"Summer of Promise" is Historical Christian Romance

I liked the dog in this one!

Summer of Promise by Amanda Cabot is the first in the Christian Romance Westward Winds series. Back in the 1880s, Abigail teaches in an all-girls school in Vermont and is planning to marry a colleague named Woodrow who is very nice and well organized. Abigail is worried though about her older sister, Charlotte, who is married to an officer and lives at Fort Laramie in Wyoming. In reading her letters, Abigail got the feeling that something is not quite right so decides to visit her. On the way she meets Ethan, a lieutenant, on the stagecoach who saves the passengers from a couple robbers. Abigail finds that Charlotte is pregnant and seems very weak so stays to help her and cheer her up. When the army post gave orders to kill all the stray dogs running around, Abigail couldn’t help but pick a puppy for Charlotte who she named Puddles. Abigail discovers that Wyoming isn’t boring like she originally thought and finds that God has different plans for her than what she expected.

Teaser from page 58: “Oh, Ethan, he’s so cute. You can’t drown him.”

This book was pretty good but seemed to move a bit slowly. I really liked Ethan and Puddles the best! Although there is some mystery about who was robbing the stagecoaches and who was a traitor, it wasn’t really too hard to figure out. The romance was predictable, as is par for the course with Christian fiction books. I enjoyed some of the funny parts in this book very much, such as when Ethan was teaching Abigail how to shoot a gun. I will probably continue on with this series, but not right away. I need something a bit more gripping.
(Karen’s review, 4 stars)


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"Navy Seal Dogs--My Tale of Training Canines for Combat" by Mike Ritland is Amazing!

Navy Seal Dogs--My Tale of Training Canines for Combat by Mike Ritland is about Malinois dogs used in battle and how they are trained.  It is pretty fascinating and was interesting reading about the different dogs and how they helped in battle.  It was also eye-opening to see what the trainers and handlers go through to prepare the dogs for battle.
(Karen's review, 4 stars) 

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"The Second Half" by Lauraine Snelling

The Second Half by Lauraine Snelling is a contemporary inspirational fiction story about family trusting God through their struggles such as adjusting to retirement, raising grandchildren, dealing with depression. When Ken and Mona’s grown son, Steig, is deployed to Pakistan in the special forces, they become the legal guardians for his 9-yr.-old daughter and 5-yr.-old son whose mother abandoned them and gave up her parental rights. The grandparents and children look forward to skyping with Steig on Thursdays, but it never happens. One day they are informed that Steig is Missing in Action and they struggle to hold on to hope of seeing him come home.

I enjoyed this Christian fiction book, especially the everyday moments that made it very believable. I thought it was funny that Jake, the little boy, was afraid of dogs and cats and that his grandparents had one of each. It shows how one phone call can throw a monkey wrench into the best laid plans!  I highly recommend this to retirees or those nearing retirement.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

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Great Military Books in Honor of Veterans Day

My husband isn't comfortable doing videos, but he gave it a shot when I asked him to talk about some of the military books he liked for Veterans Day.


Have you read any of these? 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!

"Leadership Lessons from West Point" Can Apply to Leadership in General

Leadership Lessons from West Point is written by different Army officers who have had actual battle experience in leading men. It is actually a textbook that is well organized and addresses many different aspects of effective leadership. I must admit I did not read the entire book word for word because it nicely set off main points of each topic. I read those main points and if it was related to something that I felt would be helpful to me as a Sunday School teacher or volunteer coach, I read those entire passages. After reading Hope Unseen about an army officer who became blind due to a war bomb in Iraq and eventually got a teaching position at West Point, I wanted to read this book to see more of what West Point cadets were taught about leadership.
(Karen's review, 3 stars)

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Military Books for Flag Day Video

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"Ender's Shadow" by Orson Scott Card

Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card is actually a parallel book to Ender's Game with the main character in this one being Bean.   Bean is a street kid that a nun befriended and recommended to the space Battle School.  Bean is very small and only 4 years old but has advanced intelligence when he gets into the school.

It is interesting how Bean views things and how his leadership skills develop.  I really liked his strong sense of teamwork and how he would get people to work together.  I loved Ender's Game and so it was fun reading about Ender some more, this time from someone else's viewpoint.  I highly recommend this book if you liked Ender's Game.  I gave this 4 stars only because I liked Ender's Game a bit better but that may be just because I read that one first so I had a clue what was going to happen next as I read Ender's Shadow.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

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Some Military Books For You for Memorial Day!

I thought it would be nice to recommend some military books I enjoyed for Memorial Day. Only eight are mentioned in this video, but additional ones are listed below:

We both liked:

Nubs--A Mutt, a Marine, a Miracle by Major Brian Dennis (children's nonfiction picture book)
Tuesday Tucks Me In by Captain Luis Carlos Montalvan (children's nonfiction picture book)
War Horse by Michael Morpurgo (Children's book, sad but very good!)

Gerard liked but I did not read:

Until Tuesday by Captain Luis Carlos Montalvan about him and his service dog, Tuesday.
Horse Soldiers by Doug Stanton
Black Hearts by Jim Frederick
Into the Fire by Dakota Meyer (audio book)
Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden (sorry no review but he LOVED IT.  Read before we were putting his reviews online).

What military books have you read that you liked?

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"Rites of Passage" by Joy N. Hensley

Rites of Passage by Joy N. Hensley is about Sam McKenna, the only teenage daughter in a military family who is one of 5 girls who are the first to enroll in Denmark Military Academy.  She wants to please her dad and takes her brother's dare.  Once there, she finds it is even worse than she expected but is determined to stick it out for the year.

This book has a lot of military training included to show how tough this girl is and how her Corporal does just about everything he can think of to get her to quit.  If you are not interested in military-type books, this one is not for you.  I liked it though but thought Sam McKenna was nuts for trying to break into the all-boys military school and put herself through that, risking her life!  The bright spot during her year there at the school was her drill sergeant.  I liked the ending because it was pretty good and realistic. 
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

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We Both Liked "American Sniper" by Chris Kyle is a Must Read

American Sniper is Chris Kyle’s story of his life, the American SEAL sniper credited with the most kills in the Iraq war. The book starts with a little from his childhood and how he was a cowboy, then goes into depth about his Navy and SEAL training. It covers his experiences in Iraq during the war over his four deployments and touches on his personal life as a husband and father. He was a great warrior and was completely dedicated to serving his country by killing the bad guys. It shows the struggles between he and his wife due to their different priorities.

I liked the book because I learned some new things; however, can’t help but think both he and his wife would have been better off not getting married. Chris was definitely “married” to the Navy and being a sniper. Time after time, he put his career ahead of her and his children. I enjoyed reading about the training he went through and the combat situations he experienced, but when he went into detail about the different weapons, I got bored with that. I did learn though that choosing the right weapon is kind of like choosing a golf club—there are a lot of options. I also was shocked at how much hazing goes on when new guys are assigned to a SEAL team.

I guess what bothered me most was that he proclaimed to be a strong Christian, yet seemed to be very self-centered when it came to his marriage, his language was rough, he got into a lot of bar brawls and drank a lot—all things strong Christians would not do. If you want a glimpse of what really goes on in the Iraq war and the sacrifices made by soldiers and their families, this is a must read.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

American Sniper is the true story of Chris, a sniper, and the best one in the service.  I have read a few books on the war and this one ranks right up there with the best, if not the best that I have read!  His account is absolutely riveting.  I was able to experience through his telling what is going on and what he went through.  WOW!  I LOVED this book!  Chris was an American hero for sure!  This is a must read and if you have a chance to see the movie, do it!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)  

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"Thank You For Your Service" by David Finkel

Thank You for Your Service by David Finkel is non-fiction focusing on the men and women who fight our country's wars and the toll it takes on them and their loved ones.  It contains very interesting stories and reads like a novel.  It kept my interest throughout.  I can't say it was an enjoyable read, but you should read it if you get a chance to get a glimpse of the sacrifices made and the tragic outcomes in some cases.  
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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. Happy Reading!

"Don't Go" by Lisa Scottoline is a Must Read! (UPDATED 7/3/13)

This is SO good!

Don't Go by Lisa Scottoline is about Mike Scanlon, an army doctor in Afghanistan who gets the awful news that his young wife is dead. Coming home, he finds out that his daughter does not even know who he is! He also discovers that the battles he has to face on the home front are more than he could have imagined.

This book is very hard to put down, a real page-turner with plenty of "Wow, I didn't see that coming" turns. The ending? Well, you have to read it to believe it! Books just don't get any better than this--a must read!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

UPDATED 7/3/13:
Don’t Go by Lisa Scottoline is a good read about an army podiatrist who not only is a hero in Afghanistan, but also fights to become a hero on the home front in spite of being an amputee, his failing business, drug addiction, the death of his wife, and the custody battle for his baby daughter who doesn’t even know him. This book delves into issues vets have when coming home from seeing horrendous things in battle and the struggles they face. Dr. Scanlon has it tough but rises to the challenge after his passionate no-nonsense, kick-butt attorney, Stephanie, “lights a fire” under him and gets him back on track.

I enjoyed this book, it’s a good read and you can’t help but pull for the doctor to succeed and get to the bottom of things. I felt very sorry for him throughout the book; however, the suspense was kind of ruined by the book cover which gives away the ending. I think this would be a good book club read if done along the way because of the characters and the mystery of who killed the Doctor’s wife’s best friend.
(Karen's review)

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Great Memorial Weekend Read: "Frozen In Time" by Mitchell Zuckoff

WOW!  What an amazing story Frozen in Time by Mitchell Zuckoff is!  It is "an epic story of survival and a modern quest for lost heroes of World War II."  I always really enjoy a true story that I am not up to speed on at all and this book fits the bill! 

In 1942 a cargo plane crashed into a Greenland ice cap.  A rescue plane followed and it crashed too!  Then another follow-up plane went out and vanished!  Do I have your interest yet?  It's all true! 

The research the author did is amazing and his writing gave me the feel I was right there.  I really enjoyed this book a lot and can't wait for Mitchell Zuckoff's next book because his first two have been great!  I also read and liked his first book, Lost in Shangri-La. (See my review of this one too--click the link.)
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO SERVED OUR COUNTRY IN THE MILITARY!  

Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

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We Both Liked "Dinner With the Smileys" by Sarah Smiley (Updated)

USA TODAY had "Dinner with the Smileys--One Military Family, One Year of Heroes, and Lessons for a Lifetime" by Sarah Smiley on its list of top books for the month of May.  I just finished it and it truly is a fantastic read!

When Sarah's husband has to be deployed, she does not want to see the empty chair at the table where he used to sit, so she decides to invite people of various backgrounds to have dinner with her and her three boys.  I enjoyed the whole book, it's very good!

Sarah, your writing is so good, you told it great and the pictures are really good too!  Dustin, I thank you for your service!  As for the boys, you were great too!  Keep following the Red Sox and listen to your parents.  Love your dog!!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Dinner with the Smileys by Sarah Smiley is about how a military wife and her three young boys made it through the year her husband was deployed.  Sarah came up with an idea to invite different dinner guests every week to fill the empty chair where her husband used to sit at the dinner table.  It gave them all something to look forward to every week and provided a diversion in a way.  I enjoyed reading about the special “Dinners with the Smileys” but also the family dynamics, her single parenting struggles, the baseball games, the boys’ interactions with one another and with the guests.  This is a heartwarming family documentary that is a very enjoyable read!  It gives the reader a peek into unique pressures that military families (or single parents) face.
(Karen's review)

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"Trident K9 Warriors" by Mike Ritland with Gary Brozek

Trident K9 Warriors by Mike Ritland with Gary Brozek tells the story of an elite group of dogs who go through special training to help our men fight the wars around the world. I especially enjoyed the stories of the battle where the dogs played a vital role. Of course, I liked the pictures of the dogs too! Some of the chapters that dealt with non-battle scenes I skimmed. To Mike Ritland and your band of brothers in arms, thank you for your service!
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

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. Happy Reading!

"Prodigy" by Marie Lu (UPDATED 4-16-13)

Starts Slow But Picks Up--Stick With It

Prodigy by Marie Lu is as good as her first book of this series, Legend. This book goes quick because it’s so good! Day and June alternate narrating chapters and the action kept me turning pages. The Republic is on the verge of a revolution and Day and June join forces on the same side, but is it the right side? Who can they trust? Who is telling the truth? Can Day continue to trust June? Tess, developed a major crush on Day and he begins to see her in a different light. The author has a good balance between strong, likeable characters and action and suspense. Prodigy is about friendship, loyalty, trust, and fighting for freedom and social change. I highly recommend this YA read.
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

Prodigy by Marie Lu is the follow up after Legend.  Legend was fantastic; however, Prodigy started very slow.  I would have liked more action but the second half picked up and I really got into it!  I look forward to reading the last book in this series too! 
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

This is the sequel to Legend which we both liked! You should really read that one first.

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"Into The Fire" by Dakota Meyer and Bing West is Amazing!

Gerard loved this one--his first audio book!

Into the Fire is a Firsthand account of the most extraordinary battle in the Afghan War by Medal of Honor recipient, Dakota Meyer and Bing West (New York Times Bestselling Author). This is an audio book read by Zach Mclarty. What an amazing true story it is! Dakota Meyer is a true hero. This book tells the story of the battle at Genuisal. This is what war is really all about. I was able to get the audio book and liked listening to it in the car. I think I got more out of it than if I read the book. Either way, please take time to read or listen to this account and thank our armed forces that are still fighting. Mr. Meyer, thank you for your service.
(Gerard's review, rating 5+++ stars)

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. Happy Reading!

"No Easy Day" by Mark Owen with Kevin Maurer

No Easy Day--The Autobiography of a Navy Seal by Mark Owen is the true story of the killing of Osama Bin Laden and what a riveting tale it is! I got it done in just two days. Seal Team Six is awesome! I was impressed with all the training they go through. The last part about the operation that got Bin Laden is really something to read! Seal Team Six, I thank you for your service and God bless!
(Gerard's review, rating 5++ stars)

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"The Face of Heaven" by Murray Pura

The Face of Heaven by Murray Pura is historical Christian fiction about an Amish man and woman who feel strongly enough against slavery that the man joins the union army and the woman volunteers as a nurse on the battlefields of the Civil War. There is the romance story line too but the majority of the book is about the Civil War through their eyes. Nathaniel and Lyndel must endure shunning from their families and community when they join the war effort, but believe it is what God would have them do. I learned from reading this book that it is not the custom of the Amish to wear wedding bands and that a married woman wears a white knapp, but a single woman wears a black knapp.

Parts of this book were very intense and so gripping that I missed my bus stop while reading it coming home from work on the bus one day. Other, parts dragged a bit, but overall it was good. I also read The Wings of Morning by this author and liked that one even better.
(Karen's review)

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"The Deep Zone" by James M. Tabor

An Action Packed, page turning thriller!

The Deep Zone by James M. Tabor is a page turner with tons of action about an infection that is killing our soldiers in Afghanistan. The cure is located in a deep cave. Five people are chosen for a team to go get it and bring it out.

You talk about good books, this one is great! There is action in and out of the cave and a very good ending. I'll be looking for more books by James M. Tabor for sure.
(Gerard's review)

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