If for Any Reason by Courtney Walsh

In this book, If for Any ReasonI, Courtney Walsh goes to Nantucket. Emily Ackerman has inherited her grandfather's house, so this means she must go to a place that she has not been in 18 years. While there, she finds her friend from when she was a child, Hollis McGuire, a former professional baseball player. Emily also uses her time here to find answers about her mother's death many years ago.
I love the story of Emily's late mother. The reader is taken on a trip through time from the years 1989 to 2001, when Emily was a teenager through young adult. The love that was there from her mother was undoubted and was evidenced in the letters the mother wrote to her. 
I recommend this book to lovers of contemporary Christian romance or anyone who enjoys Courtney Walsh's books. 
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. 

Book Review: You Are

I was given this book by Tyndale Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
This book is a great way to share love with your child, grandchild or other. It begins with a letter to the parents about the mission of this book and how to use it. Then each page speaks words of love to the child. Some examples: "Precious child you are the start of something new" followed by the verse from Isaiah 43:18-19. I do not believe there is a more powerful book on the market to share with a child.
I most highly recommend it.

Book Review: Thief of Corinth

I was given this book by Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.
Set in Corinth this book, The Thief of Corinth, tells the story of Ariadne. She leaves her father's home and finds that Galenos has been a thief of great renown. Ariadne chooses to keep him safe even if it mean her life is in ruins.
This is a beautifully told story which includes the story of Lydia. I loved "living" in that time for a while. I have now become a fan of Tessa Afshar and will be reading more of her books in the future.

Book Review: Under a Cloudless Sky

This novel tells how a town's past can bring it down or save it. Set in Beulah Mountain, West Virginia, in 1933 and in the present. In the past, there are two girls who make a vow. Ruby and Bean come from two different homes. One is the daughter of the mine owner and the other is the daughter of a mine worker. Both girls are looked after by Bean's mother and they do not know about the conflict that is coming.

In the present, Hollis Beasley has decided he is going to hold onto the legacy which his family left him on Beulah Mountain. His friend Buddy Coleman, however, want to increase the coal production of the town and open a museum. He wants to share the entire history of this town, including the 1933 uprising. He also will do this without care for anyone else.

These two stories come together through an elderly woman who lives miles away. The children of Ruby Handley Freeman want to take away the life she knows, so she disappears. While she is going she discovers a secret which will effect her and those who come across her path.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat clear until the end. It is so well-written that I felt like I was int he midst of the story from beginning to end. There is suspense throughout. I look forward to reading other works by this author in the near future.

I was given this book by Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.

This book may be found at Amazon HERE!
or
at Barnes and Noble HERE!

Book Review: The Masterpiece

Roman Velasco is a successful artist in LA. On the outside he appears to be the man who has everything. There is only one person who knows differently, Grace Moore. When he looks out at the view from his mansion, in fact throughout his house, he sees demons. When he gives into these demons he is a graffiti artist, named the Bird. This other side of Roman could end his career and land him in jail.

Grace also has her own secrets. Her former marriage turned her off of love, until she came to know Roman by more than his artistic reputation. This story tells how these two have learned to fit their lives together in spite of difficulties thrown their way.

Francine Rivers has the magic touch to be able to take people and their circumstances and thrown them together in unexpected ways. She does this without sacrificing faith throughout the book. For those who already love her works this will not let you down at all. For those who have not read her books before, try this one, it will leave you wanting to read her other creations as well. This is a fantastic book.

I was given this book by Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.


This book may be found at Amazon HERE!
or
at Barnes and Noble HERE!

Book Review: Loving Luther

Katharina von Bora was raised in a convent. It was easy for her to call her father God, after all this was her life. Eventually she takes her vows but soon an uneasiness comes upon her when she finds the writings of Martin Luther. This led her to wonder if this is all that she is supposed to have. She leaves the convent but not the trust she found in God. She finds a shelter through Luther's friends, but still she craves more...a home and a husband.

I have written works by Allison Pittman before and they have all been well-written. I found the research into the people to be well-done. I felt like I was living the life with Katherine. We find how she is shaped into the woman she becomes. I loved this story.

I was given this book by Tyndale House in exchange for an honest review.

Just Sayin'

Jennifer and Trent were going to be married making a combined family with Jennifer's daughter, Cassie and Trent's children Nick and Julie. Now that they are broken up, the kids decide to do something. Nick and Cassie, through letters, are trying to figure out what happened to their parents' relationship and how they can change things.

They also try to figure out how to get on The Last Insult Standing, their favorite game show. Through all of these letters, the children learn the importance of the words they use.

I loved the way the three children love each other, even though they may make fun of each other in every letter. This is a touching, silly book that will make the reader realize the importance of watching the tongue.

I was given this book by Tyndale House Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

This book can be found HERE at Amazon,
or HERE at Barnes and Noble

Book Review: Freedom's Ring

Freedom's Ring is published by Tyndale House and written by Heidi Chiavaroli. This historical Christian novel begins in Boston in 2015. Annie David was at the Boston Marathon bombing, in fact, she nearly lost her life there. This has caused her to become isolated and she feels guilty because the bombing left her niece crippled. Annie survived by being rescued by a man who she only has a foggy memory of. She also has an antique ring which has caused her to go on a search for the history of the woman who the ring belongs to and the hero.

The story goes to Boston in 1770 where Liberty Caldwell was rescued by Alexander Smythe. He also offered her a job. She discovers much about her employer as time goes on. He loves poetry and he is a protector of Liberty. When the Boston Massacre occurs, her brother is killed. Lost and uncertain what to do she heads towards home, which has its own perils. She has such anger towards the redcoats and especially towards a captain who attacks her. She is able to escape with all she owns plus a ring which had been her friend and employer's.

These women's live separate lives, but each has fear at their hearts. How can they get from here to a point when they can feel strong and secure?

This is truly a historical book and I can tell the author has done research on the time periods discussed. I felt like this book spoke to something within me and it kept pulling me along through each chapter. The past and future are well woven together while including the difficulties, love, hope and more. Each lady suffers grief which was placed upon them by events they could not change.

I was given this book by Tyndale house in exchange for my honest review.

This book is available from Amazon...Here!
This book is available from Barnes and Noble Here!

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Book Review: I'll Push You: A Journey of 500 Miles, 2 Best Friends and A Wheelchair

This is such an inspirational chair of two friends and a journey to remember. Justin and Patrick were best friends practically from birth. They have always been there to support and cheer each other own. Justin was diagnosed with a neuromuscular disease which took away the use of his arms and legs and Patrick was there for him. Even when the two and their families lived in different places, they still had the connection that only best friends can have.

Justin saw a travel show about the Camino de Satiago, a 500-mile journey in Spain, he called Patrick and asked what he thought about this trip. Patrick's response was simply, "I'll push you."

This is the story about this friendship and the journey. There are moments that made my heart swell and made me laugh out loud. All along the way, I felt the spirit that these two have enter my heart and helped my love for God grow.

I recommend this book very highly and as a former teacher I would give it an A+ and as many stars as I could find.

I was given this book by Tyndale Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Catching the Wind

Daniel Knight escaped from the Gestapo with ten-year-old Brigitte when he was thirteen. Together they made it to England where they were separated. Daniel promised to find her after the war and he has tried to accomplish this for over 70 years. Now he has placed the quest on Quenby Vaughn, and American journalist in London. Quenby has her own battles but is drawn into the story. Many lies, and sacrifices were made and many futures would be healed through this journey.

Such an intriguing story which has a story line that draws the reader in. Despite the idea that there were two story lines, the writer was able to bring them together. She also made each of the characters come to life. They were definitely complex characters and in the end the story ended in such a way that felt like this was the way it should be.

There were a few scenes which I would rather not see in a Christian book but overall it was well written and well researched.

*I received this from Netgalley and Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review*