Tuesday, August 25, 2015

For the Love by Jen Hatmaker

 You know me. You know that I don't read non-fiction. It doesn't grab my attention. I start reading it and my mind travels to, well, anywhere. 
This is different.
This is special.
This is interesting, and funny, and real life.
I had a hard time putting  this down. So much of it was stuff I'd thought. She has that snarky voice that I do. I feel like I know this woman. 

This is the first I've read of Jen Hatmaker. I've seen friends on Facebook quoting her from time to time but I had no idea of who she was. This book woke up a part of me that I'd forgotten about. And I liked it.

This isn't deep stuff here, it's your day to day stuff and how it relates to the Christian life. This is the stuff that we should be talking about, but that no one does. 

If you need a good book to read, one that will cause you to laugh, reflect, and get closer to those around you then I urge you to check out For the Love. 
This book was provided for review by BookLook

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

The War Room by Chris Fabry

 From the Kendrick brothers comes a new film War Room. Chris Fabry was chosen to write the  novel based on the screenplay and if the movie is anything like the book was then it will be powerful, and in my mind much more so than their previous films.
War Room is based on the prayers of an old lady and how prayer changes lives. This book (and movie) is for anyone who has a very small part of their life that they've handed over to God. Not seeing change in your life? Not living the victorious Christian life that you hear about? You may find the answer in this book. It will point you to the book (the Bible) that holds the key to answers of life.
Incredible. Life changing. Mind altering. These are the thoughts I had when reading the book. It's my prayer that this book (and the film) will have a lasting impact on those who dare to see/read it.

This book was provided for review by Tyndale.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Beth K Vogt

I am in love with Beth K. Vogt's fiction. It always gets me. This book was downright adorable. It had love, friction, the other man, and tough decisions. I had no problem finding my way through this one (which is great after all the duds I've had lately!) It was clean fiction with just enough to let you know what happened without going there. 

The Hollister-Hollister-Hollister stuff had me laughing out loud. I loved the friendship between these two and the memories that took you back to tell their story in between.

If you are looking for a clean summer read then I urge you to choose this one. It was a delight.

This is the first in the Destination Weddings series, I can't wait for the rest.

About the book: 
Crazy Little Thing Called Love: A Destination Wedding Novel
(Howard, June 2015)

Wedding bells and storm clouds collide in the first engaging novel in a brand-new series about destination weddings, the power of love, and the possible mishaps and missteps that happen on a couple's journey down the aisle to "I do."

Paramedic Vanessa Hollister has put her adolescence behind her, including the unwanted label of being the new kid in town over and over again, thanks to her father's military career. She's overcome what her mother called "the biggest mistake of her life" and is planning an elegant destination wedding in Destin, Florida with her new fiancé. But will the reappearance of her first husband from her what-were-you-thinking teenage elopement disrupt her dream of an idyllic beach wedding?

As a professional storm chaser, Logan Hollister is used to taking risks. However, a reckless decision during the last tornado season has him questioning the future of his team, the Stormmeisters. Coming face to face with his ex-wife eight years after their divorce compels him to confront his greatest regret: losing Vanessa. Does their past give him the right to interfere with her future?

A fast-moving, powerful hurricane throws Vanessa and Logan together as they evacuate to a storm shelter along with other residents of the Florida Gulf Coast. Forced to spend time together, the pair battles unexpected renewed feelings for each other.

Vanessa and Logan are faced with a choice: Should they accept, once and for all, their teenage marital mistake? Or is God offering them a second chance at happily ever after?

This book was provided for review by LitFuse

Monday, August 10, 2015

Luther and Katharina by Jody Hedlund


I requested this book to review because I'm a huge Jody Hedlund fan. Her historical fiction is unparalleled. This book blew her others out of the water for me. I had no idea about any of this until reading this novel. I understand that it is a fictional account based on real-life events, but truly, I had never learned anything about Martin Luther or Katharina. It's all new to me.
This story follows the escape of some nuns (Katharina included) from a life of slavery under the guise of ministry and at the same time interweaves the teachings and life of Martin Luther and how he was trying to teach grace and the truth of God's word in a world mired with religion. 
I sat fascinated through the whole thing. Excellent book. It also helped me to realize how special religious freedom is and that we should never take it lightly.

This book was provided for review by Blogging for Books.

Monday, August 3, 2015

Hope Harbor by Irene Hannon

About the book:
Tracy Campbell never wanted to leave Hope Harbor, Oregon, or the idyllic three-generation cranberry farm where she grew up. But life—and love—altered her plans. Now she’s home again—with a floundering farm to run…a tragic secret…and a wounded heart. Romance is not on her agenda. Nor is it on Michael Hunter’s. The visitor from Chicago has daunting secrets and devastating regrets of his own. But when Tracy recruits him to help with a project that is close to her heart, winds of change begin to sweep through Hope Harbor, bringing healing, hope, and love to countless lives—including their own.

My thoughts:
I like books by Irene Hannon. However, I prefer her suspense to her romance. This was a little dry to me. I had a hard time staying focused on the story (something that never happens with her suspense books). 

This book was provided for review by Revell.