Wishing On Willows by Katie Ganshert

I was very excited at the chance to read and review Wishing On Willows by Katie Ganshert, as this was a new author to me.  The story line sounded wonderful.  My disappointment came as I realized this was not the first book in this series.  The publisher failed to mention this in the description.  It would have been a lot easier to follow had I read the first book.  Often times, you can pick up a second novel in a series and catch up if you didn't read the first, but not so much with this book.  It was a well told story, but I would suggest reading the first book, Wildflowers in Winter first.

Normally, I don't include the publisher's description with my reviews but in this case I thought it was necessary to give my blog readers a chance to better understand the story.

WaterBrook Multnomah through their Blogging for Books program supplied the complimentary copy of this book for my review.

Publisher Description: A three-year old son, a struggling café, and fading memories are all Robin Price has left of her late husband. As the proud owner of Willow Tree Café in small town Peaks, Iowa,  she pours her heart into every muffin she bakes and espresso she pulls, thankful for the sense of purpose and community the work provides.
                                     
So when developer Ian McKay shows up in Peaks with plans to build condos where her café and a vital town ministry are located, she isn’t about to let go without a fight.

As stubborn as he is handsome, Ian won’t give up easily. His family’s business depends on his success in Peaks. But as Ian pushes to seal the deal, he wonders if he has met his match. Robin’s gracious spirit threatens to undo his resolve, especially when he discovers the beautiful widow harbors a grief that resonates with his own.

With polarized opinions forming all over town, business becomes unavoidably personal and Robin and Ian must decide whether to cling to the familiar or surrender their plans to the God of Second Chances.

In The Shadow of Sinai by Carole Towriss

In The Shadow of Sinai by Carole Towriss, we are transported back in time to the Exodus.  This is a retelling of a bible favorite told from the point of view of a little mentioned bible character - Bezalel, a Hebrew artisan slave in the palace of Pharaoh.  Bezalel is only mentioned briefly in the Scriptures, but played a major role in the crafting and creating the Tabernacle.  This story was told in such a way that it draws you into the heart of the story - you not only see this story from a new perspective, but you are literally transported back to that time - you can "see", hear and feel the heartbeat of the time.  The descriptions throughout the story bring it to life. I was drawn into this story immediately and could not put the book down.  This was a fantastic debut book and I can't wait to read upcoming books by this talented author.  If you're a fan of biblical fiction, this is a must read!  Well done!  I highly recommend this book to all book lovers. (A very nice added bonus - Carole autographed the copy I was given and even included a nice personalized note - thanks so much Carole).


I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Cross-Focused Reviews and DeWard Publishing for my review.

Come to the Table is the latest book in Neta Jackson’s Souled Out Sisters series.  I loved the Yada Yada books and I love the Souled Out Sisters books! This one did not disappoint! 

This story follows the lives of members of the "Souled Out" community church - particularly roommates Kat, Bree, Nick, Rochelle (and her son Conny).  Starting up where "Stand By Me" left off, Kat Davies and her friends have welcomed Rochelle and Conny (the homeless mother and son that God brought into their lives) into their apartment and lives. But, things are never as easy as they should be. With new people in the household, relationships change and have to be re-defined. Nick works toward being a pastor, Kat continues to volunteer at the summer tutoring program while applying for a teaching position, and Bree keeps up with her large family while working at the coffee shop. 

God has promised "that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). This can't be more true for this characters in this book. They find His will for their lives and they flourish.

I love that this series challenges people to get involved in their community and reach out to those around you.

Neta Jackson has written an engrossing tale about real people who are struggling to discern God’s will in their lives.  The characters are very human, and flawed; just like most of us are.  That is why I think it is easy to relate to them. She has a way of drawing her readers in from the start, and making you want to continue reading the book, and the series!  

Thanks to BookSneeze for the complimentary copy of this book.

Unstoppable: The Incredible Power of Faith in Action by Nick Vujicic

       

Nick Vujicic, a young man born without arms and legs inspires millions through his stories of faith, perseverance, and triumph over adversity. In this book, his second, he gives a glimpse into both his personal and professional life.  Nick also shares from the lives of others he's encountered along the way showing the power that comes from stepping out in true faith.  This book is an inspiring read, with an overall positive message of believing in yourself, stepping out in faith, and trusting that "with God, all things are possible."

 

This book illustrates what it means not to pick yourself up when you fall down.  His shares of the time he shut-down, depressed over circumstances beyond his control - it was a very real and powerful testimony of a flawed human being who admitted weakness and ultimately re-gained his strength through his faith in God.  The story of how he met, dated and ultimately married his wife was worth reading the entire book alone - truly beautiful!

I wish to thank WaterBrook Multnomah for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book for my review.

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Heaven Changes Everything by Todd & Sonja Burpo

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.  It would be a good idea for anyone interested in reading this book, to have read the first book, so that they know the details of the story and to enjoy this one fully.

This book is written by Colton's parents, Todd and Sonja.  Each chapter opens with a brief excerpt from Heaven is For Real, followed by a narrative that builds on the principles of the excerpt or discusses events that have happened since the publication of the first book, a thought to contemplate and finally a Bible verse linked to the devotion's main point. The topics covered vary from serving, grieving, the afterlife, evangelism, prayer and many more.

It was great reading the "mom details" written by Sonja.  It also contains snippets from the rest of the children and how they've dealt with things since the story happened.

This book would be a great gift for just about anyone but especially for those dealing with a loss of a child. Bundle this book with Heaven Is For Real and it becomes a great tool for sharing Christ with someone experiencing loss or struggling with every day struggles as their story offers hope beyond those struggles. 

I wish to thank BookSneeze's blogger review program for the complimentary copy of the book.