I love animals, especially dogs—so much so, in fact, that I own two dogs of my own, work at an animal shelter, and am training to become a canine massage therapist! So when the opportunity came along to read a book filled with inspirational dog stories, how could I resist? “Doctor Dog: Healing Touches from Pets We Love” was written by M.R. Wells, and published by Harvest House. Categorized as a Devotional, this little book contains dozens of stories about dogs of all shapes and sizes changing the lives of the people they love, often in amazing ways. Continue reading
Inspirational and Challenging
You aren’t supposed to judge a book by it’s cover, but sometimes it just can’t be helped! This was the case for me with Becky Wade’s newest novel from Bethany House Publishers, entitled “True to You”. Although I’d never before read a book by Ms. Wade, I just HAD to give this one a try, especially after reading the unique synopsis. . . To explain it simply: genealogist Nora Bradford and former Navy SEAL John Lawson work together to discover the secrets of a hidden ancestry, and soon begin to realize they make a perfect pair—until a wound from the past resurfaces and threatens to submerge any hope at a future together. As the first installation of the “Bradford Sisters Romance” series, this book did a fantastic job at not only creating John and Nora’s story, but also setting the stage for the other two Bradford sisters and their romances, too! Continue reading
An Irresistible Combination
When it is well-written and compelling, Christian Historical Fiction cannot be beaten by any other genre (or at least that’s my opinion!). For many years Bethany House Publishers have excelled at releasing superior historical novels that not only meet expectations, but usually go above and beyond them. A new Bethany House release written by Judith Miller, the award-winning author of dozens of Historical Fiction novels, is a winner on all counts. “The Chapel Car Bride” combines a fascinating piece of little-known history with well-rounded characters to form a highly enjoyable story that transports you back in time to 1913, to a little mining town called Finch. Continue reading
The Sweetest Adult Coloring Book Available!
Wouldn’t it be amazing if our favorite Christian non-fiction books had a coloring book to accompany them? Well, guess what?! One of the best non-fiction books I read in the year of 2015 now DOES have a coloring book to go along with it, and an absolutely adorable one at that… Fans of Emily P. Freeman’s “Simply Tuesday: Small-Moment Living in a Fast-Moving World” will undoubtedly be delighted with the new addition to the “Tuesday” collection: “It’s Simply Tuesday: An Adult Coloring Book”. Published by Revell in the spring of 2017, this is hands-down my favorite coloring book. Ever. Continue reading
It Had Potential. . .
Sometimes I enjoy reading peculiar-sounding books, because quite often they end up being charming, whimsical, and completely lovable. So with little hesitation, I decided to try a completely new-to-me author named Celeste Fletcher McHale, whose book is entitled “The Sweet Smell of Magnolias and Memories”. Published by Thomas Nelson, this book sounded peculiar because, well, read for yourself: Continue reading
Elizabeth Camden Never Disappoints
Whenever Elizabeth Camden writes a new novel, I always look for my first chance to read it! This year I am delighted because she is releasing not one but two new stories, both from Bethany House Publishers. The first to release in 2017 is “To the Farthest Shores”, which is set in the early 1900s. In this fascinating story, so many intriguing topics are touched upon including: international spies, pearl cultivation, and the pain of betrayal and hope of forgiveness that can only come from true love. Continue reading
Relaxing and Inspirational Summer Story
Every once in a while I enjoy reading a good Amish story, especially those written by acclaimed author Beverly Lewis and published by Bethany House. When I first read the back cover for Ms. Lewis’ newest book entitled “The Ebb Tide”, I knew this was a story I didn’t want to miss… Continue reading
Enjoyable Fairy Tale Retelling for Young Adults
Melanie Dickerson is the bestselling author of numerous novels, usually fairy tales set in long- ago times. Although I’ve never read her previous works, I’ve often wanted to and finally decided to give her newest novel from Thomas Nelson Publishers a try. “The Noble Servant” was released in 2017, and is endorsed as a retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale entitled “The Goose Girl”, with hints of “The Prince and the Pauper” mixed in as well. While most of Ms. Dickerson’s work is labeled in the Young Adult genre, “The Noble Servant” is more broadly classified under Christian Fiction.
“She lost everything to the scheme of an evil servant, but she might just gain what she’s always wanted . . . If she makes it in time.” With a tagline like this, it’s hard not to be captivated by this unique fairy tale retelling. Continue reading
Heartbreaking History
After recently discovering what an enjoyable author Tracie Peterson is, I was excited to read her newest series set on the Oregon frontier. “Treasured Grace” was published in 2017 by Bethany House as the first in a new series entitled “Heart of the Frontier”. Each book focuses on one of three sisters, and “Treasured Grace” reveals the story of Grace Martindale, the eldest sibling. Unlike many works of Christian Historical fiction, this novel is based on the true events of the Whitman Mission massacre — a gruesome event that changed history. Continue reading
The Five Stages of Dealing With Your TBR Pile
Check out this hilarious but oh-so-true post about the “TBR Pile” from Bethany House Fiction!
Any experienced reader knows the lingering stress of the TBR (To-Be-Read) Pile. As someone who is a reader and also works for a publisher that contributes to lengthening many such piles, I want to reassure you: you are not alone. I’m here to walk you through the process, show you there are others all around you dealing with TBR pile shock, and help you and your Goodreads profile find peace.
Stage One: Denial
I can do this, you think, staring down that list of books the way Rocky/Karate Kid/that quarterback in Remember the Titans faced their respective opponents. Determination. Focus. One page at a time.
(Did I have to look up a list of underdog sports movies? Yes. My greatest athletic achievements are literary triathlons, which consist of reading a book, discussing the book, and explaining why the book was better than the movie.)
Yes, you have a daunting…
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