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Deadly Disclosures by Julie Cave

Book Description:  Thomas Whitfield, Secretary of the Smithsonian and well known scientist, has a big problem....one that will leave him broken, bruised and dead. His only hope: that the truth will finally be told... Dinah Harris, an FBI agent assigned to the case has to race against the clock before more victims turn up, shes on a race of her own though, as the walls of her addiction to alcohol begin to close in around her...Can Dinah save herself, her career and catch a killer, or will this case like her past come to a smashing disaster?

My Review:  Dinah Harris is a FBI agent with a serious drinking problem.  Dinah has troubles and maybe just.one.too.many regrets concerning her past.  The past keeps rearing its none.too.kind.face in Dinah's seemingly hopeless future.  Dinah longs to be more and to to be better but yet doesn't trust her loving Creator to help her through.

Enter her longtime partner and friend, Agent Ferguson, who sees that "something more" in Dinah and basically gives her no choice but to join him on this new case concerning, Thomas Whitfield, Secretary of the Smithsonian.  Thomas Whitfield's bruised and battered dead body is found in the trunk of a car.  Whitfield's body leaves absolutely no clues as to why someone would do such a dastardly deed! 

As Dinah and Agent Ferguson embark on this heart pounding journey into the case of Thomas Whitfield's murder,  the reader feels as if all hope maybe lost in finding this unkind killer.  But hope is not lost as Dinah and Agent Ferguson battle the realms of darkness.  

In Dinah's case the battle is fought within her soul.  As Dinah battles her lost regrets and sinks to the depths of despair she and Agent Ferguson never give up on finding Thomas' killer.  Just the same way the Loving Creator never gives up  on Dinah (or us).  

At first I had a hard time understanding Dinah's resentment and her love affair with the bottle. But as I continued reading and Dinah's past was revealed with all her hurts and lost love, I could relate to her battle.  Like Dinah, we all struggle with past regrets.  Dinah used the bottle for reprieve.  Some of us use food, drugs....the list goes on.  However, a piece of chocolate cake or a pill cannot give us the peace of mind that God gives us.

Another, possibly the most important, aspect of this read is Creation vs. Evolution.  Julie Cave holds no punches with her views on this important subject.  

This is one of those 5 star not-to-be-missed reads!  

If you want a suspense filled with action-none.of.that.bad.mouth language (no bedroom scenes, either) read then be sure to get a copy of this fantastic read!

I look forward to reading the second book, Shadowed Mind, in this series.

For info on Creation vs. Evolution Education visit HERE!

* A big thanks to Julie Cave and New Leaf Publishing for sending me a review copy!*

WOW! (Warm Oven Wednesdays) This is truly the Best Carrot Cake Recipe!

Carrot Cake

Ingredients

2 c	sugar
1 1/4 c	oil
4	large eggs
2 c	flour
2 tsp	baking soda
1 Tbsp	cinnamon
1 tsp	salt
3 c	grated carrots
1 c	chopped walnuts
FROSTING
12 oz	powdered sugar
2	3 oz. cream cheese room temp
1 tsp	vanilla extract
2 Tbsp	butter
2 Tbsp	milk Directions 1 1.In large bowl, beat sugar and oil. Add eggs and beat well. 2 Sift together flour, soda, cinnamon, and salt into egg mixture; mix well; fold in carrots and nuts. 3 Place batter in greased 9x13 pan; bake 1 hour and 10 miniutes in a 350 oven. (Check once because of oven variances) 4 FROSTING: Beat together powdered sugar, cream cheese, vanilla, butter and milk; spread on cooled carrot cake.

Building Character with Sam, Izzy & Many Other Dogs

Book Description:  Danny Pettry is a Recreational Therapist who specializes in working with children (ages 7 to 12) who have mental and behavioral health needs. Now he has put together an astonishing children's book to help ALL children have better social health and wellness. Danny Pettry's book teaches character lessons to children using colorful pictures of animals. This book is a valuable tool for teachers, group leaders, therapists and parents alike. This book covers social skills and character values like: Accepting others Compromising Having good sportsmanship Being respectful, generous, helpful, empathetic, and more. This book helps children learn how to make friends and get along with others. You'd like for your child or a child you know to develop and improve these skills, wouldn't you? You like pictures of cute animals don't you? All right then. Just read the book to your child.

My Review:  We love dogs and it seems that most children love dogs, too.  Dogs have become quite a teaching tool that people are using in many therapies now.  This book, BUILDING CHARACTER with Sam, Izzy & Man Other Dogs, is full of cute illustrations that children and adults alike can relate too.  It's also easy to read. 

 My son who is a fifth grader loved reading about the dogs with a few cats who were added for character building for the dogs benefit.  At times he laughed out loud, such as when the dog sticks its tongue out at the cat (dog is a poor sport).  The pictures, which in my opinion, are better than illustrations because they are so much more realistic which makes it feel like one is right there with the animals.

This book has a lot of diversity . . . different types of dogs and puppies are pictured either doing a good thing or doing the wrong thing.  A few cats were added to show how the dogs should act or react to the situation with good behavior.

Not an animal lover?  This is still one of the best and cutest books I've come across that stresses the importance of character in animals and children.  

As the old saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words."  So, this book shows us that we can teach character by using pictures of animals who are not showing "what is the right way" to behave.  

This book seems geared toward the older child (ages 9-12) but as a parent, I think, an adult could read and show the pictures to a younger child and talk about character issues.  It's never too early to instill good character in a child.

I loved the two dogs playing tug of war on page 47.  Under the picture it reads..."Two dogs playing tug of war:  It is about having fun. It doesn't matter who wins .  These two dogs will stay best friends."  Oh!  that we would teach our children the "fun" of life and that sports, the arts and many more life issues are for our teaching.  We can still be friends with those we play with/against.  Now that's true character!

This is an excellent 5 star book for parents, teachers and children alike!

*I reviewed this book for Reader's Favorites.com*

UNLOCKED {Blog{Tour} by Karen Kingsbury

Book Description:  Before You Take a Stand ... You Got to Take a Chance. Holden Harris is an eighteen-year-old locked in a prison of autism. Despite his quiet ways and quirky behaviors, Holden is very happy and socially normal---on the inside, in a private world all his own. In reality, he is bullied at school by kids who only see that he is very different. Ella Reynolds is part of the 'in' crowd. A cheerleader and star of the high school drama production, her life seems perfect. When she catches Holden listening to her rehearse for the school play, she is drawn to him ... the way he is drawn to the music. Then, Ella makes a dramatic discovery---she and Holden were best friends as children. Frustrated by the way Holden is bullied, and horrified at the indifference of her peers, Ella decides to take a stand against the most privileged and popular kids at school. Including her boyfriend, Jake. Ella believes miracles can happen in the unlikeliest places, and that just maybe an entire community might celebrate from the sidelines. But will Holden's praying mother and the efforts of Ella and a cast of theater kids be enough to unlock the prison that contains Holden? This time, friendship, faith, and the power of a song must be strong enough to open the doors to the miracle Holden needs.

My Review:  I can't believe that somehow I've missed Karen Kingsbury. I have never read one of her books!  So, when this blog tour became available I thought this looked like a good read.  I have a young nephew-in-law who is autistic and so I wanted to read this book about Holden who is also autistic.

Well.my.stars!  Was I ever shocked!  This is a better-than-fantastic-read!  As soon as I began reading this story I was completely taken into the lives of of Holden, his mom Tracy, sweet little Kate and tenderhearted Ella.  

Tracy, as any parent would, longs for some sign that her son, Holden will reach out to her.  A word , a hug, or even just a look.  But NO!  Holden is locked into his own world.  A world where everything makes sense to him and no sense to those around him.  Because Holden simply can't communicate except for his PECS cards(Picture Exchange Communication System cards).  Tracy's trust and faith in God is amazing!  She simply never gives up on Holden or on God.

Then there's Ella who seems to have it all.  A pretty face, a sweet voice and a picture picture family.  The way Karen Kingsbury made the contrast between Holden's and Ella's lives was interesting to me.  Holden seems to have nothing but a mother who fiercely takes on his troubles and then Ella has a mother who gives her daughter all her troubles and never seems to be there when Ella needs her.  The contrast between what is normal and what seems normal was quite intriguing to me.

This incredible story of a courageous mother who longs for her son to break free and a tenderhearted teenage girl who rallies for a friend will leave you in softly falling tears and a glad heart for people who look beyond the exterior and see the interior of the true person.

Reading Ella's story alongside of Holden's makes for a simply astounding, almost realistic life read.  I cried for Tracy, and I so wanted Holden to "be normal."  I felt the pain of Ella's family and when I quit reading I was thinking of these people again.  Karen Kingsbury's writing simply "gets" into your life and it's hard to separate the fiction from real life.

Whether you know someone who is autistic or not this is simply the greatest read to understand how to help and understand people with a "special need."  Karen Kingsbury writes an amazing story that should be a must read for all middle to high school aged  kids!  

This is grand-tastic story full of characters that are so well developed they could be your next door neighbor or your friendly neighborhood WalMart cashier with a fully developed plot worthy of 20 stars! 

I will be looking up many more of Karen Kingsbury's books now that I have found this incredible author!

*I reviewed this book for Zondervan*