Monday, February 28, 2011

Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes




Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes
By Robin Jones Gunn

About the book:
A multi-tasking mama, Summer has found ways to handle whatever life throws at her with grace and a grin...until now. An abnormal medical test result sends her into a tailspin and prompts her to fulfill a life-long dream of "meeting" her best friend and pen pal since fourth grade for the first time. During their blissful week together in the Netherlands, Summer and Noelle float down a canal in Amsterdam, visit Corrie Ten Boom's Hiding Place, sip decadent Dutch cocoa in Delft, and bob merrily along through a sea of brilliant, spring-fresh tulips. The two friends find they both needed to be together more than either of them realized. Could it be this adventure was tucked away in God's imagination long before Summer bought her ticket to fly to the land of merry tulips and kalomping wooden shoes?


My Thoughts:



Noelle and Summer have a strong and beautiful friendship though they live on different continents. Summer steps across the pond to visit her lifelong pen pal while trying to escape some possibly devastating news. Their friendship grows as they tour the countryside and discover things about themselves they never knew.






Robin weaves in nuances of authentic Dutch culture making a fun and educational read!


Robin Gun has such a warm writing style with these sweet stories. This is an all round warm book!






Favorite Line:


“Go make your own adventures, and come home often to tell us about them.” He smiled. “I’d say it’s time for you to do the same. Go make your own adventure, honey. When you come home, I’ll want to hear about it.”






*I received this book free for review from Waterbrook- Multnomah Press*
Favorite Line:


Rating: 4 carats
Visit Robin Jones Gunn's website Buy the book

Monday, February 21, 2011

The Shelter of God's Promises


The Shelter of God's Promises



The Shelter of God's Promises
By Sheila Walsh

About the Book:
In a world of uncertainty, pain, and struggle, where do you find solid assurance and unshakeable truth? Gifted Bible teacher and inspiring Women of Faith speaker Sheila Walsh offers powerful, heart-filled teaching on ten bedrock promises of God, providing the foundation for daily confidence, joy, and hope. In The Shelter of God's Promises, Sheila searches Scripture for what God has promised us, what God's promises mean, and how encounters with Christ are the eternal fulfillment of His unrelenting commitment to us. In this riveting walk through some of the Bible's most compelling stories, Walsh unveils ten foundational promises of God that secure our lives during even the most difficult times. Sheila weaves her hallmark storytelling, inspiring personal experience, and Scripture to help readers gain a trust in God that will sustain them for a lifetime.


My Thoughts:



I was pleasntly surprised by this book. The back cover synopisis sounded good but before I even finished the first chapter I was excited to hear the stories that lay ahead.


Sheila Walsh takes us on a journey of exploring specifics promieses of God and illustrates ways He has used them with indepth despriptions of Bible stories.

She divides the book into nine promises. As she covers each promise you will not be disappointed. You have most likely heard these promises before but she helps you to see them promises in new light. This is a great Bible study.


I listened to the audio version of this book. The narrator is a Scottish woman who talks in a soothing tone and takes great pauses at moments when we need to digest what she just said, which is really nice with all of the profound quotes and thought provoking things said.

*I received this audiobook free for review from Christianaudio.com
Favorite Line:
"when the pain of staying the same in greater than the pain of change, than you will change"

Rating: 5 carats



Visit Sheila Walsh's website
Buy the Audiobook

Friday, February 11, 2011

A Billion Reasons Why

A Billion Reasons Why
By Kristin Billerbeck

About the book:
Katie McKenna leads a perfect life. Or so she thinks. She has a fulfilling job, a cute apartment, and a wedding to plan with her soon-to-be fiance, Dexter.




She can think of a billion reasons why she should marry Dexter…but nowhere on that list is love.



And then in walks Luc DeForges, her bold, breathtaking ex-boyfriend. Only now he's a millionaire. And he wants her to go home to New Orleans to sing for her childhood friend's wedding. As his date.



But Katie made up her mind about Luc eight years ago, when she fled their hometown after a very public breakup. Yet there's a magnetism between them she can't deny.

Katie thought her predictable relationship with Dexter would be the bedrock of a lasting, Christian marriage. But what if there's more? What if God's desire for her is a heart full of life? And what if that's what Luc has offered all along?


My Review:
I was captivated by this book and every time I closed it I had a smile on my face. The characters are well developed and multi-faceted, just when you think you have one of them pegged they surprise you! Luc seems a little arrogant but really I think he just goes after what he wants and Katie struggles to stifle her passion to be proper but blossoms as she went along.




The entire book asks ‘do you follow your heart or follow your mind’. Only you can decide if Katie made the right decision but I loved reading the book with all the way it drew in every sense as Kristin Billerbeck described New Orleans, Katie’s inner thoughts, and the throw back to the forties.



Favorite Line:

“God didn’t paint you with a brushstroke of safety, Katie. He brought out the fiery colors for you.”


*I received this book free for review from Thomas Nelson Publishers*
Rating: 5 carats

Visit Kristin's website
Buy the book

Monday, February 7, 2011

Found: God's Will

Found: God's Will
By John MacArthur
About the book:
GET READY FOR A SURPRISE!




You may want to jump and shout when you read the sixth principle for knowing when you have found God's will.



The sixth principle is "Do whatever you want" as long as the first five principles are operating in your life.



Read about all six principles to better understand what the psalmist means when he urges, "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart" (Psalm 37:4).

My Review:
This is small but powerful little book. John MacArthur outlines six steps listed in scripture to help the reader find God’s will for his/her life. MacArthur does just that as every step is based in scripture, clear, and easily understood. I think any Christian would benefit from studying this book.




I listened to the audio version of the book which was not read by John Macarthur. The narrator for the book did well; he was pleasant to listen to and flowed right along with the narration.



Favorite Quote:

“The only way to saturate yourself with Christ is to saturate yourself with the book that is all about Him”


*I received this audio book free for review from christianaudio.com*
Rating: 5 carats

Visit John MacArthur's website
Buy the audiobook