Mermaid Moon, by Colleen Coble

My Thoughts:

Mermaid Moon is the second book in the Sunset Cove series written by Colleen Coble. It can be easily read independently from the first book but the author does allow us to visit characters from The Inn at Ocean's Edge. Mystery, romance, and adventure are all a part of this story and I have to admit I was guessing until the very end. The story is quite exciting with lots of surprises and secrets. One of the major focuses of the story is on forgiveness. The past haunts the main characters, Mallory Davis and Kevin O'Connor, and they struggle with forgiving themselves as well moving on with their lives. I was touched by their stories yet I had a difficult time believing their relationship. Their dialogue was a bit forced and cliched and I failed to care very much about them. While I did enjoy the mystery, the location of the story (Maine!), and the supporting characters I was not as enamored of this book as I am with other Colleen Coble's books. It would be a fun beach read, though, as it's easy to get into and I loved reading the continuing story of characters from The Inn at Ocean's Edge.

Book Description

Mallory’s mother died fifteen years ago. But her father’s last words on the phone were unmistakable: “Find . . . mother.”

Shame and confusion have kept Mallory Davis from her home for the last fifteen years, but when her dad mysteriously dies on his mail boat route, she doesn’t have any choice but to go back to Mermaid Point.

Mallory believes her father was murdered and childhood sweetheart Kevin O’Connor, game warden in Downeast Maine, confirms her suspicions. But Kevin is wary of helping Mallory in her search. She broke his heart and left—without a word—years ago.

When Mallory begins receiving threats on her own life—and her beloved teenage daughter, Haylie—their search intensifies. There’s a tangled web within the supposed murder, and it involves much more than what meets the eye.

As answers begin to fall into place, Mallory realizes her search is about more than finding her father’s killer—it is also about finding herself again . . . and possibly about healing what was broken so long ago with Kevin. She just has to stay alive long enough to put all the pieces together.

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

Change of Heart by Courtney Walsh

My Thoughts:

A cozy guest house, two best friends dealing with broken hearts, secrets uncovered by the FBI, and a busy body (with a big heart) group of women who call themselves the Valentine Volunteers- all in a charming town called Loves Park. Change of Heart, written by Courtney Walsh, is a delightfully romantic escape. I particularly enjoyed the well developed main characters. Trevor Whitney- The handsome, long suffering, and dutiful son who put aside his dreams to continue the family business. There is one dream of his that refuses to be put aside, though. Evelyn Brandt- A breathtakingly beautiful artist who has forgotten her dreams. Personal secrets about her husband have come to light and she's desperate to escape the scrutiny of the public eye. Trevor and Evelyn began as best friends  in high school and the flashbacks to their youth were wonderful. Their story would work well in a movie as there are many memories, conversations, etc. that would convey all on screen. A great cast of supporting characters, as well. Christopher Brandt's "indiscretions" keep the story going at a great clip- Is he the villain or just misunderstood? (You'll have to read to find out!) Maggie Lawson, an attractive reporter with an eye for Trevor Whitney. Is she the love of his life? Aunt Lilian- She knows Trevor so well and exactly when to dole out tough love when necessary. 

The story line for Change of Heart was quite enjoyable, although it tended to drag on a bit at the end. If you're looking for a Spring Break or summer beach escape you may just want to tuck it into your tote bag!

A Colorado senator’s wife, Evelyn Brandt seems to have it all. But her carefully constructed life comes toppling down when the FBI crashes her society brunch with news that her husband has been arrested for embezzlement, and he’s far from repentant. It turns out this was only the start of his indiscretions—for which he has little regret.

As the weeks following the scandal turn into months, Evelyn withdraws, even shirking her duties with the philanthropic Valentine Volunteers. The inquisitive women of the group are determined not to let Evelyn’s divorce destroy her. They have big plans for her to use her long-forgotten artistic talent to reimagine the city’s iconic lamppost hearts. But doing so will force Evelyn to work closely with Trevor Whitney, her ex-husband’s former best friend. Though she and Trevor used to be close—and he’s been letting her hide in his guesthouse—his gruffness conveys his unease with the situation.

Amid the beauty of Trevor’s farm and the comfort of a paintbrush, Evelyn starts to reclaim the dreams she sacrificed to become the perfect politician’s wife. And as creativity inspires them both, Whit begins to see the girl he fell in love with before his friend—and his own mistakes—stole his chance. Possibilities for a new beginning emerge, but long-kept secrets threaten to ruin everything. After so much time, is a change of heart too much to hope for?

Read the 1st Chapter of Change of Heart here! 

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

Finding God in the Ruins by Matt Bays- Hope for the Hurting

My Thoughts:

Finding God in the Ruins, written by Matt Bays, is an incredibly honest and powerful account of how God can be found in the midst of pain, loss, desperation and hopelessness. I truly believe this book could save your life. So many of us struggle in silence, barely making it through the day. Please don't give up! This book will ease your pain and show you that God is with us- in the good times and bad. (PM me if you need to talk. I'll be happy to send you my copy of this book.) Through Matt's personal struggles and suffering (he has had more than his share) he shares the journey he walked to find peace- and God was waiting there. "Healing has no map; every person's experience is different." 

Scattered throughout this book are personal stories of pain and anguish. Abuse, tragedy, illness, depression, betrayal, alcoholism, cancer, self injury, cancer, sexual slavery, a nameless woe and more. This book is hardcore- and very much needed by so many. Matt Bays doesn't candy coat a word. Thank you, Matt. Looking the other way, covering things up, and/or pretending everything is just fine doesn't help a bit. Knowing God is on your side and that others have experienced your pain is conducive to healing and redemption. Hope exists and is there for the taking, friends. It's during the hard times that God shines His brightest!   

I form the light and create darkness,  I bring prosperity and create disaster,  I, the Lord, do all these things.  Isaiah 45:7

God has promised that along with prosperity, "we will have trouble in this life". Through our troubles we can deliver hope to others. We can be survivors and help others to do the same. In the midst of pain, frustration or unmet expectations you may want to ask the Lord, "What is it that you want me to learn so that I can accomplish your will for my life?" I plan to do exactly the same thing.

-Read an excerpt from Finding God in the Ruins on New York Times bestselling author Ann Voskamp's website: http://bit.ly/1Pa4R7C

About the book: 

Finding God in the Ruins (David C. Cook, March 2016)

If God is love, why do we hurt so much?

When the reality of your pain doesn't line up with what you've been taught in church, then what? While many abandon their faith or embrace hopelessness, it is possible to discover the God who heals your heart in the midst of the pain.

Matt Bays has been where you are. His unforgettable stories of loss and healing will usher you into a life where gratitude overpowers anger, hope overcomes despair, and hunger for God replaces indifference to God. With a fresh and original writing style, Bays demonstrates that true redemption is far more powerful than the temporary fixes of sanitized Christianity.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1Mkv8QQ

 

About the author:

Matt Bays is a writer, speaker, and musician with a passion to call people out of their hiding places. In ministry for twenty years, he and his wife, Heather, live in Indianapolis with their fun-loving and insightful teenage daughters.

Website | Facebook | Twitter 

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

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.*