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Writing, Reading, and Rural Life With a Border Collie

Category Archives: Book Reviews – Non-Fiction


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New Book Looks at Evidence for Easter, Much More

How Did Christianity Begin?

Hallucinations? Fabrications? Myths? Resurrection?

A look at the evidence

By Christopher Hearn (Indie author, 2023)

Genre: Non-Fiction

Pages: 120, incl. Appendix and Notes

Via: Author Request

Note: We received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In your discussions with those who don’t believe in God, have you heard one of the following?

  • We don’t really know how Christianity started
  • Christianity is a made up religion just like all of the others
  • Christianity has too many legends and myths mixed in with the truth to know what is real and what isn’t
  • The New Testament is written too late after the events to be a reliable source for knowing the truth about Jesus
  • There is no evidence for Christianity

Written in plain, easy to understand language, author Christopher Hearn’s “evangelistic tool” shows you how to start the conversation as it guides you in answering these questions and more, with one of the goals being that you will be better equipped and more confident to share your faith with others. 

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‘Stubborn Love’ Shines Thru New Memoir

The Ignorant Man’s Son

A Memoir

By Victor James Hill, Indie Author

Genre: Non-fiction/Memoir

Pages 174

Via: Author Request

Note: We received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When  Her Momness was young a whipper-snapper – back when dinosaurs roamed the earth – she spent a coupla summers on staff at a Christian camp in California. One of the musical guests one week was a tenor. He sang a song Mom never forgot. (And for Mom, that’s really sayin’ somethin’!) It was called His Stubborn Love. We’ll get to the lyrics in a min. So kindly keep your shirt on. But this memoir reminded Her Momness of that song. 

I’ll let Mom explain:

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By the Book Cover – Which of These 3 Novels Delivers?

I know. I’m adorable.

If Mom said it once, she’s said it a thousand times:

“Don’t judge a book by its cover.”

True that. But when it comes to books, we all do it, huh? (C’mon now. ‘Fess up. It’s just between us, okay?)

Well. Have you ever finished reading a book and wondered how in the heck did that cover wind up on that book?

I have. So I’m gonna save you a lot of time. After reading these three novels based on their covers,  I’m letting you know which books deliver and which don’t.

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‘Perestroika’ Percolates With Perspicacity

Perestroika

By Joao Cerqueira

Publisher: Arkbound, 2024

Via: Author Request

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 436 (paperback)

Note: We received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“Does beauty require freedom?”

Tucked into the chapters of this epic historical fiction, this question is one upon which the entire book hinges. 

 

For more, click here.


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Memoir Highlights Recovery, Self-Discovery After Stroke

Miracle in the Desert: A Journey of Self-Discovery After a Stroke

By Marco Giovannoli 

Indie Author, 2023

Genre: Non-Fiction/Memoir

Pages: 269

Via: Author request

Note: We received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

 

This is a book about recovery and self-discovery. It’s a first-hand account of how the author recovers from a stroke suffered in September 2022, smack dab in the middle of the Abu Dahbi desert. At age 46. While training for the Budapest Marathon. Giovannoli explains that he writes to share his story and offer hope for recovery after a stroke.

For more, click here.

 


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New Devo Surprised Us – Here’s Why

The Way of Gratitude

By Hannah Rowen Fry

Genre: Christian/Nonfiction

Pages: 80

Via: Author Request/Blog Tour

Note: We received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What?

This balance of this review has been removed because the author did not follow our Submission Guidelines for Liking, Sharing, or Commenting.


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XMAS BOOK BASH #1: Let it Glow With ‘Hair on Fire’

‘Tis the season, friends! Christmas is just around the corner! Oh boy! Oh boy! Oh Boy! You know that one of us is like a Major Sucker for good Christmas yarns. Here a yarn, there a yarn. Everywhere a yarn, yarn.

Wait. Where was I?

Christmas Book Bash

Oh yeah. Christmas yarns. Well. Her Momness and I have come across some pretty good ones recently. We’ll be sharing select titles here during December. We’re calling it our “Christmas Book Bash.” Throwin’ this in at no extra charge. Although a little extra crispy bacon never hurts. Just sayin.

So. Our first selection for our December Christmas Book Bash is a Christmas memoir thingy. No idea what that means. But Mom liked it. Mostly. So let’s go:

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‘Survivor’ Memoir Jolts, Inspires

Better Dirty Than Done

An Inspirational True Story

By Rick Czaplewski (Indie author, 2023)

Genre: Non-Fiction/Memoir

Via: Author Request

Note: We received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

So Mom and I, we’re cruising along the other day minding our own biz. Tip-toeing thru the tulips. Zippity do-dah-zippity-aying. My, oh my what a wonderful day-ing.

Well, okay. It was actually pouring rain. Think Noah. It was also cold. Think “Abdominal” Snowman. Cuz one of us had a growly tummy. What?

What?

Anywho, we found this “inspirational true story” thingy waiting for us at the post office. It’s a self-portrait of a young man battling cancer. Hodgkin’s Disease, to be exact.

Smack-o-Rama

Well, smack-o-rama and Jolt-a-Bolt! Felt like Déjà vu all over again. Cuz Mom’s kid bro battled Hodgkin’s Disease awhile back. So Mom got all googly-eyed for a min. You know how Mom is. ‘Sides. This bro thing was when Her Royal Momness was a youngin’. You know. Shortly before the earth’s crust cooled. It was also before Ms. Brilliant and Beautiful – Yours Truly – arrived on the scene. Smack-o-rama, Jolt-a-Bolt again!

Intense

So you might understand how this book impacted us. It’s emotional. Unfiltered and raw. There’s no pie-in-the-sky bye and bye, Pollyana stuff here. Nopers!  It’s real and it’s genuine. Heartfelt. Searing. It took Her Momness back to the days of… Wait. Let’s get to the book, shall we? I’ll let Mom fill ya in. Soon as I scout her up some more tissue. (That googly-eye thing again. Cuz. Well. Mom.)

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Fresh Approach to Thorny Topic Shines in ‘Forgiving Like God’

Forgiving Like God: A Conversation with Frank, an AI Persona

By David Wyatt, Indie Author

Genre: Christian Non-Fiction

Pages: 99, including Appendix

Via: Author Request

Back when her Momness was a young whipper-snapper – shortly after the discovery of fire – one of her fave authors was Dr. Lewis Smedes. He was a professor of theology and ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.

Smedes wrote 15 books. But Mom’s fave is Forgive and Forget: Healing the Hurts We Don’t Deserve. Now deceased, Smedes was one of few authors who takes the time and effort  to think and dig deeply into the topic of forgiveness. 

So this book reminded us of good ‘ole Doc Smedes. The author has actually done the hard legwork of thinking, sifting, researching, reflecting, and ruminating on the topic of forgiveness. There’s none of that knee-jerk fluff stuff here. How refreshing.

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Hiking Memoir Hard to Peg

Force of Nature

Three Women Tackle the John Muir Trail

By Joan M. Griffin

Black Rose Writing, 2023

Pages: 378

Genre: Nonfiction – Memoir/Travel/Outdoors

Via: Blog Tour

Note: We received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

So Her Momness and I came back from chugging all over hill and dale the other day and checked the mail. We found Joan Griffin’s hiking memoir, Force of Nature, waiting for us. Cool, we thought. Besides. Who can resist that luscious cover?

Well. Mom and I agreed to join a blog tour for this book for three main reasons: 1) One of us has been hiking since she was knee-high to a bean-sprout (back when dinosaurs roamed the earth); 2) One of us is a native Californian and knows the John Muir Trail (JMT); 3) Mom’s private chocolate stash was running low and I, Kimber, promised her a refill if she finished this book lickety-split-ish. (Yea, verily. It’s amazing what some peeps will do for free chocolate. Selah.)

Okay. Where was I. Oh yeah. Force of Nature. I’ll let Mom give ya some deets:

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