Real-Life Romance

Real-Life Romance

Rhonda Stoppe

The divorce rate is rising. The statistics for broken relationships, blended families, and single parenting is heartbreaking. But there is hope. This book highlights different types of romance and love that occurred when they allowed God to bless and direct their lives. Each chapter tells the story of a couple, how they met, and what made their romance so wonderful. The chapters end with some thoughts to ponder and some questions each reader can ask pertaining to relationships and marriage.

I really enjoyed this book. The author's writing style was fun and felt like listening to a friend talk about how she met her husband. Each story was unique and showcased the individuality of the people involved. I liked the questions and thoughts at the end of each chapter. I think this book would compliment a marriage study or seminar. This book would also make an excellent book for that single or newly engaged person that you might know. But as an "old" married person, I enjoyed it just as much and it was encouraging to hear so many wonderful stories of Christians who followed God's will for their lives when falling in love.

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Imperfect Justice

Imperfect Justice
Hidden Justice #2

Cara Putman

Emilie, a lawyer from a non-profit for women, is devastated when one of her clients appears to murder herself, her daughter and put the other daughter in the hospital. Kaylene was leaving her abusive husband and was ready to make a new life for her daughters. So why would she choose to end everything when she was so close to her escape? Emilie doesn’t believe the husband’s version for a moment. And neither does Kaylene’s brother, Reid. The two team up to solve the mystery of what really happened in that home before the police arrived. But a stalker is scaring Emilie and she has no idea who it might be. 

I loved the writing style and how the author woven different plot threads to make it all seamless.  There are elements of faith and romance, but most of the book focuses on the suspense. I thought the author did a great job of not only showcasing, but being sensitive about the subject of spousal abuse. My only complaint would be the part with the stalker. It didn’t seem to mesh with the rest of the story and the character’s reaction didn’t seem on target based on what her job is. But overall, I really enjoyed the book and can’t wait to read her next one. 

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity. All thoughts expressed are my own. 

Total Christmas Makeover

Total Christmas Makeover

Melissa Spoelstra

The Christmas season can leave you feeling rushed and frazzled. While a lot of the things we fill our season with are important, we can easily become distracted and lose the focus of why we celebrate the season. The author has written a devotional that will redirect the reader in the direction of celebrating Christ during the holiday season. The book is divided up into three sections - Ritual, Relationships, and Rest. Each devotional consists of the author's thoughts on the topic of the day. At the end are question for reflection and an idea on how to put the thoughts into a practical application.

Each day is short enough to allow for some quick reading. But the questions and application part make for a meaningful, thought provoking devotional. I really enjoyed the practical application. This devotional would make an excellent gift for the holiday season. But I think everyone should get their own copy.

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Descriptions and Perscriptions

Descriptions and Perscriptions

Michael R. Emlet

As Christians we often view mental illness incorrectly and either dismiss medicine completely, or forget the faith that plays such an integral part in our lives. Some people feel that taking medications for a mental illness is of the devil, while others take or advise taking the medicine blindly without any regard as to the side effects, reasons for needing the drugs, etc. The author has taken a Biblical approach to show both the benefits and downsides of both approaches. His desire in writing the book was to give Christians a look at both perspectives with a hope that the reader can see the middle line and choose something that will fit them and their Christian lifestyle.

As a person suffering from a mental illness myself, I was intrigued with how the author would conclude his perspective. I've had Christians on both sides of this "counsel" me and I was looking forward to seeing his conclusions. 

The book is very thin (98 pages), so will make for a quick read. I was surprised at how technical the writing was. If you aren't very medical, it will be very easy to get bogged down in the first few chapters. The author uses several stories to help tell what he is talking about so this does lighten up the depth a little. He concluded with the idea that there isn't a right or wrong, but rather a mixture of the two with regards to every single patient being different and therefore needing different things. The concept is great, but I finished with the feeling that I wasn't really helped in any way. And that the author's real feelings on the matter were that the ultimate goal was to not have to take any medication if at all possible. So while the theory was probably correct, this book didn't really help me at all. I think this book would be better suited for a person who works with mental illness and not a patient in search of the correct balance.

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity. All thoughts expressed are my own.

God's Crime Scene

God's Crime Scene For Kids

J. Warner Wallace and Susie Wallace

Jason has found a strange box in his grandmother's attic. The contents do not make sense, and it has a note addressed to him. He enlists the help of his friends from the Junior Detective's Academy to help him solve the mystery. Readers learn how to use clues to solve the mystery for Jason and to discover God in creation. The book is written in present tense with drawings that are almost cartoon like. Throughout the book are Detective Definitions, Dig Deep assignments, and Tools for becoming a better detective.  

I read the book, but also had my 9 yr old read it to get a perspective from the targeted age group. I was a little thrown off by the present tense wording, but it didn't seem to bother my daughter. She read the book, but didn't get involved in any of the extra activities that were provided for the reader. She said she liked it, but wasn't very engaged. It was "just a nice story". Since she is a huge fan of mysteries, this surprised me. This made me wonder if it was how the book was written, rather than the subject matter. Overall, it is a very neat concept that I think most kids will enjoy. But it didn't grab my daughter or I like we'd hoped.

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity. All thoughts expressed are my own.

God's Crime Scene for Kids' Mystery Investigation Kit Giveaway

Join your children in learning how to determine the most reasonable cause for everything we see in creation with a real-life detective! In God's Crime Scene for Kids, J. Warner Wallace shows kids ages 8 to 12 what skills are needed to solve Jason's mystery. Jason uncovers a mystery in his grandmother's attic. He and his friends, Hannah, Daniel and Jasmine, enlist the help of Detective Jeffries at the Jr. Detective's Academy. Your kids will look at evidence in the universe that demonstrates God is the creator and ultimately learn how to make their own case for God's existence.

Help your kids become detectives who investigate creation for signs of God and His creativity by entering to win the Mystery Investigation Kit!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of God's Crime Scene for Kids
• A Kindle Fire so your kids can visit the Cold-Case Christianity for Kids website and start their journey in the Case Makers Academy
• A kid-proof, protective Kindle Fire case (your kids' choice of color)

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on August 31. The winner will be announced September 1 on the Litfuse blog.

A Name Unknown

A Name Unknown

Roseanna M. White

Rosemary's family consists of street orphans who have banded together to make a home. They keep bread on their table by stealing and doing odd jobs for people in low places. Rosemary is offered a job that will keep food on the table for quite some time. She just needs to pass off being a librarian to a titled gentleman in order to find out where his loyalties lie. As the world erupts into the chaos that becomes WWI, Rosemary finds herself in the dusty confines of a country library, trying to find out if Peter Holstein is what he claims to be.

This book was a very mixed bag for me. It started out painfully slow and I just couldn't get invested into the characters or the plot. It was obviously well written and researched. The main characters stood out and were well defined. I especially liked the character Peter. So I'm not sure what my problem was. But about 1/3 of the way through the book it picked up and I became more interested. The Christian aspect of the book was so subtle that it was almost lost. The romance wasn't really there until the end, and then it was sweet and romantic. I really enjoyed how the book ended. And the middle was good too. But throughout the book were some slow parts or a plethora of details that bogged the story down a bit. The history was super fascinating, and for me made the story. So overall, I would recommend this book if you enjoy historical fiction with intrigue and a tiny bit of romance and don't mind a story with a ton of details and sidelines. 

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Stepping on Cheerios

Stepping on Cheerios

Betsy Singleton Snyder

Being a mother can be messy, hard, difficult, discouraging, and lonely. But it's beautiful, rewarding, heartwarming, and the hugest blessing. As mother's we often long to have a deeper connection with God, but aren't sure where to start when everything is so busy and chaotic.

The author pulls from her own messy, but beautiful life as a mother to write an encouraging book to all the mothers who yearn for God amidst the Legos, Cheerios, and mess that is parenthood. She's also a pastor and I felt the spiritual elements woven through everything she talked about. Her writing style is humorous, often tongue in cheek, but always points to Jesus. She shares honestly as she talks about her struggles with four tiny boys - three of them triplets and a heart condition. I loved the authenticity of her writing. She told stories, but also brought home some powerful truths about motherhood and how God fits into our lives. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author.

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse. All thoughts expressed are my own.

The Elusive Miss Ellison

The Elusive Miss Ellison

Carolyn Miller

Lavinia Ellison lost her mother due to the thoughtlessness of a member of the Hawkesbury family. So when the brother arrives in her village she makes the assumption that he is the same arrogant, careless type of person. But the more time she spends with Nicholas, the more she realizes he is not anything like she imagined.

This was a true regency romance. The plot was complicated, but not difficult to follow. The characters came alive on the pages and were relatable. I've read a ton of regency fiction and I really felt like the author got the genre and wrote with authenticity. This is a Christian novel and so the story line is clean and there are bits of faith woven throughout the story. I appreciated the way the author stayed true to the era while also making this a decent book that I can pass on to my daughter. Overall, this was a wonderful book that I really enjoyed and I look forward to reading more by this author.

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Control Girl

Control Girl

Lesson on Surrendering Your Burden of Control from Seven Women in the Bible

Shannon Popkin

Does a lack of control make you break out in hives? Are you often frustrated, angry, or stressed because things aren't going according to plan. Does the chaos of life throw you into a tailspin? Than I have a book for you. The author has shared from her experiences and personal Bible studies on the subject so that we can learn from her mistakes and from the wisdom of the Bible to get a handle on our control issues. Each chapter begins with a personal story from the author. This is followed by a passage of scripture to look up and read that will go with the lesson. The author then expounds on the verses and ends with some questions and thoughts to ponder. At the end of each chapter is a few verses for meditation.

I loved this book. And it came at a time when I really needed it. I enjoyed it so much that I purchased a copy for a friend. The author does a great job of making the topics personal and relatable. I felt like she was speaking directly to me while reading. The book would work well as a personal study book, but would also be perfect for a small group or women's Bible study. Definitely a 5 star book, in my opinion.

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Shannon Popkin's 'Control Girl' Blog Tour and Prize Pack Giveaway

Are you trying to stay in control of your quest for peace, joy, and security . . . and you're exhausted? Shannon Popkin's debut book, Control Girl, is a must-read for anyone with a heart that craves control. Join Shannon as she shares what she has discovered about her own control struggles and about God from studying seven Control Girls in the Bible. Whether it was Eve's desire to know instead of trust, Sarah's inability to wait for God to move, or Rebekah's controlling hand on her family's future, each of these women's stories contain warnings and lessons for us today.

Learn how to give up control to God and become a Jesus girl! Enter to win a prize pack that will help you give up your Control Girl tendencies.

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Control Girl
• A Vera Bradley tote
• A rose gold arrow bracelet
• A set of Moleskine journals

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on February 21. The winner will be announced February 22 on Shannon's blog.

Making Marriage Beautiful

Making Marriage Beautiful
Lifelong Love, Joy, and Intimacy Start With You
Dorothy Littell Greco
 
With years of personal experience, as well as counseling experience, the author writes about how to truly make your marriage a beautiful place. She begins and continues through the entire book stressing the importance of having a grounded and personal connection with Christ. This is vital to having a beautiful marriage. She also places a lot of importance on growing and being willing to compromise or change as the needs fit. If a marriage isn't changing and flowing, it's dying.

This was a beautifully written book. The author brings stories and experiences in to add depth to the thought she is talking about. This makes the book read like a story instead of a dry list of facts. She shares personal experiences that authenticate her views. While realistic, she also paints a wonderful picture of what a truly beautiful marriage is all about. I would definitely recommend this book to newlyweds or "old" married people, like me. It's well worth the read.

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Scripture Doodle

Scripture Doodle

Immersing yourself into scripture can be rewarding and fulfilling. But often we get caught up in the stress of life and find the task of starting a Bible study time consuming and daunting. The author has taken a unique approach to immersing the reader into scripture. Each book is a six-week devotional that includes adult coloring, doodle pages, space for tons of notes, creative prompts, and scripture. There is a brief page on how to use the book, but the author encourages creative expression and art. 

I'm a huge fan of adult coloring books and jump around when it comes to how I use my devotion time. So I was really excited to try these out. It was completely different from anything I've done before, but it was great. I liked the prompts and used them to jump off into what I was studying. These would be a great way to add some variety to your devotions, would make an excellent gift for the creative person on your list, or would be something to take when traveling so you can have a few moments to get away.

I received a copy of these books from Litfuse Publicity. All opinions expressed are my own.

Getaway with God

Getaway with God

The Every Woman's Guide to Personal Retreat

Letitia Suk

Our lives are lived on the run, mountains of things to do, miles long lists to accomplish. But each of us need some time alone to regroup and refresh our souls. The author has been taking private retreats for almost forty years and offers her insights into how to make it happen and also make it more meaningful. Each chapter has step-by-step instructions, thoughts from other women on personal retreats, ideas for each type of person, and stories from the author and her friend's personal experiences. 

The book reads like a chat with a friend, and while informational in style, is a easy and enjoyable book to read. I was impressed with the wealth of information she was able to share in a short space without making me feel overwhelmed or bored. She shared different types of retreats, ideas on how to dig deeper into the Bible, goal setting, and the importance of a Sabbath rest. The author was able to take a concept that could sound overwhelming to set up and made it doable. She really impressed upon the reader the importance and then addressed any concerns or roadblocks that might come up. It was well written and something I think every woman should take the time to read.

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse. All opinions expressed are my own.

Trust My Heart

Trust My Heart

Carol J. Post

 Grant is only in Murphy, NC long enough to sell his grandmother's property and return home. But Jami, an insistent reporter keeps popping up, hoping for an interview. Grant never knew his grandparents and certainly doesn't want to rehash old history or learn anything about them. They abandoned his late father and he can't forgive them for that. But the longer he stays the more Jami intrudes into his life and the more he learns that his life might be full of lies.

This was a light, sweet story that I read through quickly. It had elements of romance, some fun, quirky characters, a lot about faith and forgiveness, and a couple of contemplative thoughts. The characters, while not incredibly deep, were enjoyable to read about. The town setting was well described and fit well what I know about the town (I lived close to it years ago). I was a little frustrated with the immaturity of one of the characters, but sadly, there are people in the world like him. The elements of faith were deeply woven throughout the story, but didn't come off as preachy. Overall, this was a cute little book that I think a lot of people will enjoy.

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Ace Collins

Christmas is a wonderful time of year, especially for Christians. The holiday takes on a wonderful glow when we realize how blessed we are that we have such a loving Savior. The author has taken recipes, devotionals, poems, scripture, and stories behind traditions to create a countdown to Christmas. Thirty-one days that show us a Christ-filled season.

This was a great book that I will be keeping and going through again. Each day has something different to do or reflect on. The recipes were delicious, the stories behind the traditions were a great peak at what started some of the things we do each year with our family. My children really enjoyed hearing something about Christmas every evening as I read aloud to them some of the passages. This will make a great start to enriching the season, and can be used to jump into some of the things we already do. I would recommend picking up a copy before the season starts so you can enjoy it as well.

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity. All opinions expressed are my own.

40 Days to a Joyful Motherhood

40 Days to a Joyful Motherhood

Devotions and Coloring Book to Nourish Mom

Sarah Humphrey

Being a mother doesn't come with a set of instructions or easy directions. Often we find ourselves worn out and worn down. The author has written forty little devotionals that won't take a lot of time to read, but that will nourish the weary soul and provide comfort and encouragement. Each day also include a scripture and prayer to go with the daily thought. The devotion is on the left and the right page is a coloring page for calming relaxation and contemplative thought. The intent is to give the mother a place to unwind and relax while gaining joy to return to her mothering duties.

I love the concept of this book. There is enough space around most of the devotionals so I could add some extra thoughts and scripture. The coloring pages weren't super detailed, but were fun and had some space on some of them for additional writing. I'm a fan of adult coloring books and so the added devotionals were a definitely plus in my book. I would definitely recommend this book to all mothers and plan to purchase one for a gift as well.

I received a copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Life Creative

Life Creative

Inspiration for Today's Renaissance Mom

Wendy Speake and Kelli Stuart

This book is not only a celebration of life as a mother, but an encouragement for mothers who live for art.  The two authors have lived through the seasons of motherhood. With blogs, Pinterest, and tv shows, more and more creativity is available at our fingertips. The book is part inspiration, part stories of how mothers can embrace their creativity while in the middle of raising children.

This book has some definite pros and cons for me. The book started out with the assumption that by having children, my creativity was stifled. Since I am more creative now than I was before them, I don't agree with that premise. The pros were that the authors encouraged creativity and showed that things I wouldn't have considered as creative, as ways that we can inspire and encourage others. This book would be great for the mother who feels stifled and held back with her creativity.

I received this book from Litfuse Publicity. All thoughts are expressed are my own.

Total Family Makeover

Total Family Makeover

8 Practical Steps to Making Disciples at Home

Melissa Spoelstra

The most important job as Christian parents is to guide our children towards a relationship with Christ. But often the mundane tasks of life and trying to stay on top of everything gets in the way of the more important things. The author has created a guideline of sorts that will aid parents as they journey through parenting and help them mold disciples for Christ. Each chapter begins with some thoughts on one of the steps toward making disciples. The author uses scripture and personal stories to guide the reader.  The rest of the chapter is divided up into sections labeled modeling and training. There are practical suggestions for implementing the steps into your home. The chapter ends with discussion questions and a lot more scripture.

First - the cover is adorable and definitely  made me want to pick up the book. Second, I loved the author's writing style. She made the information interesting. Her practical advice wasn't overwhelming and I finished feeling encouraged and inspired. While I read the book by myself, I can totally see this being used in a parenting or women's study group. The discussion question really made me think and I loved all of the scripture she used to back up her thoughts. I would definitely recommend this book to any parent who wants a little guidance in the area of making disciples.

I received this book free of charge from Litfuse. I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.

God Bless Us Every One

God Bless Us Every One

Eva Marie Everson

Charlie has just lost her teaching job at a prestigious school. So she makes the sudden decision to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with Sis, the grandmother who raised her. But a childhood friend from her past and a family member who hurt her are waiting for her when she arrives to the small town. A Charles Dickens Christmas play will bring out thoughts and feelings that Charlie would rather stay buried. But sometimes facing your past is the very thing you need to face your future.

The author used the story to draw parallels to A Christmas Carol. Woven throughout the story were the themes of faith, forgiveness, redemption, and trust. The romance between the young couple was sweet, authentic, and clean. While on the surface, the story was short and light-hearted, there were some deeper elements that could make the reader contemplative. Overall, this was a fun little story that I'll read again closer to Christmas. I think it would make a great gift for someone who enjoys Christian fiction.

I received this book free of charge from Litfuse Publicity and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.