Life, Love and Books

The Kindness Challenge  Thirty Days to Improve any Relationship Shaunti Feldhahan Here is another amazing book brought to us by the author of For Women Only, Shaunti Feldhahan a book dealing with all kinds of relationships. We all have people that are very tough and hard for us to deal with in our everyday lives.Or maybe you are wanting to make a certain relationship better. This is the book for you, it gives you a road map toward being kinder in your relationships. Small actions that can and will make very big difference in anybody's life.  Shaunti also gives us several ways that we could be being unkind to other people, Also 8 types of kindness and which one suits our personality. Ten very sneaky obstacles that get in our way of giving praise. While providing us with practical ways to keep moving on when the way of kindness gets tough.  This book is a great choice for anyone that is looking at bettering their relationships. *I received a print copy of this

Take Your Life Back:  How to Stop Letting the Past and Other People Control You by Stephen Arterburn , M.Ed.  and David Stoop, Ph.D. Just as the title says is what this book truly about, making the choice to take your life back and to become the person you are to be in life. If you are looking for hope in your life of overcoming feelings and habits that have controlled you for a long time look no more. Overcoming the hurts and habits that are keeping us from moving forward, while taking new and very positive steps toward change in our lives.Getting healing from the hurts, setbacks and broken relationships that have effected every day of our lives. As I was reading this book, I myself had to take time and look at my past to see the issues that was holding me back from going further in my life. I found this book to be very helpful at working on the problems that I felt I was stuck on and could not find the freedom from. To anyone that needs or is looking for a way to take t

Gratitude  A Prayer and Praise Coloring Journal For all adult coloring books fans here is another option of a way for a believer to strengthen their prayer life. Each page comes with saying or a prayer to help thru your day. Pages for you to write out your prayers and thoughts. Being able to be creative without having to feel like you had to have lessons in art is a very good thing. I found it to be very relaxing to color the pages, while also taking time to write my thoughts and or a prayer out on the provided pages. There is also several pages where you can do your own illustrations.  I received a copy of this book courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers for the purpose of reviewing. I was not required to give a positive review. 

Wild Montana Skies by Susan May Warren I was blessed with the opportunity to meet Susan May Warren in person, recently at our local community library. She had chosen our library as one of her stops on her book tour for Wild Montana Skies. Her visit to our little local reading spot was a bright spot for several of our regular patrons. Susan spent some of her time with us telling us about her newest series and giving us some tips on becoming an author. In her newest series called Montana Rescue, Susan introduces us to a new group of unsung heroes. A SAR  (Search and Rescue) team that has been put together by a very wealthy benefactor in the town of Mercy Falls, Montana. In Montana Rescue we meet a former military search and rescue pilot Kacey Fairing who has returned home on a leave. During her time home she has accepted an offer to fly for the local SAR team, with the hopes of reconnecting with her teenage daughter. At the same time Ben King has placed his dreams and caree

Another Day, Another Dali Sandra Orchard In the second Serena Jones mystery, Serena continues her pursuit on finding the truth out about the murder of her grandfather. When her grandmother asks her help with a friends missing painting, Serena finds herself mixed up into two investigations. The deeper she gets in the investigations the more danger she faces. Sandra Orchard takes art and mixes it up with a mystery. As a mystery lover I fell in love with this series from the first page to the last page of this book. I can't wait to see what Serena is going to get into next and which guy will she chose the super or the FBI guy.  

Where Two Hearts Meet by Liz Johnson Return to the beautiful Prince Edward Island in the newest arrival from Liz Johnson. We briefly met Caden Holt in the first book of the series as the baker at her fathers shop. Now we find her in the position of executive chef at the Red Door Inn. Being able to do the her favorite thing in life, baking and making meals for others. When word comes that a travel writer is coming to visit the Inn, Caden is placed into a position she does not want. Her boss is concerned about the lack of profit coming in and the promise of a travel writer brings hope in their dire situation. Caden is their best hope at entertaining the writer and showing him the sights while selling the red door inn as a choice for a travel site. Liz Johnson has written another delightful read based on the Prince Edward Island; also the home to the Anne of Green Gables series. I love getting to read about a different area then where I live. Caden reminds me of myself, wan

Home on the Range by Ruth Logan Herne The second book in the Double S Ranch series brings us back to Gray's Glen, Washington. We find the town still trying to rebuild after the disaster that has struck them. At the same time the Stafford brother Nick, has put his whole focus on working his family ranch and is now struggling to raise his daughters on his own. Ruth has done it again and written a story that pulls you in to the book. The little girls struggling with the issue of not having a mother in the picture, then all of sudden she reappears in their life. This story deals with a issue that is not touched very often in fiction. The struggle of a doting father trying to make the right decisions for his daughters without causing them more pain in the long run. Also the pain of having a parent that leaves and then chooses to reinsert themselves in their child lives for alternative reasons. I loved the way she created her characters to each have their own uniqueness a

An Amish Harvest: Four Novellas by Beth Wiseman, Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller and Vanetta Chapman Four very wonderful authors come together to bring us another amazing novel with four uplifting stories. Under the Harvest Moon  by Beth Wiseman After suddenly losing her husband, Naomi Dienner is not looking for love again. All she wants to do is be able to provide for her family and get the harvest in for the fall.When her father suggests a English family friend, Brock Mulligan; that will be able to help her in her time of need. As the time passes Naomi struggles with a very deep and dark feeling that seems to weigh her down with concerns. What seems to be a innocent option to help with this weighted down feeling turns out to be very much a bad thing. With the help of her handsome harvest worker, will she be able to see the light God has provided and the love that is in front of her. Love and Buggy Rides  by Amy Clipston On her first day working as a cash

Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctors Personal Journey through Depression by Dr Michelle Bengtson As a board-certified neuropyschologist, Dr Michelle Bengtson has seen the devastation that depression causes to people. In her practice she prescribed the most effective  treatments for her patients. When one day the tables turned and she was now the patient suffering from depression; struggling just to get thru one day at a time. Using the same treatments that she prescribed for her patients, she felt worse than before. Seeking to find the hope she needed to overcome depression she turned to the one book that showed her grace, The Bible. Taking from her experience, Dr Bengston writes the words that most people struggling with depression will recognize. Taking her training and blending it with a vital missing piece, she shows us that we can pull thru even if it does not feel like we are going to make it. If you are someone who is struggling with depression or you know someone wh

Really Bad Girls of the Bible More Lessons from Less-than Perfect Women by Liz Curtis Higgs She did it again, Liz Curtis Higgs has taken the bad girls of the Bible and brought them to life in her latest book. We are introduced to some very overlooked women in the Bible, Jael, Medium of En-dor, Athalia and Herodias. Also some women that touched lives thru the things they did, Bathsheba, Tamar, the Adulteress and the Bleeding Woman. Each of these women did things that were bad or something that was considered bad in that time period in the case of the Bleeding Woman. Each chapter highlights one of these womens stories and at the end it gives us insight that we can learn from each of these women. I loved reading Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible, so when I got the chance to review this book I jumped at it. Liz does an amazing job of taking the stories of the women in the Bible and bringing them to life for us 20th century women. I would recommend this book to anyone as a study

I wish He had come with Instructions The Woman's Guide to a Man's Brain by Mike Bechtle Oh my, there are times I wish I had this book before I gotten married. But truthfully it has came at the right time in my life. I struggle with talking to my dear husband and at times I was not able to understand why he went silent. After reading this book it has opened my eyes to how a man's brain works. We women are and can be very complicated, while men can be very simple and straight forward. This book is a must for all women it will help each of us understand our men better. This book was given to me for free for an honest review.

 Ben-Hur A Tale of the Christ by Carol Wallace One of the bestselling novels of all time is back, Lew Wallace's great-great granddaughter has breathed new life into it for today's readers. It was really interesting to take a step back into the time period that Jesus lived in. The storyline starts with young Judah Ben-Hur going to meet his best friend after having not seen each other for several years. The years have passed these young men and changed each of them in very vast way that touches their lives. It will be years later before these two former friends turned enemies face off in the big chariot race. But the underlying story that runs thru this story is how Christ touched the lives of a family in several different ways.  This is my first time ever reading this book, it was exciting to be able to review this book. From the moment I picked up the book to read it till the end of it, it held my attention and made me want to see the movie.  This book w

Deadly Encounter by Diann Mills In the newest series FBI Task Force by Diann Mills we return to Houston Texas, where meet the heroine Stacy Broussard an Airport Ranger volunteer. What seems like a very peaceful day to go horseback riding turns into encounter with a the FBI as the witness to a possible homicide. Drawn deep into the very baffling mystery of the dead man and his dog, Stacy chooses to take over the care of the injured canine. FBI Special Agent Alex LeBlanc has his guard up, after having learned his lesson of trusting a witness who was not so innocent in the end.  As time passes it seems the investigation keeps leading the Agents back to the vet clinic and it's owner as one of the target in this act of bio-terrorism. When a whole community is faced with a major health emergency that pulls everyone into all different directions.   Will the FBI task force be able to find the person behind all of this before other lives are endangered.  Diann Mills has done it a

What Matters Most  Kellie Coates Gilbert  In book 4 of the A Texas Gold series, we are introduced to Leta Breckenridge a devoted daughter to her mother who suffers from dementia. When a job opportunity comes up that Leta can not pass up to be able to pay for her mothers care. She takes the job, but as time passes and she starts to see what is really going on behind closed doors. Nathan Emerson is a rising political star that may be the next candidate for the race for Governor. Already in a relationship with a beautiful woman who would make a good politician's wife, he can't understand why he is attracted to this pretty and feisty girl. Could Leta be the one he has been looking for, who holds not just the keys to the future; but also the keys to his heart.  Kellie Coates Gilbert writes an amazing story about politics and the battles that can happen in them. If  you are looking for a excellent story to read, this is the one for you. I received this book fo

Honor Redeemed by Christine Johnson  In the second book in the Keys of the Promise series, we meet Prosperity Jones. Two years ago she stood waving farewell to her beloved David as he headed to the faraway Key West. Now faced with no family to care for her, Prosperity travels to find the one person that can provide for her. When she arrives in Key West, only to find out that her dear fiance has married another woman. With her heart broken in many pieces, Prosperity chooses to push forward and find another way to provide for herself. When she gain the interest of a older Doctor, Prosperity starts to finally feel like she is going to be able to find hope in her life. David's choices in life have had consequences, ones that have caused heartache not just to himself and the one love of his life. Being the man he is, he chose to make things right and now life has another twist for him.  Christine Johnson has written a fast moving love story that will take you for a ride

Missing by Lisa Harris The second book in the Nikki Boyd series, Missing follows Missing Persons Special Task Force agent Nikki Boyd. Usually Nikki does not investigate homicide cases, but this homicide case also has a missing person connected to the deceased. When a desperate phone call and several clues lead the team to a very grisly discovery on a boat owned by one of Nikki's dear friend Tyler Grant.   Still recovering from the untimely loss of his wife and emerging into the role of a single parent; Tyler has depended on Nikki for the past year of his life as a widower. Their relationship has been complicated, being Nikki was Tyler's wife best friend and as time has passed they have grown closer to each other. As more evidence is uncovered the more it looks like Tyler and his family are in danger and the their only lead is still on the run.  Will Nikki be able to find the missing woman before the bad guys find her? Also will she be able to pr

                                                      A Book Review of:                                   Sea Rose Lane                                             by Irene Hannon After suffering from a devastating layoff, attorney Eric Nash heads back to the one place that where things have not changed. Only to find out that his childhood home  is being transformed into a bed and breakfast.  Where he thought he would find peace and quiet to contemplate his next move in his career; instead he finds noise, chaos and distractions in the form a prickly blonde architect named BJ Stevens.  BJ is not looking for romance, after her last foray into the dating scene was a disaster. Her goal ios to grow her business, while working a on a project close to her heart. When Eric continues to interrupt her life in the small ways, she starts to realize there may be more to this guy than just being the annoying son of her client. As the two team up to complete a project, they realize t

                A Book  Review of :                              All Summer Long                                               by Melody Carlson The second book in the "A San Francisco Romance" series; introduces us to Tia D'Amico a young chef that is still looking for her place in life. When the dream job drops into her lap via her Dad's sister; Tia jumps at the chance to go to San Francisco. After inheriting her in-laws old luxury yacht Tia's aunt decided to transform it into an upscale floating restaurant. Hiring Tia to be the chef and a young man from their church to captain the yacht.  Before Tia can make it to her destination her uncle is hospitalized and all the demo work is laid in her lap. Excited to prove she can make this work for her aunt and uncle, her hopes are struck down when she realizes she has to work with her summer sailing camp crush.  Leo Parker is happy to have found a job as a yacht captain, the king of job he l

The Quieting by Suzanne Woods Fisher  In the second book in  "The Bishops Family" series we meet Abgail the niece of the bishop who has come with her sister to help her uncle out in their time of need. Her second goal is to finish her father's genealogical project for a client that lives in Stony Ridge. Unbeknownst to Abgail, her grandmother has other plans for her elusive granddaughter. She has set her sights on finding a husband for Abgail and plans on finding the right one there in Stony Ridge. Stony Ridge is not overrun with eligible bachelors, except for one who is not right for Abgail in many ways. Bearing the last name Glick and a relative to the church bishop that is at odds with Abgails's uncle. Dane Glick has his sights set on marrying Abgail, but she does not have her sights set on marriage. Her goal is to help her father break out of his mood of melancholy that he is stuck in. As the conflict grows between the two families, relationships

Every Bride has Her Day Today is a special day for me, it is my wedding anniversary. On this day a very rainy afternoon my hubby and I stood in front of our beloved family and friends to say I do. The months that led up to that day, was a struggle for both of us. We had so many telling us how we should plan our special day, where we should have it at and what to wear for the day. When it came down to it, we planned a wedding that was us; as a couple. A Old Fashioned Campmeeting Wedding theme, that took place at a special place for my family.  Here is a few pics from my very special day!! Calming the brides nerves!! We chose a location that we both loved, a campmeeting grounds near where my parents grew up at and my grandmother took all of the grandkids too. It made it even more special that my dad was able to be there and walk me down the aisle. We chose a simple setting with not much decorations, but a look that played up our love of Country W