The Captivating Lady Charlotte

     BOOK REVIEW:   All she wants is to marry for love. And as the belle of the season, Lady Charlotte Featherington should have her choice of suitors. But even this captivating lady must obey her noble papa's wishes---and the marquess has determined that his daughter will wed a widowed duke, not a dashing young lord.
     All the ninth Duke of Hartington wants is for the lady who has captured his heart to love him in return, despite their arranged marriage. But the betrayal of his first wife and the scandal she dragged him into make it nearly impossibly for William to believe a woman's heart can ever be trusted.
     Now this wounded widower and the romantically inclined young lady must find a way to negotiate a future together and learn the real meaning of both trust and love. Can the legacy of grace help them to find healing and hope?
     Poignant and charming, in the tradition of Georgette Heyer and Julie Klassen, this is anther beautifully written, clean and wholesome Regency romance from critically acclaimed author Carolyn Miller.

     MY REVIEW:   Regency period is probably my favorite fiction setting. Something about the whole social steps and systems is just fascinating to me---I love their huge houses, hundreds of servants, and of course, the rules of society.
     This book is the second in Carolyn Miller's Regency Brides, a Legacy of Grace series. I did not read the first book and was perfectly able to follow the storyline here. The first book is titled The Elusive Miss Ellison.
     I would say this book made my second favorite list. I have yet to read a Regency that hasn't hit either it or first, but still, this one didn't fail. :)
     A small thing I liked about the book was the timestamp put at the beginning of most chapters. I like when authors let you know when everything is happening.
    One thing I didn't like about the book is how fast is seemed to go---there could have been more details included, and some placed seemed to jump just a bit. But other than that, I really did enjoy the book.
     And of course, there is a mystery in the book. I didn't figure it out til I was told---I blamed the wrong person. But once I knew who the culprit was, I wondered how I hadn't figured it out. :)

   I received this book from KREGEL PUBLICATIONS per their blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. 

Psalm Hymns

     BOOK REVIEW:   Ever wonder what a modern Psalter would look like? Dramatic. Contemplative. Singable. Recitable! Use for performance, character building, historical education and for the thrill! Psalmody, here, is set to the rhythm, tune and meter of the great hymns of the Faith but it leaves the interpretive delivery up to the reader or singer. This modern Psalter contains the sacred lyrics of the first 98 Davidic Psalms which are the first three books of the Biblical Old Testament Psalms. 

     MY REVIEW:   This book is published in a coffee-table size book. It is softcover, and opens easily to each page. The words are clearly printed on white pages, with gray and white pictures scrambled through intermittently. 

     Each psalm is written in lyrical form, divided into lines and verses, with the tune of an old church hymn printed at the top of the page. Also included for each psalm is a brief description of the type of psalm and, when applicable, to whom, by whom, or why it is written. The hymns are accompanied by the name of it's artist and date of composure. At the end of each psalm is a note, either clarifying a thought, defining a word or two, a short devotional type, or suggestion of performance. 

     This book is really quite neat, though I was disappointed that the psalms could not be kept in their precise wording. The hymns chosen are beautiful and fit perfectly to the words. A few used are: Still, Still, Still; All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name; and Be Thou My Vision. They also match the feeling of the psalm, being either contemplative, active, joyful, or slow. 

   I received a copy of this book from BOOK CRASH per their blogger program, and was only asked to write an honest review. 

Break Open the Sky

     BOOK REVEIW:   In a world that thrives on fear, have faith.    Compared to all previous generations, we are safer, live longer, hurt less, and earn more. Yet we are more afraid that ever. Fear has slipped into our souls, leaving us on edge and constantly anxious. No longer a safe harbor, a source of strength, or a bastion for love, faith has fallen prey to a culture of fear.
    We face a defining moment. Will we cave to fear or rise in faith? Stephan Bauman, the former president of World Relief, has seen firsthand in some of the most difficult places in the world how it is possible to embrace love in the face of fear. Break Open the Sky is an invitation to live in authentic faith, free from fear and its debilitating symptoms.
     By embracing Jesus's core yet counterintuitive teachings on truth, love, and risk, you can find freedom from the fear of the unknown, release from the uncertainty of the other, and liberation from the anxieties that hold you back.
     Are you ready to pursue a countercultural kingdom of grace and love rather than safety and comfort? If so, here is your guide for changing the atmosphere of your culture, church, and world. It will only happen as you take risks big enough to brak open the sky.

     MY REVIEW:   One of the first things I liked about this book was the amount of Biblical references included, as well as quotes from other authors, philosophers, etc. I like seeing the unity between authors like that.
     Stephan splits his book into three core segments: Truth, Love, and Risk outlining how each is a necessary component of true faith. Different points are made such as the need to love those who are different from us, the necessity of suffering, and how not to fear trials.
     In the section on Risk, Stephan outlines several ways to treat people, ranging from showing hospitality, to avoiding the pecking order, and to seeing everyone--including the poor and desperate--as real people with real lives and real feelings. And most importantly---as equals.
     I feel like I didn't retain anything from this book, which makes reviewing it quite a challenge. It didn't hold my interest very well, but I had just finished a top-notch book, so it didn't stand much of a chance to begin with. Perhaps it will be better the second time around.

  I recieved a copy of this book from BLOGGING FOR BOOKS per their blogger program, and was only asked to write an honest review. 
   

A Name Unknown

     BOOK REVIEW:   Rosemary Gresham has no family beyond that of the band of former urchins who helped her survive as a girl in the mean streets of London. Grown now, they are no longer pickpockets---instead they focus on high value items and have learned how to blend into upper-class society. Rosemary is beginning to question whether she can continue in this life when she is offered the challenge of a lifetime---determining whether a certain wealthy gentleman is loyal to Britain or to Germany. After all how does one steal a family's history, their very name?
     As Europe moves ever closer to World War I, rumors swirl around Peter Holstein. Awkward and solitary, but with access to the king, many fear his influence. But Peter can't help his German last name and wants to prove his loyalty to the Crown---so he can go back to anonymously writing a series of popular adventure novels. When Rosemary arrives on his doorstep pretending to be a well-credentialed historian, Peter believes she's the right person to help him dig through his family's past.
     When danger and suspicion continue to mount, both realize they're in a race against time to discover the truth---about Peter's past and about the undeniably attraction kindling between them.

     MY REVIEW:   This book had a different storyline than most historical fictions I've read. A professional thief infiltrating the home of a solitary secret novelist in an attempt to gauge his loyalty. It peaked my curiosity, and I enjoyed reading it.
    A Name Unknown  is Roseanna White's first book in her new SHADOWS OVER ENGLAND series. Book two, A Song Unsong will be out in January 2018, and the third, An Hour Spent", will of course be sometime after that, but I couldn't find a date. Her latest completed series, LADIES OF THE MANOR, consists of The Lost Heiress, The Reluctant Duchess, and A Lady Unrivaled. This is the first and only book of Roseanna's that I have read, but I may be checking out a few others, who knows.
     One thing that I became aware of while reading this book is the utter hatred people can have of others, based only on their name in turmultous times. Peter's name was German, but his heart was British. But his enemies refused to see that---they were run by fear.
    Rosemary was surprised to find a rich and decent man, having assumed for years they were either or. As the story plays out, she sees it is because of Jesus in his life that Peter had the compassion and wisdom he did.
     It is also interesting to read a novel about a man writing a novel. I enjoyed seeing how his story came together. It was also interesting how very different his main character was from himself.
   
  I received a copy of this book from BETHANY HOUSE PUBLISHERS per their blogger program, and was only asked to write an honest review. 

Bacon and Cheese Smothered Garlic Chicken

I made this for supper last night, and we LOVED it!! It is really easy to make, and can be eaten plain or over pasta (we ate it over egg-noodles). I didn't have mozarella cheese on hand, so I used shredded, neither did I add the spinach or tomatoes. And since I didn't have heavy cream, I used a skimpy cup of milk and used cornstarch to thicken the gravy.

Braving It

     BOOK REVIEW:   Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, home to only a handful of people, is a harsh and lonely place. So when James Campbell's cousin Heimo Korth asked him to spend a summer building a cabin in the rugged Interior, Campbell hesitated about inviting his fifteen-year-old daughter, Aiden, to join him: would she be able to withstand clouds of mosquitoes, the treat of grizzlies, bathing in an ice-cold river, and hours of grueling labor? Their Alaskan adventure---and two more over the next year---would test them and their relationship as never before. At turns poignant and humorous, Braving It is an ode to America's disappearing wilderness and a profound meditation on what it means for a child to grow up---and a parent to finally, fully let go.

     MY REVIEW:   If I were only judging this book purely by its level of interest and factual details, I would give it five stars, as it was very interesting and held my attention. However, the amount of language included was very disappointing. There are only a few words used, but they are used on every page.
     It was interesting to read about life in extreme Alaska---unbelievable cold in winter and swarming mosquitoes in summer. But the sound of the view is amazing.
     I can't even begin to imagine the hiking and canoeing they did in thier last journey---I only know I would never have been able to do it. :)

   I recieved this book from BLOGGING FOR BOOKS, per their blogger program. I was not required to write aught but an honest review.