Heroines of the Old Testament Coloring Book ~ Book Review

I am not sure if you have noticed but coloring has come back into style. When Mouse was young I remember thinking coloring books have become very boring. The graphics were simple and the not really inspiring. Jump forward 12 years and coloring books are making a change and adult coloring books are suddenly all the rage.

When I was contacted and asked if I would review "Heroines of the Old Testament Coloring Book" I had to say yes. Here was a chance to see what the new style of coloring book was like.  

Beyond the message of this coloring book being great, this one was much more in-depth in its lines, which means more areas to color. I also felt like the varies lines provided ways to make more shading and detail to the pictures.

I really liked the two page spreads. This really lent it self to telling the story of the women. Mouse and I each took some turns coloring in the pages.  

One of our favorite parts of the books is at the start of each story there is the woman's name. I loved this, it was a beautiful way to know who's story you are coloring. And there was also Bible verses with each name to bring you into the Bible to find out more on these women.

Mouse loves the name pages. She likes lettering like her mom. She is also into rainbow coloring of everything. This has been so much fun to have. Mouse is choosing this book over screen time.

I can't wait to pick up another one.

~ Cassi

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Richard Jury Series ~ Book Review

I am re-reading Martha Grimes Richard Jury novels. This is my second time through the series who's titles are named from pubs in book. The names of the books are great, having never gone to England I am not sure how true the titles are but, I am the Only Running Footman is just fun.
Grimes main character is Superintendent of Scotland Yard Richard Jury that has trouble with his boss and a heart for odd little kids. A precocious kid is a staple in all of Grimes' novels. I love this addition they a depth of innocence even when the kid isn't that innocent.
The other main character in the books is Melrose Plant, a wealthy man who has given up his English titles and now leads a life of luxury. But Plant is also wicked smart, so once he meets Jury they two team up on various cases.
One of the other things I love about Grimes' writing is her use of literature through out her novels. She takes her two well read characters and has them thinking of lines they read as they view cases and life. That is so much of how I see the world, that this part resonates with me.
This is a long series and not all the books are equally good, but enough are that make it worth it. Also she is still writing which means the series isn't done yet. A heads up you have to start at book one, after that it doesn't matter but book one sets the characters. I tried to first read this series at book three and was very lost. You can easily find book one at most used book stores.
Happy reading.

Cassi

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Book Review~ We Were on Fire

So far for my summer reading list I haven't gotten to far. Mostly because mid-way through I decided to revisit some old favorites and now will have a while (its a twelve book series) before I get back to my list.

So far I have finished Unspoken, by Dee Henderson. Again she never lets down.

The second book I finished was by Addie Zierman's  "When We Were on Fire", as I said before I had the pleasure meeting her when she spoke at our church with a friend of mine on writing. In real life she is authentic with a great sense of humor and her book did not disappoint.

Addie's book talked about  her being the Evangelical poster child. Addie Zierman wore three bracelets asking what Jesus would do. She also led two Bible studies and listened exclusively to Christian music.

Addie and I had similar upbringing in being brought up with the "church people" but where she became the poster child, I lived the double life of church girl and secular world princess. Though our lives took different turns in those high school days, I could relate so much to her story.

Trying to live up to standard, that you've self-imposed on your self and never feeling like you can make it. Addie's book was heart-wrenching as you watch her struggle through it. And so brutally honest about life that you have no choice as a read but to dig deep in your self too. To wonder if you're done dealing with the aftermath of falling short of the line.

The last line of the amazon description sums it up nicely. "It’s a story for doubters, cynics, and anyone who has felt alone in church."
Being all three I have to say this book hit the mark. It also awaken me to memoir writing a genre that I haven't really read before. I look forward to her next book she is currently working on.

~ Cassi

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Review of Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

I picked up this book from a co-worker that wanted to get rid of some books. Mostly I grabbed it because it was about a bookstore and books about books always intrigues me. But then it sat on my self of what to read next along with few (20 others). And before I could get to it my husband read it. Now he is not a reader, or I should amend that because since this book he has been a reading machine, machine I tell you! He said the book was exactly as I thought, intriguing. And you know what it is!
OK, here is what Amazon has to say Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore: "The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon away from life as a San Francisco web-design drone and into the aisles of Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. But after a few days on the job, Clay discovers that the store is more curious than either its name or its gnomic owner might suggest. The customers are few, and they never seem to buy anything—instead, they “check out” large, obscure volumes from strange corners of the store. Suspicious, Clay engineers an analysis of the clientele’s behavior, seeking help from his variously talented friends. But when they bring their findings to Mr. Penumbra, they discover the bookstore’s secrets extend far beyond its walls. Rendered with irresistible brio and dazzling intelligence, Robin Sloan's Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore is exactly what it sounds like: an establishment you have to enter and will never want to leave."

And now here is my thoughts. The quotes about books alone make this a win in my book (bad pun). “Walking the stacks in a library, dragging your fingers across the spines -- it's hard not to feel the presence of sleeping spirits.” That describes every experience I have ever had in any library, bookstore, stack of books at a garage sale. Books talk in so many ways. And Penumbra's is no exception, the plot is fascinating and keeps you intrigued through out most of the book. Even when the characters lack the depth I would have normally liked to see in a book the action was there. It makes you want to stumble upon the store and hopes that you too will be whisked into the realms of possibility that only lay within in the covers. 

“After that, the book will fade, the way all books fade in your mind. But I hope you will remember this:
A man walking fast down a dark lonely street. Quick steps and hard breathing, all wonder and need. A bell above a door and the tinkle it makes. A clerk and a ladder and warm golden light, and then: the right book exactly, at exactly the right time.” ― Robin Sloan, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore  

~ Cassi

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Book Review ~ The Last Sherlock Holmes Story

Let's start by saying I love pastiches. Larry Millet's Sherlock books are what drew me into the world of Holmes, long before I ever read a Doyle book. I think I wrote that  few weeks back, yep I did. 

But "The Last Sherlock Holmes Story" by Michael Bibbin, may have altered that statement for me. 

Here is the synopsis from GoodReads.com :

"For fifty years after Dr Watson's death, a packet of papers, written by the doctor himself, lay hidden in a locked box. The papers contained an extraordinary report of the case of Jack the Ripper and the horrible murders in the East End of London in 1888. The detective, of course, was the great Sherlock Holmes - but why was the report kept hidden for so long? This is the story that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle never wrote. It is a strange and frightening tale . . "

Dibbin starts by letting reader know that all other stories where written by Dolye a friend of Watson's but this story was written by Watson himself, thus giving reason for not staying in true Cannon style. 
That is a lame excuse if you ask me, which you didn't but it's my blog so that is what you get. You can't just give your self an out for not researching and staying in true cannon style. And if that was the worst of it I could get by with it. Millet doesn't really stay in Doyle style either but at least it follows a more prescribed outline of a true Holmes story. 

Dibbin's continued to veer off course for me to much. 

Then it's the plot it's self, maybe if I hadn't just read Faye's excellent version of this same topic, I would have been less harsh of this account. But, Dibbin's style was wordy and not wordy in a good way, more predictable and disappointed. Also the twist at the end leaves all Holme's fan shaking their head.



~ Cassi
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Book Review ~ Jennifer

 

 I was so excited to finally read the second prequel to the O'Malley series. Yes, second prequel sounds odd but go with me on this, it's worth it. I love the O'Malley series, which I wrote about here. OK, back good now let me tell you about this new book.
Here is Amazon's write up (which is really the back of the book): "It's a summer of change for Jennifer O'Malley. The busy physician has a pediatrics practice in Dallas, and meeting Tom Peterson, and falling in love, is adding a rich layer to her life. She's sorting out how to introduce him to her family--she's the youngest of seven--and thinking about marriage.
She's falling in love with Jesus too, and knows God is good. But that faith is about to be tested in a way she didn't expect, and the results will soon transform her entire family."
 The book is very short, it's really just a quick back story to set up the next seven books. My only issue was because of the length there wasn't a lot of character development. In the little development there was you really start to love Jennifer's character and her desire to help sick kids. You also start ti like Tom's character his faith and love of Jennifer is shown through out the book.
This book made me excited to re-read the series again from a new perspective.
I hope you like it too.
~ Cassi


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Dust & Shadow ~ Book Review

 Dust & Shadow by Lyndsay Faye

"From the gritty streets of nineteenth century London, the loyal and courageous Dr. Watson offers a tale unearthed after generations of lore: the harrowing story of Sherlock Holmes's attempt to hunt down Jack the Ripper.

As England's greatest specialist in criminal detection, Sherlock Holmes is unwavering in his quest to capture the killer responsible for terrifying London's East End. He hires an "unfortunate" known as Mary Ann Monk, the friend of a fellow streetwalker who was one of the Ripper's earliest victims; and he relies heavily on the steadfast and devoted Dr. John H. Watson. When Holmes himself is wounded in Whitechapel during an attempt to catch the savage monster, the popular press launches an investigation of its own, questioning the great detective's role in the very crimes he is so fervently struggling to prevent. Stripped of his credibility, Holmes is left with no choice but to break every rule in the desperate race to find the madman known as "the Knife" before it is too late" ~ Simon and Schuster, Apr 28, 2009 - Fiction - 325 pages

Let's start by saying I love pastiches. Larry Millet's Sherlock books are what drew me into the world of Holmes, long before I ever read a Doyle book. So when I heard Lyndsay Faye's new book was worth read in Sherlockian circles, I knew I had to check it out. (Yes, let's skip over the fact I am a total geek and know all about Sherlockian circles.)

When I saw that Faye's book not only covered Holmes but also addressed Jack the Ripper, I knew I was sold. I love a good serial killer book. This story really did a good job until the end, more about that later.

The book starts off in true Doyle style and keeps the pass of his work true through out most of the book. Which is what a good pastiche should do. She also did her homework and the era and Jack the Ripper where true on form also.

The story moved along quick enough for me, I really like the main female character in the book. I felt Faye did a good job with her and was glad she kept true to Doyle style in Holmes' view of her.

I don't want to give to much away, because even though I wasn't sold on the ending, I do feel the book is worth reading. The ending was just a bit off for me and not really sure why it was.

I all, a good pastiche and good review of the Ripper history.

~ Cassi



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Three Musketeer Book vs Movie

As part of this month's participation in The Classics Retold, hosted by Bookish Whimsy. I am reviewing Dumas's Three Musketeers and its adaptations. Read the book review here and my first adaption here.
My love for Dumas's novel first came not from the book but from the adaption presented in 1993 with Kiefer Sutherland (huge fan). The 'Three Musketeers' movie was one of my favorite movies for quite some time.
So when I chose Dumas's real version of the "Three Musketeers" I at first had a hard time matching my image of the main characters to those in the movie. Parts of their back stories fit but much of their personalities where way off.
Also the story of Milady completely differs in the book than in the movie. In the movie you start to feel for her and Athos. You want her to change her ways and those to win out in a 'love conquers all' way. But in the book you really hate her or at least I did.
And where in the movie the main guys antics are funny and over the top, the book was mostly just over the top. Though I do wish they would have been able to make the scene from the book where they are in the fort having a picnic to win a bet and talk privately into the movie. It was one of my favorite parts of the book that was skipped in the movie.
Though if I was going to mention parts that the movie skipped I would be writing till next week. The movie really seemed to derive it's own story line.
In the end I would still recommend the movie to someone who wanted a good swashbuckling adventure.

~ Cassi



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The Musketeer vs. Three Musketeers

The 2001 movie version does not leave you wanting for over the top action scenes. Which is a perfect fit to Dumas book of crazy antics.
As part of this month's participation in The Classics Retold, hosted by Bookish Whimsy. I am reviewing Dumas's Three Musketeers and its adaptations. Read the book review here. 
My first movie review is The Musketeer with Justin Chambers as D'Artagan and Mina Suvari as his love interest. Lets start with the parts that match the book. The antics of the characters are right on par with the book. They are drunk, annoying at times and over the top impossible combat scenes. As IMDb describes it "Alexander Dumas with an Eastern influence", and that is exactly how it feels. But weirdly that fits with the way Dumas had his characters.
Another area that fits is D'Artagan's instant love, in this adaption to Francesca. It stays true to the story that a girl who lives in the village with an ear to the Queen, but here it does veer from the book. She is a niece to the man she lives with. This version skips over the musketeers are all hooking up with married people. Which I can say I prefer over the book, no matter if the book was probably more true to the time.
Another area it differed was in there was no servants doing all of the work for the Musketeers. Again I am fine with that, the treatment of the servants really got on my nerves with the book, so I am OK with them not being in the movie.
Overall, I would recommend the movie to any Musketeer fan. It's a decent remake with a lot of action that keeps you interested. But don't watch it if you are hoping for a lot character development you will not find it here.

~ Cassi


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Classics Retold - Intro

This month I signed up to participate in The Classics Retold, hosted by Bookish Whimsy. Her idea was to read on of the classics and then talk about it and its adaptations.

I decided to not choose Sherlock Holmes (because you know my obession and here). But to step out and read a book that I have wanted to try for some time "The Three Musketeers" by Alexandre Dumas.
Here is the summary per Amazon: "The Three Musketeers tells the story of the early adventures of the young Gascon gentleman, D'Artagnan and his three friends from the regiment of the King's Musketeers - Athos, Porthos and Aramis. Under the watchful eye of their patron M. de Treville, the four defend the honour of the regiment against the guards of Cardinal Richelieu, and the honour of the queen against the machinations of the Cardinal himself as the power struggles of seventeenth century France are vividly played out in the background. But their most dangerous encounter is with the Cardinal's spy, Milady, one of literature's most memorable female villains, and Dumas employs all his fast-paced narrative skills to bring this enthralling novel to a breathtakingly gripping and dramatic conclusion."
I have to say that it was a slight hard read for me, it's one of the few times that I had watched the adaptations before reading the book. I kept trying to place my visual of Kiefer Sutherland into the character of Athos. Because I may have been bit Sutherland obessed in the time that movie came out.
The characters have traits of the movies I had seen but they did not draw me to them as they did in the movie. In fact I really couldn't stand Porthos and Aramis of the book.
D'Artagnan is likeable in the book but his ability to fall in and out of love so quickly is astounding.
The author's writing style is quit different than anything else I had read. It is playful and talks to the audience, it wasn't bad just took some getting use to.
Overall I would recommend it if for no other reason than to say you read it. And to get a better understanding of the back story to the movies.
Come back next week for the first of two movie comparisons.

~ Cassi
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Book Review ~ The Beauty Book

Mouse and I had the chance to review a book for Book Sneeze (you can giggle it is a funny name). They work with a great selection of Christian based publishers for both kids and adults. Mouse has wanted to do a review of her own for awhile now and when this book showed up on their list I knew it was one I wanted her to see.

The Beauty Book is part of The Lily Series. The Lily Series is a series of fictional novels based on the life of Lily and how God teaches her that she is perfect in His eyes. The Beauty Book follows along in that series with a more in depth look at beauty and God's message.

The book has quizzes, journal areas and how to's. It is set at just the right age for our nine year old. It gave us so good conversation starters. I think the best thing I learned was that Mouse isn't as caught up with looks as much as I was at her age. It was great to hear her say things like "I never think about what my skin looks like compared to others or my hair." The Bible references were a good reminder to me also that God sees much more than we do.

Now for Mouse's review:

The stuff I liked from the book was that you learned that you are beautiful in your own way. You learn that God loves us and what God says about us. I liked how they used pictures in the book to show what they were talking about. The activities in the book were fun to do. They were good for 9 year olds.

~ Cassi & Mouse


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The Bone House - Book Review

The Bone House

By Stephen Lawhead

Here is what the back of the book says:

"One piece of the skin map has been found. Now the race to unravel the future of the furture turns deadly.

Kit Livingstone met his great grandfather Cosimo in a rainy alley in London where he discovered the reality of alternate realities.

Now he's on the run-and on a quest-trying to understand the impossible mission he inherited from Cosimo: to restore a map that charts the hidden dimensions of the multiverse. Survival depends on staying one step ahead of the savage Burley Men.

The key is the Skin Map-but where it leads and what it means, Kit has no idea. The pieces have been scattered throughout this universe and beyond.

Mina, from her outpost in seventeenth-century Prague, is quickly gaining both the experience and the means to succeed in the quest. Yet so are those with evil intent who, from the shadows, are manipulating great minds of history for their own malign purposes.

Those who know how to use ley lines have left their own world behind to travel across time and space-down avenues of Egyptian sphinxes, to an Etruscan tufa tomb, a Bohemian coffee shop, and a Stone Age landscape where universes collide-in this, the second quest to unlock the mystery of The Bone House."

Now to start if you haven't read The Skin Map, STOP! Don't go any further into this book. It will make no sense and becoming quite confusing.

OK, you either still want to read on or you have read The Skin Map. There is still one more disclaimer this is the middle book of the Bright Empire Trilogy. Which is evident through out the book. The Bone House is a jumble of characters, time lines and sub plots that at best tell a small piece of the larger picture. But for the most part they lend to a confusion of the reader. Skin Map ended at a scene where you couldn't wait to read book two because you needed to know what happened. But after finishing book two I am still unsure.

As for the too larger host of characters, I still love Mina's strong willed character. Personally, I wish the story would focus around her more. The male main character Kit is still helpless and annoying but towards the end he seems to finally start becoming a character to like.

Now as a reminder this is a middle book, which means it is a set up book for book three. I felt that this was all this book was. Nothing really happened in the book that made you think like the first one. And the story was too filled with sub plots and extended characters that you lost the focus on the important ones.

I may still read book three but mostly because I read book one and am still left wondering about it not because of book two. I do hope all of it comes full circle in the final book. Or I may never know my answer to the end of book one.

Disclosure: I received this book free of charge from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com blogger book reviewer program, in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. (Disclosed in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)

~ Cassi

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Book Review - The Skin Map

The Skin Map by Stephen R. Lawhead

Here is what the back of the book had to say:
"It is the ultimate quest for the ultimate treasure. Chasing a map tattooed on human skin. Across an omniverse of intereing realities. To unravel the future of the future.

Kit Livingston's great-grandfather appears to him in a deserted alley during a tumultuous storm. He reveals an unbelievable story: that the ley lines throughout Britain are not merely the stuff of legend or the weekend hobby of deluded cranks, but pathways to other worlds. To those who know how to use them, they grant the ability to travel the multi-layered universe of which we ordinarily inhabit only a tiny part.

One explorer knew more than most. Braving every danger, he toured both time and space on voyages of heroic discovery. Ever on his guard, and fearful of becoming lost in the cosmos, he developed an intricate code--a roadmap of symbols--that he tattooed onto his own body. This Skin Map has since been lost in time. Now the race is on to recover all the pieces and discover its secrets.

But the Skin Map itself is not the ultimate goal. It is merely the beginning of a vast and marvelous quest for a prize beyond imagining.

The Bright Empires series-from acclaimed author Stephen Lawhead-is a unique blending of epic treasure hunt, ancient history, alternate realities, cutting-edge physics, philosophy, and mystery. The result is a page-turning, fantastical adventure like no other." 

This is the first book in the series and with its numerous set of characters you have to start with this one. You first meet Kit on his way to his kind-of girlfriend Mina's home. From then through the rest of this book I don't really like Kit. He is this whiny follower type of guy that just doesn't appeal to me. Mina on the other hand is first told to you from Kit's perspective which is not positive. But through the rest of the book you see her take charge and really lead. As for Kit's Great Grandpa he seems like someone you would want to sit down and chat with for hours.  

The story line takes off right away; I like that in a book. I don't want chapter after chapter of character building, I want to learn about them through actions. Lawhead does a great job with showing the character's true character through the choices they make.

The history shown in each timeline is superb. Watching as each character adapts to their new surroundings, Lawhead makes each era so real. One of my favorite timelines was seeing Kaffe (or Coffee) make such an impression on Prague.  The ending does leave you needing to read book two in order to get some answers. Lawhead does a teaser at the end.

The negative I would have to say is there are so many characters and timelines throughout the book that it is hard to keep them all straight. There also seems to be a few spots especially at the end that seem to jump ahead (or offer no explanation on how they got there) that was a little odd to me.

But over all this was a good read. I have already started book two, The Bone House. It was outside my normal choice in books and was well worth the change in genre.

Disclosure: I received this book free of charge from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com blogger book reviewer program, in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. (Disclosed in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)

~ Cassi

Book Review - To Catch a Thief Series

I recently finished the first of three part series. Book one was so good I can't wait to read book two.
Reluctant Burglar, by Jill Elizabeth Nelson.

The story starts out with a very fast paced action and keeps going. If you are Thomas Crown Affair fan you will love this Christian spin.
From the back of the book: "When Hiram Jacobs is murdered, the responsibility for his internationally renowned security company falls upon his daughter, Desiree. But a container full of stolen paintings screams the ugly truth—that her father was a thief. Option A: Turn the goods over to the law, disgrace her father’s name, destroy their business, put people out of jobs, and embarrass international museums with the fact that they have been displaying clever forgeries. Option B: Surrender the art to the bad guys. But then she becomes an unwilling accomplice to the thieves, and her father’s murderer would walk free. Worse, a death threat warns her not to cooperate with federal agents. Can she trust God to guide her down the right path when no option seems right…let alone safe?
Art stole her heart…
Now can she return the favor?
If Desiree Jacobs knows anything, it’s art. Her father, whose security company is internationally renowned, taught her everything he knew. Most of all, he taught her about honor. Integrity. Faith. So surely God will forgive her for despising the one man determined to destroy her father’s good name?"
You can't help but root for Desiree and her late father.
I hope you enjoy it

~ Cassi
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Book Review- O'Malley Series

I have just started re-reading the O'Malley series by Dee Henderson. I can't begin to tell you how much I love this series. Dee Henderson is a Christian author, but don't let that scare you if you think all Christian authors are too preachy. I had never really looked into Christian Fiction authors until my Mom suggested this author. Henderson provides the perfect mix in her books. She gives you this great suspenseful plot line that just pulls you in from the start. Then she adds in this romance story, this part lets you in on the characters so much. Then she adds a Christian element to the books that fits right into the story line. This part never feels forced or directed at the readers instead it gives you insight into how the characters deal with life. And that in turn gives the readers ideas for their own lives.

The first book in the O'Malley series is real a prequel that was written after the others. Start here! You can read them out of order but you shouldn't there is some spoilers to doing it this way. The prequel is Danger in the Shadows . This tells the story of none of the O'Malley's. Yes that is right it is part of the series but you don't get to know the O'Malleys. This book is about Sarah, her brother Dave and Adam (the love interest). Sarah is under protection from the FBI, from a childhood incident. Then along comes Adam, who is a public figure and could ruin her hiding place. All would be great if it wasn't love at first sight. The kidnapper from her past has found her again. It becomes a game of cat and mouse to see who will find you first.
So lets learn about this O'Malley clan. They are a group of adults who grew up together at an orphanage in Chicago. As teens they decided to adopt themselves as their family. Now as adults they have changed their name to O'Malley and consider themselves siblings. With all each of them have been through they are loyal to each other no matter what. Each of them has gone into a field that helps others in crisis. But none of them are believers, these stories follows them through as adults and how they balance, work, family, friends and faith.

The first book in the O'Malley series is The Negotiator. This is where I am at now, for the second time. This story is about the oldest girl of the O'Malley clan; Kate. Kate is a negotiator for the Chicago police department. This is how she meets Dave (from the prequel see why you have to read it first). Dave's job suddenly becomes protecting Kate, which he doesn't mind. She has a scary guy from her past that is looking for revenge. That same guy who just blew up a plane to prove he was serious.  It is up to Kate and Dave to figure it all out: faith, love and safety.
Seriously if you haven't read these books go buy them now! I restarted them this weekend and I am already on book two. The rest of the books follow suit: The Guardian, The Truth Seeker, The Protector, The Healer, and The Rescuer. More on the rest later...

**This review is my own, I am not paid by Dee Henderson or Amazon. Won't that be nice if I was**