Review of WOMAN OF COURAGE by Wanda E. Brunstetter

A Quaker Woman Dares the Unknown to be a Missionary

"Woman of Courage is a love story wrapped in the arduous adventure of a determined young Quaker woman, who is responding to a calling. Her journey takes readers from Amanda Pearson’s modest home in Dansville, New York, to a primitive missionary outpost in 19^thCentury Oregon Country. Amanda’s faith—and a promise she made to her dying father —sustain her as she faces long days in the saddle, the death of her father and her guide, treacherous mountains, attacks by Indians and wild animals, as well as heartache, injury and bone-chilling weather. But as a WOMAN OF COURAGE, Amanda Pearson perseveres. She is determined to reach the settlement established by missionaries Henry and Eliza Spaulding to minister to the Nez Perce Indians."

I received this book as a blogger for Handlebar Publishing to be reviewed. My opinions are solely my own. 

The above paragraph about WOMAN OF COURAGE was taken from a press release written by Rush to Press, the PR firm that handles Wanda E. Brunstetter's books. To read the full press release, along with a great interview with Wanda, click on the link above. 

My review:

I had no idea when I received WOMAN OF COURAGE that I would enjoy the story so much! I see now why Wanda E. Brunstetter is a best selling author. I was transported to a raw, rough and lonely place and was able to adventure through the hard times and the triumphs along with Amanda. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes history, Christian, or adventure novels. 

Review of THE POWER OF STARTING SOMETHING STUPID by Richie Norton

Every great once in a while a book comes along that changes your life. THE POWER OF STARTING SOMETHING STUPID: How to Crush Fear, Make Dreams Happen, and Live Without Regret is a book that did just that for me. I am in the process of getting my first novel published, a middle reader, and the contract calls for me to write a sequel, and a series. Wow, is all I could think when I found this out, because although I was thrilled I am quite overwhelmed at this prospect. Reading THE POWER OF STARTING SOMETHING STUPID by Richie Norton seems so much like serendipity for me. I was privileged to receive an advance copy to read and review and the timing could not have been better. 

If you are struggling with getting motivated to start something that is important to you then you really should read this book! And you don't just need to take my word for it, read the great list of important people who have given it rave reviews at Good Reads. 

Review of THE INVENTOR'S SECRET by Chad Morris

I really love reading YA books! One thing you'll quickly figure out-if the writer is good-is that YA is just as enjoyable, if not more so, as adult fiction. YA novelist are like the guy who comes in second place, they have to try harder, for they are writing for a very discerning audience, the young adult.

A great example of this is THE INVENTOR'S SECRET by Chad Morris. The first in a new series set at Cragbridge Hall, the premier educational facility in the world, THE INVENTOR'S SECRET is all about smart kids and time travel. "The Bridge" allows the students at Cragbridge Hall to actually watch history as it happens. The plot is so excellently paced and the characters are totally engaging.

If you love YA and time travel you should really get this book! I loved it.

Review of SIX SISTERS' STUFF Cook and Craft Book

As a book reviewer it is seldom that I receive a cookbook to review, so when I opened my mailbox and found the beautiful SIX SISTERS' STUFF, Family Recipes, Fun Crafts, and So Much More! I about went bananas! Literally. This book is filled with great family recipes, fun craft projects, and as the book states, so much more!


This book is nice enough to give as a gift, ya'll, (as Paula Deen would say!) And it is no lie when it says SIX SISTERS, these gals are all six biological sisters. There are nearly 100 easy to follow recipes with images to help you along.



And craft ideas that are cheap and easy to do. I just love this book!

Right now you can register for the 4x4 Dinner Challenge at the Six Sisters website, where families are challenged to eat together 4 times per week for 4 weeks. According to Pew Research, only about half of families eat together only occasionally or never. This is a great way to jump start spring, family guys and gals!

Review of CRIMINAL by Karin Slaughter

I just finished reading CRIMINAL by Karin Slaughter and I was blown away! This is the 3rd or 4th novel I have read by Karin Slaughter and I have to say, she is one of the best thriller writers of all time, and that is saying a lot coming from me, because I have been reading this type of fiction for over 40 years. I think she's so good because she's been there, done that. Karin Slaughter grew up hard-scrabble in Georgia redneck country, and you can tell from her writing that she doesn't pull any punches. In CRIMINAL the main character, Will Trent, is a mentally bruised and psychologically damaged cop who grew up in an orphanage after his serial killer father murdered his mother, who I won't tell you about because that's one of the biggest twist. He is married to Angie, his friend from the orphanage days, but she leaves like the wind on a regular basis and Will falls in love with a doctor named Sara. She's a peach. But what's going on in their town is far more important than Will's love life or his past, though it is very connected. Someone is killing prostitutes, but unlike many novels that use this as a theme, the torture they go through at the hands of the killer, Will's father who's been locked up for 20 years but has now made parole, is like none you have read about before. If you love edge of your seat suspense and some good gore, you gotta read Criminal by Karin Slaughter.

Review of ARIZONA WAY OUT WEST & WACKY

I was privileged to be supplied a free copy of the children's activity book, ARIZONA WAY OUT WEST & WACKY to review. What a wonderful book! Written by multi-award winning co-authors, Conrad J. Storad & Lynda Exley, this awesome activity, humorous history, and fun facts book about Arizona will educate and keep your kid busy for hours and hours.

Affectionately known as AZ WOWW, ARIZONA WAY OUT WEST & WACKY was designated an official Centennial Legacy Project by the Arizona Historical Advisory Commission, as authorized by the Arizona Legislature. That's a huge honor for any book, but especially a children's activity book. The book is awesome, and it is so easy to see how much time, effort and thought went into creating ARIZONA WAY OUT WEST & WACKY, (AZ WOWW.) Realizing that it would take much more than amusing writing and interesting facts about Arizona to hold a child's attention, the creative team-which are all made up of Arizona residents- added word searches, crossword puzzles, coloring pages, recipes, crafts and more to the book.

My review copy of the book is totally great, but the finished product coming out very soon is a perfect bound, 8 1/2 X 11, glossy cover, high quality paperback book. Published by Five Star Publications, AZ WOWW will be distributed through Ingram, Baker & Taylor, Pacific Four Sales, Amazon.com, Walmart.com, Target.com, and indiebound.org. To learn more about ARIZONA WAY OUT WEST AND WACKY and to order your advance copy, visit the work in progress website, Arizona Way Out West & Wacky, or Five Star Publications.

Review: Complete Idiot's Guide to American History VS. US History for Dummies

I received copies of both books in order to compare them and write this review. No monetary compensation was received and a positive review was not required. The views and opinions expressed are 100% my own.

From the book:

American history is one of those subjects that students frequently labor over and can seem like a random collection of names, dates, and events. Understood as a collective biography and free of the cheerleading found in many text books, the fully updated fifth edition of The Complete Idiot's Guide(r) to American History explains the changing tides in America's most pivotal periods.

• From a seasoned author and researcher
• The most current and comprehensive series title on American history
• Heightened interest right now in the question of how America got where we are-a question that can only be answered by an understanding of history
About the Author
Alan Axelrod, Ph.D., has nearly 20 years of history book writing expertise and is the author of The Complete Idiot's Guide(r) to the American Revolution, The Complete Idiot's Guide(r) to the Civil War, Second Edition and The Complete Idiot's Guide(r) to World War I. He is now the president of the Ian Samuel Group, Inc., a research and writing firm.

From the book:

Filled with fascinating trivia and lore not found in textbooks. People, places, and dates with a dash of fun — history will never be the same! Don't know much about history? Don't worry! With this friendly reference, you can bone up on all those facts you missed in history class — and have a good time in the bargain. From the Revolution to the Civil War, from the Great Depression to the Cold War, this is history the way it ought to be — fresh, memorable, and fun.

Discover how to: Astound friends with fun facts about the Founding Fathers Understand terms like "Manifest Destiny" Get a grip on the legacy of slavery Impress your family with Civil War lore Put current events in historical context.
The Dummies Way™ Explanations in plain English "Get in, get out" information Icons and other navigational aids Tear-out cheat sheet Top ten lists A dash of humor and fun.


I took the challenge of comparing the above two books and these are my conclusions:

Each book had its strong points. For instance, The Complete Idiot's Guide to American History was really much more interesting as a piece of reading material. My husband, who is quite the history buff and whose opinion I sought, even stated that he was much more drawn in by the writing of this book as opposed to the other.

However, I was much more impressed with the total layout of US History for Dummies. It was easier for me personally to navigate through.

Both books were thorough and worth having.

For me readers, I have a 50% off coupon code for any book from Idiot's Guides.com.
The coupon code is CIGBlog11 and allows for 50% off of one order of regularly priced books from www.idiotsguides.com. The discount is effective immediately and runs through October 31.

A great euphonious in every box

Review of MY FOOLISH HEART Susan May Warren

When you enter the worlds created by RITA Award winning writer Susan May Warren, you know you are in for a big fat treat. MY FOOLISH HEART is no exception. I was particularly able to relate to the main character, Isadora Presley, who was almost agoraphobic, (afraid to leave the house) after being involved in a terrible accident. I too was in an accident when I was younger and have struggled with panic attacks and driving-related anxiety for many years. I understand the feeling of not wanting to chance reaching beyond your comfort zone.

Issy, as she's called by her family and friends, is the host of a radio show called My Foolish Heart. As the voice of the lovelorn, Issy dispenses advice even though she herself has no romance in her own life. The town of Deep Haven would be surprised to learn this.

However, all of that changes for Isadora when she connects with a lonely male listener. Little does Issy realize, this perfect man for her lives right next door!

A lighthearted, fun and romantic summer read, MY FOOLISH HEART is definitely worth indulging yourself in. Susan May Warren has a way of touching her readers with her sweet and common sense characters, great plots, and beautiful landscapes.

Review of ADOPTED ED by Darren Maddern

My granddaughters love books, and they love for me to read to them. They are only 3 and4, but are precocious and smart. So I ordered a copy of the children’s book, ADOPTED ED, by Dareen Maddern, as part of an ongoing crusade to make sure Lucy and Edy become educated about all kinds of different people, places and things.

I never realized when I sat down to read ADOPTED ED that it would be such a well thought-out, sensitive and delightfully illustrated book.  Darren Maddern does a great job of explaining adoption to kids in a way that they can understand, but he goes far beyond that as he also shows the dark emotions and sometimes negative experiences that can unfortunately be a part of being adopted and how to handle them.

One thing I really was impressed by was the fact that the mom in the story is a woman of color, and the father Caucasian. This simple, smart move on the illustrator’s part, (the book is illustrated by Erin Fusco) helps enrich the story, moving it beyond not only the boundaries of convention but of color.

If you have an adopted child I would highly suggest this book, ADOPTED ED. You will enjoy it and so will your chosen child!

Book Review-Curiosities of the Civil War by Webb Garrison

As my first book to review from Book Sneeze, I was so very impressed with CURIOSITIES OF THE CIVIL WAR by Webb Garrison. For one thing, the jacket of the book is splendid! I have CURIOSITIES OF THE CIVIL WAR displayed in my kitchen, which is decorated with antiques and oddities I have collected over the years, creating a trip back in time all by itself, so having CURIOSITIES OF THE CIVIL WAR by Webb Garrison, with is gorgeous, old-fashioned cover sitting on top of my antique dresser in the entry way to my kitchen feels just like serendipity.

What’s inside the book certainly doesn’t disappoint either. You can tell right away that Webb Garrison spent many long hours researching CURIOSITIES OF THE CIVIL WAR, and reports his findings in mighty detail. There are so many things, oddities, outrageous happenings, secret stuff the Civil War history books have never revealed, within the pages of this book. I would recommend CURIOSITIES OF THE CIVIL WAR to anyone who is curious about what happened behind the lines of the Civil War, and to those who enjoy displaying beautiful books in their collection.

THE SAVAGE GARDEN by Mark Mills

I just finished reading "The Savage Garden" by Mark Mills. I have to say that I am sad to have seen the book end, always a sign of a great book for me. When I selected this book at the library I did what I always do before deciding to try an author I haven't previously read. I check out the blurbs on the back of the book jacket and read the synopsis on the inside of the book flap. 

What instantly sold me was 1. the story line. 2. the fact that The Los Angeles Times said Mark Mills had "an incredible voice." As a writer and avid reader voice means a lot to me. If you aren't aware of what voice actually means, it's the personality that comes through the writing, the way the author turns a phrase to create a mood or a scene, to present a character. Each author has a unique voice, and let me tell you, The Los Angeles Times was right, Mark Mills' is incredible.

Book Review-The Liquid City by Curtis Hopfenbeck

ONLINE BOOK TOUR
The Liquid City
Author: Curtis J Hopfenbeck
Category: Crime

About the Book: Shadoe Kilbourne is the consummate intellectual assassin, with an impressive arsenal of both wit and weaponry at his disposal. As Seattle’s most successful nightclub owner and restaurateur; he is also a man of great resource, humor and humanity. His lethal charms and deadly ideologies are a devastating double-edged sword; brandished at will to put the bad guys in their place and get the good girls back to his.

Driven by vengeance, derived from a painful and poignant past we can only speculate on, his ties to the highest echelons and lowest corridors of humanity also make him the perfect middleman for those who seek to solicit his fervor and favor in the hunt for his brand of justice, both inside and outside of the law.

About the Author:“My passion and impetus to write has been in existence since birth. I pursued adolescence in the shadow of Ian Fleming’s ‘Bond’; survived my teens in the company of John D. MacDonald’s ‘McGee’; and grew to adulthood under the guidance of Robert B. Parker’s ‘Spenser’.

My infatuation with literature’s lethal lotharios, including Spade and Marlowe, is as innate as it is undeniable, and is much of not only who I’ve become, but of who I’ve come to encapsulate within my writings. I hope I have done my predecessor’s proud, and that the legends will continue to mentor and wax immortal within my written prose and pages. Please enjoy, for it is truly a writers only silent ovation!”

Author’s Website