The Hiding Place - Corrie ten Boom

We are reading this book for our Ladies Bible Study at church, and I think everyone is really enjoying it. It is a wonderful book about an AMAZING family with AMAZING faith! If you haven't read it, you have to N-O-W! Words can't even describe how GREAT this book is! Loved it!

Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia by Joseph Pistone

For the 5 people out there that read my blog, I know you have been waiting with baited breath to see what book I will review next. Well, today is your lucky day!

Last week I finished Donnie Brasco. (Yes, they made it into a movie in the 90's.) It is about an FBI Agent who infiltrates the mafia for 6 years (yes, you read that right), and it was intriguing. First of all, kudos to Agent Pistone who was willing to risk his life for this assignment. He barely saw his family during this time, and was at the beck and call of his partner, Lefty. And AMAZINGLY, he didn't commit any crimes during those 6 years! To read about how he walked and talked the part of a wiseguy is really fascinating.

Okay, here's the bad part. It is FULL of bad language. I knew this before I purchased the book (because I scanned it), but I really wanted to read this story so I bought it anyway. So even though I tried to skim past the yucky words, it got old. Fast. I'm talking off the charts bad...

I would definitely recommend this book. But just know what you're signing up for.

The Winner - David Baldacci

I liked this book. A lot. I haven't read a book by David Baldacci in years, and this one didn't disappoint. It is very suspensful, and I flew through it. I admit there are parts of the storyline that are a little farfetched, but I still enjoyed it.

Second Row, Piano Side - Chonda Pierce

This book is a short biography of Chonda's life. Man, has she been through some suffering in her life! Here's the Cliff Notes version: Her father (a pastor), walked out on their family; her oldest sister died in a car wreck; and her younger sister died of leukemia. Only God could help someone not to walk through these circumstances and be bitter...

Lady Killer - Lisa Scottoline

Oh my goodness, I LOVED this book! I know you're surprised since I have loved MOST of Lisa's books, but this one was GREAT! Okay, so the language was a little heavy, but the characters in this book are Italian, so what do you expect? You have to learn to skip it, like me! Funny, smart, suspenseful, 5 STARS!!!!

The Vendetta Defense - Lisa Scottoline

Welcome to the first book review of 2009. And the winner is... The Vendetta Defense by Lisa Scottoline. For those of you who pay attention to what books I am reading, yes, I have read this before. It was my first book review of 2008! I was in the mood for a Lisa Scottoline fix, and just as expected, she didn't disappoint. I just started Lisa's new book that came out in paperback over the weekend, Lady Killer. I LOVE GREAT BOOKS!!!

Jim Elliot - Heroes of the Faith

This book was okay. After reading End of the Spear, I don't think that some of the information in this book is accurate. But I'm sure that it wasn't intentional by the author!

Healing the Heart - Focus on the Family

I thoroughly enjoyed this Bible Study. It was the first study by Focus on the Family that I have ever done, and I was surprised by how much of it I needed to apply in my own life. A++++

End of the Spear - Steve Saint

LOVED IT! LOVED IT! LOVED IT! This book was written by Steve Saint whose father, Nate Saint, was one of the five missionaries killed by the Auca (Waodani) Indians in January 1956 (Jim Elliot was another one of the men who died). Steve writes about growing up with members of this tribe in the Ecuadorian jungle who killed his father. Eventually, Steve moved his wife and children back to the jungle in 1995 to live among the Waodani. The AMAZING love that Steve and his family have for the Waodani people is truly something that only God Himself could orchestrate. I LOVED how one of the men who was involved in the spearing of Steve's father became "Grandfather" to this family. This is one of my favorite books of all times! You've got to read it!

Web of Lies - Brandilyn Collins

Ditto this fourth book. Very interesting plot, but the characters make you want to pull your hair out!

Dead of Night - Brandilyn Collins

This is book three, and my comments are the same. Interesting storyline, annoying characters. Too bad!

Stain of Guilt - Brandilyn Collins

This is the second book in the Hidden Faces Series by Brandilyn Collins. It was better than the first one, but I still didn't love it, and I think I figured out what it is that rubs me the wrong way about this series - I think the plot is interesting but the characters are ANNOYING!!! Seriously, I don't like the personalities of the main people in these books. THAT made it hard to read!

Brink of Death - Brandilyn Collins

This book was alright. It is the first book by Brandilyn Collins that I have ever read, and to be honest, I wasn't that impressed. I would give it a 5 out of 10 stars.

An American Original - Walt Disney

What an interesting book! I really don't know how to describe it except to say WOW! This man WAS an american original and there were so many times when I would just read this book in awe of his creativity and imagination. It is full of facts and historical information about his life, so I'm not sure that everyone would enjoy it, but I sure did! Only God can give a person THIS much talent and giftedness!

Dirty Blonde - Lisa Scottoline

Hated it. Stupid. And I'm taking it back to B&N!

In my defense, I purchased this book without realizing what it was about. The only hint of a clue on the back of the book reads, "She's just become a judge but leads a dark double life that she hides from everyone?" Call me ignorant, but it NEVER crossed my mind that the character's double life was as a call girl!

See, I told you it was stupid. Too bad. I still love her other books though.

Devil's Corner - Lisa Scottoline

This is the first one of Lisa's books that I really didn't care for. I liked one of the characters, therefore, I kept on reading it. Otherwise, I didn't enjoy it at all. I'm not sure why exactly. Maybe the subject matter (drugs) turned me off. Anyway, you can skip this one.

Running from the Law - Lisa Scottoline

I enjoyed this book even though the language was HORRIBLE! (I try to just skim past it the best I can.) From what I have read, I believe that Lisa used really heavy language in her first few books (this was her third), and it tapered off after that. But the story line was interesting, as well as the characters. By this book, her writing was moving from good to great!

Final Appeal - Lisa Scottoline

I thought this book was okay. I believe this was only the second book Lisa wrote, so I didn't enjoy it as much as others I have read from her. Boy, was the language heavy in this one! I would give it a 3 stars.

Daddy's Girl - Lisa Scottoline

I enjoyed this book. It was weird reading one of Lisa's books that didn't center around one of the "Rosato & Associates" characters, but I did like it. I thought the plot was interesting.

For Women Only - Shaunti Feldhan

This book was alright. We read it this summer for our Ladies Bible Study and it made some good points. It wasn't as biblically based as I thought it would be, but there was practical information in it about the inner thoughts of men. Several people I know said they enjoyed it too.