I enjoyed this book so much. I think it's a timely book s there is so much going on in our world and it can feel as though we are literally drowning uI enjoyed this book so much. I think it's a timely book s there is so much going on in our world and it can feel as though we are literally drowning under the weight of it all.
Sally is very open in this book - much more so than in her other books. In fact, as much as I enjoyed her other books and got a lot out of them, I appreciated the open honesty that her life wasn't perfect. I always had the idea that her family was trouble free and happy every moment. Although I know this couldn't be true, it put a lot of pressure on me as a wife and mother. I came away from this book feeling more uplifted.
She shares the struggles in her marriage and as a mother and shares how she learned to navigate these tough issues. Many of the thngs she went through resonated so much with me and I found them helpful as I navigate new difficult issues in my life. Scripture is timeless and she points us to so many wonderful Scriptures to encourage and edify us.
My book is heavily highlighted because I know that I'm going to revisit her book again and again for encouragement as I go through difficult times. Her book is so encouraging and gives us a road map for dealing with hard things. She also made me feel like the hard things were a normal part of life but, with God, we can navigate them without completely going under.
I highly recommend this book. It will encourage you and make you feel better just for reading it. 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 is another wonderful study from Moody Publishers There is so much through put into this study and I love that they made it beautiful inside and oThis is another wonderful study from Moody Publishers There is so much through put into this study and I love that they made it beautiful inside and out with gorgeous illustrations and lots of purple, which in my opinion, is always a good thing.
Most importantly, this is a very Biblical study with focus on a book of the Bible I wasn't really familiar with. Habakkuk is a prophet that we can very much relate to today as he was living in a broken world (sound familiar?) and wondering where God was in all this. I know right now that a lot of us are wondering what's going on and how our world got so very broken. I love how God reassures us through this amazing book in the Bible.
This six week study is an in-depth look at Habakkuk and it has been so encouraging to me. Dannah has set this study up so wonderfully and I learned so much! She starts out with description of what we will be learning. She then has 5 meditations where we take a deeper look into the Scripture and answer the questions. I really like that there is enough room to write in your answers! There are charts to fill in occasionally and everything brings us deeper into the Word of God. I absolutely love studies where we fill in things! What is really great is that Dannah provides a podcast at the end of each week where she explains what we have learned. Such a wonderful bonus to this study!
I enjoyed this study so much and it was great doing it on my own, however, it would be great for small groups or women's Bible studies. It's just a great study all the way around! Obviously, I give it 5 stars.
*This Bible study was provided to me by Moody Publishers. 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 always enjoy Irene Hannon's books. She does a great job with mystery and giving us characters we care about. I also like that there's a little romanI always enjoy Irene Hannon's books. She does a great job with mystery and giving us characters we care about. I also like that there's a little romance but it doesn't take over the storyline. I like my suspense novels to stay that way and not veer off into the romance genre.
This book starts right off with a heart-pounding situation. Eve, a conservative radio show host, goes to her door and find a ticking package. The twists and turns never stop from page one. I really like that she cares enough about others, throughout the book, to try and protect others from the backlash of disgruntled listeners. You see this side of her immediately and it's one of her endearing qualities.
The police detective called to this situation becomes a main-stay in her life. He's a complex man that cares about Eve and is drawn into her life more and more. There are so many background characters that could be the culprit so it keeps you guessing as to who is doing what and why.
Another interesting aspect of this book is that we see the story from the point of view of the culprit which brings a whole new to this story. That has been done in some books, but it's unusual and I enjoyed this twist. I've read other Irene Hannon books and it was so fun to see familiar people in the story. It feels like you know this community because of that.
I really enjoyed this book. It's a book full of suspense and I had a hard time putting this book down. I give if 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
In my opinion, you just can't get better than A. W. Tozer for really getting into what the Bible means and how it applies to our life in all areas. HeIn my opinion, you just can't get better than A. W. Tozer for really getting into what the Bible means and how it applies to our life in all areas. He never wavers from the truth and, I personally, find his books so interesting and inspiring.
This book is all about the presence of God in our lives. From the Old Testament to the New, this book takes us on a journey, showing us how the Lord has always been with us and always will. He never changes so what the Bible says about Him holds the same today.
Using the burning bush as his focus, Mr. Tozer shares how the Lord is our hiding place, our sheltering place. He blesses us and transforms us as we walk with Him. This book is about growing closer to God by knowing Him in a profound and deep way.
As with all Tozer books, I can highly recommend them because they stay true to Scripture and lead us into a deeper relationship with Jesus. I highlighted so much of this book and I'm sure you'll find yourself doing the same. It's also one of those books I'll read again and again because I gain so much from it each time. 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 is my new favorite devotional. I love how it's divided into sections on different topics that you can focus on or go day by day. The other thing This is my new favorite devotional. I love how it's divided into sections on different topics that you can focus on or go day by day. The other thing I like is it's not dated - it's organized by day 1, day 2, etc., which I do better with, rather than dates. I always feel I need to go by the date and, if I skip a day, it causes me anxiety. This devotional lets you do it day by day, on your terms without guilt.
At the beginning of the book, you can see all the different topics. For instance, there's God Delights in You, Stay the Course, Worry, and so much more. If you're struggling with something, this is really helpful to go to that concern and read those devotionals and Scriptures.
Each devotional starts with a Scripture, a devotional on that Scripture, then a Learn section where you read the Scripture regarding this devotional in length. I like this a lot as it encourages reading the Scripture in context and digging deeper into Scripture. Then there's a statement regarding what we've read and finally a lovely prayer prompt.
I find this devotional to be so much more in depth than some and it's been very encouraging to me. I think you'll like this devotional, too, and I highly 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 is an amazing Bible that is so full of information! I found myself reading endlessly as it opened so much up through the wonderful study notes anThis is an amazing Bible that is so full of information! I found myself reading endlessly as it opened so much up through the wonderful study notes and color pictures. I love the color pictures and colored maps throughout! It helps to have deeper explanation and understanding of the area where these things are taking place and about the people.
One thing I found myself doing was reading through the biographical information that is in this Bible. Job is one of my favorite books of the Bible and it explains what the book of Job is about but then went into who Job was as a man. I thought this was so interesting and gave me a more rounder understanding of who he was and the times he lived in. There is a lot of information like this throughout.
I love the heavier paper that is in this Bible and the comfort print text. It makes it so much easier to read! Even the study notes, which are a bit smaller, are easier to read. The only con to this Bible is that it's quite heavy. I am using it on my desk where I study so it stays in one place, however, to carry it around would definitely be difficult for me.
If you want a Bible that has everything, this Bible is for you. It has the study notes that will guide you as you read plus much, much more! I absolutely love this Bible and I think you will, too! I give it 5 stars.
*This Bible was provided to me by BibleGateway. 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
This is an extremely interesting book that focuses on the parables of the Bible and explains their meanings to us. Not only that, but the author givesThis is an extremely interesting book that focuses on the parables of the Bible and explains their meanings to us. Not only that, but the author gives us questions to reflect on so that we can dig a bit deeper into the parable and the Scriptures.
I really liked that the author writes in a way that is easy to understand. It is a book that invites you in to the Bible and makes you want to stay there. Things that might not have been clear in the Scripture, become clear after the author takes us through things step by step.
I enjoy books that give us a way to study deeper and the questions and memory verse at the end of each chapter do this wonderfully. It truly invites the reader to want to live a more exemplary life.
I really loved this book and highly recommend it. You'll learn so much from the book and gain so much knowledge. 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
I absolutely love every book by Melody Carlson that I've read and look forward to each new book she writes! This was another winner and such a great sI absolutely love every book by Melody Carlson that I've read and look forward to each new book she writes! This was another winner and such a great story! Let me tell you about it.
Emma is such a sweet person and so likeable. She is the main character in this book and I liked her right away. She enjoys the simple things in life and finds joy in the every day things. She is invited to spend Christmas with her friend, Gillian. Gillian is the exact opposite of Emma yet still likeable. Since Emma's parents are in Africa on a mission, Emma has always spend Christmas with Gillian's family. This year she decides she wants to be on her own for Christmas until she finds out that Gillian's familyl is swapping their house in Arizona for one in Colorado. She can't resist experiencing a white Christmas for the first time.
Gillian's family can be a bit annoying at times. They are wealthy and tend to expect others to treat them with respect because of that. There's also a lot of bickering between them, which gets a bit old.
I liked West a lot, too. He is the owner of the house in Colorado and a song writer. This brings he and Emma together as she is a singer/songwriter, too. I like how their relationship is brought about slowly and not rushed. It's sweet seeing their relationship develop.
All in all, I enjoyed this book. I would have liked a bit more Christmassy feel to the story but I loved the characters of Emma and West so much, it made up for the lack of a Christmas feel. I'm giving 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
This was such an interesting book, full of great information that clears up so many things in the Bible that are confusing. Eric does a good job of brThis was such an interesting book, full of great information that clears up so many things in the Bible that are confusing. Eric does a good job of breaking things down and explaining these things.
My favorite part of the book is at the end of each chapter, he gives us the Scriptures and then questions so that we can gain more understanding of what we have just read. I like when an author lets us dig into the Scripture ourselves and doesn't just spoon feed us information. Yes, he gives us the information we need to start our journey of understanding but he helps us to really get into the Scriptures.
There are so many questions answered in this book. If you've ever wondered about something that seems strange or odd in the Bible, you'll most likely find the answer to it in this book. I also like that this book was easy to read and not dry as dust. It was a pure joy to read!
I highly recommend this book as it is very informational. I give it 5 stars....more
This book is so encouraging and lifted my spirits so much. It is full of hope in the Lord and shows us how we can be certain of God's love and comfortThis book is so encouraging and lifted my spirits so much. It is full of hope in the Lord and shows us how we can be certain of God's love and comfort.
I absolutely loved her personal stories throughout and how she found God's love and steadfastness in her life despite the uncertain situations she was in. Just recently, like me, she has had to battle cancer and, again, the Lord provided the strength she needed in her life. This book has given me hope and help as I struggle with my own health and life issues. Each and everything she writes is grounded in Scripture and she never takes a verse out of context to fit what she wants. God's Word is perfect the way it's written and has everything we need and Shelly concentrates on sharing that fact.
I highlighted so many pages of this book! There were so many wonderful paragraphs and sentences that I knew I would want to remember or refer to again. In fact, I plan on re-reading this book again as it was such a joyful book and brought me so much hope!
No matter what you're going through, this book will show you how God is right there with you - your steadfast rock. He has all the certainty we need no matter our circumstances. We need search no farther than God. 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
I usually don't chose to read what I would categorize as romance fiction, however, when I saw the cover of this book and read the synopsis about it, II usually don't chose to read what I would categorize as romance fiction, however, when I saw the cover of this book and read the synopsis about it, I just had to read it and I'm so glad I did!
I loved the main character, Agnes and I related to her so much. I loved her selfless love she has for James and how she was willing to sacrifice her own happiness for his. I was so impressed with her strength of character to move from the home she knew to the Dakota Territory! You have to be strong to do something like this and we see this strength in her throughout the story. Of course, a lot of this strength came from her faith in God and it was so wonderful to see this woven through the book by the author.
James is caring man who follows his own dream and Agnes to the Dakota Territory. I love the scene where he is in the middle of the town and she sees him for the first time in her little town after so long. He is tenacious in his love for her and their friendship is so incredibly special and sweet.
Of course, there had to be a love triangle, which adds to the complexity of the story. Unlike some books where the third part of the triangle is usually not that likeable, Sam totally is. He is kind and always willing to help Agnes with things. Adding him in to the story just made it that much more complex and interesting.
I found myself wholly invested in this story from the first page. I loved the secondary characters and hope we will see them all again as they have stayed with me after reading the book.
There is so much to like about this book! I give it 5 out of 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 story brings Sargent Joe Ashworth and his daughter closeup to a murder. While traveling on the train with his daughter, a woman is killed. We getThis story brings Sargent Joe Ashworth and his daughter closeup to a murder. While traveling on the train with his daughter, a woman is killed. We get to see the interactions of Joe, his family, and Vera more closely in this story.
People are not who they appear to be in this story and it makes solving the crimes more difficult for Vera and her team. Again, I was surprised by who the culprit was and was taken down a lot of twists and turns to get there.
A real page turner! Slightly dark story that keeps you guessing until the end.
I love the character of Inspector Vera Stanhope and all her curiosity fA real page turner! Slightly dark story that keeps you guessing until the end.
I love the character of Inspector Vera Stanhope and all her curiosity for the people involved in the crime. Her mind works amazingly and we are right there with her as she puts the pieces together.
Another book filled with complex people involved in a complex story. Highly recommend to those who love a good mystery!...more
Another great Inspector Vera book. Complex mystery with no idea who was the murderer until the very end. Satisfying ending with all lose threads tied Another great Inspector Vera book. Complex mystery with no idea who was the murderer until the very end. Satisfying ending with all lose threads tied up.
Interesting information about moths - not so much that you're bored, but enough to cause an interest and be intrigued by the subject.
Excellent mystery, with lots of detail, and no knowledge of the culprit until the end.
The main character, Vera, isn't introduced until mid-way througExcellent mystery, with lots of detail, and no knowledge of the culprit until the end.
The main character, Vera, isn't introduced until mid-way through the book but I enjoyed the complexity of this story. The tv series is great but the books even better.
Really enjoyed it and would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good mystery. If you love British mysteries, more the better!...more
As someone who loves studying the Old Testament, I was very excited about this study. It focuses on the 7 feasts and the book of Leviticus. It has beeAs someone who loves studying the Old Testament, I was very excited about this study. It focuses on the 7 feasts and the book of Leviticus. It has been a wonderful study and there's so much to say about it.
First of all, I love how the author takes us slowly through thie study and Scripture so we get all the nuances and the understanding of everything we are reading. I love studies that don't rush me through everything with the idea of saying I finished a study. I want to know everything about what I'm reading and studying so that I can truly understand and apply it to my life.
The 7 feasts that Erin teaches about are:
Passover: Reminds us of our deliverance from death. Feast of Unleavened Bread: Reminds us that we still face the dangerous and permeating death of sin. Feast of First fruits: Celebrates that God gives us His very best: Himself. In return, as an act of worship, we give Him our very best. Feast of Weeks: Reminds us that God never wastes the wait. Feast of Trumpets: Jesus will fulfill the Feast of Trumpets with His triumphant return. Day of Atonement: This day showcase’s God’s elaborate grace. Feast of Booths: Shines the spotlight on God and reminds His children of His character.
Each of these feasts gives us a better understanding of God and Jesus. There is so much important information and Erin helps us to digest each section slowly by asking us to write out certain Scriptures (which always helps me), and answering vital questions about what we've learned. She doesn't leave us wondering but explains everything beautifully and in ways that are very understandable.
I absolutely love this study and I think you will, too. It's such a great study that will open your eyes to the 7 feasts, the Old Testament and Jesus. It's in-depth and totally Biblical, which is so important. I highly recommend this study an give it 5 stars.
*This Bible study was provided to me by Side Door Communications and Moody Publishers. 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
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