Review & GIVEAWAY: Life, In Spite of Me

Title: Life, In Spite of Me: Extraordinary Hope After a Fatal Choice

Author: Kristen Jane Anderson with Tricia Goyer

From the Back of the Book: Kristen Anderson thought she had the picture-perfect life until strokes of gray dimmed her outlook: three friends and her grandmother died within two years. Still reeling from these losses, she was raped by a friend she thought she could trust. She soon spiraled into a seemingly bottomless depression.

One January night, the seventeen-year-old decided she no longer wanted to deal with the emotional pain that smothered her. She lay down on a set of cold railroad tracks and waited for a freight train to send her to heaven…and peace.

But Kristen's story doesn’t end there.

In Life, In Spite of Me this remarkably joyful young woman shares the miracle of her survival, the agonizing aftermath of her failed suicide attempt, and the hope that has completely transformed her life, giving her a powerful purpose for living.

Her gripping story of finding joy against all odds provides a vivid and unforgettable reminder that life is a gift to be treasured.

Includes notes of encouragement Kristen wishes she had received when she was struggling most.

My Thoughts: This was an easy, good read. I'm amazed by this woman's strength. After everything she went through, to be so positive and so much a champion for God is absolutely AMAZING! I am humbled by her faith and her testimony. I ache for the pain she felt that led up to her suicide attempt. I can't imagine doing such a thing only to end up still alive and without legs. What amazes me is how she was told repeatedly that she should NOT be alive. Medically, physically (meaning physics of being under a moving train), etc. she should have died. She defied ALL odds – instead of getting sucked up by the force of the train, she was pushed down. Such an amazing testimony of how God came through for her and how He clearly had big plans for her. I pray that her testimony, her book, and her ministry (Reaching You Ministries) all do as she intends: help save lives. Rescue people from the depths of despair. Help people see that there is hope – hope in GOD. And, after making that rescue, help people to truly find God. And then, to never be the same.

My Rating: 3 stars

Source: This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Get It: Purchase your own copy HERE.

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*****WIN IT*****

I have one copy to give away to one lucky reader!

To Enter: Submit your entry using the Linky below. (Put your name in the first box. The "link" box is optional. Include your e-mail address in the last box.) Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. (Central) Monday, May 31. A winner will be chosen randomly with the help of random.org. I will send the lucky winner an e-mail notification. (It will come from proudbooknerd(at)gmail(dot)com, so make sure to add this address to your safe list or address book to ensure it doesn't get lost in junk/bulk mail.) If I do not get a response within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen. Unfortunately, this giveaway is only open to readers in the U.S. No P.O. boxes.

Speaking of GIVEAWAYS: Don't forget to enter my other giveaways.

• The giveaway for Wind Warrior ends THIS THURSDAY, May 20.
• The Indivisible giveaway closes on May 25.

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Write a Review Wednesday: Who Hops?

I can't remember where I originally saw this (sorry), but I followed the link to Tara Lazar to find out more about this meme. It's called Write a Review Wednesday, and it's a way to help support kids' lit. So, I thought I'd make sure to participate. I'm (obviously, I'm sure) a HUGE supporter of reading, and I know how important it is to get kids reading at a young age so they can grow to love books. It won't work for all kids, of course, but even if they don't become a Proud Book Nerd (hee, hee!), literacy is still very important. Anyway, time to get off the soapbox and into the review ...

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Title: Who Hops?

Author: Katie Davis

Summary (from Goodreads): Exploding with color, this engaging read-aloud book takes a fun-filled look at the world of animal movement. Introducing animals that really do hop or fly or swim, Davis ends the sequence with one that certainly doesn't. Birds fly. Bats fly. Flies fly. Rhinos fly. NO THEY DON'T! (At that point, a bedraggled purple rhino, complete with tiny pink wings strapped to his huge body, says, "Great. NOW you tell me.")

My Thoughts: This book is adorable in my opinion, and my kids LOVE it. They think it's HILARIOUS! It's one my daughter has checked out from her school library SEVERAL times over the past two years. (She's only in 1st grade.) She even likes to read it to her younger siblings, who crack up while she's reading. This is definitely one of our favorite kids' books!

My Rating: 5 stars

Source: We do not own this book (although I'd like to), but have borrowed it from the school library.

Own It: Get your copy of Who Hops? HERE. (This is an Amazon link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission. Your support is appreciated!)

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Review & GIVEAWAY: Indivisible

Title: Indivisible

Author: Kristen Heitzmann

Special: Click HERE to listen to an interview of Kristen Heitzmann.

From the Back of the Book: Battling his own personal demons, Police Chief Jonah Westfall knows the dark side of life and has committed himself to eradicating it. When a pair of raccoons are found mutilated in Redford, Colorado, Jonah investigates the gruesome act, knowing the strange event could escalate and destroy the tranquility of his small mountain town. With a rising drug threat and never-ending conflict with Tia Manning, a formidable childhood friend with whom he has more than a passing history, Jonah fights for answers—and his fragile sobriety.

But he can’t penetrate every wound or secret—especially one fueled by a love and guilt teetering on madness.

From best-selling author Kristen Heitzmann comes a spellbinding tale of severed connections and the consequences of life lived alone.

My Thoughts: I must have had high expectations for this book. I think it sounds REALLY good. And it is pretty good, but not AWESOME. It didn't shock my socks off. It didn't have me hooked until the last few chapters. In the beginning, a lot of bait is thrown out – many references to past events that we're left guessing about. That only keeps me going so long. Don't throw several "mysteries" at me and then string me along for most of the book. Give me something early on – an appetizer, if you will. I will admit that there were some unexpected twists and turns, and the one at the VERY end (which I will NOT spoil for you) did catch me a bit off guard. I really didn't see that final twist coming. But, of course, looking back, I can see small hints throughout the book. That part was VERY well done. One of those why-didn't-I-catch-that things that I occasionally run into! That said, I wasn't quite satisfied with the end. Too many unanswered questions. What happens with Miles? Is Scout OK? What happens with the mayor? I find myself hoping Heitzmann is planning a sequel in hopes of finding these answers. Do I see myself reading this book again? Honestly, probably not. But maybe.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Source: This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Get It: Purchase your own copy HERE.

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*****WIN IT*****

I have one copy to give away to one lucky reader!

To Enter: Submit your entry using the Linky below. (Put your name in the first box. The "link" box is optional. Include your e-mail address in the last box.) Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. (Central) Tuesday, May 25. A winner will be chosen randomly with the help of random.org. I will send the lucky winner an e-mail notification. (It will come from proudbooknerd(at)gmail(dot)com, so make sure to add this address to your safe list or address book to ensure it doesn't get lost in junk/bulk mail.) If I do not get a response within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen. Unfortunately, this giveaway is only open to readers in the U.S. No P.O. boxes.

Speaking of GIVEAWAYS: Don't forget to enter my giveaway for Wind Warrior. Entries are accepted through May 20.

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Review: Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge

Summary: There is so much to this book that it's hard for me to summarize briefly. It's about what God created women for and how to get back to WHO God created you to be. This isn't your typical how-to-be-a-woman-of-God book in that it doesn't offer a list of what you should be doing, rather it gets to the roots of WHO you are, WHO God created you to be, WHY you are the way you are. To take it from the back cover:

The message of Captivating is this: Your heart matters more than anything else in all of creation.

My thoughts: I, honestly, was somewhat skeptical coming into reading this book, but it sounded interesting so I gave it a try. And it is GOOD. I couldn't believe how quickly it drew me in – for this type of book that is R-A-R-E! I found myself just drinking this book in. This book was talking to me Stasi gets me. This is a powerful, amazing book. It was a real eye-opener in so many ways. It helped me see how Satan has been tying me down, cutting me off from God's power and love. It made me rethink a LOT of things. I intend to re-read this book somewhat regularly – every year or two – because I think this is something that is constantly a work in progress, and regular refreshers will help keep me progressing in the right direction. I would HIGHLY recommend this book to all women I know! I think this is a book PACKED with a lot of valuable information, based on Biblical truth, and if women can really drink it in they will find themselves FREE!

My rating: 5 stars

Source: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I did not receive any monetary compensation.

Get it: As I said before, I HIGHLY recommend this book. You can find it HERE. (This is an Amazon link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission. Your support is appreciated!)

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Review: No Greater Love

This was a book I had agreed to review before this blog was born, so the review can be found on my other blog. I know some of you had expressed interest in seeing my review, so I wanted to make sure no one missed it.

No Greater Love

I didn't rate it per my ratings here on PBN. So, I'll do it here.

Rating: 3.5 stars

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Review: The Time Traveler's Wife

***SPOILER ALERT***DO NOT READ IF YOU DON'T LIKE SPOILERS!***

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow. This book blew me away! I saw the movie when it came out, and thought it was OK. I didn't feel like I had to read the book anytime in the near future. Part of me is glad I'd waited – it had been long enough that I didn't remember a lot of detail from the movie. Part of me is sorry I waited – I'm trying to remember how the movie compares. I guess I'll have to add it to the Netflix queue!

This was an amazing book. Absolutely AMAZING. I have lots and lots of thoughts that are hard to pull together in coherent prose.

Why I liked this better than the movie: I could empathize with BOTH characters. I LOVED Henry's character in the book. LOVED him. He was smart, witty, funny, kind ... and reading things from his perspective really got me to LOVE this character. I wanted to know him, meet him, get to talk with him. I felt his pain, his torture, his happiness. I felt his despair toward the end.

I didn't like Clare very much toward the beginning. I hated how she compared the younger Henry to the Henry she knew from her childhood. I felt that poor Henry wasn't getting a very fair deal. I hated when the future Henry would be there and she'd call that one my Henry – as though the real Henry wasn't OK. Or something. I hated that. It made me feel bad for Henry.

Having seen the movie, I knew roughly how the book would end – that Henry was going to die. I think that is why I took so long to read it. I VERY MUCH enjoyed this book, but I wasn't ready to get to the so sad, depressing, make-me-cry-while-reading last few chapters of the book. Just thinking about it makes me want to cry.

This is one of those books I will be thinking about a LOT for a few days. A LOT. The story, so intricate and detailed. The characters, so human and flawed and real. The paradigm that is time travel ...

There are some parts that really got me thinking. And my brain hurts because I get stuck in a loop. A chicken-or-egg loop – you know, which came first ... did certain things happen because of his time travels, or would they have happened anyway? (Of course, now that I'm writing, the specific examples I had are gone from my mind.) Did certain things happen because of something his future self said or did when visiting the past? Would it still have played out that way had he not told anyone from the past anything? I don't know. And thinking about it makes my brain hurt!

I HIGHLY recommend this book. HIGHLY. It exceeded my expectations by leaps and bounds!


Get your own copy HERE.

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Review & GIVEAWAY: The Bridegrooms

Title: The Bridegrooms

Author: Allison Pittman

Description: Tragedy hits the Allenhouse family on a hot summer night in Ohio when a mother of four vanished. Eight-year-old Vada virtually grew up overnight and raised her three younger sisters while her father lost himself in his medical practice in the basement of their home.

Now, Vada is a grown woman, still making her home with her father and sisters. Her days are spent serving as an errand girl for Cleveland’s fledgling amateur orchestra; her evenings with Garrison Walker, her devoted, if passionless, beau.

Dizzying change occurs the day the Brooklyn Bridegrooms come to town to play the Cleveland Spiders and a line drive wallops the head of a spectator. The fan is whisked to the Allenhouse parlor, and questions swirl about the anonymous, unconscious man.

Suddenly, the subdued house is filled with visitors, from a flirtatious, would-be sports writer to the Bridegrooms’ handsome star hitter to the guilt-ridden ballplayer who should have caught the stray shot. The medical case brings Dr. Allenhouse a frustration and helplessness he hasn’t felt since his wife’s disappearance. Vada’s sisters are giddy at the bevy of possible suitors. And Vada’s life is awakened amid the super-charged atmosphere of romantic opportunity.

My Thoughts [MILD SPOILERS]: I will start by saying that I was quite pleased with the way the story ended. Based on that alone, I almost gave the book a higher rating! But, I found this book slow to really get going. It wasn't a chore to read, but it didn't have me wanting to read more until I got to the last half or third (it's hard to know when I got sucked in) of the book. In short: It took me FIVE DAYS to read this book. If a book really grabs me, I will finish in half that time – if not less.

The characters were OK. Vada was mostly likable, but I was really wanting her to put Lisette in her place a few times. I couldn't believe the rudeness and abuse she took from her! Hazel was sweet, and I was really hoping that Althea would say something by book's end.

One big plus was that the Christianity in the book was very natural. No preachy religion, which I greatly appreciate. Overall, it was an enjoyable read! I would recommend it to fans of Christian fiction.

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Source: This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Get It: Purchase your own copy of The Bridegrooms HERE.

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*****WIN IT*****

I have one copy to give away to one lucky reader!

To Enter: Submit your entry using the form below. Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. (Central) Monday, May 3. A winner will be chosen randomly with the help of random.org. I will send the lucky winner an e-mail notification. (It will come from ramblings.more(at)gmail(dot)com, so make sure to add this address to your safe list or address book to ensure it doesn't get lost in junk/bulk mail.) If I do not get a response within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen. Unfortunately, this giveaway is only open to readers in the U.S. No P.O. boxes.

Speaking of GIVEAWAYS: Don't forget to enter my other giveaways!

The GIVEAWAY for This Little Prayer of Mine ends TODAY! (This is hosted on my other blog because it was posted before this blog was created!)

Enter to win Forget Me Not by April 26 HERE!

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Review: Water for Elephants

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am so glad I finally read the book. While I find the cover not very appealing (which, for me, can matter – it took me a year to finally get beyond the cover), the story is AWESOME!

The characters were quite interesting, the plot was engaging – this was one book that had me from Page 1. I didn't find myself able to guess a lot of the surprises in the plot, which is a nice change.

This was one of those books that I couldn't read fast enough, but didn't want to read too fast. One of those books that I couldn't wait to see how things play out, but I wanted to savor every page. I know I will read this one again.

Get your own copy of Water for Elephants HERE.

View all my reviews >>

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Review & GIVEAWAY: Forget Me Not

Title: Forget Me Not

Author: Vicki Hinze

Summary: Crossroads Crisis Center owner Benjamin Brandt was a content man—in his faith, his work, and his family. Then in a flash, everything he loved was snatched away. His wife and son were murdered, and grief-stricken Ben lost faith. Determination to find their killers keeps him going, but after three years of dead ends and torment, his hope is dying too. Why had he survived? He’d failed to protect his family.

Now, a mysterious woman appears at Crossroads seeking answers and help—a victim who eerily resembles Ben’s deceased wife, Susan. A woman robbed of her identity, her life, of everything except her faith—and Susan’s necklace.

The connections between the two women mount, exceeding coincidence, and to keep the truth hidden, someone is willing to kill. Finding out who and why turns Ben and the mystery woman’s situation from dangerous to deadly. Their only hope for survival is to work together, trust each other, and face whatever they discover head on, no matter how painful. But will that be enough to save their lives and heal their tattered hearts?

Author Bio: Vicki Hinze is an award-winning author of twenty-three novels, three nonfiction books, and hundreds of articles. Selected for Who’s Who in America in 2004 as a writer and educator, Hinze is active in Romance Writers of America and serves as a Vice President on the International Thriller Writers Board of Directors. Vicki lives in Florida with her artist husband, a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel. Visit www.vickihinze.com to learn more about Vicki’s books, blogs, and writing programs.

My Thoughts: This was quite the page-turner! I read over a 36-hour time period. We were visiting family over Easter weekend, and I found myself stealing time away to sit and read. I had to find out what was coming next! The story was very interesting, and there were some twists and turns in there that were a bit unexpected. That's a good thing – I hate when books are predictable! Another plus was that this book didn't shove Christianity down my throat. I am a born-again Christian, and do not find Christian books in the least bit offensive. I just hate when it feels like I'm reading more of a sermon and less of a story. I want the story! ;-) That said, I felt this book had the perfect balance of God and plot. We see prayer and reference to God and faith in ways that felt perfectly natural to me.

My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Source: This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Get It: Purchase your own copy of Forget Me Not HERE.

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*****WIN IT*****

I have one copy to give away to one lucky reader!

To Enter: Submit your entry using the MckLinky below (you can leave the first box, labeled "entry content," blank). Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. (Central) Monday, April 26. A winner will be chosen randomly with the help of random.org. I will send the lucky winner an e-mail notification. (It will come from ramblings.more(at)gmail(dot)com, so make sure to add this address to your safe list or address book to ensure it doesn't get lost in junk/bulk mail.) If I do not get a response within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen. Unfortunately, this giveaway is only open to readers in the U.S. No P.O. boxes.

Speaking of GIVEAWAYS: Don't forget to enter my other giveaways!

Enter to win An Absence So Great by April 15 HERE!

The GIVEAWAY for This Little Prayer of Mine ends on April 19!

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