Remembering Christmas

I don't think I can even begin to describe how much I truly enjoy and love the books that Dan Walsh writes. I make it a point when I visit book stores to keep a look out for his books, they're just that good!!
And this book doesn't disappoint either, it was fantastic! It was a bit unusual for a Christmas book in the way that it doesn't start out with your typical settings or characters (but that however is one of the reasons I love his books!!)
The main character is Rick Denten who is "forced" to return home when his step-father is rushed to the hospital with a stroke. His mother needs someone to run the family store, and Rick is the only one she is able to turn too. Rick is a lawyer for a large and growing firm, and while he grew up with some church upbringing, he's walked away from that (in a way) for the temptation of power and wealth.
There are so many twists and turns in this book, nothing is what you'd expect from a Christmas novel! 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".  

The Christmas Shoppe

I'm struggling with this book, while it was well written and I adore Melody Carlson's books, this was far too much like Stephen Kings "Needful things" book (Minus the sinister element of course). The shoppe is opened by a woman resembling a bag lady who seems to be trying to run a second hand shop, and resembles nothing of Christmas, or a shop that would sell Christmas items. However as time goes on the town begins to find that the shoppe holds a special item for each of them, and their faith is increased and their pasts forgiven.
I really do want to give this a great review, and for the most part it was so well done. Melody Carlson is an author I've read many times and her books are wonderful, full of sentiment and so heartwarming. A perfect book for Christmas! However I just can't get past the idea that this book wasn't as "original" as her books tend to be. (and don't get me wrong, I highly recommend this author, she is a wonderful writer and her books are fantastic.) But for those who haven't read "needful things" they'll probably thoroughly enjoy the book. (And I did enjoy it despite of some of my misgivings.)

"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".  

A Lancaster County Christmas

I search and snatch up any and every Suzanne Woods Fisher books I can find, she's the author I read when I was first introduced to Amish fiction, and it was love at first read!
Mattie Reihl is struggling with issues of fertility and while at a doctor's office her son befriends another woman in the waiting room. What at first seemed like a mismatch of personalities, the women (after a few unfortunate circumstances) find that they are both exactly what the other one needed! When forced to spend time together the women form a bond and a strong friendship develops. As the story goes on we're able to see both women grow in their faith (and into faith) .
With their simple faith and simple ways, I was reminded again why I love reading about the Amish so much.
I highly recommend this author and her books!

"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"

Wonderland Creek

I adored this book, it had absolutely everything in it that I love reading about. I love reading about strong female characters and reading a story with a good adventure. (Especially if its in a unusual circumstance.)
Again, Lynn Austin is one of the authors that I enjoy reading, her books are just the type of story that really hits home with me!
The lead character in this book is Alice Ripley, a laid off librarian who unwittingly takes the trip of a lifetime when she decides to volunteer to drop off donated books to a poor mining town in Kentucky. As she arrives she finds that nothing is how she expected it, from the librarian to the rest of the town. Having to stay for at least a few weeks she tries to make the best of the situation. However when the librarian is shot, she is forced to take on way more responsibility then she was prepared too, along with the care of an elderly woman.
This book was fantastic, it was full of adventure and intrigue, I think my only complaint would be that it ended way too soon! I so wanted to read more about the characters in the book!!


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

Love on the line

I had read Deeanne Gist's book "Maid to match" a while back and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I was pretty excited to have a chance to review another one of her books! I've found with Gist's books that while they do have that "romantic" aspect to them they are also filled with adventure and humor, so it's a very well rounded book for a picky reader!

The book focuses on one of the main characters Georgie Gail who is very much a feminist in a time where its not too popular to be one. She works as a telephone switchboard operator and has a passion for birds!  Her life hits an exciting moment when the train she is riding on is robbed by a famous criminal who seems too good to be true. An undercover officer (unbeknownst to Georgie) shows up to fill the position of lineman and from then on Georgies life begins to take some wide turns. From having to work with a man who doesn't necessarily agree with her feminist ideas to fight her growing admiration and attraction for him, Georgie finds herself struggling.

I enjoyed this book, it was witty and humerus, which I always appreciate, plus it was very well written. 

"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 Love & Respect Experience A Husband-Friendly Devotional that Wives Truly Love

I loved the book from first sight, (even without reading it!) the book looks gorgeous!! When I started reading (on my own at first) the book, I already found myself hooked before I even showed my husband! The language of the book is simple to understand, the author uses the "everyday" kind of language and seem to actually be trying to help enrich couple's rather than trying to prove their own intelligence! Since (especially in this kind of genre) most books seem to struggle with that, I very much appreciate the straight forward approach of this one! I love that it's a 52 section devotional, I don't feel pressure in that I need only to find time once a week to read with my spouse.
Now, when I first showed it to my husband, he was  hesitant, we're book opposites, especially when it comes to what we like. However after I convinced him to even just read the info, he was ok with sitting down with me and going through the book. We both are enjoying it (I've read ahead through it on my own, just so I knew what the book was about before trying to do a devotional with my husband!!) as time goes on. Plus I'm finding that now that I'm going through it a second time, I'm garnering even more from it!
I really recommend this book!!

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

Whole

 I received this book from Tyndale Media Center for the purpose of reviewing it, My reviews are based solely on my opinion and I am not required to give a good review!

 This book came at a real opportune time for me, I think we all go through those times where we feel that we have a significant "hole" missing or that something that ought to be there isn't. I honestly didn't have really big expectations for this book, I've read too many that give simple cop outs as to why the reader doesn't measure of and is there for "missing" being whole. I'm glad however to know that this book was so much more than that. Lisa Whittle showed a lot of vulnerability in what she wrote about her personal life struggles, and I'm very impressed that she was willing to get that vulnerable in order to connect with the reader.
As someone who is involved with leadership in churches (My husband is a Pastor) I am really weary about books that like to point out all the ways that the church has "failed" them. I tend to feel defensive about this, as I feel that while churches do try to work towards helping people and being there for people, we are also human and there for imperfect. So when I started reading about the way that her (Whittle's) church "Failed" her I was rather weary and a bit defensive at first. However, that feeling didn't last. Whittle was honest in her approach, and while acknowledging where the church fell short, she didn't play the blame game and belittle/criticize her leadership.
I like this book a lot, and in fact have recommended it for our leadership in the church. I think it will be a valuable resource for our leadership team, as well as a great tool for our congregation!

Deadly Pursuit

I love reading series, so I'm always excited to get a book from an author I know, and then to find out that I can read more about the characters after the first book is done!
I enjoy Irene Hannon's books, they're thought provoking, fully of mystery and suspense, and also hold a strong element of faith. Her books promote her characters' faith without coming across as preachy or self-righteous, and even though it's a work of fiction I was glad to see that she had some good theological idea's presented in the book!
The book is about Alison Taylor and her struggles after being involved in a very serious car accident, struggling to heal, and then struggling to return and do well at a job she loves. After helping a young mom and her son leave a dangerous situation Alison suddenly finds herself the focus of some very dangerous unwanted attention. After receiving mysterious phone calls and frightening packages Alison brings in her two brothers (Who happen to be federal agents) to help her out. With their help comes the help of a new agent, who Alison finds herself spending more and more time with.
I enjoyed this book, it was well written, had great flow and was full of suspense! It was one ofthose books that you struggle to put down until the end!

"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 measure of Katie Calloway

 This book is exactly the type of book I love reading, anything that has a historical element to it is right up my alley! Plus with this book being set in an almost "frontier" type setting and showing the struggles of everyday life I found myself very intrigued!
Pretty much the book focuses on Katie Calloway, and her attempt to save herself and her younger brother from her abusive and mentally unstable husband. After an extremely frightening incident Katie finally decides to find a way away from her husband and into a relatively safe situation.
After a series of events she finds herself brought on as a cook for a logging group deep in the woods (which suits her fine, since she was still hiding from her husband). Throughout the book we read about her struggles as she learns to cook for a large group of strangers, the struggles she has to get along with other "staff" and the friendships that develop in the midst of it all.
I loved this book, it was fantastic and thoroughly believable! I would highly recommend 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".

A Necessary Deception

 This book had a great quality to it, I was easily able to identify with the main character and her struggles of feeling like what she's done and is doing isn't good enough, and that she has to work to make up for her past mistakes. I think that's a theme that many women struggle with and this book really brought them out in an identifiable and compassionate way!
Lady Lydia Gale is struggling to make up to her deceased husband for not being the wife she thought she should have been. So upon a letter written to her from him, she uses one of her last "remembrances" from him to purchase the freedom of a french prisoner. Upon his release she finds herself thrown into a world that she never wanted a part of, and has no idea how to get out of! In the midst of this she is also struggling to please her father who had not wanted her to marry her former husband, and is trying to win back his approval.
This book was a fantastic read, it was well written and had a great flow, which made the reading of it enjoyable. But also, it was realistic in the way that what the characters were feeling was something that most women can identify with!
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 Chosen, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Behind the veils of Yemen

 This book was so different from what I had expected! I had expected Shelby's story to be typical of other missionary biographies, which seem to me are full of exaggerated accomplishments and share absolutely none of their struggles (other than the once in a while mundane worry, but nothing life effecting!)
I'm so glad that I was given a chance to read this book and that it held none of what I had expected it to hold! Shelby's story wasn't just about what she accomplished while in Yemen, but shared her struggles, (Physical and mental), sometimes her crises of faith, and just the daily struggle it was to walk in faith in a land that punishes that faith!
I really liked this book, it wasn't typical of the missionary biographies you see out there, it not only encouraged others in their faith, shared with them in their struggles, but it also really painted a strong picture of the "humanness" of missionaries.

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


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

Miracles are for Real

 This is one of those books that not only is it well written and intelligent, but it's life changing as well. I think all of us struggle with the idea of miracles at times. Whether its that we're doubting that miracles could happen for us, or struggling with the idea that God's answer to our pleas for miracles aren't always what we want or expect.
There are times that books of this type (dealing with a specific aspect of our faith, and something that many struggle with) tend to take on an accusatory tone or take a simple way out by blaming the reader rather than providing any level of knowledge or insight. I'm so glad to see that this book stayed well away from that kind of tone! While the authors didn't shy away from the hard questions, they also answered them with compassion and insight instead of taking the "easy way out" and passing the blame onto the reader.
This is one of those few books that will hold a special place on my book shelf, and has already become well read! I will be recommending this book to anyone and everyone I meet!!

"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".

House of Secrets

 I really enjoyed this book, it wasn't so much of a romance (Which I appreciated, lol, although it did have "romantic" aspects to it at times) and actually had quite a bit of depth. Its something that I really appreciate about this author, that she has this ability to really give dept and a very believeable personality to her characters! I love reading books by Tracie Peterson!
Basically this story revolves around Bailee Cooper and her two sisters who she is sharing a very serioious secret with. After he father asks the family to meet at their old cabin, she assumes all the secrets will be coming to light. Dealing with the burden and effects of keeping such a serious secret all these years, we read about Bailee's struggles as she faces a new relationship and new circumstances!
This was a pretty great story, I enjoyed it and found it to be really though provoking and challenging! (which is exactly the type of book I love to read!) I appreciate it when a good book (especially a good fiction book) offers a challenge to their readers! Even though the story was fiction, it was still full of life lessons for the reader!
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".