Cover L♡ver Book Review

This is a unique softbound book, sort of a mix between a devotional and an inspirational workbook. It is both uplifting and stimulating and certainly fulfills its promise to refresh the soul. The set-up is simple and clear cut, with a personal story page partnered with a small illustration and questions of reflection. These questions really make you think. I like the biblical examples and Scripture quotes throughout. The book provides an entire year of reflections and inspiration, one per week, and after only a week’s worth of study under my belt, and reviewing several of the other readings, I can say I feel the results. My mind lingers on the reflection questions. Although I’m reading this on my own,  Soothing Rain: Living Water to Refresh Your Soul  would be a wonderful interest for a women’s study group, with the discussion questions being an enlightening and edifying activity. Quotes from the book:  The soil of ministry needs to be worked, weeded, and watered.

I love stories told in first person—whether fiction or non-fiction. This point of view allows me to see the world through the narrator’s eyes, to feel from his or her heart. But to be honest, it took me a little while before I connected with Rebecca. I couldn’t fully sink into the beginning of the story, as she recollected, with great detail, events that occurred when she was only four years old. I suspect that some of the facts were revealed to her at a later date, or that is what I chose to believe, anyway. I just can’t imagine that someone at that young age could observe, comprehend, and recall so much. But who am I to say? About a third into the book I became completely glued. That’s not to say I was disinterested at first—but was distracted by the young girl’s remarkable clarity. I knew little about the Sudanese Lost Girls prior to this book, and this was an eye-opening experience. I’m in awe that Rebecca experienced so much tragedy, hardship, and heartbreak in her ea

The only time I say the words “oh my” is after reading the last page of a fabulous book.  Until The Mountains Fall  is such a touching story. And that moment in the story when I discover the title’s meaning…oh my… I fall into #TitleLove. This is one of those times when I finish a book and have no idea how a review can do it justice. I can only say that this book fulfilled one of my main desires of reading. To be changed. Rivkah and Malakhi grow and change through this story, and their searches for happiness, fulfillment, and forgiveness changed me as well. I connected with Rivkah’s stubbornness as well as Malakhi’s persistence. To be completely honest, the parable of the Prodigal Son has always troubled me. My sympathies sided with the son who had stayed loyal and honored and respected his father. I felt for him when it seemed his father didn’t appreciate his loyalty and celebrated the return of the reckless son who had turned his back on everything and everyone who loved

I’m loving the powerful and motivating books Barbour is putting out there for young girls! And I wish I’d owned them when I was young. How to Be a Courageous Girl of God  is an interactive journal that is fun, entertaining, and inspiring. I’ve always loved journaling, especially when prompts or inspiring stories are involved. This spiral-bound book features biblical women and their examples of strength, courage, and faith. Each section includes:  A Bible passage to read in your own Bible. A recap of the passage with an illustration of the featured woman. A framed page to draw a personal depiction of the story. A lined page to journal personal thoughts on the story. A lined page to journal how the story may apply to daily life. Some of the women depicted are well-known, such as Mary Magdalene, Miriam, Esther, and Ruth, but many lesser-known biblical women are just as inspiring. This book is a valuable tool for learning as well as devotional and meditative

Catching the Wind Maple leaves draped over the treehouse window, the silvery fronds linked together like chain mail to protect the boy and girl playing inside.  ~First line Oh my, this book’s cover art catches my breath! I’m instantly drawn to the girl in the wind, the title piques my curiosity, and I want to learn what stories lie beneath the cover. And this story starts with a bang! One moment two children are playing carelessly in a treehouse, and the next moment their lives are changed forever. I am pulled into 1940 Germany very quickly, and then flawlessly transitioned into 2017 England in this dual-time period historical. But I must say, I was mighty eager to return to the 1940s period, to find out the outcome of chapter one’s hook. I love when, try as I may, I can’t find a stopping place…just one more chapter…just one more chapter… Rage shot like an arrow through Dietmar’s chest, his heart pounding as he reached for the door handle … And he’d never forget what

My thoughts on the story: I love that this book is more than a biography of Dwight D. Eisenhower. Though it explores this man’s rise to presidency of the United States of America, it also delves into his deep faith.  I learned so much about this man— his losses, gains, and heartbreaks, where he came from, what he fought for, and what he believed in. For instance, he encouraged Congress to insert the word “under God” into our nations pledge of allegiance. He spoke of the importance of prayer and he prayed desperately for the troops in his command.  One part of this book that I found exceptionally touching was the last meeting between President Eisenhower and his longtime friend, Reverend Billy Graham. After a meaningful conversation, the dying president clasped hands with the Dr. Graham and told him he was ready to meet his maker. From his humble beginnings in Texas, to the simple government-issued casket he asked to be buried in, this man’s deep, powerful, and genuin

Title : Trouble The Water Author : Rebecca Dwight Bruff Publisher : Köehler Books ISBN : 978-1633938076 Purchase  HERE My thoughts on the story: This book has the feel of a Great American Novel. The same sort of feel as  The Grapes of Wrath , but dealing with slavery and oppression during the Civil War, rather than the economic hardships during the Great Depression. With themes of race, religion, and relationships,  Trouble The Water  is a fictional story inspired by the heroic and hard life of Robert Smalls. I’m surprised I never heard of Smalls (nicknamed Trouble) before reading this book, seeing how his life notably impacted history. As with most things in the South, the story takes its sweet time, in no hurry to reveal details before they’re needed. Softly and slowly, the reader journeys through Trouble’s days, where his view of Beaufort and the world as he saw it from the South Carolina low country is revealed. Actually, in this instance, I prefer the

  Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White with JustRead Publicity Tours ! Follow along with the tour for a special inside peek at how The Number of Love is connected to the author's previous book from another series, A Song Unheard . ABOUT THE BOOK Title: The Number of Love   Series: Codebreakers #1   Author: Roseanna M. White   Publisher: Bethany House   Release Date: June 4, 2019   Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance/Intrigue Three years into the Great War, England’s greatest asset is their intelligence network—field agents risking their lives to gather information, and codebreakers able to crack every German telegram. Margot De Wilde thrives in the environment of the secretive Room 40, where she spends her days deciphering intercepted messages. But when her world is turned upside down by an unexpected loss, for the first time in her life numbers aren’t enough. Drake Elton returns wounded from the field, fol

Isn't it gorgeous?? Synopsis In an effort to complete a war his father had planned to win, King Xerxes calls every governor, satrap, and official in his vast kingdom to his palace in Susa to strategize and feast. When they finally leave, he decides on one more week of frivolity, which ends in the banishment of his favorite wife, something he never intended to do. But when he discovers Esther, Xerxes is sure he has a second chance at happiness. In her wildest dreams, Esther could never have imagined that she would end up as queen of Persia. Yet she knows better than to become complacent. Another of Xerxes’s wives is vying for position, and his closest advisor has a deep and dangerous grudge against Esther’s adoptive father. Caught in the middle of palace politics, Esther will find herself in an impossible position: risk her life or consign her people to annihilation. With her impeccable research and her imaginative flair, Jill Eileen Smith brings to life the r

I love it when I find a new-to-me author that I can no longer live without. Wow! What a talented writer, creating a family, community, and story I couldn’t help but become fully invested in. I won’t go into the plot—you can read the blurb for that. Instead, I’ll share how this story made me feel. Within these pages, I experienced a mingling of anger, sadness, familiarity, sympathy, surprise, and at times even apathy (with a particular character who made my blood boil) but I mostly felt heartened and even a sense of reverence. The South Carolina low country, and the charming family pub, The Lark, are wonderful, unforgettable settings, but what carried this story, for me, was the people. It was easy to relate to Colleen (Lena.) She is deeply flawed, but likeable, and I sympathized with the heavy hurt she carried. It was more difficult for me to sympathize with Hallie, and there were times I wanted to shake her. Shane is the consummate brother, kind, responsible, and the family

On Tour with Prism Book Tours Book Tour Grand Finale for Claiming the Drakos Heir By Jennifer Faye We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops you'll find snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below: Launch - Note from the Author Hi. :-) Thank you for joining me with the launch for the second book in the Greek Island Brides trilogy ~ CLAIMING THE DRAKOS HEIR. When a freak accident kills Popi’s adopted sister and brother-in-law, she is left carrying her sister’s baby. Agreeing to be a surrogate had been a big decision for Popi and one she hadn’t taken lightly. And now that her sister is gone, it is up to Popi to step up and raise the child of her heart. . . It's All About the Romance - Excerpt Her life was about to change in so many ways, as the baby was due in a couple of weeks. Not long at all— Knock-knock. Knock-knock. So much for ignoring them. “Anyone home?” A male voice called out through the open window.