I bought some books for myself at Christmas time and
now have been able to read them, they were worth the wait J (some of them I won in giveaways-two of the
books I purchased were a disappointment so I will not be commenting on them)
Summaries and cover photos are
from goodreads.com unless otherwise noted.
**Putting this post
together was SO much fun and it was SUCH a pleasure to read these books....I was
super blessed by each of them and I got to love the characters from each story**
Windchaser
by Krissi Dallas **5 Stars** krissidallas.com
Whoa, what a
great story/ride!! Love how the first
part talks about three best friends who meet at Camp Fusion; Whitnee, Morgan
and Caleb. They each have suffered a
death in the family at a young age and were sent to Camp Fusion to deal with
that grief, get counseling, get assigned to a mentor who is like a camp leader
that listens and spends one-on-one time with them, and meet other campers who
are experiencing the same or similar losses.
Does this camp really exist (without the time travel part)? It should.
All of this takes place in Texas.
However, there’s a mystery with Camp Fusion and because of a camper that
one day goes missing and then is found in California wandering around, no one
is allowed to cross the Frio Lake to see what’s on the other side. Then again, Whitnee needs answers. Twice she has thought to see her deceased
father watching her from the other side of that lake, her nightmares have
intensified since coming back to Camp Fusion, and she’s convinced she’ll figure
out how all of this is connected if she can just find out for herself what’s
over there!
Well Whitnee
gets her wish and finds herself on an island from another world. This is where the real adventure begins,
wow! I read the first 100 pages of this
book without pausing, it grabbed me from the start. I lost all sense of time as I read it and I
easily fell inlove with these three best friends. Whitnee discovers she has powers and learns
what life is like on White Island. I
truly enjoyed how Dallas creates this incredible world without overwhelming the
reader with details. The book ends kind
of suddenly making it clear that more will be answered in the sequel, Windfall. My hope is that during Whitnee’s journey she
will come to know Christ and develop a faith in Him that she doesn’t have
already. However, Windchaser is a solid
read and one I highly recommend. At the
back of the book is a quiz:
Are you
wondering which Phantom Island tribe you belong to?
Of the following, which colors do I like most?
a. Gray and purple
b. Green and yellow
c. Red and gold
d. Blue and white
When I am making weekend plans, I typically…
a. Like a party atmosphere—lots of
people, excitement, and energy
b. Like to hang out with just my closest
friends.
c. Only do what I feel like doing when
the time comes.
d. Am happy if everyone else is
happy—fun can happen anywhere!
When conflict arises between a friend and me, how do I handle
it?
a. I like to talk openly through the
problem until it is resolved.
b. I tend to be as honest as possible,
even if it hurts.
c. I have to take some time alone to
calm down first or I might say something I regret.
d. I run away from the problem, because
I just don’t like conflict.
I believe problems are best solved
with…
a. Good communication among people.
b. Logical and unemotional evaluation of
the situation.
c. Empathy-the ability to feel what
other people feel.
d. Compromise, so that everyone gives in
a little.
The kind of work I am best at is…
a. When I work with my mind/intelligence.
b. When I work with nature/animals.
c. When I work with my hands/building.
d. When I work with
people/relationships.
If I got to plan the perfect vacation, I would go to…
a. The beach
b. The forest or national parks
c. The mountains
d. Anywhere I can play in the water!
Which of the following options do I find the most calming/peaceful?
a. The feel of air/wind
b. The sights of nature
c. The warmth of a fire
d. The sounds of moving water
My bedroom is first arranged so that it is…
a. Decorative and beautiful.
b. Practical and useful.
c. Comfortable the way I like it.
d. The way my friends/family like it.
When it comes to my relationships with people, I’m really good at…
a. Communicating and understanding their
thoughts.
b. Reading the motivations behind what
they say.
c. Understanding their feelings.
d. Making them feel comfortable.
Which of the following areas do you find deep meaning?
a. music/books
b. sports/outdoors
c. art/movies
d. traveling/life experience
Count up how
many of each you have!
_____MOSTLY
A…AERODORA
_____MOSTLY
B…GEODORA
_____MOSTLY
C…PYRADORA
_____MOSTLY
D…HYDRODORA
NOTE: If you
have a tie among tribes, pick the one YOU want to be in!
and I’m
thrilled I got it! I knew this book was
worth 5 stars in the FIRST two pages and the story DOES NOT disappoint at any
point along the way. This is Wade’s
first book??!! She absolutely writes a
bestseller with heart, hope, humor, and finding out how God can use brokenness
even in a stubborn heart. If it were
possible, I’d bestow 6 or 7 stars on this book easily. I fell in love with Kate’s character right
away and if she were real, I’d want her for a best friend. I so understood her feelings, her faith, and her fears in every part of the story and
anything she experienced I was right there with her. I have very little in common with her (I’m
not into antiques or taffy), but I totally related to the inability and not
wanting to cook. Watching the friendship
between her and Matt develop and grow while Kate puts all her creativity and
efforts into restoring Chapel Bluff was such a treat and I really felt the
large house transform into a real home as they worked on it.
There is
plenty of romance, but the way Wade writes it is so subtle and precious that I
was sucked into it and turning pages to see what would be the next step. There’s a scene in Pride and Prejudice where
Darcy touches Elizabeth’s hand to help her into the carriage as she
leaves. She is surprised at his gesture
and as he walks away from the carriage, the camera focuses on his hand. His hand reacts to this touch they shared and
the viewer comes to appreciate that even that little touch has so much power in
it! That’s how it felt reading this
book. The simplest gestures, looks, body
language, conversation or lack of….speaks VOLUMES in this story! It’s a challenge to convey this in a film
much less in a book, but Wade effortlessly takes the reader through this
journey of emotions and house restoration with each character and keeps you
wanting more. I actually laughed and
cried in this one, the tension in this story is tangible, and I learned a lot
with Kate and Matt’s story. I hope Wade
continues to writes books because her storytelling skills will resonate with
readers for years to come and I’m thankful for authors like her; she has
touched me, inspired me, romanced me, and blessed me with her FIRST book,
WOW!
Here are
some discussion questions found at the back:
What do you
think of when you hear the term romance novel?
Is your immediate reaction positive or negative?
Can you
remember some of the first romances that you ever read? Can you remember some of the first Christian
novels that you ever read?
Over the
course of the book, Becky writes from both Kate’s and Matt’s point of
view. Did Matt’s point of view feel
authentic to you? Why or why not? How were Matt’s sections written differently
than Kate’s sections?
(from author's website)
This was
another Christmas gift for myself J
I absolutely love Biblical fiction, but I never know if I’m going to
connect with the story……that was NOT a problem with Prophet! By the first chapter I was hooked! Not only is Ela’s relationship with the
Infinite fascinating and precious, but I truly wanted to see her story
unfold. I was nervous the whole time
about her life span, but I was also truly amazed by her obedience knowing she’d
have to make difficult choices and sacrifices the whole time.
Ela is only
17 when she must make the decision to become the Infinite’s prophet and
immediately she must leave home and go into training. She is only able to bring enough food and
water for training and EVERY step taken she must solely rely on the Infinite’s
voice and protection. The story begins
with a vision that knocks Ela down in its intensity. She receives more visions, but that is the
only one that is detailed and the Infinite knows how much these visions drain
her so He is lessens the visions after that first one.
I was
utterly humbled reading this story and many Bible stories came up in my mind as
I read this. I thought of Jonah since he
also a prophet; Mary being told she
would give birth to the world’s Savior and her humbleness is accepting this
destiny knowing she would be shunned and judged for it; and Noah because he
also had to warn society of their wickedness and to repent before it was too
late, no one believed him either. Even
though the Infinite (Creator) is the only name God is referred to as in this
story I considered all His other names and was appreciative: Prince of Peace,
El Shaddai, Lord, Redeemer, Mighty One, Lion of Judah, King of Kings, Emmanuel,
etc.
One of my
favorite characters in the story is the horse, “Pet.” His personality, loyalty, temperament, and
strength shines throughout and it enhanced the story that much more with him
there.
I was
surprised at the harshness of the Infinite responding to Ela’s protests with
certain evil characters, it seemed like she was more compassionate than He was
(which is impossible but the Infinite is just).
The thought of ANYONE perishing in eternity without the Infinite to be
there horrified Ela with EACH person that died.
She understood what would happen if bullies in the story beat her or
mocked her and no matter what cruelties she endured, she was always more
concerned about her persecutors than she ever was about her fate. In the midst of her showing this compassion,
I understood how much the Infinite loved her and that even though the Infinite
didn’t desire anyone to suffer the consequences of hell, He knew that some
characters would reject Him no matter what proof was shown to them. He also assured Ela that there was always
hope, even to the last possible minute redemption was available to even the
worst of rulers.
Most of this
story is from Ela’s perspective, but it also shows other’s perspectives which
helps the reader understand what Ela is going through as she gets discernment
and wisdom. She experiences fear,
reluctance, questions, feelings of hysteria, physical pain more than once,
frustration, rejection, despair, protectiveness, servitude, missing her
family/nostalgic for home, peace, unworthiness, and even resignation. Even though she understands the honorable
calling she has received, she is still human and it was a treat to see her
personality and growth in the story. I
was amazed at her cooperation, contrite heart, courage, faith, and willing
attitude never knowing for certain what would happen next.
This book is
an incredible page-turner, intense, somewhat violent and it illustrates what a
holy, loving, just, and unpredictable God we serve. The signs, wonders, miracles, and impossible
things that happen in this story are accurate, tangible, humorous (love that
Pet) and even romantic. The Infinite
does not promise an easy journey for Ela, but He does make it clear to her that
He is with her the whole time and even though she has many enemies He comes
through for her like the Prince he is. I
highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction,
supernatural occurrences (there are angels and even a little demonic
manifestation in the journey), and a feisty young woman with courage beyond her
expectations who is determined to carry out all tasks instructed by the
Infinite to show His glory. To read how
much this girl loves God was utterly precious to me, so inspiring and it really
blessed me. I sooo look forward to reading
Judge next!
Here are
some discussion questions found at the back:
What is Ela’s
first action when she realizes she is truly hearing the voice of her Creator,
the Infinite? Do you think Ela’s
response to the Infinite’s command is characteristic of a true prophet? Why or why not?
What do you
believe is Ela’s most critical personal challenge as she takes on her role as
the Infinite’s prophet? What would
trouble you the most if you were chosen to be a prophet?
From the
first page, this book had me smiling J
Another murder has taken place in Shipshewana during The Fall Festival
and this time the murderer knows all about Callie and their little town. The murderer claims that Callie has access to
a load of money that she knows nothing about and this person is threatening her
loved ones. It’s up to Callie, Deborah,
Melinda, Esther, their families, and the police department to find out how to
stop this murderer without anyone else getting hurt.
It’s
difficult to have sympathy for a man who murders an old woman then attempts to
hurt a dog, children, and a police officer.
This person is either desperate or extremely dangerous or both!
The reader
does not get to witness Callie dumping iced tea on anyone in this book (read
the book Falling to Pieces for that wonderful scene), but in Material Witness
we get to read about her falling in love which is also unchartered territory
for Callie. However, her feisty behavior
is enjoyed throughout the book.
Even though
there is sweet romance in this story, the most enjoyable part was watching the
Amish community, Callie’s friends and their families, band together in
unexpected ways to find this killer while keeping Callie and Max safe. This community watches out for their own and
even though they are a peaceful bunch, they still take risks in doing the right
thing. I was eager to see who Callie
falls in love with. Even though it wasn’t
the man I had initially hoped it would be, I was very pleased with Callie’s
choice and Chapman does an excellent job making this man a perfect match for
Callie. One of the characters in the
story watched a John Wayne movie so there are several references to that.
This book
isn’t a typical page-turner, but it’s a wonderful conclusion to the series and
it’s a treat to see how everything gets resolved. I highly recommend it. This book can be considered a stand alone,
but my suggestion is to read the other two books before it so the reader will
fully understand each relationship and why Callie feels hesitancy about certain
things. Chapman does an amazing job
describing the friendship Callie experiences with Deborah, Melinda, and Esther
but that friendship slowly blossoms from the first book. The next book I will be reading by this
author is the ebook, A Simple Amish Christmas.
Here are
some discussion questions found at the back:
In chapter
10, Melinda realizes, maybe for the first time, that the killer could be after
her son. She has a moment of panic, and
then remembers the words found in Jeremiah 29:11. Only part of the scripture is included in the
chapter. The entire verse is one of my
favorites. “For I know the thoughts that
I think toward you,” declares the Lord, “thoughts of peace and not of evil, to
give you a future and a hope.” Has
there been a time in your life when this scripture has brought you comfort?
At the
beginning of chapter 17, Melinda recalls her mother’s advice, the biblical
advice to “lean not unto your own understanding.” She knows this to be good advice, but knowing
it and being
Claire Forlani: This is the actress I pictured for Alexia
Okay, it’s
obvious from the beginning that this is the kind of book that will grab your attention in the same way
someone can grab the front of your shirt and insists on keeping it until the
last page. Apparently, someone is VERY
determined to destroy Alexia Allen’s life from the beginning of the story. This is the kind of book that should be made
into a movie (that’s how I pictured the plot unfolding while reading it).
Even though
Alexia is a firefighter and smokejumper (had to look this one up and found it
on Wikipedia…. A smokejumper is a wildland firefighter who parachutes
into a remote area to combat wildfires), the book only has her on active duty at the start. I really wish there had been more parts of
the story allowing her to be an active firefighter. She thinks like a first responder and
firefighter throughout the book, but she doesn’t get to play a hero in this
book as a killer hunts her down.
As
great as this story was, there were a few things I didn’t enjoy about it:
Police
officers are killed
There is
intense abuse in Alexia’s family
There are
minor characters in the story who question Alexia’s innocence
There are
some parts of the plot that are left unanswered (which leaves room for a sequel
but I really wanted more questions answered)
In spite of
the above mentioned, I was really taken with this story. One thing I loved about this book, someone
names her pets after Star Wars characters….what a treat to read about Yoda and
Chewy! When the Smoke Clears is extremely
well written, nonstop action, and there is no profanity as we watch constant
attempts on Alexia’s life and those around her.
There are three house fires, one explosion, and several unexpected
attacks so there is plenty of violence but I considered the purpose to all of
it and realized the MAIN message in this story was about forgiveness. There is much tragedy in Alexia’s family that
causes her to leave home the day she graduates from high school and so many
things go unanswered or are forgotten because of the trauma she
experienced. She has several flashbacks
in the story and finally understands all that happened. She learns how much God loves her, starts
reading her best friend’s Bible, and learns to pray for the first time. It is a nice ending and despite my not liking
everything that went on, the story had my full attention and that’s evidence of
great writing! The sequel to this book
is When
a Heart Stops.
I found the definition of geocaching
on Wikipedia: Geocaching is an
outdoor recreational activity, in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or mobile device and other
navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called
"geocaches" or "caches", anywhere in the world.
Topaz
Treasure is such an enjoyable read!
Lyssa is a Christian, but is incredibly shy when speaking about her
faith. Then she comes across Kirk
Kennedy, her college professor who was cruel to her best friend. Could he possibly be the same guy she
remembers from college? Or has his heart
finally changed for the better? If only
she didn’t feel a connection whenever she sees him, she would happily bring up
this uncomfortable conversation and get closure. There’s an unexpected surprise in the story
that makes it the perfect light-hearted read and there is indeed a treasure
that gets found.
Beneath the
Surface brings a story of opposites attract, with just the right amount of
tension and sweetness. From hostility to
humbleness, from heartbroken to healing; when Madison returns home after several
years of being mostly absent she doesn’t expect to make amends with her
family. With the help of her sister’s
neighbor, adventures in geocaching, and lots of prayer, Madison realizes there’s
so much more than what appears on the surface.
Love’s Prize
took a little longer to get my interest, but I really enjoyed the romance here
as it unfolds and the story overall adds perfectly to this book. Reagan is an accountant having some trouble
at home so her brother invites her to stay with him for the summer. His friend and fellow law student, Colton,
happily joins in the hopes that he will win the treasure hunt of geocaching
while looking after Reagan. I completely
relate to Reagan in bringing her camera along to capture the beauty and essence
of looking for caches on their excursions.
An unexpected twist in the story totally changes everything!
Welcome
Home, Love (written by Nicole O’Dell) "is dedicated to all the women—old, young,
and in between—who struggle with low self-esteem and a poor body image. Having camped there most of my life, I know
the stronghold well. May you rise up
with wings of beauty and take flight with your Savior as He gazes upon one of
His most beautiful creations—you."
With
dedications like that, my heart is won over immediately. Hadley has recently lost A LOT of weight and
is in the best shape of her life physically.
However, her mind is still catching up to this new image. She still sees herself as “the fat girl”
instead of seeing how beautiful she has always been. She has difficulty taking compliments, she is
determined to prove herself and her new strength by winning the geocache
treasure hunt, she has invested thousands of dollars to make this trip in the
hopes that NO ONE will recognize who she was before, and she immediately
catches the attention of two men. One
that broke her heart in the past and the other an obvious player. Will Hadley come to realize how beautiful and
special she is in the eyes of God? There’s
also a slight twist in this story and an adorable marriage proposal that goes
wonderfully wrong!
Each of
these stories beautifully convey messages of starting over, starting fresh,
forgiveness, healing, adventure, romance, friendship, and love in the midst of
one GREAT treasure hunt. I cannot pinpoint
which one was best because each of them have amazing characters and obstacles
to overcome. I highly recommend this
book as it gives the perfect amount of clean romance, hope, fun and faith that will
definitely enhance any booklover’s bookshelf!
