The Christmas Note

This is my first Donna Vanliere book that I have read. I have heard of her book the Christmas shoes and will here the song a 1000 times before the year ends. But I have to say that I really enjoyed this book.
This story is about two women who are going though some very trying times. Gretchen has just moved into condo to be closer to her mother. Gretchen has two kids and a husband that you really don’t get to know a lot about until later in the book.
Living next door to Gretchen is Melissa, she live by herself and keeps to herself. Not much a social person.
The story is told from the vantage point of both ladies. It starts when a man shows up on the door of Gretchen’s house asking her is she is Melissa. Man has been trying to get in touch with Melissa but has been unable to, he asks Gretchen if she will relay a message to Melissa. “Please tell her that her mom has past away and that she needs to come clean out her apartment.” Gretchen faced with the task to tell Melissa the heartbreaking news feel that is really not her place to do so. She gets up the nerve to do so and this is where the story takes off.
I really enjoyed this book and it is a good way for you to get into the Christmas sprit. I thank Thomas Nelson for my free copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Book of Man

“George Washington was often on his knees praying, as great men often are.” Is a statement from Dr William J Bennett’s new book The Book of Man. Dr. Bennett gives great insight on what it takes to be a man. Dr Bennett quotes Plato saying “Who teaches the children and what do we teach them? Plato goes on to say that it is out duty to teach the younger children. If we do not teach them then trouble is sure to follow.
As we can see that trouble has found us, and had left us thinking were did we go wrong? Who is to blame? Who will fix it?
Those answers are found in this book. Step up and be a man! Be a man and take care of your own needs and not wait for others to fix them. Now is the time to stand up and be a man.
I love this book; I love it because it is full of little stories about life and how to deal with it. There are stories about US presidents, sports athletes, military men and everyday men. This book is a must have and I highly recommend it to anyone that is a man or has a man in there life.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson and the Booksneeze.com people for my free copy of this great book.

Bonhoeffer

There is nothing I like more the a good biography but when you add history, heroism and good Christian values to the same good there is nothing better. That is what Eric Metaxas has done with his book Bonhoeffer.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer is not a common house hold name not one that too many people will say they know a lot about him. He is not someone that you are going to learn about in any history textbooks (I didn’t anyway). In fact when I was given the chance to review this book by the Thomas Nelson Company (my review here is my one and I give an honesty feedback on the book in exchange for a free copy. Sorry legal people make me say this) I didn’t have a clue who Dietrich Bonhoeffer was, but after reading this book I have the up most respect for him.
This book his one that is hard to put down, it is one that you will find time to read. I learned some much about Germany post WWII and some about it during WWII. I learned that is spite of all the hell Hitler but the people of Germany in namely the Jews. There was a great man that had no fear to stand up to Hitler and help bring him down. Bonhoeffer is that great man and this book with teach you all about him. I must say if you are thinking about buying a good book this is the one to get. It will not leave you disappoint but will give you a great respect for a man that knew God and loved Him.
Thank you Thomas Nelson for my free copy of this great book.

The Final Hour

I really enjoyed The Homlanders series by Andrew Klavan. The final Hour is the last installment of the series. What a great book and what a great series. I hear that it will be turned into a movie and if they can keep it somewhat close to the book it will make for a blockbuster.
These books are more geared towards young teenage kids. But adults will love these books as well.
A little bit about the books, Charlie West is a high school kid that goes to sleep and wakes up the next morning tied to a chair and threatening to be killed. Charlie escapes and goes to the police which in his mind are the good guys but comes to find out they are after him as well.
The book are action pack and have a great message to young kids to not give up and never give in. I really did enjoy this series. The book is an easy read and one that you will set down to start and can not but down not matter how tried you are at nights.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson for my free copy of this book. My review is that of my own.

Surviving your Serengeti

Surviving your Serengeti by Stefan Swanepoel is a must read. This book is well written and one that is very easy to read.
The book takes you an on journey through the African Serengeti. As you go through this journey of learn about the animal in the natural habit you find that they are a lot like us and that we can relate to them. It was amazing to me that there is so much common ground between us and the animal talked about in the books.
On the Surviving your Serengeti web site there is a quiz that you can take after you read the book to see what type of animal you are. I suggest you read the book and then take the test. I bet you will know which animal you are after you have read the book. You will find that common ground between you and the animal you relate to.
Thank be to Thomas Nelson publishing for my free copy of this great book. My review is that of my own.

Beyond Talent

This is my first John Maxwell book that I have read. I have seen his book many times on Thomas Nelson Booksneeze site. I have never had the chance to get one because they are always gone before I can request one.
However, Beyond Talent is an excellent book. I love it and it as really made me stop and think. I liked the part in the book were he talks about our tomorrows are gone there is nothing we can do to change them. I have heard people say that many times but the way he puts it in the book it just hit me. The book is filled with many great stories, quotes and ideas. Once you start to read it you can not put it down.
I would recommend this book to all, yes it is listed as a business/leadership book but you will find many great ideas for you one personal life’s.
Thank you Thomas Nelson, I read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Max on Life

Max Lucado does it again. In his new book “Max on Life” Max talk the many questions that he get and takes the time to answers them. He used the Bible and his on experience on life to fill these questions.
They are broken down in to 7 sections of life: Hope, Hurt, Help, Him/Her, Home, Haves/Have not, and Hereafter.
This is a book that you will not read cover to cover it is one that you will find yourself flipping through it and land a something that you can easily place in your own life.
I thank Thomas Nelson for this advance copy of this book. I give it 5 stars.

The Band Played on

I find it fitting that today is April 14, 2011 and exactly 99 years ago today the Titanic was hit by and iceberg. This is also the day that I submit my review for the book The Band Played On by Steve Turner and published by Thomas Nelson (who gave me a free copy of the book in exchange for a honest review).
I remember seeing the movie the Titanic when it came out in the later part of the 1990’s I remember think about the part when the band stayed on the ship and played the hymn Nearer my God to Thee. It is a beautiful hymn and one that I enjoy very much. But I thought all of that was just Hollywood making a movie dramatic and good. I never thought that they truly happened that that there was such a great story behind each of those band members.
This book is well written and very well reached. I enjoyed reading this book. I did however feel it a little slow getting into but that last part of the book it very well done. If you are a history buff like me then you should really pick up this book. You will enjoy it very much.

The Travelers Gift is one of my favorite Andy Andrews book. I loved how he brought to life many of the historical figures. I loved the most when David Ponder (main character in the book) was in the room with Anne Frank. The feel you get as you read as David talks with her is hard to put into words. I loved that book and have shared it with others.
Just as good as the Travels Gifts is Andy’s new book The Final Summit delivers just the same. Again Andy brings to live many historical figures. And once again David Ponder takes you on the ride. I make you think that is you were able to fill a room with many great historical figures what would they talk about? What would it feel like to be in there presents? With this book Andy takes you there, he shares with you what it would feel like to be in that room.
I loved this book and recommend it to all. It is a book that you will read over and over again. It is one that needs to be read over and over again to fully understand the message that is in it. Thank you to Thomas Nelson for my advance copy of this great book by a great author

Max Lucados Movies

I have read as many of Max Lucado’s books as I can. I have always loved everyone that I have read. Just like his books he does it again with his children’s DVD series. “ A Bug Collection is the first time me and my family have watch them and I can say it will not be the last. My kids loved these movies. What a great way to teach kids about pray, respecting others, and overall being Christ like.
The one done fall I do have and I have seen many other fell the same way is the intro, my two year had a hard time stay focus as we watch that part of the movie but other then that they are great movies and I would recommend them to anyone with children. (Even great for adults too)

Thanks Thomas Nelson for my Free copy.

Civil War

I am a big history buff and I love to read anything do with US history. I have read a lot about wars and I really like to read up on WWII. But I have never really read or studied much about the Civil War. It is amazing to me that I have stood in the Charleston Harbor in South Carolina look out at Fort Sumter and I never really studied the Civil War.
I loved this new book by Webb Garrison titled Curiosities of the Civil War. It is full of interesting facts about the war ones that I never heard of before and I sure ones that you would not study in school. It is a good read because you can flip through it and pick up reading right there or you can just read cover to cover. However you like to read it I am sure you will love it and find it just as interesting as I did.
This has been on of my Top 5 books by Thomas Nelson and I thank them for my free book of this book.

The faith of Ronald Reagan

I enjoy any book that has to do with the 40th president of the United States Ronald Reagan. I enjoy so much his autobiography. I was very young when Reagan was in office, but I remember him many time address the county via the TV. With just the resent anniversary of the Challenge Space Shuttle, I remember that day and Reagan address the American people that night after it happened. I was 8 years old but I remember like it happened yesterday.
That is the kind of man Ronald Reagan was, he loved this country and he love God. I truly believe with all my heart that God groomed Reagan to be the president at the time that he was. It was because of him that he help get this country back on it’s feet after suffering a recession in the late 70’s. It was him that God work through to being down the wall in Germany and to end the cold war.
The Faith of Ronald Reagan by Mary Beth Brown is a must read. It is not a book that will go deep into the presidents live but it will show you his love for this county and his love for our Heavenly Father.

Thank you Thomas Nelson for my advanced copy of this great book.