Sceretly Smitten

I received a copy of Secretly Smitten by Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.
  Summer, fall, winter, spring—Smitten, Vermont, is the place for love . . . and mystery!
  There’s a secret in Grandma Rose’s attic—a forgotten set of dog tags belonging to her first love. But David Hutchins was killed in action and never returned to Smitten. How did the dog tags end up in the attic?
  The mystery intrigues Rose’s three granddaughters—Tess, Clare, and Zoe—and they decide to investigate, though their mother, Anna, warns against meddling. But as the seasons turn and the mystery unravels, the three young women and their mother encounter some intriguing mystery men of their own. Has a sixty-year-old puzzle sparked something new for this close-knit family of women?
  Join popular romance novelists—and real-life BFFs—Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter for four delightful intertwined tales of mystery and sweet intrigue.
  This is the first book I've read that has four sections by four different authors, but one storyline.  I enjoyed reading each authors take on the same story.  Each section focused on a different character and her love life. The mystery of the dog tags that were found in Grandma Rose's attic continues throughout all the sections along with mini story lines of Tess, Clare, Zoe and Anna.  We learn a lot about each woman's fears and dreams.  Together they find the courage to face their fears and see their dream come true.  If only we all had family like that to lean on.

Every Perfect Gift

I received a copy of Every Perfect Gift by Dorothy Love from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.
  Ethan and Sophie long to share a future together. But the secrets they’re not sharing could tear them apart.
  Sophie Caldwell has returned to Hickory Ridge, Tennessee after years away. Despite the heartaches of her childhood, Sophie is determined to make a home, and a name, for herself in the growing town.  A gifted writer, she plans to resurrect the local newspaper that so enchanted her as a girl.
  Ethan Heyward’s idyllic childhood was shattered by a tragedy he has spent years trying to forget. An accomplished businessman and architect, he has built a majestic resort in the mountains above Hickory Ridge, drawing wealthy tourists from all over the country.
  When Sophie interviews Ethan for the paper, he is impressed with her intelligence and astounded by her beauty. She's equally intrigued with him but fears he will reject her if he learns about her shadowed past. Just as she summons the courage to tell him, Ethan’s own past unexpectedly and violently catches up with him, threatening not only his life but their budding romance.
  I don't normally pick books written about the 1800s but am glad I did this time.  This is a good book that was easy to follow.  I did have to look up a few words.  I think it's interesting how a new resort can bring a dying town back to life and how women struggled to do things we take for granted now.

Christmas Stories

I received a copy of Christmas Stories by Maz Lucado from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.
A heartwarming collection of Christmas stories and reflections from Max Lucado
These stories—like your favorite Christmas ornaments—come in all shapes and sizes. They unfold in a variety of settings, from ancient Bethlehem to rural England. From a small Texas town to the heavenly realms. Some are short. Others many chapters long. Some offer reflections. Others imagine Christmas through the eyes of a burnt-out candle maker, a lonely business man, or heavenly angels.
Yet all are vintage Lucado, and all resonate with the wonder of the season.
"In the mystery of Christmas," Max writes, "we find its majesty. The mystery of how God became flesh, why he chose to come, and how much he must love his people. Such mysteries can never be solved, just as love can never be diagrammed. Christmas is best pondered, not with logic, but imagination."
That's what each of these unique Christmas stories help us do. In the midst of the bustle and hurry that often distracts us this time of year, these stories free us to explore the ways in which Christ's coming has forever changed history—and us.
This is a collection of stories that will really make you think.  The first one I'd read before but can't remember where.  The one I enjoyed the most was An Angel's Story.  It was written from the perspective of the Angel Gabriel.  I hadn't ever thought about Satan trying to keep Jesus from being born.  But doesn't it make sense that he would? 

Solomon's Tale

I received a copy of Solomon's Tale by Shelia Jeffries from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 
Solomon's Tale is a gripping story with strong emotion, humor, and gritty relationship themes. Sheila Jeffries has also woven a thread of spirituality throughout the tale, which focuses on reincarnation, angels, and how the soul survives death. Solomon, a cat who can see angels, who is chosen to be born again to help a family endure traumas of separation and poverty, narrates the quirky but heartwarming adventure. Solomon embarks on a perilous journey to find his home. He falls in love with another cat, Jessica, whose outrageous behavior brings life and humor into the challenging situations he must face, including the repossession of his family home, relocation to a cramped caravan, and a lonely, desperate time of surviving the wild. A tear-jerker with an interesting twist at the end, Solomon's Tale will make you laugh and cry and lift your spirits. It was inspired by two real cats and will appeal to fans of cats and spiritual fiction.
This is a different book than I've read before.  It's written from the perspective of Solomon.  We hear about how cats can sense how people feel and if they're good or bad.  Solomon has a very good sense of where his Ellen lives and finds a way to her.  He has an angel and sees other angels along the way.  We learn how hard it is for Solomon to full fill his mission and promises.  Solomon and Ellen have so much in common that helps them each to cope with the situations they find themselves in.

Take the Trophy and Run

I received a copy of Take the Trophy and Run by Gail Sattler from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Like Mitford and Lake Wobegon before that, Bloomfield is a place we could all call home. Here, the residents enjoy a splash fountain in the town square, dine at the "Fancy Schmantsy" on tree-lined Main Street, and dream of reaching the 10,000 population mark -- only 22 more folks to go! 

The Bloomfield Garden Club, an all-ages group of lovable oddballs that will stop at nothing to make everything beautiful, maintains this piece of heaven on earth. But even such idyllic places as this have their share of 
dramatic characters and stories to be told.

Take, for instance, craft store owner Amber Weathersby. She wants to be a member of the garden club but has never received the blessing of a green thumb. Her friend, Stan the mechanic, has helped as much as he can -- even adding a timed sprinkler system to Amber's garden -- but the results never live up to the club's expectations. 

Her only claim to fame with that gang is her semi-famous garden gnome, Gnorman, who gets to hold the prized trophy each year in the Bloomfield Spring Fling contest's winning garden. 

But this year, instead of being the life of the party, her little star is gnomegnapped, and worse, the club's irreplaceable trophy has gone missing with him. While Amber is chasing the gnome around town trying to win the trophy, Stan is chasing Amber, trying to win her heart.

This was an interesting book.  I loved all the situations that Gnorman got into.  Many of the things that Amber went through are situations that I can totally relate to.  Why do we all want to be Super Man and fix everything ourselves?  This story helped me to see that we all need someone to lean on.  Many times that person is right under our nose.

Heaven Changes Everything

I recieved a copy of Heaven Changes Everything Living Every Day with Eternity in Mind by Todd Burpo and Sonja Burpo from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.
Live every day with the hope of heaven!

A shattered leg, kidney stones, and a lump diagnosed as hyperplasia. Times were tough, money was scarce, and the bills and frustrations were piling up. It was into this kind of stressed out life that God sent Todd and Sonja Burpo the interruption of a life-threatening illness and emergency surgery for their almost four-year old son Colton. An interruption that included his unforgettable journey to heaven.

How did they cope? And how can they help us keep thoughts of eternity in mind in the midst of our own overly busy, stressed out lives?

In fifty unique inspirational readings based on excerpts from their story, Todd and Sonja share their family’s responses and reactions to the Heaven Is for Real experience. They answer questions about what it’s like to struggle with and question God, to doubt, even get angry with Him. And offer new insights into what God might be doing with those interruptions he allows into our lives. Each reading closes with a scripture to provide biblical reinforcement of the ideas shared and a take-away thought or action point to help readers incorporate the reading's inspiration into daily life.

Keep the hope of heaven alive in your life. Heaven truly is for real, and it changes everything!

Heaven Changes Everything by Todd and Sonja Burpo is an extension of the first book, Heaven is For Real. In the first book, Colton Burpo, retells his story of visiting heaven.  If you haven't read Heaven is for Real, I'd really recommend reading that before picking up this devotional. Otherwise, you might feel somewhat lost.

This book has 42 inspirational readings based on excerpts from their first book. The readings share more personal experiences and thoughts based on their story and their lives since sharing Heaven Is For Real. In this book, Sonja shares her perspective as a Mom for the first time. These readings offer more comfort and encouragement for everyday life such as financial difficulty, stress and parenting.

 

A Wedding Renewal in Sweetwater, Texas

I received a copy of A Wedding Renewal in Sweetwater, Texas by Kim O'Brien from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
 Sylvia longs to feel loved and cherished by her husband, Wilson—just like the heroines in the romance novels she reads. After she starts her own campaign to rekindle their marriage, Wilson worries his wife is having some sort of mid-life crisis. Her crazy behavior couldn’t come at a worse time. His business is booming, and he’s up for a big promotion. As Sylvia and Wilson continue to work at cross purposes, their entire life seems to be slipping out of control. Can they muster up the faith to let God revitalize their marriage, or is it already too late?
This book was good but seemed to have an abrupt ending.  I liked that Sylvia and her friends came together to help her be a "Proverbs woman" for her husband.  The situations that Sylvia gets herself into to help get the marriage she wants are very entertaining.  I can totally relate to making plans and having them go very differently than planned.  Like Sylvia I need to trust that things will work out for the better.