mrsbookworm

Mistaken Identity by Don and Susie Van Ryn, Whitney Cerak, Mark Tabb

Rating: 5 Stars

This is a true, headline-making story of two families effected by a tragic accident, and how their faith in God gave them strength to deal with the overwhelming after-affects. This story is continuing to touch lives and make a difference for God's kingdom. I highly recommend it.

Sharon D. Davis

Keep Your Enemies Closer by Sharon Oliver

Rating: 5 Stars

KEEP YOUR ENEMIES CLOSER will have you in suspense, laughing, crying and most of all saying, "That sounds just like my Uncle Joe or Aunt LeeLee." I could relate to the characters in the book on so many levels, going through life's trials, disappointments and also the good times. I wished I was sitting at the table eating with them sometimes, but be careful of the collar greens!! You will have to read the book to know what I mean :) This book would be one I would have liked pass on and share with others, but they might not give it back, so all I can say is get your own copy and keep it yours. Just by reading the book, you know the author has a good heart and a hilarious sense of humor. It's what I call a keeper. I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed it. The ending of the book totally threw me and made me hungry for the next book. I said to myself, that girl better write some more, because there has to be a sequel. So, Ms. Oliver, if you are reading this, bring it on! :) KEEP YOUR ENEMIES CLOSER is a book the whole family can read; there's no bad language, it's church-based --- well, some of the characters need to run to the church, but I will not say anymore about that. Get your copy of the book and see what I mean. It's a great read.

Josephine Anna Kaszuba Locke, Book Hugger and Ace

Dough: A Memoir by Mort Zachter

Rating: 5 Stars

One August afternoon in 1994, Mort experienced an 'Awakening' when he answered his parents' phone in their Brooklyn tenement. The caller was a male voice: "Hi, Mr. Zachter, it's Bruce Geary [stockbroker]. (Mort's father was in the hospital at the time of the call.) There is a million dollars in the money-market account. I suggest you buy a million dollars worth of treasuries to maximize the return."

Zachter thought he was hearing things, that someone was playing a joke, and he wondered for many years why his parents hadn't told him. He was soon to learn from the collection of mail at his uncles' overstuffed mailboxes (the first -- a USPS box; the second -- a box in the uncles' vacated apartment building lobby).

Zachter writes his memoir candidly, warmly, with caring concern, humor, and puzzlement. His bachelor uncles had lived as paupers, wearing old suits, driving a twenty-year old Buick (which resembled 'a giant accordion', visited free clinics, while carrying forward the tradition of a bakery established by Mort's Russian immigrant, maternal grandparents (Wolk) in 1926, at the location of 350 E 9th Street in New York City. Uncle Harry and Uncle Joe carried forward the tradition of the 'commissioned bakery'; as Mort tells it: "In their entire lives, my uncles never baked a thing."

The bakery was located in an old building with warped floors, and was referred to as 'The Store'; its legal name was The Ninth Street Bakery, and 'on paperwork… somewhere' --- [Uncle] Joe's Cut-Rate Bakery. 'The Store' was open seven days a week, from seven in the morning to midnight, always full of customers, and as Mort puts it, "both uncles knew only work'. As for pricing of merchandise, none was posted, but on one wall hung a sign in black marker: "In God we trust, all others pay cash." Family members, specifically Mort's Mom, helped in the bakery and were 'paid wages' in baked goods.

Mort Zachter's memoirs are not just about bread, bakery, and 'dough', but of emotional discovery of family, love and forgiveness, joy and sadness, the celebration in Mort's home of 'Passover', and keeping in accordance with the laws of 'kahruth' ('kosher'). Mort describes his memories as the youngest child singing 'The Four Questions'. He also reveals how the beverage 'Snapple' was born --- an insightful (NYC) health food store-owner bottled hot tea --- and the reason why Houston Street in NYC is pronounced 'House-ton', differently than the 'Houston' in Texas. In NYC, it was originally spelled 'Houstoun', named for William Houstoun, a delegate to the 18th-century Continental Congress, but its spelling 'metamorphosed' over the centuries.

The author writes endearingly, with a lot of heart, as he also quotes varied sources:
'His money is twice tainted; 'taint yours and taint mine.' (Mark Twain); 'With money in your pocket, you are wise, and you are handsome, and you sing well too.' (Yiddish saying). And at 'shul', the Rabbi's story of "…the little bird that flew through an open window… flying too high… trying to get out … Over and over again, the little bird hit the window and the ceiling… and it fell to the floor… Do not be like that little bird… Set your sights lower; be reasonable in your aims… Fly low so you can be contented'."

One of my favorite passages in DOUGH is Mort's recollection of the 'ailanthus tree', (a.k.a. 'tree of heaven'), which only requires sunshine and water. In the breezes travel its twisted blades, spiraling like propellers; and now I know, Mr. Zachter, what those flying objects were from, as I watched them in the wind, growing up in a large Polish family in my hometown of West Rutland, VT --- just as the author describes them!

Mort Zachter's telling of varied events in his life just gets bigger and better, just as the uncles hoarded their millions, DOUGH grows worthy of a million readers, first time, second time and even a third time around. Smashing! I loveth this booketh!

To you Mort Zachter, Dziekuje bardzo! Shalom! "Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. …Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.
---DESIDERATA (Words For Life) by Max Ehrmann, 1927

Dorothy

Father and Son by Walt and Matthew Wangerin

Rating: 5 Stars

Wonderfully written story of the turbulent relationship between Walt and Matthew. Excellent book.

Comilla (cleaf77@aol.com)

Anathema by Colleen Coble

Rating: 5 Stars

I have read other books by this author and liked them. This was the reason I picked this one up. It is a 5 +. I say you pick it up and read it --- you wouldn't sorry you did.

Shyeyes (dawnymae5@msn.com)

The Shack by William P. Young

Rating: 5 Stars

Very well done. Mack endures an awful tragedy, and then comes "the great sadness". He also receives an invitation from "papa" to come spend a weekend at the shack. He goes, not knowing who papa might be. A must read for any Christian, or anyone who has ever loved a child.

Imogene Covin (emodina78@hotmail.com)

Nappily Faithful by Trisha R. Thomas

Rating: 5 Stars

A story based on a child custody with the emotional drama everyone goes through while this scenario plays with their lives. These involved women finding out the meaning of being in a closed world where everyone is intimate in one way or another.

Katy K. (kretzkidz@yahoo.com)

Violet Dawn by Brandilyn Collins

Rating: 5 Stars

A great book, full of mystery and suspense without all the depravity that some books in the suspense genre seem to need to use as the backbone of the story line. I can't wait to read the next one in this series.

MizB

Merciless (Dominion Trilogy, book 3) by Robin Parrish

Rating: 5 Stars

I've just started reading the third book in Robin Parrish's Dominion Trilogy, MERCILESS, and it's absolutely fantastic! It's fast paced, and keeps you on the edge of your seat!

The first two books in this series (RELENTLESS, and FEARLESS) were absolutely amazing! Even my non-Christian husband loves this series!

I highly recommend these books (all three of them) to anyone! :D

Susan

The Kommandant's Girl by Pam Jenoff

Rating: 5 Stars

Intelligent, well-written, gripping story set during World War II. It's about the divided loyalties, relationships and moral and ethical decisions that result when a Jewish woman begins to work for the resistance movement in Nazi-occupied Poland.

Betty

Second Touch by Brock and Bodie Thoene

Rating: 4 Stars

SECOND TOUCH is the second book in the A.D. Chronicles. I have found all of the detailed information on how lepers were treated and how they subsisted during Jesus' time interesting. I have also found a lot of names used in the book to be confusing because they are not in English. I also wish that the authors had included a better map of the areas discussed so I can get a better idea of where things happen.

Christy

Faith by Lori Copeland

Rating: 4 Stars

The first book in the Brides of the West series. It's a wonderful story with humor sprinkled throughout!

Lisa Douglas

Raising Great Kids On Your Own by David & Lisa Frisbie

Rating: 5 Stars

The best single-parenting book I've seen. It's very down to earth and practical, also hilarious at times. As a single mom myself, I'm loving it. Well worth the read!

Kimberly Holmes-taylor

Joy Comes This Morning by Norma Deshield Brown

Rating: 5 Stars

I started this book after the struggle and passing of my mom. I needed the motivation to continue life. It was given to me as a birthday present. Let's just say God knows what to send, and it was right on time. If you need motivation, pick up this book.

Mary Z

Dawn's Light: A Restoration Novel Book 4 by Terri Blackstock

Rating: 5 Stars

A perfect ending to a great series! This story once again reminded me of how great our God is and that He can redeem any situation.

Tim Chavel (tchavel@hotmail.com)

By Reason of Insanity by Randy Singer

Rating: 5 Stars

Randy Singer is one of my favorite top 5 Christian authors.

shyeyes

The Shack by William P. Young

Rating: 5 Stars

This story is very thought provoking. It deals with forgiveness, guilt, pain and healing. A tragedy occurs and a man must come to terms with circumstances and receives a note from "papa" to come see him at the shack, where the "great sadness" began. A beautifully told story and a great first novel.