A Cousin's Promise, book #13

 

Finally back to the books I love! :)  

Willkumm to the lush and lavish Amish country where Wanda Brunstetter’s new romantic series, Indiana Cousins, begins with A Cousin’s Promise. Loraine Miller finds herself torn between the love of two good men—Wayne Lambright who, crippled after a tragic accident, feels himself unworthy of her love; and Jake Beechy who, after having abandoned her to explore the English world, returns to renew their courtship. To which man will she pledge her love and loyalty—for better or worse, until death they do part? (picture and description at Amazon)

It is worth it to keep reading, even after hitting a book you didn't like!

Melissa

We were Liars, book #12

 

Don't ask.  I read it for a contest at the library.  I probably won't even win.  While I can see it why it was an award winning book, the story itself was icky.  Consider this a long commnercial break.  

A beautiful and distinguished family.

A private island.

A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.

A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.

A revolution. An accident. A secret.

Lies upon lies.

True love.

The truth.  (picture and description at Amazon)

Now back to regularly scheduled programming. 😶

Keep reading, even when you hate the book, because there is a chance it will redeem itself.  This one did not, it dropped the bomb at the end, but plenty of others do. Here's hoping the next one I pick up will be better. 

Melissa

The Blindsight of Grace, book #11

 

Don't waste your time.

Suffering is a refining fire for the soul. And twenty-two-year-old Grace Sinclair knows what it means to suffer. At the age of eleven, a brain injury from a tragic car accident left her unable to see. Then, her father was murdered in front of her older brother, and her mother lost her life to COVID-19. But although her world was shrouded in darkness, Grace chose to persevere and walk by faith—as any blind person must learn to do. If only her brother shared her reliance on God.  Travis Sinclair had been the cause of his sister’s blindness. He had been driving the car. He had run the stop sign. And his little sister paid with her sight. He would never forgive himself for that. And just before she died, his mother made him promise that he would take care of his little sister, no matter what.  After inheriting his parents’ home and a hundred and seventy acres in rural Tennessee, Travis spares no expense in preparing for the coming apocalypse. Post-traumatic stress has made him a doomsday prepper. With his store of provisions, his arsenal of weapons, and his underground bunker, Travis keeps spending money to prepare for the worst, despite the bank’s threat to foreclose on his property. But when he is falsely imprisoned for the murder of his neighbor, all hope seems lost.  Cody Blevins is a college criminal justice major and a part-time intern for the FBI. After a chance encounter with Grace, he becomes infatuated with her despite his better judgment. After all, this girl is blind. What kind of relationship could they have? But it doesn’t matter. He is drawn to Grace despite the challenges he would face with her. But when her brother is arrested for murder, and the local sheriff is convinced of his guilt, Cody knows that his chance meeting with Grace is no accident. God had put him there for a reason. He is about to have his first murder investigation. And for Grace, the stakes couldn’t be higher. (picture and description from Amazon)

Move along, let's see what's next ...

Keep reading, the next one has to be better :)

Melissa

Get Out of that Pit, book #10

 

So I had just finished my last book and was having a really icky week with work, life, all the things and I just found this book sitting on my shelf.  Who knows how long it had been sitting there, but I thought, "Hey, let's see what this is about!"  Now, it's been a while since I've done much with Beth Moore but I remembered I loved her Bible Studies and learned a lot from her, so I decided to give it a try.  

Well wouldn't you know, that book - chapter after chapter - really hit me right where I needed to be hit.  It's a pretty quick read, but it will change your life!  I read it like I was drinking out of a firehose because nearly every page was like God saying ~ See, I got you! ~ See, this is how you need to think about this ~ See, it's rough, but not the end of the world! ~ See, you CAN be rescued! 

Now I am ready to go back and sit and think and process more deeper the things that really spoke loudly to me.  

Beth’s journey out of the pit has been heart-rending. But from this and the poetic expressions of Psalm 40 has come the reward: a new song for her soul, given by her Savior and offered to you in Get Out of That Pit. This is Beth’s most stirring message yet of the sheer hope, utter deliverance, and complete and glorious freedom of God.  From her first breath of fresh air beyond the pit, it has never been enough for Beth Moore to be free.  This best-selling author and Bible teacher who has opened the riches of Scripture to millions longs for you to be free as well—to know the Love and Presence that are better than life and the power of God’s Word that defies all darkness.  Beth’s journey out of the pit has been heart-rending. But from this and the poetic expressions of Psalm 40 has come the reward: a new song for her soul, given by her Savior and offered to you in Get Out of That Pit—friend to friend. This is Beth’s most stirring message yet of the sheer hope, utter deliverance, and complete and glorious freedom of God:

I waited patiently for the Lord

He turned to me and heard my cry

He lifted me out of the slimy pit

He set my feet on a rock

He put a new song in my mouth

It is a story, a song—a salvation—that you can know too.  (picture and description from Amazon)

What is God showing you today?

Melissa

Line of Duty, book #9 -- SPOILERS!!

 

Well this was a page turner ... until it wasn't.  The first 353 pages were full of intrigue, mystery, sorrow, emotions while they were looking for the bad guy and processing all the grief.  But then! On page 354 BOOM! They figure out the bad guy is really the sweet old man no one would ever suspect!  And then just like that, the book is over!!  No clues -- no hints -- nothing!  What?!?!?  

At the request of her many fans—Terri Blackstock revisits the heroic cast of characters in this fifth book in her best-selling Newpointe 911 series In Line of Duty, a bomb explodes at the Icon International building in New Orleans while lawyer Jill Clark Nichols is in the top floor boardroom. The thirty-story building goes up in flames and fire departments from all around the area are called in. The firefighters from Newpointe are especially concerned since they know Jill is inside the building. Dan, her husband, rushes in to save her. But as firefighters work to evacuate the upper floors of the building, a second and third bomb explode, causing the lower floors to cave in. Firefighters and civilians are buried beneath the rubble. When the smoke finally clears, a count is taken. Jill narrowly escapes the chaos of the explosions and fire only to find Dan missing. Were the bombs the act of a terrorist, or a scheme coming from a heart of greed? Can Jill’s faith carry her through these long days of pain and uncertainty? And will Dan survive this tragedy . . . or sacrifice his life in the line of duty? (picture and description at Amazon)

I did not realize until I finished that this is a series (although I was suspicious!) and this is actually the last book in the series!  It was good, but not good enough to go back and read all the others.  Not with 400+ books sitting on my Paperwhite waiting to be read -- along with over 40-50 real books staring at me longingly as well.

Next up --- who knows!  

Keep Reading!

Melissa

Trouble in Store, book #8

 

Cute, Fun, I missed my out west people! :)

Fired from her most recent governess position, Melanie Ross must embrace her last resort: the Arizona mercantile she inherited from her cousin. But Caleb Nelson is positive he inherited the mercantile, and he's not about to let some obstinate woman with newfangled ideas mess up all he's worked for. He's determined to get Melanie married off as soon as possible, and luckily there are plenty of single men in town quite interested in taking her off his hands.

The problem is, Caleb soon realizes he doesn't want her to marry up with any of them. He's drawn to Melanie more every day, and he has to admit some of her ideas for the store unexpectedly offer positive results.  But someone doesn't want the store to succeed, and what used to be just threatening words has escalated into deliberate destruction and lurkers in the night. When a body shows up on the mercantile steps--and the man obviously didn't die from natural causes--things really get dangerous. Can Melanie and Caleb's business--and romance--survive the trouble that's about to come their way?  (picture and description at Amazon)

So excited to see if the others liked it!

Keep Reading!

Melissa

14 Fresh Ways to Enjoy the Bible, book #7

 

It was time for another nonfiction and this one has been sitting on my desk staring at me.  Since I am once again reading the Bible through in year (following the M'Cheyne Reading plan this year) I thought it may be fun to read this and see how it can help me delve even deeper.

The Bible is the most read book in all the world. But many of us get stuck in a rut when it comes to approaching it. Rather than feeling inspired and energized, we feel confused, disenchanted, or removed. Bible scholar and lover of God’s Word James Coakley wants to share fourteen invaluable strategies that will bring our Scripture study to life.  The Bible is historical, true, and it’s also great literature. The Artist who created the universe has also gifted us with His Word, which is beautifully designed and full of creativity. The same riveting techniques that modern authors use in their books were also used by Biblical authors long ago. Coakley opens our eyes to the dramatic and poetical ways God communicates to us. Readers will acquire practical strategies to engage in God’s Word and general guidelines that will keep them on track.  The literary skills mentioned in this book don’t require advanced training—just a desire to open and receive the gift of God’s Word. Would you like to unearth new treasure and insight whenever you open your Bible? Coakley promises an exciting ride and invigorating time in God’s eternal, life-changing Word! (picture and description from Amazon)

This is a super easy read, and if you are an English major you might even like it even more ~ it ties in many ways literary methods are used in the Bible.

Keep Reading!

MeLissa