Book Review: Masquerade

Masquerade by Nancy Moser was great book and what made it even better was the originality of the plot.  It was not a story I have read a dozen times.

Here's the gist:  Lottie's society family in 1180's England has status, but no money.  Before word of their financial status gets out her parents decide to marry her off to a wealthy American.  Lottie is not happy but develops a plan when her mother is unable to make the journey with her because of illness.

Lottie and her maid, Dora, decided to switch places.  Dora will marry the wealthy American and Lottie will make her own way equipped with a sufficient amount of money.  Of course all does not go according to plan.  The girls both have heartache and love as they make their way in a new world.

I didn't know how the book would end the entire time and enjoyed the ending.  I would give the book 4 out of 5 stars.  A side note: I love that Moser included fashion from the late 1800's.  A bit of 'real' history is always fun!

I receive this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.  I was not compensated in any other way.

Book Review: The Vigilante's Bride

I received this book from Bethany House Publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.  I was not compensated in any other way.

I got two FICTION books to review the same day and I decided to start with The Vigilante's Bride by Yvonne Harris, because it looked less interesting than the other book.  I went into it expecting it to be run-of-the-mill Christian romance.

Plot Summary:  Orphaned girl, Emily, in a group home reaches marriagable age and is sent west to marry a older, wealthy rancher in exchange for a donation to the orphanage.  Turns out the guy, Mr. Axel, is a jerk; unfaithful, abusive and theiving to name a few.  Emily is kidnapped in a stage coach robbery by a vigilante, Luke.  A man who is part of a group who take justice for cattle rustlers into their own hands (there is no law in some parts of Montana in 1884).  After a variety of mishaps, and Luke's return to the Lord, the two realize they complete each other!

I expected the ending and did not fall in love with any of the characters, but was entertained while reading.  I would certainly read more books by Harris.

I would give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

Book Review: The Devil in Pew Number Seven

Much thanks to Tyndale Publishers for sending me this book to review in exchange for my honest opinion.  I was not compensated in any other way.


The memories of a girl combined with her parents journals, eyewitness interviews, old newspaper clippings and court documents come together in an almost unbelievable true story.

This story was very interesting and easy to read.  The names of the small town folks did get confusing, but knowing exactly who everyone is, is not relevant to following the story.  While the book kept my attention, I am not convinced it is totally true.  These events took place decades ago, so memories may be skewed.  I do, however, certainly believe this family was harassed by a church member.

The moral of the story is remarkable.  The ability to forgive is divine.  When we forgive we become free.  That this family can forgive their tormentors is a wonderful example of God's love, grace and forgiveness to us.

Book Review: Same Kind of Different as Me

I had heard about this book and when Thomas Nelson opened it up for more reviews I jumped at the opportunity! In exchange for my honest opinion Thomas Nelson Publisher sent me a copy of Ron Hall and Denver Moore's book, Same Kind of Different as Me. I was not compensated in any other way.

This book starts out telling the stories of two men growing up in the 1950's. They seem very different, but similarities pop up along the way. The book switches between the lives of Ronnie and Denver, called 'lil Buddy. You learn that Denver grew up in Louisiana as a sharecropper who never learned to read or drive a car. He spent year after year working for 'the Man'. After 30 years he decides he's had enough and hops on a train, ending up in Fort Worth, TX. He is homeless and in and out of jail. He is unreachable.

Ron Hall has come a long ways from his lower-middle class roots. He married a sorority girl and became an investment banker. On the side he began buying and selling expensive art. That business soon became full-time. Ron played the part of benevolent Christian family man. But the pieces of his facade started falling.

When the two men meet, because Ron's wife talks him in to volunteering at an inner city mission, they both change and many more people change as well. As both men see life in a different way they draw closer to God.

I was in tears by the end of the book. I told several people about it the day I finished. I would recommend this memoir! I like how the story builds, bouncing from one chapter to the next. I love how these two men see that there is now distinction between those who are in Christ. And when these men follow God, their community is impacted and lives are changed.

Book Review: Love on a Dime

I received Love on a Dime by Cara Lynn James from Thomas Nelson Publishers to review. My opinion is my own and I was not compensated in any other way.

This was the first romantic fiction novel I have been able to request from BookSneeze (Thomas Nelson's blogger book review program) and I was excited. I love a good love story. This story had great potential. It was not a story line I had read 8 times before, it had a historical setting, there was a conflict between the love interests. But I was bored. I enjoyed the book while reading it, but had no trouble putting it down. The main character, Lilly, was in her mid-twenties, but acted like a teenager. I was more interesting in learning about Lilly's brother and his wife than Lilly and her estranged love, Jack.

Lilly, a socialite in 1899, has a secret no one can know about. She writes romance novels. Things become complicated when a gossip rag threatens to expose Lilly and her ex-boyfriend Jack reappears in her live, buying the publishing company Lilly writes for. He is determined to find out the identity of his mystery writer. Add in a beau she doesn't really like and pressure from well meaning parents and you have a story.

It is not my favorite, but I would read another book by the author. This is her first novel so she is sure to get even better!

Book Review: The Heart Mender (and Giveaway!)

After I requested this book to review I went to the book's website to check it out. You can read the first two chapters online, so I did. I LOVED them! I was so excited to get the book, but of course I had to wait a week for it to be shipped. I truly enjoy a good love story and I expected to find one! Once my book arrived I was reading something else and had to finish it. Then I dug right in.

The book is split into three parts. In Part One, Andrews tells how he discovered this decades old story of mystery and love. Part Two is the story retold and Part Three is simply amazing. I would tell you about it, but I am not a storyteller like Andy Andrews and I would just ruin it. This book deals with resentment and anger and then forgiveness and the peace that accompanies it.

Andy Andrews was digging up an old dead tree in his back yard on the gulf coast of Alabama. He discovers a vegetable can that contains three photographs and a pile of German naval buttons from WW2 era. He researches all he can about the the buttons and what they mean, and talks to the old locals about why pieces of a Nazi uniform would be in Alabama. What he finds is a piece of history that got left out the media in 1942 and a love story to rival any fiction!

Josef Landermann is shot and thrown off a German submarine by the Nazi Party Representative on board. Helen Mason, a woman embittered by the death of her husband by the Nazis, finds him washed up, half dead on the beach by her house. She is at a loss of what to do when she discovers the man is an enemy.

The characters are funny and easy to relate to. The writing is poignant and interesting. The message is necessary.

The best part of this book- you can have one too! Thomas Nelson sent me an extra copy to giveaway! To enter leave a comment telling me what your favorite book is! This giveaway ends Sunday, May 23 at midnight!

I was provided this book for review by the publisher. My opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any other way.

Book Review: Jane Austen by Peter Leithart

I am not well read in Jane Austen books, so that may be the reason that I did not find this book interesting. The author was told stories not just of Jane but also of her family and friends. There were so many names I began to get confused, but also included in the back of the book is an appendix of the Austen's family, friends, and neighbors. This biography is not just a story of Jane Austen's life, but of how God and Christianity was entwined in her life. You learn of Jenny Austen's literary influences and the world she grew up in. I struggled to finish this book, but I did it! And while the book was well written, it is not one I will be keeping in my personal library, but I will pass it along so someone else can enjoy it! Jane Austen's work is still influencing literature and film 200 years later and I now know more about the woman behind the book.

I was provided a copy to review from Thomas Nelson Publishers. The opinions expressed are my own and I was not compensated in any other way.

Book Review: Plan B

Thomas Nelson Publishers sent me Plan B by Pete Wilson to review. The opinions expressed in the review are my own and I was not compensated in any other way.

I found myself thinking about this book over the weeks I read it. It would pop up in my mind during women's Bible study or in conversation with friends. Pete is a pastor of a growing church in Tennessee and he addresses an issue that occurs in everyone's life: what do you do when things don't go according to plan? Sometimes our plans go awry because of our poor planning or sin, but sometimes it seems we did nothing wrong, but still nothing goes right. Where is God in that? Has He abandoned me? Those questions and more are discussed in Plan B.

Pete shares stories from his own life as well as those he has pastored and counseled. Most importantly, Pete opens the Word of God and relates it to life! The 'hero's of faith' in the Bible all fell on difficult times; was God abandoning them? Pete shows that God was faithful to Job, Abraham, Mary, David, and others and that He is faithful to His children today. Even when Plan A has gone out the window, there is a Plan B, and often, that plan is better than we could have ever imagined! I would recommend this book to anyone who feels lost or abandoned. If you have been a believer in Christ for many years or are searching for hope, God will meet you in this book.

Book Review: The Flowering Cross

I was so excited to get this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers! We checked the mail on the way home last night and there it was! I read The Flowering Cross by Beth Ryan to Eli right before bed last night. The first thing I noticed at I removed the book from the box was that the cover was textured. I liked it! This book is hardcover with nice glossy pages.

The Flowering Cross tells the story of little Katie (about 5 years old) who teaches her grouchy neighbor, Papa Jack, about God's love! She wakes up in Easter morning and visits Jack to pick his flowers for the flowering of the cross at church. Her sweet spirit and excitement is something I want my children to emulate, so I had no problem reading the book to Eli again at naptime! One great thing about this book is the 'Faith Imprint' and accompanying verse found on many of the pages. These help parents discuss the important points in the book and character qualities displayed by the Katie and her family.

The book also includes instructions for making your own flowering cross which we have not done. I think it will be a great craft project that teaches too!

I was not reimbursed for my opinion, but was provided a complimentary copy of the book. I gave my honest opinion.

Book Review: A Century Turns By William Bennett

I received this complementary book from publisher Thomas Nelson, to review and was not sure if I would enjoy it. Fiction is more my style! I was surpised by how much I wanted to continue reading once I started. Bennett recaps the last 20 years (1988-2008) of political and cultural history in America. He was personally involved in many of the events he records and adds stories as he remembers things. There is a definite conservative spin to his writing, but he is fair to all. I was a very young child when the events at the beginning of this books took place and was blissfully unaware of the turmoil. As the book progressed I was able to remember and identify with what was happening in the US. One thing I enjoyed was that Bennett told and connected events I did not know happened. This is a book I will be able to use to tell my children about the world during my childhood.