Review \\ Glamorous Illusions by Lisa T. Bergren

The Grand Tour Series details the life of Cora Diehl Kensington, a woman of the Montana plains, swept up into a life of riches and privilege. Belatedly finding out a terrible secret about her parentage, Cora struggles to find out who she really is–as a child of God–in the midst of an enlightening, as well as dangerous, trip across Europe. (http://lisatawnbergren.com/books/)

Why I have I waited so long to read a book by Lisa T. Bergren? I have no idea. I would say that her books are a step above Tracie Peterson's and on par with Julie Klassen's (no offence to either author).

Set in the early 1900s, Glamorous Illusions is a beautiful book from cover to cover. I loved every bit of it, which isn't something I say too often about the books I read. From the first pages I fell in love with Cora. She's a spirited, often stubborn, young woman, but she truly wants to trust God in all parts of her life. It's just not that easy. I can relate.

When Cora is told a secret about her parentage, she's whisked off to a new family and a new life, starting with a grand tour to Europe. It's the perfect setting for discovery: of Europe, of her family, of herself. And of course, we have to throw in a couple of love interests to make it all the more interesting. Bergren crafts the most interesting characters like William, Pierre, and, most fascinating to me, Mr. Kensington. I just can't figure him out. At the beginning I did not like him, but when he writes that letter to Cora... I'm having a hard time making up my mind! Hopefully I'll get a chance to figure him out in book two, Grave Consequences, which doesn't come out until (sigh) March 2013. The best part about the characters is that they seem so real. I'm tired of books that idealize people, or make them so one-sided; Glamorous Illusions does not disappoint.

Glamorous Illusions is written in first person but switches from the point of view of Cora to a narrator (third -person) view of Will. That's interesting but at times a bit odd to me. I think it would have been better if both were in first person, but maybe Bergren felt that would be too confusing to the reader (which it definitely could be). Still, I liked seeing Will's perspective. And of course, since this is the start of a series, the ending was unfortunately abrupt and left me dangling off the cliff by a small thread.

Shockingly, I got this book free on my Kindle several months ago. Soon after I finished Glamorous Illusions I looked up when the second book is coming out. So far away! (Ha, not really.) Thankfully, I found Bergren's first book in the River of Time Series, Waterfall, on sale for $1.99. :) A good way to cope, I thought, but it only took me a day to read. Review of that coming soon, because it was good.





2012 Goal: Book 38 of 50

Review \\ Running for My Life by Lopez Lomong

\\ About the Book \\ Running for My Life is not a story about Africa or track and field athletics. It is about outrunning the devil and achieving the impossible faith, diligence, and the desire to give back. It is the American dream come true and a stark reminder that saving one can help to save thousands more.Lopez Lomong chronicles his inspiring ascent from a barefoot lost boy of the Sudanese Civil War to a Nike sponsored athlete on the US Olympic Team. Though most of us fall somewhere between the catastrophic lows and dizzying highs of Lomong's incredible life, every reader will find in his story the human spark to pursue dreams that might seem unthinkable, even from circumstances that might appear hopeless.

With perfect timing Thomas Nelson releases Running for My Life: One Lost Boy's Journey from the Killing Fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games, the incredible story of U.S. Olympic long distance runner Lopez Lomong. This book takes you from the lows of poverty and kidnap to the highs of qualifying for the Olympics. It seems unreal at times, but Lopez constantly reminds readers that his story is possible only because of God.

Lopez's journey to the U.S. is pretty spectacular, as is his desire to do everything he can to help his family and friends in South Sudan. 4 South Sudan is a foundation he started alongside World Vision to bring clean water, education, and healthcare to Sudan. The Olympics? Well, that's just a favorite past time.

I can't recommend this book enough.

Lopez is running in the Olympics today!! I will be cheering him on!

\\ Info \\
Title: Running for My Life: One Lost Boy's Journey from the Killing Fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games
Author: Lopez Lomong
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishers
Publication Date: July 17, 2012
Number of Pages: 240
ISBN: 1595555153
Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy!

Review \\ Illusion by Frank Peretti

\\ About the Book \\ Dane and Mandy, a popular magic act for forty years, are tragically separated by a car wreck that claims Mandy's life-or so everyone thinks. Even as Dane mourns and tries to rebuild his life without her, Mandy, supposedly dead, awakes in the present as the nineteen-year-old she was in 1970. Distraught and disoriented in what to her is the future, she is confined to a mental ward until she discovers a magical ability to pass invisibly through time and space to escape. Alone in a strange world, she uses her mysterious powers to eke out a living, performing magic on the streets and in a quaint coffee shop. Read more about Illusion >>>

The description for Illusion by Frank Peretti is entirely too long to post here, but feel free to click the link to read more about it.

I could just tell you that Illusion is awesome and leave it at that, but you might want to know why I've come to this conclusion. To put it simply, Peretti is a real genius when it come to crafting an entertaining, slightly confusing, edge-of-your-seat kind of story. Illusion is a chunk of a book at around 500 pages, but it isn't one of those dragging, did-an-editor-even-read-this kind of book. The characters are thoughtful and well-planned. The points of view are error-free. Though the subject matter is one of magic, illusion, and science, by the end Peretti had me believing that this sort of thing is highly plausible.

The most intriguing thing about Illusion is the love story it contains. Thankfully this isn't run-of-the-mill Christian fiction, so we side-step the too obvious glances and longings. Illusion, instead, displays real love, a 40-years strong love that is hard to be disappointed by. There are so many moments where Dane's love for Mandy is completely obvious, but it really has nothing to do with Mandy's looks, though she is pretty. Dane loves the person she is, the person he has watched her become. It's really beautiful, and the anticipation of the ending that could separate the two of them really tugs on your emotions.

I guess if you aren't really into magicians and illusions you might be inclined to bypass this book. But even if you are kind of eh about card tricks and the like, there's a lot more in Illusion to interest you. And, though I was wary of how an author would combine magic with God, I think Peretti did a really good job. (Though, there are several mentions of a scenario being "a God thing" and I've never liked that saying.)

I'm pretty sure this'll end up in my Top 10 list this year.

\\ About the Author \\ Frank E. Peretti is one of American Christianity's best-known authors. His novels have sold over 10 million copies, and he is widely credited with reinventing Christian fiction. He and his wife, Barbara, live in the Pacific Northwest. www.frankperetti.com.

\\ In Case You Were Wondering \\
Title: Illusion
Author: Frank Peretti
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Publication Date: March 6, 2012
Pages: 512 (Hardback)
ISBN: 9781439192672
Many thanks to the publisher and my library!

Review \\ Fix by Force by Jason Warne

\\ About the Book \\ Spencer doesn’t have a choice. He can't choose to be different than what he is—the son of the town's worst enemy, the weakling who can't stand up for himself, the loser without friends. He can't change the way things are. Or maybe he can. Immediate confidence. Rapid change. Instant hope. These are the things Spencer believes he needs to fix his life, and that is what the steroids promise—a quick fix. But promises can be broken and shortcuts are often treacherous, and Spencer must decide if those risks are worth the perceived rewards—if “artificial” hope is strong enough for him to be fixed, by force.

I was first drawn to Fix by Force by Jason Warne because I thought the cover looked pretty cool. I looked  around some online about the book and found many positive reviews, and I even discovered that the author lives very near my hometown. But I still didn't really know what I was getting into.

Spencer Shane hasn't had the most promising life. His drunk dad died in a car accident, his mom's on drugs, and he's being bullied at school. To cope, Spencer escapes into a world of lies, but eventually that doesn't help get him by. When he is given the opportunity to use what he calls his "chemical salvation," he jumps at the chance. In his mind, steroids will make him strong, not just physically, but mentally. Steroids will give him purpose.

At first glance Fix by Force is a classic bully-story filled with self-esteem issues, family life problems, and overwhelming emotion. But Jason Warne crafts the story in a way that really pulls you in, and before long you realize that you are Spencer. You are fighting against the temptation that is steroids, and you are trying to overcome labels and bullies. It's that truth that makes this fictional story so powerful. Maybe it's not steroids, maybe it's not bullies, but there is something that we each struggle with, and that makes Fix by Force an entirely applicable book that never stops grabbing at its readers' emotions.

I wouldn't call this Christian fiction, as God is mostly absent from the story. (At least, He's not directly mentioned.) On the one hand I'm a little disappointed by that, but on the other hand I see strong Christian values without them being spelled out, and that gives more hope to this novel landing in the hands of people who don't want to be preached at. (There's also a very few instances of profanity, but I was really happy with how clean this book is considering the topic.)

Fix by Force is short but powerful. The writing is great, and the added twists and turns in the novel make it all the more enjoyable. It's not an easy read because the topic is not easy, but I dare you to walk away from the book without being changed. I highly recommend it.

ETA: I just found out that you can buy Fix by Force for Kindle for only $0.99. You can also check out the author's website to read or listen to the first few chapters for free. So now you have no excuse for not reading it.


\\ In Case You Were Wondering \\
Title: Fix by Force

Author: Jason WarnePublisher: Westbow PressPublication Date: March 28, 2012Pages: 188 (Paperback)ISBN: 9781449739Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy!

Review & Giveaway \\ The Secret Life of a Fool by Andrew Palau

And the winner is . . .  Sandra Stiles!

"People seem to want guys like me—son of a preacher man—to have some scandalous reason for all my 'mistakes.' But my scandal is less of what you might expect and more like something we all deal with: our dirty selves."

\\ About the Book \\ He spent his growing-up years living for himself-recklessly rebelling against his evangelist father's faith, numb to God and to the letters his father wrote him, immersed in the dark side of life. Until one intense night in the Jamaican Blue Mountains that allowed him to see himself in the mirror of grace, changing everything. The Secret Life of a Fool is Andrew Palau's unforgettable journey of running from God-and the crushing, freeing experience of coming back to Him. It is a story of getting high, burning up cars, being stranded in Europe, surviving a near-fatal plane crash, and utter despair overcome by simple grace-and a father's love, expressed in excerpted letters throughout this book.

"This book then is a peek into my life, but more than that, it's a story-arc that tells how a life that was discarded and broken can be gathered up again and remade." 

Honest. That's the adjective I think best describes Andrew Palau's new memoir, The Secret Life of a Fool: One Man's Raw Journey From Shame to Grace. It's a thoughtful testimony about an imperfect person's encounter with a perfect God. I love it.

I love it because the author doesn't try to build himself up in any way. Andrew Palau recounts his past in often vicious terms, refusing to, as he says in one chapter, consider his past mistakes as moments of "sowing wild oats."

I love it because, while reading The Secret Life of a Fool, I felt like I had just sat down with Andrew Palau to share stories and encouragement. I didn't feel like I was being preached to, but that someone who really cares wanted me to know I was not alone in my mess-ups, breakdowns, and all-around selfishness.

I love it because, unlike some memoirs, The Secret Life of a Fool ends in hope. There is a real-life happy ending here, and it is filled with the grace and peace that only God can give.

If you are curious about the Christian life, if you're a fan of memoirs, if you just want to know that someone else struggles to, this book is for you.

\\ About the Author \\ Andrew Palau, son of international evangelist Luis Palau, is an evangelist in his own right—organizing outreach events worldwide for the Palau Association and regularly sharing the gospel with tens of thousands. Andrew can be heard on the daily radio program Reaching Your World, which is on more than 850 radio stations in 27 countries. He and the Palau team have also been featured in some of the world’s leading media outlets including the Associated Press, Forbes Online, The Washington Post, CNBC Asia and USA Today. In addition, Andrew maintains his own website, which receives 5,000 visitors a month. He and his wife have three children and live in Portland, Oregon, close to the world headquarters of the Palau ministry.

Are you interested? Worthy Publishing has most kindly offered one of my readers a free copy of The Secret Life of a Fool! Leave your email address in a comment below and on April 19, 2012 a winner will be picked! Please enter; this is a great book. And before you go, watch the book trailer below.

\\ In Case You Were Wondering \\Title: The Secret Life of a Fool: One Man's Raw Journey from Shame to GraceAuthor: Andrew PalauPublisher: Worthy PublishingPublication Date: April 3, 2012Pages: 191ISBN: 193603476XMany thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy!

Review \\ The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck

\\ About the Book \\ One dress. Four women. An amazing destiny.     Charlotte Malone is getting married. Yet all is not settled in the heart of Birmingham's chic bridal boutique owner. Charlotte can dress any bride to perfection-except herself. When she discovers a vintage mint-condition wedding gown in a battered old trunk, Charlotte embarks on a passionate journey to discover the women who wore the gown before her.     Emily in 1912. Mary in 1939. And Hillary in 1968. Each woman teaches Charlotte something about love in her own unique way. Woven within the threads of the beautiful hundred-year-old gown is the truth about Charlotte's heritage, the power of faith, and the beauty of finding true love.

I was first interested in The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck when I discovered the plot sounded somewhat similar to a movie I watched recently on Hallmark called—what do you know?—"The Wedding Dress." I liked the idea of the movie; it needed a bit of work, I thought, but it had potential. So when I saw The Wedding Dress I knew I had to check it out, because a dress that fits four different people and stands against the changing tides of "in" fashion has to be pretty special. I wasn't disappointed, thankfully, and this book might possibly be on my favorites list for 2012 (and it's only March, people).

The Wedding Dress is told from several characters' points of view, but each person has her or his own strong voice. Most of the book is either from present-day Charlotte's point of view or Emily's 1912 view. I like this style so much. It seems I was just figuring out something about one particular character when the next chapter switched to another. It made me want to skip ahead (as I'm prone to do), but I held off and waited. Hauck's timing of each scene is delightful; as a writer she knows just how far to go in making you mad with anticipation. Hauck writes with such imagery that I had no problem jumping between time periods or viewpoints. While The Wedding Dress is mostly romance, it has a lot of mystery in it too.

Since I'm so opinionated about romance novels, I suppose I should mention something about the romance in The Wedding Dress. The title itself should give you plenty of ideas. In short, this book is about multiple couples in love who are soon to be married and how they are each affected by the same dress. If The Wedding Dress wasn't Christian fiction I doubt I would have read it for fear of an unnecessarily high level of sexual content. This book is tame; there's too much kissing, in my opinion, but at least it isn't like a movie where you're looking on about two inches from the couple's faces. "They kissed." Woo hoo. That isn't to say that Hauck doesn't write kissing scenes well, if that's the type of thing you like to read. She just doesn't let that get too much in the way of the main story line, something I'm grateful for. There is one awkward spot where a character thinks to herself about how glad she is she and her intended didn't sleep together, and I found that paragraph a little out of place in the context, but, considering that's the only complaint I have about Hauck's writing, I don't consider it a big deal.

Now, before I forget, I must mention Rachel Hauck's writing. Sometimes I read books that cause me to pause over a sentence and re-read it, just because it sounded so good. The Wedding Dress is spattered with these sentences and phrases, like this one

The feathery kiss of destiny sent a shiver over her soul as the breeze rushing over the mountaintop tapped her legs.

That's my favorite line of the whole book. I loved sinking into Hauck's creative writing.

The Wedding Dress is a well-planned, well-written novel that I really enjoyed reading. It has the charms of historical fiction, the excitement of mystery, the sighs of a love story, and the refreshment of the right words put together in thoughtful sentences. I'll definitely be savoring it for a while.

\\ About the Author \\ RITA-finalist Rachel Hauck lives in Florida with her husband, Tony. She is the author of Dining with Joy; Sweet Caroline; Love Starts with Elle; and The Sweet By and By, co-authored with Sara Evans. You can find out more about her and her books at www.rachelhauck.com.

\\ In Case You Were Wondering \\
Title: The Wedding Dress
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication date: April 3, 2012
Pages: 352
ISBN: 1595549633 
Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy!

Review \\ Replication by Jill Williamson

\\ About the Book \\ Martyr—otherwise known as Jason 3:3—is one of hundreds of clones kept in a remote facility called Jason Farms. Told that he has been created to save humanity, Martyr has just one wish before he is scheduled to "expire" in less than a month. To see the sky.
         Abby Goyer may have just moved to Alaska, but she has a feeling something strange is going on at the farm where her father works. But even this smart, confident girl could never have imagined what lies beneath a simple barn. Or what would happen when a mysterious boy shows up at her door, asking about the stars.
          As the reality of the Jason Experiment comes to light, Martyr is caught between two futures-the one for which he was produced and the one Abby believes God created him to have. Time is running out, and Martyr must decide if a life with Abby is worth leaving everything he's ever known. 

Cloning. Playing God. Stem-cell research. Disease. Finding your purpose. Replication: The Jason Experiment by Jill Williamson deals with these issues and more, all within a less than 300 page YA novel. (Or is it fewer than 300 pages?) Williamson balances the sides of each issue pretty well, and—though nothing is discussed at extreme length—she hopefully provides in Replication a jumping off point for more research and more discussion. And the fact that this is all wrapped up in a neatly-written, intriguing story line makes it that much better.

I don't think I've ever read a novel that had to do with cloning. I'm sure there are probably some out there, but none have reached my bookshelves. I like that Williamson chose to tackle the subject while writing for a teenage audience. (At least one author isn't underestimating teenagers' mental capacities.) Though at times it is difficult to see all of this working out in the way that it does and some conversations seem rushed and lack information, I think she did an efficient job.

First, Replication is obviously biased. What writing isn't? A human author wrote it (supposedly), and human authors always have their own opinions. I think it would be impossible to write a piece of fiction about a subject such as cloning without being biased. One would hope at least one character has an opinion on the subject; if not, the story would be wholly un-entertaining. And though I personally agree with what Williamson had to say on the subject, I can see many people pointing to the book as an example of evangelical misguided beliefs in regards to medical research. (Probably the same way evangelicals would bash a secular, pro-clone novel.) But I'm sure most would agree that Williamson isn't trying to push this book into the hands of major scientists worldwide. (Though it'd be pretty cool if some read it.) This is YA fiction, and most of the arguments the characters in Replication make are very base and use very little explanation, at least for my inquisitive taste. That's why I think this book is a great jumping off point.

Second, Williamson crafts an imaginative story that seems oh-too-realistic. How far away are we really from cloning human beings? What would stop someone like the fictional Dr. Kane from creating a whole lab of identical, replicated people? And why wouldn't scientists argue that clones aren't really humans, just scientific endeavors? It doesn't seem like a long-shot. Thus we have the case for J:3:3, or Martyr, as he's usually called.

Third, if such a thing happened, who would stand against it? I was especially touched by Abby Goyer's character in one particular scene when she screams at a couple of police officers (who really have nothing to do with anything) until she's hoarse, pleading for someone to stand up for the innocent. I think some of us could learn a lesson from that. The only thing I didn't really like about Abby was her flip-flop attitude. Most of the time she's making mental pro-con lists (something I can so relate to) and the next minute she's impulsively (and perhaps unwisely) attempting to save her fragile world on her own, not waiting for help. I guess that shows Abby's age—seventeen—but maybe it's simply demonstrating her humanity and her strong emotions against injustice.

Replication is an exciting read that offers an opportunity to think and act. The story line drew me in, but the characters kept me reading, and I love fiction that is more character-based then action-based. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of action. Thankfully, though, the quality of the characters isn't sacrificed, and the two can coincide happily. This is the first book of Jill Williamson's that I've read (more like devoured within 24 hours), but it won't be the last.

 \\ About the Author \\ Jill Williamson is a novelist, dreamer, and believer. She writes stories that combine danger, suspense, and adventure for readers of all ages. Her first book released in April 2009 from Marcher Lord Press. By Darkness Hid (Blood of Kings, Book 1) is a medieval fantasy. Jill has served alongside her youth pastor husband for the past ten years and loves working with teenagers, especially to encourage young writers. She gives writing workshops at churches and schools. You can learn more about Jill on her Web site at www.jillwilliamson.com.

\\ In Case You Were Wondering \\
Title: Replication: The Jason Experiment
Publisher: Zondervan
Publication date: January 1, 2012
Pages: 304
ISBN: 9780310727583 
Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy!

Review \\ How to Stay Christian in College by J. Budziszewski

While college has its many benefits, like two sides of a coin, it also has its downfalls. I mean, when you have something like the list of top party schools come out every year, you know something's up. For the Christian, most aspects of college life are things to stay away from, and pressure from professors makes it difficult to stand by faith in Jesus Christ. So is college impossible for Christians? Not at all, and J. Budziszewski, professor and former atheist, has some information that can help.

How to Stay Christian in College was published back in 2004. I recently bought it for my Kindle (I think it was free then) because I was just starting college, and I was curious. The title admittedly sounds a little funny: how to stay Christian. I don't know, it seemed weird to me. But as I started reading I could see that the author had had his own difficulties with college. He knew what he was talking about, so I was willing to listen.

This paragraph towards the beginning of the book grabbed me:

Visualize a man opening up the access panels of his mind and pulling out all the components that have God's image stamped on them. The problem is that they all have God's image stamped on them, so the man can never stop. No matter how much he pulls out, there's still more to pull. I was that man. (Kindle Locations 96-98)

This is the close follow-up:

 Astonishingly, though I had abandoned Him, He had never abandoned me. (Kindle Locations 101-102)

Later,

Many of my students tell me they struggle with the same dark influences that I once felt in college. I hope that by writing this book I may encourage you to seek the light-better yet, to avoid the darkness altogether. (Kindle Locations 107-109)

Budziszewski touches on several topics, mostly campus myths: myths about the search for knowledge, myths about sex and dating, myths about politics, and the like. He also talks about friendships with non-Christians, campus activities, and dealing with professors who aren't Christians. His writing is sophisticated (he's not dumbing anything down) yet easy to read.

Another good title of this book, I think, would be How to Go to College and Not Come Out Brainwashed. Hmm... I don't know if that would have gone over so well. But the point is that Budziszewski, as he said in the above quote, wrote the book so that he could help students seek the light. Let me rephrase that: seek the light. I think he succeeded.

Interesting links:

• "Escape from Nihilism" by Dr. J. Budziszewski that is very similar to the first chapter of How to Stay Christian in College.
• My review of another college book: Thriving at College by Alex Chediak.

For Girls | Uncompromising

Ask any girl on the street what womanhood is about, and you’ll get a blank stare in return. No one knows. Young women are devoid of vision beyond popularity, material wealth, a cute boyfriend or a dream career. Even in Christian circles, significant questions are often left unanswered: What’s the point of purity? Modesty? Femininity? What’s biblical womanhood? Most of all, girls wonder at the longing in their souls for something greater.

Uncompromising: A Heart Claimed By a Radical Love cuts straight to the heart of young womanhood. Rather than setting up rules, it pulls at the desire in every woman’s heart to live a life of purpose, fully surrendered to His radical love. Written in an edgy teen voice, Uncompromising is a collection of “field notes” from the author’s own search for answers, and the story of how she stumbled upon the one Cause worth dying for.

Hannah Farver's debut book is an inspiring read filled with insight that any Christian young woman will appreciate. Divided into sections titled "Please Drill This into My Head" (about beauty and modesty), "Regarding Dudes" (about purity and guys), and "A Heart Claimed by a Radical Love" (about the greatest Cause, Jesus Christ, and the Gospel), Uncompromising is a personal, inviting book that doesn't disappoint. Consider it a conversation with the author; at twenty, a college student, and a Christian, Hannah Farver's desire to encourage young girls with the truth about her own life is truly encouraging.

Uncompromising also includes chapter reflections, great questions that would most appropriately be used in small group or read-aloud discussions. At the end of the book, a modesty checklist and a section entitled "How Do I Know if I'm Ready for Marriage?" asks girls to consider God's desire for their lives.

Because Hannah Farver does write honestly about her viewpoints on God's sovereignty, sanctification, and other commonly coined terms that Christians use, you may want to consider her thoughts before handing this over to a young reader. (I'm not saying that what she writes is wrong. I'm only saying that I know these are widely debated topics that many Christians can't make their minds up about.) That's one reason why I think this would be a great book to read aloud with a group or just between mom and daughter.

The beauty of this book is that it is written by a young woman who is still discovering, still learning. Her apprach isn't one of "I've figured out all of this so learn from me" but "I'm still trying to figure this stuff out so let's work on it together." It's very non-preachy and casual. Uncompromising is an enjoyable read that is sure to encourage girls of all ages.

She made a conscious choice to trust in God, to take His word as truth, to see opportunity and to wear His praises publicly on her lips . . . and she did not find Him disappointing. — Andree Seu (Farver, 10)

Read an Excerpt | Learn More About Hannah | Read Carrie's Review (I won my copy from her blog!)