Life Verse Creative Journal set

My thoughts...

This two-pack of beautiful journals (64 pages each) measures 7.25 x 5.8 x 0.55 and are the perfect size to fit into your bag, bible, or planner. There are fifteen verses highlighted with not only text but journaling prompts as well in one journal. Beautiful illustrations that allow you to use your creativity and let God's Word seep into your heart. The second journal is blank, fill the pages with your artwork, your daily thoughts or feelings, whatever you decide you won't be disappointed in these wonderful books.

I received a copy of this book free from B&H Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

A HOPE AND A FUTURE

The Christian walk is more than salvation and the promise of eternal life. It is about abundant life as well. But many people live in a state of condemnation, disappointment, and rejection. They feel that because they have fallen back into old habits and sin God can no longer forgive them.

Genuine hope is not wishful thinking.

Through Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Bernis’ compelling teaching, Christians will better understand the specifics of God’s commitment to bring them through difficult times. They will see how God can deliver them out of the trials and tribulations of life, and help them to fulfill their ultimate destiny while on this earth.

Readers will learn:
· How to fulfill their destiny and find their future
· The real meaning of the Lord’s prosperity promise
· How to live in confident expectancy for your future
· How hope distinguishes the believer from the unbeliever
· And much more!

My thoughts...

A study of Jeremiah 29:11 that is great for the new Christian or for refreshing to those who've been at it longer. What I really liked was that the author didn't just give you the usual basic look into God's principles, he went deeper which made it all the more interesting. Sometimes it's hard to realize what His calling is for your life, understanding these principles will make it easier to see.The most important is to keep your eyes on Jesus the whole time.

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

THE WEEKENDERS by Mary Kay Andrews

Some people stay all summer long on the idyllic island of Belle Isle, North Carolina. Some people come only for the weekends-and it's something they look forward to all week long.

When Riley Griggs is waiting for her husband to arrive at the ferry one Friday afternoon, she is instead served with papers informing her that her island home is being foreclosed. To make matters worse, her husband is nowhere to be found. She turns to her island friends for help and support, but each of them has their own secrets and the clock is ticking as the mystery deepens. Cocktail parties and crab boil aside, Riley must find a way to investigate the secrets of Belle Island, the husband she might not really know, and the summer that could change everything.

My thoughts...

You can't beat a Mary Kay Andrews book, she's the best. All of her books have such likeable characters, a little humor, and a romance. This one has a good murder mystery also. I curled up in my chair and read for hours, avoided phone calls, and a rumbling tummy. I hated to come to the end of the book. MK grabs her readers from the get go, brings everything on the pages to life, and leaves them feeling satisfied.

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

MURDER COMES BY MAIL

Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane doesn't particularly enjoy being touted as the hero of Hidden Springs after pulling a suicidal man back from the edge of the Eagle River bridge in front of dozens of witnesses--a few of whom caught the breathtaking moments with their cameras. But the media hype doesn't last long as a new story pushes its way into the public consciousness of Hidden Springs' concerned citizens.

Photos of a dead girl arrive in the mail, and Michael becomes convinced she was murdered by the man he saved. With a killer one step ahead, things in Hidden Springs begin to unravel. Now Michael must protect the people he loves--because the killer could be targeting one of them next.

My thoughts...

Love Ann Gabhart's books, love the charming town of Hidden Springs, KY and the out of the ordinary characters that leave you with a smile. A murder is committed and Michael is going to solve it. Though the townsfolk aren't exactly cooperative he goes about his investigation the best way he can. A suicidal man may have the best cover he's seen. Appealing and humorous at times, this is a really good read.

I received a copy of this book free from Revell Books in exchange for an honest review.

TRACES OF GUILT by Dee Henderson

Evie Blackwell loves her life as an Illinois State Police detective . . . mostly. She's very skilled at investigations and has steadily moved up through the ranks. She would like to find Mr. Right, but she has a hard time imagining how marriage could work, considering the demands of her job.

Gabriel Thane grew up in Carin County and is now its sheriff, a job he loves. Gabe is committed to upholding the law and cares deeply for the residents he's sworn to protect. He too would like to find a lifetime companion, a marriage like his parents have. . . .

When Evie arrives in Carin, Illinois, it's to help launch a new task force focused on unsolved crimes across the state. She will work with the sheriff's department on a couple of its most troubling missing-persons cases. As she studies old evidence to pull out a few tenuous new leads, she unearths surprising connections. One way or another, she knows Gabriel Thane and his family will be key to the answers she seeks.

My thoughts...

Another Dee Henderson novel that left me wondering how they could get any better. Loved the steady pace, the earthy characters both new and those from previous books. Especially interesting to me is the crime solving procedures, here Detective Evie Blackwell looks into two cold cases and her investigation is engaging. There's light romance which is good but sometimes I wish there was just plain old investigating, makes it more suspenseful. I felt like some of the areas could be picked up in a future novel. Overall, it's well worth the read.

I received a copy of this book free from Bethany House Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

SINS OF THE PAST ~ Dee Henderson, Lynette Eason, & Dani Pettrey

Secrets and Lies. Danger That Will Never Go Away.
Join Three Beloved Masters of Romantic Suspense for Novellas Where the Past Will Not Stay Buried.

Dee Henderson - "Missing"
A Wyoming sheriff is called to Chicago when his elderly mother goes missing from her retirement community. Paired with a savvy Chicago cop, the two soon launch into a race against the clock when they realize something dark may lie at the heart of the disappearance.

Dani Pettrey - "Shadowed"
Adventure, romance, and danger collide when a young Alaskan fisherman nets the body of a Russian open water swimming competitor. Another swimmer, who'd been the dead woman's roommate years ago, is pulled into the search for answers as it grows more and more clear that something sinister is at play.

Lynette Eason - "Blackout"
A young woman once implicated in a robbery gone wrong finds herself at risk years later when the real culprit is up for parole. The loot taken that night has never been found and he believes she knows where it's hidden--only her memory of that night has always been unreliable. Can she remember enough to find her way to safety?

My thoughts...

Three compelling stories in one book, written by three authors I've read for some time. Dee Henderson is my favorite, her police procedural stories are so true to life. Dani Pettrey writes about the parents of the McKenna family, part of her Alaskan courage series which by the way is a great series. Lynette Eason pens the tale of a woman who has lost her memory and as they are slowly coming back she realizes someone is trying to keep her from remembering even if they have to kill her.

There's plenty of suspense and light romance in each novella. I thoroughly enjoyed them.

I received a copy of this book free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Guys Slimline Bible-NLT

My thoughts...

Measuring 8" x 5.5" this is the perfect size bible for anyone to use but teens will especially like it. With standard size text it's easy to read and the NLT is very easy to understand. It's my favorite translation. There's no study notes or devotions though, it's great for daily reading. This bible does feature the words of Christ in red, a reading plan for the year, and maps. Love the bold colors and the silver edges, it's really suitable for guys or girls.

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

PRETTY GIRLS by Karin Slaughter

More than two decades ago, Claire and Lydia's teenaged sister, Julia, vanished without a trace. The women, who’ve followed radically divergent paths, have not spoken since. Claire is the glamorous trophy wife of an Atlanta millionaire; Lydia, a single mother, dates an ex-con and struggles to make ends meet.

They do share one inescapable connection: neither has recovered from the terror and heartbreak of their shared loss—a crushing wound that's cruelly ripped open when Claire's husband is killed. The disappearance of a teenage girl and the murder of a middle-aged man, almost a quarter-century apart: what could these seemingly disparate crimes have in common? Forming a wary truce, the traumatized siblings look to the past for answers, unearthing the secrets that tore apart their family all those years ago . . . and uncovering the possibility of absolution, redemption, and revenge, where they least expect it.

My thoughts...

PRETTY GIRLS is a disturbingly suspenseful novel about psychopaths and the magnitude they will go to fulfill their distorted desires. Parts of the book are pretty hard to read as it deals with the savage treatment of the women that are their victims. Julia has been missing for years, her sisters join forces and dig deep into the information gathered over the years. One sister, Claire, discovers her husband has been keeping secrets.

Graphic, heartbreaking, informative. A book you'll want to read.

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