The River

I think when you read The River by Michael Neale you can apply something that you are going through with the main character Gabriel Clark. At the Young age of 5 Gabriel, saw something that no 5 year older should have to go through. Because of this event Gabriel was never the same again. He love for the River was gone and he wished so much that it would be gone from his mind. But its not, it lived with him until his late teen years. Gabriel, takes on the River again and there he finds himself, but not only does he find other along the way that helped show him the way. This book teaches us, healing, the purpose of life and it teaches more about the power of forgiveness. This book was a fun read, one that I good not put down. Michael is a great writer, one that would remind you of an Andy Andrews. You would never guess this was his debut novel. If you are thinking about read this book, read it add it to you library and give it as gifts this holiday season. Thanks to Thomas Nelson for my free advanced copy of this great book. This review is mine and mine alone, I was not asked to give a positive review in order for the free copy.

Rudy

I still remember back in the 1993 when the movie Rudy was released. I didn’t know much about it at the time and little did I know that it would become one of my favorite movies of all time. In is autobiography Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger tells the story of his dream to play for Notre Dame. I like this quote that he puts at the beginning of the book. It says: “In life, it’s not about how hard you get hit. It’s about how many times you get back up and how hard you’re willing to keep fighting for your dreams.” Rudy talks about-and I am glad he did- about how he wanted to quit the team. He had busted his butt for what? Nothing!! But he wanted to quit he gave into every one telling him that he can’t. But Rudy meets up with another Rudy. Rudy the janitor. They had become good friends and so much so that Daniel doesn’t notice that some about Rudy the janitor. It just as great of story as it was in the movie. Little different but the meaning is the same. I love this book. I love the story of Rudy. I get chills every time I see the movie and now I know as Paul Harvey would say “The rest of the story.” I was given a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to give a positive review. This review was mine and mine only.

Fully Alive

If you like Andy Andrews then you will like Ken Davis. I have to admit I have not heard of Ken Davis, I happen to see on Facebook Andy Andrews recommend Ken Davis new book Fully Alive. If Andy was recommending it then it has to be good. And I was right. Ken Davis talks about how he himself was just living life, but not really living life. I like this part in the book when Ken says “ Shouldn’t we feel some of the excitement that comes from jumping off a fifty-foot cliff into the water when we jump out of bed to live as God intended.” This book will make you laugh, cry and just feel good after you read it. Much like Andy Andrews, Ken has lived life and has found what has worked for him. He found God and he lives his life as God intended for him to live. This is a great book I highly recommend this book and hope that you enjoy it as much as I have. Thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishing for my free copy. This review is mine and I was not told that I had to give a positive review to received this copy.

Running for my life

I think we forget how good we really have it here in the USA. I would have never thought at the age of 6 to be taken from my family, to have to learn how to survive and to have to run for my life. I his autobiography Running for my Life Lopez Lomong tell the story of his life growing up in South Sudan. At the little age of six years old Lopez was taken from his family while they attend a church service. He was ripped from the loving arms of his mother by men that wanted to train young kids to fight in the Civil war that was going on in his country. Lopez made a decision one night that put him on the path to the live that he now leads. When you read this book you will not be able to put it down. Lopez survived because of his belief in God. God help him just like He helps us all. God has a plan for us and Lopez understood this and knew that if he would put his trust in God even when is was in the depths of hell he know that God would extended his loving hand and pull him out. That is just want God did for Lopez. If you know about Lopez you know that he went on to Olympics and not only that had the great honor to carry the country flag in the open ceremonies. What an honor for a boy that once was last and now if found. This review is my alone; I was given a free copy by the Thomas Nelson group in exchange for this honest review.

December 1941

I must say this book took me longer to read and get through. December 1941 by Craig Shirley take you through each day of december and give you an account of the days events. Days before the tragic events at Pearl Harbor the country was at peace. Thanksgiving had just ended a couple weeks back, the Christmas season was upon them and they thought all was well in the USA. They know and understood that the World was not at peace. Little did they know that Japan had already set sail for Hawaii and 7 days into the last month of the year the USA would change and change for good. This book is well written, Yes it is a little long but thinking back on it I not sure how you could not have put the information in there that Mr. Shirley did. As a advit fan of the WWII era, this book is a must have and one that I recommend to those that love to study WWII history. I thank Thomas Nelson for my free copy and in return I was asked only to give my honest review of this book.

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.