BOOKVISIONS

Oath of Office by Michael Palmer & Giveaway

2012-01-27T01:15:00.000-08:00

Amazon.com link to pre-order Oath of Office

Michael Palmer is the author of sixteen medical mystery/suspense novels. It is no secret that he has been one of my favorite authors for years, and Oath of Office is another outstanding book by this author.

The character of Dr. Lou Welcome brings us an area of medicine that patients do not like to think about. He is a medical doctor that has fought his way back from addiction and is now helping other troubled doctors. Unexpectedly, one of his doctors suddenly goes on a shooting spree. He kills patients, another doctor, and his staff before killing himself. Lou was overseeing this doctor’s progress and is held responsible for the carnage. But things are strange all over the small town of Kings Ridge, and Lou finds several cases of individuals behaving out of character. He must solve the mystery to keep his position as counselor to his troubled colleagues. There is a political connection (non-partisan) in the story that leads all the way to the First Lady and President.

I always enjoy the medical foundation to the story, and with the suspense and great writing, this book was a pleasure to read. Each of the main characters of the book is unique. Lou Welcome was likeable, and I enjoyed the relationship he had with his father, daughter and even his ex-wife Renee. He and Renee still had a respect and fondness for each other. Of course, there is action and adventure when Dr. Welcome finds criminal activity going on where you least expect it. There is a perfect balance of dialog and narration, and I highly recommend Oath of Office.

Giveaway

Michael Palmer has offered a reader copy of Oath of Office for one reader of Bookvisions.

1. US Only and no P.O. Boxes

2. Contest will end February 10, 2012 at Midnight Central time.

3. One winner will be chosen and will have 48 hours to send me your mailing address.

4. Leave a message with your email address and let me know of any other Michael Palmer books you have read.

Shear Murder by Nancy J. Cohen

2012-01-19T16:07:00.000-08:00

Barnes and Noble link to pre-order Shear Murder

Shear Murder is a fun mystery/romance. There is quite a bit of detailed wedding information because the character, Marla, is not only a bridesmaid in a wedding, but also planning her own wedding.

Imagine finding a dead body under the wedding cake table! Suspects abound in this story, and Marla is well know by local police as someone who likes to get involved. I think that there was maybe a little too much information gained by eavesdropping, but Marla is eager to solve the crime.

I was a little worried when I saw that the book contained just over two pages of a Cast of Characters with the names and brief bio of everyone in the book (including pets!), but keeping track of everyone was not a problem even without the list.

This is the tenth in the “Bad Hair Day” mystery series, but it is very much a stand alone. This was the first in the series that I read and I never felt like I didn’t know something that had happened in the past. I am not sure if this is the last in the series, but if it is, fans will be pleased.

Gone to Ground by Brandilyn Collins

2012-01-18T09:33:00.000-08:00

Link to preorder Gone to Ground

Gone to Ground is a serial killer murder mystery told from the perspective of three women. Each of these women believes they know who committed the murders, and all have something to lose by coming forward. Amaryllis, Mississippi is not the type of town where murders happen, but now a serial killer has the whole town on edge. Brandilyn Collins takes us into the lives of these three women as they try to do the right thing.

You are first introduced to Cherrie Mae, the senior of the three ladies possessing the grace and wisdom of a mature Christian. She cleans houses and finds information that leads her to think that one of her employers is the killer. There is a dialect used for her narration, but it is not overdone and doesn’t interfere with the flow of the story. Tully, a young pregnant woman, believes that her abusive husband may be the murderer. Deena, a beauty shop owner, is afraid her special needs brother may be involved. Woven through the book is the story being retold as a newspaper article by Trent, a reporter. All of the characters are likeable and realistic.

Although the chapters change the point of view, you will never be lost in this chilling tale of murder. I appreciated the Brandilyn Collins’ careful development of each character and clear “voice” for each. Of course, it also helps that the chapters are labeled with the name of the viewpoint! The story brings the three women together so that their lives intertwine. Once again Brandilyn Collins brings suspense, mystery, and faith to her characters in a special way. Of her books I have read, I think this is the best so far.

Gone to Ground by Brandilyn Collins

2012-01-17T09:49:00.000-08:00

I have a great new book, and I will be posting my review this week. For now, I just want to give you a little information about the book and how Brandilyn Collins researched it. I enjoyed Gone to Ground very much. Scroll down for the book trailer.

About Brandilyn Collins -Author of Gone to Ground
Brandilyn Collins is a best-selling novelist known for her trademark

Seatbelt Suspense®. These harrowing crime thrillers have earned her the tagline, Don't forget to breathe . . .®, and have made her one of the most well-known figures in the mystery/suspense literary genre.

Following the steps of a mysterious serial killer, Brandilyn's latest novel, Gone to Ground (March 2012, B&H Fiction, $14.99, Trade Paper), takes readers to the fictional Southern town of Amaryllis, Mississippi. To research this book—her first set in the South—Brandilyn ventured to Jasper County, Mississippi. One of her biggest challenges lay in learning the accent well enough to recreate it in dialect, especially for the black character.

“I need to speak with an African American woman who’s at least sixty,” Brandilyn told the clerk. She was introduced to Cherrie Mae Gammage, whose first and middle names were so perfect for the character, Brandilyn asked for permission to use them. Cherrie Mae agreed, and later lent her musical Southern accent to the book trailer for Gone to Ground. Auditions for the other two characters’ voices were eventually held in Bay Springs, and the city clerk who introduced Brandilyn to Cherrie Mae became the voice for thirty-five-year-old Deena.

Brandilyn's first book, A Question of Innocence, was a true crime published by Avon in 1995. Its promotion landed her on numerous local and national TV/radio spots, including daytime talk shows. A speaker on the writing craft, Brandilyn is also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons). The Writer magazine named Getting into Character one of the best books on writing published in 2002.

BRANDILYN COLLINS is the bestselling author of 23 novels. Awards for her work include the Carol Award (three times), Inspirational Readers' Choice, and Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice. When she's not writing, Brandilyn can be found teaching creative fiction at writers' conferences. She and her family divide their time between homes in the California Bay Area and northern Idaho. For more information, please visit
BrandilynCollins.com.

Nearing Home by Billy Graham

2012-01-10T17:24:00.000-08:00

Amazon Link to purchase: Nearing Home: Life, Faith and Living Well

Rev Billy Graham is one of the most well known and respected Christian pastors. I am so happy that he chose to write this book about how to live an honorable and useful life as we grow older. There is much useful information for those of any age, but especially those who are starting to feel the restrictions of age. Rev. Graham shows how God used men and women from the Bible when they were in their later years of life, and, of course, how He can still use us today.

Although he writes about failing strength, health issues, retirement, loss, and family decisions, this is never a depressing book. He also writes about the “Foundation that Lasts”, influencing those around us by our attitude and behavior, and our home in heaven, and I felt only his upbeat optimism for his heavenly future.

This is a wonderful book not only for seniors, but for every age. As a matter of fact, young adults will benefit from this book because Rev. Graham gives great insight into the need for preparing for the future. This is an easy book to read and I appreciated his message. Growing older is not easy and can easily be depressing if we focus on what we can’t do instead of what we can. Rev. Graham has accomplished so much for the cause of Christ, but he is always humble in his demeanor and writing.

I received this book for review from the Thomas Nelson Booksneeze program.

Concrete Garden Projects by Malin Nilsson and Camilla Arvidsson

2011-12-30T05:47:00.000-08:00

I was the fortunate contest winner of this book, a gift certificate to Home Depot, and foam molds to create concrete address numbers. The project for the house numbers was a video garden project presented on the Timber Press website. http://www.timberpress.com/

A couple of years ago I made some stepping stones with concrete with found “treasures” around the house, but when I saw Concrete Garden Projects, I realized there were many other things I could make with a little concrete. I love projects that repurpose and use found items.

This book has inspiration as well as specific instructions for creating useful concrete objects for the yard. There are a variety of pots using either homemade molds or other containers you have around the house. There are also mini-ponds, birdbaths, tea lights, and other decorative items. The last section of the book is the Project Handbook with step-by-step instructions and photographs for working with concrete and molds. There are instructions also for adding decorative touches to your concrete project.

The photographs are nicely done and most are full-page. Most of the projects are easy and can be made with things you have around the home or inexpensive kitchen or candle molds. This is a great book for those who love their patio spaces!

Pinterests

2011-12-15T04:32:00.000-08:00

I am frequently asked to post links to articles written by others, and I usually don't because they are clearly are done to promote their websites. I did find this one interesting though, and thought I would go ahead and post the link with the understanding that I am not promoting their website, only the article.

Perhaps I am falling behind in the tech/web world (no, I don't have a "smart" phone), but I had never heard of Pinterest before. http://www.onlinecolleges.net/2011/12/14/25-beautiful-pinterest-pins-bookworms/

Stuck by Jennie Allen - A Women & God Bible Study

2011-11-28T16:49:00.000-08:00

“The vision is that we would see broken spots in our soul.” I received the leaders’ kit for this group Bible study program that contains a leader’s guide, a workbook, a DVD with eight video lessons, and a deck of conversation and scripture cards.

The Bible Study Meeting:

The leader is reminded to listen, not lecture, and not to counsel. The lessons, except lesson one, are to be completed at home before the meeting. To do the lessons properly I would say they would probably take 30-45 minutes at home to study and complete. The homework discussion at the meeting should last 20-30 minutes.

The DVD lessons are very nicely produced. The speaker is engaging and the backgrounds in the video are very nice. The video and teaching should last 10-40 minutes.

There is a deck of cards that contain questions used as conversation starters. The cards for that week are set out and each lady chooses her favorite one. The scripture card for the week is also placed out. The ground rules for the card session are:

Be concise
Keep sharing confidential
Rely on scripture for truth
No counseling

Meeting attendees are reminded of these rules at each meeting. The women are then asked to “share” their answers to the question they chose. This session should last 30-75 minutes. I chose three questions randomly as examples:

What do you love more than God?
What things in your life right now get you down?
How has your past contributed to your stuck places?

The material as a whole is very good and we all want to be able to say “It is well with my soul.” I would say that this Bible study would appeal to young women, immature Christians, and not-yet believers seeking God for their lives. Jennie talks quite a bit about her life and her children in the DVD lessons, and I think this age group would find it most engaging. It is very much a feelings based study, and some of the sharing the women are asked to participate in is very personal. The fact that the leader is to remind them at each meeting that the conversation is confidential means that it could be very damaging if that confidentiality isn’t held.

The print in both the leader’s book and the study guide is gray instead of black and is very difficult to read. While lovely to look at, it is very hard on the eyes. My hope is that in later printings the print will be darkened.

With only eight lessons, I think this is a good way for women who feel they are stuck in their spiritual lives and to receive a needed push to move forward.

No Cure for Murder by Lawrence W. Gold, M.D.

2011-11-28T11:35:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I just can 't figure out authors! There are a few ways that authors or publicists can contact me and ask for a book review. One is directly by going to my website and reading the side-bar paragraph about what types of books I like to read. Another is a listing in a an e-book that was distributed to independent authors with the same information. They can see the other books I review (some are Christian, some not), and it states that I will read Christian books. I also get emails with requests for reviews with an introduction to their book, and that is how I found this book. So why wouldn't the author mention that an important part of the story is that Christians are reviled in this book?

There was nothing on the back cover or in what I was sent that would warn me that I would be insulted on every other page of this book. I am still a little stunned at the hatred on those printed pages. This isn't the first time this has happened, but I just can't figure out why an author would want to insult so many people. Do they think Christians don't read general fiction?

Here is my review, and I tried to be fair:
Although I did not enjoy this book, it is a pretty good medical mystery. The plot follows a doctor as he introduces each patient, his connection to them, and their treatment. Several become victims of a serial killer. Although I was able to figure out the killer early on, there were plenty of suspects and interesting characters throughout Brier Hospital.

I have tried to review this book fairly and not let my personal views get in the way. Unfortunately, the author did not give the reader the same courtesy. I would not recommend this book for Christians, or anyone who is pro-life unless you don't mind being insulted on every other page.

Spotlight On Neutrals by Pat Wys

2011-11-27T17:32:00.000-08:00

Since I prefer browns and beiges to bright colors, this is definitely the right book for me.

The book begins with an explanation of neutrals, values, planning, general cutting and piecing instructions, appliqué, and binding. There are very good instructions from start to finish that would help even a beginning quilter.

Skill levels are not listed, but I would say seven are beginner to easy, three intermediate, and two experienced. My favorite easy projects are Summer Stitch In which is a pattern with squares and triangles, and the matching pillow Woven Pillow Sham. My favorite experienced project is Going my Way?, a French braid type quilt.

The cutting and piecing instructions are clear, and the templates are full-sized. The snowflake templates have to be placed on the fold of fabrics, but are easy to use.

I like this book very much and it has earned a place on my permanent shelf.

Thank you to Martingale & Company for the review copy of this book, accepted with the understanding that I will give my honest opinion.

Stigma by Philip Hawley Jr.

2011-11-26T17:20:00.000-08:00

Setting the scene for a medical story is often difficult and unrealistic, but Philip Hawley was able to make the opening hospital scenes believable and intense when a young boy arrives with an unknown deadly illness. The web of secrets and lies creates an interesting and unforgettable story.

Stigma is a first-rate medical thriller/action/adventure and I would never have guessed this was an author’s first book. Philip Hawley’s book can stand right along side books by the more “famous” authors. Each character is developed carefully so that the reader becomes involved with each of them and the story.

The story doesn’t just stay in the hospital though, it travels out of the country and off on an adventure I didn’t expect. It is a good story with interesting characters, and is the type of story that will appeal to both men and women.

Treasured Amish & Mennonite Recipes Published in cooperation with Mennonite Central Committee.

2011-11-26T16:11:00.000-08:00

With 627 recipes, you really can’t go wrong with this cookbook. The Introduction is written by Carol Roth Giagnocava and the Forward is by Alan Giagnocavo in which they introduce the Amish and Mennonite cookbooks and the impact the funds have for the Mennonite Central Committee Relief efforts. There is also a brief history of the Amish and Mennonites.

All of the categories that most cookbooks have such as Appetizers, Soups, Main Dishes, etc. are here, but there are also additional recipes for European Dishes, Traditional Classics, Cheese-making, Jams, Grandma’s Remedies, and Soap Making.

The recipes included are good, hearty, home-cooking comfort food. There are also lovely rural countryside photographs to enjoy.

Inspirational Applique by Cheryl Almgren Taylor

2011-11-26T14:59:00.000-08:00

Inspirational Applique by Cheryl Almgren Taylor is a unique book of beautiful quilts that allow you to express your faith in the symbolism of design. Her book begins with the section of “Symbolism in Design” in which she explains the symbolism behind the colors, numbers, and specific designs.

There are three designs representing the Old Testament Scripture and eight for the New Testament. The skill levels are not marked, but I would characterize them as three for a knowledgeable beginner, four for intermediate, and four for the advanced appliqué quilter.

Your inspiration can be as obvious or as subtle as you like, and adjusting some of the more advanced designs can make them easier for a quilter with less experience. For example, the quilt “As for me and my House” wall hanging would be much easier without the lettering. Of course, you are not making the statement of the scripture, but you would still have a lovely wall hanging and the practice so that you may advance in your skills.

My favorite is the “Daily Bread” wall hanging with its bundle of wheat tied with a ribbon, but it is definitely for a more advanced (or more patient) appliqué quilter.

My thanks to Martingale & Company for a review copy of this book, accepted only with the understanding that I will post my honest opinion of the book.

Seamless (or nearly seamless) Knits by Andra Knight-Bowman

2011-11-25T17:08:00.000-08:00

Sewing seams in knit garments isn’t difficult, but it is a very time-consuming process to make it look nice. So I was happy to find a book with almost seam-free patterns, Seamless (or nearly seamless) Knits by Andra Knight-Bowman.

The book starts with a short (3 pages) section of Special Techniques and Tips that contains instructions for cast ons, three-needle bind off, and knitting in the round.

The patterns are divided into three sections:

Building from the Bottom Up – A shell, a sweater with ½ sleeves, a long sleeveless dress, sweater with ¾ sleeves, 2 vests, 2 long sleeve sweaters, a jacket, and a hoodie

Taking it from the Top Down – A v-neck sweater with ¾ sleeves, and three long-sleeve sweaters

Somewhat Side to Side – Long vest (my favorite), Short sleeve sweater (my second favorite), 2 long sleeve sweaters, and a jacket.

Skill levels are marked and there are 8 labeled as easy, 10 as intermediate and 1 for experienced knitters. There are 5 size ranges in each pattern.

I liked the styles in this book because they are current without being wild. The patterns are easy to follow and have easy to read double spacing between row instructions. The only problem I had is that on a couple of the more difficult patterns there were abbreviations that I was not familiar with. There is a section in the back of the book for abbreviations, but I found at least three that were not explained.

Thank you to Martingale & Company for a review copy of this book, accepted only with the condition that I write my honest opinion of the book.

Injustice for All by Robin Caroll

2011-11-23T17:30:00.000-08:00

Injustice for All: A Justice Seeker's Novel is Robin Caroll's newest Christian fiction book. When a young woman witnesses her godfather's murder, she goes on the run and begins a new life. FBI agent, Rafe Baxter is also making difficult changes in his life when his career takes an unexpected turn, and he is assigned a cold case to solve.

The character of Rafe is outstanding. He is likeable, sincere, and a man of faith. Remington's character was a little too frenetic at the beginning, but a contrast developed later and balanced it out. The story wasn't realistic, but most good action/adventure/ mysteries aren't! Rafe's story is so good that I hope to see his character in a sequel.

My only real criticism of the story is that the term "Oh my stars" was used so many times in the first part of the book, that it almost made me quit reading. I am glad I didn't because the book turned out to be an enjoyable read.

As for the matters of faith in the book, Rafe was the example of a thoughtful Christian man. I enjoyed the story as he thought his actions through, and was always trying to do the right thing. Secret and lies also have a role in this story, and the characters involved have to learn the lesson of forgiveness.

Another great Christian fiction story set in Louisiana by Robin Caroll.

About Robin Caroll: Born and raised in Louisiana, Robin Caroll is a southerner through and through. Her passion has always been to tell stories to entertain others. Robin’s mother, bless her heart, is a genealogist who instilled in Robin the deep love of family and pride of heritage—two aspects Robin weaves into each of her books. When she isn’t writing, Robin spends time with her husband of twenty years, her three beautiful daughters, one precious grandson, and their four character-filled pets at home—in the South, where else? She gives back to the writing community by serving as Conference Director for ACFW. Her books have finaled/placed in such contests as RT Reviewer's Choice, Bookseller's Best, and Book of the Year. An avid reader herself, Robin loves hearing from and chatting with other readers. Although her favorite genre to read is mystery/suspense, of course, she’ll read just about any good story. Except historicals!

Here is the book trailer:

The Homecoming of Samuel Lake by Jenny Wingfield

2011-11-19T16:51:00.000-08:00

Just a quick review this time. The Homecoming of Samuel Lake is a slow, depressing little tale of a back-woods family. I really didn't enjoy it, but then the topics of suicide, abuse, child rape, adultery, and alcoholics all in one book is a bit much for me. It started well enough with all of the family coming home for a family reunion. Unfortunately, the story was scattered and never really came to a point. Although Samuel is a preacher, this is not a book that delves into issues of faith. It seems that Samuel and his wife simply wait around for God to give them a church. If you like stories of hardscrabble life you may like this, but it just wasn't for me.

Hemmingway Point by Nora Carroll

2011-11-14T15:21:00.000-08:00

I received this as an e-book for review. It didn’t seem to be a book that would appeal to me, so I didn’t read it right away. When I finally sat down and started to read, I couldn’t put it down.

Hemingway Point is an interesting story of three generations living in an upper class resort area. Although the story was at times confusing as it changed generations, it grabbed me and held my interest throughout. The characters are well-developed and have a real life feel.

The story details the consequences of the lies that families keep. There were several twists in the story that bring the story to a satisfying conclusion. I highly recommend this well written book.

Terrarium Craft by Amy Bryant Aiello and Katie Bryant

2011-10-22T18:10:00.000-07:00

My love for terrariums goes back to the 1970s when those large, spaceship-style plastic orbs were so popular. Terrarium Craft by Amy Bryant Aiello and Kate Bryant is a wonderful book that has inspired me to bring some updated terrariums back into my home.

What I liked most about the book is that that the authors’ creations are from found materials. Instead of expensive Wardian cases, this book shows how to create beautiful scenes from a variety of glass objects you may have around the house or something you will be able to pick up at a thrift store.

The authors provide good instructions for choosing containers and the proper planting materials to provide for a healthy environment for added plants. There are many pages of inspiration for natural and unique materials to add beauty and charm to the desired scene. Plants and mosses are also explained. There are full-page sized photographs of most of the designs.

I especially appreciate the photographs that show step-by-step how to assemble the terrarium. There are 50 terrarium projects with a list of contents and instructions for assembly. They are divided into four groups based on inspiration – Forest, Beach, Desert, and Fantasy. If you are not a plant person, some of these are so pretty that you don’t need to add plants! Just in case you don’t have time to hunt and gather supplies, there is a list of resources to purchase a variety of plants, mosses, and décor.

This is a wonderful book for inspiration and instructions for creating terrariums. It would also make a nice gift book.

Link to purchase Terrarium Craft

Thank you to Timber Press for this copy of Terrarium Craft for review. It is provided with the understanding that I give my honest opinion of the book.

I receive no compensation if the book is purchased through my link.

Make Your Bed by Leslee Evans

2011-10-16T18:40:00.000-07:00

What a great idea to add color and style to the bed! Instead of a full quilt, the patterns in this book are for pillows and reversible bed runners that drape across the bed.

There are good basic instructions to make the runners, but also instructions to embellish sheets and pillowcases. There is a how-to for making “The Easiest Pillow Ever” and pillow shams. The instructions are clear, with diagrams, color pictures, and full-sized templates.

The beautiful Rose Irish chain Runner is an easy four-patch with a scalloped edge design. Perfect for the reverse side is the “Scattered Leaves” runner. There are also instructions for matching pillowcases and sheets. What a pretty set!

There is a “Houndstooth/Suits Me” set and a youthful Pizzazz/Starry Night set with appliqués and loose stitch-on decorations. For your Batiks there is the serene Waves and for your brights there is the Playful squares set. There is an elegant Floral Silk runner, the natural Forest Runner, and the cheerful Friendship Star. My favorite is the earthy Leaves-and-Trees with maple leaves and a tree scene. The flip side for this one is a bold Rail Fence.

This is one of my favorite quilt books this year. There is something for all quilt skill levels, including beginners to quilting.

Link to purchase Make Your Bed by Leslee Evans. - Also available in E-book form.

I received a copy of this book for review from Martingale & Company, Home of That Patchwork Place. I accept books for review with the understanding that I will give my honest opinion of the book. I receive no compensation if the book is purchased through my link.

The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy

2011-10-15T16:51:00.000-07:00

The first chapter or so was a little over-the-top because of the overly descriptive and flowery writing, but once I got past the beginning, the story fell into place. The dialog helped to even out the writing. This is an interesting story of a pastor falsely accused of a sinful act to protect a family member. The family’s life spirals out of control when an accident victim can’t be found.

This is a Christian book, and there are a lot of faith issues covered. Some of the things interlaced into the story are the difference in the type of prayers the wife and the husband (former pastor) offered, sin, repentance, evil, and forgiveness.

The characters are interesting and I did like the story, but there is one thing that I just couldn’t accept in a Christian fiction book. The preacher's wife participates in the occult. I think it is an unfortunate addition to the story and completely unnecessary. The author took the easy way out by portraying the main protagonist as a medium using articles of clothing to see and feel what a missing person was going through. It would have been much more interesting to have an interesting police/detective method of solving the crime, but instead the author took the occult route.

I received this book as part of the Booksneeze program from Thomas Nelson accepted only with the understanding that I give an honest review. I receive no compensation if you purchase through my links.

Link to purchase The Baker's Wife

Fast Fusible Flower Quilts by Nancy Mahoney

2011-10-08T06:24:00.000-07:00

For those who like to make a bold statement in their quiltsNancy Mahoney has created a book with big beautiful flower quilts. These patterns are great for beginners. There are patterns for both easy appliqué andfor a combination of appliqué and piecing.

There are instructions for making and placing templates, notrace cutting, starch appliqué, fusible appliqué, and finishing techniques. The instructions and diagrams are clear and concise.

All of the patterns in this book would be appropriate for abeginner quilter, and there are even a few patterns for a person wanting to tryappliqué for the first time. My favorite pattern in the book is Daisy Vines onp. 66. It has a very easy piecedbackground for the three columns of large flowered vines, and the vines aredivided by with easy pieced sashes. A desktop wallpaper photo of the Daisy Vines quilt is available at Martingale & Company website free of charge (see link below).

I recommend this book for beginners or any quilter wanting aquick easy project.

I received my copy of Fast Fusible Flower Quilts from thepublisher for review with no expectation of anything other than an honestreview. I post a link for purchase, but I receive no compensation if a book is sold.

Link to Martingale and Company, home of That Patchwork Place to purchase Fast Fusible Flower Quilts

The Knitter's Book of Finishing Techniques by Nancie M. Wiseman

2011-09-23T18:29:00.000-07:00

The most beautiful knit fabric will make an awful sweater ifthe finishing techniques are not right. Thereis so much information in this small book to help me make that perfect project. Only 144 pages, but they arepacked with information. The books startswith Nancie’s Finishing Secrets, 7tips that only experience can teach.

There are variety of cast-on methods, seven in all, and fivebind-off methods. Also, increases,decreases and selvages. There are even elevenseam stitches explained! There are nice diagrams, photographs, or bothfor each of the techniques.

Also covered is picking up stitches, borders, bands, finishes,which includes crochet edges, and so much more.

This is a hard cover book with a heavy spiral binding. It has a lay-flat design for easy use so youwill never lose your place.

Two worksheets finish the book for planning the nextproject. This is a very nice referencebook for hand knitters.

Link to purchase The Knitter's Book of Finishing Techniques

Thank you to Martingale & Company for the review copy of this book. I post only my honest opinion and I receive no compensation if you purchase the book through my link.

Flip Your Way to Fabulous Quilts by Donna Lynn Thomas

2011-09-23T18:01:00.000-07:00

Flip Your Way to Fabulous Quilts by Donna Lynn Thomas

The technique of the flip method starts by using a smallssquare on the corner of a larger square that is sewn on the diagonal. There aresome basic quiltmaking techniques and a short section on improving youraccuracy, along with other tips and tricks. The section on Applying the Concept was a little confusing for me atfirst, but a slow read and a little practice could master it.

There are three sections of patterns:

Try Me Quilts to learn the folded corner process and is recommended by the author for beginners.
Grow With Me Quilts for intermediate or confident beginners.
Master Me Quilts uses the same skills but the blocks have more pieces.

Shimmering Leaves is my favorite pattern with the beautifulcolor using dark, medium and light leaf color fabrics.

There is quite a bit of waste using this method, but thelast pattern has a quilt to use up all of those scraps.

While working on another quilt I had to make a pieced borderthat turned out pretty badly, but one look at the book and I realized that theflip method would work perfectly and I was very happy with the results.

Link if you would like purchase Flip Your Way to Fabulous Quilts

(Also available in e-book form)

Thank you to Martingale & Company, Home of That Patchwork Place for a review copy of this book. I post only my honest opinion and I receive no compensation for any purchase of the the book.

That Patchwork Place Quilt Calendar 2012

2011-09-19T14:40:00.000-07:00

My beautiful 2011 That Patchwork Place Quilt Calendar is on mywall and now it is time look ahead to 2012. I was so pleased with last year’s that I wanted the new one.. Again this year it is a large 12”X12”,folding out to 12”X 24” with enough room for notes each day. It has a stronghanging grommet. The top half of thehanging calendar contains a quilt picture and the bottom half is the monthdecorated to match.

It is more than just a calendar though, because there is anaccompanying soft-cover booklet with instructions, diagrams and templates forall of the quilts. I have tried some ofthe other calendars, but this one by That Patchwork Placeis definitely my favorite.

The quilts included are varied in style and method. Some of the quilts are pieced and some appliqué. There are also quilts for all skill levels. My favorites were Bittersweet Briar, a combination of appliqué with a piece border,and For the Birds, another mixedmethod quilt. Another great product from That Patchwork Place.

Thank you to Martingale and Company for the review copy,received only with the understanding of an honest review. Link to Purchase 2012 That Patchwork Place Calendar

Quilting those Flirty ‘30s by Cynthia Tomaszewski

2011-09-11T19:27:00.000-07:00

This is not your ordinary quilt pattern book. Most of my quilt books have an introductionto quilting, instructions, and patterns. Cynthia added a little extra by creating a book that explains the very heartof quilting and its connection to home, friends and family. Her book begins with a little family historyand what life was like back in the 1930s. As a genealogist, I was particularly interested, but you don’t have to studyyour own family tree to enjoy her stories.

Next in the book she has her favorite childhood cookierecipe and tips for making great cookies. Not only is this a nice addition to the book, but it also showcases a teacozy and potholders made from patterns in the book. There are also other cookie recipesthroughout the book, eleven in all.

Quiltmaking basics follow, including something that I don’tsee in a lot quilt books, a primer on layering and basting. There is a nice introduction to differentmethods of appliqué so that even a beginner could quickly learn to createsomething beautiful with these patterns. There are patterns for table runners, a tea cozy, potholders, an apron,and quilts of all sizes.

My favorite was Angel Kisses, small flower wall hangingswith yo-yo tassels – cute, easy, and unique!

There is something for every skill level, depending on themethod of appliqué chosen. There arelarger flowers that would be easy enough for a beginner and also more intricateand delicate flower appliqués that would require a more experiencedquilter.

See some of the finished patterns on the Martingale and Company site

Thank you to Martingale and Company for the review copy of this book, received only with the understanding that my review will be my honest opinion.

Water's Edge by Robert Whitlow

2011-08-31T13:38:00.000-07:00

As Tom Crane's life spirals out of control, he is called home to close out his recently deceased father's legal office. When he arrives in small town Bethel, GA, he finds his father's death and good character is in question.

Water's Edge by Robert Whitlow is a well-written Christian mystery that is heavy on Christian and light on mystery. I enjoyed reading about the type of legal practice Tom's father had and how he tried to work out the problems of Christians scripturally, without bringing it to court. I also liked his uncle's testimony and the effect it had on Tom's spiritual awakening. Potential readers should know that there is quite a bit of focus on the character's spiritual awakening, scripture, and his uncle's ritualistic Christian practices. The mystery of who killed Tom's father and another man is more of a back story.

Unfortunately, I liked everyone but the character of Tom. Even though he seemed to be trying to be as upright as his father, he continually did things that I though was unprofessional and dishonest. It was the one part of his life he did not seem to even acknowledge. For example, I would have no respect for anyone who would have a video conference, claim it to be a confidential conversation, but have someone hiding off camera listening in to what was going on. In spite of this, I did enjoy the book and I plan on reading more by this author.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishing for a review copy of this book.

Link to purchase Water's Edge by Robert Whitlow

Inspired by Tradition 50 Appliqué Blocks in 5 sizes

2011-08-24T17:16:00.000-07:00

I love Kay Mackenzie’s 50 Block books. I previously reviewed Easy Appliqué Blocks and now I have Inspired by Tradition with 50 blocks. These blocks are inspired by the more traditional styles, but not at all old fashioned or stuffy. Visually the book is beautiful. It is very colorful and the pictures really pop off the page. The patterns are flowers, vines, berries, birds, hearts, and wreaths.

A CD is included with the book and you can print the patterns out as 6”, 8” 9”10” or 12” blocks. You can also print them reversed for back-basting hand appliqué or fusible web machine appliqué.

Kay includes very detailed instructions on back-basting, hand stitching, raw-edge machine appliqué, fusible web, and everything you need for the fine details of your blocks. The book ends with a nice gallery of quilt and wall-hanging ideas. Skill levels will depend on what method of appliqué is used, but I would say there is something here for every skill level.

Link to purchase Inspired by Tradition 50 Appliqué Blocks in 5 sizes

Modern Basics by Amy Ellis

2011-08-22T18:25:00.000-07:00

Modern Basics by Amy Ellis

Most of the quilts in Modern Basics are easy squares and triangles. Although the fabrics in the book would not be my choice of fabrics, her choice of colors really shows off the designs so that a new quilter will be able to understand the importance of the light, medium, dark choices. For example, the Wind Power quilt that has three fabrics. The pink fabric just pops out of the quilt. I like the Tumbling Cubes quilt the best. It is a plain quilt with small bright colorful accent squares. I also like the 123! Its three off center strips sewn into a square would be perfect for a brand new quilter.

There are no skill levels listed, but I would say that most of the quilts are fairly easy and the skill levels would be absolute beginner, easy, and advanced beginner. Honestly, I would recommend them to any quilter that would like a fast, easy quilt to make.

I like the basic quilting information in this book. It contains more detailed instructions than I usually see. There is good information on rotary cutting, squaring up, piecing and even using your sewing machine walking foot.

Even as an experienced quilter, I will keep this one on my permanent shelf.

Shelter by Harlan Coben

2011-08-19T04:00:00.000-07:00

Link to pre-order Shelter by Harlan Coben

Harlan Coben is one of my favorite authors and has now branched out into the YA genre.

The character of Mickey is a likeable 15 year old with a unique blend of friends. Mickey has an unusual upbringing and never seems like a high school age student, but I can picture his friends, Spoon and Ema in any high school setting. Most of the book is a traditional mystery/thriller that takes Mickey and his friends in search of his missing girlfriend, Ashley. There are strange happenings around an old house and rumors that a mysterious “bat lady” lives there. Later in the book I thought the story got a little choppy and a holocaust connection seemed too contrived, but the story is engaging and entertaining.

I have read several Coben books, but none with these characters. The character of Mickey’s uncle, Myron, is in other Coben adult thrillers, but unfortunately in Shelter he was just a name with little character development which made him seem cold and indifferent. The characters Spoon and Ema were both interesting and likeable, especially Ema as the outcast in high school.

I would recommend the book for young adults, but not for children. The plot contains quite a bit of violence and takes Mickey to strip clubs.

In a good book series, each book should also be a standalone with a plot that can expand into the next book. Each book should also have a satisfying ending, and that is where I think Shelter fell a little short. I liked that at the end of Shelter there were new questions about Mickey’s father that will be picked up in the next book, but I was disappointed that there were questions about Ema and other characters that were asked – but never answered in this book.

Red, White, and Sometimes Blue Classics from McCall’s Quilting

2011-08-14T15:17:00.000-07:00

Link to purchase Red, White, and Sometimes Blue

Classics from McCall’s Quilting (Also in Ebook form)

Red, White, and Sometimes Blue is a unique look at red, white and blue quilts. For example, the Garnet Glaze a quilt with several red fabrics and one white fabric made with a combination of appliqué and piecing. Writer’s Block is made with squares of one solid red. They are mixed with white blocks and borders which showcases the quilting designs in the white spaces. My favorite is Bits of Sunshine which is several blue fabrics and a white fabric and is made of rectangles. This one cheats a little because the “sunshine” is spots of yellow and a narrow yellow band. There are also scrap quilts using red, white and blue.

There are clear diagrams for cutting and piecing. I like that each quilt has a short section on planning that discusses important steps for success dedicated to that particular quilt. These are traditional patterns and although there are no skill ratings, there are patterns for all skill sets.

The Civil War Sewing Circle By Kathleen Tracy

2011-08-13T17:27:00.000-07:00

Link to purchase The Civil War Sewing Circle

The Civil War Sewing Circle has a nice variety of information, photos and quilts. There is a nice mix of patterns and history of Civil war era life. There are excerpts from letters written to their loved ones, soldiers and to other quilters. Included is the well known letter from Sullivan Ballou to his wife a week before he died.

The quilts are inspired by the patterns and fabric from Civil War times. Because of the popularity of the Dear Jane Quilt, we are fortunate to have many reproductions of Civil War fabric to choose from. You won’t have any trouble finding just the right fabrics for these projects.

Most of the quilts are small in size, doll, wall hanging, to cot size, but not full sized quilts. There is also a pattern for a letter pocket with a needle case and a felted topper for a wood keepsake box. I prefer larger quilts, but an experienced quilter could take the patterns and enlarge the size to suit their needs.

These are basic traditional patterns such as the Shoo-Fly, Ohio Star, One-Patch, and hexagons. There are large color photos of the quilts and good diagrams for cutting and piecing. This is the perfect book for those who like to add history to craft.

A Quirky Christmas by William G. Bentrim

2011-08-07T16:09:00.000-07:00

Amazon.com link for A Quirky Christmas

A Quirky Christmas is a sweet story about what it means to be a true friend. The story revolves around Quirkey and his friends and their relationship with Reggie. Reggie is one of those squirrels that is selfish and difficult. The story shows the proper attitude toward those who are difficult and how important it is to show a good attitude when someone is in need. This is an important message for children to learn and one that is a good reminder for their parents.

I am not sure what the age range is, but it is a fine read-to book for small children and older children can read it for themselves. You will enjoy meeting quirky and all of his friends

Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens

2011-08-06T17:37:00.000-07:00

Amazon link to purchase Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens

It isn’t unusual for an adoptee to want to know their past, but when Sara Gallagher seeks her birth parents she is in for a shock. Her father is a serial killer and her mother was his only victim able to escape.

Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens is an incredibly tense psychological thriller. It was fast-paced and held my interest – actually I hated to put it down. I liked the character of Sara, not in spite of, but because she was so flawed. It was interesting to see her looking at her own behaviors and wondering if they were inherited from her biological father or learned from her adopted parents. Her fiancé, Evan, added interesting support and also plenty of conflict. Several characters kept me guessing whether they were good or bad until the end.

It took a while for me to appreciate the conversations at the beginning of the chapters which were between Sara and her therapist. I have never had any experience with psychologists, so I found the conversations uncomfortable at first. All of her insecurities worked very well in this story and added to the tension.

Lot's Return to Sodom by Sandra Brannan

2011-08-04T16:04:00.000-07:00

Amazon Link for Lot's Return to Sodom

I reviewed In the Belly of Jonah by Sandra Branna earlier this year and was really looking forward to reading her second book of the series, Lot’s Return. It was very much a let down and was not as good as the first book in this series. Once again we have Liv Bergen involved in solving the crimes; this time in the area of Sturgis SD near her family’s mining company. Of course with Sturgis there are bikers and the annual raunchy display.

The story line was all over the place and in dire need of editing for cohesiveness. The story did not flow well. There was a particular sexual assault that I think was only thrown in for shock value, but the repeated reference to the act was just unnecessary and tedious.

The characters also have some problems. Although I think the character of Murley was supposed to be a creepy, slimy character, he came off as a sympathetic and almost likeable. The character of Liv witnessed a crime, photographed it and did not tell police even though someone ended up dead! It was just unbelievable.

The Biblical references in both books have nothing to do with the story and these are certainly not books where the characters struggle with issues of faith. I am not sure why they are included. The ending was disappointing and unrealistic. I won’t put a spoiler here, but let me just say that the FBI simply would not have given Liv a gift that took years of expensive development.

The best part of the book was the Dedication when she told her mother that she didn’t have to read the story.

Simple Style - Easy Weekend Quilts by Sara Diepersloot

2011-08-01T10:36:00.000-07:00

Martingle Publishing link to purchase Simple Style

Also available here for an e-book purchase!!

I am always a little skeptical when a book has “weekend” in the title, but Simple Style just might be the real thing!

The book begins with basic quiltmaking instructions such as seam allowances, straight-set/diagonally-set blocks, borders, sandwiching, and binding. There are also instructions for a design wall.

There are 20 quilt patterns in all and although there are no skill ratings, most are easy to intermediate. There are full page photos of the quilts which are nice for close examination of the blocks and fabrics. There are also color diagrams of cuts and block placement. I enjoyed the author’s comments about the quilts just below the title of each quilt. She shares why she chose the fabrics, colors or style.

With a variety of fabrics and using the straight set or diagonal set, the possibilities are endless with these patterns. My favorites are the designs using “bricks or squares” fabric shapes. These are the easiest and could truly be done in a weekend.

This is a nice book for all quilters, but I think that even an inexperienced quilter could get a good introduction to quilting with these patterns.

Joy by Anne L Watson

2011-07-30T16:22:00.000-07:00

Amazon link to purchase Joy by Anne L. Watson

Joy is a captivating story of Mirai San Julian, an adopted child of a single mother and later raised by her aunt. Mirai wants to learn about her past, but doing so may hurt her relationships with those she loves.

Joy was a joy to read! It is a beautifully written rich descriptive story of love and life. It was interesting to read the history of the carousels and their restoration. Aunt Joy’s lifelong ministry to help those who need guidance and supervision was touching. Although Mirai is a bit of a free spirit, as the story advances you begin to see the impression Joy’s life-work had on Mirai.

All of the characters are well developed and people that I could cared about. The story flows well and every time I had to put it down, I couldn’t wait to get back to the story. I highly recommend this book.

Get hooked on Tunisian Crochet – learn how with 13 projects by Sheryl Thies

2011-07-30T15:18:00.000-07:00

Martingale Publishing link to purchase Get Hooked on Tunisian Crochet
Also available as an E-book!

The thirteen patterns in the book are attractive and practical projects for learning the craft of Tunisian Crochet. The patterns include a set of placemats and coasters, three pillows, a tote bag, a scarf, a variety of shawls and wraps, a purse, an afghan, 2 sweaters, a jacket, and fingerless gloves.

I am a knitter and never learned crochet beyond a granny square, but I had a Tunisian crochet hook so I decided to give it a try. I am a visual learner so I had to use the diagrams first and then go back and read the text to figure out how to do the stitch. I did crochet up a small (very small!) sample that you can see in the picture.

The projects start out very basic and then progress as you learn and practice. I would love to make the Tranquil Escape cardigan, but I think I had better start with the placemats first! Great book!

Baby's First Quilts by Nancy J. Martin

2011-07-30T13:54:00.000-07:00

Martingale Publishing link to purchase Baby's First Quilts

Using traditional patterns and novelty fabrics, Nancy J. Martin has designed a book of patterns for beginner quilters. Baby’s First Quilts starts out with an impressive 21 pages of quilting instructions to prepare even the most novice quilter. There are very basic instructions with information on rotary cutter equipment, and the use of other quilting supplies. Also, there are detailed directions for matching blocks, sewing direction, and pressing - very important for a new quilter.

Most of the quilts patterns are for beginners using novelty (or picture) fabric for design. All have clear color diagrams to show the placement of pieces. Most are squares, triangles, and/or framed fussy-cut novelty fabric pieces. Even the one appliqué pattern of Santas would be simple enough for a first time appliqué quilter. There is one circle pattern, Beach Balls, which would probably require more experience because the pieces are sewn on a curve.

Since the only thing that would distinguish these as baby quilts is the fabrics and size, you could use the same patterns to make lap quilts at this size or rework the size to make full-sized quilts. The quilts would be appropriate not only for babies and children, but also for charity quilting.

The Reluctant Detective by Martha Ockley

2011-07-18T13:30:00.000-07:00

Link to purchase The Reluctant Detective

The Reluctant Detective by Martha Ockley is the first in a new faith-based cozy series. Faith Morgan is a former law enforcement officer and now an Anglican priest. While visiting a church in Little Worthy, another priest drops dead during communion, obviously of poisoning. Faith becomes involved in the investigation lead by Detective Ben Shorter, her former lover.

The Reluctant Detective was easier to read than some other English books, but there were still a few terms that I left me wondering. I enjoyed the characters of Faith and Ben, but I thought that all of the characters could have used some extra and gradual development.

Although described as a cozy, I found at least one crime scene explicitly described more so than most cozies I have read. I thought the mystery was a little too scattered, but then I enjoy reading mysteries that are solved more methodically. I still enjoyed the book and would definitely read the next in this series.

While this is a faith-based book that contains scripture, it is by no means preachy or overly religious. Short scriptures come to Faith’s remembrance such as “Sin shall not have dominion over you” and help her to make decisions.

Sometimes I find one line or quote in a book that stands out to me and in The Reluctant Detective it was on P. 221: “People can go mad looking for God too hard, she’d thought.” I would add the sentences before, but that would be a spoiler!

Blogfest 2011

2011-07-14T19:39:00.000-07:00

The three winners have been chosen - #1 J.M. from MO, #2 P.S. from AL, and #3 R.P. from VA. All have responded back, so their prizes will go out this week.

I hope you had fun with BlogFest 2011!

#3 #1

BlogFest 2011

Knitted Finger Puppets by Meg Leach

2011-07-13T05:48:00.000-07:00

Martingale link to purchase Knitted Finger Puppets by Meg Leach

Knitted Finger Puppets by Meg Leach contains 34 quick projects for finger puppets. This is a good way to use up leftover yarns, and these wonderful portable toys can provide hours of play in public places when you have to wait. Whether your child is in church, in a doctors office, or going for a car ride these will provide fun, imaginative, and quiet playtime.

The instructions are clear and there are good photographs of each puppet. All skill levels are represented here, with most being easy.

There are basic knitting instructions, instructions for using DPNs (double pointed needles), and increasing/decreasing. Using DPNs takes practice , but once you catch on, they are fun to use. There are also instructions for very basic crochet stitches. You can make individual animals and characters or make a complete themed group. The themes are a North Pole Christmas, circus, and fairy tales. This is a nice book to make some quick toys for family or charities. These are popular in some charities, especially for children in hospitals or dialysis.

Pennies From Heaven revisited

2011-07-09T11:28:00.000-07:00

In May I posted a review of the Pennies From Heaven Quilt book. I was so taken with the quilt that I decided to make it. I have posted a few quick pictures of my progress on the quilt. The blocks I have made are not pressed, trimmed or embellished yet. (yes, one of the blocks was photographed upside down!) I simplified some too. Here is the post. Scroll down to see the pictures.

The Final Summit by Andy Andrews

2011-07-03T16:56:00.000-07:00

Amazon link to The Final Summit to check out some other reviews

This book is the sequel to The Traveler’s Gift, which I did not read. In The Final Summit, the Archangel Gabriel brings a message from God to David Ponder. Gather all of the Travelers together and they must answer the following question with a two-word answer: “What does humanity need to do, individually and collectively, to restore itself to the pathway toward successful civilization?”

I was very disappointed in this book. It seems that it is part spiritual fantasy, part new age self-help. I didn't find this book particularly interesting or intriguing, and it was definitely not spiritually sound. It seems in this book God tells man “save yourself”!

The beginning felt creepily like an infomercial for the get-rich-quick with real estate shown on late night TV. I also found it odd when the Archangel Gabriel appeared to David and told him that he was considered by the other travelers as “The greatest of them all”. In another scene David meets Winston Churchill (another traveler) and has a cigar with him.

While the main point of the story (the end) is not a bad idea, it certainly is not a Christian view of what our focus in life should be. There is also a good lesson for living debt-free.

I have read good Christian fantasy and have even read secular fantasy that had more Christian delineation of good and evil than did this book. I can't recommend this book.

A copy of The Final Summit was provided free of charge by Thomas Nelson Publishing for review with the understanding that the review will be my honest opinion.

The Last of the Good Guys by Ernesto Patino

2011-07-02T17:50:00.000-07:00

Amazon link to purchase The Last of the Good Guys
The Last of the Good Guys is another interesting story by Ernesto Patino. Alec Santana, ex-cop and now an Insurance Claims adjuster, tries to help his best friend's wife find out why her husband killed himself. When more suicides occur and all connect back to an incident many years before, Alec knows he is being pulled deeply into a complicated mystery.

I really like the character of Alec Santana and his fledgling P.I. business. There were just enough characters involved to keep me guessing, but not too many to overcomplicate things. Secrets and lies always add up to a good mystery, and this author knows how to come up with some good secrets.

This is the second book by this author that I have read. I enjoyed Web of Secrets and The Last of the Good Guys both very much. The first, Web of Secrets, is reviewed here.

Baking With Cookie Molds by Anne L. Watson

2011-06-18T07:37:00.000-07:00

Link to purchase Baking With Cookie Molds on Amazon.com

I am so happy to find this how-to book on cookie molds with detailed step-by-step instructions. The author, Anne Watson, guides the reader through the proper types of ingredients to use, mold preparation, mixing the ingredients, and removing the cookie from the mold. The purpose of the book is to enable even a novice baker to be successful at baking with cookie molds and enjoy this wonderful hobby.

Baking With Cookie Molds starts with a history and use of cookie molds. There is an important section on the types of molds and which type of mold to use. As soon as I received the book I ordered a Brown Bag Cookie Mold and gave her method a try.

Here is the first mold I purchased:

Her secret for removing the cookie from the mold worked perfectly, and my first attempt was quite successful. My skill at photographing cookies is a little lacking, but here is one of my cookies:

I can’t wait to try some of the many other recipes in the book. I have even purchased another mold.

The author’s love for sharing her knowledge about these types of cookies is obvious throughout her book, and I highly recommend it.

Also be sure to visit her website, Anne L. Watson to read her monthly Cookie Mold magazine. You will find more information on molds, photographs, and even more recipes.

Fancy to Frugal by Kay Connors and Karen Earlywine

2011-06-13T16:37:00.000-07:00

Link to Purchase Fancy To Frugal at Martingale & Company

There are always new and modern quilt design books that stir our imagination, but there is nothing that says comfort to me more than the old fashioned traditional quilts. Fancy to Frugal, Authentic Quilt Patterns from the ‘30s by Kay Connors and Karen Earlywine brings us those old fashioned designs.

Years ago local newspapers would print quilt blocks in series form. The block patterns in this book are authentic quilt patterns from the 1930s and include actual pictures of the newspaper articles. Not only are there full sized patterns, but also included are the quilting motifs for the quilts and borders. The instructions and diagrams are very clear and helpful. There is a section at the end of the book with general quilting instructions.

I especially like the Sunflower and Butterflies block. Although the Sunflower block is an original old pattern, I have not seen one like it before and found it interesting. This is a great book for those who like traditional quilting and especially the quilts from the 1930s. There are patterns appropriate for all quilt skill levels.

Thank you to Martingale and Company for providing a review copy.

The Social Media Survival Guide by Deltina Hay

2011-06-11T07:20:00.000-07:00

Link to purchase The Social Media Survival Guide by Deltina Hay

This is an updated edition of this book released with a different publisher and has many additions and changes. Social media is the present and future of the Internet. The Social Media Survival Guide is textbook style instruction for businesses and professionals on how to build a strong presence in the social media.

Beginning with a brief explanation of terms and concepts, the book walks the reader through creating a strategy and preparation for creating a blog or website. There is a good primer on using WordPress and for creating podcasts.

Social Networking sites are cited and explained, as well as social bookmarking and media sharing sites. I especially appreciated the chapter on using and creating Widgets and badges. Even more important is the author’s look into the future of web presence with an explanation of The Semantic Web and Web 3.0.

Included with the book is a resource CD with templates and forms. I highly recommend this book. Casual web users, bloggers, self-published authors, and self-promoting entrepreneurs would benefit from this wealth of information.

Who Will Care When You’re Not There? by Robert E. Kass and Elizabeth A. Carrie

2011-06-08T07:55:00.000-07:00

Link to purchase Who Will Care When You’re Not There?

The most powerful statement in the book is the simple question, “What would happen to your pets if you didn’t make it home from work today?” It is our responsibility to make sure our pets are well taken care of, but we need to know what plans are appropriate for both short term and long term care.

The book charts the length of life of different types of common pets and describes the need for young and old alike to prepare for emergency care and long term care of those who trust us most. There are lovely, and what I can only describe as peaceful, illustrations included in the book.

Some of the important topics included are durable power of attorney for your pets and the scope of authority you wish to give and tax issues with trusts and how to set them up. There is also a nice section on pet grief with human loss and human grief with pet loss, with a list of resources for pet loss grief support. Quotes about animals and pets scattered throughout the book.

Who Will Care When You’re Not There? has very detailed information on the continuing care needs of pets and the best way to provide for those needs. Multiple appendices provide additional information on state statutes for pet trusts, an emergency pet card and sign, and a pet trust drafting checklist. I highly recommend this book for all pet owners.

The authors are estate planning attorneys practicing law as members of the Detroit law firm of Barris, Sott, Denn & Driker PLLC.

In the Belly of Jonah: A Liv Bergen Mystery by Sandra Brannan

2011-06-01T08:24:00.000-07:00

Link to purchase In the Belly of Jonah

What an interesting story! Although the book started out a little more gruesome than I like, the creepy feeling as the story moves through the gory details creates the necessary feeling of the evil from the serial killer.

When Liv Bergen's former schoolmate and FBI profiler turns her home into a command post for the investigation of the murder of Liv's employee, she has no choice but to get involved. This is a very suspenseful story that does well to introduce each character and develop the relationships throughout. The character of Liv is a strong, smart, independent and likeable female character.

I loved that there were hints of a possible romance and enjoyed watching for the early developments between the two characters. I can't wait for the next book in this series.

501 Quilting Motifs from the Editors of Quiltmaker Magazine

2011-05-26T15:57:00.000-07:00

Link to purchase 501 Quilting Motifs from the Editors of Quiltmaker Magazine

501 Quilting Motifs begins with some basic information on motifs and how to select, adapt, and transfer them. After the short intro, it is packed with quilting designs. Choose from cute quilt designs for children’s quilts, or from the feathers, flowers, foods (including a cup and teapot), geometric shapes, hearts, seasonal/holiday, and vines and leaves – 501 in all!

The book is a heavy-duty spiral bound, and the covers fold back flat for easy tracing or copying.

Along with the quilt motifs on each page are design ideas to show placement of the motifs in different ways. There are designs for all skill levels, too. I have other quilt design books, but I think this one has unique patterns that give it an edge. Such a wide variety makes this a must-have for quilters. Whether quilting by hand or by machine, there is something for every quilt here.

A review copy was provided by Martingale and Company

Murder One by Robert Dugoni

2011-05-22T16:53:00.000-07:00

Due for release in June, link to preorder Murder One by Robert Dugoni
Main characters David Sloane and Barclay Reid have a chance meeting and a definite connection, but then the drug kingpin who sold the drugs that killed Reid's daughter ends up dead. Main suspect - Barclay Reid! Is Barclay an innocent grieving mother or a cold calculating killer? David puts his legal skills to work to prove her innocence.

This legal thriller has many twists in the story and leaves the reader guessing until the end. Although I was sure that I had it all figured out, more twists left even me surprised. I enjoyed and cared about Sloane's character.

This was my first Robert Dugoni book and I enjoyed it enough to order two of his previous books.

Thank you to Simon &Schuster’s eGalley program for the e-copy of this book.

Pennies from Heaven by Gretchen Gibbons

2011-05-09T09:03:00.000-07:00

Scroll down to see my progress on this quilt!!!!!

To Purchase Pennies from Heaven by Gretchen Gibbon

Also available as a digital download!!! Pennies from Heaven Digital

Pennies from Heaven is a quilt designed with antique penny rugs in mind, and I love the simple folk art look of penny rugs. This 50” X 63” quilt is a combination of cotton and wool designs of birds and flowers with each block containing “pennies”.

The book has some general instructions on working with wool, felting wool, wool appliqué and a wool color guide. Also, there are basic embroidery stitches and quilting information. The “working with wool” section gives the advantages of using wool with fabric. The beautiful designs and patterns are the main focus of this outstanding book.

Although the entire Pennies from Heaven quilt is stunning, the patterns in the book can be used as individual blocks for other designs. There are pillows, wall hangings, table mats, a table runner, and even window treatments. The book contains full-color patterns and the mixture of mediums of wool and cotton makes these designs really interesting.

Neither machine washing nor dry cleaning is advised, so making the whole quilt is with the understanding that you are making a work of art and not a quilt for everyday use. This is a book that has definitely earned a space on my permanent bookshelves.

Martingale & Company has provided this copy for review, but my reviews are always my honest opinion.

Here are a few photos of my progress on this quilt. These blocks are not pressed, trimmed, or embellished yet.

(This one is upside down:)

Pub Speak – A Writer’s Dictionary of Publishing Terms by Tracy Marchini

2011-05-06T20:13:00.000-07:00

Link to purchase Pub Speak (also available for Kindle)
Link for nookbook on barnesandnoble.com
Pub Speak is the perfect handbook for those who need to navigate the publishing business. Whether you are a new author or just someone who wants to understand publishing, this dictionary is a great source for terms used in the industry. A-Z - So much is covered that it is difficult to describe. There are agency terms, contract and royalty terms, e-book information, book publishers and sellers, publishing terms, websites and social networking, abbreviations, and character terms.

Although I would highly recommend Pub Speak for authors, I also think this book is of interest for book reviewers, bloggers, and readers. There is information on voice, characters and fiction terms that will help reviewers. Many authors now are self-publishing and Pub Speaks is a great resource for learning the essentials.

Creating your Perfect Quilting Space and Creating Your Perfect Quilting Space Studio Planner by Lois L. Hallock

2011-05-04T18:18:00.000-07:00

Link to purchase Creating your Perfect Quilting Space

Link to purchase Creating Your Perfect Quilting Space Studio Planner

Wouldn't you love to have the perfect sewing/quilting/craft room? I think we all would, but sometimes we only have enough room for a “space”. But that’s ok because in Creating your Perfect Quilting Space author Lois Hallock shows the reader how to use space wisely and make the most of what we have.

This book teaches how to set up the perfect work triangle and create storage space that makes finding your tools, magazines, and fabrics fast and efficient. Many topics are covered: space, lighting, ergonomics, and design walls. Also, there are tips on how to do it on a budget, and how to use what you already have more efficiently.

There are many photographs throughout the book and my favorites were the “before” and “after” photos. What a difference good organization can make! Whether you have a huge room ready for shelves and cabinets or a limited space in a corner, this book will help you make the most of the space you have.

Also available is a companion piece, Creating Your Perfect Quilting Space Studio Planner by the same author. This is a creative tool to help you visualize what will be the best arrangement for your special space. This is a light weight cardboard planner marked in grid with a worksheet for room size and shape. There are outlines of the furniture, tables and shelving to cut out and place on the grid. With correct measurements of your room and furniture, you can use the cutouts with double stick tape or repositionable glue to plan your room. Move the pieces around as you like until you find the placement you want. While I like the idea of this planner, I would have preferred a heavier cardboard and perhaps perforated punch-out pieces on a separate sheet instead of the cut-outs.

Thank you to Martingale & Company for providing a review copy of both publications.

Terrific Toe-Up Socks – Knit to Fit by Janet Rehfeldt

2011-05-01T15:43:00.000-07:00

Martingale & Company link to purchase Terrific Toe-Up Socks

Also available in e-book Terrific Toe-Up Socks digital

I have hand-knit socks and I absolutely love them! If you have never made a pair of soft, warm hand-made socks, grab some double pointed needles and give it a try. When you first use double pointed needles (DPNs) you will feel like you are juggling toothpicks, but after a few rows are done you will see just how much fun they are to use for knitting.

Terrific Toe-up Socks – Knit to Fit is a twist on the normal sock pattern which is usually knit cuff down. Why toe up? The book states the reason is so that there is no toe grafting and it is easier to fit.

The book is set up with a brief introduction, the anatomy of a sock, and some basic information describing needed tools. Next is a section of instructions for working each part of the sock: Cast-on, Toe and Foot, Working the Heels, Leg and Cuff, and Cast-off.

Following the instruction section are the 10 projects. As for skill levels, there are two easy, one experienced, and the rest intermediate. I would recommend the patterns in this book for a knitter that is at least an advanced beginner and not a new knitter. The cast-on method used in the “easy” patterns was very confusing to me and I have knitted socks before!

There is a nice variety of patterns that includes the basic sock, lacy, cable, colors, and even spa socks. This is a nice book for those who would like to try toe-up sock knitting.

Grammy's Favorite Knits for Baby by Doreen L Marquart

2011-05-01T14:22:00.000-07:00

To purchase Grammy's Favorite Knits for Baby at Martingale & Company

Featuring patterns with sizes 0-24 months, Grammy’s Favorite Knits for Baby has some cute and practical knit patterns for that special baby (Grandma’s or not!). With patterns from easy to intermediate, there is something for everyone.

My favorite patterns in this book are the two very pretty jumpers (American jumpers), and very easy bibs. Other patterns include the Cupcake Cutie Hat, Chevron & Lace Blanket, and an assortment of cardigans, hats, booties and mittens.

The book ends with knitting basics, glossary and abbreviations, assembly basics, and yarn size information to enable even the very beginner to start knitting. Although there are some intermediate patterns, there are enough easy patterns to encourage the beginner, and I would highly recommend this book for a new knitter.

Thank you to Martingale and Company for providing this book for review.

The Part-time Vegan by Cherise Grifoni

2011-04-28T17:31:00.000-07:00

With an interest in healthy eating, I decided to check out Cherise Grifoni’s new book, The Part-Time Vegan. The book starts with the “Totally Not Boring Intro” that made me smile. There is an introduction to vegan ingredients explained, but I wish there had been a little more information and an explanation of what makes each a healthy, tasty ingredient. Names like TVP, Cacao nibs, and Vegan margarine need a little more of a sell. There are short text-blocks in some recipes called “The Skinny On” that have information on some of the ingredients.

Some of the recipes that sounded good to me were: Baked Zucchini Fries, Top of the Morning Cashew Butter Wrap, Gingered and Pralined Sweet Potatoes, and Millet and Butternut Squash Casserole. For my taste, too many of the recipes rely heavily on the flavor of garlic.

Along with all of the recipes, there is a nice section with 11 dinner plans. As a downside, there are no photos or nutritional/calorie information.

The vegan lifestyle is usually all or nothing. Many of the ingredients are expensive, and it can be complicated. As recommended by the book, I don’t think I am interested looking for Lactylate every time I purchase bread products (makes a vegan dish non-vegan). I think this is a good starting point for someone who wants to give the vegan lifestyle a try.

Next Move, You’re Dead by Linda L. Barton

2011-04-19T15:31:00.000-07:00

Link to purchase Next Move You're Dead (Kindle)
Link to Purchase Next Move You're Dead (Nook)

Homicide Detective John Cooper finds himself in what seems to be a cat and mouse game with a serial killer and his life is spiraling out of control.

The author, Linda L. Barton does a very good job of bringing to the page the creepiness and violence of the murders without being too graphic. There are quite a few characters involved in the story and she introduced each thoroughly, explaining how each arrived into the story.

My main problem with the book is that I didn’t find the main characters of John and his wife Kathy likeable or believable. This is a mystery thriller, but I was able to figure out where the story was heading very quickly.

My favorite books are about the mature detective that is able to put together the pieces of the puzzle and solve the case. Although John was touted as one of the best detectives, he did not display any common sense in the book. Even knowing the entire story and looking back, he was a terrible law enforcement officer.

Baby wraps by Karla Alexander

2011-04-18T12:31:00.000-07:00

Link to purchase Baby Wraps by Karla Alexander

Baby Wraps by Karla Alexander is a perfect book for beginning quilters. With the exception of a few of the appliqué designs, all of the patterns would be suitable for a new quilter or for a more advanced quilter looking for a cute and easy pattern for children.

There is a Quiltmaking Basics section that covers everything from tools and supplies, strip cutting, and fusible appliqué, to the assembling and finishing with the quilting and binding. There are also hints on choosing the perfect fabric for each design.

I found two of the eight patterns that I would like to make, Fly Away with dragonflies and Baby’s Patchwork. Both are easy patterns with appliqué on one and simple patchwork on the other. Several of the patchwork designs look more complicated, but the design is simply due to block placement.

While the quilts are simple, some of the appliqué pieces are small and may prove to be a little more difficult. Learning to quilt is not difficult, and I would recommend this book as a good start in that learning process.

Corona by Paige Owen

2011-04-12T16:16:00.000-07:00

Corona by Paige Owen
Corona by Paige Owen is an ebook available on both BarnesandNoble.com and Smashwords.com free of charge. I don't usually read much Science fiction, but the time travel topic caught my attention. As soon as I started reading I was drawn into the story.

A child finds a strange case on the beach that contains a ship's log. The strange story of that ship's adventure comes alive with many twists to the story. There were a couple of confusing parts and an awkward transition in the story, but all in all I enjoyed it very much.

Corona is written by a new author that I think will do well. Grab this one while it is still free!

Sew Decorative Quick and Easy Home Accents from SewNews

2011-04-11T16:53:00.000-07:00

Martingale Publishing Link to purchase Sew Decorative Quick and Easy Home Accents from SewNews

Express yourself with this book of patterns for quick and easy decorative touches for your home. For the dining room, there is a pretty, but very simple hand embroidered table runner. There are several patterns for patchwork placemats, pot holders, and table runners. For the bedroom there are instructions for adding trims to pillowcases and sheets. You can make tab-top curtains with a matching bed skirt. There is a cute bathroom organizer that hangs with your shower curtain and is made with 2 hand towels.

There are patterns for embellished lampshades and a lounge sack, but then my favorite section comes along: Pillows - square, round, cubed - pillows of all sorts and styles.

There are 24 projects in all, and many of them are perfect for beginner crafters. There are a few for the more advanced, but most of them are simple designs that with the right fabric choices will add a touch of your own style to each room. There are detailed instructions with each pattern and four pages of home sewing and embroidery techniques.

I received a copy of this book for review, but I always give my honest opinion of the book.

Dolce Handknits by Kim Dolce

2011-04-03T14:42:00.000-07:00

Martingale & Company link to purchase Dolce Handknits by Kim Dolce

Dolce Handknits contains 4 seasons of classic and youthful knit designs, with each season containing 4 designs. Winter begins the book with heavier weight knits, with yarn from smooth worsted, heavy worsted to super-bulky yarn. The designs are traditional sweater designs, but two have off-shoulder patterns.

Spring designs use sport weight yarn with one using worsted weight. Designs include two cardigans, one with a ruffled front, a v-neck pullover, and a short-sleeved tee.

Summer calls for fingering weight yarn to worsted yarn and has one raglan style sleeveless top with Icord ties and a short cropped shrug. Also, a vine stripe cardigan and, my favorite, a lacy tank.

Fall designs include another favorite, Bloomsbury, a tie-front sweater with ¾ sleeves. Another cardigan, a pullover and a heavier jacket close out the year of knits.

Basic techniques are included along with helpful information about yarn weights. There may be one or two designs included in this book that would be appropriate for beginners, but overall I would think an advanced beginner to intermediate knitter would benefit most from Dolce Handknits. I appreciated the fact that stitch design instructions were included along with charts.

Dolce Handknits has lovely, elegant garments with something for young ladies and those not so young!

Thank you to Martingale & Company for this review copy.

Easy Appliqué Blocks by Kay Mackenzie

2011-03-28T11:19:00.000-07:00

Link to Martingale Publishing to purchase Easy Appliqué Blocks by Kay Mackenzie (also to see a gallery of all of the blocks)

This is the perfect book for a beginner appliqué quilter or someone wanting to learn how to appliqué. I am so impressed with the author’s variety in her designs and to have all 50 designs included together in the same book. I already have several ideas that I would like to try. With just the designs she has included, I could make a bird quilt, an animal quilt, a flower quilt, a kitchen quilt, a “welcome” home style quilt, or a baby or child quilt. If my own ideas aren’t enough, there is a section at the end with a gallery of ideas.

There are excellent instructions on different techniques of appliqué. There is a list of needed notions, information on pattern prep and instructions for creating a placement guide. Different methods are covered in both hand and machine appliqué. Kay Mackenzie’s instructions are detailed without being too wordy and contain good diagrams.

As if the 50 designs are not enough, there is also a CD included that includes all of the designs printable in 5 sizes. Also, there are different print options depending on what method you are using for your appliqué. I liked the layout of the CD because it had the feel of navigating a website.

Although I am more of an intermediate-skilled appliqué quilter, I love this easy book. Embellishments can make even the easiest quilt block look like a masterpiece.

Rasner's Revenge by Mark Rosendorf

2011-03-26T12:17:00.000-07:00

Amazon.com link for Rasner's Revenge
Rasner's Revenge is the third Rick Rasner book in the series. In Rasner's Revenge we find many of the same main characters, Rick, Clara, Jake, Gen. Straker and more. Author Mark Rosendorf's characters are always unique and his writing is very good. There is a perfect blend of dialog and narration, and the action explodes on every page. I loved the characters and I hated them, but that is what made the story so interesting.

Rasner's Revenge, along with the rest of the Rick Rasner series of books, is not for the squeamish because of the amount of violence, but the violence is an important part of the personality of the characters.

Although this third book in the series can stand alone, I highly recommend reading The Rasner Effect first. You will get a better background of each of the characters, and I confess that the first was my favorite of the three because of one major twist. I thought this third in the series was going to be the last, but there is still a mystery or two that could be revealed in another book.

A Year in the Life of Sunbonnet Sue by Christine Porter and Darra Williamson

2011-03-20T11:30:00.000-07:00

Martingale Publishers link for A Year in the Life of Sunbonnet Sue (Gallery of all blocks here too!)

When I first started quilting, I wasn’t really a fan of Sunbonnet Sue. One of the quilt groups online had a block swap and Sue was the block chosen. It was only then that I fell in love with the simplicity and charm of Sunbonnet Sue.

A Year in the Life of Sunbonnet Sue is a block-of-the-month style pattern book. The book contains twelve individual wall hanging patterns. All of the instructions for the wall quilts are in the book, but there is also an address online at the Martingale Publisher’s site with full instructions for a seasonal 4-block quilt and for a full 12-block quilt.

So, what is different about this Sunbonnet Sue book? Each block has a “The Fabrics Make the Quilt Section.” The book explains fully how to find the best fabrics for each block design. It has detailed instructions on everything from preparing for the appliqué all the way through binding the quilts. Full-sized patterns for each piece are included. There are wonderful little tips scattered throughout the book that show special attention to detail, such as instruction for cutting the pieces with consideration to grain of fabric.

The would be a perfect book for in-person or online quilt groups wanting to do a block-of-the-month. Also for all skill level quilters, or to make a quilt for a special child.

The Little Box of Baby Quilts by Jenny Wilding Cardon

2011-03-12T16:13:00.000-08:00

Martingale & Company. link for The Little Box of Baby Quilts by Jenny Wilding Cardon

Instead of a hard cover book, this is a wonderful group of baby quilt pattern booklets in a decorative and very sturdy little box that end-closes with a magnet. I love it!

There are 20 patterns for quilts that are not only appropriate for babies, but also for older children. There is a Checkerboard Game Quilt that is suggested as a gift for an older child expecting a new brother or sister. There are both pieced and appliquéd quilts patterns, and all appear to be easy to advanced-beginner skill levels. There is a truck pattern that is completely pieced, an appliquéd piggie pattern, and an easy log cabin. There is a Baby Essentials Pocket Quilt that would be a nice wall quilt that has pockets to hold all those baby items that need to be at reach.

There is a folder for basic quilt instructions that explains the running stitch, satin stitch appliqué stitch and the whipstitch. It also explains and diagrams thread basting and pin basting. Also included are hand and machine quilt basics and, of course, binding the quilt.

I always like something a little different so I really enjoy these patterns in the box. This is part of a series of “Little Box” titles. This Martingale Publishing series includes: Crocheted Bags, Crocheted Hats and Scarves, Crocheted Ponchos and Wraps, Knitted Throws, Quilter’s Desserts, Scarves, Scarves II, and Sweaters, and, of course, The Little Box of Baby Quilts.

Two Bits Four Bits by Mark Cotton

2011-03-12T14:56:00.000-08:00

Amazon.com link for Two Bits Four Bits by Mark Cotton

The main character is a likeable and interesting former homicide detective not quite sure what he wants for his future. He returns to his hometown for a reunion and to tie up some family matters. When the husband of a classmate is murdered, Buddy finds himself in the middle of the investigation.

I enjoyed the detail of some of the detective work that Mark Cotton provided in this mystery. Most mysteries overlook those details and just go for action, but I enjoyed getting immersed in the creative work of a detective.

There are many characters in Two Bits Four Bits that I see in regularly in small town America. I especially enjoyed the addition of the three older guys that met at the local restaurant every morning for coffee and gossip.

This is a good mystery with several suspects that reaches a satisfying conclusion. Buddy is a character that you look forward to seeing in a book series and I hope more are in the works.

The Cholesterol Delusion by Ernest N. Curtis, M.D.

2011-03-06T13:33:00.000-08:00

Amazon.com link to purchase The Cholesterol Delusion by Ernest N. Curtis, M.D.

Well, talking about bucking the system!! Ernest N. Curtis, M.D. comes along and dares to contradict the current thought that cholesterol is going to kill us all. The Cholesterol Delusion is a very interesting report on one of the top medical drug-types being prescribed today. The author takes the time to break down the science into language the non-medical public can understand. He also includes a section on how to make sense of a medical journal report, and several journal reports are included in the book.

Dr. Curtis’ description of what really happens with a blocked artery is far different than those cute little commercials that the drug company runs explaining how all those little particles are choking my heart! It is shocking to find out how the testing is evaluated when little evidence shows the results the drug companies report.

I am not quite ready to pitch my statin drugs, but I am ready to do some more research to on the subject. I confess that upon finishing the book I made myself a breakfast of bacon and eggs! I would recommend The Cholesterol Delusion to anyone taking any type of maintenance or preventative prescription drugs.

Damaged by Alex Kava

2011-02-27T15:30:00.000-08:00

Amazon.com link to purchase Damaged by Alex Kava

Damaged started out well with a dramatic description of a Coast Guard rescue helicopter plucking a large cooler out of the waters off Florida. Unfortunately, that initial excitement quickly dropped to a rather slow pace.

While I enjoyed the story and it was interesting, there were several storylines going on which never seemed to connect. The hurricane added interest as did the helicopter rescue scenes. Connecting two of the other stories seemed to be forced, but I don’t want to add any more because it would be a spoiler.

Maggie O’Dell is a good character, but I just did not get a good idea of her personality or why she behaved as she did. There was a hint of a love interest for her, but it was really just a hint. Some of the other characters did not have enough depth to care about them. The other main female character failed to stand out, and the creepy funeral director was a too much of a stereotype.

Although I did not find this one outstanding, it was interesting enough that I would like to try one of the earlier books in this series. In the end, not great but not bad either.

365 Knitting Stitches a Year By Martingale & Company

2011-02-19T15:13:00.000-08:00

Amazon.com link to purchase 365 Knitting Stitches a Year

This is just the first of several craft books I have received for review. Keep an eye out for my upcoming reviews for knitting, quilting and craft studio design! My first review is for a perpetual calendar with knitting stitches on every page.

I would never have thought that there would actually be 365 different kinds of knit stitch patterns, but this nice perpetual calendar has not only the stitches, but a nice section with instructions for some of the special stitches.

I thought I would try to at least make up a sample of a project to see if the instructions are easy to follow. Just picking a page at random, I decided to try April 4 which is the Stockinette Triangles. This one was an easy one with multiples of 5 stitches and 6 rows and worked up quickly.

Although the one I tried was an easy one, there are stitch designs for all skill levels. The possibilities are endless with dozens of cable stitches, twist stitches, laces, and bobbles, woven style, and so much more.

Because this is a perpetual calendar, you can buy it any time of the year and use it year after year. This stand-up desk calendar has a very sturdy base and heavy duty double spiral binder.

This would make a nice addition to a craft room, office desk or a gift for a knitter.

Thank you to Martingale & Company for providing me with this review copy.

Unto the Hills, A Daily Devotional by Billy Graham

2011-02-12T13:55:00.000-08:00

Link to purchase Unto the Hills, A Daily Devotional by Billy Graham

Billy Graham is one of the most well known and respected Christian leaders of our time. Although this book is a reprint of his original Unto the Hills first published more than twenty-five years ago, the stories are timeless, and the writing eloquent. In his preface, he talks about the changes that have taken place in the world, but how our need for the truths of the Bible never changes.

Each devotional meditation page starts with a Bible verse or passage followed by a story which is enlightening, encouraging or challenging. Following each story is a short prayer that helps focus on our relationship with God.

On this day that I write my review, the devotion topic is An Ever-Present Help and the verse is Psalm 46:1. The story deals with a young Irish immigrant, Joseph Scriven who although deep in sorrow wrote the song “What a friend we have in Jesus”. The entry for tomorrow is a story entitled Is God Your Pilot? Although these stories are not long, just a few paragraphs and on one page, there is a depth of understanding in the writing that makes them very impressive. From his 50 years of ministry Billy Graham shares his wisdom concerning our trials in life and points the reader to God, the only source of strength and comfort on which we can rely.

Although an older book, it reads as very current and reliable. I am very happy to recommend this for those who are searching for the truth and for those who are Christians, but could use some encouragement for our trials in life.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishers for sending this copy for review.

A Heartbeat Away by Michael Palmer

2011-01-30T18:03:00.000-08:00

Amazon.com link to purchase A Heartbeat Away by Michael Palmer

One of the most talented authors in the medical thriller genre has done it again! I don’t think I have ever read a bad Michael Palmer book and this one did not disappoint me at all.

The story opens on the night of the State of the Union address. In a split second the president has to make life and death decisions when terrorists release a highly contagious and deadly virus. The president must rely on virologist, Griff Rhodes, a man he sent to prison as a terrorist, to reopen his lab and work on a way to save the leaders of the free world.

The storyline is believable, and there is a good balance of the medical/lab information in the story without getting too technical. The story is fast paced, and I was not sure what would happen until the end. As a matter of fact, it fooled me a few times. The characters are believable, and I thought the terrorist organization was quite realistic. I even found myself matching some of the personalities of the characters with real life Congress men and women. Whether or not that was the author's intention for the characters, I don’t know, but I had fun with it!

I enjoyed the subplot that dealt with Griff’s pledge to use no animal testing in his experiments. He was challenged by his deep conviction to protect animals and the time constraints to save those who were exposed to the virus.

I enjoyed A Heartbeat Away very much and highly recommend it for those who love their thrillers with a little medical twist.

Witnessing to Dracula - A Memoir of Ministry in Romania by Billy Ng

2011-01-10T13:58:00.000-08:00

Amazon.com link for Witnessing to Dracula
I have read quite a few books about missionaries on the field, but I have never before read one that was this entertaining and honest. In his story of his mission to Romania, Billy Ng puts on no pretense. You see his discouragements, his problems, and his humor. There is never once an “I am so holy” attitude. He is an honest guy trying to serve the Lord in the middle of a culture shock.

The book is easy to read as each of the 61 chapters has its own short story. In one chapter he takes us through a city overrun by stray dogs. Then there are the painful experiences with dishonest people. I loved his attitude as he endured a six-hour search by border guards, sharing his faith the entire time.

Billy Ng explains much of the daily life –and death- in this unique country, along with a little history of the real Dracula and the culture of the Gypsies. He shares his conversations with God about the mistakes he made and how he learned what it means to have a meaningful ministry.

I highly recommend this engaging story. It is well written and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

My only criticism of the book is the cover art. I understand the Dracula reference, but it is just too graphic for me. I normally will take a book with me when I know I will be waiting somewhere, but I would have been embarrassed to be seen with this book. I LOVED the book, but hated the cover.

Here is the website for the book where you can read an excerpt: Witnessing to Dracula

Second Chance by Sandra J. Gerencher

2011-01-01T16:32:00.000-08:00

Link to purchase Second Chance by Sandra J. Gerencher

Second Chance is a charming story written in the point of view of a rescue dog. Chance is adopted by a family with an autistic child, Ryan, and three other dogs, P.J., Little Rascal, and Shelby. A special bond develops between Ryan and Chance. There are many things Chance doesn’t understand about his new home (especially why Shelby likes to bite at his paws!), but he gradually learns about his family and his new home. He also doesn’t initially understand Ryan’s behavior or what the word “adopt” means. All becomes very clear and he is embraced by this loving family.

The book is a wonderful way to teach children about autism, and adoption of both children and dogs. I loved reading the story from this confused and frightened dog’s point of view.

The first paragraph of this book brought back memories of when I went to our local Animal Control Center and a beautiful white and brown puppy walked up, sat down, and leaned against my leg. Then he peed all over the floor, and I knew he was going home with me.

Read an Excerpt
Sandra J. Gerencher Bio:

Sandra J. Gerencher is a special education teacher in the Bangor Area public school system. Prior to becoming a teacher, she worked at Lehigh University in a school-based program, as a Program Specialist for adults with disabilities. Over the past 20 years she has worked with children and adults with special needs in such areas as counseling, Behavior Specialist Consultation, behavioral research, crisis intervention and abuse therapy. Sandra graduated from Lehigh University with a M.Ed. in Special Education (2004) and from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia with an M.S. in Counseling Psychology (1999).

A God with a Wider Heart by John Daniel Kunnathu

2010-12-26T13:42:00.000-08:00

Amazon.com link for A God with a Wider Heart
In God with a Wider Heart, the author retells some well known Bible stories in dialog form and in modern language.

In his introduction, John Daniel Kunnathu explains that as a child he was taught that the Bible was historical fact, but as he grew older, he began to believe that they need to be understood metaphorically. He decided to tell the stories as he understands the bible stories now which contrasts from the way he viewed the stories growing up.

While I disagree with his view of some of the stories, they are beautifully written. However these stores are embellished and there is added dialog between characters that does not appear in the scriptures. One story that caused me concern was one in which the author believes that both thieves that were crucified with Christ went to heaven, but the unrepentant thief would just experience it as hell because he could not discern light and darkness.

I would recommend this only if you believe the Bible is mythology, which I do not.

Mere Churchianity by Michael Spencer

2010-12-20T16:13:00.000-08:00

Amazon.com link for Mere Churchianity
In the first section, the author tries to explain why people are leaving the traditional church denominations. Unfortunately, the book takes on the tone of a rant. While the author gives a cursory criticism of all of the major denominations, he was especially hard on his own Evangelical churches. It reached the rant stage when he repeatedly criticized churches for not embracing the homosexual lifestyle and abortion. In the author's view, people are leaving traditional churches exclusively because of these social issues, and I think his view is misguided. There were also a few stories given as object lessons that were childish and the point was difficult to find.

While I didn't like the first part of the book, I thought the last three sections were rich with information and insight. The author explains with clarity that an individual can leave the church, but not necessarily leave behind their devotion to Jesus. In fact, sometimes they need to leave the church to find Jesus. My favorite chapter title is "It's a Bad Idea to be a Good Christian" where he explains the importance of a gospel without adjectives. In other words, true Grace.

Do you see Jesus in your church? If not, you may need to leave the church to maintain your integrity as a believer. I would recommend the book to those who have left or been driven out of the church. I also think those still in the church may be able to improve the vision of their church.

I received this book free of charge for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers.

The Cutting Edge by Darcia Helle

2010-12-15T13:18:00.000-08:00

Amazon.com link for The Cutting Edge

Skye Summers is not your ordinary hairstylist. What is so different? This hairstylist fantasizes about killing her clients. Skye takes the reader through her day with her regular clients and their problems, confessions and families.

The Cutting Edge is written with a combination of styles. There is a little of everything in this book - a serial killer mystery, humor, thriller and more. As the book starts, it is written in a sarcastic and humorous tone with the main character describing her regular customers and her dislike for them. It is at this point the story is borderline cozy, but then it takes on a darker tone. Later in the book the serial killer storyline takes over and it becomes more intense and gruesome, a little too gruesome for me.

The story wraps up in a very satisfying way and a little different than I expected. Even though it was a little too brutal for me, I enjoyed this unique storyline and this very special character.

Judgment Day by Wanda L. Dyson

2010-12-08T16:03:00.000-08:00

Link to purchase Judgment Day

Suzanne Kidwell is a cutthroat journalist for her weekly cable news show, Judgment Day. She will use any means possible to expose corruption, but her own methods of doing so are called into question. Suddenly the tables are turned and she must prove her own innocence in a murder.

Suzanne is a character you will love to hate. At first, you may even cheer when she is in trouble, but eventually she is forced to learn to be humble. Marcus and Alexandria are both good solid characters that provide a light romance (very light). I liked the character of Alexandria and the way she turned her back on her father’s wealth and business to take her own road.

There were some twists in the book including one that took place early into the book that took me by surprise. I would recommend this book for those who enjoy Christian fiction without obvious preaching.

Secret of the Shroud by Pamela Binnings Ewen

2010-12-04T15:09:00.000-08:00

link to purchase Secret of the Shroud

Following a childhood tragedy and feeling abandoned by God, a bitter Archbishop Wesley Bright has led the Christian church in the wrong direction. He is a charismatic leader preaching a gospel absent of absolute truth. Everything he has sought to destroy is now challenged by a scrap of cloth.

I have never had an interest in the Shroud of Turin, but I have to admit after reading this book, I understand why so many people find it fascinating.

I enjoyed each of the characters and their unique perspective to the story. I especially liked the way the story blended three points in time, from the time of Christ, the 1950s, and the near future.

The story starts with a shocking tragedy that scarred a child’s heart and filled him with guilt for life. As shocking as the event was, a true similar incident happened in Chicago a few years ago.

The author uses an impressive blend of scientific information and history so that the characters could bring this historical article to even the hardest of hearts. I really enjoyed Secret of the Shroud and would recommend it for those who like suspense/mystery novels with a moral storyline.

The author's website: Pamela Binnings Ewen

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

2010-12-01T13:47:00.000-08:00

Link to purchase Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo
This is an easy, quick read with a likeable child who purportedly visited heaven and spoke about what heaven is like.

The book is well written and there are some nice black and white photos of the family in the middle of the book. I decided to read this book because it was written by a pastor, and I thought it would be an account that would be an honest and thoughtful story.

Unfortunately, in order to believe this story your have to make some choices in what you want to believe. Either Colton visited heaven while still alive or he died on the table and the surgeon, anesthetist, and nurses didn’t notice. There was no mention by the doctors in talking with the parents or in medical records that Colton died on the surgical table. Also, there is a time problem. Colton talked about seeing God shoot power down to his dad while preaching. This means either Colton’s father was preaching while the child was in surgery (he was not) or there was some time traveling going on. His father explains this away by saying he was in “God’s time”.

The author’s strongest evidence is that the child talks about a deceased family member and a miscarriage his mother suffered, both of which he supposedly had no knowledge. I find it hard to believe that at no time was this child away from the parents and in the care of another family member who could have mentioned these events or even just overheard his parents talking about it. Other events mentioned by Colton sound more like Sunday School 101.

I really wanted to like this book because I am a believer, but I think this child’s parents are reading way too much into his precocious and creative behavior.

An Orientation to our Life: A Guide to Young Men and Women by John Daniel Kunnathu

2010-11-21T15:39:00.000-08:00

Link to purchase An Orientation to our Life
Set in a pre-Christian setting, a group of young Jewish men and women gather around the Rabbi seeking answers for questions about creation, life, and death. The author takes the role of the Rabbi and gives enlightenment and thought-provoking answers using, and limited to, only the first three chapters of Genesis.

There are several insightful messages that stood out for me, including the importance of asking for forgiveness for restoration and our relationship to God in death.

I think the most valuable aspect of this book is in the lessons we can learn about how to engage our young people to read, study and interpret the scriptures. This question and answer method is going to have a more lasting impression than would a teacher or church leader who approaches subjects with lectures and rigidity. If we allow them to ask questions without condemnation or ridicule, and then give answers that will require reflection and more study about the subject, they will learn discernment.

This is a short book, easy to read, and beautifully written. My favorite two quotes from this book:

“We are the expression of God’s life within the limits of time and space.”

“When they (life and earth) separate, we die. Earth goes back to the ground and life goes back to join the creator. Thus our life and God's life are one, and so we have no death.”

Operation Thriller

2010-11-18T15:25:00.000-08:00

Five of today's most critically acclaimed thriller writers (left to right) Douglas Preston, Steve Berry, David Morrell, James Rollins, and Andy Harp posed for a group photo during a USO meet-and-greet in Kuwait on November 8, 2010. Part of a week-long USO tour entitled "Operation Thriller," the authors were in the Middle East extending America's heartfelt thanks to US troops.

Mission Possible by D. L. McCarragher

2010-11-17T17:36:00.000-08:00

Link to purchase Mission Possible at Alabaster Box Publishing

A brief outline of this book is best described by the author:
“This book will serve to encourage your heart, strengthen your soul, and stretch your faith.”

Mission Possible begins by describing the priestly role model that Jesus portrays for the husband in the household. Unfortunately, he will not follow this role if your spouse is not a believer. Becoming a believer while your spouse is not can cause stress, heartache, and discouragement.

Mission Possible is a detailed, scripturally based boot-camp for the believing spouse on a new Godly mission – to be a testimony and a representative of Jesus to your husband. D. L.McCarragher’s experience and energy presents the Word of God to edify and instruct on prayer, pitfalls and priorities.

The book is set up to use as a devotional or Bible study. It has a “Seek and Find” section with questions, discussion and addition Bible verses after each chapter. There are also short clever remarks inserted into the chapters that can only be described as Pure Encouragement!

I especially enjoyed “In the Meantime- Serve”. In this chapter she talks about serving the Lord, but doing so with respect to the husband and the problems that may arise. She explains how to make good decisions that will maintain love and peace in the home.

I highly recommend this book for individual or women’s group Bible studies. For those using an e-book, Mission Possible is very well formatted for the e-book format with easy chapter navigation.
D. L. McCarragher's website

Chasing the Night by Iris Johansen

2010-11-17T13:29:00.000-08:00

Amazon.com link for Chasing the Night by Iris Johansen

I have an earlier Iris Johansen Eve Duncan book on my to-be-read shelf, but I received this one for review so I decided to read this first. Although part of a series, it is certainly a stand-alone book.

Eve and Joe are both interesting characters, but as a couple the spark seems to be missing. There was nothing that would make me look forward to another book about them or run to a previous book to find out how they reached this point in their relationship. The other characters in the book are all over the top in whatever they do. There is some sarcastic attitude, which I can appreciate, but they are too much like comic book characters.

All in all I can say that it is not a bad action/adventure/thriller but I just couldn’t enjoy reading about the sadistic psychological torture, rape, and other physical abuse especially when a child is involved.

A Place to Die An Inspector Gerg Buchner Mystery by Dorothy James

2010-11-13T16:29:00.000-08:00

Barnesandnoble.com link to purchase A Place to Die
About the Book: Eleanor and Franz Fabian arrive from New York to spend Christmas with Franz's mother in her sedate retirement home in the Vienna Woods. Their expectations are low: at best, boredom, at worst, run-of-the-mill family friction. But when the wealthy, charming Herr Graf is found dead in his apartment with an ugly head wound, the Fabians are thrust into a homicide investigation. Some residents and staff have surprising connections to the dead man, but who would have wanted to kill him? Inspector Büchner tracks down the murderer against a backdrop of Viennese history from the Nazi years to the present day..

My Review: A Place to Die is a well-written traditional mystery with mature characters in a unique setting. It is an interesting look into an assisted living facility divided between those who can still care for themselves and then the dreaded section where more assistance is needed. There are many characters living in this facility and their loves and friendships are portrayed in detail. It is the type of mystery that is well thought out, painstakingly described, and comes around full circle for the conclusion.

It was a little difficult for me to follow the characters at first until I got used to the terms Herr and Frau before the names. I thought two of the three main characters were rather unpleasant and their unhappy relationship grated on me. There were some unexpected sexual situations dropped into the story that were just too awkward to add to the story. Inspector Buchner, however, was wonderful, and I look forward to reading more with his character.

Generation Ex-Christian: Why Young Adults are Leaving the Faith and How to Bring Them Back by Drew Dyck

2010-11-07T12:29:00.000-08:00

Amazon.com link for Generation Ex-Christian
Generation Ex-Christian is a look at why so many young people are leaving behind the faith they learned as a child. The author interviewed ex-Christians, and he breaks down the “leavers” into six types, postmodernist, recoiler, modernist, neopagen, rebel, and the drifter. He highlights several individuals and what caused them to change. What would cause a Christian to turn to Wicca, or lead them to commit to atheism? Imagine being a youth leader and an offhanded harsh comment would so hurt someone that they would turn their back on God.

In breaking down the categories, the author gives specific instruction on how to relate to the individuals with the hope of leading them back. This is an important read for youth leaders, Sunday School teachers, and others in the ministry.

My only criticism of the book is the oversimplifying impression that those leaving the church are leaving God. Many youth leaders make our young adults feel as though they will never live up to what is expected of them. Spiritual abuse is a painful experience, and we should never minimize the saving grace of Christ or equate church attendance with salvation.

Satan no longer has to destroy Christians; the church is doing that work for him.

Pandora's Succession Virtual Book Tour Contest

2010-11-06T11:48:00.000-07:00

Amazon.com link for Pandora's Succession

Pandora's Succession Virtual Book Tour Contest: Everyone that leaves a comment with their email address (in the body of your message) will win an autographed book cover. After the blog tour, 10 commentors from all of the blogs will be drawn to win free autographed ebook copies of Pandora's Succession.
You may go to Russell Brooks' website at http://www.russellparkway.com/news.html if you want to follow the tour.

My Review:
Ridley Fox is a man with a past. Tormented by the murder of his fiancé by weapons dealers, he has never lost focus of justice for her death. The beginning of the book describes a terrifying scene with a rediscovered bio-weapon so deadly that it wiped out an entire civilization in ancient times. Fox gets in the middle of the control grab between the CDC and a Japanese Intelligence organization. The biggest question for Ridley Fox is “Who do I trust?”

Hang on, because this one is a roller coaster ride of action. The story has great contrasts in characters with the good guys, bad guys, CIA, Arms of Ares, Japanese Intel, and the CDC. The author has a good understanding of the technology and the ability to describe it to the average reader. There was a good blend of narration and dialog without getting bogged down in either.

Pandora’s Succession is a descriptive action adventure. I would have liked more included of the medical/lab atmosphere, but that is just my personal preference, not a criticism. This is a great new book and a great new author.

The Christmas Knot by William G. Bentrim

2010-10-29T17:41:00.000-07:00

Amazon.com link for The Christmas Knot

The Christmas Knot is a lovely story of family, values, and love. Hardy is a young boy with his puppy, Tiny. It is getting close to Christmas and time for dad to put up the outside lights. When things don’t go as planned, Hardy and his cousin Mardi learn several important lessons.

Character building is always a key ingredient in William G. Bentrim’s books and is very evident in The Christmas Knot. Hardy learns that things don’t always go as planned. He also learns that admitting a mistake is the right thing to do, and that sometimes mistakes turn out for the best. The church’s nativity scene becomes a focus in the story which completes this beautiful Christmas story.

Tiny once again stole my heart and I think it is hilarious that The Christmas Knot is a Tiny “pre-quel”!

Wake Up! You're Probably Never Going to Look Like That: How to be Happier, Healthier and Imperfectly Fit by Michelle Pearl

2010-10-27T17:22:00.000-07:00

amazon.com link for Wake Up
Wake Up starts with information on scientific studies, dieting, but its main focus is how to manage unrelenting hunger and dealing with a lower metabolism. The author discusses her back and forth struggle with weight that went along with many personal problems. It is a realistic look at weight loss, with an emphasis on being as healthy as possible without setting unrealistic goals.

My favorite quote from the book is: “The last time I had a craving for a celery stick? That would be never.”

There is a nice section with a list of foods we frequently reach for and alternative choices. There is a section on keeping active with whatever exercise is manageable. There is information on food and our children, fast food and a 12 week change program. There is a unique section with fractured fairytales to debunk diet myths.

The book ends with interviews from real average people describing their own successful weight loss plans. There is no magic book that will give us all of the answers, but Wake Up gives good advice with hints and tips to create your own safety net meals.

The Art of Comforting What to Say and Do for People in Distress by Val Walker

2010-10-27T16:24:00.000-07:00

barnesandnoble.com link for The Art of Comforting
Compassion and comfort – these are difficult to find these days. We hope to find them in ourselves, our friends, churches, and medical professionals, but quite often there is little information or training for those entrusted with this responsibility.

The Art of Comforting is an interesting and informative book that gives instruction on what to say, and also how to say it. Not just a few suggestions, but several pages of comparing platitudes with more helpful comments and even the body language that portrays comfort.

A large portion of the book introduces us to several individuals involved in professions in which they have developed skills in comforting and encouragement. There are suggestions from a Victim’s Advocate, a Nurse Practitioner, a Patient education Specialist and a Minister, each with their unique skills and perspectives. There was a wonderful section on the comfort and love that animals bring into our lives.

There were a couple of things I didn’t like in the book. The section on Art as a Source of Comfort was not something I found interesting. There are some odd political comments complaining about cuts in government social services (thanks, but I would rather not get my comfort or compassion from the government!), and there was a much-too-long list of the author’s list of life’s comforts.

All in all, this is a nice book with good information for those who want a more compassionate personality.

2011 Quilt Calendar from That Patchwork Place

2010-10-23T15:48:00.000-07:00

Amazon.com link for 2011 Quilt Calendar
This review is a little different because I am reviewing the 2011 Quilt Calendar from That Patchwork Place. The calendar is not only beautiful, but functional. Each half of the fold-up calendar is one-foot square, and each day has a large enough area to write in multiple appointments. Major holidays are listed.

The quilts presented are beautiful, mostly traditional, some with a modern flair. There is a pull-out instruction book in the back of the calendar that has complete patterns and detailed instructions for each of the showcased quilts.

There is a nice selection of patterns, and although not rated in the calendar, I will give my opinion of the different skill levels. April’s “S-C-H-Double–Oh-L” is an Irish Chain type quilt that is easy enough for a beginner, as is August’s pieced “The Square Within”.

For a beginner that has some quilting experience, January’s “Old Fashioned Hospitality” has a combination of piecing and pineapple appliqué. May has “Perkiomen Valley in the 1930s” with some chain piecing blocks. June’s “Square Deal” is easy squares, but with some unique piecing, and October has “Tulip Time” with both easy piecing and simple appliqués.

For the intermediate quilter March has “Twice as Nice” and July has “Spin City”, both variations of the pinwheel pieced pattern. November’s “Flying Shuttles” and December’s “Pomegranate Christmas” are a combination of pieced and appliqué quilts.

For the very skilled quilters I recommend February’s appliquéd “Peachy Keen” and September’s paper foundation “Pinwheel Stars”.

All of them are great quilts and a beautiful calendar to look at all year.

Sew the Perfect Bag 25 Great Projects from Sew News

2010-10-14T18:13:00.000-07:00

Amazon.com link for Sew the Perfect Bag

Big, small, pretty or just functional, I love my purses, totes, and bags for fun and for work.

Sew the Perfect Bag contains large color photographs of each project and most of the diagrams are in color too. You don’t have to be an expert at sewing and you don’t need to be fussy-perfect with the project to make something beautiful and useful. Each easy-to-follow pattern is broken down with written instructions and diagrams for each step of the project, including the placement of fabrics.

The 25 patterns include a market bag, computer bag, a baby bag with a changing pad, tote bags, a lunch bag, a book bag, mesh beach bag, a couple of clutches, a wine bag and other multi-purpose bags. There are a couple of patterns that I think would be perfect for a Kindle, nook, or other e-reader. There is even a section that shows how to take an old sweater and refashion it into a beautiful tote.

The patterns are not rated for difficulty, but I would rate them as easy to advanced beginner. This is a great book with pretty, fun, and useful projects.

Just a Note

2010-10-10T16:01:00.000-07:00

My reviews have been taking longer for me to finish lately. I am reading several books right now for review, and I am reading The Woods by Harlan Coben for a book discussion on goodreads.com. Upcoming reviews include a thriller, a weight-loss book, two Christian fiction, one Christian non-fiction and a 2011 quilt calendar (I can't wait to show you this one). I will start posting some this coming week.

Captured by Grace by Dr. David Jeremiah

2010-10-03T15:19:00.000-07:00

Link to Amazon.com for Captured by Grace
Dr. Jeremiah uses the story of John Newton and the writing of the hymn Amazing Grace to illustrate God’s grace to us in our daily lives.

The book is divided into three parts: Grace for the Past, Grace for the Present, and Grace for the Future. There are wonderful reminders of God’s grace for us and a few highlights in this book. The author comments on our day of judgment and our test of accountability. It is a wonderful reminder that the test will not be how many Bibles we own or verses we memorize, but how we apply those verses to our lives that will be of value. The author presents quotes from many sources and one that stood out to me was from John Stott, “We do not fall in and out of grace….No, we stand in it, for that is the nature of grace. Nothing can separate us from God’s love.”

While Captured by Grace has a good message, it is not an easy book to read. It is rather dry, and the topics don’t seem to flow well together. There were some stories in the book that I did not think were explained well. One is a story of a preacher who threw Bibles at listeners in the congregation. I read that portion several times, but it was puzzling to me, and I was confused as to the value in telling of the incident.

Captured by Grace is a wonderful reminder of God’s Grace and what that should mean to us in our daily lives.

When the Devil Whistles by Rick Acker

2010-09-26T16:45:00.000-07:00

Amazon.com link for When the Devil Whistles
When the Devil Whistles by Rick Acker has a strong message to tell. The plot revolves around what it means to be a person of good character, living what you believe and making things right when you have done wrong.

Conner Norman is an honest, ethical lawyer. He believes that you should always do right, and if you break the law – you pay the price. His friend Allie works through a temp agency to infiltrate companies suspected of defrauding the government. Together they try to bring the crooks to justice. Allie has problems her own, and Conner learns that she may not be the person of character he thought.

I enjoyed reading this legal drama and the unique story of the very lucrative business of a whistle-blower. The importance of honesty, ethical behavior and restoration is evident throughout this exciting story. They fight for justice and at times, their lives.

Thank you to Netgalley.com for the e-copy of When the Devil Whistles.

The New Knitter’s Template by Laura Militzer Bryant and Barry Klein

2010-09-18T16:55:00.000-07:00

Amazon.com link for The New Knitter's Template

First of all, I loved that the book is hard bound with the pages spiral bound inside so that the book will lay flat. This is not your ordinary pattern book. The book starts with 7 simple steps to create that perfect custom garment. All patterns are knitted bottom up with the ability to use different neckline and body styles. There is information on sizing, measurements, and it has a yarn yardage chart.

There are several worksheets to make copies and fill out. There is a Body Measurement chart and a blank pattern worksheet to record all of the information for each project.

I spent a lot of time trying to figure out the finished measurement chart without success. This is the chart that enables the knitter to determine the correct size. This book is not going to be for every knitter. I found it limiting and very confusing, but there are some very good tips in the book. There are also several lovely stitch designs with photographs of the design knitted up into swatches.

Although I found this book confusing, I would recommend checking out the “Look Inside” feature on Amazon.com to see if this is a style of pattern you would be able to follow.

The Confirmation by Ralph Reed

2010-09-18T10:35:00.000-07:00

Amazon.com link for The Confirmation
The Confirmation is about a newly elected U.S. president and his attempt to appoint a conservative to replace a recently deceased liberal in the Supreme Court. It is a realistic and often depressing tale of the vicious attacks and nasty political maneuvers that take place all over this country.

I follow the news and political scene faithflully and I love thrillers, so I thought this book would be perfect for me. Unfortunately, althought I thought this was an interesting book, I didn’t love it. There were too many characters to keep track of, and most of them did not add to the story. There were promised storylines that went nowhere, and no one really comes out looking good in this book.

Reading this book is like finding out how sausage is made.

Winging It: A Memoir of Caring for a Vengeful Parrot Who's determined to Kill Me by Jenny Gardiner

2010-09-15T16:39:00.000-07:00

Amazon.com link for Winging It
Winging It is an entertaining story of the author's family and their experience with an ornery parrot. Anyone who thinks they want to buy a parrot should read this book FIRST. Although I never had a large bird (as many as 21 zebra finches), I understood her description of the mess that birds make and the methods that bird owners will devise to keep the mess easier to clean.

The author is very honest about her difficulties with caring for this demanding bird while at the same time dealing with difficulties within her family. She also discusses adopting birds from a rescue group.

Winging It is written in a very lighthearted way, but there are many touching moments of crisis within the family. I enjoyed her story very much.

Hell and Gone by Henry Brown

2010-09-13T06:53:00.000-07:00

Amazon.com link for Hell and Gone for Kindle or PC
Amazon.com for Paperback

Hell and Gone by Henry Brown is a top-notch military thriller. The author takes great care to create characters that are believable and unique. Normally I can get lost in a book with many characters, but the characters in Hell and Gone were introduced in such a way that it was easy to follow.

This is a realistic story about a teenager recruited by a terrorist training camp for an attack, and a group of elite ex-military men sent to prevent the use of a nuclear suitcase bomb strike upon Israel. Great writing creates scenes so well crafted that I felt like I was in a strange land in the middle of the action.
One of the parts of the story I found most interesing was the the author's descriptions of the physical effects on the men following a firefight. I think this author's work can compare with any of the more famous thriller authors today.

Stop by the Henry Brown's website for Hell and Gone to read an excerpt and learn more about the author. I am very pleased to recommend this book to anyone that enjoys thrillers.

BlogFest 2010 Giveaways

2010-09-09T16:19:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to our BlogFest Giveaway Winners

All have been notified and need to respond within 48 hours or other winners will be drawn.

Winners:

Readers Basket-Lisa; Faith Books-Elise; Craft Books-Esma; Knitters Books-Melissa; and Mystery Books-mrsshukr

Welcome to Bookvisions

for BlogFest 2010

There are 5 giveaways!

Enter as many giveaways as you like
using the entry form below

The next blog and a link for the list of all blogs participating in BlogFest is located after the entry form. Please check out some of my reviews while you are here!

1. A Reader's Basket with all sorts of goodies

Books in the giveaways are linked to my reviews.

2.Faith Fiction Books Giveaway

Fear No Evil -Robin Caroll

Deceit - Brandilyn Collins

Petra- T.L. Higley

3. Craft Books Giveaway

Felting for Kids by Gry Hojgaard Jacobsen & Sif Hojgaard Hoverby

Decorating with Papercraft by Clare Youngs

4. Knitter's Giveaway

Top Notch Knits

First Knits by Louise Roberts & Kate Haxell

5. Mystery Giveaway

In Harm's Way - Ridley Pearson

Live to Tell - Lisa Gardner

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Entries will be accepted from Sept 9-12 (midnight)2010

United States Only - No P.O. Box numbers - Winners will be chosen by Randomizer and notified Sept 13, 2010. The winners will have 48 hours to reply with their name and mailing address.

The next blog on the BlogFest 2010 is here:
Grace With Books
A list of all participants is here:
A Journey of Books - Track your progress through the BlogFest sites here. Anyone using this tracking site will be entered in our massive giveaway.