Book Review: A Forest of Doors

An Orphan's Quest:  A young child, orphaned by addiction and isolated from her
siblings, dreams of reuniting her family after decades of seperation.  She begins
a quest and gains more than she ever dreamed possible along the way.
A Forest of Doors is a powerful true story of loss, love, spirituality, coping
and redemption.

My Review:  A Forest of Doors is a riveting book about life gone wrong, 
and finding redemption.  This is a quick, quiet read - no bells and whistles
but the message is loud and clear at the same time.
This book deals with profound loss of a family unit, 
being placed in an orphanage and seperated from siblings.
Reading it doesn't take long  - it's a short, fast read - but
it hits home and stings greatly at the very ideal that this 
is not just one woman's journey, but the reality for many.

Lynann and her family lived the life of military children, 
a father who 'ran away' a lot and a mother who drank.
Often leaving them alone for long periods of time
and having to fend for themselves.
It's a book that touches on subjects of abandonment,
loss, seperation and fear, pain and confusion on the greatest level for children.  I'm sure writing this book was both extremely painful
and cathartic at the same time.
This book will hurt your heart and make you yearn for turning
back the clock to reach out a helping hand.

AA, Al-anon, Ala-teen groups could benefit from this
biographical self discovery journey.
4/5 stars for this gem of a self-help book!


~Kelly Santi

Disclaimer:  A copy of this book was provided to me (to review and give my honest opinion) by The B&B Media Group.  The opinion expressed above is my own.

Book Review: Come back to Jesus .. And Don't Forget your Blackberry

In Come Back to Jesus - and Don't Forget Your Blackberry Tanya Logan addresses finding your balance with crazy, busy schedules and finding time for God. She gets to the heart of making God a priority when we are so busy with everything else that time for Him gets away from us. 

Be it the computer, social networking, tv, or social events ... Take a step back and ask yourself ... Do these things bring you closer to God?

If you answered no, it might be time to take another look at your faith walk.

And this book is an amazing guide for that journey!

This book is written in such a down to earth and comforting tone. It reminds me of talking to an old friend over a cup of coffee. 

It's direct and instructional enough to make you stop and ponder and "brings to the table" core issues that you might need to see in order to make changes.

It reaches out to all of us .... The soccer mom, the diaper changer, the parent who drives through the fast food place because you don't have time to get a meal on the table. 

It's you, it's me!

Broken into a 6 week study, scriptures, reading, question and answer section, and a personal reflection area give this guide depth and spiritual glimpses into your faith walk. It will help you get in touch with core issues you might be lacking.  It helps fill in the blanks and brings to light hope for the journey.

Tanya states in her book "real worship engages the spirit in the pursuit of truth."

In the busy-ness of life, reading this book asks are you being authentic?

This guide will sure help answer that and help you in your journey!!

5 well deserved stars!

Review by: Kelly Santi 

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Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book/Ebook/Product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.

Book Review: Faith - Joseph's Story

At the age of seventeen, Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob, faces the wrath of jealousy, hatred, and deceit from his own brothers. He is thrust into a world of slavery, lust, and power. Joseph experiences a culture so different from his own that he must adapt quickly just to survive. He learns to trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and be content in the difficult circumstances that challenge him far too often.

Narrated by Joseph, Faith—Joseph’s Story communicates the power of this young man’s faith—faith that began in the midst of a plot to murder him and ends with his rise to power in Egypt. It shows the perseverance one must find to overcome the negative experiences that happen in life, and it provides a testament to the importance of placing complete faith and trust in God.

With Bible study materials and a leader’s guide included, Faith—Joseph’s Story tells how, from the depths of a pit, to the darkness of prison, to the grandeur of a palace, a young man remains committed to God’s divine plan.

My Review:  Faith, Joseph's Story by Sandra Lea Hardage is one of the most inclusive and detailed bible study books I've ever had the joy of reading.  Her knowledge, writing style and bible study are among the very finest due to her exceptional wisdom and views!

From the opening line "I am Joseph", the author brilliantly steps into the role, and life of, Joseph and tells his story.  His love of his family, faith, and trials and tribulations are told from his point of view.  There is no doubt, Sandra Hardage knows the bible!  

What I found most effective in addition to the 9 inspirational chapters is the incredibly thought provoking bible study guide. It's not a small section at the end of the book - it's half of the book!  It's broken down into graphs, questions and answers, areas for personal reflection and reflective bible verses, as well as a helpful Leader's Guide.  

One of the BEST faith based books on the market!  I'm blessed to have had the opportunity to receive this book.  It will stay among my very top favorites.

About the Author:  Sandra Lea Hardage, an Arkansas native, is an educator, Bible teacher, and founder of the online ministry, My Journey of Faith. She has taught Joseph’s story many times, including an online study of Genesis. She continues to teach via video for Connected! Online Bible Study, found at www.myjourneyoffaith.com

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book/Ebook/Product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.

Book Review: Clothed in Thunder

Book Description:  After sitting through a 4-H demonstration on the evolution of the horse, Rosie and Carrie are determined to present the arguments for creation at the club’s next meeting. The demonstration proves harder to put together than they imagined as everyone offers the girls their opinions. The lessons Rosie learns about creation extend into her life in surprising ways as she faces her old adversary, Billy King, who cheated her out of her first trophy with her pony, Scamper.

You cannot pick up a non-fiction horse book today without reading about the evolution of the horse. The images showing the progression of eohippus, merychippus, etc. into modern equus are constantly portrayed as though they are fact.Clothed With Thunder presents the other side of the story - that horses are magnificent creatures meticulously designed by an awesome and loving God.

My Book Review:  Vicki Watson has done it again!  The 3rd installment of the Sonrise Stable horse themed book series  not only delights but it surpasses with an exuberance for reading! Clothed with Thunder is a children's book with a christian theme base and centralized around the love of two friends, Carrie and Rosie, and their united love of horses.   They live with their doting grandma who shows them unconditional love and relationship that heals and mends and is based on an level of faith that children can understand and follow along.  In this installment of the book, the girls hear a presentation at their 4-H club that gets them to thinking about the process of critical thinking between evolution and creaiton.  They are determined to show that their beloved ponies were a creation from the Heavenly Father!   They show a beautiful spirit through-out and their determination and courage is evident in these young girls, proving once again that our foundation of passing on the baton of faith begins at home and at a young age!!

IMHO,  it helps to have read the first two books in this installment as they have a continuation theme through-out and the overall flow of the book is better knowing the backgrounds. However, this book, should it be the only one you are able to read in the series, still stands firmly on it's own and is remarkable in it's own rights.  What a charming, fantastic children's book - I"m proud to have this series grace the bookshelf of my son, who is 8!  Yes, it's for girls and boys and a beautiful life lesson for all ages.

Learn more about the author and series:  http://www.sonrisestable.com/

Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this book/Ebook/Product to review.  I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.  

Reviewed by:  Kelly Santi

Book Review: A Letter to Evan

From the back jacket:  Divorce changes everything. It is disorienting, painful and disruptive. One dad steps forward to illustrate how to rise above the destruction of divorce, become a better person, and yes, even a better father to his children. Roy Page exposes his heart in A Letter to Evan. What began as affirmation and instruction for his son has become a journey of healing, growth, and inspiration to men everywhere. Being a loving, effective parent when you are not a part of your child’s daily life is challenging whether you are a father who travels or is ivorced. Roy Page shares how he has maintained a presence in the lives of his children. As a man who enjoys hunting, fishing, sailing, and woodworking and possesses a deep desire to share these times of adventure with his son, Roy learns to navigate his extensive travel schedule along with Evan’s hectic baseball schedule to find a way to connect. Even if it means writing a letter.

ROY PAGE is CEO of Third Degree Advertising.

He jets between North Carolina and Oklahoma to keep his business and family going. Losing his father to Alzheimer’s disease and his wife of twenty years set Roy on a path to reset his priorities, discover the good in people, and dream of a better future. Laugh, cry, relate, grow, and heal with Roy in A Letter To Evan.

My review: 

Hat's off to Roy Page!  What a triumphant and brave author, father and inspiration to pen a letter to his son for ALL of us to share.  A Letter to Evan is a poignant and profound journey through a letter written to a son from his father after a heart-breaking divorce.  Through bitterness, resentment and loss grows a beautiful love between a father and son.  

A Letter to Evan is beautifully written, faith-filled and inspires us from the core of parenthood to reach inside and take a good look at our relationships with our own children.  After reading this book, as a mom (not a father!)with 4 children of my own, A Letter to Evan is eye opening journey for all of us.  If you're a child of divorce, this book is for you.  If you are a parent with a child(ren) after divorce, I encourage you to pick this book up!  It's invalauable.

A copy of this book was provided to me (to review and give my honest opinion) by The B&B Media Group.  The opinion expressed above is my own. 

Book Review: Shadow Stalker

Book Review:  Shadow Stalker

Barbara Ann Derksen

From the book jacket:  An ominous shadow hangs over her, as Christine Finder, alias Melissa

Rompart, visits the brutal slayings of her parents most nights in a dream.

The threat of discovery propels her to search for the whereabouts of the killer

to see the man brought to justice.  In the meantime, the killer stalks her mind while

she operates Finder's Keepers, an agency that searches for the people her clients

hire her to find.  Nathan Brent is only four years old and missing.  Will she find

him in time or will the killer find her first?

My review:  This is my first book by author, Barbara Ann Derksen, it was a marvelous read - as intriguing and suspenseful as a good mystery should be!

Shadow Stalker is a twist and turn mystery with colorful characters and an adventurous plot.  Christine Finder, alias Melissa Rampart, was the lone survivor when her parents were killed when she was just a small child.  She was adopted into a family that raised her as if she was their own.  She starts an agency called The Finders as detective agency and the story plot follows her searching for a missing young boy.
With her wonderful canine companion, Chief, and the interesting relationship with Jeremy, this book owns the title of a page turner.

Ms. Derksen writes with an amazing sense of description!  To save she uses a vast vocabulary to vastly describe the scenes, emotions and feel for a character would simply be an understatment. She is truly a gifted artist and writes with a passion and clarity!  I thoroughly enjoyed reading Shadow Stalker! I so look forward to future novels.  This is a first in a series of Finder's Keepers Mystery books and await the reading of the sequel and hopefully the return of Christine and Jeremy!

You can read about the author here!
http://www.barbaraannderksen.com/about/

  Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this book/Ebook/Product to review.  I was not 
required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.  

Reviewed by:  Kelly Santi

Book Review: Into the Whirlwind

Book Review: Into the Whirlwind

by:  Elizabeth Camden

From the book cover:  As owner of the 57th Illinois Watch Company, Mollie Knox's future looks bright until the night the legendary Great Chicago Fire destroys her beloved city. With her world crumbling around her, Mollie will do whatever it takes to rebuild in the aftermath of the devastating fire.

Zack Kazmarek, an influential attorney for one of Chicago's finest department stores, is a force to be reckoned with among the city's most powerful citizens. Bold and shrewd, he's accustomed to getting exactly what he wants--until he meets Mollie Knox, the beguiling businesswoman just beyond his reach.

In the tumult as the people of Chicago race to rebuild a bigger and better city, Mollie comes face-to-face with the full force of Zack's character and influence. Zack believes this may finally be his chance to win her, but can Mollie ever accept this man and his whirlwind effect on her life, especially with her treasured company on the line?

My review:  This is one of those rare books that has an intriguing title and story line bold enough to catch your eye.  But under the pages of this exceptionally written novel is a pure, adventurous and romantic tale of two lost souls finding each other in the midst of tragedy and betrayal.  What a rush this book was!

Told in a tone of rich characters and knowledgeable depiction of this era, Ms. Camden hit the mark.   The story between Zack, seemingly a rough, shrewd lawyer bent on getting what he wants, when and how he wants it, sets his eyes on the lovely Mollie, a watchmaker's daughter who is beautiful, loyal to her dedicated and dear employees, and represents all that is good.  Unknown to her, Zack has loved her from a distance, dreaming of this being the woman to be by his side.

In the midst of the tragedy of the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, they are thrown together in choas, dispair, and uncertainty - but one thing is certain, their feelings that ring true for each other.  Like most good romance novels, this one has it's up and downs - betrayals, misunderstandings, and wounded prides.  

However, this novel's underlying hope for these two wonderful characters to prevail against the odds brings such a warmth to the book.  

I am delighted to have had the opportunity to read such an beautifully written, gorgeously detailed book.  Into the Whirlwind swept me off my feet and kept me reading long after the sun went down just to get to the very end!  This is a book I'll be sure to read again - and again. 

5 well deserved stars!

*Disclaimer:  I received this book for an honest review from Bethany House, a division of the Baker Publishing Group and was not required to write a positive review.  Any reflection of such is my own.