Friday, August 3, 2012

31 Days to a Happy Husband Review

31 Days to A Happy Husband is written by Arlene Pellicane and published by Harvest House Publishers.

The concept of this book intrigued me. Is it possible to figure out what makes a happy husband? Well the author of this book decided she would try and I think she has written some pretty simple steps wives can take to improve their marriage.

According to this author there are 5 key areas that help make a husband happy. Two of these keys are peace in the home and respect. The other three areas are just as important but you will have to read the book to see what they are! Peace in the home is important because a man needs a safe place. Home should be the place he can come to and keep his guard down and relax. Respect is another important area. A husband wants to feel honored and his thoughts heard. Respecting his decisions will make him feel like an important partner in the marriage. The author does great at explaining her reasoning behind these keys and the other three as well.

I found the book to have plenty of helpful information. I felt the key to the book was found in the introduction when the author reminds wives that every day you are either building your husband up or tearing him down. If you really think about that principle your marriage will change for the better. I liked how the book could be read alone, with your spouse or even in a study group. I thought the authors writing style made the book very easy to read. The chapters flowed from one section to the next flawlessly. I gave this book 5/5 stars because I think every wife can learn from one if not all of these keys and help improve their marriage.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

Review of Amish Bride

The Amish Bride is written by Mindy Starns and Leslie Gould.

Ella and Ezra plan to get married one day but circumstances are drawing them apart. With Ezra being sent away and Ella having feelings for another man will they find there way back to each other?

This is book three is the series called Women of Lancaster. You do not have to read the other books in the series but I would recommend it. You will gain a better understanding of the family dynamics and different characters throughout the book.

I liked the story of the two main characters and how they interacted. I found the conversations in the book to flow well and help move the story in the right direction. The explanation of the differences of the Amish and Mennonite faiths was helpful. The story itself moved quickly and kept me entertained. I did find some of the characters lacking in depth and that is why I gave this book 4/5 stars.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

Living In Harmony Review

Living In Harmony is written by Mary Ellis and published by Harvest House Publishers.

Amy suddenly loses both parents and must decide how to take care of herself and her sister. Her fiancĂ©, John convinces her to move from their family home to his relatives’ home in Maine. There John’s brother and sister-in-law welcome them. This is where the story really picks up speed. Watching the two main characters relate to each other, learn about themselves and grow up a bit made this story a quick read.

I liked how the brother steps in and begins to counsel Amy and John. I thought their interactions were very well written and believable. The story of these two characters could almost take place in any setting. The authors’ decision to have this set in Amish country does add to the meat of the story though. Anyone who enjoys stories about the Amish will like this story and really any other book written by this author that centers on the Amish.

This story has just enough complications to make it interesting. The characters are well developed; you get an understanding of who they are pretty quickly. The relationship of the sisters is sweet. The relationship to those around them is engaging. I gave this book 5/5 stars because I liked the story itself and fell in love with the characters.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

Setting Boundaries With Food Review

Setting Boundaries With Food is written by Allison Bottke.

This book is part of her Setting Boundaries Series that includes titles Setting Boundaries with Adult Children and Setting Boundaries with Aging Parents. Each book can be read on its own and enjoyed without reading the others in her series.

The subtitle to the book is "Six Steps To Lose Weight, Gain Freedom, and Take Back Your Life." The author does just what she says; she offers six steps to help you in setting boundaries with food. There is a lot of information in this book and I think you will find most of it helpful. I liked how she gives you goals to try to achieve. Learning to not let food control you is the main theme of this book.

I gave the book 5/5 stars. I found her writing style to be easy to read. Her personal story and helpful examples shows you that she is a non-judgmental persona. You will not feel bad about yourself after reading this book but will instead feel encouraged to keep on your path to healthy living.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

Something Blue book review

Something Blue is written by Dianne Christner.

This is the third book in the series called The Plain City Bridesmaids. It is about Megan Weaver as she decides the next steps to take in her life. She is working with Chance Campbell and drawn to his personality. She is also finding herself attracted to Micah Zimmerman, whom she has known for awhile. Will she go against her family and choose adventure or stick with her principles and follow her heart?

Overall this was an entertaining book and this is why I gave it 4/5 stars. The dilemma of the main character was realistic but some of the struggles she encountered were not. I did enjoy how the character worked through her problem. The author did great at writing the steps Megan Weaver thought about and some good advice was given in the book that could definitely apply to real life situations. I also think this would be a great book for a teenager girl to read.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

Unfailing Love Review

Unfailing Love is written by Karol Ladd.

I am a big fan of the author of this book, Karol Ladd. Her other books have made a difference in so many lives that I was really looking forward to reading this study book. The subtitle to the book is A Woman’s Walk Through First John.

This book is great for learning about the characteristics of the Lord and how much He loves us. Learning about all the Lord is and how much He loves you will change your life. Understanding this love will help you in your day to day life and especially with feeling accepted for who you are. Understanding the love of the Lord will help build your relationship with Him and therefore help you in your other relationships.

I found this whole book to be very practical and easy to read. There are discussion questions at the end that are very helpful in making this study personal. I thought they were very thought provoking. I also liked the section on memorizing scripture. The best idea was how to draw pictures of what the verse is saying to you so when you start to quote the verse you will see the picture and remember the words of the verse.

I gave this book 5/5 stars because it was educational, easy to read, and will be a real encouragement for any woman who reads it!

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

Review for Treasure of the Celtic Triangle

The Treasure of the Celtic Triangle is written by Michael Phillips.

This is another exciting book by Michael Phillips. If you have never read a book by this author this book will be a great start! This is not a book you can sit and read in an hour but is a real in-depth meaningful story. This book is also part of the Green Hills of Snowdonia series. You do not have to read the others but it would be very beneficial to read them in order. The first book is called From Across The Ancient Waters.

Percy Drummond starts a journey out of respect to his uncle’s wishes but the journey ends up changing him forever. There is intrigue, adventure and a bit of romance to keep you turning the pages of this story. The characters are very well developed and their personalities show with some great writing. I enjoyed the interaction of the characters as well as the story line itself.

I gave this book 5/5 stars. There was nothing about this book I did not enjoy. I loved the setting, liked most of the characters and the story was intriguing. This book definitely held my attention and I would recommend it to anyone who likes a story that is more then a few chapters long!

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

Review for When a Woman Overcomes Life's Hurts

When a Woman Overcomes Life’s Hurts is written by Cindi McMenamin.

Do you have something in your past that you can not forgive yourself for? Do you have feelings of inadequacy because of how you were spoken to as a child? What about working real hard just so you can hear job well done from your boss? Do any of these relate to you and how you feel about yourself? There can be healing from all of these and any situation holding you back from living a joyful life in Christ. The author of this book shows that no matter what, if we look to the Lord he will lead us to a fulfilled life.

I liked how open this author was in expressing her personal experiences. I also liked how she points the reader to the Lord for the solution to the problems touched on in this book. The subtitle of the book is "Discovering the Healing and Wholeness God Has For You." What an excellent way to describe what this book is all about. This is very easy to read and the authors’ loving writing style makes it a perfect non-judgmental book to lead you out of a non-fulfilled life into the life the Lord wants for you!

I gave this book 5/5 stars because I think all women will learn something in this book that will change their lives for the better.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

God's Unlikely Path to Sucess Review

God's Unlikely Path to Success, How He Uses Less-Than-Perfect People is written by Tony Evans and published by Harvest House Publishers.
This book is a must read for any who have doubted they can be used by the Lord! Have you done something in your life that makes you feel like you are unworthy of serving the Lord? After reading this book you may change your mind!

Every person from the Bible that is mentioned in this book is someone who the Lord used despite his or her flaws. From Moses the murder to Jacob the deceiver, each person’s life had a path set before them. Even when they made mistakes the Lord still got them where He needed them to be.

I liked how the author wrote that in spite of ourselves the Lord uses us to further His work. I also liked the easy flow of this book. As you read one chapter after another you can not help but have a better understanding of the Lord’s love. There is so much to learn in these pages that I will be reading this book again! I have the book 5/5 stars because all of us are sinners and this book is a great reminder that despite our sins we can be still be a witness for the Lord!

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

Review of Book on End Times

The End Times in Chronological Order, A Complete Overview of Understanding Bible Prophecy is written by Ron Rhodes and published by Harvest House Publishers.

I could not put this book down! If you have any interest or questions about the end times and prophecy’s surrounding it you must read this book! As the author states there is going to be disagreement about how to interpret certain verses. The ways scholars interpret scripture are all explained in detail at the beginning of the book.

As you read through the timetable presented here be sure to look up the verses mentioned. Not a lot of verses are written out but there are ample amounts of references that the author refers the reader to. I did not look up each one but did look up most and found it really helped me grasp what was being presented.

I think reading this book will make you excited about what is to come and make you want to read even more of the Bible for yourself. I learned much from this book and will be keeping it on my bookshelf for reference. I gave this book 5/5 stars because it met all my expectations and I learned from all the information presented.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

Confessions of a Control Freak Review

Confessions Of A Control Freak, And Hope For Those Who Know One is written by Priscilla Knox Morrison and published by Harvest House Publishers.

The author of this book is very open and straightforward about the subject of control. It is her writing style that makes this book interesting and helpful. She starts the book by giving us examples of what a control freak is. I think all women will see something that pertains to them, and maybe even all of the examples!

Using the questions to judge yourself by, you find areas you need help on. Reading this book will show you how to work on those areas. You will delve into why you feel the need to control. You will ask why do I have this tendency? Is it because you want to be noticed? What about trying to impress others?

The personal stories alone make this book worth reading. You will learn from her experiences and grow from her wise advice. The biggest piece of information to take away from this book is that no matter what is going on. God has a bigger plan. The author shows that we have to trust God in order to let go of whatever it is we are trying to control! I enjoyed this book and all of the stories she used to reiterate her points and therefore gave it a 5/5 stars.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

My Stubborn Heart Review

My Stubborn Heart is written by Becky Wade.

This was a very well developed Christian romance book. This author is a great writer and I will be reading every book she writes.

This book is about Kate Donovan and Matt Jarreau. How they meet and fall in love is the majority of the story. I personally liked the ending the best. It is realistic yet romantic. I thought the relationship that Kate had with the other important characters in the story was well written and believable. I liked how Matt interacted with the people in the town. The author’s portrayal of this characters reaction to events was excellent.

I gave this book 5/5 stars. I liked how the story moved at a realistic pace. You can see how the relationship between the two main characters develops and it is at a realistic pace as well. I liked how easily the words flowed in the book making this story very easy to read. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good Christian romance!

I would like to thank the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Veil of Pearls Review

Veil of Pearls is written by MaryLu Tyndall.

What a great book! I could not put this book down until I had finished it. Author MaryLu Tyndall has written an excellent book filled with adventure and deep characters.

This is my favorite book by this author. You really get to know the main characters and put the book down feeling like you have read a true story. The main character Adalia will win you over in the first chapter. Her spunk and faith in the Lord make her a character you want to cheer for. As the other characters are introduced you learn more about Adalia as well as how these new people in her life help her.

I gave this book 5/5 stars. I liked the story line and thought the conversations flowed with ease. I liked the characters and how they were portrayed. I enjoyed the setting of Charleston in the early 1800’s. I think the setting helped this book whereas some books the setting does not even matter. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Christian historical fiction as well as anyone who likes a fast moving adventure.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.