Book Reviews

Elusive Hope

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

Elusive Hope (Escape to Paradise, #2)Elusive Hope by MaryLu Tyndall

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
“In a colony names New Hope, while their friends are seeking a southern utopia… Hayden is seeking revenge. Relentlessly. Magnolia is seeking a way out. Desperately. As they journey toward Rio de Janeiro, they each seek to use the other for their own purposes. Deceptively. Falling in love was never part of their plans…”

This is the first book that I have read by MaryLu Tyndall. (I did not read book one of this series, though I am to understand that it isn’t necessary, though some found it helpful for continuity of the story.) The author has a unique writing style that draws the reader into the lives of her characters. This is true with both of the main characters of this book. Magnolia Scott is a spoiled, pouty-faced southern belle that has been pulled away from her life of privilege to find herself dragged by her father to the jungles of Brazil in 1866. Her only goal is to find her way back to the life she knew – no matter the cost, no matter what, or who, it takes to get her there.

She manipulates a man – Hayden Gale – from the New Hope Colony to get her to Rio so that she can make her way back home. Hayden has a dark secret that he is keeping, one that entails tracking down the man that killed his mother… his own father.

This book contains some aspects of spiritual warfare, which can be off-putting and disturbing to some readers. I did like the strong message of redemption and forgiveness that is portrayed throughout the story,

I am not a huge fan of historical fiction, I am not sure that I would read the next book in the series.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through the “For Readers Only” group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Deeper Shopping, an Goodreads

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Pathways To The King – A Review

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Pathways to the King: Living a Life of Spiritual Renewal and PowerPathways to the King: Living a Life of Spiritual Renewal and Power by Rob Reimer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“The Church in America desperately needs revival. We have fewer people attending church now (percentage wise) than ever before in the history of the United States. But how do we experience revival? How do we usher in God’s kingdom on Earth and see the next great spiritual awakening? It starts with you. God wants you to draw near to Jesus and to be a carrier of His kingdom, and He wants you to expand the kingdom to others – just like Jesus did. Pathways to the King provides you with 8 Kingdom pathways that you’ll need to incorporate and internalize in order to experience and expand God’s kingdom on Earth. When you begin you walk down these pathways, you will develop intimacy, authority, and power in Christ and become a kingdom-minded person living out the compelling life of the Spirit.”

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It served as both a wake up call and a reminder for me that I have been becoming complacent in my walk. I was “OK” with the way things were… instead of being hungry for more, and wanting all that God had for me – like it was all those years ago when I first met Jesus. Not only do I need revival, but also the Church needs revival.

The author brings out 8 pathways that we need to walk in order to bring about a fresh revival and renewal – both corporate and personal. We are called to internalize the pathways – personalizing our identity in Christ, pursuing God, purifying ourselves, praising, praying kingdom prayers, claiming promises, passing the tests, and persisting – in order to walk in continuous revival.

This book is filled with great information that just makes sense. There are probably 100 “blubs” (for lack of a better word) scattered throughout the book. They are wonderful nuggets of wisdom and truth that will certainly give you something to ponder through your day. A personal favorite – “If you believed the things that God believes about you, it would revive your soul”!! While this book is an easy read, I feel that this book deserves great attention and certainly more than just one reading to fully absorb the message that is so desperately needed in our Country.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through the “For Readers Only” group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Deeper Shopping, Goodreads, and to be featured on my blog at http://titus3.wordpress.com

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Masquerade Marriage

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Masquerade MarriageMasquerade Marriage by Anne Greene

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“A Secret List” “A Fugitive Warrior” “ One Life-Saving Option” “A Vow Honored” “A Sacrifice Made”

Masquerade Marriage is an intriguing story set in 1746 Scotland. Waking up on the battlefield, near fatally wounded, and realizing that his father and brothers and most of his kinsmen lay dead around him, Brody MacCauly wonders why God has spared him. His vow now becomes that he must do whatever he has to do to save his mother and sister. Their safety lies with him alone. He does the one thing; he gives up his birthright, his name, and his identity to wed (a marriage in name only) Lady Megan MacMurray and take on her family name. His mother and sister would be safe as long as they kept the ruse going.

“I Do”. Two words that save the both of them; him from being found and killed and she from an arranged marriage to a vile and abusive man. This is a story of faith through the adversity, faith in God, faith in those around you. To learn if, in the end when all is said and done, this Masquerade Marriage ever becomes more than that… you will have to read book

If you are a fan of well-written historical romance, you will enjoy Masquerade Marriage.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through the “For Readers Only” group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Deeper Shopping, and Goodreads

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A Rooster Once Crowed – A Review

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A Rooster Once Crowed: A Commentary on the Greatest Story Ever ToldA Rooster Once Crowed: A Commentary on the Greatest Story Ever Told by Bryant Cornett

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“We live in those few moments between the first and the second crow of the rooster – between decision and indecision, between knowing and being known. But do you even care? Small; decisions made today establish our path for all time and yet we people with a piece of this and a taste of that we diet on wisdom from antiquity and gorge on culture that is next month’s joke. This story is an opportunity to gorge on scripture – from Genesis to Revelation – in context it is the gospel of Jesus Christ and an opportunity to see for yourself what it actually is. Rather than what we mold it to be and to finally choose whether or not to care.”

“Through small stories and a modern context, this book will help you understand and decide what you believe about the greatest story ever told.”

A Rooster Once Crowed is truly a fascinating read. It challenged me, in a good way, from the first chapter by asking me to examine how much I really do know about God, Jesus, Heaven, Creation, the Trinity, the Gospels, the Crucifixion…

Using Scripture references, commentary and personal stories, the author placed me on a journey to either accept and re-affirm my faith or to deny it all together by giving me insight into God’s love for Man (me), the Fall due to sin, and the price/debt Jesus paid, His sacrifice, to bring mankind (me) into God’s plan.

In the last chapter, we are given an Invitation to the final and greatest “Dance”. Will you accept or decline? It is hoped that we accept, and if we do… what do we do until the dance? And how do we prepare? That is the crux of it all.

This is a powerful book that, in conjunction with Scripture, brings forth the truths of my/our belief’s and all that that includes. This book truly is nourishment for the soul.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through the “For Readers Only” group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Deeper Shopping, Goodreads, and to be featured on my blog at http://titus3.wordpress.com

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Castles of the Heart – A Review

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Castles of the HeartCastles of the Heart by Hale Meserow

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“A Love story, a tale of immense personal courage, a gritty fight against entrenched racism, and a life lived in God’s care, all set in the beautiful back country of western North Carolina and the frenetic bustle of New York City…”

Castles of the Heart is a delightful book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. There were several strong female characters developed throughout the book, with the lead character as Starlight O’Bannion. The story follows the life – from the moment of conception – of Starlight. We are with her during her formative years, as she rises herself from the backwoods mountains of North Carolina to attend a most prestigious college to become a top ranked female attorney… something rarely heard of pre-world war 2. We are with Starlight at her marriage, her sudden young widowhood and the birth of her daughter.

As with most women of that era, Starlight is a strong and powerful woman, except when it comes to love. She again walks down the bridal aisle. We, the reader, can see where it is headed, but the young Starlight doesn’t.

With her professional life on a meteoric rise and her personal life in ruins, Starlight takes on the legal case of her life – to save the son of a lifelong family friend. I will stop this review there as much more will give away the entire ending.

I truly did take pleasure in reading this book. Though the length of the book did take me back a bit at first, I found the story to be an easy and enjoyable read. While there is clearly a Christian aspect to the entire story, I did not find it preachy or pushy.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through the “For Readers Only” group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Deeper Shopping, and Goodreads

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Organizing Your Prayer Closet – A Review

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Organizing Your Prayer Closet: A New and Life-Changing Way to PrayOrganizing Your Prayer Closet: A New and Life-Changing Way to Pray by Gina Duke

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“A recent survey revealed that 48 percent of the Christians surveyed were unhappy with their prayer life, 34 percent admitted that they did not know how to pray, and 31 percent were not sure that God ever responded to their prayers. The truth is we all want to grow our prayer lives, to be closer to Christ, to see prayer change things, and to make a difference. This books help you begin.

Organizing Your Pray Closet is part organizer and part record-keeper; it’s a new approach to revitalizing your time alone with God. Using Scripture, inspirational quotes, and space for journaling, author Gina Duke highlights the importance and power of prayer as the best connection to the source of all strength.”

I was intrigued when I read the title of this book. I have kept a journal for many years; nothing fancy, mostly a spiral notebook where I drop my thoughts, prayers, problems and blessings. I’ve never really found a way to organize my thoughts, until now.

Ms. Duke has brought it all together for me in a clean, concise and organized manner. There are 10 sections that are covered in the book with each section/chapter building on the last, culminating in a wonderfully organized plan. As each section is defined and discussed, Ms. Duke offers suggestions and helpful advice to make the most out of your newly organized prayer closet and your one-on-one time with Jesus.

I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to take their precious alone time with Jesus to the next level; to really witness and understand His hand at work in their life and to see the real effects of their petitions and prayers.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through the “For Readers Only” group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Deeper Shopping,  and Goodreads.

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52 Reasons to Believe – A Review

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52 Reasons to Believe: Concise Thoughts on the Christian Faith52 Reasons to Believe: Concise Thoughts on the Christian Faith by Gregg Farah

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Have doubts about the Christian faith? 52 Reasons to Believe is a devotional theology book, offering concise thoughts on the Christian faith. It will help you confront your questions and disarm your doubt. You’ll learn what the Bible says about itself and the character of God, and discover how they relate to contemporary life. Learn on your own or with a group, but expect to develop a stronger faith as you arm yourself with 52 Reasons to Believe.”

52 Reasons To Believe is divided into 4 sections. “The Bible is…” “ God is…” Jesus is…” “The Holy Spirit is…” Each section focuses, reveals, identifies and shares the characteristics, traits and descriptions and evidences of each particular topic. The author invites the reader to “dig in” and confront your questions, disarm your doubts and strengthen your spiritual life.

Within each of the 52 chapters, you will find: a reason to believe, a key quote, a “did you know” section, a “link to your life”, small group discussion questions, a Key verse and a short prayer.

Whether you decide to read this book all at once, or use it as a chapter a day or week, this book is a great resource for Christians of all spiritual levels, and would be perfect for groups focusing on new believers.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through the “For Readers Only” group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations:
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Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe – A Book Review

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Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe: A Daily Guide to Scripture-Based PrayerPraying for Your Husband from Head to Toe: A Daily Guide to Scripture-Based Prayer by Sharon Jaynes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“In this much-needed book, Sharon Jaynes gives reader the whys, whats. And how-tos of praying for a husband.” Elizabeth George, Author of A Woman After God’s Own Heart

”As a wife, you have been given the privilege of serving as a mighty prayer warrior for your husband. Yet sometimes, even when poised with the best of intentions, you may find the task overwhelming. You wonder: What should I pray? How should I pray? What prayers does he need right now?

In Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe, Sharon Jaynes maps out sixteen landmarks to help you consistently and effectively cover your husband in prayer. From his mind and the thoughts he thinks, to his eyes and the images he sees, all the way down to his feet and the path he takes, Sharon teaches you how to pray for your husband in ways that are powerful, practical, and life-changing.”

I was so pleased to be able to review this book. It was truly touched by it. Before now, I guess that I hadn’t really given it too much thought… praying for my husband. Sure, I pray for him each day, but it wasn’t until I started reading this book that it struck me about how I should be praying for him. This book really opened my eyes to the struggles that our husbands encounter each day.

The author, Sharon Jaynes, has created for us a 30-day prayer and scripture guide to equip us to develop a habit of purposeful prayer for our husbands… prayers for all that he may encounter during his day. The book consists of two main parts – the power of prayers and the landmarks of prayer and the second part consisting of the 30 days’ of prayers for your husband from head to toe.

In addition, the author has added 3 great chapters in the Appendix. Praying for His Salvation, Praying for His Fatherhood and Praying for His Healing.

I am recommending this book to women everywhere. I don’t care if you’ve been married 1 year or 60 years, this is a valuable resource for all married women. Consider giving this book to the new brides in your lives.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through the “For Readers Only” group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Deeper Shopping, and Goodreads
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A Melody for James – A Book Review

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A Melody for James (Christian Romantic Suspense) (Song of Suspense)A Melody for James (Christian Romantic Suspense) by Hallee Bridgeman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Solitary strangers meet during a stormy stopover. Hours later, their hearts hum a harmonious duet.

Melody Mason has the hottest female voice in the country music scene. But the cheers of throngs of adoring fans mean little in the absence of the handsome stranger who rescued her years before. Widower James Montgomery has never forgotten her. He prays God can bring her back.

Incredible events finally bring them face to face again. Together at last, they realize the bond between them has miraculously risen to a crescendo, melodiously marrying them like strong symphonic chords. Uncannily, they learn they share more in common than they could have ever imagined. They know God reunited them for a purpose.

Sinister forces threaten to destroy their newfound happiness. The couple must work in close concert, placing all their faith in God as they solve the deadly mystery that ties their lives inexplicably together.

Fire, loss, and bloodshed cannot shake their faith in God to see them through as they face a percussive climax that leaves hearts and lives forever changed.”

A Melody for James is a wonderful Christian suspense story of a chance-encounter, a new love, a broken heart, sweet romance, and repentant hearts along with dread, secrets, intrigue, unimaginable loss and bloodshed all wrapped up in an unshakable faith in God that guides and protects Melody and James and those they love.

This book is a great story that will get its hooks in you from the very beginning with its twists and turns and suspense. You do not want to miss this book.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through the “For Readers Only” group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Deeper Shopping,and GoodReads

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Uniform Decisions – A Book Review

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Uniform Decisions: My Life in the LAPD and the North Hollywood ShootoutUniform Decisions: My Life in the LAPD and the North Hollywood Shootout by John Caprarelli

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“February 28, 1997, Los Angeles, California – After a botched robbery at a Bank of America branch in North Hollywood, two robbers, armed with fully automatic assault rifles and wearing full body armor, fired more than 1,100 rounds as they battled police.

Eleven officers and two civilians were wounded. The two robbers, Emil Matasareanu and Larry Eugene Phillips Jr., were killed by gunfire. Officer John Caprarelli was one of the first officers at the scene.

Before a national TV audience, he confronted one of the robbers, provoking a gun fight and exchanging numerous shots before the gunman fell. Officer Caprarelli was awarded the LAPD’s highest honor, the Medal of Valor, as well as a National Top Cop Award.”

I have members of my family that serve as police officers, firemen and first responders. I have always admired them for their dedication to their chosen fields. It takes a certain type of person to do those jobs; they is not for everyone. And after reading this memoir, I now have more admiration for them. These are dangerous and thankless jobs. They are the ones that run towards the trouble, when we are running away from it. The stories and anecdotes written by the Author give us a small, yet rare, glimpse into the life of a 27-year career police officer – both his personal and professional life.

It is the last half of the book, though, that totally captivated me. Without divulging much of the story… It is the detailed minute-by-minute account of the infamous North Hollywood Bank Robbery. I was totally captivated by the retelling of the account and could hardly put the book down. If you are a fan of police crime drama shows, as I am you will enjoy this book.

“It is said that working the streets as a police officer is hours of boredome sprinkled with econds of terror.  I can vouch for that.  It was quite a ride.” –  John Caprarelli

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through the “For Readers Only” group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CBD, GoodReads and Deeper Shopping

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