Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Come to the Table by Neta Jackson

In Come to the Table by Neta Jackson we once again visit with the Souled Out Sisters and, to an extent, the ladies of the Yada-Yada Prayer Group. Neta Jackson's character list is expandind, but they are all connected. A perfect book for those who want to feel like part of the family of believers in Chicago.

In this volume we follow Kat, Bree, and Nick as they navigate sharing an apartment together. Life isn't always easy for these three, but we get to watch as they grow with each other and in Christ. Kat sure has come a long way since we met her at the music festival where she came to know the Lord.

Some new emotions emerge in this book, and love blossoms in an unexpected place. 

I found myself again wavering between wanting to smack Kat and wanting to hug her. This is one well-written chick. Excellent series, which will not only entertain, but give you plenty to think about.

About the book:
   
Kat may be new in her faith, but she’s embraced the more radical implications of Christianity with reckless abandon. She invited Rochelle, a homeless mother, and her son to move into the apartment she shares with two other housemates. And she’s finally found a practical way to channel her passion for healthy eating by starting a food pantry at the church. And her feelings for Nick are getting harder to ignore. The fact that he’s the interning pastor at SouledOut Community Church and one of her housemates makes it complicated enough. But with Rochelle showing interest in Nick as a father-figure for her son, their apartment is feeling way too small.
 
But -- not everyone thinks the food pantry is a good idea. When the woman she thought would be her biggest support just wants to “pray about it,” Kat is forced to look deeper at her own motives. Only when she begins to look beyond food as an issue does she see people who are hungry and thirsty for more than just food and drink and realizes the deeper significance of inviting them to “come to the table.”
 
Kat must do some serious soul searching to determine where God is asking her to use her talents and passion . . . and what role she wants to play in Nick’s life.
 
From best-selling author Neta Jackson (has sold more than 700,000 books) her new novel embodies Matthew 10:42 “If you give a cup of cold water to the least of these you will surely be rewarded.”

This book was provided for review by The B&B Media Group

Friday, December 14, 2012

Belonging & Betrayal by Robin Lee Hatcher

It's a two-for-one review today on Clicking Her Heels! Robin Lee Hatcher's latest release, Betrayal, and the first in the Where the Heart Lives series, Belonging. In the late 1800s three children are left as orphans in Chicago when their mother dies and father disappears. They are soon on an orphan train headed west and before they know it, are separated. 
Belonging is the story of Felicia, who as an adult, moves to Idaho to be a teacher. She has sworn off men and never wants to marry, until she meets Colin, the  local store owner. She fights her feelings, but you have to read to see what happens.
Betrayal is the story of Felicia's older brother, Hugh, who has set out to be reunited with his sister. He is on his way to Idaho when he finds himself on the land belonging to Julia, a widowed young woman. She is in need of someone to help with the land and cattle and he agrees to take the position before moving on.

Both books are full of romance and mystery. Perfect reading and now I can't wait for the third to be released. These are from Zondervan and can be purchased here.  
These books were provided for review by Zondervan.

Zondervan has also provided a copy of each to give away. Just leave a comment below to be entered.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Right Where I Belong by Krista McGee

Right Where I Belong is the third release from YA Christian fiction author Krista McGee, and while it's good I didn't enjoy it as much as I did her first two. This one has echoes of the story of Ruth from the Bible. Natalia lives in Spain with her father and his third wife, Maureen. Her father is tired of this wife and asks for a divorce. Natalia is heartbroken when Maureen decides to move back to her home in Tampa, Florida. Natalia decides to move with her and her father thinks it'll be a great learning experience and that it will help her get into Harvard so she can one day take over his business. Natalia has other ideas in mind. Maureen is the one who lead her to the Lord and she doesn't want to be away from her.
Once in the states, things are confusingly different for Natalia and she learns to navigate the waters at her new high school while trying to keep one boy away from her and her feelings for another boy away altogether.
Like I said, I did enjoy this book, just not as much as the first two in this almost-series. It was fun to reconnect with some of the familiar characters, but it was lacking something.

This book was provided for review by Booksneeze.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

All Things New by Lynn Austin

There are writers, and then there is Lynn Austin. While I enjoy reading many authors on a regular basis, there are a few who stand out from the rest. Lynn Austin is one of those. I almost hate when I get a new book of hers because I know it's going to be good, and the let down afterwards is that I'm done and have to go back to reading regular books (not that they're bad, they just aren't on the same level as Lynn Austin).
All Things New does not disappoint. With this book she returns to the post Civil War era in Virginia where we follow the story of three women. Eugenia (a war widow plantation owner), Josephine (Eugenia's daughter) and Lizzie (the slave-turned-servant). Their lives twist and turn amongst each others while trying to navigate the post war times. All three learn lessons, are stretched, and grow as women. 
An incredible story that should not be missed.

This book was provided for review by Bethany House.

From the back cover:
The war is over. The South has lost.
Josephine Weatherly struggles to pick up the pieces of her life when her family returns to their Virginia plantation. But the realities of life after the war cannot be denied: her home and land are but a shell of their previous grandeur; death has claimed her father and brother; and her remaining brother, Daniel. has returned home bitter and broken.
Josephine soon realizes that life is now a matter of daily survival-and recognizes that Lizzie, as one of the few remaining servants, is the one she must rely on to teach her all she needs to know. Josephine's mother, too, vows to rebuild White Oak...but a bitter hatred fuels her.