Sunday, December 30, 2012

Gingerbread Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke

This is my first real Christmas read for the season. Too bad it's after Christmas if over but I'm not going to worry about that. I'm still on Christmas break so I am going to enjoy it! Next year I am going to pick the books I want and read them for Christmas. This year I tried to read short stories on my Kindle to read more and because I wasn't really interested in them it took longer to read them rather than reading what I want...next year!

I have wanted to try out a story by Joanne Fluke. They always looked cute and I love a good mystery. Someone told me that they are easy reads so it was the one that I requested from the library. Gingerbread Cookie Murder is actually a very cute short story. The copy I got is a 3 in 1 book. There are two other Christmas short stories by two other authors included.

Hannah's neighbor, Ernie, has his Christmas music turned up so loud all the neighbors are beginning to complain. When the cops finally show up and they go to confront him they find him dead! Fingerprints are found at the scene but Hannah isn't convinced they have the right person. She goes on the hunt to find more clues.

Being a short story the story is actually pretty good. The character Hannah owns a bakery and talks about the foods that she is baking and the author adds the actual recipe and baking directions in the book as you read! Very Christmas feeling. Just need a cup of coffee or hot chocolate and cold night and a warm blanket to cozy up and read this story! The only downside for me was that it wasn't longer. I felt the ending was a little rushed and even a little unrealistic but I would read another short story by Joanne Fluke. Enjoy!

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Joseph's Story by Shawn Darren Stanley

 I got this book as a free download from amazon. I was trying to go through Christmas stories in December and though it's not a Christmas novel, I wanted to read this one since it's definitely the reason for the Christmas season!

The author wanted to take on Joseph's view point and what kind of man he was since so many stories are from Mary's point of view.

The story adds the authors own version of facts from the bible. Tho there are points made that are from scripture, it was interesting to read about the times that Mary and Joseph lived in and what there life at that time could have been like. There are other versions I have read or the movie, Nativity Story, that I have watched that made it hard to switch my thinking to a different view point on their take of the story but overall the story was good. It isn't my favorite book but it's a quick read.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Almost Heaven by Chris Fabry

I ran across this book on Goodreads and requested it from the library. It came in faster than I expected so I picked it up thinking I would get through it to be able to read my Christmas stories. I wish I would have waited!

Almost Heaven is a story about Billy Allman. When I first picked up the book I was intrigued and got through the first half pretty quickly. But at that point it got harder to read, I just kept thinking "How much can one person go through?" And it took me over a week to get through the second half of the book.

In the end the book show shows how one person, like Job, can take so much and still trust God. Maybe that's what the story is to compare to, Job, in modern day.

At the end of the book the author, Chris Fabry, tells how he got a letter about a man actually named Billy Alman from someone in the community that knew him. Chris Fabry says that some of the the characteristics he found out about are added in the book but the story line is completely fiction.

Billy is very eccentric, he is awkward with people but he is very smart.  He is able to build radios even as young as 6 years old! As he grows up he endures a lot of heart ache but holds onto his faith in God.

I just felt there was such an overwhelming amount of things that took place in Billy's life! Even the Angel that had charge over Billy began to question his call to watch over him and the reason why at one time he was called away. During that time, it was the darkest period for Billy. I did not like that the Angel questioned why he was supposed to watch over Billy. I don't feel that angels would question God or question their calling. Maybe that's just me. I didn't feel the story needed so much trama to bring the point across that you can trust God in all things.

The only thing that may grab me to read the next book, June Bug, is that in the last quarter of the book it picks up and has a bright spot. There is a little girl introduced as June Bug. Though there is another cliff point at the end of the book it's actually worth reading and I would be interested in the June Bugs story. I read at the end of the book the first chapter to that book and caught my interest.

The hard part is that I like the first 1/4 and last 1/4 of Almost Heaven, the middle was a little rough...not sure if June Bug would be the same for me.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

A Marriage Carol by Chris Fabry & Gary Chapman

I had wanted to read this Christmas story last year but wasn't able to get it from the library. The only reason that I was able to read it this Christmas season was because I caught it free on amazon for the kindle fire!

A Marriage Carol starts out with a couple on their way to sign papers for their divorce. They are in a storm when they have an accident on the road.

The wife wakes up and can't find her husband so she walks to a near by home. It happens to be the house of a man and wife who run a retreat to help other marriages. Through the night she speaks with him and he takes her through a unique journey of her marriage.

This story was not what I expected. Her journey through her marriage is creative and inspiring. Especially for those that are married this is an encouraging read.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

True Light by Terri Blackstock

This is book three in the Restoration series. I first read Last Light, book one, back in August of 2011. Then I read Night Light, book two, in January of 2012. You are able to see my reviews on these books in my history on the right side. I have read Terri Blackstocks books in the past. I loved quite a few of her series, so I picked this series up as well. I think it's obvious that though it's a good book/series, it does not grab me like her other books have. It has taken me over a year to read just these three and there is still one more book to finish this series. I am interested to read it to see what happens, especially now that I just finished Last Light, just to see how things end, I'm just not sure when I will pick it up.

Last Light picks up with the world still out of all electricity of any kind. The book starts hooks you right from the start with a shooting. Mark Green, who you meet in book two, is very quickly the center of attention. In book two his dad kidnapped Dani Branning and now everyone is quick to believe that Mark is just like his dad and the Branning family, including Dani is quick to protect him.
You follow the story as they try to find out who is trying to frame Mark while the town has turned against him.

Terri Blackstock is a great writer. I do recommend this book. It's a great story line, especially now with the new t.v. show; Revolution!