Notice?

My lovely new design?  I thank Qui for the loveliness!!

Love it. Love it. Love it.


Oh, and see? I have a blog button too!  Take it and show your readers where you go! :-D

Thunder Dog

Author: Michael Hingson with Susy Flory

My recommended age: 12+

Their recommended age: NA

Publisher:  Thomas Nelson publishers.

Number of pages: 256

Publisher’s description:

"A blind man and his guide dog show the power of trust and courage in the midst of devastating terror.

It was 12:30 a.m. on 9/11 and Roselle whimpered at Michael’s bedside. A thunderstorm was headed east, and she could sense the distant rumbles while her owners slept. As a trained guide dog, when she was “on the clock” nothing could faze her. But that morning, without her harness, she was free to be scared, and she nudged Michael’s hand with her wet nose as it draped over the bedside toward the floor. She needed him to wake up.

With a busy day of meetings and an important presentation ahead, Michael slumped out of bed, headed to his home office, and started chipping away at his daunting workload. Roselle, shivering, took her normal spot at his feet and rode out the storm while he typed. By all indications it was going to be a normal day. A busy day, but normal nonetheless. Until they went into the office.

In Thunder Dog, follow Michael and his guide dog, Roselle, as their lives are changed forever by two explosions and 1,463 stairs. When the first plane struck Tower One, an enormous boom, frightening sounds, and muffled voices swept through Michael’s office while shards of glass and burning scraps of paper fell outside the windows.

But in this harrowing story of trust and courage, discover how blindness and a bond between dog and man saved lives and brought hope during one of America’s darkest days."

My thoughts:

 Amazing.  How many books have been written by a blind person?  Huh?  This book, though it lacked physical description, had me feeling like I was right there.  Holding on to Roselle's halter, walking down the 78 flights of stairs.  I felt like I was feeling the towers groan and collapse under my feet, and running...running from the dust cloud and danger.  Michael Hingson, though blind, could be an incredible writer.  I also learned about blindness more then ever.  I never even knew about all these amazing gadgets that blind folks have to help them go about life just like us.  I also learned about the day-to-day trials of blind people.  I now know how to treat them:  Just like anybody else.

Cons:

 None.

Pros:

 The amazing first hand experience I got while sitting on my bed.

The incredible knowledge I now store up in my head.

Language:

Nothing comes to mind.

Romance and sexual content:

None.

Violence:

Other then a plane crashing into our twin towers on 9/11, none.

Drugs and drink:

None.

Ratings:

You probably noticed, there was no cons, no objectionable material and an over all wonderful read.  I think you know I'm going to rate this a:

*I received this book from Booksneeze; A free book reviewer program.   If you would like to join booksneeze, go {HERE}.

The Deady Curse of Toco Rey

 Author:  Frank E. Peretti

My recommended age: 10+

Their recommended age:  9-12

Publisher:  Thomas Nelson

Number of pages: 160

Publisher’s description:

"Lila and Jay Cooper have joined their dad on a mission to the jungles of Central America, where a group of American treasure hunters have already become the victims of the deadly curse of Toco-Rey. Before Dr. Cooper can solve the mystery, his children are kidnapped and his integrity is put to the test. What price will he pay to get his children back? Is the treasure in the burial tomb of Kachi-Tochetin really worth more than gold?
Follow the Coopers as they explore unknown ruins, plunge through dangerous jungles, face hostile natives, and battle ancient evil forces. Will their courage and faith in God bring them through?"

My thoughts:

 Peretti rises again!  This guy is a great writer...no joke.   Creepy, chilling, wonderful, adventure, all packed into one 160 paged book.   Some things seemed unreal, but it was all interesting, and made me go, "Why not?".

Cons:

 None.

Pros:

 I can't list every single pro.  There is to many.

Language:

It says a Spanish guy "Cursed in Spanish"  but it doesn't say WHAT he said.

Romance and sexual content:

 None.

 Violence:

They stumble upon a dead guy, Something happens to Dr. Cooper that makes him go crazy, and he has to fight against wanting to kill some people, he triumphs.  Lila, Jay, and Tomas all have the same problem with the same affects.  But they never do kill anyone.   The main bad guy is a terrorist weapons dealer.

Drugs and drink:

 None.

Ratings:

Frank E. Peretti is an awesome story teller. I've read 3 in the series now, and although they are under my age level, I still find them fascinating!  I give this awesome book a:

While reading this, I kept going, "There is no such thing, but why couldn't it be real, and still undiscovered?".  Another Bravo for Peretti!

Life in Spite of me

MAN! I am on a roll! 3 reviews in 2 days.  Thats what I call a successful reviewer!

Author:  Kristen Jane Anderson

My recommended age: 12+

Their recommended age:  NA

Publisher:  Waterbrook Multnomah publishing group

Number of pages: 224

Publisher’s description:

"She wanted to die. God had other plans.
Overwhelmed by wave after wave of emotional trauma, Kristen Anderson no longer wanted to live. One January night, determined to end her pain once and for all, the seventeen-year-old lay across train tracks not far from her home and waited to die.

Instead of peace, she found herself immersed in a whole new nightmare.

Before the engineer could bring the train to a stop, thirty-three freight cars passed over her at fifty-five miles per hour. After the train stopped and Kristen realized she was still alive, she looked around—and saw her legs ten feet away.

Surviving her suicide attempt but losing her legs launched Kristen into an even deeper battle with depression and suicidal thoughts, as well as unrelenting physical pain—all from the seat of a wheelchair. But in the midst of her darkest days, Kristen discovered the way to real life and a purpose for living.

For anyone struggling to find the strength to go on, the message of this heart-wrenching yet hope-building book is a clear and extraordinary reminder that even when we give up on life, God doesn’t give up on us. "

My thoughts:

 I love books like this.  I enjoy reading about Joni Erickson Tada, I love getting chill bumps as they recount the amazing things God has led them through, the way they passed the valley of the shadow of death.  Miss Anderson's account is gripping, awe-inspiring,  and all out awesome.   What Kristen went through, and her ultimate victory in Christ is just amazing.  Even though I don't suffer with suicide and decompression, it still helped me marvel at the awesomeness of our God, the ways he molds us and builds who we are.  I recommend this to not only people who are in depression, but anyone needing a pick-up on God's grace, the second chances at life -a better life- that he gives us.

Cons:

 While still in high school, Kristen is raped by her boy friend, it is a stepping stone to her eventually laying on the tracks, so she recounts it, this is what made me move it up as a read for 12 YOs or older.

Pros:

Gripping.

A testimony to the grace of God.

Wonderful.

Just wonderfully change inspiring.

Language:

None.

Romance and sexual content:

Kristen is raped by her boy friend.  She explains it with as little graphic-ness as possible, though.

Violence:

It is a book about suicide...take it or leave it.

Drugs and drink:

Before, and even after, her accident, Kristen goes to parties quite often.  Once she becomes a true Christian, she leaves that worldly style of life.

Ratings

What can I say?  I love it.  I'm not a non-fiction type, there is a few I've read that I loved that wasn't Fiction, and this one makes the mark, and might even heighten the mark.

*DISCLAIMER* I recieved this book for free to review from Waterbrook Multnolmah Books. All opinions are my own. 

How often do YOU read Non-fiction?

The Secret of the Desert Stone

Author: Frank E. Peretti

My recommended age: 10+

Their recommended age: 9-12

Publisher:  Thomas Nelson

Number of pages: 160

Publisher’s description:

"Biblical archeologist Dr. Jacob Cooper arrives in Togwana with his children Jay and Lila and one goal-to discover the secret behind the two-mile-high Stone that has mysteriously appeared overnight. Who could have excavated, carved, and transported the colossal Stone? The Coopers' uneasiness soon turns into dread as they are watched and threatened by the country's new government and brutal dictator Id Nkromo.
Follow the Coopers as they race to solve the mystery of the desert stone!"

My thoughts:

 I found this one a little weird...but interesting all at the same time.  Some things that happened in it seem like it could never happen in real life, but at the same time you have to question, "Why couldn't they if God wanted them to like he did here?".  It was interesting, but didn't hold me in such rigid attention like Annie Murphy did.

Cons:

 Some things seem highly impossible.

Pros:

 Makes you realize the greatness of God, and how he can do whatever he wants, no matter how odd and impossible it might seem.

Same strong family ties as in Annie Murphy.

Language:

None.

Romance and sexual content:

None.

Violence:

 It looks like the Coopre family might get shot by a firing squad for a bit.

The Togwana president as well as some of his hunch men get killed.

Drugs and drink:

 None.

Ratings:

It wasn't as interesting as Annie Murphy, which got a 4, so I give this a:

Is Togwana even a real place?

The Legend of Annie Murphy

Author:  Frank E Peretti

My recommended age: 10+

Their recommended age: NA

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Number of pages: 160

Publisher’s description:

"In 1885, the Murphy mine struck gold. According to legend, Annie Murphy killed her husband out of greed, but just before she was to be hanged for the murder, she escaped. Now, a hundred years later, there have been sightings of Annie Murphy's "ghost." The Coopers unwittingly become involved in a mystery that finds them caught between the past and the present."

My thoughts:

Ok...When it starts out, this book is rather creepy.  I read it at night, which made it worse.  It turns out Annie isn't a ghost after all, but I wont go into detail and ruin it all for you.  I like how the Coopers work as a family, and the Dad isn't portrayed as dumb.  Mr. Peretti is an excellent story teller, and knows how to keep your attention.

Cons:

It could be a little scary at first.

Pros:

The Coopers have strong family ties.
It is clean.

Language:

None.

Romance and sexual content:

None.

Violence:
The Cooper's get shot at by the Bad guys, and the baddies end up dying.

Drugs and drink:

None.

Ratings:

 I can read, and enjoy, books meant for a much younger 
crowd then myself.  Like, I LOVE Dr. Seuss.  I think maybe more then my 3-6-8 and 9 YO sisters.  So, this story might be a little 'lame' for older readers, but I still give it a:

Have you every read anything close to Paranormal?

The Scarlet Pimpernel

Author:  Baroness Emmuska Orczy

My recommended age: 11+

Their recommended age:  NA

Publisher:  (Mine) Bantam

Number of pages: 272

Publisher’s description:

"The first and most successful in the Baroness’s series of books that feature Percy Blakeney, who leads a double life as an English fop and a swashbuckling rescuer of aristocrats, The Scarlet Pimpernel was the blueprint for what became known as the masked-avenger genre. As Anne Perry writes in her Introduction, the novel “has a...  more »lmost reached its first centenary, and it is as vivid and appealing as ever because the plotting is perfect. It is a classic example of how to construct, pace, and conclude a plot. . . . To rise on the crest of laughter without capsizing, to survive being written, rewritten, and reinterpreted by each generation, is the mark of a plot that is timeless and universal, even though it happens to be set in England and France of 1792.”

My thoughts:

 The P. Description doesn't give this book enough credit.  There are reasons classics become classics.  They aren't full of nonsense, they show two sides of humanity, they have a strong hero or heroine,  they usually have good morals.  The Scarlet Pimpernel is an ageless book of danger, love, deceit and regret.  It moves you to love The Pimpernel, and hate the bad men.  You feel for Lady Blackney, and come on, who can really truly dislike Lord Blackney?  I want the person to fess up who can't.  Right now.  Your heart picks up it's pace when the Pimpernel is in danger, and when you really don't see how he will scape out of this one.  You grow to love all the characters.  Except Chuavelin.  Everyone can hate that guy.  You have my utmost permission.   And isn't the cover simply daring?  I stared at it for so long before I got it, and even longer once I did.

Cons:

 There was a good deal of the use of the word, "Damn" (I feel bad for even typing that), but that is it. 

Pros:

Good, ageless plot.

Strong characters.

Classical book.

Chivalry is a strong theme, I think.

Language:

Damn.  I think that is the only word.

Romance and sexual content:

None. 

Violence:

Madame Guillotine is a strong aspect in this book, but it is during the French revolution.  There isn't anything gross or graphic in it.

Drugs and drink:

 Uh...I think they drink Wine once or twice.  And a background person orders beer.

Ratings:

I want to give this a 10 star.  I loved it.  But 5 is as high as I set my ratings, so it will have to go a