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You are here: Home / Archives for CelebrateLit

CelebrateLit

Book Review—Flipping Hearts

August 25, 2021 by NZ Filbruns Leave a Comment

flipping-hearts

About the Book

When a hurricane rips through Hooper Island, a tidal wave of TV crews follows and upsets the locals.

Brooks Crawforth agreed to volunteer crews helping to clean up and repair things on the island, not a whole home and garden series on the total renovation of several houses and a bit of cleanup on the side. He’s furious, and the show host is spitting nails at the person who blew it in the first place.

His and his father’s jobs are in jeopardy, the islanders are about to kill him, and that crazy show host blames him for her assistant’s last-minute, “you’ve-got-to-sign-this-now-or-we-can’t-come” contract.

One more thing. Did she have to be so cute?

He’s got even more trouble, though. Islanders are starting to blame Mallory Barrows for the invasion. Not only that, there are rumors of dismantling the association and allowing tourism on the islands. How’s he supposed to fix this mess?

They can’t stand each other, but if they can manage to flip off the enemy switch and flip on some cooperation, maybe their hearts’ll get flipped, too.

This “enemies to romance” novel introduces the next island in the Independence Islands Series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.

The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.

My Thoughts:

I first read Flipping Hearts as it was being written, a scene at a time, and actually never even read the ending. I was not very impressed with this book; it felt like one of Chautona Havig’s more “fluffy” books. When it was finally finished, I never got around to reading the whole thing again until this week. What do you suppose I thought of it when I was able to read the entire book in one go?

I really liked some of the conversations between Brooks and Bailey. Bailey had only become a Christian recently, while Brooks was raised in a Christian home—but she said some things that challenged him, like the conversation about good versus bad in people. And then there is the line, “But I hate the way we all act like we’re all superior about being in some ‘exclusive club’ while people out there are just doing their best, not knowing it isn’t enough.” As Brooks felt, “Double ouch, Lord.” Then there was the discussion about being “grace blind.” I could relate! Ouch again. All this to say, I was wrong with my first impression of Flipping Hearts. This is a much deeper book than I thought at first glance. I ended up really liking this book. The mystery (who was sabotaging the job?) kept my interest focused on this story, and the interactions between characters seemed very natural. I really liked that the romance was only a small part of the story, near the end.

About the Author:

Author of the bestselling Aggie and Past Forward series, Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her at chautona.com and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.

More From Chautona:

How I Almost Missed This Important Life Lesson

He annoyed her. The guy was bossy, demanding, rude, and unwilling to admit fault—mostly. Truth be told, she was pretty much the same. Two people with similar faults. The relationship would never happen.

Now what was I supposed to do?

Without any idea how I’d take two near enemies and turn them into a couple, I kept writing the primary story—the one that was supposed to bring them together. The one that would have driven me far, far away from a guy like Brooks.

Right about the time I thought about that is when Bailey had her revelation. “He likes me.”

I nearly did a spit take. I mean, where did that come from? Why would he like someone who hadn’t bothered to be likeable?

And still the story unfolded. “Life or death” moment? Check. Unintentional sharing of attraction and heart. Check. Still confused author as these characters draw closer and closer… check, check!

It took until after the story’s climax for me to realize that Brooks really did like Bailey for who she was—and vice versa. Only after all that tension diffused and their distrust had been smashed to smithereens were Bailey and Brooks able to examine everything. Only after that was I able to realize a truth I hadn’t expected to learn.

People fall in love with people they argue with.

People in love argue. See, my husband and I don’t do that. We don’t argue. Ever. Do we agree on every little thing? No. We just don’t argue about it.

Look, it’s not like I’ve never written people who argue. I do. But Never have I looked at a fictional relationship, seen that it would produce the kind fireworks that Bailey and Brooks will, and thought, “Oh, they’re perfect for each other.”

Because see… if I were Bailey, I’d run. Fast. Conflict is a natural part of life and relationships, and I’m not so naïve as to think it’ll never occur. But entering a relationship knowing it’ll be a regular occurrence? Unthinkable!

So as I pondered all this during those last pages of the book, something hit me.

Jesus enters a rocky relationship with us. Willingly.

Don’t believe me? Think about it. Jesus knew, before He ever spoke light into existence, that His bride would blame Him for… pretty much everything. He knew she’d get him brutally murdered. He knew she’d rail at Him, spit at Him, abandon Him, cheat on Him, and even after forgiveness… she’d do it all over again the next day.

Even knowing all that… He still whispers to our hearts, “Be Mine. I love you.”

If that’s not the most beautiful, unbelievable, amazing thing, I don’t know what is.

It’s probably one of the most important life lessons I’ll ever learn. People choose to be in relationships with people they know they’ll argue with—people who will hurt them, annoy them, demand things of them. And the greatest example of One who does it so beautifully is Jesus. Because see… Jesus entered that relationship with me, knowing I’d be that person. Humbling, yeah. Important life lesson? Most definitely.

To purchase your copy, click here.

To visit more of the blog stops on this tour, click here.

To enter a fun giveaway, click here.

Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Book Review, CelebrateLit, Chautona Havig

Book Review—The Last Gasp

August 4, 2021 by NZ Filbruns 1 Comment

The-Last-Gasp

About the Book

Book:  The Last Gasp
Author: Chautona Havig
Genre: Christian Historical Mystery, Fairytale retelling
Release date: July 6, 2021

At the pinnacle of his Hollywood career, Garrison Prince’s reign ends tonight.

As plain old Gary Prinz, he can pursue his Bible education, buy a bungalow in Pasadena, acquire a few chickens, and marry the girl of his dreams. He just never imagined trading the silver screen for a pulpit would wreak such havoc.

A cigarillo girl, Lucinda Ashton spends her days with her boyfriend, Gary, and her evenings selling candy and “gaspers” to the Hollywood elite at the Taj Mahal Theater.

However, when gunshots ring out just as intermission begins, Lucinda finds herself smack-dab in the middle of a brouhaha that leaves three dead, and no one has a clue why.

All the police know is that the evidence points to Lucinda as the killer and Gary as the intended target.

Four new friends, one young orphan, and a potluck of clues that don’t seem to fit anywhere leave the police baffled, Lucinda in fear for her freedom, and Gary ready to trade in his acting shoes for gumshoes if it’ll save his “Cinda.”

The first book in the Ever After Mysteries combining beloved fairy tales and mysteries, The Last Gasp. This Cinderella retelling blends a murder with enough crime and story clues to keep you on the edge of your seat.

My Thoughts:

Murder mysteries are not my favorite genre, by any means. I usually steer clear of them. I don’t like reading about blood and gore and people dying, and since much of my reading time is the 15 minutes just before I go to bed at night, I don’t like to read very many books that are so gripping that I dream about them all night (that’s not very conducive to a good night’s sleep!). However, if Chautona Havig writes a murder mystery, I’ll read it—I know I will enjoy it, and I won’t end up dreaming all night about the story, trying to solve the mystery. At least, most of the time I won’t. Chautona’s most recent mystery, The Last Gasp, has a few scenes that aren’t pleasant, but overall it’s a delightful story.

Gary Prinz, also known as Garrison Prince, reigns as Hollywood royalty after starring in another new film—but today he is resigning. He has made up his mind to go to Bible college and become a pastor, and Mr. Walker, the head of Imperial Studios, is not happy about it.

Lucinda is making a modest living for herself selling candy and cigarettes at the Taj Mahal Theater, and spending time during the day with her friend Gary. She thinks he is about to propose, and has determined what her answer will be. Tonight, though, she has to work, being careful, as usual, not to look at the faces of the elite she sells her wares to, even though Garrison tries to catch her attention.

When a shot rings out at intermission and an actress falls dead, and three more people end up dead before the night is out, no one can figure out a motive—much less who might have killed them. Lucinda is dumbfounded when she is arrested for the murders—why would anyone think she might have been responsible? And who was being aimed at, anyway? Was Mr. Walker really that unhappy with Garrison? Lucinda, herself, wasn’t very happy when she discovered that her Gary was actually Garrison Prince. Why had he concealed that information from her? Could she really trust him?

As I said, I don’t enjoy the bloody part of a murder mystery. I was glad that part only took up a few pages! On the other hand, though, as I’ve read before about stories like this one, it’s satisfying to see evil brought to justice. The author did a great job of concealing the real murderer until nearly the end of the story, and weaving a delightful romance through the story at the same time that the investigation is going on. She was able to weave genuine faith in God throughout the story, too, in a way that I loved. I also loved the child who comes into the story! If you enjoy gentle, clean romantic suspense, don’t miss this story. It’s good!

I received a review copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

WARNING: People are shot in Chapters 3, 5 and 6.

About the Author:

Author of the bestselling Aggie and Past Forward series, Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her at chautona.com and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.

More From Chautona:

What Beautiful, Unexpected Parallel Did I Find Writing this Mystery?

I bought it at Pic-n-Save when I was eleven—an 8.5×11 paperback book of traditional fairy tales. I learned another side of the age-old stories that you don’t see from Disney. Rapunzel? Yeah. That was the story about the queen who was craving rampion (a salad vegetable) so much that she promised to give up her child for it. Rampion—Rapunzel. It’s a thing.

It’s also where I learned Cinderella’s name as “Aschenputtel.” Look, those Brothers Grimm were… well, they were German and that should explain everything. “Puttel” just sings of German, doesn’t it? That tale was also a bit gruesome. The one sister cut off her big toe to make the shoe fit because her mother said, “You won’t have to walk anywhere if you’re a queen. Who needs it!” So the idiotic girl did. Same for the other sister and her heel. Seriously, didn’t she learn from her older sister?

Oh, and it’s the one where mother and stepsisters get their eyes picked out by birds. It reminded me of Proverbs 30:17. “The eye that mocks a father and scorns a mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young eagles will eat it.”

Talk about bringing Scripture to life for kids there. Gulp

True confession, our kids used to sing that verse to the tune of “All Hail the Pow’r of Jesus’ Name.” You should have heard the lusty voices of our children in our Grand Marquis station wagon (may the wonderful beast rest in peace) singing, “The ravens shall pick out his eyes and eeee-agles eeee-eeaat the saaaammmme!”

I digress.

Cinderella—I mean, Aschenputtel—really wasn’t my favorite story, though. I liked other stories from other books. Like the Ten Brothers—a Chinese folk tale. You know. Fairy tale.

Know which fairy tale I liked even less than Cinderella?

The Little Mermaid. Seriously, I didn’t like the original (Sorry Mr. Andersen… I just didn’t), and I can’t stand Disney’s. But when we first began planning the Ever After Mysteries, I knew which one I wanted to do. The Little Mermaid had everything going for it. Houdini and a water tank. Can’t you just see it? It would have been great. But a friend asked who was writing about the “cigarillo girl” (as I mention in THIS post), and well… the rest is history. Or at least, it’s set back in history.

But there’s one truth I discovered as I wrote this mystery.

Mystery… that’s a good word for this truth, actually. Cinderella is a beautiful picture of Jesus as our prince. We can be His bride and put on the shoe He has fashioned only to fit us, or we can try to snatch it up and make it suit our wills and hold our overgrown egos (work with me here). He takes us out of our ragged, dirty lives and brings us home… to Him. To His Father.

Is there anything more beautiful? I don’t think so.

In The Last Gasp, Gary knows Cinda long before she knows him—truly knows him. He loves her just as she is. Is it a perfect retelling of the beauty of Christ’s love for his church? Not hardly. It wasn’t intended to demonstrate that relationship at all. But there are tiny nuances that do. And that’s pretty cool.

To purchase your copy, click here.

To visit more of the blog stops on this tour, click here.

To enter a fun giveaway, click here.

Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Book Review, CelebrateLit, Chautona Havig

Book Review—Regaining Mercy

July 29, 2021 by NZ Filbruns 1 Comment

Regaining-Mercy-1

About the Book

Book:  Regaining Mercy
Author: Carolyn Miller
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance
Release date: June 29, 2021

A mom ready to do anything for her son. A man determined to win the woman he loves.

Going on Love at First Glance had seemed like such a good idea. She didn’t care about finding Mr. Right. No, Mindy Murray chose the reality TV show for more mercenary reasons.  A mom’s gotta do what a mom’s gotta do when it comes to feeding her son.

When Mindy returns to Elnora, the girl from the “wrong side of the island” just wants a chance to rebuild her reputation. Too bad the folks at church don’t practice what the preacher preaches.

Enter Dermott Reilly. The interim boss at Greener Gardens has always had a soft spot for Mindy and her son, but with his new responsibilities, an important garden competition, and a few other concerns, he finds it difficult to prove himself to her.

A tropical storm and a missing child prove that sometimes grace appears in the most unusual ways.

Regaining Mercy concludes the Elnora Island romances of the Independence Islands Series, featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily ever-afters.

The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.

My Thoughts:

I’ve been hearing good things about Carolyn Miller’s books, so I decided to sign up to review one of her books. I think I like her! Regaining Mercy is primarily romance, but there is enough else in the story that I enjoyed the story anyway.

Mindy has just gotten home to Elnora Island from being part of a reality show in Hawaii. She’s doing all she can to make a living for herself and her son, but people are looking down on her. When a particularly nasty woman deliberately insults her, Mindy loses her job at the grocery store—what can she do now? She knows she’s a terrible mother, and that’s probably why Jon, at four, hardly talks. She’s had so little experience with children, though, that she doesn’t know if he’s acting normally or not, and she certainly won’t be taking him to a doctor when she hardly has enough money for food!

Dermott, the interim boss at Greener Gardens, wants to help out his friend in any way he can. He feels overwhelmed, though, with getting jobs done and promoting the gardens they’ve done in a competition. He finds a way to help Mindy by helping him with promoting the business on social media—and doesn’t mind spending time with her! But, will she ever see him as more than just a friend? Then, a severe tropical storm hits, a child goes missing, and Mindy knows for sure that she is incompetent. How can any good come out of this mess?

I liked Regaining Mercy. As I said, it’s not just romance. Mindy is learning to be a mother, and how to get along with people. She is also learning that she is worth something, that she has value. She also had to learn to accept help when she needed to. I loved her friend Tina; she was so kind and caring.

I chuckled at one word in Chapter 8. The author is Australian, and she used an un-American terminology: “That’s when you rang earlier…” We hear that said here, in New Zealand—but in America you would say “called.” Oops!

I received a review copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

WARNING: The word “gosh” is used once, and two kisses are described.

About the Author:

Carolyn Miller is an Australian author of inspirational romance, particularly that of the Regency era, and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds where flawed people can grow in faith, hope and love through stories that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives.

More From Carolyn:

Have you ever wondered what might happen if a failed TV reality star was to return home to her narrow minded community? What if she’s been tarred and feathered with disgrace?

In our world of insta-fame, selfies and fakebook, I find it fascinating that so many people are entranced by so-called reality TV, with its editing and narratives and shiny-eyed hopefuls chasing money, love and dreams. But what if it doesn’t work out? What happens next? How do you resume ‘normal life’ when you’ve been living in a very artificial world?

I enjoy writing fiction that is grounded in reality, with realistic, flawed characters who are on a God journey to find faith and freedom. My contemporary and historical novels often see characters struggle with the choices they’ve made (don’t we all?), which is exactly what single mom Mindy is dealing with.

Combine Mindy’s challenges with those faced by gardening expert, Dermott, a man whose stone wall building skills are better than his way with women, or his inability to hide his attraction to his former co-worker’s younger sister.

Regaining Mercy encourages us to see ourselves as God does, to not let the labels of the past to shape our future. Along the way, readers will enjoy the honest portrayals of family, friendship and faith.

I’m so glad people are really enjoying my new contemporary books, where I can bring my love of gardens (& my horticulturalist hubby’s expertise!) to a new audience. Want to see what’s growing in my garden? Check out my website www.carolynmillerauthor.com – and you might even see some of my husband’s famous stone walls!

If you enjoy stories of hope, heart and humor, then you’ll be sure to enjoy this novel about a prodigal and the patient gardener who helps her find God’s mercy – and renewed hope for her heart.

Happy reading!

Carolyn

To purchase your copy, click here.

To visit more of the blog stops on this tour, click here.

To enter a fun giveaway, click here.

Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Book Review, CelebrateLit

Emeline Revisited

June 25, 2021 by NZ Filbruns Leave a Comment

I published a review of Emeline: A Journey on here last week, and mentioned that I had not seen the companion journal. (See that review here.) Well, that has changed! A courier dropped off a package this afternoon, and lo and behold, it was my review copy of both Emeline  and My Journey, the journal! They were mailed from the United States the middle of April. Yes, the mail is moving slowly—ever since our borders were closed when the COVID lockdown began, there aren’t very many planes coming here from America, which means not much space for cargo.

IMG_7649

Even though it was late, I was excited to finally get to see this journal. It’s beautiful! Little Miss tried to lay claim to it right away. I told her maybe I’ll keep it till she is older—I don’t think she needs it just yet. I might give it to her when she fills up the journal she’s writing (with Esther’s help) right now—we’ll see. Anyway, have a look at the pages inside. Most pages are blank, but an occasional one has an inspirational verse or saying like these. I love the variety of colors of the pages, too!  IMG_7650IMG_7651

I was sent a copy of each of these books for review, in case you didn’t figure that out yet! The links in this post may be affiliate links, and if they are, they benefit Esther’s blog.

Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Book Review, CelebrateLit

Book Review—Stealing the First Mate

June 24, 2021 by NZ Filbruns 2 Comments

Stealing-the-First-Mate

About the Book

Book: Stealing the First Mate
Author: Tabitha Bouldin
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance
Release date: June 29, 2021

Sometimes, happily ever after is as elusive as a pirate’s treasure.

Darcy Riggins dove headfirst into the online dating pool and sank. Every time.

Her lifelong dream of becoming a wife and mother becomes more elusive every year. So, taking the lack of a Mr. Right in her life as a decided “No!” from God, Darcy gives up altogether.

Single and happy is not an oxymoron. Right?

Nigel Jones has loved Darcy for ages, but her father (his boss, of course) ordered him to keep his feelings to himself, thanks to a stupid mistake that Darcy (thankfully) doesn’t know about.  Too bad her dad does.

Being single and content turns out to be tougher than Darcy imagined, and when she begins doubting everything she’s ever known, Nigel decides it’s time to admit his mistakes, tell the truth, and trust God for the outcome.

In this “forbidden-love-meets-friends-to-more” novel, Stealing the First Mate continues the Elnora Island romances of the Independence Islands Series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.

The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.

My Thoughts:

I decided I wanted to review Stealing the First Mate for two reasons. One, I was reading wonderful reviews about the books in the Independence Islands series, and that they were much deeper reading than most romance books. Two, I had never read anything by Tabitha Bouldin and wanted to know if I would enjoy her books. I found the setting of this story quite different—a pirate ship that performed skits with a Christian message while giving tours around the islands!

Nigel was a crew member on board the Pirate’s Treasure. He had been in love with the owner’s daughter Darcy ever since he was six years old—but her father forbade him to even think about her because of a foolish mistake he made when he was 16. Nigel was ever so thankful that Darcy didn’t know about it, and made sure she never knew about his feelings for her.

Darcy had wanted, ever since she could remember, to be a wife and mother. She tried everything she could think of to find Mr. Right. Every single date she went on, though, turned out to be awful. What could she do to find the right man? Finally, she just gave up—God must be telling her that marriage wasn’t for her.

They’ve been best friends for practically their entire lives, so of course Darcy confided her doubts to Nigel. What could he do but listen and offer what advice he had from God’s word? And then, things came to a head between Nigel and Darcy’s father. What could he do now?

I really liked the depth of faith that Nigel displayed. I liked the thought, expressed by one of Darcy’s friends, that the very best marriage is when you wake up every morning beside your best friend. I did not like the sensual passages, like “All the moisture fled his mouth at the luscious curves the red material made no attempt to hide.” I did like the advice offered to both Nigel and Darcy by Mel, Darcy’s friend. So, my feelings about this book are a bit mixed. There are things I like, and things I don’t. If you love clean romance, you’ll like Stealing the First Mate. Oh, there was one other thing I really loved—CC, the little girl we meet in the first chapter on board the boat! She’s delightful.

I received a review copy of this book from CelebrateLit, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

WARNING: As I mentioned in the last paragraph.

About the Author:

Tabitha Bouldin has a bachelor’s degree in creative writing/English from Southern New Hampshire University. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and has been writing since 2015. When she’s not homeschooling her kids, you’ll find her curled up with a book. Tabitha’s genre of choice is Contemporary Christian Romance which she describes as: Adventure with heart.

More From Tabitha:

I love the friends-to-something-more trope. There’s something invigorating about the challenges of stepping into a different kind of relationship with someone you already know and trust. The risk of losing the friendship if things go badly comes to the forefront and each character has to decide if they’ll take the risk or keep things as they are.

For Nigel and Darcy, there’s the added difficulty of Nigel’s unrequited love. They’ve been best friends forever, and he’s loved Darcy all that time. And she’s clueless! How does that happen?

I wish I could say this story came from my own experience, but that isn’t the case. While my husband and I knew each other for several years before we started dating, we were hardly friends. High school social circles are brutal things. Plus, he had a crush on my cousin, and I was dating someone else.

But it all worked out.

And we’re best friends now.

When it came time to write Stealing the First Mate, I knew Nigel and Darcy were friends. It wasn’t until I worked my way through the first chapter that the depth of their relationship started to emerge, and I realized they were best friends. Darcy runs to Nigel for advise (even dating advise, which became really awkward for Nigel).

Darcy has been looking for Mr. Right so long she can’t see the truth staring back at her in Nigel’s eyes.

Writing their story is one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had in writing.

To purchase your copy, click here.

To visit more of the blog stops on this tour, click here.

To enter a fun giveaway, click here.

Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Book Review, CelebrateLit

Book Review—Emeline—A Journey

June 17, 2021 by NZ Filbruns 6 Comments

Emiline-and-Journey

About the Book

Book:  Emeline – A Journey with the My Journey companion Journal
Author: Kathy J. Perry
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction Adventure
Release date: November 1, 2020

Emeline:

I can’t ask Pa; I must decide for myself.

What do I really want?

Set in 1890, a period of no phones or refrigerators, thirteen-year-old Emeline has lost both parents and must travel through ten states to reconnect with family in Boston.

On the way, she encounters many people and trials. Some characters are unsavory, ruthless, and violet, wanting only her money and possessions, caring nothing for her life. But all is not bleak: good folks make her trip memorable, giving her help as they are able.

Will she make it, and if she does, will she stay?

Will the events of her journey redefine her life?

This Christian historical fiction adventure will educate, entertain, and inspire young readers.

My Journey:

You Are Unique

What do you believe?

What motivates you?

What are your thoughts, hopes, and dreams?

Find a quiet place and contemplate the questions inside. Journaling is a great way to understand yourself and work through emotions.

Who knows? You might surprise yourself!

My Thoughts:

I rarely read Young Adult books. Almost all that I have seen have to do with romance, include too much sensual matter, or are fantasy, time travel, or some weird futuristic story. I tend to greatly prefer realism, and I don’t think Young Adults need romance. When I read the description of Emeline—A Journey, I was attracted to it because it sounded different. I was not disappointed by the content!

Emeline loved to spend time with her teacher, who reminded her of her mother, who had passed away in childbirth two years ago. Talking about her mother helped so much! Then, one morning, Emeline woke up to find her father dying. His final words to her sent her on a journey across ten states, from Missouri to Boston, to find her grandfather. How could a 13-year-old travel that far alone?

Emeline learned survival skills from Ole Mr. Thompson, and then took off on her horse. When one man after another tried to rob her, and someone finally succeeded in knocking her out, she found herself in the home of the Witherspoons in Indiana. She lived with them for a time to earn money for a train ride to Boston, learning the skills of woodturning, and then finished her journey. Once in Boston, she learned about lithography from her father’s family. Then, where should she go? Should she stay in Boston, or return to the wide-open spaces of the West, where her heart was? All along the way, Emeline spent time reading her Bible, and journaling her thoughts. She learned to depend on God to care for her.

I really liked the content of Emeline—A Journey. It describes life in a simpler time, and shows a girl who has been left alone in the world making the best of what she had, learning to make her own decisions. On the other hand, the writing style could definitely be improved; it felt a bit amateurish. Also, it did not feel realistic that she hardly showed any grief when her father died. She was sad, but quickly got up and going again, never crying much at all. I did appreciate that this book doesn’t portray a girl who can do everything; she knows she needs help from adults, and readily accepts help and advice. I also really liked that there is no romance, other than a few hints that Emeline liked the apprentice at the Witherspoons. I can highly recommend this book for those in the 12-16-year-old group, and I may end up reading it aloud to my children sometime.

I did not get to see the journal, so I can’t comment on it. Have a look at some of the other blogs on this tour if you want to know what people have to say about it.

I received a review copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

About the Author:

After the passing of my parents, I evaluated at what I was doing with my life and my contribution to others. I’ve always had a heart for teaching kids. I’ve been a classroom teacher, a homeschool mom, a tutor, and a substitute for many years. I’ve written, illustrated, and published the Bandana Acres series of Early Reader Chapter Books with solid moral lessons that fill a genre gap between picture and chapter books. Fellow teachers say, “Great! Keep it up. We need more of these.”

As a twelve-year-old, I identified with a fictional orphaned girl and was so impressed with her cleverness and honesty that I wanted to be like her. It was this story that inspired me to write Emeline – A Journey — a story that will educate, encourage, and inspire your tween or teen to find their way as a confident young adult.

A companion book, a consumable guided journal entitled My Journey, will challenge your young adult to important questions and give them lots of room to process their thoughts, hopes, and dreams.

More From Kathy:

Research for Emeline’s story gave me such joy. It amazed me how much I learned about life in 1890 from internet searches, YouTube videos, and library books. Some topics, however, were more difficult than others. I purchased a book about 1800s printing for lithography details. I later gifted this beautiful book to my printer brother-in-law.

With new technology bursting at the seams of the fabric of our lives, could your young adult have an interest in such a time as 1890? Fantasies and futuristic books claim attention and provide an escape from our time and place. But the 1890s was a fascinating time, too, with inventions that would change how we live forever — inventions that we take for granted today. Regardless of the external factors, people then had the same personal issues. People remain people, no matter when or where they live.

I hope that from reading or listening to this book, your tweens and teens will internalize the important character qualities vital for confident, successful adulthood. The companion book, My Journey, follows the same values shown in Emeline’s book and provides a place for personal evaluation and self-discovery.

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Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Book Review, CelebrateLit

Book Review—Prairie

June 10, 2021 by NZ Filbruns 2 Comments

Prairie

About the Book

Book:  Prairie
Author: Chautona Havig
Genre: Contemporary Christian Fantasy
Release date: February 13, 2013

What if you could literally wish your life away?

My name is Jessa Davidson, and I awoke one day in the place of every dream I’ve ever had—the prairie.  I don’t know how I got here or where here even is, but I know one thing for certain. I can’t go home again. Ever.

If I’ve learned one thing being in this beautiful place, it’s that no matter how perfect it and its people seem, sin lives in the hearts of men and women in Prairie, too. The differences between Prairie and Pittsburgh? There are too many to count.

I grew up hearing the words of the Apostle Paul. “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.”

Here in Prairie, they’re not a lesson. They’re a warning.

I’ve been given a gift—the greatest desire of my heart. A life in the place of my dreams, a chance at love and family, a sense of real belonging.

Can I hold onto it? Time will tell—time I may not have if I can’t learn to be content.

Prairie is the first book in the Journey of Dreams, a series of related but stand-alone contemporary Christian fantasy novels exploring truths in a whole new way.

My Thoughts:

Almost six years ago, I won a paperback copy of Prairie in a giveaway that Chautona Havig did. She sent it to me, and I fell in love with this story! It is so good. I don’t like fantasy, as a rule, but I loved this book. When I read it again last week in preparation for this review, I loved it again. What a gentle story, with such great lessons. I loved watching Jessa learning the way of life in Prairie, and learning to be content. What an important lesson for all of us. One paragraph especially stood out to me; when I looked back just now, I found that I quoted the same thing in my review back then! “Jessa, it’s pride. Why does anyone do anything that others have done wrong? Why don’t the consequences of other’s sin prevent people from making the same mistakes? We’re prideful people. We think we’re above consequences. We’re sinners who won’t acknowledge our frailty.”

I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good story with a lot of depth to it!

I received a review copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

About the Author:

Author of the bestselling Aggie and Past Forward series, Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her at chautona.com and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.

More From Chautona:

When Your Novel Teaches You an Important Lesson

I’ve told the story before, but I’ll tell it again. Prairie began as a dream. For several days in a row, I fell asleep and found myself lost in the sway of prairie grasses undulating to the strains of “Theme from a Summer Place.”

It’s a bad habit of mine, but despite being in the middle of a writing project, I wrote down my thoughts—my impressions. Two strange things happened.

First, the story came out in first person. Folks, I don’t write in first-person perspective. Not my novels, anyway. I don’t enjoy reading it, and I really don’t enjoy writing it.

Jessa, however, demanded I let her tell her story… her way. So I did. And it’s one of the fastest novels I’ve ever written.

There’s irony in that.

You see, I didn’t know where that story would go. My dream only replayed the scene of Jessa waking up on the prairie and not knowing how she got there—only knowing she could never go home. Beyond that, I hadn’t a clue.

And though I wanted to rush through so I could see where the story would take me, and though I wrote at breakneck speeds, the story unfolded at its own pace.

The people of Prairie live a different life from anything you’ve ever seen—and yet it is mostly very familiar. One thing, however, sets it apart.

Time.

Only in Prairie does time not work as it does here, and that changes everything. The story begins slowly and for a reason. Line by line, observation by observation, step by step through the grasses and down rutted lanes, the story draws you out of the breakneck speed of modern life and into a world that, if you aren’t careful, will whiz by faster than is even possible.

Here in our world, that is.

There… you’d better watch out.

Has anyone ever warned you not to wish your life away? It’s just a gentle reminder that if you’re always eager for today to end in hopes of a more exciting tomorrow, you may find you never lived.

In Prairie? It might actually happen.

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Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Book Review, CelebrateLit, Chautona Havig

Book Review—The Elnora Monet

May 19, 2021 by NZ Filbruns 2 Comments

The-Elnora-Monet

About the Book

Book:  The Elnora Monet
Author: Rachel Skatvold
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance
Release date: April 27, 2021

Islanders call him the Elnora Monet.

Is that island speak for “pompous, arrogant jerk?”

When Carly Mulligan volunteered to make house calls on Elnora, she never imagined treating the richest cat on the islands. What other feline has his own wing in a mansion like the Belshaw Estate?

After a wrong turn in the mansion, Carly stumbles across a secret room—one filled with incredible paintings. Perhaps there’s something more to the man than she first thought.

Most people envy Jean-Luc Belshaw’s position. The heir to a lucrative business and family fortune, he should have everything he could dream of.

But Luc dreams of days past. Days when he traveled the world with his wife and painted the breathings of his soul disappeared with Angeline’s passing.  Faith and inspiration gone, he wonders if returning to France to take his place in his father’s business is the right thing to do.

Carly has a few relational demons of her own, and she’s reluctant to trust him, but Luc’s paintings draw her in even as his story touches a long-empty place in her heart.

Only God can transform two broken pasts into a work of art.

The Elnora Monet continues the Elnora Island romances of the Independence Islands Series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.
The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.

My Thoughts:

I have been reading glowing reviews about the books in this series and how great they are, so I decided to request a review copy of The Elnora Monet. It was a good way to read a book by an author I had heard of but never read, as well. I didn’t realize until I started reading it that it was a billionaire romance.

Carly was working as an assistant to her veterinarian sister Kendall. They ran a clinic out of an RV, and made house calls on the islands. Her first call, in this story, was to treat a cat who lived in his own wing of a mansion! What kind of person would have space like that? She treated the cat—and then wandered into another wing and found herself snooping before she realized what she was doing. She couldn’t believe the paintings she found in there; there was more to Luc, the cat’s owner, than she had at first thought.

As Carly got to know Luc better, he had to face memories from his past. He used to paint a lot—until Angeline died. Since then, he had not painted at all, but Carly’s snooping brought him face-to-face with his past. What should he do about it? He couldn’t stop thinking about the snoopy young veterinary assistant, either. As the two spent more time together, she had to face up to her hang-ups about men. Could she allow herself to get close to Luc?

I did not enjoy this story very much, unfortunately. If I had realized that it’s pretty much straight-up romance, I would have passed on it. I don’t mind some romance in a book, but I much prefer if there is a story apart from that. I also really don’t like billionaire romances, come to find out! I like more realistic, every-dayish stories! So, bottom line: I probably won’t be requesting very many more review books from this series—I’ll be back to my policy of being very picky—but most ladies would love this book.

I received a review copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

WARNING: There are passionate kisses in chapters 13, 15, and 17.

About the Author:

Rachel Skatvold is a Christian author and stay-at-home mom from the Midwest. She enjoys writing inspirational romance and encouraging blogs. Rachel completed her first series, the Riley Family Legacy Novellas in 2014 and is now working on the Hart Ranch Series, set in the Montana wilderness and the Ladies of Ardena Series, set in medieval times. She is also a contributing author in the Whispers in Wyoming and Brides of Pelican Rapids Series. Other than writing, some of her hobbies include singing, reading and camping in the great outdoors with her husband and two young sons. You can find more information about Rachel and her books on her website: www.rachelskatvold.com.

More From Rachel:

Thank you for helping celebrate the release of The Elnora Monet by following this Celebration Tour hosted by Celebrate Lit. I hope you enjoy learning a little more about the characters and what inspired the story. Please follow the other stops on this tour and don’t forget to enter in the giveaway. Thank you!

It has been a wonderful experience working with the talented authors and editors in the Independence Islands Series. Each of these stories has a heartwarming message of faith and the characters always teach me something new. Ever since writing Kendall Mulligan’s story in Her Merriweather Hero, I’ve been excited to share her free-spirited younger sister’s story.

Carly had many struggles in the first book, questioning what purpose God had for her life. This time around, her feet are more grounded, but she still has some growing to do when it comes to faith. Carly has been a fun character to write about because of her witty extroverted personality and some of the humorous predicaments she ends up in…one of them including getting caught snooping around a billionaire’s mansion.

While not outspoken as Carly, I can relate to the character’s search for direction. Sometimes it is difficult learning to trust, especially during troubling times, but we can rely on God’s promises. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; don’t rely on your own intelligence. Know him in all your paths, and he will keep your ways straight.” This verse means so much to me because I know even when I can’t understand something, He is behind the scenes guiding me in the right direction. For Carly, it leads in a direction she never expects, but it is worth it in the end.

Certain parts of the story were inspired by my mom. If you have read Her Merriweather Hero, you know the Mulligan sisters are originally from New England, close to where my mom grew up. I love hearing about her memories of spending time at Nantasket Beach, drinking orange pop, and putting chips in her sandwich so they wouldn’t blow away. Even though I grew up in the Midwest, I still put chips in my own sandwich because of watching her do the same thing and her fridge is always stocked with orange pop to this day. Little bits of my mom’s childhood are weaved into this story, making it close to my heart.

I hope you have enjoyed learning a little more about characters and story behind The Elnora Monet. Now continue reading for a summary of the book and giveaway. Blessings!

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Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Book Review, CelebrateLit

Book Review—Rooms of a Mother’s Heart

May 11, 2021 by NZ Filbruns Leave a Comment

Rooms-of-a-Mothers-Heart

About the Book

Book:  Rooms of a Mother’s Heart
Author: Dr. Carol McLeod
Genre: Christian Living
Release date: April 20, 2021

For thousands of years and in a myriad of cultures, women have forged identity, unconditional love, and vast purpose in the calling of motherhood. From Eve to Sarah, from Ruth to Mary, the Scriptures are filled with the accounts of the heart of a mother who was given a divine opportunity to raise the next generation for the purposes and call of the Father.

Inside the soul of every mother lies a heart that becomes a repository of sweet memories, hard lessons, glorious victories, ordinary days, glaring failures, and God’s grace over the years of mothering. The heart of a mother becomes home to jokes around the dinner table, holiday traditions, the tears of childhood, and the love that only a mother knows. And this tender heart that has given birth to the future of mankind or has lovingly adopted the seeds of the next generation also develops rooms of unsurpassed greatness and quiet strength. These are the Rooms of a Mother’s Heart.

With her characteristic charm, joy, and biblical teaching that she shares like a good friend over a cup of coffee, Carol McLeod examines what it means to be a mother and offers tender encouragement to all women who accept that calling.

My Thoughts:

It’s good to read a book about being a mother every so often. I find that I need the encouragement of a mother who has been there, to renew my enthusiasm for my job. Rooms of a Mother’s Heart contains a lot of encouragement, as well as some well-aimed stomps on my toes!

Carol McLeod has organized her encouragement to mothers into sections labeled as rooms. The first room, of course, is the Birthing Room—where a woman becomes a mother. No matter how a woman becomes a mother—whether by actually birthing a baby or by adoption—she is changed forever by the experience. The Foundation is very important—build your family on Scripture and Jesus. The Nursery is the room of dreams, and the place where nurture begins. She points out the absolute importance of cuddling babies if they are to thrive.

In the Classroom of your heart, you decide what sort of mother you will be. I was really challenged here to be a kinder mother. The next two chapters, about the Pink and Blue Bedrooms, discuss the differences between mothering girls and boys. The Corner talks about training and discipline—and then we get to my favorite chapter, The Library. Carol and I have something in common: We were both compulsive readers as children. She encourages reading to your children frequently, so there’s one thing I’m doing right!

The Music Room was a chapter I didn’t relate to very much. Music is just not my thing. In The Family Room, the author stresses the importance of doing things together as a family, and having family traditions. The Kitchen talks about family meals and how a mother should not only make them delicious and nutritious, but also a way to show love to the family. The Laundry Room talks about helping your children to stay clean inside, and The Prayer Closet, of course, stresses the absolute importance of prayer. The final chapter is The Front Porch—time to let go and let your children go when they are ready, while following them with prayers.

I found a lot of encouragement in this book; I hope I will be a better mother for reading it. I appreciate the nudges to spend more time with my children and to show them every day how much I love them. There were parts of the book that I just don’t relate to very much, and places where I was annoyed by what seemed like a superior tone of voice—but then Carold McLeod talked about times when she had failed, which helped me feel a little better! If you are needing encouragement in the journey of motherhood, check out Rooms of a Mother’s Heart—you might find what you need. In closing, here is a quote I really liked: Joy always follows knowing one’s purpose. One thing I was amused at was how the author mentioned a couple of times the long span between her oldest and youngest children: 14 years. I was amused because there are 21 years between my oldest and youngest!

I received a review copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

About the Author:

The president and CEO of Carol McLeod Ministries, Carol McLeod is a popular speaker at women’s conferences and retreats. She is the author of a dozen books, including Vibrant: Developing a Deep and Abiding Joy for All Seasons, Significant: Becoming a Woman of Unique Purpose, True Identity, and Irrepressible Hope; StormProof: Weathering Life’s Tough Times; Guide Your Mind, Guard Your Heart, Grace Your Tongue; Joy for All Seasons; Holy Estrogen; and Defiant Joy.

Carol hosts a twice weekly podcast, A Jolt of Joy! on the Charisma Podcast Network, and a weekly podcast, Significant. Her weekly blog, Joy for the Journey, has been named in the Top 50 Faith Blogs for Women. Carol also writes a weekly column in Ministry Today.

She has written several devotionals for YouVersion, including “21 Days to Beat Depression,” which has touched the lives of nearly one million people around the world. Her teaching DVD The Rooms of a Woman’s Heart won the prestigious Telly Award for excellence in religious programming.

Carol was also the first women’s chaplain at Oral Roberts University and served as chaplain on the university’s Alumni Board of Directors for many years.

Carol has been married to her college sweetheart, Craig, for more than forty years and is the mother of five children in heaven and five children on earth. Carol and Craig also happily answer to “Marmee and Pa” for their captivating grandchildren.

More From Carol:

Evening Conversation …

I am working with my fabulous editor on the edits for my next book that will be released in April.

“The Rooms of a Mother’s Heart” is the title and writing it has caused me to travel back through the memory bank of my heart.

As I was working on the edits for the chapter, “The Nursery”, tonight, I came upon these words and thought that I would share them with all of you in my evening conversation.

It’s a lesson that I am still learning …

“The nursery is filled with little things, isn’t it?

It holds little bears and little clothes, tiny blankets and miniature books.

It is in the nursery of your heart that you develop an appreciation for the little things in life and where you begin to understand that these are actually life’s big things.

The nursery teaches that it is the little things in life that are capable of building a grand and historic life.

So often, during other years of my life, I have made the glaring error of living for the big moments, for the red-letter days of graduations, weddings, and championship ball games. The nursery has taught me that those monstrous occasions, as fabulous as they might seem at the time, do not construct a vital and enchanting existence at all.

A glass of iced tea on the back deck while the children are playing baseball, and the sweet giggle of a child just waking up from a nap—these give birth to a whimsical life.

The smell of the roses as I walk to the front door, a good book and a cup of coffee on a rainy afternoon, and making cookies with the children to share with the neighbors—these build a life of grand and lasting proportions.

A glorious life is built on one small but meaningful and carefully chosen building block at a time.

A wonderful life is composed of long walks along country roads while the children gather wildflowers.

It is pancakes on a Saturday morning and popcorn on Sunday evening.

In the nursery of my heart, I have been taught that the real stuff of life is as close and as dear as the morning song of the bird outside my bedroom window, the companionship of my daughter on my daily run, and the treasure of reading a devotional book that belonged to my grandfather.

Those events may seem small and even in consequential to you, but to me, they deliver joy.

There is no applause in a nursery, nor are there diplomas on the wall or trophies lined up across the changing table, but it remains the most splendid room in the entire home.

The nursery is absent of the rush of adrenaline, but it is filled with the sweet sighs of contentment.

Perhaps living inside a regular day in which nothing of earth-moving significance happens is at the heart of all that is truly meaningful and extraordinary.

The glory of life is found quite simply in the ordinary moments.

The treasure of a life well lived is acquired not in getting but in giving.

The substance of all that is good, rich, and meaningful is found in a thousand inconsequential gifts that are easily overlooked if one is not careful.

I hope that you will treasure the time spent in the nursery of your heart and remember that it is the little things that contribute to a large life.”

These are my thoughts for Sunday, January 31, 2021.

Blessings, my friends.

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Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Book Review, CelebrateLit

Book Review—I Prayed for Patience, God Gave Me Children

March 18, 2021 by NZ Filbruns Leave a Comment

Prayed-for-Patience

About the Book

Book:  I Prayed for Patience, God Gave Me Children
Author: Linda Wood Rondeau
Genre: Non-fiction
Release date: Second Edition 2019

God indeed has a sense of humor. He chose children to teach us too-smart adults what it means to be his child, the very special relationship the believer enjoys with our Heavenly Father. We adults experience the same chaos, misadventure, and heartaches as our charges. Through a child’s example, we learn how God nurtures us with his infinitesimal patience. This easy to read, often hilarious treatise, uses cartoons, witticisms, anecdotes, quotes, and scripture study to bring home these truths. A veteran social worker, Rondeau draws upon her many experiences in working with families as well as her personal experiences as a mom.  “You will want to keep this book close at hand for those moments of weakness and pass it along to your friends.”

My Thoughts:

When I saw the title of Linda Wood Rondeau’s book, I Prayed for Patience, God Gave Me Children, I was immediately intrigued. Haven’t all of us, as parents, experienced that? I’ve often thought, and sometimes said, that my children have taught me a lot of patience—especially the ones who had dyslexia, and seemingly couldn’t learn to read (but that’s a story for another time).

This short book is divided into six sections. They are titled Persevere, Teach, Lead, Order, Protect, and Serve, and each one has several short devotionals in it. These each include a funny or wise saying, such as “Sometimes we lead only because everyone is behind us.” After this saying, there is a Scripture verse, and then a short story. It might be a story about parenting from the author’s own experience, or some other story. This is followed by a list of Scripture references to look up, and then some thoughts and study questions. Each devotional is wrapped up with a prayer. Each section begins with a comic that gives a bit of a chuckle—I liked the one about not being able to teach driving because I can’t parallel park myself! It was very true-to-life for me.

I was given an ebook for this review, but I think a hard copy would be much more useful. This would be a good study for mothers to go through; there are many good thoughts to meditate on, and each entry is short enough that it won’t take a lot of a busy mother’s time. I appreciated what I read in I Prayed for Patience, God Gave Me Children!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

About the Author:

The author of the acclaimed Hosea’s Heart and Miracle on Maple Street, LINDA WOOD RONDEAU, a veteran social worker, writes from the heart of personal experience. Her blog, Snark and Sensibility, embodies her sense of humor, a trait she believes God gives parents for survival. A resident of Hagerstown, Maryland, the author shares her days with her husband and best friend in life, Steve. Readers may visit her website at www.lindarondeau.com. Contact the author on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Excerpt from the book:

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.

And by him we cry, Abba, Father

(Romans 8:15)

JUST LIKE MY DADDY

The courtroom was silent, waiting for the judge to make a decision—a decision to determine not only where little Joshua would live, but also what his name would be.

Not able to have children of their own, my son and daughter-in-law have adopted five children through the foster care system. Each addition to the family has been considered a blessing—especially so with Joshua. Joshua, who had been in foster care since early infancy, was free to be adopted. When the agency called my son and daughter-in-law who already had one adopted son and another whom they hoped to adopt, they opened their hearts to welcome the youngster into their burgeoning nest. Finally, all the legal work was over, and the family accompanied Joshua for his day in court.

The judge motioned Joshua to approach the bench. From his austere heights, the magistrate pointed to someone in the room. Each time, Joshua was asked, “Who is this?”

“Those are my brothers,” Joshua said, referring to the other adopted children. “That’s Mommy,” he explained as he pointed to my daughter-in-law.

Then the judge’s attention focused on my son who positioned Joshua in his arms, allowing the child to see the judge at eye level. “And who is this man holding you?”

Joshua’s eyes widened. He took his little hand and touched his father’s face as he squealed in delight, “THAT’S MY DADDY!”

The judge, assured of Joshua’s placement in a loving family, told John and Melissa that Joshua was now their legal son. Then the judge asked Joshua, “Do you know what your new name is?” Joshua hugged his new father and blurted with excitement, “Joshua John Barringer, just like my daddy!”

Sad are the indictments against Israel’s kings who “walked in the ways of their fathers” to commit vile acts of murder and idolatry. Sadder still are the descriptions of those sons who choose evil over the Godly example of their fathers. David was revered as a man after God’s heart because he cherished the relationship he had with his Heavenly Father more than any earthly treasure. When he sinned, he could not rest until his spirit was one again with the God he adored.

When we received Christ, God adopted us into His family. He holds us in His arms so we can touch His face. We are privileged to call him “Daddy, God.”

He asks us to be holy as He is holy. He asks us to look inside our hearts and say, “I want to be just like You.”

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Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Book Review, CelebrateLit

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