Book Review: Running for My Life

I receive the book Running For My Life by Lopez Lomong with Mark Tabb for review from Thomas Nelson Publishing. This is the incredible story of U.S. Olympic runner Lopez Lomong's escape from the Sudanese Civil War to live the "American Dream"! You will be captivated from the very first page of this book! The story being with his kidnapping at age six from his home church and being taken to the rebel camps. He accounts his memories of being in the camps, the escape, the refugee camps he lived in, the faith  that carried him through to the United States. His life story is amazing, and his faith even better. This book will definitely makes you appreciate the life we live in the United States. I would highly recommend this book to everyone! It will give you a reality check of our world, the hope we have in God, and the inspiration to go and achieve your dreams as well.

Book Review: Inescapable

I received Inescapable by Nancy Mehl for review from Bethany House Publishing. I was immediately drawn to the book since it was set in a Mennonite community! This is the first book of a series called Road to Kingdom. Lizzie ran away from her Mennonite hometown, Kingdom, 5 years earlier when she gave birth to a baby girl out of wedlock and feeling rejected by not only the community, but mainly by her parents. When she receives threatening notes and a mysterious man keeps following her, she runs back to the last place she felt the stalker would find her, Kingdom. Back in her hometown, she must face old relationships with friends, members of the church, the mother that never stood up for her, and her angry father.

There were so many aspects of the book I loved, but mostly the dealing with difficult relationships.  She has to heal from what she perceived as rejection from her father, figure out her feelings for her childhood friend Noah, as well as learning to trust in God again. I also loved Lizzie's relationship with her daughter. I would highly recommend this book!

Book Review: The Widow of Saunders Creek

I received The Window of Saunders Creek by Tracey Bateman for review from Blogging for Books for review. After losing her husband to the war in Iraq, Corrie moves to her husband's home town and grandmother's home in hopes to connect with her deceased husband. Her home is being haunted by who she believes to be her husband. While in Saunders Creek, she get's to know her husband's cousin and extended family and is forced to address many new feelings as well as coping with her past.

I absolutely loved this book! The characters were well developed and very lovable. The issues Corrie deals with are real and relatable to many military families/widows, as well as anyone who just enjoys a great love story. This book does cover topics of witchcraft and spirits/demons, but has Jesus as the focus of how to address those issues. I would highly recommend this book for all Christians! I loved it! I honestly could not put the book down!!!

Book Review: Moon Blood

I received the book Moonblood by Anne Elisabeth Stengl from Bethany House Publishing for review. I was a bit disappointed by the book. I didn't realize this was the 3rd book in the Goldstone Woods series, so the lack of character development was very difficult for me to follow the book. I would highly recommend readers to read the first two books before reading this one for sure! I usually love fantasy themed books, but I didn't find this book captivating (then again, it probably had a lot to do with the fact that I didn't read the first two books).

Book Review: Sixty Acres and a Bride

I received Sixty Acres and a Bride by Regina Jennings for review from Bethany House Publishing. This book takes place in Texas in the late 1870s. A young Mexican widow, Rosa, moves to Texas with her mother-in-law, who was also widowed. They find out that the renters of the property abandoned their ranch and the taxes hadn't been paid for a few years. The women must find a way to pay off the debt in only 3 months! 

This book was a bit difficult to get into, but once the characters were developed, I absolutely loved it and couldn't put it down! Rosa and her mother-in-law's story follow the same storyline of Ruth and Naomi from the Bible. They even have their own Boaz - Weston, a nephew of Rosa's mother-in-law. Weston, a tough cowboy,  takes on the role of protecting his family, including Rosa. Rosa and Weston's story of their relationship is beautiful. 

I would recommend this book to woman! It's a great love story! You won't be able to put it down once you start!!! 

Book Review: Blind Hope

I received Blind Hope by Kim Meeder and Laurie Sacher for review from Blogging for Books. This book is the true story of Laurie's experience of adopting an unwanted, stinky, ugly dog. The bond, love, and healing she experiences through the relationship with this dog is very much like the experience we have with God.

I wasn't that big of a fan of the writing style, but the concepts of the book great! The experiences Laurie had definitely do a great job illustrating how our heavenly father feels for us! I would recommend this book to any Christian who is struggling with their walk with God. I'm not a big animal person, but this book makes me want to adopt a dog so that I may experience the beautiful relationship portrayed in the book! :)

Book Review: Simply Grilling

I received Simply Grilling by Jennifer Chandler for review from booksneeze.com. I live in Hawaii, so having a cookbook that I can use ALL year round is fantastic!

There are 3 things I like best about the book:

1.) It's hard cover! Classy looking cookbook. Great gift idea.
2.) The pictures of all the dishes make the meals look so appetizing! I like to see what my food is supposed to look like when it's done.
3.) SUPER EASY and DELICIOUS recipes! Most of the recipes use ingredients most of us have in our kitchens. It's amazing what desserts (my favorite part of meal) can be made using the grill!

This is a great gift for the grillers out there! Enjoy and happy eating! You'll like the book, but you'll love the food even better! :)