Code Triage by Candace Calvert

I received Code Triage from Tyndale Publishers free for my honest review of the book.

Book Description:
Dr. Leigh Stathos likes her ER shifts fast, furious, and adrenaline-infused—“Treat ’em and street ’em”—with no emotional complications. Life’s taught her a soul-rending lesson: nothing lasts forever, including marriage. And the clock is ticking toward the end of hers. Then an unwelcome confrontation with “the other woman” begins a whole new set of lessons.
San Francisco police officer Nick Stathos never gives up, whether protecting his patrol neighborhood, holding fast to faith—or trying to save his marriage. Seven days is all he has to reach Leigh’s heart. But when a desperate act of violence slams Golden Gate Mercy Hospital into lockdown, it starts a chain of events that will change lives forever

Code Triage is the 3rd Code book by Candace Calvert. Each book is its own, so you definitely don't have to read the others to read this one. Code Triage takes place in San Francisco where an ER and a San Francisco Police Officer are ending their marriage. Nick is trying to hold on to the marriage and his wife, ER Doctor Erin is wanting things to end so she can get out of San Francisco just her and her horse. Nick is very rooted in his faith and Erin feels that God has left her alone. Nick and Erin's paths cross with the type of work they do. A disaster happens at the hospital that affects Erin and Nick and put them together. Through many different peopel and circumstances they work to find their way back to each other. Nick knows that they need to have God in the center of their marriage where Erin doesn't believe that. The journey she takes is truly of journey of faith and hope. Many people come into their lives that show Forever and Ever, show how God works in everyone's lives. Candace Calvert captures the real feel of an Emergency Room and of crisis situations. She also truly shows where God works in all situations. Very fast paced book that was hard to put down. I highly recommend this book.

Where Hearts Are Free, A Darkness to Light Novel

I received Where Hearts are Free from Booksneeze.com in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Book Description
The odds are stacked against Bridget and Philippe reuniting. But God has a plan for them if they'll only believe.
It’s 1687, in the burgeoning town of Philadelphia, and for seven years, Bridget Barrington has watched with growing affection as Philippe Clavell worked as an indentured servant for her father, a wealthy landowner.
Her father rejects her request for Philippe to be a potential suitor as he has none of the qualities Mr. Barrington hoped for his daughter's future husband, the least of which is a respectable income.
Heartbroken, Bridget accedes to her parents’ wishes and gets engaged to a man she does not love. However, Bridget's husband-to-be does not love her, but only her wealth.
But there's always light in the midst of darkness for those who have faith. This stunning historical romance concludes the gripping Darkness to Light series.


I read the first 2 books of this 3 book series and each book was wonderful. The books are based on family history of the author. This book could be read as stand alone, it gives enough background in the book that you don't feel like you missed something. This book Where Hearts are Free is mainly about Phillipe Clavell, an indentured servant for the Barrington Family. He is there to pay off debt for his families trip to the New World. The Barrington's daughter, Bridget, has had feelings for Phillipe since he started at their estate. She professes this love to him and to her parents. From there the story goes into Phillipe's journey of love and faith and Bridget's journey of truly finding and trusting God to take care of her. This book shows how God has a plan and His plans always work out if you let them. Our author describes beautifully the time period, working conditions, and the social classes of this time. You feel like you are there seeing it all happen. The story is a beautiful story of how being faithful to God brings everything together. This book was truly a wonderful book and I look forward to reading more books from Golden Keyes Parsons.

Love's First Bloom By Delia Parr

I received Love's First Bloom for free from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review of the book.

BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Ruth Livingstone's life changes drastically the day her father puts a young child in her arms and sends her to a small village in New Jersey under an assumed name. There Ruth pretends to be a widow and quietly secludes herself until her father is acquitted of a crime. But with the emergence of the penny press, the imagination of the reading public is stirred, and her father's trial stands center stage. Asher Tripp is the brash newspaperman who determines that this case is the event he can use to redeem himself as a journalist. Ruth finds solace tending a garden along the banks of the Toms River--a place where she can find a measure of peace in the midst of the sorrow that continues to build. It is also here that Asher Tripp finds a temporary residence, all in an attempt to discover if the lovely creature known as Widow Malloy is truly Ruth Livingstone, the woman every newspaper has been looking for. Love begins to slowly bloom...but is the affection they share strong enough to withstand the secrets that separate them

I truly enjoyed Love's First Bloom by Delia Bloom. I haven't read anything from Bloom prior to this. The story is set in 1838 and is a nice story. It starts with Ruth Livingstone's father, a Reverend, being accused of murder. He gives her a baby and tells her she is now Widow Malloy and the baby is hers. They get on a boat and head for a small town. There it is believed she was once a prostitute that was converted as part of Reverend Livingstone's Prodigal Daughter program. No one knows she is really his daughter. Ruth endures much tragedy and must rely on her faith in God to get her through this really hard time in her life. The story is very well written and keeps your interest. It flows and is true to the time period. Delia Bloom weaves a beautiful story of faith in God and how God uses negative experiences to bring us to a better time in life. I enjoyed this story tremendously and look forward to reading more of Delia Bloom's books.

A CONTEST

I have a book review of Immanuel's veins.....for anyone who comments on my review will get entered in to win a free T shirt from the publishers. I received one for reviewing the book and being willing to have the contest on my blog. So please leave your comments and I will draw a name by Sept 25th 2010

Masquerade by Nancy Moser

I received this book from Bethany House Publishers for free for my honest review of this book. This review is based on my own opinion of the story.

Book Description:
"Eighteen eighty-six, New York City: Charlotte Gleason, a rich heiress from England, escapes a family crisis by traveling to America in order to marry the even wealthier Conrad Tremaine. She soon decides that an arranged marriage is not for her and persuades her maid, Dora, to take her place. What begins as the whim of a spoiled rich girl wanting adventure becomes a test of survival amid poverty beyond Charlotte's blackest nightmares. As for Dora, she lives a fairy tale complete with gowns, jewels, and lavish mansions--yet is tormented by guilt and the presence of another love that will not die. Will their masquerade be discovered? Will one of them have second thoughts? There is no guarantee the switch will work. It's a risk. It's the chance of a lifetime."

This is the first book by Nancy Moser that I have read. It was a very pleasant story that kept my interest from start to finish. Takes place in 1886 about 2 girls in England who travel to America. A lady and her maid. Our lady, Charlotte "Lottie" Gleason is heading to America for an arranged marriage and her maid Dora Connors is accompaning her. Charlotte does not want to marry this man, she wants to have her own adventures so she convinces Dora to take on her identity and take her place as this man's fiancee. They enter America and from there nothing goes the way they expected. They learn quickly that God has His own plans in their lives. This story shows how God takes us out of our comfort zone in order for us to see our potential for what it truly is, to stretch our characters. Also how God brings people and circumstances into our lives that truly help shape who we are and that we are never alone. That God provides for our NEEDS. This story describes in much detail the dress of the period, the social ladder in that time and the true circumstances of living in America. Nancy Moser truly captures the real picture of that time and period. I truly enjoyed this story and look forward to reading other stories by Nancy Moser.

Immanuel's Veins by Ted Dekker

I received Immanuel's Veins by Ted Dekker from booksneeze.com for free for my honest opinion and review of this book.

Book Description
This story is for everyone--but not everyone is for this story.

It is a dangerous tale of times past. A love story full of deep seduction. A story of terrible longing and bold sacrifice.

Then as now, evil begins its courtship cloaked in light. And the heart embraces what it should flee. Forgetting it once had a truer lover.

With a kiss, evil will ravage body, soul, and mind. Yet there remains hope, because the heart knows no bounds.

Love will prove greater than lust. Sacrifice will overcome seduction. And blood will flow.

Because the battle for the heart is always violently opposed. For those desperate to drink deep from this fountain of life, enter.

But remember, not everyone is for this story

Immanuel's Veins is the first Ted Dekker book I have read and I am HOOKED. This book captured my interest from the start and kept it until the end. I got lost in the book many times not realizing how many pages I had read at a time. The book itself is neat, the pages are like those of an old book, uneven, just really stands out. The book grabs you from the start. The story is told from the first person perspective of our main character Toma Nicolescu, a warrior for Catherine the Great in Russia Circa 1772. On the first page there is a letter from Saint Thomas to preempt the start of the book. This book dives deep into the ultimate good versus evil and Love Versus Lust. Dekker takes us into the dark world of the undead(vampires). It talks about blood being life (good and evil). The characters are deep and rich, the storyline is captivating and keeps you holding your breath until the end. I highly recommend this book. I personally haven't read any of Ted Dekker's other books and didn't feel like I needed to in order to understand or follow the book. I look forward to reading more of Ted Dekker's books in the future.

The Skin Map by Stephen Lawhead

I received The Skin Map by Stephen Lawhead from booksneeze.com for free for my honest opinion and review of the book.
Book Description
Enter the ultimate treasure hunt--with a map made of skin, a playing field of alternate realities, and a prize that is the greatest mystery of all.

Kit Livingstone's great-grandfather has re-appeared with an unbelievable story--the ley lines throughout Britain are not merely the stuff of legends but truly are pathways to other worlds. So few people know how to use them, though, that doing so is fraught with danger.

But one explorer knew more than most. Because of his fear of being unable to find his way home, he developed an intricate code and tattooed his map onto his skin. But the map has since been lost and rival factions are in desperate competition to recover it. What none of them yet realize is that the skin map itself is not the prize at the end of this race . . . but merely the first goal of a vast and marvelous quest to regain Paradise.

I have never read any of Stephen Lawhead's novels but I plan to start. First I would like to comment on the book physically. It is really different in how it is put together. Under the dustcover the cover has these symbols all over(the symbols are from the symbols for the Skin Map). The edges of the paper were not completely even-cut. These add to the character of the book. The Skin Map is the first book in a new series called the Bright Empires. As I stated I have not ever read any of Lawhead's books but I am excited to. Right from the beginning the book caught my attention. There are A LOT of characters in the story so that sometimes caused a little confusion but keeping in mind that this is the first of a series it made sense. Toward the middle things kind of lagged for me but then picked right back up. This book takes you to different countries at different centuries. Alot of history and research had to be done to give the details that Lawhead did. The language corresponded with the time they were in.
The Skin Map is about Kit, a modern day Londoner who meets his Great Grandfather on the street. His Great Grandfather was looking for him to help with his life long research. Ley Lines are believed to be all over the world and they allow for those who know how to use them to to different places and times. Kit is in disbelief. He goes with his Grandfather and sees its possible. Kit agrees to help his Grandfather in this quest to find The Skin Map. Once the travel starts we meet many new characters in all different times and locations. All with a common goal: to have the Skin Map.

I definitely recommend this book highly. I enjoyed the writing and the story. I look forward to reading more of Stephen Lawhead's novels and the next in this series. I now have another favorite author