The Copy: A Suspense Legal Thriller Novella Review

As many of you know, I am an avid reader. So when I was given the opportunity to read The Copy by Grant Boshoff, I said yes. I have not read anything by him before. The premise of the book is very intriguing.

The story is about a geneticist who is trying to retain the life he knows. He believes the solution is to clone himself. He soon realizes that cloning is not the solution and has only made things worse.


I enjoyed reading #TheCopy very much. The story was well written and thrilling. From the first page, I became engrossed in the story and couldn't put it down.


The Copy is available for Kindle (or you can get the printed version if preferred). This book is worth the price. I give it 5 stars.

I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review. 

Mine Is the Night - A Novel Book Review

Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs is a exciting interpretation of the biblical story of Ruth. Higgs is best known for her series, Bad Girls of the Bible. Although Mine is the Night is the sequel to her 2010 novel Here Burns My Candle, it is an easy to read book by itself.

Ruth's story is reflected in the main character, Elizabeth Kerr. She is recently widowed and chooses to embrace Christianity and because of that chooses to stay with her mother-in-law - Marjory Kerr. Like the Biblical story, these two begin with nothing but faith. The story takes place in Scotland and they are labeled as Jacobite traitors.

This book is a marvelous read. It has action, history, and of course romance. It gives you enough info to truly enjoy the story without making it seem like a required reading for history class.I couldn't put it down.

I loved this book. This was my first book by Liz Curtis Higgs,but guarantee it will not be my last. I give this book five Stars!!

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
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All About Me

Good Morning and Happy April 1, 2011. And to all you little jokesters out there...be nice as you celebrate April Fool's Day!

Wish me luck! I am embarking on a challenge. It is the April A-Z Blogging Challenge. It is a challenge to post everyday with a different letter of the alphabet serving as the inspiration. Some of these letters are going to be tough! It's not to late to join! There are over 1000 Bloggers signed up. If you are looking for a new blog to follow, there is something here for everyone. Check out the button on the right!

I decided A was going to be ALL about me! I am also incorporating a book review in it as well because it was my inspiration. How many of us have succeeded in our new year's resolutions? You all have!?! Let's be honest. I haven't and I am pretty sure I'm not alone. I figure what better day to fool myself than April Fool's day. So I can shoot for the stars and blame it on being foolish.
So what is ALL me. I am really striving to be a better me! I am eating better (gotta lose some weight), starting an exercise routine, making better relation ships, and knowing myself better.

I received a book that inspired me to get in touch with me. It is Journey To You: A Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming Who You Were Born to Be, by Steve Olsher. The book is phenomenal. I usually don't buy self-help books and if I get one it generally sits on the bookshelf under anything so I don't have to read. This book is so different because it is so personal. There are some difficult challenges to follow. It makes you look at who you really are and not someone else's version. I just read the book, but I am going back to actually do the exercises.

As it would happen, Washington, D.C. has officially announced that Steve Olsher,author of USA Book News' 2010 "Self-Help Book of the Year,"
Journey To You: A Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming Who You Were Born to Be,has been appointed to the position of Director of the newly-created Department of Hope & Inspiration.

"We need a man like Steve Olsher at the helm of the government's initiative to
revitalize our people and leverage the strength of America's human capital to propel
our wonderful country back to the forefront of the world's stage," said President Obama.
If you get the chance, read it! You will be glad you did!
And now my challenge to you... Go out and discover who YOU ARE! You will thank yourself.

21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart

As I have mentioned before, the big 5-0 is approaching. And as many can agree, we gain those few (or many) extra pounds that don't go away. I am here to tell ya, I am no exception. At the start of the year, because my depression over my sister's death, instead of 30 pounds, I needed to lose 40 pounds. I could stand to lose more, but let's keep it real. With a 40 pound loss, I would be considerably healthier.
Yes, I am big boned and yes, I can carry my weight well. But who are we kidding, I need to lose weight. I am not big on diets. And less on exercise. But I know 2 truths are constant in losing the extra pounds. EAT LESS and MOVE MORE! That is the only sure way to lose those love handles. Or is it??

I received the book 21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart by Neil D. Barnard, M.D. And like every person who has to lie flat on the bed to zip their pants, I saw the brass ring...21 -DAY! My first thought was what is this gimmick? A cleanse, a starvation,or the magical .com site that sends you their magical dietary cardboard. But this book wasn't any of those.

We have all heard the magic word - metabolism. Surprise, it's not low...you are probably starving it. This book goes into the types of foods we should be eating to become healthier. It does not focus on calories or exercise. But doesn't that go against what I thought were the weight loss rules. This book basically revolves around a vegan diet.

Stop the BBQ! I am a meat and potato girl from Montana. We eat meat! But in order to give this book a fair review, I thought I'll give it a try. In 1 week I lost 10 pounds. Did I follow the diet and recipes exactly? No. Did I exercise? No. I can hardly believe it! I did try to cut out all animal products, but remember the MT girl? I couldn't go cold turkey. (No pun intended)I ate very little meat and I am pleased with the results. I have used the advise of the book and have used fiber to feel full. And substituted the animal products with healthier protein choices.

I have tried so many new foods in the past week. Soy yogurt has so much more flavor but it is a sharp contrast to regular yogurt. So stick with it. Almond milk is really very good. Now almond cheese on the other hand keeps me longing for our wonderful Tillamook cheese. But in small quantities,grated on whatever legumes I tried that day, it works quite well. In all honesty, I said that I didn't exercise, but I did have more energy and did walk more.


Overall, it is still a matter of willpower to shed those extra pounds. But this book gives you the proverbial 'food for thought', without the prerequisite of a degree in nutritional science. My goal is to embrace 21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart as of April 1st. I will keep you posted. Looking forward to a leaner me!
Category:HEALTH & FITNESS
Format:HARDCOVER BOOK
Publish Date:2/28/2011
Price:$25.99/$28.99
ISBN:9780446583817
Pages:368
Size:6" x 9"
I received this book from The Hachette Book Group for my honest review.

One To Grow On! Kids Audio Stories Review

One To Grow On! audio stories for kids by Trenna Daniells are absolutely charming cd sets that every parent should have. Grandparents too! Your child will want them all.

My children are grown with kids of their own. And I have the pleasure of being able to spend a considerable amount of time with them. I know how important reading is to children. But I am human and sometimes it is easier to let them watch that cartoon on tv or let them play 1 more video game when you're trying to get dinner on or any other necessary task. But with these cd's, we as parents can stop beating ourselves up.

There are 4 sets in the One To Grow On series. The series is color coded, which enables proper storage if you own more than 1 set. Each set consists of 4 stories on 2 cd's. Each set/color teaches a fundamental value, from exploring change to acceptance and how to be better people. The stories are told so that children find them fun and intriguing. Learning valuable lessons can be fun and Trenna Daniells does this with these stories.

My 4 year old grand daughter loves the stories. Her mom put one of the cd's in on a recent drive. Mom wasn't sure that Alexis was really getting anything out of the story. But she was shocked. Alexis was able to recite what was happening in the story. Kids love to listen to the stories. She wanted 'Mawka' to hurry up with them so she could have her stories back.

As well as offering the highest recommendation for these One To Grow On stories, this review is to let Alexis hear her stories again. Check here to listen. You'll be glad you did.

The Chasm Book Review

The Chasm - A Journey to the Edge of Life by Randy Alcorn was not what I expected. Or rather not what I expected from Randy Alcorn.

The story is a timeless tale of our physical life's journey toward our spiritual everlasting life in heaven. Although I completely enjoyed the the imagery of the tale and the unique perspective of good verses evil and choosing the right path, I was expecting a suspenseful and a considerably more complex story.

The story is of Nick Seagrave beginning his journey toward “the distant shining city”, Charis. In order to get there, he needs to find the way across a huge chasm that lies between him and the city. He travels with Shadrach, a classic take on hard work and difficult path until he meets Joshua. Joshua offers the "easy" road. And Nick's struggle begins.

The book is enjoyable. I believe it will be enjoyed more by the new follower of Alcorn's writing. I think those who have read several of Alcorn's books might feel let down. The Chasm is a fresh approach to taking the right path.

I received the book, The Chasm, free for review from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

A Conversation with God for Women Book Review

"If you could ask God any question, what would it be?" The book A Conversation with God for Women written by Marcia Ford answers that question. The author puts you in a round table conversation to ask God, as well as the input of several influential women of the bible, 55 questions that are relative to our spiritual and physical lives.

The single thing that I enjoyed most about this book, was that it was non-denominational. I grew up Catholic...12 years of Catholic school. At times, you feel like you are doing what you do out of habit and not with a real purpose. I believe your spiritual life should have a purpose. The book helps to make that point. Marcia Ford asks the questions that are relative to women in our daily lives. Not just questions about the bible and prayer, but of relationships and families and forgiveness.

I believe that this is a book for everyone. Those strong in faith can benefit by the book. To reaffirm your faith and beliefs is always a good thing. Those who feel like they are in spiritual limbo will benefit as well. In the book, God is very clear that your relationship with him is between you and him. For those who are searching, this is definitely a book to read. It covers the basics principles that seem to be the first thing to scare people off like church and prayer. And does it in such a way that you feel you want God in your life.

A Conversation with God for Women is a well written dialogue between you and your best friend. The note section at the end of the book offers scripture to enhance each question. I believe this book would make a wonderful reference guide for any women's group. I give this book 5 stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

God Gave Us So Much Book Review

I received the book, God Gave Us So Much, free for review from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group. The book is from Lisa Tawn Bergren. This book is actually a limited-edition three-book treasury. The three stories included are God Gave Us The World (which I have previously reviewed), God Gave Us Love, and God Gave Us Heaven. Lisa again uses a polar bear family as the center of her stories.

Once again, the illustrations are by Laura J. Bryant. Her artistic recreation of the stories are bright and colorful. Young children find the pictures entertaining.

The second story, God Gave Us Love, the story is told by the grandpa bear. He shows the polar cub how big God's love is. It touches on the different types of love, and how they are all important. I was amused at how the love between a mama and papa was portrayed. Exactly the way child would perceive their parents' love. But ultimately, how big God's love is.

The third story, God Gave Us Heaven, the papa is teaching the polar cub the lesson. This story was a little more difficult for me to read because of my sister's recent death. But the reaction of my grand daughter when I explained why I had tears, "it's ok...you will see her again" made me realize that kids get what Lisa is saying. The story touches on death, heaven, and eternity without putting a fear in children.

There are 3 more stories in the series. I give this book 5 stars. I would encourage you to pick at least one of Lisa Tawn Bergren's books to read to your child.

Please be sure to rank my review below. Thank you.

Couples Who Pray Book Review

I just finished reading COUPLES WHO PRAY: The Most Intimate Act Between A Man and A Woman by SQuire Rushnell and Louise Duart. It is a book about how praying together as a couple can improve and strengthen your relationship.

I was a bit disappointed with the content. As a reader, I was expecting a guidebook. When you see *includes the 40 day prayer challenge*, you expect a lesson plan of sorts.

What I got was a who's who accounting of couples who believe that their marriages were saved through praying together. Most of the couples mentioned in the book are high profile public figures. I personally would have loved to hear the story of Jack and Jane down the street or of Joe, who is deployed and left Mary stateside. These are the people whose stories would be more relatable. The stories shared in chapter 2 felt more like a polished gossip magazine article.

This is not to say the book is bad. The book is easy to follow. But I am afraid that the celebrity references keep your interest more than the actual topic. It does have some thoughtful instruction. I found the appendixes at the the end were the most beneficial. The first one is a his and her questionnaire. It gives you a starting point in your spiritual relationship. The second one, I can only ponder, is what qualifies as the "challenge". It does offer good topics for prayer...for any thought provoking conversation with your partner. I would give this book 2 stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

God Gave Us the World Book Review

I received the book, God Gave Us the World, free for review from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group. The book is from Lisa Tawn Bergren She writes of a polar bear cub who is learning that God has created everything. The mama bear shows her cub that God has created all living things with a purpose. The cub learns a valuable lesson on creation and diversity.

The art by Laura J. Bryant is wonderfully entertaining. The art work depicts the story beautifully and in a way that draws the child into the story.

I would reccommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading to a child. The story of creation is told in a thoughful manner and to the point of children wanting to ask questions, but questions that we as their elders feel confident in answering.

I am looking forward to reading the other books in this series as I am sure so will my grandchildren.

A New Month

Hi all,
January came and went like the wind. Still trying to adjust to the major loss of my sister. Everyday gets a little better, but then there is always a song lingering, waiting to punch me in the gut. So here goes February...

I have received my new book to review. It is a children's book, so I am waiting to read it to one of the grandkids. It looks like an enjoyable book.

I have already started my Christmas gifts. I found a great deal on unfinished doll furniture for my grand daughters. So I am going to paint and embellish them for the girls. If I get really energetic, I will actually make a dollhouse...yeah right!

This is the dollhouse furniture!

I am organizing a bunch of pictures that I took over the last month. I will post some of them here at a later date. I have purchased an At Home Studio package to enhance my photography interest. My poor grandkids are going to be my test models. We'll see how that turns out!

Wish me luck!! I am kind of embarrassed by the weight I have gained over the last 15 years. So before I hit 50, I want to take some of it off. New year, new me kinda thing. So I am taking baby steps. Start every day with breakfast! I could go for lots of things, but think I will stay with good old fashioned oatmeal. Thank God I love it. And it is good for me. I start something else tomorrow...maybe exercising! :o)

My biggest project to date is organizing our family reunion. I expect it to be a large affair. Everyday I find a new contact. Now comes the time for the nit picky details in order to pull this off. I am so excited to meet all of these new people that I call family and friends.

Hope you all have a great February 2011!

Blooging for Books Review

As I mentioned earlier, I signed up for a group called Blogging for Books. I signed up, chose a book, and was pleasantly suprised when the book actually arrived. The book is The Miracle of Mercy Land by River Jordan. I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. Now mind you, I received the book the day I my sister died. So I kinda had a few things on my plate and delayed reading. I finally started to read the book on the flight home and quite honestly couldn't put it down.
The book is an examination of the choices we make and what the choices mean to thosse around us. The heroine of the story recieves a book that when she opens it, shows her the choices made by the people of her town. It shows that the choices lead you down roads in your life that could have been altered by a single decision. It also reveals how choices effect those around us.
I really enjoyed the book. There were times I believe the story was harried and details not cleary defined, but overall didn't throw the storyoff. This book gives a good positive message. I believe that it would also be enjoyable and easy to read for young adults.
I can't wait for my next book!