It's My LIFE

[This has been sitting in my drafts since June, '09. Don't know how that happened...!]

The Shack, by W. Paul Young

How I came to read this book:

I had heard a lot about it from various sources in the Christian community. Saw a book that was written to counter it, and another to explain it. Figured if it was that controversial, it would be an interesting read. When my mom offered me her copy to read, I took her up on it. Since then I have purchased 3, one to keep and two to share when I feel so led.

Score Summary

• Content: 10
• Writing Style: 6
• Re-readability: 10
• Busy Mommy Scale: 6

Content

This book was amazing. It was difficult to read, emotionally, and had many different layers of meaning. It was full of ideas that stretched my conservative Christian understanding of God in a way that expanded my view rather than conflicted with it. It spoke to me personally in a very profound way.

Writing Style

Sometimes I found the setting descriptions hard to get rhythmically. I found myself skimming here and there (usually in sections I felt were unnecessary) trying to get to the meat…to the point. (Part of this urge to read on was internal – caused by me needing closure regarding his daughter).

Re-readability

There was so much that impacted me emotionally and spiritually that I feel it warrants a re-read or two to see how it holds up. Some books are powerful due to timing (right book/right time) and others are always (or never) that way. Not sure about this one yet. I was reading it when I had my first miscarriage so the timing was a God-thing.

Busy Mommy Scale

Due to the difficult time I had with the writing style, it was not conducive to a short bursts of reading. I often had to back up a page or two to get back into it.

Edge of Recall, by Kristen Heitzmann

How I came to read this book:

CFBA

I apologize for the brevity of this report. I am in the middle of many things, and am actually lucky to be posting this at all!

Score Summary

• Content: 10
• Writing Style: 10
• Re-readability: 8
• Busy Mommy Scale: 8

Content

Kristen Heitzmann is one of my very favorite authors. This book was up to her usual standards. I HIGHLY recommend it!

Writing Style

Like I said, I love her style of writing. She sucks me in. Due to time constraints I had to put aside a bunch of things to read this in time to post today. I read it in the span of an evening and a morning. Fortunately, it had enough suspense in it to really have me churning through it!

Re-readability

I’ll keep it. I will eventually re-read. The nature of the suspense makes it a little less of a “reread” once you know the ending, but is good enough to do so anyway.

Busy Mommy Scale

Not in the perfect “little pieces” style that would make a perfect Busy Mommy book, but so good it’s worth the time to set aside.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Of her three main interests, art, music and writing, she chose to study English at the University of Colorado and thrived on Creative Writing and Literature classes. She married her husband Jim, and turned her energy to building a family. They have four children whom they have home schooled for all or most of their education. Kristen is a music minister with the ecumenical covenant community People of Praise.

Once she realized the stories in her head were truly a calling from the Lord, she made writing not just a passion, but a ministry. She has written seven historical fiction novels as part of the The Rocky Mountain Legacy series, the Diamond of the Rockies series, and the Christy Award winner Secrets. Most recently, she has written several contemporary fiction novels, including Echoes, Freefall and Unforgotten.

Kristen and her husband, Jim, and their family live in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she serves as worship leader in their church.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Tessa Young, an up-and-coming landscape architect who specializes in the design and creation of labyrinths, has immersed herself in the mythological, spiritual, and healing aspects of the elaborate structures. She also is searching for God and hoping to make sense of the nightmares that have plagued her since childhood.

When Smith Chandler, an estranged colleague–with whom she’d half fallen in love a dozen times before catching herself every time–calls to propose a project he claims is the opportunity of a lifetime, she reluctantly agrees to check it out. Smith is reconstructing a pre-Revolutionary War abbey for wealthy clients. Among its remarkable features is an overgrown labyrinth.

Unable to resist, Tessa accepts his offer to work with him. Soon she is immersed in the project of a lifetime. But one evening, after weeks of work in the labyrinth, Tessa and Smith are attacked. While protecting Tessa, Smith is stabbed, and the nightmare begins…again.

If You would like to read the first chapter, go HERE

Love Starts With Elle, by Rachel Hauck

How I came to read this book:

Another wonderful CFBA book. This one barely made it. I didn’t receive it until a couple days ago and read it in just two days! (No, it’s not a particularly short book, I just hate posting announcements rather than reviews on books!)

Score Summary

• Content: 9
• Writing Style: 10
• Re-readability: 8
• Busy Mommy Scale: 9

Content

Even though I wasn’t able to linger over the story line as much as I would have preferred, I really did enjoy this book a lot. I would like to read more by this author and plan to scope out what else she has written. It’s a nice basic Christian romance. Not too much craziness to confuse, but enough energy and plot to keep me reading.

Writing Style

Very enjoyable. Good use of language to paint pictures without making me struggle to understand.

Re-readability

It’s a keeper – and good to loan out. It’s a good summer reading kind of book.

Busy Mommy Scale

Well, I actually managed to read this book in about two days so it rates pretty well with me!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rachel Hauck is a forty-something, a child of the ’60’s, ’70’s, ’80’s, ’90’s and ’00’s, who roller skated through the ’70’s into the ’80’s with Farrah Fawcet hair and a three-speed orange Camero. She graduated from Ohio State University (Go Buckeyes!) with a degree in Journalism.

After graduation, she hired on at Harris Publishing as a software trainer, destermined to see the world. But, she’s traveled to Ireland, Spain, Venezuela, Mexico, Australia, Canada and the U.S. from California to Maine.

Rachel met Tony, her husband, in ‘87, at church, of all places. They married in ‘92.
They don’t have any children of their own, just lots of kids-in-the-Lord and they love them all. However, they do have two very spoiled dogs, and a very demanding cat.

With a little help from my friends, my first book was published in ‘ 04, Lambert’s Pride, a romance novel. My current release is Sweet Caroline from Thomas Nelson. Romantic Times Book Club gave both books their highest rank of 4.5 stars, with Love Starts With Elle being honored as Top Pick!

Elle’s living the dream-but is it her dream or his?

Elle loves life in Beaufort, South Carolina-lazy summer days on the sand bar, coastal bonfires, and dinners with friends sharing a lifetime of memories. And she’s found her niche as the owner of a successful art gallery too. Life is good.

Then the dynamic pastor of her small town church sweeps her off her feet. She’s never known a man like Jeremiah-one who breathes in confidence and exhales all doubt. When he proposes in the setting sunlight, Elle hands him her heart on a silver platter.

But Jeremiah’s just accepted a large pastorate in a different state. If she’s serious about their relationship, Elle will take “the call,” too, leaving behind the people and place she loves so dearly. Elle’s friendship with her new tenant, widower Heath McCord, and his young daughter make things even more complicated.

Is love transferrable across the miles? And can you take it with you when you go?

If you would like to read the first chapter, go HERE

Hidden, by Shelley Shepard Gray

How I came to read this book:

As a member of the CFBA.

Score Summary

• Content: 9
• Writing Style: 10
• Re-readability: 9
• Busy Mommy Scale: 8

Content

This was a nice little peek into Amish life, and a good simple romance. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and found myself aching for the established routines and simplicity that the story portrayed.

Writing Style

I don’t remember a lot about the writing style, which is a good thing. It means it didn’t get in the way of the storytelling

Re-readability

I’ll hang onto the book to share, and to read again in a few years. It’s not a must re-read, just was pleasant enough to do so.

Busy Mommy Scale

It wasn’t too hard to pick up mid-chapter and continue, but sometimes I had to back up a little to pick up momentum. It was good enough to not let that bother me.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hidden is Shelley’s first foray into inspirational fiction. Previously, Shelley lived in Texas and Colorado, where she taught school and earned both her bachelors and masters degrees in education. She now lives in southern Ohio where she writes full time. Shelley is an active member of her church. She serves on committees, volunteers in the church office, and is part of the Telecare ministry, which calls homebound members on a regular basis. Shelley looks forward to the opportunity to write novels that showcase her Christian ideals.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Hidden is a remarkable story about the unlikely love between a modern girl on the run and an Amish boy from the family who shelters her.

When Anna decides it’s time to leave her abusive boyfriend, she doesn’t know where to turn. Rob is a successful and respected person in her community. He has completely won over her parents with his good looks and prestigious position at a top law firm. Only Anna has seen his dark side. But when Rob hurts Anna yet again, she realizes that she must finally help herself.

Desperate, she runs to the one place she’s always felt completely safe, the Amish Brenneman Bed and Breakfast, where years ago she and her mother once stayed, and where Anna met life-long friend Katie Brenneman. When Anna shows up years later unexpectedly, the family welcomes her in, with few questions asked, and allows her to stay, dressed as the Amish in Plain clothes, and help around the inn.

But Katie’s older brother Henry doesn’t take too kindly to the intrusion. Anna wonders if it’s because he’s already had his heart broken. To Henry’s shame, from the moment he sees Anna, he feels a strong attraction. To cover his infatuation, he tries to ignore her, knowing no good would ever come from keeping an eye on a fancy woman like her. But as he sees that Anna has a good heart and is not the selfish, spoiled woman he imagined her to be, he feels his heart pointing towards her.

Anna comes to realize that she’s found a home and true love in the last place she’d expected. How can she deny the life she left behind? And will her chance for happiness be stolen away by the man who can’t seem to let her go?

If you would like to read the Prologue, go HERE

Skid, by Rene Gutteridge

How I came to read this book:

Through WaterBrook Multnomah Books.

Score Summary

• Content: 8
• Writing Style: 8
• Re-readability: 7
• Busy Mommy Scale: 9

Content

The story in Skid was really enjoyable. There were many characters, and I wandered happily along with the ventures into each of their lives. This book is the 3rd in a series, coming after Scoop and Snitch, with the main character being one of a group of brothers and sisters. Reminded me a little bit of Dee Henderson’s O’Malley Series, but with a much lighter, simpler tone. I have not read the first two in this series.

Writing Style

I hope this isn’t taken as an insult, but this book almost felt like one of the old episodes of Love Boat — where a group of strangers mix and mingle, cross paths occasionally, with separate mini-dramas within the main story.

Re-readability

By itself, I probably wouldn’t reread, but as part of a series, I’d like to read the first two, and pick it up again, to get the full effect.

Busy Mommy Scale

This one wasn’t too hard to read bits at a time. I never felt the need to block out solid reading time to get the “full effect” of the drama. It was a fun read, rather than a moving one.

Book Summary

Blissfully unaware that Atlantica Flight 1945 from Atlanta to Amsterdam is about to make aviation history, First Officer Danny McSweeney focuses his energies on navigating the turbulent personalities of an eccentric female captain, a co-pilot with a talent for tactless comments and conspiracy theories, and a lead flight attendant with an outsized attitude that definitely exceeds the limits for carry-on baggage.

On the other side of the cockpit door, the unscheduled in-flight entertainment includes a potbellied pig, a jittery diamond courier, and the recently jilted Lucy Meredith, whose personal mantra of “What Would Oprah Do?” will be challenged by the sudden appearance of her ex and his new traveling partner. On her left sits Hank Hazard, whose unusually polite but constant requests–prompted by his covert role as a spy for the airline–test the limits of the crew’s customer service.

But as Lucy and the rest of the crew discover, Hank’s odd behavior is linked to a quiet faith that may play a key role in the fate of everyone on board. Especially when an unexpected traveler sets this already bumpy flight on a course toward the unfriendly skies.

Author Bio

Rene Gutteridge is the author of twelve novels, including the Boo series, the Storm series, and the novelization for The Ultimate Gift, as well as Scoop and Snitch, the first two Occupational Hazard novels. She lives with her husband, Sean, and their two children in Oklahoma City.