but hope is scare in her life.

Will Hannah and Keith allow life to push them through another door, or can they learn to trust that God is with them, no matter what door they are walking through?

 

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Review – The Glass Castle, by Trisha Priebe and Jerry B. Jenkins

The Glass Castle by Trisha Priebe and Jerry B. Jenkins is an amazing book. The characters are multilayered and the story line grips you right from the beginning. 

Summary: You’ll love joining in the adventures of The Glass Castle, brand-new from Trisha White Priebe and Jerry Jenkins, where the setting from The Chronicles of Narnia Meets the action from Alice in Wonderland. The king is growing old and is concerned about who will replace him. His new wife wants to produce an heir to the throne.  The only problem? Thirteen years ago, the king’s first wife gave birth to a son, and no one knows for sure what happened to him. Rumors swirl throughout the castle. The solution as simple: dispose of all the thirteen-year-olds in the kingdom. Except, it isn’t that easy. Avery and her friends won’t go quietly.   Avery, Kate, Tuck, and Kendrick take charge of the underground network of kidnapped children, inspiring them to believe that their past does not dictate their future and pledging to do the hardest thing of all. . .reunite the children with the homes they left behind.  When they discover that one among them might be the child of a man who wants them dead, will everything they work for be lost?

My thoughts:  While this is targeted for middle-schoolers, this book grabbed me from the first few sentences and kept me reading straight through until the end. The characters are just as mysterious as the story, and you anxiously turn the pages seeking to peel a layer or two back from what keeps you from knowing the full truth of the castle and its inhabitants. Unfortunately, just when I was about to discover something significant, I found that I was at the end of the book, hanging desperately on the precipice of an annoying cliff hanger. There is no doubt this is a well-written book, with well-developed characters, and a message of faith woven into the story. It just loses stars for not having any resolution – nothing to satisfy the reader until the next installment.

I received a free book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Review – The Calico Spy by Margaret Brownley

The Calico Spy is an adorable love story, sandwiched between a page turning mystery, and sealed with Margret Brownley’s signature witty writing style. I have long been a fan of Brownley’s characters and unique plot lines – and The Calico Spy did not fail to hit the mark.

Summary:

Pinkerton operative Katie Madison’s newest case takes her to Calico, Kansas, where two Harvey House restaurant waitresses were murdered in mysterious circumstances. Calico’s sheriff, Branch Whitman, has never met a Pink he liked and is stunned to learn the pretty redhead’s true identity as she works undercover as a Harvey girl. A tornado hits town, and a past deception puts Branch’s eight-year-old-son in danger. Now the Sheriff has no choice but to work with Katie—or chance losing everything he holds dear.

My thoughts: What I love about the book is the characters. Katie is spunky and unique and she grabs and holds your heart from the first few sentences. You find yourself drawn to all of the characters, even secondary characters, as Katie uncovers the people behind the façade they show. The mystery is well-written and I didn’t know who did it until it was revealed. The message of faith and obedience to His will is nicely woven in the story as well.

 

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest and fair review

Review – Breathless, by Becki Brannen

Breathless, by Becki Brannen, is a simple but sweet story about a movie star, Ryan Spaulding, who meets a woman who has no idea who he is. When Carly Sparks has an asthma attack in the mall, Ryan mistakenly assumes she is fainting at the sight of him. However, when he realizes that Carly wants to be  with him because of who he is on the inside, Ryan tries to keep his true identity a secret.  After her last boyfriend attacked her, Carly can hardly trust anyone. But something about Ryan makes her let her guard down.  Will she let it down so much that she will get hurt again? Will she turn her back on her promise to God?

While I am a fan of real-world faith and real-world struggles, this book smacks of worldly faith. Carly speaks of her commitment and promise to God to remain pure until her wedding, but she lets go of that promise with little hesitation. Even afterward, her biggest concern does not revolve around her relationship with Christ, but rather her relationship with Ryan. His “salvation prayer” is similar –  a plea for her to return to him.

If you are looking for a sweet romance, and nothing else, I would give this book three stars. Without judging it on its Christian message, the book still has two-dimensional characters and unrealistic plot-lines.

However, since this book is labeled a Christian romance, I will say that the star level is really low. It seems like the Christian message is awkwardly and falsely shoved into a story line that should just be in a different genre.

 

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

Review – Joline’s Redemption, by Vickie McDonough

Joline’s Redemption, by Vickie McDonough, is a tale of one woman’s journey from her selfish, self-centered ways to understanding her purpose in God’s will. Joline, seeking the finer things in life on the arm of a handsome man, finds herself duped by two different men. The result, she becomes trapped in a brothel with her infant son. When the owner, Badger, tries to force her to give up her son, she makes a break for her sister’s home in Guthrie, Oklahoma, knowing full and well what will happen if he catches up to her. The previous beatings she received after her last few escape attempts leaves her no doubt what her fate will be if she is caught. However, her sister’s home also holds its challenges, including Baron, her son’s uncle.

I loved how the author developed the characters quickly; you genuinely like them and are interested in how their story will end up. This, along with the fast paced story, keeps you reading along. Though this is the second book in the series, I was able to easily read the book without feeling like I missed out on something by not having read the first book. And because I adore all of the characters, I would be prone to buy the first book to get to read Lara and Gabe’s story.

With that being said, there was a lot going on in the book as far as plot lines go. Plus, the point of view switches often, including main and secondary characters. The effect was not positive and I felt it could leave the reader feeling a bit overwhelmed. I also believed the ending dragged on and the book could have stopped a chapter or two earlier.  Finally, I’m not a fan of fluff-filled happily ever after books, and I felt that everything unrealistically panned out for Jo.  

Overall, I liked the story and would recommend it, but it wouldn’t be on my must read list.

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Review – The Most Magnificent Thing, by Ashley Spires

The Most Magnificent Thing, by Ashley Spires, is an adorable children’s book about a little girl and her dog who set out to build the most magnificent thing. Unfortunately, her first, second, third…sixth tries are unsuccessful. With each attempt, her frustration mounts, until she explodes.  Spires creates a cute little tale about how kids can get easily frustrated when they are unable to recreate the magnificent ideas that flourish in their imagination. However, by taking a step back, they are able to look at things in a new light.

I loved this book! The illustrations are just as charming as the story, and the dog (both his pictures and his actions as told in the story) really steals the show. Though my daughter is eight and the story is meant for younger children, she still enjoyed it. This is a must for your young child’s bookshelf. Full stars for this adorable little lesson on patience and endurance.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Review: Scandalous, by Emily Dixon

Emily Dixon’s aptly named Scandalous is a fresh, honest, and raw look at how we approach women’s issues. From how we dress to love, dating and sex, Dixon covers these topics and more in an unashamed manner. Where women’s ministries fear to tread, Dixon does not. Emily’s writing style is both eloquent and gritty, as she gently brings you to the truth while ripping you from your comfortable place of complacent ignorance. I found myself laughing out loud, nodding my head in agreement, or slapping my forehead when an “ah-ha” moment came about. Don’t mistake this book for a shock and awe book of radical statements – Scandalous is filled with Biblical references. Whenever Dixon imposes her own view points, they are clearly marked as such. There are aspects of this book that can certainly make a person cringe and gasp, “Oh I can’t believe that she went there – and she went there like that!” Part of me wants to caution that if you are a woman who is easily offended by these things, don’t get this book; however, I also want to say that this book is tailor made for women like you.

I give it full stars for the fresh message and beautiful writing.

Review – The Christmas Truce, by Aaron Shepard

The Christmas Truce, by Aaron Shepard, is a fictional letter based on events that happened during World War I between the German and the English soldiers. In the story, the soldier recounts the events that occurred on Christmas Eve in 1914, in a letter to his sister. What began with a few Christmas carols sang across enemy lines, turned into a brief cease fire. The story rings with authenticity and will draw children into the story. As a military family, my children were captivated by the soldier’s tale of peace and finding commonality in their enemy.

I enjoyed the author’s writing style. Though simple in its delivery, it contained an elegance that lent authenticity to its tone.  The descriptions were vivid, and you could feel the emotions of the soldier. Also included is a note from the author that explains some of the myths and facts surrounding this true event.

I give this book full stars for its wonderful story, beautiful writing and message.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Review – God’s Servant Job by Douglas Bond

God’s Servant Job, by Douglas Bond is a wonderfully illustrated children‘s book with a beautifully written poem covering the book of Job. This can be a difficult book in the Bible to read, and while the author did a great job of rendering the meaning of the book into poem format, it was a bit difficult for my daughter (age eight) to understand. With words like slavering, lest and arbitrate, I often had to stop and define the words for my daughter. Also, the words spoken by God and Satan were only differentiated by the use of bold face type. Again, I had to stop the story to explain to my daughter who was now speaking.

What I liked? The illustrations were beautiful. I also liked that the book included some of the more difficult words to understand (though none that I listed above). It also includes study questions for both comprehension and for discussion/further thought. The message of the Book of Job was conveyed and, once I was able to clear a few things up for my daughter, she readily understood it.

What I didn’t like? The poem, though beautiful in its rhyme, was difficult to read aloud and for my daughter to understand.

 

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Review – Too Blessed to be Stressed: 3-Minute Devotions for Women by Debora M. Coty

Too Blessed to Be Stressed: 3-Minute Devotions for Women, by Debora M. Coty includes 180 devotionals designed to help you in your walk with Christ. These short and sweet devotionals are perfect for a quick pick-me-up or an extra shot of encouragement. I can also see this as a great way for new Christians to get into the habit of Bible study/reading. For those who believe they cannot find the time to read God’s Word, this devotional takes away those excuses. The devotionals are sometimes funny but always inspirational. They include a scripture, devotional, and a suggested prayer. Further research showed that there is a whole line of Too Blessed to be Stressed products, from a cookbook to a planner.

I gave it five stars, though I prefer more depth to my devotionals. I particularly liked how each page starts with a question to get the reader involved and examining their life and spiritual walk.

(I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.)