THE WALKING WOUNDED by Donna Bowman
This is the true and horrific story of Donna Bowman and how she survived sexual abuse by her father for years. She also endured many years of physical abuse by her ex-husband and then the loss of a cherished child. Any one of these events would be enough to destroy a person in many ways.
Donna carried a lot of emotional baggage for years. She thought at first it was her fault that her father raped her again and again. Then every time her husband would beat her she felt again it must be her fault. She felt worthless and ugly both inside and out. She was saved when she was married, and at times when she went to church she knew her husband would beat her when she came home. Donna could not understand why this was all happening to her.
It was not until she let go of the past, and allowed God to heal all of her past hurts, that she was able to walk with Him. She knew that God was always by her side and was never going to leave her. Donna had a few terrible marriages, but God led her to a wonderful man whom she married and they are still together after a lot of years.
God never promised any of us that life would be easy. But He does tell us that He will never give us more than we can handle. Donna is a perfect example of that. No matter what life had in store for her she made it through each and every storm. Donna had God with her and He saved her time and time again.
This is not just a book about sexual child abuse or battered wife's book. It is a book full of praise and the Glory of God. It is about how Donna came to know that God must be first in all of our lives no matter what.
I have also enjoyed the latter part of this book with the many stories of the power of God's love for us, as well as His healing and ministry. No matter what we may be going through we are never alone if God is in your life. All we have to do is take His hand, and really take the time to listen to what God is telling us, and then follow where ever He leads you.
This story is one of triumph by the Grace of God.
Sandra Heptinstall
whispering Winds Book Reviews
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
Second Chance: How Adoption Saved a Boy with Autism & His Shelter Dog
Second Chance by Sandra J. Gerencher
This book is an absolutely beautiful story. If it does not touch a place in your heart after reading it, then you have no heart.
It is so much more than just a story of adoption. It is a story of a new beginning for what I call "throw away animals and people".
The animals that no one wants because they are not pretty or meet a certain criteria. And the children who are not perfect and have special needs. There are hundreds of special children and animals out there waiting for someone to love them and give them a home. They deserve a second chance at life.
In this book Chance, a dog, is doing the talking which my grandson's thought was neat. They found the book to be funny and they loved it. As an adult I agree with them, but I see so much more to this story.
What an excellent read for everyone. I encourage people from all walks of life to buy this book. Not only will your children or grandchildren enjoy this book but so will you.
Brandon, Johnny and Sandra Heptinstall
This book is an absolutely beautiful story. If it does not touch a place in your heart after reading it, then you have no heart.
It is so much more than just a story of adoption. It is a story of a new beginning for what I call "throw away animals and people".
The animals that no one wants because they are not pretty or meet a certain criteria. And the children who are not perfect and have special needs. There are hundreds of special children and animals out there waiting for someone to love them and give them a home. They deserve a second chance at life.
In this book Chance, a dog, is doing the talking which my grandson's thought was neat. They found the book to be funny and they loved it. As an adult I agree with them, but I see so much more to this story.
What an excellent read for everyone. I encourage people from all walks of life to buy this book. Not only will your children or grandchildren enjoy this book but so will you.
Brandon, Johnny and Sandra Heptinstall
Monday, May 12, 2008
SKEETER: A CAT TALE
Skeeter: A Cat Tale
Anne Watson
Shepard Publications
P.O. Box 280
Friday Harbor,
WA, 98250
ISBN# 978-0938497516
Price: $10.00
I am not a cat person unless you count Garfield. He may just be a cartoon figure but to me "Garfield" is the coolest cat ever; or so I thought until I read a little book called "Skeeter A Cat Tale". Skeeter has an attitude with a capital A. The poor misguided owner Lynne thinks she has the upper hand, but when you read this book you will discover that Skeeter is the one running the show.
I loved it when the Lynne tries to put a harness and leash on Skeeter. Since Lynne only had knowledge about dogs, I can understand why she might think what works for one, works for the other.
The book is mostly about Skeeter, but also includes some of the adventures of Lynne. For example, one day Lynne is walking the shores of San Pedro, CA when she found an elongated flexible cone or seedpod. Since her sister was taking a basketry course, Lynne decided her sister might like to use some of the seapods. So Lynne looking up, saw that more of these littered the slope dropping from a tree at the edge of a cliff. Now climbing the cliff was easy, even gathering cones as she went; but when Lynne reached the top and turned around, she realized something. She was trapped. There was a chain link fence running along the top as far as she could see. So, she abandoned her pride and skated down on her rear, blistering it in the fast descent, and rubbing a noticeably-positioned hole in her clothing. It was one of those moments that ever one has encountered in their lives. It was a "Dear God, it's Lynne here and please don't let anyone see me making a fool of myself". Thank goodness no one saw her as she stalked away with what little dignity she had left and the shreds of her jeans.
This is a fast read and reached me on a day when I really needed a good laugh. If you have had a bad day you need to buy this book and keep it on hand. Believe me, laughter is the best medicine.
Whispering Winds Book Reviews
Anne Watson
Shepard Publications
P.O. Box 280
Friday Harbor,
WA, 98250
ISBN# 978-0938497516
Price: $10.00
I am not a cat person unless you count Garfield. He may just be a cartoon figure but to me "Garfield" is the coolest cat ever; or so I thought until I read a little book called "Skeeter A Cat Tale". Skeeter has an attitude with a capital A. The poor misguided owner Lynne thinks she has the upper hand, but when you read this book you will discover that Skeeter is the one running the show.
I loved it when the Lynne tries to put a harness and leash on Skeeter. Since Lynne only had knowledge about dogs, I can understand why she might think what works for one, works for the other.
The book is mostly about Skeeter, but also includes some of the adventures of Lynne. For example, one day Lynne is walking the shores of San Pedro, CA when she found an elongated flexible cone or seedpod. Since her sister was taking a basketry course, Lynne decided her sister might like to use some of the seapods. So Lynne looking up, saw that more of these littered the slope dropping from a tree at the edge of a cliff. Now climbing the cliff was easy, even gathering cones as she went; but when Lynne reached the top and turned around, she realized something. She was trapped. There was a chain link fence running along the top as far as she could see. So, she abandoned her pride and skated down on her rear, blistering it in the fast descent, and rubbing a noticeably-positioned hole in her clothing. It was one of those moments that ever one has encountered in their lives. It was a "Dear God, it's Lynne here and please don't let anyone see me making a fool of myself". Thank goodness no one saw her as she stalked away with what little dignity she had left and the shreds of her jeans.
This is a fast read and reached me on a day when I really needed a good laugh. If you have had a bad day you need to buy this book and keep it on hand. Believe me, laughter is the best medicine.
Whispering Winds Book Reviews
Friday, May 9, 2008
The Songs of Power: A Finnish Tale of Magic, Retold from the Kalevala
The Songs of Power by Aaron Shepard
The collection of "The Ancient Fantasy" series will take both adults and children into a world of folklore of long ago. In another time and country. My grandson's and myself have been reading this series and we have all enjoyed what we have read so far. We just finished reading "The Songs of Power". The front and back cover are enchanting. Brandon and Johnny love them. In their words again: "they are awesome." I am always delighted when we finish a book and they look again at the covers and they recognize some of the characters.
As a mom it was important to teach my children to enjoy reading. As a grandma I truly love to teach my grandchildren to enjoy literature. I highly recommend the whole series to parents, grandparents, any child or adult.
We had just finished reading, "The Song of Power" when Brandon said; "Grandma my teacher says poems are just songs." So we read this book in different ways many times. We each read it to our own beats. We even tried to sing it. We each chose a song we knew and changed out the words to fit the book. I am so glad there was no one around to hear us. It is something only a grandparent could love.
I am so proud when I see the light of understanding in their eyes shine. Or when they have read a part without mistakes. What a blessing for me.
Mr Shepard you are helping children to develop their own imaginations. These books have taken my grandson's away from their video and dvd games they keep here, and that is quite an accomplishment. Especially in the world we live in now.
When I first told them I had some books coming that I thought they would enjoy, it was a mistake on my part. Every day until the books arrived I was asked if I had checked my po box that day. When the books finally arrived I waited and let them open the box. We looked at the books and then at each other and knew these books would be different than any we had read before.
Thank you once again, and as my grandson's say; "this is another five star book." They think your books get better and better as they read each one. I say their minds have opened up more and more.
Sandra Heptinstall
Brandon Heptinstall
Johnnie Heptinstall
The collection of "The Ancient Fantasy" series will take both adults and children into a world of folklore of long ago. In another time and country. My grandson's and myself have been reading this series and we have all enjoyed what we have read so far. We just finished reading "The Songs of Power". The front and back cover are enchanting. Brandon and Johnny love them. In their words again: "they are awesome." I am always delighted when we finish a book and they look again at the covers and they recognize some of the characters.
As a mom it was important to teach my children to enjoy reading. As a grandma I truly love to teach my grandchildren to enjoy literature. I highly recommend the whole series to parents, grandparents, any child or adult.
We had just finished reading, "The Song of Power" when Brandon said; "Grandma my teacher says poems are just songs." So we read this book in different ways many times. We each read it to our own beats. We even tried to sing it. We each chose a song we knew and changed out the words to fit the book. I am so glad there was no one around to hear us. It is something only a grandparent could love.
I am so proud when I see the light of understanding in their eyes shine. Or when they have read a part without mistakes. What a blessing for me.
Mr Shepard you are helping children to develop their own imaginations. These books have taken my grandson's away from their video and dvd games they keep here, and that is quite an accomplishment. Especially in the world we live in now.
When I first told them I had some books coming that I thought they would enjoy, it was a mistake on my part. Every day until the books arrived I was asked if I had checked my po box that day. When the books finally arrived I waited and let them open the box. We looked at the books and then at each other and knew these books would be different than any we had read before.
Thank you once again, and as my grandson's say; "this is another five star book." They think your books get better and better as they read each one. I say their minds have opened up more and more.
Sandra Heptinstall
Brandon Heptinstall
Johnnie Heptinstall
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
WHEN THE HEART CRIES
When The Heart Cries by Cindy Woodsmall
This is a book of love and tragedy. Hannah is raised in the Old Order Amish community of Lancaster County. She is a lovely young woman but she has a secret. She has been in love with Paul Waddle for three years who is a conservative Minnonite.
Paul would return each summer during his university break to help his grandmother and work her fields. He also returned to see Hannah. Paul was just as much in love with Hannah as she was with him.
The last summer they shared Paul and Hannah talked about their love for one another. Paul has a plan to gain permission from Hannah's dad for her to marry him. He would work for her father until he could see how much he loved Hannah and that he would be good for her. Everything seemed magical for Hannah as she said good bye to Paul that faithful summer. As Hannah was walking back home a car stopped along the road, but Hannah did not think anything of it until a man came towards her who attacked and raped her.
Walking home in shock and pain her mother saw Hannah with her torn and bloody clothes and started running to Hannah, screaming for Hannah's dad. The rest of this story takes many different twists. It is not long before Hannah learns she is pregnant. Her sister who had always been jealous of Hannah began to tell lies about her. Hannah's family had no choice but to turned against her because of events that had taken place.
She had to leave the only home she had ever had in order for her family to be able to keep their name in good standing in their community. She had to find a place to go; in a world she has no knowledge about.
This book will bring tears to you eyes and touch your heart. You will not be able to put it down. I highly recommed this book. I can't wait to buy the second of the series "Sisters Of The Quilt".
Excellent subject matter and writing.
This is a book of love and tragedy. Hannah is raised in the Old Order Amish community of Lancaster County. She is a lovely young woman but she has a secret. She has been in love with Paul Waddle for three years who is a conservative Minnonite.
Paul would return each summer during his university break to help his grandmother and work her fields. He also returned to see Hannah. Paul was just as much in love with Hannah as she was with him.
The last summer they shared Paul and Hannah talked about their love for one another. Paul has a plan to gain permission from Hannah's dad for her to marry him. He would work for her father until he could see how much he loved Hannah and that he would be good for her. Everything seemed magical for Hannah as she said good bye to Paul that faithful summer. As Hannah was walking back home a car stopped along the road, but Hannah did not think anything of it until a man came towards her who attacked and raped her.
Walking home in shock and pain her mother saw Hannah with her torn and bloody clothes and started running to Hannah, screaming for Hannah's dad. The rest of this story takes many different twists. It is not long before Hannah learns she is pregnant. Her sister who had always been jealous of Hannah began to tell lies about her. Hannah's family had no choice but to turned against her because of events that had taken place.
She had to leave the only home she had ever had in order for her family to be able to keep their name in good standing in their community. She had to find a place to go; in a world she has no knowledge about.
This book will bring tears to you eyes and touch your heart. You will not be able to put it down. I highly recommed this book. I can't wait to buy the second of the series "Sisters Of The Quilt".
Excellent subject matter and writing.
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