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Monthly Archives: February 2015

Book Review: A Glorious Dark

28 Saturday Feb 2015

Posted by Jennifer in Reviewed Books

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A Glorious Dark, A.J. Swoboda, Book Review

A Glorious Dark

 

It wasn’t until I was well into the first chapter…somewhere around Scooby-Doo…that I realized it wasn’t an old theologian speaking, but a young man’s voice I was reading. Author A. J. Swoboda is a Pastor and Professor from Portland, Oregon who was unknown to me before I read A Glorious Dark. The title and cover piqued my interest as I am someone who sometimes struggles with, “…the tension between belief and experience.”

From the back cover:

On Thursday as they ate the Passover meal with Jesus, the disciples believed that the kingdom was coming and they were on the front end of a revolution. Then came the tragedy of Friday and the silence of Saturday. They ran. They doubted. They disappeared. From their perspective, all was lost.

Yet, within the grave, God’s power was still flowing like a mighty river beneath the ice of winter. And there was a Sunday morning.

In A Glorious Dark, Swoboda reflects on three Holy Days and how Christians walk out their faith in reference to each day. In Part I, he speaks to Friday Christianity which he describes as the, “…religion of those who’ve chosen to find their identity in a spirituality of defeat, death, and loss.” Swoboda addresses the Saturday Christian in Part II. He suggests this is, “for those of us who’ve come to consider doubt and ambiguity as final destination rather than conduits through which we actually enter into resurrection.” Lastly, in Part III, Swoboda address Sunday Christianity. This is a very popular Christian walk at this moment in time. It is the victory and prosperity walk.

This book touches on so many areas, anyone who reads it will find a golden nugget of truth applicable to their own walk. For instance, Swoboda speaks to our self-selection of truth. We pick and choice what we believe and back up the belief with books and people who agree. He also speaks to cynicism which is usually rooted in hurt and disappointment. The pages he spends on cynicism are the ones I underlined most. Maybe the most impactful sentence from the book is this: “No matter how beautiful it was, the final note everyone’s melody is silence.” Seriously, this book is jammed full of those kind of one line zingers, direct and poignant.

I also enjoyed Swoboda’s thoughts on “resurrection community,” and the need for Christians to belong to a body of believers. With so many churches offering online service opportunities, many people opt to watch from home and never attend in person and in turn, miss out on becoming part of a community of believers.

In the end, I appreciate the overall message of this book. The idea that the Christian life is meant to be lived in and through all three Holy Days. This is a book I will pass along to a friend with confidence it will be enjoyed, dog-eared, and highlighted. I was given a complimentary copy of this book by its publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I have not been compensated.

Book Review: How to Catch a Prince

26 Thursday Feb 2015

Posted by Jennifer in Reviewed Books

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Book Review, How to Catch a Prince, Rachel Hauck

How To Catch a Prince

 

How to Catch a Prince by Rachel Hauck is a lovely modern-day fairy tale for those of us who need something more than a Disney Princess to satisfy our need for a good love story. While this book is third in Hauck’s The Royal Wedding Series, it easily stands alone. For me, this title was definitely a page-turner I would love to see made into a movie. It is laced was some serious heart issues, but is not so heavy that you miss the whimsy of a good princess story.

From the back cover:

American heiress Corina Del Rey caught her prince once. But the tragedy of war kept her too long in a fog of grief. Now she’s shifting her life forward, reigniting her career as a journalist. Still, nothing can relieve her of the secret and love she carries in her soul.

Prince Stephen of Brighton is one of the world’s most eligible bachelors and a star rugby player, trying to make sense of his life. But his days in Afghanistan with the Royal Air Command have marked him forever. And he can’t seem to shake their dark shadow.

But when his brother, King Nathaniel, confronts him with a document the prince thought long buried and forgotten, Stephan is forced to face the pain of his past and the love he left behind.

How to Catch a Prince is a good mix of reality and imagination. Think of the movie Enchanted staring Amy Adams (without all of the singing and animation) meets Touched by an Angel. There are moments of divine intervention, angels sent to help out two people who were meant to love and serve together. I thought it was fabulous. Author Rachel Hauck has done a marvelous job writing this series. FIVE STARS from this book blogger!!!

I would add a PG rating to this book. It is clean and totally appropriate for a teenage girl. Having said that, I never thought it lacked the meatiness for an adult read. I am simply saying this would be a great title to read along with your daughter! A fairy tale with values is always a wonderful thing!

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

Book Review: The Trouble With Patience

22 Sunday Feb 2015

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Book Review, Maggie Brendan, The Trouble with Patience

The Trouble with Patience

 

The Trouble with Patience by Maggie Brendan is the first book in a new series, Virtues and Vices of the Old West. Historical Fiction is my favorite genre to read and I had high hopes for this title. I only select books I feel will result in a positive review, mostly because I love to read! I must say upfront that this wasn’t a book I particularly enjoyed. I have a few ideas about who this book is ideal for, and I will share those thoughts in a bit.

From the back cover:

Patience Cavanaugh has lost hope in romance. The man she yearned to marry is dead and her dreams are gone with him. Now she is consumed with restoring a dilapidated boardinghouse in order to support herself.

Despite Patience’s desire for solitude, Jedediah Jones, the local marshal with a reputation for hanging criminals, becomes an ever-looming part of her life. It seems like such a simple arrangement: She needs someone with a strong back to help her fix up the boardinghouse. He needs a dependable source of food for himself and his prisoners. But as she gets to know this “hanging lawman,” Patience finds there is far more to him that meets the eye- and it could destroy their tenuous relationship forever.

Although it pains me to say so, this book is slow, full of predictable situations, and heavy on uninteresting dialogue. The romance between Patience and Jedediah isn’t very believable and worse than that, it is clear from the very beginning that they are to fall in love but spend little time doing so. I will be the first to admit I enjoy a love story where the characters get to know one another with some major page time! This is very much a “Duggar” style romance. And as a side note, I was just as disappointed to see Patience’s mother show up as she was in the story.

I do think this book has some admirable qualities. First, it is clean throughout.  I would not hesitate to allow a young reader to venture into this series. In fact, I could easily be convinced this title was intended for a young reader. Secondly, there is a theme of faith that is clear in this book. Another reason I would recommend The Trouble with Patience to a pre-teen/teen reader. 

While I would not list this title as a favorite, I am not writing off author Maggie Brendan.  I am hopeful I will find another of her titles I will love. 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.

 

Book Review: The Crimson Cord

15 Sunday Feb 2015

Posted by Jennifer in Books I LOVE, Reviewed Books

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historical fiction, Jill Eileen Smith, Rahab, The Crimson Cord

The Crimson Cord

 

I am over the moon excited to have found this book by author Jill Eileen Smith!  I love to read Biblical stories retold and Smith has done a masterful job retelling Rahab’s story. Books of this nature are always my favorite because they encourage me to go back to the Bible to read the account for myself.

In The Crimson Cord, Smith tells the story of Rahab who was a prostitute. The Bible tells us little about Rahab’s life before we meet her in the Book of Joshua.

2 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.

When they arrive at her home she hides them from the King’s army and gives them a way out.  Rahab helped them escape with the promise that they would protect her family when the Israeli army arrived to take the city. This promise was kept and Rahab and her family were allowed to live. Rahab would go on to marry Salmon (Israelite) and is the mother of Boaz who would marry Ruth.

Through a fictionalized retelling, Smith imagines what Rahab’s life was before the Israeli men found their way to her home.  This book is most definitely a page turner and is by far the best piece of fiction I have read lately.

From the back cover:

Wife to a gambler who took one too many risks, Rahab finds herself sold as a slave to cover her husband’s debt. Forced into prostitution, she despairs of ever regaining her freedom and her self-respect. But when Israelite spies enter Jericho and come to lodge at her house, Rahab sees a glimmer of hope and the opportunity of a lifetime.

I have never read any of Smith’s books before, so I am elated to find that she has written other titles like this one. If I could rate this book with 10 stars, I absolutely would. It is oh so good! While this story is a retelling of a Biblical account, I would also rate it PG-13. It does have a heavy subject matter and speaks to the misery of prostitution. I would also add that you need not be familiar with the Biblical account to enjoy this book. It is an intriguing story separate from it being a Bible story. I was given a complimentary copy of this book by its publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I have not been compensated.

Letters from June

10 Tuesday Feb 2015

Posted by Jennifer in Family, Favorites

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Letter Writing

Letters

I have always wished I could go back in time and know my grandparents when they were young. I want to know them as a 30 something conversing with another 30 something. Maybe I could be a next door neighbor who walks over for tea or coffee in the afternoon while the kids play outside. It would be fabulous.

All of my grandparents are deceased expect for my Grandmother June. I don’t call her grandmother, I call her Mamaw. It makes me laugh just to type Mamaw. I grew up in East Tennessee and like most good Southern Girls I use the proper terms of endearment. Mamaw and Papaw. Anyhow, I live far away from my last living grandparent and I hate how I am missing the last few years I will be able to know her as a person. She is 84 and still very much alive. I see her when we visit but those times are few and far between.

Mamaw does not email, or Facebook, or participate in any other form of modern communication. She does write letters. Last year I began writing my grandmother about ordinary life. What we did last weekend, the weather, and any other mundane thing I thought she would find interesting. She writes me back to tell me about family, the weather, her church, things to pray for, and about my Great Uncle Harry. I so love opening my mailbox and seeing her penmanship on an envelope. I am sure it is difficult for her to write with her arthritis, but she always replies to my letters. While I would prefer to sit with her, I am grateful I will always have these letters long after she is gone.

Book Review: Motivate Your Child

09 Monday Feb 2015

Posted by Jennifer in Family, Reviewed Books

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Book Review, Christian Parenting, Dr. Scott Turansky, Joanne Miller, Motivate Your Child, Parenting

Motivate your child

 

I was really excited to receive a review copy of Motivate Your Child by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller. I have recently struggled in parenting one of my sons who seems to struggle with staying on task and is often down right squirrelly. He is a great kid, and so very smart, but I feel his spirit is being crushed by the behavior chart at school. I need him to decide on his own to make good choices without me prodding him along during the day. Motivate Your Child is not necessarily aimed at children with attention deficit, but there is plenty of advice and guidance within that I feel will be helpful in guiding my son.

Motivate Your Child is a Christian parenting book, so know that most of the advice is with the direction of scripture. If you are a not a Christian, the advice given is still applicable.  While I was excited to read the book for Part 1, Moral Development in Children, I enjoyed Part 2, Spiritual Development in Children much more. I loved the breakdown of Moses’ instructions into three principles for guiding our children: Build a relationship, share scripture, and practice faith. So simple, and at the same time, so profound!

This book was written to help, not to entertain…so it is not a page turner in that respect.  But an anxious parent ready for some change may find it too interesting to put down. I was given a complimentary copy of this by BookLookBloggers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I have not been compensated.

Book Review: The Beauty of Grace

05 Thursday Feb 2015

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Book Review, Dawn Camp, The Beauty of Grace

The Beauty of Grace

 

This was one of those love at first sight books for me. I saw the cover and instantly wanted to read it. I am definitely guilty of choosing to read books entirely based on the cover. In this case it worked out well. The Beauty of Grace is a grouping of short stories and personal reflections of many popular writers, mostly women. I am familiar with several of the contributors like Ann VosKamp, Holly Gerth, and Lisa-Jo Baker. As much as I read, I was surprised that most of the authors are unknown to me. Having said that, three of my favorite short stories included in this book were written by women I had never even heard of until I opened this book.

From the back cover:

In this hectic life, it’s easy to forget that God is always near at hand, even though He sends us frequent reminders. The beauty amid the mess, a well-timed word of encouragement from a friend, the memories that won’t let go of our hearts- they’re all ways God extends an open hand to us. But if we’re not paying attention, we can miss it.

Combining heartfelt stories from some of today’s foremost writers with Dawn’s stunning photography of God’s incredible creation, The Beauty of Grace is your haven of calm contemplation amid the chaos. This inspiring collection includes stories of cultivation friendship, waiting on God, choosing joy, staying connected, learning trust, and much more.

If you’re in need of a little peace, a little quiet, a little beauty, find comfort in this, you’re invited to experience them all within the pages of this soul-stirring book.

If I had a friend who was going through something difficult, I would find this book perfect for a little gift.  I would put it in a pretty basket with some fresh flowers, a nice card, and some tea. The stories inside cover several areas including Purpose, Surrender, Trust, Encouragement, and Worship. My absolute favorite story was written by Robin Dance entitled, ” The Generous, Very Kind Gift.” Author Robin Dance tells the story of almost missing a blessing because she was too busy to set aside what she was doing to see it. It was such a great reminder to always be aware of God’s blessings.

I give The Beauty of Grace four stars for all the golden nuggets found within. It is a perfect gift book and I already have a friend in mind who could use a pick-me-up. I was given a complimentary copy of this book by its publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I have not been compensated.

 

Book Review: Paper Hearts

03 Tuesday Feb 2015

Posted by Jennifer in Reviewed Books

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Book Review, Courtney Walsh, Paper Hearts, Valentine's Day ideas

Paper Hearts

 

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, author Courtney Walsh’s new book Paper Hearts delivers a love story that is bound to inspire you to start a new tradition.  This book totally has a Ya-Ya Sisterhood meets Letters to Juliet meets You’ve Got Mail kind of feel. I always adore a good love story and this book is definitely one. However, it is also about overcoming loss, disappointment, and starting all over again.

From the back cover:

Abigail Pressman never would have guessed that love notes penned on paper heats by an anonymous couple would challenge her doubts about romance. A business owner in a quaint tourist town, she dreams of expanding. But lately, she’s more focused on resisting the matchmaking efforts of the Valentine Volunteers, who gather in her store to continue Loves Park’s tradition of stamping mail with the city’s romantic postmark.

When Abigail is unwillingly drafted into the Volunteers, she encounters the hearts, a distraction that couldn’t come at a worse time. A hard-to-read doctor has become Abigail’s new landlord, and he’s threatening to end her lease.

As she fights a growing attraction to this man intent on crushing her dreams, Abigail is inspired to string the hearts in her store, sparking a citywide infatuation with the artsy trend. But when a new batch of hearts arrive, it appears something tragic has happened to the couple. Will uncovering their story confirm Abigail’s doubts, or could it rescue her dreams…and her heart?

I really loved this book for the struggle the characters walk through. True to life, love and happiness are not always easy to come by. Especially when we feel tied to one outcome and attempt to force our perfect ending. I also enjoyed the idea of writing paper hearts throughout the year and gifting them to your spouse on Valentine’s Day. It is a special way to show love without spending a fortune. We already do a version of this with our kids. Starting a month before Valentine’s Day we stick paper hearts nightly on our children’s door with words describing all the things we love about them.

20140214-155204.jpg

 

It makes total sense to do this for your spouse! I love the idea. Here is a sweet video created by Tyndale House Publishing to inspire your own heart writing.

 

I give Paper Hearts four stars for its tradition inspiring love story. While I would have loved to see more interaction and conversation between Abigail and the handsome doctor, I still found this book enjoyable and worth reading. 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.

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