A Reluctant Queen - The Love Story of Esther - Book Review

SUMMARY:  You've read it as a biblical tale of courage.  Experience it anew as a heart-stirring love story.

She was a simple girl faced with an impossible choice.

He was a magnificent king with a lonely heart.

Their love was the divine surprise that changed the course of history.

     The beloved story of Esther springs to fresh life in this inspired novel that vibrates with mystery, intrigue and romance.

REVIEW:  This is not your typical story of Esther.  The author is writing this strictly as a love story and does not stay true to all the information found in the bible.  She takes liberty with history also (she says historically, there was no kind called Ahasuerus.  Xerxes took the Persian throne after Darius, which is about the time the original story was written.)  While it can be distracting, especially if you are as familiar with this story and have studied it as often as I had, it does what it is meant to do:  tell a story of love between two people and how God works through human beings to accomplish His will.
      This was a good book.  I enjoyed the change with the story and loved how the two main characters fall in love, in spite of all their differences.  The author weaves a wonderful tale and doesn't forget what God can accomplish through us if we are willing.

This book was provided by Litfuse Publicity Group for review without compensation.

Joan Wolf was born in New York City but has lived most of her adult life in Connecticut with her husband, two children, and numerous pets.  She's the author of The Road to Avalon lauded as "historical fiction at its finest" by Publishers Weekly.

The Fine Art of Insincerity Book Review

SUMMARY:  Three Southern sisters with nine marriages among them - and more looming on the horizon - travel to St. Simons Island to empty their late grandmother's house.  Ginger, the eldest, wonders if she's the only one who hasn't inherited what their family calls "the Grandma Gene" - the tendency to enjoy the casualness of courtship more than the intimacy of marriage.  Could it be that her sisters are fated to serially marry, just like their seven-times-wed grandmother, Lillian Irene Harper Winslow Goldstein Carey James Bobrinski Gordon George?
     Marital frustrations collide with poignant memories when the sisters gather to close up Grandma's treasured beach house for the last time.  One sister faces her husband's infidelity, one plots the end of her life in pursuit of love, and one toys with the idea of leaving her loving but dull husband as the task at hand reminds them of their grandmother's love and life lessons.  This "girls only" weekend forced them to finally unpack their family baggage, examine their relationship DNA, and discover the true legacy their much-marrying grandmother left behind.

REVIEW:  This story was written in all three sisters' points of view.  It was very well written and not at all confusing.  I love being able to "see inside" each of the main characters and understand what they are thinking and why they say and do what they do.  While the sisters work together to clean out their grandmother's house, they come across items left behind that speak to each of them.  These things help the sisters work on solving their problems in their relationships with their husbands, themselves and each other.  This was a great book and was very hard to put down.

This book was provided by Glass Road Public Relations for review without compensation.

With nearly 4 million copies of her books sold worldwide, ANGELA ELWELL HUNT is the bestselling author of more than one hundred books, including The Tale of Three Trees, Don't Bet Against Me!, The Note, and The Nativity Story.  Hunt is one of the most sought-after collaborators in the publishing industry.  Her nonfiction book Don't Bet Against Me!, written with Deanna Favre, spent several weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.  Angela's novel The Note was filmed as a Hallmark Channel's Christmas movie for 2007 and proved to be the highest rated television movie in the channel's history.  She often travels to teach writing workshops at schools and writer's conferences.  She and her husband make their home in Florida.

Holy Guacamole Book Review

SUMMARY:  Nestled along San Diego's coast, the former romantic getaway of the silver screen's most notorious lovers is now the sizzling hacienda of Bonnie Miller's culinary boot camp.  "If you are what you eat, make it hot, spicy, and irresistible," is her motto, and this queen of Southwestern cuisine enjoys quite a savory life: success, fame, and a reputation for the finest palate west of Barcelona.  That is, until a pot-rattling bang causes Trace Domingo, a washed-up sports writer, to crash into her life.  His arrival turns up the heat at the culinary boot camp as Bonnie discovers in life's recipe book, it is not the spices which add the most flavor, but how truly hungry you are.

REVIEW:  This book was not as enjoyable as I thought it would/should be.  It was difficult to follow along at times.  Some of the events that happened seems way out there.  The time line was also hard to follow.  Even though Bonnie says "it is not the spices which add the most flavor, but how truly hungry you are," I wondered how she knew this because she was a self-proclaimed food snob.  Even when she was really hungry during some events that happened in Mexico, she still turned her nose up at the food that was offered.  Trace and a few other characters did add some spice to the book with their outlook on life but I felt the book was still lacking.

This book was provided by Glass Road Public Relations for review without compensation.

Dan and Denise Harmer enjoy living in Southern California's "Avocado Capital of the World" where they maintain a laid-back lifestyle as they run a cabinet shop, raise four children, and tend a small ranch.  Okay, maybe it does get a little hectic.  A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book go to support the ministry of Outside the Bowl.

Leaving Book Review

SUMMARY:  The Bailey Flanigan Series begins with Bailey leaving Bloomington for the adventure of a lifetime.  She has won an audition for the ensemble of a Broadway musical in New York City.  She's determined to take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity, but is she really ready to leave family and friends for the loneliness of the city?  And what of Cody Coleman?  His disappearance has Bailey worried about their future and praying that their love can survive.
     In order to be closer to his mother in jail, Cody takes a coaching job in a small community outside Indianapolis.  New friends, distance, and circumstances expose cracks in his relationship with Bailey Flanigan.
     Love, loneliness, big opportunities, and even bigger decisions highlight the first book in the new Bailey Flanigan Series that features members of the popular Baxter family and finally completes the Bailey/Cody story.

REVIEW:  When I first started this book, I was really confused.  It started with a "Baxter Family Newsletter" from the fictional Baxter family (apparently well-known to Mrs. Kingsbury's readers) that was included in my review copy.  Having never read any other books by this author, I didn't know what to do with the seemingly important information.  Adding to my confusion, as I read the book, Bailey's character is the main focus and the Baxter family doesn't make an appearance until much later.  About halfway through the book, though, my confusion dissipated.
     That said, the book is really good.  I was drawn into the characters and the story.  The book can stand on its own but I think it would be helpful to read the other stories, too.  Mrs. Kingsbury does a great job filling in the background and backstory gaps for those who may not be familiar with them or may have forgotten some of the details.  I would have liked more information on the movie of Brandon Paul's that was shelved, but that is just my personal preference.
     Leaving is the first book in the four part Bailey Flanigan series.  I highly recommend this book and can't wait for the rest of the series to come out.

This book was provided by Zondervan Publishers for review without compensation.

New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury is America's favorite inspirational novelist, with over 15 million books in print.  Her Life-Changing Fiction (tm) has produced multiple bestsellers, including Take One, Between Sundays, Even Now, One Tuesday Morning, Beyond Tuesday Morning, and Ever After, which was named the 2007 Christian Book of the Year.  An award-winning author and newly published songwriter, Karen has several movies optioned for production, and her novel Like Dandelion Dust was made into a major motion picture and is now available on DVD.  Karen is also a nationally known speaker with several women's groups.  She lives in Washington with her husband, Don, and their six children, three of whom were adopted from Haiti.
     You can find out more about Karen, her books and her appearance schedule at www.KarenKingsbury.com.

Blood Covenant Book Review

SUMMARY:  The struggle for survival deep in the heart of Africa.
     When fighting erupts between government forces and renegade Ghost Soldiers deep within the Republic of Dhambizao, thousands are forced to leave their homes.  Dr. Paige Ryan, who works with Volunteers of Hope International, is sent to lead a team to set up a refugee transit site - where the immediate needs for shelter, water, sanitation, and food are critical.  Nick Gilbert, a bush pilot for compassion Air, joins the team to help fly supplies in and out of the area.
     With the refugee camp already experiencing overcrowding, raids, and uprisings, a group of American mountain climbers is attacked by the Ghost Soldiers.  Paige's medical team responds immediately, rescuing survivors and taking them into the camp.  When it's discovered that one of the trekkers is carrying an infectious disease, the harrowing conditions of the camp are forgotten.
     In desperate need of vaccines and with the Ghost Soldiers blocking the only road out until their demands for amnesty are met, it won't be long before the disease is out of control . . . and there is nowhere to run.

REVIEW:  This is a really good book!!  Even though the prologue doesn't fit into the book until almost the end, the story flows seamlessly.  Paige is someone I could easily identify with.  Wanting to help the refugees but overwhelmed with all they were facing made Paige feel helpless and wanting to give up.  Nick helps her see beyond the impossibility of meeting all their needs and focusing on what she can do to help them.  This is something we all need to remember.  The story does take some interesting twists and turns but they kept the story real and alive.  I would highly recommend this book!

This book was provided by Zondervan for review without compensation.

Award-winning author LISA HARRIS has been writing both fiction and nonfiction since 2000 and has more than fifteen novels and novellas in print.  She currently lives with her family in Mozambique, where they work as missionaries.  Visit her website at www.lisaharriswrites.com and her blog at www.myblogintheheartofafrica.blogspot.com.

My Foolish Heart Book Review

SUMMARY:  When it comes to love, sometimes you have to be a little foolish.
     Unknown to her quaint town of Deep Haven, Isadora Presley is the star host of My Foolish Heart, a popular syndicated talk radio show.  From her home studio, she gives listeners advice on romance...even though she's never had a date.
    It's not that she doesn't want to, but since a tragic accident took her mother's life, panic attacks have trapped her inside her small neighborhood.  And though she always reminds listeners that their perfect love could be right next door, it can't possibly be true for her.  Especially when a new neighbor moves in.  Sure, he's handsome, but with his unruly dog and Neanderthal manners, Caleb Knight is the last man she'd ever fall for.
    To Issy, love isn't worth the risk.  Until she starts to have feelings for a caller - a man she's never even met but finds honest, charming, and sensitive.  A man she doesn't realize lives right next door.

REVIEW:  My Foolish Heart is the fourth book in the Deep Haven series.  I didn't realize it until I was looking through the pages advertising the author's other novels located at the end of the book.  The story stands very well on it's own.  Now that I know there are three other books, I would love to read them to see how they connect to this one.
     I LOVE this book!!  The characters are very well written and developed.  My heart goes out to Issy when she leaves the safety of her house to venture out, trying to break out of the prison she had locked herself in, only to go running to her safe spot under her piano when she feels like things are out of control.  With the love and support of her friends and without condemnation from the people in town, she is given the freedom to try new things even if she looks foolish at times.  Lucy, Issy's best friend since childhood, helps her any way possible and encourages Issy to step beyond her boundaries.  Caleb has gone through his own trials after being injured as a soldier in Iraq.  He can relate and empathize with Issy's situation and encourages her to take those scary steps outside her home.

    This is a great book which I highly recommend!!!

This book was provided by Tyndale House Publishers for review without compensation.

Susan May Warren is the RITA Award-winning author of more than thirty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike.  She spent eight years as a missionary in Russia with her husband and four children before returning to Minnesota's north shore to write full-time.  Visit her website at www.susanmaywarren.com.

Lillies in Moonlight Book Review

SUMMARY:  He'd lost his zest for life.  She was just lost.  Will they find the healing and love they long for?
     After a roaring night on the town, fun-loving flapper Lilly Margolis, dazed and disoriented, twists her ankle and falls into the backyard of a wealthy family where the effects of the Great War - over for more than half a decade - are still endured.  Inside the walls of the Burnside mansion, Cullen Burnside, a disillusioned and disfigured veteran, and his widowed mother, Betty Ruth, who daily slips a little further into dementia, lead a lonely existence...until Lilly.  Whimsical, lighthearted, and beautiful, she rejuvenates their sad, disconnected lives and blossoms in the light of their attention.
     But Lilly, like Cullen, is hiding from a painful past.  And when Cullen insists on returning her to her faraway home, their budding attraction seems destined to die on the vine.  The resulting road trip becomes a journey of self-discovery - but what will Cullen and Lilly find at the journey's end?

REVIEW:  Lillies in Moonlight is the third book in the author's "baseball" series it but stands fine on it's own.  The story is well-written and the characters are different from what you normally read.  I enjoyed the setting of the 1920s, not a time period you read about in many books. The idea of a flapper being the main female lead and a war hero with physical wounds as the love interest shows how the love of God and love between people can overcome all obstacles.  I love how Lilly is able to finally understand the grace and love of Jesus after growing up in a very strict and religious house that did not show a lot of grace and love.  This is a good book.  Anyone wanting to read it will not be disappointed.

This book was provided by Waterbrook Multnomah for review without compensation.

Allison Pittman is the author of Stealing Home, The Bridegrooms, the Crossroads of Grace series, and Saturdays with Stella.  A former high school English teacher, she serves as director of the theater arts group at her church.  Allison makes her home in Texas with her husband and their three boys.  Learn more about the author at www.allisonpittman.com.