A Perfect Square - Book Review

Description

"There's more to the quaint northern Indiana town of Shipshewana than handcrafted quilts, Amish-made furniture, immaculate farms and close-knit families. When a dead girl is found floating in a local pond, murder is also afoot. And Reuben, brother of Deborah's best friend's fiancé, is in jail as the suspect!

Reuben refuses to divulge any information, even to clear himself of a crime Deborah is certain he didn't commit. So, with her English friend Callie—fellow sleuth and owner of Daisy's Quilt Shop—Deborah sets out to uncover the truth. But the mystery deepens when an elderly man seeks Callie's help in finding his long-lost daughter, missing since the days of the 1965 Palm Sunday Tornadoes.

An old man who has lost his past. A young man who may lose his future. Once again Deborah and Callie find themselves trying to piece together a crazy quilt of lives and events—one that can bring unexpected touches of God's grace and resolve the tragedy that has shaken this quiet Amish community."

This second book of A Shipshewana Amish Mystery series.

My Thoughts

First off, I really enjoyed the characters; they were original and not superficial. That being said, it was rather confusing for me to follow the perspectives of so many characters. First I was reading what Esther was feeling and then the perspective would switch to Callie's. Personally, I would have liked to hear more from Callie's perspective. I thought her character was the most interesting. This is a mystery, but it is not your usual "who done it?" mystery. It was rather a "what exactly happened?" story. I thought the beginning was lacking the necessary suspense, but the ending picked up the suspense and was more exciting. I really appreciated how the author addressed questions like "Why is God letting this happen?" and "Can God bring good out of this evil?" This is a great mystery for a rainy day, when you want something "cozy" to read!

Ages: 16+

Stars: 3.5/5

*Thanks to edelweiss and Zondervan for the advanced review copy. I was not required to write a positive review.*

A Perfect Square by Vannetta Chapman
On Sale Date: March 31, 2012
ISBN: 0310330440
Zondervan
Series: A Shipshewana Amish Mystery

Sugar Free Saturday ~ Energy Bites

These are super fast and easy to make and taste great!

Ingredients

1 c. oats
1/2 c. natural peanut butter
1/3 c. honey
1 c. coconut flakes
1/2 c. ground flax seed (can be found at your local grocery store, health food store, or coop)
1/2 c. sugar free chocolate chips
1 t. vanilla


Directions

1. Stir all of the ingredients in a bowl.

2. Chill for a half hour in the fridge.

3. Roll into tablespoon sized balls. Place on a baking sheet and freeze for about 4 hours.

4. Remove energy bites from baking sheet and place in baggies or airtight container. Can be kept in the refrigerator for a week or store in the freezer.

Keep holding on...

Review of The Merchant's Daughter

Ever since I read The Healer's Apprentice, I have been looking forward to Melanie Dickerson's latest installment. The Merchant's Daughter was just what I hoped for!

Trying to escape a forced marriage to the local bailiff and the scandal of her family's debt, Annabel offers herself as a servant to Lord Ranulf, who is rumored to be ill-tempered and beastly. Believing that God wants her to be a nun, she tries to find a way to a nunnery, but maybe God does not want her to be a nun. I loved the way this book focused on the importance of inner beauty. Annabel is sweet and compassionate in her interactions with everyone she comes in contact with. Annabel's desire to read the Bible for herself is also very touching; I was inspired to see if I wanted to read God's Word as much as I should. I thought it was very interesting to see Ranulf's back story and how he became the man he was. I honestly had a hard time putting this book down; this is a real page turner!


This retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast fairytale is a wholesome read for teen girls!

4/5 stars

ages 14+

A Favorite Quote

Source: infelice.tumblr.com via Reachel on Pinterest

The Final Summit

At first glance, David Ponder appears to be your average, aging businessman, who is just trying to cope after the death of his beloved wife. However, he is enormously successful due to the Seven Truths he discovered while traveling through time. One day, as he is grieving in his office, Gabriel calls upon him and transports him to a council of all the other time travelers to discover how to save the fate of mankind. Thus, the stage is set for The Final Summit by Andy Andrews.

This book was not only a total waste of my time, but was also biblically unsound. I had to force myself to continue with the book so I could write this review. First, I will tell the good points of the story. I have to admit that traveling through time to meet famous historical people is an excellent plot story. Also, I learned some interesting historical facts.

However, the cons far outweighed the good in the story. It is preposterous for mankind to improve itself through a council that does not acknowledge God and if they ignore the fact that man is incapable of improving themselves and are innately sinful. This book contains an offensive view of God. In The Final Summit, God is simple mentioned as “the Boss” who is sitting somewhere upstairs and has basically let humanity run its course. God’s name was used flippantly on several occasions and some of the characters used some curse words.

I feel the need to point out that David did not kill the lion, bear, and Goliath as a result of his self-discipline; it was because God empowered him and gave him the strength. David’s sin with Bathsheba was not a primarily a lack of self-discipline, but was a result of him giving into sin and temptation.
In the end of the book, the solution to bring mankind back to the path of a successful civilization was “do something.” Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do to right the wrong of mankind. Thankfully, God did something. Salvation through His Son is the only way that people can truly change the course of mankind’s history.

I hate to give a negative review for a book, but all in all, I would definitely not recommend this book to anyone and am sorry I read it due to the issues I discussed above.

1/5 stars

adults

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.”

The Fourth Fisherman

The Fourth Fisherman by Joe Kissack is the painfully honest and touching account of one man’s journey to God intertwined with the miraculous story of three fishermen who survived over nine months stranded at sea, with no food or water and only a Bible to encourage them.

Joe Kissack’s story is raw and emotional as he recounts his childhood and the rejection of his father, his rise in the terms of money, fall through alcohol, drugs, and depression, and the joy that came through his acceptance of Jesus Christ. The fishermen’s tale is somewhat graphic and left me a little sick as it describes how two of the other men died and the measures they took to survive.
The story does lag at some parts and in other parts it is choppy hard to comprehend what is going on. Kissack writes in a very conversational style that is honest, but at a few points it left me going “huh?” All in all, the story impresses upon the reader with the greatness of God’s grace and that God still performs miracles today.

4/5 stars

15+

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group as part of their Blogging for Books 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.”

Another Great Book from Robin Jones Gunn with Tricia Goyer

Since I have read some of the Christy and Sierra books by Robin Jones Gunn, I decided to read Praying for Your Future Husband by Tricia Goyer and Robin Jones Gunn. I was definitely not disappointed! What first appealed to mean was the beautiful layout and pretty decorations inside the book. Both of the authors frankly tell their stories of how God prepared them for their future husbands. The book is written in a conversational style and is upbeat. Each chapter is about a particular area to pray for and has sample prayers and a place to journal. I would highly recommend this book for any girl who is wondering about who she will marry and wondering if the next guy she meets might be "the one." This book has been a great encouragement to me and I am sure it will be for others as well.

5/5 stars

13+

I received this book through WaterBrook Multnomah's Blogging for Books program in exchange for my honest review. (Note: a favorable review was not required for participation.)

No Wonder They Call Him the Savior by Max Lucado is a wonderful book. This book explores the death and resurrection and brings the events to life for the reader. Max Lucado writes in a way that is fresh and enables the readers to feel like they are really living in the time of Christ. The book is divided into three parts on the cross: Its words, Its witnesses, and Its Wisdom. Oftentimes, we as Christians become complacent and fail to recognize the wonder and awe-inspiring love of Jesus’ death on the cross. I love Max Lucado’s writing style; it is very conversational and you feel as if you are having coffee with him. No Wonder They Call Him the Savior is filled with encouragement and hope from the gospel. I really enjoyed reading this book for my devotions each morning. This is definitely a book to read if you are feeling unloved, as it will remind you just how much Jesus loves you. There is also a helpful discussion guide in the back, perfect for Sunday school or a Bible Study. My one complaint with the book is that I wished there were more Scripture verses in it. There are some, but I would like a little more. All in all, it was definitely worth the read.

5/5 stars

all ages

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.”

Billy Graham in Quotes

My great-grandmother always loved Billy Graham, so when I saw Billy Graham in Quotes become available for reviewing, I was eager to read about the works of Billy Graham. I was not disappointed. Billy Graham's son, Franklin Graham said, "My father has always prayed that his words would reflect God's standard of truth as the basis to claim, 'I have given them Your word' (John 17:14). In this book, I believe you will see that he has faithfully spoken God's Word that quenches the thirst of those seeking to draw from the wellsprings of Life. It is highly meaningful to see these statements now collected in one volume." The book is conveniently divided alphabetically into categories, such as, Forgiveness, Sin, Heaven, and Angels. I was blessed reading through the plethora of quotes from the sermons, life, and books of Billy Graham. The quotes are biblically sound and a great resource for students, pastors, or parents. When I was fearful lately, I picked up this book and began to read under the “Anxiety” section. I was comforted by the truth in this book. I continually remember one quote in particular: “No situation is beyond God’s control. Over my wife’s desk are these words: ‘Fear not the future; God is already there.’”

5/5

all ages

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.”

Meet Sierra Jensen

In this first spinoff volume from the Christy Miller series, Robin Jones Gunn introduces to Sierra Jensen. Sierra is fun, original, and compassionate. I found Sierra easier to relate to than Christy and her character is deeper and more complex. This volume includes three stories: Only You Sierra, In Your Dreams, and Don't You Wish. Sierra and Paul's witty and quick comments to each other had me laughing. The entire Jensen family is lovable. Teens will be able to relate to Sierra's troubles like moving to a new school, trying to fit in, and how to relate to guys. Gunn provides a Christian perspective throughout the book.

4/5 stars

12+

I received this book through WaterBrook Multnomah's Blogging for Books program in exchange for my honest review. (Note: a favorable review was not required for participation.)

Sir Rowan - Not as good as previous Knights of Arrethtrae books

I love allegorical fantasy. When I heard about Chuck Black's Knight of Arrethtrae series, I was excited to read the books. I loved the first four books; however this last book in the series was a disappointment for me. I enjoyed how various sins, rebellion, doubt, and escapism, were handled previously. The theme of Sir Rowan and the Camerian Knights was supposed to be dealing with pride. In my opinion, pride was not sufficiently dealt with and was lacking the depth of the previous books.

Also, I did not enjoy how Black wrote such a literal allegory of end times.

3/5 stars

ages 12+

Other than that Black's writing style is very enjoyable. Children and Teens will enjoy this final exciting tale of the Knights of Arrethtrae.

I received this book through WaterBrook Multnomah's Blogging for Books program in exchange for my honest review. (Note: a favorable review was not required for participation.)

Such a Sweet Book

Eat Your Peas for Mom by Cheryl Karpen and illustrated by Sandy Fougner is a gift book filled with colorful pastel drawings and sweet saying that say everything you wanted to say to Mom, but didn't know how to put into words. Although the book only takes three minutes to read, it is a wonderful way to thank your mom. I read this book with my mom and smiled through the entire book. Nearly all of the sayings were very applicable to our relationship. The illustrations were winsome and pretty and the font perfectly matches the tone of the book. The verse in the front of the book summed the message of the book perfectly: "Her children rise up and call her blessed..." (Proverbs 31:28). I would heartily recommend this book to anyone looking for the perfect Mother's Day gift. I plan to put this book on the coffee table where my mom can read anytime she forgets how much I love her!

5/5 stars

audience - moms everywhere


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.”

Not the Usual Dating Book

Normally wary of relationship books, I decided to give I Kissed Dating Goodbye a chance and was pleasantly surprised. Frankly discussing his past mistakes and experiences, the twenty one year old author, Joshua Harris, doesn't give a list of rules, but gives readers a biblical perspective on relationships. I appreciated the numerous Scripture references. This book is a quick and easy read, but the message sticks. I still find myself remembering passages from the book.

4/5 stars

ages 15+
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.  I was not required to give a positive review. 

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Hi there and thanks for stopping in to my little "book nook!"  I absolutely love reading good stories and hope to recommend some great reads to you!