"I'd Rather Be Reading," by Anne Bogel

"I'd Rather Be Reading," by Anne Bogel

Reading isn't just a way to pass the time--it's a lifestyle. Books shape, define, and enchant us. They are part of who we are and we can't imagine life without them. In this collection of charming and relatable reflections, beloved blogger and author Anne Bogel leads you to remember the book that first hooked you, the place where you first fell in love with reading, and all the books and moments afterward that helped make you the reader you are today. 

If you're looking for a gift for someone who loves to read, this book is the perfect gift for them.  If you love to read, this book is a must read for you.   This book will remind us why we love reading; it will make you remember things from your life that's connected to books.  This book will make you think about why you read and how reading connects with the rest of your life.

I personally found that each chapter I read; I could relate to what Anne was telling us.  When she talked about libraries; I too remembered about the times I used to go to the library.  I rarely go now; something I need to remedy.  When she talked about reading to your children, I remembered those times, and how I love to read to my grandchildren now.

Stars out of 5 : 5 A great little book, well worth reading, and well worth gifting to a fellow reader.


"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. "

"Mind Games," by Nancy Mehl

"Mind Games," by Nancy Mehl

FBI Behavioral Analyst Kaely Quinn's methods may be highly unorthodox, but her talent is undeniable. She's done her best to establish a new life for herself after being demoted and transferred to St. Louis when a reporter revealed she's the daughter of an infamous serial killer. But when that same reporter claims to have received an anonymous poem predicting a string of murders, ending with Kaely's, it seems her old life has followed her.

When a body is found that fits the poem's morbid predictions, Kaely and her new partner, Special Agent Noah Hunter, are forced to move past his skepticism of her approach and work together to unravel the deadly riddle.

With a brazen serial killer who breaks all the normal patterns on the loose, Noah and Kaely must race to catch the murderer before anyone else, including Kaely, is killed.

Never has there been a more appropriate title for a book than this one.  It totally plays games with your mind when reading it.  You think you have the killer's identity figured out and then the story pulls you another way.  Again thinking it is this person and then the story twists another way.  You are sitting on the edge of your seat needing to know what happens next.

Throw in great characters and you have a winner of a book.  This is the first in the Kaely Quinn Profiler series, the next book is due out in August of 2019, and it will be a must read.  

Stars out of 5 : 5 It had me hooked from the beginning.  Plenty of twists and turns keeps you engrossed in the story line.  You HAVE to know what happens next, and at time it leaves your heart pumping and you breathless as you are sucked into a great story.  Well done Nancy, this book was great!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 

Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

"Made for the Journey," by Elisabeth Elliot

"Made for the Journey," by Elisabeth Elliot

In this deeply personal account of her first year as a missionary, Elisabeth Elliot shares the challenges she faced as she worked in the jungles of Ecuador to bring the Word of God to a people virtually untouched by the outside world. With fascinating detail, she captures the stark realities of life in the jungle, the difficulties she encountered while developing a written language for the tribe, and her confusion when God didn't "cooperate" with her efforts to accomplish what she believed was His will.

More than just a memoir, Made for the Journey is a beautifully crafted and deeply personal reflection on the important questions of life and a remarkable testimony to authentic Christian obedience to an unfathomable God.

I have very mixed feelings about this book.  On one hand it was interesting to read about what a missionary did in the jungles of Ecuador.  However on the other hand I questioned what on earth they were doing there.  This person were being paid to do what; write the language of a tribe that didn't really want to have their language documented?  

I ended up having more and more questions about this book and the way of life of these missionaries than I did have answers.  I feel bad as this author is well respected and well published, but this book did not feel as though it had a reason to be published.  It's not a book I would run out and buy.  It's a book I wouldn't read again.

Stars out of 5 : 2 It seemed like a pointless exercise reading this book.  Sorry, having four missionaries in one small village/town seemed very excessive also, especially when there was a Catholic Priest and Nun in the same village/town also.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell , a division of Baker Publishing Group".

"Once we were Strangers," by Shawn Smucker

"Once we were Strangers," by Shawn Smucker

In 2012, Mohammad fled his Syrian village along with his wife and four sons. Four years later he sat across from Shawn Smucker in a small conference room in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Though neither of them knew it, Mohammad had arrived in Shawn's life just in time.

This is the story of a friendship. It is the story of a middle-aged writer struggling to make a living and a Syrian refugee struggling to create a life for his family in a strange and sometimes hostile land. It's the story of two fathers hoping for the best, two hearts seeking compassion, two lives changed forever. It's the story of our moment in history--and the opportunities it gives us to show love and hospitality to the sojourner in our midst.

This book is so relatable in today's world, where people are being displaced all over the world and are having to live in countries where they were not born.  I really enjoyed this book as although we chose to come to Canada, we too started our lives over in another country from where we were born.  So I could relate to many things that Mohammad and his family went through.

Although we spoke English, our accents caused some issues along the way and even after 30 years, we occasionally run into issues!!  I could also relate to Moradi and Mohammad wanting a better life for their boys; we too wanted that for our children.  Also the trials and tribulations of making new friends in another country is, and can be a challenge.

Stars out of 5 : 5 The quote, "never judge a book by it's cover," applies here.  Our lives are enriched by new experiences and the making of new friends from different cultures and backgrounds, and this book proves that.  Well worth the read.........especially when you see what is going on all over the world.


"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell , a division of Baker Publishing Group".

"The Cost of Betrayal," by Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey & Lynette Eason

"The Cost of Betrayal," by Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey & Lynette Eason

Dee Henderson - "Betrayed"After serving six years of a twenty-year sentence for a murder she didn't commit, Janelle Roberts is finally freed. But the truth is still waiting to be discovered, and a murderer is still at large. Janelle needs to be somewhere safe with someone she can trust. She may not survive another act of treachery.

Dani Pettrey - "Deadly Isle"Tennyson Kent is trapped on the isolated island of her childhood by a storm surge, and she is shocked when the typically idyllic community turns into the hunting grounds of a murderer. Cut off from any help from the mainland, will she and first love Callen Frost be able to identify and stop a killer before they become the next victims?

Lynette Eason - "Code of Ethics"When Detective Isaac Martinez lands in the ER with a gunshot wound, he pulls through thanks to trauma surgeon Ruthie St. John. But as the witness to a crime and possible corruption, Martinez is at risk from someone intent on silencing him--and those around him--forever. When he barely survives another attack while recovering, both he and Ruthie must flee, trying to outrun deadly killers while locating the evidence they need to end the danger.

This is not the first time I have read a book that includes three "Novella's" in it, instead of the normal one full length book and I must say I really enjoy this concept, as you get a taster of how each author writes.  I am reasonably familiar with Dee Henderson and Lynette Eason's book, not as much with Dani Pettrey.   Think of it of having a plate of tapas, or appetizers in a restaurant.

I will say I enjoyed Dani's book the most.  It was fast paced and too the point.  I found Dee's a little long winded and Lynette's was good as well.  I would read books from all these ladies again and if you're not familiar with these authors, this book would be a good way of being introduced to them.

Stars out of 5 : 4.5  A good read, lots of mystery, action, and romance a perfect combination to my mind.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 

Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

"Everything She Didn't Say," by Jane Kirkpatrick

"Everything She Didn't Say," by Jane Kirkpatrick

In 1911, Carrie Strahorn wrote a memoir sharing some of the most exciting events of twenty-five years of shaping the American West with her husband, railroad promoter and writer Robert Strahorn. Nearly ten years later, she's finally ready to reveal the secrets she hadn't told anyone--even herself.

Certain that her writings will be found only after her death, Carrie confronts the pain and disappointment of the pioneering life with startling honesty. She explores the danger a woman faces of losing herself within a relationship with a strong-willed man. She reaches for the courage to accept her own worth. Most of all she wonders, Can she ever feel truly at home in this rootless life?

I have to say I am a big fan of Jane Kirkpatrick's books.  The depth of research she does into each of her books is remarkable and this one is no exception.  I did find it a little slow going to start with, but the more chapters I read the more engrossed in the story I became.

This book makes you think of all the hardship and all the high's and low's that the Strahorn's went through.  It made me question if I would have done the same if it were my husband and I going through the same trials and tribulations.

They had an amazing life and saw some amazing things, but always Carrie felt as though she had no roots.  Not many people would be able to do that.  Also being able to live with a man who constantly gambled away their lifestyle and their security would be trying for the most patient of people.  You MUST read the authors notes, as they are really interesting; as is the author interview.

Stars out of 5 : 4.5  It was a little bit of a slow start, but got more and more interesting the more you got into the book.  Another book by Jane that is a winner in my eyes.  Well worth the read.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell , a division of Baker Publishing Group".

"A Secret To Die For," by Lisa Harris

"A Secret To Die For," by Lisa Harris

Psychologist Grace Callahan has no idea that she has a secret--and a target on her back. When one of her clients is murdered, Grace quickly realizes that computer security specialist Stephen Shaw wasn't suffering from paranoia. What she doesn't know is that someone believes Shaw gave her a vital piece of information before he died--and they are ready to silence her at any cost. Her only hope may be an old friend, Detective Nate Quinn, who has just been cleared for active duty after a bombing killed his partner and left him dealing with PTSD.

From the very first page too the last you are on the edge of your seat with this fast paced book. I felt myself holding my breath while reading passages of the book, as it was so riveting.  The book had my attention right from the very first page.  I needed to know what was going to happen next.  The whole who-dun-it aspect of the book remained a mystery, right to the last couple of chapters.

This was a book that holds your attention and draws you right into the plot and the characters.  I love the way Lisa writes.  Also you know she has done her fact checking as everything seems spot on, with all the little details she adds into the book.

Stars out of 5 : 5 A solid 5 at that.  Loved this book from the start to the finish.  I have nothing negative to say about it, it is well worth your time reading this.  It reminded me of being on a roller coaster with all the twists and turns and how fast paced the book was.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell , a division of Baker Publishing Group".