Christmas at Harrington's

As I've mentioned before, I love reading books by authors I've come to know and love to read. So I was super excited to see that Melody Carlson had a new Christmas book out!! I loved last year's "The Christmas Dog" so I had some high expectations when I saw this book! I wasn't disappointed in the least bit, the book was wonderful. Its a great Christmas story of redemption and forgiveness, of the joy of giving the the benefits of loving.
This is one of those books that will be on my main book shelf for a long time, and will be read a great many times as well. Its a beautiful Christmas story that warms the heart and opens our eyes to the wonder's of how much God loves His children!
I highly recommend this book!!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Within My Heart

I generally don't starting a book in a series before I read the first book, I sometimes have a hard time understanding the characters and can feel the lack of a back story. This book was quite different though, although I hadn't read the previous two books in the series I really didn't fee like I was missing out on important information, or coming in to the middle of the story! Honestly I think this book would easily stand on its own, and doesn't really feel like its a series book! (and now I have to look of the rest of the books in the series, this one was so good that I can't wait to read the rest!)
I love historical books too, so this book was really up my alley!
The main character in the story is Rachel Boyd, who after loosing her husband finds herself raising two energetic (and slightly unruly at times) boys on her own. Throughout the book we share in her struggles and frustrations as she goes on with life. 
This was a fantastic read, I loved it! (And ended up sitting up half the night reading it, it was too good to put down!!)


"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Flourish: Discover the Daily Joy of Abundant, Vibrant Living

I've said it many times on here, I'm not much of a fan of the self-help genre of books, I find they tend to give a band aid, all encompassing solution to people's unique problems. So I wasn't horribly excited to start this book, and prepared myself to sit down for a long read. I'm so glad though that I was mistaken! Catherine Hart Weber provided a book that didn't just try to give a band aid solution to people's problems, but instead gave some great insights and provided the tools! I loved that she included some real life situations within her book, it helped show me personally how to apply some of the principles she was teaching about. I would have preferred more scripture within the book (I'm one of those of the opinion that when you write a Christian based book, that Scripture should be an important part of it), but then again, I'm not an author so I don't know anything about writing a book! As a PW my life is a constant surrounding of stressful situations, so I have to say I really enjoyed that portion of her book. I found the tools she provided were quite helpful in dealing with those day to day stresses!
Overall, I think I would easily recommend this book to anyone, regardless of their beliefs and place in life. I think the book offers some good to everyone!


"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

The Power of Persistent Prayer: Praying with Greater Purpose and Passion

What an absolutely fantastic book! I've heard so much about Cindy Jacobs but hadn't really had much of a chance to read any of her books. So I was really excited when I saw that one of her books were up for review!
I really enjoyed reading this book, I found that alot of what she wrote about was although simple (Especially the first chapter) but at the same time quite deep and something I really needed to read! Her first Chapter "Why to pray" was something that we as Christians should already know, but it was so great to be reminded and see some of that through new eyes!
I really found that Jacobs got right to the heart of not only why to pray, how to pray with purpose, but also I found she really helped deepen my prayer life. Even though I've been a Christian for a long time, I found I was learning a lot, especially when it came to fasting and warfare. There are so many things as Christians that we tend to sometimes over look or take for granted, and Jacobs not only brought them back into light, but also challenged me to have a deeper understand (Which also deepened my relationship with Christ and my prayer life).
I Highly recommend this book, I think its something that Everyone should read!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Tysdale Compititions!!

I wanted to fill you in on an exciting contest that is currently being run and sponsored by the New Living Translation. We’re highlighting three ministries, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Oasis International, and The Dream Center, (click on the link to learn more details about these ministries) and by voting for one of these ministries you’ll be entered to win one of many prizes.








To enter, visit the NLT Facebook page by clicking:  http://www.facebook.com/NewLivingTranslation?v=app_28134323652&ref=ts






There are several levels of prizes you can win, here are the details:



With the Give the Word Bible Contest and Giveaway:

• Ministries win: Each time the NLT Facebook Page reaches a fan count milestone, votes will be tallied and the three ministries will receive cash donations from the New Living Translation and Tyndale House Publishers.

• Everyone wins: Everyone who enters on the Bible Contest website wins a free download of Matthew West reading the Christmas story.

• Daily NLT Study Bible winners: Vote on the NLT Facebook page and you will be entered to win two NLT Study Bibles—one to keep and one to give away. A new winner will be chosen every day.

• Weekly Give the Word Locally winners: Tell us about a deserving local ministry on the NLT Bible Contest website and they could win five NLT Study Bibles and $250 worth of NLT products.

• One Grand Prize winner will enjoy a unique trip customized just for them and their family (or three guests of their choice), to Wycliffe Bible Translators world headquarters and the WordSpring Discovery Center where they will experience firsthand the exciting world of Bible translation. The Grand Prize winner could also choose to donate the value of the trip--$2000--to Wycliffe instead.

Amish love

After reading one of the previous compilation Amish books (An Amish Christmas) I was beyond excited to see that they were putting together another one! I loved the first book, (its the book that got me hooked on Amish fiction!) so I had some very high expectations for this book! I have to say, they did not disappoint!! "Amish love" was well put together and even more than what I expected. The book consists of three short "novellas" focusing around the lives of three different Characters. In the first story we have "A Marriage of the Heart" by Kelly Long,  with the story focusing around 2 Characters, one a young girl looking for a way to escape her dominating father, and a young man looking to find his way back into the Amish community. They marry for convenience but along the way something more blossoms!
The second novella is "What the Heart Sees" by Kathleen Fuller, and focuses around a young woman who after being involved in a horrific accident not only looses her eyesight, but a good friend as well. Throughout the novella we see her struggles and secrets that she holds onto!
And Finally the last novella is "The Healing Hearts" by Beth Wiseman, and focuses on a woman who's husband left to visit family and didn't return until 11 months later. As they struggle to find forgiveness and a way to live together again, we can slowly see love starting to blossom once again.
All in all, i loved this book, and would highly recommend it to anyone!!

Bonhoeffer: pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy

I have to begin by saying how much I truly love reading books about the courage and bravery of those who stood up against the evil that was the Nazi party. Its one thing for us today to stand up and say its wrong and pay no cost/punishment for it. But for those who not only were in the midst of it, who not only said it was wrong, but also stood up against the evil that took place. I have the deepest respect and admiration for them, and hope that the lessons I've learned from them will make me even half the person they've shown to be.
It took me a bit to get into this book, it was so unlike many that I've read (not in a bad way though). It was thought provoking, one can't read this book mindlessly looking solely for entertainment. Bonhoeffer was one of those books that although its a difficult read is well worth the effort to hear the amazing acts of courage displayed. Honestly, this is one of those books that I don't care what religion you are, You NEED to read this. It gives you a deeper respect and look into the sacrifices that so many went to to defeat such an evil empire. Its one thing to live a life of faith, (such as Bonhoeffer did) but to face certain death and hold unwaveringly to that faith is something to be commended.
Truly, this is a book that I will be recommending to anyone and everyone.


"Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller.

A time to Embrace

I cannot say enough good things about Karen Kingsbury's books! I absolutely love reading all her books and am so excited to have a chance to review this one!


Like many of her other Books Kingsbury brings her characters to life, giving them depth and giving enough detail on them that you begin feeling like you know them! I've read "A time to dance" and loved that book so I knew that this one would be fantastic as well! (I wasn't disappointed)

The book focuses on the main characters Abby and John and after living through huge trials and temptations (you can read about that in "A time to dance"!) they are faced yet again with tragedy. Kingsbury takes us through their struggles, pains and joys as they face this new chapter of their life.

Wonderful book, I fully recommend it!!

More Glimpses of Heaven

Honestly, I have to say that I really struggled through this book, not because it was poorly written (it was quite the opposite actually!) but because of the heart wrenching moments shared in the book. Having recently had a friend loose her child (who we had been close to) to cancer, I really had a hard time reading about the passing of children. But at the same time, their last moments were so inspiring that I really did find a level of comfort in them too. This certainly isn't a cheerful make you feel good book, however it is an impactful and awe-inspiring read that really lifts your faith and helps you to see Christ in each situation. There were so many time in reading this book that I'd have tears pouring down my face while at the same time praising my Savior for being so good.
It is a book worth getting, I really think that it would be quite beneficial for people to read these stories.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.



Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

The Waiting

I can't even begin to tell you how absolutely thrilled I was to see the second book in the Lancaster series up for review!! I have 100% fallen in love with reading about the Amish (and it was actually Suzanne Woods Fisher's first book "The choice" that got me hook on Amish fiction!!) and their simple faith, even in the midst of struggles.
The main character Jorie King, was so likeable and so easy to identify with that it really brought the novel into focus for me. Even when I wasn't reading the book I'd find myself throughout the day recalling the events in the book and impatiently waiting to dive right back into it!
It was no surprise to me that "The Waiting" was an amazing novel, I've come to expect them from Suzanne Woods Fisher, she has a certain writing style that really draws the reader in and makes them feel like a part of the story!


"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.



Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Emily's Chance

I'm not a huge lover of romance novels so I went into this book a little weary about what I would be finding. And though it does seem to hold strongly to a fairly typical romance there is a depth of faith that the characters have that exceeds what I've read in previous romances. After a fire sweeps through town Emily is brought on to (re-) set up the museum. While there she catches the eye of Chance Callahan and faces a struggle of living up to the expectations set out for her or choosing love. Although it is very much a romance novel there was enough meat to the story that I still found it quite enjoyable. I appreciated that the characters had a lot of depth (Which i generally don't find in most romances), and loved the message that this book shared!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.



Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

While we're far apart

I have read Lynn Austin's books in the past and have absolutely fallen in love with them, so I was incredibly excited to see that one of her books was up for review!! And she doesn't disappoint with this novel either, it was one of those books that I just couldn't put down till I read the last page. Each time the characters faced a struggle or looked like they were in danger I found myself tensing up and trying to read as fast as I could in order to find out what happens next! I love books that really pull you in and get you involved like that! The story focuses for the most part around a character named Penny, who volunteers to take care of the children of the man she loves. Throughout the novel we walk with her as she faces trials and let downs, discouragements and joys. At the beginning of the book the characters almost seem too simple, and it isn't until you finish reading that you realize the absolute depth of their personalities that Austin has put into her book!
If you're into Christian ficition, you absolutely HAVE to read this book!!


"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.



Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

The Preacher's Bride

I have to say, at the beginning of the book I was a little unsure if I would actually like it. It took some getting used to in order to follow and flow nicely with how the characters were speaking. But Really, it was well worth it to plow on through. What a wonderful book! As I've mentioned many times on this blog, I absolutely love historical novels and especially if they are based on real happenings! It wasn't until I got to the end of the book and read the little expert there that I realized (found out) that the man Jody Hedlund wrote about was the author of "Pilgrims Progress"!! (Seriously, I totally gasped out loud when I read that, lol).
The book is based on John Costin and the pain he is living through after loosing his wife and facing persecution from the Royalists. He receives help with his children from Elizabeth Whitbread, and through a number of turns, dangers and mishaps a budding romance appears.
Seriously this book needs to be read, especially if you've read "Pilgrim's Progress" before. It'll give you such a great insight into the life of John Costin and the struggles he faced as he wrote that book!
Absolutely wonderful, I just can't say enough about this book!!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.



Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

The Grace of God

I loved this book,  I don't think I can adequately portray how much I appreciated what the author taught me on the grace of God. I've rarely read a book that has effected me this much, its one of those books you're blessed to have come across, that not only changes your perspective on who God is but causes you to fall in love with Him all over again. There isn't enough good I can say about this, it brought me to tears.  At the end of the book I loved the quote "In God's story, you are the focus of a celebration. Not what you've done. You." What a simple yet vast truth, and how good it is to be reminded of this! This is one of the first books where I not only will recommend it to everyone I have a chance to, but I'm insisting those around me read it. How life changing for everyone who takes a moment to read it! How wonderful it would be to have our churches not only hear this message but run full tilt with it! Like I said, this book changed me. Its changed (For the better) everything I considered that I knew about God, and it changed how I react to different situation.
Seriously, if you haven't read this book you NEED to.


"Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available October 2010 at your favourite bookseller. "

Making waves

what an adorable book! I really loved this book, it was quite cute! I loved the main character (Marguerite Westing ) and her headstrong, spunky attitude. I loved that she didn't allow society and the times to dictate to her what was appropriate for her and her gender! I love reading about strong women and this character very much fit that mold.
The book mainly focuses around Marguerite and her upcoming potential marriage to someone who she doesn't love. Throughout the book she denies even the idea of marrying Roger until family circumstances start getting in the way. When family loyalty starts getting in the way of true love Marguerite finds herself in a tug of war of emotions, of love vs. loyalty.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Don't look back

I love when we get to review sequels to books that we've already read, its like meeting up with old friends! Just like the first book in the "woman of Justice" series "Don't look back" was absolutely fantastic. It was full of suspense and mystery! It was one of those books that you get so into that its difficult to even put the book down!
The book mostly focuses around the character Jamie Cash who survived a very brutal kidnapping and is just starting to really get back into the world again and live her life. In the midst of it all her kidnapper (and potential killer) returns to finish the job. The book was full of twists and turns and really very entertaining. This is one of those books that I think I'll be reading over and over again.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Hope undaunted

I really liked this book for different reasons than usual, most books try to follow the road of everything lining up and working out great for their characters. However Julie Lessman's book "Hope Undaunted" was a much more realistic book. I loved that she showed the character's struggles and doubts. I also love that she didn't just try and make everything work out great for everyone involved. I found it really made the book much more realistic. I love that sometimes the characters' (especially Katie O'Connor) plans were shaken up or didn't pan out. I love that she was able to show that even when things don't go the way that we plan, that God's hand is still there.
I would 100% recommend this book, it was heart wrenching and thought provoking. I think anyone reading this will not only be challenged in their way of thinking but also in their faith. A very good read!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Head in the clouds

Honestly, I kind of expected this book to be more of a corny, silly romance (of which I'm not a big fan). I can happily say though that I was greatly mistaken! Seriously, I LOVED this book, not only was it very entertaining, it was also very suspenseful. It took me only one day to read the book, not because it was a short book but because it was such a good read that I spent half the night reading it. It was just too good to put down!
The book is about Adelaide Proctor a young woman who tries to force God's hand in providing her a mate. After a very thorough humiliation Adelaide takes on a job as a governess on a ranch/farm. After many mishaps and scary moments Adelaide is surprised to find love blossoming. This book was full of suspense, I really loved it. I would recommend this to anyone, even if they're not into christian literature!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Embers of Love

I am a huge Tracie Peterson fan and very much enjoy her books, so when I saw that one of her books was part of the review blog event I was super excited! And I have to say, it was right up in line with the level of entertainment and interest of all her other books. I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Embers of love" I really like historical novels so of course I loved this book!
The book focuses mostly around Deborah Vandermark, a young woman who after finishing a higher education returns to her home town to help out at her family's business. In the midst of trying to please everyone around her Deborah (slowly) learns that she needs to follow her own heart, and God's will for her life.
I would 100% recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of historical fiction, I loved this book!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

God's promises for women of faith

What an adorable book! When I received the book I instantly fell in love with the cover, it reminds me of a scrapbook, quite cute!
I was more expecting a devotional booklet rather than a book full of scriptures. But honestly I think I like this way more than if it was a devotional. I love reading devotionals, but I think we sometimes lean too heavily on reading about God's word instead of getting into God's word. I love how the book has so many different sections (God walks with women through failure, praise His goodness, etc...) that organize the scripture into themes. It makes it simple for those times where we need specific encouragement and are able to find it right away!
I highly recommend this book, my copy is already well worn (and I've only had it for a short while!) and has become an invaluable part of my devotional walk.

YHWH

I loved this book, it really brought the stories from the OT to life and caused you to really dive deeper into understanding them! I loved that the book was written in a format that reads more like a novel, it was easy to read through but still held a lot of insight.
Throughout reading the book there were many times in the midst of a story I'd be finding myself flipping through my Bible to check out a part of the story that I hadn't noticed before! I really found that reading through this book caused me to get more interested in my Bible as well. It opened my eyes to looking a bit deeper into the scripture. Plus it brought these characters to life a bit more, it was in modern language that was easier to follow and made you feel a part of the story. I'll be recommending this book to anyone with an interest in the Bible!




"Book has been provided courtesy of Authentic Media and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller."

Have a new you by friday

I don't like self help books, Its just my personality/what I enjoy, but if find them generally unrealistic to follow and truthfully quite boring. However, this book was quite different from the self help books out there. I found Leman to be quite insightful and funny throughout the book, and quite enjoyed the read!
There were some things that I found not to my liking, I think the Personality Traits of ______ (first born, middle, etc...) section was a little too structured. I don't lay any claim to know anything of psychology, but there were some things that I found seemed a little too boxed in. I don't think that the traits are necessarily true of every person, so it bugged me a wee bit. That said though, it really was the only part of the book that bothered me.
I really liked this book, and can already think of a few people who I'll be recommending it to!


"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Choosing to see

This book broke my heart while at the same time shinned encouragement into it. Knowing (From the news) parts of the tragedy that the Chapman family had gone through I was really interested to see what Mary Beth had to say. I loved her book, there were moments that caused me to cry, and others to smile. It really made me reflect on  my own walk with God, and encouraged my growth and trust in Him as well.  I loved this book, it was difficult to read, not because it wasn't written well, but because there were hard questions asked, (And great answers to those questions as well). I love her show of courage and trust in the midst of tragedy, she has greatly encouraged me in my walk with God. This is definitely a book I'll be sharing with many others.


"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

The Thorn

I've just recently started getting into Beverly Lewis books, and found that I really love her style of writing. I was already a big fan of reading about the Amish culture, so when I found out that we had a chance to review this book, I jumped at the opportunity!
The book focuses really on mostly two characters; Rose Ann (the youngest) who is finding herself drawn to the bishops wayward foster son and Hen who struggles to regain her heritage after marrying an outsider.
It was quite a good book, the flow of the story was great and it really drew my interest throughout the story. I find that I'm quite excited to look for the sequel of this book now, I just can't wait to find out how their story ends!
I really recommend this book to fiction readers, its well thought out and an easy read yet without being mindless. (It makes you think throughout the book, but in a really good way)


"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

In every heartbeat

I really loved and got into the book "In every heartbeat" by Kim Vogel Sawyer, I think she'll be a regular author for me from now on!
The book revolves around three orphans who go off together to college, and are facing many different challenges and tough situations.
Although The characters were nothing like myself, I found that they were quite easy to relate with and understand. The book had a great flow and was quite interesting throughout the entire story, I had a very hard time putting it down and actually got through it in only a couple of days. (It was just too good of a book to stop reading, so lots of late nights to get through it, lol)
I loved this book, It was a historical kind of romance book, but didn't have that corny romance feel to it that I hate. It was interesting but not mushy and unrealistic. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of fiction!


"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

City On our Knees

I just finished reading "City on our Knees" by Tobymac and absolutely loved it. I loved reading about the differences people were making in the world through prayer and through stepping out in God's power, love and authority! I really think this will be a life changing book for those who read it, its got such a powerful message throughout the entire book.
I'd really recommend this book to young adults and youth (Although I think its also something that everyone of any age should read too), but I really think the young people will get into the message of the book and will really enjoy reading it. Its quite inspirational and really sets your heart on fire to do the work of Christ here on earth.
I highly recommend this book!


"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Permission to speak freely

To be perfectly honest, I was a bit weary of this book. As a pastor's wife there are so many times (and books it seems) putting down the church and it's leadership. They take the personal responsibility away from each member (With leadership included) and place it solely on the Pastor's shoulder. So when I was beginning to read this book I was a bit hesitant to really get into it, thinking it was just another "lets blame the pastor" type of thing. I have to say though, I was pleasantly surprised and immensely enjoyed the book. This didn't push personal responsibility on others, it more focused on accepting our own responsibility and letting others know that they are struggling with the same things. I loved the chapter of the book where it talked about letting fear rule our lives and keeping us from speaking freely. I found that I was agreeing with a lot in there and felt personally convicted by some of it.
I'd highly recommend this book, its a really great example of exactly what the title describes, fear confession and grace.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller."

Immanuel's Veins

I have to start off saying I am a Huge Ted Dekker fan, I love his books, they're full of just the right amount of suspense and a wee bit of 'horror' without going overboard. At first I wasn't liking this book as much as previous ones of  his, however the deeper I got into his story them more I started liking it! I love at the end where he ties it into the Bible, I honestly did not see that coming at all!! Fantastic!
I think my only complaint about it was that it was a wee bit hard to follow at times, but other than that I enjoyed it immensely. Definitely one of the best books that I've read! I'd highly recommend it to any suspense or horror fan, you won't be disappointed!!

Out live Your Life

I had high expectations for Max Lucado's book "Out live your life", he is one of my very favorite non-fiction writers, so I generally enjoy all his books. This one didn't disappoint either, I love how he (Lucado) takes us through the book of acts, and includes stories about real life situations (Real life sounds bad, like I'm saying that the book of Acts isn't. Maybe modern life situations would fit there better). I have to say out of all of Lucado's books, this is one of two (Facing Your Giants, would be the other one)  that has really been a life changing read. Reading this book inspired me, challenged me, and forced me to look beyond myself, beyond my circumstances to see the world and its needs. Not only was this life changing for me, but I firmly believe that if the majority of Christians read this book and took it seriously, we would see Life Changing happenings going on in our world.
I love Lucado's passion, which can easily been seen throughout his book, and its contagious, when we read these things, it gives us the ability to believe that We too can be a part of the solution.
I 100% recommend this book to anyone, Honestly, its such a life changing book, that I'll be going out of my way to share it with others.

Love, Charleston

Honestly, I really didn't expect to like this book.  I don't know why I had the impression that It would be corny, but when i picked it up to read I settled myself in for a boring time. I'm so glad i was wrong! This turned out to be an amazing book! I had originally thought this would turn out to be a historical/love story kind of book, and those really aren't my thing.
The book is mostly focused around three women (2 who are sister's and their cousin) and the new minister who moves to town. Throughout the book we are introduced and follow along with the struggles that each has to face, and the different crises they are facing. I really appreciated the storyline about Lish and the struggles she faced, I thought it was quite an honest look at a not so nice thing. I appreciated the directness and almost brutality she used to describe the situations. There was no fluffing over of the post-partum depression, or any of the the other situations. I thought that part of the story was exceptionally well thought out and sincere.
Really, this book brings its readers straight into the story and holds them to the very end. There were so many things going on in the book that I didn't see coming. I absolutely loved this book and will be looking for more from this author! Definitely one I'd recommend to anyone and everyone!!

The Constantine Conspiracy

I'm really torn with this book, on one hand, i really loved the action in it. It was really well written and had many twists and turns throughout it that really kept you on your toes. But on the other hand, it went down the route of my biggest pet peeve, where it depicts Muslims, Atheists, etc.... (basically anyone other than a Christian belief,) as "enemies" of Christianity. I firmly believe that there is only one enemy of Christianity, and that is THE enemy. All others are just souls who need saving.
So while I thought that the Characters of the book were quite realistic and well written, and the story line was really attention grabbing, i struggle with the message the book seemed to be portraying. I feel like it plays into a mindset that many (who are outside of the faith) feel we (as Christians) hold. On that level, I would probably not recommend this book to non-believers or people who are new to the faith. However I would recommend it to those who are looking for an entertaining read, but are able to not really take the message (or part of it) to heart. ( I do like however that the book kept the main character Shannon, as someone who holds to her faith, despite the temptations to do otherwise, and I do think that the book showed a good gospel presentation.)

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Touching the clouds

This book combined two of my very favorite things, historical fiction, and living in the arctic. (Although its set in the U.S. and I'm in Canada, we do share some area's in common, and I lived for a while in the Canadian arctic).
The author used some great insight and really got down pat the idea of living in the north, of the struggles and hardships, but also the strength and determination that people living up there have.
The book focuses on Kate Evans, a young pilot looking to make her own way in the world and have an adventure while doing it! Throughout the book we are able to look at Kate's struggle of trying to be a female pilot in a generally male dominated profession. I love the fact that while the author showedhe struggles Kate had challenging the mindset of the day, she also allowed Kate to keep her femininity. I think this book has so many great messages, of the love of God, of being able to do the impossible, and that God will take care of us.
A fantastic book, that will be a very well read addition to my library!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Masquerade

I feel the need (yet again, lol) to mention how much I love historical fiction books, so I think it'll go without saying that I really enjoyed this book! When I read the discription on the back of the novel I was a bit weary though, the idea of switching roles in fiction has been done (and overdone) many times in my opinion. I was however greatly surprised and relieved to see that this book presented it in a new and very inspiring way. I love the lessons that Lottie (the heiress being forced into marriage to an American she's never met) learned after making the switch with Dora (Her personal maid who went on the trip with her). I also really liked the overall message of the book (Which was twofold): that God will direct our paths, and that love over everything else, is the most important.
I would 100% recommend this book to everyone, it isn't so preachy that a non-Christian wouldn't enjoy it, but its got enough gospel in there to satisfy the readers (and likers) of Christian fiction!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

The reluctant entertainer

I really loved this book, I'm a really girly-girl type of person so the whole cooking and table setting stuff is right up my alley. I am  however quite busy and have a hard time getting together a really great setting for company, so i absolutely loved how this book set out some great ideas! I also really loved the recipes they gave in the book, there are a couple there that have become favorites in my house already!
I love too that this book is acknowledging the (many times forgotten or under appreciated) God given gift of hospitality! This book in  a way free's us from the idea that we can only be hospitable and open our homes when we have things worked out perfectly, she (the author) shows us that the idea of entertaining isn't in having a perfect meal or setting, but in building relationships!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Amish Proverbs

Its so hard to pick just one of the proverbs as my favorite here, so I just HAVE to post two! (It took a lot but i dwindled the quote from a large list, to just 2, lol)
"Faith is the bridge over which we can cross all the unknown waters of tomorrow"
and
"You can't stumble when you are on your knees".
I can't say in my family we had a lot of good proverbs like this one, lol, there is actually only one I can recall my mother repeatedly saying to me. "Don't put money (coins) in your mouth, you don't know if someone might have had them in their pocked and peed on them." (yeah, as you can tell, we were full of class, lol)
I do just have to put a little review here saying how much I loved this book and all the photographs in it, a very lovely gift book!!!

Love on a Dime

This book centers around Lily westbrook and a secret that she's been keeping from not only her family but all their friends and acquaintances. Lily is a writer, not only that, but she also writes dime novels. Lily is torn between her love and writing and the benefits that this write enables her to do, and telling her family the truth about what she does. When her secret is discovered and she faces disclosure Lily goes to many lengths to to keep things quiet.
I really loved this book, it was cute, and had a great storyline and flow to it. The characters were likable (Except for the one's who weren't supposed to be) and quite believable. I found that while it included many Christian principles it wasn't preachy or self-righteous. I would 100% recommend this book to any avid romance reader, or even someone who's a fan of historical fiction.

The Bishop

Alright everyone, I have finished the book and I have to say, it was absolutely fantastic!!!! Seriously, I stayed up till 2 in the morning reading instead of sleeping because it was just that good! It was full of suspense and had an awesome story line!
The storyline is based around Patrick Bowers who is trying to catch a serial killer who doesn't fit to any pattern. With different killings that look unrelated Patrick has to search to find a way to get one step ahead of the killer! Paired with some personal problems in his life, this case became quite challenging!!
I loved this book, it was fantastic. Even though it's book four in a series, I didn't feel like i was missing some information, or starting in the middle of a story. The end of the book was incredibly surprising, and completely blew me away! I absolutely loved the entire book, and will be searching out more from this author!
I 100% recommend this book to any suspense fan!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group."

The Bishop

The author of the book "The Bishop" (Fantastic novel by the way, will be posting my review soon!!) will be hosting a Facebook party where you can chat live with him!

Back on Murder

I generally enjoy the murder mystery type books, that are full of suspense and intrigue, so I had big hopes for this book. At first a was a wee bit disappointed as it took a bit to really get "into" the story, but I'm glad to say that after a few chapters I found myself pretty hooked!
The book is based on Roland march a worn down detective who's disillusioned and cynical. After being passed around on different jobs in different departments he finally lands a case that could pivot him back to the top.
I did enjoy the story, although it started slow, it's well worth it to keep going. You're going to end with an awfully exciting and good story!
I'd recommend this to anyone who's a fan of crime novels or suspense novels, this will be right up their ally!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Heartless

Words cannot express how much I absolutely loved this book. I know without a doubt that this will become one of the most well read books in my personal library! It reminds me a lot of C.S. Lewis' narnia series, in the way it is almost a parable on being born again. (like Narnia was a play on the salvation story)
The book focuses on the main character Princess Una and the potential suitors she will be deciding between. We are led through some tragic and horrific events and transformations before we begin to understand the underlying message in the book.
Honestly though, this is probably one of the best books I've read in a long time. Anne Elisabeth Stengl did an amazing job capturing her readers and holding their attention throughout the book. I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone and everyone, even Non-Christians. While the book does have a Gospel like message, it is not so pushy that someone who is not a believer would be turned off!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

His princess, Girl talk with God

Right from the beginning, even just looking at the title and cover this book made me smile. with a cute look it, the book goes through different Bible studies that focus on dealing with being a teen girl, and who they (teen girls) are in God's kingdom. Right from the beginning this was a great feel-good book, the message it has is quite positive and written in a way to really build up teen girls, and make them feel secure in their relationship with the Lord.
After reading the book, there were plenty of youth aged girls who came to mind, who would absolutely love this book. As the wife of a pastor I'm in plenty of contact with youth aged children, and this will definitely be at the top of my list to recommend!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Perfectly Dateless

I'm not a big fan of the cutsie romance novels, so I don't as a rule enjoy them very much, nor do I generally read them. I did though enjoy "Perfectly Dateless" and would probably recommend this book to those who enjoy that genre.
The story is about Daisy Crispin and her attempts to find a date (and a way to actually date that boy, lol). If being a teenager isn't hard enough already, imagine also having to wear home made clothing, being socially awkward, and not being allowed to go on dates, or even talk to boys.
This was a very cute book, i did enjoy how witty Daisy comes across in the story, and the hilarious situations she finds herself in.
I would more recommend this book for a younger adult/teen, but it is well written enough that I think most people would enjoy it!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

The Seeker

I love books that not only entertain me and hold my interest, but also teach me something. So it goes without saying that I very much enjoyed reading "The Seeker"
I loved learning a bit about the Shaker culture, I've heard often of it and knew only bits and pieces of what they believe. So i really did like finding more out about their lifestyles and beliefs!
The story focuses mainly on Charlotte Vance and the plans she has for her future, and the future of those around her. When her plans start falling apart, and she faces loosing the only home she's known she decides to take some drastic steps to hold on to them!
I really liked how we were able to see the main character Charlotte grow in her beliefs and faith throughout the book, and I very much enjoyed the different characters and how they effected, or encouraged (or even discouraged) her walk with God.
This is one book that I would definitely recommend this book to everyone!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Courting Morrow Little

I very much enjoyed this book, I love historical fiction, so i was really looking forward to reading the book. I'm glad to say I wasn't disappointed at all! "Courting Morrow Little" focused mostly on Morrow Little (of course, lol) and the losses and struggles she was facing. After a tragic childhood event turned her world upside down, Morrow isn't sure if she can learn to trust again. Laura Frantz did a great job holding the readers attention all throughout the book, it was very well written and had a wonderful display of the Gospel message.
This was a fantastic book, the story moved along at a great pace and kept surprising me throughout the book. I very much enjoyed reading this and would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a good read!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Maid to Match

To be honest, when i saw the book upon receiving the package, i really didn't have very high hopes for it. I tend to stay away from the mushy love story kind of books that tend to get a bit corny and unrealistic. I'm SO glad to find that this book was not like that!! (That'll teach me for judging a book by its cover!)
Out of all the books i recieived this is one of my favorites. I loved reading about Tillie Reese and the struggles she had between choosing her job/family and finding love. I thought that the plots and Characters we all quite well laid out and very realistic. I'm crossing my fingers on this one and hoping the author comes out with a sequal to it! I keep thinking back to the story and wondering how their lives continued on after the book was finished!
100% recommend this book!!

A Tailor Made Bride

Like I've mentioned before (Numerous times I'm sure, lol) I love historical fiction. I love learning the different ways that people used to live and I love hearing what their lives must have been like. So when i saw this book, I immediately was intrigued.
The book surrounds the lives of Hannah Richards (Who through some amazing generosity, receives a great gift and a new life) and her struggles of fitting in and succeeding in a new town, with a new business. Also we hear a great deal about J.T. Tucker and his misconceptions he has towards the town's newest member.
I really enjoyed this book, i found myself getting angry right along side Hannah at some of the unfair things said to her, and rejoicing with her when things started going her way. I don't usually find a book that engages me this much, so of course I absolutely loved it!!
A great read for anyone!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group."

A hopeful Heart

I 100% loved this book, it was such a fantastic and charming read. I really enjoyed reading the struggles and triumphs of the main character Tressa and the other brides as well. I have a huge liking of any historical fiction, so this book was right up my alley.
I thought the book had a great message (and a clever walk through of the gospel) within it, and felt that this story would be well received by anyone!! The plot and characters were (In my mind at least, lol) very realistic and engaging. I felt like i was right there along with them!!!
Great book and one I'll be recommending to a number of people!!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-martin Communications Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group."

Out of the spin cycle (Devotions to lighten your mother load)

I love this book, I love it So much. I can't even begin to explain how much of a difference reading this book has made in my walk with Christ. I especially loved the section titled "The cannibalization of me" this little devotion spoke loads to me. Everything she mentioned fit right in with where I am in life!
This devotional had really revived my spiritual life and gotten me back into the Scriptures again. Hatmaker gives some great insight in her book with practical and insightful ways to get into a deeper relationship with God and to really find who you are in Him as well.
This book I think will benefit any woman, whether she is a mother or not. There's so much spiritual truth in it, that you can't read it without reviving your spiritual life!! I highly recommend this book!!


"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group."

Momology

I was a little weary about reading this book, I'm not normally into the "how to raise your child" books that seem to be out there. Most seem unrealistic or corny, and tend to be on the sanctimonious side. I was thrilled however to discover that this book is Nothing like that! I loved especially the section that Radic included that compared a mother's parenting style to Psalm 139. Its such a unique yet practical comparison!
I found that the book Momology was full of great info that was quite practical and have already started to implement the ideas that the author presented! I also loved reading about the real life stories she included, it really helped me to apply the points she was making to my own life.
I would highly recommend this book to any mom, whether your a brand new one, or well seasoned! This book will  and has become a great guide that i foresee myself reading many times over as my child grows!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group."

The Homecoming

I can't even begin to tell how excited i was to find out we were reviewing a copy of the book "The Homecoming" after I learned  that it was the sequel to Dan Walsh's book "The unfinished gift"! These are those kind of books you read a dozen times, the story is so heartwarming and full of hope. I thoroughly enjoyed "The Homecoming", the characters and scenes (especially war scenes) in the book really tugged at the heart strings. By the end of the book I was thoroughly hooked on this story, the characters were quite likable and believable.
I very much liked the character Katherine Townsend and was thrilled to see how big of a roll she played in this sequel. I thought the book had a strong Christian message, but it didn't come across as really preachy, which i appreciate.
I very much recommend both of the books by Dan Walsh, (The unfinished gift, and The homecoming) They are a fantastic and heartwarming read!!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc. Available now at your favorite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing group.

No more Christian nice girl

I love this book so much, absolutely everything in that book spoke volumes into my life! Even the title is similar to my type of humour, so i started this book with some high expectations. I'm happy to report that all those expectations were met and more!
As a PW I do tend to get pulled into that 'yes' cycle quite often, and so reading about how that can be harmful to my relationship with my family, friends, even my church, really hit home. I felt very empowered by this book and have already started to work on the steps she's suggested to become the Woman of God that I'm called to be!


Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group

What happened to my life?

As a rule, i generally do Not like the kind of 'self-help' books out there, they're generally unrealistic in their goals and suggestions, and tend to be a little too 'rainbow's and puppies' in their thinking. So when i saw this book, i was a bit weary about reviewing it. I was however quite pleasantly surprised to find myself really engrossed in this book!
Danna Demetre really hit the nail on the head on so many topics, and she did so without sounding preachy or arrogant which i really liked. I especially loved reading the different life stories in the book, of the difficult times people went through and how God led them through it. There were so many instances in the book where i felt it was written specifically for me! I gleaned a lot from this book and it will be a well read addition to my home library!!


Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

This fine life

I love Love LOVE historical novels, I love hearing about the different activities and attitudes of the days past. So this novel really got my interest. Not only that, but as a Pastor's wife, i could really relate to the main character Mariette's struggles to really fit into the 'role' of a PW.
This book was so well written that i found myself at times getting angry at the character in the book, lol. The story really flowed nicely and the characters were quite believable in their roles.
This book took me through many ranges of emotions, with their struggles and triumphs, their joys and sorrows. I really highly recommend this book for anyone, it has such a great flow that i think even though who don't normall enjoy reading will enjoy this book!


Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

It had to be you

I can't even begin to tell you  how incredibly excited i was to see that we had received the third book in the weddings by bella series. I loved the second book and the funniness (is that a word?) and quirkiness of the characters. I really found myself once again pulled into the story as the main character Bella works hard to plan an ever increasing mountain of upcoming weddings, while at the same time deal with her own nuptials! This book was hilarious, and there was more than one instance where i cracked up (loudly) in the middle of a very quiet room.
I would highly recommend this book (along with the rest in the series) for anyone, they had a great flow and a fantastic message as well! They were easy and enjoyable to read, and honestly i was disappointed when the book did end, lol.


Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

Flabbergasted

I just finished the novel "Flabbergasted" By Ray Blackston, and while it was difficult to initially get into I really found myself pulled into the story towards the end.
The only complaint I have about the book was that it tended to be somewhat sporadic (I think that's the word i want, lol) and jumped all over the place. So it made it difficult to really get into a good 'reading flow'. However once I got used to the jumping around, I really started enjoying the book. I very much liked the humour of the author and thought that his character Jay was hilarious! I also like that the author didn't just throw in the usual cliche Christian jargon that we usually find in these types of novels. I honestly didn't realize what i read was considered a 'romance' until i checked my email again to find the name of the author. (This is a good thing, i hate romance novels usually, lol). There was an element of romance in the novel but it was so much more than that, that I really didn't notice it as much.
I'd really recommend this for more of an avid reader who is willing to put time and focus into reading, it starts out difficult to read but turns into a great story!


Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

Dad's Bible (New Contemporary Version)

After receiving and loving the "Mom's Bible" from booksneeze I jumped at the chance to review the Dad's Bible. As the wife of a Pastor I knew that this would be a valuable resource for my husband in both the roll of Pastor and father.
I love the insights found in this Bible (I've read through it on my own before passing it on to my husband, lol) and I've been constantly sneaking it away from him to look into the different bible studies and insights found in it. I feel like at times it give me a better insight into the life of a man, and their own struggles and challenges living as a Father.
Like with the Mom's Bible, the Dad's Bible has a ton of extra's in it, such as "walking in authority" and the questions and answers section.
I HIGHLY recommend this book for Dad's everywhere, what a Valuable tool!!!

Storm warning

I really enjoy reading books by Billy Graham, I find he tends to be quite straightforward and to the point, yet he does so in a way that you're left feeling informed not attacked. Normally I tend to stay away from these kind of books about end time prophecies, mostly because most authors really seem to stretch the facts to get them to fit with their points. However with this book, (as with the other books I've read by Graham) I found that he didn't see the need to stretch the facts or exaggerate in order to prove his point. He's connected many of the different natural disasters, wars and downfalls in our world with end time prophecies. This book really caused me to sit back and look at myself and the world and judge how I personally have been living my life. I know as a PW I'll be passing this book on to my husband, since I'm quite sure there will be some fantastic points that he can quote in there for his sermons!
If you're looking for a light read, this isn't for you, but if you want to not only be challenged in your faith, but also your walk I would highly recommend picking up this book. It is definately a life changer.

You can be everything God wants you to be, Max Lucado

I love all things Max Lucado, the children's books, devotionals, even the small gift books. They're full of great insight and laid out in a simple enough way that it's easy to understand what he's trying to say. This book didn't disappoint me in the least bit, there was seriously something on each page that really spoke to me and moved me! This is a book that i now keep in the pocket of my Bible cover/carrier, for when I'm looking for encouragement for either myself or someone else. I absolutely loved this book, and couldn't put it down until i read the last page. Absolutely an amazing book. HIGHLY recommend it!

Sixteen Brides

"Sixteen Brides" takes place during the Civil war era, about a group of women lured west by the promise of free land. What they didn't know was that the speculator (The man who lured them west) was more in the business of luring unsuspecting women west in hopes of them being willing to accept proposals and bring him more money from their "future husbands".
I loved reading about the different struggles of each woman, and how they showed themselves as strong, self-sufficient women who didn't need a man to make them complete and happy. I also love that this wasn't a typical romance/historical fiction, where it seems the only goal is to find a husband.
Definitely a book I'll be recommending!

She walks in Beauty

I love historical novels, I love reading about the different history and fads of the days, and just the different atmosphere that was around then. So needless to say, i absolutely LOVED this book. This has moved to the top of my book lists as an all-time favorite!
I love in the book that the main character Clara Carter doesn't allow the fads and expectations of the day to shape who she is. Even though at times she struggled and seemed to give into those expectations, she stil held true to who she was.
It floored me when i read of the lengths women went to in that time period to be considered "beautiful", even to the point of death.
I also really appreciated the lesson the book presented, that even though at times she seemed to give into the pressures be "beautiful" by societies standard, she showed herself strong and that she truly walks in beauty by following God rather than man.

How Do You Tuck in a Superhero?

"How Do You Tuck in a Superhero?" By Rachel Balducci
I have to say, as a mom to a boy, this book made me feel exceptionally better about how he's behaved/turned out. I loved the stories and mishaps that Rachel Balducci shared in her book, there were plenty of times that I cracked up laughing. I also love that while she shares lessons that she's learned while raising her boys, she doesn't come across as condescending or "know it all" in the least bit.
I especially loved the section in her book where she talks about the unusual rules that she has to make for her children, and could Fully relate with her in that!
This book wasn't at all what i expected it to be, I thought it would be more of a how to parent type of book, telling us all how we should be raising our boys. I was pleasently surprised though to find it was more just a book about the hilarious joys of being a mom of boys!
I found this book highly relateable, and will be recommending this book to all my mom friends!

In Harm's Way, Heroes of Quantico Series #3

Though this is the third book in a series that I hadn't read, the book was easy to get into, and i didn't feel like i was missing a bunch of information.
When the book started out it left me wondering how the author would reconcile a "Psychic" into a Christian novel, and I have to say, i think the author, Irene Hannon, did a fantastic job! The book was fast moving and had really well developed Characters. There were plenty of surprises in the book and a few moments in there that had me holding my breath in anticipation!
I loved the main character Rachel Sutton, even though she was living in unusual circumstances I still found her to be a very believable character, which is quite an accomplishment!
I generally enjoy suspense fiction, and this book was no exception. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel,  and i suspect this will be a repeated read on my bookshelf!
Highly Recommend this book!

Too close to home

"Too close to home" by Lynette Eason was actually a really great book! I was weary of it at first, I find that usually the Christian novels that depict police women tend to be a little unrealistic. this book however was nothing like i expected!
The novel is about a group kidnapped girls who are all beginning to turn up dead and in similar circumstances. FBI computer expert Samantha Cash is brought in on the case to see if she can crack the computers for clues on where the girls are being taken.
The novel is full of turns and surprises that kept me guessing right until the last page, and made it a very hard book to put down!!!
I will totally be recommending this book to my friends, no matter what genre you like to read, this book will fit into it!

Plain paradise

I am quickly becoming an avid fan of Beth Wisman's books, I love the daughters of promise series (i've read two of the books now). Like usual Wisman draws the reader into the story with the very believeable and likeable characters, and takes us (the readers) on a journey with these characters that leaves us hungry to know more about Lancaster county and its inhabitants.
The story here focuses around three main characters; Linda a young amish woman/girl (she's 17) who finds out that her family has kept a Huge secret from her. Josie, Linda's birth mother who gave her up for adoption when she was 17, And Mary Ellen, Linda's mother.
Out of all the characters in the story i found myself really drawn in by Mary Ellen, as a parent of an adopted child, i really could understand her fear and heartache. I really feel like Wiseman hit the feelings she would have right on the nose!
The whole book was just a really fantastic read, I love these series and look forward to reading many more by her!

Somewhere to Belong

To be honest when i picked up the book i was a little weary about it being all that good, generally i love Amish stories but i wasn't sure if this was one. (I'm still not quite sure, but i think it is! lol)
Thankfully this book turned out to be fantastic, and while the characters lived lives quite different from the way i live mine, i found it was easy to relate to them and to sympathize with their struggles. Both of the main characters Johanna and Berta were quite easily likeable and realistic. Plus while the story provided some excellent Biblical lessons it didn't come across as preachy, which i really appreaciated about this book!
I will have no problem recommending this book to anyone looking for a good, wholesome read!

Hearts Awakening

In the book "Hearts Awakening" we read about the main character Elvira Kilmer, who by all worldy accounts is considered quite plain and ordinary. Fortunately for us the reader, we have a great insight into her soul and her struggles as she fights to earn a living and later fighting for her family. She show's courage and love in many situations that other's would walk away from. Plus I love that the character was written to show her doubts and worries, yet still rises above them to follow God's will in her life.  I think this was a great book for hearing and learning about following God even when the situation isn't what we're used to. I loved the main character's strength and heart, and thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!

The Promise of Morning

First off, as a Pastor's wife, i love reading about the lives of other's in the same kind of situations so i was quite excited to read this book! The story focuses around the life of Ellie Craig, and begins with the accounts of her losses and heartaches. Plus it gives some fantastic insight as to what its like living in a Minister's family. As trouble comes both to their own personal lives and their church, we follow along as the characters (Ellie and her husband Matthew) work to find God's strength, comfort, and will in their lives.
I completely loved this book, it was easy to read and had a great flow throughout the story. I got so into this story that I even found myself getting angry when people were attacking them, lol.
This will be in amongs my favorite books for a long time, and I have no doubt it'll be one of my most read as well!

Scattered Petals

The book "Scattered Petals" is about a young woman named Priscilla who longs for adventure and excitement, and while on her way to Texas for her Brother in Law's wedding she encounters awful tradgedies.
I really enjoyed this book, even though its a second in the series and i haven't read the first one, it was easy to follow and i didn't feel like i was missing a lot of vital information. The story is full of messages of forgiveness, healing, and redemption, yet it doesn't come across as preachy or antagonizing. The main Character (Pricscilla) is very realistic and easily likeable. I found myself quite engrossed in the novel and had quite a hard time putting it down! Plus i loved the lessons this book provided, they were insightful and very moving!
All in all i would 100% recommend this book to anyone, it was a great read!

Bibleman! Combating the Commandant of Confusion

I was so excited when i saw this up for review on Thomas Nelson! My son absolutely LOVES Bibleman and has nearly every movie! We sat down this afternoon and watched the movie together, and enjoyed it so much! I love that the Bible man movies are packed full of scripture and Godly messages, and this movie was no different! In a nutshell, the movie is about the Commandant of Confusion and his (sidekick/co-evil guy?) Chaos steal the armour of God and Bible man and his team have to race to retrieve it back.
I really appreciate how they make the Bibleman movies full of action and adventure that really draw kids in. My son isn't someone who enjoy's a lot of the Bible based movies (They tend to be corny) but he goes Crazy for Bibleman. He loves the costumes and especially the swords! More than once i've come across him watching this movie and quoting scripture with them!

A Distant Melody

I'm beginning to really love these historical romances especially when they're based in the 1940's era. Out of all the books i've read recently, this has to be one of my favorites! "A Distant melody" by Sarah Sundin is about the lives of two  characters, Allie and Walt. Both characters share the bond of having other's tell them they're not attractive enough, and both deal with issues that come out of that. As Walt goes off to war they begin to correspond and learn more about each other, and a love blossoms between them, but its threatened by secrets and expectations.

Sundin does a fantastic job of creating realistic and memorable characters, who are very relatable and down to earth. I love that these characters also were created with flaws, and real problems. It was easy to sympathize with both characters and  relate to their experiences and problems. The book also provides a great message of love and forgiveness that i really appreciate. All in all, I loved this book and will be recommending it to many people. It is well worth the read!

Along with that, I have an extra copy of the book so I'm holding a give-away for it! All you have to do is leave a comment with your email in it (so i can contact you!) I'll be doing a random draw to pick the winner.

The contest ends on Tuesday the 23rd of March, and I'll announce the winner the following day (March 24th) Good luck!

Sons of Thunder

This is one of those books that I will be reading over and over again, the flow to the story was great, and it kept my attention throughout the entire story. I love these historical fiction books, especially the ones set in the WW2 era.  The story focuses around Sofia Frangos and the two men who care for her, and through many misshaps and bad decisions she comes to realize the love of a good man, but also the love of a Great God. Susan May Warren wrote a fantastic story, this book kept my attention, even after putting the book down. lol. When i wasn't reading the book, i was thinking about what had gone on, and wondering what was happening next. I very much enjoyed this story and all the different twists and turns in it.
I love too that the charaters she created were quite human, they made real mistakes (it seems most Christian novels have their character's problems as corny, silly problems that don't reflect real life situations, this book was NOT like that!) and experienced Real grace.
I would definately recommend this book for anyone looking to find a great story about love and redemption.

The story of Easter

I loved the simplicty and straightforwardness (is that even a word? lol) of this book. As someone who works with children I was so excited to review this, and knew that the kids would love it too!
The day we got it in the mail the children (I have a day home) I was watching all gathered around once they saw it was a children's book. For the most part the book really kept their attention, and they very much liked looking at the pictures in the book. I found towards the end their attention started to waiver a bit, but then again, the kids were in the 2-3 year old range, so i suspect that the book may have been a little over their heads for the most part. However I loved this book as well, and it'll be keeping a place on the family book shelf for years to come!
I highly recommend this especially for people with young children, a great tool in teaching them the Gospel!

Anything but normal

Even though this book's audience is aimed at young adults/teens (of which i'm not, lol) I found this book to be very well written with a great message. The story focuses on Sophie Ramsay the main character who finds herself pregnant and alone (in the sense of not having a real relationship with the father of the baby).  The author, Melody Carlson, did a great job bringing the issues teen girls face to light. She wrote both a well written and compelling story that would benefit any young girl who reads it. Not only by showing what wrong choices can result in, but also in showing the readers to withhold judging those who face these situations.
This is one book that I will be recommending to our church's youth group library, I think it has a message that would benefit anyone reading it.

Beguiled

As i've mentioned in previous reviews I'm not one who really enjoys a romance novel, and while I think that the authors did a great job in their genre, it really wasn't a book that i fully enjoyed.  That though, is just my own personal dislikes/likes, and not because the novel wasn't good. For me, i found some of the happenings in the book unbelievable which to me tainted the rest of the book. However, when the book was good, it was Very good. I did like the suspense that was injected into the story, and there were a few parts that really kept me going with the book rather than putting it down. I also really enjoyed reading the clear Christian message in the book and very much liked that  Rylee (the main character) through her trials (both literally and figuratively) finds her faith in Jesus ressurrected.
All in all, if you enjoy the romance genre then you will most definatley enjoy this novel. Even if you don't the authors have injected enough suspense into the story that it will keep you entertained throughout the story.

Swinging on a Star

I can't say I'm one for romance novels, I'm not crazy about the corny sappy love stories that usually pop up in Christian fiction. That said, I really did enjoy this book! Although it was a romance novel it also gave a little extra that kept me enjoying the book.
The book focuses on bella Rossi a wedding planner who is planning an incredible (in both size and imagination!) wedding. Along with that she has a cast of family, friends, and clients who keep her on her feet running!
I found this book incredibly entertaining and quite funny which was a nice surprise, this book kept me laughing and entertained from start to finish. It was such a good book that (Like i mentioned before) although i'm really not into romance novel's this is one author i'll be keeping an eye out for the next time I'm at the book store!

Abigail

I love historical/Biblical fiction,  I love that it gives a new perspective to different events in the Bible, and this book is no exception.
The story focuses around Abigail the wife fo Nabal (Found in 1 Samuel 25) who struggles with being married to an angry and mean fool. As we know from the Biblical account, Abigail eventually goes on to marry David (who already has one wife) (two if you count his first one who was married off to another man after David ran from King Saul) and this book deals with some of the struggles she faced and her triumphs and most importantly, her faithfulness to God.
I really enjoyed this book, it was encouraging to read accounts of Biblical women, plus it was extremely well written and very entertaining. This book was so good that I'm looking forward to finding the other books in this series at our local Christian book store!!
The author (Jill Eileen Smith) really seems to know her stuff (in reference to keeping the novel historically accurate) which I really appreciate. There are many times when authors seem to take liberties with the lives of Biblical characters that to me seem quite unbiblical, Smith however isn't one of those authors. She kept the novel as historically accurate as possible while keeping it entertaining.
Definately one I'll be recommending to anyone looking for a good read!!

Hunter's Moon

Ok, I wanted to like this book, I really did, I tried three different times to start it before finally struggling through it on that third try.  I hate to be a downer, I'm sure the Author put a ton of work into this, and the Lord knows he did a much better job than i would have. But for me the book just jumped around so much, and was so hard to follow. I loved the idea of the plot, and thought the idea of it was really compelling and imaganitive, so that was a big thumbs up for the author. Perhaps though this just isn't a style of writing that I'm used to reading, so I would encourage people to check him out for themselves. I know other's who have read his book and enjoyed it immensely so I'm thinking this just wasn't my cup of tea in a way.
Anyway, onto an overview of the book for those who want to know more about the plot!
The main Character in the book is CJ Baxter, a writer who takes his stories straight from his own life. With the death of his grandfather looming Baxter has to travel back to Adelia NY, back to his family. Even with all the stories he's written there is one that he's kept secret, and its a secret that his brother Graham is willing to keep silent by any means possible. There were some spots in the book that I'll admit I found compelling and really held my attention, Hoesel did a great job especially during the more suspensful sections.

"Available now at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group"

"A Mom's ultimate book of lists"

Seriously, I don't think I've ever loved a book like I love this one. Michelle LaRowe has compiled an amazing amount of lists that as a mother, I find myself going back to constantly!
"A mom's ultimate book of lists" has lists and information dealing straight from pregnancy to childhood and beyond. LaRowe doesn't just stick to information and lists deal with the children though, there is also plenty of great suggestions for the rest of the family as well! One of my favorite (chapters/contents?) in the book is the section of the Virtuous Wife. LaRowe really modernizes the list that the Bible gives us and makes it easier to apply to lives now days.
LaRowe however doesn't just stick to teaching only the Bible basics and such, but also includes many lists and information on common childhood illnesses, allergies, etc...
This is a book I know I'll be coming back to often, and recommending to all parents!

Mom's Bible: God's wisdom for mothers

I seriously LOVE this Bible, There are so many great things in there that I don't know quite where to start! lol.
There are so many extras and features in this bible that really give it a huge boost in my opinion! From articles about questions kids ask (provides scripture based answers too!) to articles about who Our God is (Building your knowledge on God), there is just so much to glean from this Bible. I also love the articles on mom's in the Bible, its great to have some solid Biblical examples of how to be a good mother, as well as learning the lessons they've shared.
There is so much going on in this Bible that it's hard to pack it all into one review, the people who put this together thought of everything!
If you're a mom, then this Bible is an incredibly useful tool, that i think every mother should have!!!!

50 Ways to Feel Great Today

I did not think I was going to like this book, I'm not really into the the whole self-help scene when it comes to books and I really thought it was going to be a chore to get through this book. I was quite pleasantly surprised though to find myself enjoying it!
The book was really quite practical with some great idea's on how to lift your spirits and feel better. (As someone who loves art, i especially loved the suggestion about finding your inner artist, i always find myself feeling better after doing a painting or drawing!!)
I love that the advice given was practical, and not the whole New-age-ish type stuff that seems to be out there. There were none of the corny 'invite your inner child out to play' suggestions in that there make me roll my eyes. lol.
I can't say i'll read through the entire book again, but there are a few chapters (that i've marked!) that will get re-read anytime i need a pick me up! I think this would be a fantastic book for people who are dealing with the day to day stresses and anxieties.


"Available now at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group."

The Silent Governess

This book by Julie Klassen was exceptionally well written and highly entertaining! Its one of those books where you loose all track of time, and find you've been reading it for hours, lol.
I love that her Characters in the book (Both Olivia Keene and Bradley Brightwell) really seemed to develop throughout the story, they were very multi-dimensional and seemed to grow as you were reading.
Without giving away too much of the story, the book starts off with the main character Olivia Keene, who is running away from an act she committed and ends up in the home of someone who fears her yet is drawn to her. Brightwell with his own secret forces Olivia into service in the manor house, where both Characters are at odds yet find themselves drawn to each other.
Really a great book, i had a hard time putting it down.



"available now at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group."

The Hidden Flame

I love Janette Oke books, I used to (before i read them) think that they would be super corny and mushy romantic stories. I've recently discovered that she is a fantastic writer, and one of my favourites now!
I truly loved the book "The Hidden Flame" by Davis Bunn and Janette Oke,  I was weary about being able to understand it after i found out it was a second book in a series. However, even without reading the first book, i LOVED the second in the series. This book really gave a new perspective on Biblical events, ones that we hadn't considered before. I love that they included actual people from the Bible like Ananias and Sapphira, (and writing the story based on the truth of what actually happened) plus Stephen (Who i hadn't really gave much consideration to until now, this book gave me a new appreciation for what he did for the Gospel!).
This is one book that I think is a must for anyone into Biblical based fiction, not only is it very well written and entertaining, its also insightful. I know that this will not be the last time i read this book!

"available now at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group."

Plain Pursuit

I am absolutely in love with reading the Amish series books right now, and Beth Wiseman is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors within this genre. I was so excited to see her book among the titles to review, I could hardly wait to get the book!!!
Her book "Plain Pursuit" doesn't disappoint, it is full of the type of Characters that Wiseman is becoming known for (at least in my books, lol). Her characters are incredibly realistic, they have their own problems (such as Dr. Noah and Carlely) and situations to handle, and Wiseman doesn't give them the 'pat' answers to their problems.  I loved this book so much, that i read the entire thing in one sitting (which lasted well into the night, lol). Its one of those books that you just can't put down.
I love that she (Wiseman) is able to write about the Amish and their beliefs without coming across as preachy.
The book begins with a Character named Carley Marek after facing a forced vacation, decides  to visit her friend Lillian and her family in the Amish community. While there she witnesses and takes part in the struggle of a child's illness and the issues of faith and forgiveness.
I definitely recommend this book, This one will be re-read a number of times!

The Choice

I have to say,  I was a little weary about reading this book.  From some of my experiences, I've found the Amish themed books to be a little slow moving and very preachy about living that way of life. So i didn't really have great hopes for the book when i started reading. However that changed after the first few pages, the book was absolutely fantastic.
The book begins with a young Amish woman named Carrie who makes plans to run away to marry her 'boyfriend'. However tragedy strikes the family and Carrie is forced to choose between love for a guy and love for her family.
I loved the characters in this book, they were kind and faith-filled yet without that condescendingly proud tone you sometimes get when author's are trying to convey this. The author gave them real problems (not the corny silly problems that sometimes Christian authors seem to put in their books) and real heartache and showed how they dealt with it. All the characters were quite believable and easily likeable. I found this book easy to read and incredibly well written. I do believe Lancaster County has found a new fan!
"Available now at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group"

The Selfless Gene

I was really curious when i saw the title of this book on Thomas Nelson last week. Darwin and Christianity are generally not all that compatible with each other, and I got to wondering how Charles Foster would attempt to bring them both together. I have to say after reading it, I have mixed feelings. In some ways I think he was right on the money, Foster had solid knowledge of both the Bible and his scientific data. There were times though that i felt he was really stretching in some area's, and while it gave me pause, it also caused me to really think hard on those topics.
All in all, while this isn't a light read by any stretch of the imagination, it does cause you to really look into what you believe. And it does provide common ground for the Christian and scientific community to build on.
A definite recommendation for those who are interested in more then just a light read!

The Sweet By and by

What a surprisingly great book, I hadn't had really all that high of hopes for this book. I hadn't read any previous books by the authors and really didn't know what the book would be like. I have to say i was pleasently surprised,  both Evans and Hauck provided an exceptionally well written and interesting book. The character in "The sweet by and by" were very realistic and well written. You really felt like you were getting to know them throughout the story. I really appreciated the insight they gave to previous instances in the character's lives. It really gave you an idea of each of the Characters and their unique struggles and hopes.
I highly recommend this book, a very good read!!

The Lightkeeper's Daughter

I just finished reading this book and it was Fantastic! Basically (but without giving the ending away) the book is about the lead character Addie who discovers she is not the person she grew up thinking she was. In her search to find out who she truly is, she encounters many dangerous situations.
I really did love this book, Coble did a fantastic job keeping the attention of the reader and really keeping the story moving. There was enough of a mystery to the story that it really kept the reader guessing until the very end. All in all it was a fantastic story, and very enjoyable!