Review: Desert Gift by Sally John

Publisher's Description:

What does a nationally known marriage expert do when her own marriage falls apart? Just as Jillian Galloway sets out for a publicity tour to promote her new book, her husband drops a bombshell: He wants a divorce. Jill flees to her parents’ home in the California desert, wondering whether everything she’s built her career on—indeed, everything she’s built her life around—is a sham. Navigating this “side road” of life is an uphill climb that leads to new understandings about herself, her marriage, and her relationship with the One who created marriage.

My Review:

I have to be honest and say I didn't particularly like this book. The story itself was fine, as were the characters. But ... something about it didn't sit well with me. I found it confusing that in one paragraph a character was in one location, and in the next paragraph they were somewhere else (at least, it seemed that way to me). I think the book improved as it progressed.

My Rating:

Publication Date: 1 June 2011

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

Note: I received a pre-release copy of this book free from the publisher via netGalley for the purposes of review. I am not required to give a positive review, just an honest one. The opinions expressed are my own.

Review: Rachel Yoder - Growing up in Lancaster County by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Publisher's Description:

Rachel Yoder--Always Trouble Somewhere!

Join Rachel Yoder on a series of adventures with this story collection written by bestselling author of Amish fiction Wanda E. Brunstetter. Four stories under one cover will provide you with unlimited entertainment and laughs along the way as you accompany Rachel to the eye doctor's (with a belly full of butterflies), visit Hershey Park (and experience a breathtaking ride), and even fall into a chilly fishing pond (oops!). 

The Author's website


My Review:


I found this three book compedium utterly delightful and am sure any young girl would be intrigued by the adventures of the 11 year old Rachel Yoder. In true Brunstetter fashion, the reader is drawn into the lives of Rachel, her family and friends and given an insight into the Amish way of life.

I was pleased to find, as I read through each of the three books, that each one contains a glossary of the terms which are unique to the Amish. I thought this a fantastic addition for young readers, as I am sure many of them would wonder what the strange words, in German, might mean.

Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of my favourites for Amish fiction, and I thoroughly recommend her books to anyone that enjoys reading Christian fiction.

My Rating:

Suitable for Ages 8 to 12 (younger children may enjoy having the books read to them)

Publication Date:  1 June 2011

Publishers: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Note: I received a pre-release copy of this book free from the publisher via netGalley for the purposes of review. I am not required to give a positive review, just an honest one. The opinions expressed are my own.

Review: Ragdolls are the Best! by Elaine Landau

Publisher's Description:
 
What's that cat with the fluffy coat, large build, and gentle personality? It's the ragdoll! Ragdolls are sweet cats with bushy tails and big blue eyes. Their owners think they are the best cats ever—and it's easy to see why. If you're a ragdoll fan, you'll want to learn all about this breed, from the coloration of its fur to the way it goes limp just like a rag doll when it's held. You'll also want to find out how to care for the ragdoll. So check out this go-to guide for ragdoll lovers—and learn all about why ragdolls are the best breed there is!

About the Author:

Elaine Landau is a highly acclaimed author of over 300 nonfiction books. She has written on such subjects as earth science, the supernatural, planets, dinosaurs, ancient civilizations, ecology and a broad range of contemporary issues.

My Review:


As an owner of Ragdoll cats I think this is an excellent book for children whose parents are thinking of buying a Ragdoll or even already own one. It explains where the breed originates from, their care,  their sweet nature... and many more fun facts. 

With beautiful pictures and in a language that children can understand, I recommend this book to anyone whose young children may come in contact with a Ragdoll kitty.


Suitable for ages 3+

Publication Date: 1 February 2011 

Publishers: Lerner Publishing Group

My Rating:  

Note: I received a pre-release copy of this book free from the publisher via netGalley for the purposes of review. I am not required to give a positive review, just an honest one. The opinions expressed are my own.

Review: Story Engineering by Larry Brooks

Book Description from the Publisher:

From story concept to character development to scene construction and beyond, this blueprint for dynamic storytelling makes putting together a strong novel, memoir, or screenplay easier than ever. Beginning writers in all genres, from fiction writers to nonfiction writers to screenplay writers will learn how to wrap their heads around the big picture of storytelling at a professional level through a new approach that shows how to combine six core competencies: the four elemental competencies of concept, character, theme, and story structure (plot); and the two executional competencies of scene construction and writing voice. You'll discover how to achieve the greatest potential in your story through mastering the way these six factors combine and empower each other on the page.

My Review:

Mr Brooks presents what he calls the six core concepts of story in a way that is both entertaining and informative. Using analogies from various sources to illustrate his points, he shows the importance of each concept and how each one works with the others to build a story from an initial idea into a publishable work built on a firm foundation.

As someone who LOVES books (the traditional kind, more than the electronic kind) I found myself wishing that I had a print copy of this book, rather than an electronic copy, so that it could sit on my bookshelf without fear of loss (as we all know electronic devices have a mind of their own and are apt to crash or lose valuable data at any time). Despite this fact, I did enjoy the book and found it extremely enlightening and informative. I highly recommend it.

Story Engineering is an excellent resource for any author, whether aspiring or published.

As a side note, I do understand that this book is also available in a traditional print format. 

Rating:

Note: I received this book free from the publisher through the booksneeze.com book review bloggers program. I am not required to give a positive review, just an honest one. The opinions expressed are my own.

Review: Something Old by Dianne Christner

Publisher's Description:

Katy Yoder lives a simple, sheltered lifestyle ensconced in the traditions of the Conservative Mennonite church and holds a naïve black-and-white world view. With her parent’s approval, she moves in with a childhood friend. But after taking a temporary position as a nanny, gray begins to cloud her world as she finds herself forced to bend the rules.
 

On top of that, her friends clutter her mind with their progressive ideas—like ditching the prayer cap—forcing Katy to delve into these issues herself. She emerges even more obstinate about her cherished traditions. And she turns judgmental toward those who believe differently. . .

 

. . . including former flame, Jake Byler, who has returned from sowing his wild oats to win back her heart. Certain he’s not the man for her, Katy’s not prepared when Jake’s patience begins to wear a hole in the wall she’s built around it. But this time, can bending keep her heart from breaking? 

About the Author:

Raised Mennonite, Dianne Christner brings authenticity to love stories that reflect the joys and struggles of the Mennonite lifestyle.

My Review:

Something Old is a contemporary romance which is sure to please anyone that loves Amish fiction. While this story is not about the Amish, the Mennonite faith is closely related.

I'm sorry that my review is so short, but I really did love this book, and the synopsis provided by the publisher provides all the information needed - to share anything more would be a spoiler and take away from the reader's enjoyment of the book.

 

My Rating:

Publication Date: 1 August 2011

Publishers: Barbour Publishing Inc

Note: I received a pre-release copy of this book free from the publisher via netGalley for the purposes of review. I am not required to give a positive review, just an honest one. The opinions expressed are my own.

Review: The Take Action Bible

The Take Action Bible is a Signature Edition New King James Version (NKJV) Bible printed by Thomas Nelson publishers in collaboration with World Vision. It is a part of the God's Word In Action campaign, which is lead by Thomas Nelson, and encourages believers to seek out ways to influence the world for Christ. For ideas on how you can help others, to share your stories of compassion and giving, and to learn more about how you can be part of changing the world, visit: http://www.seegodswordinaction.com

Features:

48 Full Colour Pages (including Maps)

15 Real-life stories of how to take action with God's Word

Personal Take Action Note Pages

UltraSlim Bible Text

Words of Jesus in Red

52 Take Action ideas

Translation and Text Notes

Concordance

Bible Reading Plan (Read the Bible in a Year)


Rather disappointingly, this Bible is a paperback edition, although I am aware of the personal stories possibly being changed in the future. Despite this fact, the Bible is well presented and the artwork, both that on the cover and inside the Bible, is lovely.

The personal stories lend an insight into how we, as Christians, can reach out into our world and apply our beliefs in a real and lasting way. These personal accounts are accompanied by verses, notes, questions and websites which the reader can access in order to apply what they have read.

The print is clear and easy to read and is printed on paper that is traditionally used in Bible publishing, which enables the reader to know they are reading something that is more than just a regular book.

I particularly like the footnotes on each page which explain further translations including the Septuagint and original Hebrew or Greek (there are others too, which are explained in the Preface, at the front of the Bible).

I wholly recommend The Take Action Bible to anyone that seeks to live their Faith in a practical way.

My Rating:

Note: I received this book free from the publisher through the booksneeze.com book review bloggers program. I am not required to give a positive review, just an honest one. The opinions expressed are my own.