Category Archives: Uncategorized

A Prayer of Repentance and Cry for Mercy and Grace

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Came across something I posted in 2020 to Facebook. Reading back through it, it seems more relevant today, especially seeing the slippery slope of sin and depravity we continue to go down.

March 15, 2020

Father God, we come before You Lord God Almighty a broken and sick people.  What is going on with a physical sickness in our Nation and across the world is an outward symbol of our moral bankruptcy.  God, we are a people who need to repent!  We are blind to our own sin and we need the light of Your Word to shine on the darkness in our own souls, minds and hearts and illumine our moral depravity and bring us to true repentance. 

We are a people and Nation who has cut its ropes from its spiritual mooring and is adrift like a ship in a storm.  We have children who literally don’t know right from wrong because they have not been taught.  They do not know that there is the source of moral authority we can turn to, learn from and be wise.   We are a people who think our heart is the moral arborator of all things when in fact we are wicked and depraved sinful people.  We have people who think that they are women when in fact they are biologically created men and go to extremes to try and change.  In our ignorance affirm the biological confusion in children. 

We are people who don’t recognize sin.  We watch movies and TV shows and read books saturated with sin (having other gods, idol worship, taking God’s name in vain, ignoring the sabbath, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, lust, profanity, pornography, disrespecting parents, stealing, bearing false witness, lying, coveting and envy) and call it entertainment.  We call adultery an affair, we call sex outside marriage a decision between two consenting adults.  Instead of recognizing murder as a grievous sin, we see it as entertainment.  We foster hatred in our hearts, bear grudges, we nurse grievances and our mouths pours forth profanity and gross immoral sinful language that we cover under the freedom of speech.  We forget that there is a God to whom we will give an account. 

We have people in our nation who champion the right to murder children in the womb and now, God forbid, even murder them after they have been born.  We have a city that lights up their tallest building to celebrate a law that permits people to murder babies up to the very moment of birth.  It’s considered lawful and a right to kill a human being created in God’s image.  What’s wrong with us?  We have nations in our world that want to stop treating the elderly and hasten their deaths. 

We are a people who worship creation over the Creator.  People who want to protect animal rights over and above the right of a human created in God’s image to have life.  We turn to money and possessions thinking that will satisfy us.  We’ve made an idol of our body, focusing to the extreme on what we eat, exercise, what we wear and feel free to reveal parts of our body that should be reserved for a husband and wife.  We view pornography in the privacy of our own home and expose our children to it and wonder why they are engaging in sex at younger and younger ages.  We choose sex over true intimacy and relationship.  We worship and think of self over and above all else. 

Lord, even as Christians who know You, who read Your Word, we need to examine our own hearts and recognize our sin and repent.  We are tempted to a check box mentality Christianity.  If I go to church, if I read the Bible, if I go to Bible study, if I say a quick prayer then all well.  But how often, we fail to let the truth from Your Word penetrate our hearts, expose our sin and bring us to repentance?  How much are we caught up in the world and fail to see it?  How often do we spend timing doing something we want to over and above reading and studying the Bible?  How often do we override that conviction of the Holy Spirit and do that which is wrong before You?  Do we fail to share the Gospel of Christ with those who are perishing because we are uncomfortable in doing so?  Do we fail to share the Gospel or confront a fellow Christian caught up in because we know of sin in our own lives and don’t want someone to call us a hypocrite?  Do we cower under the banner of unity when we see a believer in error that should be corrected?  Are we so prideful?  Do we think that our righteousness is something we’ve achieved instead Christ’s righteousness being credited to our account?  Do we think we are achieving holiness because we are a super Christian rather than knowing that the Holy Spirit is at work in us and using God’s Word to expose sin and grow us in godliness?  Do we live in such a way that others would praise us instead of You?  Or do we live to honor and glorify God?  Do we have the biblical knowledge and wisdom to discern erroneous teaching?  Do we substitute and accommodate worldly human wisdom in place of the Gospel of Christ?  Where You have revealed unity in Christ do we seek to divide?  Do we fail to confront those who are caught up and believe a false god and false religion?  Do we fail to confront sin and tell ourselves we are loving them even though they are bound for hell?  Do we have the truth of God, know what sin is, the need for repentance that the Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life?  Do we know that there is no other name under heaven or earth by which man can be saved, but we choose to remain silent?  Do we know we should reach out and help others but choose not to because it’s inconvenient?  Shouldn’t we remember that it wasn’t convenient for Christ to go to the cross?  The pain He endured we deserved.  The death He died, He died on our behalf so that we could repent, believe in Him and be saved. 

Father God…we are a sinful, unrighteous, unholy, morally depraved people.  We are deserving of Your righteous, just judgment.  You are Holy, Holy, Holy…You are the One True and Living God.  You are Just in Your Judgment.  You alone are Wise.  You are All-Knowing…there is nothing hidden from Your sight.  All things are exposed, open and laid bare before You…including our hearts, our true motives, our hidden thoughts.  You are our Creator…You have given us life.  We are called to Worship our Creator…You alone are worthy of our worship and praise.  You alone are to be honored and praised and glorified.  You are the God who Delivers us, most importantly from our bondage to sin.  You are the Law Giver…Jesus Christ was the One and Only who could fully obey Your Law.  The Sinless Lamb of God given to take away our sin.  You have revealed Yourself in the Bible.  May we humbly ask Your Holy Spirit to open our blind eyes to see.  To unstop our ears that are deaf to You.  To take our sinful hearts and darkened minds to see You as You have revealed Yourself in Scripture.  Help those who are dead in their sin, be alive to You in Christ.  You are the God who saves the least likely.  You are able to save the one that we think is too far gone to be saved.  Because salvation is a work of God, not of man lest we should boast. 

Father God…while You are the Righteous Just Judge and Holy in Your Wrath, we humbly ask You for Mercy and Grace.  For Mercy where we deserve judgment.  Grace to endure.  We ask that You would protect people from getting this virus.  That You would help those affected to recover and protect their family and those around them.  We ask that the Great Physician would give wisdom to our doctors and scientists and help them to know how to treat us and how to prevent us from getting sick.  We thank You for the gift of medicine, doctors and nurses…but we know that ultimately, all healing and heath is from You.  We ask that You will give our President, Vice-President and our Nation’s leaders wisdom in helping our people.  We pray that You will restrain our tendency to panic and hoard supplies and food and instead make us a generous, kind and caring people.  Help us to be a compassionate and caring people.  Help us to daily remember our dependence upon You…our deep and desperate need for You.  Not just in the midst of an epidemic, but most importantly for our forgiveness, salvation through Christ Jesus the Lord and to grow in holiness and wisdom.  Most importantly Lord…we thank You Lord…that as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ that we have peace.  We do not need to fear.  You know our end from the beginning.  Our death is a divine appointment.  With Paul, we can say to live is Christ and to die is gain.  It’s only because of Jesus Christ and the forgiveness that is found in Him that we have peace.  We come to You Lord God our Father in the Name above all names…our Great Shepherd…the Lamb of God…our Merciful High Priest…the Sinless Son of God…the King of kings, Lord of lords…the Son of God who took on flesh and was born of a woman.  The Lamb of God who is Worthy.  The Just who justifies sinful man.  The One who will Judge the world in Truth and Righteousness.  The One who has Authority over creation and nature and can calm the storm.  The One who can Heal with a word.  The One who can raise the dead, yet cry at His friend’s grave.  We come to You in the Mighty, Glorious, Marvelous, Matchless Son of God…Jesus Christ the Lord…amen! 

Seeds of Murder by Rosie Sandler – Interesting Mix of Gardening and Mystery

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After reading the description of Seeds of Murder by Rosie Sandler, I wanted to give this British novel a try. I was hoping it would be reminiscent of Rosemary & Thyme, a nice mix of gardening and mystery.  

Steph Williams needs a job and hopes to be hired as the gardener at Beaulieu Heights, a small wealthy estate in England. Wherever Steph goes, her faithful companion Mouse goes too. To say that the residents are quirky is an understatement. Some are more welcoming than others. It seems that all the homeowners have their secrets. But would any of them be willing to break the law to protect their secrets? To steal, blackmail, or even commit murder? Just as Steph is getting a handle on the various gardens, she receives a threatening note. To make things worse, the residents have accused Steph of blackmail. How in the world will she clear her name, much less keep her job?

It took me a little while to get used to the first-person writing style and the British terms. But once I did, I enjoyed reading this book. I liked Steph and her dog Mouse. Loved reading the descriptions of the gardens, about plants and the work to be done. I could almost visualize the settings. The people in Beaulieu Heights, both residents and workers, were an interesting group. A few were friendly and some you would want to avoid. Steph was a very likable character, as was her dog. 

The residents of Beaulieu Heights were an interest mix. Though very wealthy and seemingly in need of nothing, their lives were a bit of trainwreck. I liked some of the friendships that Steph developed with both the residents and staff members. I enjoyed Steph’s relationship with her brother and parents. There were lots of weeds to dig through to get to the bottom of the mystery. I did not guess who the bad guy was.  

There were a few moments that I found touching. Like the kindness and encouragement of a few people when Steph stood wrongly accused. Or the support and love from her brother and dad. The progress in her relationship with her mom. 

Not going to give away the ending. But I would have liked to have seen justice. One mystery not wrapped up is what happened to Steph’s ex-husband who seemed to disappear.  

There is some profanity in the book, as well as revealing sexual immorality that some of the characters had been involved with. Thankfully, it did not go into graphic detail.  

I enjoyed reading this mystery Seeds of Murder by Rosie Sandler. It was a change of pace from my regular reading. If you enjoy mysteries and gardening, you might enjoy this novel.

I would like to thank Embla Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Seeds of Murder by Rosie Sandler. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.  

Countdown by Lynette Eason – Mixed Reaction

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I have enjoyed several novels by Lynette Eason and was excited to read her newest release Countdown, the fourth book in the Extreme Measures series. 

Raina Price works as a flight paramedic along with her friends Penny and Holly.  Raina had to reinvent her life due to an abusive relationship from which she had escaped.  To protect herself and her loved ones there is no going back.  While watching sports news Raina sees a young snowboarder who is the spitting imagine of the man from whom she escaped.  If she has seen Michael Harrison, surely the boy’s father will see him and figure out who he is.  How can she protect the boy?  Raina’s been feeling spooked lately, like someone has watching her.  US Marshal Vincent Covelli is concerned and wants to help Raina.  Will she accept his help or try to go it alone?  How can Vincent and law enforcement help protect Raina from a man whose true-identity and whereabouts are unknown?

This book had a lot of twists and turns.  The action and intrigue did not stop until the end. 

What I liked about the book: I appreciated the friendships that Raina had with Penny and Holly and their friends.  They were a closeknit group and there for each other, through thick and thin.  I liked Vincent, he was a very caring and patient man, ready to put himself in danger to protect Raina. 

What I struggled with: Countdown really stretched the imagination on believability.  I understand that there are evil people out there who are intent on causing harm and destruction.  But to have someone keep track of a person for many years, as well as those with associated with her, was not believable.  To be able track when she called a person after many years, who has the resources to that? 

It did not make sense that Raina who has been in constant fear for her life, especially following an incident, would come home and not lock the garage door.  Come on!  The logic on why the bad guy was doing what he did, it was a stretch too.

I would like to have seen the characters’ faith a bigger part of the story.  Instead, it seemed cursory. 

There were things I liked about Countdown and some things I was not too keen on.  I like Lynette Eason‘s writing, but Countdown was not my favorite.  If you are a fan of Lynette Eason and have read the earlier books in this series, you may enjoy it. 

I would like to thank Revell Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Countdown by Lynette Eason.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

Wildflower Falls by Denise Hunter – Beautiful Setting and Likeable Characters

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Wildflower Falls is Denise Hunter’s newest book, the fourth book in the Riverbend Romance series.  I was excited to read it because I have enjoyed a couple of other books by Denise.

Following the death of their mother, Charlotte Simpson and her step-sister Emerson are owners of a horse ranch.  Charlotte is committed to making a go of the business.  Emerson, on the other hand, is not so keen on the idea.  But Charlotte is moving ahead and expanding the business.  She is having a new barn constructed to handle additional business.  She even hired a respected horse trainer Gunner Dawson to help with the horses, knowing he was only staying for a short while. 

In her mother’s paperwork, Charlotte found information about her biological father and learned that he may be related to an established family in the community.  How will she verify that information, and when should she make the facts known?  Emerson has been emotionally distant and Charlotte finds herself confiding in Gunner.  He is not only good with horses, but he has become a friend and is a good listener.

The storyline is what made me want to read this book.  I enjoyed reading about the scenery and horses in a beautiful small-town in North Carolina.  I found the story about finding her biological family interesting.  My favorite character was Gunner, who seemed to be a kind, caring, and trustworthy man.  I liked how their relationship grew.  I also liked Charlotte’s biological siblings and their families. 

I struggled with Charlotte a bit.  Her character was very self-focused.  The story seemed to drag for a while.  In the last part of the book, a slew of details was made known.  Those details would have made the story better if introduced earlier in the book.  I would like to have known the back story of Gunner earlier.  Without those background details, his actions did not seem logical or reasonable.  In fact, I was irritated that those details were added so late in the story.

The book was relatively clean.  I would like to have had the characters’ faith more fully developed.

While this was not my favorite Denise Hunter book, there were elements I enjoyed in the story.  If you like a beautiful rural setting, horses, nature, family, friendship, and a little romance, you may want to read Wildflower Falls by Denise Hunter.  This book will be released September 12, 2023.

I would like to thank Thomas Nelson publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Wildflower Falls by Denise Hunter.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review. 

The Cottage Garden by Claus Dalby -Chock Full of Inspiration and Ideas

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If you are a gardener who is looking for inspiration and ideas to add to your own garden, you will want to read Claus Dalby’s newest book The Cottage Garden. 

Claus covers the history of Danish gardens and the English cottage gardens.  He introduces men and women who were influential in the style and design of cottage gardens.  Best of all are the wonderful pictures that fill this book showing gardens from around the world, including England, Germany, Denmark, New England, and Sweden.  I appreciate the detailed information that Claus shares about plants, varieties, and design elements in each garden.  He highlights big and small gardens and has photographs from the four seasons. 

The Cottage Garden by Claus Dalby is an inspiration to any gardener.  From style, to plants, to the exquisite beauty found on each page, readers will come away excited to try news plants and design in their own garden. 

I highly recommend The Cottage Garden by Claus Dalby.  It would be a lovely gift for gardeners, and those who love the beauty found in creation.  If you are looking for inspiration and help in your own garden, I encourage you read this book.  It will be released on September 5, 2023.  I look forward to get my own copy of this book. 

I would like to thank Quarto Publishing Group, Cool Springs Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy of The Cottage Garden by Claus Dalby.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review. 

No More Secrets by Betty Webb – Interesting, Relatable and Personable History

Posted in Ad Lib Publishers, Betty Webb, Bletchley Park, Book Review, Decoding, Great Britain, NetGalley, No More Secrets, Uncategorized, WWII by

After reading biographies and World War II history books, I was interested in reading Betty Webb’s book No More Secrets.  WWII is such a pivotal and interesting time in history.  A time that could have had a much different outcome if not for God’s providence and the men and women who worked tirelessly to win the war against evil.

Unlike government leaders or high-ranking military commanders, Betty was an ordinary young woman in Great Britain who answered the call when her Country was facing the battle against the evil forces of Nazi Germany.  Like many other men and women in the allied forces, they stepped up when their Country and the world needed them most. 

I enjoyed learning about her family life in a small town in England and found it interesting how Betty learned to speak a foreign language, and went to Germany in 1937, before WWII.  That experience proved beneficial for the work she would one day do at Bletchley Park and later the Pentagon.

Thanks to Betty Webb writing and sharing about her service in the ATS, we can have an idea of what their lives were like during those tumultuous years.  Betty was 18 years old when she enlisted in the ATS.  While technically, she was qualified to remain at home and care for her mother, Betty signed up to serve her Country.  Can you imagine what it was like to go from living with your family at home to sharing living space with hundreds of other women from all over.

While Betty wanted to be a driver in the ATS, because of her foreign language skills she was assigned to serve at Bletchley Park.  She would serve in different roles as part of the process to decode the German messages that were intercepted.  Something as simple as filing was a very important role and handled circumspectly. 

The work done at Bletchley was very compartmentalized and workers only knew that part of the work that they did.  Each person that served had taken an oath of secrecy which they took very seriously.  It wasn’t until many years later that the work done in WWII was declassified and could be talked about.  In No More Secrets, Betty shares writings from other authors about their experiences and work. 

After the Allied victory in Europe, Betty was called to serve at the Pentagon in the USA to help in the work to decode the Japanese war messages.  Before long there was victory over Japan.  It was fascinating to see the differences in how the United States was impacted by the war, verses Great Britain. 

I was glad that the book did not end with the victory in WWII.  Betty went on to write and speak about her life during WWII.  Even now, Betty at the age of 100 continues to share about her experiences serving Great Britain and with their alley the United States of America.

I found No More Secrets by Betty Webb an interesting history from the perspective of an ordinary citizen who was called to serve during an extraordinary time in history.  It was quite a different pace and more personable than a book written by a government or miliary leader and was very relatable.

I highly recommend No More Secrets by Betty Webb! 

I would like to thank Ad Lib Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of No More Secrets by Betty Webb.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

Honor Bound by Hallee Bridgeman – Good Storyteller and Likable Characters

Posted in Action, Christian Fiction, Hallee Bridgeman, Honor Bound, Love and Honor Series, Military, NetGalley, Revell Publishing, Romance, Uncategorized by

Honor Bound was the first book I’ve read by author Hallee Bridgeman.  I enjoyed this book and looking forward to reading more novels from the author.

Dr. Cynthia Myers left the Washington D.C political scene following a humiliating episode with her former fiancé.  She went far away to the jungles in Africa to work as a medical missionary providing obstetric services to women in a small village.  She loves doing her job and has found fulfillment helping local families.  The life she’s settled into is about to be disrupted when a warlord’s battle come to town.  The warlord’s son is gravely injured, and Cynthia has been charged with trying to save his life.  Captain Rick Norton and his Army Special Forces team are in pursuit of the warlord, and his army who have wrecked-havoc in the villages. 

I really enjoyed this book, Hallee is good storyteller.  She is skilled at making the reader feel like they are right there with the characters in the midst of the jungle.  I liked the characters, especially Rick Norton and his team.  I came to respect Cynthia over time, but initially bristled at this character’s attitudes and views.  Hallee did a good job bringing the military battles and escape plans to life.  As a Christian, I appreciated that faith was an important part of the character’s lives.  The book has clean language, and sexual immorality was not part of the story. 

My favorite character was Rick Norton.  He was a man of strength, was confident in his skills, training and leadership.  He wanted to be true to and pursue that which God had called him to.  I also came to like Cynthia’s father.  He unapologetically made the best decisions he could and gave wise advice to his daughter.

I struggled with Cynthia and her “holier than thou” passivist naïve views.  Like when she was angry when Rick and his team had to dispatch the warlord’s army.  She believed that it would be better if she had died instead of men who were doing evil things and harming many people in their path.  The character’s moral compass was skewed.  She didn’t distinguish between good and evil.  Overtime she grew and had better balanced views…mostly. 

Something I took issue with some of the Scripture references being misused or misstated.  The biggest one was in a conversation between Cynthia and Rick when she referenced Matthew 5, where Jesus Christ submitted and went with the soldiers who were arresting Him.  “Christ defied them without violence.  He went with the soldiers peaceably from the garden of prayer and ultimately laid down his life.  Should we Christians not be Christlike in all things?”  My issue with this misuse of Scripture was that Jesus Christ’s purpose in not resisting the soldiers was not to show a passivist response to evil.  This was done in fulfillment of God’s plan for the Son of God to willingly die a substitutionary death on the cross, to pay the sin debt of everyone who will repent of their sins and believe in Him. 

A second misstatement of Scripture, “God’s Word promises us that He will take all things and make them good.  Even the horrible things.”  Wrongly stated.  Better to stick with Scripture rather than misstate it.  “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  Romans 8:28

I liked Honor Bound, the first book in the Love and Honor series.  It was easy to get into the story, and there were many likable characters.  Hallee Bridgeman is a good story teller.  I would add a caution to not get your theology from Christian fiction and be aware when Scripture is misstated or misused. 

I look forward to reading more books from Hallee Bridgeman including the next two novels in the Love and Honor series. 

I would like to thank Revell Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Honor Bound by Hallee Bridgeman.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

Fatal Code by Natalie Walters – Suspense, Mystery and Intrigue

Posted in Cyber Security, Fatal Code, Intrigue, Mystery, Natalie Waltes, SNAP Agency, Suspense, Uncategorized by

Since I love reading mystery and suspense novels, I was excited at the opportunity to read Fatal Code by Natalie Walters.  This is the second book in the Strategic Neutralization and Protection Agency (SNAP) series.  This author is new to me, and I haven’t read the first book in the series, Lights Out.

The book opens with Elinor Mitchell attending the funeral service for her beloved grandfather Arthur Conway.  He was a brilliant man, a theoretical physicist, and had worked at the Los Alamos National Lab.  More important than his career was the impact that he made on his granddaughter’s life.  He took Elinor in and raised her while her parents were involved with conservationist causes all around the world.  Elinor is also a scientist and is working on an important project at Lepley Dynamics.

Kekoa Young works for the SNAP Agency and is investigating a possible information leak at Lepley Dynamics.  Concerns have been raised that information has been shared with competitors or foreign governments.  Kekoa is a cyber security expert and was also assigned to keep an eye on his neighbor Elinor Mitchell.  That task that is outside his comfort zone.  Kekoa’s team at SNAP will also be part of the investigation.  Garcia, Lyla, Jack, and Brynn will be investigating other Lepley employees. 

I enjoyed the story more as it focused on Elinor and Kekoa and their growing relationship.  Elinor was closed off and not open to friendship.  Later on, as she opened up, I grew to like the character.  Kekoa was my favorite character.  He was kind, caring, fun, thoughtful, smart, and a diligent worker.  Both Elinor and Kekoa are struggling with their own hurts.  Will they work through those hurts or choose to remain insulated?

I enjoyed the intrigue and mystery and trying to figure out who the bad guys were and why they were involved in trying to steal sensitive information.  Faith was a part of the storyline and it was impactful to Elinor and Kekoa’s lives.  I would like to have seen the Christian faith and Gospel also included.

Toward the end of the book, one of the bad guys threatens a character by describing the torture she will endure.  That seemed over the top especially coming from a Christian book publisher.  It would have been beneficial to have a key or list of characters at the beginning of the book with a brief description.  There are a lot of characters in the book and it’s hard to keep track of them. 

I enjoyed the mystery and intrigue in Fatal Code.  While some of the scientific information was over my head, I found cyber security and code-breaking interesting.  I enjoyed the developing relationship with Elinor and Kekoa and the ties that Kekoa has with his family back in Hawaii.  If you like mystery, suspense, and intrigue you may to read Fatal Code by Natalie Walters. 

I would like to thank Revell Publishing and NetGalley for an opportunity to read Fatal Code by Natalie Walters.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review. 

Containers in the Garden by Claus Dalby – Beautiful, Inspiring and Gorgeous Photos

Posted in Claus Dalby, Containers, Cool Springs Press, Flowers, Gardening, NetGalley, Plants, Uncategorized by

I was very excited to see that Claus Dalby has released a book on Container in the Garden.  I’ve been following his posts on social media for a couple of years now and enjoy the pictures and videos he shares.

Finally, we have a collection of pictures assembled from Claus Dalby’s beautiful and inspiring garden.  This book is filled with stunning photos of plants, flowers, and foliage in a variety of colors and combinations.  Claus begins with some of the basics of containers, soil, seeds, bulbs, planting and care. 

My favorite part of the book is when Claus goes through the color combinations, and assortment of plants that can be combined to reflect the seasons and holidays.  Also, how we can create or define different sections in our garden or outdoor rooms.  This book is very inspiring and gets a gardener’s creative juices flowing.  I appreciate the explanations on why certain plants were selected and combined with other plants.

I love this book and highly recommend it.  This book is a helpful resource for those new to gardening, and those who have gardened for many years.  It would be a lovely gift for those who enjoy beautiful pictures from the garden.  Reading through this book, I came across a number of plants that I would like try to grow.  I enjoyed Containers in the Garden so much that I plan to buy a copy of this book. 

I would like to thank Cool Springs Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Containers in the Garden by Claus Dalby.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review. 

Network of Deceit by Tom Threadgill – Filled with Mystery, Intrigue, Suspense – You Won’t Want to Put It Down

Posted in Book Review, Intrigue, Mystery, Network of Deceit, Revell, Suspense, Tom Threadgill, Uncategorized by

It was the storyline, filled with mystery, suspense, and intrigue, that drew me into reading Network of Deceit by Tom Threadgill. 

On the heels of a highly publicized successful case, Detective Amara Alvarez has been transferred to the homicide division and she’s been assigned her first case.  A young teen, Zachary Coleman, has died at a local waterpark.  The cause of death is not clear and the tox screen won’t be back for weeks.  While there are no clear indications of murder, there’s some suspicious details that Amara wants to investigate.  She’s not one to wait patiently on the sidelines but will take a closer look and delve into the evidence until she has an answer, one way or the other.

The storyline was intriguing, and the evidence was peeled back one layer at a time.  The suspects, Zach’s friends Matias, Haley, and Liam were interesting and obviously trying to cover something up.  But was it related to Zach’s death or was there something illegal that the teens were caught up in?  I enjoyed reading how Amara would reexamine the facts and suspects over and over again until a crack appeared.

My favorite part of the book was the characters, Amara, her coworker Detective Jeremiah Peckham (otherwise known as Starsky).  The relationship between Amara and Starsky was special, they obviously cared about each other and respected one another.  But was there something more going on between them?  I enjoyed Amara’s large and close family especially her mom Maria and Maria’s boyfriend Wylie.  Amara’s family were the kind of people you would want to get to know.  Once you’ve met them, you’ll be welcomed back.  Though work was a big part of Amara’s life, her family was more important and she made time to be with them. 

I very much enjoyed reading Network of Deceit by Tom Threadgill.  It held my attention from the first page to the last.  The plot was interesting and the characters were likable, relatable people that I cared about.  Even the “bad guys” were interesting.  They weren’t vilified to the point that you hated them, but you got to know what made them tick and what made them go down the wrong path.  I didn’t want the story to end.  I hope that these characters come back in future novels. 

You know a book is really good when you are thinking about the story or characters when you aren’t reading the book.  Though faith was not a big part of the storyline, I appreciated that this was a clean book, with no foul language or sexual immorality.  Tom Threadgill knows how to tell a good story, he’s a good writer.  Tom skillfully develops the characters and moves the plotline along as he unveils the mystery and builds suspense.  I look forward to reading more of Tom Threadgill’s books.

I highly recommend Network of Deceit by Tom Threadgill.  I would like to thank Revell, a division of Baker’s Publishing Group for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of the book.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin – Mixed Feelings

Posted in Book Review, Historical Fiction, NetGalley, Revell Publishing Group, Sarah Sundin, Uncategorized, When Twilight Breaks, World War II by

I love reading Sarah Sundin’s historical fiction novels and that’s why I was excited to read her newest book When Twilight Breaks.  This story starts before the beginning of World War II.  Unlike her earlier WWII novels, this story is not focused on characters in the military. 

Evelyn Brand is an American correspondent for American News Service based in Munich, Germany in 1938.  She has a few strikes against her, she’s a woman, young, and will do whatever it takes to get a story.  Evelyn wants to expose the truth of what’s she’s seeing no matter whose toes she’s stepping on.  Denied the opportunity to go where the action is at, Evelyn was sent to do a softball story about American students and their experiences at the University of Munich.  It’s there that Evelyn meets Peter Lang who is working on his Ph.D. in German.  Evelyn and Peter couldn’t be much different.  He appreciates what he sees in Germany, the changes that have happened since 1932 with prosperity, no unemployment, seemingly secure and very orderly.  Peter takes a fancy to Evelyn, though it’s not mutual, he is not easily deterred.

I struggled a bit with this book.  Evelyn’s character was rather off-putting.  She came across as judgmental and a know-it-all.  I felt like I was reading a story with a modern-day woman being put in the middle of a story in the 1930’s.  Something that’s common in today’s movies and TV shows is to portray men as being inferior to women.  I almost felt like that was what I was seeing and it surprised me in a book from an author who is Christian.  Evelyn was shown to have the moral high ground in recognizing the wrong road Germany was headed down.  Peter was depicted as someone who was somewhat blind to the changing atmosphere in Germany. 

My favorite character was Peter.  Though he was slow to start seeing the growing threat to Jewish people in Germany, once he recognized it, he didn’t hesitate to try to help people who were being victimized.  He was kind, caring, patient, and ready to put his life on the line and risk everything he had worked for to help a friend in need.

I did like the secondary characters, Evelyn’s friend Elizabeth White, Herr Gold and Peter’s friends the Schreiber family, and Paul and Simone Aubrey.  There were some heartwarming and good surprises about friends as well as vile words and behavior from so-called friends. 

Regarding the Christian faith, there wasn’t a lot about faith included in When Twilight Breaks.  It was “Christian lite” on the substance of faith and the Gospel was not shared.  I think the book would have been richer if that element of the story had been developed. 

The views of men and women in this book seem to reflect a more secular view from today’s culture.  I was pleasantly surprised by the change in Evelyn.  At first, she seemed selfish and ready to put people at risk for her cause, but later she learned the importance of being interdependent and putting others first. 

It was somewhat eerie reading about the growing intolerance for people who were deemed inferior since we are beginning to see that in our own Country.  A good warning to not go down that path. 

I had mixed feelings about this book.  I liked the character Peter and grew to appreciate Evelyn’s passion to get the truth out about what was happening in Germany.  It made me think about what it must have been like for the people living in Germany, both the Jewish people who were being persecuted and the German citizens who saw what was going on.  I found it both sobering and terrifying. 

I wasn’t keen on the feminist aspects of this book, especially in light of it being written by a Christian author and published by a company that publishes Christian books and authors. 

Would I recommend When Twilight Breaks?  I like Sarah Sundin’s writing, she’s a good storyteller.  However, I think this book was not as good as some of her other books because of what felt like a feminist agenda as opposed to telling a story.  It was informative, disturbing, and interesting to see the progression of Germany going down the wrong road. 

I would like to thank Revell Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review. 

My Words Will Not Pass Away

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Morning glory Lord! Father when we read Your Word, there is so much think about, meditate on and contemplate. Like learning from Jacob or meditating on Your goodness and kindness to mankind. But as a Christian, especially during these days there is nothing more comforting than to think about Christ’s return, of Him gathering up His church and the end of days. We do not know the day or hour of Christ’s return, yet we seeing signs that it’s closer with each passing. In these days where truth and justice is not upheld, help Your people to cling to Christ, Your Word and the surety that we have in the knowledge that You will fulfill Your promises. Help us to endure to the end, where we will be saved, delivered, preserved, safe from loss and destruction. May we proclaim the Gospel of Christ to those who don’t yet know You. May we pray boldly to the God who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, more than we can ask or imagine. May we pray for the salvation of those whose lives seem so lost. Because nothing is too hard for You. As we see churches and pastors and teachers abandoning Your Word for the wisdom and solutions of mankind, help us to remain steadfast in reading and studying the Bible. May it be the plumbline by which we evaluate everything else. We come to You in the name of the One who holds us safe and secure in His hands. The One whom You testified, “This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” The Way the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!

Divine Abandonment

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One of the YouTube channels that we regularly follow is Mark Hitchcock’s channel Marking the Times. We really enjoy the talks he has about Bible prophesy and what’s happening in our world currently.

The most recent episode is very sobering. I would encourage you to watch and pay close attention.

When I read the last half of Romans 1, I can’t help but see the downward spiral and progression of sin. As the chapter continues it says, “God gave them over…” That giving people over to their sin and depravity is called Divine Abandonment.

When you see our Country and around the world, you can’t help but see what’s listed in Romans 1:16-32 being played out.

The only hope we have is a merciful God who sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ to come and be born of a women, live His life perfectly without sin. As the Son of God and Son of Man, He alone was worthy and able to bear our sin debt. He bore the wrath of God that we deserve, He paid the price for our redemption from sin, so that we could be forgiven.

What is required of us? To repent of our sin (agree with God that we have sinned and turn to God and ask for His forgiveness) and believe in Jesus Christ, that He is who He said He is and that His death on our behalf paid the penalty for our sin.

I’m sure many of you have felt the heaviness of what we see going on in our Country. It’s much bigger than loosing an election. It’s seeing our Nation in a downward spiral. But we also have a confident hope and assurance of our salvation. Whether we die or are raptured one day, we know eternal life has been bought and paid for on our behalf by Jesus Christ. He holds us secure in His hand.

If you don’t yet know the Lord, I would ask you pray for God to reveal Himself to you. Watch this video, read the Scriptures, Romans 1 and read Revelation where we learn about the end days and what will happened when God’s wrath is unleashed upon a sinful world. Read the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and see who Jesus Christ was, who He said He was and what He came to do.

Don’t take my word for it, read the Bible for yourself. If you feel like you have led a horrible life of sin and can’t be forgiven, that is a lie straight from the pit of hell. A broken and repentant sinner, God will not cast away. If you choose to reject Jesus Christ and continue in sin, then you will bear the wrath of God for eternity.

Eternal life is not just for Christians. Those who reject God and the forgiveness He offers through His Son Jesus Christ, will also have eternal life. Instead of heaven, it will be hell and eternal punishment.

Please know that in no way do I look down on anyone and think I’m better. I’m not. The only reason I will have eternal life is because God had mercy and compassion on this sinner. He opened my spiritually blind eyes to see. He opened my ears which were deaf to Him. He took this heart of stone and made it a heart of flesh. He helped me to see my sin, repent and turn to Christ Jesus the Lord. And He can do the same for you.

None of us knows the day and hour when we will die. When we will have that last chance to repent of our sin and believe in Jesus Christ. Don’t delay…this literally the most important decision you will ever make.

The Crown in Crisis by Alexander Larman – The Man Who Should Have Never Been King

Posted in Alexander Larman, Book Review, Kind Edward VIII, Mrs Wallis Simpson, NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, The Crown in Crisis, Uncategorized by

I wanted to read The Crown in Crisis – Countdown to the Abdication by author Alexander Larman because I had heard about the King Edward VIII’s abdicating the throne for divorcee Mrs. Wallis Simpson.  I didn’t know any of the details other than the fact that Mrs. Simpson was an American who was twice divorced.  It all seemed very romantic and like true love that would bring a man to give up the throne of England to be with his beloved.

Well, I was in for an awakening.  As I write my thoughts about King Edward VIII, I need to divorce my feels about him from what I think about this book.

As the man was portrayed in this book, I found King Edward VIII to be an arrogant, rude, immature, vapid, insufferable, selfish, boring jerk who focused on himself instead of others.  He put himself over and above the Country he had been entrusted with.  Mrs. Wallis Simpson wasn’t much better.  She seemed to be on a quest for power and money and used sex or whatever she had to entrap men, including King Edward VIII.  Wallis was not twice divorced, but once when she started committing adultery with King Edward.  As part of their weird relationship, a plan was implemented for Wallis to divorce her current husband so the two could marry.  But they made it look like Wallis’ husband was the one who was committing adultery and she was the innocent one.  Their adultery was blatant and it fractured Edward’s relationship with his father, King George V. 

Not sure if the book accurately portrayed Kind Edward VIII and Wallace Simpson?  It may have been accurate.  Obviously, when a man is ready to toss the crown away for a woman who uses people, they will make a few enemies along the way.  It was hard to tell if the author had a negative viewpoint of the King and Mrs. Simpson, or if the preponderance of information about them was negative from the people who surrounded them during this timeframe. 

Regarding the book, apart from two very dislikable people, it had some negatives.  The book came across as very gossipy, and you know gossips are not always the most reliable source.  At times, I found the story and scenes confusing in how they were written.  It has long sentences that made the point hard to follow.  There were volumes of people in this book, too many to really tell the story in a straight, interesting understandable manner.  Some of the accounts were very confusing and skipped from one person to another.  There didn’t seem to be a logical order, especially about to the attempted assassination of King Edward VIII.  At times, the author went into too much detail and pursued rabbit trails that took away from the story instead of making it richer.  It seemed like the author had so much information about King Edward VIII and Mrs. Simpson from the many, many people that surrounded them that he included it all in the book.  I’m sure he left a lot out, but I found this book was not written in a fashion that made drew the reader in and unveiled what happened during this crisis in an interesting, logical, and organized way. 

I hated the first chapter, it was gross and vile in what was said and seemed to be rumors, innuendo, and speculation as opposed to facts.  Throughout this book, I noted many times that it seemed gossipy.  If I hadn’t agreed to read the book and give a review, I would have closed the book and not finished it.

I did find that the last third of the book interesting.  You would think if someone wanted to walk away from the throne, they could hand over the reins to the next one in line.  Not so.  It was a huge crisis for England and there were a lot of politics and power plays that were happening and of course, family relationships that were impacted.  This was the part of the book that was most interesting. 

King Edward VIII was a man who should have never been king.  From the beginning, I thought it was God’s providence that spared England from a weak self-absorbed king, as the nation would soon be in a war for the survival of their nation and the free world. 

Would I recommend this book?  Probably not.  Take into account the good and bad information and make a decision if you would like to read it.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the The Crown in Crisis by Alexander Larman.  I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book and not under any obligation to give a favorable review. 

Love the Lord your God

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Morning glory Lord! I thank You for the clarity of Scripture, it is the plumbline by which we should measure all other things. It is the mirror by which we should examine ourselves. It is truth and that which varies from Scripture I should disregarded. You have commanded Your people to love You with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. Help me to not have a divided heart. May my soul find joy and peace in You alone. Help me to love You with my mind, read Your Word and know what You have revealed about Yourself. Let me know You and Your Word for myself, not solely through secondhand teaching. Let me be a Berean and search the Scriptures so that I know if a teacher or pastor is accurately teaching Your Word. May my heart and mind be captivated by Christ Jesus with a holy devotion. May my strength and effort be devoted to You. You have told us that if we love You we will keep Your commandments. You have commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Lord, we are able to do that when we love others with the love Christ has shown us. Help us to walk one day at a time with our focus on You. Thank You for Your Son Jesus Christ. Thank You for His sinless and holy life. Thank You for the truth He boldly proclaimed. Thank You that He was fully God and full Man, that He our compassionate, merciful, gracious Great High Priest, Savior and Sacrifice. Thank You that by His death the sin debt of all who repent and believe was paid. Help us to walk through the power of the Holy Spirit in wisdom and truth. It is in the name of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world that we come to You. Amen and amen!

Triumphal Entry

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Morning glory and evening grace Lord! What was it like, the day of Jesus Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem? People spread their garments on the road before Him and cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” The prophesied day had arrived. Those who knew the Scripture should have anticipated His arrival. As jubilant as the crowd was celebrating King David’s descendant, a few days later they would cry, “Crucify Him!, when Pilate asked what he should do with the King of the Jews. As horrifying as it is to think about, that’s what Christ Jesus came to do. The sinless Son of God would be put to death on a cross like a common criminal. Not for anything He did wrong, but because that was the plan from before the foundations of the world were laid. Before the first sin was committed Jesus knew He would be born of a woman. The One who is fully God would be fully Man. He would die on a cross bearing the punishment for all who would repent and believe in His substitutionary sacrifice on our behalf. Lord, never let me forget the price that was paid for my redemption by my Kinsman Redeemer. Let me not take my sin lightly or turn a blind eye when others sin. Let me daily wage my battle with sin. Let me meditate on Your Word, be washed by the Water of the Word. Let me eagerly tell others of the One who loves their soul. It’s in the precious name of Jesus Christ Lord, God and Savior I come to You. Amen!

Faithful Servant

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Evening grace Lord! When we read Your Word Lord, we are amazed because there is so much to see. So much that is going on. We see that You are a faithful God, a covenant keeping God. You made a covenant with Abraham and his descendants. Abraham was 100 years old when the son You promised was born to him and Sarah. You promised that they would have descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven. When Isaac is 40, Abraham send his faithful servant off to find a bride for Isaac from among his people. Abraham is confident that You will lead his servant to the right place and people. When he arrives in Nahor, he prayed a prayer to his master’s God. You answered his prayer down to the finest detail and showed lovingkindness to his master Abraham. I can’t help but see not only were You at work to find a bride for Isaac, but You also revealed Yourself to Abraham’s faithful servant. He bowed down and worshiped You. Lord , You are a God who cares and You desire that all would come to repentance and salvation through Abraham’s descendant Jesus Christ. Not just a Man, but God incarnate. You are the One and Only God who saves. We come to You in the name of Your Beloved Son, the One who was a Suffering Servant who bore our sin on the cross. Hallelujah, what a Savior. Amen!

Abraham, Abraham!

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Morning glory and evening grace Lord! May I never forget that the Bible is history, filled with real people and real circumstances. When I read the story of Abraham taking his son, his only son Isaac, up to the mountain to offer him as a sacrifice as You commanded, I can’t imagine what Abraham must have felt. You had told him the day before what he was to do. He didn’t drag his feet or delay but got up early. He split the wood that for the fire and walked with son Isaac up the mountain. What did they talk about? Was Abraham’s heart heavy, or did he remind himself what we read in Hebrews 11:17-19, that God who had promised descendants through Isaac was able to raise him from the dead? Abraham bound Isaac and was ready to slay him when he heard, “Abraham, Abraham!” You knew that Abraham feared You and held back nothing. In reading this account, I can’t help but think of Christ Jesus, Your only begotten Son. Unlike Isaac, Jesus knew what would happen and He was the willing sacrifice. Jesus carried the wood for His sacrifice on the cross. Not a pile of firewood, but huge heavy cross. This time there would no voice from heaven stopping His sacrifice. Jesus’ dead body would be removed from the cross. He would be placed in a borrowed grave where He would rise three days later. Your beloved Son in whom You are well pleased. This was Your plan from before the foundations of the world. Can I confess, doing good to my enemies doesn’t come naturally. But that’s what You did. While we were still Your enemies Christ died for us. Thank You Lord for the greatest gift we could ever receive. Thank You Jesus for being the sacrifice in our place. Thank You Holy Spirit convicting us of sin and bringing us repentance. We come to You in the name of Your Beloved Son Jesus Christ…Amen!

Burden of Proof by Davis Bunn – Fascinating Storyline and Interesting Characters

Posted in Book Review, Burden of Proof, Davis Bunn, Intrigue, Mystery, Revell Publishing, Science Fiction, Time Travel, Uncategorized by

While I’ve never read any books by Davis Bunn, I was intrigued by the blurb on the cover of Burden of Proof. 

Who can say that they don’t have things in their life that they regret?  If given the chance to do things differently, would you?  That’s the dilemma that’s facing Ethan Barrett.  He’s been given a death sentence by his doctor, and his time is short.  When he meets his sister-in-law Sonya, whom he hasn’t seen in thirty-five years, she is seeking his help to try and change the course of history.  Ethan wasn’t there with his brother Adrian was shot and killed on the courthouse steps.  If he had been there, would the circumstances have changed?  Ethan is about to find out.

This book is very different from what I typically read.  It’s got a bit of science fiction in the storyline.  Davis Bunn is a good writer because he draws the reader into the story from the get-go.  I don’t take much of an interest in surfing, so I was surprised to like the main character Ethan and enjoy reading about his experiences, what he saw and felt while surfing.  I found the characters very likable and appreciated seeing the characters grow and change.  Early in the book, I didn’t much care for Sonya, but as the story progressed, I really saw her in a new light and came to like the character.  The story was interesting to contemplate and had mystery and intrigue too.  I appreciated the details describing the settings where the story took place because it helped me to envision scenes as I read.

The book is published by Revell Publishing, which is a Christian publisher, so I had hoped that the Christian faith would have been woven into the storyline.  But it wasn’t.  Towards the end of the book, Ethan is talking with a friend who encouraged him to live life with an eternal perspective.  While that was thought-provoking, the story could have been much richer if the Gospel of Christ had been included and woven into the characters’ lives.

I found that the last section was a bit much with the courtroom scenes and Adrian questioning his wife Sonya about her scientific research.  I wish it had been clearer and more concise.  There were allegations hinted at about the company that wanted to buyout Sonya’s company.  Not sure why, but they seemed to dance around it instead of making a clear and straightforward assertion about their motives.

Though the Christian faith is not a part of the story, I appreciated that there was no profanity and the story was clean. 

All in all, I very much liked Burden of Proof by Davis Bunn.  The storyline was compelling and fascinating.  The characters were interesting and well developed.  I look forward to reading more of Davis Bunn’s books.

I would like to thank Revell Publishing for the opportunity to read Burden of Proof by Davis Bunn.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review. 

The Escape by Lisa Harris – Interesting Story and Likeable Characters

Posted in Book Review, Intrigue, Lisa Harris, Mystery, NetGalley, Revell Publishing, Romance, Suspense, The Escape, Uncategorized by

I love reading books filled with mystery, suspense, and intrigue and that’s why I was excited to read The Escape by Lisa Harris, an author whose work is new to me.  This is the first book in the US Marshalls series. 

Could it really be five years since Madison James’ husband Luke had been murdered?  Her life had been changed forever, but she had thrown herself into her career as a US Marshall.  Though it was an important anniversary, she had a job to do, transporting two prisoners from Seattle to Denver.  She would be joined by US Marshall Jonas Quinn, with whom she had trained a few years ago.  Jonas had just moved back to Seattle, though he was planning for a couple days off, duty called.  Any hope for a smooth prisoner transport was quickly abandoned as their private plane crash-landed in the forests over Idaho.  Just because their plane crashed didn’t mean their job was over. 

I really enjoyed reading The Escape.  From the get-go, I found this book very engaging.  The characters were likable, and the storyline was interesting.  I liked the rapport between Madison and Jonas and that they had mutual respect for one another.  There was a little bit of romantic attraction and it was expressed appropriately for a Christian book.  I liked how the characters were revealed over time as they got to know one another.  I’ve never read anything about the US Marshalls and learned a little bit about this law enforcement agency.  The author was good at describing the scenic settings. 

I very much liked this book, yet there were times that the story seemed to drag.  The number of times the escaped prisoner got away and posed a threat to the general public seemed a bit much.  I wondered in real life that if a US Marshall had been foiled by the bad guy too many times, would they be fired? 

Something else that didn’t seem realistic was the plane crash where both Madison and Jonas sustained injuries.  But those injuries didn’t seem to stop them in their quest to get the prisoner.  The story wasn’t wrapped up entirely at the end, but it appears that there will be a book two where their story will carry on. 

I love finding a new author whose work I like and look forward to reading more books by Lisa Harris.  What I liked best about her writing is how she develops relationships. 

If you like suspense, mystery, intrigue, romance, or books on law enforcement, I recommend The Escape by Lisa Harris. 

I would like to thank Revell Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Escape by Lisa Harris.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.