You Won't Believe Who is Hosting Me on Their Blog!

The fun is about to begin! Take a look at where I'll be in the next two months! I will update you as new dates become available.

August 10 - A Blue Million Books, Love it or Leave it Interview at abluemillionbooks.blogspot.com 

August 23 - Guest post & Novels Alive giveaway - WIN a $25 Amazon gift card and a paperback copy of I Walked With Jesus at novelsalive.com

August 25 - B for Bookreview. Guest post at: bforbookreview.wordpress.com

August 26 - New Release Feature at quietfurybooks.com 

September 17 - Cover reveal at Learn from History - Dare to bloom at gailkittleson.com

BOOK REVIEW: Pure Trash

If you remember Orange Crush in bottles, bike rides away from home, slingshots as fine entertainment and Good 'N Plenty's as a way of filling your stomach on a hot summer day, you might be able to relate to Pure Trash by Bette A. Stevens.

Pure Trash can be found at Amazon

 

If you've ever been offended, judged, spoken to in a way that gave you serious room for doubt about the world and the people in it, then you will definitely relate to Pure Trash.
 

Shawn is a poor boy, with a mother who makes her clothing out of old potato sacks and a father who spends most of their hard earned money on beer. But Shawn doesn't know that he is poor. He doesn't know his father is a drunkard. This is his life.

What Shawn knows is that he has a best friend and brother named Willie and that gathering pop bottles and turning them in for cash is the next best thing to being rich.

Shawn creates adventure at every turn and enjoys the simple pleasures of life:

"Flying down the other side (of the hill on a bike) gave me the best feeling in the whole world. I guess that's how that old chicken hawk feels when he soars above the pines at the edge of the field out back of the house."

The short story is filled with images and flavor only better provided by an ice cream cone.

"Dad always said that you 'had to hold your mouth just right,' or the fish wouldn't bite."

"Willie's brown eyes looked as big as Mum's pan friend donuts..."

The interesting thing about being poor as a child is that you rarely know you are poor, unless a Christian or two points out some 'obvious' lack. But even then, life goes on, and you make the best of what you've got.

Because it's all you can do.

I recommend Pure Trash to the adult reader and YA reader alike.

BOOK REVIEW: Memory Lake

What happens when nine friends gather to spend summer camp at Memory Lake?

All the things you remember.

Purchase Memory Lake at Amazon

 

 

"My body had stiffened into a permanent cringe as we pressed deeper into the muck. Our limbs slicked across layers of soggy sediment and masses of roots so compacted we barely disturbed the leaves above. This gnarled growth pulsated against our scalps as busy inhabitants transmitted waves of vibration into the air. Thousands, perhaps millions of cicadas and crickets insulted us in a cloud of noise..."

 

"Christie grabbed a handful of marshmallows and squished them to resemble cottage cheese. She pulled repeatedly until the mash smoothed into lustrous taffy. 'Yum!' she announced, stretching the gleaming band..."

"It's a warm rain, though," Lori said, shrugging her shoulders and kneeling on a garbage bag. She took a bite from a cold hot dog and shot it toward me. It wiggled grotesquely like a dead, amputated finger. "Could be worse." She grinned. "It could be snowing..."

Wrapped with everything good you expect from a memoir, Memory Lake, by Nancy S. Kyme, is filled with fun, friends, camp counselors, a smattering of spiritual moments, and the truth about getting your feet wet.

A lengthy book, 435 pages, this reader had to finally put it down and go on to other projects. Though poetically written and visually appealing, I found it a bit long for my tastes.  After 141 pages, I missed the tension and building climax offered in a typical fiction novel.

My suggestion?

Take this book with you on your next sea side vacation. Though captivating, you need time to relax and simply enjoy the pages. Something I didn't have.

Perhaps I'll finish Memory Lake on that dream vacation to the Oregon coast.  



Learn more about Nancy at:

 

Blog:  http://campfirememories.wordpress.com/2012/10/03/could-it-really-be-that-simple/

Website:  http://www.nancyskyme.com/

 

 

BOOK REVIEW: Al The Green Rain Train

If you're going to purchase Al the Green Rain Train, by Alfred Guajardo, don't take the back cover as a key to what you'll be getting in terms of writing style. You'll find the story much more rewarding.

Get it at Amazon

Don't get me wrong. A synopsis of a book is good, that is, if it works. I almost didn't venture into the land of Al in the beginning, simply because I found the synopsis needed a bit of tweaking, but I did like the subject matter of the book and so the rest, shall we say, is history.

Al the Green Train does three good things in my opinion:

1) It's written in easy to understand children's language
2) It gives children an opportunity to learn new words like environment, appreciation and conservation.
3) It offers colorful illustrations opposite a fun, learning story

What I found most interesting about Al was his fascination for all things of the earth and his ability to be a part of that through the rain he produced through his "rain" stack.

Expect a glossary at the end of the book explaining terms such as funnel cloud, tornado, thunder and lightning. Expect rhymes and a bit of poetic form.

I recommend Al the Green Rain Train, for its simplicity of learning within the pages; not for what it's got riding on the back cover.

BOOK REVIEW: Mom's Little Black Book

"Mom's Little Black Book," by Marilynn Dawson is a short, inspirational read that blends quips, Bible quotes, meditation opportunities and 'light' reading for the teen who is about to leave home to start life on his/her own.

Marilynn Dawson

Divided into 6 subheadings (spiritual, household, personal care, interpersonal, grocery and financial), "Mom's Little Black Book," offers teens exclusive rights to all that Mom knows and is willing to share about living life with spiritual grounding and a super clear focus.

Get it at Amazon!

Consider these helpful hints:

"Help those who are in need. One day it could be you."

"Clouds are very emotional creatures. They cry at special occasions."

"Racism is pointless. Look at the Panda.! He's black, white and Asian, and everyone loves him!"

"You are the only Bible some people will ever see."

"You know you're tired when you put the dishes in the fridge and the milk in the sink."

"Talk to God. He loves to hear about your day and how you feel."

"Remember prayer is a fancy word for communication between you and God. Give him time to respond."

"Don't hoard God's blessings for yourself. You may just be the delivery conduit."

If one of your children is leaving home for college this summer, or getting married, or perhaps they have just decided it's time to live on their own, "Mom's Little Black Book," is for them.

Instead of talking until you're blue in the face about what they should and shouldn't be doing to remain a strong, active Christian, give them this book.

Contact Marilynn!

In Canada:
http://www.bookmob.ca/search/keyword/Marilynn+Dawson
http://songdovebooks.storenvy.com

Global:
Createspace.com:https://www.createspace.com/4249405

Amazon websites:http://www.amazon.com/author/marilynn.dawson.author
http://astore.amazon.com/becothebridof-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=4 Amazon Storehttp://www.amazon.de/-/e/B008SXA2QS Amazon DEhttp://astore.amazon.de/becthebriof0d-21 Amazon DE storehttp://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B008SXA2QS Amazon UKhttp://astore.amazon.co.uk/becthebriofch-21 UK storehttp://www.amazon.es/s?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=MS%20Marilynn%20Dawson&search-alias=english-books Amazon ES

 

BOOK REVIEW: The 40 Day Challenge, A Companion Workbook to Journaling with Jesus

Journaling or writing in a diary is about as well-known as going grocery shopping. Problem is, for most of us, what we write in our journal or diary is about the same.

The idea of writing a letter to God, or expressing our feelings about a particular scripture or personal experience with God may not even have occurred to us. What we write about instead is what we ate for breakfast, how we spent our day, who we're angry with, what we're sad about.

We may even find that our lives are simply "not exciting enough" to record them, and so we give up
before we have actually begun.

Get it at Amazon!

But Carol Round and her new book, "The 40 Day Challenge," changes all that.
It took 40 years for the Israelites to get to the Promised Land.

It rained for 40 days and 40 nights.

And Jesus fasted 40 days in the wilderness.

It will take 40 days to 'write' your way through Round's book, and in that time you'll experience God in a very real way. Some questions and topics you will discover:

Have you read the best seller? (Day 13)

Are you feasting? (Day 21)

Are you thirsty? (Day 26)

In writing a daily letter to God for 40 days straight, expect to grow, expect to have a deeper relationship with God. And expect miracles.

Because you will have them.

I recommend The 40 Day Challenge for anyone who wants to develop a deeper relationship with God and create a more Christ centered life.

 

BOOK REVIEW: Peace after Divorce

I haven't been through a divorce myself, but I wanted to read "Peace after Divorce" initially, to help me better understand my mother and daughter who have. And while this inspirational book answered many of my questions about holding on and letting go, I also found that many of the helps in "Peace after Divorce: Choosing Concrete Actions Rooted in Faith," would assist me in my own life.

Available at Amazon

Two of my favorite helps:

"Have a Peace Box--Write notes as prayer needs come to mind and put them in the box. Pull them out and talk to God about them daily."

"As crazy as it sounds to add one more thing to your list of things to do, talking with God can help ease your burden so that you may approach your day with a greater sense of calm."

Renee Smith Ettline has a beautiful way of expressing what we all feel no matter our path in life. She says, "You can't control all circumstances, but you can work within your reality to make your life better. You can exercise the power of choice to move in a positive direction. Furthermore, you can draw on the healing power of God to support and guide you along the way."

I love how Ettline shows through personal experience, the experiences of others, as well as her work in After Divorce Ministries, LLC, how to overcome the difficulties of divorce. I love how I feel empowered by her words.  Any person going through a divorce will be eager to take on the steps that she suggests to improve their life; and for those not experiencing divorce they can better understand those who have.

Ettline takes a struggling individual beyond just "getting through divorce." She doesn't just draw out the steps, she adds the emotion and testimony of God to extend the reader's learning and focus. Read a scripture. Answer some questions. Talk with God. Act. Going through a divorce is anything but easy, but with God's help, getting to the other side is possible.

I recommend this book for anyone going through divorce, and for their loved ones who really want to know what  going through a divorce is all about.

 

From the author:

Divorce changes your life. Whether you are dealing with a current divorce or the lingering impact of a past divorce, we congratulate you on your efforts to make your life better. We have each been through a divorce. We know the pain. We know that peace after divorce is possible.

Peace After Divorce: Choosing Concrete Actions Rooted in Faith is the result of a need we discovered when developing our divorce ministry. We wanted a book that would offer guidance, not just for getting through the immediacy of divorce, but also for moving beyond divorce. The book had to share real-life strategies as well as the power of God's love. When we did not find the book we wanted, we proceeded to write Peace After Divorce.

Field-tested in our After Divorce Ministries workshops, Peace After Divorce has proven effective in helping readers to move beyond a life defined by divorce. Chapters have short topical readings that make it easy to move through the book and to reflect on what you have read. Each reading in the book concludes with questions designed to help you apply concepts to your life. Scriptures add support. You cannot control all of the circumstances that come from your divorce, but you can work within your reality to make your life better.

Cardiac Champs: Book Review

What does a retired  psychologist who has dealt with two heart attacks, do?

He writes a book of course.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1450512089

Now, I'm the first to admit that I've never dealt with a heart attack personally, (though I've been at it closely with loved ones), but reading  Cardiac Champs, I quickly became aware that the fears, questions, and anxiety that the author experienced, travels the human being gamut when it comes to having an operation and moving forward after it.

The author had his first heart attack at 38 and his second at age 40. Pretty young if you ask me. But the author takes his heart attacks in stride, weaving a tale of honesty and hope that travels from the heart attack, through recovery and beyond.

"This book...is not a book on how to live your life," the author admits in the preface, "rather the book is designed to help you ensure that the condition of your arteries and heart do not completely dictate the kind of life you live."

Dr. Larry McConnell, is a champ in his own right. The book is exceptional in almost every aspect. Through McConnell's striking conversational style, quick humor, and positive outlook, any reader will feel as if he/she has stepped into an after heart attack spa.

"...Be positive, just think, you have the makings for a terrific story. If you are an extrovert who wants to dazzle people, you can tell everyone the pain was out of this world."

As a psychologist, McConnell knows all about "manufactur(ing) hope," in his own life and in the lives of those who have suffered.

He believes that a patient must first accept his/or her condition before any real movement forward can be made. Attached to acceptance comes assurance and reaching out to others.

"It is unrealistic to expect the physician to be your fountain of optimism," he says, "they are trained to deal with illnesses of the body, not the psyche."

And he admits: "My confidence wasn't helped when the nurse insisted I be taken to the front door (at the time of his hospital release) in a wheelchair. She claimed that was just a precaution for insurance purposes. I guess the hospital would have been liable if I had had a heart attack dancing with my wife in the elevator."

And what of the whiners you ask? Though McConnell frankly admits he was once a "helpless gorf," he makes sure that the reader knows that "one good way to avoid being sick is to avoid acting sick."

"...Get it straight," he offers. "You don't have heart disease, you are arterially challenged."

And so it goes.

Expect insightful information, (book is rated PG-13 for language) direction and a smattering of humor in this heart to heart book, but be prepared to step beyond the boundaries.

Whether you're the patient or the loved one, it's your only real choice.

Do I typically post reviews on my site?

Well, that depends. I have posted my own, but I have never posted a review that I have given to someone else.

But there comes a time for change and you just might be getting the first glimpse. I enjoyed reading Shelby's Plan and it was fun writing up the review.

If you're a romance reader I think you should read it. If you're not, I still think you should read it. I'm not a typical romance reader or writer so it was good for me to step out of the box a bit and read something I usually pass by on the bookshelves.

And now, the review:

Shelby, mother of two, has a plan. After the loss of her husband killed in the line of duty, she decides that she'll never marry a cop again. But after her move to Salt Lake City with her boys, hoping to start anew and begin her studies in nursing, Shelby meets Keith, an undercover cop whose sudden interest travels far beyond a mere friendship in a new city. With time, love blossoms, and Shelby is caught between the love she is beginning to feel for a cop and her own dreams of finishing school and marrying a doctor.

Cops die, and she never wants to go through that experience again.

Michelle Renea Anderson's crisp writing keeps you reading and begging for more.  Expect humor, some touching scenes, and a book filled with love and acceptance.

Find Shelby's Plan at: http://www.amazon.com/Shelbys-Plan-Michelle-Renea-Anderson/dp/0803492006.
 

Better Late Than Never

Yes, I had planned on letting you in on today's fun this morning, but my body wasn't cooperating.  Suffice it to say I have been down in bed all day.

So this is it. Better late than never.

Check out my guest post on Booksnoop, especially if you want to learn a little bit about "What Your favorite Reading Haunt Says About You" http://www.thebooksnoop.com/.

Also, check out the book review at: http://cozymysterybookreviews.wordpress.com/2012/09/04/review-scrambled-by-kathryn-elizabeth-jones/

Tomorrow, there will be another guest post at Mystery Writing is Murder, and come Thursday I have a special deal for readers of paperbacks!

Love to you all,

Kathryn