Isn’t it fun to open the pages of a new book and immediately be transported to that location? Well, if you open the pages of Ann H. Gabhart’s newest release from Revell entitled Murder at the Courthouse, you will undoubtedly find yourself visiting the small town of Hidden Springs, Kentucky. It is a pleasant-enough town, with your average number of busybodies, family feuds, and personal histories that are known by everyone. One unique thing about this town, however, is the fact that it is home to a murderer. And not just any murderer, but one who leaves their victim on the front steps of the courthouse – in broad daylight! As you can see, Hidden Springs may not be such an ordinary town after all… Continue reading
Book Reviews
A Helpful Tool for Healthy Living
“Don’t let anyone tell you your symptoms are untreatable! We defied the odds and so can you!” With this tagline and a snappy, makes-you-stop-and-think title, who could resist taking a second look at this book? It Takes Guts to Be Happy: A 21-Day Cleansing Plan to Heal Your Belly & Recharge Your Life was written by Julia Loggins, a certified therapist specializing in hydrotherapy, health education, detoxification, and facilitating the reversal of illness. Published by Vibrant Health Publishing, this 260-page book is a wealth of information, not only related to Julia’s specific cleanse but also to better health in general. Continue reading
A Unique Biography – But Definitely for Mature Readers
COME SEE THE BOY BORN DEAD. These were the words on the sign that started it all. They initiated David Ring’s career as an international speaker, simply by helping to fill a small high school auditorium with people ready to hear his story. How did David Ring, a boy who lived every day with the debilitating affects of cerebral palsy, arrive at this point? Well, you’ll need to read The Boy Born Dead, published by Baker Books and written by David Ring with John Driver and David Wideman, to find out.
Although you may not guess it from the first few pages of David Ring’s story, this book was definitely not a light and carefree read, nor an easy story to watch unfold. It was, however, powerful. Continue reading
The Carols of Christmas – A Guest Review by Hayley
Music history buffs rejoice! Andrew Gant has gifted you with a true gem when it comes to the origination of many timeless Christmas masterpieces. The Carols of Christmas, published by Thomas Nelson in 2015, is a wealth of information, right down to the very last detail, on numerous of our favourite Christmas songs.
The amount of time and meticulous research that obviously went into this book is astounding. Mr. Gant is clearly passionate about the history of music, and in this case, Christmas carols. His enthusiasm and attention to every intricate detail is admirable, impressive, and will be appreciated by those who are like-minded.
Although this book deserves praise for the much effort that was evidently put into its writing, I personally Continue reading
Charming, Eccentric, and Hopefully the First of a Long Series!
I have two words to describe Virginia Smith’s The Most Famous Illegal Goose Creek Parade… Utterly charming! It is truly the type of book that creates a strong desire in readers to crawl inside the pages and live there. Permanently. At least that’s how I felt, especially after my feelings of devastation at reaching the final page. With its blend of comedy and quirkiness, wisdom and whimsy, the town of Goose Creek is sure to win your heart, too.
The paramount element of this little book comes in the form of characters who may just as well be your next-door neighbors and friends, for they certainly step beyond the bounds of descriptive words on paper. These characters live and breathe. They have emotions, quirks, and motives. And each one is endearing in a special way. Continue reading
The Story from “Dauntless” Continues…
Title: Chivalrous
Author: Dina L. Sleiman
Publishing House/Publication Date: Bethany House/September, 2015
Genres: Teen Fiction; Christian Fiction; Historical Fiction
Time Period: 1217 (the Middle Ages)
Number of Pages: 365
Series: Book #2 in the “Valiant Hearts” series
You should read this book if… You enjoyed Dauntless, the previous novel in the series! In Chivalrous, it was great fun to discover what happened to various leading and supporting characters in their continuation stories. Continue reading
A Tricky Book to Review
The Chase: Trusting God with Your Happily Ever After is a unique, fun and breezy little book written by a young husband-and-wife duo, and aimed towards an audience of teenage girls and college-age young women. Friendly, Christian-based advice on relationships, romance, and living your own happily-ever-after story are the main cornerstones of purpose for this book. The two perspectives add dimension to the insights and personal stories, but the overall tone remains very light and bubbly… At times so light and bubbly that older members of the target audience may find it slightly juvenile and repetitive.
On the flipside, however, some of the content is arguably too mature for very young ladies, especially in the chapter entitled “Worth the Wait”. Many of the thoughts that Kyle and Kelsey share in this section of the book were, for me, uncomfortable to read and I was disappointed to see a specific word pop up in the sentences over and over again. Of course, I understand that in many circumstances today girls NEED to read insight like this from a Christian viewpoint. However, I have found there to be very few books about relationships available for young women who wish to avoid this topic, and focus instead on how to nurture godly relationships before marriage. I was hoping The Chase might be one of those, but I was sadly mistaken.
Apart from the issue mentioned above, this book DOES contain much in the way of good advice, encouragement, and hope. Certainly Continue reading
A Sweeping, Dramatic Saga
Title: The Lost Heiress
Author: Roseanna M. White
Publishing House/Publication Date: Bethany House/September, 2015
Genres: Christian Historical Fiction; Inspirational Romance; Mystery and Drama
Time Period: 1910
Number of Pages: 448
Series: Book #1 in the ‘Ladies of the Manor’ series
You should read this book if… You enjoy sweeping, dramatic sagas filled with intricate and interwoven storylines. Mystery, romance, and suspense also abound within the pages of this book, making it difficult to put down.
Tone and Mood: While this novel would not be considered a carefree, bright and cheerful novel, neither is it shrouded in darkness and despair all the time. Rather it is a fairly well balanced mixture of both extremes. Heart-pounding action and suspense at various high points complete it as a masterfully told story. Continue reading
The Road to Becoming – A Guest Review by Hayley
“The fact that I survive, even grow and thrive in my desert season of lostness has little to do with my own ability to stay alive. It has everything to do with the fact that I am kept alive and sustained by the Giver of Life. It has everything to do with the truth that even when my life seems silent and barren, if there is a heartbeat, then the Great Comforter is present. Is a heartbeat not God’s most basic presence? How can the Giver of Life be non-present if life is present? If there is a heartbeat, there is a God. He dwells within us – who are created in His very image.”
This short excerpt is just one of many gems of wisdom you will find in Baker Publishing’s new release The Road to Becoming, by former Addison Road lead singer Jenny Simmons. Her heartfelt, whimsical writing pulls us in like a warm embrace from a long-lost friend, and she continues to hold our hand and walk with us every step of the way, gently encouraging us in our walk with the Lord, and guiding us on our own road to becoming with a depth of understanding that can only come from someone who has been there. Continue reading
Perfect for a Sunny Afternoon – A Guest Review by Hayley
It’s no secret that Beverly Lewis is arguably the best-known author in the Amish fiction genre. And when she gives her readers such a sweet, gentle novel as her newest release, The Photograph, it’s not difficult to see why.
With a graceful storyline set at a relaxed pace, The Photograph introduces us to a sweet new friend, Eva Esch, and the close-knit Amish community she calls home. Pained after losing both her father and her mother, Eva’s tender heart is put to an even further test when her sister secretly leaves The People – for extremely foolish reasons – to join the English way of life. Continue reading
Prairie Sky Book Reviews 