Blog Tour: Fall Fun Fiction

I was offered the oppurtunity to read three very enjoyable books for a Fall Fun Fiction blog tour. I wasn't sure if I would be able to read all three books in time, but they were all so good that I was able to read them quickly! Of course my sleep suffered, but it was worth it! :-)


Limelight by Melody Carlson

Publisher's Summary:
Claudette Fioré used to turn heads and break hearts. She relished the glamorous Hollywood lifestyle because she had what it takes: money, youth, fame, and above all, beauty. But age has withered that beauty, and a crooked accountant has taken her wealth, leaving the proud widow penniless and alone.

Armed with stubbornness and sarcasm, Claudette returns to her shabby little hometown and her estranged sister. Slowly, she makes friends. She begins to see her old life in a new light. For the first time, Claudette Fioré questions her own values and finds herself wondering if it’s too late to change.

My thoughts:

This book had me hooked from the first page. Claudette's situation and how she was going to deal with it had me hooked. Given that the book didn't really have that "Christian Fiction" feel to it, though it did definitely have a Christian message, I think that this book would appeal to a wide audience. Claudette being a "Hollywood figure" there is a lot of name dropping in the book, from silent film times to the present. The writing style and the plot held my attention. And I found myself laughing out loud at points, always a good thing! I love a book that gives me a good dose of Vitamin L. Though I could predict what was going to happen on the worst night of Claudette's life, I was still laughing hard (you have to read it to see what I mean.)

The book has a good story of redemption and forgiveness and the illustration of using the soiled towels made useful again was a good one.

I definitely recommend this book and I plan to suggest it for our next book club book.

For more on this book, click HERE.


What Matters Most by Melody Carlson

Publisher's Summary:

Maya’s Green Tip for the Day: Recycled fashion is one of the most fun ways to go green. A pair of jeans could be transformed into a denim skirt. A sweater into a vest. A bunch of old ties into a dress. A blanket into a poncho. Accessorize it in new way–with beads, buttons, appliqués, buckles, stencils, or ribbons…your imagination is only the limit. (65 words)

Sixteen-year-old Maya Stark has a lot to sort through. She could graduate from high school early if she wants to. She’s considering it, especially when popular cheerleader Vanessa Hartman decides to make her life miserable–and Maya’s ex-boyfriend Dominic gets the wrong idea about everything.

To complicate matters even more, Maya’s mother will be released from prison soon, and she’ll want Maya to live with her again. That’s a disaster waiting to happen. And when Maya plays her dad’s old acoustic guitar in front of an audience, she discovers talents and opportunities she never expected. Faced with new options, Maya must choose between a “normal” life and a glamorous one. Ultimately, she has to figure out what matters most.

My Thoughts:

This was another book by the same author, only this time it was a young adult fiction. I enjoy being introduced to new books to offer my daughters to read and I am glad I got to review this book so I could see it was something they might like to read.

Turns out this is the 3rd "diary" of Maya, the main character of the book, and there are several other books of this series of diary books featuring four different girls. Which meant that there was a lot of history I had missed. Even so, there was enough back story that I didn't feel too terribly lost and could enjoy the book. I will want to go back and read the other books though as now I am curious about the rest of the story! Ack! Now I have to fit in a whole lot more books!:-)

This book reminded me a little of the Princess Diaries books, only cleaner. And despite how much I laughed with Limelight, this one didn't have me laughing out loud like the Princess Diaries books did. One similarity that Mia and Maya have are their "green" tendencies. Which is actually the only thing that bothered me about this book. Not that I don't think we should be environmentally responsible, but I am not tree hugging fanatic and some of the green tips bugged me. Like the suggestion that we should put our kids on the bus rather than pollute air by taking our own kids to school. Funny I should read that the same day I get to hear about a child being arrested right off one of our middle school buses. And of course she promotes flouride, and mercury tainted light bulbs.

But, that was the only thing that I didn't really like. Maya is a fairly new Christian, who comes from a rather troubled background, and didn't grow up with some of our pious Christian prejudices. So, while she strives to live in God's will and do what is right (which I think she does admirably) she is willing to risk her reputation by hanging out with students that her churchy friends frown upon, thus opening the doors of Christ to them.

Being that I love music and my own books are about young musicians, I naturally liked the music aspect of this story!

Another good book and I will be looking forward to reading the rest and sharing them with my daughters.

For more on this book, click HERE.

Leaving Carolina by Tamara Leigh

Publisher's Summary:
worth of family misdeeds. But that will reveal all the Pickwicks’ secrets, including Piper’s.
Piper Wick left her hometown of Pickwick, North Carolina, twelve years ago, shook the dust off her feet, ditched her drawl and her family name, and made a new life for herself as a high-powered public relations consultant in LA. She’s even “engaged to be engaged” to the picture-perfect U.S. Congressman Grant Spangler.

Now all of Piper’s hard-won happiness is threatened by a reclusive uncle’s bout of conscience. In the wake of a health scare, Uncle Obadiah Pickwick has decided to change his will, leaving money to make amends for four generations’
Though Piper arrives in Pickwick primed for battle, she is unprepared for Uncle Obe’s rugged, blue-eyed gardener. So just who is Axel Smith? Why does he think making amends is more than just making restitution? And why, oh why, can’t she stay on task? With the Lord’s help, Piper is about to discover that although good PR might smooth things over, only the truth will set her free.

My Thoughts:

While this was not my favorite of the three, I did enjoy this book as well and read it very quickly. (That's a sign I like a book!) This would be another good book for my book club. This book deals with letting go of the past and with the often hard decision between telling the truth and suffering the consequences or just quietly letting things slide, even if it hurts others. Piper learns that doing God's will, confessing/repenting is worth it in the end and that sometimes what we think we want is not always what we will really be happy with. I love a book that deals with honesty, especially when the message is wrapped in an entertaining story with believable characters.

To find out more on this book, click HERE.

These books were provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Operation Shine our Lights!

Once again we are using Halloween as a time to share God's Word with the children in our neighborhood. Each year we use trick or treating as a time of outreach by putting together goodie bags. We read the scriptures together and pray for those we will be giving them to. Here is what they looked like this year. Click on the pictures to read the labels.

Candy w/ Ps 199:103

Candy Corn with 1 Corinthians 10:31

I found these juice ice pops at Costco for a good price
and thought they would be a unique trick or treat item.
They are labled with John 15:1-9

Raisons with the fruits of the spirit

Playdough with Isaiah 64:8
I had some cute little "I Spy" tracts left over from last year.

Our theme this year was Light.
I found these lollipop cards at Family Christian Store.
I used them instead of tracts (until I ran out, then substituted the I Spy tracts)

The back of the card.

To go with our "light" theme, we have "Shine with the light of Jesus" flashlights and magnets,
some glow in the dark balls and some glow bracelets. The flashlights and bracelets will not be in the bags.
We hand them out separately so that kids can have a light as they go around in the dark.
Also included in each pack is a slip of paper with 1 John 1:3-9

All of the goodies were Oriental Trading or other inexpensive things I picked up at Costco or what not. I found the tubes of glow sticks for $1 at Michaels earlier in the month!

Field Trip: CCC Scavenger Hunt at the Zoo

It's not been a good season for field trips for us. We signed up for several with our new home school co-op, but the rain has knocked them out. Then sickness knocked out one we planned on with another home school group. But, finally, we were able to go on one this week!

We took part in a Scavenger Hunt at the St. Louis Zoo. We were given a set of questions (40 I think) that we needed to answer by going all over the zoo and reading signs and mapes and such. We managed to find all our answers, but we came in 4th. Apparently we didn't answer them all correctly :-). But, we had a lot of fun. It was nice to get outside, dispite the overcast day. My legs were killing me after the race through the zoo! That is the fastest we have even gone through the zoo. Since we were members for so long, we tended to pick a part of the zoo to visit each time, rarely seeing it all in one shot!

It was a good time to be out. The Cheetahs were out and about. That is a rare thing for us. The tigers and the leapards were also pretty active. I am glad we got to go on this trip!

One of the baby elephants

The kids with the Elephants


We took the Zebra pictures for Noah Estes

Blog Tour: Shawdow Government and Wisdom Hunter

I was again given the oppurtunity to review some very interesting looking books as part of a blog tour. Unfortunately, with sickness taking over the house, crazy schedules, book club books to read, etc, time got away from me and all I had time for was a quick skim through the books. Not enough to write a proper review. The books do look very good so I hope I have time to read them at a later date. For now, I will share the publisher's summaries with you.


Shadow Government by Grant R Jeffrey

Publisher's Summary:

Security cameras, surveillance of private financial transactions, radio frequency spy chips hidden in consumer products, eavesdropping on e-mail correspondence and phone calls, and Internet tracking. No one is protected, and privacy is a thing of the past.

An ultra-secret global elite, functioning as a very real shadow government, controls technology, finance, international law, world trade, political power, and vast military capabilities. These unnamed, unrivaled leaders answer to no earthly authority, and they won’t stop until they control the world.

In Shadow Government, prophecy expert Grant Jeffrey removes the screen that, up to now, has hidden the work of these diabolical agents. Jeffrey reveals the biblical description of Satan’s global conquest and identifies the tools of technology that the Antichrist will use to rule the world.

Readers will have their eyes opened to the real power that is working behind the scenes to destroy America and merge it into the coming global government. Armed with this knowledge, readers will be equipped to face spiritual darkness with the light of prophetic truth.

Author's Bio:

Grant R. Jeffrey is the internationally known prophecy researcher, Mideast expert, and author of Countdown to the Apocalypse, The New Temple and the Second Coming, The Next World War, and twenty other best-selling books. He is also the editor of the Prophecy Study Bible. His popular television program, Bible Prophecy Revealed, airs weekly on TBN. Jeffrey earned his master’s and PhD degrees from Louisiana Baptist University. He and his wife, Kaye, live in Toronto.

Click HERE for more info on this book.

Wisdom Hunter by Randall Arthur

Publisher's Summary:

Pastor Jason Faircloth knows what he believes. His clear faith, in fact, is why he is one of the most prominent pastors in Atlanta. He relies on it to discipline his daughter, his wife, his church. He prays daily that others would come to see God’s ways as he does.

And it is about to cost him everything.

Groping for answers in the face of tragedy, Jason begins a search for the only family he has left: the granddaughter kept hidden from him. Soon he finds himself on an international adventure that will take him straight into the depths of his soul. He is determined not to fail again.

A fast-paced suspense novel rich in spiritual depth, Wisdom Hunter explores what it means to break free of Christian legalism—and discover why grace can mean the difference between life and death.

Author's Bio:

Randall Arthur is the bestselling author of Jordan’s Crossing and Brotherhood of Betrayal. He and his wife have served as missionaries to Europe for over thirty years. From 1976 till 1998, he lived in Norway and Germany as a church planter. Since 2000, he has taken numerous missions teams from the United States on trips all over Europe. Arthur is also the founder of the AOK (Acts of Kindness) Bikers’ Fellowship, a group of men who enjoy the sport of motorcycling. He and his family live in Atlanta, Georgia.

Click HERE for more info on this book.

These books were provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Our Yard - Fall 2009

It's a great year for fall colors! I thought I would take some pictures from around our yard.

The swing set and maple trees.

Apple and Maple trees.

Apple tree.

Another view of the Maple.

The Redbud

Dogwood

Of course, I must have pumpkins!

We took these pictures on a walk we took over in my parents' neighborhood. They have a wonderful trail to walk on.

Alex liked this big leaf and thought it would make a great mask.

Alex's 13th Birthday!

Alex turned 13 this month! I now have two teenagers living in the house! Time flies. It is hard to believe how fast my little ones are growing up!

The bouquet I bought Alex for her birthday.

Alex made this centerpiece for her birthday meal.

She and my mother made this yummy brownie peanut butter cake.

She got lots of American Girl cookbooks, a Webkinz signature wolf, a Felicity book and mini doll and her traditional birthday girl figurine. I also bought her a bag of apples and carmel for making carmel apples, and some other small goodies.

I also finished her scarf and a matching hat, just in time for her birthday. I had also gotten her an American girl kit that had a flower making loom, so I attached a flower to her hat.

It takes a life to love life

Thanks to Facebook, I was able to reconnect with a very good friend of mine from high school. As often happens, we had lost touch after we graduated and moved on to other things. But, I thought of her often and wished to reconnect. With some sleuthing, another high school friend and I found her on facebook and I have had the pleasure of catching up. Sadly though, I reconnected with her at a very difficult time in her life. Her 17 year old daughter was living with ALS aka Lou Gerhig's disease. Possibly the youngest person to be diagnosed with it (dxed at 16.)

Following Gretchen and Haley's story has inspired me. Gretchen has always been a very positive person and she must have passed that on to her daughter as their strength during this trial has been amazing. It definitely put the trials of raising a child with ASD. We may have trials, but my daughter does not have a terminal disease.

Though I never got to meet Haley, who passed away on Sept 3, I was able to finally meet up with Gretchen again at a presentation of the drama, It Takes a Life to Love Life, that they helped to write about living life with ALS. They came to town to present it at a small theater across the street from our hold high school. Though it was not the best of circumstances to meet under, it was a joy to see her again.

Also attending the play were some more friends from h.s. days that were brought back together through the power of face book.

Katie, Gretchen, Jennifer and Catherine

Blog Tour: The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall

Publisher's Summary:

Beth Hertzler works alongside her beloved Aunt Lizzy in their dry goods store, and serving as contact of sorts between Amish craftsmen and Englischers who want to sell the Plain people’s wares. But remorse and loneliness still echo in her heart everyday as she still wears the dark garb, indicating mourning of her fiancé. When she discovers a large, intricately carved scene of Amish children playing in the snow, something deep inside Beth’s soul responds and she wants to help the unknown artist find homes for his work–including Lizzy’s dry goods store. But she doesn’t know if her bishop will approve of the gorgeous carving or deem it idolatry.

Lizzy sees the changes in her niece when Beth shows her the woodworking, and after Lizzy hunts down Jonah, the artist, she is all the more determined that Beth meets this man with the hands that create healing art. But it’s not that simple–will Lizzy’s elaborate plan to reintroduce her niece to love work? Will Jonah be able to offer Beth the sleigh ride she’s always dreamed of and a second chance at real love–or just more heartbreak?

Author's Bio:

Cindy Woodsmall is the author of When the Heart Cries, When the Morning Comes, and The New York Times Best-Seller When the Soul Mends. Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families. A mother of three sons and two daughters-in-law, Cindy lives in Georgia with her
husband of thirty-one years

.

My Thoughts:

This was a good book. It was a short and quick read but enjoyable. Good lessons on healing from bitterness, guilt and past hurts. A good book for the holidays. The analogies of healing from physical hurts to healing from emotional hurts were effective.

For more info on this book, check out the publisher's webite.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

who do I talk to? by Neta Jackson

Another great book by Neta Jackson. The second in the yada yada House of Hope series. Of course I loved it!

In this book Gabby is trying to pick up the pieces of her life after her husband locks her out of their penthouse and takes their sons from her. Between the challenge of getting her sons back and finding a place to live, she is also busy working at Mannah house residents and dealing with some alarming health issues with her mother.

What I love about the heroines in the yada yada books is that they are so real. Dealing with the struggles of being human, dealing with human emotions and shortcomings while trying to do what's right. Easy to relate to them. Again there was a reminder that while we are in the midst of our trials, that seem to consume our lives, that we need to look around us and realize that we are not alone in our struggles. That those in our lives and around us are also dealing with trials and we need to help each other, even in the midst of our pain.

It was fun to see a bit more of Jodi in this book!

I can't wait for the next book, and I sure hope there will be another yada yada brothers book too!

Blog T our: Extraordinary by John Bevere

Publisher's Summary:

There’s a question that troubles many believers: “Why am I not experiencing more joy, more hope, more satisfaction, more intimacy, more power, more everything in my Christian life--didn’t Jesus promise that?”

He did promise an abundant life, but too many people are trapped by the curse of “the ordinary.” They have accepted the wrong idea that following God means losing individuality, creativity, and a passion for achieving lofty goals.

Nothing could be further from the truth! John Bevere builds a convincing case, straight from Scripture, for a way of living marked by extraordinary experiences and accomplishments—the life God always intended for his children.

Here is a guide to understanding God’s incredible plans, and how to enjoy a life where he adds the “extra” to “ordinary.”

Author Bio:

John Bevere is an internationally popular conference speaker, teacher, and author of bestsellers, including The Bait of Satan, Drawing Near, and Driven by Eternity. His award-winning curriculum and books have been translated in over sixty languages and his weekly television program, The Messenger, is broadcast around the world. John and his wife, Lisa—also a bestselling author and speaker—reside with their family in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Visit his ministry website at www.messengerinternational.org.

To purchase this book, you can visit: Random House

My thoughts on the book:

I was not able to finish the book before the deadline, but I did get half way through. What I have read has been very good. The author challenges us to live up to the potential that God has given us, reminding us that God has plans for us, made before we were even born and that we strive to fulfill those plans.

I have been accused of trying "work" my way into heaven because I strive so hard to live a holy life. One thing I love about this book is that it explains how though our eternal home is sealed when we accept Christ and that faith is all that is needed to pass out of that judgment, that we will be judged on our life. That grace is not just to seal the deal but that God gives us grace to live holy and perfect lives.

One interesting section even goes into the old "well we no longer live under the law" excuse for doing whatever we want. It shows how Jesus addressed "well the law taught you this, but I teach this..." and what Jesus expects is oh so much more than what the law asked of us. Pretty eye opening!

But again, we are reminded that when accept Jesus, we are given the gift of grace and the power of the Holy Spirit to help us be like Jesus.

I look forward to reading the rest of the book and finding out what else the author has to say. If you want to be challenged to live an "extraordinary" life for Jesus, you might want to look into this book!

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Piece de Resistance by Sanra Byrd

The third book in the series about Lexi, a young woman in love with the french culture and baking who gets her dream job as a pastry chef for a French bakery. I loved this whole series!

Like Hannah in the Hannah Swenson mysteries, Lexi always seems to have some choices to make when it comes to men, mixes the romance aspect up a little. Of course in the end, she really only has one choice and I think it is the right one. Loved how it turned out.

I love how Lexi's eyes and heart are always open to those around her and she looks for ways to make the lives of others sweeter even though she is struggling with where she is at. She doesn't stay wallowed in her own difficulties, but gives what she can to others. In the end, this is always what leads to her own success. A good lesson for us all.

And on a personal note, I loved that she weaved Philippians into the story! That really does seem to be my theme book this year! And then she turned to Daniel, which I am supposed to be studying right now. :-)

I am so glad I found this author. I have enjoyed these books so much!