Pages & Pursuits

The Missing Matisse is a memoir written by Pierre H. Matisse. To be honest, the first I had really heard of the name "Matisse" was in an Art Appreciation class I was taking right before this book became available for review. Since I had  just learned about Henri Matisse and his work in the field of art, I thought it would be really interesting to read this book written by his grandson, Pierre Matisse.  Matisse writes his memoir in first person. He begins his book with his earliest memory. What exactly is that memory? Well, it is the memory of the day his younger brother was born. Although he was only 3 years old, Pierre is able to recount in great detail all that unfolded that eventful morning. Matisse continues his book by describing events that took place throughout his childhood and into his adult life.  As expected, Pierre Matisse possessed great artistic ability, even from an early age. He took pride in his art skills and tools. He saved for different paints...

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author and is well known in the Christian fiction circle. Her book, Deadly Encounter, is the first book in the FBI Task Force series.  Stacy Broussard is a volunteer and an airport ranger volunteer who makes routine rides around the Houston airport. One particular Saturday morning, Stacy stumbles upon a dead body and an injured dog. After quickly alerting authorities, Stacy soon meets FBI Special Agent Alex LeBlanc. The two work together in order to care for the dog and discover who committed the murder and why. Increasing danger means Stacy must keep a vigilant watch for her safety and the safety of her young friend - Whitt. In the end, the case is resolved and Stacy and Alex look forward to life together.  If you enjoy mysteries, then this is the book for you. If you enjoy romance, then this book is for you.  And, if you love animals or have a heart for kids who are hurting, then this book is also for you! This book definitely cover...

First, I must admit that I am not one who frequently journals. However, when I had the chance to review this journal, I was really excited. The cover of this journal is bright and interesting. It immediately grabbed my attention and had me wanting to know what was inside. The pages are filled with illustrations, prayers, and praises. There are blank pages left for you to be creative, and many of the pages are able to be colored. The prayers in this journal are short and simple, but they all direct the heart back to God. They are intended to instill a spirit of gratitude in us in every season of life; whether that may be a high point or a low point. I really loved reading through this book and being able to have space to write my own thoughts and prayers. As I said, it is a wonderful reminder to be grateful even when it is hard to do so. I would definitely recommend this journal to just about any girl. Although, it probably is not the best choice of journals for those who write a lot...

Restore my Soul  is a coloring book devotional written by Ann-Margret Hovsepian. She is an author and illustrator from Canada, and has written several devotionals for teen girls.  When the whole "adult" coloring book phase began, I was a little skeptical. I mean, really, who has time to just sit and color...and why?  But, then I slowly became more and more interested, and eventually I had received my very own "adult" coloring book. Needless to say, I was hooked. When I had the opportunity to review this book I jumped on the chance!  I have really enjoyed this coloring devotional! There are 40 devotions and each one has a coloring page that goes along with it. There are even a few blank pages so that you can doodle whatever you desire.  Hovsepian's devotions are relevant to everyday life, and were a nice tidbit to read along with my daily quiet time. One complaint I have heard about a lot of coloring books deals with the thickness of the page. Ho...

Benjamin Watson, the author of Under Our Skin , presents the racial divide quite well. He continually points out that the problem is not with the color of a person's skin but with their heart. Those that are prejudiced against each other are sinning. They are wrong. And I agree. Watson also points out that both blacks and whites are responsible for the racial discrimination we see today, and that the situation will only change if we all realize this and accept that the racial issues have to do with much more than just the color of someone's skin.  Benjamin Watson strongly conveys that everyone is responsible for their life. Each individual has a choice. They can choose to face the obstacles, the hardships, and the trials that they may face in life with determination, or they can choose to find some way around these struggles.  Often times, those that choose to find some way to maneuver around their obstacle will often lay the blame of the hardship on someone else. All of ...

I love this book! Joel Rosenberg's The First Hostage  is an excellent book. It is the second in the series, the first being The Third Target. I have read several of Rosenberg's books and have loved all of them. This one did not disappoint! The First Hostage  continues the story of ISIS's terror attacks in the Middle East. The first major attack depicted in the first book in the series was during a peace conference at which several of the world's leaders were attending. The second book shows the aftermath of this attack.  The First Hostage  is full of suspense. Readers are taken along on the journey of responding to a terrorist attack. Rosenberg created this story as fiction; however, it is extremely relevant to what is going on in our world today. Although it is fiction, all of the events that take place seem as if they could happen today. I would not recommend this book for young readers. However, I believe that it is an excellent book and would recommend it to an...

Secrets She Kept  is a historical Christian fiction book written by Cathy Gohlke. In this book, Hannah Sterling has recently lost her mother and embarks on a mission to find out more about her. She had always had a strained relationship with her mother and really did not know too much about her. After her death, she found a few things that led her to an unknown Grandfather in Germany. Over time, Hannah discovers quite a bit about her mom and the life she left behind in Germany. She also discovers more secrets that lead both her and the readers on an incredible journey. I really enjoyed this book. I love historical fiction and mysteries. This book combined both of those and it was amazing. Not only was there suspense, but I also gained a new perspective on some of the historical events portrayed. I would definitely recommend this book. It was clean, well-written, and I could not put it down. If you enjoy history and mystery, then I would encourage you to try this book out! I recei...