The Turning by Davis Bunn - a review with Giveaway!

The Turning by Davis Bunn is the story of five people who, while they are all quite different and from different walks of life, have something in common. They all hear God's voice and are brought together in New York City for a purpose. But first they must all deal with issues in each of their lives.

This story takes place over a period of twelve days. All the characters were likable in their own way, except maybe the villain Trent Cooper. As the story progresses each character is required to make sacrifices while surrendering to God's will. The task they find themselves up against seems impossible. Will they succeed?

The characters were hard for me to connect with. I didn't like Trent Cooper at all. The others, John, Alisha, Jenny, Yussuf and Ruth were okay but they didn't seem real to me. They were from all different walks of life coming together in accordance to God's will. What I did like is that the reader is made aware that God is still speaking today and will talk to anyone. We just need to listen.

To me, the story was a little dark and I had a hard time really getting into it, probably more because it wasn't the type of genre I usually read. In fact, it is considered devotional fiction and it has a supplementary 40 Day online devotional to go along with the book. You can access this and other online resources here. While I wasn't a big fan, I am sure there will be many who love this book.

On a 5-Star scale = 3 1/2 stars.

I would like to thank River North, a division of Moody Publishers for my review copy of The Turning. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Now for the giveaway, the publisher was kind enough to give me an extra copy of The Turning to give away to one of you.....

************ GIVEAWAY RULES  ************

1.  Giveaway is open to US and Canada

2.  No PO Boxes please.

3.  Answer my question below for one entry - +1..

4.  For extra entries you may do one or all of the following:
    -- become a Google Friends Connect follower +2

    -- become an email subscriber +1

    -- invite a friend to become a follower of my blog.  If they become a follower & mention your name, you will both receive 2 extra entries

5. Include an email address where I can reach you if you are selected as the winner of this giveaway.  Please enter your email address in this format    winner[at]yahoo[dot]com

To make sure your entry counts, please answer the following question:

What is the name and author of the book you are currently reading?


Giveaway will run through July 5th, and one winner will be selected to win a copy of The Turning using Random.Org

Smiles & Blessings,

  

Saving Amelie by Cathy Gohlke

I am a fan of historical novels written against the backdrop of WWII. Saving Amelie by Cathy Gohlke brings the world, as it was during that time, alive for the reader. She makes the reader feel as if they were there witnessing all the atrocities that were going on.

Ms. Gohlke has created believable characters and dropped them into a period of time where horrific things happened at the hand of Hitler's Third Reich in Germany. She did submit some historical characters into her story lending a feeling of authenticity to her novel.

Hitler wanted a pur Aryan race for his Germany and if a person or child didn't show the possiblity of being part of his perfect race he had them eliminated.

Amelie is a young girl who is deaf. Her father is a German officer who can't handle the fact Amelie is less than perfect and want to get rid of her. Amelie's mother, Kristine, wants to save her daughter even if it means she will never see her again. She asks her best friend, Rachel, to take charge of Amelie and asks that she take her out of Germany.

I loved the character of Jason, an American reporter, because he didn't give up on Rachel. I enjoyed how their relationship grew during this time.

There is so much packed into the 429 pages of this book. The reader is given a glimpse of how awful life was for the the people in Germany who didn't measure up to Hitler's plan for the perfect race.

I would highly recommend this historical novel to anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction. the characters appear to be real and will invite the reader to step into their world. Be prepared for a page turner that will keep you intrigued to the very last page.

On a 5-Star Scale = 5 Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank Tyndale House Publishers for my copy of Saving Amelie. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

NIV Read Easy Bible

I was excited when I had the opportunity to review the NIV read easy Bible by Zondervan. It was described as a compact Bible with large print and that's exactly what I was looking for. If you have ever picked up a compact Bible you have probably found the print is quite small. That is not the case with this Bible. It's compact with beautiful large print.

This bible comes with an Italian duo-tone cover which appears and smells like leather and the pages are gilded with silver. It comes with a ribbon marker and it is a red letter edition. In the front of the Bible there is a nice presentation page which would be nice if you choose to give this Bible as a gift.

I had my pastor husband use this Bible in church this morning and when I asked him what he thought after the service he told me he like the feel of the Bible and that the compact size and larger print made it so much easier to handle during his sermon. It's a winner!

I would highly recommend this Bible to those people who just want a Bible to take with you in your everyday travels or to use as a witnessing tool. It is not a study Bible and doesn't contain a concordance.

I would like to thank BookLook Bloggers and Zondervan for my copy of the NIV easy read Bible. I received my copy for free in order to use it and give my honest opinion, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

Four Weddings and a Kiss by Margaret Brownley, Debra Clopton, Mary Connealy, and Robin Lee Hatcher

If you like reading anthologys or short novellas, then Four Weddings & a Kiss is a book you will want to pick up and devour. The authors offer up wonderful stories that will put a smile on any reader's face. 

The book begins with a prologue introducing Reverend Gregory Miller. He is a pastor in love and the woman he loves is someone that he feels isn't right to be a pastor's wife. When the book begins, he is at a revival meeting in Ft. Worth, Texas and the following day he will be getting on a train to head home. While he is praying to God he speaks out loud asking God how is he going to live without Elizabeth in his life. Four other pastors hear his cry and they begin to share stories of 'miss-matched' couples that found their happy endings.

The first story offered is Spitfire Sweetheart by Mary Connealy.  Maizy MacGregor was raised by her father since the age of five and she can ride and work a ranch along with the best of men. However, she has a problem of getting herself in trouble. Rylan Cartens owns the neighboring ranch to the MacGregors and he has made it clear that Maizy is to stay off his property. A black angus bull and one crazy grizzly bear set the tempo of what ensues next.  This was probably my favorite story in the entire anthology. 

                                         

The second story is A Love Letter to the Editor by Robin Lee Hatcher. This is the story of Molly Everton and Jack Ludgrove. Molly's father owns the local newspaper and decides it is time to hire someone as managing editor. When Molly finds out that her father has hired Jack instead of offering her the position she is outraged. While Molly is trying hard to deter Jack from staying at the newspaper, her heart is telling her something else. This was a cute story that I truly enjoyed.

A Cowboy for Katie, by Debra Clopton, is the third story. It is the story of Katie Pearl and Treb Rayburn. When the story begins, Katie has just suffered a devastating loss three weeks prior. Her father was killed when a tornado hit their ranch. She was pinned under debris for several days and now the people of the town thinks she's crazy because she acts different. What they don't know is she suffered a concussion and is slowing recovering from the affects of it. Treb is suffering himself, with a case of wanderlust. Three days before arriving Midway, Texas his horse dies right out from under him. When he arrives in town, he decides to get a job in order to make enough money to buy another horse. Katie overhears him asking the proprietor of the general store if he knew of any place he could get hired on. Katie proceeds to offer Treb a job with pay and the promise of a horse when the job is done. She wants him to rebuild her house that was destroyed. This was another fun story, that kept me engaged until the end. 

The last story offered is Courting Trouble by Margaret Brownley.  This is the story of Grace Davenport and Brock Daniels.  Grace is a young widow raising her son alone. The story begins with her son, Jesse Morris, asking Brock, a local lawyer, to help his mother who is currently in jail. According to Jesse, the sheriff said she killed her husband. Jesse wants Brock because the lawyer the court appointed for her has lost most of his cases and his clients have been hung. She is found innocent but only because the judge sided with her and needed to leave town. Through a discussion that Brock has with Jesse they come up with an idea on how to find out who really killed Grace's husband. This was another fun story and I loved the suspense thread.

The book concludes with an epilogue in which Reverend Gregory Miller arrives home to his Elizabeth and he tells her he wants to share with her the stories the other pastors shared with him. Stories about two people in love just like them. And yes, after reading the four stories, the epilogue ends with the kiss.

I would highly recommend Four Weddings & a Kiss to anyone who enjoys light-hearted reading. You can easily read each novella in one sitting. If I were to say anything negative about the book it is that I would love to learn more about all of these characters. All the women had spunk and the men had the willingness to tame them. An enjoyable read.

On a 5-Star Scale = 4 1/2 Stars!!!!

I would like to thank Litfuse Publicity and Thomas Nelson for my review copy. I received my copy for free in order to read and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

CFBA - Yankee in Atlanta by Jocelyn Green

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Yankee in Atlanta

River North(June 1, 2014)

by

Jocelyn Green

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Jocelyn Green is a child of God, wife and mom living in Cedar Falls, Iowa. She is also an award-winning journalist, author, editor and blogger. Though she has written nonfiction on a variety of topics, her name is most widely recognized for her ministry to military wives: Faith Deployed. Her passion for the military family was fueled by her own experience as a military wife, and by the dozens of interviews she has conducted with members of the military for her articles and books, Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives and its sequel, Faith Deployed...Again: More Daily Encouragement for Military Wives. She is also co-author of both Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq & Afghanistan and Stories of Faith and Courage from the Home Front (forthcoming, May 2012). Her Faith Deployed Web site and Facebook page continue to provide ongoing support, encouragement and resources for military wives worldwide.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When soldier Caitlin McKae woke up in Atlanta after being wounded in battle, the Georgian doctor who treated her believed Caitlin's only secret was that she had been fighting for the Confederacy disguised as a man. In order to avoid arrest or worse, Caitlin hides her true identity and makes a new life for herself in Atlanta.
Trained as a teacher, she accepts a job as a governess to the daughter of Noah Becker, a German immigrant lawyer, who is about to enlist with the Rebel army. Then in the spring of 1864, Sherman's troops edge closer to Atlanta. Caitlin tries to escape north with the girl, but is arrested on charges of being a spy. Will honor dictate that Caitlin follow the rules, or love demand that she break them?

Id you would like to read the first chapter of Yankee in Atlanta, go HERE.


My Thoughts:

As a fan of Civil War novels I couldn't pass up the chance to read Yankee in Atlanta by Jocelyn Green. This it the third book in Ms. Green's series, "Heroines Behind the Lines". I haven't read the first two books in the series yet, Wedded to War and Widow of Gettysburg but I definitely plan on reading them in the near future. I also look forward to her next release in the series, Spy of Richmond.

The book begins with a Prologue in which the reader finds themselves transported to the battlefield in the thick of fighting. Ms. Green draws the reader in from the first page and you find yourself held captive until the last page is turned. I always love books that pull the reader in, holds them hostage and doesn't release them until long after the book has been finished.

This novel tells the story of two families, one northern and the other southern. Caitlin McKae, while having Irish roots, has joined the Northerners fight by disguising herself as a man. When she is wounded, she encounters a Confederate who is dying. He hands her his Rebel Bible asking her to read the 23rd Psalm to him. He also tells her to use his jacket to tie off her wounded arm. She soon loses conscientiousness and when she awakes she learns that the enemy knows she is female. One man accuses her of being a spy but she swears she is not. Will she succeed in concealing who she is until the war is over?

Ruby O'Flannery is the northerner who is fighting her own battles while trying to raise her young son.  Will she be able to succeed in fighting her battles? 

Noah Becker is a German immigrant who is ready to head off to fight for the Confederacy but he must first find someone to watch over his young daughter, Ana. He soon hires Caitlin as Ana's governess. Caitlin finds herself challenged, not only posing as a southerner but also in finding ways to keep her and Ana fed and safe.

This is a book that one must spend time with. It's not light reading and isn't meant to be. After all, it is set against one of the darkest times in American history. It isn't a book for the faint at heart either. It is, however, rich in history and characters that make you believe they are real. If you enjoy authentic historical novels, I would highly suggest you pick up a copy of Yankee in Atlanta. You won't be sorry.

On a 5-Star Scale - 4 Stars!!!!

I would like to thank Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and River North publishers for my review copy of Yankee in Atlanta. I received my copy for free in order to read and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

Blind Trust by Sandra Orchard

Blind Trust is the second book in Sandra Orchard's "Port Aster Secrets" series. The first book in the series is Deadly Devotion (read my review here) and the third book is entitled Identity Withheld and per the author's website, it will be releasing in November. I can hardly wait!

The series is set in the small town of Port Aster and it picks up where Deadly Devotion left off. While I would highly suggest reading Deadly Devotion first, it isn't necessary as the author brings the reader up to date referring back to things that happened in the first novel.

Blind Trust begins with our heroine, Kate Adams, passing counterfeit ten dollar bills at the local grocery store.  Luckily, when the police arrive it is none other than her love interest, Detective Tom Parker. She tells the store security and Tom that her neighbor, who is elderly, gave her the money to purchase some groceries for her. Tom lets on that there has been a rash of counterfeit bills being passed around town and that appears to be the main story line. That is until Kate steps into something more than a ring of counterfeiters.

This book is packed full of secrets, betrayals and intrigue and I guarantee you that once you enter into the town of Port Aster, through the pages of Blind Trust, you will be kept on the edge of your seat until you turn the very last page. Then, if you are like me, you will be counting the days until the release of Identity Withheld.

Ms. Orchard has a gift of creating believable, lovable characters that will leave the readers thinking about them long after the last page is read and the cover is closed.  Her knack of weaving a suspenseful tale is masterful.

If you are of lover of suspenseful stories with a Christian thread, I would highly recommend picking up a copy of both Deadly Devotion and Blind Trust. 

On a 5-Star Scale - 5 HUGE Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank Revell, a division of Baker Publishing for my copy of Blind Trust. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

Raptor 6 by Ronie Kendig

Raptor 6 is the first book in Ronie Kendig's "The Quiet Professionals" series and it is a sure winner. 

Set in Afghanistan, it is the story of Captain Dean Watters and Zahrah Zarrick. They first meet when the school where Zahrah is teaching is bombed and Dean and his men come to assist and determine how and why the school was hit.

Zahrah's father is an American and her mother is from Afghanistan. Because her mother was always treated so differently, Zahrah has a heart to teach the young girls in Afghanistan so as they mature they will learn to value themselves. Dean is an all American soldier with a heart for people and dedicated in preserving the lives of the innocent. He is a man of integrity who has seen the atrocities of war and is a stronger man because of it.

This book is one you will want to carve out some time out of your day for as once you enter into the story it is extremely difficult to put down. I actually began reading my copy on my lunch hour and got so involved that I was almost late coming back from lunch.

Ms. Kendig has a knack for writing military novels depicting strong, believable characters. They pull you in and hold you captive in their world and while Raptor 6 is about the world at war, I didn't want to leave.

If I have anything negative to say about this book is I wish Ms. Kendig had included a glossary of words as she used quite a few foreign words. Some times they were easy to figure out but other times I was clueless. I did, however, appreciate the list of acronyms, a list of the primary characters and a list of the secondary characters that she included in the beginning of the book.

I would highly recommend Raptor 6 to anyone who enjoys reading clean military romantic novels.,

On a 5-Star Scale = 5 Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank Litfuse Publishing and Shiloh Run Press for my review copy of Raptor 6. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,