heart's desire

"Your Heart's Desire: 14 Truths that Will Forever Change the Way You Love and Are Loved" by Sheri Rose Shepherd is a self-help book about how to live with your marriage.  Each chapter has a longer essay style section followed by a life coaching section, then prayer.  Scripture is sprinkled throughout.  There is also a small group Love Questions at the end of each chapter with a smart phone code that provides teaching videos to answer the questions.  I liked this book, she didn't always take it in the direction that I thought she would.  She kept it real and easy to follow.  I recommend this book to any woman.

Adventure!

"Where we Belong" by Lynn Austin is a novel inspired by a true story of two sisters that have inherited a great amount of money along with a sincere devotion to God.  The two women, though living in the 19th century, embark on a lifetime of education, adventure, and service to the poor rather than the life that has been planned out for them of marrying for social prestige and to husbands who want their money. 
This is a great book, full of adventure and inspiration.  The two sisters bring purpose to what could  have been a dull existence and a regular life.  The reader will love this book as well as it's characters.  The chapters of the book are grouped according to each character, letting the reader see the story through each character's point of view.  I received this novel from Bethany House Publishing in exchange for an honest review. 

Heart shaped

"Prayers for a Heart-Shaped Life" by Karen Moore is a small book of prayers that inspires living a life Heart First.  Each prayer has a scripture and a letter (prayer) to God from the writer.  There are a little over 200 prayers that I have been reading daily.  It is a very cute little book and is perfect for a quick morning prayer.  I enjoyed this book very much.  I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review."

Sacred Slow review

"The Sacred Slow: A Holy Departure from Fast Faith" by Alicia Britt Chole is a formatted  devotion of types book.  Each section is called a Movement.  There are twelve.  Each  movement is divided into parts and includes a guided response.  The book is designed to be taken slowly and with depth.  It is rather complicated.  It is not for everybody.  I had a hard time with the book, it seemed to be above my understanding most of the time.  It is definitely an intellectual and penetrating book.  I would suggest using this in a small group setting with a pastor or counselor guiding the readers.  "I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review." 

the proving review

"The Proving"  is the newest stand-alone novel by Beverly Lewis.  Amanda Dienner is a raised-Amish woman who has left the Amish community due to a betrayal by her sister. Amanda becomes almost completely estranged from her family.  After living 5 years in Kansas as an Englisher, she learns her mother has died and left her the B&B that was run by her family.  Though confused by the reasoning, Amanda takes over the B&B for the next 12 months. 
The novel is of course, a wonderfully well written book, since it is by the queen of Amish Fiction.  Amanda is incredibly stubborn and driven.  The reader will be either cheering her on or wanting to smack her upside the head!  She is a trying woman and Lewis will quickly involve the reader emotionally into the book.  I like the direction of this book.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the author and Bethany House Publishing.