REVIEW: Cherished by Kim Cash Tate

Date:               6/18/13

Title:               Cherished         

Author:           Kim Cash Tate

ISBN:               1595548556

Pages:             320   

Publisher:       Thomas Nelson          

Cover:             Paperback     

Rating:            5 Stars

Kelli has a passion for music. When she was younger, she carried a pad around to write down the

lyrics that spontaneously came to her. This was her gift from God. After making a difficult decision, she no longer heard and lyrics and felt God was upset with her.

Heather was caught having an affair with a church member's husband. The scandal was hard on her so she left the church altogether.

Kelli and Heather have something's in common. They will soon meet. Will their meeting be beneficial?

This was my first read by Kim Cash Tate and I loved it. The characters and their situations are so real. Tate does a phenomenal job of showing how difficult forgiveness can be. It's a powerful tool, which is easier said than done, that has to be learned. I highly recommend. You walk away wondering "am I capable of really forgiving?"

REVIEW: Holy Mayhem by Pat G'Orge-Walker

Date:               6/17/13

Title:               Holy Mayhem  

Author:           Pat G’Orge-Walker    

ISBN 13:          978-0758259684

Pages:             320   

Publisher:       Dafina

Cover:             Paperback     

Rating:           4 Stars

Joy Karry and Patience Kash are cousins with a dream of being detectives. They settled for jobs in

the police department due to being unable to pass the physicals. After ten years, they were laid off. They attended a commercial taping where they received confirmation to be detectives. Will the ladies follow through with their "gift"?

It has been a while since my last Pat G'Orge-Walker read. She excels at Christian comedy. Her characters always bring you to your knees with their antics. I commend her for making them relatable. Holy Mayhem gives you a lesson with a little humor. If you want a good laugh, this is the book for you.

REVIEW: The Guilt Trip by Pat Simmons

Date:                         4/15/13

Title:                         The Guilt Trip

Author:                     Pat Simmons

ISBN 13:                    978-0802403803

Pages:                        368

Publisher:                 Lift Every Voice

Cover:                        Paperback

Rating:                      4 Stars

Aaron "Ace" Jamieson is quite the ladies man. He prided himself on not getting caught up with any drama. His "love and leave 'em" relationships didn't last longer than three months,

if that long; that's until he met Talise Rogers. Their chemistry was explosive. She did one thing the other women didn't. When he came to grips with his true feelings, he was ready to share them with his Tay. She also had something to share with him. When she droGuilpped the bomb, he reverted to his old ways and thought she was out to get him. What will become of their relationship?

In this second installment of the Jamieson Legacy, we follow Ace. Ace is a character afraid of being like his father. You are drawn in from the beginning. I had a hard time putting the book down. I particularly like how Simmons incorporate some history and biblical principles without going overboard. If you enjoy reading about forgiveness and redemption, this is the book for you.

REVIEW: Lone Bean by Chudney Ross

Date:                 3/20/13

Title:                  Lone Bean

Author:              Chudney Ross

ISBN 13:           978-0061660115

Pages:             208

Publisher:         Amistad

Cover:              Paperback

Rating:              4 Stars

Chrysanthemum "Lone" Bean is the youngest of three girls. Her father is a music teacher and her mother is a ob-gyn nurse. The summer is coming to an end. Lone Bean is excited about seeing her best friend, Carla and starting the third grade. The excitement is short lived. This year will be full of surprises.

Lone Bean is a quick read that illustrates some of the issues third graders experience. This would be an excellent book for a parent and child to read together.

REVIEW: Nikki and Deja Wedding Drama by Karen English

Date:                 3/20/13

Title:                  Nikki and Deja Wedding Drama

Author:              Karen English

ISBN 13:           978-0547615646

Pages:              12

Publisher:         Clarion Books

Cover:              Paperback

Rating:              3 Stars

Nikki and Deja are best friends. Their teacher is getting married has has two invitations to give out. She has a drawing the the girls won. They are excited and looking forward to attending but one experiences some hard times. Will they both be in attendance?

This is my first read by Karen English. It is part of series but can be read as a stand alone. This wouldn't necessarily appeal to little boys. It's a quick read I would recommend.

REVIEW - The Lost Stones by Paul Rimmasch

Date:                 1/3/13

Title:                  The Lost Stones

Author:               Paul Rimmasch

ISBN 13:             978-1599558875

Pages:                192

Publisher:            Bonneville Books

Cover:                 Electronic Galley

Rating:                4 Stars

Ammon Rogers grew up a Mormon but wasn't a believer. He's a veteran of the Iraq war. After the war, he wanted to reconnect with his religion. He enrolls at Brigham Young University where he studies religion and physics. During his religion class, he asks what appears to be an innocent question. His professor introduces him to an archaeologist by the name of John. Will Ammon get the answer to his question?

When I first started reading this book, I was concerned with completing it. It started out a little slow. Once it picked up, I was unable to put it down. I was intrigued with the history. Character development was great. Ammon was an inquisitive student whose question even piqued my interest. You're given enough information to keep you on edge and wanting more. If you enjoy a good adventure, this is definitely the book for you. JLH