Strength, Courage and Faith Found in Sidelined by Chuck Pagano

 

 

Sidelined by Chuck Pagano is Coach Chuck Pagano’s story of his battle to beat leukemia. This book, like in life and football, is about digging deep and fighting with all the strength, courage, and perseverance you can muster then add in the most important ingredient Faith and you have Chuck Pagano’s fight to concur his battle with leukemia.  You do not have to be a football fan or even know anything about football to read this book. The lessons about believing and having faith in God’s plan for what is happening in your life is the most important thing to take away from this book and that is for everyone football fanatic or not.

Coach Pagano had everything going for him, a great family, a wonderful wife and the dream job he had always wanted when he was blindsided by this disease.  He didn’t give up and with the help of family, friends and his Faith in God he found strength to win his battle with leukemia. This book is an excellent encourager and really a guide to how to face adversity. It shows that if you believe God loves you and wants to use you in all situations than half the battle is won. I recommend this book not just for reading an amazing story about a famous football coach who overcame the odds but also to those who might be going through a struggle of some kind. Just remember to have Kleenex close by when reading this.

I know what it is like to be in a good place and then out of nowhere you are hit with a disease that changes everything. I always said and believed God was trusting me to use me through my illness to help others and that is what Chuck Pagano’s friend Kevin Elko tells him in one of my favorite lines from the book. Kevin Elko is telling Chuck that God is preparing to use him through this illness, “Chuck, you are going to come out of this battle—and you will come out of it victorious—and when you do, you will be closer to God. You will be drawn to helping people more than you have ever been . “ pg 100 “ Later he tells him “ The tree will be pruned, and when it is pruned, it will bear fruit. You were selected to be pruned. And you are going to be different than you ever were.” Pg 101

I hope you will read this book it will encourage you I am sure.

If you would like to learn more about this book go to

http://www.familychristian.com/catalog/product/view/id/269224/

 

I received this book from Family Christian to review and give my honest opinion.

Faith, Courage and Heroism All Found in Out of the Depths by Edgar Harrell

Out of the Depths by Edgar Harrell is a true story of faith, courage, and heroism. This is a book about the sinking of the USS Indianapolis in WWII where out of almost 2000 men only 317 survived and what the survivors faced waiting to be rescued. This is Edgar Harrell’s story of what happened and how he was in the water waiting to be rescued, relying on his faith in God to make it through his ordeal.

I was captivated by the heroism shown in the face of such horrendous circumstances and how hope was found in clinging to faith in God, Edgar Harrell tells his story and the others that survived with him from before, during and after the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, including the cover up and the making of Cpt. McVay the scape goat for the sinking. It is well written and easy to read and also told in a way that is not too graphic, but at the same time the reader is able to understand and picture the ordeal the survivors faced while in the shark infested water waiting for days to be found and rescued.

 

This is a book that those who love history, especially military history will want to read. It is also for those who want to read about how your faith in God can and will see you through any circumstance. It is a book about strength, courage, heroism and faith in the time of one of the worst tragedies of the NAVY during WWII. I would recommend this book to be added to your must read list of books.

 

One of my favorite line of the book was when Edgar Harrell realizes the ship is sinking and he is facing death and he prays and calls out to God, “I knew within my heart that God was answering my prayers and was going to see me through. As the finite security of the great Indianapolis slipped away beneath my feet, the infinite security of the Almighty bore me up and gave me peace-a supernatural peace promised in His Word” pg67

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O Africa by Andrew Lewis Conn My Review

 

O Africa by Andrew Lewis Conn a novel about a changing time in the movie industry wrapped around the lives of two brothers who are successful in the silent era trying to keep their success in talkies.

 

This book is about the movie industry when it is going from silent movies to talkies. It is about two brothers, one who is  bold, outrageous and always taking chances who is a director while his brother is more introverted, afraid to rock the boat so to speak, and he is the camera man who does the shoots for the movies he and his brother make. They get sent to Africa to shoot film that then can be sold to other pictures and studios to use in their movies. A new way to make money for their production company and partners. Africa seems to be trouble for them and a lot of problems arise for them.

 

I never give a bad review but I must say I was disappointed by this book. I was hoping to have it more about the movie industry and less about their dysfunctional  personal life.  This is not a book for me,  but maybe others might like it. I can not recommend it.  What little it talked about the movie industry is good but it seems to be more about the sexual exploits,  and trouble the two can get in than the industry of making movies in an era of change for the industry.  I won't be reading anymore books by this author.

 

If you want more info you can check out this:

http://www.randomhouse.com/book/232106/o-africa-by-andrew-lewis-conn

http://www.randomhouse.com/author/181923/andrew-lewis-conn

I received a copy of this book from Blogging for Books for my honest opinion and review

A Treasure Found in the Reading of Rebekah's Treasure by Sylvia Bambola

Rebekah's Treasure by Sylvia Bambola is a wonderful addition to any library. It is 70 A.D. and Jerusalem is being taken over by the Romans and the Jews are leaving to escape being tortured, killed or made slaves. It is written from the view point of both Rebekah, who is sent away by her husband from the Temple and Jerusalem to keep her and her daughter safe, and  her husband Ethan who stays to fight with his sons and try to save the Temple. It is a remarkable book about love, faith, family, and perseverance through a tumultuous time for the Jews and Jerusalem.

I loved this book. It leads you on a journey seen through the eyes of Rebekah that takes her to a new life with the believers of Christ in Pella. She is a strong woman whose faith sustains her through all she has to face in the new town while her sons and husband are in danger fighting to save the Temple and Jerusalem from the Roman's who are taking over and destroying everything and everyone. It is a emotionally charged book that you get swept up in right along with Rebecca and her family. It also is well written from Ethan's point of view showing how devastating and brutal the struggle for the Jews were in trying to keep the Romans from overrunning Jer4usalem and Killeen all the rebels and Jews that are still living there. It shows the strength of the Jewish people and their perseverance in the face of the enemy.

If you love a great emotional,  action packed, faith building, historical novel then you must read this book. It is a great insight into the struggles and devastation the Jews at the hands of the Romans as well as rebel factions of Jews.

Rebekah and Ethan each have what they think is the treasure they have to  save, but in the end they find the true treasure isn't in objects and the journey to realizing this is one we can all relate to in our life.

I was moved by this book and it was a journey that I am glad I didn't miss. I can not recommend this book enough. I hope you will get this book and read it and join me in finding a true treasyre of a book.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review by Heritage Publishing House through bookcrash.com

5 Stars to Annie's Stories by Cindy Thomson

Annie's Stories An Ellis Island Novel by Cindy Thomson is a wonderful historical fiction book. Annie is the housekeeper at Hawkins House where she was brought after being rescued from the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland. Her mother died when she was a baby and her father, with Annie, would travel around Ireland because her father was a storyteller. When he died Annie had no one but a mean Uncle who did not want her and when her cousin Aileen tells a lie her Uncle sends Annie to the laundry. 

Annie gets a second chance when she is rescued from the laundry and sent to live with Mrs. Hawkins at the Hawkins House. She only has her stories her father left her of her past life with him and the rest of her past she wants to forget.

This book is Annie's story of second chances and finding her strength to move on and she is determined  not to depend on anyone but herself. Can Annie move past the hurts and memories that haunt her from the laundry? Will she ever be able to make her dreams reality? Most of all will she find that she is not unloved and forgotten by God? Will she find Love again for God, herself and a man to love her like the postman Stephen?

I loved this book. I love how Cindy Thomson makes books, reading and especially the book The Wizard Of OZ by Frank Braum an important part to Annie's story. I love how strong and independent Annie is and the heart for others she has. Annie grows as a person throughout the book and you find yourself caught up right along with her. You begin to feel a part of this story too and it is written where you can just feel Annie, Mrs Hawkins , Stephen and all the other characters could be people you know. This book is a book about second chances, moving on from the past hurts and holding on to the good memories, about love and learning to rely on Faith and God. You see with Annie that she has to come to realize that God can love her and that God never left her but was always with her. She has to love herself and realize she is lovable before she can become whole and achieve what she wants to in the future. Very uplifting and wonderful book.

This book combines the love of books, reading with history of family, books, publishing and the time period. If you are a lover of books, history, genealogy and good historical fiction then I believe you will love this book. I would recommend this book to all it is well worth the read.

If you want more information about this book, the Ellis Island Novels or the author visit her website at

http://cindythomson.blogspot.com/

check out the book trailer here

watch on tyndale.com

I was given a free copy of this book from Tyndale Publishing in exchange for my honest review of the book

Until Next time:

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Adventure Book For Your Kids

I am always looking for good fun books that kids will enjoy and want to read and with this book Voyage with the Vikings The Imagination Station book 1 by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker I have found just that. It is also a series so it will keep your kids busy reading for awhile. I like the fact that the book has adventure, history and is a Christian book that you don't have to worry about kids reading.  I think the kids will love the adventure and not even realize they might be learning about history too in this book.


Beth wants to show her cousin Patrick the Imagination Station so they go to see Mr Whittaker's.  He says the station isn't working, but when the two step in, it starts to work. A letter appears and it says Albert is trapped and they have to find a Viking sunstone. Beth and Patrick want to help so they take the Imagination Station back in time to the Vikings to find the sunstone. Will Beth and Patrick be able to find the sunstone, retrieve it and get back to the Station and home? Will Leif Erikkson help them find it or will his Dad Erik the Red harm them? Will they be able to get the sunstone and help Albert? You will have to read the book to find out.

 I  enjoyed this book even at my age. I think the quest will be great fun for your kids and they will want to read this book and the rest of them too. It is a great book for kids age 6 to 10 they will really enjoy reading this book.

The next book in the series is Attack at the Arena The Imagination Station Book 2 by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker

In this book the cousins Beth and Patrick continue their quest to help Albert and go back to 5th Century Rome.

If you want more information on this book check it out at
http://tyndale.com/Voyage-with-the-Vikings/9781589976276#.U7wT7PldV8E
You can find more information on this series and other kids books at
http://tyndale.com

Until Next Time:

GRAB A CUP OF COFFEE OR TEA, SOME CHOCOLATE, A GOOD BOOK AND KEEP ON READING AND LET'S GET OUR KIDS READING TOO!

A Great Read Muffin But Murder By Victoria Hamilton

You will find  fun, excitement, mystery and romance all wrapped up in  a great read with Muffin but Murder A Merry Muffin Mystery by Victoria Hamilton.

Merry Wynter has inherited a castle from her Uncle but she doesn't know how she will be able to keep it. She has left NY City to come to Autumn Vale along with two of her best friends Pish and Shilo, and is living in the castle while trying to get it ready to sell.  When a long lost cousin Cranston, who she never heard of, shows up claiming to be a grandson of her Uncles and wanting his share of the inheritance things get interesting. Merry has found a niche in Autumn Vale by making and selling her muffins and she has made friends there also but doesn't see a way to be able to keep the castle so Merry throws a party for locals, a few chosen N Y friends, as well as some whom she hopes will be interested in buying the castle, but things get out of control  and then someone is killed. Merry's best friend Pish is a suspect so Merry has to figure out who is really behind the murder and help Pish while trying to figure out if Cranston is really entitled to part of the inheritance from her Uncle.


This book has everything you could want a good plot with twists that you don't see coming, a great interesting setting with the castle and unique quirky characters that you can connect with as well as romance thrown in for good measure. I love that Merry is such a strong level headed, most of the time, spontaneous woman.  I could see myself getting into some of the same situations as Merry with going on the spur of the moment to investigate this murder and realizing after words that it wasn't the safest or smartest thing to do. Pish and Shilo are unique and they add a lot to the story, besides as I was reading this I could think of people I know that reminded me of them, which helps you to connect with the book more. I really enjoyed this book and was glad to see that this is another great series to add to my list of series I must read. I think if you like a good mystery that you can't figure out in the first chapter and keeps you guessing to the end,  with strong yet quirky characters you will want to read this. It also has recipes which is always a plus.

I had not read the first book in this series Bran New Death  but that wasn't a problem this can be read as a stand alone but after reading this book I don't want to miss out on a single book in the series so I will be getting the first one to read also.

If you want more on this book and all the other series that Victoria Hamilton has check out her website at
http://www.victoriahamiltonmysteries.com

Don't miss a good book pick up Muffin but Murder it is in bookstores now.

I received a free Advance Readers Copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

UNTIL NEXT TIME:

GRAB A CUP OF COFFEE OR TEA, SOME CHOCOLATE, A GOOD BOOK AND KEEP ON READING!