Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Review - The Obama Diaries

The Obama DiariesThe Obama Diaries
BY: Laura Ingraham
PUBLISHED BY: Threshold Editions
PUBLISHED IN: 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4391-9751-6
Pages: 373
Reviewed by Billy Burgess

The Obama Diaries is part fiction, part nonfiction and part political satire. The author Laura Ingraham has also written the Power to the People, she has her own syndicated radio program and she is one of the permanent substitute host of the O’Reilly Factor.

Throughout the book, there are fake diaries entries from the President, the First Lady, the Vice-President and other staff members of the White House. I found some of these comical and other just plain annoying.

The author does use facts about the President and his administration. The book covers Obama’s family life, his ties to corrupted political officials, the dozens of mistakes he has made and the falling economy. Of course, the author gives her own opinion on each issue.

I occasionally watch the O’Reilly Factor and watched Laura Ingraham talking about her book. I reserved it at my local library and I had to wait several weeks to check it out. Overall, I am very disappointed with it. Besides from the fake diary entries, there is nothing that makes this book stand out from any of the dozens political book out there. Sure, there are many facts that are true about Obama, but I have heard these repeatedly on the news. There is nothing new here. If you have listened to the author on her radio show or seen her on the O’Reilly Factor, then, you already know her opinion on the Obama administration. I cannot recommend this book to anyone.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Book Blogger Hop

Jennifer from Crazy for Books has created this meme.

If you'd like to participate, here's Jennifer's instructions:


Every day I seem to find another book blog that I start following. In the spirit of the Friday Follow, I thought it would be cool to do a Book Blog Hop to give us all bookies a chance to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!


So, if you'd like to participate, just repost this on your blog, sign MckLinky and check out other blogs in MckLinky! Let's connect and make new book bloggy friends!! So, if you consider yourself a book blogger, come join the fun!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Book Review - Love's First Bloom


Love's First BloomLove’s First Bloom
BY: Delia Parr
PUBLISHED BY: Bethany House
PUBLISHED IN: 2010
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0671-9
Pages: 316
Reviewed by Billy Burgess


Reverend Livingstone is suspected of murder, he sends his daughter, along with a young child into hiding. Ruth is now living in a small town in New Jersey under a different name.

Tragedy strikes, leaving Ruth and the young child alone in New Jersey. Ruth soon falls in love with Jake Spencer. Will her secrets tear them apart?

Love’s First Bloom is a sweet, fast-paced novel. You cannot help but feel sorry for the main character Ruth, whose life has completely changed in the blink of an eye. I enjoyed reading the book, and I think you will too.

* I would like to thank Bethany House for sending me a copy to review.

Review - The Twelfth Imam


The Twelfth Imam
BY: Joel C. Rosenberg
PUBLISHED BY: Tyndale Fiction
PUBLISHED IN: 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4143-1163-0
Pages: 444
Reviewed by Billy Burgess

Charlie Harper and his wife, Claire Harper, barely escaped Iran in November of 1979, thanks to Dr. Mohammad Shirazi and his family. Their daughter, Claire Harper, was born that very day. Charlie helps Dr. Shirazi and his family immigrate to the United States. Both families stay in contact over the years.

After the tragic disaster of September 11, 2001, both families are personal impacted by it; leading to a chain of events that will change the life of Dr. Shirazi’s son, David.

The CIA picks David to help them infiltrate the Iranian government. The Iran leaders are planning to bring the apocalypse to Israel. Soon, word spreads of a mysterious cleric who claims to the Islamic messiah known as the Twelfth Imam.

The Twelfth Imam is a fast-paced, action-packed apocalyptic religious thriller. The author has wonderful mixed in real life headlines into this fiction tale of suspense and intrigue. The plot will haunt you way after you have read the last page. It is a great read!

*I would like to thank Tyndale Fiction for sending me a copy to review.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Book Blogger Hop

Jennifer from Crazy for Books has created this meme.

If you'd like to participate, here's Jennifer's instructions:


Every day I seem to find another book blog that I start following. In the spirit of the Friday Follow, I thought it would be cool to do a Book Blog Hop to give us all bookies a chance to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!


So, if you'd like to participate, just repost this on your blog, sign MckLinky and check out other blogs in MckLinky! Let's connect and make new book bloggy friends!! So, if you consider yourself a book blogger, come join the fun!

Question of the week: What's your favorite beverage when reading or blogging?


My answer: Nescafe Casico Coffee

Review - Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler



Lisabeth Lewis is your typical teenager. Her parents are divorced, she has a great boyfriends and friends, but she is hiding a secret. Lisabeth has an eating a disorder.

Late one night, she decides to end her life by taking an overdose on her mother’s anti-depression pills, but suicide attempt does not work. That night she meets Death.

Review - A Suitor for Jenny


A Suitor for Jenny
By: Margaret Brownley
PUBLISHED BY: Thomas Nelson
PUBLISHED IN: 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59554-810-8
Pages: 309
Reviewed by Billy Burgess

Since their parents' death, Jenny has raised her two younger sisters, Mary Lou and Brenda. She stumbles upon an article saying that Rocky Creek, Texas had the highest number of bachelors. She gets the idea of looking for husbands for her sisters in Texas.

Jenny doesn’t believe in love at first sight, and as soon as she finds the suitable husbands for her sisters, she is moving far away. Her plan soon starts to fail as her sisters’ rebel against her. They start dating men on their own, some who do not know how to read or write.

The US Marshall Rhett Armstrong catches Jenny’s heart. Will she abandon her plan of leaving?

A Suitor for Jenny is a clean-cut romance western with a touch of humor to it. I like the main character Jenny because she is strong-headed; other readers will like her to as she searches for husbands for her sisters. This is a good read.

*I would like to thank Thomas Nelson for sending me a copy to review.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Thursday Ramblings


A Nightmare on Elm Street
I watched the remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street. It was okay, about as good at the Friday the 13th remakes. Well, their not really remakes to me, their more like sequels.

The Postcard KillersLast Friday, I received Bullet by Laurell K. Hamilton, Spring's Renewal by Shelly Shepard Gray and Autumn's Promise by Shelley Shepard Gray. On Saturday, I received A Suitor for Jenny by Margaret Brownley, Love is Grand by Annalisa Daughtey, Don't Blink by James Patterson and Howard Rouchan, andThe Postcard Killers by James Patterson and Liza Marklund.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Review - The Fall

The Fall
BY: Guillermo Del Toro & Chuck Hogan
PUBLISHED BY: Harper Collins
PUBLISHED IN: 2010
ISBN: 978-0-06-155822-1
Pages: 308
Reviewed by Billy Burgess

I have never read the first book, The Strain, but I easily picked up the previous plot by reading the first few chapters. The vampire plaque is spreading and consuming the world. The Master’s grand plan is to start a war between the Old and New Vampires. Hidden, is a book detailing the vampire’s history and their darkest secrets. This book has the key to killing the virus.

A brilliant professor Abraham Setrakian, Vasiliy Fest, Eph and other survivors plan on stopping the vampires before the infest the world.

The Fall is dark and chilling. It takes the vampire legend and brings it into the real world. The plot is easily believable; a vampire virus is spreading all over the world. Abraham Setrakian reminds me of Van Helsing. I can see this book series becoming a movie.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Book Review - In Every Heartbeat

In Every HeartbeatIn Every Heartbeat
BY: Kim Vogel Sawyer
PUBLISHED BY: Bethany House
PUBLISHED IN: 2010
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0510-1
Pages: 346
Reviewed by Billy Burgess

In Every Heartbeat is about three friends, Libby Conley, Pete Leidig and Bennett Martin. They grew up in an orphanage. When they became adults, they went their separate ways. Bennett Martin pledges into a fraternity and just wants to have fun. Pete wants to become a minister, and Libby wants to be a famous journalist.

Libby finds it hard to be a writer in the early 1900s. Editors keep telling her to write romance stories and leave the news journalists to the men.

Pete decides to track down his birth parents and learns that his younger brother has been charged with murder. With the help of Libby, they try to set his brother free.

I have read several novels by Kim Vogel Sawyer and found this novel to be different from the others. I liked that the book was set in my home state, Missouri. I enjoyed the character Libby the most, since she is a struggling writer. There is a little mystery plot thrown into the story, and a little romance. It is a good read.

*I would like to thank Bethany House for sending me a copy to review.