Book review for Unforeseeable by Nacy Mehl

Nancy Mehl once again has done an amazing job writing this romantic/suspenseful novel.  Unforeseeable is the third book in the series after Inescapable and Unbreakable.  In Inescapable we met Lizzie Engle whom moves away from her hometown because of her troubled past. Five years later decides to go back to her town where with struggles, she manages to make life better and her young daughter. In Unbreakable, we met Hope Kauffman, whom helps her father run a quilt business. She battles between the decision of keeping her commitment to the man she is engaged to, or fall for the charismatic young man who is after her love. 

In Unforeseeable, we met Callie Hoffman who young lady engaged to the new Mennonite pastor.  Many of the previous characters are reintroduced in this story. Lizzie Engle (Housler) is among the previous characters from the first story.

The main event in the story is body is found outside of Kingdom, which seems to be the work of a serial killer.  The people of Kingdom are in great fear.  This story will take you on a suspenseful ride.  It will keep you guessing who the killer might be. 

I deeply enjoyed reading this story, not only because Nancy Mehl has become one of my favorite authors, but the first two book were filled with great suspense and great story line.  This one might yet be the best of the three.  Read it. You will like it.

***I was given this complementary copy by Bethany House Publishers for an exchange of a review.

If You Have A Craving, I Have A Cure: Experience Food, Faith, and Fulfillment a Whole New Way by Sheri Rose Shepherd

If You Have a Craving, I Have a Cure: Experience Food, Faith, and Fulfillment a Whole New Way by Sheri Rose Shepherd

Summary:

A fresh encounter with three amazing gifts from God - food, faith, and fun!

Do you find yourself constantly thinking about what you should not eat, or the things you cannot do?  We've all been there, and it leaves us feeling deprived and depressed.  Instead of being energized by following Christ, we waste our days feeling bored and burned-out on our faith, while battling the guilt that comes from craving food and other things we enjoy.

In If You Have a Craving, I Have a Cure, bestselling author and speaker Sheri Rose Shepherd encourages you to embark on a new adventure with faith and food.  She reveals the coaching tips that enabled her to lose over fifty pounds and keep them off,  shares specific alternatives to common cravings, and offers fun recipes (for food and for life) in celebration of the healthy meals and activities our God created for us to enjoy. It's time to let go of guilt, grab hold of grace, and recapture the life God craves for you to live!

Taste and see that the Lord is good.  Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! ~ Psalm 34:8

I love books that draw me in the instant I read the first line.  This book is one of those.  From the very first moment that I read the title of this book, I was captivated. I'm always searching for books that books that will help me with daily life and struggles; and what better than a book that will guide you in cooking healthy with more than 100 recipes that are divided into categories of what you crave, along with Biblical verses to encourage you daily.  

Sheri Rose Shepherd not only encourages the reader to eat healthier, but also to exercise, hydrate the body and soul, eliminate excess in life (pray so that God will reveal to you what you should let go of), and to power up with PRAYER. 

I guarantee that you will enjoy this book as much as I did....specially because there are so many wonderful recipes to try (I have yet to try). One of my favorite tips she offered were to write notes to Jesus and to put post- it notes on a mirror as a reminder to become healthier.   

*** I received a complimentary copy from Tyndale House Publishers.

Book review for Unbreakable:The Road To Kingdom book two

After having read Inescapable, I eagerly awaited the second book Unbreakable: The Road To Kingdom-book two.  Like Inescapable, this book is set in the Mennonite town of Kingdom. It was a great pleasure for me to continue reading about Lizzie, Charity, and Noah, although, the main focus and narrative was about Hope Kauffman, her father Samuel, Ebbie Miller; engaged to Hope, and Jonathan Wiese. Throughout the story, we learn that Hope develops feelings for Jonathan. She then realizes that she must focus on her faith and let God lead her towards choosing the right man meant for her.

The story begins slowly, and begins to develop some good action towards the second half - a series of life threatening events. Some of the characters try to encourage others to take matters into their own hands, which becomes of great conflict with Mennonite church beliefs of forgiveness and non-violence. The elders believe that the main focus should be to remain faithful to their beliefs of leaving it to God.

As the story's excitement builds, Hope has to deal with her own dilemma of having to choose between two men who really do love her for who she is. Then we get to know the characters of the first book a little more.     As these events unfold Hope comes to realize who she really is meant to be with.

Nancy Mehl incorporates a series of Biblical quotes to encourage and show the importance of faith, praying for our enemy, forgiveness, and believing that God will protect us in times of distress.  Here are some of my favorite verses/quotes that she used:

"Remember that God offers us blessing and protection, but we must receive it by faith. By trusting Him. God does not force blessings on us, Hope. Especially blessings of the heart."  -Ebbie.

"They are incredible creatures, Hope. Every time I watch them, I'm reminded that with God nothing is impossible.  If they can lift fifty times their body weight, what can we do through God who strengthens us? I believe ants are a message sent from God to encourage us."

"God has given us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness."

* I was provided this book for free by Bethany House Publishing Group in exchange for a review.

Book review for Undending Devotion by Jody Hedlund

This story takes place in 1883. We are introduced to Lily Young, a very determined and perseverant girl whom is very concerned for her sister who  has ran away. Lily suspects that Daisy might have been exposed into prostitution.   Jody Hedlund does and outstanding job in illustrating the reality of sex slavery, and how women are forced into this disturbing business; if you wanna call it that.
 
I was fascinated with the character Lily, because of her persistent and determined attitude. Not only that, but Lily finds her calling to help end this terrible thing - to help all vulnerable young women.  Lily is a assistant traveling photographer. The photographer is an older man who sees Lily like a daughter. Being a traveling photographer gives Lily the advantage to search logging camps and towns.  She feels that Daisy might be in Michigan- where most of the plot of the story takes place.

Jody Hedlund writes about the reality of sex slavery, and how women are forced into slavery. She shed's light on how real sex trade is to this day. The portrayal of Lily's perseverance shows how one person be the change that this world needs. It shows how we must be activist and expose the evils and reality the reality of social issues like sex trade.

***I was provided this book for free by Bethany House Publishing Group in exchange for a review.

Quotes and Inspirations for the New Year 2013

Each year that we are granted is like a second chance that God is giving us; to start anew and to pay it forward. What a great opportunity to improve our lives, and to become a better person. We are given another chance to make a difference in this world - One person can make this world a better place to live in. Imagine if we all put our part?! What a beautiful difference!

There are so many problems in this world; world hunger, human trafficking, drug trafficking, health problems, infant mortality, still born babies, miscarriages, and child abuse; far too many to name. That is why I want to look far beyond my problems and contribute towards this world. Lets make a difference in 2013!


Here are some quotes for the NEW YEAR:



Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!
This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!
I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!
~ William Arthur Ward

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Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behindand straining toward what is ahead, press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. ~ Phillipians 3:13 - 14

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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here! 
~ 2 Corinthians 5:17

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Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.

~ Benjamin Franklin

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Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution two: If no one else does, I still will. ~ Jonathan Edwards

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Write it n your heart that every day is the best day in the year. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson


Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and you joy and you shall form an invisible host against difficulties. ~ Helen  Keller

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in.  A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.  ~Bill Vaughan

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.  ~ Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past. Let it go, for it was imperfect, and thank God that it can go. ~ Brooks Atkinson 

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get  it right.

~ Oprah Winfrey