Touched up...impressive! My freckles are gone!

My review of Wish I'd Known You Tears Ago

Wish I'd Known You Tears Ago is such an appropriate title for this story. The author could easily continue this series, but if he doesn't, it was a satisfying conclusion to the previous two books. But because there was a loose end with Mrs. Tagley's money, I'm thinking there may be a book four in the works. If so, I plan to read it! It's hard to say which story in this series I liked the best. They were all so good, but in different ways. This third one started out with so much action it was hard to stop reading. The fun continued throughout the story at a steady pace. There was just enough tension and intrigue to keep my attention until the end. No sagging middle or useless scenes. I feel like I know the characters in the story as personal friends. I personally think that Devy's choice in regards to her cowboy "love interest" was the best one. I loved the bantering between Dev and her daughter and found it endearing as well as very emotionally touching at times. The guy humor was a hoot as it SO fit the story. Casey Cree-Ryder is probably the most zany character I've had the pleasure of knowing. She was just too much fun. I'm glad she's found happiness as well. Now, I just want to know, Mr. Bly...Is there going to be a book 4?

Something to sing about...

As a Gen-X parent I often worry about how my kids will turn out. I worked very hard to teach both of my sons how to show empathy and apologize, but sometimes you wonder if you didn't prompt your kids if they would ever spontaneously do that as needed on their own. I have a huge praise. My oldest son (14) who is huge (6' 2") actually apologized to my husband for giving him a hard time. He did this without being asked. Now that makes me want to sing. He's always apologized to me, but with his dad it's a new thing. Also, my oldest is not afraid to hug me in front of anyone, including other teens. I think that's so cool. He also prefers to wear Christian tee shirts over all others. He's found his identity in Christ. Now THAT'S something to sing about. :) Just had to share that praise today. I couldn't contain it!

Why all the photos?

Instead of reading for reviews, I've been playing with this silly photo editor. I love how you can crop a picture, change the color, sharpen, soften, etc. It's addicting trying to find just the right combination. I think I'll stop now, though, as nothing else is getting done!

me 

Another look 

Promo photo 

Michelle profile photo 

Arizona sunset from my back porch 

My review of Leather and Lace by Diann Mills

Leather and Lace portrayed love and forgiveness in a powerful way. It was fabulous! I read Leather and Lace in one day. I can honestly say I've never read a more engrossing western with such a complex and intriguing heroine. The author did an excellent job portraying the villian so that the reader was tense through much of the story waiting for something bad to happen. Though the hero and heroine both had "secrets from the past" it wasn't presented in a stilted, tiresome way as I often see in novels. The romantic element was perfect. I loved it! In regards to the plot, the author had a fresh presentation of the "wild west" element in her novel. The spiritual transformation in the characters was believable. Not once did I feel that the content or the way the author delved into spiritual matters was preachy. How refreshing! I could easily picture this book being made into a movie. With all of the harshness of the Old West vividly portrayed within its pages, this story holds nothing back. I'm truly impressed. It's too bad the cover is so pink and feminine, because I can see a lot of men enjoying this novel as well.

My review of NEVER BROKEN by Kathleen Fuller

Kathleen Fuller has a clear gift for storytelling. She weaves an addictive tale regarding love and the separation of social classes in Ireland in the mid 1800s. Vivid images of starving people filled my mind as I read along. Her description was so good that I felt like I was in poverty-stricken Ireland. In regards to romance, this story sizzles without being raunchy, or overly sensual. I totally love the author's "voice," and I hope a sequel is in the works. It sure looks like one should be coming as the author left several loose ends to tie up. I would've liked to have seen Never Broken end in a tighter fashion, but I get the impression that wasn't the author's intention. Kathleen did a superb job with this novel. I can't help but rave about the quality of the stuff Kathleen writes. For people who enjoy historical (1800s) fiction, this is a must read. Now all I have to do is wait for the next book to come out.

My review of Joy for Mourning by Dorothy Clark

What a wonderful historical! Joy for Mourning wasn't just a romance, but also an inspirational story about a childless woman who wants to help children in need, and a male doctor who desires to serve God by helping the truly helpless. It's God's definition of true religion...taking care of the orphans and the widows. And the author crafted the story in such a unique way. The inspirational element was truly inspirational, and so much a part of the story that it was seemless, yet powerful. I found Joy for Mourning emotionally gripping and tender. The romantic tension was compelling enough to keep me turning the pages, and the characters were very believable. Of course, the best part of all was the happy ending. This has to be one of the most enjoyable and interesting historical fiction novels I've read in years. The author has a fresh voice and wonderful writing style. I'm putting Dorothy Clark on my list of favorite authors as of today.

My review of Picture Perfect by Debra White Smith

The beautiful cover of this book captured my attention. I read the back and thought a story about a model going on a mission trip to Vietnam sounded interesting. The fact that she also had a psycho stalker made me want to read it. The story was fast paced from the beginning and held my attention to the end. The spiritual theme was strong, but not preachy. The hero was the ideal Christian man, and though he didn't have the drop-dead good looks that the heroine's fiance possessed, his love for the Lord is what attracted the heroine. She and the hero couldn't have been more different, yet at heart they both wanted to serve the Lord. The heroine was very wealthy, and when Jesus impressed on her heart the need to give up everything to follow Him, she resisted at first. How many of us want to serve God, but with the conditions we impose firmly in place? We want to give Him most of our heart, but not all. I enjoyed going on this journey with Mick and Kim Lan. I found the tension and romantic aspect of the story very gratifying. The fact that she had a stalker waiting in the wings made it an edge-of-your-seat kind of read. Overall, I'd say this book was a real winner, and it was so well-written it makes me want to read the rest of the novels in the Sisters Suspense series.

My review of The Remedy For Regret by Susan Meissner

When I started reading the story, the characterization of Tess intrigued me. She was living with a man and not married to him. I thought, "Wonder how the author pulled that off..." in regards to taboo subjects. My conclusion? The author did a wonderful job. The heroine was away from the hero, though still in communication with him, throughout the story as she traveled to find herself and remedy her regret. I was thoroughly impressed with how the author dealt with numerous issues. Abandonment, guilt, self-blame, shame, step-families, unspoken accusation, supportive friendship and unconditional love that led the heroine to a saving knowledge of Jesus and faith in God. The Christians in the story ministered to Tess in a way she could understand. They tuned into her need, spoke when the timing was right, confronted situations as appropriate, and loved her without expectations. I was also impressed with the realism in the story. Pain doesn't heal in an instant. People don't always accept our offer of forgiveness. Time doesn't always heal all wounds. Absolutely beautifully written. This is a novel that has made my life richer. From this point forward Susan Meissner is an author I'm putting on my list of "must-reads." I highly recommend The Remedy for Regret.

A hard week with a happy ending...

This week has been one of the toughest in my life. Hence, I haven't gotten as much reading done as I would have liked. My sister flew in to visit me from Minneapolis, and her moral support has been terrific. She's a real hoot and has made me laugh so much that at times I almost forget my troubles. Today is a good day. My youngest son turned 13. Can you believe my baby is 13? Eeek! That means five more years and he's out of school. Double eek! Tomorrow we're all going to celebrate and see ICE AGE 2 at the theater with his friends from school. It's ironic that we're seeing THAT movie when my son is MR. CREATION SCIENCE in regards to his beliefs. He'll probably just laugh at the dumb "evolution stuff" they will put in the movie, just like he did with the last one. :) Well, thanks for listening. Now off to read!

My review of INSIDE THE BUSINESS OF PUBLISHING by Jerry D. Simmons

I enjoyed reviewing this non-fiction title. It was easy to read and full of practical and informed tips to help authors understand the publishing process for large publishing houses (such as those in NY.) This is a must read for people wanting to know how people make it to the best seller's list and what an author can do to help the process of promoting their novel. Also, ever wonder what the numbers mean? Percentage sold verses the amount printed? Jerry answers all of those questions and more. What I got out of this book is that a lot of the sales and promotion that occurs has more to do with meeting budgets and showing profits than whether or not your book is any good. So don't take it personally if your book isn't doing as well as hoped. Get involved. It may just make a difference.

My review of The Mustang Breaker by Stephen Bly

Bly pulls you further into the life of Develyn Worrell in the second book of this series...with several twists and turns along the way. Just when you think Develyn may have found her match, she realizes he isn't the one for her. She has so many male admirers she could take her pick. In walks the Mustang Breaker from book 1 in the trilogy, but could he become more than a friend? Develyn certainly finds him appealing and exciting, but is that enough? The Lord shows Develyn that her summer in Wyoming isn't all about her, but about the needs of others. Once she puts that into perspective, things become more clear. Leaving her future in the Lord's hands, she determines to live each day as it comes, and to the fullest. She also realizes that this time she must accept nothing less than all God wants for her life, or she will risk compromising her future. By the end of The Mustang Breaker (book 2), the reader is still wondering about Develyn's daughter's crisis, which has yet to be revealed. Also, Develyn has now eliminated two men from her list of potential future mates. Is the man she least expects the one the Lord has for her? I have a feeling book three in the trilogy will reveal that answer. Meanwhile, Casey Cree-Ryder seems to have found her soul mate. I can't help wondering if a double wedding is ahead. Waiting patiently for the final book in the Horse Dreams Trilogy, and wondering what great mystery will be revealed that will conclude this series.

My review of Son of Perdition by Louise M. Gouge

I read Son of Perdition in two days. I would've finished it in one, but I've been feeling tired lately and going to bed early. What a great story! I liked this one even more than Hannah Rose. Louise has a knack for describing horrific war injuries. Sheesh, I could picture those shredded limbs and blood splattering everywhere. I'm truly impressed. Also, this story has real depth to it. No pussyfooting around the issues in those days. Reality was men had temptations everywhere, and Louise includes that in her novel. I appreciate how that added to her story. The most impressive thing about Son of Perdition was the topics of blame and forgiveness, and how Louise works through that within the context of this story is truly amazing. Oh, and how often have we said to ourselves, "I'll never be like that person." We try hard to be just the opposite and sometimes despite all this we look in the mirror and see the very person we never wanted to emulate staring back at us. What a sobering truth. Only God can fix that. So if you want an emotionally deep and touching story about an era not often written about, which includes Navy battle scenes from the civil war, you'll want to read this book. The author has unique insight rarely observed in historical fiction. Oh, and her passion for the abolitionist movement and issues regarding slavery are truly inspirational. Great debates between Northern and Southern Navy brothers at the Naval Academy. I loved it!!!

My review of Landon Snow and the Auctor's Riddle by R. K. Mortenson

This review is from my 12-year-old son's point of view. This is what he said about Landon Snow and the Auctor's Riddle...He liked how the auctor's riddle appeared on "the guy's" gravestone. When Landon goes into the book he meets this "dude" who writes the riddles. It's a story with twists and turns. You don't know what to expect next, and when stuff happens it's so weird, it makes you laugh and "blows your mind." He loved when the book swallowed Landon and he landed on a chess board. A knight rescued Landon and they jumped off the edge of the board and fell to the earth. In this canyon they met these weird guys that worship a gold orb that they fling in the air with a spoon. It hypnotizes them to worship the king even though he's bad. The two people who weren't hypnotized rescued Landon. They cross a river by throwing rocks into it, and they turn into lily pads. Then they meet the guy who writes the riddles. He sends Landon back home after telling him the meaning of the riddles. Landon ends up back in bed and thought he was dreaming until the next morning when he went to the library and found his dream stone. THIS STORY WAS SO COOL! I CAN'T WAIT TO READ THE NEXT ONE! Reviewed by Josiah, age 12. Posted by mom. :)

My review of Pieces of Silver by Maureen Lang

My grandfather was a veteran of the Great War, the 'war to end all wars.' Sadly, in the shadow of the horrors of WWII, this important era in our nation's history is often forgotten. The author does a wonderful job illuminating the intrigue of espionage on American soil at that time, and she weaves a powerful story of betrayal and sacrifice with a depth not often seen in fiction. Sometimes doing the right thing doesn't feel right, but it still must be done. The heroine, Leisel, had some tough choices to make. As the story continued you saw that her loyalty to America and to her faith superceded all others. A very patriotic and uplifting story, Pieces of Silver was very had to put down. I enjoyed every page and found the story fascinating and very well-written. I admired the hero, David, for his steadfast devotion to God and country as well. The way their plight brought them together was rich, and the love developing between them was truly powerful. This story was worth reading, and unlike your typical war story, there was no actual war content in the story itself. It was more about espionage and the subversive tactics used at war time, and it had me on the edge of my seat. The coolest part of all was the ending. Methinks a sequel is in the works. I can't wait to read it!

My review of SAHM I AM by Meredith Efken

This is one of the most hilarious and unique stories I've ever read. It brings to life characters who never actually meet, but only know each other through their e-mail loop for Stay-At-Home-Moms. I loved the concept, but honestly at first I wondered if this type of story would work for me. It didn't take long for me to be swept into the drama of these women's lives. The humor was to-die-for-funny and the problems each woman experienced was so real, and sooo honest. I think I got the biggest kick out of the loop moderator who used her issues with her sister to launch her self-righteous-sounding topics-of-the-week. And that Dulcie was tooooo cute. I highly recommend this story for all women, even if you aren't a stay-at-home-mom. I'm not. I work full-time. But I could relate to the e-mail relationships. I have many friends that I've never met in person, but I feel like I really know. This story is guaranteed to touch your heart. I found myself getting choked up more than once, so it's not just a humorous story, but full of deep emotion as well.

My review of Obsession by Kathi Mills-Macias

Fantastic, riveting story. About a year and a half ago I read the third book in the trilogy, Ransom, and was totally impressed. I normally don't read suspense, but if they were all like this one (Obsession) I'd be hooked for life. From the first page the author sucked me into the story. Nothing was predictable. There were no pat answers. The emotion was real and the problems the characters experienced were realistic. I was totally impressed with how the author made you want the heroine, Toni, to drop a perfectly good Christian fiance for the "other" man in the story. Talk about perfect characterization! I cared so much about Toni's happiness that I was rooting for her all the way. When it came to her father's death, her gut instincts were correct and she stuck by her convictions despite the pressure from those around her. When it came to her commitment to her fiance, my heart broke for her. It just seemed like a lose-lose situation. Talk about pressure. So many women marry the wrong man because everyone is expecting them to. Throughout the story you think things won't get any worse for Toni, and then they do. I kept turning the pages and was on the edge of my seat for the entire ride, several times late into the night. Oh, and when the "other" man finds true faith, the way the author shows it happening is SO rich and profound. It was totally believable and I loved it! What a great way to explain salvation to someone from the Jewish faith! I'm reading the sequel, The Price, next. Then I plan to read Ransom again (in order this time) because it was good enough to read twice. Order this entire series. You'll be glad you did!

My review of Watching the Tree Limbs by Mary DeMuth

Wow! This story gripped me from page one. At first, you wonder how anything good could come from something so bad. And though good things (per se) didn't come, Mara did find love in this world. She learned to trust, found strength despite her traumatic past, and discovered who she was by novel's end. This story will make you think more, want to love more, seek God more and most of all, will leave you with a sense of completion and satisfaction. I was sad when the story ended, but am ecstatic that a sequel is coming out called Wishing on Dandelions. If it's half as good as the first, it's still superior to many books on the market today. In my mind this story is a classic just like To Kill A Mockingbird and is a must read for someone who wants to escape to another time and place. Since I grew up in the 1970's it was especially nostalgic for me. I kept picturing myself as Mara at her age. I felt for her and wanted someone to come to her rescue and fill the void in her life. Beautiful story. Wonderfully written. Life-changing. A must read!

My review of The Price by Kathi Mills-Macias

The Price is an engaging story that begins with a tragedy. It reminded me of the Columbine shootings back in 1999. The heroine senses there is more to the crime than just a disillusioned former high school student, and of course, she's right because she's the heroine. :) The Price is action packed and loaded with tension. The characters are so real they seem like people I would know. I thought it was cool how the author related the title of the story to the theme several times. Impressive! I also loved how the author teased me as she went along, but still managed to surprise me in the end. I love not knowing whodunnit until they are revealed! Also, she weaves content from the previous book in seamlessly so you can read The Price as a stand-alone. However, I highly recommend Obsession as well. Both stories kept me on the edge of my seat because the story kept moving along. Not one boring page in the entire novel. That's a huge deal for me as I hate to read boring stories. I highly recommend The Price to suspense lovers and anyone who wants an exciting read.