I received "The Crossing" by Serita Jakes for free from waterbrook Press. The story begins 10 years ago at a railroad crossing where a bus of football players and cheerleaders is waiting for a train. While waiting, an unknown gun man aboards the bus shooting the driver, cheer sponsor, and a football player that tries to protect the bus. Fast forward 10 years and the case has been reopened. New evidence shows the sponsor had been pregnant bringing new drama to the mix. One of the cheerleader"s husband (ADA) teams up with the hero football player (now a cop and also the son of the original lead cop on the case) and they try to bring the killer to justice. Besides the ADA being married to the star witness and the cop being a victim as well as son of previous cop on case, coincidently, the sponsor and the cheerleader's parents had had affairs with each other, the girl doing CPR happens to be the daughter of the principal who happens to be in love with the sponsor. This part could have been expanded. After awhile I'm thinking "jeesh aren't there any other people in this town?" The same people cross over and over. And another weird part is Claudia, the ADA's wife laying in the dead victim's blood and refusing to leave. What is up with that? Oh, and this whole time they are stuck behind what is apparently the world's longest train, because the ambulance had to wait 20 minutes for the train to go by before they could get to the victims and the incident had already happened so that means this train had been going for like 35 minutes!
This could have been a really good story, but there are parts that needed to be thought out a little better.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Lion of Babylon review
I received "Lion of Babylon" by Davis Bunn for free from Bethany House Publishers. This book is about the Iraq situation and the US and Iran part in it. Marc is the main character. He is a US former intelligence, presently accountant, who is sent to Iraq to find and recover three missing US citizens: a soldier and two nurses. The US government denies they are missing, the Iraqis deny they are missing, and yet, they are. Marc's mission is to find out why no one wants to find them and then find them. His side kick in the story is Sameh, a Christian Iraqi attorney who assits Marc in the mission.
First of all this is sort of a guy book. Lots of action and intrigue. Its also full of information about Iraq: their culture, history and religions. Religions as in plural. The muslim religion is as complex as the prodestant religion with all of its splits and miniscule differences. As an average American whose country has been at war with Iraq for almost 10 years, I was amazed at how little I know about Iraq. Very little in fact. This is an interesting and informative book. I liked it.
First of all this is sort of a guy book. Lots of action and intrigue. Its also full of information about Iraq: their culture, history and religions. Religions as in plural. The muslim religion is as complex as the prodestant religion with all of its splits and miniscule differences. As an average American whose country has been at war with Iraq for almost 10 years, I was amazed at how little I know about Iraq. Very little in fact. This is an interesting and informative book. I liked it.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
gabby's little angel review
I received "Gabby's Little Angel" (e-book) by Sheila Walsh for free from http://www.booksneeze.com/. "Gabby's Little Angel" is a children's picture book for about 6 and under. It has great pictures and is fairly short. It is about Psalm 91 and how God promises to have an angel to guard us. This book explains what a guardian angel is and (fictionally) what they do.
I have gotten children's books on my kindle before and really,...... my daughter doesn't like them. She will look at them if we are stuck waiting somewhere and she has to be good, but as a rule she is against them. I hadn't tried to read an e-book in awhile so I thought I would try it again with "Gabby's". No go. About half way through she declared it boring and picked up a real book. I think it is the lack of pages and nothing to manipulate. No texture. Anyway, I think if it were a regular book she probably would have liked it, but from now on I'm going to steer clear of children's e-books.
I have gotten children's books on my kindle before and really,...... my daughter doesn't like them. She will look at them if we are stuck waiting somewhere and she has to be good, but as a rule she is against them. I hadn't tried to read an e-book in awhile so I thought I would try it again with "Gabby's". No go. About half way through she declared it boring and picked up a real book. I think it is the lack of pages and nothing to manipulate. No texture. Anyway, I think if it were a regular book she probably would have liked it, but from now on I'm going to steer clear of children's e-books.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
wrapped in rain review
I received "Wrapped in Rain" by Charles Martin (an e-book) for free from http://www.booksneeze.com/. I had never heard of Charles Martin before, but after reading this book, I looked him up and have discovered that he has many books out there. If the rest of them are as good as Wrapped in Rain he will become one of my favorite authors. He is really good. He kinda reminds me of Wally Lamb.
Wrapped in Rain is about two boys who are raised by their incredibly rich, incredibly drunk father and their Christian maid, Miss Ella. Miss Ella reminds me of the Oricle in the Matrix movies. She takes care of everything and she knows everything. She also tells you what to do all the time. The oldest brother is the main character and the younger has a myriad of mental illnesses. This story is about the two brothers forgiving the father and coming to love a 5 year old boy who comes to live with them with his mother while hiding from his abusive father.
Wrapped in Rain is about two boys who are raised by their incredibly rich, incredibly drunk father and their Christian maid, Miss Ella. Miss Ella reminds me of the Oricle in the Matrix movies. She takes care of everything and she knows everything. She also tells you what to do all the time. The oldest brother is the main character and the younger has a myriad of mental illnesses. This story is about the two brothers forgiving the father and coming to love a 5 year old boy who comes to live with them with his mother while hiding from his abusive father.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Smack Dab in the middle review
I received "Smack Dab in the Middle of God's Love" by Brennan Manning (e-book) for free from http://www.booksneeze.com/. Smack Dab is a children's book of about 2nd grade reading level and interest level. However, it is such a sweet story it could easily be read by an adult as a short story with pictures. Smack Dab is the story of a middle age couple with no children who sort of adopt the neighborhood children. The children come every evening for sopapillas. While they are there Willie Juan asks them life's questions. At this particular visit he asks them, "what do you think Abba will ask you when you get to heaven?" The story is the children's answers and their discussion.
This is a really sweet, feel-good story. I read it to my 6 year old daughter, but since she doesn't really like the kindle she didn't pay attention. (she very much prefers real books.) The pictures are good, there is some multi-culture qualities, and cross generational issues. Good book, should have gotten the real book though instead of the e-book.
This is a really sweet, feel-good story. I read it to my 6 year old daughter, but since she doesn't really like the kindle she didn't pay attention. (she very much prefers real books.) The pictures are good, there is some multi-culture qualities, and cross generational issues. Good book, should have gotten the real book though instead of the e-book.
Stumbling into grace
I received "Stumbling into Grace" by Lisa Harper for free from http://www.booksneeze.com/. This is a non-fiction book written sort of like a diary, but I guess I would call it a collection of sermons. Not real sure how to categorize it. I read it strait through, but it would make more sense to read it as a small group study or a devotional. It is sectioned into 15 chapters with each chapter ending in prayer, discussion questions, and journal entry suggestions. The chapters each have a topic of the day and the authors thoughts on the topic along with bible stories in which her topic is pertaining to.
I really like this book. I should have read it in a devotional method. It is funny, thoughtful, and she seems to be able to get into the reader's head. Aimed at women of course. A man would get use out of it, but would probably avoid it because of gender content. Its a short book and I recommend it for study groups or devotionals.
I really like this book. I should have read it in a devotional method. It is funny, thoughtful, and she seems to be able to get into the reader's head. Aimed at women of course. A man would get use out of it, but would probably avoid it because of gender content. Its a short book and I recommend it for study groups or devotionals.
Monday, August 15, 2011
canary list review
I received "The Canary List" by Sigmund Brouwer for free from bloggingforbooks.org. The two main characters from this book are Crocket, a teacher whose daughter died at 12 years old, and Jaimie, a twelve year old student in his class who happens to be able to detect evil when she meets people. Crocket and Jaimie get into trouble and our story begins when her foster home burns down and she is discovered at his house hiding.
Let me start with this is a complicated story. There are twists and turns everywhere. Jaimie is being hunted because of her ability to see evil, she is being hidden because of her ability, and then you've got "The Prince" which is all tied to the vatican and the CIA. You also have Crocket's daughter and his weird situation with his ex-wife and her attorney/Crocket's friend. There is also the missing neighbor. Like I said conspiracy out the ying-yang. This is not a story that you can skim through. You have to read each paragraph and re-read some on it to. You are never totally sure what's going on, but you can't wait to find out.
Let me start with this is a complicated story. There are twists and turns everywhere. Jaimie is being hunted because of her ability to see evil, she is being hidden because of her ability, and then you've got "The Prince" which is all tied to the vatican and the CIA. You also have Crocket's daughter and his weird situation with his ex-wife and her attorney/Crocket's friend. There is also the missing neighbor. Like I said conspiracy out the ying-yang. This is not a story that you can skim through. You have to read each paragraph and re-read some on it to. You are never totally sure what's going on, but you can't wait to find out.
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