Frederick Book Review

Book Review of Frederick

by Frederick Ndabaramiye
with Amy Parker

"A Story of Boundless Hope"


REVIEW BY: L. Bankhead

     I think I sat at my desk for ten entire minutes just trying to find the words that explain this book.  I can't.  Nothing that I will write here will ever do justice to the book, or the words and life story of Frederick Ndabaramiye.  Frederick lived the Rwanda genocide, and almost died there too.  The sacrifice the genocide forced upon him was to take his hands.  I do not want to reveal the atrocities and horrors that are within the first chapters of this book; since I likely would walk away from this blog post and not relive with him again the heinous details. We all watched from our cozy American couches as the genocide unfolded on our televisions and then went about our daily lives without a scratch.  Yet this encounter, through Frederick's first hand engagement with the surrounding death and massacre, will stop you in your tracks and you will not be the same. 
     Yet, through it all, God prevails and His healing for the people of Rwanda will not go unsatisfied.  Frederick becomes a most willing vessel for God's work and restoration.  Not only does Frederick bring healing to his own country, but to people all over the world that encounter him.  His brave and boundless spirit will entreat your soul to push on and hold you up.  If you only read one book this year, please read this one.  It will change you and it will scathe your heart and mind desperately urging you to become better, stronger, work harder, love deeper.  I recommend this book for mature teens (spoiler: the detail of death, rape and mutilation is explicit) and any adult.  This book should be read in every school and home as a history of beautiful and healing Rwanda.

(I received this book free from BookLook Bloggers as a request to review this book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.") 

NEXT UP!  Reviews coming your way this Spring.... 

 Double Cross by DiAnn Mills

Lethal Beauty by Lis Wiehl

Price of Privilege Book Review

Book Review of Price of Privilege

by Jessica Dotta


REVIEW BY: L. Bankhead

This is the third installment of the Price of Privilege Series by new author Jessica Dotta, who has a clear fancy of the Regency to Edwardian era of the United Kingdom's history.  If you are even mildly entertain by Downton Abbey, then you will revel in this series.  I came in on the third book, with no back story from book one and two at all.  I wondered if I would be lost in the story, but it seems each book stands on it's own.  Dotta writes with the true British style weaving the sacred mix of dry comedy and drama.  It seems Julia (our lead) is in a tangled web of manipulation from Chance Macy, and she will have to break free of the scandal, ploys, lies and deceit that snarl her life. Of course the era in which Julia is living makes her the height of impropriety. I admit that without reading the first two installments, I found the first half of the book to trawl about here and there. I had no back story information, and Julia is completely dramatic on all accounts in proper Brontë pattern.  Near the end of the book is when the cat comes out of the bag and you will need your embroidered hankie and a good cuppa.  Dotta is a fantastic author, and I will now go back and read the first two books which are awaiting me in my Kindle.  I will also add her to my "authors to watch" list for her next novel. 

(I received this book free from Tyndale Blog Network as a request to review this book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.") 

NEXT UP!  Reviews coming your way this Winter.... 

Frederick by Frederick Ndabaramiye

 Double Cross by DiAnn Mills

Home For Christmas Book Review

 

Book Review of Home For Christmas

by Various Authors


REVIEW BY: L. Bankhead

      Yes, I am aware that we are way past Christmas, but I didn't receive this book to review until well after the holidays.  At any rate, this review will be quite simple.  I did not enjoy this book.  I really thought I would, as I am a nostalgic sap.  Yet, this book bored me to pieces, and I found very little that I liked about the book at all. This book is a compilation of twenty kind of short stories about the meaning of Christmas from various authors including: Pearl Buck, Rebecca Caudill, Ruth Sawyer, Elizaebth Goudge, Selma Lagerlöf and Henry van Dyke.  You may find the stories charming and bring holiday warmth to your soul.  But, I just couldn't get on that train.  You will also find some old favorites like The Christmas Rose and The Other Wise Men.  But the one I liked the best was No Room In The Inn and I believe I would read it over and again.  If you are keen on the old European type Christmas stories and lore,  you may enjoy this book.

(I received this book free from Handlebar and Plough Publishing as a request to review this book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.") 

NEXT UP!  Reviews coming your way this Winter.... 

Price of Privilege by Jessica Dotta 

Frederick by Frederick Ndabaramiye