Sproul is a favorite author of mine
347495
Does God Control Everything?  Very interesting.  R.C. Sproul is a favorite author of mine.  His writing is clear and understandable for anyone to read.  I agree with the fact that God is very involved in our life.
1872581
I am in love with Shelly Hobbes. Templeton Moss is a talented writer who gives his characters heart and warmth. I love the modern take on the Sherlock Holmes stories. There is an old-timey feel to Shelley Hobbes, with its whimsy and innocence, which is a refreshing change from the gritty realism so pervasive in today's YA novels. At the same time, the books have a thoroughly modern sense of humor. One thing is for sure: I know that I can trust that any book by Templeton Moss will delight my children.
2280494
This book starts off in the beautifully traditional way the world has grown to love.  Client walks in, meets Spenser and after a verbal stoushe or two, Spenser is hired to solve said client's problem.  In this case, the client is afraid that his wife is having an affair and he wants Spenser to find out, but at this early stage of the book, nothing more.

The next chapter leads the reader to another glorious re-introduction to the delightfully effervescent and brilliant Susan Silverman.  I know a lot of readers find her irritating but I just love her to bits.  Her dialogue and interactions with the love of her life electrify most of the volumes of this by-now world famous series, and she also manages to lend a supporting hand to both Spenser and the reader to solve the crimes.  The relationship seems to be on solid ground once more and this is reinforced on page nineteen of the paperback version with this adorable quote:

I liked rain.  I thought it was romantic.  Susan didn't like it.  It ruined her hair.  I sometimes wondered how we could possibly be together.  About the only thing we liked in common was us.  Fortunately we liked us a lot.

Anyway, back to the plot.  Hawk appears from stage left on page twenty five.  We learn an interesting fact about Spenser on page twenty nine (interestingly and perhaps significantly whilst in the company of Hawk) and the book has suddenly gotten mean and heavy by the end of chapter eight.

This book is brilliant.  In a star studded line up of classic, truly authentic mystery novels, this is as good as they come.  The quality of the writing is as fine as any Spenser book ever penned, and Parker uses rain of all things as a recurring theme throughout.  Discussion on the state of a persons soul being tortured by doing the things they love is also raised, so the reader is delighted to stop reading for a moment and just sit and ponder.

The topic of infidelity has, by now, become almost moot  and is washed away in an ocean of irrelevancy to be replaced by murder, political intrigue and even hints of terrorism.  Talk about getting more than you bargain for!  Clearly I am impressed by this book.  NOW AND THEN is one of the all time great Spenser novels.  Of course it is hugely recommended.

BFN Greggorio!
1593463
For anyone interested in self preservation through healthy eating, this is the book for you. I'm delighted to know that a person can live and especially thrive on sprouts. Equally exciting was the history I discovered in this book about Quinoa (and even how to pronounce it - keen-wa) and the science behind why some sprouts are beneficial for preventing certain diseases. Steve also brings to light some fungicides and pesticides used in commercial agriculture... and as you probably guessed they aren't good for you.

Steve does a great job telling you what's what about sprouts including how to grow them, what you need to know about different seeds, why to eat them, what some nutritional values looked like, and he even provided a growth and harvest chart that I found useful. His personal experience with healing is inspiring but you won't read about that in here; this book's purpose is to quickly educate you and get you farming your own sprouts... now.

My wife and kids are traditional eaters, but they sure did enjoy watching me grow the sprouts and then sampling them with me. After reading the book, growing them was easy and it's actually inexpensive. The flavor was wonderful. If you haven't tasted organic sprouts you haven't tasted true flavor.

If you're thinking about growing your own, there is something about it I think everyone should experience and Steve's book will get you off to a successful start.
2112279
I enjoy reading about favorite characters.  Susan Wiggs weaves thm in while introducing you to new ones. Really enjoy her writing.
1419528
I was brought up with Arnold Lobel, and this one was always my favorite. I think it some of the irony in the illustrations make it something even adults should be able to enjoy. And the best children's books are ones that can be enjoyed on multiple levels.
4267244
Woodsmall has given us three books in one and though I liked each one of them, I think my favorite is The Sound of Sleigh Bells. The way the author brought love into Beth and Jonah's lives was such a unique story.

She definitely has a way with words and with giving us wonderful characters. I'm certainly waiting for more of her books! 5 out 5 stars!
I received an ecopy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
612417
This was bought for my kindle to read with a pie and a pint. It's a steal as the cheapest of those three, lasting the longest, of course, but still feeling fresh and stimulating in the last third.

'Spud' is an inspired character. All the scarier for the laughs and the realism. There are so many fascinating characters that at times the book seems to be seething with as much life as the India it portrays. The book definitely made me want to visit the places it features, but it makes me wish for a sequel even more.
1270420
I received a free copy of this book from the Author Jacob M Appel.

I have become a huge fan of Jacob M Appel's. I had not heard of him until I won a copy of one of his short story collections.

This collection did not disappoint. I really liked the fact that the first few stories all took place in the same city. So even though they were completely different stories they felt very connected.

I found that as the stories progressed I found myself enjoying them more and more and I have to say the final story "The Vermin Episode" was my favorite.

I found "Rods and Cones" to be so tragic. As I was reading the story I couldn't decide whether to feel sorry for or think the main character should be hospitalized.

I have found that Jacob M Appel has a way of writing a story that is not only entertaining but so layered that you find yourself thinking about it later and trying to puzzle out if there are any additional meanings to the story beyond the obvious.

I look forward to reading more from this author.
1803812
I have read 3 of Paul's books so far, and loved two of them. I don't know how, but for a large portion of  Sauerkraut and Wolf to the Slaughter, Paul had me rooting, or at least liking, the 'bad guy(s)'. The writing is well done and the plot interesting . I've ordered more
24126
I love The Lakeshore Chronicles. Every one of them. Susan Wiggs writes with such clarity. It makes me feel like I'm there and I know the characters.  Loved it
76883
I was delighted to find The Rose Blooms, which is the sequel to Eight Cousins, my favorite book.  I look forward to reading more hidden gems.  Yes the editing is bad, missing many commas and leaving some phrases indecipherable.  But it wasn't bad enough to ruin the story.  I plan on buying paper copies of my favorite books in this edition, and am very glad it became available.  I am a 29 year old female with four children, and we spend plenty of time in read alouds.
4174839
Dr. Sproul has written a wonderful book about the absoult sovereignty of God.  Like a breath of fresh air, Sproul shows us from Scripture the awesome power of God to accomplish His purposes in the earth.  Sproul uses various texts from both the Old and New Testament to reveal the biblical picture of a God who is in control of all things even when it doesn't seem that He is.

I greatly enjoyed how Sproul stayed true to the Bible as his authority.  While he does quote from other authors and from the Westminister Confession of Faith, Sproul does not get bogged down in the heated debate between the Calvinist and Arminian over God's sovereignty.  He simply shows from Scripture that God is in control.  No-one can argue with that.

In the end, I greatly enjoyed this book.  While it read like a devotional, the book lifted my faith in the absolute power of God.  Romans 8:28 hasn't been more precious since I finished this book.  You too will enjoy this book as you study the Scriptures concerning the hand of God's providence in all things.  You will pray to your Father knowing that He is sovereign (Matthew 6:8).
3656333
R. C. Sproul has written another wonderful children's book which my boys thoroughly enjoyed. They asked me to read it again once I had finished, and they have asked to look at the pictures over and over again. I have enjoyed R. C. Sproul's other children's books just as my boys have enjoyed them so we were all excited to read this one together. Plus once we started, and we discovered the priest's name was Jonathan, my boys thought the story was about me so it made it all the more fun.

The story begins with Darby and Campbell playing in mud and ruining their clothes. Their grandfather arrives and is aware of the situation and tells the children a story. In the story a priest named Jonathan is given his new robes after ordination and tasked with a call to preach at the King's castle. On his trip to the castle, he is caught in a thunderstorm, and his robe is ruined in the mud. He has no way of cleaning it prior to entering the King's court and preaching his sermon. The King's adviser Malus saying he shouldn't be able to stand with such dirty clothes so the King send him back to get clean robes and return next week.

Jonathan is unable to get his clothes clean, and the bishop that ordained him is only allowed to give him one robe which is now ruined, however, he does suggest visiting the Prince to see if he can help. He visits the Prince and asks for help, and he is assured that if he goes to the King's castle in his dirty clothes all will be taken care of if he only trusts his word and promise. Jonathan travels back the next week to the King's castle believing the Prince and stands in the King's presence to preach and the Prince shows up and takes his dirty clothes and gives him his royal robes. He is now able to stand in the King's presence and preaches the best sermon ever. He is called to live thankfully, faithfully, and obediently to the king.

Overall, I was pleased with the story, and as I mentioned my boys loved it and wanted to read it again. I had a few theological problems with the book though I almost want to laugh saying this about a children's book. However, R. C. Sproul has designed his children's books to be about theological truths so I don't think this fact should be forgotten. First, I didn't like the fact that the priest didn't do anything wrong to get his clothes dirty. He was simply caught in a thunderstorm. The reason this is a little bit of an issue to me is that his dirty clothes are meant to relate to our sinful and dirty hearts. I don't think the connection is very good. Second, I don't like the fact that the King who represents God the Father is so passive as if He can't do anything because of justice or something outside of himself. The story seemed to make it out that the Father isn't interested in saving or redeeming us but only does so because His Son steps up and takes our place. I think it is neglecting the Bible theme of the Father's love for us in sending His Son. Third, I think the idea of a transfer of righteousness is present with the imagery of the new robes. We don't just clothe ourselves in the righteousness of Christ, we are clothed in the Righteous One, Jesus Christ. It is a subtle difference but an important one. Finally, in the section for parents, the priest is representative of Christians. I think this is confusing as it seems to imply you can be a Christian apart from union with Christ. This to me is confusing if you are teaching a child especially if you have baptized children whom the Lord has claimed as His own in the waters of baptism. They are already clothed in Christ. They don't need to have some type of conversion experience, and I don't want my boys to think this way. They have been claimed by Christ, and they are to faithfully love him and serve him all their days.

I received a complementary copy of The Priest with Dirty Clothes from Reformation Trust in exchange for an honest review.
671633
I just love finding happy books with delightful characters - friends I want to hang our with, others I recognize from my own life - blending together in the magical souls exposed way Sarah Addison Allen seems to pen so effortlessly!

The Peach Keeper is another winner from Sarah Addison Allen!
327049
I love Doug's writing. He makes my not-so-green thumb a little greener with each read!!
3298100
Susan Wittig Albert, author of 17 China Bayles mysteries set in fictional Pecan Springs, TX has written a book celebrating the world of mystery and the magic of herbs. Fans of the China Bayles series know that China owns an herb shop called Thyme and Seasons Herb Company, and solves mysteries that quite often have an herbal theme.

Book of Days is a fitting companion to the series as Albert delves deeper into the world of herbs and how they are used. The daily entries include  information on how to grow and use herbs, recipes, crafts, folk lore, and further resouces for those who desire more knowledge.

As detailed as Book of Days is, it is also an easy read for newcomers to the world of herbs. It is a pleasure to open this wonderful book each day and find out what treat Albert has provided.