Through Rushing Water - Book Review

Through Rushing Water

By Catherine Richmond

Published by Thomas Nelson

Book Description

Sophia has her life all planned out—but her plan didn’t include being jilted or ending up in Dakota Territory.

Sophia Makinoff is certain that 1876 is the year that she’ll become the wife of a certain US Congressman, and happily plans her debut into the Capitol city. But when he proposes to her roommate instead, Sophia is stunned. Hoping to flee her heartache and humiliation, she signs up with the Board of Foreign Missions on a whim.

With dreams of a romantic posting to the Far East, Sophia is dismayed to find she’s being sent to the Ponca Indian Agency in the bleak Dakota Territory. She can’t even run away effectively and begins to wonder how on earth she’ll be able to guide others as a missionary. But teaching the Ponca children provides her with a joy she has never known—and never expected—and ignites in her a passion for the people she’s sent to serve.

It’s a passion shared by the Agency carpenter, Willoughby Dunn, a man whose integrity and selflessness are unmatched. The Poncas are barely surviving. When U.S. policy decrees that they be uprooted from their land and marched hundreds of miles away in the middle of winter, Sophia and Will wade into rushing waters to fight for their friends, their love, and their destiny.

My Thoughts:

While reading the first few pages, I had a little trouble getting into the story; however, after the first chapter or two, I changed my mind.  I liked the way the Ponca worked their way into Sophia's heart. Of course, this started with the children she taught. I also liked the way Sophia stood up for the Ponca as a whole, not just the children that she fell in love with.

I've always felt the Indians were cheated, treated very unfair and of course in this story, that's true also in the way the government sent cheap material, not enough supplies and spoiled food and that's all before making them move to Indian Territory.

Of course, the ending was perfect with Sophia and Will being re-united with their friends, albeit a year and half after being separated.

For more about this book, click here.

Disclaimer: I received this e-book from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, through BookSneeze in return for this review; however, my review was not affected by this fact. My review is mine alone.

SoBe LifeWater with Coconut Water Review

SoBe LifeWater with Coconut Water Review

This was my first experience trying SoBe LifeWater. I was pleasantly surprised, as I was expecting it to be bland without much taste or too strongly coconut. It was good, not bland or too strong. It was a little sweet, but not too sweet. I enjoyed the taste and liked the fact the bottle was more than just one serving. SoBe LifeWater is one of my choices for something other than soft drinks.


In the 20 oz bottle, there's only 80 calories, 110 mg sodium, 160 mg potassium, 21 g total carbs with 20 g sugar. 

Disclaimer: Thanks to BzzAgent, I was given a sample of SoBe LifeWater to facilitate this review and coupons toward purchases for friends and family. This in no way affected my review in any way.

Mars on the Rise - Book Review

Mars on the Rise

by Rae Gee

Book Description:

A storyteller steps off a pier and into a world of steampunk oddities, fearsome weapons, and a dangerous man. Promised fame and fortune by the country's largest weapons manufacturer, Cedo gratefully falls into the arms of Erus Veetu. Dark, dangerous and with nothing to lose, Erus shows him that Svenfur isn't all Cedo thought it was. For beneath the streets is a dark, gas lit world of slavery, human sacrifice, and deadly machines. With the machines waging war in the East, can Cedo stop the country's deadliest man from bringing it to the shores of England? Or is he too late to penetrate the cold exterior of his Master and halt the cogs and gears of progress?

Set in a Victorian world of sex, drugs and steampower, Mars on the Rise tells a dark, gritty story of what happens when our dreams come true. Whether we want them to or not.

My Thoughts: 

I have to admit, this is different from my usual reads. I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. It took me a while to get into this story. There were parts I didn't 'get' but there were also parts that I did. There is male/male sex, violence, and slavery included. In my 'dreams' I don't/didn't dream of destructive machines as is in this book; so, that part is hard for me to accept and understanding Erus just does not compute!! 

Mars on the Rise can be purchased on Amazon.com in Kindle format here or in paperback here.

Disclaimer: I received this e-book, from the author Rae Gee, in exchange for my review. My review is my opinion and is in no way affected by this.

Models and Lovers - Book Review

Models and Lovers

by Johnny Ray

Description:
Have you ever had love slip between your fingers? When was the last time you had a hero and heroine that you could really pulled for? 

This is a love story blossoming inside the world of modeling. In spite of the glamor and intrigue of this high fashion world, love is really about one guy and one girl finding each other. But wait, there is one more condition--they have to admit it to each other.

Thomas (Tommy) Conseco, the frightfully delicious owner of one of the top modeling agencies in New York City, demands respect which he has so rightfully earned. Aspiring models from around the world would sacrifice anything to become one of Tommy’s “girls” fully knowing he can make them a legend, or send them home crying. Tommy has one rule he has followed without exception. He never gets personally involved with anyone in the modeling industry, and as far as sex with his models and employees is concerned, it’s strictly off limits. As a result, his heart is immune to even the most beautiful women in the world. This rule has served him well in business, but has left his personal life and bed cold and empty. 

Enter Balarie Danson, the woman who is about to turn his carefully constructed world upside down. Balarie may not have the glamorous looks of a super model, but she’s bright, attractive and terrific at her job booking talent for the agency, especially the male models. Yielding to her charms, Tommy invites her to go on a business trip to Milan with more than business on his mind. When she turns him down, saying she’d prefer to concentrate all her energies in the New York market, Tommy assumes she’s refusing him and the possible chance at romance. The truth—Balarie is secretly terrified of flying and a long cross-Atlantic flight is more than she can face, despite her ambition in business and her secret attraction to her enigmatic boss. She’s heard the rumors, but the sparks flying between them are telling her Tommy’s looking for more than her talent as a booking agent. But Balarie is also looking for more than a one-night stand. So if Tommy intends to break his long-standing rule and seduce this woman into his bed, he’ll also have to let her into his heart because Balarie won’t settle for anything less than a love that lasts forever, and a hero who can help her conquer her fear of flying.

My Thoughts

To me, as a teenager, the modeling world was almost a dream world. If all you look at is the action on the catwalk, you see only a very small part of what really happens. Even as an adult, I didn't realize what really goes into it. This book shows a little more of what goes on behind the scenes; however, I think there's still a lot more to it.

The way Balarie squealed when surprised reminds me of myself. I found her willingness to bring up different ideas to the team courageous considering she was new to the position. Not many newbies want to 'rock the boat'. I liked the way Tommy found a way for Balarie to go to Europe with him without flying, as it showed his sensitivity to her fear of flying. I found his proposal on his yacht very romantic and her wanting to get married on it with his mother attending very sweet!

Models and Lovers can be purchased on Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/MODELS-AND-LOVERS-ebook/dp/B007NLMO6W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339375349&sr=8-1

Disclaimer: I received this e-book, from the author Johnny Ray, in exchange for my review. My review is my opinion and is in no way affected by this.

Her Honor's Bodyguard - Book Review

Her Honor's Bodyguard

by 

Johnny Ray

Book Description

Publication Date: May 21, 2012

Description

Do first loves ever really die? While reunions can take many forms, there is always one question that has to be answered sooner or later—what happened?

Vance had always been extremely proud of Noella, and just because his life had been ruined, he saw no reason why she had to have the same faith. When his dad died, leaving him and his mother penniless, he dropped out of law school and ended his relationship with Noella, but in doing so, he stopped a scandal 
that could have ruined her family. These secrets he would never let her know. Ironically, years later, he would have never guessed she would be instrumental in ruining his career with the Tampa police force.  

After Noella finished law school and started pursuing her goal of working up the ranks in judgeships, she never considered inviting another guy into her life. As such, when someone attempts to threaten her into vacating her seat on the bench, and by force if necessary, she knows of no one else she really trust as much as Vance, who now has a successful bodyguard and private detective business.

She knows that Vance might hate her for her part in having him dismissed from the police force, but what he will never know is that she actually saved him from going to prison. Additionally, she now thinks he was framed, and perhaps by the same people who are threatening her. She had to talk him into taking her on as a client . . . but would he agree to her request?

As the number of attacks on her life increases, Vance soon has no choice but to offer her his protection, and in spite of everything, when they see each other again their old attraction for each other returns. She wants the truth. He wants the truth. 

However, making the ultimate sacrifice is not always easy to understand, whether given or received. Ultimately . . . could they now trust each other with these secrets? While their lives depend on discovering the truth to their past, these truths are locked in deep secrets that could also destroy them.

My Thoughts

I enjoyed this book, due to the action, danger, and suspense. We can't forget about the romance. When you include those elements, it seems to make the book. I liked the ideas that that Noella and Vance had done 'what was best' for each other in the past.

Doing 'what's best' for someone has a habit of coming back and biting you, usually when least expected. However, when Noella needed Vance, he was there for her. I liked the way the 'good' guys won, as did the love Noella and Vance had for each other.

Disclaimer: I received this e-book, from the author Johnny Ray, in exchange for my review. My review is my opinion and is in no way affected by this.

50 Things Every Young Lady Should Know - Book Review

50 Things Every Young Lady Should Know
By Kay West with John Bridges and Bryan Curtis
Published by Thomas Nelson

Book Description

Help your daughter, granddaughter, or niece become a respectful, considerate young lady.

It’s safe to say that young women in the 21st century are exposed to more educational opportunities than any generation of women in history. But sometimes what gets lost in between ballet and biology, AP classes and piano lessons, creative writing and cross country, are the basic rules of simple etiquette and guidelines for appropriate behavior.

Progress is a good thing, but even an accomplished student, a gifted artist, or a brilliant young law clerk is at a disadvantage if she never learned to write a thank you note, understand a formal table setting, accept a compliment, make an apology, express sympathy, or respond to an invitation.

Topics covered in 50 Things Every Young Lady Should Know include:
--Making conversation with adults
--Accepting a gift you don't like
--Dressing appropriately
--Winning and losing graciously 
--Writing a thank-you note

This latest book in the GentleManners series was written especially for girls ages 8 to 14, to teach them the basic skills every young lady should have and every young lady's mother and grandmother want her to master.

My Thoughts
So many young people do not use very many of the manners I grew up using. This book is one for young gentleman as well as ladies.  I liked the chapters being short. That will help encourage the girls to read them, as they can read several chapters in just a few minutes. Shorter chapters may soak in better than longer ones, also. 

The first two chapters discuss two manners I think many young people have forgotten, saying 'Please' and 'Thank You'. Some young people have very good manners, some have okay manners, and some do not seem to have any. Hopefully, this book will at least get them thinking about manners.




Disclaimer: I received this book from BookSneeze in return for this review; however, my review was not affected by this fact. My review is mine alone.