The road to becoming

I love the honesty Jenny Simmons has in her book, it was a refreshing read, to see how she's moved beyond the struggles and challenges she's faced and how she turned to God in such an "all out" fashion. The vulnerability Jenny expresses in her book really allows the reader to connect to what she's sharing, and to also look within themselves to see the lessons presented throughout "The road to becoming". This topic of trusting God, of holding onto the faith and knowledge that He knows your story best has been a real focus lately in my life, and this book really spoke to me in how I live, and do I live in the type of faith it takes to know that no matter what comes, He knows and holds my story.
This was a wonderful book, it was full of challenges that can be adapted to our own lives, and in Jenny's story we can see so much of our own struggles, and know that God is the one in charge of our tomorrows.
I highly recommend this book.

Forgiven

While I've heard the story behind the book before, I hadn't realized how truly deep the story went, and how amazing this story of forgiveness, grace and love is.
I can't imagine being the parent of a child who commits such a crime, its not something that is really thought or talked about in society. So none of us seem to really put ourselves in their shoes or consider them at all (unless its to judge). This book made my heart swell, what a sweet example of unconditional love that the Amish families showed to someone who the world would turn away. I love that the families of the tragedy took the road of love instead of hate, and that they not only offered forgiveness for such an unspeakable act, but reached out in love and offered hope the shooter's mother. This book was such a teaching moment for me, to look back on my past hurts and see where I could have given grace, and its an encouragement to me now to reach out to even those who have caused the most pain.
I'll be purchasing a copy of this book for our church library and recommending it to everyone!

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

The Boy Born Dead

I don't always love auto-biographical type books, there tends to almost be a build up or hype of the subject to the point where their "goodness" seems unreal. Fortunately in the book "The boy born dead" this was not the case, David Ring allows us to see the gritty side of his life, the horror and unpleasantness that he experienced, the hopelessness he felt. He opens himself up to the reader in a real and honest way. You aren't given the impression that he's trying to bolster himself up, and that the person we're reading about isn't real. David presents himself in a real deep and open way. I appreciated that the book didn't shy away from the struggles he faced, and I appreciated that David was willing to put his past on such a strong display in order to give the reader a real look at his life.
I also love the turning point in David's life, that the friendship he found seemed (to me) to be so God ordained, and that through that he was able to come to see his self worth, and experience the grace of God.
I absolutely recommend this book, its so well written, so real, and so raw, its the kind of book that you walk away from changed.

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

The Imposter

I adore Amish fiction, I love the simplicity and quiet faith shown in the novels, and I've found Suzanne Woods Fisher to be among the top authors of the genre! As always, Fisher's book is full of twists and turns, faith and strength, failure and redemption; the characters in her novel come to life amidst lively descriptions and depth of personality.
With the Imposter we're following Katrina's story, about her loss of what she thought was her love, to the surprises and consequences of walking in sin. In the midst of her trials Katrina takes on a job to help a nearby widow, and in that discovers both her calling and and deep love for both the land and the people that dwell on it. While she is already facing the consequences for her own choices, Katrina also sees the struggles of those around her who all seem to be fighting to find their place in the world. We see many lessons withing Suzanne Woods Fisher's book, of humility, hope, and redemption. I loved every minute of the story and was very disappointed when I finished the book!!
I highly recommend it, its and amazing read and while fiction, its jam packed with lessons for the reader as well!

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

Murder at the Courthouse

I am a huge fan and avid reader of A.H.Gabhart's books, so I'm always thrilled to see them up for review!
"Murder at the courthouse" was a great read, it had a nice flow to it, fast moving in some parts, but with enough information put into it that you didn't feel lost! As well, Ann Gabhart's books tend to have such a depth to the characters that you begin to feel as though they're old friends!
With Gabhart's latest book we're following Michael Keane as he moves into his role of Deputy Sheriff in the quiet little town of Hidden Springs. His illusion of peace and quiet is soon shattered when a body shows up on the courthouse steps and Michael is forced to follow all sorts of crazy leads to find the culprit.
I deeply enjoyed this book, it was so entertaining and really captured my attention, it was a real struggle to put it down! The flow of the book kept the reader guessing and enraptured till the end, I would highly recommend this book for anyone!!

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

Wild in the Hollow

Reading this book was like finding someone who is a kindred soul, who understands that our lives can (and in honesty) tend to hit some pretty big bumps. There was a lot of freedom found in reading about Amber Haines' struggles and things that she had to overcome, there was such honesty and authenticity within the pages of her book, and a vulnerability that invited the reader to take that dive of believing God to take your broken self and give you healing and wholeness! This book spoke to my heart in such a powerful way, and has left me completely changed from the person I was when I started it. I love Amber Haines message of freedom and forgiveness. There was regret without shame in the pages, she embraced her life and her mistakes, and invited the reader to Come before God just as they are, that they don't need perfection before seeking the Father.
I adored this book, and will be recommending it to everyone I know!!

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

Simply Tuesday

I am not a big reader of books that aren't fiction, self help or even a lot of devotionals tend to lose my interest pretty fast, so I am usually hard pressed to recommend them if I don't find I enjoy them.
However, I truly and fully enjoyed reading "Simply Tuesday", it was like a breath of fresh air, we're constantly surrounded by speakers or books that tell us to dream big, to get out and do more. It gets to the point that seeing these things, or being surrounded by people like that tend to make me feel very anxious. "Simply Tuesday" really released the reader to be ok with living in the moments, even the small ordinary moments. It was like a weight hand been released from my shoulders that there wasn't another  person/book that was expecting us all to take on the world and shoot to stardom. I'm the type of person who enjoys the quiet, I'd rather simply serve within the church than stand out, and for the first time that I've ever read, someone has said its ok! That living a good Christian life doesn't mean I have to jump on these bandwagons of grandeur! What a relief and release to have someone say I'm ok serving the way that I'm called to!!
I will be highly recommending this book to absolutely everyone, but especially to those who may not fit the model of "Dream big/live big" that is so prevalent in our society!


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

Trial run

Pretty much any book that isn't a corny romance book, is an awesome book to me, so when I saw "Trial Run" with my review choices, I thought it would be a neat book to read through, although it is a bit outside my regular genre! (Plus I love that its the kind of book I can pass on to my husband who would be interested in it too!)
I really did enjoy the story, and by the end of the book was hard put to set it down! I did however in the beginning find it a little hard to follow, though since its not the regular genre I usually read, I think the fault of the confusion may lay much more on my end then the author's!
The book was fast paced and quite intelligent, as I got to know the characters I really began enjoying reading about them. Thomas Locke wrote in such a way that the characters, while some were of different backgrounds, were still quite relatable , and I really love it when a book can do that!
I'm not going to go into too much of what the book is about, (mostly since the science, or idea of out of body travel and transcending time and space is a little out of my knowledge, lol) But I will say that I think regardless of what kind of genre you like reading, "Trial Run" will be a great investment for your library, and I think will appeal to both male and female readers!!

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

Not by sight

Again, I have to express my love for historical fiction, and was thrilled to see it was about the white feather campaign, I had just learned about that not long ago and it was interesting to see within the book something that I had read come to life in a fiction setting!
I had read a previous book of Kate Breslin's "For such a time" and adored it, so I was thrilled to see that she was one of the authors included in Augusts review pack! She is an excellent writer, her books have a fantastic flow to them that carries out throughout the entire book. She's also great at bringing out the emotions of her characters and clearly expressing them to the reader. the pictures painted by her words made this book a joy to read.
The book is focused on Grace, a young suffragette who upon first meeting Jack (the other main character) assumed he was not doing his duty in the war and handed him a white feather of cowardice. Unknowingly to her, her actions set into motion a tumble of twists, turns, betrayals, and heartache, that would lead her down many twists and turns before truth would prevail.
In all, I though this book was fantastic and would highly recommend it to everyone!

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

Through Deep Waters

Historical fiction, I have to say, are my absolute without a doubt, favorite genre, I've read a number of Sarah Sundin's books, follow her blog, and am always more than thrilled to see a new book out for review! This one absolutely does not disappoint either, as true to form, Sundin's characters were very realistic and down to earth. While some of the circumstances they found themselves in could be considered crazy, the build up to them throughout the book really lent itself to a believability of the circumstances, and really drew me as an audience into the whole situation.
The book is focused on Mary, a Boston navy yard secretary, and Jim a naval officer, both who are discovering that the people they are around may not be who they think they are. When a number of items are sabotaged Mary takes it upon herself to begin recording the going on's of the naval yard, and inadvertently places herself in some very precarious situations.
In all, I loved this book, it was fast paced, full of twists, and I didn't figure out the culprit/culprits at all, until the book revealed them. It was an entertaining read with a great message, I will be highly recommending it!!


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

The Talk

As the mom to a young teenager, I appreciate this book SO MUCH. I know the awkwardness of having to sit your child down for "the talk" and have often struggled and stumbled through it on different levels! Having the tools that Jonathan McKee provided made that situation so much easier! Also His book addressed topics that I didn't even think about discussing with my child, (topics that should be brought up, but just never occurred to me!).
As my child grows older and our "talks" grow to new topics, I believe this will be my go to book on how to address, and what to address, during these times.
I appreciate this book a lot, and while it was at times an uncomfortable read (along with uncomfortable talks, lol) it is an important topic that parents seem to just avoid quite often. I feel better having these tools at my disposal, and for knowing that my child will be well informed and prepared for adulthood is a huge relief.
If you are a parent of any child who has hit or has yet to hit the teenage years I'd highly recommend this book!

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

Dauntless

I loved this book, any book that sets out to have their main female character portrayed as a strong female right away earns my attention! And this book did more than just that, I found myself engrossed in the story right from beginning to end, it was very hard to put down (I finished it in two sittings, with two very late nights, lol).
Lady Merry Ellison is running from the monarch of her area in an attempt to preserve her life, along with a group of orphans from her village. Together they form their own small group that depends upon thievery as a way to survive.
One thing I immediately appreciated about this book was that every character within the book was portrayed as having value to their group, and every member was taken care of to the best of everyones abilities. I think its such a great message in this book that they value everyone so much! Aside from that, the book is fast paced and full of action, there are plenty of twists to keep our attention, plus the faith of those in the books is clearly made known. The book gives a great message and provides a really enjoyable read!!
I highly recommend "Dauntless" for any kind of reader, the story covers so many genre's that its bound to fit into one you'll enjoy!

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

Anna's Crossing

This is the kind of book that is straight up my alley! One of my favorite genres is Amish, and I love anything that give a historical context to the story. So this one filled every check on my list for a great book! (Plus I've read a great deal of Suzanne Woods Fisher's books, and adore them!)
With this book we meet Anna, who is crossing the ocean with many others from her small Amish congregation that are seeking to avoid persecution and instead find a peaceful place to practice their faith. Anna isn't keen to leave, but being the only one who can speak english in her group she is compelled to travel with the others to offer her help. While she's there she meets Bairn, a young man who works for the ship she is travelling on and who takes a sudden interest (and kindness) towards Anna and her group.
All in all, this story was fantastic, it was a relaxing and pleasant read, it kept my attention till the very end of the book and is one I plan on reading many times before passing it on!
I would highly recommend it!!

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

You're loved no matter what

I love books like these, there seems to be so much in the "church/religious culture" that focuses solely on what is wrong in everyone's life, or in our churches, or in our world. I love that it is becoming so much more frequent to see books such as "You're Loved no matter what" coming out. I love the positive message of the Gospel and appreciate when people reach out with love instead of condemnation.
I really enjoyed reading this, it was an easy yet insightful read that challenged me while still allowing the reader to understand easily what the message was. I truly appreciate the message of Holley Gerth in this book, that perfection isn't attainable, and that grace is constantly available. I found myself very encouraged and free'd in a way from the expectations of others and myself have placed upon me. I very eagerly recommend this book to any woman looking for encouragement!!


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

The Brickmaker's Bride

I have read a whole lot of Judith Miller's books, and have always found them to be very enjoyable, and time well spent! So I was pretty excited to see that one of her books was up for review!
Without hesitation I have to say this is one of my favorites of hers, I loved the vast differences in her characters, their lifestyles and maturity. And I love that while some were written in with  less than appealing dispositions, that she was able to find redemptive situations for some of them. Plus I really appreciated that she gave us small glimpses into the previous lives of some of the less desirable characters, that gave you a bit of an understanding of why their attitudes developed as they did. It made the story really come to life for me, and gave me a greater appreciation for the story!
Laura is the previous owners daughter with a sentimental interest in seeing the brick yard succeed, so when Hugh and his nephew Ewan purchase the brickyard, she does all she can to help them make it a success.
I really enjoyed this book, it was so well written (Which all of Miller's books are!) and kept me with my nose in the book till the very last page!

Stolen

I have to say, I really do love reading of people who overcome horrific situations within their lives, the strength it takes to move past, and to even speak out about it is inspiring!
We read so much about sex trafficking in other less "developed" countries, but never stop to consider how much of it is happening on our grounds. It really opened my eyes to see how much truly happens that we either don't notice, or continue to turn a blind eye to.
Katariina's story really inspired and impressed me, especially seeing how she kept moving forward after her escape, and to see how she didn't let that stand in the way of developing the life and education she did that contributes to the work she does now with freeing others from the same trap.
I think a book like this should be required reading in our schools and highly recommended in our churches. People need to have their eyes opened and become informed about what is happening in our communities and how we can play a roll to prevent it.
I highly recommend this book!

The Woman Code

I'm not sure fully how I feel about this book, on one hand I fully agree with everything that the book spoke on, however, I think it needs to be viewed as more of a "People" code rather than just for women. I think a lot out there male/female should be reading this book and feel like with it focusing on solely women, that half the audience it could and should reach is being left out.
with that said, I know personally it made a lot of difference to me in  my general day to day life. I specifically liked where Sophia Nelson spoke about lifting other women up as you climb. I think one of the greatest hindrances to true equality between genders is our own desires to put our sisters down, or try holding them back. I could see myself in some of the things she discussed in regards to it, and now make a conscious effort to withhold from falling back into that pattern.
In all, I think this book was fantastic, its a powerful book that really empowers women to stand fully in who they were created to be.
I highly recommend it!

The Patmos Deception

I really enjoyed this book, it was fairly fast paced and really held my attention throughout the entire story. Plus I love that Davis Bunn gave the backgrounds of all the characters, that you got to meet them all before their interaction together happened. It really made the characters seem more real!
Each of the Characters, Nicolas, Carey, and Demitri all were very likable characters, and were kept realistic, which I really appreciated! There's nothing that gets me to dislike a character more than when an author tries to write them in as unrealistically perfect/good. Each of the characters have flaws, failures, and trials that they are facing (Even before the story gets really exciting!) that really make the characters feel more real! I really appreciated that!
In all I think this was a fantastic book, the flow was great and kept me with my nose in the book long past when I should have been putting it down! The story was very well written and well developed,
in all, I would highly recommend this book!

The reason

I first heard of lacey Sturm when watching Billy Graham's "My hope for America" special, and immediately fell in love with her music! It was so heart felt and emotionally filled! So when I saw that I would be reviewing a book by this musician I was pretty stoked!
Lacey writes like she sings, with emotion and passion, holding nothing back even when its something that would leave her vulnerable. I love that she put out a book that showed such vulnerbility and gave her journey in a realistic way, bumps, ugliness and everything. She didn't try to put out a book that made her look good, but instead gave us a book that made us look to the one who is truly good.
I love this book, and I think it'll be one that will be well read in our household!


*Please copy and paste the following notice for all of the books (in it's entirety and without modifying the wording) at the bottom of your review:
 
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc." 

Playing by heart

This book was one of my favorites, I love that Anne Mateer put together such a strong independant  female character, who wasn't simply simpering away for some guy to sweep her off her feet!
I love that the main character (Lulu) was sure of her self in the way of knowing that she had a place in that time in spite of the views against her gender.
Mateer did a fantastic job of writing a Lulu as a strong character while still keeping her personable and likeable! I also loved that Lulu was written with her flaws showing! I always hate it (and tend to dislike main characters) that are written unrealistically perfect. Mateer wrote her characters with realistic attitudes and lifestyles, the book was very well written and I struggled a lot to put it down!!
I'm already a fan of historic fiction, but I think this book will be well loved by many people regardless of their genre preferences!!

*Please copy and paste the following notice for all of the books (in it's entirety and without modifying the wording) at the bottom of your review:
 
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."