Little Book of Great Dates

Little Book of Great Dates

Dr. Greg & Erin Smalley

A cute little leather book filled with creative and fun ideas for dates to enhance your marriage. Use the book to have one date a month for a year, or jump around in the book to fit the date to the occasion. Each date chapter begins with a story, then has the list of activities that fit with the subject. At the end of the list is some questions to ask your spouse at the end of the date.

The ideas were fun. Not all of them will apply to every person, but there are enough in each chapter that everyone will be able to find something to fit their style. The questions were prompt deeper intimacy and will help you learn more about the one you love the most. The authors shared their own stories which gave it a more personal feel and helped to bring across some important points. I also liked the pretty blue cover. It added a nice touch. I really enjoyed this and look forward to going on these dates with my husband.

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

What Once Was Lost

What Once Was Lost

Kim Vogel Sawyer

Christina has taken over the poor farm when her father died. It's the only life she's ever known and she feels a sense of value with her life work. But when a fire destroys the kitchen the residents are displaced among the towns people. One of her favorite charges goes to a reclusive saw mill owner. The next few months are filled with faith testing experiences. Christina is shown that maybe her plans aren't necessarily God's plans.

The characters in this story were well defined and fun to spend time with. The message of salvation and Christ's love was an integral part and woven throughout the book. The middle of the plot seemed to drag a bit with very little leading to a conclusion. It was also a bit dark and sad in the middle. But then the story picked up and wrapped up well. I like a bit more romance in the story. The ending seemed to be a bit much considering the amount of time the couple spent together throughout the book. This was a good book, but not a favorite for me personally. I enjoyed the writing style though so will be checking out this author's other books.

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

Worship Walk

Worship Walk

Where Worship and Life Intersect

Gareth J. Goossen

Worship is more than just showing up for church and singing some songs. It is a complete life experience. The author takes us through the steps to make worship a constant part of our lives. He uses his own experiences to explain his points. Each chapter ends with questions that can be used for a small group Bible study or further personal style.

Worship is a subject that people often overlook or gloss over. The author has taken it to a deep and personal level. I really enjoyed the in-depth chapters, questions, and the stories that he wove into the message. The points that he brought out were thought provoking and convicting. This is definitely a book that I would recommend to someone wanting to deepen their worship experience.

I received this book free of charge from BookFun.org in exchange for my honest review.

Beloved

Beloved

Where the Heart Lives

Robin Lee Hatcher

Diana's life has been a strange mix of ups and downs. She was orphaned at six years old and sent on the orphan train. Loving parents adopted her and gave her a new life. While still a teenager Diana fell in love with Tyson Applegate, the son of a very wealthy and influential man. But it isn't long before Diana finds out that Tyson married her to make his father angry and gain control of his inheritance. She is soon abandoned as Tyson leaves with no intention of returning. Years later, thinking he is dead, she agrees to marry another man. Tyson shows up at her engagement party wanting to reconcile. Diana isn't really ready to give Tyson another chance, but finds herself with very little choices.

I really enjoyed this book. The author did a great job of telling a love story and weaving God's love for us throughout. There were romantic, suspenseful, and spiritual aspects to this book. The humorous elements were a bonus. It all added up to make a very enjoyable read. I will definitely be checking out other books by this author.

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

No Excuses

3 Off the Tee: No Excuses

The Fit Mind-Fit Bod Strategy Book

Lorii Myers

Life should be approached, like golf, as it every day is a new round. Using strategy from the game of gold, the author takes the reader on a path to becoming more physically fit and active.

My husband enjoys golf, so I figured I'd be able to understand the references and would enjoy the physical fitness aspect. The concept was great. But I'm not sure if I got bogged down with the golf references I didn't really understand or it was the format of the book. It was difficult for me to read and even harder for me to apply. I think the book would be great for a person who is very fond of the game and wants to up their fitness level. But it really wasn't my type of book.

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

Experiencing God at Home

Experiencing God at Home Day-By-Day

A Family Devotional

Tom Blackaby & Rick Osborne

This little devotional is designed for the family devotions. It would work well for those who already have this practice in place and would also be perfect for the family trying to establish this routine. The devotions are set up so that families can pick and choose what they are going to use that day based on the age of the child.  It begins with the scripture for the day and a question to get the discussions going. The devotional is based on the first two and is followed by prayer time and quiet time sections. There are several different ways to read through the devotions and a quick chapter at the beginning explains the way the authors set the book up.

I really enjoyed reading this and I'm looking forward to sharing it with the kids. The topics will interest them even though they are young, but we can still use this again when they are a bit older. The authors bring out several great points about establishing the habit of daily devotions and the effects it has on the children. The subjects are relevant to families today and are well thought out.  My favorite part is the little devotions called Parent Connection that are the devotionals just for parents. I've enjoyed everything I've read in this series and this one didn't disappoint. It's a book I'll be adding to my library.

I received this book free of charge from Shelton Interactive in exchange for my honest review.

10 Great Dates

10 Great Dates

Connecting Faith, Love & Marriage

Peter & Heather Larson

David & Claudia Arp

There are a ton of books out there about Christian marriages. But this book takes the couple on a path using dates to reconnect the marriage spiritually. When the stresses and daily grind of life happens, a couple can find themselves drifting slowly apart. Then as they age, their differences seem to become insurmountable. The authors wrote this book to bring the couple together again (or to be used as the marriage is starting) while connecting their faith. The end result will be a powerful couple for Christ.

There are tear-outs at the back of the book to be used on the dates.

I enjoyed reading the stories throughout each chapter. They did a great job of illustrating the points. The chapter discusses the topic that will be used on the date. At the end of the chapter are the instructions for each couple do do to prepare for their date. The dates is a bit of a misnomer. These are really just some quiet time set aside to talk about the chapter and to answer the questions from the tear-out pages.

My only reservation would be length of the chapters. It's going to take both people being completely committed to doing these dates. And I know several people that would love the idea, but would balk at reading that much each week in addition to the dates. 

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