To kick off my return this week,

Watch 

Ski-wee's Top Reads 2014

TALK TO YOU SOON!

HELLO!!!

I'm Baaackkk!!!

Finally, I have been able to return completing book reviews. I never gave up hope :)

I will begin posting by next (week) all the books I was  not able to post from LAST year, plus one new book I am really excited about this year. 

Talk to you soon ;)

Well.........

All I can say is.............

Murphy's Law

I am posting this from my Kindle. 

I do not know when my posts 

will go up at this point, 

but I am very hopeful 

Hello!!!

I must apologize 

for all the empty posts on my blog. 

All my posts are scheduled ahead of time 

on dates that are pre-scheduled for certain tours. 

I have had a few problems 

and just now being able to pick up where I left off. 

Thanks 
to all the 

Publishers, Authors, Book Review Companies, 
and followers of Ski-Wee's Book Corner 

for your 
patience, support and understanding.

Get ready! 

I will be posting book reviews 

more than usual. 

I am waaaaay behind 

but hang in there and be ready 

for some very interesting reads. 

Happy Reading!

Edythe

Ski-Wee's Book Corner

7 FAMILY MINISTRY ESSENTIALS by Michelle Anthony & Megan Marshman, David C. Cook Publishing

7 Family Ministry Essentials is for Leaders of Family Ministry in church settings and contributes to the planning and in-depth look at what needs to be brought to the forefront in teaching lessons.  There are nine chapters starting with a quote from renown ministers, spiritual and motivational leaders such as Les Brown, Francis Chan, Edward Everett Hale, and John H. Westerhoff (who went from United in Christ minister to an Episcopalian Priest).

Each topic chapter includes at least six or more sub-headings (The Temptation: Moral Formation; Worship Beyond Sunday; Discerning His Voice; Prayer Fixes Our Focus) for discussion in Ministry Leaders meetings. The chapters conclude with a Ministry Assessment containing Listen, So What?, and Now What? Questions and thought prompters to aid in leading people to faith transformation. Jake’s Story on page 120 reveals how “Jake has abandoned church—worse, he has abandoned his faith in Christ” and why Jake’s perspective was askew.

7 Family Ministry Essentials may be used as a tool for Ministry Leaders looking to add to their skills in teaching fundamental faith strengthening to people of faith and bringing people of non-faith closer to God.

I received this book from David C. Cook Publishing through the Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for an honest opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.

About the Authors:  

DR. MICHELLE ANTHONY is the vice president and publisher of learning resources at David C Cook and a popular speaker in the area of family ministry. She is the author ofSpiritual Parenting, The Big God Story, and Becoming a Spiritually Healthy Family. Michelle has graduate degrees in Christian education, Bible and theology as well as over twenty-five years of family ministry experience. Michelle and her husband, Michael are the parents of two adult children and live in Colorado.

MEGAN MARSHMAN is the director of student resources and production for David C Cook and has led and challenged thousands of students in their faith at Hume Lake Christian Camps. With a master's degree in organizational leadership from Azusa Pacific University, Megan speaks nationally at churches, conferences, and university chapels. She and her husband, Randy, live in Long Beach, California.

http://litfusegroup.com/author/AnthonyMarshman

TWO ROADS HOME, A Chicory Inn Novel by Deborah Raney, Abingdon Press

My favorite characters from book one, Home to Chicory Lane, Audrey and Grant Whitman are back with the problems of the majority of family drama in any nation. This second installment of the series focuses on their daughter Corinne, and son-in-law Jesse trying to work on marriage woes stemming from Jesse’s work associate.

Deborah Raney writes a sound and interesting story about sexual harassment and the toll it takes on an entire family. There are predictable scenes, but this should not deter you from reading this novel with topics that are tackled in most family homes. You will enjoy reading how Corinne and Jesse deal with this issue and how important family support and compassion needs are met in certain circumstances. I recommend reading Home to Chicory Lane also, but is not absolutely necessary to read Two Roads Home, as it is a standalone novel.

I received this book from Abingdon Press through the Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for an honest opinion, in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.

About the author:

Deborah Raney's books have won numerous awards, including the RITA, National Readers Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, and the Carol Award, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. She and her husband, Ken, recently traded small-town life in Kansas-the setting of many of Deborah's novels-for life in the (relatively) big city of Wichita, where they enjoy gardening, antiquing, movies, and traveling to visit four children and a growing brood of grandchildren who all live much too far away.

Find Deborah online: website, Twitter, Facebook

http://litfusegroup.com/author/draney

DEVOTIONS from the GARDEN by Miriam Drennan, Thomas Nelson Publishers

For anyone who loves devotional books and gardening, whether it be vegetables, flowers or fruits, this book brings it all together. Every aspect of gardening is placed into this devotional from Neglected Beds to Blooms But No Fruit to Rock Gardening to Bringing First Fruits. Each mini-chapter offers a scripture reference, words of encouragement, and a prayer.

The pictures are crisp and beautifully photographed to correspond with the topic. This is a good go-to book for times of inspiration and devotion during your dedicated quiet time, that I will use frequently. Recommendation for this devotional is to those seeking inspirations, gardeners, as well as a great gifting opportunity to family and friends.

I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers through the BookLook reviewer program in exchange for an honest opinion, in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.

LOVE BY THE BOOK by Melissa Pimentel, Penguin Books

“I stubbed out my cigarette. I’d made a decision. As of tomorrow, no more dating guides. In fact, no more dating. Instead, I’d do all the things I’d been wanting to do—should have been doing—during the time I spent goin on terrible dates. I’d go for long runs, make myself decent dinners, read books I actually wanted to read, focus on building my career, spend evenings in the bath with a bottle wine and a pack of Marlboro Lights—anything I wanted to do, I’d do. Fuck this shit: I was going to date myself for a while.”

-Lauren Cunningham in Love By the Book

by Melissa Pimentel

Love By the Book is Melissa Pimentel’s character Lauren Cunningham’s personal month-by-month journal of tested experts’ advice on dating via guides and on-line dating attempting “meeting-the-love-of-my-life thing.” Well, I must say, this journal is full of surprises, plenty of dates, and hilarious moments many women can relate to their own adventures, including myself.

Lauren shares her most intimate thoughts about dating and the ‘tools’ she used to make it happen. This is a must read for all women and I am giving it a five star rating on the strength of Melissa’s ability to document these adventures with such truth and humor, as it should be. I am in that place as I complete this review:

“I am stubbing out my cigarette (Capri Menthol 120s, not Marlboro),

pouring a glass of Smoking Loon Chardonnay,

with the decision to date myself for a while.”

-Edythe Hamilton

I received this book from Penguin Books through the Net Galley reviewer program in exchange for an honest review, in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.

A HEART'S BETRAYAL, JOURNEY of the HEART Series, Book Four by Colleen Coble, Thomas Nelson

A Heart’s Betrayal opens with Emmie, the sister of Rand and friend of Sarah. Emmie learns of her husband Monroe’s bigamy that drives her out of the home she and Monroe built together. Feeling all alone and lost, Emmie hopes Rand and Sarah will be supportive in her time of need, as she travels to Wisconsin making Fort Laramie her new home. Emmie meets and let Isaac Liddle court her upon arrival, but fears the worst if he learns of the secret that led her to Fort Laramie that can destroy their happiness.

The saga continues in grand fashion bringing Rand’s sister, and Sarah’s friend from back home into the picture. Emmie’s situation adds extra intrigue to the already beguiling historical romance novel. Journey of the Heart is a good mini-novella series, and I recommend to book lovers of historical romance who love to read on a cozy afternoon or evening with a cup of latte or tea, while very much looking forward to the next installment in this series.

I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers through the Litfuse Publicity Group reviewer program, in exchange for an honest opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.

BRIDGES BURNED by Annette Dashofy, Henery Press

Zoe Chambers, Paramedic and Deputy Coroner, is in her element as she attends to Holt, a man who attempted to rescue his wife from a house on fire which they were previously evicted. Holt becomes a suspect as more homes burns and murder victims become more frequent in their small town.

After discovering a second murder victim and the prime suspect shot, there are more persons of interest added to the list of suspects. No one is safe in the little farm community while the killer is on the loose.

Bridges Burned is the third installment in The Zoe Chambers Mystery series, with Circle of Influence and Lost Legacy being Mystery #1 and #2, respectively. Annette Dashofy is an excellent mystery writer who has a person guessing, never giving a reader the easy task of identifying the true culprit. If you are a crime mystery fan, read the previous novel Lost Legacy, Mystery #2, you will not be disappointed. I recommend to crime, mystery, and suspense book lovers for a day or evening of good relaxed reading.

I received this book from Henery Press through the Net Galley reviewer program, in exchange for an honest opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.