Book Review: Leaving by Karen Kingsbury

I just finished reading Leaving by Karen Kingsbury, and I loved her latest book about the Bailey Flanigan that we have come to love through her other books! Some people think that Karen should have wrapped up the love story between Cody and Bailey before now, but I personally have enjoyed watching Bailey grow up and continue her journey in love and life.

In this book, we see different people in the Flannigan's lives "leaving" from the places they have been for so long. It is a hard place to be in when you are the one being "left" behind, but so exciting for the one that is actually spreading your wings and doing what God has planned for your life. I have continued to love the connection and closeness that Bailey is able to share with her mom as she grows up. Some may see that as unrealistic, but I think that this type of relationship is wonderful and one that we should all strive to have with our children.

I am looking forward to the release of Learning in a couple of weeks to see what happens next in the Bailey series! I highly recommend Leaving by Karen Kingsbury which Zondervan sent complimentary to me to read and review. All opinions on this book are my own. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did!

Book Review: Max on Life by Max Lucado

We all have questions that pop into our head that we just can't seem to find the answer to or that we ponder on for days. Max Lucado has the answers to some of these most often asked questions that he has received as both a pastor and a writer. In his book, Max on Life, he covers topics under hope, hurt, help, relationships, home, haves/haven-nots, and the life hereafter. This book is filled with 172 questions and answers, some of which have surely passed through your mind!

This book would be especially helpful to a "new" Christian, as it answers a lot of questions that someone who is not as familiar with the Bible might have. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, but I am partial in that I love Max Lucado's writings!

I also liked having the scriptural references he provided in answer to these questions. The whole book is Bible-based. This book is good as a reference book if you are leading a small group through your church. I plan to donate this copy to our church library so that others can enjoy reading it as much as I did! I received this book to read and review from Thomas Nelson and BookSneeze. All opinions shared are my own.

Book Review: The Final Summit by Andy Andrews

Wow! This book by Andy Andrews will really make you think about life and your purpose here on Earth! I enjoyed reading The Final Summit and found that I didn't want to put it down until I was finished. The main character in the book, David Ponder, has lost his wife Ellen and is contemplating ending his own life. Becoming a "Traveler" and meeting with other people from the past, Andrews takes us on a journey to discover the one solution that will save humanity.

One thing that I really enjoyed about this book was the historical details that Andrews includes. It takes you back to meet people like Winston Churchhill, George Washington Carver, Joan of Arc, and even Biblical individuals like David who slayed Goliath. It gives you an inside perspective to what those people might have been thinking as they faced their trials. I really enjoyed the personalities of each of the individuals that David Ponder meets in this story.

The book also includes a Reader's Guide at the end so that you can do this as a Book Study with other people and use it as a discussion guide. This is another great work by Andy Andrews! It leaves you with principles that you can use in your own everyday life. I received and reviewed this complimentary book from Thomas Nelson and BookSneeze. All opinions shared are my own.

Book Review: In Front of God and Everybody: Confessions of April Grace by: K.D. McCrite

I just finished reading the book In Front of God and Everybody: Confessions of April Grace written by K. D. McCrite. I was looking forward to getting this book after reading the summary about it, and I had planned on passing it along to my niece to read. After receiving and reading the book, though, I don't plan to give it to her. I was disappointed in the quality of this book. If you don't mind reading the backhills language and very, very "country" talk throughout this book, you might enjoy it. I found it to be more immature and silly than I expected. I knew that it was going to be written through a child's perspective of growing up in the Ozarks, but I personally didn't care for the way it was written.

Trust me...I have nothing against people who live in the country or talk Southern slang, for I too am a Southern girl who lives out in the country myself! We live on a farm and not in a suburb with neighbors right on top of us. I was just very disappointed in this book, and I don't plan on reading the sequel Clicks, Hicks, and Ugly Sticks. I received a complimentary copy of this book to read and review from Thomas Nelson and BookSneeze. All opinions of this book are my own.

How To Be God's Little Princess by Sheila Walsh

What a charming book for preteen girls! I loved the layout of this new book by Sheila Walsh that is primarly geared towards young ladies that are in the "middle school" years. As the subtitle states, this book is "Royal Tips for Manners, Etiquette, and True Beauty." From learning how to dress like a princess (a.k.a. being modest!) to acting like a princess (a.k.a. being respectful and polite), this book covers all of the areas that a young lady faces daily and shows her how to keep God at the center of every activity she participates in.

I love the way that Sheila Walsh places Bible verses that correspond with each topic, making it REAL for the girls to apply these to their every day lives! Written in a witty, fun, and humorous manner, girls will love reading this book and using it as a reference. It is full of activities and ideas that they can share with their little girlfriends.

One of my favorite sections that made me chuckle outloud was entitled "Sweet Smells." She wrote: "Princesses do not sweat. Horses sweat, boys perspire, but girls -- especially princesses -- glow. The secret is to keep from glowing so much that all the flowers around you wilt from the smell." She then goes on to explain that girls' glistening is just God's way of helping our bodies to cool off, and she tells ways that stay "fresh" all day long.

I received this complimentary book from Thomas Nelson and BookSneeze to read and review. All opinions of this book are my own. I plan to pass this particular book along to my niece, as she is entering the preteen years and loves to pretend that she is a princess! I highly recommend this book for your preteen daughter / friends to read!

Book Review: A Billion Reasons Why by Kristen Billerbeck

This is a new and fun read from Kristen Billerbeck! I have really enjoyed her past books about Ashley Stockingdale, and I really looked forward to reading A Billion Reasons Why. Although this book didn't grab my attention quite as much as her previous books, it is still good, clean, Christian fiction that I would recommend for anyone to read. I found the ending to be way too predictable, so it didn't make me want to read it in one sitting.

In this book, Katie McKenna has been burned by love in the past and has moved to California to get a fresh start on life. She meets a man named Dexter who gives her a "safe" relationship. They are about to become engaged, when Katie's boyfriend from eight years before walks back into the picture. Luc is the handsome, rich guy who stole Katie's heart but broke it back in New Orleans. He asks her to return home to sing for his brother's wedding, but at the same time, Luc knows that he wants to spend the rest of his life with her and goes after that opportunity.

I enjoyed that Katie was a special need's teacher in this book and how the story ended up unfolding with all of the Southern girl charm being exposed! I didn't know much about swing dancing and all, but enjoyed that part of the book, too. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun, relaxing story to read. It would make a great beach book! Most of all, I loved that her faith was portrayed as such an important theme in this book!

I read this complimentary book from Thomas Nelson and BookSneeze to review. All opinions published in this post are my own.

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