Book Review: Attracted to Fire by DiAnn Mills

Special Agent Meghan Connors' dream of one day protecting the president of the United States is one assignment away.  After the VP's rebellious daughter is threatened, Meghan is assigned to her protective detail on a ranch in West Texas.  The downside?  Special Agent in Charge Ash Zinders has a reputation for being critical and exacting, and not hiding his dislike of female agents.  Connors and Zinders are both up for the same promotion if they can complete their current assignment successfully.  When threats against the VP's daughter escalate and security on the secluded ranch is breached, it becomes clear this isn't the work of one man- but a plan that reaches deeper, higher and farther than anyone could have imagined.  It's up to Ash and Meghan to put the pieces together before it's too late.

This book had it all.  Mystery, suspense, drama, romance with a little action thrown in for good measure.  Books can become boring quickly when you can too easily guess how it ends.  While I had an inkling early on, this book definitely threw some twists at me.

I have read historical fiction from DiAnn Mills in the past but really enjoyed this modern story.  There were a few places in the book where the story seemed to lag, or I wondered how the story could possible last that many pages, but I kept reading and wasn't disappointed in the end.  I felt the characters were relatable, and people you begin to care about.  While it has a strong Christian tone (it is Christian Fiction) it wasn't preachy, but honest and open about it's message.

I would recommend this to Christian Fiction lovers.

Tyndale House Publishing provided me with a complimentary copy of this e-book for review purposes.  I am under no obligation to provide a positive review.

Book Review: There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones

There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones is a wonderful story of grief, guilt, forgiveness and love.

Eighteen-year-old Finley Sinclair books her trip to Ireland as a foreign exchange student.   Her mission is to get some answers from God who, since her brother's death, seems to have forgotten her.  She wants to let her heart heal, see the sights her brother held so dear, and work on her college audition piece for a music conservatory.

Her plan is to use her brother's journal from his time in Ireland as her guide, tracing his steps throughout the country.  But from the moment she sits down on the plane next to Beckett Rush, teen star of the hottest vampire movies, nothing goes according to plan.

The beauty of Ireland surrounds the chaos that becomes Finley's life.  As she works to control her life and fill the void left by her brother secrets from her past refuse to stay buried.  When it all falls down Finley must figure out how she can give her past, her hurt, her emptiness to God, if she can ever hope for a future.

I first stumbled upon Jenny B. Jones in a bookstore where her book Save the Date was on sale, and immediately fell in love with the characters and the writing style.  When I found out Finley was getting her own book I knew it was another book I had to read.

I loved this story.  I enjoyed the main characters, the way the story flowed with the music (that will make more sense when you read the book), and the overall message.  The story of grief, loss and guilt is one that many people can relate to.  In this book, Finley is no different from a lot of people in the way that she handles those emotions.  Jones does a wonderful job of sharing a young woman's struggles with loss, death, hope, love, forgiveness and healing.

Thomas Nelson graciously provided me with an e-copy of the book for review purposes.  All opinions of the book are my own, and I am under no obligation to write a good review.

Wordy Wednesday

If you're anything like me, your Wednesdays often feel long.  You're only half done with your work week. You still have a to-do list that seems a mile long.  So on Wednesdays I like to share a quote, short passage or song lyric that I've discovered.

Today's quote is from a BBC show called Torchwood, episode Random Shoes.

The average lifers full of near misses and absolute hits.  

Of great love and small disasters.  

It's made up of banana milkshakes, loft insulation and random shoes.  

It's dead ordinary and truly, truly amazing.  

What you've got to realize is, it's all here, now.  

So breath deep and swallow it whole.  

Because take it from me: life just whizzes by, 

and then, all of the sudden, it's ---

Pinteresting

Catching up on the blogs I read I noticed that Bakergirl had a post that made me laugh.  She has a pinsession.  


Why did I laugh?  Because I have one to.  Pinterest is an amazing site.  It's a virtual bulletin board where you can have as many boards as you like.  I'm currently using 21 boards with titles like "Favorite Spaces and Places," "TV + Movies," "Wordy Word," "Make Me Smile," and "Gotta Have Faith."  On those boards you can pin pictures from anywhere on the internet, or you can re-pin someone else's picture.


It's amazing and a great way to collect cool things from around the internet.  Here are some of my recent pins:


1. This picture came with the caption: “a bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t” -Charles Spurgeon.   This is on my Gotta Have Faith board.  I love it.  Someday I will be more disciplined in reading my bible and my bible will be well worn like this.












2. This is a great idea for smaller spaces, or someone like me who has a TON of makeup.  There are magnets on the back of each makeup item and then a neat frame is used to hold them.  

3. This is just a beautiful picture.  So it's on my "Cool Pictures" board.  I would love to be able to take pictures like this.  Instead, I just pin them. 

4. This is something I will share with my students on the importance of punctuation.  Hilarious.  It is these sort of funny pins that make pinterest so addicting.

5. There is a board I have called "Maybe Someday."  Maybe, someday I will get married.  And if and when I do, this is an idea I may need to use.  The most important people in your life use something blue to write a message to help you walk down the aisle.  

6. Shhhh!  Don't tell my Dad.  But he is getting this for his next birthday, or Father's day.  I'm not creative enough to come up with this on my own.  But that's what pinterest is for!

So, Pinterest is highly recommended.  I go on it just for 5 minutes, 40 minutes and 20 pins later time has been wasted.  But man, was it fun!

Wordy Wednesday

Wednesdays are busy for many.  A reminder of all that has been and all that is left to be in the week.  Wednesdays I share quotes, short passages or lyrics that I've discovered and enjoyed.

When I stand before God at the end of my life I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.' 

-Erma Bombeck

I don't believe in failure... Because simply by saying you've failed, you've admitted you attempted.  And anyone who attempts is not a failure.  Those who truly fail in my eyes are the ones who never try at all.  The ones who sit on the couch and whine and moan and wait for the world to change for them. 

-Sarah Dessen

Most obstacles melt away when we make up our minds to walk boldly through them.  -Orison Swett Marden

Happy Wednesday!

Book Review: Shadow in Serenity by Terri Blackstock

Shadow in Serenity is the story of Carny Sullivan who grew up in the world of a traveling carnival.  The peaceful, Mayberry-like, town of Serenity, Texas has given her a home, a life and a child.

Logan Brisco is the smoothest, most handsome man Serenity has seen.  But Carny is smart, and knows a con artist when she sees one, and see has seen plenty of them, starting with her father.  What is strange for Carny is that she seems to be the only person in the entire town to see through the Italian shoes, smooth talking and movie star smile.  Logan has the town completely under his finger.

Carny is determined to reveal Brisco's true colors before his promise to the townspeople of part ownership in an amusement park bleeds this town dry.  The problem is that as much as she hates his ways there is a man behind that facade, one who may win her heart, whether she wants him to or not.

The publishers note says this is a modern telling of Music Man, I'm unfamiliar with that story so I can't say for sure whether or not it is.  But what I can tell you is that I really enjoyed this book.  I think it's hard to find a book that tells a story you haven't heard before, or presents it in a new way.  And this book was a new take on a familiar story.  I found myself loving the town of Serenity and all of it's inhabitants.

Were there parts of the book I didn't like?  Yes, there were a few spots that seemed slow.  There was a chapter that didn't seem necessary to the plot line so I skimmed it.  There was one piece that seemed to change rather quickly in my mind, but the rest of the story made up for it (sorry, spoilers).

Originally published as a secular novel under a different title, Shadow in Serenity is a sweet story about forgiveness, God's grace, and the power of a second chance.

Zondervan provided me with a complimentary copy of the e-book for review purposes.  I was not paid for my review and am under no obligation to provide a positive review.

See more of my book reviews here.

Wordy Wednesday

Today is Wednesday.  A very busy day for me, so maybe for others.  Wednesdays I share a passage, quote, lyric that I like and want to pass on to anyone who may read this post at some point.

Today's is a prayer I found for teachers on some random website.  I wish I could give credit to the author, but I don't know who it is.  Only that it's not me.  Enjoy!

Lord,

Let me be just what they need.

If they need someone to trust, let me be trustworthy.  

If they need sympathy, let me sympathize.  

If they need love, and they do need love, let me love, in full measure.

Let me not ager easily, lord but let me be just.  

Permit my justice to be tempered in your mercy.

When I stand before them, Lord, let me look strong and good and honest and loving.  

And let me be as strong and good and honest and loving as I look to them.

Help me to counsel the anxious, crack the covering of the shy, 

temper the rambunctious with a gentle attitude.

Permit me to teach only the truth.  

Help me to inspire them so that learning will not cease at the classroom door.

Let the lessons they learn make thier lives fruitful and happy.  

And, Lord, let me bring them to you.  

Teach them through me to love you.

Finally, permit me to learn the lessons they teach.

AMEN!

Happy Wednesday!

Do your best to live your life, love others, forgive, be thankful, be in awe. 

Moments are precious, many things can wait... The Sunset Won't.

Where Were You?

I was 14 years old, sitting in my Freshman Honors Social Studies/Language Arts class in my high school.  The tvs were on, but quiet as the teacher was talking to us.  They were showing the footage of the first plane hitting that tower over and over again.  I remember just sitting there, watching it.  I noticed something different, and realized a second plane had hit the tower.  I said something about there being another plane.  The teacher and a few of my classmates said that it was just replayed footage, on a loop.  It took them a moment to realize I had been correct.


10 years ago 2,977 lives were lost.  Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, uncles, aunts, cousins, friends, neighbors.  Gone.  Where were you?

"Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)"

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?
Were you in the yard with your wife and children
Or working on some stage in L.A.?
Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke
Risin' against that blue sky?
Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry?

Did you weep for the children who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don't know?
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below?
Did you burst out in pride for the red, white and blue
And the heroes who died just doin' what they do?
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself and what really matters?

[Chorus:]
I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell 
you the difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?
Were you teaching a class full of innocent children
Or driving down some cold interstate?
Did you feel guilty 'cause you're a survivor
In a crowded room did you feel alone?
Did you call up your mother and tell her you loved her?
Did you dust off that Bible at home?

Did you open your eyes, hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep?
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Or speak to some stranger on the street?
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Or go out and buy you a gun?
Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watchin'
And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns?

Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangers
Did you stand in line and give your own blood?
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love?

[Repeat Chorus 2x]
And the greatest is love.
And the greatest is love.

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day? 

Wordy Wednesday

Wednesdays are busy.  And often feel long.  So here I share a short quote, passage or song lyric that I enjoy.

Today's is something I've kept over the past few years, though I'm unsure where I found it.  It's for all the teachers out there:

WHAT DO YOU MAKE?

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.

One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education.

He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"

He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers:

"Those who can, do.  Those who can't, teach."

To stress his point he said to another guest;

"You're a teacher, Bonnie.  Be honest. What do you make?"

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied,

"You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, then began...)

"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.

I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor winner.

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.

You want to know what I make?"

(She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.)

I make kids wonder.

I make them question.

I make them apologize and mean it.

I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.

I teach them to write and then I make them write.

Keyboarding isn't everything.

I make them read, read, read.

I make them show all their work in math.

They use their God given brain, not the man-made calculator.

I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know about English while preserving their unique cultural identity.

I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.

I make my students stand, placing their hand over their heart to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God, because we live in the United States of America.

Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard and follow their hearts they can succeed in life.

(Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)

"Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant.... You want to know what I make?

I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make Mr. CEO?"

His jaw dropped, he went silent.

Happy Wednesday!