Thursday, April 27, 2017

The Blue Hour by VickiRighettini

The Blue Hour: A Novel

Sometimes you get a second chance to live the life you’ve always wanted…if you’re brave enough to take the chance.

In this epic tale of love, loss, and redemption, the year is 1861, a time when women are expected to be married by a certain age. At 26, spinster Emily Wainwright has no reason to believe her sheltered life will ever change — until the charming Samuel Todd unexpectedly crosses her path.

Samuel yearns to homestead and start a family in Oregon, but he first needs to find a wife. Blinded by Samuel’s good looks, and grasping at her final chance to have a husband and children, Emily accepts his marriage proposal. However, Samuel is not the man she thought he was, and her marriage becomes a cold, cruel prison, offering her no solace amidst the hardships of farm life.

When Samuel dies and a second chance at love and happiness arrives in the form of farmhand Cole Walker, Emily must overcome her bitter past—or risk losing Cole and the life she has always dreamed of having.
 

My Take : This must be a new topic that authors are interested in as I have seen several books lately on the topic of women going on the Oregon Trail.  Emily is a bit naive in the book and ends up in a hard life with a husband who doesn't really love her and she doesn't really love him.  She ends up going out west out of desparation which I think alot of women felt back then if they weren't married and having a family by a certain age.  This book is about maturing and realizing what you want out of life and if you are willing to buck social norms to get it.  A great historical fiction book that helps you understand that time period. 
Recommend if you like historical fiction. 

I Received a review copy of this book by Virtual Author Book Tours in exchange for my honest review. 

Witch by Denise Weimer

Witch: The Restoration Trilogy, Book Three

Having restored Michael Johnson's ancestors' house and apothecary shop and begun applying the lessons of family and forgiveness unearthed from the past, Jennifer Rushmore expects to complete her first preservation job with the simple relocation of a log home. But as her crew reconstructs the 1787 cabin, home to the first Dunham doctor, attacks on those involved throw suspicion on neighbors and friends alike. And while Jennifer has trusted God and Michael with the pain of her past, it appears Michael's been keeping his own secrets. Will she use a dream job offer from Savannah as an escape, or will a haunting tale from a Colonial diary convince her to rely on the faithfulness of his love? 

My Take:  Witch is the 3rd book in the Restoration Triology by Denise Weimer.  I haven't read the first two books and think that they probably would add some more light to what is happening in this book but I enjoyed this book just the same.  The author weaves the past and present together to form a compelling story that is both thrilling and uplifting.  I enjoyed the history throughout the book and learned quite a few things that I didn't already know about the conflict with the Native Americans.  I also liked the present day story of restoration in both the buildings and the lives of the characters.  This is a Christian historical fiction book and God is very much a part of the story.  I hope to go back to read the other 2 books. 

I received a review copy of this book from Celebrate Lit in exchange for my honest review.  

Other Breakable Things by Kelley York and Rowan Altwood

Other Breakable Things

According to Japanese legend, folding a thousand paper cranes will grant you healing.

Evelyn Abel will fold two thousand if it will bring Luc back to her.

Luc Argent has always been intimately acquainted with death. After a car crash got him a second chance at life—via someone else’s transplanted heart—he tried to embrace it. He truly did. But he always knew death could be right around the corner again.

And now it is.

Sick of hospitals and tired of transplants, Luc is ready to let his failing heart give out, ready to give up. A road trip to Oregon—where death with dignity is legal—is his answer. But along for the ride is his best friend, Evelyn.

And she’s not giving up so easily.

A thousand miles, a handful of roadside attractions, and one life-altering kiss later, Evelyn’s fallen, and Luc’s heart is full. But is it enough to save him? Evelyn’s betting her heart, her life, that it can be.

Right down to the thousandth paper crane.
 

My Take:  This was a heart wrenching, uplifting, tears streaming , grin from ear to ear wearing book.  Go into this book with the knowledge that your heart will be ripped out and stomped on and put back shredded but you won't care because this book is that good.  This book is about death and dying so you know that it isn't a light reading book.  Definately not a book for a beach trip as you will get burned to a crisp or never come out of your motel room because you won't want to put it down.  This book is perfect for those rainy days in spring that will bring the flowers just like this book has the dreariness but also the optimism.  This is not your typical YA book and it deals with a heavy subject but it also deals with friendship and new love and just a bunch of emotions.  Highly recommend.

I received a review copy of this book from Chapter by Chpater in exchange for my honest review. 

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Unsinkable Faith by Tracie Miles



Unsinkable Faith: God-Filled Strategies to Transform the Way You Think, Feel, and Live (David C. Cook, April 2017)
For many people, remaining optimistic and feeling positive about themselves and their lives is a constant battle — especially when circumstances are difficult and life is hard.
For others, negativity is something that only sneaks up from time to time, yet still wreaks havoc in their hearts. Regardless of the root causes, once pessimistic thoughts permeate our minds, our feelings and emotions begin to control us instead of us controlling them. Eventually it doesn’t seem possible to stay positive, happy, and full of joy, and negative thought patterns shake our faith, causing us to sink emotionally, mentally, and spiritually over time. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Despite what storms roll in, hearts anchored in God don’t sink. When we change the way we think, we can change the way we feel and live, even if our circumstances remain the same. Intentionally embracing the opportunity to experience a transformed heart and a renewed mind opens the door for a changed life, because a positive mind will always lead to a more positive life.
In Unsinkable Faith, author and Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker Tracie Miles offers hope for women who struggle with negativity. Each chapter explores Tracie’s and other women’s personal stories, showing how they rose above their circumstances by transforming and renewing their minds. Unsinkable Faith is a breath of fresh air for anyone longing for a heart full of joy, an unbreakable smile, and a new, more optimistic perspective on life. This book will equip you to:
—Replace pessimism with positive thinking by becoming the captain of your thoughts;
—Learn how true joy and happiness are based on choice, not circumstances;
—Overcome unhealthy habits of negative thinking by intentionally implementing three easy mind-renewing steps;
—Stop feeling hopeless and pitiful, and start feeling hope-filled and powerful instead; and
—Discover that when you change the way you think, you change the way feel, and in turn you can change your life completely.
Tracie Miles

{MORE ABOUT TRACIE MILES}

Tracie Miles is a national speaker with Proverbs 31 Ministries and a bestselling author who’s spent the last twelve years inspiring women to become who God called them to be. She’s the author of “Your Life Still Counts” and “Stressed-Less Living,” and a contributor to Proverbs 31 Ministries daily devotions.
Find out more about Tracie at http://traciemiles.com.



My Take:  This was a very good book for me in my personal life right now as I am currently dealing with a disability that is still fairly new to me and struggling with a disease that is constantly changing from day to day.  This book helps us to remember that no matter what we are going through everyone else is dealing with something also.  How we deal with life is a choice and you can deal with it either with negative thoughts or positive thoughts.  Because of my situation I have been dealing with mild depression also so this book has helped with that situation also.  This book helps you focus on scripture
and gives you a challenge for each of the chapters.  
I received a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review from Litfuse.