Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

Redeeming 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.




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Into the Whirlwind by Elizabeth Camden

Into 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.




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Tenacious by Jeremy and Jennifer Williams

Tenacious: 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.



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Sweet Mercy by Ann Tatlock

Sweet 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.




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Her Good Name by Ruth Axtell

Her 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!



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Gone South ~ Meg Moseley

Gone South by Meg Moseley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Tish Mccomb is enthralled with the quaint Civil War era home that was once owned by her relatives in Alabama. Deciding to take a chance she moves from her comfortable apartment in Michigan and moves to a small town in Jackson Alabama with hopes that old family ties will make fitting in easier. Unbeknownst to her, is a family secret that has ruined any chances of a happy welcome home!
It seems the only people willing to give her a chance is the local antique dealer and a homeless girl Melanie that Tish takes into her new home despite her shady and somewhat checkered past.
Sometimes she is determined to stay and other times loneliness sets in and she wonders why she ever left her home in Michigan to become an object of scorn for the whole town!

I found myself rooting for Melanie through the whole book. Something about a second-chance story that draws me in every time!!
This book is fresh, not a different twist on a popular genre or a retelling of a New York Times Bestseller.. totally unique and innocent. I appreciate that in a book!

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




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Barefoot Summer ~ Denise Hunter

Barefoot Summer by Denise Hunter

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Madison and Bekket are totally incompatible. He's the son of the town drunk, the "Bad Boy of Chapel Springs" and she is a McKinley, one of the most respected families in the whole county.
Bekket has had a crush on Madison since highschool but he knows he'll never be good enough for Madison McKinley. Not only is he a known trouble maker but he also holds a secret concerning the death of Madison's twin brother Michael.
Madison is determined that the good looking, howbeit infamous Bekket O'rielly doesn't even know she exist much less like her. Also she blames him for the disappearence of her sister Jade.
Determined to fulfill her dead brothers dream Madison signs up for boating lessons to compete in a local sailing competition, ironically her "substitute teacher" is none other than Bekket O'rielly. Thrown together by circumstances friendship and eventually love begans to blossom but can thier love grow in the soil of guilt and distrust or will it wilt under the scorching light of secrecy?

O.k, I thought this book read like a soap opera. There's really no plot other than Madison and Bekket finally falling in love and overcoming thier past.
I also thought that for a Christian book the romance could be just a little steamy. While there was no sex the passion did go farther than a goodnight kiss and a warm hug.

I recieved this book free in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.



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