Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Why I mainly read Christian romance

A couple of you are probably wondering why I mainly read Christian romance.  Or maybe your not, either way I'm going to tell you.  I'm namby pamby, I'm a sally who can't suck it up and take her skirt off to wear some pants.  In all honesty I really don't like sad books, or books that freak the living day lights out of me.  I feel in this world there is enough sin and horrors to last anyone a lifetime.  Books should be a pleasant escape from every day problems, they should uplift you when you're feeling down, and for me I don't want to leave a book feeling empty.  I want my cup to be overflowing with the grace of God, the love of Jesus and just possibly at the end of the book I can say I grew closer to Him because of the authors gift and ministry to those who read.  So there, that's my reason for mainly reading Christian romance :-)  and here's to many more book reviews. Side note:  to people who are searching for peace I pray that you pick a Christian book you never know what  God has in store for you.

Monday, November 28, 2011

A Heart Divided

So I just finished A Heart Divided by Kathleen Morgan. Gah! That's all I can say, the idea of the story sounded so good. Romeo and Juliet set in the Rocky Mountains of 1878. I unfortunately was unimpressed. There were moments where I caught glimpses of a well written book, but then the story meandered from the couple hating each other to all of a sudden they're making out. Really not my cup of tea. For me A Heart Divided was exactly what I was feeling about the book. I wanted to like it, but I really couldn't because it was just too unbelievable. I will add that the message of forgiveness and how to accept Christ into your heart was put into the book, but that's about all I can say for it. Sorry friends, you just might not want to read this book.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Love and Respect

Hello Blog readers, with Black Friday being today I thought it would be appropriate to talk about a book that helped my communication with the opposite sex. Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerichs is a great book for basically cracking the communication code of man and woman. When Todd and I were first married I remember thinking what in the world did I do to make him mad or why would he say something so unloving. We both really appreciated how down to earth Emerson was in approaching communication, and we both benefited from it too. For example man desires respect above all else, so when a woman might innoccently question something that he's doing he automatically thinks that she's disrepecting him and in return might do something that's unloving. Thus the fighting begins. In Love and Respect you'll learn how respectfully approach a man and vice versus the man will learn how to lovingly approach the woman. If you've had problems in the past where you're like that is not what I meant, please read this book.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

A Lasting Impression

Hello Readers, I have a new book for you called A lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander.  Her books are all incredibly good, I haven't read a book of hers where I thought that it was poorly written.  A Lasting Impression is set in Nashville, Tennessee just after the civil war.  Claire is a very talented, yet undiscovered artist.  Just recently losing her mother and father she is on her own in the land of Dixie.  Her adventure takes her to the Belmont Mansion where Adelicia Acklen resides.  She there runs into people who support her and nourish her talent.

I hope you read this book because it is just decadent.  The images that Ms. Alexander paints with her pen are simply beautiful.  The book is full of life, humor, and romance.  I appreciated how she wrote about how Claire found her faith.  Claire was like a flower growing, where each person added some water to her soul. So dear readers I hope you get the time to read A Lasting Impression.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Lori Wick

Well today is my day to go to the library, so I'm very excited to get some more books to read.  Don't you just love reading, it's probably one of the very few hobbies that you can do for free.  With libraries as well as books online you have a vast selection.  I'm also going to put that Amazon has now started working with local libraries to start loaning books out.  If you have a kindle, Ipad, or computer you can now borrow books and have it downloaded.  How neat is that!

I want to talk about a really awesome author instead of a book.  Her name is Lori Wick, she is from Wisconsin and she unfortunately is retired, but her books are still amazing (how's that for a loaded sentences, sorry to all of you English majors I know my grammar is horrific).  The reason why I love her is because she writes really diverse books with a solid message of faith, love, and salvation.  If you love modern, regency, western, or medieval she's the author for you.  Each book is unique; filled with romance, and sometimes suspense.  So if you're at the library or surfing the web check out a book by Lori Wick, you won't be disappointed.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Before the Season Ends

Hello readers, I hope that everyone is having a great week.  It's gotten mighty chilly here in Amarillo, Texas which is the perfect time to sit all warm and cozy with your favorite blanket to read a book.  This next book is for all you Jane Austin fans.  It is set in Regency England and the book is called Before the Season Ends by Linore Rose Burkard.  If you're not a Jane Austin fan have no fear because the writing is very easy to follow, but still plays with that times wording.  We find our main character Ariana in a bit of dilemma she feels that God is calling her to wed a man of the cloth.  Unfortunately the only man of cloth in her town is very old!  Thus why her parents whisk her off to stay with your aunt.  It would not be so bad if her aunt didn't have her own plans for Ariana.
This story is full of laughter and outrageous moments.  It truly made me smile.  It also had some meat and potatoes for you Christian readers.  For instance it broaches the subject of should you marry someone who is not a believer.  With this topic and a girl who prays about everything; this book nourished my soul as well as tickled me silly.  I hope you enjoy reading Before the Season Ends, I sure did.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Love on the Line

Hello Everyone, sorry for the long delay, I have been having problems with being able to post on my blog.  With that said, I'm excited to review this next book.  I hope you get the time to read it.  Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist takes us to the wild wild west where the train robbers are stars and the industrial revolution is starting to boom.  Georgie Gail is a forward thinking woman who has a job as a switchboard operator in Brenham, Texas.  Her position is revered by most woman because of her ability to live on her own and have a job.  She's a fun and lively character who has a very passionate hobby of watching birds.  This is also leads her into some mischief, I don't want to give anything else away, so please dear readers READ THIS BOOK!

As you can see I thoroughly enjoyed this book, there was humor, mystery, and a great historical picture of times past.  Deeanne Gist does a great job at adding historical facts in her stories, so you'll always walk away with a little bit of education too.  This would be considered a light Christian book in my viewpoint.  There isn't much talk about faith, and most likely you won't leave with a sense that you grew closer to God.  For instance a Francine Rivers book always makes me think about my spiritual walk with God, whereas this book is mainly a fun read.  Happy Reading.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

When Life is Hard

With my large amount of great library finds done, I thought I would write about a book that has really helped me out when I was struggling with some things in my life.  James MacDonald's book When Life is Hard was an incredibly helpful book.  He researched the Bible to see how we as Christians should handle difficult periods in our lives.  Taking four scriptures he breaks it down for us and takes us step by step or prayer by prayer to handle our struggle.  If you're having a rough time with anything whether finances, relationships broken, or health this is the book for you.  I'll leave you with this quote from the book.
    "I've come to see that being tested by God is very loving.  Frankly, I'd rather find out now that I don't have    the real thing than get to heaven and be surprised.  You want your faith tested.  You want to put your full weight down on the faith that you have in Christ and see if it holds up, because if your faith hasn't changed you, it hasn't saved you.  Better to find out while there is still time to get it right."  James MacDonald.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Megan's Hero

Hello :-)  I absolutely love books that meander through courtship, where the worst thing that happens to them is a misunderstanding.  Isn't that how relationships work in real life?  Yes there are trials and hardships, but let's be honest most courtships don't have a pirate kidnapping a fair damsel.  Though don't get me wrong I like my swash buckling books too, but there's something about a well written every day courtship.  If you're like me you'll enjoy Megan's Hero by Sharon Gillenwater.

Megan (our main character) finds herself pregnant and in the middle of a tornado in West Texas.  On a deserted highway with nothing but her wits to keep her alive; she runs to the nearest ditch to try to save herself and her unborn baby.  This book is set in Modern time in good ol' West Texas.  I liked that I was also able to recognize the geography (since I have been living in the Panhandle for two years).  Will and Megan's story is truly a story of strong character and how God really does pursue you with a mighty passion.  If you are doubting that God has His hand in your life, please read this book, because it's far from the truth.  He loves you and no matter where you've been or what you've done He has a great plan for you.  This story was a nice glass of sweet tea in the middle of a Texan summer.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.