A ROBERTSON FAMILY CHRISTMAS by MISS KAY ROBERTSON with TRAVIS THRASHER

Stacy is at her wits end with her teenage son, Hunter. He is depressed, moody and an extremely unhappy person. She enters a contest where one lucky person will get to spend the holidays with the  famous Robertson family of Duck Dynasty. She knows the chances are slim that her son will win, but when she receives  word that indeed her son will be enjoying Christmas with The Robertson's , she can't believe it.

Hunter is not really thrilled with his new plans for Christmas, but off he goes on an adventure that will have a huge impact on his life. I loved the compassion and caring that the author wrote as Hunter was introduced to the family. I believe they are just like that if you meet them in person. The family is faith based and is willing to open their home and heart to a young man they don't know. He needs to see how a family cares about each other and guidance from some  spiritual men. The Robertson men do a great job of including Hunter in activities and he starts to open up a little.

The story is well written and I felt like I was in Miss Kay's kitchen watching her cook as Phil is in the other room watching tv. I did get a chuckle when Willie kept disappearing without an explanation. What is Willie plotting? It has funny moments, serious moments and encouraging moments as the story unfolds. As Phil shared his story with Hunter, I could feel the depth of love Phil has for Jesus. Overall the story is one I would recommend for everyone to read . It is such an inspirational story to watch as Hunter experiences things like duck hunting and cooking for the first time. Does he finally fit in somewhere? Will his relationship with his mom change when he returns home? I enjoyed the traditions that were shared in the story, which gives readers a glimpse into the real life of the Robertsons. The presents Hunter gets from the Robertson's were very thoughtful and one will make a huge impact on his life.

Thank you for writing such a beautiful story of faith, family and love. It will be a treasure to read this story ever year  to remind me of what Christmas is really about.

I received a copy of this book from The BookClub Network for an honest review.

GOD'S DAILY WORD by JERRY STRATTON

I  just started reading this on New Year's Day. It is a nice layout and has great applications for our daily bible study. I love how it has humor, scriptures and touches on everyday issues. I just glanced through the book and know it will be a great tool to use everyday for encouragement. I look forward to reading this and applying the tools to my life. This a great book to use as a devotional for your daily time in the word. 

I received a copy of this book from The BookClub NetWork for an honest review.

SHADOWS by TRAVIS INMAN

What a great eye opening book . Everywhere we go, we are faced with temptations. Some of us are able to fight those off, while others give in. The outcome can be devastating and sometimes ruin a person's life. This story is about a man and what could happen if he gives into temptation. The author explores the consequences of his choices and shows us how our life could be altered by giving in to things that we know are not good for us.

I loved how  the author gave us a look at both sides of temptation. One depicts giving in and watching your life spiral out of control. The other was making the choice not to follow temptation and how your life will take a more positive direction. Every choice we make leads us to a destination. This book has a very clear message and gives you a glimpse into the dark side of temptation. Be encouraged though, when we don't give into temptation, we are following God and sin has no place to sneak in. I loved the book and hope that others will read this very intriguing story. People are watching everything you do, just waiting for you to mess up. Will you be tempted?

I received a copy of this book from The BookClub Network for an honest review.

HEALTHY and FREE by BENI JOHNSON

It's that time of year when we start thinking about our health and make promises to eat healthier and exercise more. But the reality is most of us don't follow throug even though we promise ourselves we will. We get so busy with our lives, we forget to stop and smell the roses. I was one of those high energy people who was always on the go. I might have looked healthy, but I was far from being in good shape and really eating good healthy meals. I have decided that now is the time to take my health serious and have a healthy mind , body and spirit.

I loved the author's transparency as she takes us on her journey to a healthier life. It is not always easy but she shows us ways to achieve our goal with grace and wisdom. I appreciate her openness and insight into this subject.  She is very encouraging and is very open to sharing her struggles along the way. The book is filled with helpful tools and information that will guide you on your journey to achieve your goal. I loved how she suggested speaking scriptures over ourselves to begin to be physically,  emotionally and spiritually healthy. "He made your body , soul, and spirit- those three parts of your bring that are all connected - and when they are healthy and in harmony with each other , you will experience wellness." At the end of the book, the author has graciously included some healthy recipes to try and has a question and answer section at the end. Be encouraged as you take this journey , and know that Gid is right there with you cheering you on.

I received this book from The BookClub Network for an honest review.