Review: Hazardous Duty

Hazardous Duty by Christy Barritt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hazardous Duty

Book Summary
On her way to completing a degree in forensic science, Gabby St. Claire dropped out of school and started her own crime scene cleaning business. Now, when a routine cleaning job leads her to a murder weapon the police overlooked, she realizes that the wrong man is in jail. With the help of her new and attractively single neighbor, Riley Thomas, Gabby plays the detective to make sure the right man is put behind bars.

Hazardous Duty
This book was surprisingly very good. I admit my strategy is to read a cheesy book in between really good ones and I kind of thought this was one. However, it ended up having a lot of depth and really was a good read. Gabby's character has been through a lot in life. While it didn't go into details of all that had happened, it was interesting how the author tied everything together. The supporting characters, Sierra, Riley, Parker, and even Veronica were great!! The story line was continuously moving up to and through the climax. I didn't really know until the end who did it but my interest was definitely peaked when a surprise murder happened. I thought the author did a wonderful job of tying everything together.

From a Christian Perspective
I think the Christian aspect is what surprised me the most. Gabby doesn't believe in God. It was interesting to see her journey to faith. One line that stood out the most was "Life hadn't pointed me toward a loving God." And even more so Riley's response later on "I mean sometimes we assume that life is a reflection of God. But it's not. Life is this way because God gave us a choice, and, as humans, we screw up." These two line stood out for me because it's SO TRUE. So many times we shake our head at the horrors in this world, and wonder how it could happen. But we have to remember that Jesus never told us that being a Christian would protect or shield us from the horrors of this world! However he does remind us in John 16:33 that He has overcome the world. That is the faith that we need to hold on. As the series proceeds I look forward to Gabby grabbing hold of this and having the peace she desires!

This was a book from my personal collection, all opinions expressed are my own!

Love and Blessings!
Margaret

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Review: Finders Keepers

Finders Keepers by Catherine Palmer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Finders Keepers

Book Summary
Antiques dealer Elizabeth Hayes hopes to expand her shop by purchasing and refurbishing the Chalmers House next door. Zachary Chalmers, an architect who recently inherited the house, wants to tear it down and build an office. The resulting feud drags the town into a battle of historic value vs. personal property. The only one who doesn't care is Nikolai Hayes, Elizabeth's adopted Romanian son. He's interested in persuading Zachary to be his father and in listening to Boompah's stories of the "nachos" who tyrannized Europe during World War II. Nikolai's endearing attempts to master English provide levity in a romance that tackles deeper issues than land rights.

My Review
I enjoyed the story of Elizabeth, Nikolai, Zachary and of course Boompah! This was a sweet romance with other elements to make the story interesting. Apparently Elizabeth's beloved neighbor held onto a lot of secrets before her death. As her nephew Zachary comes to claim the property she left to him, he finds out he has more on his hands than he bargained for. Young Nikolai is still adjusting to English and his mistakes with the language are endearing at first, but become a little tedious as the story goes on. I have to say this story is so typical of a small town where everyone knows everyone's business. And there is always that one person that wants to make the town modern! In the end, the characters are able to pull together and get the happy ending! Delightful story great for any age.

From a Christian Perspective
You could tell that faith was important to Elizabeth and Nikolai. It was woven throughout the story in so many creative ways! I loved how Nikolai took the bible to the park with them to help with the search. His faith as a child was so complete it really made me think. Jesus did tell us to come to Him as a child (Matthew 18:3-5) and the innocence of that faith is so pure. I think Nick could have paid a little more attention to honor their parents but I'm sure as he matured he did

Overall this was a pleasant and enjoyable story.

This was a book from my personal collection, opinions expressed are purely my own.

Blessings!
Margaret

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Review: Jacob's Daughter

Jacob's Daughter by Samantha Jillian Bayarr
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

From the Cover
Twenty-eight-year-old Lizzie Barlow is running from her past and present mistakes. Not knowing which direction to go, she finds herself hiding out in the same Amish community in which she grew up. With her ten-year-old daughter Abby, in tow, she fears her secrets will catch up to her.

When Abby discovers her real father may be living just down the road from where they are staying, she sets off on an adventure to meet him. What she doesn't know are the many secrets that her mother never shared with her--the same secrets that will turn her life upside down.

Jacob Yoder is an Amish widower, trying to raise his ten-year-old son, when his past shows up on his doorstep unexpectedly, threatening to change his life forever.

Will life ever be the same for Lizzie and Jacob again? Or will their mistakes change everything?

My Review

I really enjoyed this book. I love Amish stories but I haven't seen many where a person has left and come back. Lizzie was a character with a lot of depth and it was interesting to see her develop throughout the story. I loved how the author wove Abby into the story and how she adjusted to "Amish life" after being born and brought up in the English world. The story has some twists but overall is heartwarming and lovely.

From a Christian Perspective
The Amish are very strong in faith and also in tradition.  When Lizzie found herself in a predicament after her return, her lies put her and Jacob in a very difficult position. However God uses our messes for his miracles (Romans 8:28).  In this case he used the mess Lizzie created to showcase how a beautiful relationship can be built once we abide by His law.  I loved that the families blended so well together, a true family.  And I love God's sense of humor with the little surprise! 

This was a book from my personal Kindle Collection.

Love and Blessings!
Margaret

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Review: Christianish: What If We're Not Really Following Jesus at All?

Christianish: What If We're Not Really Following Jesus at All? by Mark Steele
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Christianish: What If We're Not Really Following Jesus at All?

From the Cover

It may feel like authentic faith. It may even look like the real deal. Yet it's often easy to settle for the souvenir t-shirt—the appearance of a transformed heart—instead of taking the actual trip through true life-change. We find ourselves settling for a personal faith that's been polluted by culture, and diluted by other people's take on spirituality.

Christianish tells the story of one man's journey to move from the in-between to a life that's centered on Christ. To move forward, author Mark Steele goes back to the beginning, to examine Christ's life and words. Through stories and insights that are sometimes profound, often hilarious, and always honest, Mark delivers a compelling look at what our faith is all about.

My Review
This was a great book to read. Jesus tells us he will spit lukewarm Christians from his mouth (Rev. 3:16). This author challenged himself to step out of that lukewarm mode to become boiling hot! Throughout the book he uses examples and stories to engage the reader. At the end of each chapter, he provides a diagram and questions to help readers stretch to that boiling point. I appreciated that this was not hit you over the head preaching but subtle urging to give our all to Him. It took me longer to read this book because I had to "stew" on each chapter days to absorb it. I definitely recommend this book for those who are looking to reach beyond the stretch.

Love and Blessings!
Margaret

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Review: The Shadow on the Quilt

The Shadow on the Quilt by Stephanie Grace Whitson
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

The Shadow on the Quilt

Book Description
Juliana Sutton’s life looks perfect—from the outside. Until her husband’s untimely death reveals a devastating truth. . . . Cass Gregory is carrying his own dark secrets and feels unworthy to offer comfort to a woman of Juliana’s standing. When circumstances force them together, both Juliana and Cass are wounded and afraid to trust. Will the shadow of her dead husband’s name stand between Juliana and Cass, or will Juliana choose a love she never thought possible?

My Review
This story was much deeper than it initially appeared. In the face of an embarrassing betrayal, Juliana is faced with many choices on how to deal with her husband's death. Not only is she stuck with a behomoth of a house, she is also charged with the care of his elderly aunts. It was quite a pleasure to read through this tale of faith and fortitude. While Juliana went through many different feelings, she grew in her faith and was able to find forgiveness for her husband and others. The Shadow on the Quilt was not what I expected but brought tears to my eyes when it was revealed. Definitely a wonderful read.

From A Christian Perspective
This was a delightful Christian read! Throughout the bible we are taught that forgiveness is important, even for those things we feel should not be forgiven. Matthew 6:14 tells us "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you."  Juliana was faced with a very difficult choice, to forgive the husband that betrayed her, to reject the woman he betrayed her with and to leave a helpless child alone.   While she struggled, Juliana chose to be obedient to the word of God.  Through this obedience, she was able to draw strength from the Lord and make choices that would reflect His glory in her life.  I think the shadow of the signature left on the quilt was a good reminder of how we can let unforgiveness create a shadow over our lives.  When the signature was added back to the quilt, it represented freedom!

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

Love and Blessings!
Margaret

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Review: A Moment of Weakness By Karen Kingsbury

A Moment of Weakness by Karen Kingsbury
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

A Moment of Weakness

Book Description
Had they found each other again after all these years, only to lose everything that matters most?"
"As children, Jade Conner and Tanner Eastman were best friends--until scandal drove them apart. Then, one golden summer, they find each other again. Through endless days they share their hearts and souls and dreams of forever. Then, in a moment of weakness, they make a decision that will tear them apart for nearly a decade.

In their own separate corners of the country, Jade and Tanner have become fighters for religious freedom. Now Jade's unfaithful husband is determined to destroy her in a custody battle that will rock the nation and shake people's understanding of faith and freedom. Could Jade lose her only child because of her faith? Only one man can help her in her darkest hour. And only one old woman knows the secret about that summer and the truth that can set them all free."

My Review
Once again Karen Kingsbury touches the heart by addressing an issue facing the nation today. Religious freedom is becoming more and more convoluted, especially if you are a Christian. In her novel, Kingsbury tackles this issue dead on. Jade is in danger of losing her son because of her faith and her beliefs. During this difficult time, she has to reach out to Tanner Eastman, the man who she feels betrayed her many years ago. Throughout the story, she has to overcome her bitterness and face people who did everything they could to destroy her relationship with Tanner back then. When she finds the truth, her world is rocked to the core. Tanner helps her to overcome her challenges in regaining custody of her son as well as resolve the issues that tore them apart. Kingsbury weaves a tale like no other! Her attention to detail is amazing and always makes for a great read.

From A Christian Perspection
Being a Christian author, Kingsbury is careful to make God an integral part of the story. It's clear throughout the story that while we are yet sinners, redemption is still available to us. The threads of forgiveness for the unforgivable, faith when everything is against you and strength when you felt you had none, all combine to make this a very powerful story. My recommendation is that you read this book, but keep the tissues nearby!

Love and Blessings!
Margaret

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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: 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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Christian Book Review: Cruel Harvest: A Memoir by Fran Grubb

Cruel Harvest: A Memoir by Fran Elizabeth Grubb
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

From the book:
"Get out here, now, or I'm gonna kill you!" he hollered.


Little girls are hardwired to hold their daddies in high esteem, so it comes as a shock the first time a daughter feels the back of her daddy's hand across her face . . . or watches him punch and kick her mother to within an inch of her life.

How could this be? Her older sisters teach her how to survive, even when he comes for her in the night.

A girl learns to become invisible, to look the other way, to say nothing when a curious stranger asks if she's okay. To lie. To expect nothing, not even from relatives.

To cry without tears.

To pray silently.

When she is fourteen, and weary, a girl begins to wish she were dead. Cruel Harvest is the compelling story of how she lived instead.

My review:
It was very hard for me to read this heart-wrenching story. The trust between a little girl and her Daddy is like no other relationship. There is an inherent trust and when it is broken, it's like the world ended! For Fran Grubb, it didn't take long to learn that to love her Daddy was to experience hurt, pain and embarrassment ...often.

From the time she was a little girl, all Fran knew was to hide from her father when he was mad or drunk... which was often. Her mother tried to help them enjoy life and let them know there was still joy in this world but it became more and more difficult. Her sisters tried to protect her but there was only so much they could do. Fran and her sisters and brother endured the harsh treatment of their father, not being able to go to school, having to work cotton fields, apple orchards, constantly moving, for all of their young lives, until one by one they escaped. One by one.

For a life story, Cruel Harvest reminds us how we need to look after our neighbors. So many people had contact with these children but somehow they never received the help they need. Fran Grubbs was "lucky" but there are so many children who are not. She chose to use her experience to help others and now goes around the country singing, speaking and raising money for her charity, Feed the Hungry Children.

This book is certainly not an easy read, but it is well written and flows nicely.

From a Christian perspective, it's a wonderful example of God's redeeming love and the freedom received from forgiving others. God bless Fran Grub and her husband Wayne for sharing this story and choosing to bless others thus breaking the chain of abuse. For more info about Fran Grubbs you can go to her website www.frangrubb.com

You can purchase your copy of Cruel Harvest: A Memoir on Amazon.com.
 
Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this book from the Booksneeze blogging program, for the purpose of review.  I am an Amazon affiliate.  Any Amazon links I provide will generate a small stipend.

Love and blessings,
Margaret
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Starring Me by Krista McGee #christianbookreview

Starring Me by Krista McGee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from Booksneeze:

Kara McKormick is told she’s auditioning to star in a new teen variety show. But it’s what she isn’t told that could change her life.

The feisty New Yorker moves to sunny Orlando to participate in a month-long audition, where she’ll live with nine other contestants and an eccentric housemother. Kara knows that the show already has a big-time celebrity lined up for the co-host, but she doesn’t know who it is.

Chad Beacon quickly rose to fame after winning America’s Next Star, but he doesn’t want his entire career to be about singing. There is so much more he wants to do—like act. The new variety show sounds like the perfect next step for him, but his parents want him to have a co-star who shares his faith since they’ll be spending so much time together.

Acting is high on Kara’s priority list. But a relationship with God? Not so much. In fact, she’s tried to stay away from anything religious. But God is after Kara’s heart and He’s put people in her life who are showing her there’s far more to Christianity than rules and judgment.

And just when it seems that Kara’s going to have to give up her acting dream, God reveals that she may have a starring role after all—in a story so big only He could write it.

My review:

I really enjoyed this book as you can see by my rating. This book is target to the teen or young adult reader.  With that said, I think this book would be fine for an advanced reader of a younger age.  So many books targeting this age group are filled with vampires, werewolves or some other paranormal creature. It's tiring really and this book was refreshing in that it had none of that.

The lead character, Kara, was well written. I enjoyed her bold attitude even before she became a believer. I loved how the author used her friend Addy as a witness without her being overbearing. The subtle ways the author showed the love of Christ to Kara, was refreshing. Chad's character really helped to set the foundation for the book very well. He was a believable character as were his parents and his housekeeper Flora was hilarious but great! Again, it was refreshing to see such a great story without all the sleaze (and no vampires or werewolves!). While there were romantic relationships in the book, they were presented tastefully and clean.

The author did and excellent job of showing Kara's path to God. I thought the story she told was realistic in today's world of reality shows. The competition, the disregard for others by some of the characters was believable. The twist at the end with one of the house characters was kind of expected but was presented well.

I really didn't have complaints about this book. I would let my 11 yo read this book even though it involves high school age characters.

Thank you Booksneeze for a copy of this book for the purpose of review.

Love and Blessings Always!
Margaret

Christian Book Review: Wildflowers from Winter #christianbookreview

Wildflowers from Winter: A Novel by Katie Ganshert
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Bethany Quinn thinks she has it all with her fancy job in Chicago, her high profile boyfriend and staying as far away from Peaks as she can. That is until tragedy strikes and she's forced to face her fears that stem back to her childhood. Not only that, she's got Evan to deal with and she's not sure where he fits into her life. Follow Bethany's journey as she hooks up with old friends and faces old fears.

You can see the complete book description on Amazon: Wildflowers from Winter: A Novel
  
My Review:  
For me this book was just OK. I don't think I ever developed an emotional connection to it, it just felt like a story being told to me.  I like to feel like I am part of the story.

The major character were developed well.  I did gain an understanding of Bethany and Evan as well as the secondary characters of Robin, Dan and the other minor characters.  Robyn's mother was also developed very well.  

As for the storytelling, I think the story could have been developed better.  While the characters were described well, I didn't relate to them or get any sort of emotional response from their stories. This is important for me when reading a book, I have to be able to relate or at least have an emotional response.  I think the storyline is an overused one where the "heroine" really hates this guy then ends up dating him.  

This book received a three for several reasons.  One, the characters were not made out to be super-Christians.  They got mad at God when they faced tragedy, they called out to Him in moments of weakness.   Also, while there weren't scripture references, you got the sense that the characters spend a lot of time in the Word which is essential for a strong Faith.  Again, this made their faith more realistic.  Finally, everything wasn't tied up so neat and tidy.  People died, people got their feelings hurt, people had their eyes opened.  I really enjoyed those aspects of the story. 

Overall, this book would make a pleasant weekend read, but don't expect much depth as it is very predictable.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book as part of the Blogging for Books program.  I was not required to write a positive review, as such, opinions expressed are completely my own.

Love and Blessings Always!

Margaret

CLOSED: Christian Book Review: My Big Bottom Blessing by Teasi Cannon #christianbook #giveaway

CLOSED! WINNER IS
Faith Hope Cherrytea!!!

My Big Bottom Blessing: How Hating My Body Led to Loving My Life by Teasi Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My Big Bottom Blessing is a nonfiction book about well... Teasi Cannon's big bottom! It's a delightful, humorous and fulfilling book regarding our "broken" views of body images. If you are looking for a diet book, this is not the book for you! However, if you are looking for an inspirational, God-honoring, love yourself as you are book, then you've chosen well!

I really loved the format of this book. There was the reading or what I like to refer to as the "testimony" part with scriptural references/reinforcement, then there was the self evaluation part, thoughtful questions that really allowed me to examine why I respond the way I do, and finally the "pep talk." Combined, these different approaches all helped to reinforce the reading.

Another thing I enjoyed about this book was it felt like I was sitting and chatting with a friend. Very emotional at times but also very cleansing! With that said, this book is not for the "perfect" Christian woman.  This book is for the Christian woman who knows that she is broken, who knows that she is nothing without Jesus and who is learning that when God made her, he used his best mold to make sure that she was fearfully and wonderfully made. 

About the Author

Teasi Cannon Teasi (pronounced Tee See) is married to her best friend, Bill Cannon, and
they have three awesome children: Carli, Ben, and Sam. Teasi has a master’s degree in
pastoral counseling from Liberty Theological Seminary, and is a sought-after speaker who
loves to help women remember who they are in Christ.


I'm attaching this interview as well.  If you aren't sure you need to read this book, listen to this interview, and you will KNOW you need to read it!

Still not convinced?  Take a look at this sample chapter to get a feel for the book.


 I don't often give out 5 stars, but I couldn't give this book anything less!

I was blessed to be able to offer my readers one copy of this book! I can only ship in the Continental US,  and you must be 18 years old to enter. Contest ends midnight (ET) on June 18.   A winner will be picked using Random.or


To enter, please be a follower of this blog and leave a comment below to let me know, what is it about you that YOU see as a blessing from God?

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book for the purpose of review.  I also received a free copy to give away to my readers.  No other compensation was received and I was not required to write a positive review. 

View all my reviews

Love and Blessings Always!

Margaret 

Book Review: Hope Springs by Kim Cash Tate #christianbookreview

Hope Springs by Kim Cash Tate
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

From Thomas Nelson:

In a small Southern community where everyone is holding tight to something, the biggest challenge may be learning to let go.

Hope Springs, North Carolina, is the epitome of small town life—a place filled with quiet streets where families have been friends for generations, a place where there’s not a lot of change. Until three women suddenly find themselves planted there for a season.

Janelle Evans hasn’t gone back to Hope Springs for family reunions since losing her husband. But when she arrives for Christmas and learns that her grandmother is gravely ill, she decides to extend the stay.

Becca Anderson is finally on the trajectory she’s longed for. Having been in the ministry trenches for years, she’s been recruited as the newest speaker of a large Christian women’s conference. But her husband feels called to become the pastor of his late father’s church in Hope Springs. Will small town living affect her big ministry dreams?

And Stephanie London has the ideal life—married to a doctor in St. Louis with absolutely nothing she has to do. When her cousin Janelle volunteers to stay in Hope Springs and care for their grandmother, she feels strangely compelled to do the same. It’s a decision that will forever change her.

As these women come together, facing disappointments both public and private, they soon recognize that healing is needed in their hearts, their families, and their churches that have long been divided along racial lines. God's plan for them in Hope Springs—and for Hope Springs itself—is bigger than they ever imagined.

My Review:


Can I just say WOW! This book has it all! Faith, family, friendship, romance, even race relations!


The book starts off with a family reunion and ends with a funeral. Kim Cash Tate weaves a story like none I have read in recent times. It will make you laugh, weep and want to go all out for Jesus!


The author of this book captures her characters perfectly. To be able to weave so many people together seamlessly is truly a gift. There are about 6 or 7 different stories going on but they work and I like that. Her characters touched me emotionally with the similarities to people in my life and family. Each is carefully developed without drawing away from anyone else in the story.
I feel like Janelle, Stephanie, Becca, and Libby were like my long lost cousins!


Emotionally the book took me on a rollercoaster. One minute I was laughing, the next I was weeping, the next I was ready to worship. LOL! It really was like that! I loved the flow of the book and didn't really find any disconnects where I lost what was going on. The incorporation of race relations wasn't subtle but it because such an integral part of the story that it would not have been complete without it. It's a true picture of a small town whether it's in the north, south, east or west.


Oh and Kim Cash Tate, if you read this, thanks for the shout out to Monmouth County, NJ!


From a Christian perspective, this is a wonderful book. The characters are frequently stepping out on faith. The pastors of the two town churches are integral to the story and work to unite the town. While there are references to infidelity and extramarital sex, it's not in a derogatory way. It's used to describe characters who have been redeemed or a on their way to accepting the redemption of Jesus. There is no foul language and nothing out of place in a Christian novel.


I HIGHLY recommend this novel. It's not often that I give 5 stars but this was that good!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book for the purpose of review as part of the Thomas Nelson Booksneeze program. I was not required to post a positive review, all opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Love and Blessings Always!
Margaret

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Book Review: Need You Now by Beth Wiseman #christianbook #bookreview

Need You Now by Beth Wiseman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What would you do if you felt your child was in danger?

After their son Chad made some poor choices, Brad and Darlene Henderson made the the tough decision to move their family from Houston to the small town of Round Top, Texas. Chad and his sisters, Ansley and Grace, each had their own difficulties with the move, especially Grace. While the pace is much slower, the challenges are still there, just in a different form.

Need You Now takes you through the struggles of a family who faces challenges and finds the only way through is by trusting in God.

Beth Wiseman does an fantastic job of telling this story. The main characters of the Henderson family each have their own personality that you can relate to as a reader. The tone of the book and the language makes it easy to imagine the characters interacting. The supporting characters like Tristan, Myrna, David, Cara and especially Layla, are there for a reason, not just to fluff up the book. I love the realistic situations and the fact that the author was not afraid to address a current problem facing our young women. She did it tastefully and with great sensitivity. While the ending was incredibly sad, it only served to add more depth to the story.

Overall, I thought this Christian fiction was well written, with a well developed story line. The story makes you stop and think about what you would do if you were in those challenging situations. Would you trust in God or would you fall apart? There were a variety of responses in this book and I learned something from each. The overriding theme is that even when we don't trust ourselves, when we don't trust the people around us, we need to trust God.

This was my first Beth Wiseman book but I'm looking forward to reading more of her books.

Disclaimer: This book was provided to me through the Booksneeze program, for the purpose of review. I was not asked to nor required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Love and Blessings Always!
Margaret Rogers

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Book Review: Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Whitson #bookreview

Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Synopsis from Amazon:

Sixteen Civil War widows living in St. Louis respond to a series of meetings conducted by a land speculator who lures them west by promising "prime homesteads" in a "booming community." Unbeknownst to them, the speculator's true motive is to find an excuse to bring women to the fledging community of Plum Grove, Nebraska, in hopes they will accept marriage proposals shortly after their arrival!

Sparks fly when these unsuspecting widows meet the men who are waiting for them. These women are going to need all the courage and faith they can muster to survive these unwanted circumstances--especially when they begin to discover that none of them is exactly who she appears to be.

My review:

I really enjoyed this book! The characters were developed well and the author did a great job of drawing the reader into the story. Each woman was an individual, yet part of the larger story. As each story begins to develop, you can't help be gain a sense of admiration for these women. I loved the character of Caroline Jamison most. She just had such a deep determination to succeed in what she came west to do, all while remaining the lady that she was. In some ways, this helped her to be successful, but in other ways it stood in the way. Ellen and her mama, as well as Ruth and Hettie, were fun, lovable characters.

It was so interesting to see how these women relied on faith, inner strength and intelligence to accomplish their goals. It was only then that we began to see the different romances that were brewing. The author did a great job of weaving all of the elements of the story together.

From a Christian perspective, this is a nice clean read, something I would let my 11 year old read. There is no violence (other than from nature), no sexual situations and no profanity.  It is an example of trusting God when it seems things are hopeless!

Love and Blessings Always,

Margaret

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Book Review: Amish Prayers: Heartfelt Expressions of Humility, Gratitude and Devotion #christianbook

Amish Prayers: Heartfelt Expressions of Humility, Gratitude, and Devotion by Beverly Lewis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Amish Prayers is a book of common prayers used by the Amish. They are heartfelt, prayers and a nice guide to use when you don't know exactly what to pray. They tend to be on the formal side but that does not take away from the content!

Overall I gained much from the forthrightness and humility of these prayers. This is a book I will keep on my phone/kindle for reference.

This was a free download from Barnes and Noble, part of my personal collection.

Love and Blessings Always,
Margaret


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Book Review: Not This Time by Vicki Hinze #christianbook

Not This Time: A Novel by Vicki Hinze
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Not This Time: A Novel (Crossroads Crisis Center) is the third book in the Crisis Crossroads Center series. I read the first one Forget Me Not: A Novel (Crossroads Crisis Center) , but I did not read the second one, Deadly Ties: A Novel (Crossroads Crisis Center) .

In Not This Time, Sara and Beth are the two main characters. They have built a multimillion dollar company and are successful in their own right. When an act of terrorism occurs at a local wedding, the questions start. Who is behind this act and why? Who can they trust and who is the traitor? Beth is sure it has something to do with Sara's husband Robert but then he is kidnapped and presumably murdered, so she has no idea who to trust.  Even Sara, her best friend, is lying to her!  Beth puts everything she has into finding the truth about the attack and about Sara.  The more she finds out, the more danger surrounds Beth, Sara and the other residents of Seagrove Village.

My Review:
The author, Vicki Hinze, does a wonderful job of weaving the story. As you progress through the book, the author lures you into a false sense of "I have this all figured out" when BOOM! another twist comes. Your are kept guessing until the end chapters. 

I also thought the author did a great job of developing the characters, particularly Sara and Beth. The NINA team fit their roles so well as did the "good guys." How she managed to seamlessly weave in romances, I do not know but she did and did it well!  I found myself with emotional connections to the characters even though the were fictional.


It's been a while since I read the first book and I did feel like I was missing some of the nuances. There were some refreshers in there but not enough to make me remember the characters and players in this series. Even though this works as a standalone book, having read the first one, I knew I was missing some important tie-ins from the second book. For that reason, I would recommend reading this series from start to finish. I'm tempted to go back and read the first and second books.


While this is a Christian thriller, it's not slap you in the face religion. The characters faith, or lack, is subtly woven in throughout the story. Reliance on God is evident and comforting. I really love how this author was able to make the story exciting and fluid without having to remove the presence of God in the character's lives.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and look forward to more from this author. Thank you to Waterbrook Multnomah for allowing me to review this book as part of the blogging for books program.

If you want a sneak peek, go here to read the first chapter!

Love and Blessings Always!

Margaret

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

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Book Review: Bad Girls of the Bible by Liz Curtis Higgs #christianbook

Bad Girls of the Bible: And What We Can Learn from Them by Liz Curtis Higgs
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Bad Girls is a collection of relatively short stories about women in the bible. You meet each one first through a modern day story which helps you relate to the character. Then Ms. Higgs begins to talk about the biblical character using scriptures and humor to support the lesson. In the book she helps us to understand the motivations of these women and where they came from.

I've had this on my to read list for quite some time and I'm glad I finally read it. I treated as a devotional reading it a little bit each day for a six week period. I really got a lot out of this book!

I loved the format of using the modern day story followed by the biblical story. The former was important to helping you relate to the women in these stories. While they were fictional, they really could be any woman that you meet on the street today. The biblical stories were supported by the scripture that told about these women. They brought out points that you wouldn't normally think about when reading these stories in the Bible. I really appreciated that!

Overall, I thought the book was well written. It did drag out a bit at points but it wasn't too bad. The author's writing style is refreshing and educational at the same time!  Her questions at the end of the chapter really helped bring the lessons home. As a Christian woman, I am always looking for enriching devotionals and this definitely fit the bill. 

This is a book from my personal collection.  You can find it here:  Bad Girls of the Bible: And What We Can Learn From Them

Love and Blessings Always!

Margaret

“I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.” 

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