The River Book Review

The River by Michael Neale was a pleasant surprise for me to read. This book has been so popular and I honestly had no idea what the book was about when I ordered it. Neale has quite a way of writing a story that anyone can relate to and understand.

The start of the book grabbed my attention and sucked me into the rest of the story. Neale starts out talking about meeting a man at the airport who tells him this crazy life story. This "life story" is what fills the books pages. Going back to Gabriel Clarke's tragic loss to his life in Kansas where he grows up in a typical country life. After high school he goes on a road trip to Colorado with some friends to hike and run the river where he unexpectedly discovers an incredible peace and past he knew nothing about.

I like this story because I grew up in Colorado and now live in Kansas, so I understand the two very different places and longing to start a new adventure. I grew up surrounded by rafting and people whose life was the river so I relate to this story. I also enjoyed how Neale captured the peace of our Father's love and how He is always there.

I don't think this is a book that everyone would enjoy reading, it's almost like a biography to read (which I love) but others do not. If you read the first chapter and don't like it then you probably won't like the rest of the book, if it interests you, you will read it as fast as I did.

Check out Michael Neale website.

"I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishing through their Booksneeze program. This is my honest opinion of the book."

Tyndale Rewards!

I have been meaning to writing this post for over a week now and just haven't gotten it done! Anyway, Tyndale Publishing has started a rewards program. I am a part of their blogging for books program so I was super excited to hear about this new addition!

Sign up with this link and you will receive 25 points just for using this link to sign up!!



It is a super simple program, you don't have to do anything crazy or difficult. You earn points with surveys, inviting others, reading their newsletters, and reviewing products.

Here is what I did as soon as I signed up: I went into the "Earn Points" section and clicked the accept their newsletters, told them my birthday (you get points for telling them your birthday and then you get a free gift on your special day!), answered a survey, and voila! I was able to get two free books right then. Their inventory changes on what they offer, so there is a bit to choose from. I received the first book in the mail today, it only took a week to get here!

Also, when I signed up I had no idea that audio books would be on there as well! I scrolled down the list and The Chronicles of Narnia on CD was there!


Here is the link Tyndale Rewards.

I am super excited about this program, check it out!

Cowgirl Trail-A Review

Cowgirl Trail by Susan Page Davis is a part of the Texas Trail series. I had never heard of this series or author before and was excited to see what she had to offer. I love the story line and idea behind this book!

Maggie Porter is coming home to her father's ranch where she grew up. She has been away in San Fransisco because of her mothers recent death. When she arrives at the ranch she figures out nothing is working out like it should with the ranch hands and her fathers health. Maggie's father is now broke and she tries to figure out how to save the ranch before the bank takes it all.

 Here's a tidbit from the back of the book, " Maggie is desperate to save the ranch and she turns to the town's women for help. The new cowgirls must herd, rope, and drive the cattle to market. With only two days left, outlaws charge the small band of cowgirls in an effort to start a stampede."

I love that she is able to get all of the girls to drive the herd since all of the men are gone. This story also has a little romance but not as much as I expect out of these type of books.

I enjoyed this book but the only thing that would have made it better would have been humor. The author could have done so much with this story if some humorous scenes were added.

I will be finding the rest of this series to read! Also, you can read these books alone and not as a series and it will all still make sense.

Find out more on the book over here.

Also check out MoodyPublishers.com


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

The Girl's Still Got It Book Review

The Girl's Still Got It by Liz Curtis Higgs is a different viewpoint on the story of Ruth and Naomi. Liz takes the book of Ruth verse by verse to explain what was going on in the culture and time period to better understand the full story. She writes with a sense of humor and simplicity that it's easy to read and comprehend. She uses different examples of verses from different versions, including the Hebrew translation at times. I really liked how she took everything apart into detail. There is also a paragraph at the end of each chapter titled "Ruth in Real Life".

This book has twelve chapters but includes a ton of extra material in the back. The discussion questions and study guide were interesting to read just to complete everything read.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys the story of Ruth and a sense of humor. 

Check out this website to read more about the author and her popular book!

Read the first chapter of The Girl's Still Got It.


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

Birthday Fun

For my birthday this year I had a bit of fun! 

 It snowed!

 My man bought me roses!

A good friend of mine bought me six bottles of coffee syrup, she knows me too well! I also made cupcakes this year just for fun. 

It was a simple yet fun birthday this year.

Book Giveaway-Named by God

I am having a book giveaway for Named by God by Kasey van Norman.

 I wrote a review for this book over here. So check it out if you want to know more about the book, I include links to the authors website as well.

In order to participate please leave a comment on this post that includes an email to contact you if you are the winner.  Entries made on this post must include a valid email address (myname dot hotmail dot com) so that I contact you. Also, with this giveaway, you can get an extra entry for following my blog. So if you comment and follow my blog, your name will be in the drawing twice!

The dates for the giveaway will be October 5-14 and I will announce the winner on the 15th. The winner will then need to email me their address so I can ship the book.

This is one of my favorite new books and Kasey has quite a story to tell! 

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."

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."

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."

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.

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."