CWAHM Book Reviews

Review: The Secrets of Paper and Ink

2019-06-04T12:09:00.000-05:00

Review:

I loved this book! It mixes past and present and is a beautiful tale of three women. I really enjoyed Harrell's writing style and the depth of her characters. Can't wait for her next book!

Book Description

Brought together by a charming bookstore in England, three women fight to defy expectations, dream new dreams, and welcome love into their lives.

As a counselor, Sophia Barrett is trained to help people cope with their burdens. But when she meets a new patient whose troubles mirror her own, she realizes she hasn’t dealt with the pain of her recent past. After making a snap decision to get away for the summer, Sophia moves overseas to an apartment above a charming bookstore in Cornwall, England. She is hopeful she will find peace there surrounded by her favorite thing: great literature.

Bookstore owner Ginny Rose is desperate to save her business without asking for help from a husband who’s decided to take a break from their marriage. Ginny never imagined she’d be solely responsible for keeping afloat her husband’s dream, but the unexpected friendship with her new renter has her feeling more optimistic. Between the two of them—and Ginny’s brother-in-law, William—the bookstore might stand a chance.

Then Sophia finds a notebook in the bookstore that contains journal entries from Emily Fairfax, a governess who lived in Cornwall more than 150 years ago. Sophia learns that Emily harbored a secret passion for becoming an authoress—as well as a deep love for her childhood friend, Edward, whose station she dared not dream to touch.

Eager to know more of Emily’s story, Sophia goes on a quest—dragging Ginny and William with her—to discover the heart of the woman behind the beautiful entries. Soon Ginny’s need to save the bookstore becomes more than a way to save her marriage, and Sophia finds new purpose of her own. Together they find that sometimes both heartache and hope can reach across the centuries.

Review: The Year of Happy Living

2019-01-24T17:07:00.001-06:00

I have been following Alli on social media for years and when I heard she had a book out I was so excited. I find Alli so authentic and encouraging, and her book is all that and more. When I received the book, I found myself wanting to savor it, reading a page (or a few pages) a day.

I agree with other reviewers who have said that happiness, and living a happy life, are somehow frowned upon in the Christian world. We oftentimes are taught that we must be suffering in order to be worthy of God's love. However, happiness is more than just surface, selfish attempts at pleasure. It can be rooted in the joy we find in relationship with Christ.

I'm with Alli - ready to live happy!

Review: The Ministry of Ordinary Places

2019-01-24T16:51:00.001-06:00

I admire Shannan Martin greatly and love following her life and ministry. Her book shares her heart and the journey God has taken her on over the years. I loved reading what she's learned and how God opened her eyes to see His goodness in the small things all around her. Thus us a book I will re-read during those times when I'm feeling discontent or disconnected from the Lord.

Review: Simple Joys

2018-10-12T19:17:00.000-05:00

I adore Candace Payne (Chewbacca Mom). Her joy and laughter inspire me to find new layers of both in my own life. When I saw she had a new book coming out, you bet I jumped at the chance to review it!

Simple Joys is written in Payne's trademark tell-it-like-it-is style. She shares stories from her own life, giving readers a glimpse at some hard roads she's walked and how she learned to find joy again. I was tearing up within the first few pages and my heart connected with what she shares. I laughed and cried my way through this bookz and it was worth both kinds of tears. 💜

Review: Inspired

2018-10-03T10:34:00.000-05:00

This was my first Rachel Held Evans book. I follow her on Instagram and have read many of her other writings (blog posts, etc), and have heard her in podcasts. It encouraged me that she writes and speaks about her questions of the church, as I have found myself in that same place in recent years.

I found Inspired to be, well, inspiring. It gave me new insights into Scripture and how it was formed. I can't say that I agreed with every point she made, but I'm fine with that - it gave me food for thought and helped me think through my beliefs more critically, which is what I was looking for.

Review: 365 DEVOTIONS FOR A THANKFUL HEART

2018-10-03T07:49:00.001-05:00

This book has been a sheet pleasure to read. It's pages are filled with godly, affirming devotions, and it's so pretty that it makes me smile every time I pick it up.

I love that it includes a reading for e ery day of the year. There is scripture included on every page, and the bottom of each page holds a thought for how we can strive to be more godly, more focused on becoming like Him.

Review: Fawkes

2018-08-20T06:51:00.001-05:00

Sadly, this was a DNF for me. I went back to it numerous times. I really wanted to like it. However, it just didn't hold up to the hype for me. The writing is good, and the characters are interesting, but the storyline drug and didn't hold my interest. I will try another novel from this author someday, but despite my love of historical fiction, this one just wasn't for me.

Reclaiming Shilo Snow

2018-04-20T18:32:00.000-05:00

Mary Weber is one of my auto-buy authors and Reclaiming Shilo Snow is more proof of why! Weber handles hard topics while weaving in themes of family, friendship, and love. I love every aspect of this series - aliens, abductions, and just a little romance. Weber's writing flows so smoothly that I'm hours in before I even realize it.

This second book in the series lived up to the expectations - and sequels are often the hardest. LOVED!

Review : Transforming Grace

2018-02-06T20:19:00.001-06:00

I have read nearly all of Jerry Bridges' books, beginning with The Pursuit of Holiness, which utterly transformed my way of thinking when I was younger. Bridges has a gift; he can explain Biblical truths in an understandable, every-man sort-of way. His writing style makes the reading enjoyable and his wisdom makes the truths contained with the pages profound.
This re-release of Transforming Grace is especially wonderful because it includes a Study Guide to help the reader more fully comprehend and remember what they are learning. Highly recommended to both individuals who want to study God's Word in more depth or groups who are looking to study together.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Isn't it time to stop trying to measure up and begin accepting the transforming power of God's grace? The product of more than ten years of Bible study, Navigator author Jerry Bridges's Transforming Grace is a fountainhead of inspiration and renewal that will show you just how inexhaustible and generous God's grace really is. This new edition now includes the full study guide for personal or group use.
Rated: PG

Reviewer’s copy was provided by the Publisher. Thank you!

Review: Habits of the Heart

2017-12-03T12:06:00.001-06:00

This is such a sweet little book. It's very pretty, including the insides of the cover which look almost like stained glass. Each daily reading is very shirt, a paragraph or two, but packed with meaning to help you meditate on it all day. This little book will be one that's worth reading and re-reading year after year. I really enjoyed the writing and the way each reading brought forth points in a new way, from a new perspective.

Review: BOUNDARIES UPDATED AND EXPANDED EDITION

2017-11-15T19:48:00.000-06:00

Boundaries by Drs. Cloud and Townsend is a fabulous resource and this new updated version is great. It includes thoughts and tips on how to handle boundaries in the digital age we now live in. As a therapist, I refer to this book often!

* I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review: ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS

2017-11-07T07:39:00.000-06:00

Can you feel it? That little edge of crispness in the air and the undercurrent of excitement in the stores? The holidays are right around the corner and you know what that means. Decorations, baking and family? Uh…no. It’s time to tuck into snuggly pajamas, grab a steaming cup of cocoa and curl up on the couch with your favorite holiday movies!

Every year, Hallmark Channel outdoes itself on the family movie front and this year is no different. With TWENTY-ONE new holiday features premiering on the network’s "Countdown to Christmas" this season, there is plenty of sweet, family friendly goodness to go around.

One of these movies in particular has piqued my interest. It’s called Enchanted Christmas*. Here’s the description of the movie:

Young widow, Laura Trudeau (played by Alexa PenaVega) was a remarkable dancer. Now working as a project manager in LA, she is tasked to renovate a rundown hotel lodge, in her hometown of Rosemont, Utah and have it ready by Christmas eve. She is stunned to run into her former love and dance partner Ricardo Archuleta, (Carlos PenaVega) who she discovers is in rehearsals for The Christmas Eve shows grand finale, with his new dance partner Taylor (Chelsie Hightower, “Dancing with the Stars”). When Taylor has an audition abroad, Laura once again finds herself back in Ricardo’s arms. Feelings are rekindled, and with both the hotel opening and the show in jeopardy, Laura has to make some difficult decisions, both personally and professionally.

You can check out the trailer here. http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/videos/preview-enchanted-christmas

Doesn’t that look great? Who doesn’t love ballroom dancing? And you throw in Christmas? Seriously!

If you thought you recognized the main character, Laura, you probably did. Alexa PenaVega skyrocketed to fame in the Spy Kids series of movies. Now she’s all grown up and co-starring with her husband, Carlos PenaVega. They even contributed their musical talents by recording one of the songs for the movie. Is there anything they can’t do?

Enchanted Christmas airs on November 12th on Hallmark Channel at 8:00 pm/7:00 central. Don’t miss it!

*Enchanted Christmas is a Mission Pictures International and Gabriel Productions, LLC production. Cindy Bond and Gene Davis serve as Executive producers. James Wilberger and Jarrod Phillips are producers. Terry Cunningham directed from a script by Rick Garman and Catherine Y. Friday. #HallmarkChannel #EnchantedChristmas #CountdowntoChristmas #Missionpicturesintl

Review: Just Look Up

2017-10-15T21:57:00.000-05:00

Another great book from Walsh! Lane is close to the promotion at work that she has been fighting for when she is called back home because of a family emergency. Ryan still lives in their hometown, much to his own surprise, and loved Lane many years ago. Now sparks fly as these two reunite. But, can love blossom for two people living in different worlds?

Walsh has such a way with words and this novel tugs at the heartstrings. I found myself turning page after page, cheering for Ryan and Lane despite setback after setback. I have loved all of Walsh's books, but this may be my new favorite.

Review: Of Mess and Moxie

2017-10-03T23:00:00.001-05:00

I wasn't quite sure what I might find in opening this newest Jen Hatmaker book. I don't always see eye to eye with her, but for the most part I feel like she calls it how she sees it and - especially in this offense-obsessed culture - I can't help but respect that. Plus, she's funny as heck.

I found Of Mess and Moxie to be fairly similar in style to her recent books (such as For The Love), but with maybe even maybe a little more grit. Hatmaker is on the stage for the world to see (which sadly means the world feels as if they can judge as well) and she's seen and heard more of that part of things than many of us ever will. So, bravo, Jen, for sticking to your beliefs, stepping out of the Christian politically-correct box, and challenging us all to think for ourselves.

Review: All in All Journaling Devotional

2017-08-15T13:43:00.001-05:00

Sophie Hudson has quickly become one of my favorite non-fiction authors because of her sense of humor. She has an ability to point out biblical truths in a way that makes them relatable and applicable. Her new devotional is primarily for teen girls, and because I have a fifteen year-old daughter, I was excited to take a look at it. It's just what I was hoping it would be!

Hudson yet again uses her down-home relate-ability and her sense of humor to share truths about hard topics and point teens to Jesus. She shares from the heart and doesn't hesitate to talk about hard things. I love that it's a journaling devotional, encouraging teens to dig further into the Word and write out their thoughts, discoveries, feelings, and prayers.

Review: THE MEDITERRANEAN LOVE PLAN

2017-07-25T20:43:00.001-05:00

We all know the Arterburn name from New Life Ministries. Now, he teams up with his life to bring readers 7 "secrets of passion" they learned from Mediterranean cultures. They share each tip and explain how readers can make it applicable in their own lives and marriages. This is a fresh take on marriage advice and I really enjoyed it!

*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Review: He Calls You Beautiful - Hearing the Voice of Jesus in the Song of Songs

2017-07-17T11:26:00.005-05:00

I have been so excited about reading this book since I came across a blurb about it a few months ago. It certainly didn't disappoint. Brestin takes you through each verse of the Song of Songs and breaks it down for you, showing not only the meaning behind it, but Jesus within the passages. It's breathtaking! Such a wonderful new way to see the Song of Songs for so much more than simply human love and longing.

Review: Tranquility

2017-07-17T11:18:00.003-05:00

I have really enjoyed Tranquility! It's a gift-size hardback coloring book, which works great for carrying in my purse or backpack. It has a nice wide binding, so it's easy to open wide for coloring.

I have found it to be "tranquil" - a great way to relax and unwind after a long day. I have used these as gifts as well. They are SO pretty and a nice way to help people remember to take time for themselves.

Review: Why I Loathe Sterling Lane

2017-06-21T16:31:00.000-05:00

I love YA fiction and so I was really excited to have the chance to review Why I Loathe Sterling Lane. The book is sweet and the characters are quirky, which meant I loved this book! :)

The book's pacing starts off a bit slow, but once the author set the scene and gave some background on the characters the pace picked up. Harper is hilarious and yet strong, and she sort of reminded me of a character that Emma Watson would play. And Sterling was just frustrating enough to be believable and redeemable. Together they made a great pair and the situations they found themselves in (or created for one another) were laugh-out-loud funny.

I'm definitely looking forward to the next Ingrid Paulsen book!

Find the next post on this blog tour here: http://www.chapter-by-chapter.com/tour-schedule-why-i-loathe-sterling-lane-by-ingrid-paulson-presented-by-entangled-teen/

Review: RECLAIMING THE LOST ART OF BIBLICAL MEDITATION

2017-06-10T11:21:00.001-05:00

I have been interested in biblical meditation for some time. So, when I saw this book was a discussion on the topic, I was excited to review it. It is a hardcover book, and would make a perfect gift book. The pages are glossy and it includes good insight into how to best use biblical meditation to overcome stress and live a more peaceful life.

* I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Love Lives Here

2017-05-17T11:16:00.001-05:00

I really wanted to love this book. I have huge respect for Bob Goff and all that he and his wife do, and have done, to make the world a better place. However, the first chapter starts off by talking about a fire at their vacation home, and the "misery" of having to deal with it and stay at the guest house on the property. While there is certainly nothing wrong with this, it did cause me to feel as if we weren't quite in the same stratosphere. The tone of that first chapter just didn't quite sit right with me and made the rest of the book, which does have some valid points and good advice, seem trite. So, while I wanted to love this book, I just ... didn't.

Review: Craving Connection

2017-03-06T09:02:00.001-06:00

I have been desiring a book like this, but didn't even realize it until I had the chance to review Craving Connection. It's true that we all crave connection and that we don't always realize what we need to do to create it, or to maintain it.

Craving Connection gives you ideas, as well as challenges, to help you understand what it is you're truly looking for and to send you on your way toward developing healthy relationships. A win-win!

An Interview with Rachelle Dekker

2017-02-01T19:31:00.001-06:00

The oldest daughter of New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker, Rachelle Dekker was inspired early on to discover truth through the avenue of storytelling. She graduated with a degree in communications and spent several years in marketing and corporate recruiting before making the transition to write full-time. She lives in Nashville with her husband, Daniel, and their diva cat, Blair.

1. Set the scene for The Returning. What has happened since The Calling ended? Well, it’s been nearly 20 years, and the world has changed. I don’t want to give too much away for those who haven’t read the first two, so I’ll just say the world is very different and much more dangerous than it once was. But something is brewing under the surface. Change is coming, and people know it.

2. What themes are explored in this book? Identity is something I am always exploring, so that’s no different in The Returning. But in this novel I took a really hard look at forgiveness and how that relates to our journey of discovering who we really are.

3. How have Carrington and Remko developed as characters throughout this series? Well, we meet them as young adults, just out of their teen years, and we find them middle-aged in book three. So we’ve journeyed quite a bit of life with them. They have grown and changed, as people do, and even in this last novel they struggle with remembering their true identities. I believe life is always stretching us and showing us different ways to love, so their growth reflects that.
4. The Returning focuses on Carrington and Remko’s daughter Elise. Tell us more about Elise’s character and her growth throughout the book. Elise starts the book in a pretty dark place. She grew up without parents, believing she was abandoned, only to discover there’s an entire world that has been kept from her. Her journey can be divided into two parts, in my opinion: first, learning who she really is; and second, learning how to live that out. It’s the same journey we all take, and I believe that makes her pretty relatable.

5. You talk about the power of belief in the book. What is the purpose of faith, and what makes faith so powerful in people’s lives? Belief and faith are everything. We form our own realities. We make judgments based on the past and what we think the future will bring; then we shape our idea of what we are capable of around those beliefs. Imagine if we truly believed we were infinite sons and daughters of the creator. How different would the world look then? When we believe and have faith in who the Father calls us, then the world looks pretty different.

6. Aaron is a somewhat mysterious character throughout the series. What is he supposed to represent and what kind of spiritual leader is he? I like to leave this one open, which I know isn’t really the answer you want. I want the reader to decide who he is to them. For me he’s a guiding light, an angel maybe, a representation of the spirit who communicates with us and leads us. He can be many things—mostly, though, he’s a great way to hear truth.

7. The theme of identity is explored in all three Seer books. How does forgiveness relate to identity? For me, forgiveness is more about the one who feels wronged than the one who committed the wrong. What if, for a moment, you believed that nothing could harm you? That you, as a believer, are seated at the Father’s table and standing with him? Can anything harm the Father? If you believe no, then can anything harm you—the true you, the true spirited self? So then, forgiveness becomes more about letting go of false belief and stepping into the true identity that the Father gave to you. I know it’s radical, but belief like that could change the world, don’t you think?

8. How do you hope this book will resonate with your readers? I hope, as with both of the other books, that the reader sees themselves in the characters and that the story causes them to look inward. To ask hard questions like, Who am I? What am I capable of? Do I see myself the way the Father does? Can I? I hope it challenges their idea of identity and then gives them hope to see themselves and others more clearly. Because that’s how these stories have impacted me, and we are all really just the same.

Review: NIV BIBLE FOR TEEN GUYS

2017-01-11T09:21:00.001-06:00

My son is entering his teen years, so I was excited to see this new Bible directed specifically at his age group. It has a cool cover, which is the first step in even getting a teen guy to carry a Bible! :) It's a hard cover, which again is important for teen guys to tend to be harder on books (and on anything, honestly!). There are also great devotionals included throughout to help teen guys connect with Scripture and help develop them into true men of God.

Review: INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY

2017-01-11T09:18:00.001-06:00

This is a great book for people just starting out with in-depth Bible study. It may look and sound a bit intimidating, but it actually takes the Bible and breaks it down into easy to interpret and study pieces. This is one of the best books I've used to help me study the Bible, learn context and read commentary on what scholars believe passages mean. This truly is a great way to dig deeper into God's Word and is a tool that can be used daily.