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Goodness and Mercy by Patti Hill

9/12/2017

Goodness and Mercy, written by Patti Hill, is about the very real struggles facing three orphaned siblings who simply want to be a family again. Parts of this story are heartbreaking and brought tears to my eyes as I thought about how alone these children were, how scared they must have been knowing they were facing an uncertain future, and wondering what that future might bring them. Their sad plight touched me, and the characters came alive and tugged at my heartstrings, and I found myself feeling the same emotions they did, crying with them, cheering them on, wanting the best for them.

Set during World War II, three siblings are fighting a battle to keep their family together. Lucy, the oldest at 16, needs to find a way to kidnap her 8-year-old twin siblings, Goodness and Mercy, from an orphanage in Wisconsin and flee to shelter. She takes them to Colorado to live with an aunt she does not know.

What I really liked was Patti's use of multiple character points of view. This kept the story interesting and gave me insight into the perspectives of four of them: Lucy, Mercy, Ada and Pete, via first person narrative and written letters. This also made them more memorable, and I keep finding myself thinking about them even several days after finishing their story.

This is the first book by Patti Hill I have read, and she did not disappoint me. Her story hooked me from the first paragraph and kept me turning page after page. The historical details surrounding World War II greatly enhanced the story and gave it the authenticity that makes this book believable. I like how the message of God's love and forgiveness was naturally woven into this heartfelt story without being preachy. I recommend Goodness & Mercy and will be reading more of her books.

Visit Patti's website for more information on how she lets her light shine for Jesus.

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Dreaming of a Father's Love

6/15/2016

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In Sharon Lavy's book, Dreaming of a Father's Love: A Tale From the Ohio Valley, she brings us back a few decades to the early 1970's where Birdie Alexander, the main character, wishes to work alongside her father in their family's nursery business and pursue her lifelong love of working with plants. Now that she has graduated from high school as the valedictorian, her parents want to send her away from home to a four-year college so she can get a degree, while she wants to stay closer to home and study horticulture at a local institution. Doing this, she believes, will earn her father's praise, something she's never had, no matter how hard she works to prove herself.

In her efforts to gain her earthly father's love, appreciation and approval, and to make him happy, Birdie realizes she ought to have been seeking her heavenly Father's love and will all along. She learns that following His will is more important than focusing on her own dreams and wishes or seeking for man's approval and finds herself praying, "Let God be the one who gives me the father's love I crave." Through spending time with God and praying, she realizes she was making her dad an idol when God wanted to be the one she called Father. There is a good lesson in this book that we need to listen to Him instead of our own hearts.

Birdie isn't the only one seeking approval and searching for answers. The secondary characters, Dax Billingsworth and Sara Brubaker, would like a few answers as well. Separated from his sister when he was only a boy when she was adopted into a family and he wasn't, Dax has spent years wondering why he wasn't good enough to be adopted too and why he was left alone to grow up in an orphanage without her. Sara Brubaker was adopted as a toddler by a family who doesn't want to talk about it. Secrets abound! They are both on a journey to find the answers to their questions, and along the way, they discover God's love and providence, and a special surprise awaits them at the end.

Filled with romance, a little bit of mystery, and a cast of interesting characters, this book is about family, finding God's love, and is appropriate for teenage girls as well as adults to read. The storyline is sweet, conservative, clean and uplifting.

Thanks to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy of in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

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Desires of My Heart ~ Meditation on Psalm 37:4 by Heather Bixler

6/25/2015

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Desires of My Heart ~ Meditation on Psalm 37:4, written by Heather Bixler, touched home for me in a lot of ways. As I was reading through the pages of this book, I felt it was written just for me. The author is very down to earth, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and talked about real-life issues ~ situations I can relate to. Due to the things going on in my life currently, I read this book at the right time.

One of the reasons I wanted to read this book is because I have Psalm 37:4 stenciled on one of the walls in my home where I see it every day. Until reading this book, I didn't fully understand what delighting myself in the Lord actually meant. Now I know that freedom comes from total and complete submission to God and His will for my life, even when that hurts. Trusting in God requires submitting to Him and is more rewarding than living a life that relies on my own understanding, doubts and fears.

This book challenged me to become broken and let go of control in order to trust God on a deeper level. Heather emphasizes how living for God should be our motivation - not pride, not fear, not wants, needs or wishes. She also stresses that letting go of fear in lieu of clinging to faith helps me unite my heart with God and become one with Him. Being obedient is how I delight myself in the Lord.

Heather shares openly and honestly about some of her personal experiences and why this verse is important to her too. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for some encouragement in their everyday life.

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21 Prayers for Teen Girls by Shelley Hitz

5/14/2015

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21 Prayers for Teen Girls, co-written by Shelley Hitz and Heather Hart, is a book designed to draw girls into a closer relationship with God, show them how to reflect Christ in their lives, and help them to see themselves through His eyes - as truly beautiful because they are His creation and that He loves them uncondi- tionally.

These short prayers really pack a punch! The daily prayers along with the Bible verses are 2-3 pages long, so they are quick to read and well worth the time you'll spend on them. The authors' down-to-earth writing style, freedom in approaching God with their heartfelt requests, and use of Scripture passages, allows the reader to study further in depth if they choose to. Praying these prayers is a lovely way for girls to become a beautiful bride of Christ and to begin the habit of praying daily for God to shine through them.

As I took the time to pray the prayers and study the accompanying verses, I felt blessed and was easily able to see how they applied to my life - even as an adult woman. Sometimes I still struggle with feeling cherished and accepted, I get angry and am not as patient as I need to be, and I have trouble seeing my true beauty. These prayers are a great reminder of how God will work in my life if I ask Him to and am open to what He has in store for me.

21 Prayers for Teen Girls is a fantastic way to start praying for our daughters, granddaughters, nieces, neighbor girls, those teen girls in our Sunday school classes, and the list goes on.

On their websites, Shelley Hitz and Heather Hart, unabashedly shine their bright lights for Jesus.

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Pattern for Romance

1/27/2015

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The writing of Pattern for Romance: Quilts of Love Series is rich in historical authenticity, which made this story feel very real. The amount of fact-finding and investigation the author, Carla Olson Gade, put into this book shines through on every page and in every conversation. While reading, I felt as if I had stepped back in time and into a different era. This is a classic historical fiction story with the language of the time and setting in colonial Boston. This well-researched book is one a history lover will surely enjoy, and fans of the Colonial era will not be disappointed.

The plot starts rolling right away and I didn't get bored or hit any lulls in this story. From the first page, I was rooting for the two main characters. Rescued by Joshua Sutton during a hailstorm, Honour Metcalf finds herself attracted and indebted to him. Chivalrous, kind, loving and protective, Joshua is a hero in every way, and Temperance Metcalf, Honour's precocious little sister, is captivated by him as well. Joshua finds Honour to be endearing, pure and innocent, and is amazed at the beautiful quilting and handwork she does.

A variety of situations and personalities are developed throughout the story, and heartache, disappointment and mistrust evolve toward faith through prayer and hope in the Almighty. The attraction between Honour and Joshua build, yet they find themselves facing one obstacle after another in their rocky journey toward love. Attention to detail and rich descriptive qualities make this an outstanding book of inspirational Colonial fiction. In addition, this book contains a spiritual message of faith and hope in God and the importance of relying on His ways.

This was a fun, enjoyable read that fits the bill for a relaxing afternoon or evening of reading. With endearing characters and vivid scenes, a sweet love story between Honour and Joshua, false accusations, and a little bit of mystery along with a surprise villain, there is never a dull moment. This book is filled with twists and turns and is sure to have you wishing for a happy ending for everyone involved.

Please note I was given a free copy of Pattern for Romance: Quilts of Love Series in exchange for my honest review.

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Life on the Family Farm: Under an Open Heaven

10/6/2014

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The true, autobiographical adventures of the author, Tom Heck, and his family on their family-owned daily farm, Life on the Family Farm: Under an Open Heaven, is a great collection of stories written by, and about, a rural Wisconsin farmer.

This is a warm and engaging book, and Mr. Heck writes from his heart and has the unique ability to make you smile in spite of all odds. Using his experiences as a farmer and a Christian to tell stories that will likely live in our hearts forever, he makes you feel like you are truly a part of his farm routine. I appreciate that his stories are based on what has happened to him in real life.

From the first chapter, I was drawn to the richly told, hearing-warming stories. The people and animals he describes almost seem to become real. While reading his book, I got the picture of Mr., Heck as someone who loves life because of the small things that happen, even when they happen at inconvenient times, or when he has to get up in the middle of the night because one of his cows needs attention. Due to his amusing, optimist and joyful way of describing what he sees and does, I was encouraged to love life as much as he loves it himself. The way he writes about his experiences makes Life on the Family Farm: Under an Open Heaven a joy to read and a lesson in itself.

This book is a charming escape from everyday stress, and his deep respect for God, people, and his animals is refreshing. I enjoyed every minute of his stories and was inspired to revel in the small, though extraordinary, things in life that happen every day under an open heaven.

Mr. Heck didn't write his collection of stories because he had to; he wrote them because he wanted to, and his love of writing about a topic as near and dear to him as his life as a dairy farmer makes this book a positive and inspiring piece of literature.

As I read, he and his family began to feel like friends, and I felt as though I was right there with them on their farm in rural Wisconsin. This book is for everyone who loves God, country living, animals and life itself, and who desires to live under an open heaven.

The blog tour page for Life on the Family Farm is at: http://www.lifesentencepublishing.com/life-on-the-family-farm-2/

Find Life on the Family Farm: Under an Open Heaven on
Amazon.

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The Seventh Trumpet and the Seven Thunders: God's Prophetic Plan Revealed by Russell M. Stendal

6/2/2014

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Published by Life Sentence Publishing, LLC, The Seventh Trumpet and the Seven Thunders: God’s Prophetic Plan Revealed, is written by Russell M. Stendal and is packed with insightful information and dozens of Scripture references.

Beginning with the prophetic story of Noah’s Ark and ending with participating in God’s plan of redemption, Mr. Stendal examines Old Testament prophecies and how they relate to the end times and God’s desire for a covenant with mankind. He talks about how God wants us to be part of Him, how He is our spiritual ark providing shelter and protection from the storms we face, and that we find salvation from our sins and safety in a relationship with Him.

This book is a good resource for all Christians interested in researching the end times and encourages us that God is in control and longs to be part of our lives. From Chapter One, Mr. Stendal writes, “The Scripture is very clear: It says that the Lord is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9).” That’s what this book is about ~ getting into a right relationship with God so we are ready to spend eternity with Him when the seventh trumpet sounds.

Please note: I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

These are two places where you can find Russell M. Stendal online and learn more about his life and his books:

Facebook

Website

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Split Sense by Barbara Ellen Brink

5/19/2014

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Winner of the 2011 Grace Award, Split Sense, written by Barbara Ellen Brink, was a real treat to read, interesting from the starting gate to the finish line. I opened it up and did not want to put it down. The cast of characters from good guys to bad guys ~ is vivid and real, interesting and complex, and made me either like them or want to strangle them. The story kept me guessing as it unfolded, and I wanted to find out what happened next.

Not your run-of-the-mill mystery, Split Sense is exciting and fast paced, filled with suspense and accompanied by intrigue, family secrets, and the ability to hold my attention from beginning to end. When I set this book aside to tend to my daily activities or go to work each day, I looked forward to when I’d have the time to pick it up again and resume reading.

This is the amazing story of Alexander Howard, a.k.a. Zander, and his twin sister, Emma Tatum, separated at birth and reunited as teens. Pairing up with a Minnesota senator, the greedy scientist and CEO of Howard Pharmaceuticals, Inc., delves into the secret undercover world of experimental drugs, and Zander and Emma find themselves the unsuspecting targets his unscrupulous scheme.

Taking place in the Twin Cities, the settings are well painted, and the flow of the story is maintained at a perfect page-turning pace. This unusual and unique plot is filled with multifaceted characters ~ some faith-filled, some faithless ~ who are caught up in a web of intrigue and are battling in a war of good v. evil; some yearning to heal, while others are given to harm in the name of greed, riches and notoriety. An unexpected twist at the end left me thinking, “Ah-ha! Now I know why “such and such” happened to “so and so” earlier in the story.”

Barbara worked magic in her ability to tell a tale that kept me interested from page one. This novel will definitely do the same for you. From kidnapping and murder to miraculous healing and reunion, Split Sense, written as speculative fiction, gives it to us. Pick up a copy of Split Sense for yourself. Once you open the cover, you won’t be putting it down any time soon.

Barbara is the author of the Fredrickson Winery novels, Entangled, Crushed & Savor, the award winning thriller, Split Sense, Christian suspense novels, Running Home and Alias Raven Black, and the young adult series The Amish Bloodsuckers. She lives in Minnesota with her husband and two lovable mutts.

Connect with her on her website where you can read excerpts of her books and find out what's happening next with her writing.

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Rain Dance by Joy DeKok

5/14/2014

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Rain Dance, written by Joy DeKok, is an insightful book about the difficult topics of infertility and abortion. Joy is a talented writer, and I liked her style of beautifully crafting this story from paragraph to paragraph. Written in first person point of view, the storyline is a difficult one, but she handles it in an amazingly adept manner. She writes a heartwarming story about a chance meeting and the strong friendship that develops between two unlikely, completely and totally opposite women and how that impacts them and the ones they love. In spite of their differences, they are drawn together and form a bond.  From page one, I became deeply immersed, and the story stayed with me even when I finished the last sentence.  I felt sad when the book ended and wanted to follow the characters into the next chapter of their lives.

I really enjoyed how the book switched viewpoints between the main characters, Jonica Johnson and Stacie Cutter, so I could see how each scene unfolded from their unique perspectives and get into their hearts and minds, thoughts and emotions. This aspect of the book was particularly fun, and I looked forward to reading the alternating voices of the two main characters and getting into each woman’s head.  I liked the refreshing honesty this book portrays as well.  Both women are hurting and their emotions are raw, and none of that is hidden from the reader. Stacie is career focused and self-centered, and Jonica is angry at God and confused about her infertility. The characters are likeable enough that I laughed and cried and got angry right along with them. Joy writes in such a way that it’s easy to feel the same emotions the characters are experiencing, whether it be confusion and frustration, or pain and anger, or exhilaration and triumph.

As the ending unfolds, Joy hands us one surprise after another. God’s intervention through the story redeems and restores without being cliché. His presence brings comfort even when a woman's heart’s desire may not be granted, or a prayer prayed may not be answered in the way she wants it to or thinks it will be.

I wouldn’t hesitate to offer this beautifully and sensitively written book to anyone to read – it’s that good and will touch everyone’s heart. Be sure to have a box of tissues handy.

On her website, Joy shines for Jesus and offers readers a free sample chapter of Rain Dance as well as a hidden chapter not included in her book.

Here is a little more information about Joy, her personal blog and her author website.

Joy DeKok is an author, speaker, and believer in Jesus Christ. She is passionate about people exploring and recording the legacies that are their lives. Bits & Pieces of Me is where she gives her personal legacy to those she loves, to those she likes, and to those she has never met. She believes your life matters and that your life is a legacy.

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Under His Wings: Lessons Learned From God While Watching the Birds ~ Joy DeKok

4/23/2014

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Before I comment on Under His Wings: Lessons From God Learned While Watching the Birds ~ a collection of Joy Dekok’s personal experiences with birds and the lessons God taught her about Himself while she watched them ~ I want to thank Joy for her friendship, tender spirit and love for Jesus.

Written in a way anyone can understand, her bird stories entertained, challenged, encouraged and taught me. Her words are full of kindness, the devotions are engaging, and God’s presence and creativity shine through in every one of them.

After reading the Author Update where Joy says,

“Sometimes life is full of more falls than flying. When down, we can call out to the Lord for help. Just as God knew the tiny bird ~ even to the number of her iridescent feathers ~ He knows us, too ~ even the number of hairs on our heads. He knows our anxieties and sorrows, and the joys and victories He has planned for us. He is an ever-present help in trouble, who promises to answer us when we call upon Him.”

I knew a simple “review” would not do this book justice. You see, through her stories, lessons and Bible verses, Joy packed so much vital information within the pages of Under His Wings that it needs to be shared far and wide. For now, I will say this book had me from the first page where the Note From Joy talked about how, as a child, she watched birds with her mother. I was already hooked before I ever made it to the first chapter.

This book is an easy read, and the parallels drawn between the birds and the way God constantly cares for us is refreshing.  The chapters are broken down into bite-sized portions you can easily digest in about 15 minutes or so. Joy writes in a pleasant conversational style, taking a personal approach to bird watching and telling us about her inspirational encounters with the birds in her area. This is evident as early as the Introduction, where she writes in a personal and vulnerable way, inviting the reader to go on this bird watching journey with her, which sets the tone for the whole book.

Under His Wings follows a consistent pattern in its structure with an ample amount of Scripture included so you know Joy’s not inventing her own ideas or taking things out of context. I love her outlook and her fresh perspective on how red-headed woodpeckers, cedar waxwings, geese, wrens, hummingbirds, as well as other species, can teach us spiritual lessons. I also like the everyday tips and ideas she shares on caring for, and attracting, these feathered friends to our backyards.

I am always amazed by how much I learn from books like this. Whether I’m spending time in personal devotions and prayer, or just wanting to learn more about birds, when I pick up Under His Wings, it helps me, and I am blessed by Joy’s words. Each of the 54 devotions is a short read, and the chapters include four sections: three containing spiritual applications and one with information on feeding and sheltering birds:

Bird Feeder ~ Bible verses for meditating upon
Bird Bath ~ Bible verses to refresh your soul
Birdhouse ~ Bible verses to ponder and pray
For the Birds ~ bird trivia and tidbits of information

Even more than that, this book does not contain any of the typical Christian clichés or platitudes; only true gems of wisdom born out of Joy’s relationship with the Lord and her experiences in walking out her Christian life. Some themes she includes are finding our refreshment in God; having the Holy Spirit guide us away from danger and temptations; fellowshipping with our Shepherd; knowing we are never alone because God is with us; and believing God is our refuge, protector and hiding place. They certainly gave me food for thought.

Joy is a fabulous writer and, in her writing, reminds us of what a great God we have. I would not hesitate to give this book as a gift for Mother’s Day, birthdays, or Christmas gifts. It’s that good. If you’d like to read this book too, I invite you to check out the links provided.

Here is a little more information about Joy, her personal blog and her author website.
Joy DeKok is an author, speaker, and believer in Jesus Christ. She is passionate about people exploring and recording the legacies that are their lives. Bits & Pieces of Me is where she gives her personal legacy to those she loves, to those she likes, and to those she has never met. She believes your life matters and that your life is a legacy.

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Paula Lynn McGrew

I am a Christian wife, mother and author who strives to serve Jesus Christ in every area of my life and let my light shine for Him.

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Paula Lynn McGrew

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