Cover L♡ver Book Review

Love Arrives in Pieces , by Betsy St. Amant, is a touching, atypical romance. The characters are flawed, the storyline is moving, and I could relate to the myriad of emotions. “It’s high time Stella realizes the past is the past. This is an anniversary worth noting but not worth grieving over.” She still hated that word. You have to grieve, Stella. Don’t fight the grief, Stella. Grieve it out, Stella. ~page 14. Ms. Amant has a great voice. Her storytelling flows nicely and she conveys the character's emotions very well. I liked Chase, as well as Stella, though I wished she were a stronger female. She irritated me at times and I wanted her to be a little tougher. This story deals with grief, pain, love, and grace, causing me to delve deeper than I usually do in a sweet romance. The emotions are complex and the story is satisfying. A touching read, with a lovely message. 4 Stars Cover: Like it Title: Love it Publisher: Zondervan Pages: 336

Five Brides , by Eva Marie Everson, is a charming story. Ms. Everson is a new-to-me author who has captured another fan ( me!) with her writing style, pacing, imagination, and endearing storytelling. Travel back to 1950s Chicago, where the stories of five interesting and unique women unfolds. One weekend, the five roommates go shopping together and see a beautiful wedding dress in a store window. On a whim, they decide to try it on and they’re hooked. Pooling their money together, they purchase it—no matter that not one of them has a prospective groom to go with it. Now isn’t that an intriguing story concept? It certainly netted me.   The time period gives this story a nice flavor, and the peek into each girl’s life kept my interest. Julie smiled. “I will tell you exactly what Miss Evelyn told me the week before I married her son. Start to finish. How they all met in Chicago, how they saw the dress for the first time, and about the days each of them wore it.” ~page 3

Laugh Out Loud Pocket Doodles for Girls , written by Rob Elliot and illustrated by Johnny Hawkins, is a fun activity book geared toward girls in the 9-12 age bracket. This little book is chock full of jokes, doodles, and imagination, sure to provide hours of creative entertainment. Q: Where do bugs go to do their shopping? A: The Flea Market. This book is the perfect companion for long car rides, wait-rooms, or just fun time. The jokes are enjoyable and the cartoon doodles are engaging, with space to add their own drawings. Q: Why couldn’t all the king’s horses and all the king’s men put Humpty Dumpty together again? A: Because they were eggs-hausted! The compact 4”x6” size is convenient for a grab-and-go companion, easily fit in a book bag or even some larger jean or jacket pockets. This joke/doodle book is a handful of fun that eliminates the worries of off-color or inappropriate jokes and a perfect little gift for fun-loving preteens. Cover: Like Title: Lo

Laugh Out Loud Pocket Doodles for Boys , written by Rob Elliot and illustrated by Johnny Hawkins, is a fun activity book geared toward boys in the 9-12 age bracket. This little book is chock full of jokes, doodles, and imagination, sure to provide hours of creative entertainment. Q: What is a tree’s favorite drink? A: Root Beer. This book is the perfect companion for long car rides, wait-rooms, or just fun time. The jokes are enjoyable and the cartoon doodles are engaging, with space to add their own drawings. Q: What did the pool say to the lake? A: “Water you doing here?” The compact 4”x6” size is convenient for a grab-and-go companion, easily fit in a book bag or even some larger jean or jacket pockets. This joke/doodle book is a handful of fun that eliminates the worries of off-color or inappropriate jokes and a perfect little gift for fun-loving preteens. Cover: Like Title: Love Publisher: Revell Pages: 240 Disclosure of Material Connection: I re

Everyone Belongs to God is an encouraging and inspirational guide that opens the reader’s eyes to a new way of seeing those we encounter day by day. There remains a precious jewel in every person, which is stronger than any outward pressure in their lives (John 1:9).   The author, Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt (1842-1919), wasn’t a scholar. He was a Lutheran Pastor in Germany who sought God’s plan for each of us. Blumhardt’s selfless heart is evident in his fatherly guidance, taken from 100 year old letters he’d written to his missionary son-in-law. As Christians, we are all missionaries, aren’t we? Or we should be anyway. So this book applies to our daily lives and the paths we choose to take in our Christian walk. It comes across as loving guidance, rather than scholarly instruction. Each page exudes gentle direction, encouragement, and soul-pricking inspiration. There is something in each person that will never be lost, something that can always be resurrecte