Emptied By Wynter & Jonathan Pitts

For a Marriage That Brims Over
Maybe you entered marriage with some pretty high expectations—most couples do. Jonathan and Wynter Pitts did. Until the reality of married life spilled into their expectations.
Jonathan and Wynter invite you on a journey to explore a different approach to your happily-ever-after marriage. Join them for an honest look at the lessons learned as they navigated the ups and downs of early marriage while raising four daughters.
Here you will...

• be encouraged to remove the pressure of a keeping-up-with-the-Joneses marriage
• learn to let go of assumptions and embrace your role as servant-leader to your spouse
• experience how God can pour His purpose, passion, and fullness into your relationship

Emptied is a way of life. It’s not about trying harder, it’s about thinking differently. Only when you are emptied of your own self-focused motivations can God pour new life into you for the abundant marriage and satisfying relationship you long for. Are you ready to approach your marriage poured out, ready to be filled up?

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Emptied-Experiencing-Fullness-Poured-Out-Marriage/dp/073697041X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1548887146&sr=8-2&keywords=Emptied%3A+Experiencing+the+Fullness+of+a+Poured-Out+Marriage.


Wynter Pitts is the author of several books, including You’re God’s Girl! She is the founder of For Girls Like You, a bimonthly magazine that equips girls to walk boldly into who God has created them to be and to resource their parents to raise strong Christ-following God girls who say yes to His plans for their lives. Wynter tragically passed from death to life on July 24, 2018, after 15 years of marriage to her beloved Jonathan. She leaves behind an incredible legacy through her many writings but more importantly in her four daughters—Alena, Kaitlyn, Camryn, and Olivia.

Jonathan Pitts is an author, speaker, and executive pastor at Church of the City in Franklin, TN. Prior to pastoring, Jonathan was executive director at The Urban Alternative, the national ministry of Dr. Tony Evans in Dallas, Texas. Jonathan lives in Franklin, Tennessee with his four daughters.

My Thoughts...

Ready to learn from another couple that is not perfect? This is a good guide.
Know yourself so your relationship can be better and know your partner is not perfect. Then we can empty ourselves for each other.
This is a great book to give as a wedding gift. This would make a good book for small couples groups.
I gave this book 4 stars. Pick up a few and give them as gifts.
  The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Secrets at Cedar Cabin By Colleen Coble

Her mother lied about her identity and her husband wasn’t who she thought he was—can Bailey even trust herself anymore?
Running for her life in the wake of her mother’s murder, Bailey Fleming escapes to the only place she can think of—a remote, dilapidated cabin in Lavender Tides. Intending to finally get to the truth behind the lies of her past, Bailey only finds more questions when bodies are discovered near her cabin hideout along with traces of a dangerous human trafficking ring. In an unlikely partnership with FBI agent Lance Phoenix, Bailey races to understand the mystery surrounding her life and circumstances before the murderer tracks her down.
Meanwhile, Lance is determined to rescue his sister, Ava, who was abducted after running away from home as a teenager. An unexpected lead brings him to the remote cabin, and he wonders if Bailey—with her suspicious past and strange connections to his sister’s case—is really who she claims to be and if she can somehow lead him to Ava.
Filled with Colleen Coble's custom blend of suspense and romance, Secrets at Cedar Cabin takes us back to the evocative landscape of Washington's coast where nothing is quite as it seems.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Cedar-Cabin-Lavender-Tides/dp/0718085841/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1548387552&sr=8-2&keywords=secrets+at+cedar+cabin+by+colleen+coble

Best-selling author Colleen Coble's novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers' Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has over 2 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana. Visit her website at http://colleencoble.com.

My Thoughts...

This is going to be short and sweet, I don't want to give anything away!
Oh my I love the suspense and the romance in this one.
I read it in one sitting I had to find out about the girls. I have now deemed Coble Queen of Christian Suspense.
I stayed plastered to the book until the very end.
You have to read Lance and Bailey's story and tell me what you think!
I gave this book 4.5 stars. 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.

Playing for Keeps By Jill Shalvis GIVEAWAY!

If you’re planning on falling in love…When it comes to the confident, charismatic Caleb Parker, Sadie Lane feels the spark—the kind that comes from rubbing each other the wrong way. She’s a tattoo artist, he’s a straight-laced mogul. But after they accidentally co-rescue an abandoned dog from a storm, Sadie sees a vulnerable side to the seemingly invincible hottie.
you’d better be sure…Caleb doesn’t do emotions. Growing up the underdog, he’s learned the hard way to build up an impenetrable wall. Perfect for business. Disastrous for relationships. He’s never worried about it before—not until he finally gets behind Sadie’s armor and begins to fall.
… someone is there to catch you.
Both guarded and vulnerable, Sadie and Caleb are complete opposites. Or are they? Shocked at their undeniable connection, can they ever admit to wanting more? That all depends on what they’re each willing to risk.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Playing-Keeps-Heartbreaker-Bay-Novel/dp/0062741888/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1548213989&sr=8-1&keywords=playing+for+keeps+jill+shalvis

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit http://www.jillshalvis.com for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.
www.facebook.com/jillshalvis
www.twitter.com/jillshalvis
www.instagram.com/jillshalvis
http://jillshalvis.tumblr.com/
or email her at contact@jillshalvis.com

My Thoughts...

I love this series. I was so happy to read Caleb's story. If you have read Shalvis' books before you know she loves dogs and is the queen of romance. This book did not disappoint.  Sadie and Caleb are great together. I only wish their story was longer.
I can't wait for The Lemon Sisters this fall.
You have to run don't walk and get your copy of Playing for Keeps. It's a great 4 star read.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.


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More Of God By R. T. Kendall

Many of us want more from God instead of more of God.Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” This is a promise. No one needs to tell you if the water you drank when you were thirsty made you feel better. So too with experiencing God. When it happens, you will know it for yourself.
More of God is about moving beyond faith. It is about getting more of God. Experiencing more of God. Every book in the Bible, especially the books of the New Testament, are written for this purpose. Take the letters; those who are addressed were already saved. But the writers wanted their hearers to experience not just more knowledge about God but more of God.
Everything in this book is designed to make you hungry. Thirsty. As you read, keep in mind that the ever-increasing hunger for more of God is from God.
Kendall’s advice: “Don’t settle for more mere information about God. Or more theological knowledge. Give yourself no rest until you cross over that crucial line from secondhand knowledge about God to firsthand knowledge of God. There is nothing more exciting than when you see for yourself that God is real, Jesus is real, the Holy Spirit is real, and the Bible is true!”

 

Pick up your copy here...

https://www.amazon.com/More-God-Seek-Benefactor-Benefits/dp/1629995843/ref=sr_1_1?crid=CJ5YG8RMKP86&keywords=more+of+god+rt+kendall&qid=1547939065&sprefix=More+of+God+By+R%2Caps%2C194&sr=8-1

 

R. T. Kendall was the pastor of Westminster Chapel in London, England, for twenty-five years. Born in Ashland, Kentucky, he was educated at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (MDiv) and Oxford University (DPhil). Kendall is the author of more than sixty books, including Total Forgiveness, Holy Fire, It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over, Prepare Your Heart for the Midnight Cry, and Whatever Happened to the Gospel?

 

My Thoughts...

Kendall wants us to learn to seek the benefactor, Not just the benefits. This book is the guide to learn more about that.

 We always want more from God not More of God. That's the flesh but we can learn to want more of God with help from this book.

It's written easy to read and scripture to back up all that Kendall is saying.

This is a spirit filled book written by a spirit filled author.

A very inspiring book. I gave it 4 stars. I recommend this one.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Song for a Whale By Lynne Kelly GIVEAWAY!

In the spirit of modern-day classics like Fish in a Tree and Counting by 7s comes the story of a deaf girl's connection to a whale whose song can't be heard by his species, and the journey she takes to help him.From fixing the class computer to repairing old radios, twelve-year-old Iris is a tech genius. But she's the only deaf person in her school, so people often treat her like she's not very smart. If you've ever felt like no one was listening to you, then you know how hard that can be.

When she learns about Blue 55, a real whale who is unable to speak to other whales, Iris understands how he must feel. Then she has an idea: she should invent a way to "sing" to him! But he's three thousand miles away. How will she play her song for him?

Full of heart and poignancy, this affecting story by sign language interpreter Lynne Kelly shows how a little determination can make big waves.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Song-Whale-Lynne-Kelly/dp/152477023X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1547820061&sr=8-1&keywords=song+for+a+whale+by+lynne+Kelly

Lynne Kelly grew up in Houston, lived in a couple of much colder places, then returned to the Houston area, where she works as a sign language interpreter and writes novels for children and young adults. CHAINED is her first novel.

My Thoughts...

I loved this book. Kids are going to read his one over and over it just might end up being their favorite book.
They will learn will reading it and they will love the story.
I found it to be good for ages 7-13 but I liked and I am much older.
Kelly has a way with bringing the kids into the story.
You don't want to miss this one.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Promise Me The Moon By Nichole Evans

When Grace Quincy ("Q") lands a job as the lead scientist and engineer in the CIA's Clandestine Operations and Properties group, she becomes the Quartermaster for U.S. reconnaissance—the creator of spy gadgets for Jayce Jackson, special agent with a license to kill. As charming as the famed British double-O, Jackson is one-hundred percent all-American, from his dusty cowboy boots to his unending Southern charm. His conquests in and out of the bedroom are the stuff of legends, yet Q daydreams of being something more to Jackson. At the highly sought-after event, Nebulas and Novas, Q gets tangled in Jackson's latest mission and the mysterious disappearance of NASA's green glass Moon stone. Q must trust her wits to survive the dangerous operation, thwart Dr. Faust's sinister plan, and save the sexy spy she loves.

Nichole D. Evans’ writes tales of international intrigue laced with salty humor—probably from growing up in a hometown centered around a national laboratory and fifteen years teaching bawdy eighth graders, respectively.

She believes in heroes and heroines who are smart, loyal, and do the right thing, even when the mission seems impossible. Inspired by the clever quips of James Bond and the unexpected courage of Jack Ryan, her plots are woven on a backdrop of real-world events, resolved just in time to fall in love.

Nichole is married to her real-life “Q”, and she has two children who are out saving the world on their own.

My Thoughts...

Oh How I hate writing this review.
As most of you know I am not a fan of self published books because 90% of the books have not been edited by professionals.
This was not my kind of read and I read a lot of books. It was all over the place and their was no editor in sight of this book.
I struggled with reading it and it is not one that I recommend.
It was at best a 2 star book.
 The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Growing Forward By Laurie Pawlik

After life is shattered by loss or a traumatic experience--whether big or small--it can seem impossible to heal or even move on. Deep down you believe God intends good for you, but you just don't have the energy or strength to figure out how to move forward.

Author Laurie Pawlik has been there, and here she shares how she flourished despite multiple losses. Through practical tips and thought-provoking questions, she helps you take small yet powerful steps toward healing and letting go. She also offers insights and encouragement from the lives of strong women in the Bible. You'll glimpse the painful losses these women experienced and learn how they flourished despite seasons of hardship and grief. You'll discover how God shows His presence and power in the valleys, deserts, and storms. And you'll feel a fresh sense of hope that, with God, you can redefine yourself, remake your life, and grow forward into a beautiful new season.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Forward-When-Cant-Back/dp/0764232177/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3Q2CK4J1VWDXV&keywords=growing+forward+when+you+can%27t+go+back&qid=1547941992&s=Books&sprefix=Growning+Forw%2Cstripbooks%2C167&sr=1-2-catcorr

Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen, MSW, is the Adventurous Writer who created the “She Blossoms” blog and book series. She writes full-time from her treehouse overlooking the waters of Indian Arm in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Married, childless, joyful, dog-loving, flute-playing, Blossy-drawing, big-hearted - this woman knows what it's like.

And she loves learning! Laurie's undergraduate degrees are in Psychology and Education, from the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Her Master of Social Work is from the University of British Columbia, in Vancouver. Her street smarts are from the life's school of hard knocks, three years living and teaching in Africa, and approaching the age of 50 with her heart intact.

Grow forward and blossom with Laurie at https://blossomtips.com/.

My Thoughts...

This was what I call an on time book. Not sure how the publisher knew to send it to me but I am glad that they did.
After losing my only daughter I needed this to help with the grief.
 It was good to read others stories and not feel so alone.
I really have put this book to good use. I plan to reread it again and sit down with it and take my time and  let it all sink in.
I gave this book 4 stars and 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.