Hi! I’m here to recommend a great exercise program via the book “Walk Away the Pounds,” by Leslie Sansone. I was introduced to this program several years ago when I became a “lifetime” member of “Weight Watchers” while living in St. Louis. The move to sunny California put that program on hold and over the past few years I’ve been gaining weight again and decided to go back to Weight Watchers and Leslie Sansone. This book has a six week jump start program including a 1-mile walk DVD, which is great! She has great ideas and suggestions. Leslie has many DVD’s available with different workouts. She even has a Christian-centered one called “Walk the Walk” which uses Christian music. At my age, I have to include exercise (as much as I hate it) in order to lose weight and this is fun and upbeat. Another advantage is you exercise in your own home at your own time. This is way better for me than joining a gym - I tried to join a gym and it is too much trouble for me with my schedule to do this, but Leslie Sansone DVDs fit in perfectly with my hectic schedule. I have been doing this for five weeks, and I have lost some weight; but most of all, I feel terrific. I’m sleeping better than I have in years! I highly recommend this book and this program!

About the Book:

Meet Susan, a modern-day soccer mom who is pulled through a portal into another world, where a nation grappling for its soul waits for a promised Restorer to save their people.

Susan has always longed to do something great for God, but can she fill this role?

While she struggles to adapt to a foreign culture, she tackles an enemy that is poisoning the minds of the people, uncovers a corrupt ruling Council, and learns that God can use even her floundering attempts at service in surprising ways.

My Review: This is another book that received a tremendous amount of buzz. Admittedly, it is pretty different for Christian fiction. I saw it land on several “best of” lists for 2007, and so I was really excited to read it.

Hinck has a strong writing style and the concept of the book is fantastic. It just didn’t live up to all of the hype for me. There was one twist I really liked, but ultimately, I guess the fantasy world she created didn’t appeal to me. That doesn’t mean I wasn’t entertained while reading–I was–it just means that it wasn’t the type of fantasy for me.

If you enjoy fantasy, then I think you may enjoy this one. I still plan to read the rest of the series, but I’m not jumping to it immediately, so take that for what it’s worth. I’ll give The Restorer 8 out of 10 stars.

To read an excerpt go here.

My boss let me borrow this book and what a compelling read! This is a story of two mothers facing loss. One mom lives in a wealthy section of Santa Barbara, CA. She is married with one son. The other mom is single with two teenage children - one boy and one girl. She struggles just to make ends meet. These two women become acquainted through a common tragedy. The contrast in how these families cope with loss is a peak into human nature. In places the book even captures some typical real dialogue among “Church” women. Other themes coming out strongly in this book are love and true forgiveness. I like that it all happens as it does in real life as a process. We aren’t always at the place where we want to forgive immediately - sometimes it happens over time. I read this book in two days. It was hard to put down. I only did when I had to. This book would appeal to all ages. I highly recommend it.

Back Synopsis:  Preacher’s kid and prodigal Harriet Bisset returned to her church and her family in Franklin, Tennessee, seven years ago. Once the proud owner of two tattoos and a nose ring, Harri is now addicted to Jelly Bellys in lieu of hangovers and Bible verses in lieu of foul language. The good news is that she has everything under control: a part-time position as director of women’s ministry, a church family that adores her, a rent-free home in a senior mobile home park, and the possibility of owning the café where she waitresses. Nothing could tempt Harri to return to her old ways. Nothing but a 1298 cc, liquid-cooled, sixteen-valve, in-line four-cylinder motorcycle—and the church consultant riding it. Reformed rebel Maddox McCray’s arrival at First Grace spells C-H-A-N-G-E for the dying church. And it just might mean change for Harri when Maddox sets out to convince her that even Christians are allowed to have fun.
Review:  Inspirational or Christian Chick Lit received quite a bit of attention when it first surfaced.  I was really excited to read it, as I love chick lit and can most strongly identify with a character of faith.  Unfortunately, the vast majority of the Inspirational Chick Lit out there is simply not that good.  There are a few stand out examples, most notably Penny Culliford and Susan May Warren’s contributions, but overwhelmingly these books end up being afraid to take risks that make sense and at the worst come across as preachy.

Having said that, I had high hopes for this book.  I heard quite a bit of buzz about it and mostly good reviews.   I really love both the cover and the title.   I am sorry to say that I ended up disappointed. 

To be fair, some of my objections to this book lay in a fundamental disagreement of what God wants for His church.  But since the book revolved around a church attempting to change in order to gain congregants, and the hero was a church consultant, it was impossible to ignore.   A few times I wanted to scream because I felt they were handling things and understanding things all wrong.  And since accepting the changes and coming around to a new viewpoint was a major part of the journey for Harriet, I felt frustrated and unsatisfied by the ending.

I finished the book, and I did find some redeeming parts to it.  Overall, however, I felt this book suffered from the two problems that plague Christian chick lit…preachiness and lack of humor.  I would have liked to see a bit more character development and growth for the hero as well.

I’m sorry to post the first negative review at the Nook.  I do still plan to give Tamara Leigh’s other books a chance (I have at least one other one in my TBR pile) as long as they don’t revolve around church growth strategy!  Overall, I’m giving this book six out of ten stars.

Disagree?  Tell me why in comments!

I heard mega buzz around this book and what can I say? I’m weak! I just had to read it! I was not disappointed.

Cori decides to go on a missions trip the summer before she goes to university in order to sort out her feelings in regards to her boyfriend. Once she arrives, she finds the work physically exhausting, but she bonds with her teammates. Tragedy strikes, however, and soon Cori and her team find themselves fending for their lives in the jungles of Indonesia.

This book is great on two levels. First of all, it’s a page turner. You simply have to know what happens next so you find yourself turning page after page to follow the adventure. Secondly, it explores some pretty complex issues. It succeeds in taking you outside of yourself and encourages you to think about what is important in life all the while entertaining you. I mean, there’s even a little romance.  While this book is written from the perspective of a teenager, it’s not a YA book. 

I give this book ten out of ten stars and hope you’ll pick it up today!  All author royalties from this book go to International Justice Mission and Opportunity International.

The story begins as Maria Merryweather, orphaned at the age of 13, travels to the home of her Uncle Benjamin where she will now be living. She has never before visited and never before met Sir Benjamin, but she travels with two trusty companions who will also be staying on with her. As in all wonderful fairy tales the home turns out to be a castle, the horse is a beautiful unicorn, and the dog is a . . . but wait, you will have to read and find out for yourself!

I read this book aloud to my two oldest girls at the end of last year. It is recommended for ages 9 - 12 (though I loved it!), but my girls (then aged 4 and 6) really enjoyed the story. We laughed, held our breath in suspense, and just smiled at the pure loveliness of the tale. Elizabeth Goudge is a master at descriptions; the language is beautiful. The town in which they live is called Silverydew and everything is perfectly lovely. But yet there is something wrong. It is up to Maria to discover what it is (”an old man whispered . . . ‘Be you the one, my dear?’ And an old woman whispered: ‘Keep a stout heart, dearie, for maybe ’twill be you.’ “). In the meantime, Maria has wonderful adventures, falls in love, and learns about character.

I recommend this book as a read-aloud book. It is a story to be shared. My girls and I loved it - in fact, after we read it together my oldest daughter went on to read it a couple more times on her own. We have our favorite parts and it is fun to refer back to them together. I can’t wait to read more Elizabeth Goudge books!

If you enjoy sappy, happy-ending reading you will LOVE the Baxter series. I have now finished my third book in the third series about a close-knit family. The book, titled “Someday” does not disappoint. There is enough drama, romance, and drama to keep you interested for the easy-read , 323 page novel.

All our favorites return to Bloomington. Each sister, brother, in-law, and good friend has a story line - although some more involved than others. I’ve learned a lot about actors and the paparazzi from these books.

Karen Kingsbury does a good job making you engage with her characters. You will cry along with all the drama and feel good as well.

Karen wrote this book in the midst of her father dying. When you read it, please don’t forget to read the beginning - before the story begins. Read her dedication pages.

Kingsbury’s books are for all ages. I keep telling my daughters I have outgrown them, but when a new one comes out I immediately order it. They are addicting, especially the Baxter books. Happy reading - don’t miss these!