Stain of Guilt and Dead of Night by Brandilyn Collins

Hidden Faces Series: Stain of Guilt and Dead of Night by Brandilyn Collins

Coach Jenny gifted me with four Brandilyn Collins books. A while back I reviewed the first, Brink of Death. I started Stain of Guilt recently. When I finished I immediately grabbed for Dead of Night—which I finished in one sitting that ran into the wee hours. I could. Not. Put. It. Down.

Throughout the Hidden Faces series Annie Kingston is at the beginning of her career as a forensic artist. Through gruesome murders she is being led into some intense and frightening situations. How will she respond to her new career?

She is also being led on another journey—a journey to the Heavenly Father, to the King of Kings. How will she respond to the most important call of her life?

Brandilyn Collins creates a familiar character in Annie Kingston—while not everyone will become a forensic artist, everyone is faced with choices. Annie is a parent trying to raise two children alone, after their father walks out on them. Annie has lost both parents and her sister, Jenna, is her sole relative. Annie can feel, can hear God calling her, and like so many must decide how she will answer that call.

The Hidden Faces series is edgy and at times thrilling and gruesome. It is very fast paced, not at all difficult to read, but sometimes very hard to put down.

The first two books in the series were very good, but so far I would have to say Dead of Night was the best. In her acknowledgments Collins states that she didn’t really want to write this particular story, but felt called to do so. I can see what she means. I can’t say I like the story itself, but it was well written, gripping and researched thoroughly. It has a message and it is powerful.

To note: the Hidden Faces series are violent, not gratuitously so, but they are murder mysteries. They could be headlines on any of our nightly news. If that type of genre is not your choice read with caution. The books, though, are definitely written unapologetically from a Christian bias. How Collins managed to meld those two fact amazes me.

Brandilyn Collins has written several other books. I intend to check them out.

Beauty

Bach and Ballet

Alessandra Ferri and Sting.





Totally worth the long intro.

A Promise for Tomorrow--A Review

A Promise for Tomorrow by Sara Dubose

One summer in the mid-fifties, future sixth grader Fannie Lea Rockwell longs for some excitement, for a change from the everyday life she knows. Fannie Lea, also know as “Flea” for short, is about to get a little more than she bargained for.

Trespassing is never a good thing, even worse if you are a preacher’s daughter, and even worse if you run into Raymond Boyd while trespassing on his land. But that is exactly how Flea starts her summer and this one choice will affect the outcome of the next six months, and actually the rest of her life. It will affect not only Flea, but many of the townspeople around her.

Although I grew up a decade after this book was set, I could feel the intense memories of childhood, I was drawn in completely and felt I was there. Ms. Dubose allows Flea to tell her own story and the insights of this eleven year old are amazing. A Promise for Tomorrow is not a large book, only 200 pages. Yet it is rich and riveting, the characters well drawn and familiar to a reader.

A Promise for Tomorrow is definitely on the recommended reading list.

The original information from the press release is in the blog tour post.

Finding Hollywood Nobody--A Review

Finding Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson

Hats off to Lisa Samson for tackling some difficult teenage issues with style and yet not compromising with today’s morals, or rather lack of morals. Samson’s book is very culturally relevant and yet allows no question that Jesus is the only answer.

I read Hollywood Nobody a while back and really enjoyed the fast paced story of Scotty and Charley—on the road, involved with hip-Hollywood personalities, lots of mystery and excitement, all the while both with their own unique style. Samson created characters I had no problem welcoming into my reading experience.

Finding Hollywood Nobody offers the same approach—we are privy to Scotty’s blog, her diary and the thoughts tumbling around in her head. Only this time we are aware that Charley is not really her mother, but her grandmother. There is a new location and Scotty’s nemesis, Karissa Bonano is still around. The man of her dreams, Seth Haas is still in touch, but continues to see her as a little sister he never had. And the “Biker Guy” who’s kept Scotty and Charley on the run is back, continuing to pursue , getting closer. At the same time, Scotty is being pursued by the LORD and learning slowly draw closer to Jesus.

Being a homeschooling mom, I am cringing at Scotty’s approach to education, but given the lifestyle and parental figure she has it is not surprising. I think it confirms that children are natural learners and rarely are satisfied with being average, unless trained to be. I have to admit, I just want to grab hold of Scotty and give her a little guidance. Samson does offer a character who does just that with Scotty—who always manages to find the best people on earth. Being a blogger, I love that Scotty blogs. Charley is a bit lax in her checking up on her teen, but Charley is an old hippy and that fits her personality. Being a Christian I can attest to the fact that God will always present Himself and offer opportunities to draw someone to Him.

This book is tagged as a Young Adult read, but it kept this more than middle-aged mommy blogger engaged. Twists and turns keep the book moving and of course Ms. Samson leaves us hanging at the best part—and impatiently awaiting the third book in the series—Romancing Hollywood Nobody, due out July of this year.

I received this book as a blog tour book and the press release information and an interview with the author is here.

Memorial Day 2008

To those who have laid down their lives, to those who are prepared to lay down their lives, to their families, many prayers and deepest gratitude.

One of my Favorite Mommies...

...has left this earth.

My condolences to the Keane family. The Family Circus is a cartoon I've loved since I could read.

Grains of Gratitude

Grains of Gratitude is home at Brady's Bunch, blog of the gracious and energetic Christine.

School is out for two weeks at our house. That is a big long break here at Chez Joyeux. But the last few weeks have been wild and we need some time to regroup.

I am grateful for my father's visit this weekend. We are helping him celebrate his birthday. My sons are having a blast playing cards and staying up late with Grandpa.

I am grateful we have a messy home filled with work for me to do the next two weeks. Declutter, clean, rearrange are the buzzwords of the moment.

I am grateful I am feeling better. A couple weeks ago I got laid flat by a health issue that has plagued me for most of my life. Really nothing compared to what health issues so many people deal with, but enough to put me in tears and finally in bed for a couple days. Mending has taken a lot longer than it used to. The old grey mare, she ain't what she used to be...and all that.

I am grateful for my husband and children who took such good care of me. They really treated me with kid gloves. I am so blessed.

I am grateful for a chance to blog a little more in the next few weeks and to visit all my bloggy friends.

I am grateful for those who laid down their lives in service to their country, to those who remain willing to do so, and to the families that support them and share with us. May this Memorial Day include time to offer prayers of thanks for all of them.

Page 123 Meme

Sweet Renee at 2 Peas in Pod tagged me for a meme. I'm a bit behind but it looked like fun and I've not done this one before, so here goes:

The Rules

1. Pick up the book nearest you.
2. Turn to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Type and post the next three sentences after the fifth one.
5. Tag five people.

The book nearest me is Then Sings My Soul, Volumes 1 & 2

From page 123, about Anna L. Waring:

"She was a lifelong student of the Hebrew language and daily read from the Book of Psalms in the original text. Anna's special burden was for those behind bars, and she devoted herself to prison ministry and to causes like the Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society.

In 1850, she published a little volume of nineteen hymns, among them this one--"In Heavenly Love Abiding"--which Anna called, "Safety In God.""

In Heavenly Love Abiding

In heavenly love abiding, no change my heart shall fear.
And safe in such confiding, for nothing changes here.
The storm may roar without me, my heart may low be laid,
But God is round about me, and can I be dismayed?

Wherever He may guide me, no want shall turn me back.
My Shepherd is beside me, and nothing can I lack.
His wisdom ever waking, His sight is never dim.
He knows the way He’s taking, and I will walk with Him.

Green pastures are before me, which yet I have not seen.
Bright skies will soon be over me, where darkest clouds have been.
My hope I cannot measure, my path to life is free.
My Savior has my treasure, and He will walk with me.

Words by Anna L. Waring
Music by Felix Mendelssohn

Joshua 1:9
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

I'm tagging anyone who hasn't done this. It was a lot of fun & just what I needed to read today. Try it!!

Say That Again, Sam

This got kind of loud...oooops!

There is an old joke I am sure everyone has heard before. It goes like this:

Joke Teller: “Pete and Re-Pete are in a boat. Pete fell out. Who was left?”
Unsuspecting Listener: “Repeat.”

Joke Teller: “Pete and Re-Pete are in a boat. Pete fell out. Who was left?”
Unsuspecting Listener: “Repeat.”

Joke Teller: “Pete and Re-Pete are in a boat. Pete fell out. Who was left?”
Unsuspecting Listener: “Repeat.”

…ad nauseum…

Life has been a lot like that joke around here lately. I don’t know if it is Spring Fever or end of the school year blues (although we school year round—it never really ends). But I have been repeating myself a lot repeating myself a lot repeatingmyselfalot…sorry, my record is stuck, lately. No one, and I repeat, NO ONE, , and I repeat, NO ONE is listening too me. Sadly I can’t even seem to remember what I said to myself in one room after I walk into the next.

We are trying to tie up all loose ends so that we might have two weeks off from school. So the boys can have a break and I can clean up the fall out I mean mess I mean tidy and straighten the artfully arranged clutter.

I’m behind on my blog reading. Behind on my IRL friends, behind, behind, behind, behind…

Reminds me of a song…

Because it repeats. And makes a lot of noise. Kind of like stuff here.

You can’t ride in my red wagon
The wheels are broke
And the axle’s draggin’
Same song
Next verse
A little bit louder and a little bit worse…

You can’t ride in my red wagon
The wheels are broke
And the axle’s draggin’
Same song
Next verse
A little bit louder and a little bit worse…

You can’t ride in my red wagon
The wheels are broke
And the axle’s draggin’
Same song
Next verse
A little bit louder and a little bit worse…

Like I said…it repeats. And is loud. Kind of like here.

My Side of the Mountain Book and Movie Review

Last year I read a book that apparently many read in junior high and high school, but somehow I had missed. I read Jean Craighead George’s My Side of the Mountain. I got to share it this year with Roo who loved it as much as I do.

Sam Gribley, a young boy leaves New York to run away to the Catskill Mountains. . He takes off with supplies, a seemingly small amount of money (at least by today’s standards) and a goal; to live off the land, to be one with nature. He tells his parents of his plan, but apparently no one quite believed he would get very far. Sam hitchhiked out of town and as the trucker he got a ride with deposits him alongside the road Sam tells him of his plans:

“He laughed. Everybody laughed at me. Even Dad. I told Dad that I was going to run away to Great-grandfather Gribley’s land. He had roared with laughter and told me about the time he had run away from home. He got on a boat headed for Singapore, but when the whistle blew for departure, he was down the gangplank and home in bed before anyone knew he was gone. then he told me, “Sure, go try it. Every boy should try it.” ”

Written in 1959 this Newbery Honor winner obviously hales from a time when video games were not even a dream, baseball was a game on a vacant lot or a treat to go to a pro game. Soccer didn’t exist on this continent. What was on children’s minds then? My Side of the Mountain also speaks of a time when it was safe to hitchhike and parents were able to let their children roam freely without worry of “something terrible” happening. It seems idyllic and totally impossible. It seems almost childish in our very “sophisticated” world in the United States today. But after about the first two paragraphs the story became real and I jumped in with happiness.

My Side of the Mountain is the runaway dream that many children have; the perfect meeting with nature and the majesty of Sam’s mountain and his falcon Frightful.

Jean Craighead George touched her readers and continued with the sequels On the Far Side of the Mountain, Frightful's Mountain and Frightful’s Daughter.

This week we watched the 1969 movie made from the book. As almost always, the producers/directors/screenwriters decided they could do better than the original. And while it was a fine movie, as almost always, the book is infinitely better. The movie begins, not in New York, but in Toronto and moves to the Laurentian Mountains instead of the Catskill Mountains. The acting is satisfactory. The scenery is gorgeous. The film is as dated as the book—but it’s very likely why we all enjoyed it. This is the old-fashioned family film many of us remember growing up. Not loud, no fancy effects, nothing from outer space, no super heroes. Just a simple premise and a goal to entertain.

We enjoy reading books and watching movies based on the books and discussing and critiquing them here. I recommend the movie as acceptable for all ages. There is some sadness in it with the death of a couple animals, but it is certainly not violent. The book I highly recommend again as a read aloud for