Praise And Worship Meets Rock And Roll

A Review of Unlikely Praise, By: Carla Rossi
Published by White Rose Publishing, March 2012

Cover Copy:

A tattooed rocker and an uptight music teacher-who says God doesn't have a sense of humor? Candi Canaberry has been the worship leader at Cornerstone Fellowship since the doors opened. Candi has dedicated her life to praise and worship, so when Cornerstone explodes into mega-church territory, Candi is sure she'll be the one to take her team to the next level-isn't she the obvious choice? Apparently not. Church leadership has other ideas. She's given a partner to share her duties. But a one-time rocker with zero praise and worship experience? Recently saved Samuel "Shade" Blackledge is new to Cornerstone Fellowship. He's convinced a strong church family is what will help keep his head above water as he turns from things of the past and builds a new life. The Ex-Dead Lizard rock guitarist is shocked when the pastor suggests he might be just what the worship team needs. But could God really want a tattooed veteran of the club scene? And what about his less-than-Godly lifestyle to this point-not the least of which is a baby girl he's never seen? Worship practice has never been this interesting as Candi and Shade work their way towards each other-and Unlikely Praise.

This book really struck a chord with me. Ha! You get it? It struck a chord! But seriously, I found that I could relate to one of the characters in the book. No, it wasn’t Candi it was Shade. Like him, I had a rather sordid past and had a hard time understanding the workings of a church and “church people” when I first turned my life over to The Lord.

The characterization in Unlikely Praise is so well done. Carla makes you feel as though Candi and Shade could be a couple people you might actually meet at church. They have real life problems like Candi, who judges those she doesn’t understand or Shade, who doesn’t think he’s good enough to be used by God.

I really loved this book. The great story line and amazing characters allow me to heartily recommend it to anyone. Author Mary Manners says: Carla Rossi is a gifted writer who draws the reader in with talent and grace. I absolutely love her work.

I met Carla Rossi at a meeting of our local writer’s group. I’d seen her there a time or two and thought she was just another pre-published author like myself, trying to learn another morsel of information I can use to catapult myself toward publication. It wasn’t until Carla came and spoke to our group that I realized she’s a real, multi-published author. It’s still hard for me to understand how these people can seem so down to earth after being published. When I get a contract, I’m relatively sure I’ll drop all my old friends. After all, I’ll be much too good for them. ALL KIDDING ASIDE…it’s so nice to be able to talk to other authors and find out the common issues all authors deal with.

Carla Rossi is a multi-published, award-winning author as well as a cancer survivor, life-long music minister, and speaker. She has been writing inspirational romance for Pelican Book Group since 2007. Carla lives north of Houston with her husband. She has three grown children and two grandchildren.

Alias Thomas A. Katt By: Bob Stewart

Alias Thomas A. Katt was a very fun read! Bob Stewart based the cat in the book on his own feline pal. The book has a twist I haven't seen since Disney's, The Shaggy Dog. Thomas the cat is in the middle of receiving the blessing of Saint Expedite when he suddenly trades places with his owner's boyfriend. He then finds out the cop boyfriend is really a criminal and a murderer. The fur starts to fly when Thomas must figure out a way to protect his beloved mistress, Mallory from the evil person she's falling for. 

Bob does a wonderful job of showing the human plight through the eyes of a kitty cat. The book is based in present day New Orleans and the description and setting are spot on. Loved the book. 

Here's the back cover copy:
When Mallory opens the cage at the animal rescue center I trot out, right into her heart. She names me Thomas, a natural enough moniker for a male cat. It is a pampered life until I enter the surreal world of “feline noir” which twists my fondest dream into my worst nightmare after switching bodies with my mistress’ boyfriend, Tom A. Katt.

My fondest dream? To have human interaction with Mallory, not limited to purring and mewing.


My worst nightmare? Mallory is now on the hit list of a killer…

The dilemma: To save her by learning to successfully masquerade as a human. My knowledge of the human world is limited to television, movies, and the books Mallory reads to me on rainy New Orleans afternoons. And, how do you use those pesky opposable digits, anyway?

The horns of the dilemma: There’s always a chance we’ll switch back, leaving Mallory in deadly peril.

Hallelujah The Lord God Almighty Reigns

It happened last Sunday evening during the worship service. The evening’s featured soloist, accompanied by his own mother on piano, sang Were You There When They Crucified My Lord. Then the youth choir sang a beautiful a cappella song of praise and worship. You know it’s good when the music minister smiles from ear to ear following their performance. Then he cued the instrumentalists to begin the next song… Agnus Dei. It says:

Alleluia, alleluia, for the Lord God Almighty reigns
Alleluia, alleluia, for the Lord God Almighty reigns
Alleluia, holy, holy are You Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb, worthy is the Lamb
You are holy, holy are you Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb

Listen here:

Michael W. Smith - Agnus Dei

The song comes directly from Revelation 19:6 when John says, “Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.”

As we sang the words of the song, it truly felt like God was right there in the sanctuary with me. Of course I’ve felt God’s presence many times before, but I don’t remember ever feeling like this. It was all I could do to remain standing. I felt overwhelmingly compelled to fall to my knees and if I hadn’t sat on the second row that evening, I might just have.

God knows our hearts, He knows the trials we are going through, past, present and future. I think through the words of that song He was reassuring me He would be by my side, no matter what I might be facing.

I’m so happy and blessed to serve a God and Savior who is worthy...of all honor and all praise.

“I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.” Psalm 18:3

Picture courtesy of: Ben Ehmke on Flickr 

The Circle Girls: Once Upon A Witch, by Anya Novikov

I recently read, The Circle Girls: Once Upon A Witch, by Anya Novikov and thoroughly enjoyed it! 

Don’t worry; the book isn’t really about witchcraft! I came across this book browsing the Pelican Book Group website after having read another one of their books, Homeschooling Can Be Murder (previously reviewed). 

The author wrote this book in a very cool and interesting way. The main character, Delli, short for Deliverance, is a present day girl living a life that parallels that of another girl, also named Deliverance, from the 1692 Salem witch trials. Delli has dreams about this other Deliverance and blames it on the fact that she’s currently studying about the witch trials. That alone might have put her over the edge were it not for her strong relationship with Christ. 

The book has a positive message about how it’s okay to be different from everyone else, no matter what other people may think. This aspect is shown mostly through her parents who are devout Christians even though they act like hippies from the sixties. There’s also a strong theme about how spreading rumors and lying can hurt people worse than actual being physically abused. 

I honestly didn’t pick up on the aspect that the two girls had parallel lives until the end of the book. It’s very well written. I would recommend this book to anyone (preferably female) over the age of thirteen. I’m way past thirteen and I loved it!

Dog Gone It Vinnie! – Adventures With Vinnie, By: Donna Winters

Having adopted my own shelter dog, Max, seven years ago, Fred and Donna Winters’ story was one close to my heart. The retired couple from Michigan obviously cares a great deal about giving shelter animals a chance. After the loss of one of their dogs they decide to give an older dog a chance to have a ‘forever’ home and chose Vinnie from the Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter, or U.P.A.W.S. for short. Donna’s book, Adventures With Vinnie, is the true story of the Winters’ life with their Doberman Lab mix named Vinnie.

Because of everything I went through with Max, I could really relate to Donna’s telling of Vinnie’s antics during her own obedience training. But unlike me, she didn’t get nearly as frustrated as I sometimes did, even though Vinnie did some things that would really scare a pet owner.

The book deals with real life situations that every pet parent must go through. The good, the bad and even the very sad. I will mention that I was put off at some parts when the author describes her dog pooping and puking…yuck! On the other hand, the reader is allowed an even closer glimpse at Vinnie’s life, since there are 12 color pictures of him in the book.

It’s a short read at only 60 pages long and could easily be finished in one or two sittings. I loved the book and would recommend it to young and old alike. After all, it’s about a dog, and who doesn’t like dogs? But in reality, Vinnie’s story is a very real, raw, telling of what it’s like to love a hard to love animal.

Note: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and no monetary compensation was received for my review.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

There once was an old country song leader from Lufkin, Texas who served at the church I attend. Every year at Vacation Bible School time he would teach the kids the ABC song. The lyrics say:


A-Admit, tell God you are a sinner, and ask Him to help you become a winner!

B-Believe, that Christ Jesus is God’s Son and that God sent Jesus to save everyone!

C-Commit, give your life to the Lord, and ask Him to be your (clap) Savior!

The cool thing about this song is that it really is that simple to become a Christian. Here’s my version of the ABC’s (Plus a P) of becoming a Christian.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

ADMIT – A person must ADMIT that he is a sinner and that the penalty for sin is death. If he can do that, then he is ready to accept God’s free gift.

FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD. ROMANS 3:23

FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD. ROMANS 6:23

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

BELIEVE – One must BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is the true Son of God and died on a cross to pay the price for their sins.

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. JOHN 3:16

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

COMMIT – Once a person ADMITS they are a sinner and BELIEVES in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, the next step it to COMMIT their life to the Lord. That means to let God be the boss of your life.

IF YOU DECLARE WITH YOUR MOUTH, “JESUS IS LORD,” AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED. ROMANS 10:9

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

PRAY – Pray a simple prayer asking Jesus to be your Savior and Lord.

Dear God, I ADMIT that I am a sinner and that I am in need of your forgiveness. Lord, I BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is Your Son and that You sent Jesus to die on the cross in payment of my sin debt. Lord I COMMIT my life to You and give You complete authority over my life. In Jesus name I pray, AMEN!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!