Sunday, March 12, 2017
CELEBRATE This DAY by MARCIA LEE LAYCOCK
I really enjoy devotions. They help me draw closer to God and help me see scriptures in a new way. Each devotion is different and this one is beautifully designed for special occasions. I loved how the author focused on special holidays or occasions. As she talks about the special days, she draws from her own experiences to enhance the reading.
I enjoyed the story she shared about Summer. They were all excited about attending Bible College and needed to sell their house. After several attempts, the plans started to fall through. It is easy to get discouraged when things seem to not go the way we hoped for. They were excited when finally they had a buyer. On the day they were to leave and turn the keys over , the buyer was late. I loved how the husband got on his knees and prayed. As he finished, the buyer drove up. We sometimes forget that God has a plan for us. We need to be patient and wait on Him.
One of the devotions that really grabbed my attention was about a woman named Amanda. She volunteered to help with a play and soon found herself in charge of all the costumes. It was an overwhelming task and the director yelled at her because everything was not ready. After the play was done, the director handed out flowers to the cast and thanked people who had helped with the play. Just one person was left out of being thanked that day. Amanda , after all her hard work had not gotten a thank you. What I loved about the story was how the author pointed out that we sometimes forget to thank God for the many things He has done for us.
Thank you for writing a devotion that open my eyes to things I should be thankful for and to help me focus on Him more. The devotion is a beautiful tool to use everyday to remind us of the blessings we have and to be loving to each other.
I received a copy of this book from the author and Bookfun.org. The review is my own opinion.
I enjoyed the story she shared about Summer. They were all excited about attending Bible College and needed to sell their house. After several attempts, the plans started to fall through. It is easy to get discouraged when things seem to not go the way we hoped for. They were excited when finally they had a buyer. On the day they were to leave and turn the keys over , the buyer was late. I loved how the husband got on his knees and prayed. As he finished, the buyer drove up. We sometimes forget that God has a plan for us. We need to be patient and wait on Him.
One of the devotions that really grabbed my attention was about a woman named Amanda. She volunteered to help with a play and soon found herself in charge of all the costumes. It was an overwhelming task and the director yelled at her because everything was not ready. After the play was done, the director handed out flowers to the cast and thanked people who had helped with the play. Just one person was left out of being thanked that day. Amanda , after all her hard work had not gotten a thank you. What I loved about the story was how the author pointed out that we sometimes forget to thank God for the many things He has done for us.
Thank you for writing a devotion that open my eyes to things I should be thankful for and to help me focus on Him more. The devotion is a beautiful tool to use everyday to remind us of the blessings we have and to be loving to each other.
I received a copy of this book from the author and Bookfun.org. The review is my own opinion.
Saturday, March 11, 2017
JUST CLAIRE by JEAN ANN WILLIAMS
I really enjoyed the story and thought the author did a great job of giving readers a glimpse into the world of a young girl with big responsibilities . Claire takes on more than she can handle at times, but I loved her commitment to her siblings. After her mom has a baby, she seems different. Claire takes on the chores of taking care of the baby while her mama sleeps all the time. I liked how the author described what it is like for some women after having a baby. It's hard for some women to shake postpartum depression and Claire's mom is really having a hard time.Claire has a lot on her shoulders and I really could identify with her when she tried so hard to get others in school to like her. I remember being the girl who wore long dresses and was so shy I barely spoke in school. Like Claire, I came from a family who was not rich. My mom made all of my clothes and there were times I was embarrassed to wear them. Claire is a very strong character and there are times she may feel discouraged but her faith sustained her.
The Lavender Girls were fun to read about. There is always that one group of girls in school that everyone wants to be like. I liked how the author showed how hard it was for Claire to pick who she wanted to be friends with. Her friend, Belinda is loyal and warns Claire not to join the group. Will Claire listen to her friend? I liked how the author talked about bullying . There is so much of that in schools today and it can be difficult for kids to shake it off. The story is centered around Claire as she experiences trying to fit into a new town. Her love for her family is heartwarming . It was nice how the author showed Claire's frustrations at times as her mom struggles with her illness. It is hard to watch someone you love fighting to get better. This is a very emotional story at times and I thought the author really showed how important faith and family are.
I received a copy of this book from the author and Bookfun.org. The review is my honest opinion.
The Lavender Girls were fun to read about. There is always that one group of girls in school that everyone wants to be like. I liked how the author showed how hard it was for Claire to pick who she wanted to be friends with. Her friend, Belinda is loyal and warns Claire not to join the group. Will Claire listen to her friend? I liked how the author talked about bullying . There is so much of that in schools today and it can be difficult for kids to shake it off. The story is centered around Claire as she experiences trying to fit into a new town. Her love for her family is heartwarming . It was nice how the author showed Claire's frustrations at times as her mom struggles with her illness. It is hard to watch someone you love fighting to get better. This is a very emotional story at times and I thought the author really showed how important faith and family are.
I received a copy of this book from the author and Bookfun.org. The review is my honest opinion.
MY HEART BELONGS IN FORT BLISS, TEXAS by ERICA VETSCH
I loved how the author described the territory and made you feel like you were there with the soldiers. The details of the herbs used by the Indians for healing were well researched. I am always amazed at how gifted this author is. She has brought a story set in the late 1870s to life with vivid descriptions of the land and army life. I could picture the soldiers as they guarded the fort and the Indians as they rode throughout the land.
Priscilla has come to Fort Bliss, Texas to bring her niece and nephew home with her. After learning of the tragic death of their parents, she must do her duty as their aunt and rescue them from a life in the military. She is a very gifted artist and I was fascinated about her work. What a wonderful job to have in those days as an artist for a catalog. She drew beautiful pictures of fancy dresses and loved her work. Will she bring the twins back to her home with no problem?
After a very long ride in a stagecoach she arrives at her destination. Her dislike for army life is well known within moments of being at Fort Bliss. She knows if her brother and sister-in-law had not been there , they would still be alive. She is on a mission to get the twins and leave the dreary place as quickly as she can. There is one person she did not know existed and will prove to be a force she must battle with.
Major Elliot Ryder is a great character. He loves his niece and nephew and will do anything to protect them. He is a busy surgeon but always has time for the children. Priscilla and Elliot are both surprised to realize they each exist and want the children. The story is well written and emotional at times. I loved the feeling of being in a different era and watching the story unfold before me.
I was captivated by the love everyone had for the twins and loved how they enjoyed living at the fort. They are quite taken by their aunt but the reason she is there worries them. Can Priscilla and Elliot make a decision that is best for the children? Will Priscilla's bitterness towards army life cloud her judgment? This is one story you don't want to miss. It is filled with adventure , faith and family.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review."
Priscilla has come to Fort Bliss, Texas to bring her niece and nephew home with her. After learning of the tragic death of their parents, she must do her duty as their aunt and rescue them from a life in the military. She is a very gifted artist and I was fascinated about her work. What a wonderful job to have in those days as an artist for a catalog. She drew beautiful pictures of fancy dresses and loved her work. Will she bring the twins back to her home with no problem?
After a very long ride in a stagecoach she arrives at her destination. Her dislike for army life is well known within moments of being at Fort Bliss. She knows if her brother and sister-in-law had not been there , they would still be alive. She is on a mission to get the twins and leave the dreary place as quickly as she can. There is one person she did not know existed and will prove to be a force she must battle with.
Major Elliot Ryder is a great character. He loves his niece and nephew and will do anything to protect them. He is a busy surgeon but always has time for the children. Priscilla and Elliot are both surprised to realize they each exist and want the children. The story is well written and emotional at times. I loved the feeling of being in a different era and watching the story unfold before me.
I was captivated by the love everyone had for the twins and loved how they enjoyed living at the fort. They are quite taken by their aunt but the reason she is there worries them. Can Priscilla and Elliot make a decision that is best for the children? Will Priscilla's bitterness towards army life cloud her judgment? This is one story you don't want to miss. It is filled with adventure , faith and family.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review."
 About the book:
Why did their differences matter so much?
Link Whitman has settled into the role of bachelor
without ever intending to. Now he's stuck in a dead-end job and, as the next Whitman wedding fast approaches, he is the last one standing. The pressure from his sisters' efforts to play matchmaker is getting hard to bear as Link pulls extra shifts at work, and helps his parents at the Chicory Inn.
All her life, Shayla Michaels has felt as if she straddled
two worlds. Her mother's white family labeled her African American father with names Shayla didn't repeat in polite-well, in any company. Her father's family disapproved as well, though they eventually embraced Shayla as their own. After the death of her mother, and her brother Jerry's incarceration, life has eft Shayla's father bitter, her niece, Portia, an orphan, and Shayla responsible for them all. She knows God loves them all, but why couldn't people accept each other for what was on the inside? For their hearts?
Everything changes one icy morning when a child runs into the street and Link nearly
hits her with his pickup. Soon he is falling in love with the little girl's aunt, Shayla, the beautiful woman who runs Coffee's On, the bakery in Langhorne. Can Shayla and Link overcome society's view of their differences and find true love? Is there hope of changing the sometimes-ugly world around them into something better for them all? 
About the author:
Deborah Raney's novels have won numerous awards including the RITA,
National Readers' Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, the Carol Award, and have three times been Christy Award finalists. She and her husband, Ken Raney have traded small-town life in Kansas-the setting of many of Deb's novels-for life in the city of Wichita.
Find out more about Deborah at http://deborahraney.com.
Join Deborah on Thursday, March 23, for a live author chat party in her Facebook groupwith fun prizes to be won! Click the graphic below for more details and to RSVP. Hopeto see you there-bring a friend or two who loves to read!
I am very saddened to see this series come to an end. I have enjoyed my time in Chicory Inn. The author has made readers feel like part of the family. The inn was the central point of each story as the family gathered there for dinners, marriages and spending quality time togther. Each story in the series seemed to build on to each other. We became acquainted with the Whitman family and experienced their trials and accomplishments. The final book in this engaging series is the most powerful and emotional book the author has ever written. She has surpassed my expectations of a storyline that some will consider uncomfortable and writes with real depth and honesty. Thank you for saving the best for last. I wiped away tears during many scenes and at times I was angry because of the ignorance of people that still see others differently.
Shayla is a beautiful black woman who helps her dad at the family owned bakery. She is a hard worker and fiercely protective of her niece. After her mom died, her father seemed a bit more stern in watching over Shayla and Portia. Her father has faced many hardships in his life and I admired his determination to make things better for Shayla and Portia. Shayla is bitter over the irresponsible choices her brother has made and it showed how one bad choice can have a ripple affect on others.
Link Whitman has run into Shayla several times in town and finds himself smitten with her. I loved how he looked past the color of her skin and saw the beauty she had inside. The story tackles the issue that goes on still today. Shayla knows what it is like to look different and wishes she looked like her mom. Her mom was beautiful with blonde hair and blue eyes. It was tough to be in a biracial marriage and the consequences for Shayla's mom was devastating.
Portia is a firecracker of energy and her smile is contagious. She is very well mannered and innocent. What crushes my heart is when she comes face to face with prejudice. Link is convinced that he can win Shayla over but after witnessing an altercation at the movies between Shay, Portia and some ill mannered young men, he starts to understand why Shayla is so unsure they should have a relationship. Will their relationship out Shayla and her family in danger?
This is one book where the author writes with passion as she shows readers how society still treats others with little respect. Will we ever get to the point where it doesn't matter what color our skin is? When will we remember that children are innocent and should not have to face hate at any age? I was very impressed with Link and his family. They welcomed Shayla into their home and made her feel welcome. I wish miss Chicory Inn but the author leaves us with a powerful message. Love is all we need and with faith we can overcome anything.There are bonus questions at the end of the book that you don't want to miss. I want to thank Deborah Raney for writing a book that we all need to read . Thank you for your love for everyone and helping us through Shayla and Link's story to examine our hearts and see people the way Jesus sees them.
I was given a copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity Group. The review is my own opinion.
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