"Beloved" by Robin Lee Hatcher

Robin Lee Hatcher’s “Beloved” is a fictional story about Diana Applegate, a young woman who can’t seem to catch a break. This streak continues at her engagement party when her formerly presumed dead husband walks through the door! Her life takes a shift when he begs her to stand by him as he runs for Senate, but Diana isn’t quite sure since he wasn’t the model husband before his alleged “death.”

This story was enjoyable enough. The plot was good, and the characters were fun. It was nice to see Tyson Applegate’s change in priorities as the story evolves aided by flashbacks giving the reader a consuming picture of the evolution of his character. It was a good story, but it didn’t have a spark that had me eagerly trying to finish it.

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.”

"A Matter of Trust" by Lis Wiehl and April Henry

Oh. My. Goodness. I loved this book. Very rarely do I read something that has me reading without breaks, but “A Matter of Trust” was a book I couldn’t put down.

Lis Wiehl pairs up with April Henry to craft the first story (hopefully of many) about Mia Quinn. Mia is returning to work as a prosecutor for King County when she catches a big case quickly. While talking to her best friend on the phone, her friend is shot, and so begins her entrance back into the work field. She takes on her friend’s case while simultaneously working a case of a bullied teenager. She works closely with homicide detective Charlie Carlson who, despite his trying hard not to care, seems jealous of Eli Hall- the new public defender in town- and his apparent crush on Lis.

This book is well crafted since Lis Wiehl bases her novels on real life cases; it’s also relevant with today’s social issues including gun rights and cyberbullying. It’s sounds cliché, but I can’t wait until the next book about Mia Quinn is released!

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.”

"The Survivor" by DiAnn Mills

“The Survivor” is DiAnn Mills’ second book about Kariss Walker, the first being “The Chase.” In this second installment, Kariss has agreed to write the story of Dr. Amy Garrett, a woman who survived a horrid attack as a child. What Kariss doesn’t know is that she is getting herself into a heap of trouble.

Tigo Harris is an ex-boyfriend of Karris who is investigating a bombing that killed the mother and daughter of a local family. The FBI agent still has feelings for Karris, but he struggles with her view of God and her religious beliefs and her knack for getting herself into trouble.

This suspenseful novel keeps you guessing, making you determined to see “whodunit” to characters you can relate to. The drawback for me was the story was choppy in some areas. Right when you thought something was going to be elaborated on, the chapter ends abruptly. Kariss and Tigo also have a more caustic and blunt way of dealing with people, which has the potential to get aggravating.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. I’m going to have to go back and read “The Chase” to fill in the pieces I have missed. I like Kariss & Tigo as a couple and hope to read more of their story in the future.

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.”

"Neighbors and Wise Men: Sacred Encounters in a Portland Pub and Other Unexpected Places" by Tony Kriz

Readers might recognize “Neighbors and Wise Men” author as Tony the Beat Poet from Donald Miller’s “Blue Like Jazz.” Tony Kriz has written his own story and, like “Blue Like Jazz,” it is special.

“Neighbors and Wise Men” is a book of thoughts. Each chapter is broken into sections based on Tony’s thoughts about living the Christian life and what it looks like sharing the Gospel. His thoughts range from his time as a broken missionary in Albania to living life at Reed College to learning Biblical truths from nonbelievers.

I loved this book. Even though it’s a book of musings, they challenge you to think about the strict guidelines Christians often impose on themselves and others- many times without thought or question. Even if you don’t agree with everything he talks about, it’s a good read to make you chew on some of the things he points out.

It’s a good read for anyone, whether you believe in God or not, because it focuses on relationships cross-culturally. I highly recommend it. It’ll end up on my Favorites shelf.

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.”

"Grace" by Max Lucado

I love Max Lucado. He is a master of teaching through stories. “Grace” is no different. Once again, Lucado does an excellent job taking Christian principles and making them simple but vivid. Max sums the heart of this book up well. “Grace is precious because he is. Grace changes lives because he does. Grace secures us because he will. The gift is the Giver. To discover grace is to discover God’s utter devotion to you…Does he stand high on a hill and bid you climb out of the valley? No. He bungees down and carries you out… This is the gift that God gives.”

If grace is an idea that is foreign to you or has become dull, pick up this book. Lucado paints Biblical stories in modern day creativity- making you think about the original story a little bit differently. I highly recommend this book, because grace is a concept we all need to deal with, whether we believe in God or not.

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.”

"A Path Toward Love" by Cara Lynn James

"A Path Toward Love" is a story about a young woman from a privileged background, Katherine Osbourne. Katherine suffered a bad marriage due to her juvenile choices and tries to put her life back together after her husband's death. Her two childhood best friends, Andrew and Randy, swoop in to try to help her find love again- each hoping it would be with himself. 

This book was a good story; however, I felt that the pace moved too quickly. Cara Lynn James did a good job providing an excellent plot, but the characters needed some work. The guys responded with too much emotion for my taste. 

Overall, it's a decent book, but lacking in development. 

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.”

"Grant: Savior of the Union" by Mitchell Yockelson

“Grant: Savior of the Union,” written by Mitchell Yockelson, is the latest installation in the Generals series. This book is a simple synopsis of Ulysses S. Grant’s life, with an emphasis on his military career. Yockelson attempts to provide readers who are unfamiliar with Ulysses S. Grant with a basic, unbiased introduction to his life.


I appreciated this book, because it was a biography that wasn’t overly eloquent, yet it didn’t read like a boring history book either. If you’re a Grant fan, this book probably isn’t for you since it covers the mere basics of the man; however, if you are looking to learn more about Grant’s influence particularly in the Civil War, this is the book for you.

I received this book free from the publisher through the 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.”

"The Founders' Key" by Larry Arnn

Dr. Larry Arnn’s recent writing focuses on the symbiotic relationship between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. “The Founders’ Key” aims to educate and refocus readers on little known or overlooked histories and points of the documents that make up America’s foundation.

What I enjoyed most about this book is the way it challenged my knowledge and view on America’s history. It’s a shame when a natural born citizen isn’t intimately familiar with such important documents. Arnn does an excellent job breaking down his arguments. He even goes so far as to provide text of the actual documents he references such as the Constitution and Declaration and even some of the Federalist papers. However, what I didn’t like about this book was he breaks down others’ views that we may or may not have heard of anyways. 

Overall, this is an excellent book that is a must read for any citizen. Even if you don’t agree with all the points made, it at least causes you to think more about where our nation came from and where it might be heading.

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.”

"The Book of Man" by William Bennett

Here it is! My first review! I picked an excellent book to start off my reviewing with. I've enjoyed it tremendously.

Title: “The Book of Man: Readings on the Path to Manhood”

Author: William Bennett

William Bennett’s “The Book of Man: Readings on the Path to Manhood” reminded me much of his “The Book of Virtues” which championed itself as a “treasury of great moral stories.” Now, fifteen years later, Bennett has done it again, except this time he is targeting men. “The Book of Man” is a compilation of essays, profiles, and poems on what a man of character should and does look like, hoping to set an example for the men of our culture when examples seem to be few and/or forgotten.

Even as a woman, I genuinely enjoyed “The Book of Man.” It is an excellent collection of stories both fictional and nonfictional to inspire both men and women alike towards uplifting character. It’s specifically a good reminder of the necessity of our men to fight for what is honorable as it pertains to six different areas of our lives: work, recreation, war, family, spirituality and country. The book is also put together well with gorgeous binding and a hard cover making it a treasury that could easily last several generations. This is a book I look forward to sharing and passing down in my family.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the 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.”

BookSneeze

As an avid reader, I have been given a great opportunity through BookSneeze to receive free books in exchange for honest reviews. I hope you enjoy the reviews that will occasionally be posted!

Interested? Check it out for yourself at BookSneeze.