Book Review: The Awakening of HK Derryberry by Jim Bradford

The Awakening of HK Derryberry by Jim Bradford is a book about a little boy named HK who is blind and has cerebral palsy. His grandmother, Pearl, is raising him on her own after an unfortunate tragedy took the life of his mother. With no one to help care for him, Pearl is forced to bring him to work with her a few days a week. He sits in the diner, hunched over a radio listening to preachers. Most people never do more than glance in his direction. His life is forever changed when Jim Bradford, an older man with a seemingly perfect life, comes into Mrs. Winner’s diner for coffee.

These two strike up an unlikely friendship, filled with laughter, love, and countless adventures. HK doesn’t see himself as handicapped; he does things his way. Unlike most people, HK makes even the simplest moments extraordinary.

His zest for life and positive attitude are infectious. Young and old are infatuated by his ability to remember things - even the smallest details of things that happened years ago, yet it quickly turns as he weaves his way into their hearts.

As HK said, “I remember the negative things, but I don’t dwell on them because they are just history. I think about all the good stuff.”

The description of the book immediately caught my eye. As someone with cerebral palsy, I could relate to some of his struggles. This book was intriguing and inspiring on so many levels. If my life could have a fraction of the impact that HK has had on those around him, I will be happy.

I was also struck by the number of people who rally around Pearl, Mr. Bradford, and HK to support him in every way possible. From teachers who are doggedly determined to help him reach his full academic potential, to store owners, coaches, and celebrities, they all make HK’s life special. It is truly a story of finding joy in the journey and proof that life’s greatest blessings come when you give yourself away to others.

I would recommend this book to everyone without hesitation. It is one of the best books I’ve read in long, long time!

** This book was provided to me by Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: Of Stillness and Storm by Michèle Phoenix

I recently finished reading Of Stillness and Storm by Michèle Phoenix. It is a gripping story about a family who leaves everything normal behind to answer the call of being missionaries. The stress and tension slowly eats away at who Lauren is, while her husband, Sam, remains unwavering in his commitment to the Nepali people. She's lost the comforts of home, but seeing her son as a shell of himself is her greatest regret. 

To add to the suspense, a long lost friend comes back into her life. I kept wanting to turn the page to see what would happen next. Aidan's no-nonsense approach to life was refreshing and relatable.

The beginning was a little slow for me, but as I kept reading, Michelle Phoenix did a masterful job with the dialogue. It was heart-wrenching at times and profoundly insightful at just the right moments.  I also loved that Lauren and Sam weren't afraid of having the hard conversations...the nitty gritty of what was really bothering both of them. They both responded in different ways, but it was interesting to see how each conversation ebbed and flowed between them.

I wish Sam hadn't been so blinded by his ambitions that he failed to see how badly his wife and son were hurting. I didn't expect it to end the way it did.

I would recommend this book to anyone, even if you are not a missionary. It's not super religious, rather it offers a human perspective on life and how people choose to live out their faith. It is a beautiful book about love and loss. It's also a reminder that everyone needs friends. You can't go through life's valleys without someone to lean on.

** This book was provided to me by Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: Captain Mama's Surprise by Graciela Tiscareño-Sato

Captain Mama's Surprise is the second book in the Captain Mama's series. It's another bilingual book in English in Spanish. This time, Captain Mama takes her son, Marco, and his second grade class on a field trip to see the airplane she flies on. The class meets the crew and learns what each crew member does and the process of refueling a plane in mid-air. 

I’d seen airplanes refueling in movies, but I learned lots of new things while reading this book. I didn’t know what all a copilot of an airplane was responsible for, and I have never seen an airplane map up close. So cool!

I could see many first and second graders loving this book! Since it has vocabulary words, it would be perfect for their age group.

Graciela has also included an activity in the back of the book.

When I found out the surprise, I wanted to be a kid in Marco’s class! I won't spoil the ending. Buy the book to find out what happens! I know the third book promises even more fun and adventure! Both of these books gave me an even deeper appreciation for the men and women who have served our nation.

You can buy this book and the patch at Captain Mama's website, Amazon, or wherever books are sold. Graciela would love to come speak about her newest book at YOUR school or library!

Book Review: Good Night, Captain Mama

Here's a closeup of one the pages. 

Good Night Captain Mama is the first book of its kind, written in English and Spanish by female aviator, Latina businesswoman, and speaker, Graciela Tiscareño-Sato. Good Night Captain Mama was inspired by a conversation that Graciela had with her own son one night when he saw her dressed in her flight suit. Although he had seen it many times before, he was curious about all of the patches. Graciela, better known as Captain Mama, is patient with him as he asks about each one and what the symbols mean.

Captain Mama takes the time to tell Marco, the little boy in the book, all about what her job as an aviator is about. Each time she goes to a different country, she gets a new patch to add to her flight suit.

The vivid illustrations done by Linda Lens allowed me to picture the story in my mind as it unfolded. The curiosity of Marco, the little boy, was captured wonderfully. The simplistic, yet thoughtful Captain Mama gave were great also. When she had to leave her kids to go to work, the pain and sadness I felt when my mom had to leave to go to work was something I could relate to. Good Night Captain Mama is an educational book without being boring! I would recommend this book to anyone who has children and/or family members in any branch of the military.

You can purchase Good Night Captain Mama on Amazon, wherever books are sold, or directly from the author on her website here.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I won this package of books and patches in a giveaway a few weeks ago. The author, Graciela Tiscareño-Sato, sent me a copy of both books and the patches. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: Set Free by Stephen Owens

My mom bought a book at the grocery store called Set Free several months ago. Of all the topics it could have been about, it was about forgiveness – specifically a son’s journey to forgive his mother for hiring someone to kill his dad. His mother was the ideal mother, providing for her kids and making sure they were in church. So what on earth motivated her to go to such drastic measures? This is a true story told from the son's perspective detailing all of the highs and lows of what it took to forgive his mother. 

I guess the biggest reason I decided to pick it back up is because my mom got another awesome book, entitled Unthinkable. I knew I couldn't read that book until I finished this one because I really don’t like to start a lot of books at once. I prefer to finish one and move onto another. I had to stop because Owen’s words were pricking my heart, causing tears to fall so I could no longer read. The phrase “Guilty, but forgiven” really resonated with me. I couldn't get away from it. Now, deeply enthralled in the story and interested to see how Owens wrote his mother, what he said in the letters, and how he realized that he had to forgive himself if he truly wanted to forgive his mother and escape his own emotional prison. I kept reading. 

I am not going to give away any surprises, but I highly recommend it everyone reading this blog. Because it we were all honest with ourselves, we struggle with forgiveness in some area of our lives. This book will be one of the most important steps you'll take in becoming set free. Seriously, stop what you're doing and buy this book. The author doesn't know me, and I didn't receive anything in return for this review. It was just so powerful, inspiring, and challenging me on the deepest levels. I am still processing everything I read and absorbed, even months after finishing it. I have even written eight pages worth of thoughts that have come up since reading this book. I've read other books on forgiveness, but this one is at the TOP of my list!

Book Review: Off Balanced by Zachary Fenell

Several months ago - and I mean several - Zachary asked me if I'd like to review his book. I enthusiastically said yes, and then life got in the way. Zachary, thank you for your patience!

Off-Balanced is a biography of Zachary Fennell's  life as a teenager with CP. That's cerebral palsy for those who don't know. It tells of his struggles with girls, friends,driving, and life with a well-meaning but overprotective mother and a hard-working father he rarely sees.

Staying home on Friday nights was the norm because he didn't have the greatest self-esteem like some who can joke about their disability. Zach lives life in somewhat of a shell...until meeting Chase and Randy. Even then, he let his disability overpower him and shrank back from conversations. This caused people not to ask him much of anything. If asked how he was doing by a classmate, "Okay" was his standard, unenthusiastic reply.

As time passes, he begins to lighten up and form friendships with Sami and Rob. I started really getting into the book when Zach entered Notre Dame college. Zach found his niche when joining the Notre Dame News! It was like the words he struggled to say found their way on the printed page and - wonder of wonders - people LIKED it! 

This was the next to the last chapter, and I really felt like the book should have been longer or at least followed by a sequel because Zach's story was really getting good. The first half of the book was hard for me to get into because I'm not person who does self-pity. I'm more of a glass half-full type of girl. I also couldn't relate to the social awkwardness that Zach felt (nor the fact that he was never bullied or teased). Yes, I was made fun of, but I've always been a talker! I enjoyed Zach's story because it allowed me to see things from a male perspective. Males and females are so different!

I could relate to learning InDesign, though and really respected his dedication to the newspaper. I cringed at some of the VERY late night deadlines! The book ended with a very powerful scene that was a turning point in Zach's life. 

If a sequel is ever done, I would love to know about Zach's life after college. How does he cope as an adult? Does he keep his new found confidence? Do Rob and Sami keep in touch? What is he doing now? 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author in exchange for a review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Book Review: Bittersweet Surrender by Diann Hunt

I read the ebook Bittersweet Surrender by Diann Hunt several months ago, but I haven't had time to post a review until now. I was attracted to the book initially because of the title. Carly Westlake is the main character in the book. She owns her own business, a chocolate spa no less, and seems to have a great life with her best friend Ivy right there with her. What could she have to surrender to that was so bad?

Further into the book, I discovered she was a cancer survivor. I could relate to this because of all of my surgeries. I thought the conflicts in this book were realistic: a father having trouble with his teenage daughter, couples with marriage problems and grief.

The book started to get a little cheesy for me when Carly tried to change herself when her old high school boyfriend Jake came into town. With his good looks and charm, Carly fell for him hook line and sinker. She thought this was finally going to be her happily ever after. I was a little disappointed when I got to this part because it seems like lots of books have a former flame pop up, and I was expecting a little more substance to this book.

I finally got wowed by the end. I won't say if it was a good or bad wow because my emotions were all over the place with this book. There were some very unexpected twists and turns, hidden secrets, and betrayals that kept me turning the page to see how the book would end! I had never read any of Diann Hunt's books, but I was pleasantly surprised at the issues she managed to weave into this book almost seamlessly. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes love stories mixed with self-reflection and things that average people deal with. However, if you prefer to read books that draw you into the plot immediately; this book is probably not for you because Hunt takes her time to develop the characters in the beginning.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the 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.

Book Review: Sunrise on the Battery by Beth Hart

Sunrise on the Battery is a story by Beth Webb Hart.  The main characters are Mary Lynn and Jackson Scoville, a couple who started with nothing and trying to work their way up through the elite Charleston society.  In the midst of all of this, she found herself wishing she could go to church with her three daughters and husband.  She struggles to find a balance to it all, though.  This story is a captivating tale of the Scoville family as they all try to live a perfect life.  For Mary Lynn, that means trading in her small-town roots for high-class tea parties.  For Jackson, it means making sure his daughters had ever have every opportunity that he never had growing up . 

I really liked this story because it was relatable.  Families get so caught up in doing lots of stuff that they often miss what's truly important in life. I thought Hart did a great job developing Jackson's character.  His disgust about anything relating to God  reminds me people in my life.  The sweet innocence of the youngest daughter was refreshing in this story because it provided a nice balance to his teenage issues that Catherine faced.  I loved all the flashback she included to  about small-town life   before moving to Charleston because they added more depth to the characters and story as a whole.   I would recommend this story to anyone looking for a new book to read!  It's raw  and real.  The message still lingers in my mind even though I'm done with it .


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the 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. 

Book Review: Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond

I recently read the e-book version of Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond. It's a fictional novel that automatically swept me into the story. Susannah Underhill is a girl who finds herself out West knowing no one except her minister's brother, Jesse Mason. Her parents died, so she had no one to turn to. She's supposed to marry Jesse, but she doesn't even love herself. With each passing day, she breaks through those walls that have kept her isolated from the world for so long. She even surprises herself at how wonderful things can be when you let love heal your heart.

I had never read any of Catherine Richardson's books, so I wasn't sure what to expect. When I started reading, I couldn't put the book down because I wanted to know what happened next. I loved how Richardson painted a picture of Susannah. Her words made the character leap off the page and allowed me to experience her hurts, frustrations, and even joys. This would be a great book to take to the beach. It's a love story in more ways than one with some unexpected twists and unique characters along the way. I would definitely recommend this book if you're looking for a new one to read!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the 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.

Book Review: Unleashed by Erwin Raphael McManus

This book is not for the faint of heart. If you're looking for a book that is different from the cookie cutter books about Christianity, look no further. Erwin McManus challenges everyone to unleash the faith within. It's easier said than done. Will you answer the call?

I was very excited to get this book because I knew it was different just by looking at the cover. We need different perspectives in today's society. While I don't agree with every statement in the book, I would recommend it to others. It definitely inspired me to live life with my eyes wide open and look for opportunities that others might pass by to exercise my faith. I really like that he included different people in the Bible who lived by faith unashamedly. I knew some of the people he mentioned, but others he included surprised me. It also reaffirmed that when you walk with Jesus, there are going to be hard times. Even so, following Jesus is so worth it. If you've often been bored with religion, buy this book. It will challenge you to have a real and meaningful relationship with Him.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program in exchange for a review. I wasn't 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.

Book Review: Eat Your Peas Faithfully by Cheryl Karpen

I've just finished reading Eat Your Peas Faithfully by Cheryl Karpen. This book is a very short read. This gift book has empowering messages on each page. It is a great little pick me up anytime of the day because it reminds you of God's simple truths that are so easy to forget.

I loved the colorful pages. I was surprised that she included Bible verses that went along with each page. This would be a great book for children or adults. It can be read in just a few minutes, which is great since we all have busy lives. Overall, I thought the book was very inspiring, and the author managed to pack a lot of helpful insights about life into just a few pages! I would love to read her book for young adults as well!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program in exchange for a review. I wasn't 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.