BEFORE WE WERE YOURS by Lisa Wingate

Two families, generations apart, are forever changed by a heartbreaking injustice in this poignant novel, inspired by a true story, for readers of Orphan Train and The Nightingale.

Memphis, 1939. Twelve-year-old Rill Foss and her four younger siblings live a magical life aboard their family's Mississippi River shantyboat. But when their father must rush their mother to the hospital one stormy night, Rill is left in charge--until strangers arrive in force. Wrenched from all that is familiar and thrown into a Tennessee Children's Home Society orphanage, the Foss children are assured that they will soon be returned to their parents--but they quickly realize the dark truth. At the mercy of the facility's cruel director, Rill fights to keep her sisters and brother together in a world of danger and uncertainty.

Aiken, South Carolina, present day. Born into wealth and privilege, Avery Stafford seems to have it all: a successful career as a federal prosecutor, a handsome fiancé, and a lavish wedding on the horizon. But when Avery returns home to help her father weather a health crisis, a chance encounter leaves her with uncomfortable questions and compels her to take a journey through her family's long-hidden history, on a path that will ultimately lead either to devastation or to redemption.

Based on one of America's most notorious real-life scandals--in which Georgia Tann, director of a Memphis-based adoption organization, kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families all over the country--Lisa Wingate's riveting, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting tale reminds us how, even though the paths we take can lead to many places, the heart never forgets where we belong.

My thoughts...

Lisa Wingate writes the best books! This story is full of depth, heart wrenching, and made me angry at what was allowed to take place years ago. Five children were left alone while their parents were at the hospital having their sixth child. Suddenly someone swept in and removed the children placing them in an orphanage. The next years of their lives are hard and really touches your heart. I recommend this book and any of Lisa’s others.

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

ALABASTER

Maryam is stuck in an abusive marriage, living with her in-laws in a conservative, toxically religious village. A few years back, her father was given a jar of priceless perfume by a dying leper and it seemed as if their fortunes would improve, but then Maryam's father contracted leprosy and was exiled from the village. Maryam and her siblings, Eleazar and Marta, experience the shame and ostracism this brings. The precious jar that was meant to bring them freedom has only brought destruction. But rumors abound concerning a new doctor; perhaps hope is on the horizon...

Alabaster brings a biblical-era Middle Eastern village and its culture to life for modern-day readers.

My thoughts...

A beautifully written story with the best characters, the perfect setting, and informative about the way people lived in that time and area. I loved the twists that came along at just the right times. Fifteen year old Maryam’s life is so sorrowful, her beloved father has a disease and he has been banished from the village, her husband is abusive…women were treated so badly. This is fiction but there were biblical characters that woven into the story. Great book!

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

Reclaiming the Lost Art of Biblical Meditation: Find True Peace in Jesus

Do you long to deepen your intimacy with the Lord? To find a sense of soul-steadying peace? To develop emotional strength? Then you will need to pause long enough to be still and know He is God. Trusted Pastor Robert Morgan leads us through a journey into biblical meditation, which, he says, is thinking Scripture—not just reading Scripture or studying Scripture or even thinking about Scripture—but thinking Scripture, contemplating, visualizing, and personifying the precious truths God has given us.

The practice is as easy and portable as your brain, as available as your imagination, as near as your Bible, and the benefits are immediate. As you ponder, picture, and personalize God’s Word, you begin looking at life through His lens, viewing the world from His perspective. And as your thoughts become happier and holier and brighter, so do you.

My thoughts...

The book has lots of information on how to meditate on scripture, the author has had problems with fearful thoughts and finds that by meditating on scripture he overcomes those thoughts and is left with peace. I firmly believe that the word of God can help us get through tough times but without an understanding of the difference of meditating on Gods word vs the world’s interpretation you can get confused. The author does a good job of explaining what true scriptural meditation is. Good information and a guide the reader can use.

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

SMALL ADMISSIONS

One admission can change your life...forever.

When ambitious grad student Kate Pearson’s handsome French “almost fiancé” ditches her, she definitely does not roll with the punches, despite the best efforts of family and friends. It seems that nothing will get Kate out of pajamas and back into the world.

Miraculously, one cringe-worthy job interview leads to a position in the admissions department at the revered Hudson Day School. Kate’s instantly thrown into a highly competitive and occasionally absurd culture, where she interviews all types of children: suitable, wildly unsuitable, charming, loathsome, ingratiating, or spoiled beyond all measure. And then there are the Park Avenue parents who refuse to take no for an answer.

As Kate begins to learn there’s no room for self-pity or nonsense during the height of admissions season or life itself, her sister and friends find themselves keeping secrets, dropping bombshells, and arguing with each other about how to keep Kate on her feet. Meanwhile, Kate seems to be doing very nicely, thank you, and is even beginning to find out that her broken heart is very much on the mend. Welcome to the world of Small Admissions.

My thoughts...

Loved this witty, entertaining book. Absolutely loved the harebrained characters and the things they come up with, the things that drive people can be surprising to some and totally familiar to others. The main character, Kate, interviews prospects for admission to private school and these prospects along with their parents can be outrageous and hilarious. Definitely a lighthearted read I would recommend for all ages.

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

DREAM VESSEL

Every night 7.2 billion people retreat into the realm of Dreams.

Dreaming is the universal experience.

Dream Vessel is the first-hand account of my attempt to escape God's call and His response to me defection. My experience illustrates how God speaks to "all flesh" through prophecy, dreams and visions.

The excerpts from my personal journals reveal:

• Characteristics of God-given dreams

• Unique qualities of visions

• Mysteries of God's symbolism

• Nature of prophetic gifts

It has always been God's intention to speak to us directly, just as He did in the Garden of Eden. Ours was an intimate relationship. The personal revelations I share will help you discover:

• Your glory

• Your Calling

• God's assignment

We were all designed to receive and interpret the messages of God's divine impartation. The spiritual gifts of prophecy, dreams and visions are to help us recognizes God's plan for our future when it manifest.

My thoughts...

This is pretty much a how to book on keeping a dream journal and interpretation of those dreams. Based on the author’s personal story about how she ran from her calling only to finally embrace it and is interested in teaching others. Whether you believe in prophetic dreams or not depends on how much you can get out of the book.

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

ONE GOOD THING

Before you can fix it up, you might have to tear it down...

Embroiled in a battle to regain control of their renovation-turned-reality TV show, Do Over, Maddie, Avery, Nikki, and Kyra find themselves holding tight to the frayed ends of their friendship and relationships.

Maddie must face the realities of dating a rock star once again topping the charts and deal with her hapless ex-husband, while Avery is caught up in family drama even as she attempts to transform a tiny cottage into a home for the newly impoverished heiress who helped bankroll their last renovation. Put on bedrest, a hugely pregnant Nikki can’t quite believe love can last, or trust in her own maternal instinct. And Kyra, who has secretly put Bella Flora at risk in an attempt to salvage Do Over, must decide whether to accept a desperately needed bail out from her son’s famous father that comes with far too many strings attached…

But friendship is made for times like these, to keep each other—and their dreams—from crumbling.

My thoughts...

I have liked all of Wendy’s books and this one doesn’t disappoint me either. She tells a story in such a way that makes you love the characters and wish you were a part of the crowd. The TEN BEACH ROAD series is so so good I don’t ever want it to end. The words flow, the setting is beautiful, and the daily lives of those involved is familiar. These women don’t just sit back and take everything! Love their wit.

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

INVITATION by Bill Myers, Frank Peretti, Angela Hunt, and Alton Gansky

In the first cycle of the Harbinger series, four strangers discover they have extraordinary gifts and are brought together to fight a growing darkness. Meet the members of the Harbingers team—each written by an acclaimed author—in four linked episodes! Fast-paced and ongoing, this thrilling suspense collection reads like your favorite TV series.

​My thoughts...

Definitely a different type of book than I normally read, I really liked the characters and their interactions and the way the writers brought everyone together in each chapter. The writing styles of the authors fit together so well which made the story flow as though written by one person. The supernatural theme is interesting but just not my favorite genre. If you're into the supernatural you'll enjoy this book.

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

LIFE AFTER by Katie Ganshert

On the day of a late spring storm, in Chicago, Autumn Manning boarded an “L” train. A bomb explodes, killing everyone in the train car except for Autumn—the sole survivor. A year has passed and Autumn suffocates under a blanket of what ifs and the pressing desire to bring the victims back to life, every day, if only for her. She doesn’t want their stories to be forgotten. She wants to undo what cannot be undone. An unexpected ally joins her efforts, also seeking answers and trying to find a way to stumble ahead.

But one victim’s husband, Paul Elliott, prays to let the dead—and their secrets—rest in peace, undisturbed and unable to hurt his loved ones. Caught between loss and hope, these restless souls must release the past to embrace a sovereign God.

​My thoughts...

Katie is such a good story teller, this is another great book. She really leaves you with an understanding of what the characters are feeling after such a disaster and how one woman's recovery touches the lives of so many and facilitates healing. Not to mention trying to understand why you lived and others didn't.

I was so happy with the way the book ended, how the story was told, and how the relationship between the main characters developed. Very enjoyable.

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

FORENSIC FAITH

Christianity has a rich evidential history, yet most of us are ill-prepared to make the case for what we believe. In Forensic Faith, veteran detective J. Warner Wallace teaches us the principles investigators use so we can develop a clear, evidence-based faith. Forensic Faith will help you:

embrace your duty to defend the truth
devise a training strategy to master the evidence for Christianity
learn how to employ the techniques of a detective to discover new insights from God's Word
become a better communicator by learning the skills of professional case makers
Are you ready to start a new journey as a follower of Christ? Are you ready to have greater impact on your culture? Forensic Faith provides you with the strategies and the tools needed to become an effective Christian Case Maker.

My thoughts...

I was excited to see another J. Warner book, this is the third in my collection and it was as good as the previous two. Warner gives us a look into investigating cold cases which highly interests me...lots of insight and information on making the case for Christ. A pleasure to read and an appreciation for what the author has gone through.

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

THE GOOD BOOK

The Good Book offers a user-friendly guide to the Bible's biggest ideas.

A chapter from the Bible accompanies each chapter of the book, which helps readers understand the context and content of the Scripture passages in a way that can open the whole Bible.

Designed as a forty-day journey through forty key chapters of the Bible, The Good Book will appeal to those who already love and read the Bible regularly as well as to those who are just beginning their Christian journey.

The Good Book:

-is a great evangelism tool for explaining the major themes of Scripture to those who want to know more about God, Jesus, and the core beliefs of Christianity;

-gives new believers an overview of the Bible and lays a framework to help them understand Scripture passages;
-helps longtime Christians rediscover the basic themes of Scripture and experience these truths in a new way; and
-encourages Scriptural literacy as it pushes readers to read both one chapter of the book and one chapter of the Bible each day for forty days.

The Good Book is great for individuals, and it can also be used by small groups in an eight-week church-wide program or a forty-week journey that focuses on one Bible chapter each week.

My thoughts...

This is a great tool to use as you study the Bible or read it alone. It breaks the bible down to where it's easy to understand what's being said. I like the historical information the author adds as well as the stories he shares. He has highlighted forty chapters and points out how the things that happened years ago are still relevant to us today.

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

LOCAL POET

A horrific road accident is just the start of a journey into the dark past of the local poet. Rob doesn't know Laney Grey. But when she deliberately steps out in front of his van and dies on impact, his life will never be the same. The police declare him innocent, but how will he deal with the guilt?

Now Rob is driven to know who she was, why she chose to die, and why he had to be part of her death. To understand her, he must read her poetry. To know her, he must unravel the mysteries of her past. As Laney's dark secret starts to come to light, and Rob's innocence is questioned, he must learn the full truth. But truth comes at a cost. Will Rob be the one who has to pay the price?

My thoughts...

This book is oh so good! What a great storyline, it's one of those you can't wait to finish. Rob is determined to find out all about the woman he hit and killed with his car and why she deliberately stepped in his path. Sometimes it's best to just let things go but for Rob, he couldn't do it. What unwinds is a murder mystery with an ending I wasn't expecting. Kudos to the author...good job.

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