From the Library of A. W. Tozer

A Collection of Writings That Shaped 

One of the Most Influential 

Pastors of the Twentieth Century

Pull back the curtain on the life and mind of A. W. Tozer as you read selections from the authors and thinkers who influenced his spiritual journey. Without their words to serve as guides, Tozer never would have become the man of God that he was. Drink deeply from these selections, chosen to emphasize major themes from Tozer's life and ministry--worship, practicing the presence of God, living the Christian life. As you do, you too will grow in your devotion to and understanding of God.







Book Review

Have you ever read anything by A. W. Tozer?    He has written quite a few books:  "The Pursuit of God", "The Knowledge of the Holy", "The Divine Conquest", "Wingspread" and "Let My People Go".

Some of my favorites quotes come from Tozer:

"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us."

"I can safely say, on the authority of all that is revealed in the Word of God, that any man or woman on this earth who is bored and turned off by worship is not ready for heaven." 

"The fact of God is necessary for the fact of man. Think God away and man has no ground of existence." 

A. W. (Aiden Wilson) Tozer heard a street preacher one day on the way home from working at a tire company.     The street preacher simple said, "If you don't know how to be saved.... call on God."    A. W. felt God so strongly that he went home and crawled up into his attic and did exactly that.      He began studying God's Word.     Five years after beginning his relationship he was asked to pastor a church.    The first church led to 44 years of ministry.

One of the reasons Tozer resonates with me so much is that he felt like churches tried too hard to mesh wordly concerns into the church life.     They were forgetting the "do not conform to this world" Scriptures.     He wrote many sermons and prayed many hours over this concern.     

Prayer was the root of all things in Tozer's life.    He wrote his sermons out of his prayer time.    He lived his life out of his convictions from the time he spent in prayer.    He made no decisions without spending time with our Father.

Reading this book gave a wonderful peek into Tozer's studies for his sermons.

Disclaimer:  As part of Blogging for Books, I did receive this book for free.  The fact that I received complimentary products does not guarantee a favorable review.  It does guarantee a review. A fair review. But I am not going to praise something unless I think it deserves the praise.  If I don't like it, you'll hear that.  And hopefully with enough detail as to why so you can decide for yourself if what I hate about it makes it perfect for your family.

City On Our Knees

When we step across the line we can sail across the sea

Amazing, beautiful things happen when people have the courage to live, work, and pray in the spirit of unity and peace. Often, though, to make these amazing things happen, we have to step out of our comfort zone and into a world we find uncomfortable or intimidating. Sometimes that world is physical; other times it can be emotional, relational, or spiritual.

City on Our Knees shows this, encouraging you to take the first step. It offers stories of people who have stepped across lines. Lines of discrimination, persecution, doubt, prejudice, pride, bitterness, self-isolation, and despair. I pray and hope that you will be inspired to see how just one person, or one small group, can be a mechanism for change.

God can use us right here. Right now. All we need is faith that He has our best in mind. And believe me—He does.

—TobyMac

 Book Review

After listening to TobyMac's music for so long, I was curious to read what the man behind the music had to say.     The photo above doesn't quite do justice to how visually stunning this book really is.   My boys both grabbed it up when it arrived because they loved the look of the book.     I hope that same reaction will prompt people to grab it off the shelves because it is what is inside the book that is truly stunning.    

TobyMac's heart and passion for Christ literally pours off every page.     Whether you are reading the chapters, which highlight ordinary people who have allowed themselves to be used in ordinary ways, or the pages in between, which are covered with TobyMac's favorite Scriptures and quotes, you feel your heart absorbing the passion.

My own boys have enjoyed reading this book.   I remember when I was little reading the Bible and thinking that the men and women who were used by God lived so long ago.    Through TobyMac's book I am able to show the boys great Christian examples who are living TODAY!    

Some of the examples are familiar.  Michael Oher from The Blind Side is one that most will immediately recognize.   However, some of the best chapters highlights the life stories of people who just followed God's leading and never really intended for anyone to know about it.

The passion you hear in TobyMac's music definitely comes through on the pages of this book!     If you have a TobyMac fan in your life, they will love you for buying them this book.

This book was provided to me for free by Bethany House Publishing in exchange for a honest review.

City On Our Knees

When we step across the line we can sail across the sea

Amazing, beautiful things happen when people have the courage to live, work, and pray in the spirit of unity and peace. Often, though, to make these amazing things happen, we have to step out of our comfort zone and into a world we find uncomfortable or intimidating. Sometimes that world is physical; other times it can be emotional, relational, or spiritual.

City on Our Knees shows this, encouraging you to take the first step. It offers stories of people who have stepped across lines. Lines of discrimination, persecution, doubt, prejudice, pride, bitterness, self-isolation, and despair. I pray and hope that you will be inspired to see how just one person, or one small group, can be a mechanism for change.

God can use us right here. Right now. All we need is faith that He has our best in mind. And believe me—He does.

Book Review

Before you read anything anyone has to say about this book, I highly recommend you go and read this excerpt from City On Our Knees.     Does that not take your breath away?    Does it leave your challenged or overhelmed?    My boys are fans of TobyMac's music, but after reading this book I have a great admiration for the devotion that drives the heart beat of his ministry and his day to day life.    

However, this book is NOT about TobyMac.  It is very much like the excerpt you just read.    It is the accounts of people who have been willing to be a "city on their knees".   

If you have heard the song upon which this book is entitled then you know this line, "If we gotta start somewhere why not here?"     Why not here indeed, Toby!  

TobyMac punctuates his book with an incredible amount of Scripture which makes this book such a worshipful read.     I can't wait for both of my boys to read this book. 

Love's First Bloom

She must conceal her past, her identity. What hope can there be for love?

Life changes drastically for Ruth Livingstone the day her father puts a young child in her arms and sends her under an assumed name to a small village in New Jersey. There she dutifully awaits his acquittal, certain that her father, Reverend Livingstone, soon will be cleared of the outrageous accusations against him.

When tragic events transpire, Ruth finds solace tending a garden along the banks of the Toms River—a place where she can find a measure of peace amid her growing heartache. It is also here that she meets Jake Spencer, a man who both frustrates and intrigues her. Fearful of the newspapermen intent on tracking her down and unsure of whom to trust, Ruth knows she must carefully maintain her identity as Widow Malloy. But as love begins to slowly bloom, can the tenuous affection growing between Ruth and Jake withstand the secrets that separate them?

Book Review

Love is a Flame

Real People. Real Stories. Real Love.

Happily ever after. Does it only happen in fairy tales, or in real life? Over the years love may burn strong and steady, but sometimes it grows cold. However, it can be rekindled--and these stories show how. Be inspired by true accounts of how love was revived and renewed.

You'll discover that love can grow stronger and burn brighter through the years as you read more than forty stories from everyday people like

* Jan, whose marriage was restored despite adultery.
* Marsha, who fought pornography and won.
* Bryan, who realized his family, not his career, was his most important responsibility.
* Emily, who learned that real love overcomes unrealistic expectations.
* Jeff, who went from dissatisfaction and boredom to falling in love all over again.


The true stories in Love Is a Flame will warm your heart and show you how to create a new spark in your marriage and build it into a glowing flame.

Book Review

I so remember those first sparks of attraction to my husband.    Tall, dark and handsome definitely describes him.     Those sparks grew as we got to know each other and fell in love.     Of course, after you get married all the day to day routines of life settle in.       The flame is there, but you really have to work at keeping that flame burning.     Just like a campfire, if you don't add fuel it will go out.    

This book is vignettes of marriages who had ebbing flames.    They were facing various situations which were dampening the flames of their marriage -- exhaustion, schedules, addictions, misplaced priorities, adultery -- but something changed a spark relit their marriage.

At the end of each vignette, author James Stuart Bell writes words of wisdom about God's plan for marriage.


This was such an easy ready and would make a great anniversary gift!

I was provided this book free by Bethany Publishing for my honest review.   

Christians are Hate Filled Hypocrites.... And Other Lies You've Been Told

Christians Are Hate-Filled Hypocrites...and Other Lies You've Been Told
by Bradley R.E. Wright, PhD
Bethany Publishing


What if all the bad news you've been hearing about Christians isn't true?

Here are some facts that may surprise you:

* Evangelicals are more respected by society today than they were twenty years ago.
* Divorce rates of Christian couples are lower than those of nonbelievers.
* The percentage of young people who attend church has held steady over the past twenty years.


All these statements are true, yet we've been told the opposite time and time again. Why is the church being misled? And what is the true state of Christianity in America today?

Sociologist Brad Wright shatters popular myths by sifting through the best available data. He reveals how Christians are doing when it comes to everything from marriage and morality to church growth and public perception. While not all the news is good, it turns out there is a wealth of encouraging information that we're not being told.

Get the truth behind the statistics you've been hearing and how the numbers are being manipulated, and discover what is really happening in American Christianity.

Book Review

I will admit that the first time I started reading this book, my mind started swimming with the statistics and I just put it aside.     I am not a statistics person.      They just don't interest me a lot because I think you can make numbers say anything you want.     Want people to think the sky is falling?   You can find a statistic for that.    Want people to think they should never eat chocolate again?    There is a statistic for that.

However, when I had a few minutes and picked up this book and gave it a honest look again, I realized that was exactly the point of this book.     We hear so many negative statistics regarding the church and Christians every day.    So many of them are frightening and downright discouraging.     However, as Dr. Wright points out, they simply are not true.    So many of them are just numbers which have been exaggerated and twisted.

The book definitely gives us a new set of eyes to look at all the statistics we are thrown each day in the media.    It is a perspective you will appreciate after all the negativity!         


The book was provided free by Bethany Publishing for my honest review.    

  

No More Christian Nice Girl

No More Christian Nice Girl:  When Just Being Nice -- Instead of Good -- Hurts You, Your Family and Your Friends
by Paul Coughlin and Jennifer D. Degler, PhD
by Bethany House Publishing


Be the Strong, Confident, and Caring Woman You Were Meant to Be

Tired of doing all you can for others while your relationships remain stuck in neutral--or headed in reverse? Paul Coughlin and psychologist Jennifer Degler show how being nice can harm you and drain the life out of your relationships. They explore the keys to fulfillment at home, work, church, and even in the bedroom. You'll discover that emulating the real Jesus is the key to transforming from a Christian Nice Girl into an authentic, powerful woman of loving faith.

"What's wrong with being nice? Paul Coughlin and Jennifer Degler make a strong case that women need to be bold and assertive rather than people pleasers who try to do too much. I recommend this book to you."
--Dr. Kevin Leman, Author of The Birth Order Book and Have a New Kid by Friday


Book Review
Women wear a lot of hats -- daughter, sister, wife, mom, friend, aunt, cousin, friend, co-worker, church volunteer, etc...     We are constantly being asked to help or even just flat out "do".     I don't know about you, but it is easy to get trapped in the trap of saying yes whether or not you can honestly handle what you are being asked to do.      As girls, we were raised to be helpers.      Be nice.    Smile whether we felt like it or not.     Unfortunately, while these things were not necessarily bad they also did not teach us the Christ like way to live our lives.    God doesn't want us to make our decisions and prioritize our time just to make others happy.     He wants us to make those decisions based on what is best for His will for us.      

Are you stuck in a rut of being a people please instead of being a God pleaser?     Do you have a lifetime of habit of being non-confrontational and letting others run over you because you think that is what nice Christian girls are supposed to do?     No More Christian Nice Girl clearly shows through Jesus' example as well as Biblical women that we are to speak the truth in love in all areas of our life such as marriage, family, work, sex, and even when dealing with abusive relationships.     

This book would make an amazing women's Bible study as the end of each chapter includes study questions.   A great practical book! 

Homeschooling for the Rest of Us

Overwhelmed?

Wonder how others do it all?

Not sure you're cut out for homeschooling?

It's time to break a myth: Homeschooling families aren't perfect. In fact, real-life families like yours can be--and are--successful homeschoolers! That's the life message of Sonya Haskins, who is dedicated to helping everyday families meet the challenges of home education and enjoy its countless benefits.

In this practical, encouraging guide, Haskins shares tried and true ideas for how to:

*Discover a realistic vision of homeschooling for your family
*Help your child get excited about learning
*Find a routine that fits your goals and lifestyle
*Nurture a biblical worldview in your child's heart and mind
*And much more

Whether you are already homeschooling or just considering it, this book offers the support, answers, and flexible strategies to help you succeed.


Book Review
We are almost through with our first year of homeschooling.     "They" say that the first year is the hardest.    I am praying that is the truth because I feel like I must have been doing about everything wrong.     We have changed our schedule about three times trying to find one that fits our family.    We changed our math program halfway through the year because the boys just weren't learning what they needed.     We got involved with our co-op only to realize that you could be involved every day of the week if you weren't careful. 

Finding Sonya Haskins' book was such a welcome drink of water for this homeschooling newbie.     I really appreciated the fact that she does not hold up her family as the standard to follow as the model.    She encourages you to find what works for your family.     She gives you encouragement and suggestions in the area of schedules, budget, academics, dealing with nosy friends and family, issues specific to homeschooling, socialization, and addressing the needs of each child.   

While I can see this book as being a valuable resource for someone whether they are thinking about homeschooling, a newbie or a seasoned homeschooler.     I am especially glad to receive this as a newbie about to embark on our second year.      It will definitely help me smooth some of the rough edges and make what has been an enjoyable experience something even more exciting for our entire family.

In addition to Sonya's book, I intend to add her website (www.thehomeschooladvocate.com) to my RSS reader!

This book provided for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Hunter's Moon

Every family has secrets. Few will go as far as the Baxters to keep them. Bestselling novelist CJ Baxter has made a career out of writing hard-hitting stories ripped from his own life. Still there's one story from his past he's never told. One secret that's remained buried for decades. Now, seventeen years after swearing he'd never return, CJ is headed back to Adelia, NY. His life in Tennessee has fallen to pieces, his grandfather is dying, and CJ can no longer run from the past. With Graham Baxter, CJ's brother, running for Senate, a black sheep digging up old family secrets is the last thing the family and campaign can afford. CJ soon discovers that blood may be thicker than water, but it's no match for power and money. There are wounds even time cannot heal.



If you would like to read the first chapter of Hunter's Moon, go HERE

Book Description

I admit it.    I judge books by their covers.    I can't help it.    A good book cover is essential to me.    The smoking gun on the cover of this book was just -- to use my teenage son's words -- epic.      And it was because of my teenage son's need for more quality books that I wanted to read this book.     So much of the fiction market today is geared towards women that I am more and more on the lookout for books that I can put on the bookshelf for my boys.       

Adelia provided a great background for the story lines that included strained family relationships, marriages in trouble, mysterious friendships and moments of self-discovery.      One of the main flaws in this book is addressing major issues, such as domestic abuse, anger, and bitterness, while not always bringing a complete resolution to these problems.     Some of the story lines seemed to be left hanging in some parts.       I am not opposed to an author leaving parts of books up to a reader's interpretation, but writing so completely throughout the entire plotline and then inadequately wrapping up the ending is unfair to the reader.

While that seems like a negative review, I did enjoy reading this book and it will go on my shelf for my boys to enjoy when they get a little older.


This book provided for review by Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Bethany House Publishing for free in exchange for an honest review.

The Hidden Flame

Abigail had lost everything--home--family, and left with little promise of a normal life. When she discovers the Messiah and joins his followers, she also discovers new meaning and purpose. Maybe she does have a future after all. But increasing persecution is scattering the burgeoning group "to the ends of the earth." And Abigail may have given her heart to the wrong man.Abigail, an orphan, has found the young brother she had thought was dead. Along the way she also has found a second family--those brave followers of the Jewish prophet Jesus. Under attack from several groups who hate them for their growing influence, these new Christians are spreading out from Jerusalem, taking their life-changing message with them. This further enrages the religious elite, and they engage whomever they can to stamp out this powerful new sect called The Way.

 This book was provided free by Bethany House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review
Biblical fiction, when done well, makes you crave Scripture anew.   It makes you grab your Bible off the shelf and want to read the stories all over again with brand new eyes and open ears to what God wants you to hear.     Davis Bunn and Janette Oke have accomplished that again with their second book in the Acts of Faith series, Hidden Flame.     Unlike Centurion's Wife the first book in the series (and is on sale at CBD), which was set in the time period when Jesus is crucified and resurrected, Hidden Flame opens during the days of the early church  following Jesus' ascension into heaven.  


The book centers around Abigail.       The opening scenes of the book find you in the midst of a wedding ceremony (which was so beautifully describes the historical customs the day) of Alban and Leah.     The wedding is interrupted when it is found the couple is in danger and they must run for their lives.

Abigail is left behind.     Such a simple thing in today's world, but so complicated in the culture of that day.     Two suitors begin to ask for Abigail's hand in marriage.      Neither of which she feels is right for her because they are not followers of "The Way" (Christians).

Her life is intertwined with the lives of Martha and Peter.    You will not only recognize people such as Gamaliel, Ananias, Sapphira, and even Saul, but you will "see" them.  However, most important you will discover that her life has significant meaning with Stephen, the first church martyr.

Closer

The Love Dare challenged individuals to love their spouse more. Quiet Conversations for Couples shows wives and husbands how to grow that love together. Introduced with Scripture verses and engaging stories, these 52 devotionals will inspire couples to draw closer through faith conversations--those quiet talks so vital for emotional and spiritual intimacy in a marriage. Guided, practical action steps round out each reading.

Book Review: Each New Year's Eve, I give our boys a new devotional book. Last year I bought The Love Dare for my husband and I to work through. Meant to be a 40 day journey, it took us much longer to do. I won't confess to you how long though. Ha! As I was reading the publisher's packet information about this book I liked what he said about he and his wife having a hard time finding a devotional method that worked for them. And they had been married for almost 40 years! That made me feel much better as my husband and I have struggled with finding our niche in this area too. We love to talk and discuss anything, but finding a devotional method that we are comfortable... well, it just hasn't meshed out yet. I am excited to present this book to my sweet husband on New Year's Eve and work through the devotionals each week through the year.

Offworld

"Every Person on This Planet Has Disappeared."

Commander Christopher Burke and his crew are humanity's greatest explorers. They've finished their mission on the red dirt of Mars and now they just want to get back to Earth. To see friends, family, and loved ones. To be home. But even with communication to ground control cut and a perilous landing, nothing could prepare the crew for what they discover when they step foot back on planet Earth.

Everyone...everywhere...is gone.

It's not a dream. It's not a trick. Now Burke and his team have one mission:find out who or what is behind the disappearance of all mankind.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Offworld, go HERE

Book Review: This book fits more into the sci-fi category than the Christian fiction category in my opinion. When I first read the book description I automatically thought this book might fall into the vein as that of "Left Behind" or others like that. Thankfully, it did not, as I am not a fan of that series.

Action packed sequences kept me turning pages until I got to the end of the book. Although they might not quite enjoy the well developed characters like I did, I could imagine both my husband and son enjoying this book.

As I read this book, I wondered just how much Parrish had watched the television show "Lost" while writing this book and it had simple aspects of that show.

If you are a sci-fi junkie or know a sci-fi junkie then this book will definitely appeal to you!

Pirate Hunter

Book Description: High Seas Adventure Meets a High-Tech Quest for Pirate Gold West Indies, 18th century Young Ted Bascombe is rescued by notorious pirate Captain Henry Thatch, finding himself caught up in a world of crime, adventure, and a daily fight for freedom.... Key West, 21st century Marine archaeologist Greg Rhode embarks on a treasure-hunting expedition in the turquoise waters of the Florida Keys, but he's as beguiled by a beautiful diver with different-colored eyes as by the lure of pirate gold...The Hunt Is On! Interweaving these two stories, pro deep-sea diver Tom Morrisey spins a multilayered tale of two young men's quests to escape their past by losing themselves to adventure on the high seas. Romantic and thrilling, this unique novel explores the timeless truth that "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

If you would like to read the first chapter of Pirate Hunter, go HERE

Book Review: Pirate Hunter is a book that weaves together the past and the present. The stories intertwine back and forth in the same way a pirate ship would loll on the waves of the ocean. Greg and Phil are two typical males -- set on adventure and hoping to find money in the process. Because I live in a house full of typical males I grew to love these two characters very easily. However, there were points in this book where I found myself of skipping across parts of text because it had lost my interest. That didn't make this a bad book, but it just meant that it seemed wordy in sections and I was ready to move on. I am anxious to see what my husband and son think as I am sure their opinion about a pirate book will be much different from mine!

Words Unspoken

 

Book Review:  When you are a teenager the world is perfect.   What could go wrong?    Unfortunately a lot as Lissa realizes after her mother is killed in a tragic accident right before her eyes.    Everything that she planned for her future are laid to the side as she becomes trapped in her own room of guilt.

During her process of trying to recover she meets a driving instructor who is dealing with his own past issues.   While dealing with her fear of driving, they discover that being trapped in the car give them a great change to open up about their emotional fears as well.    

 

 "Words Unspoken" was not an easy read for me.    Not to say it wasn't a good book because it absolutely was, but I had to read it in pieces to be able to digest it all.    It gave me a lot to think about.      How choices from your past affect your future.  How depression affects all ages.    How there is no such thing as "coincidence".     Those aren't new thoughts for me but things I wanted to think about again.

Such a well written book and I look forward to reading more of Elizabeth Musser's books!

Book Description:    Whose voice will she listen to?   A mysterious bestselling novelist, a depressed teen, an eccentric driving instructor, a rogue stock broker, a socialite in trouble, a weary missionary, a desperate book editor. . .

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee during the frenzy of the stock market crash of 1987, Words Unspoken introduces a cast of unforgettable characters who must choose whether to listen to voices that entice them towards greed, depression, and anger or to a still small voice that offers hope.

Read the Prologue and Chapters 1&2 Here

How Sweet It Is

How Sweet It Is
Alice J. Wisler
Bethany House Publisher

Book Description: Deena Livingston leaves behind a broken romance and her chef job in Atlanta to spend time at her grandfather's cabin in the mountains of North Carolina. But her grandfather has an odd request: he wants Deena to teach cooking classes to the ragtag group of middle-schoolers who attend the local afterschool program, The Center. Reluctantly, Deena agrees, but how is she supposed to convince these kids that cooking at home is better than eating at McDonalds? And after all she went through in Atlanta, why is she attracted to Zack, the social worker at The Center? Can a Dr. Seuss-quoting plumber, a curly-haired basketball player, and a group of middle-schoolers change Deena's outlook on life?


In Review: "Like sands through an hourglass...." Those words bring to mind an iconic soap opera, but they could also very well describe the life of Deena. One minute she has the life she has dreamed of: a chef's job at one of the most prestigious restaurants in Atlanta, a fiance, and from all appearances, nothing but a bright future ahead. Then came the moment that unraveled her perfectly ordered life. A wreck. While in the hospital everything falls apart. Feeling out of options she accepts the offer to stay in her Grandfather's cabin. Once there she realizes there were strings attached. Strings which would relace her life into a magnificent tapestry. God will use the various people in this small mountain of North Carolina to help her heal the wounds of not only the wreck, but a lifetime of hurt and eventually enjoy all of life's recipes... the kind from the kitchen and the kind from the heart.

Finding an Unseen God: Reflections of a Former Atheist

Finding an Unseen God:
Reflections of a Former Atheist

by Alicia Britt Chole

In Review:

God loves us so much. He never quits pursuing us. Even when we are confused by the circumstances of our life and the surroundings we might have been raised in, He knows that He created us to desire Him.

What a refreshing read of one woman's journey from a life of atheism to a discovery of just how much God loves her. Alicia writes to share her story not to try to convince anyone that she is right or wrong which makes her testimony all that more compelling.

Alica did not come to her faith easily. She prefers fact to emotion. Alicia says she "is a fierce realist who prefers unanswered questions over fairy tales."

This book is presented with a crossword theme and the chapters are numbered randomly which immediately put my mind into a tailspin. My well ordered world was trying to make sense of this crazy book, but in a way I felt that was what Alicia had been trying to do all of her life. Her life was in a tailspin until God was introduced and she realized that He had all of the answers that she was looking for.

Book Description:

Truth is dead.
God never lived.
Life is filled with pain.
Death is the end of life.

These beliefs formed Alicia Britt Chole's worldview as a young woman. "I sincerely believed that there was no God," she says. "As a young Atheist, I simply considered myself a realist who preferred unanswered questions over fairy tales."

Then one day, without warning, Alicia's Atheistic worldvew was shattered.

Creatively written, Finding an Unseen God opens a window into Alicia's surprising spiritual journey. With warmth, intellect, and compassion, Alicia invites us to carefully consider what we believe and do not believe, while she paints a vivid portrait of a God who relentlessly pursues even those who deny him.

A Love To Last Forever (Book #2)

In Review: A Love To Last Forever is the follow up book to A Promise to Believe. (So of course, you need to buy both books for the beach?!?)

Beth is adventurous -- in her heart. She travels the world and has many adventures through the pages of the many books she reads. In life, all she really wants is a cookie cutter life. A husband in a house with a normal, regular routine. Of course, somehow everyone's normal has different meanings and for Nick, the man who adores Beth with every breath he takes, his past makes normal almost as complicated as her dime novels.

The theme of this book seems to be "Seek First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness." I really enjoyed that reminder that permeated this book. It came at a good moment for me. Seeking God in His Word first is a struggle that I think a lot of people have today. Seeing this played out in this book was a wonderful part of the story line and I really appreciated that being such a strong presence.


Book Description: All Beth Gallatin has really wanted out of life is to settle down in one town, with one man, and raise a family. But with her father's roaming ways, she's always been denied that dream; instead, she found solace in reading romantic books. With her father's passing, she can, for the first time, dare to claim the rugged Montana frontier as her home.

Nick Lassiter has loved Beth since she first came to town, but she's always seemed to think of him more as a brother. Just when he finally gets Beth to consider him, however, a challenger threatens the affection growing between them. But neither Nick nor Beth is prepared when they must face the consequences of Nick's complicated past.

A Promise To Believe In (Book #1)

In Review: Some girls have all the luck. Some girls have all the pain. That isn't necessarily how the song goes, but it definitely seems to be the theme song of Gwen's life. She has convinced herself that she is cursed and somehow she has convinced herself that it is Biblical for certain people to be cursed. Of course it doesn't help that her husband dies ten days after they are married and her father is killed by a stray gun shot.

When a stranger shows up claiming to be her husband's brother after her husband said he didn't have any family at all she just figures this is icing on her already cursed cake of life.

Her cake starts to crumble when this stranger starts breaking through her hard shell and making his way to her heart.

Seriously, if you haven't started buying your books for summer reading, add this to your list!


Book Description: Life's tough on the Montana Territory, especially for the three sisters running the Gallatin Roadhouse---guilt-ridden Gwen, romantic Beth, and headstrong Lacy. Gwen was married at 22, but her husband, Harvey, died 10 days later. When his brother, Hank, turns up looking for stocks he claims Harvey stole, Gwen's perplexed. Will Hank steal her heart?

Love Is A Verb

In Review: Hubs and I were newly married when we heard about Chapman's "Love Is A Choice" marriage weekend. Like most honeymooners we had both experienced that moment when we woke up and said, "Wow! We really did it. We got married and we are like *gulp* together for the rest of our lives." Those sweet feelings of love weren't so sweet the first time I almost fell into the toilet in the middle of the night because he left the toilet lid up. The same went for him the first time he got a concussion because I left the kitchen cabinet door open and his 6' 5" frame ran into it while walking through the kitchen.

That marriage enrichment seminar taught us so much about making that decision to make a daily choice to love each other. To make love a verb.

While you may be tempted to think that this book is a book just about marriage, it isn't. It is a book of forth short stories where people have made the decision to make love a verb in their life and the impact has been life changing.

I feel a little biased in reviewing this book as I am such an admirer of Chapman. I would definitely recommend this book!

Book Description:

Gary Chapman, bestselling author of The Five Love Languages, shares forty uplifting true stories from everyday people like

Doris, who chose to love her husband when what she really wanted to do was run away

Loretta, whose family was mended by love in action

Faith, who learned how to love a mother who had become a stranger

Laquita, who finally fell in love with her husband after forty years

Jackie, who found the courage to love someone who seemed truly unlovable

Because love isn't just a feeling.
Love is a choice, and love is something we all need to do.
Love is a verb.

The Noticer

Book Description: Orange Beach, Alabama is a simple town filled with simple people. But like all humans on the planet, the good folks of Orange Beach have their share of problems - marriages teetering on the brink of divorce, young adults giving up on life, business people on the verge of bankruptcy, as well as the many other obstacles that life seems to dish out to the masses.

Fortunately, when things look the darkest - a mysterious man named Jones has a miraculous way of showing up. An elderly man with white hair, of indiscriminate age and race, wearing blue jeans, a white T-shirt and leather flip flops carrying a battered old suitcase, Jones is a unique soul. Communicating what he calls "a little perspective," Jones explains that he has been given a gift of noticing things that others miss. "Your time on this earth is a gift to be used wisely," he says. "Don't squander your words or your thoughts. Consider even the simplest action you take, for your lives matter beyond measure…and they matter forever."

Jones speaks to that part in everyone that is yearning to understand why things happen and what we can do about it.


In Review: Everyone gets stuck in a rut. Most times those ruts are temporary, but sometimes, you just keep spinning your wheels until you can't see out of the rut you are in. The author of this book, Andy Andrews, thought there was no better way than to start with his own rut experience. Homeless, living under a pier, working odd jobs, Andy had no idea that his life was going to be changed drastically when Jones noticed him. Today, because of being noticed by Jones, he is a nationally bestselling author and speaker.

My love language is words of affirmation so reading Jones' encouraging words on each page was like being noticed. His advice is practical and often times familiar such as when he explains the love languages a slightly different, but very familiar way. I think if I had any complaint about this book that would be it. Jones words were familiar because you will probably remember them from other books such as Gary Smalley's Five Love Languages and John Ortberg's When The Game Is Over It All Goes Back in the Box. However, Andy doesn't give any credit to these books anywhere in his book. I thought that was a little thoughtless on his part.


Andy has started The Noticer Project. This project is meant to help you identify (or notice) the five people in your life who mean so much to you. Those who have been so influential. Step outside your busy schedules and avoid waiting until a wedding, graduation or even a funeral to take notice of the special, influential people in our lives . . .do it now!

The Noticer Project also has a group on Facebook and you can even follow the project on Twitter.