Shanghai Girls

by Lisa See

I ran across this book because I had to wait over the weekend to get my new library books in. I had seen the cover before and pushed it aside since I usually stick with Christian fiction. This time when I saw it I decided to read it.

If you don't know this about me China is my country. My dream for 10+ years is to adopt a little girl from China. I have read a book in the past about a couples journey to adopt and thought it might be interesting to read a book that is based in China.

This book starts in 1937. Two sisters; May and Pearl, who are considered beautiful girls. One day their father tells them devastating news; that they are now poor and he has arranged marriages for them. When they are married their husbands go back to America and await them to arrive. Both girls decide not to go but when war breaks out with Japan in their home country they are forced to leave their home and to live with their husbands in America.

When I read her acknowledgements she told about how she had family that went through some of the things that these two sisters go through. As well as interviewed many others. This book is fiction and all the characters are fiction but to know that people did go through these trials in life is heart breaking. Their journey from their home town of Shanghai to Los Angeles is horrific and when they arrive in America they struggle to find their place in their new home.

I almost put the book down in the first few chapters, not sure that I liked it or where the story was going but when the war breaks out and you follow their stories I was hooked. I stayed up way passed my bedtime to finish the book, crying and then shocked when she ends the story so abruptly.

I really liked this book but with that said it may not be for everyone. While I was reading it I was thinking this book could be a movie and when I went to her website I saw that one of her books has been turned into a movie! Have you ever seen China Cry? This book reminds me of those kind of stories.

I really liked this book, it ended so fast I was bummed there was no sequel. Yet when I went to her website I found book 2! I will be reading this soon! This story has made me want to read her other books as well.

Whirlwind

by: Robert Liparulo

This is book five in a series of six books. I stumbled onto this series and thought it looked interesting and found out after I had finished the first book that it is a youth series. It was interesting enough that I continued reading it as well.

The Dream House King series is about the King family. The parents, two sons and a daughter move into this house in a new town and the son's who are older are not very happy about the move. They move into a house but this house isn't like any other. The family soon discover portals (doors) on a hidden third floor that when you go through them, take you to different times in history. They also find out history that was hidden from them from their dads past. Secrets that lead them back to this house, their dad's house as a child.

The first book starts out with the mother being kidnapped and taken through the portal to another time in history. The rest of the series of books are about the family left behind trying to find her. Each book has a different twist and turn on the different times in history they enter. The times in history are dangerous and they have to fight off people and all sorts of obstacles in history as well as in the present time to find their mom.

When I started this book I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep reading the series because it had been a few month since I read the last book. Now after reading this book it took a turn that I didn't expect, different from all the other books. I am wanting to read the last book to find out what happens.

Though I do like the series it's probably not something that I would first suggest to read because there are so many other books I would recommend first that I just truly love. This series is an easy read, since it is geared for youth. There are parts that can be a little scary but more when your are looking at that age group it was written for. My daughter is now enjoying the books as well and it's fun to have read the same books together.

Immanuel's Veins

by: Ted Dekker

Yes, another Ted Dekker book! I told you he is one of my favorite authors! Whenever he comes out with a new book, it moves up to the top of my list to read. This book came out last fall and he has another book coming out in a few months! It amazes me that he has so many stories that he is able to write books so fast. The other amazing thing is they are all so different and creative, which is why they keep me wanting to read more!

I think this book is one of his more untamed (for lack of a better word) books that he has. I am used to Ted Dekker's style of writing now but this one seems to push the edge for me of what I would normally read. I would have to say I am uncertain if I really like it or not. I guess I don't hate it though. If I had to describe it, I would say it's the Christian version of Vampire Diaries. I have not read any of those books, nor actually desire to, but if you have you will surely like this book.

Immanuel's Veins takes place at the Cantemir Castle. Two men are put in charge to watch over a mother and two daughters in that home. Evil then sneaks it's way in through the veil of "love". Once again Ted Dekker writes in a way that keeps you reading and always captivated with the story. In the end it's about the blood of Immanuel's Veins that saves.

Now, I would not recommend this book to anyone who is just starting to read Ted Dekker's books. It think it is so hard to describe his books until you have read enough to be in the circle of understanding! But I also won't write it off so fast. This one may not be my all time favorite but I may read this again one day, now that I know what to expect and see it from a different perspective the next time around.

As I've said before I will always read the next book Ted Dekker comes out with and I'm looking forward to his next book; The Priests Graveyard coming out in April!!!

the most important little boy in the world

By: Dean Briggs

I was given this book by a friend after asking her what she had been reading on a FB post one day. A few days later I had the book in hand to read myself. I had never read Dean Briggs books before and or heard of this particular book either. I started this book with only the information provided on the back cover.

Their are two parts to the book. First, there is a virus that is spreading across the world, called Sleeper. When it first hits the computer world everyone brushes it off as a joke until the real truth is shown and it's an actual airborne virus that is spreading around the world and people start dying. The other side of the book is about a little boy, Joshua, who has a unique gift. And the two worlds intertwine. And that is why it is called; the most important boy in the world.

As I read this book it was very hard to keep up with some of the scientific jargon because I don't know much about that kind of stuff. I did stick with the book to find out what happens. Having not read any Dean Briggs books I'm not sure if I would try another one. I like being able to follow a book without having to think too hard and at times that is what I felt like.

The overall storyline is great and if you can get past some of the wording. I do have to say that by the end of the book I was crying and wondering what would I do? I would still recommend this book because the ending is just so great!

The Healer

by: Dee Henderson

This is book six in a series of seven. I started reading the series a while back (along with many other books in between) recognizing it from years ago when a friend had recommended them. I had gotten into a few other series so I thought I would give it a try.

The series is about the O'Malley family. They are seven orphans that lived in the same children home and had become close. When they all grew up they changed their last name to O'Malley and became their own family.

The siblings all have some type of high profile type of job, U.S. Marshall, fireman, hostage negotiator, forensic pathologist and this book is about Rachel, who is a trama physiologist.

I have really enjoyed this series and enjoyed many of the books in this series but have to say that The Healer was not my favorite book in the series. The story line seems a little slower than in most of the books. I think I have gotten used to how this author writes and she uses the same type of wording quite a bit in her books. I could predict the direction she would take in different moments in the storyline.

With that said; this book does give the most background on how the O'Malley Family started, which I did like. About half way through the book is when it really starts to pick up. You know there was a homicide that occurred during a flood in the prologue of the book, so you are reading, waiting for the details to come out. She does add in twists you don't expect and at the end I was crying.

Even though it wasn't my favorite book in the series, it is part of the series, so an important book to read. You get to know one more sibling and add to the O'Malley history. I don't like reading books in a series out of order or by themselves. Missing one book is like missing part of the story line.

The Visitation

by: Frank Peretti

I read this book over 10 years ago, while I was in high school. As I said in my last post, Frank Peretti is one of my favorite authors. I had finished my last book, House, from the library and my new books had not come in so I thought I would re-read The Visitation, from my home collection, while I waited. I honestly did not remember anything about the book, so I went in as if it was the first time.

The book is about a town, Antioch, that has "a visitor". As you read you see the story from different perspectives but one main view point is of an ex-pastor from that town. It takes you through his past hurts from churches and "religion" while growing up. You see how people struggle in their walk with God and how some never truly discover a relationship with God. You also see how people can distort the word of God.

The story line is great. Being that the book 519 pages (at least my copy is) it's a huge undertaking to read. But the story keeps you interested and wanting to find out what happens. In the end you find out how this ex-pastor deals with his past hurts and you really see how important it is to really know the one and only true God. Man will fail, man is not who we follow but God is and He will guide us in our lives.

I also liked how the writing was. I am actually writing a book myself and I liked how he went from present to past in the storyline. Helped me with my story which does the same.

I am glad that decided to read the book again. It re-affirmed why I love Frank Peretti's books. I may try and re-read more of his that I own, it's been so long and they are so good. I would definitely recommend this book.

House

by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker

I read House a few years ago and at the time did not like it at all. I had read all of Frank Peretti's books and this was one I found I had not read. Yet, it was also the first book that I had ever read of Ted Dekker's.

If you have not read a book by either of these authors before House, I would recommend to not read House first. You should read books by each of the authors separately to get a feel for who they are as an individual writers. With that said these are two of my favorite authors. I went on to read all of Ted Dekkers books in the last year after reading House.

I would start with Ted Dekker's Circle Trilogy or Thr3e, which are a few of my favorites. For Frank Peretti, I would start with This Present Darkness or Piercing the Darkness.

Back to House...House is all about the house of our lives. Our sins. But it is written in a crazy, deadly twist. Two couples enter a house and are trying to escape with their lives. It takes until the last chapter to see the true meaning of the book.

Now reading it a second time through, years later, I am glad that I read it again. I understand it this time around. While reading you have to pay attention to details and descriptions given by the author or you have to look back to figure it out again (I did many times) but hang in there. It isn't my favorite book by either author but I will always read any books written by them.

This book is not for everyone but give it a try!