The Long Way Home By Andrew Klavan

Charlie West is back in Andrew Klavan's The Long Way Home. The sequel to the first book, The Last Thing I Remember, follows Charlie West as he runs from not only the cops, but a group of terrorists known as The Homelanders.

Charlie is desperate to clear his name and get answers to an entire year of lost memories. He heads back to his home town, where it all began. There he runs into some old friends as well as a girlfriend that he can't remember. Believing he's innocent, they try to help him get the answers he wants and the memories he lost.

This action-packed book is also full of Christian and conservative themes. I didn't find it to be overly preachy, but could definitely tell it was there. If you want to give your teenager an exciting book with good morals instead of the sexuality and violence being fed to our kids this is the book for you.

Disclaimer: I received a free book through Thomas Nelson Publishing's Book Sneeze program for bloggers. My opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any other way

Saving Cicadas by Nicole Seitz

"It was about four years ago, the last trip we ever took together--my mother, sister, grandparents and me. Course, we didn't know it at the time. You never know something like that, like it's the last one you'll ever get, till it's just a memory, hanging like mist. This is what happened that summer, true as I can tell it. Not a one of us was ever the same."

Saving Cicadas is a book unlike any book that I've ever read. It's the story of a single mother, Priscilla Macy, who learns she has become pregnant with a third child. She packs her family, 8 year old Janie, 17 year old Rainey who has Down Syndrome, Mom Mona, and Father Poppy, into the car and begins a journey of searching for answers, and for the father of her children who got on his motorcycle one day and left them alone.

The story is told by Priscilla's youngest daughter, 8 year old Janie, who is wise beyond her years and Grandmother Mona, who is Priscilla's mother. It's a little bit difficult at times to differentiate between the two narrators, but it didn't take away from the story for me.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a very quick read for me, mostly because I couldn't put it down. There's a bit of a surprise twist at the end that you'll have to read to find out.

Thomas Nelson Publishers provided me with a free copy of this book to review. All opinions are solely mine and are not influenced in any way.

From Peanuts to the Pressbox

In this behind-the-scenes look at sports broadcasting Eli Gold tells how a kid from Brooklyn, New York, went from selling peanuts at Madison Square Garden to being one of the most recognizable voices in all of radio sports broadcasting.

I got the opportunity to review From Peanuts to the Pressbox through the Thomas Nelson Book Review Bloggers network. I have to admit, I had never heard of Eli Gold before I picked up this book. I realize that may sound blasphemous to many sports fans, but I have only been watching sports for a few years. Regardless, I really enjoyed this book. Eli Gold's story is one of ambition and determination.

From Peanuts to the Pressbox is filled with heartfelt memories, and funny anecdotes. Gold has a way of really making you feel like you are right there with him through it all. Not only will your favorite sports fan love this book, but don't be afraid to pick it up even if you're not a huge fan!

Thomas Nelson Publishers provided me with a free copy of this book to review. All opinions are solely mine and are not influenced in any way.

Once in a Blue Moon

I was given the opportunity to read and review this book by the One2One Network.

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Diary, comes a new, emotionally charged family drama, focusing on two sisters and their turbulent lives.

This is a great book about two sisters, torn apart at a young age and put into foster care. The younger sister, Kerri Ann, bounces from family to family and goes down the path of self-destruction just like her mother. The other sister, Lindsay, is adopted into a loving family and grows up to own a bookstore in Blue Moon Bay. After many years they are reunited and work together despite their differences to try and find Kerri Ann's daughter, Bella, who was taken from her much like they were taken from their mother. The characters are very realistic, and you can tell that Goudge has a sister of her own, because she definitely understands the complexity of the relationship. This book will draw you in and won't let you go until you're finished.

Put this one on the gift list for that book-loving lady in your life.

The One2One Network provided me with a free copy of this book to review. All opinions are solely mine and are not influenced in any way.

The Rivers Run Dry

It's been far too long since I've reviewed a book. I've been having some issues with my apartment, which you can read about on my main blog. So without further ado, here is my review!

I picked a book called The Rivers Run Dry written by Sibella Giorello. It's the second book about a forensic geologist Raleigh Harmon.

Special Agent Raleigh Harmon is good at her job, but not as good at bureau politics. As one of the few females on the team, she finds herself in a strange land when she's transferred from Richmond to drought-stricken Seattle. When a hiker suddenly goes missing and a ransom note arrives, Raleigh realizes there's no time for transitions. Vowing to find the missing college girl, she must rely on her forensic geology skills to uncover the truth, leaving no stone unturned.

Gritty and poetic, with an evocative sense of place, a quirky cast of characters, a fast-twisting plot, and a compelling, complicated heroine, this superbly crafted mystery will keep you reading compulsively as hope runs short, the clock runs down, and the rivers run dry.

I found it very easy to relate to Raleigh, out of place in a new city, 3000 miles from home. She is a great detective, but not always by-the-book, which lands her in a bit of trouble.

While this is a Christian Fiction book, I did not find that it really went very far into the detail of Raleigh's faith. While it is not overly explained, you still get the subtle message of stability through faith.

All in all I found it to be a book you can really put yourself in. It was suspenseful and thrilling, yet still realistic. A great read!

Thomas Nelson Publishers provided me with a free copy of this book to review. All opinions are solely mine and are not influenced in any way.

Another one for the kids

I got the chance to review another children's DVD. This time it was Volume 1 of The Read and Share DVD bible. What a great way to introduce little ones to the bible! The stories on this DVD are; The Beginning, Adam & Eve, The Flood, Abram, Isaac & Rebekah, Jacob & Esau, Rachel, Jacob & God, John the Baptist, Jesus is Born, Jesus is Tempted, Jesus Love Children, and One Lost Sheep.

My son is three years old, and is quite the sponge. I hear him repeating back everything he sees on television, which is why it's important that I make sure what he watches is appropriate. Since we don't have cable, it's a little easier to do. I was happy to add this to our growing collection of family movies.

I only have one disappointment in this movie. The stories are mostly narrated, and the characters hardly talk at all. While narration is important to keep the story going, I think kids relate better to characters when there is more dialogue.

With that said, I still think this is a great addition to anyone's collection. It's a great way to bring your favorite bible stories to life, and fun for kids and parents alike.

Thomas Nelson Publishers provided me with a free DVD to review. All opinions are solely mine and are not influenced in any way.

A nice change from the books.

As a reviewer for Thomas Nelson publishers, I received a new DVD from Max Lucado's Hermie and Friends series. It's called Skeeter and the Mystery of the Lost Mosquito Treasure.



Skeeter the mosquito has a crooked nose that causes him all kinds of problems. He has trouble with his sense of direction, and is often poking people accidentally. To make matters worse, his brother, Sinclair, appears to have it all. He has a perfect stinger and is a world-renowned explorer, but he lacks one thing. He can not fly. Together, they use their special talents to hunt for lost treasure with their father's map.

All in all I have to say I enjoyed watching this with my 3 year old son. I don't know if he quite got the message, but he sure did like the bugs. It's based on Psalm 139: Verses 13-14: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." What a great message for kids and adults alike!

Thomas Nelson Publishers provided me with a free DVD to review. All opinions are solely mine and are not influenced in any way.