Masquerade by Nancy Moser*a review

ABOUT THE BOOK
1886. Charlotte Gleason embarks from England with conflicting emotions. She is headed for New York to marry one of America’s wealthiest heirs-a man she has never even met. When her doubts gain the upper hand, she swaps identities with her maid, Dora. She wants a chance at “real Life,” even if it means giving up financial security . For Charlotte, it’s a risk she’s willing to take. But what begins as the whim of a spoiled rich girl becomes a test of survival beyond her blackest nightmare.
For Dora, it’s the chance of a lifetime. She is thrust into a fairy tale amid ball gowns and lavish mansions, yet is tormented by the possibility of discovery-and humiliation. And what of the man who believes she is indeed his intended? Is this what her heart truly longs for?

Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Bethany House (August 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0764207512
ISBN-13: 978-0764207518
Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces



ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nancy Moser is the author of three inspirational humor books and twenty-one novels, including Mozart's Sister, Just Jane, and Time Lottery, a Christy Award winner. She is an inspirational speaker, giving seminars around the country. She has earned a degree in architecture; run a business with her husband; traveled extensively in Europe; and performed in various theaters, symphonies, and choirs. She and her husband have three grown children and make their home in the Midwest.
http://www.nancymoser.com/

MY REVIEW
Charlotte Gleason and Dora Connors mistress and maid
They have to travel to America, Charlotte is suppose to marry into a rich family, her family is losing everything. Dora is going along to help and be a companion. Charlotte wants to marry for love and doesn’t want to marry Conrad even though he is one of the richest men in American. So Charlotte and Dora decide to switch places. Dora is greeted by the Tremaine family and they accept her. Charlotte sets off in search of family Dora has to get a fresh start. Things didn’t even start out right. Charlotte was robbed when they got off of the ship. When she finally found Dora’s family they had moved on. So that start the story off to a great start. In the book we follow both girls as they go through so many things and both draw closer to God.
In life many people ask Why am I here? What have I been born to do? In “Masquerade” the characters ask these questions and find answers. We can start in one situation in life but end up differently.
In the back of the book the author shows us pictures and descriptions of fashion in the 1800’s. Which is very interesting. Also she talks about different parts in the book that are real and gives facts about the different things, like the first American slum. It was called Five Points in New York. It was a middle class neighborhood, but because of water problems was abandoned to the poor. In 1880 at Five Points 37,000 tenements were there that housed nearly 1.1 million people. They lived in places that were not fit for humans.
Here is a quote from the book that I really like “If you want to make God laugh tell Him your plans.”
I’ve heard some authors say this and think it is neat, that the characters take over and write the story for them. That was the case with “Masquerade.” This was the first book I’ve read by Nancy Moser and won’t be the last. “Masquerade” is a great book to read on a rainy day. It would be easy to read in one day if you had the time. I recommend “Masquerade.”

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Thank you to Bethany House for providing this book for review. 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

Winner of Unlocked by Karen Kingsbury

Just wanted to say I'm sorry for not posting the winner of Unlocked sooner.
We are right in the middle of a family crisis now. So I would appreciate your prayers.




Go to our winner Leah at
dymesich(at)juno(dot)com
I will be emailing you shortly.
Enjoy your book Leah, it's a great one.
Many blessings,

Winner of Don't Look Back

go to Pam at
pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

you are the winner of

by Lynette Eason

In the Company of Others by Jan Karon*a review

ABOUT IN THE COMPANY OF OTHERS

With Home to Holly Springs, New York Times bestselling author Jan Karon launched a new series, The Father Tim Novels, featuring the retired Episcopal priest that her readers have come to love. In the second novel in the series, Father Tim and Cynthia travel to Ireland to do genealogical research and discover family secrets. Jan's new book will surely delight her avid fans, earn her new ones, and send them running or the first book in the series as well as all the Mitford books.





Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Viking Adult (October 19, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0670022128
ISBN-13: 978-0670022120
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 1.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The American writer & novelist Jan Karon was born in 1937 at Lenoir, North Carolina. Janice Meredith Wilson and was named after a famous novel entitled Janice Meredith. She was brought up with her younger sister, Brenda, by her maternal grandparents.
When she was a young girl and her family moved to live in a farm. The farm environment unleashed her creativity. She tried her hands at writing a novel when she was only ten years old. At the age of 18 years she took up a job as a receptionist at an ad agency. She left her writing on her boss's desk regularly. Her superiors acknowledged her skills and soon she was launched on a forty-year career in advertising. She worked in New York and San Francisco. Her work was appreciated and she won numerous awards. She served at an executive position with a national agency. She finally left advertising and settled at Blowing Rock, North Carolina and opted writing as her career as it was her long term ambition to become a writer.
http://www.mitfordbooks.com/


MY REVIEW
I have read all of Jan Karon’s Mitford series books. Each one is like a treasured friend. This book “In the Company of Others,” the second of the Father Tim series is just as wonderful and entertaining as the Mitford series was.
The Father Tim series are not an easy read. They are books that really make you think and realize that life isn’t always fun and games.
We get a few glimpses of Mitford and it’s people throughout the book, but it is mainly about their time in Ireland. I’ve read many reviews of people who were disappointed about the book not being more about Mitford and it’s people.. I missed them, but when you are on vacation new things happen and you aren’t with your regular family or friends. That is the same way Father Tim and Cynthia felt. They love Mitford, but also love their new friends.
Father Tim & Cynthia finally visit Ireland, it is for her birthday, so when Cynthia breaks her ankle and becomes bed-ridden for part of the time and mostly has to stay in her room for the entire stay at a bed & breakfast you begin to see lots of things happening. They become drawn in to their host's problems and do counseling, being a friend, and just helping where they can.
Father Tim and Cynthia found a historic journal. It was written by Fintan O”Donnell from 1860. Some of it was hard to understand, but the journal had many heart breaking moments, but also joyous ones. I could see Father Tim and Cynthia reading it together.
I just love to read about Father Tim and Cynthia together. They are so loving and think the world of each other. This is a book to cherish and read over and over. Another winner for Jan Karon. Always look forward to her next book.
This book “In the Company of Others” is one of my most favorite books. I highly recommend it.


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Thanks to Viking/Penguin for the review copy of this book. 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

Christmas at Harringtons's by Melody Carlson

ABOUT CHRISTMAS AT HARRINGTON'S
Sometimes the best gift is a second chance
Christmas is approaching, and Lena Markham finds herself penniless, friendless, and nearly hopeless. She is trying to restart her life, but job opportunities are practically nonexistent. When a secondhand red coat unexpectedly lands her a job as Mrs. Santa at a department store, Lena finally thinks her luck is changing. But can she keep her past a secret?
Reading Christmas at Harrington's, a story full of redemption and true holiday spirit, will be your newest Christmas tradition.


Price: $15.99
ISBN: 978-0-8007-1925-8
ISBN-10: 0-8007-1925-5
Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5
Number of pages: 176
Carton Quantity: 52
Publication Date: Oct. 10
Formats: Hardcover



ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, several of them Christmas novellas from Revell, including her much-loved and bestselling book, The Christmas Bus. She also writes many teen books, including Just Another Girl, Anything but Normal, the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series. Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon. Visit Melody's website at http://www.melodycarlson.com/.

MY REVIEW
Melody Carlson’s “Christmas at Harrington’s” is a beautiful story.
This is the first book I’ve ever read of Melody Carlson’s and wonder where I have been all of this time to not have heard of her. I’m so very glad to be able to receive this book and find another favorite author.
This is the first Christmas book I’ve read this time of the year. This was a fantastic book to start with.
Lena has just been
released from prison and decides to go for a fresh start faraway from her home town. Lena wants to keep this a secret so her life can start anew, but secrets are hard to keep. She ends up in New Haven, Minnesota and meets a wonderful, kind older lady on the bus. Mrs. Stanfield is full of kindness and love for a woman that hasn’t have anyone to care for her for years if she ever has. Lena lives in a "boarding house" and becomes Mrs. Santa at the large department store "Harrington's". It’s special how she got the job, but will let you read the book to find out for yourself.
It tells of how an ex con has trouble getting and keeping a job, how people put you all in one category if you’ve been in prison. This book is also full of wanting a new life full of love, happiness and joy. The main part of the story is about redemption and the true holiday spirit.
If you want to read a wonderful, special Christmas story that you won’t forget get yourself a copy of “Christmas at Harrington’s.” It’s a small book, but full of big problems and telling us the love of the Lord will get us through. I highly recommend this Christmas story of redemption.


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I received my free copy from Donna Hausler from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group for my review. 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

Winner of Rust DVD

Congratulations go to

Raspberrygirl

at ohiobuckeye91 (at) gmail [dot] com

you're the winner!

Hope you enjoy Rust, it's a great movie.

Giveaways ending soon!

Just wanted to let everyone know that the 3 giveaways I have here on my blog will be ending soon. So if you haven't put a comment in for them yet, best do it soon.
The giveaways are:

Rust DVD ends November 12th
http://thelifeandtimesofwanda.blogspot.com/2010/10/rust-dvd-review-and-giveaway.html

Don't Look Back by Lynette Eason ends November 15
http://thelifeandtimesofwanda.blogspot.com/2010/10/lynette-eason-author-interview-book.html

Unlocked by Karen Kingsbury November 19
http://thelifeandtimesofwanda.blogspot.com/2010/11/unlocked-by-karen-kingsburya-review-and.html

Cursebreaker by Nancy Wentz * a review

ABOUT CURSEBREAKER

A ten-year-old boy known as Luke escapes from his
abusive father, and a local pastor takes him in only to
discover that the boy is a prophet with a powerful anointing
from God. Luke s gift of prophecy leads him into direct
confl ict with the Fratellis, a powerful mafi a family with a
generational curse of demon possession dating back to the
sixteenth century.
As Luke navigates the spiritual world and the streets of
Depression-era Denver, Colorado, he is befriended by
three unlikely people: a member of the Fratelli family, the
crusading attorney trying to take down the family, and Clara
Crawford, an intriguing woman who is caught between
the two sides. Will this boy and his gift be enough to save
lives and souls before the cycle of revenge and demonic
possession destroys everyone he knows? His only weapon
is the all-powerful name of Jesus....
Author Nancy Wentz s drama unfolds in both the physical
and spiritual realms, treating the reader to a thrilling tale of
mystery, passion, and historical intrigue.



Paperback: 397 pages
Publisher: Whitaker House (January 5, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1603740805
ISBN-13: 978-1603740807
Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.1 x 1 inches
Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born and raised in Colorado, award-winning author Nancy Wentz
graduated cum laude from the University of Colorado. Two of her short
stories, Henry Cushing and Babi Yar, were winners in the National
Writers Association Short Story Contests. She has also written plays for
the youth group to perform at her church and has freelanced articles for
her current employer. Nancy has a great love for history and English
literature, and, in their pursuit, found her creative outlet by incorporating
aspects of both into her writing. Her voice is unique in that it reflects a
classic nuance not typically seen in modern writing.
Nancy became a Christian in her childhood and for years has prayed for
God s will in her life. Through trials of brokenness and faith, God has
shown her that He uses the most insignificant, the most defeated, to bring
about His will and glory. This theme was the inspiration for her first
novel that God chooses the foolish things of the world to confound the
wise. Nancy and her husband have a wonderful young son. She and her
family are active members of Littleton Baptist Church in Littleton,
Colorado.


MY REVIEW

This is Nancy Wentz’s first novel and it is an excellent read, but not a light hearted story. I was quite intrigued with the back cover telling of the story and the picture on the cover is great. I usually don’t read books about demon possession unless it has the good winning the battle in the end, as it really does. Cursebreaker does that but has quite a twist in the Epilogue that I wasn’t ready for.
Demon possession is a topic that many find difficult and unreal. In Nancy Wentz,s story she makes this matter very believable.
Cursebreaker is about the Fratellia family and all of the past generations of hundreds of years of demon possession that has cursed their families. God sent a prophet {a young boy) to break the curse, and the fight that proceeds is horrendous. The ten-year-old boy, Luke is quite sweet and likeable. He has had a really hard start in life and wants to find Jesus and follow him.
Cursebreaker is full of graphic and violent scenes, it is best not to read this book alone or right before bed. This book shows both the physical and spiritual dominions, with very graphic descriptions. If you keep reading you will also find hope, salvation and light that comes from Jesus Christ to the most despicable people and situations.
During the book I kept hoping different people would become Christians. It was wonderful when some did.
I was really glad to hear that there are two more books in this series. I want to make sure to read them and any other books Nancy Wentz writes. She has a wonderful gift and uses it very well. I recommend this book to you if you like books in the 1930’s setting, mafia families, demon possession, spiritual warfare. A very interesting story that you won’t want to put down.




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Thank you to Whitaker House for providing this book for review. 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

Unlocked by Karen Kingsbury*a review and Giveaway

About Unlocked
Before You Take a Stand ... You Got to Take a Chance. Holden Harris is an eighteen-year-old locked in a prison of autism. Despite his quiet ways and quirky behaviors, Holden is very happy and socially normal---on the inside, in a private world all his own. In reality, he is bullied at school by kids who only see that he is very different. Ella Reynolds is part of the 'in' crowd. A cheerleader and star of the high school drama production, her life seems perfect. When she catches Holden listening to her rehearse for the school play, she is drawn to him ... the way he is drawn to the music. Then, Ella makes a dramatic discovery---she and Holden were best friends as children. Frustrated by the way Holden is bullied, and horrified at the indifference of her peers, Ella decides to take a stand against the most privileged and popular kids at school. Including her boyfriend, Jake. Ella believes miracles can happen in the unlikeliest places, and that just maybe an entire community might celebrate from the sidelines. But will Holden's praying mother and the efforts of Ella and a cast of theater kids be enough to unlock the prison that contains Holden? This time, friendship, faith, and the power of a song must be strong enough to open the doors to the miracle Holden needs.


Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (October 12, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310266955
ISBN-13: 978-0310266952
Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1 inches
Shipping Weight: 12 ounces

About Karen Kingsbury
Karen is best known for her Life-Changing Fiction (TM) and for creating unforgettable characters. When speaking before women's groups - some with more than 10,000 in attendance - Karen makes audiences laugh and cry with her compelling story-telling. She likes to tell attendees they have, "One chance to write the story of their lives," and her talk focuses on reminding women to live every day loving well, laughing often, and finding true life in Jesus Christ. Karen routinely speaks before more than 100,000 women each year. Karen is also a public speaker, reaching more than 100,000 women annually through various national events. Karen and her husband, Don, live in the Pacific Northwest with their six children, three of whom are adopted from Haiti.
http://karenkingsbury.com/

My Review
I’ve read many of Karen Kingsbury’s books, but in my opinion “Unlocked” is her best yet. In this book you will read about Autism, teen suicide, bullying, such deep love for others, second chances and forgiveness.
There are many ways in our lives to be locked into ourselves. Each one of us has something that locks us in.
The main character Holden has autism and it’s neat how the author gives you his outlook on his life and the world. Holden wants everyone to look past the way he is on the outside to see the real him on the inside. I love Holden’s love of people and the way he prays for them.
Ella is another main character who is a precious girl who learns to love the so called unloved people. Ella was part of the in crowd, but hated the way her friends bully those who are smaller or those who are different than they are.
I love the way Karen shares the gospel and tells those who read her books about the Lord. She puts things very clear so anyone can understand them.
With Ella’s love and Holden’s friendship can they change the school? You will have to read this super book to find out.
This wonderful book will make you laugh, cry and just rejoice. “Unlocked” is the best book I’ve read this year. It is more than just a story, it is a book full of lessons we can learn. If you don’t buy any other book this year this is the one for you. It would make a fantastic Christmas gift. A must read. What an enjoyable book. I really LOVED reading it. So you know I highly recommend it.

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Thanks to Zondervan Publishing House for giving me a review copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Thanks to Zondervan for donating Unlocked to one of you, my followers. Here are the rules.
Leave a comment with your name and email address. You will not be entered unless you leave a comment AND your email address.
Please become my follower, subscribe to my email updates and become a facebook blog follower.
Contest is only open in the U.S. and void where prohibited. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. ENTRY DEADLINE November 19,2010

Winner of Code Triage by Candace Calvert

Go to
CarolNWong
at
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

You are the winner of Candace Calvert's book

CODE TRIAGE