Blog Archives
Award Winner WHY GOD MATTERS
Why God Matters
In June 2010, I had the pleasure of reviewing a book written by a father-daughter team of authors. The book, Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life, was probably not something that I would have picked off a shelf to read. However, it is one that I am glad I read. Though this book was written by two Catholics, it is a good book for any Christian to read. It is a great guide of how to see God in the small moments of life. You can read my review of the book here.
Recently, I received the following note from one of the authors, Karina Fabian. I’m so excited to hear about the award this amazing little book received. Hope you are too!
Dear Friends,
We just found out that Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life won the Christian Small Publisher Association Book of the Year under the Christian Living category. We’re very excited that our little devotional is touching lives so well that people cared enough to take time to vote for us. However, since this is a popular award, it depends as much on publicity as quality of the book—and that came from your efforts!
My dad, Deacon Steve, and I wanted to thank you for hosting us on tours, 
reviewing the book, and letting folks know about Why God Matters. We would not have won this award without your help.
I’ve attached the press release along with the award icon and book cover in case you want to share the news. Regardless, you have already done so much for us, and we are very grateful. May God bless you and yours in the big things and in the everyday.
Blessings,
Karina Fabian
www.whygodmatters.com
Karina and Deacon Steve, I am so happy for your success. I pray that God continues to bless you as you follow the path he has laid out for your lives.
F.M. Meredith’s ANGEL LOST
Mar 15
Synopsis of ANGEL LOST
ANGEL LOST by F. M. Meredith
As plans for her perfect wedding fill her mind, Officer Stacey Wilbur is sent out to trap a flasher, the new hire realizes Rocky Bluff P.D. is not the answer to his problems, Abel Navarro’s can’t concentrate on the job because of worry about his mother, Officer Gordon Butler has his usual upsets, the sudden appearance of an angel in the window of a furniture store captures everyone’s imagination and causes problems for RBPD, and then the worst possible happens—will Stacey and Doug’s wedding take place?
Biography of F.M. Meredith
F.M. Meredith, also known as Marilyn Meredith, is the author of nearly thirty published novels. Her latest in the
Author F.M. Meredith
Rocky Bluff P.D. crime series, from Oak Tree Press, is Angel Lost. Marilyn is a member of EPIC, Four chapters of Sisters in Crime, including the Internet chapter, Mystery Writers of America, and on the board of the Public Safety Writers of America. Visit her at http://fictionforyou.com and her blog at http://marilymeredith.blogspot.com
Angel Lost Missed the Mark
Mar 15
Image via Wikipedia
Angel Lost is the story of the police department of Rocky Bluff, California. The story focuses on Detective Doug Milligan and his fiancée Officer Stacey Wilbur and takes place in the weeks leading up to their wedding. They are by far the only members of the police department who have interesting happenings in their lives. The troubles range from facing a long-term illness of a mother to dealing with the aftermath of shooting a young suspect to tracking an exhibitionist appearing on the beach.
The author of this book, F. M. Meredith, shows thorough knowledge of what can happen between members of a police department. Her characters are very well connected to one another.
The problem with the book , at least for me, is that there are just too many characters involved in this book. It was not easy to keep them all straight. Some of the subplots didn’t seem to flow well, didn’t seem to fit in with the rest of the story. Perhaps if these subplots had been more well-developed, the story would have been easier to follow.
There are other places in the book—two in particular—where the storyline seemed to be dropped too soon. They left far too many questions in the mind of the reader. One involves the exhibitionist on the beach—when he is finally found, comments about his past are made and then he is forgotten. In another section, a crime that is very important to the rest of the story just falls flat. The possibility that this criminal could have been connected to other similar crime is mentioned, but never really explored. The identity of the criminal isn’t even revealed.
Perhaps it is just me, but I think the title of a book should have something to do with the story. I still am not sure what Angel Lost has to do with the story. I suppose it could have to do with a kidnapping that occurs in the book or to an angel that appears in the lit window of a furniture store. It’s just something that didn’t make much sense to me.
Though this was not one of my favorite books to read, it did have potential. If the subplots had been developed more, it would have been easier to keep track of the characters and to care about what was happening with them.
Second Chances
Jan 25
Everyone needs a second chance at some point in his or her life. Sometimes it happens as an adult, as a result of a bad decision. All too often, though, it happens as a young child through no fault of the child. And it happens to dogs, too.
Second chances are needed by everyone.
Purchase SECOND CHANCE here
Sandra J. Gerencher explores this idea in her book Second chances: How Adoption Saved A Boy with Autism and His Shelter Dog. As the title implies, this book is the story of what adoption means to one small family. This family is Mom, Ryan, and three dogs—PJ, Shelby, and Little Rascal. In the opening pages, the family adds Chance, a shelter dog, to their “pack.” As he sees the unconditional love Ryan has for him, Chance learns what adoption is.
This book is interesting in that it is told from the perspective of Chance the Dog. Ryan’s autism comes into play through his conversations with Chance—it is hinted at that Ryan rarely communicates vocally with people, yet he is able to communicate with Chance. Ryan teaches Chance that it doesn’t matter that he was unloved before, he is special to someone.
While I liked the message of this book—that everyone, no matter what the circumstance of their early life, is special—I found that I was really confused by the book. I looked at this as a book for elementary age children, but it seemed to be written for an older audience. I tried reading it to my 3-year-old and 7-year-old sons and they were both very bored with it. My 9-year-old, who doesn’t like me to read to him anymore, read the book himself. He said he liked the pictures in it, but had a hard time following the story. The book is nicely written; I am just not sure that it hits the intended target audience.
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Awards:
PBS Kids Recommended title
http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/family/adoption/print_books.html
Book web site:
http://www.chancetheshelterdog.com
Sandra J. Gerencher Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1579236662
Tribute Books website:
http://www.tribute-books.com
Tribute Books Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/ Archbald-PA/Tribute-Books/ 171628704176
Tribute Books Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/ TributeBooks
Sandra J. Gerencher is a special education teacher in the Bangor Area public school system. Prior to becoming a teacher, she worked at Lehigh University in a school-based program, as a Program Specialist for adults with disabilities. Over the past 20 years she has worked with children and adults with special needs in such areas as counseling, Behavior Specialist Consultation, behavioral research, crisis intervention and abuse therapy. Sandra graduated from Lehigh University with a M.Ed. in Special Education (2004) and from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia with an M.S. in Counseling Psychology (1999).
Sandra J. Gerencher and her son Terry
Sandra J. Gerencher Bio:
Christmas Twist
The night in history that fascinates me more than any other is the night when Jesus was born. While the Bible tells us certain things–that the birth happened in Bethlehem, in a stable, that three kings from the east followed a star to that stable and that the birth was announced to shepherds by a group of angels–but there is so much we don’t know. There are so many places where we can use our imaginations to fill in the blanks. Cheryl G. Malandrinos gives her take on what might have happened that night in her book Little Shepherd.
This book follows Obed, a young shepherd barely five years old, from the hills where the angels appeared to the Bethlehem stable and back to his sheep. Obed doesn’t quite understand everything that happens that night. He is especially confused about why the shepherds are more concerned with seeing the baby the angels spoke of than protecting their sheep.
I really enjoyed this book. Malandrinos did a wonderful job of capturing both the confusion and the wonder that Obed experienced that night. I could easily picture the wonder in his eyes by thinking of one of my sons in his position.
As I write this review, my sons are fighting over the book. The toddler loves the colorful illustrations. The nine-year-old and seven-year-old are arguing about who gets to read it first. Any book that captures the interest of all three of my sons has definitely earned its place on my bookshelf.
Cheryl Malandrinos is a freelance writer and editor. A regular contributor for Writer2Writer, her articles focus on increasing productivity through time management and organization. A founding member of Musing Our Children, Ms. Malandrinos is also Editor in Chief of the group’s quarterly newsletter, Pages & Pens.
Cheryl is a Tour Coordinator for Pump Up Your Book, a book reviewer, and blogger. Little Shepherd is her first children’s book. Ms. Malandrinos lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband and two young daughters. She also has a son who is married.
You can visit Cheryl online at http://ccmalandrinos.com or the Little Shepherd blog at http://littleshepherdchildrensbook.blogspot.com/.
