Forget Me Not

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

Book:  Forget Me Not

Author:  Vicki Hinze

Crossroads Crisis Center owner Benjamin Brandt was a content man—in his faith, his work, and his family. Then in a flash, everything he loved was snatched away. His wife and son were murdered, and grief-stricken Ben lost faith. Determination to find their killers keeps him going, but after three years of dead ends and torment, his hope is dying too. Why had he survived? He’d failed to protect his family.


Now, a mysterious woman appears at Crossroads seeking answers and help—a victim who eerily resembles Ben’s deceased wife, Susan. A woman robbed of her identity, her life, of everything except her faith—and Susan’s necklace.

The connections between the two women mount, exceeding coincidence, and to keep the truth hidden, someone is willing to kill. Finding out who and why turns Ben and the mystery woman’s situation from dangerous to deadly. Their only hope for survival is to work together, trust each other, and face whatever they discover head on, no matter how painful. But will that be enough to save their lives and heal their tattered hearts?
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I've kinda been looking at others reviews on this book & it seems like everyone loves this book.  I guess I am just the odd man out.  Not saying I didnt love the book, I just struggled with it.  I think because I came out of my last few books of Amish, calm living - another story of living in an old era - & then right from the first page of this, it was like a "Die Hard" movie - with people chasing people, shooting others, blowing up things, running for your life...it was action packed.

And the story IS an interesting story & one I enjoyed, but for me, I think I may have just read through the beginning too fast because I was getting WAY confused with all the "bad guys" & who was who & leading who & what the plans were.  Definately a lot of characters in this book.... & its my own fault.  I usually make my own "cheat card" with characters names & who's who to stay on top of things.  That would have been really helpful with this book, for me anyways.

I will give this book another chance - but this time, I WILL do the cheat card thing so I can thoroughly enjoy it to the most.  Because again, it does seem like a good story line... I think it was just bad timing for me to get into a story that had that much intensity....

If you are interested in checking this book out, you can visit the publishers website, right here:
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601422057

My rating:  0 skeins - FOR NOW.. I will reread & update the rating later when I can give it a fair rating.  Check out the other reviews though... I'm seeing nothing but raves!  So it makes me even more excited to give this one another chance.

An Absence so Great

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

Book:  An Absence so Great

Author:  Jane Kirkpatrick

Did Photography replace an absence in her life - or - expose the truth of her heart's emptiness?

    While growing in confidence as a photographer, 18 yr old Jessie Ann Gaebele's personal life is at a crossroads.  Hoping she's put an unfortunate romantic longing behind her as "water under the bridge," she exiles herself to Milwaukee to operate photographic studios for those owners who have fallen ill with mercury poisoning.
    Jessie gains footing in her dreams to one day operate her own stuiod & soon finds herself in other Midwest towns, pursuing her profession.  But even a job she loves can't keep painful memories from seeping into her heart when the shadows of a forbidden love threaten to darken the portrait of her life.
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I love photography, so when I saw this book was about a women who wanted to pursue a career in that field, in a time where women were just beginning to provide for themselves, it instantly drew me to this book.

Apparently, there is a first book in this series called "A Flickering Light" - I did not read that book & did not really need to in able to enjoy this book... though, as intriguing as this book was, I wish I would have read it to know more background - & I may even go get it now just to see the "pre" story...

I loved getting to know Jessie in this book & see who she was as an indepedent woman - & a woman in love - with a man, she shouldnt be in love with.  The romance in this book, with fellow photographyer, Fred, just captured me.  It wasn't your "typical" romance - but left me anxious to turn the page to see what would happen next.

My favorite part of this book - throughout the chapters, there would be works of Jessie's - pictures from the time era of the 1900's - along with a background of the picture.  Again, being a photography buff, I just loved these stops in the story. 

I also particularly enjoyed in the front of the book, there is a Character List - & how they are related or interacted with each other.  I wish EVERY book had this!  So helpful!

Finally, at the end, the question & answer section revealed that Jessie was actually the author's grandmother & these people are real - & these pictures are real... made it even more fantastic to me...

I thoroughly enjoyed this book... loved getting in the feel of the time period... getting to feel the "absences" that were throughout the story in the characters lives - & how the healing of those empty areas in someone's lives can be filled...

If you are interested in purchasing this book, you can click right here:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781578569816

My rating:  4 skeins

Enjoy this video as well - it really gives a wonderful description of the story.

Here Burns my Candle

Book:  Here Burns my Candle

Author:  Liz Curtis Higgs

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

      Lady Elisabeth Kerr is a keeper of secrets.  A Highlander by birth & a Lowlander by marriage, she honors the auld ways, even as oubts & fears stire deep within her.
     Her husband, Lord Donald, has secrets of his own, well hidden from the household, yet whiserped among the town gossips.
     His mother, the dowager Lady Marjory, hides gold beneath her floor & guilt inside her heart.  Though her two abiding passionars are maintaining her place in society & coddling her grown sons, Marjory's many regrests, buried in Greyfrars Churchyard, continue to plague her.
     One by one, the Kerr Family secrets begin to surface, even as bonny Prince Charlie & his rebel army ride into Edinburg in September 1745, intent on capturing the crown.
     A timeless story of love & betrayal, loss & redemption, flickering against the vivid backdrop of 18th Centry Scotland, this book illumines the dark side of human nature, even as hope, the brightest of tapers, lights the way home.
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So first, let me say - I LOVE me some Liz Curtis Higgs.  She's from my area & still hangs out around her - so I love a local gal who makes it big!  And she has knocked out some fantastic reads!  Who doesnt love all the "Bad Girls of the Bible" books.... and "Embracing Grace" is probably one of my fav's...

So when Waterbrook Press provided me this book for review, I was excited!

I will say, the story was interesting - didnt even realize that its a "re-telling" of Ruth & Naomi from the Bible.  To me, it was just a book about all the weavings of families & the secrets they carry & how they interact with one another.

This story does have a lot of historical atmosphere going on.  From wars & language & cultures of the time, you do have to like a historical kinda book to really appreciate the full work of Mrs. Higgs.

I will say, the Scottish language was hard for me to grasp.  And there is a "Scottish Glossary" in the back & while sometimes you can figure out what they are saying on your own, for me, it took me a few minutes to stop & either figure it out, or look it up.  That took a bit of the enjoyment away for me of the story....That's just me though - I like a book I can just flow through.  That is my ONLY downside of the book.  I'm sure most of you pro-readers wouldnt think anything of it though.

The characters are so intriguing with what each person deals with & the different personalities of each... but it also shows how family comes together when tragedy stricks...

My heart was always rooting for Elisabeth in this story & I was hooked on watching her journey throughout the whole story. 

If you are interested in purchasing this book, you can click on this link:
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781400070015

My rating:  3 skeins (only because of the hard time I had with the "language" - sorry I'm such a dork Mrs. Higgs)

Here is a video that details a little more on the book..

Satan's Whispers

Book: Satan's Whispers

Author:  Robert Don Hughes

Liar... lies... the father of lies.
Can you hear Satan's whispers?  Which of his lies bind you?

I read "Questioning God" & saw that the author wrote this book first.  I found it on Half.com & got it for like 50 cents.  It looks like it came out n 1992 & this book is OLD & the pages have yellowed & it looks worn... but the message is stll the same.

Why?  Because the whispers of Satan is still the same...

This book goes the opposite of "Questioning God" - it holds what a would-be conversation with Satan would look like.  Some of the title of the chapters are:
"Why would God worry about you?  you're worthless!"
"Go ahead & sin!  Nobody has to know"
"Not even God can forgive what you did"

Having read both books, its interesting because some of the questions are the same as the other book, just different perspective.  And that's where it comes in.... because I really think Satan works his same old tricks, after all this time, so some of the "comments" Satan made in here, its exactly what I have felt myself in those moments of despair....

But, with Scripture backing Satan down in every chapter, it leaves you feeling encouraged &  lifted up & knowing that Satan is the father of lies!!!!

It also challenged me because some of the things that the Satan character would say, would kinda make sense & that would freak me out that I could see that side... but obviously, I'm not alone if the author wrote it out himself too... but again, the answer to that question would come from Scripture, right there in black & white - giving the perfect conformation & answer to sooth the worry....

Really think its an interesting book - even if its a little aged... you too can probably find it for next to nothing.

My rating:  4 skeins

Questioning God

Book:  Questioning God

Author:  Robert Don Hughes

Questioning God uses realistic conversations with God to answer tough questions.  Grounded in the Bible, this honest dialogue will stretch your thinking & inspire a deeper love for your Creator as you gain a better understanding of who God is & what he is like.
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This is sorta like a "Screwball Tape" book where the Author is having a conversation with God on hard questions.  And yes, from the beginning, he makes it aware that this is his writing but, he does remind us that God does speak back to us when we pray - its not just about us talking with Him - & this is what he feels like God answers back.

Its written in a casual conversation - as if I were sitting here talking to God & God would respond, & then I answer back, or question what he just said... its a very insightful read.

And what I appreciate about it is it IS Biblically based - the answers that "God" gives go back to scripture which shows that God does indeed talk to us...

Also, at the end of every chapter, there are some Scriptures that again support that "conversation", some reflections & some questions to search within yourself.

Some of my favorite chapters are "Does God really hear my prayers" - "Who will Defend me when I stand before God's judgement?" - "I wonder how God will punish me for that"... see, told ya, good topics!

I really enjoyed this book... I found the author wrote "Satan Whispers" as well, the sorta opposite kind of book - & I have already purchased it & cant wait to dive into that one as well.

My rating:  4 skeins

While my Sister Sleeps

Book:  While my Sister Sleeps

Author: Barbara Delinsky

Molly & Robin Snow are sisters & like all sisters, they share a deep bond that sustains them through good times & bad.  Their careers are flourishing - Molly is a horoticulturist & Robin is a world-class runner - & they are in the prime of their lives.  So when Molly receives the news that Robin has suffered a massic heart attack, she couldnt be more shocked.  At the hospital, the Snow family receives a grim prognosis:  Robin may never regain consciousness.

As Robin's parents & siblings struggle to cope, the complex mature of their relationship is put to the ultimate test.  Moly has always lived with Robin's shadow, & her feelings for her have run the gamut, from love to resentment & back.  The last time they spoke, they argued.  But now there is so much more at stake.  Molly's parents fold under the devastating circumstances & her brother retreats into the cool reserve that is shatting his own family.  Its up to Molly to make the tough decisions & she soon makes discoveries that destroy some of her most cherished beliefs about the sister she thought she knew....
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This book is not what I was expecting, but it turned out telling a very lovely story of the Snow family.  The characters in the book:

Molly - The sister of Robin - & that's how she's usually known in her life.  Its hard for her because she has to find a way to know what her sister would want.  She also has to take the "downing" of her mother, as she's obviously not the favorite child.  Molly struggles to keep the family going & lead them in the right direction - all the while discovering information that could hurt the ones she loves... Molly finds who she is throughout this story - & its not who she starts out to be.

David - the man who finds Robin on the side of the road.  He tried to help her & ends up befriending Molly & helps her more then anyone probably else could... he's also a teacher & its interesting to see a little story on him.  Just gives his character more of a personal story on how much he cares.

Kathryn - the over protective mother.  The one who pushed Robin into who she was - a CHAMPION.  The mother who seemed like nothing else mattered except her first child & the career she was in.

Charlie - the soft spoken father who only has to say a few words to put the knowledge out there of calmness.  What every tv show reminds me of as a perfect father figure.

Chris - the brother who also is struggling through the family crisis & having one of his own with his wife Erin.

Nick - a friend of Molly's who also was in love with Robin.  He's a reporter who will also do anything for a story.

Peter - a surprise from the past

And ROBIN - thought she is unconscious throughout the whole book, she speaks loud & clear through her words that she left behind.  The "diaries" she kept shows what has happened in her life that her own family wasnt aware of.  And in the end, she leads her family on what to do for her....
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This story really showed me how important it is to tell your loved ones what you think... how you feel.. to work out things before its too late...It had a lot of stories going on with each character & I thought it was getting a little too confusing with alot of things at once, but before I knew it, I was at the end of the book & glad I had invested in each one of these characters.

This is the first time I read a book by Barbara Delinsky, but it definately wont be my last...

My rating:  3 skeins

Plain Pursuit

Book:  Plain Pursuit

Author: Beth Wiseman

Carley Marek experiences culture shock when she vists her friend Lillina's family on their farm deep in Amish country.  She'll get an article out of the visit - & maybe some of Lillian's newfound peace will somehow rub off on her. 

Just when Carly is getting used to the quite nature of the Plain community, Lillian & Samuel's son falls ill.  But the local doctor who can offer the most help has been shunned by the community & forbidden to intervene.

As David's condition deterioriates, Dr. Noah determines to do whatever it takes to save the boys life.  Carley is caught in the middle - drawn to Noah, wanting to be helpful in the crisis - & confused by all their talk about a God she neither knows nor trusts.

Carley must decide what in life is worth pursuing... & what to do when she's pursued by a love she never expected.
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I loved this book!!!!  That's the first thing I have to say about it.....

The story of Carley & her "vacation" to the Amish country was so telling & interesting.  Then you bring in the sad situation of what happens to her friend, Lillian's son & the story really gets involved when they see who the doctor is - the brother of Samuel, who has been shunned - & David is willing to do whatever it takes, even risking his own life. 

The struggle that Carley goes through as she's learning this new way of life is written so beautifully.  As she realized that God has been with her all along, even when she faced tragedy of loosing her mother in an accident & how that accident affected her life.  Anger would stir up & she turned from God - but Carley soon learns through these amazing people that God is still there.

A romance forms with Dr. Noah & Carley & its romantic, fun & heart breaking.... Carley's life after the accident causes her to believe no one would want to marry her & her reaction to Dr. Noah breaks hearts.. mine included. 

Personally, it struck home because I could personally know the pain that Carley was going through... (I hate it because I never want to give too much away).....

In the end, you see reconciliations that you would never believe would be possible, between families, between God, in relationships you werent sure would work out... & in the end, you realize that God is in control of it all....

If you are interested in this book, you can check it out more here:
http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/product_detail.asp?sku=1595547193&title=Plain_Pursuit

I will note too - I did not read the first book in this series & apparently, it didnt affect my enjoyment in this book, so dont let that hinder you!  I am totally interested in getting that book though & checking it out - if its as good as this one, I know I'll enjoy that one too!

My Rating: 4 skeins