Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Reviewing BLOOD and BONE by Don Hoesel
Reviewing BLOOD and BONE by Don Hoesel
This is a very good fiction book and I emphasize the word 'fiction'. This is a very fast-paced book with lots of twists.
On the negative side, readers must remember this is not scriptural but has references to the scriptures. With that in mind you will enjoy the exploits of Jack Hawthorne and his wife Espy. I would recommend reading the previous books in the Hawthorne adventure series first. There is a very good ending to the book that both my husband and I enjoyed.
I received this book free from Bethany-Baker Publishers for review without any restrictions as to my opinion.
BevK
IBELIEVE2
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Reviewing THE LIVING ROOM by Robert Whitlow
Reviewing THE LIVING ROOM by Robert Whitlow
This book was different from the other Whitlow books, and at first it was quite catching when you realized what the "living room" was and how it worked. I appreciated early on in the book when the statement is made, 'is your relationship with Christ your own or handed down from your parents'... That was an apt thought provoker for all readers and worthy of answering.
Another interesting point was made with the statement, 'I'd rather be warned about a danger that can be avoided than have to pray for a miracle when disaster strikes.' I tend to like books that make one 'think' and this one did that.
Later on in the story when the activities of a teen was in question, the statement was made 'it is important for ... her to know her father cares about what she does, where she goes, and who she is with'... I thought this was an excellent point, and appreciated that fact. More parents should be involved with their children these days and not be afraid to let them know that they are, and it's because they care.
It is important to teach responsibility for actions, and if they know the parent 'cares' they might be more willing to listen to Godly advice.
All this having been said, my ultimate impression of the book was that it was too repetitive, and you could guess where it was going. The 'ending' was predictable and only led you to believe it would go on and on and on... and I would not want to read a sequel! It has a beautiful cover!
I was given this book to read for review without any restrictions on my opinion, by BookSneeze.
BevK
IBELIEVE2
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Reviewing ANGELS IN THE FIRE by Dann Stadler, a WI author
Reviewing ANGELS IN THE FIRE by Dann Stadler, a WI author!
This is a book that is hard to put down. The things that happen to the Stadler family will make you think, "if God sent an angel, why not spare them...?" and to the reader's surprise, that is one of the questions the author addresses! The photos included throughout the book are excellent as well.
I loved the part when, after being burned and physically broken, [multiple broken bones] the couple finally 'see' each other, he states that the meeting "surpassed our wedding day... that ceremony merely made us husband and wife; living through this nightmare forged a stronger, unbreakable bond between us...her heart beats deep within my soul... we are ONE."
What a picture of love! Also the reuniting with their toddler...will she even recognize her 'daddy'? But she does not forget his voice... tremendous.
I also appreciated his honesty in relating to the visions and experiences his wife had, when he states "I've never had the angelic experiences that Tracey has...but I KNOW ..." and when he prayed for daughter #3, again, he says "I know ..." and that is the attitude we all need in our faith. We are all special to God and we need to know and remember He is with us in and through all that comes our way.
I highly recommend this book. It was given to me by Bethany House Publishers for review without any limitations as to what I would say.
IBELIEVE2
http://wi-ibelieve.blogspot.com
This is a book that is hard to put down. The things that happen to the Stadler family will make you think, "if God sent an angel, why not spare them...?" and to the reader's surprise, that is one of the questions the author addresses! The photos included throughout the book are excellent as well.
I loved the part when, after being burned and physically broken, [multiple broken bones] the couple finally 'see' each other, he states that the meeting "surpassed our wedding day... that ceremony merely made us husband and wife; living through this nightmare forged a stronger, unbreakable bond between us...her heart beats deep within my soul... we are ONE."
What a picture of love! Also the reuniting with their toddler...will she even recognize her 'daddy'? But she does not forget his voice... tremendous.
I also appreciated his honesty in relating to the visions and experiences his wife had, when he states "I've never had the angelic experiences that Tracey has...but I KNOW ..." and when he prayed for daughter #3, again, he says "I know ..." and that is the attitude we all need in our faith. We are all special to God and we need to know and remember He is with us in and through all that comes our way.
I highly recommend this book. It was given to me by Bethany House Publishers for review without any limitations as to what I would say.
IBELIEVE2
http://wi-ibelieve.blogspot.com
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Reviewing THE POINT by William E. Jefferson
Reviewing THE POINT by William E. Jefferson
I was drawn to this book because it was supposed to be on the order of John Bunyan's PILGRIM'S PROGRESS which I have loved for years, and we try to read on a yearly basis... but in actuality, I had a very hard time staying "in" THE POINT ... the only similarity I found was that Mr. Jefferson named his characters after their character trait, like in Bunyan's book. But I thought the story dragged and wandered, and I had a very difficult time staying with it.
It begins by telling that it is a newly married couple and one is diagnosed with a severe kidney disease... the thought was, how would 'you' spend that remaining time together? That was an intriguing thought.
It also kept you guessing when it brought up a situation of the man crossing the right leg over the left and that was an indiscretion which he quickly corrected.
By the time it finally got into the "redemption of Oban Ironbout" it had pretty much lost my interest, and I had to force myself to finish it.
This book was provided to me free for review from Handlebar Publishing with no expectations as to what my review could or should be.
I was drawn to this book because it was supposed to be on the order of John Bunyan's PILGRIM'S PROGRESS which I have loved for years, and we try to read on a yearly basis... but in actuality, I had a very hard time staying "in" THE POINT ... the only similarity I found was that Mr. Jefferson named his characters after their character trait, like in Bunyan's book. But I thought the story dragged and wandered, and I had a very difficult time staying with it.
It begins by telling that it is a newly married couple and one is diagnosed with a severe kidney disease... the thought was, how would 'you' spend that remaining time together? That was an intriguing thought.
It also kept you guessing when it brought up a situation of the man crossing the right leg over the left and that was an indiscretion which he quickly corrected.
By the time it finally got into the "redemption of Oban Ironbout" it had pretty much lost my interest, and I had to force myself to finish it.
This book was provided to me free for review from Handlebar Publishing with no expectations as to what my review could or should be.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Reviewing A NOBLE GROOM by Jody Hedlund
Reviewing A NOBLE GROOM by Jody Hedlund
Besides being a great story, I enjoyed this book because of a
theme contained in the story that you do not often find in "Christian" fiction. This story, while about German immigrants to Michigan in the late 1800's which a lot of us didn't know about, struggles with typhoid fever etc, it also reveals something that "Christians" often do not want to admit or talk about. What is that you say? The emotional and romance side to a courtship and marriage.
This story reveals in a considerate and non-graphical way, the issues of spousal abuse, whether verbal or physical, and describes a relationship kin to Song of Solomon and other Biblical themes. In the author's own words, to "expect love and joy from marriage rather than mere survival...that she could find so much pleasure in the kisses and touches of a man was altogether new, but not unpleasant. Was it possible to actually desire intimacy with a man?" These are things mostly not discussed in Christian circles, but like she states in the story, the 'heroine' was "glad her daughter could see the blazing affection between a man and a woman [parents]..."
She did an excellent job of showing how/when to draw the line and not fall into sin; she explains in many different ways that 'tradition' taught by different cultures is not precisely what the Bible intended. She shows the woman's "submission" in a correct light and how the husband should also 'love' his wife.
One of the beliefs was "women and eggs, the more you beat them, the better they get"... they were taught that true love and the hope in the 'happily ever-after' was only in fairy-tales... not real life. She makes the reader question "why is doing the right thing sometimes the hardest" ...
All in all, I enjoyed the book and highly recommend it. I think that young women should read it before they become involved with anyone. Sometimes Christianity puts a damper on the 'romance' and that is not what God intended for a married couple. The difference is in 'marriage' but the attraction should be there before. Enough said!
I received this book free from Bethany Publishers, to review with my own opinion. No limits.
IBELIEVE2
Besides being a great story, I enjoyed this book because of a
theme contained in the story that you do not often find in "Christian" fiction. This story, while about German immigrants to Michigan in the late 1800's which a lot of us didn't know about, struggles with typhoid fever etc, it also reveals something that "Christians" often do not want to admit or talk about. What is that you say? The emotional and romance side to a courtship and marriage.
This story reveals in a considerate and non-graphical way, the issues of spousal abuse, whether verbal or physical, and describes a relationship kin to Song of Solomon and other Biblical themes. In the author's own words, to "expect love and joy from marriage rather than mere survival...that she could find so much pleasure in the kisses and touches of a man was altogether new, but not unpleasant. Was it possible to actually desire intimacy with a man?" These are things mostly not discussed in Christian circles, but like she states in the story, the 'heroine' was "glad her daughter could see the blazing affection between a man and a woman [parents]..."
She did an excellent job of showing how/when to draw the line and not fall into sin; she explains in many different ways that 'tradition' taught by different cultures is not precisely what the Bible intended. She shows the woman's "submission" in a correct light and how the husband should also 'love' his wife.
One of the beliefs was "women and eggs, the more you beat them, the better they get"... they were taught that true love and the hope in the 'happily ever-after' was only in fairy-tales... not real life. She makes the reader question "why is doing the right thing sometimes the hardest" ...
All in all, I enjoyed the book and highly recommend it. I think that young women should read it before they become involved with anyone. Sometimes Christianity puts a damper on the 'romance' and that is not what God intended for a married couple. The difference is in 'marriage' but the attraction should be there before. Enough said!
I received this book free from Bethany Publishers, to review with my own opinion. No limits.
IBELIEVE2
Monday, April 8, 2013
Reviewing SWEPT AWAY by Mary Connealy
Reviewing SWEPT AWAY by Mary Connealy, TROUBLE IN TEXAS, Book 1 of her new series.
This is an instant "page turner" from page one to the end; I love 'series' when each book is complete within itself and yet you can hardly wait for the next book to come out, but that is what happens with SWEPT AWAY. You will love each of the characters... well developed and individual; as well as the 'history' contained within the story. I have been a fan of the Louis L'Amour westerns which hold a lot of America's history, and Mary Connealy is right up there with his infamous works. She accurately describes Texas, ranching, the Civil War, Union/Confederacy as well as the horrors of the Andersonville prison.
I highly recommend this book for all ages to read. I received it free from Bethany/Chosen Book Publishers for review without any restrictions as to my opinion.
IBELIEVE2
This is an instant "page turner" from page one to the end; I love 'series' when each book is complete within itself and yet you can hardly wait for the next book to come out, but that is what happens with SWEPT AWAY. You will love each of the characters... well developed and individual; as well as the 'history' contained within the story. I have been a fan of the Louis L'Amour westerns which hold a lot of America's history, and Mary Connealy is right up there with his infamous works. She accurately describes Texas, ranching, the Civil War, Union/Confederacy as well as the horrors of the Andersonville prison.
I highly recommend this book for all ages to read. I received it free from Bethany/Chosen Book Publishers for review without any restrictions as to my opinion.
IBELIEVE2
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