The Cottingley Secret

Do you believe in fairies?

There are those that believe that just because you might have never seen them, doesn't mean they don't exist, even for those who have claimed to have seen them.

Until I picked up The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor, I had never heard of the Cottingley fairies and thus this is what excited me about this book. It is written in two time periods, one present day and the other a story read by the present day Olivia Kavanagh about the two young girls who played a prank that last more than 70 years. The story was written by Frances Griffiths in 1917-1924 which later became its own published work entitled Notes on a Fairy Tale. It would be published until many years later but it was the story of how Frances first found the fairies while sitting in a beck near a waterfall and caught them out of the corner of her eye. She knew without proof no one would believe her and like most 9-year-old girls at the time, she desperately wanted to tell her oldest cousin Elsie.

It was Elsie's idea to stage a stunt using her talented artistic skills in creating such life like details of fairies and stage a photo to look like Frances was interacting with them right in front of her. It was enough to convince her Aunt and Uncle as well as her own mother that fairies did exist and just outside their back door. For others in the Cottingley village it gave them hope at a time when the world was dealing with the war not knowing if husbands, fathers or sons would be returning. It is the very reason that Frances and her mother came to stay at the Cottingley cottage. To wait out the return of her father and husband from the war going on. Even well reknown Arthur Conan Doyle was convinced that the photographs of the fairies were proof they existed.

As Olivia Kavanagh takes over the inheritance left to her by her grandfather, an old bookstore with the name of Something Old, it is a place that draws a different life for Olivia. Believing that her future is already planned out with a future fiancè in London, she finds herself more drawn into the fairy story that she is reading bit by bit along with visiting her grandmother in a nursing home suffering from dementia whose time is very limited. She only hopes that in the weeks to come she can make headway to figure out how to make the bookstore profitable again and what to do with the blue cottage that her grandparents made a life together in. She is slowly running out of time, if only magic was real and the wishes of fairies could make it all better.

I received The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers. This is such an enchanting book from falling in love with all the things you'd be expected to find in an old bookstore to the enchanted life of two girls looking for magic and hope in world filled with fear and uncertainty. I really LOVED this entire book and the way it toggled between the time periods drew me in even further. The details that follow in the author notes and the photos that captivated a world during the war really completed the entire story for me. It does beg to ask the question, do you believe in fairies? There are plenty of people on both sides that could argue their point very convincingly, but just because you don't see it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. For me, this one easily garners a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. There are some great insights and discussion questions at the conclusion of this novel that would make it a definite book club selection and one for my permanent shelf.

For more information about The Cottingley Secret, Hazel Gaynor, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor

You can find Hazel Gaynor on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Cottingley Secret, please visit Harper Collins Publisher's website. 

Forty Autumns

What would it feel like to make a decision in one moment that would forever affect your life for the next forty years? Imagine your family having to make that decision for you? To lead a life of freedom or one of tyranny and oppression. I believe more of us need to learn the stories from those who lived without freedom. A historical journey into Germany's blackened past where at one conjuncture to defy freedom, a wall went up to separate one region of Germany for another. For what reason? Could it happen again?

In the novel Forty Autumns by Nina Willner, she shares her grandparents history which undoubtedly became her own legacy of a tough choice they had to face when totalitarian leaders ran Germany the way they saw fit. All about control. Taking away from the people at the conclusion of WWII, Germany tried to find a way to rise to the top again. In a nutshell all it did was point the world's eyes to the atrocities it was trying to hide while saving face to the world. Families were separated overnight. While others tried to escape in droves, most were shot without any sense of compassion or empathy, believing the propaganda they were being spoon fed made it justified. Overnight the wall went up in hopes of preventing any more East Germans from fleeing the country. With it any viable means of labor went with it.

This is one families journey through forty years. How they survived against the odds. How they learned to accept what was happening in order to stay together even though they didn't agree with it. How they managed to save one daughters life in an effort to give them the truth that could only come from the outside world away from East Germany. How one patriarch of the family Opa, vowed to do whatever he could to keep his family safe and protected even if it went against everything he believed and how one matriarch, Oma was the driving support behind keeping the family strong and loved, well-fed and held together in a city of their own that was falling apart.

I received Forty Autumns by Nina Willner compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers. I believe everyone needs to read this book, because it seems like our current nation is slowly striving to rewrite the history that needs to be told and shared, otherwise we will be doomed to repeat it. I clearly see signs in the works that this world might be headed to the very thing that should be left behind and that communism doesn't work. The power does not lie with the government but with the people. We need to know their stories and that is why this is such a critical book to be read and studied. I am horrified at the things we never studied in history. I guess to glaze over it in our history books in a very subtle paragraphs is an easy way to take out what should be known to those who faced it. These are the stories that should be shared. For this reason I am giving this book, a 5 out of 5 stars. There are some great historical notes following the book and some epilogues that highlight what happened later to those featured in the book. This has some amazing photos the author shares so you can honestly feel what it was like in those times.

For more information about Forty Autumns, Nina Willner or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Forty Autumns by Nina Willner

You can find Nina Willner on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest projects.

For more reviews on Forty Autumns, please visit Harper Collins Publisher's website. 

Life After Heaven

Heaven.

It's something all of us want to believe exists and even hope that we will enter into if we die after this life on earth. There have been numerous books written from those who have died and come back, all conveying similar experiences. So what would make any other book different? I would challenge you to read, Life After Heaven by Steven R. Musick and see how you feel after you read it.

Like all the other books, Steven R. Musick did die and went to heaven. First entering through the tunnel of light and entering into what he believes is heaven. He walked with a man who he believes was Jesus and discussed all the things that had happened in his life up to the point of his death and how God worked in situations he may not have recognized. He conveyed to Steven that it's not really about what good we do for others but how God can use any and all circumstances in our life to further His plan in our lives and those whom our lives come into contact with, like ripples in the pond. Sadly Jesus told him that he wasn't there to stay and within minutes was back in his old body away from heaven and Jesus. He explains it simply as "the experience to taking a kid to Disneyland, letting him ride just one ride, and then tossing him back in the car without explanation, a profound sense of loss." In fact Steven would go on to keep his life after death experience a secret for almost a decade, but during those years, he attempted to discover why Jesus told him he wouldn't stay.

When he returned to his body, he discovered that the years in front of him would be the ultimate test f his faith as he suffered from a decrease in lung capacity by 60% and every breath of air would be a truly gift from God. All his future plans were simply re-written and now he would have to find a new beginning with his wife and soon to be family of sons, ones he simply couldn't play with due to his own physical limitations. He wondered why his prayers would go unheeded by God for healing. "Many people - and I was one of them - equate God's work of healing us or giving to us with the prosperity gospel. That's a false notion that God exists to benefit us and give us what we want. That couldn't be further from the truth. But an opposite mistake of equal danger is to think that God is dome kind of sour pragmatist who only gives something to you with divine strings attached. God does not exist for our appeasement. Nor does he find some excuse outside of pure love to give something good to us.  He is a father. He loves to give things to his kids. Things we need. Things that make us joyful. Things that are good."(pg 113).

I received Life After Heaven by Steven R. Musick compliments of WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers. This goes beyond all the other books I have read on life after death on those believers and even non-believers that have seen what they believe is Heaven. This takes things a bit further. What does someone who has seen Heaven do when they come back? Are they changed for the better by having seen eternity? I believe that Steven has taken on God's challenge as he explains, "The economics of the kingdom of heaven are upside down: giving is better than getting, death can be life, life as the world sees it can be death, loss can be gain, gain can be loss. God's kingdom often flips the way we do little things upside down. In our culture we insulate ourselves in all kinds of ways. We cocoon. When the situation calls for it, God's volunteers needs to be able to strip away the cultural things to keep people apart." (pg 135).

I found myself challenged to really take my own personal relationship with God to a much deeper level than simply going through the bland Christian lifestyle, going to church, reading the Bible and praying when I remembered. This made me want to really understand what it means to connect with God more intimately and understand why I am here at all. "In terms of life on earth, I still have a retirement account," as Steve would say. "My purpose is to make my death worth living for. I mourn for what we're missing here on earth. I mourn for the things God offers here that we somehow choose not to appropriate. I mourn for the fullness we ignore, the love we don't recognize, the power and joy just waiting to be picked up by us. I would like to help everyone I can to receive a full measure of what's offered."( pg 141). I encourage you to pick this book up today and see for yourself what God's calling you to do with your life. You just might be surprised at what you find tucked inside and the reason I give this a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Life After Heaven, Steven R. Musick, or where you can preorder a copy of this book today due out on March 7, 2017, please click on the links below:

Life After Heaven by Steven R. Musick

You can download the first chapter of Life After Heaven by clicking here.

To read more reviews on Life After Heaven, please visit WaterBrook Multnomah Publisher's website.

Sully: The Untold Story Behind the Miracle on the Hudson

Sometimes in own lives, we have the distinct privilege of seeing a miracle in our life, yet on January 15, 2009, 155 people on US Airways flight 1549 and the world watched as one man saved the lives of everyone on board when a flock of birds took out both engines on the plane and forced Captain "Sully" Sullenberger to make a decision to ditch the plane in the Hudson River. It couldn't have been a more text book crash landing and one that saved the lives of everyone on board the plane.

But what lingers and most don't know is that the actions that should have made Sullenberger a hero, caused his actions to be scrutinized by the NTSB and the airlines because they all believed he could have saved the plane simply by returning to the nearest available airport and instead cost the airlines millions in losses. This was the basis for the Warner Bros movie that starred Tom Hanks as Sully Sullenberger and details just how miraculous a seasoned pilots split second decision truly was.

This just isn't a book about the event of that day, but what the media and others failed to show the world. It highlights the background of Sullenberger's military service and shows how his ethical standards to do what is right proved right despite all the flight tests to prove him wrong. It shows you that despite what people might think, there are still values worth fighting for in this world. Even if it means the odds are against you and you might have to stand alone to do it. I love the backstory to Sullenberger's life the best and showcases why he was just doing what he had been trained to do, and why being declared a hero in the eyes of the world was hard for him to understand and come to terms with.

 I received Sully: The Untold Story Behind the Miracle on the Hudson by Chelsey B. "Sully: Sullenberger III and Jeffrey Zaslow compliments of William Morrow Publishers, a division of Harper Collins Publishers. This book includes actual photos from the plane crash on the Hudson River as well as personal photos of Sullenberger in his earlier life growing up and becoming a future pilot. This is a personal memoir of one man's life that showed that God was saving him for a special purpose that would happen many years later but one that He had orchestrated all along. I easily give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Sully: The Untold Story Behind the Miracle on the Hudson, Chelsey B Sully Sullenberger, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Sully: The Untold Story Behind the Miracle on the Hudson by Chelsey B "Sully" Sullenberger and Jeff Zaslow

You can find Chelsey B. "Sully" Sullenberger on Facebook to stay up to date with all the latest information.

To read more reviews on Sully: The Untold Story Behind the Miracle on the Hudson, please visit William Morrow's website. 

Watchdog

When you think of the word Scandal, you are probably thinking something to do with Washington right? It is hard especially when you consider everything from the Benghazi murders, to the corruption that seems be never ending at all levels of government. You begin to wonder who is running this country and more and is there truly anyone out there willing to expose the truth?

In the book Watchdog, Darrell Issa, gives readers real stories behind the headlines from the Congressman who exposed Washington's biggest scandals. As I began to read this book, the one thing that really hit home is besides exposing these scandals, what else has been done? I believe more has to be done besides simply exposing this corruption, but it is holding people accountable from the bottom all the way to the top. It seems however that lately those committing this crimes are getting off with nothing more than a hand slap.

While the book Watchdog gives readers more of an inside look at the background of Darrell Issa, along with some of the biggest scandals he was responsible for investigating, it just seems that lately more needs to happen. Working on the Oversight Committee just means that he investigates and attempts to provide information necessary for further charges to be administered, but like most things in Washington, it all gets buried under more red tape.

The book does give you insight into how broad the corruption really is from bribes to money laundering, to uncover what is really happening in the Obama Administration and Hillary Clinton's state department. The one thing you really come to understand is while the truth might be exposed, there are those who will stop at nothing to ensure that these issues never come before the public, while paying off the media to simply look the other way. Makes one wonder if there is any hope for some real change. Guess we owe Nixon a huge apology for the way things were handled today in light of everything happening from Obama Care to the many issues with Hillary Clinton. One thing is certain, while people might want the truth, when it is exposed, nothing happens and that is where the true problem in Washington lies.

I received Watchdog by Darrell Issa compliments of Center Street Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased personal opinion. I was hoping for more than I honestly got and even though it really dug deep it saddened me as an American citizen to know that all we are seeing now is the tip of the proverbial iceberg. There is so much much more happening that we don't even get to see and part of that is given in this book. The worst part is that is seems like this monster is growing and there seems to be nothing to stop it. What will the world look like in another 10 years is downright frightening. I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Watchdog, Darrell Issa or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Watchdog by Darrell Issa

You can find Darrell Issa on Facebook to stay up to date on all his ongoing progress.

To read more reviews on Watchdog, please visit Center Street Publishing's website.

True Reagan

"Though Reagan was famous with his generation for having starred in movies, the fact was his resume included many more jobs than just appearing in films - all of them preparing him for and leading up to his ultimate starring role as President. Reagan was President for eight years, but the world was never on intimate terms with him. The world never owned a little bit of him as it has some other leaders who have lived out their personal lives in public. He made many of us feel better and more secure about our own lives but we were never invited into his. According to Fouad Ajami of Stanford University, 'The Reagan presidency was about America, and never about Ronald Reagan." (pg 63).

In the book, True Reagan by James Rosebush, readers are given a rare glimpse into the man who many considered the last great President of the United States, like we never have before. James Rosebush was the longest-serving Chief of Staff to Nancy Reagan and Deputy Assistant to President Reagan, and through this book, we learn what made Reagan tick, what was the secret to his greatness, the source of his influence, the key to his character and the strength behind his leadership?

"He has been out of office for nearly three decades, and yet the name of Ronald Reagan is heard often today. Even as history fades and the precise details of his presidency become less distinct, many believe that the fortieth President of the United States would have answers to the complex and almost implacable issues we face today, or, at minimum, he might have the bearing and the strength of character to significantly improve global geopolitical conditions. In our extraordinarily disruptive world, Reagan is recalled as a leader who could verbally wrestle global agitators into submission. Some people look for his character traits to be represented in the voices of today's leaders. Few find them there." (pg 1).

It is hard not to look back in history and see the confidence and strength that came from a man who gained the respect not only of his own country but of the world in his negotiations with some difficult situations in office. Many claim that Reagan was the one responsible for Gorbachev tearing down the Berlin Wall in spite of ongoing tensions during the Cold War with Russia. Many don't know that Reagan was both a Democrat and Republican, Actor, Life Guard, Sportcaster, Governor and President, but also the son of a preacher, not his father but mother, and wonderful devoted husband. While he led our country through eight years, he never hid behind his title or garnered attention in office. In fact, he was a private man who spent most of his time, living out his faith in ways many won't understand until he left office. He was bold, yet humble, strong yet assertive, and most of all I believe he was the last great President this nation has had.

I received True Reagan by James Rosebush compliments of Center Street Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Groups in exchange for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this book in exchange for my personal and honest evaluation. There are so many great quotes from this book in numerous speeches that Reagan gave during some of his highlights during his presidency. Since I grew up with him as President, I never considered the depth of his character until many years later. I feel I missed an opportunity to really know him in light of the recent presidents that have held office after his. You can't help but wonder how this country and world might be if he was still in office. For me, this one rated a 5 out of 5 stars and has found a permanent home in my personal library. Highly recommend to anyone looking for evidence of Reagan's faith while in office as President.

For more information about True Reagan, James Rosebush or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

True Reagan by James Rosebush

You can find Ronald Reagan Presidental Library on Facebook to stay up to date on all the latest projects.

To read more reviews on True Reagan, please visit Center Street Publishing's website. 

American Wife

If you're like most Americans, you've probably heard of Chris Kyle, the Navy SEAL who killed more people in war to save lives than ever before in history. He served three tours as a Navy SEAL while his wife Taya and their kids supported him from home. After each tour they believed he would come home and settle into a life with his family, but at his heart, he knew he was saving more lives by being there. For those of you that remember, Chris Kyle's life was memoralized in the novel American Sniper, which would later blow out box office records with the story of a man who truly served his country, sadly a movie he would never see come to fruition as he was killed trying to help a man here in the United States that was suffered from what some believed was PTSD. But that was Chris, always willing to help others, his was a life well served.

But behind the scenes like in most cases was Taya, his wife of more than 10 years, who had to piece together a life without the man she dreamed she would share it with. In American Wife, by Taya Kyle and Jim DeFelice, they share not only the story from Taya's perspective in what it was like being the wife of a soon-to-be infamous SEAL sniper, but also how she held it all together when facing the unknown whenever he left on another tour. Would he make it home this time?

It is the most incredible story of not only unconditional love, but how her faith saw her through the times she needed to move forward despite her feelings regarding Chris' death. It shows how war takes its toil on the family as well who live in a state of hoping that next phone call or doorbell isn't the fore bearer of bad news about Chris. It also shows what happens after the movie American Sniper ends and how Taya and the kids Bubba and Angel are finding a new life against insurmountable odds, not only with the recent lawsuit from Jesse Ventura but also in a business collaboration Chris co-owned with another man. It would soon play out after Chris' death that there are those who would benefit and profit in the most deployable ways just to make a point and take what they truly believe to be theirs in their own eyes.

I received American Wife by Taya Kyle and Jim DeFelice compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions are strictly my own. There is a depth in this book that I can't put into words that most never understand or see. How a family copes in light of war, what happens when things go south, how do you pick up the pieces and go on, but I love that we get to see another side of the love the Kyle's embraced, through emails Taya shares as well as some personal photos of the family. While it is never easy to move through grief, I believe Taya does it with grace and honor, and in the face of the adversity that still continues to this day, she holds fast to the support of family and friends and her faith in God. Well worth a full 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information about American Wife, Taya Kyle, Jim DeFelice, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

American Wife by Taya Kyle and Jim DeFelice

You can find Taya Kyle on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest efforts to support the service men and women through Chris Kyles Frog Foundation.

For more reviews on American Wife, please visit William Morrow's website. 

Love's True Second Chance

I am sure you can remember your first love. Perhaps it was in high school, college or even earlier than that. One thing is for certain, we never forget our first love. Jeff Dawson shares a unique personal memoir with us in Love's True Second Chances, where he tells the story of his first love, Debbie. In all romance stories, we know that two people will fall madly in love and get married to hopefully live happily ever after, but this is not the case in this one.

Jeff opens the book with a poignant poem that outlines the lives of Jeff and Debbie throughout the years culminating in the following chapter where he watches her life slowly slip away to the effects of cancer. Not exactly the way fairy tales open, but this is no fairy tale. This is the true life love story of the two who met in high school and found the one perfect love. Through a series of events they eventually break up as Jeff heads off to college with a broken heart.. It will be thirty years later before the two reconnect again and they wonder if they love they felt in high school is still there after all this time. One thing is definitely true in life, that true love never dies.

I received Love's True Second Chance compliments of Jeff Dawson for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation other than a complimentary copy of the book. It is a sad story, because the reader ultimately knows where it ends, but what a great and lasting legacy Jeff leaves to his children and Debbie's of the love the two of them shared from it's humble beginnings. It is always the questions children will ask later in life of their parents, who was their first love, how did they meet, what happened to that person, and in this book, Jeff shares his side of the love story, because death claimed Debbie before she could share hers. Truly an unforgettable story of true love that found a second chance and one I would rate a 4 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Love's True Second Chance, Jeff Dawson or where you can get a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Love's True Second Chance by Jeff Dawson

You can find Jeff Dawson on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest books.

If You Find This Letter

"Dear you,

You and I have never met so we should probably just start here. Before any other words get placed on this page, you should know that our time together is limited. We probably won't ever meet beyond this one encounter. You won't know me apart from the creases in this paper and swooping of my cursive. We won't ever sit down over coffee or laugh like we're plucking old jokes from our memory. We may never have this kind of thing and I want to learn to be okay with that...

I'm struggling. Struggling in a way that I don't know how to admit to anyone around me. I moved to New York City just two months ago and still haven't found myself at home among the clamor. I feel like I should have sunk more easily into this role as a New Yorker, as Somebody who doesn't speak and doesn't smile and sits in coffee shops alone and is just fine with the solitude. But I'm not. It's driving me crazy. I'm falling apart. I see a girl and a guy meet up in the center of Grand Central, after they've both said good-bye to the longer part of their day, and something inside me starts to ache. Because I want that familiar face. I want someone, anyone, to tell me I am not alone in all of this.

I don't know your story and I guess that doesn't really matter now; at least it doesn't stop me from wanting the very best for you. You deserve that, don't you know it?

It's a little funny. That's the thing we never say to one another - that we all deserve goodness. That we deserve the best stories. That our lives are something to be in awe of and we are just so lucky to be alive and breathing today. It is the first thing I forget. It will probably be the first truth I discard when I fold up this love letter and walk away. I will continue bustling around like crazy, thinking I might find another moment to tell someone how much they truly matter to me. And then I will forget to look up. And the day will suddenly be over. 

I don't want you to slip through my fingers like that so do me a favor and know the truth; You're worth it. You are absolutely, unbelievably worth it and you were made for mighty things. Keep pushing on. Keep pressing. Don't let anyone in this wide, wide world every try to snuff out the light you bring. Yo have to know that it matters. The world is going to try to convince you otherwise but don't listen. Please. Don't. Listen. You are a marvel. It matters that you are here. If ever you forget these things, come find me.

Sending light and love,

A girl just trying to find her way." (86-87).

In the book, If You Find This Letter by Hannah Brencher, you will uncover something pretty amazing about her and what she did with her life when she moved to New York City in search of meaning to her life. She found that by leaving random letters to people in a variety of places, she was touching a place that most people had in common with her, a need to feel worthy, a need to belong. This is a personal memoir of how writing love letters to people created its own powerful force in the world when The World Needs More Love Letters was launched to address the need for people to be encouraged and acknowledged in this world. From letters she received from her own mother and grandmother to the letters she would write to people in need, this is a truly unforgettable journey into how the actions of just one person can truly change lives forever.

I received If You Find This Letter by Hannah Brencher compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own unless otherwise notated. This book made me realize that we can all make a difference if we are only willing to step out in faith and try. For me it will be using my blog to reach out and offer encouragement to those who truly need it and to pray for people who ask. For those who are wondering what their purpose is in life, I would encourage you to read this book, you might just be surprised by the answers you find when you finish and thus the reason for a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about If You Find This Letter, Hannah Brencher or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

If You Find This Letter by Hannah Brencher

You can find Hannah Brencher on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest books.

To read more reviews on If You Find This Letter, please visit Howard Books's website. 

You can also visit The World Needs More Love Letters to request your own love letter. 

What's So Funny? My Hilarious Life

"Dear Jane,

Without your assistance, this would have been a pamphlet. - Tim"

If you have been around as long as I have, you might just remember Tim Conway, the comedian who graced our television sets with his delightful and unforgettable skits from such memorable shows like The Carol Burnett Show, McHale's Navy as well as movies like Disney's The Apple Dumpling Gang and The Shaggy D.A. But one thing remains clear, he is definitely committed to making people life and that in itself is truly a wonderful gift we all need more of.

In the book, "What's So Funny? My Hilarious Life by Tim Conway and Jane Scovell, the reader gets a look at the life behind the scenes of what made Tim who he is today. Reminiscing about his childhood living in Chagrin Falls, Ohio being the only child to Dan and Sophia Conway, we immediately get a sense that this isn't your usual autobiography. Written in the same manner that we all know Tim there are laughs scattered through this book to guarantee not only a smile but a laugh or two. There are the stories of Tim's mom, Sophia who was so conscientious with money that when it came to wallpapering his room as a young boy, she refused to spend money on wall paper paste and created her own from flour and water. The only problem is during the summer with the heat, it baked the paper and caused it to peel off the walls.

He shares another great example from his childhood about his parents quirks and how much they truly enjoyed each others company.

"They liked to do things together, like dancing. One time they decided to take dancing lessons at a local studio. At the first lesson they were given a strip of paper with two sets of footprints on it, one for the man and the other for the woman. It was a basic dance pattern. The idea was to take the sheet home, put it on the floor, put a record on the phonograph, and step on the appropriate footprints in time with the music. Simple, right? Not for my parents. When I came home from school, I found them standing in the middle of the living room with the music baring from the phonograph. They looked at me sheepishly and asked if I could help them. Help them? How could I help them when what they'd done was cut the footprints from the paper and pasted them on the bottom of their shoes? I guess they figured that would make the shoes magically do the steps. When it didn't happen they were stopped in their glued-on tracks." (pg 33).

There are so many great memories captured in this book from his encounters and friendships with Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Steve Allen, Ernie Anderson, Don Knotts and so many others that this is guaranteed to be a memoir like any other. There are practical jokes he played on police officers, Frank Sinatra, John Wayne as kids from his childhood growing up in school. I think some of the best parts are his time spent on the Carol Burnett show. It had me going back to YouTube to watch such notable episodes like The Dentist skit with Harvey Korman who Tim was challenged to make break down during the skit with laughter. This is truly a great book to enjoy.

I received What's So Funny? by Tim Conway and Jane Scovell compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions are strictly my own. I absolutely loved this book. Just the style in which it is written is such a easy going and likeable manner of Tim Conway that you can sense that he has truly enjoyed his life every step of the way. There are some great pictures capture inside that gives you an inside look at the love and laughter as well as personal friendships he has managed to capture after all these almost 80 years with us. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars! Thank you Tim for the memories and the laughter after all these years! You've made life a true joy!

For more information about What's So Funny?, Tim Conway, Jane Scovell or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

What's So Funny? by Tim Conway and Jane Scovell

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Howard Books (October 29, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1476726507
• ISBN-13: 978-1476726502
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches

Fields of Grace

"Why God? Why I am the only one left?"

These would be the same questions Hannah Luce would ask herself over and over as she began the slow road to recovery and healing being the only one to survive the plane crash that killed four of her closest friends and ones who were just beginning their lives working for Teen Mania Ministries. What Hannah shares in Fields of Grace, the book that chronicles not only what happened that fateful day that would forever change her life in more ways than she could remember but also shares how difficult her own road to discovery and faith has been being the daughter of a well known youth evangelist, Ron Luce, cofounder and CEO of Teen Mania Ministries.

This is the perfect book for anyone who is just beginning their spiritual walk or questioning where God is at in their dry moments when you wonder is this all there is in your faith walk. Hannah tells a very honest and compelling look at how she was raised and how she began at some point to wonder where God was at in all of it. She struggles with prayer and wondering why God doesn't answer her like she believes He should. She questions everything she has been raised to believe and wonders if there is something more out there than just what her dad has been teaching her.

She introduces us to Austin Anderson, the young man she meets while attending Oral Roberts University who is adored and charmed by countless women but has the most amazing friendship with Hannah because she is unlike anyone he has ever met since returning from two tours in Iraq and has been struggling to come to terms with his faith and seeing the horror of war. He and Hannah find themselves as true soulmates in every sense of the word even though they are not romantically interested in one another. It will be that same relationship that will be tested in the truest sense when their plane crashes.

Hannah tells how difficult it has been trying to find ways to reconnect with not only Austin but with Garrett Coble, the man that she believes was joining the flight that day to ask her to become part of his life, something that was shared between them but never honestly discussed until the day that would forever seal their fates and Hannah would never be able to tell Garrett her true feelings for him. She fondly remembers Austin's favorite quote from the movie Braveheart, "Every man dies, not every man really lives," and that is just how Garrett lived every moment of his life, a true hero to the end.

I received Fields of Grace by Hannah Luce and Robin Gaby Fisher compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars because I truly believe in all of our hearts, we have all had moments of doubt and wonder where God is in the midst of personal trials, struggles or losses we can not explain. This book helps cast aside those doubts and helps us to realize that most of the time God is simply waiting to be invited in, and not asked to prove His existence in our lives. This book is a love story about three friends whose bond cannot be broken by death.

Hannah Luce has decided to donate all proceeds of the sale of Fields of Grace to the nonprofit organization she formed Mirror Tree to aid in the research and to create opportunities for people in the United States to help rehabilitate and reintegrate female refugees and others suffering from the aftereffects of rape, genocide and the loss of identity. This was a dream Austin had and she wants to do all she can to see this dream become a reality and as a tribute to him and the work he had hoped to achieve.

For more information about Fields of Grace, Hannah Luce, or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Fields of Grace by Hannah Luce and Robin Gaby Fisher

To find out more about Teen Mania Ministries you can check them out on Facebook.

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Atria Books (October 22, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1476729603
• ISBN-13: 978-1476729602
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches

Rolling Pennies In The Dark

"For me and the millions of people across the planet who had or have it much worse than me, a recurring questions is "What's the point?"

For many of our fellow human beings in indescribable pain, it's natural to contemplate any and all ways to end such unbearable and unrelenting pain. Sometimes the black abyss just beyond the edge of the cliff looks like the answer. The only answer.

"What's the point?"

For some who are beaten down by the ravages of poverty and life, there is no point. Unless we can magically transpose ourselves into such people's horrific lives, then we have no business judging them. Sympathize, empathize, and help. But unless they commit crimes against civilized society, judge not.

As someone who has encountered some of the worst that life has to offer, I would only tell those standing at the edge of that abyss and considering the worst to step back as I did.

I would tell them - scream at them - that there is a point. There truly is. And that point, at least for me, is faith" (Pg 188).

In the book, Rolling Pennies in the Dark by Douglas MacKinnon, his is truly a memoir with a message. A message about what it's like to grow up poor, without food for days at a time, raised by parents who's goal in life was to find their way into the next Vodka bottle and forget about the 3 children they had. It's a harsh reality that springs to life on the pages of this book that really make you take a hard look at those you encounter on the streets or schools sometimes. That life isn't as easy for some as it is for others and those without, grow up thinking that their life is about as normal as it's supposed to be. They just have to keep trying to move forward in anyway they can. It is truly unforgettable.

Being a huge book lover, I find myself challenging myself to step outside my favorite book genres and read memoirs to see a different side of life than the one I had growing up. It's passages like this one that really make a connection for me:

" As we were driving, I noticed a hardcover copy of The Wizard of Oz lying on the floor at my feet. Having nothing better to do than watch my dad's head slip closer and closer to the steering wheel on the way to a drunken mini-coma, I picked up the book and started reading the first page. By the end of the night, I had read the entire book.

For me, it was magic. By reading The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, I was able to magically and instantly transport myself far away from the hunger, dirt and uncertainty that were my life. Because of the talent and gift of an author, I was able to immerse myself in written words that possessed a very real and tangible healing power. To me, it was nothing short of a minor miracle.

As long as there were words on a page, I had the opportunity to travel back in time, across vast oceans, to mythical lands, or into outer space. I had the chance to escape and give my battered mind a much-needed reprieve." (Pg 34-35).

I received Rolling Pennies in the Dark by Douglas MacKinnon compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review. I think we all need to read books like this, if nothing more than to open our eyes up to the people around us that we may encounter who desperately need help in any way we can. We come from a nation that is truly blessed and the reality is, that is we all worked together, there would be no more homeless people, orphaned children, and people doing without anymore. I would encourage you all to read this amazing memoir and see if it doesn't truly impact you in a powerful way. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Rolling Pennies in the Dark, Douglas MacKinnon or where to pick up a copy of this wonderful memoir, please click on the link below:

Rolling Pennies in the Dark by Douglas MacKinnon

Hope Unseen

Captain Scotty Smiley, might not see things like we do, but it doesn't mean he doesn't see what is important and how to live his life despite seemingly difficult circumstances. While serving in Mosul in Iraq he became the target of a suicide bomber and subsequently lost his eyesight. He could have dealt with things as most of us would have and simply come home and attempt to live a life as best as he could now being completely blind, but he didn't. He did things most of us only imagine. He scaled the heights of Mt. Rainer, served as the army's first action-duty blind officer and its first blind company commander.

He continues to inspire countless numbers of people including myself to stop feeling sorry for what life has dealt you and instead move forward in the grace and strength that God has given us all. In each chapter, you see how difficult things are for Scotty to pick up the pieces and simply do what all of us with sight can do. Perhaps we are the ones who are truly blind and Scotty has been given a different set of eyes to see the possibilities in life, if we are only willing to take a step of faith and move forward. I truly believe that this book is a great inspirational story and the perfect gift for those facing their own set of unique circumstances that are attempting to hold them back. It will hopefully provide them with enough hope that they don't have to settle for anything less than what God has in store for them. The possibilities are truly endless.

I received Hope Unseen by Captain Scotty Smiley compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review. I truly value my gift of sight, and wouldn't know where to begin to do even some of the things that Scotty did. I could never imagine in my wildest dreams, taking on a mountain climb to a 14,000 foot summit, across endless ice bridges only strong enough to support one man, and knowing you must walk it alone with only words and a rope as your guide. Just closing my eyes and attempting to navigate a sidewalk is challenging enough for me. Scotty Smiley is a true inspiration to those of us that often wonder where the heroes are in this world. In my book, he is one of the greatest. I easily rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend this one if you are feeling with no hope in your life. Perhaps it might change how you "see" your life!

For more information about Hope Unseen, Captain Scotty Smiley, Doug Crandall or where to pick up a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

Hope Unseen by Captain Scotty Smiley and Doug Crandall. 

You can also find Captain Scotty Smiley on Facebook. 

To learn more about where to purchase a copy of this book and read an excerpt, please click here. 

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Howard Books; 1 edition (September 14, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439183791
• ASIN: B004L2KMS8
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1 inches