Forget Me Not is written by Vicki Hinze.

Summary:

A mother who cannot face her future.
THEIR ELUSIVE ENEMIES TOOK EVERYTHING.  NOW THEY WANT MORE.

Crossroads Crisis Center owner Benjamin Brandt was a content man—in his faith, his work, and his family.  Then in a flash, everything he loved was snatched away.  His wife and son were murdered, and grief-stricken Ben lost faith.  Determination to find their killers keeps him going, but after three years of dead ends and torment, his hope is dying too.  Why had he survived?  He’d failed to protect his family.

Now, a mysterious woman appears at Crossroads seeking answers and help—a victim who eerily resembles Ben’s deceased wife, Susan.  A woman robbed of her identity, her life, of everything except her faith—and Susan’s necklace.

The connections between the two women mount, exceeding coincidence, and to keep the truth hidden, someone is willing to kill.  Finding out who and why turns Ben and the mystery woman’s situation from dangerous to deadly.  Their only hope for survival is to work together, trust each other, and face whatever they discover head on, no matter how painful. But will that be enough to save their lives and heal their tattered hearts?

My Thoughts:

This was one of those books that I just couldn’t put down.  Honestly, the summary that they gave for the book fooled me.  I was very nervous about reading the book.  To me the book was really about Kelly, the victim who looked like Benjamin Brandt’s deceased wife.  It was about a woman that lived her life through her faith.  Kelly was beaten so badly that she lost her memory of who she was but yet she still had her faith.  She remembered bits and pieces.  I liked how the author described it as being like swiss cheese.

There is a lot of action as a thriller.  It kept me on the edge of my seat wondering where we were going next.  There were some spot I wasn’t too sure what was happening.  The author does switch back and forth so you have to keep alert.  There was the developing love between Kelly and Benjamin that would heal by the end because of both of their faiths.  I highly recommend this story.

Not only did I get to read it..but I get to offer one of my readers a copy of it.  Would you like to read it?

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

Visit Waterbrook Multnomah and tell me what other book you would be interested in or purchase you can purchase Forget Me Not directly here.  This is the first and required entry.  Note:  If you win, you will receive the “Forget Me Not”.

EXTRA ENTRIES (leave a separate comment for each):

• Become a public blog follower of Hearts Make Families (1 entry)
• Follow Hearts Make Family on Twitter (1 entry)
• Follow Hearts Make Families on Facebook (1 entry)
• Subscribe to Hearts Make Families via Reader or Email (1 entry for each)
• Subscribe to Florence Macaroni Kid Newsletter (3 entry)
• Blog or “Share” (Stumble, Technorati, Digg, etc.) this giveaway (3 entries; leave post link)
• Grab my Hearts Make Families and Friday Follow buttons for your blog, or add my home page URL to your blogroll with a link back to me (see my left sidebar for buttons; 3 entries for each. )
• Tweet about this giveaway and be sure to include @hrtsmakefamily in your tweet. (1 entry each. Can be posted daily each counts as 1 entry).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Deadline to enter is 11:59 pm EST on April 24, 2010. Include a valid email address in your comments or in profile to be contacted. The winner will be chosen using Random.org, posted on this site and notified via email; Winner will have 48 hours to acknowledge win or another random winner will be chosen. Prize will be sent directly by sponsor to chosen winner. Open to residents of U.S.

Good Luck to Everyone!

This Little Prayer of Mine is written by Anthony DeStefano and Illustrated by Mark Elliott. 

Summary:   Author Anthony DeStefano’s adult books, The Prayers God Always Says Yes To and A Travel Guide to Heaven, have sold a quarter-million copies. Illustrator Mark Elliott’s cherished artwork has appeared in popular picture books and novels for young readers, including Gail Carson Levine’s ever-popular Princess Tales series.

Now, these acclaimed inspirational experts have come together to create This Little Prayer of Mine, a beautiful and alluring book designed to guide children into a very simple, real and expressive relationship with God.

My Thoughts:

Realizing that this was a children’s book, I decided the best way to review it was to do it with my children’s reaction.  The book is written to show kids how to pray by using various situations like being scared at night to asking forgiveness when something is wrong.  The book assures children that they are being heard by God, that he loves them and is always there.  It is a very good book for teaching your children about praying.

There was wonderful engaging rhymes which my children caught onto quickly.  It is written in an easy format which my seven year old daughter, Pumpkin, was reading.  She’s in the beginning stages of learning to read.  The best recommendation I can give this book is every night since we read the book, both of my kids have asked to hear it.  I highly recommend this story.

Not only did I get to read it..but I get to offer one of my readers a copy of it.  Would you like to read it? 

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

Visit Random House.com and tell me what other book you would be interested in or purchase it directly from them here.  This is the first and required entry.  Note:  If you win, you will receive the “This Little Prayer of Mine”.

EXTRA ENTRIES (leave a separate comment for each):

• Become a public blog follower of Hearts Make Families (1 entry)
• Follow Hearts Make Family on Twitter (1 entry)
• Follow Hearts Make Families on Facebook (1 entry)
• Subscribe to Hearts Make Families via Reader or Email (1 entry for each)
• Blog or “Share” (Stumble, Technorati, Digg, etc.) this giveaway (3 entries; leave post link)
• Grab my Hearts Make Families and Friday Follow buttons for your blog, or add my home page URL to your blogroll with a link back to me (see my left sidebar for buttons; 3 entries for each. )
• Tweet about this giveaway and be sure to include @hrtsmakefamily in your tweet. (1 entry each. Can be posted daily each counts as 1 entry).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Deadline to enter is 11:59 pm EST on April 13, 2010. Include a valid email address in your comments or in profile to be contacted. The winner will be chosen using Random.org, posted on this site and notified via email; Winner will have 48 hours to acknowledge win or another random winner will be chosen. Prize will be sent directly by sponsor to chosen winner. Open to residents of U.S.

Good Luck to Everyone!

An Absence so Great by Jane Kirkpatrick.  I have to tell you that I was torn about my feelings in this book.  This is the second in the Portraits of the Hearts Series.  The first I did not read.  I believe you need to read the first to be able to understand this book.  The series is about a young woman, Jessie Ann Gaebele, the author’s grandmother.  Jessie is an eighteen year old woman who is set out to succeed as an photographer on her own.  While she is starting her flight, she is leaving behind a forbidden romance with her married employer, Fred Bauer. 

I liked Jessie herself but I did not like Fred Bauer who is still running in the same circles.  Jessie truly wants to succeed as a photographer and own her own studio.  She was a woman alone during a time that it was hard for women to succeed.  She was fighting for women’s rights without knowing it.

I found the characters to be believable.  I enjoyed the fact that the author included pictures of Jessie’s actual photos as well as her original commentary about each photo.  I did enjoy the historical events and scenes that the author was able to portray so well in the 1900s.

However, I do not believe that this should be considered a Christian book since they are discussing her longing for a married man.  Although, the author did portray the guilt that Jessie experienced because of it quite well.

Not only did I get to read it..but I get to offer one of my readers a copy of it.  Would you like to read it? 

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

Visit Random House.com and tell me what other book you would be interested in or purchase it directly from them here.  This is the first and required entry.

EXTRA ENTRIES (leave a separate comment for each):

• Become a public blog follower of Hearts Make Families (1 entry)
• Follow Hearts Make Family on Twitter (1 entry)
• Follow Hearts Make Families on Facebook (1 entry)
• Subscribe to Hearts Make Families via Reader or Email (1 entry for each)
• Blog or “Share” (Stumble, Technorati, Digg, etc.) this giveaway (3 entries; leave post link)
• Grab my Hearts Make Families and Friday Follow buttons for your blog, or add my home page URL to your blogroll with a link back to me (see my left sidebar for buttons; 3 entries for each. )
• Tweet about this giveaway and be sure to include @hrtsmakefamily in your tweet. (1 entry each. Can be posted daily each counts as 1 entry).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Deadline to enter is 11:59 pm EST on April 7, 2010. Include a valid email address in your comments or in profile to be contacted. The winner will be chosen using Random.org, posted on this site and notified via email; Winner will have 48 hours to acknowledge win or another random winner will be chosen. Prize will be sent directly by sponsor to chosen winner. Open to residents of U.S.

Good Luck to Everyone!

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Published remarks:

Determined, smart and a master of both the sword and the bow, Lady Carliss has proven herself as a veteran Knight of the Prince. Returning from a mission of aid, Carliss is plunged into adventure once again as she searches for the marauders responsible for kidnapping a friends’ family. Along the way she is reunited with Sir Dalton and discovers that the struggle in her heart is far from over. When Dalton falls to the vicious attack of a mysterious, poisonous creature, Carliss finds herself in a race against time. As Dalton clings perilously to life, she must find the antidote in the distant and strange city of Moorue.

 While there, Carliss uncovers the master plot of a powerful Shadow Warrior that will soon overtake the entire Kingdom. Her faith in the Prince and her courage as a knight are tested as she faces evil Shadow Warriors and a swamp full of dreadful creatures. The lives of many, including Dalton’s, depend on Carliss. But she cannot save them all, for time is running out.  She faces an impossible choice: save Dalton, or let him die so that others may live.

My thoughts on the book:

At first I had a hard time getting into the book but once I did, I was amazed at how involved I was.  I have to give it to the author, Chuck Black, he kept this book full of action and adventure.  Lady Carliss is a servant to the Prince, who represents Jesus Christ.  She must save her friend’s family from the evil, Lord Malco.  During it she will run into a lot of different characters both good and evil.  The story is a great example of how we all fight evil vs good all the time.

Although this is the fourth book of the series, The Knights of Arrethtrae, I had no difficulties getting into the book.  I found it to be a exciting fast paced book.  I would recommend it to anyone.

If you would like to purchase this book, you can find it here from RandomHouse.com.

Disclaimer:   This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Press Release

The Golden Cross

By Angela Elwell Hunt – Aidan O’Connor may be a poor barmaid but she’s also a gifted artists. When a famous cartographer takes her on as a student, Aidan is swept into an adventure that will bring her back to her heavenly Father, and into marriage with the love of her life.

My thoughts on the book:

I absolutely loved this book.  I couldn’t put it down.  The storyline was very fast pace so you wanted to keep reading.  I was worried about being able to follow the book since I have not read the first in the series, The Silver Sword.  This book had everything. 

I adored how Angela Elwell Hunt transitioned from the present day to the year 1642 in the first chapter.  It was beautifully written and believable.  She managed to peak my interest in that chapter by itself.  The story starts out with Kathleen O’Connor, in the present day researching her ancestors.  Kathleen is researching her ancestors and finds that her descendents were very strong women who fought for what was right for women.  She feels that it is her responsibility to tell the tale of her ancestors.

Angela Elwell Hunt created a story mixed with characters that are rich and well rounded.  The dialogue between the characters was believable.  Aidan O’Connor may have been a poor barmaid but she had the determination to leave her family to make something of herself.   As a reader, you can’t help but champion Aidan’s way as she fights to pull herself out of the life of the lower income.  You watch as she is unable to see the natural ability she has to draw that the famous cartographer, Schuyler Van Dyck, sees she has.  You champion Mr. Van Dyck as he steps outside of common tradition to help and encourage her.

So the journey begins.  The story takes you on an ocean voyage where Aidan’s accepts her faith in God again, through treacherous deeds, sorrows that she must suffer, and finally to finding an unconditional love that she never knew existed.  It is an incredible journey that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

I would recommend it to everyone.  I haven’t read the first book of the series but I am planning to the first chance I get.
This book was supplied by Waterbrook Multinomah Publishing Group

Angela Elwell Hunt created a story mixed with characters that are rich and well rounded.  The dialogue between the characters was believable.  Aidan O’Connor may have been a poor barmaid but she had the determination to leave her family to make something of herself.   As a reader, you can’t help but champion Aidan’s way as she fights to pull herself out of the life of the lower income.  You watch as she is unable to see the natural ability she has to draw that the famous cartographer, Schuyler Van Dyck, sees she has.  You champion Mr. Van Dyck as he steps outside of common tradition to help and encourage her.

So the journey begins.  The story takes you on an ocean voyage where Aidan’s accepts her faith in God again, through treacherous deeds, sorrows that she must suffer, and finally to finding an unconditional love that she never knew existed.  It is an incredible journey that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

I would recommend it to everyone.  I haven’t read the first book of the series but I am planning to the first chance I get.
This book was supplied by Waterbrook Multinomah Publishing Group 

Angela Elwell Hunt created a story mixed with characters that are rich and well rounded.  The dialogue between the characters was believable.  Aidan O’Connor may have been a poor barmaid but she had the determination to leave her family to make something of herself.   As a reader, you can’t help but champion Aidan’s way as she fights to pull herself out of the life of the lower income.  You watch as she is unable to see the natural ability she has to draw that the famous cartographer, Schuyler Van Dyck, sees she has.  You champion Mr. Van Dyck as he steps outside of common tradition to help and encourage her.

So the journey begins.  The story takes you on an ocean voyage where Aidan’s accepts her faith in God again, through treacherous deeds, sorrows that she must suffer, and finally to finding an unconditional love that she never knew existed.  It is an incredible journey that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

I would recommend it to everyone.  I haven’t read the first book of the series but I am planning to the first chance I get.  This book was supplied to me by Waterbrook Multinomah Publishing Group for my honest review.  No other compensation was received.

Angela Elwell Hunt created a story mixed with characters that are rich and well rounded.  The dialogue between the characters was believable.  Aidan O’Connor may have been a poor barmaid but she had the determination to leave her family to make something of herself.   As a reader, you can’t help but champion Aidan’s way as she fights to pull herself out of the life of the lower income.  You watch as she is unable to see the natural ability she has to draw that the famous cartographer, Schuyler Van Dyck, sees she has.  You champion Mr. Van Dyck as he steps outside of common tradition to help and encourage her.

So the journey begins.  The story takes you on an ocean voyage where Aidan’s accepts her faith in God again, through treacherous deeds, sorrows that she must suffer, and finally to finding an unconditional love that she never knew existed.  It is an incredible journey that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

I would recommend it to everyone.  I haven’t read the first book of the series but I am planning to the first chance I get.  You can find this book as well as other great books at http://waterbrookmultnomah.com. 

Press Release Portion:

Faithful Heart

 By Al and Joanna Lacy – The adventures of certified medical nurse and dedicated Christian Breanna Baylor continue as she travels by wagon train to visit her sister, Dottie, in California. Little does she know that her most dangerous encounter might be with Jerrod, her brother-in-law, who’s suffering from dementia caused by combat fatigue.

This book was provided to me by WaterBrookMutlnomah.com for my review.

My Thoughts on this book:

This is the first book of the Angel of Mercy series by Al Lacy.  It is, however, the second book of the series.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that I did not have an issue having not read the first book.  The author did an excellent job there.  Most of the time when you start a book out of series, you have a hard time understanding what is going on.  The author in this case provided you with a prologue which helped me to feel comfortable starting right off. 

The story is set in the 1870s traveling between Breanna Baylor and her sister Dottie Harper.  Breanna spends most of the story on the way to California to her sister serving as a nurse for the wagon train she is on.  There was a nice romance going between Breanna and John Stranger throughout the train ride which was very nice.  Unfortunately, I had a lot of issues with the medical terminology that was used throughout most of the book.  Not that I’m an expert there but I don’t believe that nurses were allowed to perform surgery back at that stage of history.  I think a lot of the technology was more modern medicine and since there was a lot of dialogue regarding it.  It made the story hard to believe. This is a Christian based book and there was a lot of reference to religion in it.

I was able to connect with Breanna but never really had the chance to connect with Dottie since most of the story was on the ride to California with Breanna.  I had an issue with how long it took Dottie to take her children away from a violent situation with her husband who was suffering from a mental illness.  In my mind, she did not have a reason to put her children in harm’s way.  The violence that the children endured in this book was hard for me to stomach.

Although I do believe if all the technical verbiage was not in the book, it would have been a better read.  I did enjoy parts of the book.  Just not all of it.  I found that I was easily able to figure out the plot which makes it hard for me to continue to read.  I want a book that makes me wonder what is going to happen next to make me want to continue to read.  For someone else, it might be the perfect read.  I’m not that much on Christian or war books. 

You can find this book as well as other great books at http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/. 

This book was furnished by Waterbrook Mutlnomah Publishing for my personal review.