The Carousel Painter by Judith Miller

The first thing I want to mention about this book is how much I enjoyed learning about the workings of a carousel factory.  I found the detail about all of the different departments very interesting.  One of my favorite things about reading books is learning about things that I would never take the time to research, yet when someone else does the work, I find the information and detail fascinating.
The main character in this story - Carrington - is a woman with morals and convictions.  She is struggling to learn about God and what He would have her do.  She is a talented lady without any family, but God surrounds her with true friends that lead her in the right direction to real, truthful answers.  She has moments of discouragement but strives to continue on with a good attitude.
The setting for this story was ideal for what the author wanted to accomplish, I believe.  For Carrington to work in a factory full of men at the time the book was set was definitely controversial.  She was the only woman causing many stirrings for not only the workers but their families.  For what she goes through during the story, I think Carrington does a good job of keeping her head above water.
I found some of the other characters very full of themselves and focused on the wrong things in life, but Carrington and Josef, in particular, want to find what is best for their lives with God's help.  Something many of us need to do in our lives.
I recommend this story of love, friendship, growth, intrigue, and more!

Disclaimer:
This book was provided free for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Blog Tour Challenge Update

I am now officially 3 days over on my challenge because it took 2 extra days to read Fields of Grace.  I will soon begin reading The Carousel Painter.  Keep checking in!!

Fields of Grace by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Fields of Grace broke my heart many times, but I found the book to be one that compelled me to want to keep reading anyway.  I thought that Lillian and her family were hardworking, God-loving people who weren't afraid to get their hands dirty to accomplish something great.  Having chosen to leave their home in Russia, Lillian, her husband, her three sons, and her husband's foster brother venture to America.  The decision is made out of a desire to not have Henrik (who will turn 18 soon) be forced to serve in the military.  Being Mennonite, they don't agree with fighting, etc.  What ensues after they leave Russia is not an easy ride across the ocean and a path paved with all the dreams that were hoped for.  Instead, many sad events occur which cause many changes in the characters in Sawyer's story.  I found the story to be heavy in many places, but overall it was an interesting historical novel.  The year is 1872 when the book opens; a year we can only dream about and try to imagine.  Sawyer paints a picture of the journey of this family in that time that is very different than many historical novels I have read.  She is an enjoyable read, if you like something a little more substantial.

Disclaimer:
This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers.

That Certain Spark by Cathy Marie Hake

Wow!  I just finished That Certain Spark, and I enjoyed it.  I found the story of Dr. Taylor Bestman interesting and enthralling and well worth the read.  However, sometimes I wanted to knock a few heads together because some of the characters in the book were rather small-minded in their thinking about a female physician.  I certainly enjoy returning to Gooding, Texas, which each new character Hake brings there.  The women who lead the stories are friendly, smart, caring, fierce, and well-written.  Taylor is no exception.  As the twin sister of a veternarian brother, Taylor has come to Gooding to fulfill a four-year contract as the town doctor.  She is well-trained, full of wisdom, ingenious, compassionate, and prepared.  She has a calling on her life in the field of medicine and takes her oath very seriously.  There are those in Gooding, particularly men, who would have her ridden out of town on a rail simply because she's a woman and can have no actual ability as a doctor.  The story has some twists and turns, some romance, some tears, some cheers, and a message of redemption.  I highly recommend this latest Gooding novel.

Disclaimer:
This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Whirlwind by Cathy Marie Hake

Cathy Marie Hake has done it again!  She has written another great story for her readers to dive into.  The story of Millie and her journey from England to America and what happens is definitely a page-turner.  I so enjoyed all the wonderful characteristics that Millie has - she's caring, loyal, intelligent, creative, generous, sweet, kind, and so much more.  A grand leading lady for this story of sadness and joy and ups and downs.  She definitely fits in with the rest of the Gooding ladies.  I really feel like I'm a part of the story when I read a Hake book.  She spins such marvelous tales.  I question her choosing to do certain things with some of her characters, but I know she has her reasons and so that's usually enough for me to be "okay" with her choices.  A quality, enjoyable tale from an author who has definitely made a name for herself in this business.  If you enjoy a good historical fiction novel, then you must read the entire Only in Gooding! Series.  This is book number three in the series.  Begin your journey with Fancy Pants, I know you'll be glad that you did!!

Blog Tour Challenge Update

I wanted to report in on how things are going with my challenge.  I am officially one day behind because it took me 11 days to read Words Unspoken instead of 10.  Today I will begin reading Whirlwind by Cathy Marie Hake.  I will not give up even though I am one day off.  Please continue to check in for updates!

Words Unspoken by Elizabeth Musser

This book was powerful emotionally.  That is my first thought.  The story of Lissa and so many other characters was a steady stream of emotions, learning, growing, gaining understanding, and so much more.  Follow Lissa as she deals with the emotions of grief and loss due to the death of her mother.  Follow her as she comes back from the brink of blackness.  Follow the story of Ted Draker as he learns that the way to caring for your family can only be paved with stones of truth and honesty.  Follow Silvano Rossi as he learns that the best way to help his family is to do it legitimately and without hurting others and stepping on them to climb the "ladder."  Follow Katy Lynn as she finds forgiveness for others and a new way to live life even through dramatic changes.  Follow Janelle as she journeys through grief so real it still hurts after 2 years.  These characters are dealing with real heart issues and life issues and through it all we start to piece together how they are all ultimately connected to each other.  It's a powerful story of the words we listen to and choose to follow in our lives - good or bad.  I am typically not a fan of this kind of story, but I found it quite good and definitely worth the time.  Hope you enjoy as well!


Disclaimer:
This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Blog Tour Challenge Update

I'm done with the non-fiction titles in the challenge and now I can move on to the fiction titles.  Continue to stay tuned for more reviews and updates.  I'm excited; are you?

Love is a Verb: Stories of What Happens When Love Comes Alive by Gary Chapman

This book was not what I first expected, but as I read I really found it enjoyable.  Love is a Verb is a compilation of several short stories written by several different people about their encounters with love.  The stories range from uplifting to bittersweet and all touch on different kinds and aspects of love.  Stories include love for a spouse, child, parent, neighbor, stranger, etc.  They are powerful stories with eye-opening insights and thought-provoking concepts.  I cried and maybe even laughed a little while reading this collection of tidbits right from people's real lives.  Love is something so precious, a true gift we can give to others and receive from others.  God is the ultimate example of what love is and can be and that also shines through in this heartfelt book.  I recommend this treasure of a book for those who are interested in gaining new insights into love through the true-to-life words of people who have come face-to-face with the many facets of what love can be.

Disclaimer:
This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Miserly Moms: Living Well on Less in a Tough Economy by Jonni McCoy

This book was really interesting for those who are interested in saving money in their budget, especially on groceries and other expenses.  Jonni's writing is easy to understand, clear, and full of details many of us may not have realized or understood before.  She covers many topics with helpful tips and information, and she lists many websites and books as useful resources.  She understands the importance of spending your money wisely, without being wasteful.  There are recipes included for meals, cleaning products, and also great ideas for making your holidays enjoyable without going crazy on spending.  I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in finding a few ways to cut back on some spending in their family budget.

Disclaimer: This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Blog Tour Challenge Update

I finished reading The King James Only Controversy yestersday and finished up my post and published it today.  Yeah!  I decided that I can work ahead on the Challenge, but I can't fall behind.  So, I began reading Miserly Moms late last night and now have only 13 days (including today) to finish reading it.  I'm guessing it will be a much faster read than The King James Only Controversy was.  Please check back often and see what the latest is with my Challenge.  Thank you for your continued interest in my blog!

The King James Only Controversy: Can You Trust Modern Translations? by James R. White

I found this book to be very informative and educational.  Having no knowledge of the KJV Only controversy before reading the book, I became very informed very quickly.  I found the first few chapters to be especially interesting, insightful, full of information, and helpful.  I learned about text types, variants, manuscripts, etc.  There is a history, of sorts, of the Scriptures in this book that I imagine many people (even Christians) are unaware of.  I thought that Mr. White did a good job of informing the reader of the basics of what he was discussing so that even those of us who know nothing of Greek or Hebrew could understand his points and explanations.  The book enlightened me about the issues of translation that arise in all versions of the Bible, whether KJV, NIV, NASB, RSV, or any other version.  It really is amazing that there are those who would stake their whole Christian walk on one version of the Bible so blindly.  I was glad to have the opportunity to review this book and be informed about so many aspects of God's Word that I never knew about before.  I highly recommend this book for those who want to learn more about this issue and Bible translation in general.  The book is somewhat tedious to get through at points for the uneducated, but overall I found it very intriguing and, as I've said, educational.  I feel that the Bible version you choose to read is your own personal choice between you and your Savior, and I also think that this book is a good jumping off point for those who want a more in-depth knowledge and understanding of Bible versions in a very general sense.

Disclaimer: This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Blog Tour Challenge

I have worked out the details of the Blog Tour Challenge I mentioned in my last post.  I have 18 books in my Blog Tour Challenge.  I have allotted a total of 200 days to read and review all 18 books, this translates to approximately 11.1 days to read each book.  The Challenge will begin on June 15, 2010, and run through December 31, 2010.  I have set up a reading schedule and blog tour dates for each book.  The book titles, authors, and schedule follow:
1. The King James Only Controversy  by James R. White
    Reading Dates: June 15-28, 2010
    Blog Tour Dates: June 28-30, 2010   
2. Miserly Moms  by Jonni McCoy
    Reading Dates: June 29-July 12, 2010
    Blog Tour Dates: July 12-14, 2010
3. Love is a Verb  by Gary Chapman
    Reading Dates: July 13-26, 2010
    Blog Tour Dates: July 26-28, 2010
4. Words Unspoken  by Elizabeth Musser
    Reading Dates: July 27-Aug 5, 2010
    Blog Tour Dates: Aug 5-7, 2010
5. Whirlwind  by Cathy Marie Hake
    Reading Dates: Aug 6-15, 2010
    Blog Tour Dates: Aug 15-17, 2010
6. That Certain Spark  by Cathy Marie Hake
    Reading Dates: Aug 16-25, 2010
    Blog Tour Dates: Aug 25-27, 2010
7. Fields of Grace  by Kim Vogel Sawyer
    Reading Dates: Aug 26-Sep 4, 2010
    Blog Tour Dates: Sep 4-6, 2010
8. The Carousel Painter  by Judith Miller
    Reading Dates: Sep 5-14, 2010
    Blog Tour Dates: Sep 14-16, 2010   
9. A Measure of Mercy  by Lauraine Snelling
    Reading Dates: Sep 15-24, 2010
    Blog Tour Dates: Sep 24-26, 2010
10. The Rose Legacy  by Kristen Heitzmann
      Reading Dates: Sep 25-Oct 4, 2010
      Blog Tour Dates: Oct 4-6, 2010
11. The Silent Governess  by Julie Klassen
      Reading Dates: Oct 5-14, 2010
      Blog Tour Dates: Oct 14-16, 2010
12. Sense and Sensibility  by Jane Austen
      Reading Dates: Oct 15-24, 2010
      Blog Tour Dates: Oct 24-26, 2010
13. Talk of the Town  by Lisa Wingate
      Reading Dates: Oct 25-Nov 7, 2010
      Blog Tour Dates: Nov 7-9, 2010
14. Word Gets Around  by Lisa Wingate
      Reading Dates: Nov 8-17, 2010
      Blog Tour Dates: Nov 17-19, 2010
15. Never Say Never  by Lisa Wingate
      Reading Dates: Nov 18-27, 2010
      Blog Tour Dates: Nov 27-29, 2010
16. Beguiled  by Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand
      Reading Dates: Nov 28-Dec 7, 2010
      Blog Tour Dates: Dec 7-9, 2010
17. Hearts Awakening  by Delia Parr
      Reading Dates: Dec 8-17, 2010
      Blog Tour Dates: Dec 17-19, 2010
18. Sixteen Brides  by Stephanie Grace Whitson
      Reading Dates: Dec 18-27, 2010
      Blog Tour Dates: Dec 27-29, 2010
 Bonus Days: Dec 30-31, 2010

If you would like to follow along and read with me, please do.  Also, I would certainly appreciate your comments on the titles after I have finished reading a title and posted a review of it.  This Challenge is a personal one that I am setting out before myself so that I might finish reviewing the books that I am currently obliged to review, and I thought it might be kind of fun!!  Anyway, please check back over the next six months and see how the Challenge is going.  Thank you for your continued interest and support.  Also, I want to note that my baby is due on October 25, 2010.  That right there may put an end to the Blog Tour Challenge.  Please follow me on this interesting journey to new books!