What a difference a mom makes

Out of all the books I've read recently, I think this one has had the biggest impact in my life. As the mom of a boy, I struggle like many others to develop and hold onto the bond we have. In a house of all boys, there are struggles to really understand what my son is going through, and how I as a mom can be there for him.
This book gave some great advice and really gave me some absolutely wonderful insight into the role I play in my son's life, and the importance of fulfilling that role for him!
My son is almost 11 and on the verge of hitting the teen years, so I was mostly interested and excited to get my hands on the section of the book that talks about their teen years. In all honesty I've been slightly dreading the coming years, as I see the teens of today I worry that perhaps I haven't done enough for my child, that I haven't prepared him enough. With this book however I feel I am better equipped at helping my son through these years. I loved the insight Leman gives into the lives of boys, its something that I've not easily found, nor understood!
I HIGHLY recommend this book to any mom of a boy, it is invaluable!!!

"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".

My Journey to Heaven

I struggle with these types of books, with the Bible mentioning so little on what Heaven is completely like, I have a hard time finding it believable/reliable to trust that what the person experienced is truly 100% legit.
I didn't find a lot scripturally wrong with this book (but like I said, there isn't much written on what Heaven is like or fully looks like) So I'm inclined to give at the very least a consideration to what the author has written about. I did enjoy the book, and it gave me pause to think of what Heaven may be like, but more so (and what I really did appreciate about it) was that it caused me to look even deeper into the scriptures. In an effort to make sure what I was reading lined up with the Bible, I found myself learning more about God's word and developing more a passion for it too. So on that level I really did enjoy this book.
I do think I would recommend it, I would just caution the reader to make sure they know the Scriptures and test everything they read against them, just so you're not caught up in the story without knowing if the Bible speaks (or doesn't speak) on that subject.

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

With Every Letter

I love the books by Sarah Sundin that are set in the WWII era, I love this history of the time and the struggles and fortitude that the people of that time showed! This is the second book I've reviewed of Sundin's and I absolutely love the books she writes. While the books are a type of romance, she includes enough "danger" and historical aspects of it, that you aren't overloaded with it. Plus she stays away from the cornier type of romance writing that so many Christian books fall into, so I really appreciate that!
In "With Every Letter" Lt. Mellie, ( a nurse) is roped into writing into an anonymous mail exchange with some of the soldiers overseas. She's weary about having to make friends with a stranger as that takes her out of her comfort zone, but is willing to give it a try. Tom in a roundabout way becomes the recipient of Millie's letter and they begin to forge a friendship that quickly escalates into something much stronger. But with both of them holding on to secrets, neither can see a way of truly "knowing" each other.
The book is fantastically written, great flow and easy readability!

"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".

Love's reckoning

I adored this book, it took me through a wide range of emotions while reading the story. We read about Eden, who struggles to help keep their family's household running, even when it seems like members of her own family are against her. When a new apprentice blacksmith arrives to work under her father, he cooks up a plan to try and force him into staying on indefinitely. Eden then struggles with the choice of disobeying her father or following her heart and the Lord's guidance.
This book just kept flowing straight till the end, it was one of those books that's horribly hard to put down once you pick it up!
I really loved the historical aspects of the book (I love historical fiction!) and reading about the lifestyles of the people of the time. I found the book highly believable and very entertaining. The book contained and presented well God's love, but held itself back from being overtly preachy. So I would be more than comfortable with sharing this with my non-Christian friends.
Highly recommend!!

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

A hidden truth

I've read a few of Judith Miller's books now, and I'm quickly becoming a fan of her! From my recollection I've only read one other book about the Amana culture/people, so I was really looking forward to reading more about this group in this novel!
One of the things I truly appreciated about this book was that one of the characters (Dovie) was from outside their group/religion, so as she was introduced to the Amana way of life, we the readers were also able to learn more about this group of people! Dovie travels to the Amana colony to discover more about her mother's family and why she (her mother) left the Amana to marry Dovie's father. Karlina her cousin is fearful that with the arrival of a new shepherd that she will no longer be able to work with her beloved sheep. The book takes us through their struggles in both finding themselves and dealing with the challenges of falling in love in a strict religious setting.
I found the book highly interesting, the story had a really great flow to it, and the characters were personable and believable. You could feel the emotions coming right off the pages at some points of the story.

"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". 

The Bridesmaid

I'm a big fan of Beverly Lewis, I really love the Amish themed books that she writes, and I especially love when she intermingles characters from previous books she's written.
This book was fantastic, true to her style, Lewis takes us on a journey with Joanna Kurtz, as she struggles with a passion towards writing, and staying within the orders of the Bishop and laws of the church. When she  has a chance meeting with a young Amish man from another colony she tries hard to grasp to the faith that God will work things out for their good.
I really enjoyed reading this book, the story hooked me straight to the end. The characters were so well written that I found myself at times feeling angry towards the ones in the book that were behaving poorly!
I'm very excited to continue on in this series and see where the lives of the other characters are taken!
Highly recommend!!

"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". 

The River

This is the first time I've read a book by Michael Neale, but from the look of the book and what I had been hearing about it, I was pretty excited to get my copy in the mail! I have to say that the book more than met expectations, the writing style was easy to read/follow! I appreciate books that can draw me into a story and keep me there till the last page, its unique to find a book that is this enthralling and attention holding! I found that every time I had to put the book down (It was such a good book that there was no way I'd willingly stop reading, lol, so the only time it was put down was when I had no choice!) I would find myself wondering what would be coming next in the story.
I found it funny that this book was compared to "The shack" I read the shack and didn't like it at all, however I really enjoyed this story, so for me at least this book was better than "The Shack"!
If I had to offer one complaint it would be that the story was awfully sporadic/or jumpy at times. The flow of the story seemed a little off every once in a while, but not enough that it caused me to stop liking the book!
I've heard complaints that the book isn't "Spiritual" enough (or Christian enough), however I tend think that this is a positive not a negative. This is a book that does broach the subject/idea of Christianity/spirituality, but not in such a strongly "Preachy" way that I would be uncomfortable giving it to an unbeliever. For me that's important, especially if it draws out enough curiosity that the reader will follow through on their questions!
Its a good read, and one I'd recommend to Christians and non-Christians alike!

*I received this book from Thomas Nelson to review*

Mary Magdalene

This story drew me in completely, at the same time I was reading this book, I was also doing my devotions on the same timeline. The book gave a further perspective into the life and struggles of a Bible character that we know very little about. Throughout the book the author made known and clear the heart of the Savior, and his love, even for the "least of us"! Its not something that we usually consider when thinking on the people that were saved during Jesus time on earth. We know he drew the down trodden to himself, but when you consider the stories like Mary's (or others talked about in the Bible) who were possessed, you really start to grasp the heart of our Lord. It hadn't crossed my mind the absolute filth that these people would have lived in (Both in mind and physically). Yet Jesus draws them to Himself with open arms and absolute unconditional love. This book was interesting/entertaining, but more so it really opens your eyes up to God and His heart for us. Its easy to see the parallels between us and the main character Mary. How our sins my make us look to God, yet he looks past the filth and see's a beloved child of God.
I highly recommend this book, I don't believe that this was intended as a devotion/way to know God better, yet it effected me much more than many of the devotional books I've read. Do yourself a favor and get this book, you'll see a side to your Savior that you haven't understood!

"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 Haven

I adore the Amish books written by Suzanne Woods Fisher, it always feels like you're meeting up with old friends. I love how she keeps some of the more obscure characters from previous novels and begins a new story with them. It really feels like you're getting to know the "community" when you read through her books!
Having read all the previous adult books she's written, I was very excited to delve into this one!
In this book we see a continuation of the Stoney Ridge season's series, and follow up on some of the Characters we came to know in the first book "The Keeper". However this time we're focusing more on the life and struggles of Sadie Lapp. As she struggles to find her place in the community as a healer, and to assert her wants/opinions she also finds herself drawn to an outsider even while being pursued by by one of their own. When a surprise lands at her feet (literally) Sadie becomes the talk of the community, and rumors start to fly!
I loved this book, I knew I would. I haven't yet read a book by Woods Fisher that I didn't instantly fall in love with!
True to the author's style, the book was very readable and the way its written really draws in the reader!
I highly recommend this book, and Very highly recommend this author!

"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".

Dying to read

This is the first time I've had a chance to read a novel by Lorena McCourtney, and I have to say I very much enjoyed it! She has a really relaxed kind of writing style that makes the book very easy to get into. Her characters are easy to relate to, and even though the book has this kind of far fetched/unlikely to happen kind of story line, the way the characters are written makes the book much more believable.
The story is about Cate Kinkaid, who is between jobs and goes to work for her uncle at his Private investigation company as an assistant while she looks for a more suitable job. What was supposed to be an easy to handle case had suddenly turned into a large mystery with the appearance of a dead body. Pairing that with an accident that befalls her uncle, Cate is thrust into this mystery which keeps getting stranger and stranger.
The book was cute, its not the usual style that I read, but I did still very much enjoy it. Its a nice easy read, that provided a lot of entertainment!

"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".

Whispers in the Wind

I have been waiting excitedly for this book to come out, the first book in the Wild west wind series, Valley of Dreams, was so good, that I couldn't wait to get my hands on the next book!  Just like the first book, we follow the lives of 4 friends (three of whom worked together on a wild west show) as the struggle now to make themselves a home in the valley that Cassie is a partial owner in. They face plenty of obstacles, from hostile members of the ranch's other owners, to poor attitudes and danger from towns people. Now that they've got a home, Cassie struggles to find a way to provide for her makeshift family, with her only experience being that of a gun-show/horse show, she now flounders on how to provide a living. I love that we can follow through the book, and see the provision of God displayed throughout it. Even in the times where Cassie faces her greatest struggles, the author has very aptly woven a thread of faith through the story.
This is one of those Staying-on-my-book-shelf kind of books, that will be read for a long time to come! Its such a great book that I don't hesitate to recommend this to anyone wanting an entertaining read that also causes you to both think and be challenged!

"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".  

To love and Cherish

I love it when we have the opportunity to review books that are part of a series, and this one happens to be written by some of my favorite authors!
I loved the first book in the Bridal veil Island series, so I had high expectations for this one, and I wasn't disappointed at all! The book kept me turning from page one, and kept me guessing straight till the very end. The main characters in this book are Melinda and Evan, who met on Bridal Veil Island where Melinda acts as a lady's maid for a very wealthy woman. They've been close for years and have fallen in love with one another, yet Evan keeps holding off on asking Melinda for her hand until he has a more secure job.
When a severe storm hits the Island and cuts off communication, Melinda becomes anxious and decides to travel to the island to check on Evan. While there new opportunities arise and she becomes thrust into island life, and all it entails!
I really enjoyed this book, holding true to their writing form, Peterson and Miller put out a book that is both entertaining and thoughtful. Their characters show a depth and maturity that not many books portray.
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".