I really love how this book deals with present day issues involving teens, especially teen girls. This is a rough read but a good one and one I would I really love how this book deals with present day issues involving teens, especially teen girls. This is a rough read but a good one and one I would recommend to reader teens and adults. Stacey is a bright, talented girl who battled weight trouble in her past. She has so many inner demons due to some traumatizing moments in her young childhood, and she can't seem to shake them. Because of this she isn't comfortable in her own skin, and while others see her as pretty she just sees fat. Her friend Zoe is on a diet and continuously encourages Stacey on her dieting journey. However, Stacey takes things to far with her dieting and begins purging food. She becomes clever in her ways of hiding food and making it seem like she is eating when she isn't, and nobody is none the wiser in her presence. She wears baggy clothes to hide her weight so nobody needs question her. In love with her boyfriend Calvin she fears losing him most of all, but can't get her thoughts and actions straight enough to make all well between them.
Calvin is a teen boy who helps his father work their farm. Recently losing his older brother he has his own demons to battle in the sense of emotion and loss. Hardly wanting to deal with life's harsh realities his dirtbike and girlfriend Stacey are his only moments of release and happiness. His dirtbike is ancient and begins to have problem after problem. If that isn't enough of a worry for Calvin his girlfriend Stacey begins to act unlike herself. He notices a few signs where she doesn't eat and he begins to worry about the amount of weight she is losing. When she starts passing out and he figures out some of her secrets of hiding or getting rid of food it's like a punch in the stomach. He urges her to see a doctor and stop the madness but she shrugs him off. He just can't bear to lose another person he loves in his life so he struggles with what should be done to save Stacey.
My favorite thing about this book is that the author hits a major issue head on. Anorexia, bulimia, eating disorders, etc., is something a lot of teens these days are going through. Media tends to portray "beautiful" as super skinny. We see it everywhere: magazines, commercials, movies, fashion, etc. In reality few realize that everyone is beautiful and nobody was created to be the same, but due to everything our impressionable teens are seeing it's hard for them to realize that they are all beautiful in their own way. Teens do not understand the dangers of eating disorders and generally become good at hiding them from loved ones. Not only does this book show some of the beginning signs of anorexia and health risks, but it shows that if someone you love needs help you have to just be there and get them help. Often teens with these disorders do not see them as a disorder and they do not see anything wrong with their train of thought. I love that this book does not sugarcoat anything of the teen lifestyle but keeps things at a clean level without getting too graphic. I felt this is a novel very real and down to earth. The author does a fabulous job of writing so you find yourself lost in the story, and characters. I love the balance between these two main characters. Stacey is passionate and outgoing while Calvin is more reserved and laid back. The characters are so different but mesh so well, and reading that was wonderful. I was hoping to read more about some of the other characters in the book. I felt left hanging when it came to Stacey's sister Renee, as well as with Calvin's friends Tyler and Flannery. I would have liked just a little bit more when it came to them, but maybe they will end up with their own stories, who knows? I love the faith in this book. No matter how hard things get and no matter how often a lot of these characters want to give up they pray and let God lead them. It's a great way to show teens that God can always overcome any obstacle, and with God they can overcome anything.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255...more
This book definitely tugs at your heartstrings. I knew about women, men, and children being trafficked but this book separates from the normal stereotThis book definitely tugs at your heartstrings. I knew about women, men, and children being trafficked but this book separates from the normal stereotypes. I think this is a book that everyone should read because it proves that you just never know. It also proves that you should ALWAYS listen to your gut instincts when you have a feeling about people. The first few chapters really had me aggravated with Sophie. I know that her past with her father was horrible but she still has brothers, a sister, mother and stepfather that loves her dearly. Still I do think her father was a lot responsible for her behavior. No matter how much one person can tell another that only you control how you act things that start from childhood like that can stick with you and you may act from that hurt without even realizing it. I felt that Sophie treated people really horribly at first, mainly Erion. But it's something that she later realized she did so she did learn from it and realize what she had did wrong. Nobody should deserve to go through what Sophie had to go through. I strongly do feel like she is a courageous individual. I've read a lot of reviews on this book where people feel that she should have tried to run and get away. After all she did have plenty of chances to try. As I read through her story I found myself hoping that this time or that time she would run and flee only for it not to happen. But what people are not realizing is that Sophie was conditioned by Kas to do as he told her to do. The fear of what might happen if she tried to get away and it failed was too hard for her to take. She was in a strange place she knew nothing about, barely spoke the language, and of course other law enforcements in other countries are different from our own. They may not have known how to handle the situation and add to that fact that Kas was telling her he had people everywhere. Sure she could have fought him back but who knew what he was capable of? He was clearly a disturbed individual. I do believe that she did what she had to do to survive and once she finally felt safe enough to get away she did do just that! More than that she outsmarted her trafficker, even if she hadn't realized it at the time! So in reality she did get away when she felt like she could and was kept safe in the hospital. I will admit that her decisions following her hospital release weren't exactly the smartest. She should have never went with Kas alone anywhere after getting help or let him anywhere near her. She should have had the courage to testify against him and put him away. Just by reading about his character it's clear he likely did it to one or more girls before and after Sophie. Unfortunately those of us (myself included) that feel that way are also not in her position. While she did tell her story in this heartbreaking memoir we still don't know of other horrors that befell her that she may not have shared. And it is easy for us to read something and imagine it but she actually had to LIVE it and the emotional, verbal, and physical trauma stayed with her. So it isn't up to us to judge how she handled things in the end. As long as she is at peace then that is what matters. And I applaud her for sharing her story as it may make others affected by trafficking come forward to tell their story and help others as well. Many people who are rescued from trafficking do not even dare tell their story out of fear. Sophie was very brave to share with all of us her story. She speaks with STOP THE TRAFFIK giving her story to all who may fall victim or who may have been victims. So as a person she did a wonderful thing and continues to do so for others. It is not our place to judge her and even if we say we would have done things differently we don't truly know that because we were not in her place. We didn't suffer from the physical, verbal, and emotional abuse she had to go through. Everyone is different and everyone handles things in different ways. It isn't our decision to judge someone by how long they stay in a situation like that because they may honestly feel as if they have no choice. But when they DO finally get away and share their story with us we should applaud them because after the hell of what they went through no matter what else they do AT LEAST they shared their story so that it may shed light, understanding, and even give help to those that may seek it. It's a sad reality that this happens to many people all over the world. It's something that makes me utterly sad and sick at the same time. But just like other horrible things in this world all we can do is our part to spread the word about it, look for signs in case we are ever in the position to help someone, be on the lookout always, and just NEVER give up....more
I am a huge fan of novels written on Native Americans, colonial times, etc. One look at the cover of this book had me instantly intrigued and reading I am a huge fan of novels written on Native Americans, colonial times, etc. One look at the cover of this book had me instantly intrigued and reading the summary I knew I could not wait to read it. This novel did not disappoint me in the least. It was everything and more than I thought it would be! Faith is the core of this book, but the author does not lecture or preach faith, rather it comes out of the book and grips you without climbing a mountain to get there. The way this novel has been put together makes you get instantly lost in the events as they are told, and everything flows together nicely. It is very well researched and depicts how most things were after the Revolution. This book had everything from romance, tension, drama, and friendship. I was on the edge of my seat and couldn't wait to read what would happen next. There were so many frustrating moments where I almost found myself screaming at some of the events in the book and that is obviously a great read when the reader can become so invested in the characters lives and actions. I was sad when the book came to an end, but although everything did not turn out exactly as I had wished I did very much enjoy the ending and was very pleased with it. Clean written but not to a prudish point there are sexual scenes but they are tastefully written and not vulgar. There are many scriptures scattered throughout the novel which brings the Christian aspect to the novel continuously in a way that fits well with the story at hand while delivering a message to the reader without preaching. I felt this book is a great example of overcoming trials and tribulations, letting God heal your heart, and standing your ground while holding onto God's hand. With God anything is possible and no trial is too big to overcome if you hold onto your faith. I greatly enjoyed it and I would highly recommend this novel. I cannot praise it enough and it has found a permanent home on my favorites shelf.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own....more
Oh my goodness! This book blew me away. So far this is my absolute FAVORITE book of Bertrice Small's. I couldn't hardly put this book down so intrigueOh my goodness! This book blew me away. So far this is my absolute FAVORITE book of Bertrice Small's. I couldn't hardly put this book down so intrigued I was by this. I was so into Skye O'Malley, her character and bravery. She is definitely one of a kind character, and one that is unforgettable. This book had me on an emotional roller coaster to be sure. This is filled with everything a reader would find in a great book. Happiness, humor, sadness, danger, love, loss, adventure, mystery, etc. Definitely a book to leave you guessing and one that is hard to figure out. At the beginning of the novel Niall Burke was my favorite character along with Skye, but toward the end I felt a fondness for Geoffrey Southwood and he remained my favorite male character. This book does have graphic scenes so it shouldn't be read by someone too young as there are a lot of sexual parts that go into great detail. Bertrice Small as always blows me away by her writing and vivid detail. I was so eager to see how this book would end up and yet I was so sad at it's ending because I became so absorbed in this book it was like saying goodbye to friends. Which tells you right there what a fantastic read it was. Only a great book can pull you in so much you get lost in it's world and characters come alive. I wish it could have told more at the ending, and I won't say more on it without spoiling it a bit for some of you that have not read it. Still this book really has it all. And historically it is a great portrayal as always of how things were back then. The author's note tells more how she comes about the characters and gives some well researched facts as well which makes you realize how much of the story wasn't far off from actual fact. Bertrice Small definitely did not disappoint in this book, there was nothing that lagged. Everything was interesting even the smallest of characters. I will definitely be re-reading this book, and if you like historical fiction with a bit of erotica and danger then you will love this book. Historical Fiction at it's finest....more
The only reason I did not rate this book five stars is because I am highly upset at the ending of the novel. Without giving anything away too badly I The only reason I did not rate this book five stars is because I am highly upset at the ending of the novel. Without giving anything away too badly I will just say that a character was killed that I believe should have been spared. It was something I really didn't expect, and it made me incredibly sad. I felt that character could have gone on to make a fantastic other novel and so to see said character be killed was just horrific.
Other than that I loved the book. Bertrice Small is one of my favorite authors and continues to be so. I have read quite a few of her books and fell in love with them, and I cannot wait to read more. She never disappoints on keeping the reader captivated in the story and the characters become alive.
In this particular novel I loved Alex Givet. She accepted her fate when it was due, stood her ground in her beliefs, and was incredibly strong portrayed for a woman in those times. I love how she wasn't claimed to be beautiful above all even though some found her so it was clearly stated there were other's more beautiful than she. It seemed to make it less fabricated and more believable as I read. Easier to picture events playing out in my head.
Malcolm Scott, however, infuriated me more than once. So stubborn and allowing some to get away with more than a border lord should have in those days. Some of it inexcusable. There were many points in this novel I did not think he was aggressive enough for certain situations and do not know why he pondered on things so long before he took action. When you read the story you will know what I mean. While he did get things done in the end he is a character that seems to take too long to do them.
But all in all I would say this a juicy, fantastic read! I was kept at the edge of my seat many a times wondering what would happen next, how things would end up, etc. It's definitely a book that keeps you guessing and captivated up until the very last sentence. If your like me, a lover of historical fiction and romance, you will find yourself quickly invested in some of the characters. I felt as if I was right there watching it all unfold. I felt myself close to tears at some points, and holding my breath at others waiting to see what would come next....more
I have to admit I loved Charlotte. She was a very admirable woman whom I could not help take as my favorite character. Concerned about keeping her proI have to admit I loved Charlotte. She was a very admirable woman whom I could not help take as my favorite character. Concerned about keeping her promise to her father and bring her dreams to life of restoring Fairhaven she also put the needs of others before her own often, and had a very kind heart. No matter what hurdles are thrown her way she perseveres, and stands her own ground. Meek but firm and loving but careful, she is no fool in any matters. Nicholas was an equally lovable character although he did frustrate me at times. I will admit it is refreshing to see a dedicated father in a historical novel. Most fathers in novels pay little attention to their daughters especially. However Nicholas doted on his daughters and it was easy to picture the love for them. I also love how Nicholas paid little attention to other women and even though he didn't let it publicly be known clearly held Charlotte in his favor among all.
Love is in abundance in this book. And it shows how God really wants us to be on helping thy neighbor and showing love and understanding to all who may need it. This book is the perfect example of life having it's ups and down but keeping your faith rooted in God always. No matter what set backs Charlotte faced, no matter what was going wrong in her restoring her family plantation she kept her faith and accepted what was. She still held to hope and she strives to find the truth of matters. She is a careful planner and a wonderful example of great women everywhere. The scenes in the story are all very easy to picture and I was swept away in this novel. Historic details were right on point and I felt as if I was right there with the characters throughout. I couldn't wait to see what was happening next, and felt as if I was there through all of it. There were many interesting characters in this book, and my only complaint was that it had to end. I liked to epilogue at the end and it was nice to see how a few things ended up for Charlotte although a little insight into the other characters would have been equally as nice. Especially Nicholas's young girls. Still I loved this book immensely, and if you love historical fiction then this is a book for you. In a time when women were not seen fit to run their own plantation Charlotte did all she could and cared not what anyone thought. A wonderful read!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of the book mentioned above from Thomas Nelson in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own....more
I LOVED this book. The author did a fantastic job writing this novel and to think this was her FIRST novel written! I couldn't believe this was a fictI LOVED this book. The author did a fantastic job writing this novel and to think this was her FIRST novel written! I couldn't believe this was a fictional story, it was incredibly easy to picture and very realistic. I felt for Mia. The whole story through she seemed as if she was stuck in a rut letting her youth go day by day. She didn't know her true self, wasn't sure of a future, and just did not know what she wanted from life aside from getting lost in it. Getting stuck in the party phase of life she was losing track of her personal self and giving everything to Alex. Only when she stumbles upon Amelia and finds love in Carlos does she finally become comfortable in her own skin and see what true love is. The lengths she goes for Amelia risking herself but acting upon her natural instincts is very admirable. I'm sure many a women (myself included) would have reacted the way she did when finding a poor little baby laying in a car. I would have wanted to save her from the life her mother lived and give her something more. Sadly even though this book is fiction that life is had by many children all across the world and if only we could save each one of them. Once I started reading this novel I could not put it down. I had no idea what was to happen next, it kept me guessing and kept me at the edge of my seat. I read it in a matter of a couple of days I was so eager to see how it would end. I loved seeing a little into another countries customs and ways, the scenes were easy to picture in my head and I felt as if I was there at times. I hated Magdalena, Amelia's mother, sadly she was very self absorbed and money hungry. Even though there are mothers out there in the world such as her I cannot for myself imagine it. Putting prostitution over your own child, leaving your child without knowing who she is with or how she is. My only gripe about this book is I wish it would have given a little more at the end. But since it is a first book maybe the author will write another one giving us a glimpse of what happens next involving both Mia, and Amelia. I would love to see how they both end up and how things go. It definitely ended with me craving more. I would definitely recommend this book, and I will be on the lookout for more titles from this very talented author!...more
::Description:: Emmalyne Knox and Tavin MacLachlan were engaged to be married. However, a horrible disaster that took the lives of Emmalyne's young sis::Description:: Emmalyne Knox and Tavin MacLachlan were engaged to be married. However, a horrible disaster that took the lives of Emmalyne's young sisters put a stop to that immediately. An age old tradition of the Knox family states that the youngest daughter will not marry but instead take care of her parents in their old age. As Emmalyne's heart sinks she cannot bear to let her parents down and takes on the selfless act of giving up her one true love and future to honor her family's tradition. The Knox family moves away taking with them all of Emmalyne's hopes and dreams but leaving behind her heart. After eleven years circumstances bring the Knox family side by side working with the MacLachlan family and Emmalyne's and Tavin's paths cross again. The only question to remain is will true love conquer all?
::My Thoughts:: I LOVED this book. This was right up my alley and I enjoyed every minute of it. True love at it's best. I felt the author did a fantastic job on the whole novel. Even explaining day to day duties will take you inside the feelings of Emmalyne and other characters in the novel. In the 1800s, before, and likely after family traditions were often put above all else. Very few dared to go against age old traditions and instead accepted them as their lot in life good or bad. I couldn't wait to find out what would happen with Emmalyne and Tavin throughout the novel. Honestly I couldn't read a page fast enough to find out what would happen next. The other characters in the novel such as Fenella, Emmalyne's mother, etc., were also just as interesting. There are a few surprise character's included but it helped boost the story and make it all much more intriguing. This book is filled with happiness, sadness, devastation, intrigue, and love at both it's worst and finest. I can't wait to read the other novels in the series. I felt the entire novel was completely believable and I didn't have trouble following any of it. I definitely recommend this book to all you historical Christian romance readers or just historical romance readers in general! I was right back in the 1800s with this novel and couldn't wait to see how things would turn out.
This book is available in Print Kindle Nook Audible ...and more! Make sure to check for other forms! :)
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own....more
Aside from the punctuation in this book I did enjoy it. Upon first beginning it the lack of punctuation (especially quotation marks when a character sAside from the punctuation in this book I did enjoy it. Upon first beginning it the lack of punctuation (especially quotation marks when a character speaks), was really grating on my nerves. However once I became absorbed in the book I was hooked. It is written in third person so it definitely takes some getting used to. You can't really get into the minds of the characters, but you know what they are doing. Haruf does paint a vivid picture with words so you are picturing every step of it.
This is definitely a heartbreaking story. Each character lives a sad lifestyle despite the best they make of it. It is for sure not your typical fairy tale type of book. Regardless of that fact each character does have a very interesting story to tell. I was absorbed in each one.
Ike and Bobby are two young brothers who are dealing with a "sick" mother who moves away, leaving them with their father Tom Guthrie. The boys go through a lot of rough times but are at least always there for each other. Their father Tom does his best with the boys given the situation.
Tom Guthrie is a newly single father who tries his hardest as a teacher and newly single father. Being lonely he tries to find love, romance, and companionship with other women. Dealing with drama caused by one of his students who refuses to do the work set out for him Tom tries to be a strict teacher while being a good father to his sons.
Victoria is a teen girl who finds herself pregnant. Her mother kicks her out of the house as soon as she finds out and she flees to the only woman who will help her, Maggie Jones. After staying with Maggie for awhile she runs into more hardship when she begins to have trouble with Maggie's senile father, and is then sent to live with the McPheron brothers out in the country.
The McPheron's are two bachelor brothers who live in the country and keep to themselves. Very kind hearted gentleman their passion is farming, but agree to help young Victoria in the struggle of pregnancy. Accepting the challenge that a newcomer (pregnant girl at that) they are the most kind hearted individuals of the novel.
I was not at all pleased with the ending. But I must say through the whole book I just could not help but have a soft spot for the McPheron's. They were chivalrous and very caring. I was disappointed with some of Victoria's choices. At time I wanted to throw the book down in disgust even, but she was trying to do the right thing given her circumstance.
All in all though it was an excellent read, and I was quickly hooked. I recommend it....more
I really loved this book. I felt so badly for Robin at first. She is such an incredibly strong character in the book who manages a cafe, motherhood, aI really loved this book. I felt so badly for Robin at first. She is such an incredibly strong character in the book who manages a cafe, motherhood, and a charity alone. As the book went on I was frustrated with Robin a bit because she was so stubborn, and became very rude at times. However with the hand that was dealt to her it was a bit easier to understand. Ian I did not like at first. He didn't care what he had to do to acquire the businesses he needed to put the condominiums. He seemed very greedy and self centered. However as the novel carried along he was the most caring and considerate character in the whole novel. It was very hard not to like him. Especially after more was revealed about him. He never quit trying with Robin and started approaching things in a more than fair way. He was by far my favorite character because of his caring and even chivalry. He came to the rescue for Robin on more than one occasion. This book was a fantastic read. There was drama, intrigue, sadness, happiness, romance, and the book flowed nicely. I didn't get lost at all even though the book does give perspectives from different characters. Amanda is certainly a colorful character in the novel even though she is a minor character. As Robins sister in law she tries very hard to see to Robin's happiness even if she is going through a tough time herself. She gives a bit of tough love in a way which is hard not to admire. I definitely recommend this book to all who love romance. It definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat anticipating what will happen next, and certainly keeps you on your toes at all times. God's presence is throughout this book and really makes you think about blessings, even disguised ones.
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Disclaimer: I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own....more
Reasons for Belief answers some very good questions that we may or may not ask ourselves daily. And if we haven't asked ourselves some ::My Thoughts::
Reasons for Belief answers some very good questions that we may or may not ask ourselves daily. And if we haven't asked ourselves some of these questions you will be asked these questions:
How can you know God exists? How can you be sure Jesus is the Son of God? Why should you trust the Bible? Who made God? Why are you a Christian?
As Christians we are sound in our religion, we are sound in God. And yet when these questions are posed to us sometimes we can find ourselves stumbling for answers. As the years go on the Bible and God are questioned more and more. There are many other religions in the world and people want to know why our religion?
This is just the book for you whether you are looking for the right ways to answer those questions, or if you just want to delve deeper into these questions yourself to get a better grip on Christianity. The book is set up in very clear sections guiding the reader through 10 challenges, such as:
1. "Real truth does not exist. 'Truth' is just truth to you." 2. "God does not exist." 3. "If God exists, he isn't necessarily the God of the Bible." 4. "Miracles don't happen." 5. "The New Testament's many errors make it unreliable. It's more like a collection of myths and legends." 6. "Jesus never claimed to be God." 7. "Jesus didn't prove he is God." 8. "Jesus did not rise from the dead." 9. "The Bible isn't the only true religious book." 10. "Christianity is too narrow. There are many ways to God besides Jesus."
Following the challenges are evidential explanations that will help you get a better understanding, or way to defend these questions if they are posed to you. This is by far one of the easiest to understand apologetic books I have read thus far. It would be great for a new believer, or anyone looking to defend your faith. In this constantly changing world of ours we find ourselves defending our faith more and more. This is just the book to help you do that while giving you a deeper understanding yourself, and becoming closer to God as you find these answers. At the end of each chapter are sections going over what the reader learned which is a nice touch to the book. All in all I would definitely recommend this to any believer or non-believer who wants to know more about Christianity. It's sharp, to the point, easy to understand, and shows clear evidence that one can't even begin to argue with. A must read.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own....more
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