I review a lot for NetGalley as well as Library Journal and School Library Journal, professionally.I also pick up the occasional book on Book Bub and Book Shout.  The shocker is I also read a lot of hard cover books from the library.(I actually work at the public library as my day job. These compilation posts are just some of my reading that I have written reviews on. They are on varied topics and varied genres and some non-fiction tossed in for fun. All these books can be found on the regular book sites such as Amazon, B&N etc. if I tickle your fancy and you want to find out more.


Air Plants: The Curious World of Tillandsias

Zenaida Sengo

This is a beautiful book! The author covers all aspects of these beautiful plants from what they are to how to grow them, to how to care for them and how to arrange them artfully. The photography is spectacular! The artful arranging and display of the plants is marvelous. I knew nothing about these types of plants and now I want a house full of them. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in these plants. The book is obviously created by people who love these plants.
The book is enchanting even if you never grow any of these exquisite plants.

The City by Dean Koontz

I loved the first few Odd Thomas books and then they got dark, too supernatural in a bad way.I tried to read "Innocence" , one of his latest,  but it felt like a bad script edit of Beauty and the Beast, the TV show. I thought I might try this one but the subject matter didn't really grab me and that would be totally my fault - not Mr. Koontz. This is a human story told as if oral history about the life of a young piano prodigy that is changed by the city he lives in. Pearl ,the supernatural personification of the city cares for her people but ... this was a little odd.The book includes haiku and the background of the music in his world is mesmerizing. I just couldn't get into the story. Sorry.

A Few June Titles

Creature of Moonlight by Rebecca Hahn
Lyrical and beautifully written, this is a charming fantasy. The heroine is a strong character and holds her own as choices are presented to her as she comes of age. The story is similar  in writing to a beautiful fairy tale in the telling. The action is slowly evolved in beautifully descriptive prose that draws the reader along.There is a mesmerizing story of Marni the strange young woman who lives with her grandfather, the king who wants her dead and a mysterious forest that grows closer around them each night. There are magical creatures in the forest and girls from the nearby village seem to disappear into the forest and never return. The story is wonderful and will appeal to teens and adults as well. I truly enjoyed this beautiful book.

The Judgement Stone  by Robert Liparulo
This is the 2nd installment in this series. (The 13th Tribe was the first.) This is wonderful thought-provoking Christian fiction. The books are exciting thrillers. In the first book you meet the Tribe , a group of people who were among the group of Israelites that were worshiping the golden calf when Moses brought down the Ten Commandments and were punished with immortality. Their goal in life is to punish sinners in hopes of gaining forgiveness from God. In The Judgement Stone we meet a more ruthless and cruel group of immortals, known as the Clan, who are angry with God and want to do any action that will hurt God. The main characters are a reformed immortal, Jagger , who follow neither group but tries to live a normal life with his wife and child. Jagger is a security chief on an archaeological site  where a stone is found. The stone , believed to be a fragment of the original Ten Commandments tablet has special powers. When  holding the stone the holder is able to visually see the spiritual world - he can see angels and demons and peoples connections to God through their prayers. The Clan attacks the monastery at the archaeological dig and steals the stone. With the stone in their possession they will be able to find those closest to God and destroy them. Jagger and Owen pursue them in an effort to retrieve the stone. While they are gone, the Tribe attack the monastery to kidnap Jagger's wife in hopes that she can lead them to redemption.
This is a fast paced book with a lot of action. I truly enjoyed both books and highly recommend them to teens and adults alike. I hope he will continue this series as the characters are engaging and the plots excellent.

How to Knit  by Leslie Ann Bestor

 This book is a wealth of knitting information with clear instructions and wonderfully clear illustrations. Any adult who can follow instructions should be able to learn to knit.  The author describes each step of the process thoroughly. There are some very basic patterns included in the last chapters. I was disappointed that there are no photographs of projects or of needles , yarn or equipment. The drawings are excellent and cover the necessary subject matter.

 I was taught to knit when I was 12 and still remember the basics. I was hoping to be inspired to try to learn again. This book does include detailed instructions that I believe will help me or a brand new knitter learn the basics of the craft.

More titles to come....

"The Turning" by Davis Bunn My Review

This book is amazing!

Five people from different walks of life come together through a calling on their life from God. They hear that still small voice and respond with obedience. At first they feel called to forgiveness of others in their own lives; but after they have acted on that they feel they are being called to do more. By God's design these five strangers meet one another at a crucial moment in time. They are all present at a hotel cafe in Times Square in time to witness a young executive’s media extravaganza proposing to set a trend with the theme "Hope Is Dead". Times Square is full of people dressed up like zombies and vampires with banners proclaiming that "Hope is Dead!". Our five strangers are galvanized by the sight and by God's calling on their lives. The group band together in action to do whatever God calls them to do to fight against this flagrant media assault. They will be purely supporting one another and following God's lead.

This makes for an intriguing situation and a great read. Davis Bunn has created characters that are true to life. They could be you or your neighbor. They fight real battles with doubts and prayers and support from fellow Christians. The antagonist character is brilliant because Bunn sets you up to like him (or at least pull for him) up until you read what he is about; then you are appalled!

The book makes you consider your own situation and how you respond to God's calling. Would you be willing to step up to the fight regardless of what other people think of you and regardless of the consequences of your actions. Would you be willing to trust and obey God?

 This is a new type of devotional fiction. It is a great story in and of itself and it is supported by a wonderful media campaign including a 40-day downloadable devotion booklet and online videos. The addition of the website and supporting materials are very helpful for those who want to take the ideas he has presented in the book and go further with them. It is a powerful read and will draw you to want more. Is God calling you? Are you listening?

I received a complimentary copy of “The Turning” from River North Fiction in Exchange for my honest review.

"The Turning" a spectacular new book from Davis Bunn

ISBN (Trade Paperback): 978-0802411686

304 pages

April 1, 2014 from River North, a division of Moody Publishers

http://theturningbook.com/

Read chapters 1-3 of “The Turning” by Davis Bunn for free: http://statictab.com/fvrrsxz

Check out the video trailer for the book and the video of Davis Bunn talking about the book:

Video trailer for THE TURNING, by best-selling author, Davis Bunn.
http://youtu.be/oIP6FhBjgOI

Davis Bunn talks about his upcoming novel, THE TURNING.
http://youtu.be/e3dodFsx9WI

Plot Synopsis:

The message was unexpected but instantly recognizable. 

A voice resonated from a distance and somehow from within.  Against all earthly logic, it carried a divine command.  And five very different people knew they were summoned to obey.

Their actions were demanding, but not particularly grand.  Only later would they see a pattern emerge - one that links their tasks together and comes to challenge the cultural direction of the nation.  They realize that one small personal response unveiled a new realm of moral responsibility.  And this affirmation of everyday hope captures the attention of millions.

But power and money are at stake.  Malicious elements soon align themselves to counter the trend.  To succeed they must also undermine its source.  Can we really believe that God speaks to people today?  Surely this must be dismissed as superstition or delusion.  These well-intentioned but misguided individuals should not be allowed to cast our society back into the Dark Ages.

The public debate and media frenzy place an unprecedented spotlight on knowing and doing God's will.  The five encounter threats, but try to remain steadfast in their faith.  Had God indeed imparted wisdom on selected individuals?  Is this sweep of events part of his divine purpose? 

The movement may herald a profound renewal - one that some are calling The Turning...

Davis Bunn is a four-time Christy Award-winning, best-selling author now serving as writer-in-residence at Regent's Park College, Oxford University in the United Kingdom.

Defined by readers and reviewers as a "wise teacher," "gentleman adventurer," "consummate writer," and "Renaissance man," his work in business took him to over 40 countries around the world, and his books have sold more than seven million copies in sixteen languages.

Visit Davis at davisbunn.com or theturningbook.com/

Facebook: facebook.com/davisbunnauthor

Twitter: @davisbunn

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/davisbunn/

I received a complimentary copy of The Turning from River North Fiction in exchange for my honest review.

My review will follow in the next post!!!!

Thrive- a call to action

Thrive by Mark Hall

Thrive is a vibrant living call to action by Christian band leader, Mark Hall of Casting Crowns. Mark believes we should all be deeply rooted in God’s word. The first half of the book is dedicated to equipping the reader to be able to read, absorb, and act on God’s word. Through great stories, illustrations and solid doctrine, he encourages readers to actively pursue their own spiritual growth. He expects the benefits of a deeper relationship with God to help you reach out to others. The second half of the book is about reaching out and sharing God’s love with others. Mark’s background as a Youth Pastor makes the book particularly appealing to teens and young Christians, but all ages can all learn from this book. I enjoyed and highly recommend this book.

Pilgrimage by Lynn Austin

 Timely and wonderful - I was going through my own dry period and her journey helped me. Lynn Austin has written a travelogue of sorts - a journey of her body, heart and mind. She was in a dry spell where not even her prayers or her worship felt normal. She embarks on a journey to Israel to walk in the places of the Bible. Her journey begins in the wilderness of Zin, a dry dusty desert that reflects her present spiritual life. The tour progresses through to Jerusalem and on to Galilee and the coastal city of Capernaum. Throughout the book she describes the countryside and the places that she goes in context of the stories from the Bible that occurred there. Her descriptions are so vibrant it makes you feel like you are right there with her. She often brings to light things about the story or the culture that aren't necessarily well known. Each destination in each chapter ends with a beautiful prayer praising God for the things she has seen and the knowledge or understanding she has gained from this experience. By the end of the book she is in a better place spiritually, rejoicing in the understanding she has gained from God through this journey. I would very much like to go on the same tour she went on. Even though the reader did not go physically on the journey I believe God will use her journey to minister to you as well.
I am so grateful that Mrs. Austin was willing to share her struggles with others. We feel less alone in our doubts and fears when we realize there are others who feel similarly. I'm reading through a second time to be sure I didn't miss any blessing God has to share with me!

Davis Bunn's "Strait of Hormuz" is wonderful!

Marc Royce is on the move again working as a freelance operative for his former boss Ambassador Walton. He has asked Marc to look into a report of money being laundered through the high end art world of Geneva, Switzerland. Walton tells him to trust no one, as there has been a leak of information reported.
Kitra Korban is contacted at the Kibbutz in Israel by a mysterious man who claims to be a friend of her father. He asks her to fly to Geneva to save the life of an important man, Marc Royce. Having no idea why Marc is in Geneva or why someone would be warning her to go rescue him, she packs and leaves. She goes even though she and Marc had recently broken off their relationship.
Marc arrives at the back door of the gallery in time to see that the contact has been murdered and the building is rigged to blow. Amazingly he sees Kitra at the front door of the gallery and he runs through and grabs her and throws her in Lake Geneva just as the building explodes.
This begins a rip roaring sequence of fast car chases( with Ferrari's, Bentley's and Roll's), alternate identities, lots of bad guys, fights and guns and a great deal of angst. It's a race to save the planet from the Iranian nuclear agenda or is it something else entirely.

Marc and his band of helpers do the leg work, go rogue against what the government wants him to do and ultimately solves the problem. He and his group manage all that is thrown at them with faith and perseverance.

Davis Bunn has created a finely woven story of courage, faith and stick through- it- ness that makes for an edge of your seat , nail-biting thriller. His characters are believably human, they have their doubts, they have their wounds but they also have their faith to rely on to get them through whatever life throws at them. His characters pray and read the Bible and share their faith with one another. It is a beautiful multicultural blend of sharing together despite their differences.

 

This was the most enjoyable of the three Marc Royce books. The action was non-stop, the plot was relevant, believable and could have been written from today's headlines. Christians need books like this not only to help us wake up to the world around us but to visualize how we are to respond to our world a Christians.