Promise Me This Book Review

SUMMARY:  One man's promise.  Another man's sacrifice.  Both would change her life forever.
     Michael Dunnagan was never suppose to sail on Titanic, nor would he have survived if not for the courage of Owen Allen.  Determined to carry out his promise to care for Owen's relative in American and his younger sister, Annie, in England, Michael works hard to strengthen the family's New Jersey garden and landscaping business.
     Annie Allen doesn't care what Michael promised Owen.  She only knows that her brother is gone - like their mother and father - and the grief is enough to swallow her whole.  As Annie struggles to navigate life without Owen, Michael reaches out to her through letters.  In time, as Annie begins to lay aside her anger that Michael lived when Owen did not, a tentative friendship takes root and blossoms into something neither expected.
     Just as Michael saves enough money to bring Annie to America, the First World War erupts in Europe  When Annie's letters mysteriously stop, Michael risks everything to fulfill his promise - and find the woman he's grown to love - before she's lost forever.

REVIEW:  Promise Me This was sent to me by Tyndale House for being the eighteenth comment on the eighteenth day on a Facebook post asking what book we were currently reading.  I was not asked to review it but, because I enjoyed it so much, I wanted to let everyone know my thoughts.
     This book is set in the early part of the twentieth century around the sinking of the Titanic and during the First World War. Annie is left behind as her brother seeks a better life for them both with family in New Jersey.  Unfortunately, he dies in the ship's sinking.  Michael, a young man Owen befriends, makes a promise to help Annie and his family.  Michael struggles with the sacrifices Owen makes for him during the short time they are together.  Annie struggles with being left behind after the deaths of her parents first, then Owen's.  After her very controlling aunt suffers a stroke, Annie moves in with her aunt's lawyer and his family, the Spragues, who continually show her what being part of a real family is like.  Michael and Annie find comfort in each others letters at first then slowly develop deeper feelings.  When Annie is forced to cut off all contact with her "foster" family and her family in America, including Michael, and send to the worst area of fighting in France after her aunt regains most of her health back, Annie sacrifices herself to protect those she loves.
     Time and time again you see sacrifices being made.  Owen sacrifices for Annie, Michael, and his aunt and uncle.  Michael sacrifices for Maggie, Daniel, and Annie.  Annie sacrifices for Michael, Maggie and Daniel, and the Spragues.  You even see it in the brief mentioning of Annie and Owen's father.   Again and again, these characters show us and each other the Ultimate Sacrifice: the sacrifice Christ made on the cross for us.

     You can also see unconditional love all over this book.  Owen shows it to Michael.  Maggie and Daniel show it to Michael and him to them.  Owen and Michael both show it to Annie, as do the Spragues.  Annie shows it to Michael, Maggie and Daniel and the Spragues.   Of course, the Ultimate display of unconditional love referenced throughout this story is the love Christ has towards us.
     This is a great book which I highly recommend.

This Advanced Reader Copy was provided by Tyndale House Publishers as a prize in a contest.  I was not required to write a review for it.

Cathy Gohlke is the two-time Christy Award-winning author of William Henry Is A Fine Name and I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires, which was also chosen by Library Journal as one of the Best Books of 2008.  Cathy and her husband live on the banks of the Laurel Run in Elkton, Maryland.  Visit her website at www.cathygohlke.com.

More Information on the book The Christmas Singing

 The Christmas Singing makes the perfect gift for Christmas...Click on the links below for more information about this book.

Check out this video:

Read the first chapter.

You can also get 30% off and free shipping on The Christmas Singing (and any other title) when you use promo code CHRISTMAS11 at checkout on WaterBrookMultnomah.com. The coupon code expires on December 20th, 2011.

Merry Christmas!!!

Journey to Christmas Video Series Review

SUMMARY:  Follow the journey of five diverse people as they experience the Holy Land for the first time. Their goal? To discover . .

THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS.

     Guided by local Bible scholar Nizar Shaheen, you will see Jesus' birth unfold through the eyes of each member on this real-life pilgrimage as they search for answers to their questions about the Nativity account.  Through solid Bible teaching, stunning scenery, and a reality show format, you'll witness the spiritual transformation of the travelers - and maybe experience it yourself - as they travel the perilous paths that Mary and Joseph would have taken.

     Featuring commentary from Bible experts Hugh Ross, Paul Maier, Craig Evans, Claire Pfann, and Stephen Pfann.

     Includes a four-session study with discussion material and tools (in PDF format) for promoting your event.  Perfect for Advent, small groups and church events.

REVIEW:   This video series was interesting.  It is not for children.  They would become bored very quickly and would not be interested in the historical, biblical, and geographic information that help these five people in their journey.  There are four sessions, each one approximately 45 minutes long.
     Five strangers from varied backgrounds and for different reasons spend a few weeks in the Holy Land at Christmas time trying to find the true meaning of Christmas while experiencing the sights where Jesus was born, lived and died.  They experience living in a Bedouin tent during a brutal sandstorm like the Wise Men did; participate in daily activities Mary and Joseph would have done as they explored Nazareth; and traveled part of the difficult route Jesus' parents would have taken on their way to Bethlehem.
     The stories of the participants were not neatly tied up with a bow at the end of the series.  Some did not find everything they were looking for; other had their faiths strengthened and their lives were changed because of this journey.  Most felt that Christmas has become everything Jesus taught against and that everyone was caught up in all the hoopla.  We have lost our focus on the true reason for the season.
     I loved seeing the different places and hearing about individuals involved in the Christmas story.  I think it would be perfect for a Sunday school class, a bible study group, or someone wanting more from Christmas.

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

Barcelona Calling

SUMMARY:  How far will Annie go to become famous?
     Annie Shaw's dreams are far from simple:  become a famous author and fall in love.  But she's in trouble after quitting her day job to write full-time.  While her first novel was successful, her second novel tanked; and her new editor wants her to rewrite the ending of her latest work to ensure this one is more successful.  In order to pursue love, fame, and the elusive "bestseller," Annie relocates to Chicago, acquires a rambunctious dog, and participates in antics better suited to a television reality show than real life.
     Can Annie's best friends help her achieve her dreams of fame without destroying her future?  And what about the love she gave up in Barcelona who wants her to return to him?

REVIEW:  When I selected this book, the only information I had was the title and cover.  I was unable to find a description regarding what it was about.  That said, the title is a little misleading.  Thinking the book was about a woman who traveled to Barcelona and, maybe, fell in love, I selected it.  Instead, Barcelona is mentioned in reference to Annie's previous trip and the setting of her latest book.  The story is instead about Annie, who takes her friends advice to try to get her name and her latest book just published noticed by Oprah.  She does crazy (and stalkerish) type things like adopting a dog just so she can go to a dog salon once frequented by the talk show host; setting up sandwich boards and her car emblazoned with the mocked cover of her current book in progress outside of Oprah's gated estate; and getting a seat (with her dog) on a show staring Oprah's favorite chef.  Every time it turns out extremely bad for Annie: lawsuits for damages to the dog salon, tickets from the Chicago Police Department for violation of all kinds of laws; getting her face on television for setting herself on fire during the chef's show.
     It took a LONG time for me to get into this book.  At one point, I considered just skipping to the end because I felt like the author put in WAY too many details into the story.  Plus, I was bored stiff.  Well over halfway through the book (around the time she flies to Denver to talk to her publisher about her current book), it started to get a little more interesting.  The story seemed to move along better.  As for a recommendation, all I can honestly say is you may want to read this book yourself to see what you think about it.  It was not one of my favorites.  Sorry.

This book was provided by Zondervan for review without compensation.

Jane Kirkpatrick is the author of twenty books and is a two-time winner of the WILLA Literary Award. Her first novel, A Sweetness to the Soul, won the Western Heritage Wrangler Award, an honor given to writers such as Barbara Kingsolver and Larry McMurtry.  For twenty-six years she "homesteaded" with her husband Jerry, on a remote ranch in Eastern Oregon.  She now lives with Jerry and her two dogs and one cat on small acreage in Central Oregon, while she savors the value of friendships over fame.

For Men Only Book Review

 A Straightforward Guide to the Inner Lives of Women

SUMMARY:  Finally, you CAN understand her!
     Women:  complicated and impossible to understand?  Have you given up trying to "get" the woman in your life?  If so, you are in for a pleasant eye-opener:  She can be understood.  Even better - you can make her happy.  Which will make you happy.
     The bestselling author of For Women Only teams with her husband to offer men the key to unlocking the mysterious ways of women.  Through Shanti and Jeff Feldhahn's national scientific survey and hundred of interviews, For Men Only reveals what you can do today to improve your relationship.  And believe it or not, as Jeff assures men, "It's not splitting the atom."
     What makes her tick?  What is she really asking (but not actually saying)?  Take the guesswork out of trying to please your wife or girlfriend and begin loving her in the way she needs.  Easily, For Men Only is a straightforward map that will lead you straight into her heart.

REVIEW:  Having previously read Shanti's book For Women Only about men, I was interested in what she and her husband had to say about women.  Women, you NEED to get your husbands/boyfriends to read this book.  I would even go as far to suggest you read it too.  It is awesome and funny!!  Jeff tells it like it is and lays everything out in an easy-to-read manner.  Their research is extensive and their surveys were done by a professional team of analysts.  Even though it is written primarily for men, I learned a lot on why I think the way to do and that I'm not alone.  I would suggest everyone engaged to be married read this book during their pre-marital counseling.  It could save a lot of marriages and couples a lot of grief.

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

Shaunti Feldhahn is a naturally syndicated newspaper columnist, speaker, and the bestselling author of For Women Only.  Jeff Feldhahn is the cofounder and CEO of tech company World2one and also an attorney specializing in corporate and nonprofit law.  Jeff and Shaunti are active leaders in their Atlanta-area church, and as parents of young children, enjoy every minute of living life at warp speed.

The Names of God Bible Book Review

SUMMARY:  Open the door to a more intimate relationship with God.
     One of the best ways to get to know God on a deeper level is to know His names and titles as revealed in Scripture.  Now the bestselling author of Praying the Names of God and Praying the Names of Jesus uncovers the richness of God's character and love found in His names right within the Bible text.
    The Names of God Bible restores more than 10,000 occurrences of specific names of God - like Yahweh, El Shadday, El Elyon, and Adonay - to help readers connect with the Hebrew roots of their Christian faith and experience a deeper understanding of God's character. Perfect for personal study, prayer, and reflection, The Names of God Bible includes these special features:

• More than 10,000 names and titles of God restored to their Hebrew equivalent and printed in brown ink to stand out within the biblical text.
• Names of God reading paths lead readers to the next reference of the name so they can pray and study the names of God throughout Scripture.
• Name Pages feature:
• background information associated with the most important names and titles of God.
• key Scripture passages in which the name is revealed.
• specific Bible promises connected to each of the featured names.
• Calling God by Name sidebars shed light on the relationship between biblical people and the specific names they have called God. 

REVIEW:  This bible is one I have looked and hoped for since I first started seriously studying the Scriptures.  Written in a very easy-to-read translation (God's Word), The Names of God Bible helps the reader understand more about the God they are searching for and hope to know better.  At first, it can be a little intimidating to read passages like Genesis 1:1-3:  "In the beginning Elohim created heaven and earth.  The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep water.  The Ruach Elohim was hovering over the water.  Then Elohim said, 'Let there be light!'  So there was light."  But, in the introduction to the book and at the front of the bible, the author includes the Hebrew name, the meaning and pronunciation. Now it is easier to understand what the original Hebrew writers were trying to convey when they wrote about the God they worshiped and served.
     When it comes to the names of Jesus, the author explains in the Introduction that His names and titles remain in the English translation.  In order to put them in their original Greek, it might make it harder for everyday people to read and understand them.  She does include Jesus' Hebrew name Yeshua to "emphasize the connection between the Testaments."
     This bible has been endorsed by Rev. Billy Graham, Josh McDowell, and Dr. D. James Kennedy, all very knowledgeable and trust-worthy Christian authors in their own right.
     This is a wonderful resource to have to read on its own or within a bible study.  I highly recommend it!!

This bible was provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for review without compensation.

Ann Spangler is an award-winning writer whose fascination with the Bible has resulted in books that have opened the Bible to a wide range of readers.  She is the author or coauthor of several bestselling books, including Praying the Names of God, Women of the Bible, and Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus.  Together, her books have sold 3 million copies.  She has help senior positions at two Christian publishing houses and lives with her two daughters in Michigan.

The Christmas Singing Book Review

SUMMARY:  Gideon Beiler has loved Mattie Eash since they were children.  But when faced with unexpected circumstances, he makes up an excuse to end their engagement.  He doesn't want to lie to her, but he believes that teling Mattie the truth will be more hurtful.
     Brokenhearted, Mattie moves from Apple Ridge, Pennsylvania, to Ohio where she pursues her longitme dream of becoming a cake decorator.  She finds a new beau - a man offering the secure relationship Gideon has denied her.
     When Mattie is forced to return to Apple Ridge, she and Gideon must confront the suffering created by his dishonesty - and address the powerful emotions that continue to bind the two childhood friends.

REVIEW:  If you are looking for a short uplifting read, this is the book you are looking for.  Mattie was hurt deeply when Gideon broke off their engagement.  Moving in with her brother, she makes a new life in Ohio and fulfills a lifelong dream.  Mattie's cakes are a huge hit and her business takes off.  After an accident burns down her store, she is forced to return home and face Gideon again.  This is a great story of forgiveness and friendship.  She also weaves in the rest of Beth and Jonah's story, along with Lizzy and Omar, from The Sound of Sleigh Bells.  Awesome book!

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

Cindy Woodsmall is a New York Times best-selling author whose connection with the Amish community has been featured on ABC Nightline and on the front page of the Wall Street Journal.  Her ability to authentically portray her characters comes from her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families.  Cindy lives in Georgia with her family.  Visit her website at CindyWoodsmall.com.