By The Way Book Series (A Homeschool Crew Review)

With the upcoming solar eclipse coming late this summer, our family has been talking about the possibility of going up to Oregon and Washington for a family trip to both view the eclipse and doing a bit of sightseeing.  I was fortunate to be able to review Washington~Here We Come!, one of the books offered in the By The Way Book Series from author Joy Budensiek and illustrated by Stephanie Robledo.  

About By The Way Book Series

"19 out of 20 Christian parents and grandparents do not talk to their children about God and spiritual truths in their daily lives."  It was because of this statement, spoken by Dr. Jeff Myers of Summit Ministries, that the By The Way Book Series was created.  Realizing that families do not discuss God's truths with their children throughout the course of the day, the founders of By The Way Book Series waned to create a series of educational books that not only introduced children to the world around them, but also help parents to include these truths in the process. 

Each book focuses on one state (although a book about Ireland is currently in the works, expanding the series outside of just the United States) and teaches about the state's history, culture and geography.  In Washington~ Here We Come!, readers follow the adventures of teenagers Alex and Lexi as they travel through the state of Washington with a tour group on an RV. With the help of a tour guide, over the course of four days they explore the Evergreen State and along with the reader they are introduced to the landmarks, flora and fauna, entertainment, industry and people of Washington.  Filled with beautiful full color photographs and cute illustrations, along with an interesting story, this hardcover book, 50 page book does a great job at peaking the readers interest.

This book was a great opportunity for the kids to visualize and learn about the many things that we might be able to see and do when we visit Washington later this year.  Being in the desert, it's was so much fun for them to flip through the pages and look at the picture of harbor seals, killer whales, lush forests and fields of flowers.  This book is filled with so many interesting facts. Example: Did you know that the American Goldfinch is a wild canary? Or that there is over 4,500 species of crab? These are just a few of the many tidbits of information readers will learn about. 

In addition to the plethora of facts, the author incorporates Biblical truths throughout the book.  From opening the front cover and reading a reference to Ecclesiastes 3:1,11 and ending with Psalm 71:1,3,5 at the rear of the book, the author does a great job of not just throwing random verses in random places, but includes Biblical references in appropriate locations throughout the book. Creation science is highly stressed. Going back to the statement that started By The Way, I had to admit, we really don't include the Bible into much of our day to day goings, beyond our normal Bible time.  So it was really nice to sit with the kids, talking about whales or sunflowers, and reading a verse that referenced God creating whales or about rejoicing in the Lord.  

Currently, there are six books available in the By the Way Book Series.  In addition to the Washington State book, there are also books about Colorado, Ohio, and Pensylvania as well as books that focus on Florida's Treasure Coast and the Smokey Mountians. However, other books in the series are scheduled to be released and include New York, Idaho, Indiana and Ireland.  Additional resources such as posters, trading cards and activity books that accompany each book are also available for purchase on By The Way's website. 

To learn more about the By The Way Book Series, visit them on their website or at their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bythewaybooks/?fref=ts

Members of the Homeschool Review Crew were given the opportunity to review their choice of the currently available books.  Be sure to click the banner below to be able to see the other book options and what my fellow crewbie's thought of them. 

What Am I Reading - March

Another month is just about over and done with.  It's hard to believe we're already heading into the month of April and that a 1/4 of the year is over with already.  I would say "Where has the time gone" but I guess I've spent a good portion of it with my nose in a book ;)

Burning Proof by Janice Cantore

After months of investigating the brutal homicide of a young girl, Detective Abby Hart finally has the evidence she needs. But when the arrest goes terribly wrong, Abby begins to doubt her future as a police officer. As she wrestles with conflicting emotions, old questions about the fire that took her parents’ lives come back to haunt her.

“There is proof.” PI Luke Murphy can’t stop thinking about what Abby’s former partner, Asa Foster, mumbled just before he died. When he uncovers a clue to the murder of Abby’s parents and his uncle, he’s reluctant to tell Abby, despite his growing feelings for the beautiful detective.

This book was a real treat for me, as I just happened to coincidentally live in the area where this book takes place.   The second book in the Cold Case Justice series written by Janice Cantore, this book follows the story of Long Beach Detective Abby Hart and Investigator Luke Murphy. This was the first time I have read anything written by Cantore and I really did enjoy this offering.   While this is the 2nd book of the series and I had not read the first book (Drawing Fire), I was able to follow the story without the prior knowledge of what the first book contains.   I did find that some areas were a bit confusing, like at one point a character was being called by his first name (Bill) and then by his last name and then switched back to his first name, without warning, which made me go "Who is Roper?" until I figured out what was going on, but this didn't distract too much from the story other than being just a minor inconvenience.    Cantore does a great job with character development as well as with setting descriptions (she hit the nail on the head while discussion how unreal the wind is here on a regular basis.   Without a doubt, I will be finding the first of this series soon and will purchase the third book when it becomes available.



A Gift For All People by Max Lucado

The Gift for All People is a celebration of God's gift of salvation wrapped in a collection of inspirational

stories. These stories will help Christians comprehend and treasure the assurance of their salvation and will help non-Christians realize and embrace the gift of abundant, eternal life in Jesus Christ. The concluding story, written especially for this book, urges readers to give their lives to Jesus Christ and shows them how to do so. This book will provide Christians with a unique, warm, and attractive presentation of the gospel to give to non-Christian family or friends.More than anything, God wants you to be with Him. The God who designed your world, the God who placed you on the planet, simply wants you home with Him. And to bring you home, He offers you a gift...the gift of eternal salvation. 


Well,  if you've been following my blog and my book selections for any period of time, you know that I absolutely love Max Lucado. This book is no different.  Once again, Max does a wonderful job explaining Christian doctrine in simplified terms that anyone can understand.    However, this book isn't necessarily geared towards the believers of Christ or those who have previously read Max's books. Instead this book is geared towards non believers or new believers who could use a gentle nudge in the right direction .   Using personal stories of grace and forgiveness, Max explains how Christ gave the ultimate gift of Love and Sacrifice to ALL of us.  

This book is an extremely easy read and is a great introduction to Max's style of teaching for those who might not be previously familiar with him.  If your a fan of Max's, like I am, and you've read many of his previous books, many of the stories in this quick read will be familiar to you.  These are the more "feel good" stories of his previous volumes, stories that focus more on Jesus's love and grace to us then on scripture teaching.  This would make a great book to give as a gift following a baptism.

Risen by Angela Hunt 

Epic in scope, yet deeply personal, this novelization offers a unique perspective on the story of the resurrection. Roman Tribune Clavius is assigned by Pilate to keep the radical followers of the recently executed Yeshua from stealing the body and inciting revolution. When the body goes missing despite his precautions, Clavius must hunt it down.

His investigation leads him from the halls of Herod Antipas to the Garden of Gethsemane and brings him in touch with believer and doubter alike. But as the body still remains missing, Clavius commits to a quest for the truth--and answers that will not only shake his life but echo throughout all of history.

I was really excited to get my hands on this book as I had seen the previews for the movie but I know I'll have to wait til it comes out on DVD before I get the opportunity to see it.   In a way, that might spoil the movie for me, since this is a novelization based on the screenplay as opposed to the movie based on the book.  However, I was very pleased with the book, non the less.  This book tells the story of Clavious, the Royal Tribune under Pontius Pilate and of  Rachel, a Jewish Widow.  Through these two characters as well as other Biblical characters that they come in contact with, both come to realized the truth about Jesus (Yeshua) and it forever changes their lives.

Hunt does a great job in really immersing the reader into the Biblical setting of Jerusalem at the time of the crucifixion.  While I've never read any of her previous writings, it is very aparent that she is very knowledgeable in Biblical history. This was a great read and I enjoyed it very much.

Undaunted Hope by Jody Hedlund

Running from the mistakes of her past, Tessa Taylor heads to the uppermost reaches of Michigan, planning to serve as the new teacher to the children of miners. She quickly learns the town had requested a male teacher, but Percival Updegraff, superintendent and chief mine clerk, says she can stay through winter since it's too late to replace her. Tessa can't help but thank him and say she is in his debt. 

Determined to make herself irreplaceable once spring thaw arrives, Tessa throws herself into her work, and soon two students have decided Miss Taylor is the right match for their grieving father. At the same time, charming assistant lightkeeper Alex Bjorklund makes his interest known, surprising Tessa, who has never had men fight for her hand before. But not all is well as she feels that someone is tracking her every move, and she may not be able to escape the trap that has been laid for her.

This book caught my attention mainly because of the setting taking place in the Keweenaw Peninsula of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.   My husband and I spent time living just south of Eagle Harbor, in Calumet, and really enjoyed learning about the Copper mining that took place in the late 1800s, so when I saw that this book was a historical set in that time and place, I knew I wanted to read it..

Undaunted Hope is the third book in the Beacons of Hope series by Jody Hedlund.  I was familiar with Jody Hedlund and the Beacons of Hope series already as I had previously read Out of the Story, a novella written as part of this series. However, you can easily read this book independantly from the others of the series.

 The Beacons of Hope serious all center around the various lighthouses found on the Great Lakes of Michigan.  This particular book focuses on Tessa Taylor, a teacher who has made some mistakes in her life and is looking for a clean slate.   Finding herself in rather difficult situation with her employment situation as well as a love triangle between two brothers, Tessa's new start is anything but a clean slate.

Jody Hedlund is very skilled at character development and in tying this story together, as well as tying previous books into the story..    Overall, it's a great read and I'm looking forward to the fourth book of this series to hit the shelves.  

What Am I Reading? (Book Reviews)

This month I've had the opportunity to read and review some wonderful books, both fiction and non fiction alike.. There's almost always a huge stack of books beside my bed that I debate which one is next and then rotate on to the next one..     Here's the ones that happened to find their way into my hands this month :)

ICB, Princess Bible, Hardcover, PurpleInternational Children's Bible

First up, the Princess Edition  International Children's Bible from Thomas Nelson Publishing.  I was looking for a more "girlie" themed Bible for my youngest daughter as her brother had a new Bible on the way so the Princess Edition ICB looked like the perfect option.. This is a sturdy hardcover Bible with purple, pearl, glitter and holographic accents was perfect for my extremely girly girl.   This Bible is in a newer translation designed especially for children in mind, putting concepts into natural terms younger children can understand, with modern measurements and geographical locations being used as much as possible throughout.    The first few pages contain an index, explanation of the translation and an index of key verses for various topics such a Kindness, Patience and Respect.   Following the book of Revelations, there is a useful dictionary, an index that shows scriptures that relate to specific Biblical persons such as Jesus, Abraham, Peter and Moses. Another index shows suggested memory verses for young girls to take to heart and incorporate into their lives.    24 full color pages offer quick information such as the names of the 12 disciples, a list (including verses) of the miracles of Jesus, maps from Biblical times, time lines and prayer suggestions. Also included is a ribbon bookmark to make your current reading.

Over all, I found this to be a nice Bible for my 7 year old daughter.  The font size appears to be a 12 point font and is easy to read. The Bible itself is smaller in size and easy for smaller hands.  My only complaint is the textured glitter accent on the bottom quarter of the top cover can begin to become an irritation to small hands after a short bit of time.

The Prophetess (Daughters of the Promised Land Book #2): Deborah's Story 

by Jill Eileen Smith

Jill Eileen Smith is a Christian author I am very familiar with as I have read a number of her other

books, including the "Wives of King David" series. This particular book is the 2nd of Smith's "Daughters of the Promised Land" series and while I did not previously read the first book about Rahab, you can easily pick up any book in Smith's series in any order.

The Prophetess is the story of Deborah, the only female prophet in the Bible.   Very little is known about Deborah but as this is a work of fiction based on a Biblical figure, Smith takes liberties to weave an amazing story about this woman God used to help defeat the cruel and oppressive enemy of Israel, the Canaan General, Sisera.   The story also weaves historical facts into the fictional account of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite.

Smith always does such an amazing job pulling the reader into the story. This book was no exception. While Smith admits that very little is known about Deborah other than what is written in Judges 4 and 5, she presents a vivid picture of what might have been going on behind the scenes beyond Deborah and Barak's fight against Sisera.  I highly recommend this book, along with any of Smith's other writings. 

21 Seconds to Change Your World:  Finding God's Healing And Abundance Through Prayer

by Dr Mark Rutland with Forward by Mark Batterson

Many of us have recited both the Lord's Prayer as well as Psalms 23 many times in our lives, but how

often do we really think about the words we are saying?  Mark Rutland presents both of these familiar texts in depth as well as presenting amazing stories of people who's lives were changed as they applied both of these verses to their lives. 

At under 200 pages, this book is a very quick read but Rutland does an amazing job presenting information without bombarding the reader with too much technical details.  The book is divided into two parts  dedicated to David as the author of the 23rd Psalm and to Jesus as the author of the Lord's Prayer, as well as showing the parallels between the two.   Each line of their scriptures is then broken down and explained in layman's terms. Rutland then shows how now only are there parallels between David and Jesus, but also between the 23rd Psalm and the Lord's Prayer. 

I liked this book and I found  much of the information interesting.  My own complaint is that I am of the belief that Jesus meant exactly what he said, we should pray "like" the Lord's Prayer.  I think when we just recite his example, or the 23rd Psalm, it becomes routine and habit and the true meaning is left out.  Even if it's just 21 seconds, I feel those 21 seconds should be used to wholeheartedly speak with God in the way Christ suggested, not recite his example.  Other than that complaint, however, I do recommend this book. 

Raising Uncommon Kids:  12 Biblical Traits You Need to Raise Selfless Kids

By Sami Cone

As a mom raising children in today's society, I'm probably like every other parent in hoping that my children will not grow up to be like many of those you hear about in the news.  We want to teach our children to be strong in character and morals, to try to always do what is right, to follow Biblical principles and teaching and to apply all of these things to peer pressure situations they will find themselves in when not with us.    Because of this, I really wanted to read this book in the hopes of maybe finding some gems to help make the the spiritual vs secular fight a bit more fair. 

While I did enjoy reading this book, in all honesty, I found it to be more about common sense.  I already know that in order to raise children who display the traits I wish for them to have, I must first display these traits for them to observe and learn.   Children learn by example and it is our job as parents to present that example.. Cone does a great job going into detail about the 12 various traits we should display for our children (love, forgiveness, wisdom, humility, compassion, ect) and gives examples of how exactly we can show these traits to our kids.   Each of these traits have their own dedicated chapters so if one was to want to work on one particular trait at a time, it would be easily managed.

I really liked Cone's writing style - she doesn't beat around the bush and is pretty straight forward but she is also very engaging and entertaining.  While I didn't find any earth shattering revelations (maybe that just means I'm doing a better job that I originally thought at raising these kiddos), I did find it a great read and a great reminder as to what is important in raising kids of character. 

Mom's Favorite Books

Since as long as I can remember, I have always found escape in the pages of books.

Whether it was V.C. Andrews or Stephen King when I was in 5th grade or Diana Gabaldon in my adult years, my favorite past time has always been getting lost in the vivid imagery of words and writing. Even today, in the hectic craziness of parenting and homeschooling, I always end my nights by relaxing in a hot bubble bath with my Kindle, reading whatever latest novel has caught my attention.  My Goodread's Reading Challenges or reading at least 40 books a year are always met.  I absolutely love books!!!

You'll notice, this post is called "Mom's Favorite Books".. Not "Mom's favorite books to read to kids" or "Favorite books for homeschooling" or any of that.  This is about ME TIME!!   This is about trying to forget, even temporary, that you have kids and get lost in some adventure involving a guy in a kilt in the 1700's or a mystery involving a murder set in modern day Chicago.  For a short time, you can forget the mess waiting for you in the kitchen, the schoolwork that needs to be planned.

I have a very diverse taste in books so when I had to sit and debate my favorites, that was a really hard challenge. After all, I became an avid reader when I was about 10 and I'm about to turn 40, so that's nearly 30 years of amazing books.  After much deliberation, I give you my top 10 all time favorite books.

Okay, okay, I admit, I cheated just a bit.. Most of these are series ;)


1.)  Outlander Series - Diana Gabaldon -  A gorgeous hero in a kilt fighting with swords. Need I say more??  Gabaldon is the female George R.R. Martin, writing very lengthy tomes that still manage to hold interest.  Even guys enjoy the Outlander series and it is quite popular with my husband's kilt group.

2.) Angels & Demons - Dan Brown - I almost put the entire Robert Langdon series but I find myself drawn to this particular book more than the others. While the movie was excellent, the book delves deeper into the story then the film did.

3.) The Left Behind Series - Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins - I have reread this particular series from start to finish probably 5 times now.   A great fictional account of those left behind after the Rapture. Way better than the movies of the same name and all of the books are amazing.

4.)  Message from Nam - Danielle Steele - This was always one of my favorite books, even when I was a teenager.   One of Danielle Steele's bests, in my honest opinion.  This is a story of a female war correspondent during the Vietnam conflict.

5.)  The Southern Vampire Mysteries (Books 1-8) - Charlaine Harris  - Note I specifically mention books 1-8.  After book 8, Harris seemed to totally throw her previously written canon out the window and there was some major character sabotage going on. These are great mindless reading but they do contain some sexual content.

6.) Mark of the Lion Series - Francine Rivers -  I've only read books 1 (Voice in the Wind)  and Book 2 (Echo in the Darkness) which is Hadassah and Marcus's stories.  Hadassah is a young slave girl ripped from her home.  Marcus is the handsome acristrocratic son whom she falls in love with. The third book is the story of a Germanic gladiator named Atretes who is important in the first two books but I haven't had the opportunity to read the third book as of yet.

7.) The O'Malley Series - Dee Henderson - I often get emotionally invest in books and this entire series was like that for me. A romantic suspense series, these books were a true roller coaster ride of emotions for me.   This particular series spans 7 books (8 if you count the prequel)  and takes readers through the lives of each of the 8 O'malley siblings - orphans who united together to form their own family.



8.) The Hunger Games Trilogy- Suzanne Collins -  While originally written for young reads (which I am far from), this series has appeal to all ages. As always, the books are much better than the movies (Although, in this case, the movies are pretty good).




9.)  Les Miserables - Victor Hugo -  I read this book during my 11th grade English class and I fell in love.  While many are fans of the Broadway musical and the recent movie, I always loved the actual story Hugo wrote.  Val Jean and Javert are probably the best characters ever written in literature and you can be assured that when my homeschooling kiddos get to the High School years, I will have them writing a paper on the various forms of conflict found in this book. (ei: man vs man, man vs society, man vs himself).

10.)  The Bible -  Saving the best for last.  Want a book with a high re-read value? One that changes as you change, evolves as your understanding of it evolves?  This book offers so much - romance, tragedy, mystery, poetry, history, and law.  Not to mention the Greatest Story Ever Told where you play a role in the ending.  Can't think of any other books that offer that :)

Now, some of you who follow my blog are probably sitting there saying "Wait a minute... You've said before that Karen Kingsbury and Max Lucado are two of your favorite authors, yet none of the books you listed are by them." Well, you would be correct.  Both are authors who I really enjoy their writing and that book after book, they rarely if ever disappoint.  I guess I put their books  into a totally different category and instead of picking my favorites, just assume everything they write is among my favorites .   I can never get enough of those two authors and my kindle and my bookshelf is filled with books by them..  :)

This blog post will be part of the "Our Must Read Books for 2016" Schoolhouse Review Crew Roundup.  Starting January 8th, Click below and find out what other wonderful book recommendations the members of the crew have.

Waiting for Morning ( Book Review)

If you've been following my blog for any amount of time, you would know that I am a huge fan of Karen Kingsbury. Between her and Max Lucado, I've probably read every book they've written.  I was given the opportunity to review the latest paperback release of Waiting for Morning which is book one of Kingsbury's Forever Faithful Series.  This book was actual a re-read for me as I had read it previously when it originally came out in trade paperback format. 

ABOUT WAITING FOR MORNING

“I’m afraid there’s been a car accident…”As Hannah Ryan waits for her family to return home from a camping trip, she realizes she has everything going for her—a husband other women admire, two charming teenage daughters, and a loving Christian home. As the sunny afternoon turns into twilight, her uneasiness grows along with the shadows. Then a car pulls into Hannah’s driveway, bringing two police officers…and devastating news that shatters her life forever.

In the days that follow, Hannah struggles with unspeakable feelings of sorrow and rage—feelings that fuse into one chilling purpose for living: revenge against Brian Wesley, the drunk driver who has caused all her pain.

In her fury, Hannah shuts the Lord out of her life. She’s determined not to forgive Wesley or the God who allowed this tragedy to happen. Can two caring people help Hannah rediscover her faith…before bitterness destroys her?

What I Thought?

Occasionally you read books where the entire time, you're really finding yourself hating the main character. This book is such a case where Hannah Ryan doesn't have many redeeming qualities throughout the book.  If you're a parent, there are going to be many occasions where you really wish you could reach into the pages and just slap some sense into Hannah and her lack of compassion or observation in regards to Jenny, the daughter who lives through this tragic  accident. As Hannah falls deeper and deeper into the depths of her hatred, she leaves behind her faith, God and her daughter to the darkness that consumes her. This nearly costs her any chance of repairing the relationship with Jenny.  Even when Hannah finds her way back to her faith, the darkness in her heart still holds fast until she finally is able to see that only forgiveness can bring complete peace.

The characters in this book are extremely well developed.  You'll find your heart breaking for poor Jenny as you experience the pain of losing her father, her sister and her mother.  You'll find yourself completely disgusted with the slimball lawyer for the defense. You'll find yourself in a whirlwind of feelings for Brian Wesley, the drunk driver on trial for First Degree Murder.

As all Kingsbury's other books, this is an excellent read from one of the true masters of storytelling in Christian Fiction.  Kingsbury has such an amazing way of pulling scriptures into her story and helping the reader understand the meaning of the words.  I highly recommend this book and it's message about forgiveness and the faithfulness of God, even in difficult times in our lives.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KAREN KINGSBURY is a USA Today and New York Times best-selling author, with nearly twenty million books in print.  Dubbed the “Queen of Christian Fiction” by Time magazine, Karen has written more than forty Life-Changing Drama, which encompasses the Redemption, Firstborn, and Sunrise series, as well as stand-alone novels such as Like Dandelion Dust, When Joy Came to Stay, and This Side of Heaven.  Karen and her husband, Don, live in the Pacific Northwest and are parents to six children, including three adopted from Haiti.  Visit her Web site at www.KarenKingsbury.com

What Have I Been Reading?

It's been a while since I've done a book review but I have been busy busy busy reading. So this time, instead of one individual book, I am going to combine a number of books that have been on my reading list these last few weeks.

The Potter's Lady by Judith McCoy Miller

This is book 2 of the Refined by Love series. I did not read the first book of this series prior to reading this book and it works fine as a stand alone story.  This is the story of Rose McKay, a recent graduate of the Philadelphia School of Design for women during the late 1800's.  Leaving the big city to once again live in West Virginia, Rose convinces her brother Ewan to purchase a pottery company where she meets Rylan Campbell, an assistant in the factory. Rivalry both in relationships as well as business flares when Rose reconnects with Joshua Harkness, whom also owns a pottery business, creating problems for both the McKay family as well as for Rylan. As the business falters, an opportunity presents itself that pits the two rival businesses against each other.

I liked that the author took much time in developing these characters and while the story moves a bit slow (as well as the relationship between Rose and Rylan), it is still a satisfactory read.  You really get to know these characters and you will truly despise Joshua and all his manipulating.

I would recommend this book as it is a quick read with a wonderful story about faith, trust and family.


The Good, The Bad and the Grace of God: What Honesty and Pain Taught Us about Faith, Family, and Forgiveness  by Jep Robertson, Jessica Robertson, Susy Flory 

I love Duck Dynasty. I love seeing a family who prays together, eats together, lives by the word of the Bible and holds true to their faith.  With that said, I was not a fan of this particular book.

This book is told by the perspectives of both Jeb and his wife Jessica.  Both had made many mistakes, from a failed marriage to heavy drug use.  Both lost their faith and instead walked down the road of temptations, of rough times in both of their lives and how together they have become stronger both as individuals, as a couple and as children of God.

However, the writing, unfortunately, is lackluster and very repetitive.  Many times I felt as if maybe there was an essay question give to both Jep and Jessica to fill out causing each of their chapters to sound forced.

I would recommend this book to those who enjoy Duck Dynasty and for those who might be walking on a similar path of destruction and need encouragement to find their way back to Christ.  However, as touching of a story Jep and Jessica have, the poor writing leaves this book as less than inspirational.

Daughters of Zeus Series (#1 Persephone, #2 Daughter of Earth and Sky, and #3 The Iron Queen) by Kaitlin Bevis



A modern day telling of the story of Persephone and Hades, this series tells the story of a young teenage girl who finds her self thrust into real life Mythology when she finds out she is a Greek Goddess and a daughtger of Zeus.

Book 1 finds Persephone as the target of Boreas, the god of Winter.  In an effort to protect her, Hades becomes the hero of the series when he rescues Persephone and brings her to the Underworld and making her Queen of its realm.   Book 2 finds Persephone in a situation where she cannot break a promise made to another, even when it not telling can be detrimental to her own survival.  Book 3 finds Persephone captured by Zeus himself, a cruel God with no fatherly love for his offspring. While Persephone tries her best to escape, those who love her try to figure out how to rescue her from Zeus's clutches.

While these books are not going to win any awards anytime soon, they do make for a quick, fun read.  Many of the conflicts come to almost instantaneous conclusions with very little effort from the heroine or from her hero.   It is written for young adults but there is violence, death and some sexual tension (no sex but lots of making out and heavy petting) so I could not recommend it for anyone under 16.

What Am I Reading? Hyacinth Girls

"Do you know your children?" 

The story revolves around two main characters. First is Rebecca, a young woman in an uncertain situation of raising her deceased best friend's 13 year old daughter. The second is Callie, a popular teenage girl who's lost both parents at an early age due to tragedy. The story is told from both Rebecca and Callie's perspectives, although more attention is given to Rebecca's history and points of view. 

When Rebecca is called to Callie's school due to an incident of bullying by Callie towards another student, Rebecca's life is turned upside down. She travels uncharted waters as she convinces herself to believe that Callie is innocent and that the other girl has underlying issues that her mother is oblivious to. However, we find out that it is Rebecca who is oblivious to the events going on in Callie's life that have dire consequences.

Frankel tackles many very adult topics in the course of this writing, from suicide, jealousy, bullying and the fickleness of teenage friendship. There is a lot going on with this story, at times it seems it might be a bit too much. Minor characters from Rebecca's past drive this story and at times feels a bit forced in order to draw the books conclusions.

As a mother of a teenage daughter, this book did hit home with me. It makes one think could such things be going on in my own daughter's life without my knowledge. Callie never tells Rebecca the truth about what she has done as well as what is being done to her and does a good job of hiding her feelings. But it also shows how we want to believe the best in our children and completely ignore the signs in front of us until it's too late.

I would give this book 4 stars. I do believe that at times the story is a big convoluted and forced but it has many redeeming qualities that makes it well worth the read. 

Book Review: Refining Fire

I've enjoyed Tracie Peterson's books in the past and I really wanted to like this one especially since the synopsis on the back of the book sounded very interesting. Unfortunately, the back of this book is extremely misleading as the two main characters turn out to be secondary characters who's stories really are not developed very well. All the mystery surrounding both characters pasts are resolved and solved in 1 quick conversation in the middle of the book. Most of this book is dedicated instead to Abrianna and Wade's feelings for each other, Abrianna's charity works, Abrianna's courtship with the protagonist of the story, Abrianna's family crisis, Abrianna's devotion to God, Abrianna's .. well, you get the point.

What makes this even worse is while Militine is a truly interesting character with a past that really could have been felt out and made into a very worthwhile story, Abrianna is a smug, self righteous brat who seems to think her devotion to God makes her so much better than everyone else. She's very critical of everyone and far from a likable character. As most of the spiritual aspects of this book come from the thoughts or conversations from Abrianna, it almost feels as if the message is being beaten over the readers head and instead of being an uplifting message, it feels forced and snarky. 

This book would have been so much better had Mrs Peterson had concentrated on Militine and Thane, developed their stories much more in depth and let Abrianna and Wade's story develop more in the background, since her third book seems as if it will be dedicated to them. 

Book Review: The Friends of Jesus

"What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! "

So many times when I was young, we would sing this hymn during worship service. I never really gave much thoughts to the words back then, being a young teenager who was worried about so many more things going on in my life.  However, these words came rushing back to me many times while reading Karen Kingsbury's latest publication "The Friends of Jesus".

 Karen Kingsbury is without a doubt one of my favorite authors and she didn't disappoint with this latest addition. Karen is a true master of bring a story to life and she has been given such a wonderful gift to bring stories of faith to her readers. "The Friends of Jesus" is the second book in the "Life Changing Bible Story" series, the first being "The Family of Jesus" which is equally wonderful.

 Much like the first book of this series, Karen takes Biblical characters and weaves a story together that really digs deep into who each of these characters were and how their lives intertwined with Jesus.  While she takes many liberties in doing so, she adheres to Biblical facts and doesn't change what the Bible tells us but instead builds a story revolving around what we already know.

This particular volume covers the stories of 6 well known people - Simon the Leper, Martha (sister to Lazarus), Jarius (the Leader of the Galilean synagogue), Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John.  Each narrative lays out these peoples faults for all to see, only to turn around and show how Jesus's compassion and friendship with each one changed their lives. The love that the Savior had for each one of these people, each whom he held dear to his heart, displays the love he has for each of us even thought we are all flawed, just as they were.  You can't help but be able to identify with at least one of the characters when reflecting on your own faith.

If you love the Bible and want to dig deeper, this is a great way to immerse yourself. There is also a Bible study at the end of the book for personal reflection or to provide a launching pad for a group study that coincides with each character.

Book Review: The Wood's Edge

Have you ever picked up a book and put off reading it because of the sheer length of it?  I admit, I did it to this book without giving it it a chance.  I received it in early June along with a few other books to read and being that this one is almost 400 pages long, I put it aside and instead read the shorter books on my list.  Two night ago, I finally picked it back up: the synopsis intrigued me and I knew I wanted to at least get a few pages into it.

What ended up happening is that I spent the next two days reading it straight two nights in a row, staying up til the wee hours of the morning because I was so enthralled with this book.  When I got down to the last 60 pages, I actually wished that this book had at least another 200 pages because it was that good.

Synopsis:

At the wood's edge cultures collide. Can two families survive the impact?

The 1757 New York frontier is home to the Oneida tribe and to British colonists, yet their feet rarely walk the same paths.

On the day Fort William Henry falls, Major Reginald Aubrey is beside himself with grief. His son, born that day, has died in the arms of his sleeping wife. When Reginald comes across an Oneida mother with newborn twins, one white, one brown, he makes a choice that will haunt the lives of all involved. He steals the white baby and leaves his own child behind. Reginald's wife and foundling daughter, Anna, never suspect the truth about the boy they call William, but Reginald is wracked by regret that only intensifies with time, as his secret spreads its devastating ripples.

When the long buried truth comes to light, can an unlikely friendship forged at the wood's edge provide a way forward? For a father tormented by fear of judgment, another by lust for vengeance. For a mother still grieving her lost child. For a brother who feels his twin's absence, another unaware of his twin's existence. And for Anna, who loves them both--Two Hawks, the mysterious Oneida boy she meets in secret, and William, her brother. As paths long divided collide, how will God direct the feet of those who follow Him?

My Thoughts:

It is very rare for me to give a 5 star rating for a book but in this case, each star is well deserved.

From the first page, this story captures your attention and manages to hold it through to the last page and leaves you wanting more (and luckily, Lori Benton decided to make this a series and is scheduled to release the second book in 2016).  This is the story of love, rejection, grief, guilt, hate, and about forgiveness through God's love.

Lori Benton excels as a writing, weaving a beautiful story.  While this book does follow multiple characters and their personal stories, Benton succeeds at making each character a relevant part of the story, each contributing a piece of the overall puzzle.  None of these characters are lily white and each have their flaws and secrets that makes them believable.   There are a few occasions one might read a particular passage and think "Why is this in here? Get back to the main story!!" and then later those interactions come back to add something important to what is going on.

It is also obvious that Benton had thoroughly researched the Oneida people and the historic events that surrounded them at the time this book takes place.  The Native people presented in this book are not "stereotype" but instead the reader is given the opportunity to see their interactions from an everyday family life standpoint rather than savages.  The Native culture is presented with respect to the people and Tribal customs, which is always a plus in my book (being of Native American heritage).  

I highly recommend this book to everyone.  But be warned, once you read it and then finish it, you'll be waiting for A Flight of Arrows, the second book of the Pathfinder series, to be released next year.