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Monthly Archives: September 2014

Unshockable Love by John Burke

28 Sunday Sep 2014

Posted by Jennifer in Reviewed Books

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John Burke, Reviewed, Unshockable Love

Unshockable loveIn Unshockable Love, Pastor John Burke tells story after story of imperfect people showing others the way to Jesus. These imperfect people make such an impact because they themselves have been remarkably changed. I delighted in the endless stories of one life change resulting in several more. A domino effect than can be duplicated if we can see people the way Jesus sees them.

Simply put, Unshockable Love is a guide-book for reaching people for Christ by changing our own vision. I love how Pastor Burke reaffirms the value Christ places on each person. How He views each as a masterpiece, and that we should do the same. This book offers helpful direction in what should be the obvious. Perhaps one of the most helpful reminders is that of serving your neighbors. We don’t have to go far to see people who are in need. They are all around us, at work, across the street, and in our schools.

I would easily recommend this book to any Bible Study or small group. It would easily start a conversation that could light a fire in the community in which you live. It is an excellent read and well-worth your time.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by its publisher BakerBooks in exchange for an honest review. I have not been compensated and all opinions are my own.

Love Letters From God by Glenys Nellist

28 Sunday Sep 2014

Posted by Jennifer in Books I LOVE, Family, Reviewed Books

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Bible Stories, Glenys Nellist, Love Letters From God, review, Zonderkidz

Love LettersFilled with some of my all time favorite Bible Stories, Love Letters from God quickly became my pick for bedtime reading with my children. I absolutely love how each story is told in such a way that children can easily understand and apply it to their lives. This book is comparable to Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling in that each story is offered in form of a letter from God to the child. Each letter is beautifully written with the story’s application weaved within each line.

I also find the illustrations to be absolutely delightful. The colors are eye-catching and tell each story well. Each story offers a stamped letter that can be opened by lifting a flap. I love this feature! There is also a line left blank after the greeting in each letter for you to write your child’s name.

On the back cover of this book, the age suggestion is from 4 to 8 years. I would agree as I have two boys that fall between the offered age range. Both find the book to be interesting and they are always excited to read the next story.

Sometimes, I save the books I review to include in Christmas gifts. However, I will be keeping this one! I was given a complimentary copy of this book by its publisher and BookLookBloggers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I have not been compensated.

Love’s Fortune by Laura Frantz

17 Wednesday Sep 2014

Posted by Jennifer in Books I LOVE, Favorites, Reviewed Books

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Great Reads 2014, Laura Frantz, Love's Fortune, Reviewed

Love's FortuneEveryone who loves a good book has a favorite author. Laura Frantz is mine. I am always elated to read one of her books.  Love’s Fortune is another novel by Laura Frantz I will be adding to my shelf of favorites. It is third in her Ballantyne Series and it is magnificent!

While this book stands alone, I enjoyed seeing all of the characters from the prior novels in this story. At nearly 400 pages, this book is no novella, but I could not put it down until I had finished every last word. At roughly 2 a.m. a few nights ago I turned the final page with a sigh of satisfaction . In my state of exhaustion the following day, I was tempted to read it again to savor it.  But I am saving my second read for an upcoming lengthy plane ride.

In Love’s Fortune, Wren Ballantyne travels to Pennsylvania to meet her extended family, most for the first time. She is thrust into unfamiliar territory for a simple girl from Kentucky.  A handsome steamboat pilot, James Sackett, is there to help her navigate all of the rules of society.  It is the relationship between them that kept me turning pages through the night!

No one writes like Laura Frantz. She is a historian, a poet, and a master of detail. Her stories are not overdone, they are simply wonderful. I devour every chapter like it’s a Godiva truffle. If you have read the first two books in the series, you will cry when you see Eden and Silas Ballantyne in their later years. I know, because I did!! Thank you Laura Frantz for another amazing novel!

Here are a few quotes from the book that were featured on Laura Frantz’s Facebook page.

Loves fortune 2

 

Lauar frantz2I was given a complimentary copy of the this book by its publisher in exchange for an honest review. (I would have purchased it anyway. It’s a guaranteed good read!) All opinions are my own and I have not been compensated.

Just for fun, here is the story behind the cover of the Novel. I love seeing how they create a cover to match the identity of the character.

The Southern Foodie’s Guide To The Pig

16 Tuesday Sep 2014

Posted by Jennifer in Books I LOVE, Family, Food, Reviewed Books

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Buttermilk Pie, Chris Champerlain, recipes, review, Something Different, South's Best Restaurants, The Southern Foodie's Guide To The Pig

The Southern Foodie's GuideAs a devout “Foodie” married to a devout “Foodie” who has an affinity for pork, there was no question about whether or not this book would be loved.  I adore it!  The Southern Foodie’s Guide To The Pig is more than a listing of delicious places to eat in the South, it is a manual to creating, eating, and finding pig perfection! My husband and I spent more than an hour flipping through the pages and bookmarking all of the places we would eat and all of the recipes we would attempt. We live in Northern Virginia, and there are several listings for restaurants near our home.

One of my favorite features of this book are the recipes provided from the restaurants that author Chris Chamberlain would rank as some of the best in the South. I am anxious to try so many of the sauces, rubs, side dishes, and desserts for myself.

For this post, I made Buttermilk Pie from Something Different in Urbanna, Virginia. This recipe is simple and well worth the effort.

You will need:

1 Pie Crust (I used a store-bought refrigerated crust)

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup sour cream

1/4 cup all-purpose flour, heaping

Preheat the oven to 350. Cream together softened butter and sugar.

PIE !

Add the eggs and vanilla and mix well.

PIE 2Add the buttermilk, sour cream, and flour and mix well.

PIE 4Now take your pie crust in your pie pan,

PIE CRUSTand pour in the filling.

PIE 5Bake for 45-50 minutes or until firm and caramelized on top. It should be slightly crusty and brown.

PIE 6And here is my picture of my cut piece….

plate o pieIt didn’t make it to the photo shoot and I don’t trust myself to cut another piece! It is pretty amazing!!

I highly recommend this book to all lovers of Southern Fare! This is a fun read that I am sure you will reference often. I was given a complimentary copy of this book by its publisher and BookLookBloggers and the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I have not been compensated.

Raising Kingdom Kids by Tony Evans

16 Tuesday Sep 2014

Posted by Jennifer in Books I LOVE, Family, Reviewed Books

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christian parenting book recommendations, Focus on the Family, parenting book, Raising Kingdom Kids, Reviewed, Tony Evans, Tyndale House

Raising Kingdom KidsRaising Kingdom Kids by Dr. Tony Evans is an insightful and helpful book for parents with children of all ages.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book and took many pages of notes. I plan on giving my copy to a friend because I feel like this book is one that should not only be recommended but shared. It confirms many things I have been feeling about family and how the family dynamic is changing. While it identifies struggles in raising children today in a Christian home, it also gives solutions!

As Dr. Evans so aptly says on the back cover, “It’s far easier to SHAPE A CHILD than to REPAIR AN ADULT.” Could there be a more true statement regarding shaping the lives of people. One of my favorite chapters in the book, Dr. Evans gives Three Pillars of Parenting. They are Encouragement, Discipline, and Instruction. Within the first pillar, Dr. Evans describes how important for the parent to raise the child, not the village. This is so counter-cultural, but so wise! He says unless the village has kingdom values, the village should not be shaping your child.

I could go on and on with the endless wisdom shared in this book, but it would be better if you obtained a copy for yourself! It is an invaluable resource for parents who desire to pass their Christian faith and values to their children.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by its publisher, Tyndale House, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I have not been compensated.

A Bride In Store by Melissa Jagears

16 Tuesday Sep 2014

Posted by Jennifer in Reviewed Books

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A Bride In Store, historical fiction, Melissa Jagears, Reviewed

A bride in storeA Bride in Store is the first novel I have read by new author, Melissa Jagears. Judging by this novel, I would be interested in reading her debut novel. This particular story is slow in parts, but still enjoyable. There is even an unexpected and exciting twist I did not see coming. I struggle in rating this book because while it was interesting and well written, I found myself a little bored. However, if you enjoy Christian Historical Fiction with Romance and a little drama, you will likely be satisfied with A Bride in Store.

What I loved about this book is the strong female character author Melissa Jagears created in Eliza. By the way, I adore the name Eliza! Eliza doesn’t back down easy and shows determination not often written into the character of a mail order bride! In A Bride in Store, Eliza Cantrell is headed out west to meet her fiance and get acquainted with his store for which she has big ideas. When she arrives early, and Axel isn’t in town, Eliza meets William Stanton and an unplanned friendship and love interest begins.

This is a lovely story, it just isn’t my favorite this year. I did like it enough to look forward to other titles by Melissa Jagears. I was given a complimentary copy of this book by its publisher, Bethany House, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I have not been compensated.

 

What Your Heart Needs for the Hard Days by Holley Gerth

01 Monday Sep 2014

Posted by Jennifer in Reviewed Books

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Book Review, Holley Gerth, What Your Heart Needs for the Hard Days

What your heart needsI love this beautiful devotional by Holley Gerth! If the title doesn’t immediately appeal to you, the red polka-dotted coffee cup absolutely will! In fact, someone please tell me I can buy the cup and saucer somewhere?!! Holley Gerth does an excellent job providing 52 devotions based on the Psalms to help you get through the difficult days we all encounter.

I loved so many of the devotions, but a few appealed specifically to me.  Number 32, “God Will Ease Your Anxiety,” speaks to an area I struggle with frequently. Whether it’s a truly serious situation or a worry I have blown out of proportion in my mind, anxiety can rule my day. Holley begins this chapter with Psalms 94:19, “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” She goes on to point out, according to this verse, not only will God calm our anxiety, he will give us joy. I love this! I would love to trade my anxious moments for joy! I think I will.

I love so many of the devotions including, “God Gives You Permission to Laugh,” and “God Knows Your Calendar.” I have enjoyed reading through them. It may sound silly, but I often do “hair dryer devotions.” It takes some time to dry my big head of hair in the morning, and I often read a devotion while I am sweating underneath the heat of my dryer. This book is perfect for hair dryer devotions! Each are a few pages, super encouraging, and a great way to start your day.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by its publisher, Revell, in exchange for an honest review. I have not been compensated and all opinions are my own.

A Light In The Wilderness by Jane Kirkpatrick

01 Monday Sep 2014

Posted by Jennifer in Reviewed Books

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A Light in the Wilderness, Book Review, Jane Kirkpatrick

A Light in the WildernessI always appreciate a book based on a true story. It adds importance to the pages and meaning to the message. Author Jane Kirkpatrick tells an interesting story of one woman’s fight to remain free as she navigates life, love, friendships, and new beginnings.

I will readily admit to the heaviness of this story. This is not a lighthearted read as it covers some weighty subject matters.  However, it will you make you feel proud of a real woman who struggled through an intense time in our nation’s history. Letitia overcame obstacles that would have left others waving a flag of surrender. Not only did Letitia refuse to surrender, she moved forward in spite of real danger.

While I typically opt for historical fiction filled with love and happy endings, I was pleased to read this book. It’s good to mix things up a bit! I love the Author’s Notes included in the back to speak to the real historical facts regarding Letitia’s life. I feel this book is a great choice for lovers of history, especially history telling the story of strong women.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by its publisher, Revell, a division of Baker Publishing, in exchange of an honest review. I have not been compensated and all opinions are my own.

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