February 24, 2010

Fifteen Years by Kendra Norman-Bellamy Blog Tour

Fifteen Years is Kendra Norman-Bellamy's fifteenth published book. She is a national best-selling author and the founder of KNB Publications LLC. She is the organizer of Visions in Print, an Atlanta-based national organization for faith-based writers, and The Writer’s Hut, an online fellowship for African American Writers. She is the founder of Cruisin’ For Christ, a groundbreaking at-sea ministry that celebrates writing, gospel music and other God-glorifying arts, and also serves as a motivational speaker.

Fifteen Years follows Josiah Tucker, a boy with an extremely tough childhood, as he works through his pain fifteen years after leaving his favorite foster family. In the book, he decides to reconnect with his foster family, The Smiths, and you'll have to read the book to find out what else happens. The book has great religious themes throughout as well as plays up the idea that there are things in life that you just can't change and then there are others that you can - you need to take those things you can change and change them. From what I read, the writing was good and the storyline intriguing. I can see why Kendra has won multiple awards and sold so many books.
For more information about Kendra Norman-Bellamy and her other published works, check out her website. And while you're at it, pick up a copy of Fifteen Years.

February 18, 2010

Dreams that Won't Let Go by Stacey Hawkins Adams (Giveaway)

I was given this book by the publisher to review as part of a blog tour for Stacey Hawkins Adams. This is book three in the Jubilant Soul series; I reviewed book one earlier last year.

Dreams that Won't Let Go follows Indigo and her family as she is about to continue on with her photography dream and about to get married. Everything seems perfect except for the fact that her oldest brother, Rueben, who the family hasn't seen in years, is moving home and taking away all of Indigo's attention. This book follows the relationship between the three siblings and Indigo and her fiance and extended family members as she tries to figure out what's the next step. How does she follow her dreams without stepping on people around her?

I enjoyed this book more than the first one because it was more relatable for me, but the storyline was still somewhat predictable and nothing ground breaking. It does say a lot about things like looking from different perspectives and thinking about others rather than just yourself. I'd recommend this book to someone that likes a good wholesome book with a decent plot. 3 stars.

And lucky for you, three of you will have the chance to read just this book. All you have to do is answer this question in the comments - what dreams are in your head and waiting to be birthed? One winner will win a signed copy of the entire Jubilant Soul Series as well as an hour with a executive coach. And two other winners will win a copy of Dreams that Won't Let Go. So let's hear about your dreams.


February 8, 2010

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Who would have thought young adult lit could be so enjoyable for an adult? I read The Hunger Games (the prequel to this novel) out loud to my 7th grade students last year and they couldn't get enough of it....and neither could I. I had to take the book home to finish it because I couldn't take the suspense any longer. Read my review of The Hunger Games if you're interested in my thoughts on the first book in Collins' series.

Catching Fire is the second installment in what looks to be a trilogy. Set in Panem, a nation crippled by the dictatorship of "The Capital," our heroine Katniss Everdeen returns. Her actions in The Hunger Games have made her the biggest celebrity in Panem, but also Enemy #1 of the Capital. Rebellion is stirring in the districts and if she wants to keep those she loves alive, she must do everything she can to stop the uprising. When all she does is fan the flames, Katniss once again becomes a pawn in the Capital's deadly game.

Collins has really hit a home run with this series. Aimed at the young adult reader, this book is a very fast read for an adult, but it never feels like you're reading something "beneath" you. Catching Fire takes the same topics of government power, the strength of the masses, love, survival, and loyalty and turns them on their heel. Collins' descriptions are precise and spark the imagination - my particular favorite being President Snow who smells of "roses and blood." In a society where the district one in born into can mean a meal ticket or a death sentence, Katniss represents hope and her actions make her a character we are quick to root for. The arena Collins creates for this novel is as imaginative and original as it is horrifying.

Make no mistake, these two books are violent - very violent. I would make the argument that Catching Fire offers slightly more "adult" content (not sexual per say, but certainly not G rated) than its prequel. Once again, however, Collins succeeds in grabbing her reader's attention right out of the gate and leaves the last page with a cliffhanger that leaves you begging for the next book. Not for readers under the age of 12, in my opinion, but enjoyed thoroughly by this 26 year old. 5 stars.

**NOTE: You absolutely MUST read The Hunger Games before Catching Fire or it won't make much sense. The third book comes out on August 24, 2010!

February 2, 2010

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

I received a free review copy of The Postmistress from the publisher.

Sarah Blake does an excellent job in The Postmistress of weaving the tale of 3 women together in a beautiful way. While set in the early World War II era, this book is not overwhelmed by the war nor is driven to see the war through to the end.

The story is told by Frankie Bard, wartime correspondent. What she sees and hears (and records) on her trip through Europe changes her...and through her reports, changes others. Through circumstance, she's driven to tell the story of the escaping Jews. Though the horrors of concentration camps were yet unknown, the terror done to the Jews was already beginning.

Iris, the postmistress herself, is a single 40-year-old woman in her early days of her first romance. In her role as postmaster in the small Cape Cod community of Franklin, Massachusetts, she serves as the central source of news in town...and she knows more than she tells.

The third woman is Emma Finch, the new (and new-to-town) bride of the town's doctor--the very doctor who decides he must help out England, leaving his pregnant wife behind not knowing of her expectancy.

I wish this story touched me more than it did. I don't know if was when I read it (was I too tired to appreciate it?) or that I've read too many good books about this same time period, but I didn't quite connect with it. It was beautifully done and I enjoyed it, so I'm going to give it the benefit of the doubt.

If you enjoy World War II fiction, I recommend this book. It comes out February 9th.

February 1, 2010

Giveaway: Angels by David Jeremiah


I have received this book free for review from the publisher, but have received no other compensation.
This is a reprint of David Jeremiah's book that originally was written in the 80s, the height of the angel-craze (which I didn't know until I read this book). It still has a lot to say to this I'm-not-religious-just-spiritual culture which has more flavors of religious beliefs than ice cream.

David Jeremiah highlights the mysteriousness that the Bible casts over angels. Sure, it talks about them, but they're never objects of worship. They're messengers from God...doing His Will. He picks apart the common ideas of angels: that they have wings and halos, that we have guardian angels, and that people become angels after we die. It's really sad how common these ideas are within the church, not to mention outside it. Certainly highlights our Biblical illiteracy.

Dr. Jeremiah also emphasizes what we can learn from the angels: to be obedient to God and to worship Him continually.

If angels are something you're interested in, I'd recommend checking out this book. To help you out, I have a giveaway copy available. Simply leave a comment on this post before 5 PM on Friday, February 12th.

This contest is open to residents of the US and Canada. Please leave your email address if it's not linked to your Blogger account.

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