Review \\ The Widow of Saunders Creek by Tracey Bateman

After the death of her husband, Corrie Saunders retreats to the home in Saunders Creek that Jarrod loved in the hopes of remaining somehow connected to the man she loved and lost. In the midst of her grief, she begins to think that she can actually feel Jarrod in the house. If it isn't him, then something definitely strange is happening in the old house. Is it possible that her husband has come back to her? Jarrod's cousin Eli doesn't think so, but as he notices the oddities going on in Corrie's house, he begins to wonder about the realm of the unseen as well. The Widow of Saunders Creek by Tracey Bateman is filled with suspense, intrigue, and superstition  giving us a look at what could be and a clear picture of the truth.

I'm sorry to have waited so long to review this book. I read it a couple of months ago and for some reason thought that I had reviewed it, but the page was still sitting in my draft box. The Widow of Saunders Creek is very good. It's different, and that's what I really liked about it. I was curious to see how Bateman would tackle the subject between the covers of Christian fiction, and I think she did a really good job. The book gets slightly weird in places when Corrie thinks she can feel Jarrod in the house, but Eli is a good counterpart because he knows the Truth and he desperately wants Corrie to know it too. I think it's a good story about superstition and about wanting something so bad that you can almost taste it. Bateman does a great job of showing Corrie's grief and desperation. 

This isn't typical Christian fiction or suspense. It's a nice blend that kept me flipping the pages, and its one that sort of haunted me a few days after I read it (which is a really weird thing to say considering the topic). Pick it up; you won't be sorry.

Many thanks to the WaterBrook Multnomah for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Goodreads Review \\ Louder Than Words by Jenny McCarthy

Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism by Jenny McCarthy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm going through a section at my library about autism and this was my first stop. I've heard some from Jenny McCarthy on talk shows and was inclined to believe she was anti-vaccination all the way, but her book really shows her heart on the matter.

The best part is the end, when she describes her inability to accept doctors' Band-Aid approach, always looking beyond the symptoms to find a cause. Though her thoughts on autism's cause(s) are only theories based on research, she gives readers an opportunity to see into the world of autism and learn how to confront it and even, maybe, heal it. Evan's story is amazing to read.

The two issues I have with the book are as follows:

1) The book is written by a mom, not a doctor. That said, there are benefits to reading a book about autism that is written by someone who is enduring it on a daily basis. On the other hand, though, a doctor's more qualified opinion would be nice.

2) Jenny McCarthy is a rather crude lady, and there seems to be a never endless string of f-words and the like filling the pages of Louder Than Words. I decided to look past it, but it was excessive and unnecessary.

View all my reviews

Review \\ Touching the Sky by Tracie Peterson

\\ About the Book \\ When Laura Marquardt first meets Brandon Reid, their encounter is anything but pleasant. But when the two are seated together at a dinner party, they soon find that they share similar interests--Laura desires to educate blacks, and Brandon, as a white officer over colored troops, eagerly supports her cause.
When Laura's sister, Carissa, marries her Confederate beau, Laura finds herself in a difficult situation when she overhears plots to kill Union soldiers. Though in her heart she feels she should share this information with Brandon, Laura fears she will betray her sister's trust and possibly endanger her sister's life. And when Brandon's motives for pursuing her come into question, her heart is even more conflicted. Where is God leading her?

After feeling a bit of disappointment over the first installment of Tracie Peterson's Land of the Lone Star series, I had my concerns when I received Touching the Sky in the mail. Turns out I liked it much better than Chasing the Sun, and that is a very good thing.

Touching the Sky at first doesn't seem to be linked to Chasing the Sun at all. It could very well be a stand alone novel except for a small part at the end that reminds us of the previous book. This book focuses on Laura Marquardt, a wise young woman who is keenly aware of the changes the end of the Civil War has brought to her hometown of Corpus Christi. I love her character because she is smart and honest about everything. 

When Captain Brandon Reid asks to court her, Laura is pretty much ecstatic, though (of course) she doesn't let such emotion show. Soon, however, she realizes that Captain Reid might be leading her on in order to gather information to harm her sister Carissa's Confederate beau. Wise Laura is suddenly torn between two loves, and her decision will not be easy. 

As always, Tracie Peterson creates intriguing characters that keep us loving her stories. I'm a little annoyed at Peterson's tendency to throw together some dramatic, rushed ending. (I can count several of her books in which this happens.) However, her writing remains steady and her stories interesting, so I guess I'll be all right with her endings. My only other pet peeve, as I've been trying to diversify my fiction selections lately, is that her dialogue is so stiff and so proper. Do we really believe that people back then didn't use contractions? I wonder.

Though you could easily read this book without reading the first in the series, I think it would be best to start with Chasing the Sun. Touching the Sky only begins Laura's sister Carissa's story, and the next book is devoted to her and a character from the first book. I'm hoping that one will be really good, because I think it has the best potential of the three.

\\ About the Author \\ Tracie Peterson is a bestselling author who writes in both historical and contemporary genres. Her novels reveal her love for research as well as her strong desire to develop emotionally meaningful characters and stories for her readers. Tracie and her family live in Montana.

\\ Info \\

Title: Touching the Sky

Author: Tracie Peterson

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Publication Date: June 1, 2012

Number of Pages: 336

ISBN: 0764206168

Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy!

Review \\ Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore

\\ About the Book \\ Brielle’s a ballerina who went to the city to chase her dreams and found tragedy instead. She’s come home to shabby little Stratus, Oregon, to live with her grief and her guilt . . . and the incredible, numbing cold she can’t seem to shake.

Jake’s the new guy at school. The boy next door with burning hands and an unbelievable gift that targets him for corruption.

Something more than fate has brought them together. An evil bigger than both of them lurks in the shadows nearby, hiding in plain sight. Two angels stand guard, unsure what’s going to happen. And a beauty brighter than Jake or Brielle has ever seen is calling them to join the battle in a realm where all human choices start.

A realm that only angels and demons—and Brielle—can perceive.

\\ My Review \\ Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore caught be off guard. I won the book in a giveaway without knowing what the book was really about. A quick glance at the back cover gave me some concern, and I was quite sure that this book would not be among my favorites. But Dittemore's style and story kept me glued to the pages, and Angel Eyes turned out to be a suspenseful, engaging read all the way around.

In the first pages we're introduced to Brielle, a likable character who has faced some unnamed tragedy. Her emotions are raw and her reactions to the world around her are realistic. But a few chapters in we're introduced to this celestial realm, a realm of angels and demons, and the entire book shifts. At first it was hard to figure out or get used to. I don't read much fantasy (I'm a fan of C.S. Lewis and Tolkien, though.) so Dittemore's imagined celestial realm is a bit much at first. I mean, you have a hard time believing it could be true, even though Dittemore strives to back most (but not all, because she clearly says that this is her imagination at work) of it up biblically.

And that brings me to the plausibility of it all. The Bible certainly talks about angels and fallen angels, but it is just one of those things that I try not to dwell on. It makes me uncomfortable and confused, and I prefer to take the stand that what is is and God knows what He's doing even if I can't see it, so I'll just leave it at that. I wouldn't call it ignoring the subject: I acknowledge that there must be angels because there are angels in the Bible, but I'm good at leaving it at that and not pondering where they are at or what they are doing at this very moment. 

Dittemore gives readers pause to consider that angels might just be circling us at this moment, living in human form (the terrestial realm), and fighting for us on behalf of God (or, in the case of fallen angels, Lucifer). It's an interesting thought, and Dittemore wrote it out very well, but I still feel a cautious grip that states, quite simply, that this is fantasy fiction. So, though Dittemore may have nailed every single thing on the head, she doesn't really know anymore than I do, based on the Bible, about the celestial.

All that aside, Angel Eyes is a really well written tale of a girl who discovers that she is not alone, that she has never been alone, and that she has purpose in a world that seems at first glance purposeless. It's empowering and inviting, and it's just plain fun to read. Next to Brielle, Jake is the most interesting and different character in the book. I mean, you know in young adult fiction there has to be some kind of romance going on, but at least Jake is different than most fictional males. And the idea that he knows more about Brielle's future than she does? Whoa. The ending is a total cliffhanger and I know I'll have to grab the second book in the trilogy when it comes out next year fast so I can get some answers.

\\ About the Author \\ Shannon Dittemore has an overactive imagination and a passion for truth. Her lifelong journey to combine the two is responsible for a stint at Portland Bible College, performances with local theater companies, and a focus on youth and young adult ministry. The daughter of one preacher and the wife of another, she spends her days imagining things unseen and chasing her two children around their home in Northern California. Angel Eyes is her first novel.

\\ In Case You Were Wondering \\

Title: Angel Eyes

Author: Shannon Dittemore

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: May 29, 2012

Number of Pages: 336 (Paperback)

Review \\ Travelers Rest by Ann Tatlock

\\ About the Book \\ A young woman determined to honor her commitment. . . An injured soldier convinced life is no longer worth living. . . A retired doctor certain it's too late to be forgiven. . .  Jane Morrow has a dilemma, and love alone may not solve it. her faith has never been strong, yet somehow she hopes God will answer her prayers and tell her what to do. The answer she finds may not be at all what she expected. . . .

Travelers Rest by Ann Tatlock is a nicely-written novel about Jane Morrow, a young woman whose future is practically shattered after the news that her soon-to-be-husband Seth Ballantine has been injured and paralyzed. Jane's character is easy to sympathize with. She is stuck in a hard place. Though she is dedicated to Seth, Jane realizes that Seth is no longer dedicate to her, and her struggle to remain in his life is fascinating to read. In that setting other characters like blind pianist Jon-Paul and retired doctor Truman Rockaway pop up, and the story only gets better. Both add new insight to Jane's journey and help her figure out her next steps.


This is my first time reading a book by Ann Tatlock, and I was pleasantly surprised. Her writing is really refreshing, and I know I'll be reading more from her. While I enjoyed Travelers Rest immensely, I also felt that it could nearly be divided into two separate novels. About halfway into the book Jane learns Truman's backstory, and the rest of the book is divided between the two characters' journeys. It's a little odd, because their separate storylines aren't really connected (only a little, but I won't give that away). And while both stories were intriguing, I was disappointed that Jane's was cut short in order to tell Truman's. Really, I was disappointed in how Jane's story ended. I felt like it was a rush to the end in order to get both stories finalized, and that only left Jane seeming unemotional (so unlike her character at the beginning).

Still, Travelers Rest is worth reading. Its subject matter gives a lot of food for thought, and Jane's doubts and questions give Tatlock a platform to gently and wisely unleash some biblical truths about trusting God. It's an enjoyable, encouraging book. My only disappointment is that Tatlock squashed two stories together that could have been better written apart. But, among the many choices of contemporary fiction these days, Travelers Rest is a great one to start with.

Life's gearshift's got no reverse, so you have to just keep moving forward.

 \\ About the Author \\  I couldn't find a good bio of Tatlock, so, go to her website to read a great question/answer session!


\\ In Case You Were Wondering \\
Title: Travelers Rest
Author: Ann Tatlock
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Publication Date: May 1, 2012
Number of Pages: 352 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0764208101
Many thanks to the publisher for providing me a review copy!

Divergent \\ Beyond The Hunger Games Part #1

Suzanne Collins' famed and acclaimed series The Hunger Games has gotten a lot of publicity lately. But now that you've read the books and watched the movie, all you can do is wait until next year for the second big screen adaptation to come out. So what will you do in the meantime? I've got a couple of reading suggestions. First off, Divergent.

Divergent is twenty-something Veronica Roth's first novel, and it is a big one. It's plot is very similar to The Hunger Games, but, in my not so humble opinion, it is much better. Instead of districts there are factions, and instead of the Games there is a Choosing Ceremony.

\\ About the Book \\ In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, and Erudite. On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.          During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her.

Not unlike The Hunger Games, Divergent is in first-person present tense, the main character is a sixteen-year-old girl, and the setting is in a dystopian, futuristic society. I like Roth's descriptions and dialogue better than Collins', and I thought the whole plot was much more applicable. Divergent's biggest theme is facing your fears, and the second, much like The Hunger Games, is accepting who you are and learning how to best use your strengths and weaknesses in whatever situation you are faced with.


Though Divergent has about the same amount of violence as The Hunger Games, the romance is, unfortunately for me (and us all), more pronounced. There are a couple of kissing scenes that go unnecessarily far, and sex is discussed in a couple of places (when I say discussed I mean mentioned, nothing is explicit) but never actually happens (though the final consensus is someday, making me a little concerned about what the next books in the series hold).


For this reason I would say that Divergent is more appropriate for the sixteen and older crowd, though I'm not even sure I would have/should have read it at sixteen. Honestly, the content here is not more (actually much less) than most movies and TV shows today, so it really just depends on your level of comfort and/or convictions.


Personally, it bothers me greatly that authors feel the need to add these situations (making it seem normal or appropriate), especially when marketing to young audiences, but I liked the story itself so much that I decided to overlook these instances of romantic overload.


I always try to look at romance in a book and decide to what level it is necessary. Some of the romance in Divergent seems necessary (or justifiable, maybe) to the growth of Tris' character, but to me most of the romance could have been cut out and the book would have been just as good (if not better).


Still on romance, Tris' relationship with the-boy-who-will-remain-nameless is a lot better than Katniss' relationship with Peeta. I have to say it. Besides the excessive kissing, which both books possess, Tris and him aren't pretending, unlike Katniss' maybe I like him, maybe I don't confusion with Peeta. This is yet another reason why I like Divergent more.


Unfortunately, there are a few uses of h--- and g-- as well.


Oddly, I preferred Collins' decision to leave out faith and God entirely as opposed to Roth's decision to add a little of God here and there (a very little). In Divergent there are only a couple times when God is mentioned, once at the dinner table and once when a character believes death is imminent. If I remember correctly there is also a brief saying of "fear God alone," which isn't expanded on at all (if Roth really wanted to bring in God, this would have been a good spot). Those instances seemed awkward to me, just because no one really takes into consideration God or a higher power at all until these choice scenes. They could have been edited out, really.


Also, I liked that Tris' parents are more involved than Katniss' mother. For the most part Tris is on her own, but there are several choice scenes between her and her mother and father that are really touching. They aren't a perfect family, but they are still a family, and I like that Roth chose to utilize both parents in important ways.


Comparing Tris and Katniss (yes, I'm going there), Tris has my vote. Her personality is more likable and her growth is more noticeable. She has goals for herself, goals of the person she wants to be, and she does whatever she is able to reach those goals. She doesn't let circumstances get the best of her, and she doesn't give in. The added interest of the factions and what they stand for give her reason to examine herself and decide where she fits, and her ultimate realization shows huge strength in her character. I enjoyed Tris' journey more than I did Katniss', and I felt less stressed reading Divergent.


(Is anyone else giving a little hmmm... at the similarity between Tris and Katniss?)


So, if you are a fan of The Hunger Games series I am sure you will like Divergent, as long as you are okay with the extra romance. I really enjoyed the book though; it took me all of two days to read it. The second book Insurgent has just come out, and the third is in the works. And once you finish Divergent, you can check out a scene from the book that Roth wrote from a different character's perspective. But wait until you have finished the book, or the scene won't make sense.

\\ About the Author \\ Veronica Roth is only 23, so her bio will be short. She’s from a Chicago suburb. She studied creative writing at Northwestern University, and wrote Divergent and Insurgent. The third and final book in The Divergent Trilogy, which doesn't have a title yet, will come out in Fall 2013. In the meantime she will spend endless hours browsing Wikipedia in her pajamas as she eats corn flakes. (Or some other kind of bland breakfast cereal.)

\\ In Case You Were Wondering \\
Title: Divergent (Book One in The Divergent Trilogy)
Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: May 3, 2011Pages: 487 (Hardcover)ISBN: 0062024035Many thanks to my local library!!

Review \\ Chasing the Sun by Tracie Peterson

I took a journey through my past blog posts and was a little shocked that I have never reviewed a Tracie Peterson novel. I've read a lot. When I first stepped out of the children's section of the library (and bookstores, but more often the library) I entered the world of Christian fiction. My mom and older sister were fans of authors like Beverly Lewis, Karen Kingsbury, Janette Oke, and Tracie Peterson. We had a couple of series by Tracie Peterson, which I really enjoyed as a 13/14 year old. Since then I've read Peterson's

Alaskan Quest Series
Brides of Gallatin County Series
The Broadmoor Legacy Series (On second thought I don't think I have read the third book yet.)
Ladies of Liberty Series
Song of Alaska Series
Heirs of Montana Series
And now . . . Land of the Lone Star Series.

From this list you can assume I like Tracie Peterson's books. You're probably just wondering why. I like that Peterson's books are historical, that they are set in interesting places (like Alaska, Montana, and Texas), and that they always include a little bit of adventure. I like that her books are simple, and I don't mean that in a negative way. There are times when I don't feel like sitting down to read a book that makes me pay such close attention or I'll miss something important, or a book that is so extremely thrilling that I can't get to sleep because of it, or a book that is just hard.

Tracie Peterson's books are nice and romantic. Reading them is like sitting down to watch a Hallmark movie (one of the ones that is written well and doesn't have bad acting). Nothing terribly deep or confusing, just a good story. You know how it is going to end from the second chapter (though you don't know how things are going to happen to get there). Besides that, her romance isn't too romantic and she always includes Christian values. I like that.

Chasing the Sun, the first book in the Lone Star Series, is about Hannah Dandridge, a young woman who is charged with the care of her young step-siblings after her father disappears. (This series is set against the backdrop of the Civil War.) When Union soldier William Barnett shows up at his ranch to find Hannah and her family living in his house, he's more than a little angry that the government took his family's property and gave it to "true Confederates." There are so many interesting angles to this plot line.

My favorite characters in Chasing the Sun are Marty and Andy, Hannah's siblings. They have by far the best lines of the book. The only thing I didn't like as much about this novel is that Hannah and William think too much. They're always thinking and worrying about what the other is thinking and worrying about that it gets a tad annoying in places. And I actually didn't think that there were quite enough scenes with them together. There are maybe two really good scenes, but not enough for me to really believe that they would fall so quickly for each other. At the same time, there is a lot of other plot points to cover in this book, so I thank Peterson for choosing not to make Chasing the Sun 500+ pages.

Tracie Peterson is truly a leader among Christian and historical fiction authors. And with so many of her titles to choose from, you can find at least one to really enjoy.

\\ About the Author \\Tracie Peterson is a bestselling author who writes in both historical and contemporary genres. Her novels reveal her love for research as well as her strong desire to develop emotionally meaningful characters and stories for her readers. Tracie and her family live in Montana. Learn more about her books at traciepeterson.com. 

\\ In Case You Were Wondering \\Title: Chasing the Sun (Land of the Lone Star #1)Author: Tracie PetersonPublisher: Bethany House PublishersPublication Date: March 1, 2012Pages: 347 (Paperback)ISBN: 076420615XMany thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy!