Category: book review

April 25, 2017

A Fragile Hope Book Review

In A Fragile Hope, hope grows when seeds are planted-even in the muddy middle of life.

About A Fragile Hope

Josiah Chamberlain’s life’s work revolves around repairing other people’s marriages. When his own is threatened by his wife’s unexplained distance, and then threatened further when she’s unexpectedly plunged into an unending fog, Josiah finds his expertise, quick wit and clever quips are no match for a relationship that is clearly broken.

Feeling betrayed, confused, and ill-equipped for a crisis this crippling, he reexamines everything he knows about the fragility of hope and the strength of his faith and love. Love seems to have failed him. Will what’s left of his faith fail him, too? Or will it be the one thing that holds him together and sears through the impenetrable wall that separates them?

My Thoughts

I LOVED A Fragile Hope. Josiah teaches others how to have a successful marriage and is quite good at it. BUT he can’t seem to realize when his own marriage is falling apart and what his wife needs and wants from him. Their marriage is falling apart and yet neither of them can talk to each other and work through it.

One moment changes everything for them and turns their whole world upside down. Josiah is forced to examine his life, his marriage and his own faults. We are able to view pieces of their married life from both Josiah and his wife’s views. What we get is this picture is of a couple pulling apart as their careers evolve and priorities change. This is extremely difficult for Josiah and he has to decide whether he has the strength both mentally and physically to build back his relationship.

An incredible story of hope, marriage and the strength of love. It had my angry at times (how could Josiah not see what he was doing?) and crying at other times. It was honest and real, you can relate to how this couple was being pulled apart and also how they struggled to find a way back together. It is a truly beautiful book from start to finish.

You can find more reviews on the Litfuse blog tour page here. You can purchase a copy of the book here.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Cynthia Ruchti tells stories hemmed in hope through her novels, novels, nonfiction books, articles and devotionals, drawing from thirty three years of on-air radio ministry. Ruchti has written more than twenty award winning novels, novellas, nonfiction books and devotionals. Her books have received numerous awards and nominations, including the RT Reviewers Choice, ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year nominations, two Selah Awards, Christian Retailing’s BEST, was an ACFW Carol Award finalist and a Christy finalist among other honours. Her latest release is the novel, A Fragile Hope.

One of her greatest joys is helping other writers grow in their craft. To that end, she has served as worship and devotions staff and faculty for the Write to Publish conference and teaches at other writers’ conferences across the country and internationally as opportunities arise. She also serves as the professional relations liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers. Ruchti speaks frequently for women’s groups and serves on her church’s worship team. She and her husband live in the heart of Wisconsin, not far from their three children and five grandchildren.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

April 11, 2017

Forest Life and Woodland Creatures Book Review #EmbraceTheEarth

Learn and entertain your kids with this exciting new book from DK Canada: Forest Life and Woodland Creatures. A look into life in the woods, just in time for Earth Day 2017!

About Forest Life and Woodland Creatures

Packed with fun activities, crafts, reading games, and amazing facts, kids can meet all the cuddly creatures and amazing sights found in the woods – from bunnies to bears to bugs, in this educational project book.

In Forest Life and Woodland Creatures, each page has engaging photographs with clear text and simple step-by-step instructions for young readers to follow as they complete each project. Kids can get crafty as they create a pine cone owl, a bear mask, delicious berry ice pops, and much more. Perfect for kids who love the great outdoors, this book will have them exploring as they improve their dexterity, memory, and brain development with each activity.

Created especially for kids ages 3-5, DK’s Practical Facts series blends educational content with simple practical activities such as crafts, cooking, and counting. This provides young readers with a broad reading experience in which they learn by doing. The simple activities reinforce the fun facts and aid in the development of literacy, numeracy, memory, and dexterity.

My Thoughts

Forest Life and Woodland Creatures is a beautiful hardcover book for young children. It introduces them to forests and the creatures that live there all in an age appropriate and visually appealing manner. Each page has a combination of large and small images, some of the images are drawn while others are real images of animals and trees. The font is perfect for children with a combination of large and small print with kid friendly type. The wording is excellent for young children and makes it easy for parents to read out loud to your child and to even have them help you read along with the story with short sentences and high frequency words.

This is the perfect introduction to your child about the world around them and a great topic starter coming up to Earth Day. It can introduce topics like how do we protect animals in the forest, how can we recycle more to save trees and how can we make the Earth a better place. It also includes easy to make projects (like pine cone owls!) that you and your child can create together. A lot of these projects incorporate items found outside in nature. It will have them exploring their environment and learning at the same time.

You can purchase a copy of this book here.

Rating: 5/5

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

April 11, 2017

For No Apparent Reason Book Review

Thrust in a maze of money laundering and murder, our main character Madison experiences the value of true friendship and witnesses the healing power of love in For No Apparent Reason.

About For No Apparent Reason

A focused law student, romance has been absent from Madison’s life. She has successfully planned each phase of her life and resigned to the fact that there will be plenty of time for love after she passes the bar exam—that is until the single act of seeking shelter from a spring downpour dramatically alters the course of her life. Madison is lured away from the security of law school into a world where she learns about the destructive nature of greed. Thrust in a maze of money laundering and murder, Madison experiences the value of true friendship and witnesses the healing power of love.

My Thoughts

I fell in love with this novel and could not put it down – I had to finish it in one sitting! The characters were loveable, funny and full of adventure and the plot was fantastic and kept you on your toes (I definitely did not see the ending coming!).

Our story starts with a murder that really makes no sense – she was a loving Mother and a friendly and active participant in her community. A short while after the murder (which was first viewed as a suicide), Madison finds herself on that same woman’s porch by chance. She finds something on that porch that sets her down a path of adventure, betrayal, greed and murder.

Madison is full of adventure and spirit. She has such a good heart and wants only to help the murdered woman and her family. Her help at times can be dangerous and actually puts her in the way of the FBI! But even the FBI can’t resist her spirit and her desire to help this family.

For No Apparent Reason is a well written, exciting novel that I could not put down. It draws you in to the story and you can’t help fall in love with Madison. Her sense of adventure and wanting to help this family warms your heart especially as she learns and grows in friendship and love. A definite must read addition to your home library!

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, S.K. Derban moved to London within the first three months, and remained in England until the age of five. Her father, an American citizen, was a decorated veteran of the second world war. Derban’s mother, born and raised in the United Kingdom, was involved with the London Royal Ballet Company, and a great fan of the arts. Even after returning to the United States, Derban’s life was filled with a love of the theatre and a passion for British murder mysteries.

S.K. Derban has always remained passionate about writing, and is thrilled to finally share her work with others. Her personal travel and missionary adventures also help to transport readers virtually across the globe. When writing, S.K. Derban relies on all aspects of her life, from her faith in the Lord, to her love and knowledge of the arts.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

April 10, 2017

Assata Shakur Book Review

Assata Shakur: A 20th Century Escaped Slave is the story of Assata Shakur, before she became a fugitive and since.

About Assata Shakur: A 20th Century Escaped Slave

In May 1973, Assata Olugbala Shakur was involved in a shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike in which she was accused of killing New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster and assaulting Trooper James Harper. This resulted in her indictment of first-degree murder of Foerster and seven other felonies related to the shootout. A member of the Black Panther Party, she became a prime target of the Federal Bureau of Investigations Counterintelligence Program. When she joined the Black Liberation Army and went into hiding, between 1973 and 1977, she was placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted List for three bank robberies, the kidnapping and murder of two drug dealers, and the attempted murder of two New Jersey police officers.

March 1977 Assata Shakur was convicted of murdering state trooper Werner Forrester and was imprisoned. Two years later she broke out of the maximum-security wing of Clinton Correctional Facility in New Jersey, pistol in hand, as she and three cohorts sped out of the prison grounds. In 1984 she was granted political asylum in Cuba where she has lived ever since. On May 2, 2013, the FBI added her to the Most Wanted Terrorist List, the first woman to be listed. Assata Shakur: A 20th Century Escaped Slave is the story of Assata Shakur, before she became a fugitive and since.

My Thoughts

This book is a detailed look at the life of Assata Shakur. This was my first time hearing about this important woman and I enjoyed learning about her life, her struggles, her fight against the law and then later her political asylum in Cuba. I was shocked to find out that she was the first woman to be added to the Most Wanted Terrorist List!

It is a detailed look at each of the events leading up to her political asylum and the information is given to us with just the facts – no judgement given to her nor the police, just the facts as they were laid out for all during that time. Barbara keeps that neutral fact sharing throughout the whole book which readers will appreciate.

The book does not give a detailed look into her personal life but more of her life as a political protestor and then prisoner. We are given the history of that time period, the facts that surround her accusations, her escape and later her time spent in Cuba. The only thing I found a bit difficult to follow was at times I felt like the book jumped back and forth between time frames. I found myself going back to re-read chapters to ensure I understood what was happening, I am not sure if this was because I wasn’t familiar enough with her history or because of the way the book was written.

This is a great book that gives you a detailed (but quick) look at the life of Assata, her struggles, her accusations and then her life in Cuba after being granted political asylum. It will definitely spark interest in her life and make you want more.

You can purchase a copy of the book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million.

Rating: 4/5

About the Author

Barbara Casey is the author of several award-winning novels for both adults and young adults, as well as book-length works of nonfiction true crime and numerous articles, poems, and short stories. Her previous nonfiction true crime work, Kathryn Kelly: The Moll behind Machine Gun Kelly, has been optioned for a major film and television series. In addition to her own writing, she is an editorial consultant for independent publishers and writers, and president of the Barbara Casey Agency, established in 1995, representing authors throughout the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan. Barbara lives on a mountain in Georgia with her husband and three dogs who adopted her: Benton, a hound-mix; Fitz, a miniature dachshund; and Gert, a Jack Russel terrier of sorts. You can connect with her on her website.

The Giveaway!

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Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

April 10, 2017

Truths Not Spoken

Truths Not Spoken is the debut novel by promising new author Pamela T. Starr. It is a must-read for every woman who balances her dreams of love with a man with the needs of her child. Truths Not Spoken shows readers that yes, dreams can come true.

About Truths Not Spoken

Single mother Laura Walters had her life under control. She had a jewelry business, a generous best friend and a careful watch on her nine-year-old daughter, Emily. Then, Emily is seen on national television with Vic, the man who could tear their world apart. With one thirty second news clip, Laurel’s life turns into a tailspin. The paparazzi chase her. Two men from her past want her: Vic is a former lover. Kyle a former friend. They both know her secret, and either one could ruin the careful life Laurel built for herself and Emily.

Faced with no other option, Laurel turns to Kyle to protect her and her life with Emily. But just as Laurel and Kyle are beginning to trust each other, they learn of shocking betrayals they each have been hiding. Some secrets are made to be broken. Some secrets never should be. But how does Laurel learn which ones are which? Truths Not Spoken is the debut novel by promising new author Pamela T. Starr. It is a must-read for every woman who balances her dreams of love with a man with the needs of her child. Truths Not Spoken shows readers that yes, dreams can come true.

My Thoughts

A fantastic novel of strength, love, hope, hidden strength but also lies and betrayal. We have Laurel who gave birth to her daughter and her birth was masked in secrecy. Emily doesn’t know who her Father is, Laurel has never asked for help and never will. She doesn’t need nor want it. All she wants is to provide for her daughter and watch her grow – something we can all relate to.

Suddenly, both of the men who were there before her pregnancy are back in her life. She is faced with anger, mistrust and fear of losing her daughter. She is thrust into the limelight but not by her own choice and she fears for her own security not to mention her daughters. Kyle was always the one she went to, to protect her from Vic (her ex) and she begins to trust him again. I loved watching their friendship grow again but it all comes tumbling down when the layers of lies begin to be unravelled and it was definitely not something I was expecting when I was reading the book! Both Laurel and Kyle have hidden so much from each other out of fear and it makes you worry that it is too late for the two of them and their friendship.

A beautiful novel of hope, building trust and relationships after betrayal and love lost and found. I could not put this beautiful novel down. I had to know what happened to Laurel, Kyle, Vic and Emily. You feel anger (mostly at Vic but sometimes at Kyle), you feel hurt for Laurel but also hope that she has the strength and courage to move forward in her life. A definite must read and I can’t wait to see what comes next from Pamela!

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Pamela T. Starr has been recognized as an outstanding new author with a promising future. Truths Not Spoken is the first in her Shifting Sands series, all set in her home state of Florida.

An accomplished trainer and public speaker, Pamela has motivated more than 60,000 people at live presentations and workshops. She has also logged more than 30 hours of live national television appearances.

Pamela is inspired by the two men in her life. The one she mothers is still young enough to be excited by life and the many opportunities he discovers. The one who is her life-long partner is old enough to know that life is an adventure and he embraces it every day.

Connect with Pamela on her website, Twitter and Facebook.

The Giveaway!

Win a grand prize A Year of Novels” A collection of twelve novels by best selling writers, plus a signed copy of Truths Not Spoken by Pamela T. Starr (1 winner, USA only)
Win a Kindle copy of Truths Not Spoken (5 winners, USA only)

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Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.