When I read that American Kyle Snyder won the silver medal in Freestyle Wrestling (215-pound category) at the Tokyo Olympics, it reminded me of interviewing gold medalist Brandon Slay for my book, How Do You Know He’s Real: God Unplugged. Wow, has time flown. I thought you might find his story inspiring. I surely did. Brandon Slay surprised the world when he won the Olympic Gold Medal in Freestyle Wrestling at the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia. A native of Amarillo, Texas, Slay has wrestled most of his life, including a successful career at the University of Pennsylvania where he earned dual degrees in Finance and Management from the prestigious […]
Read more...
Amy’s July Reads
We’re practically in the middle of August and I am just now posting by book reviews for July. Yikes! I spent a lot of time hanging with my grandies, and that is far more important than writing a blog, right? I know some of you wonder why I post reviews of books I didn’t care for instead of just those I loved. It’s simple. Who wants to invest precious time in books that aren’t awesome? Of course, you might totally disagree with my ratings, but hey, that’s what makes this fun! Please let me know on social media what you’ve been reading! Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell You enjoy historical fiction. You’re […]
Read more...
Searching for Nazi Gold
Have you heard of the Nazi gold train (Wałbrzych)? I apparently live under a rock, because I hadn’t until I received a publisher galley of Janet Evanovich’s latest book, The Bounty. Unfortunately, this is just an urban legend about a train laden with gold and treasure that was hidden by the Nazis in southwest Poland during the last days of World War II, but the book was still a fun read. Special agent Kate O’Hare and international con man Nick Fox team up for the seventh time to face their most dangerous foe yet—a vast, shadowy international organization known only as the Brotherhood. Directly descended from the Vatican Bank priests […]
Read more...
Amy’s June Reads
Need an excellent book for the long holiday weekend? Look below and you’ll find inspiration, thrills, chills, romances, and history. Something for everyone! These are in order by my favorites, top to bottom. Enjoy! The Women of Chateau Lafayette by Stephanie Dray “Glory is a bittersweet wreath of both flowers and thorns.” ~ Stephanie Dray, The Women of Chateau Lafayette A mysterious castle, a hero of the American Revolution, spies, what’s not to love? Stephanie Dray writes long, ambitious books. After reading and enjoying her historical novel America’s First Daughter (written with Laura Kamoie) about Thomas Jefferson’s eldest daughter, I was excited to receive an advance reader copy of her […]
Read more...
The Best Mystery Novels of all Time
The Best Mystery Novels of All Time Gumshoes, investigators, flatfoots, private eyes, sleuths, G-men. There are plenty of names for detectives and plenty of ways they catch crooks in the written word and on the screen. I much prefer a mystery novel because I can envision the characters and settings rather than having them imagined for me. If you love to read this genre, too, you’re in good company. Most critics and scholars agree that the first modern mystery was penned by Edgar Allan Poe. His short story, The Murders in the Rue Morgue, was first published in the April 1841 issue of Graham’s Magazine. Nearly twenty years after Poe’s […]
Read more...
May Reads
June is upon us, so it is time to post my reviews of the books I read in May, a smattering from the historical fiction, thriller, memoir, mystery, biography, and literary fiction genres. I use Goodreads to track and rate my reading. 5 stars is reserved for rare blew-my-socks-off reads, 4 stars means I enjoyed it and would absolutely recommend. 3 stars is good, but not great. I very rarely rate lower because I do not finish books I’m not enjoying. The Broken Way: A Daring Path into the Abundant Life by Ann Voskamp This book is for those in need of a renewed revelation of the grace of God. […]
Read more...The True Meaning of Memorial Day
If you ask most Americans, few have any idea why we celebrate Memorial Day. A recent Gallup Poll revealed that only 28 percent of Americans know the true meaning behind this national holiday. To far too many, the last Monday in May is little more than a much-deserved day off, an opportunity to buy a car at a rock-bottom price, grill a burger in the backyard, or catch a few rays at the beach. Memorial Day is a big opportunity for racing enthusiasts, too; the Indianapolis 500 has been held on the holiday since 1911. Clearly, our modern-day Memorial Day celebration is miles away from the original intent of […]
Read more...
The Best Historical Fiction of All Time
I have 613 books on my Goodreads “Read” list, and at least a third of them fall into the historical fiction classification. So I guess you say this is my jam. Historical fiction is a literary genre in which the story takes place in the past. Historical novels capture the details of the time period as accurately as possible for authenticity, including social norms, manners, customs, and traditions. Many novels in this genre tell fictional stories that involve actual historical figures or historical events. To help you land on some reads you may not have considered, I’ve put together a list of the best historical novels of all time. Such […]
Read more...
Visitors from Heaven
In many cultures, cardinals have long symbolized loved ones who have passed away. I saw a Cardinal in my tree, The bright red color so beautiful to see. Thoughts of loved ones brought a smile to my face, As I watched it flitter about with grace. Visitors from Heaven they are said to be, I feel blessed that you came to visit me. (author unknown) Cardinals have always reminded me of my mom. She so loved to decorate with them at Christmas that she gave me a gorgeous ornament featuring the songbird to hang on my tree once I was old enough to have one of my own. I get […]
Read more...
The Best Thrillers of All Time
If you’re anything like me, you appreciate a lot of different types of books. To help you land on some reads you may not have considered, I’ve put together a list of the best books of all time from various genres. I did exhaustive research to come up with the best of the best. What you’ll see comes from several sources and my own opinions. Just so you know, an author makes only one appearance on the list no matter how many outstanding books he or she has written, and some obvious choices aren’t here because they are on another genre’s list. The following list is in alphabetical order (the […]
Read more...