the covenant child review

"The Covenant Child" by Terri Blackstock is a wonderful book.  It follows the life of the "billion dollar babies" who happen to be penniless orphans raised by neglectful and abusive biological grandparents.  They are the grandchildren of billionaires whose mother dies shortly after their birth.  Their father remarries and then is killed in a plane crash with his parents.  His parents are the billionaires.  Their step-mother is in the process of adopting them at the time of the death, but their maternal grandparents step in with dollar signs in their eyes.  I normally do not like to read or watch stories where children are taken from their parents, whether they be biological or not.  I believe a child should not be separated from the one who loves and cares for them.  Lizzie and Kara, twins, are taken from the only mother they know and given away to strangers who happen to share genes.  In this case, everything is about the money.
When the girls turn 18, they come to a cross roads and one goes one way, one goes the other.  The story follows Kara, the prodigal child who chooses to not trust anyone and go for the greed.  One might wonder how she can be so dumb, but if you think back to your own mistakes, I am sure you can figure it out.  I did.  This is a Christian story but uses it to relate to real life and not get preachy.  It also talks a bit on abortion.  Kara feels guilt, but is not condemned.  I like where the author took that story line.  I would highly recommend this one.  I have read Blackstock before, but this one is my favorite from her.  I received this e-book for free from http://www.netgalley.com/. 

The Unholy Review

Heather Graham can write anything.  She does mystery, romance, supernatural, you name it, she can write it.  In "The Unholy" she covers all three. Though this isn't one of my favorites, it is still a pretty good mystery.  I never figured out the killer til she gave it up.  I had the accomplice almost right away, but never did get the Vengence.  This novel takes place in Hollywood at a movie studio in the department specializing in special effects, as in costumes and make up mostly.  Madison works in costumes and she also sees dead people.  In the museum of the studio, a murder is committed while on lockdown, placing the blame on the studio owner's son.  The FBI is called in, a team specializing in talking to the dead, coinsidently, and Sean, the leader of the FBI team, works with Madison to solve the crime.  Some of the hauntings seem a little corny.  For instance, Madison is friends with Bogie, as in Humphrey Bogart, the dead guy.  The relationship between Sean and Madison quickly turns romantic, which is handled well.  It doesn't seem rushed or overly lustful.  It is a normal romance.  I liked this one, I have read better from her, but still, it's nothing to sneeze at.  Good book.  I received "The Unholy" by Heather Graham for free from http://www.netgalley.com/. 

seal of God review

Chad Williams gave his life to Christ shortly after becoming a Navy Seal.  This is his story.  "Seal of God " is a very well written book.  It will keep your interest and will make you really glad you never joined the Navy.  I must say after reading this book I NEVER want to become a SEAL.  It sounds really, really awful.  It doesn't even sound humanly possible! The SEAL training is amazing and grueling. That part seems to be where Williams' shines as a writer.   The first three chapters of this book are about Williams' youth; the majority of it is about becoming a SEAL.  The last 1/4 of it is about SEAL life and becoming a Christian.  I have to say that the attitude of arrogance dominates this book.  Williams' has a tendency of becoming obsessed with something, mastering it, then moving on.  Christianity is his latest obsession.  Since Christianity cannot be mastered, it leaves one to wonder what will become of the author.  Of course Williams' leaves us with the impression that he believes he has mastered it. Only time will tell if he sticks with it or moves on.   He seems to believe that if one doesn't "Christianalize" like he does than they aren't real.  Shortly after becoming Christian, William's writes of a beat down he received from fellow SEALs.  He blames the hatred of him becoming a Christian as to why, but I can't help but think that that beating was coming, Christian or not.  Very well written book, loved it, but he could stand to think a little less of himself.  I received this book for free from Tyndale Publishing.

brush of angel's wings review

"Brush of Angel's Wings" by Ruth Reid is the second book in the Heavan on Earth series.  It ties in with some of the side characters from the first book "Promise of an Angel".  I looked forward to this book coming out since I read the first one and it did not disappoint.  Reid is looking to be a promising author that women will be waiting in line for her books to come out.  In Promise, the angel, Nathaniel, looked and acted more like a real guy.  In Wings, Nathaniel, is more the angel-on-your-shoulder variety.  He even comes with a devil on the other shoulder, Tangus.  At first this seems a little old school cartoon like, but after awhile it starts to become rather frightening.  Tangus just does not let up.  The fight over good and evil takes on a more meaningful approach. 
In this novel, Jordan, a half-Amish half-Englisher, comes to live with his mother's family, an uncle and work among the Amish in the fields and with the horses. He is not good at it.   He meets Rachel, a Tom-boy, who can't cook to save her life.  He loves her.  The battle over right and wrong follow the two as they decide what to do with themselves and their relationship with each other as well as with God.  I received this book for free from www.booksneeze.com.

Cherry Blossoms review

I received "The Scent of Cherry Blossoms" by Cindy Woodsmall for free from Waterbrook Press.  This book is in the same series as "Christmas Singing" that I posted in January.  You do not need to have read any of the others to follow this book.  Each book in the series stands alone with the characters all are connected in some fashion, but not necessarily a continum.  In this short novel, Annie meets Aden when she goes to stay at her grandfather's for the summer.  Actually she already knows him, but now that they are grown, so have their feelings.  This is sort of a Amish/Mennonite version of Romeo and Juliet.  I like this one just as well as the "Christmas Singing".  It is a really sweet romance, yet the Amish are kept real and not given mythical status of being overly pure.  For instance, the Amish guys are always trying to sneek a "check out" on the girls.  They have problems. They are real. It is a quick read and not too deep.  Entertaining and romantic.

the black count review

"The Black Count:Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo" by Tome Reiss is a non-fictional geneology account of Alexandre Dumas, the author. Never heard of him?  How about the three mustketeers?  aaah!  Now you know what I am talking about.  Reiss tells the story of Dumas and the two generations before him, sharing the history of the times,  culture, and racial problems of the era.  Dumas' father, Count Alex Dumas  was half black during a time when slavery was the way of life.  He was also half white and the product of nobility. This book also tells the complete  history of France.  Well, not complete, but it feels like it.  This is a really long book.  I know little about French history.  I know a little about the French Revolution through movies.  This clears up any mystery that one might have.  The format was a little hard to follow in the kindle.  The footnotes came at random on the kindle making it read like notes at times.  Otherwise it is well written and interesting.  I received this book for free from http://www.abovethetreeline.com/.

April

Well, I totally kicked butt in the reading department in April.  Eleven books, baby!
 "The Woman who Loved Jesse James" by Cindi Myers;
 "Travels with Charley" by John Steinbeck;
 "Dolley", Rita Mae Brown;
 "Raylan" by Elmore Leonard;
 "Downfall", Terri Blackstock;
 "Widow at Saunders Creek", Tracey Bateman;
 "Nancy Clancy Super Sleuth" by Janice O'Connor;
"Blue Moon Bay", Lisa Wingate;
"Ten Big Ones", Janet Evanovich;
 "When the Morning Comes", Cindy Woodsmall; and
 "Into the Free" by Julie Cantrell.
 Only three were e-books.  This was a pretty good month.  Discovered several new authors that I like: Blackstock, Cantrell, Leonard.  But the best by far was Travels with Charley.  They call 'em classics for a reason folks.  It was not just a good read, or good story.  Really no plot to speak of.  Just brilliance being spewed page, by page.  He predicted things that are happening now with such clarity.  He is amazing.  There is only one Steinbeck and you should be reading him.