Monday, August 22, 2011

Waiting For Morning

From the back of the book: As Hannah Ryan waits for her family to return home from a camping trip, she realizes she has everything going for her-a husband other women covet, two charming teenage daughters, and a loving Christian home. As the sunny afternoon turns into twilight, however, her uneasiness grows along with the shadows. Then a squad car pulls into Hannah's driveway, bringing two police officers...and devastating news that shatters her life forever.

In the days that follow, Hannah struggles with unspeakable feelings of sorrow and rage-feelings that fuse into one chilling purpose for living: revenge against Brian Wesley, the drunk driver who's caused all her pain.

In her fury, Hannah shuts the Lord out of her life. She's determined not to forgive Wesley or the God who allowed this tragedy to happen. Can two caring people help Hannah rediscover her faith...before bitterness destroys her?

My review: As usual, Karen Kingsbury has written a book that you can't put down. The characters are so real that you will find yourself wishing someone would introduce you to them. The circumstances are so real that you will find yourself praying to God that that will never happen to you. The Biblical truths are so real that you will find yourself learning and growing from them. Karen Kingsbury is able to write a book where people live! She is able to make you feel the emotion of the characters and circumstances in her books and when the book is finished you will wish there was more. Waiting For Morning is one of those books. I hated to see it end, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I received a complimentary e-book from Multnomah Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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Thursday, August 11, 2011

Mercy Come Morning

From the back of the book: Krista Mueller is in a good place. She has a successful career as a professor of history; she's respected and well-liked; and she lives hundreds of miles from her hometown and the distant mother she could never please. It's been more than a decade since Alzheimer's disease first claimed Charlotte Mueller's mind, but Krista has dutifully kept her mother in a first-class nursing home.

Now Charlotte is dying of heart failure and, surprised by her own emotions, Krista rushes to Taos, New Mexico, to sit at her estranged mother's side as she slips away. Battling feelings of loss, abandonment, and relief, Krista is also unsettled by her proximity to Dane McConnell, director of the nursing home-and, once upon a time, her first love. Dane's kind and gently spirit-
and a surprising discovery about her mother- make Krista wonder if she can at last close the distance between herself and her mother...and open the part of her heart she thought was lost forever.

My review: This was another book that kept me reading till the wee hours of the morning. Lisa Tawn Bergren does a great job weaving a story that will draw you in. You will cheer for Dane and Krista, feel anger toward Charlotte, and finally understand the power of forgiveness. This is a story that will cause you to think about what is truly important in life. I also like the way the book was written. The actual time-frame for the story was a few days, but facts from the past were needed for understanding. These facts were written as memories and placed between the chapters. Anyone would benefit from the lessons presented in this book, but I highly recommend this to those who did not have a very good relationship with a parent. I recieved a complimentary copy of this book from Waterbrook Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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Monday, August 8, 2011

Courageous

From the back of the book: As law enforcement officers, Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes, and their partners willingly stand up to the worst the world can offer. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them are truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood. While they consistently give their best on the job, good enough seems to be all they can muster as dads. But they're quickly discovering that their standard is missing the mark.

They know that God desires to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, but their children are beginning to drift farther and farther away from them. Will they be able to find a way to serve and protect those who are most dear to them?

When tragedy hits home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, their faith, and their fathering. Can a newfound urgency help these dads draw closer to God...and to their children?

My review: This is a great book! As I read, I did not feel like I was reading just another story. This book was real. The characters and the story were believable. There were moments of frustration, moments of anticipation, moments when I laughed out loud, and moments when I cried as I read. Courageous is a book that will challenge your faith. Even though this book focused on the dads, I was challenged as a mom to take seriously the responsibility of rearing children that love God and love people. Every parents should read this book. I couldn't put it down and look forward to watching the movie. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Sweet Sanctuary

From the back of the book: In tiny Cottage Cove, on the coast of Maine, Wren Evans is raising her gifted son, Charlie. A single mom, she's fought hard to give Charlie a stable, secure home life. When a prestigious music academy in Boston expresses interest in Charlie's talent, Wren is willing to move them again to make his dreams come true.

But Wren doesn't know that Charlie has been praying for her. And the answer to her son's prayers will change both of their lives. As Wren plans their move to Boston, life in Maine begins to fall apart. Her job is threatened with budget cuts, and Wren's grandmother, Ruth, arrives unannounced, with an outlandish request.

Ruth wants the family gathered together one last time, at the summer home where, years before, an accident shattered Wren's peaceful childhood. In the tumult, Wren finds a friend in a handsome, kind-hearted local, Paul Callahan.

When the family gathers in Cottage Cove, old woulds will be healed, new love will blossom, and the innocent prayers of a child will be answered in a most unexpected way.

My review: I enjoyed Sweet Sanctuary. I wasn't sure what to expect by reading the back cover, and I am glad I decided to read the book. The authors did a great job weaving a story with real-life complexities and spiritual struggles. While situations may not be identical, mothers especially can relate to Wren's challenges and worries. I enjoyed the story-line, but the end of the book came abruptly. I felt the authors did not take enough time resolving some of the family issues. The relationship between Wren and Paul seemed to develop a little too quickly as well. Overall, however; it was an enjoyable story with believable characters and situations. This is a book I can recommed. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers through their Booksneeze blogger program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.