I'm No Angel Book Review



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 I'm Not Angel by Kylie Bisutti gives a glance into the life of models and that it's not always what it seems.

In December 2011, 21-year-old Victoria's Secret model Kylie Bisutti stunned the fashion industry when she chose faith over fame and fortune and made the switch from supermodel to role model. In "I'm No Angel," Kylie shares her story--from her early years struggling to make it big in the cut-throat world of modeling, her "big break" winning the Victoria's Secret Angel competition, and the disillusionment and spiritual warfare that followed, to the moment she realized that she could no longer reconcile her career with her Christian beliefs, surrendered her life to God, turned in her Angel wings, and dedicated her life to preaching a message of modesty and inner beauty. Along the way, Kylie talks about her personal struggles with inadequacy, low self-esteem, and her near-constant quest for approval in a world where you can never be thin enough, pretty enough, or sexy enough. She helps readers understand that true beauty lies within and that real fulfillment comes from knowing, loving, and serving Christ. (Goodreads)

I was really excited to read this book because I love reading about other people's lives. Biographies are one of my favorite genres when it comes to books and this was no exception. I am really passionate about how the world looks at women and the strength that women need to overcome the worldly mindset. Kylie tells her story about being a young model all the way through her Victoria Secret days. She saw many things that we just don't think about as going on behind the scenes. She was famous but she wanted to honor God and her husband. In her words, "I quit being a VS model to become a Proverbs 31 wife".  At the start of each chapter there is a verse that correlates with the following pages. I really like this part of the book, and the more I read the more I found Kylie to be genuine with what she wrote about. 

Not only does this give you behind the scenes info, it is a huge encouragement to women that their value is not about what they look like, but their value as God's child. 

In the back of the book is also a 30-Day "True Beauty" Makeover. Lots of verses and great advice!

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Proverbs 31:30

Highly recommend this book, excellent read! 

Stop by Kylie's Website to learn more about her. 
Watch the Book Trailer. (You have to scroll down to find I'm No Angel)

"I received this book for free from Tyndale Publishing in exchange for an honest review".

Jennifer: An O'Malley Love Story Book Review CFBA Blog Tour

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Jennifer: An O’Malley Love Story Bethany House Publishers (May 1, 2013) by Dee Henderson

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dee Henderson is the bestselling, award-winning author of 15 previous novels, including the acclaimed O'MALLEY series and UNCOMMON HEROES series. These days, most authors are out there energetically promoting their books in print and broadcast and via social media—wherever they can get attention. But Dee Henderson keeps a low profile. She avoids telephone interviews because of hearing problems, declined to provide a current photo, and will say only that she lives in Illinois.

ABOUT THE BOOK

It's a summer of change for Jennifer O'Malley. The busy physician has a pediatrics practice in Dallas, and meeting Tom Peterson, and falling in love, is adding a rich layer to her life. She's sorting out how to introduce him to her family--she's the youngest of seven--and thinking about marriage.

She's falling in love with Jesus too, and knows God is good. But that faith is about to be tested in a way she didn't expect, and the results will soon transform her entire family.


If you would like to read the first chapter of Jennifer: An O’Malley Love Story, go to HERE.




My Review

 

I really enjoyed this story about Jennifer. Sadly I have not read any other books by Dee Henderson but this one made me interested in all the others. This book is a prequel to the O'Malley series and Dee adds and note at the back of this book so the reader knows where we are at compared to the rest of the series. This book is tiny and a fast read, but it does have a sweet love story and also talks about Jennifer meeting Christ. For being such a short book it has a lot in it and if you are a Dee Henderson fan you will want to read it!

 

 

"I received this book from CFBA in exchange for an honest review."

Sanctuary Book Review

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 The Sanctuary by Ted Dekker is a page turner that fans will definitely want to read.

THE SANCTUARY is the gripping story of vigilante priest, Danny Hansen, who is now serving a fifty year prison term in California for the murder of two abusive men. Filled with remorse, Danny is determined to live out his days by a code of non-violence and maneuvers deftly within a ruthless prison system.

But when Renee Gilmore, the woman he loves, receives a box containing a bloody finger and draconian demands from a mysterious enemy on the outside, Danny must find a way to escape.

They are both drawn into a terrifying game of life and death. If Renee fails, the priest will die; if Danny fails, Renee will die. And the body count will not stop at two.

THE SANCTUARY is Ted Dekker at his best, a powerful thriller that relentlessly plumbs the depths of punishment and rehabilitation, both in a flawed corrections system and in the human heart. (Goodreads)

I am a huge fan of Ted Dekker, he is one of my favorite authors because he writes unique plots and is truly a talented writer. I was excited to request this book to review and it did not disappoint. While I like a couple of his other books more so than this one, The Sanctuary took me inside a world I had not seen. This book is about the prison system and Dekker creates a creepy thriller that I could not put down. I like the characters, Renee made me laugh but is a realistic character. The plot twisted my mind, yet was not as confusing as some of Dekker's other books. In any case this is a great book and I highly recommend it!

"I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review."

Read what else Ted Dekker has written.

Pastors' Wives Book Review Litfuse Blog Tour

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 Pastors' Wives by Lisa Cullen is a fun read that looks at the lives of women who ended up married to a pastor-ready or not!

What’s it like when the man you married is already married to God? asks Pastors’ Wives, an often surprising yet always emotionally true first novel set in a world most of us know only from the outside.

Lisa Takeuchi Cullen’s debut novel Pastors’ Wives follows three women whose lives converge and intertwine at a Southern evangelical megachurch. Ruthie follows her Wall Street husband from New York to Magnolia, a fictional suburb of Atlanta, when he hears a calling to serve at a megachurch called Greenleaf. Reeling from the death of her mother, Ruthie suffers a crisis of faith—in God, in her marriage, and in herself. Candace is Greenleaf’s First Lady,” a force of nature who’ll stop at nothing to protect her church and her superstar husband. Ginger, married to Candace’s son, struggles to play dutiful wife and mother while burying her calamitous past. All their roads collide in one chaotic event that exposes their true selves. Inspired by Cullen’s reporting as a staff writer for Time magazine, Pastors’ Wives is a dramatic portrayal of the private lives of pastors’ wives, caught between the demands of faith, marriage, duty, and love.(Goodreads)

This book follows three women and their everyday life journey from their perspective, not the camera's or the people sitting in the church audience. Ruthie is Catholic-the megachurch stuff she doesn't really get, yet suddenly she is a wife to the new pastor. Candace rules the roost and runs Greenleaf church alongside her husband, she is the leading lady solving all the issues. Ginger's past is not a pleasant one, her husband is never home, and her in-laws (Candace Green) are driving her crazy. All three of these stories are written together so that they blend into each others lives and you are wanting to read more. 

I really enjoyed this book. This is Lisa's debut book and I think she did a fantastic job. While this book isn't necessarily an inspirational Christian novel, I think it has a great story line. There is not anything that I found to be offensive and many of the trials these women go through are exactly how it is in real life. Pastor's and their wives are normal people just like everyone else, and while everything might look good on the outside, this book takes you behind closed doors.

 If you are looking for a light fun read, I highly recommend Pastors' Wives!

"I received this book for free from Litfuse in exchange for an honest review".

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/klK8c

Meet Lisa:

Lisa Takeuchi Cullen was a longtime staff writer for TIME magazine. She now develops TV pilots for production companies and recently sold her first pilot for "The Ordained" to CBS. Born in Japan, Cullen lives in New Jersey with family.

Find out more about Lisa at http://lisacullen.com.

Lisa Takeuchi Cullen is celebrating the release of her debut novel, Pastors' Wives, with an iPad Mini Giveaway and connecting with readers on Facebook on May 23rd!

One winner will receive:

• An iPad Mini
• A $25 iTunes gift card

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 22nd. Winner will be announced at the "Pastors' Wives" Author Chat Party on May 23rd. Connect with Lisa for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Lisa will also be giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Pastors' Wives and join Lisa on the evening of May 23rd for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 23rd!

Last Chance for Justice Book Review CFBA Tour



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This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Last Chance for Justice B&H Books (May 1, 2013) by Kathi Macias
Last Chance for Justice by Kathi Macias is the third Bloomfield novel.


Welcome to Bloomfield, where life is simple, love is real, and stories are shared.

Lynn Myers is still reeling from losing her husband of thirty-five years when word comes that her only sibling, an older brother, has also died. With no one else to settle the estate, she must return to her small hometown of Bloomfield, however briefly, to settle his affairs.

Lynn’s daughter, Rachel, has just graduated from Bible college and with no other commitments comes along to sort through her uncle’s huge old home, right next to the local cemetery.

It isn't long before Rachel has two men -- a handsome CPA and the youth pastor -- seriously vying for her attention. At the same time, Lynn's attention is drawn to a set of journals her brother has left behind detailing a long-standing Bloomfield mystery.

As they pursue solving this mystery, Rachel must make some personal decisions about her future, while Lynn is forced to face unexpected issues from her own past.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Last Chance for Justice, go HERE.




I love the cover of this book, it makes me want to visit an old house and do exactely what the women in this book end up doing. Lynn and Rachel (Lynn's daughter) go on an adventure to take care of Lynn's brother's estate as everything was left to her. He left behind creepy old house with a strange man who lives on the property and takes care of the cemetery, which is right next to the house. Lynn discovers journals that lead them on a trail of mystery about a man called Last Chance. Meanwhile, Rachel is turning the heads of every young man in town and giving the town something to gossip about.

I really liked this book at the beginning, the mother/daughter relationship reminded me of my mom and I. I love old houses that have a little mystery and I felt like I was in the story standing in the house. Unfortunately the mystery part was not so mysterious and by the end of the book I was very disappointed. This could have been a great mystery book but there is no twist and it becomes very predictable.
This is a sweet story with Rachel and her mother, but if you like some mystery you might not like this book.




"I received this book from CFBA for free in exchange for an honest review."









 



 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kathi Macias is a multi-award winning writer who has authored nearly 40 books and ghostwritten several others. A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Kathi has taught creative and business writing in various venues and has been a guest on many radio and television programs. Kathi is a popular speaker at churches, women’s clubs and retreats, and writers’ conferences. She won the 2008 Member of the Year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) and was the 2011 Author of the Year from BooksandAuthors.net. Her novel set in China, Red Ink, was named Golden Scrolls 2011 Novel of the Year and was also a Carol Award Finalist; her October 2012 release, Unexpected Christmas Hero, was named 2012 Book of the Year by BookandAuthors.net. Kathi “Easy Writer” Macias lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband.

Kathi is passionate about The Voice of the Martyrs and Open Doors. To learn more about the persecuted church, please visit VOM’s website and Open Doors Website.

Ending the War With Yourself

A few years ago a friend of mine gave me a piece of paper during a retreat with my church. It was a fun weekend with quiet times, campfires, hiking, and talking. I had been going through a rough patch and what was on this piece of paper changed a lot for me. I had not talked to her about anything, it was just given to me as if she knew what I was feeling. I think God puts people like that in our lives at perfect moments. She might not have had a clue but for some reason God told her to give it to me. 

This is what it said:

Ending the War With Yourself

"And beloved, if our own consciences (our hearts) do not accuse us-if they do not make us feel guilty and condemn us-we have confidence (complete assurance and boldness) before God."

-1 John 3:21

How often I've called you in love and in tenderness. How often I've sung over you in the night and rejoiced over you in the day. And yet, how often I've heard you curse yourself. How often I've heard your private battle cry against yourself!

Why? Have I waged war against My beloved? Have I instructed you to hurl rebuke and angry insult at My chosen (you)? Am I to wear the uniform of the enemy and take sides against My own?

NEVER!

I am He who calls you to the glorious kingdom of peace and righteousness. I am the One who gives you new life, who yanks sin and hatred from you.

Would you accuse Me of sending you that which I freed you from? When you came, holding your heart out to me.

I lifted you up into My own heart. I see you as a RARE and PRECIOUS GEM fitting perfectly in the Father's resplendent heavenly crown. 

I am making a gem out of you.

I am creating a new heart in you.

And now you war against that very heart. You devaluate the jewel of God. 

Peace I give you my dear one. Peace to be yourself, and to enjoy being yourself. To speak kindly of yourself is to humble yourself. To hold yourself in esteem is to humble yourself. To be gentle with yourself is to hold Me in esteem. 

Because you love Me, end the war with yourself.

-By Laura Ebel (Romans 8:1, 31-39)

I still hold onto this paper and read it when I happen to flip through my journal. It is a good reminder about Who made us and not to look at our bodies as the world does.

Katie's Choice Book Review CFBA Tour

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This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Katie's Choice B&H Books (May 1, 2013) by Amy Lillard

 

Katie Rose Fisher loved Samuel Beachy with an intensity that shook their Amish district. No one doubted they would one day marry, until Samuel turned his back on the church and joined the world of the English.

Alone now in Clover Ridge, Katie Rose dedicates her life to God and the school children she teaches each day. Although she secretly longs for more, Katie knows God’s hand is at work, and she is happy.

News correspondent Zane Carson never even knew Oklahoma had an Amish community until he got the chance to live among them and learn about their day-to-day activities. Their simple way of life is intriguing, but not half as much as the young teacher.

Katie Rose is flattered over the attention she receives from Zane, but she has resolved to never marry. Even if she were to entertain the idea, it surely couldn’t be with an outsider like Zane.

Never one prone to the restraints of organized religion, Zane finds a comfort in the rituals and blessings in the day to day righteous living of this small Amish community. He finds himself, God, and love with Katie Rose.

But as Zane draws closer to Katie Rose, Samuel comes back to repent his ways and return to his place at her side. Can Zane convince Katie Rose that he is committed to adapting to her way of life, or will Samuel win her affections back for himself once again?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Katie's Choice, go HERE.

Katie's Choice  by Amy Lillard is the second book in the Clover Ridge Series. 

I was pleasantly surprised with this book, as I have not read the first book to this series. Amy Lillard is a new author to me and this is some great writing! The characters I loved, especially Zane Carson. Zane is a war correspondent-yet he ends up with an assignment in Amish country. Katie Rose has had her heart broken but remains strong in her faith and in who she is as a teacher. Her beliefs and peace about her choices really shine through her character. When Zane shows up to write an article on the Amish, he has a lot to learn, but Katie catches his attention. 

This story is not difficult to figure out, the ending will not surprise you and neither will the main story line. But there is something about this book that made it different than some of the other Amish novels I have read. There is more humor and I really liked how Amy incorporated their faith in God, even if it takes Zane awhile to figure out.

Recommend to those who are in the mood for a lazy day and Amish romance. 

"I received this book for free from CFBA in exchange for an honest review".

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I’m a wife, mother, and bona fide Southern belle. Published author, expert corn bread maker, and Squirrel Princess.

I live in Tulsa, though I was born in Mississippi. I moved to the Sooner State when I was seventeen and met my soul mate and best friend not long after. I’ve retained a little of my Mississippi accent though most people think I’m from Texas. (?) Rob and I have been married for over twenty years and have a son–a mom proclaimed prodigy, of course!

I love homemade tacos, shoes, and romance novels–not necessarily in that order. I’m a big fan of country music, a staunch proponent of saving the Oxford comma, and I’m shamefully obsessed with all things Harry Potter.

I believe that God is love. I guess that’s why I adore romances.

I have always been intrigued with the Amish culture, their gentle ways and slower-paced lifestyle. (And I love, love, love the fact that they stay married for their lifetime.) But until recently I never thought to blend this interest with my penchant for romance. Okay, okay, I’m a bit old-fashioned and even enjoy the gender roles that are present in this culture. I love to cook and take care of my family. Yes, that’s me June Cleaver with a laptop.

I dislike people trying to convince me to read the Twlight series (I’ll get to it or I won’t, either way I’m good with it), gratuitous violence, and strawberry ice cream. (I know I’m alone on this last one, and again, I’m good with it.)

Favorite movies–(besides HP) French Kiss, Maid of Honor, A Lot Like Love, Just Married, and Sweet Home Alabama. Oh, and Miss Congeniality, Sabrina (both versions) and a 1940′s movie called Dear Ruth. If you haven’t seen it, you should! A-dorable. Anything with Doris Day and most all of Marilyn’s and Audrey’s.