Review: Oceans Apart

Oceans Apart by Karen Kingsbury
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book Summary from Goodreads

A riveting story of secret sin and the healing power of forgiveness. Airline pilot Connor Evans and his wife, Michele, seem to be the perfect couple living what looks like a perfect life. Then a plane goes down in the Pacific Ocean. One of the casualties is Kiahna Siefert, a flight attendant Connor knew well. Too well. Kiahna’s will is very clear: before her seven-year-old son, Max, can be turned over to the state, he must spend the summer with the father he’s never met, the father who doesn’t know he exists: Connor Evans. Now will the presence of one lonely child and the truth he represents destroy Connor’s family ? Or is it possible that healing and hope might come in the shape of a seven-year-old boy?

My Review

Karen Kingsbury always has a way of taking relevant issues and building stories that make you think. This book, Oceans Apart was no exception. From the moment I opened this book, I knew it was going to be a special story. I was right! To take such an issue as infidelity and it's consequences, and weave a story of redemption and grace, just wow!!!

The main character's Connor and Max, had no idea of the existence of each other. Connor's marriage was the picture of perfection, until tragic circumstances caused his world to collide with Max's. The heartbreak of infidelity combined with the very visible consequences in the form of a child, brought Connor to his knees. Not only that, his wife had to examine herself and make some difficult choices regarding the future. In the end, God's grace and mercy allowed the entire family to work through the difficulty and come out on the other side whole and restored.

From a Christian Perspective

There's not much more that I can say other than what the author portrays in the book. We will face many difficult situations in life. We have a choice to face them with God's grace or try to solve them through our own understanding. A verse that is repeated throughout the book is Isaiah 55:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD." This pretty much sums it up. Either we are going to trust His ways or we are going to fail using our ways.

Love and Blessings!
Margaret

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Review: Once Upon a Summer

Once Upon a Summer by Janette Oke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book Summary from Amazon

Josh Jones realizes his family isn't typical, but it's the only life he's ever known. Aunt Lou, Gramps, Uncle Charlie, Grandpa--they all have shaped the young man he has become. But as he grows into manhood, Josh begins to face important questions about life, love, and faith.

My Review

I enjoyed this historical fiction book. The story is told from the point of view of Josh, who is a young man that lives on a farm. Josh was a very likable boy and I fell in love with him and his spirit. Being a young man, Josh faced a lot of uncertainties and was a little bit loss. Thankfully Aunt Lou, Grandpa, Uncle Charlie and later Gramps were there to help him grow and shape him as a young man. I really enjoyed how this story was just about family and how in times of trial, they work together and become stronger. Throughout the book, I could tell how important each member of this family was to the other. I loved that even the men showed emotion and love in tangible ways. Definitely a nice, sweet read and I look forward to reading more in the series.

From a Christian Perspective

This book falls under the Christian fiction genre. Throughout the book, Josh is fighting with God, seeing Him as an enemy rather than an ally. He has that selfish outlook that many of us have when we forget about grace and look at God as only a giver. As I read the book, I recognized some of Josh's struggles as my own. In the end, Preacher Nat helps Josh to find his way to Christ and freedom from all of the anger and hurt. As Josh wept and confessed, he released those burdens that were weighing him down. He finally experienced the rest Jesus told us about in Matthew 11:28: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

This was a book in my personal collection. I was not compensated to provide a positive review.

Love and Blessings!
Margaret

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Review: Song Yet Sung

Song Yet Sung by James McBride
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Song Yet Sung

Book Summary:

In the days before the Civil War, a runaway slave named Liz Spocott breaks free from her captors and escapes into the labyrinthine swamps of Maryland’s eastern shore, setting loose a drama of violence and hope among slave catchers, plantation owners, watermen, runaway slaves, and free blacks. Liz is near death, wracked by disturbing visions of the future, and armed with “the Code,” a fiercely guarded cryptic means of communication for slaves on the run. Liz’s flight and her dreams of tomorrow will thrust all those near her toward a mysterious, redemptive fate.

My Review

I had a little difficulty with this book due to the writing style and commentary. I'm used to light flowing writing and this was more poetic and a little heavy. Reading about slavery and the evil associated with it is always difficult for me. With that said, I did end up finishing the book and I liked it.

The character of Liz was very interesting, she was called the Dreamer because of her strange dreams. Her dreams told of an indescribable future, one where young black men are loud and angry. Others where young black men helped others to look towards hope and promise. I thought it was brilliant to tie the past and the present together in this way. It was apparent that those who heard the dream didn't always understand what she was seeing but they knew she was seeing something. For me, the dreams were a sign of hope for the future.

I also found the concept of the code intriguing. When under pressure, people become resourceful or they die. It's long been said that slaves could communicate and send messages faster than the white man could move from plantation to plantation. I love how that was woven into this story. True or not it was a very creative element.

Overall the book struck a chord in me. A desire to know more about the times that are so painful in my history. There is a need to know where we came from in order to teach our children, to guide them, to keep them from falling in to an entirely different form of slavery.

From a Christian Perspective>

There was one passage that really jumped out at me:

"It's God's world. He washes you clean. He makes you whole. He puts rain in your garden and sunshine in your heart. Just pray when you get free, child. Pray for what you done, and what you gonna do." Song Yet Sung, James McBride

That passage really says so much in so few words. We have been washed in the blood, cleansed from our sins, our hearts filled with joy. Prayer is what keeps up connected to Him. We need Him for guidance! We can't move forward without him!

Love & Blessings,
Margaret



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Review: Summer of Secrets

Summer of Secrets by Charlotte Hubbard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book Summary>
Summer of Secrets

Welcome to Willow Ridge, Missouri! In this cozy Amish town along the banks of the river, the Old Ways are celebrated at the Sweet Seasons Bakery Café, and love is a gift God gives with grace. . .

Summer Of Secrets

Summer has come to Willow Ridge, but Rachel Lantz is looking forward to a whole new season in her life--marriage to strapping carpenter Micah Brenneman, her childhood sweetheart. When a strange Englischer arrives in the café claiming to be the long-lost sister of Rachel and her twin Rhoda, Rachel feels the sturdy foundation of her future crumbling--including Micah's steadfast love. As the days heat up and tempers flare, Rachel and Micah will learn that even when God's plan isn't clear, it will always lead them back to each other. . .

My Review

It's no secret that I love Amish stories but they can seem to be the same ole same ole. This was not the case with this book. I thought the author did a great job with building the story from start to finish. I was really caught up in the story of Tiffany but the supporting stories were just as good. The author did a great job of bringing the English and Amish together and weaving the stories around the two cultures. The stories were well developed and the characters were believeable. When Miriam and the Bishop had their disagreement, I was really rooting for Miriam. And I had to smile at Rachel's overreactions when it came to Micah. The details were great and really helped me to imagine the scenes. I look forward to reading more books in this series.

From a Christian Perspective
I thought this book was a good example of Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

There were so many ways that Miriam could have gone when challenged by the Bishop but she chose to obey God. Also, Micah felt the Lord was calling him to reach out to Tiffany, and he listened to the Lord even knowing it could draw the Bishop's anger. I think they both exemplified what it means to lay down our life and receive the Lord's will. I thought there were many other examples in the book but these stood out for me.

Love and Blessings
Margaret

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Review: Ties that Bind

Ties that Bind by Cindy Woodsmall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ties that Bind

Book Summary

Ariana’s comfortable Old Order Amish world is about to unravel. Will holding tightly to the cords of family keep them together—or simply tear them apart?

Twenty-year-old Ariana Brenneman loves her family and the Old Ways. She has two aspirations: open a café in historic Summer Grove to help support her family’s ever-expanding brood and to keep any other Amish from being lured into the Englisch life by Quill Schlabach.

Five years ago Quill, along with her dear friend Frieda, ran off together, and Ariana still carries the wounds of that betrayal. When she unexpectedly encounters him, she soon realizes he has plans to help someone else she loves leave the Amish.
*
Despite how things look, Quill’s goal has always been to protect Ariana from anything that may hurt her, including the reasons he left. After returning to Summer Grove on another matter, he unearths secrets about Ariana and her family that she is unaware of. His love and loyalty to her beckons him to try to win her trust and help her find a way to buy the café—because when she learns the truth that connects her and a stranger named Skylar Nash, Quill knows it may upend her life forever.

Ties That Bind is the first novel in the Amish of Summer Grove series

I received an ARC of this book which in no way influenced my opinion or review.

My Review

I really enjoyed this book. This book was all about family, the love of Christ and doing what is right even when it hurts. The lead up to the stories of Ariana and Skylar was excellent. They were well developed character and the author did a great job of building the connection between the two young women. The supporting characters provided great body to the story and allowed me to really immerse myself into the story. What was also interesting was the element of intrigue surrounding Quill and Ariana's family. I thought that played so well into the outcome of the story. Ariana's decision as she was in a difficult situation brought joy to my heart.

From a Christian Perspective

In this book I met one family who lived to glorify Christ by their actions and beliefs. On the other side was a splintered family with no spiritual direction. How the author brought this together was amazing. She really allowed the love of Christ and of others to shine through in this story. Ariana's parents faith was so strong and showed how you need to believe and trust that God's Will is right and true all the time. Even though we don't always understand it, it is still true. Ariana's story reminds me of Joseph who was also torn away from his family (Gen 37). Even in challenging circumstances, Joseph was able to rise above by trusting in and relying on God.

Overall, I would recommend this book to lovers of Christian Fiction as well as those who love a great story.

Love and Blessings!
Margaret

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Review: Defy

Defy by Sara B. Larson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Defy

Book Summary

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

My Review

I really enjoyed this book. It was fast moving, had a nice plot and lots of energy. From the beginning I was drawn to Alexa. Although the introduction to her character was brief, it was enough to get you interested in what was going to happen. Throughout the story and as the author introduced more characters, I was completely captivated. The scene with the prince after the first fight gave me a hint that something was going to happen between them! The description of the countries and the journeys through them were so descriptive, I think the author did a great job building suspense. It wasn't until the end that I finally put everything together. While the story's ending was not what I would have wished, it was expertly presented. I'm looking forward to continuing the series.

From a Christian Perspective

In Galations 5:19-21 Paul advises us that sorcery is among sinful practices. Being aware of this, I was very conscious about how sorcery was used in this book. This book denounced "black" sorcerer's as evil. I believe based on what we know about the origins of the word and the practices that were common in Paul's time that the black sorcerers were accurately portrayed. But we need to be wary of so called "good" sorcerers as well. Sorcery means the person has the power to determine good or bad and we as Christian knows that the power reside in the Spirit of Christ which resides in us. With those warnings in mind, I didn't find much else to keep me from recommending this book.

This is a book that I received from NetGalley for the purpose of review. I was not compensated or instructed to provide a positive review.

Love and Blessings!
Margaret

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Would you Stand?

I often ask myself... Would You Stand?

^{Peter 3:3} Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.

 He walked into a room,with a gun. Consumed by evil, looking to extinguish good.
 
^{Matthew 10:22} You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
  
He asked them a question, are you a Christian?

^{Ephesians 6:14} Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 

They stood firm and they said YES, I am a Christian.  And he shot them. 

^{Romans 1:16} For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
    
Would you stand?  Would you boldly profess Christ as your Savior?  Would you face the evil in this world, standing firm?  Even when faced with death?


^{2Timothy 2:12 if we endure,
    we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
    he will also disown us;}

My desire is to reign with Christ.  When I accepted his Spirit into me, I died to myself and I began to live for Him.  If I live for Him, I die for Him, to live with Him for all eternity!

I pray for those of us who must face the evil of this world daily.   I pray that we are able to stand firm so that in the day of Christ we may rise and reign with our King.  I pray for the families of those who stood for Christ, that they understand by choosing to die, they chose to live.  Yes the gunman was right, they would see God this day!  And for those who are in Christ it's a joyous occasion, not a death sentence.  He didn't realize that by singling out Christians, he himself was glorifying the One, the Alpha, The Omega, The Risen Savior. 

Zephaniah 1:14a Near is the great day of the Lord,

Near and coming very quickly;

Listen, the day of the Lord!

Love & Blessings!
Margaret







  

Review: Lucretia and the Kroons

Lucretia and the Kroons by Victor LaValle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book Summary

Lucretia’s best friend and upstairs neighbor Sunny—a sweet pitbull of a kid, even as she struggles with a mysterious illness—has gone missing. The only way to get her back is for Lucretia to climb the rickety fire escape of their Queens tenement and crawl through the window of apartment 6D, portal to a vast shadowland of missing kids ruled by a nightmarish family of mutants whose designs on the children are unknown. Her search for Sunny takes Lucretia through a dark fantasyland where she finds lush forests growing from concrete, pigeon-winged rodents, and haunted playgrounds. Her quest ultimately forces her to confront the most frightening specter of all: losing, forever, the thing you love the most.


My Review

I'll start off by saying this is not the type of book that I normally read. However I'm trying to work through some of my collection and this was next up. The story begins with a 12th birthday party for Lucretia. The author of this novella draws you in quickly and sets up the rest of the story. Even though I'm MUCH older, I felt I could connect with Lucretia and some of the emotions she was experiencing. The supporting characters were well developed, Mom, Sunny, the three popular girls, Louis and of course the Kroons. They really contributed to the story, made it flow very nicely. As Lucretia goes on her adventure, the author really kept me interested wondering what or who she would encounter next. I couldn't put the story down! Every free minute I was picking this book up to see what happened next. As a deeper thought, this really brought home the fact that a child's life is not always sunshine and roses. I think Lucretia's adventure was representative of the emotions and escapes that children use when faced with difficulties especially death. I though the author did a great job with this book from the horror/fantasy perspective.

From A Christian Perspective

I think this book had a message although it was somewhat hard to find. While Alice was different and strange, in the end Loochie learned to love her as a friend. I think it's important for children to recognize that it's ok to love those who are different from them. Also, Loochie had to make a choice between life and death. She recognized the value of her life and chose to live. So many are faced with this decision and make a different choice. So while this book was NOT a Christian book, you can find some redeeming messages within.

Love and Blessings!
Margaret

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Review: Freedom's Child

Freedom's Child by Jax Miller
My rating: 2 of 5 stars



From the cover:

Freedom Oliver has plenty of secrets. She lives in a small Oregon town and keeps mostly to herself. Her few friends and neighbors know she works at the local biker bar; they know she gets arrested for public drunkenness almost every night; they know she’s brash, funny, and fearless.

What they don’t know is that Freedom Oliver is a fake name. They don’t know that she was arrested for killing her husband, a cop, twenty years ago. They don’t know she put her two kids up for adoption. They don’t know that she’s now in witness protection, regretting ever making a deal with the Feds, and missing her children with a heartache so strong it makes her ill.

Then, she learns that her daughter has gone missing, possibly kidnapped. Determined to find out what happened, Freedom slips free of her handlers, gets on a motorcycle, and heads for Kentucky, where her daughter was raised. As she ventures out on her own, no longer protected by the government, her troubled past comes roaring back at her: her husband’s vengeful, sadistic family; her brief, terrifying stint in prison; and the family she chose to adopt her kids who are keeping dangerous secrets.

My Review
I received this ARC in return for my honest opinion regarding the book. When I started reading the book, I thought the writing pattern was a bit odd. After a few chapters, it was clear that Freedom was a mother on a mission. She secretly kept track of her children and too late realized they were in danger. As she does what I think any mother would do, sets out to rescue them, her trail is woven through some weird situations. When a rogue cop follows her to help her out, he not only puts himself at risk but Freedom also. What threw me off was the way each chapter seemed likes it's own sub story, it didn't always flow smoothly. I thought it would get better and make more sense as I got further into the story, unfortunately for me it didn't. While Freedom was an interesting character, I never felt like I got a good understanding of her character and I couldn't connect with her very well. The supporting characters were about the same. I get the feeling that there was a much deeper meaning to this story and somehow I missed it.

From a Christian Perspective
In a weird way I think this was supposed to be a story of redemption. The Pastor had lost his focus on Christ and the servant attitude which led to his downfall. As Christians, we must remember that our every action is to serve God. Bad language and craziness aside. I think this book is definitely for the adult reader, I would not allow kids to read it.

Love & Blessings!
Margaret

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I Am Ready to Be Humble

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

This was the closing scripture to the movie a saw today, War Room.  I am humbled after seeing that movie.  Sometimes we need a reminder of what the Lord can and more importantly WILL do if we humble ourselves before Him.  

War Room Trailer:

It's very rare that I get emotional for a movie (although it seems to be happening more lately!) but this one really touched me deep in my soul.  The struggle sounded so familiar to me and to some others that I know.  Why is it so hard to believe that all we need to do is really humble ourselves before the Lord?  Why is it so hard to believe that He still answers prayer?  I don't know the answers but I know what I will be attempting to do over the next few months!  

Have you seen the movie?  What are your thoughts?

Love & Blessings!
Margaret

Review: The Truth Club

The Truth Club by Grace Wynne-Jones
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

From the cover:
Marriage seems to have stirred up all sorts of weird longings in Sally Adams. On the surface she seems to have everything she needs to be happy....so why is she guzzling so many chocolate biscuits and dreaming of elsewhere?

She has good friends, an interesting job and an almost brand new husband. Then a chance encounter with a stranger makes it all too clear that life could have been so different if she had followed her heart. She begins to wonder if the key to fulfillment lies not in the present but in the past.

Over fifty years before, Sally's Great-Aunt DeeDee, the official black sheep of the family, disappeared. When Sally uncovers a scandal that has left deep fault lines in her family she begins to understand the legacy of lies and secrets that are echoed in her complicated relationship with her sister, April. As she unravels the mystery she begins to see what she has been hiding from. And she learns that to be who she truly is and to find her soul mate, she must be honest...and she must be brave.

My Review:
This book took place primarily in Ireland. Sally had moved out from her husband Diarmund and was trying to figure out if she wanted to stay married or not. Sally was an odd sort of character and I couldn't quite connect to her. She seemed all over the place emotionally and it was a little (ok a lot!) distracting. I never quite managed to understand her. As the book progressed, I was more and more confused by the interactions and relationships. The auxiliary characters like Diarmund, Fiona and Erika seemed to have stories of their own, they didn't really "fit" if that makes sense. The story was choppy and seemed to be all over the place like the main character. There wasn't a smooth flow and that's always something that will make me lose interest. I did finish the book but it was a struggle.

From a Christian perspective:

I couldn't find any redeeming factors in this book. There were extramarital affairs, much extramarital sex, lying between partners. I found this a bit disturbing especially since it did nothing to support the story being told. I feel like some attempt was made at the end when one of Sally's "hobbies" was singing in a gospel choir with blacks. It was weak and again unnecessary.

Overall I did not enjoy this book and I would find it difficult to recommend it.  This was a  book from my personal collection and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

Love and Blessings!
Margaret

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Review: House Rules

House Rules by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a book from my personal collection. This review is my personal opinion and was not influenced by the author or publisher in any way. 

From the cover:

When your son can't look you in the eye...does that mean he's guilty?
Jacob Hunt is a teen with Asperger's syndrome. He's hopeless at reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, though he is brilliant in many ways. But he has a special focus on one subject - forensic analysis. A police scanner in his room clues him in to crime scenes, and he's always showing up and telling the cops what to do. And he's usually right.
But when Jacob's small hometown is rocked by a terrible murder, law enforcement comes to him. Jacob's behaviors are hallmark Asperger's, but they look a lot like guilt to the local police. Suddenly the Hunt family, who only want to fit in, are directly in the spotlight. For Jacob's mother, Emma, it's a brutal reminder of the intolerance and misunderstanding that always threaten her family. For his brother, Theo, it's another indication why nothing is normal because of Jacob.
And over this small family, the soul-searing question looms: Did Jacob commit murder?

My review:
Jodi Picoult does an excellent job of weaving this story. She not only builds characters that you can relate to, but she does it in such a way that you understand them. I did not know much about Asperger's or Forensic science prior to reading this, however, I feel I have a much better understanding now. I also like the authors approach of short chapters which represented the thoughts of the main characters.

When I first started reading this book, I wasn't sure if it was going to keep my interest. I should have known better! After the first few chapters, I was hooked. It's well known that the court systems cater to a specific "normal" type. To bring in the unknown was BRILLIANT. Whether this is a realistic situation, I don't know but it seemed realistic. The scene that stuck with me the most is when Jacob was in jail. His reactions to the environment was so scary and my heart hurt for him. Then Jacob went through the trial and we get to see the reactions and thoughts of him, Theo, Emma and Oliver, it really brings the story together. The special accommodations and Jacob's reactions to certain stimuli, really gave the reader an understanding of what this situation could be like for someone with Asperger's. It seemed like Henry was more of an afterthought and that is my only complaint, I would have liked him to be woven into the story or eliminated altogether. To wait until the very last second for the climax is unusual but it worked in this situation. It did leave me wanting to know more, like what happened with Henry after the trial and what was the court's reaction when they came back with this new information? Overall a great story and I would recommend it.

From a Christian perspective:

While there wasn't much "religion" in this book there were some good elements. Like the House Rules teach about loving one another and being your Brother's keeper. I don't think it was meant exactly the way it was presented but it was there. For young readers there was one instance of extramarital sex and hints of domestic abuse. I don't think this was enough to prevent recommending this book because it was so well thought out and there are many good elements.

Love and Blessings!
Margaret

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Welcome back!

Hello everyone,

Not sure who is still here but I got away from blogging for a while!  Much longer than I anticipated but I'm really back now!

There's been a lot of experiences in my life that I feel God is leading me to share at this time.

Spiritually I feel I'm at a turning point and I want to share some of the things that are causing me to grow and step out of my comfort zone.  I love the Lord with all my heart!  But sometimes it all seems so overwhelming especially when you are facing challenges in the everyday.  I'm learning to repent more on Him and less on me.  That affects all aspects of my life.  For this area, I plan to share scriptures and some of the devotions I'm studying.

I was doing really well on my healthy journey but I've had some setbacks.  However God is a God of
second chances and I'm ready to begin again.  I hope to share some exercises and recipes that are part of my plan.  I'm "super-sized" so while it will take me a while to reach my goal, I've learned a lot about what works and doesn't work for me.  I hope you'll take some encouragement from my journey.

I've started reading again so I'm excited to start sharing some of my book reviews with you.  They won't all be current books as I'm trying to read some of these books I've had stacked up for a while. For my review, I'll share what the cover write up is, what my thoughts are and specifically what my thoughts are from a Christian perspective.

There will be some personal aspects to my blog this time around, there are a lot of challenges that our family is facing right now.  I hope to share my experiences and maybe receive feedback on what I could do differently. 

Well if you are still here, I look forward to interacting with you all and getting to know you better!

Love and Blessings!
Margaret