In my opinion, this is a book that everyone should read. If you're not a Christian, it will open your heart and eyes to the living God and, if you areIn my opinion, this is a book that everyone should read. If you're not a Christian, it will open your heart and eyes to the living God and, if you are a Christian, it will draw you closer to the Lord and create a deeper relationship with him.
This book was originally published in 1948 but it's Biblical principles and truths contained inside are timeless. It's written in a way that is easy to read and apply to your life. It was difficult for me to put down. I had a highlighter in hand the whole time I was reading as there was so much I want to refer back to.
Mr. Tozer emphasizes that we need to experience God - to cultivate a relationship with him that grows through consistent time with him as we would anyone important to us in our life. One of my favorite quotes from the book is, "God wills that we should push on into His Presence and live our whole lives there". This, for me, explains what this book is about in that one sentence.
This really is a book that I will read over and over again. With each reading, I believe there will be new things that pop out of me. I highly recommend this book and give it 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me by Bethany House. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book....more
This lovely little book is packed full of nuggets of wisdom from the prayer of Agur. You, like me, not initially know who Agur is. He wrote the beautiThis lovely little book is packed full of nuggets of wisdom from the prayer of Agur. You, like me, not initially know who Agur is. He wrote the beautiful Scripture of Proverbs 30 that is a prayer of God giving him the right amount to live his life properly. Jay calls this the "sweet spot" of living in contentment.
I highlighted this book extensively and even took notes as I read through it. There were so many wise thoughts that I didn't want to forget!
Proverbs is a book of wisdom for our life, but Agur's prayer really gives us in a nutshell what the secret to contentment is. Not to have too much or too little. To keep our eyes on the Lord and live our according to His will.
I really loved how Jay emphasized that the Lord has given us each a gift. He tells us that God wants us to do the things that come easily. These things are our gifts and we should be doing those things to praise and worship the Lord. I found this to be such a relief! My calling shouldn't be difficult or confusing. God made it easy! Do what you love and what you're good at!
This book really opened my eyes to the secret of contentment. I absolutely love this book and will definitely be re-reading it over and over again. It's very grounding and very inspiring at the same time! I highly recommend it and give it 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me by the author. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book....more
I could hardly put this book down! What a wonderful and exciting start to a new series. I can't wait for the next book in this Love Along the Wires SeI could hardly put this book down! What a wonderful and exciting start to a new series. I can't wait for the next book in this Love Along the Wires Series.
Alice is a woman who knows what she wants. She has goals that have nothing to do with marriage and she works hard to be good at her work as a telegraph operator. She had a teacher who believed in her and helped her to set goals most women in 1880's would never dream of. I really liked Alice because she tried to do her best and she had so much confidence!
She meets Douglas at her new job and he is just as goal orientated as she is, if not more so. They see a kindred spirit in each other and become good friends. Their admiration for each other was just wonderful and how good relationships begin.
As the story goes along, they both start to re-think their goals in life. They realize that plans can be changed and it doesn't mean you fail - you just re-plan and go for the new goals in your life.
I really enjoyed this book and the historical setting. The fact that it's set in London just gives it that much more enjoyment in my eyes. It's an enjoyable story with memorable characters and I highly recommend it! I give it 5 stars.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book....more
This book moves rather slowly for me, especially at the beginning, but I did enjoy the intrigue and suspense that the writer created. As the story goeThis book moves rather slowly for me, especially at the beginning, but I did enjoy the intrigue and suspense that the writer created. As the story goes along, the speed does pick up and it became a page turner for me. It's a mystery/romance and this was well blended.
You can see that Luke and Brooke have deep feelings for each other but there are different issues that keep them apart. What I did like about their relationship is their support of one another. It's nice to see this in a relationship.
Since this is the first book in a new series, there are lots of new characters introduced and, quite frankly, I had a hard time keeping them straight. However, I know that we will see some of these characters in future books so we have a foundation of who they are. Not remembering exactly who the secondary characters were didn't affect the main story line for me.
I love a book where I'm not sure who the bad guy is and this book delivered this. I wasn't sure who had done the murder and was surprised when it was revealed. I enjoy a book like this.
All in all, this is a good book. I'm giving it 4 stars because of the slow bits and the complicated characters. I still really enjoyed it and I think you will, too!
*I received this book from Revell. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book....more
This is a beautiful book - both inside and out. It's filled with heart-felt prayers that really touched my heart.
I absolutely loved the introduction tThis is a beautiful book - both inside and out. It's filled with heart-felt prayers that really touched my heart.
I absolutely loved the introduction that Barbara wrote. It explains why she wrote these prayers and how her study of Scripture guided her in these prayers. She explains that these are not happy, life is great, prayers but prayers from times when life is hard. There is also prayers of praise and all of these were so relatable to me as I go through my own life hardships.
The prayers are so beautiful and I found myself pondering over each one. They are meant to be read slowly. Barbara Rainey's writing is so poetic and beautiful and I found myself lingering over these prayers. I also used them as a jumping off point to pray my own prayers. Using this book during my time with God quieted my heart and allowed me to really focus on my Bible study and prayers.
This is a book I know I will return to again and again. I really have enjoyed my time reading it and I know you'll like it as much as I do. I give it 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me by Bethany House. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book....more
Katie Orr is a sound Biblical teacher and this is very evident in her new book, Secrets of the Happy Soul. She takes us on a journey through ScriptureKatie Orr is a sound Biblical teacher and this is very evident in her new book, Secrets of the Happy Soul. She takes us on a journey through Scripture and shows us how our relationship with God can make our souls happy because we are grounded in His Word.
From the first page, this book drew me in. I had my highlighter out constantly as I read. So many wonderful and memorable thoughts throughout this book. I also liked the evaluations, questions and Bible study actions that are sprinkled at the end of chapters. They are well thought out and made me think about how deeply I was making my walk with God a priority.
I really liked the Scripture that Katie shares throughout and I found myself looking them up in my own Bible and making notations about what I had learned from this book. That's what I liked the most about this book - it gave me a great desire to get into my Bible and study because Katie made me realize how important it is. Doing so really did make me happy!
I highly recommend this book! It is such a great book to read and Katie makes everything understandable and relatable by sharing her own stories. I really loved this book and I hope you'll get your own copy. It will help deepen your walk with God and in the process, give you a foundation for happiness. I give this book 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me by Bethany House. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book....more
This Bible is so pretty and such a wonderful size. I really like how easy it is to hold and carry. It's the perfect size for any girl (or woman) and iThis Bible is so pretty and such a wonderful size. I really like how easy it is to hold and carry. It's the perfect size for any girl (or woman) and it offers so much inside to enrich our walk with the Lord.
The cover is absolutely gorgeous! The colors speak to my heart, as I'm sure it would any girl.
I love the wide margins for note-taking or Bible journaling. There are faint lines that make it easy to make your notes legible and straight. When doing artwork inside, they easily fade into the background. The paper is quite nice and I found it wonderful to work on.
I enjoyed drawing inside this Bible with colored pencils. The paper held up beautifully and there was no fear of the page ripping as I worked.
It also has the words of Jesus in red. This is especially nice for knowing which words are being spoken by Jesus. This will definitely help girls as they study.
I am really enjoying using this Bible. The text is easy to read and it's a wonderful addition to my quiet time. I highly recommend this Bible and give it 5 stars.
*This Bible was provided to me by Bible Gateway. I received a copy of this Bible to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this Bible....more
I really love a good action packed book with a great mystery story line and this book absolutely delivers. There's a lot of suspense and intrigue thatI really love a good action packed book with a great mystery story line and this book absolutely delivers. There's a lot of suspense and intrigue that make it a page turner.
Aubrey is on the police force in Houston, where she's been under a lot of strain and threats from a suspect now in jail. She has decided to head to the wetlands and meet up with one of her favorite persons, former Senator Grant McKenna. She practically grew up as part of his family and needed to get away for this duck hunting trip with him and his sons. Unfortunately, things don't go as she hoped and her troubles follow her.
FBI agent Jack Shannon is part of the team that is looking into the situation where the Senator was shot and Aubrey missing. He was in love with her when they were younger, and he's still in love with her. This makes it very personal for him.
There were some areas where I felt like things slowed down, mainly due to dragging dialogue, hence my taking away one star. During these times in the book, it changed the pace of the book and felt awkward to me.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It had a great suspenseful story and the characters were well developed. I give this book 4 stars.
*This book was provided to me by Revell. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book....more
I absolutely loved this book. I cared about the characters and thought about them after the last page was turned. That, to me, is an indication of a gI absolutely loved this book. I cared about the characters and thought about them after the last page was turned. That, to me, is an indication of a great book.
Arabella knows she doesn't deserve the abuse she received from the man her father had arranged for her to marry. When she has the opportunity to run away to British Columbia on the Bride Ship, she jumps at the chance to start fresh.
I really loved Pete, the baker of the community. He has set his heart on marrying Arabella but she is also being courted by the dashing Navy man, Lieutenant Richard Drummond. He is a man who has definite ideas about how the native people should be treated but it's not with compassion. Pete, on the other hand, is a man of God and he wants the native people to be treated with the compassion they deserve.
The historical information in this book is really good and I can tell that Jody Hedlund did her research on this. It is well written and a definite page turner.
I highly recommend this book and give it 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me by Bethany House. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book....more
This Bible is so beautiful and one thing I really appreciate about it is that it's not a heavy Bible. It's very easy to hold and Crossway did not makeThis Bible is so beautiful and one thing I really appreciate about it is that it's not a heavy Bible. It's very easy to hold and Crossway did not make the text so small that you couldn't read it. I am able to comfortably read it, even with my poor eyesight. It has a beautiful cover with the added details on the spine, which makes it just gorgeous. The fact that it has a box for storage also rates it quite high with me.
It has an extensive Concordance which is really important to me. I like being able to look up a subject and have a huge variety of Scriptures that I can read. There is also a weights and measures page. This is especially nice when you're not sure how much a talent would weigh in today's measurements.
The really different thing about this Bible are the Creeds and Confessions that are in the back. I have never had a Bible that included these and I found them quite educational and interesting. There are thirteen in all and, while I knew some of them, I didn't know them all.
Again, these were easy to read because the text was not too small. They kept everything uniform throughout. I really enjoyed reading all the different Creeds and Confessions and it gave me a new insight.
I really enjoy this Bible and all the extras that are included. There are color maps, as well. This is a thin Bible but there is so much packed inside! I really like this Bible and give it 5 stars.
*This Bible was provided to me for my honest review by Crossway. I received a copy of this Bible to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this Bible....more
Melody Carlson is a favorite author of mine because she always writes an uplifting story that makes me feel better as I'm reading and when that last pMelody Carlson is a favorite author of mine because she always writes an uplifting story that makes me feel better as I'm reading and when that last page is read. The Happy Camper is absolutely another wonderful feel-good story.
Dillon is the main character and I absolutely loved her. She has such a sweet heart and yet I like that she takes care of herself, too. When we first meet her, she has an epiphany moment and, throughout the story, I love how we see her consider her own feelings as well as that of others.
I have always thought the vintage trailers were so cute and I love how they play a central part in this story. It was so fun watching Dillon fix up the trailer her grandfather gives her and the enthusiasm she has for it. It also opens the door to her meeting someone special - Jordon. He's the owner of the local hardware store but also has a passion for vintage trailers.
Add in an eccentric mother (Dillon's) and other people trying to throw a monkey wrench into things and you have a story that keeps you glued to the pages as well as the edge of your seat. I also enjoy that Melody always shares the love of God with her readers and that pretty much makes this the perfect story to enjoy. I give this book 5 stars!
*This book was provided to me by Revell. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book....more
I had heard so many wonderful things about this Bible and was so excited to be able to get a copy of my own to read.
First of all, the cover just speakI had heard so many wonderful things about this Bible and was so excited to be able to get a copy of my own to read.
First of all, the cover just speaks volumes to my artist's heart. I love the beautiful splashes of color and the feel of the soft cover. It feels lovely in your hands and isn't overly heavy, which is important to me.
It's the inside and the wonderful extra's this Bible has that has me opening this Bible to read all the time. I love all the information this Bible has and when you open it, one of the first things you find is the pages titled, "Welcome to the Story of God!" I enjoyed this introduction to the Bible and, even as a long time Christian, I found this so inspiring. This would be wonderful for a new Christian as it gives the foundation of what the Bible is all about.
Each book of the Bible has a wonderful introduction that is easy to understand and leads you into the book with a clear understanding of what you are about to read.
Then there is the focus on certain Scriptures as you read along. These are in the margin and allow you to dig deeper and get more understanding about the Scriptures.
As a person that loves to write in my Bible, there are plenty of white spaces and also completely clear, large margins for making my own notes. This is really important to me and I'm so glad that this Bible took note-taking into consideration.
There's a wonderful, in-depth Concordance, which is wonderful, and the gold-edged pages are just gorgeous. In fact, this whole Bible is gorgeous plus the text is easy on the eyes. The ESV translation is also wonderful and easily understood.
I love everything about this Bible and highly recommend it. There's nothing I would change and, quite honestly, it's become my new favorite Bible. It's just wonderful in every way!
*This Bible was provided to me by BibleGateway. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book....more
This book gave me a lot of ideas for giving affirmation to my husband. Not everything was applicable to my husband, but there are so many ideas to sprThis book gave me a lot of ideas for giving affirmation to my husband. Not everything was applicable to my husband, but there are so many ideas to springboard from. These positive words of affirmation are really wonderful and help build up our husbands. We all need to hear how we are valued and this book is full of ideas for doing that for our husband.
I really enjoyed the stories that go along with these affirmations as they were encouraging to me. I also like how these affirmations can be re-worded so that we don't sound like little robots telling our husband how much they mean to us. It's important to make these affirmations applicable to our husbands unique gifts and how they bless us. Then it's really meaningful.
All in all, I think this book is a great idea and can only help our marriage if we build our husband up. I really enjoyed this book and give it 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me by Revell. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book....more
This lovely little book really spoke to my heart - especially now as I am battling cancer. Each devotion is so encouraging and uplifting! I was readinThis lovely little book really spoke to my heart - especially now as I am battling cancer. Each devotion is so encouraging and uplifting! I was reading them one after another because they reminded me that there is hope when we trust the Lord with our circumstances.
Each devotion is short but so powerful. They begin with a Scripture regarding the topic which include trust, attitudes, silence, giving and more. The author then has an encouraging devotional that uplifts the spirit and gives a feeling of peace. The devotions are Biblical and because they are, they bring about a sense of comfort that only God can give.
I highly recommend this devotional. It's such an encouragement and will bring about hope and comfort in your quiet time or when you need to be reminded of the hope of Christ. I give this 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me by Revell. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book....more
This is a beautiful Bible! I love the rich, brown two toned color of this Bible and the lovely feel of the cover. It's easy to understand why this BibThis is a beautiful Bible! I love the rich, brown two toned color of this Bible and the lovely feel of the cover. It's easy to understand why this Bible is the best selling Bible in the world.
Inside, there are wonderful study notes that explain so well the Scriptures. I also love all the little maps scattered throughout. There are maps in the back, however, having the small maps throughout makes it so easy to see where things are taking place as you're reading. There are also wonderful colored charts on the people of the Bible and other interesting facts of the Bible. I love this because they catch your attention.
Another nice thing is the explanation at the beginning of each book of the Bible that gives you an overview of what you will be reading. This is extremely helpful as you start reading those particular Scriptures.
I think my favorite part of this Bible is in the back and it's called the "Christian Worker's Resource". This section shows you how you can become a Christian and also has a section of how to follow up with a new Christian. I found these really great resources and something not found in any other Bible I've read.
This is a wonderful Bible with so many great resources right at your fingertips. I really love this Bible and highly recommend it. I give it 5 stars.
*This Bible was provided to me by Bible Gateway. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book....more
This is book two in the Deacon Family series. This is a stand-alone book, however, you'll love reading the first book in the series - I did. It helps This is book two in the Deacon Family series. This is a stand-alone book, however, you'll love reading the first book in the series - I did. It helps establish some of the characters and the back story of this book but you won't be lost if you read this one first.
I really enjoyed the continued story of Izzy, Luke, Mollie and Sam. Each couple is dealing with their own issues and secrets. I loved seeing the growth of these characters and how they worked together to solve life's problems. I also love their faith and how they trust God in these situations.
As always, Suzanne Woods Fisher writes a story where you come away really caring about the characters in the story and you also feel good when you close that back cover. She writes a book that takes you away from your own troubles and allows you to feel good for the duration of her book.
I really loved this book and am looking forward to the next book in the series. I give this book 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me by Revell. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book....more
This book starts out with intense action and it never stops! It's definitely a page turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Harper is tryinThis book starts out with intense action and it never stops! It's definitely a page turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Harper is trying to recover and, at the advice of her therapist, she goes out into nature to take photographs, something she loves. While out capturing a grizzly bear, she witnesses a murder. This sets the beginning of a terror ridden journey that has Harper terrified.
Heath is a true to life man who is there for Harper even when others aren't. He has things in his past that he is trying to get past himself so he has understanding for Harper. I love the chemistry between these two and their great friendship.
There is so much going on in this book and the little town it's set in. I love the supporting characters in this book as well. There is so much going on in this story and it keeps your interest each and every page.
If you enjoy romantic mysteries, you'll love this book. I certainly did and I give it 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me by Revell. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book....more
Life can feel overwhelming for so many of us and this book gives us the help we need to take back our time and use it wisely in a way that works for uLife can feel overwhelming for so many of us and this book gives us the help we need to take back our time and use it wisely in a way that works for us!
As a planner girl, this book appealed to me because I love organizing my time, but I also hoped to learn even more techniques for doing a better job of prioritizing my time. I was not disappointed at all as the author had a lot of great ideas for getting more done in easier ways.
I liked that she helped us determine our own strengths and energy levels. This was huge for me because I don't always have high energy and to have this recognized was great. I liked that she didn't put us all in the same basket because we are all different and she gives us advice based on this. I also enjoyed her personal stories throughout the book. It made it more enjoyable to read, rather than just a typical "how-to" book.
This book is really great for everyone - from the novice planner to the experienced one. She has so many great ideas and tips and I found them invaluable. I was graciously given an extra copy of this book and I loved it so much, I gave my copy to a dear friend who has a lot going on in her life and I know she will love it in helping her prioritize what's important to her.
I loved this book and highly recommend it! I give it 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me by the BlogAbout Blogger Network. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book....more
I am always so excited when Irene Hannon comes out with a new book! She is one of my favorite authors and she never disappoints. In Dark Ambitions, thI am always so excited when Irene Hannon comes out with a new book! She is one of my favorite authors and she never disappoints. In Dark Ambitions, the third in the Code of Honor series, I have found another wonderful and exciting book to love.
In this book, Rick hires private investigator, Heather, when he finds a bloody trail and other items at the camp he runs for children. He knows from one of the items the identity of the person who was there and needs help finding him. Immediately, Rick and Heather are attracted to each other and work together to figure out the mysterious events they find themselves in.
The story itself will keep you turning the pages as it's quite suspenseful and intriguing. In fact, I read this book over a couple of days because I couldn't put it down. This is pretty normal when I read an Irene Hannon book!
I really enjoyed this book and it has something for everyone. Romance, mystery and good characters that you'll really care about. I give this book 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me by Revell. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book....more
I pray all the time but I always feel like my prayer life could be better - deeper - so I was really excited to read this book about prayer. I was notI pray all the time but I always feel like my prayer life could be better - deeper - so I was really excited to read this book about prayer. I was not disappointed.
Debbie shares four categories on prayer:
With Understanding With Knowledge With Trust With Power
Each section has powerful ideas and encouragement on enriching our prayer life. I like that it's set up as a devotion so you take one day at a time to learn more about prayer. I also love that there's a place to journal your thoughts and/or prayers at the end of the teaching.
This is a book I will definitely go through time and time again because I feel like each time I read it, I'm going to gain new insights to prayer. It's Biblically sound which is always important to me. This is not a prayer formula book but a book designed to grow you closer to God in prayer. I highly recommend it and give it 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me by Revell. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book....more
I really enjoyed this book and loved how beautifully the author described one of my favorite places, The Grand Canyon. She did a lovely job of making I really enjoyed this book and loved how beautifully the author described one of my favorite places, The Grand Canyon. She did a lovely job of making the reader feel like they were right there with the main characters, Meg and Bed and their team.
Meg is a professional photographer who learned the art from her famous father. He taught her everything she knows, and when illness forced him to take a back seat, she did photographs in his name, until his death. Before he died, he signed a contract to photograph this new expedition to the Grand Canyon and Meg is determined to fulfill this contract.
Captain Bed Coleridge is in charge of the team that will go into the Grand Canyon. Meg doesn't realize this until she shows up at the Fort and is confronted by her former love interest when he was at West Point. This brings a lot of tension to the story as we know they still care for each other and we watch as they try to deny this mutual attraction.
The story has a bit of a mystery to it, which I really enjoyed. I also loved the character of Dot, who is the cook and only other woman on the team. I liked how Meg and Dot looked out for each other and were both strong, brave women.
I really liked this book and loved the historical elements to it. I give it 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me by Revell. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book....more
This is an absolutely beautiful book that draws you in with it's simplistic beauty but once you open it, it's a wonderful, complex devotional that helThis is an absolutely beautiful book that draws you in with it's simplistic beauty but once you open it, it's a wonderful, complex devotional that helps you find navigate the changes of life that inevitably come our way.
Leeana shares personal stories that draw you in and help you to realize that we all face struggles and difficulties, however, God is with us and will help us through these times when we aren't sure how to move forward.
This book has been especially helpful and comforting to me as I have been recently diagnosed with cancer and each day holds some new difficulty and fear.
Each day starts with a quote and then a short devotional that is thought provoking. Then begins my favorite part...the question and answer section. There are one or two short questions and lines where we can record our thoughts. I love when devotions have this because it makes it so much more personal and helps me to really work through things in my mind.
I love how Leeana points us back to God's Word again and again for our answers in this life. Her writing is beautiful and poignant and I absolutely adored this book! I highly recommend it, especially for your quiet time and especially if you find yourself going through a difficult season. I give it 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me by Revell. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book.
This book, set in the early 1900's, takes us on a romantic adventure between Annabelle and Gray but it's also filled with intrigue and historical factThis book, set in the early 1900's, takes us on a romantic adventure between Annabelle and Gray but it's also filled with intrigue and historical facts that keep one turning the page to see what could possibly happen next.
Annabelle has a temporary job at the Smithsonian Institute where she catalogs plants and seeds from all over the world. She needs this job to revert to a permanent position and her boss has promised to do this if she can secure the Delacroix plant collection. She has tried numerous time to write to Gray Delacroix but he has firmly written back "no" to her requests. She then decides to meet him face to face to encourage him to share his collection. One reason for her determination is that her family needs the financial support. She is from Kansas and her family's farm has been struggling. The other reason is her sister, who recently lost her sight, has a job at the Library of Congress where she works in the reading room for the blind. So, her family depends on her greatly. However, Annabelle is a strong young woman who is determined to make a difference for all concerned.
Gray is also a complex man who has centered his life out of building his family's spice business and regaining the wealth they once had. He is a traveled man who has seen much of the world and suffers malaria because of it. He is a brooder yet loving and kind once you get to know him. His determination matches Annabelle's and this makes for a relationship full of fireworks!
I enjoyed the historical information about food labeling and how the government got involved in making sure our foods are safe. So many people were either sickened or died because of impure or even dangerous items added to the food. This issue brought Annabelle and Gray together.
I really liked the characters in this book, even the difficult ones! They are believable and complex. The story was also complex enough to keep you interested. It touches on many subjects and political histories that are very interesting. All in all, I enjoyed this book and I recommend it. I give it 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me by Bethany House. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book....more
This book is such a wonderful book that explains the Holy Spirit and how He lives in us and helps us in every aspect of our life. Anne explains how HeThis book is such a wonderful book that explains the Holy Spirit and how He lives in us and helps us in every aspect of our life. Anne explains how He is Our Helper, Our Comforter, Our Advocate, Our Intercessor, Our Counselor, Our Strengthener, and Our Standby. She explains how each attribute guides us and helps us in our life.
She shares about the death of her husband and how that Holy Spirit comforted her in her grieve. She also shares her cancer story and this was especially timely for me as I have recently been diagnosed with cancer. Finding out how the Holy Spirit guided her and comforted her each step of the way, was such an encouragement.
I really love how Anne always backs everything up with Scripture and how she explains the Scriptures in a way that is easy to understand. It was really a pure joy to learn more about the Holy Spirit and to understand what a gift He is to us from Jesus. He is always waiting to help us and that is such a wonderful gift from God!
I can't recommend this book enough! It has changed the way I understand about the Holy Spirit and has given me such comfort and joy in knowing all He does for me. This would be a wonderful book for anyone to read. I give it 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me by Waterbrook Multnomah. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book....more
Mark Batterson is one of my favorite authors because he shares about the Word of God in a way that is easily understood and applicable to our lives. TMark Batterson is one of my favorite authors because he shares about the Word of God in a way that is easily understood and applicable to our lives. This book about blessings is a perfect example of that.
He explains what a blessing is and how we can and are blessed by God and how, when then, can turn around and bless others! This is definitely not a prosperity book but a truly Biblical teaching on what a blessing is. He shares a lot of different stories from his own life and the lives of others to show what a blessing can look like in our every day lives. That's one thing I really enjoy about his writing; he brings us right into his life and shows us, by example, how the concept he is teaching works.
I thought it was eye opening that he shows us that we don't always have a clear understanding of what a blessing really is. Again, he goes to the Bible to show us what a blessing really is. I know for myself, I probably use the word blessing way too much and not in the right way. Not that it's wrong but I now understand the full meaning of blessing.
We all want to be blessed but I loved the part of the book about blessing others. There is such joy in blessing others in small and large ways and Mark's thoughts on this were so wonderful.
This book is really good and I highly recommend it. I give it 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me by Waterbrook/Multnomah. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book....more
This Bible is unlike any other Bible I have ever had. I feel like this Bible gives the answers to questions that we've had or didn't even know we had This Bible is unlike any other Bible I have ever had. I feel like this Bible gives the answers to questions that we've had or didn't even know we had and opens up our understanding of the Bible in new ways.
The biggest different in this Bible is that on the sides of each page, there are questions we might ask about the Scriptures we are reading with he answers to these questions. I really like this because it explains things in depth in a way that is understandable and memorable.
I also love that the print is easy to read and doesn't strain my eyes. There is an extensive index by subject, a concordance, dictionary and bright, colorful maps to add to your study experience. There really is a lot packed into this Bible!
Another thing I liked is that the paper quality is excellent especially for someone like me who likes to highlight and make notes in her Bible. The highlighting didn't go through onto the back of the page and I saw no shadowing from my hand-written notes.
This Bible would be great for anyone but especially a new Christian would love having so many of their questions answered as they are reading their Bible. This would be an invaluable tool for getting a clear understanding for them without having to write their questions down and asking someone later. This lets anyone get the answers they need immediately!
I highly recommend this Bible as it's easy to read and gives so many extras in one Bible! I give it 5 stars.
*This Bible was provided to me by Bible Gateway. I am a member of Bible Gateway Blogger Grid. I received a copy of this Bible to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this Bible....more
I don't usually chose Romance novels to read but I'm glad I chose this one! This is book one in the a new series called, Restoring Heritage, and I'm eI don't usually chose Romance novels to read but I'm glad I chose this one! This is book one in the a new series called, Restoring Heritage, and I'm excited this is part of a series because this book was so good! I loved the small town setting and how the author made you feel like you were right there with her beautiful descriptions of Michigan.
I could relate to the character Hannah in so many ways. The fact that she likes things to remain the same really resonated with me. Her love of old houses keeps her from being a stellar realtor because she can't stand to see them torn down, which I can totally relate to as well. When she has a chance to help her hometown and keep the historic value of her little town at the same time, she jumps at the chance.
Luke is a man who doesn't feel like he belongs. He grew up in foster care and it affects him in so many ways to feel that he doesn't belong anywhere or with anyone. I love his character so much because he is flawed yet has such a good heart.
My favorite thing about this book is how the author weaves faith throughout and always points to the love of God. She does it in a way that is realistic and believable and not preachy. It gave me so much encouragement to my own faith to read her beautiful words.
I really loved this book and it was a fast but enjoyable read. I give it 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me by Revell. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book....more
This novel is unlike anything I have read before and I was totally enthralled with the story and the characters. I enjoyed the use of books within thiThis novel is unlike anything I have read before and I was totally enthralled with the story and the characters. I enjoyed the use of books within this book to bring the characters together. Especially when it was a book that I love!
Robin is a girl with a lot of baggage in her life because of her parents. She carries around her hurt like a sweater that she never puts down. She has lived a life under an assumed name so that her parents sins would not continue to taint her life. However, because she carried around her wounds, she ended up being a person who never moves forward or gets beyond certain angers. This was the aspect of the book that I didn't like because I wanted to see her get beyond her parents and, she thought she was, but she wasn't!
Peter is another wounded person and their love of books brings Robin and he together in a really delightful way. He is a bit more evolved than Robin, though, so he ended up being my favorite character. I loved that he cared so much.
The story takes us between past and present, which I didn't have a problem with, and I do think was very central to the story. I also loved all the books and the book store that Robin is trying to save. It gave another element to the story of not only caring about the people, but the book store that was in jeopardy.
All in all, I think this book was beautifully written. The only thing I found annoying at times was the character of Robin. I enjoyed this book a lot and give it 4 stars.
*This book was provided to me by Revell. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book....more
This book is for those of us whose life has turned out completely different than we thought it would. I know this spoke to me as my life is totally diThis book is for those of us whose life has turned out completely different than we thought it would. I know this spoke to me as my life is totally different than I thought it would be.
Tracy shares how she thought her life would be - living in New York as a designer and wearing beautiful clothes and carrying designer purses. That's not what her life has turned out to be like - she lives in Phoenix. However, she has embraced her life and she shows us how we can embrace ours in whatever circumstances we find our self.
Through Scripture, she shows us that, indeed, God truly has a design for our life and that we can fully trust Him on this journey of ours. I especially enjoyed the "Muse Minutes" and the "Design Tip" section she had after each chapter. These helped me to put things clearly together in my mind and give me a new "design" perspective about my life.
This is a wonderful book and I highly recommend it - especially to those who are struggling with how different their life looks compared to what they wanted. I give this book 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me by Revell. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book....more
What an absolutely delightful book! I was so ready to start reading about Christmas and cooler weather and there's nothing better than a book by MelodWhat an absolutely delightful book! I was so ready to start reading about Christmas and cooler weather and there's nothing better than a book by Melody Carlson because her books never disappoint!
Krista and her daughter, Emily, are moving from the city they have always lived in - Phoenix where it's always warm - to a small, quaint town called Winter Hill in Washington, where the weather is a lot colder. It's a huge change for Krista but she has accepted the position of town manager so it's definitely a step up for her career. However, she made the decision in haste and now she's wondering if she did the right thing.
Winter Hill is all about Christmasvillle and Krista didn't know this. She has never been a fan of Christmas so this is a huge adjustment for her. There are some other disappointing aspects to her move as well, but she tries to have a good attitude throughout it all.
I really loved the characters in this book - even the ones that aren't very nice. As always, Melody writes her characters in a well rounded way and I felt like I really knew these people and cared about them. I loved the character of Pauline and her son, Conner. I loved how they embraced Krista and Emily and both had such a wonderful outlook on life. Their faith was so realistic, too, and I loved how they showed care for others.
This book was wonderful in every way! I enjoyed each and every moment I got to spend in Winter Hill and it was a great first Christmas book for the 2019 season. I really loved it and give it 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me by Revell and the author. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book....more
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