Spotlight: The Last Christian by David Gregory

Wednesday 26 May, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Title: The Last Christian
Author: David Gregory
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Publication Date: May 4, 2010
Paperback: 416 pages
ISBN: 978-1400074976
Genre: Evangelical, Religion, Science Fiction

From the Publisher:

ABOUT THIS BOOK

In the future, it’s possible to live forever—but at what cost?

A.D. 2088.

Missionary daughter Abigail Caldwell emerges from the jungle for the first time in her thirty-four years, the sole survivor of a mysterious disease that killed her village. Abby goes to America, only to discover a nation where Christianity has completely died out. A curious message from her grandfather assigns her a surprising mission: re-introduce the Christian faith in America, no matter how insurmountable the odds.

But a larger threat looms. The world’s leading artificial intelligence industrialist has perfected a technique for downloading the human brain into a silicon form. Brain transplants have begun, and with them comes the potential of eliminating physical death altogether—but at what expense?

As Abby navigates a society grown more addicted to stimulating the body than nurturing the soul, she and Creighton Daniels, a historian troubled by his father’s unexpected death, become unwitting targets of powerful men who will stop at nothing to further their nefarious goals. Hanging in the balance—the spiritual future of all humanity.

In this fast-paced thriller, startling near-future science collides with thought-provoking religious themes to create a spell-binding “what-if?” novel.

My Review:

This novel was a DNF for me. While the novel did not appeal to me, it has received brilliant reviews. The reason I did not finish the novel was quite simple, I truly disliked the mixed genres. The premise of the novel is good, the character development is excellent and I encourage everyone remotely interested to check out the reviews.

About the Author:

David Gregory is the coauthor of two nonfiction books and a frequent conference speaker. After a ten-year business career, he returned to school to study religion and communications, earning two master’s degrees. David lives in Texas, where he works for a nonprofit organization.

Visit the Author’s website to learn more.

An excerpt of the novel may be viewed here.

I received a complimentary copy of The Last Christian by David Gregory from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Review and Tour: English Trifle by Josi S. Kilpack

Tuesday 25 May, 2010 By 4 Comments

Title: English Trifle
Author: Josi S. Kilpack
Publisher: Deseret Book
Publication Date: August 5, 2009
Paperback: 368 pages
ISBN: 978-1606411216
Genre: Mystery

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About the Book:

Sadie Hoffmiller calls her new-found sleuthing ability a gift. Her daughter Breanna, however, calls it a disease—detectivitis, to be exact.

But when when they find a dead man impaled by a fireplace poker in an English Estate, and that same body then comes up missing; Sadie feels she has no choice but to take the case. Stranded at the estate until police clear her and Breanna to leave, Sadie seems to encounter one dead end after another and begins to wonder if anyone is telling the truth—or are these the dead ends she thought they were?

What began as a holiday trip becomes a full-fledged mystery that is anything but trifling. Layer by layer, Sadie uncovers another mouth-watering mystery with an English flair

With her son Shawn at her side, her reputation on the line, and a full cast of suspicious characters, Sadie Hoffmiller is once again cooking her way through a case that offers far more questions than answers.

My Review:

Sadie has a nose for posh nosh as well as murder and stumbles across both while visiting England. English Trifle by Josi S. Kilpack is the second in her Sadie Hoffmiller culinary mystery series and is quite delightful. With only a few more hours until their flight departed, Sadie Hoffmiller and her daughter Breanna found themselves in the sitting room of Southgate Estate awaiting Liam, Breanna’s boyfriend and heir to an Earldom. While taking a turn about the room they encounter John Henry, the nurse to Liam’s ailing father William, skewered to the wall with a fireplace poker. Unfortunately no one believes their witness since someone removed his body and according to the staff, no one saw or heard anything. Waiting to give their statement, Sadie and her daughter Breanna miss their flight home, leaving them stranded in the ninth Earl of Garnett’s home, Southgate Estate, long outstaying their welcome, if they are judging the staff correctly. Sadie wants to know what happened to the body and who had motive to not only kill this man but to remove all traces of the crime. Kilpack delivers another charming and intriguing mystery along with recipes, each sounding more delicious than the previous one. Her main characters are charming and face some rather standoffish staff members who would prefer to see Sadie and Breana off. Each staff member as well as the guests at Southgate Estate appear to have secrets of their own, making it all the more difficult to determine who has done what, if anything. While English Trifle is the second in her series, it can be read as a stand alone novel, however the first novel, Lemon Tart and the third novel Devil’s Food Cake must be mentioned for those readers who like a good mystery series, especially with a culinary twist and prefer to read a series in order. I recommend English Trifle for anyone looking for a quaint mystery to curl up and enjoy.

About the Author:

Josi S. Kilpack grew up hating to read until her mother handed her a copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond when she was 13. From that day forward, she read everything she could get her hands on and accredits her writing “education” to the many novels she has “studied” since then. She began writing her first novel in 1998, while on bedrest with a pregnancy, and never stopped. Devil’s Food Cake is Josi’s eleventh novel, and the third book in the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery Series. The other novels, Lemon Tart (Book 1) and English Trifle (Book 2) were released in 2009. While the books all feature Sadie Hoffmiller as the main character, they stand alone in regard to plot and can be read as a set or as individual titles. Josi currently lives in Utah with her husband, four children, one dog and varying number of chickens.

For more information about Josi, you can visit her website or her blog.


Josi Kilpack’s ENGLISH TRIFLE VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR ‘10 officially began on May 3 and ends on May 28. You can visit Josi’s blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.comduring the month of May to find out more about this great book and talented author!

I received a complimentary copy of English Trifle by Josi S. Kilpack from Pump Up Your Book Promotion as part of the tour. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Teaser Tuesdays- Welcome To Harmony

Tuesday 25 May, 2010 By 31 Comments


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is mine:

“ I got my mom, two widowed great-aunts, two divorced sisters and a four-year-old fairy princess. I haven’t said a word at the dinner table in five years.”

~Page 68 , Welcome to Harmony by Jodi Thomas
My review

What are you reading?

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Book Review: Marriage and Other Acts of Charity by Kate Braestrup

Monday 24 May, 2010 By 2 Comments

Title: Marriage and Other Acts of Charity
Author: Kate Braestrup
Publisher: Reagan Arthur Books
Publication Date: January 13, 2010
Hardcover: 224 pages
ISBN: 978-0316031912
Genre: Autobiography/Biography/Memoir

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From the Publisher:

In her award-winning memoir Here If You Need Me, Kate Braestrup won the hearts of readers across the country with her deeply moving and deftly humorous stories of faith, hope and family. Now, with her inimitable voice and generous spirit, she turns her attention to the subjects of love and commitment in MARRIAGE AND OTHER ACTS OF CHARITY. As a minister, Kate Braestrup regularly performs weddings. She has also, at 44, been married twice and widowed once, and accordingly has much to say about life after the ceremony. From helping a newlywed couple make amends after their first fight to preparing herself for her second marriage, Braestrup offers her insights and experiences on what it truly means to share your life with someone, from the first kiss to the last straw, for better or for worse. Part memoir, part observation of modern marriage, and part meditation on the roles of God and love in our everyday lives, MARRIAGE AND OTHER ACTS OF CHARITY is a unique and unforgettable look into why, and how, we love each other, and proves yet again why Kate Braestrup’s writing is “inspirational in the best sense” (New York Daily News).

My Review:

Marriage, mother-adult child relationships, parenting and friendship are a few touchstones in Kate Braestrup’s memoir Marriage and Other Acts of Charity. As a minister, Kate has the pleasure to meet with a lot of couples prior to marriage and has learned a lot about love and marriage over the years. According to Kate her desire to minister and her knowledge of marriage stemmed from her first marriage. Drew and Kate loved each other and yet had difficulty communicating their frustrations and fears with one another, which is not uncommon and they were wise enough to seek out counseling. His job as a police officer placed a heavy strain on both of them, causing misplaced anger. During counseling sessions Kate claimed everything was Drew’s fault while all her actions were accounted for. What she was not admitting was her love for her husband and the fact she was terrified he would die on the job, instead hiding these fears in anger. Fortunately Kate and Drew managed to change their marriage around before he was killed. Marriage and Other Acts of Kindness is a memoir of her marriage, the good and not so good times, interspersed with relevant quotes ranging from philosophers to the Bible. Kate’s memoir does not end with the death of her husband Drew, rather in a way it is a new beginning as Kate becomes an ordained minister and chooses to write openly about the issues that arose after the wedding. Kate gives clear examples of behaviours and when they are good and not so good. Anger for example can come in handy when protecting our young, and unhealthy when misplaced, such as screaming at a loved one because the library closed before they could get there. Kate speaks lovingly of her four children, family, friends and her ministry. While Kate is indeed an ordained minister, her book, Marriage and Other Acts of Charity, is neither preachy nor over the top, but rather an honest, down to earth and witty memoir about the trying times and the joys that came from those times in Kate’s life, which she seamlessly weaves into modern day examples of the gospels. One example would be the Valedictorian speech her friend’s son made denouncing his family and declaring his true family was Pink Floyd. Kate speaks of her personal life, her marriages, being a widower and returning to the dating scene. Marriage and Other Acts of Charity is a well written and beautiful memoir gently reminding the reader not to take life too seriously or for granted. I found the memoir to be beautiful, uplifting and filled with life lessons and guidance. I would highly recommend Marriage and Other Acts of Charity to any reader, especially those considering marriage

About the Author:

Braestrup’s novel Onion was published by Viking in 1990, and she has since published a series of magazine articles in Mademoiselle, Ms., City Paper, Hope and Law and Order. She lives in Maine.

I received a complimentary copy of Marriage and Other Acts of Charity by Kate Braestrup from Hachette. Receiving a free copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned book.

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19 Wonderful Years

Monday 24 May, 2010 By 9 Comments

Happy 19th Wedding Anniversary Darling.

I love you more and more with each day. Thank you for being mine. Your loving wife,
Jennifer
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Book Tour & Review: Returning Injury by Becky Due

Monday 24 May, 2010 By 3 Comments

Title: Returning Injury
Author: Becky Due
Publisher: Due Publications
Publication Date: March 18, 2010
Paperback: 195 pages
ISBN: 978-0974621234
Genre: Suspense

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About the Book:

Rebecca’s life just keeps getting better. With Jack away on business, she’s looking forward to four days alone to work on her new client’s PR campaign to help women take back their lives. But her past intrudes. Roy, the man who stalked and assaulted her years before, has been released from prison. Home alone in her big, beautiful house out in the country, Rebecca has to learn to take back her own life while facing her fears and regaining her strength. But will she be strong enough when she faces the ultimate test?

My Review:

Returning Injury by Becky Due shows how far a woman, in this instance the protagonist, Rebecca is willing to go to be safe. Rebecca is a strong woman who has dealt with and to some extent is still dealing with her past. When Rebecca lived in Cheyenne, Roy Smythson could not get over her and he stalked her, went through her personal belongings, correspondence, as well as her garbage until one day he attacked her. Rebecca manages to get away and call for help. Rebecca now owns her own PR firm and her client Angela is an advocate for women and children, which opens up a wide avenue of topics. Due handles several intense issues in her book Returning Injury and handles the topics deftly and with strong women, especially Rebecca. This book may be a rather emotional read for anyone who has suffered abuse, thankfully I have never been in such a situation, however, I learned a lot from the book and hope others will as well. Returning Injury keeps the reader deeply engaged since it is not a light read and one that makes the reader take stock of their surroundings and their life. I personally believe women as well as men, could get something out of this book and firmly believe Returning Injury would make for an absolutely fantastic discussion group book, as there are so many deep issues to be discussed.

About the Author:

Becky Due, like the main characters of her novels, spent many years running from herself, looking for love, crying a little and laughing a lot along the journey of finding herself. Through writing, Due found her passion. She is the author of several books and is currently working on her next novel.

Happily married she and Scott live in Colorado, Florida and Alberta, Canada with their two “kids” Buddy the Cat and Shorty the Pug.

Becky has been a guest on national radio programs and has been the subject of numerous newspaper and national magazine articles for empowering women through her novels. She has served as a guest speaker at Women’s Resource Centers, Shelters, Colleges and High Schools within the United States. Becky has had extensive training at Victim Services, worked the 24-Hour Sexual Assault Crisis-Line and was a Victim’s Advocate where she offered one-on-one assistance and support to rape victims. In 2007, Becky started, Women Going Forward, the first national women’s telephone support group, which ran for almost two years. After receiving much recognition for her novels, Becky’s focus turned back to her writing and empowering women through her novels.

To learn more about Becky Due please visit her website.


Becky Due’s RETURNING INJURY VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR ‘10 officially began on May 3 and ends on June 25 2010. You can visit Becky’s blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.comduring the months of May and June to find out more about this great book and talented author!

I received a complimentary copy of Returning Injury by Becky Due from Pump Up Your Book Promotion as part of the tour. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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CymLowell

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It’s Monday What Are You Reading? 24 May (A Special Day!)

Monday 24 May, 2010 By 23 Comments

It’s Monday What Are you Reading is the perfect way for me to begin my week and allows me to focus on what needs to be read and to see what I have or have not accomplished the previous week. I also enjoy discovering new books by visiting other participants blogs.

Today is my 19th Wedding Anniversary and I am spending the day with my wonderful husband. I will be making my rounds as usual, I just may be a day late. ;)


I Read and Reviewed (click the title to be taken to the review):

This week I am planning to read:

  • A Hollow Crown by Helen Hollick
  • Marriage and Other Acts of Charity by Kate Braestrup
  • Returning Injury by Becky Due
  • English Trifle by Josi S. Kilpack
  • The Last Christian by David Gregory

  • Welcome to Harmony by Jodi Thomas
  • Life After Yes by Aidan Donnelley Rowley
  • The Devlin Diary by Christi Phillips
  • Every Boat Turns South by J.P. White
  • My Name Is Memory by Ann Brashares
  • Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman
  • They Never Die Quietly by D.M. Annechino

Visit next Monday to see if I managed to accomplish my reading goals.

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Book Review: The Language God Talks by Herman Wouk

Sunday 23 May, 2010 By 1 Comment

Title: The Language God Talks: On Science and Religion
Author: Herman Wouk
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Publication Date: April 5, 2010
Hardcover: 192 pages
ISBN: 978-0316078450
Genre: Religion/Science

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From the Publisher:

“More years ago than I care to reckon up, I met Richard Feynman.” So begins THE LANGUAGE GOD TALKS, Herman Wouk’s gem on navigating the divide between science and religion. In one rich, compact volume, Wouk draws on stories from his life as well as on key events from the 20th century to address the eternal questions of why we are here, what purpose faith serves, and how scientific fact fits into the picture. He relates wonderful conversations he’s had with scientists such as Feynman, Murray Gell-Mann, Freeman Dyson, and Steven Weinberg, and brings to life such pivotal moments as the 1969 moon landing and the Challenger disaster. Brilliantly written, THE LANGUAGE GOD TALKS is a scintillating and lively investigation and a worthy addition to the literature.

My Review:

I did not know what to expect when I began The Language God Talks by Herman Wouk and all I knew prior to beginning the book is that I enjoyed Wouk’s earlier works and he not only met, but also quoted my all-time favourite physicist, Richard Feynman. I am pleased to report The Language God Talks exceeded my expectations. Wouk’s book, while concise is filled with very large and abstract ideas. Those interested in mathematics and science will probably gain the most insight from The Language God Talks, after all, according to Feynman and others, the language is calculus. Wouk discusses the lengths he goes to talk to the great minds of the century in his quest for a deeper understanding of how religion and science fit together, piecing together history, literature and science. If one is looking for a straightforward answer, this book may disappoint. However, if one is looking for an intellectual book filled with many deep issues to ponder and then render one’s own opinion, this is the book to read. Wouk’s book, while deceptively trim and simple sounding, is a series of rather complex philosophical, ethical, and straightforward questions as well as his own reflections from serving in WWII. The book offers up no direct answers rather Wouk points the reader towards several relevant, and at times intellectual, examples or in the scientific world, proofs (not to be mistaken with the proof of something). I highly recommend The Language God Talks to anyone who is looking for an intellectual book that will make one think for oneself rather than turning out pat ideology. The Language God Talks would be a lively discussion group book.

About the Author:

Herman Wouk earned his living as a scriptwriter for Fred Allen before serving in World War II. His career as a novelist spans nearly six decades and has brought him resounding international acclaim. He lives in Palm Springs, California.

I received a complimentary copy of The Language God Talks by Herman Wouk from Hachette. Receiving a free copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned book.

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The Sunday Salon 23 May

Sunday 23 May, 2010 By 5 Comments

The Sunday Salon.com

Life: I am still sad I will not be at BEA and BBC. I will be missing out on making connections, meeting other reviewers, authors, publishers, publicist, etc, in person. I will miss out on hearing and seeing the newest ideas, releases, and missing some fantastic seminars. I cannot express how much it saddens me to not be involved. Yet, my family comes first, as it should.

Family Update: Tomorrow is my 19th Wedding Anniversary. We have a fun day planned then a small party with friends. Friday is my son’s big formal affair and I found a Little Black Dress, accessories and heels I need to learn to walk in. I am contemplating painting my nails. The last time I did was in the early 80s, so I am not certain it would go well. My oldest was in his first fender bender and hopefully it will be his last. Thankfully, no one was injured. There is an amazing amount of damage to my car. :( This is not going to go well for my insurance premiums. My iPad has not arrived, I have tried to get excited about it, so far, there has been no excitement on my end, although my family cannot wait. We experienced another rainy week and yet still managed to plant flowers in the beds and prepared hanging baskets as well as moved some shrubs around. Overall the yard looks much better than it did. Our neighbours are completely moved into their flat. We see them daily, but it is somehow not the same, yet still good.

What I did on Saturday Night: I spent Saturday night in a theatre watching Extreme Theatre 2010. My son and his drama friends had 24 straight hours (their work began Friday at 7:30 P.M.) to write, create, cast, memorize, build sets, work lighting, make costumes etc, for the live performance on at 7:30 P.M. We had a brilliant time and those teens are quite talented!

Read and Reviewed: Even with the loss of my glasses I did read and review 11 books. I could have done more but lost a day during the great glasses hunt. I shall, as usual, list all the reviews I read this past week on Monday with links. Do not want to wait until Monday? They are all up and as usual, I love comments.

So what will I be reading? I am getting delightfully lost in Helen Hollick’s Captain Jesamiah Acorne pirate series. Reviews will be coming, but for now anyone looking for a novel filled with action, adventure, suspense, strong women, pirates, wit and excellent writing, her first in the series is Sea Witch.

Happy Reading and please feel free to leave comments or suggestions.

Visit the The Sunday Salon.

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Book Review: This One Is Mine by Maria Semple

Saturday 22 May, 2010 By 5 Comments

Title: This One Is Mine
Author: Maria Semple
Publisher: Back Bay Books
Publication Date: March 24, 2010
Paperback: 320 pages
ISBN: 978-0316031332
Genre: Fiction

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From the Publisher:

Violet Parry is living the quintessential life of luxury in the Hollywood Hills with David, her rock-and-roll manager husband, and her darling toddler, Dot. She has the perfect life–except that she’s deeply unhappy. David expects the world of Violet but gives little of himself in return. When she meets Teddy, a roguish small-time bass player, Violet comes alive, and soon she’s risking everything for the chance to find herself again. Also in the picture are David’s hilariously high-strung sister, Sally, on the prowl for a successful husband, and Jeremy, the ESPN sportscaster savant who falls into her trap. For all their recklessness, Violet and Sally will discover that David and Jeremy have a few surprises of their own. THIS ONE IS MINE is a compassionate and wickedly funny satire about our need for more–and the often disastrous choices we make in the name of happiness.

My Review:

Well-written, descriptive with witty narrative This One Is Mine by Maria Semple has an interesting premise; two unhappy women looking for happiness, one longing for what the other has. Violet Grace Perry seemingly has a wonderful life and yet she is tragically unhappy, refers to mornings with her husband David as “revolting”, wonders about the “indignities” forced on 50-year-old women who are single and work such jobs as selling real estate and believes motherhood, no matter how much a mother loves her child, is not only “boring” but “draining”. Unfortunately, Violet neither grew on me nor became more likeable with time. Will her affair with Teddy Reyes, a bass player and recovering alcoholic be the answer she is looking for? Sally, the younger sister of Violet’s husband David, recently turned 36 and believes she is absolutely stunning and further believes her best friend Maryam would flounder without her help and guidance as the “pretty one” in the friendship. Sally’s goal is to hook up with a wealthy man, ideally the soon to be TV star named Jeremy White, and live a fairy tale life. Sally wants what Violet has, yet the grass is rarely greener on the other side. The parallel stories and exploits may be delightful for others to read, unfortunately I did not find them to be witty or interesting but rather superficial and I tired rather quickly of the descriptive sexual escapades. With that stated, Maria Semple’s novel is well written and executed, her characters are developed and the story moves at a fast clip. Just because the genre was not for me is not at all indicative of the author’s ability. Several times I saw references to similarities between This One Is Mine and Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, which happens to be my all-time favourite novel and the comparison threw me, certainly the wealth, power, and unhappiness, yet there are a lot of novels like that and I do not place these two books in the same category. I am curious if anyone saw similarities between Tolstoy’s classic novel and This One Is Mine, and if so, what? While this novel was not to my liking, I strongly suggest reading other reviews before making a decision on this book. I do believe This One Is Mine would not only make an excellent book discussion group pick but would also create quite lively discussions.

About the Author:

Maria Semple has written for television shows including Arrested Development, Mad About You, and Ellen. She has escaped from Los Angeles and lives with her family on an island off Seattle. This is her first novel.

I received a complimentary copy of This One Is Mine by Maria Semple from a publicist for the author. Receiving a free copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned book.

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