Tandem by Tracey Bateman

Tandem, a novel, by Tracey Bateman is published by Waterbrook Press and was provided to me free of charge in exchange for a review. I honestly can't give a review because I couldn't bring myself to read this book. It is my very first DNF (did not finish) since beginning to do book reviews. I have held on to it for a long time, thinking perhaps I could "talk" myself into reading it despite my dislike for the subject matter, but I just could not get past the fact that I am reiviewing books for what touts itself as a Christian publisher and the storyline is vampire centered. A total sellout to me and one I am just not comfortable with. So, my reivew is that I can't recommend this book. I can't. How in all seriousness can a Christian publisher even consider such a thing? Award winning author or not, I feel another avenue is needed to sell this book. That is my opinion.

In Constant Prayer By Robert Benson

In Constant Prayer is a book in the ancient practices series by Robert Benson, published by Thomas Nelson. I chose to read it because I had read about the practice of praying the office in another book I had read, I am not really familiar with the practice and thought this book might help me to be more informed.

Praying the office is a pattern of worship and prayer that is offered to God at specific times throughout the day, it is meant to be used by all of the faithful of the church so that the church might be continuous in their prayers and always focusing on God. By church I refer to the mostly Catholic church, I on the other hand was brought up in a protestant, evangelical church and had never even heard of the office until a few years ago.Even upon reading this book it wasn't until the last chapter that I found exactly what the office is exactly. I sought this book to learn more about the office, all I really learned about it is that it is methodical and a very different approach to prayer than anything I have ever been taught.

Benson did give some definitions of exactly what the office is. I am now informed as to the mechanics of the office. Which is a somewhat good definition, because to me the office is just a mechanical repetition of the same rote of a listing of words, day in and day out. You can change your verses in the middle, but the beginning and the end remain the same. If, by some chance, God happens to show up during one of these perfunctory prayers, you are blessed. But the idea I came away with was that you really don't expect God to be there. That is not my idea of prayer. Perhaps I am missing the meaning.

I tried praying the office. I felt practiced and like I was reciting poetry, Rehearsed and stiff. Perhaps if I did it long enough I would see a benefit, but so far it has not been a life changing experience.

The book however, was helpful. If you are interested in what the office is all about it will help you to see a bit about it. It will not make it totally clear, but I expect God has to open your eyes for that.

This book was provided to me free by the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review.

slow going

only kind of book i am reading these days....
but you will get no complaints from this Gram ;)

Love, Charleston

While Contemporary Christian Fiction is not my favorite kind of book, I did enjoy Love, Charleston by Beth Webb Hart. Hart managed to create characters with real depth that grabbed my heart. This is not your typical love story. The characters have plausible issues in their lives, some of which may very well have touched your life also.
Real life drama is what I enjoyed the most about this bookpostpartum depression, marital infidelity. Beth Webb Hart actually went there, she wrote about post partum depression. Lish suffers from it and we see how others react to it, we see her recovery process.

Then there is Della and how her desire to provide for daughter is so very strong that she convinces herself that even infidelity is okay if it gives her a source of security and happiness.

Roy, as a minister begins the story not wanting to be in Charleston at all. But by the end of the book he has fallen in Love also. With the plans of God. Gods ways are greater than are own.

Love, Charleston is a Thomas Nelson Book and was provided for me to review for free in return for my honest, unbiased review. You can review books for free also, join the BookSneeze program. Click the Button on my blog for more info.

Saint Francis by Robert West

A small little book in the Christian Encounter Series by Thomas Nelson Publishers, this is the story of Saint Francis of Assisi. I grew up with very little knowledge of this Patron Saint of the Catholic church as an unchurched little girl in the south, so I was very interested to read this book. St. Francis was born in Assisi, Italy to wealthy parents, but he chose to forego worldly pleasures to devoted his life to God. After a very serious illness he gave all he had to the poor and devoted himself to prayer and scripture. He joined with some "ragtag" men who were brothers in the ministry about which little was known except that they were humble and that they rejoiced most in poverty.Francis made a move that revolutionized the church by introducing the vow of poverty. It followed scripture and the life of Jesus. It is how we today should live our lives, as well.

Francis cared for the lepers. the outcast, the unlovely. He followed in the footsteps of The Lord Jesus. As a Christian, that is exactly what I am called to do. I am not going to forego all of my worldly pleasures, but I must be willing to if Jesus asks me to. There are things I have let go, but I have a long way to go before you could call me a saint.

I found this book somewhat interesting. I didn't really understand a lot of it. After all these years and all of the religious and Biblical education I have had, I am still not Catholic and still don't understand all the ways the Catholic church works.But I do know how to follow my Lord, how to love others like Saint Francis did!


I give the book three stars, it was well written with nice cover, easy language, an asset to my collection. I received my copy free through the BOOKSNEEZE program in return for my unbiased review. You can get free books to by joining in.

Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon by Debbie Fuller Thomas

I loved this book. Of course it wasn't one I was given to review, just one I borrowed from My sister in law, but this is one of the best Christian novels I have read lately. Debbie Fuller Thomas wrote about real people who I connected with and could relate to.
The storyline isn't exactly likely to happen, but it is a novel, an escape.

Marty Winslow loses her 13 year old daughter, Ginger, to a horriable genetic disease that nobody else in the family has ever had. That is when she discovers the awful truth that her daughter was switched at birth. To complicate matters even more, her real daughter, named Andrea has recently been orphaned and now lives with her aging grandparents in a Senior adult mobile home park.She fights for her in court. Andie comes to live with Marty and thats where the story gets really good.


The home that Andie had to move to was a trailer situated behind the run-down Blue Moon Drive-In the Family owns and runs. Andie has to settle into a family that is dealing with its own grief over the loss of thier sister as she is dealing with the death of her parents as well as the news that her entire past has been a lie. There are two new sisters, school, her distrust of God all that need to be worked out.

I like the way the book is written. One chapter is Marty speaking and the next will be Andie speaking, this helps you to see how both sides of the story affect two different generations.

A word of warning....Marty bakes to deal with her frustration and pain and the author goes into detail to tell you what she bakes, so you might feel the urge to concoct a few desserts as you read this book!

Jack Daniel's Spirit of Tennessee Cookbook, by Lynne Tolley & Pat Mitchamore

I recently began reviewing books for Thomas Nelson Publishers. I signed on with them thinking the books would be Christian books, so I was surprised when my very first book to review was a cookbook entitled Jack Daniel's Spirit of Tennessee Cookbook by Lynne Tolley and Pat Mitchamore. I quickly saw that this book was much more than a cookbook, it was like a history lesson on life in Lynchburg, Tennessee.

Antidotes Like Hog Killing TIme In Tennessee, and tales of Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House share the pages with recipes
like Pea-Pickled Salad and Supreme Cranberry Salad. In the vegetable category the Country Fried Corn, Wash Day Casserole and Zucchini Au Gratin caught my eye. How mouthwatering do Georgia Peach Muffins sound? I also was intrigued by the several pages of different breads they included. There is a step by step recipe on how to cook Possum and Sweet Taters. I will be passing on that one!

I was delightfully surprised by this cookbook. It is a slice of Southern living, much more than just a book with recipes. I was a little reluctant to be accepting of this cookbook, because I have never drank whiskey much less thought to cook with it. After reading it I have found it to be a delightful slice of life in the south. I love the recipes, will surely try some of them and feel like the authors have preserved a part of the sweet country life within these pages. This book will be sharing the shelf with my trusted favorites.