Mark of Distinction by Jessica Dotta

I've looked forward to this book ever since I read the first on in this series.  I like the mysterious covers and the great story inside.  Mark of Distinction picks up where the first one left off.  I'm glad that she sticks with Julia instead of introducing another main character.  I really like it when authors let us really connect with a few characters that continue throughout a series.

Julie now knows who her father is, but danger is still all around her.  She's not being treated as the valued woman that she is.  Instead, she's being used to form the wishes of other powerful people.  She wants to be free of all of this, but it's not that easy.

The mysterious covers of this trilogy is not by accident.  There are so many secrets and so many people who are threatening to tell the real truth if they don't get their way.  The secrets are the action and it leaves you turning pages far longer than the time set aside to read "just a few pages."

I am looking forward to book 3 in the series. I hope it's not to long to wait!

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I received this book free from Tyndale Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Love Comes Calling by Siri Mitchell

A friend of mine first introduced me to Siri Mitchell and I think I've read every book by her since then.  One day, I'll go back and read all of her earlier books.  I am always sucked into her books from the very first paragraph.  This book was no exception.

Ellis is a girl that was definitely fun to read about her thoughts and her train of thought.  I could see how her parents and teachers, and probably friends, could be exasperated with her.  Knowing her thoughts made Griffin Phillips really seem like a prince after all that he overlooked.

I had many favorite scenes, but I loved the lengths she went to in order to avoid Griffin.  I laughed out loud at many of her escapes.  I did feel bad for her because she felt like everything she did turned out wrong and that she wasn't pleasing anyone.

I can't imagine being thrown into the role of a telephone operator and being expected to know it all with only a few minutes training. That's another part I found funny, as well! 

Ellis is one of those girls that would drive me crazy, but that I couldn't help but love.  Her thought and attention are so scattered!  It was very clear that she had ADHD and no one knew what to do with her!  I found the Prohibition part interesting as well... as far as the poor being punished and at the rich being let of the hook.

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I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book

Chateau of Secrets by Melanie Dobson

I tend to seek out books by Melanie Dobson.  When I saw the cover of this book with her name on it, it threw me for a loop! I hadn't expected her to write a book about WWII.  I'm not certain why I had put her into a box, but I did. It was wonderful to see this side of her.  I enjoyed this entire book and had a hard time separating myself from it.

The thing that fascinated me the most was how this was based on a true story, although a few liberties were taken.  I have read a lot on WWII and appreciated the new scenes that she painted in my head at that time. It seems like I've read several books on this time period lately, so I thought it would be hard to beat those.  However, I think it matched them in my top books!

I really think this book had it all. It kept my heart racing at moments and then it brought tears to my eyes in others.  At times I just had to smile at the visions in my head. 

I hope Melanie Dobson plans to write more in this time period.  She did a great job with the storytelling and research.  In my personal opinion, I think this book is the best book she as written so far.

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I received this book free from Howard Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Minding Molly by Leslie Gould

I really like this series, The Courtship of Lancaster County.  Minding Molly is the third book in this series.  After reading the previous two books, I think I easily related to Miss Molly. I have a tendency to want to be in control of things and it reminded me constantly of how purposeful I need to be to continue to hand it over to the Lord.

I also liked the part about Mary and Martha. I had never thought about them in the same way as this book mentioned, but I'm so glad this was brought out.  Then it hit me.... how often do I do the work for myself or for others and complain instead of doing it for the Lord.  I appreciated that very real visual in a fiction book.

I really liked the ending and although I had suspicions about how it would end, I was glad it ended the way I wanted it to.... yikes... is that another control issue?  I liked both Mervin and Leon, but I did have my favorite of the two.  I can't say who or it will give it away, though!

Another thing I appreciated in this book is how she tied in Cate and Addie.  I already felt like I had known them well, so it was nice to have them involved in this book, too.

I was reading the acknowledgments and found it fascinating that this book (and the other 2 in this series) was inspired out of Shakespeare's plays.  I never would have guessed, although I haven't read Shakespeare since high school. 

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I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Fair Play by Deeanne Gist

I have thoroughly enjoyed every book I have ever read by Deeanne Gist, which I think I have read them all.  I was wrapped up in the Chicago World's Fair and the year of  1893.  I felt like I was experiencing the fair myself. 

I enjoyed the complete story but I really appreciated how much history filled this fictional story.  I felt like there was so much in this book and it and it had a perfect balance of fiction and history. I liked how Billy, the woman doctor... which wasn't popular at this time... and Hunter, the ranger, got past all of their frustrations and worked together with a share passion.

They saw what was happening with young children, thanks to an infant being abandoned. As they were trying to find a place for this baby, their eyes were opened to the crimes being committed by young children.  They were determined to figure how they could help change the lives of these children who were left in such hopeless situations.

On a side note, I really like the cover of this book.  I think it is beautiful, with the Ferris Wheel in the background and the beautiful lake.  I'm looking forward to what Deanne Gist will write next!

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I received this book free from Howard Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Manual to Manhood by Jonathan Catherman

I'll admit.... at first I thought some things in this book were a little silly.  I thought this not because boys need to know them, but because some of these things seem like common sense.  For example, applying deodorant, applying hair style gels, and washing your face.  I still find them a little silly to have to explain, but I do think some boys are never taught to even wear these things. Once I thought about that, it made it not so silly.

If you're a boy, this would be a great book to use as a checklist.  What fun to have with your dad or another man that you respect and have them show these things to you, too.  The topics are very wide, with women, social skills, work, ethics, wealth & money management, grooming & personal hygiene, clothes & style, sports & recreation, cars & driving, food & cooking, and tools & fix-it.

When I think back to my teen years, there were probably some common sense things I wanted to know and be assured I was doing correctly, but didn't want to ask anyone.  This would be a good assurance book or unsure teen and pre-teen boys. In fact, on the back of the book, it says, "The world needs confident and capable young men.". This is definitely a guide for that!  How lucky would this boys wife be, if he could do ALL of these things!

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I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Mom Seeks God by Julia Roller

I have really been wanting to study in-depth the spiritual discipline and work on these habits.  I confess that, like Julia Roller, I have put it off.  Sometimes it seems so overwhelming to study them and practice them because of all the time I need to really study it.  However, I've been convicted that I don't need to put it off any longer.  If ever a time I need these disciplines, it's right now.

I appreciated the honesty in this book and how she freely shares her struggles in parenting and how she sought to practice the spiritual disciplines in the midst of the little years.  As I was reading the chapter on Fellowship: Letting Others In, I felt like she was peeking in on my life.  I am an introvert, too, so that one's hard for me... especially large groups.  It was so strange to read about myself in a book!

This book reflects a year that Julia Roller spent studying the disciplines and applying one a month.  I really like this idea and plan to go back through this book and adding more Scripture and study of my own.  She has application at the end of each chapter too, that I really want to ponder on and act on.

To read more opinions on this book, go to http://litfusegroup.com/author/jroller.

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Book info for your blog

About the book: The first months and years of motherhood can be the most challenging and disorienting of your life---and faith. When you're surrounded by the happy chaos of children, how do you spend quiet time with God if the only quiet time you get is while you sleep? How can you demonstrate a solid spiritual life to your children if you don't have time to pursue one yourself? When Julia Roller discovered that her spiritual growth had been stunted by the busyness of life with her toddler, she embarked on a yearlong journey through ten spiritual disciplines: prayer, fellowship, submission, study, simplicity, silence, worship, fasting, service, and celebration. As she focused on each discipline, she discovered practical ways to observe them---even in the chaos of her every day. Purchase a copy and find out more about Julia at: http://www.juliaroller.com About the Author: Julia Roller is an author and editor. Her books include Mom Seeks God (Abingdon Press), A Year with God (with Richard J. Foster), A Year with Aslan, and 25 Books Every Christian Should Read. Working with Renovaré, she has also co-authored four spiritual formation guides. She has written study guides for authors such as Desmond Tutu, Richard J. Foster, Henri Nouwen, Jenna Bush, and Rob Bell. Her articles have appeared in The San Francisco Chronicle, Street Spirit, Group, Rev.!, and Children's Ministry. She and her family live in San Diego, California.

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I received this book free from Abingdon Press and Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.