everybody loves felicity

"Take a Chance on Me" by Susan May Warren is a Christiansen Family novel.  I am  no sure if there are other books in this series yet, if there are, it isn't necessary to read them first.  Ivy is a new arrival to the town of Deep Heaven.  She "buys" Darek at a charity auction and is immediately turned off.  He is a classic jerk.  Darek is a widower and father of Tiger, a four year old.  Despite Darek's lack of charm, he becomes infatuated with Ivy.  Eventually attempting to start a relationship with her.  In the way of course, is the memory of his late wife, Felicity.  Everyone loves Felicity.  Even though they really don't.  She is portrayed as the saint of Deep Heaven, but seems more of a manipulative tart. Jensen Atwood, is the man who accidentally killed Felicity and who is the object of Darek's wrath.  Ivy is the one responsible for Jensen's freedom, though Darek is unaware. Claire is Felicity's sidekick.

Warren is a good writer.  The characters are clear, the romance is sweet and I like the idea of the plot. The storyline going back and forth between the characters is easy to follow.  The part that is irritating is the whole Felicity worshipping thing that is going on.  It is well known that once someone dies, they have about 40 more best friends than before they died.  Maybe that is the case here.  If I were Ivy, I don't think I would have stepped into this relationship.  Anyway, the four main characters must learn to live in the present without Felicity and despite her. The try to move on, get to know God, and make decisions for themselves.  I received this book for free from Tyndale Publishers. 

a matter of trust review

"A Matter of Trust" by Lis Wiehl is a novel about Mia, a prosecuting attorney, who is newly widowed and raising two kids on her own.  This is the first in the Mia Quinn series.  It is a spin off of the Triple Threat Mysteries.  In this book, Mia is trying to solve a possible double murder of two fellow attorneys and attempting to prosecute a bullying-resulting in suicide case. 
Mia is a much better attorney than she is a parent.  I wouldn't say she is much of a thinker when it comes to parenting.  This is my least favorite of Wiehl's books; however, I really like her books, so it isn't really bad.  The part when Mia has her son help her with one of the murder cases, seems to take things to a ridiculous level.  Wiehl could have rewritten that to make Mia's parenting skills seem less horrifying.  As far as the writing, the plot, the character development, and the twists and turns, this book is pretty good..  Because of the whole "son helping with murder case" thing, which kinda ticked me off, I would have to give this book a C+, even though it did all make more sense in the end.  I received this book for free from www.booksneeze.com. 

bold as love review

"Bold as Love" by Bob Roberts Jr, is a pretty good book.  It's about a pretty sensitive subject, however.  Roberts writes about his church in Texas that starts a multifaith movement involving Baptist, Muslim, and Jew.  The churches are not actively converting, rather they are sharing.  But if you want to convert, they are more than willing.  The book follows Roberts' journey both in Texas and around the world on his mission to serve.  It is his belief that Christians are to serve others, not be served by religion.  This book could lead to a lot of healthy, and quite frankly, violent discussions.  It is an interesting book, in both theory and writing.  I enjoyed it.  I can see where it would tick  some people off.  I received this book for free from the publisher, Thomas Nelson.

captured by moonlight review

"Captured by Moonlight" by Christine Lindsay is a novel that will make you grateful for whatever you have.  If you live in America in modern times, you are fortunate.  This novel is about a couple of women: one a British nurse, and the other an Indian Christian missionary.  The story takes place in post-WWI India, a time when the caste system was alive and well, women were owned, by both the Hindu church or their families, and anyone of the lower caste were subject to anything, and I mean anything, the higher caste wanted  to dish out.  The story opens with the two women stealing a temple girl from the Hindu church for medical aid and freedom.  However, one of the women didn't have freedom herself. I didn't know a lot of this period's history, especially in India.  It takes a long time to read the book.  It isn't a happy one, and the reader will have to break from it from time to time.  Everything seems so hopeless.  Christianity plays a big part in giving the women in this story a reason to go on.  This is a well written and researched book.  However, a feel-good it is not.  I am much more appreciative of being a woman born in modern times, in a modern country, now that I have read this. It is definitely a think piece.  Nice work. I received this book for free from the publisher through www.bookfun.org in exchange for my honest opinion.

Sky Beneath My feet review

"The Sky Beneath My Feet" by Lisa Samson is a novel centering on Beth, a former Quaker, married to a Men's Pastor in a well-to-do church district.  Her husband has been granted a one month's sabbatical at the same time that a job offer has come in.  Rick, decides that the answers lie in the shed (it's a really nice shed), and proceeds to spend a month secluded and entirely alone in the shed armed with pork rinds and a bible.  He is waiting for God to speak to him.  Beth decides her husband has checked out mentally and is left to take care of two teenage sons, continue to do pastor's wife duties, and find God as well. 
This is a pretty funny book, I liked it a lot.  I liked how even though what Rick thought was deep and spiritual, everybody else thought was cuckoo.  It took the "pastor and his wife" out of the stigma it receives in life and make them human and a little crazy too, without being completely nuts.  Beth is a pretty thorough character.  It is easy to get to know her and get to know yourself at the same time.  I liked the journey to find God that both of them took.  And as crazy as it sounds, wouldn't we all like to barricade ourselves in the shed a little while?  I give it an A-.  I received this book for free from www.booksneeze.com. 

marriage vow

"The Ultimate Marriage Vow: 21 Days of a Life-Long Commitment" by Darlene Schacht with Lisa Jacobson might seem like a backward, throwback how-to-please-your-man kind of book that would have been written in the 1950's, however, this is a timeless how-to book on marriage and what it means for both the couple and their relationship with God.  The book consists of 21 days of devotion with a daily quote, story (essay?), scripture, vow of the day, and day's challenge. 
Not only did I read it, I did it.  I think it helped my marriage a lot.  My husband noticed the difference without my telling him I was doing it.  It does not encourage disrespect to the wife or enforcing her unimportance, rather just a how to get along with a man, who is only a man.  It really could be used with any couple living together, it same sex, a pair of sisters, roommates, and not just a man and a woman.  It proposes respect in living together and how God wants us to treat other people.  I like this, I didn't think I would, honestly.  But I do.  I received this book from www.time-warpwife.com.

April

I kinda forgot to do April.  Took a trip to Mississippi and got sidetracked.  Haven't done much reading either.  In April I read 5 digital books, one audio, and 6 real books. Twelve in all.  Not bad, though two were shorts.  Here is the list:

Broken Pieces- TL Higley
Cultivating Heart of Motherhood- Joy Forney
Desperate- Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson
Sinners and the Sea- Rebecca Kanner
Kindred- Octavia Butler
Invisible- Ginny Yttrup
The Tutor's Daughter- Julie Klassen
The Hatfields and McCoys- Otis
Daughter of Jerusalem- Joan Wolf
Whistle- James Jones
North of Hope- Shannon Polson
\Julianne- Rebekah Lynn


Read some really good ones last month, Can't really pick a winner but Invisible, Whistle, and Kindred would be my top three.

everybody's got secrets

"Secrets" by Robin Jones Gunn is the first novel in the Glenbrooke series.  This is the second book I have read from the series, "Echoes" being the first, but book number three I think.  I haven't read them in order.  Apparently it doesn't matter.  Jessica is the main character from "Secrets."  Jessica is running from something (that's the secret) and has come to Glenbrooke, Oregon.  When she comes into town, she has a car accident and meets Kyle, every girl's dream guy.  Jessica has no money, even going without food for days, she comes up with a new identity, and starts her life completely over.  "Secrets" follows her journey to both finding her new self and God.
I really like this series.  The characters are great, the romance is sweet, yet still adult.  There is no sexual content, but it is still an important part of the story.  Jessica's boss plays the villain; she is out to find out the secret and expose whatever it is.  Jessica is a good role model for younger readers plus she doesn't come off as annoying for us more mature readers. The Christianity in the book isn't the "agree with me or go to hell" variety.  It is a more personal choice that Jessica is to consider.  The other characters tend to be Christian, but not overbearing. Good book.  B.  I received this book for free from Blogging for Books.