"Reeling Her In" by Jennifer Johnson

"Reeling Her In" is another short from Kentucky Keepers.  I did not think this one was as good as Hook, Line, and Sinker".  There was too much romance.  Johnson did a great job weaving in the characters from the first story though.  It was a very quick read.
Happy reading!
Missy

"Widows and Orphans" (2)

"Widows and Orphans" by Susan Meissner is a Rachel Flynn Mystery.  Meissner does an excellent job of "Who Dunit?"  She weaves mystery  into the book so well that you just have to keep reading to find out what is going to happen next.
Here is a quote that I really liked from the book:  "You and I don't believe in luck,' he murmured. ........But they shared the same view of luck.  She and Trace were convinced a powerful, yet personal God held the universe together,......And where luck was absent, a providential hand prevailed, especially when called upon."  That is so true, how many times have you said "wish me luck" even though you know God is in control and that there is no such thing as luck?
She did a great job describing the characters.  Rachel is a no nonsense, professional looking lawyer.  Her husband, Trace, is a free-loving artist with orange tinted hair and an earring cross in his ear.  Her brother, the one "working" for God has long hair.  They are the most devout Christians in her book.  God says that is a shame for a man to have long hair.  Wearring earrings and having long hair is effeminate.  The Bible says:  1Corinthians 6:9, 10 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor theives, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."
You cannot argue with the Bible.
Aside from that, the book is very well written and a good read with a great ending!
Happy reading!
Missy

"Hook, Line and Sinker" by Lynn A. Coleman

I am reading "Kentucky Keepers" a compilation of four romance novels.  I like these books when I want a quick read without much thought.  The only thing is that the stories are so short, the people either get saved or right with God right away and they have to fall in love quickly.  But I still like them sometimes when I need some fluff without the trash.  I finished the first story "Hook, Line and Sinker" by Lynn A. Coleman.  It was about a single mom with terrible ex-inlaws and a murdered ex-husband and a super bright eight-year old son.  The man in the story is a carpenter (Jesus's trade) and a fisherman (Jesus's disciples were fishers of men).  Took me two nights to read.
Happy Reading!
Missy

"Widows and Orphans" by Susan Meissner

"Widows and Orphans" by Susan Meissner is a contemporary mystery.  She is a new author for me, picked it up at a yard sale or library sale, can't remember.  She starts off using a verse from the NIV, James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:  to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the World."  The KJV says: "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."  Why do people think they have to change God's Word?  They changed the meaning of the verse by "trying o make it easier to understand".  I can understand it just fine.  Let's start with "Religion that God our Father accepts"  What do you mean "accepts"?  That is like saying that God will accept your religion as long as you do this also, that is not what He says, He says "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father(notice that the NIV took out the trinity?)is this," He is saying that to serve the Lord and to be pure and undefiled before Him, not "accepted" by Him.  NIV: "to look after orphans and widows in their distress"  KJV:  "To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction"  Distress means:  "1. great pain, anxiety, or sorrow; acute physical or mental suffering; affliction; trouble.

2. a state of extreme necessity or misfortune. "  Affliction means:  "1. a state of pain, distress, or grief; misery: They sympathized with us in our affliction.

2. a cause of mental or bodily pain, as sickness, loss, calamity, or persecution. "  The words are similar but different.  Distress uses the words "great" pain, "extreme" necessity or misfortune.  Affliction is not as bad, it is a "state" of pain or distress or a "cause" of it.  According to the NIV the widows and orphans only need help when it is great, the KJV says fatherless not orphan.  A child can only be an orphan if both parents are dead whereas the fatherless can still have a mother.  "Unpolluted" and "unspotted" have different meanings too.  You can be walking on the street and step in a mud puddle and get a spot on your dress which is not bad because you can cover it up, but if your dress is polluted by the stench of that mud puddle then it cannot be covered.  God wants us totally unspotted from the world, not one tiny spot, according to the NIV it is ok to be spotted as long as you are not totally immersed.  That is not what God says  Stick to God's Holy Word!  It does not need to be changed by anybody!  I would suggest reading "New Age Bible Versions" by Gail Riplinger. 
I took up so much time on the verse that I don't have time to talk about the book!  I'll have to do that in my next post!
Happy Reading!
Missy

Ending of "Sunday Clothes"

I finished reading "Sunday Clothes" by Thom Lemmons.  I was very disappointed in the ending, he really need to write a second book to close it out.  He wrote an epilogue, but it just raised more questions.  She hired Willie so he could raise money to go to NY, but never says if he made it.  Ned was sent to NY for art school, he talked about the different challenges Ned would meet in NY, but never said anything else about Ned.  He was developing a relationship between Addie and George, but never said why they had not gotten married.  There was just a lot of loose ends that needs to be tied up.  It was an excellent book until the ending, he left me wanting more.
Happy Reading!

Sunday Clothes

I am really enjoying this book!  It talks a lot about different relationships:  dating, newlyweds, been married awhile, temptations, and family relationships.  Thom Lemmons is an excellent writer who is able to keep his readers interested.  There is a lot of sadness in this book.  It shows the difference between a "colored" funeral and a "white" funeral.   Do you think a funeral should be all somber and depressing?  Or do you think it should be a celebration of that person's life?  I want upbeat singing and a lot of laughter at my funeral.  When I die I want people to know that I enjoyed life while I was here and now I'm enjoying life up in heaven! 
Do you have any idea how hard it is to write about a book without giving away any of the juicy stuff?  I don't want to spoil it for anyone though!
While you are reading this book there are a few things I want you to think about.  What should Zeb do differently when temptation comes calling?  What should he do to keep the communication lines open between him and Addie?  Should Addie keep things bottled up or should she tell Zeb the truth about her feelings? Is it Addie's fault he is tempted?  Did Addie's dad do the right thing by cutting her out of his will?  What should he have done differently in raising her?
That's it for now, it is a very thick book and I have not had much time to read, right now my dishes are asking to be washed!  TTYL!

"Sunday Clothes" by Thom Lemmons

"Sunday Clothes" is a very well written book.  From what I have read so far, I would definitely recommend it.  It starts off in the year of 1898.  The father is a staunch Methodist and does not like Church of Christ.  He will not even help a person who is Church of Christ.  I never really thought of such a strong prejudism.  The Bible says not to be "unequally yoked with unbelievers", but how far should you go?  I always thought it to mean hanging out and dating , marrying, that kind of thing, but if someone needed my help I would not refuse it becuae of their belief.  Depending on what they needed of course.  I wouldn't give money to help someone with a building fund for their church or if they were a drug addict.  But I would give them food if they are hungry.  For example:  A lady approached us in the parking lot of the grocery store the other day.  She had on a long skirt, looked well groomed and had her daughter with her who was wearing pants, but she looked well groomed also.  She was selling flowers to raise money to buy groceries and pay bills.  They were cheap plastic flowers, but Chris still gave her a couple of dollars for one.  We did not ask her what religion she was before we gave her the money.  We saw a need so we filled it.  I am Baptist and I would not let my child marry someone who did not hold the same beliefs, but "train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it".  Therefore I will not have to worry about my child leaving my faith, or more importantly leaving Jesus Christ.
Go to your local library or bookstore today to pick up this book and you will understand more about why I have made these comments.
Have fun reading!

"How Do I Get These Kids To Listen?"

Have you ever wondered that while you were teaching a classroom full of children?  "How Do I Get These Kids To Listen?" by Ed Dunlop is a great help!  Whether you have have been teaching for fifty years or this is your first time, this is a must read!  In the first two chapters he talks about the efective use of visuals.  Flannelgraph is a great visual aid, but you need to change it up a bit!  There are a lot of great ideas in the book on what to use.  You can put your memory verse on posterboard or on an overhead projector.  Both will get the kids attentions, depends on how big your class is.
He also talks about being prepared for your class.  You should start studying next week's lesson, today!  Pray over your lesson, memorize it, be gathering your visual aids together.  Be early to class.  Never wait until the last minute, your students deserve better and so do you!

"The Last Confederate" battles

Morris does an excellent job while describing the battles to make you think you are there.  It makes me so sad to think of the civil war and all of the friends and relatives who fought on different sides. 
When Morris describes his characters, especially the lawyer, Harry, I can visualize them.  He's a good writer.