Crisis Shot

     BOOK REVIEW:   Tess O'Rourke dreams of becoming the first female chief of police in Long Beach, California. As commander of the East Division, she is well on her way. . . . . until the night she responds to a call and fatally shoots an unarmed teenager. Despite being cleared of wrongdoing by a grand jury, Tess is so hounded by the public that she takes a job in Oregon to escape the bad press.
      Winning over the resident's of Rogue's Hollow might be more difficult that adjusting to her new role as police chief in the small, backwater town. Especially when her closest friend, the pastor's wife, goes missing and the woman's closest cousin is found shot. Tess finds an ally in sheriff's deputy Steve Logan, but as they track down Rogue's Hollow's first murderer, she worries that she's breaking one of her rules and getting too close to him.

     MY REVIEW:   I have read Janice Cantore's books before, so when I saw she had another one out I grabbed it.
     This book has a little different of a story line than the other mysteries I've read. Tess is the recipient of an angry blogger's rage and is forced to either leave her beloved job and home or endanger her co-workers. The decision to leave is especially hard as she is endeavering to please her father who was also a police officer, but has now passed away.
     I thought the mystery itself was interesting and had enough angles to keep one guessing, yet not too many that you get confused and overwhelmed. I liked that she included different types of characters in this book. Tilly is the homeless woman who has a hard time keeping with reality. Mayor Dixon wants so desperately to be involved with every detail that he nearly hinders Tess's work. Pastor Macpherson's wife is struggling with cancer, then suddenly goes missing. He hears nothing but a few odd texts. And Tess is struggling to adjust from overseeing hundreds of officers to only a handful, a huge city to the backwoods.
     Janice Cantore is a retired police officer herself, and has written several series now. Her last is the COLD CASE JUSTICE series, which is Drawing Fire, Burning Proof, and Catching Heat.

  I recieved a copy of this book from TYNDALE PUBLISHERS per thier blogger program, and was only asked to write an honest reveiw. 

The Holy Land for Christian Travelers

     BOOK REVIEW:   Many Christians hope to tour the Holy Land in their lifetime. But planning a meaningful trip in a place so filled with significant sites is difficult. The Holy Land for Christian Travelers puts a biblical scholar and experienced Holy Land guide at your side to ensure that you not only find the sites you want to visit but also understand their biblical significance. This guide will help you enjoy your trip with the confidence that you are avoiding common mistakes and investing your time and resources well. Each entry provides key Scripture references for reflection and encourages communion with God and a genuine spiritual experience as you learn about that land and walk in the footsteps of Jesus.
 
     MY REVIEW:   This is a lovely guide book. It is heavy and the pages are glossy. Several color maps are included, and each entry is divided into areas:
     Jerusalem: Walkable Sites in and near the Old City
     Jerusalem and Beyond: Drivable Sites outside the Old City
                                                     Coastal Plain
                                                     Central Mountains South
                                                     Central Mountains Center
                                                     Central Mountains North
These divisions allow you to plan your stops according to the different areas you want to see and how long you have to spend in the Holy Land. They are also marked to indicate which stops are especially recommended to visit. And not only does this book tell you where a place is, it also tells you whether it requires payment or modest dress, and sometimes what time of day is better to visit.
     Even if you don't plan to visit the Holy Land, you can use this book simply to learn the significance of different places. It is neat to read through and really catch the importance of biblical landmarks. It's quite the informative book.

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

My Reader Rewards Club

Tyndale has a branch for earning points to get free books!! You get 25 points just for signing up, and there are several activities you can do to earn more points. (They are a little slow at getting more activities out, but they just changed location and name, and might be better now). 

You then take those points and choose a book---fiction, nonfiction, Bible, and more. A few of the books to choose from now are:

...Fiction...

ANNIE'S STORIES by Cindy Thompson (a story of Ellis Island that's worth the read)

HER DAUGHTER'S DREAM by Francine Rivers (anything by Francine Rivers is worth reading. I could say this one especially, but I'd have to say that about them all)

THE LAST OPERATIVE by Jerry Jenkins (a mystery about Russian missiles in the US)

...Nonfiction...

LIFE PROMISES FOR ETERNITY by Randy Alcorn 

THE NORTH FACE OF GOD by Ken Gire 

HOW NOW SHALL WE LIVE by Charles Colson 

...Bibles...

BOUND FOR GLORY PARRELLEL BIBLE KJV/NLT by Tyndale

THE ONE YEAR BIBLE NLT by Tyndale

FAITH DEVOTIONAL NEW TESTAMENT WITH PSALMS AND PROVERBS by Tyndale

...Other...

365 POCKET PRAYERS FOR MOM by Erin Keeley Marshall

THE GIRAFFE THAT WAS AFRAID OF HEIGHTS by Amie Carlson

THE GREATEST GIFT DVD by Ann Voskamp

It's a really neat site for anyone who likes free books!!

You can find it here at myreaderrewardsclub.com. 

Fatal Trust

     BOOK REVIEW:   A Simple Job. An Unbelievable Payout. But in risking it all on blind trust, he may just lose everything......    Ian Wells is a young, ambitious Minneapolis attorney struggling to build up a law practice while caring for a mother with Alzheimer's. As the stress and bills mount,Ian is nearing the breaking point when everything changes with a single new case. All Ian must do, the client demands, is judge whether three men qualify for nine million dollars of trust funds soon to be paid out by determining wehther they've been involved in any criminal activity for the past twenty years. Ian's fee for a week's work: the unfathomable sum of two hundred thousand dollars.
     The job seems too good to be true, and Ian wants to turn the offer down, but his needs weigh more heavily. He warily accepts the job---but is quickly dragged deep into a mystery linking the trust money to an illegal enterprise dating back to Prohibition and the greatest unsolved crime in Minnesota history. Ian soon finds himself the target of a swiftly tightening criminal investigation---realizing too late that this so-called simple job has spun out of control and now threatens his career, his future, and his life.

     MY REVIEW:  I really enjoyed this book! I like mysteries, especially those that are interesting without being gruesome. A trend I have noticed with (the two) mysteries written by men is the lack of major focus on the romantic angle. It's nice to be able to read an interesting book without it being about the relationship.
     A recurring dream of Ian's is told sporadically throughout the story to give background on the original crime. It's fun to see it all unfold like that, and Todd did a good job at telling things without giving too much away. It's clear and concise and easy to keep separate from the actual story.
     Suprising answers abound as the story comes to a close, such as the reason for Katie's odd payroll, and why Ian was chosen to represent the trust. The story also ended on a high note, which is necessary to make a mystery worth reading. All questions were answered, the bad guys caught, and the good guys getting what they wanted.
      Todd Johnson has previously written The Deposit Slip and Critical Reaction. You can find him and his books at authortoddmjohnson.com.

    I received a copy of this book from BETHANY HOUSE PUBLISHERS per thier blogger program, and was only asked to write an honest review. 

Real Love

     BOOK REVIEW:   The love that the world sees reflected by Christians is often a conditional one drifting to one of two extremes---compromising on truth or condemning those who disagree. But Jesus, despite having enemies on all sides, somehow managed to speak the truth in love. He calls us to do the same.
     "Many of the tensions we feel when we try to live out our faith," says Rick Bezet, "would disappear if we learned to navigate them with wisdom, grace, and common courtesy." Rick shows you how to speak the truth in love by spending time with Jesus, the one who did it best. For anyone unsure if they are doing more harm than good when they talk (or don't talk) about matters of faith, this book offers compassionate and inspirational guidance.

     MY REVIEW:   I wasn't sure what to expect when I got this book,  as so many books today can veer off into troubling waters. This book, however, seems to be on track. Rick bases his book on the two greatest commandments given by Jesus in Matthew: Love God and Love Others as Yourself.
     One of the topics Rick expounds on is not condemning those who have sinned. If they have repented and want to be accepted back in the church, etc, why do we feel like we can condemn them and push them away? Isn't this when they most need our love and support? Isn't this a prime opportunity to practice real love, the love of Christ? How many people do we push away from Christ simply because we treat them with condemnation?
     Then he says this:  "People are the most important thing God values. Are they important to you?"  If I had to answer honestly, I'd say I never really thought of it that way. But it's true. People are the only thing that will last forever, so why don't we focus more energy on giving them the good news of Jesus? If they are all that we can take with us to eternity, why are we so worried  about amassing money, praise, and positions, which matter nothing in eternity?
     Another thing I liked is that the person of authority set in place over you is not chance of fate, but rather is ordained or allowed by God. We have no way of seeing what is going to happen in the future because of a particular person being in authority, or what would have happened if our choice person had been chosen. If we do our part in obeying and praying for our authority, we can trust that God is in control and looking out for us.
     I enjoyed reading this book, and would recommend it. Rick has also written Real Love, and you can find more about him at RickBezet.com.

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

Spiritual Maturity

     BOOK REVIEW:   Rather than focus on methods of growth, Spiritual Maturity  focuses on the Master of our growth: God Himself. Divided into three parts, it shows how each member of the Trinity is crucial to our maturity. Readers will learn:

        How a right view of the Father cultivates holiness
        How the supremacy of Christ encourages victorious living
        How the ministry of the Holy Spirit conforms us to Christ's image

Renowned for the classic Spiritual Leadership (over one million copies sold), Sanders is a storehouse of wisdom. He mines Scripture for deep spiritual insights and illustrates them with memorable stories, quotes, and hymns. Spiritual Maturity is a refreshing read that will help you grow---not by giving you a formula or to-do list, but by revealing God's gracious ministry to you in Christ. 

             *Includes reflection questions and a study guide for group discussion*

     MY REVIEW:   Wow! This book is definitely worth the time to read! Just a few things about the book that I especially like:
          The book has twenty-one chapters, seven devoted to each head of the Trinity. "Sanders gave equal deliberate consideration to the Triune God who is due our full attention." 
           A quote given by the editors:   "This is not light reading---it is Light reading. The subjects will test your attentiveness. They will challenge your approach to God's Word."
           The second chapter of the book is titled "The Prostrating Vision of God", about man's response to the sight of God. I found it particularly eye-opening. I have always thought that seeing God face to face would be just so neat, but if you look at the examples given in the Bible (Moses, Job, Saul, etc) it becomes apparent that such a vision brings about acute "self-abasement", and other such feelings. In Saul's case, he was blinded. Moses was given only a partial view or he wouldn't have been able to stand it. All in all it made me realize just how great God is!  I can't do justice to the chapter, and if you read it yourself it will make much a better impact.
            Another chapter talks about faith, and the proper way of looking at and growing in it. Again, an inspiring chapter! I would certainly recommend this book to everyone!
     More books by J. Oswald Sanders are Spiritual Discipleship and Spiritual Leadership.

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

Chasing Secrets

     BOOK REVIEW:   When a photo leads investigators in West Ireland to open a twenty-five-year-old cold case, Elite Guardians bodyguard Haley Callaghan's life is suddenly in danger. Haley knows how to take care of herself; after all, she's made a career out of taking care of others. But after she has an uncomfortably close call, Detective Steven Rothwell takes it upon himself to stay with her---and the young client she has taken under her wing. A protector at heart, he's not about to let Haley fight this battle alone.
     In a sweeping plot that takes them into long-buried memories---and the depths of the heart---Haley and Steven will have to solve the mystery of Haley's past while dodging bullets, bombs, and bad guys who just won't quit.

     MY REVIEW:   This book was interesting to read---it's a cold case, which means there's likely to be less gory details and more figuring things out. I thought it was well done, with enough angles to keep the person mildly guessing who was actually after Haley.
     I had previously read only one of Lynette's books, Too Close to Home, which I enjoyed. She seems to have a good hand on what she does, and keeps her authors interested, and provides decent endings---some authors have rather small eclipses to their mysteries, which is disappointing.
     Lynette is what I would classify as a "details" author. That's the kind that tells you what the person had for breakfast, what they are wearing, what kind of smart phone they use, and exactly what time it is. The other class is a "direct" author, who simply focuses on the story. I don't mind either one, though there are a few "details" authors that can go overboard.
     I enjoyed the family thread included in the book. A Scottish officer arrives to tell Haley about her "real" life and person. Her family was killed in a mass attack when she was five, and she escaped with her nanny who changed their names and called Haley her own daughter. It is quite the surprise, as you could imagine, and rather interesting to read.
     Chasing Secrets is the fourth and possibly last in Lynette Eason's ELITE GUARDIANS series. The first books are: Always Watching, Without Warning, and Moving Target. A few of her other books are: No One to Trust, first of the HIDDEN IDENTITY series, and When a Heart Stops, first of the DEADLY REUNIONS series.

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

Raspberry Sweet Rolls

I made these rolls last night to kill time while supper was baking, but they ended up killing way more time than I intended. :)  They are REALLY good though!! Wow! I always have a problem with my cinnamon rolls not baking in the center, and I did a bit with these as well, but I covered them with tinfoil and put them back in for an extra 10min, and they came out perfection. I was a little unsure about the raspberry filling and lemon zest in the icing as our family likes "regular and NOT changed" cinnamon rolls, :) but when we tried them this morning ---they were done too late last night--- we loved them!        Here is your recipe!

Lasagna Dinner

For supper tonight (I guess it would be last night now), I made Lasagna, plus two of our new favorite sides:  Garlic Butter Roasted Carrots and Parmesan Garlic Butter Red Potatoes. I just found these recipes, and our family simply loves them! They're so good and so easy to make.

We use the Taste of Home Traditional Lasagna for our recipe. I have never made a different kind so I have nothing to compare with, but this recipe is quite easy, and oh so good!

I also made a favorite jello salad. You combine 24oz of cottage cheese with 1/3 cup of jello (we use strawberry) and let it sit for 5min. Then you add a 20oz can of drained crushed pineapple, and fold in 8oz of CoolWhip. The longer it refrigerates, the better. It's not a picky salad--you can fudge the amounts without killing anything. :)

The Promise of Breeze Hill

     BOOK REVIEW:   Anxious for his brothers to join him on the rugged frontier along the Mississippi River, Conner O'Shea has no choice but to indenture himself as a carpenter in exchange for their passage from Ireland. But when he's sold to Isabella Bartholomew of Breeze Hill Plantation, Conner fears he'll repeat past mistakes, so he vows not to be tempted by the lovely lady.
     The responsibilities of running Breeze Hill have fallen on Isabella's shoulders after a suspicious fire devastated their crops, almost destroyed their home, and left her father seriously injured. Even with Connor's help, and her growing feelings for the handsome Irish carpenter, Isabella fears she'll lose her family's plantation.
     Soon, though, Connor realizes someone is out to eliminate the Bartholomew family. Can he set aside his own feelings to keep Isabella safe?

     MY REVIEW:   I was a little disappointed by this book, but it wasn't bad. I did like the mystery surrounding the odd trails through the woods that obviously had riders, but none were ever found; the nasty trampling of the cotton field; and overwhelming suppression by bandits. As it happens, there is someone who is after control of Breeze Hill, and he will stop at nothing to get it.
     One other thing I liked was the time Connor took with Isabella's father, Mr. Bartholomew, in helping him to regain a little of his lost limb control and dignity, and keep him notified about the progress on the house renovations.
     I thought the ending of the story could have had a bit more closure to it---I know there was something I wondered the outcome to, but I can't put my finger on it just now. It did, however, have  a "happily ever after, we won't have to live like church mice" ending.
     Pam Hillman has previously written Claiming Mariah, and Stealing Jake, which is rumored to be her debut novel, but if you visit her website pamhillman.com, it looks as though she has previously either written or compiled several others.

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