An unlikely Suitor

To be honest, I was pretty excited to read this book, I love anything that fits within the "historical fiction" category so I had some great expectations of this book! Like I mention quite often, I'm not a huge romance reader, a lot of those types of books seem to be just a little to corny and gushy for my tastes. And while there were some "romantic" twists in the plot, the book was definitely more than that!
At first I found myself really disliking the main character Lucy Scarpelli, I found her to be rather bossy and almost smug. However, even with that initial dislike, I was still loving the book, and by the end of it I very much enjoyed reading about each of the characters!
Basically the story centers mostly around Lucy Carpelli who befriends a slightly handicapped socialite named Rowena. With this friendship comes many new life experiences for Lucy and her family. I enjoyed reading about the girls' struggle to be friends while still remaining in their separate and distinct social classes.
This was a pretty fantastic book, and I'll be adding this author to my lists of favorites!

"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 Prayers

I love this book, and without trying to sound flippant, I find it utterly adorable. we took a trip recently and spent a lot of time on the road, so I had an arsenal of books to entertain me, and this one was included in the group! Its a nice small size, so it was easy to pack and take with me, but it was also pretty sturdy which was nice!!
Honestly, I didn't much expect to get anything out of reading the book, I figured it would be rather mundane prayers and simple doctrine. But truly, this book has really impacted my prayer life and the way I try to live my life! (I have no plans to turn Amish, but do love many of their attitudes towards others). While the language of the prayers is fairly simple, the idea's behind them and hugely meaningful and very insightful. Really I would fully recommend this book to everyone, it's insightful, simple and easily applicable!

"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".

Max on life

I generally enjoy all things Max Lucado he is my absolute favorite non fiction writer, so I was pretty excited to have a chance to review his newest book!


There was a lot about this book that I really did like, I love that he's taken questions from real people and set answers to them. There were quite a few of the questions that I found applied directly to me! (I'm a worrier, lol) However at the same time, because he's covered so much in one book I felt at times that his answers and the scripture he provided didn't go as deep as I've come to expect from him. Lucado usually has fantastic insight into Scripture and with this book I don't think we saw enough of that. For me it was just too much at once, I would have rather seen him cover less questions but with more depth to them.

All in all though, I would have to say I did enjoy this book, and even though I would have liked more I did learn an awful lot! So on that basis, I would totally recommend this book!
 
"Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson".

Live Loved: Experiencing God's presence in everyday life

There were a number of things I loved about this book by Max Lucado, (I'm a huge fan of his writing, its easy to grasp and easily applied in life!) but I truly loved how he put this book together. As a full-time mom and a full-time employee my spare moments are few and far between,  so when I try reading a devotional book, generally I just get lost, and struggle to keep a good pace. With this book the devotions aren't too long, they're too the point and simple. I was easily able to understand and apply what Max was talking about in my own life. I really loved this book.
However, I think the bigger review/recommendation would come from my husband! He's one of those guys who dislikes reading and unless it's something that's a part of his job, her rarely does. He saw me reading "Live loved" and when I finished he borrowed the book to look at. That was a couple of weeks back, and I haven't been able to get my hands back on it since, lol. He enjoyed reading the book and really got a lot out of it too!
I would totally recommend this book, especially for those who don't necessarily like reading, I think with this book you'll be pleasantly surprised!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson"

Unsinkable: A Young Woman's Courageous Battle on the High Seas

I'm a bit on the fence with this book, on one hand, I love the story and drama surrounding Abby Sunderland and her struggle to and perseverance to survive. I think its a great lesson for so many people, but especially one that I'd love to share with my son! I love her faith, and how often it's expressed throughout the book, and in that view, I really did enjoy this book. However, I found it such a struggle to keep up with all the terms and to understand most of what she was doing (boat-wise). For someone who is incredibly unfamiliar with boats and sailing this book was a bit of a struggle to get through!
All in all though, once I was able to kind of put aside and pick up on some of what was talked about in the book I did really start to enjoy reading it.
This is one of those books that I would probably give to some of our youth, I think it's a great message that regardless of age, nothing is impossible with God!


"Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson".

The Watcher

If I'm being honest here, I did struggle a bit with this book. While it was well written and had an interesting and thought provoking storyline, it was a bit more work to read it. It took me about the first 3-4 chapters before I could really get a good grasp on the story and get into it.
The story focuses around Kathryn Ellison, she was assaulted and abducted because of a mistaken identity. After being miraculously "rescued" she struggles to get beyond the pain, hurt, and anxiety. To top it off though, during the court case she meets the brother of the intended victim and realizes that this is the man she loves and belongs with. As she struggles to get passed all of this and finally come to the point of accepting love she is also facing threats from the would be killer that he's coming to finish her off.
The book is well worth the work to get through, the storyline was well written and very intriguing!

The Deepest Waters

I was so excited to see another novel by Dan Walsh, all the books of his that I've read have been absolutely amazing! I have to say though, that this one is my favorite of his!! It's a heart wrenching story that is both beautiful and tragic, and you won't be able to put it down until the last page!
The story focuses around Laura Foster and her new husband John, after both finding love later in life (or "later" in those times, lol) the couple are married and set out on a ship to enjoy their honeymoon and visit John's family. After tragedy strikes and the couple are separated, Laura faces a life living without her recently acquired love. In this book (Which is based on a true story, which absolutely Blew my mind!!!) you'll find love, romance, heroism, and miracles. It's a book that will touch your heart and increase your faith!
Do yourself a favor and read 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".

Love amid the Ashes

First off I need to say how very much I enjoyed this book, it was beyond wonderful! And one of the things I appreciate about it the most was that the book gave me a new perspective on a Biblical story that I hadn't looked at before!  (tricked me into learning something when I just thought I was enjoying a wonderful book! lol) I loved hearing about the story of Job from a different perspective!
Mesu Andrews stuck very close to the Biblical story, (meaning there weren't any theological/crazy add ons) while producing an absolutely breath-taking, suspenseful, and thoughtful read!
In this book we're looking at the story of Job through the eyes of Dinah, we read about the struggles of not only Job, but of his wife, remaining family, and friends.
You need to read this book, you'll fall in love with 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".

Lady in the Mist

I think I've found a new favorite author, this book was absolutely wonderful! While it somewhat reads as a romance novel the book is full of enough suspense and intrigue that the whole romance part seems to fall to the side (which is A-okay with me, lol). I love historical types of fiction and this book fulfilled that love completely!
The book focuses mostly on the main character of Tabitha Eckles, the town's (and surrounding area's) midwife. As a midwife she is more aware of the town's secrets than most people, and because of that she now finds herself in a rather precarious situation!
When the town's men are going missing with no one sure who is behind it, Tabitha sets out to help figure out who is behind these disturbances.
I truly enjoyed this book, and would highly recommend it to anyone and 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".

When Life's Not Working

Like I mention at the beginning of every non-fiction book I review, I'm not overly into reading any kind of self-help, non-fiction type books. Life is busy enough that I'd rather just read for enjoyment, and I don't usually find these types of books enjoyable.

That's said though, I really did actually enjoy this book, and not only that my husband (who is a pastor) also did! It's one thing when I find a book that I love, and find to be a great resource, but it's quite another when I find one that will also help my  husband in his ministry!

I don't think there is one person out there that can say that they've never faced a difficult time in their lives, and Bob Merritt addresses these situations and how to handle them properly, with out undue stress!

I think one of the subjects that he wrote about that spoke to me the most, was rather than doing many things poorly, do a few things well. As a minister's wife this is one area that I really struggle with, when you see a need it's hard not to try and fill it, even if it means stretching yourself too thin. And one of the harder things to admit while reading this book is that I really have taken on more than I should handle, and those ministries suffer when I do that. I'd rather take on only a few ministry projects and do them well then try to fill all the spaces and do them poorly!

Ministry family or not, this book was fantastic and I think will really bless any reader!

Highly recommended!!

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


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

Plain Proposal

I absolutely love Beth Wiseman books, She is an amazing writer who really knows how to capture a story and present it in a way that makes the reader feel a part of it. Her book "Plain proposal" is no different, it's the story of Miriam Raber and her feelings for another individual within the Amish community. As she struggles to both honor her heritage and God, and still be with the man she loves.
I really enjoyed this book, once I started I couldn't put it down till I was done, it was that good! Like always, Wiseman did a fantastic job, and this book will be high on my shelf to be read again and again!
I Highly recommend it!

The first escape

When I saw the book up for review I thought it would be a great book for me and my son to read together. (he's 9, and while he likes books, he does tend to need a little motivation). I loved that the book was in a comic book format for parts of the story, it did break it up a little and kept him interested. With that said however, I had to stop reading the story with him part way through. Although it looks like a children's book, it most certainly was not (at least not in the way that I would choose to have my son read). Usually I feel pretty safe that any book I get from the various Christian book blogging sites will be fine for myself and my child to read over. This book though was not. It dealt with séances {and while it's eventually seen to be fake, it's really not something I want my child exposed to} and and through most of the story dealt with people trying to harm children. The publisher's say it's intended audience is 8-12 years, and that really floored me! There was no way this was appropriate for a child that young.
I did finish the book on my own, and there were a few things that I did appreciate. I did like how the sister's cared so much for one another and were willing to sacrifice for each other. The illustrated format was eye catching and I believe would have held my son's attention throughout the book had it been more appropriate.
I disliked that for a book from a Christian publisher that there was virtually no reference to anything Biblical (I noticed only one instance that referred to a creator, perhaps I may have missed some though?).
All in all, I'm sorry to say I wouldn't recommend this book for children. Perhaps a young adult reader (13-15yrs) but even then I didn't find the story to be something I would want my child reading.
I think had the story line been different my child would have very much enjoyed the format of the book. I think the idea was great, sadly the story just seemed inappropriate.

Angel Sister

My, what a heart wrenching story! This is the second time I've read a book by this author, and I know she's made her way to the top of my list. This story was beautiful, even with all the anger and tragedy surrounding it. There were points in the story where I found myself laughing along with the characters, and at other times, I would be reading it with a tear in my eye. The story presents itself in a way that you being to associate with the characters and then beginning to sympathize with them.  This is one of those books where I will continually be reading and re-reading it. The main story line is of Kate Merritt, who is forced to grow up too fast while she strives to keep peace in her family and to keep them together. When she encounters a small girl abandoned on the church steps Kate takes it upon herself to provide for and protect this small child. We experience with her the joys she has, and the sorrow she faces as the adults in her life seem to work at tearing apart the small sense of family she has.

"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".

Stars Collide

I love getting books by authors that I've read before, so when I saw that that the same author who wrote the "Weddings by Bella" series also wrote this book I began really looking forward to reading this book! As I've mentioned many times in the past, I'm not much of a romance reader, I find they tend to get a little hokey and ridiculous. That said though, Janice Thompson is one of the few romance authors that I really actually enjoy reading. Her story's are quite interesting and do have that romantic quality to them but lack the corniness of most romance novels!
Again, Thompson didn't disappoint, the book had a fantastic flow, and while sometimes the characters were a little "Wild" they were still within the realm of possible.
The story focuses around Kat Jennings and her budding romance with a co-star, while at the same time showing the struggles she faces caring for an aging and sick grandmother. The situations they found themselves in really had me cracking up at some parts, and I literally gasped at some parts of the story (Some big surprises in this book!) This was a great read, and one I'll be highly recommending!

"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 Search

I was beyond excited to read this book, having read the previous two in this series I have been waiting like crazy to get a chance to read this one too!! I love Suzanne Woods Fisher's books, I love Amish books period, but her books seem to have an extra something special in them!
At first I kind of found myself disliking a bit the grandmother (Bertha) and the direction of the story, however as it (the story) progressed I found myself enthralled. When I got to the point where I understood Bertha's motivations, I found that I actually really began to like that character! What I loved (and found to be unique especially among Amish fiction) was the strong woman that she (Bertha) portrayed. I loved her strength of character and her stubbornness.
Also, I love reading the books and spotting the names of the characters in the previous stories, it's almost like hearing about old friends! This entire series was absolutely amazing, there isn't one thing in any of them that I would change! I highly HIGHLY recommend this book, whether you like Amish fiction or not, you will Love 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".

Secrets to parenting your adult child

To be honest, when we received this book I was wondering how I would be able to give a proper review on it. I'm a parent of a young child, so I didn't think there would be much in this book for me. And while at time I found that some of the stuff written was beyond me, I also felt like I was being empowered for the future. There were some great tools in the book for parents, and I feel like I'm that much more prepared for when I face the task of parenting an adult child! I don't feel like there is much I can say on whether the book was spot on or not, since I haven't got the experience of having adult children and am far from it yet. However I will say that I very much enjoyed the tone of the author, it was like reading a conversation with her and I like that. There are so many times that books like these seem to take on an arrogant almost condescending tone when speaking of "How" to parent. I'm happy to say this book didn't do that. There are a few people I know who are facing the task of raising adult children, and I will definitely be passing along my recommendation for them 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".

A Heart Most Worthy

I love Siri Mitchell's books, The first one I read was "She walks in beauty" and absolutely fell in love witht he book! So I was so excited to have the opportunity to review another of her books! First off, I need to start by saying this book was nothing what I expected it to be! I had expected this book to be much the same style as the last book. However (and its a good however!) this book read compeletly differently, the characters and settings were completely opposite of what the last book had! A few times I had to check back and really see if it was by the same author! That said though, the one way that both these books were compariable, is in how absolutely wonderful they were. The book was well written and held my attention from the first sentence to the very last page.
Mostly the book focuses on Madame Forza's gown shop where she has three young ladies working for her. Throughout the book we follow the lives of these ladies and their struggles (which are neumerous) and their joys. It was a really unique book that flowed nicely together! Even though there were three different stories being told in one book, they worked well together and complimented each other wonderfully! I completely will recommend this book to anyone and 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".

Soul Surfer

I cannot wait for this movie to come out, it looks fantastic!!!

Voyage with the Vikings

When I saw this book was up for review (From Tyndale Media Center) I excitedly signed up to review it!  My son (who is nine) loves the Odyssey audio series and is just getting into reading chapter books. So this book was perfect for him!
He and I read it together and immensely enjoyed the story, it was filled with enough action and suspense that it really held his attention throughout the entire book! Also I appreciated how the book included actual historic references, it made for a much more interesting read when I informed my son that some of the characters in the story were real life people. He (my son) now is reading anything he can find to learn about vikings, the book sparked such a big interested in him to learn all he can about the Viking era. I think that's one of my favorite things about this book, that it really encouraged him to learn more. I also LOVE the website, and how he can get more into the books through there!

God's promises devotional journal

I really love this book/journal, I love that it gives us a devotional and allows us to 'respond' in a way afterwards. I also love the length of the devotionals, I find this journal to be a great way to start off my mornings! I tend to work early in the morning and don't have time for some of these devotional books that are pages and pages long. The devotions in "God's promises Devotional Journal" are right to the point, insightful, and heart-tugging. When I read them in the morning I find myself dwelling on the truths presented throughout the rest of the day! And the Collection of authors in it; Goodness there are so many favorites in this one book! From Max Lucado and Ann Graham Lotz, to Catherine Marshall, and so many more! Its a fantastic book, a perfect gift (Or a great addition to your own library!) for friends and family alike!




I Highly recommend this book!

The heart revolution

I think I need to stop starting my posts with "I normally don't like these kind of self-help books" considering there have been so many lately that I've enjoyed, lol.
This book is no exception, and I really think it has the chance to greatly improve your walk with God if applied!
This book is basically a 40 day (40 chapters/40 days) challenge to increase your own understanding of Christ and who you are in Christ.  One of the biggest questions that I think every Christian, seasoned or new, struggles with; "How do you keep your heart turned toward God rather than letting the circumstances of your life dictate your destiny" As a pastor's wife I'm aware of how drastically oppression can effect a person's life and their understanding of themselves.
I absolutely loved chapter 7 that talks about "the supremacy of Christ", I love how Da La Mora puts a big emphasis right at the beginning that "There is no circumstance or situation we could ever face that Jesus himself did not face and overcome while he was on the earth" I know its something we should all know by now, but for some reason its one of the hardest things to comprehend. I love the term he used "Liberating power to overcome", how often we forget all the Christ has truly done for us!!
This was such a great book that we're looking into doing a Bible study around it with our small groups! HIGHLY recommend!!
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


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

If God, why evil?

This is one of those books that help answer one of the toughest questions out there. As a minister's wife the question is asked quite often, and I honestly struggle to find an appropriate answer at times. How to explain evil to a fallen world?
Geisler does a fantastic job of going through the Bible and openly discussing all the "Controversial" questions that no one seems to want to answer. Also, one of the things I truly appreciated in his book was how he equipped the readers regarding the debates of evolution and creation. Honestly, I don't fully understand all there is to know about evolution and it's hard to find an author who's willing to take that step out there (with intelligent points) and discuss evolution along side intelligent design. I really enjoyed two sections of his book, one was in the chapter "Evidence for the existence of God" where Geisler talks about microbiology and the complexity of it that indicates (and I believe proves) that there is intelligent design.
I also really enjoyed reading in the third appendix about his problems with the book "The Shack". I think I'm one of the few Christians out there who just didn't get into this book. I tried reading it a few times and it really rubbed me the wrong way. Geisler really gets to the heart of why parts of the book could while sounding nice, are doctrinally dangerous.
"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".

Larkspur Cove

"Larkspur Cove" begins with one of the main characters Andrea Henderson who after having to survive a humiliating and incredibly upsetting year, moves back to Larkspur Cove to begin a new life with her teenage son. After a little while of being at her job she is faced with the task of finding ways to help take care of and care for a little girl who suddenly appeared with the town recluse. As she gets more involved with this child she also begins to have feelings for the game warden who's been helping keep in contact with the family. While trying to balance everything (Her job, her new client, new feelings, and new surrounds) she suddenly finds herself thrown into a dangerous and scary situation!
I really enjoyed this book, it was thought provoking and well written. There were parts (especially towards the end) that really had me sitting on the edge of my seat! There was enough suspense in the story to make it interesting, but not so much that it took away from the enjoyment! 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".

Promises to keep

First off, this is hands down one of my favorite books that I've had the pleasure of reading. It is heartfelt, heart wrenching and heartwarming all at the same time! So many times through the book I was nearly brought to tears by the emotions shown in the characters. I loved the character Tillie and her eccentric ways, how outright honest she was and straightforward. I also loved her courage and sacrificial love that she had for the other characters in the book. The story focuses mainly around Roz Anthony and her mom and brother moving away from an abusive father. It shows the struggles she (Roz) went through and the scariness of living in an abusive home. When Roz promises to keep a secret she doesn't realize the effect it can have and the danger it will present to the rest of her family.
This book is fantastic, honestly, I couldn't put it down till I finished the entire book.
I really do recommend this book to anyone and 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".

Another Dawn

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, although I in no way lived the same kind of lifestyle as the main character (Or even necessarily agree with her) I still felt like I could really relate to what the character was going through. I really appreciated that the author didn't push the views of the main character into almost a platform to tell others how to live. I think its a fine line when writing these kind of stories, how to add depth to your character without making it sound like you're on a soapbox. (I'm happy to say the author did a remarkable job of this!)
The story really revolves around Grace Graham and how one of her choices ended up effecting (in a very bad way) the lives of many others. Through all the discouragement and heartache though, she's able to find friendships in the most unlikely people! She doesn't just learn new things about those around her but learns through this trial a lot about herself!
I thought this was a great story, it was well written and highly relatable! I definitely recommend it!

"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".

Seek me with all your heart

I have to start off saying (like always, lol) How very much I love Amish fiction! Beth Wiseman is one of my very favorite authors in this genre (Her and Suzanne Fisher Woods are at the top of my list!!) her books are always thought provoking and heartfelt!
This book in no way disappointed me, the main character Emily and her family face a situation that is difficult in most regular settings, but in the Amish community its very nearly unheard of!  The descriptions in the book of life in the Colorado mountains was both beautiful and though provoking! I was impressed with the details she (Beth Wiseman) thought to include in the book when describing it! (But again, this is common with Wiseman's books, to include beautiful descriptions and details that give it a very real feeling!).
I don't want to talk too much about the actual story line, its so focused around a certain event, that I don't want to ruin it for those that are looking to read it! However I will say that this is another great book by Beth Wiseman, and I KNOW you won't be disappointed in this story!

The Life ready woman: Thriving in a do-it-all world

I first became a fan of Shaunti Feldhahn's books when I read "For women only", (Which was a fabulous book, if you're a lady, you need to read it!) So when I saw that her new book "The Life ready woman" was available for review, I was beyond excited! One of the issues I seem to have with a lot of these kind of Christian self-help books for women is they are big pushers of the woman not being equal to her husband. These books annoy me, so I was more than happy to read (and having read previous books by feldhahn was also expecting) right near the beginning of the book she starts off with explaining that men and woman are equal. I appreciate that both authors didn't try to push down the woman's role as unimportant, it was a great start to the book!
I especially enjoyed near the end of the book, where the authors talk about the "Three steps to believing God" One of my biggest struggles in my Christian walk is learning to lean and trust God rather than depending solely on myself. Its good to be reminded of who God is, and all he's done in the past. It spoke to me in the way that if He took that much care of my past of course He's to be trusted with my future! And one point they made that I think so many of us need to hear and understand is to "Act on trust, not feelings". Out of everything in this book, this spoke to me the most.
I will fully be recommending this book to any and every female out there! This is a must read ladies!!

Now, with that said I've got a giveaway ladies!!
If you'll leave a comment and your name (and email please, or else I can't contact you!!) I will be entering you for a chance to receive a free copy of the book "The life ready woman"!!
I'll be doing the draw a week from today, so you have lots of time to sign up and invite your friends!! Good Luck!!!

The Mountains bow down

I'm not usually a big suspense/homicide fiction fan, too many times they're pretty corny or just completely unrealistic. However, I do have to say that I quite enjoyed this novel! Even with it being the third book in the series (I haven't read the other two) I didn't feel like I was coming into it mid story. It was easily able to stand on its own without me needing the background to the other stories!
Mostly the book focuses on Raleigh Harmon an Special Agent for the FBI, who takes an Alaskan cruise to get away, clear her head and make some big decisions. During her stay a passenger goes missing and Raliegh finds herself thrown back into work! While having to deal with both family and having to work with Special Agent Jack Stephanson (someone she in the beginning can't stand!) she is also rushing to solve this mystery within the five days of the cruise!
I really enjoyed this book, it wasn't so out there to be unrealistic, but it was still eventful enough that it was interesting and intriguing!

Almost Heaven

I have to say, Originally when I received the book in the mail, I was a bit weary about it. The story line seemed like it would be slower and perhaps not all that interesting. I have to say though, that in all honesty, this is one of THE best books I have read yet.  Through the book we're seeing the life of the main character played out from two prospectives, his own, and the perspective of the angel charged with protecting him. The book is heart felt and has such a beautiful message. I think for some it may be a difficult read (It deals with some pretty hard situations) however there is such a strong and loving message that I really think its worth the read. I highly recommend this book, I don't think there are enough good things that I can say about it! I will definitely be looking for more books by this author!

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Fatal Judgment

I'm not a horribly huge Crime-drama fan, I tend to lean more towards historical fiction. However I very much like the Guardians of Justice series by Irene Hannon, having read the previous book "In harms way" I was rather excited to see another book by Hannon available! Much like the last book this one did not disappoint! We're introduced to Liz Michaels a federal court judge who's sister is brutally murdered. As she goes into protective custody U.S. Marshal Jake Taylor and his team race to try and find the murderer before he tries to finish off the job. This book was full of twists and turns and kept me on the edge of my seat straight until the end!
I 100% 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".

Deeper Into the Word: Reflections on 100 Words from the New Testament

If I'm being fully honest here, I have a really hard time getting into devotional/non-fiction books. However I have to say I very much enjoyed this book. I found for me it was easier to take it slower (Read a few chapters a night, rather that read it straight through). This book was fantastic, I love how deep into the original meaning of some of the scriptures Keri Wyatt Kent went. In some places it really completely changed the understanding I had of the scripture used! I especially enjoyed the chapter about the word "Love". (As someone who did take Greek in college, I was aware a bit of the different meanings, but this book took me even deeper into that and made it much easier to understand and apply!) I love the section that talks about agape love, (I find that its almost over used in a lot of settings, but the author here opens us up to new understandings with it!) We know God is agape (self-sacrificing, unconditional love) but I was unaware that when Jesus tells us to love the Lord your God, its agapao, and again when he tells us to love our neighbor!
This book opened up a whole new understanding of God's wonders and love, I'm excited to get into the Bible and discover more of what God is saying to us!

"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 Damascus Way

After reading the second book in the series I was so excited to see the latest book in the "Acts of faith" series! I loved "the hidden flame" so I was beyond excited to dive on into this book, and it held quite true to what I've come to expect from Janette Oke and Davis Bunn. The story was well written and very thought provoking. This is one of the few works of fiction that I find effects my Christian walk. Throughout reading the book I really felt challenged to adapt a more Christ-like attitude in my daily dealings. I loved the quiet strength and faith of both Julia (The main character) and Abigail (who we met in the previous book).
This is one of those books that even if you miss reading the first couple, and start with the third, you don't really feel like you're missing part of the story.
I would fully 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".

The Girl in the Gatehouse

 Julie Klassen is quickly becoming one of my very favorite authors, I've enjoyed a few of her other books (The silent governess, was one!) and absolutely love each one I read!

The story has a really great flow to it, and a sense of mystery surrounding it as well! (Which I really appreciate, this book  kept me on my toes straight till the end!).  The story basically is about a young woman who makes a fairly big mistake and is sent to live elsewhere, (obviously within a gate house!) we get to see her struggles as she tries to find a way to make ends meet (For both her self and her governess) and as she learns how to keep a household running.

This was a great book (like all of Klassen's books!) I would really recommend this to anyone wanting a good fiction read, the book was quite good and I think even a non-Christian would enjoy it. It didn't come across as preachy, but still have a good Christian message within it!

"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".

Paradise Valley

 I loved this book so much! If you've read this blog at all, I'm sure you're aware by now of my absolute love of all things Amish! So i was very excited to get this book and get right into it! This book happened to be by an author I hadn't read before, but will now be adding to my list of authors to keep an eye out for! I loved his writing style, it had a great flow and was really easy to follow.
The story is really based around an Amish community that is facing persecution for their choices regarding their children. When it (the persecution) becomes too much, some families are left feeling like they need to start anew. Throughout this book I found my self holding my breath at the parts that were scary, and celebrating with the characters when good things came their way. I would 100% recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the Amish fiction genre!

"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".

Nelsons Biblical Cyclopedic Index

I was quite surprised when I received this book in the mail from booksneeze, I had thought it would probably be a good book for my husband (Who is a pastor) to have in his library. However after looking into I've found that I'm now using it during my devotional times as well! Its a fantastic tool (for both me and my husband, lol) giving guides to different scriptures based on the different topics or references.

Also, not only are we using it for both my husband's preaching and my own personal Bible studying, We're finding that we've used it to look up scriptures for our children's church lessons, or our women's/men's Bible studies. It is such a great resource for so many area's in our ministry!! Honestly, this one book has probably cut down by an hour the amount of time online I spend trying to search out scriptures. A very valuable resource and one I'll strongly recommend to anyone involved in ministry!

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".