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Jun 30, 2012
Highland Sanctuary by Jennifer Hudson TaylorMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
An interesting story set among the castles and clans of Scotland. Plagued with "falling fits" since birth, Serena's mother raised her in the sanctuary of a small village of outcasts. When the new laird takes up residence in the castle, Serena takes employment there. Gavin arrives with his brother and a crew of clansmen to repair the aging castle. Serena's plans to remain single and in the community of outcasts are turned upside down when both the laird and Gavin show their interest in her. After suffering one of her fits in the town, Serena is brought before the church under suspicion of being possessed. Which man will stand beside her when they learn her secret? You'll have to read the story to find out.
Jun 25, 2012
Today is our 30th anniversary.
And - yes - I was a child bride!
The years have flown by while we've pursued life as a married couple. And it has been a pursuit. Life isn't easy. Married life isn't easy. We've had our disappointments, disillusions, and times of discontent. Those obstacles strengthened our relationship because we didn't let them derail our goal - our pursuit - of a life together.
So why have we persevered when so many marriages haven't. I'd like to say we're just that good... but in truth, we're blessed. When we stood in the church before God and said our vows, we meant them. They were not said lightly. And He has blessed us time and time again through the good times and the bad because - I believe - we have honored our vows and our commitment to Him. We don't always get it right. It's not always pretty. But our hope - and marriage - is build on nothing less, than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
This post is part of Christian Writers’ May Blog Chain on the topic, “Pursuit.” Check out the other Blog Chain posts by clicking the links right.
Jun 18, 2012
Kaydie by Penny ZellerMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is the second in Penny Zeller's "Montana Skies" series. I don't think it was as good as the first one, but it was still worth reading. Whitaker House billed this one as a romance and not a historical... which is correct! They billed the first book as a historical and these are not. They are set in the old west but contain no actual history in them. I'd classify them as Prairie Romances.
Kaytie is the younger sister of MacKenzie from the first book. Her story is sad and stems from an abusive marriage. I think the author did a more than credible job of showing the wounded emotions of a woman who has been through this type of trauma. The characters from book one are all back, although Zack, my favorite character from the first book, is the most minor character in this one.
Suitable for older teens on up only due to the issue of spousal abusive.
Jun 9, 2012
Above All Earthly Powers by Jack CavanaughMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a good way to wrap up the series. There were situations that stretched credibility in a few places, but it's still a solid 4 stars. This final book did a fast forward from WWII to the early 1960s and we learned what became of the Hadamar children, Lisette, and Mady. When the Berlin Wall went up, their lives altered drastically once again. Three people return from the dead in this book, one I expected but the other two I did not. It added some twists and turns along the way. I love a series ending that wraps up both the plot lines and the character arcs. This one certainly does that! A series very worth reading, one I highly recommend.
Jun 3, 2012
His Watchful Eye by Jack CavanaughMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Another powerful, insightful, and disturbing book about German Christians during WWII. I couldn't put it down. In fact, I finished it two days ago and didn't stop to write this review - I jumped right into book #3! Jack Cavanaugh does such a good job of explaining the inexplicable. How could young people, raised in Christ's Church, become Nazi youth and then soldiers involved in unspeakable acts against humanity? What caused them to go this way - and what brought some of them back? This is another book worth your time to read and digest. Parts of it are disturbing but they are important to understand because things like this really happened. The fictional characters are so believable, you can being to understand what it could have been like. Well done, Mr. Cavanaugh, you deserve all 5 stars for this one!
May 30, 2012
Boom!
My son and I look at each other across the kitchen, eyes wide.
“What was that?”
“I’ve no idea.”
We shrug and move to the living room to watch a documentary on Lewis and
Clark. History geeks that we are, we call this high entertainment. And
one-on-one time spent with a college student in his last year at home is
priceless.
Boom! Boom!
I look out the window at the smoking burn barrel.
“What did you throw in the trash?” This question is followed by his first
and middle names.
“Nothing.”
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Our back yard has taken on the look and demeanor of a war zone. Noses
pressed against the windows, we watch as several more explosions launch flaming
bits of paper into the stratosphere.
“’Nothing’ doesn’t blow up.”
His shoulders start to jiggle and his lips twitch.
“What did you throw in the trash?” I not only use his first, middle and
last names. . .at this point I’m reciting his entire social security number.
“I might have thrown away some old CO2 cartridges I used to use in that
pellet gun Grandpa gave me.”
“You’re going to be the death of us yet.”
“Yeah, but isn’t it cool?”
We stand and watch more flaming eruptions and smoldering fallout.
Thankfully the ground is still frozen and half covered with snow. I wrap an arm
around my son’s waist and lean my head on his shoulder.
“You’re an idiot, but I love you.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
I can picture my Heavenly Father, with His arm around my shoulder,
standing side-by-side with me as I blow up things in my life. He loves me, even
when I’m an idiot. Even when I loose flaming debris across the landscape of the
life He has purposed for me. Praise God!
May 19, 2012
Surrender the Dawn by M.L. TyndallMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
It says a lot that I'm giving this book 4 stars since it hit one of my pet peeves at the very beginning and several times throughout the story. I detest - not too strong a word here - the cliche, "as well as any man" when referring to a woman doing something. Detest. I almost closed the cover when I hit the first one. But I hung on and am very glad I did. A delightful tail of a lady and a rogue who both find truth and love among the twists and turns of war time. Set during the War of 1812, we even get a peek at such notable figures from history as Sir Francis Scott Key and Major Armistead. Gotta love a dose of good history in any historical!
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