BOOK REVIEW: Within My Heart by Tamera Alexander

This was one of those novels you don’t want to put down. The story is about a widow trying to run her ranch and raise her two boys in a small Colorado town in the late 1800s. The daughter of a doctor, she is able to assist the town’s new doctor and a relationship develops between them. The one annoying aspect of this story was that it is apparently third in a trilogy. The author alluded to the other couples’ stories but really didn’t give the usual synopsis that authors of series usually give you to get you up to speed if you haven’t read the previous books. Ms. Alexander also alluded to other aspects of the characters’ lives throughout the book and was a little too vague and a little too far into the book before offering some explanation in my opinion. I found that slightly aggravating. However, the way the story enlightened me about doctors and the practice of medicine in that time period was fascinating and I am very pleased that Bethany House offered me a copy of this book to review. Also very pleasing about this book was the genuine Christianity portrayed in many of the characters. It was just a natural part of the story and not at all forced. These characters had a genuine relationship with their Savior and they lived their faith. So many so-called Christian fiction books seem to have the “Christian” part added as an afterthought, but not this one. It is just a natural part of the characters’ lives. That is so refreshing! I especially liked the way the author handled the issue of death and dying and the afterlife. It was very tastefully done and also very enlightening. This books leaves you with a warm cozy feeling and a desire to cherish time with your loved ones. I can’t wait to find the first two books of this trilogy and hopefully have two more cozy reading experiences. I’m looking forward to future works by this author who has become the newest addition to my “favorite authors” list.

Huh??

Masquerade by Nancy Moser

This book kept me interested right up to the last line. That being said, however, I can’t really say I liked the book when all is said and done. It just isn’t believable in so many places in the story and also the references to God and prayer seem contrived and maybe even salted in after the fact.
The story revolves around a titled English girl, Lottie, and her ladies maid, Dora, who grew up together and were friends. When the Lottie’s parents arrange a marriage for her with a rich gentleman in the States, she and Dora are sent to New York to meet him and his family. Once they leave the ancestral home they travel as friends rather than as lady and lady’s maid. Along the journey Lottie comes up with the brilliant idea to switch places so she can go out into the world on her own and find true love and Dora can improve her station in life by pretending to be Lottie and marrying Lottie’s intended husband. That’s all good but Dora falls in love with a handsome doctor on the boat. As they each go through crisis after crisis after arriving in New York, they each finally find their true love. The trouble is, I couldn’t really figure out how they got to that point. When the doctor locates Dora in New York and finds out what she is up to he doesn’t seem too impressed with her at that point. The author never explains how Dora suddenly knows that he loves her and is the only one for her blah, blah, blah. By the same token, Lottie, who has seemingly only know Sven for 3 or 4 days and most of that time thought he was married to someone else and didn’t even really give him much consideration suddenly realizes he is her one true love and they get engaged. Huh?? It was like the author got tired of writing the book and decided to bring everything to a happy conclusion all of a sudden and jumped from point A to point C, totally skipping point B. It took what could have been a great story and made it truly silly. The aloof hostile mother-in-law to be suddenly turns into a down to earth person for no apparent reason toward the end and the sister-in-law to be turns from the wicked witch of the west to the wonderful friend and sister and then for no apparent reason back to the wicked witch. Huh?? I really wanted to like this book but I’m still going over it in my mind wondering how something with so much promise turned dud in the last couple of chapters. Bethany House sent me a copy of this book to review and I was glad for opportunity. It is very rare that one of their books disappoints.

This is what Christian fiction is all about!

IN EVERY HEARTBEAT by Kim Vogel Sawyer

When I received this book from Bethany House to review, I expected an enjoyable read. What I didn’t expect was how gripping and engaging the story is. The story is about three orphans, friends, who are given the opportunity to go to college. The year is 1914. They all have their “baggage” from being orphans and all are looking for love and acceptance in some form or another. Pete wants to be a minister. Libby wants to be a writer and Bennett just wants to be the big man on campus. As they work through their wants and needs they each find unexpected twists and turns along the way and each find some closure to the issues that have plagued them. Libby find a relationship with God and this opens the way for her and her best friend Pete to share some common goals. This is what Christian fiction ought to be. There is plenty of action and suspense and logical resolution of very real feelings and problems. There are even some humorous moments. I felt almost as if Kim Vogel Sawyer was putting herself into the character Libby and the writer Libby was becoming was the writer Kim Vogel Sawyer already is. Maybe just fanciful on my part but I felt like the character traits that Libby developed as her relationship with God grew were ones already belonging to Ms. Sawyer. This story has all the elements required to keep you glued to the pages to the very end and then leave you wanting more.

Sparkly Pink Fun!

Tyndale has sent me yet another wonderful children’s Bible to review! The Princess Bible is for preschool girls and is such a wonderful, sparkly pink board book!
Each story tells about one of God’s princesses and then relates the story to the Princess the Bible belongs to. For instance, it tells the story of Ruth in simple terms and then it says, “Ruth was God’s princess. She loved Naomi and helped with the work. Ruth loved her husband, too. The family grew—they had a son—and Ruth loved everyone. The next page says, “A princess loves her family.” Then you insert your child’s name into the next two sentences (for instance, if your child’s name is Bree); “Bree is God’s special princess. Bree loves her family.” Each story ends this way with a personal attribute and the fact that the child is God’s special princess.
At the end there is a little story with hand motions that pulls it all together.
My granddaughter loved this book! She was really excited about having herself in the story! I can recommend this book for all your little princesses.

Hands-On Bible (New Living Translation) from Tyndale

If Tyndale hadn’t given me this Bible to review, I would have bought it anyway! What a great Bible this is for kids. My desire is for my grandchildren to have as much knowledge of spiritual things as is possible and to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This Bible will make a great resource tool for that goal. There is a lot of information and explanation given in this Bible in a fun way. There are also activities, crafts, experiments etc. that the children can do that will enhance their understanding of the facts and principles. There is so much to do and experience and learn with this Bible – it is not just for hauling along to church on Sunday so you can get “points” with your teacher. It is for enjoying! And even though there is much, much to experience within the pages of this book itself, you can also go to MyHandsOn Bible.com and find even more! I highly recommend this Bible – buy one for each of your children and grandchildren. They and you will be glad you did. (And buy one for yourself – the kids shouldn’t have ALL the fun!)

I am running a contest so you can have a chance to win a certificate for a free copy of this Bible. The contest will end Sunday, August 29, 2010 at 10 p.m. Central Time. For a chance to win, leave a comment and tell me your favorite kids Bible learning resource and why you especially like it. Only comments that fit this criteria will be considered for the contest.

Somewhere to Belong by Judith Miller

This story takes place in the Amana Colonies of Iowa in 1877. The story involves two girls, one who grew up in the Colonies and one a recent and unwilling transplant to the Colonies. Both girls have to decide where they fit in with this community and lifestyle. This is not your typical “plain” tale about living a simpler life. There are some twists and turns here and it is refreshing to see the fact portrayed that these people have to deal with some of the thornier issues of life just like everyone else. This book is well researched and well written. The characters are believable and likable. This was an excellent story and I would recommend it to anyone who just wants a relaxing reading experience. Bethany House provided me with a copy of this book for review. Thanks Bethany House!

Hearts Awakening by Delia Parr

This was a great book! I loved the setting and the characters. This was just a most enjoyable read. Bethany House gave me this book to review and I am so happy for this opportunity to discover new authors! I’ve never heard of this author before, but I will be looking for her in the future.

This is a story set in 1840 in Pennsylvania. The main character, Ellie, was past marriageable age and considered a spinster at 31 because she had taken care of her invalid mother until her death. She is offered a marriage of convenience to help a widower with his two children. They have to overcome some obstacles, many of them in their own imaginations, but it makes for a warm, family story and leaves the reader quite satisfied with the outcome. I don’t want to say too much about it – discover it for yourself. You will be happy you did.