Book Review: The Heart Of A King

From The Back:

Get swept away by a story of love, loss, and longing
King Solomon could--and did--have anything he wanted, including many women from many lands. But for all of his wealth and wisdom, did he or the women he loved ever find what they were searching for?

In this engrossing novel, find yourself whisked away to ancient Israel, where you'll meet four remarkable women: Naamah the desert princess, Abishag the shepherdess, Siti the daughter of a pharaoh, and Nicaula the queen of Sheba. As you experience the world of Solomon through his eyes and theirs, you'll grapple with whether this king's storied wisdom ultimately benefited him and those he loved . . . or betrayed them.

My Reflections:
I simply adore Biblical fiction, it is one of my favourite genres! I will most certainly be looking this authours work up in the near future. This story sweeps it's readers off to another time, a time where King Solomon rules and the wives he collects deal with the situations they find themselves in. I loved that in this fictional retelling we hear both sides, one of the wives and one of King Solomon. It gives readers a better perspective into the lives and thoughts of the characters. 

As the story progressed I was not smitten with King Solomon, I found him paying lip service to his new wives. Once the marriage ceremony was completed and the honeymoon over he moved onto another more interesting prospect or work-related venture. I'm well aware that it was a very different time, and that this is a fictional twist on the biblical story. None the less my heart went out to the many wives he collected and the feelings they must have experienced when a new wife was added. The story really highlights the fact that truth can get mixed up so easily by life. Solomon was spoken to by God, he knew the laws and he talked himself into believing that his choices were Ok, even though God's law was straightforward and clear.  This clarity was so well delivered in this story that I found myself really analyzing some of my choices and thoughts. Such a healthy thing to do, right! 

I love when I read these stories then get the itch to reread the actual account, the Bible is filled with stories that blow your socks off. It's awesome!

I usually share the Biblical fiction with my tween and teen however I probably won't be sharing this one with the 11-year-old as there are too many innuendos to the marriage bed. I would recommend this novel to adults and the 17 and up crowd. Definitely a great read, I'm super excited to read more from this authour!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Jill Eileen Smith

Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling and award-winning author of the biblical fiction series The Wives of King David, Wives of the Patriarchs, and Daughters of the Promised Land, as well as The Heart of a King and the nonfiction book When Life...

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Book Review: Exhale

From The Back:

Move from running-on-empty to spent-and-content.
Exhale is for the woman suffocating under the pressure of being all things to all people; of filling every unfilled spot at church, work, and home; of trying to do it all right, make decisions that benefit everyone else, and keep everyone happy.

Rather than adding more to your to-do list, Amy Carroll and Cheri Gregory show you how to
· lose the ill-fitting roles you've been trying to fill so that you can be lighter and freer,
· love your truest, God-created self with all your glorious gifts instead of trying to shove yourself into a mold, and
· live your one and only life in a way that you know truly matters.
This isn't a time-management book filled with how-to lists and calendar tools. Instead, it walks you through a process that releases you from the things that have created unbearable pressure. Then you'll be able to live the combination we all long for: fulfilling the desires of your heart, loving your people well, and bringing glory to God.

Live the life you were created for.

My Reflections:
This book is exactly what I was searching for and I found the common sense approach spoke to my practical, analytical side. Getting rid of the "things" that clutter my thinking and seriously suck the life out of me was of the utmost importance in my life right now. 

Authors Amy Carroll and Cheri Gregory have created a systematic approach to doing just this. The book is split into three parts: Loose Who You're Not, Love Who You Are and Live Your One Life Well. I liked the layout and found it easy to follow. One thing I will mention is the small font. I found it hard to read as the writing is faint and very tiny. That is the only thing that made me pause. 
I truly enjoyed the content, authors stories and the wisdom shared. Since these are some of the things I have been working on already I was able to dive into this book with new vigour and a sense of eagerness. 

If you are tired of trying to make your life fit into your neatly packed boxes or find those boxes you thought were so well organized just pewed its very contents all over the place, this book is for you. I love books who point us in the right direction, to the one who makes everything right again. Truly a book I will be keeping in my collection to reference again and again. 

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Amy Carroll is a speaker and writer for Proverbs 31 Ministries, the author of Breaking Up with Perfect, and a cohost for the podcast Grit 'n' Grace. Amy and her husband live in Holly Springs, North Carolina. Find out more at www.amycarroll.org.

Cheri Gregory is a frequent speaker and the coauthor, with Kathi Lipp, of You Don't Have to Try So Hard and Overwhelmed. She's also a contributor to the (in)courage Devotional Bible. She lives with her family on the central California coast. Learn more at www.cherigregory.com.

Book Review: More Than Words Can Say

From the Back:

An Impossible Situation. An Unlikely Couple.
A Recipe for Love?

After fulfilling a pledge to a dying friend, Zacharias Hamilton is finally free to live life on his own terms. No opportunities to disappoint those he cares about, just the quiet bachelor existence he's always craved. Until fate snatches his freedom away once again when the baker of his favorite breakfast treat is railroaded by the city council. As hard as he tries to avoid getting involved, he can't turn a blind eye to her predicament . . . or her adorable dimples.

Abigail Kemp needs a man's name on her bakery's deed. A marriage of convenience seems the best solution . . . if it involves a man she can control. Not the stoic lumberman who oozes confidence without saying a word whenever he enters her shop. Control Zacharias Hamilton? She can't even control her pulse when she's around him.

Once vows are spoken, Abigail's troubles should be over. Yet threats to the bakery worsen, and darker dangers hound her sister. As trust grows between Zach and Abby, she finds she wants more than his rescue. She wants his heart.

My reflections:
Love these kinds of stories, though probably not very successful the idea makes me smile. Pair this theme with the authour Karen Witemeyer and you have a must read. 
Witemeyer never fails to delight her readers with sassy characters, Clean romance, realistic settings and a well-planned plot. Her newest book is no exception. I adored "More than Meets the Eye" and was so eager to dive into this novel, Let me tell you I read in in record time.

I really enjoyed how in this novel the main characters Abby and Zach show genuine care and dedication to the commitment they have decided to make.  It's wonderful to be able to see the love slowly blossom and the tension of new love emerge. 

This story focuses on forgiveness not only of oneself but also others who wrong you. This story will have you from page one, both Abby and Zach are genuinely nice people from the start and watching them grow and mature is absolutely beautiful!

If you are looking for a clean, well-presented love story filled with a sweetly emerging romance this is the summer read for you!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Karen Witemeyer

Winner of the HOLT Medallion and the Carol Award and a finalist for the RITA and Christy Award, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer writes historical romance to give the world more happily-ever-afters. Karen makes her home in Texas, with her husband and three...

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Book Review: The Refuge

From The Back:

Can the power of love and the bond of family triumph in a community that cannot accept either?
With the threat of a cholera epidemic at their heels, Darcie and Walter Goodwin join the Shakers, whose villages seem immune to the disease. It's meant to be temporary, but when Walter is killed in a riverboat accident, destitute Darcie has little choice but to stay with the Shakers. To complicate matters, she is expecting a baby conceived before she and her husband came to the Shaker village. Marital relationships are considered sinful in this celibate community, putting Darcie in a unique--and lonely--position. Can the arrival of widower Flynn Keller and his headstrong daughter offer Darcie the hope of happiness?

My Reflections:

Ann Gabhart can always be counted on to pen masterfully written stories that are completely unique and absolutely fantastic!
I love her Shaker series, such a fascinating group of people. I for one would be so much like one of the characters (Sister Mona) rebellious of all those rules and seriously grumpy with people dictating my every move! She was just a child though and troubled from so much abandonment.  

Darcie finds herself amongst the Shaker people quite by circumstance and not by choice. She and her late husband Walter flee from their home to outsmart Cholera, Walter parishes from an accident and Darcy finds herself in the family way. Imagine being pregnant in a community where the bond of matrimony is seen as a sin! Yikes. 
How on earth did the founder "Mother Ann" ever come up with that one? She was after all a mother and wife? It really fascinates me how people end up in these situations. It most likely stems from my childhood as I too found myself in a cult out of circumstances. The whole thing is truly a bit of a novelty to me because of my past. Luckily for me, it all worked out in the end. 

The plot moves along a nice gentle speed. I loved learning the ways of these people and their many rules and strict rituals. I sure wish a Shaker was my cleaning lady!
Many people seem to end up in places like these with little other options. It is good that the Shaker people will return everything the converts relinquish if they leave the community. I found it wonderful to see how the story progressed and the characters converge. I can't let too many secrets out but, Oh, dear Silas and his reckless schemes to help his son in law Flynn and granddaughter little Leatrice. He made such a mess of things, then the ending purely perfect! 

I could go on and on about this one but let's just say if you are interested in the Shakers, their "faith" and want a lovely story to go along with it this book is absolutely for you!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Ann H. Gabhart

Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of several Shaker novels--The Outsider, The Believer, The Seeker, The Blessed, and The Gifted--as well as other historical novels, including Angel Sister, These...

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Book Review: When You Are Near

From The Back:

Come one, come all to the Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza!
After her father's death, Lizzy Brookstone, a trick rider in the all-female Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza, wants nothing more than to quit her role as the star of the show and live a quiet life on her family's ranch. But returning home would bring Wesley DeShazer, the ranch's foreman and the man who broke her heart, back into her life. In addition, the troupe's new manager fears that Lizzy's departure could doom the already cash-strapped show.

Hope grows in Lizzy during a stopover at Fleming Farm. Ella Fleming not only has a natural talent for trick riding and could easily replace Lizzy, but she's eager to join the show to flee a forced betrothal. However, while there, one of the show's wranglers is killed in a manner Lizzy finds suspicious. And during her escape from the farm, Ella stumbles across a secret that could affect all of their lives, as well as the future of the Brookstone Extravaganza.

My Reflections: 

I was lassoed from the start. Tracy Peterson is my go-to authours for spunky characters and strong female leads. This story takes us back to the 1900s where Lizzy Brookstone finds herself fulfilling the wishes of her departed father. Her passion has died alongside her dad and she just wants to settle down, even if it's not in the normal way with a husband. Experiencing her father's passing and watching her mother grieve seems like far too big of a risk to her tender heart. Will God have other plans for Lizzy? 

Though I know little about trick riding the descriptive narrative and authentic setting made this a joy to explore. Tracy Peterson had me from page one and on.  Another aspect of Peterson's work is her intense research, the time period and the characters were spot on. You become so entwined with each character and the pain they are going through that you really want the best outcome for all involved.

This is a richly illustrated novel depicting "the old west" perfectly, what else would you expect from this authour?

 If you are looking to start off your summer with a new series, "Brookstone Brides" is that perfect start. I am over the moon because book two "Wherever You Go" just landed in my mailbox. You won't have to wait for months for the next installment friends. I know, Happy summer!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Tracie Peterson

Tracie Peterson (www.traciepeterson.com) is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 100 novels. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family...

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Book Review: On a Summer Tide

From The Back:

Sometimes love hurts--and sometimes it can heal in the most unexpected way.
Camden Grayson loves her challenging career, but the rest of her life could use some improvement. "Moving on" is Cam's mantra. But there's a difference, her two sisters insist, between one who moves on and one who just keeps on moving.

Cam's full-throttle life skids to a stop when her father buys a remote island off the coast of Maine. Paul Grayson has a dream to breathe new life into the island--a dream that includes reuniting his estranged daughters. Certain Dad has lost his mind, the three sisters rush to the island. To Cam's surprise, the slow pace of island life appeals to her, and so do the locals. One in particular: Seth Walker, the scruffy island schoolteacher, who harbors more than a few surprises. 

My Reflections:

Suzanne Woods Fisher starts her new series "Three Sisters Island" off well, though I found the first parts of the book a little slower she makes up for the lacking start with a gusto not far in. Can you imagine buying an island with a decrepit old summer camp sight unseen, well that's exactly what Paul Grayson does? He has a plan though nutty as it sounds, but we will have to wait and see what can come of his last-ditch attempts at family unity. 

Three sisters with strained relationships and busy lives of their own fall right into their dad's scheme and rush to the island to assess if their father has dementia or just a broken heart. Since the passing of their mother their dad has not been the same, she was the "glue" that held them all together. Will Three Sisters Island be just what this family needs?

I adored this family the island and all the quirky island folk. It's reminiscent of my little town, and I felt akin to this place its people and the relaxed atmosphere. 
Times are tough all around in this story, we truly see the development of character and depth within each of the sisters. Although I have to admit the first bit with all the bickering between the three was too much for me. I like siblings to get along and be happy. (I know when does this ever happen, but It could!) 

There is much to love about this perfect summer starter, delightful twists and turns and a sprinkle of belly-busting humour. There is something to be said about a well laid out novel, "On a Summers Tide" sets us up perfectly for book two in this series, and I for one am pretty darn excited to find out in more depth what happens to the two remaining sisters!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Suzanne Woods Fisher

Suzanne Woods Fisher is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than thirty books, including Mending Fences and Stitches in Time, as well as the Nantucket Legacy, Amish Beginnings, The Bishop's Family, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series, among...

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Book Review: Sex, Purity, And the Longings Of A Girls Heart

From the Back:

"This message of God-defined sexuality is one every woman needs."--Dannah Gresh, author of And the Bride Wore White

For the modern Christian woman, embracing God's design for sexuality can often feel like an impossible pursuit. As the culture around us seeks to normalize things such as lust, pornography, erotica, and casual sex, you may be feeling immense pressure to conform. In this relatable and encouraging book, Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal share honestly about their own struggles and victories and dig into topics such as

· how your longings for intimacy point to a deeper need
· why God's original design for love, passion, and sex is good
· how to deal with secret sexual struggles
· and much more

Kristen and Bethany invite you on a personal journey to discover and reclaim a biblical vision for your sexuality--one that is good and relevant and will lead you toward true hope and lasting freedom.

My Reflections:
This is a must read for any woman, teens, middle-aged, and beyond. We all struggle with some aspect of our sexuality. This world is a fallen world and the temptations to indulge in lustful images, twist our perception of sex from a very young age. Does the church come out and really answer the questions that need to be spoken... it's not feel good stuff it's not family friendly, we may offend someone the lists of excuses goes on. Sex sells, and it tarnishes God's beautiful design. We have God's grace and love.

These are heavy topics friends, this is a weighty read, but oh so needed. I absolutely applaud these authours and Girl Defined for producing relevant material for women to read. It reminded me that the struggle is real and my teens are faced with an uphill battle. We all are in the same battle just in different life stages. This book is the real deal, filled with the author's stories and readers excerpts sharing very real and close subject matter. 

In the end, we find a story of love, redemption and Grace. God is good all the time. He alone is able to restore us into a right and true relationship with him.

If you are looking for an honest open girlfriend type read look no further. This book is filled with relevant honest and deep conversations but always ends with Grace and God's love. 

I did wish there was more closure to some of the topics, sometimes a person would require more than a personal story and scripture, but an actual game plan. I'm thinking about young women and teens here, I think it would be wise to have a set-out plan included in the book designed especially with this age group in mind, perhaps an online support group, where teens and unmarried women can be accountable and get wise biblical counsel. It's such a confusing time in one's life, especially with the availability of porn on the internet. 
All in all this book was very good, and I will be sharing it with the church library, with the disclaimer that it is an honest and open book. 

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Kristen Clark

1. Kristen Clark is married to her best friend, Zack, and is the cofounder of GirlDefined Ministries. She is passionate about promoting the message of biblical womanhood through blogging, speaking, mentoring young women, and hosting Bible studies in her living...

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2. Bethany Beal

   Bethany Beal is head-over-heels in love with her best friend and husband, David, and is the cofounder of GirlDefined Ministries. She is passionate about spreading the truth of biblical womanhood through blogging, speaking, and mentoring young women. To her...

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