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

Catching Moondrops By Jennifer Erin Valent

I received this book from Tyndale Publisher free for my honest opinion and review of this book. Catching Moondrops is the 3rd book in this series, I personally have not read the first 2 books. The book is a continuation of the Lassiter Family, who 6 yrs ago took in a black child to live with them when her parents were killed. This book takes place in 1939 in Calloway, Virginia. Jessilyn Lassiter and Gemma Teague are best friends and both 19 yrs old. A black Doctor comes to Calloway to offer care to all people. In 1939 in this town the Klan has resurfaced and caused lots of problems for Jessilyn and her friends. Jessilyn is also in love with Luke Talley and he is in love with her. They finally start courting. One night a horrific event happens that changes Jessilyn deep in her being. Anger and hate start to take over. Everyone around her including Luke try to explain to her she needs to lean on God. Jessilyn questions the existence of God and why bad things happen to good people while the evil in the world get everything. Jessilyn begins to withdraw from everyone and allows her hate and anger continue to grow until she is faced with the ultimate life/death situation. Jessilyn learns what is inside of her, God.

Jennifer Erin Valent has written a wonderful book about love/hate and the very close relationship they have. Also about the big question of why do bad things happen to good people. Throughout the book our characters talk about leaning on God. I HIGHLY recommend this book. It is well written and very well researched. The language of the area and time are present and the events during that time period truly captured in this story. Reading this story felt like you were there with them seeing and feeling the experiences. I look forward to reading more of Jennifer Erin Valents books.

Resurrection in May by Lisa Samson

I received this book through booksneeze.com for free in return to give my honest review of this book. Resurrection in May was a wonderful book. I read this book in 2 days, couldn't put it down. Lisa Samson tells a tale of redemtption, love, death, and dying and coming back. Our story is about May. A college senior that a man named Claudius finds at the side of the road drunk with no where to go. He takes her to his farm, Borne's Last Chance. There she recuperates and stays with him for a month before she is to head to Rwanda to offer services. Not as a missionary but to go and help. She and her dog Girlfriend stay with Claudius. Claudius is an older man who is mixed race. He has lived on this farm his whole life never marrying. He and May hit it off...he calls her May-May. He takes her to the airport for her trip. May writes a few times. In Rwanda unrest has started and the UN came to take May back to the states but she refused to leave. She found Jesus here with Fr. Issac and all this wonderful women and children she was taking care and they took care of her. One evening the rebels came to the camp and murdered everyone in the camp. They killed the men and children. Raped the women and killed them. Everyone was dead but May. She survived and then had to survive another 3 months with nothing but what she could find. Eventually they found her and got her back to the states but she was physically and emotionally so scarred. She lost her faith. Back in the states, May-May goes back to the farm and stays with Claudius. She makes a "life" there with Claudius. The truly love each other as a father and daughter. This book goes through her life 10 yrs after the Rwanda experience. A boy she was friends with in college came back from the army in a much similar state as May-May. He ends up into drugs and drinking and kills 2 people and is on death row. May-May begins to write him and they truly become lifelines to each other.

This book was just awesome. SO much unexpected happens. It grabs you from the beginning and keeps you in through the end. You can picture all of the characters and see how they all work together in each others lives. This book looks at faith in a huge way....we see May's loss of faith and how she found it. We see Claudius and his faith that stayed strong no matter the circumstances. It is a beautiful story of loss and being found. How Jesus never leaves us even if we leave him. I strongly recommend this book to everyone. Truly a beautiful story.