Follow the Cloud by John Stickl

Here is the book summary:

There is a big difference between being set free and living free.
 
How do I know what to do with my life? How do I hear God’s voice? Maybe the answer is easier than we think. When God led the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land, He gave them a cloud to follow. He led them in an intimately personal, ever-present way one next step at a time. He led them without revealing the whole picture because he wanted them to follow by faith.
 
In Follow the Cloud, Pastor John Stickl uses this image to ask, “What if we stopped letting obligation drive us and instead let grace lead us? What if instead of focusing on our faithfulness toward God, we focus on God’s faithfulness toward us?” 
 
The cloud of God’s presence is moving in your life right now. Maybe God is inviting you to follow him to a new career or relationship. Maybe he is inviting you to extend forgiveness, share your story, or give up your addiction. Whatever your next step is, God is leading you to discover who you are, who he is, and what you were created to do. He is inviting you to a life of freedom. Inviting you home - one step at a time.

And now, my review:

Follow the Cloud by John Stickl was a quick read for me.  I found myself highlighting a lot as I journeyed through it.  He uses quite a few practical examples that I enjoyed seeing how they related to what he was talking about.  My least favorite part was part 3.   I found myself wondering the direction he was going in.   I would use caution reading this or encouraging a new believer to read this.  

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

https://www.amazon.com/Follow-Cloud-Hearing-Gods-Voice/dp/1601429258/ref=sr_1_1?crid=35JTP6JOX8A84&keywords=follow+the+cloud+john+stickl&qid=1576275031&sprefix=follow+the+clo%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1

https://www.christianbook.com/follow-cloud-hearing-voice-step-time/john-stickl/9781601429254/pd/429256?product_redirect=1&search_term=follow%20the%20cloud&Ntt=429256&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/follow-the-cloud-john-stickl/1125092659?ean=9781601429254

Diamond in the Rough by Jen Turano

Here is the book summary:

To save her family from financial ruin, Miss Poppy Garrison accepts an unusual proposition to participate in the New York social season in exchange for her grandmother settling a family loan that has unexpectedly come due. Ill-equipped to handle the intricacies of mingling within the New York Four Hundred, Poppy becomes embroiled in one hilarious fiasco after another, doomed to suffer a grand societal failure instead of being deemed the diamond of the first water her grandmother longs for her to become.

Reginald Blackburn, second son of a duke, has been forced to travel to America to help his cousin, Charles Wynn, Earl of Lonsdale, find an American heiress to wed in order to shore up his family estate that is in desperate need of funds. Reginald himself has no interest in finding an heiress to marry, but when Poppy's grandmother asks him to give etiquette lessons to Poppy, he swiftly discovers he may be in for much more than he bargained for.

And now, my review:

Diamond in the Rough by Jen Turano was a laugh-out-loud, intriguing, awkward sometimes, can’t put it down read.  This book has the feels of a Jane Austen.  I felt she did a good job of developing her characters.  Some of them had me liking them and some of them were cheats!  The dressing gown incident was LAUGH-OUT-LOUD funny!  The events and dresses were descriptive.  The snail incident was HUMOROUS!  Actually, there was a lot of laughing through this one.  I recommend you pick this one up.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Rough-American-Heiresses-Turano/dp/0764231685/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1576273850&sr=8-1


https://www.christianbook.com/diamond-in-the-rough-2/jen-turano/9780764231681/pd/231684?event=ESRCG

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/diamond-in-the-rough-jen-turano/1130543144?ean=9780764231681#/

No Ocean Too Wide by Carrie Turansky

Here is the book summary:

Between the years of 1869 to 1939 more than 100,000 poor British children were sent across the ocean to Canada with the promise of a better life. Those who took them in to work as farm laborers or household servants were told they were orphans--but was that the truth?

After the tragic loss of their father, the McAlister family is living at the edge of the poorhouse in London in 1908, leaving their mother to scrape by for her three younger children, while oldest daughter, Laura, works on a large estate more than an hour away. When Edna McAlister falls gravely ill and is hospitalized, twins Katie and Garth and eight-year-old Grace are forced into an orphans' home before Laura is notified about her family's unfortunate turn of events in London. With hundreds of British children sent on ships to Canada, whether truly orphans or not, Laura knows she must act quickly. But finding her siblings and taking care of her family may cost her everything.

Andrew Fraser, a wealthy young British lawyer and heir to the estate where Laura is in service, discovers that this common practice of finding new homes for penniless children might not be all that it seems. Together Laura and Andrew form an unlikely partnership. Will they arrive in time? Will their friendship blossom into something more?

Inspired by true events, this moving novel follows Laura as she seeks to reunite her family and her siblings who, in their darkest hours, must cling to the words from Isaiah: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God".

And now, my review:

No Ocean Too Wide by Carrie Turansky is a historical fiction based on orphans being placed in homes when they aren’t really orphans.  This is heart wrenching.  The family is getting poorer by the moment because of the loss of the father and then the mother is hospitalized.  Word gets to the older sister who is away working to send money to help the mother out.  She then finds herself on a journey to bring her family back together again.  The romantic relationship that develops is wonderfully penned.  She finds she really needs his help with the obstacles that she faces.   This book feels to me like a Jane Austen.

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

https://www.amazon.com/No-Ocean-Too-Wide-Mcallister/dp/0525652930/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1L0LF3DKOQBK6&keywords=no+ocean+too+wide+carrie+turansky&qid=1576248829&sprefix=no+ocean+t%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1

https://www.christianbook.com/no-ocean-too-wide-a-novel/carrie-turansky/9780525652939/pd/652939?product_redirect=1&search_term=no%20ocean%20too%20&Ntt=652939&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/no-ocean-too-wide-carrie-turansky/1129914625?ean=9780525652939#/

Coffeehouse Knits by Kerry Bogert

Here is the book summary:

The jolt of inspiration every knitter needs!

Inspired by the ritual of sipping and stitching, Coffeehouse Knits is a stimulating collection of knitwear with an extra shot of something special. Whether you're joining friends at the coffee shop for community knitting or you're home enjoying the first cup of the day, perk up your knitting with:

   • 20 patterns that range in skill level from advanced beginner to intermediate--macchiato to espresso.
   • Simple touches evoke the idea of everyone's favorite drink, from steaming swirls around a sweater yoke to coffee bean inspired motifs.
   • Stirring essays from knitters explore community, connection, and caffeine.
Pour yourself another cup and settle in with Coffeehouse Knits.

And now, my review:

I just love perusing a new knitting book.  My favorite patterns in this book are the Gingersnap Pullover that is a nice sweater, Morning Brew Pattern of a sweater, and the Soho Shawl.  To top these, being a sock person, I just love that they included the twirling socks and extra whip sock patterns.  Now that the snow is flying, I think I might try to whip up some mittens using the Steamed Mittens pattern which takes the basic mitten look and adds a flare to it to make it extra special.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Coffeehouse-Knits-Knitting-Patterns-Essays-ebook/dp/B07MMWJ8V7/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Coffeehouse+Knits&qid=1576180713&sr=8-1

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/coffeehouse-knits-kerry-bogert/1129228741?ean=9781632506597#/

Learn to Draw Disney Winnie the Pooh

Here is the book summary:

Use the included tracing paper, step-by-step drawing exercises, and practice pages to learn to draw your favorite characters from the Hundred Acre Wood, including Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, and more!
 
Learn to Draw Disney Winnie the Pooh is a 64-page, spiral-bound book that shows beginning artists how to draw the lovable characters of the Hundred Acre Wood. After an introduction to art tools and materials, there is an overview of how to use the book. Then the real fun begins! You'll find easy-to-follow drawing projects for Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit, Owl, and Christopher Robin.
 
Three different learning methods make learning to draw easy: tracing, the grid drawing method, and the basic shapes method. The basic shapes method transforms a seemingly challenging drawing exercise into a series of simple steps, beginning with basic shapes. Each step builds upon the last and, before you know it, you have a finished drawing of a hungry, honey-loving stuffed bear!
 
This book includes tracing paper to accompany the tracing projects, practice grids to draw on, and practice pages after each basic shapes project. Use these included practice pages to get started directly in the book. All you need is a pencil!
 
With step-by-step instruction, professional Disney artist tips, and bonus character biographies and fun facts,Learn to Draw Disney Winnie the Pooh provides countless hours of artistic fun for Winnie the Pooh fans of all ages and skill levels. So grab your drawing pencils and get ready for an artistic adventure with Christopher Robin and his stuffed animals in the Hundred Acre Wood!

And now, my review.

Who doesn’t like Winnie the Pooh?!?!  I’m a lifelong fan so I was so excited to come across this drawing book.  Along with the basic shapes method that shows you the lines, they include a grid method that is really helpful in the placement of certain angles and parts.  This helped me with my proportions if I got off on some of my lines.  They also included a tracing page that you can use to trace with.  No matter the level of student, you can find helpful instructions in this one. 

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

https://www.amazon.com/Learn-Draw-Disney-Winnie-Pooh/dp/1633227618/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=learn+to+draw+disney+winnie+the+pooh&qid=1576178392&sr=8-1

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/learn-to-draw-disney-winnie-the-pooh-walter-foster-jr-creative-team/1130072819?ean=9781633227613