Category: Book Review

The Secret Of Joy by Melissa Senate

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

Melissa Senate’s book goes on sale today!  A win for chick lit!  ~ Sheila

Rebecca Strand, a 28-year-old New York City paralegal in a divorce mediation firm, is shocked when her dying father confesses his long-ago affair–and the baby he’d turned his back on. This fragile connection to 26-year-old half-sister Joy Joyhawk is all Rebecca has left of family. And so with her lawyer boyfriend’s protests ringing in her ears (“She’s just going to want her share of his million-dollar estate!”), Rebecca drives to Wiscasset, Maine, with the 26 letters her father wrote to Joy (but never sent) every year on herbirthday. Having no idea what to expect, Rebecca knocks on Joy Jayhawk’s door.
Turns out Joy, the separated mother of a little boy (Rebecca has a nephew too!), isn’t very interested in the “father” who turned his back on her existence from day one–or her “sister.” But Rebecca is so determined to establish family bonds with Joy that she doesn’t go home . . . and finds herself being welcomed into small life by some very loveable, quirky characters, including the Divorced Ladies Club of Wiscasset and a sexy carpenter named Theo . . .


In My Opinion:

Two thumbs up!  I have read a lot of heavier books lately and this one came in my hands at just the right time.  The Secret of Joy made me smile.  I wanted to go hang out in Maine with these characters, I really did!

Rebecca comes in as the main character and when Joy comes in to her life as the sister she never knew existed until after her dads passing, I am pleasantly surprised on what Joy adds to the book.  It is as if the entrance of Joy, was a gift from Rebecca’s father to let her know that there are other options than getting married just so you dont feel alone.  Not settling I think is a wonderful lesson in the book and author Melissa Senate weaves that well into the story.

Good strong likable characters are always a plus for me and I found then here between the pages of a book called The Secret Of Joy.

About Author Melissa Senate

Melissa Senate is the author of eight novels, including the bestselling See Jane Date, which was made into an ABC Family TV movie and has sold over 200,000 copies worldwide. She’s published short pieces in Everything I’ve Always Wanted to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume, It’s a Wonderful Lie, Flirting with Pride and Prejudice, and American Girls About Town. A former romance and young adult editor from New York, she now lives on the southern coast of Maine with her son.

Extras!

Looking up the Whoopee Pies that Marianne is famous for, I found Labadie’s Bakery in Maine for Whoopie Pies.


My review copy was sent to me by Pocket Books

Marriage 101 by Jewell R. Powell w/ Chance to win a Date Night!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)16 Comments

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Jewell provided me with tools for my marriage that I sometimes forget I own….  ~ Sheila


aaYour marriage can be strong, healthy, happy, and blessed. Marriage coach Jewell Powell shows you how in this 8-week plan for marital success. She reveals how God’s truths can transform two individuals into the union he desires. Laying a spiritual foundation is crucial to your marriage. In Marriage 101: Building a Life Together by Faith, you will discover God’s purpose for marriage, how to develop godly character, how to communicate effectively, and much more. With biblical examples, study questions, and Scripture meditations perfect for individuals or couples, you will be challenged to examine areas in your life that may need change so that your marriage can thrive.


My Thoughts:

I enjoyed how author Jewell R Powell used the story of Sleeping Beauty to reflect Gods Love.  In today’s world, I don’t think it matters if you are about to be married, newly weds, or on 22 years (like me), this book has something we can all benefit from.   The study questions and places to leave my reflections were wonderful as I like to take notes when I am learning.

The book is interesting and laid out in an 8 week format.  In a quote by Mother Theresa :

Spread Love wherever you go: first of all in your own house.  Give love to your wife or husband, toy our children, to a next door neighbor… Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.  Be the living expression of Gods kindness, kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting.

~ Mother Theresa

The part that got me there was the first sentence.  How often do I spread myself so thin throughout the day that by the time I land back at home with my husband there isn’t a whole lot of me left?  A wonderful read – a great study guide for individuals or couples.  I would recommend this book to anyone who is planning to get married or is currently married.

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About Jewell Powell

In July of 1992, Jewell met her Prince Charming at a Roy Rogers restaurant. When the couple decided to marry four years later, both were aware of the latest marriage statistics and the legacy of divorce that lay between them. Her parents divorced when she was four, after moving the family to Maryland, leaving her to be raised by a single mother. To circumvent the odds, they went through pre-marital counseling, attended church regularly and felt a strong love for one another. They believed they were ready for marriage.

While desiring to have a happily ever after, Jewell found life after marriage anything but a fairy tale. In 2001, she and her husband, Lewis, had been married for five years but were growing apart, after experiencing problems with infertility, sleeping in separate bedrooms and Lewis’s increasing disinterest in going to church. As she searched for answers to her marital troubles, Jewell found herself on a journey, seeking answers to save her marriage.

Despite a shaky beginning, the Powells now have a relationship with a strong foundation. After successfully resolving their marital problems, they started the Happily Ever After Marriage Ministry to help others do the same. Her new book, Marriage 101: Building a Life Together by Faith (Revell Books February 2009, ISBN 978-0-8007-3332-2, $13.99), offers hope and guidance to help transform broken relationships through the use of biblical wisdom in a simple workbook format.

Jewell serves as co-owner of Antiok Holdings, an emerging full-service management consulting firm, which she owns with her husband. She earned a Bachelor of Science in business from the University of Maryland and is pursuing a Master of Divinity. The Powells reside in southern Maryland with their two daughters. For more information, please visit www.marriage101.us.

Date Night Drawing!!!

  • Tywebbin has graciously offered  one Winner (Randomly chosen from all blogs – see schedule at http://bit.ly/Marriage101)  will receive a  $30 DATE NIGHT certificate to the restaurant of their choice (Applebees, Chili’s, Ruby Tuesday or Red Lobster) and a gift pack of books (includes Marriage 101, I Don’t Want a Divorce, and Have a New Husband by Friday.)

How super cool is that?

To enter:  You  MUST leave an email address in the comments and answer the question you see posted below. You must answer the question and be part of the discussion to be entered in the drawing.

The question is:

In todays world of business, children,  and over commitments,  how can a husband and wife find time for each other?  How do you find time for your spouse or significant other?

RADIO SCHEDULE

November 16 – Black Authors Network (8-10 pm EST)

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Black-Author-Network
November 19 – REAL TALK WITH TANYA WHITE Radio Show (7 pm EST)

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/realtalkwithtanyawhite
November 20 – Chocolate Pages Show (4 pm EST)

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/chocolatepages

My review copy of this book was sent by Tywebbin Creations Blog Tours

Love Has A Face by Michele Perry

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)3 Comments

A look into war torn Sudan…. and the difference one faith filled woman can make ~ Sheila

aaTermites for dinner. Bombs in the backyard. A nation torn by decades of war still on the brink. Can one life really make a difference here?

Born without her left hip and leg, Michele Perry is no stranger to seeming impossibilities. So when she arrived in war-torn Southern Sudan–with little more than her faith in God’s promises–she did what everyone told was crazy: she opened a home for orphaned children in the middle of guerilla warfare territory and has now become “mama” to over one hundred little lives.

With a deft pen, she recounts unforgettable stories of life in the bush, stories that capture the reader with the stark realities of living in a war zone—and the power of God’s love to transform them. Her own story is just as compelling as the ministry she is living. From working in the slums of India to finding her home in war-ravaged Africa, her life has been a journey deeper into the supernatural power of God.

My Thoughts

Michele shares a story of a life lived for others.  I read this book in its entirety in Honduras.  While I liked reading about how she was able to help the children of Sudan. parts of the book left me feeling a little unfulfilled, but I am struggling to put my finger on it.

There is a point that Michele makes in the book that I have seen for myself in what I do.  She talks of a homeless friend shaing his tortilla with her.  People in the worst conditions we can imagine, yet still living with hope and with happiness.

I was learning who was really poor.  And it was not these people.

I love that line as I have seen this with my own eyes  again and again.  While we go out into the world and see people living in one room homes with no doors or windows,no running water, a barrel outside filled with wood that is their stove, no refrigerator, or car, and maybe one change of clothes…  and then I think how much I have back home that I really do not need….  the things that we pay for and fret over payments on…. the tv shows and music we moniter our children on…. and then I see these people living the simplest of lives and making the very best out of it…

Sorry – went off on my own there for a minute.  This book gives a glimpse into the lives of those in Sudan.  Michele’s courage and what she is doing is remarkable.  There were parts of this book I found to not exactly sit right with me, and maybe that’s just me. aa

About the Author:

Michele Perry is the founding field ministry coordinator for Iris Ministries in Southern Sudan under Rolland and Heidi Baker. Born without her left hip and leg and other birth defects, she endured 23 surgeries by age 13. A native of Florida, Michele studied at Baylor and has previously served in Bangladesh, India, and the inner cities of the U.S. She is also an artist, photographer, and poet. Michele wrote most of Love Has a Face on an old computer by a kerosene lamp in a bullet-hole ridden shell of a building in Southern Sudan.

The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

An eye opening read!  A book not to sit on a shelf but to be passed on as it is meant to be read!  ~ Sheila

aaJeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children’s imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn’t stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an “excitement addict.” Cooking a meal that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever.

Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town — and the family — Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the family escalated, Jeannette and her brother and sisters had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they weathered their parents’ betrayals and, finally, found the resources and will to leave home.What is so astonishing about Jeannette Walls is not just that she had the guts and tenacity and intelligence to get out, but that she describes her parents with such deep affection and generosity. Hers is a story of triumph against all odds, but also a tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a family that despite its profound flaws gave her the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms.

My Thoughts:

The book opened with this sentence: “I was sitting in a taxi, wondering if I had overdressed for the evening, when I looked out the window and saw Mom rooting through a Dumpster.”

Yowsa.  I had to read it again.  It didnt take long to root myself into this read that was the vision of dysfunctional right from the start.  There are many times throughout the book that I wonder why didnt social services step in… why didnt anyone see this?  I wonder now as people who knew this family as this was happening dnt see Jeanette’s book now and wonder the same thing themselves.

The funny thing is that time and again, people did try to act… and Jeanette’s dad will pull up the family and move – and her mother (and I use the term loosely) just thought life was an adventure and didnt really focus to much on anything that had to do with her children.  Sorry- I am trying to stay even here but I really struggled with Jeanette’s mom.

In our Bookies Book Club discussion of this book this past week, we found the book to be so incredible that it had to be non fiction.  If the book were fictitious no one would find it believable -it would be too over the top.

  • Driving a piano through the house
  • cutting maggots off ham to eat
  • taking leftovers out of the schools garbage and eating it in the bathroom stalls so no one knew…

Jeanette Walls book is written well and Jeanette shares her life story in a matter of fact, occasionally humorous tone.  I dont think I could have made my way through it is she would have written it as bitter and angry – it would have been too heavy.

My book club rated this book as a high 4 rating out of 5.

About the Author:aa

One of four siblings, Jeannette Walls was born in Phoenix, Arizona in 1960. Her family lived in various southwestern towns before settling in Welch, West Virginia when she was ten. She moved to New York City at age 17 and graduated from Columbia University’s Barnard College with honors in 1984. She went on to become a reporter for New York magazine, Esquire and USA Today. She has appeared regularly on television, including the Today Show, CNN and Prime Time Live and is widely known as a former gossip columnist for MSNBC.com.

She currently lives in northern Virginia and is married to writer John Taylor. Her memoir, The Glass Castle (2005) was a New York Times bestseller with movie rights optioned by Paramount (but as of October 2009 there is no sign of the movie entering production). Her next book, Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel, was published in October 2009.


This book was purchased by me. I am an Amazon Affiliate and by clicking on the link to the books above, I will receive a small percentage of the sale should you make a purchase.

I would rate this book PG

White Picket Fences by Susan Meissner w/ giveaway

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)35 Comments

Old secrets that open new wounds…. are only the beginning of healing in this captivating read.  ~ Sheila

aaWhen her black sheep brother disappears, Amanda Janvier eagerly takes in her sixteen year-old niece Tally. The girl is practically an orphan: motherless, and living with a father who raises Tally wherever he lands– in a Buick, a pizza joint, a horse farm–and regularly takes off on wild schemes. Amanda envisions that she, her husband Neil, and their two teenagers can offer the girl stability and a shot at a “normal” life, even though their own storybook lives are about to crumble.

Seventeen-year-old Chase Janvier hasn’t seen his cousin in years, and other than a vague curiosity about her strange life, he doesn’t expect her arrival will affect him much–or interfere with his growing, disturbing interest in a long-ago house fire that plagues his dreams unbeknown to anyone else.

Tally and Chase bond as they interview two Holocaust survivors for a sociology project, and become startlingly aware that the whole family is grappling with hidden secrets, with the echoes of the past, and with the realization that ignoring tragic situations won’t make them go away.

Will Tally’s presence blow apart their carefully-constructed world, knocking down the illusion of the white picket fence and reveal a hidden past that could destroy them all–or can she help them find the truth without losing each other?

My Thoughts

The book had me at the cover… it was the first thing that caught me, but certainly not the last.  I like first lines of books and this one opening at a funeral was a great line, it left me wanting more.  “Who died”,  Is the first question that comes to mind followed closely by, “and what happened?”  I found myself in a book that tries to make up for lost time and hurts.  When Neil and Amanda take their 16 year old niece in to their home a shake up occurs that could not have been predicted.  This book was a good example about how secrets have a tendency to surface and when the past hits the present it can cause life turmoil.

This book is a wonderful example of how things that can look perfectly wonderful from the outside are now always that way on the inside.  The title of this book is a prefect reflection of this.  Layered in plots, I enjoyed the different happenings in the book including a surprise that left me unable to put the book down.

This book is labeled Christian but I would say light Christian and if that label was not on the book I dont think you would read it and say this was a Christian fiction read.  It is a clean book with a good story line.  This was my first Susan Meissner book and I enjoyed it very much and would like to read her again.

About Susan:

“I cannot remember a time when I wasn’t driven to write. I attribute this passion to a creative God and to parents who love books and aamore particularly to a dad who majored in English and passed on a passion for writing.

I was born in San Diego, California, and am the second of three daughters. I spent my very average childhood in just two houses. I attended Point Loma College in San Diego, and married my husband in 1980. I had been majoring in education, thinking I might like to teach kindergarten, but I would have been smarter to major in English with a concentration in writing. The advice I give now to anyone wondering what to major in is follow your heart and choose a path that you know you already enjoy.

I didn’t do a lot of writing in the years my husband was on active duty in the Air Force, when we were living overseas, or when the kids were little. When my little heirs were finally all in school, though, I became aware of a deep, gnawing desire to write a novel; a desire I managed to ignore for several years.

Finally when I could disregard it no longer, I resigned in 2002 as editor of a small town newspaper, and set out to write my first book, “Why the Sky is Blue.”

Giveaway!!!

Woo hoo!  I have an extra copy of this book to giveaway!  Here is how you can enter!

1.  Leave a comment here with where you would live if you could live anywhere.  *You must answer the question to have your comment counted!

Bonus Entries!!!

Blog or Twitter about this giveaway and let me know on a separate comment and you will have an additional chance to win

Subscribe to receive email posts from me (upper right side) and let me know on a separate comment and you will have two additional entries

Giveaway will be open until December 1st.  USA and Canada entrants only please!

Have fun and good luck!

This review copy and giveaway copy was provided by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

Jantsen’s Gift by Pam Cope

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

This book tore into the very center of my heart and planted a seed there.  At times I found it hard to breathe as I read about these children with little hope – yet they still had a flicker… and I couldnt close my eyes to shut out the vision…. ~ Sheila

aaNine years ago, Pam Cope owned a cozy hair salon in the tiny town of Neosho, Missouri, and her life revolved around her son’s baseball games, her daughter’s dance lessons, and family trips to places like Disney World. She had never been out of the country, nor had she any desire to travel far from home.

Then, on June 16th, 1999, her life changed forever with the death of her 15-year-old son from an undiagnosed heart ailment.

Needing to get as far away as possible from everything that reminded her of her loss, she accepted a friend’s invitation to travel to Vietnam, and, from the moment she stepped off the plane, everything she had been feeling since her son’s death began to shift. By the time she returned home, she had a new mission: to use her pain to change the world, one small step at a time, one child at a time. Today, she is the mother of two children adopted from Vietnam. More than that, she and her husband have created a foundation called “Touch A Life,” dedicated to helping desperate children in countries as far-flung as Vietnam, Cambodia and Ghana.

Pam Cope’s story is on one level a moving, personal account of loss and recovery, but on a deeper level, it offers inspiration to anyone who has ever suffered great personal tragedy or those of us who dream about making a difference in the world

My Thoughts…♥

It has taken me several days to put this review into words.  When I opened the book to read about Pam Cope’s experience I found her words easy to read and I fell right into the pages on her story.  A story that soon had my heart wrenching as I has in Honduras working with kids who lived in a dump – and I was reading about Pam Copes own heartache and how it led her to Vietnam and working in a similar situation, trying to help kids who have nothing…. no home, no food, and looking them in the eye and trying to give them hope.

As I read this book and made me think about why I do what I do… and knowing that my story hits close to Pam’s story.  I felt a kinship with Pam… a need to do more.  I understood her and appreciated her sense of humor and her heart that held so many.  Pam writes in a real tone that lets you know she is just one of us – struggling day to day making choices right or wrong… sometimes goofing it big time and occasionally getting it right.  I loved that about this book.

As I came home on the plane I finished this read and the kids that haunt me from this book are the ones who are still out there – the ones who they were unable to save.  They are the same kids that cause me to waken in the night.  Thank God for people like Pam…  As I neared the end of the book I openly wept – and not for the first time during this read.   This  is an important book for all of us to read.  My recommendation could not come higher.

Last week while I was away, Alison guest hosted here and shared her thoughts on this read.  She also at that time offered up a giveaway for a copy of this book.  Link here for that giveaway that is still open until November 20.

About Pam Copeaa

Pam Cope is a frazzled mother of two ten year olds named Van and Tatum and an accomplished, independent 21-year-old daughter named Crista Austin. She is the Co-director, with her husband Randy, of the Touch A Life Foundation.


This book was sent to me for review by Hachette Book Group

The Magic Warble by Victoria Simcox

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)14 Comments

For those who love all things Narnia… along comes the Magic Warble  ~ prepare to be amazed…  Sheila

aaDwarfs, gnomes, fairies, talking animals, and an evil queen – all these and more can be found in The Magic Warble, an enchanting tale of adventure and friendship.

Twelve-year-old Kristina Kingsly feels like the most unpopular girl in her school. The kids all tease her, and she never seems to fit in. But when Kristina receives an unusual Christmas gift, she suddenly finds herself magically transported to the land of Bernovem, home of dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, talking animals, and the evil Queen Sentiz.

In Bernovem, Kristina not only fits in, she’s honored as “the chosen one” the only one who can release the land from Queen Sentiz’s control. But it’s not as simple as it seems. To save Bernovem, she must place the gift she was given, the famous “Magic Warble” in its final resting place. And she must travel through the deep forest, climb a treacherous mountain, and risk capture by the queen’s “zelbocks” before she reaches her destination. Guided by her new fairy friends, Clover and Looper and by Prince Werrien, a teenage boy, as well as an assortment of other characters, Kristina sets off on a perilous journey that not only tests her strength but her heart.

My Thoughts…

Occasionally a book comes along that seems to be the right book for the time.   This was that book for me.  In laymans fairyterms, this book hit the spot.  I was taken in right away by the magical motion of the book as I swept into the pages and actually felt myself relax into the words. The Narnia feel to this book gave me a sense of thrill, knowing I was about to embark on an adventure.

For a little while I was in another world of fantasy… and I do enjoy a good fantasy read!  The pages I swear turned themselves as I followed Kristina to Bernovem to a place that she no longer is the missfit….

Two words:  Loved it.

Who Is Victoria Simcox?

Victoria, known as Vicki, was born in 1966, in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, to an Austrian immigrant mother, and a Dutch immigrant aafather. She has one older sister, Jeannette. When Vicki was 7, she moved with her family to British Columbia. In her early twenties Vicki moved to Western Washington and now resides in Marysville WA. She has been married to her husband Russ, for nineteen years and they have three children; Toby, who is fifteen, Kristina, thirteen, and William, eight. She has home schooled her children for the past nine years, and she also teaches elementary school art. Vicki’s other family members are, a Chihuahua, named Pipsy, two cats, Frodo, and Fritz, and two parakeets, Charlie, and Paulie. She did have a pet rat named Raymond when she started writing The Magic Warble, but sad to say, he has since passed away of old age. Vicki enjoys writing, painting watercolors, watching movies, hanging out with her family, and chauffeuring her kids around to their many activities. Her favorite author is C.S. Lewis, and one of her fondest memories is when she was twelve. She would sit at the kitchen table and read The Chronicles of Narnia to her mother while she cooked dinner. These magical stories were very dear to Vicki and she remembers wishing, If only I could go to Narnia like Lucy and Susan. Vicki hopes that maybe, she can touch someone with her story in a similar way.

I received my review copy from Dorothy of Pump Up Your Book Promotion

Limelight by Melody Carlson

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)7 Comments

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A book of lessons that we are never too old to learn… ~ Sheila

Claudette Fioré used to turn heads and break hearts. She relished the glamorous Hollywood lifestyle because she had what it takes: money, youth, fame, and above all, beauty. But age has withered that beauty, and a crooked accountant has taken her wealth, leaving the proud widow penniless and alone.

I used to be a beauty… too good for our dusty little town… destined for greatness.

Armed with stubbornness and sarcasm, Claudette returns to her shabby little hometown and her estranged sister. Slowly, she makes friends. She begins to see her old life in a new light. For the first time, Claudette Fioré questions her own values and finds herself wondering if it’s too late to change.

My Thoughts…

This book covered a great topic that usually hits home for me…. the character of Claudette Fiore’ (doesnt the name even fit the ‘tude?) starts off as this person who is used to getting her way no matter what the cost.  I have to admit – I did not like her.

As the book evolves and Claudette hits things that are inevitable… we see the changes that take place in her.  I liked where the story was going but found it to be a bit predictable.  There were a few “aha” moments as we see the world now through the older Claudette’s eyes and the message of “it is never too late”, rings true.

About our Author:aa

Melody is an award-winning, best-selling author of nearly two hundred books for teens, children, and adults, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the Secret Life of Samantha McGregor series, the True Color Series, and Notes from a Spinning Planet series. Melody has two grown sons and lives in central Oregon with her husband, where they enjoy skiing, hiking, gardening, camping, and biking.

I received my review copy of the book from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

Leaving Carolina by Tamara Leigh

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)4 Comments

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A  look at family secrets and colorful characters that leave you with an important reminder…  ~ Sheila

Piper Wick left her hometown of Pickwick, North Carolina, twelve years ago, shook the dust off her feet, ditched her drawl and her family name, and made a new life for herself as a high-powered public relations consultant in LA. She’s even “engaged to be engaged” to the picture-perfect U.S. Congressman Grant Spangler.

Now all of Piper’s hard-won happiness is threatened by a reclusive uncle’s bout of conscience. In the wake of a health scare, Uncle Obadiah Pickwick has decided to change his will, leaving money to make amends for four generations’ worth of family misdeeds. But that will reveal all the Pickwicks’ secrets, including Piper’s.

Though Piper arrives in Pickwick primed for battle, she is unprepared for Uncle Obe’s rugged, blue-eyed gardener. So just who is Axel Smith? Why does he think making amends is more than just making restitution? And why, oh why, can’t she stay on task? With the Lord’s help, Piper is about to discover that although good PR might smooth things over, only the truth will set her free.

My Thoughts…

I have not read Tamara Leigh before this book and found her characters to have life breathed into them which I really like.  Characters that I can relate to, and find them to be real is always a plus and I enjoyed how Tamara took many of her characters and made them enjoyable to get to know.

The topic centered around family secrets was another plus.  I like to read about how families deal with things they try to bury in their past, especially when it comes in a Christian format such as this one.  I for one find great comfort in letting go of the past and moving on with a sense of known forgiveness and an honest approach to where I have been.  A light easy read that I enjoyed.

What about Tamara Leigh?aa

Tamara Leigh is the best-selling author of twelve novels, including award-winning “Splitting Harriet” (2008 ACFW “Book of the Year”), “Faking Grace” and “Leaving Carolina” the first book in her new “Southern Discomfort” series. A former speech and language pathologist, Tamara lives with her husband and their sons in Tennessee. Visit her website at: www.tamaraleigh.com

 

This review copy was sent to me by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

What Matters Most: Diary Of A Teenage Girl by Melody Carlson

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)10 Comments

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A quick written, quick witted book about a teenage girl… loved the green tips!  ~ Sheila

Sixteen-year-old Maya Stark has a lot to sort through. She could graduate from high school early if she wants to. She’s considering it, especially when popular cheerleader Vanessa Hartman decides to make her life miserable–and Maya’s ex-boyfriend Dominic gets the wrong idea about everything.

To complicate matters even more, Maya’s mother will be released from prison soon, and she’ll want Maya to live with her again. That’s a disaster waiting to happen. And when Maya plays her dad’s old acoustic guitar in front of an audience, she discovers talents and opportunities she never expected. Faced with new options, Maya must choose between a “normal” life and a glamorous one. Ultimately, she has to figure out what matters most.

My Thoughts:

This was a fun, quick read.  I like how it is written in a journal type format.  It seemed to fit perfectly for Maya and brought me back to my team years when I too journaled my days (of course then we called it a diary).  😉

I found the book to be unique with Maya’s Green Tips Of The Day.  Loved it.  Going into this read I did not know this was the third in a series called Diary Of A Teenage Girl.  What I have missed is A Not So Simple Life and Its A Green Thing.  Two books that if I came across them, I would not pass up.

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About Melody…

Melody Carlson has published over ninety books for adults, children, and teens, with sales totaling more than two million and many titles appearing on the ECPA Bestsellers List. Several of her books have been finalists for, and winners of, various writing awards, including the Gold Medallion and the RITA Award.

I received my review copy of the book from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group