My June wish list

    

    

 
   

It's Monday! What are you reading is hosted by One Persons Journey through a world of Books. Each week we spotlight the books we are reading, planning on reading or just finished reading




Finished: The Daughter's Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick
             Contingency by Paula Wiseman
             Jump Off the Hormone Swing by Lorraine Pintus


Reading: Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran
             Secrets of the Heart by Jillian Kent
             Unbroken by Frank Stanfield


Next in line: The Girl Who Disappeared Twice by Andrea Kane
                  Tolstoy and the Purple Chair by Nina Sankovitch
                  Sideways on a Scooter by Miranda Kennedy

The Daughter's Walk book review...

The Daughter's Walk

by Jane Kirkpatrick

Waterbrook Press

In 1896, in order to save the family farm, Clara Estby reluctantly accompanies her mother on a cross-country journey that redefines a mother’s tragedy and a daughter’s desire. Over two decades, friends and faith help Clara move through a family betrayal and into a future of her own design.  But will the tentacles of the past keep her from finding the real joy in forgiveness?

Click here to download chapter one of The Daughter’s Walk.

My review:

The Daughter's Walk is an emotional read. You follow the journey of a mother and daughter (Clara) as they walk from Spokane, Washington to New York City. They have a strict deadline to follow which means they must keep going, no matter what. As they experience difficulties they must also make decisions on whether or not a small break from walking will still let them meet their deadline. 

Clara learns things about her family along the walk; things she'd have never guessed in a lifetime. Later as Clara decides to work outside of the home, she learns the way business other than farm life works, and decides to have her go at it. Clara decides to continue the walk without her mother.

 Don't miss this wonderful journey.

Buy it on Amazon.

About the author:

Jane Kirkpatrick is the author of more than fifteen historical novels based on the lives of actual women, and several nonfiction titles. Her books have collectively sold more than 500,000 copies, winning awards and critical acclaim, including Best Book of 2009 by Library Journal. She lives in Oregon with her husband, Jerry.

Mothers & Daughters book review

Mothers & Daughters

by Rae Meadows

Violet, Iris, Samantha. Three women, three generations, three lives. When a box of Iris's belongings arrives at Sam's doorstep, she discovers things about her mother she never knew--or could even guess. But she is puzzled by much of what she finds. She learns that Violet, the women she knows as her grandmother, left New York City as an eleven-year-old girl and found a better life in the Midwest. But what was the real reason behind Violet's journey? And how could she have come that far on her own at such a tender age?

My Review: 

This is a wonderful novel of three generations of women. You learn so much about each of them and the differences in how they each turned out due to their upbringing and surrounding and the the years in which they were growing up. As you read, you feel their struggles, you feel for them, and you wish them the best, even when you know what is coming. As you read, you realize that all three women are related, and this makes the book even more interesting. This is a novel that brings you through such heartache, which is inevitable in any life, but it also shows you that you can overcome those struggles and turn out OK in the end.

Author Info:

Rae Meadows is the author of Calling Out, which received the 2006 Utah Book Award for fiction, and No One Tells Everything, a Poets & Writers notable Novel. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Deepest Waters book review

The Deepest Waters

by Dan Walsh

What began as a fairytale honeymoon in 1857 for John and Laura Foster aboard the steamship SS Vandervere becomes a nightmare when a hurricane strikes and the grand ship is lost in the murky depths of the Atlantic. Laura finds herself rescued with the other women and children, but how can she feel any relief without her groom?

Talented author Dan Walsh skillfully tells an epic story through an intimate focus on two lost lovers. Inspired by real events, this moving novel will capture your heart as you dive into its pages.

My review: 

When Laura and John are separated in the beginning of their honeymoon due to their ship going down during a hurricane storm, they are both heartbroken, but they soon find that there isn't much time to mend their hearts with all the trials and troubles they are facing with just trying to survive. But even as these newlyweds are struggling to survive (separately) not a moment goes by that they aren't reminiscing about their time together.

The fact that they have their memories and I think even though they don't EVER voice or mention their hope...that their hope and the possibility of one day seeing each other again is what keeps them each going.

Their Christian faith comes through so strong with the way that they are both so quick to help others. This story will happen next. To me, it was like a historical, romantic suspense novel.

A MUST READ!!!

About the Author:

Dan Walsh is the award-winning author of The Unfinished Gift, and The Homecoming. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Dan served as a pastor for 25 years. He lives with his family in the Dayton Beach area, where he is busy researching and writing his next novel.

Thanks to Revell for providing me with a free review copy :)

I am in no way required to give a positive review, 

I always give my honest opinion on any book that I read !!!

Buy here.

Enjoy your day!!

Read a book or three while you're at it :)

Angel Sister book review

ANGEL SISTER

by Ann H. Gabhart

About the book: 

It's 1936 and Kate Merritt works hard to  keep her family together. her father has slipped into alcoholism, he mother is trying to come to grips with their dire financial situation, and her sisters seem to remain blissfully oblivious to all of it. Kate could never have imagined that a dirty, abandoned little girl named Lorena birdsong would be just what her family needs.

In this richly textured novel, award-winning author Ann H. Gabhart reveals the power of true love, the freedom of forgiveness, and the strength to persevere through troubled times, all against the backdrop of a sultry Kentucky summer.

My review:

This is a wonderful story of family secrets and forgiveness set during the Depression.

Sadly, little Lorena Birdsong's parents can't afford to take care of her anymore so the leave her on the church steps in hope that a nice family will take her in and care for her; but not before her mother tells her that the person who cares for her will be an Angel. So when Kate Merritt, aged 14, the middle sister of the new family who takes her in becomes her main care-taker, that is exactly what Lorena thinks Kate is...her Angel sister, sent by her Mommy to bring her food and make sure she is alright. Kate relates so well to Lorena because she is still  so emotionally young herself; being the middle child of a family caught in the middle of the Depression and a whole bunch of family secrets....

Make sure you have a full box of tissues before you read this one. I laughed and cried, which is exactly what I like in this type of book. There is just so much raw emotion, that you can't help but fall in love with this book and it's characters.

About the author: 

Ann is a country girl, born and raised on a farm in the Outer Bluegrass region of Kentucky.   She grew up working on the farm and enjoying the woods and animals. Her roots grow deep in the land, and she now lives on a farm just a mile away from the farmhouse where she was born and raised.

She started writing when she was ten and has been writing ever since. Her first novel, A Forbidden Yearning, was published by Warner Books in 1978 and was a historical romance about the settling of Kentucky. Since then she has published twenty novels for adults and young adults. She has been going to the same small country church since she was seventeen and used her memories of how it used to be in The Scent of Lilacs. She says, "I love small churches where everybody is like a big family and all ages interact with one another. My church was established in 1812 and I        like thinking about all the people who have served the Lord there." 

  http://www.annhgabhart.com

Buy a copy of 'Angel Sister' here.

Enjoy your day!!

~Steph

Dragonbreath book review

Danny Dragonbreath's Lunch vants to suck your blood!!

Danny Dragonbreath knows that school lunches can't be trusted.

But even Danny is surprised when his hot dog bites his best friend, Wendell.

Suddenly Wendell is having strange craving, sprouting back hair,

and itching like he's never itched before.

Could Wendell be morphing into...a were-wiener???

My boys and I absolutely loved this book. We were so generously given a copy of

this book to keep for reviewing it. My boys laughed so hard when I read it to them.

My eleven year old has since read it twice through on his own :)

This book is very funny, and the graphics are great!!!

Song of the Silk Road book review

'Song of the Silk Road'

by

Mingmei Yip

As a girl growing up in Hong Kong, Lily Lin was captivated by

photographs of the desert--its long, lonely vistas and shifting sand

dunes. Now living in New York, Lily is struggling to finish her

graduate degree when she receives an astonishing offer. An aunt

she never knew existed will pay Lily a huge sum to travel across

China's desolate Taklamakan Desert--and carry out a series of tasks

along the way.

Intrigued, Lily accepts. her assignments range from the dangerous to

the bizarre. Lily must seduce a monk. She must scrape a piece of clay from the famous Terracotta Warriors, and climb the Mountains of

Heaven to gather a rare herb. At Xion, her first stop, Lily meets Alex, a young American with whom she forms a powerful connection. And soon, she faces revelations that will redefine her past, her destiny , and the shocking truth behind her aunt's motivations.

Powerful and eloquent, Song of the Silk Road is a  captivating story of self-discovery, resonant with the mysteries of its haunting, exotic landscape.

About the Author:

Mingnei Yip was born in China, received her Ph.D. from the University of Paris,

Sorbonne, and held faculty appointments at the Chinese University and Baptist 

University in Hong Kong. She's published five books in Chinese, written several

columns for several major Hong Kong newspapers, and has appeared on over 40 TV and radio programs in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mainland China, and the U.S. She immigrated to the United States in 1992, where she now lives in New York City. Visit her at www.mingmeiyep.com.

An interview with the author:

Stephanie: Can you tell us something about yourself that not a lot of your readers don't know?

Mingmei: Besides my hectic writing schedule, that I still manage to take time to perform the Chinese zither (guqin) professionally - last year I was invited by Carnegie Hall to play at its Chinese Music Festival -- and teach calligraphy workshops. 

Stephanie: What is your favorite part of the writing process? 

Mingmei : After I labor through getting down the first draft, as I polish up

my writing, I begin to enjoy my characters and their trials and struggles as they work towards a happy ending. In my writing, I meet people like the Chinese herbalist and blind fortune teller in Song of the Silk Road, whom I might never meet in real life. 

Stephanie: Do you have any quirks that come out while you are writing?

Mingmei: I just plunge into my writing and ignore everything around me. Since I was a tiny girl I have always preferred life inside my own head. 

Stephanie: What is your daily routine as a writer? 

Mingmei: I don't have a chance to write every day, but when I do, I write eight or nine hours non-stop, then I eat Chinese take-out and fall asleep. 

Stephanie: What inspired you to write your first book?

Mingmei: I wanted to bring back to life the strong women of an earlier era in China when almost the only choices for women were being a wife (actually, one of several wives sharing the same husband), a Buddhist nun -- or a prostitute. Despite this some women overcame the barriers to become independent and creative artists.  Some mingji, prestigious prostitutes, also called geishas, left behind poems and paintings providing windows into fascinating but often tragic lives.  I decided to give these talented, powerful women -- silent for centuries -- a voice.  The result is my first novel Peach Blossom Pavilion, which I'm happy to say, is now in its fifth printing.

Buy a copy here.

~Steph

Lazarus Awakening book review

  

3. Share this on Facebook:

Help Joanna Weaver celebrate the release of Lazarus Awakening and enter to win a KINDLE in The Heart of God KINDLE Giveaway! All the details here http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13184491

4. Share this on Twitter:

Celebrate the release of Lazarus Awakening by @becominghis. Enter to win a KINDLE in The Heart of God KINDLE Giveaway! http://ow.ly/4mJ8y

About the book: Lazarus Awakening

Getting God’s Love from Our Heads to Our Hearts

You believe that God loves the world…but sometimes you wonder if He truly loves you.
 
For many of us, moving the truth of God’s love from our heads to our hearts is a lifelong process. As we consider our inadequacies or grieve our shattered dreams, we find it difficult to believe that God cares for us personally.
 
In this life-giving book, Joanna Weaver shows you how to embrace the truth that Jesus loves you apart from anything you accomplish, apart from anything you bring. Just as He called Lazarus forth to new life, Jesus wants to free you to live fully in the light of His love, unbound from the graveclothes of fear, regret, and self-condemnation.
 
Love is calling your name.
 
Combining unforgettable real-life illustrations with unexpected biblical insights, Joanna Weaver invites you to experience a spiritual resurrection that will forever change your understanding of what it means to be the one Jesus loves. Bible study and Leader’s Guide available here. http://www.joannaweaverbooks.com/books/lazarus-awakening/

About Joanna: 
Joanna Weaver is known the world over for her transparent and life-changing books, Having A Mary Heart in a Martha World and Having a Mary Spirit. These two books have sold over a million copies and have been translated into several languages including Spanish, French, Dutch, Chinese, German, Korean and more. Joanna has appeared on a wide variety of nationally syndicated radio and television broadcasts. Past appearances include: The Harvest Show, At Home Live With Chuck & Jenni, Midday Connection, HomeWord, and Janet Parschall’s America. She is also a highly sought after speaker and shares her message at intimate gatherings and several high profile events each year. But Joanna's greatest joy is found in being a wife and mother and her role as a pastor’s wife. For more information about Joanna, please visit her website. www.joannaweaverbooks.com.

Link to buy the book: http://www.amazon.com/Lazarus-Awakening-Finding-Place-Heart/dp/0307444961/ref=sprightly-20

About the giveaway:

Joanna is celebrating the release of Lazarus Awakening with the Heart of God KINDLE Giveaway!

In Lazarus Awakening Joanna writes about getting God’s love from our heads to our hearts. We all know Jesus loved Mary – look how she worshiped. And we can understand why He loved Martha – after all, look how she served. But what about those of us who don’t know where we fit in the heart of God? Lazarus Awakening explores the tale of the third follower – Mary and Martha’s brother, Lazarus. We never hear him speak, we never see him serve. The only thing of any significance that Lazarus did was to die. And yet, the Bible is clear. Jesus loved Lazarus. And He loves you and me as well. Lazarus Awakening looks at different aspects of the story we find in John 11. We learn what it means to be a friend of God and begin recognizing the tombs we spend far too much time in. Find out more here.

One grand prize winner will receive:

•     * A Brand New KINDLE with Wi-Fi
•     * Having A Mary Heart in a Martha World
•     * Having A Mary Spirit
•     * Lazarus Awakening

Joanna will also select two additional contest entrants to receive copies of her trilogy. Enter soon by clicking the icons below (you’ll find these in the attached html code document) and then tell your friends. Hurry the contest ends April 16th. The winner will be announced on Joanna's blog on April 18th.

Blog tour schedule: (please include the link to the blog tour post in your review: (http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13184491)