Review: Hatteras Girl by Alice J. Wisler

ISBN #: 978-0-7642-0732-7
Page Count: 310
Copyright: 2010

About the Author:

(Taken from inside book)

Alice J. Wisler was born and raised in Japan as a missionary kid.  After graduating high school, she got her BS in Social Work from Eastern Mennonite University in Virginia.  She's enjoyed staying at a number of bed and breakfasts in the South, in Japan, and in England, and would secretly like to run one if it just wasn't so much work.  The Outer Banks is one of her favorite vacation destinations.  Currently, she lives in Durham, North Carolina, with her husband, Carl, and three children, Rachel, Benjamin, and Elizabeth.  In memory of her son Daniel, she gives online grief-writing courses, designs remembrance cards, and speaks across the country on Writing the Heartache.  To find out more, visit her Web site at http://www.alicewisler.com/.

Summary:

(Taken from back of book)

Jackie Donovan prays for two things: an honest, wonderful man to marry and to own a bed-and-breakfast on the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina.  In the meantime, she works for Lighthouse Views, writing articles about local business owners, and intrepidly goes on the blind dates set up by her well-meaning but oh-so-clueless relatives.

There's one specific property Jackie dreams of purchasing: The Bailey House, a fabulous old home located right next to the ocean, a place where Jackie spent many happy childhood afternoons.  But the Bailey House has strange stories and secrets surrounding it - not to mention its outrageous price tag.

When Jackie meets handsome Davis Erickson, who holds the key to the Bailey property, she believes God has answered both her prayers.  But as Jackie learns some disturbing details about Davis's past, she begins to wonder if her heart has lead her astray.  Will she risk her long-held dreams to find out the truth?

My Review:

I received this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.  If you would like to review books for Bethany House Publishers, you can click here to sign up.

This is a story that grabbed you from the beginning and wouldn't let you go until the end.  I loved Jackie, the main character.  She was down-to-earth and easily likable.  As I read her story, I wanted to warn her against the guy that seemed too good to be true.  I was hoping that his true colors would show and that Jackie would realize who her perfect match was.

The font was just the right size to make you want to keep reading.  I also loved the cover of this book.  It just looks so peaceful and relaxing.  It made me wish I lived closer to the ocean.

If you're looking for a delightfully entertaining read, then you should pick up a copy of this book and give it a go.

Happy Reading! =)

Blog Tour & Review: Red In The Flower Bed by Andrea Nepa

ISBN #: 9780981461991

About the Author:

(As given to me by the publisher)

Andrea Nepa is the mother of an adopted Vietnamese daughter named Leah. In 2001, Adoptions from the Heart assisted with the international adoption. Andrea dedicated her book to her daughter: "For my dear Leah, whose journey in her young life has already taken her to far away and unexpected places." In 2006, Leah was diagnosed with cancer. She is currently in remission. Andrea lives with Leah and her husband, David, in Haddonfield, New Jersey. She is a registered dietitian for the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

You can click here to visit Andrea's Facebook profile.

Summary:
(As given to my by the publisher)

The journey of adoption is beautifully depicted with the comforting imagery of a poppy flower who is welcomed into a garden family. It is a charming story of "seeds" being planted in the perfect place - exactly where they belong. Children and adults will enjoy this simple yet meaningful story and homespun illustrations. The book's loving approach helps children to understand adoption.

My Review:

I was contacted by Tribute Books inquiring if I would like to host a stop on the blog tour for this book.  Being a supporter of adoption, I agreed.

The book is absolutely precious.  I love the rhymes and the use of the flowers metaphor to represent the author's daughter.  It is a lovely children's story.

The artwork was refreshing and wonderful as well.  Instead of being actual drawn illustrations, they looked more like what you would see in a scrapbook; which ignites that feeling of warm memories and things that should be remembered and cherished.

To preview the book, you may click here.  You may also visit Tribute Books' website, Twitter page and/or Facebook page.  You can also visit this book's blog by clicking here where all of the blog tour hosts are being featured.

Happy Reading! =)

Review: Santa Claustrophobia by Mike Reiss

ISBN #: 0-14-240376-8

Page Count: 29

Copyright: 2002

About the Author & Illustrator:

(Taken from inside back cover)

Mike Reiss (author) has won four Emmy Awards for his work on The Simpsons.  His other books for unconventional children include How Murray Saved Christmas, The Boy Who Looked Like Lincoln, and The Great Show-and-Tell Disaster.

David Catrow (illustrator), who also illustrated How Murray Saved Christmas and The Boy Who Looked Like Lincoln, is a nationally syndicated editorial cartoonist and the illustrator of many books for children.  He has twice been honored with the New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year award.

Summary:

(Taken from back cover)

Meet Doc Holiday.  As a therapist he's helped everyone from the Thanksgiving Turkey, with his nightmares about Pilgrims, to Cupid, who's remarkably shy for a guy with no pants!  But when Saint Nick himself develops a fear of chimneys, the Doc has to round up the rest of the holiday gang to handle Christmas while Santa recuperates.  The challenges become obvious when the Easter Bunny paints all the toys pastel colors, Lincoln and Washington fight over who's in charge, Columbus insists he must sail west to go east to make the deliveries, and the April Fool manages to do everything wrong!  Christmas is out of control, and it's clear that only one person can set things right ...

My Review:

I wanted to start off this Christmas season by reviewing a Christmas book.  Now, I won't be reviewing Christmas-related books only for the month of December, but I will have a few interspersed here and there.

When I went to BAM! the other day, I saw this book on the $2 cart that was outside the store.  Right away, the cover art drew me in and I wanted to read it.

The illustrations were colorful and expressive.  They made you want to keep turning the page to see what else was drawn to coincide with the story.  After reading each page, I just kept looking at the illustrations to see every detail.  I don't remember the last illustrated book I viewed that made me want to just keep looking at the pictures.

The story ... or poem, I should say, for it was written in rhyme ... was adorable.  I loved it as well.  I like the fact that Santa has a breakdown due to stress and that the other holiday representatives pitch in to help him out.  It was cute, funny and made me smile.

This is definitely one Christmas story that I will read year after year.  =)

Book Blog Hop Friday #7

This is a weekly meme hosted by Jennifer at Crazy for Books.  This is a chance for people to visit other book-related blogs that they normally wouldn't find and/or visit on their own.  To participate, a question must be answered. 

Before we get to the question, I would like to welcome any new viewers/followers to my blog.  If you're an 'oldie but goodie' ... welcome back! =)

Now, this week's question is:

"What very popular and hyped book in the blogosphere did you NOT enjoy and how did you feel about posting your review?"

For this question, I will have to agree with Jennifer at Crazy For Books.  I try not to read a book while it is popular and hype.  I usually try to wait until the hoopla dies down before I'll even consider whether or not I want to read it.

What about you?

Review: Amy Inspired by Bethany Pierce

ISBN #: 978-0-7642-0850-8 (se)
Page Count: 320
Copyright: 2010

About the Author:

(Taken from back cover)

After completing a master's in Creative Writing and working as a visiting instructor at Miami University in Ohio, Bethany Pierce now lives with her husband in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she is a member of the McGuffey Art Center and continues to write.  Her first book, Feeling for Bones, was one of Publishers Weekly's Best Books of 2007.

Summary:

(Taken from back cover)

Amy Gallagher, aspiring writer, has an unabashed obsession with words.  She gave up a steady, albeit unexciting, job to pursue a life of writing.  However, two years and one master's degree later, she finds herself almost exactly right back where she started.  Discouraged by the growing pile of rejections from publishers and afraid that she has settled, Amy knows something has to change.

Then she meets the mysterious, attractive, and unavailable Eli.  Amy finds herself struggling to walk the fine line between friendship and something more with Eli, even as she tries to cope with the feeling that her friends and family are moving on without her.  When the unexpected begins pouring in, Amy doubts the love and fulfillment she seeks will ever come her way.  Forced to take a close look at who she has become, the state of her faith, and her aspirations for her life, she must make a choice: play it safe yet again or finally find the courage to follow her dreams.

My Review:

I received this novel from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.  If you would like to review books for Bethany House Publishers, you can click here to sign up.

I am one of the many individuals who has thought about taking up the art of writing ... not a novel necessarily, but writing nonetheless ... so, to read about a writer's life (even fictionally) was intriguing for me; for I know that, in some way, all fiction is based on a semblance of truth.

The major characters in the novel were well thought out and interacted well with each other.  The supporting characters had just enough depth to them that you felt like you recognized them as members of your own family.

Reading the novel made me feel several emotions: humor, sadness, indignation and thoughtfulness.  To have a novel invoke those feelings means that the author has written his/her story well ... which is what an author is supposed to do, correct?  Make you feel?  Whether it be passion, or anger, or humor, etc.

Some of you may even like to know that, even though this is a Christian novel, you weren't really "slapped in the face" with Christianity.  You knew which characters were Christians, but they weren't radical about it.  The author stuck more with what was going on with the characters.  The spiritual portions accentuated what was going on in the novel, rather than being the reason the novel was being written ... if that makes any sense to ya'll ...

It really is a novel that you would enjoy reading at least once, so why not pick up a copy? =)