Next Book Review: Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul

Publisher's Book Description:

Can mysterious matchmaking booksellers bring two lonely hearts together in time for Christmas?

In a sleepy, snow-covered city, Cora Crowder is busy preparing for the holiday season. Searching for a perfect gift, a fortuitous trip to Warner, Werner, and Wizbotterdad’s (a most unusual bookshop) leads to an unexpected encounter with co-worker Simon Derrick. And the surprise discovery of a ticket for a truly one-of-a-kind Christmas Ball.

Every year, the matchmaking booksellers of the Sage Street bookshop host an enchanting, old-fashioned Christmas Ball for the romantic matches they’ve decided to bring together.

This year, will Simon and Cora discover a perfect chemistry in their opposite personalities and shared faith? Or will the matchmakers’ best laid plans end up ruining everything this holiday?

I just finished reading this book last night - VERY cute! I should have my full review up in a few days.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Blogging for Books book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

 

Booksneeze Book Review: The Secrets Beneath by Kathleen Fuller

Well, due to some family situations - and the Thanksgiving holiday - I'm running a little bit late on this review. Nonetheless, here it is. I hope you enjoy it!

Publisher's Book Description:
Rebekah Yoder loves a good mystery—that is, until she becomes a part of one.

Rebekah Yoder has always been curious . . . or nosy depending on whom you ask. When a Yankee stranger moves into the house next door, she’s fascinated. Who is this strange old man who never waves or smiles? When Bekah sees him digging holes in his back yard, she’s sure there is a case to be solved.

Unfortunately, when her cousin blabs the story to the whole school, rumors fly. Is he hiding something? Treasure? Victims? And worst of all, annoying Caleb Mullet is now determined to solve the mystery with her. What they don’t realize is there’s not just secrecy lurking next door—there’s danger. Will Bekah take her curiosity too far?

Readers will love journeying with Bekah Yoder as they learn the danger of gossip, the importance of prayer, and the real story of The Secrets Beneath.

Rebekah Yoder is an extremely inquisitive 13 year old Amish girl in Middlefield, OH. She's a Nancy Drew fan, and in her mind everything has the potential to become a mystery that needs to be solved. Caleb, the boy next door, loves spying as much as Bekah. He also likes to pick on her. The house next door to her has been empty for some time, but now she has a new neighbor - a grumpy old man that buries things in his backyard at night. Bekah has a mystery on her hands and she's determined to solve it.

Her cousin, Amanda, has come to stay with the family from Paradise, PA under quite mysterious circumstances. Amanda is sullen and anti-social and Bekah just doesn't understand why no one will tell her what's going on! While Caleb and Bekah spy on the neighbor, Amanda starts to take an interest as well. But what they don't realize is that what's going on next door isn't just a mystery - it's dangerous.

Despite numerous warnings from family, friends, and even the grumpy new neighbor to stay away and mind their own business, the trio continue to push their luck. One day everything comes to a head and Bekah finds herself in a dangerous situation. Will help come in time? Amanda watches helplessly and learns a valuable lesson: sometimes all you can do is pray for the right outcome.

I enjoyed this book - it was simply written, as it is really a Young Adult book. It was a quick read and fairly entertaining. The characters were fun and very well written - I especially enjoyed Caleb's character.

What I didn't like were the fictional settings. There are plenty of Amish communities - why make one up? It's not really a big deal, I just didn't understand the reasoning. Also, the author used Amish words throughout the book in place of 'normal' words like Mom, Dad, Uncle, etc. I admired the intent, but I found it distracting - especially in the beginning when I kept having to stop reading to look up a word. Also, while I enjoyed the Amish slant it really wasn't a big part of the book. There wasn't a lot of Amish culture or 'education' in the book it was just a girl and her family and 'Oh, FYI, they happen to be Amish'. I wish it had been a little more prominent in the story as I find it very interesting.

All in all, I'd give it 4 out of 5. I enjoyed it and I may see if Ms. Fuller's other books are at my local library.

If you are interested in purchasing the book, you can find it at this link on Amazon.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Next Book Review: ' The Secrets Beneath' by Kathleen Fuller

Publisher's Book Description:
Rebekah Yoder loves a good mystery—that is, until she becomes a part of one.

Rebekah Yoder has always been curious . . . or nosy depending on whom you ask. When a Yankee stranger moves into the house next door, she’s fascinated. Who is this strange old man who never waves or smiles? When Bekah sees him digging holes in his back yard, she’s sure there is a case to be solved.

Unfortunately, when her cousin blabs the story to the whole school, rumors fly. Is he hiding something? Treasure? Victims? And worst of all, annoying Caleb Mullet is now determined to solve the mystery with her. What they don’t realize is there’s not just secrecy lurking next door—there’s danger. Will Bekah take her curiosity too far?

Readers will love journeying with Bekah Yoder as they learn the danger of gossip, the importance of prayer, and the real story of The Secrets Beneath.

I finished reading this book yesterday and am working on my review. I'm hoping to have the review up tomorrow or Wednesday. Great book!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Bethany House Book Review: 'Amy Inspired' by Bethany Pierce

Publisher's Book Description:
Amy Gallagher, aspiring writer, has an unabashed obsession with words. She gave up a steady, albeit unexciting, job to pursue a life of writing. However, two years and one master's degree later, she finds herself almost exactly right back where she started. Discouraged by the growing pile of rejections from publishers and afraid that she has settled, Amy knows something has to change.

Then she meets the mysterious, attractive, and unavailable Eli. Amy finds herself struggling to walk the fine line between friendship and something more with Eli, even as she tries to cope with the feeling that her friends and family are moving on without her. When the unexpected begins pouring in, Amy doubts the love and fulfillment she seeks will ever come her way. Forced to take a close look at who she has become, the state of her faith, and her aspirations for her life, she must make a choice: play it safe yet again or finally find the courage to follow her dreams.

Amy Gallagher is a young English professor on the cusp of turning 30. She's wanted to be an author since childhood, and she did everything 'right'. She has a Master's degree, writes regularly, faithfully submits her manuscripts to both publishing houses and magazines alike - and yet the rejections keep coming. To make it all the more frustrating, her zany roommate Zoe seems to be able to get magazine articles published with hardly any effort. As if all of this isn't enough for Amy, her roommate brings home an old friend to 'temporarily' stay with them. Eli is, on the surface, your typical starving artist; but the more she get to know Eli, the more she sees the deep, caring person with the painful past. The longer he stays, the harder it gets to convince herself that she doesn't have feelings for him. Suddenly, her whole life feels out of control and she starts to wonder if she's been her own worst enemy all along.

All around her, tragedy is striking, jealousy is rearing it's ugly head, old wounds are being reopened, self-esteem is being shattered, and feelings are getting harder to stifle. Can she keep it together and, more importantly, can she finally find peace and happiness?

I really enjoyed this book. Amy's character - and all of the others, really - were just so beautifully written. She was very flawed and real. I particularly enjoyed her dry, sarcastic sense of humor. It was very balanced - never falling too far into being negative or crass. I think that the author did a great job of portraying Amy's internal battle with herself. All of the characters were equally as intriguing, flawed, and unique.

I felt that the story line was very unique. This isn't your typical conversion story or story of the believer that questions their faith. It's simply a story about a girl who's faith is a part of her life, and she's trying to find her place in the world. I appreciated this. I think that a lot of Christian Fiction books are too 'in your face', and this tends to make them less believable. The way this was written was much more 'real life' to me. I alos enjoyed the sub-plots - all were very well developed and the author did a superb job of 'wrapping everything up' in a believable, and satisfying, way.

To sum it all up, I enjoyed the book. It's just as much a love story as it is a book of self-reflection and self-discovery. 'Amy Inspired' was well written, well developed, unique and thoughtful. I highly recommend it, and I will definitely be reading more from author Bethany Pierce.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher, Bethany House Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Reformation Trust Book Review: 'The Lightlings' by R.C. Sproul

Publisher's Book Description:
In The Lightlings, Dr. R.C. Sproul weaves an allegorical tale that captures the essence of the biblical story of redemption in a manner that will fascinate and delight children. A race of tiny beings known as lightlings are a picture of humanity as they pass through all the stages of the biblical drama - creation, fall, and redemption. In the end, children will understand why some people fear light more than darkness, but why they need never fear darkness again.

The Lightlings is an excellent introduction to the key themes of Scripture. Richly detailed illustrations by Justin Gerard will hold children’s interest, and discussion questions with Scripture references in the back will help parents guide children into the deeper meaning of the story.

I happened to accidentally stumble onto the website of Ligonier Ministries about a week ago. I was reading some of the wonderful articles on the site when I noticed that they also had a publishing arm, Reformation Trust Publishing. I saw the book 'The Lightlings' and thought it sounded absolutely wonderful. Reformation Trust Publishing was kind enough to provide me with a review copy of the book so that I could share this wonderful book with all of you. If you're interested in purchasing a copy for yourself, you can find it for sale both on their website and on Amazon.

First off, let me just say this: what a wonderfully creative way to explain such complicated biblical concepts to young children! In the tale, Charlie asks his mother why he, and others, are afraid of the dark. Not knowing quite how to answer the question for Charlie, she suggests that he ask his grandfather the next evening when he comes to dinner. When Charlie asks his grandfather this question the following evening, he responds "...not only are lots of people afraid of the dark, many people are afraid of the light.” This answer confuses Charlie, so his grandfather decides to tell him a story in order to help him understand. Thus begins the story of  The Lightlings.

The Lightlings are essentially little fairy-like creatures, created by The King of Light. They shone bright as he did and lived happily in a beautiful, sun-bathed garden. Eventually The Lightlings lost their way, and hid in the darkness away from The King of Light.

One day they saw a very bright light shining in their very dark forest. Some were scared and hid themselves, but the youngest lightlings were curious and decided to investigate. They eventually discovered another family of lightlings who were holding a baby lightling that shone brightly.They are told that the baby Lightling will make their world light again and he would chase away the darkness.

The Lightlings are so excited by this news and run back to the others to tell them of this baby who would save them from the darkness. Some were afraid of the light and ran away to hide themselves, but most were happy and danced happily in the light that began to creep into their forest.

Charlie's Grandfather explains, "You see, Charlie, we’re afraid of the dark because we were made to live in the light. But someday, all of us who love this Son will live with Him forever in heaven. When we go to the dwelling place of the Son, who is now the Light of the World, there will be no darkness at all." He then offers this advice to Charlie about his fear of the dark: "Every time you see the sun, the moon, or the stars, or light a candle, or turn on your night light, remember the story of the child the King of Light brought into the darkness of this world. And remember that He gave us this baby as a present. As long as you remember that, you will never, ever have to be afraid of the darkness again."

I really enjoyed this book. It's written is such a way that even small children can comprehend the basic story, but that older children will be able to delve deeper into the meanings and symbolism of the story. I'd say and age range of between 4-10 would be appropriate. There is also a Question and Answer section, that contains bible references, in the back of the book that will prove to be helpful when older children start to ask questions in regards to theme, character, events, etc. The absolutely beautiful illustrations will help to keep children of all ages engaged in the story.

In conclusion, wonderful book, stunning illustrations. I'd definitely recommend it for any Christian household with children. I'll definitely be looking into Sproul's other children's books, The Prince's Poison Cup, The King Without a Shadow, and The Priest with the Dirty Clothes.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher, Reformation Trust Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Next Book Review: 'Amy Inspired' by Bethany Pierce

Publisher's Book Description:
Amy Gallagher, aspiring writer, has an unabashed obsession with words. She gave up a steady, albeit unexciting, job to pursue a life of writing. However, two years and one master's degree later, she finds herself almost exactly right back where she started. Discouraged by the growing pile of rejections from publishers and afraid that she has settled, Amy knows something has to change.

Then she meets the mysterious, attractive, and unavailable Eli. Amy finds herself struggling to walk the fine line between friendship and something more with Eli, even as she tries to cope with the feeling that her friends and family are moving on without her. When the unexpected begins pouring in, Amy doubts the love and fulfillment she seeks will ever come her way. Forced to take a close look at who she has become, the state of her faith, and her aspirations for her life, she must make a choice: play it safe yet again or finally find the courage to follow her dreams.


I just started reading this book on Tuesday. I'm hoping to be able to post a review sometime next week.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher, Bethany House Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Bethany House Book Review: 'Hatteras Girl' by Alice J. Wisler

Publisher's Book Description:
Jackie Donovan prays for two things: an honest, wonderful man to marry and to own a bed-and-breakfast on the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina. In the meantime, she works for Lighthouse Views, writing articles about local business owners, and intrepidly goes on the blind dates set up by her well-meaning but oh-so-clueless relatives.

There's one specific property Jackie dreams of purchasing: The Bailey House, a fabulous old home located right next to the ocean, a place where Jackie spent many happy childhood afternoons. But the Bailey House has strange stories and secrets surrounding it—not to mention its outrageous price tag.

When Jackie meets handsome Davis Erickson, who holds the key to the Bailey property, she believes God has answered both her prayers. But as Jackie learns some disturbing details about Davis's past, she begins to wonder if her heart has lead her astray. Will she risk her long-held dreams to find out the truth?

This book is set in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Jackie Donovan has dreamed of owning the Bailey House Bed and Breakfast since she was a child and now, through a series of events, it looks as if her dream may finally come true. But, as Jackie learns, sometimes things aren't always what they seem.


This review is actually a little hard for me because there were a lot of things that I actually did like about the book. The problem is that what I didn't like was really distracting and frustrating for me. I thought this book was just okay. I didn't hate it, but I didn't really like it, either. Confusing? Let me explain.

I'll start with the things I did like. I like the charm and ease of the South that was very evident and very well written throughout the book. I liked the characters. They all had very unique personalities and you really felt like they cared about each other. They really were very well written. They also all have some quite unique names, although I found them to be a little distracting sometimes. I liked the message and the storyline of the book. To me, it was evident that the plot and the characters were really well thought out and that the author took great care in making them come to life in her book.I also think that Ms. Wisler did a good job at portraying emotion - particularly worry and confusion. I think that those are really hard sometimes to make your reader feel, so I appreciate when an author has the ability to do that.

Now for what I didn't like.This book was really anti-climatic for me. I kept finding myself 'waiting for the good part'. There was a constant sense that the plot was building, and it would either be a great confrontational scene or a really great I'm-in-love moment. It did neither until the last few pages of the book. So I had 300 or so pages of anticipation - and letdown - and a couple of pages at the very end that gave me a bit of satisfaction. I found that really frustrating. I kind of felt like I kept getting strung along by a proverbial carrot on a string. Sometimes in books - mostly suspense and mystery types - this is actually a very exciting plot strategy, but it just didn't work for me here.

I've read the reviews for the book on Amazon, and honestly, I'm in the minority when it comes to my opinion on this book. I have heard good things about Wisler's other books however, so I may give them a try in the future.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher, Bethany House Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Next Book Review: 'Hatteras Girl' by Alice J. Wisler

Publishers' Book Description:
Jackie Donovan prays for two things: an honest, wonderful man to marry and to own a bed-and-breakfast on the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina. In the meantime, she works for Lighthouse Views, writing articles about local business owners, and intrepidly goes on the blind dates set up by her well-meaning but oh-so-clueless relatives.

There's one specific property Jackie dreams of purchasing: The Bailey House, a fabulous old home located right next to the ocean, a place where Jackie spent many happy childhood afternoons. But the Bailey House has strange stories and secrets surrounding it—not to mention its outrageous price tag.

When Jackie meets handsome Davis Erickson, who holds the key to the Bailey property, she believes God has answered both her prayers. But as Jackie learns some disturbing details about Davis's past, she begins to wonder if her heart has lead her astray. Will she risk her long-held dreams to find out the truth?

I'll be posting this review tomorrow. I've finished reading it, but need a little bit of time to decide what I think about it. This may turn out to be my first 'lukewarm' review.

Look for my review of 'Hatteras Girl' by Alice J. Wisler tomorrow!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher, Bethany House Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Gluten Free - Our Story

  Last January my husband decided that he wanted to try the Paleo Diet in order to be able to climb to the next level of fitness. He's always kept himself healthy and exercised regularly, but he wanted to take it to the next level. I, somewhat reluctantly, agreed to give it a go.

  My husband had always regularly complained of stomach aches after eating. At the beginning of our relationship I used to take it personally, and often wondered if there was something wrong with my cooking. I had always considered myself to be a pretty good cook, but I started feeling a little insecure about it. He reassured me that it wasn't my cooking, and that he had had the problem as long as he could remember.

  In about March, my husband had a rather surprising revelation - he hadn't had a stomach ache in 3 months! This really was a big deal, as he generally had them several times per week. Being rather intrigued by this new bit of knowledge, I persuaded him to try a few food items that he no longer ate to see if they gave him problems. He fought me on it at first, but then we had a holiday weekend full of cookouts and he agreed. He first tried corn and potatoes. He said they made him feel 'heavy', but no stomach issues. Then he decided to eat a burger - with a bun.

  People, I'm telling you, he had gripping stomach cramps within minutes, and they didn't let up for 36 hours. I had heard of Celiacs and Gluten Intolerance before, but it had never occurred to me that either of those things could be the problem. After a few more 'experiments' and a LOT more research, we felt we had our answer. Gluten. We opted NOT to do the Celiacs testing for several reasons, but mainly because the test that gives the definitive diagnosis is a biopsy of your small intestine. Can we say 'invasive'? Also, we thought that having a 'pre-existing condition' could, quite frankly, cause nothing but problems; and if we already knew what the problem was, and how to avoid it, what was the point? So, on we pressed.

  In May, right after my sons' 3rd birthday, I stumbled onto some research about children and gluten issues. We had had some pretty intense behavioral issues with him for about a year - mainly being really contrary all the time and having uncontrollable tantrums - and were kind of  at a loss as to what to do next for him. There, on the web page about kids and gluten sensitivities, was something I'd never heard: the number one symptom in smaller children with gluten issues is behavioral issues - namely irritability and tantrums. It leapt out of the page at me and I was actually a little stunned by what I had just read. I told my husband what I had read and told him that I wanted to try cutting any and all gluten from his diet for 2 weeks to see if we saw any improvement. He agreed.

I was a woman on a mission. There was NO WAY that my kid was getting even a speck of gluten down his gullet. And then I went grocery shopping and realized that EVERYTHING has gluten in it. This was going to be hard. I already had a really picky eater, and now I was literally left with TWO THINGS that he would eat. And then something awesome happened. In 3 days the tantrums stopped. Not got less intense, not decreased in frequency... stopped. Then about a week later, he started eating REAL FOOD (well, real food for him anyway).

  Six months later, he's almost a different kid. He's still my son - and stubborn, argumentative, and way too smart for his own good - but the uncontrollable rages are gone. The irrational moodiness is gone. The sleeplessness is gone. The 'tummy aches' are gone. He runs (sometimes too much). He eats - bacon, eggs, hamburgers (no bun, or a homemade gluten free bun), hot dogs, fruit, veggies, cheese... so many things that he refused to eat before. And he's grown. A LOT. In 6 months he's grown 3 1/2 inches and gained 5 pounds. That's a TON for a 3 year old - and he was pretty tall to begin with!

  It's been hard, this foray into a gluten free diet. We decided a few months ago that our whole household needed to make the switch - more for the sake of my sanity than anything else. I'm learning more everyday - which is frustrating and liberating at the same time! And now, I'm planning our first gluten free Thanksgiving. It's proven to be quite a challenge, but I'm truly looking forward to it. I'll be writing a post on it soon, in fact. My biggest mission in all of this has been to never let my kids feel as though they're missing out on 'normal' food. I think I can succeed.

Until then...

Bethany House Book Review: 'A Rush of Wings' by Kristen Heitzman

Publishers' Book Description:
Though her panic is real, Noelle St. Claire is uncertain what danger she is fleeing. Fragmented images and slivers of memory have driven her to abandon her wealthy, sheltered life in New York for the hope of a haven—remote and safe.

Noelle's arrival at the Rocky Mountain horse ranch owned by Rick Spencer and his brother Morgan causes more than a little stir. Beautiful, vulnerable, yet strangely secretive, Noelle is an enigma the two contrasting brothers seek to unlock. But as their attentions breach the wall she hides behind, the past becomes a menacing threat from which Noelle can no longer hide. 

If you would like to read an excerpt, you can do so here.

I finished this book WAY ahead of schedule - having two sick kids that just want to dog-pile on you all day will do that. If I can't move, I may as well read, right?

Terror. That's what Noelle St Claire is experiencing. Primal terror. Her flight instinct is maxed out and she's not trying to fight with it. The problem? She's not quite sure what she's so afraid of and why she's running. She eventually comes to a small town in the Colorado Rockies and, after inquiring about housing, is directed to a ranch owned by Rick Spencer. He's quiet, serious, and God-fearing. His brother, Morgan, however is the exact opposite. He's a successful, womanizing, corporate guy who works hard and plays harder. When both take a serious interest in the secretive Noelle, things get interesting.

William St Claire is a high powered New York defense attorney with connections and money. His protege, Michael Fallon, is Noelle's fiance. William has been much the overprotective parent for most of Noelle's life; picking her friends, teachers, activities... and partners. He admires and respects Michael, but he is unaware of the unstable, violent person he really is. Michael has learned that money means control and he takes advantage of it so often that it's become second nature. If someone dares to defy him, his temper is dangerous. The story that unfolds from the entanglement of these characters is dramatic, twisting and suspenseful.

And I'll leave you with that - because I don't like plot spoilers.

So, the verdict? I liked it. I didn't love it, but I liked it. The beginning was a little boring and sometimes the plot tended to drag a bit. There were a few plot development and character development issues, but they were very minor and I don't feel that they detracted from the story at all. I will say this: Kristen Heitzmann NAILS human emotions - turmoil, panic, hopelessness, confusion... and love. All of it. That talent is why I enjoyed the book so much. She made it real. I can honestly say she's one of the best at portraying emotion in writing that I've ever read. For that, I'm completely won over and I will definitely read more of what she has out.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher, Bethany House Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Next Book Review: 'A Rush of Wings' by Kristen Heitzman

Publishers' Book Description:
Though her panic is real, Noelle St. Claire is uncertain what danger she is fleeing. Fragmented images and slivers of memory have driven her to abandon her wealthy, sheltered life in New York for the hope of a haven—remote and safe.

Noelle's arrival at the Rocky Mountain horse ranch owned by Rick Spencer and his brother Morgan causes more than a little stir. Beautiful, vulnerable, yet strangely secretive, Noelle is an enigma the two contrasting brothers seek to unlock. But as their attentions breach the wall she hides behind, the past becomes a menacing threat from which Noelle can no longer hide. 

I am hoping to have this review up by next week. This may be a bit optimistic as the book is 382 pages and I'm only about 40 pages in so far. I'll do my best! If you would like to read an excerpt, you can do so here.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher, Bethany House Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Booksneeze Book Review - 'Heaven is for Real' by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent

Publishers' Book Description:
A young boy emerges from life-saving surgery with remarkable stories of his visit to heaven.

Heaven Is for Real is the true story of the four-year old son of a small town Nebraska pastor who during emergency surgery slips from consciousness and enters heaven. He survives and begins talking about being able to look down and see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the waiting room. The family didn't know what to believe but soon the evidence was clear.

Colton said he met his miscarried sister whom no one had told him about, and his great grandfather who died 30 years before Colton was born, then shared impossible-to-know details about each. He describes the horse that only Jesus could ride, about how "reaaally big" God and his chair are, and how the Holy Spirit "shoots down power" from heaven to help us.

Told by the father but often in Colton's own words, the disarmingly simple message is heaven is a real place, Jesus really loves children, and be ready there is a coming last battle.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! Honestly, sometimes these books end up being either preachy or corny. This one was neither. It was honest, real, and touching. I was fully expecting a dramatic grab-a-box-of-tissues kind of book, but it really wasn't like that. I honestly have a hard time putting my feelings about this book into words. It was just amazing. Nothing I write here could possibly do it justice.

Colton Burpo, 2 months shy of his 4th birthday, has to have an emergency appendectomy because his appendix exploded. His life is literally hanging by a thread as he goes into surgery and doctors don't give the Burpo family much hope that Colton will be ok. After a truly amazing turn of events, Colton makes a complete recovery slightly less than 3 weeks after his surgery. Six months later he starts talking about seeing Jesus in Heaven.

To be frank, it's not the details of Heaven, God, or Jesus that are so amazing. I think we all know that almost-4-year-olds aren't generally all that great at giving detailed descriptions, although some of his descriptions were very impressive. It was more the very matter-of-fact way he gave his details; His absolute steadfastness in his statements that are so compelling. The fact that some of the things he says so perfectly align with intricate Bible descriptions of God, Jesus and Heaven, to me, are evidence that he's seen something. And I believe he saw what he says he saw. But from a parents' perspective, to imagine having your child tell you he's seen Heaven, sat on Jesus' lap and had conversations with his sister that was miscarried - and that you didn't know was a girl... mind-blowing. Truly mind-blowing.

I also loved how the book was written. Very conversational and easy - almost as if you are sitting over coffee with your friend and they just start telling you this amazing experience they've had. You're completely in awe and just want to hear more. It had a lovely, enjoyable rhythm to the writing and I finished it in about 3.5 hours. I would HIGHLY recommend this book. I may even read through it again, I just loved it.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”