It Had to be You by Susan May Warren

BOOK SUMMARY:

Eden Christiansen never imagined her role as her younger brother Owen’s cheerleader would keep her on the sidelines of her own life. Sure, it feels good to be needed, but looking after the reckless NHL rookie leaves little time for Eden to focus on her own career. She dreamed of making a name for herself as a reporter, but is stuck writing obits—and starting to fear she doesn’t have the chops to land a major story. If only someone would step up to mentor Owen . . . but she knows better than to expect help from team veteran and bad-boy enforcer Jace Jacobsen.

Jace has built his career on the infamous reputation of his aggressive behavior—on and off the ice. Now at a crossroads about his future in hockey, that reputation has him trapped. And the guilt-trip he’s getting from Eden Christiansen isn’t making things any easier. But when Owen’s carelessness leads to a career-threatening injury and Eden stumbles upon a story that could be her big break, she and Jace are thrown together . . . and begin to wonder if they belong on the same team after all.

MY THOUGHTS:

I have loved every book of Susan May Warren's that I have loved. This book was no different. This is Book 2 of the Christiansen Family Series. I love how the author draws you in to the characters lives and you become part of the story.  Each character had a well thought out story and the interaction between them was real and down to earth. I loved watching Eden as she grew from being an over-protective sister to the realization that she deserved her own live also.

Watching her learn to trust Jace was so real. It can be hard to put away the past and hope for a better future, but we see a relationship of truth and forgiveness that everyone can relate to in some way.

The addition of the mystery of John Doe, and Jace's relationship with Sam and his daughter Maddy, only make the book more genuine in the way the characters dealt with tragedy and the unknown. While learning to rely on their faith, they progress through stages easily understood by others.

This is a book where you will love the journey just as much as the ending.  You don't want to miss this story! You will find the addition of a prequel and more included. There are some great discussion questions which would be great for a book club.

Disclosure: I received a print copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Sky without Stars by Linda S. Clare

Book Summary:

Frankie Chasing Bear is caught between cultures. She wants to raise her son Harold to revere his Lakota heritage, but she knows he will need to learn the white man’s ways to succeed. After the untimely death of her husband, Frankie joins the U.S. Government’s Relocation Program and moves to Arizona. There she begins sewing a Lakota Star pattern quilt for Harold with tribal wisdom sung, sewn, and prayed into it.

A bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars, but neither the quilt—nor her new life—comes easily to Frankie. Nick Vandergriff, for instance, is the last man Frankie wants to trust. He’s half-Lakota but Christian, and Frankie can see no good coming from that faith after her own parents were forced to convert at an Indian school. Can Nick convince Frankie that white men and Christians aren’t all bad? And will Frankie learn that love is the most important ingredient—for her son’s quilt and life itself?

MY THOUGHTS:

A Sky without Stars is part of the Quilts of Love series. I enjoyed following the story of Frankie and learning about her heritage. Trying to stay connected in a world where it isn't as easily accepted can be difficult. I thought the author did an amazing job of sharing a deep insight into the life of Frankie and her son Harold. It read as very realistic. I felt along with her as the story developed.
The relationship between Frankie and Nick was honest and mature. There were so many aspects of the story where they appeared as just a real couple dealing with life together. In my opinion, this allowed me to really connect with the characters.
This is a book worth reading! I look forward to reading more books within this series.

Disclosure: I received a print copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own and may differ from others.

Scraps of Evidence by Barbara Cameron

BOOK SUMMARY:

Tess has taken some ribbing from her fellow officer, Logan,for her quilting hobby. He finds it hard to align the brisk professional officer he patrols with during the day with the one who quilts in her off-time. Besides, he’s been trying to get to know her better and he’d like to be seeing her during those couple nights a week she spends with her quilting guild.

Then one afternoon Tess and Logan visit her aunt in the nursing home and she acts agitated when Tess covers her with the story quilt. Aunt Susan seems to be communicating a message to them about Tess’s uncle. There’s a story behind this quilt, they realize, one that may lead them to a serial killer. Will they have a chance to have a future together or will the killer choose Tess for his next victim before they find him?

MY THOUGHTS:

Scraps of Evidence is part of the Quilts of Love series. This was a great story from beginning to end. I loved watching the characters grow and develop. Watching Tess and Logan learn to relate and trust each other as partners was written in such a way that I felt I was on the journey with them.  The book was really not what I expected, it was so much more. As they are searching for a serial killer, I found myself intrigued and working at solving the mystery myself.  I had a hard time putting it down, and at the same time finding myself not sure I could read it late in the night when it was so quiet. :)

The story behind the story regarding Tess and her friend who was murdered by the serial killer was a refreshing look at friendship. Although most of what we see was in direct relation to the murder, we can see a side of it which shows what true friendship is. 

Showing the different sides to all the characters and the different relationships mixed in created a  beautifully written story I'm sure you will love to read! 

You can find the book for yourself at Amazon.com

Disclosure: I received a print copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own and may differ from others.

Friend Me by John Faubion

Book Summary:

When a lonely wife and her frustrated husband each secretly pursue companionship online, neither dreams that a real woman is behind their virtual creations, threatening their marriage—and their lives.

Scott and Rachel’s marriage is on the brink of disaster. Scott, a businessman with a high-pressure job, just wants Rachel to understand him and accept his flaws. Rachel is a lonely housewife, desperate for attention and friendship. So she decides to create a virtual friend online, unaware that Scott is doing the exact same thing. As Rachel desperately tries to re-create a friendship with a friend who has passed, Scott becomes unfaithful and is torn between the love for his wife and the perfection of his cyber-girlfriend. But neither realizes that there’s a much larger problem looming…

Behind both of their online creations is Melissa, a woman who is brilliant—and totally insane. Masquerading as both friend and lover, Melissa programmed a search parameter into the virtual friend software to find her perfect man, but along the way she forgot to specify his marriage status. And Scott is her ideal match. Now Melissa is determined to have it all—Scott, his family, and Rachel’s life.

As Melissa grows bolder and her online manipulations transition into the real world, Scott and Rachel figure out they are being played. Now it’s a race against time as Scott and Rachel fight to save their marriage, and their lives, before it’s too late.

In today’s digital age, the Internet presents all kinds of opportunities to test our personal boundaries, and this exciting and suspenseful story raises important questions about the ethics of virtual relationships. Friend Me will open your eyes to a new—and terrifying—moral dimensions and how they play out in the real world.

My thoughts:

I have to say, this book was not at all what I expected! Right from the beginning we are lead on a suspenseful journey which leads to places you never could imagine. That is the sign of a great mystery book!  What starts out as just a fun thing for Rachel to "bring back" a friend to talk to, leads to Scott's affair with an online girl, but that is just the start. Watching Rachel and Scott struggle in their marriage was difficult, and very relatable. When they learn of the fatal attraction going on behind the scenes, I found myself intrigued in how this would play out. I couldn't put the book down, it kept me on my toes throughout the entire story!

The author was very good at designing a story based from a woman's perspective and adding the needed suspense. It was very well written, hard to believe it's his first novel published! I can't wait for more of his books! 

You can find the book for yourself here on amazon.com

Disclosure: I received a print copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own and may differ from others.

Hopeful by Shelley Shepard Gray

Book Summary:

In the Amish town of Sugarcreek, love comes in many forms. But will it come at all for Miriam?

Miriam Zehr has worked at the Sugarcreek Inn longer than she cares to admit. The restaurant is a favorite of town residents as well as the many tourists who come to taste the famous Amish fare. Though she always tries to have a smile for every customer, deep down Miriam knows something’s missing: a family of her own.

Miriam has never felt particularly beautiful, especially because she’s always been a bit heavier than other girls her age. When Junior, the man she’s pined for all her life, suddenly seeks her out, she’s thrilled to be noticed . . . until she realizes he’s only asking her to help get the attention of Mary Kathryn Hershberger, her pretty friend.

If Miriam helps Junior court Mary Kathryn, she’ll get to spend a lot of time with him, but she might lose him in the process. Are these few stolen moments worth a lifetime of sacrifice? Is Miriam right to even hope for the life she dreams of?

My Thoughts:

This is Book 1 in the new Return to Sugarcreek series. I am already looking forward to Book 2. What I loved most about this book was the truths it told, and followed a story everyone can relate to in some way. 

What would you do if the person you loved wanted you to help them find love with someone else? Although not everyone will experience this, I'm sure most people can relate to "the one that got away".  It was encouraging to see how Miriam handled herself in this situation and watch how she put others ahead of herself. Now, I'm not sure I could have done what she did, but I admired the Christ like way she treated others. 

The relationships between Miriam and Junior and Mary Kathryn were shown in a deep and creative way. I felt drawn in to the story and became a part of it myself. The characters were brought to life in unique and creative ways which allow the reader to really relate to each one.

You can find this book for yourself at amazon.com. 

Disclosure: I received a print copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own and may differ from others

A Promise Kept By Robin Lee Hatcher

Book Description:

God was going to save her marriage, Allison was sure of it. But neither her husband nor her marriage had been saved.

What had become of His promise?

Tony Kavanagh had been Allison’s dream-come-true. They were in love within days, engaged within weeks, married and pregnant within a year. Her cup bubbled over with joy . . . but years later, that joy had been extinguished by unexpected trials.

The day Allison issued her husband an ultimatum, she thought it might save him. She never expected he would actually leave. She was certain God had promised to heal; it was clear that she'd misunderstood.

Now, living in the quiet mountain cabin she inherited from her single, self-reliant Great Aunt Emma, Allison must come to terms with her grief and figure out how to adapt to small town life. But when she finds a wedding dress and a collection of journals in Emma’s attic, a portrait of her aunt emerges that takes Allison completely by surprise: a portrait of a heartbroken woman surprisingly like herself.

As Allison reads the incredible story of Emma’s life in the 1920s and 1930s, she is forced to ask a difficult question: Does she really surrender every piece of her life to the Lord?

Drawing from her own heart-wrenching story of redemption, A Promise Kept is Robin Lee Hatcher’s emotionally charged thanksgiving to a God who answers prayers—in His own time and His own ways.

My Thoughts:

This was both an exciting book, and an emotional journey.  As we see Allison working to restore her relationship with God and learn to move on from her divorce, we also gain the insight of her past married life with Tony. I feel that by moving back and forth between present and past, we  can learn to relate to each character better knowing where they came from. Not all books that do this are able to pull it off in a natural way, but I was thrilled with how it works. 

I loved hearing Emma's life through the journals. I'm sure we all have times when we wish we knew what went on in our family past. I felt Emma's character was well written and was easy to connect with even though she had already passed on when the book begins.

This is a great story of forgiveness, love and second chances. You will not read this without emotion.

You can find this book on AMAZON. 

You can learn more about the author and her other amazing stories on her WEBSITE.

Disclosure: I received a free print copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am  part of the book sneeze review team. My reviews are my own opinion and may differ from others.

Unclaimed Legacy by Deborah Heal

Book Summary: (from amazon)


"I call it time-surfing," Abby said. "It's like being there,
except no one can see or hear us."

"Whatever you call it," John said, "that was crazy--what we just did.
Beyond realistic. I mean, I was in that guy's head
and knew everything he was thinking."

Abby's weird computer program is working again. And it comes
in handy when she and her friends agree to help the Old Dears with their family
tree. 

Except Abby and John learn more about one of the ladies'
ancestors than they ever wanted to know. Convicted in 1871 of murder and arson,
Reuben Buchanan is a blight on the family's reputation. But was he really
guilty? Abby and John must get inside the mind of a murderer to find out. 

And while they're rummaging around in the Old Dears' family
history, they also find Nathan Buchanan, a heroic relative connected to the
Lewis and Clark Expedition--and a legacy waiting to be reclaimed. But the most important discovery they make is that God's
promise to bless a thousand generations is true.


My Thoughts:

Unclaimed Legacy is book 2 in the Time and Again series. We are again given the amazing opportunity to join the adventures of Abby and John, and Merri as they time surf to discover and help someone out. I love the characters in the story and how they relate to each other. I especially love seeing the way Abby and Merri have grown in trust and acceptance. Abby creates a safe place for Merri during the hard times with her Dad, and Merri knows she can trust Abby with the truth. At this point I feel myself connected to each character and invested in their relationships. I loved seeing Eulah and Beulah and their story. They are quite the characters and entertaining to watch throughout the book. Each person comes to find themselves in situations where there might be struggles, but they find encouragement in the fact that they can put their trust in God to carry them through.

Again, as with Time and Again, I had an extremely difficult time putting the book down. That to me is the sign of a perfect book,and one I want to share with others and to read myself many times. I'm getting ready to read book 3 now. I can't wait, and I'm anticipating more sleepless nights ahead!

Disclosure: I received a print copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own, and may differ from others.

To Know You by Shannon Ethridge **with a great giveaway!

Book Description courtesy of amazon.com

JuliaWhittaker’s rocky past yielded two daughters, both given up for adoption asinfants. Now she must find them to try to save her son.

Julia and Matt Whittaker’s son hasbeaten the odds for thirteen years only to have the odds—and his liver—crashprecipitously. The only hope for his survival is a “living liver” transplant,but the transplant list is long and Dillon’s time is short. His two olderhalf-sisters, born eighteen months apart to two different fathers, offer hisonly hope for survival.

But can Julia ask a youngwoman—someone she surrendered to strangers long ago and has never spokenwith—to make such a sacrifice to save a brother she’s never known? Can shemuster the courage to journey back into a shame-filled season of her life, faceher choices and their consequences, and find any hope of healing?

And what if she discovers in her owndaughters’ lives that a history of foolish choices threatens to repeat itself? Juliaknows she’s probably embarking on a fool’s errand—searching for the daughtersshe abandoned only now that she needs something from them. But love compelsJulia to take this journey. Can grace and forgiveness compel her daughters tojoin her?

In To Know You, ShannonEthridge and Kathryn Mackel explore how the past creates the present . . . andhow even the most shattered lives can be redeemed.

My Thoughts: 

I loved this story. As we follow the characters on the journey of love, forgiveness and ultimately sacrifice, we learn so much that can be applied to our lives. The depth of the storyline and the way the author takes us back in time to the beginning of the story is incredible. It is well written and will keep your attention the entire time. I felt completely a part of the story. I kept wondering who, if anyone, would be a match for Dillon. I kept changing my mind on what I thought would happen and was pleasantly surprised at the end. 

It was interesting to see how Julia related to her daughters in different ways and through different struggles. It portrayed a natural and realistic journey into their relationships.

We find out how importatnt life is, and how life-altering forgiveness and sacrifice are. There is no way you can read this book adn not be affected in some way.

This is a book for the must read list! I will be recommending it to everyone I know. The reading group discussion questions at the end are great, and would be fun conversation starters for a book club. 

You can find out more about the author at http://www.shannonethridge.com 

Shannon Ethridge is celebrating the release of  To Know You (co-written by Kathryn Mackel), by giving away a $100 gift certificate to Lisa Leonard Designs and a personal coaching session, as well as throwing a Facebook Author Chat Party!

One winner will receive:

• A $100 gift certificate to Lisa Leonard Designs
• To Know You by Shannon Ethridge

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 19th. Winner will be announced at the "To Know You" Facebook Author Chat Party on the 19th. Connect with Shannon and friends for an encouraging evening of fun chat, book club discussion, giveaways, and a chance to win a PERSONAL COACHING SESSION WITH SHANNON!

So grab your copy of To Know You and join Shannon on the evening of November 19th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by clicking JOIN at the event page. Spread the word — tell your friends about the giveaway and party via FACEBOOK or TWITTER or Pinterest and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on 11/19!

Disclosure: I received a print copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own and may differ from others.

A Christmas Gift for Rose by Tricia Goyer

For the Amish faith, joining the military is just not something that is done. When Jonathan, the man Rose loves, returns from serving as a Medic in World War II, she breaks things off. She is concerned with how the Bishop will react and is also not sure how she feels herself.
To Rose's complete surprise, the nightmares that have been disrupting her sleep lately turn out to have some truth to them. Rose finds out that she was born English. Her family was unable to provide properly for her and sent her to live with the Amish family that has been the family Rose has always loved.
How will this newfound knowledge affect her relationships with her Amish family, and Jonathan? Life is about to change in ways Rose never imagined.


MY THOUGHTS:

I'll start by saying I would give this book 5 out of 5 stars! I loved the idea of the story. What would happen if we discovered our lives were not what they should have been? It's hard to imagine, but how much more difficult would it be for it to have actually happened?
It's intriguing to discover how Rose deals with this and the emotions involved. Her Amish family along with  Jonathan try and help her to rely on her faith throughout her struggles. That is an encouragement to me and I'm sure will be for others reading Rose's story.
I loved the creative ways the author brought people into Rose's life at just the right moment. Finding out the meaning of the title was exciting for me. It was a clever and unique situation which you learn about later in the book.

Except for a rest to eat, I finished this book in one sitting! I just couldn't put it down! It's a somewhat shorter book which made it easier, but it was the star quality of the book that kept me glued to the story.
I was invested in each character and the wonderfully drafted storyline that I couldn't let it go.


You can learn more about the author at http://www.triciagoyer.com
Follow her on Twitter and Facebook

Disclosure: I received a print copy of the book from booksneeze in exchange for an honest review. My reviews are always honest and my own opinion. My views may differ from others.

A Wedding to Remember in Charleston S.C. by Annalisa Daughety

Sometimes in life, our biggest struggles are in direct conflict with what we are expected to be an expert at. This is where we find Summer. She is the owner of a wedding planning business. She and her co-worker, Ashley, do a great job on the weddings, have great success and love what they do. In her personal life though, Summer and her husband, Luke are dealing with some major struggles. In the past year, they have had to deal with many heartbreaks. When they find themselves unable to communicate the depth of their grief, they find themselves pulling away from each other when they should be drawing closer.

The return of Summer's former boyfriend complicates things even more. He somehow finds himself in places where he not only can grab some of Summer's attention, but also manages to pull Luke farther away from Summer. He finds that this can work to his advantage and maybe even work in his favor.

Ashley also has trouble of her own in the relationship department. A new man in her life causes her to deal with her past divorce and work on moving past it, which she isn't sure she can.

Through the struggles of marriage, Luke moves out to handle things by himself. Luke and Summer both see this as a temporary solution, because they are still very much in love. This time apart allows for some much needed soul searching. Will this separation keep them apart or can it be the one thing that allows them to find themselves more committed than ever?

As we follow them through their struggles, we catch a glimpse of their future. When they both allow God to be the center of their lives, they find themselves able to communicate on a more heart level. They learn that God is there for them in the hard times as well as the good times.


WHAT I THINK:

This is book 1 in a book with 2 full length books titled "Waterfront Weddings". In this first story, was an amazing story of marriage. I'm sure we have all had relationships that have gone through struggles, and in some way can relate to these characters. I felt a pull into the story which really made me feel a part of the story. I found myself cheering for some characters, while wanting to yell at others. I feel that is a good sign when you really connect with the book.
The characters have great depth to them. The overall story not only keeps your attention, but has good messages throughout.
I look forward to reading the other story and can't wait to share with you about them also!

You can find the book on amazon.com

Disclosure: I received the ebook copy from netgalley in exchange for doing a review. No other compensation was given. My opinions are always honest and my own.

A Hopeful Heart by Amy Clipston

A Hopeful Heart is the first book in a new series called  

"Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel". 

When Hannah finds herself a young widow, she tries to help support her family by working housekeeping at a local hotel. Although her Mother in law is against her having a job outside the home (it's not typical for Amish women) ,She really enjoys her job and co-workers. 

When she begins to befriend a male guest, Trey, who has suffered similar losses, she learns the difficulties and reasons why the Amish prefer to keep to themselves and not become involved in the English world.  Hannah and her Brother in law,Joshua,have been working together to keep the farm going, but when  Hannah starts including Trey in her life outside the hotel, Hannah is seen as trouble and the trouble starts to affect her children.

To complicate the situation, Joshua is in love with Hannah. When she finally realizes that, she is also falling for Trey. Through many trials, Hannah finds herself in the midst of a difficult situation which could affect her whole family. Her choices could cause her to be shunned and to lose family members if she follows her heart to leave with Trey. She loves Joshua, but feels more of a friend to him and a way to keep her husbands memory alive. How will she make the right choice? What IS the right choice for her and her family?

MY THOUGHTS:

This book is a great read! I again found myself reading late into the night because I couldn't put it down. My sleep pattern is losing out to great books!  I felt this book to be a very realistic view of life, love and choices. Whether you are Amish or not, there are decisions we make every day that affect not only us, but those around us. In this book, we find a balance of both sides of the choices Hannah must make. I enjoyed the characters throughout. I found myself liking some of them and disliking others. Although the Mother in law seemed to be more on the manipulative side, I'm sure that by seeing it from her side we would find her heart and reasoning. Amish life seems to be rooted in very strict rules that they are supposed to follow without question, which would be the side of the Mother in law. Hannah is choosing to follow her heart and see what God has for her, whether it's to stay or go she will follow God. I love how there are discussion questions in the back. This would make a great book for a book club. I would give this book a 5 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend it , and already looking forward to book two of this series.

You can find this book at amazon.com

Disclosure: I received a print copy of this book from booksneeze.com in order to do my review. No other compensation was given. My reviews are always honest and my opinions are my own.

Reconnected by Bethany Daniel

Summary:  

      Liam and Katy are high school sweethearts. They have grown up together and have finally fallen in love and gotten married. When Liam gets discovered by Hollywood, they realize their lives are changing. From the girls giggling and following him, to the parties and drinking, Katy realized she can not be apart of this life. During a huge party one night Katy takes off. What she doesn't do is divorce Liam.

      Fast forward 4 years and we find Katy (now Kate) enjoying the life she has created. When Hollywood brings a crew to film a movie in her town, she learns that Liam is the star of the movie. She is determined to stay away and not see him. When they meet by chance, she is reluctant to give him time. When she learns he is still in love with her, she wonders if they can actually start fresh while dealing with the complications of the past and the current. Including relationships with other people.

      As Katy and Liam grow close again, Katy's roommate Krista and Liam's co-star Scott find their own love.  When a crazed actress begins to cause trouble, they all find themselves in the middle of a dangerous situation. What happens when tragedy threatens their newly rekindled love?  Will they stand by each other, or will the world they've created fall apart?  

  

      Review: 

      Overall this is a great book. This is a first for author Bethany Daniel, and I feel it is a great start. The characters are personable and relatable, although I would have liked a little more detail about the characters.  I feel the story could have used more depth also. It seemed to move a little quickly, and I would have liked to know more about their lives. This is actually also a compliment because I feel the characters were good. I enjoyed what I read, just needed more.  

      This is a pretty quick read, and fun for a relaxing time. I look forward to reading more of her books and I recommend everyone checking this out. I think the more she writes it will only get better! You can find the book here at amazon.com

You can also find her on Facebook

Disclosure: I received an ebook copy in order to do this review. My reviews are always honest and my own opinions which may differ from others.

Joni and Ken : An Untold Love Story

                                                               

I was excited when I saw that I could review this book. I read her original book "Joni" when I was a kid, and saw the movie when it was in theaters. I was amazed at how she could trust God throughout her recovery from the accident, and the realization of how life changing this accident was. She was completely real and it was encouraging to me and many others.

In Joni and Ken: An Untold Love Story, we get an authentic look at their courtship and 30 year marriage. We see throughout the book that life isn't all easy or even enjoyable. Living with a quadriplegic person is hard even when you are in a committed relationship with them. We live through their struggles and accomplishments alongside them as we follow not only the present life, but the past 30 years. We find the reasons that this marriage works regardless of circumstances they face daily.

Although the majority of the book is from Joni's perspective, we learn alot about Ken also. We learn how open he is about his personal struggles he faced when realizing life with Joni is much more difficult than he imagined. He found he did allow some "fame feelings" to intrude in his feelings with how life would be. It's easy to glaze over some of the more difficult issues in a relationship when you can focus on the positive aspects, and when those aspects are known world wide, it's harder to ignore.

We follow the couple as they serve Christ through their travels, and ministries. Ken begins to feel he has taken a backseat in the relationship as Joni's personal and professional life takes over their day to day life.

Through the years, the marriage begins to feel more like  parallel living instead of the closeness that should accompany a marriage. They begin to feel overburdened, and Ken especially begins to find his patience stretched to the limits.

When Joni is diagnosed with cancer, and Ken finds himself delving into a deeper relationship with Christ, we find a new devotion and commitment to the marriage. They find themselves feeling closer than ever to Christ and each other. They make the marriage a priority daily. The little things Ken found himself overwhelmed with, now become more about serving and love.

I loved this book. It was a great story of true love, and how you can overcome any struggle with Christ in your life. It was obviously more directed to their personal struggle of quadriplegia, but I found the book a great help in ways that could encourage any marriage. I highly recommend everyone read this book!


Disclosure: I received an ebook copy of the book from book sneeze.com in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was given. My opinions are my own and may differ from others.

The Whisper Theory

The Whisper Theory

by Amber Swenson

Summary:

      Whisper Theory is a book that is part story, and part bible study. We follow the lives of three friends and roommates Meghan, Carol and Jeff. We learn about their college life, thoughts of the future, their remembering of the past, and the present difficulties mixed in. 

      Meghan is a Christian who is having a hard time living her convictions. Her roommates are not Christians and instead of her being able to witness positively to them, they pull Meghan in their direction of living life. She finds it difficult to stand firm in her faith, and finds herself dipping her toes in temptation and in love with the wrong person.     

       

      She deals with many circumstances and sins which lead her away from God. How far will she go, and how much will she have to suffer before she finds her way back to God and the relationship with him that she craves? You will learn this and more through reading the book.

Review:

    

      Initially, when I read the listing for this book to review, I found myself intrigued. I enjoy a good clean suspense book and that's what it looked like to me.  It was different than I expected, but still looked interesting.

      What I enjoyed about this book was how it included bible study questions after each chapter. The questions related to the previous chapter and allowed some in depth looks at the subject matter covered in the chapter. I liked how it gave direct links to what the Bible says about the topic. The questions were thought-provoking, and allowed time in the word.

      I felt like there were some parts of the story which were hard to follow. The story seemed to bounce around leaving sections confusing. I see it more as an informational story book rather than a work of fiction. There were many difficult subjects covered from sex, drinking, murder and more. In general it was handled well. To me I felt it focused somewhat too much on the actual sin details. I wish there had been more of seeing Meghan trying to live a Christian life instead of being so easily swayed to the world. I think more could have been done to show this.

      For me, the last few chapters were the best where we find redemption. I think this would be good for college age kids, who might be encountering the subjects and could learn from them.

     

      Overall, Whisper Theory is a worthwhile read. I felt by far the best part of the book was the bible study.

Disclosure:  I received a free ebook copy of Whisper Theory from booksneeze.com in order to do my review. I was not required to write a positive review. My opinions are honest and are my own. They may differ from others. 

My "top 5" and thoughts

The other day, I had the house to myself which is a rare thing. That means one thing...I get to watch girly movies! Living with my husband and teenage son who like the action stuff, this is a rare treat.
I came across a Hallmark movie called Crush on You.  The main story to me was an updated version of the older movie You've Got Mail.  So the basic storyline about talking to someone over email, not having any idea you actually know this person and  (spoiler) finally meeting said person and realizing you already know them, is the same. But what really interested me and made my mind start thinking is some of the conversation. I began to wonder how getting to know someone through questions and honest discussion affects the future relationship.
One thing that had me intrigued was listing "5 things". Whether it's a list of your 5 favorite movies, vacation locations etc, or even basics of  5 favorite meals. How often in our busy lives do we take the time to really continue to know our spouse, our children, and our friends?
I know in our home sometimes our daily schedules cause us to have more of a "surface" level day and we focus more on what has to get done instead of how we really are and where we are at.

So, for fun I thought I would share with you some of my "5 Things" and welcome you to share back! We may not all really know each other in life outside blogging, but we all have to stick together right?
Hope you enjoy my randomness today!

5 favorite vacation spots:

1. Disneyworld (ok, now we live 4 miles from it so it's not really vacation anymore!)

2. Myrtle Beach S.C. --this is where we would go almost every year when I was growing up. I love the
                                    beach, the relaxing with a book in the sand and watching the waves. Of course  
                                    riding the waves also:)

3. Arizona-- the thrill of going on my own to visit my aunt, uncle and cousin was awesome. So many
                    fun adventures and excitement

4. Cocoa Beach FL--our first year in FL (2011) was our first year away from any family at Christmas
                                  time. We hadn't really made good friends yet, and didn't want to stay home
                                   feeling sad so we took a day trip Christmas Day to Cocoa Beach. It was so
                                  much fun to be in shorts and flip flops in Dec. Of course we took pictures to
                                  let everyone back in TN know about it while it was snowing there..lol.
                                  It gave us great memories of a fun family day. We decided a Christmas Day mini
                                  trip should be a new tradition.
 5. Ireland--ok so I've never been here! BUT...some of the books I've read have been set in Ireland and
                   I could picture myself there as I was reading. It made me interested in what it would really
                    look like and be like. This is on my to do list:)


I would love to hear some of your favorite vacation spots! Leave a comment and let me know!