Honesty

Honesty on my old posts I am not going to go back and review to delete an old post.  You will learn I have changed and my eyes have been opened to things so my beliefs in some subjects have changed.  In others it is the same.  You will see a majority secular books on my reviews now as I got tired of reading trash that I was sent as a Christian book reviewer (no longer doing that).  I am a Christian but not the standard "American" (c)hristian, I have grown closer to God away from the american church.  I hate racism, abusers, and people who think they are better than others.  If you want to bring up my past do it I will admit I was wrong in a lot of areas and have grown.  I will research things before I say something or share as I don't want to share false information we get enough of that on a daily basis.  Still a rabid independent when it comes to politics. You may not agree with everything I post anymore but if you don't like it then don't read my blog no more since no one is forcing you to read it.  

I am back

 Reminder my grammar is not great.  

Even though I know as of right now no one cares but I am coming back.  I will be writing book reviews on books I have read and not received to review.  I will try to write my views on things.  And this time I am going to not to hold back as much. If you know me in real life know that I will be posting sometimes on  things that has happened in the last 9 to 10 years as there are things I have come to the realization of and they are not always good.  Yes I am still with my husband, my oldest is a married adult, 2nd older son a working man, and I have two middle schoolers also.  So I am still protecting my family.  Remember don't expect the norm from me.

Thoughts on my hubby

27 years ago was the summer before my senior year in high school and I went for a walk that would change my life forever.  I just wanted to go for a late-night walk in my little town with a friend and at our county park was a teenage man himself just sitting in his car listening to music while his parents fished.  Well, my friend and I decided to talk to that man about his stereo I did not think anything of it except that another redneck moron from my town.  See I was wearing a black trench coat, all black clothes (probable a metal band shirt), black nails, and possible black lipstick in a little town so I was the oddity.  That man decided right then he wanted to marry me.  Well, a couple weeks later we met up again and hung out then started dating.  That man is my husband our relationship has not always been the easiest as I know I am a strong-willed different kind of woman and he came from a very toxic life but that is his story, not mine.  Any we broke up on and off for years even had a son together during that time but when our son was 3 we got married.  I will say that man is the strongest man I know he never was intimidated by knowledge or at times earning more than him.  He has seen me grow as a human and encouraged me when others around me kept trying to fit me into their mold.  Our relationship is stronger today than it was when we first got married has it always been easy oh no way but has it been worth it yes.  I watch that man daily go to a physically tiring job just to support our family so I don't have to work.  He has supported me even when I worked one of the worst jobs I have had which should have been one of my best.  Sat with me while I did my first security job at a dangerous job (he had permission from my bosses).  When I was working would bring me coffee or food. Even encourages me now that I am a stay-at-home mom. Is my biggest supporter and advocate for my food allergy that most people think is just a fad (spend a day in my body when I have gluten I don't think most would last a day).  Encourages me on my weight loss journey (quick update no longer obese just overweight now and out of the 200's) while helping me keep my head solid. I know some see me as a witch or a quiet mouse but with my man, I am a lion so don't make me mad.   I could not have asked for a better partner in life.  I pray our 4 sons to be as solid of men as their dad is.  I know no one will read this but I just wanted to put it out there.  

New American Awakenings by Tyler Davis

 New American Awakenings (Book one) by Tyler Davis is one the hardest books I have read about the post America world in years.  I started reading this book after the capitol attack in D.C. and this book is so realistic even if others don't believe so.  It is from the viewpoint of Colt a young man who is living in a slum after a supposed christian (I put a little "c" on purpose as the group that took over is not what the Bible calls Christian at all) took over the government and made anyone different from them the enemy/terrorist.  The horrific abuse at the hands of a prideful person who thinks she is the servant of God is horrific but sadly I can even see it in people today.  Without giving anything away I will say that the story is well written as I could picture everything even to point of seeing it actually happening to our America.  This book is a great fiction example of what happens when we let prideful people make enemies out of our neighbors.  I highly recommend this book even with the chaos going on in our world right now and I can't wait for the second book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Net Galley.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rant thoughts on racism

Since I know very few people will actually read this especially since my grammar is horrible.  With everything going on I have to get this off my chest so here I go.  I am so sick of people saying racism is something in the past and not that prevalent now.  Wrong I remember in 1988 (hey that was only 32 years ago) how white supremacist murdered a man in Portland Oregon.  We forgot that it was only 6 years ago that a Georgia school finally had an official non-segregated prom.  The same students that in the 1960's that were screaming at African American students trying to integrate schools are now the parents and grandparents of our current generations.  Yes, some may have changed their beliefs but not all did, and they taught that hate to their children.  I know things have gotten better but there is still a hidden and not so hidden groups of what I allow my children to call racists big dummies.  I get mad about racism since I come from a family of mixed-race people and none are adopted all are blood relation.  Between my husband and I, we have Asian, Jewish, African American, Hispanic, and Native American relatives.   What also makes me mad is around the time I publish this will be near my 20th wedding anniversary and had we gotten married in the late 40's or slightly into the 50's would not been allowed to get married because it was illegal for a couples of different races to marry.  As my husband is genetically Native American (yes, we know this for a fact), and it was illegal in our state until 1951 for whites marry non-whites including Native Americans.  Before you think I am only talking about white racists I have met people of different races that are racist also, so it does not matter racists are jerks we are all God's children. I am a people watcher and I have seen white supremacy in my community and since it is not my story to tell I will not give details but I have had friends and family that have experienced horrible treatment and some just snide comments due to their race in our community.  I have seen white pride flaunted and it is sad and horrible.  No race is above another but we as human beings cannot put our heads in the sand when others think they are better than others just because of how little or how much more pigment they have in their skin.  Just because you have not experienced or have seen racism does not mean it does not exist this not like the tooth fairy it is there just some are blessed not have had that happen to them.  If you are a former racist good I am glad you have seen the light and no longer are one of those jerks and I will be your friend but if you are a currently racist jerk I will treat you with God's love but we will not be friends.  I cannot be friends with someone who thinks my family is worth less than others due to the amount of pigment in their skin.  If you read this just remember this is my thoughts and rants.  So just remember your experiences are not someone elses.

Take Back Your Time by Morgan Tyree

"Take Back Your Time" by Morgan Tyree is an organization and scheduling book.  I am not an organized person by nature so I was very interested in this book.  However, it was way more advanced than I am at organizing.  With the three different levels it uses and all the different tasks you need to do to figure out where things should be scheduled in your life, I got overwhelmed.  I just need simple easy lessons on scheduling and this was not for me.  Maybe I am just too simple just give me a plain planner with no stickers or extras and I can plan my day still have issues but that is me. So if you are looking for something more advanced then this book is for you.  So I recommend it for the non-basic easy-going planner type person.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Light From Distant Stars by Shawn Smucker

"Light from Distant Stars" by Shawn Smucker is a novel about Cohen Marah in the present and in his past.  We see Cohen coming to terms with his dad's death which bring up some bad memories from his childhood.  He lived with his dad at a funeral home after his parents divorced. We learn that his dad was a caring father but his mother was a harsh cold woman and he had a very loving sister.  However, that is all I can really say without giving away to much of the story.   I will say that this book at times did seem to jump around some.  I did enjoy the way the author made a clear jump from the past to the present which is nice when they do that.  However I still was getting confused at times by what was happening in the story well mainly the parts in the past.  Even though I was confused by the story at times I still enjoyed and could not put it down once I picked it up.  So I do recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The String by Caleb Breakey

"The String" by Caleb Breakey is a crime thriller novel about the conductor pulling the strings that affect the life of university cop Markus Haas.  This book started out as a possible good psychological thriller if that is your cup of tea which is mine.  However, it did not turn out to be that way for me as with in the first couple chapters I figured out what was going on in the story and who the conductor was.  This type of book should have kept me guessing all throughout it but it did not as it was a very formulaic type of book.  I mean seriously it is like I have read this story before just with different character names and a few other differences it was just badly written.  I do not recommend this book at all.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Protecting Your Child From Predators by Beth Robinson

"Protecting Your Child From Predators" by Beth Robinson and Latayne Scott is about not only identifying how a predator works but also on how to help/teach your children at different ages about predators.  This is such a powerful and informative book in my opinion it is a must read by any church or group that has kids in it.  There are so many points that I really agreed with.  Some of my favorite are for example if you or your child have a bad feeling about someone follow that instinct don't ignore it.  I personally have had bad feeling about not trusting someone and then later find out they are a rapist.  This book teaches us how to teach our children from a young age about predators in an age appropriate way.  Also this book explains that most of the time the predators are people close to us or sometimes the friendlist person you know.   You just have to read this to be able glean all the good information from this book as it is a very powerful book that I could not put down and I highly recommend it to any one.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Net Galley.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Am I an Introvert or something else.

Interesting thought I have been rattling in my head.  I will admit I have always been an introvert but I was a more outgoing one until 1997/98.  Why those years?  Well, I was being stalked in my little town of around 1600 people.  I would have someone calling my home knowing exactly when I walked in my door or went to bed to harass me all night.  They would also call my parent's house or even a couple of friends houses as soon as I walked in the door.  It never happened to them until I would walk thru the door.  At this point in time in my hometown had no police except one sheriff who lived there (now they have none) and no way of tracing phone calls.  I was a single mom at the time lving in a really bad one bedroom trailer that should have been condemned.  So I would stay with parents a lot as my place was not safe and they would even call my parents home mainly when they knew my dad was not home.  It also did not help that I had a car that leaked oil so bad that you could follow me by my trail of oil I left behind. When I moved to the bigger local town of 20,000 people then the calls stopped.   So it was someone in my small hometown.  I still don't know who it was have a few ideas but cannot confirm any of them. Over the years I still go there and have had a few bad incidents to were still a mystery to me.  Once in 1999, I had my tire stabbed in the sidewall with a knife (the police cadets that helped me change it found it and the tire store agreed it was a knife).  My husband and our children were once followed and chased in the woods behind that town that is a very long and weird story.   And we have had some issues at our home that made us think that somoeone has been watching our house until we put up security cameras. 

I know you are asking yourself why are you bringing this all up after 20 years.  Well, I want people to know and understand stalking changing a person mentally.  I keep my head down way more than I used as I am still scared that whoever it was will come back into my life as I don't live very far from my hometown.  I know I am a introvert and a hard person to get to know but some of that is due to the stalking.  But some of that is it seems like people really don't want to get to know me if they did they would find out that once I am friends with someone I am loyal.  Also if you think my outfits are getting on the weird side because you were more used to my dressed down look well sorry that was not me that style actually depressed me.  But due to my stalker and other reasons, I just tried to be considered more normal but husband said no that is not you it is making you depressed.  So now you will see me with a in progress spiked leather jacket, boots, skulls, spikes, crosses, lots of black and maybe one day different colored hair (right now no money to do it).  My clothes have not changed who I am on the inside I am still a God fearing Christian women, wife and mom who just does not look like the average women in my town.  I am happier not trying to be like everyone else it is not me.  Yes I know I will be made fun of and I have already had that happen but you know what I don't care. Also people might wonder about my faith nope still a Christian women yes having issues but that is a story for another time and really does not need to be out in public. And what women has not had struggles in their faith it just refines u.  It has taken me 20 years to really come to terms that my stalker and the threat of them still out there is not going to change me or keep me down.   God is in control not them.

Never Let Go by Elizabeth Goddard

"Never Let Go" by Elizabeth Goddard is the first in the Uncommon Justice series.  The story is about Willow Anderson a forensic genealogist who decides to finish the job her grandfather's death left behind which is the case of a woman who was kidnapped as a newborn from her mother.  And of course, it has the standard stereotypical romance of the main character and old flame, in this case, one named Austin McKade.  The first couple chapters were pretty good then it got confusing in the middle and really got confusing right near the end.  I am still not completely sure of the ending but the story might be more clear in the next book.  The story had potential but why can't Chrisitan mystery authors just leave the romance section out.  That was what was the main issue I had with this story is it was just like what seems like every other Christian mystery where good potential story but the main character are either newly met soon to be couple or a former couple who now thanks to this mystery will get back together (no I am not giving anything way its the normal of these style of books).  I will recommend if that is what you are looking for me I just want a good mystery with no romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

American Omens by Travis Thrasher

"American Omens" by Travis Thrasher is Christian American dystopian novel about the year 2038 where Christianity and free thought is now against the law.  The main character is Cheyenne Burne a intelligent programmer who ends up working with a group of believers.  A group of high profile believers are hiding and following a leader they call the Reckoner.    This book is fiction novel on what the author thinks is going to happen to America without saying that.   It is an interesting story about what American Christians may think is coming down the pipeline the belief that Christianity is going to be illegal.  What is interesting to me on that thought is that yes that prospect might be scary as an American but why the scriptures say we will not be liked for far too long Christianity has been the popular thing which has been bad for the gospel as it has become easy believism. This book I know is going to be a first in a series just by the way it is wrote. It seems to me to be a more modern version with similarities of the Left Behind series.  As of this book it's main focus is on American Christianity and I hope the author will write in the next books more about the faith of others in this world not just us Americans.  I will recommend this book as it is an ok dystopian novel but with the hope the next book will be better and more world focused.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Multnomah publisher.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A Serial Killers Daughter by Kerri Rawson

"A Serial Killer's Daughter" by Kerri Rawson is the story of Kerri, not just her dad who is the convicted BTK killer.    Before you throw this book out saying oh she is just trying to make her dad look no that is not it at all.  She is sharing how she grew up with a man as a dad that she had no idea led a behind the scenes life of being a serial killer. It does start out with her giving some history of her dad's life before he married her mom and their life together before she was born.  But most of the book is about her life with her dad and how she thought he was a normal dad.  I chose to read this book because we have a tendency as a society that serial killers also create victims of their family.  What do I mean by that well their families think everything is normal and that serial killers are someone else.  They have hopes and dreams of a normal life and the serial killer especially when they are caught have killed their hopes and dreams.  She writes on how she was broken by her dad's arrest and how she did at first did not think it could be true.  But over time she had to come to terms with how her dad is a psychopath and that she was also a victim.  She never glorifies her dad she just talks about him like he was any other dad but she does realize as the years go on past his arrest that he was emotionally abusive to her family and that was a hard pill to swallow.  I liked this book as she focuses on her faith helping thru things and it was a reminder to me not to treat the families or friends of serial killers horrible as most of the time they had no idea and they are victims of the killer themselves.  I highly recommend this book especially since we never truly know every person in our lives.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

We Hope For Better Things by Erin Bartels

"We Hope For Better Things" by Erin Bartels is about a journalist Elizabeth Balsam who has been asked by an elderly man to return an important item of a relative of hers, she has never known about.  While she is learning about the man connected to her elderly relative, she also learns even more about her family history.  One part of the story takes place in modern times, one part takes place in the mid-1960's and the other part takes place in the mid-1860's.  Each chapter takes place in the one of the different eras which is a feature I really enjoy because then it is much easier to follow the different story lines.   Each story was so powerful and good that I could not out the book down just so I could finish each story to find out what would happen.  Truthfully each story could have been their own bookmaking this a series with one in 1860's, one in 1960's and one in the present.  This book deals with racism, love, betrayal, and lost in an era which makes it a very powerful book.  I highly recommend this as it was a great novel and I am glad it was my first book to read in 2019.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Enclave by Thomas Locke

"Enclave" by Thomas Locke is a futuristic book about 100 years from a great crash and now America is a bunch of enclaves.  In one of the largest named Catawba a vein of Gold is discovered under neath it and now their fate is up to a trader named Caleb.  Right off the bat I had a hard time getting into this book it really started out as if you would have to have read a book before this one to understand what is going on.  I really got lost right off the bat as for the story was all over the place.  Plus at times with the speech patterns I would forget that I am in the future not in the old west. It went back and forth with the characters I just could not get into this book.  I am realizing this author is just not for me but you can try him for yourself.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Hidden Peril by Irene Hannon

"Hidden Peril" by Irene Hannon is the second in the Men of Valor in this one we find Kristin Dane as a teenager wanting to change the world well as an adult does in a small way with her fair trade store but internationals problems hit her doorstep.  Her problems start when people connected to her shop start dying and we meet Detective Luke Carter who needs to solve this international mystery before more die or Kristin dies.  This was an ok paced book, normally her books have great pace to them making me want to sit and read in one sitting. Not this one I really had a hard time getting into the story.  It might be I am getting tired of the typical international terrorist story that is now the norm.   I mean seriously can't we just have a murder mystery that is just about a local mystery not so much an international one.  This book also put the romance of Kristin and Luke as a main point of the story.  I am just not a romance book or movie person just give me a good mystery without romance.  I am on the fence on recommending this book she normally writes great books but this one seemed rushed.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Light Before Day by Suzanne Woods Fisher

 "The Light Before Day" by Suzanne Woods Fisher is the third in the Natucket Legacy series.  Henry Macy returns to Nantucket after three years on a whaling ship.  Henry and his sister Hitty's grandmother has passed away leaving them a vast fortune however there are some rules they must do to get that fortune.  While the siblings are not too thrilled with the rules they don't want it to go to their dad's form thieving business partner.  This book is a good stand alone book that you do not have to read the previous ones to understand it. Their relationship with their grandmother was not always a good as she was big into only the best people in her family.  The story is interesting even though at times it can be slow.  I am really enjoying how we are starting to see more quaker stories instead of only Amish.  As at this time in history 1700's and 1800's the Quakers were more common than the Amish.  I highly recommend this book as a good story about how sometimes people push us for the wrong reasons but good can come out of it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A Song Unheard by Roseanna M. White

"A Song Unheard" by Roseanna M. White is the second book in the Shadows Over England series which takes place just before World War I.  Our main characters are Willa a prodigy violinist and thief that must steal from Lukas De Wilde.  This book was interesting in the aspect of the historical time frame as the author is very good at combining history with a story.  Now to the story itself usually I really enjoy this author's writing but not this one.  The story really dragged on to the point I almost did not finish the book. The characters themselves were not that interesting even though the background to the story was.  It just wasn't for me.  Not the author's best but I will still keeping reading her works. Maybe it was just me so try it for yourself.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Brave Art of Motherhood by Rachel Marie Martin

"The Brave Art of Motherhood" by Rachel Marie Martin is a book with the authors stories of motherhood that are to encourage us to fight fear and be confident in who we are.  This was not your stereotypical Christian motherhood book about their perfect life this author admits things have gone wrong and her kids are not perfect.  My favorite encouragement the author gave me was talking about how I can be happy no matter if my house is spotless or messy nightmare.  I also really enjoyed when she talks about the sins of being to busy and the sin of pride how they can be the same or even different at the same time.   Another topic that helped me even though she doesn't completely point it out that I need to finish items not just hop from one idea to the next. I highly recommend this book and I especially want to point out something the author points out also that sometimes as a mom we do need to freak out as it can help get things done.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Waterbrook Publishers.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A Secret To Die For by Lisa Harris

"A Secret To Die For" by Lisa Harris is about a women named Grace whose client Stephen is murdered and the bad guys think she can help them get what they wanted from him.  The mystery portion of this book was very good until about half way through then the stereotypical romance with mystery.  The author is very talented in writing a very good descriptive and page turning novel but this novel was way to formulaic.  I would love to read something the author wrote that strayed from the standard Christian mystery romance story.  I still recommend this book as the mystery made it worth it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.