Reviewing "The Ollie Chandler Collection"

If you enjoy good Christian fiction and also like mystery novels, I would highly recommend this collection. Randy Alcorn is a very talented writer with a knack for using words to create amazing imagery.  These stories transcend a normal "earthly" storyline and delve into what's also happening in heaven.  At first I was a little bit skeptical that I would enjoy books in which portions take place in one author's version of heaven, but I was pleasantly surprised and found myself quite captivated.  Here is a summary from the publisher:

"Ollie Chandler is a brilliant and quick-witted homicide detective who lives by Ollies' First Law: "Things are not what they appear." These best-selling novels offer readers a compelling, intriguing story of Ollie Chandler combined with other favorite characters. Deadline, Randy Alcorn's first novel, stayed on the bestsellers list for thirty-six months.Dominion is a dramatic story of spiritual searching, racial reconciliation, and hope. Deception responds to readers' demand for more of his believable, compelling fiction. Readers will gain a greater understanding of heaven while recognizing a new idea of why God allows suffering."

Even if you've never read any of Alcorn's non-fiction, go ahead and give this fictional collection a try.  I'm glad I did. 


Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Spring is springing in SoCal

Happy belated Spring! I'm loving the warmer weather and the green grass everywhere, and I wanted to share some snapshots of Spring in SoCal with you. For me, warmer weather means hiking and getting outside so all of these photos were taken on hikes in the past couple weeks.

Book Review: "Damascus Countdown" by Joel Rosenberg

Joel C. Rosenberg has a knack for creating edge of your seat thrillers that you can't put down until you find out what happens in the end. "Damascus Countdown" is no different. The third installment of Rosenberg's "Twelfth Imam" series picks up where the last book left off in dramatic fashion. The reader is instantly sucked into the events transpiring in the Middle East and in the life of CIA operative David Shirazi.   Here is a quick summary from the publisher:

 "All eyes are on the Middle East. Israel has successfully launched a first strike on Iran, taking out all of their nuclear sites and six of their nuclear warheads—and causing The Twelfth Imam to order a full-scale retaliation. U.S. President William Jackson threatens to support a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning the Jewish State for unprovoked and unwarranted acts of aggression.
Meanwhile, CIA operative David Shirazi has infiltrated the Iranian regime and intercepted information indicating that two Iranian nuclear warheads survived the attack and have been moved to a secure and undisclosed location. In danger not only from the ongoing missile strikes on Iran but also from the increasingly hostile and suspicious governments of multiple countries, David and his team are in a race against time to find the remaining nuclear warheads before disaster strikes."

 Filled with interesting characters and intense action, Rosenberg's books are always quite riveting.  I would recommend this book and the entire series to anyone interested political thrillers written in a way that weave Biblical themes together with modern day, albeit very frightening, scenarios.  At 480 pages, it's not exactly a quick read, but it will keep your attention through the duration.  As is the case for all of Joel Rosenberg's fiction, when the book ended, it left me wanting more.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Tyndale in exchange for an honest review.

Book Giveaway Winners

Congratulations to Molly and Toni Anne! You will both be receiving a copy of "The Giving Quilt" in the mail soon. Thanks to everyone who entered!

Jennifer Chiaverini Book Giveaway

Calling all Jennifer Chiaverini fans out there! (I know there are a lot of you).  Her book, "The Giving Quilt" came out today in paperback and I'm hosting a giveaway to celebrate.  I have two copies of the book plus some super cute pins to give to two of my readers.  Here is some information from the publisher to whet your reading appetite:

"Thanksgiving inspires generosity once a year, but what happens to the spirit of giving on the other 364 days? In THE GIVING QUILT, now available in paperback from Plume, New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini takes a page from her own life to deliver an emotional and poignant story very close to her heart. As a long-time member and advocate of Project Linus, an organization dedicated to providing handmade quilts and blankets to children in need, Jennifer decided to donate a very unique and special gift—a prime spot in one of her bestselling novels.

At Elm Creek Manor, the circle of quilters is hard at work preparing for “Quiltsgiving.” Held annually the week after Thanksgiving, expert and novice quilters from near and far gather for a special winter session of quilt camp to make pieces for Project Linus. As the week unfolds, the quilters respond to the question, “Why do you give?” in ways as varied as the life experiences that drew them to Elm Creek Manor. Each of the quilters, including a librarian, a teacher, a college student, and a quilt shop clerk, uses her unique talents to teach, inspire, and give back to her fellow campers.

With numerous New York Times bestsellers, Chiaverini is undoubtedly one of the masters of both modern and historical women’s fiction. Year after year, Chiaverini’s stories remain beloved by fans and praised by critics."

How to enter:  (Comments are now closed)

• Each person has one chance to win a book by leaving a comment on this post. If you get inspired, tell me about the last book you read.  Don't worry, all comments (even without book titles) will be counted as entries. I will use a random number generator to pick two lucky book recipients. 
• Make sure that your entry is linked to your email address or please leave your email address in your comment.  If the comment is anonymous I won't have a way to contact you if you win, and that's no fun. 
• Entries are open to anyone in the United States and Canada.
• Winners will be announced on Saturday April 6th, 2013

Reviewing "Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker" by Jennifer Chiaverini

With the release and subsequent award nominations for the movie "Lincoln", there is quite a buzz surrounding the legacy of Abraham Lincoln and his wife and family right now.  Jennifer Chiaverini's book "Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker" tells the Lincoln family story from the unique point of view of  Mary Todd Lincoln's dressmaker, Elizabeth Keckley.

Here is a portion of the book summary from the publisher:
"In Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker, novelist Jennifer Chiaverini presents a stunning account of the friendship that blossomed between Mary Todd Lincoln and her seamstress, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Keckley, a former slave who gained her professional reputation in Washington, D.C. by outfitting the city’s elite. Keckley made history by sewing for First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln within the White House, a trusted witness to many private moments between the President and his wife, two of the most compelling figures in American history."

After reading this book, I feel like I've received a very thorough history lesson about the Lincoln era.  Though I of course knew of the tragedy of his assassination, I had no idea what a tragic life Mary Todd Lincoln lived.  The friendship between Mrs. Lincoln and Elizabeth, gives the reader a window into the behind the scenes life of the First Family.  You witness the deterioration of the First Lady and the huge effects her downhill spiral had on Elizabeth's life. 
I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the book. Reading about the dresses that Elizabeth was making and learning about what was happening in the inner circle of the White House during that time period was quite fascinating.  I did find the ending of the book to be very bleak, but since it is based on truth, it is a story that is worthwhile to read.   I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in historical fiction or a desire to "get to know" the Lincolns from a fresh point of view.


Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

"An Amish Kitchen"- Book Review

"An Amish Kitchen" is a collection of three charming novellas written by Beth Wiseman, Kelly Long, and Amy Clipston. The book also includes a reading group guide and a collection of 45 (very tasty looking) Old Order Amish recipes.  Each story's main character is an Amish woman living in Paradise Pennsylvania. Even though the stories are not intertwined, there are references to the women in each novella which serve to tie the whole book together.  Here is a synopsis of each of the three stories as written by the publisher:

Fern has a green thumb for growing healing herbs, but longs for love to bloom in her life. Then the next-door neighbor’s oldest son, Abram, comes running into Fern’s kitchen seeking help for his little sister. The crisis soon leads to a promise of romance—until mistrust threatens to end the growing attraction.
 Nearby, Hannah runs her parents’ bed and breakfast, Paradise Inn—but her life feels nothing like Paradise. She longs for a man of integrity to enter her life, but never expected him to knock on the front door looking for a room. Will she be able trust Stephen with her future once she discovers his mysterious past?
 When a storm blows a tree onto Eve’s farmhouse, she has little choice but to temporarily move her family into her parents’ home. Outside of cooking together in the kitchen, Eve and her mother can’t agree on anything. But this may be just the recipe for hope in healing old wounds.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of the novellas and found myself picking up the book at every spare moment I could find.  The characters quickly etch themselves into your heart and even though the way each story plays out can be a tad bit predictable, the book did a great job of keeping my interest the entire time.  I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Amish fiction and enjoys a good page turner.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”