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Tag Archives: Reviewed Books

A New Favorite!

11 Wednesday Jul 2018

Posted by Jennifer in Reviewed Books

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Best Fiction of 2018, Engraved on the Heart, historical fiction, New Author Discovery, Reviewed Books, Tara Johnson

engraved on the heart

 

This book is such a good example of why you should read new authors! Tara Johnson wrote an outstanding debut novel with Engraved on the Heart. It has all the essential historical fiction components: an interesting historical subject, a strong heroine, love, and a dashing hero.

I read this book in giant chunks, staying up too late to get just a little bit further.  This novel centers around the beginning of the civil war and the work of the underground railroad. A young lady, Keziah Montgomery, is the daughter of a Confederate family in Savannah. She reunites with an old friend, Dr. Micah Greyson,  who shares her heart and her desire to help enslaved people escape to freedom. Keziah does all that she can to protect their secrets, including agreeing to marry a man of her father’s choosing.

There is nothing lacking in this first effort by Tara Jacobs. I can’t wait to read her next book that should be out next summer.  If it has been awhile since you tried a new author, this one is for you. I requested a copy of this book from the publisher because I love historical fiction. I was not required to give this book a positive review. All opinions are my own and I have not been compensated.

Book Review: Gospel Centered Mom

31 Wednesday Jan 2018

Posted by Jennifer in Reviewed Books

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Brooke McGlothlin, Gospel Centered Mom, Reviewed Books

Gospel Centered Mom

In Gospel Centered Mom, author Brooke McGlothlin tackles the idea that while we may not feel like enough as a mom, God is. Further, if we can separate ourselves from the ME gospel (where the world centered around me) we can come to terms with motherhood being worth the sacrifice.

Maybe its because my husband and I had such a difficult time having children, but I struggled getting through this book. I just want to own that this book is not what I thought it was before I continue with my review. I thought it was about lining up your parenting with the Gospel- to see my home as the most important mission field. There are so many positive aspects within the pages of Gospel Centered Mom that make it somewhat encouraging. Really, I wish i could cut and paste chapters…remove a few ideas…and add a heavy dose of joy.

While I am certain I understand the difficulty of raising boys (I have two) I found McGlothlin’s angst unrelatable. She refers to her boys as the “hard to handle” kind many times in the book. Aren’t all kids on some level and in different seasons “hard to handle?” I think a little humor would have helped tremendously. All of us with kids in retrospect can look back and laugh at some of the craziness that we experience raising our babies! Also, I had hard time finding a rhythm or order in the book. The chapters did not flow from one to the next, they felt loosely tied together.

The best part of the book can be found in the the ninth chapter, Worth Fighting For. It is here you will find helpful advice broken down in a useful way. McGlothlin encourages mom’s to fight for and not against their kids. She gives ten ways to fight for your kids: Tell God He can have you, Learn when to keep your mouth shut, Get in the habit of prayer, Embrace the power of the mommy time-out, Prepare ahead of time, Be Stronger, Love Harder, Be a student of your child, Think outside the box, and Refuse to give up. I could be off base, but those could have easily been ten chapters.

I write one critical review for every hundred positive reviews. I absolutely hate that I did not love this book. I will say, that if you need to read something by a mom who has had a difficult time, you find a friend here. This book just was not for me. I was given a copy of this book by BloggingForBooks. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts are my own and I have not been compensated.
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Unseen by Sara Hagerty

19 Tuesday Sep 2017

Posted by Jennifer in Reviewed Books

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Christian Living, faith, Reviewed Books, Sara Hagerty, Unseen

Unseen

 

A repost from a friend on Instagram led me to discover Sara Hagerty and her gift with words. I love this book and its holy message. Unseen challenged me in a way that I haven’t been in a very long time. Hagerty challenges me to waste time on Jesus, and to enjoy all the hidden parts of lie. As the front cover suggests, hiddeness is a gift.

Unseen addresses a heart issue that is truly new to this generation of women: “…being hidden, in a world that loves to be noticed.” Our lives are lived out loud through Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Everyones’ highlight reel plays before our eyes as our thumbs flip through post after post. It becomes difficult to believe that our everyday mundane lives matter. Hagerty challenges us to see that it is in our hidden moments that we develop a relationship with Jesus.

Throughout Unseen, Sara Hagerty focuses on the story of Mary of Bethany in the book of Mark from the Bible.  Mary was ridiculed for breaking a bottle of expensive perfume and pouring it on Jesus’ feet.  Throughout Unseen, Sara points back to the story and how what many saw as waste, was truly an expression of love.  In chapter one Sara writes,

“Mary has eyes for one. Her motives were oriented toward Him. She wasn’t driven to His feet by accolades, and she stayed despite criticism. What she cultivated with this man, Jesus, in the quiet and ordinary became her greatest expression. This is radical love, according to Jesus.”

After reading Unseen, I feel like I have been given a new perspective. Being seen, noticed, or having a platform are not the goal of this life. A relationship with Jesus, a life oriented toward him is the ultimate gift.  I encourage you to put to this book at the top of your list. As soon as I started reading, I instantly thought of friends I wanted to have a copy.  I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher. No positive review was required and I have not been compensated.

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