Book Review: the Perfect Wife by Shari MacDonald

For years Felicia has been working trying to save her marriage.  Her marriage is finally over and she's trying to figure out how she is going to move on with her life as a single mom to her kids.  Brody is running a business where he makes money off stories of the rich and famous.  He and Felicia knew each other when they were younger and they run into each other at Felicia's sister's wedding.  Felicia is trying to figure out how to move on, possibly start a new career and figure out who will help her with her children. She realizes she needs a "wife."    She and Brody are catching up and before Brody realizes it he's offered to help watch her children and the two of them have started off on a new adventure together.


** I've received this book free for my honest review.

Book Review: Keeping Christmas by Dan Walsh

I think everyone can relate to this story because anyone that has children will have them leave home eventually.  Judith is having a really hard time trying to get ready for this Christmas because all her children are away from home and she can't seem to get into the spirit.  Her husband doesn't seem to be very excited to pull all the decorations out since it's just the two of them. When he does help her all she sees are the handmade decorations the kids made as children and it makes it harder for her to deal with the fact that she and her husband are all alone.  She's got to find some way to deal with this new life they have.


** I received this book free for my honest review.   

Book Review: Last Chance Hero by Cathleen Armstrong

I'm really enjoying this series!  I think Dr. Jessica MacLeod is one of my favorite people that has come to town.  She seems even more different than the rest of the characters have been.  What I really like about her is she doesn't like football! Football is huge in Last Chance and they've just recently had a local hero come back into town, Andy Ryan.  Everyone in the town lives and breathes football and they thing that Andy is going to bring life back into their football team as the new coach.  When he and Jessica meet they seem to hit it off fairly well until he invites her to the game. When she lets him know she doesn't like football that shocks everyone.  Oh, and she also doesn't like green or red sauce from the diner.  She's throwing the locals for a loop on those two. They aren't quite sure if they can support the new doctor if she doesn't like football or the two local sauces! This book is a great addition to the series and I'd highly recommend it.

** I received this book free for my honest review.

Book Review: The MISTRESS of TALL ACRE by Laura Frantz

I really enjoyed reading this book and how the characters were developed.  I especially like Sophie and how her relationship developed with the daughter of Seamus.  Since the American Revolution is over Sophie is struggling and isn't sure how she is going to survive anymore.  Sophie meets Lily Cate out on a walk one day and they seem to bond quickly.  Seamus had lost his wife and Lily Cate enjoyed having that mother figure.  Seamus and Sophie become friendly and when he finds out about Sophie's financial struggles he is wanting to help her.  He eventually asks her to marry him, in name only, and the three of them embark  on a brand new journey.

** I received this book free for my honest review

Book Review: the chase TRUSTING GOD with YOUR happily ever after

This was a wonderful book and I think all parents should share it with their children.  I don't think many children at the ages of 12, 13 or 14 are thinking OR praying for their future spouses in life.  I'm not sure that most parents are praying for their children's spouses either.  If we are I'm not sure that we are doing it daily. This is a moving story of parents that started praying for their child and that child's future spouse the day THEY got married. These two people that later got married were taught have praying for their spouse their entire life.  It wasn't easy for them to try and wait for that spouse, but it was something that was important to them.  I think this book could make an amazing difference in the life of our children if we could get them to see how prayer really does work in our lives.  This was a wonderful book and I just couldn't put it down.  I can't wait to share it with others. 


** I received this book free for my honest opinion. 

Book Review: To Capture Her Heartby Rebecca DeMarino

I was caught up in this book from the very beginning.  I really enjoyed the character of Heather Flower.  In the beginning of the story she has been kidnapped and is rescued by Dirk Van Buren.  The two develop a relationship that is difficult in that time period.  Heather is pursued by Benjamin Horton who she has been friend with for quite some time. She is trying to find her way in lift and is doing so with the help of his family.  I really like the Horton family and how their family works. I also loved the character of Heather Flower.  I felt throughout the story that she was trying to figure out who she was, but how she could live her life while staying true to her family.  In the end I felt she was able to figure that out. 


** I received this book free for my honest opinion.

Book Review: Once Upon a Summertime by Melody Carlson

One of the things I liked about this book is that I felt lots of women could relate to it.  Anna Gordon had big plans for herself in the hospitality industry, but it didn't quite pan out the way she had planned.  She's managing the Value Lodge in her hometown and believes she can make big changes to the lodge, but her plans don't quite turn out.  She sees herself managing a large hotel that is beautifully run.  Running the lodge is the farthest thing from that. When another opportunity presents itself she jumps at the chance, but it too isn't quite what she expected.  What I really enjoyed is how she takes what she has in the story and runs with it. In life we often have big dreams, but we don't quite get there.  I really enjoyed this book because it seemed so down to earth. The characters seemed very easy to relate to, like they could be your neighbors. 


** I received this book free for my honest review. 

Teaching Nouns

I was going through my inbox today and ran across a great freebie on teaching nouns.  My youngest loves anything that is a game, so we use lots of games in our learning.  I ran across this freebie and thought it was really neat.  The Natural Homeschool I think I'm going to look around the site more and see what else I can find :)

Book Review: Gone Without A Trace

Livy is struggling at work because of shooting. She decides to take time off work and ends up working on a case that is close to her heart.  Her cousin disappeared two years ago and nobody has heard from her since.  Livy always felt something wasn't right, that her cousin wouldn't just leave her husband and daughter.  A private investigator is in Logan Point investigating the disappearance of a missing senator's granddaughter.  As he and Livy meet and talk they start to wonder if her cousin's disappearance is related.  She doesn't really like Alex, but it seems best for them to work together.  I really enjoyed the dynamics between Livy and Alex.


** I received a copy of this book free for my honest review. 

Book Review: The Innocent by Ann H. Gabhart

Many of us wouldn't know what to do if our husband just never came home.  Carlyn Kearney's husband went off to war and never came home.  She waits for him, but as each day goes by her money runs out, she's going to lose her home and she doesn't know what to do.  There is a Shaker village near her home that she feels like is the answer to her prayers.  The Shakers live a simple life, everyone has food and she feels that  she will be safe and protected there. Life isn't quite what she expected when she arrives there.  There is quite a bit of mystery going on in the Shaker village and that's the last thing Carlyn expected. 

** I received this book for free for my honest opinion.

Book Review: desperate measures by Sandra Orchard

I've been waiting to read the 3rd book in the Port Aster Secrets Series.  I've really enjoyed this series and the characters that are in it.  Sandra Orchard has done a really great job of keeping us engaged with the characters and the mystery of the the "miracle plant" through the first two books.  Now we get to delve deeper into the mystery and finally see who is really behind everything. 
I really like Kate's character and the dynamic relationship between her and Detective Tom.  The other two characters that I like are Patti and Jarret.  There is lots of mystery and intrigue that surrounds them and their relationship and I really think it helps the entire story be more complete. 


** I received this book free for my honest review.

Book Review: Laugh-Out-Loud Doodles for Boys by Rob Elliott

My son really enjoyed this book.  He was a little younger than the age range the book says it's geared towards, he's 8 and it's suggested for 9-12.  He's also got some fine motor problems, but he still really enjoyed the book.  It honestly was also good for him to practice some skills he needed to work on in a different atmosphere, more fun than he might otherwise be used to!  This book would be great to give as a gift or just to buy and have in the car.  It would be great for long trips or to have in your purse and pull out while waiting at appointments. This book to me is just good, clean fun and we really enjoyed it.


** I received a copy of this book free for my honest opinion.

Book Review: Laugh-Our-Loud Pocket Doodles for Girls by Rob Elliott

This is a great book to give as a gift or just to have around the house.  This is the type of item I'd call good, old, clean fun!  The jokes were enjoyed by my daughter and the doodle aspect was really neat as well.  I think it could easily work for a younger child that just needed sometime to keep their hands busy for a few minutes, trying to do the doodling part.  It would be great on a long car ride for everyone to take turns trying. 


** I received this book free for my honest review.

Book Review: Love's Rescue by Christine Johnson

I enjoyed this book, but had a little trouble really feeling engaged with the characters.  Elizabeth Benjamin goes home to Key West when her mother passes away.  It's hard for her to return home because of her past with Rourke O'Malley and certain things that happened with her brother. I think her brother, Charlie, is really my favorite character in the book.  Elizabeth is trying very hard to be the perfect Southern lady, but it's not really who she wants to be.  What I did enjoy about this book is that there is lots of mystery throughout the story and it helps keep the reader engaged. 


** I received a copy of this book free for my honest review. 

Book Review: Life UNSTUCK by Pat Layton

Haven't we all felt stuck at one point in our life? I know that I have and there are several ways that we can deal with our feelings.  Pat shows us a wonderful way to deal with the feelings of being "stuck" with scripture and laughter.  Who could ask for a better approach?? I think the picture on the cover gives you an indication of what the book is about when you see a come stuck to a shoe.  Haven't we all dealt with that before? That just seems like the type of thing that could ruin your day if you let it.  I think Pay has some great ideas here and we can always benefit from scripture and laughter. 


** I received this book for free for my honest review. 

Book Review: The Legacy by Dan Walsh & Gary Smalley

This is book 4 of The Restoration Series.  I have really enjoyed this series and feel like the characters have really been developed for us to know and understand them.  In this book Doug has been drifting more and more away from his family.  He is doing things that his family wouldn't approve of.  He decides to enter a graphic novel contest with his friend Jason and they are both confident that they will win the grand prize.  Christina, who thought they were growing close, realizes that he is growing away from all of them.  She's decides that she needs to start making some changes in her life and moving forward.  I really like the family dynamics that are set up in this book.  I think they make the reader feel like it could be their own family going through these ups and downs.  I would recommend this entire series. 


** I received a free copy of this book for my honest review. 

Book Review: Every Bride Needs a Groom by Janice Thompson

This book was such a great read! What girl doesn't dream of her wedding? She waits for the proposal, she plans and hopefully it all goes just the way she wants it too.  Katie is waiting and planning just like everyone else, but she has the chance to enter a contest in Texas Bride for the dress of her dreams.  She knows it's a long shot, but she enters anyway.  Who wouldn't want to win a contest like that and be able to have a dress made just for them.  Katie thinks everything is going as planned until her boyfriend decides to change plans on her.  Things start to unwind from there and go in all different directions.  I really liked how the author developed all the characters and I think one of my favorites was Alva. 


** I received a copy of this book for free for my honest review. 

Book Review: SAND in MY SANDWICH by SARAH PARSHALL PERRY

I laugh quite a bit while reading this book.  There were so many things written here that I think have happened to just about every mom out there.  We as moms tend to act like our lives are perfect and that in turn makes it harder for other moms as they then feel pressure to be perfect.  Raising children is not an easy or perfect job and if you have a special needs child or more than one that just adds to the chaos.  My mom always told me to laugh or you'll cry and I try to remind myself that on the rough days.  After reading this book and realizing how many of my days seemed to match the authors it just again validated my thoughts that life isn't perfect for all moms and we just need to support each other.  I think we need more books like this to help us realize that all of us are just trying to get through the day while keeping our kids healthy and happy. 


** I received a copy of this book for free for my honest review. 

Book Review: the beauty of grace- stories of God's love from today's most popular writers

This book was a wonderful read.  There are over 17 wonderful people contributing in this book.  Every story is different, but they are all touching.  They all come from the heart, are written with love and warmth.  When I was reading this book I felt as though I was sitting in a room with a group of good friends.  It felt as if we were all sitting and telling each other our deepest stories.  I love when I read stories or books like this because then I get to really feel that I know the hearts of others and feel that I'm not always going through certain situations alone.  I would recommend this book to everyone.  It's an easy book, you can stop at start it at lots of different places and it's one book that you won't regret reading when you are done!



** I was giving this book for free for my honest opinion. 

Book Review: Romancing Your Better Half by Rick Johnson

I think many of us that have been married for more than a few years often forget about the romance aspect of our marriage.  It's not that our marriages are bad, it's just that they lack that spark that was there when we first got married.  We have children, jobs, houses to run and we aren't just focusing on us like we were when we first got married.  I think women are often reading books more then men about how to make their marriages better or how to "fix" them.  It's not that they are broken, it's just that we need to take that time to focus on ourselves a little more again.  This book is written in a way that is an easy read and shows everyone, even the people that are very set in their ways, how to bring that romance back.  I think both husband and wife should read this book because both could and would benefit from it.



** I received this book free for my honest review. 

Book Review: The Crimson Cord by Jill Eileen Smith

What can I say about this book other than it was one of the most amazing books I've ever read! I have never read anything that I can recall from this other and I was just totally blown away with this book.  I sat down to start this book and down not want to put it away. I read it in a matter of hours because I was so into the characters and the story that I just couldn't stop.  We have all heard/read the story of Rahab, but this really had my mind thinking in a different perspective.  We think about love, forgiveness, evil, trust, etc.  so often and this book put all those in such a different light.  The emotions in this story were so raw and so real that the reader could just imagine being right there at that time and being in that situation.  How would I respond? What would I do? When I finished this book I immediately went online and requested ever book my library had by this author. I couldn't wait to read another one of her books.  

** I received this book for free for my honest review. 

Book Review: Anna's Crossing by Suzanne Woods Fisher

I love any book that is related to the Amish.  For some reason when I started reading this book I just wasn't getting into it.  Later I realized it was because it's not your typical story about the Amish. For me that meant I needed to spend more time than 5 minutes here and there reading it because otherwise I wasn't becoming involved with the characters.  Once I sat down and devoted some time to actually reading the book I started to enjoy it so much more.  There are many people mentioned in the book, but only a few "real" characters that you get to know.  My favorite character was actually a child, Felix.  He is put on this great ship and then told to stay downstairs.  You can only imagine how that goes over with him!  Anna is not happy about being on this ship, but she is the only person going with their group that speaks English and she is suppose to go between the Amish and the ships people.  It seems as if almost anything and everything happens on this ship and I truly enjoyed this book by the end. I think Suzanne Fisher does a wonderful job of developing the characters.  I felt like I was right there on the ship.



** I received this book for free for my honest review.

Book Review: The Trouble with Patience by Maggie Brendan

This book touched my heart because it reminded me of praying for patience and then trials coming your way (LOL)  Patience Cavanaugh is trying to bring her grandmother's boarding house back to it's original glory, but she doesn't have much money, man power, or materials.  She's got lots of love and wonderful cooking skills, but is that enough?? She meets the town marshal and after their initial meeting thinks that maybe they can workout a deal.  She'll cook for him and he can work for her around the boarding house.  She's not sure where this arrangement will lead them, but when a mystery man arrives in town and offers to help her around the boarding house it throws an interesting wrench into the mix.  Add to that cattle disappearing, her mother arriving in town, jewelry disappearing and Patience trying to write a devotional.  That all adds up to an interesting story!



** I received this book for free for my honest review.

Book Review: Where Rivers Part by Kellie Coates Gilbert

I really liked this book.  To me it was the kind of book that is right verses wrong.  Dr. Juliet Ryan works for a company to provide safe drinking water to many.  She has had a struggle along the way because her path is not exactly what her father had wanted.  He is a brilliant man and the beginning of our story finds  the two of them battling it out at a conference.  Some safety issues start showing up and has Juliet starts investigating the fingers start pointing at her.  It seems as if there is no one in her corner except possibly the one person she thought was always against her. This book is a battle of good v/s evil and right v/s wrong in my opinion and I enjoyed it greatly.



** I received this book free in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: At Home In Last Chance by Cathleen Armstrong

This is the third book in A Place to Call Home series.  I like the way the author develops the characters because they are very real.  I can relate to everyone in this story.  The main character, Kaitlyn, has had some trouble and hasn't been a very good mom to her daughter.  She has sent her to live with her brother in the small town of Last Chance.  It's a wonderful small town where everyone seems to know what everyone is up to.  Kaityln has come to Last Chance to hopefully rebuild her relationship with her daughter.  One of my favorite characters is Gran.  She's a wonderful part of this story.  She gives love and advice to everyone and without her I don't think this story would be as good.



** I received this story for free for my honest review.

Book Review: Hidden Agenda by Lisa Harris

I have really enjoyed this series.  I really like how the author puts the characters together in this series.  The books starts right off  dramatically with Michael's character being in a situation where his cover is blown.  He's not sure he's going to make it out alive and he's helped by two people that he later learns are the people he'd think are least likely to help.  As the story unfolds a relationship builds with Michael and Olivia, who is one of the people who helped him escape.  Michael is running from the police, the bad guys, basically everyone.  The only person he can trust is Olivia and her brother Ivan, and he's not 100% sure he can trust them.  For now, they are all he has and he's running a race for his life.



** I received this book free for my honest review.

Book Review: The Financially Confident Woman by Mary Hunt

I really enjoy reading Mary Hunt's books.  I feel that she really writes, so that the average woman can plan for her future.  She gives an easy plan to follow and explains in her books how she's been where many women have been, struggling financially. She doesn't write her books to have women set their money up hiding in from their husbands, she's just showing women how to help plan for the future. I feel that often these type books give too many steps, are hard to follow and honestly really are for people that already have money.  Mary shows you how you can start with just a small amount of money and work towards larger goals.  She's showing us that we have to start somewhere and that smaller is better than nothing. I would highly recommend anything she's written!





** I have received this book free for my honest review.