Found in Translation by Roger Bruner

About the Book
When Kim Hartlinger—eighteen and spoiled—arrives on a mission trip to Mexico and discovers, to her chagrin, that she’ll be doing construction in a remote village without plumbing and electricity, rather than evangelism in a medium-sized town with a fast food joint . . she has only two choices. “Rough it” (which isn’t exactly what Kim had in mind when she signed up for this trip) or turn around and head home.
Will Kim be able to touch the villagers’ hearts with the Gospel? Or will her time in Mexico be up before she gets the chance?

My Thoughts
(Thought I posted this review ages ago but apparently I didn't, so here it is!)
I saw this book during a giveaway hop and was instantly intrigued. Then I read the description and knew I had to read it. First off it was about a mission trip to Mexico which has a soft spot in my heart since I took a trip there with my church a couple years ago. And secondly it just sounded amazing. I was not disappointed. Although Kim seemed a little uppity at first, it was really just based on how she was raised and she shaped up real quick. There was also some other awesome characters including, Aleesha-a spunky African American girl who befriends Kim, Anjelita-a young Mexican girl who attaches herself to Kim, and Rob-one of the trip's leaders who is kinda a father figure. The story was superbly written and left me longing to go back to Mexico. I cannot wait to read book two!

About the Author
Roger Bruner worked as a teacher, job counselor, and programmer analyst before retiring at sixty-two to
pursue his dream of writing Christian fiction full-time. Barbour Publishing released the first two novels in his young adult Altered Hearts series, Found in Translation and Lost in Dreams, in 2011. His agent is actively seeking homes for several of his remaining seven unpublished manuscripts.
A guitarist, bass player, and songwriter, he is active in his church's choir, praise team, and nursing home ministry. Roger also enjoys reading, photography, web design, mission trips, and spending time with his wonderful wife, Kathleen, and their two cantankerous cats. His new grandson, Robbie, isn't yet as cantankerous as the cats, but he comes from good stock and will undoubtedly rival the cats sooner or later.
Find out more about Roger at RogerBruner.com and enjoy some of his song lyrics at asicomesinging.wordpress.com.

A Distant Melody by Sarah Sundin

About the Book
Never pretty enough to please her gorgeous mother, Allie will do anything to gain her approval--even marry a man she doesn't love. Lt. Walter Novak--fearless in the cockpit but hopeless with women--takes his last furlough at home in California before being shipped overseas. Walt and Allie meet at a wedding and their love of music draws them together, prompting them to begin a correspondence that will change their lives. As letters fly between Walt's muddy bomber base in England and Allie's mansion in an orange grove, their friendship binds them together. But can they untangle the secrets, commitments, and expectations that keep them apart?
A Distant Melody is the first book in the WINGS OF GLORY series, which follows the three Novak brothers, B-17 bomber pilots with the US Eighth Air Force stationed in England during World War II.


My Thoughts
Oh my goodness I absolutely adored this book! From the very first pages I was in love and I didn't want to stop reading. WWII is my all-time favorite time period to read about and I have been wanting to read Sarah Sundin's books for awhile now. When my friend offered to let me borrow her copy I jumped at the chance but had to put it off for a bit to get some of my own books done. This book was well worth the wait and a glorious treat for me after I finished my March challenge.
Walter and Allie are adorably sweet with each other and you can tell from the very start that they are a perfect match. Both of them are shy, quiet, used to being compared to others and falling short of their families expectations. From their first meeting they are more at ease in each others company then they've been with anyone else and the attraction is there from the get go. The ten days they have together leave you sighing in the sweetness of it all but then Allie goes home and Walt goes off to war and the troubles begin. I was laughing, crying, yelling at the characters, and smiling in complete happy bliss. The underlying message of how important truth is and the damage even “little white lies” can cause, was really well done and really made me think. In short I loved everything about this book and it officially earned a spot on my favorites list. I absolutely can't wait to read books two and three!
Extra: I made up a playlist for this book on Grooveshark using all the songs that are mentioned in the book and I listened to it while I was reading. If you'd like to do the same here's the link: http://grooveshark.com/playlist/A+Distant+Melody/85148633

Thanks to Rosie for letting me borrow this amazing book!

About the Author

Sarah Sundin followed an unusual career path for a novelist, receiving a bachelor's in chemistry from UCLA http://www.sarahsundin.com

and a doctorate in pharmacy from UC San Francisco. She now lives in northern California with her husband, three children, an antisocial cat, and a yellow lab determined to eat her manuscripts. When not driving kids to soccer and tennis, she works on-call as a hospital pharmacist and teaches women's Bible studies and fourth- and fifth-grade Sunday school. She has been writing since 2000 and belongs to American Christian Fiction Writers and Christian Authors Network. She is the author of the Wings of Glory series - A Distant Melody (Revell 2010), A Memory Between Us (2010), and Blue Skies Tomorrow (August 2011). In 2011 she received the Writer of the Year Award from the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. A Memory Between Us was featured on Booklist's Top Ten Inspirational Fiction List for 2010. Please visit Sarah's website at

Friday Memes 4/12

Hosted by: Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

The Question:

What was the last book you read from a genre you don't normally read?

My Answer:

Stress Test by Richard L. Mabry. It was a medical story and I usually avoid those since I have a rather weak stomach and get grossed out very easily. I enjoyed it though there were a few scenes I skimmed!

Hosted by: Rose City Reader

"Please join me every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name."

Katherine was going to die. And Amelia could do nothing to prevent it.
The Heiress of Winterwood by Sarah Ladd

My Thoughts
Great opening! Definitely draws you in and makes you want to keep reading!

gods at war by Kyle Idleman

About the Book
In gods at war, Kyle Idleman, bestselling author of not a fan, helps every believer recognize there are false gods at war within each of us, and they battle for the place of glory and control in our lives. What keeps us from truly following Jesus is that our hearts are pursuing something or someone else. While these pursuits may not be the 'graven images' of old, they are in fact modern day idols. Behind the sin you're struggling with, the discouragement you're dealing with, the lack of purpose you're living with is a false god that is winning the war for your heart. According to Idleman, idolatry isn't an issue---it is the issue. By asking insightful questions, Idleman reveals which false gods each of us are allowing on the throne of our lives. What do you sacrifice for? What makes you mad? What do you worry about? Whose applause do you long for? We're all wired for worship, but we often end up valuing and honoring the idols of money, sex, food, romance, success and many others that keep us from the intimate relationship with God that we desire. Using true, powerful and honest testimonies of those who have struggled in each area, gods at war illustrates a clear path away from the heartache of our 21st century idolatry back to the heart of God -- enabling us to truly be completely committed followers of Jesus.

My Thoughts
It's kinda hard for me to write this review, because while this book was well written and had some good points I didn't feel like it taught me anything. Growing up in a strong Christian home I have learned early on about how God gave us things for our enjoyment but we need to be careful not to put them in a place above Him. I was hoping that this book would have some new and/or interesting thoughts on the subject but it just felt very basic. That being said, this would be a great book for younger Christians who might not have realized how things, activities, and even people can become idols in our lives. I'm not saying that I'm perfect and God is always #1 in my life, I'm not and there have been many times when I have wrongly put other things before God. It's just that this book didn't tell me anything I didn't previously know. It was still a great book that I would gladly recommend!


About the Author
Kyle Idleman is the Teaching Pastor at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, the fourth largest
church in America. He is the author of the award-winning and best-selling book not a fan. He is also the presenter of several video curricula, including not a fan, H2O, and the newly released study gods at war.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Waiting on Wednesday #57: On Distant Shores

Hosted by Breaking the Spine.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're
eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

On Distant Shores by Sarah Sundin
Revell-August 1, 2013

About the Book

Lt. Georgiana Taylor has everything she could want. A comfortable boyfriend back home, a loving family, and a challenging job as a flight nurse. But in July 1943, Georgie's cozy life gets decidedly more complicated when she meets pharmacist Sgt. John Hutchinson. Hutch resents the lack of respect he gets as a noncommissioned serviceman and hates how the war keeps him from his fiancée. While Georgie and Hutch share a love of the starry night skies over Sicily, their lives back home are falling apart. Can they weather the hurt and betrayal? Or will the pressures of war destroy the fragile connection they've made?

With her signature attention to detail and her talent for bringing characters together, Sarah Sundin pens another exciting tale in her series featuring WWII flight nurses. Fans new and old will find in On Distant Shores the perfect combination of emotion, action, and romance.

Why I Want It

I still haven't read the first book in this series but I just finished another book by this author and adored it so I'm positive I will love this series as well!

Rescuing Hope by Susan Norris

SLAVERY IS WRONG.

YOU KNOW IT. WE KNOW IT. AS A COUNTRY, WE'VE OFFICIALLY KNOWN IT SINCE 1863. BUT HERE'S SOMETHING YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW -- SLAVERY STILL EXISTS. WE WANT EVERY MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE 27 MILLION MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN, JUST LIKE THEM, LIVING IN THE SHADOWS. IN BROTHELS. IN FACTORIES. IN QUARRIES. WORKING AS SLAVES. IN 161 COUNTRIES. INCLUDING OUR OWN. WE ARE HERE TO SHINE A LIGHT ON SLAVERY. NO MORE BONDAGE. NO MORE SEX TRAFFICKING. NO MORE CHILD LABORERS. NO MORE, STARTING NOW.

Today is End It Movement's awareness day for human slavery to learn more and see how you can help please visit their website! Slavery is worse now than ever before and it's time we took a stand! 

About the Book
Every two minutes, evil strips innocence from a child and sells her into slavery for sex. Not in a third-world country, but in the United States of America. Before you take another breath, the next victim will be tricked or taken from her family by a profit-hungry criminal.
She could be a neighbor. A friend. Your sister. Your daughter. You.
At fourteen, Hope Ellis is the all-American girl with a good life—until the day she tries to help her mom with their cross-town move by supervising the movers. When they finish, one of the men returns to the house and rapes her. Held silent by his threats, darkness begins to engulf her. But the rape proves to be the least of Hope's troubles. In a gasping attempt at normalcy, she succumbs to the attention of a smooth-talking man on the subway. He promises acceptance. He declares his love. He lures her out from under the shelter of her suburban life.
Hope's disappearance sets a community in motion. She's one of their own. They determine to find Hope, whatever the cost, before she's lost forever.
Will you?

My Thoughts
I knew going in that this would be a difficult book to read due to the subject matter and I was right. It was hard to realize just how easily and often young girls can be trapped into this awful world of sex-trafficing. My heart broke as I read Hope's story and thought of the millions of people that live that life every single day. The author did a superb job of writing this story though obviously there were some mature topics and bits of language so I would only recommend it to adults and older teens. However I think that the message of this book should be shared with younger teens as well so if you are a mother or an older sister I would suggest reading it with your young sibling or daughter and editing it as you go.

About the Author
A powerful voice for hope, international speaker Susan Norris helps teens and women find freedom in the
areas of purity and spiritual identity. With a master's of education from UNC-Greensboro, this former teacher now networks for organizations such as Resolution Hope and Not for Sale and raises her voice for victims of sex trafficking across the nation. Susan serves as a catalyst for action among her peers and walks alongside rescued girls as they piece together their shattered lives.


I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Top Ten Books I Read Before I Was A Blogger

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

So when I first read the topic for this week I thought I would have quite a few of my books to pick through since I've only been blogging for less than two years, but I was surprised that a very large portion of my books are ones the I've read since I began blogging! So here are some of my favorites that I read prior to 2012! A bunch of them I've read many times!

#1 Almost all of Susan May Warren's books (there's a few that I've read since)
#2 The O'Malley and Uncommon Heroes Series by Dee Henderson
#3. Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages, and Sophie's Daughters Series by Mary Connealy
#4 Letter Perfect, Fancy Pants, and That Certain Spark by Cathy Marie Hake
#5 Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren
#6 Love Comes Softly Series by Janette Oke
#7 The Californians, Yellow Rose Trilogy, and The Princess by Lori Wick
#8. Men of the Saddle by Lori Copeland
#9. Heroes of Quantico by Irene Hannon
#10. A Bride for A Bit by JoAnn A. Grote, Cathy Marie Hake, Pamela Kaye Tracy and Janelle Burnham Schneider

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #65

 Hosted By: Book Journey

Here is what I finished last week:

After last month's reading craze I kinda took a break this week so I only read these two but they were both good!

What I am currently reading:

I'm absolutely adoring A Distant Melody and I'm enjoying Summer of Promise! My non-fiction one is good too!

What I hope to read this week:

Two review books I need to get done!

Blog Posts
It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #64
Monthly Reflections #15: March 2013
Top Ten Classics That I Want to Read
Waiting on Wednesday #56: Gunpowder Tea
Unrivaled by Siri Mitchell

Friday Memes 4/5

Stacking the Shelves #25

Know Me Better 4/7
Dandelions on the Wind by Mona Hodgson
Bending Toward the Sun by Mona Hodgson

Hope you have a great reading week, thanks for taking the time to check out mine!

Leave your link below and I'll be sure to stop by!

Bending Toward the Sun by Mona Hodgson

About the Book
Can the Divine Quilter stitch together the torn pieces of Emilie’s heart?
Divided between the love of her father and the desires of her heart, Emilie Heinrich must rely on the love and wisdom of the women in her quilting circle for support. Since Emilie is dedicated to her education and to helping her father in his general store, she is convinced she doesn't have time for love. But when a childhood friend returns to St. Charles, Missouri, after serving in the Civil War, his smile and charm captures Emilie’s eye and her heart.
Quaid McFarland has a gentleness and humor that causes Emilie to question her indifference toward romance. But her German father sees only one thing when he looks at the young man: an Irish teamster. And Johann Heinrich is not about to let such a man court his beloved daughter.
Her father’s prejudices test Emilie’s faith in God’s ability to mend the patchwork pieces of her life. Will she be forced to choose between honoring her father and a future with a husband and family of her own?

My Thoughts
I had a bit more mixed feelings about this book than the first one. While I think I liked these characters more the writing was a little less well done in this story. I really liked Quaid's character and I was really pleased with how he handled the situation and the respecthe had for both his parents and Emilee's father. Emilee was a great character as well and I enjoyed seeing some of the other characters from the previous book. I'm really enjoying this series and I can't wait for book three!

About the Author
The author of nearly forty books, Mona Hodgson writes historical fiction for adults and picture books and readers for children. In 1987, Mona began writing articles, poems, and short stories for publication and has had several hundred printed in more than 50 different publications. Her publishing credits now include The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek historical fiction series, The Quilted Heart eBook novellas, nearly 30 children's books, and contributions to 11 books for adults.
Mona is a speaker for women's retreats, schools, educators and librarians, and at writers conferences throughout the United States and Canada. She holds professional memberships in Women Writing the West, American Christian Fiction Writers, Pikes Peak Writers Group, Romance Writers of America, Christian Authors Network, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.
What does Mona like to do when she's not writing? Picnic, read to kids, visit museums, play Wii Tennis, sink her toes into wet sand at the beach, retreat with her sisters, explore new places, gaze at sunsets and share lunch with a friend.

I received a free e-book copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own I was not required to write a positive review.

Dandelions on the Wind by Mona Hodgson

About the Book
Tattered relationships and broken hearts, like a quilt, can be pieced together by God’s love.                                                         
When Maren Jensen took a job on Elsa Brantenberg’s St. Charles, Missouri farm, she never expected to call the place her home. As she grows to love Mrs. Brantenberg and her granddaughter, Gabi, Maren is transformed from a lonely mail-order bride-without-a-groom to a beloved member of the Brantenberg household.
But when Gabi’s father, Rutherford “Wooly” Wainwright, returns to the farm unexpectedly, everything changes for Maren. Despite the failing eyesight that caused her suitor to reject her, she can see that Wooly desperately needs to reconnect with the family he abandoned when his grief sent him running toward the army—and into the Civil War. She also senses there could be something more between the widower and herself, if either can move beyond their past hurts.  
Comforted and counseled by the wisdom of the women in her beloved quilting circle, Maren begins to discover the cost such decisions demand of her heart. Are her choices in obedience to God, or is she running from His plan? Is it too late for love to be stitched into the fabric of her life?

My Thoughts
This was a really sweet and well written short story. Sometimes it's harder to make a novella work since you have less time with which to develop your characters and plot and satisfy the reader, but Mona Hodgson did a very nice job. I really enjoyed the characters and the storyline was well done. I know this is a short review but there's only so much you can say about a hundred page book without giving away the whole story. Let me just leave you with the recommendation of these book and the fact that I enjoyed it enough to look forward to reading the next novellas in this series!

About the Author

The author of nearly forty books, Mona Hodgson writes historical fiction for adults and picture books and readers for children. In 1987, Mona began writing articles, poems, and short stories for publication and has had several hundred printed in more than 50 different publications. Her publishing credits now include The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek historical fiction series, The Quilted Heart eBook novellas, nearly 30 children's books, and contributions to 11 books for adults.
Mona is a speaker for women's retreats, schools, educators and librarians, and at writers conferences throughout the United States and Canada. She holds professional memberships in Women Writing the West, American Christian Fiction Writers, Pikes Peak Writers Group, Romance Writers of America, Christian Authors Network, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.
What does Mona like to do when she's not writing? Picnic, read to kids, visit museums, play Wii Tennis, sink her toes into wet sand at the beach, retreat with her sisters, explore new places, gaze at sunsets and share lunch with a friend.

I received a free e-book copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own I was not required to write a positive review.