I started reading Love on the Line in October 16, 2009.  How do I remember the exact date?  Easy, that was the day I found out that you can download a new book on your Kindle in the middle of nowhere Washington.  (No, I wasn’t driving.)  But, that’s how BORING this book was.  It was next to read (this was way back when I only had a couple books on my Kindle unlike the 130+ books I have to read on there now) so I started it, but it was so stinking boring that I downloaded something new driving 65 MPH across Nowhereville, Washington on the way to Leavenworth for Oktoberfest.

But, with that being said you’re probably asking why I’m reviewing it.  Easy, I finally finished it.  Don’t ask me how, but I will tell you why.  I am a little obsessed with finishing books.  I don’t like leaving things unfinished and I wanted this thing removed from my Kindle.  So, I finished it.  But, seriously, much more of these and I’ll learn how to DELETE mid-book.

So, there you have it.  (And, in case that isn’t enough — DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME.)

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From the Cover

Thea Morgan, a widow, has worked many years to reach the top of her profession, and as an African American woman, she’s had to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. Then she marries former sports celebrity Xavier Thornton, who has left wealth and fame to answer the call of the ministry. When Xavier says yes to an appointment at a small AME church in Arkansas, the charismatic athlete is greeted with open arms. The congregation’s reaction to Thea is another story altogether. Her skin is suspiciously light, and she has a career of her own. They expect what they consider to be a traditional preacher’s wife—a soft-spoken, modestly dressed woman who’s ready to volunteer at the church at the drop of a hat. In the meantime, Thea’s biracial daughter, Jesse, is having identity problems of her own. Castoro’s many-faceted novel honestly addresses significant universal issues—the give-and-take of marriage, self-sacrifice, the search for identity, prejudice, and preconceptions. Readers who enjoy emotionally fulfilling stories will find that this one more than fits the bill. –Shelley Mosley

I thought I had read other books by Gilbert Morris in the past and enjoyed them.  However, The Homeplace wasn’t one to add to that list.  Either I have him mixed up with someone else or my tastes have changed or his writing has gone downhill.  Don’t get me wrong, this book wasn’t bad, it was just dull.  It all seemed pretty predicable as far as story lines go and the writing was nothing to get excited about.

But, if you’ve exhausted your options and see this on the shelf get it but there are too many other good reads out there for me to recommend you run out and buy it.

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From the Cover

As the year 1928 begins, fourteen-year-old Lanie Belle Freeman of Fairhope, Arkansas, has bright hopes for the future. Her father has launched a new business, and her mother is expecting her fifth baby. Lanie has dreams of going to college and being a writer.

Then tragedy strikes.

First Lanie’s mother dies giving birth to the baby, and Lanie must assume the role of surrogate mother to her younger siblings. Then her father is falsely accused of murder—and convicted! With their father in prison, Lanie and her brothers and sisters do all they can to keep the family together, and hold on to their home.

In the face of a world shaken by the Great Depression, this young family finds salvation and encouragement in faith, family, and the tight-knit community of Fairhope. With warmth and an unflagging sense of humor, Lanie leads her siblings into a future that, against all odds, holds the promise of hope and love. Book One in the Fairhope Series.

This was my first book by Lynn Austin, it was a free Kindle download so it was a no-brainer to get it.  I was looking for my next read and this looked interesting.  It started out very slow (I literally almost stopped reading it after chapter one) but I’m glad I finished it.

A Proper Pursuit is the story of a 20-year old during the summer of 1893.  She’s single and visits her Grandmother and Aunts in Chicago by herself.  It’s a story of her coming in to herself and finding who she is and who her family is.

I enjoy reading historical romance novels.  Reading this book I realized how void so many are in giving the reality of the lack of a woman’s rights during these times.  I take that for granted because, let’s face it, I don’t know what it’s like.  I’m single, I’m successful, and I have made a name for myself as a WOMAN.  It wasn’t that long ago, that the life I live would not have been a possibility for a woman.  This book discusses that and it gave me a new appreciation for what I have in life.

So, now I want to go read some more history on the woman’s rights movement and that time period.  But, yes, I recommend this book (just keep reading past chapter 1 or 2 and you’ll like it).

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From the Cover

Christy award-winning historical novelist Austin delivers her strongest offering yet, a coming-of-age story set in late-19th-century Illinois. The great strength of this novel comes from the first-person narrator’s charming voice: 20-year-old Violet Hayes is distressed to learn that her father is remarrying-and that her mother, whom Violet believed lay recovering from a mysterious illness in a sanitarium somewhere, had in fact simply abandoned her family and filed for divorce. To escape a stepmother-to-be she can’t stand, Violet heads to Chicago to stay with her grandmother and great-aunts. Although she’s recently graduated from a genteel school for young ladies, it’s in Chicago that Violet’s real education begins. One great-aunt tries to persuade her to join the suffrage movement, while another introduces Violet to elite society and urges her to catch a wealthy husband. Her grandmother, who takes her cues from Jane Addams, introduces Violet to the world of revivalist Christianity and inner-city good works, prompting Violet to re-examine her own faith. Two questions drive the plot: will Violet find her mother, and will she encounter true love? Readers will enjoy accompanying Violet as she discovers the answers, her calling and her adult self.

I have to admit, this was my first book by Jodi Picoult.  I have heard a lot of great things about her other books so when I realized I had this one on my Kindle already decided to read it to see how she is as an author.

I’m not sure Change of Heart was my best choice to test out her work.

The book isn’t bad, I was engrossed from start to finish.  There were a few parts that kind of bored me but I really wanted to get to the end to see what happened.  For that, I give it a thumbs up.

On the other hand, I had a hard time reading some of the religious “stuff” put into the book which turned me off.  If this had not been my first book written by this author it probably wouldn’t have had such an effect on my opinion.  It was, however.  But, I’ll try another one since I’ve heard so many raving reviews of other books by Picoult.

Despite my issues with the religious points brought into the story the book was good.

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From the Cover

Shay Bourne – New Hampshire’s first death row prisoner in 69 years – has only one last request: to donate his heart post-execution to the sister of his victim, who is looking for a transplant. Bourne says it’s the only way he can redeem himself…but with lethal injection as his form of execution, this is medically impossible. Enter Father Michael Wright, a young local priest. Called in as Shay’s spiritual advisor, he knows redemption has nothing to do with organ donation – and plans to convince Bourne. But then Bourne begins to perform miracles at the prison that are witnessed by officers, fellow inmates, and even Father Michael – and the media begins to call him a messiah. Could an unkempt, bipolar, convicted murderer be a savior? It seems highly unlikely, to the priest. Until he realizes that the things Shay says may not come from the Bible…but are, verbatim, from a gospel that the early Christian church rejected two thousand years ago…and that is still considered heresy.

So to end my holiday three-day weekend, I finished my sixth book.  I know, insane.  A couple I’d started before the weekend and just finished them the last few days.  The rest, well, I needed some rest.

So, book #6 this weekend was Daring Chloe, a new author (again) for me and a pretty good one at that.  This book was a free download on my Kindle but I will definitely read another of her books.

I will admit, that the Parish section was a little slow for me.  A little too descriptive and it dragged on quite a bit.  But, the rest of the book was really good.

Heck, I actually wanted to be a little more adventurous because of the book and it piqued my interest on a few other books I’d like to read.

All-in-all a good, light read.

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From the Cover

When Chloe Adams’ fiance dumps her—the night before their wedding—two girlfriends from her book group decide a little adventure is in order for the three of them. After all, why let a perfectly good honeymoon cruise go to waste?

Adventure? Chloe Adams? No way! Chloe’s lived in one town her whole life. The closest she’s ever gotten to actual adventures is reading about them. But her girlfriends won’t take no for an answer.

One good adventure calls for another as Chloe’s friends try to coax her out of her post-dumping funk, and soon she finds herself living out the adventures in her book club’s latest selections. Hiking. Sailing. River rafting. Traveling to new places and eating exotic food. The play-it-safe Chloe begins to blossom into a new, daring Chloe. A Chloe who just might be ready to take on her biggest adventure of all …

Laura Jensen Walker has a knack for quirky heroines and real-life humor. In Chloe, she’s created another memorable character who will live on in readers’ hearts.

So, in my mad reading frenzy this weekend I finished another book.  I actually started Talk of the Town earlier this week…it just took me until Saturday to finish it.

So, verdicts still out.  The book got really good reviews, it surprises me that so many people gave it 5 stars, but, whatever.  It was a fun read, I guess just not 5 star material in my opinion.

In all honestly, the story read like the life and times of Kellie Pickler.  It’s the story of a girl on a reality TV show that has a music contract at the winner.  The girl is small town, lives with her grandfather, hick-chick.

Honestly, I think my mom would love the book.  But, she likes American Idol too much…it might ruin it for her.

Anyway, the story was OK.  The kindle download was free and it wasn’t a complete waste of my time reading it.

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From the Cover

The show American Megastar is the hottest thing on television but its associate producer, Mandalay Florentino, is worried. She’s just arrived in the tiny town of Daily, Texas, to arrange a surprise “reunion concert” for hometown finalist Amber Amberson. Only it turns out everyone in town seems to know the secret. And paparazzi are arriving. Word from Hollywood is that Amber has disappeared with a “bad boy” actor. Can anything go right in this tumbleweed town? Imagene Doll loves her town of Daily, Texas, but things are lonely without her beloved husband. Life seems dull. At least until that fancy-dressed woman pulls into town, looking terrified and glamorous all at once. Soon life’s not the least bit boring as Imagene and the rest of Daily find themselves at the center of a media maelstrom–with a young girl’s future on the line.

I woke up  yesterday not feeling well and after working all day (bleh, I had meetings and appointments) I left a little early after texting a friend that I needed to find some good reading for a weekend on the couch under some blankets.  She recommended two books, one being A Scattered Life.  This looked interesting, and it was on the shorter side, so I decided to read this one first.

It was good.

The writer does an excellent job bringing you in to the character’s lives.  I actually felt sorry for the meddlesome mother-in-law.  I laughed and cried while reading this story.

If you have a Kindle, I’d recommend picking it up, it is most definitely worth the $1.99 price tag!  Karen McQuestion is a new-to-me author that I’ll definitely be adding to my list of authors to watch and read.

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From the Cover

When free-spirited Skyla marries proper and predictable Thomas Plinka, she finally finds the love and stability she’s craved since childhood. She also acquires a new family: mother-in-law Audrey, disapproving and suspicious of Skyla’s nomadic past; father-in-law Walt, gruff but kind; and Thomas’s brothers, sofa-bound Jeffrey, and Dennis, who moved across the country seemingly to avoid the family.

Skyla settles into marriage and motherhood, but quiet life in small-town Wisconsin can’t quell feelings of restlessness. Then into her life comes Madame Picard, the local psychic from the disreputable bookstore, Mystic Books, and new neighbor, Roxanne, whose goal in life is to have twelve kids even though she can’t manage the five she has. Despite her family’s objections, Skyla befriends Roxanne and gets a job at the bookstore, and life gets fuller and more complicated than she ever imagined.

Exceptionally heartwarming and inevitably bittersweet, A Scattered Life is a story that will stay with the reader long after the last page is read.

The end of last year I read Conspiracy in Kiev (The Russian Trilogy, Book 1) and loved it. When I downloaded Conspiracy in Kiev book 2 in the trilogy, Midnight in Madrid, was available as well as a free download so obviously I got it.  After I finished book 1 I couldn’t wait to read book two.  I just finished Midnight in Madrid (The Russian Trilogy, Book 2) and I have to tell you it was pure torture to complete.

Talk about disappointing.

I have raved to friends and family about what a great author Noel Hynd is and now I’m regretting my praise.  This book was all over the place.  Part history book — and I’m not talking the interesting history lessons thrown into a good novel.  No, I’m talking the boring history lectures I got in high school that made me think history was a directive of the devil.

Then we have the language issue.  The book (obviously) is set in Europe, mainly Spain.  So, to be authentic, I guess, the author decided to throw a bit of Spanish, Italian, French, and a few other languages that I couldn’t even figure out into the book.  Unfortunately, he doesn’t always translate them.  Or if he does you have to skim through full paragraphs before you get to the translation.  Now, yes, you could say I should broaden my intellect and learn a new language but it’s really  not my desire to be forced to learn (or decipher) four new languages through the course of a novel that I’m reading for enjoyment.

Now, page after page of boring history lesson and my lack of ability to read large portions of the text due to the language issue aside.  The book was rather boring.  I’m all for a good Christian novel, this was not that.  Part way through the story he throws in a very poorly written and not scripturally sound evangelistic chapter.  Now, I’m all for sharing the gospel, but this was so out in left field, so blah and inaccurate that it almost made me put the book down.  Then we end (or near the end) of the book with the main character starting to doubt her own faith.

On a good note, however, the tunnel scenes were very well written.  I actually found myself feeling claustrophobic from reading the portion.

So, while I do still recommend Conspiracy in Kiev I don’t recommend Midnight in Madrid and will not be buying book 3, Countdown in Cairo, and I’m sad to say that this book has most likely turned me off from trying another Noel Hynd book again.  Unless there’s one offered for a free Kindle download.

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From the Cover

When a mysterious relic is stolen from a Madrid museum, people are dying to discover its secrets. Literally. U.S. Treasury agent Alexandra LaDuca returns from Conspiracy in Kiev to track down the stolen artwork, a small carving called The Pietà of Malta. It seems to be a simple assignment, but nothing about this job is simple, as the mysteries and legends surrounding the relic become increasingly complex with claims of supernatural power. As aggressive, relentless, and stubborn as ever, Alex crisscrosses Europe through a web of intrigue, danger, and betrayal, joined by a polished, mysterious new partner. With echoes of classic detective and suspense fiction from The Maltese Falcon to The Da Vinci Code, Midnight in Madrid takes the reader on a nonstop spellbinding chase through a modern world of terrorists, art thieves, and cold-blooded killers.

I read Conspiracy in Kiev (The Russian Trilogy, Book 1) by Noel Hynd the end of last year.  I’ve never ready anything by this offer but it (and book 2) were available at the time as free Kindle downloads so I got them.

WOW! I’m so glad I did.  I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book.  I haven’t read Book 2 yet but only because I’d just finished two spy/crime books and wanted a different genre.

I read the reviews on Amazon and was a little surprised at some of them.  The books is classified as a Christian Fiction.  I don’t have an issue with that classification, I was just surprised at some of the reviews — or rather I found them funny, I guess I should say.  There were a few (what I would assume to be) non-Christians who made a point of saying “this should be classified as Christian Fiction” (I’m assuming it wasn’t at that point).  Then a few Christians were saying “this should NOT be classified as Christian Fiction”.

I had to laugh.  I read and enjoy Christian Fiction.  I can see why this is classified Christian Fiction but I don’t understand the issue each “side” had with the classification.  It’s not a book of salvation, it never talks about salvation or the path to salvation.  The main character is a Christian, she occasionally goes to church to pray when she’s frustrated at a point.  God/faith/religion is mentioned in the book but in a way that just makes it part of the main character’s life.  Honestly, if I could find more Christian Fiction that is written like this I’d be a very happy person.  It’s a story of a person whose faith is a part of her life but it wasn’t hokey or preachy or cheesy or anything.  It was just written with many of the same values I hold for myself and a very fun read.

Honestly, I have recommended this to Christian and non-Christian friends alike and will continue to do so.  I liked the book.  I think my Christian friends would enjoy reading it for the action and mystery that is in the story but also because it holds many of the same values that they hold.  I think my non-Christian friends would enjoy the book for the action and mystery and the fact that it’s just a good book but they won’t roll their eyes at it and claim it hokey.

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From the Cover

A shrewd investigator and an expert marksman, Special Agent Alexandra LaDuca can handle any case the FBI gives her. Or can she? While on loan from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Alex is tapped to accompany a Secret Service team during an American Presidential visit to Ukraine. Her assignment: to keep personal watch over Yuri Federov, the most charming and most notorious gangster in the region. Against her better judgment—and fighting a feeling that she’s being manipulated—she leaves for Ukraine. But there are more parts to this dangerous mission than anyone suspects, and connecting the dots takes Alex across three continents and through some life-altering discoveries about herself, her work, her faith, and her future. Conspiracy in Kiev—from the first double-cross to the stunning final pages—is the kind of solid, fast-paced espionage thriller only Noel Hynd can write. For those who have never read Noel Hynd, this first book in The Russian Trilogy is the perfect place to start.

I’ve been looking for a bible reading app for my BlackBerry for a while now.  I’ve wanted something that would allow me to pull up a verse but also something that would give me something to read every day.  I’ve really looked for an online daily devotional or bible reading site that I liked but have had a rough time finding one.  Well, last night I think I accomplished what I set out a long time ago to do.

Offers a BlackBerry app along with a free website with RSS feed.  You can choose your daily reading plan and every morning your verses are available for you.  I chose to go with the Project 345 reading plan.

Project 3:45 is a simple, effective way to read the entire New Testament in one year. The plan involves reading one chapter per day five days a week and uses the weekends to catch up if you missed any days. The plan was named for the average of the three minutes and forty five seconds that it takes to read one New Testament chapter (obviously this time will vary due to individual reading rates, chapter lengths, and etc., but you get the point). It’s never too late, start today!

So, today’s reading was John 1.  So, considering that one of my goals for the new year is to be more consistent with my Bible reading, I’m glad I found this when I did.