Come on Baby Light My Fire

Lisa Tawn Bergren, an accomplished Christian novelist with dozen of books in print, combines fear, risk, love, loss, and fires all into one novel, in "Firestorm." As I've admitted before this isn't my favorite genre but I'm always pleasantly surprised when I read a Christian romance that doesn't have me gagging. This story follows fire science expert, Reyne, as she tries to overcome her fears and learn to trust in God again after she loses four of her crew in a horrendous firestorm. After taking a much safer job behind the scenes she starts to cross paths with sexy smoke-jumper, Logan, but is hesitant to get to attached because she fears that he too will be overcome by the fire someday. As the story progresses she learns to drop some of her barriers as she takes a dying friends advice (her best friend, Beth, has cancer) to live life to the fullest and to trust God with what he has in store for you.

Overall, it was predictable and sappy but still pulled at the heartstrings. A light breezy read that doesn't require too much of your focus. On a side note, it is also interesting to see how fire-jumpers and firefighters combat big forest and plain fires. Read at your leisure if you like Christian romance.

I received this book for free from Waterbrook Press in return for my honest, unbiased opinion.

Those Nazis.....

I was intrigued from the get-go about an art curator/ scholar working for the Third Reich so I was more than willing to pick up The Detour by Andromeda Romano-Lax. Ernst, a young man in his twenties, has been given an important assignment in Italy. He is sent to bring back "The Discuss Thrower" an important statue that the Fuhrer wants to own because of it's beautiful homage to physical perfection. A seemingly simple task turns out to be nearly impossible as the two Italians who have been assigned to help him with transport keep making side trips and it is soon clear that people are after the statue. It would fetch a high price on the black market and Italians are already angry at their government for selling such a priceless work of art to Germany.

The plot is richly crafted and you begin to sympathize with poor Ernst on if he will ever get his assignment complete. He may not want to be there in the first place but he wants to see the job through. Plus he is very intrigued by the perfection that the statue represents being very self-conscious about a small physical imperfection of his own. The journey through the Italian countryside forces Ernst to think through some things that have been hidden in the darkest corners of his mind and compels him to come to terms with himself.

The characters are beautifully captured and the plot leaves you wanting more. An excellent read that combines historical fact with the beautiful imagination of Andromeda Romano-Lax.

I received this book for free from Goodreads Giveaways in return for my honest, unbiased opinion.

Outlander Read-A-Long Part 3

1) We FINALLY get to the scene we’ve all been waiting for. You know what I’m talking about–yay sexytimes! What were your impressions? Was it what you were expecting? Or did you want more? 
Meh, I was glad they finally did it I suppose but it wasn't necessarily earth shattering sex. I probably shouldn't judge sex scenes by 50 Shades of Grey which set the bar unnaturally high. I'm glad it wasn't super awkward for them and yeah they wait til their married. Also, I found it hard to believe that a strapping young man like Jamie would still be a virgin. But then again it's 18th century Scotland, crazier shit has happened.

2) I know that some readers thus far have been bothered by the fact of Claire being married to Frank but still being involved with Jamie, despite the different time periods. Does their time as newlyweds change anyone’s opinion of that? If not, now what are you thinking of the situation?  

Well it makes me think a little bit better of her, at least I don't think she's such a hussy now I guess.  At least they were married before sex and it wasn't like she had a choice with the whole marriage thing so she hasn't cheapened her love for Frank... much, lol.

3) What did you think about the “waterhorse” that Claire saw? Why do you think Peter was so spooked? And what do you think this means for Claire? 

REALLY a waterhorse?!? I just chose to ignore this little part of the story. It's already magical enough, I don't need their to be witches, leprechauns, and waterhorses to add to it.

4) If you were Claire and you were knowingly in the vicinity of the stones, would you have done the same thing she did?  

Claire is kinda a bitch and doesn't think things through. If she would have talked to Jamie, I'm sure he would have taken her to the stones no questions asked. She only thinks of herself and I feel terrible for those around her.

5) What do you think about Captain Randall? How do you think the family resemblance between him and Frank affects Claire and particularly her relationship with Jamie? 

I bet it's a big turn off and throws her into confusion every time she sees Captain Randall. It probably makes her like Jamie even better because she unconscionably will associate Frank with Captain Randall and that obviously will put some distance between her and her twentieth century husband.

Well that's all for now! I loved everyone's responses this week!

Fans of Indiana Jones!!!!!

So I just finished reading Strindberg's Star by Jan Wallentin and I LOOOOVED it! I've been reading like a billion romances lately and this was an AWESOME break from that. Picture Indiana Jones? Pretty awesome right? Well this book is just like "The Lost Ark" so definitely give this a try!! There are un-explainable and highly sought after objects that Don, a history scholar must find and figure out the power of. Little does he know that these objects have a big history in the arctic (19th century), Sweden, and in Nazi Germany (I told you this was like Indiana Jones!). It's a fast paced multi-national thriller and it's so hard to put down because you want to figure out what in the hell is going on. This is a must read for any Dan Brown fans as well or for anyone who likes a good historical (fake historical, anyway) thriller. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed!

I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways in return for my honest, unbiased opinion.

The Most Well Christian Romance Reader in all of Indiana

In this past year or so I've become one of the most well-read christian romance readers in all of Indiana. Bragging rights? Anyhoo, I grabbed this After All by Deborah Raney because based on the description (and it's genre) I figured it would be a quick read and I need to start zipping through my insanely large "to read" book-pile from Goodreads.

It was as I guessed an insanely fast read, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The story follows Susan, the widow of a fallen fire fighter who struggles to deal with her loss, with her family (she has two adult sons), and her homeless shelter. Her husband and five other fire fighters died in a tragic fire the year before when her fledgling homeless shelter caught fire. Many people in the town thought good riddance of the homeless shelter and were aghast when she re-opened it in another location so soon after her husband's death. She faces opposition everywhere she goes, especially from Fire Chief Peter who harbors some blame at the homeless for starting the fire that killed five of his men, including Susan's husband, the year prior. Against his better judgement he starts to help out Susan and they begin to develop feelings for each other. Besides struggling to keep the shelter open, Susan must deal with the fact that her son informed her that her fallen husband had been cheating on her prior to his untimely death, and then she has to deal with the temptress herself as she tries to steal Peter away from her.

Overall, this was a small quick plot that was easy to plow through. Not the most romantic or impactful, but a light breezy beach read that fills the time. Not great, not bad. But alright for a Christian romance.

Disclaimer, this book is the third in a trilogy, although you would never know it by the way the story is set up. It stands easily on it's own, I was never once confused.

I received this book free from Goodreads giveaways in return for my unbiased, honest opinion.

It's Just another Self -Help Book, Isn't It?

Personally I am not a huge fan of self-help books (although I will admit to reading He's Just Not That Into You and It's Called a Break-up Because It's Broken when in a low point). They start off so promising, but who has the time or the will power to follow all the rules and advice that they present. Life is a little more complex then self-help books realize. 

That being said I just completed reading a self-help/dating book that isn't really a self-help book. Jessica Massa's The Gaggle: How the Guys You Know Will Help You Find the Love You Want, offered a surprising new take on post-dating relationships in this crazy new age. Instead of prescribing a set amount of rules to help you get over an ex or find the man of your dreams, Massa helps readers realize that by analyzing the men in your life (your gaggle) you can understand what you want in a man and how to get it. There are 10 men in every woman's gaggle whether she realizes it or not, there is: the ego booster, the ex boyfriend who's still around, the hot sex prospect, the career booster, the guy who just blew you off, the super horny guy who happens to be around a lot, and the boyfriend prospect. While you're most likely not going to find your true love in your gaggle of guy friends understanding what they offer and what they mean to you can help you realize what you need to have a satisfying and meaningful relationship. 

Massa also goes into what compromises a guy's gaggle and it was particularly enlightening. Guy's girl friends comprised of: the girlfriend prospect, the work wife, the short term investment, the last resort, the girl who's out of his league, the friend he's just not that into, the challenge, the crazy girl, the (maybe) one, and the possibility. 

It was really interesting figuring out what guy's gaggles I fit into and what categories different men in my life fit into. I also appreciated that this book wasn't meant to solve the hidden secrets of romance or offer ridiculous advice in order to snag a man. Massa interviewed hundred's of men and women (aged 22-35) and used their enlightening answers to come up with this quirky and eye-opening read. Definitely worth a read (even for you guys out there!).

I received this book for free from Goodread's giveaways in return for my honest, unbiased opinion. 

Blind Hope

I naively assumed that this book would be about a poor rescue pet that overcomes all odds to survive, basically I thought I was getting myself into a tear-jerker  where the dog dies at the end. That wasn't the case, in fact it was quite the opposite. There is a rescue dog, but instead of the woman saving the dog, the woman is saved by the dog (emotionally, not physically).

A mangy, bad breath, diabetes ridden dog (soon blind) slowly takes over Laurie's heart and helps Laurie realize that she's been living a lie and that she needs to be as honest and open as her lovable rescue is. The dog, Mia, helps bring Laurie closer to God and closer to finding herself.

The story is inspirational, although I believed the monologues were to dramatic even for me. It seems a little over the top? although it is based on a true story and there are photographs distributed throughout the novel. If you're sappy, and you love Christian inspirationals, and animals then this is definitely the book for you. Happy reading!

"I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review."