Almost Home By: Valerie Fraser Luesse Genre: Fiction Publisher: Revell Publication Year: 2019 Series: Stand Alone My Rating: 5 of 5 stars Synopsis:
The things that tear us apart can also bring us together With America's entrance into World War II, the town of Blackberry Springs, Alabama, has exploded virtually overnight. Workers from all over are coming south for jobs in Uncle Sam's munitions plants--and they're bringing their pasts with them, right into Dolly Chandler's grand but fading family home turned boardinghouse. A struggling young couple from the Midwest, unemployed professors from Chicago, a widower from Mississippi, and a shattered young veteran struggling to heal from the war are all hoping Dolly's house will help them find their way back to the lives they left behind. But the house has a past of its own. When tragedy strikes, Dolly's only hope will be the circle of friends under her roof and their ability to discover the truth about what happened to a young bride who lived there a century before. ~Taken from Baker Publishing Group: http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/almost-home/386380 My Thoughts: When I first read the back cover I almost wasn't interested enough to sign up to read it. But after reading it a few more times and thinking on it, the mystery of the young bride finally sunk its hook in me and I decided there was enough of a mystery aspect to keep me interested. Well there was a little bit of mystery to this book, but there was also so much more. The relationships were real and raw. The friendships formed throughout the book were beautiful. And so much healing took place, not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well. Complete strangers from different parts of the U.S. came under one roof in Alabama and became not only friends, but family. The mystery of the young bride is slowly unraveled throughout the book through journal passages. While at some points I just wanted to skip ahead and read all about her, I withheld. As the story progressed, the weaving of the journal into the character's lives was subtle, but very meaningful. Hope, while it felt fleeting at times, was a constant theme throughout the book. Recommend? I highly recommend this book. The sweet story was beautiful and written in a way that I haven't read in a long while. Cheers, Rebecca Revell Reads sent me this complimentary copy to review for them. All opinions expressed are my own.
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Marriage that Works By: Chip Ingram Genre: Marriage, Non-Fiction Publisher: Baker Books Publication Year: 2019 Synopsis:
God's Prescription for a Great Marriage Everyone wants to experience a great marriage that lasts. The most effective and satisfying way to achieve that worthy goal is by consulting the One who created marriage in the first place. With compassion, transparency, and engaging storytelling, author and pastor Chip Ingram unpacks what marriage really is, why God created marriage, and the unique roles both a man and a woman play in their marriage. A marriage that works, says Ingram, is more wonderful than you thought possible and harder than you imagined--but it's worth the work. You'll learn the power of making a covenant with your spouse and fulfilling your design in an atmosphere of respect. The result? The spiritual, psychological, emotional, and physical oneness you were designed to have with one another. ~Taken from Baker Publishing group: http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/marriage-that-works/384140 ~Chip Ingram's website: https://livingontheedge.org/ My thoughts: This is the first non-fiction book I have read in a very long time. I usually don't read non-fiction as I find it takes longer to get through. But when I received the email about reviewing this book, I had a feeling I needed to do it. I am not saying my marriage is on the rocks, just the opposite, my husband and I have a wonderful relationship and I am loving being married to him. We started out with me reading this book aloud to him, but this didn't last long as we found we would go days without reading it. So, I ended up reading the rest of the book on my own and my husband plans to finish reading it soon. One of the things I liked about this book was that within the first few pages, Chip states, "The world doesn't need another marriage book that will give you psychological inventories, inspiring stories and conventional advice." (pg. 11) And while the book did have a little of all 3, it was not the main focus. This book held my attention and offered many good points, as well as discussion questions at the end of most of the chapters for the reader to reflect on. Towards the end of the book he makes this statement, "Marriage is an irrevocable commitment of unconditional love towards an imperfect person. It is holy, and it is permanent...You need the certainty of the covenant to bind you together when nothing else does." (pg. 222). This is marriage and I just love this statement because it reflects the heart of God as well as a deep desire within. Recommend? If you are looking for a good Biblical based marriage book to strengthen your marriage or just to get a refresh course, this is a good choice. I recommend this for all married couples and even engaged ones. Cheers, Rebecca Baker Books sent me this complimentary copy to review for them. All opinions expressed are my own. |
Welcome!My name is Rebecca and this blog is dedicated to my thoughts and opinions of the books I read. I hope you enjoy reading through my reviews. And hopefully you will find a good one to get lost in! Archives
November 2019
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