I am taking a summer break from blogging this week and most of next week. I am doing a thorough cleaning of my house: cleaning up bookshelves, shredding needless files, cleaning up closets, dusting in places that have dust bunnies, cleaning baseboards, etc. Next week my sister JoAnn is coming to visit (no, I'm not cleaning because she is coming to visit).
Blissful Blogging!
Annette
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Mid Summer Big Book Giveaway!
I am cleaning up and clearing out bookshelves!
I have the following books that I will giveaway to ONE winner! Please leave a comment if you are interested in a chance to win. I will announce the winner on Monday August 2.
Blissful Reading!
Annette
I have the following books that I will giveaway to ONE winner! Please leave a comment if you are interested in a chance to win. I will announce the winner on Monday August 2.
Annette
Book Giveaway!
Debbie Fuller Thomas the author of Raising Rain has offered to giveaway a copy of this book.
If you would like a chance to win this wonderful read please leave a comment. I will announce the winner on
Monday August 2.
Blissful Reading!
Annette
If you would like a chance to win this wonderful read please leave a comment. I will announce the winner on
Monday August 2.
Annette
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Disrupting Grace, A Story of Relinquishment and Healing by Kristen Richburg
Link @ Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Disrupting-Grace-Story-Relinquishment-Healing/dp/1935265040
Link @ Christian Book:
http://www.christianbook.com/disrupting-grace-store-relinquishment-and-healing/kristen-richburg/9781935265047/pd/265047
Disrupting Grace
This book was provided for free by Bring It On Communications for the purpose of reading/reviewing.
Published by VMI Publisher 2009, 136 pages, paperback, non-fiction/memoir/adoption
Kristen and her husband Andrew are eager to bring another child in to their family. They have two children Annie and Ben. Ben was born early and future pregnancy related health problems could happen if Kristen chose to conceive again. Adoption becomes their focal pursuit and their hearts prayer.
Kristen and Andrew gave careful thought and prayer in making this decision. They researched and read on adoptions, they prepared their hearts, their home and their children for a future additional family member.
Kristen a child of adoption as well, felt energized and hopeful in this decision.
Their adoption story did not work out as they had hoped for, in fact it became an ordeal of trauma.
It must have been painful to relive this time while Kristen wrote her memories for this book; then again it may have been cathartic for her and also a way for her to understand what she had learned from this experience.
The daughter they'd adopted was relinquished by Kristen and her husband. This decision was not made on a sheer emotional whim, it was made in order to protect their own children and to do what was best for the child.
I read this book yesterday, staying up until late in order to finish it, I just could not put the book down.
I'd not read before of an adoption that did not work out. I was reminded of the case recently in Tennessee of a woman that chose to send her adopted son on a plane back to Ukraine. Media swarmed all over this story and the woman was convicted before her story was heard. I have as yet not heard what the results of her story was.
Disrupting Grace is a sad book, it is a book that even in the beginning pages I knew that all was not going to end well. I was swept up in Kristen's story, in her arduous journey. I felt tenderness towards her and her family, and ignorant about mental illness and its affect on families. Often while reading the book I wanted to cry. I am reminded of a quote in another book I read recently, "There are tears in things." (The Lost, A Search for Six of Six Million by Daniel Mendelsohn). There are many tears in this book.
I loved this book! I feel I have learned much by Kristen's story: mental health issues, dealing with a child that is ill, faithfulness, trusting in the Lord for guidance/direction/wisdom, and in seeing a clear-cut picture of the definition of grace.
Blissful Reading!
Annette
http://www.amazon.com/Disrupting-Grace-Story-Relinquishment-Healing/dp/1935265040
Link @ Christian Book:
http://www.christianbook.com/disrupting-grace-store-relinquishment-and-healing/kristen-richburg/9781935265047/pd/265047
Disrupting Grace
This book was provided for free by Bring It On Communications for the purpose of reading/reviewing.
Published by VMI Publisher 2009, 136 pages, paperback, non-fiction/memoir/adoption
Kristen and her husband Andrew are eager to bring another child in to their family. They have two children Annie and Ben. Ben was born early and future pregnancy related health problems could happen if Kristen chose to conceive again. Adoption becomes their focal pursuit and their hearts prayer.
Kristen and Andrew gave careful thought and prayer in making this decision. They researched and read on adoptions, they prepared their hearts, their home and their children for a future additional family member.
Kristen a child of adoption as well, felt energized and hopeful in this decision.
Their adoption story did not work out as they had hoped for, in fact it became an ordeal of trauma.
It must have been painful to relive this time while Kristen wrote her memories for this book; then again it may have been cathartic for her and also a way for her to understand what she had learned from this experience.
The daughter they'd adopted was relinquished by Kristen and her husband. This decision was not made on a sheer emotional whim, it was made in order to protect their own children and to do what was best for the child.
I read this book yesterday, staying up until late in order to finish it, I just could not put the book down.
I'd not read before of an adoption that did not work out. I was reminded of the case recently in Tennessee of a woman that chose to send her adopted son on a plane back to Ukraine. Media swarmed all over this story and the woman was convicted before her story was heard. I have as yet not heard what the results of her story was.
Disrupting Grace is a sad book, it is a book that even in the beginning pages I knew that all was not going to end well. I was swept up in Kristen's story, in her arduous journey. I felt tenderness towards her and her family, and ignorant about mental illness and its affect on families. Often while reading the book I wanted to cry. I am reminded of a quote in another book I read recently, "There are tears in things." (The Lost, A Search for Six of Six Million by Daniel Mendelsohn). There are many tears in this book.
I loved this book! I feel I have learned much by Kristen's story: mental health issues, dealing with a child that is ill, faithfulness, trusting in the Lord for guidance/direction/wisdom, and in seeing a clear-cut picture of the definition of grace.
Blissful Reading!
Annette
The Prayer Directed Life, How to Stop Preying...and Start Praying by Mark E. McLeroy
Published by Deep River Books in 2010, 144 pages
Link for the book @ Publisher:
http://www.deepriverbooks.com/the-prayer-directed-life.html
Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Directed-Life-Preying-Praying/dp/1935265180/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279123908&sr=8-1
The Prayer Directed Life
This book was provided for free by Bring It On Communications for the purpose of reading/reviewing.
Prayer, we are taught at a young age to pray--remember God is Good, God is great, let Him thank us for our food, Amen? I said this prayer at the dinner table until I was in middle school, finally daddy said, "Annette don't you think it is time you learned to pray from your heart?" There are many Christians that rattle off a prayer at the dinner table or at bedtime; but they are only saying words with no thought or feeling behind them, it is a prayer that has become as ritualistic as brushing teeth. For some people speaking to the Lord from their hearts is uncomfortable, awkward. What is more challenging than the words that we use when we pray to the Lord, is being still and silent before Him. We are more eager to mark off the next thing on our to do list.
Mark E. McLeroy has written an excellent book on prayer. No, this is not a book full of sample prayers that we can use during certain occasions. He teaches us to think, ponder, search our hearts, and ask questions that will lead us in to a deeper fellowship through prayer with the Lord.
There are 27 chapters in the book, each chapter is 2-3 pages long.
Examples of sample chapters are:
Who Am I?
Words Mean Things
Praying In The Spirit
Pride and Prayer
Mark is approachable in his writing, a person of any development in their spiritual walk would easily understand his message.
He gives great explanations and analogies in order to make his points understandable.
Scripture references are given and the reader is encouraged to, "look them up and to ask God about what parts of the book (the authors book) maybe in error or true."
The Prayer Directed Life would be excellent for small group discussion, or for use as a daily devotional.
I disliked the cover of the book, I felt it was cluttered looking and did not match the message of the book.
One of my favorite questions from the book was, "When you go in to pray are you talking over God?" The author explains that just as when we talk over people when they are speaking to us, we can talk over God when we should be silent and wait. Whew! Not only did that get my attention, but I'm convicted.
This is a meaty book with much to digest, and I love this the most in that it stirred my heart and spurred me onwards to not only dig deeper in prayer but to put it in to practice!
Blissful Reading!
Annette
Link for the book @ Publisher:
http://www.deepriverbooks.com/the-prayer-directed-life.html
Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Directed-Life-Preying-Praying/dp/1935265180/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279123908&sr=8-1
The Prayer Directed Life
This book was provided for free by Bring It On Communications for the purpose of reading/reviewing.
Mark E. McLeroy has written an excellent book on prayer. No, this is not a book full of sample prayers that we can use during certain occasions. He teaches us to think, ponder, search our hearts, and ask questions that will lead us in to a deeper fellowship through prayer with the Lord.
There are 27 chapters in the book, each chapter is 2-3 pages long.
Examples of sample chapters are:
Who Am I?
Words Mean Things
Praying In The Spirit
Pride and Prayer
Mark is approachable in his writing, a person of any development in their spiritual walk would easily understand his message.
He gives great explanations and analogies in order to make his points understandable.
Scripture references are given and the reader is encouraged to, "look them up and to ask God about what parts of the book (the authors book) maybe in error or true."
The Prayer Directed Life would be excellent for small group discussion, or for use as a daily devotional.
I disliked the cover of the book, I felt it was cluttered looking and did not match the message of the book.
One of my favorite questions from the book was, "When you go in to pray are you talking over God?" The author explains that just as when we talk over people when they are speaking to us, we can talk over God when we should be silent and wait. Whew! Not only did that get my attention, but I'm convicted.
This is a meaty book with much to digest, and I love this the most in that it stirred my heart and spurred me onwards to not only dig deeper in prayer but to put it in to practice!
Blissful Reading!
Annette
Monday, July 12, 2010
Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin
Amazon link for the book:
http://www.amazon.com/Though-Waters-Roar-Lynn-Austin/dp/0764204963
Christian Book link for the book:
http://www.christianbook.com/though-waters-roar-lynn-austin/9780764204968/pd/204960
Author website:
http://www.lynnaustin.org/ME2/Sites/Default.asp
Though Waters Roar is a 2010 Christy Award Winner for Historical Fiction.
This book was sent to me for free by Bethany House because I am a member of their Open Book Program--
(I am the book club coordinator at my Church). I chose to read/review.
Published by Bethany House in 2009, 432 pages, Historical Christian Fiction
I loved this book!!!
The book begins with a young woman named Harriet contemplating how she has ended up in jail, which then led to her reflecting and telling the life stories of both her mother and grandmother. The time period spans before the Civil War with Harriet's grandmother Bebe, the mother named Lucy late 1800's through early 1900's, and through Harriet age 20 in 1920. History and culture is brought to life through each of these women: Civil War, voting rights for women, slavery, prohibition, social status, poverty, and status of women rights.
I feel that this is an epic book, telling the stories of three generations of women and bringing history to life through their eyes.
Both Bebe and her granddaughter Harriet are similar in personality and appearance, whereas the mother Lucy is a polar difference from them and this brings conflict.
Bebe is a woman that I would love to know; she has grit and determination, she is vibrant and colorful, she is a "John Wayne" among women. I would love to walk beside her if only for a mile.
There are several stories hidden inside the main story, and these sub stories were like finding a little chocolate delicacy beside my pillow.
This book is memorable in that the characters matter, they are tangible in that we see them at their best and at their worst. These women made history, they did not just pass through unknown, but joined in to make a positive difference with what issues were plaguing their conscience. They were unafraid of the challenges that were set before them in their lives. When they "found" their voice they used it to defeat the enemy!
Blissful Reading!
Annette
http://www.amazon.com/Though-Waters-Roar-Lynn-Austin/dp/0764204963
Christian Book link for the book:
http://www.christianbook.com/though-waters-roar-lynn-austin/9780764204968/pd/204960
Author website:
http://www.lynnaustin.org/ME2/Sites/Default.asp
Though Waters Roar is a 2010 Christy Award Winner for Historical Fiction.
This book was sent to me for free by Bethany House because I am a member of their Open Book Program--
(I am the book club coordinator at my Church). I chose to read/review.
Published by Bethany House in 2009, 432 pages, Historical Christian Fiction
The book begins with a young woman named Harriet contemplating how she has ended up in jail, which then led to her reflecting and telling the life stories of both her mother and grandmother. The time period spans before the Civil War with Harriet's grandmother Bebe, the mother named Lucy late 1800's through early 1900's, and through Harriet age 20 in 1920. History and culture is brought to life through each of these women: Civil War, voting rights for women, slavery, prohibition, social status, poverty, and status of women rights.
I feel that this is an epic book, telling the stories of three generations of women and bringing history to life through their eyes.
Both Bebe and her granddaughter Harriet are similar in personality and appearance, whereas the mother Lucy is a polar difference from them and this brings conflict.
Bebe is a woman that I would love to know; she has grit and determination, she is vibrant and colorful, she is a "John Wayne" among women. I would love to walk beside her if only for a mile.
There are several stories hidden inside the main story, and these sub stories were like finding a little chocolate delicacy beside my pillow.
This book is memorable in that the characters matter, they are tangible in that we see them at their best and at their worst. These women made history, they did not just pass through unknown, but joined in to make a positive difference with what issues were plaguing their conscience. They were unafraid of the challenges that were set before them in their lives. When they "found" their voice they used it to defeat the enemy!
Blissful Reading!
Annette
Raising Rain by Debbie Fuller Thomas
Amazon link for the book:
http://www.amazon.com/Raising-Rain-Debbie-Fuller-Thomas/dp/0802487343
Christian Book link:
http://www.christianbook.com/raising-rain-debbie-thomas/9780802487346/pd/487340
Information from the Moody Press Room:
http://www.mpnewsroom.com/?p=683
Moody Publishers link:
http://www.moodypublishers.com/Publishers/default.asp?SectionID=86DE745783B8435ABFF5832DD9E4C78A&action=details&subid=8B914755A8F74FFF9B31C1BEE9D3EDB4
Authors site:
http://www.debbiefullerthomas.com/
and
http://www.novelmatters.blogspot.com/
and
http://www.shereads.org/
Published by Moody in 2009, 320 pages of story, Christian Fiction
I received this book for free from the author, actually I won this book from her site. I chose to read and review this book.
Raising Rain by Debbie Fuller Thomas is about four young women that met in college during the closing of the 1960's. This time period was marked by the Vietnam War, peace protests, the sexual revolution, illegal drugs, feminism, and a generation of people that were defiant of all that had been taught by their parents.
The four young women are Jude, Bebe, Mare and Toni. Each of these women have individual traits and I consider polar in personalties. Jude the defiant feminist, Bebe unsure of her self image and angst from her brothers service in Vietnam, Mare serious and reserved, and Toni socially driven by money and image.
During college Jude had a baby and named her Rainbow, or most commonly called Rain in the book. In the current time period Rain is a woman of 37. She and her long time boyfriend have broken up. Rain struggles with her present circumstances and reconciling her past. She also struggles with the fact the Jude has cancer and is very ill.
The story is mainly in the current time period; but often Bebe will travel back in her memories, starting in August of 1969 when she first started college and met Jude.
Even though the main voices in the story are Bebe and Rain, Jude is one of the strongest characters in Christian fiction that I've read. She is the unseen character in every scene even though her presence is not. She is discussed by the other characters and they fear her. She is intimidating and people prepare for her. She is belligerent and selfish, yet behind her facade is anger and fear.
Rain is surprisingly mentally healthy, I feel it was the stability of Bebe and her family that has made her so.
This is a book that is easy to evaluate and pick apart in order to analyze the characters, and thus would be a great book for a book club discussion.
I loved this book, for the main reason that it has such strong characters and that each of them are notable and at times even evocative.
Blissful Reading!
Annette
http://www.amazon.com/Raising-Rain-Debbie-Fuller-Thomas/dp/0802487343
Christian Book link:
http://www.christianbook.com/raising-rain-debbie-thomas/9780802487346/pd/487340
Information from the Moody Press Room:
http://www.mpnewsroom.com/?p=683
Moody Publishers link:
http://www.moodypublishers.com/Publishers/default.asp?SectionID=86DE745783B8435ABFF5832DD9E4C78A&action=details&subid=8B914755A8F74FFF9B31C1BEE9D3EDB4
Authors site:
http://www.debbiefullerthomas.com/
and
http://www.novelmatters.blogspot.com/
and
http://www.shereads.org/
Published by Moody in 2009, 320 pages of story, Christian Fiction
I received this book for free from the author, actually I won this book from her site. I chose to read and review this book.
The four young women are Jude, Bebe, Mare and Toni. Each of these women have individual traits and I consider polar in personalties. Jude the defiant feminist, Bebe unsure of her self image and angst from her brothers service in Vietnam, Mare serious and reserved, and Toni socially driven by money and image.
During college Jude had a baby and named her Rainbow, or most commonly called Rain in the book. In the current time period Rain is a woman of 37. She and her long time boyfriend have broken up. Rain struggles with her present circumstances and reconciling her past. She also struggles with the fact the Jude has cancer and is very ill.
The story is mainly in the current time period; but often Bebe will travel back in her memories, starting in August of 1969 when she first started college and met Jude.
Even though the main voices in the story are Bebe and Rain, Jude is one of the strongest characters in Christian fiction that I've read. She is the unseen character in every scene even though her presence is not. She is discussed by the other characters and they fear her. She is intimidating and people prepare for her. She is belligerent and selfish, yet behind her facade is anger and fear.
Rain is surprisingly mentally healthy, I feel it was the stability of Bebe and her family that has made her so.
This is a book that is easy to evaluate and pick apart in order to analyze the characters, and thus would be a great book for a book club discussion.
I loved this book, for the main reason that it has such strong characters and that each of them are notable and at times even evocative.
Blissful Reading!
Annette
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)