wonderful books

Never Say Never - Lisa Wingate
This is a fun story told from two perspectives alternating by chapter. Donetta Bradford has lived her whole life in the small town of Daily, Texas. At the age of 70 she convinces her two best friends to take a cruise with her. She thinks she has everything figured out to monitor the weather but fails to realize that she has no wi-fi in the middle of nowhere. Donetta drives straight into the path of the hurricane. She is rescued by Kai Miller who is trying to escape the hurricane as well. Kai is young woman that has never lived in one place for more than a few months. Although Donetta and Kai have seemingly nothing in common, they develop a great relationship and both realize what they have been missing in their lives. Friends can come in ages and stages of life. I received a copy of this book free from Bethany House.

A Measure of Mercy – Lauraine Snelling
The story is set in North Dakota in the early 1900s. Astrid Bjorkland is studying medicine under her sister-in-law Dr. Elizabeth Bjorkland. Elizabeth wants her to further her studies in a medical school in Chicago. Astrid is scared to leaving her small and safe town of Blessings. This becomes an increasing hard decision when Joshua, a man she once knew returns to town, and they have feelings for each other. Astrid reluctantly leaves for Chicago. She is very unsure of the direction that God has for her life. A missionary from Africa tries to persuade her to go Africa where medical training is so desperately needed. When she doesn’t hear from Joshua except for one letter and is told by her sister that is has left town, she decides to go to Africa. The book leaves us with her heading to Africa but does she really go? Is she making the right decision or just being influenced by what other people think? I received a copy of this book free from Bethany House.

Watch Over Me – Christa Parrish
This a powerful story of two people whose lives have been broken not only by war but by their own destructive behavior. Ben who is a police officer finds an abandoned baby in a field only a couple of hours old. He and his wife Abbi become her foster parents. Little Silvia’s arrival begins a process of Ben and Abbi facing their broken marriage. Abbi befriends a deaf teenager who also needs to be rescued from his situation as much as Silvia. Ben must keep searching for the baby’s mother, even though part of him never wants to find her. Although this book was a little hard to read at times it worth reading to watch two people face their issues and decide to rebuild a life together. I received a copy of this book free from Bethany House.

Though Waters Roar - Lynn Austin
This book starts with Harriet Sherwood in jail in 1920. She reflects back on stories her Grandma Bebe had told her growing up. The story weaves back in time covering four generation of women who fought for great causes. In Bebe’s childhood she assisted her mother in hiding and transporting slaves on the underground railroad. Bebe tells of her life doing her brother’s work on the farm while they are fighting in the civil war. Bebe battles an alcoholic husband even stepping in to run his business and keep it afloat while he is on a series of drinking binges. Bebe joins the temperance movement and fights until prohibition is the law. Harriet’s mother Lucy leads an incredible pampered life but realizes she must be involved in something bigger than herself. She joins the fight for a women’s right to vote. Harriet reflects the heroines in her family and must decide what a difference she can make in society. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I received a copy of this book free from Bethany House.
The Silent Gift – Michael Landon Jr. and Cindy Kelley
This is beautiful story of the love of a mother for her son. Mary’s son, Jack, is born deaf and mute. Mary never gives up trying to communicate with her son, cherishing the moments of recognition in his eyes. Mary narrowly escapes her abusive husband and lands a job as maid for a well to do family. It’s there she discovers Jack’s gift of prophecy. It becomes unsafe for her and Jack to stay with the family. She is taken in by a new friend who promised to helps her secure a future for Jack by collecting donations for a prophecy. Unfortunately the gift causes more some unwanted publicity and she is discovered by her husband. Mary and Jack become separated, Mary spends months trying to find him. It’s a unique book that really makes you think. I received a copy of this book free from Bethany House.

More great books

Things Worth Remembering by Jackina Stark
Kendy and daughter Maisey have a great relationship until Maisey turns 13. Maisey spends the next 10 years always having friends with her as a buffer in the relationship with her mother. The past hurts finally come to light just days before Maisey’s wedding. The ending of the book is perfect but the sadness of all the wasted time overshadows everything. This is great book for mothers and daughters to read. Life is too short to miss out on such important relationships. I received this book free from Bethany House.

A Surrendered Heart by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller
I could not put this book down, loved to see what would happen next. Amanda contracts cholera working as a doctor’s assistant. She recovers only to be put in an even worse situation! This is an amazing story of sacrifice on the part of a daughter for her family. Amanda is willing to marry a much older man to save her father and family from financial ruin. The ending is perfect, justice is served and Amanda is thoroughly rewarded for her willingness to surrender everything for her family. I received this book free from Bethany House.


Levi’s Will by W. Dale Cramer
This book is a rare look into the life and beliefs of an Amish family. Will decides to leave his Amish religion, pregnant girlfriend, and family to begin a new life on his own. Although he is able to break free from his past, he still desires his father’s blessing on his life. Will ends up being just like his father in creating a distant and cold relationship with one of his own sons. Will must reconcile his past and his present to be able to walk in peace for his future. He realizes that God accepts and forgive him even if other people aren’t able to do the same. I received this book free from Bethany House.


God Made Your Body by Jim Burns. Great foundational book for preschoolers. Beautiful pictures and very age appropriate language. I received this book free from Bethany House.


How God Makes Babies by Jim Burns. Great book for the curious early elementary school aged child. I like how it shows the size of a growing baby in comparison to food items (one month = cheerio, six months = coconut). My son and daughter loved the book and we had great conversations surrounding it. I received this book free from Bethany House.

What's He Really Thinking?

What's He Really Thinking by Paula Rhinehart takes women through the psyche of a man and helps us understand what he's thinking. Becoming a "relational genius" with men is a challenge for any woman. Rinehart covered topics such as: what men do, why men hurt, how men change, expectations, respect, conflict, getting through, and intimacy. The conversational tone and real life scenarios provided insight while the references to other books on the same topic gave credibility to what Rinehart said. Rinehart's book gives women a good place to start along with continuing resources including a relational genius guide along with questions to answer personally with each chapter.

Fearless

Fearless by Max Lucado. Fearless covers the subject of fear from every possible angle. It makes you realize how much of your life's energy is consumed by the fear at any given moment. Each chapter will draw you in as you read about a different area of fear artfully described. Max Lucado doesn't just leave you aware of your fears, he works you through them. There is hope of living truly fearless, not that you won't have times that fear comes to you but you will learn to choose not to stay in fear. The story of Peter walking in the water is carefully and beautifully woven in the the whole book. My favorite quote is "feed your fears, and your faith will starve. Feed your faith, and your fears will."

Words Unspoken introduces you a variety of characters whose lives are unknowingly interwoven. Lissa's mother death in a tragic accident which Lissa hold herself responsible for and is trapped in fear of ever driving again appears to be the main story. But as more characters are introduced we realize the story is a much about is Ev McAllister the driving instructor who works Lissa through her fears of not just driving but of life itself. The book has twists and turns and an ending you would never expect. A great book for summer vacation.

Sometimes a Light Surprises is an interesting story of a man, Ben Buckley, who has spent 20 years filling his life with meaningless trivia and routine after his wife is murdered. Things began to change when he hires a young lady named Kelly. He begins to see that his wife's faith which he resented starting to make sense. She gives him the key and courage to rebuild his broken life and broken relationships. The meaning of the title is beautifully revealed at the end of the book.