Winning Your Blood Sugar Battle by Richard Furman, MD, FACS - A Book Review

 

I had high hopes for this book. Maybe because I've read so much on the subject, I didn't find too much that was new to me. It was a reminder of some things that we have begun to go a little slack on. My husband's prediabetes diagnosis going on three years ago was the catalyst for my research and our weight loss. He has done very well maintaining his loss of thirty-two pounds. His A1C has very much improved. I am not discrediting the material in this book, just saying it largely wasn't new to us.

If you are new to working on controlling your weight and dealing with diabetes, this may very well be the book to motivate and inform you. If you begin to read it, and find it repetitive, and are tempted to abandon it, I would suggest skipping ahead and reading chapters nine, ten and eleven.

I am grateful to have received a copy of this book from Revell publishing in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

Legacy Rejected by Robin Patchen - A Book Review

   

Every time I read a new Robin Patchen book my husband has to listen to me go on about how she really deserves greater exposure. She is one of my favorite Christian mystery/suspense authors, along with Lynette Eason, Irene Hannon, Patricia Bradley and Colleen Coble. If you are fans of any of those authors, please treat yourself to a book by Robin Patchen, or better yet purchase a series. You will be so glad that you did.

Legacy Rejected is the story of Ginny Lamont. Having lived through a less than desirable childhood, Ginny has found a sense of home in Nutville, New Hampshire. Her sister lives in the town, and Ginny is making friends. Her real estate business is growing, and she is remodeling an older home into her dream home one project at a time. The man who has drawn her attention seems to be drawn to her as well. Life is good, at least until it begins to fall apart piece by piece. Her sister takes her family and flees, her friends abandon her, someone breaks into her home, and she is being followed. How could life change so quickly? Who is behind it? How can she protect herself and those she loves?

If Robin Patchen's books are new to you, after reading this one you will want to read her Hidden Truth and Beauty in Flight series. I recommend reading her series in order for the greatest enjoyment. I am grateful to have received a complementary copy of Legacy Rejected from the author in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

Stars of Alabama by Sean Dietrich - A Book Review

   

I found myself fully engaged with each of this story's three story lines and the unique, memorable characters whose stories were unfolding. I could feel the stories converging, but it was never obvious as to how they would finally intersect. As the characters traveled from the dust bowl of Kansas to the Gulf shores of Alabama, through the depression, a war, and peacetime, their stories drew ever closer. Stories of hard times, people who matter, putting aside the past, and creating a future; stories of right and wrong, and opportunities lost and found held my attention as if it were grasped in the author's hand.

The feelings generated as I read Stars of Alabama were reminiscent of those I had while reading The Secret Life of Bees and The Memory Keeper's Daughter. I would recommend this book to anyone who was touched by those. It is a book that will haunt your memory for years to come.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Daughter of China by C. Hope Flinchbaugh - A Book Review

   


Flinchbaugh’s well researched book details the difficulties of being female and of being Christian in Communist China. It also details the faithfulness of a loving God. As readers follow the events of Kwan Mei Lin’s life, they will be amazed at the courage of the pastors and members of China’s house churches, devastated by the torture of those imprisoned for their faith, heartbroken by the conditions in some of the country’s orphanages, and encouraged by God’s faithfulness through it all. The acceptance of life’s hardships associated with being a Christian in China and the perseverance shown by those claiming Jesus as Savior there, is so different that the prosperity message often preached in our own country. These brothers and sisters are models for handling what seems to be on the horizon for Christians in the United States. Daughter of China is also an inspiration to those in our country who have the resources for providing for orphans, abandoned children, and the persecuted.

Core 52: A Fifteen-Minute Daily Guide to Build Your Bible IQ In a Year by Mark E. Moore - A Book Review

   

Pastor and former professor, Mark E. Moore has developed a strategy for knowing the Bible well in fifty-two weeks by focusing on fifty-two of the most influential texts in the Bible, reading a short essay aimed at explaining the text using information regarding the original language, historical context and supporting Scripture, memorization of a core text, reading related text, meditation, and putting the text into practice. While that is quite a mouthful, this book truly provides Bible study in manageable bites. The essays are very well written and will interest those who have studied the Bible for years as well as those who are new to the Scriptures.

I have recommended Core 52 to individuals, small groups, and to churches' discipleship programs. I am very grateful to have received a copy of this book from WaterBrook via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation. #PRHpartner

Bethlehem by Karen Kelly - A Book Review

    

Bethlehem is set in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in the 1920s and the 1960s. It is the story of relationships within and among two prominent families, and the lengths they would go to to maintain those relationships. It is a story of loss, of secrets, and of forgiveness. Karen Kelly paints the story with masterful strokes deepened by the beauty of the language with which she paints. The painting has a darkness to it, but the colors are rich, and the final strokes bring light to her canvas.

While this book differs from the Christian fiction I typically review, the language is not offensive and, while there is great passion, there are no passionate scenes that one would take offense to. The book, though not Christian fiction, points to Jesus by demonstrating how attending church out of duty or to meet societies expectations without coming to know Jesus as Lord and Savior is often self-destructive.

I would recommend Bethlehem to my friends, and am grateful to St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to write a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

Guide Me Home by Kim Vogel Sawyer - A Book Review

   

I was so happy to finally have the time and opportunity to read this highly anticipated book by Kim Vogel Sawyer. I have been a Kentuckian for forty years now, and live about forty-five minutes from Mammoth Cave, the setting of this story. Sawyer's well-researched story opens up the history of the cave area, telling of a culture very similar to that of the Smokey Mountain National Forest. Some claimed a Scottish heritage, and many had a deep faith that supported their love of family and their piece of God's creation.

Guide Me Home is a story of foolishness and wisdom, misguided guilt and forgiveness, loss and discovery, and determining what really matters in this life and the next. Readers will experience appreciation of Rebekah Hardin and exasperation with her sister, Cissy, admiration for Devlin Bale and frustration with Nick Ross. Most important is the prevailing message of the peace that comes with a personal relationship with Jesus.

I highly recommend Guide Me Home and all of Kim Vogel Sawyer's novels. Happy Reading!

Midnight on the River Grey by Abigail Wilson - A Book Review

    

Regency England, historical mystery, and romance written by Abigail Wilson, need I say more? This book is all you would expect. Abigail Wilson's debut book, In the Shadow of Croft Towers, displayed her talent for crafting a truly compelling mystery, and this second book shows that Wilson is definitely not a one-hit-wonder, but rather an up-and-coming author in this genre, one that will quickly build a large fan base.

Rebecca and her Aunt Jo were forced to leave their London townhouse to move into her guardian's estate following her brother's death. The problem, Rebecca is convinced that her guardian murdered her brother. The townspeople near his estate are equally convinced. While moving to Greybourne Hall was distasteful, maybe Rebecca could find the evidence she needs to find justice for her brother, and so the mystery begins.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Those opinions are that this is a well written, engaging story, and that it is well worth the time spent reading.

The Express Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse - A Book Review

  

I get so excited every time I see that there is a new book coming out in the Daughters of the Mayflower series, doubly so when the new book is authored by Kimberley Woodhouse. Each book in the series works well as a stand-alone read. So you can jump into the series wherever you like and expect true reading pleasure.

In this book, the ninth in the series, Jacqueline, under the nickname of Jack, is running a Pony Express station and way station for the stagecoach line, assuming her late father's duties and responsibilities. Raised by her dad following her mother's death when she was quite young, Jacqueline loved her family made up of the Pony Express riders, her foster brother, and their only neighbors in this out of the way place. Little did she know how much her life would change with the arrival of Mr. James Crowell and Mr. Elijah Johnson o the stagecoach on October 12, 1860.

The Express Bride includes some intrigue and suspense along with historical romance, making it all the better. Woodhouse includes important spiritual truths without sounding preachy. Faith is so woven into the lives of these characters that their living out of that faith, even while struggling, seems as natural as breathing. Loving and forgiving are a foregone conclusion,not a decision, because as Christians they seek to live like Christ, an example to all readers of this delightful story.

I am grateful to have received a copy of The Express Bride from Barbour Books via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

Thimbles and Threads - A Book Review

Set in the post Civil War 1800s, these four stories all include a quilt that has special meaning to one of the characters, and each included a character that has a special love for the art of sewing. Each story would be considered romantic fiction. While all three stories were sweet, I found three to seem more realistic than the fourth. I would have given three of the four stories 3 ½ stars and the remaining one 2 stars as I kept arguing aloud with the author (really glad no one else was home to witness that).

If you are a fan of the needle arts and like a sweet story that is not too in-depth, I recommend this book to you. I appreciate having received a copy of Thimbles and Threads from Barbour Books via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.