by Isis Crawford,
Kensington, 2003
When outspoken Bernie returns to small town Longley from L.A. for a respite from a bad marriage, she assists at A Little Taste of Heaven, the catering business owned by her more stodgy sister, Libby. When the guest of honour at one of their events dies after drinking cyanide-laced water they provided, threatening their business, the sisters decide to do some private investigating, with the occasional word of advice thrown in by their father, a wheel-chair bound former police chief.
Numerous suspects make the job difficult. Was there anyone who liked the victim? And when a second person is found shot to death, the mystery doubles.
Engaging characters and a well developed plot with plenty of red herrings make this a delectable read. While there's only one recipe I would actually try (for Devil's Food Cake), I am definitely going back for second helpings with the author's next installment.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
I Would Die For You: One Student's Story of Passion, Service and Faith
By Brent and Deanna Higgins
Revell, 2008
Brent Allen Higgins, Jr. (BJ, for short) "got" the Christian message at the age of 8, and from then on had a passion to know his Saviour better through prayer and the reading of His word. He understood completely that it wasn't all about him - it was all about Him, and he took every opportunity to share his faith with others.
In 2004, BJ went on his first short term missions trip to Peru with Awe Star Ministries. There, he saw the hand of God at work as many came to know the Lord. In 2005, he returned to Peru to continue sharing the love of Jesus with the people there. His journal and blog entries demonstrate the concern he had for lost souls and his sense that the time was short.
Back home, BJ's health, attacked during the Peru trip, worsened. It wasn't long before he was hospitalized. Medical practitioners could not identify the illness, but worked hard to care for him. Throughout this, BJ put others above himself, and his family gave glory to God in all things. Many lives were touched and eternally transformed.
BJ's fight for life ended on September 26, 2005, but his legacy lives on. By writing this book and sharing his story, his parents honour their son, draw others to Christ and encourage the church body to go forward with passion and commitment in BJ's place. His story inspired Mercy Me to write Bring the Rain and I Would Die for You. Awe Star Ministries now offer's BJ's Hope Scholarship for young people interested in going on the mission field.
Read this book and be changed.
Revell, 2008
Brent Allen Higgins, Jr. (BJ, for short) "got" the Christian message at the age of 8, and from then on had a passion to know his Saviour better through prayer and the reading of His word. He understood completely that it wasn't all about him - it was all about Him, and he took every opportunity to share his faith with others.
In 2004, BJ went on his first short term missions trip to Peru with Awe Star Ministries. There, he saw the hand of God at work as many came to know the Lord. In 2005, he returned to Peru to continue sharing the love of Jesus with the people there. His journal and blog entries demonstrate the concern he had for lost souls and his sense that the time was short.
Back home, BJ's health, attacked during the Peru trip, worsened. It wasn't long before he was hospitalized. Medical practitioners could not identify the illness, but worked hard to care for him. Throughout this, BJ put others above himself, and his family gave glory to God in all things. Many lives were touched and eternally transformed.
BJ's fight for life ended on September 26, 2005, but his legacy lives on. By writing this book and sharing his story, his parents honour their son, draw others to Christ and encourage the church body to go forward with passion and commitment in BJ's place. His story inspired Mercy Me to write Bring the Rain and I Would Die for You. Awe Star Ministries now offer's BJ's Hope Scholarship for young people interested in going on the mission field.
Read this book and be changed.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Lifestories: Finding God's "Voice of Truth" Through Everyday Life
by Mark Hall and Tim Luke
Provident-Integrity, 2006
Mark Hall is lead singer of the group Casting Crowns, which is sold-out, on fire for Jesus. While accused of "singing to the choir", the group calls its ministry discipleship, and boy does the church need it. Last weekend I had the opportunity to hear the band in concert and it was an awesome experience. Afterwards I picked up Mark's book and highly recommend it to you, along with the group's CDs.
In Lifestories Mark shares his personal testimony as well as the stories behind his songs. The reader can tell that Mark is down in the trenches with us as he lives out a life of faith. While it's not always pretty and we all fail from time to time, Mark encourages us to continue seeking God's voice of truth - to stay in His word and in prayer so that we can truly know Him and strive to honour Him with our lives. He continually drives home the point that we can only reach the world for Christ when we are passionate about Him and authentic about ourselves. Each chapter includes the testimony of someone influenced by Casting Crowns' music, details about how God's voice speaks into the songs, and questions that get the reader to think about where she is in her own walk with the Lord. I personally found it very convicting and trust you will, too.
Provident-Integrity, 2006
Mark Hall is lead singer of the group Casting Crowns, which is sold-out, on fire for Jesus. While accused of "singing to the choir", the group calls its ministry discipleship, and boy does the church need it. Last weekend I had the opportunity to hear the band in concert and it was an awesome experience. Afterwards I picked up Mark's book and highly recommend it to you, along with the group's CDs.
In Lifestories Mark shares his personal testimony as well as the stories behind his songs. The reader can tell that Mark is down in the trenches with us as he lives out a life of faith. While it's not always pretty and we all fail from time to time, Mark encourages us to continue seeking God's voice of truth - to stay in His word and in prayer so that we can truly know Him and strive to honour Him with our lives. He continually drives home the point that we can only reach the world for Christ when we are passionate about Him and authentic about ourselves. Each chapter includes the testimony of someone influenced by Casting Crowns' music, details about how God's voice speaks into the songs, and questions that get the reader to think about where she is in her own walk with the Lord. I personally found it very convicting and trust you will, too.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Losing It: and Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time
by Valerie Bertinelli
Free Press, 2008
The majority of the book dwells on Bertinelli's life so far: her childhood and entry into the entertainment industry, the years on TV's hit series, One Day at a Time, and various other acting jobs, the indiscretions that would today see her picture plastered all over the tabloids, and her 20 year marriage to rock's bad boy, Eddie Van Halen. A typical celebrity tell-almost-everything. Of course, we're fascinated by that - that's why the rags keep selling, and the paparazzi keep busy.
The part of the story that Bertinelli alludes to in the book's title, and that many women will be able to relate to, is her long struggle with weight issues. An emotional, unconscious eater, Bertinelli ballooned to 172 pounds, and became the Jenny Craig spokesperson following Kirstie Alley. In the latter pages of Losing It, Bertinelli shares how the Jenny Craig program not only resulted in a weight loss of 40 pounds (and counting), but also forced her to examine the underlying issues that caused her to make poor eating choices.
Bertinelli was not the "good girl" we all thought she was - I remember thinking "Valerie and Van Halen - what's up with that?" - she is a very real and down-to-earth person with a story that could have ended far differently.
Free Press, 2008
The majority of the book dwells on Bertinelli's life so far: her childhood and entry into the entertainment industry, the years on TV's hit series, One Day at a Time, and various other acting jobs, the indiscretions that would today see her picture plastered all over the tabloids, and her 20 year marriage to rock's bad boy, Eddie Van Halen. A typical celebrity tell-almost-everything. Of course, we're fascinated by that - that's why the rags keep selling, and the paparazzi keep busy.
The part of the story that Bertinelli alludes to in the book's title, and that many women will be able to relate to, is her long struggle with weight issues. An emotional, unconscious eater, Bertinelli ballooned to 172 pounds, and became the Jenny Craig spokesperson following Kirstie Alley. In the latter pages of Losing It, Bertinelli shares how the Jenny Craig program not only resulted in a weight loss of 40 pounds (and counting), but also forced her to examine the underlying issues that caused her to make poor eating choices.
Bertinelli was not the "good girl" we all thought she was - I remember thinking "Valerie and Van Halen - what's up with that?" - she is a very real and down-to-earth person with a story that could have ended far differently.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
A Spoonful of Poison (an Agatha Raisin mystery)
by M.C. Beaton
St. Martin's Minotaur, 2008
Once again Agatha Raisin finds herself up to her neck in murder after a village fete gone wrong. As she and her sidekick Toni question the suspects there seems to be no shortage of possible villains. Everyone from the vicar's wife to the roguishly handsome George has one secret or another. Always on the alert for possible romance, Agatha blusters along, trying to stay one step ahead of the law, while managing jealousy of her assistant and her ex-husband's new fiancee.
There are a couple of nice twists near the end that leave the reader longing for the next Raisin installment. Beaton is a prolific author, but one still wishes she'd churn them out a little faster!
St. Martin's Minotaur, 2008
Once again Agatha Raisin finds herself up to her neck in murder after a village fete gone wrong. As she and her sidekick Toni question the suspects there seems to be no shortage of possible villains. Everyone from the vicar's wife to the roguishly handsome George has one secret or another. Always on the alert for possible romance, Agatha blusters along, trying to stay one step ahead of the law, while managing jealousy of her assistant and her ex-husband's new fiancee.
There are a couple of nice twists near the end that leave the reader longing for the next Raisin installment. Beaton is a prolific author, but one still wishes she'd churn them out a little faster!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
What in the World is Going On? 10 Prophetic Clues You Cannot Afford to Ignore
by Dr. David Jeremiah
Thomas Nelson, 2008
This is a must read for anyone who looks at our world today and wonders what on earth is happening. Dr. David Jeremiah has been studying prophecy for over 40 years and is able to explain it in language the layperson can understand.
In What in the World is Going On, he addresses why Israel is so important; discusses the European Union, Islamic terrorism, and the Rapture of the church; and offers a blow-by-blow account of what will happen in the end times.
This is very exciting and enlightening reading. My husband and father-in-law have been passionate about prophecy since before I knew them; now I am too. If there's one book you have to read this year, this is it!
Thomas Nelson, 2008
This is a must read for anyone who looks at our world today and wonders what on earth is happening. Dr. David Jeremiah has been studying prophecy for over 40 years and is able to explain it in language the layperson can understand.
In What in the World is Going On, he addresses why Israel is so important; discusses the European Union, Islamic terrorism, and the Rapture of the church; and offers a blow-by-blow account of what will happen in the end times.
This is very exciting and enlightening reading. My husband and father-in-law have been passionate about prophecy since before I knew them; now I am too. If there's one book you have to read this year, this is it!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Magic Words: 101 Ways to Talk Your Way Through Life's Challenges
by Howard Kaminsky and Alexandra Penney
Broadway Books, 2002
Broadway Books, 2002
From the book jacket: "A comprehensive collection of powerful phrases to help you face a variety of awkward, intimidating, confusing, or otherwise challenging moments."
A wonderful little handbook for anyone who has to deal with people! The book is broken into three types of magic words: those that you say to yourself, those that you say to others, and words that have universal application. Examples include, "I'll sing for my supper, but I won't audition", "When you draw the line, do it in cement", "Why are you asking?", "I need your help", "There's only one condition for friendship", and "When you get in a downward spiral, hit the ground running". You'll have to read the book to find out what those signify. Believe me, you won't be sorry you did.
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