Lovelier Than Daylight by Rosslyn Elliott

This is an excellent book sharing different views held by Christians during the 1870s regarding saloons and drinking.  The strong feelings and beliefs can be related to topics of debate today.  It was a wonderful story about what it means to stand by your beliefs and yet still treat those with whom we disagree with kindness and love.  The author touched on some hard topics honestly and courageously.  The story was rich with deep thinking characters that were believable and engaging.  The author successful created an interesting story that taught about historical times and guides readers to look at a conflicting issue from different points of views.

I received this book free from the publisher through booksneeze.com. I was not required to write a positive review.

His Love Endures Forever by Beth Wiseman

This book was written in an engaging manner. I couldn't put the book down. It had enough twists and turns to keep my interest. I also felt it was a good story about forgiveness and trusting God when things don't go the way you dreamed or wished. I have one misgiving about that book and that is the topic of being "unequally yoked". In this story it all worked out beautifully with the non-believer coming to Christ. In real like sometimes that happens but many times when people marry when one partner is not a Christian it leads to heartache. But I guess as in all novels you have to allow yourself the luxury of getting into the "fantasy" part of the story even if it means simply that there was a "happily ever after" ending. Other than that I really thought the author did an excellent job of showing how a person works through the stages of forgiveness and why forgiveness is equally important to the victim as to the aggressor.

This book was given to me free by the publishers through booksneeze. I was not required to write a positive review.

Songs of the Brokenhearted by Sheila Walsh

I believe Sheila Walsh when she writes about trusting God because I know she's been through a lot of heartbreak in her own life.  I think it is important to have interesting stories that also portray a Biblical/Spiritual truth.  This book does both.  One suggestion is I think it should have been written as a series with more than one book.  It touched on so many topics where a someone deals with heartbreak.  But I felt like it didn't give enough time to each situation before it moved on to another. 

 I thought it was very encouraging to show how Ava used ministry to others as a way of helping herself deal with heartache.  I believe that is part of the healing process whether it be grief or anger.  Reaching out to others and thinking and caring about others helps prevent a "poor me" type attitude. 

I received this book free from Booksneeze and was not required to write a positive review.

God Loves Broken People (and those who pretend they're not) by Sheila Walsh

In the introduction Sheila Walsh says that if she could only write one book this would be it. As I read the pages of this book I could not put it down. I read it straight through in two sittings and that only because I had to go to sleep. As soon as I woke up I began to read again. This book is marvelous beyond words in my opinion. You feel as if you are sitting next to Sheila drinking hot chocolate as she talks to you.

What I like about this book is that it is a well written, well balanced book. It is very personal and yet organized in a way that goes through different steps/stages of grief and recovery in a sound Biblical manner. Sheila uses stories from her life and others to help us see how real people held on to God and drew nearer to Him during painful times. She also brings in scripture references through Bible characters' lives and favorite Bible verses that she uses personally in times of crisis and daily living.

I have read a lot of books that deal with "why God lets bad things happen" and "healing our wounds" and "dealing with our issues" - but this book by far is the absolute best. Sheila does not candy coat anything. She talks about real pain and real struggles and admits that it is not an easy journey. She even admits that as humans we do not have all the answers and that answers are not always given to us by God either. But she points to scripture after scripture where God proclaims His love for us. Through scripture she shows that we are not abandoned in our darkest hour. Then through her life stories and others she shows the miracle of how we go on because the real miracle is that we often feel God closest when life is at it's worst.

I think maybe this is a hard concept for anyone who hasn't really suffered a devastating crisis because it sounds impossible. But if you're ever gone through something horrible and survived with God's grace you really see how good God is. I felt comforted and encouraged and fortified to face trials as I read this book. I also for the first time didn't see my brokenness as shameful or a wasted part of me but something that God could use to make my life more meaningful and a way to help others along the journey of life.

There are no words to give justice to this book. It is something I would recommend to anyone and in fact I plan to buy copies and give to my family members and friends.

I received this book free from booksneeze and I was not required to write a positive review.

Awesome look at friendship!

Beyond Molasses Creek by Nicole Seitz 

When I first started to read this book I wasn’t sure I would like it.  It took me several chapters to get “into it” but once I did I couldn’t put it down.  What appears to be trite selfish motives at first is explained in rich detail so that you understand the character and feel what she is feeling.  This is a beautiful story of the emotional/spiritual journey of Ally. 

As a child Ally’s best friend is Vesey, an African American boy who lives across the creek from her.  Their childhood is spent trying to keep a friendship when others feel it is wrong.  They live in the south during the height of civil unrest in our country.  As they enter their teens their families forbid them to have a friendship.   

Ally ends up being a world traveler and living a very secular life “free” from the constraints of her religious upbringing.  She ends up with a broken and bitter heart pushing her farther from her family and God.  As her father’s health is ailing he comes to rely on Vesey not only for help but as a friend. 

 When Ally returns home for her father’s funeral she learns a lot about herself, her dad and God. This story has several surprising twists.  If you want an awesome look at loyalty, true friendship and love then give this a try. 

I received this book free from Booksneeze.com and was not required to write a positive review.