Book Review – Page 54

Behold The Dawn by K.M. Weiland

Published on November 28, 2009January 4, 2010 by Sheila (Book Journey)8 Comments

I was already a fan of Historical Fiction before I read this book…. I am even a bigger on now. ~ Sheila

Marcus Annan, a tourneyer famed for his prowess on the battlefield, thought he could keep the secrets of his past buried forever. But when a mysterious crippled monk demands Annan help him find justice for the transgressions of sixteen years ago, Annan is forced to leave the tourneys and join the Third Crusade.

Wounded in battle and hunted by enemies on every side, he rescues an English noblewoman from an infidel prison camp and flees to Constantinople. But, try as he might, he cannot elude the past. Amidst the pain and grief of a war he doesn’t even believe in, he is forced at last to face long-hidden secrets and sins and to bare his soul to the mercy of a God he thought he had abandoned years ago.

In My Opinion:

As excited as I was to receive this book, I have to admit I was nervous as well. I had chatted with author K.M. Weiland on line and we had discussed her book. I found the cover fascinating (if you know me you know I am a big cover snob) and the subject matter intriguing…. of course neither of these two favorable things make a book. It is very important to me to always give an honest opinion and I knew that no matter what I thought of this book, I had to reveal that in my review. A book grabs me with what is within its pages, the moments that take me out of my own little world and brings me within its own. I hoped that this book was going to do just that.

The language of this book, the flow of the words… I enjoyed. I was impressed with K.M.’s easy grasp of it and found it easy to follow the pace. As the words flowed page to page I could draw the pictures in my mind of what this layout looked like, I could clearly see Marcus with an internal as well as external battle. The story unfolded literally before my eyes. I enjoyed being a part of each characters stretching and growth. It felt real and that is not always as easy task for any author to pull off – especially when you are writing out of our own time period.

K.M. Weiland came through in flying colors and I closed the book with an ironic smile thinking that I had been concerned I may not like this read. I did, I really really did and am thankful to authors like Katie (K.M.) who can really put a book out there that can pull you within the story and at the same time make you think about your own battles and know there is Hope.

The book was honestly a wonderful read that was so well written that I don’t even know how to express how impressed I was with the story line and the writing itself. Hopefully, I just did. 🙂

K.M. Weiland grew up chasing Billy the Kid and Jesse James on horseback through the sand hills of western Nebraska, where she still lives. A lifelong fan of history and the power of the written word, she enjoys sharing both through her novels and short stories. She blogs at Wordplay: Helping Writers Become Authors and AuthorCulture. She lives in western Nebraska.

My Amazon Review

I received my review copy from the author, K.M. Weiland

Healthy Bread In Five Minutes A Day by Jeff Hertzberg MD and Zoe Francois

Published on November 27, 2009November 27, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)12 Comments

Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day
100 New Recipes Featuring Whole Grains, Fruits, Vegetables, and Gluten-Free Ingredients
By Jeff Hertzberg, M.D., and Zoë François
Published by Thomas Dunne Books
October 2009; $27.99US/$35.99CAN; 978-0-312-54552-9

From the authors of the groundbreaking Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day comes a new cookbook filled with quick and easy recipes for healthy bread

Their first book was called “stupendous,” “genius,” and “the holy grail of bread making.” Now, in their much-anticipated second book, Jeff Hertzberg, M.D., and Zoë François have taken their super-fast method and adapted it for the health-conscious baker, focusing on whole grains and other healthier ingredients.

The method is still quick and simple, producing professional-quality results with each warm, fragrant, hearty loaf. In just five minutes a day of active preparation time, you can create delectable, healthy treats such as 100% Whole Wheat Bread, Whole Grain Garlic Knots with Parsley and Olive Oil, Black-and-White Braided Pumpernickel and Rye Loaf, Cherry Black Pepper Focaccia, Pumpkin Pie Brioche, Chocolate Tangerine Bars, and a variety of gluten-free breads. And many of the recipes are 100% whole grain.

Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day will show you that there is time enough for home-baked bread, and that it can be part of a healthy diet. Calling all bread lovers: Whether you are looking for more whole grains, watching your weight, trying to reduce your cholesterol, or just care about what goes into your body, this book is a must-have.

In My Opinion:

While I openly admit, I dont eat a lot of bread products day to day, I do enjoy a really good bread. really good bread to me is a hearty bread loaded with flavor, grains, fruit, vegies…. those are the ones I find hard to resist. What I discovered in this book, Healthy Bread In Five Minutes A Day was a whole book full of recipes as well as tips to make just the kind of bread that I would find hard to resist.

I thought Thanksgiving would be a great time to create one of the mouth watering recipes from this book. On page 145 I found just the recipe, 100% Whole Grain Maple Oatmeal Bread? Sound good? Good didnt even begin to describe it! Using whole wheat flour and old fashioned oats, I followed this recipe step by step to make a delicious tasting and smelling bread that filled the house with a pleaseantness that had my whole family wanting to know – when do we get to eat it?

For a person who doesn’t really do anything slow… this was a lesson in good bread making. I need two hours to let the dough rise and collapse. On the bright side of this, the bread dough can be made up to seven days in advance and kept refrigerated until you are ready to bake – so a fresh loaf could be at your fingertips!

The end result was a good looking loaf of bread that I was pleased with and the flavor of maple and cinnamon made for a “skip the pie” worthy treat.

Author Bios

Jeff Hertzberg, M.D., coauthor of Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day: 100New Recipes Featuring Whole Grains, Fruits, Vegetables, and Gluten-Free Ingredients, is a physician with twenty years of experience in health care as a practitioner, consultant, and faculty member at the University of Minnesota Medical School. His interest in baking and preventive health sparked a quest to adapt the techniques of Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day for healthier ingredients.

Zoë François, coauthor of Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day: 100New Recipes Featuring Whole Grains, Fruits, Vegetables, and Gluten-Free Ingredients, is passionate about food that is real, healthy, and always delicious. She is a pastry chef trained at the Culinary Institute of America. In addition to teaching baking and pastry courses nationally, she consults to the food industry and is the creator of the recipe blog http://www.zoebakes.com. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband and two sons.

The authors answer bread questions at their Web site: http://www.healthybreadinfive.com.

I received my review copy from FSB Associates

Tirissa and The Necklace of Nulidor by Willow

Published on November 25, 2009November 25, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)19 Comments

I have always enjoyed a bit of fantasy mixed into my own world…. I like to imagine the possibilities ~ Sheila

One day twelve-year-old Tirissa discovers that everyone in her village is under a spell. Everyone but her! Then she sees a mysterious stranger change into a huge bird, a bird with a beak like a sword. Did he cast the spell? Desperate to find someone who can break it, she flees, leaving her village behind. An old herb woman tells her to seek help from a wizard who lives far away, and her journey takes her across the Three Kingdoms. Along the way she’s joined by a kindly troll and a short, fat palace guard. They are pursued by the twin princes of Kellayne, the best hunters in the Blue River Kingdom, as well as by the huge, dangerous bird. Meanwhile, an evil wizard watches Tirissa and her friends in his magic mirror and plans a second spell that will kill everyone in the Three Kingdoms.

In My Opinion:

I have really taken a liking to YA fantasy reads over this past year. I honestly did not know what I was going to get with this book. The cover reminds me of an older style book… it doesn’t really follow the trends of today’s covers that snap you to attention and cause you to pick up a book… yet something about it, something in the description, made me want to read it.

As I dove into a new fantasy world of wizards and trolls… and something about a necklace…. I found myself enjoying the pace that Willow had set for her readers. There were parts that seemed to drag on a bit for me, but I can imagine reading this to a young girl and having her hang on the words as Tirissa makes her way around the Three Kingdoms.

Willow grew up in Albuquerque, NM, in the late 1940’s and 1950’s, always with her nose in an Oz book or else out under the peach tree in the back yard, looking for fairies. After she grew up, moved to CA, and graduated from Occidental College, a few aptitude tests suggested she should be a novelist, but she didn’t try her hand at it until her thirties. By then she’d forgotten her childhood love of fantasy and over the years tried her hand at a variety of genres. None of the stories really captured her imagination and each time her interest petered out. But the years passed and one day, in her fifties, she felt a yearning to read Lord of the Rings, which she had never read. Halfway through, she knew that all along it was children’s fantasy she wanted to write. And so she began writing the tale of Tirissa, who loved to be out under the trees, and it turned into Tirissa and the Necklace of Nulidor.

This review copy of this books was sent to my by Pump Up Your Book Promotions

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Published on November 25, 2009November 25, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)9 Comments

As strong and as steady with her words as Kitness is with an arrow, Suzanne Collins once again has created a win. ~ Sheila

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

In My Opinion:

Suzanne Collins does not disappoint with this sequel to Hunger Games. Coming in strong, starting where the first book ended, I felt like I had never left the story – I had never lowered that level of excitement…. of fear for what was next for Katniss and Peeta. When the unthinkable happens I cant think that there is any way out… how could there be?

I am really pleased how clean Suzanne Collins has kept both of these books. There is plenty of teenage “opportunity” for her to take the books a different direction and she doesn’t. I actually find that refreshing.

My one regret is that when I started Hunger Games, I did not know until I was into the book that it was actually one of three, Catching Fire being the middle book and the third not due out to fall of 2010. If I would have known that I probably would have waited (or at least tried!) so I could have read them all together. Now I have created a longing in me to know what happens next….MUST READS!

I won my copy of this book

I would rate this book PG

Loss of Carrier by Russ White

Published on November 24, 2009November 24, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)Leave a comment

Murder and networking… Jess and Leah are characters you will want to know more about… ~ Sheila

Bright yellow cables against a blue shirt? Carl never would have approved of that color combination. Why was his face so white? His eyes should be closed, not open. Why hadn’t one of the security guards seen this and reported it to the police? The lights were off, the cameras were useless in the dark.

Of course, the cables wrapped around Carl’s neck explained why the server wasn’t working. Loss of carrier.

Jess Wirth lives a dreary life. He spends most of his time crammed inside a cubicle, toiling as a network engineer and stewing over the details of his ugly divorce. But when he finds his co-worker dead in the basement of their office, Jess’s life takes a surprising—and unpleasant—turn.

The police quickly declare the death a suicide, but Jess isn’t so sure. Not long after he begins digging into the victim’s work, another co-worker turns up dead, convincing him once and for all that something sinister is brewing behind the cubicle walls.

His investigation leads him to a mysterious woman name Leah, who pushes him to entrust her with the information he’s collected about his dead colleagues. Wary of Leah’s motives yet inexorably drawn to her, Jess keeps her at arm’s length…until an attempt is made on both their lives. Realizing they are close on the trail of a dangerous criminal, the pair race to expose a data theft ring before they become the killer’s next victims.

In My Opinion:

Loss of Carrier was a stretch for me. Not necessarily in a bad way. A technical style of book that actually fed that recent hunger I have had to read a suspense/ mystery. The book goes into great detail about the workings of technical things such as computers. It is explained well, but a bit TMI at times. I enjoyed the story line and where Russ White was taking me as the reader so I plugged on (no pun intended…). I appreciated how the book is not overly Christian with an overwhelming message, but instead author Russ White has woven together a story that reflects Christians in what feels to be a natural light.

Russ White writes tech as that is what he knows well. There are three more books planned for this series. This would be an author I would like to keep an eye on and see how this story develops as well as his writing.

Russ White is an internationally recognized inter network engineer. He has co-authored eight books in the field of network design and routing protocols and is a regular speaker at international networking conferences.

In addition to working on several expert and senior-level network engineering certifications, he is a certified firearms instructor.

Russ, his wife, and their two children live in the Raleigh area of North Carolina, where they enjoy spending time on Jordan Lake and attending Colonial Baptist Church. Loss of Carrier is his first novel.

You are welcome to read the first chapter here.

My copy of this book for review was sent by the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

Booksurge Publishing

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Published on November 22, 2009November 23, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)23 Comments

Breathtaking action! I was transported into a world that may have once been mine… and I found myself anticipating what would happen next! ~ Sheila

Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, “The Hunger Games.” The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When her sister is chosen by lottery, Katniss steps up to go in her place.

In My Opinion:

I just finished Hunger games minutes ago and I feel like I have just been let in to a secret club. Seriously. I have read reviews on Hunger Games for months now and wondering what all the hype was. I entered a few contests to win it, and did not. I did however win a copy of Catching Fire and I knew I had to read Hunger Games first so I bought it last weekend and started it yesterday.

This is a book that by cover alone I would never have picked up. The title? Nope. Reading what it was about? Still a no, I couldn’t imagine myself reading on a topic of young kids fighting to the death. Even after I picked the book up and opened up to the first page I still am having doubt. What if I am that one person that just cant get into this book? And then I started reading…. and in no time, I love Katniss and her strength and her love for her family. I love Prim in all her youthfulness and sweetness… still mostly untouched by all the harshness of all this world that I have just entered. I could hardly put it down. You know the type. The book that you can hardly stop to eat dinner for. It traveled with me everywhere the past 48 hours. In any spare moments I had, I read.

I don’t know what I can say other than I loved this book! It is so well written that I have a list of people who I feel must read it. I have to tell my book club about it. I am not sure who to pass this book on to next because the selfish book lover in me is thinking, what if they damage it? What if I don’t get it back? I seriously am treating this book like a piece of gold I just discovered…. a book of much worth.

What am I reading next? As I type, I have Catching Fire sitting next to me. It has to be next. I have to know what happens next.

I purchased my copy of this book from Barnes & Noble, St. Cloud, MN

Wisdom Hunter by Randall Arthur

Published on November 20, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)4 Comments

I have been a fan of Randall Arthur for years! A chance to read and review this book was a pleasure! ~ Sheila

Pastor Jason Faircloth knows what he believes. His clear faith, in fact, is why he is one of the most prominent pastors in Atlanta. He relies on it to discipline his daughter, his wife, his church. He prays daily that others would come to see God’s ways as he does. And it is about to cost him everything.

What does it take to soften a heart so entrenched in law that it never truly loves?

Groping for answers in the face of tragedy, Jason begins a search for the only family he has left: the granddaughter kept hidden from him. Soon he finds himself on an international adventure that will take him straight into the depths of his soul. He is determined not to fail again.

A fast-paced suspense novel rich in spiritual depth, Wisdom Hunter explores what it means to break free of Christian legalism—and discover why grace can mean the difference between life and death.

In My Opinion:

I read Randall Arthur several years ago. In fact, I had read all three of Randall Arthurs books which include: Jordan’s Crossing and Brotherhood of Betrayal. I enjoyed his books so much, I have checked for new books from his occasionally on line and had come up empty. When I was requested to do a review to the re-issue of this book, Wisdom Hunter, I jumped at the chance.

Wayne Jacobson, publisher of The Shack says it well when he says, “Finally someone who understands that most religeous trappings do not enhance faith but actually undermine it!”

This is what I love about this book, Randall Arthur takes tough topics – real topics. When Jason Faircloth’s heavy handed teachings of right and wrong for his daughter causes him to lose her. As his world crumbles… Jason learns hard lessons on forgiveness.

This book is so well written, so fast paced, I read it in a matter of hours, not putting it down. As the story opens we find Pastor Jason Faircloth to be a man who has the respect of his congregational and he leads with the belief that he is right and it can only be his way – the way he believes. As God begans to put painful trials in Jason’s life, we start to see the truth.

It is so refreshing to read a Christian fiction book that is not sugar coated. Randall Arthur puts his characters through the wringer. I lie reading about real issues that happen in the lives of Christians, yes, even Pastors have their struggles as we can see all the time on the tv or read about in the paper. We all fall short and Randall Arthur gives us an honest look into one families struggles, driven apart to never be as they once were.

A book I thoroughly enjoyed and was thrilled to have the opportunity to not only read it again, but have the chance to share this read with all of you.

About the Author:

Randall Arthur is the bestselling author of Jordan’s Crossing and Brotherhood of Betrayal. He and his wife have served as missionaries to Europe for over thirty years. From 1976 till 1998, he lived in Norway and Germany as a church planter. Since 2000, he has taken numerous missions teams from the United States on trips all over Europe. Arthur is also the founder of the AOK (Acts of Kindness) Bikers’ Fellowship, a group of men who enjoy the sport of motorcycling. He and his family live in Atlanta, Georgia.

I received my review copy of this book from WaterBrook Press, a division of Random House

Too Many Visitors For One Little House by Susan Chodakiewitz

Published on November 19, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)8 Comments

Laugh out loud goodness in the pages of this delightful read about opening your heart… and even your home. ~ Sheila

The neighbors of El Camino Street did not like pets. They did not like kids. They did not like people with big families. They never had any guests and spent their day cleaning their houses, tending their gardens, and snoozing on their porches.

And so our story begins! I turned the pages of this delightful book enjoying the wonderful illustrations of the people of El Camino Street. When the new family moved in – a mom, a dad, three kids, and a fish- the neighbors kept an eye out for trouble…. and all was fine, until the visitors arrived.

And with every turn of the page more family arrives much to their neighbors dismay… they label each visitor from the noisy teenagers, to the off her rocker Grandma…. this book really shows how people can judge others before they really even know them.

I think this would be a wonderful read for children to discuss learning to accept others even if they are different from ourselves. Who knows… you just might experience something incredible and new!

Susan Chodakiewitz is a writer, composer and producer. She is the founder of Booksicals Children’s Books- Encouraging the love of reading through the arts. She lives in Los Angeles in a lively household filled with music, three sons, a husband, a Dalmatian and lots of visitors. Susan loves picture books and she wrote a musical based on one of her favorites. She realized it was time to start writing her own picture books. Too Many Visitors for One Little House is Susan’s debut book. If you happen to see Susan sitting in the children’s section of the library reading picture books with a big smile on her face, do say hello.

Email Susan Chodakiewitz Email Susan

With a sense of humor and identification to the characters, Veronica Walsh created the illustrations for Too Many Visitors for One Little House. Veronica studied art and design at California State University, Long Beach, and worked as a graphic designer for many years. She lives in Southern California with her husband and three cats.
Email Veronica

Enter here for Nanny’s Strudel recipe

I received my review copy of thes book from Dorothy with Pump Up Your Blog Tour

Charlie and Mama Kyna by Diana Rumjahn

Published on November 19, 2009November 19, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)1 Comment

Being friends with a frog, a lion, and a giraffe has never been more fun! ~ Sheila

Charlie and Mama Kyna is a sweet tale of three friends – Charlie, a frog, Leo, a lion and Joe, a giraffe – who embark on a journey to find a good home. In this delightful children’s picture book written by Diana Rumjahn, we are all taken on an enchanting journey in which Charlie, “a sweet green frog with a red bow tie with white polka dots,” finds Leo and Joe sitting in an orange tent in front of Mrs. Cupcake’s Bakery. Soon they tire of living out of a tent and not having a real home, so Charlie takes them back to his house in which he had run away from for breaking his mother’s vase and not wanting to get in trouble over it. The three form a bond as they travel through creeks and over hills on their way to Charlie’s mother’s house. Instead of being upset over the vase, Charlie’s mother is extremely happy to have him home again and welcomes his new friends into her home.

The more childrens books I read the more I really appreciate them. In this book, Charle and Mama Kyna, I am introduced to three lovable characters that your young kids are going to love. A wonderful story about the importance of forgiveness and friendship. The words to this book roll off your tongue and just make it a fun read! I loved the beautiful illustrations of this book I would believe to be be an anytime favorite!

I received my review copy of this book from Dorothy of Pump Up Your Book Promotions

Novel Destinations by Shannon McKenna Schmidt and Joni Rendon

Published on November 18, 2009November 27, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)5 Comments

This book allows you to jump inside the pages of other books… for me a dream come true! ~ Sheila

It’s often said that a good book takes us somewhere we’ve never been before, and here’s the proof: a book-lover’s Baedeker to more than 500 literary locales across the United States and Europe. Novel Destinations invites readers to follow in the footsteps of much-loved authors, discover the scenes that sparked their imaginations, glimpse the lives they led, and share a bit of the experiences they transformed so eloquently into print. If you’re looking to indulge in literary adventure, you’ll find all the inspiration and information you need here, along with behind-the-scenes stories such as these:

After Ernest Hemingway survived two near-fatal plane crashes during an African safari, he perused his obituaries and sipped champagne on a canal-side terrace in Venice.

Washington Irving’s wisteria-draped cottage in the Hudson Valley was once occupied by members of the Van Tassel family, immortalized in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

A mysterious incident at a stone tower near Dublin made such a vivid impression on James Joyce that he drew on it for the opening scene of Ulysses.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle consulted on the mystery of Agatha Christie’s 1926 disappearance before she resurfaced under an assumed name in northern England.

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The House of the Seven Gables was inspired by a seaside manse in Salem, Massachusetts, infamous witch trials in which his ancestor played a role.

In My Opinion:

The Steinbeck House, Salinas California — The Steinbeck House, Salinas, California

I seriously wanted to crawl inside this book and go! I discovered this book on Amazon a while ago and had to have it. I was curious in my travels throughout the years might I have been unknowingly close to an incredible literary landmark? Might I have passed by where Walt Whitman once dined, or Ralph Waldo Emerson walked his dog (if he had a dog…). How about Checking into the actual hotel room at the Sun Valley Lodge in Idaho where Hemingway penned For Whom the Bell Tolls, or knocking back a “Papa Dobles” cocktail (invented by the writer himself) at Sloppy Joe’s in Key West, FL? The thought of any of these gives my goose bumps!

I found the closest to me in this book would be Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald who was born on Summit Ave in St Paul, Minnesota. There is a walking tour of landmarks associated with the writer and his works. Sinclair Lewes was born in Sauk Centre MN where he wrote about his 1920 best seller, Main Street.

This book covers final resting places, to the bars that the likes of Mark Twain hung out in. From childhood homes, to the big screen where a travel to England and see the Chateau House (where the exterior shots of the 2005 film Pride and Prejudice were shot) open daily mid March thru December.

I adored everything about this book. I enjoyed reading it as informative as well as a road map to places to see! This one is a keeper, a must take along for road trips and beyond!