Million Dollar, One Person Business (Review)

This review is for the book "The Million-Dollar One-Person Business" by Elaine Pofeldt. If you are a small business owner, an entrepreneur, or someone who has even considered going down this route, you have GOT to get your hands on this book. It is slam full of awesome ideas and suggestions. The book has dozens of examples of what has worked and what hasn't worked for other small business owners and entrepreneurs. There are hundreds of resources in here for creating websites, making things easier on you, email accounts, freebies that you are going to want, etc. And tons of encouragement for making it through the first few years.

This book is underlined and highlighted all the way through for me! So much goodness in one space. It was really helpful. I definitely recommend it.

Thank you to Waterbrook Multonah for a copy of the book.

Seeds of Hope (Review)

This review is for the book "Seeds of Hope" by Barbara Cameron. I really enjoy the genre of Amish fiction and this book really did not disappoint. It had all the great elements of a romance novel and was still unique and held my interest.

Miriam and Mark grew up together, but only because Mark spent some summers at his Amish grandfather's farm working. There really isn't any hope for a relationship between the two of them considering he is English and she is Amish. Unfortunately for Mark, his big-time lawyer position is in jeopardy. Fortunately for Miriam, that means he is spending a lot more time at his grandfather's farm. It doesn't take long for them to realize there are feelings between them. But Mark wouldn't dare leave his law firm and his whole life in the city, right?

I loved the characters in this book and the easygoing pace of the story. There wasn't a lot of drama or anything like that. It's just a feel-good read.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book. 

Sacred Rest (Review)

This review is for the book "Sacred Rest" by Saundra Dalton-Smith, M.D. I will just go ahead and say this is one of the best books I have read in the last year. I needed this book so badly and didn't even realize it.

The book begins with why we need rest. It is crucial for our bodies, minds, emotions, spirituality, our creativity, and even for the social aspect. Then the book talks about the gift of rest and how we can come to that place. It might be setting boundaries and telling people no. It might be taking a break to do literally nothing. It might be figuring out the love language for your family members.

I'm telling you, this book is so well written. It's like she could see into my head and my heart to know what I needed! I am in love with this book.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of this book.

Roanoke Girls (Review)

This review is for the book "The Roanoke Girls" by Amy Engel. Okay, if you are into twisted, dark, gothic stories with horrible secrets that unfold, you will enjoy this book. I'm telling you what, there is something about the Roanoke girls that makes them different from everyone else... and when you find out what it is, you will probably do a double take. I literally started flipping backwards in the book to make sure I was reading correctly when I figured it out. This is a crazy story but the storyline and characters will absolutely suck you in. A must read.

Thank you to Waterbrook Multonah for a copy of the book.

Unimaginable (Review)

This review is for the book "Unimaginable" by Jeremiah J. Johnston. Now, don't tell me that title alone doesn't get you excited to read this book. What a startling thought, that really just gives me an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.

The book begins with the earliest religions, and how they spanned across cultures and civilizations. One chapter goes over the aspect of how suffering and healing go together. It wasn't that long ago that people's longevity was quite short. People were desperate for healing, particularly because medical knowledge was so limited. Johnston points out that people in these times were also usually afraid of death because they didn't know what to think of an afterlife. So this may have been why Jesus was followed so frequently - his healings and raising people from the dead made him quite popular!

I could go on and on about each chapter in this book but that would make this review too long and may spoil the book. This book is a phenomenal mix of history and theology. I don't save too many books to go on my shelf, but this one made the cut.

Thank  you to Cross Focused Reviews for a copy of the book.

Melody of the Soul (Review)

This review is for the book "Melody of the Soul" by Liz Tolsma. This book is set in the 1940s and in it, we meet Anna Zadok, a Jewish Christian who lives in Prague. She has lost most of her family due to deportation, and though she still lives with her grandmother, she is unable to perform as a violinist due to the Nazi laws. She really isn't even supposed to play the violin anymore at all, and is afraid she is going to lose that privilege when a Nazi officer begins renting the space below her. Fortunately for her, he enjoys the music, as well as her company, it turns out. He's also finding that he doesn't agree with the Nazi ideology anymore.

I really enjoyed this book. I like books that have a bit of history involved in them. I really liked the characters and found their conversations flowing and easy to follow. If you enjoy historical romances, this will be right up your alley. I did appreciate the glossary of foreign words, which included some Czech and German words used throughout the book. After seeing them a couple of times it was very easy to familiarize myself with them.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

 

Travel back in time to 1943 and meet Anna Zadok, a Jewish Christian and concert violinist whose career is ended because of Nazi occupation in Prague. Don't miss the new historical novel, The Melody of the Soul, by Liz Tolsma. Though musical instruments have been declared illegal, Anna defiantly continues to play the violin. But Officer Horst Engel, quartered in Anna's flat and dissatisfied with German ideology, enjoys her soothing music. When Anna and her grandmother face deportation, Horst risks everything to protect them.

Join Liz Tolsma and other bookworms for a Facebook Live event on February 6, plus enter to win Liz's prize pack giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• One copy of The Melody of the Soul
• A garnet bracelet
• A box of Czech Republic chocolate

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 6. The winner will be announced at Liz's Facebook Live Party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Liz and other readers, as well as for a chance to win other prizes!

RSVP today and spread the word-tell your friends about the giveaway and Facebook Live party via social media and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 6th!

Dynamic Heart (Review)

This review is for the book "The Dynamic Heart in Daily Life" by Jeremy Pierre. This is a great book which focuses on connecting Christ to human experience. If you are involved in counseling or ministry in any capacity, this is a great book for you to read. Pierre began by discussing our heart in depth, and how it relates to theology. In the last several chapters he really puts everything together in a simple, direct way for when you are struggling to counsel someone. He discusses how to "hear" someone's heart when they're talking to you, how to help them understand their heart responses, how to look to Jesus in all situations, and how to transition to new responses in those situations.

The book is a bit lengthy and wordy in places, but I still really enjoyed it and learned a lot from it.

Thank you to Cross Focused Reviews for a copy of the book.

Answering the Toughest Questions About God and the Bible (Review)

This review is for the book "Answering the Toughest Questions about God and the Bible" by Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz. I think the title is pretty self-explanatory because that is the goal of this book. There are awesome questions covered in this book, each taking up a chapter. Questions about the trinity, why the Bible is hard to understand, and the differences between God and Jesus. Each chapter is chock-full of interesting information and answers to these questions, with lots of questions for the reader to use to self-reflect. A lot of great scripture is used to help find the answers.

One con of this book - it didn't really seem that unique to me. I feel like I could throw a rock in a Christian bookstore and find several books like this. But I will say this book was very interesting and an engaging, easy-to-read format.

Thank you to Bethany House for a copy of the book.

Many Sparrows (Review)

This review is for the book "Many Sparrows" by Lori Benton. In this book, Colonists are moving westward which means they are coming onto territories which belong to Native Americans. The Inglesby family is on this journey when Clare's husband Philip is sent on a mission for help. Philip doesn't return and suddenly Clare's son has disappeared without a trace. To make things worse, Clare is about to go into labor any minute. She has to pull herself together in order to recover her son from the Shawnee Indians. Luckily she has someone come to her aid to help her through this situation.

This book intertwines suspense, romance, and faith in a way that comes together with ease. Benton is such a great author and if you like historical novels like this you will definitely enjoy this one.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

God's Crime Scene for Kids (Review)

This review is for the book "God's Crime Scene for Kids" by J. Warner Wallace and Susie Wallace. I absolutely loved this book! This is such a cool idea! In this book, Jason has uncovered a mysterious box in his grandmother's attic. He wants to figure out the mystery behind it, so he goes to his friends and Detective Jeffries from the Junior Detective's Academy to solve the mystery. As Jeffries helps the kids with the box mystery, he also helps them discover how to learn that the universe points to the existence of God. In this book, he never says it is just because the Bible says so, or any trite thing like that. He points the kids to science and lets them answer their questions on their own.

This book is meant for young kids - I'd say 3rd grade and up can really enjoy it - and teaches them early apologetics. There are great illustrations, the conversation is really easy to read and follow, and the chapters are short. Perfect for me to give to my kids to read now that I've finished it! This will make for a very cool book for me to discuss with my kids as they are reading it.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

World View (Review)

This review is for the book "World View" by Marvin Olasky. In this book, Olasky wants readers to discover how to speak the truth but also show mercy in our everyday lives. This book is actually comprised of several columns from World Magazine. These are personal encounters and interactions that Olasky has had with people across the globe and events that he wants to bring to light. The book is very deep and thought-provoking and Olasky will definitely lure you in with his strong words and thoughts. I highly recommend others read this book as it will make you self-reflect and think on things that we don't often think about.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

KJV Know the Word Study Bible (Review)

This review is for the KJV Know the Word Study Bible. I was so excited to get this Bible! I love a new Bible and I especially love a good study Bible. This Bible gives you three options for studying: by the book, by the verse, or by the topic. It's great for getting into a daily routine of Bible reading. The pages are a beautiful design and easy to read. There are tons of notes throughout the Bible for you to read as you study. There is a concordance along with several full-color maps in the back. I particularly like how this Bible points out the origins of the words that are used in the scripture.

I love this version. I like to read a different version of the Bible every time I read through it, and this is one of the best ones I've read. I  highly recommend it. It is not only a great version, but very sturdy and well-made.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

Rule of Law (Review)

This review is for the book "Rule of Law" by Randy Singer. This book was a really great political thriller. In this novel, a specific SEAL team has been sent on a rare mission by the president. They head to Yemen to do the mission, but it fails. When it does, the SEAL team learns that maybe the president had that planned all along. Paige Chambers, a lawyer who personally wants to know if the president knew that the mission would fail, goes on a search for answers. Going after the president is a huge risk, so she definitely needs to know what she's doing.

This book has it all - politics, twists and turns, romance, and suspense. It is a bit of a slow start trying to learn all the characters and learn how they play together in the book, but then it turns into a page-turner!

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

No One Ever Asked (Review)

This review is for the book "No One Ever Asked" by Katie Ganshert. I have only read one of the other books she has written, but I loved that book and really wanted to read something else by her. This book was phenomenal. It is absolutely emotional and heart-wrenching. She really digs into the tragedy here, which is the fact that in 2017 we are still seeing people who are being treated unfairly simply based on their skin color. As a white woman, I rarely see this affect my daily life, but I do know people who say that they never have one day where they forget their skin color because of how they are treated.

This novel is just extremely emotional. There are so many things at play in this book. Not just the racial aspect, but the relationships and the misunderstandings and the faith struggles. It is so good. It's one of those books that you won't want to put down.

Thank you to Waterbrook Multonah for a copy of the book.

Imperfect Justice (Review)

This review is for the book "Imperfect Justice" by Cara Putman. Now this is a definite page-turner. I loved this book from the very beginning because it had me on the edge of my seat. In this book, Emilie is supposed to be helping Kaylene escape from her abusive husband when Kaylene suddenly doesn't show up for an appointment. The next thing Emilie knows, Kaylene is dead as well as one of her daughters, and the other daughter is fighting for her life in the hospital. The husband is blaming it all on Kaylene.

Emilie struggles to clear Kaylene's name without having any evidence to her point. She pulls in Kaylene's brother Reid for help, but unfortunately he hasn't been in touch with Kaylene in ages. They still work together to try to figure out how to prove Kaylene's innocence. Throughout it all, Emilie is also dealing with someone stalking her and feeling a lot of pressure since she's so sure Kaylene was innocent.

This book is so great. I love the characters and the suspense throughout the book. I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next!

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

Christy (Review)

This review is for the book "Christy" by Catherine Marshall. I actually first learned about this story when I watched the TV series back when I was a little girl. I fell in love with that television show. So I was very excited to get this 50th anniversary edition of the book to read! I will say that this book is so daunting when you first pick it up because it is so thick! But the pages turn quickly because the story is so captivating!

Christy is a 19-year old teacher who is moving from her home in Asheville, North Carolina, to cutter Cap which is a very isolated part of the Smoky Mountains. She is going to have to learn to deal with a lot of changes - including suspicion from the people who live there, learning about their traditions and superstitions, and the ravage of poverty in these mountains.

You'll fall in love with these people, just as Christy does, and you'll love to watch her journey. A book you can read over and over again!

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

Deadly Proof (Review)

This review is for the book "Deadly Proof" by Rachel Dylan. In this book, we meet Kate Sullivan, who is a lawyer involved in a lawsuit against Mason Pharmaceutical. This is a huge case that could make her career, but it is also a case that quickly turns dangerous for Kate as well as her clients. Fortunately there is a private investigator who comes in, Landon, and he is there to handle security.

This book is chock full of suspense and danger. I like how the romance and the spiritual aspect are woven into the story but not overly cheesy. I did think some of the legal parts made my brain spin because I don't know a lot about that kind of stuff, but I think it was necessary for this book to make sense. I really like the characters and the storyline. It looks like this is the first of a series so I will look forward to reading more in the series.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

Ordinary Graces (Review)

This review is for the book "Ordinary Graces" by Lucinda Secrest McDowell. I always love reading anything by McDowell because I know that it is going to be something great.

This book contains 120 different devotions that cross four different categories - grace, strength, gratitude, and life. Within each one of those categories are 30 daily devotionals. They are short, with a scripture to start with, a personal snippet or an example from the Bible, and a prayer.

I love these types of books because they are easy to fit into my busy lifestyle. I can read one a day or several a day. I definitely enjoyed this and would highly recommend it to anyone needing a little extra boost in their devotions.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

Pass It On (Review)

This review is for the book "Pass It On" by Champ Thornton. This type of book is something I have seen before, but I absolutely love the design and the idea of this. It is a journal for you to use as you study the Proverbs. As you read the scripture, this book will tell you a summary, and then ask several questions which you should actually answer by writing in the book. You will connect your life with the gospel through this journal, and then be able to pass it on for others to learn from and see that connection.

What a brilliant idea! And what a beautiful journal this is. I cannot wait to fill out all of the pages and pass this on to my children to read.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

She's Got the Wrong Guy (Review)

This review is for the book "She's Got the Wrong Guy" by Deepak Reju. In this book, Reju attempts to talk to Christian women about why we tend to settle for less than what (or who) God wants for us. First of all, he discusses why we sometimes settle, and then he goes into how to live by faith in your relationships. This is a very eye-opening section, because he touches on the very true fact that we are NOT promised a man will chase us, and we are NOT promised that we will settle down with the love of our life forever. These dreams sometimes come from romance novels and movies, but that is not necessarily God's plan for us. The author goes through a bunch of different guys you may come in contact with while you're dating, and then how to pursue a real Christian man.

I love this book and I think that it could not come at a better time. Our society is so impatient, and we are inundated with dating sites, phone apps, commercials, romance movies and books, that we sometimes feel like it is never going to happen to us. What an important thing to remember - that God's plan is perfect for us.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.