Mercy Come Morning by Lisa Bergren

This is a great story of a the forgiveness a daughter can have towards her mother after years of pain and suffering. In the story, thirty-something Krista comes home to the Southwest to care for her dying mother who has suffered from Alzheimer's for decades. While spending time at her mother's side, she discovers things about her mother that she never knew and learns more about why their relationship had been so difficult. 


**I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Me gusta Sisterchicks in Sombreros by Robin Jones Gunn

This is a great book about the relationship between two sisters and an adventure of a lifetime.  It's a great beach read, light and easy but thought-provoking.  It's a great piece of women's fiction that shows how God can work in our lives when we least expect it.  Reading it made me want to take a cruise to Mexico someday with my girlfriends.

Restless in Carolina by Tamara Leigh

Restless in Carolina tells the story of thirty-something Bridget Pickwick Buchanan who is still deeply grieving the loss of her husband four years ago.  From a well-established family in the south, she is something of a wild flower in a field of lilies; just as beautiful but sticks out.  Due to financial troubles and the desire of her uncle to pay retribution for a long-standing dispute with another family, the family estate needs to be sold. Her love of nature and environmentalist beliefs cause her to seek out a buyer for the estate who has earth-friendly plans for development.  

Enter J.C. Dirk, the developer Bridget is seeking.  His plans seem acceptable and his price is right but is it too good to be true?  Is everything as it seems?  Can Bridget learn to trust God to take care of her after seemingly ignoring her request to heal her husband?

This book is a great summer read.  It is very entertaining, mildly thought-provoking, and easy to read.  Although it was a little predictable, I still enjoy the way the author unfolded the plot.  She depicts Bridget as an authentic person who is struggling with her faith in God.  If you are looking for a good piece of chick-lit, this book is for you.

 **I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Thoughts on Faith

As I drove home today I was listening to K-Love and a couple of my favorite worship songs came on the radio.  I sang along and began thinking about my relationship with God.  See, I've known God my whole life.  I was raised in a Christian home and can't remember a time in my life when I wasn't going to church and spending time with God.  Now don't get me wrong.  I am far from the perfect Christian.  I go days without reading my Bible.  (That's something I'm trying to fix.)  Many of my prayers are one or two liners, not an hour long or even a half hour.  I've often wondered how much I rely on Him because there was no obvious life-changing experience for me.  He has just always been there.  As I thought about this and listened to the music, I realized something.  I am FREE!  I always heard people talking about being free from various forms of bondage because they placed their trust in Christ but I never felt free from anything before.  I guess it's just that I usually hear about bondage such as substance abuse or addictions so I never realized that I am free, as well.  Not only am I free from those things because He has kept me from them but I am free from a life of constant worry over finances and my family's health and well-being.  Yes, I still worry sometimes about those things but it's always temporary because I know that my faith and trust in the Lord.  He will not give my any difficulties that He will not carry me through.   I know this doesn't seem like much to many of you but for me it was a wonderful realization.  Thanks, God!

A Trip to Rite Aid and CVS

I got some great deals at Rite Aid and CVS this week!  I only purchased items for which I had a coupon (or two) and only bought items that we need and will use.  (Yes, I know we don't NEED the coffee and chocolate but they were completely FREE with coupons!)

$17.17 for all this! (Possibly, $12.17.  I have to wait and see if I get a rebate for part of it.)

4 bottles of Pantene

4 bottles of Head & Shoulders

4 bottles of Gillette body wash

4 tubes of toothpaste

4 toothbrushes

2 Gillette Pro-Glide razors

2 bottles of John Frieda Full Repair 

2 bottles of Renu

2 cans of Seattle's Best Iced Coffee

1 Hershey bar

That's an average of $.60 per item.  (or $.42 per item if I get the rebate)

Review of "Departures" by Robin Jones Gunn

I wish I had these books when I was in middle school. Gunn does a great job of creating characters with depth who are great role models for young girls. While the books are about high school aged kids, I think they'd capture the attention of middle school girls better. I know I always read books about kids who were just a little older than me as I was growing up. These books can be really helpful in preparing young girls for some of the struggles they will be facing. They allow girls to start thinking about them and develop a plan for how to respond to certain situations. I think they'll also help girls to stay focused on God through the middle and high school years. I hope my daughter develops a love of reading so I can introduce her to these books in about 8 years.

**I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Get some great samples and savings on Motts for Tots at:

www.vocalpoint.com/mottsfortots

Thanks to Vocalpoint!

Regret Free Parenting by Catherine Hickem, LCSW

Regret Free Parenting is about the fears and challenges of motherhood and how we can correct some of our biggest mistakes before it is too late. In this book, Hickem teaches how to figure out what matters to you as a mother and how to instill that in your children in an effective way. She touches on subjects such as your purpose as a mother, knowing and affirming your child, and developing emotional intelligence. She also discusses children's respect for their mother, addressing your fears as a mother, and most importantly being dependent on God.

I found this book very interesting and helpful. It prompted me to thoughtfully consider how I'm parenting my pre-schoolers. Her biggest point was to be intentional, which is something I needed to hear. It caused me to stop and make a point to change how I raise my kids. She does a great job of getting her message across without being condescending or preachy. She fills the book with stories to help illustrate her points, which kept my attention. Typically, I have a difficult time reading non-fiction but this book was different from some others I have tried. I appreciate that she emphasizes the importance of a relationship with God as you parent your child and introducing them to God as well.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookSneeze for this review.

Tandem - Runner Up to its prequel

Tandem is the sequel to Bateman's Thirsty, which I found to make an interesting parallel between an alcoholic addiction and the desire/need for human blood for a vampire. Normally, I wouldn't consider a book about vampires but Thirsty intrigued me. Since I enjoyed it so much I decided to check out Tandem.
While Bateman has proven herself a creative writer with a talent for creating deep and full characters, I was disappointed in this book. The storyline was interesting and entertaining to read. I enjoyed the characters and setting very much. My disappointment lies in the weakness of the analogy in this book. I think it was so strong and obvious to me in the first book that I just couldn't get past that in this one.

**I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes

If you are looking for a fun, easy-to-read story about lifelong friends who have never met face-to-face, this book is for you. The eighth book in the Sisterchicks series begins with Summer whose "abnormal" medical test spurs her to finally meet her friend, Noelle, who has been her pen pal since fourth grade and lives in the Netherlands. Summer flies across the Atlantic to spend a week with her long-time friend.

Gunn does a fantastic job of describing the scenery and helping me to understand the differences in culture. She develops the characters nicely and made me feel like I knew them personally and that I was right there with them sharing their adventures. Her description of Corrie Ten Boom's hiding place made me want to go there someday. Gunn has a way of incorporating beautiful historical facts and places in her books and this one is not lacking. This is a great book that is insightful and caused me to reflect on my own life. It is a relaxing read that won't take a long time. Gunn's books always leave me wanting to read the next one.

**I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.