Pages

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

Redeeming LoveRedeeming Love by Francine Rivers

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is one of the hardest reviews I have ever tried to write!
Redeeming Love is different from any book I've ever read. If I had to describe this book in one word it would be, Powerful! Powerful imagery, powerful allegory, and powerful writing.
This book provoked so many emotions as I read it. Gratitude, sadness, mercy, joy...
As I was thinking about this book the little chorus Deep and Wide kept coming to my mind.
I know it's a child's chorus but this book just stirred it to the surface of my heart.... "deep and wide, deep and wide, there's a fountain flowing deep and wide.." A fountain of love, healing and amazing grace.
Before you read this book I highly recommend you read the story of Gomer and Hosea in the book of Hosea to get a proper prospective on the story.

I would recommend this book for 18 and over as sex is implied quite frequently. There is child prostitution, and adultery in this book as well.
Also I recommend this article on Gomer and Hosea from Bible.org  https://bible.org/seriespage/undying-...

My favorite quote from Redeeming Love.... “You said go to her, and I let pride stand in my way. You said she needed me, and I didn't believe. You said love her, and I thought it would be easy.”

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.




View all my reviews

Friday, September 13, 2013

Into the Whirlwind by Elizabeth Camden

Into the WhirlwindInto the Whirlwind by Elizabeth Camden

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book gives an insiders view of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and what it took to rebuild lives, businesses, and loves from the rubble and ashes left behind.
I really liked the characters in this book. Mollie Knox is a independent, strong, and compassionate women determined to keep her father's watch shop open, if for nothing else she has to provide her employees, mostly Civil War veterans with work and stability.
Zack Kazmarek is a influential Polish man who has worked his way up from unloading ships at the docks to being the most feared lawyer in all of Chicago. His secret admiration for Mollie has been growing for nearly three years, he's determined to make her his but it seems like every time things are about to work out as planned something comes and tears them apart.

I really enjoyed the descriptiveness of this book. I felt the excitement of Chicago before the fire, the desperation after the fire, and above all a sense of hope rekindled. Things being rebuilt, futures restored, loves revealed, and lessons learned.
I thought the romance moved a little too quickly to feel real but despite that fact I still loved the characters. They did seem real.

I would probably give this book more like a 4.5 star but a 5 star review is a little steep in my opinion.

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.




View all my reviews

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Tenacious by Jeremy and Jennifer Williams

Tenacious: How God Used a Terminal Diagnosis to Turn a Family and a Football Team Into ChampionsTenacious: How God Used a Terminal Diagnosis to Turn a Family and a Football Team Into Champions by Jeremy Williams

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is the touching story of Jeremy and Jennifer Williams and their two children Josie and Jacob.
Born and raised in a small town in western Georgia where sports and God are considered top priority.
This book follows both Jennifer and Jeremy's lives from a high school crush to there wedding made in heaven, and eventually to the earth shattering news of spina bifida and ALS.
Bringing a story of true courage. The courage it takes to live everyday... to live TENACIOUS!

Wow... is all I could say after reading this book. What an inspiring story!
At first I thought " it would be so much better if it was written in first person" by the end of the story I thought " oh.. now I understand".
Such a truly beautiful story!!

I just have to include the closing lines of the book as they spoke to my heart so clearly..

"You know, we all have a choice, every day, every hour, every minute - do we lay down our story (our plans, our dreams, etc.) and live out the story that God ordained for our lives, or do we not? What would happen if we, as an individual, as a church, as a world gave our all to Christ? What would happen if we made the decision to be- Tenacious."

.... I don't know but I personally intend to find out!! What about you?

"Tenacious- Persistent in maintaining, adhering to, or seeking something valued or desired."

I highly recommend this book to other teens, although I would assume any age would be inspired by it!  :)

I received this book at no cost in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.



View all my reviews

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Sweet Mercy by Ann Tatlock

Sweet MercySweet Mercy by Ann Tatlock

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Seventeen year old Eve Marryat is only too happy to leave the crime ridden streets of St. Paul Minnesota and move to her Uncle Cy's vacation lodge in Mercy Ohio.
A staunch supporter of Prohibition, Eve can't imagine why anyone would break the law! After all she is a "good" person, her family has always been "good" people!
But things aren't always as they seem, and maybe her self-righteousness is only a mile wide and a inch deep!
When Eve finds out her very own family is involved in bootlegging all of her idealistic views are suddenly threatened. Is anyone truly good? Can anyone be trusted?

What a wonderful book about "Mercy"!I was touched by the sincerity of the characters in this book. Some surprising plot twists, and a understanding of the verse "love covers the multitudes of sins" (1 Peter 4:8)

Sweet Mercy comes to such a sweet and beautiful conclusion.... "no one is all bad, just as no one is all good" but the love and mercy of Jesus can still cover the sins of even the vilest sinner who will believe on Him!

I received this book free in exchange for an honest review from Bethany House Publishers. The views expressed here are solely mine.




View all my reviews

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Her Good Name by Ruth Axtell

Her Good NameHer Good Name by Ruth Axtell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Espy Estrada lives in Holliston Maine at the turn of the 19th century. Born to a low class family Espy desperately desires to further her poor education. She enthusiastically accepts a job as a house maid for a local professor and his wife, she is thrilled with the opportunity to learn from the professor's wealth of knowledge and extensive library but eventually the professor seems to be noticing more than just Espy's aptitude for learning.
When rumors begin flying concerning the much respected Mr. Stockton, Espy's reputation is ruined before she even knows what has happened. She is determined that everything will be figured out and her reputation restored but then her own beau Warren, a wealthy and respected young man of society who has eyes only for Espy loses all faith in her she gives up and leaves town without an explanation.
Will the truth ever be revealed or will her chances at true love and her good name ever be the same?

I thought this book looked boring! Imagine my surprise when I was absolutely hooked about 10 pages into the story!! I would highly recommend this book as a Historical Fiction/ Historical Romance!
Usually I'm not really that into romance novels but I have to say Ruth Axtell threw me for a loop on this one!

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review!



View all my reviews