End of Grace by K. Thomas Murphy *****

Amazon Link for the book: End of Grace


From the back of the book: An incident in computer specialist Rick Macey’s past has put him on the path of revenge. If his plan is successful, the object of his wrath, the Church of the Latter-Day Saints, could lose millions of dollars and thousands of members. What Rick cannot foresee are the sinister ways this church will react when threatened.

My review: This is an interesting thriller that held my interest throughout. This is a fiction book, of course, but there are references to actual practices and historical organizations within the Mormon Church. It can be quite controversial any time you write a book that even suggests problems within a church body, but no matter what your denomination it is important for every person of faith to take a deep look at the motives of its leaders.

I found the main character of Kay very believable as a career woman within the church and someone who felt out of place her church’s practices. She finds herself caught up in the middle of the intrigue, not quite sure who to trust, but determined to be strong and do what is right. I recommend this book for anyone who likes mystery/thrillers with a light romance. Mormons should also read the book for what it is – a great mystery/thriller with many historical facts about the Church of the Latter-Day Saints.

Reading Delayed

I was called out of town due to a death in my family so I am very behind in my reading and reviews. Guess what I will be doing this weekend! I could use a break from the stress. More later.....

Dusty

Since I just reviewed a dog book, I thought I would explain my picture that appears on several sites.

Dusty is a rescue dog and was very thin and battered when we got him. I'm not sure why he stuck his head in the empty Diet Rite box, but when he walked out of the kitchen, I just quickly grabbed the camera.

By the way, that was taken a few years ago and he is no longer that thin!

The Adventures of Snip in Oregon by Betty S. Moir and Illustrated by Yumi V. Vong *****

Amazon link for the book:The Adventures of Snip in Oregon


The Adventures of Snip in Oregon is an adorable book about life in the country from the eyes of a dog and his family. As a dog owner myself, I am not the least bit surprised that Snip thought it was his job to help a youngster learn to drive, or that he was not about to share his dinner with the local raccoon. I am, however, happy to know that I am not the only one who takes their dog out for an ice cream cone! These are just a few of the stories shared with the reader about Jim, Jr., Heather, John, and, of course, Snip. The book is beautifully illustrated and even includes some photographs.

This is a perfect book to read to small children or for older school aged children to read for themselves. I liked very much that the dialog in the book does not talk down to children. Young children will learn new words, and older children will not think that the book is babyish. It is a book that teaches about animals, country life, chores and dog care. I highly recommend this book to parents, teachers, and daycare workers.

Here comes trouble!!!

OK, I have been advised by several people to re-post my review for All the Stillness of the Wind again, by Donald J Parker. I had removed the review due to hostility from the author and rude emails, but it is less than honest for me to do so because I did read and reviewed the book. I will limit my comments only to why I did not like the book. (My comments are now moderated)

It is a Christian book written for teens and I will make this simple.

1. The dialog was too adult for the age group.
2. The doctrine in this book is hyper-fundamentalism which makes the audience for the book very narrow.

I am a Christian and I would love to read and review a good Christian book for teens.

The Apostate Theory by Mr. Pat ****

Amazon.com link here: The Apostate Theory

The Apostate Theory is an action-packed drama that depicts the political climate of today. This is a fiction book, but has enough real life situations to make it read like a true story. The political figures, although unnamed, are certainly recognizable and not out of character for their real life behavior. Above all it was interesting – very interesting. The story explains why certain American decisions are causing the rise in radical Islam and the danger of appeasing our enemies.

The only part of the book that I did not like was the addition of a romantic couple. For me, it was just out of place, awkward, and totally unnecessary to the story. If I never again see a woman referred to as “asexual”, I will be happy. Having said that, I still think the story is interesting and worth the read.

The author’s international career has given him insight into the mind of the Islamic agenda. His writings are bound to anger many, but they are valuable to those who want to understand the political game-playing that goes on every day. I would like to read something from this author on this subject, but a nonfiction book.

My Goodness: My Kids Nesta A Aharoni *****

My Goodness: My Kids Cultivating Decency in a Dangerous World by Nesta A Aharoni

Quote from the author:

“My Goodness: My Kids is a tribute to lay wisdom – parental lay wisdom. In it, I offer you the end product of 30 years of common-sense child rearing – theories and methods that worked to build character in my children.”

You may purchase this book on Amazon.com by clinking this link:

My Goodness: My Kids: Cultivating Decency in a Dangerous World

My Review:

There are all kinds of parenting books on the market written by doctors and psychologists, but who is better qualified to write a parenting book than a good and successful parent? This is a mom-view book, written by a parent who takes on the most important role of a parent – to instill goodness and decency in their children.

The book is filled with good, common-sense parenting skills and includes a wide variety of topics that covers the baby years through the teens. Never a simple “how to” book, but a thoughtful collection of experience and wisdom shared freely. I enjoyed reading about the lessons she learned from her children, especially in the Boys Will Be Boys section! My favorite part of the book is at the end when each of her children wrote a section to share what good parenting meant to them.

My Goodness: My Kids is a wonderful book that I do not hesitate recommending to any parent, or as a gift for a new parent. Think of what kind of impact it would have on our society if more parents would make goodness and decency the goal of success.

Broken Wing by Judith James *****

From the publisher:
Abandoned as a child and raised in a brothel, Gabriel St. Croix has never known tenderness, friendship, or affection. Although fluent in sex, he knows nothing of love. Lost and alone inside a nightmare world, all he's ever wanted was companionship and a place to belong. Hiding physical and emotional scars behind an icy façade, his only relationship is with a young boy he has spent the last five years protecting from the brutal reality of their environment. But all that is about to change. The boy's family has found him, and they are coming to take him home.

You may purchase this book at amazon.com by clicking here:

Broken Wing
My review:
How wounded does a soul have to be before it is too late to turn it around? The character Gabriel, abused as a child and broken in spirit, takes the reader on a journey of the possibility of love and redemption. But is his psyche too badly bruised to heal? Sarah, strong willed and independent, can see beyond his gruff and emotionally detached manner. When his past comes back to haunt him, she may be the only one who can reach in and grab him back as he slips into an emotional nothingness. The author captures very well the traumatic aftermath of child sexual abuse.

While romance is not normally my chosen genre, the premise of this book appealed to me, and it did not disappoint. Broken Wing is much more than an historical romance, but also bursts into an action and adventure drama. Needing money, Gabriel takes off for the high seas engaging in dangerous but lucrative privateering. He then gets caught up in the horrors of war which only causes him to slide back emotionally.

This is a very well written book, stunning in its tragedy, and emotionally grabbing. The locations and situations are exciting and well described. The story moves quickly and smoothly, and each character is well developed. This book is very deserving of the 2009 IPPY Award (Gold) for Romance. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

Note: if books had ratings this would be a strong R rating.

You may purchase this book at amazon.com by clicking here:

Broken Wing

Just a note

Well now! Something happened that I never expected. I have had to remove one of my reviews due to a angry author. My two main complaints about the book were that the dialog was not true to the age of the characters, and the audience for the book was limited due to a strict religious doctrine. I think those are reasonable review points.

I removed the author's comments first because they attacked me personally and not my review, but just when I thought we had things worked out - it started over again. I read his book and gave an HONEST review, but now I feel dishonest by not posting it. Anyway, just my musings for today.

I am reading a parenting book now that I look forward to reviewing here. If you ever have any questions or would just like to say hello, please email me. My email address is at the top of my blog.

I Like To Whine!: Dealing With Whining Children by William G. Bentrim *****

Purchase this book on Amazon.com by clicking here:I Like To Whine!: Dealing With Whining Children

“I Like to Whine” written by William G. Bentrim, a former teacher and guidance counselor, is an absolutely delightful book for preschoolers about whining behavior. Each page has a comical character behaving in a typical childish whining way, and a wise character responding in a kind, gentle, and correct reaction to that behavior. I love that the book does not scold children, but instead gives wise advice at the children’s learning level, and Mom and Dad are always respected as authority figures. This is the perfect book for new parents to begin reading to their children, and as the children begin to read, the parents will enjoy listening to children teaching themselves.
At the end of the book the author gives tips on how to use the book to encourage good behavior and how to deal with difficulties along the way. “I Like to Whine” is a perfect book for parents to teach good behavior before problems start.

ISBN #1442131721

Monster by Frank Peretti ***

Product Description
Something's out there...
Reed Shelton organized this survival weekend. Hired the best guide in the region. Meticulously trained, studied, and packed while enouraging his wife, Beck, to do the same. But little did they know that surviving the elements would become the least of their worries. During thier first night of camping, an unearthly wail pierces the calm of the forest. Then someone--no, something--emerges from the dense woods and begins pursuing them. Everything that follows is a blur to Reed--except for the unforgettable image of a huge creature carrying his wife into the darkness. Dependant on the efforts of a small town and a band of friends, Reed knows they have little time to find Beck. Even more important, he soon realizes that they aren't the only ones doing the hunting. Something much faster, more relentless--and definately not human--has begun to hunt them.
Frank Peretti is at the top of his game in this New York Times best-selling novel of "survival of the fittest." Nothing is as it first appears in this thriller where things that go bump in the night are only a heartbeat away.

My Review:

This book is difficult for me to review. I can’t give detailed reasons why this book fell short for me without giving away too much of the plot. I have heard many good things about this author and I wish I had started with another of his books first. I guess I can say that two monster story lines going at the same time were just too many and added to the lack of believability. Having said that, it is not a bad book and I will be looking forward to reading another of Mr. Pereti's books.