Farewell Booksneeze

For quite a while I enjoyed the privilege of writing book reviews for Booksneeze, a program where I received a free copy of a book in return for writing a review and posting it on this blog. Booksneeze have recently changed their requirements for bloggers, no doubt due to the demand for the program, and I no longer qualify. To qualify I'd need 30+ visible followers of my blog, and I have to be posting at least weekly. Alas, that means I won't be doing any more Booksneeze reviews. It doesn't mean I'll cease blogging or cease reviewing books on my blog but I want to say thanks to the "Booksneeze" program for the books I did receive and review. These days it's easier for me to get new books to read, thanks to my Kindle, and the availability of so many books for it either free or at minimal cost.

Farewell Booksneeze. It was great being part of you. I'm sure you'll continue to bless others who have more time for reading and writing than I do.

Stress Test by Richard L Mabry MD

Why would someone kidnap a surgeon as he leaves the hospital, beat him up, then stow him in the boot of his own car, and head off to kill him? Then, when he miraculously escapes from the moving car before they have a chance to kill him, why would another staff member from the same hospital be murdered on the same night and the body left in boot of his car? What wants Dr. Matt Newman dead? Failing that, who wants him convicted of a murder he didn't commit so he's out of the picture for a long time?

Add to this mix a girlfriend who works for the DA and dumps him at the first sign of trouble, a new job that he can't take because he's a person of interest to the police, a Christian lawyer, a missionary brother, and a caring colleague, and you have the ingredients for a well written mystery.

I'm glad I chose to read this book when I could do so without feeling guilty (i.e. a holiday weekend), because it was hard to put down. The twists and turns of the plot kept me turning the pages. The underlying Christian message that God is in control was incorporated in a tasteful way, with enough detail for the reader to grasp the message without it being overwhelming. The medical content is sufficient for the plot, but not over the top. The characters seem realistic, from the central character, Dr Newman, to the corrupt cop, to the hired thugs, to the lawyer and all those other minor characters.

I can thoroughly recommend this book, and let the reader be warned, that the conclusion is not predictable. You will have to keep reading to the very end. I'll definitely be looking for more books by this author.

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.

The Survivor by DiAnn Mills

Why does a woman who survived a brutal attack as a child, but whose attacker was never found, want to tell her story in fiction. That is the question facing bestselling novelist, Kariss Walker. Does Amy Garrett have another motive other than just helping other victims come to terms with their lives by telling her story of survival?

As Kariss begins her research a number of seemingly unlinked events take place, including the bombing of a prominent business man's car, killing his wife and daughter. When Amy Garrett's car is also bombed, the FBI investigators start to wonder if there is a link between the two cases. They also wonder if there is a link to Amy's "cold case" which was never solved.

Add an unsuccessful coffee shop shooting, with bullets engraved with the victims' names, and these two independent, headstrong women end up sharing protective custody, only to have that go terribly wrong as well.

This book is full of twists and turns. Kariss's suspended relationship with one of the key FBI investigators adds a further complication, especially as Kariss has become a Christian and Tigo is still seeking.

I found it really hard to put this book down. Each chapter had new complications or intrigue. The characters were well developed, and the Christian content, while clear is not overwhelming. The supporting characters add depth to the story. The conclusion is not what you might expect.

With this title being the second in the series, I'm wanting to read the first one, and will definitely consider reading this author's works 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.

The Heiress of Winterwood by Sarah Ladd

I'm so glad I was on holidays when I started reading this book because it was very hard to put down.

The heiress to a lucrative estate befriends the wife of a neighbour, and promises to care for the child of that friend when the friend dies in childbirth. Where is the father of the child - away at sea. With her 24th birthday looming, and with it a deadline by which she must be married or lose her inheritance, Amelia Barrett is faced with a dilemma. Her intended refuses to allow the child to remain at Winterwood after their marriage! When baby Lucy's father returns home for a short visit, Amelia makes an unheard of proposition. In a time when only men should propose, Amelia proposes that she and Captain Graham Sterling should wed, allowing her to continue caring for baby Lucy while the Captain is away at sea. What will happen? What will happen with the man to whom Amelia has already been promised, and who she has agreed to marry, when discovers she is betrothed to another?

Add to the equation Amelia's uncle, who is her guardian, her aunt, and her cousin, as well as the Captain's brother who has a propensity for drunkenness and gambling, and things get very complicated.

This book is well written, with the characters well developed and realistic. The plot has enough twists in it to keep you turning page after page. Amelia's friendship with the local vicar's wife has taught her to trust God, and as the story unfolds she discovers a deeper more personal relationship with God. Scripture quotes are appropriate and not out of context, which is so important in today's world. Not only will this book entertain the reader, it will encourage the reader to know the one true God who provides comfort when no other can. Definitely worth reading.

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.

A Matter of Trust by Lis Wiehl

Two dead prosecutors, a rebellious teenager, a homicide cop, a runaway teen, a screaming 4-year-old, two jobs, and a boss who seems more focused on election results than actual prosecutions are just some of the challenges facing single-mum Mia Quinn. With her husband killed in a road accident several months before the story opens, Mia Quinn is struggling to keep her head above water. She desperately wants to be a good mum to her kids, but also needs to find out who killed her best friend and colleague Colleen. Take a journey with Colleen and Charlie to find who killed two prosecutors. When her son is involved in a "flash mob" at the same time Mia has to decide whether to turn him in or keep quiet. What will happen? The twists in this plot will keep you turning the pages, as Mia and Charlie endeavour to leave no stone unturned in solving the mysteries before them.

If you are looking for a book with a well-developed primary plot and several sub-plots that will keep you turning the pages, then this book is for you. The characters are realistic, and the situations they face are also those facing many today. While Mia is not a Christian, her Dad has recently found Jesus and is doing his best to help Mia and show her that he has changed. The Christian content in this book is small, but the book is still well worth reading. In fact, it may be one you can easily share with non-Christian friends, knowing that the story is good, the gospel is stated clearly, but not in such a way that it will turn non-Christian readers away. An excellent read. In fact, it's so good I read it twice and enjoyed it both times.

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.

Secretly Smitten: Love Changes Everything

Including:   Love Between the Lines (by Colleen Coble)
                    Make Me a Match (by Kristin Billerbeck)
                    Knit One, Love Two (by Diann Hunt)
                    and
                    Love Blooms (by Denise Hunter)

I just love it when I get four books for the price of one! What most amazed me about this set of 4 novellas is how four different authors can write four unique stories, while taking a single overarching plot through to a satisfying conclusion.

When a young girl discovers a set of military dog tags belonging to an older ladies sweetheart who had supposedly died in a conflict in Korea, three sisters set out to find out what happened. Along the way, each of the girls, and their mother discover true love in unexpected places. With a neat blend of mystery and romance, this set of four stories had me turning the pages when I should have been asleep. Set in a small country town called "Smitten", which is fighting for survival and desperate to gain selection as a tourist destination on the state rail network, with all the joys and challenges of small town living, this was a fun book to read. As for the conclusion, well I'll just say it was an unexpected, but happy ending. You'll just have to read it to find out.

Secretly Smitten is well written, with realistic characters, and five satisfying plots. Each of the characters also learns important life lessons, and there is an underlying reminder that God is in control, and He wants good things for His children.

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.

Silent Night: A Rock Harbor Christmas novella by Colleen Coble

What do you get when you mix a rebellious student, a stray parachuter, a loving family and a search and rescue dog team? You get another great story from Colleen Coble. It's a while since I read the first book in the Rock Harbour series, but reading this book has me itching to read the ones I missed.
 

When Laurie turns up unexpectedly in Rock Harbor, followed closely by a search and rescue call out for Bree Matthews and her canine partner Samson, you can expect excitement. As Bree struggles to come to terms with a recent miscarriage and an unsuccessful search, while Laurie is confused by the desire of the adoptive parents to share her identity with their adopted daughter, Kade and Bree also seek to help the local sheriff solve a mystery.


So, will they find the parachuter? What about that missing girl? Look out for a surprise twist at the end of the story.


This short novella is great quick read. The characters are real, and the situations equally real. Once again Colleen Coble captures her reader’s attention with just the right amount of suspense, romance, and descriptive writing. While this is a Christian novella, there isn't a huge amount of Christian content in it, which would make it an ideal book for those wanting a good clean read.

 

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.

Waiting for Morning by Margaret Brownley

A Brides of the Last Chance Ranch Novel

Molly Hatfield only has her 14 year old brother Donny, who is paraplegic as a result of an accident when Molly was only 8. When their home is destroyed by fire, she answers Miss Hatfield's advertisement seeking an heir for the Last Chance Ranch. The catch is, to inherit, Molly will have to sign a contract saying she will stay single for the rest of her life. In her desire to provide a home for her brother, Molly neglects to mention Donny in her application. Things become complicated when Dr Caleb Fairbanks comes on the scene, along with his tin lizzy, Bertha, and dog, Magic. Can the young doctor win Molly's heart? Can he help Donny gain some independence? There a mountains to be overcome by all of the main characters.

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the characters of the Last Chance Ranch for a second time. They are well developed and the plot is intricately woven. Sub plots add further suspense to the overall book.

As a Christian novel, this book challenges the reader to think about how he/she responds to people who are different, both inside the church and out. It also reminded me of God's love, and how important it is to remember that while God is perfect people are not, and we cannot expect them to be. People will hurt us, and we may hurt others, but God asks us to forgive and to accept forgiveness.

This is a great book, and I highly recommend it. If you can, read Book 1 first as it helps set the scene, but this book can easily be read as a stand alone novel.

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.

Covenant Child by Terri Blackstock

Covenant Child by Terri Blackstock

Imagine two precious 3 year old girls, ripped from the arms of the only mother they have known (following the death of their father), to be dragged up, abused, and lied to by their grandparents, who only wanted custody because they thought it would be easy money. Meanwhile, their adoptive mother, Amanda, continues to watch over the girls from a distance. As they grow up, she seeks to meet their needs, despite the conflict with their "grandparents". Eventually, the girls are independent, and it is possible for Amanda to legally make contact with them. Will her loving be accepted, or rejected. Will they believe the truth she tells them, or the lies they have been fed during all their growing years.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, although this wasn't the first time I had read it. I kept turning page after page to find out what happened next (I first read it many years ago and so I'd forgotten much of the details of the plot). The detailed descriptions were clear, and the story-line kept flowing. As the story unfolded, and the characters developed, I was reminded again and again of our heavenly Father's love for us, a love that is freely given, but never forced on us. While different to other Terri Blackstock novels, Covenant Child is certainly worth reading.

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.

Daily Gifts of Grace: devotions for each day of your year

With a delightful, hardcover, ribbon bookmark, and magnetic cover flap, this book of daily devotions for a whole year is sure to delight. Daily Gifts of Grace: devotions for each day of your year is a Women of Faith publication. Written by women, for women, this book provides daily reminders of the amazing gift of God's grace to us. Writers such as Luci Swindoll, Shiela Walsh, Kim Cash Tate, Marilyn Meberg, Patsy Clairmont, and Jenna Lucado offer personal insights into a wide variety of aspects of God’s grace. Each dated devotion has a focus verse and a brief (one page) comment that will inspire, challenge and encourage the readers on their daily walk of grace. The honesty of the writers is refreshing, and the simple clear presentation of the book makes it easy to read. With a whole year’s worth of readings I have only sampled a few as I write this review, but I know I’m going to enjoy the daily reminders of God’s grace throughout the coming school year. It would make a lovely Christmas gift for any lady, old or young, who desires to spend the year living in the grace of God.

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.

Heart of Gold by Robin Lee Hatcher

Heart of Gold by Robin Lee Hatcher

Set in Grand Coeur, Idaho, a "rough and tumble" gold mining town during the Civil War in the USA, this delightful romance was a great read. Shannon Adair has come with her minister father to a place she initially finds very difficult. The arrival of Matthew Dubois's dying widowed sister provides Shannon with an outlet for her nursing skills, although the relationship is not without its challenges. Both ladies have suffered loss due to the war, but on opposing sides. Can friendship grow despite these differences? What about the fellows who are vying for Shannon’s attention? Will her grieving heart learn to love again?

I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Heart of Gold". The characters were well developed and believable. The way in which the characters changed over the duration of the story was appropriate and inspiring. The use of letters to Shannon's friend in Virginia was a great way to help the reader understand what was going on in Shannon's mind. Overall, this was a great read - enough adventure to make it interesting but not so much that it was not believable. I'd be happy to recommend it to others and I would certainly read other books by this author.

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.

Dawn Comes Early by Margaret Brownley

Dawn Comes Early by Margaret Brownley.

This book is the first book in The Brides of Last Chance Ranch series, and I’m already looking forward to reading the next one when it comes out in January 2013.

Kate Tenney, a dime novelist whose most recent book was banned by The Watch and Ward Society in Boston, decides that a total change of scene is necessary. Answering an advertisement by Eleanor Walker, a divorced, widowed ranch owner, Kate heads into the desert of the Arizona Territory. With just four months to prove she can become a dedicated ranch owner, Kate is thrown into a life of physical labour beyond her wildest dream. Will Kate last the distance? Will she be able to sign the contract that requires her to promise never to marry? Or will the local smithy Luke Adams capture her heart? And just who is Cactus Joe?

This well written novel kept me turning the pages until I finished that last one. The characters were well developed and realistic. The plot had a depth which showed a thorough understanding of life in the late 19^th Century, and has enough twists and turns to keep the reader engrossed. If you are looking for a book with deep spiritual insights and challenges, then this book is not for you, but if you enjoy seeing God working in everyday life, and quietly changing the lives of those involved, then you will enjoy it.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program.

Good Friday with a difference

Today has definitely been a good Friday, but certainly not what I remember Good Friday being before I came to Cambodia.

For most of my life in Australia, Good Friday was a day when we took time to remember Jesus' sacrifice for us when He died on the cross. It was a Public Holiday, and there was always a church service (usually somewhat earlier than the usual Sunday service). There was a definite focus on the crucifixion, and usually a communion service. After that it was a quiet day, with no school or work.

My first Easter in Cambodia it came as a shock to realise that I would actually be teaching on Good Friday, and Easter Monday, and there would be no special service, at least not that I recall (and certainly not that I could attend). It actually turned out that I was on staff devotions that morning, and so I was able to take 20 minutes or so at the start of the day, with my colleagues, to think about Christ's death, and to share communion. Afterwards some of my colleagues thanked me for it, mentioning that they too were missing Good Friday services. I haven't been able to do that since.

This year Good Friday ended up being the last day of school before our Khmer New Year holidays, so there was definitely little time for contemplation. I'll do a little more of that soon, before I head to bed. Instead, we started the day with Khmer New Year games. I wrote about these here last year. It was a very noisy, very active, fun hour and a half to start the day off. We divided all the children from Kindergarten to 5th grade into 10 teams (about 16-20 students from all different classes in each group), and then rotated through five games. The games were all ones the children really enjoyed, so it was a great morning.

After Khmer New Year games were over and we had all wished each other Soursdey Chnam Thmei (Happy Khmer New Year), we headed back to our classrooms. We had about 45 minutes before grades 3 to 5 were due to go to recess, so just enough time for a quick GO Check, and today's Write Rights. Most of the children did very well on their GO Check, although a few had forgotten one of the last division strategies we learned.

After recess it was time for Journal Writing. I've been increasingly impressed by the creative writing of some of my students so I'm looking forward to reading today's efforts. This time they were asked the imagine the weirdest creature that could, and then to write a description of it, including what it looks like, what it eats, where it lives, etc.  It should make for some fun reading. I also asked them each to choose their favourite piece of writing to share with the principal for our WASC self-study.

After that we finished off our mathematics unit for the week, and then it was off to swimming (for the girls) and Khmer (for the boys). Finally, after lunch, we did the big box and folder clean out, and took some time to check that I had all the necessary bits of Biome's tasks. The clean out and tidy up part went well. The Biome's tasks? Alas, I learned a lesson. I need to check with individual groups much earlier in the process. I had done some checking and had been monitoring materials etc, but while 6 groups had completed (or almost completed) their 8 tasks, but the other 2 groups have quite a bit still to do. I sent them off to finish them over the holidays. We will see! Meanwhile I've got some photographing and scanning to do so we can make PowerPoint presentations that allow the whole class to see the content of posters and models. I'm so glad I've got two extra days of "holidays".

Finally the day was done and the children all sent on their way to holidays. I picked up some photocopying I'd requested (so impressed to have it back before the holidays), and then headed home to pay the rent. That ended up taking much longer than I should, for reasons I won't share here, but suffice to say they involved a 4 year old and were messy. Next it was off to the post office where, just in time for holiday reading, I picked up my latest BookSneeze book, Dawn Comes Early by Margaret Brownley. It is historical fiction set on a cattle ranch in the Arizona Territory in 1895. I'm looking forward to it. Hope it's good.

From there I headed north in the peak hour traffic in search of the Hotel Juliana where an acquaintance of my mother was waiting, with her husband, to join me for dinner. It was a fun evening, even though I didn't know these people before, and it was interesting to hear their impressions of Cambodia.

So now, it's time for a shower (got to wash that chlorine off and out properly), some quiet reading and reflection on the real reason for Good Friday, and hopefully a peaceful night's sleep. Hooray! I get to sleep in tomorrow.