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I like stories about people dealing with mental illness. Not because I like the idea of people suffering through mental illness, but because it lets me know that I'm not alone. It also offers a different insight into some of the things I may be going through. Even though this one is a work of fiction it is still an interesting view point. I liked Jordan for the most part. He was a bit odd, but I think that's kind of the point of the whole story. I enjoyed looking at the world through his OCD, manic depressive, somewhat humorous personality. It was an interesting point of view to say the least. A bit of the story seemed to be sensationalized - but I think that was necessary. I know when I was going through the worst of my depression (hopefully that was the worst of it) my life was not all that interesting - so to make it something worth reading there had to be some exaggeration. My favorite aspect of the story was the humor that was strewn throughout the book. It wasn't humor as in it was making fun of mental illness - not at all. But it took some serious situations and looked at them through the eyes of someone who is able to laugh at themselves and their situations. Mental illness isn't funny, but some of the things that happen because of mental illness can be seen as humorous when reminiscing. That's more of the feel I got from this story. Jordan was reminiscing about his life and his mental illnesses and he was able to see the humor that is involved in life. It was an entertaining story and I enjoyed the point of view. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for a review. This review is my truthful honest opinion.

I like historical romance, but I've never actually had the chance to read one from the Civil War. So I was interested to see how this one would play out. I also wanted to see how a quilt could be the focus of a war story. I was pretty happy with it. Beth is a pretty good character. Like all people she has her strengths and her weaknesses. She wants to be a strong woman - physically and mentally, but in the face of so much death from the war she has to admit her weaknesses. I like when characters have both prominent strengths and weaknesses. It's refreshing to read about someone that I can connect with as being a "real" person. I liked Joe and Gerta also. They were good characters. But for some reason my favorite character in the book was Jim. Through the whole book I had a feeling that he was a lot smarter than he let on. He just seemed like such a lovable character though. I just really connected with him. Outside of being a romance the story looks at war from the perspective of a soldier and of a civilian. It's kind of interesting to see how even though they're on different sides they still have some of the same reactions to the chaos and destruction going on around them. Beth and Joe have to get through their own personal demons before they can begin to realize what's going on in their hearts. I liked watching the progression and changes they went through as they spend more time together. The story was very fast-paced. With all the wounded soldiers and the war itself there was rarely a "down" point in the story. It was pretty much go, go, go from the first word. Even when the chaos would calm down a little there was still everything going on with Joe and Beth and Gerta. Because there was so much going on in the story I read it so quickly. It was almost like I was reading fast because the story was so fast. But even with all the chaos it was still a very enjoyable story. I liked the quilt image on the cover and as Beth worked on the quilt I liked having a visual approximation of what it was going to look like. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for a review. This review is my truthful honest opinion.

I've never known anyone who was part of a bike gang. I don't even think I know someone who's known someone who was in a bike gang. But I find them so fascinating. I like to watch anything I can find on TV and read anything I can find about them. Not sure what draws me to the subject, but it's interesting. So I was really looking forward to reading Hazardous Materials. Bike Gangs and addiction seemed like two subjects that would make for a very interesting book. I liked the contrast between Bucky and his sister. Bucky's life went in a totally different directions and yet somehow they've kind of ended up on the same path. Both are addicted to drugs. Bucky questions himself a few times throughout the book. Just because he's one of the "Good Guys" does that make him any better than the stereotypical drug addict? Because his drug is "legal" does that make it a better addiction? Bucky's inner turmoil made the story very interesting. He was trying to take the right-side of a conflict in which he is technically an active participant in the wrong-side. Had this just been a book about a HazMat specialist trying to get to the bottom of a meth ring it would have been a good story. Add in Bucky's predicament and it becomes even more interesting. I can't say that I really liked Bucky - as a person - but he was a great character. I liked the research that went into this story. With so many different aspects coming together in this one it was imperative that everything be as accurate as possible. Had the bikers been fake they probably wouldn't have created the same problems for Bucky. Had the HazMat team been missing a few details there's certain parts of the story that wouldn't have been possible. You can tell that Kamm did quite a bit of research to keep the story real. The writing was also pretty good. There were a few things I was unfamiliar with but was easily able to pick up what they were. Most of the HazMat gear I had never heard of and had little clue what they did - the descriptions and explanations were weaved into the story so well that it didn't stand out from the story. Everything just came together so fluidly. My only issue with this was then ending - specifically the last chapter. It just wasn't what I would have pictured for Bucky's future. It wasn't a bad ending I just wanted something a little more "exciting." But it was an enjoyable story and was pretty informative. I don't know when knowing that Percocet is a mix of oxycodone and acetaminophen but I now know :-) I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for a review. This review is my truthful honest opinion.

Before I get into the book itself I have to say that I love this cover. Something about it is so soothing to me. It's so simple and yet the images that it invokes in my brain are very comforting. Why a wing has such strong emotions attached to it I'm not really sure but they're there. So needless to say that even before I started reading this one I was already in love with it. I also love the quote that's on the cover and in the book description. I think that one of the biggest failings we have with religion is that we're not fully ready to accept what can be accomplished through faith. So when our prayers are answered we figure there has to be a different reason. Most people find it hard to believe that someone is truly listening to their prayers - large and small. Olivia has been chosen to receive a gift. She can see angels - and demons and spirits. I think she handles her new abilities very well. I know that if I were in her shoes I would be much more freaked out about things for much longer than she seems to be freaked out by it. But maybe that's part of the reason why she was given this gift - she was ready for handling it responsibly. As the story progresses and Olivia starts to use the power of prayer more often I started to relate to her a lot better. Even though I'm not a traditional "religious" person I pray regularly for all sorts of things big and small. It seems that at the beginning of the story Olivia only prays for the big things. Her realization that getting help with the small stuff is also an acceptable use of prayer is kind of refreshing for me. I think for many people prayer is seen as what you do when someone is sick, or someone is hurt, or something else big. Praying for someone to find the right words to say to someone who has been hurting isn't really something most people pray about. So out of everything about Olivia I think that realization is my favorite part of her spiritual change. I do have to admit that I didn't get a full image of who her friends and family were. Mike on the other hand is pretty well rounded. I had a good idea of what his reactions to certain situations would be, and I understood why he did the things he did - outside of protecting his charge, Olivia. The premise of the story is great - being able to see the constant battle that is ensuing between good and evil. I think it was fairly well executed. My only issue with the story is that some things were just a little to convenient. I know that to keep the story from becoming War and Peace certain liberties have to be taken. There were just a couple of occasions where things almost felt out of place in the story because they were so obvious what was going to happen. Outside of those couple instances I can say that I really enjoyed reading this. It helped to reaffirm some of my beliefs about our lives and how we interact with the spiritual realm - or more so what kinds of affect we can have on the spiritual realm. Some of the topics dealt with are a little difficult to read about so I would have to say this is a book for older teens 15 and up. But I think that anyone who's struggling to understand our part in the battle between good vs. evil should read it. Young adults who are just starting to truly look at their faith and beliefs could also benefit from reading this one. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for a review. This review is my truthful honest opinion.

Even before I started reading this book I was drawn to it. Being someone who suffers with depression I like to hear other’s stories. It makes me not feel so alone in the world. Even when you’re surrounded by family and friends when you’re dealing with depression you still feel very alone. So having these stories is somewhat therapeutic for me. It’s like the light at the end of the tunnel. Someone else has been there and look where they are now ��" you can get there too. It was comforting to see some of what I have experienced over the last few years also be a part of someone else’s life. So I have to thank Leif for sharing his story with the world. I hope that it brings about the awareness you are striving for. While this book was therapeutic for me to read I think that it’s something the loved ones of a mentally ill person could benefit from. I think if you’ve never been the one to deal with depression it’s really hard to understand what it’s like. What kind of struggles occur on a daily basis. And those of us with depression can’t always explain what we’re going through, because in all honesty you don’t really know what’s going on sometimes. Now my depression has never gotten to the point of hallucinations, like Leif’s does, but I still have dealt with many of the things he has dealt with. He explains what he was going through so well. I think that’s the biggest benefit a mentally healthy person could get from this ��" he explains so well what depression is like. The book is well written. Even though it’s a biography it doesn’t read like a biography. It’s easy to follow and isn’t monotonous. The adventures that Leif has in his life are the things that fiction is based on. There’s even a few times where he makes reference to “that’s how they did it in the movies.” And even though depression and Leif’s story are not happy topics, it’s not a heavy story. I don’t think I would have been able to make it to the end if it were a heavy book. Yes it’s great to read someone else’s story, but it really made me look at some of the things in my life that were similar to Leif’s. So it’s an exciting book in that there’s a lot going on. It’s a learning tool in that it spells out pretty accurately what a depressed person is going through. And it’s also a comfort to someone with depression to be able to see in writing that they aren’t the only one. Given how common mental illness is becoming in the world I think this is one that just about anyone would benefit from reading. If it’s not you, it’s likely someone you know that is going through something similar. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for a review. This review is my truthful honest opinion.

I am amazed by this book. Had I knot known Chelsea Pitcher was a debut author I would never have been able to guess it. This book was so well executed that it comes off as being written by a very seasoned author. But the execution isn’t the most amazing facet of this one for me. Teenage suicide is a very hard subject to deal with and difficult subjects can sometimes turn into emotionally draining books. I did not feel that way with this one. Pitcher is able to bring to light the subject of teenage suicide, highlight it’s impact, get inside the head of a teenager distressed enough to commit suicide, and still not write a heavy book. Not to say that it’s easy to read about a suicide or that I wasn’t touched emotionally by this one, I just think it was written in a way that most people can connect to. Teenagers can connect because they maybe experiencing some of the same situations and adults can connect because we’ve been there and can remember going through it all. The characters are so well developed. There’s Lizzie, who the book revolves around, she’s the one who committed suicide that sets the rest of the story in motion. Even though she’s not alive in the book I still was able to get a good sense of who she was and what she was going through. The twists that the story takes near the end of the book really give Lizzie so many more dimensions than just being a girl who was bullied and then committed suicide. The end of the book is really where we start to figure out exactly what Lizzie was going through and all the motives surrounding her decision. Even though she wasn’t a part of the current story I really became attached to her and when the story begins to reveal what Lizzie was going through I was so upset and hurt for her. Then there’s Angie, Lizzie’s best friend ��" well at least she was before Lizzie betrayed her. After Lizzie’s death Angie makes it her mission to find out who was behind the horrible things that were done to Lizzie before she died. Through the search Angie realizes she may not have really been the friend she thought she was to Lizzie. Angie deals with anger, sadness, frustration, irritation, heartbreak, guilt, and so many more emotions as the story behind Lizzie’s last few weeks alive begin to unfold. The other characters appear to fit into the typical high school stereotypes. But as Angie learns everyone is not always who they seem to be. I really can’t say enough how amazing this book was. I think that everyone, especially teenagers, should read this one. It is difficult to read at times, and there are some situations which may not be suitable for younger teenagers, but I think it’s a must read for older teens. If nothing else I think this book shows that people aren’t always what you think they are and that if you take the time to really get to know a person you’ll be surprised at the person you find. While the story focuses on figuring out Lizzie’s suicide the true story takes place with Angie’s transformation as she investigates. There are a few twists at the end of the story that were unexpected and they really help Angie make some realizations that help in her transformation. I liked that this book doesn’t look at bullying in a typical way. I think many times when talking about bullying we tell teens “bullying is bad”, which it is. But teens already know that bullying is bad, to really understand they need to see what the ramifications can be and what ripple effects bullying can have. What I think this book does is says that “bullying is bad, because look at the extremes some people will go through to escape bullying.” It’s a book that explains suicide in a way that doesn’t glorify it. Lizzie’s suicide is tragic, but the story doesn’t seek to justify her suicide. I felt that the book looks at the reasons why someone may commit suicide and shows how simple misunderstandings can be so twisted and distorted that they become a helpless situation. I don’t know what would have stopped Lizzie from taking her life, but I feel like if someone ��" anyone ��" would have taken the time to learn what was really going on that it might have been preventable. So yes it’s a difficult subject to read about. But I think this book is written so well that it takes a good look at bullying and suicide without being depressing. I was so engrossed with this story that I read the book in two sittings. I just couldn’t put it down. And even though I became so wrapped up in these characters I wasn’t disappointed when the book ended. I feel like the story of these characters has been told, and there’s not much more to say about them. I really can’t say enough how well executed this story was. I highly recommend this one to everyone. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for a review. This review is my truthful honest opinion.

I really liked the idea of this book - Heaven is a corporation run by God. The angels work for Heaven, Inc. performing miracles, answering prayers, and all the other things that we think of angels doing. It was a new look at Heaven, almost made the concept of Heaven seem more "real" because it was something I could relate to. I could see an office building with cubicles, water cooler, lunch room, board room, conference tables, etc. When I think of Heaven normally there's not really any concrete imagery that comes to mind. So the idea that Heaven is similar to something I could relate to made it easier for me to read. The imagery associated with God was a bit off-putting at the beginning, but as the story progressed and his character changed a bit I began to come around. God started off as a frustrated CEO who needs a change in his life. He's tired of the corporate life and wants to open a restaurant. It really humanizes God and again, it makes the concept of God something tangible that I can associate with. It took a little open-mindedness to think of God in terms of the tangible life the book portrays, but I did get used to it. Although even at the end of the book it was a bit shocking still when God cusses. That I just couldn't get used to. It just wasn't something I would ever expect - I curse like a sailor most of the time, but I just can't imagine that God does also. The story doesn't really focus on God though. The story is a love story at heart. Craig and Eliza have to work to make Laura and Sam fall in love to save humanity. The two humans are seemingly beyond all hope. But Sam and Eliza use some pretty creative miracles to help move the process along. I liked the dynamic of the two angel's love story going on with the human's love story. It was kind of neat to see the parallels in the two paths. I also liked the miracles they used to help the humans fall in love - not that I ever though food poisoning could be a miracle, but it did have the intended effect. The story is quite humorous. The author does a great job of mixing humorous writing with humorous situations. But I think the true beauty of the story is that even with everything that is going on the writing is simple. Not simple in that it's dumbed down or anything. It's simple in that the author doesn't over explain things, doesn't complicate the story with useless details, and doesn't go into detail about the parts of the story that don't impact the outcome. Even the miracles that are used by the angels are just series of simple events. I thought that was kind of a neat aspect to the story - miracles don't have to be big and flashy even the little moments in life can be miracles. So other than God and his potty mouth I really enjoyed this book. A copy of this book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

When I requested to review this book I have to admit I did it simply because of the title. I didn't really read the description - other than it was fiction. So when it arrived at my door I wan't sure what to expect. After reading the first few chapters I was glad that I had gotten it. It was a story that I can somewhat relate to. I used to have trouble reading books that have Australian characters - mainly because the language is pretty different. But I'm finding that the more I read the more I don't really notice the "Aussie" English. I have gotten to where I can understand most of the slang and different definitions. So this is one of the first Australian set books that I didn't have to re-read to figure out what I was reading. And that excites me because it opens up so much more literature to me. But back to the story... I really liked Mace. I kind of related to her. I think she used her sarcasm as a shield, something to hide behind so she doesn't have to expose herself. A lot of the thoughts she had were what I could see myself thinking in her situation. So I connected with her almost immediately. As I got further into the story I realized that a few different choices I could almost have been Mace. I really enjoyed her point-of-view on life, which made this such an enjoyable read. I also liked Mace's group of friends. They cover just about every personality and each one of them is unique enough to give the group a good dynamic. Outside of how well these friends complemented each other I like how strong their relationships as a group and as individuals is. When one of them needs something the friends make sure they get it. This group reminded me of my step-mother's group of friends. So on top of having a connection with Mace I could understand her friends. The only part of the story I couldn't relate to was Mace's relationships with her mother and older sister. In Mace's eyes she isn't close with either of them. She feels like they are judgmental and disapproving. So when Mace's mother is diagnosed with Cancer Mace's goal of being closer with her mother she has to deal with a lot of other emotional baggage. In addition to great characters the book was well-written. The story was well-thought out and very well executed. Being able to draw so many characters into a book and be able to keep them from all being one-dimensional characters is a great feat. Plus the story was emotionally catching: there is humor, sadness, love, spite, caring, indifference. It was so compelling that I couldn't bring myself to out it down. I read it in two sittings. I have to say this was a great book.

Like I always have to say before I review a book about animals. I am an animal lover, so I might be a bit biased in reviewing these kinds of books. Well, maybe not a book about hamsters - those are the nastiest little animals ever created - but when the book is about any other animal it’s going to tug on my heart-strings right from the word go. This book was no different. The story opens with a current scene in the Brunner household of a fight ensuing between two of the dogs. But Brunner soon skips back to the beginning of her marriage to her husband and gives a little insight into who they are before she starts telling us about their dogs. I liked having the insight into who these people were, I think as the stories about the dogs progress knowing what kind of people they were helped me to understand what they were going through. Although, being a dog mommy myself, most of the emotions tied to these stories aren’t hard to imagine. The technical aspect of the writing in this one wasn’t excellent - there were a few errors I noticed. But I can tell this book was a labor of love. I can only imagine how hard it must have been to recall some of these incidents. I know when I think back on some of the animals I’ve had in my life it becomes an emotional trial for me. So I have to give her kudos for being able to share something so intimate with the world. But even outside of the intimacy of telling these stories Brunner writes in such a way that I couldn’t help but be drawn into the story. Her ability to tell a story is great. She was able to combine the emotional stories with the humorous stories in a way that kept me intrigued through the whole book. I was able to connect with this book on so many levels. I don’t know that non-animal lovers will get as much from the book as I did because I think my emotional attachment comes from the fact that I do have such a love for animals. Again, being an animal lover I may be a bit biased when it comes to books about dogs, but this one had me right from the beginning. The reading of this book was an emotional roller coaster for me. There were many moments of crying interspersed with fits of laughter and just general feel-goodness from understanding the love Brunner has for each of the animals that she let into her heart. I loved this one, I will probably read it a few more times.

I liked this book, but as with the first one I just don't care for Bella all that much. I know it's weird to say I like the book but I don't like the main character. But I don't. She's too wishy-washy and she just comes off as being an idiot sometimes. Another thing that bothers me with Bella in this book is that I remember being a teenager - I was never that deep and introspective. I can't honestly say that I have ever known anyone that had a similar thought process to Bella. So that's my major issue with this book (let me say that I did overcome this in the next book - but this isn't a review of the next book.) I really was disappointed that there wasn't more Edward in this one. He doesn't think like a normal teenager either, but then again, he's not really a teenager. I think that gives him a pass. I also really liked Jacob in this one. I didn't feel like I got to know him in the first book - so despite the fact that Edward isn't in this one much having Jacob become a major part of the story helped. Jacob is like quite a few guys I know. He's going through a somewhat awkward phase, and I think all boys go through that at some point. I feel so bad for Jacob, because he just wants Bella to love him. He's a kid trying to deal with all this crap he's going through physically and then he's got Bella pulling him along giving him a false sense of hope. I liked the story itself. It kept me entertained while I read. I liked that this book shows how strong Bella and Edward's love is. To love someone so much that you fear that you're bad for them and try to stay away. Maybe it's the hopeless romantic in me, but I think that's what draws me to this series. Then when Bella risks her life for Edward - it just all comes full circle. I think Stephenie Meyer is a pretty good author and I hope that even without the Twilight series she'll continue to write. I enjoyed reading this book, probably more than I should have :-)

This was a pretty neat book. It combined quotes about cats with pictures, drawings, and paintings of cats. It wasn’t just house cats, there were a few wild cats in there to. But I think the neatest part of this book is that it was a collaboration. Artists submitted their artwork for consideration and some of the submissions were used in the book. Then in the back of the book you can find a biography for each artist and photographer. What a great way to get some exposure for these artists. Some of the pictures and paintings were amazingly beautiful, some were cute, some were humorous, but all of them were well done. I have my favorites out of all of them, but there weren’t any pictures that I didn’t like. I also liked the quotes used in the book. There was a wide range of quotes too" funny, thoughtful, insightful. I read through this in about 45 minuets cover to cover. But I left it sitting on my desk and I keep finding myself picking it up and looking through the pictures. A new one sticks out at me each time I look through it. While you can read it cover to cover I actually think this would make a nice coffee table style book. Something that you can pick up, read a few quotes, look at a few pictures, and then come back to it later. Either way you choose to read it, if you’re a cat lover you’ll be happy with it.

I figured I’d be a little attached to this story, given that the description lays out how emotional of a story it is, and if you follow my reviews you know how I like an emotional story! I had no idea how drawn into this one I would become. I loved the story and the characters. I couldn’t help but be drawn into this one. It lead me to one long sleepless night because I couldn’t put it down. I had to see how it was going to end. Sandy seems to have her head on her shoulders, except for the fact that she ended up pregnant and not ready for the responsibility. That one night of mistake changes her life forever, but as she’s dealing with an unplanned pregnancy and the options that are available to her she shows herself to truly have her head screwed on straight. She’s faced with a few decisions as to what to do about the pregnancy. Even though she falters a few times in her steadfastness as she sets her mind on what she thinks is best she doesn’t back down. Her parents, the adoption agency, no one can make her change her mind. Once the pregnancy is over and her life returns to its new normal she takes that steadfastness with her through life. I can’t say that being in the situation she was in that I would have been able to be so strong in my convictions. It’s difficult as an adult sometimes to do what you feel is right when other’s are trying to persuade you, as a teenager it can be almost impossible at times. That is what I admired about Sandy the most. She took a little while to decide what she wanted to do, but when she made her choice there was no one that could tell her otherwise. When the story jumps and we are introduced to an adult Sandy her convictions are even stronger. She was willing to give up everything to do what she thought was right. The story is amazing. It’s emotional, powerful, suspenseful, and inspiring. Sandy’s journey is one that many people have started out on, but I doubt too many people have ended up where she did at the end. While the writing wasn’t “beautiful” there was something magical to Whitlow’s writing. He’s a master of the written word. Even with the foreshadowing he used when the inevitable happens it’s almost like I didn’t see it coming. I think it’s in the way he weaves all the different parts of the story together. It’s not like he was hiding anything, but I got so swept up into the story that I just along for the ride. I wasn’t over-thinking with this one ��" I was just following the story as it happened. The ending really threw me, looking back I can see that it was going to happen but as everything unraveled I couldn’t believe it was happening. I can’t say enough how amazing this story was. Even though the subject tends to be a bit of a heavy topic the story wasn’t a heavy story but it wasn’t light reading either. It hit that perfect mixture. I loved this one and am adding more of Whitlow’s books to my wish list.

This was a short and sweet book that took a satirical look at the inside of a man's head. There were a few times I laughed while reading through the different topics. The cartoons included with each topic were cute. I thought the book was funny, but I while I was reading it I found that I was trying to compare my fiancee, dad, or step-dad to what the book was talking about. And while I know that this book was meant to be humorous I didn't notice too many similarities between the men in my life and the stereotypes about men that this book tries to explain. Don't know if the men in my life are just different or what. My fiancee actually looked through the book quickly when I had it sitting on my desk waiting for a review and he commented that "it was kind of offensive." I was expecting a little bit more from the book. I had assumed before I got it that it would be more of a novel type book rather than a "comic book" type book. There was very little reading to be done. The 42 page book took me all of 25 minuets to read - and that included going back through it and looking closely at all the cartoons. If you're looking for a book to spend a few hours with, this one probably isn't it. But if you're looking for a coffee table book or - as the description suggests - a bathroom book than this one could be right up your alley. I think it's meant to be more of a pick-up and read for a minute or two kind of book. It wasn't a bad book, I guess I was just expecting something different from it. But it was funny, and I think that's the whole point with this one.

I've read two of Liz Johnson's other novels before, and I have to say that each new one I read is so much better than the last. Given how good the first one was this last one was excellent. The story was exciting and emotional. Trying to protect women in a shelter has to be a difficult enough job, but add in the fact that one of the women was saved from something much darker than an abusive partner and it makes the job of protecting these women and their children that much more difficult - and dangerous. Even with the help of Matt protecting these women may be more than Ashley can handle. Ashley was a good character. She wasn't just strong for herself she was strong for the many many women she's been entrusted to protect. Ashley runs a women's shelter and gives so much of herself to these women that once the story really started going I kept thinking "how much more can she give." But Ashley never even thinks twice about doing what's needed to protect the women in the shelter. Matt was also a pretty good character. He was the strength Ashley needed to keep herself going and keep her shelter safe. Even when things get a little out of hand Matt seems to always have a plan. He was the cool, calm, and collected type. The writing was really good. Even when I realized just how dark the evil Ashley was trying to protect the women from really was I didn't feel like the story was dark. Liz Johnson has a way of writing that keeps things from getting too dark and depressing. Not that the story was happy and sunshine, but the story never really jumps too deep into the horrid crimes that are being committed So even though you're aware of what is going on, it's not the kind of story that pulls you into that same dark place. I think it's a great feat to be able to write about something so horrible without having to go too dark with the writing and still be able to convey the seriousness of what is going on. It made this a great book to read. It was exciting enough that I didn't want to put it down, but it wasn't depressing to where I had to put it down to get my head out of where the book was going. It was a bery perfect balance. Overall it was a great read. It had great characters, a good romance, and an awesome story.

There was so much mystery surrounding this book. I couldn't put it down because there was so much that I wanted to know. Even after reading it all my questions weren't answered. Guess I'll have to wait for the next one.... And believe me I can't wait. This was an amazing book. The whole premise that the fight between good and evil can take place in someone's soul was an idea that I had never thought of. So right from the start of the book I was intrigued as to how a battle could take place inside of a soul. It was interesting to see how that worked out. I also like the imagery that was used to describe what it was like being inside of a person's soul. We all have good places and bad places, light and dark places inside of us - and seeing how all those places turn into one seamless "world" was inspiring. The story was very fast paced, and there were too many characters to really go into much depth about any one of them here. But all of the characters in the story play a very important role in the battle between good and evil. Figuring out how each one would benefit the group was exciting. Each time a piece of the puzzle was revealed I was awe-struck at how easily it was worked into the story. The writing was amazing in this one. I've never read James Rubart before but given how well this book was written I would imagine he could write just about anything and it would be a captivating read. I just could not put this one down. I spent quite a few hours letting my housework go because I just had to finish this one. I am a fan for sure and I can not wait until the next in the trilogy is released.

There wasn’t much about this book that I didn’t like. It was a little on the unbelievable side, but that’s what makes for such good fiction. The story takes lots of twists and really stay exciting till the end of the book. There was so much going on I didn’t realize how much had changed in the character’s lives until after I finished it and ended up re-reading the first chapter again. Quinn seemed to have two different personalities. There was her strong side that she showed the world to keep them from prying into her life. To keep herself hidden and out of harms way. Then there was the side of her that lived inside of her. Always scared that she was going to have to start running at the drop of a hat. When she met Morgan and his little girl Livie she didn’t realize that it was going to change her life in so many ways. Morgan also underestimated what part Quinn would take in his life and his heart. Morgan was one of those people who would give anything to make the people in his life happy. He just happens to have the money to make sure that they are more than happy. He was really endearing. And Livie was such a cute character. Every time she spoke in the book I could hear the cutest little kid voice in my head. Even though Livie wasn’t a main character I think I liked her the best, just because she was such a little cutie when I imagined her in my head. The writing, as I expected from Heitzmann, was well done. The dialogue was believable and the story was well executed. The only reason I didn’t give this a perfect rating is that given what else I’ve read of Heizmann’s works I was expecting something a little different from this book. It was still really good, and there was some “dark” parts of the story that were true to Heitzmann’s form. I just thought it would be a bit on the darker side I guess. But just because it didn’t stand up to what I was expecting doesn’t mean it wasn’t a really good book.

I really liked the idea of this book. An immigrant sets off to America after learning that the brother she thought was dead is alive an well. She arrives in America and try to immerse herself so that she can support herself until her brother finds her. All the while she falls in love with the one person she shouldn’t. It was a pretty good plot. And it was executed fairly well. There were some slow spots to the story but there were lots of places where the story moves very fast and keeps you turning the pages. I didn’t really connect with any of the characters in this one though. I liked Cara well enough, but I just didn’t get pulled into her plight like I normally do. I liked Rourke ��" mainly because he had devious intentions when he came upon Cara. But as the story progresses we see a much softer, much more likable side of Rourke. The rest of the characters were well developed and played nicely into the story. I did like how the plots all came together and meshed into the main plot. It made for an interesting turn of events at the end and showed off the reason for all the character’s inclusion. The story takes place during a time of religious upheaval in the Irish American community. So there is a hint of religious theme to the story. But to me the faith Cara and Rourke struggle with really played a back seat to the rest of the story. So it was an interesting story, and I did like it. I just didn’t fall in love with this one. But it was worth the read, as the story was decent and there were a couple of twists that I didn’t really see coming. In the end it was mixed for me. I just didn’t get the connection with this one that I normally do.

This book was amazing. I was so engrossed in it that I had a couple of sleep-reduced nights because I couldn’t turn the lights out and go to sleep. I had to keep reading to see what was going to happen next. Despite the fact that this is a trilogy, so I knew how it ended, there were so many other twists to the story that I never really knew what was coming next. Action packed doesn’t even really begin to describe this one. It was also full of suspense, thrills, and romance. Then there was the fact that it really made me think. I was introduced to some new concepts that I’ve never really even thought about. So even when I made myself put it down I couldn’t quit thinking about it. It tends to fall in line with my beliefs ��" that science and religion can intersect and can give the extra understanding to concepts that may not be fully answered by just one or the other. I know I’m not alone in my beliefs, but I tend to find that the merging of science and religion isn’t all that common of a belief ��" so reading a book that justifies that belief was also refreshing. The story itself is superbly written and the plot is engaging. Josh wakes up and remembers that he’s basically dead. He knows who he is but he can’t reveal it to anyone. He has to rely on strangers to believe he’s not crazy, and then he has to find a way to stop a comet from crashing into the earth. All with no identity… At the very least it was interesting. As the story goes on and Josh starts getting a plan together he has to not only protect the world, but protect his plans to save the world. He can’t tell anyone how he knows what he knows, because he’d be deemed a lunatic. But yet he has to find a way to protect human life. His contact ��" the man giving him “orders” is like an outside player. Never directly interfering but always a part of what’s going on. It made for some pretty interesting and intense scenes. This really was an amazing book. I really liked Josh. He was very intelligent, and yet still had to seek guidance. I think that’s an honorable trait in a person, to know enough that you know you don’t know enough. And on top of it to have the nerve to ask and learn. That was my favorite thing about Josh. He was a bit dim at times, when it came to Elizabeth, but when given the task of saving the world how could things not fall through the cracks in personal matters. And Elizabeth was wonderful. To just accept Josh for who he was, even though there wasn’t much to him, and to be understanding when Josh was being dim. There were some other great characters, but since they kind of played in the background in this one I’ll hope that in the other books of the trilogy some of them get more of the lime light. I can’t say enough how much I loved this book. It was an amazing story and it really kept me on the edge of my seat. I can see how this one would easily translate into an amazing movie. But I can see how that translation might make it loose its strong ties to faith. Even with the great story, that tie to faith was one of the best parts of the story. The merging of religion and science was really interesting to me. So I can’t wait for the second in the trilogy to be released ��" this is one trilogy I will absolutely be staying on top of.

Still being fairly new in learning The Bible I’ve found that any time I can get more scripture into my life I’m gaining a better understanding of The Bible. So good devotionals are something I’m always looking for. Just the fact that this is a devotional was a plus for me, what I really liked about it is that it’s just one verse a day. If I am short on time, or just want to quickly read a verse I can open up to today’s date and read the verse for that day. It’s not a highly involved devotional. A few minuets to read and reflect everyday is all it would take to get the maximum benefit out of this book. There is a really unique “twist” to this devotional. The versus correlate to the day so let’s take my birthday August 13 (8/13) ��" the verse for the day is Isaiah 8:13. So each day there is a different verse that correlates to whatever day it is. I’ve never seen a devotional do something like that. It’s a pretty unique idea. But my favorite part of the whole book is the last page where it has tips on how to memorize a Bible verse. I have a horrible memory but even I was able to memorize one of the verses using the technique Ayala gives.

I have had the chance to read one of PYNK’s novels in the past and I really enjoyed it. So when I was asked to read her newest novel I was more than willing to oblige. I expected POLITICS. ESCORTS. BLACKMAIL. to be fairly similar in content to the last of her books that I read. To an extent it was. But what I really liked about this one is that along with the sex that comes with an erotic novel I felt a real connection to the characters. It was pretty refreshing. And even though there are a lot of “happy endings” in the book, the story as a whole doesn’t have a happy ending for everyone. The fact that these characters get a dose of reality really makes PYNK’s novels an even more enjoyable read. I can’t say that I liked that characters, on a personal level. They all had some issues, and their motives weren’t always the best. But they were very well-developed characters and they each had a specific purpose in moving the story forward. Money, much like her name, was driven by money and it showed. While I didn’t agree with her, I understood why she was doing the things she did, and I respect her for being who she is regardless of what others thought of her. It was the same for all the characters. They didn’t necessarily make the same choices I would make, and I didn’t agree with what they were doing. But these characters didn’t apologize for what they were doing, because it might offend someone. I really loved that about this book. The fact that the characters despite not being the most reputable of people weren’t really hiding anything. PYNK’s writing is awesome. She was my first exposure to erotic literature and she did a great job of breaking the stereotypes of what I thought erotic literature was. This book has a plot, it’s not just sex for the sake of sex, there is good character development, and the story is intriguing. Actually most of the ending of the book has nothing to do with sex, it’s just a good story with the sex thrown in for a different kind of reading experience. I have to say I really enjoyed reading this one and can’t wait to read another PYNK novel!

I've always been inspired by people's accounts of being in Heaven. Whether they've had a near-death experience or they've been given insight into Heaven it's a sign to me that Heaven is real and that God's promise to us is true. So when I was given the chance to review this book I jumped at it. While I may be a bit impartial on the subject I did truly enjoy this book. Mary's story is inspirational. What I loved about her story is she wasn't perfect. She admitted that when her life was crazy - school, family, work, and just life - she had put God on the back burner and went about trying to make everything work. And yet she was still chosen to be a messenger, this imperfect woman was taken to Heaven so she could share with people that it is real. It inspires me to think that even though I'm not perfect and I don't always put God in the fore front of my life, though I do try to be aware, I am still capable of doing great things for God. And I think that's at least part of what her story is about, you don't have to be perfect in your love for God because he realizes that we're not perfect. Mary's life, like most of our lives is filled with great joy and great tragedy. Going through those emotional highs and lows with her really pulled me into her story. I wanted to see how she dealt with her experience in Heaven, how she dealt with her sorrow over being sent back, and how she took that experience and the instructions given to her and turned it into the positive and inspirational story she shares with us. Her life wasn't easy after her trip to Heaven and while she tried to do what she was instructed to do - share her story with the world - she had many upsets in her life that kept pushing that goal to the back burner. I can't say that I would have been able to deal with what she went through as well as she did, but I would hope that like her, I would be able to eventually push aside my insecurities and listen to what God was saying to me. This was a really good book. I would have like more information about her time in Heaven and her meetings with angels, but I understand her feeling that some of that was veiled to her for a reason. So I can't really blame her for not being able to include everything. Even with out the overt details I would have liked to read I was still inspired by her story and hope that I can live my life a little better with the added insights this book had given me.

It seems like whenever I'm dealing with troubles in my life and I pray for guidance I am drawn to a specific book. I've had this book sitting in my shelf for a little bit, and it was about 3rd down on my list of books to review. But for some reason I felt the urge to pick this one up and read it. I just couldn't pass it by. I'd recently prayed for the guidance to understand how to live my life in the way God intends for me to live it, and to be content in doing so. The opening few chapters of this book spoke right to me in that sense. The first story is about an older couple who climb mountains together. When asked why they keep climbing another mountain they answered that they're looking for happiness. That was like a slap in the face. They keep doing this because even though they've already climbed a mountain they didn't find the happiness they thought they would find. How many times do I do something thinking it will bring me happiness, and it doesn't, not long term anyway. The rest of the book was interesting, but the first part really jumped out to me, given what I had been praying for. The book is very interesting. It follows Christ through his roughly 1000 days of ministry. Basically the three years before his crucifixion and resurrection. Falwell describes some of the things that happened and gives a bit more detail about what happened. He gives historical information about how the events may have happened given how people lived during that time. One thing I also liked is that when he talks about a passage he'll point out a word that was used in the passage. Then he tells what the original word was - not a current translation of the word - how it was written in the older texts and explains the origins of the word. It was kind of neat to see that even though our current translations of the Bible still have the same meaning, the original words used had slightly different and sometimes more powerful meanings. I like language, and seeing these other meanings was very interesting to me. I liked the way the book was written. It was more than just a look at these events through scripture. The scripture that explains Jesus' life were there, but the story surrounding the scripture gave me a better understanding of what really happened. A copy of this book was provided for review. This review is my honest opinion and is not swayed by any compensation I may have received for my review.

I loved the story of Lily. She’s doing something that I think most people wouldn’t have the courage to do. She’s saving young women who are in need of rescue. But the one young woman she wants to rescue eludes her. Lily was so focused on her sister that I don’t think she realized when love came knocking on her door. It took her a little while to realize she was falling. But I liked that about the story. She wasn’t hard-headed, well yeah she was to a point, she was just so focused on what was important to her. I think that’s always how it happens. Love finds you when you least expect it. And even though she tried to listen to what God wanted for her she was so focused on her “mission” that she didn’t realize that God had put love in her life for a reason. Connell was probably my favorite character. He’d been hurt and wasn’t quite ready to move on. So I think he was just as shocked when he realized that he was falling in love. But what I liked the most about him is that he was so much like many men I know. At first he just went with the flow. Lived his life and tried not to meddle in what was going on around him. But once he realizes that what is going on bothers him, maybe with a little influence, he stands up and does what’s right in his heart. The writing was pretty good. I can tell that Hedlund did her homework. Being a Michigander I’ve done a bit of research on how the logging companies worked when they set up shop in the north of the state and Hedlund’s account seems to be pretty accurate. It really helped me connect to the story to see the author really knew what she was talking about. She may have took a little liberty, but to write good fiction I think that’s a necessary evil. And even though the end was a bit on the cheesy, everyone’s happy side it was still good. I didn’t cry (surprisingly) but it was still a touching story.

I really liked the idea of this book. A devotional that gives you something to think about everyday. Then on top of that having the different categories for the scriptures so that you could read scripture that was relevant to what you were dealing with ��" Joy, Happiness, Sadness, Fear, Isolation, etc. It was well organized. And I liked that there were stories that accompanied the scriptures. It helped me relate the scripture to something I could understand. A more “concrete” understanding of what the scripture was talking about. Having said that there were a few things about this book that I would have liked to see done a bit differently. Being new in my relationship with The Bible I want a fuller understanding of the entire Bible. This book only deals with scripture from the Old Testament. But being that there is a second book in this series that deals with Jesus I guess it is understandable. Given how this book was set up I think with both books I would be able to get the fuller understanding that comes from both Testaments. While the stories in the book did help give meaning to the scripture they weren’t “captivating”. Well most of them weren’t. There were a few stories that I connected with, but for the most part I just didn’t love the stories. It was a good book and I liked the idea of it. There were just a few things that really kept this from being what I would call an great book.

I’ve never lost a child, so I can’t say I can even begin to know what that feels like. The insurmountable pain that accompanies that kind of loss is a concept that I can’t wrap my head around. But I know that there are many women who have had to deal with this kind of loss. I would imagine that if I were ever in that position that I would want to be reassured that I can pull through and that it wasn’t just a senseless death. I think Teske Drake’s book does that. She built a community for women dealing with the loss of an infant to commiserate, give hope, and continue on. It’s an amazing thing. I’ve taken a bit of time and looked through her site and it really is a community. The book is a great resource to help a woman dealing with the loss of an infant. In the book Drake shares scriptures, tells her story, shares other’s stories, and helps the reader create a journal to help them deal with the pain they are feeling. I am a fan of journaling, as sometimes getting everything out on to paper can really help clear your head out and look at things with a new perspective. I think that was one of the greatest resources that this book offers. I think some people want to write what they are feeling, but they don’t know where to begin. I would imagine a woman dealing with infant loss has so many different thoughts floating in their heads that even trying to put that on paper could feel like an impossible task. With this book Drake gives guidance for getting all that on paper. That guidance could be just what some women need to get their thoughts “straightened out”. The book is really well written. I had no basis on which to connect with the stories and yet I still did connect with them. Even though it was sad to read some of the stories it wasn’t a sad book. The subtitle “Finding Light Beyond the Shadow of Miscarriage or Infant Loss” really describes the whole purpose of the book. It isn’t a “feel bad for me ��" look what I’ve been through” kind of book. It was more like “I’ve been there I know what you’re going through and you can make it through this” kind of book. It was inspiring and I think if I were to ever have to experience the loss of an infant that it contains exactly what I would need to hear.

I liked how the ideas in this book were presented. A monk relates to a student how people can unlock wealth through stories and a rules. The teacher and the student exchange their thoughts on the 8 Pillars of Wealth and share stories of the people who have been helped by following these pillars. Many of the ideas weren’t new to me. I’ve heard most of these ideas before, but I never was really explained exactly how they would work. While this book doesn’t go into great detail it goes into much more detail than I’ve been given in the past. The writing wasn’t great. It got the point across, and I think that was the whole purpose of the book. It did get me thinking, and I have started following the pillars and even though I don’t have much money I’m open to increasing wealth. Even a small increase is better than where I’m at now. It’s nothing earth shattering. But most of the ideas in this book I’ve never seen presented all together. So having them all in one place makes the “overall” picture clearer. Each of the pillars builds on one or more of the other pillars. It was an easy read and really got me thinking. I’ve noticed the changes in my thinking and am keeping a positive attitude with this one. I’ve not gotten rich yet, but it’s only been a few days since I finished reading it Got to give it time.

I liked this book well enough. The story was pretty good, but for some reason I didn’t really get caught up into it until about the last quarter of the book. The first three quarters weren’t boring or poorly written, I just didn’t really get into it. But the mystery of what was happening to the horses was enough to keep me reading until I got really hooked. I think part of that is because I am such an animal lover that I wanted to know what kind of sick person would be hurting animals, and what end it would serve. But either way I ended up really liking a book that I thought was going to be just so-so. I haven’t had a chance to read any of the previous Raleigh Harmon novels, but I can’t say that I feel like I was missing anything starting so far into the series. The story doesn’t seem to be too dependent on previous stories, although I’m sure there’s some background information not shared in this book that some one who’s read the whole series might be able to use to “fill-in” some of the story. But I have to say that Giorella does a great job of keeping the reader up to date, so to speak, on the pertinent information. I did like Raleigh. Like most Heroines she was a do what you got to do to get things done kind of woman. Which apparently has gotten her into quite a bit of trouble in the past. Even in this book, her inability to follow the rules and let things come as they may gets her into some sticky situations. Which adds to the story so much. She also has a relationship with God that I could easily relate to. Even when she’s doing things she would rather not do she makes herself aware of it and then prayed about it a few times in the book. That made it much easier for me to relate to her. There are many times in my life that I’ve done something, for whatever reason, that I know I shouldn’t have and knowing that as long as I take steps to not repeat those mistakes I can always receive forgiveness. The secondary characters were pretty well developed too. Each person had a specific purpose in the story. Some of them seemed to be there just to throw you off of who was really behind everything. I think my favorite character was Jack ��" he was a tough guy womanizer. But he had a bit of a change of heart in this one. I’d imagine that change started in the last book, given the relationship with Raleigh, but I could see the change even without the previous story as a gauge. What I really liked about this story is that it kept me guessing. When Raleigh first takes the undercover assignment I had no idea that it was going to twist into the story that it did. The original mystery opens up so many more mysteries that if you were to just read the beginning and the end of the book you’d probably think you were reading two different books. And the who-dun-it twists were pretty awesome too. Given how quickly things changed in this one I was never really quite sure I had it pegged. I love stories like that, where it really keeps you guessing and engaged. And the twists weren’t crazy ��" they really flowed well. It was a very well written book. The only reason that it doesn’t get 5 stars is that it took so long for me to get into it. But I do have to say I’m glad I stuck with it. It was worth every second

Having never been faced with a situation in which abortion was one of my options I wasn’t sure about reading this book. I didn’t think I’d be able to relate, but I thought of the people in my life I know who have faced that decision and figured if I could find a book that might help my friends and family deal with what they may still be going through then I would like to read it and be able to let them know about a resource is available. While I couldn’t specifically relate to what Ketola was dealing with I did end up relating to what she was saying. I think that this book, while geared towards women who are dealing with the emotional aftermath of an abortion, could be beneficial for anyone who has ever felt as if they were no longer good enough for God’s love. There are some things in my life that I’m not proud of, but I’ve realized that God’s love isn’t reserved just for those who are without sin. We are all God’s children and even though we may have done some things he doesn’t like he still loves us and wants us to have faith in him. That was what I was able to relate with in the book. Ketola’s focus is more on the healing and realizing that an abortion doesn’t mean the end of God’s love but having not dealt with an abortion I could see how her advice can really help anyone. I liked how Ketola took stories from The Bible and made them current. I’m still new in my relationship with The Bible and seeing these stories through a current perspective helped me understand what I am reading about in The Bible. It’s funny how when you are learning something that it shows up in your life ��" or at least you recognize it ��" and some of the stories she chooses for her book are actually stories that I’m currently reading. It was just kind of odd that I’m reading those parts of The Bible at the same time I’m reading this book. Ketola’s writing is very kind. I could tell from how she presents her story and then walks us through her journey that she is a very caring person. I didn’t feel like she was being over bearing. She genuinely wants to help other women who are going through things she’s dealt with. Overall I think it had a great message. I liked how she presented the stories from The Bible. I just didn’t feel a connection with the book. I think if you’re struggling with the emotional and spiritual after effects of an abortion this could be a great resource for you and you would likely have more of a connection. It is filled with compassion and hope.

I loved this book. It was disturbing and there were a few parts that were difficult to read, but it was such a great story! I’ve been on a bit of a twisted kick lately ��" I’ve been watching weird movies and reading twisted books ��" but I have to say it’s been interesting. As much as I liked this book I think it’s filled me up on my disturbing quota for a while. I normally am not all that bothered by crazy stuff, but I do have to admit there was one scene in this book that really got to me and made me cry (and not in a good awww…. that was so touching kind of way), I had to set it aside and clear my head before I came back to it. I think it was necessary for the story, but it was really hard to read. The rest of the book had its disturbing parts, believe me there wasn’t a shortage, but I was able to persevere through. Just that one scene I couldn’t handle. I didn’t really like any of the characters, as people. Although they were all great characters I wouldn’t want to “hang out” with any of them. Gianna was self-centered, as was Rachyl, Victoria, Vance, and Blair. But they all made for a great story! Zak was probably the most likable character and I didn’t even care for him that much. There was just something about him…. Can’t really put my finger on it. I really liked the premise of the story ��" a love triangle, a murderer on the hunt, all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, and the dark secrets that are hidden deep inside. It all came together to create such a wonderfully dramatic story. Like I said it was disturbing, but it was still GREAT. Trying to figure out what was going to happen next was exciting. Other than the one scene that got me, I couldn’t put this one down. I was glued to it! I do have to warn you that there is some pretty disturbing stuff in this one. There’s language, violence, and adult themes. So be warned, this one isn’t for everyone. But I really liked it! I’m looking forward to another Jolie masterpiece in the future!

This one was pretty good. It had excitement, romance, and mystery. All of which were combined wonderfully to create a compelling story. As the story starts out Libby and her business partner Nicole, are both working, but not in the same area. Nicole is set-up to be the business savvy partner who takes care of the financials and Libby is the creative part of the business. This dynamic is established early on and explains their actions through the rest of the story. Once the story gets going Libby’s creative ��" and somewhat more emotional ��" approach to things really compelled me to keep reading. I liked Libby a lot. She’s thrust into a horrible situation ��" trying to find her friend while the whole town suspects her of being behind the disappearance. Libby does use logical thought, but for the most part her actions are driven by emotions. As she starts to get an idea of who the people are around her she also uses her building faith to guide her decisions. That was what I liked most about her. She was new in her faith and still unsure of how walking in faith could guide her life. “What Would Jesus Do” becomes almost a mantra for her by the middle of the story. That really made me connect with Libby ��" my faith is also somewhat fresh and I’m still learning how to walk in faith. That and I tend to be very emotionally driven, so I could really relate to Libby. I also liked Alec ��" I got the impression that in a town where everyone depends on everyone else Alec can be a rock for those in the community. He’s compassionate and caring and tries to do what he feels is the right thing. The story itself was pretty good. There were a few intense moments, but for the most part it was a fairly light read. While faith played a central role in the story there was so much more going on than inner turmoil. I thought I had the mystery pegged from the beginning, but as the story went on I kept second-guessing myself. And while I did have it right to begin with by the time the mystery of why and who took Nicole was revealed I had been on a totally different train of thought. I liked that it wasn’t clear-cut from the word go ��" as Libby uncovered new secrets and tried to prove her innocence I fell in line with her thinking. I liked that I was kept guessing ��" made me want to keep reading. Overall it was a pretty good book and was very well written. I liked that faith kind of drove the story without overpowering the plot. It showed that even in faith we might make mistakes, but that we just keep going and doing what we think is right.

This was a very inspiring book. Most of the time while I was reading it I forgot how young the author is. He has a very mature way of writing. Then there were times that he would say something that would “snap” me back to reality and I’d realize just how young he was. It was amazing to read his story. To think, someone so young has done something so fantastic with his life already! Just imagine all the amazing things he’s yet to accomplish. I liked that the message focused on the little boy who gives his lunch to Jesus, and Jesus performs a miracle using that boy’s lunch. This boy and his seemengly meager lunch was used to feed thousands of people! While it’s a story we’re all familiar with I’d never really focused that much attention to it. Gutwein shows how something so simple can become something much more significant if we allow ourselves to give our gifts to God. This book was so well written, as I said earlier I kept forgetting how young the author is. But I think his youth is what makes this book so enjoyable. He’s so enthusiastic about his message ��" the kind of enthusiasm children often have about everything. Not only does his enthusiasm show through but he’s able to take the concepts he’s trying to convey and make them so simple. I know this book is geared towards children, teens, and young adults but I think the message is one what we all can benefit from. As we get older I think we tend to feel as if we don’t have anything left to contribute or that our gifts aren’t as “strong” as they were when we were young and we had the enthusiasm and energy we used to have. But through Gutwein’s words I realized that as long as I give my gifts ��" no matter how insignificant I may think they are ��" that they can be used to do something wonderful. My gifts can be a miracle for someone else. This was an amazing book with a awesome message. Not only is this book very encouraging it is also is energizing. It made me really look at my life and start working on some of my gifts so that I can start to help others with them. I’ve already got a few small projects ready to go!

I love to read books that keep you guessing right until the end. I had no idea how this one was going to end, even if I’d been able to make a guess I doubt I would have been close. There were so many twists that by the end I didn’t even care about guessing. I was so engrossed in this story that I wasn’t even looking to the future, I was tied to the right now. The writing was awesome in this one. There are some scenes that were fairly graphic and yet it didn’t come off as being gross, disgusting, or in poor taste. It was gruesome, disturbing, and shocking, but it was so well put together that it didn’t really phase me. It was an important part of a very good story. I liked how the characters were developed in this one. Everything wasn’t just thrown out there at the beginning. That would have ruined the story. As certain parts of a character’s development were needed they were expertly added to the story. But things didn’t feel like they were just thrown together. As we learned something about a character it was quickly integrated into the story. I can’t say I particularly liked any of the characters ��" they all seemed to have something that made them not the greatest people ��" but I was truly engaged and wanted to know what was going to happen to them next. Even though I felt as if I knew them all each time a twist was thrown in I would get to see a side of them that I didn’t know existed. I can’t say enough how well written this was. Even when the story was getting gruesome I couldn’t put it down. The writing was so good that it really pulled me in. I was so drawn into the story that I just couldn’t focus on anything else. I had to keep reading because no matter what was going on in the story I just knew that something even more awesome was coming on the next page. Given all the horrible things that went on in this book I’d normally say it was very difficult to read. But with this one everything fell into place and even the horrible events were necessary. I think this was probably one of the best written books I’ve ever read. It was exciting, and suspenseful and truly pulled me in right from the beginning. Hillier is definitely a master of her craft and I will be picking up more of her books! People always say “She/He could sing the phone book and make it sound beautiful” I think if Hillier had written the phone book it wouldn’t have become almost obsolete!

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one. I think there is a high chance that this story could have come off as being creepy ��" but luckily it wasn’t creepy at all. At least to me. I think it was a little freaky, being able to “talk” to dead loved ones is a bit weird. But the more I read the story the more I understood what these people were doing and it became a little less weird. I do think that if we ever see this kind of technology it will create a lot of controversy though. And the book does go into a bit of that controversy and touches on both sides of it. So it was very well-rounded. I loved the characters ��" real and otherwise. Sam was a likable guy ��" like many “nerds” he was often overlooked as boyfriend material. Then he found Meredith. Because they were matched on how well their personalities would mesh rather than how they looked their romance was true. Meredith loved Sam for who he was, not how he looked. And it made for a great romance. Their relationship is the kind that everyone dreams of having. They were truly the perfect fit for each other. They complimented each other so nicely. Where Sam was an introvert Meredith was an extrovert and helped open Sam up. Where Meredith was emotional Sam helped her talk through things and look at the whole picture. If the story had just been about their love it would have been a great story. But there was so much more to this than just being a love story. The book deals with a controversial issue, and regardless of which side you agree with I think it’s a book worth reading. It really does deal with both sides of the issue ��" those that don’t think it’s right, and those that do. The premise of the story is that you can talk to your loved ones after they’ve passed if they have a decent amount of online activity to build on. For people who are grieving being able to talk to that loved one just one more time can be the closure they need to move on with their lives. And yet there are those people who keep the lines of communication going for quite a while. Those people who come in looking for communication with their loved ones really become an integral part of the story. They’re sharing something so intimate with each other, and they really do become their own little family. As much as I liked the love story between Sam and Meredith seeing the changing dynamics between the people there to speak with their loved ones was a great addition to the story. I’ve been seeing that the movie rights for this one have already been picked up. I think that’s awesome. It was a great book and I think it will make an amazing movie. It was wonderfully written, and as long as the screen play doesn’t take too many liberties with the story it will be a great movie.

I loved this book. It was very emotional and starts tugging right at the beginning. The story is one of journeys ��" physical, emotional, spiritual, personal. It really delves into the human existence on so many different levels. Rob’s story is a hard one. Life goes from being normal to being turned upside down in an instant. He’s left to deal with the emotional aftermath of death, while he feels he’s alone on this journey ��" as he’s given up on faith ��" he forgets about his wife at his side. Then the unthinkable happens and his already tumultuous life is stirred into a frenzy yet again! This time he set out for a journey all alone ��" no one to turn to and nothing to have faith in. In his journey he meets a few people who share their lives with him, but yet their influence doesn’t do much to lighten the emotional load he’s carrying with him. The further he travels the more alone he feels. His mind is in turmoil while making his trip. He often questions the purpose of life, his actions, fate, free will, spirituality, and so much more. While there is a physical goal for this journey it’s about so much more than just making it to the end point. I know I’ve been through a phase in life where I questioned religion, not so much questioned my beliefs, but rather questioned which path is the right one. So while my journey wasn’t quite like Rob’s I could relate to it so well. It was a really good story, and despite the erratic changes in the narrator’s point of view (1st person to 3rd) I still have to say this was an amazing book. I couldn’t wait to see how it ended, but I didn’t want to put it down!

I thought I was going to have a hard time reading this one. I love thrillers, however if is too “real” I have a hard time reading them. The less realistic the easier for me. However once I got into this one I couldn’t put it down. The threat of biological warfare is something that scares the crap out of me. And while this book was scary ��" in that it could really happen ��" it was so well written that I easily got past my fears. I liked that it took us “behind the scenes”. If a situation like this were to really occur I don’t think many of us would really know what was going on. I think the media would “protect” us from the truth of what the government is really doing. Being able to get a look at how the government might handle this kind of situation really made me think. It made me wonder if I’d really want to know what the government was doing: going on covert operations, not “stepping-in” to prevent the threat on an official level, creating a new virus, back door deals, and so much more. I think in a situation like this ignorance just might be bliss. The stress and chaos that was introduced into the lives of Camp and Leslie is not something that most people could deal with. And even as trained as they are to deal with this stuff it still got to them. Even despite the fact that if I were living through this kind of situation I don’t think I’d want to know ��" it was an amazing story to read. It was so fast-paced, there really was no down time. Even the somber opening to the story was quickly replaced with the start of the situation that carries the book along. I liked the characters ��" although I didn’t fully connect with any of them. I’ve never been in the situations they were in, and I found it hard to think of them as “normal” people with abnormal lives. There’s no way I could do any of what they did without going crazy ��" composure under pressure isn’t my strong suit, even under a normal amount of pressure. So while I didn’t connect with them personally I do think they were exceptional characters. The writing was awesome ��" there was so much to this story I can’t believe that it all flowed so well. It is a great author that can have so many balls in the air and not drop one of them. I didn’t feel like any parts of the story were brushed off. Every time the story took on a new aspect it was followed through with. Nothing was left open-ended. I didn’t really think about it while I was reading, but once I finished the book I was amazed at the skill of McKellips to keep so much in order! This was an amazing story and was exceptionally well written. I liked having a look behind the scenes of the government to see how they would handle a bio-weapons situation. I can’t wait to get a hold of another of McKellips’ books!

The tagline for this book really explains the book to a T “A Parable For Our Times”. There were many times throughout reading this that I could relate what the people of Brigos Glen were going through to things that are happening in our world right now. I’ve known people that are just like the different characters in the book. Everything about this book is rooted to our current day issues. The story was a pretty good one. It really made me think. There were quite a few Biblical references, and given my new and limited knowledge of the Bible many of them I didn’t pick up on. But there is a listing of references in the back of the book, and after reviewing that I understand the references now. I really liked the appendix as had I not had that I likely would have missed their implications. I don’t feel that I missed anything from the story not having reviewed them till the end. But after going back and rereading those sections it did give the story a new dimension for me. I love the way the author uses this story to explain the Trinity. I think that is one part of Christianity that is difficult to grasp for many people. How can one being be three beings? But the way the story unfolds you really do get a sense of how each of these beings operate, and the ultimate connection to how they are all one in the same was a “light bulb” moment for me. This book puts such a complex ideal into a story that makes it so much easier to understand. I really liked the characters. Sam could have been anyone. I think everyone knows a guy like Sam. He was just kind of “going through the motions”. He was compassionate and helpful, but for the most part he just lived his life and did what he had to do to support his family. He was just a regular guy. His friendship with Ellington was an integral part of the story and while Ellington wasn’t a greatly developed character I got enough of a sense of who he was that I understood his importance to Sam’s journey. The rest of the characters were pretty good, they didn’t have huge parts in the story, but the parts they did play were very important. Each one was in the story for a specific purpose and as their purposes were revealed the whole story started to really come together. The connections to our lives today were easy for me to spot, which made the story that much more understandable. The Brigons are basically grouped into three different kinds of people. To me this was a relation to people’s religious beliefs. Without giving too much away there are those that are strict, those that are always looking for something new, and those that are looking to find something better. I’ve encountered all three of these kinds of people. The biggest thing with this book for me was how easily I was able to relate to it. The Trinity is something that I admittedly have little knowledge about, and yet I was able to understand it easily. I love that Graham was able to take such an abstract concept and make it a much more concrete concept. A great book that really brings our current way of life into perspective.

I find it hard to review this one. I liked the book, and I cried while reading. So there was an emotional attachment, but it just wasn't an unforgettable book for me. It was kind of like fodder - just there to pass the time. I hate to say that about it, because I did enjoy it. I just missed something with this one. I haven't seen the movie yet, so I didn't have a disconnect because it didn't follow the movie or vice versa. Maybe as time passes I'll be able to figure it out. But on with the review... I really liked Savannah. John was an ok character but I just got the "dumb jock" sterotype stuck in my head and couldn't get past that with him. I don't know they the jock thing stuck, since he was in the Army, but that's what stuck. Even when he was being a sweetheart I didn't see it as being realistic. Savannah was so caring and had such a big heart, but she also knew she had to take care of her heart and wouldn't let herself get hurt. I could see her falling in love with John, but I also could see that it would be short lived. They were two different people and he didn't really suit her. I would have liked to have had more about John's father, as I think he was the "sweetheart" influence on John. Maybe if he'd been a little bit more developed and a bigger part of the story then I wouldn't have had the negative view of John and his ability to be a anything but cool hearted. Through the whole book I just felt like John's emotions were a bit distant, I know he didn't want to "show" his emotions but everyone has emotions whether they like it or not. So I would have liked to see more of John's dad and John's emotions. I was also kind of disappointed at the end. There was a big build up and no real resolution. I am going to watch the movie. I've heard it's pretty different from the book and that it's one of the few movies that is better than the book. I will read more of Sparks' novels because I do like a good love story. Other's of his that I've read were really good. So I think maybe this one was just a fluke!

When I first started this series I didn't realize how drawn to these characters I would become. I started at Book 2 when Sara, Thomas, and James are searching for the other groups of three children who will help put and end to Braccus' evil. I was kind of so-so with Book 2. Book 3 I was so attached to the characters already that it was like picking up with some old friends. By the time I started Book 4 I couldn't wait to figure out what was going to happen next. I don't normally read series. I might pick one up along the way, but I very rarely read more than one in a series. So it was kind of weird for me to follow these characters for so long. But because I've been following them I'm so drawn to them. I hope there's going to be a Book 5 because I can't imagine that my Journey with Sara and the Keepers is over! I really liked this one. I was ready for the battles to begin right from the word go. I love the ways that the keepers and the children all use their powers. It's so different. When they are faced with an enemy the way they use their powers to overcome is interesting. Hughes thinks of new things for each battle - so it's not just the same thing over and over again. And the fact that all the children are getting more powerful means that they are discovering new abilities that they didn't know they had. While Sara is still the main focus of Book 4 the other children play such a vital role in this book. The second group of three is sent to look for the third group of three and they have to make it through the worlds by themselves. This really allowed the other characters to develop more. I like that there are new characters added with each book, and that each of these new characters is a piece of the overall puzzle. I'm sure that without the addition of the new characters the books would still be good. But adding these new characters and watching them blossom into their new powers really added to the story. There's so much going on in Book 4 that there wasn't really any "down" time. The book would switch from one group to the next and each time the group that we're following is at a major point of their journey. It makes for a great page turner! In this book the use of portals to move between Iam's worlds is a more prevalent factor in how the battles and challenges turn out. While the portals were introduced in the earlier books they really come into play in this book. Every time they find a portal and move through it I was so eager to find out what kind of world Hughes was going to throw me into. Her ability to create so many different worlds and to describe them so that they all seem so real is amazing. I envy her imagination. To be able to create all these different worlds, all these different creatures, and be able to come up with new ways for the characters to use their powers is fantastic. I have to say that as I've progressed through these three books I've noticed a progression in how Hughes writes. The specifics of her writing are the same and she's telling the same story, but something has changed slightly in the writing with each new book. I can't put a finger on it, but there has been a slight change.

This one took a little while to get going. Setting up the story took quite a bit. But once the story got going I really did enjoy it. There's a lot of personality points that need to be made about Daria. I think had the story just jumped in it wouldn't have been nearly as good. I felt like the building was very necessary to the rest of the story. I like Daria and her Boba. Daria's a very strong woman. She knows how to get what she wants in her beautiful city of Odessa. The means she takes don't always seem to make sense, but it's mentioned a few times that that's how it's done with Odesseans. In Odessa Daria is well-past the appropriate age to marry, but she's not "normal" and has put her life before the life everyone else expects her to lead. Her main focus is her Boba and making sure that she can take care of Boba, her grandmother, the way Boba has taken care of her. There's a very strong bond between the two of them. When Daria & Boba's dreams finally come true, and Daria's approached by an American willing to move her to America with him she seems a bit torn. It's what she always wanted and yet she doesn't want to desert her Boba. But Boba pushes her out the door and Daria's on her way to America. The story is pretty good till this point, but once Daria reaches America is when the emotional ties really pulled me into this one. Janet Skeslien Charles has a great ability to explain people so that you feel as if you know them personally. I felt as if I've known Daria, Boba, and the whole lot of characters all my life. I understood how they think and was able to predict how they'd act as easily as I can my own family. It was amazing to be that drawn into a book. While this was a good piece of fiction I think the story is more of a look at how people interact, how cultures can clash and mesh, and how people can persevere even if they aren't given what they thought they were getting. It's about struggle, and the fact that we always have a way out. I would have given this one 5 stars but it did take a while to really get into the story. While I see the need for the build up of the back ground on the characters it was a bit daunting. By the time the book started to get good I'd almost given up on it. Although I'm glad I didn't!

I have given this book 5 stars - but if I could I would give it 100! It was truly an amazing book! It was a look at religion in a way that I've never experienced before. It didn't necessarily change my views on religion, as some of the "points" that are made are in line with my beliefs, but it did put into words things I've been struggling to. The story starts with Mackenzie's daughter being kidnapped. As Mackenzie tries to deal with it and "move on" as he thinks the rest of his family has done he is delivered a note, and given his desire to find out what happened to his daughter he takes off to discover a new clue. I feel bad for Mackenzie. He feels guilty for allowing his daughter to be kidnapped, has all but lost the rest of his family in his desire to find out what happened, and his faith in anything is gone. As he is on his journey for his daughter he comes across three people who try to help him restore his faith. It's so emotional - I cried almost through the entire book! It's not an easy read by any means. At the very least it will make you think. It could very well go against everything you believe. The trials that Mackenzie has to go through to get what he's searching for are so amazing. They really put things into a perspective that I've never even thought about before. I want to tell you about my favorite scene of the book. I don't normally do this, but this book was so great that I can't not share it. I'd love to just tell you about everything, but you should read it for yourself1 At one point in the story Makenzie is taken to a dark cave and he's asked to judge people. He's reluctant to do it, and the wisdom that is gifted to him really made me think. It's such a powerful scene - and the reward that Mackenzie gets from "learning" this lesson is so great that just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes and gives me goose bumps. There are a few things in the book that I am surprised didn't cause a huge stir. I felt that the book kind of defies the "normal" view of how a person should experience religion. But I think it's a must-read!