Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Plum Pudding Bride by Anne Garboczi Evans



Goodreads Summary

Patience Callahan is twenty-five and fast becoming an old maid. But she s spent most of her life dreaming over romantic European literature and wants a dashing d Artagnan, not a bookish Bob Cratchit. Alas, the Colorado town of Gilman is chock-full of Cratchit s without a d Artagnan in sight. Peter Foote, the general store owner, has been in love with Patience for seven years. But every time he's on the verge of proposing, she cuts him off; he can only imagine on purpose. This time though, dadburn it, he s going to go through with it. Ring in hand, he s moments from touching knee to floor, when Patience pulls out a list of mail-order bride advertisements and declares her intention to marry a backwoods stranger, on Christmas Day. Peter has two weeks to change her mind."


My Thoughts

Every year, just after Thanksgiving, I get in the mood to read christmas books.  I love them!  Reading Christmas books is something I look forward to every year.  When I read the email with the request to read this book I was quick to accept!

Plum Pudding Bride is a novella and it is perfect for reading during this busy time of year.  It is festive and fun to read and it is the perfect length when you've been busy with Christmas preparations all day and you want to relax and unwind with a good book in the evening.  I certainly enjoyed it!

Patience annoyed me quite a bit and I felt bad for Peter at times.  The poor guy only had eyes for her!  She seemed to have that "the grass is greener on the other side" kind of attitude and she wanted to go have a life of adventure.  She soon realizes that what you think you want isn't always what you really want or need.

This was quite an enjoyable book!  Thank you, Anne Garboczi Evans for sending it to me!

*Note: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Citizen Survivor Tales by Richard Denham



Goodreads Summary

Maryanne Coleman was a popular journalist who worked for The Ministry during the 1940s. While under the guise of a reporter for The Southern Herald, her role was to interview a variety of survivors of ‘The Great Tribulation’ which had plunged Britain into chaos. She travelled throughout Britain speaking to a wide assortment of characters and those who had come to the attention of The Ministry and to collate information, both overtly and covertly, on the current state of the nation. Although her interviews were later recovered, Maryanne herself went missing. Her fate is currently unknown. It must be conjectured that one of the interviewees was involved in her disappearance. Here then, is a collection of ten of Maryanne’s most interesting, amusing, bizarre, frightful and compelling interviews.


My Thoughts

Well, this was certainly unlike anything I have ever read before.  I don't think I've ever read anything even similar at all.  The interview style was certainly interesting and I looked it more than I thought I would.  Some of the "interviews" were good, some strange, and some were downright odd!

Citizen Survivor Tales is a fiction book but it has a non-fiction feel to it.  It's an enjoyable read.  Well done!  Thank you for sending it!

*Note: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Monday, November 7, 2016

Clovers and Fire by Lauralee Jacks



Goodreads Summary

Prince Chauncey and his best friend, Sir Phillip, have always dreamed of becoming heroes. One day, they set out to win the hand of the most beautiful girl in the world. Little do they know that it will soon become the adventure of their lifetime. As they go about their quest, they find that their friendship is tested. Could Prince Chauncey and Sir Phillip learn the basis of their friendship before it is too late?

My Thoughts

I love Fairytales!  Always have, always will!
I was so pleased when Lauralee Jacks requested that I read this book and write a review!  Of course I had to agree!

Clovers and Fire is a cute little story, and while I am clearly not the target audience, I really enjoyed it.  I teach second grade and I plan on reading this book to them over the next week. I loved all of the elements of a good fairytale.  The Kings and queens, princes and princesses, knights and dragons... all of the wonderful touches that fairytales are made of.  Pick it up!  You won't regret it!

*Note: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

One of the Few by Jason B. Ladd



Goodreads Summary

Unsatisfied with his secular worldview Jason B. Ladd shares the struggles he faced during his search for truth and a reasonable defense of the Christian faith.

His mission began with a realization: though ready to defend his country, he was unprepared for his most important missions as a husband and father. Drawing from his military experience, Ladd warns seekers about spiritual apathy and teaches Christians tactics for withstanding spiritual attacks.

Birthed from a legacy of service, One of the Few speaks from the spirit of a man reborn—with the soul of a Marine, the mind of a fighter, the heart of a father, and a commitment to the Son. Join him as he uses fighter pilot fundamentals to embark on the greatest mission of all: the pursuit of truth.


My Thoughts

This book was much more that I ever expected.  Although, I'm not quite sure what I was expecting.  Part of me was worried that I wouldn't be able to follow and completely understand what I was reading, like the military terms and such, but I was pleasantly surprised at how he explained things so clearly.  And, while there have been non-fiction books that I have enjoyed, they are not typically the books that I choose to read.  However, One of the Few was so refreshing and there were times that I actually laughed a bit!

There are times when "Christian" books can seem pushy, there are some that are too fluffy, and there are those that make me squint and wonder how they are considered "Christian" at all.  This one doesn't fit into any of those categories.  I felt as though I learned and grew in my faith after putting One of the Few down.  It is an extremely enjoyable book that I highly recommend.

*Note: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.