Book Review: The Final Summit

  The Final Summit by Andy Andrews.  This has been such a hard book for me to get into, probably because I haven’t read The Traveler’s Gift.  It would help explain a lot of what is going on early in this story because it doesn’t make sense to me.  I’m sure it is a good read with the foundation of the first book.    I’ve tried and tried to read and decided to give up.  I don’t generally have this problem with a book and I feel kinda bad about it, but that’s how it is for me.

Maybe some day I’ll get the first book, and then read The Final Summit.  It’s nothing against the book, but it’s like jumping into the middle of a movie and you don’t know what has already happened.  🙂

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

**I started writing this review a LONG time ago, but finally decided to get this done.  

My Memories DRAWING!!!!!!

**I tried to be all fancy and use this randomizer that I had seen other bloggers use, but I’m frankly too cheap for it, especially since I wouldn’t use it very often.  Sooooo, we did it the old fashioned way.

 There were 8 entries on the Original Post.

I wrote the names down.

 Then I folded them in half again and placed them in this lovely bowl.

 This cutie volunteered for the job of drawing a name.

 Here he is taking a piece of paper out of the bowl!

 Well, who is the winner?? 

 Woo Hoo!  We have a winner and it’s

Rapchef 2!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Rapchef 2 (Renea)! 

Just send me your email address:

emilystrobel@zoominternet.net

Enjoy your My Memories Digital Scrapbook Software!  

My Memories Review and a GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!

My Memories gave me the opportunity to review their digital scrapbooking software the last couple weeks and I have been trying to find the time to play, play play! 

There is SOO much you can do with My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software that I haven’t even got to try, but I did make a few scrapbooks.  I’m still learning what all can be done with My Memories software. 

You can make digital scrapbooks that can be printed and shared, but you can also make calenders, slideshows, greeting cards!  All kinds of exciting, fun stuff!

Digital scrapbooking with My Memories is new to me, but I LOVE it!  It’s so easy and fun! 

Here are some samples from an album I’m working on.  I intend to add more pages once I take more photos of other antiques. 

 These are the pages that I’ve worked on 

and there is so much that you can do using My Memories Suite!

Now for the GIVEAWAY!!!

All you have to do is visit

www.Mymemories.com 

and then post in the comment section below what

you like on their site!

For more entries into the giveaway tell me that you

1.“LIKE” them on facebook

AND/OR

2. Now Follow their Blog 

This contest will run from now and the drawing for a winner will take place next Thursday, January 26, 2012. 

Enter and share with your friends, too!

Can’t wait to see who the winner will be!

This is my first giveaway and I am so thrilled that

My Memories asked me to do this!

Would be helpful to actually GIVE the code!! 🙂


 Here is the CODE:  STMMMS77324


Just copy and paste the code when you check out to get the discount!!  

Max on Life – a Booksneeze Book Review

  I haven’t read a book by Max Lucado that I have disliked, and this one is no different!  This book has answers to questions folks have asked him over the years through letters.  His answers are good, Biblically sound answers and he always refers to the Word of God in each answer.  There were even questions that are similar to ones I have and I really appreciated his answers to them.  There is also an Addendum entitled “The Write Stuff” and he talks about writing!  I need to heed his advice here, for sure.  It’s definitely a good book and one I’ll keep on my shelves to refer to as needed.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 

God’s Wisdom for Mothers – a booksneeze review.

This book grabbed my attention, so I chose it and I am so glad I did!  I love the cover picture and the title.  This book is compiled by Jack Countryman. I love how it’s broken into topics that we mothers deal with on a daily basis and full of Scripture verses under each topic.  The verses are encouraging and sometimes just what I need to hear in certain situations.

An excerpt from the book (pg 48.)  “The Crown of an Excellent Mother . . . is Sensitive to the Holy Spirit”   Listed after that title are 8 Scripture verses and/or passages that go along with the title and the first one is:  Proverbs 3:5-6 (Scriptures are from the New King James Version) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding;  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
                                  
This book would make an excellent gift for any mom or mom-to-be and it could be an encouragement for yourself.  I love how you can pick and choose the topic that is affecting you most and read the Scriptures that can help you get through it.  I love this book!  God’s wisdom is definitely something I need these days – who doesn’t?!

** Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Mountains Bow Down by Sibella Giorello (my booksneeze book review)

  I LOVE a good mystery and this book delivered on that!  It was quite an exciting mystery with a little bit of romance and a few references to God here and there.

Lately I’ve become such a book critic.  I think I am looking at books with my daughter in mind.  She is currently 7, so it’ll be a while before she reads these, BUT I do not think I would let my teenage daughter read this book.

The story is about an engaged FBI agent (her name is Raleigh) that went a on cruise with her mother, aunt and some other older citizens, as well as a movie star.  The movie star was consulting with the FBI agent since he was starring in a movie as an agent.  The mystery swirls around the death of the movie star’s wife.  Who was the murderer? Was is the movie star?  Was it the movie producer?  Was it someone else?  That’s the fun part of reading mysteries – trying to figure out who the murderer is before I finish the book.  I totally didn’t figure this one out before the big reveal!

Raleigh needed a little back-up during this cruise, so in comes Jack.  They previously had a relationship, but since I’ve not read any other books in this series, I don’t know the extent of it but it seems it could have been serious.   They bantered well, back and forth.  You can just tell they are meant for each other.  The finance does complicate things, but the cruise seems to have been a good time of soul searching for Raleigh.

My critical analysis:  The part of the book I didn’t think needed to even be in there was the Alaskan Coroner describing a teenage boy dying from asphyxiation during masturbation with a rope or cord around the neck.  I just think that was way too graphic (I am sorry for the graphic nature of this, but you can see why I’m disturbed by it).  I know it does occur in real life – we hear about it on the news, but in a Christian book, I don’t think it belonged.

There were a few vague references to God.  I am always disappointed  in Christian books that barely talk about God or how God influences the characters’ decisions.    Call me old fashioned, but I like fictional stories that are encouraging in the spiritual side of life.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Save The Date by Jenny B. Jones

   I’m glad to read a Christian Romance every once in a while.  This story drew me in rather quickly and I enjoyed the read, mostly.  The main characters were both interesting and the banter between them was pretty good.  The struggles and joys they experienced were fit for a novel and predictable in the end, but still fun.  Spiritually, the message was pretty good.  God knows all about us and He wants us to  follow Him, even though we don’t always know where that will take us.  Sometimes choices we make aren’t the “perfect” plan, but God uses it for His glory anyway.  

The ministry of the main character, Lucy, is a very touching ministry that revolves around a place called “Saving Grace.”  It’s a home for girls that are too old for foster care, but too young to really be on their own.  What a wonderful blessing that that place actually exists and I pray for it’s continued ministry to the girls that go through there!

My main dislike about the book was a certain character named Julian.  He was an assistant to another important character in the storyline.  My dislike for him is how feminine he was and how the story doesn’t need someone like that.  I don’t think he was necessary in a Christian book.  If this was a movie, he’d be portrayed as gay.

There were also a lot of references to all kinds of modern day things – Blackberry, Ipad, Gatorade, famous people and music groups.  It will definitely date the book, which could be fun seeing what was “it” at this point in time, but maybe a little annoying, too.  I am, unfortunately, up to date on all the current things, but if you’re not, then these references really would mean nothing to you.

So in my opinion, it was an all right read.  Loved the romance and most of the characters and the story line!  The spiritual message is applicable to anyone that really needs a boost in their walk with God.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”