The Confident Woman Journal by Joyce Meyer

 I love a good journal and Joyce Meyer's new journal, The Confident Woman Journal is proving to be a great one for me. 

This journal was created to be a companion to go along with Ms. Meyer's book, The Confident Woman Journal, however, you do not need the book in order to utilize this beautiful journal.

Within the pages of this journal are quotes that according to the copyright page, came from Ms. Meyer's book, Your Battles Belong to the Lord.

As you can see by the picture to the left, the cover is white and it is from what I would consider simulated leather. It truly is a beautiful journal.

I would like to thank FaithWords, a division of Hachette Books, for my copy of this journal. I received my copy for free with no expectation of a positive or negative review.  The opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255.

Smiles & Blessings,

The Wedding Planners of Butternut Creek by Jane Myers Perrine

The Wedding Planners of Butternut Creek by Jane Myers Perrine was a delight to read. This book is the third in the Butternut Creek series, the first two books being The Welcome Committee of Butternut Creek and The Matchmakers of Butternut Creek. While they can be read as stand-alone books, I believe I would have had more fun reading Ms. Perrine's newest book if I had read the two previous books and got to know the characters earlier.

I must say that this book is full of characters that have a lot of character. Ms. Perrine has created a town that some might compare to Jane Karon's wonderful town of Mitford. But Butternut Creek has just as much charm as the characters that inhabit the town. Four wonderful matchmaking widows, a young pastor that is the target for their matchmaking early on in the book (and obviously a continuation from the earlier books). When the pastor's sister returns to Butternut Creek the meddling matchmaking widows find new prey for their matchmaking skills.

A wedding does take place but who gets married is a question you will have to find out for yourself as I do not like to give out spoilers. But I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

If you like reading books that are just plain fun and entertaining then Jane Myers Perrine, The Wedding Planners of Butternut Creek is a book you will enjoy!

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

I would like to thank Sarah Reck and Faithwords, a division of Hachette Book Group for my copy of The Wedding Planners of Butternut Creek. I received my copy for free in order to read 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,