Want something to grab onto?

Never let you go by Erin Healy is a book I received from Thomas Nelson Publishers to review for them, it is 344 pages long and it keeps your interest going the whole time, as I finished it in one afternoon and night.  It is truly a story that will keep you hanging in there until you finish it also. The main characters in this book are Lexi Solomon and her daughter Molly. There is even a murderer in this book that you will find yourself sympathizing with.  Each person brings their own outlook into this story and each is right to some extent in their belief.

To me the book did start off a little slow to my liking but it wasn't long before it seemed to be going along just right.  The characters are very strong people and help point out some of the great points in the story. Healy took Lexi's self pity and made her take the responsibility for the part she played in the disasters that had happened during her life.  The impact of the story did not leave out hope, love or forgiveness,  there were so very many good points in this story.

The author did a great job of creating the plot without blood and guts, yes it is a dark story but that is because of certain actions. The characters find themselves in a real mess and they are the only ones that can get theirselves out of it.

As I said, this one will grab onto you and you'd better hang on for this ride, it's one you will not soon forget.

Could You Have Done This?

I received the book the secret Holocaust Diaries by Nonna Bannister from Tyndale Publishers to review for them.  I wasn't so sure I wanted to read about all the terrible things that happened but then I decided if I wanted to help make sure nothing like this ever happened again I needed to see it through her eyes.  Nonna Bannister kept a large trunk that held a portion of her life that she so wanted to forget, so she locked them all away in that trunk and that is where they stayed for half a century.  She was given a diary when she was 9 years old and that is what started her writing, after that she would write on any little scrap piece of paper she could find and also yellow pads when she could get them.  She wore a pillow tied around her stomach and that is where she hid all of her writing.  She kept them hidden for so many years and then she finally decided to tell her husband about her tortured life.  She was born into a wealthy Ukrainian family but then when World War II started her life started to change in ways she couldn't understand.

This book is about everything that happened to her and her family, the death of her Mother, about a young boy that gave his life so she would be saved.  It is not a pleasant book to read but it certainly will make you open your eyes and realize what all these people went through.  Then I wonder if I could have made it even one week, would I have had the strength and the faith to carry on?  Everyone should read this, it will make you think of our way of life now compared to what they had.  This would be an eye opener for anybody plus perhaps a book that will make us all stop and think before something happens again.

Walk Like You Have Somewhere To Go

Walk Like You Have Somewhere To Go by Lucille O'Neal with Allison Samuels. Lucille O'Neal is the mother of basketball great Shaquille O'Neal and in here she shares her life in a very simple way. The book will grab your attention quickly, and will hold onto it.  I enjoyed the style of the writing and the length of the chapters, it is just perfect. The book is only 225 pages and since it holds your attention so well you will discover you have read the whole book very quickly. I received this copy from Thomas Nelson to review for them, and I am so glad I did.

Lucille O'Neal tells her story and the process she went through to change "From Mental Welfare to Mental Health". Most everyone can relate to her because she shares the facts of her life and also opens her heart in a very sincere and meaningful way. Her story is very inspiring and gives all of us an insight into social and moral issues that she had to deal with. She shares a story about the Reverend Hartsfield, in Chapter 6, and how he has impressed and improved her life until present day. As you read this book take special note of that Chapter and you will understand how much help he was for her. 

If you get the chance to read this, take it.  It is not a 'basketball' story, it is a simple but hard story of a woman with a great deal of courage.  She knew what she wanted and she was going to get it, although she knew the road would be a tough one.....but not tougher than Lucille O'Neal..

Hand Of Fate

The book Hand Of Fate by Lis Wiehl was given to me by Thomas Nelson as a complimentary copy to read and write a review for them. As I have not read any of her work before I was going in not really knowing what to expect of her writing style.

The series, A Triple Threat Novel, features three major characters: Federal prosecutor Allison Pierce, FBI special agent Nicole Hedges and TV crime reporter Cassidy Shaw, all friends from high school who have reconnected as adults. The background stories of these main characters provide depth and interest to the series as they work together to solve the murders.

A radio talk show host is a rude person, he states his mind no matter what and if you don't like it well that's just too bad. But then....there's a poisonous gas and he is the only one that dies from it. Was it meant for him? Who sent him this envelope and how did they know he would be the one to open it?

The story makes you feel like you are right in there with everybody trying to escape the lethal gas. But somehow things don't connect like they should, people are getting sick and then they aren't sick. Sounds interesting doesn't it? Then you have the personal connection that nobody knew about, was she in on his murder? Or was it actually one of his radio listeners that had just gotten fed up with him and decided to take matters into his own hands.

Naturally I won't tell the end as that would spoil it for you, but I will say this. You'd better pack a suitcase because you are going on one heck of a trip with this novel.