The Encounter

Book Review

The past often holds secrets that are too painful to be revealed, too deep to confess. A wealthy businessman travels to Fairbanks, Alaska, to learn why his mother abandoned him when he was a child, and in the process learns that not everything is as it appears to be.
The Encounter, the unique new book from best-selling author and counselor Stephen Arterburn, is a moving parable involving Jonathan Rush, a wealthy and famous entrepreneur, who is tortured by bitterness toward his mother who abandoned him when he was four. He travels to Alaska to find her but instead meets an enigmatic old woman known only as Mercy. Mercy has the information he needs but is strangely reluctant to talk to him. Somehow Jonathan must find a way to persuade a frightened woman to unlock the secrets of his past.
The book includes an invitation to the readers to verify the facts of their own stories, to accept the reality of their existence, especially the most painful ones, and to live in forgiveness. The end result is a healthy new way to look at life with an ability to share hope with others for the future. Healing is possible but requires truth, acceptance, and forgiveness, including of oneself.

My Review
The Encounter by Stephen Arterburn is a Christian fiction short story that takes place in modern day Alaska that teaches Jonathan "Gold" Rush the power of forgiveness. Jonathan never knew his mother who had abandoned him at age 4. Since then he had built up a resentment to her that had cost him many marriages and a happy life. He heads to his home town in Fairbanks to try and solve the mystery of who his mother is and heal the hurt that he suffered.
The book's narrative alternates between Jonathan and Ada Guthrie, Jonathan's mother who is struggling with the decision she made of abandoning her son. As I read this book, I found myself sympathizing with both Jonathan and Ada.

I would recommend this book to any book lover!

I received this book from BookSneeze for free in exchange for an honest review.

The Crossing

Book Description

Imprisoned by memories, Claudia Campbell lives each day in the shadow of a ten-year-old murder. Who can set her free?

On the way home from a football game, a decade earlier, a masked gunman opened fire on a Texas school bus.  Cheer leading coach B.J. Remington was killed, but her murderer was never found. Claudia, who had a close friendship with the young, spirited teacher, constantly relives the anguish of that day, caught in one moment in time. When her husband, the assistant district attorney, becomes determined to uncover the mystery of that tragedy, the secrets buried over the years threaten to tear their family apart.

Officer Casio Hightower will never forget the day his dreams were destroyed. A star quarterback with a promising future, Casio was on top of the world—until one bullet changed everything. He is eager to help Victor Campbell find B.J.’s killer, the man who shot him. Maybe solving the case will help silence the demons driving Casio to hurt the woman he loves.

As the Campbells and Casio teeter on the brink of losing everything, will they be able to discover that what begins at the crossing ends at the cross?

My Review
The Crossing is a wonderful Christian fiction mystery. I absolutely loved this book because I just couldn't stop reading! I was captivated by Serita Jakes novel from the moment I picked up the book.
Ten years prior to the present day, a gunman boarded the high school bus at a railroad crossing and killed the cheer leading coach BJ. Claudia Campbell was with BJ til the moment she died and has panic attacks from the memories. Her husband, Victor, is the assistant DA for the small town in Texas. He reopens the case to try to find the man who murdered his wife's best friend.
Casio was the star football player on the high school team, he was also shot in the arm by the gunman but the wound wasn't fatal. He joins Victor to solve the case to find the man who ruined his career as a football player.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery!

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Press in exchange for a honest review.

A River To Cross

Book Description
Texas Ranger Jake Nelson patrols the U.S.-Mexico border, protecting the settlers from cattle rustlers, outlaws, and bandits. Sparks fly when Manuel Diego stirs up a revolt against the government, which leads to the murder of a newspaperman, who is the son of a U.S. senator, and the kidnapping of his sister, Elizabeth Madison, a journalist in the making.
With Elizabeth's photograph in hand--a dark-haired beauty with smiling eyes--Jake rides over the border to find her. After the Rangers defeat the marauders and rescue Elizabeth, Jake is surprised to learn she's not the spoiled daughter of a senator that he was expecting. In fact, he finds himself taken by her. And she by him.
But the Mexicans won't give up that easily, as Elizabeth becomes the target of an all-out hunt. Leaving Elizabeth back at Fort Williams, Jake and his men set off again, this time to go after Diego himself--to apprehend him and his renegades and bring them all to justice.
Meanwhile, Jake knows what's begun between him and Elizabeth is undeniable. Amid all the turmoil, Jake finally admits how much he loves her. She tells him the same. Until now, they've lived in different worlds, yet it is those differences that drew them together.

My Description
A River to Cross by Yvonne Harris is a novel that takes place in the Rio Grande- Texas in the year 1886. Elizabeth Evans is a journalist for her brothers paper during the war between America and Mexico. During a town meeting she sees her brother shot and killed by the Mexican general, Manuel Diego who kidnaps her and takes her to Mexico. A Texas Ranger named Jake Nelson and his posse track the Mexicans down and save Elizabeth. This starts a hunt by Diego to find Elizabeth and murder her.
This book is a face paced western Christian fiction. I found it quite intriguing and thoroughly enjoyed the book! I would recommend this book to anyone that loves a good western romance!

I recieved this book for free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for a honest review.

Life of a Army Wife

Sorry everyone I haven't blogged about my US Army life lately! I have been procrastinating a lot!
      Michael started basic combat training (BCT) July 6th and graduated on September 15th. He was in the 193rd infantry, 2nd battalion 13th infantry, Bravo company, 4th platoon. In the course of that time he was gone, I talked to him a total of two time for a minute and a half each time. I sent him a letter every night telling him about my day and he would send me a letter almost every day telling me what he had been up to. My only survival was his letters and a Facebook page of his 2-13th infantry. The wonderful volunteers on the page would post pictures of the latest drill the soldiers in training (SIT) had done. I saw Michael in 4 pictures out of the 500 they posted, but it still made me happy to see him!
      On September 10th, my sister-in-law, Morgan, and I left North Platte, NE to travel to Columbia, SC. It is a 24 hour drive from here to there! We had lots of fun! One of the places we stopped on the trip was a little town called Shelby, NE so I thought that was pretty awesome! :) September 14th was family day for the soldiers, where the families of the SITs came and the hung out on base with their soldier. I was so excited the morning of family day that I could hardly sleep the night before lol! The only thing I wasn't too happy about on family day was Michael and I couldn't hold hands or hug each other whenever we wanted too when he was in his ACU (which was all the time!). Graduation day was so awesome! Before the SITs walked out to the field where they would the ceremony would take place, they threw green and white smoke grenades! It was pretty cool looking! Right after the graduation, we left the base and went to Bojangles. Michael was so excited to eat fast food again! He was glad to be out of BCT!
      Friday the 16th, we left for Ft Lee, VA  to take him to his advanced individual training (AIT) location, That was a 7 hour drive, but hardly seemed like that long since we were talking the whole time! He was able to get a weekend pass off base so it was really nice to get to relax the whole weekend! Sunday night at 5 I had to take him back to the base to check in. That was a pretty sad night for me! :( I drove from VA back to NE by myself... it was kinda a fun trip! Scary at time, but fun! I only got lost once the whole trip!
      Michael's AIT has two locations: Ft Lee, Va and Eglin AFB, FL. He started his AIT classes Tuesday the 27th and will be in Ft Lee for 8 to 9 weeks. I won't be able to move with him until he goes to Eglin, so I have been dissappoionted about that the last 2 weeks. He gets to have his cell phone everyday after his classes, that has been a lifesaver for both of us!
      Well that is all for now! I will definately keep you updated on how things are going for both of us!

Thunder Dog Book Review

I was given the opportunity by BookSneeze to review Thunder Dog. It's a true story about a Guide Dog that helped guide his person to safety from one of the towers in the attacks on 9/11. I chose to review this book because I used to raise Guide Dogs for the Blind puppies and I thought it would be wonderful to read about a true story of a Guide Dog.

Book Description:
It was 12:30 a.m. on 9/11 and Roselle whimpered at Michael's bedside. A thunderstorm was headed east, and she could sense the distant rumbles while her owners slept. As a trained guide dog, when she was "on the clock" nothing could faze her. But that morning, without her harness, she was free to be scared, and she nudged Michael's hand with her wet nose as it draped over the bedside toward the floor. She needed him to wake up.

With a busy day of meetings and an important presentation ahead, Michael slumped out of bed, headed to his home office, and started chipping away at his daunting workload. Roselle, shivering, took her normal spot at his feet and rode out the storm while he typed. By all indications it was going to be a normal day. A busy day, but normal nonetheless. Until they went into the office.

In Thunder Dog, follow Michael and his guide dog, Roselle, as their lives are changed forever by two explosions and 1,463 stairs. When the first plane struck Tower One, an enormous boom, frightening sounds, and muffled voices swept through Michael's office while shards of glass and burning scraps of paper fell outside the windows.

But in this harrowing story of trust and courage, discover how blindness and a bond between dog and man saved lives and brought hope during one of America's darkest days.

I loved this book!! I would recommend Thunder Dog to anyone to loves true stories and animals! It was heart-warming and very inspirational. I would rate this book a 5 star book!

I received this book from BookSneeze for free in exchange for an honest review.

To Win Her Heart Book Review

This book is a heart warming story about a man and girl trying to find a place to fit in in this world. The story is set back in 1887 Spencer, TX.

The man, Levi, has been trained in his father's profession, a blacksmith, but before he found Christ he loved to fight. His fighting found him a place in prison. After prison he finds himself working as a blacksmith in the town of Spencer. He is attracted to Eden, the town's librarian.

Eden has vowed to herself she will not fall for a man for awhile since her previous relationship with one left her without reason. All she wants is to run her library in peace, but when she meets Levi, she can't help but fall in love with this man.

The story of these two people will have you laughing and on the edge of your seat at all times. I enjoyed this book and would recommend this book to anyone that loves Christian fiction romance.

To read a sample chapter please go to To Win Her Heart.
by Karen Witemeyer

ISBN: 978-0-7642-0757-0

Price: $14.99

Format: Paperback

I received this book from Bethany House Publishers for free in exchange for an honest review. Please go to Bethany House Publishers to buy yourself a copy!!

Bryton Pick Review!

I received two Bryton Picks to review and I absolutely love them!!! Bryton Picks can be carrying anywhere and can fit into your wallet or purse or even your pocket! Don't you just hate it when you go out to eat and order a steak and come to find out you don't have a toothpick? Well no more worries with Bryton Pick you can just reach into your purse and pull it out! The Bryton Pick will not get stuck between your teeth with the flexible stainless steel edges. You can reuse a Bryton Pick for 30 days before you would need to replace it. The rounded and blunt edges cut down your risk of cutting your gums or injuring dental work.

Bryton Pick is made in the USA from recyclable material! Please visit BrytonPick.com and take a look at it!!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by BrytonPick.com

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.