Next Level Thinking by Joel Osteen

Anyone who has ever read one of Pastor Joel Osteen's books should know that they are in for an inspiring journey with heartfelt stories from his life.

Back Cover Copy:

It starts in you THINKING. 

Nothing will change until you make up your mind that you are not going to accept mediocrity. Why don't you take the limitations off yourself?

You have so much potential. Break out of that box and try something new...

You are not limited by your education, by how you were raised, or by your current situation.

God has destined you to rise higher.

He's destined you to go to the NEXT LEVEL.

My Thoughts:

Next Level Thinking touched my heart in so many ways. I like to flag my books with items that touch me and that I want to remember. Well, I probably have close to fifty flags in this book and to be honest, I didn't start flagging until I was halfway through the book. This book is to help the reader to achieve a successful and abundant life. Below is a list of the ten powerful thoughts that serve as the chapter titles.

• Be a Barrier Breaker
• You Are Fully Loaded
• The Odds Are for You
• Move Up to the Next Level
• Recognize Your Value
• Live with the Boldness of a Son
• Kow You Are Loved
• Approve Yourself
• Get the Contaminants Out
• Remove the Shame

Pastor Osteen writes in such a way that I feel like I'm sitting across a desk from him and he is talking to me one-on-one. It's phenomenal when an author pulls me into their book as if we were in the same room together. I truly appreciate this as I glean more from books that make me feel this way.

I would like to thank Faith Words for my copy of Next Level Thinking.  I received my copy for free but I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255.

Smiles & Blessings,

Kill Shot by Susan Sleeman

Some fears haunt you forever...

until they become reality.

     As the ballistics and weapons expert for the FBI's special tas force ncknamed the White Knights, Rick Cannon knew the Department of Defense was developing self-steering bullets--which have one hundred percent accuracy that can turn even a ovice into a lethal sniper--and always feared they would eventually end up in the wrong hands.

     When a homeless vet is killed with a smart bullet, it's clear the ammunition has been stolen, and Rick's greatest fear has come true. As the lead agent on the investigation, he needs to find the thief  before the technology ends up in the wrong hands. The only witness to the miurder is Olivia Dobbs, who happens to be the victim's theapist, well known for her success in counseling veterans with PTSD, which also makes her a suspect.

     Despite the mutual attraction that immediately sparks between them, Rick can't--no, he won't--let Olivia compromise his investigation. But when the sniper they're trailing trains his rifle on her, Rick must recall all the skills he learned as a Marine to make sure the next bullet fired isn't a kill shot that takes out Olivia.

My Thoughts:

I have wanted to read a book by Susan Sleeman for some time now. Her newest book, Kill Shot is the second book in her White Knights series. While I haven't read the first book in the series I found this book read just fine as a stand-alone. However, I loved it so much the first book in the series, Fatal Mistake, now resides in my To Be Read pile.

Kill Shot is a fast-paced novel with twists and turns throughout. The heroine, Dr. Olivia Dobbs, is a psychologist who has several former military veterans as her patients that she treats for PTSD. The hero of the story, Rick Cannon, is an ex-Marine turned FBI agent and he enters the story when Olivia's patient is murdered by a stolen self-steering bullet.

Rick and Olivia have a strange relationship. While they are attracted to each other, Rich can't stop looking at her as a suspect. They both have issues from their past but Ms. Sleeman works them through these issues and ties up the story quite nicely.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good romantic suspense novel.

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

I would like to thank the publisher, Faith Words for my complimentary copy of Kill Shot. I received my copy for free with no expectation for giving a positive review.

Smiles & Blessings,

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,

Heaven Sent Rain by Lauraine Snelling

Lauraine Snelling's newest novel, Heaven Sent Rain is the story of scientist and pharmaceutical CEO Dinah Taylor, veterinarian Dr. Garret Miller and a seven-year-old Jonah Morgan. It is a story of loss, love and trust.

Heaven Sent Rain is well crafted and the characters come to life on the written page. Dinah has issues that cause her to wear mostly white and her apartment is all in white as well. She is very organized and isn't ready for the changes that take place in her life but she soon adapts.

Dr. Garret Miller and Dinah don't really hit it off but because of young Jonah and his needs, they try to get along. Will their animosity tear them apart or pull them together.

One of the major story lines in this book deals with the disease diabetes. Personally, I felt the author went a little overboard in bringing the subject to light. Maybe because I am diabetic I felt I was being brow-beaten. But for some it could very well be an eye-opener.

If you like clean contemporary fiction that pulls at your heartstrings, I would highly suggest this book. I will say that you may need a box of tissues while reading this book. I found myself in tears on several occasions. 

On a 5-Star Scale - 3 Stars.

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

Smiles & Blessings,

  

Remember Me When by Ginny Aiken - my review

I truly love picking up a book by an author I have never read before and find that I am so totally entertained that I lose track of time and place. Such was the case for me when I entered the world of Ginny Aiken's newest novel, Remember Me When, her second novel in her "Women of Hope" series. This novel was inspired by the biblical story of Abigail in 1 Samuel. She stood up for what she knew was right even though there were life-threatening consequences.

The story takes place in Hope County, Oregon in 1880. Our heroine is Faith Nolan who is the wife of Roger Nolan, the proprietor of a general store.  She married Roger out of need after her parents were both killed by Indians. Roger offered her marriage but from the wedding night on he abused her. Roger's brother lives with them and Faith finds her only solace is when she spends time with her husband's three mules, Maisie, Daisy, and Lazy.

Roger is a very nasty untrustworthy man. Nathan Bartlett, the owner of a local logging camp, orders merchandise and food from Roger's store, but somehow Nathan's orders are never delivered complete. Faith feels bad because she knows the orders arrived. When the new order comes in she waits until her husband drinks himself into oblivion and she sneaks out, loads Nathan's order onto the backs of the three mules and heads up to the logging camp to deliver the much needed order. When she returns, she suffers Roger's wrath and as he pushes at her she falls and hits her head on the hearth and is knocked out. When she awakes, she finds Roger dead and the store and her home on fire. She is able to escape only to find the mules have escaped as well. She soon finds herself on her way back up the mountain to the logging camp and meets up with her three mule friends who lay down around her to help keep her warm during the night.

When Nathan and the loggers see the smoke coming from the base of the mountain they head down to see where it was coming from.  Finding Roger dead inside the burning cabin, Nathan and the rest set out to find Faith. To complicate matters, Roger's brother, Theo, begins accusing Faith of murdering Roger. This sets the plot of the story in motion.

They take Faith into the town of Bountiful to meet with the sheriff. From there other things begin to happen and more fingers are pointed at Faith. Is she guilty? Does Nathan believe in her innocence? Will the jury find her guilty and sentence her to hang? You will have to read the book to find out the answers.  Ms. Aiken kept me on the edge of my seat and I'm sure anyone who enjoys a good Christian suspense will be kept on the edge of their seats as well.

My only sadness in reading this book is that I didn't read the first book in the series first, not that it was necessary, but now, I will definitely pick up a copy of For Such a Time as This which was based on the story of Queen Esther meets the west. The third book in the series will be titled She Shall Be Praised and was inspired by Proverbs 31.

I would highly recommend Remember Me When to anyone who loves Romantic Suspense filled novels. It is a story filled with faith and trust and the message presented was very well done.

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

I would like to thank Sarah Reck and Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Group for my Advanced Reader Copy of Remember Me When. I received my ARC copy for free in order to read and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

Cross Roads by Wm. Paul Young - a review

I was ecstatic when I learned that William Paul Young had written another book.  I read his book The Shack several years ago and it stayed with me for a long while after turning the last page.  When I had the opportunity to receive an Advanced Readers Copy of his new book, Cross Roads, I jumped at the chance.

Cross Roads is the story of Anthony Spencer, a self-made man, savvy and successful in business, but very proud with a very large ego.  Anthony (Tony) has a fear that people are watching him.  It's so bad he even has a secret apartment.  One day while heading to his car in the parking garage, he suffers a cerebral hemorrhage that leaves him in a coma in the hospital ICU.

Tony awakens to find himself in a strange world that he soon learns is part of who he has become.  It is in this world that he soon learns about himself.  While in the coma, Cabby, a young boy with down syndrome kisses him and Tony soon finds himself looking at the world through the eyes of this young man.  Then when Cabby kisses Maggie, a family friend Tony finds himself 'sliding' again.

Just as the protagonist in The Shack met the Trinity, Tony meets Jesus and the Holy Spirit as well.  Each time Tony slides he is back within "himself" and has dialogue with interesting 'characters' as well as Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

I required quite a few Kleenex while reading this book, just as I did when I read The Shack,  If I had to chose between the two books, I would have to choose The Shack,  But Cross Roads is a very good book as well.

I would highly recommend Cross Roads to the adult reader only because a younger audience might not understand all that is happening within the pages.

On a 5-Star scale = 4 Stars.

I would like to thank Sarah Reck and Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Group, for my ARC copy of Cross Roads.  I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,