Between Heaven and Hollywood, book #16

I was excited to read this book because I do love his movies so much, but I was fairly disappointed.  Interestingly enough, in the front matter he writes a part called, "Save your Receipt", but it is really more about if you think it is a self help book you will be disappointed.

So, it wasn't a self help book, but there was not as much biography part as I thought there would be.  A lot of it did include "pep talks" and places where it seemed scripture was inserted because it made sense, not like that was the jumping off point.  

Between Heaven & Hollywood is David’s inspirational journey from the wheat fields of his Mennonite home outside of Dodge City Kansas, to the bright lights of Los Angeles. This story of perseverance will assure you that your dreams aren’t frivolous. They might be the most important part of your life. White has starred in more than twenty-five movies and produced forty films, including the blockbuster God’s Not Dead. He serves as a Managing Partner of Pure Flix, the largest faith-based movie studio in the world. With his signature wit and sidesplitting hilarity, David’s story of faithfulness, grounded in the biblical truth that no dream is too big for God, will inspire you to relentlessly pursue your dreams, and in the process, bring the reality of God’s kingdom a little closer to the here and now. God has planted a dream in your heart that is both unique to you and essential to the world. White reminds us that there is no one too common, too uneducated, too poor, too inexperienced, or too broken that he or she cannot be used by God. (picture and description from amazon)

Let's go back to Book Club books, shall we?

O:)
Melissa

Sea Rose Lane, book #15

Book Club Book for July ... makes me long for when I can move to the beach ...


After a devastating layoff, attorney Eric Nash heads back to the town where he grew up--only to discover that his childhood home is being transformed into a bed & breakfast. Instead of plotting his next career move in peace, he's constantly distracted by noise, chaos--and BJ Stevens, the attractive but prickly blonde architect and construction chief who's invaded the house with her motley crew.  As for BJ, her client's son might be handsome, but after a disastrous romance, dating isn't high on her agenda. Yet when they join forces to create a program for Hope Harbor seniors, might they also find healing, hope, and a new beginning themselves? (picture and description from amazon)

O:)
Melissa

The Prodigal Daughter, book #14

The book for this month's Book Club was The Prodigal Daughter, which was one of the stories in this collection.  I was really looking forward to it, but it took a while for me to get into it.

Treasure an exclusive 3-in-1 collection of timeless stories from America’s best-loved storyteller, Grace Livingston Hill. A stranger salvages a wedding gone awry for one desperate bride. Believing he is a murderer, a young man hides his identity. A rebellious teenager’s escape brings more than she bargained. With charming 1920s settings, these beloved romances capture the enduring power of faith—and love. (picture and description at amazon)

Looking forward to our new Irene Hannon book!

O:)

Melissa

The Knight and the Dove, book #13

I do love the oldies!  When Robi suggested we read this for May I wasn't too thrilled, because I had already read it about 100 years ago. (Meaning, I don't want to waste my time reading books I have already read when there are over 200 just waiting on my Paperwhite alone.)  But, I am a good sport and read it anyway.

Surprise!  I honestly did not remember any of it at all and I absolutely LOVED it!! While I do love me some historical fiction, this time period (1500s) is not a go to for me.  But see .... we just have to expand our boundaries and try new things!  Or old things, as the case may be!  I don't know that I will reaching for medieval again any time soon, but this story was timeless.  It could have just as easily (in general) been set in any time and still been awesome!
 
When the king commands Bracken to marry, high-spirited Megan is chosen to fulfill the edict. Unskilled in the ways of love, Bracken finds Megan captivating, yet cannot seem to voice his feelings until he almost loses her forever.  (description and image from amazon)

Happy reading!

O:)
Melissa

The Magnolia Story, book #12

One of the fun presents I got for my birthday was this book by the beloved Chip and JoJo.  I must admit I still love them, but I haven't watched their show in a while because it seems sort of "cookie cutter" ~ as in it has the same story line over and over.  But I still love Chip and Jo! And I have been to the Bosque Shop! 

Are you ready to see your fixer upper?

These famous words are now synonymous with the dynamic husband-and-wife team Chip and Joanna Gaines, stars of HGTV’s Fixer Upper. As this question fills the airwaves with anticipation, their legions of fans continue to multiply and ask a different series of questions, like—Who are these people? What’s the secret to their success? And is Chip actually that funny in real life? By renovating homes in Waco, Texas, and changing lives in such a winsome and engaging way, Chip and Joanna have become more than just the stars of Fixer Upper, they have become America’s new best friends.  The Magnolia Story is the first book from Chip and Joanna, offering their fans a detailed look at their life together. From the very first renovation project they ever tackled together, to the project that nearly cost them everything; from the childhood memories that shaped them, to the twists and turns that led them to the life they share on the farm today.

They both attended Baylor University in Waco. However, their paths did not cross until Chip checked his car into the local Firestone tire shop where Joanna worked behind the counter. Even back then Chip was a serial entrepreneur who, among other things, ran a lawn care company, sold fireworks, and flipped houses. Soon they were married and living in their first fixer upper. Four children and countless renovations later, Joanna garners the attention of a television producer who notices her work on a blog one day. (picture and description from amazon)

Next up? Book Club book!

O:)

Melissa

A thousand voices, book #11

I must admit, I liked this book more than I ever imagined.  It does make me want to go back and scan through all the other ones again, but I pleasantly surprised myself!

Adopted at thirteen, Dell Jordan was loved, mentored, and encouraged to pursue her passion for music. Now, at twenty, after a year abroad with a traveling symphony, a scholarship to Julliard is within reach. But underneath Dell's smoothly polished surface lurk mysteries from the past. Why did her mother abandon her? Who was her father? Are there faces somewhere that look like hers-blood relatives she's never met?  Determined to find answers, Dell sets off on a secret journey into Oklahoma's Kiamichi Mountains, drawn by the only remaining link to her origins- a father's Native American name on her birth certificate. In the voices of her Choctaw ancestors, she'll discover the keys to a future unlike anything she could have imagined.  (description and picture from amazon)

Happy Reading!

O:)

Melissa

Drenched in Light, book #10

Well, its been a while since I have read in this series, but it didn't take me too long to get back into it.  In fact, it was in 2015 when I read the first and second books in this Tending Roses series.  I know I also read the third book, but I must have forgotten to record it when I did.  I must say, I wasn't sure I was going to like it at first, because I'm not as much into "coming into oneself" books but by the time I was half way through I was hooked.  Each book in this series has been its own "coming of age" book, which is probably why I can't read them all in a row, but since this one has just one more I'll probably go ahead and read it and mark this series off my list.  


Once a gifted ballet dancer, Julia Costell buckled under the demands of a professional dance career, and has landed with a thud in an unglamorous job as a guidance counselor at a performing arts high school. Living back home with her parents and feeling lost, she is afraid she’ll never soar again…until the day young Dell Jordan is sent to her office, carrying an essay.  In Dell’s writing, Julia sees luminous sparks of hope. But as she fights to forge a brighter future for one disadvantaged student, she is drawn into startling undercurrents of conflict and denial within the academy. Only when she is tested in ways she never could have imagined does she begin to discover where real meaning and fulfillment lie—and realize that even though her life has seemed off course, she’s been on the right path all along. (description and picture from amazon)

Happy Reading!

O:)
Melissa