It Happens In A Book

She Prays by Debbie Lindell Although I didn't completely finish this book, it was really good and I do plan on finishing it! This book is a 31-day devotional on prayer. One of the author's main points that she repeats throughout the book, is that we need to 'replace the pressure to perform in prayer with a faith filled expectation.' God wants us to talk to Him every day; prayer is not just something we should put on our to-do list for the day and get it over with. Prayer is having a conversation with our God, the Creator of the world! ~Katelynn *I received a free copy of this book from the publisher (Revell) in exchange for an honest review.

100 WAYS TO LOVE YOUR HUSBAND by Lisa Jacobson reviewed by Jen This small book is a treasure. It is not intended to sit and read through, but it is wonderful to read a thought every day or two. Lisa Jacobson writes simple yet encouraging ideas to be a blessing to our husband. I appreciate the format and font: everything seems encouraging and not cluttered. One of my favorite pages: "Know that marriage is like a long, slow walk together. More a marathon than a sprint. So just keep walking. Together." Interspersed between the 100 tips are stories to help bring home some of the points. This book would be great for a newly married wife or someone like me married nearly 25 years. *I received a free copy of this book from the publisher (Revell) in exchange for an honest review.

Special Guest: my Grandma N! Unscripted by Davis Bunn    Can Danny Byrd overcome his past and amount to something?  Danny grew up in the foster care system. He had a very thick folder of the wrongs he had done. As an adult he is trying to get his life straightened out but ends up in jail.    Megan Pierce, a lawyer, has been hired by a different law firm than where she works to represent Danny in court.  Neither Megan or Danny know who the person is or why they wanted to spend their money on helping Danny.     Through many trials Danny learns to trust, let go and get rid of some of the hurts he has been carrying around most of his life.  He does this mostly through his relationship with Megan and his reaching out helping a teen with a big chip on her shoulder.    This book is worth reading although the ending leaves you hanging. I would definitely read another of David Bunn’s books or a sequel to this one. *I ...

Special Guest: my Grandma N! :) A Distance Too Grand by Regina Scott Meg Pero, a very self-sufficient woman, has helped her father with his photography since she was eight.  She had once turned down a marriage proposal from a West Point cadet thinking herself not refined enough to be the wife of a military officer.  When her father unexpectedly dies Meg is left with his camera equipment and very little money.  With no options left to her Meg sets out to fulfill her father’s contract with the army to be the photographer on a survey trip. Captain Ben Coleridge, a West Point Graduate, is leading the survey trip to the Grand Canyon to map a way around or through it for travelers.  Captain Coleridge’s father was Colonel at the base Ben is now stationed out of.  Colonel Coleridge never returned to base after he and a guide set out to look at the Grand Canyon.  Can the Captain allow the girl he once wanted to marry join his group as photographer?  Capta...

One More River To Cross by Jane Kirkpatrick    In 1844, two years before the Donner Party, the Stevens-Murphy company left Missouri to be the first wagons into California through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Mostly Irish Catholics, the party sought religious freedom and education in the mission-dominated land and enjoyed a safe journey--until October, when a heavy snowstorm forced difficult decisions. The first of many for young Mary Sullivan, newlywed Sarah Montgomery, the widow Ellen Murphy, and her pregnant sister-in-law Maolisa.    When the party separates in three directions, each risks losing those they loved and faces the prospect of learning that adversity can destroy or redefine. Two women and four men go overland around Lake Tahoe, three men stay to guard the heaviest wagons--and the rest of the party, including eight women and seventeen children, huddle in a makeshift cabin at the headwaters of the Yuba River waiting for rescue . . . or their deaths. ...

Love Changes Everything by Micah Berteau    We all crave love. We try to fill the void inside with any number of poor substitutes. We seek validation from empty outlets. We're thirsty for compliments. We change who we are to impress people who aren't looking and don't care. Yet, we are still desperately searching for a love that changes everything for us, a love that doesn't fade and doesn't fail--even when we do.    That's the kind of love God shows that he has for us through the remarkable story of Hosea and Gomer. Unpacking this powerful love story from the Old Testament in a way you have never heard, pastor Micah Berteau releases us from the fears, hurts, insecurities, and anxieties of life by showing us just how extravagantly we are loved--in spite of our faults, our failures, and our sins. If you're tired of trying so hard to be worthy of someone else's love, lost in what's fake, or drawn to live in the temporary, Micah Berteau has good ne...

Christmas in Winter Hill by Melody Carlson    Krista Galloway is not a fan of Christmas. After her rough childhood in multiple foster homes, the holiday season just brings too many bad memories to the surface. But when she accepts a job as a city manager in the mountain town of Winter Hill, Washington, Christmas is part of the deal. The small town is famous for its Christmasville celebration, something that the city manager . . . well, manages.    As she tries to make her tiny new apartment feel like home for her and her eight-year-old daughter, Emily, Krista begins to wonder if this move was a mistake. She doesn't always feel welcomed in the close-knit town, and Emily continually wonders, "Where's the snow?" Can a friendly stranger and his family help restore Krista's Christmas spirit before the big day?    Bestselling author Melody Carlson invites you to spend this holiday season in a town you'll never forget--and never want to leave. Yes, this is...

Confident Moms, Confident Daughters: Helping Your Daughter Live Free from Insecurity and Love How She Looks  by Maria Furlough Our society puts so much emphasis on our looks and our size, even our health and diet. Maria looks at this from such a straightforward and healthy angle. Her basic premise is that we think about ourselves too much. If our focus was on Jesus and those around us, we would be less concerned about every detail and flaw. We would be healthy and have more joy in every day. Maria acknowledges that it is important to set a healthy example. She just points how often we send the message that our body and our health are the top priority of life. She shines a light on many areas and attitudes that need to be considered. I will be sharing and recommending this book to my friends and family. (reviewed by Jennifer Nutzhorn) *I received a free copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Take Back Your Time by Morgan Tyree We all get 24 hours in a day--but it never seems like quite enough time, does it? Morgan Tyree wants to help you take back your time with her proven time management system. With energy and enthusiasm, Morgan shows you how to organize and manage your time using her simple three-color time zone system of green, yellow, and red--moxie time, multitasking time, and me time. She shows you how to - identify your most productive times each day - regulate between essentials and nonessentials - schedule your three time zones - match your time zones with your capacities - welcome the season of life you're in - set achievable goals that align with your values If you've struggled to find balance and direction in your overloaded life, let Morgan's system help you discover the freedom of less hustle and more harmony. This is a very helpful book. Take Back Your Time is a really good book to read if you have been feeling stressed, or stuc...

The Girl Behind the Red Rope  by Ted and Rachelle Dekker    Ten years ago, Grace saw something that would forever change the course of history. When evil in its purest form is unleashed on the world, she and others from their religious community are already hidden deep in the hills of Tennessee, abiding by every rule that will keep them safe, pure--and alive. As long as they stay there, behind the red perimeter.    Her older brother's questions and the arrival of the first outsiders she's seen in a decade set in motion events that will question everything Grace has built her life on. Enemies rise on all sides--but who is the real enemy? And what will it cost her to uncover the truth?    For the first time, bestselling authors Ted Dekker and Rachelle Dekker team up and deliver an intense, tightly focused ride through the most treacherous world of all. This is the first book that I have read in this genre (thriller, kind of a Christian dysto...

Sorry for the month of no blog posts! 😬 This summer has gone by crazy fast. We made a ton fun family memories though! Pictures are down below! :) Our adventures included: visiting one of my older brothers in North Carolina; visiting my other older brother in Washington DC; going to Chicago to see the Air and Water Show; and a bunch more!! What were your favorite summer adventures? 😊 ~Katelynn

Shift Your Thinking for a Deeper Faith by Dean Del Sesto In the busyness of life, it's easy to get distracted and disconnected from the many promises God has made about who he is, the strength we find in him, and the abundance of spiritual tools, abilities, and assets we have at our disposal. These are not necessarily things we have to search out to acquire--they already exist within us. And Dean Del Sesto wants to help you access them every day. With hard-hitting truths, memorable quotes, and powerful perspective shifts, Del Sesto helps you connect (or reconnect) at a deeper level to the power, potential, and purpose you already have so that you can live your life with greater freedom, resilience, and wisdom. Perfect for business professionals on the go, the busy student, the active parent, and anyone who needs a boost of spiritual strength at any time, this book promises to help you live your life from an internal resolve rather than in reaction to your external circumstance...

The Memory House by Rachel Hauck    When Beck Holiday lost her father in the North Tower on 9/11, she also lost her memories of him. Eighteen years later, she’s a tough New York City cop burdened with a damaging secret, suspended for misconduct, and struggling to get her life in order. Meanwhile a mysterious letter arrives informing her she’s inherited a house along Florida’s northern coast, and what she discovers there will change her life forever. Matters of the heart only become more complicated when she runs into handsome Bruno Endicott, a driven sports agent who fondly recalls the connection they shared as teenagers. But Beck doesn’t remember that either.    Decades earlier, widow Everleigh Applegate lives a steady, uneventful life with her widowed mother after a tornado ripped through Waco, Texas, and destroyed her new, young married life. When she runs into old high school friend Don Callahan, she begins to yearn for change. Yet no matter how much she long...

The Women Who Met Jesus by Dorothy Valcarcel Just like us, the women of New Testament times were ambitious, worried, broken, lonely, insecure, and unfulfilled. Discover the powerful stories of their encounters with the perfect, unconditional love of the Savior. Rather than trivializing their problems or ignoring women, Jesus responded to their deepest needs with compassion, reminding them of their value and transforming their past, present, and future. Let this engaging book introduce you to the man who loves women like no other. I really liked this book. I liked how the book wasn't only about the women in the Bible, but also stories from the author, Dorothy Valcarcel, which made the book feel more personal. Also, I thought it was cool at the end of each chapter, there would be Bible references to go deeper into the story if you wanted to and poems and such that kind of went along with the chapter's theme. I would say that this book is very similar to others I have read a...

The Very Best, Hands-On, Kinda Dangerous Family Devotions by Tim Shoemaker    As parents hoping to raise godly children, we may understand the importance of regular family devotions. However, we may find it difficult to get our kids (or even ourselves) fully engaged. But what if devotions looked less like sitting in the living room listening to someone read and trying to pry answers out of reluctant kids and more like, say, electrocuting a pickle? Or converting a leaf blower into a toilet paper launcher? Or lighting toothpaste on fire?    These hands-on, kinda dangerous, totally unforgettable object lessons (along with nearly fifty others) are not only more fun than other family devotions--they actually deliver the spiritual impact you desire for your kids. They'll even get dads and any too-cool-for-this-stuff teens jazzed about a weekly family devotional time.    So put away the flannelgraph, get out the safety goggles, and start bringing the truths o...

A Reluctant Belle by Beth White  Impoverished Southern belle Joelle Daughtry has a secret. By day she has been helping her sisters in their quest to turn the run-down family plantation into a resort hotel after the close of the Civil War. But by night and under a male pseudonym, she has been penning articles for the local paper in support of the construction of a Negro school. With the Mississippi arm of the Ku Klux Klan gaining power and prestige, Joelle knows she is playing a dangerous game. When childhood enemy and current investor in the Daughtry house renovation Schuyler Beaumont takes over his assassinated father's candidacy for state office, Joelle finds that in order to protect her family and her home, she and Schuyler will have to put aside their longstanding personal conflict and develop a united public front. The trouble is, what do you do when animosity becomes respect--and even love--if you're already engaged to someone else? Was the romance in this boo...

Powerful Prayers for Your Son By Bob and Joanna Teigen Powerful Prayers for Your Son is very similar book for daughters. This husband and wife team did a great job keeping these prayers and verses fresh. As I read both books simultaneously I wondered if there would be much repetition, but they truly made this a different book in a matching format. The layout is tremendously useful. As your heart is burdened for your son, you can find the topic that best fits your situation. The choice of Bible verses and well-worded prayers may be just what you need to refocus and keep your eyes on our great God. This is a great book. *I received a free copy of this book from Revell in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Jennifer

Powerful Prayers for Your Daughter By Rob and Joanna Teigen What a great resource! This book is a collection of prayers and Bible verses organized by very helpful subjects. There are 88 prayers..88! The subjects cover salvation, emotions, future decisions, and so much more. I really appreciate the Bible verses with each prayer, and the prayers themselves were so heartfelt and practical. This is a great book to have as your daughter is in her teen years. Sometimes in the daily struggles it is helpful to have a resource to focus our hearts on God's goodness and return to prayer. This book will get you started praying for your daughter. *I received a free copy of this book form Revell in exchange for an honest review. Review by Jennifer

The Intimate Connection By Dr. Kevin Leman The Intimate Connection is a very practical book discussing the every day ups and downs of marriage. It is so important to face marriage with the decision to stay together, to grow together, and to learn together. This book is written with special paragraphs for husbands and wives individually. It is important to take responsibility for our actions and feelings. God has a plan for our marriages to be joyful, fulfilling, and increasing in closeness as the years go by. This book is a great reminder of our similarities and differences. It faces some of the common areas of conflict. I recommend it for anyone beginning in marriage or interested in making their marriage stronger. *I received a free copy of this book from Revell in exchange for an honest review. Review by Jennifer

It's a Love Story by Lincee Ray    Human beings love to be loved. And we love to fall in love. As children we pour our love into our pets and our friends. As teenagers we fall in love with musicians and actors and the boy whose locker is next to ours. As we mature, we long for romantic love that will last a lifetime. Sacrificial love, unexplainable love, familial love, desperate love. Love songs and love stories. Clearly we were created with the longing for love ingrained in our souls.    With lots of wit and a bit of wisdom drawn from a lifetime of falling in love, Lincee Ray invites you to an unabashed celebration of that loving feeling. As she reveals the loves of her life and encourages you to recall your own, you'll discover alongside her that there is only one who can ever truly fulfill the deepest longings of our hearts. And he made us to be part of a divine love story. This is a really funny book! The writing is done well and the author, Lincee Ray, ...

Wooing Cadie McCaffrey by Bethany Turner    After four years with her boyfriend, Cadie McCaffrey is thinking of ending things. Convinced Will doesn't love her in the "forever" way she loves him, Cadie believes it's time for her to let him go before life passes her by. When a misunderstanding leads to a mistake, leaving her hurt, disappointed, and full of regret, she finally sends him packing.     But for Will, the end of their relationship is only the beginning of his quest to figure out how to be the man Cadie wanted him to be. With the dubious guidance of his former pro-athlete work friends and tactics drawn from Cadie's favorite romantic comedies, Will attempts to win her back. It's a foolproof plan. What could possibly go wrong?    Bethany Turner is back with more of the heart and humor readers love. Anyone who enjoys a good romance or binges romantic comedies on Netflix will devour this delightful story. Wooing Cadie McCaffrey is really cu...

Living Lies by Natalie Walters    In the little town of Walton, Georgia, everybody knows your name--but no one knows your secret. At least that's what Lane Kent is counting on when she returns to her hometown with her five-year-old son. Dangerously depressed after the death of her husband, Lane is looking for hope. What she finds instead is a dead body.    Lane must work with Walton's newest deputy, Charlie Lynch, to uncover the truth behind the murder. But when that truth hits too close to home, she'll have to decide if saving the life of another is worth the cost of revealing her darkest secret.    Debut novelist Natalie Walters pulls you to the edge of your seat on the first page and keeps you there until the last in this riveting story that will have you believing no one is defined by their past. I really liked this book! I got hooked from the start of the story and couldn't put it down. I absolutely did not like the cover. It just gave the whol...

The Heart of a King by: Jill Eileen Smith     King Solomon could - and did - have anything he wanted, including many women from many lands. But for all of his wealth and wisdom, did he or the women he loved ever find what they were searching for?     In this engrossing novel, find yourself whisked away to ancient Israel, where you'll meet four remarkable women: Naamah the desert princess, Abishag the shepherdess, Siti the daughter of a pharaoh, and Nicaula the queen of Sheba. As you experience the world of Solomon through his eyes and theirs, you'll grapple with whether this king's storied wisdom ultimately benefited him and those he loved...or betrayed them. Although this is a fictional account of the life of people in the Bible, it was really interesting to read and think about what life really could have been life for King Solomon and his wives. The details, descriptions, and overall writing in this book were awesome and really put a picture in m...

On a Summer Tide by: Suzanne Woods Fisher    Sometimes love hurts--and sometimes it can heal in the most  unexpected way.    Camden Grayson loves her challenging career, but the rest of her life could use some improvement. "Moving on" is Cam's mantra. But there's a difference, her two sisters insist, between one who moves on . . . and one who keeps moving.     Cam's full-throttle life skids to a stop when her father buys a remote island off the coast of Maine. Paul Grayson has a dream to breathe new life into the island--a dream that includes reuniting his estranged daughters. Certain Dad has lost his mind, the three sisters rush to the island. To Cam's surprise, the slow pace of island life appeals to her, along with the locals--and one in particular. Seth Walker, the scruffy island schoolteacher harbors more than a few surprises.     With On a Summer Tide, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher begins a brand-new contempor...

Our blog title is Pages, pets, and pianos. Today it is time for a piano post! Tonight is the spring recital for my piano students. There will be 15 students performing. They have prepared well; they have invited friends and family; they are probably nervous! I remember the butterflies in my stomach before piano recitals, yet there is a sense of accomplishment when it is over. I try to encourage each student that this is an opportunity to share a song that they have prepared- to share their music with the other students as well as friends and family. It will be a fun night of music and nerves! ~Jennifer

The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman    Nothing gets our attention like an unmade decision: Should I accept the new position? Which schooling choice is best for my kids? How can I support my aging parents? When we have a decision to make and the answer isn't clear, what we want more than anything is peace, clarity, and a nudge in the right direction.     If you have trouble making decisions, because of either chronic hesitation you've always lived with or a more recent onset of decision fatigue, Emily P. Freeman offers a fresh way of practicing familiar but often forgotten advice: simply do the next right thing. With this simple, soulful practice, it is possible to clear the decision-making chaos, quiet the fear of choosing wrong, and find the courage to finally decide without regret or second-guessing.    Whether you're in the midst of a major life transition or are weary of the low-grade anxiety that daily life can bring, Emily helps create ...

The Refuge by Ann H. Gabhart When Darcie and Walter Goodwin hear of a new cholera epidemic sweeping the area, they join the Shakers whose villages seem immune to the disease. It's meant to be a temporary stay, but Walter is killed in a riverboat accident. With no family and no money, Darcie has little choice but to stay with the Shakers. To complicate matters, she is expecting a baby conceived before she and her husband came to the Shaker village. Marital relationships are considered sinful in this celibate community, putting Darcie in a unique--and lonely--position. Can the arrival of widower Flynn Keller and his headstrong daughter offer Darcie the hope of happiness  . . . and family? Ann H. Gabhart returns to the enigmatic world of the Shakers in this emotional exploration of the power of love and the bond of family. Although I thought the plot got a little slow and boring at times, it was kind of interesting to learn about a group of people, the Shakers, that I had nev...

The Crimson Path of Honor by M. B. Tosi There was a lot that I loved about this book, but also a few things that I didn't. The Crimson Path of Honor is a story about a young, kind of spoiled girl, Luci, who longs for adventure and independence away from her rich family in Boston. Her parents want her to marry for money and position but she decides to avoid marriage by running away to be a teacher in the West. On the way, though, her plans are shattered when the stagecoach she was traveling on is attacked by Indians. She being the only passenger still alive, is captured by the Indians. She learns to adapt to a whole new way of life with the Lakota Indians and, very early on in the story, winds up falling in love with her captor. The overall writing of this book is very simple and easy to read, but I couldn't put it down! I liked how this book showed the day-to-day life of the Lakota Indians without being boring and hard to get through. It showed the daily struggles and tr...

Justice Delivered by Patricia Bradley    Carly Smith came by her trust issues honestly. A victim of sex trafficking, she's been at the mercy of merciless men, ignored by law enforcement officers who should have helped her, and seemingly rejected by her family. She can't even trust herself to do the right thing. Though she escaped her captors and is working hard on building a new life, the past continues to haunt her when she discovers that the man she couldn't bring herself to report to police for fear of reliving her captivity is still out there, luring vulnerable girls under the guise of being a modeling agent.    When her own niece is kidnapped, Carly must overcome her fears and come forward with the information she has before it's too late. When that proves to be not enough, she'll have to go after the perpetrators herself.    Award-winning author Patricia Bradley keeps the suspense taut and the stakes high in this fast-paced story that will have r...

Driftwood Bay by Irene Hannon    After tragedy upends her world, Jeannette Mason retreats to the tiny Oregon seaside town of Hope Harbor to create a new life. Vowing to avoid emotional attachments, she focuses on running her lavender farm and tea-room--until a new neighbor with a destructive dog and a forlorn little girl invades her turf. But she needn't worry. Dr. Logan West is too busy coping with an unexpected family, a radical lifestyle change, and an unruly pup to have any interest in his aloof and disagreeable neighbor.    Yet when both Jeanette and Logan find themselves pulled into the life of a tattered Christian family fleeing persecution in war-torn Syria, might they discover that love sometimes comes calling when it's least expected?    Bestselling and award-winning author Irene Hannon invites readers back to the charming seaside town of Hope Harbor, where they are sure to find peace, healing, and a second chance at happiness.  (From ba...

Joyful Surrender by Elisabeth Elliot In our age of instant gratification and if-it-feels-good-do-it attitudes, self-discipline is hardly a popular notion. Yet it may be one of the most important lost virtues of our time. In Joyful Surrender, former missionary and beloved author Elisabeth Elliot offers her understanding of discipline and its value for people of all times. She shows readers how to - discipline the mind, body, possessions, time, and feelings - overcome anxiety - change poor habits and attitudes - trust God in times of trial and hardship - let Christ have control in all areas of life Elliot masterfully and gently takes readers through Scripture, personal stories, and incisive observations of the world around her to help them discover the understanding that our fulfillment as human beings depends on our answer to God's call to obedience. (From back cover) Joyful Surrender isn't a new book, but this republished edition has a nice, simple cover and fe...

When Life Doesn't Match Your Dreams by Jill Eileen Smith    Life is full of twists and turns. Relationships falter, careers fizzle, health fades. We may be faced with choices we never wanted to make or have situations pushed upon us we'd never expected. Yet, in all of it, God is at our side--even when he feels far away.    Drawing on her extensive research into women of the Old Testament, novelist Jill Eileen Smith turns her pen to the lessons in trusting God that we can learn today from women like - Eve - Noah's wife - Sarai - Hagar - Lot's wife - Rebekah - Rachel - and more    Readers will learn from what these ancient women did right--and even what they did wrong--when faced with dashed expectations and deferred dreams. And they'll come away with the confidence that ours is a faithful God who loves us and is forming us through our trials into the women he longs for us to be. (From Amazon) I thought that it was really cool how the...

Breaking the Power of Negative Words by Mary C. Busha    The spoken word has immense potential for either building up or tearing down. Too often, it's the latter. Many of us are daily carrying around hurtful words, sometimes without even knowing it. These negative words have great influence over our lives and the lives of those around us. But thankfully, they are not the last word.    Mary Busha speaks to the hurting and guides them toward victory over the harmful, demeaning, or insulting words of their past. She shows readers how to - understand the emotions and circumstances behind the words - choose to want to forgive their offenders - embrace the truth about who they are created to be - recognize the effect of both negative and positive self-talk - pray effectively to break the power of negative words - and walk in the freedom God provides in his Word    She also encourages readers to find ways to use their own words to lift up the peopl...

Almost Home by Valerie Fraser Luesse    With America's entrance into the Second World War, the town of Blackberry Springs, Alabama, has exploded virtually overnight. Workers from all over are coming south for jobs in Uncle Sam's munitions plants--and they're bringing their pasts with them, right into Dolly Chandler's grand but fading family home turned boardinghouse.    An estranged young couple from the Midwest, unemployed professors from Chicago, a widower from Mississippi, a shattered young veteran struggling to heal from the war--they're all hoping Dolly's house will help them find their way back to the lives they left behind. But the house has a past of its own.    When tragedy strikes, Dolly's only hope will be the circle of friends under her roof and their ability to discover the truth about what happened to a young bride who lived there a century before.    Award-winning and bestselling author Valerie Fraser Luesse breathes life in...

With This Pledge by Tamera Alexander This book is amazing!! (I know I say that for almost every book, but still!) :) This is a story about the battle at Franklin, Tennessee near the end of the Civil War. Elizabeth "Lizzie" Clouston is a governess at Carnton, but when the home is converted into a confederate hospital she is called to assist the military doctor with surgeries on the wounded men. As the long days of tending to the wounded pass, she earns the respect and admiration of the soldiers. Captain Roland Ward Jones, one of the wounded at Carnton, gets caught in the middle of this changing world and wonders how he will care for his family back home, especially with the ever-growing chance of losing his estate along with his slaves. This is a great historical fiction book with a hint of romance thrown in. The history and vivid detail is amazing and sobering, when thinking about the realities of the Civil War. This book contains descriptions of battlefields and the ...

Character Carved in Stone by Pat Williams Overlooking the Hudson River on the campus of the United States Military Academy at West Point are 12 granite benches, each inscribed with a word representing a key leadership virtue: compassion, courage, dedication, determination, dignity, discipline, integrity, loyalty, perseverance, responsibility, service, and trust. These benches remind cadets of the qualities that lead to victory and success, not just on the battlefield, but in all of life. With his signature enthusiasm and insight, Pat Williams shares the incredible stories of West Point graduates who exemplified these traits, from the Civil War to the War on Terror. He shows readers of all backgrounds how to develop these 12 essential virtues in their lives, whether they are in the corporate world, the academic world, the military, the church, or in some other sphere. This is a very interesting book! There are 12 chapters, one for each West Point core virtues. Each chapter ha...

Never Let Go by Elizabeth Goddard    As a forensic genealogist, Willow Anderson is following in her late grandfather's footsteps in her quest for answers about a baby abducted from the hospital more than twenty years ago. The case may be cold, but things are about to heat up when someone makes an attempt on her life to keep her from discovering the truth.    Ex-FBI agent--and Willow's ex-flame--Austin McKade readily offers his help to protect the woman he never should have let get away. Together they'll follow where the clues lead them, even if it means Austin must face the past he's spent much of his life trying to forget. And even if it puts Willow's tender heart at risk. This is a very good book and I had no complaints about it. It did seem like the end came suddenly, but that was probably because I read most of the story in one sitting! :) The mystery in the story was interesting and gripping without being morbid at all. There were so many different ...

It's national love your pet day!🐾  Comment a picture of your furry friend!😃 ~Rebecca