It's Monday! What are you reading? (Aug 22, 2011)

What are you reading on Mondays is hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey - You can hook up with the Mr. Linky there with your own post - but be sure and let me know what you are reading too!  Hasn't been much change in this post from last week.  Still behind on reviews.  Hoping to catch up before the end of the month!  I am beginning to forget the details of some of the books - I can remember if I liked them or not, but not specifically why!

Currently Reading:
Stray Dogs, Saints and Saviors by Alexander Russo
Route 66 by Krish Kandiah

Next Up:
In Search of Rose Notes by Emily Arsenault
Whistling in the Dark by Lesley Kagen

E-Book:
Singular by David Porteous
Reversible Skirt by Laura McHale Holland

Bathroom Book:
Pie Town by Lynne Hinton

Reviewed Since Last Post:
The Arrivals: A Novel by Meg Mitchell Moore
The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain
Following Polly By Karen Bergreen
Summer in the South by Cathy Holton


Children's Books Reviewed Since Last Post:



Waiting for Reviews:
 White Sleeper by David R. Fett and Stephen Langford
The Place of Belonging by Jayne Pearson Faulkner
The Blackberry Bush by David Housholder
The Girl in the Green Raincoat by Laura Lippman
Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Airmail by Naomi Bulger

E-books waiting for review:
Sudden Moves by Kelli Sue Landon
This World We Live In (The Last Survivors, Book 3) by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Children's Books waiting for review:
Pearl's Wisdom by Auntie LuLu
Bug Meets His Friend (Bug's Adventure Series) by K.M. Groshek

READY - SET - READ!

Dear Anonymous

I recently received this comment on a blog post which ended up in my spam mailbox -

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Mailbox Monday (Aug 22, 2011)":
I think you should stop spamming other people's blog with back links to your own. I already reported your blog to google as a spam and they are investigating. You can read this forum and see how other people are complaining about your abuse of "link to this post" on others' blogs.

So Dear Anonymous,

This is the way that I understand back links.  Evidently I follow your blog or have linked to your blog in someway on mine - whether it is in a sidebar or in an actual post or my blog roll. This is what creates the back link.  It is not a person, physically going to your blog and adding a link - although I do believe they can be added that way also.  Since you are "anonymous", I have no way of knowing whether you are on my blogroll or not.  The forum that you referred me to in your comment is from March of 2010 and I have no idea whether or not I was the "Needlepoint Lady" referred to in the forum. I am guessing that I am though as the person originating that forum had been in my blogroll.  If they would have taken the time to actually read my blog and not just the name, they would have seen that my blog is more about Books and Book Blogging than Needlepoint and as they were a writer, maybe would have liked knowing that they were in my blogroll.  (I have since removed them from my blogroll as it seemed to cause them issues). 

I do not have the time or the inclination to journey around the blogosphere and leave links randomly here and there, and I would never post a link on someone else's site without their permission first.  Blogging to me is a community, and whatever we can do to support one another is high up on my list.  If you would like to contact me at my email address - clearly listed in my profile - I would be more than happy to try to figure out why my links are showing up on your blog and remove that information from mine.

Meanwhile, if any of my readers understand the issue of backlinks, or can explain it better - please feel free to jump in here.


Now maybe I can get back to reading. . .

Mailbox Monday (Aug 22, 2011)

 Mailbox Monday's host for August is Staci at Life in the Thumb. In My Mailbox is hosted Sundays at The Story Siren. Please visit these posts and take a look at what packages everybody else got this week! 

The Most Dangerous Thing

by Laura Lippman

 

 

Years ago, they were all the best of friends.  But as time passed and circumstances changed, they grew apart, became adults with families of their own, and began to forget about the past -- and the terrible lie they all shared.

 

But now Gordon, the youngest and wildest of the five, has died and the others are thrown together for the first time in years.

 

And then the revelations start.

 

Could their long-ago lie be the reason for their troubles today?  Is it more dangerous to admit to what they've done or is it the strain of keeping the secret that is beginning to wear on them and everyone close to them?

 

Each one of these old friends has to wonder if their secret has been discovered -- and if someone within the circle is out to destroy them.

 

 

A Bitter Truth

by Charles Todd

 

When battlefield nurse Bess Crawford returns from France for a well-earned Christmas leave, she finds a bruised and shivering woman huddled in the doorway of her London residence.  The woman has nowhere to turn, and propelled by a firm sense of duty, Bess takes her in.

 

Once inside Bess's flat, the woman reveals that a quarrel with her husband erupted into violence, yet she wants to return home -- if Bess will go with her to Sussex.  Realizing that the woman is suffering from a concussion, Bess gives up a few precious days of leave to travel with her.  But she soon discovers that this is a good deed with unforeseeable consequences.

 

What Bess finds at Vixen Hill is a house of mourning.  The woman's family has gathered for a memoiral service for the elder son, who died of war wounds.  Her husband, home on compassionate leave, is tense, tormented by jealousy and his own guilty conscience.

 

Then, when a troubled houseguest is found dead, Bess herself becomes a prime suspect in the case.  This murder will lead her to a dangerous quest in war-torn France, an unexpected ally, and a startling revelation that puts her in jeopardy before a vicious killer can be exposed.

 

 

Sanctus

by Simon Toyne

 

The certainties of modern life are about to be shattered by an ancient conspiracy that has been nurtured by blood and lies.

 

A man climbs a cliff face in the oldest inhabited place on earth, a mountain known as the Citadel, a Vatican-like city-state that towers above the city of Ruin in contemporary Turkey.  But this is no ordinary ascent.  It is a dangerous, symbolic act.  And thanks to the media, it is witnessed by the entire world.

 

And few people understand its consequence.  For foundation worker Kathryn Mann and a handful of others, it's evidence that a hopeful, new beginning is at hand.  For the cowled and secretive monks who live inside the Citadel, it could mean the end of everything they have built -- and they will break every law in every country and even kill to stop it.  For reporter Liv Adamsen, it spurs the memory of the beloved brother she has lost and begins the next stage of a journey into the heart of her own identity.

 

At that journey's end lies a discovery that will change everything. . .

 

 

 

All These Things I've Done

by Gabrielle Zevin

 

In 2083, chocolate and caffeine are illegal, water is carefully rationed, books are scarce, and New York City is rife with poverty and crime.

 

And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine.  But when she finds herself falling for the son of the new assistant district attorney, and her ex-boyfriend is poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures, Anya is unwillingly thrust into the spotlight -- in the news, and, more important, within her mafiya family.

 

 

 

52 Things Kids Need From a Mom

by Angela Thomas

 

Mom, do you need inspiration? encouragement? affirmation?

 

Angela Thomas, bestselling author and mother of four, draws on personal experience and biblical principles to help you raise healthy, responsible kids and establish strong family ties.  Whether you have one baby or six children, you'll enjoy insightful stories, practical information, and loads of encouragement in each short reading.  Covering childhood through the teen years, the 52 chapters are packed with specifics to help you:

• make your children feel loved and secure
• teach and encourage communication
• establish a positive, wholesome atmosphere
• know when and how to correct behaviour and set consequences
• help your kids persevere and succeed.

52 Things Kids Need from a Mom is upbeat, guilt-free, and designed to be read in short bursts -- perfect for today's busy schedules.  You'll discover how to lead with God's love and grace and create family moments that will be recalled with delight for years to come.

 

 

 

Darn Good Cowboy Christmas

by Carolyn Brown

 

He's one hot cowboy. . .

Raylen O'Donnell is one smokin' cowboy.  He could have any woman he wants, but he's never been able to forget a certain dark-haired girl who disappeared from his life.  So when she suddenly returns to the ranch next door, Raylen's not fixing to let her get away again. . .

 

And she's out for a sizzlin' Christmas

Raised in a traveling carnival, Lizelle Hanson thought all she wanted was a house that didn't have wheels and a sexy cowboy for her very own.  But settling down's going to take some getting used to, and catching Raylen, the hotter-than-hell cowboy next door, might just take a little holiday magic. . .

 

 

Thunder of Heaven

by Tim LaHaye and Craig Parshall

In the sequel to the New York Times bestselling novel -- Edge of Apocalypse, homeland America is under attack.

Joshua Jordan's reputation is on the line when his controversial RTS system fails to protect Flight 199 as it takes off from Chicago and is shot down by a terrorist missile.  The government is taking no chances and starts an investigation of Joshua's entire defense program. Unfortunately, the Israelis, longtime allies of the United States, are desperate for the technology.  When Joshua flies to the Middle East to assure them of the RTS's reliability, he is captured by Iranians who want the secret for the defense tool for their own use.

With Joshua out of the country, Abigail Jordan is left in charge of the Roundtable and sets out to defend her husband to the media and to the commission set up to investigate RTS.  But America is under attack -- a bombing in the Mall of America and rumors of even more potential atrocities have this covert team desperate to find additional bombs before they are set off.

As man vs. man and nation vs. nation come together in an epic battle, nature takes over and makes the final blow.  And as world events begin setting the stage for the "end of days" foretold in Revelation, Joshua Jordan must weigh the personal price he must pay to save the nation he loves.

What books came home to you this week?

Summer in the South by Cathy Holton (Book Review)

Title: Summer in the South

Author: Cathy Holton
Publisher: Ballantine


About the book: After a personal tragedy, Chicago writer Ava Dabrowski quits her job to spend the summer in Woodburn, Tennessee, at the invitation of her old college friend Will Fraser and his two great-aunts, Josephine and Fanny Woodburn.  Her charming hosts offer Ava a chance to relax at their idyllic ancestral estate, Woodburn Hall, while working on her first novel.


But Woodburn is anything but quiet: Ancient feuds lurk just beneath its placid surface, and modern-day rivalries emerge as Ava finds herself caught between the competing attentions of Will and his black-sheep cousin Jake.  Fascinated by the family's impressive history -- their imposing house filled with treasures, and their mingling with literary lions Fitzgerald, Hemingway, and Faulkner -- Ava stumbles onto rumors about the darker side of the Woodburns' lore.  Putting aside her planned novel, she turns her creative attentions to the eccentric and tragic clan, a family with more skeletons (and ghosts) in their closets than anyone could possibly imagine.  As Ava struggles to write the true story of the Woodburns, she finds herself tangled in the tragic history of a mysterious Southern family show secrets mirror her own.

My thoughts: Ava and Will have been friends for many years.  He has been inviting her to visit his home since they got out of college. One day he catches her during a crisis and she accepts his invitation to come South and stay with his aunts to work on her novel. She arrives in Woodburn and it is like entering another world.  People are friendly and unhurried.  Everybody knows everybody's history, and you have to read between the lines of what they say to get to what they really mean.

Ava is definitely different.  She doesn't dress like the women in the South.  She is very direct with what she says.  But the biggest difference is that she really doesn't know anything about her family outside of her mother.  They traveled a lot when Ava was a child and never really settled down.  Her mother told her that her father died when she was ten.  I think this is the reason that she becomes so enthralled with the Woodburn family.  Their history goes back for generations and the aunts, Josephine and Fanny have kept a lot of it right in the house where she is staying.  There are journals and photographs, and they just ignite the writer in her. 

Somewhere along the way she meets Jake.  He is from the "bad" side of the Woodburn family.  He looks a lot like Will, but with dark hair and dark eyes.  Where she has never really felt an attraction to Will, she feels an attraction to Jake.  Jake is also more willing to talk about some of the tragedies in the family's past than Will and his aunts.

All of the talk about the family and the mysteries gave this book a very Gothic feel to me.  I kept expecting some dark magic to surface to make Ava become posessed with one of the spirits/souls of the older generation.  I know, nothing like this happens!  There are just times when the spirits seem to come alive in the story. 

You learn about what really happened in the past through flashbacks.  Meanwhile, as Ava is trying to discover what really happened in the past, she finds herself in between Will and Jake and the bad history that they share - which neither is very forthcoming about.

I enjoyed this book except for one thing.  Ava had sleep paralysis throughout - something she had had as a child.  I am not quite sure what to make of those scenes or what we were supposed to take away from them.   I do see the possibility for completely new books based on some of the characters from this one though.

~I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for my review.~

About the author: Cathy Holton, the author of Beach Trip, Revenge of the Kudzu Debutantes, and the Secret Lives of the Kudzu Debutantes, was born in Lakeland, Florida, and grew up in college towns in the South and the Midwest.  She attended Oklahoma State University and Michigan State University where she studied creative writing.  She lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with her husband and their three children.

You can find her at her blog The Surly Wench Journal or her Facebook page for Summer in the South.

Summer in the South: A Novel by Cathy Holton
Publisher/Publication Date: Ballantine Books, May 2011
ISBN: 978-0-345-50601-6
340 pages

Following Polly by Karen Bergreen (Book Review)

Title: Following Polly
Author: Karen Bergreen
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

About the book: Would you call Alice Teakle a stalker?  Or just someone with an, um, unhealthy obsession with golden girl Polly Linley Dawson?  No one much notices Alice: not her boss, not the neighbors, not even her mother.

Besides, everyone follows Polly and everything about her: her business selling high-end lingerie you can imagine only her elegant self wearing, her all-over-the-social-pages marriage to movie director Humphrey Dawson, her chic looks, her wardrobe.  Alice just follows her a little more. . . closely.

Yet one Manhattan autumn afternoon when Alice loses her job and starts to follow Polly, she stumbles on the object of her attention sprawled dead on the floor of a boutique and is forced to become truly beneath anyone's notice.  Invisible, in fact.  Because she's accused of murder.

But can another obsession help save Alice with the fallout?  Charlie is Alice's longtime unattainable crush.  He might be able to help her out of the mess she's in. . . in return for a favor or two, that is.  But how will Alice find out if Charlie is really the man she thinks he is?

My thoughts: This book was a great summer read.  I started it while on vacation and finished reading it in the car on the way home.  Normally I can only read for a little while in the car, before I either get restless or a headache - but not with this book - I read it right through to the end of the book!

Alice has lost her job and is just sort of floating, not really sure where she wants to land, when she sees Polly Dawson.  Polly is sort of her long-time nemesis from college - the one who always had everything, perfect looks, perfect clothes, perfect life, etc, so she decides to follow her.  Before she knows it, it has become an everyday obsession.  She probably knows more about where Polly goes than even her husband!  And Polly never notices her.  Unfortunately, it seems someone else has and she becomes framed for Polly's murder.

Alice goes into hiding, sort of. She camps outside of her college crush's apartment (he is/was a lawyer).  He eventually confronts her, not remembering her from college, and for some reason believes her story and takes her in.  He has his own ulterior motives for helping her. 

There are a couple of mysteries happening - first off is the obvious - who killed Polly and framed Alice - and the second is what's up with Charlie's father and will Alice be able to help Charlie find out the truth? 

There is alot of humor in this story.  It is kind of a dry humor in face of the dire situation that Alice is facing.  I especially liked this part - Alice has asked that Charlie get in touch with her best friend, Jean, to let her know that she is okay.

"Hi, Jean.  I don't know if you remember me.  My name is Walter Redwin.  We went to Harvard Law School together."

Jean pauses for a second.  I know that she's dying to get in touch with me to tell me that my Charlie called her.

This is where Charlie's part gets tricky.

"You may know me as Charlie."

Now, I know you may be wondering how I managed to get Charlie to identify himself by his crush-name.

"Just introduce yourself to her on the phone," I instructed him casually just minutes ago. "And then tell her that she may know you as Charlie."

"Why Charlie?"

"Oh, it's this thing with me and Jean."

"What kind of thing?"

A thing where I made up a name for you when I decided to become obsessed with you.

"I promise I will tell you the second I get out of trouble."  Curiosity is a great motivator.  (p148-149, Following Polly)

Now maybe you need to read more of the story to appreciate it, but Alice's character is definitely quirky.  But it is a good quirky.  During the story you get to see her grow and to embrace who she really is.  There are a couple of twists at the end, but one I definitely did not see coming.  The book wrapped up nicely.  I will definitely be watching for another book by Karen Bergreen.

~ I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and Library Thing Early Reviewers.~

About the author: Karen Bergreen is a stand-up comedian and a former lawyer.  She lives in New York City with her husband and two sons.

You can find her on Facebook and  Twitter.

Following Polly came out in paperback on August 16th!

Following Polly: A Novel by Karen Bergren
Publisher/Publication Date: St. Martin's Press, June 2011
ISBN: 978-0-312-57109-2
309 pages

The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain (Book Review)

Title: The Midwife's Confession
Author: Diane Chamberlain
Publisher: Mira Books

Dear Anna,

What I have to tell you is difficult to write, but I know it will be far more difficult for you to hear, and I'm so sorry. . .


The unfinished letter is the only clue Tara and Emerson have to the reason behind their close friend Noelle's suicide.  Everything they knew about Noelle -- her calling as a midwife, her passion for causes, her love for her friends and family -- described a woman who embraced life.

Yet there was so much they didn't know.

With the discovery of the letter and its heartbreaking secret, Noelle's friends begin to uncover the truth about this complex woman who touched each of their lives -- and the life of a desperate stranger -- with love and betrayal, compassion and deceit.

My thoughts:  When Noelle commits suicide, seemingly out of the blue, her two best friends try to uncover the Noelle they thought they knew.  The face Noelle presented to the world was that of midwife, supporter of causes - especially ones involving babies, good friend to Tara and Emerson - was not the true Noelle.  For years she has had to deal with the guilt of something she was responsible for - a secret that no one else knew.

After finding a partial letter that Noelle had written before she died, Tara and Emerson set out on a path to try to figure out their best friend.  The story is told from different points of view, but comes together beautifully.  This was a book that I did not want to put down.  I thought I had it figured out, but in the end, I was wrong.

This is a great book exploring the relationships between mothers and daughters, and between women in general.  Again - this would be a great book club pick.  If you haven't read anything by Diane Chamberlain - this would be a good place to start!

~I received a complimentary copy of this book from Media Muscle in exchange for my review.~

The Midwife's Confession
Publisher/Publication Date: Mira Books, Apr 2011
ISBN: 978-0-7783-2986-2
416 pages

The Arrivals by Meg Mitchell Moore (Book Review)

Title: The Arrivals
Author: Meg Mitchell Moore
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

About the book: It's the start of summer when Ginny and William Owen's quiet, peaceful life in Burlington, Vermont, comes to an abrupt halt.

First, their eldest daughter, Lillian, shows up, with her two children in tow, to escape her crumbling marriage.  Next, Lillian's  younger brother, Stephen, arrives for the weekend, accompanied by his pregnant wife, Jane, an ambitious and misunderstood Wall Street workaholic -- but their visit is extended indefinitely when Jane is put on mandatory bed rest.

And by the time Rachel, the youngest Owen sibling, appears, fleeing the difficulties of her single life in New York City, the senior Owens are once again consumed by the chaos and stress of their early parenting days -- only this time around, their house is filled with grown-up children and their adult problems.

Meg Mitchell Moore's absorbing debut offers acute observations on the workings of a modern family, the challenges of parenting, and the continual struggles of growing up.  By summer's end, the Owen family will have new ideas about loyalty, responsibility, and how you survive the people you love most.  The old adage "once a parent, always a parent" has never rung so true.

My thoughts:  This is a debut novel for Mrs. Moore and I for one, cannot wait to see what else she has in store.  I enjoyed the interaction this family shared and how they all came home one by one.  While we know why they are there, it is revealed to other members of the family slowly.  All of the children are wrapped up in their own problems, but at the same time they are able to come to realize that supporting their siblings is important as well. 

Ginny and William (parents) take it all in stride.  I cannot believe the amount of patience they showed.  If I am remembering the story correctly, I read this awhile ago, I am not sure that they had any warning that their kids were coming - and they sure weren't expecting them to stay for the summer! Looking back on my own life though, there was a couple of times that I found myself back at my mom's for an extended stay of a month or two and we got along quite well.  I hope that in the future I could extend that hospitality to my own kids (of course, they have to move out first!)

I enjoyed this book, I do remember that - that it was an easy read - one that I looked forward to getting back into.  I think it would be a good book for book clubs as there is lots of discussion material revolving around family relationships, troubles, and how to solve/deal with them.

~I received a complimentary copy of this book from Hachette in exchange for my review.~

About the author: Meg Mitchell Moore worked for several years as a journalist.  Her articles have been published in a wide variety of business and consumer magazines.  She received a master's degree in English literature from New York University.  She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and their three children.  The Arrivals is her first novel.

You can find her at her website.

The Arrivals: A Novel by Meg Mitchell Moore
Publisher/Publication Date: Little, Brown and Company, May 2011
ISBN: 978-0316097710
336 pages

Bout of Books Readathon

I came across this readathon today as I was finally getting to read some blogs.  My oldest daughter took my littliest one to Key Lime Cove today (where she works) to go swimming.  This was his last week of summer vacation and it seems like we have been trying to squeeze everything in!  So, I am still behind on my reviews, my reading, etc - so when I saw this readathon, I thought - what better way to spend the first week of school?  I have some other news regarding next week - but since it is not "official" yet I don't want to jinx it by posting here!

Anyway - here is some info regarding the Bout of Books Readathon that runs from Aug 22 to Aug 28. It is being hosted at On a Book Bender by Amanda.

Read as much as you can whenever you can between 12:00am 8/22 and 11:59pm 8/28 (your time zone).

There is no pressure! Participate even if you can only spare a day or two, a few hours, or even just a few minutes. Use it an excuse to read. Whatever works for you. If you plan to read at all between 8/22 and 8/28, sign up!

Head on over to On a Book Bender to sign up and see about the challenges, giveaways and places you can post your progress.

You can find the official Bout of Books schedule here.  Hope to see ya around next week!  Happy reading!

Teaser Tuesday: Pie Town (Aug 16, 2011)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
• Then visit MizB and add your link!

"I think age is just a way we use to judge people.  You hear how old somebody is, and based on their answer, you decide that they must be a certain way.  If we never knew the ages of each other, maybe we wouldn't be so, I don't know, critical."  (Pie Town by Lynne Hinton, p 61)

It's Monday! What are you reading? (August 15, 2011)

What are you reading on Mondays is hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey - You can hook up with the Mr. Linky there with your own post - but be sure and let me know what you are reading too!  Hasn't been much change in this post from last week.  Still behind on reviews.  Hoping to catch up before the end of the month!  I am beginning to forget the details of some of the books - I can remember if I liked them or not, but not specifically why!

Currently Reading:
Summer in the South by Cathy Holton
Captivity by Deborah Noyes


Reading to become "Literary Genius":
Who am I kidding?  Not reading anything currently.

Next Up:
Route 66 by Krish Kandiah


E-Book:
Singular by David Porteous
The Five Love Languages of Teenagers by Gary Chapman
Reversible Skirt by Laura McHale Holland

Bathroom Book:
Pie Town by Lynne Hinton (This one sounded appropriate - lol)
 
Reviewed Since Last Post:
Graveminder by Melissa Marr

Children's Books Reviewed Since Last Post:



Waiting for Reviews: UGH!
The Arrivals: A Novel by Meg Mitchell Moore
 White Sleeper by David R. Fett and Stephen Langford
The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain
The Place of Belonging by Jayne Pearson Faulkner
The Blackberry Bush by David Housholder
The Girl in the Green Raincoat by Laura Lippman
Following Polly by Karen Bergreen
Book Thief by Markus Zusak

E-books waiting for review:
Sudden Moves by Kelli Sue Landon
This World We Live In (The Last Survivors, Book 3) by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Children's Books waiting for review:
Pearl's Wisdom by Auntie LuLu
Bug Meets His Friend (Bug's Adventure Series) by K.M. Groshek

READY - SET - READ!

First Wild Card Tour: Rivers of Living Water (CD Review)

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour CD review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books/cds. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the cd!



You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

My thoughts:  Suzanne wrote all but one of the songs on this CD and sings them with a very clear, beautiful voice.  The music was different from what you usually hear today and the harmonies reminded me of The Carpenters' songs. I liked her song lyrics and can see myself listening to this CD when I am feeling a little laid back and just want to relax.   Some of the songs were worship songs, while some had a very clear salvation message and still others were taken right from scripture. I liked the mix, as there is something for everyone.

Today's Wild Card artist is:

Suzanne Lorente

and the CD:

Rivers of Living Water

Lorente Publishing

***Special thanks to Suzanne Lorente for sending me a review cd.***

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Suzanne Perry Lorente has been a child of the Lord since age 7. Her gift of music began at age two and has carried her through her life. She is an accomplished long time song writer, singer, guitarist and performer from the age of 13. At a young age, Suzanne chose a career of a professional entertainer as a single singer/guitarist in well known night clubs, dinner houses and special events, with a repertoire of more than 400 songs. During this same time frame, she achieved an Associate of Arts degree in Mass Media from Stephens College in Columbia, MO, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from San Jose State University in California. As time marched along, she realized God's calling on her life to turn her heart toward Him as she could hear that "still, small voice" asking her to leave the relentless work of night clubs and secular entertainment. "It was a vow that took place in a day, and His promise took place over my lifetime. I am so blessed and God has kept His promise that He would give me the songs to sing for His children and for His glory." Suzanne has sung first of all for her family, then in choirs, started and sang in many small groups and trios, sang solo for so many audiences and congregations throughout the United States, and left behind a legacy of musical scenarios as she tells her stories of how each of her songs came about. She has recorded an ageless cassette that continues to be in demand, and a new CD, that has high-lighted the songs God has given to her. Suzanne has been teaching voice and guitar since she was 14 years old. She is presently singing in the little City of Dixon, CA for their Farmers Markets, weddings, and events, as well as with her trio, Suzanne Lorente and Friends, as they embark on recording a CD together. They are out doing concerts whenever possible and wherever the Lord leads. "It's wonderful to see God change the lives and hearts of people as we just sing our songs and allow Him to work through us. I love that!"


Visit the author's website.

SHORT CD DESCRIPTION:

This CD is a wonderful spiritual uplift and encouragement for any Christian who wants to grow, not only by hearing God's Word, but by doing what He's asking us to do. We have to take that first step and that's what this CD motivates believers and non-believers to do. The songs are original Christian Gospel scenarios that anyone can relate to, and that's what gives you the anointing strength to keep on going. You will love the beautiful orchestral and vocal backgrounds with each song as Suzanne Lorente and her trio envelope you with their angelic harmonies. God has put His Hand of blessing on Suzanne and given her songs throughout her lifetime of ministry. She and her gals are planning a tour and would love to include your church or event if it's possible. May God bless every listener and urge them to follow the Lord by listening to His "Still, Small Voice!"


Product Details:
List Price: $14.99
Music CD
Publisher: Lorente Publishing
Language: English


AND NOW..A SAMPLE OF A SONG FROM THE CD:

(To hear more samples, please visit Suzanne's website)

Here is one of the songs, "Misunderstood." This song is an original of mine written on January 1st of 2010. I am the voice for those who have been aborted, abused and misunderstood. This is quite sad, but it's telling us that each one of these has identified with the misery, torture, and abuse that Jesus went through on the cross. Many 100's of thousands have died a martyr's death, and are with the Lord because He loves them. Please listen carefully! This could be such a blessing for the Christian pregnancy centers and homes of abused women and children.







Here are the lyrics:

Misunderstood – Matthew 18:1-7
Words and Music by Suzanne Lorente  
Arranged by Jeannine O’Neal

How can it be they don’t hear them, they don’t see
What can I say? Jesus loves them, they are free.
No-one will take time to listen as they cry
Knowing that I have the answer, I know why.

They’ve been misunderstood time after time
Their tiny voices still ring in our minds
No-one to love them, no-one to care
What they have to say doesn’t matter…anyway.

There is a hard part to living, not to be heard
Hate takes the joy out of giving, their vision blurred
Where is the love that could give them wings to fly?
Knowing that I have the answer, I know why.

They’ve been misunderstood time after time
Their little voices still ring in our mind
No-one to hear them, no-one to care
What they have to say doesn’t matter…anyway.

Could you be one who can’t hear them, you can’t see?
Are you aware they are people like you and me?
What would have come of the children who were slain?
There’d be a world of compassion…no more pain!

We have misunderstood time after time
Their tiny voices still ring in our mind
Someone will love them, someone will care
What they have to say really matters…anyway.

He’s (Jesus) been misunderstood, but not for long
Each tiny baby to Him will belong.
He really loves them, He really cares
What He has to say is what matters…anyway!
What He has to say is what matters....anyway! Matt. 18:1-7

Additional high vocals Suzanne Lorente, Cecelia Dettle



Copyright 2010 BMI-0777 All rights reserved



See my website for further information



www.suzannelorente.com