The Fastest Growing Religion on Earth by Doug Bremner

Full Title: The Fastest Growing Religion on Earth: How Genealogy Captured the Brains and Imaginations of Americans

The title is a little misleading as this book is not about religion, but more about a growing obsession and passion for genealogy. I have spent about twelve years researching my genealogy, but I have always found that it is difficult to be interested in someone else’s history. Fortunately, Douglas Bremner is an excellent writer, and he has the ability to draw the reader into his story. I found it a little difficult to follow at times, but then I find it hard to follow my research when it gets a few generations back. This is not a recitation of names and places, but a real story of the history of this family and the struggle in finding information about a broken family. I enjoyed reading about his method of finding and connecting with people for whom he hoped would hold the key to his story.

Death Never Sleeps by David Grace

Death Never Sleeps is another great detective story from David Grace. He always has interesting twists and surprise connections in his stories, and Death Never Sleeps is the perfect example of this style. There are two murders, seemingly unconnected, with nothing but a gut feeling that leads the detectives to believe they are connected. There are also previously unsolved cases that haunt the detectives. The main characters, Big Jim and Chris are both interesting and likable. Big Jim is a more traditional detective, but with secrets. Chris is very intelligent, but his social skills and interpersonal associations are limited. The characteristics of these two men blend well together to create a great partnership. This is a good story with complex and unusual characters. It has the prefect balance of dialog and narration, and the story held my interest throughout. I read mainly in the mystery and police genres so it is difficult to surprise me, but this book certainly did.

The One Year My Princess Devotions Preschool Edition by Karen Whiting

This is a very well-timed book with the new Princess movies and television cartoons. The book is absolutely beautiful with lovely illustrations and princess “doodles” through out the book. Even more importantly, the book is a well-written devotional for young children.

Each day has a theme for the day, Royal Words, Princess Thoughts, A Prayer for the King, and Princess in Action.  The Royal Words is, of course, a Bible verse.  The verses are taken from versions NIrV, NIV, NLT and CEV. Each are very well explained so that the child will not be confused and will know exactly what the verse is about.  Princess Thoughts is a short explanation and application. A Prayer for the King is a short, one or two sentence prayer, and Princess in Action is a suggested activity that helps apply what she has learned to her life. 

This is an excellent devotional that can be read to a preschool girl, but I would also expand the recommended 3-5 year age group to 3-7.

I received a review copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers  in return for an honest and fair review.  I provide a link to Amazon.com to purchase the book, but it is only as a courtesy and I receive no compensation if purchased.

Amazon.com link for My Princess Devotions

Capturing Every Day Life by Jane Goodrich

This is the perfect book for those of us who think we can't do without a point-and-shoot camera. It has an easy tutorial of light, shutter speed, aperture, depth of field, and ISO that didn't make my eyes glaze over. So how do we get those amazing shots? It is all explained in her chapters on working with children and the tips she gives by age group, from infants to teens. There is also a chapter on troubleshooting that explains what is wrong when a photo doesn't look right.

I am surprised with how much is packed into this 63 page book. Not only is there good information, but it is filled with stunning photographs which immediately gave me ideas for unique photographs of my own. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn more about taking eye-catching photographs.

Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin

Golden Boy is the story of an intersex teen growing up as a boy in a family divided in how to deal with his birth defect.  The story was definitely interesting and held my interest, but it was a bit melodramatic for me.  The main character seemed to be lost in this story that is broken up by the other characters. Each section starts with a character’s name with their POV, much of which just breaks up the continuity of the story and makes it choppy. 

I didn't find the story all that believable and the end was a little too simplistic. As I said, it held my interest, but I wasn't moved emotionally by it. As I was reading I kept thinking it was a plot for a Lifetime channel movie.

The Longings of Wayward Girls by Karen Brown

The Longings of Wayward Girls has a rather slow start, but eventually the story unfolds as Sadie and her friends play a cruel trick on a friend. With the descriptions of the woods, the pond, and the inclusion of a town map hand drawn in the book, the sense of location was well done.

Reading about the playtime of children is not exactly compelling, and the book spends quite a bit of time with the main characters as children. The story covers the lives and actions of childhood friends and the repercussions of their childish behavior that lingers after they have grown into adults.

 I guess the character of Sadie was meant to be portrayed as a sympathetic character because of the loss of a baby and overwhelming depression, but Sadie seemed to me to be a selfish, self-focused woman still acting like a child. Caring about her was difficult. Her obsession with a childhood friend and his connection to her mother was a little odd and not very believable.

My biggest disappointment is that the book begins with the disappearance of Laura Loomis and although it appears to be basis of the book, it was really not part of the story at all. Ultimately, the only thing I cared about is never resolved.

If You Were Me And Lived In ...South Korea by Carole P. Roman

I absolutely love this series! If You Were Me And Lived In South Korea... is another in a series by Carole P. Roman introducing young readers to cultures around the world. The book teaches about location, common names of boys and girls, favorite toys, foods, hobbies, holidays, and so much more.

The book is very colorful with very charming illustrations. One page has text and the facing page has the full-page illustration. The series is both educational and fun, and I hope very much to see more of these books in the future. Although for young readers, my two-year old granddaughter was very excited when she spotted the book on my end table and immediately began going through it. I would definitely recommend it for ages 2 and up.

The Widows of Braxton County by Jess McConkey

The Widows of Braxton County by Jess McConkey is a multi-generational story about the sins of the father. Kate marries Joseph Krause and moves to his family farm in Iowa. She has high hopes of a peaceful idyllic life, but the Krause family secrets creep into their lives.

This book was a little different from the books I normally read, but I really did enjoy it. I appreciated the way the true meaning of "sins of the father" was presented and how it can be passed from generation to generation. It also has a message of hope of how the pattern can be changed.

The book was well written and held my interest till the very end. I liked the characters, the friendships, and the amazing emotional growth of the main character.

Amazon link to purchase The Widows of Braxton County
I received a review copy of this book in return for an honest and fair review.  I provide a link to Amazon.com to purchase the book, but it is only as a courtesy and I receive no compensation if purchased.

Bible Stories Painting Book 2 Text by Juliet David and Illustrations by Simon Abbott

Bible Stories Painting Book 2 is a water painting book. Dip the brush in water, wipe it around on the paint palette to pick up color, and then transfer to the picture.  There are sixteen pages with various Bible stories in cartoon form. Each has a two-sentence description of the scene.  For example, the scenes depict Adam and Eve, Abraham & Isaac, Jacob and the dream, Jacob and Joseph’s coat, Moses with the laws, David and Goliath, and ten others.

The front and back covers are fold-in style so that there is sturdy cardboard for the paint palettes. There are two identical paint wheel palettes with purples, oranges, greens, and blues.  There is a full page with tube shaped palettes that have oranges, gold, green, blue, and brown. Also, there are smaller tube shaped palates under the wheels with the same colors.

The pictures are fairly detailed, so I wouldn't recommend them for very small children. I tested the book with a two-year old, and it didn't hold her interest. Perhaps 4 years old and up would appreciate the detail in the pictures more. As with other water paint books, the colors are not vibrant, but the book provides a quick easy project without too much mess. (Paint brush is not included)

Blood Pressure Down - The Ten Step Plan by Janet Bond Brill, Ph.D. D, R.D., LDN

This should be a hand-out in every doctor’s office when someone is diagnosed with high blood pressure. Blood Pressure Down is divided into 2 parts. The first section is entitled “Everything you Need to Know about High Blood Pressure and Your Health” – and that is exactly what it delivers. It fully explains the condition and how it can cause other serious problems. Part 2 is a ten-step plan to lower your blood pressure. This includes diet, exercise, supplements and weight loss. There are 8 appendices that follow with progress charts, checklists, meal plans, recipes and more. Having been through four home blood pressure monitors that just were not accurate enough to depend on, I was very pleased with the information included in this book about an organization (and their website) that tests and rates all of the different BP monitors. I chose an inexpensive recommended model and I finally had very accurate readings for a home model. I’m not likely to follow the strict diet with fish, soy and tofu and beans of all types, but there is enough included that I can make important changes to my diet and make a difference. I am adding the supplements, using other tips and fully expect good results.

My First Noah’s Ark Playtime by Lois Rock and illustrated by Alex Ayliffe

Link for My First Noah's Ark Playtime at Amazon

This is a fun little workbook for young children.  The book has a very basic description of the flood, ark, and bringing the animals in.  There are two full pages of stickers that belong on various pages throughout the book. Rainy day activities are also discussed. There is one page with a recipe for baking on a rainy day, but it doesn't tell you what the recipe is for on that page. After reading the next page, you find that it is a gingerbread type cookie shaped like an ark that you cut by hand.  It was just a little awkward in its placement.  There is a matching game and a board-type game in which you make dice-type tiles with cardboard. 

It is a cute book that would be nice for a Sunday School Class or Vacation Bible School, but at only 16 pages, I don’t think it has enough to make it a book that a child would be able to use more than a few times.

I received a review copy of this book in return for an honest and fair review.  I provide a link to Amazon.com to purchase the book, but it is only as a courtesy and I receive no compensation if purchased.

A Matter of Trust by (A Mia Quinn Mystery) by Lis Wiehl

A Matter of Trust is a fast-paced mystery with a few twists here and there to add to the interest.  Two prosecutors are murdered years apart. Is it coincidence or are they connected?  This is a new series with Mia Quinn as the main character. It is an easy read that held my interest, and I liked that I didn't figure out who the killer was until late in the book.

Unfortunately, it also annoyed me in a few ways. There were two story lines thrown in, neither of which added to the main story. The character of Mia also wasn't very likable. Her parenting skills deserved a call to DCSF, and her constant whining about financial difficulties left me cold. Yes, her husband left her with financial burdens, but she is a prosecutor, not an unskilled worker.

Good, but not great.

No One Else to Kill by Bob Doerr

 

No One Else to Kill is book 5 of the Jim West Mysteries. Since this was my first Jim West book, I expected to feel as though I was missing something. I am pleased to say that I was not, and this is definitely a stand-alone book.  

Jim West travels to a remote hunting lodge in New Mexico with the intent of meeting up with an old friend to do some therapeutic hiking. The friend is a no-show, but before he can head for home a murder occurs at the lodge. Not yet twenty four hours later, another murder occurs.  While Jim could have been one of the suspects, the police recognize his problem solving talents and enlist his help in solving the crime. Although he wants no part of it, he agrees to be their man on the inside and keep his eyes on everyone.

Jim is a likable character, not really wanting to get involved, but realizing his unique talents and opportunity to be among the suspects. We are introduced to a variety of characters and suspects at the lodge. Things get out of control and brought back to an exciting conclusion.  It is an interesting story with a variety of  possible suspects.

No One Else to Kill won First Runner-Up in the Commercial Fiction category for the 2013 Eric Hoffer Award.

When a Secret Kills by Lynette Eason

I didn't realize while reading When a Secret Kills that it is the third of a series.  To me, that means it is a great stand-alone book.  I never felt I was “missing something,” and I never thought that there were back-stories that needed to be explained.  We do know at the beginning that the two main characters, Colton & Jillian, had a previous relationship, and that trouble follows Jillian everywhere. 

This is a good mystery with a light romance. The main characters are believable and likable even when the story is not quite as believable. Even though I had not read the previous books in this series, I felt I had a good idea of the personalities of the characters involved.

The story is a rather complex twisting tale that managed to hold my interest.  There are more than enough suspects, and the story comes to a satisfying ending. This is my first Lynette Eason book, but it won’t be my last. 

Available May 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

If You Were Me and Lived in Mexico... by Carole P. Roman

If You Were Me and Lived in Mexico by Carole P. Roman is part of a series of books to introduce children to different cultures around the world.  It is a nice way to establish an understanding of children who may look different but are the same in many ways.  The book explains common names, terms for parents, coins, and a variety of other daily activities in which children are interested.

The book has brightly colored full-page illustrations that bring the book to life.  A few simple Spanish names and words are introduced, and included is a pronunciation guide at the back of the book.  I enjoyed the mini tour of Mexico with this book and highly recommend it for young children.