Book Review | Rest Assured by Vicki Courtney

Rest Assured cover

Where are my weary women? Are any of you reading this review while you’re hidden in the bathroom, trying to get just five minutes of peace? Did you see the cover and are intrigued, but the thought of reading a book right now, just isn’t feasible? I know I’ve got some marathon sprinting moms who can relate. Looking for some quiet, peace and rest, but are unsure how in the world to get it??

ATTENTION:Carve out some time and grab this book. Seriously…use a black Sharpie marker and put it on the calendar. Then, DO NOT LET ANYTHING TAKE YOU AWAY FROM THE KNOWLEDGE YOU WILL GAIN FROM READING THIS BOOK.

Schedules can make us feel overbooked and exhausted. There’s nothing wrong with having one, but as women, when we follow one, sometimes we just keep going. We stretch ourselves to the limit and even after the point of no return, we still press harder through. For what? In managing our businesses, careers, jobs, families, social events and volunteering, we have zero down time for ourselves and have no clue how to rest. The big question is WHY?

This author, Vicki Courtney delves into what it is inside of us that makes us feel we have to be so busy, why we push ourselves when we have no fuel left, and dares us to question where our motives are coming from. The best part? She doesn’t leave us there. She then gives practical advice on how to squash the desire to push to impress and gives biblical wisdom that counters our American mindsets. I loved at the end of the chapters, her “rest stop” which is a series of questions to read and pray over, and then her “intervention” where a nugget of truth is uncovered for application. I am pleading with you to take some time to read this book, and follow what she offers. Take it from someone who used to move moment to moment by a calendar alert, to someone who now silences the notification tab. You can do this. You need to do this.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review | Falling Like Snowflakes by Denise Hunter

falling like snowflakes

This book garners five stars from me!! I loved each delicate moment.

Eden Davis is on the run. She and her son Micah have witnessed the murder of Eden’s husband and Eden knows they are not safe anywhere, as the marshals left to protect them have been murdered as well.

The story begins in a restaurant off of the freeway, where Eden and Micah are having a quick breakfast. After she and her son return to their booth from a bathroom run, they realize a book bag that had all of their cash inside has been stolen! And to make matters worse, the car she’s driving is unreliable and in desperate need of repairs. She is able to make it to a shop to get the work started on it, but has to create new names and identities for herself and Micah.

In need of a job to pay back the shop for the work on her car, and to get back on the road to get to a cabin she’s planned to get to, she stops at a ranch where she meets the Callahans and is able to begin work. Through months of secrecy and trying to maintain her cover while she plans her journey to the cabin, Eden finds herself enjoying the hospitality of everyone at the farm. She is guarded and trying to protect her son, but also begins to feel love like she’s never felt. While Eden determines whether to trust and love again, Beau Callahan is falling for her and Micah.

This story was so well written, and very easy to follow. I loved the characters, the Callahan family, the way you could feel the urgency for Eden’s safety, the intensity of her protection over Micah, and the love that bled through Beau’s interactions with her and her son. It’s a wonderful love story, and one that takes time to build up, but is done with grace and ease. There are no boring lulls, or ends left untied. I highly recommend for a story that reassures your hope in lovable Christian fiction!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher’s BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 (http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html): “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review | Death on Hold: A Prisoner’s Desperate Prayer and the Unlikely Family Who Became God’s Answer by Burton Folsom Jr and Anita Folsom

Death on Hold was the first book I’d ever read that was based on the life of an inmate. Very intense at times, somber and sad at others, but told from the perspective of the one who lived the moments. It’s an amazing story of growth, love, forgiveness and God’s redemption.

Mitch Rutledge made some bad choices after his mother passed and his dad abandoned him and his siblings. He took to the streets and followed the path of drugs, alcohol and gangs. Finding his “family” in the gang worked for a length of time, but eventually landed him in trouble. He made a decision to take a life, and as a result, was found out by the law, and prosecuted.

Mitch’s story is told primarily by Mitch, however he begins to develop relationships with some families outside of prison; people who want to show him hope, the Gospel and love. These families that wrote to him shared their perspectives through this book as well. It’s beautiful to see their hearts and viewpoints during court sessions, meeting Mitch in the “yard” and during their prayers as he had to wait to see if he could get off of death row.

To Mitch, a young man who couldn’t read or write, it took a while to find out what the letter writers were saying, but he began to study English and believe that he had value. Fellow inmates would read him the letters of those who wanted to teach him about Jesus, and as a result, he learned to read and write, and took what he was learning from his friends and the Bible to heart. He ended up becoming repentant, and became a person known in prison for staying neutral and defusing tough situations.

Read this book to learn the story of a man who is rehabilitated, learn about Jesus in a new way, and/or see the work of the Lord behind bars. No one is out of His reach!

Book Review | Everyday Grace: Infusing All Your Relationships with the love of Jesus by Jessica Thompson

Everyday Grace

So, this past year, I’ve been doing some soul searching (aren’t I always?) and Bible reading and it has occurred to me that even though I’m waking up every morning and living my life, sometimes there are still areas I’m struggling. And I’ll even admit that sometimes I don’t allow the Holy Spirit to do what He does best, which is transform me. #imaginethat

I have wonderful relationships, but they could certainly be better.

You may be significantly different from me by color of your hair, skin or eyes, but I’m pretty sure grace is not something any of us are born with. Sure we see children who have compassion for each other, but take their favorite toy away and see if they’re still as gracious. And I’ll admit, sadly, I’ve seen some adults who still have that reaction; faster than you can say “Golden Rule”.

What makes this book so special? There are many books on the topic of grace, loving others, even having the love of Jesus. What made this book stand out to me, and why am I recommending that you take time out of your precious day to read it? Because it’s unlike any other “Christian help book”.

Jessica starts out by addressing what we all need to know: that we are all sinners who need a Savior. One line from her book that struck me (and will resonate with you too) is the following: “We are a performance-based people, which is completely ironic, because our performance every days is far less than perfect. We live in performance-based relationships.” We tend to ask what others can do for us, instead of seeking to meet their needs. From there, she goes right into the truth of our need for a Savior who can meet us in that place, and change us. Once we recognize our need for love and grace, we can accept it with the help of the Holy Spirit and then let Him transform us so we can give those inhuman attributes to those around us.

The other beautiful thing about this book is that she ACTUALLY goes into HOW to give grace in the relationships we tend to have: children, friendships, communities, marriages, families, church families, and coworkers. She doesn’t give step-by-step instructions with bullet points, but provides relevant and Scriptural sound advice on how to deal with our own insecurities, so we can give the best parts of ourselves to others. We can move from “what can you do for me” to “what can I do for you” without batting an eye.

It seemed to me that every word written was necessary in this book; there wasn’t a ton of “filler”. Everything was beneficial to tie the ends together and I think it’s a lovely read, with a powerful message. Do you want to have healthier relationships? It starts with us loving like Christ.

Pick this book up today!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Baker Publishing’s book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 (http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html): “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review | Forgiven: The Amish School Shooting, a Mother’s Love, and a Story of Remarkable Grace by Terri Roberts

forgiven terri roberts

This book was incredible! I started to read it simply because I teach on the topic and struggle of unforgiveness in our lives. A video that I show to my students incorporates the “crazy” forgiveness reaction given to a family whose son murdered multiple children at an Amish school in Pennsylvania. The video has interviews from a pastor in that region, first responders who struggled to understand what happened, and an Amish man who shared that forgiving the family was mandatory in his heart, for himself, but also for the family to heal. The video’s purpose is to get the person watching it to respond or talk out the reasons they agree/disagree with the reactions of those in the video itself. I’ve often been intrigued by this story as it is not a common scenario in our culture today, of those who have been wronged. We see much more and hear more about the injustice, than see the love in peoples’ hearts to forgive.

Reading a first person account from someone whose child murdered other people gave a glimpse into a positive way to move forward from something incredibly tragic. But not only is the mother’s forgiveness significant in this story, it’s the people who were most affected: the other parents whose children were murdered.

Terri doesn’t just share the events of that day, “The Happening” as the Amish refer to it, she also shares history from their family and some events she pieced together that help her cope with how her son could do something so horrible. But the other benefit to reading this book is that she doesn’t stay in the anger or bitterness, but gives Scripture and lessons learned along the way to help others (and herself) continue to surrender the hurt to Jesus.

She is very well-spoken, and hides nothing. It’s a refreshing book on the life of a woman whose life was changed the day her son committed an act of murder, followed by his own suicide. But her strength, encouragement and hope speaks volumes. Her story of forgiveness and love amidst tragedy is a story that will stay with me for a very long time.

When anyone hears of the Amish shooting at Nickel Mines, I pray that the thought brings to mind the powerful aspects of forgiveness, letting go of bitterness, showing love when it’s undeserved, and blessing others through adversity. Please read this book if you struggle with unforgiveness. This mother shares so much of her faith, her thankful spirit, her struggle to understand, and her will to let go through Christ. It’s a great story, and one that I pray keeps getting passed on and on.

Book Review | Love Arrives in Pieces by Betsy St. Amant

This is the follow-up novel to “All’s Fair in Love and Cupcakes” by the same author. I have not read that book, however this author hints back to some valid points in this story, but not too much to make the reader feel like he/she is out of the loop.

What a sweet love story! Stella Varland was a beauty queen who unfortunately went through a divorce, and becomes reunited with a past boyfriend when she begins work on an old rundown theater in her community. The same boyfriend who previously had dated her sister, and broke both of their hearts. In desperate need of healing and mending her brokenness, she exhibits a quiet nature most women have, the ability to hide when necessary.

Without spoiling the beauty of the story, there are people who cross Stella’s path who give her material pieces for a project she is working on, and sometimes nonmaterial nuggets for her heart to heal/mend. The mosaic that results is not only for her growth and healing, but also for those around her.

I loved the subtle romance, the godly nature of Chase Taylor longing to protect and help Stella, and the humor between Stella, her sister Kat and their mother. The book is witty, flows nicely, and is not without conflict, but it definitely has a feel good ending. I truly loved every page.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers (http://booklookbloggers.com) book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 (http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html): “Guides Concerning Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review | Murder Freshly Baked by Vannetta Chapman

This was my first Amish mystery. It is the third installment for the Amish Village Mystery series written by Vannetta Chapman, so I wasn’t previously acquainted with the characters or scenarios that presented themselves. However, the author did a good job of linking the storylines. If you missed the previous solved mysteries in the town of Artisan Village in Middlebury, Indiana, the majority of the characters have resurfaced, and this time, to solve whoever is tainting the pies in town!

After Ryan Duvall crosses the finish line, he falls down dead! Who would do such a thing? Once it is established that it was poison, the evidence seems to begin to point to a prominent member of the town, but Amber Bowman refuses to believe it. There are a few townspeople to choose from, but see if you can narrow it down to the actual culprit.

I enjoyed the storyline, though it seemed to take some time for the actual mystery to develop. The murder was within the first few pages, however getting clues and following those responsible took longer than I thought was necessary. That is the only reason that I have given an average review for this book.

I loved the character Preston, a veteran who struggled with PTSD and his beloved pooch, Mocha, who helped him get through many of his episodes.

If you love simple mysteries set in a small Amish village, Vannetta Chapman is your author. I would read another story by her any day!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers (http://booklookbloggers.com) book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 (http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html): “Guides Concerning Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review | I’m Happy for you (Sort Of…Not Really) by Kay Wills Wyma

I loved this book! Kay Wills Wyma has such a way with words. The topic is one that women everywhere can relate to, and I love the humor she infuses into her stories. In answering a question that makes most of us squirm, she really points us in the right direction of how to recognize when we are in the business of comparison, but also what it says about us, and how to deal with our insecurities that are motivated by our socially driven culture in America.

One of the stories she shared was about having women over in her home for bible study, and then all of the sudden getting consumed with the idea that her girlfriend Alyssa opened the fridge and found whatever shape the lettuce was in that had been placed in a towel from possibly two weeks prior! I could not stop laughing. I’ve had similar moments when I’ve realized there were chicken parts in the garbage and a friend just lifted the lid!

If you’ve not had that type of panic moment in the presence of other women, you may not get the gist of this book, but there are so many other examples she illustrates that I’m sure you’ll connect with.

I highly recommend this book for the pure joy of laughing at the parts of ourselves we wish we didn’t have. But I also recommend reading it to see how she redirects us back to the arms of our Father for comfort and contentment.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher’s Blogging for Books book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 (http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html): “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review | The Smart Stepfamily Marriage: Keys to Success in the Blended Family by Ron L. Deal and David H. Olson

When I was on my honeymoon, I read a book by Ron L. Deal, called The Smart Stepmom. It was co-written with Laura Petherbridge, and it illuminated a lot of things I hadn’t thought about before crossing the aisle to wedded bliss. I appreciate Ron L. Deal’s insight on stepfamilies. He’s a credible therapist with years of experience and success at helping families cope, as well as being a well known author on the topic of blending stepfamilies. Recently he’s co-written a book with David Olsen, founder of PREPARE/ENRICH, to give necessary tools to help couples who struggle as they try to merge preexisting families.

This new book can be added to his other successful works when it comes to pointing couples in the right direction and giving practical advice. This book comes equipped with some in-depth situations and solutions for those situations that normally wouldn’t have favorable outcomes. He also points readers to a tool created by David Olson, The Couple Checkup. If couples take the time to answer the questions truthfully, it can give a breakdown of healthy and unhealthy areas in their marriage that they can tackle together. The Couple Checkup is a report designed to address the following key areas: Communication, Conflict Resolution, Financial Management, Relationship Roles, Affection and Sexual Relationship, Couple Closeness and Flexibility, Family Closeness and Flexibility and Personality.

I recommend taking the test at any stage of your stepfamily duration. Once you know about yourself, and your spouse, you have some key areas to strategize over. Also, the book addresses many of these areas, to directly relate to the checkup. I think it’s a great resource for anyone who has chosen to remarry, marry someone with children, has questions about stepfamilies, is looking for meaningful resources to help with relational issues, and needs godly wisdom in seeking resolution. You will not be disappointed.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Bethany House book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review | Anything: The Prayer that Unlocked my God and my Soul by Jennie Allen

“God, we will do anything. Anything.”

This is the first book that I’ve reviewed by author Jennie Allen. She has become quite a prominent face in the Christian community and is known for her boldness of faith, ability to create meaningful bible study materials, and being the founder of the IF:Gathering movement. For more, check this link: IF:Gathering.

When I chose to read this book, I was excited, simply because the tagline states that this prayer to the Lord for anything “unlocked [her] God and her soul”. It sounded like it would push me to pray differently, and if you’re a typical overwhelmed believer in our day and age, you may want that extra push too!

She began by giving a background of her life growing up, learning about Jesus, and eventually she began to question a few things. She would wrestle with the idea of Jesus, if what He taught was true, if He was who He said He is… haven’t we all been there?

Packed with Bible verses, her interpretation and how the verses influenced her decision for Christ and thereafter, Jennie shares many deep stories of the steps she took to be bolder in her faith, the ways that God came through for her and her family, the directions that they went after praying this prayer and the lack of hesitation she now has when she is asked by our Lord to be obedient.

I don’t want to reveal any of it here. Truly, I don’t, because as a reader into this motivational but heartwarming story, I don’t want to take away any of her impact. It’s best to be heard from her.

This is a great book for those who seek to be jump-started in their faith. If you’re unsure of the Lord and His presence in your life, read this book. Jennie comes to many amazing conclusions based on Scripture that can be used to help point you to the One who is worthy of accomplishing ANYTHING in your life.