Out of town...

My husband and I are leaving for Las Cruces tonight for our anniversary and we'll be gone for four days without the kids for the first time since they were born. Pray for us that we have a safe trip. Oh, and I may not read much fiction (I'm thinking) because since it's a special time for us, I'm hoping we'll be occupied in other ways. So don't be surprised if you e-mail me and don't hear back for a week. If I can find a cheap way to check my e-mail, I will. Otherwise...I hope to be otherwise engaged (LOL!)

Arizona wildflowers

I wish I had a picture I could post showing all of the Arizona wildflowers in my yard. And believe me, with over four acres of ranch property, I've got lots of them! They come in lovely shades of yellow, gold, orange, red, pink, purple, hot pink, white, fuschia, baby blue and more... Funny thing is they're actually weeds, but they look SO much like flowers that we just let them bloom and mow around them to spotlight their beauty. My kids once asked how you could tell if something was a weed or a flower since our weeds are SO pretty. I told them people plant the flowers, and God plants the weeds. So if something in your life seems like a weed right now, try to see the flower God planted instead.

My review of The Redemption by M. L. Tyndall

Lady Charlisse Bristol hits the open seas unescorted—on a quest to find her merchant father. The storms begin with her being shipwrecked and they don’t “let up” until the end of the story. She suffers hunger, hardship, abuse, rejection, near-ravishing on numerous occasions, and at times even battles her desire to fight due to her lack of faith. When buccaneer-turned-pirate Captain Edmund Merrick finds the shipwrecked Lady Charlisse nearly starved to death, he feels the need to protect her, but she is a reluctant and uncooperative captive. However, that doesn’t stop him from opening his heart to her and being willing to risk his life—if needed—to save her own, and to help her find her father.

The Redemption takes the reader on a journey through the Caribbean—but not on a cruise ship. The mode of transport is a vile and unsafe pirate ship. The culture, the hardships, the scream of muskets and scent of gunpowder from swivel guns, and the fierce battles on the open seas all combine to give the reader a realistic sense of the culture of the times. In fact, the blood and guts was so well done I would’ve thought a man had written the story!

On the softer side, I felt the salt and sand stiffening Charlisse’s dress as she stripped it off to aid her own survival. The hunger pangs, the anxiety, and the pain she experienced while nearly going mad on the island seemed real. I got a lump in my throat when the mean pirates fatally hurt her squawking friend. I wanted to wring their necks!!! I identified with her so much that I felt her pain!

The disgusting scents in the ship’s hold, the jail cells, and the Dead Reckoning “bar” were so vivid I felt like I was there. I had to smile at how many times poor Charlisse suffered at the hands of leering pirates, because even though she didn’t have faith in God at the time, He still helped her in her time of desperate need, especially when she called on Him to protect her from being ravished--which was often!

The Redemption is a fabulous love story in a rich setting wrought with the realities of living in the 1600s on the open seas. Life wasn’t fair, people died or were murdered for no good reason, and people weren’t valued unless they were white men. There were so many cliff-hangers in this novel I’m surprised I didn’t fall off my seat at least once. Just when I thought they were safe and all would be well, more trauma took place in Charlisse’s life. That woman went through a lot, but she learned a lot through her suffering. I enjoyed the faith piece as well, and the ending was fulfilling. I enjoyed this story so much I plan to read every book in the series. Highly recommended!

It's up! Check out my website!

I've posted some colors and pictures and am tweaking out the content. Wanna see it? I'd love to share even though it's not done yet. Here's the link...
www.michellesutton.net

About blogs and websites!

Goodness, I've altered my blog to delete the dots and now I can't remember how to get them back. Sheesh! That'll teach me to mess with a perfectly good system. I signed up for my very own website domain today. It's my pen name with .net on the end (.com was already taken) and though I've paid for it, the site isn't visible yet. They have to confirm payment and send me an e-mail telling me it's okay to get started. Then the issue is whether or not I want to monkey with my own template and design or have someone do it for me. What do you think this starving writer--who needs to stop messing with the computer and start reading for reviews or tweaking her manuscript--should do? I've already cleaned the toilets today! Just goes to show that no matter what, some things never change. Sigh...

About DragonKnight...

I'm reading DragonKnight by Donita K. Paul for the ACFW book of the month club. This book is really interesting as well as being very reader-friendly for a fantasy book. I don't mean that like it's an "easy" read, but that the story is readable even with all of the new words, creatures, and all that. I can see why my kids loved this series. They love fantasy and read books written for adults all the time (like Dekker's stuff.) I had to sneak this book to my office to read because my kids begged me not to read it without reading the first two books in the series. I know I can't read all three books that fast, so I'm reading snippets when I get a chance. I'm on page 68 and loving it so far.

Ever read a book that is so good you just want to scream and tell the world about it???

The Good Nearby by Nancy Moser (Tyndale, Oct. 2006)
is one of those books. I'm writing an "official" review for Christian Book Previews so I can't post my review just yet, but this is one story I suggest you pre-order or put on your wish list. The cover is cute, but it doesn't do the story justice. It's that awesome! Never before have I read a story that impacted me in the way this has. Through the story you see how God works everything for the good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. This principle is illustrated so beautifully that I want to tell the world to GO BUY THIS BOOK!!! I've never begged an author for an autographed copy of a book I've already read (the copy I reviewed is a galley), but this is one of those situations where I plan to do just that. There's a first time for everything, eh? I figure the worst thing she can do is say no, right?

Pictures of my niece Katie born August 19, 2006...

Daddy Dave (my brother-in-law) with Katie!




Katie with Mom! (my sister Suzette)



Katie in her carseat...ready to go home!

The benefits of having a mom as a book reviewer!!!

This is going to be a fun post. Let me tell you that my boys are pumped that I review books because they've gotten so many cool books they love/enjoy via me. Also, my son Nathan will be an endorser AGAIN for Bryan Davis's dragon series. That means that he reviews a galley, tells the author what he thinks of the story, then gets his name and quote in the book when it comes out. The first book in the new series is called the Eye of the Oracle and it's a prequel to the Dragons in Our Midst series. Nathan thinks Bryan is a flipping genius above and beyond Tolkkien and C. S. Lewis and my son is one picky reader who LOVES well-written fantasy. Just thought I'd let you know. My younger son has done reviews for Randy Mortenson and Robert Elmer (for his kids books.) So there you have it. Except for the fact that I read a lot, it has its advantages even for teenagers. Fortunately, my boys love to read. :)

What I'm reading this weekend--going into the 4th week of August--but not quite there yet...

I picked up MaryLu Tyndall's The Redemption today. I like the structure--intense scenes and short chapters so far. This style keeps me reading. I've picked up The Recital by Robert Elmer again. Love this line (the day after the couple's honeymoon,) "If that was sleep last night, girl, sign me up for more." Is that LOL funny or what. I just love twisted humor. :) I also started Together for Good by Melanie Dobson. Another winner. I can tell from the first few chapters that this is going to be a killer story. Georgia on Her Mind by Rachel Hauck is still on my nightstand winking at me. What a seductive book! LOL! And last but not least, The Good Nearby by Nancy Moser is touching my heart. I am almost done with that one. It's a very addicting story, but I promised myself I'd finish a few of the ones I'd already started before beginning another new novel! Okay, wait a minute. I have to start Dragonknight by Donita K. Paul. It's the book of the month book. So, that'll take priority.:)

My review of Fury by Jack Cavanaugh and Bill Bright

Fury starts out with a bang and doesn't let up! Set in 1825-1826, Fury captures the message of repentence and forgiveness through Charles Finney's preaching, when the revival now referred to as "The Great Awakening" shakes upstate New York. The main character, Daniel, is running for his life. As the reader, your pulse will pound with his as he tries to evade a killer hot on his trail. If only he had obeyed his uncle and stayed in bed. If only he hadn't been out that night, he wouldn't have seen his coworker murdered. Thus the story begins...

Daniel cries for help so many times, but no one believes his story about being pursued by the killer. He's angry with God, his uncle, and just about everyone for his losses. Daniel has also hardened his heart by resisting the Holy Spirit, but as he runs from the killer, he discovers that God had been there with him all along.

Fury is an engaging story demonstrating the power of deep faith, and the discouragement that often comes from battling fear, such as the real threats perceived by Daniel's gut instinct. Many difficult choices have to be made, and often without much time. When Daniel is dragged to church by friends to hear Finney preach, his world is altered...permanently.

Riveting and thought-provoking, Fury leads the reader down a dark path paved by the enemy, and places readers in various situations alongside the deceptive killer, the concerned uncle, the forsaken aunt, the runaway teen Daniel, and even Daniel's wimpy boss. From each of their points of view the reader gets a healthy dose of each characters' perspective.

There are light moments as well, to help break up the intensity of the story, like when Daniel pretends to be a tree come to life to scare off some boys who were picking on a younger brother, whom Daniel fiercely identified with. There were also tender moments like when Daniel realizes for the first time that beauty in a woman is much more than skin deep.

Fury is a passionate story about life during hard times, death nipping at the heels of a young man, the redemption of lives, and the impact revival can have on an entire community. Fury comes with my highest recommendation, especially to history buffs. The anticipated release date is September 5, 2006 and the title is published by Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster.

Finished! The Cubicle Next Door by Siri Mitchell

I highly recommend The Cubicle Next Door! But...I can't go into the details yet. Let me explain the exciting reason why I'm subjecting myself to such a harsh restriction. My review will be featured in the new ACFW newsletter which is going to be showcased at the conference in Dallas in Sept 2006. Until then I've agreed to refrain from posting an official review. Man, that bites! Talk about something being tough to do, especially when a story deserves to be ranted and raved over! But the scriptures say to honor your word and I promised...so I'll be a good little Christian for about five more weeks. Then I'll explode! I think this is my favorite of Siri's four books. Just you wait! Check back in September (and hopefully many more times before then) and I'll post my ACFW review AND I'll elaborate a bit since my personal blog has no limitations when it comes to word count. Hehehehe...

What I'm reading this 3rd week of August 2006

Another day, another dollar, or so they say. While working full-time takes up over forty hours every week, I still manage to slip in some quality reading. This week I'm reading The Good Nearby by Nancy Moser. The release date is October 2006. Great story! It’s right up there with Lisa Samson's latest. How do these ladies keep track of so many characters and do it so well?

Anyway, I'm also reading The Cubicle Next Door by Siri Mitchell. Another quality chick lit story, and lots of fun. I read EVERYTHING Siri writes! I'm still reading The Recital by Robert Elmer. Not sure why I'm dragging on this one. The writing is good and the story is interesting. Maybe it’s because the characters are much older than me. Hmmm...

I just picked up Georgia On Her Mind by Rachel Hauck. This is one easy read and very enjoyable for a chick lit novel. Then again, most of them are fun. Isn't that the point? I know, I know, I broke my own rule about reading two stories in the same genre at the same time. But Rachel's book literally yelled at me from the bookshelf and I heard it say it was feeling neglected. So, I, being the social worker I am, took that desperate book off the shelf and I'm glad I did. :)

I'm also reading Jack Cavanaugh's book Fury about the Great Awakenings back in mid 1800s in NY State (where I'm from.) That's an intriguing historical and kind of intense - you know… murder and all that... Like men tend to write. Blood and violence and intrigue and... :) Yah. I like each story. The trouble is going to be which book to pick up next after I finish one of these. I guess the one I finish first answers that question, eh?

Tag, you're it!

Okay, Crystal seems to have a "clue" about this game and I'm just hoping I don't slaughter the concept too much. :) So...Tag, You're It!

(This is where you introduce the blogger and talk about why you read the person's blog--the one who tagged you.)Crystal Miller is the fiction doctor and critiquer extraordinnaire! By that I mean she's wanted for her opinion. Wow, someday I'd love for that to be me. :) She's also pretty funny and loves to say ha! She's got me saying that now, too. Fiction reviewers unite! Ha! (See what I mean?) It's pathetic.

So here's the deal...I read Crystal's "Chat and Chew Cafe" blog on a regular basis (http://christianbookscout.blogspot.com) because she has a lot of wacky comments and interesting ideas with mucho snap! Plus she's a blonde "sister" and she tagged me. What that means is that someone tagged her as “it” (that would be Tricia Goyer, author of a bizillion novels - slight exaggeration, but at least 6) and so, according to the "rules," she had to tag five women bloggers to answer a question. The rules say: (try and read this closely. Sorry it's all jumbled together.)

1. Answer one of these questions(see below) on your blog.
2. Link back to whoever tagged you.
3. Tag 5 (or more) other bloggers.
4. Plus, check out previous responses, and if you know of a novel that pertains to the subject someone wishes they could write or would like to read about, suggest the novel to them in a comment.

Here are the questions you wonderful tagged people! (she said it had to be women bloggers only.) :(

(1)If you could write a novel about any subject, what would it be (Just the subject—don’t give away your plot idea.) * Like Crystal, I picked this one.
OR
(2)If just the thought of having to write anything gives you hives, what would you like to read about in a novel that you’ve never seen done before?
OR
(3)If you hate reading fiction (she says you can get counseling for that, but I find most refuse to face their problem) what subject might make you change your mind or try it anyway?

(This is my answer to the first question.) If I could write any novel I wanted to, I’d write on the subject(s) of:

A nun who leaves the convent in the 1950s (after joining as a high school freshman) to be a mother (for real) and a year later meets the man of her dreams. (That would be my dad.) Hehehehe. That would be based on a true story. Yep. The nun was my mom. BTW, the reason I haven't attempted this yet is that historical fiction requires research and I don't have the time to deal with all of that because I work full time. Now someday if I make mucho bucks as a best-selling author...hehehehe. I know, that's such a stretch of the imagination! Ha! (See how Crystal still influences me?)

Ok, now I tag Betsy - http://www.betsy-ann.blogspot.com , Mary - http://relevantblog.blogspot.com , Anna Marie - http://suziesis.blogspot.com , Margo - http://margosmoments.blogspot.com, Carolyn - http://chasingriley.blogspot.com , Mir -http://onceuponanovel.blogspot.com , LaShaunda - www.lashaunda.blogspot.com , Amy - http://peek-a-booicu.blogspot.com , and Robin - robinswritingworld.blogspot.com

Also, if you’re a reader, go ahead and play in the comment section—(note the three areas above) or email me with what you say, and I’ll post it on another day’s blog. I look forward to hearing from you or reading your posts.

My review of The Gathering Storm by Barbara Warren

The Gathering Storm is a pretty involved murder mystery. The whodunnit piece was very well done. Every chance I got, I grabbed the book to read more. That's a very good sign considering I have about thirty books to read.

As far as characterization goes, the author did a great job keeping about ten different key players distinct throughout the book. The initial murder was abrupt so I didn't get to know the victim very well before he was no longer in the story. The daughter seemed to flip from hating her dad to refusing to stop until his killer was found. That switch-off didn't work so well for me. The fact that the plot was interesting and kept my attention made up for that small weakness. There were at least four people that I flipflopped over in regards to their guilt.

The twisted ending suprised me, but that's good. I don't want it to be too easy to solve. The author did a bang-up job at making you get whiplash trying to decide who the killer was in their midst. The tale was enthralling and the faith piece was pretty good, too, though I did feel like the heroine transitioned too quickly to faith in Christ after resisting for so long. But that's just my opinion. It's certainly not enough to take away the overall entertainment value of this book.

I sort of felt like I was in a Perry Mason show with occasional victims showing up and upping the anxiety a little more each time. For a murder mystery, this probably ranks as one of my favorites. It's original, fresh, and definitely worth reading, IMHO. The Gathering Storm is due to be released September 19, 2006 by Jireh Publishing.

My review of Straight Up by Lisa Samson as seen on the Christian Book Preview site...

This review was first published for the Christian Book Preview site. You can link to the site by clicking on http://christianbookpreview.com


A unique, gripping novel, Straight Up breaks a lot of CBA "rules." The main characters are Georgia--a jazz musician who has neglected her "gift," and Fairly--an interior designer. They were cousins and abandoned by their parents through death. They were subsequently abandoned by their spouses. Fairly's died and Georgia's "found religion."

Both main characters went "looking for love in all the wrong places." Georgia found comfort in alchohol, and Fairly dealt with her loss through her relationships with men. Georgia continues to deteriorate until tragedy occurs. She entered "pink." Without giving you a spoiler, I'll just say that it's a very interesting place where Georgia learns a lot about herself. A minor character, Clarissa, was interspersed throughout the story, but her point of view was in the third person, rather than the first person like Georgia and Fairly's point of view. Clarissa was adopted and somewhat detached from life. She lived in a chronic survival mode and was pretty much rejected and abused by everyone. I felt so sorry for her.

For the longest time I wondered how Clarissa would finally connect with the rest of the "cast," but I won't spoil it and tell you how that happens. Let me just say that it's one of those endings that leaves you thinking for hours.

Straight Up was a gourmet meal for my finicky pallet. Let me explain why. The author gives you a blend of varying dates and characters to begin with to whet your appetite. Now I have to say at first this confused me, but once I got the feel and texture of each main character I savored the meal. Parts of Straight Up had me grieving, other parts had me wanting to slap the characters, yet I also admired them for being honest with themselves even if they weren't as honest with others. A-hem. It's called pride.

In Straight Up, the author "told it like it is." No fluff here. She gave me a glimpse into the lives of some pretty heartbroken people who looked okay--for the most part--to the rest of the world. I cared so much about them that I entered their lives. I must say the story made total sense to me. I loved how the author slipped a bit of God's perspective into the mix. What an incredibly creative way to explain things too difficult to understand outside of Christ, and then introduce Him in a way that actually attracts the reader. The author literally prepared some wounded souls for the banquet table, and you ate right along with them.

Straight Up is real, it's honest, and it's one of those life-changing stories that sticks with you for a long time. The message? You can't go back and fix the past. But you can make a difference today. I enjoyed every minute of this insightful story. Straight Up comes with my highest recommendation. Straight Up was published by Waterbrook Press and is scheduled to be released on September 19, 2006.

What I'm reading this 2nd week of August...

I started Lisa Samson's book Straight Up. It's due to be released September 19th by Waterbrook. I've read about 1/3 of the story and so far I like it. This is one interesting novel. At first I was confused due to so many different characters and time periods, but then as I got to know the characters that no longer mattered. Lisa Samson is a master at making you care about the characters and creating realistic scenarios for them. There are no perfect Christians in this book. How refreshing!

I began The Gathering Storm by Barbara Warren. This book is also scheduled for release in September by Jireh Publishing. I'm still reading The Recital by Robert Elmer. That story has already been released so I'm not reading it as quickly as I would otherwise. The publisher is also Waterbrook and I'm about 1/4 of the way through the story. I also began Fury by Jack Cavanaugh. It's scheduled for release September 5th by Howard Publishing. So far it's definitely unique for a historical. I'm on chapter 4. I hope to post a review of this one on PastTimes blog when I'm finished. So many good books, so little time.

I received 8 books in the mail last week alone. Eek! Since I'm a little bit insane, I think I'll also start The Cubicle Next Door by Siri Mitchell tonight as it was just released August 8th by Harvest House. I love all of Siri's books! Since they're different genres I can do it, no problem. :)

My review of Arms of Deliverance by Tricia Goyer

Arms of Deliverance is a powerful and fascinating tale portraying the evil of the Nazi regime and the heroic people who resisted by refusing to conform. And, as usual, Tricia's storyline and writing is as gripping as the Thoene's, and I've read all of their books. One character's plight I found particularly gripping. Rebecca Lodz, a Czech Jewess, had to change her name to Katrine and pass herself off as Aryan to survive, only to end up in the Lebensborn project, where German babies were bred for the Reich.

Two female reporters were sent on dangerous missions (at their request) to report tales of heroism to inspire Americans and boost morale. Unfortunately, they both encountered terrors of war that made them question their judgment, but they "hung in there" despite their fear. They experienced things that imbedded in their minds and changed their hearts forever. (I love how Tricia always has strong female heroines in her books. Yes, even Rebecca had incredible strength.)

The Destiny's Child navigator, Eddie, is incredible and handsome--the ultimate hero, and of course, a Christian. He bonds to one of the female reporters during their plight and he proposes a plan that has Mary afraid--the title's name sake, yet she agrees to trust God. (I don't know how she does it, but Tricia always has me sighing over the guys in her stories.)

The author also does what most excellent authors do...she takes the characters' worst fears and makes it happen, then adds even more trials to their load. Great writing. Excellent twists and turns. Incredible plot. Strong faith element. Enthralling story. I don't want this series to ever end. What a great way to teach young people today about true heroism in the midst of a cynical society obsessed with self-preservation. Arms of Deliverance is Published by Moody and released in July 2006.

My review of Murder, Mayhem, and a Fine Man by Claudia Mair Burney

Murder, Mayhem, and a Fine Man is the perfect title for this unique mystery. One of my favorite lines... He put his elbows on the table and gave me an endearing look. "Let's debrief." (and the heroine replies) "Coming from you, that sounds nasty." Why did my furniture seem so very small? (Is that funny or what?)

One of the endorsers called this work of art sassy. Not only is it loaded with sass, but it also has spunk, intrigue, and some mighty terrible villains. I loved how Bell, the heroine, teased her sister, Carly, for working with dead people (sister is a medical examiner) and Carly teased Bell about having crazy people for clients. The one-liners have snap! The author did such a bang-up job describing the crime scene it made me want to hurl right along with the heroine. Okay, so I had a stomach bug today...But I still identified with the heroine. Seriously, I read this book straight through. It's that engrossing.

More than once my eyebrows raised at something the author wrote, and I thought...THIS was published by a CBA publisher? Then a slow smile tugged at my mouth. It made me want to give the author a high-five. Go Claudia! Her story has it all! Lots of teasing and sexual tension, extreme emotions like fear, some pretty scary people, tender moments, spiritual depth, and a whole lotta fun. I especially liked Jazz's parents and their twisted sense of humor.

While described as chick-lit with flava, I say this cool read contains a whole lot more. Try mystery/suspense/romance/women's fiction/chick lit. I think Claudia Mair Burney created a fresh, new genre. :) Murder, Mayhem, and a Fine Man was published in July 2006 by NavPress.

My review of The Secret Life of Becky Miller by Sharon Hinck

What a fantastic story about letting go and letting God...The Secret Life of Becky Miller really touched my heart. The question, "Where is God when things get tough?" came up more than once during this entertaining and powerful story of commitment and God's grace. I loved how the core group of women from her church met regularly to encourage each other. Talk about the importance of small support groups! Every church should have a place of refuge for women like Becky Miller.

I experienced depth and emotional honesty as her husband, Kevin, struggled to resolve his own childhood issues. The emotional conflict was real-life stuff, and I felt Becky's pain as everything seemed to slip from her capable hands. The same thing happened to my mother when I was growing up. All she wanted her entire life was to be a good mother, because she was only seven when her own mother died. So what happened while her four children were still young? Her body was crippled with MS. My mom had to abandon the caretaker role and receive the caretaking. That was SO hard for my mom. But like Becky, she found God in the midst of it all and our family benefitted from her increased faith. Until Becky Miller was willing to give all of her hopes and dreams to God, she struggled. And guess what? He knew what He was doing all along. Imagine a satisfied sigh right about here.

The Secret Life of Becky Miller is one beautiful and inspiring story about an ordinary mom who could do extraordinary things for God...once she stepped out of the way. Oh, and those little story snippets at the beginning of each chapter made me smile. The Secret Life of Becky Miller was published by Bethany House in June 2006.

What I'm reading this weekend; the 1st week of August...

I received some galleys in the mail yesterday...with deadlines. Someday I'll hold my own galley, but for now I read the work of gifted authors and review them for their publishers. The first one I'm reading is called Straight Up by Lisa Samson. The release date is Sept. 19th, so there is little time to waste. I also received The Good Nearby by Nancy Moser, but that isn't coming out until October, so I have some time to get that one read.

I finished Seeing in the Dark and posted that review already. Great book. I read it in less than two days. I also started The Recital by Robert Elmer yesterday. So far it's quite unique. The same goes for The Secret Life of Becky Miller by Sharon Hinck. Cute story and full of spiritual insight. Love it! Especially the part about Barbie's lungs. Hilarious!

So...hopefully by the end of the day I will have finished one of these three books so I can post another review. Then I'll start Murder, Mayhem and a Fine Man by Claudia Burney, and Arms of Deliverance by Tricia Goyer. SO many good books, so little time.

When I think about the ACFW conference coming up in September in Dallas, Texas...

it makes me want to dance, eat lots of chocolate, and network like crazy. Can't wait to see you all at my third annual chocolate party! Look out Dallas, here we come! This is the year for book contracts. I can almost taste it...YES!!!

My review of Seeing in the Dark by Gary Kinnaman and Richard Jacobs, MD.

By far the best resource book on depression I've read to date, Seeing in the Dark is the ultimate tool for treating the depressed Christian, which according to the authors - one a pastor and the other a doctor - is NOT an oxymoron.

I loved the message in this book, plus it's very reader friendly. By that I mean you don't have to have a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology to understand it (though in my case, I have that degree.) Too many times I've heard people trying to explain depression away, and like Job's friends, the help offered only makes the person feel worse because it's often NOT helpful.

At any rate, Seeing in the Dark touches on the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of depression in a powerful and honest way. Both authors have first-hand experience with depression. One has the diagnosis and the other is married to a woman who has the diagnosis. They skillfully address myths about depression as well as revealing ways to treat the illness, and how to identify whether or not you have it. Clinical depression is also distinguished from normal depression via grief, sadness, loss, etc. The differences are made very clear in this book.

It's also small and concise so as not to overwhelm the reader with the facts. Personal examples are disbursed throughout to hold the reader's attention. I highly recommend Seeing in the Dark for people who want a better understanding of this pervasive and non-discriminating illness that rains on the just as well as the unjust. I normally dislike non-fiction but found this book very encouraging. Seeing in the Dark was released August 1, 2006 by Bethany House Publishers.

My review of Cowboy by Staci Stallings

Cowboy. Wow! Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a single mom, working your tail off to make ends me,and then in walks Garth Brooks into your dumpy little restaurant on a slow, rainy night? He's dressed casually and he asks you for a simple cup of coffee...but he needs a whole lot more. He's down in the dumps and feels like nothing will make him want to keep on living. Since you're not a fan of country music and your job as a waitress and parenting your five-year-old is your entire life, you don't recognize him. Okay, well maybe not someone as famous as Garth, but hey, I don't know what most of the country superstars look like so it's possible. :) Anyway, you don't recognize him and the guy is so depressed he throws caution to the wind and shares his heart with you, but he gives you his real name because he's sick of the superstar treatment.

You connect on a deep level. One that's from the heart because you're not star-struck by him...Remember, you don't realize he's famous. Then he asks for your phone number so you can keep in touch and as a sister in Christ you give it to him because you really do want to minister to the guy. You feel his pain. You've experienced the same loss when your spouse died. Well he starts calling you and you strike up a pretty profound friendship based on mutual respect and the human need to be valued for who you really are, not what people see you as on the outside (a famous singer or waitress.) Your friendship deepens and he sees his need for God, but resists like most people do at first.

Are you with me yet?

Okay, the waitress is Charlize Theron and the singer is Garth Brooks. I can SO see this as a movie it gives me the goose bumps. Staci's novel Cowboy had me SO captivated that I read it every chance I got. I cared so much about the characters that I hated for the story to end. The pacing was excellent, and Staci does something neat that you don't see often in books. She sometimes changes points of view on a frequent basis, but the breaks are obvious when the view changes, so it's not head hopping. I found that technique highly effective in her story. It literally swept me away.

As far as romance themes go, it was one of the strongest I've read. My heart ached and I longed for them to be together, to make it work. And the singer's relationship with the waitresses' daughter will bring tears to your eyes. It did mine. This was the most fabulous Cinderella type story I've ever read and it was totally unique. Nothing stereotypical or cliche whatsoever. Did I mention this story was fabulous? You're probably thinking I like everything. NOT so. In fact, I read a lot of books you never see me post because I can't rave about them. This story I was obsessed with. Truly. And the honesty in their relationship when it came to physical attraction and temptation was refreshingly real. They were both married before and lost their spouses. Of COURSE they would be tempted. The author showed this with tact, but real emotion and I felt like I was right there with them.

I can see this book as a best seller if the right publishing house would pick it up. The author's ability to make you care about the characters is right up there with Lori Wick (in my mind anyway.) Cowboy has it all...spiritual depth, deep emotion and baskets full of love! So, that said...if you don't read Cowboy you are truly missing out on one of the most gripping contemporary romances I've read in the past three years. Cowboy was published by Staci Stallings via Lulu and Spirit Light Publishing in 2006.

My review of Do Princesses Scrape Their Knees by Carmela La Vigna Coyle

As usual, Carmela has created an endearing story about the "Princess" who has exciting adventures. Do Princesses Scrape Their Knees? is catchy book with cute rhymes and adorable pictures. For kids, sometimes that's the most entertaining part of a book. The princess in the story is nice to her brother and encourages him to try new things while sometimes demonstrating and falling herself. The moral of the story is good. Keep trying and don't worry if you fail. Be a good sport about it. I liked this story almost as much as Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? This is probably my favorite author of story books for little girls.