Book Review: Nowhere to Turn

Nowhere to Turn

Lynette Easton

Revell

Pub Date   Sep 2 2014

Danielle is about to run away from her abusive husband.  Jenny Cartee helped her come up with an escape plan so Danielle anx her eleven year old son can escape the abuse.

Despite Dani trying to escape and get herself and her Son to safety.

This is a novel that will leave you on the edge of your seat.  If you are looking for a good suspenseful read one that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

If you love edge of your seat suspense with a powerful plot line then Nowhere to Turn is a must read.

I give Nowhere to Turn five out of five stars...

Book Review: Good Morning Mr. Mandela

Good Morning, Mr. Mandela

Zelda la Grange

PENGUIN GROUP Viking

Viking Adult

Pub Date   Jun 24 2014

The author of this memoir Zelda was born a white AFRIKANNER in 1970 in Johannesburg Africa.  She worked  closely with Nelson Mandela by the time she was in her early 30s.   Growing Up Zelda was raised around the strong prejudiced of the colored people around her.

In 1994 Zelda began working for President Nelson Mandela, but for several months she did not even see him.

We learn in this book how in 2001 Nelson Mandelas health took a turn for the worse because it was that year he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

If you are interested at an in depth look into Nelson Mandelas life in this biography of sorts.  

I give this book Five out of five stars...

Happy Reading. ..

Book Review: Writing Great Books For Young Adults

Writing Great Books for Young Adults Everything You Need to Know, from Crafting the Idea to Getting Published Regina Brooks

SOURCEBOOKS (non-fiction)

Sourcebooks

Pub Date   Oct 1 2014

One powerful piece of advise mentioned in the introduction is to learn from criticism and not to let it weigh you down.  We can't let criticism stop us from living our dreams.  Brooks reminds us too that we should remdmber writing for young adults is not easy and ghat we should not write in a condescending way.

We are reminded too that we should not try to tell to many stories in the same novel.

We are also reminded of the different type of setting in this book.  1.) Realistic. 2.) Fantasy ad 3.) Blended a combination of the authors imagination and realistic.  

If you plan on writing for the young adult market Writing Great Books For Young Adults will definitely be a worthwhile investment.  

Five out of five stars...

Happy Reading and Happy Writing...

Book Review: The Personal Touch

The Personal Touch
Caroline B. Cooney

Open Road Integrated Media

Open Road Media Teen & Tween

Pub Date   Oct 29 2013

Sunny is not exactly thrilled with her neighbors every June to Labor day especially the Son Tim.  Soon she finds herself saying things she regrets.  Soon Sunny and everyone else begins noticing positive changes in Tim.  Sunny is not the only one noticing changes in Tim though and soon her friends are asking her to set her up with him.

Soon Sunny finds herself falling in love with the very boy she never dreamed she would ever fall in love with,  The young man she used to find annoying and obnoxious. 

The Personal Touch is a  coming of age novel that reminds us that love can sometimes sneak up on ud when we least expect it. 

Book Review : I'm Not Your Other Half

I'm Not Your Other Half
A Cooney Classic Romance
Caroline B Cooney

Fraser is a high schhol girl with an unusal name and a crush on a peer of hers named Michael.  She also has a best friend named Annie but before long Fraser is spending all her spare time with Michael always doing the things he wants to do.

When a little girl Fraser knows is seriously hurt Fraser begins to see Michael's true charscter when he is more concerned about missing a date than he is about a little girl whose fighting for her life.

Even her best friend seems to take Michael's side though and calks Fraser selfish when she breaks up with him.

This is a story of two yojng people Michael and Fraser discovering who they are and learning that some people are better off as friend's.

I give this book five out of five stars.

Happy Reading. ..

Book Review: Abraham

Abraham
One Nomad's Amazing Journey of Faith
Charles Swindoll
Copyright 2014

In the introduction to this book Swindoll points out that while each one of us has a unique faith journey Abraham blazed a trail for the rest of us.  Abrahams journey in fact tells us about our own.

Abraham was chosen by God for reasons only known to Heaven.   We are reminded too that although wemay not like waiting, God often rewards us in our waiting.  We are reminded too that every choice we make to follow God's leading involves sacrifice, even if it is only the sacrifice of our own desires. 

Swindoll points out that putting people bon a pedestal is dangerous because people will fall.  It is pointed out that our biggest problem isn't that we don't hear God but it is that we struggle to do what he has commanded.  We are also reminded that even Great Men and Women deal with temptation. 

We are reminded too that when the consequences of sin begin to fall our relationships begin yo suffer.  Swindoll points out that slowing down will prevent us from living a lifetime littered with regrets.  We are also reminded that this world is only temporary God's Kingdom is eternal.

Another important point Swindoll brings out is that we need to set up good Godly examples for the future generation.  We need to lead by example.  We are reminded too that God forgives our sins.

I would recommend this book be added to your collection of books on Christian living and Bible study tools.

Five out of five stars...

Book Review: Stand Firm

Stand Firm 48 Life-Guides from Philippians
Dave Branon
Copyright 2014

The first thing Brannon points out in this book that Phillipians is a letter penned by a man who did something bad enough to get him imprisoned. The reason Paul was imprisoned or put under house arrest was that he was spreading the gospel, sharing it with those who needed it.  

Brannon describes prayer as a spiritual discipline that leads to joy and to an amazing connection between us and God.  He points out the dangers of getting wrapped up in what Brannon calls super star Christianity.

We are reminded too of the dangers of over confidence in a singular interpretation of a singular book in the Bible like those who claim to know the exact moment Christ will return.  We are also remined that it is important that we have a Christ like attitude.

I would recommend this book be added to your collection of Bible Study tools.

Five out of five stars for a book that will help you dig deeper into the book of Phillipians. 

Book Review: Always Abigail

Always Abigail
Nancy Cavanaugh
Copyright 2014

This is a wonderful book for middle grade readers.  This is a story of a sixth grade girl Abigail trying to fit in, determinec to make it as a pom pom girl.  The story deals with everything from peer pressure, and self esteem issues to what friendship truly is.  When Abigail starts making friends with the biggest outcast in school she is determined to hide the friendship for as long as she can but when being friends with Gabby starts getting in the way of her popularity, Abigail.

Abigail eventually does learn to stand up for Gabby as well ss herself, and in the process she learns that being yourself and standing up for the underdog is more important. 

I believe this is a great book for middle grade girls.

Five out of five stars.

Happy Reading. ..

Book Review: How Can I Possibly Forgive

How Can I Possibly Forgive?
Rescuing Your Heart from Resentment and Regret
Harvest House Publishers
Sara Horn
Copyright 2014

Sara Horn tackles an important subject hear and that is Forgiveness.  If we are honest with ourselves Forgiveness is something most of us struggle with.

One important truth in this book is that a resentful spirit can not reside in our hearts if God is working in our midst.  We are also reminded that we cannot see Gods plan when we are blinded by the pain.  It's also pointed out that we need to give our emotional scars time to heal as well.  We are also reminded that our lives belong to God and that he holds our lives firmly in his hands.   Another important reminder that when we let go of something negative in our hearts we make room for something new.

Horn points out that we need to submit to God in order to forgive...

I would recomend this book to anyone who is or has struggled  with the ability to forgive.   

Five out of five stars. ..

Book Review: Bones Never Lie

Bones Never Lie
Random House Publishing Group - Bantam Dell
Kathy Reichs
Copyright 2014

Once again Kathy Reichs very vividly draws us into a world of Forensic Anthropology. ..We are given a good look inside Temperance Brennan's life as well as her struggles, we learn of her Mothers issues in this book, as well as her Mothers diagnosis of something worse than her mental illness.

Being a huge fan of Kathy Reichs especially her Bones series, I was excited about my chance to get a prerelease copy fof review, and I am glad I did.  Kathy Reivhs does not dissapoint once again Temperance Brennan's character is brought to life on the pages of Bones Never Lie.

If you are a fan of The Bones television series and have not done so yet I highly recommended reading this series, which is the basis for the television show as well.

I give Bones Never Lie five out of five stars...

Happy Reading....

Book Review: Writing In The Kitchen

Writing In the Kitchen
Essays on Southern Literature and Foodways
Edited by David A. Davis and Tara Powell
University Press of Mississippi
Copyright 2014

This book is not only a collection of essays on south ern litterature but on southern foodways as well.  This book is not only a great book for writers but for foodies as well.  This book has various essays on everything from farms to plantations.   

The essays in this book fit perfectly together and are very well researched.  I would recomend this book to those who are interested in Southern Litterature and Foodways. 

Four out of five Stars for a well written compilation of essays. 

Book Review: Immediate Obedience

Immediate Obedience
The Adventure of Tuning In To God
Rod Loy
Copyright 2014

Loy reminds us that every second is infused with possibilities because God can show up and do something miraculous at any given moment.  The author also points out that there are no amazing stories in the Bible that do not include immediate acts of obedience.

We are reminded to that God speaks to us something I think bares repeating.   Another reminder that bares repeating is that God's plan for us is greater than anything we could dream up.  We are reminded too that God needs to be our first priority in our lives and that the Bible is our guide book.  As we grow closer to God we will be able to see what direction the Lord is moving in our lives.

One line that really stuck out to me was this:  God often uses difficulties to get our attention and fertilize our growth.  We are also reminded that when we start actively listening to the voice of God when your tuning into God's frequency you are most likely to hear him.  We are reminded that disobedience can lead  us to many dangerous pitfalls. There is always a cost for obedience but we have the promise that God will reward us if we respond to him in obedience. 

I would definely recommend this book be added to your library, because I believe  it is an important book on why obedience is important. 

I give this book five out of five stars. ..

Book Review: Touching His Robe

Touching His Robe
Reaching Past The Pain And Anger Of Abuse
Leslie G Nelson
Copyright 2014

A lot of power is packed into this small book.  It would be an invaluable tool for anyone who has suffered abuse.  This book will help you to deal with the shame of abuse.  We are remined that often times when people are saying that they forgot the whole horrible thing that happened to them that in fact they might be repressing the memories, and we are also reminded that being angry about what happened as long as we do not let that anger turn into sin.

This book reminds those  that suffer from abuse they need to forgive and let go, but letting go of abuse is not something that often happens.  

I would recommend this book to victims of abuse and to those who have/had loved ones who were abused.  There is a lot of power pzcked inyo a relatively short number of pages.

I give five out of Stars...