Sandra Bricker's Raw Edges ~ Reviewed

Raw Edges (Quilts Of Love) [Paperback]
By Sandra D. Bricker (Author)
Studio: Abingdon Press
Pages 256
Release Date Sep 1, 2013
Publisher Abingdon Press
Series Quilts Of Love
ISBN 142675275X

Description
Grayson McDonough has no use for teal ribbons, 5k runs, or ovarian cancer support groups now that his beautiful wife Jenna is gone. But their nine-year-old daughter Sadie seems to need the connection. When Annabelle Curtis, the beautiful cancer survivor organizing the memory quilt project for the Ovacome support group, begins to bring out the silly and fun side of his precious daughter again, Gray must set aside his own grief to support the healing of Sadie s young heart. But is there hope for Gray s heart too along the way?

Review:

Raw Edges is another book in the Quilts of Love series.  This story’s quilt revolves around Ovarian Cancer, those that have lost the battle and those that have one.  Grayson McDonough becomes involved in Ovacome, a support group for those affected by ovarian cancer, after his nine year old daughter, Sadie, encourages him to take her.  Grayson’s wife, Jenna, had lost the battle the previous year.  While there, they meet Annabelle Curtis, an ovarian cancer survivor, who is heading up a group making a Quilt as a fundraiser for Ovacome.   Sadie is taken with Annabelle immediately, and finds ways to make plans with her and her father.  Grayson finds himself more and more attracted to Annabelle, but still feels like he is married to Jenna, and doesn’t know what to do, while Annabelle reciprocates his feelings, but doesn’t want to push him.

I think this is one of my favorites in the Quilts of Love series so far.  Sadie was probably my favorite character.  She didn’t let the loss of her mother keep her down.  I think the fact that her mother made a journal with advice, encouragement and scripture had a lot to do with that.  And Sadie’s connection with Annabelle was precious.  They had so much in common, and really needed each other.  I don’t know how else to describe except that it was a happy story.  It just made me smile and I really liked it a lot.

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Jill Williamson's Outcasts ~ Reviewed

OUTCASTS

By Jill Williamson

Blink

ISBN 0310724244

Back Cover:

The remnant from Glenrock is now living as rebels within the Safe Lands, looking for a way to find purpose in their lives. When a young rebel is murdered and his death points to a rebel leader, it's hard to know who to trust. 

Levi tries to organize a plan to free the children and fights for respect as elder over those who'd rather go their own way. Omar tries to change his image of a traitor by donning a costume and going out into the night as a vigilante hero. And Mason stumbles onto a shocking secret about the Safe Lands meds, but his investigation just might get them all liberated

Review:

STIMMING AWESOME!

That’s the thing I like about Jill Williamson’s writing. I always pick up a new word or two from one of her characters. But in OUTCASTS, you’ll pick up oh-so-much more!

Take a bunch of misfits, some who know they are, some who don’t, and lock them in a city with government men who want to kill them, and that’s where the action begins. Usually book 2 in a series is the meh read, the bridge between books 1 and 3, but not OUTCASTS. This one moved a lot faster than the first, making for a breathless story.

The character development of Shaylinn and Ciddah really satisfied. Omar and Levi? Not as much. Most of the time I want to punch Omar in the head, just like the rest of his family. Hopefully in book 3 he’ll transform completely into a loveable hero.

I love the themes of persistence, self-acceptance, and standing for what is right no matter the cost. But it’s those very themes that will leave you hanging on the last page of the book.

If you love dystopian fiction, this is the book for you!

Reviewed by: Michelle Griep

Susan Meissner's A Fall of Marigolds ~ Reviewed

A Fall of Marigolds
by Susan Meissner 

Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: NAL Trade (February 4, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 045141991X

Description:

A beautiful scarf, passed down through the generations, connects two women who learn that the weight of the world is made bearable by the love we give away....

September 1911. On Ellis Island in New York Harbor, nurse Clara Wood cannot face returning to Manhattan, where the man she loved fell to his death in the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. Then, while caring for a fevered immigrant whose own loss mirrors hers, she becomes intrigued by a name embroidered onto the scarf he carries…and finds herself caught in a dilemma that compels her to confront the truth about the assumptions she’s made. Will what she learns devastate her or free her? 

September 2011. On Manhattan’s Upper West Side, widow Taryn Michaels has convinced herself that she is living fully, working in a charming specialty fabric store and raising her daughter alone. Then a long-lost photograph appears in a national magazine, and she is forced to relive the terrible day her husband died in the collapse of the World Trade Towers…the same day a stranger reached out and saved her. Will a chance reconnection and a century-old scarf open Taryn’s eyes to the larger forces at work in her life?

Review:

I haven't read Susan Meissner in a while. Every time I pick up one of her books I'm instantly into transported to wherever she sends me. A Fall of Marigolds is no exception. Meissner expertly weaves an epic story that centers around a fragile connection that changes the lives of the women who touch it. 

Set in September 1911 and September 2011, two women, Clara and Taryn struggle with tremendous loss and the horror of witnessing tragedies. One scarf, splashed with vibrant, yellow marigolds and the embroidered name Lily, ties the two women together. Both women have to come to terms with their lost loves after discovering the healing that comes through time, the care of others and simple truth that hope can overcome the worst horror. 

The loss and terror from the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire sends Clara to an in-between island hideaway teeming with lost and hurting souls who get detained by disease as they attempt to enter their dreams of America's freedoms. Taryn hides in a muffled nest filled with beauty and fabrics and a secret shame that she was the reason her husband died during the terror strike on the World Trade Towers. 

The colors of the scarf demands the attention of each woman, a century apart, and pulls her into a story much bigger than herself. As the women change and begin to come to terms the healing that need to take place the memories of the fires, explosions and loss turn to memories of peace and hope grows. 

A Fall of Marigolds isn't an easy read, I teared up several times and had to set the book down to escape some of the intensity. But it's a beautiful tapestry of human need and longing, of horror and hope, of ashes turning into beauty. Meissner is an artist, the prose alone is haunting and beautiful, add realistic characters and the power of the story and this becomes a must read novel. I highly recommend it. Marigolds will linger a very long time in my memory and I don't think I'll wait quite as long to pick up the next Meissner novel. 

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

John Faubion's Friend Me ~ Reviewed

Friend Me

By John Faubion

Published by Simon & Schuster

ISBN#9781476738727

339 Pages

Back Cover: “You’re afraid you are becoming unfaithful, aren’t you?”

Scott and Rachel’s marriage is on the brink of disaster. Scott, a businessman with a high-pressure job, just wants Rachel to understand him and accept his flaws. Rachel is a lonely housewife, desperate for attention and friendship. So she decides to create a virtual friend online, unaware that Scott is doing the exact same thing. But neither realizes that there’s a much larger problem looming. . . .

Behind both of their online creations is Melissa, a woman who is brilliant— and totally insane. Masquerading as both friend and lover, Melissa programmed a search parameter into the Virtual Friend Me software to find her perfect man, but along the way she forgot to specify his marriage status. And Scott is her ideal match. Now Melissa is determined to have it all—Scott, his family, and Rachel’s life.

As Melissa grows bolder and her online manipulations transition into the real world, Scott and Rachel figure out they are being played. Now it’s a race against time as Scott and Rachel fight to save their marriage, and their lives, before it’s too late.

Review: I’m thankful for the review copy of this riveting, page-turning, novel. It’s an insightful tour through cyber space that shows just how easy it is to be sucked into an addictive secret world. This author shows the potential for wicked abuse of a secret Virtual Friend and how quickly this secret breaks down the family and a society as a whole. This book also shows readers how easy it is to take your virtual friend anywhere you go and how in this case it can be a “fatal attraction.” for real in Scott and Rachel’s situation!

I’m glad they had an interview with the author in the back of the book. The author was asked “When do you think Scott became unfaithful in the story? Answer: …when he as asked which he wanted a “male or female friend?” Scott replied “female”. At that point, he’d crossed over. He became unfaithful…when a husband chooses some women other than his wife as his confidant, companion, or female best friend; he’s turned down the road of infidelity.”

He goes on to say, “…we live in an age where people choose to exist in virtual worlds…we need to focus on real people, real lives. Real friends. Real love.”

This author pens a heart racing suspense drama that’s all too real. He talks about the seductive side of on-line friends that compromise our virtues one key stroke at a time. This author explores the definition of reality, morality, the imagination, and how our perception affects our heart and our personal relationships forever.

The story opens up with Melissa, the creator of Virtual Friends website. She has a dark side with an unbelievable past. I was nervous in the beginning of this story because this was the author’s debut novel and I didn’t know how creepy he would get. It’s dark in the beginning and in parts, very realistic and gives readers insight on how easy it is to get on a road in life that’s a fast track to losing everything they hold dear. Everyone is tempt-able, no one’s perfect. We need help and encouragement to keep the main thing the main thing in our lives, relationship with God, real people and real love. God is there to heal our hearts and situation no matter what we fall into.

I liked how this author tactfully dealt with these sensitive issues. He conveyed the message and/or situations without being too graphic. I liked that. This author has a faith message that’s natural to the story. It’s not heavy handed but makes you think. It shows how fast life can unravel and how God can heal deep hurts if you give him a chance.

There are discussion questions in the book that will get everyone talking. This would be a fascinating book for a book club pick. At the back of the book it has a page called Bonus Features its ideas for your meeting that will enhance your book club experience and further the discussion of this book.  The internet has affected our lives in so many good and bad ways. This book shows how we must guard our heart, mind and emotions. It’s easier than ever in the privacy of your own home or car to go to the dark side.

I would avoid talking about this book in a public setting as sensitive issues most likely will surface. This is a must read for our cyber culture society. This book will rock your world and give you hope in navigating uncharted territory on the web. I highly recommend this novel and look forward to this author’s next book. Friend Me is a story you’ll be reminded of every time you sit down at your computer! John Faubion is an author to watch.

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent

TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!

www.bookfun.org

Novel Book App

Findaway World, an audiobook technology provider, has announced the launch of Bookopotamus, an audiobook trivia app, designed to entertain book lovers while raising money for First Book, a nonprofit organization determined to see that all children have access to an ongoing supply of new books.

In an effort to increase the charitable impact of the app, Bookopotamus, which initially launched to Findaway World partners and customers during the holiday season, is now available to everyone via the Apple App Store and through Google Play. 

“The most important thing we can do as a company is to build products that change lives. Bookopotamus exposes more users to the value of audiobooks while ensuring that children in need will get to experience them too,” comments Dean Skinner, Chief Creative and Marketing Officer at Findaway World

In each round of Bookopotamus, the player is presented with an audible audiobook quote and is asked to guess, against the clock, which book the quote is from. The earlier the answer is provided, the higher the score for the game. As they play, users evolve from a curious little Bookworm into a Bookopotamus with an insatiable appetite for books. 

Book selections range from bestsellers to the classics and context clues within the quotes can guide even those with less book exposure to find the right answer. As an entertaining bonus, all sound effects in the game were verbally made by members of the Findaway World team. 

The more people who download the app and play, the larger the donation (up to $10,000 in Playaways) Findaway World is making to First Book. Donations will continue to accumulate through March 2014.


About Findaway WorldFindaway World is a provider of audiobook technology solutions with one of the world's largest collections of digital audiobook content. Playaway and Playaway View all-in-one, pre-loaded devices make it simple to deliver audiobooks and videos to library patrons, military personnel and students. Findaway World's digital products move audio forward with technology solutions that enable partners to deliver digital audiobook content to their users.

Founded and based in Solon, Ohio, Findaway World was named one of top 50 fastest growing consumer product companies in the country by Inc. Magazine from 2009 – 2012. To learn more about Findaway World's products and the Findawayers who make it all happen, visit www.findawayworld.com.

About First BookFirst Book is a nonprofit social enterprise that has distributed more than 100 million books and educational resources to programs and schools serving children from low-income families throughout the United States and Canada. By making new, high-quality books available on an ongoing basis, First Book is transforming the lives of children in need and elevating the quality of education. For more information, please visit us online or follow our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

Suzanne Field's the Painted Table Reviewed with a Chance to Win a Contest

Suzanne Field is celebrating her novel The Painted Table with a beautiful hand-painted table giveaway!

One winner will receive:

• A beautiful hand-painted table (see it here: http://etsy.me/15L90cD)
• The Painted Table by Suzanne Field

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on January 18th. Winner will be announced January 20th on Thomas Nelson's Facebook Page.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by the TNZ Facebook Page on the 20th to see if you won.

As always, a copy of this title was provided for review.

Review:

I was intrigued by the premise of this novel. The mind, and the way it can spiral out of control or be transformed, fascinates me. 

I struggled through the first half of this book though. I don't care for an omniscient point of view and I tend to be attracted to deeply drawn characters. This novel covers four decades and the lives of several key players. During this vast time span the majority of the prose is narrating snippets of shaping experiences in the characters' lives. I was not able to get to know the characters on that deep level I crave. And because I didn't get to know them, I mostly remained untouched by the struggles and the drama of their lives. 

The second half of the book focused primarily on Saffee, the daughter, and her choosing to overcome the stigma and the generational curse of madness, that hovered over her mother. 

I can't recommend The Painted Table to readers who want the same experience I like in my fiction because if you don't care for omniscient point of view you will likely find yourself frustrated. However, those who are fascinated by the break down of a mind or how the process of thinking can make or break a person might want to give the Painted Table a spot in their to read pile. If you are looking for an inspiring read that paints a picture of how a series of choices and God's love can help break the grip of mental illness or a generational curse then you should be caught up in the story of redemption. 

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

Kathryn Craft's The Art of Falling ~ Reviewed

The Art of Falling

• by
 
• Kathryn Craft

• ISBN-13: 9781402285196
• Publisher: Sourcebooks, Incorporated
• Publication date: 1/28/2014
• Pages: 368

Overview

One Wrong Step Could Send Her Over the Edge

All Penny has ever wanted to do is dance—and when that chance is taken from her, it pushes her to the brink of despair, from which she might never return. When she wakes up after a traumatic fall, bruised and battered but miraculously alive, Penny must confront the memories that have haunted her for years, using her love of movement to pick up the pieces of her shattered life.

Kathryn Craft's lyrical debut novel is a masterful portrayal of a young woman trying to come to terms with her body and the artistic world that has repeatedly rejected her. The Art of Falling expresses the beauty of movement, the stasis of despair, and the unlimited possibilities that come with a new beginning.

Review: 

In her debut novel The Art of Falling, an amazing story about the resiliency of the human spirit, Kathryn Craft has secured a spot in my Top 10 for 2013 list. From her lyrical style to her unforgettable characters, she had me mesmerized from the first page until the last. One caveat, there are two non-gratuitous 4-letter words, but please don't let that stop you from reading this outstanding novel. You'll miss one of the best of this year's offerings if you do. Novel Rocket and I give it a 4 ½ out of 5. It's a must read.

Reviewed by: Ane Mulligan, President

Novel Rocket

Barbara Cameron's Scraps of Evidence ~ Reviewed

SCRAPS OF EVIDENCE
Barbara Cameron
Release Date Nov 1, 2013
Publisher Abingdon Press
Series Quilts Of Love
Series Number 14
Pages: 240
ISBN 1426752784

     

Description


Tess has taken some ribbing from her fellow officer, Logan, for her quilting hobby. He finds it hard to align the brisk professional officer he patrols with during the day with the one who quilts in her off-time. Besides, he s been trying to get to know her better and he d like to be seeing her during those few nights a week she spends with her quilting guild. Then one afternoon Tess and Logan visit her aunt in the nursing home, and the woman acts agitated when Tess covers her with the story quilt. Aunt Susan is attempting to communicate a message to them about Tess s uncle. There s a story behind this quilt, they realize, one that may lead them to a serial killer. Will they have a chance to have a future together, or will the killer choose Tess for his next victim before they find him?

Review:
        

Scraps of Evidence is about a detective named Tess.  She has just become a detective in a small town in Florida which she grew up in.  Her new partner, Logan, turns out to be a good partner, a man she can trust.  It comes as no surprise when they begin to have feelings for each other.  In the midst of all of this, Tess is trying to take care of her Aunt Susan, who keeps having accidents, as well as investigating in a murder that has taken place.  It becomes of special interest to Tess to find the killer when she realizes that it might be the same person who killed her best friend in high school.
        
This was a good book and a quick read.  I had my suspicions about who the killer was from the beginning, but the author did a good job of keeping you on your toes.  Even though you could see it coming, I enjoyed watching Tess and Logan’s relationship develop as well.


Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Kimberley Graham's The Rocking Horse of Tuscumbia ~ Reviewed

Title: The Rocking Horse of Tuscumbia

By: Kimberley G. Graham

Pages: 380

Release date: August 29

Publisher: Kimberley G. Graham

Description:

A spiritually blind and deaf woman confronts her long-buried past when she returns to her hometown, the birthplace of Helen Keller. Because Amanda Crosby shares her birthday with the town’s matriarch, Helen Keller, she feels no identity apart from Tuscumbia. When the pain of her past collides with her uncertain future, she realizes she’s spiritually blind and deaf--and teetering back and forth between her husband and her lost love like one of her rocking horses.

Review:

The Rocking Horse of Tuscumbia is a brilliant combination of deep and intriguing characterization, unexpected plot twists, and a story line that tugs at the human soul. The story is told in first person narrative through the eyes of Amanda Crosby, a girl (and later, woman), who shares a birthday with the town’s historical hero, Helen Keller. Her mother, obsessively enamored with Helen Keller, turns Amanda’s birthday celebrations into elaborate, public memorial affairs. As a result, Amanda grows up feeling unloved and bitter. When her father dies, she feels more alone than ever, and things between her and her mother deteriorate further. As Amanda nears adulthood, one desire dominates her every thought: to leave the town and the pain it represents far behind. But she soon finds wounds and secrets from her past won’t stay in Tuscumbia. In fact, to be freed from her past, she must return to Tuscumbia and face it head on.

The character depth Ms. Graham crafted and the small town interactions and drama gave this novel a rich, almost literary feel. The setting, a close-knit community centered in Tuscumbia, with its unique and fascinating history and flavorful culture, added a delicious layer to a gripping and thought-provoking story. This author is truly gifted and has crafted a captivating novel. It will appeal to readers of varied genres.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Slattery

Kathleen Bauer's Before the Dawn ~ Reviewed

Before the Dawn

Kathleen Bauer

Pages 280
Binding Softcover
Release Date Jul 1, 2013
Publisher Ideals Publications
ISBN 0824934245

Overview:

It's the dawn of a new season in Charlotte Stevenson's life.

Charlotte Stevenson's world is turned upside-down by the death of her daughter, Denise, whose three children are now coming to Nebraska to live on Heather Creek Farm. Sam is fiercely protective of his younger siblings; Emily desperately misses her friends; and young Christopher, a sweet soul, just wants to fit in. While Charlotte helps the grandchildren she barely knows adjust to their new life, she also wrestles with her own grief. What if she makes the same mistakes she made with Denise? Is this her chance to make things right? The miracle of new life, along with God's healing touch, reminds all of them that it's always darkest just before the dawn.

About the Home to Heather Creek series: Before the Dawn is the first book in the Home to Heather Creek series. Charlotte Stevenson is raising her grandchildren on the family farm after a tragic accident changes all of their lives forever. With the help of her husband Bob and a close-knit circle of friends, she will do whatever it takes to keep this fragile family together. See how God, who makes the sun rise and the crops grow, watches over our lives too.

Review:

 Before the Dawn is book one in the Home to Heather Creek Series.  In this book, Bob and Charlotte Stevenson’s world is turned upside down.  Their daughter, Denise, had run away several years ago, very rarely keeping contact.  Suddenly, she is killed in a car accident, and Bob and Charlotte must go to California, not only for the funeral, but to get their three grandchildren.  Sam is the oldest, and very protective of his siblings.  Emily is a young teenager that dresses in a manner that seems inappropriate to her grandparents.  Christopher, the youngest, is just a sweet boy that wants everyone to be happy.  Not only do the children have to adjust to their mother being one, but they have to move from their home in California to their Grandparents’ farm in Nebraska.  Meanwhile, Charlotte is trying to adjust to having teenagers in the house again, while worrying about how to parent them properly so as not to push them away.

This was a very good story.  I really enjoyed Charlotte’s character.  She tried so hard to put on a happy face and didn’t want anyone to know that she was suffering over the loss of her daughter.  But by doing this, she didn’t realize she was pushing her grandchildren away.  Her character really developed throughout the course of the story, in a good way.

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Veronica Roth's Divergent ~ Reviewed

DIVERGENT

By Veronica Roth

May 2011

Katherine Tegen Books

978-0062024022

Back Cover Copy:

In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

My Review:

Want to know why I bought this book? It was on the end-cap at the bookstore. It wasn’t Hunger Games. The movie is coming out in March so I’d actually have a chance to finish reading it before seeing it…one of my life rules. Plus, the bright reddish-orange against a dark backdrop caught my eye.

So I thought, what the heck? Without even reading the back cover copy, I toodled home with Divergent and tossed it on my TBR pile, having no expectations whatsoever.

The first fourth is a bit tedious. Half-way through, it picks up speed. By the end, you’ll be like, “BRING IT!”

What’s the pull? Two things. The heroine, Beatrice, aka Tris, is a survivor.  She’s smart, adaptable, and just like the rest of the human race, struggles with a sometimes lack of confidence and fear. Occasionally she rides the rail and tips over onto the arrogant side of things, but overall, she’s a heroine you’ll root for.

Four is the other reason. No, I haven’t lost my ability to count, though my checkbook would say otherwise. Four is the hero’s name. I won’t tell you why he’s called that, or even what his real name is, because that would spoil the fun. You’ll have to trust me that it’s satisfying when you do find out. Four is a mixture of brute violence and compassion, innocence and intelligence. He’s a hero you’d want to have on your side when times get tough.

Divergent is labeled as young adult, but I honestly wouldn’t give it to a teenager…well, maybe an older one. They might come away with wanting to get a tattoo and/or give hopping on a moving train a try. Plus the violence is pretty off the charts. If you like Dystopians, go ahead and toss this one on the top of your TBR pile, just do it before March 2014. That’s when the movie comes out.

Will I read the next 2 in the series? Yep.

Reviewed by: Michelle Griep

Mark McClelland's Upload ~ Reviewed

• Upload
• Mark McClelland
• Category: Sci-Fi & Fantasy
• Published:Sep 28, 2012
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Seller: Lulu Enterprises, Inc.
• Print Length: 484 Pages
• 
  

Back Cover:

His criminal past catching up with him, a troubled young man seeks escape into digital utopia by uploading his consciousness into a computer -- just as first love casts his life in a new light. In this thrilling near-future science-fiction novel, Mark McClelland explores the immense potential of computer-based consciousness and the philosophical perils of simulated society.

Review:

Mark McClelland’s Upload is a troubling, difficult novel. The protagonist is by no standards a hero, and the world he lives in is both probable and disturbing. Set in 2060, the story focuses on a lab working to successfully upload organic consciousness into the digital world. Raymond Quan, the novel’s focus, is a brilliant, self-contained man with a dark past and a self-serving outlook. Attempting to escape from a messy world into the digital paradise he has designed, Raymond wants to prematurely upload his own consciousness and has no problem manipulating and using others in the process.

The story is split into two parts, however. The first deals with Raymond’s meticulous planning and execution, up until the moment of his uploading. The reader gets to know the character in all his flaws: his pride, selfishness, and cruelty. They watch while he heartlessly chooses his own happiness over the needs and desires of others. However, the book’s second half deals with Raymond’s realization of his own evilness. Placed into a world he expected to be utopia, Raymond recognizes the darkness of the creator through his creation. Faced with his innate vileness, Raymond is forced to make a decision: continue pleasing himself and gratifying his own desires, or become a part of something greater?

While this novel posed some interesting ideas, it was a very uncomfortable read. Sort of like Lord of the Flies with nudity. Not that the language or sexual content was out of control in Upload; rather the world and characters themselves lacked the innocence of the children in William Golding’s novel. Reader should brace themselves for a story that is a little too realistic to be comfortable, and complicated questions that won’t be easily answered.

Reviewed by: Shea Nolan

Kathleen Y'Barbo's Millie's Treasure ~ Reviewed

Millie's Treasure (Secret Lives Of Will Tucker V2)
By Kathleen Y'Barbo
Pages 333
Binding Softcover
Release Date Jun 1, 2013
Publisher Harvest House Publishers
Series Secret Lives Of Will Tucker
ISBN 0736952136


Description

From bestselling author Kathleen Y'Barbo comes Millie's Treasure, the second book in The Secret Lives of Will Tucker series, a new set of novels involving romance, adventure, and hidden identity.

Memphis 1890--Bookish heiress Millie Jean Cope is as clever as she is beautiful. Unfortunately, though adept at solving puzzles and cryptograms, she doesn't realize her new fianc? isn't who he claims to be, but instead is a charming scoundrel. The infamous Will Tucker is presenting himself as a British gentleman, Sir William Trueck, though in reality he is a crafty criminal looking for a hidden map to a secret treasure.

Pinkerton agent Kyle Russell has been on Tucker's trail for years. At last Kyle believes he has Tucker cornered, but he is uncertain whether the lovely woman on the con man's arm is an unsuspecting victim or willing accomplice. Finding reasons to spend time with Millie is easy. Keeping himself from falling in love with her is another issue entirely.

A fun and entertaining story of how God can shine the light of truth on the most cryptic circumstances. 

Review:

Millie’s Treasure is book two in the series, “The Secret Lives of Will Tucker.”  Pinkerton agent Kyle Russell picks up where his former partner, Logan, left off in book one.  Will Tucker was put away but has escaped prison, and is still on the loose, stealing from innocent women.  In the midst of his search, he meets a young woman named Millie, who happens to be engaged to Will ‘Trueck,’, also known as Will Tucker.  However, she is only engaged for convenience, not for love.  Kyle and Millie happen to meet one evening before her wedding, and find that they are attracted to one another.   However, many complications arise that come between them and could possibly keep them apart for good.
      

    I was surprised when I started reading to find that the Will Tucker story continued.  Yet I was glad.  I think I loved this one better than book one.  It flowed nice and kept me interested.  Other twists and turns in the story made it really interesting.  If you liked book one, you’ll love book two!

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Lisa Wingate's The Prayer Box ~ Reviewed

The Prayer Box
Lisa Wingate
Pages 386
Binding Softcover
Release Date Jul 1, 2013
Publisher Tyndale House Publishers
ISBN 1414386885




Description

When Iola Anne Poole, an old-timer on Hatteras Island, passes away in her bed at ninety-one, the struggling young mother in her rental cottage, Tandi Jo Reese, finds herself charged with the task of cleaning out Iola's rambling Victorian house.Running from a messy, dangerous past, Tandi never expects to find more than a temporary hiding place within Iola's walls, but everything changes with the discovery of eighty-one carefully decorated prayer boxes, one for each year, spanning from Iola's youth to her last days. Hidden in the boxes is the story of a lifetime, written on random bits of paper--the hopes and wishes, fears and thoughts of an unassuming but complex woman passing through the seasons of an extraordinary, unsung life filled with journeys of faith, observations on love, and one final lesson that could change everything for Tandi.

Review:

Over years of reviewing I've gotten a little more critical and a little less impressed with basic word weaving. I hate to admit this, it makes me feel jaded because writing is hard work and any person who puts the effort into creating the best book they can and seeing it through the difficult editing and publishing process should be celebrated. But not every tale resonates with me, not every author has a magic touch that pulls me into a story. And I know opinions are so subjective and my definition may not be yours. However, I'm talking about books that get me so let me share my thoughts further. Every once in a while I pick up a book, crack the cover and read the first paragraph, then eagerly read the next, and I find myself falling into a story that pulls at me and touches my soul. When this happens, I slow down and savor the journey I was blessed to travel between the title page and the end. A sigh of contentment comes as I close the cover for the final time.

I gravitate to authors who possess the magical ability to tell a good story with vibrant characters and poetic prose. Not everyone will agree with my definition of perfect. Some folks don't need or want depth, they want escapism and entertainment. But I crave beauty in my fiction, and characters I love to hate, hate to love, cheer for, almost even consider praying for because they become so real to me.

The Prayer Box was a pleasure to read. From the first paragraph I relished this novel. There is a poignant, underlying melancholy in Tandi's story. A wistful hope of something she could not define that was missing from her life, and in her brokenness she travels to childhood stomping grounds to find it. Tandi's life is a mess, and this is fiction that probably won't pass the standards of those who expect specific Christian conversion moments or inspirational cleanliness. The struggles in Tandi's world are too real and too challenging to be a pure read. However, those who want honesty tossed in with hope should find much to like in this novel. This novel might move a little slow for some, too, but I love a languid read and this style fit perfectly in a town crushed by a hurricane, and a woman crushed by loving the wrong people and finding solace in pills.

Many descriptions feel like works of art. The driving needs and emotions of the characters are often poignant and painful. The spiritual hungers and simple answers are realistic and the balm that comes from the hope Tandi finds in the creaky, ancient home of a dead woman is touching.

The Prayer Box would be a perfect book to tackle in January. January, when we all have fresh green tendrils of hope that we will make different choices and changes in our lives. That this will be the year we let go of something that holds on tight to our hearts or souls or bodies. Or this year will be when we stand up for ourselves or put our voice out there for the world to hear. Tandi has so much that has gone wrong in her life. And hope is very often a terrifying thing because it kind of demands that we step out in faith.

Fiction is a story. There is no real, brave Tandi outside of the character so well written. But, sometimes, a story can create a catalyst to do one thing differently and that one thing can open the door for another and that small flame of absolute truth about the human character and our very big and good God can ignite in a real life person. I believe that's why Jesus used story. And why the Bible contains so many stories. When God gets hold of the raw clay of a human life, watch out, people are changed and changed people change the world in wide reaching ripples.

I recommend this book, one of the best I've read in quite a while.

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

Ginny Yttrup's Invisible ~ Reviewed

Invisible
By Ginny L. Yttrup
Pages 352
Binding Softcover
Release Date Jan 1, 2013
Publisher Broadman And Holman
ISBN 1433671689




Description:
Ellyn DeMoss -- chef, cafe owner, and lover of butter -- is hiding behind her extra weight. But what is she hiding? While Ellyn sees the good in others, she has only condemnation for herself. So when a handsome widower claims he's attracted to Ellyn, she's certain there's something wrong with him. Sabina Jackson -- tall, slender, and exotic -- left her husband, young adult daughters, and a thriving counseling practice to spend a year in Northern California where she says she's come to heal. But it seems to Ellyn that Sabina's doing more hiding than healing. What's she hiding from? Is it God? Twila Boaz has come out of hiding and is working to gain back the pounds she lost when her only goal was to disappear. When her eating disorder is triggered again, though she longs to hide, she instead follows God and fights for her own survival. But will she succeed? As these women's lives intertwine, their eyes open to the glory within each of them as they begin to recognize themselves as being created in God's image. 

Review:

Invisible by Ginny Yttrup, makes my Top Ten for 2013 list and my Top Ten of All Time. Yttrup employs a light hand and humor to impart heavy truths. Normally, I read to be entertained. With Invisible, when I least expected it, I was touched and changed. Novel Rocket and I give it our highest recommendation. This is a book everyone needs to read. 

Reviewed: Ane Mulligan, President, Novel Rocket

Sandra D. Bricker's Merry Humbug Christmas ~ Reviewed

Merry Humbug Christmas: Two Tales of Holiday Romance

By Sandra D. Bricker
Binding Softcover
Release Date Jul 1, 2013
Publisher Broadman And Holman
ISBN 1433680750



Description:

"A Merry Humbug Christmas" features two holiday romance novellas from hilarious and heartwarming author Sandra D. Bricker. -- the perfect gift to yourself or someone else at this most wonderfully stressful time of year. 
In "Once Upon a Jingle Bell," A "Bah Humbug" cruise to the Mexican Riviera is Joss Snow's answer to this year's quest to avoid the holidays completely; at least until she's rebooked on a different kind of cruise altogether. Candy canes, holly wreaths, reindeer and ornaments seem to be stalking her on the "12 Days of Christmas "holiday cruise extravaganza. An escape back to land is her only goal . . . until she meets a kindred spirit in rugged Irishman Patrick Brenneman, and then the game is on Avoid Christmas festivities at all costs . . . except maybe for that one stop under the mistletoe. 

In "It Came Upon a Midnight Deer," Reese's guilt over abandoning best friend Joss on their holiday tradition of avoiding all things Christmas is trumped by the joy of her recent engagement. Meeting Damian's family for the first time on idyllic Sugarloaf Mountain is about as far from that "Bah Humbug" cruise as she can get, and Reese can hardly wait to get there. But from the moment they hit that deer in the road just two miles from the cabin, everything seems to go wrong. There are no drummers drumming or pipers piping this particular year And once she sets her future in-laws' family cabin ablaze, she's pretty sure there won't be even ONE golden ring in her future.

Review:

I will never sing the Twelve Days of Christmas again without thinking of Sandra D. Bricker! Merry Humbug Christmas has got to be the most endearing set of stories I’ve read in quite some time.  Yes, I said a set of stories – two to be exact.  The first story features Joss Snow’s adventures in the Mexican Riviera as she attempts to avoid the Christmas Holidays.  From Connie Rudolph and Caroline Denture to the Jenkins Von Trap family and Patrick Brenneman, Joss’ world receives an unexpected and total makeover when her Humbug Cruise is cancelled and she winds up on the 12 Days of Christmas Fun Cruise.  Only Sandra Bricker could place her readers squarely in the midst of such an exciting, life-transforming adventure!  Yes, it’s tons of fun, but real-life issues are presented and dealt with along the way, and they resolve realistically and with great satisfaction.

The second story centers around Dr. Reese Pendergrass as she breaks from tradition and spends the holiday with her fiancée instead of her best friend Joss Snow.  Life changes tend to disrupt traditions, and Reese’s introduction into Damion’s family brings about a few disruptions of its own!  Again, Bricker’s humor keeps the momentum building, and deposits her fans into a thoughtful, romantic and satisfying ending.  Truly, Sandra Bricker will make a romance fan out of the most Humbug of hearts! 

Reviewed by: Kim Ford