The Skin Map

The Skin Map, is about a man who meets his grandfather who mysteriously disappeared years ago. His grandfather exposes him to the secret that there are tunnels in England that lead to different worlds. This book was very interesting and different than any other book I've ever read. I really enjoyed all the action. I found myself relating to Kit and cheering for him to make the right decisions. I would definitely recommend this book. I got this book free as a part of the Book Sneeze project through Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Beyond Opinion by Ravi Zacharias

Synopsis from Amazon.com: "Respected apologist Ravi Zacharias was once sharing his faith with a Hindu when the man asked: "If the Christian faith is truly supernatural, why is it not more evident in the lives of so many Christians I know?" The question hit hard, and this book is an answer. Its purpose is to equip Christians everywhere to simultaneously defend the faith and be transformed by it into people of compassion.

In addition to writing several chapters himself, Ravi Zacharias brings together many of today's leading apologists and Christian teachers, including Alister McGrath and John Lennox, to address topics present in the very future of worldwide Christianity-from the process of spiritual transformation to the challenges posed by militant atheism and a resurgent Islam."

This book was a wonderful synopsis of different worldviews and how to defend Christianity. I especially enjoyed the chapter on postmodernism. It explained about how there must be absolute truth. Each chapter was written by a different author with a separate topic. Therefore, I could have just picked and chosen which topics were interesting to me. I would definitely recommend this book. "Beyond Opinion," led me to a greater understanding of the many viewpoints in our world today and how to explain mine. It clearly conveyed Biblical truth.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz

Synopsis: "Morrow Little is haunted by the memory of the day her family was torn apart by raiding Shawnee warriors. Now that she is nearly a grown woman and her father is ailing, she must make difficult choices about the future. Several men--ranging from the undesired to the unthinkable--vie for her attentions, but she finds herself inexplicably drawn to a forbidden love that both terrifies and intrigues her. Can she betray the memory of her lost loved ones--and garner suspicion from her friends--by pursuing a life with him? Or should she seal her own misery by marrying a man she doesn't love? This sweeping tale of romance and forgiveness will envelop readers as it takes them from a Kentucky fort through the vast wilderness to the west in search of true love."

This book is not from the Book Sneeze project. I went out and picked up one of the last copies from the local Christian bookstore, something I rarely do. I have been waiting on pins and needles for this book to be released after reading Laura Frantz's previous book, "The Frontiersman's Daughter." I absolutely loved her first book and was not disappointed with this one either. It was awesome. I couldn't put it down. I loved the descriptions of colonial life in Kentucky and was drawn into the characters' lives in a way that doesn't usually happen. So much Christian fiction is predictable and rote and this book was the complete opposite. You. Must. Read. It.

Driftwood Lane by Denise Hunter (A Nantucket Love Story)

Book description from the publisher: "Meridith can handle anything: guardianship of three distant siblings, a dilapidated Bed-and-Breakfast, even an ever-present handyman who's dismantling more than her fireplace--or can she?

When the death of Meridith's estranged father leaves her with custody of three siblings she's never met, she reluctantly goes to Nantucket to care for them--but only until their uncle returns from his trip. Little does she know, the uncle is already there under the guise of her friendly handyman, with plans of his own.

Will the love that grows between them be strong enough to overcome the secrets that brought them both to Driftwood Lane?"

Yes, I am a sucker for sappy romances. And so of course I enjoyed this book! I really enjoyed the characters and had trouble putting the book down. The descriptions of Nantucket made me want to go there. I really appreciated how each of the characters sacrificed something and turned out the better for it.

That being said. . . the book was predictable. You can pretty much tell from the back cover what is going to happen. And the religion seemed like an afterthought. Yes, the characters went to church and Meredith realized the need to pray and lean on God for support but I didn't feel like it was genuine. There was no talk about what is necessary for salvation, even the demons acknowledge there is a God! Also, as Meredith reconciled her past it seemed rushed and didn't really add much to her character. All the sudden, the past was behind her and she was ready to move on??? That being said, it is one of the better romances I have read in a while and would probably recommend it to friends.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Sarah's Garden by Kelly Long

Synopsis from Amazon: Deep in the heart of Pennsylvania's Allegheny Mountains, shy Sarah King is happiest when working in her vibrant Amish kitchen garden, but new family responsibilities lead her into the confusing world of the Englisch.

Sarah finds her life turned around when she encounters the community's new Englisch veterinarian, Grant Williams. His blue-gold eyes and his obvious concern for her people attract her immediately. Sarah seeks solace and direction from the Lord as she creates a quilt pattern which details her struggle between two worlds.

The Lord is guiding Sarah to follow His will, but will she listen?

My Opinion: I have read a great deal of Amish fiction and noticed that they all tend to be the same. Although this one followed the same story line- Amish woman meets and falls in love with an Englischer, I found the plot to be more engrossing and the characters more likeable than most Amish novels. I enjoyed this book but I would only give it three stars because of its predictability and how the romance dragged in the end. Like seriously folks we all know you are in love. Get married already!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Love on a Dime by Cara James

Synopsis from Christian Book Distributors: Nineteenth-century New Englander Lilly has a secret: she's a prolific writer. What's wrong with that? Nothing---except that her family and friends would be horrified if they knew she was writing dime novels! She's perfectly content to use her talents for God's glory and not her own. But will a gossip columnist blow her cover?

I wouldn't say I loved this book but I did enjoy it. Lilly Westbrook, the main character was easy to relate to and the plot was intriguing. I liked Lilly and Jackson and the way they were both willing to forgive wrongs and to sacrifice for each other. All the characters developed for the better and left me contented. It was a light, fast read. Predictable but satisfying.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Jesus Manifesto

Jesus Manifesto by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola
The premise of this book was giving Christ supremacy in our lives, churches, and theology. Sweet and Viola discussed their view that Christians have turned away from letting the person of Jesus change us into trying to conform Jesus to our own personal beliefs.
I was challenged by this book and it gave me a lot to think about in my own life. However, I did not agree with everything Sweet and Viola claimed. I disagreed with their view that the “purpose of the Law was to structure a way of living together that he [Jeusus] called ‘love.’” In Romans, Paul repeatedly points out that we are now to live in the Law of Christ versus the Law of Moses. I also disagreed when the authors wrote, “The kingdom is a presence that we enter, a gem-like gift that we receive and treasure, a new creation that embraces and engulfs us. In other words, the kingdom of God is Jesus the Christ, and His righteousness. In seeking Him, “all these things are added in our lives.” Scriptures tell us that the kingdom will be a tangible 1000 year reign of Christ on earth not an experience we enter into if we have a right relationship to Jesus.
Despite these theological problems the book was enjoyable, the anecdotes and analogies made reading interesting, and I appreciated the large number of quotes in the margins.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Whirlwind by Cathy Marie Hake (3 Stars)

I picked this book up at the library on a whim. I had read another book by Cathy Marie Hake that I did not particularly like but this title sounded interesting. My mother stole it from me so I had to wait a while to read it. Finally, today I finished it.

Whirlwind is about a woman named Millicent Fairweather. In the opening scenes of the book, she is a nanny in England to two girls whom she loves dearly. Their father sends both girls to a boarding school leaving Millicent jobless. And so we find our heroine traveling to America with her sister and brother-in-law. On board the ship, she meets Daniel Clark and his son Arthur who is in need of a nanny. She agrees to work for Mr. Clark while during the trip. However, extenuating circumstances throw both Millicent and Daniel together. They enter a "marriage of convenience" and head to make a home in Texas. Yes, I'm sure you can already see how this will turn out :)
So, I liked this book but I wasn't enraptured by it. At the beginning of the book I liked Daniel Clark and how considerate he was of others. After the marriage I disliked him immensely. He became domineering and I could never feel the attraction between the characters as I would have in a Lori Wick or Deanne Gist novel. The plot was interesting and didn't have a great deal of unbelievable twists as one might expect from Christian fiction. The book was a fast read and though I was satisfied with the way it ended, I was irritated that the characters both seemed so distant. I don't think I would recommend it.

Read and Share: The Jesus Series, Life and Miracles (DVD)

Review of "Read and Share: The Jesus Series, Life and Miracles" DVD

I got this dvd for participating in the Book Sneeze project through Thomas Nelson Publishers.

This DVD contained eight chapters detailing parts of Jesus' life including the calling of the disciples, feeding the 5,000, walking on water, and the last supper. The DVD is based on the "Read and Share Bible."
This movie is a good way to introduce children around the ages of 3 or 4 to the stories of Jesus. While it was not completely Biblically accurate, I think young children would find it interesting. The narration was a little irritating and the stories were disjointed. All in all it was certainly not the best movie for kids about Bible stories but it could be used as a tool to start teaching your children about the Bible and Jesus.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”