Cross Shadow by Andrew Huff

All journalist Christine Lewis wants is the truth. All pastor John Cross wants is to avoid it.

Former CIA agent turned evangelical pastor John Cross is busy caring for the small community of believers he ministers to in Virginia. Journalist Christine Lewis is busy with the demand for her talents from top news agencies in New York City. Neither have any time left for their relationship, which began eight months before when they paired up to prevent the detonation of a chemical bomb in the nation’s capital.

But when Christine hears that her stepbrother has been arrested for murder in Texas, they team up again to discover the truth about the crime. Untangling a web of conspiracy, the couple finds themselves in the center of another dangerous situation—and in trouble far deeper than they expected.

With an assassin on the loose, a trusted colleague acting as a double agent, and unreliable artificial intelligence connected to mercenaries who have Cross on their hit list, these two may not get out of the Lone Star State alive.All journalist Christine Lewis wants is the truth. All pastor John Cross wants is to avoid it.

Former CIA agent turned evangelical pastor John Cross is busy caring for the small community of believers he ministers to in Virginia. Journalist Christine Lewis is busy with the demand for her talents from top news agencies in New York City. Neither have any time left for their relationship, which began eight months before when they paired up to prevent the detonation of a chemical bomb in the nation’s capital.

But when Christine hears that her stepbrother has been arrested for murder in Texas, they team up again to discover the truth about the crime. Untangling a web of conspiracy, the couple finds themselves in the center of another dangerous situation—and in trouble far deeper than they expected.

With an assassin on the loose, a trusted colleague acting as a double agent, and unreliable artificial intelligence connected to mercenaries who have Cross on their hit list, these two may not get out of the Lone Star State alive.
My take:  I enjoyed this second book in the Shepherd Suspense series.  Even though John and Christine have started a relationship they still have to deal with the long distance and as anybody can imagine that is difficult in the best of circumstances .  Christine learns that her brother has been arrested in Texas for murder and she feels she must go down there to help in anyway she can.  John feels he must go down to protect Christine.  She is not too happy when he meets her but John says he is there to attend a pastors conference which is true but not the whole truth.  While at the pastors conference the suspense in this book really ramped up and it didn't let down the rest of the book but to be fair the book started out on a very suspenseful not.  I would highly recommend this book if you like suspense and want to read a Christian Book in this vain.

I received a copy of this book from Kregel Publications and Read with Audrey for review purposes and was not required to write a positive review.

Comparison Girl by Shannon Popkin

From Measuring Up to Pouring Out
Shannon Popkin leads women away from a life of comparison toward a mind-set of serving
Grand Rapids, MI — I wish I were tall like her. If only my kids got along the way her kids do. Why
does she always seem to have it all together? Women compare themselves constantly. On social
media, in their neighborhood, at church, at work, even in the school drop-off lane, they glance
sideways and ask, “How do I measure up?” Behind all this comparison is an enemy gaining tactical
advantage.
In her new Bible study, Comparison Girl: Lessons from Jesus on Me-Free Living in a Measure-Up
World (Kregel Publications/May 19, 2020/ISBN: 9780825446214/$16.99), author and speaker
Shannon Popkin invites women to leave measure-up comparison behind and connect with those
around them by choosing Jesus’s me-free way of living. It’s a real chance to break free from the
shackles of comparison.
Popkin confesses her own struggle with comparison literally goes as far back as she can remember
and suspects her readers can relate. Her earliest memory is of her four-year-old self holding her
songbook upside down in church. When a woman from the pew behind reached forward to turn
the book right side up, Popkin felt embarrassed and exposed—clearly the watching world now knew she could not read. It may
seem silly in retrospect, but Popkin admits the same could be said of many of her current struggles. “Why do I worry about
being exposed as a less-than-perfect mom? Or a middle-aged woman who struggles with her weight? Or a Christian who still
sins? My heart, since childhood, has been bent on perfectionism, pride, and measuring up—which has not led to great freedom
and joy. Instead, it’s led to a great fear of what people think and a great dread of being found lacking.”
Comparison follows women through every stage of life, leading either to a sense of superiority (pride, perfectionism,
arrogance, or judgmental criticism) or inferiority (insecurity, shame, jealousy, and self-consciousness). Satan loves to
perpetuate comparison-driven bondage and isolation, but Jesus wants to set women free.
Equating our lives to a measuring cup, Popkin invites readers to live by the spout, not by the lines. “Picture yourself holding a
glass measuring cup with red lines on the side. Mingled in your cup are all the things which set you apart—your gifts,
aptitudes, and talents. Your personality is mixed in, along with your family background. This cup holds your life’s potential,
measured out by God. Satan wants you to focus on the lines—holding your cup next to this person’s and that one’s. He says
that to make something of yourself, you have to measure up—then he shames you when you don’t,” she explains. “Jesus,
however, turns your attention to your measuring cup’s spout, saying that you were designed, not to measure up, but to pour
yourself out. And he shows you how it’s done. He lived by the spout, emptying himself of status and pouring his life out on the
cross, giving his life as a ransom for many.”
Suited for both individual and group study, Comparison Girl is a six-week Bible study that guides readers to examine
conversations Jesus had and parables he shared with disciples, tax collectors, and Pharisees, who also were comparing. Each
chapter is divided into lessons, allowing women on a time budget to read a Bible passage, engage in a complete train of
thought related to the topic, and then make the content personal—all in one sitting. Rather than feeling preached to, women
will engage with Popkin’s informal teaching tone as if they’re meeting with a trusted friend.
Readers of Popkin’s best-selling release Control Girl may find themselves in Comparison Girl as well. “I wrestle daily with
comparison, and I’ve noticed that my struggles with control and comparison are related. As I look to the side, measuring
myself against others, I’m often laser-focused on things that are out of my control,” she admits. Yet, there is hope. “You are
different from other people by God’s intentional design. Anything in your measuring cup is a gift from Him. As you tip your cup
and pour into others, the measuring stops. The more you pour, the more God fills your cup with freedom, confidence, and joy.”
Advance Praise
“If you struggle with measuring up, if you’re worried about what people think, if you dread someone seeing you in a less-than-
ideal situation, then you’re human. We all struggle with comparing ourselves to others in some way. That means we all need
Shannon’s honest and wise words on the pages of this book. I know I did, and I’m betting you do too!”
~ Jill Savage, author of No More Perfect Moms, No More Perfect Kids, and No More Perfect Marriages
“Shannon Popkin has done it again! She has masterfully written another must-read to speak to the struggles of our soul. Like a
dear friend she comes, sits with us, and soothes us with the truth of how purposefully we were created, how intentionally we
have been gifted, and how infinitely we are loved. Inviting us to look up, listen to the tender truths of God, and learn to silence
the lies of the enemy against us, Shannon shows us how to finally live freely in a culture of continual comparison. For every
woman who has an area of her life where she wonders if she is truly enough—here is your answer.”
~ Erica Wiggenhorn, author of Unexplainable Jesus: Rediscovering the God You Thought You Knew
About the Author

Shannon Popkin is a writer, speaker, and Bible teacher who loves pointing others to the truth of
God’s Word. She combines her gifts for humor and storytelling with her passion for Jesus. She
regularly speaks at Christian women’s events and retreats, encouraging women of all ages to put
their hope in God.
Popkin is also a regular contributor for the Revive Our Hearts True Woman and Leader Connection
blogs. Her articles have been published by Family Fun, Focus on the Family Magazine, MOMsense
and others. She is the author of several books, including Control Girl: Lessons on Surrendering Your
Burden of Control from Seven Women in the Bible, Influence: Building a Platform That Elevates Jesus
(Not Me), and Comparison Girl: Lessons from Jesus on Me-Free Living in a Measure-Up World.
Popkin and her husband, Ken, have been married for more than twenty years and live in West
Michigan. They have three children—one in high school and two in college.
Connect with Shannon Popkin by visiting www.shannonpopkin.com, following her on Facebook (shanpopkin),
Instagram (shannonpopkin), or Twitter (@ShannonPopkin).

My Take:  I am your typical Comparison Girl.  I compare myself to everyone and how I am not as good at insert thing here.  This book really helped me with that.  Shannon Popkin has written some chapters with things that Comparison Girls are very familiar with and using the Bible showing how to flip that inner scripts and make yourself use those scripts for the better.  I would highly recommend this book to everyone who finds themselves always comparing themselves to others as well as those who just compare occasionally.

I received a review copy from Kregel and am not required to write a favorable review.  

A Thousand Shall Fall by Andrea Boeshaar

A Thousand Shall Fall by Andrea Boeshaar

From Goodreads.com:  A story of love, hope, and healing set in the midst of the Civil War Nineteen-year-old Carrie Ann Bell is independent and spirited. The only thing she really fears are the Union soldiers fighting against her Confederate friends. When her youngest sister runs away from home, brave Carrie Ann is determined to find her and bring her back. Disguised as a soldier, she sets off--only to find she's fallen into the hands of the enemy.

Her childhood friend Confederate Major Joshua Blevins has warned her against these Yankees: they're all devils, ready to inflict evil on unsuspecting young women. When Colonel Peyton Collier arrests her for her impersonation of an officer, it seems to confirm all her fears.

Soon, though, she finds herself drawn to the handsome, gallant colonel. He rescued her, protected her, and has been every inch the gentleman. Carrie Ann discovers that her foe has become her ally--and more than that, someone she could love. But the arrival of Joshua in the Union camp as a spy will test her loyalties. Will she protect someone who has been like family or be loyal to this stranger to whom she wants to offer her heart? When her world is being torn apart around her, whom should she trust?

Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, A Thousand Shall Fall is framed around compelling characters and a very romantic setting in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. Andrea Boeshaar's extensive research guarantees historical accuracy and romance genre enthusiasts and Civil War buffs alike will enjoy the Christian perspectives on actual historical events.

My Take:  If you like historical fiction then you will love this book.  This book has it all love, romance, war , spies. Carrie Ann learns not to believe everything she has been told about the Yankees.  But where will her loyalties lie?  With her friend from the south or her new friend from the north?  A very good book that that will appeal to many people not just historical fiction lovers. 

The Bachelor by Stephanie Reed

In this sequel to The Bargain, Betsie Troyer is back home in her Amish community where she knows she belongs, free from the confusing Englisher way of life. She and Charley Yoder have made promises to each other, and her life is back on track--until Gerald Sullivan shows up with his young daughter, asking for Betsie's help. He’s on his way to find his estranged wife, and begs Betsie to take young Sheila in. When she agrees, Betsie's carefully planned life is shaken up again. Sheila's newfound faith is troubling to Charley--and his attraction to another girl is beginning to be a problem. But how can Betsie confront him when she is still trying to confront her own feelings about Sheila's brother, Michael? Keeping the peace between the Amish man she's always loved, a twelve-year-old Englisher girl, and a draft-dodging hippie is more than she ever thought she’d have to deal with in her simple, orderly life. Still, Betsie is convinced she can keep things from falling apart completely. Then during her best friend's wedding, tragedy strikes and her world is upended. She has to make a decision: does she love Charley or Michael . . . or is she craving a deeper love that only God can give? The compelling second novel of the Plain City Peace series, The Bachelor deftly weaves together the strands of a solid, simpler time with the turmoil of an era of change, revealing the strengths of both in its powerful narrative.

My Take:  I enjoyed rejoining Betsie Troyer and her family in this book.  At the very beginning Betsie is thrown a curve ball when Gerald Sullivan shows up at her doorstep to beg her to watch Sheila while he goes off to try and win back his wife.  Betsie knows that she should say no but she can't turn away this poor girl.  Betsie also has a problem with Charlie Troyer . Is he truly the one for her or does her heart belong to englisher Michael?  There are a lot of twists and turns in this book.  This is the second book in a series and I would highly recommend that you read the first book The Bargain just so you will be up to speed on everything that is going on.

I received a review copy of this book from Kregel in exchange for my honest opinion.

Guess Who Noah's Boat by by Matt Mitter, Ela Jarzabek (Illustrations)
from Goodreads.com
Children will love this interactive new telling of the Noah's ark story. With fun, rhyming text, each spread asks kids to guess which animal is heading toward the ark. The answer is revealed under the cleverly designed flap. With eye-catching illustrations and easy-to-understand text, Guess Who Noah's Boat is sure to become a favorite.

My Take:  All I can say is that my two granddaughters love this book.  They have read it over and over again and love it.  The pictures are beautifully illustrated and the children really like the hidden pictures and guessing what is under the flap. A great book for toddlers . 

I received a review copy of this book from Kregel Publications in exchange for my honest opinion. 

The Miting by Dee Yoder

The Miting by Dee Yoder

From Goodreads.com

Leah is seventeen and Amish. Like many her age, she has lots of questions, but the temporary flight of freedom known as rumspringen is not the answer for her. She does not desire Englisher fashion, all-night parties, movies, or lots of boyfriends. Leah is seeking to understand her relationship with God, to deepen and broaden her faith by joining a Bible study hosted by an ex-Amish couple. She wants to know why Amish life is the only lifestyle her family accepts, why the church has so many rules, and . . . most disturbing, how godly men can allow her best friend to be abused in her own home. In the pressure-cooker environment of church and family, Leah is not allowed to ask these questions. When finally she reaches the breaking point, she walks away from the Old Order Amish life that is all she has known. Though adapting amiably to the Englisher world, Leah is tormented with homesickness. Returning to the community, however, entails a journey of pain and sorrow Leah could never have imagined. The miting--shunning--that will now be Leah's unendurable oppression every day is beyond her most devoted attempts to believe or understand. All the bishop and her family ask is that she abandon her practice of reading the Bible. Is that a price she is willing to pay?

My Take: Miting is another word for shunning.  Leah wants to be able to read her
Bible but the old order Amish group she belongs to forbids it.  Leah is questioning many things about how the group her family belongs to does things.  She attends a Bible Study that is lead by an ex Amish couple and when her family finds out they are furious.  She then decides to leave the Amish and become English.  After awhile away she decides to return to the Amish which leads her being put under the miting.  She must give up reading the Bible to no longer be under The Miting.  This book really brought to light how the old order Amish is different than the new order Amish and what it meant for someone to be under the Miting.  I would highly recommend this book if you like Amish fiction or if you just want to learn about Old Order Amish.

I received a review copy of this book from Kregel in exchange for  my honest opinion. 

Defy the Night by Heather Munn and Lydia Munn

Defy the Night by Heather Munn and Lydia Munn

From Goodreads.com
If no one will do anything, she’ll have to do it herself.

In 1941 France is still “free.” But fifteen-year-old Magali is frustrated by the cruel irony of pretending life is normal when food is rationed, new clothes are a rarity, and most of her friends are refugees. And now the government is actually helping the Nazis. Someone has got to do something, but it seems like no one has the guts—until Paquerette arrives.

Smuggling refugee children is Paquerette’s job. And she asks Magali to help.

Working with Paquerette is scary and exhausting, but Magali never doubts that it is the right thing to do. Until her brash actions put those she loves in danger.

My Take:  I am always curious to read books about people who did brave things during wars.  Like the people who hid Anne Frank and those who helped slaves with the underground railroad.  This book is interesting look at a young girl who helps smuggle refugee children.  This also examines the fact that you can effect others you love even if you are doing the right thing.  

I received a review copy of this book from Kregel in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Candle Bible Handbook by Terry Jean Day and Carol Smith

Candle Bible Handbook by Terry Jean Day and Carol Smith

From Goodreads.com:
Travel through Bible history with this comprehensible exploration of the Bible, following the key narratives from Genesis to Revelation. Perfect as a child's first Bible reference, he will travel through Bible lands and times and discover how the people lived: the foods they ate, the homes they occupied, the clothes they wore, and the work they performed. There are sections of study questions throughout to further learning, as well as glossaries and FAQs to help understanding

My Take:  This would make a perfect first book for a homeschool class on the Bible.  The pictures are wonderful and the information is just the right amount to get children interested in maybe finding out more on their own.  The Study question throughout the book are great for just that purpose.  This book would be beneficial for all children to have when they are just learning how to dig into the Bible on their own.  

I received a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion from Kregel.

Casting the Net by Pam Rhodes

Casting the Net by Pam Rhodes

from Goodreads.com
Heart-warming English comedy of manners, featuring the trials and tribulations of newly ordained minister, Neil FisherIn part two of the Dunbridge Chronicles, Neil Fisher returns from ordination inspired by his sense of ministry, but determined to distance himself from the two ladies in his life. This is not altogether well received, and a wide segment of the congregation of St Stephen's, Dunbridge--including the music group--points Neil to the error of his ways.

Meanwhile Neil's close friend Colin and his wife Jeannie are delighted by the birth of a daughter, but is all well with the baby? Neil's mother Iris continues to meddle, to his irritation. Churchwarden Peter has said a relieved farewell to his flighty wife Glenda--or has he? Dunbridge is not as peaceful as it seems.

My Take:  This book is a great book to read if you are in the mood to feel like you are surrounded by a bunch of friends.  You will feel right at home as you read about the various people that reside in Dunbridge. 
This book will make you wish that you lived there and you will both laugh and cry along with the characters.  Great book.  Great story.   

I received a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion from Kregel .

Canyon of Danger and River of Peril by Susan K. Marlow (Goldtown Adventures #3 & #4)

About the books: 

Canyon of Danger (Goldtown Adventures #3) by Susan K. Marlow:  

Jem Coulter's pa, the sheriff of Goldtown, is away on a trip to deliver a prisoner to Sacramento, and he has left Jem in charge of the ranch-along with Aunt Rose, that is.

No sooner is the sheriff gone then trouble starts-a dead calf, a mysterious stranger, and then Pa's horse, Copper, and his prize rifle are stolen. And Pa's deputies seem unconcerned. Jem and his cousin Nathan find Copper's tracks end at a dark canyon up in the hills.

Jem remembers an old Indian legend Strike-it-rich Sam is fond 
of retelling about people disappearing and no one ever seeing them again. What is the real story of the canyon of danger? Have thieves found the perfect hideout?

Readers ages 8 to 12 will be entertained by the adventurous spirit and historical lure in this fast-moving series that teaches about life in the post-Gold Rush days of 1860s California. Quick-paced plots and unforgettable characters make these books fun for the whole family.

River of Peril (Goldtown Adventures #4) by Susan K. Marlow  

Jem Coulter thinks his family is just on a sightseeing trip to the big city of Sacramento. Then armed bandits hold up the stagecoach for the secret stash they're carrying: gold for the Union Army fighting the distant Civil War! Suddenly war isn't nso far away; it's right there on the road to Sacramento, with Jem's father, the sheriff of Goldtown, fighting against the rebel army's Knights of the Golden Circle.

When the family finally reaches the city, they think they're safe at last. Setting out to see the sights, Jem, his sister Ellie, and their cousin Nathan make a new friend. But is Henry the pal they think he is? With a father who is a die-hard Confederate, could Henry be in cahoots with the thieves?

River of Peril gives readers ages 8 to 12 the fast-moving, exciting adventure they've come to expect in this series, as well as a glimpse into the history of post--Gold Rush and Civil War life in 1860s California, with stagecoaches, steamboats, stowaways--and lots of gold!
 

My Take:  If you are looking for a series that will get your youngster excited for reading especially boys this may just be the one for you.  these books start at a break neck speed and don't slow down until the very end so the young reader doesn't have time to get bored with the story.  They will be turning the pages as fast as they can read them so that they can find out what happens next.  I wish this series had been around when my son was young.  As it is I will be getting the first two in this se ries and saving them for when my grandkids are older.  Girls will enjoy this series also.

I received review copies of these books in exchange for my honest review from Kregel. 

Hands of Darkness by Heather James

Hands of Darkness by Heather James

From Goodreads.com

Evelyn Barrett has a new job, a new baby, and a new life—of sorts. Nearly crushed by the horrific abduction and murder of her daughter (book 1, Unholy Hunger), Evelyn is moving on as best she can. No longer allowed to practice law, she is recruited by one of the detectives from her daughter’s case to become a police consultant. Her inaugural case becomes a baptism by fire as she joins the hunt for a chillingly methodical and sadistic serial rapist and murderer. Her revulsion and anger fuels a passion for justice . . . and then it becomes personal. Her friend and law school roommate, Jen, becomes a victim. The rapist has made a catastrophic mistake with Jen: he has left her alive and able to talk. Filled with the chilling tension of Unholy Hunger, Hands of Darkness explores the emotional and spiritual consequences for all involved when justice and compassion collide head-on with the darkest examples of human depravity.

My Take:  Even thought this is the second book in a series you can easily read this book as a standalone.  I love books that have me in suspense from beginning till the end and this book certainly did that.  This story is a bit hard at times to read as the subject matter of rape and murder are difficult issues.  I enjoyed getting to know the characters and learning about what made them tick.  This book will hook you and won't let go until you reach the final page.  I would recommend this book if you like suspenseful thrillers.  

I received a review copy of this book from Kregel in exchange for my honest review.  

Candle Bedtime Bible

 Candle Bedtime Bible

 There's always time for a story with the Candle Bedtime Bible! Coded for easy reference, forty favorite Bible stories are each timed to be told in three, five, or ten minutes. With plain language and gentle illustrations, this Bible is perfect for a peaceful story time.

My Take:  This is the perfect bedtime book although it can be read anytime.  Each story is a certain length of time.  Each of the stories  has a color coded clock that lets you know how long the story should take.  The illustrations are really cute and my granddaughter really enjoys looking at the pictures.   The stories are nice and easy reading. There are stories from both the  Old and New Testaments.

I received a review copy of this book from Kregel in exchange for my honest review.

The Vicar's Wife by Katharine Swartz

The Vicar's Wife by Katharine Swartz

from Goodreads.com
Jane Hatton and her British husband Andrew relocate from New York City to a small village on the Cumbrian coast. Jane has been city-based and career-driven but when her fourteen year old daughter Natalie falls in with the wrong crowd at school in Manhattan, she and Andrew decide to try country living. However Jane has trouble getting used to the silence and solitude of a remote village. Natalie hates her new school, and eleven-year-old Ben struggles academically. Only seven-year-old Merrie enjoys country life. Has Jane made a horrible mistake? The Hattons have bought the old vicarage in the village. When Jane finds a scrap of shopping list, she grows curious about Alice, the vicar’s wife who lived there years before. As we follow the twin narratives of Jane, in the present, and Alice in the 1930s we discover that both are on a journey to discover their true selves, and to address their deepest fears.


My Take:  This is the second book that I  have recently read that dealt with a present day woman delving into learning about another woman in another time period that lived in the same house that she did.  Both books made the stories work and I enjoyed the stories of the two women.  In this book Jane Hatton moves from bustling New York City to a small village in England that is way quieter and the family has a hard time adjusting except for the husband and the youngest child.    Jane finds a scrap of paper and becomes intrigued by the woman who wrote it and Jane starts asking questions about Alice and learning about her and she realizes that she has more in common than she thought.  I really enjoyed the double story line and liked getting to know both of these characters.  

I received a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion from Kregel. 

The Advent of Murder by Martha Ockley

The Advent of Murder by Martha Ockley

From Good Reads.com
Faith Morgan, former policewoman and vicar of the small English village of Little Worthy, goes to visit one of her parishioners at his farm, only to discover the house surrounded by police cars. A body has been found in the local river and farmer Markham is charged with murder.

Though busy with preparations for Christmas, Faith is called on to investigate when it's found out that the victim is also a member of her congregation--Lucas Kemp, a member of the choir.

Faith's informal inquiries lead her to uncover a hotbed of tensions and romantic rivalries in the choir, questions about drugs, and a run-in with an unsavory uncle--which leads to a dramatic rescue by Ben, Faith's former detective partner and ex-boyfriend.

In the tradition of Father Brown and Miss Marple, The Advent of Murder brings readers an authentic picture of English rural and church life combined with a satisfying mystery that will keep readers guessing until the end.

My Take:  I must make a confession.  I don't like Mysteries that are set in England.  I just find them a bit stuffy and hard for me to enjoy.  This book is a mystery that is set in England.  But I did enjoy it.  And even though it is the second in the series and I haven't read the first book, I didn't find it hard to follow.  I do intend on going back and reading the first book in the series The Reluctant Detective.  

I like to read books that have a holiday theme around this time of year and this book seemed to scratch that itch for me.  

This book has alot of unexpected turns and once you get into the book you will be surprised at how much you enjoy this book.  So if you are like me and don't really like mysteries set in England I would suggest trying this one.  This one will keep you guessing to the very end. 

I received a review copy of this book from Kregel in exchange for my honest opinion.  

Peril by Jordyn Redwood

Peril by Jordyn Redwood

From Goodreads.com
Dr. Thomas Reeves is at the pinnacle of his career. The Department of Defense has awarded him a lucrative contract for his new research into superior autobiographical memory, which promises the ability to create combat troops able to quickly learn complex battle plans and enact them perfectly under the most demanding battlefield scenarios.

An elite unit has received neural grafts from fetal cadavers of genetically altered brain cells with enhanced NMDA receptors. The results are remarkable . . . until the recipients begin suffering hallucinations, nightmares, paralysis, . . . and death. Dr. Reeves searches for answers, but DOD insiders want him to stop the search.

The situation becomes public when pediatric ICU nurse Morgan Adams, Dr. Reeves’s daughter, is taken hostage by three research subjects in an attempt to force Dr. Reeves into disclosing why they are sick. If answers aren’t revealed within twenty-four hours, patients in the pediatric ICU will be killed.

This spine-tingling conclusion to the Bloodline Trilogy raises spiritual and ethical dilemmas torn directly out of today’s headlines. When does life begin? How far does commitment to family go? And can the sins of the father ever be forgiven?

My Take:  This was an exalt book.  Even though it was the last of a trilogy it can be read alone but if you are like me you will want to go back to the other books to see what you missed.  This book takes some of the hot topics of brain stem research and brings it to the forefront of just how some of this research could affect the lives of so many different people.  Not only the people who it is suppose to help but also the people who are subjects for tests and just when do you draw the line.  Great on the edge of your seat wow this could actually happen today book. 

I was sent a review copy of this book from Kregel in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Bible and Prayers for Teddy and Me retold by Christina Goodings Illustrated by Janet Samuel

Bible and Prayers or Teddy and Me Retold by Christina Goodings
Illustrated by Janet Samuel

From Goodreads.com
A Bible storybook especially for young children who always have a teddy bear at storytime, with a padded cover

The 12 favorite retellings included in this collection are chosen to emphasize the message of God's love and care. Each story concludes with a blessing, prayer, or reflection which is illustrated with the child and the teddy bear together. Children will love the endearing illustrations which will help them to relate easily to the stories and prayers, making for a perfect snuggle-up storytime. The 12 stories are In the Beginning, Noah and the Ark, Baby Moses, David and Goliath, Jonah Learns a Lesson, Daniel and the Lions, Jesus is Born, Jesus the Teacher, The Story of the Sower, The Lost Sheep, The Farmer's Son, The Man in the Tree, The Good Samaritan, and The First Easter.

My Take:  This book is just perfect for little ones to snuggle on your lap and read the stories.  Each story is retold in three pages with wonderful illustrations to go along with the story.  The Fourth page is a little prayer that your child could learn and has a picture of a little Child along with a teddy bear.  This is a perfect Beginner Bible story book that children will love for many years to come.  I know that my granddaughter likes our copy very much.  

Bumper Wipe Clean Activities by Juliet David and Illustrated by Marie Allen

Bumper Wipe Clean Activities By Juliet David; illustrated by Marie Allen 

From Goodreads.com

Wipe clean and start again! Seventy-two pages of wipe clean fun activities with a short Bible story at the top of each page and the related activity below.

Help children learn while discovering their favorite Bible stories through mazes, dot to dots, spot the mistake, and many more. The laminated pages can be wiped clean for use again and again and includes a felt-tip pen so children can get started right away.

Unique Selling Points

- Hours of entertainment for a child

- Variety of puzzle and activity types

- Free pen included

My Take:  I originally got this book for my granddaughter who is a little below the intended age for this activity book but the big surprise was how much my 18 year old daughter loved it.  when ever I would go looking for it I always found it in her room.  This book is nice because it helps to reinforce the stories that you have been telling your children through various activities and then they can wipe off the marker and have fun doing it all over again.  The illustrations are wonderful too.  Very colorful and large and you can see the details.  I look forward to many hours of  play with this book and my granddaughter (and daughter). 

I received a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion from Kregel . 

Wounded Women of the Bible by Dena Dyer and Tina Samples

Wounded Women of the Bible by Dena Dyer and Tina Samples

From Good reads.com:

 Imploding relationships, incapacitating losses, injurious personal mistakes, or spiritual failures--whatever the issue, the wounds are the same.

Whether it's a lapse in judgment by Bathsheba or the moral failure of the women's ministry leader in your local church; the spiritual insensitivity of Martha or the compulsive obsessions of your church's care circle chairwoman; the terror of an abandoned single mother like Hagar or the struggling single mother in your prayer group--the time and circumstances are different, but the wounds are equally deep and spiritually devastating.

Dena Dyer and Tina Samples get it. They have their own stories of pain before healing--along with similar experiences of their families and friends. Offering more than pat affirmations or vicarious shoulders to cry on, Dena and Tina delve deep into the shared emotions and injuries that women of all ages have in common--and move readers toward the recovery and healing that only God can provide.

No matter what hurts you've experienced, Wounded Women of the Bible proves that God understands and that healing is not only His intention but His delight!

This is a book not to be missed!

My Take:  If you have had any kind of hurt that is know to women you can probably find an example in the Bible of other women who have gone through the same thing or something very similar.  This book covers many of the women we have all read about before and examines what hurt they had.  Some of the women included are the women that went to Solomon about the baby, Bathseba, and the other women listed in the synopsis above.  I really liked the way that the authors presented the material in the book.  they didn't mince words and were honest and if we are honest we feel the same way.  This book would make a good book for a women's group at church and there are questions included so it would make it easy to have a group discussion of some of the issues that are brought up in the book.  

I received a review copy of this book from Kregel in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Death Be Not Proud by C. F. Dunn

 
Death Be Not Proud by C. F. Dunn

From Goodreads.com:
Following the vicious attack by a psychotic colleague, and reeling from the suspicion that Matthew Lynes is not all that he seems, Professor Emma D'Eresby flees her college teaching position in Maine to her hometown in England-- taking the mysterious seventeenth-century journal she stole from the college's archives with her.

Broken physically and emotionally, Emma drifts until, fearing for their daughter's sanity, her parents invite a family friend to assess her. In the course of their conversation, Emma discovers that he spoke to Matthew over thirty years before.

This finally spurs her into action and soon, when she finds what certainly must be a reference to Matthew in the journal, she begins to understand Matthew's profound secret.

But when Matthew arrives to confess his love for her, she must decide if she can trust him--and he must decide if he can share his extraordinary secret with her. Drawn by a deep connection that both feel but don't quite understand they find they must set aside their doubts and trust each other.

Readers will be thrilled by the second installment in The Secret of the Journal from British author C. F. Dunn. Mixing suspense, romance, and the supernatural, Death Be Not Proud explores the profound moral implications of a life seemingly invulnerable to time.

My Take: This is the second book in this series and although you can read this book without reading the first one I would suggest reading the first book so you would not feel like you need to catch up.  I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it if you like history books and mysteries as there is a mystery about Matthew.  Even though this is marketed as a Christian romance, I really didn't see much Christian about it.  And the whole Matthew mystery makes it hard to believe.  I would just suggest that this is a fantasy book and romance.  

I received a review copy of this book from Kregel in exchange for my honest review. 

The Brotherhood Conspiracy by Terry Brennan

The Brotherhood Conspiracy

From Goodreads.com
 Tom Bohannon's discovery of an ancient scroll led him on an international adventure and through mysteries of faith and politics, ending in a place not even he could imagine: the Third Temple of God hidden under Temple Mount in Jerusalem. But soon after his remarkable discovery, the future of the world changed again. Tom watched as a chasm tore apart Temple Mount, as new rivers swept through the Kidron Valley and into the streets of Old Jerusalem, their discovery swallowed by an earthquake, crushed under tons of stone and debris. A biblical prophecy realized. The final days were upon them.

Wondering how to recover from such a momentous find and such horrendous destruction, Tom's adventures are not over. No one knows how much time is left in these last days--a year? A hundred years? A thousand? Plagued by murderous dreams, Tom fears members of the Prophet Guard--killers who wear the Coptic cross with a lightning bolt slashing through it--are back and looking for him. But they are not the only threat to Tom and his team. Forces behind the Arab Spring have sinister plans. And underestimating their determination would be a fatal mistake.

The same fast-paced, page-turning prose that readers loved in The Sacred Cipher is back in Terry Brennan's eagerly awaited sequel, The Brotherhood Conspiracy.

My Take:  This was an exciting book.  It was almost non stop action.  I would definitely suggest that you read the first in the series because I didn't read the first and was a bit lost until I figured things out.  This book reminded me of another series that I read that used Christian archaeologist
to find Biblical Artifacts.   I was really interested in the way they went about decoding things.  I liked the could happen today sort of feel that this book had.  

I received a review copy of this book for my honest opinion from Kregel Publications.