Book Review: "Captured by Grace" by Dr. David Jeremiah

I recently read "Captured by Grace" by Dr. David Jeremiah as part of the Booksneeze book review team. I picked the book because I thought a book about God's grace would be a wonderful read and I was right. Dr. David Jeremiah digs into the lives of ex-slave trader turned preacher, John Newton and the apostle Paul. John Newton also penned the famous hymn "Amazing Grace." Each chapter is divided using a line from this famous and wonderful hymn. This book is a wonderful reminder to us all of how God's grace is the only way we are saved from our past and our sins. Dr. David Jeremiah writes in a way that makes you understand and truly see our need for God's grace and also how we should be so thankful for it. It will make you think differently when you hear that song again and you will sing it with a new song in your heart. I can't wait to pass this book along to someone else to read and enjoy.

I received this book as a free complimentary copy in return for my opinion and review. The opinions above are mine and are honest.

A Book Review: "Still House Pond" by Jan Watson

In the novel "Still House Pond" by Jan Watson, the young Lilly Corbett lives a life that is beyond her years. She is busy helping her mother, Copper, with her younger siblings while Copper is out helping mothers birth babies. Lilly just wants to live the life that any young girl her age would want which is one of playing and spending time with her friends instead of watching her siblings. Her Aunt Alice sends a letter asking Lilly to come to the city of Lexington to visit. Copper is not thrilled with the idea at all and feels Lilly is not ready. Most of all Copper is not ready to let her little girl go. Copper and her husband, John, do let her go to Lexington and later hear that her train has crashed. This is a story of letting go and letting your children move on in life even if you are not ready quite yet. I normally do not tend to read historical setting fiction, but this one caught my attention in Jan's interesting characters she created. Also, I used to work as a nurse with babies and mothers in the nursery so I could easily relate to the medical situations in the book. This is a great read and I would recommend it to anyone.

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. The opinions listed are mine and are honest.

Resurrection in May by Lisa Samson: A Book Review

"Resurrection in May" by Lisa Samson tells the story of May Seymour who lived a materialistic and complex life; however, after graduating from college all of that changes for her when she is rescued from the side of the road by Claudius, a sweet and simple old farmer. He welcomes her into her home and she soon leaves to go to Rwanda on a missions trip. Unfortunately for May, the genocide is occurring while she is there and she finds herself witnessing brutality she never could have imagined. She returns to Claudius' farm where she lives a very simple farm life. Later she reconnects with an old flame, Eli who is now on death row. She helps him and he helps her realize that they need to forget whats in the past and move on. The story is one of tragedy, forgiveness, hope, and faith. I had never read any of Lisa Samson's work, but I was truly captured by this story. There are some intense and emotional scenes during the genocide, but Lisa writes it as if you're there and experiencing the hurt that May did. I would recommend this book to anyone with a love for reading good Christian fiction.

I received this book free as part of the Booksneeze book review team. All the opinions listed are mine and are honest.

"A Time to Dance" Book Review

I received "A Time to Dance" by Karen Kingsbury as a complimentary copy as part of the Booksneeze book reveiw program. The opinions listed below are my honest opinion of the book.

First of all, I love Karen Kingsbury so I was so excited to read another one of her books. "A Time to Dance" is part of the Timeless Love Series. The story is about John and Abby Reynolds who appear to have it all together. He is the high school football coach she is a writer and they have three wonderful children. Their lives seem to be perfect and admired by all; however, they are hiding the fact that they are near divorce. Both are guilty of flirting with disaster with co-workers, but neither will admit their fault in their failing marriage. As they are about to announce their divorce to their children, their oldest daughter, Nicole shares of her upcoming wedding. John and Abby decide to put off telling their children about their plans to divorce until the wedding is over. Through this time, they rediscover what made them fall in love to begin with. This is a wonderful story of love, commitment, and God's faithfulness. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a great read.

Under the Big, Blue Sea: Book Review

I received "Under the Big, Blue Sea" by Aunt T published by Dorrance Publishing as part of their book review team. I received this book as a complimentary copy and the opinions listed below are my honest opinion of the book.

First of all the author, Aunt T, gets her nickname from her niece and nephew and she is a teacher who enjoys writing educational books for parents to share with their children. The book is about what sea animals and creatures you would see in the sea. The photographs appear to be actual photographs someone took in various places. I believe this book is a great learning tool for kids age 4 and up. It would be a great companion guide if visiting an aquarium with your child. The only negative thing was that it had several great pages and then at the end of the book there were 13 blank white pages which I didn't understand. My daughter loved it though because she tried to draw pictures of the sea animals we had just read about. Overall, a great book!!

Ransomed Dreams: Book Review

I received the book "Ransomed Dreams" by Sally John as a free complimentary copy from Tyndale House Publishers as part of their book review program. The opinions listed below are my honest opinions of this book.

"Ransomed Dreams" by Sally John is a wonderful story about Sheridan Montgomery and the twists and turns her life seems to take. This is a story of forgiveness and love and is an example for us all to follow. Sheridan's husband, Eliot is the U.S. ambassador to Venezuela and Sheridan has dreams of helping underprivileged women. When Eliot is crippled from an assassination attempt her life is turned upside down. They must move to a small Mexican village to save their lives. An unexpected visitor shows up, Luke, to tell Sheridan of her father's heart attack and also some of his past. This all causes Sheridan to return to Chicago and search for the truth about her father's past and along the way she uncovers other things in her life as well.

This is a great read and a wonderfully written story. I could not put this book down and Sally John has a way of capturing the reader and making you feel part of the story. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a great summer read.

The Heart Mender: Review and Giveaway

I received "The Heart Mender: A Story of Second Chances" by Andy Andrews free from the Booksneeze book review program. The opinions listed below are mine and are honest reviews of the book.

Andy Andrews is a New York Times bestselling author and this book is a reprint of the book "Island of Saints." This book also has a Reader's guide in the back for further discussion of the book which is great especially if you belong to a book club. "The Heart Mender" is a wonderful story of forgiveness and faith. It starts with the author finding a container while digging up a myrtle tree at his home. Inside he finds many fascinating artifacts from WWII. He goes on to mix fact with fiction to tell a wonderful story of an American woman, Helen and a German soldier, Josef who seem like the most unlikely pair you would ever put together. Through this story you learn what true forgiveness is all about. God's forgiveness and love for us is unconditional and this story shows how two people forgave as God forgives.

I have never been into reading history stories or books, but when I read the plot of this book I just had to read it. I was so glad I did. This story taught me things about WWII I never knew and also entwined a wonderful love story of forgiveness into all the facts. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read. Booksneeze and Thomas Nelson Publishers have provided me with another copy of "The Heart Mender" to give away to one of my readers. Just leave a comment below and tell me one of your favorite books with your email address. The giveaway will close on Monday, June 21st at 2pm Central Time. Thanks and good luck.