Stumbling on Open Ground: Love, God, Cancer, and Rock ‘n’ Roll

I recently had the chance to read Stumbling on Open Ground: Love, God, Cancer, and Rock ‘n’ Roll by Ken Mansfield. I really enjoyed this book and was at first interested in it since I really enjoy music and his story seemed like it would be one of encouragement and surviving through illness. Ken Mansfield wrote this book by Connie where they talk about the very trying times in their lives when they had to deal with the terrible occurrence of cancer. Ken talks about the struggles he faced and how this impacted his relationship with Christ. The book also looks at Connie and how she dealt with caring for her ill husband.

 

I really liked this book, and I felt it was very inspirational how they grew stronger in their faith in light of their cancer. I could only hope I would have this same type of attitude if I were to be faced with any type of difficulty in my life. I think this is a great book for anyone to read, whether they are dealing with illness or just looking for an interesting read.  

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson as part of their BookSneeze Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

 

 

Chocolate-Covered Baloney: Confessions of April Grace

Chocolate-Covered Baloney: Confessions of April Grace is the third book in the series by KD McCrite. In this book. April is facing many changes in her life including a new baby brother in the family and being a student in Middle School. There are many topics in this book that April must go through that any middle-school aged person could be going through in their own lives, and she shows that it is possible to make it through some of the most difficult obstacles.

 

I really enjoyed this book, even though I am a few years over the target age for readers of this book. I am sure my younger cousin will enjoy this book, and I can’t wait to share it with her since April Grace is a great example of how to go through difficulties in your life and still remain strong and true to your faith.

 

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson as part of their BookSneeze Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

 

Heaven Changes Everything

Since I read the book Heaven is for Real by Colton Burpo, I have seen many books with the same title throughout bookstores. The original book tells the story of Colton dying and going to heaven before he is resuscitated. As time goes on, his family beings to hear things from him that he couldn’t possibly know, things like the looks of his grandfather he never knew, a sibling in heaven his parents never told him about, and what his parents were doing while he was in the hospital room. This book is written by Cloton’s parents, Todd and Sonjo Burpo, in the format of a short devotional. The book is broken into 42 chapters, and each contain an excerpt from the original book followed by a devotional concept by Todd or Sonja Burpo. The chapters include Is Your Light On?, Asking for and Giving Help, No Secrets, Forgiveness Is for Real, and many others.

 

I liked the format of this book, and I liked the fact that the chapters were short enough to be read pretty quickly, since I am normally running late in the morning and find if devotionals are too long I’m not as likely to spend time really thinking about them but I rather skim over them and don’t really think about what I’m reading.     

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Faithful to Laura

Faithful to Laura is the second book in the Middlefield Family Series written by Kathleen Fuller. Laura Stutzman is a young Amish woman living in Ohio after following her fiancée, who lied to her and stole her family’s money, to the town of Middlefield. After deciding to earn the money back and then find her ex-fiancee to seek revenge, she begins working for a local woodworker and his son, Sawyer Thompson. Sawyer was adopted by an Amish family during his teenage years since he had no living relatives, and he has yet to decide if he wants to live his life as Amish or English. As Sawyer and Laura begin to form a friendship and relationship, Sawyer gets a surprise visit from a grandmother he didn’t know existed which creates some added tension to Sawyers relationships. This book kept me interested from the first page to the last!

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Through Rushing Waters

Through Rushing Waters, written by Catherine Richmond, tells the story of Sophia Makinoff in 1876. Sophia is originally from Russia, and she finds herself teaching French in New York City, ready to marry a US Congressman. When she learns that the Congressman has proposed to her roommate, she takes the first opportunity to leave the city and become a missionary teacher. She is soon working at the Ponca Indian Agency in Dakota Territory where she learns that the children in the community need food, shelter, and clothing as much as they need to learn about history, science, and math. While teaching at the school, she meets many new people, including Will, the agency carpenter. Will has an attachment to the Ponco people, and he has learned their language and takes every opportunity to teach them carpentry as well as show them that Americans can provide assistance to the tribe.

I loved the character of Sophia, as she was tough and she did not get scared by those who threatened to harm her. She also grew in her faith during the time she spent in Dakota Territory. She was a great teacher, and was very dedicated to teaching the people. She also showed initiative by reaching out to others in her home community asking them to send supplies to all of the needy Ponco people. Sophia also learns about her relationship with Christ. When she first came to the agency, she didn’t even seem able to pray without the help of her prayer book. As time progresses, Sophia is able to pray on her own and she actually does it at many opportunities. Will was also a great character; he was always trying to do his best for the Ponco people. In addition, he really cared about Sophia. He always put her protection before his own and spent his time to make her life as comfortable as possible while in the Dakota Territory.

This was a great book, and a quick read. I would definitely recommend it to others.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 

Stress Point

Although I’m not quite in my 20s yet, both of my sisters are in their mid-twenties, so I was excited to read Stress Point: Thriving Through Your Twenties in a Decade of Drama by Sarah Francis Martin. This book was set up like a devotional and looked at the topics of money, love and dating, body image, jobs, career, bank accounts, and many more issues that are especially important to someone starting a new phase in their life. The book gave readers the opportunity to write in a journal-like format after reading a particular topic.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and I will be giving it to my older sister to also read. I think this book will be helpful to me in the future as I start a life away from home, and continue to rely on God for all of the difficulties and struggles I may face.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Beauty Book

I have to admit, the cover of The Lily Series book, The Beauty Book, was what made me really want to read this book and then pass it on to my younger cousin. I have red hair and my family members all have red hair, so I thought this book would be the perfect gift for my middle-school aged cousin. I am so happy I selected the book by Nancy Rue for review. The book is formatted as a Question and Answer, and it asks questions about skincare, shaving, clothing, braces, nail polish, and many other topics that are of interested to tween-aged girls. There are also quizzes, the Lily pad where you can fill in certain questions, and the “talking to God about it” section.

I think this book will be great for girls in Middle School, as it talks about topics all girls worry about, and it does it in a Godly manner. There are also cute little drawings, and as I mentioned before, I love the cover art. J I think the tips contained in this book will help with things from clothing selection to steps on how to do a manicure and pedicure.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

From Blaw to Awe

I recently read From Blah to Awe: Shaking Up a Boring Faith written by Jenna Lucado Bishop. I was very excited to have the oppotrunity to read this book, and I was not at all disappointed with this book. The book was divided into two separate sections which consist of Why Do I get Bored with God and Does God Get Bored with Me? Throughout the book there were real life stories which showed examples and personal experiences.

This book was written in a way that I found very relatable. Sometimes books seem to talk down to teenagers, but I felt this book seemed more like a friend talking to me than someone just telling me what to do and what to think. Also, I liked the journal portion and questions, as they really made me think more about what I was reading. I think this book would be the perfect read for a small group of friends who want to get stronger in their faith.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255vf: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."  

Alienation

Alienation, A C.H.A.O.S. Novel, written by Jon S. Lewis, is the second book in the C.H.A.O.S. Trilogy. I didn’t have the opportunity to read the first book in this series, but since this was recommended for people who liked The Homelanders series, I decided to give this book a try. Overall, it was very different from anything else I have ever read. The book deals with the main character, Colt, beginning to get ready to attend military school with his friends to learn about battling aliens to protect Earth. When Colt finds his name on a list of people to be killed, he finds himself questioning who he can trust in addition to keeping the world safe.

As I said before, this is the first time I have read a book like this, but I enjoyed reading it. It wasn’t too difficult to follow the story, but I would have preferred to have read the first book in the series. I liked reading about the friendship between Colt, Danielle, and Oz, and the fact that the book was a quick read was also a plus. I think this book would be more geared toward science fiction fans, but I found myself rooting for the characters and wanting to learn more about their fighting aliens.    

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelseon Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Smitten

Smitten by Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Denise Hunter, and Diann Hunt is a different kind of story than I have ever read. The book looks at a time in the life of four best friends who are trying to save their town of Smitten after the closing of a local mill. The book is different in the aspect that each character in the book is written by a different author. Each author writes as an individual best friend trying to save their town and manage their relationships. The relationship aspect was also good, as each character remained true to their faith and focused on their faith as they brought life back into their small town.

I already gave this book to my cousin to borrow, as I think anyone my age will be extremely interested to read this relatively quick read. Since each character was so different, anyone can read this and related to at least one character.    

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements  

His Steadfast Love

His Steadfast Love by Golden Keyes Parsons looks at the time of the 1861s during the Civil War, and the choices families were forced to make when one person they loved decided to fight for the North while another member fought for the South. Along with the daily difficulties that came from running a plantation, Amanda also had to continually worry about the whereabouts and health of bother her brother and the man she planned to marry. Throughout the book, Amanda faces many difficulties, and, at times, she finds herself thinking that God chose not to care about her family or answer her prayers anymore. Although she went through times of doubt, she continually returns to her faith throughout the work.

I really enjoyed this book. For the first few chapters, I did not think I would enjoy the book, as I didn’t really know where the story was going. I feel like the book really began to pick up after the first 40 or so pages, and I became really invested in the character of Amanda. For those who have seen Gone With the Wind, she sort of reminded me of the Scarlett character…except she didn’t seem to be at all spoiled. She was the one left to hold her family’s home together after tragedy struck. Throughout the book, she remained strong in her resolve to look after her siblings and ensure they had a roof over their heads.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.   

Treasuring Emma

Treasuring Emma: A Middlefield Family Novel, looks at the life of Emma, and the difficulties she has been facing. Emma’s mother recently died, and she is now responsible for her home she resides at along with her grandfather. Although she was once in love with a man named Adam, he left the Amish faith and Emma found herself without her best friend. When Adam returns to town, the difficulties in Emma’s life escalate as a stranger attempts to manipulate her and those in her family.

I really enjoyed this book since it wasn’t a typical Amish book. It had suspense, mystery, romance, and, most of all, faith. I liked learning about the relationship between Emma and her sister, Clara. I understand what it is like to not always get along the best with your siblings, but I appreciate how these two sisters work through their problems.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

A Place Called Blessing

I recently read A Place Called Blessing, Where Hurting Ends and Love Begins which was written by John Trent and Annette Smith. This book was an emotional read which looks at brothers who are placed in foster homes and separated from one another after their parents die in a drunk-driving accident. The book specifically focuses on Josh when his two older brothers are adopted, but he does not have the same experience. Josh struggles throughout his life, but he eventually has people come into his life who change his future.

This book was a very short read, and I enjoyed it a lot. I was able to read the book in the span of a weekend, and the book seemed so realistic and extremely believable. Although this is the first book I have read by John Trent, I will definitely be looking for more of his books in the future.  

    

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Waiting Place

In Eileen Button’s work The Waiting Place: Learning to Appreciate Life’s Little Delays, she talks about all of the different ways in life people wait. They wait for funerals, signs, miracles, the mail, acceptance, breakthroughs, and growing up. These are just a few of the twenty-two topics which are looked at within the book.

I thought this book had a cute concept, in that each chapter is a self-contained short story which looks at the above mentioned issues that most people, at some point in their lives, find themselves waiting for. The book was an easy, entertaining read, and I would recommend it to others who need to slow down and be content in the waiting place they are currently at in their lives.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Spring for Susannah

Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond tells the story of Susannah, who finds herself moving from Chicago to the Dakota territory in order to marry her pastor’s brother after the death of her parents. After only corresponding for a few letters, Susannah agrees to be uprooted from her home to marry Jesse. Throughout the book, we watch the characters of Jesse and Susannah deal with the difficulties faced by all newlyweds, along with additional problems due to the fact that the newlyweds are basically strangers. As they learn to love one another, they also find their faith growing as well as their faith being tested by difficulties on their farm.

I really enjoyed this book, and I liked seeing Susannah grow as she finally starts to open up to Jesse and others in the community. She also is finally able to face her past and the problems she faced at her home. I also liked that Jesse wasn’t what I would expect from someone who basically had a mail-order bride. He was kind, caring, and sensitive to what Susannah was going though. From the moment he first met her, he seemed to fall in love with her and want to share his life with her. I also liked how they put all of their trust in God and grew in their faith with their neighbors in the Dakota territory.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Booksneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Elemental Journal

Since I really enjoy any books dealing with crafts, scrapbooking, and decorating, I knew I would enjoy The Elemental Journal by Tammy Kushnir. The craft book looks at different elements that can be found around your house, outside, or at any location. These items range from wood and paper to plastic and fabric. Each chapter has 4 different types of journals to make, and contains a list of materials and tools necessary to make the particular journal. Then, step by step pictures, which are illustrated, lay out how the particular project is made.

If for nothing more than the photos, I loved this book. Sometimes I find myself drawn to artsy books, but unable to recreate the crafts within the book. This is not the case with The Elemental Journal. The items required to make the journals can be found anywhere, and the instructions clearly lay out how the project is made.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Please Stop Laughing at Me

Please Stop Laughing at Me…One Woman’s Inspirational Story tells of the childhood and teenage year of the book’s author, Jodee Blanco. Although I was never bullied in school, and I was never a student who did bullying, I was interested in reading this book. Jodee tells of her experiences in school and how she would fit in for a short amount of time by denying who she really was, and then when she began to stand up for what she believed to be right, she was in turn ridiculed and was the one becoming bullied.

I have to admit, at a few points throughout the book, I thought “that can’t really be what happened” because I, myself, never saw anything like this at my school. I am a high school student, and as I think to high school and elementary school experiences, I don’t think I can pinpoint a single time where I witnessed bullying. I never saw anyone throw someone’s books to the ground, spit or hit a student, or even call anyone else mean names. In the book, Jodee mentions how those who were physically and mentally handicapped were made fun of and taunted. This was exactly the opposite in my school, as everyone embraced those students in support classes, and it was the cool thing to do to volunteer in the Gateway Classroom.

Although I found the actions of the bullys hard to imagine, I believed what Jodee was saying because what would she gain from lying about her experiences? It made me concerned to think that this type of thing may be going on in schools around the country, and I would definitely recommend my high-school aged friends read this book to understand what some students may be facing. With that in mind, I understand why some people only gave this book 1 star…it’s hard to believe she was on the receiving end of such cruel pranks and taunting, but I tend to be very believing of what others say was their experience in life, even though it may be different than what happened to me so far in high school.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the booksneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

A Cowboy's Touch

A Cowboy’s Touch is the first story in A Big Sky Romance written by Denise Hunter. The story is set in the town of Moose Creek, Montana, and follows the story of Abigail Jones. Abigail is an investigative reporter, but when her editor (who also happens to be her mother) forces her to take a leave of absence to look after her aging great-aunt, she finds so much more than she ever imagined. In Montana she finds love, faces loss, and is able to remember past childhood relationships that have affected her life in a more profound way than she even knew. Overall, this was a great romance that looked at the ways individuals deceive one another, all the while making excuses for their actions, justifying what they are doing in order to appease their own guilty conscience.

I really enjoyed this book, and think it is a great summer read. The characters were all relatable, as Abigail, her love interest and employer Wade, and Wade’s young daughter Maddy all faced the loss of a loved one in their lives. Abigail lost her father at the age of 15, while Wade’s wife (also Maddy’s mother) died about 7 years before the story took place. The book shows the struggles they face many years later and their attempts to move on from the loss in their lives. There is also a strong element of faith in the book. Many times Abigail finds herself quoting verses her father taught her, even though she had not attended church in a relatively long time. This shows that how one is raised affects their future, and that even those words said to a young child can be remembered. Abigail also causes Wade to readjust his stance on dating, as she questions him if he has been seeking God’s will in his decision to no longer date. I really enjoyed this book, and the writing style of Denise Hunter. I will definitely add her other books to my reading list.   

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Band that Played On

Although I was a late-comer to the whole Titanic obsession, since I was only 3 when the movie came out with Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, my older sisters wasted no time in immersing me in everything Titanic as soon as I was old enough. Because of that, when I saw the book The Band That Played On by Steve Turner, I jumped at the chance to read it.

By the authors own admission the book does not focus on specific reasons he thinks the ocean liner sunk, rather he looks at the bravery of the eight musicians who played until the final moments aboard the Titanic in order to calm the passengers and have a sense of peace in their final moments. Although many things are disputed about the final moments of this brave band, along with the final moments of the Titanic, one fact remained throughout all of the firsthand accounts; the band members were immensely brave in their final moments.

I enjoyed the content of this book, both learning about the musicians and also hearing about some of the firsthand news accounts and seeing pictures and news headlines from after the Titanic disaster.  

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."   

What the Heart Sees

What the Heart Sees by Kathleen Fuller is a compilation of three separate short stories. These include A Miracle for Miriam, A Place of His Own, and What the Heart Sees. I enjoyed reading about these different Amish people and looking at the difficulties they face.

A Miracle for Miriam from An Amish Christmas focuses on Miriam and the difficulties she faced when she was younger which causes her to have little self confidence. Seth, on the other hand, moved away from his Amish upbringing and lived among the “Englisch” people. He returns home and a romance ensues between him and Miriam.

A Place of His Own from An Amish Gathering follows Josiah and his leaving the Amish community of Paradise because of the death of his mother earlier in life. When Josiah was wisked away by his father, he didn’t even have the opportunity to say goodbye to his best friend Mandy. When Josiah returns Mandy and Josiah begin to rekindle their friendship.  

What the Heart Sees from An Amish Love looks at the life of Ellie Chupp and the difficulties she faces in her life after becoming blind. Christopher Miller, who left the Amish community, returns and begins to find forgiveness for his past.

I really enjoyed this book, and liked the format of having three different short stories with different characters who were all facing difficulties in their lives. I will definitely read more books by Kathleen Fuller in the future!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."