At Peace in the Storm

Below is the online review of a book that I had the priviledge to review.  This book touched my heart on so many levels that it is hard to describe.  When your own storm is brewing on the horizon, or if you are riding it out right now…  I recommend this book to help you to remember that you can find strength and encouragement in that storm. 

“EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF KNOWING THE GOD WHO IS ALWAYS THERE TO REACH OUT A HAND AND PULL YOU OUT OF THE WAVES”

I pray you will be blessed as I was. Continue reading

Clout – Discover and Unleash Your God-Given Influence – A Review

Clout: Discover and Unleash Your God-Given InfluenceClout: Discover and Unleash Your God-Given Influence by Jenni Catron

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Clout – Discover and Unleash Your God-Given Influence by Jenni Catron
“You have Clout. Have you discovered it yet? We all long for significance, even as we fear we will never be good enough. We listen for God, but hear only voices of doubt and practicality. Listen again. There is a call that only you can answer.”

Who are you? And who has God called you to be? These are the questions posed by this author, Jenni Catron. By was of her life story, we are introduced to Clout. First by walking the reader through what Clout is actually all about and unpack some false assumptions and perceptions about it. In addition, she goes on to say that we, you and I, have a specific purpose, a calling that only you are qualified to fulfill. And those once we define, understand and acknowledge the seven Clout killers that are holding us back, we can move on to discover what our God-given influence looks like. Continue reading

Determination

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Determination — So this is week 2 of the Made To Crave Online Bible study.  I am so glad that this is the the Word of the Week.  Because it is taking everything inside me to stay focused.  It’s crazy how easily we can get side-tracked.  Oh I’ll read that chapter after I make the bed or do the dishes.  Oh Look…. there’s a movie on that I wanted to see.  There are nights, like last night, in fact for the entire day, that I was so focused… nothing could get me off track…  and then there was today.  Yikes!!!!  But I am determined.  Determined to do something with all of this.  Determined to recognize my weaknesses, and to recognize that where I am weak, HE is strong.  Determined to accept that it doesn’t matter what “they” say, I am made for more.  That where I am right now, is not all there is.  Scripture says that He came that we might have life, and life more adundantly. I don’t want just an abundant life.  I want all that He has planned for my life and I don’t want my life without HIS hand guiding it.  I want more of Him.   I want the blessing of God on my life and my family.   Continue reading

The Road To Mercy – A Review

The Road to MercyThe Road to Mercy by Kathy Harris

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Tragedy, Love & Secrets meet on a journey of faith. Josh Harrison, a contemporary Christian singer, and his wife, Bethany, face a difficult decision that also tests their faith. A rupture in Beth’s carotid artery leavers her on the brink of death even as she’s pregnant with their first child. While Dr. Ben Abrams urges her to terminate the pregnancy to save her own life, she and Josh step out on faith and decide to carry the bay to full term. During the next few months, Josh struggles with his faith, and Beth hides a secret that may destroy their marriage. She also discovers a decades-old connection to Dr. Abrams that could change his life forever.”

I Loved This Book! Right from the beginning, I didn’t know what to expect, it clearly is a book that doesn’t fit the formula. Be warned, once you start this book, you will not want to put it down.

Love, forgiveness, sin, challenges, secrets, betrayals, redemption, mercy and most of all… a deep abiding faith in God and His Mercy. Don’t skip the prologue; it will all make sense at the end. The Road To Mercy… well there’s more than one meaning there for sure. This is a great read with a powerful message that you don’t want to miss.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through the “For Readers Only” group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Deeper Shopping, and Goodreads.

View all my reviews

This book is available online at
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Experiencing God’s Presence – A Review

Experiencing God's Presence: Learning to Listen While You PrayExperiencing God’s Presence: Learning to Listen While You Pray by Linda Evans Shepherd

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“God wants to hear from you – but He also wants you to hear from Him.

What if every time you had a conversation, your best friend never got a word in edgewise? Your relationship would be less than fulfilling – for both of you! In the same way, a fulfilling prayer life is more than just regularly talking to God. And it’s more than checking items off a prayer list. God loves us so much that He wants us to draw close enough not only to talk but also to listen.” Continue reading

Castles of the Heart – A Review

Castles of the HeartCastles of the Heart by Hale Meserow

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“A Love story, a tale of immense personal courage, a gritty fight against entrenched racism, and a life lived in God’s care, all set in the beautiful back country of western North Carolina and the frenetic bustle of New York City…”

Castles of the Heart is a delightful book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. There were several strong female characters developed throughout the book, with the lead character as Starlight O’Bannion. The story follows the life – from the moment of conception – of Starlight. We are with her during her formative years, as she rises herself from the backwoods mountains of North Carolina to attend a most prestigious college to become a top ranked female attorney… something rarely heard of pre-world war 2. We are with Starlight at her marriage, her sudden young widowhood and the birth of her daughter.

As with most women of that era, Starlight is a strong and powerful woman, except when it comes to love. She again walks down the bridal aisle. We, the reader, can see where it is headed, but the young Starlight doesn’t.

With her professional life on a meteoric rise and her personal life in ruins, Starlight takes on the legal case of her life – to save the son of a lifelong family friend. I will stop this review there as much more will give away the entire ending.

I truly did take pleasure in reading this book. Though the length of the book did take me back a bit at first, I found the story to be an easy and enjoyable read. While there is clearly a Christian aspect to the entire story, I did not find it preachy or pushy.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through the “For Readers Only” group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Deeper Shopping, and Goodreads

View all my reviews

This book is available online at
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A Melody for James – A Book Review

A Melody for James (Christian Romantic Suspense) (Song of Suspense)A Melody for James (Christian Romantic Suspense) by Hallee Bridgeman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Solitary strangers meet during a stormy stopover. Hours later, their hearts hum a harmonious duet.

Melody Mason has the hottest female voice in the country music scene. But the cheers of throngs of adoring fans mean little in the absence of the handsome stranger who rescued her years before. Widower James Montgomery has never forgotten her. He prays God can bring her back.

Incredible events finally bring them face to face again. Together at last, they realize the bond between them has miraculously risen to a crescendo, melodiously marrying them like strong symphonic chords. Uncannily, they learn they share more in common than they could have ever imagined. They know God reunited them for a purpose.

Sinister forces threaten to destroy their newfound happiness. The couple must work in close concert, placing all their faith in God as they solve the deadly mystery that ties their lives inexplicably together.

Fire, loss, and bloodshed cannot shake their faith in God to see them through as they face a percussive climax that leaves hearts and lives forever changed.”

A Melody for James is a wonderful Christian suspense story of a chance-encounter, a new love, a broken heart, sweet romance, and repentant hearts along with dread, secrets, intrigue, unimaginable loss and bloodshed all wrapped up in an unshakable faith in God that guides and protects Melody and James and those they love.

This book is a great story that will get its hooks in you from the very beginning with its twists and turns and suspense. You do not want to miss this book.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through the “For Readers Only” group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Deeper Shopping,and GoodReads

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This book is available online at
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Take What You Need

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” Psalm 119:105

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” Hebrews 4:12

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away
Matthew 24:35

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” John 8:32

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof,
for correction, and for training in righteousness” 2 Timothy 3:16

Continue reading

The Power Of Praying For Your Adult Children – A Book Review

The Power of Praying? for Your Adult ChildrenThe Power of Praying for Your Adult Children by Stormie Omartian

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my second time reading this book. It is a goto reference for me… not something that you read once, mark “done” and put away. The author spoke directly to my heart, as if she knew the pain and turmoil we were going through with an adult child.

Each chapeter. she guided us through some turbulent times and we are now seeing the results of many hours of prayer. I highly recommend this for parents and step parents, any one guiding a young adult into adulthood.

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This book is available online at:
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When A Woman Says Yes To God – A Book Review

What Happens When Women Say Yes to God: Experiencing Life in Extraordinary WaysWhat Happens When Women Say Yes to God: Experiencing Life in Extraordinary Ways by Lysa TerKeurst

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What Happens When Women Say Yes to God is about surrendering your whole life to God. Through scripture and her own personal experience, the author is a guide to what can happen when you develop a complete relationship with God. From the beginning chapter the author uses examples of her own life, struggles and all, to bring the reader along her own journey of finally Saying Yes To God in a whole and complete way. This book is filled with simple wisdom and revelation to aid the reader in making that decision in their own life to Say Yes To God.
This is by far one of the best books I’ve read. Her ability to open up God’s desire for my life helped make me want to read some chapters over and over. I read this book in conjunction with the P31ministry.org online bible study. I would recommend this book to any woman (or man) who wants to take their life in Christ to the next level.

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This book is available online at:
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