Saturday, September 29, 2012

A Cruel Harvest Book Review



A Cruel Harvest by Fran Grubb is an extremely difficult book to read. When I requested this book I knew it was going to be sad by reading the back cover. I really am not sure how to put this story into words.

"Get out here, now, or I'm gonna kill you!" he hollered.
Little girls are hardwired to hold their daddies in high esteem, so it comes as a shock the first time a daughter feels the back of her daddy's hand across her face . . . or watches him punch and kick her mother to within an inch of her life.
How could this be? Her older sisters teach her how to survive, even when he comes for her in the night.
A girl learns to become invisible, to look the other way, to say nothing when a curious stranger asks if she's okay. To lie. To expect nothing, not even from relatives.
To cry without tears.
To pray silently.
When she is fourteen, and weary, a girl begins to wish she were dead. Cruel Harvest is the compelling story of how she lived instead.

This is not fiction, this is real life. The more I read, the sadder I became. This book made me feel mad, sad, and selfish. This is a story about little children who were starved and beaten and saw awful horrible things in only a few short words. What's worse, this is not an uncommon story. What makes this woman different with her story is that she has an incredible faith in Christ, even with a horrific childhood past.

I encourage anyone to read this book, but it is graphic and not easy to helplessly read when all you want to do is help Fran escape.

This shows how amazing Christ is and how people can forgive, even those who once tried to hurt them.

Check out this link about Cruel Harvest.

"I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishing through their Booksneeze program."

Friday, September 28, 2012

Simply Jesus Book Review



Simply Jesus by Joseph Stowell is about having a real relationship with Christ and what that acutally means. Here is an excerpt: "What would it mean to fix our attention fully on the Person of Christ? To approach Him apart from systems, formulas, religion, and well-meaning Christian culture? To see Jesus Himself? And how would that change us?"

So these questions got me interested in the book in the first place. I really like how Stowell writes and he is very honest and real in his writing. He talks about things that people might try to ignore or not admit to being true. The second chapter started out saying, "If you had to choose between Jesus and something precious to you...some alluring dream or tantalizing desire....I wonder, would you choose Him?". This really made me think because this can be a difficult thing to do and it shouldn't be at all!

There are multiple bullet points in the book that make some things easier to read and understand. I also noticed there is a mixture with scripture. He uses the Bible to quote from but also The Message. I understand The Message but it's not the Bible so that was the only thing that through me off a bit.

Overall this book really makes you think about putting God first. It's a pretty short book but not a bad read.

"I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. This is my honest opinion of the book."

Sunday, September 23, 2012

A Season for Tending Book Review



A Season for Tending by Cindy Woodsmall is the first in the Amish Vines and Orchards series. When I got the book I had no idea what the story line was about so I was pleasantly surprised as I began reading. The story is about Rhoda Byler who has a gift from God that no one understands. Her story is one of guilt and confusion from past events. Her life suddenly changes when Samuel King offers her a business opportunity with the King family orchard. Samuel's girlfriend, Catherine, and his brother Jacob join the story and kept me guessing the entire time! This book deals with jealousy at it's finest, trust, believing in God's plan, and understanding that God does know what He is doing.

I was blown away with this book. I have read many of Woodsmall's books about the Amish and I think she is an incredible author. This book, I think, is her best yet. She was able to write a story that deals with a lot of issues and she did it flawlessly. Many times books about the Amish all start to sound the same, same story and plot and not very difficult to figure out. A Season for Tending was not at all like a typical Amish story and I honestly had no idea what would happen in the end, even with the romance side of things.  This is a must read to anyone who likes simply likes a good story.

Check out Woodsmall's website.

Read the first chapter A Season for Tending.

Also check out the book trailer!

"I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. This is my honest opinion of the book."

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Check out Unstoppable!

Unstoppable by Nick Vujicic is a new book coming out in a couple of weeks. Nick has written another book that I have read Life Without Limits. His story is incredible as he is a man who doesn't have limbs but still has a positive attitude about everything. He is passionate about God and it is evident if you watch his videos or read his books.

Check out this video here.

Here is a peek into the first chapter of his new book over here.

I am promoting this book because I think Nick has a great story to share and WaterBrook Multnomah publishing has asked for my help to promote this story.

Monday, September 17, 2012

The Trouble with Cowboys Book Review


The Trouble With Cowboys by Denise Hunter is part of the Big Sky Romance series. Denise Hunter is a new author to me and I really enjoyed this book! Yes, the story line was predictable, as it usually is with a romance, but the characters and setting were wonderful.

I liked this book because it really showed personal struggles and how God can be a part of a person's life. This book is about a stubborn woman who doesn't want to get hurt but is too afraid to let God be in control.

Dylan (the handsome cowboy) has a bad reputation and contrary to what everyone thinks is a strong Christian man who is waiting for the right gal to come along.

Denise did a great job with her little details in her storyline and characters.

I recommend The Trouble With Cowboys to anyone who wants to read a little Christian romance.
 I can't wait to read more by this author!

"I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishing through their Booksneeze program."

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Band of Sisters Book Review



Band of Sisters by Cathy Gohlke takes you on a trip back to Ellis Island in 1910. The book is centered around two Irish immigrant girls who go to America because of troubles at home. Cathy portrays the difficulties of getting through Ellis Island and the many inspections that people had to go through in order to enter the country. The story is just beginning for the girls as Maureen, the oldest, discovers that she can trust no one and girls at her department store job are disappearing for a reason. This book takes you far beyond a typical historical fiction story and delves into the darkness of human trafficking  and slavery. This is a story that can be told today, as it is still a very real issue.

The title of the book comes from the girls that get together and try to do what they think Jesus would do and put an end to the slavery. This book shows how Christ can work in anyone's life and make such an impact.

I really enjoyed this book and I think Cathy delivers a great message in her story. After having been to Ellis Island it was easier to imagine in my mind as to how difficult it would be for the girls when they arrived. This book is really long as it has over sixty chapters, but it is hard to put down.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction and has a passion to end modern day slavery.

Check out Cathy's website over here.

"I received this book for free from Tyndale Publishers for this review. This is my honest opinion of the book"

Friday, September 7, 2012

Raspberry Pickin'

This past week I was going through all of my old pictures. I have them backed up on discs and in my "organization" completely forgot what pictures were on what discs. I need to get an external hard drive but in any case I discovered these pictures! These I took a couple of years ago when we went up Boreas Pass to pick raspberries. I have always picked raspberries up in the mountains with my family if we can get there before the bears do!

These are the mountains I love.