Monday, September 29, 2014

Book Review: Through the Deep Waters

Through
     the
                         Deep Waters
by
Kim Vogel Sawyer

A past filled with shame
can be washed away
with a love that conquers all. 

Born to an unloving prostitute in a popular Chicago brothel, timid seventeen-year-old Dinah Hubley was raised amid the secrets held in every dark grimy room of her home. Anxious to escape, Dinah pursues her dream of becoming a Harvey Girl, waiting tables along the railroad in an upscale hotel. But when she finds out she isn't old enough, her only option is to accept a job as a chambermaid at the Clifton Hotel in Florence, Kansas. Eager to put everything behind her, Dinah feels more worthless than ever, based on a single horrible decision she made to survive.
The Clifton offers a life Dinah has never known, but blinded to the love around her, Dinah remains buried in the shame of her past. When a handsome chicken farmer named Amos Ackerman starts to show interest, Dinah withdraws further, convinced no one could want a sullied woman like her. Despite his self-consciousness about his physical disability and her strange behavior, Amos resolves to show Dinah Christ's love. But can she ever accept the gift she so desperately needs?

I loved this book! Kim Vogel Sawyer is one of my favorite authors and I've yet to read a book by her that I didn't like. It was well written and had good characters, though a couple of them annoyed me at times, but they redeemed themselves by the end of the book. One thing I like about Kim is that she doesn't drag scenes on forever, which keeps the book moving at a nice pace. This novel was very sweet and emotional, and probably one of the most inspiring books I've read. While some Christian books I've read seem to have hardly anything to do with God in them, Kim always has a way of incorporating Him into her stories in a beautiful way. I give this book a five star rating.

I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers in exchange for my honest review.


Monday, September 15, 2014

Book Review: A Moment in Time

A Moment in Time by Tracie Peterson

ALICE CHESTERFIELD is a WOMAN PURSUED.
Having survived an attack that left her scarred and her father dead, 
she is never free from the fear
and memories of the man who is responsible.

Texas seems to be an answer to Alice's prayers, and when she has the opportunity to relocate to a ranch near Dallas, Robert Barnett captures her attention. Unlike any man Alice has ever known, Robert doesn't worry about the obstacles that stand in their way---and he hardly seems to notice the scar she bears.
Bur there are storm clouds gathering; devastating information about her family comes to light, threatening Alice's peaceful sanctuary. 
Disillusioned, Alice must learn to place her trust in God as she seeks a measure of peace for her future. . . and for her heart.

I honestly did not care for this book much. It was slow moving at parts (especially in the beginning, which seemed to have a lot of boring scenes that dragged on and didn't hold my interest). I've read many books by Tracie Peterson before and loved quite a few of them. This one seemed as if it was written in a rush, with sloppy and clipped sentences, while conversations would drag on forever at times. Also, by the synopsis above you'd think the book is all about Alice and Robert, wouldn't you? Well just about the same amount if not more of the book followed a different character, especially in the beginning.
I feel that Alice was a weak lead role and the whole book just kind of felt like you were reading a history book that told what was and had happened but had very little depth to it. Also, the romance between Alice and Robert was barely there. They meet one minute and there's a cute moment between them, but then the book goes on to focus on some other things, and when it comes back to them they're in love with each other, though neither one tells the other and there's a major lack of communication between them.
Now there were some parts, when they FINALLY got to Texas (about a third or more into the book), that were somewhat interesting and kept me wanting to read more, so if I overlooked the other things it was an alright story. 
I hate to be too harsh but there it is, my honest opinion. It wasn't an overall horrible book, but not one I'd recommend unless you really think you'd like it.



I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.