Faith and Other Flat Tires

This is a memoir by Andrea Palpant Dilley.  She wrote about her journey in faith.  She is a daughter of  Quack medical missionaries in Kenya.  She saw all kinds of sufferings and death while in Kenya.  Imagine the cultural shock she went through when their family returned to the USA. 

It is refreshing to read a book about a young woman's walk in faith.  She voiced out her doubts, even left the church, but eventually came back.  The book is not preachy and she does not force you to her beliefs.  It is not like other Christian books that I had read so far,  where writers were bad, turned good after hearing or seeing God and is now a preacher or evangelist.  She is very honest with her questions and in her journey.   She is very intelligent and with her English major background, her writing style is great.  She will walk you through her questions in faith and her life in a very entertaining way.

I would like to quote some parts of the book:

This is from her dad: " It's possible, I think, for some to cross the bridge without knowing the name of the bridge. I think the lesson here is that we have to be open always to other people's knowledge of God, to their unique experience of God."

Here is another one I would like to share: " Even in my ambivalence about church, I would tell them, I could sense in my heart a strong longing for God."

It is normal for us to question and have doubts about something we can not see, about someone who can not give us an audible answer to our very questions.  Should we just accept and not question so as not to offend?  With so many translations and versions claiming to bring the Truth, which one is really The Truth?

I got this book free from handlebar marketing in exchange for an honest review.



Extreme Measures

Last week while camping, I can't get myself to finish a nook book I was reading.   Since I can still remember the books I have in my nook,  I went to the campground host and borrowed Extreme Measures.  Had read this a couple of years ago, but it was the only book available in this category.

Two terrorist cells have been intercepted but a third is on the loose.  Mitch Rapp and Mike Nash  both counterterrorism agents of the CIA interrogated two high profile terrorists detained in an Air Base in Afghanistan.  Rapp's methods got him in jail.  Political drama ensues which resulted to the terrorists' penetration into the American soil. 

This book shows how some people sacrificed to keep Americans safe from extremists willing to die for what they believed in.   We live in a world where almost everything is an open book.  Yet, this book proved that sometimes we can't stick to the laws and rules strictly.  Sometimes laws have to be bended to get to the bottom of a problem.  Sometimes an oversight is needed from the government so some people can do their jobs timely to prevent a catastrophe.

If you like political thrillers, this will keep you entertained.

Value-Packed Parenting

Dr. Kevin Leman is a psychologist who will teach us how to pack our kids' luggage to help them  be ready to be on their own.  Do we want to pack it with things they will just soon discard, or pack it full of values?

Dr. Leman is fun to listen to.  The workbook is only 48 pages, but it is chock-full of lessons.  He emphasized that it is never too late to switch gears and try to be a better parent to our kids.  You can start now whether they are 4 or 14.   

There are seven lessons he is teaching in this workbook and each will have some biblical scriptures he would share as he discussed each lesson.

If you think about it, it really is mostly just common sense.  But when mood swings and tempers flare it is difficult especially for me to stay on top of the situation.  I just hope that I would be able to apply these lessons consistently daily.

A big thank you to our church for giving me a copy of this workbook and letting me borrow the DVD.  There are some points that is really awakening for me.  Made me realized I should switch a few gears now.  The daily challenge lies in keeping the gear where it should be and not to revert back to my old impatient, etc. self. 

Leaving Before It's Over

This book by Jean Reynolds Page is about family relationships.   Roy Vines married Rosalind against his family's wishes, thus he severed his ties with them.   He lived a simple, normal family life with daughters Lola and Janie Ray until Rosalind got diagnosed with a serious illness.  Now he decided to go back to his family to ask for some money to help with the medical expenses.  Lola and Janie Ray have always thought that they don't have any living paternal relatives.   

Is it the right decision?  What would his politically ambitious twin Mont ask in return for some money?  What about his parents?  Will his return stir up some family secrets?

The author will keep you reading to the end which leave us a little bit hanging.  Otherwise, it is a good, clean book about family, appropriate for young readers as well. 

Lethal Remedy

This is the 4th in the Prescription for Trouble series by Dr. Richard Mabry.  The series shows us his diversity.  He maintained his easy to read, fast paced, clean, Christian writing style without being preachy.  You will have suspense, mystery and romance without gory death or intimate love scenes.   In Lethal Remedy, Dr. Mabry gives us a medical thriller that will keep readers on the edge of our seats.   

People are dying from Staphylococcus luciferus worldwide.  A very fitting name for a bacteria known as "The Killer".  Dr. Jack Ingersoll and Jandra Pharmaceuticals have an experimental antibiotic that would kill it after 10 days of intravenous Jandramycin. 

Dr. Sara Miles have a teenage patient dying of Staph luciferus.  Should she try the experimental drug on her patient?  She have no other alternative and Jandramycin worked.  No known side effects and a 100% success rate so far in the studies.   A few weeks after the treatment, teenage patient and some others treated with the same "wonder drug" are back showing another serious illness going on.  Are there late side effects to the drug that are being kept  secret?  How far are the people rooting for Jandramycin's approval going to do to get it approved?   Will greed eventually trump over health in the medical field?

  

A World I Never Made

James LePore is a lawyer turned writer.  This is his first novel and he will keep you intrigued with the story and captivated with his characters.  This book is suspenseful with romance added as well. 

Pat Nolan, a father called to identify his daughter's body, a woman who had committed suicide in  France.  He learned that it was staged.  With the help of a French detective Catherine Lawrence, the quest started to locate and help his daughter Megan.  Each clue leads closer to Megan but leaves a trail of death and international terrorists are at their heels.  What has Megan gotten herself involved in?

Megan Nolan, a very independent beautiful woman who has been living off rich men, took a handsome, rich and powerful Saudi man for a lover.   How can one get away from a very powerful and influential individual who is determined to kill you? 

Gypsies and others showing up to help.  Are they all just lucky coincidences or  a divine work? 

Constantly Craving

This is not about food cravings or a self-help book to stop some kind of addiction.

    Constantly Craving is about our innate human craving for more in love, home, peace, time, purpose in life, friends, even revenge and others.  Here Marilyn Meberg will help us understand that we will only attain complete satisfaction and contentedness in God.   

The need for more is part of our existence.   When we were young, we want to be older, we have $10 we want $100.  People who are already at the top of their career still wants to go somewhere.   Happy people seems to still want more.   It just goes on and on. 

Marilyn Meberg is a 72 year old counselor who also speaks at Women of Faith. She will explain the reasons why we constantly crave for more.  She will share her personal and professional experiences and biblical scriptures to help us understand and manage our cravings.

I got this book free from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.

A Heart Like His

This book is a five star.  I have not joined any bible study groups but if you have been reading this blog, you know that I have read a few  Christianity themed books.  Some are fiction that added God subtly, others preaches and uses fear like you will go to hell or be left behind if you don't believe.  In this book Beth Moore, an American evangelist, teacher, author and founder of Living Proof Ministries have a writing style that makes it sound like she is talking, discussing and teaching you about the life of David through different bible scriptures and her personal experiences.

A friend at church once asked casually if I know David and I answered no because all I know about David is that he was the shepherd who sling shot Goliath and became the King of Israel.  I don't have any in depth knowlege about him.  So when I was contacted by  Shelton Interactive if I would like to review this book, I agreed right after I read what the book is about.

Here Beth Moore will tell us about Eli, Samuel, Hannah, King Saul and Jonathan.  She will discussed how a harp player shepherd will become the anointed one and be the second King of Israel.  How he survived being persecuted by King Saul and his relationship with Jonathan.  How he rose to be King and ruled over Israel.  We will learn his family life.  That even being the chosen one, David was still human and sinned against God repeatedly.  She describes the ups and downs in Davids life until his last breath at the age of 70, a King who have ruled for 40 years and was succeeded by Solomon, his son with Bathsheba. 

I would recommend this book to anybody, any age who would like to learn more about David.  The last part of the book is a list of review questions great for bible study groups or anybody who would like to reflect on the Life of David.

I got this book free from B&H Publishing through Shelton Interactive in exchange for an honest review.

Mockingjay

In this final book of the Hunger Games trilogy, the Mockingjay has become the symbol of  rebellion.  I am so glad my friend lend me both Catching Fire and Mockingjay together or I'll be left hanging. 

People of Panem are now at war against the Capitol.  After the events of Catching Fire Katniss wants to personally kill President Snow.  Peeta is now mentally unstable.   District 13 actually existed and was not totally annihilated. 

  Some people don't like some of the final events.  But this is war.  Katniss will also have her feelings for both Peeta and Gale resolved.  I don't want to spoil the last book by writing any more. 

Catching Fire

The second book in the trilogy started  right where The Hunger Games ends.  A friend lend me her hardbound copy and when I started the book,  there was no stopping me from finishing it.  Katniss and Peeta are now back home in District 12 at the Victors Village.   Their win gave the people of Panem the courage to defy the capitol.   Now there is more unrest and rebellion.  President Snow is not happy with Katniss and will do anything to gain back his control over Panem.

The idea of reading a book about kids killing kids is not appealing to some people.  But that is not all there is to this trilogy.  The twists and turns of events, the stories of the lives of the main characters are so captivating, you will not want to stop reading until you finish the whole trilogy.

Catching Fire ends leaving you on the edge.  If you decide to read this, make sure you have the Mockingjay within reach.

Trust Me On This



Another fun book by Jennifer Crusie.  If you want characters whose conversations will make you laugh.  Crusie so far always delivers.  I have not read one book of Crusie that have not made me smile.

Dennie Banks a journalist who needs a big story to elevate her career higher than just writing about social going ons in the society page.  She heard of a relationship writer Janice Meredith who had made herself an expert on marriage was getting a divorce.  Dennie decided to get a one on one interview at a literary conference Janice will be speaking.  Alec Prentice an agent trying to catch a con man who will also be at the conference.  Dennie and Alec met, assumed each others reasons for being there and the fun goes on.  

Bonus story about Victoria, Alec's aunt and Harry his boss,  both also found romance in this book. 

Every Last One

This was my first Anna Quindlen book.  A fb friend  "like" her and after reading the overview of her books, I decided on this one.  Her writing style is definitely different from any of the books I have read.   Her characters are very real, they could be anybody we would run into.

The book was written as a narrative by the lead charater Mary Beth Latham, married to an ophthalmologist and a mother of three teenagers, Ruby a senior and  twins Max and Alex.   She also operates her own landscaping business.  They are what we would describe as a typical American family living in the suburbs.  Mary Beth would describe her every day triumphs and struggles as a mother to teenagers and balancing her life between parenting and business.   Then an unspeakable tragedy befalls the family. 

Every Last One is about insights, foresights, how  parents  tried their best in every situation and hope that their best is enough for everybody.  How people survive, cope and deal with tragedies.   

The Hunger Games

I admit to being caught in the hype surrounding this book. A friend lend me her paperback copy and I started this right when I was in the middle of another thought provoking book just because I saw the movie commercial.

Suzanne Collins crafted a book you will not want to put down. The main characters are all young and once you get to know them and what they are about to do, you are hooked.

The hunger games is an annual event, a reality show where the 12 districts of a new nation "Panem" sends one boy and one girl ages 12 to 18 to the Capitol to literally kill until only 1 of them will survive. They will have to fend for themselves and survive harsh conditions while being hunted.    Katniss volunteered to go when her sister's name was picked.

I would recommend this book. It made me teary, made me laugh and I got so engrossed with the characters and captivated with the game. The end opens the door for Catching Fire, the second book in the trilogy.

The Street Lawyer

John Grisham is another old time favorite.  The Street Lawyer will give you all the lawyer drama we always expect from John Grisham plus it gives us a look into the lives of the homeless here in our nation. 

Michael Brock along with a number of his colleagues were held hostage by "Mister" a recently evicted/homeless man.  That fateful day changes Michael's life significantly.  All of a sudden working in a large law firm with a partnership already at his grasp was not important.   He sought out the reasons for Mister's actions.  He visited soup kitchens, shelters and met the street people.  He also met Mordecai Green a street lawyer for the homeless who needed another lawyer to work with him at his free legal clinic.  Michael Brock eventually left his high rise office and his rich clients to serve/help poverty stricken clients in an office in a poor neighborhood.

I would recommend this book.  Politically sensitive readers be aware that there is a sentence that goes "thanks to republicans" and another goes "because of republicans".  Otherwise, it is a great story with the ability to make you think twice about our priorities.

Chasing Fire

Nora Roberts is an old time favorite.  This book delivers on all accounts.  We get romance, murders, suspence, mystery, some laughs, some sentimental moments and some steamy sex scenes.  We get to learn about the risks smoke jumpers face to save our forests.  The dangers they encounter every time they jump, their relationship toward each other as they train, live and fight to win against forests fires.

Rowan is our typical independent, strong and beautiful woman.  Gull, our charming, intelligent and patient rookie jumper.  Last season, Jim, Rowan's jump partner died in a fatal accident.  This season, the fires they have to fight and contain include dead bodies.  Rowan's father is  now also in a relationship which is something foreign for Rowan. 

Manhunting

This is my third Jennifer Crusie book.  The first two were Bet Me and Strange Bedperson.  Jennifer is my go to writer everytime I feel like reading something romantic, light and funny.  Since it is the Valentine's week and after my previous book post.  I decided to go pure entertainment.  A book without any other agenda but to entertain.  A fun and easy to read book.

Kate is a successful businesswoman and attractive.  After three failed engagements, she and a friend organized and planned for Kate to go manhunting in a cabin resort where rich, eligible bachelors frequently stay.  Yet, even a perfect plan can sometimes not work as well in real life.  She did meet a lot of interested bachelors.  She also met Jake who always have to save men from Kate.

A Sound Like Fire

This is another very long Christian rapture fiction, base on the Book of Revelation.  Israel, the Holy Land and the Jews are the chosen ones and will be the only nation to stand against the rest of the One World Government that the Anti-Christ has been slowly implementing.   That Lucifer, the Father of Lies has been deceiving people from the beginning of time.   If you are a member of the knights Templar,  Illuminati, Freemasonry, Jehovah's Witness or if your religion is considered as Pantheism which includes Buddhism, Taoism and Hinduism and those who believe in Islam, be very open minded if you decide to read this book and remind yourselves that this is fiction.  If you are a Christian, be ready to accept your fate when the second coming is here.  Do you accept Jesus as our savior?  Do you call yourselves Christians but do not live according to the teachings of Jesus?   Will the true believers of Jesus rise up to the heavens when the time comes and leave those who have doubts to the  mercies of the anti-christ ?

 In this book, Dax - a Christian was a U.S. senator who lived a very successful, privilege life but was not without fault.  He have a family and goes to church for show but also kept another woman for pleasure.  His wife was not faithful or loyal to the marriage as well.  He started out helping in the unification of the New World Order into one God and one Government.  Then he realized that his brother, a pastor was right when the Christian Rapture happened.  Now, he is one of those left behind and imprisoned.   He shared his life story with the rest of the imprisoned Christians while they were all trying to be strong in their born again belief in Jesus and survive their living conditions.   It also states that all the natural disasters and national crisis affecting the world today is a way to condition people away from God and is all the doing of Lucifer. 

I  give this book only a 2 star because the descriptions on what people can do to a fellow human being are sometimes too grotesque.  The naming of the above organizations and religions does not appeal to me either.  Although I understand that if you are a true Christian, you will try to save as much people by teaching about Jesus.  It is very evident that the writer is trying to bring people to believe in Jesus and God.    I just don't like the style used in this book.

I received this book free from "Booksneeze" in exchange for an honest review.

Thank You, God, For Blessing Me

This book by Max Lucado is a great little children's book about thanking God for everything we have. We sometimes watched  Hermie the cute little caterpillar and his friends on T.V. The kids 3 and 7 loves it.
I give this a 4 star because it is too short.  Even the 3 year old wants more.
In this book, Hermie thank God for his friends, food and everyhing that God has given him.
I got this book free from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.

The Rook

The Rook by Steven James, is another book you will want to add to your library if you are into suspence and thriller.  This is the second book in the Patrick Bowers series.  The first one is The Pawn.  Both books will keep you on the edge and not want to stop reading till the end.

Patrick Bowers an environmental criminologist (geo-spatial profiler) is called in to help solve a series of fires that  lead to a fire that happened in a secret naval research facility and a stolen technology.  In the course of studying the case, Patrick and teenage step daughter witnessed a crazy homeless man commit suicide.  The chain of events and clues will keep you on your toes.  The relationship between Patrick and daughter Tessa and his colleague Agent Lien-Hua  kept  the book realistic and added humor and romance to the story line.

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

If you decide to read this book, just keep a very open mind.  This is a memoir about Amy Chua's struggles and triumphs as a mother.   She wrote in the very beginning of the book that whenever she mention "Asian Mom/Parent" or "Western Mom/Parent", she does not mean  ALL Asians or ALL Westerners.  She is a graduate of Harvard Law and is teaching law at Yale.   I am sure she could easily have used other words to describe the different parenting technique if she wanted to.  But book writing is a business and by creating controversy she got a lot of buzz and publicity for the book and herself.   I got curious myself when my lunch dates talked about "Tiger Moms", so now my Nook also got a copy of this book.

Amy is a very strict mom who demand only excellence from her daughters.  She only wanted the best for them and obviously also have the money to hire the best teachers.  She also have the tenacity and perseverance to not give in but exert control over her kids and what she perceives to be the best for them.  She also explain at the end that some parts of the book are supposed to be taken as jokes.

Personally, parenting is very one of a kind.  Different kids,  different parents,  different moods, different temperaments, different days, heck, even different times of the day will bring out different reactions from me.   Being an immigrant myself, with grandfathers coming from the same Fujian province like Amy's grandparents, I can see and understand what she is trying to say.  But we can not generalized discipline technique by culture alone.  Both my parents grew up with discipline techniques that are way different from each other.   Also I think that there could also be a generational difference.   We also see a lot of Westerners and others who are well behave, high achievers and are excellent at their chosen careers.  How many hours they read and studied or  how they practice piano or violin or if they ever had a sleepover, we will not know unless one of them will write a book about their home life growing up.