Book. Review: Start With Hello

 

Start with Hello

(And Other Simple Ways to Live as Neighbors)

by Shannan Martin

Pub Date 11 Oct 2022 

 Revell 

 Christian 

I am reviewing a copy of Start With Hello through Revell and Netgalley:

In Start With Hello Shannan Martin shoes readers a simple path to a more deeply connected life.

Shannan Martin points out that we likely want more, that we would like to belong to a community that looks out for one another.  

You believe in your bones we don't have to live detached, distracted, and divided. The question is, How? Shannan Martin invites you into deeper connection through simple resets, such as

·More Open Door , Less Perfect Décor. We invite others in, seeking to connect, not impress.

·More Familiar, less Fussy. We serve tacos and pizza like the feasts they are, because fancy is overrated.

·More Tender, less Tough. We greet the world with our hearts exposed and our guards down.

Start With Hello is packed with street-level practices and real-talk storytelling!

I give Start With Hello five out of five Stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Caprice

 

Caprice

by Coe Booth

Narrated by Bahni Turpin

Pub Date 17 May 2022 

 OrangeSky Audio 

 Children's Fiction 

I am reviewing a copy of Caprice through Change Sky Audio and Netgalley:

Let me start off by saying that though Caprice is a Children's Book, about a Middle Grade Reader it does deal with a sensitive topic which is the Sexual Molestation of a Child, so please read this book with your child if you are concerned about how they are going to react to it:

Caprice should be excited, She has been offered a place at the school of her dreams, where she's just had a fantastic summer. But this great opportunity coincides with a lot of internal doubt and the disturbing news that her long-estranged grandmother has fallen ill and may be near death. As Caprice tries to figure out her future, she is pulled back toward her past, and the abuse she endured from her uncle when she was little,an abuse she's never told anyone about.

Coe Booth has written painful but ultimately healing novel about finding support from your parents and friends, articulating your truth, and choosing your own path, for Middle Grade readers, and has done so in an incredibly sensitive manner.

I give Caprice five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: The Lost Melody

 

The Lost Melody

A Novel

by Joanna Davidson Politano

Pub Date 04 Oct 2022 

 Revell 

 Christian  |  Historical Fiction 

I am reviewing a copy of The Lost Melody  through Revell and Netgalley:

After Concert Pianist Vivienne Mourdant's father dies, he leaves her in the care of an adult ward she knew nothing about. The woman is supposedly a patient at Hurstwell Asylum. The woman's portrait is shockingly familiar to Vivienne, so when the asylum claims she was never a patient there, Vivienne is compelled to discover what happened to the figure she remembers from childhood dreams.

The longer Vivienne lingers in the deep shadows and forgotten towers at Hurstwell, the fuzzier the line between sanity and madness becomes.  She begins to hear the music no one else hears and receives strange letters with Rose Petals between the pages, and untangles far more than is safe for her to know. But can she uncover the truth about the mysterious woman she seeks? And is there anyone at Hurstwell she can trust with her suspicions?

I give The Lost Melody five out of five stars!  

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Alaskan Mountain Search

 

Alaskan Mountain Search

by Sarah Varland

Pub Date 24 Jan 2023 | Archive Date 24 Feb 2023

 HARLEQUIN - Romance (U.S. & Canada),  Love Inspired Suspense

 Mystery & Thrillers  |  Romance

I am reviewing a copy of Alaskan Mountain Search through Harlequin Romance, Love Inspired Suspense and Netgalley:

A Teen has gone missing!  A killer on the prowl!

A K-9 is on the case!

In Alaska there is only one way to track and catch a serial killer, a K-9.  For Police Captain Bre Dayton this means working with her ex, search and rescue worker Griffin Knight. With her niece missing and possibly kidnapped, Bre has to find the murderer known as the Echo Pass Hunter—fast. Even if it means trusting the man who broke her heart, if it means putting herself in the killer’s crosshairs.

I give Alaskan Mountain Search five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Rooted In Wonder

 

Rooted in Wonder

by Eryn Lynum

Pub Date 11 Apr 2023 

 Independent Publishers Group,  Kregel Publications

 Christian  |  Outdoors & Nature 

I am reviewing a copy of Rooted Im Wonder through Independent Publishing Group, Kregel Publishing and Netgalley:

Eryn Lynum is a naturalist, an author, as well as a Bible Teacher:

Rooted in Wonder reminds a generation whose eyes always seemed to be glued on screens to take the time to encounter nature in a genuine way.

This book is divided into practical sections that remind the reader to view nature through the lens of the Bible as well as through activities to help integrate Faith in the Natural World.

I give Rooted in Nature five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Unexpected Defense

 

Unexpected Defense

by Laura Snider

Pub Date 07 Mar 2023 

 Severn River Publishing 

 Mystery & Thrillers 

I am reviewing a copy of Unexpected Defense through Severn River Publishing and Netgalley:

She swore to uphold Justice!  But what is it going to cost?

The Locals in the n the small town of Brine, Iowa, live in a prime, location for wind energy.  They soon find themselves locked in a vicious battle with a wealthy oil company who is buying struggling farm properties to put up windmills. Half the town is for the windmill projects, the other half will stop at nothing to keep the iron giants out of their skyline. When the conflict turns violent, a murder shakes the town and leaves expert public defender Ashley Montgomery with a trial on her hands that is both criminal and political.

Ashley is in the process of applying for a judgeship, a political position, while tasked with building a rock solid defense for her client who is charged with murdering a neighbor that had leased property for the construction of windmills.    The deeper Ashley digs, the more ties she finds between her client, his alleged victim, and the Texas Oil company, forcing her to make a decision between her ethics as an attorney and her dreams of becoming a judge.

Ashley is desperate to find a balance between her ambitions and her client's needs.  She is faced with a near impossible task with conflicts of interest that run far deeper than she ever imagined.

Will Ashley be able to navigate this turbulent case and come out on top? Or will she need to burn some bridges in the name of justice?

I give Unexpected Defense five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: The Girl in the Cabin

 

The Girl in the Cabin (A Lucy Kendall Crime Thriller Book 3)

by Stacy Green

Pub Date 30 Jan 2023 

 Bookouture 

 General Fiction (Adult)  |  Mystery & Thrillers 

I am reviewing a copy of The Girl in the Cabin: (A Lucy Kendall Crime Thriller Book 3 through Bookouture and Netgalley:

After a sixteen year old is found in a remote hunting cabin in the middle of the snowy Maryland woods, a shiver runs down Private Investigator Lucy Kendall’s spine. The handprints found around her neck, her broken bones, and the incense left burning at the scene are vital clues to who committed this terrible crime, Mary Weston, a notorious serial killer. She has outwitted the police for many years and left many parents without daughters. Is the girl in the cabin a sign she is killing again?

Lucy, works closely with the police, determined to catch this evil woman. But when the bodies of three other teenage girls are found in remote locations, it’s almost like Mary is toying with them. Lucy is determined to bring her to justice before more innocent lives are snuffed out.

After Mary's Son Chris, who was one of of Lucy's closest friend, disappeared she is even more convinced that Mary is responsible, and she will do anything to find him. So when Mary sends Lucy a message asking to meet her alone, Lucy knows that she must face her darkest fears and risk her own life. She is the only person who can stop Mary. But what will she need to sacrifice?

I give The Girl in the Cabin five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: The Other Side of Special

 

The Other Side of Special

Navigating the Messy, Emotional, Joy-Filled Life of a Special Needs Mom

by Amy J Brown; Sara Clime; Carrie M Holt

Pub Date 09 May 2023 

 Revell 

 Christian  |  Parenting & Families 

I am reviewing a copy of The Other Side of Special through Revell and Netgalley:

If you are a special needs Mom, in search of community and support on what can be a lonely road.  The Other Side of Special reminds you that you are not alone, your best is good enough, and even on the hard days, there are blessings to be had. 

Raising a Special needs child means you will need to spend energy and resources into raising them.  And often you can be left to feel isolated, and guilty, and you can feel like your other children (if you have other children) are competing for attention.  In this book you will find the encouragement and practical help to navigate the emotional reality of your situation.

The Other Side of Normal, shares the stories of three mothers raising children with physical, medical, mental, and emotional special needs.  These three Mothers have joined forces and pooled their experience and expertise to provide such a resource. They take a deep dive into the most common emotions felt by special needs moms. They acknowledge the hard things as those who have been there. They celebrate the unique joys of being a special needs mom. And they offer encouragement for the journey, remaining realistic about the challenges special needs moms will continue to face.

I give The Other Side of Normal five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review:MONKEY New Writing from Japan

 MONKEY New Writing from Japan

Volume 3: CROSSINGS

by Ted Goossen, editor and Motoyuki Shibata, editor

Pub Date 10 Jan 2023 

 Stone Bridge Press 

 General Fiction (Adult)  |  Literary Fiction  |  Multicultural Interest 

I am reviewing a copy of Monkey: New Writing from Japan Volume 3: Crossings and Netgalley:

Monkey, New Writing from Japan is an annual anthology that brings anthology to English readers.  This volume, the third is a celebration Transitioning Out of the Pandemic, we are inspired by stories of transformation and the joyful play between Japanese and Western literatures. 

MONKEY offers short fiction and poetry by writers such as Mieko Kawakami, Haruki Murakami, Hiromi Kawakami, and Aoko Matsuda; a graphic narrative by Satoshi Kitamura; and contributions from Stuart Dybek and Matthew Sharpe.

I give Monkey five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: A Single Life to Live

 

A Single Life to Live

Stop Waiting for Your Life to Begin and Thrive Where God Has You Today

by Hannah Schermerhorn

Pub Date 14 Feb 2023

 Baker Books 

 Christian 

I am reviewing a copy of A Single Life to Live through Baker Books and Netgalley:

A Single Life to Live reminds us that God has a great life planned for us.  But what you may not realize is that if you are single you are already living it. Right now. Today. Your God-designed life doesn't start when you say "I do" or when you get engaged or even when you meet "the one." It's been happening as long as you've been alive even if you're still single and wish you weren't.

Hannah Schermerhorn knows exactly what it's like. She was months away from getting married when her wedding was called off.   She hated the idea of being single again, but in the following years, God taught her many hard lessons that transformed her bitterness to authentic joy

In this book Hannah Schermerhorn draws from the diverse experiences of single people in the Bible, she debunks common myths and misunderstandings about singleness, including the pervasive feeling that a person can't really begin their life until they're married. If you are lonely, hopeless, or impatient, let Hannah be your guide through the internal battles and external pressures you're facing.

Readers are reminded that God has a special purpose for singleness, whether it lasts for only a season or your whole life. Let Hannah help you discover God's best for you in your single life.

I give A Single Life to Life five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: The Unexpected Benefits of Being Run Over

 

The Unexpected Benefits of Being Run Over

by Naseem Rochette

Pub Date 04 Apr 2023 

 Girl Friday Productions,  Misfit Blue

 Biographies & Memoirs  |  Health, Mind & Body  |  True Crime 

I am reviewing a copy of The Unexpected Benefits of Being Run Over through  Girl Friday Productions,  Misfit Blue and Netgalley:

In this book you will be reminded to find beauty and power in your cracks.  And it will remind you that breaking doesn't mean broken.

Nasheem was in a pedestrian sidewalk in a quiet tree lined street.  In that crosswalk she is hit then ran over three times.  As onlookers yell for the driver to stop as she hears her fate in her husband’s screams. Is he is watching the mother of his children die?

Miraculously Nasheem survives, yet she is no longer the person she worked so hard to be. Her “cracks”—the changes to her body and mind—initially feel impossible to accept. In learning to embrace this new, unrecognizable self, Naseem decides to celebrate the day she almost lost her life as the day she discovered her true strength her Unbreakable Day.

The Unexpected Benefits of Being Run Over is a unique memoir equal parts heart wrenching and inspiring, Naseem lays bare the reality of personal trauma and how we each have the power to reimagine our lives and find beauty in both being broken and unbreakable.

I give The Unexpected Benefits of Being Run Over five out of five stars!

Book Review: Final Touchstones

 

Final Touchstones

by Linda M. Romanowski

Pub Date 17 Jan 2023 

 Sunbury Press, Inc.,  Brown Posey Press

 Biographies & Memoirs  |  Nonfiction (Adult)

I am reviewing a copy of Final Touchstones through Sunbury Press, Inc., Brown Posey Press and Netgalley:

In Final Touchstones we will learn the story of four brothers leaving Sicily for America in the early 1900s. The author’s maternal grandfather is the seminal figure from age three through his later emigration to a new life a decision that forever changed his family’s destiny.

In this book, there's a collection of ninety-two short selections in prose and poetry, divided into three sections: ItalianItalian, ItalianAmerican, and American/Italian. The pieces stand independently; together, they relate one story.

I give Final Episodes four out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: The Faith of Elvis

 

The Faith of Elvis

by Billy Stanley

Pub Date 04 Oct 2022 

 Nelson Books,  Thomas Nelson

 Biographies & Memoirs  |  Christian  |  Nonfiction (Adult) 

I am reviewing a copy of The Faith of Elvis through Nelson Books and Netgalley:

Bill Stanley goes behind the glamour and the crowds, beyond the movies and the records Apart from all who knew him, wanted to know him, or just wanted to be near him.

Billy Stanley knew Elvis Presley as a brother—and as a man of deep faith.

From the time Bill Stanley arrived at Graceland and received a bear hug from the King of Rock and Roll to the last conversation they ever had, one thing stayed the same: Elvis’s passion for sharing God’s love with as many people he could.

The Faith of Elvis shows a side of Elvis that  is not often shown, in this book Billy brings to light Elvis Christian journey, sharing things like the notes Elvis made in his beloved Bible to his struggles with sin as his fame increased to his remarkable generosity toward fans and movie stars alike.

In Billy's loving account you will discover some touching family stories of the Elvis that pop culture doesn’t know; a keen look into how Elvis intricately wove his faith into every part of his life; insights into the ups-and-downs the four brothers experienced while at home and on the road together; and examples of Elvis’s profound influence on others, from those closest to him to his cherished fans and, ultimately, the world at large.

And in these pages you may find your own faith strengthened.

I give The Faith of Elvis five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!