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Showing posts from 2015

Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World

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Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World: How One Family Learned That Saying No Can Lead to Life's Biggest Yes is author Kristen Welch's answer to the heavily entitled culture that we currently live in. When I received this book, the first thing I noticed was the absolutely gorgeous cover. It's a very unique and extravagant cover - made from a thick white, textured paper embossed with gold writing. It really caught my attention and made me want to pick it up and read it right away. Like many other Christian parents, I have several children in various age ranges who can really struggle with gratefulness at times. I struggle as a parent with finding the right balance between wanting to give my kids what "everyone else" has, not wanting them to be spoiled, and frankly not being able to afford keeping up with the Joneses. It's hard for kids to understand why they can't have it all, and that's why there's a huge need to teach gratefulness. I apprecia

Change Your Brain Change Your Life

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Dr. Daniel G. Amen, M.D. has published a revised and expanded edition of his New York Times Bestseller, Change Your Brain Change Your Life: The Breakthrough Program for Conquering Anxiety, Depression, Obsessiveness, Lack of Focus, Anger, and Memory Problems. The book is updated and new material has been added since the original book was published in 1998. It's divided into three parts: How Imaging Changes Everything, Know and Heal the Brain Systems That Run Your Life, and The Brain Warrior's Way. The back cover reads: "In this completely revised and updated edition of the breakthrough bestseller, you'll see scientific evidence that your anxiety, depression, anger, obsessiveness, or impulsiveness could be related to how specific structures in your brain work. You're not stuck with the brain you're born with. Renowned neuropsychiatrist Dr. Daniel Amen includes cutting-edge reseach and the latest surprising, effective "brain prescriptions" that can he

The Mountain Midwife

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The Mountain Midwife: A Novel is the first book I've read by Laurie Alice Eakes. The story sounded so interesting and intriguing that I wanted to pick it up and read it right away. The storyline reminded me of Jolina Petersheim's The Midwife, which is one of my all-time favorite books, so I went into it eagerly expecting another page turner. The front cover is absolutely gorgeous and looks super inviting. The back cover reads: "For nearly two hundred years, women in Ashley Tolliver’s family have practiced the art of midwifery in their mountain community. Now she wants to take her skills a step further, but attending medical school means abandoning those women to whom she has dedicated her life, the mountains she loves, and the awakening of her heart. Ashley Tolliver has tended to the women of her small Appalachian community for years. As their midwife, she thinks she has seen it all. Until a young woman gives birth to a baby at Ashley’s home and is abducted just as sh

I'm Happy For You {Sort Of...Not Really}

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I'm Happy For You {Sort Of...Not Really}: Finding Contentment In A Culture Of Comparison by Kay Wills Wyma is a much-needed breath of fresh air for our current culture that measures people's worth on the size of their house, the model of their car, how many likes their Facebook and Instagram posts get, and what clothes they wear. I notice that I've struggled with the problem of contentment and comparison much, much more since Facebook and social media was created: people frame their lives by snapshots of the best moments, the best meals, the best outfits, and more - but no one sees the reality behind the scenes and feels like they don't live up to the false standards. I'm Happy For You is a decisive attack on the culture of comparison. The book description reads: "Is comparison living hijacking your life? Do you find yourself measuring your value against your friend’s house, body, marriage, resume, paycheck, organic garden, or Pinterest-worthy holiday déco

Reframe

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Reframe: From The God We've Made To God With Us is a short little book by Brian Hardin (an ordained minister, record producer, photographer, graphic designer, author, and the voice behind the Daily Audio Bible). It's divided into three sections: Rethink (Rethinking You, Rethinking the Box, Rethinking God), Reframe (Reframing Starvation, Reframing Nourishment), and Restart (Restarting Change, Restarting Everything). I'm always interested in reading books that will help me draw closer to and deepen my relationship with God, so I was intrigued by and wanted to read this book. I'd never heard of Brian Hardin or the Daily Audio Bible before, so this was totally new to me. The book description reads: "Accomplished recording producer Brian Hardin experienced a mediocre Christian faith until one day, he purposed to read the Bible daily. His resolve led to the start of the Daily Audio Bible, which after eight years has had more than 55 million downloads and feeds hundred

The Entitlement Cure

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The Entitlement Cure: Finding Success In Doing Hard Things The Right Way is Dr. John Townsend's latest book. I've read several of Cloud and Townsend's previous books, including Boundaries and Boundaries With Kids, and How People Grow, and loved them. I was super excited when I saw Dr. Townsend had come out with another book (this time on his own) and knew I'd want to read it right away. The book description reads: "Today we live in a culture that says, 'Life should be easy and work well.' This attitude, called entitlement, influences our most important institutions: family, business, church, and government. Its devastating effects contribute to relational problems, work ethic issues, and emotional struggles. It comes down to this: People are not getting to where they want to go, because they don't know how to do life the hard way. Entitlement keeps them from tackling challenges and finding success. But whether readers are struggling with their own se

One More Step

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One More Step: Finding Strength When You Feel Like Giving Up is Rachel Wojo's debut print book (she's previously published two e-books). I'd never heard of Rachel Wojo before, but her book sounded encouraging and I always love a book that's part memoir/part Christian living, so I decided to check it out. Nothing is worse than a self-help book written by someone who's never actually gone through any major trials before, so I was relieved to discover that Rachel was coming from a place of experience - she's lost her mother, had a deeply painful failed first marriage, and has a special needs daughter and all that goes along with that. The back cover reads: "Overcoming obstacles—one step at a time. Life often sends hard things our way: illness, financial struggles, broken relationships, and so many kinds of loss. Sometimes we can’t imagine a way forward. How do we keep going when everything is going wrong? Rachel Wojo has learned that hope rises t

Rest Assured

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Vicki Courtney quickly became one of my new favorite authors when I read her previous book, Move On: When Mercy Meets Your Mess last year. I so appreciated her conversational style, godly wisdom, deep yet simple insights, and her willingness to bare her own soul and life in a very honest and real way. Nothing bothers me more than a book where the author refuses to share their own personal struggles and issues. I don't want to read a book from an author who (pretends to be) perfect, but rather from someone I can relate to and isn't afraid to tell the truth. So when I saw Vicki's newest book, Rest Assured: A Recovery Plan for Weary Souls, I immediately knew I wanted to read it. The back cover reads: "“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28) Women are overcommitted, overconnected, overburdened, and overwhelmed. Their lives are full, but oddly, their souls are empty. They are aching for a bold challenge—one that will

Brave Enough

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Brave Enough: Getting over our fears, flaws, and failures to live bold and free is Nicole Unice's latest book. The first thing that drew me to this book was its beautiful cover. It's extremely appealing and beautifully designed. The second thing that drew me to this book was its title and subject: Brave Enough. I tend to be the opposite of brave: I'm timid, shy, unassuming, and don't like to have attention drawn to myself. I'm always looking for ways to stretch myself a bit and get outside of the box, so I knew this would be a good book for me to read. The book description reads: "Find the courage to be who you are―not who you wish you were. Is fear holding you back from becoming your best self? Does it add stress to your day and keep you up at night? What could be different if you let go and started living brave today? Bravery doesn’t have to mean cliff diving out of your comfort zone. Life is about being brave enough―for yourself, for God, for your task

Lights Out

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Lights Out: A Cyberattack, A Nation Unprepared, Surviving the Aftermath by Ted Koppel is an incredible expose into what will happen if (or more likely, when) a cyberattack takes out the electric grid of the United States. I've been interested in this subject and EMPs since reading Terri Blackstock's Restoration series, so when I saw Koppel's book on the power grid failing I immediately picked it up. I'm not a doomsday sayer or prepper by any means imaginable, but I feel like this is a true threat and problem that the United States needs to address and deal with, since it's such an easy way to cripple our country. The book description reads: "In this tour de force of investigative reporting, Ted Koppel reveals that a major cyberattack on America’s power grid is not only possible but likely, that it would be devastating, and that the United States is shockingly unprepared. Imagine a blackout lasting not days, but weeks or months. Tens of millions of people

We Cannot Be Silent

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We Cannot Be Silent: Speaking truth to a culture redefining sex, marriage, & the very meaning of right & wrong by R. Albert Mohler, Jr. (who is the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is quite possibly one of the most important books I've read this year. In a culture where Christians are being pushed constantly and punished for upholding Biblical beliefs and are told we should keep our beliefs and moral ideologies to ourselves, Dr. Mohler tells us why it's important not to give in to the pressure to remain silent and hide our beliefs about sexuality and moral theology. The book description reads: "Twenty years ago, not one nation on earth had legal same-sex marriage. Now, access to same-sex marriage is increasingly seen as a basic human right. In a matter of less than a generation, western cultures have experienced a moral revolution. Dr. R. Albert Mohler examines how this transformation occurred, revealing the underlying cultural shifts be

Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook

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A couple of weeks ago, I reviewed Pearl Barrett and Serene Allison's new book, Trim Healthy Mama Plan. Today, I'm reviewing their companion cookbook - Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook: Eat Up and Slim Down with More Than 350 Healthy Recipes. The Trim Healthy Mama cookbook is meant to be paired with their Plan book and to give you recipes with which to follow their THM plan. The book description reads: "In their debut cookbook, the Trim Healthy Mama’s share hundreds of delicious, healthy recipes to help readers successfully slim down while eating well. This companion cookbook to the bestselling Trim Healthy Mama Plan is just what readers have been waiting for. It features simple, mouthwatering, recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner—including slow cooker and one-pot meals, hearty soups and salads, omelets and waffles, pizzas, breads and more. No Trim Healthy Mama should be deprived, so there are also favorite snacks, delectable desserts, and the smoothies, sippers and teas

Trim Healthy Mama

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Pearl Barrett and Serene Allison, popular sisters and daughters of Nancy Campbell, founder of Above Rubies, have teamed up to write Trim Healthy Mama Plan: The Easy-Does-It Approach To Vibrant Health & A Slim Waistline. The THM plan, as it is called, promises to cut through all the fads and diets and deliver a new, healthy, sane approach to weight loss, maintenance, and health. The back cover reads: "Forget the Fad Diets, Join the Food Freedom Movement Counting calories is out. All the food groups are in. Becoming trim and healthy doesn't have to be difficult or painstaking anymore. After trying almost every fad diet out there, Serene Allison and Pearl Barrett, creators of the Trim Healthy Mama movement, took matters into their own hands. Through trial and error and much research, they created the TRIM HEALTHY MAMA PLAN, the breakthrough lifestyle program to help readers of all ages and stages get healthy, slim down and keep off the weight once and for all. Base

Hands Free Life

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I was instantly intrigued when I saw Hands Free Life: 9 Habits For Overcoming Distraction, Living Better, & Loving More by Rachel Macy Stafford. I've never read her previous book, Hands Free Mama: A Guide To Putting Down The Phone, Burning The To-Do List, And Letting Go Of Perfection To Grasp What Really Matters!, or read her blog, so I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. However, I feel like life today is just so much media and technology and not enough real life, hand on, relational interaction, so I knew this was a perfect book for me. Hands Free Life is a slim, easily accessible paperback that outlines nine essential principles, or habits to develop: Fill The Spaces, Surrender Control, Build A Foundation, Take The Pressure Off, See What Is Good, Give What Matters, Establish Boundaries, Leave A Legacy, and Change Someone's Story. Sprinkled throughout the chapters are "Hands Free Life Daily Declarations", and at the end of each chapter is a "Han

A Moment Of Weakness

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A Moment Of Weakness is the second book in #1 New York Times best-selling author Karen Kingsbury's Forever Faithful series. I reviewed the previous book, Waiting For Morning, a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it, so I was excited to read and review book two. A Moment Of Weakness was originally published in 2000, but is being reprinted and given an updated cover by Multnomah. I usually enjoy Karen Kingsbury's books immensely - she is an extremely talented writer, and I usually finish reading her books with a spiritual takeaway to apply to my life. They're definitely not "fluff" books. Book two, A Moment Of Weakness, follows characters Jade Conner and Tanner Eastman. The back cover reads: "Had they found each other again after all these years, only to lose everything that matters most? As children, Jade Conner and Tanner Eastman were best friends—until scandal drove them apart. Then, one golden summer, they find each other again. Through endless days the

Deadlock

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Deadlock by DiAnn Mills is the third installment in her FBI: Houston series. Having previously enjoyed the first two books, I was looking forward to reading this one. I love DiAnn Mill's perfect blend of suspense, mystery, action, faith, and romance. Some books advertise as suspense, but are really just a romance novel. I'm not a big romance novel fan, so I appreciate that she keeps the romance light and more in the background. Her writing style is taut, engaging, and keeps me turning the pages. This latest installment follows Special Agents Bethany Sanchez and Thatcher Graves. The book description reads: "Two murders have rocked the city of Houston. Are they the work of a serial killer, or is a copycat trying to get away with murder? That is the question facing Special Agent Bethany Sanchez, who is eager for her new assignment in violent crimes but anxious about meeting her new partner. Special Agent Thatcher Graves once arrested her brother, and he has a reputation

Happiness

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I'm not sure why, but when I ordered Randy Alcorn's latest book, Happiness, I was expecting an average length trade paperback. I was (happily) surprised to receive a huge, 481-page hardcover. This is truly the definitive work on happiness and the Christian life. It's absolutely jam-packed with theology, historical resources, quotes, practical advice, and lots of interesting stories to add a cherry on top. The book is divided into four large sections: Our Compelling Quest For Happiness, The Happiness Of God, The Bible's Actual Words For Happiness, and Understanding And Experiencing Happiness in God. There's also an Introduction and two Appendices, plus exhaustive end notes. The book description reads: "Christians are supposed to be happy. In fact, we are supposed to radiate joy, peace, and contentment that is so unmistakable and so attractive that others are naturally drawn to us because they want what we have. And yet, in today’s culture, the vast majority o

Wicked Women of the Bible

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In the vein of Liz Curtis Higgs' popular series Bad Girls of the Bible, Ann Spangler brings us a fresh take on the genre - Wicked Women of the Bible. I was super excited to read this book. We hear a lot about the men of the Bible, so I love to get a glimpse of the women featured in the Bible to see what lessons I can glean and learn from them as I walk the path of biblical womanhood. The back cover reads: "What can Jezebel, the Bible’s wickedest queen, reveal about God’s holiness and power and even about his sense of humor? What about the Woman at the Well—the one with five husbands and a live-in lover? And what of the prostitute whose tears bathe the feet of Jesus in front of people who despise her? There are also “wicked good” women like Deborah, Ruth, Hannah, Abigail, Esther, Mary, and more. What do their lives tell us about God’s invincible love and his determined plan to save us? In Wicked Women of the Bible Ann Spangler tells the stories of twenty wicked and “wick

Luther and Katharina

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Luther and Katharina: A Novel of Love and Rebellion by Jody Hedlund is an extremely unique book. It's a historical novel, but it's based on the real lives of Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora. Much of the story is made up of historical facts, but it is a novelized account. Historical fiction isn't usually my favorite genre, but this book sounded so intriguing and I don't know much about Martin Luther so I really wanted to read it and learn more about both the Reformation and Martin Luther. The back cover reads: "Katharina von Bora has seen nothing but the inside of cloister walls since she was five. In a daring escape, Katharina finds refuge with Martin Luther and seeks his help to pair her with the noble, wealthy husband she desires. As class tensions and religious conflicts escalate toward the brink of war, Martin Luther believes that each day could be his last and determines he will never take a wife. As the horrors of the bloody Peasant War break out

7 Secrets To An Awesome Marriage

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I make it a point to read as many marriage books as possible, especially Christian-based marriage books, because every marriage can use improvement and I always want to learn as much as I can so I can be the best wife possible. So when I saw 7 Secrets to an Awesome Marriage: Strengthen Your Most Intimate Relationship by Dr. Kim Kimberling (foreward by Craig & Amy Groeschel), I knew it would be a good book to add to my collection. The book description reads: "All of us want an enduring marriage, a beautiful marriage we can believe in. That kind of marriage happens through intimacy. Intimacy requires hard work and a guide. Dr. Kim Kimberling is that guide and this book and its tools will show you how communication and intimacy in marriage can be yours. Kimberling offers insights like connecting every day in spite of what’s in the way, learning how to fight in the right ways, stopping the insanity of doing the same thing over and over even when it isn’t working, and finding

The Rising

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I absolutely love true crime books, and I followed the Petit family story when it was in the news, so when I saw that there had been a book written about Dr. Bill Petit, I knew that I wanted to read it right away. The Rising: Murder, Heartbreak, and the Power of Human Resilience in an American Town by Ryan D'Agostino is a story of incredible heartbreak and tragedy (the details of the Petit family murder are wrenching and gruesome), but it's also a story of a man who's managed to put his life back together and start over instead of just laying down and dying - which he had every right to do! The cover is extremely well done and hauntingly beautiful. The book description reads: "The astonishing story of one man’s recovery in the face of traumatic loss—and a powerful meditation on the resilience of the soul On July 23, 2007, Dr. William Petit suffered an unimaginable horror: Armed strangers broke into his suburban Connecticut home in the middle of the night, bludgeo

The Plain Choice

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The Plain Choice: A True Story of Choosing to Live an Amish Life is Sherry Gore's life memoir. She details how she came from having a troubled childhood, to becoming a Christian, to choosing to live the Amish lifestyle. I was super excited to read this book, because I've always been interested in the Amish and I know that it's extremely rare for any outsider to ever successfully join and be accepted by them. The book description reads: "Raised in a broken family and emotionally overlooked, Sherry Gore grew up without a solid foundation, a prisoner of her own poor choices, and at times without hope. A series of terrible mistakes left her feeling wrecked and alone and a sudden tragedy threw Sherry into an emotional tailspin too powerful to escape. Sherry hangs by a thread, unable to see how she can go on living, until it happens: on a morning of no particular significance, she walks into a church and BAM the truth of Jesus’ forgiving love shatters her world and cle

It's Good To Be Queen

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It's Good to Be Queen: Becoming as Bold, Gracious, and Wise as the Queen of Sheba is the latest offering by prolific author Liz Curtis Higgs. I always enjoy Liz's insightful, honest, and thorough examinations of Bible characters, so I couldn't wait to read her thoughts on the Queen of Sheba. The Queen of Sheba isn't a character I've seen delved into much, so I was excited to learn more about her and see what wisdom could be gleaned from her story. The back cover reads: "Sheba Journeyed Across the Desert with a Caravan of Riches, Only to Find the Greatest Treasure of Them All. So Can You. When it comes to famous queens of the Bible, we know the good one, Queen Esther, and the bad one, Queen Jezebel. Now meet the wise one, the queen of Sheba, who traveled to Jerusalem to test the mind and heart of a king. Her quest for wisdom will surprise you, challenge you, inspire you, change you. This wealthy royal from antiquity will show you how to live boldly, s

The Sea Keeper's Daughters

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The Sea Keeper's Daughters is the third book in Lisa Wingate's A Carolina Heirlooms/A Carolina Chronicles series, following The Prayer Box and The Story Keeper, both of which were excellent. There are also three short stories which I haven't been able to read yet: The Sea Glass Sisters, The Tidewater Sisters, and The Sandcastle Sister. Lisa Wingate's books tend to be hit or miss for me (some I've had to force myself to finish because they were so slow), but this series is definitely a hit for me. The premise of the third book is this: "From modern-day Roanoke Island to the sweeping backdrop of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains and Roosevelt’s WPA folklore writers, past and present intertwine to create an unexpected destiny. Restaurant owner Whitney Monroe is desperate to save her business from a hostile takeover. The inheritance of a decaying Gilded Age hotel on North Carolina’s Outer Banks may provide just the ray of hope she needs. But things at the

Lazarus Awakening DVD Study Pack

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I recently read and reviewed Joanna Weaver's (revised, updated) book, Lazarus Awakening, and loved it - so when I saw there was a companion DVD and study guide pack, I knew right away I wanted to check it out! This package come with a 3-disc DVD package and a companion study guide for the Lazarus Awakening book. The DVDs were beautifully filmed in the Holy Land, which makes this even more special. The product description reads: "Journey to the Tomb of Lazarus…and Hear Jesus Call Your Name Mary worshiped. Martha served. But what did Lazarus do to experience Jesus’s lavish love? Filmed in the Holy Land, this DVD companion to Joanna Weaver’s book Lazarus Awakening explores the incredible truth that Jesus loves us apart from our works or our worthiness. He wants to call us out of our tombs and into friendship with Him. Designed for use with the book and companion study guide, this three-disc DVD Bible study is formatted for both individual and group use, with content

Mirror Images

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Mirror Images is the debut novel of Laurie Norlander. It won the 2012 Women of Faith writing contest, so I figured I'd give it a shot even though I'm often hesitant to try a new author without a recommendation. The premise sounded strong and intriguing, and it's one of my favorite genres - suspense. The book description reads: "They say seeing is believing... What if they’re wrong? That's Maddy's dilemma when she sees her volatile ex-boyfriend at his identical twin's funeral. It's the first of many surprises as Maddy quickly discovers nothing is as it seems in the close-knit community of Churchill, Wisconsin. Despite lingering feelings for Nic, Maddy’s skeptical of claims that his millionaire brother committed suicide. Her suspicions turn to horror when Maddy stumbles across evidence the man was murdered - and Nic may be responsible. Maddy's search for truth plays out against the backdrop of small town politics and a personal struggle with do

Sacred Marriage

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Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas is a fresh look at God's purpose for marriage: holiness rather than happiness. This is an updated, revised version of his classic work which was originally published 15 years ago, in 2000. I've never had the chance to read the original book, although I've always wanted to, so I was excited to read this new, updated release. The book description reads: "Happy is good. Holy is better. Your marriage is more than a sacred covenant with another person. It is a spiritual discipline designed to help you know God better, trust him more fully, and love him more deeply. What if God’s primary intent for your marriage isn’t to make you happy . . . but holy? Sacred Marriage doesn't just offer techniques to make a marriage happier. It does contain practical tools, but what married Christians most need is help in becoming holier husbands and wives. Sacred Marriage offers that help with insights from Scripture, church history, time tested wis

Secrets She Kept

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Secrets She Kept is the first book by Cathy Gohlke I've read. It caught my attention because it blends history, suspense, romance, and more - several of my favorite genres. I especially love World War II era fiction, so it made the book even more interesting. Hannah is on a mission to discover the secrets of her mother's mysterious past, a quest which takes her to another country and relatives she didn't know existed. Secrets She Kept seamlessly blends the past and present and unfurls a satisfying ending. The book description reads: "All her life, Hannah Sterling longed for a close relationship with her estranged mother. Following Lieselotte’s death, Hannah determines to unlock the secrets of her mother’s mysterious past and is shocked to discover a grandfather living in Germany. Thirty years earlier, Lieselotte’s father is quickly ascending the ranks of the Nazi party, and a proper marriage for his daughter could help advance his career. Lieselotte is in love―but

For The Love

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For The Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards is Jen Hatmaker's newest book. I haven't read her most popular book, 7, yet, but I have read her last book, Interrupted, and it was life changing. So I was definitely super excited to get the chance to review For The Love! This book focuses on God's grace - giving it and receiving it. The back cover reads: "The popular writer, blogger, and television personality reveals with humor and style how Jesus' extravagant grace is the key to dealing with life's biggest challenge: people. The majority of our joys, struggles, thrills, and heartbreaks relate to people, beginning first with ourselves and then the people we came from, married, birthed, live by, live for, go to church with, don't like, don't understand, fear, struggle with, compare ourselves to, and judge. People are the best and worst thing about the human life. Jen Hatmaker knows this all too well, and so she reveals how to p

The Curse Of Crow Hollow

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The Curse of Crow Hollow is the first book I've ever read by Billy Coffey. The description sounded extremely intriguing and suspenseful, and I love a good thriller, so I figured I'd give it a shot. I wasn't sure what to expect or what his typical writing style is, but this book definitely blew me away. When it arrived in the mail, I was surprised at how thick it was! I didn't realize it was 400+ pages - that made me even more excited to read it, I love a nice fat book, especially since I read so fast. The Curse of Crow Hollow is set in an old fashioned Southern style town where mysterious, evil things are happening. The back cover reads: "With the “profound sense of Southern spirituality” he is known for (Publishers Weekly), Billy Coffey draws us into a town where good and evil—and myth and reality—intertwine in unexpected ways. Everyone in Crow Hollow knows of Alvaretta Graves, the old widow who lives in the mountain. Many call her a witch; others whisper she

Waiting For Morning

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Waiting For Morning by Karen Kingsbury is a reprint of her 2002 title. It's book one of three in the Forever Faithful trilogy. Book two is A Moment Of Weakness and book three is Halfway To Forever. I enjoy Karen Kingsbury, but haven't read this book yet, so I was excited to get it. I've always enjoyed her blend of drama, romance, and sometimes suspense. This book sounded a bit on the sad side, so I was worried it might be a little too heavy for me. However, although sad, it didn't dwell there and was uplifting as well. The book description reads: "“I’m afraid there’s been a car accident...” As Hannah Ryan waits for her family to return home from a camping trip, she realizes she has everything going for her—a husband other women admire, two charming teenage daughters, and a loving Christian home. As the sunny afternoon turns into twilight, her uneasiness grows along with the shadows. Then a car pulls into Hannah’s driveway, bringing two police officers...and de

Through A Man's Eyes

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Through a Man's Eyes: Helping Women Understand the Visual Nature of Men is Shaunti Feldhahn's latest offering (cowritten with Craig Gross). I've loved many of Shaunti's previous books, including For Women Only, The Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages, and The Good News About Marriage. This book expands upon one of the principles in her earlier work, For Women Only, about the highly visual nature that is ingrained in men. This is a very difficult topic, and had trouble reading it - not because it was dry or unhelpful, but because it stirred up lots of uneasy feelings due to the hard truths that are shared! However, you will ultimately leave the book encouraged and better equipped to pray for and help not only your husband, but your sons. Chapters included are: -What Men See -Why Men Are So Visual -Just Because They Want To Look Doesn't Make Them Jerks -The Internal Outcome of External Attraction -Different Men, Different Draw -Nixing The Knee Jerk An