Out of the spin cycle

Out of the spin cycle, by Jenn Hatmaker. I originally read this book when it was first released 6/7 years ago and loved it. So I was thrilled to see it come back out! I also was surprised since due to her and her husbands recent controversy that it was! But kudos to the publisher that stood behind a good author with good books and good truths. Just because we may disagree on a small area of her theology doesn't mean we should throw it all out! This book is seriously hilarious. It is so real! I love the devotions, I love the stories, I love her sense of humour! She's real. She doesn't act as if her life is all put together. She has such a heart for women to have real relationships with Jesus and with each other! I could read this devotional over and over again. It never gets old! I've recommended it so many times! She is definitely one of the greats!!



Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Overcoming toxic parenting

Overcoming toxic parenting, how to be a good parent when yours wasn't, by rick Johnson.  I often think about how people who grew up in good Christian homes have such an amazing legacy that they will be able to leave to their children! I love it! I grew up in a single parent home, seeing very little of one very absent parent. I've often struggled with what I'm passing on to my children. I don't want to pass on the negative things,  the wounds to them. I want to be able to overcome those things and leave them a legacy of Christ centredness, of wholeness, etc. This book came at the perfect time! ❤️ He addresses the healing we need, how to find that healing and how to adapt healthy habits and parenting practices. To raise a family well. I love it. I think it might have been written just for me!


Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Without rival

without rival embrace your identity and purpose in an age of confusion and comparison, by Lisa Bevere.  I think all women at one time or another struggle with comparing ourselves to others. It's hard not to! Especially in this time when information is at our fingertips! When social media makes it so easy to portray our best us to the world while hiding the real side of ourselves. Other people look so put together! I haven't always been a big fan of Lisa Bevere, I find hat I do disagree with her ideas on submissive wives. But as with everything pick out the meat! She wrote this book at a time when I feel it's desperately needed. We need to know who God created us to be and that he is the source of our identity. We need to look to Him. I was so excited to see this being offered for review! I even bought a copy of this book to gift it out. This is one every women would benefit so much from!


Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

The prayer saturated family

The prayer saturated family, how to change the atmosphere in your home through prayer, by Cheryl sacks. Prayer is area of our life and I think everyone's life that needs work! I know I need to do it more and be more active in that with my family. This book is great in how it really teaches us the importance of prayer in our homes and the impact it has on our family and life. I'm a first generation Christian so don't have a background in things like this to lean back on. But what a wonderful legacy to leave to your children! I love the set up of this book! I love the explanations of why we should, how to and even a guide! This is great! It makes something that can feel so intimidating feel so easy to get into. I Love that! THis is definitely one I will be putting into place in my family! So good!! I really can't say enough good things about this book!!!!


Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Made well

Made well by Jenny Simmons. This is such a good book! It follows he scripture of Jesus saying "do you want to be made well" and rmtalks about our physical, spiritual and emotional. It's about finding Jesus working in ways we didn't see. We all look for the large instantaneous healings, we want to see them we want to feel them, to have them happen to us but then we often miss the gentle quiet ways that God is working in our lives to make all hints work out for the good of those who love Him. She has many suggestions on how to seek our healings and how to find them. To look in the unexpected places, to hold loosely to our own plans. Sometimes healing is work. Hard work! As we hear through the authors own struggles and victories!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Discipline that connects with your child's heart

Discipline that connects with your child's heart, by Jim and Lynne Jackson. So the title is pretty self explanatory to what it's about lol. So I won't get into that much! Basically we learn methods of discipline and parenting that are beneficial to both the parent and child. That let the child know they are safe, loved but also that they're responsible for their own actions and consequences. It's very similar to Danny Silk's loving your kids on purpose. Which is also an excellent book. I love this style of parenting and they had to make it happen in my life even if I am usually not as successful as I'd like to be. There's a lot of practical ideas and suggestions. As well as stories of such suggestions in use etc. I only wish they had more on parenting a strong willed child and how to effectively disciple them. I could really use that! Over all it's a great book and full of healthy parenting styles!!! I do recommend this!!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

The wish

The wish, by Beverly Lewis. Leona often found herself feeling lonely. With a much older brother and family that were not close in age she found herself longing for a "sister" to share life with. When Gloria moved in next door, it was a prayer come true! The connected immediately and because the sister they each had wanted. They were inseparable, that is until Gloria's father gets banned from the Amish church and they disappear. After years Gloria reaches out to Leona, asking for her help. When they left the Amish community they also left the Amish faith! Despite the concern for Leona by those who love her, she's determined to help Gloria how ever she can. I love this book! I love Beverly Lewis books and I love Amish books! So great! Beverly Lewis has so many amazing novels and this is one of them too! I couldn't wait for this to arrive in the mail! It definately was a good mail day!! I can't imagine anyone not loving this book! 

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker publishing group and Graf-Martin communications inc

Your powerful prayers

Your powerful prayers. Reaching the heart of God with a bold and humble faith, by Susie Larson. I love a good book on prayer and what I read was an awesome book on prayer! Coming from her own life lessons we hear from Susie Larson about who we are, daughters of the king! How we can boldly approach the throat of God with our requests. The father loves to lavish good gifts on his children. This was such an encouraging book and definately one I needed to read! I'm so tempted to buy copies for friends cause it really was that good of a read!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker publishing group and Graf-Martin communications inc

A heart most certain

A heart most certain, by Melissa Jagears. Lydia is asked by her boyfriends mother to get a donation from the towns wealthiest man, wanting to get on his good side she agrees. Problem is that the towns wealthiest man is also the towns stingiest man and sees no value in providing the funds asked for to buy equipment to help the poor. Not willing to give up Lydia keeps at it and I'm doing so they learn about each other. They learn to see through each other's eyes and we as readers are encouraged and inspired how to apply the truths we read into our own lives. Definitely a great read. I look forward to more!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker publishing group and Graf-Martin communications inc

The artisan's wife

The artisan's wife, by Judith Miller. Ainslee finds herself on her own after her sister elopes, leaving her to carry on the family business reluctantly, while looking for a buyer. Through this we meet Levi who has a story and secrets of his own. And see the two characters come together In a relationship that has secrets threatening to pull it apart. I loved the historical content of this book. Historical novels are my favourite!! I didn't care much for the romance aspect of it, but that's just because I'm nit a romance novel fan! Still this was a great addition series! Definitely not disappointed to have read it! 

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker publishing group and Graf-Martin communications inc

A tapestry of secrets

A tapestry of secrets, by Sarah Loudin Thomas. Ella returns home to care for her grandmother after hearing she was in the hospital, there a lot going on with Ella strained relationships, family struggles etc. Perla, Ella's grandmother opens up about her past and what she's been keeping from her family. We join in that journey and travel back with Perla in her life. Really is a good book, apparently the third in a series. I don't recall reading the first two (but may have and just have forgotten lol) but even without knowing all the back stories I really liked this book and this author. I will have to look for the first two books and catch up on what's happened! 

 Book has been provided courtesy of Baker publishing group and Graf-Martin communications inc

Mommy needs a raise

Mommy needs a raise (because quitting's not an option), by Sarah Parshell Perry.  Moming is hard. Really hard. Raising these little people to be great big people, it's a tough business not for the weak. In this book we hear about the authors story of finding her place in being a stay at home mom and all the challenges that go with it. I have to say, I'm impressed when people sacrifice good careers (lawyer!!!) to stay home! What a great book! She shares her life and isn't looking to start mom wars but to be real about her family and what works for them and encourages us. I love a book like this! We need moms out there who are gifted at encouraging moms, cause Lord knows we need it!! Fantastic book! 

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker publishing group and Graf-Martin communications inc

Intercessory prayer

Intercessory prayer by Dutch sheets. God hears our prayers, our prayers matter and they change things. We can pray with confidence to our God who is always listening. There is so much power in intercession. I love Dutch sheets books, he has been given so much wisdom and revelation, they are books that are treasured for years. I really can't say enough good things about this book. It's going to remain a favourite for years! I don't know about other people but prayer is an area I struggle to discipline myself in, so a book like this is just what I needed and that there is also a study guide you can get along with it is just fantastic! 

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker publishing group and Graf-Martin communications inc

Jesus talked to me today

Jesus talked to me today, by James Stuart Bell. This book is chalk full of stories of children encountering God, be it through hearing Jesus, Angels etc! As a mother of 4, I loved reading through these! Children are so innocent and so full of faith and faith moves mountains! All these stories were just so amazing and so heartwarming! There's so much we can learn from the simple faith of a child! This is a great read, not only for us, but great to read together as a family! 

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker publishing group and Graf-Martin communications inc. 

Girl defined

Girl defined, by Kristen Clark and Bethany Baird. Well. I'm not sure how to write this review. I haven't ever come across a book I was so opposed to. This book in my opinion is nothing more than a traditional conservative view of women that plaques the church. I'm really not a fan of girl defined ministries, I find their views of women rooted in tradition rather than revelation from God. As much as they feel their view on women is a biblical one it seems that they've forgotten of all the women in the Bible rebelled against the social "norm" for women. For example: Mary carrying Jesus despite the great risk to her reputation and life, Rahab who hid spies and again risked her life! Dorcas who was called a disciple in acts going against the social norm for the times! I could go on and on, but rather the vast majority of "femininity" books want to focus on modesty and how to help men. I'm sorry but the idea that women should fit into this idea of womenhood is not scriptural and especially damaging to those who don't fit the mold. I wouldn't recommend this book unless the goal is oppressing women in the church more than they already are.  

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

5 Things every parent needs to know about their kids and sex

5 things every parent needs to know about their kids and sex, by Anne Marie Miller.  I am a firm believer of speaking to your children about sex, especially since we can give a Godly influence to it where as the public school system can't. My rule is to teach it at home before they teach it at school. There are just too many studies done that show us how speaking with our kids about sex helps protect them from abuse! So when this book was offered I knew I would want to read it because seriously we can all use as much help as we can get! And this book has so much advice or speaking with your children about sex! She gives practical advice on age appropriate talks. At this time in our world we also need to address the issue of pornography with kids and this is one of the few parenting books I've come across that deals with it! This is a must have resource for teaching children! 

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Finding God in the hard times

Find God in the hard times: choosing to trust, hope, and worship when you can't see the way. By Matt and Beth Redman.  I'm pretty sure everyone has heard the song by Matt Redman "blessed be your name", it's sang so often in church! This book's chapters are based off of the lines in the song. With such a powerful song, you have to know the book will be even so much better! Matt and Beth understand that we all have times of mountain top experiences with God, but we also have a fair share of time where we struggle in our relationship! It's a hard thing to do to get what you know in your head is true about God into your heart! The greatest thing of all, they point us back to the highest authority on this! The Bible! How good God is, how kind He is to us, how he wants to give to us, etc. This is a book I will read over and over again! 

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Think and eat yourself smart

Think and eat yourself smart, by Dr. Caroline Leaf. In all honesty I really wasn't interested on getting a book on eating and healthy habits. There's just so many of them out there, but what drew me to this book was the author! I have heard many great things about Dr. Caroline leaf and what she teaches on the brain and thinking habits etc, that I really wanted to read this one too. I really wasn't disappointed. I know our family needs to make changes, but the how part is really hard to start with. Dr. Leaf gives us the why we should eat healthier and what it does to our bodies when we don't. There's great tips about eating what's local so that you know what's in it (GMO), although that's a bit harder here in central Canada when our growing season is on,y a few months! But definitely a good book backed up with good facts and bible! 

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 

Loving my actual life

Loving my actual life, by an experiment in relishing what's right in front of me. By Alexandra Kuykendall. In this book we hear lessons learned about loving the life we have rather than the one we wish we had. Treasuring the noise and the chaos, living in the moment, etc. There are so many valuable lessons in this book! I have used them all so many times. Technology time outs is one I've been making an effort with. But my absolute favourite has to be breathe prayers! Such a great tool! When life brings trouble or grief etc, we can use these breathe prayers. So simple and so effective. I know I love being busy, as a mom of four there's a lot to do in this house, but I also find myself wishing for more, feeling like I should be further ahead than where I am, etc. But what I really need is to love what's right in front of me. 

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin communications, inc.