A Moment in Time

When Alice Chesterfield’s family is broken apart and she suffers an attack in which her father is killed, her hope is also killed.  She carries a physical scar from the attack, but the emotional scars that she bears are traumatic.  Her father had secrets that brought ruin to them.  The attacker continues to pursue her, demanding what she does not have to give.  Left with nothing but memories and unanswered questions, she accepts the offer of a new life in Texas, in the hope that she can escape the assailant’s threats.  She boards a train with her friend Marty, who is moving back to her family’s ranch.  There she meets an intriguing man that may bring a life with everything she dreams of, but he is seemingly spoken for.  This story of tragedy and its aftermath is well written and realistic.  Tracy Peterson has spun a tale of hurt and forgiveness that pictures what happens when we get in God’s way and what wonderful things can happen when we step back and wait for our Heavenly Father to work in His most perfect time.  A Moment in Time is a gentle reminder that allows the reader to ponder the gift of grace and forgiveness and how we must give ourselves, as well as others in our life, those gifts.  It is easy to read and has enough depth that I was eager to keep reading.  This is Book #2 of the Lone Star Brides saga.  I think I should read the first book in this series!  I can highly recommend this and I give it five stars!

I received a copy of this book free of charge from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group, in exchange for my honest review.  This review is my opinion.

Please return the end of this week for a special Father's Day blog.  I will be reviewing a debut novel by a talented new author.  Hope you can make it!

Jeri ~

Face to Face with Jesus - A Former Muslim's Extraordinary Journey to Heaven and Encounter with The God of Love

A story for the ages is Samaa Habib’s conversion experience and her trials in Christ.  She was a young Muslim girl when she converted to Christ after realizing that Allah was not answering her prayers.  When being nearly crushed during civil war in a mob that broke out while she was waiting in a bread line, she “cried out in desperation to the God of Abram, Isaac, and Jacob…”  She relates her gradual journey to the God of Love through being invited to a Ta kwon do class that was being held by missionaries in the gym of the local school.  At first glance, this is just too good to be true.  After reading her story I know that my hesitation is because I am not used to seeing God work in an intense and miraculous way.  I see the provision of God and His hand in the situations she encounters that only God can work in.  I have no doubt that her life experience has happened the way she relates it to us.  Samaa tells her story in somewhat basic conversational sentences which reflect her grasp of English as a second language, bringing a realistic feel to this book.  Her knowledge of the Scriptures is evident and her application of God’s Word to situations she encounters is enlightened.  Her trials and triumphs are real and bring to my mind the verse in 2 Cor. 2:14, “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” (NKJV)  There are a few loose ends left in the narrative and she sometimes stretches a Bible verse a little beyond context.  Her death experience which took her to be “Face to Face with Jesus” is a reach for me.  However, I do know that if God wants her to speak with Christ, face to face, and return to earth to tell of it, He will make that happen.  I see nothing in the scriptures to tell me that anyone in present day, with the Word made perfect, will go to heaven and then return to tell about it.  The only thing for you to do is read her story and draw your own conclusion.  John 16:12-13 gives insight to this.  His ways are not our ways.  I give this four stars.

I received a free copy of this book from Chosen, a division of Baker Publishing Group, in exchange for my honest review.  This review is my opinion.

Thanks so much for being here, happy reading!

Jeri

Sunset Beach

 A good book for the beach should be easy to read but also absorbing; this has both of those qualities. Wrapped up in a beach house in San Diego are stories about families seeking solace from stress as well as  reconnections with each other.  Sunset Beach tells one of those stories.  What better location to find a dose of rest and relaxation than a beachfront cottage, where you can sit on the porch or walk the beach as much as you want?  The characters in this novel do both of those things, sometimes to escape each other! But, also sometimes to come together for conversation and to work out relationships that are broken.  This book centers around Sonny Miller and her desire to re-unite her mother and aunt, sisters who have not spoken in way too many years.  Trish Perry has included the right amount of sub-plots to hold your interest and works them in artfully connecting all the dots.  Sunset Beach is part of a series of four books co-authored by Ms. Perry and Sally John, based on an original concept by Sally John, The Beach House Series.  Separate stories with different characters all coming to the Beach House for vacation, all with their own "luggage."  Sunset Beach hits the spot and I recommend it as a good choice to toss in your vacation bag and bring along! Four stars for this. Here is a list of just a few good beach reads that I can suggest;
The Beach House and Castles in the Sand by Sally John
Beach Dreams by Trish Perry
Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand
Colony by Anne Rivers Siddons
Random Winds by Belva Plain

Thanks so much for being here and happy reading!  

Jeri

THE CHASE

In The Chase,  Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg have put their talent together to write a work that has the humor of Ms. Evanovich's novels, with the crime solving sluething abilities of Lee Goldberg's writing.  Con artist Nick Fox and FBI agent Kate O'Hare are partnered together by the FBI, at Nick's urging, to hunt and take down the world's most wanted criminals.  Their current target is a former White House Chief of Staff who heads up a private security agency.  He has a thing for priceless art and artifacts from around the world and uses his security firm to hide his thefts.  Reading this novel is a chase.  It is abundantly supplied with characters which aid and abet Nick and Kate and which, I found, were a chase to keep up with.  It took me on a wild ride, but I was not sure where I was and what was being chased at all times.  If you are familiar with Janet's Stephanie Plum novels, this is not like one of those.  The Chase is what would be called one of her "between the numbers" novels except that she did not write it alone.  I think her best work is done on the Stephanie Plum character and her adventures.  I found myself working to get this book "read", which is not what I look for in a good read.  It did not absorb me.  However, it certainly was daring. I did find myself thinking that they would not get out of the fix they were in on several occasions.  I would recommend this only if you like plots that are "hither and yon" and move from location to location quickly.  No moss under these stones.  I give The Chase three stars.  It is certainly not bad at all, but not my choice for a favorite.  Read more about this book at The Chase.

Come back next week for my "Summer Beach Reads" list and a review of  Sunset Beach by Trish Perry.

Thanks so much for being here~!

Jeri                                                                                       

Lost Mission

In Lost Mission, Athol Dickson begins the story with the experiences of Franciscan brother, Fray Alejandro Tapia Valdez in Assisi, Italy in 1767.  It only takes a few pages to begin sweeping the reader along on a mystery that defies solving for much of the book.  In his prayers, Fray Alejandro feels supernaturally compelled to travel to the New World to "Go and save my children."  Thus begins a story that Dickson entwines between new and old, past and present, historical and current day events, all related and indeed, all the same story. Lost Mission takes you along on the journey of Fray Alejandro and Mision de Santa Dolores in Southern California which collapses and many generations later is uncovered during the construction of a housing development.  The ensuing havoc from disturbing the ruins is totally supernatural and totally believable, making this one of the best reads you will have.  This is a work of fiction that demands focus of the reader.  The author moves back and forth between past and present so seamlessly that you have to pay attention.  I started this book twice before I became engaged and finished it.  That's not to say it is hard to read, just to say it is deep and you must be ready to be "in it."  Once you read a work by Athol Dickson, you know what to expect and it gets easier to get into it with each book you read.  I dare say, you will want to read all of his books after spending time with any of his books.  My first Athol Dickson work was "River Rising, which mystified me, and then I read "The Cure" and I was convinced this was a very special author with a real sense of spirituality that he brings to each writing.  Honestly, my personal mission is to read all of Athol Dickson's books and savor them one by one!  I highly recommend you discover his work.  You can read more about Mr. Dickson at www.atholdickson.com.
See you next time when I will review "The Chase" by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg.
Thanks for reading, see you soon~!
Jeri

Redeeming Love

Francine Rivers is an excellent story teller; and this is a grand story.  Ultimately, it is the picture of God's love for His people.  It is a symbolic retelling of the story of Hosea in the Bible, which is history based on the fact of God's refusal to give up on us, His people.  Angel was sold into prostitution at the age of ten.  That in itself  is enough to ruin a child and her trust.  And that is what happened to Angel.  Micheal Hosea is a farmer who listens closely to his Heavenly Father and he knows that Angel is to be his wife.  The ensuing battle between Michael and Angel is tumultuous, emotional, heart-breaking and exhausting in a good way!  This book started a little slow, but once the background was put in place it really picked up and I (almost) could not put it down until I read the last page.  It is very thick, very detailed and one big chunk of reading, but well worth it.  With warm weather upon us, this is exactly the kind of book to sit down with a tall glass of iced tea and read on!  (or whatever cold drink you prefer!)

Thanks for being here! Hope you will visit again.  I will return with my review of Lost Mission by Athol Dickson.  

See you soon!

Jeri

Cane River

In Cane River, Lalita Tademy writes history as if she was there when it took place and saw all events happening.  Indeed, she feels this history because it is personal.  It is the history of four generations of women in her family.  The story of Elizabeth, Suzette, Philomene and Emily is a story of enduring strength and spirit.  Spirit that keeps these women up when life would beat them down.  I was engrossed in this book because of it's readability, it is very well written, but also because the chronicle of their lives is the result of detailed research by Ms. Tademy, who is the great-granddaughter of Emily. This research gives an authenticity to the Cane River account which begins with the Civil War and ends in 1936, with the death of Emily.  It is simply put, an epic "page turner."  Cane River is a New York Times Bestseller and was also a choice of Oprah's Book Club.   I highly recommend this engaging saga as one that should be on your "to read" list; in fact, it should be at the top.  Read more at lalitatademy.com.
Thanks so much for being here!  Up next, Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.  Hope you will return!