Review of Stress Test by Richard L. Mabry, M.D.

I ordered Stress Test without having any idea what to expect.  It's been a long time since I have read a mystery or suspenseful book and I had no idea what to expect.  I am so glad that I ordered Stress Test and gave it a try.  I enjoyed this book more than any book I have read in a long time.  It was definitely a page turner!  I could not wait to see what happened to Dr. Matt Newman.

The description says:

They may not have enough evidence to convict him, but they have enough to ruin his life.

Dr. Matt Newman thought he was leaving his life in private practice for a better one in academic medicine. But the kidnappers who attacked him as he left his last shift in the ER have no such plans—they just want him dead. Bound and in the trunk of his car, Matt's only thought is escape. He does so, but at a price: a head injury that lands him in the ICU . . . where he awakens to discover he's being charged with murder.

Sandra Murray is a fiery, redheaded lawyer who swore she was done with doctors. But when Matt calls, she knows she can't walk away from defending someone who is truly innocent.

Matt's career is going down the drain. His freedom and perhaps his life may be next. But with the police convinced he's a murderer and the kidnappers still trying to finish what they started, finding the truth—and the faith to keep going—will be the toughest stress test Matt has ever endured.

I was very anxious to get to the end of the book and see if the good guy or bad guys won!  I love books like this and really loved how open he was with his faith in the book.  I would highly recommend this book to others.  I received this book for free from Booksneeze/Thomas Nelson in exchange of an honest review.  

Review for The House That Love Built by Beth Wiseman

The description of this book says:

Brooke has only loved one man, her late husband. Owen’s rebuilding after a painful divorce. Can a mysterious house bring them together for a second chance at love?

In the charming town of Smithville, Texas, Brooke Holloway is raising two young children on her own, supporting them by running the family hardware store. The last thing on her mind is falling in love. But she’s intrigued when a stranger moves to town and buys the old Hadley mansion. She’s always heard that house holds a secret—maybe even a treasure—and she can’t wait to see inside. When she meets the new owner and they spend time together, she can’t deny the attraction. Could God be giving her another chance at happiness? Or is she betraying her late husband’s memory by even thinking that way?

Owen Saunders bought the Hadley place to spite his cheating ex-wife. She’d always wanted to restore an old house in Smithville. Now he’s going to do it without her. But if anything needs restoration, it is Owen’s heart. Then he meets Brooke and her kids and finds himself tempted by love. Can he bring himself to trust a woman again?

Throw an eccentric uncle into the mix, along with the town’s teenage troublemaker, and even a finicky cat—and one thing becomes clear: God is bringing them all together for a reason.

Just reading the description of this book had me very curious about it.  It caught my attention and had me wondering what would happen with Brooke and Owen.  The book is a very easy read.  I had never read a book by Beth Wiseman and I absolutely loved it!  I did not want to put it down.  The book tells amazing stories about grace, forgiveness and reconciliation.  I think this is a book that I would read over and over again.  I would highly recommend this book to other women.  It is a wonderful love story, but the stories of reconciliation and forgiveness touched me much more.  

I received this book for free from Booksneeze in exchange of an honest review.

Review of Days Like These: Even in the Darkest Moments, Light Can Shine Through

Days Like These is a compilation of blog posts written by Kristian Anderson and Rachel Anderson.  It talks about his diagnosis and struggle through treatment for colon and liver cancer.  Kristian does a great job on sharing his faith and his daily struggles while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation.  He shares the ups and downs of life with cancer.  He shares the fears and the joys of having another day with his family.  This book was so real and so touching.  You can see the love Kristian has for Rachel and his two young sons.  It is so sweet, but also so sad.  I would strongly recommend this book to everyone to read.  It made me want to be a better person and to love others better.

I received this e-book for free from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.

Review of PTSD: A Spouse's Perspective

PTSD: A Spouse's Perspective by Erica David is a book written by the wife of a man that came home from war a changed man.  He was emotionally and verbally abusive.  It drove Erica into a deep depression.  She constantly felt like she was walking through a minefield all the time.  She and her children had no idea what was going on.  She does a great job explaining the symptoms, causes, etc of PTSD.  I think this book is a great read for anyone that has been through verbal, emotional or physical abuse.  I downloaded this e-book this afternoon and read it completely in a couple of hours.  It was easily read and definitely kept my attention!  I received this e-book for free from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.

Review of Overcoming Abuse God's Way...

Overcoming Abuse God's Way: Rags to Riches by Janet Marie Napper and Brenda Branson is a memoir about one lady's path to overcoming abuse and forgiving her abuser.  Growing up in a verbally and emotionally abusive home, I could easily relate to a lot of the emotions in this book.  I am not sure I would recommend this book to everyone, but for those of us that have dealt with abuse, it is very helpful.  The scriptures at the end of each chapter were like a breath of fresh air.

I received this ebook for free from Booksneeze in exchange of an honest review.

Desperate... Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe by Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson

I don't know about you, but there are days when I am tired.  I love my kids to the moon and back and would lay down my life any day and any time for them, but sometimes life is hard and some days are hard.  I fight with selfishness many days and want to read or write or just be still.  There is hope for me on those days.  There is hope every day, but especially on those days.  I loved the way they weaved Bible verses into the chapters and loved how real and transparent Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson are.  It felt like you were sitting down with them over a cup of tea.  I am very thankful that after reading this book, my eyes were opened to how selfish I had been with my time.  I am very thankful that there is still time to correct my mistakes and ask for forgiveness.

The description of the book reads:

"I just can't be a mother today."

These words have been whispered to God in quiet desperation by mothers who love their children to the depths of their soul, but who are struggling with how hard motherhood is.

Motherhood turns you inside out. Sometimes you feel overwhelmed by how tired you feel; the days go on and on, and you want to be a "good" mom, but you feel like a failure so much of the time. What happened to all your ideals? When did you end up feeling so...lost?

Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson have been to the edge and back. Desperate is the story of one young mother’s trials and one experienced mentor’s priceless exhortations. Desperate is not a book about despair, nor is it a rule-laden mothering manual. It is a bouquet from a friend who has been there, reminding us that we are not alone. Sarah Mae’s unvarnished account of her own struggles mothering three feisty young children is a lesson in learning patience, loving idiosyncrasies, accepting help, and—most of all—leaning on God.

Each chapter includes a brief Bible study with journal exercises to help you find your own quiet center, and get you back into the fray soul-filled and refreshed. Written with candor, empathy, and faith, Desperate is like coffee with a trusted girlfriend; one who knows how hard being a mother can be, and how to navigate the often turbulent road.

I honestly think this is the best book on mothering that I have ever read.  If you are a mother, no matter the ages of your children, I cannot recommend this book enough.  It will give you hope and encouragement to be the mother than God has planned for your children.  

I received this e-book free through Booksneeze, in exchange for an honest review.  

Encouraged...

Our family has been under some crazy spiritual attack so far this year and I have been feeling some major discouragement.  Not full blown depression, as I have faced many times before, but this heavy feeling of defeat and despair.  Thanks to a sweet friend, I was reminded this morning that we should be encouraged by attacks from the devil.  If God didn't have a great plan for our lives, we would not be a threat to the devil and we would not be facing these attacks.  Thanks to her encouragement this morning, I feel peace and know that we are going to be okay.  So, starting this morning, I am choosing joy.  The devil is not going to pull me into his trap of defeat and despair.  Christ in me is so much more powerful than the devil.  Now I have My God is Greater on repeat in my head.  What a great song to dwell on this morning.  If my God is for us, who can ever stop us...

So, be encouraged.  No matter what you are going through or what you are facing, God has gone before you.  Your trials did not surprise Him.  There is a reason for your pain and He will use your pain for His purpose.