Category: Book Reviews

#BookReview: Do you have the key to unlock the secret that makes the Door Keeper a must read?

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

Fantasy is probably my least favorite genre. I can’t really tell you why but all I can say is blame Harry Potter and the hoopla with it.

Title: The Door Keeper

Author: Steen Jones

Rating: Five out of five cookies

That’s why I am as surprised as you are that I finished this book in one day. One day, people. This book follows Eden Saunders who lives an ordinary life as a widowed mother to ten year old Gabby, until she notices a door in the trees near her house. This leads to her finding out that she though she was adopted, there is a lot that her adopted parents knew about her birth mother. Once her first visit to Italy, where she was born, Eden finds out that she’s not at all who she thought she was but instead a greater destiny awaits her: her lineage as a door keeper.

I hope there is a sequel to this book in the works because the book itself ended in a bit of a cliff hanger. All in all, don’t open this book hoping to read it and forget it because Eden’s adventure will open the door to a fantastical world of romance, adventure, and butterfairies.16319042

There is a giveaway that the publisher is holding where winners can receive a signed copy of The Door Keeper.  It ends on release day or February 20, 2017. May the butterfairies be with you!

#BookReview: Romance in Paradise, yes please.

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

Romance is a tricky genre to write. You can’t let the two lovers get together too soon or it comes off cliche. All I knew about this book was that it was a historical romantic fiction set on fictitious island and the main character was a child of a missionary.

Title: Guardian of Paradise

Author: W.E. Lawrence

Rating: Four Out of Five Cookies

Turns out, I was not prepared for all this book has to offer, and I’m not just talking about your greatest fantasy island getaway (aqua clear water; lush green landscape; wild animals hidden in the depths).

As you read (if your female), you automatically identify with beautiful, strong-willed twenty six year old main character Kira Wall, who’s parents died during her youth when they first came to the island as missionaries from Australia. Her strong-will is immediately seen in the faith she was raised in, knowing that God has a great plan for all that have faith in him and his desire to be good to those that diligently seek him, and heaven is the ultimate reward and all it offers for such faith.

As you read (if your male), you automatically identify with handsome, lady’s man Doctor Trevor Marshall, a botanist who hopes to find a natural ingredient on the island that will help humans live longer and stronger while on Earth.

Neither male nor female reader will be able to stop reading the instant Kira and Trevor appear on the same page, and lock eyes for the first time.

The author has graciously offered me one Kindle copy of the book to offer one winner.

Interested in winning? You have until 2/22/17 at midnight to enter.

Tweet @TSCPhiles the book you are currently reading or about to start reading.

Extra entries will be given to those who share the review and tag @TSCPhiles and use the hashtag: #EspressoYourself

Open to all entrants who have a Kindle device or Kindle app.

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About The author: W. E. Lawrence graduated in 1978 from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill with a BS in business administration. Despite wishing he had taken more courses in journalism and communications, he has run a successful home health care supplies distributorship for the past twenty-three years.

Passionate about God, writing, reading, family, sports, politics, and America, Lawrence currently lives in Davidson, North Carolina, with his lovely wife and their two wonderful children.

#BookReview: Live Forever by reading a book (Live Long, Finish Strong by Gloria Copeland review)

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

Title: Live Long, Finish Strong

Author: Gloria Copeland

Rating: Five Out of Five Cookies

Buy the Kindle version for $9.99

This book came out forever ago but I was an immature Christian then. I didn’t want to face the truth. In Christ, I can live forever and never die.

Did you know God intends for the lifespan of all who believe in Jesus to live 120 years?

Did you know that God doesn’t appoint a day for anyone to die?

You can learn more about this based on biblical knowledge by reading Live Long, Finish Strong.

#BookReview: Prosperity is God’s Will For You; God’s Will is Prosperity by Gloria Copeland

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

It’s not a surprise that this book spoke to me. I’ve grown up looking to Gloria and her husband Kenneth Copeland as my spiritual parents. I’ve learned so much knowledge from them about God, how to use my faith, the power of using your mouth supernaturally to confess what you believe, etc.

This book surprised me because although some of the principles I’ve grown up on, it always seems like because they are simple that I seem to forget to apply them to my everyday life.

Some principles you will learn about in this book are:

1. God’s Will Is Prosperity
2. Priorities
3. Divine Prosperity
4. The Hundredfold Return
5. How To Receive From God
6. Our Angels At Work!
7. Yes, You Can Stand!
8. Defeat Satan’s Attacks

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Happy One Year, The Smart Cookie!

#BookReview: Anonymous Letter from a Stranger saved my life; Love Junkies by Christy Johnson

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

Dang. This book was sent to me by a friend who knows the author, and I cannot thank her enough for sending this to me. It read like a letter from an anonymous friend who had compassionate concern for me as a woman and wanted to offer biblical advice on how to be better in the area of love, and how a woman’s love life trickles into all other areas of her life.

Plus, I found a whole list of books I want to read that this book recommended. And that’s a win-win in the life of a Smart Cookie and Bibliophile.

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#BookReview: ‘Pour Me A Life’ left me Drunk In Love With It’s Prose

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

Since venturing into writing my own memoir, I’ve fallen deep for the genre itself. Now it’s one of my favorites. I don’t know what ever made me accept this book for reading but I am so glad that it ended up in my TBR pile.

 

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Click here to buy a copy of Pour Me, A Life

 

Pour Me A Life

A.A Gill

Rating: Five Out of Five Cookies

Hailing from England comes the author in his own words telling the tale of his life thus far.

At it’s worst, I didn’t agree with everything the author said throughout the book but he made me understand where he was coming from and how he felt through many a defining experiences, and I found myself making sure I was still breathing because his words stole the wind right out of my lungs in the best way.

His prolific vocabulary made me feel like I was back in college active reading a textbook that I actually wanted to read instead of active skimming.

One of my favorite lines that I personally related to as an artist I will share:

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I’ve read many memoirs but this one left me addictively waiting for more.

Wolves, Love, and Adventure: The Makings of a Great Novel #BookReview

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

Lately, I’ve noticed I really enjoy historical fiction. Even though, it’s no surprise that this novel grabbed me by the shirt collar from the first page. It reminded me of the amazing books I couldn’t get enough of as a child, Little House On The Prairie books.

Buy it now on Kindle for only 0.99.

 

Title: Maggie Elizabeth Harrington Vol. 1

Author: DJ Swykert

Rating: 4 cookies

This book had all I love in a novel. A strong female lead, a girl trying to make sense of her surroundings, and a love story. Maggie Elizabeth may be 13 but because she questions everything, she’s incredibly intuitive. Did I mention that she lives in 1893? Despite that huge gap in centuries, the issues discussed throughout this novel are still relevant in 2017.

Some issues discussed thematically are animal cruelty, religious sects, the Bible, life, death, and the in-between.

For The Struggling Writer, #BookReview

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

1,001 Tips for Writers: Words of Wisdom About Writing, Getting Published, and Living the Literary Life1,001 Tips for Writers: Words of Wisdom About Writing, Getting Published, and Living the Literary Life by William Gordon

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was absolutely amazing. It made me laugh, smile, and reminded me of how important it is that I make it a priority to write every day, while ridding my mind of all critical thing anyone has ever written or said about my writing. After all, writing only gets better with practice.

Interested in getting a copy of this book? Click below.

A Giant Page Turner: Proof by Ted D. Berner #BookReview and #Giveaway

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

I am a huge fan of science fiction. I have been since I was young. I couldn’t get enough of those “My Teacher Is An Alien” books. Now that I am older, I am intrigued by historical fiction just as much. The key to great fiction is to create tension within each temperature. This is done by allowing to know the reader certain things the characters don’t yet know.

Title: Proof 

Author: Ted D. Berner

Rating: 5 cookies

Proof is an excellent example of this concept. I was hooked from the beginning but found some familiarity in the content. I was intrigued by how a story could be weaved from a simple Bible verse in Genesis 6:4:

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Then, the story became even more intriguing because of the actual historical research Berner uses to weave a mystical tale of whether giants do exist.

Some questions that may come up may be:

  • Do giants exist?
  • How were the pyramids built?
  • Who was Edward Cayce?
  • How was the Coral Castle built?

From the first page until the very last, Proof will have you fervently reading and wondering whether these theories are true. Given the chance, you should venture toward the mystical adventure ahead.

U.S. Entrants only have a chance to be one of two winners of a signed copy of Proof! To enter, you have two options:

For Those who use Twitter: Follow these instructions!

For those who use Facebook: Follow these instructions!

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Giveaway ends Tuesday January 18 at midnight EST!

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#BookReview: Food Triggers by Rhonda Epstein, Phd.

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

Food Triggers: End Your Cravings, Eat Well and Live BetterFood Triggers: End Your Cravings, Eat Well and Live Better by Rhona Epstein

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Even though I bought this book for only 0.99 on Christianbook.com, it well exceeded the price paid. It covers the psychology of why you binge eat, and goes over the strongholds that cause you to trigger into a binge. It also utilizes God’s word to help people take control over any abuse they suffer from and helps you take the proper steps toward recovery.

View all my reviews

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