Book Review: Pilgrimage

Pilgrimage

My Journey to a Deeper Faith in the Land Where Jesus Walked

Lynn Austin

Bethany House

Bethany House Publishers

2013

This book is about Author Lynn Austin's personal pilgrimage to Christ as well as a physical pilgrimage.  She remind us that being disconnected from Christ is far worse than being disconnected from the amities of modern living.  

The author allows us to journey to the land that Jesus walked through her eyes with the Vivid descriptions you are taken a long for the journey.

I enjoyed this book a great deal and give it five out of five stars.

Happy Reading Friends...

Book Review: In God We Trust

In God We Trust?

A Challenge to American Evangelicals
Patrick Nachtigall
Warner Press
Pub Date   Jan 5 2015

This book is a call to American Evangelicals a reminder that America was founded on the freedom of religion.  This book also points out that although many look at the United States as the wealthiest nation some nations like China have more income per capita but they also have lower living standards.  And the author also points out the issues of the "prosperity gospel " but it also points out the fact that the American Church is often generous offering food and shelter to the down and out.

We are told to be warned about those who claim to know when the world is going to end because they cannot know the day or the hour only God himself knows.  It is also pointed out that American Evangelicals are called to spread the gospel around the world.

This book was both well written sand well researched and was full of interesting facts and figures.  

Four out of five Stars...

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Book Review: Heaven Help Heidi

Heaven Help Heidi
Sally John
Harvest House Publishers
Copyright 2015

Everyone see's Heidi Hathaway as a typical So Cal woman her friends say she is so typical she has become a cliche.  Soon an accident leaves Heidi broken in body.  About a month after the accident Heidi is still struggling and then she meets Piper, Piper is a real estate agent who is temporarily renting Heidi a cottage until she is more on her feet and can go back to her Condo, Heidi finds it strange though that Piper prays before renting to a tenant, although Heidi can use all the prayers she can get.

Soon Heidi finds herself battling PTSD and an addiction to pain pills after the accident because she only wants to forget that her life is falling apart she wants to pretend her life is not falling apart.  

Soon Heidi discovers her limp is not going away and her friends do there best to encourage her to accept it and be thankful it was not worse the accident very nearly killed her.

Will Heidi learn to accept what happened to her in the accident?  Will she comes to terms with her limitations?

Will Heidi come to realize that there are others who hurt far worse than she does?

Will she find true joy?

Find out and pick up a copy of Heaven Help Heidi you won't regret it.

Five out of five stars...

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Book Review:Beyond I Do

Beyond I Do
Jennifer Slattery
New Hope Publishers

2014

Ainsley is engaged to be married to a psychiatrist and soon to be published author named Richard Hollis the only problem with that is that he has a need to always rescue her.  That is not the biggest problem though the biggest issue is that Ainsley is a Christian and is not sure if Richard is.

Beyond I Do is a story of romance but it is so much more than that, it is a story of making decisions that may very well hurt in order to be right with the Lord.  It is the story of Ainsley's growing faith and the love she feels with Richard as well.

I give this novel five out of five Stars.

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Book Review: Tide And Tempest

Tide and Tempest

Elizabeth Ludwig

Bethany House

Bethany House Publishers

2014

Two years ago Tillie's fiance was killed, Captain Morgan fears it was murder and that Tillie's life may be in danger as well.

Is Tillie's life really in danger?  Will Captain Morgan be able to save her and will he risk his very life doing so?

Read Tide and Tempest to find out...

I give this well written novel five out of five stars if you like Historical fiction with a touch of adventure, intrigue and romance then you will love Elizabeth Ludwig's Tide and Tempest...

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Book Review: Come Away My Beloved...and Pray

Come Away My Beloved...and Pray

Frances J. Roberts

Barbour Publishing, Inc.

Barbour Books

Pub Date   Dec 1 2014

If you are looking for a little devotional that will encourage a deeper relationship a deeper intimacy with the Lord above.

This devotional may be small in size but what it contains is powerful and empowering showing us the importance of a deeper intimacy with Christ.

This devotional would make a great addition to your personal Bible Study...

Five out of five stars

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Book Review: Why Am I Still Single

Why Am I Still Single?

 

Advice for Christian Single Women

Winnie Mbala

Xulon Press

Pub Date   Sep 22 2014

This book poses the question : What is it to find a mate?  This book then points out one common misconception and that is men and women are not created equally when in fact the Bible in Genesis 1 points out that we are indeed.  This book also points out that a woman using her God given gifts should not be looked at as a woman competing with a man but instead pursuing her God given talents.  We are also reminded that a born again Christian Woman should not be unequally yoked with a non believer.

Why Am I Single reminds us the importance of allowing the Holy Spirit to move in our lives and relationships.  The author also points out that Faith enables woman to believe and not settle than anything less than God's best.

The author points out something we so often tend to gloss over in today's society and that is the importance of saving ourselves for marriage.  She points out that we should save our virginity until we get married.  

I  would recommend this book to Single Women who are looking to find and even Marry a Godly man.

I give this book five out of five stars.

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Book Review:Pretty From the Inside Out

Pretty from the Inside Out
Discover All the Ways God Made You Special
Jennifer Strickland
Harvest House Publishers
Pub Date   Mar 1 2015

In this  book tweens and teens are reminded that it is a lie to believe what other people think of you because people's opinions are always changing.  We are also reminded that the way Gods mirror in which he does not see us never changes.

This devotional reminds girls that beauty is not defined by physical experience but instead it comes from the love and respect we give others.  I would definitely recommend this book for girls and young women from sixth grade and up.

I give this book five out of five Stars...

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Book Review:Coffee, Tea and Holy Water

Coffee, Tea, and Holy Water
   
One Woman'sJourney  to Experience Christianity Around the Globe
Amanda Hudson
Abingdon Press
Abingdon Press

Pub Date   Mar 3 2015

I was given the opportunity to read a review copy of Coffee, Tea and Holy Water through Netgalley in exchange I am given my honest review...

From a young age Amanda posed this question to herself if Christianity is such an integral part of our culture what does it look like in other Cultures?  But instead of just wondering as Amanda grew up she decided to seek out the answers.  She startedcthis journey by going to places different from the south but places where Christians live she decided to start by traveling to these five Countries Wales (UK), Brazil, China, Honduras and Tanzania.

The author reminds us that where in Brazil they may worship a block of wood as an idol in America we arrange our lives around other stuff that can quickly become an idol.  Observing a church service she sees how serious those who believe take their worship.Traveling to Wales she discovers that Wales has the lowest church attendance in all the UK.

In Tanzania Amanda sees the effects of mass poverty, starvation, malnutrion and death.  Attending a service in Tanzania she learns the devotion of the believers here they talk for hours in oppressive heat even in dust storms to get to church.

Soon Amanda finds herself traveling to China she learns that despite the fact that China is a largely atheistic country Christianity is growing despite the sanctions limiting the number of people who can attend the various home churches.

The last stop on Amanda Hudson's journey is Honduras where she learns of the struggles of Christians there.  Despite the poverty and sickness there she sees how they pull together to help one another.

I thoroughly enjoyed this look at Christianity around the world and would gladly recommend it to others.

Five out of five stars

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Book Review: No Worst, There is None

No Worst, There Is None
Eve McBride
Dundurn
Dundurn

Though fictionalized this book is based on the 1986 murder of a budding eleven year old up and coming track star named Allison Pittman in Toronto Canada.

This book is an intense painful read because it notbonly deals with themurder of an eleven year old girl but her sexual insult as well.  

No, Worst There is None is a well written and well researched book but it deals with Heavy Topics because so I recommend this book for those who are fifteen and older.

Four out of five stars

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Book Review: Jesus, Jihad and Peace

Jesus, Jihad, and Peace
 
What Does Bible Prophecy Say About World Events Today?
Michael Youssef
Worthy Publishing

Michael Youssef speaks openly of his experience in the Islam Culture a born again Christian.

Michael Youssef speaks a little bit of his life in Egypt and he reminds us that we as Americans should care about what is happening in the Middle East because what is happening there now does effect us.  

The differences in the beliefs of Christians and Muslims are pointed out by comparing and contrasting verses from the Bible as well as passages from the Koran.  And he points out how one study shows that how Christianity is perhaps the most persecuted religion in the world and certainly in the Middle East especially in Islamic nations where Christian Missionaries are risking their lives.

I give this powerful and informative book Five out of Five Stars...

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Book Review:Steadfast Heart

Steadfast Heart
Peterson, Tracie
Bethany House
Bethany House Publishers

2015

it's 1880's Seattle Miriam Madison runs a bridal school soon a lawyer from Chicago comes to the school thinking it is a brothel looking for his sister who ran away from home.  Soon they are facing real danger in Seattle a man named Charlie is killed and a murderer is walking the streets of Seattle, leaving everyone frightened.

Abrianna helps her Aunt at the school but is restless she longs for a different life perhaps even a life of luxury.  Soon though she finds herself determined to help find Charlie's killer.

A man name Priam Welby soon comes into the picture he is not a good man but one who smuggles Morphine  (Opium) and those who get in his way he has his "Men" deal with.

Are they all in danger because of the violence that happened around them?

Will Abrianna's best friend Lenore be able to have the wedding she dreams of?  

pick up your copy of Steadfast Heart to find out...

Five out of five stars

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Book Review: Beyond All Dreams

Beyond All Dreams
Camden, Elizabeth
Bethany House
Bethany House Publishers
2015

It is the 1897,  the last thing Annie O Brien a Librarian expects to be doing is to be working with a prominent Congressman to solve a mystery.  Soon it seems that everyone is reading to much into this mystery solving adventure with the Senator perhaps even the Senator himself.

Annie O Brien soon finds herself ducking from newspaper reporters trying to capture a story trying to get the gossip and this could ruin her reputation as well as put the Senator in a bad light.

Will this mystery solving adventure with the Senator turn into something more?

Pick up a Copy of Beyond All Dreams to find out...

Five out of five stars. 

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Book Review: Fallen

Fallen

Out of the Sex Industry & Into the Arms of the Savior
Annie Lobert
Worthy Publishing
Worthy Publishing
Pub Date   Feb 17 2015

Annie Lobert found that she gained a lust for money after her first experience with prostitution but somewhere deep down the faith of an Elementary School teacher resognated.

In this book she openly talks about how she was broken in by her pimp by him brainwashing her into thinking she could only rely on him.  Her pimp abuses her not only verbally but by repeatedly raping her and beating her before long she gets to the point where she has to hide money for an eventual escape from him.

In 1995 not only is Annie Lobert diagnosed with Cancer but she also looses her oldest sister to the genetic condition she was born with.  Amidst all of this she still experiences abuse and insults due to her Cancer and the way she looks.

Soon Annie finds herself struggling with another addiction that of Cocaine, she stops and starts until nearly dying becomes a wake up call and she finds hersrlf turning to Christ.

I give Fallen Five Out of Five Stars

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Book Review: Onyx Heart

Onyx Heart
Donna Cambell
2011

If you like Vampire tales I think you will love Donna Cambell's Christian approach to the vampire story.  I know I did.

Luke has been blind for three years, the same night he lost his sight he had lost his beloved Melinda.  Sometimes he still reaches out to her in the middle of the night only to find emptiness.  Despite his blindness Luke runs his ranch well, not a man is hired without his say, and with the help of Melba his housekeeper and her teenage son he is able to function well, but sometimes he wakes up wondering why the darkness then he remembers.

Melba does tend to get carried away in her protectiveness of Luke at times, sending search parties out for him when he wanders on his own wanting time to get away or think.  Soon Luke finds himself needing Melba's care though and he hates that helpless vulnerable feeling.

In his time of sickness Luke is seduced by a vampire who calls itself Celeste and is even promised he would get his sight back but taking what the power the vampire offers could lead to dire consequences.  Soon Luke finds himself with an uncontrollable thirst for blood and realizes he has been turned into a vampire. He does not get his sight back though and travels through the centuries without his sight.

I give this book five out of five stars...

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Book Review: Love Beneath A Florida Sky

Love Beneath A Florida Sky
B.J Robinson
Jan.12.2015

Once you read one book by B.J Robinson you will want to read them all.  She has made me a lifelong fan with her ability to tell a story that pulls you in and does not let go.

Cari Brooks is stuck out on the water in the midst of a storm and nearly goes under a long with her boat but thankfully Blake finds her and is able to rescue her, but they are stuck on a desserted island overnight where they catch up on missed time.  Cari looses her boat on the water but Blake saves her life.  And the next morning Blake gets her safely home after being stranded on the island during the storm.

Cari soon finds herself getting a second chance at love with Blake, she is so smitten that it even starts to effect her writing...

Will Cari and Blake fall in love and  get married?  Pick up a copy of Love Beneath A Florida Sky to Find out.

I give this book five out of five stars...Happy Reading Friends