Coming soon...

My second e-book from Booksneeze.com ... how exciting!

Wrapped In Rain / Charles Martin

“Wrapped in Rain” was an interesting novel filled with both surprises and heartwarming moments.  As you read you experience not only the fear Tucker has of growing up with an abusive father but also the comfort he receives from Miss Ella who was hired to raise Tucker.  You also meet Matthew, a half-brother, who was admitted to a mental institution after Miss Ella’s funeral.  As the story unfolds both boys do something to help maintain a connection to their comforter & protector, Ella Rain.

The first part of the book was slow and I had a hard time connecting but once I did,  I found this story to be a great “Novel of Coming Home” that leaves you with a message that things will be better if you have the strength to keep going.

I received this ebook free of charge from Booksneeze.com in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Next Up....

Surviving Your Serengeti: 7 Skills to Master Business and Life by Stefan Swanepoel

I've always been told not to judge a book by its cover, but I chose this book solely based on the stunning artwork on the front.  I am really glad I did.  This book provides an interesting way of looking at the challenges we face in life and business and how we handle them.  Through this 'fable of self-discovery', the author introduces the reader to life on the Serengeti.  Although I didn't feel a strong connection to the characters presented in the book, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the 7 animals and the survival skills they possess and also how they relate to our survival in business and everyday life. 

I was drawn to the animal facts presented in the book and in some parts felt as if I was reading the narrative for a Discovery Channel documentary.  I think the author did a good job of drawing the reader into each animal, their skills, and then relating it back to life in a way that helps the reader step back and evaluate where they stand, if they possess the skill, or if they need to work on developing the skill.  I found that I was able to quickly identify a situation at work that related to each of the skills mentioned and it made the skills more meaningful.

I would recommend this book to managers/supervisors, business owners, or anybody that wants to identify traits that are necessary to be successful in business and life. 

PS - I believe that I am an Elephant
This book was provided to me free of charge by BookSneeze.com for my honest and unbiased review.

Coming soon...

A Place Called Blessing by John Trent, PhD

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.  It was a simple read that really drew me into the story line and kept me glued to the pages until the end.  I felt drawn into the story of Josh, a young man who had lost his parents early in life and spent his childhood hopping between foster homes and children centers.  A tragic accident during this period turned him into an angry child and by the time he turned 18 he just wanted a job, an apartment, and to be alone. 

Through a strange turn of events Josh finds a friend, the closest thing he has had to a "family", and love.  Following Josh on his journey and seeing the layers of anger from his past peel away through the power of God, love, and compassionate service was a great reminder of the good that is still in the world and it left me inspired to be a better person because you never know whose life you could touch.

This book was based on elements introduced in a book called 'The Blessing' and I am looking forward to reading this book as well.  I loved reading this story and would highly recommend this book to family and friends.

This book was provided to me free of charge by Booksneeze.com in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

Coming next...

The Final Summit by Andy Andrews

The Final Summit was a very interesting and educational read.  I'll admit that I felt a little lost at first, as this is a sequel to The Traveler's Gift - a book I have not read - however, the author did a great job of filling the reader in with just enough history that the story could be followed.  After reading this book, I am looking forward to going back and reading the first book. 

I really liked David Ponder, the lead character in the book.  His story was one that we've heard before... rags to riches to rags and back to riches, all the while learning valuable lessons along the way.   The lessons that are shared in the book apply to all. 

I love how the author brings people to life as David, and famous historical figures such as Winston Churchill, George Washington Carver, and Joan of Arc, work together to find the key to saving humanity.  The book is filled with historical facts but also little quotes and quirks that make it easy to relate to these people as if they were here today.

I really enjoyed this book and the message it leaves with the reader - as I read the book I found myself constantly thinking of the quote "Be the change you want to see in the world. ~Ghandi".

I would recommend this book to friends but would advise reading The Traveler's Gift first.

This book was provided to me free of charge by Booksneeze.com in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Lead Serve Love by Gregory E. Lang

Lead Serve Love was a fun book to read.  Filled with short 3 word phrases and biblical verses to allow deeper research on the topic, this was both a simple and enjoyable book to read.  I loved the layout of the book - on the left page you find your phrase and on the right the bible verses.  Aside from the phrase itself there is also a brief summary to go with it.  Phrases like "Say Thank You", "Swallow Your Pride", and "Do Your Best" are things that we hear everyday.  It was nice to combine those phrases with scriptural references to give them new meaning.  I think this book would make a good gift, especially for a college bound student.

This book was provided to me, free of charge, through BookSneeze.com in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Coming up next... Lead. Serve. Love.

Hermie & Friends - A Bug Collection

I just watched the last of the DVD's in this set by Max Lucado. The DVD set was provided to me at no charge by Booksneeze.com in exchange for my honest review. The bugs in this collection of stories teach lessons about fighting, bad behavior, and not saying your prayers. I thought the characters were cute and the voices were fun. I showed one of the DVD's to my nieces, ages 3 and 6, and they were captivated by characters and story. While I think that the intention of the stories is to teach children not to fight, to say their prayers, and to "bee"have, I was not a fan of the bickering that was on display for the kids. That being said, I did appreciate the main points and the Christian focus of the stories.

Coming Soon...

I thought it would be fun to do my next review on a children's product. I love Max Lucado so I am excited to have ordered this DVD set. Judging by the cover and what I already know of the author, I anticipate this will be full of cute characters and meaningful messages. I can't wait for it to arrive!!!

An Amish Love

I just finished reading the book "An Amish Love" which is a compilation of three short romance novellas written by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Kelly Long. This book was provided to me at no charge by Booksneeze.com in exchange for my honest review.

Each of the three stories in this book manages to pull you into the story and you feel connected to the characters as if they were your friends. The stories are told individually but the authors have managed to weave them together beautifully. Because the stories are short, I always wanted a little more when one would end so I was pleasantly surprised to find common characters between the stories.

"A Marriage of the Heart" tells the story of Abby, a girl who wants to escape the confines of her Amish roots, and Joseph, who has struggled to come back and be accepted in the community. What starts as a marriage of deception turns into a new love that keeps both where their hearts want to be.

"Healing Hearts" is a unique romance in that it is the story of an old love in the Amish community. Naaman leaves to find himself and when he returns Levina must decide whether or not she can trust him and welcome him home.

"What the Heart Sees" is a touching story of overcoming tragedy, anger, guilt, and moving on with life. After a serious car accident claimed the life of Ellie's best friend and left her without her sight, she worked hard to regain her independence, despite feeling that she would never find a man to love her. Five years later, Chris comes back to town after being banned from the community and Ellie finds that love and additional healing from the past might be closer than she thinks.

I truly enjoyed reading these stories, learning a little about the Amish culture, and getting to know the characters in the books. The authors did a wonderful job weaving the characters throughout the stories and creating a "Paradise" that really felt like somewhere you would want to visit.

Invasion by J.S. Lewis

I recently read the book "Invasion" by J. S. Lewis. This book was provided free by Booksneeze.com in exchange for my review.

I originally selected this book because the cover had an interesting Sci-fi look to it, plus the title alludes to the fact that the book would have aliens or other "out-of-this-world" characters. The story consists of 57 relatively short chapters, typical of a young adult novel, and is an easy read.

I compare this book to the movie "Men In Black", as it follows the same type of story line - aliens, shape-shifters, and other creatures hidden amongst the human race, and of course, there is a conspiracy.

This book has plenty of action, including flying motorcycles, secret gateways, and of course government cover-ups, which I think would keep a teenager who is into Sci-fi interested in the book. I do think it is unfortunate that this book is part of a series (C.H.A.O.S.) by the author and the next installation is not due to come out until January 2012.

My only disappointment in the book was its lack of character development. It was easy to pick out the main players - Colt, Dani, and Oz - however I didn't feel like I could get into their heads. The story was slow but I think it is leaving room for the rest of the series.