At Every Turn

Summary: She's off to the races!

Caught up in a whirlwind of religious enthusiasm, Alyce Benson impetuously pledges three thousand dollars to mission work in Africa. Now she just has to find a way to get the money.

Alyce harbors a secret passion for speed and automobiles, and she's spent many an afternoon driving around the rustic track in the field behind her home. When she discovers that her father's company has sponsored a racing car that will compete in several upcoming events--races in which the driver will be paid and could win as much as five thousand dollars in prize money--she conspires with her father's mechanic, Webster, to train and compete.

But when her friends cast aspersions on Webster's past, she realizes she may have trusted the wrong person with her secret. Will Alyce come up with the money in time, or will she have to choose between her hasty promise and the man who holds a piece of her heart?

My Take: My husband and I are big fans of NASCAR and having the history of the races talked about in a book was really interesting and unique. I don't think I've read a book with that as the backdrop before.

I thought the main character had good intentions, but there is a cliche about good intentions . . . I could understand her initial mistake, but it seemed that even though she was provided information talking about the character of Lawrence and of Webster, she ignored that (and her own instincts) in order to believe the opposite of both men.

I loved picturing her zooming down the roads and around the racetrack. I think her driving fit with everything else we learn about her character.

There are a couple "types" of Christian romance novels. One of them stresses the romance and another the spiritual aspects. This talked and dealt with her spiritual life in much greater depth and detail than her relationship with either man.

It was an entertaining book and I thank Bethany House for providing it. Their gift in no way influenced my review.

News

It took me too long to admit -- but I figured out why I couldn't sign in and post on here. The Java was out of date. I had tried installing updates, but it didn't work. I downloaded the whole program and it seems to have worked. {crossing fingers}

That's me lately -- cleaning like a crazy woman. Why? I have great news -- my husband finally got a job. {doing happy dance} He's gone a lot but it's a job he likes and I'm so thankful for the opportunity.

It also means we will be moving back to Kansas. The first of March we need to be there. That gives us very little time to get the house ready to show, pack things up, clean again, and hopefully leave here with a sold house and not another rental agreement.

I have been sick as a dog (on top of the fibro) - and my husband is gone so much that this is an extra challenge. We're way behind where we'd like to be in this process. Still, it's exciting to think about all the changes that will be coming our way.

Any moving/cleaning advice? Any exciting changes you'd like to share?

Glamorous Illusions

Summary: When Cora Kensington learns she is the illegitimate daughter of a copper king, her life changes forever. Even as she explores Europe with her new family, she discovers that the most valuable journey is within. The first book in the Grand Tour series takes you from the farms of Montana through England and France on an adventure of forgiveness, spiritual awakening, and self-discovery.

My Take: First I will confess I have a serious case of cover love for this book. It has to be one of the prettiest covers I've ever seen. I think the model fits Cora perfectly -- and the background certainly puts you in the right mood for this story.

I loved Cora and all the interactions with the other characters. I would have given this 5 stars except I didn't like the way the book ended. I understand this is the beginning of a series, but it almost feels like . . . Well a little like The Lord of the Rings. That was written as one book that was broken into three. The big challenge, to destroy the ring and save Middle Earth, is put forth in book one but not completed until the end of book three. There are many smaller challenges in the middle, but it still seems unfinished when you only read one book.

I got to the end and of this book and there didn't seem to be any conclusion - even a partial one. They just started the tour, there is no romantic decision . . . It just felt like there should be more. That's a great way to build interest for the rest of the series, but it was also frustrating.

The romantic tension was palpable in places and the characters were very well drawn. There were interesting people that you wanted to know better. Cora's character goes through some changes that help her to be more mature and secure.

In the end it wasn't a romance or an adventure - more a story of a girl becoming a woman. I anticipate more romance as the series continues.

Love in Disguise

Summary:
Delightfully Engaging Blend of Romance, Suspense, History, and Humor When costume-maker Ellie Moore suddenly finds herself out of a job in the middle of a bleak Chicago winter, she uses her knowledge of theatrical disguise to secure a position as an undercover operative with the Pinkerton Detective Agency. Her assignment: find the culprit behind the theft of silver shipped from the mines near Pickford, Arizona. Disguised as Lavinia Stewart, a middle-aged widow, Ellie begins her investigation. Soon she finds she must also pose as the dazzling young Jessie Monroe, whose vivacious personality encourages people to talk.

Mine owner Steven Pierce is about to lose his business after the theft of several bullion shipments--until hope arrives in the unlikely form of Lavinia Stewart, who offers to invest in Steven's mine. In his wildest dreams, Steven never expected to be rescued by an inquisitive gray-haired widow . . . or to fall head over heels for Lavinia's captivating niece, Jessie. But then the thieves come after both Lavinia and Jessie. Ellie isn't safe no matter which character she plays! Will she be forced to reveal her true identity before the criminals are caught? What will Steven do when he discovers the woman he loves doesn't exist?

My Take:
This is one of those books that comes along only so often. We don't usually see a woman as the hero in a book about the old west. Ellie fills that role with creativity and determination.
In a book about subterfuge and hiding one's identity, it is amazing to see the transformation as Ellie discovers she's been hiding her true identity all along. She has more strength and beauty than she thought possible.
If I had one complaint it's that I wished there had been more time and romance for our leading lady and her true love.
This is a great book though, and I thank the author and publisher for my copy. It did not influence my review.

Ever Wondered?

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I have insomnia. The kind they use as a model for torture and interrogation techniques. I swear this kind of health problem was birthed in Hell itself, but I digress. Staying up when everyone else is asleep can expose you to some strange things and make you wonder. I recently found answers to some of those questions. Maybe you have some mysteries of your own you'd like answered.

Part of this started because I wondered why sleep deprivation was even considered as a torture technique in the first place -- or as a means to get people to provide information. Then I noticed a few things.

#1. I have fibro and my pain is so much worse after lack of sleep. I did some checking and it's not just fibro patients that feel pain worse after lack of sleep. 

#2. Infomercials fill the TV stations late at night. I used to think it was because the audience wasn't there for better programming but now I think they target those up late at night because they aren't thinking as clearly. I wrote an entire first draft of a novel when I was up all night for several months that nearly convinced me not to continue writing. I can attest to the fact that I wasn't making the best choices (plus I actually had the phone in my hand for two or three of those infomercial products). {blushes}

So I solved a couple of my mysteries, but I still wonder why children's cartoons and programming are on in the middle of the night. Are there a lot of little children up at 2 - 3 am to watch their shows? Maybe I'm naive, but I thought they were asleep - or should be. I know there are exceptions like when you're child is really ill, but I would think a DVD would work in situations like that.  

How about you? Anything you've always wondered about? How about a mystery you recently solved? 

A Heart Like His

Summary: We all go through times when we feel insignificant or times when we feel certain that we have experienced a degree of failure from which there is no return. This is not a reality we experience alone, but is one that a man after God’s heart experienced as well. From shepherd, to refugee, to king of Israel, David exhibited the purest virtues and the most heinous sinfulness, but through it all his relationship with the Lord continued to grow.

A Heart Like His looks at this bond of mutual love and admiration between a man who was not unlike any of us and the one true God who is all good and all powerful. Beth Moore walks us through an exploration of David’s incredible life, drawing spiritual insights from a man who boldly fulfilled his divine destiny not merely by what he did, but who he loved and served. Bringing lessons from David’s life to bear on your own, this picture of a man who loved and followed God will help you to serve with a heart focused on Him no matter the circumstance.

Available here for the first time in trade paper, this new edition also features an excerpt from Moore’s David: Seeking a Heart Like His Bible study.

My Take: This has been one of my favorite Bible study reads of the last couple years. It has quite a few things that make it stand out. One is that I like Beth Moore's style. She takes any subject and makes you feel as if you're sitting in her living room and talking about it with just her and maybe some snacks and a nice cup of coffee or tea. She has a conversational approach that I like.

She also has great subject matter. The life of David shows the best and worst of man. It gives us this wonderful example of how we can seek God in good and bad times and how God can use us in spite of our weakness - and oftentimes because of it. There is so much treasure to learn from how David honored God and how he failed as well.

Even the way the book is organized is brilliant. The chapters are short so you can easily fit them into any busy schedule. She has included any necessary Bible verses so you don't need to have anything but the book in order to do the study (though she encourages you to use your own Bible to read more passages). I also love how the study is arranged in order by how the events played out historically - so you can see how one decision led to another and so on.

This is the kind of study that is approachable and useful for Christians in many stages of their walk with Christ. It is straightforward and simple enough for new Christians, but there is enough meat and challenging material for those who have loved the Lord for many years. I want to thank the publisher for providing my copy. It did not influence my review.

Update - Missing in Action?

Sorry I haven't been around. I went to the ER on Sunday, had minor surgery on Thursday, and have to go back for a small . . . procedure this Friday. In between it was tons of pain. I had three kidney stones, one of which was a half an inch in diameter and - well, blocking one side of things and the other two stones. The ER doctor said it was the largest stone he'd ever seen. Isn't it great to be distinguished like that? {picture me shaking my head and laughing}

Honestly I'd heard kidney stones hurt like the dickens but I had no idea. Add some fibro and IBS to the mix and I felt like I was being killed. They asked me that whole 1-10 pain scale and I think I said something totally un-witty like 20. She didn't laugh.

They stuck me five times because I was so dyhdrated. I never knew it before this, but extreme pain can make you sick to your stomach and I couldn't keep anything down.

The bruises have faded and I am feeling almost like myself. Next week I should be back to normal. I have some computer problems I'm fighting. I haven't been able to access my blog. I finally realized I can use IE instead of Mozilla, but I'd still like to fix the problem for "real." I also am losing my monitor. It flickers and goes dim. I've ordered a new one, but that is limiting my online time because it's very hard on my eyes.

I hope you all are doing well. Hugs and blessings ~