Undetected by Dee Henderson

Unusual.  Unexpected.  Unpredictable. Unlikely to be put down anytime soon. That’s how I describe Undetected, the latest novel by Dee Henderson. Undetected is the story of Mark Bishop, Commander of the submarine USS Nevada, and Gina Gray, a genius in the scientific world.  Gina has made several breakthroughs in naval warfare for the Navy that has put the USA leagues ahead of other countries.  Once her brain gets going, it can’t stop.  She had made another major breakthrough and shares it with Mark, whose high rank can get it into the hands of the people that most need to know about it.  These breakthroughs, while extremely helpful, can put both their lives in danger, should the information slip into the wrong hands.

 

I absolutely love how I cannot anticipate anything in Dee Henderson’s books. She really knows how to keep the reader guessing, and Undetected was no different.  Ms. Henderson is very thorough in her research, and this is very evident in her writing.  Her descriptions of the different areas and the activities of the submarine were very enlightening, and helpful in understanding the entire story line.  The reader has to be careful not to get bogged down by the technical descriptions, but perseverance is rewarded by the end of the book.  It seemed a little slow starting off, but it does not take long to be entranced by the story.  There are several on-the-edge-of-your-seat moments (more in this book than in the last couple of books).  This book is a good book for anyone who enjoys books with a lot of action, and anyone who has enjoyed Ms. Henderson’s other books.  I definitely look forward to her future releases. 

          

                 

Review of Full Steam Ahead by Karen Witemeyer

Karen Witemeyer’s books have been on the top of my must-have list since the first one I read.  So, if you can imagine, I was “Full Steam Ahead” to read this latest book, and I did not let up on the steam until I had finished.  Nicole Renard is on the search for a husband to fulfill her father’s requirements for an heir (all the while trying to keep the family’s greatest treasure safe) when her journey brings her to Darius Thornton. Darius is searching for a way to make steam travel safer for people and has a hard time finding someone who can help him with his research.  He finds the perfect research partner in Nicole.  As they come to know more about each other, the steam is not the only thing heating up between these two. Throughout the boiling and the cooling phases of their relationship, Nicole and Darius find more than they ever dreamed in each other. 

 

Karen Witemeyer’s astounding attention to the details of the process and the history of steam ships was very evident in the book.  I could tell that she had really completed the necessary research to be so very thorough in explaining the processes of steam ships.  It greatly added to the story line.  Understanding the working of a steam ship was paramount to understanding Darius.  Nicole seems like she might be a bit shallow at first, but she has a maturity and depth that soon becomes apparent.  Readers will quickly fall in love with these two great characters, and the sub characters that fill in the rest of the story.  Well, there were a couple I didn't like, but I'll let you figure that out on your own.  All in all, this was a great book and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical romance.  There’s adventure, romance, and everything else needed to make for a very enjoyable read. 

               

Telling Yourself the Truth book review

The Bible says in the book of John that you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. The goal of Telling Yourself the Truth by Marie Chapian and William Backus was to help people identify misbeliefs that they tell themselves and use truth to combat depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders. Chapian and Backus surmise that most of our anxiety and depression and other mental issues evolve from the negative self-talk and misbeliefs that we tell ourselves in areas such as fear of change, not taking chances, depression, anger, and self-control. They give real life examples, and counter those examples with ways to change the misbeliefs into truth. 

 

The authors cover many areas in the book where negative self-talk and misbeliefs might come into play. The real life examples really help in understanding oneself and identifying misbeliefs in the different areas.  They also bring the Christian life and Scripture into the picture, how our real meaning in life is found in Christ. Other areas covered in the book are self-hate, anxiety, being indispensable, and relationships with others. There are questions and examples in the back to further help the reader identify and tackle misbeliefs and get them on the path to happiness.

 

I would suggest this book for anyone who works in the field of mental health, and anyone wanting to start themselves down the path to happiness, away from depression, and anxiety, and misbeliefs. It's not a book that I think would be effective for myself, but I believe that it could be a great help for others.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. My opinions are my own. 

Just where did you get that lovely dress, Eleanor? (A Beauty So Rare post)

Here is another post from Tamera Alexander about her book A Beauty So Rare. This post is about the beautiful dress shown on the front cover of the book. I finished the book last week and enjoyed it very much! I've also enjoyed learning background facts about the book.  It makes the book much more interesting (not that it needed help)!  I hope you have too!

Meet the Woman Behind the Cover Dress

by Tamera Alexander

 

Dear friends,

 

Have you ever wanted to meet the woman who sewed the dress on a novel cover? Then please allow me to introduce you to Beth Schoenherr, the ever-so-talented seamstress who sewed Eleanor Braddock’s dress for the cover of A Beauty So Rare.

 

I’m thrilled that Beth was willing to share about her experience in making the dress, and I love the behind-the-scenes glimpses she shares. I hope you will, too!

 

Tamera: Where did inspiration for the dress for A Beauty So Rare come from (both the style and color)?

 

Beth: The style, of course, was determined by the post–Civil War timing of the story.

 

I believe the cover designer and editors talked about a garden setting and felt pink would look lovely against the backdrop of the green foliage and other flowers, which it does! I then had the fun of finding the right shade of pink to keep it a believable color for the time. Hot pink or neon pink, of course, would never do!

 

Tamera: Um, no. LOL! Not even Adelicia Acklen could have coerced Eleanor into neon pink! ; )

 

Tamera: Have you made dresses for photo shoots before?

Beth: I started doing period costumes for men, women, and children in amateur theater in 1999 and then had opportunities in the following years to progress to working in the costume shop of a professional theater. This is my first costume for a photo shoot, however.

 

Tamera: How cool, Beth. I’m so grateful for your work on this dress. Well done!

 

Tamera: Do you have an appreciation for period clothing? And if yes, what’s your favorite style of women’s dresses from history?

 

Beth: I do enjoy period clothing. I don’t think I can pick one favorite style though. I just enjoy the various and changing silhouettes and fabrics throughout the history of fashion.

 

Tamera: Understandable. I have many "favorites," too!

 

Tamera: What’s the most challenging dress you’ve created for a cover (and what was most challenging about it)? Also, what has been your most challenging sewing project in general?

 

Beth: As I mentioned, this is the first dress I have made for a cover. It has been really fun and exciting to create this dress from scratch and then see it on the cover of this book. A new experience I had when making this dress was the cartridge pleats at the back of the skirt. The pattern called for the front and side pieces of the skirt to be pleated to fit into the waistband and left only a five-inch opening in the back of the waistband. Then I had to fit the 50-inch-wide piece of fabric for the back part of the skirt into that five-inch opening. I thought, “There is no way I’m going to get that much fabric into that little space.” But the cartridge pleats worked fabulously at neatly pleating 50” down to 5”.

The most challenging costume I worked on was a waistcoat designed and then cut out by someone else and given to me to sew. Not a single piece matched up in size to its coordinating piece. There was no extra fabric to work with so I had to just rework the pieces I had while making sure the finished garment would still fit the actor it was designed for. Definitely a “make it work” project!

Finally, probably the most thrilling dress I got to make was the first complete dress for a play at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. Many of my costumes prior to that had to be remakes of existing dresses or costumes due to tight budgets. But I was graciously given the opportunity to sew, from start to finish, the schoolteacher dress in Little House on the Prairie: The Musical, which premiered at the Guthrie and then went on to tour nationally. It was so exciting to see the professionally-designed dress come together step-by-step and then to see it on stage.

 

Tamera: Wow, Beth, I bet that was a rewarding experience with Little House on the Prairie: the Musical. Congratulations! I’ve always admired people who know how to sew, and sew well!

 

Thank you for sharing your talent and time with us––and with the cover of my latest novel.

 

~Tamera

www.TameraAlexander.com

 

 

For more "behind the scenes" glimpses from the photo shoot for A Beauty So Rare, visit Tamera's blog.

The Doubter's Prayer by Anne Brontë

My heart echoes the very same cry at times.  What faith Anne must have had, as short as her life was. 

ETERNAL Power, of earth and air!
Unseen, yet seen in all around,
Remote, but dwelling everywhere,
Though silent, heard in every sound.

If e'er thine ear in mercy bent,
When wretched mortals cried to Thee,
And if, indeed, Thy Son was sent,
To save lost sinners such as me:

Then hear me now, while, kneeling here,
I lift to thee my heart and eye,
And all my soul ascends in prayer,
Oh, give me–give me Faith! I cry.

Without some glimmering in my heart,
I could not raise this fervent prayer;
But, oh! a stronger light impart,
And in Thy mercy fix it there.

While Faith is with me, I am blest;
It turns my darkest night to day;
But while I clasp it to my breast,
I often feel it slide away.

Then, cold and dark, my spirit sinks,
To see my light of life depart;
And every fiend of Hell, methinks,
Enjoys the anguish of my heart.

What shall I do, if all my love,
My hopes, my toil, are cast away,
And if there be no God above,
To hear and bless me when I pray?

If this be vain delusion all,
If death be an eternal sleep,
And none can hear my secret call,
Or see the silent tears I weep.

Oh, help me, God! For thou alone
Canst my distracted soul relieve;
Forsake it not: it is thine own,
Though weak, yet longing to believe.

Oh, drive these cruel doubts away;
And make me know, that Thou art God!
A faith, that shines by night and day,
Will lighten every earthly load.

If I believe that Jesus died,
And, waking, rose to reign above;
Then surely Sorrow, Sin, and Pride,
Must yield to Peace, and Hope, and Love.

And all the blessed words He said
Will strength and holy joy impart:
A shield of safety o'er my head,
A spring of comfort in my heart.

Truly Beautiful Book: A Beauty So Rare

A Beauty So Rare by Tamera Alexander is the second book in the Belmont Mansion Series.  It is a stand-alone novel and can be read without reading the first book (once you read this one, you'll want to read the first one).  It is set in post-Civil War Nashville.  Eleanor Braddock has come to Nashville to seek care for her father and pursue her passion for cooking.  Marcus Geoffrey arrived in Nashville from Austria, pursuing his passion for horticulture while trying to escape his obligations in his homeland (if only for a short time).

 

It didn’t take me long to really connect with Eleanor’s character, especially being an older, single female considered by most to be plain-looking in an era (or area) where marital status was considered very important by most.  Eleanor has been thrust into the role of caretaker and provider when she should have had someone to provide and care for her.  Eleanor is reliant upon the generosity of her aunt, who is trying to pressure her into joining a society in which she doesn’t feel she belongs. 

 

Upon her arrival in Nashville, Eleanor meets Marcus.  Marcus works on her aunt’s estate with the plants.  He is also an architect. Marcus strives for advancements is several areas of horticulture, something which he could not have accomplished in his homeland.  As Marcus and Eleanor’s lives become entwined, it doesn’t take long for the reader to feel as if she (or he) is one with the story, a silent character witnessing the scenes of the book firsthand. 

 

Mrs. Alexander is a master at weaving the story line, main characters, and sub-characters into altogether to create a novel a person will not soon forget.  Her acute attention to the historical details only increases the charm of the story.  I fell in love with the characters, and found it extremely hard to put the book down even for a second.  If you love romance, and enjoy history, then this book is a must read for you!

 

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.  My words and opinions are my own.

 

            

A review of The Deeper Life by Daniel Henderson

 

Everyone has unmet and unfulfilled longings in their life.  The goal of The Deeper Life – Satisfying the 8 Vital Longings of Your Soul by Daniel Henderson is to show Christians how to fulfill these longings, using stories and activities to help the reader throughout the book.  This book discusses God, human identity, purpose, things of importance, reasons for our actions, and knowing the truth verses actually living 

Christians how to show what their principles and priorities really are through the way they are living.  The book works as an aid to show how to set goals and make a plan on how those goals are going to be achieved.  The end result is that the reader will have learned how to satisfy the longings through these steps.  The last part of the book includes an appendix with activities to aid the reader in accomplishing all the steps.  These are vital exercises to help the reader put the principles from the book into practice.   

 

I had a hard time getting into this book.  I think the principles and the subjects discussed in the book are very important, but I do not feel that this was the right book for me to get these principles.  It may have been because I was reading the book on my own, and not in a group.  I feel that this would be a very good book to read in a group setting, to give the reader an opportunity to discuss the subjects and principles mentioned with other people.  Reading in a group setting is mentioned in the introduction and may be the way the author intended for the book to be used. 

 

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.  My words and opinions are my own.