Saturday, May 30, 2009
Black Sands
This is the second book in the Aloha Reef series, and I liked it better than the first one. Mano, a peripheral character in Distant Echoes, becomes a central character in Black Sands, and we are introduced to Annie, a vulcanologist. Annie's sister has gone missing, her mortgage is past due and she hasn't told her domineering father, and a volcano is on the verge of erupting. Throw in a casino developer who is less-than-savory, a boss who has a secret past, and a brother who comes back from the dead, and you have quite a story! Annie has to confront her fears that threaten her career and learn to turn everything over to God. In the course of trying to find her sister and help her brother who is being framed for murder, Annie realizes that she is in love with Mano. Can she overcome her shyness to tell him how she really feels? Can Annie save her sister from being sacrificed at the volcano on the pretext of an ancient religion? Can she stand up to her dominant father? Did Annie's mother actually commit suicide, or was it a murder made to look like a suicide? Yes, all of these plot lines are wound together to a great conclusion that involves a dangerous lava flow and some wild dolphins. This was a great suspense novel, and I highly recommend it.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Healing Waters
All I can say is "Wow!" What a deep, multi-layered, complex story! I can certainly see why it got the Women of Faith Novel of the Year award.
Lucia and Sonia are sisters, but are not much alike. Sonia is, and always has been, the "perfect" sister; her appearance, her family, and her career are envied by many. Lucia, the overweight sister who has a less than enviable family, has always been in Sonia's shadow. Then a crisis happens. Sonia is severely disfigured in a suspicious plane crash, and Lucia is called on to help out not only with Sonia, but also with Bethany, Sonia's six-year-old child. After Lucia moves in, she begins to realize that all is not what it seems in Sonia's household. Trying to manage Sonia's and Bethany's lives while trying to rebuild her marriage to Chip at the same time takes quite a toll on Lucia's on emotional well-being. Enter Dr. Sullivan Crisp. He helps Lucia to look deeply into herself while trying to pick up the pieces of his own life at the same time.
Add to this story a persistent FBI agent who is investigating the plane crash, a physical therapist who tries to help Sonia and at the same time befriend Lucia, Sonia and Lucia's alcoholic father, and Chip's drug problems, and Healing Waters becomes quite a story. As I said about Healing Stones, Healing Waters is like peeling an onion; there is layer after layer to this story and the reader will constantly be surprised at the many twists and turns. A dramatic kidnapping and a revelation about Crisp's late wife bring this story to its astounding conclusion.
This book is a must-read and I cannot recommend it enough!
Lucia and Sonia are sisters, but are not much alike. Sonia is, and always has been, the "perfect" sister; her appearance, her family, and her career are envied by many. Lucia, the overweight sister who has a less than enviable family, has always been in Sonia's shadow. Then a crisis happens. Sonia is severely disfigured in a suspicious plane crash, and Lucia is called on to help out not only with Sonia, but also with Bethany, Sonia's six-year-old child. After Lucia moves in, she begins to realize that all is not what it seems in Sonia's household. Trying to manage Sonia's and Bethany's lives while trying to rebuild her marriage to Chip at the same time takes quite a toll on Lucia's on emotional well-being. Enter Dr. Sullivan Crisp. He helps Lucia to look deeply into herself while trying to pick up the pieces of his own life at the same time.
Add to this story a persistent FBI agent who is investigating the plane crash, a physical therapist who tries to help Sonia and at the same time befriend Lucia, Sonia and Lucia's alcoholic father, and Chip's drug problems, and Healing Waters becomes quite a story. As I said about Healing Stones, Healing Waters is like peeling an onion; there is layer after layer to this story and the reader will constantly be surprised at the many twists and turns. A dramatic kidnapping and a revelation about Crisp's late wife bring this story to its astounding conclusion.
This book is a must-read and I cannot recommend it enough!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
more about "The Wedding"
Rooms: I reserved 7 rooms today at the Holiday Inn in Columbus. Whew!! One more thing off my list, and it had really been bugging me. I got a king for David and me, and 6 doubles for the groom and wedding party. I am only paying for the king and Russell's room. The rest of the people are responsible for paying for their own rooms. I got a good rate, and if they reserve saying "Casteel wedding party," they will get that rate. Otherwise, they pay full price.
I also asked the salesperson if it was a problem if I needed more rooms that these, and she said that it is not. So I think I will send out an email to family members and ask if any of them need rooms. If so, I will call her back and have her add a couple of more rooms to my block.
The rooms will go to his groomspersons as follows: Trey and Heather (groomspersons who are married), Tim and Mary Bruce (groomsman and wife), Matt and Jennifer (groomsman and wife), Jay and Tyler (single groomsguys), and Dana (single groomsgirl). Then he will have a room, and we will have a room. I just don't want to stay at David's mom and dad's during this stressful time. I will be way too nervous, and their house is small with only 1 full bath. David and I decided a long time ago that we would rent a room and let the other Casteel brothers stay with their parents.
So, one more item to cross off the list, and what a big one it was!
I also asked the salesperson if it was a problem if I needed more rooms that these, and she said that it is not. So I think I will send out an email to family members and ask if any of them need rooms. If so, I will call her back and have her add a couple of more rooms to my block.
The rooms will go to his groomspersons as follows: Trey and Heather (groomspersons who are married), Tim and Mary Bruce (groomsman and wife), Matt and Jennifer (groomsman and wife), Jay and Tyler (single groomsguys), and Dana (single groomsgirl). Then he will have a room, and we will have a room. I just don't want to stay at David's mom and dad's during this stressful time. I will be way too nervous, and their house is small with only 1 full bath. David and I decided a long time ago that we would rent a room and let the other Casteel brothers stay with their parents.
So, one more item to cross off the list, and what a big one it was!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Healing Stones
I had read some Christian teen fiction by Nancy Rue a few years back (Nama High series, if you're interested), and was drawn to Healing Stones as an adult book by the same author in collaboration with Christian psychologist Stephen Arterburn. Since the last series that I read by a favorite Christian author in collaboration with a Christian psychologist was so wonderful (Redemption by Karen Kingsbury and Gary Smalley), I naturally wanted to read this one. Another big appeal to me was that the second book of this series, Healing Waters, won the 2009 Women of Faith fiction novel of the year award; consequently, I want to read it, but refuse to read the second one before the first.
Back to the subject--Healing Stones. What an awesome book! I cannot say enough good about it. Demitria is a theology professor at a small Christian college. She is married to Rick, a fireman, and has two teenage children, Christopher and Jayne. A drastic mistake on Demitria's part costs her both her job and her family, and she spends most of the remainder of the book trying to make these two things right. However, this is a multi-layered novel. It seems that more than meets the eye is going on with the college administration, the board, and the financial backers of the school than just Demetria's mistake. Rick is still suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome after being a hero at the Word Trade Center in 9/11, and his problems in his job and marriage are continuing all these years later. Demitria's Christian counselor, Sullivan Crisp, also has his own baggage, and his guidance of Demitria also mirrors his own journey toward healing and accepting God's forgiveness.
This is one of the best Christian fiction books that I have read in a very long time. Not only does Demitria have a journey to take to accept God's forgiveness, but also do Rick, Sullivan, and many other of the book's characters. This book is truly like peeling an onion, layer after layer after layer. I can't wait to read Healing Waters!!
Back to the subject--Healing Stones. What an awesome book! I cannot say enough good about it. Demitria is a theology professor at a small Christian college. She is married to Rick, a fireman, and has two teenage children, Christopher and Jayne. A drastic mistake on Demitria's part costs her both her job and her family, and she spends most of the remainder of the book trying to make these two things right. However, this is a multi-layered novel. It seems that more than meets the eye is going on with the college administration, the board, and the financial backers of the school than just Demetria's mistake. Rick is still suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome after being a hero at the Word Trade Center in 9/11, and his problems in his job and marriage are continuing all these years later. Demitria's Christian counselor, Sullivan Crisp, also has his own baggage, and his guidance of Demitria also mirrors his own journey toward healing and accepting God's forgiveness.
This is one of the best Christian fiction books that I have read in a very long time. Not only does Demitria have a journey to take to accept God's forgiveness, but also do Rick, Sullivan, and many other of the book's characters. This book is truly like peeling an onion, layer after layer after layer. I can't wait to read Healing Waters!!
Saturday, May 9, 2009
More about "The Wedding"
Time and Place: Saturday, August 1, at First United Methodist in Columbus, 7:00p.m. Reception will follow at the home of the bride's parents. It is going to be a large, lavish affair, with 8 attendants, lots of music, and lots of scripture reading-an Old Testament, Psalm, Gospel, and Epistle lesson, just like in a worship service. Of course, Russell wants it to be a worship service, and it will be. They would like to have communion as well, but are still up in the air about that. Chris (Russell's mentor through the candidacy program will marry them) does not necessarily think it's a great idea with a large crowd. It just becomes quite cumbersome and loses some of the meaning. They are still thinking about it, and, as mother of the groom, I keep telling everyone that I operate on a need-to-know basis, and I don't need to know that yet!
Rehearsal dinner: I have the rehearsal dinner finalized. It will be at Thad Cochran Hall on the MUW campus. The room is just lovely, and big enough for the wedding party, which was the most important requirement for me to book a place. Normally, when a W venue is rented, the college food service is required. However, since the food service is closed for the summer, I was allowed to choose my own caterer!! Woo-hoo!! I can't put in to words how much that eased the burden of the dinner. I called my friend Becky here, and she and I drove to Columbus one afternoon. She was very impressive and professional with the lady we had to book with at the W, and she was very open to everything that Russell wanted. We are having a lavish meal, with a choice of prime rib, chicken Huntington, or eggplant Parmesan (Russell had requested one veg. dish for his vegetarian friends). Also, a potato station, organic salad bar, green beans, rolls, and tiramasu with a flavored coffee station for dessert. Alcohol is not allowed on the W campus, so we will toast with mock champagne. This saves me money, and the important thing is the toasting, not the alcohol.
"Engagement Celebration:" Last weekend, we attended a cocktail party given by Callie's parents' friends in Columbus. Overwhelmed is a mild way to put it. It was just lovely; quite lavish, and I do hope that Callie's family and friends know that this type of social event is quite out of our league.
Kaci's wedding: Kaci and Kyle got engaged over spring break and last week set their wedding date for Nov. 7. She is planning a much simpler affair than the Flowers-Casteel nuptials. But Carol Anne is going to call Becky about possibly catering the reception after I have been singing her praises. Kaci and Kyle live in Brandon and they will marry at Crossgates United Methodist, where they apparently attend quite regularly. David has always considered Kaci his little girl, and I hope he will hold up all right for the wedding! So all of Mama's grandchildren will be getting married in 2009! I told Carol Anne that I could not believe that she and I were planning weddings in the same year! P.S. I don't mean to sound like Mama has only two grandchildren; she actually has two birth grandchildren and two grandsons added to our family when Carol Anne married David a few years ago. Justin is married with a baby boy, and Carol Anne has given me some good advice on being mother of the groom. Rhyne is a single assistant football coach in south Mississippi.
Rehearsal dinner: I have the rehearsal dinner finalized. It will be at Thad Cochran Hall on the MUW campus. The room is just lovely, and big enough for the wedding party, which was the most important requirement for me to book a place. Normally, when a W venue is rented, the college food service is required. However, since the food service is closed for the summer, I was allowed to choose my own caterer!! Woo-hoo!! I can't put in to words how much that eased the burden of the dinner. I called my friend Becky here, and she and I drove to Columbus one afternoon. She was very impressive and professional with the lady we had to book with at the W, and she was very open to everything that Russell wanted. We are having a lavish meal, with a choice of prime rib, chicken Huntington, or eggplant Parmesan (Russell had requested one veg. dish for his vegetarian friends). Also, a potato station, organic salad bar, green beans, rolls, and tiramasu with a flavored coffee station for dessert. Alcohol is not allowed on the W campus, so we will toast with mock champagne. This saves me money, and the important thing is the toasting, not the alcohol.
"Engagement Celebration:" Last weekend, we attended a cocktail party given by Callie's parents' friends in Columbus. Overwhelmed is a mild way to put it. It was just lovely; quite lavish, and I do hope that Callie's family and friends know that this type of social event is quite out of our league.
Kaci's wedding: Kaci and Kyle got engaged over spring break and last week set their wedding date for Nov. 7. She is planning a much simpler affair than the Flowers-Casteel nuptials. But Carol Anne is going to call Becky about possibly catering the reception after I have been singing her praises. Kaci and Kyle live in Brandon and they will marry at Crossgates United Methodist, where they apparently attend quite regularly. David has always considered Kaci his little girl, and I hope he will hold up all right for the wedding! So all of Mama's grandchildren will be getting married in 2009! I told Carol Anne that I could not believe that she and I were planning weddings in the same year! P.S. I don't mean to sound like Mama has only two grandchildren; she actually has two birth grandchildren and two grandsons added to our family when Carol Anne married David a few years ago. Justin is married with a baby boy, and Carol Anne has given me some good advice on being mother of the groom. Rhyne is a single assistant football coach in south Mississippi.
Distant Echoes
Distant Echoes is set in Hawaii near a military base which is testing secret missiles. Kaia is a native Hawaiian who is also a marine biologist. Her current project is to train dolphins to interact with sounds. When the security at the base is breached and Kaia loses a friend, handsome naval officer Jesse comes to Kaia and asks for help with patrolling the waters using her dolphins. The mystery of unraveling the person behind the security breach becomes only one of the many story lines. We find out that Jesse feels responsible for his first wife's death and has never gotten over it and that Kaia has never gotten over the desertion of her mother when she was a child. The involvement of Kaia's brother in something sinister, the attempted kidnapping of Jesse's niece, and the strange new woman who comes to town all add to the suspense of this story. This was a good mystery, and I enjoyed the many plot lines that were continually unraveled.
The Other Side of Darkness
I am a big fan of Melody Carlson, and this book is no exception. Ruth is a woman with some deep-seated problems, like OCD and issues with her mother that make her feel unworthy. These problems make her very vulnerable to Pastor Glenn and his religious zeal. Convinced that she must do constant spiritual warfare and cast out demons, Ruth endangers her finances, her marriage, and finally her own life. The Other Side of Darkness lets the reader in on how seemingly good Christian people can get "sucked in" to the fanatical side of religion. Often I have wondered how and why people could join cults. This book made me see that it is easy for someone who has weaknesses in some areas of his life can be molded and given suggestions until that person completely "buys in" to the wrong teachings. While the book did not necessarily have a "happy" ending, it was realistic and gave the reader hope that Ruth would continue in the right direction. This is a great book, and I highly recommend it.
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