Finding Our Way Home: A Novel (A Snowglobe Connections Novel) by Charlene Baumbich

This story was very slow in the beginning and the characters were never fully developed. It lacked depth and continuity. The "love stories" muddled the basic premise of the story (if there indeed was one)and seemed very out of place.

The Christian message was non-existent and the references to "faith" and "grace" seemed to be just thrown in to try to make it a "Christian" novel. Fortune telling, talisman and magic were all presented in the story as messages from God.

This novel is not a good example of literature, Christian or not, and I do not recommend it.

Shadows on the Sand: A Seaside Mystery

Shadows on the Sand: A Seaside Mystery is a compelling book that draws the reader into the lives of its characters. Author Gayle Roper weaves the lives of hurting people together with masterful skill in a dynamic story line. God's healing touch mends the lives of abandoned children, an alcoholic parent, a guilt-ridden widower, former cult members and more; all in one well-written story. I look forward to reading more of Gayle Roper's mysteries.

Book Review: The Corruptible by Mark Mynheir

Ray Quinn, an ex-cop with major issues, is in the process of building his struggling PI business when a lucrative new client hires him to investigate an information theft from his business. The novel meanders through the inevitable twists and turns of detective book, but lacks compelling readability. An enjoyable book, but no page turner. Also, if you are expecting a Christian novel, this is not the one: the female lead character is a Christian, but that is played down because of Quinn's reluctance to be evangelized. All in all, a good read.


"I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review"

Lazy day

What a nice lazy day. It's cold and gray outside...good weather for hibernating. Quint, my 3 year old grandson, and I returned last night from a quick trip to NJ to see my parents and sister and her family. Quint slept for the 3 hour trip and then had a long second wind that lasted until 1 a.m. Whew! You can bet we slept in...all warm and snuggly under the covers together. Now I'm sitting here listening to my husband and Quint play on the floor...crazy, silly laughter to enjoy!

Post Christmas

The day after Christmas is such an odd day. We spend four weeks in a frenzy of shopping, parties, cooking and decorating culminating in the most anticipated day of the year and then...poof!...nothing. Well, I could clean up the last bits of wrapping paper from the floor surrounding the Christmas tree...or ...not. I have, however, been working my way through pieces of chocolate chip cookies and yummy truffles made by my daughter-in-law. See? I accomplished something today!

All is calm

As I sit here reveling  the dusk of another Christmas Day, I realize that this was not just another holiday: strife-ridden at best and filled with angst at its worst. The family I find myself in has forever been atypical. Not that I realized the extent of it for much of the time. I truly had no idea just how all-encompassing the hereditary bipolar genes that I married would prove to be.


Today, though, all is calm. Lithium, Pristiq, Welbutrin are silently coursing their veins and, for now, all is right with the world.