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.

Happily Ever Laughter by Ken Davis: Book Review

I received a copy of Happily Ever Laughter: Discovering the lighter side of marriage by Ken Davis from Tyndale House Publishers as a complimentary copy to review. The opinions listed below are mine and are honest.

Are you looking for a wonderful book to bring some laughter back into your marriage? Have you forgotten how to laugh about certain situations you and your spouse encounter? This book is a wonderful read to encourage you and to bring a smile to your face. The book features stories from Ken Davis, Chonda Pierce, Kendra Smiley, and many others. I just love books that tell true life stories from people who have gone through things and can share them with others. Being married almost 7 years, I enjoyed reading some of the stories from people who have been married longer. Many of them tell of their wedding day and thinking back to the beginning of their marriage which I really enjoyed. Happily Ever Laughter truly is a great and wonderful book to encourage us all in the walk of marriage. It reminded me to find the humorous side of every situation and just to laugh with your spouse. I would recommend this book to anyone who is about to get married, newlyweds, or to those married 50 or more years. It is a great book for all seasons of life and I know I will read it again and again just to remind me to LAUGH!!

Plan B by Pete Wilson- Book Review

I received Plan B by Pete Wilson as a complimentary copy from Booksneeze as part of their Book Review program. I was very excited to receive and read this book. We all have dreams and plans for our lives and often times they are not God's plans for us. These are what Pete Wilson calls our Plan B's. He asks the question "What do you do when God doesn't show up the way you thought He would?" I loved the way Pete writes the book as if he is in conversation with you. He brings humor and laughter with real life stories and situations to make his points relate to you. He also uses Bible stories about people in the Bible that went through the same things I am going through today. He makes their stories come to life and make them relevant to us today. I could so relate to this book because he talks a lot about one Plan B in life for him and his wife was when she had a miscarriage. I have also experienced this and felt I could relate to Pete and what he had to say about how we as Christians need to look to God during our Plan B's and trust in Him. I will recommend this book to family and friends who are struggling in finding God in the midst of their own Plan B's in life.

I recieved this book as a complimentary copy from Booksneeze and the opinions are my honest thoughts on the book.

Review of Patches and Leif by Charles R. Abbott

I absolutely LOVE autumn and how the leaves begin to fall and make everything a wonderful world of orange, yellow, and red. My children also love autumn so I was so glad to receive a copy of this adorable book from Dorrance Publishing. Patches and Leif by Charles R. Abbott is a wonderful story about Patches, the farmer's favorite scarecrow and the wonderful job he does protecting the crop. One windy day Patches meets a new friend, Leif. Leif is a fall leaf that has fallen from his tree, but instead of falling to the ground, he floats around to different places. What I love most is Leif lands in the window of a school so the story actually tells the child the ABCs and how to count to 10. Also, Leif hears the children telling what different sounds the animals make. I love that this story teaches my children in a fun way and also that Patches and Leif are now best friends. You can buy this book from Dorrance Publishing here.

I receive this copy complimentary from Dorrance Publishing as part of their book review team. The opinions are mine and are honest.

Book Review: Captivating, Revised Edition by John and Stasi Eldredge

I recently received the revised and expanded edition of Captivating from http://www.booksneeze.com/ for a book review. The opinions below are my honest opinion and I received the book as a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson Publishing.

I have wanted to read this book since it came out several years ago, but never did get around to it. I was thrilled to receive this copy from Booksneeze to review and this is also the revised and expanded edition. Captivating is a wonderfully written book about us as women in today's society. It's about how our dreams as little girls and even as women have been destroyed or wounded and how the Lord wants to revive those dreams in our hearts and make us Captivating. It's about how God pursues our hearts as women and is very encouraging to any girl or woman seeking to find purpose in her everyday life.

I personally loved this book. As a stay at home mom, I often times get bogged down in day to day chores and taking care of the home and children that I forget about my dreams and my soul. Captivating made me realize I am worth far more than just cleaning house, making meals, and changing diapers. My God wants to pursue me and my life and heart to make me into a Captivating woman for Him. I would highly recommend this book to any of the women at my church, in my family, or in my playgroup. Wonderful book that I will read again and again.

Book Review: If I Could Ask God Anything by Kathryn Slattery

In the book, If I Could Ask God Anything by Kathryn Slattery I found answers to so many questions that my four year old has asked me. Kathryn writes in a way that children can understand. Questions such as "Does God ever sleep?" and "Why did Jesus do Miracles?" are among many others that my daughter wanted to know about. Sometimes I find it hard to answer these questions with words that my child can understand. This book is the answer for any parent, Sunday School teacher, or Children's Ministry leader. Children are so curious all the time and since my daughter was saved recently she asks many questions. I love that this book can help me answer her questions and show her in the Bible were to find the true answers. Kathryn gives many scripture references throught each answer to help show your children what the Bible says about their questions. This book gives me confidence in knowing I am anwering my child in a Biblical way by showing me where in the Bible to answer their questions.

This book was provided as a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson Publishing as part of a Booksneeze review. The opinions are mine and mine only.