You Can You Will by Joel Osteen

I always enjoy reading books by Joel Osteen as they are always so motivational. When I heard about his new book, You Can You Will I jumped at the chance to review it. But I must admit, I placed it in my 'To Be Read' pile and it got 'lost'. Don't ask me how as the pile isn't very big. But when I finally picked it up to read it, I found it was the right time. It was a time that I needed to hear what Joel had to say.

This book spoke to my heart at a very deep level. Some of the things mentioned in the book I have read in some of Pastor Osteen's other books but this time they sounded fresh and new. I can only say that the Lord spoke to me through this book at a time when I needed to hear it.

You Can You Will gives the reader eight undeniable qualities of a winner. There are eight chapters to cover each quality. Those chapters are:

1. Keep Your Vision in Front of You
2. Run Your Race
3. Expect Good Things
4. Have a Positive Mind-set
5. Commit to Excellence
6. Keep Growing
7. Serve Others
8. Stay Passionate

Pastor Osteen mentions that when we put these principles into action we will enter into a new level of our destiny. It will open up our eyes to to see God's blessing in our lives.

I could explain a lot of the things that ministered to me in this book but then you wouldn't need to read it and that would be sad as this is a book that should be read and even re-read. I would highly recommend You Can You Will to anyone looking for some movivation.

On a 5-Star scale - 5 Stars.

I would like to thank Faith Words for my copy of You Can You Will. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

How to Catch a Prince by Rachel Hauck

When I read Rachel Hauck's newest book How to Catch a Prince, I fell in love with the story, her character's and her writing. I can't say enough about this delightful angelic book.

Corina Del Rey is an American heiress, who, five and a half years prior to the start of the story, found herself married to Prince Stephen of Brighton. Due to a tragic occurrence during the war in Afghanistan that left Corina's twin brother dead, the Prince pushes her away. She goes back home to Georgia to mourn with her family.

The marriage, which had been kept secret, was thought to be unofficial as they never thought the Archbishop had filed paperwork regarding the marriage. When the Archbishop retired, his replacement found the secret document and filed it with the King's Office. The King confronts his brother Stephan and it is decided he must go to Corina and get her to sign annulment papers. This begins a whirlwind roller coaster ride of ups and downs, highs and lows and an angelic intervention.

I haven't read many books by Ms. Hauck but I truly want to go back now and read her first two books in "The Royal Wedding Series". Once Upon a Prince and Princess Ever After. I truly enjoyed How to Catch a Prince and I imagine the first two books are just as wonderful.

Corina and Prince Stephen were on a journey towards truth, forgiveness, and unforgotten love. With the help of some angelic assistance they take a journey that the reader will find thoroughly enjoyable.

On a 5-Star scale - 5 Stars!!!!!

I would highly recommend How to Catch a Prince to anyone who enjoys a good clean contemporary book.

I would like to thank Litfuse Publicity and Zondervan for my copy of How to Catch a Prince. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

How to Catch a Prince Royal Giveaway

An American heiress and a crown prince seem destined to be together. Will the devastation of war keep them apart forever? Find out in Rachel Hauck's new book, How to Catch a Prince. True love has a destiny all its own. With a little heavenly help, Prince Stephen and Corina embark on a journey of truth. But when the secrets are revealed, can they overcome, move forward, and find love again?

Enter to win a "royal" prize pack! 









One grand prize winner will receive:

Enter today by clicking the icon below or the icon to the upper right. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 23rd. Winner will be announced March 24th on Rachel's blog.









{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}

• A royal-themed Brighton charm bracelet


• 2 tickets to see the new Cinderella movie


• The Royal Wedding series (Once Upon a Prince, Princess Ever After, and How to Catch a Prince)

A Harvest of Hope by Lauranine Snelling

When I first opened up my copy of A Harvest of Hope I was briefly overwhelmed when I saw the Bjorklund Family Tree. If I counted correctly there are four generations and 56 names on that tree. But I soon found myself referring back to it so I could keep everyone straight.

The setting for A Harvest of Hope is Blessing, North Dakota in the year 1905. It is the story of Miriam Hastings and Trygve Knutson. While the city is a fictional city, the characters bring it alive to the reader. 

Blessing was a Norwegian settlement and Trygve's parents, aunt and uncle came from Norway to farm the land in Blessing. Fast forward to the early 1900's and immigrants are still coming to Blessing and living in a tent city until houses can be completed. Some of the towns people embrace the immigrants whild others wish they would leave.

Miriam came to Blessing to train as a nurse at the Blessing Hospital. When her mother becomes gravely ill, she is called back home to Chicago. There she is torn between staying with her family or going back to be near Trygve in Blessing. Trygve is waiting for Miriam to return as he loves her and wants to marry her. Miriam does return to fulfill her one year nursing commitment but she tries to not to encourage Trygve as she knows she must return to Chicago. The question is, will she or won't she stay in Blessing?

If I had anything negative to say about this book it would be the fact that is is the second book in Ms. Snelling's "Song of Blessing" series and I haven't read book one, To Everything a Season yet. I felt a little in the dark at times but I still enjoyed the journey Ms. Snelling took me on.

Ms. Snelling has created a town of well developed characters who are filled with faith in God and love for family and friends. She has allowed her characters to roam through the town of Blessing intertwining their lives to form this wonderful story.

On a 5-Star scale - 4 Stars!!!!

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a Chrisitian thread. However, I would suggest you read book one first.

I would like to thank Bethany House for my review copy. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

  

Miracle at the Higher Grounds Cafe by Max Lucado

What if you could reach out and ask God just one question and receive a direct answer from Him? That is the miracle that happened at the Higher Grounds Cafe. 

Chelsea Chambers, is the estranged wife of a former NFL superstar and the owner of the Higher Grounds Cafe. The cafe is old-fashioned and in dire need of a makeover. Unfortunately, her mother who willed the cafe to her carried a lot of debt and Chelsea soon finds her soon to be ex-husband has squandered her nest egg away. 

Realizing she needs help in running the cafe she decides to higher Manny, a man who seems a little different but she soon finds he is an answer to her prayers. Along with Manny comes another answer to prayer, the God Blog. When an internet router is installed at the cafe she soon finds that people are flocking to the cafe to ask God their one question. 

I absolutely loved this book. There were times I laughed and times I cried but the main thing I found is that the book spoke to me and mad me think. What if there was a God Blog that was answered directly by God? Then I thought, there already is a way to talk to God and get answers, it's called prayer.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good quick read. 

On a 5-Star scale - 5 Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank Litfuse Publicity and Thomas Nelson for my copy of Miracle at the Higher Grounds Cafe. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

  

A Heart's Disguise by Colleen Coble

Colleen Coble's work holds a special place in my heart. When I heard an interview with Colleen several years ago, I went to the library and started reading her books voraciously. I haven't stopped since. I was ecstatic to hear that her publisher was going to re-release her first published series, "Journey of the Heart". The first book in the series is A Heart's Disguise and I absolutely loved it.

A Heart's Disguise is the story of Sara Montgomery and Rand Campbell and is set in Wabash, Indiana in October 1865. The Civil War has ended and Sara has been mourning the loss of her one true love, Rand Campbell for over five months. Her father has been told he doesn't have long to live and it is his wish that his daughter Sara be married before he dies.

Ben Croftner has had his eyes on Sara for some time and is trying to convince her to marry him. Sara doesn't love Ben but she loves her family and wants to make them happy. Will she say 'yes' to Ben? Or will she stay true Rand? Is Rand truly dead or was his notice of death false? The answers are all within this wonderful little book.

The series is to be issued over a period of six months. A Heart's Disguise will be issued in March and then each month there after another book in the series will be released. I can hardly wait for book two, A Heart's Obsession to be released. 

I would highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys clean historical fiction and especially fans of Colleen Coble. The book is a really quick read as it is only 90 pages long. But it is well worth your time.

On a 5 Star Scale - 5 Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank Litfuse Publicity and Thomas Nelson for my review copy. I received my copy for free so that I could read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

  

CFBA - Spy of Richmond by Jocelyn Green

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Spy of Richmond

River North (March 1, 2015)

by

Jocelyn Green

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Jocelyn Green is a child of God, wife and mom living in Cedar Falls, Iowa. She is also an award-winning journalist, author, editor and blogger. Though she has written nonfiction on a variety of topics, her name is most widely recognized for her ministry to military wives: Faith Deployed. Her passion for the military family was fueled by her own experience as a military wife, and by the dozens of interviews she has conducted with members of the military for her articles and books, Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives and its sequel, Faith Deployed...Again: More Daily Encouragement for Military Wives. She is also co-author of both Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq & Afghanistan and Stories of Faith and Courage from the Home Front (forthcoming, May 2012). Her Faith Deployed Web site and Facebook page continue to provide ongoing support, encouragement and resources for military wives worldwide.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Trust none. Risk all.
Richmond, Virginia, 1863. Compelled to atone for the sins of her slaveholding father, Union loyalist Sophie Kent risks everything to help end the war from within the Confederate capital and abolish slavery forever. But she can't do it alone.
Former slave Bella Jamison sacrifices her freedom to come to Richmond, where her Union soldier husband is imprisoned, and her twin sister still lives in bondage in Sophie's home. Though it may cost them their lives, they work with Sophie to betray Rebel authorities. Harrison Caldwell, a Northern freelance journalist who escorts Bella to Richmond, infiltrates the War Department as a clerk-but is conscripted to defend the city's fortifications.

As Sophie's spy network grows, she walks a tightrope of deception, using her father's position as newspaper editor and a suitor's position in the ordnance bureau for the advantage of the Union. One misstep could land her in prison, or worse. Suspicion hounds her until she barely even trusts herself. When her espionage endangers the people she loves, she makes a life-and-death gamble.

Will she follow her convictions even though it costs her everything-and everyone-she holds dear?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Spy of Richmond, go HERE.

My Thoughts:

When a series is good, I always hate to say good-bye. Spy of Richmond is the fourth and final book in Jocelyn Green's "Heroes Behind the Lines" Civil War series. In my opinion, it is the best in the series.

I truly appreciate Ms. Green's strong and well developed characters. They are faced with decisions that could put their lives in danger as well as endangering the lives of their loved ones but they press on. Ms. Green allows the reader to feel the emotions along with the character instead of just telling the reader what the character is feeling. The reader is drawn in and becomes one with the story. Masterful job Ms. Green.

Spy of Richmond is based on the spy rings that were prevalent in Richmond during the Civil War. Sophie Kent, the heroine, creates a spy network knowing that one error could land her in prison and could result in her death. But she has a heart for the Union and a strong desire to see slavery abolished and that is what spurs her on to help the Union even though she live in Confederate territory. It is obvious, in all four books, that Ms. Green has done her research as all four books are packed with historical fact.

I was pulled into the story from the very beginning and stayed engaged until I turned the very last page. Job well done Ms. Green!

I would highly recommend Spy of Richmond to anyone who loves reading a good clean historical novel.

I would like to thank Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and River North for my copy of Spy of Richmond. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review.

On a 5-Star scale - 5 Stars!!!!!

Smiles & Blessings,