Why I Love the Apostle Paul by John Piper

Here is the book summary:

“Besides Jesus, no one has kept me from despair, or taken me deeper into the mysteries of the gospel, than the apostle Paul.” —John Piper

No one has had a greater impact on the world for eternal good than the apostle Paul—except Jesus himself. For John Piper, this impact is very personal. He does not just admire and trust Paul. He loves him. Piper gives us thirty glimpses into why his heart and mind respond this way.
Can a Christian-killer really endure 195 lashes from a heart of love? Can a mystic who thinks he was caught up into heaven be a model of lucid rationality? Can an ethnocentric Jew write the most beautiful call to reconciliation? Can a person who lives with the unceasing anguish of empathy be always rejoicing? Can a man’s description of the horrors of human sin be exceeded by his delight in human splendor? Can a man with a backbone of steel be as tender as a nursing mother?
If we know this man—if we see what Piper sees—we too will love him. Paul’s testimony is a matter of life and death. Piper invites you into his relationship with Paul in the hope that you will know life, forever.

And now, my review:
Why I Love the Apostle Paul by John Piper was to me a thought-provoking book.  I just loved it.  He breaks his thoughts on the matter up into 30 reasons of why he loves Paul and how these truths minister to him as he faces life.  To follow his train of thought, to me, was quite a trip.  I found myself nodding my head yes as I read.  Piper speaks of why Paul is SO crucial to consider and reflect on for the Christian faith.  One of the things I’ve always loved most of Piper’s writing and speaking is that he uses Scripture all the time and that’s definitely the case in this book as well.  It’s full of Truth.  This would be a great 30-day devotional in my opinion.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Why-Love-Apostle-Paul-Reasons-ebook/dp/B07GC6PZ1V/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

https://www.christianbook.com/why-i-love-the-apostle-paul/john-piper/9781433565045/pd/565040?product_redirect=1&search_term=why%20I%20love%20the%20apostle%20&Ntt=565040&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/why-i-love-the-apostle-paul-john-piper/1129054851?ean=9781433565045#/

The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse

Here is the book summary:

Faith Jackson and Matthew Weber are both working covertly to aid the Patriot cause. But will they be willing to sacrifice all for their fledgling country?
A brand new series for fans of all things related to history, romance, adventure, faith, and family trees.

Spies Work Together for the Patriot Cause
Faith Jackson is a wealthy widow, friend of George Washington, and staunch supporter of the Patriot cause. Matthew Weber is friends with both Ben Franklin and his son William, who increasingly differ in their political views; and Matthew finds himself privy to information on both sides of the conflict. When a message needs to get to a spy among the Loyalists, Faith bravely steps up and in turn meets Matthew Weber. Suddenly she believes she could love again. But someone else has his eye on the Faith she portrays in elite social circles. What will Matthew and Faith have to sacrifice for the sake of their fledgling country?


And now, my review:
I felt that The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse which is book 4 in a series called The Daughters of the Mayflower was an enthralling historical fiction read.  I really enjoyed Faith and the spy work that she faced.  Her interactions through the book with others were really fun to watch and Matthews’s involvement was exciting to see unfold.  My favorite part of the book by far was the exciting moments of hearing characters mentioned such as Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and Patrick Henry.  She even included Patrick Henry’s famous quote of “Give me liberty or give me death!”  This is another great read by this author.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Patriot-Bride-Daughters-Mayflower-book-ebook/dp/B07BFNLX7V/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+patriot+bride&qid=1561566749&s=gateway&sr=8-1

https://www.christianbook.com/the-patriot-bride-4/kimberley-woodhouse/9781683226062/pd/226062?event=ESRCG

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-patriot-bride-kimberley-woodhouse/1128921167?ean=9781683226062

Kingdom Files: Who Was Jonah by Matt Koceich

Here is the book summary:

What do you know about Jonah?

Was he:
. . .the reluctant prophet who said "no" to God?
. . .the man tossed overboard during a colossal storm?
. . .the one who changed his mind after being swallowed by a big fish?
. . .all of the above?

Journey along with Jonah on the high seas, in the belly of a fish, in the very center of God’s amazing power!

This biblically accurate story of Jonah, created just for the kids in your life, explores the life of the reluctant prophet who said “no” to God, while drawing 8- to 12-year-olds into a fascinating time and place as they learn about the man who was tossed overboard during a storm and experienced a change of heart after being swallowed by a giant fish. Featuring three key sections—a Fact File, an Action File, and a Power File—kids will enjoying learning about the life of Jonah while coming to understand that an ancient Bible story really does apply to their lives today. Dozens of captivating line art pieces add depth and interest to every chapter.


And now, my review:
Here is a review by my 12-year old daughter.  Who Was Jonah by Matt Koceich was a very drawn-in book.  This book was mostly the story of Jonah with discussion at the end of every chapter for further Bible Study.  This is great to do on your own or get some friends together and create discussion.  The discussions went into the story even more.  I learned things I didn’t know about Jonah before, so that was great.  Each chapter was readable and I moved through them quickly.  This gave me time to stop and think about what I had just read.  I really liked that. 

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Files-Who-Was-Jonah-ebook/dp/B07D46HG9C/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=who+was+jonah+by+matt+koceich&qid=1561559484&s=gateway&sr=8-1

https://www.christianbook.com/kingdom-files-who-was-jonah/matt-koceich/9781683226307/pd/226302?event=ESRCG

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kingdom-files-matt-koceich/1127504885?ean=9781683226307

The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection by Various Authors

Here is the book summary:

Lighthouses have long been the symbol of salvation, warning sailors away from dangerous rocks and shallow waters.

Along the Great Lakes, America’s inland seas, lighthouses played a vital role in the growth of the nation. They shepherded settlers traveling by water to places that had no roads. These beacons of light required constant tending even in remote and often dangerous places. Brave men and women battled the elements and loneliness to keep the lights shining. Their sacrifice kept goods and immigrants moving. Seven romances set between 1883 and 1911 bring hope to these lonely keepers and love to weary hearts.

Anna’s Tower by Pegg Thomas
1883—Thunder Bay Island Lighthouse
Anna Wilson's plan to be the next lighthouse keeper is endangered when Maksim Ivanov is shipwrecked on Thunder Bay Island. Handsome and capable, he could steal her dream. Or provide a new one.
 
Beneath a Michigan Moon by Candice Sue Patterson
1885—New Presque Isle Lighthouse
Ava Ryan’s father has passed, leaving her alone, and ill, to tend the light with nowhere else to go. Logging foreman Benjamin Colfax needs the height of the lighthouse to determine the best cutting route, but he senses something amiss in Ava and her determination to remain reclusive. Can he get her to open up, or will she keep herself locked away?
 
Safe Haven by Rebecca Jepson
1892—Old Mission Point Lighthouse
Rose Miller was found on the lighthouse doorstep as an infant, and now she must hide her quest to find the child who left her there from Captain Nathan Perry, the man she loves to hate.
 
Love’s Beacon by Carrie Fancett Pagels
1898—Round Island Lighthouse
Valerie Fillman's best hope for a future lies on the tiny island that holds her worst memories. Can Paul Sholtus, the new lightkeeper, and his daughter help bring healing? And love?
 
The Last Memory by Kathleen Rouser
1899—Mackinac Point Lighthouse 
Natalie Brooks loses her past to amnesia, and Cal Waterson, the lighthouse keeper who rescues her, didn’t bargain on risking his heart—when her past might change everything.
 
The Disappearing Ship by Lena Nelson Dooley
1902—Whitefish Point Lighthouse
Romance and mystery collide at Whitefish Point Lighthouse when unemployed doctor Norma Kimbell and Drake Logan, owner of a steamship line, search for evidence of a supposed shipwreck.
 
The Wrong Survivor by Marilyn Turk
1911—Au Sable Lighthouse
Lydia Palmer's dream for happiness as a lighthouse keeper's wife shatters when her fiancé Nathan Drake drowned in a shipwreck, but his brother Jesse survived. 


And now, my review:
This book of 7 short stories was a great picture to me of the 7 Lighthouses around Michigan that they chose from to write about.  I love Michigan and I love Lighthouses so this drew me right in to reading this one.  I was sure NOT disappointed.  The various authors in this book did a great job researching and relaying the historical side to the Lighthouses as well as penned marvelous romance stories with each one.  All the shipwreck, all the heartache, and the importance of getting that light on to save lives were powerfully displayed.  My heart is still tugged by one about a single woman who has no family and had just lost her father.  She has to figure out how to remain the Lighthouse attendant.  It’s extremely hard work and to top it off she has a medical condition.  Such a fun read!  One of my favorite quotes from this book is “Envy wasn’t a comfortable companion, but it had dogged her steps these last few days.”  You’ll want to check this one out!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Great-Lakes-Lighthouse-Brides-Collection-ebook/dp/B07D8GNHBF/ref=sr_1_1?crid=20KX37NHV965P&keywords=the+great+lakes+lighthouse+brides+collection&qid=1561550900&s=gateway&sprefix=the+Great+lakes+li%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-1

https://www.christianbook.com/lighthouse-collection-historical-romances-beacon-hearts/lena-dooley/9781683227694/pd/227691?product_redirect=1&search_term=the%20great%20lakes%20lighthouse%20b&Ntt=227691&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-great-lakes-lighthouse-brides-collection-lena-nelson-dooley/1128090023?ean=9781683227694

My Heart Belongs in Gettyburg, Pennsylvania by Murray Pura

Here is the book summary:

When War Reaches Clarissa’s Back Door, the Trustworthy Become Even Fewer.
Journey into Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, of 1863 where Clarissa Avery Ross lives a full life. By day she is the daughter of a respectable shoemaker being courted by seminary student Kyle Forrester. But by night she is a conductor on the Underground Railroad, working with a mysterious man called Liberty. She would like to share her work with Kyle, but he refuses to enlist when the war breaks out. How can she remain true to a man being labeled a coward? When the war comes to her back door in an epic battle, the greatest challenges to her faith and love are yet to come.


And now, my review:
My Heart Belongs in Gettysburg Pennsylvania by Murray Pura was an excellent historical read that put me in the place of the Underground Railroad with Harriet Tubman and all.  Liberty was an amazing character, as was the main character, Clarissa.  I enjoyed the seminary man, Kyle as well.  It was an interesting twist of story lines to see where the author was going to take me.  I just wanted to keep reading.  It’s mysterious; there are feelings of betrayal and intense word pictures of the dangers conductors faced and choices they made while working toward freeing the slaves and the importance of it.  A great read!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Belongs-Gettysburg-Pennsylvania-Clarissas-ebook/dp/B07D8DVPJM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2K39JHAMV70CZ&keywords=my+heart+belongs+in+gettysburg%2C+pennsylvania&qid=1561549600&s=gateway&sprefix=my+heart+belongs+in+gett%2Caps%2C144&sr=8-1

https://www.christianbook.com/heart-belongs-gettysburg-pennsylvania-clarissas-conflict/murray-pura/9781683227403/pd/227404?event=ESRCG

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-heart-belongs-in-gettysburg-pennsylvania-murray-pura/1128090016?ean=9781683227403

With This Pledge by Tamera Alexander

Here is the book summary:

#1 Amazon Bestseller

From the pages of history and the personal accounts of those who endured the Battle of Franklin... 

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Clouston's quietly held principles oppose those of the Southern Cause--but when forty thousand soldiers converge on the fields of Franklin, Tennessee, the war demands an answer. The Carnton home, where she is governess, is converted into a Confederate hospital, and Lizzie is called upon to assist the military doctor with surgeries that determine life or death. Faced with the unimaginable, she must summon fortitude, even as she fears for the life of Towny, her fiancé and lifelong friend.

As a young soldier lies dying in Lizzie's arms, she vows to relay his final words to his mother, but knows little more than the boy's first name. That same night, decorated Mississippi sharpshooter Captain Roland Ward Jones extracts a different promise from Lizzie: that she intervene should the surgeon decide to amputate his leg.

Lizzie is nothing if not a woman of her word, earning the soldiers' respect as she tends to the wounded within Carnton's walls. None is more admiring than Captain Jones, who doesn't realize she is pledged to another. But as Lizzie's heart softens toward the Confederate captain, she discovers his moral ground is at odds with her own. Now torn between love, principles, and pledges made, she struggles to be true to her own heart while standing for what she knows is right--no matter the cost. 

From the pages of history and the personal accounts of those who endured the Battle of Franklin, Tamera Alexander weaves the real-life love letters between Captain Roland Ward Jones and Miss Elizabeth Clouston into a story of unlikely romance first kindled amid the shadows of war.

And now, my review:
With This Pledge by Tamara Alexander was a powerfully real historical fiction read.  This author brings the reader right in to a battle, the Battle of Franklin, which was during the Civil War, and she doesn’t leave much description out.  The realness that she pens is intense and gripping.  She tells the story from a Southern person’s view and I found that to be powerful.  There are battles and that brought about victims.  There is a sense of helplessness in helping the victims and feeling unequipped to do anything of real value…  I felt she did her homework on this one and she shares her findings with us as well. 

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
https://www.amazon.com/this-Pledge-Carnton-Book-ebook/dp/B07BB4MSG2/ref=sr_1_2?crid=9MCEIOH5TSCE&keywords=with+this+pledge+tamera+alexander&qid=1561464721&s=gateway&sprefix=with+this+pledge%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-2#customerReviews

https://www.christianbook.com/with-this-pledge-tamera-alexander/9780718081836/pd/081836?event=ESRCG

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/with-this-pledge-tamera-alexander/1128128094?ean=9780718081836#/

Half Finished by Lauraine Snelling

Here is the book summary:

In bestselling author Lauraine Snelling's new novel, a group of women realize that life is full of half-finished relationships and projects. However, they discover that the outcome is not as important as the journey.

Recognizing how common it is for crafters to start many projects and finish few, a group of women join together to form a guild-Unfinished Projects Anonymous-to keep each other on track and accountable. Three of the friends are tasked with the job of home visits for their guild. Laughingly called "the Cartel," they snoop around craft rooms and knitting baskets to report on progress for the members. They even expand their mission to include checking on half-trained dogs and half-weeded gardens.

As life unexpectedly changes for one of the members, this ensemble of women in bestselling author Lauraine Snelling's new novel discovers that much of life is half-finished-projects, friendships, the raising of children, even our very relationship with the Lord. And that may be perfectly fine.

And now, my review:
Half Finished by Lauraine Snelling was a wonderful, easy read of calmness.  It’s a story about life and real people who have to navigate it and they choose to navigate it together.  It’s not always easy.  There is a wonderful craft element that was inspiring as I am a crafter myself.  You come together and finish crafts that are half-done.  No more unfinished projects laying around for years and years without completion.  You want to start something new, finished what you have started first and do it in a community together.  There’s accountability and wonderful fellowship.  They even opened the group to men with their half-finished projects.  Hey, why not!  In the coming together, we get to know the stories of the characters and I really enjoyed that.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
https://www.amazon.com/Half-Finished-Novel-Lauraine-Snelling-ebook/dp/B0776RDNNR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=JJ4LNA3PRJFN&keywords=half+finished+by+lauraine+snelling&qid=1561463706&s=gateway&sprefix=half+finished%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-1

https://www.christianbook.com/half-finished-lauraine-snelling/9781478920076/pd/920077?event=ESRCG

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/half-finished-lauraine-snelling/1127395850?ean=9781478920076#/

Hearing God by Nathan Finochio

Here is the book summary:

Hillsong New York City pastor identifies and deconstructs the most common myths about how God communicates - and then provides clear tools to accurately decipher and follow the voice of God in your life.

So many people wish that God would audibly weigh in on life's greatest questions of calling, meaning, and purpose. What's crazy is that God is weighing in on those questions. We just haven't learned to listen. Nathan Finochio believes that God is constantly communicating with this world he's created. We simply aren't following the right advice when it comes to hearing what he has to say. Through biblical teaching and true life stories, Hearing God empowers and enables readers to separate fact from fiction, myth from meaning, and truly understand what God is saying to them about big decisions and daily living.


And now, my review:
I found Hearing God by Nathan Finochio to be a refreshing read.   He takes some common myths on the subject of hearing God and puts a spin on them.   I enjoyed how he made a concept clear by using a word picture or real-life example making it greatly relatable.  He had a lot of great points and I found myself marking all over my book pages.  The goal of the book is to help people learn how to listen.  He doesn’t leave the reader hanging but instead he gives us what we need to know to experience this amazing gift given to all believers in expected and unexpected places.  As a silence and solitude attendee, co-leader, and leader I find myself very interested in this topic and this book is a great resource to share with others. 

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Hearing-God-Eliminate-Encounter-Meaning-ebook/dp/B07HDRCH45/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1ZGCV1LM24JEQ&keywords=hearing+god+nathan+finochio&qid=1561408329&s=gateway&sprefix=hearing+god%2Caps%2C355&sr=8-1

https://www.christianbook.com/hearing-god-eliminate-myths-encounter-meaning/nathan-finochio/9780735291713/pd/291713?event=ESRCQ

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hearing-god-nathan-finochio/1129556638?ean=9780735291713#/

Summer by the Tides by Denise Hunter

Here is the book summary:

A Summer of Low Tides Could Expose Years of Family Secrets
When her grandmother goes missing from the family beach house, Maddy and her estranged sisters converge in Sea Haven, North Carolina. Being with uptight Nora and free-spirited Emma in the home where their family broke apart is a struggle Maddy is not in the mood to face, especially since she's recovering from her ex-boyfriend's betrayal.
As the sisters wait for word of their grandmother, they begin to pack up the family belongings--and unpack memories of the idyllic summers of their childhood. But with those memories come long-buried secrets, and Maddy discovers that all was not as it appeared that last summer in Sea Haven. Meanwhile, Gram's neighbor, Connor Sullivan, seems overly interested in Gram's whereabouts. Maddy is drawn in by his quick smile and steady gaze in spite of herself.
Undercurrents of jealousy and resentment threaten to pull the family under again, maybe for good this time. As tensions rise, the sisters must find a way to accept each other for the women they've become--and Maddy must decide if falling in love again is worth the potential heartbreak.


And now, my review:
I found Summer by the Tides by Denise Hunter to be a great summer read to start the days of June off with.  There are some sisters that get pulled together because their Grandmother comes up missing and that’s where the story begins.  It twists and turns and there’s rejoicing and sadness and there is great description of what living on the water can bring to a person.  It makes me want to buy a beach house.  Life is too short to live with division.  As much as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all men.  Forgiveness and breaking generational habits are themes as well.   

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Tides-Denise-Hunter-ebook/dp/B07DT6Z7J1/ref=sr_1_2?crid=7V6BQ83PNOFW&keywords=summer+by+the+tides+denise+hunter&qid=1561407560&s=gateway&sprefix=summer+by+the+tides%2Caps%2C547&sr=8-2

https://www.christianbook.com/summer-by-the-tides/denise-hunter/9780785222705/pd/5222705?product_redirect=1&search_term=summer%20by%20the%20&Ntt=5222705&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/summer-by-the-tides-denise-hunter/1129289497?ean=9780785222705#/

The King's Mercy by Lori Benton

Here is the book summary:

For readers of Sara Donati and Diana Gabaldon, this epic historical romance tells of fateful love between an indentured Scotsman and a daughter of the 18th century colonial south.

When captured rebel Scotsman Alex MacKinnon is granted the king's mercy--exile to the Colony of North Carolina--he's indentured to Englishman Edmund Carey as a blacksmith. Against his will Alex is drawn into the struggles of Carey's slaves--and those of his stepdaughter, Joanna Carey. A mistress with a servant's heart, Joanna is expected to wed her father's overseer, Phineas Reeves, but finds herself drawn instead to the new blacksmith. As their unlikely relationship deepens, successive tragedies strike the Careys. When blame falls unfairly upon Alex he flees to the distant mountains where he encounters Reverend Pauling, itinerate preacher and friend of the Careys, now a prisoner of the Cherokees. Haunted by his abandoning of Joanna, Alex tries to settle into life with the Cherokees, until circumstances thwart yet another attempt to forge his freedom and he's faced with the choice that's long hounded him: continue down his rebellious path or embrace the faith of a man like Pauling, whose freedom in Christ no man can steal. But the price of such mercy is total surrender, and perhaps Alex's very life.


And now, my review:

The King’s Mercy by Lori Benton was a wonderful historical novel about a Scotsman who was exiled and forced to work to pay for his choices.  He lands himself at a plantation that puts him to work as a blacksmith as their current one had been unable to proceed with his job.  The main lead lady is promised to a creep and the sooner she gets out of it the better.  He appeared to not really show his true identity much.  The indentured man and the lead lady find themselves growing closer to them each other.  This was what I really liked about the story.  It was challenging to see her learn contentment and growing in choose it.  The traveling minister was inspirational as he shared with all that he had and the impact was far reaching.  The story all tied together with such satisfaction with the great descriptions and relational aspects, resulting in a wonderful read.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
https://www.amazon.com/Kings-Mercy-Novel-Lori-Benton-ebook/dp/B07H73C4J9/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2VP262GOMTAI1&keywords=the+king%27s+mercy+lori+benton&qid=1559924650&s=gateway&sprefix=The+King%27s+mer%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-1#customerReviews

https://www.christianbook.com/the-kings-mercy-a-novel/lori-benton/9781601429964/pd/429964?product_redirect=1&search_term=the%20kings%20mercy&Ntt=429964&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-kings-mercy-lori-benton/1129508506?ean=9781601429964#/

Cards of Kindness for Courageous Girls by Barbour Publishing

Here is the book summary:

Courageous Girls Are Kind!

Your heart will delight in spreading kindness and inspiration wherever you go with these shareable Cards of Kindness!

Flip each page to discover a positive life message that will both uplift and inspire your heart—and the hearts of other courageous girls just like you. Once you’ve read through the devotion and pondered the message of loving-kindness, tear out the card and pass it on to another girl . . who will then be encouraged to keep the "Courageous Girls Are Kind" movement going. . .by passing the card along to yet another courageous girl!

Each Card of Kindness will spark positive, faith-building discussions with other likeminded girls. You’ll enjoy spreading kindness and God's love, page by delightful page! 

Be blessed, COURAGEOUS GIRL!

And now, my review:

Cards of Kindness for Courageous Girls is a small book full of “tear out”, shareable encouragements for girls to read, reflect on, and share with their friends.  I read this with my girls and we enjoyed the devotionals that were shared along with Scripture.  Some days seemed just right and some days we wished that they were a little deeper, went a little farther on a topic.  There were days that it became a springboard for further looking in Scripture.  I think the premise of this type of book is great and it encourages sharing your faith with your friends and those whom God places in your life.  This can be both an intimidating and rewarding.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

 https://www.amazon.com/Cards-Kindness-Courageous-Girls-Inspiration/dp/1643521640/ref=sr_1_1?crid=66781YKVJJ26&keywords=cards+of+kindness+for+courageous+girls&qid=1559922524&s=gateway&sprefix=cards+of+kindnes%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-1

https://www.christianbook.com/kindness-courageous-girls-shareable-devotions-inspiration/9781643521640/pd/521640?product_redirect=1&search_term=cards%20of%20kindne&Ntt=521640&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cards-of-kindness-for-courageous-girls-barbour-books/1130897399?ean=9781643521640#/

Daughters of Northern Shores by Joanne Bischof

Here is the book summary:

From Christy Award–winning author Joanne Bischof comes the sequel to her beautiful novel Sons of Blackbird Mountain.

Aven Norgaard understands courage. Orphaned within an Irish workhouse, then widowed at just nineteen, she voyaged to America where she was wooed and wed by Thor Norgaard, a Deaf man in rural Appalachia. That the Lord saw her along the winding journey and that Aven now carries Thor’s child are blessings beyond measure. Yet while Thor holds her heart, it is his younger brother and rival who haunts her memories. Haakon—whose selfish choices shattered her trust in him.

Having fled the Norgaard orchard after trying to take Aven as his own, Haakon sails on the North Atlantic ice trade, where his soul is plagued with regrets that distance cannot heal. Not even the beautiful Norwegian woman he’s pursued can ease the torment. When the winds bear him home after four years away, Haakon finds the family on the brink of tragedy. A decades-old feud with the neighboring farm has wrenched them into the fiercest confrontation on Blackbird Mountain since the Civil War. Haakon’s cunning and strength hold the power to seal many fates, including Thor’s—which is already imperiled due to a grave illness brought to him at the first prick of warfare.

Now Haakon faces the hardest choice of his life. One that shapes a battlefield where pride must be broken enough to be restored, and where a prodigal son may finally know the healing peace of surrender and the boundless gift of forgiveness. And when it comes to the woman he left behind in Norway, he just might discover that while his heart belongs to a daughter of the north, she’s been awaiting him on shores more distant than the land he’s fighting for.

And now, my review:

Daughters for Northern Shores by Joanne Bischof is book 2 in the Blackbird Mountain series and I thought it was a great read that had intrigue, suspense, love, and challenges to hang on.  I enjoyed that there was a man who communicated by sign and I loved the Lord being all the nearer.  There is a powerful display of sin, unforgiveness, and regrets in a person's heart and the battle to lay it down for redemption and hope found in Jesus.  

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

 https://www.amazon.com/Daughters-Northern-Shores-Blackbird-Mountain-ebook/dp/B07DT63BG4/ref=sr_1_2?crid=188UJ03X8JKTC&keywords=daughters+of+northern+shores+by+joanne+bischof&qid=1559921635&s=gateway&sprefix=daughters+of+north%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-2

https://www.christianbook.com/daughters-of-northern-shores/joanne-bischof/9780718099121/pd/099120?product_redirect=1&search_term=the%20daughter%20of%20nor&Ntt=099120&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/daughters-of-northern-shores-joanne-bischof/1128930042?ean=9780718099121#/

The Governess of Penwythe Hall by Sarah E Ladd

Here is the book summary:

Launching a brand-new series, beloved Regency author Sarah E. Ladd shares the tale of a governess who would risk anything to protect five recently orphaned children—even if it means returning to Cornwall.

“Absolutely captivating! Once I started reading, I couldn’t put down The Governess of Penwythe Hall. This blend of Jane Eyre, Jane Austen, and Jamaica Inn has it all. Intrigue. Danger. Poignant moments. And best of all a sweet, sweet love story. This is by far my favorite Sarah Ladd book. Don’t hesitate to snatch up this title!” —Michelle Griep, Christy Award–winning author of the Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series

Cornwall was in her blood, and Delia feared she’d never escape its hold.

Cornwall, England, 1811

Blamed for her husband’s death, Cordelia Greythorne fled Cornwall and accepted a governess position to begin a new life. Years later her employer’s unexpected death and his last request for her to watch over his five children force her to reevaluate. She can’t abandon the children now that they’ve lost both parents, but their new guardian lives at the timeworn Penwythe Hall . . . back on the Cornish coast she’s tried desperately to forget.

Jac Twethewey is determined to revive Penwythe Hall’s once-flourishing apple orchards, and he’ll stop at nothing to see his struggling estate profitable again. He hasn’t heard from his brother in years, so when his nieces, nephews, and their governess arrive unannounced, he battles both grief at his brother’s death and bewilderment over this sudden responsibility. Jac’s priorities shift as the children take up residence in the ancient halls, but their secretive governess—and the mystery shrouding her past—proves to be a disruption to his carefully laid plans.

Rich with family secrets, lingering danger, and the captivating allure of new love, this first book in the Cornwall series introduces us to the Twethewey family and their search for peace, justice, and love on the Cornish coast.

And now, my review:

There was suspense and scary scenes, slithery snakes, intrigue, love, loss and sadness, romance, and change wrapped into this one. I loved the children. They were so precious to watch and experience. The landscape descriptions were breathtaking as were the dress descriptions to the ball. The character of the lead female was inspirational because of the loss she tasted and yet was willing to live on and still be happy. The book caused me to reflect on my relationships and their importance and wise choosing. I felt this was a great read.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
https://www.amazon.com/Governess-Penwythe-Hall-Cornwall-Novels-ebook/dp/B07DT6LW27/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1NSJ3KM3V44C3&keywords=the+governess+of+penwythe+hall&qid=1559920799&s=gateway&sprefix=the+govern%2Caps%2C159&sr=8-2

https://www.christianbook.com/the-governess-of-penwythe-hall/sarah-ladd/9780785223160/pd/5223160?product_redirect=1&search_term=the%20governess&Ntt=5223160&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-governess-of-penwythe-hall-sarah-e-ladd/1128930050?ean=9780785223160

Prayer: Forty Days of Practice by Justin McRoberts and Scott Erickson

Here is the book summary:

A simple yet profound guide to facilitate the instinctively human desire to pray.

We pray because we are human, not because we are religious. Something in our nature points beyond itself; something in us searches for and desires personal connection with God. Although communicating with our Creator through prayer is innate, the effective practice of it often feels just beyond our reach. 
     This unique book guides you to pray in deeper and more authentic ways. The short prayers and thought-provoking imagery, interspersed with contemplative reflections and suggested practices, will stir, inform, and encourage you. The simplicity of the prayers and the aesthetic appeal of the images will inspire people in every facet of life, including those with no real religious background at all.


And now, my review:

Prayer Forty Days of Practice was a book that was very simple.  I received a digital copy of this to review and the images didn’t come out very well.  Maybe with the physical book, it might be laid out well and would be a blessing but for me, with this digital copy, it was hard for me to enjoy the art.  The words at times, seemed very simply put and this made the book extremely simple and lacking to me.  The author did add in a few example stories that added to some practices and I found those to be a great addition.  Infact, I think more of that would have fixed the lacking I was feeling.

I received an ARC in digital format of this book in exchange for my honest review.
https://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Forty-Practice-Justin-McRoberts-ebook/dp/B07D22TC1T/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=prayer+40+days&qid=1559920222&s=gateway&sr=8-2

https://www.christianbook.com/prayer-forty-days-of-practice/justin-mcroberts/9780525653059/pd/653052?product_redirect=1&search_term=prayer%2040%20days&Ntt=653052&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/prayer-justin-mcroberts/1128688691?ean=9780525653059#/