A Sound Among the Trees by Susan Meissner is a carefully woven and well detailed story that bridges generations with suspense. The story starts with Marielle Bishop moving from Arizona to Virginia to live at Holly Oak with her new husband, his children from his first marriage, and his first wife’s grandmother, Adelaide. If that doesn’t intrigue you, keep in mind that the Civil War mansion where they live may be haunted by Susannah Page, a former resident who is considered by many to be a Civil War traitor.

However, what Marielle finds is that her new home is wrapped up in its past and the events of the lives of the women who have lived there. You get to meet these women through the pages of this book, each one carefully brought to life for the reader.

One of the coolest features of the book is a section of nothing but letters written by Susannah during the Civil War. What a wonderful way to tell her story in her own words and to give a good look at what her life was like as the war raged just outside her front door. The letters gave the whole story a new depth and perspective to the story!

I would certainly recommend this book to anyone. In fact, I plan to re-read it myself!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group book review bloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

I’ll say first and foremost, I mistakenly chose the electronic edition of this book, making it cumbersome for me to read in the bathtub. (Not to mention deadly…) Luckily, this didn’t take away from the joy that this book brought as I read it.

This book is like sitting down with a dear girlfriend over chocolate treats and perhaps a big glass of wine. This book is full of personal stories and anecdotes of life. Its meant to help you find a “sweet” way through the “rocky road” of life… all with just the right amount of scripture references.

You’ll laugh out loud of some of the personal stories (some about the author, others about he friends and family) that help bring the lessons in this book to life. You’ll sit back and think over some of the “Food for Thought” segments. And then there’s that added bonus of yummy chocolate recipes and snacking tips.

Now, here’s the biggest thing I don’t like about an electronic book (uhm, electrocution aside)… I can’t hand it to a friend on a whim and go, “Read this. Now.” Because I seriously want to do that with this book. I have so many friends who will appreciate this book for all it is: a delightful self-help book drizzled with humor, warmth and a healthy dose of CHOCOLATE.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group book review bloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

When I sat down with this book, I was equal parts excited and apprehensive. I’ve read other self-help books, and I’ve always found them to be hit or miss. A little part of me asked myself why I’d gotten this book in the first place.

Then, I dug in, and I found myself fascinated and amazed. I found a book that not only helps guide someone through the rough patches in life, I found a book chocked full of good advice for every-day living, for every-day happiness. I put tabs on pages that had particularly profound quotes, scripture versus, and/or thoughts.

I think what amazed me more than anything about this book is how perfectly laid out it is. Every chapter has a specific focus and within that focus it sticks with a specific formula, ending with showing you that you have everything you need to cope: using the power of your thoughts, words, actions, relationships and prayers. As an added bonus each chapter includes with a real-life story bringing the focus of that chapter to life.

As I went through the book, I found myself giddy… I finally found the perfect “self help” book. It taught me a lesson. It walked me through applying that lesson to my own life. Then it showed me how that lesson helped others. All of it done with a personal touch, so it didn’t feel I was being lectured. It felt like talking to a friend.

I would definitely recommend this book, not just to someone dealing with a hard time in life, but to anyone who wants to arm themselves to deal with life’s little obstacles.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group book review bloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Button carries the reader through her own life, from childhood to marriage to parenthood to her own struggles as a writer. Her candor about events of her own life shines a light on God’s love and gentle hand within her life, and she makes the waiting place a time to embrace versus a place to grumble about.

I absolutely loved this book. Ironically, I found myself reaching for it while in my own waiting places. On a plane. In the car. Waiting to get sleepy. And, most recently, waiting for writing inspiration. This book spoke to me in ways I couldn’t begin to put into words. I needed this book, and perhaps this was God’s own way of stepping into my own waiting place.

This book made me cry. This book made me laugh. This book made me think. More importantly, though, it made me reflect on my own life and my own various waiting places. The ones I’ve been in… and the ones I am in right now.

I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. I will be reaching for it again and again myself.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Save the Date follows this duo through their fake engagement and the ups and downs it brings with it, everything from matters of the heart, matters of family and matters of faith.

I officially have a new book in my top ten favorite books of all time. This book made me laugh out loud. It made me cry at times. It made me think. And it sucked me into Lucy and Alex’s world. Whenever I would get a chance to sit down and read, I would easily read multiple chapters in one sitting… and I’d have to force myself to put it down.

As I said, it made me laugh with witty banter between the characters. I cried along with the characters as heartaches occurred. However, its in matters of faith and God that made me think about my own life and how I handled various situations. At the end of the book is a “Group Reading Guide,” that asks multiple thought-provoking questions based on the story. Its worth going through those questions and reflecting on each one. It takes the book from just being an entertaining piece of fiction to a wonderfully inspiring piece of literature.

Without a doubt, I recommend this book to anyone and everyone… heck, I can’t wait to read it again myself!!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

31 Days of Power is subtitled “Learning to Live in Spiritual Victory.”  Perhaps it was my own fault for not following that the book would be focused so heavily on spiritual warfare against Satan. I expected the book to be more uplifting, and feeding my spirit in a positive and empowering manner. However, what I found was regular references to Satan and evil in the world. There was praise and thanks, but it general focused on thanks for being saved from “my enemies.”

The book is based around Scripture, however it is scripture versus that have been paraphrase and interpreted. It does make for easier reading — each one a prayer and devotional — however, I wish there had been more straightforward bible passages included. I like a book to be either an original devotional, or I like bible passages. This seems to be a hybrid of the two, and it just made it difficult for me to really get into it.

Now, as I have said, the book asks  you only read a page or two every day for 31 days. Its not asking too much out of your day, and as you read you find yourself going into a place of worship and reflection. And it is in that fact that I DID like the book. I also enjoyed that each chapter had lines for you to add in your own intercessions, making the book even more personalized.

I do not regret reading this book, and I will probably come back to it in the future in times of spiritual need. However, on a whole, I was left disappointed.

NOTICE: I received this book as part of WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers “Blogging for Books” program.

I didn’t have a chance to read this book during the Christmas season, but that mattered none. It was easy to slide into the world created by Donita K. Paul that brings magic, romance and Christian themes together in one fun, easy read.

Co-workers with opposite personalities, Simon and Cora are pushed towards each other through tickets to a one-of-a-kind Ball, each received after a trip to Warner, Werner and Wizbotterdad’s, a unique bookstore run by two unlikely matchmakers.

Who knew a trip in search of Christmas presents would lead them on such an adventure of life, love and faith?

Furthermore, who knew you should have a book so full of magic also be so full of Christian themes? It handles the two beautifully, and I would highly recommend the book to anyone looking for a light, easy read that leaves you feeling good.

I received this book as part of WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers “Blogging for Books” program. This complimentary copy of the book was a gift for my imagination and romantic side.

The individual and entwined stories of Cydney, Dana and Phyllis made me think of my own girlfriends, appreciate my marriage, and see God’s love through all things — even in the most trying times of life.

Tate fleshes out the stories of these three women who are all at different stages of life — one single at 40, one dealing with an unfaithful husband, and another struggling with her husband’s lack of faith in God — with a care and realism that can be hard to find in any type of fiction, much less in romantic fiction. Furthermore, the religious side of the book never felt heavy-handed. It is instead woven into the plot line with an ease and realism that I really appreciated, and that also made it a key factor in each woman’s story.

I was drawn into the story completely, always wanting to know what happened next, wanting to see how these women dealt with each of their “issues.” The characters became like friends to me, and I found myself going through their many emotions right along with them. That fact alone is the mark of a great book and a talented author. As such, this book is definitely the a short list of books I am sure to read again and again in the future!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

We lived on over an acre of land, and my young self couldn’t understand why I couldn’t feasibly have one. That was, until my parents very logically explained to me about the cost of having a horse, and I realized it wouldn’t happen. I was “okay” with that, but I never stopped loving horses.

I read books about horses. I had bookmarks with horses on them. I had figurines of horses. I had shirts with horses.

I loved horses.

One Christmas, I received as a gift a “statue” (it was plastic and probably meant to be more of a toy than a statue) of Secretariat, a famous race horse. I heard the horse’s story, but it really went in one ear and out the other. I just thought it was a pretty horse to put on my shelf.

Oh okay, I played with it. I still have that plastic statue, one ear broken, some of the red/blown coloring faded off its back. However, I won’t let my husband toss it (along with other horses statues) no matter how much he looks at me like I am crazy for still having them.

I still love horses.

Now, I’m not the most observant person at times. Especially when it comes to movies coming out in theater. Movie tickets are just too expensive (in my opinion) and I’ve never been a huge movie fanatic. If I go to the movies once a year, I’m doing good. Twice in a year, someone call CNN, this is news.

All that being said, I not once noticed any movie trailers for the new Disney movie “Secretariat” until an offer came in my Inbox from BlogHer for an early screening of the movie from Disney. I didn’t hesitate. I didn’t ask my husband. I didn’t think twice. When I saw a movie screen on a date we were both free in Nashville, I requested two passes. I think I squealed out loud with the confirmation email came to my Inbox. Not only were we going to the movies, we were going to see a horse movie!!

So, last night, my husband and I got dressed and headed out for movie night/date night. We arrived and I really had no idea how it would all go. The theater was mostly dead, save for a long line waiting to go into one of the theaters. I needed to use the restroom, so my husband took my email and went in search of the Disney representative as we’d been instructed to do.

When I came out, my husband pointed to the line and said, “We’re to get in that line.” I have no idea why I was surprised to see so many people there for the movie, but I was. I jumped in line while my husband went to get us something to drink. The line started to proceed into the theater, and I noticed everyone around me had special Disney passes. When I got to the front of the line, I handed the lady my email I’d received and a young man beside her asked for my name. I gave it to him, he glanced at his iPhone and went, “Okay! You’re good!”

Waiting for the movie to start...

So, we went in and found ourselves a pair of seats and settled in to people watch. I found myself wondering if anyone else was there via BlogHer. One young man came in carrying a spiral notebook, and I guessed he was there from a local newspaper or something. There were kids and elderly alike there, but I’d guess the median age to be around 30-35.

Finally, 7:00 rolled around and the movie started. I didn’t know what to expect of the movie other than the story of this famous race horse… what I got, though, was a movie I want on DVD right NOW. I found a movie that will most definitely be in my top 10 for a long time.

The movie, for me, is one every woman in this world needs to see. Every woman who has dreams. Every woman who has ever been told they can’t do something. Every woman who says, “It can be done.”

The movie is billed at the story of Secretariat, but for me is was more the story of Penny Chenery (played by Diane Lane). Penny Chenery is the owner of Secretariat, trying to garner respect for herself and her horse in what was in the 1970s very much a men’s club.

At one point I whispered to my husband, “Back then, she didn’t have much of a voice.” Women were still too new to business in general to be taken seriously — much less horse racing — but she fought every nay-sayer that came her way. Everyone from her husband to the press to other horse owners.

This movie made me laugh countless times. John Malkovich as trainer Lucien Laurin adds a wonderful comedic quality to the movie while also bringing a touching dramatic story of his own. This movie most definitely made me cry. It made me hold my breath. It made the audience applaud — during the movie and as the credits rolled. I’ve never gone to a movie in which the whole crowd applauded at the end.

As my husband said as we left, this movie is going to be huge… Coming from someone who literally goes to the movies once a year, THIS movie is one to go see. Heck, I might even sneak off sometime and go see it again myself!

I’ve now brought my Secretariat statue in from storage to put on my desk. After this movie, that statue no longer only means, “I love horses.”  It means, “I can beat the odds. I can do anything I set my heart on doing. I can do the impossible.”

*Thank you Disney and BlogHer for this wonderful opportunity and movie!

For now, I have three artists or groups that I really like and would love to hip my readers to…

Manic Bloom — I was introduced to this group when they had a different name, and that was long enough ago that I couldn’t even begin to remember what that name was! I also discovered them because three of the members are former students of Texas A&M University.

I pretty much dragged my husband to a show to support fellow Aggies, and we left die-hard fans. We have both their CDs, and everyone my husband has played them for has gone, “Who IS this!?”

They simply have a style all their own. “Epic Melodic Rock” does indeed describe them to a “T.”  They rock hard, and yet there is a melodic quality to all they do that pulls you in and won’t let you go.

Don’t take my word for it, though. Check out a few of their accomplishments:

• Stereofame.com’s July 2010 Artist of the Month
• Named Nashville’s “Best New Artist” of 2009 by 102.9 The Buzz
• Grand Prize Winner of Ourstage.com’s October 2008 Music Finals
• Heard on MTV, University of Alabama’s TideTV, regular college radio rotation
• Featured on Dude Perfect, YouTube sensation with over 18 million views

It’s seriously only a matter of time before they go big, and I know I’ll be going, “Remember back when we saw them play live with only about 12 other people in the room?” And I, for one, absolutely can’t wait for that to happen… I am SO excited for them and where they are headed.

Check out their site and their music. I’ll be absolutely floored if you say you don’t like what you hear.

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David Byrnes — David came to Music City a little after I did. A kid from Arkansas with big dreams and talent, he caught my attention the first time I saw him on stage.

He’s a friend of mine, and that might tinge my “he rocks!’ attitude a little. But in the end I really see a talent waiting to be discovered. He’s a solid songwriter and a great singer. My husband compares his voice to Tracy Lawrence. I can see that!

When you see him play, he fills his set with a combination of old country, a little newer country, and his original music. The more he performs, the better he gets.

Currently signed to a new independent label, his first single, “Sweet Distraction” was recently released to country radio. Call your radio station and request it… check him out for yourself. Personally, I really believe in his potential in this crazy music business.

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Adam Fears — Now that I’ve introduced you to a rock band. And then I introduced you to a hard core country artist. Now let me introduce you to a combination of the two.

This last week, I went to see Adam perform after finding out he’s a former student of Texas A&M University. And just like with Manic Bloom, I left a HUGE fan. I’m seriously excited about this guy.

Growing up in Texas, I have this love for the Texas/Red Dirt scene. Its half country and half rock. So even as I understand and appreciate (and like) Nashville’s cleaner sound, I like my country to be a little rough around the edges. I guess, you could almost call it Southern Rock.

This is where Adam stepped up and blew me away. For the first time since moving to Nashville, for a couple of hours I was back in my favorite bar in Texas. I totally forgot I was in Music City. Instead, I was (in my mind) back in college diggin’ on the music.

I’m going to say something bold here. As Cross Canadian Ragweed takes a short break to spend some time at home (I applaud their decision as someone married to a music man, but the fan in me cries in my bottle of beer), they’re opening up the genre for someone to fill that void. I honestly believe Adam is the perfect artist to do just that.

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So there you have it… my three picks for new music that you’ll hear about in the future. Do I understand what music executives are really look for? Nope! I regularly scratch my head over the music industry and their decisions. I only know what I like and what I feel has the potential to be the next big thing. I like sharing good music and maybe dispelling the myth that Nashville is only what you hear on the radio. There’s a lot of good music here… you just have to find it.