An Endless Christmas

An Endless Christmas

Cynthia Ruchti

Micah invited his girlfriend Katie to spend Christmas with his family in Minnesota. She arrives to immediately receive a proposal from Micah. And now that she's said no, she's forced to spend the rest of the vacation with his extended family. She didn't want to say no, but her family history isn't the greatest and she can't imagine the heartache a marriage would cause if she follows the path of her ancestors. So for Micah's sake, she says no. But Katie is about to learn quite a few lessons from a quirky, crazy, loving family who doesn't let a moment go to waste.

It's been a long time since I've read a book that tugged at my heart strings like this one. There really isn't a main character. The author brought the entire family alive. Each person was distinct and memorable. The antics and interaction between the family members was entertaining and refreshing. Several key thoughts were brought out in the book, but the insights didn't come across as preachy. It was a quick read that I was disappointed to finish. I will definitely be reading more by this author in the future.

I received this book free of charge from Worthy Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Sacred Intent

Sacred Intent

Maximize the Moments of Your Life

Brent Crowe

Every moment counts. How would we live our life if we knew we only had a week to live? As Christians we need to make each moment mean something. The author, writing from a Biblical standpoint, talks about how we can focus on the things that count and make our lives matter in our Christian walk.

Pros:

Loved the concept that the author based the book on. He mixed stories with Biblical passages to bring out points. The book was well laid out and the writing style was easy to read. Several key points spoke to me and the book as a whole was inspiring.

Cons:

Based on the cover, I probably wouldn't have picked the book up. While the writing was easy to digest, there were some sections that were a little dry and I lost my focus. 

Overall, it was a good book that I wouldn't have a problem recommending to friends.

I received this book free of charge from Worthy Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Four Secrets

Four Secrets to a Forever Marriage

Marriage Tips From a Not So Perfect Husband

Michael Letney with Karen Hardin

Marriage is difficult. Just look at the divorce statistics if you have any doubt. But what about the people who are on the other side of those statistics? What is their secret to staying married for so long? The author shares his secrets, mistakes, and triumphs with the reader as he share the four secrets that he's found to keeping that important relationship alive.

The author wove his personal story into the book while including lots of scripture. The style was entertaining to read and I didn't feel like I was being preached at. All of the "secrets" were clear and well laid out. It's great advice, told in an interesting way that would be invaluable to newlyweds and couples just engaged. It would make a wonderful gift.

I received this book free of charge from Worthy Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

The Covered Deep

The Covered Deep

Brandy Vallance

Bianca grew up in small town Ohio. But her dreams and aspirations take her mind far from home. Her father realizes that she'll never be content, so he encourages her to enter a contest for a trip to the Holy Land. Bianca hopes to meet her soul mate on this magical trip, should she win. But is her mother right? Are her dreams of a soul mate unrealistic? Should she be content with her small town and one of the men from there?

This book wasn't like anything I've ever read before. I read it quickly in one evening and it was definitely spell binding and gripping. The plot and most of the characters were so completely different from what is typically found in christian fiction, but this gave it an appealing quality. The details got a bit boggy at times, but the plot moved along quickly and I was able to skim over most of them. The ending of their trip in Israel was a bit over the top and didn't end in parts. But overall, when I finished the story I was left with a more positive than negative feeling. 

I would definitely read more by this author.

I received this book free of charge from First Look in exchange for my honest review.