Hagar: Rediscovering the God Who Sees Me by Shadia Hrichi

Hagar: Rediscovering the God Who Sees Me by Shadia Hrichi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free ARC digital copy of this book.

I was not quite expecting this book to be so in depth! It was quite a study. The book is entitled "Hagar: Rediscovering the God Who Sees Me". I was wondering when I started reading this book how the author was going to get a huge study out of a character in the Bible who only has about 3 mentions. The way she does this is by not only studying Hagar's life, but all the ones who affected her life, namely Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and her son, Ishmael. In each character, the author reveals how God is the "God behind the Seen".

This book will build your faith as you study how God takes this motley crew into a group that trusts Him through extreme circumstances. The author gives personal insights, deep studies into the Hebrew words and cultures, and forces the reader to take deep introspective looks into his or her own life of faith.

View all my reviews

The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright

The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a digital ARC of this book. It was a great find!

This book goes back and forth in time between two characters who end up being intertwined by a mysterious house. One story is in present day about Kaine, a social worker dedicated to abused women, whose husband recently died in a car wreck. She bought an old house in Wisconsin to remodel, fulfilling one of her husband's dreams. She had no idea that the house was in such disrepair or had such a nefarious history when she bought it. She believes that someone tried to kill her husband, and she is fleeing from someone who she believes is stalking her. When she arrives at Foster House, she realizes that she has not escaped danger. She ends up finding answers to her family's dark history and love along the way.

The parallel story takes place in 1906. The other character is Ivy, who assists her father, a doctor, in examining the death of a young woman found dead on the property of the house (which Kaine buys many years later). Ivy becomes obsessed with finding out why this young lady died and what happened to her baby. She ends up getting too involved in the case and making the young woman's murderer very mad.

I enjoyed the characters and the story line very much. It moved quickly. It has all the elements of a great book - suspense, interesting characters, and even a little romance. The best part is that this is a really good Christian book. Throughout this story, both main characters learn that hope in God is what keeps them going.

View all my reviews

The Sound of Rain by Sarah Loudin Thomas

The Sound of Rain by Sarah Loudin Thomas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to have a digital ARC of The Sound of Rain by Sarah Loudin Thomas. If you are a fan of clean, sweet, southern romances, this is the book for you! A West Virginia man travels to Myrtle Beach, SC after a coal mining accident leaves him slightly wounded and looking for his purpose in life. While in Myrtle Beach, he finds an unlikely job for a coal miner - logging. He also unexpectantly meets the beautiful and vivacious Larkin. Larkin is the boss' daughter and dreams of going to Appalachia to minister to the unfortunate. The reader will learn a thing or two about the wisdom of waiting on God when the plans you've made just don't seem to be working out.


View all my reviews

Stolen Jesus by Jami Amerine

Stolen Jesus: An Unconventional Search for the Real Savior by Jami Amerine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to have a digital ARC of this book. I was so excited to hear that my favorite Christian blogger had written a book. When I saw it was listed on NetGalley - I was thrilled!

This book did not disappoint. I you have ever read Jami Amerine's blogs, her book is true to her writing style - humorous, REAL, honest, and humorous some more. If you have never read her blog, I suggest you drop everything and go there right now - Sacred Ground and Sticky Floors. I honestly cannot remember how I came across this author, but I am glad I did.

In Stolen Jesus, Jami goes through many false "Jesuses" she thought she knew until she found the real deal. Actually, what happened was that all her life she was embracing a religion - not Jesus. When she, and anyone else, experiences the real Jesus, life will never be the same.

I am glad that I got a free digital copy of this book, but I may have to go out and buy a few copies to share with others.

View all my reviews

A Time to Stand by Robert Whitlow

A Time to Stand by Robert Whitlow
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book.

I believe this book has a wonderful theme - justice for all. However, I could not get into this book. The characters were pretty forgettable. In fact, I read this book for a while and went almost all week without reading it and didn't wonder about what would happen in the book. It seems pretty predictable.

I was hoping to find a really good Christian fiction. Instead, I would say that it is pretty typical of the genre. The characters were pretty predictable as well as the plot.

View all my reviews

Beautiful in God's Eyes: The Treasures of the Proverbs 31 Woman by Elizabeth George

Beautiful in God's Eyes: The Treasures of the Proverbs 31 Woman by Elizabeth George
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to receive a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I both loved and hated this book. I loved it because Elizabeth George clearly laid out what a "proverbs 31" woman should look like. I hated it for the same reason. Studying the Proverbs 31 woman exposed some real weaknesses in my life as a wife and mother that I did not care to change. It is not comfortable when the Holy Spirit reveals areas that you are weak in. However, Elizabeth George has accomplished what a good Christian writer should - to create a book in line with the teachings of God's word that, through application and God's help, changes the reader.

I now have a more clear vision of what I want to be as a wife and mother thanks to the encouragement through these pages.

View all my reviews

The Girl Who Came Back by Kerry Wilkinson

The Girl Who Came Back by Kerry Wilkinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book very much. It is very suspenseful and keeps you wondering up until the very end. The story begins with a young woman who claims she is the lost daughter of Sarah. She supposedly disappeared when she was a little girl and was presumed dead.

There is a subplot about a girl's life named "Lily". The reader is thrown back into time to look at her life as she was growing up.

I will not say how these two are connected, but I will say that the author did a great job of pulling off the plot of this book!



View all my reviews

When You Disappeared by John Marrs

When You Disappeared by John Marrs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me an ARC in enchange for an honest review.

I love seeing those 5 stars light up! I go through lots of mediocre books to finally find a great one! This book kept me guessing at every turn. Although I had a suspicion of how the book would end up, I still had a few jaw-dropping moments.

This book is about a once-married couple named Simon and Catherine. They had what looked like the perfect family until one day Simon disappears without a trace for no apparent reason. The story is told in 3 ways. The present day, and the past from the alternating eyes of Catherine and Simon. If it seems like this strange point of view would get a little confusing, don't worry - it doesn't. The author does a wonderful job of mastering this point of view.

Shortly into the story (in the present day part of the story) Catherine is visited by a nice-looking, older gentleman who looks a little familiar. After she finally realizes that it is her long lost husband, he begins to tell her the whole story and explains why he felt like he needed to come back one last time.

At the end, they both realize that a majority of their marriage was not what it seemed. And Simon realizes that he spent his whole life blaming others for his own faults.

View all my reviews

Good Me, Bad Me by Ali Land

Good Me, Bad Me by Ali Land
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a digital ARC of this book.

Milly did a very brave thing. She turned her mom into the police. Milly's mom is a serial killer. She spent her whole short life living with a woman who took other children an killed them.

After Milly turned her mother in, she was committed to foster care. She is placed with a foster family who just happens to have a psychologist as the father. The family also happens to have an older sister, Phoebe, who has friends who bully Milly. Phoebe is not innocent. She torments her foster sister as well.

Milly wants to do the right thing. She wants to be normal, but is it possible? After all, she is the daughter of a serial killer.

As I write this review, I had almost decided that I didn't want to finish the book. However, I believe I will continue reading. I think I just made myself want to read it ;)

View all my reviews

Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free digital ARC copy of this book.

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. It reminds me of a Nicolas Sparks book...kind of like the Notebook. It is such an emotional love story of two world's fairs and the events in between that led to a wonderful marriage.

The book begins with a Chinese American man who is watching the World's Fair from afar because he can't bear enjoying it without the love of his life who is suffering from dementia. The book goes back in time to let the reader peer into the time when they first met and their blossoming relationship through the years.

This is a very sweet book about the love that the older couple has for each other. The contrast of the character of the wife before and after her dementia is very saddening and emotional.

View all my reviews

The Han Agent by Amy Rogers

The Han Agent by Amy Rogers
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to preview a digital ARC of this book.

I enjoy medical fiction. I was looking forward to reading this book, but it disappointed a little bit. First of all, when I requested it, I don't think I realized that it was a series. I typically don't like reading series books, and I felt the same about this one.

The main character is a female scientist who is doing research on a type of flu. She is terminated from her position at a university and moves to Japan to work with her brother. While in Japan, she gets caught up with the conflict between China and Japan and territorial battles over some islands.

Honestly, I couldn't get past the first half of the book because it was moving too slow and had too many subplots. I was very interested to get into the actual conflict of the bio warfare, but it was moving too slow.


View all my reviews

Friend Request by Laura Marshall

Friend Request by Laura Marshall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free digital ARC of Friend Request.

I was glad to finally read my version of a 5-star book! It seems like I haven't reviewed a good fiction book in a while. The best part of this book was the twists and turns. I changed my mind about how the book was going to turn out countless times and the ending still surprised me!

The book is told from the eyes of Louise, a divorced single mother. Her life was going well. She had a beautiful, healthy child, a great and prosperous career, etc. One day out of the blue she receives a Facebook friend request from an old school friend, Maria. The problem was that Maria was supposed to have drowned after a school dance while they were in high school.

Louise's life was turned upside down from the time of the friend request. She accepts it, and with the reception of the friend request she also accepts much guilt and fear from what she has done in the past.

Through the friend request, she also learns that there will be a high school reunion coming up which will reunite many of the students involved in what happened to Maria.

This book will keep you guessing until the very end.


View all my reviews

One Minute with Jesus for Women by Hope Lyda

One Minute with Jesus for Women Milano Softone™ by Hope Lyda
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me a digital ARC of this book.

Each chapter is laid out with several Bible verses corresponding to different areas of a woman's life that she might be having problems with. My favorite chapter was "contentment". After the Bible verses, there were several very short devotionals from the author on the topic. I found the topics very relatable as a woman, the devotions were good. They would be perfect as a quick devotional on the go. For some reason, I just couldn't "get into" the devotionals like I do with many. I think most people would really enjoy this book.

View all my reviews

Fever by Devon Meyer

Fever by Deon Meyer
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a free digital ARC of this book.

After a terrible virus wiped out most of the world's population, Nico Storm and his dad are looking to rebuild their world in a new community called Amanzi. The story is about their survival and their friendships with new acquaintances who are also looking to become part of this Amanzi.

Apocalyptic books always fascinate me. It is so hard to conceive in my mind what it would be like to live in a world where most of the population has been destroyed. I believe the author did a very good job of creating a realistic tale of what the world might be like in such conditions. The story is told from the eyes of Nico, who is fairly young at the time.

Unfortunately, I had a hard time finishing this book. It seemed like the plot was a little slow.

View all my reviews

The Gospel Centered Mom: The Freeing Truth About What Your Kids Really Need

The Gospel-Centered Mom: The Freeing Truth About What Your Kids Really Need by Brooke McGlothlin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free digital ARC in advance for an honest review.

What a God send this book was!!! Mrs. McGlothlin dives into the root of why mothers spend most of their lives feeling like failures. The part of the title "The Freeing Truth About What Your Kids Really Need" is a wonderful description of this book. The author is very honest and gives her own stories of failures with her 2 strong-willed boys. At the end of each chapter she gives the "hard truth" and the "beautiful truth". She uses many Bible verses and stories from the Bible (including Hosea and Gomer) to back up what she says.

I wish I could afford to buy a copy of this book for each Christian mom I know. It has been such a help to me. I have a feeling I will be reading it again and again.

View all my reviews

Who Knew? by Sarah Herman

Who Knew? by Sarah Herman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed reading this fun-fact-filled book. The book is categorized by different sorts of facts like animals, weather, space, sports, science etc. It is easy to read, but at the same time gives the reader "food for thought". I'll admit that I already knew some of the facts in the book, but I did learn a few things too.

This would be a great book for a school library or classroom.

View all my reviews

Beartown or (Scandal) by Fredrik Backman

Beartown by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a ARC digital copy of this book.

I was excited to read this book because the author has written many other books that have gotten high reviews. I listened to "My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry" and loved it. I was excited to read another book by this author. It has some really good reviews, but I wasn't able to get through it far enough to see if I agree with the good reviews.

The story is about a small rural town, Beartown, whose only claim to fame is its hockey team. Supposedly there would be a big scandal about the team, but I didn't get that far. I don't particularly like hockey and all the way to 20% of the book, it seems like the whole book is about hockey.

If someone likes or follows hockey, this book may be very interesting, but it wasn't for me.

View all my reviews

All Things New by Lauren Miller

All Things New by Lauren Miller
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

That being said, unfortunately I did not enjoy this book. The main character has terrible anxiety issues and they seem to be the main focus of this book. She has a wreck after she finds out her boyfriend has been cheating on her. After her wreck, her face is terribly scarred, which just adds to her anxiety.

I couldn't finish the book because it just seemed like the same scenario on repeat.

View all my reviews

Girl in Snow

Girl in Snow by Danya Kukafka
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book revolves around 3 main characters who have one thing in common - concern for the death of a local high school girl named Lucinda. Cameron, the shy next door neighbor, secretly watches Lucinda's every move. Jade, an abused classmate, feels like Lucinda took her boyfriend and her job. Finally, there is the cop, Russ, who is assigned to work the homicide.

The book flipflops between each of the 3 character's stories. Sometimes within each chapter there are flashbacks as well as the current story. This point of view is pretty interesting, but it was a little hard to keep up with at times.

I liked the author's style of writing. It is almost poetic at times.

View all my reviews

Turning Everyday Conversations into Gospel Conversations

Turning Everyday Conversations into Gospel Conversations by Jimmy Scroggins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for a free digital edition of this book in exchange for a review.

What a wonderful short book with a very doable method to share the gospel!

The authors go through their method of sharing the gospel called the "Three Circles". They explain how Christians must be praying for opportunities to find people in their brokenness and provide a very simple way of sharing the gospel that can be done anywhere. There is even an app that they have created that can be used to share the 3 circles.

They not only share this innovative way to share the gospel, but they share their heart and Biblical examples of Jesus' great commission.

Every Christian should read this book!

View all my reviews

The Life She Was Given by Ellen Marie Wiseman

The Life She Was Given by Ellen Marie Wiseman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the free digital copy of this book. I am always excited when I find a 5-star book! I have never read any of Ellen Marie Wiseman's books, but I think I will definitely have to read another.

The book begins with Lilly, who is only allowed to live in the small space of her attic bedroom. Her mother tells her that she is so ugly that she can't go outside or people will be scared of her.

There is also the story of Julia, who the reader meets as a run away working at a diner. Julia frequently speaks of her family. There are many similarities between Lilly and Julia's childhood.

The book switches between both ladies and their lives. I won't say how their lives are connected so as not to give away spoilers.

I was horrified by the treatment of Lilly and her story as it unfolded. Obviously there is a time in her life that involved being in the circus. I thoroughly enjoyed the description of the elephants - I want to ride an elephant now!!

This was an amazing story!

View all my reviews

Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger

Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I didn't finish this one. I wanted to read this book because I loved the author's previous book, Ordinary Grace. I was hoping for something just as good. I feel like if I would have had the patience to follow with this book till the end, I may have enjoyed it. I didn't care for the language used by many of the characters. Also, The book was moving really slow and didn't grab my attention like I want an audiobook to do.

View all my reviews

Unblemished by Sara Ella

Unblemished by Sara Ella


I am not going to review this book as I normally do. In fact, I am not even going to give it a star rating. I appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for giving me access to this book. It was a book that I "wished for" on Netgalley, but didn't realize that I would automatically be approved and expected to write a review.

I don't feel like any rating I would give would be fair to this book, because I just could not get into it. It is a young adult book, and while I do enjoy some YA books, this one didn't seem to be for me.

Long story short, after reading a few chapters, I believe this would be a good series for some young adult readers, but it just wasn't for me.

View all my reviews

She is Yours by Jonathan and Wynter Pitts

She Is Yours by Jonathan Pitts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Check out all my book reviews at www.myliterary2cents.blogspot.com

My star rating system:
1 star – Awful! I couldn’t even read it.
2 stars – I only read part of it, couldn’t finish it.
3 stars – I read it all, and it was okay – not one of my favorites.
4 stars – I read it all and loved it!
5 stars – I read it all, loved it, and I would read it again!

I reviewed this book for the subject matter - raising a girl - but I enjoyed it for so much more! I loved Jonathan and Wynter Pitts' style of writing this book. Each chapter gives both mom and dad's point of view about raising girls. Jonathan and Wynter Pitts have 4 girls who are about a year apart (with one set of twins). They have lots of experiences to share with anyone who has a girl. I was also very interested to find to find out that their oldest daughter played on the Christian film, War Room.

The Pitts are truly remarkable parents and have a wealth of spiritual advice for those of us who are in the constant battleground of raising a girl ("for this child I prayed") for God. They give lots of scripture as well as practical advice on how to daily declare that "She is Yours" to the Lord.

View all my reviews

Buried Secrets by T.J. Breardon

Buried Secrets by T.J. Brearton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Check out all my book reviews at www.myliterary2cents.blogspot.com

My star rating system:
1 star – Awful! I couldn’t even read it.
2 stars – I only read part of it, couldn’t finish it.
3 stars – I read it all, and it was okay – not one of my favorites.
4 stars – I read it all and loved it!
5 stars – I read it all, loved it, and I would read it again!

Brett and his wife, Emily, are newlyweds who have recently acquired a farm house in rural New York from his wife's family. Soon before finding out that Emily is expecting their first child, Brett finds bones in his yard which he finds out are human bones. After calling the authorities, events escalate very quickly.

Simultaneously, Russo is an ex-con who has totally put crime behind him and is living a clean life with his loving wife and daughter. He is suddenly arrested for an outstanding warrant from several years in the past. While in prison, he meets another inmate who totally ruins any hope of his life being normal ever again.

The story goes very fast into the connection between the two characters and is action-packed until the end. It was an enjoyable read.

View all my reviews

The Faraway Brothers by Lauren Markham

The Far Away Brothers: Two Young Migrants and the Making of an American Life by Lauren Markham
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Check out all my book reviews at www.myliterary2cents.blogspot.com

My star rating system:
1 star – Awful! I couldn’t even read it.
2 stars – I only read part of it, couldn’t finish it.
3 stars – I read it all, and it was okay – not one of my favorites.
4 stars – I read it all and loved it!
5 stars – I read it all, loved it, and I would read it again!

I would actually give this book a 3.5. I did really enjoy it. It wasn't one of those books that I just couldn't put down, so that's why I didn't give it a 4. There were parts that got a little redundant, and I skipped parts.

Author Lauren Markham was an administrator at a Californian school for newly arrived immigrants and also a journalist. She tells the story twin boys from El Salvador who immigrated to the US when they were 17. Ms. Markham goes into amazing detail about the Flores boys' families in El Salvador, their harrowing trip to the US, their experiences in US immigrant court, and their experience in an American school and culture.

When I saw that this book was available for review from NetGalley, I knew I had to read it. I read it after my first year as an ESL teacher. Several of my students were from El Salvador. I knew from my students that El Salvador was an extremely dangerous country, but reading this book gave me more insight into why these people feel the need to do almost anything in order to escape their country.

This book was written from the point of view of many would-be immigrants to the US shortly during and after the Trump election. It was very interesting to hear what people in theses countries felt about what they had heard about the president (and Americans in general) during this time.

This book is a must-read for anyone who works with immigrants, especially for those who work with immigrants from Mexico and Central America.


View all my reviews

Close to Me by Amanda Reynolds

Close To Me by Amanda Reynolds
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Check out all my book reviews at www.myliterary2cents.blogspot.com

My star rating system:
1 star – Awful! I couldn’t even read it.
2 stars – I only read part of it, couldn’t finish it.
3 stars – I read it all, and it was okay – not one of my favorites.
4 stars – I read it all and loved it!
5 stars – I read it all, loved it, and I would read it again!

What if you couldn't remember the last year of your life? Jo woke up in a hospital room after a mysterious fall knowing who she was, recognizing her family, but not remembering the last year of her life. She could tell that something was different. She felt like her husband and children were keeping a secret from her. What awful things could have happened in this "lost year" of her life? On top of that, how did she fall and hit her head anyway?

The author, Amanda Reynolds, spins a very captivating and suspenseful story of Jo gradually gaining back bits of her memory from the "lost year". The books flip flops in time between days "after the fall" and months "before the fall". Eventually time catches up with itself and the reader finally finds out what everyone was trying to hide from Jo.

I loved the way the book was written in two different time periods. Sometimes this style of writing can be confusing for the reader, but I felt that in this case, the writing style actually kept the level of suspense increasing. I would have rated the book a little higher, but unfortunately it was a little bit disappointing at the end. Maybe it just didn't end like I would have liked it to, and that is not the fault of the author.


View all my reviews

From Hot Mess to Blessed by Julie Gillies

From Hot Mess to Blessed: Hope to Propel Your Soul and the Promises That Change Everything by Julie Gillies
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Check out all my book reviews at www.myliterary2cents.blogspot.com

My star rating system:
1 star – Awful! I couldn’t even read it.
2 stars – I only read part of it, couldn’t finish it.
3 stars – I read it all, and it was okay – not one of my favorites.
4 stars – I read it all and loved it!
5 stars – I read it all, loved it, and I would read it again!

I would say that I would actually give this book about a 3.5 rating - it was somewhere between "not a favorite" and "loved it!". Author Julie Gillies gives a very candid look into her own childhood and marital "messes" to show the reader how God changed all of that into something good. My favorite part of this book was her real life stories and the power of God to change a situation from bad to good. In each chapter, Ms. Gillies gives us a little personal background, a Biblical story, and scripture. I used this book as a devotional book and was very pleased. I have already shared several quotes from this book that have been a blessing to others as well.

View all my reviews

Mrs. Saint and the Defectives by Julie Lawson Timmer

Mrs. Saint and the Defectives by Julie Lawson Timmer
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I got this book as a free Kindle edition from Amazon Prime's Kindle Firsts. Check out all my book reviews at www.myliterary2cents.blogspot.com

My star rating system:
1 star – Awful! I couldn’t even read it.
2 stars – I only read part of it, couldn’t finish it.
3 stars – I read it all, and it was okay – not one of my favorites.
4 stars – I read it all and loved it!
5 stars – I read it all, loved it, and I would read it again!

I enjoyed the first part of the book a lot. I felt extremely sorry for the mother in this story whose husband cheated on her and left her alone with a 14 yr old boy. When we meet Mrs. Saint, she was delightfully quirky and her French accent really gave her character. However, after about 1/2 through the book, there was too much mundane day to day business. It didn't seem like the book or characters were progressing. I skipped to the end of the book to see what happened, but didn't really feel like I missed anything by not reading most of the 2nd half of the book.

One interesting thing is that when I chose this book from the Kindle Firsts list, I thought the title was called "Mrs. Saint and the Detectives". I thought the people who worked for Mrs. Saint (the "defectives") were actually going to solve a mystery. It was several chapters into the book when I realized I had the title wrong in my mind!

View all my reviews

Paper Butterflies by Lisa Heathfield

Paper Butterflies by Lisa Heathfield
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Check out all my book reviews at www.myliterary2cents.blogspot.com

My star rating system:
1 star – Awful! I couldn’t even read it.
2 stars – I only read part of it, couldn’t finish it.
3 stars – I read it all, and it was okay – not one of my favorites.
4 stars – I read it all and loved it!
5 stars – I read it all, loved it, and I would read it again!

I absolutely loved and hated this book. I am pretty sure I cried, gasped, and laughed throughout this whole book. The main character, June, is a little girl who is abused physically and emotionally by her step mother and little step sister. Her dad and teachers have no idea about what is going on with her even though she has tried to tell them many times. Not only does she have a horrible life at home, but the other children at school bully her. Her one little beam of hope comes one birthday when her dad gives her a new bike. As she is out exploring one day, she meets her soon to be best friend, Blister. He is the only thing that gets her through her days.

The reader is taken on a sad journey of June's life up to her teenage years when the unthinkable happens! I am not going to reveal what happens, but I will just say that I did not see it coming.

This is a great book, but it is extremely sad. Don't read this book when you are not in a good state of mind.

View all my reviews

Dare to Remember by Susanna Beard

Dare to Remember by Susanna Beard
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me an ARC digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Read more of my reviews at www.myliterary2cents.blogspot.com.

Dare to Remember is a story about a young lady who suffered a terrible tragedy that left her best friend dead, and herself an amnesiac. Her life comes back to her a little at a time, usually in nightmares.

I did not enjoy this book like I thought I would. The premise of the book is promising, but the story was not carried out very well. The 3rd person point of view is a little odd in this book. I feel like I really never got to know the main character very well.

The timeline is a little hard to follow as well. The story kept jumping back and forth between what was presently going on and flashbacks.

After about 20% into the book, nothing had really happened. I just couldn't justify spending any more time reading it.

View all my reviews

The Secret Lives of Introverts: Inside Our Hidden World by Jenn Granneman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Check out all my book reviews at www.myliterary2cents.blogspot.com

Author Jenn Granneman gives a look at what life is like as an introvert. She explains the different types of introverts and provides a quiz for potential introverts to take. Through many polls and interviews, she shows us the common misconceptions that introverts face about their quiet lives. She explains a little of the science of what makes an introvert "tick". She even gives tips for people who are extroverts dealing with a introvert co worker, friend, or family member.

Notes about the author/writing style: The author's writing style was neither too complicated or too simple.

What I loved about the book: I enjoyed reading the comments from introverts that the author had interviewed. I especially loved how the author's main theme of the book was that introverts are not weird, shy, or somehow a lower human form - they just need space and alone time to recharge.

What I disliked about the book: Anytime I am so uninterested in a book that I "skim" over sections without reading it entirely, I give a book a 3 star rating. Most of the book was very interesting, but I feel like a lot of the information was redundant and I found myself just reading the headings in many chapters. I also didn't really need to read parts of the book that were directed towards unmarried people who are looking for companionship.

Who should read this book? All introverts need to read this book. Since there were lots of helpful hints for extroverts dealing with introverts, they should read this book too.


View all my reviews

As You Wish by Chelsea Sedoti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Check out all my book reviews at www.myliterary2cents.blogspot.com

Plot Summary: In a little town called Madison in the Mojave desert, wishes come true. Each person in the town gets one wish on their 18th birthday as long as the wish doesn't affect anyone outside of the town or bring someone back to life. Eldon is a high school senior who is on the cusp of turning 18. He is having a very hard time trying to figure out what his wish should be. He spends almost a month interviewing people about their wishes and how it affected them. He finds out that everyone has regrets about their wish. At the same time that Eldon is trying to figure out his wish, he is also going through the devastation of practically losing his sister (she's brain dead) in a car accident, losing popularity with his peers and football teammates, and lots of girlfriend/best friend drama. In the end, Eldon, who for most of the book is seen as a very selfish and egocentric young man changes dramatically.

Notes about the author/writing style: I have really enjoyed the author's writing style in this book. It looks like she's only written one other book, and I might just have to read that one too. This book was written for young adults and I think she gets into the mind of a young adult very well. She doesn't ramble about things that are unimportant, all the characters are believable and well rounded.

What I loved about the book: This book has all the "feels". There are times when this book makes you laugh, sit on the edge of your seat, and even cry. There is also a really good moral in this book that will be very appropriate for teens and young adults. I think the resounding lesson here is be careful what you wish for and the grass is not greener on the other side.

What I disliked about the book: The only thing that disappointed me a little with this book was the language. I get that the main character is a typical 17 year old boy and some of the language is part of his character, I just would rather not read it.

Who should read this book? This is a great book for young adults and teens, but adults would enjoy it too. I certainly did!


View all my reviews

Dangerous Territory by Amy Peterson

Dangerous Territory: My Misguided Quest to Save the World by Amy Peterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley for a digital ARC copy of this book.

I very much enjoyed Amy Peterson's account of her missionary experience. She gives a little of her background and why she was interested in missions. I can identify with this author, because I too have what she calls "wonderlust".

Each chapter begins with a famous (or maybe not so famous) missionary quote. Ms. Peterson goes on to tell us the beginning of her journey to China where she just wanted to teach English and be Jesus to the people around her. She tells many funny stories of misunderstandings due to culture and language.

She also shares her very conflicted feelings about her "calling" to be a missionary and really what that means.

I think this is a must-read book for any person (especially a woman) who is considering or has ever considered missions.

View all my reviews

Dr. Colbert's Keto Zone Diet by Don Colbert

Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.  Check out all my book reviews at www.myliterary2cents.blogspot.com

Dr. Colbert's Keto Zone Diet is a very informative book for anyone who is curious about the new Keto Zone diet phase.  It includes a lot of scientific information on why the diet is good for people, especially people who have inflammatory diseases and cancer.  The author even goes through the history of diet fads and shows why most Americans have a hard time embracing this "high fat" diet.

Notes about the author/writing style: I enjoyed Dr. Colbert's writing style.  Although he is obviously very knowledgeable about dieting and the science behind it, he didn't make his writing style too complicated for those who are not in the medical field.

What I loved about the book:   I walked away from this book with a better understanding of this diet that I have been hearing a lot about.  I feel like I will be better informed to tell others about this diet as well as making a decision on whether I would like to pursue this diet.

What I disliked about the book: There really wasn't anything that I disliked about this book.  It was a good combination of scientific facts, history, and practical ways (even menus and recipes) to incorporate this diet into a lifestyle.

Who should read this book? Anyone who is contemplating going on the Keto diet should read this book.  I would definitely recommend this book to anyone with cancer.  I had no idea that the typical high carb diet was very detrimental to anyone with cancer as opposed to a diet high in fat (low carbs) that would actually extend the lives of most people with cancer.

Every Word is a Bird We Teach to Sing by Daniel Tammet

Every Word Is a Bird We Teach to Sing: Encounters with the Mysteries and Meanings of Language by Daniel Tammet
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Check out all my book reviews at www.myliterary2cents.blogspot.com

Plot Summary: This is a narrative of the author's life. He is a high functioning autistic with some amazing, although unique, linguistic skills. He starts out telling about his life as a boy and his unique language of numbers. The chapters then go on to describe how he acquired more linguistic ability through travel. He explains series of tests he was put through in order to better understand his unique abilities. He explains numerous word origins that are pretty fascinating. He speaks of translations briefly in one chapter.

Notes about the author/writing style: This writer is obviously very brilliant. This is definitely not a "beach read", but is very interesting. Given the uniqueness of how this author learns, all educators should read at least one book of his.

What I loved about the book: I loved learning about the author's unique "math language". Every word had a number attached to it. That blows my mathematical brain!

What I disliked about the book: There were parts a little too technical and detailed for me.

Who should read this book? Anyone who loves words and learning!


View all my reviews