Heart of Gold, by Robin Lee Hatcher

Heart of Gold, by Robin Lee Hatcher, tells the love story of Shannon Adair and Matthew Dubois. Shannon is the devoted daughter of a Southern preacher, and the book opens with them moving away from their native Virginia to the town of Grand Coeur, in the Idaho territory. To say that the accommodations aren't what Shannon is used to would be an understatement - they have moved from a semi-luxurious life to a cabin that isn't much more than a shack. Although Shannon has trouble adjusting, her father seems to think nothing of it, and sets about his work.

The stagecoach driver who drove them to Idaho, a man by the name of Matthew Dubois, has also made the decision to settle in Grand Coeur. His sister, who he hasn't seen in years, and her son, are also en route to accompany him in his new home. When they arrive, he finds out that his sister is dying of cancer. Eventually, this means he'll have to take care of his nephew, since his brother-in-law has been killed in the war. Matthew hasn't settled in a place in almost a decade, and this new life seems to press upon him. Shannon offers to stay with his sister as a home nurse, and their story develops from there.

I really liked Heart of Gold. I thought it was really interesting to set the book during the Civil War, and juxtapose Shannon, whose friends and former fiance have fought and died for the South, and Matthew's sister, whose own husband was a Yankee soldier. I also found it to be a well-researched book, heavy on the period details, but not too heavy. The book seemed to ring fairly true, and I appreciated that. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys American history, as well as Christian fiction.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Titanic 3D Review

If you know me at all, you know how much I love Titanic. As an 11-year-old girl when it first came out, I was the perfect age for the movie: I fell in love with Leo, saw the movie too many times in the theatres, and bought it on VHS the day it came out. Almost 15 years later, not much has changed. I'm not in love with Leo anymore, but I still love the movie and watch it a few times per year. So, suffice it to say: I know this movie.

So, when I had the chance to see a special advance screening, I jumped at the chance. I'm not really into 3D (I usually find the movies too gimmicky and the 3D distracting), but I figured it was a fun way to see my favorite movie in theatres again. Going in, I told my sister, "As long as we don't have to sit in the front row, I'm fine." As we settled into the front row (the last seats available), the lights dimmed and I couldn't even begin to contain my excitement.

The next three hours were absolutely surprising. Like I said, I know this movie by heart. But I found myself holding my breath on more than one occasion, telling myself I knew what would happen, but willing it to happen differently. The 3D is nothing short of truly stunning. After the first 10 minutes or so, I got used to it, and allowed it to pull me deeper into the movie. As a result, I noticed things in this movie I've simply glossed over before. The ship, and the passengers on the ship, became more real to me. Of course, the moments you expect to be fantastic in 3D, such as the "King of the World" scene, the kiss on the bow, etc., are all wonderful, but they actually take a backseat to some unexpectedly great 3D.

For instance, the scene where Rose is about to jump off the stern of the ship. After she climbs over the railing, there's a shot from directly above her, showing the icy water far below as she leans forward. In the 2D version, this is a fine shot, but nothing too striking. In 3D? It was all I could do to not grab the back of my seat as the shot showed the sheer magnitude of what she was about to do, and how ridiculously far from the water the ship actually was.

Most of all, the 3D did exactly what it was designed to do: pull the viewer into the movies. Especially in the second half of the movie, where the ship sinks (let's hope that's not a spoiler), I felt the plight of the doomed passengers more than I ever had. All of a sudden, they were real, not just extras or actors playing a part. Granted, some of this may be due to the fact that I was sitting in the front row, and literally couldn't see anything but the screen. But I believe that what Cameron and his team have done, especially with the smaller, nuanced 3D effects, have turned this blockbuster into a truly touching, emotional movie.

My advice: Go see it, and sit in the front few rows to be as involved as possible.

Coming Soon, to a Blog Near You

So, these New Year's Resolutions of mine to read more and blog more are picking up steam! 'Bout time - it's already the end of February, for goodness' sake. Aaaanyway, I've been reading like a fiend (and going to movies!) and have some posts coming up in the near future. They are:

• a review of Titanic in 3D (I saw a special advance screening on Valentine's and can't wait to share my thoughts).
• a review of Frank Peretti's newest book, Illusion. PLUS, hold onto your seat, this will be my first official GIVEAWAY! More details to come, but I'll be giving away a free copy to someone.
• a review of The Voice New Testament, the latest Bible translation from Thomas Nelson. It looks different from everything else, and will be a review you don't want to miss.
• a (possible) live-blog of the Oscars on Sunday, February 26. I say "possible" because it's entirely likely that I'll get wrapped up in them and forget to blog. But I'll do my best to not let that happen.
• a review of Stephen King's latest book, 11/22/63. I'm currently fighting my way through this 800+ page behemoth (my first Stephen King book!) and will have my thoughts up in the next few weeks - gotta get it done before the library needs to take it away from me!

So, there you have it. Be on the lookout for everything, especially the blog giveaway - I'm super stoked about that one. Now, must get back to reading...

The Accidental Bride, by Denise Hunter

When I first started reading The Accidental Bride, by Denise Hunter, the word that kept coming to my mind was "dramatic." In the first few chapters, the main character, Shay, struck me as over-dramatic and I wasn't sure that I would keep reading. But I'm so glad that I did. Here's the description from the publisher:

Shay Brandenberger is raising her daughter in Moose Creek, Montana on her childhood ranch, nestled against the Yellowstone River. Despite her hard work, she can’t seem to keep her head above water—and now the bank is threatening to foreclose. She prays for a miracle, but the answer she receives is anything but.

Having agreed to play the bride in the Founders Day wedding reenactment, Shay is mortified to be greeted at the end of the aisle by none other than Travis McCoy, her high school sweetheart—the man who left her high and dry for fame and fortune on the Texas rodeo circuit.

Then the unthinkable happens. Thanks to a well-meaning busy body and an absent minded preacher, the wedding reenactment results in a legal marriage. But before Shay can say annulment, Travis comes up with a crazy proposal. If she refuses his offer, she’ll lose her home. But if she accepts, she may lose her heart.

At first, I just couldn't get into the story - it all seemed so preposterous. However, as the story kept going, I found myself caring for Shay and Travis more and more. I especially appreciated the relationships between Shay and her daughter, and Travis and the daughter, because they rang true to me. In all, this ended up being a great book that held my attention. For me, the test of a good book is whether or not I think about the characters when I'm not reading the book, and I thought about this book quite a bit. I recommend this book to any fans of Christian fiction.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nearing Home, by Billy Graham

I'm the first to admit that I'm not the target demographic for this book. I'm in my mid-twenties, whereas the book was written for those who are much older than me, and preparing to go to their heavenly home. However, I had never read a book by Billy Graham, and I thought it looked interesting.

While I'm not the target demographic, I still appreciate what Mr. Graham has to say. A lot of the subjects that he covers, such as living a life that matters, staying strong despite your circumstances, and most importantly, the hope of Heaven, are subjects that span all generations.

This book has also helped me to appreciate what is going on in the lives of the elderly people in my life. I’m ashamed to say that many people of my generation don’t stop to put themselves in another’s shoes, so to speak, and this book has helped me understand more of what happens as you age.

I did glean a few morsels from this book, and I believe that the demographic it is intended for will gain true peace, comfort, and perspective from it.

Lonestar Angel, by Colleen Coble

I'm a big fan of Colleen Coble. She's written some great books, that all have the perfect blend of romance, mystery, and Christian values. Lonestar Angel is no exception. In fact, I found this book so thrilling that I have barely put it down since receiving it in the mail.

Coble jumps right into the story with Eden and Kent having a romantic dinner. Eden knows Kent has every intention to propose, and she has every intention to accept. But right in the middle of their dinner, her ex-husband, Clay, interrupts them. He says that their daughter Brianna, who was kidnapped a six weeks old and presumed dead ever since, is in fact alive and Eden has to come with him immediately so that they can go get her. She's on a ranch with four other girls, and they're all foster children who have been taken from bad situations. It's up to Clay and Eden to figure out who their daughter is, and quick, because the kidnapper has come back and wants revenge on the couple.

Like I said, I couldn't put this book down. Coble weaves a fantastically intricate story, and leaves her readers constantly guessing at what's going on. Clay and Eden are both wonderfully written characters, and seem to leap off the page at times. Additionally, the five little girls are at times both heartbreaking and hilarious. I can't recommend this book highly enough, especially for fellow fans of Colleen Coble.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

There You'll Find Me, by Jenny B. Jones

In short, "There You'll Find Me," by Jenny B. Jones, is a fantastic book. I was immediately caught up in the story from the first sentence, and couldn't/wouldn't put it down until I was finished. It's the story of Finley, who goes to Ireland not only for a year of a foreign exchange program, but also to escape her past. She brings along her late brother's journal, and is determined to follow along in his footsteps and feel closer to him in the process. On the plane ride over, she meets Beckett Rush, a handsome twenty-something actor who stars in vampire films. She immediately hates him, and he's taken aback and amused by this woman who doesn't automatically throw herself at him. Of course, a friendship blooms, and then romance.

This book has a little bit of everything - romance, travel, humor, sarcasm, a little bit of reality, and a great Christian perspective. I really appreciated that the author didn't try to make the characters perfect - a main character deals with loneliness, bitterness, bullying, and even battles an eating disorder. It felt real enough to truly invest myself in the characters, which I didn't expect. Additionally, the romance that buds between the two main characters has its share of problems, and it feels as though you are actually experiencing every bump in the road with them. I loved Beckett Rush especially - his charm, wit, sarcasm, and level-headedness made him a character to cheer for.

While I recognize that I'm a little older that Jenny B. Jones' typical audience (I'm in my mid-twenties, and I believe she usually writes for teens), I nevertheless enjoyed this book thoroughly. I would recommend it to any teenage girl to read, partly because it has a very honest look at some harder issues that teens face. I'd also recommend it for anyone who wants a breezy, fun read - you won't be disappointed!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”