A gorgeous book that shares the stories of how and where some of Christianity's favorite hymns were written. The photographs of England and Wales are breathtaking. It's a beautiful coffee table-type book and one that I have enjoyed reading and perusing on many a Sunday morning as I wait to go to church.
The CD that is included is wonderful. Ray Walker's version of Amazing Grace gives me chills and the choral version of Abide with Me is simply…
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Added by Holly on October 2, 2009 at 4:30pm —
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I am fascinated by, but not very familiar with the history of the Ancient World. I wish I'd paid more attention in my Humanities World History classes in college! I was also not familiar with Tracy Higley's Seven Wonders series, but I intend to seek out the first two books.
Sophia is a strong, educated woman who has dedicated her life to keeping the lighthouse flame lit. Her sorrows and losses have kept her inside the lighthouse and away from the…
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Added by Holly on October 1, 2009 at 4:30pm —
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I read this book with a high-lighter handy. I loved it. Suzanne Woods Fisher will take you into the homes and lives of the Amish people, and you will learn practical, simple ways of changing your attitudes and your perceptions.
The book follows five themes: Simplicity, Time, Community, Forgiveness, The Sovereignty of God. Each section shares real-life experiences and comments from Amish people. They explain their faith and their belief in family…
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Added by Holly on September 30, 2009 at 4:30pm —
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Set in the late 15th and early 16th centuries during the time of Henry VIII. Stuart Winslow was born into poverty when his aristocratic father ran away with his mother, the woman his uncle wanted to marry. Raised in a faith-filled home, Stuart learns about God at his father's knee, as well as falconry and weapons design. When his skills attract the attention of the king, Stuart is delighted to find himself a part of the royal court. He soon learns,…
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Added by Holly on September 29, 2009 at 4:30pm —
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I thought this was a fun book. It was easy to read and laugh-out loud funny in places. Each chapter is told, first-person, by one of the club members. I'm not a regular television watcher and I don't watch reality-television at all, so I have no comparison to the descriptions and experiences of the club members. However, a reality show about cooking groups competing against each other was an interesting premise. The story is Christian, but not…
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Added by Holly on September 27, 2009 at 4:30pm —
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A versatile cook book that will appeal to many people. All the recipes are easy and made from simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. The authors share their own dishes with little anecdotes about each recipe, as well as anecdotes about the Potluck Club book characters.
If I have any complaints it's that there are some inconsistencies: some recipes state how many servings, but others…
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Added by Holly on September 25, 2009 at 4:30pm —
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The chapters alternate the individual perspectives which show how one experience can affect each person differently. There are many different characters, but the author manages to keep the perspectives clear and separate.
Like others who've read this novel, I found the first half to be slow. I came close to putting it down several times and not picking it up again. But, there was a compelling element that made me want to continue reading and find…
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Added by Holly on September 25, 2009 at 4:30pm —
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I think the premise of this story is fascinating: the exploration of ancient prophecies coming to pass in our modern day. The story alternates between Pastor Ty Dempsey in America and Captain Moshe Eldan in Israel and terrorists in Syria and America. Each has his mission, each believes that his cause and what he fights for is right and true.
As Ty follows his heart and his belief that God is prompting him to prepare His people for the fulfillment…
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Added by Holly on September 23, 2009 at 4:30pm —
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Definitely fast-paced and exciting. I read the book in an evening and didn't want to put it down. It had the right amount of suspense, the right amount of romance. Who is the sniper and which one was the actual target: Mark or Emily? It's Christian without being preachy: Mark has lost his faith, but Emily's is strong and predictably, Mark finds his again. Great conversations make a story better and I loved the banter between Mark and Emily and Mark…
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Added by Holly on September 20, 2009 at 4:30pm —
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I freely admit that I am not a television viewer. While there was a time in my life where I was up on sports and knew everything that was going on with my two favorite NFL teams, that time is not now. And, while I was aware that James Brown was a sports show analyst and commentator, I knew nothing about the man himself.
Honestly, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I thought it would simply be entertaining. I didn't expect to be…
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Added by Holly on September 16, 2009 at 5:15pm —
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The Doctor finds himself on a remote, Soviet naval base with Captain Jack and Rose, after Jack mistakenly answers a distress call. A mysterious stone circle, unexplained deaths and and unknown killer mean adventure and disaster. What is the Deviant Strain and can the Doctor and his friends discover the truth?
The story is full of chases and running and campy sort of octopus-like jelly monsters. It also includes Captain Jack, and while he's still…
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Added by Holly on September 15, 2009 at 5:00pm —
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Raised in an orphanage, abused by the matron and one of the orphanage's benefactors, Meggie believes herself to be unworthy of love. She escapes to a convent and there discovers joy in teaching. When the man who assaulted her shows up one day at the convent, Meggie flees to the west and finds a teaching position in rugged Colorado. Haunted by her past experiences, Meggie struggles to create a new life for herself, but finds love and friendship in the…
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Added by Holly on September 11, 2009 at 5:00pm —
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Adopted as a child, young Julitte Toussaint grew up in a small French village. A century-old fued between her family and the deColvilles divides their small town. As World War 1 begins, the Germans invade Briecourt and the villagers hide some refugees. When Julitte falls in love with Charles Lassone, a Belgian trapped behind the German lines, she knows that danger awaits the village if he's discovered. As the war progresses and the Germans become more…
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Added by Holly on September 10, 2009 at 5:00pm —
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Whenever you read a book you go into it with preconceived ideas. Always. Whether it be from the cover, the blurb, a review or your own experiences, you always have some sort of expectation. It's great when those expectations are met and it's disappointing when they're not.
Never the Bride is a fun novel, no doubt about it. It is laugh out loud funny in places. The premise is actually thought-provoking, rather than simply being light and fluffy.…
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Added by Holly on September 7, 2009 at 5:00pm —
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Fun. This was simply a fun book to read. I don't normally love first person narrative, but Bella is terrific. Her voice is funny and poignant. Her family is typically Italian: loud, boisterous, involved and loving. She's given the family wedding-planning business and to make it her own, decides to host themed weddings. Her first one is a down-home cowboy wedding that threatens to take on a life of its own. But, God and family prevail and Bella finds…
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Added by Holly on September 6, 2009 at 5:00pm —
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Neanderthals, a futuristic experiment that changes what it means to be human, strange monsters, and someone messing with time, all come together for a fun novel. Surprisingly, it's not completely light, as it also explores what it means to be human, especially in regards to the neanderthals as compared to the early humans. And, with the future humans, the idea of taking away normal emotions and substituting artificial ones, depending on the situation…
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Added by Holly on September 4, 2009 at 5:00pm —
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One morning, Jillian wakes up in that past life, 7 years away from her current life, husband and daughter. Armed with the chance to find out what might have happened, she takes the chance to experience life with her different perspective.
While a light, easy read, I was surprised at the depth. The exploration of how and what you would change about your life, if you could, was interesting. It wasn't just about staying with an old boyfriend: it was…
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Added by Holly on September 3, 2009 at 5:00pm —
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The story covers a period of time I love and an area of America that I am not very familiar with. I found the historical aspect fascinating: how the early settlers came into the Appalachian mountains, how they founded their settlements and fought with the Native Americans, their struggle to build homes, farm and hunt and simply survive. Yet, they found love and happiness as they worked and raised their families.
As a teenager, Lael finds herself…
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Added by Holly on September 1, 2009 at 5:00pm —
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Rose and the Doctor land in 1924 London to attend the British Empire Exhibition. As usual, they find someone in trouble and that trouble leads to aliens: this time the mysterious Painted Lady and mechanical cats and men. The TARDIS disappears, servants are murdered and a sweet little boy helps save the day.
At times you can hear the ninth doctor's voice, but at other times you wonder who this man is. The climax at the end with Big Ben was fun.…
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Added by Holly on August 29, 2009 at 5:00pm —
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Picking up where the first novel left off, we again meet The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society: a group of women get together once a month to talk about the latest book they've read for the book club and show off the latest knitting project. It sounds so good and, relatively speaking, it is. Prickly librarian Eugenie has married her youthful sweetheart, now a widowed pastor and finds herself trying to find her place in his life and church. Esther is newly…
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Added by Holly on August 28, 2009 at 5:00pm —
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