Rescued hearts by Hope Dougherty

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Rescued Hearts (Mantle Rock Publishing, September 2017)

Children’s clothing designer Mary Wade Kimball’s soft spot for animals leads to a hostage situation when she spots a briar- entangled kitten in front of an abandoned house. Beaten, bound, and gagged by the two thugs inside, Mary Wade loses hope for escape when a third villain returns with supplies.

Discovering the kidnapped woman ratchets the complications for undercover agent Brett Davis. Weighing the difference of ruining his three months’ investigation against the woman’s safety, Brett forsakes his mission and helps her escape, the bent-on-revenge brutes following behind.

When Mary Wade’s safety is threatened once more, Brett rescues her again. This time, her personal safety isn’t the only thing in jeopardy. Her heart is endangered as well.

My opinion: This book was utterly engaging and well written, it really sucks you in and keeps you enthralled until the very end. I loved watching the two main characters interact and grow in their feelings for one another, it was such a sweet romance that I loved every minute of! With just the right amount of romance and intrigue this book was a fantastic read that I highly recommend! I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Daily Question: My 5 year Spiritual Journal

What fun book! I am big into keeping a journal anyways but this book adds some variety and thought to ones journal keeping.I like how this book is insightful without being overwhelming. I can only do so much journal keeping with a little one underfoot and yet this book breaks it down to where it is doable and fun, not too much and not too little. This can be as vague or as detailed as you want it to be.
This would make a wonderful gift as well as a great keepsake for yourself.
I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion

Total Christmas Makeover: 31 Devotions to Celebrate with Purpose by Melissa Spoelstra

Total Christmas Makeover: 31 Devotions to Celebrate with Purpose (Abingdon Press, October 2017)

Give your Christmas a makeover with this practical approach to help your family learn what it means to truly celebrate their Savior.

In the bustle of the Christmas season, it can be easy to get swept up in all of the things to do. But it’s important to pause and remember that our priority should be to spend time celebrating Christ’s birth and not forget to invite Jesus to his own party.

Christmas is far more than a celebration of an event from long ago or a modern holiday centered around shopping. Mindfully take time to listen to how God continues to speak through the Christmas story as the Gospel narratives centered around the birth of Jesus provide encouragement and revelation concerning the love of God and his wisdom for us today.

In Total Christmas Makeover, author and Bible teacher Melissa Spoelstra provides a practical approach for you and your family to turn your attention toward God’s grace day-by-day as you prepare for Christmas. This 31-day devotional presents key scriptures, ideas to implement with each reading, and questions for reflection to guide you in rediscovering rituals, relationship, and rest to connect you more deeply with Christ this holiday season.

My opinion: What a perfect book to get ones thought where they should be directed during the holiday season. This delightful book is an easy to read, enjoyable devotion that is perfect to gear up for Christ's birth and not get so caught up in everything else that goes with the holiday season. I love the ideas for activities you can do and ways to make Christmas more meaningful, this book is one you can read over and over again.

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

Descriptions and Prescriptions by Michael Emlet

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Descriptions and Prescriptions: A Biblical Perspective on Psychiatric Diagnoses and Medications(New Growth Press, October 2017)

OCD, ADHD, PTSD, Bipolar Disorder . . . these are no longer just technical terms and medical diagnoses, they are part of our common vocabulary and culture.

As Christians, we shouldn’t isolate ourselves from this discussion or dismiss these important issues. But we also should be careful not to accept the entire secular psychiatric diagnostic and treatment enterprise without question. What we need is a balanced, biblically (and scientifically) informed approach that neither blindly accepts nor harshly dismisses psychiatric labels, diagnoses, and medicines that are prescribed to help those who are suffering.

As both a Biblical counselor and medical doctor, Michael R. Emlet, MD, gives readers a Christ-centered approach to psychiatry and guides both lay and professional helpers through the thicket of mental health labels and treatments with a biblical lens. In a clear and thoughtful way that puts the person experiencing mental health issues at the forefront, Emlet uses Scripture to show how the Bible engages in the discussion of psychiatric labels and the medications that are often recommended based on those labels. The first book in the “Helping the Helper” series, Descriptions and Prescriptions will give readers a biblical, gospel-formed perspective to help them understand and minister to those struggling with mental health issues.

My opinion: I was eager to read this book as it is written by a MD who is a Christian so it was a great book that balanced biblical and scientific approaches to form a very insightful and thoughtful book. Too often these kind of issues get swept under the rug, but Mr. Emlet takes this tough issue head on and does so in a very thoughtful and engaging manner that really gets one thinking. I like how there is a good amount of information without being too overwhelming.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Kirsten Kish Cooking

Though I did not know anything abut Kristen Kish this book was not only a fabulous cookbook but an inspiring story as well. Kristen has done a lot in her life and has come a long ways from a Korean orphan to a becoming winner of the 10th season of Top Chef.
I was impressed by this cookbook and the vast array of recipes and techniques that are sure to delight chefs both experienced and not so experienced. There are so many familiar recipes with a unique  twist as well as new and innovative recipes as well.
This book is gorgeous and such an amazing cookbook, great to have on your shelf or give as a gift!
I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

A woman overhwelmed by Hayley DiMarco

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A Woman Overwhelmed: Finding God in the Messes of Life (Abingdon Press, August 2017)

“A Woman Overwhelmed” is a phrase with which many women can relate.

But what would happen if we could see the insanity in our pace and embrace our overwhelming God?

There is a reason they say that a woman’s work is never done— because it isn’t! As women, we often are overwhelmed by the demands and circumstances of life, resulting in stress, fear, worry, impatience, fatigue, frustration, and even depression. The truth is that we were created to be overwhelmed . . . not by life but by God! When we learn to be overwhelmed by God, the fruit in our lives goes from rotten to fragrant—filling our days with peace, hope, love, and joy.

In A Woman Overwhelmed, best-selling author Hayley DiMarco shares biblical insights and personal stories to offer a glimpse at the comedy of an overwhelmed life while encouraging us to discover the depths and heights of God’s love and power.

Be empowered to find freedom in becoming overwhelmed with who God is—by learning to focus on what we know about God so that we can hold onto faith even when it seems that all is lost. For it is when an overwhelmed woman gives up the mission of me and exchanges it for the mission of God that being overwhelmed becomes a good thing.

Choose to bask in the abundance of the Father instead of the abundance of life as his unfathomable depths can surely replace our fathomable messes.

My opinion: This book really spoke to me because too often I am overwhelmed by everything I do or feel overwhelmed by all of the things I should be doing. I love how this book talks about instead of being overwhelmed with life, which let's face it is so easy to do, we should be instead overwhelmed by God.
Filled with rich Biblical insight, personal stories and encouragement this book is an excellent read and left me feeling very encouraged and uplifted, ready to not only face another day but to live it to the fullest,
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my personal opinion.

A forest, a flood and an unlikely star by J.A. Myhre