Blue Ribbon Trail Ride- A Wonderful Mystery for Horse Lovers!

My Thoughts:

Blue Ribbon Trail Ride, by Miralee Ferrell, is a wonderful adventure written for preteens/teens (I'm 48 and loved it!). This book is the fourth in the Horses and Friends series (A Horse For Kate, Silver Spurs, Mystery Rider, Blue Ribbon Trail Ride) but can easily be read on it's own. A delightful combination of mystery, humor, friendship and team work the story is absolutely all heart! I particularly enjoyed getting to know Kate and her friends, Tori, Melissa, Jake and Colt. Their camaraderie is full of fun and adventure and the teasing and laughter may remind you of friends of your own. Character lessons are cleverly scattered throughout the story- honesty, patience, tolerance, perserverance, etc. I appreciated how the teens took on the task or organizing a scavenger hunt in order to raise money to help Kate's younger brother, Pete, go to camp. Pete is autistic and I appreciate how the author gave him a chance to shine in the story. You'll have to read it to see what I mean. :) The suspects in the mystery were wonderful! I had no idea who had stolen the antique jewel box filled with money and anxiously read to see the mystery solved!  I wish this series was around when my daughters were younger. Horses, mysteries, practical jokes, and a lot of love. What could be better? Highly recommend!!

About the book: 

Blue Ribbon Trail Ride (David C. Cook, January 25)

Thirteen-year old Kate and her friends came up with the perfect way to raise money for her autistic younger brother and others to attend summer camp---a horse scavenger hunt! As local businesses donate money and prizes, Kate keeps the entry fees in her mom's antique jewelry box.

But when the box and the money disappear, Kate and her friends must unravel the clues, hold on to hope, and solve the mystery along the Blue Ribbon Trail Ride. 

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1QHgZ3T

About the author:

Miralee Ferrell is the award-winning author of more than a dozen novels. She and her husband live along the Columbia River Gorge in southern Washington State, where she enjoys riding the wooded trails and spending time with her grown children. In addition to horses and dogs, Miralee once owned two cougars.

Connect with Miralee: website, Twitter,Facebook

*I was given this book by Litfuse in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was received.*

It's Not What You Think by Jefferson Bethke

My Thoughts:

   It's Not What You Think is an engaging, easy to read book that delves deeply into the Bible and applies it to life today. The author, Jefferson Bethke, illustrates biblical truths through his life experiences (and sometimes movies!) which makes for an interesting and thought provoking read. Take a peek at the topics:

1. Your Story's Not What You Think:
    Love Defined You Before Anything Else Did
2. The Temple's Not What you Think:
     It's God Pitching His Tent in Your Backyard
3. People Are Not Who You Think:
    They're Neighbors to Love, Not Commodities to Use
4. You're Not Who You Think:
     You're a Person From the Future
5. The Sabbath's Not What You Think:
     You Rest as You Play
6. Worship's No What You Think:
     You Become What You Behold
7. The Kingdom's Not Where You Think:
     It's Not in the Sky; It's Here Now
8.  Brokenness is Not What You Think
     You Must Embrace Your Scars
9.  The Table's Not What You Think
      It's Not Just a Meal; It's a Sacred Space

   I particularly enjoyed reading about the Sabbath (Chapter 5) and learning about the celebration of Shabbat. Relationships, food, deep conversations and intimacy. How lovely! Chapter 8 really touched my heart. It discussed brokenness and how we all carry regrets, shame, and guilt. These wounds eventually become scars that have been healed by God. Our scars tell a story that can often help others. Beautiful.

It's Not What You Think can be read in a weekend but the knowledge will stay with you longer after that. Highly recommend!

*I was given this book by Booklook Bloggers in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was received.*

The Peaceful Wife by April Cassidy

My Thoughts:

April Cassidy and I are kindred spirits. My goodness, I could have written this book (not anywhere as well as she has done, but you get the idea). Yes indeed, until I got my hands on The Peaceful Wife I had a HUGE list of unwritten expectations for my husband- and we've been married almost 25 years! I bet if you're honest with yourself you do, too. I recommend that every woman, married or single, read this book. It's an easy to read book with ideas on how to honor your husband that will only make your marriage better. Is your husband distant? Does he not communicate like he used to? Does he watch a lot of TV? If you're like me, you may have unintentionally distanced yourself from him by giving him the "silent treatment", forcing him to agree with you, undermining his authority, having a long list of unwritten expectations among other things. I love how April Cassidy shows us through the Bible how to improve our relationship with our husbands and repair the damage that may have occurred over the years. It was a big wake up call for me. God's way is not the way of the world, my friends. Get your hands on this book!

The Peaceful Wife 

Living in Submission to Christ as Lord 

April Cassidy 

What happens when a woman becomes the wife God desires her to be?

In today's world, women are often rewarded for having type A personalities. Driven, demanding women achieve higher positions, better salaries, and praise for their ambition. They learn to be confident, take-charge leaders who can handle anything on their own. Yet when it comes to their marriages, those same traits can backfire. After all, no one goes into marriage hoping for a promotion. What is a wife to do?

April Cassidy knows this struggle firsthand. She thought she was a great Christian wife and begged God to make her passive husband into a more loving, involved, godly leader. Instead, God opened her eyes to changes that she needed to make, such as laying down her desire for control and offering genuine, unconditional respect--not just love--to her husband. The Peaceful Wife focuses on Cassidy's experience and its life-changing properties, providing a template for others to follow.

Cassidy's conclusions may be as shocking to readers as they were to her, but she backs up her own tale with stories from her blog readers, and also includes recommendations for further study. She walks through baby steps on how to change, addressing questions such as:

• What is respect?


• How can you show respect?


• How is being respectful different from being loving?

In the end, The Peaceful Wife is a powerful path to God's design for women to live in full submission to Christ as Lord.
*I was given a copy of this book from Kregel in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was received.*

Keeper of the Stars by Robin Lee Hatcher

My Thoughts:

Keeper of the Stars, by Robin Lee Hatcher, is a heartfelt love story with a focus on the harsh realities of grief and forgiveness. Penny Cartwright lost her mother at a young age and now, at the beginning of the book, she's struggling with the tragedy that took the life of her younger brother, Brad. Trevor Cartwright survives the car accident but blames himself for that night. The beauty of this book are the flashbacks on Brad Cartwright's life. I loved reading about his tremendous faith in God and how just by living for the Lord he was able to lead Trevor to Kings Meadow. I believe that's how God works in this life- every person fits together like pieces of a puzzle. It's not always easy to see the big picture but Robin Lee Hatcher delights and comforts us with this wonderful story of God working through tragedy and joy. 

About the book:  Keeper of the Stars (Thomas Nelson, January 2016) Because it's not always love at first sight! When her mother died from pneumonia, Penny Cartwright was heartbroken. But now, after burying her younger brother just 12 years later, she is devastated. Anger, guilt, and sorrow cloud Penny's mind, and the last thing she wants is to be reminded of her pain---but that's exactly what happens when a stranger comes to town. Trevor Reynolds has been chasing fame for more than a dozen years, but his musical career can't get off the ground. While on the road, an accident kills his young drummer, Brad Cartwright. Trevor wasn't behind the wheel, but he still blames himself . . . and so does Brad's sister, Penny. Now Trevor finds himself in Kings Meadow, determined to follow through on his final promise to his friend. Still feeling the pain of Brad's death, Penny and Trevor must learn that forgiveness is the only thing that can heal their hearts. And if they do forgive, something beautiful may rise from the ashes of heartbreak. Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/20EmYLy Read a sample chapter: http://bit.ly/1X0pYQ6 About the author:  Best-selling novelist Robin Lee Hatcher is known for her heart-warming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. The winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance, two RT Career Achievement Awards, and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award, Robin is the author of over sixty novels. Connect with Robin: website, Twitter, Facebook http://www.robinleehatcher.com/celebrating-my-76th-release-keeper-of-the-stars/

*I was given a copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was received.*