Books, Movies, and Chinese Food

Summary from BN.com: Brody "Wick" Wickham is a former Green Beret turned security agent—with a 100 percent mission success rate. No way is his new assignment changing that. Even if it's protecting a diva American rock star while she's on tour in Europe. Except Veronica "Vonya" Wagner isn't just a beautiful celebrity used to having her way—she's the daughter of a U.S. Senator. And she's hiding a dangerous secret. When Wick discovers what's at stake, how far over the line will he go to keep them both alive? The second book in the Missions of Mercy series introduces to new characters as well as brings back those from the first book as well as Warren's other series. I was actually quite intrigued with Ronie's alter ego Vonya. She sounds like a mix of Lady Gaga and an indie band. She really was into her music and I enjoyed seeing her slip into the Vonya character and be someone that no one else was expecting. Actually Ronie seemed to h...

Summary from BN.com: An American boy and a warlord's engaged daughter have disappeared—together—in an Eastern European border country. Only one man can find them in time to prevent an international meltdown—Chet Stryker. But Chet is taken aback when he realizes the boy is the nephew of Mae Lund, Chet's former flame. When Mae insists on rescuing her relative herself, Chet knows he has to protect her from the enemy on their trail. Yet can he protect himself from falling for Mae again? Susan May Warren is one of my favorite romantic suspense authors because she uses her international knowledge and infuses them into her stories. Her specialty is lies in stories that place in Russia and Eastern Europe since she has actually lived in those areas. If you've read her previous books based in these countries, you will recognize some of the characters from those stories. The story takes the reader to Georgia (the country, not the state) in a international chase involving kidnappin...

The Grant family's exclusive Sonoma spa is a place for rest and relaxation—not murder! When Naomi Grant finds her client Jessica Ortiz bleeding to death in her massage room, everything falls apart. The salon's reputation is at stake…and so is Naomi's freedom when she discovers that she is one of the main suspects! Her only solace is found with the other suspect—Dr. Devon Knightley, the victim's ex-husband. But Devon is hiding secrets of his own. When they come to light, where can Naomi turn…and whom can she trust? I'm always a big fan of stories set in spas. The setting just seems so relaxing to read about massages, facials, and being in total luxury. I haven't had the chance to go to one in a while, so reading about it is the next best thing. Love Inspired Suspenses can be hit or miss, as some of the stories don't really have good suspense plots. This book, however, has a very good mystery, people actually do die, and there is a romance. Thi...

Myles Parsons is just another inmate in Kenzie Thorn's GED course…until his abduction plan succeeds. Terrified, Kenzie doesn't want to believe his explanation. That he's Myles Borden, FBI agent— placed under cover because someone wants her dead.Now that Myles has got her out of harm's way, his plans start to fall apart. He attempts to take Kenzie to a safe house—but the stubborn woman won't go! He struggles to protect her even as she takes care of him . He tries to keep his distance…and finds himself falling in love. If you're looking for a quick book that gives you just the right about of romantic suspense to get you through the day, look no further. In Liz Johnson's debut novel, she skillfully blends tense adventure scenes with sparkling chemistry. This book gives a great insight to both the world of politics as well as the undercover life of an FBI agent. We see what it's like to be the victim of a kidnapping plot as well as what really goes on...

Marianna’s roommate was killed in their apartment. Now the killer seems to have targeted Marianna and is stalking her ever move. She’s fearful of whoever comes near her and is always watching out behind her back. But if the killer happens to be right behind her, she won’t know. Marianna is deaf which puts a whole new outlook as to solving this mystery. Will Ethan, the detective on the case, be able to find out who the murderer is and see if he can do it without losing his heart to Marianna? This book was very unique as I had never read a mystery involving a deaf main character before. Actually it was quite interesting because I didn’t realize that Marianna was deaf at first. I kept wondering why she didn’t realize the intruder was in her house when it was so obvious. Luckily though I finally figured it out and it made the storyline even more interesting. Things we take for granted such as hearing someone approach us from behind or a car honking for us to get out of the way are l...

Liz is at a ski resort getting ready for the wedding of her cousin. She thinks her biggest challenges will be her overbearing grandmother and staying out of the path of her former fiance Tim. If she can just get through the weekend it will be all over. However, when a dead body shows up on the slopes, Liz finds herself having to stay close to Tim to find out who the murderer is. Will the two be able to join forces or will their past come back and tear them apart again? The first thing that came to mind while reading this book was: Nancy Drew. This book totally brought me back to days of my childhood and reading tales of that famous female sleuth. Something about ski resorts and murders makes me think of Nancy for some reason. This story was very cozy and comforting to read. I've never been skiing before in my life so I live vicariously through books about skiing. This story shows a wonderful ski resort that just happens to have a dead body on it. I really enjoyed the myste...

I read this book in 3 hours! It's time to rejoin the SAHM email group and it looks like Rosalyn is back in charge but as a changed person! Instead of her former condescending self, a new women who is trying to be a better person is back. Joining her are the rest of the SAHM group including Dulcie, Zelia , Jocelyn, Paige, etc. New to the group are Iona and Hannah, both with personalities that take the group by surprise. This time the group faces issues such as grad school advisors that won't help, dealing with adoptive children who have emotional problems, being a working mom and having a stay at home husband and trying to find out what the perfect birthday party is. To top it off, the group decides they are going to meet for the first time at a get together. It's never a dull moment being a SAHM ! If you have been a loyal reader of this blog from the beginning, then you know what a HUGE fan I am of Meredith Efken's SAHM series. I was so excited when I heard th...

Slavery didn't end with the Civil War When her sister vanishes into a human slave ring, FSB agent Yanna Andrevka is determined to rescue her. Unfortunately, she's in over her head, with no way out, especially after destroying the undercover operation of Delta Force Operative David Curtiss , who is deep undercover in the Twin Serpents crime syndicate. David has his hands full trying to save Yana , and his operation -- one that could rescue hundreds of women from the Serpent, or cost he and Yana their lives. The thrilling next chapter of the Mission: Russia series! This book was a total thrill ride right from the beginning of the story. I felt like I was watching an episode of Alias or 24. Yanna is such a strong female character who does not need to depend on a man to save her. Compared to the other two female leads in this series, she's my favorite because she knows she can take care of herself. I like that she has a soft side as well but it's nice to read about a ...

I 'm giving away a bran d new copy of today's book! Leave a comment with your email address so I can contact you if you win. I'll pick a name and announce the winner on Sunday, March 16. Good luck! International readers are welcome to enter this giveaway! Lightning has struck twice for Cheryl Wyatt! When Celia and Manny first met, they got off to a rocky start with each vowing to have nothing to do with each other. Then a serious accident puts Manny in Celia's care and the two are forced to be together whether they like it or not. As Celia helps Manny recover, she is also dealing with her teenage son who is still grieving over the death of his father. The two don't have the closest relationship which worsens when Celia begins to suspect her son of doing drugs. Manny tries to step in to help but Celia has been hurt by him before and doesn't want to make the same mistake again. It'll take a long time for her heart to heal before she learns to forgive...

I'm giving away a brand new copy of today's book! Leave a comment with your email address so I can contact you if you win. I'll pick a name and announce the winner on Tuesday, January 29. Good luck! Great Debut by a New Author! Joel is a parachute jumper who hates coming back to his hometown. Amber is the teacher who writes to him to come visit her school. Bradley is the little boy with cancer that connects the two. Joel is reluctant to give into a relationship due to past events while Amber's first concerns are for the well being of Bradley. Together the two find out that their love for the boy will bring them to a romance that the two of them cannot deny. This is the perfect book for romance lovers. The story is sweet and charming with the characters just the type you can't wait to see fall in love. You have the heroic macho guy with a sensitive side and the faithful teacher with a cute kid thrown in for good measure. It's a great story that's r...

I 'm giving away a bran d new copy of today's book! Leave a comment with your email address so I can contact you if you win. I'll pick a name and announce the winner on Wednesday, January 16. Good luck! This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Happily Even After (#3 - Sassy Sistahood Series) (Steeple Hill January 1, 2008) by Marilynn Griffith ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Marilynn Griffith is mom to a tribe, wife to a deacon and proof that God gives second chances. While best known for her colorful novels about friendship, family and faith, Marilynn is also a speaker and nonfiction writer. Her nonfiction has been included in CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE CHRISTIAN WOMAN'S SOUL and several other devotionals and magazines. Currently, Marilynn is editor of the SISTAHFAITH:BELIEVING BEYOND SHAME anthology. She is also the founder of Faithchick.com, a blog for faith fiction readers. Marilynn is the author of six novels dealing with issues such as teen pregnancy, AIDS, abst...

Break out the tiaras Odessa and Maxine are best friends, pastor's wives and flea market fiends. Between the two of them are years of experience and wisdom. Which is why they feel that they are called to help out other women they see in need. From helping Bernadette find a boyfriend to Chloe's complete makeover to finding out what's really going on with seeming perfect Jan, the duo do their best to keep a lookout for others. I liked the premise of the story. I love shopping for bargains so it was fun to read about having a booth in a flea market. The characters are really zany and very colorful. You can tell that they enjoy life and want to help others to see life as they do. I liked Bernadette and the quest to get a boyfriend for her. And I so wanted to smack Odessa's husband throughout most of the book for having to make her suffer. I felt really sad that she felt that way as a pastor's wife. I'm sure that there are many of them out of there who feel the ...

Killer Fungi Jackie Hoffner thought she'd be helping out the church potluck by bringing in a mushroom casserole. Little did she know that her dish would end up killing the most hated woman in church! Jackie's on a mission to prove that she's innocent by trying to find the guilty party. The problem is that there are many people who wanted Alice Farmer dead. Secrets from church members arise as Jackie and the pastor's wife try to question those who have the biggest motive to kill. This was a fun book to read (although don't attempt on an empty stomach!) I liked Jackie even though she's no Nancy Drew. Her character changed throughout the story as her original intentions were purely to clear her own name. Then as she found out what really happened to everyone else she changed for the better. What I found most interesting about the story was the attitude that other Christians had against Alice. It's tough to show love towards someone so spiteful. So I was...

Chick lit for pet lovers Norah loves pets. Pets love Norah. So it's no surprise she owns a pet store. Pets come before men which mean that Norah doesn't have a boyfriend. That's about to change when the new police officer (who happens to ride a horse) comes to town and Norah catches his eye. It seems also that the guy her best friend is in love with instead wants Norah, and then her best guy friend keeps hinting that he wants more than friendship. But Nick is the guy Norah wants and she thinks that it will be the perfect match except for one small problem. Nick hates dogs, especially Norah's dog. He gives her an ultimatum: dog or him. Norah's choice will have a profound impact on the rest of her life. I'm a pet lover so of course I enjoyed this book. Reading about a woman who loves pets so much and therefore owns a pet shop would be like me owning a book store. I like the town with their street of shops. It sounds like it'd be a really nice place to...

Don't forget to enter the book giveaway to win a copy of Miss Invisible. Click here to enter . I'll pick a name and announce the winner on Monday. Money (That's NOT what i want) Cassia has always lived a life of frugality. She's learned to live cheaply and not worldly. In fact, money is the last thing on her mind. So it's a shock for her when she finds out that what she thought was a $5 donation for an office present is really her share in a multimillion dollar jackpot lottery ticket. Now she's being bombarded by everyone, those who want her money, to give her advice, even those she barely knows. Plus now she has 2 guys are who are vying for her attention. Cassia wants nothing to do with the money, but it's everywhere she goes. Money's not just the root of all evil, it also makes a normal life practically impossible! Ok, who hasn't dreamed about winning the lottery? Everyone, no matter what they believe in, has had thoughts about what they ...

Hate the sin? Gracie Lee Harris has moved to California and married a man who has turned out to be two timing con man. He has not only gotten into a car accident with her car and taken her money, he's also gotten another woman pregnant! And it's someone from Gracie's small group from church! Then if things couldn't get any worse, he gets murdered in the hospital! Gracie finds out there are several suspects that could have done this including her (evil) mother in law and her (nasty) step daughter. She has to discover who the murderer is before she becomes the next target. This was a fun book. It's not your normal Christian happy family novel. There isn't really a happy, let's tie up all the ends, everyone hugs ending. And Dennis commits huge sins that he never repents for. Which is fine with me, to me that is more realistic than him getting a deathbed conversion. I really could not stand her mother in law or her step daughter. I know mothers are usua...

Don't forget to enter the book giveaway to win a copy of Wedgewood Grey. Click here to enter . I'll pick a name and announce the winner on Wednesday. Nacho Mama's House Hannah is doing her best to be the woman, wife and mother she was meant to be. This means taking care of the kids, being the typical soccer mom, having the team over for nachos, ordering new furniture, etc. Basically she is putting everyone ahead of her and still thinks it's not enough. She tells her adventures in emails to her sisters which end up being published as a popular newspaper column. So this means people read about Hannah's mistakes and going through life unexpectedly while she tries to make it seem like a breeze to her. But when her husband cancels out on a long planned trip on her, Hannah decides she can't take it anymore and takes the trip to Miami on her own, leaving everything behind. This is a book that soccer moms will relate to when there are times that you just want t...

Congrats to Erin for winning a copy of Arms of Deliverance! Stay tuned for more book giveaways in the future! No, you aren't seeing double. This month we are reviewing not one, but two books by Marilynn Griffith ! This prolific writer has TWO books coming out this month! This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is posting about If the Shoe Fits (Steeple Hill Cafe', 2007) by Marilynn Griffith (fellow CFBA member, blogger, writer, and mother of seven) ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Marilynn Griffith is wife to a deacon, mom to a tribe and proof that God gives second chances. Her novels include Made of Honor (Steeple Hill, Jan. 2006), Pink (Revell, Feb. 2006), Jade (Revell, June 2006), and Tangerine (Revell, January 2007). Her other credits include Chicken Soup for the Christian Woman’s Soul, Cup of Comfort Devotionals and her Shades of Style series (Revell, 2006). She lives in Florida with her husband and children. To book speaking engagements or just say hello, email: marilynng...

Sisterly Road Trip Sadie is feeling kinda glum. She's living in a small town, just got appointed graveyard superintendent (who really wants that job?), and she's having trouble raising her two teens. Plus she's suspecting her husband of an affair and her eccentric dad is driving her and her sisters, April and Hannah, absolutely nuts. The sisters are close but Sadie is given the most responsibility over their father, who took care of them after their mother left them when they were little. Since they are never allowed to discuss their mother, the sisters are kept in the dark as to why she left them long ago. One day when their dad leaves to go find their mother, Sadie and her sisters go to track him down. On their road trip they discover things about themselves they didn't know and learn to strengthen their relationship with each other and with their families back home. I liked that there were 3 sisters in this book, just like in my family. You see how each sister ...

Meredith Efken has done it again! She has put out another book that I proceeded to finish in just a few hours. I was actually in the process of reading two other books, but I dropped them both to read this one. It was definitely worth it. I declare it tied for best book of the year! In @Home, the sequel to SAHM I AM, we again are meeting up with members of the SAHM (stay at home moms) email group. Rosalyn is now on better terms with her sister Veronica but the two are still at it with their sibling rivalry. They propose to hold a contest as to who can have more readership with their posts, while each facing their own personal situations. Dulice finds herself in the position as a working mom while her husband has become a SAHD. Zelia is in the process of adopting two children from Zimbabwe while Brenna is trying her luck with egg donation adoption. Then there's also Jocelyn who's slowly busying herself to death, Paige who has to take over for her pastor husband who's...