Book Nook Reviews: Jessi Colter

 

 

Title: An Outlaw and a Lady

Author: Jessi Colter
Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Ages: Adult 

Synopsis: 

 

Renowned songwriter, singer, and wife of Waylon Jennings writes an intimate, enormously entertaining memoir of American music, of life with Waylon and the Outlaws, and of faith lost and found.

 

What I Think About It:

Growing up with a mother who didn’t recognize ANY other genre of music other than Country, I was very familiar with the musical talents of both Jessi Colter and husband, Waylon Jennings. When I had the opportunity to read this tell all biography, I eagerly awaited the book’s arrival, which is why I was rather surprised how disappointed I was after reading Jessi’s story.

It wasn’t that the story wasn’t well written, because each chapter obviously was well thought out as it chronicled Jessi’s life from growing up as Miriam Johnson to her own success as a country music artist and her eventual, somewhat tumultuous, marriage to country music icon Waylon Jennings.

For me, there was something missing in the overall “voice” and “hook” of this story that had me struggling to turn the next page in each chapter. Fans of Jessi or Waylon may find the book the perfect read, but for the rest of us, you may want to think twice before adding this one to your home library…

Like-O-Meter Rating:   3 out of 5...take it or leave it.

**Rating scale**

 
 5 out of 5...grab it!
 4 out of 5...think about it.
 3 out of 5...take it or leave it.
 2 out of 5...maybe not for you.
 1 out of 5...forget about it!

(Disclaimer:

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”) 

 

 

BOOK NOOK REVIEWS: Mike Berenstain

 

 

 

 

Title: The Berenstain Bears: 5 Minute Inspirational Stories
Author: Stan and Jan Berenstain with Mike Berenstain (author)
Publisher: Zonderkidz 

Ages: 4-8

Synopsis: 

 

Join Mama, Papa, Brother, Sister, and Honey Bear, plus all their friends in this treasury full of Bear Country fun. This collection of twelve classic stories features full page artwork bringing each adventure to life. Whether it's bedtime, lap time, or just 5 minutes of story time, readers will love seeing their Bear clubs in action.

 

Why You Should Consider It:

Stan and Jan Berenstain have provided generations of children with wholesome, family-friendly stories since 1962. Now their son, Mike Berenstain, carries on the tradition with the latest in the Berenstain Bears collection.

5-Minute Inspirational Stories is a collection of twelve Berenstain Bears following Mama, Papa, Brother, Sister, and Honey Bear as they find biblical principles in every day life. 

Young readers will find real life application stories in everything from how to deal with disappointment and being a faithful friend to forgiving others and what it means to be courageous.  

For parents of young children who are looking for value based stories to help inspire staying on the right character path, the Berenstain Bears 5-Minute Inspirational Stories would be a nice addition to any home library!

Like-O-Meter Rating: 4 out of 5...think about it.

 

**Rating scale**

 
 5 out of 5...grab it!
 4 out of 5...think about it.
 3 out of 5...take it or leave it.
 2 out of 5...maybe not for you.
 1 out of 5...forget about it!

(Disclaimer:

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”) 

 

 

BOOK NOOK REVIEW: James Markert

Title: The Angels' Share
Author: James Markert
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Books

Ages: Adult

Synopsis: 

 

Now that Prohibition has ended, what the townspeople of Twisted Tree, Kentucky, need most is the revival of the Old Sam Bourbon distillery. But William McFee knows it'll take a miracle to convince his father, Barley, to once more fill his family's aging house with barrels of bourbon.


When a drifter recently buried near the distillery begins to draw crowds of pilgrims, the McFees are dubious. Yet miracles seem to come to those who once interacted with the deceased and to those now praying at his grave. As people descend on the town to visit the "Potter's Field Christ," William seeks to find the connection between the tragic death of his younger brother and the mysterious drifter.


But as news spreads about the miracles at the potter's field, the publicity threatens to bring the depth of Barley's secret past to light and put the entire McFee family in jeopardy.


Why You Should Consider It:

For admirers of historical fiction, THE ANGEL'S SHARE will certainly meet, if not exceed, their expectations.


The story begins just at the end of Prohibition when the McFee family had to close down the family bourbon distillery. They managed to survive, and even succeed, in living well while those around them struggled to deal with their changing financial situations.


In the middle of this social and economic chaos, a homeless person is found dead. The only logical place to bury him is in the local "Potter's Field" but soon miracles begin happening and the little town of Twisted Tree becomes a mecca for souls struggling to find meaning in a world turned upside down by the Great Depression.


Author James Markert weaves an captivating story around true historical places and events in Kentucky history like the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, Rose Island, and Lakeland Lunatic Asylum.


Anyone interested in learning more about the bourbon industry and exploring the possibility of true miracles will enjoy reading THE ANGELS' SHARE. Worth considering adding to any home library.

Like-O-Meter Rating: 4 out of 5...think about it.

 

**Rating scale**

 
 5 out of 5...grab it!
 4 out of 5...think about it.
 3 out of 5...take it or leave it.
 2 out of 5...maybe not for you.
 1 out of 5...forget about it!

(Disclaimer:

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”) 

BOOK NOOK REVIEWS: Michelle Phoenix

Title: Of Stillness and Storm
Author: Michelle Phoenix
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Books

Ages: Adult

Synopsis: 

 

It took Lauren and her husband ten years to achieve their dream—reaching primitive tribes in remote regions of Nepal. But while Sam treks into the Himalayas for weeks at a time, finding passion and purpose in his work among the needy, Lauren and Ryan stay behind, their daily reality more taxing than inspiring. For them, what started as a calling begins to feel like the family’s undoing.

At the peak of her isolation and disillusion, a friend from Lauren’s past enters her life again. But as her communication with Aidan intensifies, so does the tension of coping with the present while reengaging with the past. It’s thirteen-year-old Ryan who most keenly bears the brunt of her distraction.

Why you should read it: 

 

It can be easy for a person to look around at their own picture perfect life and think they could never understand the depth of someone else's emotional dilemma when that person lives on the other side of the world.

But author, Michelle Phoenix, manages to overcome that obstacle with the finesse of a master word player as she draws her audience into Lauren's struggle to acclimate to life in Nepal.

Her husband, Sam, strongly feels God's calling to become a missionary among the remote tribes living in the mountains, and leaves his family to fend for themselves for weeks at a time in a place as alien to them as some distant planet.

At first we can understand, and even sympathize, with Sam's wish to make a positive difference in the world. It's a commendable trait, but this clever author also forces us to acknowledge a life changing event based on good intentions doesn't always guarantee a happy ending.

The harder Lauren tries to honor her marriage vows by supporting her husband's dreams, the deeper the wedge driven between herself and her son, Ryan, who deals with his own struggles of being uprooted from friends and family to live in a country he has come to loathe.

Add to this powder keg of emotional upheaval a ghost from Lauren's past in the form of Aidan, who is dealing with his own struggle to come to terms with a life threatening illness. Aidan reconnects with Lauren via the internet, but this rekindling of their childhood friendship only adds fuel to the emotional and spiritual fires already threatening to destroy this family.

If we had a crystal ball, we could predict the epic storm coming, but when the escalating tension finally breaks in a life altering conclusion, it's not just the characters of this story who are left to access the emotional roller coaster ride Ms. Phoenix has just taken us on.

A great addition to any home library!

Like-O-Meter Rating: 5 out of 5...grab it!

 

**Rating scale**

 
 5 out of 5...grab it!
 4 out of 5...think about it.
 3 out of 5...take or leave it.
 2 out of 5...maybe not for you.
 1 out of 5...forget about it!

(Disclaimer:

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)

BOOK NOOK REVIEWS: SHANNAN MARTIN

 

Title: Falling Free
Author: Shannan Martin 
Publisher: Nelson Books

Ages: Adult

Synopsis: 

 

Shannan Martin had a perfect life: a cute farmhouse on six rambling acres, a loving husband, three adorable kids, money, friends, a close-knit church--a safe, happy existence.

 

But when the bottom dropped out through a series of shocking changes and ordinary inconveniences, the Martin's followed God's call to something radically different: a small house on the other side of the urban tracks, a shoestring income, a challenged public school, and the harshness of a county jail (where her husband is now chaplain). And yet the family's plunge from "safety" was the best thing that could have happened to them. 

My impressions of it: 

 

I'm a huge fan of realistic, inspirational prose, but  FALLING FREE left me disappointed and let down.

I made it through the first 58 pages, but instead of feeling connected and uplifted by this author's journey, I fel like I was trapped in a long running, not so inspirational church sermon and couldn't wait for the closing hymn.

Non-fiction writing can be for specialty niches and it's just possible this book might appeal to a different reader other than this reviewer.

Like-O-Meter Rating: 3 out of 5...take it or leave it.

 

**Rating scale**
 5 out of 5...grab it!
 4 out of 5...think about it.
 3 out of 5...take or leave it.
 2 out of 5...maybe not for you.
 1 out of 5...forget about it!

(Disclaimer:

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)

BOOK NOOK REVIEWS: UNDER THE SEA HOLY BIBLE

 

Title: Under The Sea Holy Bible
Publisher: Zondervan

Ages: 9-13

Synopsis: 

 

This is the New International Reader's Version of the Holy Bible.

Why you should read it: 

 

I grew up in a Christian family, went to church every Sunday, and knew we had a bible in our house somewhere, but never actually took the time to read it because the writing felt outdated.

As an adult, I had the opportunity to browse through many different versions of the bible and find Zondervan's New International Reader's Version of the bible to be easier to understand than other versions I've read over the years.

The enticing underwater theme on this bible's cover will instantly capture the attention of a younger audience. Inside there are several additional, full color, inserts following this ocean theme to assist children in better understanding certain passages found in the text.

While this latest version stays true to the original intent of the bible, it is written in simple layman's words that most middle grade children will be able to understand.

This bible would make nice addition to any home library or a perfect Christmas gift for the Christian reader in your family.

Like-O-Meter Rating: 4 out of 5...think about it.

**Rating scale**

 5 out of 5...grab it!

 4 out of 5...think about it.

 3 out of 5...take or leave it.

 2 out of 5...maybe not for you.

 1 out of 5...forget about it!

(Disclaimer:

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)

BOOK LOOK BLOGGERS: Bob Welch

Title: 52 Little Lessons From A Christmas Carol

Author: Bob Welch

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Ages:Young Adult and Adult

 

Synopsis:

Gold Medallion Award-winner Bob Welch crafts 52 nuggets of Bible-based wisdom from one of the most popular novels of all time, A CHRISTMAS CAROL.

Why you should read it:

I jumped at the chance to review this book because A CHRISTMAS CAROL is probably my all time favorite Christmas story. What's better than someone given the chance to turn their life around and redeem an otherwise worthless life through simple acts of kindness and charity?

The thing I liked most about Mr. Welch's book is that you don't have to be a Christian to learn from the 52 little lessons he lays out in his latest book. No matter what your religious beliefs, everyone can benefit from being a little kinder to one another. The world would be a better place if we all reached out a hand to lift one another up instead of stepping on each other in our pursuit of some elusive material gain.

Each chapter is short enough to be read in a small amount of time but the lasting effect of these thought provoking lessons will linger long after you put the book down. Charles Dickens might have written A CHRISTMAS CAROL a long time ago, but Bob Welch's latest book is showcasing this classic in a new way and everyone can benefit from these little life application lessons.

 A great addition to any home library!

 

Like-o-meter Rating scale**: 5 out of 5...grab it!

**Rating scale**

 5 out of 5...grab it!

 4 out of 5...think about it.

 3 out of 5...take or leave it.

 2 out of 5...maybe not for you.

 1 out of 5...forget about it!

 

 

 

(Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers http://booklookbloggers.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 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx 03/16cfr255 03.html ("Guides Concerning the use of 

Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.")