The Next Target by Nikki Aranna

David C. Cook

The tension begins on the first page as you learn that the main character, Austia Donatelli, works ministering to newly arrived Muslims in The United States.  Austia runs a career center locates jobs for the newly arrived and teaches English classes to Muslim women at night, showing them Chrisitan love through her work.  When one of the women asks questions about Jesus, she shares her faith with them.  After an honor killing of a young woman that she helped escape the chains of Islam, Austia begins to be aware that she is being tracked and watched.  Zaki a man who works for Hassian, a local radical leader shows up at odd times.  Even scared, Austia continues her work, but trouble comes from unexpected places.

As radical Islamists continue their jihad on Americans and Jews, and they increase their demands here in America, the tension between the groups escalates.  Due to the extreme terrorism, Muslims are seen less as individuals, and more as angry mobs.  Aranna builds a great story around this tension, giving the reader insights into the lives of those caught up in radical power with strong characters who work against the evil onslaught.  This is a great read, recommended for readers who like suspense and romance built around a topic that is in newspaper headlines daily.

Received Galley from NetGalley.com

Published by David C. Cook on June 1, 2012.

Yesterday's Stardust by Becky Melby

Barbour Publishing

Yesterday's Stardust follows characters in duel stories across almost one hundred years, from the height of the depression to the desperation of today's decaying inner city.  Danielle is a reporter following a story with a soft heart for those in need, when she joins a gang and meets a local restauranteurand his sister.  They find an old diary of a woman entangled with the mob running illegal alcohol and other swindles, all the while trying to care for her nephew and his mother.  When Dani is almost killed, things fall apart and only God can put the pieces back together.

Great story, greet characters, and excellent job of weaving the past with the future so that the two stories build on each other increasing the interest and the suspense.  I love the added interest of the older story in the diary and the links to the current story.  This is an excellent example of romantic suspense with historical aspects thrown in, i cried, laughed and totally enjoyed the whole story, all the while the story makes the reader think about what they could be doing to help those less fortunate.

Received Galley from NetGalley.com.

Published by Barbour Publishing, June 1, 2012.

Two Testaments: A Novel by Elizabeth Musser

This is the second in the series following Two Crosses.  They were both great books, and I cannot wait until the third one comes out, so that I can find out how the story ends.  I am definitely going to pick up other Musses novels.

David C Cook

Two Testaments: A Novel by Elizabeth Musser

Gabriella and David are still in France, working to save as many orphans as possible while coming to grips with their discovery of David’s daughter.  Gabriella goes to class and works at the orphanage, while David teaches classes until David goes to Algeria to bring back his former lover, the mother of his child.  As more orphans come to the orphanage, the town turns against it out of racism and the parents of the students in the exchange program begin to grumble.  David and Gabriella’s love is tested as they continue their efforts to save children from the Algerian war and an evil Algerian seeking retribution.  Gabriella takes a larger role at the orphanage and David goes to Algeria to help Anne-Marie get to France, but he stays behind to help Mustapha.

As with the first book, I loved Two Testaments.  Musser does an excellent job with all the characters, but especially Mother Griolet as she deals with the racism of the town, overcrowding, and her successor.  The story is interesting, exciting, and heart rending.  This is definitely one of the best I have read this year.  I would recommend it to anyone enjoying history, romance, and suspense.

Provided by Netgalley.com.

Published by David C. Cook on June 1, 2012.

Two Crosses by Elizabeth Musser

David C. Cook

In 1961, Gabriella Madison moves to the small village of Castelnau in France to attend classes in an exchange program.  When one of her professors, David Hoffmann, asks her out, she unknowingly steps into a world of secrets and falls in love.  Across the sea, terrorist groups tear Algeria apart with their fight for freedom from France.  Gabriella’s professor works secretly to bring children from Algeria to the orphanage and uses the Huguenot cross as a symbol of his group.  Things get dicey when the bad guys discover Gabriella and David saves a child during a riot, while Gabriella begins working for the orphanage.

This is such an intriguing story.  Musser paints beautiful pictures of France, including French phrases to add depth to the story.  Musser’s characters are so realistic that they feel like old friends, as they attempt to deal with memories and grow in their relationship with the Lord.  The background of the Algerian war for independence added interest since this was not part of familiar history for me.  You will not want to put this one down.  I would recommend it to anyone enjoying history, romance, and suspense.

Purchased from Amazon.com

Published by David C. Cook on June 1, 2012.

Glamorous Illusions: The Grand Tour Series, by Lisa T. Bergeren

Glamorous Illusions: The Grand Tour Series, by Lisa T. Bergeren

David C. Cook

The setting is the early 1900s, when it was the tradition for wealthy young adults to take a ‘Grand Tour of Europe’ to broaden their minds and see other cultures.  Cora Diehl just arrived off the train from her first year at normal school where she is training to become a teacher.  When her father suffers a stroke, her whole world turns upside down.  Cora is determined to keep the farm running so her parents can pay off loans and she can return to college, but her father’s health takes a turn for the worse, and Cora's life turns upside down when her previously unknown birth father, shows up and presents her with a shocking choice.  Cora returns to Butte, Montana with him to join with her half siblings on a grand tour of Europe.  Cora must deal with her worry for her parents, her anger over their decision to not tell her of her parentage, a new father, and siblings who are shocked and angry, all while traveling around Europe.

This is a great read.  I cannot wait for the next installment; I will definitely read them all.  The characters are strong with a desire to turn to the Lord for his strength, and Bergren tells the story through multiple eyes allowing the reader to develop a relationship with them.  Bergeren does a beautiful job of describing the fashions and the scenery.  This is a great choice for readers who prefer their romances to come with a little extra including suspense, history, and heart tugging sorrow.

Received Galley from NetGalley.com

Published by David C. Cook on June 1, 2012.

Arms of Love, by Kelly Long

Arms of Love, by Kelly Long

Thomas Nelson

Set in colonial America, the Amish families suffer persecution from the colonists because they do not fight against the British and from the British because they are colonists.  Adam is the son of an Amish family that holds some authority in their neighborhood Amish community.  Adam has loved Lena for several years and they look forward to marrying, but on her deathbed, Lena's mother Mary makes Adam promise to stay away from Lena until he is no longer under a dark cloud.  When Adam tells Lena that the can no longer be together, she vows to marry is brother.  Between the difficulties of life, Adam discovers a truth that he has tried to forget for many years, and comes to forgive his father for beating him.

This is a very tender story of strength, forgiveness, and love, with well thought out characters, and involving plot twists.  One rarely remembers that while fighting for their own freedom, colonists were lax to extend those same ideas to others.  Viewing the Amish way of life through a historical lens adds interest to the story, as does other elements of the setting such as the frequent deaths that surrounded everybody's lives.  This is a book for readers that enjoy a love story deeper than a mere romance, along with the interesting history of the setting.

Received Galley from NetGalley.com

Published by Thomas Nelson on May 2, 2012.

My Life is Crazy, by Me

My garden has completely overtaken my life.  I've been pickling and freezing and baking, until I've only had time to read, but not review.  Well, today I'm going to get back to the blog and get some of my reviews posted.  This is definitely been the summer of great books.  I haven't read a bad one, yet.  Hope your reading has been as enjoyable as mine.  If you haven't read anything that you've really enjoyed this summer, check out some of the following!  Have a great week!

Letting Go of Perfect: Women, Expectations, and Authenticity, by Amy E. Spiegel

The last book for the week is another Christian non-fiction. This one is for women who are struggling with the feminist lie telling women that they need it all to be happy. Perfect does not exist, and this book helps women who struggle with that expectation.

B & H Publishing

Letting Go of Perfect: Women, Expectations, and Authenticity, by Amy E. Spiegel

Since the sixties when the feminist movement began the campaign to brainwash women that they are not fulfilled unless they meet all the goals of a full time plus job, two stellar high achieving children, a perfect marriage, and a lovely home, women have struggled to keep up the insane pace. Self esteem plummets when one constantly attempts to meet goals that cannot be met by a human in 24 hours without help. We watch TV where people appear to create beautiful living spaces, glorious meals, and a generally perfect life with the click of a remote. Amy Spiegel stands as one who has been here, showing others that this is not what God expects us to create in our lives.

When I began this book, I thought, well this is mainly for younger women because I’ve already matured past this point.  Then I’d turn a page and something would really hit me. This is a beautiful book that helps today’s women make that step toward the realization that ‘perfect’ is an illusion that does not exist. This book is for women, those who are struggling to meet obscene goals, and those who know someone who is struggling to meet those goals.

Received Galley from NetGalley.com

Published by B&H Publishing Group on May 1, 2012.

A Sister’s Forgiveness, by Anna Schmidt

Back to the fiction books.

 A Sister’s Forgiveness, by Anna Schmidt, The Women of Pinecraft  Series, Book 2

Barbour Publishing

The story begins with two very close families, linked by the mothers who are sisters, on the day before school begins. Each family has a teen-aged daughter that will attend the same high school the next day. Though the mothers were raised in strict Mennonite families, they have different philosophies of raising their daughters and different choices on their lifestyles. When Sadie comes to pick up Tessa with her boyfriend, a moment of inattention causes Tessa’s death, and the resulting shock tears apart the families, marriages, and changes Sadie’s life forever.

This book caused me to cry and hurt for the families as I read this realistic story about how such a devastating incident of typical teenage poor choices caused a tragedy. Christians belief that they must forgive, but it would definitely take a strong person to live through such a situation. I read this book in one sitting. I recommend this book for mostly women from teens to mature. Great read that touches the heart.

Galley provided by NetGalley.

Published by Barbour Publishing on May 1, 2012.

Is This the One? Insightful Dates for Finding the Love of Your Life, by Steve Afterburn

Then I read Is This the One? about searching for a mate.  Now, I’ve been married for almost thirty years, so I’m not looking for a new mate. However, I have three daughters that I would love to see in solid Christian relationships that last a life time. So, I chose this book.

Zondervan

Is This the One? Insightful Dates for Finding the Love of Your Life, by Steve Arterburn

As a life long marriage counselor, Steve Arterburn developed this book to help people find their mate and develop a solid relationship that will last a lifetime.  This is not a book of lists that couples work through so that they get to know each other better, this is a series of dates for the couple to go on where they learn more about each other. He begins by suggesting that the couple look around at others prior to making a commitment, to make sure that they haven’t just fallen into a relationship by just getting comfortable with each other. He suggests ways to meet new people, and activities, calling these meetings Take-A-Break Dates. He says that a person should date at least twenty people before making a commitment to one person. He gives a list of the type of people you should avoid when dating. Then once you have decided on a particular person, he moves to ten dates with a specific agenda. Each date ‘gives you and your potential mate a change to experience each other in not-so-ordinary settings that provide extraordinary insight into each other.” The dates occur in different settings that allow the participants to have experiences that potentially duplicate stress situations that might occur in a marriage and potentially cause a rift. This way, the couple encounters problems prior to marriage.

I love this book.  I will definitely purchase one for my daughters. I think that if a couple seriously commits to working through this book, they will develop a stronger marriage that has a greater potential to last a lifetime. Every person that would like to have a lifelong committed relationship should read this book.

Galley provided by NetGalley.

Published by Zondervan on May 1, 2012.

Soul Detox: Clean Living in a Contaminated World, by Craig Groeschel

Back to non-fiction with Soul Detox, the next book I read. I’m just now getting to the books published in early May. I can’t believe how far behind I am. I promise to do better in the summer months. I generally read books that I receive from NetGalley, so I guess that I was a little too positive about the time that I would have available for the month of May, or really April was where my life went crazy. Things are still crazy, but I should have more time to read and post during the summer. 

Zondervan

Soul Detox: Clean Living in a Contaminated World, by Craig Groeschel

Craig Groeschel is a preacher for today’s world. He is the founder of a LifeChurch.TV, with fourteen locations and is on the web. Groeschel has podcasts available through the itunes store, and has written several books. Soul Detox is an excellent choice for many of today’s Christians, who have allowed the world to take over their lives instead for living a life pleasing to God. Groeschel does not preach he merely presents well thought out reasoning pointing out how many of us have lost sight of the kind of life that the Lord chooses us to live. What has today become accepted in the world cannot be allowed in the life of a Christian, because it leads us away from God instead of toward Him as we are intended to move.

This is was really eye opening to me, forcing me to begin to make some changes in my life where I had become lax. Groeschel’s term ‘Christian-Atheist’ really struck home. We know the commandments, yet we choose to break them, since often the world says it is OK. This is an excellent choice for anyone. It is such an easy read, that it would make a great gift for young people, or could be studied in a youth study group. Don’t get me wrong, it should be read by most adults, too.  This one book will change your life.

Published by Zondervan on May 1, 2012.

Galley provided by NetGalley.

Relentless Pursuit: A Novel, by Kathy Herman

David C. Cook

Relentless Pursuit was a breath of fresh fiction air for this predominately fiction reader. After reading a couple of non-fiction books, it seemed like this one just flew by.

Relentless Pursuit: A Novel, by Kathy Herman

This is the third installment in the Roux River Bayou that has been great fun to read. This book takes the reader back to Louisiana, with all the flavors of the south including hospitality and wonderful Cajun food.  Many of the characters from the other novels play a role here, with Zoe’s long lost brother showing up, causing her much anxiety, while the town deals with a killer that laced arsenic in the food at a local buffet as well as several bottles of water. When a killer could strike anywhere, everyone is nervous, and Herman keeps you guessing almost to the end of the book.

Herman’s books make you feel like you dropped down into town and talk to old friends. The characters are warm and believable, as they attempt to deal with strain the way that God chooses to lead them. Great fun, clean reading, I’d recommend this book to anyone that loves a good mystery.

A Woman’s Wisdom:How the Book of Proverbs Speaks to Everything, by Lydia Brownback

The next book I read really slowed me down. This is not a lightweight book, nor is it easy to read. It was interesting, but again, without a story line, it seems that I loose much of my reading speed.

Crossway.org

A Woman’s Wisdom: How the Book of Proverbs Speaks to Everything, by Lydia Brownback

This is not really a book to sit down and read it is more of a Bible Study. Lydia Brownback focuses on the Book of Proverbs, and systematically goes through different areas of life connecting each area to the advice in Proverbs, backing it up with other scripture. The book is very interesting, but rather difficult to read. It is written more to younger women, but there are parts that apply to women of all ages.  It is more like lifelong advice from an older relative or a mother that turns your focus to the Bible for direction. . In today’s world, we often forget to connect our lives to Biblical direction with all the distractions; this book helps to turn your eyes and heart back to the source of direction.

If you did not grow up in a strong Christian family with the benefit of Bible based advice, this book will be a good source of Christian advice for you. If you just need to hear it from another source, or need a refresher, it book is an excellent way to get that support.

Heresy: Ten Lies They Spread About Christianity, by Michael Coren

McClelland.com

So, apparently, I need to do more in this blog than just report on the books that I read. I came to this conclusion after reading several blogs, and I see that it definitely makes them more interesting. Since I haven’t posted in more than a month, I thought that this would be an excellent time to make some changes. 

The month of May raced by, due to an extremely full schedule. I am a librarian in an elementary school, and as in any school, May is filled with end of the year activities and closing chores that must be completed on schedule. Added to that, I have a graduating high school senior, and a graduating college senior, church activities, and my other family chores including a garden with accompanying spring canning. In other words, my life was filled to the bursting in May. I had time to read, but I never got the time to post, so today, I’m making up for several of those posts that should have already been posted. 

I will continue to post each book separately, so that they are easier to locate. I also post to Goodreads.com and LibraryThing.com. I had forgotten about Shelfari by Amazon.com, but I intend to update my account there, and include all the reviews that I published on Amazon. If you are not familiar with these sites, you should check them out.  They are a way to keep track of books that you read, and they let you connect with other readers to share information and locate other books you might like.

Well, onto this month’s books. One of the reasons that I haven’t posted as often is that I read several non-fiction books. It seems that when I read non-fiction, I slow down, substantially, even though I find them very interesting. I guess when I get caught up in a thick plot, it read faster, and then there is the aspect of my getting so into the book that I can’t sleep.

Heresy: Ten Lies They Spread About Christianity, by Michael Coren, published by McClelland & Stewart on April 24, 2012.

Heresy is a book that should be kept handy by almost all Christians, today.  Too many of us today do not have a solid base in knowledge of our own religion. While we may read the Bible, some, and listen to the preacher when we go to church, often we are inundated with media that we accept as fact about Christianity. The media is often not well researched, and possibly even anti-Christian, and since our own base is fragile, we have nothing with which to rebut the information. We watch movies that have vague connections to Biblical facts, and we believe they are true, or someone challenges us about our beliefs and we can only give enigmatic statements that may allow others to loose interest in Christianity or even shake our own beliefs. Michael Coren has completed the research for the top ten challenges of non-Christians to Christianity. 

Coren, the best-selling author of fourteen books, as well as an award winning print and television journalist, uses his research ability and capacity for argument to defend Christianity on such topics as Jesus is a myth, Christianity supports slavery, is racist, anti-intellectual, and others. Coren gives historical background, and explains reasons for such attacks and presents information that solidifies defenses with facts other than the Bible. While Christianity is based on the Bible, history holds information that supports the Bible, and often Christians are unaware of the historical facts. 

This is a very interesting read and I would recommend this book for anyone interested in furthering their knowledge of the Christian faith, and all Christians to strengthen their beliefs and their arguments for those beliefs.