Blog Tour & Book Review: More than Conquerors

I had agreed to review this book prior to starting Proud Book Nerd. As such, the expectation is that it'll be posted here at Ramblings & More. I believe that this is the last book review I'll do here on Ramblings, but I am not 100% certain.

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Title: More than Conquerors

Author: Kathi Macias

Author Bio: Kathi Macias is a multi-award winning writer and radio show host who has authored 30 books and ghostwritten several others. A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Kathi has taught creative and business writing in various venues and has been a guest on many radio and television programs. Kathi is a popular speaker at churches, women’s clubs and retreats, and writers’ conferences, and recently won the prestigious 2008 member of the year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) at the annual Golden Scrolls award banquet. Kathi “Easy Writer” Macias lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband, Al, where the two of them spend their free time riding their Harley.

You can find Kathi online at www.kathimacias.com and at her blog http://kathieasywritermacias.blogspot.com.

Book Summary: With violent crime on the rise and the political climate changing throughout Mexico, the opportunity for open Christian witness is rapidly decreasing in many areas. Hector Rodriguez pastors a church on the outskirts of the once-peaceful and tourist-popular border town of Tijuana. He has also visited other small churches in the remote and not-so-Christian-friendly towns of Chiapas state, delivering Bibles and ministering to those in the most persecuted areas.

Hector’s mother accompanied him on one of those trips and stayed behind to teach reading—using the Bible as her primer—to a handful of Christian converts living among the Mayan population in San Juan Chamula, where superstition and paganism run rampant, and resentment of outsiders runs deep. In a reaction to that superstition and resentment, Hector’s mother pays a serious price for her unwanted presence—and Hector must then choose whether or not to continue his work in some of the most dangerous areas of Mexico.

My Thoughts: This is the second book in the Extreme Devotion Series, and I like it better than the first. I can't quite put my finger on why, but I do. Perhaps because, while there still was violence, it wasn't nearly as violent as the first one, No Greater Love. This story highlighted the hope we have in Christ, and how God can reach anyone – even those people might consider the most unlikely candidates for conversion. While the family featured in this goes through much pain and loss, there also are great reasons for celebration. We also see that God truly does work everything out according to His plan. My favorite thing was seeing how God protected His people later in the story. The characters were likable and their devotion to God was inspiring. I found myself wanting to hear from God as clearly as these people do. I do feel I must say that the editing was sub-par. There are a couple of instances when the pronoun used didn't make sense, and I had to guess that it should be "she" instead of "he" – or vice versa. There also were some missing quotation marks and missing paragraph breaks. I read this book for enjoyment, but found these errors distracting. That said, overall this was an enjoyable story filled with hope and inspiration.

Source: Sent for review.

Book Trailer: I've seen these on other blogs, and thought I'd see if there's one for this book. There is.

Own It: Get your copy of More than Conquerors HERE.

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If you enjoyed this and would like to read more of my reviews, please join me at Proud Book Nerd.

Blog Tour & Book Review: No Greater Love

Happy Monday! I know I'd said that all future book-related posts would be over on Proud Book Nerd, but I had some previous commitments that were made when this was the place for EVERYTHING. So, I need to make good on those.

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Title: No Greater Love

Author: Kathi Macias

Summary: Forbidden romance, an unlikely martyr, and an even more unlikely hero. Orphaned four years earlier when their parents, active in the African National Congress ANC movement against Apartheid, were murdered, 16-year-old Chioma and her 15-year-old brother Masozi now live and work on an Afrikaner family’s farm. When Chioma and Andrew, the farm owner’s son, find themselves attracted to one another, tragedy revisits their lives. Chioma escapes to join an ANC rebel band in her effort to survive and gain revenge for her family and culture. When cultures clash in life-or-death struggles, Chioma must choose between violence and revenge or forgiveness and selfless love. Loosely based on historical events and set near Pretoria, South Africa, just prior to the setting of the popular movie Invictus, during the violent upheaval prior to ANC leader Nelson Mandela’s release from prison and his ascendance to the presidency of South Africa, this story of forbidden romance produces an unlikely martyr who is replaced by one even more unlikely.

My thoughts: Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was an interesting story with compelling characters. I vaguely remember hearing about Apartheid when I was a kid, and this book made me want to learn more about it. As the story unfolded, I could kinda guess how some elements were going to play out, but there were still other things that were surprises. I did find it a little hard for me to get into at first, but after a few chapters I was drawn in. While I could guess at what the meanings of the words that aren't in English, I would have liked a glossary or something to define the italicized words in the book. (I'm not sure what language it is.) Despite that, I would recommend this book, and I look forward to reading the second book in the series, More than Conquerors.

Source: Sent by the author for review.

Own It: Get your copy of No Greater Love HERE.

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See my other book reviews on my book blog, Proud Book Nerd.

Book Review & GIVEAWAY: This Little Prayer of Mine

Title: This Little Prayer of Mine

Author: Anthony DeStefano, Illustrated by Mark Elliott

Summary: Author Anthony DeStefano’s adult books, The Prayers God Always Says Yes To and A Travel Guide to Heaven, have sold a quarter-million copies. Illustrator Mark Elliott’s cherished artwork has appeared in popular picture books and novels for young readers, including Gail Carson Levine’s ever-popular Princess Tales series.

Now, these acclaimed inspirational experts have come together to create This Little Prayer of Mine, a beautiful and alluring book designed to guide children into a very simple, real and expressive relationship with God.

Through engaging rhymes and alluring illustrations, This Little Prayer of Mine shows children—and their parents and grandparents—that complete dependence on God is what brings peace and fulfillment. It invites children to know and believe that God is always just a simple prayer away and that He longs to respond to them with a resounding, “Yes!”

This Little Prayer of Mine appeals to readers from all different faiths. Easy-reader format allows children to read alone, or with someone older, and encourages them to openly express their fears, thanks, and needs directly to God.

Author Bio: Anthony DeStefano is the author of The Prayers God Always Says Yes To and A Travel Guide to Heaven. He has received prestigious awards from religious organizations worldwide for his efforts to advance Christian beliefs in modern culture.

Mark Elliott’s brilliant illustrations have appeared in popular picture books and novels for young readers, including Gail Carson Levine’s Princess Tales series. His acclaimed artwork delivers inspiration, wonder, and timeless beauty on every page.

My thoughts: This is a very cute, sweet story about praying to God. It shows children all the different times we can pray – when we're sad, when we're lonely, when we're scared, etc. It also shows how to ask God's forgiveness when we're not acting as we should. The illustrations are absolutely lovely and go perfectly with the story. Very detailed, my children and I enjoyed really looking through them. This book would be a great addition to any child's library!

Source: This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Own It: Get your own copy of This Little Prayer of Mine HERE.

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*****WIN IT*****

I have one copy to give away to one lucky reader!

To Enter: Submit your entry using the MckLinky below (you can leave the first box, labeled "entry content," blank). Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. (Central) Monday, April 19. A winner will be chosen randomly with the help of random.org. I will send the lucky winner an e-mail notification. (It will come from ramblings.more(at)gmail(dot)com, so make sure to add this address to your safe list or address book to ensure it doesn't get lost in junk/bulk mail.) If I do not get a response within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen. Unfortunately, this giveaway is only open to readers in the U.S. No P.O. boxes.

Speaking of GIVEAWAYS: Don't forget to enter my other giveaways!

The GIVEAWAY for Here Burns My Candle ends on April 9!

Enter to win An Absence So Great by April 15 HERE!

GIVEAWAY: An Absence So Great

I hate doing this, but I have to post this without a review. I just have not had the time to finish the book yet. I am guessing I can finish it tomorrow, while we're on the way to visit family (5 hours in the car), but I won't be able to blog about it then. So, in order to be faithful to my commitment to post about it this week, I have decided to post without a review. So, my plan is simple: make this post with the description, my thoughts on it as of where I'm at in it, and the GIVEAWAY. I'll post a review when I'm finished!

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Title: An Absence So Great

Author: Jane Kirkpatrick

Summary: Inspired by the engaging stories told through her grandmother’s photographs taken at the turn of the century, award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick provides a portrait of the tension between darkness and light in the soul of a young woman pursuing her professional dreams.

Despite growing in confidence as a photographer, eighteen-year-old Jessie Ann Gaebele’s personal life is still at a crossroads. Hoping she’s put an unfortunate romantic longing behind her as “water under the bridge,” she exiles herself to Milwaukee to operate photographic studios for those ill with mercury poisoning.

Jessie gains footing on her dream to one day own her own studio and soon finds herself in other Midwest towns, pursuing her profession. But even a job she loves can’t keep those painful memories from seeping into her heart, and the shadows of a forbidden love threaten to darken the portrait of her life.

Author Bio: Jane Kirkpatrick is an award-winning author of sixteen historical novels, including A Flickering Light, the first part of Jessie Gaebale’s story, and three nonfiction titles. Known for her unique insights into the exploration of community, family and faith of actual historical women, the Wisconsin native and her husband have called their ranch in Oregon home for the past 25 years.

My Thoughts: I'm having a hard time getting into it, I think largely because I haven't read the first book in this series. I think it has the potential to be very good, but frequent references to the back story make it hard for me to get into it. I think what I'm going to do is get my hands on A Flickering Light, read that one, then come back and try again. I have a feeling that once I know what came before, I'll be VERY eager to read this one – especially since the references to the first part of the story really make me WANT to know what happened!

Source: This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Read It: Get your own copy of An Absence So Great HERE.

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*****WIN IT*****

I have one copy to give away to one lucky reader!

To Enter: Submit your entry using the MckLinky below (you can leave the first box, labeled "entry content," blank). Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. (Central) Thursday, April 15. A winner will be chosen randomly with the help of random.org. I will send the lucky winner an e-mail notification. (It will come from ramblings.more(at)gmail(dot)com, so make sure to add this address to your safe list or address book to ensure it doesn't get lost in junk/bulk mail.) If I do not get a response within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen. Unfortunately, this giveaway is only open to readers in the U.S. No P.O. boxes.

Speaking of GIVEAWAYS: Don't forget to enter my other GIVEAWAY for Here Burns My Candle! 

Book Review & GIVEAWAY: Here Burns My Candle

Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs

From the back cover: Lady Elisabeth Kerr is a keeper of secrets. A Highlander by birth and a Lowlander by marriage, she honors the auld ways, even as doubts and fears stir deep within her.

Her husband, Lord Donald, has secrets of his own, well hidden from the household, yet whispered among the town gossips.

His mother, the dowager Lady Marjory, hides gold beneath her floor and guilt inside her heart. Though her two abiding passions are maintaining her place in society and coddling her grown sons, Marjory’s many regrets, buried in Greyfriars Churchyard, continue to plague her.

One by one the Kerr family secrets begin to surface, even as bonny Prince Charlie and his rebel army ride into Edinburgh in September 1745, intent on capturing the crown.

A timeless story of love and betrayal, loss and redemption, flickering against the vivid backdrop of eighteenth-century Scotland, Here Burns My Candle illumines the dark side of human nature, even as hope, the brightest of tapers, lights the way home.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My review: Very good book. Very. So, why only four stars? It was too sad. Too much loss, too much crying, too little happiness. I know it reflects the time period during which it occurs, but add to all that this book clearly was written with a sequel planned. The end isn't much of an end, and after finishing I found an advertisement for the next book – coming next spring! I hate that! So, while it was a VERY well-written story with very good characters, I just couldn't give it the full five stars. Four and a half would've been my preference, but Goodreads doesn't allow! ;-)

Source: Sent by the publisher for review.

Get your own copy: One lucky reader will win a FREE copy of this Here Burns My Candle! (Entry details are below.) For the rest of you, it can be purchased HERE.

View all of my Goodreads.com reviews >>

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GIVEAWAY

The publisher has graciously sent me an extra copy of this book to give to a lucky reader! It was VERY good, and I'm very excited to be sharing one with you!

To enter: Submit your entry using the MckLinky below (you can leave the first box, labeled "entry content," blank). Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. (Central) Friday, April 9. A winner will be chosen randomly with the help of random.org. I will send the lucky winner an e-mail notification. If I do not get a response within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen. Unfortunately, this giveaway is only open to readers in the U.S. No P.O. boxes.

Book Review: Yesterday's Promise

Yesterday's Promise by Linda Lee Chaikin


My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Summary: Rogan Chantry faces danger from tribesmen, ruthless politicians, and his own family as he searches for gold in South Africa. In England, his beloved Evy is injured by a mysterious assailant. The greed and intrigue surrounding the diamond mines could very well drive them irrevocably apart.

My review: Before reading this book, I was disappointed to find out that this was Book 2 in a series. I hate starting a series (not just books, but anything - TV shows, movies, etc.) anywhere but the beginning. Normally, I would table the book until I'd read the previous one in the series. But, I had agreed to read this one and post a review this week. As this was one of two books I was to review this week, I didn't have the time to read Book 1 in this series. I wish I had. I found that there was much in this book that had me questioning if I'd know what was being referred to if I had read Book 1. There were many events and circumstances referenced that I was completely clueless about. So, I don't know that this would be a stand-alone title. I think I would have enjoyed this book much more if I had read Tomorrow's Treasure first.

That said, overall I did like the book. While it took me awhile - meaning at least a few chapters - to get into it, I soon found myself unwilling to put it down. In fact, I read the last hundred-plus pages today. I think part of why I couldn't get into it at first was because this book starts (and continues) with the assumption that I'm familiar with the back story. But, once I got into it, I found the story and the characters quite interesting.

I now feel that I have to read Tomorrow's Treasure - to get the first part of the story into my head. Then I'd like to re-read this one. Hopefully it'll be a bit easier to read once I'm familiar with the earlier story in the series. Although, I do fear that knowing how this one plays out means that I'll have much in the first book actually ruined. But, it's more about finding out what happened before.

So, if this book sounds interesting to you, I suggest you start with Tomorrow's Treasure first, then read this one. I would guess that this one is quite good if read after the first in the series!

Source: Sent by publisher for review.

Get your own: You can get your own copy of Yesterday's Promise HERE.

Note: This is the second of two books reviewed as part of this week's Spring Value Fiction Blog tour, which features six full-length novels priced at $5.99 (according to the press release I received). The other book review of Beneath a Southern Sky can be found HERE.

View all of my GoodReads.com reviews >>

Book Review: Beneath a Southern Sky

Beneath a Southern Sky by Deborah Raney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary: Daria Camfield is expecting her first child when her husband Nate is reported dead on the mission field. Devastated, she returns to the States and soon marries again. But two years later Nate is found alive in the jungle. How can Daria possibly choose between the two men who love her?

My Review: I hadn't heard of Deborah Raney before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Long story short: I'll be looking to read more of Raney's books, because this one was GOOD.

I like how this is a Christian book, but it's not preachy. The references to God and the praying in the book felt natural - they fit with when I'd find such things in my own life. I like the natural Christianity in the book, rather the the oftentimes overly preachy references in other Christian fiction.

The plot was good. It showed that the consequences of not listening to that still small voice often are quite painful - not just for those refusing to submit, but also for their loved-ones. The choices we make in our walk with God aren't just about us - they affect everyone we know to some degree or another. Those most dear to us likely are most affected by it. This book served as a good reminder for me to make sure to be in tune to God's prompting in my heart, and to strive to be in His will.


Source: This book was sent by the publisher for review.

Get Your Own Copy: Interested? Purchase your own copy here.

Note: This is the first of two books that I will be reviewing as part of this week's Spring Value Fiction Blog tour, which features six full-length novels priced at $5.99. Look for my review of Yesterday's Promise later this week.

View all of my GoodReads reviews >>

GIVEAWAY & Book Review: Hear No Evil

Hear No Evil: Marching in the Lord's Army, Fleeing the Devil, and Finding a Righteous Groove by Matthew Paul Turner

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars (note: on Goodreads.com, it is 4 stars, because they do not have half-star ratings)

Summary: A collection of wise, compelling, and often uproariously funny essays built around the experience of music as a transformational element in a moment of truth, Hear No Evil mines Matthew Paul Turner’s humorous memories of his evangelical youth and invites readers to groove along on his journey.

From attending forbidden contemporary Christian concerts to moving to “Music City” Nashville, Hear No Evil chronicles Turner’s “life soundtrack” which morphs seamlessly into the stories of people, places, and experiences that have taught the music-editor-turned-author some new things about God, forced him out of his comfort zone, and introduced him to a fresh view of grace along the way.

If you’ve ever had the opening bars of a song transport you back in time or remind you of a pivotal spiritual moment, Matthew Paul Turner’s honest—and frequently hilarious—musings will strike a chord. Straight forward and amusing, Hear No Evil is an exploration of a life of faith lived to a personal soundtrack.

My review: Matthew Paul Turner grew up in a very strict - fundamentalist - church/family. I didn't realize just how sheltered some people are - and how extreme fundamentalists can be! Oddly, though, despite my growing up in a Charismatic church, I was almost as sheltered as he was. Especially when it came to music. I attended a church that STRONGLY discouraged listening to secular music. In fact, I remember a time when one of the youth leaders gave me a bunch of free CDs in exchange for old secular music of mine - which was then destroyed! Despite my "best" attempts, I've never stuck to listening to strictly Christian music for long. Anyway, because of this and similar experiences, I found myself able to relate in a way I never would've guessed!

Back to the book. I'm jealous of Turner! I'd love to work for CCM, and to meet AMY GRANT! She's the ONE artist I've been a fan of all my life. She's the person I always say I'd meet if I could meet ONE person. I would love to get to read the story he originally wrote from the interview he mentions in this book. I couldn't believe the piousness of his boss in regards to Amy's life! Apparently this man was just plain BLIND because of the REDWOOD TREE in his own eye!

This was a very enjoyable read, and I thought it was quite interesting to see some things about how the Christian music industry works behind the scenes. There were things I never would've even guessed - but makes a lot of sense.

Anyone who LOVES music (I often say it's my passion) should read this book!

Source: This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Get your own copy: I was sent ONE extra copy to give away FOR FREE to my readers. So, please fill out the McLinky form below. Make sure to include your e-mail address (only visible by ME) so I can contact you if you are the winner! This contest is open through 2 a.m. CENTRAL time on Monday, February 22. I will announce the winner (to be randomly selected with the help of random.org) within 24 hours.

If you do not win, you can purchase your own copy here.

View all my GoodReads reviews >>

Book Review: Love & War

Love and War: Finding the Marriage You've Dreamed Of by John and Stasi Eldredge
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary: What the Eldredge bestsellers "Wild at Heart" did for men, and "Captivating" did for women, LOVE & WAR will do for married couples everywhere. John and Stasi Eldredge have contributed the quintessential works on Christian spirituality through the experience of men and the experience of women and now they turn their focus to the incredible dynamic between those two forces.

With refreshing openness that will grab readers from the first page, the Eldredges candidly discuss their own marriage and the insights they’ve gained from the challenges they faced. Each talks independently to the reader about what they’ve learned, giving their guidance personal immediacy and a balance between the male and female perspectives that has been absent from all previous books on this topic. They begin LOVE & WAR with an obvious but necessary acknowledgment: Marriage is fabulously hard. They advise that the sooner we get the shame and confusion off our backs, the sooner we'll find our way through.

LOVE & WAR shows couples how to fight for their love and happiness, calling men and women to step into the great adventure God has waiting for them together. Walking alongside John and Stasi Eldredge, every couple can discover how their individual journeys are growing into a story of meaning much greater than anything they could do or be on their own.

My review: I had heard of John Eldredge, so I was excited to have a chance to read something he'd written.

This book is VERY good. VERY insightful. It is a Christian book about marriage, and it talks all about what God intended marriage to be. It was an eye-opener, insofar as it really helped me see why Satan is trying to hard to undermine marriage - not only by attacking intact marriage, but also by convincing people that it's irrelevant and by perverting something beautiful created by God himself.

I have considered myself blessed in my marriage. My husband and I are a great match, and we seem to be in an awesome place. This book served as a reminder that this likely is the calm before the storm. Satan's not going to let us revel in our harmonious marriage long before striking and attempting to destroy what we have. This book has made me more watchful, more mindful, and more prayerful.

I highly recommend this book to all married couples, all engaged couples, AND anyone who wants to get married someday. There are issues from our past that can greatly affect our marriages. This book tells us how to defeat those - and I figure you don't have to wait until you're married/engaged to start fighting those battles!

Get your own copy of the book:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385529808
This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

View all my reviews >>