The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex

Hello Saturday morning non-fiction readers!

This morning I woke up in bed and miraculously the kids were still sleeping, and then oh surprises of all surprises I hear my husbands voice playing with the kids and getting them breakfast.  What a great treat to lay in bed just listening and enjoying the beautiful sound of laughing and giggles.  It's a good thing I'm reviewing a sex book because this morning definitely put me in the mood with my husband's chivalrous act.

The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex is a fun way of learning about your body (as a woman, sorry guys this is really is all about the lady's) and the way your body is when you're enjoying great sex.  Please let me preface this,  Sheila Wray Gregoire made this book for lady's having sex in the marriage bed.  If you're not doing that, you probably will really hate this book.  Sorry again, but that's the best way I can give forewarning.  This book is best read when you're about to enter in marriage, having a struggle in this specific department, or just really enjoy making you and your husband happy by bettering your sex life.

I really enjoyed reading a book on sex by a woman for a woman.  This, I think, is the best way to learn about your body.  There are numerous books out there on this topic, but this is the first I could really say "She knows exactly what I have had struggles with."  Many times a man can not understand the emotional roller coaster of your wedding night, or the frustration that can happen after a bad experience.  Ms.  Gregoire does an awesome job at doing this and giving the facts!  I actually will plan on using this for my daughters (in the far future),  Sheila had some awesome ideas and advice for women on why they should wait until they're married.  I just loved it.

One teeny tiny thing that just kind of irked me was the comparison of a good girl and bad girl. I'm sure the author knows fully well about this Biblical fact, but If we're referencing the Bible; all of us fall short and are bad.  There is no good, we are all bad in God's eyes, and the only thing that can save us is Jesus Christ.  Through His death and conquering death, He made our path to God so that we may have a relationship with God.  Jesus being our Lord and Savior died for our sins so that His blood may cover are sins and we may be holy and blameless in the sight of God.  I hope you understand why I had trouble swallowing the whole good girl versus bad girl, because in God's sight without Jesus we're all bad.  Other then that the book was great and the facts were dead on, so dear readers  please read this book.

*This e-book was given to me via netgalley for my honest opinion.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.


What a simple message, what a life changing decision.  Please think and consider this verse.  God loves you!  God loves you so much that he desires a relationship with you.  So much that He sacrificed His only Son, so that you can have a relationship with Him.  So do as the verse says believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins, and that He is God.  He is the way, the truth, and the light.

Lady Anne's Quest

Hello!

Well it's a beautiful sunny afternoon and I just had some sweet friends over for a play date.  We met at a Bible Study about two years ago and when the study stopped we decided to keep meeting.   While our kids play we catch up on what's going on.  It really is a great blessing to have these lady's walk through life with.  Do you have a group that you meet with?  I think it's really important to find people that share your same views to learn from each other and help each other out.

In the book Lady Anne's Quest; Lady Anne sets out on a journey to find her Uncle David.  Anne is the sole messenger of telling David the unfortunate news of his brother's passing away and David is now an Earl.  With her journey well on the way, we open the book to find Anne about two days away from finding David (well so she thinks).  With a hopeful suitor in tow and new friends helping her along the way Anne sets out to find her Uncle David.

Upon looking at reviews of this book, it is highly rated and a lot of reviewers say that it's historically accurate and a fun adventure where the characters come alive.  For me personally I just didn't seem to get into the story.  The character development was good, and the plot is exciting, the only thing I can think of is that the story just doesn't seem believable.  With all of the mishaps, dangerous situations, or lies I couldn't feel like this could happen to one person.  I could be totally wrong and please forgive my review.  I for one have to feel that the story could have happened in real life, and for me this story did not do it.  The one character that I really connected with was David Stone, his character had fine qualities and he was very real to me.  Ms. Davis is a good author, and an amazing story teller unfortunately for me I liked the book, I just didn't love it.

*This book was given to me through netgalley through Barbour Books for my honest review.


Isaiah 61:7
Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy.


A friend of mine always kept this verse in her shoe so it would be a reminder for her that God gives double for your trouble.  What an awesome thing to remember that when times are hard there is no shame for there will be a double portion, instead of dishonor there will be rejoicing, and we will everlasting joy.  So when there's trouble just read this verse and remind God "Lord you promised double for my trouble."

The Key on the Quilt

Hello World.
How is everyone doing?  It's Wednesday and I have a very brilliant achingly sad book for you today.  I'm going to very honest and poignant about this book.  It isn't a fluffy book; several times I had to set this book down just to think through everything.  It brought questions to my mind, and for me to have a book where I'm waking up in the middle of the night grieving for the main character is truly hard to do.

The Key on the Quilt is kind of like Shawshank Redemption.  I don't really like to compare things, but it's the best way to make you understand this book.  Our main character (Jane Prescott) is a woman broken from an abusive relationship serving time for manslaughter.  Here we have a woman wrongfully accused in a very desperate situation. The story takes place while she is serving her time and she encounters people that either build her up or try and tear her down.  I don't really want to give you more because truly I want you to read this story with an open heart and an open mind.

Ms. Whitson does a phenomenal job at creating books.  They are so beautifully written that one is magically drawn in.  Needless to say, I almost didn't read this book, because of reading the back cover.  I didn't want to be sad, but as a dear friend said to me "Sometimes you need to know the truth about the evils of this world."   What made me want to read this book was the amazing Christian characters who are in Jane Prescott's life.  They are wanting to do the will of God and yearning to glorify Him in every way.  Going about their daily work, using their own two feet as a mission field.  These characters made me want to do my best in what I am doing right now.  That's a good book to me, as sad as it is, the book made me desire to grow closer in my walk with Jesus.  Pleas read The Key on the Quilt you won't regret it.


*This e-book was given to me through netgalley by Barbour Books for my honest review, and I'm honestly very happy about that.


James 1:2-4
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.


I thought this was appropriate considering the book I reviewed :-)  Let me just tell you how these verses make me feel.  Joy, I don't think you fully realize this word unless you have faced a difficulty.  I don't know what your difficulty is, but it doesn't matter this command here is telling us to call it a joy.  Here's the kicker while we are struggling and going through difficult times we're asked not to run a way but to remain steadfast, to remain under the struggle.  Why?  Because the struggle and steadfastness will produce perfection and you will lack in nothing.  I'm sure this is the last thing you desire while going through a hard time, but please dear reader remember that God wants the best for you and He loves you so much more then anyone ever could.  So much that He desires you to be the best that you can be.  Like our character for The Key on the Quilt, she went through something terrible but in the end something far greater was given to her.

A Texan's Honor

I know what you're thinking... Bre it's not even Wednesday and you're writing another blog.  Here is why dear readers, I have too many books to read from all of theses awesome publishers.  Thank you netgalley.com you guys rock.  Thus why I am writing on a Monday about A Texan's Honor by Shelley Gray.  This book was given to me by Abingdon Press in hopes of my honest opinion.  And I am honestly very excited to review this book.

A Texan's Honor immediately drew me in because of the cover.  I love adventure stories!  You can just tell it's going to be an adventure story with a train and a very contemplative looking man on it's cover.  This is the 2nd book in the series Heart of a Hero, don't fret though you don't need to read the first book to understand the second book.   Ok, on to the description!  I would like to describe this book kind of like jumping into a Lake.  The rush and excitement is immediate.  Jamie Ellis finds herself in a horrible situation, a gang of thieves has overtaken the train and is keeping her and several gentleman captive.  Very afraid for her virtue and life she finds herself in the precarious position of being the only female captive.  Will McMillan is undercover as a gang member of the Walton gang.  How does Will protect Jamie and see her safely to her Aunts?  What's the story of Scout Proffitt hmmmm....  Very intriguing

If this doesn't have you jumping out of your seat to go buy the book I don't know what does!  Ms. Gray does an excellent job of combining heart stopping adventure and truly meaningful characters.  She doesn't overdo the high risk, on the edge, nail biting scenes, which I'm very grateful for.  She weaves a great story with characters I loved getting to know and hoping the best for them.  It was a great read!  I hope you go pick A Texan's Honor and enjoy it as much as I did.  In fact as soon as I got done with the book I started re-reading it again (that is how good the book was, it is definitely a re-read book).

Romans 4:20
No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God. ESV


Oh to be like Abraham when times are tough!  This is actually a verse that I have memorized for this very reason.  When tough times come for me, or if I feel God has promised me something and it hasn't come yet I refer to this verse.  This verse is referencing Abraham and he didn't stop praising God, he didn't stop giving God the glory and praise He deserved.  Not only does he praise God, but He doesn't stop trusting in the promises God gave him.  I am so childish when it comes to not getting my way, and here I see I need to be trusting God and giving Him glory.  My faith grows strong every time I choose to do exactly what this verse says.  Hopefully I remember that when hard times comes and to give God the glory.

My Own Worst Enemy

Hello!
Isn't the word Hello just fun to say, a lot of times it can bring a smile to someone face instantly.  So that's why I usually start off with a big ol' Hello!  Because I truly hope when you read my blog you're smiling.  You may be wondering why I'm writing today, a Saturday.  Well I received so many page views these couple of days and books from some awesome publishers that I have to start doing a nonfiction book day and a fiction book day.  Thus why I'm writing on Saturday.  Saturday's are now the new nonfiction book days!  I hope you enjoy it and start digging into some awesome nonfiction books.

Bethany House Publishers very nicely gave me my first free book in hopes for my honest review and taking this from another reviewer I am honestly very happy about doing that.

Ok back to work.  My Own Worst Enemy by Janet Davis is really for women readers.  This book looks at your fears and what is holding you back.  Taking stories of women from the Bible and using examples of herself Ms. Davis dissects our thought life, actions, and emotions to get down to the nitty gritty of what is holding us back.

Ms. Davis does a great job at truly making sure that her book is sound in Biblical doctrine.  Not only does she use examples of Biblical women but she supports her findings with verses and doctrinal teaching.  What a relief to read a "self-help" book and know that it doesn't have any fluff in it.  I also really appreciated her using examples of women struggling with some of the same fears that her readers might be struggling.  Telling their story was uplifting.  So dear readers if your feeling as if you're hiding behind insecurities or if God is asking you to take a leap and you're scared, please read My Own Worst Enemy.  You will not regret it.

Proverbs 31:30
     Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.  NABS 


Out of everything in this verse I'm caught by the words "fears the Lord".  What does that mean necessarily?  You see I grew up in a household where I had no fear of my Dad.  I remember my dad saying "Breeze do you know how much I love you?  I love you so much, but God loves you a million times more."  I grew up knowing that God loved me more then life itself, I did not grow up with a fear of the Lord.  So reading this verse I am at a loss with how to fear God.  In Hebrew, fear can take many forms: revere, shake, and awe are just a few of its meaning.  I imagine that when I meet God at the end of my life I will be on my knees shaking because of His enormity and wonder.  When I revere God it is with a humble heart realizing how much He has done and will be doing in each of our lives.  Foremost, being in awe of such a great and wonderful God who created sunrises, my children, and beauty all around us.  Fearing the Lord when I see it in these terms makes it slightly easier to understand this verse.  

To Win Her Heart

Hello World :-)
I'm not very tencho savvy and fortunately I was looking at my blog and this page came up blank.  Why I don't know, since I wrote a very nice explanation of why I've been gone, an awesome review and what my plans are for this specific blog spot.  So once again I start typing my explanation grrr.....

These last couple of weeks I have been seriously considering what I wanted to do with this blog.  I wanted to write reviews at least twice a week but I was struggling with being a wife and mother doing that.  Then to top it off I was wondering how I would be able to receive new books without paying them.  As always I'm a little slow on the uptake but it finally occurred to me that I might just want to pray about it.  Sure enough God placed in me this idea.  I will contact publishing companies and ask if they'll send me books to review.  Sure enough Bethany House has very nicely started doing that.  I will continue to look for new books in the library and Amazon, but hopefully you'll start seeing some fresh new books from Bethany House as well.  My plan is to have my reviews up on Wednesdays.  One review of a book and then a little encouragement from the Bible.  I felt very convicted that since I read the Bible everyday my readers should get a little of it as well.  So dear readers there you have it, why I've been gone and what my plans are for this blog.

To Win Her Heart

Might I add the new and improved website with the awesome looking book cover.  A good many times I definitely judge a book by the cover.  If I'm not liking the cover a lot and I mean a lot of the time I don't even bother reading the back.  Thank goodness this was a great cover.  Look at it, doesn't it just scream with curiosity?  A gently well bred lady back to back with a rugged looking man (blacksmith I read the back of the cover hehe).  Who wouldn't want to start reading this book!

We start our book with Levi Grant.  Levi just moved in to the town of Spencer and is looking to start his new life there.  With a secret past and halting speech Eden Spencer is quick to judge him as not being bright.  This unlikely couple go on a fun adventure of courtship where they get to know each other at.... yep.... the library :-)

I thoroughly enjoyed To Win Her Heart not only is the message of forgiveness, sacrifice, and love so wonderfully mixed in, it's also a beautiful fun love story.  Where two unlikely people find that they have a lot in common.  I hope you read Karen Witemeyer's book you will not regret it!

Proverbs 31:28
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ESV Standard


Every day my husband wakes up and has a quiet time, every day I tell myself today is going to be the day that I wake up with him.  Unfortunately I think I'm sleep deprived from having three kids under three, but fortunately God has placed in my heart to have a quiet time with him no matter how late I get up.  Recently I've been reading the Proverbs 31 woman ( I like to call it that).  This woman bless her heart has it all, wakes up early, makes great business deals, serves diverse food to her family, mends and prepares all clothes, looks awesome (she probably even showers everyday), and still has time to make her household run smoothly.  Who wouldn't want to be that woman!  Though I am far from that, I want to constantly be sanctified, to draw myself closer to God in my jobs as wife, mother, and teacher.  One day I hope to hear my children bless me and my husband praise me, but what I want to hear most is God saying "Well done good and faithful servant".