Review: Stuck Bible Study

I am involved in a bible study with an AMAZING group of ladies here in Huron. They are seriously AMAZING. And they are totally worth the gratuitous use of all-caps. Our group is very diverse. We have Baptists, Pentecostals, Presbyterians, Christian churchers, Missionary Alliancers, non-denominationals and Methodists. In addition to that we have three pastor's wives! It is a fun group with very diverse perspectives. I love it.

We recently reviewed the Stuck study by Jennie Allen. It is designed to be an 8 week study. We got the DVD study box set and then purchased additional copies of the study guides so that everyone had one. The study box set comes with the DVD, leader's guide, study guide and discussion questions. The leaders guide has suggested formats, but we usually shared prayer requests, insights from the homework and study guide, watched the DVD and then used the discussion question cards.

The ladies in my group really enjoyed this study. I enjoyed it, but I guess I was expecting more. I have a high sensitivity to any Christianease and I tend to be really turned off by it. This study contains quite a bit of Christianease and the DVD sermonettes get a little cliched at times both stylistically and content-wise. I know that Jennie Allen is sincere, but it feels a little youth groupy and not meaty and real enough sometimes.

I loved the study guide most of the time. There are great exercises at the end of each week and they really engage all learning styles. Sometimes she has you list, other times write, other times draw and even sometimes go out an do something. It is wonderful.

The discussion cards were amazing. We would pass the cards for the week around and let everyone choose their favorite question and then ask as many as we could discuss within the time we had. This study prompted amazing conversations and really drew us together as a group. I can't say that I necessarily feel completely unstuck, but it got me thinking, which is really what it is all about.

If you enjoy the Nooma video style from Rob Bell you will definitely enjoy Jennie's style on the DVDs. The book and DVD set have a young, hip feel which is great in a world full of middle-aged women's studies.

All in all it was good and I would recommend it to others. I give it a four out of five. Sometimes Jennie just felt a little forced in the DVDs like she was trying to make me feel an emotion instead of just telling a story. But, the discussions and study guide made it all worth it.

Note for Full Disclosure: While I do not receive any monetary compensation for my book reviews, I am provided with free complimentary copies of each book. That being said, this review is completely my own, and free from the influence of Thomas Nelson Book Publishers.

Book Review: Wings of a Dream

In Anne Mateer's book Wings of a Dream Rebekah Hendricks leaves her home in Oklahoma to spend time with her widowed aunt in Texas. Rebekah's boyfriend is attending aviator training for the military and with World War I in the picture, Rebekah needs a change of pace. But as Rebekah plans to see her Aunt Adabelle she prays that one day God will bring her and Arthur back together -- and it won't hurt being closer to him in Texas either!

When Rebekah arrives at her Aunt's she is disappointed to learn that the flu has taken over the town and her aunt is on her deathbed. In addition to this major devastation, Rebekah also learns that when her aunt passes she will be named the legal guardian of the four children that Adabelle was caring for while their father was away at war.


While Rebekah cares for the children she bemoans the fact that she is so tied down to them and unable to go visit her Arthur or even run away with him if he were to come for her. Yet, every day she spends with them she falls more and more in love with them and feels compelled to meet the man who is their father. And at the same time, the sheriff begins calling on Rebekah and complicating matters of the heart.


I loved this story. The characters are charming and real and the author was brilliant in writing a main character that grows and develops throughout the course of the novel. Five out of five stars!

Note for Full Disclosure: While I do not receive any monetary compensation for my book reviews, I am provided with free complimentary copies of each book. That being said, this review is completely my own, and free from the influence of Bethany House Publishers. If you are a publisher interested in having me serve as a reviewer, please contact me through my blog: www.lifeundivided.blogspot.com

Book Review: Spirit Wars

I was privileged to review Kris Vallotton's book Spirit Wars. It is a phenomenal book that explores the dynamic spiritual realm that we all live within, but often do not acknowledge. Kris shares a lot of his personal experiences with demons and spirits of fear and destruction. He tells personal stories about his struggles while maintaining a peacefulness in his writing rather than sensationalism. Many Christian authors can focus too much on the sensationalism of the evil one and this can be destructive to readers who are struggling with fear as it can increase their anxiety. Kris managed to tell his story while proclaiming always the sovereignty of God over his life and even those specific instances of demonic oppression.

I was profoundly interested in the book and found myself staying up WAY to late to read it. It made me much more aware of all that goes on in the spiritual realm right under our nose while we chalk things up to fate or chance or depressions, many times there are deep forces at work keeping us in bondage to the desires of the devil. But Kris presents the hope that can only be found through the blood of Christ. And he explains ways to put the devil back in his place.

It was so touching to read this book. There aren't enough words to say how much it has affected the way that I think about the world and my own struggles with sin and anxiety. I definitely recommend this book to any Christian who is struggling or has struggled with demonic oppression or knows someone who has (and if you are a Christian, you probably have struggled with this whether or not you realize it). This would be a great book to use as a bible study tool or for Christian counselors to suggest to their clients. This book deserves a five out of five! Thank you, Kris for proclaiming that God is sovereign and able to deliver us from the evil one!

Note for Full Disclosure: While I do not receive any monetary compensation for my book reviews, I am provided with free complimentary copies of each book. That being said, this review is completely my own, and free from the influence of Bethany House Publishers. If you are a publisher interested in having me serve as a reviewer, please contact me through my blog: www.lifeundivided.blogspot.com

Book Review: Love Blooms in Winter

 

Love Blooms in Winter is a charming tale by Lori Copeland. Her novel tells the story of Mae, a young woman living in the wild west of North Dakota and raising her younger brother who has some mental disabilities. Mae is dating Jake, a local businessman who is pretty much worthless and lazy. She has been patiently waiting for him to come to his senses and ask for her hand for many years and she is starting to wonder if it will ever happen.

She has plenty to keep her busy, she serves as the town's postmistress and she also looks after her elderly neighbor, Pauline. But when Pauline starts to exhibit signs of dementia, Mae realizes she is in over her head and can no longer handle her independent and headstrong neighbor.

The only problem is that Pauline says she has no family, at least none that she remembers. So when Mae finds a slip of paper in Pauline's desk with a name and address, she assumes she may have just found a long lost family member. Tom Curtis, a railroad man, receives Mae's letters, and although he cannot remember an Aunt Pauline, he decides to head to North Dakota to see if it jogs his memory.

While he doesn't sense any long-lost relationship, the town does jog his memory, but for a very different reason. And when the rails around the small town are damaged by a runaway train, Tom suddenly finds himself stuck in town on long-term business. But it seems that while he came to town for Pauline, he is finding that he wants to stay for Mae.

I so want to ruin the wonderful ending, but alas, I will leave it to you, lovely readers. I can tell you that this book was delightful and I give it a five out of five starts. My only critique is the hokey looking cover. That being said, it is still a great book. Go and pick up a copy for yourself!

Note for Full Disclosure: While I do not receive any monetary compensation for my book reviews, I am provided with free complimentary copies of each book. That being said, this review is completely my own, and free from the influence of Harvest House Publishers. If you are a publisher interested in having me serve as a reviewer, please contact me through my blog: www.lifeundivided.blogspot.com

Book Review: To Love and To Cherish

In To Love and to Cherish, Kelly Irvin tells the story of Emma, a young woman who was jilted by her fiance 4 years earlier. She is still recovering from the loss of her love when he decided to leave the Amish community for the outside world. As she recovers, she finds solace and friendship in a local widower named Thomas. But just when things seem to be beginning to blossom with Thomas, Carl, her ex-fiance shows up once again. And he wants to win her back.

This story was positively delightful. I loved every minute of it and had trouble putting it down. Thomas was the perfect hero in the story: loving, caring, gentle and kind. Carl was maddening and Emma frustrated me at times. How can a woman have difficulty choosing when a hero like Thomas is in the picture?

This book has so many layers of storytelling: romance, grief, loss, hope, worldliness versus being set apart, and forgiveness. I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of Irvin's storytelling. I would definitely give this book a five out of five. I hope to read more from her soon!

Note for Full Disclosure: While I do not receive any monetary compensation for my book reviews, I am provided with free complimentary copies of each book. That being said, this review is completely my own, and free from the influence of Harvest House Publishers. If you are a publisher interested in having me serve as a reviewer, please contact me through my blog: www.lifeundivided.blogspot.com

Book Review: An Amish Family Reunion

The book An Amish Family Reunion, by Mary Ellis is a delightful story of a young Amish girl named Phoebe Miller and a young Amish boy named Eli Riehl. The two young people meet on a rumschpringe trip to Niagra Falls and connect immediately. Phoebe is a sweet farm girl who loves to escape farm work to draw and illustrate the countryside in her drawing notebook. Eli is an avid storyteller who delights his friends with his daring tales. When Phoebe quitely starts illustrating as Eli is telling a story, their paths collide and they begin to think that if they work together they can both achieve their dreams of doing what they love and still making a living.

Together they decide to write a children's story. Eli will write, Phoebe will illustrate. They soon find that they aren't just writing a children's story, they are also writing their own love story. Soon, with the help of a local librarian they manage to find a publisher and their dreams start to take off. But when Eli's family is struck by tragedy, their dream has to sit on the back burner while Eli takes on more responsibility at home.

I don't want to ruin the sweet ending, so I'll leave it at that.

This was a delightful story. I enjoyed it very much. I would definitely recommend it to those who enjoy Christian fiction. I give it five out of five stars.

Note for Full Disclosure: While I do not receive any monetary compensation for my book reviews, I am provided with free complimentary copies of each book. That being said, this review is completely my own, and free from the influence of Harvest House Publishers. If you are a publisher interested in having me serve as a reviewer, please contact me through my blog: www.lifeundivided.blogspot.com

Book Review: 365 Ways to Organize Everything

I recently received a review copy of 365 Ways to Organize Everything by Emilie Barnes and Sherri Torelli. The book is well organized (ha!) and does a good job addressing the underlying causes of disorganization rather than just helping you to get out of your bad habits. The beginning of the book goes through several common reasons for disorganization. I really related to the idea of perfectionism, procrastination and pride leading to a paralysis in organization. I think that is very much where I get stuck. But, this is a book review not a therapy session, so I'll move on.

The book is divided into ten sections: Why Get Organized, Inviting Order into Your Home, Organize Your Family, The Joy of an Efficient Kitchen, Align Your Time and Priorities, Take Control of Your Home Office and Paper Piles, Manage Your Money, Bring Peace to Daily Life, Preparing For and Enjoying the Seasons, and A Five-Week Plan of Action. I loved the way they divided the book and I enjoyed the care they took in subdividing the table of contents so you could either read it cover to cover or seek out specific organizing areas you wanted to study.

The only thing that really confused me is that I didn't see where the 365 in the title came from. It seemed like just a catchy title rather than a part of the actual book. That was somewhat annoying to me. Not a huge deal, but if you put 365 in your title (or 101 or 200 or 1,000), I expect you to number the suggestions or tips.

I really enjoyed the action plan section at the close of the book. While I am certainly not all that organized, I think that if I actually buckled down and followed the suggestions in this book I would definitely see results. All in all I give this book a four out of five. My only suggestion is that they add more pictures. I am a visual person and pictures of organization really help me get excited about moving towards a more organized life.

Note for Full Disclosure: While I do not receive any monetary compensation for my book reviews, I am provided with free complimentary copies of each book. That being said, this review is completely my own, and free from the influence of Harvest House Publishers. If you are a publisher interested in having me serve as a reviewer, please contact me through my blog: www.lifeundivided.blogspot.com

Book Review: Out of a Far Country

The book Out of a Far Country recounts the story of authors Christopher Yuan and his mother Angela Yuan as they deal with Christopher's homosexuality. I thought this book would be interesting because it would offer an interesting point of view on a common issue in our society. What I found, however, was that the book was just depressing. I had to force myself to finish it.

It wasn't the subject matter that was necessarily inherently melancholy, it was that the presentation highlighted the gloom and despair and it took WAY too long to get to the happier times at the close of the memoir. I understand that it wasn't meant to be a happy book, and perhaps I should have read it at a different time, but it just struck me as unnecessarily depressing.

At the close of the memoir, Christopher comes to an understanding of his homosexuality. He believes he needs to be holy in his sexuality, not necessarily heterosexual, but holy. For him that means abstaining from homosexual sexual activities, but he definitely doesn't fall into the "pray the gay away" camp.

It was actually somewhat refreshing to hear Yuan's views on the problem with homosexuality being an issue of holiness rather than physicality. That being said, it certainly didn't redeem the book for me.

I give this book two stars out of five. I really didn't like it.

Note for Full Disclosure: While I do not receive any monetary compensation for my book reviews, I am provided with free complimentary copies of each book. That being said, this review is completely my own, and free from the influence of WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Book Review: 40 Ways to Get Closer to God

I recently have had the privilege of reviewing a copy of 40 Ways to Get Closer to God, by Jerry MacGregor. What a wonderful little book!

The book is designed with very short daily readings followed by an action step that you can do to get closer to God. I loved this design because I get tired of Christian devotionals that focus solely on head knowledge when heart knowledge and action is also vital to a vibrant Christian faith.

One of my favorite parts, albeit silly, was that each day had a short area for you to write notes on whatever "project" you had completed. It also, much to the joy of my anal retentive heart, had a check box for you to mark the project complete. Could you ask for anything more? But seriously.

On another silly note, I loved the size of the book. Not only is it short in length, but it is small in size as well. It fits in my purse, or for guy, it could fit in a cargo pocket. I can easily see myself going through this devotional once a year if not more frequently. It is that much of a gem. Get one for yourself, you won't regret it!

Note for Full Disclosure: While I do not receive any monetary compensation for my book reviews, I am provided with free complimentary copies of each book. That being said, this review is completely my own, and free from the influence of Bethany House Publishers.

Book Review: Suprised By Oxford

I wasn't sure how I would feel about this book when I picked it. When it arrived I was even more skeptical due to the obvious length (over 400 pages). But I guess you could say that I was pleasantly "surprised" by Surprised by Oxford. Carolyn Weber weaves an intriguing tale regarding her journey to faith in perhaps the most unlikely of places. In a world where mothers warn you not to go to college and lose your faith, Weber actually went to the world's most renowned university and found faith.

Weber attended Oxford in the mid-nineties to obtain her Masters and Doctorate in English. During the time that she was there, she was forced to confront uncomfortable truths about herself and her worldview. She was also blessed by surprisingly non-cliched Christian friends and professors who showed her that being a Christian doesn't mean being uneducated, complacent, or naive.

Surprised by Oxford is at its core, a love story. It is a love story that involves a man and woman, but much more importantly it is a love story between a woman and her God. I was enriched, challenged, and provoked by the ideas presented in this book. It is rare to find an author who can weave literary concepts like foreshadowing, character development, and a sense of place into a memoir. Yet Weber manages to do just that.

While originally the task of reading this book appeared daunting, I could not put it down. I finished the book in under a week. I highly recommend Surprised by Oxford. It is an intelligent, witty, and memorable exploration of faith, family, and identity. I give it five out of five stars.

Note for Full Disclosure: While I do not receive any monetary compensation for my book reviews, I am provided with free complimentary copies of each book. That being said, this review is completely my own, and free from the influence of Thomas Nelson Book Publishers.

Book Review: Smack Dab in the Middle of God's Love

I recently read the book Smack Dab in the Middle of God's Love by Brennan Manning and John Blase. It is a delightful book about a middle aged couple named Willie Juan and Ana. Willie Juan and Ana love children even though they couldn't have any, and they welcome many children of all shapes, sizes and colors into their home. Ana makes sopapillas that are delicious and every evening the children join Willie Juan and Ana for a time of fellowship over the sopapillas. On one particular night the children ask a lot of questions about God's love and who God is. Willie Juan and Ana are happy to answer them and tell them that they are "Smack dab in the middle" of God's love. It is an adorable story with wonderful illustrations. I highly recommend it. My daughter, who is 10 months old, enjoyed the book even though there are a lot of words on each page. The writing is fun and it makes it a fun book to read aloud. If your child has a very short attention span, it might not keep their interest because there are a lot of words on each page. However, my 10 month old handled it, so I could be wrong.

I thought this book was wonderful and the message was a blessing. I also loved the multicultural nature of the story. It was a great message for our little girl who is growing up in a very diverse faith community. Overall I give this book a five out of five. It was a winner with our household!

Note for Full Disclosure: While I do not receive any monetary compensation for my book reviews, I am provided with free complimentary copies of each book. That being said, this review is completely my own, and free from the influence of Thomas Nelson Book Publishers.

Book Review: Hearts Awakening

Hearts Awakening is a novel by Delia Parr. The novel follows the story of Elvira Kilmer, an unattractive woman who long took care of her elderly parents only to be left alone and at the mercies of her cousins. Her "loving" cousin places her with Jackson Smith as a housekeeper. Jackson is busy fighting his own demons as he mourns the loss of his first wife and tries to raise his young sons. But as they get to know one another Elvira begins to realize that all is not as it seems. Jackson's first wife was not devout and her cheating left Jackson with many scars and trust issues. I don't know if that accounts for his cranky behavior which got really old over the course of the novel, but I digress. Elvira is also a little too meek as a character. She made me mad at times because I felt she was playing the "weak woman" character that is all too typical of Christian women in historical novels. It just made me a little sad. All in all, the love story between Elvira and Jackson is one of redemption and second chances. It was a good read even if it was a little on the depressing and meek side.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Note for Full Disclosure: While I do not receive any monetary compensation for my book reviews, I am provided with free complimentary copies of each book. That being said, this review is completely my own, and free from the influence of Bethany House Book Publishers.

Book Review: Love's First Bloom

Love's First Bloom, by Delia Parr is a wonderful and engaging book about Ruth Livingston, the daughter of a preacher known for his penchant for helping prostitutes to start new lives. Ruth's life is changed when her father asks her to take the daughter of a now-dead prostitute and raise her as her own. The catch is that in order to be a part of her father's intricate relocation program, she has to pose as a former prostitute trying to start a new life. Her father matches her up with a wonderful family who calls her the Widow Malloy and pledges to keep her secret about her past as a prostitute. Little do they know she knows nothing of that life!

When Ruth's father is accused of a terrible crime, Ruth has to feign ignorance of her close familial relationship in order to maintain her guise. As she seeks comfort by tending a garden, she meets a man names Jake Spencer who fails to mention that he is a reporter on the hunt for Livingston's mysteriously-missing daughter. As Ruth begins to fall for Spencer and Spencer for Ruth, secrets abound.

I enjoyed this book immensely. Intrigue, romance, redemption, what more can you want? I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend it. In fact, I may go read it again!

Note for Full Disclosure: While I do not receive any monetary compensation for my book reviews, I am provided with free complimentary copies of each book. That being said, this review is completely my own, and free from the influence of Bethany House Book Publishers.

Book Review: In Every Heartbeat

In Every Heartbeat, by Kim Vogel Sawyer is a fiction book about Libby Conley, a well-adjusted orphan heading off to her first semester of college with her two closest friends from the orphanage, Pete and Bennett. Libby is studying to be a journalist. Pete is studying to be a minister and Bennett wants to major in "fun" and pledge to a fraternity.

The world is an interesting place when you are an orphan, especially on the cusp of World War I. Tensions from the war and the love triangle between Libby, Pete and Bennett, make for a novel full of suspense.

When Pete uncovers information from his past, he requires the help of both Libby and Bennett to make things right. As the trio tries to solve the shocking mysteries surrounding Pete and his long-lost family, they get closer than they ever imagined, and Libby begins to see how God may be changing her heart and asking her to exchange her dreams for His.

This is an interesting novel with an intriguing theme of redemption. I enjoyed the relationships between the three main characters and the complexity of each character as they struggle to find themselves in the midst of a changing world, and without the benefit of family. All in all I would give it 5 out of 5 stars.

Note for Full Disclosure: While I do not receive any monetary compensation for my book reviews, I am provided with free complimentary copies of each book. That being said, this review is completely my own, and free from the influence of Bethany House Book Publishers.

Book Review: She Walks in Beauty

The book "She Walks in Beauty" by Siri Mitchell was a surprisingly good read. When I first received the book, I was not sure what I would think because the back cover description was very enigmatic. But the book was enjoyable.

The story centers around a young woman of 17 named Clara Carter. At the start of the book she is busy learning all that she can from her governess. But rather than learning the intracacies of Victorian society and how to dance and flirt, Clara is learning science, mathematics, and literature. In fact, Clara is doing so well that her governess is sure she will be ready to secretly try for acceptance into Vassar College--her only way out of officially debuting in society as an eligible female. Clara and her governess are hoping to beat the clock. She is supposed to debut after her 18th birthday.

Little does CLara know that life has other plans for her, or rather, her aunt has other plans. When CLara's aunt learns that one of the most elligible bachelors in New York is going to be looking for a bride this season, she jumps at the opportunity to usher Clara into society early and assures Clara's father that Clara will be the lucky lady that the suitor selects.

The following weeks and months are filled with lessons, frippery and Victorian silliness for Clara. Once the debut season begins Clara embarks on a battle for the hand of a man she doesn't even know, and her main competition is her best friend Lizzy. Lizzy and Clara promise to be true to one another throughout the season, but when the heir and his younger brother turn out to be different than they expected, their friendship and promises to test their friendship and their families.

Thrown in with all of this drama is the drama within Clara's family. As Clara becomes the socialite of the season, it becomes obvious that there is more to her family than she ever realized. And she learns that somehow her father, a doctor, is connected to the pain and devastation in the immigrant slums of New York City. And it could be that very connection which is keeping Clara in the public eye as the darling of the season.

I don't want to ruin the novel with more explanation, but suffice it to say, the novel is quite interesting and kept me up late one night just to finish the story. I will also say, that although it is very interesting and ends quite well, there were some frustrating loose ends that really needed to be wrapped up in order to maintain the integrity of Clara, the main character.

Even with that criticism, I would rate it a four out of five. It was a great story and I found it easy to loose myself within the beauty and tragedy of the Gilded Age.

Note for Full Disclosure: While I do not receive any monetary compensation for my book reviews, I am provided with free complimentary copies of each book. That being said, this review is completely my own, and free from the influence of Bethany House Book Publishers.

Book Review: Never Say Never

In Never Say Never, a book by Lisa Wingate, the heroine Kai Miller is trying desperately to escape the craziness of a Texas hurricane. In the process, she runs into some unlikely friends. Donetta Bradford and her elderly comrades are traveling from their small-town of Daily, Texas to Perdida, TX to leave on a cruise ship. When the hurricane puts their trip on hold and their lives in danger, their paths cross with Kai and they team up to beat Mother Nature. Their adventure, sometimes scary, sometimes heartwarming, leads them back to Daily where Kai is forced to stay temporarily until a safe route opens up to get her back to Perdida. In the meantime, Donetta Bradford's nephew begins keeping company with Kai and sparks fly.

I wasn't overly impressed with this book. It was okay, but once the flooding and fleeing was over, I started to lose interest. I also felt like the conclusion to the book was a bit rushed and seemed somewhat unlikely. I know, it is Christian fiction and unlikely is the name of the game, but I still prefer stories that seem plausible. All in all I give it 3 out of 5 stars. It was a good read, but I probably will never pick it up again.

Note for Full Disclosure: While I do not receive any monetary compensation for my book reviews, I am provided with free complimentary copies of each book. That being said, this review is completely my own, and free from the influence of Bethany House Book Publishers.

Book Review: The Rewards of Simplicity

The Rewards of Simplicity by Pam and Chuck D. Pierce is an interesting exploration of the meaning of simplicity in our culture and how we as Christians should exemplify simplicity and peace. I can warn you ahead of time that this will be a short review. I just didn't' have much to say about this book, either positive or negative. The book didn't give me any strong feelings or anything that I really feel are worth exploring in this review. So, I'll keep it short and sweet.

The book is divided in half into Pam's portion and Chuck's portion. This is important for several reasons. First, I found that just when I got used to Pam's narrative style, it switched to Chuck's section. Second, they are very different writers both in style and approach. I much preferred Pam's approach to the subject. I struggled to even finish Chuck's portion of the book.

All in all, it was a mediocre exploration of ideas such as Sabbath, simplicity, peace, anxiety and materialism. I appreciated the topic, but I didn't feel that the book gave me any practical skills or examples on how to really simplify my life. For that reason, I give the book a two out of five. I wouldn't really recommend it to anyone.

Note for Full Disclosure: While I do not receive any monetary compensation for my book reviews, I am provided with free complimentary copies of each book. That being said, this review is completely my own, and free from the influence of Bethany House Book Publishers.

Book Review: Closer

For this book review I had to employ the help of my hubby of four and half years, Marc. Closer is a couples devotional by Jim and Cathy Burns. If you are like me, you read the phrase "couples devotional" and threw up a little bit in your mouth. Don't worry, if you are part of a "couple" and you hate the typical "couples" devotionals on the market, this book might just be for you.

Jim and Cathy Burns divide this devotional into 2-3 page chapters that focus on a specific topics related to relationships and faith. The devotional is very narrative based and many of the entries tell stories from the Burns' past or stories from other couples. But the thing that sets this devotional apart from other devotionals of our past was the questions at the end of the chapter.

There are two sections at the close of each chapter that help you as a couple "dig deeper" into the topic in question. The first section is called "Faith Conversations" and it contains questions for couples to ask and answer. Here is an example: "When was the last time we had a significant conversation?" For the most part, they are deep questions. Marc and I call them coffee shop questions; the kinds of questions that you want to ask over a yummy iced latte (or your drink of choice).

The other section is called "A Step Closer" and it gives an activity that you can do as a couple to apply the things you talk about in the "Faith Conversations" section. Here is an example: "Decide when would be the soonest time, as a couple, that you could take a short sabbatical...for reflection, rest, refreshment, restoration, and recreation..." This section helps you to do what you learn rather than just talk about it. Very cool, in our opinion.

And the best part is that you can do one devotional a day, or one a week, or pick it up when you are able. I think devotional time as a couple is very important, but I know we haven't always been consistent over the course of our marriage. This book, by not dating the entries or telling you when you should do them, takes off the pressure and allows you to focus on God and one another, not your sense of guilt. Also very cool, in our opinion.

Overall, I give this book a five out of five. If you are a couple seeking a devotional that isn't all about women submitting to their husbands and is a lot more egalitarian, this is for you.

Note for Full Disclosure: While I do not receive any monetary compensation for my book reviews, I am provided with free complimentary copies of each book. That being said, this review is completely my own, and free from the influence of Bethany House Book Publishers.

The Silent Governess: A Book Review

The Silent Governess, by Julie Klassen was a delightful book. Set in the English countryside of the 19th century, it follows the story of Olivia Keene. When Olivia returns to her family home one evening to find her mother being strangled by her father, she quickly hits him squarely on the head. Assuming her father dead, Olivia flees the area and finds herself outside the walls of Brightwell Court during a party. As she stops to gaze at the party-goers, she overhears a conversation through an open window. Before she knows it she is being held captive by Lord Bradley who doesn't want the "message" she overheard to spread.

Bradley makes Olivia into a family governess to keep her, and the secrets she heard, close. As Lord Bradley spends more time with Olivia he falls in love with her. But in the process of falling in love he realizes that her life may just contain more secrets than his, perhaps even secrets that intertwine with his carefully guarded past. In the process of falling in love, Olivia must confront her past mistakes and learn the truth about her family.

It was hard to review this book without giving away too much information! The book was rich in imagery and very enjoyable. I give it a four out of five stars.

Note for Full Disclosure: While I do not receive any monetary compensation for my book reviews, I am provided with free complimentary copies of each book. That being said, this review is completely my own, and free from the influence of Bethany House Book Publishers.

Beguiled: A Book Review

I recently read Beguiled, a book by Deanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand. It is a mystery/inspirational romance that follows the life of Rylee Monroe, a dogwalker. Yep, you read that right, she is a dogwalker. I was skeptical at first. I mean, what kind of book is so silly as to center around a dog walker, but once I got past my initial misgivings the book was really quite delightful.

Here is a brief synopsis. Rylee walks dogs in a ritzy neighborhood. Logan Woods is a local reporter. He mostly does crime reporting. He eventually crosses paths with Rylee when he is investigating some "Robin Hood" thefts in the ritzy part of town.

When it seems that all the thefts seem to be pointing directly to the lovely Rylee things start to heat up. You see, she works for most of the crime victims.

The rest of the book is a lot of sleuthing and gum shoeing. If you like a good mystery and you like a good romance, this might just be the perfect book for you. All in all I would give it a 3 out of 5 stars. But I'm not that into mystery.

Note for Full Disclosure: While I do not receive any monetary compensation for my book reviews, I am provided with free complimentary copies of each book. That being said, this review is completely my own, and free from the influence of Bethany House Book Publishers.