Sweet Book

Buy Here

The following is a review of the book Unrivaled by Siri Mitchell.

This book is set in 1910, and amazing, busy time to be a forward thinking woman of society.  Lucy lives in a world of rules and social grace wrapped around being an only child. Her father has fallen ill, and the family fortune is dwindling.  She is being pushed into an ‘appropriate’ marriage match while struggling not to fall for the rival candy maker’s son. Business becomes competitive and dirty as these two families try to one up one another. 

This was quite a fun read, could not put it down.

This book was given to me as a  review copy from Bethany House Publishing Group.  I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.

Interesting Book of Love, Change and Politics

Buy Here

The following is a review of the book Firefly Island by Lisa Wingate.

I love when the central character in a book grows throughout the story. Mallary Hale was working in Washington DC when her life was turned upside down; she meets, falls in love, marries, becomes a mother and moves across the country in the blink of an eye.  She learns to see life outside the bubble she grew up in, takes on small town life and the game of politics.  She steps out of her comfort zone and sees the reality of life is different for others. This former career gal goes through so many changes, she begins to blog out of frustration and to keep friends and family up to date in her daily adventures.  Beyond the daily struggle she begins to trust and believe in God, and how she is in the right place at exactly the right time. 

This book was given to me as a  review copy from Bethany House Publishing Group.  I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.

A Fun Book Full of History and Mystery

Buy Here

The following is a review of the book The Tutor’s Daughter  by Julie Klassen. 

I thought this was a nice little Christian book of characters wrapped around a love story.  The main character is an educated woman whose father runs a school for boys.  Her father is offered a job to tutor two young boys who happen to be the younger brothers of former students. The job is at the pupils home, which will require relocating to a new town.  She remembers the older brothers from their days at the school; one was her friend and the other tormented her with pranks.  Years later she’s curious to see how the older brothers fair, now that they are grown men.

As with many stories there is emotional conflict and a struggle to have a personal relationship with God grow.  True to many historical fiction works, there’s is a clash with class hierarchy and the desperate measures people go through to retain fortune and status. To make the  book even more exciting there is a mystery entwined. 

I will look for more books by this author in the future!

This book was given to me as a  review copy from Bethany House Publishing Group.  I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.

A Wonderful Guide to Christian Leadership in a Comprehensive Book

Buy Here

The following is a review of the book The Conviction to Lead: The 25 Principles of Leadership that Matters by Albert Mohler. 

I found this book a good outline of qualities sought in a leader.  It would also serve as a great tool to keep a leader consciously on track.  My favorite part as relating to the aspects of a Christian leader within this book talk of how a leader has a story that they believe in and retell.  The book outlines 25 leadership principles, and is separated into 25 chapters.  I think this would be a beneficial read to anyone who wishes to strengthen leadership skills and anyone seeking an employer or organization that lead as such.

This was a nice read, as I am taking some steps in leadership myself. I found myself nodding my head in agreement and also felt fueled and strengthened in my beliefs.

This book was given to me as a  review copy from Bethany House Publishing Group.  I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.

Free Shipping On All Orders

The Children's Place

Need new clothes for your kids, but hate paying shipping?

 Today both Crazy8 and Children's Place are offering free shipping, on any size order.

  This is my favorite kind of online offer.

Crazy 8

                  

Enjoyable Book Full of HIstory

The following is a review of the book Unending Devotion, by Jody Hedlund.

Lily Young is an adult orphan trying to find her sister; who she thought was safe with an adoptive family, but runs away.  Lily has a job as a photographer’s assistant and travels in central Michigan to logging camps as part of her work. She goes from brother to brothel seeking to save her sister, often saving others instead.  She uses her faith and strength from God to save young girls who are caught up in the ugly shanty town lifestyles, and end up becoming prostitutes.  She helps rally townspeople to make things better and overthrow a powerful tavern/brothel owner, who makes his own laws. 



I enjoyed this book.  I’ve been a Michigan resident my whole life, and this book brought some unsavory history to me about lumber towns.  It resembles classic stories about newly developing towns and how they were full of men, taverns and lawlessness.   It told of the struggle of building a town, trying to get churches and schools established, so respectable citizens and families would want to settle.  It showed perseverance, and using God’s strength and grace to fight  for what is right, even when the battle is hard.

This book was given to me as a  review copy from Bethany House Publishing Group.  I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.

Prevail

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
 ~ Proverbs 19:21 NIV11

Let.It.Go. Week 2 Online Bible Study Blog Hop

Did God ever redirect my plans and have His path lead to blessings? YES! Lots of little blessings.  Here’s my story of  God’s plan changing my plan.  Last fall my original plan was to go to Sunday service.  I brought the kids upstairs to their Sunday School classroom, only to have my daughter tug my arm and ask me to stay with her, which encouraged my son join her plea, so I stayed.  So, I attended children’s Sunday school instead of my adult service; no big deal, I could catch up on pod cast. My teenage daughter joined us, not wanting to sit alone in the sanctuary.  I don’t remember the Bible story or message that particular week. I do remember a couple of rambunctious 3 year old boys that made me think my teenager and I were in the right place, to help at the right time.

The next Sunday, the same tug and question, but this time, I made my little ones join my service, which is boring to  5 and 6 year olds.  The Sunday school teacher gently reminded me, it is important for them to hear the message intended for them.  So, on the third week of cling-ons my oldest and I once again, joined the Sunday school class, and tried to round up the rowdy three year old so the other children could learn. 

I now teach Sunday school to those rowdy little boys in the pre-school room, with the help of my 15 year old daughter.  I never would have volunteered to do such a task, if my children hadn’t dragged me to there.  I prepared crafts and stories off of the lesson plans given to me, but  I did not know what I was doing.  I kept comparing things to the other teacher who is older and a “real teacher” in the school system. Now, I’ve learned to take my lesson plans, and alter them within the limits of my kids.  My class a bridge somewhere between nursery and school age. 

Each Sunday I go to pre-school to worship.  God is there with me, giving me the strength to find beauty and fun doing His work.  I get smiles, giggles,  snack time,  songs and dance.  I get to color, glue and wipe sticky fingers.  I get to share  my love of God with these precious souls, who I now think of as my kids.  Last week we had six 3 year olds and a 2 year old. It has been a blessing to me, in more ways than I can account for.  I’ve always had faith, but didn’t grow up going to church.  I am not as well versed in scripture as many are.  I am growing and do more devotionals and spend more time with God now.