The Character Builder's Bible

The Character Builder's Bible

Children's Story Bible

Available October 2017

Tyndale House Publishers

About the Book
The Bible is so much more than a collection of stories.

It is the overarching message of God’s love for us and a practical guide to daily living. So often our littlest children hear these stories but miss out on how to apply the principles to their lives. The Character Builder’s Biblehighlights core character traits that the Bible teaches and suggests fun, practical ways to live out these truths so that little minds can understand. Each Bible narrative is told simply, is tied to a positive attribute like obedience or humility, and is followed with a real-life example of how kids can apply the lesson in their own lives.

Featuring 60 Bible stories with colorful illustrations, definitions, and memory verses, The Character Builder’s Bible will show your little ones that God’s Word is relevant to their lives and will help you instill biblical character in their hearts.

My Thoughts
Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this book. The idea was a good one, but it missed the mark for me.

There are 60 Bible stories in this book. Each story includes a Bible verse, a few paragraphs telling the story in simple terms, a short poem about the character trait, and a "cartoon" with real life examples of the character trait in action.

I liked the idea of using Bible stories to help children learn about character. However, it was unclear to me how the character traits were selected to go along with the stories. Many didn't seem to match. For instance, diligence was the trait to be learned from the story of creation. Are we teaching that God was diligent so we also must be diligent? Or just that diligence is a good trait to learn? The cartoon illustrations didn't line up well with the trait either. Based on the cartoon illustrations, I probably would have chosen "creativity" as the trait.

Another example of a major miss is the story "Jesus calms the storm" paired with gentleness. Honestly, this is one of the times Jesus is most powerful (exhibiting power over nature). Additionally, the poem and the cartoon didn't explain gentleness accurately.

There were other "traits" that weren't traits at all: communion, Holy Spirit, Easter, heaven, etc.

(There were *some* stories that matched up well with the highlighted character trait and that explained the trait well through the poem and the cartoon.)

Some of the stories highlighted traits that God exhibited and that we should emulate. Others seemed to highlight traits that other people in the story exhibited. This alone caused confusion as I read through the book. It's dangerous to come to the Bible and look for what the Bible "means for me" rather than what the Bible "teaches me about God."

Great idea, but the execution was poor. I dislike giving negative reviews but felt I couldn't recommend this book for the reasons stated.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own and are freely given. [2 stars]

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

Go Ahead & Like It by Jacqueline Suskin (Review)

Go Ahead & Like It
by Jacqueline Suskin
Available April 28, 2015
Random House
72 pages

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About the Book

An artistic, smart self-help book that prompts and inspires readers to write lists of things they like--a simple yet profound way to collect and remember the good in daily life.

This scrapbook-style art book is an invitation to write lists of things you like: small things that bring delight, intriguing things that excite, and meaningful things that make every day special. It's a how-to guide, writing prompt, model for self-discovery, and beautiful inspiration for daily gratitude, with poet Jacqueline Suskin's personal lists intertwined with photographs, illustrations, and instruction. It's a self-help book for people who might not be drawn to standard self-help, and it's creative thinking for people who might not identify themselves as creative thinkers (What does it mean to "like" something in today's digital age, anyways?). Above all, it presents a simple, dependable method to notice the good that's all around us--even in a traffic jam or waiting in line--so we can inhabit our world more fully and smile more in the process.

Buy a copy  |  Find out what others think  |  Learn more

My Thoughts

To be totally honest, I had a hard time telling what this book was all about from the description. However, I thought it sounded interesting. I love making lists, and I love the idea of recording things I'm grateful for, special memories, or whatever random thoughts strike. What's not to like, right?

Well, Go Ahead & Like It is part instruction on how to make a "list of likes" and part a sampling of the author's lists. It seems the author was going for a "Post Secret" type feel, with photographs, unique layouts, and handwritten text. Unfortunately, it didn't strike the right chord with me. The lists included things like "I like: lake swimming, naps, the banjo, and storms." I think I might have felt differently if I was previously familiar with this author and her work.

It wasn't a total loss, though. I think this might be a fun idea to try with our Compassion kids. Sharing "like lists" would be a simple, easy way to get to know one another better, and the simplicity would help us cross language, cultural, and age barriers a bit easier.

This wasn't a good fit for me, but others may enjoy it.  [2 stars]

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

About the Author

Jacqueline Suskin is best known through her work with Poem Store, a public performance project in which she composes custom verses on a manual typewriter in exchange for donations. She and her typewriter have been featured on the front page of the Los Angeles Times, in the New York Times, at SFMoMA, and at Los Angeles Contemporary, bringing poetry to the general public in an intimate, immediate, and accessible way.

Love at Mistletoe Inn by Cindy Kirk (Review)

Love at Mistletoe Inn
by Cindy Kirk
A Year of Weddings Novella (2), Book 1
Christian Fiction / Contemporary / Romance
Available November 2014
Zondervan
112 pages

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About the Book

They've helped orchestrate the perfect day for countless couples. Now twelve new couples will find themselves in the wedding spotlight in the second Year of Weddings novella collection.

An owner of a Victorian inn and charming rustic barn is used to creating the perfect setting for other couples' nuptials. But when she falls head over heels for the new man in her life, will she be prepared to walk down that aisle?

My Thoughts

I am so thrilled that Zondervan has chosen to continue the "Year of Weddings" series through 2015! I thoroughly enjoyed reading a new novella each month, and, while I didn't fall in love with every one, I definitely enjoyed the majority of them! Unfortunately, the second year of novellas is off to a rocky start, in my opinion. 

Plot: It seemed that the plot alternated between being extremely rushed and dragging. I never felt that the author found a steady pace for the events taking place. Additionally, the story was fairly boring. With the exception of one moment (to be addressed later), nothing really surprised me, and I was never left wondering what might happen next. Verna's request for help planning a wedding for an unknown bride and groom felt contrived and over-the-top. I realize that authors face great challenges when trying to develop an engaging plot in so few pages, but this still fell below my expectations for novellas.

Characters: Neither of the main characters were very likeable. Hope was whiny and immature. I wanted to like John, but he was portrayed as being pushy a few times, which left me wanting a true "hero" for this story. I thought perhaps they would both grow and mature, but it didn't really feel like they did.

Christian Content: Considering this is portrayed as a Christian book, I was disappointed by how Christianity was portrayed in this book. In particular, I was bothered by the fact that Hope kept referring to these little "mantras" to get her through situations (i.e., God helps those who help themselves.) While they may be catchy sayings, these sayings were simply not founded on biblical principles. I was waiting for another John or Verna (or even the pastor!) to drive home some solid biblical truths with Hope—perhaps showing her that true faith is founded on God's Word—but that never happened. John did offer a little more hope, as it seemed that his relationship with God had grown in the years prior to the book's opening scene. While I don't expect strong Christian themes in every "Christian" book I read, I do expect books published by a Christian publisher to portray Christian principles accurately.

Romantic Content: *****SPOILER*****I don't know how to discuss this last point without giving away some of the details of the story, so I'm not even going to try. Read ahead at your own risk. The most shocking and disappointing portion of this book had to do with how s3x was portrayed. Essentially, John and Hope elope when they are 18. However, Hope freaks out just after the ceremony conducted by an internet-ordained "minister" and they decide to simply not file the paperwork. Fast forward 10 years, and Hope learns they are—surprise!—married anyway. When John returns home after being away for 10 years, Hope tells him they are still married, says she doesn't know what to do (because she is dating another man), cries on his shoulder. The very next sentence (at the beginning of the next chapter) references Hope getting out of John's bed. WHAT?!?! I thought surely I had misunderstood, but, no, Hope and John apparently can't contain themselves after 10 years apart and have s3x. Despite not knowing they are married even 10 minutes before and despite Hope being in a relationship with another man, they still have s3x. After having s3x, Hope immediately goes to an attorney's office to find out how to annul the marriage. Hope later decides to try to make the marriage work, but says she won't say "I love you" or wear her wedding ring until she can know for sure this will work. Hello??? Did she not just have s3x with her "husband"? But now she doesn't know if it's going to work out? I'm sorry, but this put a really bad taste in my mouth. Yes, they were technically married, but there were so many other circumstances surrounding this revelation that I felt like this was totally uncalled for. It really felt out of place and not appropriate for a Christian book.*****END SPOILER*****

Overall, Love at Mistletoe Inn was a disappointing read for me. I'll definitely give other books in the series a shot, but I recommend skipping this one. [2 stars]

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers program in exchange for my fair and honest review.

About the Author

Cindy Kirk is a lifelong Nebraska resident who started writing after taking a class at a local community college. But her interest in the written word started years before when she was in her teens. At sixteen she wrote in her diary, “I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t be a writer.”

Not until her daughter was heading off to college did Cindy return to her first love---writing. Unlike some writers, Cindy wasn’t interested in newspaper or magazine articles, short stories or poetry. When she decided to start writing, she jumped feet first into book length fiction. She loves reading and writing romance because she believes in the power of love and in happily ever after. An incurable romantic, Cindy loves seeing her characters grow and learn from their mistakes and, in the process, achieve a happy ending.

Someone once told Cindy that to know a writer you just have to read what she's written; she hopes that once you read her books you can tell she is an eternal optimist, one who truly believes in the power of love. She invites you to kick off your shoes, pick up one of her books and get to know her.

Cindy and her high school sweetheart husband live on an acreage with two dogs and two cats—Oreo—a friendly feline who loves to sit next to the computer and supervise her writing and Leo, a white devil with a raccoon-like tail.

A Grand Design by Amber Stockton (Blog Tour + Review)

A Grand Design
by Amber Stockton
Quilts of Love series, Book 20
Christian Fiction / Contemporary / Romance
Available August 2014
Abingdon Press
240 pages

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About the Book

A getaway on a charming island may be just what Alyssa needs—if only she can let go of her past.

When Alyssa Denham, a single career woman, wins a fun getaway for two on Mackinac Island where her grandmother lives, she gives her carefree best friend a call. Together, they tour the old shops and hidden treasures of the quaint island while helping Alyssa’s grandmother piece together an heirloom quilt. Their quest gains them entrance into the homes of many longtime residents of the island, parts of the city that are otherwise off limits to tourists.

As the quilt’s story takes shape, Alyssa gains amazing insight into her grandmother’s life . . . and attracts the attention of the handsome Scott Whitman, an island resident in charge of hotel transportation. Will memories of her past keep Alyssa from letting go? Or will the quest to piece together the heirloom quilt restore Alyssa’s fractured heart—and bring healing to her entire family?

My Thoughts

I was looking forward to reading A Grand Design because I'm fascinated by Mackinac Island! Unfortunately, this story did not resonate with me as a reader at all. While the characters were in their 20s, much of the time they seemed much younger. Libby is completely "boy crazy"—a term I generally think of when talking about younger teens. Also, while I understand that Alyssa experienced some trauma in her youth, her response never totally made sense to me. It was built up to be a huge, life-changing event, but then the explanation and further discussion didn't really support that. Additionally, the dialogue didn't feel genuine. At times, it was stilted and a little juvenile. It just didn't fit with the rest of the information I had about the characters.

I think the author had a good story idea and a great setting (I definitely want to visit Mackinac Island!). Unfortunately, this just wasn't the book for me. There are quite a few positive reviews of this book, so if you're intrigued by the premise, I would definitely check out some other reviews before making a decision solely based on mine. [2 stars]

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through Litfuse Publicity in exchange for my fair and honest review.

About the Author

Amber Stockton is an award‑winning author, a national speaker, and a direct‑sales brand partner with Nerium International. She lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, in Colorado. They have a daughter and a son, and an Aussie/retriever mix named Roxie. Three of her novels have won annual reader’s choice awards.

A July Bride by Beth Wiseman (Review)

A July Bride
by Beth Wiseman
A Year of Weddings Novella
Christian Fiction / Contemporary / Romance
Available June 2014
Zondervan
120 pages

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About the Book

Can she forgive the man who left her at the altar?

Alyssa Pennington dated Brendan Myers for three years before she accepted his proposal. For almost a year, Alyssa's friends and family helped her plan a lovely wedding to take place in the church she'd grown up in. It was the happiest day of her life when she walked down the aisle to be united with the man of her dreams. But when Brendan left her at the altar, Alyssa was consumed by humiliation, embarrassment, and a broken heart that wouldn't allow her to trust anyone. Especially Brendan.

Brendan Myers knows he will spend the rest of his life regretting what he did to Alyssa, the only woman he's ever loved. Without her, his life is empty. In one fateful moment, he'd panicked, destroyed their future, and ruined everything. Now he plans to win her back.

But winning back his bride might prove much more difficult than he can imagine. And even if he does get her to the altar again, will she think turnabout is fair play?

My Thoughts

I hate writing "less than positive" reviews, but sadly A July Bride was my least favorite of the Year of Weddings series. Alyssa is left at the altar, but then Brendan (the jilting groom) realizes the terrible mistake he made and begins frantically trying to win her back. I felt sorry for Alyssa and the humiliation she suffered. But beyond that, I didn't experience much emotion while reading this novella.

I wished the author had given me a bit ... more ... related to the reasons behind the sudden breakup. It also felt odd for another guy to come on the scene and for Alyssa to be caught between the two guys. I had a hard time establishing the ages of the characters. Many of the actions and conversations gave the story more of a middle school or young high school feeling, but since the characters were discussing marriage, I assume they were at least college-aged.

Overall, I just wasn't impressed with this story. So many of the other books in this series have been fantastic, but I would probably skip over this one. [2 stars]

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

About the Author

Beth Wiseman is the best-selling author of the Daughters of the Promise series and the Land of Canaan series. Having sold over 1.3 million books, her novels have held spots on the ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) Bestseller List and the CBA (Christian Book Association) Bestseller List. She was the recipient of the prestigious Carol Award in 2011 and 2013. She is a three-time winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and an INSPY Award winner. In 2013 she took home the coveted Holt Medallion. Her first book in the Land of Canaan series—Seek Me With All Your Heart—was selected as the 2011 Women of Faith Book of the Year. Beth is contracted with HarperCollins Christian Publishing into the year 2018, and she has published twelve novels and nine novellas to date.

Beth and her husband are empty nesters enjoying the country life in Texas with three dogs, two cats, and two potbellied pigs. When she’s not writing, she loves to travel, paint, and enjoy time with friends and family. You can find Beth at Fans of Beth Wiseman on Facebook where she interacts with readers or visit bethwiseman.com to learn more about Beth and her books.

Beth Wiseman Online

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Once Upon a Winter's Heart by Melody Carlson (Blog Tour & Review)

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Once Upon a Winter's Heart
by
Melody Carlson
Available January 2014 from Center Street
Christian Fiction / Contemporary / Romance  160 pages
About the Book

Emma Burcelli has suffered over a decade of dating disasters. But she concludes that love is officially dead when her grandfather Poppi suddenly passes, leaving her grandmother Nona devastated. To help out, Emma works in the family bookstore, which Nona insists must be decked out in sweetheart décor as Poppi would have done for Valentine's Day. Although she feels like a V-Day Scrooge, Emma quickly learns to enjoy the task with the help of a handsome family friend, Lane Forester, who shows her that hanging hearts is much more fun when done to the tune of Dean Martin. As Emma and Lane share time and memories of Poppi, she reconsiders the notion that romance is alive.

Just as Emma's heart begins to lift, however, she learns her sister has already staked a claim on Lane. Emma's mother and sister insist Lane only sees her as a future sister-in-law, but she can't help wondering if it could be something more.

Buy a copy  |  Read an excerpt  |  Find out what others think

My Thoughts

I've read several of Carlson's novels over the years. I've found her books to be powerful stories with strong messages (especially her stories for the YA market). So of course, I was excited to read her latest story, out just in time for Valentine's Day.

Once Upon a Winter's Heart by Melody Carlson was disappointing. There wasn't much depth—to the story or the characters. The characters seemed to be very one-dimensional, which made it hard to connect with them. Anne and Soundra were particularly unlikeable, and I kept waiting for someone to just tell them to deal with it! Emma was more likeable, but I needed her to stand up for herself.

Additionally, with nothing really happening until 100 pages in and the romance launching from 0 to 100 in about 20 pages, the timing just felt ... off. There were lots of loose ends, and the book just suddenly ended. Honestly, if the book hadn't been so short (160 pages), I probably wouldn't have finished it, but it probably needed to be longer to more fully develop the story and characters.

This book wasn't a good fit for me, but I'm sure some will enjoy it. [2 stars]

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through Christian Fiction Blog Alliance in exchange for my fair and honest review.

About the Author

Over the years, Melody Carlson has worn many hats, from pre-school teacher to youth counselor to political activist to senior editor. But most of all, she is a writer who loves to write! She is a bestselling and award-winning author of more than 200 books for children, teens, and adults—with sales totaling more than five million. Carlson's passion for 'true to life' fiction has had great success for both the young adult and women's markets. Informed and aware of the challenges and struggles facing teens today, she writes young adult novels that she hopes will change lives and women's fiction to which women of all ages can relate. Her popular series, Diary of a Teenage Girl (Multnomah), has sold more than 600,000 copies and her popular Christmas novellas have sold over 250,000 copies combined. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband. They enjoy skiing, hiking, gardening, camping and biking in the beautiful Cascade Mountains. 

Melody Carlson Online

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Blog Tour & Review | Everyday Confetti

Everyday Confetti
by Karen Ehman & Glynnis Whitwer
Non-Fiction / Family / Holidays
Available January 2014
Revell
192 pages

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About the Book

Got a calendar packed with reasons to celebrate but a brain that lacks ideas? Special people you want to love on but limited time to do it? Relax. We've got you covered.

Everyday Confetti is your go-to guide to making holidays, birthdays, special events, and even the everyday special. Inside you'll find more than two hundred ways to make memories with your family, including easy recipes, fun activities, and inexpensive decorating ideas—all simple, doable, and stress-free.

Buy a copy  |  Read an excerpt  |  Find out what others think

My Thoughts

As someone who enjoys celebrating holidays or any other day, I was excited about this book. I was hoping to get some new ideas for celebrating all year and having someone else do the work for me! After reading Everyday Confetti, though, this isn't the book for me.

While I definitely found a few nuggets in this book, I didn't walk away feeling like I was ready for a year of celebrations. Some pretty major holidays/occasions (i.e., Easter) only offered two or three suggestions. Then there were a lot of minor or made up holidays that were listed with only a couple of suggestions that would require quite a bit of research, thought, or creativity to pull something together. Other times the suggestions just weren't that creative. For instance, the suggestion for both Black History Month and Cinco de Mayo was to read a book about the topic and learn more about the reason for these holidays—but no books were suggested, nor discussion questions or other activities to make it fun. Personally, I would have preferred a shorter list of holidays/occasions and more thorough, creative, and fun ideas about how to celebrate the holidays that were included. Since this is a Christian book, I also wished that there was a spiritual tie-in for each holiday. Some of the holidays included this type of connection, but many did not.

The three sections that were the best were Valentine's, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. These were the most complete sections and thought some of the ideas listed might be things I could incorporate into my family celebrations.

While some may appreciate this book for what it offers, I think many readers will be frustrated. People who are super busy, overwhelmed by Pinterest, short on time, and/or less creative than they'd like to be—the people I think this book is written for—will most likely be disappointed by the lack of complete information and suggestions provided in Everyday Confetti. [2 stars]

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

About the Authors

Karen Ehman is a national speaker, an online devotion writer, an author for Proverbs 31 Ministries, and a contributor at TheBetterMom.com. Her latest book and Bible study is Let. It. Go. She has been a guest on Focus on the Family, Moody Mid-day Connection, and The 700 Club. She and her husband, Todd, live in Michigan with their three children. Connect with her at www.karenehman.com.

Glynnis Whitwer, executive director of communications for Proverbs 31 Ministries, is one of the writers of Encouragement for Today, the Proverbs 31 Ministries online devotional. She is the author of several books, including I Used to Be So Organized. Glynnis and her husband, Tod, live in Arizona with their five children. She blogs regularly at www.glynniswhitwer.com.

Borders of the Heart by Chris Fabry

Borders of the Heart
by Chris Fabry
Christian Fiction / Contemporary
Available October 2012
Tyndale House
400 pages

Buy a copy
Read an excerpt
Find out what others think

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About the Book

Desperate to escape haunting memories, J. D. Jessup travels from Nashville to Tucson and volunteers on an organic farm. The hardened landowner has one prevailing rule: If J. D. sees an “illegal,” call the border patrol. But when an early morning ride along the fence line leads him to a beautiful young woman named Maria, near death in the desert, his heart pulls him in another direction. Longing to atone for the choices that drove him to Tucson, J. D. hides her and unleashes a chain of deadly events he could never have imagined. Soon they are running from a killer and fighting for their lives. As secrets of their pasts emerge, J. D. realizes that saving Maria may be the only way to save himself.

My Thoughts

Chris Fabry is an award-winning author, so I was excited that my library had several of his books in their downloadable audio section. It’s apparent on most review sites that many did indeed love Borders of the Heart, but I am not one of them. The book is on the longer side at 9.5 hours (or 400 pages). After listening for over 3.5 hours, I still was not any more drawn into the plot than I was at the beginning. It seemed that throughout the book the characters just ran around a lot … and not much else happened. The story is told from JD’s perspective—and much of it through reflection or thoughts while the dialogue and “action” was more minimal. Add to that the fact that I never really liked or cared very much about JD or Maria (the main characters), and I had an extremely difficult time finishing this book.

I will say that my interest in both the plot and the characters picked up for about the last hour of the book, including the 20-minute “epilogue” a year in the future. Personally, if the story had centered more on the year in between and/or the “epilogue” rather than the three days that it did, I think I would have enjoyed the book more. After the three days dragged on for so long, I felt a little cheated with the quickly-wrapped-up ending. One positive for me was that it was fun to hear the writer read his own book—rather than an actor. He did a great job with the narration and the “voices,” so if you enjoy Fabry’s work, you might give the audio version a shot as well. Sadly, though, this was not the book for me. [2 stars]

About the Author

Chris Fabry is an award-winning author and radio personality who hosts the daily program Chris Fabry Live! on Moody Radio. He is also heard on Love Worth Finding, Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman, and other radio programs. A 1982 graduate of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University and a native of West Virginia, Chris and his wife, Andrea, now live in Arizona and are the parents of nine children.

Chris's novels, which include Dogwood, June Bug, Almost Heaven, and Not in the Heart, have won two Christy Awards and an ECPA Christian Book Award, but it's his lyrical prose and tales of redemption that keep readers returning for more. He has also published more than 65 other books, including nonfiction and novels for children and young adults. He coauthored the Left Behind: The Kids series with Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, as well as the Red Rock Mysteries and the Wormling series with Jerry B. Jenkins. RPM is his latest series for kids and explores the exciting world of NASCAR.

Chris Fabry Online

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Blog Tour | Accidentally Amish by Olivia Newport

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Accidentally Amish

by

Olivia Newport

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Accidentally Amish
by Olivia Newport
Valley of Choice series, Book 1
Christian Fiction / Contemporary / Amish
Available October 2012
Barbour Books
368 pages

About the Book

Escape the helter-skelter of the modern culture and join software creator Annie Friesen, hiding at the home of an Amishman. With her high-tech career in jeopardy, Annie runs from fast-paced Colorado Springs—and straight into the hospitality of San Luis Valley’s Amish community. There she meets cabinetmaker Rufus Beiler, and the more time she spends with him, the more attracted she becomes. When Annie finds she shares a common ancestor with Rufus, she feels both cultures colliding within her. But is her love for Rufus strong enough for her to give up the only life she’s ever known?

You can read the first chapter here.

My Thoughts
After reading The Pursuit of Lucy Banning earlier this year and loving it, I was excited to read another book by Olivia Newport. Unfortunately, this book just didn't grab my interest in the same way. The book tells the story of a young, up-and-comer in the software industry who is shocked to learn that her business partner is trying to steal her latest product. When she escapes, she finds herself rescued by an Amish man who befriends her and tries to teach her about a simpler lifestyle.

I really didn't connect with this story or the main characters. It seemed pretty slow to start, and then once it picked up I still had a hard time getting into it. While I liked the idea of a woman finding refuge with the Amish, the idea of a non-Amish girl and an Amish man being friends and potentially liking each other was just a little too odd for me. Sorry! The book also alternates between the past and the present. While the two stories were connected, it was a while before I really latched onto the "past" story, and even then I found myself skimming pretty heavily.

The story is well-written and the idea is interesting, but it just didn't click with me. I will, however, be checking out the remaining books in Newport's other series. [2 stars]

I received a free copy of this book from Barbour Books and CFBA in exchange for my fair and honest review.

About the Author

Olivia Newport’s novels twist through time to find where faith and passions meet. Her husband and two twenty-something children provide welcome distraction from the people stomping through her head on their way into her books. She chases joy in stunning Colorado at the foot of the Rockies, where day lilies grow as tall as she is.

A Word From the Author
I’m imagining you. You walk past as I water my front flowerbeds and we wave. You check the time as we both stand in a long line at the grocery store. You sit in front of me in church. I’m at my table in the coffee shop and you’re at yours.

We may smile politely and move on with our separate lives. Or one of us may speak, a simple invitation to conversation, and the words flow between us.

Here the adventure begins. When we meet someone new, we never know where it might lead.

I’ve been married for over thirty years and have two twenty-something kids. We live in stunning Colorado at the foot of the Rockies, where the day lilies in my back yard grow as tall as I am. (No short jokes, please.)

Not every piece of my life is pretty, though. Some days I want to throw out whole chunks. But I am living each day looking for the grace of God to me, in me, and through me. Having your companionship along the way will help uncover a lot of great stories.

Thanks for stopping by my site, where conversations and adventures begin with a click. I hope we’ll run into each other often. 

Olivia Newport Online

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Blog Tour | Full Disclosure by Dee Henderson

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Full Disclosure

by

Dee Henderson

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Full Disclosure
by Dee Henderson
Christian Fiction / Contemporary / Suspense
Available October 2012
Bethany House
432 pages

About the Book

Ann Silver is a cop's cop. As the Midwest Homicide Investigator, she is called in to help local law enforcement on the worst of cases, looking for answers to murder. Hers is one of the region's most trusted investigative positions.

Paul Falcon is the FBI's top murder cop in the Midwest. If the victim carried a federal badge or had a security clearance, odds are good Paul and his team see the case file or work the murder.

Their lives intersect when Ann arrives to pass a case off her desk and onto his. A car wreck and a suspicious death offer a lead on a hired shooter he is tracking. Paul isn't expecting to meet someone, the kind that goes on the personal side of the ledger, but Ann Silver has his attention.

The better he gets to know her, the more Paul realizes her job barely scratches the surface of who she is. She knows spies and soldiers and U.S. Marshals, and has written books about them. She is friends with the former vice president. People with good reason to be cautious about who they let into their lives deeply trust her. Paul wonders just what secrets Ann is keeping, until she shows him the John Doe Killer case file, and he starts to realize just who this lady he is falling in love with really is...

My Thoughts
I absolutely devoured the O'Malley and the Uncommon Heroes series when I read them several years ago. I couldn't read them fast enough, and Dee Henderson couldn't write them fast enough to suit me. [Grin!] After a six-year hiatus, I think it's safe to say that Henderson's Full Disclosure was one of the most talked about and highly anticipated books of the year. It was for me at least!

Unfortunately, I didn't feel like Full Disclosure lived up to the hype surrounding it's release. I never relish giving a less-than-positive review, but I don't think you can fully comprehend how much it pains me to write this kind of "negative" review for a book by a favorite author (or how much I wanted to absolutely love this book!).

For a book that was marketed as romantic suspense, I found it to be neither very romantic nor very suspenseful. The first half of the book moved along very slowly, and I had to force myself to continue reading. About halfway through the pace really picked up, and I (finally) became intrigued by the mystery for the last quarter of the book. Much of the book was moved along by lengthy sections of dialogue where the conversations were more speeches than actual back and forth between characters.

I liked the idea of focusing on characters who were a little older than the norm (40ish) and particularly a woman who was content in her singleness. Unfortunately, it was hard for me to connect with Ann. She was just too ... perfect. Her flaws were even couched in positive terms, and I found it highly annoying. In the later portion of the book, some of her struggles and fears came to light, but it was almost too late for me at that point. (Also, I'm not sure that Ann was really content in her singleness as much as she was terrified of marriage and the sacrifices required.)

The relationship between Ann and Paul was odd as well. Paul originally focused his attention on Ann by talking to all of her friends about her. I wanted to shake him and say, "If you want to get to know her, talk to her!" And when they finally got around to talking about their relationship, some of the conversations felt more like labor negotiations than personal, "how do we make this work" conversations. I know everything is not always romance and candy and flowers (I'm married after all!), but their relationship was just so stilted.

I think I could have moved past many of these "complaints"—especially as the pace and mystery picked up. The one thing I really couldn't get past, though, was the fact that Ann wrote all of Dee's books. It really threw me for a loop, and I had a hard time distinguishing fact from fiction. So, Ann is Dee? Or Dee is Ann? Or Ann has some of Dee's characteristics? But Ann (as Dee?) wrote all of Dee's books? It was confusing and strange, and every time it was mentioned it pulled me completely out of the story. I would try to wrap my mind around it and then move past it, and then it was mentioned again and my head started spinning again. Perhaps readers who have not read any of Dee's previous books won't find this so strange, but I just couldn't get past it.

I'm glad I stuck with it and finished the book, as the last half was the best part. However, I was still disappointed by the book as a whole. I'm hopeful that Henderson will be able to recapture that quality for excellent storytelling that she has demonstrated in the past and continue to wow readers for years to come. [2 stars]

I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House and CFBA in exchange for my fair and honest review.

(Be sure to check out other reviews of Full Disclosure before making your decision about this book. Mine is only one opinion. You can find a list of other bloggers participating in this blog tour here.)

About the Author
Dee Henderson is the bestselling, award-winning author of 15 previous novels, including the acclaimed O'MALLEY series and UNCOMMON HEROES series. She is a lifelong resident of Illinois.

Dee Henderson Online

Dee's Website  |  Book Website  |  Facebook

Full Disclosure Sneak Peek

Revell Blog Tour | A Love Forbidden by Kathleen Morgan

A Love Forbidden
by Kathleen Morgan
Heart of the Rockies series, Book 2
Christian Fiction / Historical / Romance
Available May 2012
Revell Books
320 pages

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About the Book
They're from two different worlds. Can love cross the divide?

Moved by a compassionate heart and the desire for adventure, twenty-year-old Shiloh Wainwright impulsively accepts a teaching position at the White River Indian Agency in northwestern Colorado. Eager to use her skills to help improve the lives of Ute Indian children, she looks forward to a fulfilling, independent life on the Colorado frontier.

But her new job isn't what she imagined it would be, and Shiloh soon finds herself caught in the cross fire between the Utes, their unyielding Indian agent, and a demanding US government. Her unexpected encounter with a half-Ute childhood friend, Jesse Blackwater, only complicates matters as they battle their growing feelings for each other amidst spiraling tensions that threaten to explode into a catastrophic uprising.

Set amongst the wilds of the Colorado Rockies in 1879, this tale from bestselling and award-winning author Kathleen Morgan explores the transformational power of forgiveness, compassion, and God's healing love with artistry and authenticity.

My Thoughts
While I've seen quite a few Kathleen Morgan novels featured on other blogs, A Love Forbidden was first I've read by the author. I had high expectations for this book—frontier life, romance, Indians, what more could you want from a western? Sadly, I didn't enjoy the book as much as I hoped.

The book started off with a bang. Flashing back several years, we are introduced to Shiloh and Jesse. The scene is intense—Jesse is being whipped by some of the ranch hands on Shiloh's family ranch. The emotions of the scene are palpable and I was immediately hooked. Unfortunately, the plot slowed down after that and I had to really push myself to finish. The story did pick up again (around page 150), but it seemed to pick up in spurts and then slow back down again. I never really connected with the characters either. I liked Jesse and Shiloh but I wasn't very invested in them or their relationship. The end of the book seemed a bit rushed as well. I think a better pace for the story would have helped me enjoy it more.

While the other reviews that have been posted have been quite positive, this book just wasn't for me. I may try another series by this author but will most likely pass on the rest of this series. [2 stars]

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

Available May 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. 

About the Author
Kathleen Morgan is the award-winning author of many novels, including those in the bestselling Brides of Culdee Creek series. She lives in Colorado.

Kathleen Morgan Online

Website  |  Blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

Waiting for Dawn by Susan May Warren

I absolutely loved Susan May Warren's My Foolish Heart. I mean loved it. I was obviously thrilled when I learned that she had two new ebook novellas out and latched on to the opportunity to review them.

However, I was really disappointed with Waiting for Dawn. The basic premise of the story is that several covert ops guys (including Jim Micah) are taken hostage by a wandering tribe in the Iraqi desert. Lacey Galloway works as a contractor for the Department of Defense and is worried about her best friend / crush who has been kidnapped. She sneaks into Iraq and goes on a mission (as a civilian) to try to find and rescue Micah and his men. She then is confronted with making a choice between best friends Micah and John.

This is a prequel to Flee the Night (Team Hope series). Warren basically writes this novella to give you the back story for Lacey and Jim. Unfortunately, 40 pages is just too short to really develop a story (even a back story). Perhaps if I had read Flee the Night, it would have made more sense. But it's a prequel . . . you're supposed to read it first. Additionally, the plot was completely unrealistic and I just didn't really like Lacey.

I will say that I LOVED the way that Warren wrote Scripture into the book. Throughout the entire book, Jim Micah continually meditates on Scripture in order to focus his thoughts on God instead of the terrible circumstances he is in.

I will probably give the Team Hope series another shot since I loved the Deep Haven series so much, but Waiting for Dawn just didn't hit home with me.

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

About the Book
In this prequel to Flee the Night—the first book in Susan May Warren’s critically acclaimed Team Hope series—Lacey Galloway leads a rather predictable life as a contractor for the Department of Defense. But news that Sergeant First Class Jim Micah is missing in action leads her on a dangerous trek overseas to rescue the man who secretly captured her heart.

Although her DOD connections quickly cut through the red tape, she also enlists the help of her ex-boyfriend and Micah’s best friend, Lieutenant John Montgomery. As they hatch a covert plan to find and rescue Micah, Lacey’s feelings are once again torn between the two men.

Filled with romance and adventure, this twisty tale will hold you captive to the very last page.

About the Author
Susan May Warren is the RITA award-winning author of thirty novels with Tyndale, Barbour, Steeple Hill and Summerside Press.  A four-time Christy award finalist, a two-time RITA Finalist, she’s also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Carol Award.  A seasoned women’s events speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!.  She is also the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.

The Spirit in Baseball & The Spirit in Football

I had the opportunity to review two new children's books recently: The Spirit in Baseball and The Spirit in Football. I really liked the concept ... teaching kids about the fruit of the Spirit by showing them how these character traits can be displayed in the midst of playing football and baseball. These books go beyond simply talking about good sportsmanship. Instead, the books teach the character of Christ, supported by Scripture.

In theory, these books are wonderful. However, I was disappointed by these books. The layout is not what I expected. Both books include a single page with the text from the rest of the pages. Then it goes on to the actual content and illustrations. Additionally, there are a lot of "extras" - dedications, about the author, information about a famous athlete, etc. They seemed a bit all over the place. The illustrations were also fairly simple ... and quite cutesy. Since the books were about baseball and football, I felt like the pictures should have been more suited for boys. These would have been fine for a book for girls.

So ... unfortunately, I don't believe that I would use this book or give as a gift. I did like the concept, though!

I received a free copy of these books from The B&B Media Group in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Remember Why You Play by David Thomas

Based on the back of the book (which had me tearing up within minutes of getting the book out of the mailbox!), I expected this book to be about an amazing high school football team with an amazing coach who was ultimately trying to teach kids life lessons and biblical truths that were more important than just playing sports. The back of the book describes an incredible game against a team of boys from a youth detention center. With no one to cheer them on, the coach asked parents of his players to "switch sides" for the night and cheer by name for the other team's players. The author, however, spends the majority of the book talking about the games leading up to a much-deserved championship game. It's obvious that the coach understands that there are greater things in life than football and uses his opportunity to influence his players to develop godly character. While I enjoy watching sports, the writing is a bit technical for my taste - talking about all the ins and outs of different plays and practice techniques. As much as I wanted to like this book, it fell a little flat for me. It was just different than I expected and only gave one chapter at the end to the story described on the book jacket.

2 stars (out of 5)

I received a free copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my fair and honest review.

The Confirmation by Ralph Reed

The Confirmation by Ralph Reed is a realistic political thriller. Bob Long is the newly-elected president of the United States. Elected by a vote of Congress, his first days in office are filled with one problem after another ... a Supreme Court justice who suffers a stroke, abortion laws, and same-sex marriage.

I had high hopes for this book. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book as much as I had hoped. I had two major issues with this book. First, there were a TON of characters. One hundred pages in, the author was still introducing new characters. It was too much for me to keep up with. Second, much of the dialogue was centered around political issues and filled with language that is probably natural to those in political circles ... but not to me. It was cumbersome and difficult to follow along with. This was probably the wrong genre for me. So ... if you enjoy political dramas, you might want to give this book a try.

2 stars (out of 5)

I received a free copy of this book from B&H Books in exchange for my fair and honest review.

True Religion by Palmer Chinchen

This is a totally mixed review. I was really excited to read this book because of the focus on missions and the importance of missions as part of spiritual growth. The book is well-written - I felt like the author probably writes like he speaks. It was very easy to read. The book is also filled with inspirational tales of the author's missions experiences overseas. The stories express a passion for spreading the gospel and encourage readers to put what they're reading into practice.

However, I had some strong theological misgivings throughout the book. First, the author continually encourages readers to become an "expatriate." Chinchen uses "expatriate" to "describe an extraordinary life, a life of adventure, a life of uncertainty, a life of exhilaration, a life worth living" (p. 51). The Bible's focus on missions is not about a big adventure but rather about spreading the glory of God.

Additionally, each chapter concludes with a suggestion on how to live more like an ex-pat. Some of the suggestions were to rent movies with sub-titles, eat at ethnic restaurants, and studying another language. And these suggestions on how to live like an "ex-pat" are really just suggestions on how to add a little culture to your life. I wish he would have suggested things like read magazines and blogs centered around persecution of Christians, praying for unreached peoples around the world, writing encouraging letters/emails to missionaries, sacrificing financial resources, actually going to another context, etc.

Another chapter focused on the idea that we as Christians are supposed to take pieces of heaven into places of hell. I completely agreed with his supposition that hell-like places/events include genocide, rape, starving children, etc. I strongly disagreed with his thoughts that "pieces of heaven" included things like a Krispy Kreme donut. I realize that we all talk about how great heaven is going to be and how beautiful it's going to be with the streets of gold and the giant mansions, but heaven's going to be great because of GOD. Certainly not because we had a Krispy Kreme donut here on earth and that gave me a small taste of what heaven is going to be like. I pray that when I am in heaven I am so focused on worshiping the creator and savior of the universe that I don't ever want another thing besides HIM.

There was just a real disconnect for me with the examples that the author gave and the thoughts he expressed around them. I would have preferred to see a book more focused on God rather than on our opportunity to have a great adventure doing missions.

Before the theological issues, I would probably give this book a 4 star review. However, with all the theological differences, I would have to give it a 2 star review.

I received this book for free from The B&B Media Group in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Obstacles Welcome by Ralph de la Vega

Obstacles Welcome relates the experiences of Ralph de la Vega, a Cuban immigrant turned business executive and CEO of AT&T Mobility. Based on the initial chapter, I expected the book to incorporate more of the author’s childhood experiences in Cuba and south Florida. However, most of the book focuses on his business experience working the telecommunications industry. While the points made are valuable, many of the examples are tedious. Additionally, the author jumps around quite a bit, which makes the book difficult to follow. Overall, the book was fairly interesting and gave insight to solid leadership principles.
2 stars (out of 5)