Book Review:Giving Your Words

 

Giving Your Words

The Lifegiving Power of a Verbal Home for Family Faith Formation

by Sally Clarkson; Clay Clarkson

Pub Date 18 Oct 2022 |

 Bethany House,  Bethany House Publishers

 Christian  |  Parenting & Families 

I am reviewing a copy of Giving Your Words through Bethany House and Netgalley:

It is with words that we begin shaping the hearts, minds and souls of children.

As a parent, the desire of your heart is to guide your children to love and follow God.   Yet there are so many voices are offering help and advice. Whose voice should shape your children?  

Sally and Clay Clarkson suggest to readers that the answer is as simple as it is powerful: yours. They will show you how to use your own words to shape your child's life for Christ.

In Giving Your Words Sally and Clay Clarkson share with us Biblical principles and wisdom they offer, drawn from their years of raising four children and mentoring parents worldwide, will equip you as a word-giving parent.

Start here to gain confidence to personally and intentionally cultivate a verbal home, one filled with words of faith formation and spiritual nurture.

Then, when your children "take your words for it," they will hear God's voice.

I give Take Your Word For It five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Engaging Deception

 

Engaging Deception

by Regina Jennings

Pub Date 13 Dec 2022

 Bethany House,  Bethany House Publishers

 Christian  |  Historical Fiction  |  Romance 

I am reviewing a copy of Engaging Deception through Bethany House and Netgalley:

A lively competition ends up drawing her into her rival's blueprints and perhaps even her heart...

Olive Kentworth has had a lifelong interest in architecture, but she's spent most of that time hiding her interest, despite the fact that pores over architectural books and sketches buildings. When she accepts a job on a home expansion, it's only because her cousin Amos agrees to pose as the builder. To further hide her involvement, Olive takes a position as a nanny--not knowing that she'll be working for her idol, Joplin's leading architect, widower Maxfield Scott.

Maxfield finds himself intrigued by his new nanny, he makes his home and his life bearable again. His work, on is  a disaster though.  An untrained builder is remodeling a completed project of his. What's worse, Maxfield's current client wants changes to his plans because of that builder's work.

As the architectural one-upmanship heats up Olive's involvement becomes harder to hide. Will the relationship between her and Maxfield survive, or will they both miss out on building something for their future?

I give Engaging Deception five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Unspeakable

 

Unspeakable

Surviving My Childhood and Finding My Voice

by Jessica Willis Fisher

Pub Date 01 Nov 2022 

 Thomas Nelson--W Publishing,  Thomas Nelson

 Biographies & Memoirs 

I am reviewing a copy of Unspeakable through Thomas Nelson---W Publishing, Thomas Publishing and Netgalley:

Jessica Willis Fisher uses the written word as her witness statement.  She gives a lacerating portrait of a girl finding her voice after years of being silenced and an unforgettable story of risk and faith.

Jessica Willis Fisher, the eldest daughter grew up in a large, highly controlled, fundamentalist Christian household, Jessica Willis was groomed to perform, and to conform to her father's disturbing and chaotic teachings.  Constantly cut off from anything unapproved by her father, Jessica was persistently curious about the outside world, always wondering what was normal or potentially dangerous about her upbringing.

After the Willis family rocketed into fame after their appearances on multiple televised talent competitions in 2014, Jessica and her family landed their own reality TV show and toured across the globe, singing and dancing for millions.  It wasn't long before the world came to love this beautiful family and kids; young and vivacious, the Willis's presented themselves to be extraordinary and happy. But the older and wiser Jessica got, the more she had to face that what was going on behind closed doors would forever be escalating.

Unspeakable is an elegant and harrowing story f the manipulation and codependency that defines abusive family relationships, Jessica Willis Fisher lets us see the formative moments of her childhood through her eyes. Fisher's haunting coming-of-age memoir captures the beauty and ugliness of a young woman finding her way—filled with longing, fear, confusion, secrecy, and most importantly, hope for the future.

Unspeakable: Surviving My Childhood and Finding My Voice shares:

•  An unflinching look at the manipulation and codependency that defines abusive family relationships

•  The formative moments of Jessica's childhood through her eyes

•  An unforgettable story of courage and strength

If you are looking for a powerful story of overcoming abuse, and finding a way, I highly recommend Unspeakable.

I give Unspeakable five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: The War Librarian

 

The War Librarian

by Addison Armstrong

Pub Date 09 Aug 2022 

 PENGUIN GROUP Putnam,  G.P. Putnam's Sons

 Historical Fiction  |  Women's Fiction 

I am reviewing a copy of The War Librarian through Penguin Group Putnam, Putnam's Sons and Netgalley:

This is a dual timeline story, that shifts from 1918, to 1976.  It's the story of two women, a secret and a truth worth fighting for.

In 1918 Emmaline Balakin is a timid and shy young woman who lives in books more than she does her own life.  That is until the day an envelope crosses her desk at the Dead Letter Office bearing a name from her past, and Emmaline decides to finally embark on an adventure of her own as a volunteer librarian on the frontlines in France. But when a romance blooms as she secretly participates in a book club for books being censored, Emmaline will need to find more courage within herself than she ever thought possible in order to survive.

In 1976 Kathleen Carre is eager to prove to herself and to her nana that she deserves her acceptance into the first coed class at the United States Naval Academy.  The problem is not everyone wants female midshipmen at the Academy, and after tragedy strikes close to home, Kathleen becomes a target. To protect herself, Kathleen must learn to trust others even as she discovers a secret that could be her undoing.

I give The War Librarian five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Journeys on the Edge

 

Book Review: Faith Like A Child

 

Faith Like a Child

Embracing Our Lives as Children of God

by Lacy Finn Borgo

Pub Date 09 May 2023 

 InterVarsity Press,  IVP

 Christian  |  Nonfiction (Adult)  |  Religion & Spirituality 

I am reviewing a copy of Faith Like A Child through Intervarsity Press, IVP and Netgalley:

Faith Like A Child encourages readers to accept and embrace the invitation to a childlike Faith.  Jesus encouraged his followers to become like little children.  But we often have different in remembering the natural patterns of our childhood selves that enabled us to live freely in God's wonder-filled presence. Is childlike faith simply an unquestioning faith, or is it being present with ourselves in a way that invites healing and wholeness?

In Faith Like A Child we are encouraged to consider Jesus' invitation to childlike faith and explores seven distinct ways of welcoming the child within. Offering wisdom from years of experience as a spiritual director with both adults and children, Lacy Finn Borgo explores practices to welcome and enliven your childhood self. 

I give Faith Like A Child five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Flip the Script

 

Flip the Script

Make Your Move from Broken to Brilliant

by Brittany Estes

Pub Date 14 Mar 2023 

 Abilene Christian University Press & Leafwood Publishers

 Christian  |  Religion & Spirituality 

  

I am reviewing a copy of Flip the Script through  Abilene Christian University Press & Leafwood Publishers and Netgalley:

In Flip the Script Brittany Estes reminds readers not to let harmful dialogues play through your mind; it’s time to flip the script and reclaim your joy. Soon you’ll begin to see life in a brand-new way.

We are bombarded by negative, broken, lie filled sentences that fill our heads in work and in play, as we go on with the business of daily living.  And these scripts are sidelining us, maligning us, and harming us.

But what if it were another way?  What if your life didn’t have to be defined by what others say? Or even by what you say to yourself over and over? What if you knew that beauty and life are yours to be found and you finally danced in the freedom that awaits you?

Flip the Script reminds readers that there is more for us.  We can learn how to silence all the negative scripts in order to hear the one that really matters, so we can live exuberant, positive life meant for us.  this book, you’ll finally uncover the scripts that have broken us down. The great news is that we are never broken beyond repair. Learn how God gently collects all our broken pieces and puts them back together as we retrain our minds to think differently about our situation, God, and our world.

I give Flip the Script five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!