The Band That Played On by Steve Turner

I received this book from booksneeze.com free in return for my honest review of this books

Book Description: The never-before told, inspiring stories of the 8 brave musicians who played as the Titanic sank.

When Titanic collided with an iceberg on April 14, the eight members of the band had already retired for the evening. Still, they put on overcoats and came out to play in the lounge. When most of the First Class passengers had taken to their lifeboats, the musicians moved to the deck and continued to play as the ship sank. One passenger said: “Many brave things were done that night, but none were more brave than those done by men playing minute after minute as the ship settled quietly lower and lower in the sea. The music they played served alike as their own immortal requiem and their right to be recalled on the scrolls of undying fame.” But who were they? What journeys brought them to this deck on this icy ocean? Who did they leave behind? Historian and biographer Steve Turner delves into the lives of these brave men, revealing eight unique portraits of bravery.

The Band That Played On by Steve Turner was written with the 100th Anniversary of Titanic in mind. This is the story of 8 different men brought together as the 2 bands aboard the Titanic. These men are the unknown heroes of this ship. These 8 men played as the ship went down and didn't stop playing until they went down with the ship. Steve Turner gives us the backgrounds of these men prior to heading aboard the ship. All 8 men were believers and a few played for their churches and other religious places in the past. Three of the men had been in the band on a ship before while the five others had done multiple tours with ships including the Olympic which had its crash with the Ladyhawk. The accounts from many of the survivors of Titanic speak of these men playing Nearer My God To Me as the ship went down. They have also stated that at one point the 8 men were kneeling and playing. The story that Steve Turned wrote depicts 8 men who had accepted their fate and instead of trying to save themselves, they gave of themselves to help the other passengers on the ship stay calm and find peace.

I would recommend this book to people who are interested in the Titanic and history itself. This doesn't go over and over the details of the sinking that we have heard many times but really gives the reader an account that hasn't really been heard.

Who is my Shelter? By Neta Jackson

I received this book from booksneeze.com for my honest review of this book.

Book Description:
Every woman needs a safe shelter.

The tables have turned and Gabby's estranged husband--who threw her out when she didn't live up to his image of a "corporate wife"--needs her in a way neither ever expected. He's begging for reconciliation, but Gabby has moved on, finding purpose and a future in the House of Hope. Not only has she found shelter for herself and her sons there, but she's able to help provide shelter for homeless moms and their kids.

And yet . . . there's a hole in her life. Is God leading Gabby down a new path and giving her something--and someone--new? Or is He redeeming what she thought was gone forever?

Neta Jackson was the first Christian Fiction Author I ever read. I began my journey with Yada Yada Prayer Group and now have ended with Who is my Shelter. Yada Yada prayer group series ended at Book 7 but spun off into the House of Hope Series. In this series we journey with Gabby Fairbanks, a stay at home who is wealthy move from Virginia with her husband Philip and her sons. Soon after they move into their penthouse, Gabby encounters Lucy, a homeless woman, who Gabby brings back to the house to shower and clean up. In the middle of this her husband, his business partner and his wife all come over and this starts a series of events. Gabby took Lucy to Manna House, a homeless shelter where Lucy stays and she gets offered a job. The ball starts rolling in Gabby's life that ends with Philip kicking Gabby, her mother, and Dandy(her mothers dog) out of the penthouse to fend for themselves. Gabby had to pick up the pieces and start a new life for herself and her children. In Who is my Shelter, Gabby is now the proud owner of House of Hope, a second stage housing for homeless women and their children. She is happy. Gabby has moved on with her life.

And as life always happens Philip hits rock bottom with Gambling and such. Philip now has to make changes in his life or he might not live. Gabby is there, reluctantly at first, to help him. With the help of the Baxters and Harry Bentley Philip starts to see the errors of his ways. Also we see a lot of our favorite characters lives start to mold into what they should. I don't want to give away the whole book but it will not disappoint.

I have always enjoyed Neta Jackson's books and this one was awesome. Her characters are so real that you can relate to their lives, it isn't a feel good everyone lives happily ever after thing. We see everyone has ups and downs, every marriage has its problem, life is fixed by quoting a bible verse. You see that God works in all different situations, even messes. The power of prayer and the belief that God will bring you through are big themes throughout the book and also leaning on one another. This book is a beautiful story of healing, rebirth, and how God can make miracles out of messes. I highly recommend this book as well as the others in her series. You won't be disappointed. Can't wait to see what is next!!

The Rhythm of Secrets By Patti Lacy

I received this book from Litfuse for my honest review this book.

About the book: Since 1955, Sheila Franklin, a talented musician, has perfectly performed the role of devout pastor’s wife, locking away her past as Sheba Alexander and Sylvia Allen. Her carefully constructed façade crumbles with a single phone call from a young Marine named Samuel, the illegitimate son she secretly put up for adoption. Samuel begs Sheila to use her government contacts to get his fiancé, Mali , a Thai prostitute, into America . A dangerous mixture of love and guilt spurs her to help her only child even though it devastates her husband Edward and exposes her questionable past. After a quarrel with Edward, Sheila and Samuel board a C-130 for Thailand and then search Bangkok ’s steamy streets for a Madonna-faced prostitute. The two whisk Mali from a brothel but are seized by a warlord who considers Mali his “number one girl.” In a teak “ghost house,” Sheila discovers God’s grace and gains the freedom she needs to find her own identity—Sheila, Sylvia, and Sheba . A framed story, this novel has roots in the bohemian 1940s New Orleans French Quarter and spans three decades, including the turbulent Vietnam era.

The Rhythm of Secrets by Patti Lacy is a beautiful story about forgiveness, righting wrongs,depending on God, and ultimately love. Shelia Franklin has worked very hard to keep her past as Sheba Alexander and Sylvia Allen locked far away, but one phone call brings it all crashing down. Shelia has to decide what is most important, her life with her husband, Edward, or helping her son. As Shelia makes these life changing choices she also has to face the past she has tried so hard to forget.

Patti Lacy draws you into the world of her characters. They are so real and their trials and triumps feel like you are right there to experience them yourself. This book truly takes you on the journey with Shelia through her life. This book has suspense, action, and romance. This haunting tale is beautiful. I highly recommend this book and this author. I look forward to reading more books by Patti Lacy.

About Patti: Baylor graduate, taught community college humanities until God called her to span seas and secrets in her novels, An Irishwoman's Tale and What the Bayou Saw. She has two grown children and a dog named Laura. She and her husband can be seen jog-walking the streets of Normal , Illinois , an amazing place to live for a woman born in a car. For more information, visit Patti's website at www.pattilacy.com, her blog at www.pattilacy.com/blog, and her Facebook daily Artbites.

Patti Lacy is celebrating the release of her latest book with a NOOK Giveaway, blog tour and Book Club Party!

Follow the blog tour and read the reviews!

Patti and her publisher, Kregel Publications, are giving away a NOOK prize package worth over $150 to one lucky winner!!!! 

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While the World Watched by Carolyn Maull Mckinstry

I received this book from Tyndale publishing to read and give my humble opinion on.
Book Description:
On September 15, 1963, a Klan-planted bomb went off in the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Fourteen-year-old Carolyn Maull was just a few feet away when the bomb exploded, killing four of her friends in the girl’s rest room she had just exited. It was one of the seminal moments in the Civil Rights movement, a sad day in American history . . . and the turning point in a young girl’s life.
While the World Watched is a poignant and gripping eyewitness account of life in the Jim Crow South—from the bombings, riots and assassinations to the historic marches and triumphs that characterized the Civil Rights movement.
A uniquely moving exploration of how racial relations have evolved over the past 5 decades, While the World Watched is an incredible testament to how far we’ve come and how far we have yet to go.

While the World Watched is a book my Carolyn Maull Mckinstry, a survivor of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing on Sept 15, 1963. Carolyn lost 4 teenage friends that day when a bomb went off where the girls were. Carolyn had just been by them a minute before and could have died with them. Carolyn grew up in Birmingham(Bombingham) Alabama during the Jim Crow laws and the start of the Civil rights moment. Until the bombing Carolyn had no idea the segregation and hate going on. In her family the laws were the rules of their home and when she questioned why she couldn't go somewhere her parents would state, "Because we don't have the money." Her parents sheltered her as much as possible from this. But after Sept 15th, 1963 her life changed dramatically. This story tells of the journey Carolyn took. The lasting affects this bombing and the other things she experienced in Birmingham, Alabama goes on until this day. The one thing Carolyn tried very hard to do was cling to Jesus. Carolyn's faith rarely wavered. Carolyn Mckinstry is a survivor in all senses of the word.
While the World Watched gives the unique viewpoints of not just a child but a first hand account of the bombing, a personal account of how these events effected her whole life. I enjoyed this book a lot. I had a little bit of a hard time following sometimes because there was a lot of date jumping in spots but it definitely did not take away from the story. This book was about non violence, peace, love, and ultimately forgiveness. Also in this book were speeches and quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr,whom Carolyn got to hear and speak to first hand, speeches and quotes also from John and Bobby Kennedy. This book is a must read for the young and old about a time in our history that is very important to know about. I highly recommend this book.

A Man of His Word by Kathleen Fuller

Another of my awesome $2.99 special books!! This is the first of Hearts of Middlefield Novels. This was the first book by Kathleen Fuller I have read. I have looked at her books a few times but wasn't sure about spending 14.00 on a book I wasn't sure of so the $2.99 prices was definitely worth giving it a try....I am so glad I did.

Book Description:
Moriah's heart will only be safe with a man of his word.

In just a few short months, Moriah Miller's perfect life unravels. Newly wed and newly pregnant, Moriah is abandoned by her husband, Levi. He's left her, his family, and their faith without a backward glance. The community, stunned, rushes to the young woman's aid.

But there is someone who feels more than just sympathy for Moriah. Gabriel Miller--Levi's twin--longs for an intimate commitment that might someday bind them to one another. Convinced of the impossibility of his dream, Gabriel settles for a mere friendship with the woman he loves.

Moriah bravely goes on with her life, adjusting to her new role in their tight knit Amish community and preparing for the birth of her child. She is unaware that her brief marriage--once idealized as the happiest time in her life--may have been merely a shadow of the kind of love God has created her for. A love that can mend the soul, renew her heart, and give her a future filled with hope...if only she'll let it.

Moriah believes she has found the man of her dreams, the man she will say I do to, Levi Miller. Since their school days, Moriah and the Miller twins, Levi and Gabriel have been close friends. Doing everything together. Levi proposes and Gabriel falls to the back burner, wanting Moriah from a far. Levi and Moriah get married and Levi is working at a stable in the Yankee world. After 4 months he sends a letter to Moriah saying he isn't coming back. Moriah is devestated. She is pregnant and decides to move home. Gabriel tries to get Levi reconsider his choice. But couldn't get him to see it. The family is devestated. Late one night Gabriel shows up at Moriah's parents to get her, Levi has been in a horrible car accident. So Gabe, his father, and Moriah go to the hospital. There Moriah has to give consent for multiple surgeries to try to save his life. He comes out of surgery and finally wakes up. A few days later Levi asks Gabe to always take care of Moriah and the baby. A few moments later Levi passes. Now Moriah has lost her husband 2 times.

A Man of His Word is a very wonderful book that shows how forgiveness brings peace, how praying brings results, and how love always wins. Kathleen Fuller shows much knowledge of the language and customs of the Amish in Middlefield. This book was a wonderful story and I am so excited to find another author to read. Definitey recommend this book to anyone who likes a love story and or Amish fiction.

First the Dead by Tim Downs

Family Christian Bookstore along with some authors of Christian Fiction have been offering some books for $2.99 for the first book to make it affordable to find a new author. Like most people, I look for the lowest prices I can find for books. I am leary to pay $12-$15 for an author I have never read. But $2.99 I will spend that. Really not much to lose. So I am finding new authors and series to read through this offer.

The first book I read is First the Dead by Tim Downs.
Book description:
When Hurricane Katrina takes New Orleans by storm, forensic entomologist Nick Polchak is waiting for her. He’s part of DMORT, the FEMA team assigned to recover and identify human remains in large-scale disasters.

The trouble is, Nick isn’t much of a team player. And he doesn’t take well to following orders he doesn’t agree with... such as the decision to divert all DMORT personnel into rescuing the living and leaving the dead for later.

Nick begs to differ. He's there to collect bodies, and he's going to do just that—especially when he starts finding bodies that were clearly dead before the hurricane struck. Nick understands that all forensic evidence will soon disintegrate in the hot, contaminated water...and he knows that’s exactly what the killer wants to happen.

The more Nick tries to uncover answers, the stronger—and deadlier—the resistance becomes. And it doesn’t help that a beautiful psychiatrist thinks he’s on the verge of a mental breakdown.

In a world turned upside down, where people live on rooftops and streets are underwater, where everything and everyone is on the verge of collapse...can even the Bug Man uncover the truth?

This is the 3rd "Bug Man Book" but really they can be read stand alone because Tim Downs does a great job of introducing things so you don't feel like you came in half way through. This book was fantastic. The details of Hurricane Katrina and of New Orleans as a city were right on. This book kept a good pace and you really felt like you were there. I had a very very hard time putting the book down once I picked it up. You find yourself laughing at some of the dialogues and the suspense kept me guessing until the end. Awescome book for a suspense fan. I am excited to read more "Bug Man" Books.

http://timdowns.net/ to find other Bug Man books and you can read some chapters up there too.

Save the Date By Jenny B. Jones

I received this book from booksneeze.com in return for my honest review of this book!

Book Description
When Alex and Lucy pick out wedding invitations, they wonder if they can be printed in vanishing ink.

Former NFL star Alex Sinclair is a man who has it all--except the votes he needs to win his bid for Congress. Despite their mutual dislike, Alex makes Lucy a proposition: pose as his fiancée in return for the money she desperately needs. Bound to a man who isn't quite what he seems, Lucy will find her heart on the line--and maybe even her life. When God asks Alex and Lucy to scrap their playbook and follow his rules, will they finally say, "I do"?

Save the Date is a wonderful book about forgiveness, falling in love, and trusting that God will take care of us. Alex Sinclair and Lucy have a past, they went to an exclusive private academy together as teenagers. Lucy wasn't rich and famous but Alex Sinclair was. Alex and others made her life miserable during that time. Now their lives intersect again and they both need each other. Alex needs the image of a solid relationship with a real girl and Lucy needs her shelter building saved and the funds to keep it open. So Alex and his team concoct a plan that Lucy can't refuse. What they didn't count on was that they would actually like each other and see all the good qualities of each other.

Jenny B Jones weaves a wonderful story that goes deeper than Boy needs girl and they fall in love. This story dives deeper into their lives and secrets that have been kept for years. The book never looses its focus on God. The characters are very vivid and likeable. You find yourself feeling like you are right there with them. This book had me laughing out loud in parts and crying in some. I really enjoyed this book and will be looking for more Jenny B Jones books to read. I highly recommend this book.