Audio Book Review: Snow Melts in Spring by Deborah Voghts

This sweet romance, with a vet, football player, and an injured horse, was not as strong as I had hoped.

Snow Melts in Spring
By Deborah Vogts
Narrated By: Emily Durante

Duration: 8 h 19 min
Release date: 05-01-10
Publisher: Zondervan
Genre: Christian Romance, Country Romance, Small Town Romance.
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.

Summary
She loves the land. Mattie Evans grew up in the Flint Hills of Kansas. Although her family has lost their ranch, she still calls this land home. A skilled young veterinarian, she struggles to gain the confidence of the local ranchers. Fortunately, her best friend and staunchest supporter is John McCray, owner of the Lightning M Ranch. They both love the ranch, and can’t imagine living anywhere but in the Flint Hills. He’s haunted by it.Gil McCray, John’s estranged son, is a pro football player living in California. The ranch is where his mother died and where every aspect of the tallgrass prairie stirs unwanted memories of his older brother’s fatal accident. Gil decides leaving the ranch is the best solution for his ailing father and his own ailing heart. But he doesn’t count on falling in love.Falling in love isn’t an option. Or is it?When Mattie is called in to save a horse injured in a terrible accident, she finds herself unwillingly tossed into the middle of a family conflict. Secret pain, secret passions, and secret agendas play out against the beautiful landscapes as love leads to some unexpected conclusions about forgiveness and renewal.

Review:
Mattie is a vet whose heart is to remain in the community of Flint Hills of Kansas, near lands that she loves. Her father lost the ranch where she grew up and they moved to the City. Mattie was fortunate to take over the local business of an aging vet. As a young woman, she is still struggling to gain the confidence of the local ranchers especially since some of the patients she has treated have died in spite of her best efforts.

John McCray, the aging owner of the Lightning M. Ranch, is a strong supporter and friend to Mattie. They both love his ranch and his animals. But John’s health and the condition of the ranch are deteriorating. He longs to have his estranged son, Gil, return to revive the ranch.

Gil is a pro football player who is ready to retire from football. He has a dream to purchase a ranch in California and built a horse breeding stable. When Gil gets a call that his beloved cow horse, Dusty, has been injured in a car accident, he comes home to check on Dusty and maybe make amends with his father. But Gil isn’t looking to move back to the family ranch. He lost his mother and his brother there and his memories are painful.

Gil finds young vet Mattie striving to safe the life of Dusty. She seems sincere but can he trust her to do the best job? Gil also questions Mattie’s relationship with his father. Mattie doesn’t like Gil’s condescending attitude, but she is determined to treat Dusty as best she can and to remain a caring friend to John.

As Mattie and Gil work together, they are drawn to each other. But it is clear they have different dreams – Gil wants to go to California and Mattie wants to stay in Kansas. Is there any way they can find a future together?

The story is sweet and it has a nice ending, but it didn’t bring me a total sense of joy. I had trouble accepting Mattie’s character because she is full of self-doubt, fear, and gloom. This is not a sound Christian position, but rather a self-centered, self-focused perspective. Gil’s character also has some self-condemnation, bitterness, arrogance and stubbornness. There are glimpses of a charitable foundation that could have been better developed. I did like the forgiveness, rehabilitation, and surrender messages that come late in the book. Sadly, I felt distracted by the weakness of the characters, particularly Mattie.

The story plot is adequate with nice descriptions, interesting vet procedures, and some character conflict to keep the reader engaged. The writing has some cliches but the pacing was solid. There are more positive reviews so not all readers reacted to the characters as I did. It is certainly a clean romance with some nice finishing messages that could be enjoyed by fans of sweet romance.

Audio Notes: Emily Durante does a fine job with the narration. Each character has a distinct voice and energy. I am glad that I had the book in audio format.

Source: 5/8/2021 Two for One Credit Deal at Audiobooks.com. This qualifies for2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, and 2023Season goals.

Audible Book Review: To Whisper Her Name by Tamera Alexander

This is a lovely, character driven Civil War romance and I will get more books by this author.
To Whisper Her Name
By: Tamera Alexander
Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert

Series: A Belle Meade Plantation Novel, Book 1
Length: 17 hrs and 8 mins
Release date: 11-30-12
Publisher: Zondervan
Genre: Civil War, Historical Romance, Sweet Romance
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 5.0; Narration 5.0.

Publisher's Summary
From best-selling author Tamera Alexander comes an exquisite historical novel set against the real history of Belle Meade Plantation in Nashville, Tennessee, that explores the struggles of real people of the post-war South and the journeys of a man and a woman scarred by betrayal.
Olivia Aberdeen, destitute widow of a man shot as a traitor to the South, is shunned by proper society and gratefully accepts an invitation from Elizabeth Harding, mistress of Belle Meade Plantation. Expecting to be the Hardings’ head housekeeper, Olivia is disillusioned when she learns the real reason Elizabeth’s husband, Confederate General William Giles Harding, agreed to her coming. Not finding the safe haven she expects, Olivia is caught off guard by her feelings for Ridley Adam Cooper, a man who seems anything but a Southern gentleman.
Branded a traitor by some, Ridley Cooper, a Southern son who chose to fight for the Union, is a man desperate to end the war still raging inside him. Determined to learn “the gift” that Belle Meade's head horse trainer and former slave, Bob Green, possesses, Ridley harbors secrets that threaten both their lives.
As Ridley seeks to make peace within himself for fighting against the South he loved, Olivia is determined to never be betrayed again.
…
This inspirational historical romance can be listened to as a stand-alone novel or enjoyed as the first audiobook in Tamera Alexander’s Belle Meade series.
Audiobook length: approximately 125K words. Includes discussion questions for book clubs and a note from the author.
©2012 Tamera Alexander (P)2012 Zondervan

Review:
Olivia is a proper Southern lady whose marriage was arranged for her by her father. She soon learned that her husband was not the Southern Gentleman that he pretended to be. But she had no idea of the actions he was taking that resulted in him being executed as a traitor to the South. She now bears the stigma that leads to her being shunned by proper society. Fortunately, she is taken in by an “aunt”, Elizabeth Harding, mistress of Belle Meade Plantation. She thought she would help the household as head housekeeper but instead, Confederate General William Giles Harding was willing to allow her to stay only in a different capacity. Olivia is willing to take on the alternate duties but knows that the position is likely to be temporary and that the General has other plans to direct her remarriage.

Ridley Adam Cooper is a man from South Carolina who choose to fight for the Union. He has dreams to develop land as a homesteader in Colorado. But before he goes further west, he is seeking to learn about horse training from Bob Green, a former slave and the head trainer at Belle Meade. Ridley and Bob ‘met’ during the war but must keep that a secret. General Harding would never allow a Union soldier to work with his horses and would most likely put Bob out for the secret he has harbored and for being willing to help Ridley.

Although Ridley doesn’t have the same touch and patience as Bob, he does have a knack for handling the ranch hands. He soon gains respect from all but the most disgruntled of the men and General Harding promotes him to foreman.

Ridley stumbled upon Olivia the first day they arrived at the Plantation. She had been trapped in an overturned carriage and he rescued her in spite of her protests. He was kind even as she was bristly. As the days go by, Ridley and Olivia realize that they have a common position as wounded outsiders. Slowly a friendship and warmer feelings develop although Olivia plans to remain in Tennessee and Ridley is set on going west.

Olivia’s character grew in strength and confidence as Ridley baited her and encouraged her. I liked both of these main characters and was rooting for them to work things out. Bob Green is another wonderful character, and the members of the Harding family are well developed and fitting characters of the era. There is excellent historical detail of the black community on the plantation, including struggles to open freedmen schools. They are welcoming to Ridley and Olivia but there is still clear prejudice, anger and disdain shown by the General and his friends.

I enjoyed the faith aspect to the story that is lightly developed and embraced. I will seek more books from this author. I recommend this to readers who enjoy Civil War stories and sweet romance.

Audio Notes: Tavia Gilbert does a beautiful job with the narration. She conveys the personalities of the characters and provides the appropriate energy. I enjoyed the audio experience. CAVEAT – The prologue is an important element of the book but was left out of the audio. It can be read through the “Look Inside” Kindle format.

Source: February 2018 Audible Sale $5.95. This qualifies for 2023TBR and 2023Audiobook goals.

First Book 2022 Audible Book Review: The Case for a Creator By: Lee Strobel

This is an informative work, full of scientific analysis.
The Case for a Creator
By: Lee Strobel
Narrated by: Lee Strobel

Length: 10 hrs and 59 mins
Release date: 10-05-04
Publisher: Zondervan
Genre: Apologetics, Spiritual Growth
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Discover the astonishing evidence for intelligent design in this New York Times best-selling book by award-winning journalist Lee Strobel.
"My road to atheism was paved by science...but, ironically, so was my later journey to God," Strobel says.
During his academic years, Lee Strobel became convinced that God was obsolete, a belief that colored his journalism career. Science had made the idea of a creator irrelevant - or so Strobel thought.
But today science points in a different direction. A diverse and impressive body of research has increasingly supported the conclusion that the universe was intelligently designed. At the same time, Darwinism has faltered in the face of concrete facts and hard reason. Has science discovered God? At the very least, it's giving faith an immense boost, as new findings emerge about the incredible complexity of our universe.
Join Strobel as he reexamines the theories that once led him away from God. Through his compelling and highly readable account, you'll encounter the mind-stretching discoveries from cosmology, cellular biology, DNA research, astronomy, physics, and human consciousness that present compelling evidence in The Case for a Creator.

Review:
Lee Strobel has done a long series on “The Case for…” related to Christ and Christian faith. I am a strong believer in creation by design with God as the intelligent and creative designer. Accordingly, I was expecting to like this book, and I was glad to be impressed with the extent of science shared in support of an intelligent creator. Using the skills of a serious journalist, Strobel reaches out to experts in six scientific disciplines: Cosmology, Physics, Astrology, Biochemistry, Biological, and Consciousness. The interviews are presented in a clear fashion with the author raising challenges in each field.

This presentation might be a little dry for some readers. There is more scientific technical detail in this work than I have used in my study lessons fifteen years ago. I am curious to see if the companion study series uses the same interview format or adds more visual imagery.

I have a soft spot for Lee Strobel from my journalism days. Some part of my brain remembers when he changed from an atheist to a Christ believer. After providing solid scientific basis to support Theism, Stobel concludes with some wonderful Bible verses that show God's handiwork and declaration of creation. 

I am glad I chose this as my first book of 2022 as I learned a lot of science while reinforcing my faith. I recommend this to Christ followers who would enjoy the depth of scientific data to support their faith. I also recommend this to readers who are skeptical and are open minded to hear the scientific evidence that overcomes Darwin’s theory of evolution.

Audio Notes: Lee Strobel does a fine job narrating his own book. He brings his open-mindedness and confidence into the reading. I am glad I had the audio although I would like to have a print copy as well.

Source: May 18, 2021 Purchase at $2.99 with Whispersync. This is 2022 First Book and qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Alphabet goals.

First Book of the Year 2022.

#NetGalley Book Review: If I Live by Terri Blackstock

This is an engaging, satisfactory conclusion of this intense series.
If I Live (If I Run Series) by Terri Blackstock

File Size: 1246 KB
Print Length: 352 pages

Publisher: Zondervan (March 6, 2018)
ASIN: B072TNH72K
Genre: Christian, Mystery, Romantic Suspense
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

THE HUNT IS ALMOST OVER.

Casey Cox is still on the run after being indicted for murder. The hunt that began with her bloody footprints escalates, and she’s running out of places to hide. Her face is all over the news, and her disguises are no longer enough. It’s only a matter of time before someone recognizes her.
Dylan Roberts, the investigator who once hunted her, is now her only hope. Terrifying attempts on Dylan’s life could force Casey out of hiding. The clock is ticking on both their lives, but exposing the real killers is more complicated than they knew. Amassing the evidence to convict their enemies draws Dylan and Casey together, but their relationship has consequences. Will one life have to be sacrificed to protect the other?
With If I Live, Terri Blackstock takes us on one more heart-stopping chase in the sensational conclusion to the If I Run series.

Review:
Casey has been wearing disguises to stay hidden but she keeps helping people in need around her. Her latest efforts are trying to help a man wrongfully accused of child abuse and trying to find a way to help the child. She keeps landing in the news and getting recognized. Corrupt detective Keegan is hot on her heels.

Dylan has managed to help Casey avoid capture. Through their brief contacts their feelings for each other are growing. He is continuing to look for proof to support the allegations that Keegan is dirty and a killer. Dylan’s own actions, as covert as he is trying to be, are putting pressure on Keegan who is taking down loose ends around him. This includes a direct attack on Dylan.

The suspense continues to escalate as Casey and Dylan try to arrange for her to safely turn herself in without putting her near Keegan. A few last-minute twists had hubby and me holding our breath waiting for resolution.

There were some questions in our minds like ‘why Casey and Dylan didn’t take the evidence to the FBI?’ It was clear it was hard to trust anyone near their own town and precinct but its seems they might have sought help from another jurisdiction. Casey does end up with an interesting choice of attorney who is a good character addition. The romance and faith support elements were nicely handled as they picked up in this concluding book. I really liked how Blackstock showed how God worked to help Casey and Dylan.

All in all, hubby and I enjoyed the trilogy and I was extra glad he listened with me. This third book was a NetGalley ebook version so we had my Kindle reading. I am used to the mechanical, robotic voice but hubby kept grumbling: “that guy has no emotion”. I am sure he would have preferred the audio but I was fine with the ebook.

I like Blackstock’s writing which is engaging and not overly complex. I recommend this series to readers who enjoy romantic suspense and faith-based elements.

Source: NetGalley 2018. This qualifies for NetGalley and Alphabet (2018 title) challenges.

Book 1: Audio Book Review: If I Run by Terri Blackstock, 4.25
Book 2: Audible Book Review: If I'm Found by Terri Blackstock, 4.25

Audible Book Review: If I'm Found by Terri Blackstock

This middle book continues the tension in this engaging series.

If I'm Found
By: Terri Blackstock
Narrated by: Kate Rudd

Series: If I Run, Book 2
Length: 7 hrs and 45 mins
Unabridged
Release date: 03-21-17
Language: English
Publisher: Zondervan
Genre: Christian, Mystery, Suspense
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Is Dylan hunting Casey to prosecute her or protect her?
Casey Cox is still on the run, fleeing prosecution for a murder she didn't commit. Dylan Roberts - her most relentless pursuer - is still on her trail, but his secret emails insist that he knows the truth and wants to help her. He's let her escape before when he had her in his grasp, but trust doesn't come easily.
As Casey works to collect evidence about the real murderers, she stumbles on another unbearable injustice: an abused child and a suicidal man who's also been falsely accused. Casey risks her own safety to right this wrong and protect the little girl from her tormenters. But doing so is risky and just may result in her capture - and if she's captured, she has no doubt she'll be murdered before she ever steps foot in a jail.
In this riveting sequel to the USA Today best seller If I Run, evil lurks, drawing Casey out of the shadows...but there is light shining in the darkness. Is Dylan a provision from the God who loves her or another heartache yet to happen?
©2017 Terri Blackstock (P)2017 Zondervan

Review:
Casey risked herself in her first undercover city by insisting that a missing girl is being held in a basement around the corner. She has to escape and find another location. There she finds work but again becomes involved in a local problem even though it risks her cover.

Other witnesses interviewed by Casey’s murdered friend Brent are turning up dead. Dylan is becoming more convinced that Casey has been framed and he is desperate to reach her before Detective Keegan. Keegan is intent on capturing Casey but Dylan is concerned that the police officer won't return her safely.

This book continues the suspense in the plot. There was a little more development for Casey and Dylan, as well as the villain Keegan who even had a couple of chapters from his view. There is some repetition and some filler that might have been eliminated but then it might impact the trilogy. My hubby and I enjoyed listening to this second book and were excited to read book three.

Audio Notes: Kate Rudd’s narration is an improvement over the narration in the first book. Ms Rudd provides some distinct voices and good pacing. The narration helped me to enjoy this second book.

Source: 2018 Audible Credit Purchase. This qualifies for 2018TBR, Take Control and Audiobook Challenges.

Book 1: Audio Book Review: If I Run by Terri Blackstock, 4.25

Book Review and Giveaway: A Matter of Character by Robin Lee Hatcher

This is a very sweet read.

A Matter of Character,
Sisters of Bethlehem Springs Series #3
by Robin Lee Hatcher

File Size: 778 KB
Print Length: 273 pages
Publisher: Zondervan; Unabridged edition (May 12, 2010)
Genre: Historical, Inspirational, Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

“The Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series delivers exactly what readers have been waiting for—smart, confident women who are not afraid to defy convention, live their own dreams, and share their lives if the right man comes along. In A Matter of Character, book three in the Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series, it's 1918, and Daphne McKinley, heiress to a small fortune, has found contentment in the town of Bethlehem Springs. But Daphne has a secret. A series of dime novels loosely based on local lore and featuring a nefarious villain known as Rawhide Rick has enjoyed modest popularity among readers. Nobody in Bethlehem Springs knows the man behind the stories … except Daphne. When newspaperman Joshua Crawford comes to town searching for the man who sullied the good name of his grandfather, Daphne finds herself at a crossroads, reassessing the power of her words, re-thinking how best to honor her gifts, and reconsidering what she wants out of life.”

Review:
Daphne may be an heiress but she is a down to earth young lady you is happy living in the small Iowa community of Bethlehem Springs in 1918. Most people would thing that a wealthy young woman would want to return to the society circles of the east coast, but not Daphne. She is happy living near her brother and her lovely sister in law. But Daphne’s seemingly simple life hides a secret. She has a secret connection to a popular dime store novel series which features an infamous character known as Rawhide Rick.

Joshua Crawford is a newspaper man from St. Louis who has trouble controlling his temper. He has lost his job after lashing out at a co-worker for maligning Joshua’s beloved grandfather, Richard. Joshua determines to travel to Bethlehem Springs to confront the author of the Rawhide Rick dime store novels that portray his grandfather as a villain rather than the God loving, generous man that Joshua was raised by.

Joshua is lucky to get a job at Bethlehem Springs where he meets the surprising Daphne McKinley. He doesn’t understand why the wealthy young lady is staying in this small town, but he enjoys her intelligent and outgoing character. Daphne finds the newsman attractive but is concerned about his inquiries trying to find an author no one knows.

Daphne and Joshua soon have an uneasy but growing friendship as they try to maintain secrets and distance. She doesn’t want to reveal her secrets and he doesn’t want to get involved with a lovely young woman when he plans to return home where he has a young lady waiting who expects a marriage proposal.

Daphne has a strong faith that she is not afraid to share with Joshua. Joshua was raised in a Christian household but has avoided faith issues since losing his grandfather. The faith that Daphne holds will pull at Joshua as they face an unexpected difficulty and isolation.

Ms. Hatcher provides strong, likeable characters and a believable storyline with light humor and sound faith. The romance starts with conflict and grows nicely with respect and sweetness. The story reads easily and provides several lovely faith messages regarding forgiveness, judging others and redemption. I recommend this to readers who enjoy historical and inspirational romance.

I selected this book last year in print from Christianbook.com for Ladies Book Club so it counts as a TBR, I think. I did pick it up as ebook so I could get it read quicker.

GIVEAWAY:

Paperback Book (US Only)

ENTRY FORM HERE

(Don't forget to fill in the form for entry!)

For 3 Extra Bonus entries

(a) comment on the review, OR

(b) Visit the Author's Website and tell me something you find there.

* This contest is open to US only for the paperback book.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) October 28, 2017.
Winners are asked to respond on the winners form linked in the announcement or by email.

Audio Book Review: The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson

Though not totally enchanting, this is a sweet, entertaining listen.
The Healer's Apprentice
By Melanie Dickerson
Narrated By Jude Mason

Length: 8 hrs and 38 mins
Series: Hagenheim, Book 1
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:10-13-15
Publisher: Zondervan
Genre: Christian, Historical, Teen/Young Adult
My Rating 4.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
In author Melanie Dickenson's new book, a young healer's apprentice named Rose believes she will never marry...until she meets Lord Hamlin, the future ruler of her village. Hamlin is everything she could ever want - kind, understanding, and a man of faith - but her low station and the fact he's already betrothed to a mysterious woman makes their romance impossible. As Lord Hamlin seeks to find the sorcerer who cursed his future bride, Rose's life spins toward confusion. A creative retelling of the classic Sleeping Beauty tale.
©2015 Melanie Dickerson (P)2015 Zondervan

Review:
Rose is a young woman of faith and compassion. She has been apprenticed to the healer even though she finds the duties difficult due to her soft heart. Her position brings her to tend Lord Hamlin, the eldest son of the Duke. He is kind and accepting of her lower status and they develop a gentle friendship.

Lord Hamlin is betrothed to a woman who he is to meet and marry later in the year. The young lady has been hidden since childhood to keep her safe from the threats of a sorcerer who seeks revenge on her father. Although Lord Hamlin has chased the enemy for a number of years, the villain is always just out of reach.

Lord Hamlin and Rose must work to resist their attraction to each other. Lord Hamlin’s younger brother, Rupert, has a reputation as a scoundrel around the ladies. He takes an interest in the lovely Rose, insisting that he finds her so enchanting that he is prepared to change his ways for her. Lord Hamlin is anxious to secure a good position for Rose, so he encourages her saying that he believes his brother is sincere. Rose herself is flattered by Rupert’s attention and tries to set her affections toward him instead of the unattainable Lord Hamlin. While the young people struggle with their emotions, the enemy is closer than they know.

Rose and Lord Hamlin are lovely, honorable and chivalrous characters. This is an easy read/listen for the most part. There is a scene with demons that might be difficult for some readers. Although the story has a fairy tale feel, with easy, simple writing, it focuses on God’s protection rather than magical protection. I really enjoyed the Biblical messages of faith, and God’s provision and protection for those who trust Him. This story, and probably the series, would be suitable for readers who enjoy medieval settings with the fairy tale and Christian elements of good prevailing over evil.

Audio Notes: Jude Mason does an adequate job with the narration. Her voice and accent fits the setting and tone of the story. She manages to portray the characters with sufficiently distinct voices. Because I found the story a bit simple, the narration made this a more enjoyable reading experience for me.

I received this CD audio book from the publisher through Audiobook Jukebox. It qualifies for my Audiobook Challenge.

Book Review and Giveaway: All In: You Are One Decision Away From a Totally Different Life

This is an inspiring and challenging book to help reshape and refocus the path of followers of Christ.
All In: You Are One Decision Away From a Totally Different Life
by Mark Batterson

Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Zondervan; Reprint edition (January 20, 2015)
ISBN-10: 0310341825
Genre:Spiritual Growth, Spirituality
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

From the blurb:
The Gospel costs nothing. You can’t earn it or buy it. It can only be received as a free gift which is compliments of God’s grace. It doesn’t cost anything, but it demands everything. It demands that we go “all in,” putting all that we have into God’s hands. And that’s where we get stuck―in spiritual no man's land. We’re afraid that if we go all in that we might miss out on what this life has to offer. It’s not true.

The only thing you’ll miss out on is everything God has to offer. And the good news is this: if you don't hold out on God, God won't hold out on you. Readers will find Batterson’s writing filled with his customary vivid, contemporary illustrations as well as biblical characters like Shamgar and Elisha and Jonathan and . . . Judas.

No one has ever sacrificed anything for God. If you always get back more than you gave up, have you sacrificed anything at all? The eternal reward always outweighs the temporal sacrifice. At the end of the day, our greatest regret will be whatever we didn’t give back to God. What we didn’t push back across the table to Him. Eternity will reveal that holding out is losing out.

The message of All In is simple: if Jesus is not Lord of all then Jesus is not Lord at all. It’s all or nothing. It’s now or never. Kneeling at the foot of cross of Christ and surrendering to His Lordship is a radical act of dethroning yourself and enthroning Christ as King. It’s also an act of disowning yourself. Nothing belongs to you. Not even you.

Batterson writes, “For many years, I thought I was following Jesus. I wasn’t. I had invited Jesus to follow me. I call it inverted Christianity. And it’s a subtle form of selfishness that masquerades as spirituality. That’s when I sold out and bought in. When did we start believing that the gospel is an insurance plan? It’s a daring plan. Jesus did not die just to keep us safe. He died to make us dangerous.”

Review:
I suspected this would be an inspiring book to start the year and I was right. The author challenges the followers of Christ to go “all in”; to take a leap of faith; to make a decision to surrender everything and trust in God’s will and direction. In the very first section the author raises the question “Who’s Following Who”? The author observes that many Christians make their plans and expect God to follow when we should be seeking God’s plan so we can follow Him.

I think this challenge would be awesome and wonderful if put into practice at a young age; certainly before we choose a course of study, a career path, a mate for life. Sadly, that doesn’t happen so much. We have all made mistakes, seeking our own selfish desires, rather than waiting for God to lead, open doors or deliver the right mate. As Batterson notes, we are taught a fierce individual independence which is inconsistent with surrendering to our God. Fortunately, Batterson reminds the reader at the end that “God wants to do amazing things” and He can do them through us if we allow Him to.

It is not simple though to always know God’s Will. I fear that some people might read this book and be discouraged or feel guilty, although I am sure that Mr. Batterson does not intend that reaction. Rather he hopes to elicit a conviction… as he says, a decision.

If all believers truly commit to the complete message of Mr. Batterson’s book then we all might become like Mother Teresa. Even the author doesn’t live such a live and I don’t see that as the calling for each of us. However I do agree that we need to commit our lives to God and trust Him in ALL things. To me it means living a life of integrity and doing the very best job where I have been planted and sharing His love and the good news of His salvation. This determination has grown stronger in my life as I have grown in my understanding of God’s Word. It has been strengthened by the personal times I have experienced God’s hand in my life -- protecting me, blessing me (and my family) and delivering us from troubles, financially, physically and emotionally.

From beginning to end I made notes in this book; I underlined and highlighted. It is a book that I will look at often to remind me of where I need to be; who I need to trust; who is in control. I know that I have failed to respond to God’s nudging at times and I think the challenge and encouragement from this book will help me to focus and respond more readily.

Some people reading this book might make a major change in their lives. Others, myself included, see in it a recognition that we can do better in our daily lives. It is not always about doing a big thing, but it is always about doing even small things well and for the right reason – all to the glory of God. All of the ladies in book club agreed that this book motivates us to think differently and change, even if in small ways.

This was our Ladies Book Club choice to start the year and my pick for First Book. When I started reading I knew I could not just speed through it like I do with fiction. 
This qualifies for my TBR challenge and “A” in Alphabet Challenge.

I always try to buy an extra copy of my Ladies' Book Club books so I'll have one for giveaway. This time I had given all of the books out but one person gave it back after reading so I have a gently read copy for giveaway plus I will add an eBook copy for international giveaway!

GIVEAWAY:

One (gently read) PRINT COPY - US Only

Kindle ebook - International Only

ENTRY FORM HERE

(Don't forget to fill in the form for entry!)

For 3 Extra Bonus entries

(a) comment on the review, OR

(b) Visit the Author's website and tell me something you learned or like there.

* This contest is open to US for Print Copy; all others for Kindle eBook.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) February 25, 2017. Winner will be announced in the Sunday Post on 2/26/17.
Winners are asked to respond on the winners form linked in the announcement or by email.

Book Review: Love in the Details: A November Wedding Story (A Year of Weddings Novella) by Becky Wade

This is a lovely second-chance romance.
Love in the Details: A November Wedding Story
(A Year of Weddings Novella)
by Becky Wade

File Size: 1942 KB
Print Length: 93 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (October 27, 2015)
Sold by: HarperCollins Publishing
ASIN: B00UF72DSK
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Novella
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Holly ended things to give him a better life, but she was the future he’d always dreamed of.
Eight years have passed since Holly last saw her high school sweetheart, Josh. Now the wedding of Josh’s best friend has brought him back to Martinsburg, Texas. His duties as best man and Holly's as the church's volunteer wedding coordinator link them together. As they work behind the scenes to plan a beautiful November wedding for their friends, they're forced to confront painful reminders of what might have been.
Holly broke up with Josh all those years ago in an attempt to ensure his future success. However, she never told him the true reason behind her actions and now must decide whether to keep her secret hidden. She's terrified of letting herself fall for him because she barely managed to piece her life back together after losing him the last time.
Not a day's gone by since Josh parted from Holly that he hasn't thought about her. The pain of the past eight years has been too much to bear and he doesn't want to make himself vulnerable to her again. But the more time he spends with her, the harder it is to deny the love he still has for her.
Will Josh and Holly risk their hearts on the hope that God's timing really can be best?

Review:
Holly and Josh were high school sweethearts. He was the school geek but she still loved him. When Josh went away to college at MIT, Holly became convinced that she would only hold him back so she broke up with him. She hasn’t found a man to love since Josh, but she prays that God will bring the right man to her.

Josh was stricken when Holly broke up with him giving no reason. He dedicated himself to his studies and became a successful businessman based out of Paris. He is returning home for the first time in eight years to be the best man for his friend. He tried to prepare himself to see Holly and walk away from her. Instead he ends up working with her as the church wedding coordinator and a local guide to the community.

Holly tries to protect her heart from falling for Josh feeling that she isn’t worthy of his sophisticated lifestyle. She is afraid to hope he could learn to care for her again. Josh is cautious to trust knowing how badly he was hurt before. Is there a chance for them to overcome their past and find a second chance at love?

This story is lovely, short and sweet. I was smiling with an occasional wince at the painful moments and fears. Their reactions are natural with emotions that are very real to life. I enjoyed the gentle faith that helped to shape their characters and ultimately their relationship. The writing style is light and made for easy reading. I would be interested in reading more from Ms. Wade after enjoying this short taste of her work. If you are a reader who enjoys warmth, inspiration and second chances, I recommend you pick up this sweet book.

I received this through NetGalley for an honest review. It is part of my NetGalley Challenge.

Audible Review: Heart of Stone: Irish Angel Series by Jill Marie Landis

This is a very sweet and engaging historical romance.
Heart of Stone: Irish Angel Series
Written by: Jill Marie Landis
Narrated by: Reneé Raudman

Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins
Series: Irish Angel, Book 1
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:03-01-10
Publisher: Zondervan
Genre: Historical Romance, Christian
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
In the first book of the Irish Angels series, we meet Laura Foster, a woman with the darkest of pasts, and Reverend Brand McCormick, a man with everything to lose by loving her. Having escaped a life she never chose, Laura Foster is finally living her dream. But even after four years of posing as a respectable widow in Glory, Texas, she is always afraid someone from her past might reveal her true identity.
Believing no man could love her if he knew the truth, Laura tries to resist Brand's courtship. His reputation would be shattered if Laura's former life is discovered. But it's not only Laura's past that threatens to bring him down - it's also his own. As they open their hearts to love and faith, will Laura and Brand find the depth and power of forgiveness from their community?
©2010 Jill Marie Landis; (P)2010 Zondervan

Review:
Laura Foster was a child, the oldest of four girls, when her parents came to America from Ireland. They settled in New Orleans but her father and mother died when she was only ten. The girls were taken in by their aunt and uncle...but not for long. The two younger girls were sent to an orphanage but the Laura and her 9 year old sister were sold to the owner of a brothel and separated. Laura had no way to save herself, much less keep her promise to take care of her younger sisters.

Years later Laura has managed to pull herself away from her past and remake herself as a respectable widow. She has operated a lovely boarding house in Glory, Texas for four years. Still, her past and shame press heavily on her and keep her in fear of exposure.

Reverand Brand McCormick has taken note how Laura is always gracious, kind, generous and willing to lend a helping hand to others in her community. He begins to court her even though she is resistant to his advances.

Suddenly the pastor is surprised by secrets from his own past which puts his standing in jeopardy. How can Laura risk exposing him to more difficulty with her own unsavory past?

I had not read a book by Jill Marie Landis for a few years and I had forgotten how I enjoy her writing. It is direct with an easy flow. The characters are warm and life-like with human flaws and problems. The villains are appropriately arrogant and nasty. There is wonderful, not always lovely, history showing hardships of the poor. This story has a lovely message speaking against those who judge others and how hard it can be to forgive ourselves even for things that we couldn’t control.

I would enjoy reading more in the series to discover what happened to Laura's sisters. I recommend this to readers who enjoy a sweet, historical romance with Godly principles that can inspire.

Audio Notes: Reneé Raudman does a nice job with the narration. Nothing over the top but it is solid and made the listening easy.

This audiobook is from 2011 in my Audible library. It qualifies for Audiobook Challenge, TBR Double Dog Dare, Winter Coyer and H on Alphabet Soup.

Audible Book Review: One Tuesday Morning by Karen Kingsbury

This is a striking and engaging audio story.

One Tuesday Morning

• UNABRIDGED
• by Karen Kingsbury
• Narrated by Full Cast 

Genre: Inspirational Fiction
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Summary from Audible:
One Tuesday Morning
A devoted fireman and a driven businessman: strangers with the same face. Only one will leave the Twin Towers alive, but will he ever find his way home?

On the morning of September 11, 2001, two men meet in a smoky stairwell of the World Trade Center. One is Eric Michaels, a driven financial manager from Los Angeles who has been busy climbing the corporate ladder, often at the expense of his wife and young son. The other is Jake Bryan, a New York City fireman devoted to his wife and daughter. In the midst of the crisis, Eric falls on the stairs and Jake stops to help him up. The two men freeze momentarily, stunned by the uncanny resemblance between them.

Later, after the building has crumbled to the ground, Eric awakes beneath a fire truck. He is burned and bloody and most of his clothes have been blown off. A fire captain rushes to his side, thinking he recognizes his friend Jake. By the time Jake's wife arrives at the hospital, Eric's face is bandaged and his memory gone.

In the months that follow, Eric struggles to relate to a wife and daughter he doesn't remember, while on the opposite coast Eric's real wife grieves and finds comfort from Eric's brother, a single man who has always adored her. The emotional suspense builds as Eric begins to have disturbing dreams and flashbacks, and questions grow in Jake's wife's mind.

The only way for Eric to find his way is by following the love of a special woman, and the footsteps of a man who no longer exists.

Review: I liked the basis for this story and found it to be an engaging listen.
The first couple of hours of the story are spent developing the characters and this seemed to move slowly but it is important to set the personalities.  Eric is a man who fails to appreciate his family as he is only focused on his career and success. His wife is a Christian and it is only her faith that has kept her from taking their son, who feels as if he has no father, and walking away from her marriage.  Jake, on the other hand, is a devoted Godly man who cherishes his wife and daughter above all things. He prays for his wife, Jamie, to come to salvation and trust in God and feels that she is leaning toward that acceptance. These extreme differences play a big factor in the story after the 9/11 attack.

Once the story hits the terror attack on September 11 it becomes very active and intense.  Jake is steadfast with his coworkers climbing the stairs in the second tower even though they realize they may never walk out.  Eric finally leaves his boss and heads down the stairs.  He stumbles along the way and is helped up by Jake. In that encounter he sees the picture of Jake’s daughter, Sierra, in Jake’s helmet.  When Eric awakens in the hospital all he remembers is Sierra, nothing more.

The intensity of the action dies down in the final third of the book as Eric struggles to find himself in the position and life of Jake. There is great emotionally turmoil for Jamie and a tender friendship that develops between Eric, presumed to be Jake, and Jamie, as they try to piece together his past and their lives.  There is also turmoil for other wives who lost their spouses in the attack. There is hope and tenderness as the story resolves.

There were multiple readers and unfortunately the female narrator read with a lot of swallowing  and as though she was reading around a lozenge which can be distracting.  I recognized one of the male narrators who I really liked.

This is a powerful story that I think many people could appreciate.

Sheila at Book Journey was reading this also and we agreed to share our reviews. Thanks for sharing Sheila! She asked me these questions:

Q1. Initially the book had come into publication in May of 2003.... not two years after the real attacks.  Do you think that was too soon?  Do you feel this book could have been used as a healing mechanism for those who have painful memories or losses during the events of 9-1-1, or was it a painful reminder?
I thought that the portrayal of the crash from a “ground zero” view was quite powerful. I myself was not fully aware of the extent of the loss of life in the fire crews. I think this story might have been too raw for some in 2003 but for others there might be great healing in the faith messages.

Q2.  Did you find this story believable?
Ah- The families presented and the attack scenes are completely believable.
I did however have some issues on the issue of the mistaken identity.  I questioned that there was no wedding ring on Eric to distinguish him from Jake and no body mark, birth mark that was distinguishing. I could understand the Fire Chief jumping to the assumption this was Jake but I had a harder time with Jamie, his wife, accepting this. It was understandable initially because of the look-a- like aspects and the fact that she would want him to be alive. She did have a few doubts but managed to rationalize them away.  Also I questioned how they were managing for months without income while Jake/Eric did not return to work.

Q3.  Do you plan to continue the series with the second book/audio - Beyond Tuesday Morning?
I was not even aware that there was a second in the series. I enjoyed this book and would be interested to see how Jamie and Sierra move forward from grief to living again.

I asked this question - but did not get this Sheila in time for her post as I failed to catch her last two emails in time to realize we were posting today (August 4).
Did you feel that the faith based issues were blended easily in the story or did some feel forced (more preachy)?
I felt, even as a follower of Christ, that parts of the early story seemed to hit a little heavy on Bible which might turn off some potential readers.  Later in the book parts of the message of faith were naturally blended  from Jake’s journal and I really liked that. I also liked the salvation message although again I thought this might be too “preachy” for some readers/listeners.  In these circumstances I sometimes feel that a book like this might end up “preaching to the choir.”