Tag: Blogging For Books

Book Review · Books

The Dream Of You

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If you are a woman who needs a spiritual pick me up then I recommend The Dream Of You by Jo Saxton. This short book is heavy on wisdom in a non-preachy manner. Jo talks about her tough childhood, how she came to faith and the different trials and accomplishments she’s had in her life. She shares her honest faith struggle in a way you can relate to. Throughout sharing her story, Jo includes Biblical stories about women and men who went through trying times to discover who God made them to be.

I received my free copy of The Dream Of You by Jo Saxton from Blogging For Books in exchange for my review. If you are a seasoned or new believer this book is written in language that is easy to understand and a great fresher on Christian basics.

Book Review · Books

How To Break Up With Your Phone

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I’m guilty of phone addiction. It’s become a crutch to living our lives online vs outwardly. It’s an easy way to communicate on the go, or research a topic, but the myriad app options are time suckers. I don’t know how many times I’ve gone to check FB, Twitter, or IG and time has flown by. Did I do anything productive in my time online? I might have, but then again I may have just scrolled to see if anyone replied to a post of mine. Usually only a small handful do. Was it worth all that time lost? Approval addiction is an ugly beast that has a big appetite that demands to be fed constantly. That’s why when we don’t check our phones we get antsy.

I recently read the very short book Off which is a similar book to How To Break Up With Your Phone by Catherine Price; the difference is that this later book was more in depth. The information packed into this little yellow book is disturbing, convicting, enlightening and depressing.

How To Break Up With Your Phone talks about the behind the scenes ways your smartphone is designed on purpose to be addictive and how apps like FB, IG, etc. are set up to suck you in. The chapter on FB creeped me out. Tomorrow I’m deleting my FB account. My friends are like, “I’m sad to see you leave.” Are you kidding me? I haven’t passed on. I’m still reachable by phone, text, in person, snail mail. That social media platform has become a true social crutch and made people lazy to directly communicate with each other offline. It makes me sick because it shows you aren’t worth keeping in contact with unless you are on FB. This book also, discusses how phone addiction has changed our mental states and ways in which we are able to focus. ADHD, anxiety challenges anyone? I know I have anxiety, but that’s probably from my coffee addiction. Lastly, this book gives you a thirty day step by step plan on how to break up with your phone and take back control of your life. The step by step guide is thoughtful and I can’t wait to complete it.

I received my copy of How To Break Up With Your Phone for free from Blogging For Books in exchange for my review. This book should be required reading for schools, work places, friends, family, etc. Let’s be present in our lives. We each have allotted time and who wants to waste it glued to a screen?

Book Review · Books

You Are The Beloved

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I had heard of Henri Nouwen, but never read any of his works. When I saw You Are The Beloved available on Blogging For Books I clicked the yes option. This book is a collection of different spiritual snippets from his books. Since I’ve never read him before this book gives a great overview. This book is similar to a devotional in that it is broken down by days of the year and sectioned into the months of the year. At the end of every daily meditation it references which book the daily meditation originates from. Each month focuses on different themes.

I received You Are The Beloved from Blogging For Books for free in exchange for my review. If you enjoy Nouwen or reading books by Christian mystics you will savor this book of mediations. This book isn’t one to read through fast. I’m still working through finishing it because I don’t want to hurry the deep spiritual thoughts that are in this book. I never tab my books, so this is the first book to get that special treatment. I had to buy more tabs because I already ran out. Yes, it’s that good.

Book Review · Books

A Prairie Girl’s Faith

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7cd8ba74-c1cc-4e3f-ab98-d0322fdc46c1-10347-000004c9eb385bb3_file.jpgDid you go through a “Little House On The Prairie,” phase? I sure did from about Kindergarten to fourth grade. My grandmother made me my own pinafore. Growing up I watched “Little House On The Prairie,” every day at 5pm. I loved the actor Michael Landon, who to me,seemed like the classic personification of Pa. Melissa Gilbert portrayed Laura Ingalls just right in all her spunkiness. Melissa Sue Anderson brought Mary Ingalls to life in all her semkingly goody toe shoes elderly sister role. In third grade I got to have my own creek in my backyard. Of course I put a plank of wood across so I could get across. I have never read all of the Little House books, but when I saw, A Prairie Girl’s Faith, as an option to request an ARC of course I jumped at the chance.

This short volume reflects on Laura’s and her family’s faith. It covers her relationship with her daughter Rose. Not having read all of Laura’s books, or any bios on her, I didn’t realize how big of a role Rose had in helping shape The Little House series. This book also, includes some recipes of Laura’s Ma and their friends/neighbors.

I received this ARC for free from Blogging For Books in exchange for my review. I had high hopes for this book, but honestly I found it a bit slow and dry for my taste. If you are a fan of Laura this book might still be worth a check out.

Books · TBR

It Started With 5

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For a few months I watched Sasha Alsberg’s booktube channel. She’d do unboxing videos of getting ARCs from different publishers. I was intrigued. I wanted free books to review. I started a blog and reviewed five books I’d recently read. I, then started searching for book blogger review opportunities. I was thrilled to discover NetGalley,  Blogging For Books and TLC Book Tours. All three of these companies have been gracious in giving me an opportunity to get to review for them. My TBR is quite scary thanks to all the lovely books I’ve been approved to review. If you love to write and read, then think about starting a blog today. It only took 5 book reviews to be accepted to review for the above 3 companies. I always get excited when I see book mail from HarperCollins.

Book Review · Books

Daring To Hope

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If you have read Kisses From Katie, then the follow up memoir, Daring To Hope is going to be the icing on your spiritual cake. It’s a short book, but the spirit led richness makes you want to take your time reading each chapter. This book is anointed. It is a simple, yet powerful testimony to Katie’s ministry and work in Uganda. She shares stories of helping others who don’t have much. Katie along with her thirteen adopted daughters help those who need a place to stay, some who are sick and need around the clock care and those who need food. I found myself crying, laughing and just drinking in the beauty this book holds.

I have been lapsed in my faith for a long while. I’ve been wrestling over what do I believe and why. This memoir was a God send. Katie isn’t preachy in a Hell and brimstone manner, but in the manner of a saint whose seen prayer answered in the way she hoped and in the way that was not in her comfort zone. Katie is humble. She meets you where you are at with no judgement, or spiritual arrogance. If you need a book that will let you know you aren’t alone in your faith struggles I hugely recommend this gem of a book. I received my free copy of Daring To Hope by Katie Davis Majors from Blogging For Books in exchange for my review.

Book Review · Books

The Alphabet Of Grief

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img_2099Grief is not a topic out of popularity, but out of necessity. We don’t know when a friend, family member, spouse, or acquaintance is going to pass away. The Alphabet Of Grace is a small little book packed with lots of wisdom. Chaplain Andrea Raynor brings death and grief to our door in an easy to understand Guide. Her guide of sorts is broken down via the alphabet. Each letter stands for a topic having to do with grief and death. At the end of each short chapter is a meditation and an affirmation.

I have had family members pass away and close friends. Death is never easy to deal with. I still miss my grandparents and my one best friend, but I know they are now not in pain. Personally I don’t find comfort in going to their graves. Honestly cemeteries creep me out. One way I like to remember them is by going to a fave place they liked to eat, or enjoy a favorite pastime they had like watching baseball, or reading a book. We all deal with grief in different ways.

I’m so glad I requested to review this book from Blogging For Books. This book is not preachy, though it is consider Christian. It comes across like a warm blanket on a winter night that keeps you warm and feeling cozy. It’s comforting and yet educational at the same time. I got this book for free in exchange for my review from Blogging For Books. I highly recommend this title for anyone dealing with someone in the process of dying or have passed on. I wish I’d had this book back when my grandparents passed. It would have helped me get through a lot.

Book Review · Books

Your Guide To The Apocalypse

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The End Times is a hot topic. The news with updates on different wars, environmental issues,  health scares and violence increasing, it’s no wonder society may think the end of the world is near. Pastor Matt Hagee explains why from the Bible he believes we are the last generation to witness Jesus coming back. His guide gives over the reasons why and how the first 3 chapters of the book of Revelation explain the signs of how we are in the last days. He believes that believers will be taken up to heaven before the Antichrist steps on the world stage, hence why he didn’t go past chapter 3 of Revelation. This book I think is geared towards Christians, but he does speak to unbelievers. Depending on your church background or lack of church and Bible exposure you may understand what’s expressed in this book.

I am a post tribulation ‘fan’. Honestly I don’t see why believers of today should get out of having to go through the tribulation. It seems like too, easy of a ticket. Some of his view points I get, but to state this is the truth vs showing the other viewpoints feels a tad arrogant. I know Pastor Hagee means well, but to me only Jesus can open your eyes to the truth.

I received an ARC of Your Guide To The Apocalypse by Matt Hagee for free from Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest review. If you are a pretribulation believer then this book is for you. If you aren’t it might ruffle your feathers, or it might enlighten you.

Book Review · Books

Love That Boy

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A book about the relationship between a father and son sounded just right to me. Love That Boy is about political columnist Ron Fournier and his son Tyler’s relationship. Like every father out there Ron has expectations and hopes for his kids, but Tyler is unique in his own way. Not until he’s 12 do his parents find out that Tyler has Aspergers. This memoir is Ron’s journey to understand Tyler better and learn how to be a better parent through going on a Presidential themed road trip with Tyler.

If you’ve struggled with feeling like you can’t measure up to your parent’s expectations then this book might make you feel better. Growing up I always felt like I couldn’t measure up to my own dad’s expectations for me. Sometimes praise felt hollow or forced, or worse I felt patronized. Who doesn’t hate feeling that way?

Ron’s memoir is candid and provides a lot of fatherly insight into how it can be hard to relate to a child when you have polar opposite interests. You are an extrovert and your son is an introvert. I’m a mix of both intro and extrovert, but my dad is more extrovert. He can’t understand that after a few hours of intense socializing I need my me alone time or watch out for cranky lady.

I think this book will help parents no matter if their child is special needs or not. I think this book gives great insight into a parent’s internal struggle in trying to relate to their child. It’s good to see the viewpoint from the parent and not just the child. I received Love That Boy, from Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest assessment.

Book Review · Books

In The Days Of Rain

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In The Days Of Rain, is about Rebecca Stott and how she pieces together her father’s life in the Brethren cult. Rebecca was raised from birth only knowing the Brethren’s rules and ways of life. Before her father passes on he asks her to complete his memoir. Having left the cult with her family when she was a child Rebecca isn’t keen on going down memory lane, but wants to fully share her father’s story no matter how hard it is.

This memoir describes what life was like in the Brethren. Everything outside their close-knit group was forbidden: TV, news, worldly people, books that were not approved, movies, etc. As a child Rebecca was caught up in thinking about the Rapture when Jesus would be returning to take all the Brethren to Heaven. This book not only describes what life was like, but about how being in such a controlled spiritual environment fractured relationships and one’s sense of self. Her father was the head of the household and had a bad temper. Rebecca never understood why until she dug deeper into her father’s past and what being a preacher in the Brethren was like for him. Rebecca never knew what it was like to voice her own opinion growing up. Women were to keep quiet and not question anything.  It took years for Rebecca to learn how to voice her own opinion and to patch up her relationship with her father.

For some reason this topic fascinates me. I can see why cults lure people. People like having spiritual matters laid out in black and white. Being told what to believe, how to act, dress and think is easier than having to make your own decisions. A few years ago I experienced what might be termed as an online Christian cult of sorts. I was enthralled by a particular Christian YouTuber. I befriended this woman, but as soon as I started being honest about red flags I was seeing I got disfellowshipped and unfriended. That is unless I had a prayer request, then by all means it was ok to contact this woman. At the time I discovered and befriended this woman I was spiritually vulnerable and spiritually hungry, so of course I gobbled up what she said. I followed her hook line and sinker. Sadly she burnt me. I thought I had a genuine sister in Christ, but instead I got black listed by her. Sadly there are others out there that had the same thing happen to them. One minute you are a blessing from God and the next you are not a true saved follower of Jesus. I can see why Rebecca’s Faith didn’t survive her cult indoctrination. It’s sad her faith didn’t survive her upbringing, but I don’t blame her for guarding her heart.

I received an ARC of In The Days Of Rain by Rebecca Stott for free from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. If you’ve been raised in a cult this book may be too, much of a trigger, but it also, may help you sort through your own journey whether you are still inside the cult, or are free from it.