Profound Good By Blake Healy

What you see of God is only part of the story.
From the time Blake Healy was a small child, he has seen angels, demons, and other spiritual things. He sees them with his naked eyes, as vividly and clearly as anything else. Everyplace he goes, every person he meets, every day that goes by, he sees in the spirit.
After thirty years of seeing in the spirit, one thing has consistently been the most painful for him to see. It is not when he sees someone trapped in demonic oppression. It is not when he sees the gaping wounds of emotional trauma. It is when he sees the goodness of God go unclaimed by His people.
In this book Healy takes readers on a journey of rediscovering the goodness of God. It fills the churches we visit every week. It moves across the sea from nation to nation. All we have to do is learn how to see it and receive it, and then we will watch every corner of the world be completely transformed by the power of His profound good.

Pick up your copy here:
https://www.amazon.com/Profound-Good-Through-Lens-Love/dp/1629995657/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=2EL5XPM3RIN9F&keywords=profound+good+blake+healy&qid=1550188676&s=gateway&sprefix=Profound+Good%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-1-fkmrnull


Blake K. Healy is one of the senior team members at Bethel Church of Atlanta in Georgia. He is also the director of the Bethel Atlanta School of Supernatural Ministry. He lives in Peachtree City, Georgia, with his wife, April, and their four wonderful children: Haydon, Finnley, November, and Ender. For more information or to contact Blake, visit blakekhealy.com.

My Thoughts...

Are you looking for a teaching tool for small groups that are hungry for more God?
This just might be the book for you.
I took my time and read it and really liked the Thoughts to Ponder at the end of each chapter.
It's not preachy and full of knock you up side the head with to much scripture.
I gave this book 4 stars. I recommend it.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Happy Valentine's Day

I just want to take the time today to tell you all I love you and I am very thankful for you!

Many blog followers ask me about romance books and what I would recommend so I am going to share just a few with you today!

Denise Hunter does not have a bad book, I recommend ALL of her books but today this one is on sale if you read Kindle books if not Buy the book it is very good!
 

Pick up your copy here for $1.99 https://www.amazon.com/Accidental-Bride-Big-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B005ENBCD2/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1550104264&sr=8-23

 Another author that you can't go wrong with is Rachel Hauck, ALL of her books are so worth your time to read. Here is one that you should read today!

Pick up your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Letter-bestselling-author-Wedding/dp/0310351006/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1550105496&sr=8-2


If you are looking for a Non- Fiction  book to read then I would recommend The 5 Love Languages!

Pick up your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Languages-Singles-Revolutionize-Relationships/dp/0802414818/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1550105199&sr=8-2


I hope that you all have a great Day and always remember that I LOVE YOU!

Now tell me what books that you would recommend for me to read!

The Art of Hard Conversations By Lori Roeleveld

Your next conversation could impact someone's life foreverHard conversations challenge everyone. Some people make every effort to avoid them altogether; others dive in enthusiastically, damaging relationships in the process. A solid middle ground is difficult to find--especially for those who want to make sure they're following a biblical model for these tough encounters.

Lori Roeleveld firmly believes that the dialogues everyday Christians delay are often the very channels God wants to use to deepen relationships and transform lives. And she is eager to address the challenges they pose and to guide readers to meaningful conversations that rely on the wisdom of the Bible rather than the world.

In The Art of Hard Conversations, Roeleveld provides motivation, inspiration, and practical, readily applied skills to make those tricky talks more effective. Through funny, vulnerable personal stories, sound biblical teaching, and sections of tips and assignments to practice, the principles here are guaranteed to increase the confidence and competence of Christians in discussing sensitive topics of every kind.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Art-Hard-Conversations-Biblical-Matter/dp/0825445558/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1549389755&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=the+art+of+hard+conversations

Disturber of hobbits. Making comfortable Christians continually late for dinner. Blogger. Wife. Mother. Part-time giant-slayer. Not available for children's parties.

Lori has degrees in Psychology and Biblical Studies as well as extensive experience with families in crisis and at-risk youth. She's followed Jesus into numerous adventures and hasn't been bored for a single moment of it.

Lori disturbs hobbits from her home base in Rhode Island where she lives with her husband Rob. Her two adult children (along with their families) have followed Jesus into their own adventures (which include kids, dogs, goats, and new addresses.)

Continue the conversation with Lori at her website, www.loriroeleveld.com. She's always ready for a hard (or easy) conversation with readers.

My Thoughts...

If your like me and love to talk to people about books and that's all you want to talk about not the hard stuff, then you need this book in your life.
All silliness aside if you struggle with the right words to say in a difficult conversation then I hope you check this book out.
This a great help for most of us and I got a lot from this book.
I gave this book 4 stars.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

When I pray for You By Matthew Turner GIVEAWAY!

From the author and illustrator of the best-selling When God Made You comes a new illuminating message about God's design affirming young readers.With lyricism, whimsy, and heartfelt emotion, Matthew Paul Turner reveals the tender emotions connected with watching a beloved child grow up and experience the world. Paired with Kimberley Barnes's vivid and playful illustrations, When I Pray for You is a beautifully affirming book, in which children and parents will see their own stories come to life.

When I Pray for You celebrates the dreams, hopes, and longings parents pray over their children, and shares with the little ones how much care and concern a loved one feels for them.

This is a book you will read to your child again and again. Perfect for any occasion, as well as for milestones including baby showers, birthdays, and graduations.

From the moment I saw you,
I started to pray.
Big prayers and small ones
I have sent God's way.

I prayed you felt safe,
full of joy and content.
When I whispered "I love you,"
you knew what I meant.

Pick up your copy here...

https://www.amazon.com/When-Pray-Matthew-Paul-Turner/dp/052565058X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1549388688&sr=8-2&keywords=when+i+pray+for+you+matthew+paul+turner

Matthew Paul Turner is the best-selling author of "When God Made You," "Churched,"and "Hear No Evil." He, and his wife, Jessica, along with their kids, Elias, Adeline, and Ezra, live in Nashville, Tennessee.

My Thoughts...

I love children's books with great illustrations that capture kids attention. But its even better when the story teller can hook the kids as well as the pictures.
This is a fun book for the kiddos. I loved it and can't wait to share it with you all. 
This is a four star kids books we can all enjoy. So what are you waiting for? Run and get your copy and start reading it to your kids tonight.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

American Omens By Travis Thrasher Giveaway!

In this taut thriller that imagines a near-future America following the decline of the Religious Right, where the Christ-followers who have anticipated a rising intolerance for their beliefs for decades find out they're right after all.In the US in 2038, a secret society is imposing its agenda on outspoken Christian leaders, killing when necessary. Corporate regulations restrict religious expressions and policies. A recent convert, Hutchence, uses creative and guerilla-like techniques to spread the Gospel of Jesus. This enigmatic man enlists a rag-tag group of individuals to help him proclaim a warning to the rest of the country: God is sending his judgment on our nation, and his first act will be to destroy Chicago. One recruit is a young and talented computer analyst who specializes in mastering algorithms for corporate and political use, and who is on the run from the company she works for, while trying to discover the truth about her father's mysterious disappearance. Another is a conspiracy-theory-junkie & survivalist who has discovered proof of assault on people of the Christian faith. And a widower with three girls is recruited by this mysterious Hutchence to help lead a return to God in America.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/American-Omens-Coming-Fight-Faith/dp/0735291780/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1549162424&sr=1-1&keywords=american+omens

Bestselling author Travis Thrasher has written over 50 books and worked in the publishing industry for over twenty years. He has penned fiction in a variety of genres, from love stories and supernatural thrillers to young adult series. His inspirational stories have included collaborations with filmmakers, musicians, athletes and pastors. He’s also co-written memoirs and self-help books. His novelizations include Do You Believe? and God’s Not Dead 2. Travis lives with his wife and three daughters in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

For more information on Travis, visit www.travisthrasher.com.

My Thoughts...

Let me start by saying I was not impressed by Thrasher last book.
This one blew me away. I devoured it in one sitting and was just in awe.
If you are a fan of or if you have never read futuristic fiction you MUST read  American Omens.
A thriller that will make you wonder if you are going to be living this very story soon.
I can't wait to her what my fellow readers think about this one.
I gave this book 4.5 stars and I HIGHLY recommend it!
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.


Two extra copies fell off the truck. All you have to do to be entered is follow this blog and share this post on social media!

Mending Fences By Suzanne Woods Fisher

Every saint has a past. Every sinner has a future.Luke Schrock is a new and improved man after a stint in rehab, though everyone in Stoney Ridge only remembers the old Luke. They might have forgiven him, but nobody trusts him.

Amos and Fern Lapp allow Luke to live at Windmill Farm under two conditions. First, Luke must make a sincere apology to each person he's hurt--a four-page, single-spaced list. Second, he must ask each victim of mischief to describe the damage he caused.

Simple, Luke thinks. Offering apologies is easy. But discovering the lasting effects his careless actions have caused . . . that isn't so simple. It's gut-wrenching.

And his list keeps growing. Izzy Miller, beautiful and frustratingly aloof, also boards at Windmill Farm. Luke's clumsy efforts to befriend Izzy only insult and annoy her. Eager to impress, Luke sets out to prove himself to her by locating her mother. When he does, her identity sends shock waves through Stoney Ridge. Bestselling and award-winning author Suzanne Woods Fisher returns to her beloved Stoney Ridge for this brand-new series featuring some of her readers' favorite characters.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Mending-Fences-Deacons-Family-Suzanne/dp/0800727517/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1549161859&sr=1-1&keywords=mending+fences+suzanne+woods+fisher

Suzanne Woods Fisher has a specialty: she writes about real people living in faith-based communities. With over 750,000 copies of books sold worldwide, she is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than twenty-five books, ranging from children's books ('The Adventures of Lily Lapp' series) to novels ("The Choice") to non-fiction books ("Amish Peace: Simple Living for a Complicated World").

When Suzanne isn't writing, she's probably playing with puppies. She's been involved with Guide Dogs for the Blind for over fifteen years. Raising puppies, she says, is like eating a potato chip. You just can't stop at one.

Readers are invited to stop by Suzanne's website at: www.suzannewoodsfisher.com

My thoughts...

I struggled reading this one. I think it was just that I had read an over load of Amish fiction One can only read so many at one time. The story was unique in it's own way. I just wish that it had held my attention better. I will read the next book in this series. I gave this book 3 stars. But please read it and let me know what you think about it. The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

With Winter's First Frost By Kelly Irvin

With the coldest season comes the warmest of second chances. 
At age seventy-three, Laura Kauffman knows she is closer to the end of life than the beginning. If God willed it, she would join her beloved late husband soon. Even so, Laura wonders what purpose God might have for her in this winter of her life—and why this season seems so lonely.
Widower Zechariah Stutzman is facing his own barren season, despite the great-grandchildren swirling around him. With his Parkinson’s worsening, he had no choice but to move in with his grandson’s family, though now he feels adrift and useless.
When Laura offers to help with Zechariah’s five great-grandchildren after their mother has a difficult childbirth, Zechariah is unsure how he will adjust to the warm but tart demeanor of this woman he has known since grade school. But soon Laura and Zechariah learn they are asking God the same questions about loss and hope. And they begin to wonder if He is providing answers after all.
With Winter’s First Frost reminds us that God’s purposes always bear fruit—and sometimes love is sweeter with age.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Winters-First-Frost-Every-Season/dp/031034817X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1549161259&sr=1-1

Best-selling novelist Kelly Irvin's latest book is Beneath the Summer Sun, the second book in her Amish romance series, Every Amish Season, from Zondervan/HarperCollins Christian Publishing. This four-book series delves into the lives of four Amish women linked by life altering experiences that bring them together as wives, mothers, and grandmothers in the small town of Jamesport, Mo. The first book, Upon a Spring Breeze, received critical acclaim from the Library Journal: "A moving and compelling tale about the power of grace and forgiveness that reminds us how we become strongest in our most broken moments."

Kelly Irvin is also the author of The Amish of Bee County series, which includes the critically acclaimed The Beekeeper's Son. Publishers Weekly called the first book in the series a beautifully woven masterpiece and Romantic Times Magazine called Kelly a storyteller extraordinaire. It was followed by The Bishop's Son and The Saddle Maker's Son, which is an ECPA bestseller.

A two-time ACFW Carol finalist, Kelly's novellas have been included in numerous anthologies, including An Amish Summer, The Amish Christmas Gift, An Amish Market, an Amish Christmas Love, and Amish Quilt.

She also penned the Bliss Creek Amish series and the New Hope Amish series, both published by Harvest House Publishers. Love Still Stands, the first book in the New Hope series, debuted in September 2014, and the follow-up, Love Redeemed, released March 1, 2014. The final book in the series, set in Branson, MO., was A Plain Love Song, released in July 2014.

The Bliss Creek Amish series, set in Kansas, includes To Love and to Cherish, A Heart Made New, and Love's Journey Home.

In the New Hope series, familiar characters from Bliss Creek move to Missouri to start a new district and a new life.

Kelly is also the author of two romantic suspense novels, A Deadly Wilderness and No Child of Mine, set in San Antonio, Texas. Two more romantic suspense novels are on the horizon, with the first, Tell Her No Lies, slated for publication by Thomas Nelson Publishing in January 2019.

Kelly recently contracted with Zondervan for a new 3-book series set in Montana. More details to come!

The Kansas native is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the ACFW San Antonio local chapter Alamo City Christian Fiction Writers, as well as Romance Writers of America (RWA) and Sisters in Crime.

A graduate of the University of Kansas William Allen White School of Journalism, Kelly wrote nonfiction professionally for thirty years. She studied for three semesters at the University of Costa Rica, learning the Spanish language. As a journalist, she worked six years in the border towns of Laredo and El Paso, where she was exposed to culture and language that serves as fodder for her fiction writing. She has written hard news, features, entertainment pieces, restaurant critiques, editorials, and weekly columns. Writing awards include the Silver Star Award from the Texas Mental Health Association for articles pertaining to mental health and numerous awards in news, feature, and editorial writing from the Texas Press Association and Texas Press Women.

Kelly retired in 2016 from her position of 22 years as public relations manager for the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department, where her duties included writing and designing an employee newsletter, writing news releases, collaborating on marketing campaigns, coordinating ribbon-cuttings and groundbreakings, coordinating press conferences, updating the web site, and acting as a media spokesperson.

Kelly has been married to photographer Tim Irvin for more than 30 years, and they have two young adult children and two grandchildren. In her spare time, she likes to write short stories, read books by her favorite authors, and visit the babies.


For more information, visit http://www.kellyirvin.com

My thoughts...

I have read this whole series and enjoyed them all. I'm in awe of the covers to. Get ready to cozy up during this cold season and read this warm story of second chances. You are never to old for love. This Amish story is going to make you fall in love with the characters and be left wanting more.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.