always just commonly

We've come to a wrap with this month's giveaway. Congratulations to Terrill R., our August winner! She was selected randomly by Rafflecopter giveaway widget.  I'm quite surprised and thrilled, since she's already a previous winner on this blog. Thank you, Terrill for your support! A copy of Everyday Grace: Infusing all your relationship with the love of Jesus" by Jessica Thompson will be mailed to you shortly! For those who did not win, don't despair, our September giveaway is in the works, and will be announced soon! This time, it will be a historical fiction (seems to be popular). Thank you for reading my posts. For full blog information and links to giveaways, head over to the blog: http://justcommonly.blogspot.com.

" Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights "  by Salman Rushdie , author of Midnight's Children  weaved Eastern mythology with history and a timeless love story with modern presentation techniques.  The inter-layers of this fiction gives this book a mystical quality, reminiscent of the famous "One Thousand and One Nights" , which "Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights"  seems to reference (two years eight months and twenty eight adds up to 1001).   Is it successful or does it lack a sense of synergy? We start off as a history lesson derived from the mythology of jinns, and then the start of it all. Dunia, a princess of the jinns fell in love with a human, and together produced a vast number of children, and their "bloodline" continued on for generations.  Come modern day, a weather event begins the emergence of power among Dunia's descendants. Together with others, they are called to enter in an epic battle between...

Apartment Therapy, a renown interior design weblog that almost made everyone designers overnight. Don't get me wrong. Nothing wrong with that because in my mind, everyone is a designer, but professional designers are trained to help pull your inner designer out and organize it.  And Apartment Therapy is a great place to start gathering your thoughts. With its fourth book, " Apartment Therapy Complete + Happy Home ",   Maxwell Ryan & Janel Laban gave everyone a reference guide all in one chunky book . As an interior designer by profession, I look at these design books not about the design or pretty pictures, but more about how useful it is for the "lay" designers out there - those who does not have formal training.  With "Apartment Therapy Complete Home + Happy Home" , I appreciate the thoughtfulness of the authors in their organization of the book, and that speaks volumes since a good designed space is nothing if organization is not part of ...

Ah. What a title? " The Timeless Love Romance Collection " . It does induce a certain amount of expectations or desire to see how it makes it timeless. "The Timeless Love Romance Collection"  consists of 9 novella (short stories) written and probably published between 1999 through 2013 by eight different authors. The "timeless" stories in this collection includes: A Valentine for Prudence by Darlene Mindrup From Famine to Feast by Pamela Kaye Tracy Armed and Dangerous by Dianne Christner The Richest Knight by Nancy J. Farrier Shelter from the Storm by Darlene Mindrup Olympic Hopes by Lynn A. Coleman Beyond the Memories by DiAnn Mills Finding Yesterday by Jennifer Rogers Spinola Goodie Goodie by Tamela Hancock Murray I enjoyed all of these stories, some more than others. Even for that, each one gives a little something that makes it "timeless", from simple superstitions to finding love in memories, to love and wealth, to ...

Margaret Daley and Love Inspired had given readers a wonderful and heartwarming inspirational novel in " The Nanny's New Family " .  I think even the cover is heartwarming. Don't you think? Annie is a professional nanny with scars in her past that has burdened her heart and mind since she was 15. Ian, a doctor with four children, ranging from ages 5 through 10 is struggling to care for them since the death of his wife two years ago, and then his aunt (who was caring for the kids) 6 months ago.  God brought these two struggling souls together, will they be able to help each other or further drive the pain deeper?   When one of Ian's child, Jeremy is diagnosed with a medical condition, a service dog was acquired to help. I find this part of the story extremely informative, for someone like me who doesn't know too much of what entails a 'service dog'. I've seen them around for the blind, but I didn't know service dogs are also used for a va...

" The First Family: Abigail & John Adams " by Joseph E. Ellis is not a typical biography. It derived from a wide variety of resources, but most importantly, the the well preserved documentation and correspondences of the Adams estate.  These correspondences are letters written by or to Abigail or John Adams for a span of over 40 years.  With such profound resources, Mr. Ellis was able to study, analyze, and provide his readers with a concise, yet informative interpretation of who John is with Abigail, vice versa and to others.   He also gave us more than a glimpse of their relationship and how they complement each other as husband and wife. I had read Mr. Ellis' " His Excellency "  on George Washington, and after reading a rather dry biography on John Adams, I've decided to give "First Family"  a try.  I find this engaging as well, and definitely educational in many respects; such as more knowledge of John Adams' personality, his amb...

Amazing...laugh out loud funny, sarcastically snickered, sadly teared, biting my tongue annoyed and tugging my heart warmth.  That is what I can say about Marci Lynn Curtis ' " The One Thing ".   I love it. Love it, love it, love it. Need a little more? Marci Lyn Curtis wrote some great dialogue, and funny scenarios in this teen/young adult novel.  She gave life to teenage angst and childhood trauma with depth and realistic sarcasm.  This is not about romance, though there's some of it, but about finding yourself, even when darkness took over.  It is about something out of the darkness that brings you back to you.  It's about looking it in a different way, and finding what you need to jump out of the darkness, and again, back to you.  I love Maggie and Ben. All of it - from the interaction, their characters, their thoughts and their journey within these 336 pages.  Maggie, a typical angry and sarcastic teenager. Ben, an adorable and funny 1...

" The 12 Brides of Summer "  from Barbour Publishing's Shiloh Run Press Studios is still going strong with their third ebook of the novella collection series.  (And if you're interested, reviews for the first two ebooks of the series are linked below.)  This third collection have three wonderful and adorable (can't find another word) stories, all set in the 1880s of America.  The D og Days of Summer  by Margaret Brownley was just plain hilarious. This is one story that makes you contemplate on getting a dog to play matchmaker. You'll never know - that dog might just be the one to help you find love, along with some mischief on the way.  The Dogwood Blossom Bride by Miralee Ferrell also have its funny moments with a not so ladylike lady falling off a tree into the arms of a handsome carpenter, who just so happens, strongly opposes the antics of such unladylike behavior. What will happen? The little girl, Laura was also a cute addition to bring ...

There is just something about a cowboy... Is that how the saying goes? I don't read a lot of cowboy novels, but sometimes I just have a hankering for one, especially one with a cowboy in " Counting on a Cowboy "  by Debra Clopton . The cowboy in question is Bo Monahan, a man of integrity, loyal and honorable, and of course handsome in every way.  A mistake in the past came back head on in the form of an adorable baby boy, Levi.  Only God (and Ms. Clopton - as the writer) can bring the perfect help in time to help this cowboy jump into fatherhood.  Abby Knightley lost everything in one night two years ago.  She followed the advice of a columnist in trying to make a change and move things forward.  Her pain debilitated her in many ways, and her desire to "live along with the pain" brought her to Wishing Springs, Texas and ultimately to Bo.  I truly enjoyed every bit of this novel. From the start, it held onto my eyes as I begin envisioning all the...

Be swept away in a world of fancy with Daria Song's " The Time Garden ".   A beautiful storybook in a form of minimal words, and pages and pages of pen and ink illustrations taking you to a magical world. "The Time Garden" is a storybook, and a coloring book for all ages. Personally, I love using my Staedtler triplus fineliner markers to color in all the details of the clock tower, the leaves on a beautiful tree, the lines on the roofs as you look across and fly away on a bunch of balloons. What imagination! What imagery! Color the way you want it to be, a yellow tree, an orange star, a green lantern...etc. This is a sophisticated version of a simple coloring book. A tween or a teen will appreciate your thoughts and sensitivity on their love of drawing or doodling. An adult will appreciate your sense of whimsy. As to the story, as I look through page by page, it reminds me of a recent illustrated children's book titled, "Journey" by Aaron Bec...

Are you a Christian? How long have you been a believer? Are you the same as when you first believe? Are you back in a time when everything seems to be the same? Do you feel stuck? Do you feel lost? Do you feel like life is just a routine mess? Are you heading towards a midlife crisis without being or not even close to your "midlife"?   New York Times bestselling author,  Max Lucado   asks us those questions in his latest book,  " Glory Days ".   And he explains that we are in the wilderness. We are in the wilderness of our walk with Christ.  Drawing parallels to the Israelites' 40 year journey in the desert, Mr. Lucado opens our eyes as we read to follow the stories in Joshua, and reach our Promised Land, our inheritance.  We too, as we hold on to God and with His help, learn to discern His voice and move forward, and leave the wilderness. I've been a fan of Mr. Lucado's works, and "Glory Days" is no different, also in a good way. It is...

A beautiful little girl that's a genie! What a great start for a children's novel?  That is the case with " Eden's Wish "  by M. Tara Crowl from Disney-Hyperion Books.  Eden is a 12 years-old genie, from a long line of genies that inhabited the infamous lamp.  Two guardians, Xavier and Goldie oversees the education and welfare of Eden.  She lives a life like a little princess, in  what Xavier and Goldie claims "like paradise".  However, for Eden, the world outside on Earth is what pulls at her heart. As she grants wishes to the lucky "Aladdins" out there, she herself wish to be free of the lamp and granting wishes. When she accidentally find a gateway to leave the lamp, will her dream paradise on Earth be what she's always wished for? As you read the description, it sounds interesting enough to myself and my little niece and nephew.  The start was a little more dry than expected with such a great premise, and my little niece and neph...

God is a God of coincidences. Through these coincidences, He reveals Himself to us. Some may grasp it the very first time, and some, like me need a few more to see Him.  Here is my story of how I found God's blessing in coincidences.  I was so excited! Our first pregnancy and we're on our way to our first visit with the OB-Gyn. For those who know, you have to wait until you're at least 6 weeks along to make an appointment, and then if there's no availability, you'll have to wait some more.  If calculations were correct, I was already 8 weeks along, inching towards 9 by the time an opening was available.  It's early morning, right after rush hour. As my husband drove along, I looked out to beautiful Spring foliage.    "How many times have you heard me cry out, 'God please take this'? How many times have you given me strength to Just keep breathing? Oh, I need you. God, I need you now."   A nice tempo, and nice lyrics caught my attenti...

'Til we meet again. What simple and romantic words. Doesn't it sound like something from a classic black and white film or can't you just image Rhett Butler saying it to Scarlett O'Hara?  Well, " 'Til We Meet Again " by Ray & Betty Whipps  with Craig Borlase is just that. A true story meant to be a classic. Ray Whipps, started as an infantryman during the Second World War, and Betty, a field nurse stationed in Cherbourg, France.  They fell in love and vowed to wed after the war.   "'Til We Meet Again"  is not just a story, it's a memoir of love and faith during a war. This book is narrated through Ray's perspective with letters written by Betty interspersed throughout.  From his perspective and her letters, we see as spectators how God was their strength and comfort during times of turmoil, and  how He brought these two together.  It's a beautiful love story. As we see the war through Ray's eyes, I'm impressed a...

Would you, if you can ask for wings? Does that mean you can fly instead of taking life one step at a time?  " We Never Asked for Wings "  by Vanessa Diffenbaugh  provides us with a story of a family, trying to make it work, intermix with current social issues of class, young love, bullying and undocumented and documented immigration. I've never read "The Language of Flowers" , but I've heard many great things about it.  So I did not have much expectations reading "We Never Asked for Wings" , just that Ms. Diffenbaugh is a best selling author, and this is her second novel.  The title is beautiful. The image of the little girl is beautiful, whom I pictured as Luna, the cute little girl with funny dialogue and antics that makes you smile.  The story is sad, inspiring for some and ultimately beautiful in its own right.  Ms. Diffenbaugh gave us a story to think about. A story that gives us inspiration to hope for a better life with Letty, in her...

Barbour Publishing has again put together a wonderful collection of Christian based novellas by great authors in one book, titled  " The Convenient Bride Collection ". What do you think?  Convenient bride, you ask? Well, it basically is a marriage of convenience and with a start as such, how will the bride and groom proceed in their marriage? Will love come? Will they be good partners in life? We have 9 stories, each by a different author and each a story of how romance can grow from marriage partnerships formed out of necessity. This is a wonderful collection.  Nowadays, it's hard to imagine people marrying for convenience rather than love, but back in those days, it's possibly more common than not.   With mail-order brides and arranged marriages, what's so different with marrying someone you just don't know, but is opportune for both parties?  We have nine different stories, from marrying for honor, as in "The Substitute Wife"  by Amanda ...

" A Jewish Baker's Pastry Secrets " by George Greenstein with Elaine Greenstein, Julia Greenstein and Isaac Bleicher.  As you see printed on the cover, it consists of recipes from a New York baking legend (George Greenstein) for strudel, stollen, danishes, puff pastry and more. This is a follow-up to George's James Beard award-winning "Secrets of a Jewish Baker" cookbook.  For me, this will be my first cookbook from George. As a New Yorker, I've heard of George Greenstein and his pastries, but have not the opportunity to visit his bakery.  I'm not even sure it's still around.  Sadly, George passed away in 2012.  His children and grandchildren finished George's final cookbook to "honor and mourn him" (p2). Back to this review, sort of - more like my thoughts.  I am not a baker. Definitely not. Not that I don't want to bake. I've tried on multiple occasions, and about 8 out of 10 times, I've failed.  On my husband...

I want to open with the same verse Kate Breslin did in her latest novel, " Not by Sight ".  'For we live by faith, not by sight.' - 2 Corinthians 5:7 A very simple verse, but who can believe and follow as simply as it says?  We are all like Grace Mabry and Jack Benningham, the main characters of Ms. Breslin's "Not by Sight".  Will they be able to trust God and each other, when the ugliness of war is so close by? Even though this book is set in the times of WWI, we are not in the war zone, but back in Great Britian, the home front of Grace and Jack as they tackle their own preconceived notions, and with a real spy amidst them.  When all what seems to be true confront them head on, will they learn what real courage is? Will they know what it means to live by faith and not by sight?  This is one that is not only for Jack, as his relationship with our Lord Almighty may not be on the best of terms.  Will Grace, a faithful servant of the Lord be able...

I am speechless.  I don't know what to say. Amber C. Haines ' " Wild in the Hollow " rendered me speechless many times over during the course of reading her story. Do you know what broken is? Do you know how to describe when you're broken? Do you know what to say when you encounter God in the most abrupt and gentle way? Do you know how to describe all your encounters so vividly through words that makes the most impact without straining through your voice or your body language?  Amber Haines does.  She shared her life with us through words that seems to float.  It's words as such that gives meaning to how beautiful our God-given language is.  Her artistic prose allows us to relate.  You may not have encountered  the same experiences or made the same choices as she did, but how she relates her thoughts, her desires and her journey with God ties us together.  Her words are your words your thoughts one time or another. The intimacy she relat...

"Recorder and Randsell" is a bestselling English-adaptation of a manga series by Meme Higashiya.  The artwork by Higashiya are beautifully done to illustrate the extreme of both characters.  Atsumi, the older sister is short and have a baby face that many mistaken her for a grade school child, when in fact she's already a high school sophomore.  Her younger brother, Atsushi is in fact the one in grade school (5th grade), but with the outward appearance of a early-mid twenties adult. Due to the extreme portrayal of the drawings and the storyline, there are times it provides a comedic outburst.  True, it's funny, but in all, the repetitive jokes can get to be too much, especially the one where Atsushi are taken away by authorities or good Samaritans that thinks he's a pedophile, when he's just walking home with classmates, some female.  As you can see, many of the jokes are definitely beyond a PG-rating.  It's a good laugh, but I would give it a pass an...

What is your favorite holiday and time of the year? Mine? It's during the Christmas season. What makes it special? It's the birthday of our Lord Jesus, a time of blessings, special love and gifts and joy and happiness, all in one.  It is because of the warm fuzzy feeling one (at least I do) gets around the Christmas season, I love to read novels set around that time.  When I am down or need a little cheering, I tend to gravitate towards a good Christmas story - the birth of Jesus, the Christmas stories from Richard Paul Evans (such as Lost December, The Christmas Box...etc.) and the many many great Christmas love stories.  And with that I was thrilled to receive a copy of " The 12 Brides of Christmas Collection ".  "The 12 Brides of Christmas Collection" is one book, with all 12 short stories. They are currently released and told separately on Amazon.   Mary Connealy, Margaret Brownley, Pam Hillman, Maureen Lang, Michele Ule, Amy Lillard, Miralee Ferrell...

Dr. Che Ahn's "God wants to Bless You!"  offers a wonderful compilation of God's nature, to bless us and what it means.  He easily interwoven scripture with testimonies in his writing to captivate readers in this very simple knowledge. God WANTS to bless us. Yes! Us - the common folks, the ones that don't deserve His love, and He still  wants to bless us. And THAT is what Dr. Ahn attempts to relay in this concise little handbook.  It's up to the reader as to what they get out of it. In two parts, Dr. Ahn first provided us with The Power of Blessings , and next The Decrees of Blessings.   Together, we have a book that gives us encouragement and build our knowledge of God's blessings to us.  God bless us every single day of our lives, but how many of us really sees it? I enjoyed this book, and true, there are parts that are a little "dry" for a simple day on the couch, but once you pass that hump, it reads smoothly.  His points were backed b...

Thank you all for participating in the July 2015 Inspirational Fiction Giveaway . Congratulations to Terrill R (winner of "Summer's List") & Alyssa Z (winner of "Love Unexpected"), the winners of the July 2015 giveaway. Please contact me via the contact form on the top right sidebar of this blog with your name and mailing address. Another option is to private message me on Facebook . I will mail out your prizes this week. Thank you for reading my posts. For full blog information and links to giveaways, head over to the blog: http://justcommonly.blogspot.com.

"A Bride at Last"  by Melissa Jagears  is the last full novel (not including the unofficial novella, " Blinded by Love"  in the " Convenient Bride Collection" ) of the Unexpected Bride series.  To be honest, I have not read any of the previous novels in the series, and didn't realize there was a series.  At least it was not noted in the cover or description of the book.  With that said, " A Bride at Last"  can be read as a standalone novel.  Back to " A Bride at Last".  This is a story about rising above the brokenness and not let your past or your fears of the past get in the way of the love God has in store for you.  It is about broken individuals coming together to be a family. Kate Dawson is a "runner". She runs from her past and what she deems unacceptable in relationships and lands as a teacher to nine year old Anthony, who's dying mother's last wish was for Kate to take care of Anthony.  Then comes S...