Saturday, February 29, 2020

"The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse" by Charlie Mackesy

The Boy, the mole, the fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy is a very short book with illustrations on every page.   It is about a young boy who becomes friends with a mole, a fox and a horse.  It is thought provoking because the boy asks some interesting questions.  It has some life lessons that apply to both young and old people with some humor too.  It is about kindness, friendship and love.  It's a happy quick read that is very unique because it is handwritten!  We enjoyed it, always like books with talking animals! 
(Karen & Gerard's review, 3.5 stars)

Teaser (pages are not numbered):  "Often the hardest person to forgive is yourself."  What is the bravest thing you ever said?" asked the boy.

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Friday, February 28, 2020

"I, Cosmo" by Carlie Sorosiak

I, Cosmo by Carlie Sorosiak is told well by Cosmo, a 13-yr.-old Golden Retriever. He describes his forever family and the special bond he has with Max, the boy in the family.  Although a children's book, this is a very good read with a happy ending.  It deals with a lot of family issues.  It made me laugh and I think you will enjoy how it all plays out as I did.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 22:  The bathroom doors remain closed following that first instance, many years ago, when I discovered the joy of toilet paper, unrolling sheet after sheet in frenzied merriment.  Television is my saving grace.

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Tuesday, February 25, 2020

"Anyone" by Charles Soule

In Anyone by Charles Soule, Gabby White is a scientist.  She is being funded but the money is pretty close to running out.  She needs to come up with something life changing.  Can she do it?  And, if she does, can she trust the people funding her to do the right thing?  I thought this book was very good.  It's just wild enough to keep me engaged throughout.  The story flowed along well and had good action!  Loved how it ended!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars) 

Teaser from page 15:  It felt like a video game, like a first-person video game, like Skyrim.  That was her only basis for comparison.  She was looking out through Paul's eyes, but she wasn't Paul.  She was still Gabrielle.  She hoped.

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Friday, February 21, 2020

"One of Us is Next" by Karen M. McManus

One of Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus is the follow-up to One of Us Is Lying (which I liked more). The same cast of characters is back!  This book picks up after the death of Simon and is told in two parts.  Part 1 is okay, but the real action is in part 2.  I enjoyed Phoebe and Knox the most.  This is pretty good because I loved the ending.
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 34:  Phoebe Lawton, you're up first!  Text back your choice:  Should I reveal a Truth, or will you take a Dare?

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Tuesday, February 18, 2020

"Who Stole My Church" by Gordon MacDonald (Writer's Workshop--Last Book I Read)

Who Stole My Church by Gordon MacDonald is about a pastor of a church who decides to meet with a group from his congregation every week to get feedback and to discuss what is going on in their church.  This was very different from books I usually read and was dry for me.  There really isn't much to get excited about--it was like going to a long church meeting.  I did find the life situations people were going through outside of church interesting.
(Gerard's review, 3.5 stars)

Karen's review of 5/30/19:
When our Sr. Pastoral candidate said if he were called to be our Senior Pastor at Parma Heights Baptist Church, Who Stole My Church? by Gordon MacDonald would be required reading, I went home and ordered it from the library. In an introductory meeting with the leadership of the church, one of the questions asked of him was what book other than the Bible has had an influence on your life. His answer was Who Stole My Church?.

This is a thought-provoking fiction book about a typical congregation of a few hundred people in New England and a Pastor who wants to make changes to reach more people for Christ. An older segment of people in the church oppose spending lots of money on upgrading a sound system in the sanctuary, feel as though everything revolves around the young people, miss singing the old hymns and feel like they are in a war fighting to keep their church the way it’s always been. The pastor and his wife are based on the author’s real experiences. In the book, the Pastor creates a small group of 15 seniors who are core people in the church to meet once a week to discover their church and to understand why many things about the way they have made church work must change and reflect new realities. It is about how people face change when it threatens their comfort zone.

I thought the beginning was pretty dull when it discussed the importance of loving the church, but things picked up. I liked how easily I could relate to those in the Discovery Group and can see why our Pastoral candidate (who has accepted the call by the way to become our Sr. Pastor) recommended we read this book. It showed why changes are necessary and how both the young and older generations need to understand each other in order to work together towards a common goal—reaching the lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ. I found the history of music chapter very interesting and whenever it mentioned a hymn, I would start singing or humming it! This is a book that definitely challenges some introspection and made me see things a bit differently when I was done. I too would recommend it to anyone who is involved in a church that is interested in seeing their church grow and reach the younger generation with the gospel. (4 stars)

Teaser from page 113: “Does all the music we love have to be thrown out the window just because the young people want something different?” Lillian asked. “Isn’t there anyplace for the music we grew up loving?”

See more posts inspired by Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop.  (Blog Hop)


Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

"Citizen 865--The Hunt for Hitler's Hidden Soldiers in America" by Debbie Cenziper

Citizen 865 by Debbie Cenziper tells the true story of men whose job it was to find Hitler's hidden soldiers in America after World War II.  This book is just 250 pages.  For the most part, it kept my interest.  I learned some new information, but at times it read like a text book.  I give it a solid 4 stars.
(Gerard's review)

Teaser from page 9:  Feliks closed his eyes and waited, three seconds, five, ten, his mind and body still.  This, he decided, must be what death feels like.

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Sunday, February 9, 2020

"Along Wooded Paths" by Tricia Goyer

Image from Goodreads
Along Wooded Paths by Tricia Goyer is an enjoyable read about an Amish girl who has two men romantically interested in her.  One, is Aaron, the Amish man she grew up with in Indiana, and the other not Amish, Ben, who serves an Amish community in Montana.  During her time in Montana, she discovers God in a new way and realizes that even people who are not Amish can be close to God!  She begins to question some of her traditions she grew up with and does a lot of thinking.  This is book 2 of The Big Sky series.

I enjoyed this book very much.  The characters were well developed and were very believable.  It was also interesting learning some things about the Amish I hadn't known before.  I liked that the reader got to know Ben's and Aaron's thoughts and not just Marianna's.  I felt for the characters as I read.   
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 15, Loc. 249-50:  But the closer he got, the more he questioned if that would be the case.  Had the distance ruined any chance of the love he'd once counted on?

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Saturday, February 8, 2020

"21 Dangerous Prayers" by Gary Rohrmayer

21 Dangerous Prayers by Gary Rohrmayer is a very short booklet with 21 prayers taken from the Bible along with some commentary for each.  Then it has a couple pages of the same questions for reflection after each chapter.  It's good it only cost a dollar!  I wasn't very impressed with it but bought it since it was a church-wide thing we were doing together.  It could be used as a devotional.  I was expecting it to be more like The Risk Factor:  Crossing the Chicken Lineinto Your Supernatural Destiny by Kevin and Chad Dedmon.
(Karen's review, 2 stars)

Teaser from Kindle Loc. 565:  Honesty and contentment are the pathways that lead to a life of integrity and generosity.

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"There Will Come a Darkness" by Katy Rose Pool

In There Will Come a Darkness by Katy Rose Pool, the age of darkness is coming to the land but, all is not lost.  According to legend, a new prophet will rise and be the savior.  But who is that?  and will he or she be able to do it?  This book covers five people who could be the hope for the world or the cause of the darkness predicted! 

I thought this book was really, really good!  The author told the story in such a way so I was really invested in the main characters!  With tons of action that I did not know what was to come!  I am amazed that this was the author's first book.  Give it a chance.  If there is a sequel, I will be on it!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Teaser from page 15:  "There's no word about the prince," the woman continued.  "He hasn't been seen in Nazirah since the coup.  He's completely vanished."

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Monday, February 3, 2020

"Finding Chika" by Mitch Albom

Finding Chika by Mitch Albom is a true story about a little girl, an earthquake, and the making of a family.  Chika was born in Haiti.  At age 5, she is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.  Mitch and his wife, Janine, bring her to America in hope of finding a cure.  I thought this book was pretty good.  I fell in love with Chika quickly.  The story flowed well.  This book will tug at your heart strings.
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

 Teaser from page 21:  To be honest, Chika, for my first few years, I didn't understand a great deal about Haiti, or the orphanage, or how I was supposed to make the place work.  The power would go off every day, the water would run out, deliveries of rice and bulgur would start and stop, and we never had enough medicine.

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