Monday, December 28, 2015

Redemption By Beth Shriver



When Dr. Daniel Kauffman asks the headstrong Fannie Hochstetler to assist him in a clinic he has set up in the Amish community, she reluctantly agrees. Tired of her mother’s attempts to plan her life, Fannie sees the offer as an opportunity to become a midwife, even if that means working with a man as
insufferable as Daniel.
 
Daniel isn’t thrilled to be working with Fannie either, but he needs her help in order to split his time between the hospital and the community. And she’s a natural with the patients. But the longer he works with Fannie, the more he misses the community he left all those years ago—and the harder it becomes for him to resist the tug to return. Will Daniel be able to find redemption and the love he longs for?

Pick up your copy here...



Beth Shriver is the author of over a dozen books, including Healing Grace, Annie’s Truth, and Grace Given. She received a degree in social work from the University of Nebraska and was a caseworker before starting a family. She followed her passion and now writes full time.

This story is about two totally different people, with a common goal. Will they learn how to love each other and the baby they found? You have to pick up a copy to find out.
I love midwife stories and I love the Amish. Shiver can tell an Amish story that you will not want to put down.
You are going to enjoy this one it is well written, and believable.
I gave this book 4 stars.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for my honest review.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Imagine Heaven By John Burke



All of us long to know what life after death will be like. Bestselling author John Burke is no exception. In Imagine Heaven, Burke compares over 100 gripping stories of near-death experiences (NDEs) to what Scripture says about our biggest questions of Heaven: Will I be myself? Will I see friends and loved ones? What will Heaven look like? What is God like? What will we do forever? What about children and pets? 
For decades, Burke has been studying accounts of survivors brought back from near death who lived to tell of both heavenly and hellish experiences. While not every detail of individual NDEs correlate with Scripture, Burke shows how the common experiences shared by thousands of survivors--including doctors, college professors, bank presidents, people of all ages and cultures, and even blind people--point to the exhilarating picture of Heaven promised in the Bible.
This thrilling journey into the afterlife will make you feel like you've been there. It will forever change the way you view the life to come and the way you live your life today. You'll discover Heaven is even more amazing than you've ever imagined.

Pick up your copy here...


John Burke is the author of Imagine Heaven, No Perfect People Allowed, Soul Revolution, and Unshockable Love. The founder with his wife, Kathy, of Gateway Church in Austin, Texas, John is also the president of Gateway Leadership Initiative (GLI), a nonprofit organization. As an international speaker, John has addressed hundreds of thousands of people in twenty countries on topics of leadership and spiritual growth. He and his family live in Austin, Texas.

This book is now on the New York Times Best Seller List. You Don't want to miss it!
Imagine Heaven is a book that is very well written. There are many people that have written about heaven who had a near death experiences. Burke compares the stories told about heaven by people who have had a NDE  to what Bible scripture says about heaven.  Burke uses a great deal of research and documentation to unfold what awaits us after we take our last breath on this earth and take our first in glory. He uses  professional people such as doctors and college professors who have had a NDE. I would suggest everyone read this book from the believer to the skeptic. I really enjoyed reading it.
I gave this book 4 stars. I recommend this book. Pick up a copy for a gift this year, I know that I will be sharing it.
I was given a copy of this book by the authors wife for my honest review.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Signs in Life By Deanna Nowadnick



SIGNS IN LIFE begins with a late night encounter with law enforcement. In the harsh glare of a flashlight, author DEANNA NOWADNICK learns the consequences of speeding through a stop sign. Other incidents follow. All are linked to the divine signs she's encountered in that bigger journey through life. Join Deanna as she shares humorous anecdotes and inspirational lessons from her travels with God. See the signs in life. She might be speeding through a stop sign--yet again!--while you're carefully navigating a busy street, but together we're all part of a bigger journey, a greater purpose. We're all part of God's great story.
 
Pick up your copy here...


Deanna Nowadnick is a native of the Pacific Northwest. When not writing, she serves at the Client Service Coordinator for The Planner's Edge, an investment advisory firm in Washington State.

Deanna is active in her church, playing the violin and editing the newsletter. She loves to knit, adores chocolate, and most important, enjoys a blessed marriage to Kurt. She's also the proud mother of two adult sons. Her first book, Fruit of My Spirit, began as a short story for Kyle and Kevin about how she met their father. It quickly became a much larger story about God's love and faithfulness.

Deanna has just finished her second book: Signs in Life: Finding Direction in Our Travels with God.
 
This is the second book I have read by Nowadnick. It is a short book but oh so full of inspiring words.
I found it honest and down to earth very easy to read and follow along with.
Nowadnick shares her real life stories with us and you are going to enjoy what you read and maybe even connect with her sometimes as well. She has a way of letting you know all about her walk with the Lord that most authors don't like to share. The good the bad and the funny.
I gave this book 4 stars and I hope that you pick up a copy.
I was given a copy of this book by the author and publisher for my honest review.

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

The Supermom Myth By Becky Kopitzke



"This book isn't about raising kids. It's about raising Moms. . ." says author, speaker, blogger, lunch packer, and sidewalk chalk artist Becky Kopitzke. In a Pinterest-perfect culture, you've likely sensed an accelerated pressure to measure up. Then you either weigh yourself down with guilt or become resigned--desensitized, even--to this so-called failure. The Supermom Myth--with humor and grace, yet all the while maintaining a firm grasp on reality--aims to empower you to become the mom God created you to be. With 8 chapters, each personifying a "dirty villain" of motherhood, including The Grouch on the Couch (Anger), Worry Woman (Fear), and The Calendar Queen (Busyness), Kopitzke offers a gentle reminder to rest in the super power of our grace-filled God. 

Pick up your copy here...





Becky Kopitzke is a writer, speaker, singer, dreamer, lunch packer, snowman builder and recovering perfectionist. She lives with her handsome husband and their two young daughters in northeast Wisconsin, where a pink indoor trampoline fills half the once formal living room.

Becky believes God works in the ordinary, and it's up to us to find him there. On her blog, Time Out with Becky Kopitzke, she offers weekly encouragement for fellow imperfect women, pointing our weaknesses, blessings, and victories to God. Becky's first book, The SuperMom Myth: Conquering the Dirty Villains of Motherhood, is slated to release December 1, 2015 with Shiloh Run Press.

Trying to be the perfect mom? Super mom is that what you are?
This books really hits home for me. Trying to do it all and do it perfectly. It's impossible but God has your back.
A book all moms can relate to. We don't all have it together, and guess what that's alright.
This book reminds us to rest in Jesus and take it day by day.
I really think this is a book all moms need to pick up and read.
I gave this book 4 stars. Why not pick up a copy for a gift.
I was given a copy of this book by Wynn Wynn Media for my honest review.

Monday, December 7, 2015

The Rising By Ryan D'agostino




The astonishing story of one man’s recovery in the face of traumatic loss—and a powerful meditation on the resilience of the soul
 
On July 23, 2007, Dr. William Petit suffered an unimaginable horror: Armed strangers broke into his suburban Connecticut home in the middle of the night, bludgeoned him nearly to death, tortured and killed his wife and two daughters, and set their house on fire. He miraculously survived, and yet living through those horrific hours was only the beginning of his ordeal. Broken and defeated, Bill was forced to confront a question of ultimate consequence: How does a person find the strength to start over and live again after confronting the darkest of nightmares?

In The Rising, acclaimed journalist Ryan D’Agostino takes us into Bill Petit’s world, using unprecedented access to Bill and his family and friends to craft a startling, inspiring portrait of human strength and endurance. To understand what produces a man capable of surviving the worst, D’Agostino digs deep into Bill’s all-American upbringing, and in the process tells a remarkable story of not just a man’s life, but of a community’s power to shape that life through its embrace of loyalty and self-sacrifice as its most important values. Following Bill through the hardest days—through the desperate times in the aftermath of the attack and the harrowing trials of the two men responsible for it—The Rising offers hope that we can find a way back to ourselves, even when all seems lost.
 
Today, Bill Petit has remarried. He and his wife have a baby boy. The very existence of this new family defies rational expectation, and yet it confirms our persistent, if often unspoken, belief that we are greater than what befalls us, and that if we know where to look for strength in trying times, we will always find it. Bill’s story, told as never before in The Rising, is by turns compelling and uplifting, an affirmation of the inexhaustible power of the human spirit.

Pick up your copy here...



RYAN D’AGOSTINO is the editor-in-chief of Popular Mechanics magazine. Previously, he was an articles editor at Esquire, and he has written for The New Yorker, Ski, and other publications.


The Rising tells is the story of how the family of Dr. William Petit was murdered. The book at times goes back and forth from present to past, but that does not take away from the story. The book is hard to read at times, but not because of the writing, The book to me is really emotional at times. The author takes us through tragedy and to new beginnings to the life after Dr. Petit finds strength to continue in life. The sheer will to live displayed by the doctor is astonishing to me. 
I gave this book 4 stars.  If you enjoy reading true crime you may just like this book.
I was given a copy of this book by the publishers for my honest review. 

Friday, December 4, 2015

20 Things We'd Tell our Twenty-Something Selves By Kelli & Peter Worrall



Foster good habits. Press into pain. Never, ever get another perm.
Despite what many think, our twenties aren’t that dead space between youth and real life. Done right, they can be among our most important years.
In 20 Things Wed Tell Our Twentysomething Selves, Peter and Kelli Worrall look back on it all—the good, the bad, and the miserable—to give you the best of what they’ve learned. With humility, warmth, and brilliant storytelling, they invite you not only into their wisdom but into their very lives, sharing about marriage, faith, drawn-out adoptions, dark nights of the soul, and the God who’s in it all.
20 Things is more than a list of advice; it’s a book that can change your life. Let the trend of your twenties be sowing wisdom, and who knows what the rest of life will bring?Includes action steps, discussion questions, and ideas for further reading at the end of each chapter.

Pick up your copy here...



Kelli Worrall is Professor of Communication at Moody Bible Institute, Chicago. She's also a writer and a speaker. She blogs at www.thisoddhouse.org.
You can find out more about Kelli and her husband/coauthor Peter at www.peterandkelli.com.
Kelli received a B.S. in Communication from Cedarville University, a Masters degree in Religious Education from Trinity International University, and an MFA in Creative Writing from Roosevelt University.
Kelli and husband Peter live in McHenry, Illinois, with their two children, Daryl and Amelia.
 Peter Worrall is Associate Professor of Education at The Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL. He speaks at churches, camps, and Christian schools. His particular interests are education, spiritual formation, worldview and biblical theology. He lives in McHenry, Illinois, with his wife Kelli and two children, Daryl and Amelia. 

Boy do I wish I had this book of wisdom when I was in my twenties.
This book is full of wisdom and is very inspirational.
This couple shares some stories that we all need to hear. Great Christian insight that's very uplifting, not at all pushy or condemning.
Pick up a copy of this book for that twenty-something in your life.
I gave this book 4 stars and I recommend this book.
I was given a copy of this book by Wynn Wynn Media for my honest review. 

Thursday, December 3, 2015

A Rare Nativity By Sam Beeson





We have all heard the song The Twelve Days of Christmas, and we have all seen the traditional Christmas crèche. Now, author Sam Beeson and photographers Nina and Terral Cochran combine these two classic Christmas icons to create A Rare Nativity.
Upon reading the first lines of the book, it is clear the narrator holds a bitter grudge as he sends his enemy crude and discarded gifts: On the first night of Christmas I gave my enemy a briar from a tanglewood tree. On the second night of Christmas I gave my enemy two rotten eggs.
Night after night the gifts pile up shards of glass, rusty nails, gnarled twigs, and more. What the narrator s enemy decides to do with each of these odious gifts is nothing less than a Christmas miracle. The photographic creation of the rare nativity at the end of the book is both a work of art and a wonder to behold.

Pick up your copy here...

Sam Beeson teaches creative writing, Shakespeare, and English at American Fork High School. He and his wife, Sarah, have five children and one dog. Sam tries to write something every day and enjoys playing Grammar Punk.

Author Beeson has wrote the all time best and much needed Christmas book. This is a book that everyone needs to buy for their enemy and give to them this Christmas.
This will be the one gift that your enemy will NEVER for get. And it just might change their heart as well.
A book that sums up this time of year FORGIVENESS. is what it's all about.
The best gift you can give this year is the gift of forgiveness and this is the book to tell that enemy you forgive them.
This opens up a great way to have that much needed conversation with those who have done you wrong
I plan to buy a copy for someone this year and I will cherish the fact that it is a gift straight from my heart.
Matthew 5:43-44 is presented in such a way you will never forget it.
This is a book you are going to want to share so make sure you pick up a few copies.
I gave this book 5 stars two times. I HIGHLY recommend this book. Put it on your gift list.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for my honest review.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

The Mountain Midwife By Laurie Alice Eakes



For nearly two hundred years, women in Ashley Tolliver’s family have practiced the art of midwifery in their mountain community. Now she wants to take her skills a step further, but attending medical school means abandoning those women to whom she has dedicated her life, the mountains she loves, and the awakening of her heart.
Ashley Tolliver has tended to the women of her small Appalachian community for years. As their midwife, she thinks she has seen it all. Until a young woman gives birth to a baby at Ashley’s home and is abducted just as she tries to take the dangerously bleeding woman her to the nearest hospital. Now Ashley is on a mission to find the woman and her newborn baby . . . before it’s too late.
Hunter McDermott is on a quest—to track down his birth mother. After receiving more media attention than he could ever want for being in the right place at the right time, he receives a mysterious phone call from a woman claiming to be his mother. Hunter seeks out the aid of the local midwife in the mountain town where the phone call originated—surely she can shed some light on his own family background.
Ashley isn’t prepared for the way Hunter’s entrance into her world affects her heart and her future. He reignites dreams of her own family she has long put aside in favor earning her medical degree and being able to do even more for her community. But is it commitment to her calling or fear of the unknown that keeps her feet firmly planted in the Appalachian soil? Or is it something more—fear of her growing feelings for Hunter—that make her hesitant to explore the world beyond the mountains?

Pick up your copy here...



Since she lay in bed as a child telling herself stories, bestselling, award-winning author Laurie Alice Eakes has fulfilled her dream of becoming a published author, with a degree in English and French from Asbury University and a master’s degree in writing fiction from Seton Hill University. She now has nearly two dozen books in print. Laurie Alice lives with her husband in Houston, Texas, with sundry lovable dogs and cats.

I never put this book down it was fantastic. The ending was just what I wanted.
Ashley and Hunter were the type of characters that you wish were your friends, You could see breaking bread with them and the mystery and the family mystery was so unique in this story. I loved the outcome and I am sure you will too.
 I plan to look for more books from this author.
Eakes has a way with words that just suck you in and never let you go.
I gave this book 5 stars and I HIGLY recommend this book.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for my honest review.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Worship Changes Everything By Darlene Zschech




Renowned Songwriter and Author Helps Readers See Worship as a Way of Life
It can be easy to have a heart filled with worship on a Sunday morning as the church band is playing your favorite song. But then comes Monday morning's commute or Tuesday afternoon's pile of laundry.
So what does worship look like in real life--at work, in your family, or with your friends? Darlene Zschech has spent her life thinking and teaching about worship. With wisdom and contagious joy, she shares her thoughts on what worship truly is and how it should invade every facet of your being. Let yourself be transformed by the purpose and freedom that come from living a life of worship.

Pick Up your copy here...



Darlene Zschech and her husband, Mark, are pastors of Hope Unlimited Church (www.hopeuc.com), which meets in various campuses across the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. Acclaimed worldwide as a singer, songwriter, worship leader, author, and speaker, she is perhaps most famous for the chorus "Shout to the Lord," a song that is sung by millions of churchgoers every week and has been covered by many other artists.

Many years ago the Zschech family made a life commitment to do whatever they could to bring the message of Jesus Christ and relief to human suffering. One of their great joys in life has been to work with Hope Global (www.hope-global.org/), serving the world's poorest of the poor, offering many different projects in many different developing nations.

Darlene and her husband and their family live on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. Learn more at http://www.darlenezschech.com/.

This book was full of scripture and many super stories as well as some quotes from many great people.
I had some trouble with all the different Bible versions I wish that she has used one Bible( My choice King James).
Some of the topics don't stay on point for long then they jump to another topic.
I like to ponder on things and get the most from it. Especially when there is a whole lot to digest. And oh boy there is a lot in this book.
The art of worship is all about your relationship with Jesus and Zschech knows what she is talking about.
I gave this book 4 stars and I HIGHLY recommend it, I also recommend that you have a few Bibles on hand and read it very slow let it sink in slowly.  
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for my honest review.