Stories That Bind Us ~ Review

Stories That Bind Us
By Susie Finkbeiner

Betty Sweet's life is just about as close to perfect as it could be. She's married to her first and only love, Norman. But all of that changes when she is left a widow at 40 years of age. Lost in her grief she cuts herself from her life until her sister-in-law won't take no for an answer and helps her see that the rest of the family is hurting too. Just because Norman died doesn't mean Betty is no longer part of the Sweet family.

When Betty's long-estranged sister Clara returns, parts of Betty's past return to her. Memories of her mother and the darkness she often found herself in. Memories of her childhood with Clara. But Clara isn't alone, she has a son Hugo whom no one knew about. Hugo stands out in LaFontaine, Michigan as biracial persons don't call the small-town home.

Betty almost instantly falls in love with the 5-year-old nephew she has just met. But she is concerned as Hugo shows signs of having a mother just like Betty's. Clara is slipping into a darkness and despair that she seems unable to pull herself out of. With love and care, Betty shows Hugo that love can be given freely and that accidents happen without outbursts of anger. As Hugo begins acting like a little boy instead of a careworn old man Betty finds herself dreading whenever Clara decides it is time to again leave home behind.

The Stories That Bind Us is a beautiful and moving read about the power of family and the stories of our past that bind us together. This book is set in the tumultuous days of the 1960s - calls of equality, threats of war, and political upheaval with the assassination of President Kennedy. What seems so far removed LaFontaine finds itself becoming news that enters Betty's world when she is mourning her own private loss. Betty is about to become a fighter - fighting for her sister and the nephew she has come to love - inspired by a story she shared with Hugo of Clara's determination years before. Family and love are worth taking a risk for.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Rediscover the power of story

to open the doors of our hearts.

Betty Sweet never expected to be a widow at 40. With so much life still in front of her, she tries to figure out what's next. She couldn't have imagined what God had in mind.

When her estranged sister returns to town, Betty finds herself taking on the care of a 5-year-old nephew she never knew she had. In 1960's small-town Michigan, they make an odd pair. Betty with her pink button nose and bouffant hair. Hugo with his light brown skin and large brown eyes. But more powerful than what makes them different is what they share: the heartache of an empty space in their lives. Slowly, they will learn to trust one another as they discover common ground and healing through the magic of storytelling.

Learn more at SusieFinkbeiner.com

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The Neglected C.S. Lewis ~ Review

The Neglected C.S. Lewis
By Mark Neal and Jerry Root
Foreword by Dr. David C. Downing

Exploring the Riches of His Most Overlooked Books this statement quite aptly describes this book. People are always dreaming of finding treasure. Well, this book is a treasure that will delight and educate readers who want to truly know the works of C.S. Lewis. 

This work examines eight of his scholarly works. Describing them as scholarly should in no way scare off potential readers. Nothing worth knowing is without effort and once one gets into this book it is no effort at all, rather, it is enjoyable getting to see a side of Lewis that one knows so little about. 

There is much in this book to examine and in my opinion, this is most definitely a book one will want to read more than once and have on hand if one should explore any of the titles mentioned within. 

There is much spiritual food for thought and much that the reader can take away for one's day-to-day life as he examines the literary works of the past through the eye of a reader. The works he examines were of importance to his life both professionally and spiritually - he opens the door for us and invites us to enter. He encourages readers to respect the past while accurately judging through the truth of reality. 

The Neglected C.S. Lewis will open the reader's eyes to the wealth of insight and thought that Lewis put into his books both the more well-known and the lesser-known scholarly works that are presented all too briefly here. Scholarly does not mean boring, dull, or tedious if the author truly fulfills his (or her) role of being the window through which the reader sees. This is not a book to rush through as there is much that one will ponder and contemplate while working through the all too brief look taken at these eight works.

Several of the gems I discovered include: 

• Truth is not reality; truth is what one thinks about reality when thinking accurately about it.
• Challenges must be validated objectively
• Sin is man playing God in his own life. It estranges humankind from God and from one another. It fractures lives, making the community unstable and eventually atrophying one's humanity.
• We are to serve people - to give of ourselves. This is our God-given purpose.

I have to thank the authors for introducing me to a new C.S. Lewis, though my checking account may be less than thrilled with the results. I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Most people don't think of C. S. Lewis as a neglected author. 

Who hasn't heard of Narnia, Aslan, the White Witch?

But many of his most important ideas are buried in the pages of his lesser-known literary works—books that were vitally important not only to his profession but to his spiritual growth.

Readers who can quote word for word from C.S. Lewis’s theological classic, Mere Christianity, or his science fiction novel, Perelandra, have often never read his work as a professional literary historian. They may not even recognize some of the neglected works discussed, here. Mark Neal and Jerry Root have done students of Lewis a great service, tracing the signature ideas in Lewis’s works of literary criticism and showing their relevance to Lewis’s more familiar books. Their thorough research and lucid prose will be welcome to all who would like to understand Lewis more fully, but who feel daunted by books of such evident scholarly erudition.

For example, when you read The Discarded Image on the ancients’ view of the heavens, you understand better why Ransom has such unpleasant sensations when first descending toward Malacandra in Out of the Silent Planet. And when you come across Lewis’s discussion in OHEL  of a minor sixteenth-century poet who described the hellish River Styx as a “puddle glum,” you can’t help but chuckle at the name when you meet the famous Marshwiggle in The Silver Chair. These are just two examples of how reading the “Neglected Lewis” can help every reader understand Lewis more fully.

About the Authors:

Jerry Root is a professor at Wheaton College. He has lectured on C.S. Lewis at 77 universities in 17 different countries. He has been teaching college and university courses on Lewis continually for forty years. He has published many books on C.S. Lewis, including C.S. Lewis and a Problem of Evil: An Investigation of a Pervasive Theme. 

Mark Neal is the co-author of both The Neglected C.S. Lewis and The Surprising Imagination of C.S. Lewis. He has lectured, taught, and published nationally and internationally on Lewis for the last ten years. He works as the VP of a Chicago-area marketing firm and is married with two children.

Most Important Stories of the Bible ~ Review

The Most Important Stories of the Bible
Understanding God's Word Through the Stories It Tells
By Christopher D. Hudson
   and Stan Campbell

This book takes the reader from Genesis through Revelation touching on 75 of the most important stories that give an overview of the whole. Forty-three come from the Old Testament and thirty-two from the New Testament.

The book is broken down into six main sections Beginnings, Patriarchs, Israel's Family Becomes a Nation, Kings and Prophets, Stories of  Jesus, and Stories of the Early Church. Beginnings covers what one would expect Creation, the first sin, the flood and the Tower of Babel. The Patriarchs covers the promise God made to Abraham, the fulfillment of that promise through Issac, Esau, and Jacob and Joseph's life in Eygpt. Israel's Family Becomes a Nation begins with God speaking to Moses through the burning bush, the plagues on Eygpt, the people's journey through the desert, the taking of the Promised Land and the lives of Gideon, Samson, and Ruth and Boaz. Kings and Prophets begins with the call of Samuel, King Saul, David, Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, Israel's captivity and then their return to Jerusalem. Stories of Jesus shares the birth of John the Baptist, the Birth of Jesus, the baptism and temptation of Jesus, Jesus's ministry and parables, and the trial, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus. Stories of the Early Church opens with the Holy Spirit's arrival at Pentecost, the work of the disciples, Saul's conversion and ministry as Paul, and concludes with John's vision. Each section opens with a timeline of what is taking place during this Biblical period and major events of the world.

This book can be a daily reading and take approximately two and a half months to go through. Or one could do it as a weekend devotional with a reading on both Saturday and Sunday taking almost 10 months to go through. Or you could do one a week for just under 1-1/2 years. Though I'll be honest I often read more than one selection a day so I went through this book fairly quickly. 

This would make an excellent gift for a new believer who wants to quickly get a better understanding of the Bible. This would also be a good way to introduce young readers to the Bible. The book is just over 180 pages so no reading is too long so lack of time won't be a problem with this book.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

All Your Favorite Stories from the Bible

 . . . and Why They Matter to You!

Perhaps you've heard of the exciting adventures of David and Goliath, Noah, or Daniel in the lion's den, but you don't know the details. Or maybe you read Bible stories like these a long time ago, but you can't figure out how they fit together and what you're supposed to get out of them.

The Most Important Stories of the Bible will lay out for you the key stories in Scripture and how they flow into one big story. Each chapter is compact, easy-to-read, and includes a brief introduction to explain the historical context, plus a summary to help you understand its most important lessons for your life and faith.

There's a reason most of the Bible is made up of stories. They speak to us in a deep way, helping us internalize God's message. And in the end, understanding the stories of God's Word will help us connect more closely to Jesus, the greatest storyteller of all. 

About the Authors:

Christopher Hudson is the author of numerous books, including the Self-Guided Tour of the Bible and Navigating the Bible, and has contributed to over fifty Bible projects. Christopher is a graduate of Wheaton College (IL) and has been an active teacher in his church for over twenty years. He lives outside Chicago with his wife and three children.

Stan Campbell holds communication degrees from Middle Tennessee State University and Wheaton College. He has authored dozens of Bible-related books, primarily for youth and seeker markets, including the first three editions of The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Bible. He and his wife, Kathy, live in the Nashville area.

All Manner of Things ~ Review

All Manner of Things
By Susie Finkbeiner

All Manner of Things is both moving and heartbreaking. Annie Jacobson's family calls Fort Colson, Michigan home but their home has changed over the years following their father's departure from their lives. The horrors of war he experienced in Korea left their mark and he removed himself from their lives. The years that followed found Annie's mother working to support her three children - Mike, Annie, and Joel.

Fast forward 12 years and Mike is about to leave for Vietnam - the one thing Gloria Jacobson never wanted for her sons is about to happen. And considering the changes that happened to her husband Frank her fears are valid. War changes people - the things they saw, heard and did wounded their souls and she feared just what it would do to Mike.

With the war taking center-stage in their lives that should be enough for any family, community or nation but that was just one of the concerns that was gripping the headlines. Civil rights were being demanded and riots were occurring as sentiments reached new highs and boiled over. And then there were the normal and not so normal concerns that affect all lives. But when a personal tragedy brings Frank Jacobson back to Fort Colson and into his family's lives will that have a positive impact or will it be just another ember to stoke these tumultuous times?

These are just some of the things Annie finds herself dealing with as she works through her world as she officially enters into the sometimes overrated world of adulthood. I think the following quote from page 279 sums up the book quite well:

Anyway, Annie my dear. When you become afraid or worried or even

just tired, think of our friend Julian's words.

'All manner of things shall be well.'"

These words of wisdom would serve us all well to remember as we live our own lives. 

I really enjoyed this book though I will admit that I may have shed a tear or two a few times. This is a story of family, a story of friendship, a story of first love, a story of loss. Susie Finkbeiner brings to life people that one could have known or been related to. She brings a personal reality to history - giving it a face that one can empathize with. I highly recommend this book as one to add to your summer to-be-read list and can see this being a book worth reading more than once.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinions.

About the Book:

After Annie Jacobson's brother Mike enlists as a medic in the Army in 1967, he mails her the address of their long-estranged father. If anything should happen to him in Vietnam, Mike says, Annie must let their father know. 

In Mike's absence, their father returns to face tragedy at home, adding an extra measure of complication to an already tense time. Letter by letter, the Jacobsons must find a way to pull together as a family, regardless of past hurts. In the tumult of this time, Annie and her family will grapple with the tension of holding both hope and grief in the same hand, even as they learn to turn to the One who binds the wounds of the brokenhearted.

Living Lies ~ Review

Living Lies
Harbored Secrets #1
By Natalie Walters

Lane Kent has a secret and its one that she's been forced to keep for years - one that has been affecting her, making her feel less. And no one truly understands just how she feels. The one bright spot in her life is her son Noah.

But when Lane literally stumbles over a body the world she has so carefully constructed begins to crumble. First, there are strangers in Walton. Second, one of her regulars at the Way Station Cafe's Friday Night Club, Miguel has been less than regular. And then there is the new deputy, Charlie Lynch whom Lane keeps running into (and it is more than a little messy).

Walton, Georgia, might be a close-knit community but murder has a way of putting everyone on edge and sometimes the evidence just doesn't point where it should. But Lane isn't sure how to make people listen to her and see the truth of what she knows in her heart.

Living Lies is quite appropriate as far as titles go as this is how Lane feels that her life and how people see her is a living lie - a face that she has put out there for her father's career, for the family's honor, and to protect herself. But sometimes the greatest freedom is facing the truth of who we are and not concealing it.

While this book is classified as a romantic suspense, which it is, it is much more. It deals with PTSD, depression, suicide, guilt, and bullying. Living Lies doesn't shy away from the issues it is dealing with and presents them from several perspectives that of those living with these issues and those on the outside looking in. All too often judgments are made without a full understanding and that is just what the author, in my opinion, is trying to carefully and thoughtfully present to the reader. This is an excellent read and one that would make an excellent book club selection.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with the no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.



About the Book:

In the little town of Walton, Georgia,

everybody knows your name-

but no one knows your secret.

At least that's what Lane Kent is counting on when she returns to her hometown with her five-year-old son. Dangerously depressed after the death of her husband, Lane is looking for hope. What she finds instead is a dead body.

Lane must work with Walton's newest deputy, Charlie Lynch, to uncover the truth behind the murder. But when that truth hits too close to home, she'll have to decide if saving the life of another is worth the cost of revealing her darkest secret.

A Cloud by Day, a Fire by Night ~ Review

A Cloud by Day, A Fire by Night
By A.W. Tozer
Compiled and Edited by James L. Snyder

This book is a collection of the sermons that Tozer gave to his Chicago congregation before he accepted a call to a church in Toronto - it focuses on how we can find and follow God's will for us. His message, though written quite a few years ago, is still relevant to today.

How can we know God's will for us? One of the first things to do is quiet our hearts - we are all too often caught up in the chaos and noise of what the world throws at us. Technology is always present and a distraction from hearing God's voice. We need to discipline ourselves daily to make time to listen to God. It is only by listening to God's voice that we can obey Him. And obedience gives us the promise of God being our strength and foundation in our battle against our enemies - Satan, sin, and the fallen world around us. And our obedience is a sign of our commitment to God a commitment that has eternal ramifications.

We need to be careful though and not romanticize the positives of following God. We need to be aware that there will be difficulties and trials that will test us. We need to remember that Jesus carried a cross and we are to take it up and follow Him. But it is through these times of obedience during trials that we find the "joy, privilege, and glory of God." And disobedience can have long term effects as we see through Israel's 40 years of wilderness wanderings. Even when it appears that blessings are not something that we're experiencing we have the promise of what is to come. Sometimes the blessing is delayed because we need to learn something from the wait. We must not be discouraged as that is what the enemy wants instead we need to see that we can lean on God to get us through this time of darkness - He is always present waiting for us to listen and take the hand that He is offering to us.

I found this to be an excellent book and one which I plan to read again as there is much to contemplate and to be learned. I liked that each chapter opened with a prayer and ended with a few lines from a hymn. Some of the hymns I was familiar while others were new to me but each was well suited to the chapter that had just concluded. This book is well suited to any Christian whether they be a new believer or one with years to their faith. One can always use encouragement along the journey.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:

Discover Where God is Leading You!

How can I know God's will for me, personally? It's a question that haunts us all at times--maybe when we're looking for the right job, thinking about moving to a new city, or deciding whether or not to get married. At every stage we have difficult decisions to make, and we long for God's direction and His warm reassurance that we're heading the right way.

A Cloud by Day, a Fire by Night captures A.W. Tozer's teaching on the will of God. Taken from sermons he preached just before he left his successful church in Chicago, the title comes from the story of God leading His people out of Egypt and into the promised land.

Tozer was no stranger to facing difficult decisions. His wisdom and biblical insight will help guide you in decisions of your own and reassure you of God's presence every step of the way.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A.W. Tozer (1897-1963) was a self-taught theologian, pastor, and writer whose powerful words continue to grip the intellect and stir the soul of today's believer. He authored more than forty books. The Pursuit of God and The Knowledge of the Holy are considered modern devotional classics. Get Tozer information and quotes at www.twitter.com/TozerAW.

Reverend James L. Snyder (www.jamessnyderministries.com) is an award-winning author whose writings have appeared in more than 80 periodicals and 15 books. He is recognized as an authority on the life and ministry of A.W. Tozer. His first book, In Pursuit of God: The Life of A.W. Tozer, won the Reader's Choice Award in 1992 by Christianity Today. Because of his thorough knowledge of Tozer, James was given the rights from the A.W. Tozer estate to produce new books derived from over 400 never-before-published audio tapes. James and his wife live in Ocala, Florida.

We Were Beautiful ~ Review

We Were Beautiful
By Heather Hepler

She can't remember,

She can't forget...

Nearly a year has passed since the night Mia killed her sister. She doesn't remember it but she was driving and Rachel is dead. Her family has become as scarred as Mia's face and nothing will be able to repair the damage of that night. And now Mia is being sent to spend the summer with a grandmother she has never before met.

But this summer may just offer Mia a chance to live again but there are the dreams that refuse to let her go and yet they keep the memories from truly surfacing. And then there is the job her grandmother arranged for her - I mean who wants to get up before the sun and go to work during summer vacation. But Brunelli's Diner is just the place for Mia, especially after she meets Fig a personality that just may make her Mia's closest friend.

As Fig introduces Mia to her closest friends Mia is about to see the world through new eyes seeing beyond the surface to that which is inside. Sometimes to start healing we need to see the pain of others and this is just what Mia is about to do. And when you throw in the Brunelli family one has no choice but to heal with all the love they share.

This is an emotionally charged book that shows the different ways we can confront pain and loss. No one person handles it the same as evidenced by Mia, her parents and how dealt with the loss of Rachel differently. Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is yourself and this what several characters in this book are dealing with. The guilt one heaps upon one's self is not usually in proportion to what happened but we are left with "if only's" that get magnified as we look back.

This is definitely a teen book with all the issues it deals with. Issues that will leave the reader thinking "How would I have handled this situation?" And the best fiction that stays with us has a way of making us look past the normal that we are comfortable with and thinking and empathizing with the characters we are being introduced to. This would be an excellent teen book club selection if you are looking for a title to add to your list of possibilities.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:

It’s been a year since fifteen-year-old Mia Hopkins was in the car crash that killed her older sister and left her terribly scarred. The doctors tell her she was lucky to survive. Her therapist says it will take time to heal. The police reports claim there were trace amounts of alcohol in her bloodstream. But no matter how much she tries to reconstruct the events of that fateful night, Mia’s memory is spotty at best. She’s left with accusations, rumors, and guilt so powerful it could consume her.

As the rest of Mia’s family struggles with their own grief, Mia is sent to New York City to spend the summer with a grandmother she’s never met. All Mia wants to do is hide from the world, but instead she’s stuck with a summer job in the bustling kitchens of the café down the street. There she meets Fig—blue-haired, friendly, and vivacious—who takes Mia under her wing. As Mia gets to know Fig and her friends—including Cooper, the artistic boy who is always on Mia’s mind—she realizes that she’s not the only one with a painful past.

Over the summer, Mia begins to learn that redemption isn’t as impossible as she once thought, but her scars inside run deep and aren’t nearly so simple to heal … especially when Mia finally pieces together her memories of the night Rachel died.

From acclaimed author Heather Hepler comes We Were Beautiful, a poignant young adult novel about tragedy, forgiveness, and love. Perfect for fans of Robyn Schneider and Justina Chen.

Paperback: 304 Pages
Publisher: Blink (April 2, 2019)

Genre: Young Adult Fiction / Coming of Age

ISBN: 978-0-0310-76643-8

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes and Noble

About the Author:

Heather Hepler is the author of several books for teens and tweens, including Frosted Kisses, Love? Maybe, and The Cupcake Queen. Having lived in East Texas, Alaska, and Death Valley, she currently resides with her son, their two spoiled cats, and their ridiculously smart dog in Maine.

Connect with Heather

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Heather Hepler’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Monday, April 1st: @booksbeforebedtime and Books Before Bedtime

Tuesday, April 2nd: Book Fidelity

Wednesday, April 3rd: @createexploreread

Friday, April 5th: Not in Jersey

Monday, April 8th: A Bookish Way of Life

Tuesday, April 9th: Teachers Who Read

Wednesday, April 10th: Blooming with Books

Thursday, April 11th: Christian Chick’s Thoughts

Monday, April 15th: @diaryofaclosetreader

Wednesday, April 17th: @librarycutie

Thursday, April 18th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Monday, April 22nd: Book by Book

Tuesday, April 23rd: Bookworm for Kids

Wednesday, April 24th: Amy’s Book-et List

Thursday, April 25th: View from the Birdhouse

Seek-and-Circle Bible Battles ~ Review

Seek-and-Circle Bible Battles
By Alyssa Jones

From the BH Kids Editorial Staff

This is an activity book to help teach children about the armor of God and stories taken from the Old Testament. So get a dry erase marker and get ready to have a fun time while learning from the Bible. The Scripture references for this book come from Ephesians 6:10-19 (The Armor of God), Joshua 6 (The Battle of Jericho), Israel vs. the Five Kings (Joshua 10:1-15), Deborah, Barak, and Jael (Judges 4), Gideon vs. the Midianites (Judges 6-8), David and Goliath (1 Samual 17), and Judah Taken Captive (2 Chronicles 36). 

Now the Scripture is just referenced so you will need to have a Bible nearby so that you can read this before the search for the listed objects commences. Each story is pictured on nearly 2 pages with a list of items to look for. One of the items to be searched for is a piece of the Armor of God. There is a Christ Connection for each story showing how the Old Testament past of Israel was a glimpse of what Christ would be for the whole world. 

I'll admit it is fun trying to find all the objects and this would be a really fun family activity, maybe have different colored markers for each person to use and take turns finding the objects. However you decide to use this book it will be an enjoyable and educational time for all involved. Though I will admit some of the objects may be difficult to identify which is why reading the Scripture first is important as it offers descriptions of the people that may be helpful.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Seek, circle, 

and learn!

Maybe you’ve heard about the battle of Jericho and David’s battle against Goliath, but what about the day the sun stood still? Inside this book, explore six of the major battles from the Bible, filled with dozens of items for you to seek and circle! Every battle scene also has something to tell us about God’s plan for His people through His Son, Jesus.

For an added challenge, look for the six pieces of the armor of God as you explore each battle.

Use a wipe-on, wipe-off marker to seek-and-circle over and over again!

This BH Kids book includes a Parent Connection, an easy tool to help moms and dads (or anyone else who loves kids) discuss the book’s message with their child. We’re all about connecting parents and kids to each other and to God’s Word.

Justice Delayed ~ Review

Delayed Justice
Hidden Justice #3
By Cara Putman

Jaime Nichols has lived with the memories and the nightmares for twenty years but she is now strong enough to seek justice against the person who broke her trust. This will not be an easy fight to win against someone as powerful as he is. But Jaime needs to do this - to be a voice for others who were without a voice as she was.

Chandler Bolton, a veteran, who has suffered from the scars from his own service works with other veterans who are in need of counseling. When a young victim who needs the special comfort skills of his dog Aslan, Chandler finds himself helping Tiffany work through her trauma. A victim that Jaime is asked to help, due to her personal insights into what Tiffany is dealing with. But working with someone like Chandler is something Jaime isn't sure she can do especially with the upheaval she is experiencing in both her personal and professional lives.

As Jaime confronts the past she hopes to find healing but the healing she seeks might come from an altogether different source. Her friends have been praying for her and now Chandler has added his own for her. Could God have been there all along? Or is He as distant as she always assumed? The answers to her questions will determine the future course of her life.

Each book in the Hidden Justice series can be read as a standalone book with each book focusing on different characters. Difficult issues are covered and each could be taken right from the headlines of current news events and Justice Delayed is no exception. The book does not get into the nitty-gritty ugly details leaving that to the reader's own imagination (or not). The issues covered are childhood abuse and PTSD. This is not a book to read if you want fluff but it is an excellently written work that I would recommend if you are looking for a book that offers some depth to it.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Thomas Nelson through their blogger program with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion ~ all opinions offered are my own.


About the Book:

She had long given up the desire to be loved. 

Now she only needed to be heard.

Jaime Nichols went to law school to find the voice she never had as a child, and her determination to protect girls and women in the path of harm drives her in ways both spoken and unspoken. As Jaime, now a criminal defense attorney, prepares to press charges against someone who wronged her long ago, she must face not only her demons but also the unimaginable forces that protect the powerful man who tore her childhood apart.

Chandler Bolton, a retired veteran, is tasked with helping a young victim who must testify in court—and along with his therapy dog, Aslan, he’s up for the task. When he first meets Jaime, all brains, beauty, and brashness, he can’t help but be intrigued. As Chandler works to break through the wall Jaime has built around herself, the two of them discover that they may have more to offer one another than they ever could have guessed—and that together, they may be able to help this endangered child.

This thrilling installment of the Hidden Justice series explores the healing power of resolution and the weight of words given voice. And as Jaime pursues delayed justice of her own, she unearths eternal truths that will change the course of her life.

When We Say Father ~ Review

When We Say Father
Unlocking the Power of the Lord's Prayer
By Adrian Rogers and
     Steve Rogers

When we say Father we come to the name with certain expectations or disappointments all based on our previous experiences with our own fathers. But this is not how we should come before our Heavenly Father. Rather we need to reset our thinking because God our Father is so much more than what we've ever experienced in our current physical experience.

Prayer is a conversation with God and we've been given an example of how we are to begin this conversation with the Lord's Prayer. We are to come before God addressing his nurturing nature - that of an ideal father. We come before God addressing Him as Father but we must realize that He is not the Father to all but rather to those who have accepted His gift of being born into His family.

I really like When We Say Father and how each line of the prayer is addressed and explained - putting it into perspective for our own lives. When we pray we are to start out by addressing God directly exalting His name. We then ask for His will to be done - in other words, we put God and His wants first in our conversation. By putting God first we don't focus on ourselves - who would start off a conversation with someone saying, "I want such-and-such and this-and-that." Self-focus distracts us from a full and meaningful conversation with God. Only after we focus on God do we ask Him to provide for our daily needs (when we worry about the day-to-day things we are insulting God by not trusting Him to provide).  We follow this by asking for His forgiveness and His assistance to avoid temptations that would lead us into future sins. We end our conversation as we began it focusing on our Father, His kingdom, and His everlasting glory.

This is a lovely book that helps one to understand in a more complete way the gift of prayer. The small size makes it easy to handle and to keep readily handy. You'll want to reread this book as you grow in your daily prayer life with the various scripture references it will prove to be a valuable aid.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher BH Publishing with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. 

About the Book:
Adrian Roger's last written manuscript before his passing in 2005, has been edited and brought together by his son Steve, as a final joint work. When We Say Father takes the Lord's Prayer and breaks it down to its most basic components for readers to easily learn how to pray from the ultimate source, Jesus himself.

Together Forever ~ Review

Together Forever
Orphan Train #2
By Jody Hedlund

Marianne Neumann is determined to fix the mistake she made - the one that cost her her sister Sophie. But Marianne has no idea where her younger sister could have disappeared to when Olivia and Nicholas were sent to the orphanage but she's determined to find her. And her plan is to work with the Children's Aid Society as an agent helping to place children through the orphan train. Using her position to try to find information about Sophie seems perfect - she just has to be sure no one discovers what she is doing.

Andrew Brady is a veteran when it comes to orphan train placing trips. He's determined to help the children under his care find the best homes they can. Always ready to have a good time with the children he is firm in his expectations of how they behave and their adherence to the rules. Drew has a secret of his own that he is keeping one that has left its mark on his soul. 

Working together Marianne and Drew make a formidable and caring team. And when a special orphan touches their hearts they just might come up with a plan to keep him with them. But all too soon the secrets from the past come out and Drew is faced with yet another tragedy on his watch. Will his heavy heart break him and turn Marianne to Reinhold?  Or will Marianne finally become the woman she has always wished to be?

This is the second book in the Orphan Train series and where the first focused on the unemployed woman seeking employment this book focuses on the plight of orphans in need of a home.  Now not all of these children were orphans in the true sense of the word - some were so classified by abandonment, poverty, or abuse. These children were often stigmatized because of their situation - a situation that was through no fault of their own. This prejudice often makes me wonder how these people expected their own children to be treated if something happened to them.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations of a positive review ~ all opinions expressed are my own.

About the Book:
Marianne Neumann has one goal in life: to find her lost younger sister, Sophie. When Marianne takes a job as a placing agent with the Children's Aid Society in 1858 New York, she not only hopes to give children a better life but seeks to discover whether Sophie ended up leaving the city on an orphan train.

Andrew Brady, her fellow agent on her first placing trip, is a former schoolteacher who has an easy way with the children--firm but tender and funny. Underneath his handsome charm, though, seems to linger a grief that won't go away--and a secret from his past that he keeps hidden. As the two team up placing orphans amid small railroad towns in Illinois, they find themselves growing ever closer . . . until a shocking tragedy threatens to upend all their work and change one of their lives forever.

Joey ~ Review

Joey
How a Blind Rescue Horse Helped Others Learn to See
by Jennifer Marshall Bleakley

Be sure you have a box of tissues nearby before starting moving story. Opening on a scene that will touch even the hardest of hearts Joey's story is one of triumph over adversity. A story of hope, of friendship, and of overcoming.

Joey was a lost horse, one who when his career ended drifted from situation to situation until he ended up in a place where he was neglected. With his future in doubt, he was found in time. But a horse who comes from an abusive situation and is blind is hard to place. But Joey and the new Hope Reins were potentially a perfect fit but could a damaged horse help children who were equally damaged?

I have to say I fell in love with Joey and his pasture companion Speckles (another rescue). But the pain that these two suffered didn't break them. Together they formed a special bond with one another one and with their handlers.  Both Joy and Speckles needed special TLC due to the previous situations that they found themselves in. This is the story of their second chance.

This is a book that will touch the heart of anyone who has a love for animals. And the way children respond to Joey is both moving and heartbreaking. Moving that they were able to connect and heal. Heartbreaking that they had to suffer as they did. Having my own rescue pets (horses too) the synopsis of this book attracted me and the front cover was an instant draw. Who wouldn't love Joey! As I stated before have tissues ready you will need it at times but this is one book you don't want to miss. If you have a book club that leans towards true-life readings this is a perfect selection.

Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary review copy of this book with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Book:
The heartwarming true story of a blind horse named Joey.
At the height of his show career, this beautiful Appaloosa’s majestic stature, strength, and willingness to work made him the perfect partner. But when an injury cost Joey his show career, he moved from one owner to the next, ultimately experiencing severe abuse and neglect. A rescue group found Joey nearly dead from starvation—and blind.

Then he came to Hope Reins—a ranch dedicated to helping hurting kids who had been abused, emotionally wounded, or unwanted. By teaching these children to care for rescued animals, the Hope Reins staff were convinced they could reach kids with love and hope and show them that we are never forgotten by God.

But could the financially struggling ranch afford to take care of a blind horse that no one else wanted? Could Joey somehow learn to trust people even though the world had hurt him so badly? And what would happen—to Joey, the kids, and Hope Reins—if they failed?

A true story of friendship destined to become a classic, Joey will touch your heart and reveal the power of finding light in the darkness.

Find Joey on Goodreads title page

Find the author on Goodreads author page

Find Joey on Amazon

The Weaver's Daughter ~ Review

The Weaver's Daughter
By Sarah E. Ladd

The Weaver's Daughter finds Kate Dearborne's life slowly changing as progress comes to a trade that was once done by hand - the weaving of cloth. But progress has brought mills with machinery that cut the time needed to weave and dye by hand. Worse this progress and the laws of England has allowed mills to add more machines cutting the workers needed to do such jobs. And where adult labor was once needed now younger children are employed - children who are expected work long hours for less pay.

Amberdale finds itself in a conflict one that finds the Dearborne family against the Stockton family and mill. As the years pass the conflict and animosity grow between the two slowly bringing this small Yorkshire village into it where sides are drawn. With her brother, Charles taking a job with the Stockton Mill Kate's life becomes even more complicated as loyalty to family is her father's guiding passion. And her brother's lack of loyalty has made Charles a persona-non-grata in the eyes of Silas Dearborne. And Kate finds herself in the middle of this war with her love and loyalty to both brother and father.

When the heir to the Stockton fortune returns from the war on the Iberian Peninsula he is haunted by what he's experienced. Looking forward to spending time with grandfather and sister Henry is unprepared for the labor war brewing on his very doorstep. With his grandfather's dark moods and paranoia and his Mollie sister removed to London Henry's homecoming is not what he expected.

As the animosity between weavers and mills grows across England Henry finds himself forced to look at the issue from the varying points of view as they are presented to him. Progress is coming whether the Stockton Mills implements them or not. As feelings escalate Henry and Kate must decide where they will stand before Amberdale is destroyed by those who call it home. 

The Weaver's Daughter reminds me of Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South (which I now need rewatch and/or reread) with the added twist of those who are doing the wool work all by hand in opposition to the machinery-driven mills. I liked how the author presented both sides of the issue from the varying perspectives of several characters giving a balanced view of the situation that was facing all whose livelihoods and very way of life was in doubt. This is also a look at class and social status in England in the early 19th Century.

If you enjoy Historical Romance Fiction that has a bit of mystery in it (murder, sabotage, etc.) give this book from Sarah E. Ladd a try. If you've never read her books before this is an excellent one to start with as it is complete and not part of a series. This would be an excellent weekend or summer read especially if you have some time off. I will admit I read this book in one day - it was one of those "I can't put it down books" so I was willing to forego a little sleep to see how it ended.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher through TLC Book Tours with no expectations of a positive ~ all opinions expressed are my own.



About the Book:

Kate’s loyalties bind her to the past. 

Henry’s loyalties compel him to strive for a better future. 

In a landscape torn between tradition and vision, 

can two souls find the strength to overcome their preconceptions?

Loyalty has been at the heart of the Dearborne family for as long as Kate can remember, but a war is brewing in their small village, one that has the power to rip families asunder — including her own. As misguided actions are brought to light, she learns how deep her father’s pride and bitterness run, and she begins to wonder if her loyalty is well-placed.

Henry Stockton, heir to the Stockton fortune, returns home from three years at war hoping to find a refuge from his haunting memories. Determined to bury the past, he embraces his grandfather’s goals to modernize his family’s wool mill, regardless of the grumblings from the local weavers. When tragedy strikes shortly after his arrival, Henry must sort out the truth from suspicion if he is to protect his family’s livelihood and legacy.

Henry has been warned about the Dearborne family. Kate, too, has been advised to stay far away from the Stocktons, but chance meetings continue to bring her to Henry’s side, blurring the jagged lines between loyalty, justice, and truth. Kate ultimately finds herself with the powerful decision that will forever affect her village’s future. As unlikely adversaries, Henry and Kate must come together to find a way to create peace for their families, and their village, and their souls – even if it means risking their hearts in the process.

Available at:
Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes and Noble

About the Author:

Sarah E. Ladd received the 2011 Genesis Award in historical romance for The Heiress of Winterwood. She is a graduate of Ball State University and has more than ten years of marketing experience. Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing family and spunky Golden Retriever.

Connect with Sarah

Website | Facebook | Twitter

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TOUR STOPS:

Monday, May 14th: The Library of Mrs. Gardner and @mrs.literarylovely

Monday, May 14th: Running Through the Storms

Tuesday,  May 15th: A Bookish Way of Life

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Thursday, May 17th: Read. Eat. Repeat.

Friday, May 18th: Laura’s Reviews

Monday, May 21st: Black ‘n Gold Girl’s Book Reviews

Tuesday, May 22nd: Blooming with Books (you are here)

Wednesday, May 23rd: From the TBR Pile

Thursday, May 24th: View from the Birdhouse

Friday, May 25th: All of a Kind Mom

Monday, May 28th: A Chick Who Reads

Tuesday, May 29th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Wednesday, May 30th: Thoughts from a Highly Caffeinated Mind

Thursday, May 31st: Reviews from the Heart

Friday, June 1st: The Sketchy Reader

Monday, June 4th: Little Homeschool on the Prairie

Wednesday, June 6th: Girls in Books

Thursday, June 7th: Broken Teepee

Monday, June 11th: What is That Book About

Tuesday, June 12th: By the Book

Wednesday, June 13th: A Holland Reads