A Portrait of Dawn

"The course of a person's life can be altered in just a day, sometimes in a matter of minutes.

The letter I received in the mail yesterday, carried me back to the day my life took a drastic turn. It began like every other day in my somewhat routine life, but this one ended with my life changed forever. It was sixteen years ago, but I haven't forgotten it. How could I? It will be stored in that one private alcove of my mind. The one reserved for the memories of those early years. Memories I don't want, but hey are mine and must be stored somewhere.

Unlike some people, I know the exact day I became pregnant. It was a Friday. One week before my sixteenth birthday."

What an incredible opening to introduce our reader to A Portrait of Dawn by author B.J. Young. We get the opportunity to journey back to the day when Bethany Braun's life took a dramatic change that would not only alter her life but every single life she would touch because of what happened that day. Beth grew up in an abusive household, not so much for her personally but watching her dad, Larry come home each night, and drink himself into another person she grew to fear. He would take out his bad days on her mother and Beth was forced to watch the horror of her mother being beaten. Even when she confronted her mother later, her mother continued to make excuses for his behavior. Soon Beth found that leaving the house when those times came, was better than sitting back and becoming a witness to what she was incapable of stopping. It was when she met Ryan, a boy from her high school that she found she could confide in. It was when she went looking for love in all the wrong places, that Ryan offered her more than what she needed.

Beth knew that if she told her parents she was pregnant, her dad would literally kill her and her mother. Her brother Joel, had left years ago and they lost contact with him, when her dad abused him for the last time. Beth wished she was able to find her brother so she could run away and deal with her pregnancy away from the abusive household she lived in. Ryan only wanted her to have an abortion, but at the last moment knew this was something she could never do, and never told Ryan. She would have to wait for the opportunity to tell her mother and hopefully between them, they could offer a solution to dealing with her father. But for now, they had to continue along with the same old routine, her father expected every time he went to work. It was how he was able to maintain a level of control that kept them both living in fear of ever hoping things might be different for them.

I received A Portrait of Dawn by author B.J. Young compliments of the author herself and received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. This is a novel that needs to not only be read but shared with teen pregnancy on the rise and abortion at an all time high as the answer to this issue. I think B.J. Young did an exceptional job at enabling the reader to walk in Beth's shoes during every heart-rendering, emotionally-charged situation. I literally cried during so many stages of this book, because I could relate to Beth's situation. I did not make the right choice at that time, and have had to deal with my decision every single day of my life. But God can heal those broken places in our life and give us a new one, one of forgiveness, healing and hope. This is just the example of showing how God can take some of life's greatest painful moments and bring about goodness even though we may not see it for years. This one is truly unforgettable and one that will be remembered long after the final page is turned. For that very reason, this one rates a perfect 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. I look forward to the sequel which we get a sneak peek at the conclusion of this one, Dawn's new day.  Perhaps the most memorable quotes of the book is one I will leave you with:

"I woke at dawn and watched in awe as God used the sky for His canvas. He began to paint for me a picture of my coming day; it was a parade of resplendent color that took my breath away. Then the fog came and my hope was that tomorrow's dawn would bring new wonder."

I will never look at a sunrise again the same way.

For more information about A Portrait of Dawn, B.J. Young or where you can pick up a copy of this incredible novel today, please click on the links below:

A Portrait of Dawn by B.J. Young

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You can also visit her on her website by clicking here. 

• Paperback: 314 pages
• Publisher: InspiringVoices (February 8, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1462405053
• ISBN-13: 978-1462405053
• Product Dimensions: 0.7 x 5.9 x 8.9 inches

Oil: A Novel

Just what do you think would happen if all the countries that supply us with oil, suddenly found their supplies at risk? There has been talk lately of the recent natural gas find in Israel and some believe that oil may lie within that country as well. If it were in fact true, Israel would move to the top of the super power list for supplying not only natural gas but oil as well.

However, if that were to happen then the countries that have become Israel's biggest enemies would really find ways to destroy and wipe her off the face of the map as so many countries have already stated their threats.

Now in the latest novel by Jeff Nesbit, Oil: A Novel, set this up as the underlying premise of this story. Iran, Iraq, Russia, Saudi Arabia, North Korea and China have a vital stake in trying to vie for the top position as an oil supplier to the world. The main problem with finding oil has been its difficult extraction for the shale in which it is located. Environmentalists want to make sure that the land and resources are not harmed and when a process is discovered that will allow that to happen, everyone wants a piece of the shale.

Now power begins to shift by those that want it the most and using the legends from the Middle East of the prophecy regarding the Twelfth Imam and the Mahdi, they will make sure that all signs point to the rise of these figures and shift the balance of power in the Middle East forever. Now whatever peace has been achieved up to this point will now be placed on the table and what role will Israel have in it all?

I received this book compliments of Summerside Press and Guideposts for my honest review. Even though the story takes awhile to develop you eventually understand why it's necessary when you see how detailed the process is by the climax of the book. There are many players involved in making this storyline happen and I think Jeff Nesbit does a wonderful job at building up his characters. It appears that a sequel is forthcoming as the book does leave the reader at a bit of a cliff hanger ending and things are not quite resolved. I would rate this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars and look forward to any future books that Jeff will breath life into. For those that love a bit of mystery and suspense with potential current world events then this one is perfect for you.

For more information on this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this book as soon as it releases, please click on the link below:

Oil: A Novel by Jeff Nesbit

Growing Up Ziglar

If you were the child of Zig Ziglar, the world's biggest and most notable motivational speaker, wouldn't you think that you'd grow up feeling great and positive almost every single day? Well that is what Julie Ziglar Norman thought most people would think about her, if they knew who her infamous dad was, so she tried to keep it hidden as much as she could. However, when she could no longer hide it, she did the next best thing, she pasted on her best smile and kept all her negative feelings and emotions buried deep inside.

That is until the day God placed a call on her life that would change how people saw how she had grown up and what that would mean for those that would hear her story. In the book, Growing Up Ziglar, A Daughter's Broken Journey From Heartache to Hope, Julie candidly shares how difficult it was growing up trying to be the poster child of what she perceived to be perfect. She never once blames her father or anything he did or didn't do. In fact he set the bar quite reasonable, but Julie just never really understood the why's of why she shouldn't do things.

Her father understood that if drinking made you feel too good, that he should simply stop doing that, or if carrying on led people to believe that he was acting a different way than he should, he simply changed how that perception appeared. For example he never was alone with a woman who wasn't his wife or daughter for any reason. He didn't want rumors or gossip to spread even when there wasn't an ounce of truth in them so he didn't place himself in situations where people might get the wrong idea. While Zig set the examples by leading, Julie went in the complete opposite direction.

She lays bare all the things she did wrong growing up and hiding things from her parents, her self destructive behavior, drinking and getting caught staying out late, when the police had to bring her home. She tells from her point of view why she did these things despite her struggle to understand a relationship with God. She saw herself as a disappointment to Him, one that she couldn't measure up to when she failed and thus would end up spiraling right back into bad habits again. She shows readers how despite their lifestyle choices there is still hope and redemption in coming to God no matter how bad you think you might be. This is the story of her heartache and redemption back to God.

I received Growing Up Ziglar by Julie Ziglar Norman compliments of Summerside Press and Guideposts for my honest review. I think her honest and open story will really touch readers at the core of where they may find themselves and hopefully bring them back to God in the process. They will understand how deep and wide God's grace and forgiveness truly is and for that reason, I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about this book, the author and where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

Growing Up Ziglar by Julie Ziglar Norman

Shakespeare's Lady

For centuries, readers have debated the identity of the mysterious Dark Lady in William Shakespeare's sonnets. Emilia Bassano - lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth and one of the first women poets in England could be the answer.

In Shakespeare's Lady by Alexa Schnee, Emilia is one of the most dazzling ladies at court when she meets the little-known playwright William Shakespeare. Shakespeare sees the world like no one ever has before, and despite all odds, they fall in love. But the course of true love never did run smooth, and these star-crossed lovers must fight for their love - and eventually their lives. Shakespeare's Lady explores grace, forgiveness, and the forbidden love between the greatest poet the world has ever known and the woman who may have inspired him.

I received Shakespeare's Lady compliments of Summerside Press/Guideposts for my honest review and found myself whisked back to the 16th century and residing in Greenwich Court through the enchanting words of debut author Alexa Schnee. Always knowing that women back in that time period were treated as little more than property to be shared while looking for heirs to the throne, I find it interesting how Schnee gets Shakespeare involved in her story.

While Emilia is struggling to find her way through a series of encounters with men in the Queen's court. She can't help but have such a love for writing and creating stories which she pens alone in her room and keeps hidden beneath her covers. Her relationship with Henry Carey, a cousin of Queen Elizabeth, finds her appearance to be just like that of his mother, Anne Boylin. Now she finds herself a mistress to a man forty-five years her senior and wanting desperately to be free of the relationship, however since the Queen has approved it, her only way out will be if Henry dies or if she could conceive a child. This makes for an interesting tangled storyline and one that the reader will connect with through Emilia's eyes.

I rate this novel a 4.5 out of 5 stars for the authenticity the author creates through her debut writing and enchanting to see how romance plays out in the heart of her characters she has so eloquently created. This book does show how life was like in the Elizabethan time period and it was condone for men to have mistresses. That being said, the book does not go into great detail about the act of adultery with Henry Carey and other men, but is simply stated it occurred. I applaud the author for keeping the book more about the storyline and skipping details that didn't need to be elaborated on which is why I rated the book a 4.5 out of 5 stars. For more information on this book, the author and where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the link below:

Shakespeare's Lady by Alexa Schnee