Veiled Rose by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

This is the first fantasy book that I have read as an adult, and I have to say...I LOVED it!!  Veiled Rose is the second book in the Tales of Goldstone Wood series.  This story details how Prince Lionheart (Leo) and Rose Red met as children, and weaves a tale of unexpected friendship.  Rose Red is considered a monster by the villagers, so she wears a veil to cover herself and hides in the forest.  Leo does not see her in that way, and only sees the true friend that she is.  They go on many adventures, one of which is to catch the "monster" that is hiding somewhere in the mountains.  The monster is very real, and both of them will go on their own quest to defeat it.  I would have liked to have read the first book in the series, but it was not necessary since this book definitely stands on its own.  Give this book a try, even if you never read fantasy, because this story is beautifully written and captivating.

I received this book from the publisher in order to write an honest, unbiased review.

Earthen Vessels by Matthew Lee Anderson

Earthen Vessels is about realizing that your actual physical body is an important part of worship to God.  I don't exactly agree with all of the statements that the book makes, but the author does give a good platform for discussion.  This book discusses such topics as tattoos, pleasure, and homosexuality.  Some of the other topics didn't seem to have much to do with the body at all.  I really didn't care too much for this style of writing because it was a bit boring, and just seemed to graze the surface instead of going deep.  I can't highly recommend it, but it does have some good qualities.

I received this book free from the publisher to write an honest, unbiased review.

Inside Threat by Jason Elam and Steve Yohn

Inside Threat is not the style of book that I would normally read,  but I thought it sounded interesting and decided to give it a try.  It has a great story, great plot, and suprising ending.  I am so glad that I chose this book!  Riley Covington is a Christian,  professional football player and former counterterrorism agent.  He was in love with Khadi Faroughi, a Muslim woman, that he worked with on the counterterrorism team. Khadi becomes a hostage of a homegrown terrorist organization, and Riley comes to her rescue.  Riley faces his feelings for her, and Khadi faces the truth about her faith and the one True God.  This is a fast paced, action packed thriller that you will have a hard time putting down.   I received this book free from the publisher in order to write an unbiased, honest review.

The Canary List by Sigmund Brouwer

If I could describe this book in one word, it would have to be "thrilling"!  The book kept me guessing until the end...and then honestly, it still left me guessing.  Jaimie Piper is a 12 year old foster child that has moved around from home to home, never fitting in anywhere.  She has a special gift that is also her biggest problem.  She can sense evil.  Running for her life, she goes to one of the only people that she can trust, Crockett Grey, her teacher.  Crockett has his own demons that he is dealing with, and Jaimie just adds to the mix placing him in a terrible situation.  This book has layer upon layer of mystery, intrigue, and secrets that even involve the Vatican.  I want to write more, but I don't want to ruin any of the surprises for future readers.  I loved this book and highly recommended it!

I received this book for free from the publisher to write an unbiased, honest review.

A Heart Most Worthy by Siri Mitchell

I thought this was a very interesting story about three young Italian immigrants living in Boston.  Julietta is a headstrong, rule-breaker who has plans to do as she pleases, and love who she pleases.  Annamaria is the ultimate "good girl" who always does as she is told, and knows her place in her family.  Luciana is struggling with her fall from fortune, and trying to survive the assassin who killed her father.  All three young ladies come together at Madame Fortier's dress shop, where they work on the third floor using their talents to create gowns for the wealthy.   Julietta, Annamaria, and Luciana overcome their fears, turn to God, and realize the plans He has for their lives in very different ways.  There is a history lesson to be learned from this story on how Italian immigrants were viewed in the early 1900's, along with a fantastic tale of romance, danger, faith, and family all rolled into one.   I thoroughly enjoyed the author's writing style and storytelling, and would recommend this book to my friends!

Bethany House Publishers sent me this book for free so that I could write a non-biased review.

Larkspur Cove by Lisa Wingate

Larkspur Cove is a fantastic read!  Andrea and her 14 year old son have returned to her childhood home in Moses Lake, Texas after suffering through a rough divorce, not to mention a deep humiliation caused by her ex-husband in her former church.  She lived the "perfect" life back in Houston, and is hurt that God was not there for her during her turmoil.  In all actuality, she has turned her back on God and deprived her son of a relationship with Him as well.  Through meeting Mart, who has baggage of his own, and her new job as a counselor for CPS referred cases, she finds her way back to the God that never left her or forsake her, but led her through her pain and grief to find joy and meaning on the other side.   There are so many wonderful characters in this book that have their own unique imprint on the lives of Andrea and Mart, but none greater than Len and Birdie.  Through this story, the reader will look at Len not just as a slow-witted, hygiene challenged old man, but as a caring and compassionate person who has much to give and share with his granddaughter, Birdie.  Birdie has been through too much in her short life, and the only safety she finds is with Len.  I highly recommend this book!  It made me think twice about judging outside appearances and really looking at the heart of a person.
I received this book free fron the publisher in order to write a review.  The opinions expressed are my own and I have not been asked to write a favorable review.

Deeper into the Word: New Testament by Keri Wyatt Kent

Deeper into the Word: New Testament is a wonderful tool to use when diving into your bible.  There are 100 words that are shown within scriptual passages, and they are broken down and explained by examining it in Greek, and the original meaning of the word is unearthed.  New light is shed on passages that have been previously read, and a deeper and richer connection is made to the Word.  This book has been very helpful and interesting to me.  I've read it alone, and have also gone back to it when studying the scripture.  I would almost describe it as a reference/devotional book, and I think it would be very useful for readers of all levels. 
In the back, there is a Greek index and also an appendix of websites that are useful for bible study.  This is a fantastic book!

I received this book free from the publisher in order to write a review.  I was not obligated to write a positive review, only to write my own opinion of the book.

Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs

Elizabeth Kerr, and her mother-in-law, Marjory, have traveled to Selkirk to hopefully start over agian.  They are both widows, and have found themselves on the wrong side of the Scottish crown.  Their land, titles, and money have been stripped from them, so they must depend on the mercy of a cousin who is also destitute.  Through all of their struggles, the one constant that has remained the same is their unwavering faith in
God and His protection.  This is a beautiful story of God's redemption.  I felt very inspired by both of these characters, and could completely relate to the doubts they may have had about themselves.  Even when all looks lost (like Marjory losing both of her children), God has the ability to heal and restore all situations.  This story also had it's share of romance without ever compromising morality.  I love this book and would recommend it to all  readers who are fans of historical fiction.

I received this book free from the publisher in order to write a review.  I was not obligated to write a positive review, only to write my own opinion of the book.

Journey to Riverbend by Henry McLaughlin

Journey to Riverbend is a good book that weaves the truth of God's love and redemption throughout.  I loved everything about the story, except I longed to read a better ending.  The ending showed a promise of what to come, but not the actual fullfillment.  That is the only thing I would have added!
 Michael Archer travels to Riverbend to fulfill the dying wish of Ben Carstairs, a young man that was wrongly convicted of a crime and put to death.  Ben longed to make amends with his father, Sam, but was not able to before he was killed.  Michael, who ministered to Ben, promised to go see Sam Carstairs in his place.  Michael meets a young woman named Rachel when he gets to Riverbend.  Even though they both have a troubled past, they have become believers of Jesus and have tried to go on with their lives.  They both have feelings for each other, but Rachel is not sure she is ready for love.   Soon, it becomes clear that Sam has been kidnapped, so Michael joins a posse to look for him so that he can finish his mission.  During his absence from Riverbend, Michael and Rachel both realized their true feelings for each other.  There are many extra characters and plots within the this story that keep it interesting!

I received this book free from the publisher in order to write a review.  I was not obligated to write a positive review, only to write my own opinion of the book.

Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones

I absolutely LOVED this book!  Jenny Jones is a wonderful author, bringing real world problems such as poor self-image, poverty, guilt, etc., and weaves them into a fantastic, "feel good" novel.  The book is based in Charleston, South Carolina, and showcases the extremes on the social spectrum.  Lucy is the founder of Saving Grace, which is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing a home and training for young women who would otherwise be out on the street and on their own after their foster care ended at 18 years of age.  Lucy is about to lose her funding for Saving Grace, so she enters into a contract with Alex Sinclair to fake an engagement in order to win an election for Congress.  Alex, a former pro-football player and member of the Charleston elite, will in turn give her the money she needs to keep her non-profit going.  They go into this as less than friends, but soon develop feelings for each other.  After learning about the person behind the facade, Lucy realizes that there is more to Alex than she gave him credit for.  Lucy  is not the type of person that Alex normally dates, which is exactly what makes her stand out.  This is a great romance story that made me long to learn even more about this couple.  I would love a sequel!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

The Power Based Life by Mike Flynt

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started to read this book, but it sure exceeded any expectations that I might have had.  Mike Flynt has dedicated his life to helping others, and this book follows right along that path.  He has created twelve strategies to guide you toward finding a more satisfying and purposeful life.  There are many sports stories/analogies that makes this very relatable to men (my husband included!), but also still very impactful for women.  I like how he uses scripture references to back up his writing.  I recommend this book to anyone looking to discover their God-given purpose in life.

I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers in order to write a review.  I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions expressed are my own.

Possession by Rene Gutteridge

Possession is a hard book to put down!  Vance Graegan, a retired police officer who worked the DC sniper case, and his wife, Lindy, decide to put the past behind them and move out to California to get a fresh start on life.  Everything seems fine with the move, until the the moving company decides to hold their belongings for an extra $8000.  This looks like a scam at first, but it becomes clear there is more to the story and it may have to do with the DC sniper case.  During this fiasco, Vance is still fighting his demons from the past, showing signs of PTSD.  An old collegue steps back into the picture and makes a bad situation even worse.  The twists and turns of this book keep the reader engaged and suprised.  I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good thriller.

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.