Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (Hardcover) by Ransom Riggs

MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN offers a unique read in that it combines a story with vintage photographs to present a tale that is as whimsical  as it is chilling. The characters and story line quickly pull you in for a captivating tale of intrigue and suspense.  Sixteen year old Jacob grows up listening to the captivating stories from his grandfather’s childhood in an orphanage filled with children with unusual powers and skills. As Jacob grows older, he begins to doubt the truthfulness of his grandfather’s stories and begins to wonder if they only grew out of his grandfather’s struggles under the Nazi regime as a young adult. When Jacob’s grandfather is suddenly killed under mysterious circumstances, Jacob vows to investigate his grandfather’s past by going to the orphanage where he grew up. Once there, Jacob discovers that the people…and the stories…might be chillingly real after all.

The vintage images in this book are as haunting  as they are intriguing and set the tone perfectly for this most unusual book. Very creative and bout-of -the box writing.  I definitely recommend this book to most young adult readers and adults alike  who looking for something unusual and different to read. At our library, at least half of the check-outs are by adults.  We just can’t keep it on the shelf!

The Good Father by Diane Chamberlain

Four years ago, nineteen-year-old Travis Brown made an important choice to raise his newborn daughter on his own. Though he was at an age when most of his friends would be out partying and meeting girls, Travis was at home, meeting the needs of his child and   worrying about to keep food on the table for them both. Through it all he never regretted his decision. Bella is the center of his life and the the reason behind every move he makes. And so far everything is working out.

But when Travis loses his construction job and his home, the security and life he’s worked so hard to create for Bella begins to crumble.  Then a miracle when a job with great potential in Raleigh becomes available. Thinking of being able to provide for Bella, Travis goes to Raleigh,but there is no job.  What he finds is only an offer to participate in a onetime criminal act that promises quick money and no repercussions. Or so they say . . .

With nowhere else to turn, Travis must make another choice for his daughter’s sake, even if this choice means he might lose her.

Fans of Jodi Picoult will enjoy this page turner.

There’s NO Such Thing as a Dragon by Jack Kent

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

When Billy Bixbee finds a tiny dragon in his bedroom, his mom tells him, “There’s no such thing as a dragon!” This only makes the dragon get bigger. He grows, and grows, and grows, until he’s bigger than Billy’s house—and that’s just the beginning!  Billy’s dad tunes out the presence of the dragon until it really gets his attention.

This charming book has a humorous story line and playful illustrations by well-known author-illustrator Jack Kent pair in a terrific story that demonstrates how a little attention can make a big difference, no matter what size the problem.

Has God Spoken? Proof of the Bible’s Divine Inspiration by hank Hanegraaff

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man radio broadcast, dives into the assertions that the historical proof that the Bible is not factual in his latest book Has God Spoken? Proof of the Bible’s Divine Inspiration.   Like A Case for Christ, this book uses archeological and historical proof to defend the accuracy of the Bible.

Has God Spoken? is a good resource which shows without a doubt that the Bible is divine rather than human in origin.   Having taken Theology courses at Liberty University on this same topic, I was delighted to find another books which demonstrates the correlation between facts recorded in history and what is written in the Bible. Though some have been raised to believe the Bible is a collection of fictional “stories”, nothing could be further from the truth.

The Bible Answer Man builds a concise and solid case that God back in the 6th century, God revealed to had revealed to Daniel things which would be fulfilled in the future regarding the four great empires of the East. The author also notes how the Old Testament reveals the coming of Jesus Christ in many prophecies.

Some people find acronyms helpful in remembering things they have studied and I have been guilty of using them on occasion back in Biology class.  The use of acronyms in Hanks newest book may appeal to some people.  He offers suggestions like:  Archeologist S-P-A-D-E (Steles and Stones; Pools and Fools; Assyrian Archaeology; Dead Sea Scrolls; Epic of Gilgamesh), Prophetic S-T-A-R-S (Succession of Nations; Typological Prophecy; Abomination of Desolation; Resurrection; Superstar ABCs), etc.

That being said, I feel that this is a good apologetic work and I do recommend it to those interested in apologetics, scripture study or even archeology, though I feel most Christians would indeed benefit from reading this book.

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.”

Verde by Ted Dekker (reviewed by Anniegirl for Read another book- blog)

Years since the events in White and much has changed. No longer does the Circle, now fractured, battle the Horde, but flees from their presence.  Divisions  from within cause changes and stresses in the group, while an evil like they have never imagined is slithers silently from the past into the future realm. Will the Circle survive?
Some parts of parts of Verde (Green) that are reminiscent of the first three books and offered answers to questions that have been floating around for years. Three series were mostly tied up in Green–The Circle Books, Paradise Novels, and The Book of Histories series. While Verde (Green) could be read independently, having read the prior books was helpful.  Ted Dekker also did a great job of portraying end times in a way that was not excessively deep. The apocalyptic events were handled very well.

If you are a Ted Dekker fan and want to read this book in Spanish,  this is the book for you.

(On a humorous side note, I accidentally ordered the Spanish version of this book and had to find the English version to then read.  So out of respect for my Spanish speaking friends I add the following.)

El libro es muy recomendable a aquellos amantes de la ciencia ficción y es sin duda una gran oportunidad para aquellos que desean iniciarse en estas ramas.
Revisora de libros para el programa de Thomas Nelson Book Review Bloggers aka The BookSneeze http://www.booksneeze.com

Aviso: Una copia del libro me fue enviada por el editorial para ser revisada y sin compromiso ninguno de escribir una recomendación positiva. Esta es mi opinión del libro.

Life Support by Robert Whitlow

Life Support is a new novel about a bright young divorce lawyer who is assigned to represent a woman whose husband is in a vegetative state after a serious accident. The wife woman doesn’t want a divorce however, she wants to unplug his life support.

Life Support is billed as a legal thriller, but it lacks the usual suspense, tension and conflict generally required of this type of genre.  I found the action lagging somewhat, but as a piece of fiction it did hold my interest for the most part.  It just lacked the suspense I was anticipating.

The author’s writing skill is actually very good, with good structure and with time will undoubtedly be an excellent author.  A person reading an early work of Dean Koontz or Karen Robards might say the same thing and look at what wonderful authors they have become.

One Call Away by Brenda Warner

A compelling read from beginning to end, One Call Away by Brenda Warner, wife of Kurt Warner, is one of the most encouraging and insightful biographies I have read in several years. Brenda shares her inspiring story about how as a young single mother she struggled to raise her two children, one of whom was a special needs child.  From her humble beginnings as a child growing up on her parent’s farm, to serving as a Marine, a difficult marriage, tragedy, life on food stamps and finally to her marriage to famous football player Kurt Warner; Brenda is proof of what a person can do when they have faith in God.

Not long after meeting Kurt, tragedy struck yet again when Brenda’s parents were killed when a tornado struck their home. Kurt helped her through the tragedy and  and they were married in her parent’s church.  Brenda shares the ups and downs of being a the wife of a football players as well as what it is like being in the in the spotlight of the media and the country.

The accounts of the trying times in Brenda’s life where her faith in God brought her through her darkest moments will move the reader to tears.  The uplifting moments and times of great joy are stirring and encouraging.  Her journey through life is one that so many can relate to on many different levels.  Today, Kurt, Brenda and the seven children are doing well. Kurt has retired from football, but they stay active with the organization they founded to help those less fortunate.

One Call Away is a book you can’t put down.  From beginning to end, the events are riveting and compelling.  I highly recommend this book to everyone.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free from BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review.