Splitting Harriet

Splitting Harriet
By Tamara Leigh

About the book:
Once upon a time, I was a rebel. And I have the tattoo to prove it.

Then there was the spiked hair–the shade of which changed monthly–“colorful” language that can’t be found in your everyday sixteen-count crayon box, a pack-a-day habit, less-than-modest wardrobe, and an obsession with guitar-trashing, drum-bashing music.

Did I mention I’m also a preacher’s kid? That’s right. And like the prodigal son after whom I modeled myself, I finally saw the error of my ways and returned to the fold.

Today my life is all about “lead me not into temptation.” When I’m not serving as Women’s Ministry Director at my father’s church, I’m working at Gloria’s Morning Café. I even have worthy goals, like saving enough money to buy the café, keep my Jelly Belly habit under control, and to never again hurt the people I love. No more parties. No more unsavory activities. And no more motorcycles! You’d think I was finally on the right track.

But since my dad’s replacement hired a hotshot church consultant to revive our “dying” church, things aren’t working out as planned. And now this “consultant” says I’m in need of a little reviving myself. Just who does this Maddox McCray think he is anyway? With his curly hair that could use a good clipping, tattoo that he makes no attempt to hide, and black leather pants, the man is downright dangerous. In fact, all that’s missing is a motorcycle. Or so I thought… But if he thinks he’s going to take me for a ride on that 1298cc machine of his, he can think again. Harriet Bisset is a reformed woman, and she’s going to stay that way. Even if it kills me!(less)

My thoughts:

" Splitting Harriet" is a lot of fun to read. I love have Tamara Leigh continues her witty voice from Perfecting Kate.

Harriet grew up a preachers kid and then went off on her own. Know she has returned to her faith and is working in her fathers former church. A the director of Woman's ministry she is trying to make sure the church isn't changing too much. Yes, Harriet wants to make sure the church doesn't become too contemporary!

However, the rest of the church doesn't see it her way and decides to hire a consultants to change things up. Maddox McCray shows up and everything becomes awkward, he has the nerve to tell Harriet that she needs to change.

My favorite part of this whole book was the quirky sense of humor while presenting a convicting message.

*I received this book free for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers*

Rating: 5 carats

Ring of Secrets

Ring of Secrets
By Roseanna M. White

About the book:
1779—Winter Reeves is an aristocratic American Patriot forced to hide her heart amid the British Loyalists of the city of New York. She has learned to keep her ears open so she can pass information on British movements to Robbie Townsend, her childhood friend, and his spy ring. If she’s caught, she will be executed for espionage, but she prays the Lord’s protection will sustain her, and Robbie has taught her the tools of the trade—the wonders of invisible ink, secret drop locations and, most importantly, a good cover.
Bennet Lane returns to New York from his Yale professorship with one goal: to find General Washington’s spy hidden among the ranks of the city’s elite. Searching for a wife was supposed to be nothing more than a convenient cover story for his mission, but when he meets Winter, with her too-intelligent eyes in her too-blank face, he finds a mystery that can’t be ignored.
Both are determined to prevail at any cost…and each is committed to a separate cause. Will God lead them to a shared destiny or lives lived apart?

My thoughts:
Roseanna White really knows how to make history come alive. " Ring of Secrets" is a jam-packed, fast paced, spy novel. I don't know if I've ever read a book like it.

Winter, keeps her true personality secret. She acts unintelligent so people will tell her things. As she appears harmless she wins the affection of two opposite men and must decide which and which side she's on.

Throughout the book I was never quite sure what Winter would do. "Ring of Secrets"has a smart, tangled plot filled with romance, history, and suspense.

*I received this book free for review from Harvest House Publishers*

Rating: 5 carats

Victim of Grace

Victim of Grace
By Robin Jones Gunn

About the book:
Robin Jones Gunn reveals poignant truths from her life as well as from the lives of women in the Bible as she flips the notion that we are at the mercy of circumstances. She asks, what if God has dreams for you? What if he is accomplishing those dreams in the midst of shattered hopes? When life doesn't go as expected, it's easy to feel like a victim. We look at the events that have gone wrong and view our lives as impaired. What if we could see our future as God sees it? Would our view radically change if we understood we are indeed victims rather than of happenstance? God, the Relentless Lover, has vigorously sought you. He has instilled dreams in your heart that are grander than you can imagine. But the route to their fulfillment often is through a path you wouldn't seek. What if God wants to take the hopes that tug at your heart and enliven them? Are you ready to live inside the mysterious joy of being a victim of grace?

My thoughts:
Wow! Is all I can really say. I wanted to read "Victim of Grace" because I love Robin Jones Gunn's books. I love the warmth her books wrap me in so ofcourse I wanted to read about her own life. I thought it would be the same as her books.

Boy, was I surprised. I never expected to find she struggled with so much, especially when it came to writing. I thought writing poured out. I thought she writes romance so that's what her life would be, romantic. I learned Robin is no different than the rest of us in struggling to find her way in her career, facing health problems, and finding contentment in the life God has given her.

Each chapter talks about a struggle Robin has had an parallels it with a woman from the Bible that she learned from and drew comfort from through that time. I loved it, she really brought Bible stories to life showing that we aren't no different than woman back then.

Even though I was surprised as I got into the book Im more inspired and admire Robin even more after reading "Victim of Grace"

*i received this book free for review from Zondervan Publishers through netgalley.com*

Rating: a whole gem parcel!

Swimming Through Clouds

Swimming Through Clouds
By Rajdeep Paulus

About the book:
I live in the in between. Between what if and what is. It’s how I manage. It’s the only way I know. Everyone has their way. This is mine.
When high school cell phone disruption forces a classroom ban, the words on a Post-it note spark a sticky romance between two unlikely friends. Transfer student Talia Vanderbilt has one goal at her new school: to blend in with the walls. Lagan Desai, basketball captain and mathlete, would do just about anything to befriend the new girl. One Post-it note at a time, Lagan persuades Talia to peel back her heart, slowly revealing her treasure chest of pain—an absent mother, a bedridden brother, and an abusive father. In a world where hurt is inevitable, the two teens search for a safe place to weather the storms of life. Together.

My thoughts:
"Swimming through the clouds" is vivid and captivating. A lot of it is heavy and evoked so much sympathy for the main characters yet funny, bright, and sweet. Its a book I couldn't put down. Talia, Jesse, and Lagan afe compelled to move forward and it compelled me to keep reading through it all.

Talia is filled with strength abd courage. From the beginning I just wanted her to open up to Lagan. Lagan is determined and I'm so glad he stuck to pursuing Talia showing what it's like to be a true friend, even if the only way was through sticky notes.

The ending left me wondering and waiting for the rest of the story.

"Swimming Through Clouds" is an awesome debut novel and I can't wait for the next one from Rajdeep Paulus.

Perfect Glass

Perfect Glass
By Laura Anderson Kurk
About the book:
I couldn’t stop crying because it was so intimate, in that way I always thought being physical with him would feel. If someone had walked in they might have thought Henry was barely touching me. I knew the truth of it–
Things get messy when Meg Kavanagh gets involved—first with Jo Russell, the eccentric old artist, and then with Quinn O’Neill, the intriguing loner who can’t hide how he feels about Meg. Her senior year isn’t turning out like she planned, but sometimes the best parts of life happen in the in-between moments.
He commits to one year in an orphanage that needs him more than he ever dreamed. Thousands of miles from Meg and the new punk who has fallen for her, and absent from the ranch that’s in his blood, Henry Whitmire finds out what it means to trust. When you’re so far from home, it’s terrifying to realize you’re not who you thought.
But the perfect glass of calamity makes the best mirror.

My thoughts:
After reading "Perfect Glass" I feel much the same as I did after I read the first book "Glass Girl." Wow, how does she do it?

Meg is the kind of friend you want to have. She's deep and thoughtful and not hung up on trivial things. Henry is full of sweetness and wears his emotions on his sleeve.

Laura Anderson Kurk has a way of drawing you into your world like you are part of it. This series is a must read!

It's Over

It's Over
By Laura L Smith

About the book:

How do you move on when It's Over? When four college roommates lose pieces of their lives, the pain isolates and the tension rises. Emotions are hard to hide and even harder to tackle. How can the girls move forward, when there is so much pain in letting go? Together, Claire, Kat, Palmer and Hannah learn to lean on God and each other, and through it all they learn loss is a part of life. BOOK TWO IN THE STATUS UPDATES SERIES

My thoughts:
"It's Over" continues the story of the four girls from "It's Complicated". Its Over again brings as four stories from four different perspectives and walks of life showing how we can come together and lean on friends.



Character Connection:
Hannah is always baking and has a knack for chocolate chip cookies! You can too with this recipe.
http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/18476/Original-NESTLÉ-TOLL-HOUSE-Chocolate-Chip-Cookies/detail.aspx

Joni & Ken

Joni & Ken
By Ken & Joni Tada
About the book:
This is the true love story of Joni and her husband of 30 years, Ken Tada. A love story showing what it truly means for a man and a woman to live in love … in sickness and in health.
Even the honeymoon wasn’t easy. Did Ken realize what he was getting into when he proposed to Joni, a quadriplegic woman? As their marriage years moved on, Ken became increasingly overwhelmed by the never-ceasing demands of caring for Joni, who begins to experience chronic, extreme, nightmarish pain. Ken sinks into depression, and the couple finds themselves on parallel tracks in life, married and living under the same roof but drifting apart emotionally.
But as they fight for their marriage and find their way through the mazes of depression and pain, they wrap their two lives around their rock-- Jesus.
During Ken’s denial of Joni’s diagnosis, and Joni’s thoughts of how wonderful a quick exit to heaven would be, they experience a personal visitation with the savior you will never forget.

My thoughts:
Most of us are familiar with the story of Joni Eareckson Tada, her diving accident, and how she started Joni and Friends (if you aren't, it's worth checking out!) but we don't know much about her and her husband. how they met and got married, what their life is was and is like, and how her quadriplegia has affected both of them. This book gives a glimpse into the story explains what God has taught them all these years and encouraging other to follow The Lord no matter how bleak your circumstances appear.

This was a really good book that at times was sad to read but filled with God's goodness.

*i received this book free for review from Zondervan Publishers through Book Sneeze*

Favorite Quote:
"A miracle is better than a fairytale."
Rating: 5 carats