Book Review: A Game of Secrets

A Game of Secrets
By Dawn Tripp
Random House, 2011
English, 273 pages


Description from Amazon:
In 1957, Jane Weld was eleven years old when her father, Luce, disappeared. His skiff was found drifting near a marsh, empty except for his hunting coat and a box of shotgun shells. No one in their small New England town knew for sure what happened until, three years later, Luce’s skull rolled out of a gravel pit, a bullet hole in the temple. Rumors sprang up that he had been murdered by the jealous husband of his mistress, Ada Varick.

Now, half a century later, Jane is still searching for the truth of her father’s death, a mystery made more urgent by the unexpected romance that her willful daughter, Marne, has struck up with one of Ada’s sons. As the love affair intensifies, Jane and Ada meet for their weekly Friday game of Scrabble, a pastime that soon transforms into a cat-and-mouse game of words long left unspoken, and dark secrets best left untold.

Review: 
This book captured me really quickly and I was racing to read it to see what was going to happen. The plot twists and shifts in time a lot, but it's very easy to follow. I did not see the ending coming. Other reviewers have said there were clues about it, but I didn't catch any of them! I'm still not sure how I feel about the ending though. I'm not a plot spoiler so I can't say what happens, but the ending just kinda felt flat to me. It felt like a lot of momentum built and then just stopped.

There were a lot of random characters who get introduced, then forgotten. Kinda makes me wonder why the were there at all. I guess I can see how some of them were devices to move a character along. There were several scenes I didn't understand why someone did what they did. One particular scene was when Marne is riding her bike and stops short when she sees Hank. I don't know why. It was a little vague.

There are many questions left unanswered and I suppose that leaves room for another book in a series (this book has many characters from Tripp's previous books - which are in my nook wishlist...), but I wanted to understand more than I did about who knows what and what happens to some in the end.

I have say though, through Jane and Ada's Scrabble game...I have been watching closer on my Words With Friends games to see if I can pull off some of the "boodles" that Ada loves! I also learned a lot of "dinks" that I've been using...much to certain friends dismay!

I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review: A Quest for Good Manners

A Quest for Good Manners
By Karen LeFranc
Beluga Press, 2011
English, 32 pages


Description:

A Quest for Good Manners is a Mom's Choice Awards® Gold Recipient.

Rosalind is not your typical princess she and her pet dragon, Sparkler, are very rude. "What's the big deal with manners anyway?" the princess asks. "Why do we always have to say please and thank you? And who cares how we use a napkin?" Appalled by this behavior, the queen banishes the impolite pair from her castle until they find Good Manners. Percival, the wizard, sends them on their quest with the help of a magic fork, facing several challenges along the way. Not until the final test do Rosalind and Sparkler discover the real secret behind Good Manners.

Manners are more than mere rules of etiquette. Good manners make others feel at ease and are the foundation of compassion and gratitude. It is a never-ending quest for parents and teachers to instill in our children the importance of good manners. This book is a precious tool in achieving that goal. Children and parents alike will love and learn from this story.

Review:
My little boys have loved this book since it came in earlier in the week. My 5 year old is scared he's going to be banished if he doesn't get better manners too. Hey, I'll take it. It's working! He has been more polite than he was before. I've quizzed him several times on the 4 important things to say (Please, Thank You, You're Welcome, I'm Sorry) and he has them down! He has even been polite to his younger brother! There has also been less slurping and burping.

The book is really cute and the pictures are excellent! It's a book that you will find yourself reading over and over with your kids. There were only a few words I had to explain (banish, craggy). I've noticed the 5 year old on his bed re-reading it several times by himself!

The lessons in the book are so important and not always easy to teach. I'm glad there's a story to read where we can discuss what's going on and why things happen as they do in the book. It's putting the message into their heads in a way that is more fun and is less Mom!

I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review: Buildiing Family Ties with Faith, Love & Laughter

Building Family Ties with Faith, Love & Laughter
By Dave Stone
Thomas Nelson, 2012
English, 160 pgs


Description:

Creative ideas, real-life stories, and Scriptural guidance for being the family that loves being together. 
Building Family Ties with Faith, Love, and Laughter is the second in the Faithful Family series where Dave applies his practical, conversational, and humorous approach to the challenge of building strong spiritual ties to each other as a family. Topics include: Contentment, Security, Loyalty, Gratitude, Spontaneity, Communication, and more.
Preaching is his gift, but Pastor Dave Stone's family is his life's blessing. And after raising three kids of his own, as well as shepherding the diverse families of his congregation, his heart and passion for building strong families rings louder than ever. He knows that raising faithful families is a key to the future of the church. 

Review:
 This is the second book from Stone for building up our relationships within our families. The first was Raising Your Kids to Love the Lord. There is a third promised in the series.

Our family has been experimenting with the ideas in this book (unbeknown to them!) for the past few weeks and we've been having a blast. We've been turning off the TV and other electronics that get in the way and spending more time just playing, laughing and sharing.

My 5 year old, in particular, has been a different kid. We've been seeing less temper tantrums and lots more smiles. I know that it's not a hard concept, but everyday things seem to get in the way. Turning them off and making our family a priority makes a difference.

We always eat dinner together anyway, but we've been using the time to share about our days. We've been talking to each other about ideas and things we want to learn. Dinner has become less of a "feed trough" and more of a bonding time. We even made ourselves "special" placemats for a reminder of the time we share. (Construction paper and clear contact paper.)

I like the idea of forming a family mission statement. That's something we're going to work on in the next few days. I like the idea of having a stated focus for our family to work toward together. The idea of a weekly family evaluation is pretty cool too. I like that it keeps parents accountable to our kids as well as them to us.

As a whole, we've had more fun, seen more thankful and respectful children and become closer as a family. I wholeheartedly recommend this book and look forward to the third in the series.

I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review and Giveaway: As One Devil to Another

As One Devil to Another
By Richard Platt
Tyndale House, 2012
English, 208 pgs


Description:

As One Devil to Another is an astonishing debut work that C. S. Lewis’s biographer and foremost Lewis authority Walter Hooper calls “a stunning achievement, the finest example of the genre of diabolical correspondence to appear since this genre was popularized by C. S. Lewis.” Enter into this chilling and diabolical tale, one that reveals the very tricks and strategies of Hell. Through a series of letters between devils created by Platt, senior devil Slashreap trains his young protégé, Scardagger, to win an individual soul away from Heaven and into their clutches. As the devils plot their way to triumph, they reveal the spiritual dangers and risks we face in today’s society. Their frighteningly accurate perspective on issues such as contemporary technology and sexual mores is interwoven with timeless matters such as the power of prayer, the purpose of suffering, and the promises held out by Heaven . . . and Hell. Destined to become a modern classic, As One Devil to Another is a brilliantly written, deeply unsettling perspective on twenty-first-century society . . . a glimpse of ourselves through the eyes of those who have embraced their underworldly existence.

 

Review:

I can't say enough how much I liked this book. It was entertaining as well as thought provoking. I am a fan of CS Lewis so I was a bit hesitant to read something that was written in his style and has been compared to his work. 

I actually read it with a highlighter next to me and marked passages that were particularly interesting. The correspondence from the Uncle Slashreap to his underling Scardagger touch on things that are current and relevant in this culture, which Lewis could only have dreamed about. It discusses technology, reality TV, art (love what it has to say about Picasso), the sexual revolution, charlatans, and so many more topics that really make you think about our culture and what we allow into our lives.

Some of my favorite quotes from the book include:

• "The more we can encourage them to consume, the fewer resources they will have to help their neighbors." (To me, the purpose of being blessed is to be able to bless someone else.)
• "The Light of Grace which He offers them each day is not a light that they can see, but a light that they can see with."
• "The Power of Creation belongs to the Adversary alone. The humans can only derive or rearrange...But we cannot make something from nothing. We can only make Something into Nothing."
• "if perceptive humans forebear to speak out of charity, diplomacy, fatigue, hopelessness or impotent frustration, their silence is our triumph."
• "if humans are the product of meaninglessness, they would have no concept of meaning,"

I honestly wish I could give a copy of this book to everyone I know. I can't. But I am being allowed to give one copy away to a reader.

GIVEAWAY ENTRY: Leave a comment telling me you would like to win the book. It's that simple.

GIVEAWAY RULES: One entry per household. Must leave email address in comment so I can contact you if you win. Giveaway ends at 10PM CST on May15th. Winner will be selected by Random.org. Winner will receive email as soon as possible with instructions for redemption of free book.

I received a copy of the book from Tyndale House in exchange for hosting a review and giveaway. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review: Raising Your Kids to Love the Lord

Raising Your Kids to Love the Lord
By Dave Stone
Thomas Nelson, 2012
English, 144 pgs


Description:

Practical life lessons, real-life stories, and Scriptural truths for being the family that glorifies God.  

Preaching is his gift, but Pastor Dave Stone's family is his passion and his life's blessing. Dave and Beth have been married 27 years and have raised three children, as well as shepherd the diverse families of their congregation. Raising faithful families is a key to the future of the church. Raising Your Kids to Love the Lord is the first of three books in the Faithful Family series where Dave applies his practical, conversational, and humorous approach to the challenge of building a strong spiritual foundation for the family. Some of the topics include: Authenticity, Discipline, Modeling Godly Principles, Sharing the Load, and more.

It's never too soon, or too late, to begin applying the tried and true wisdom this veteran of building strong families has to share.

Review:
 This is our number one goal for raising our children. More than learning to read or write, we want them to love the Lord. We spend time each day in Bible study, prayer and just modeling behaviors we want them to see and repeat. But as any parent, we question if we're doing "enough" to each them. This is the most important lesson we will ever teach them and it's the most important lesson they'll ever learn.

This book incorporates ideas that we have and that we haven't thought about in teaching this lesson. I've read almost every Christian based parenting book out there, I've solicited advice from other parents in our church, I've prayed for my children and I've looked at parenting websites.

The main point of the book is that you need to start from the top down...meaning you start with yourself and get the first things in place, then others will come into place as you work your way down. Get yourself and your life and your Christian walk well in place and then you can teach it to your children.

The book emphasizes prayer and give examples of how to pray for your children. It also gives tips on how to pray with your children. It talks about how to read the Bible with your children, making sure you're reading it yourself too. (This makes me think...I've been teaching my sons Bible stories, but few actual verses...hmmm...)

There is a great chapter about discipline and obedience. This has been our issue with the boys (5 and 2) lately so this one I spent a.l.o.t. of time reading and even passed it to my husband to read. Consistency and clear expectations make a lot of difference to little ones.

There are individual chapters for mothers and fathers and what their roles are in the lives of our children. I love the 6 gifts kids need from fathers. I've seen in our own house that the more time they get with Dad, the better they act in general. I can tell when the miss their daddy!

This is one of a series of books by Stone and I'm really looking forward to reading the implementing all of them into our lives.

I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Quick and Easy (and Delicious) Quesadillas

I'm always looking for fast, yummy meals for my family. I'm not sure where I saw this recipe, but we've made it many times and some friends were asking me what I make....so...here's my recipe.

Easy Chicken Spinach Quesadillas

Ingredients:

Spinach Artichoke Dip

Cooked Chicken

Mozzarella Cheese

Tortillas

 As you can see, I use premade things. Feel free to make your own from scratch and use that. I don't have time for that though.

Anyway...cook the dip according to the package instructions and chop the chicken into tiny pieces.

Mix together in a bowl.

Spread on a tortilla and put it in a hot pan.

Sprinkle cheese and top with another tortilla. When one side is browned, flip it over and continue cooking it.

Voila! It's done. I use a pizza cutter to cut it and then serve it hot with a side of salsa.

It's fast and filling and I don't feel totally guilty about it since it does have spinach in it. Let me know if you make them!

Book Review: Spirit Fighter

Spirit Fighter (Son of Angels, Jonah Stone)
By Jerel Law
Thomas Nelson, 2012
English, 256 pgs


Description:
Percy Jackson, move over! Jonah Stone is here! 
What if Nephilim - the children of angels and men - still walked the earth? And their very presence put the entire world in danger? In Spirit Fighter, Jonah and Eliza Stone learn that their mother is a Nephilim and that they have special powers as quarter-angels. When their mom is kidnapped by fallen angels, they must use those powers to save her.  Along the way, they discover that there is a very real and dangerous war going on between good and evil and that God has a big part for them to play in that war.

Parents today are looking for fiction that makes Christianity and the Bible exciting for their kids. This series is the Christian answer to Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Kane Chronicles, The Secret Series and other middle-grade series packed with adventure, action, and supernatural fights.  

Son of Angels, Jonah Stone will be the first series in the market to explore this topic from a biblical perspective with content that is appropriate and exciting for middle-grade readers.

Review:
I thought it was a great read. I don't have a middle schooled child (yet) but I'll be excited to share this book with him when he gets there. The characters are funny and there are a few places where it feels like the story is dragging a bit, but it's a good book for what it's intended to be.

The amount of spiritual content is appropriate for this age and it doesn't get too "deep" or go beyond what a child of that age would know. I think this is equally good for boys or girls and that it's going to be an exciting series!

I'm trying to think of anything in the book that would make me hesitant to share it with kids I know at church, or my own kids in the future and I cannot think of anything. There may be a bit of background explanation required on some of the concepts, but that just opens the door for discussion!

I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review. No additional compensation has been or will be received and I was not required to write a positive review.

I actually like my hair today!

I do not have easy to control hair. It's half curly, half whatever-it-wants-to be and almost always frizzy thanks to the Texas humidity and heat. I have tried so many things to keep it smooth and controllable. It fights back.

So, when I got the chance to try Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine, through BzzAgent, I was so excited! I have washed with it three times now and I'm getting happier with my hair every day.

The first day of using it, I was mostly impressed by the scent. It smells soooo good. It's made with apricot oil and that is just a wonderful smell in the morning! Even my 5 year old smelled my hair after my shower. I didn't see much difference that day. I did notice that it was a little hard to get it to rinse out. That day I only used the shampoo because I'd conditioned the day before and I can't do that every day on my hair or it gets weighed down.

Day 2, I used the shampoo and conditioner and was so happy with the result. Again though, it felt like it took longer to rinse out. But...I had pretty hair without needing to add any style creme or gel. It stayed curly and soft all day. That's a big score!

Day 3, today, I only used the shampoo again and it really is starting to bother me that it feels like I'm not rinsing it all out. It is soft and shiny though.

The cool thing I noticed when I was looking at the bottle today is that Garnier uses recycled plastics in it's bottles and it has a little note on there reminding you to recycle the bottle in your hands. It's a little thing, but every little thing adds up.

The website says that the shampoo and conditioner will "lock out frizz for a full 3 days, even in 97% humidity" and I will be able to test that in the next few days when we're forecasted to be in the upper 90s.

The shampoo and conditioner are part of a system which includes a leave-in conditioner, frizz serum (getting that ASAP) and Frizz Defeat Deep Treatment.

I received a full sized shampoo and conditioner for testing purposes through BzzAgent. I was not required to write a positive review and no additional compensation has been or will be received.

Book Review: 1000 Days

1000 Days
By Jonathan Falwell
Thomas Nelson, 2012
English, 240 pgs

Description:

An opportunity to meet Jesus Christ like never before.

Have you ever thought that when Jesus Christ came to earth more than two thousand years ago, he could have simply given us salvation-period!-and never done another single thing? Jesus Christ could have chosen to be born of a virgin, live for 33 years in relative obscurity, die on the cross, be buried, and rise from the dead three days later, and still give us the opportunity for salvation without doing any of the things we read about in the gospels.

Yet there was more.

For three years-roughly 1,000 days-Jesus served in public ministry while on earth. He didn't need to do this ministry, yet he did anyway, and that's the key for us. This intentionality implies that there is a lot of information in Scripture that we need to grapple with. We need to understand what Jesus said and did during his 1,000-day public ministry, so we can apply his teachings to our lives today.

What makes these 1000 days of Christ so vitally important?

Jesus' public ministry was to help us understand what true love is all about-both for God and for other people. When we love God and others first, the rest of life falls into place: our possessions, our ambitions, our hopes and our dreams. Jesus modeled everything he taught, and his invitation is to make his mission our mission too.

Review:
This is a great book for Christians who want to truly live their lives as Jesus showed us. There's not really any new, earth shattering insights, but a good reminder of who we are to be like in our daily lives. The chapters are not long, but they're packed with information and each ends with questions for self-reflection. There is also a more in-depth Bible Study section for each chapter at the end of the book, with directions and helps for group leaders.  I find it a little strange that a book of this magnitude has less than 20 notes cited for the whole book. That means the majority of the writing is from Scripture and the author's mind alone. Kinda strange now a days, but still great because it's fresh.

I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review: Just Down the Road

Just Down the Road
By Jodi Thomas
Berkley, 2012
English, 336 pgs

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Jodi Thomas is pleased to present JUST DOWN THE ROAD, the fourth novel in her award-winning Harmony series.

Harmony, Texas, is a place where dreams are born. As the townspeople face unexpected endings and new beginnings, they also come face to face with themselves—and what’s most important in life...

When Tinch Turner lost his wife, he gave up on living. Now he spends his nights brooding, boozing, and brawling. When one of his escapades lands him in the ER, he finds himself staring up at the beautiful new doctor in town. For the first time in years, he feels a spark, but Addison Spencer wants nothing to do with the unruly rancher—or any man for that matter. She’s only in Harmony four months, long enough for the trouble she left behind to be over. But then a vulnerable little boy barrels into both their lives, forcing them out of the past—and into a future where love is just down the road...

In the meantime, as Reagan Truman grieves for her beloved uncle, she finds comfort in the makeshift family she’s made in Harmony—and in a new baby, the first born in the Wright Funeral Home in 45 years, proving to everyone that life does go on…

Jodi Thomas is the NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of 34 novels and 11 short story collections. In June 2011, WELCOME TO HARMONY won a RITA, the highest award for women’s fiction. Jodi currently serves as the Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.

The question I always fear the most when I’m traveling on book tour is, “Where do your ideas come from?”

In truth, I often want to say, “Where did yours go?” because for the most part I don’t know where ideas some from.  For the most part it’s not an idea, but a person who jumps into my mind first.  He, or she, walks in, sits down and begins to tell me a story I have to follow.

 

When that happens, as it did in JUST DOWN THE ROAD I grab my computer and start hoping I can hang on to wherever the story takes me.

 

My story opens with a rancher named Tinch Turner who is grieving the loss of his wife and best friend the only way he knows how, by working too hard and fighting just as hard.  He’s lost the light in his world and sees himself as just waiting to take his last breath.  Only problem is, he runs into is a doctor who sees her job as fighting to keep people alive, even him.

 

Doctor Addison Spencer moves in just down the road from him and before either realize it they both become involved in the same cause.  One little boy pulls them together and makes them both forget their own problems because his needs are so great.

 

I like to write my stories like life, with people’s worlds circling around one another and sometimes colliding.  The stories that happen in Harmony are like that.  Some ending as others begin but all richer for being together.

 

JUST DOWN THE ROAD is my fourth stop off in Harmony, Texas.  Though the books are related they don’t have to be read in order.  However, for those readers who love series, you might want to start with the first, WELCOME TO HARMONY.  Though the stories are different, you might have fun watching the way a few of the people grow through the books.

 

Step into my stories.  You’ll find a home in Harmony.

Check out the trailer on YouTube HERE.

My Review:

I am so happy to get to return to Harmony. Reading this book has been like calling home and getting the local gossip from my momma. I feel like I know the characters and can't wait to see what they've been up to since I last read about them.

The story grabs you really early on and doesn't let go until you put the book down, wondering about what will be the next story! From birth to death, this book covers a slice of life in a small town over a few weeks. 

Particularly touching to me, was the story of Jamie, a 4 year old little boy. Being the mother of a 5 year old, I laughed at some of the things he did! I can imagine a little boy learning about horses and smarting off with that knowledge as if he'd been an expert for years! My son also loves the round oat cereal that he carries in his pockets because horses like oats! Mine likes to throw them to the birds (no idea if they eat them or not, but he loves to do it!) in the backyard.

Several story lines were wrapped up, but some are still waiting for resolution. Hopefully that means that there will be another book soon!

I received a copy of the book in exchange for hosting a blog tour and a review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review. Thank you Jodi for including me again!