In Every Heartbeat By Kim Vogel Sawyer

Three orphans. Three best friends. Three very different spirits. Libby Conley, a young woman who really never seemed to act (according to her friends) like a girl, with her strong ambitions. Pete Leidig, a handicapped man who knows he has been put on this earth to become a minister. And last but not least Bennett Martin, all he wants is to be happy and have fun, start a real family of his own, the American dream.
I found it refreshing to read about orphans because I know I would've reacted the exact same way Alice-Marie and the other women at the university did when they found out Libby was an orphan. Refreshing to know that I shouldn't feel sorry for or look down upon any orphan because many (well at least these three) don't feel sorry for themselves.
I read In Every Heartbeat rather quickly. It was pretty much an easy read, with such a believable love story, and God wrapped around the whole thing even when you might think he is not. I loved it!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Jessie D

The Way Home (DVD)

The Way Home is a movie based on a true story and is definitely a family movie. I watched it with my parents and younger brother. In fact my mother said she remembered seeing this story on the news a while back. The acting was believable except for the mother/ wife, Christal, which was mediocre at best. She didn't seem to be a distraught mother missing her child. But the part of the workaholic father was excellent.
I can't even begin to imagine what it must feel like to have someone you love go missing, especially an innocent two year old. This movie did bring a little stinging of tears to my eyes. And had me wondering, "would the community have done the same for a child of a different race or ethnicity?" I know with San Antonio, where I live, being such a large city it would probably be next to impossible to even try putting a search party together to go out and look for a missing person, like the small town in this movie did.
I feel like saying these people were extremely lucky with the outcome of their situation but God works in mysterious ways and I believe this family's moment of panic might have changed their lives for the better.
I liked this movie very much and I think if you ever have the opportunity to watch it you will not regret it!
I was given a free copy of this DVD by booksneeze.com in return for an honest review.


Thank you
Jessie D

The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven By: Kevin and Alex Malarkey; a true story

On November 14, 2004 Alex and Kevin Malarkey were in a car accident so horrific, the moment EMS arrived on the scene someone said, " Call the coroner." Many thought there was no way in heaven Alex would survive, but they were wrong. The boy who came back from heaven is an incredibly true story and another example of how God works in mysterious ways.

I had a hard time writing a review about this book. Don't get me wrong, it was an amazing story and I finished reading it a long time ago but I couldn't find the right words to express how I felt about it. The accident, the injuries, the community, the prayers, the faith, and the love, made Alex and Kevin's tale so astounding, at the same time heart wrenching. What I do have to complain about is at times I felt like this was just another local news cast the only difference being the more details added. I wish there had been more insight from Alex's point of view, but once you read The boy who came back from heaven you will understand why there isn't and it's not just medical reasons. So this is what I leave you with: the true story of this young boy, Alex, and his father is miraculous. Don't have a doubt about reading it, definitely worth the money to buy it because even though it has the occasional news cast vibe, the inspiration you get from reading it makes up for that ten times over. Kevin and Alex went through a lot of pain and suffering but I don't feel sorry for them because they don't feel sorry for themselves, especially Alex!!! he is a much stronger person than I am even though he is so much younger, he is my idol. So read it and find out for yourself what I'm talking about and God Bless everyone!!
I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Tyndale House Publishers for review.

Jessie D

Angel Song By: Sheila Walsh and Kathryn Cushman

Ann Fletcher hasn't stepped onto Charleston (her childhood home) soil since her grandmother passed away six years ago but her younger sister Sarah receiving her master's degree has brought her back. After dinner, the night before Sarah's commencement ceremony Ann finds herself in the hospital, following an accident, hearing the worst news of her life. With the death of her sister, Ann has no more family, she is now alone in the world. With no choice but to sell her childhood home, Sarah had been living in while Ann lived in New York, she begins to repair it as quickly as she can. However, she keeps getting interrupted by her neighbor's son who has down syndrome and claims to see Angels.
Ann built a wall around herself to hide from her emotions. Her sense of abandonment being her greatest struggle to keep behind the wall forces trust and all other emotions to follow suit. I find Ann's personality slightly similar to my own, keeping me intrigued with Angel Song. Getting a taste of the down home southern hospitality from Angel Song would be an understatement, you actually get a big ol dollop, making you want more. I recommend this sweet story, for everyone, about the life of a woman whose heart is nothing more than a flame of compassion that has long since burned out but with the help of good friends, light a spark to begin the mending of her broken heart. I guarantee once you're done with Angel Song, all you're gonna want to do is cuddle up with a loved one all the while feeling like a big bowl of sunshine on a perfect day.
I participated in a booksneeze.com blog tour and was given the opportunity to receive a complimentary copy of this book and write a review.

Thank you,
Jessie D

Hunter's Moon by Don Hoesel

CJ Baxter hasn't been back to Adelia, New York since he left home for college 17 years ago. His grandfather's life that is quickly fading away has brought him back to the place he grew, to the childhood memories he has long since wanted to forget.
The ending of this book reminded me of a little version of a modern day Cain and Abel. However, I have to say that I was disappointed with this novel, it was rather bland for my taste. It brought to mind the image of a huge plate of gorgeous food that you just can't wait to devour only to be disappointed once you taste it only to realize it is flavorless. I guess my high expectations for Hunter's Moon were to high because it definitely did disappoint. I would not recommend this book to anyone I know, its just not worth it.
I was given a complimentary copy of this novel by Bethany House and was not forced in anyway to give a positive review.

Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson

A heartfelt story of 5 women who end up in Dawson County, Nebraska on April 7, 1871. But once Ella, Zita, Caroline, Sally, and Ruth make the life changing choice of unloading their belongings, including each one of their personal "demons", and hunkering down in the west to start a new life no one expects what is coming.
After completing this book I had no idea if I loved it or hated it. The beginning of this book could not keep my attention at all so it took me a very long time to finish "Sixteen Brides." However, once the women decided to stay in plum grove after confronting the sorry excuse for a man, Hamilton Drake, my attention was detoured from my chipping fingernail polish back to the five very different, all with their very own story. Love presented a challenge for these women (as it usually does for us all) but secrets and sorrow also play a major role here as well. I know there is so much more to this book and I could definitely go on and on about it but I'm going to stop here. Because I definitely recommend you check it out for yourself and let the magic of Sixteen Brides consume you just like it did to me. Because I've decided that I actually loved it all along!
I was given a free copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers to review.

Jessie D

Somewhere To Belong By Judith Miller

Johanna Ilg, a young woman living in the Christian colony of Main Amana has always lived a simple life devoted to servicing God. When the elders of her colony appoint her to take on the task of assisting Bert Schumacher, a rambunctious teenage girl from Chicago, with learning the ways and rules of Amana she feels overwhelmed. The girls are complete opposites in almost all aspects but with the unexpected entangling of the lives of both girls learn from each other. Soon after getting acquainted, family secrets are exposed in Main Amana and each girl find themselves asking the same question, " Is this where I belong?"
I love the kind of books that you start in the morning and can't peel your nose out of until late at night, way past your bedtime because you just can't bare putting it down without finding out what happen; you just have to finish it! Well, "Somewhere To Belong" was NOT one of those books. I had to force myself to turn the pages of the first few chapters. I guess I was as bored and astounded as Berta was by the way Johanna lived. Once I passed the first ten chapters, I kept a rather steady pace. And the book wasn't a complete failure, it actually had a cute little story that came with a little drama but keeping my attention on it was a struggle. Johanna's lifestyle seemed to plain for me, I had more of a connection to Berta but as the people of Main Amana tried to force her to conform to their ways I lost interest.
I was given a free copy of this book to review by Bethany House Publisher.

Jessie D