Book Review: Let's all be brave by Annie Downs

Let’s All Be Brave; living life with everything you have by Annie Downs is a book about how we should be brave in our life.  Not jump out of a plane brave but feeling secure in Christ so you can do anything for Him brave. 

I really enjoyed this book. Here writing style is very easy to read and conversational.  I feel like I just had a great pour out your heart, punch you in the gut, while having a coffee with a close friend kind of conversation.

What I love most about this book is her way to easily present how easy it is to be brave when you know God is there for you.  With his love and support we shouldn’t be afraid to make a life change, donate generously, pursue our dreams, etc.. 

My favorite quote from this book is…

“I believe in the me God made and in the me God can make.  I believe he made me on purpose and didn’t make any mistakes when it came to my creation.  I believe he is doing a good work in me, and in you. And that though I am flawed, God is loving me and refining me and reminding me that God in me is where I can place my trust.

And that is the place where I find my courage.”

I will definitely reread this book and buy copies for my friends. I enjoyed it that much.  Thank you, Annie Downs, for writing from your heart, exposing your weaknesses, and uplifting all who struggle to be brave.

Book Review: The healing quilt by Wanda E Brunstetter

The Healing Quilt by Wanda E Brunstetter is another book in the Half Stitched Amish Quilting Club series.  This time Emma and Lamar have moved to a small community close to Sarasota Florida for the winter.  As Emma is restless in the new town, Lamar encourages her to start another quilting club.  Joining her club is Jennifer who is pregnant with her first child and worried her husband won’t find a job before the baby is born, Erika a teen who was wheelchair bound after a diving accident, Noreen a retired teacher and widow looking for something creative to do, BJ an artist who is visiting Florida before his terminal cancer prevents him, and Kim a single woman who isn’t sure what life has for her after a recent break up with her boyfriend whom she followed to Florida.

I have not read the other quilting club books before reading this one and I loved it.  I want to go back and read the previous two books.  The love the flawed characters and how we see them go as individuals and as a group throughout the book.  Yes, you can expect the huge coincidences like the other books (aka what the girl I’ve been sewing next to is actually my daughter I haven’t seen in 20 years).  Yes, you know in the last couple chapters everyone will have a change of heart and it will all work out.  But I think it’s good to hope that that can happen in life.  Good things can happen.  Relationships can be mended.  Hearts can change.

This book is 310 pages long and I read it within a couple sittings.  I could not put it down.  I am a huge fan of most of Wanda E Brunstetter books but I have to say I think this is one of my top 10 favorites.

Note: I did receive a copy of this book for free to read and review.  The opinions above are my own and I was not compensated for a positive review.

Book Review: Willie Out West - children's book

Willie out West by Rhonda Walker is a children’s story about Willie the walrus who is bored at home.  When he flips on the TV he hears about the how the Wild West is being overrun by a mean whale.  The next thing he knows there is a knock on the door from the sheriff of the Wild West asking for his help.  He travels to the Wild West looking for adventure and to help the town’s people.

This book was written well and in a language that makes it easy for kids to understand.  I’d say a 1^st or 2^nd grader could easily read this book out loud.  The pictures were nice but very simple.  I think part of that is the ebook format made they look at little too simple.

I have to be honest, I didn’t like the story.  The resolution of helping the town’s people is getting them to scare the whale (bad guy) away with a harpoon.  Not the best lesson.  Pull out a weapon to scare the bad guy.  I don’t think I would choose this book off a shelf and read it to my kids.

 Note: I did receive a copy of this book for free to read and review from the publisher.  The opinions above are my own and I was not compensated for a positive review.

Book Review: The Sticky faith guid for your family by Dr. Kara Powell

The Sticky Faith guide for your family by Dr. Kara E Powell is the follow up book to her previously published book, Sticky Faith.  In Sticky Faith the findings from research conducted by the Fuller Youth Institute lay out the statistics of kids and youths challenges to keep their faith when becoming adults (especially when leaving for college).  The institute has interviewed thousands of families to determine what characteristics keep the faith in the family and kids.  This book was an answer to many letters asking for practical tips on how to create a sticky faith family.

This book hold many practical suggestions on how to encourage children, spend time together, etc. to create and keep your children engaged, seeking, and in love with Jesus and their faith.  This books helps create kids that aren’t just brain smart about Jesus but heart felt and truly knowledgeable about Him.

I found this book good. Not great.  I think it held many good suggestions and discussions on how to talk to children and youth but I just found it very hard to read.  I found myself flipping through reading a page here and there instead of cover to cover. 

I hope this book impacts many families in the world.  I will use some of what I read and maybe keep it on the shelf for a quick peak every now and them but for me that’s all it will be.

Note: I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher to read and review.  The opinions above are my own and I was not compensated for a positive review.

Book Review: Woman of Courage

A woman of courage by Wanda E. Bronstetter is a fictional period book about Amanda.  When Amanda’s fiancée calls off her wedding the night before she decides to leave her home town, travel out west to work with missionaries teaching the Indians about God.  On the long trail from New York to the far west she meets many obstacles and challenges including Indian raids, deaths or loved ones, animal attacks, weather, and all the other harshities of the wild west.  Along the way she meets new friends who help her make the trip and possibly find love.

 First off, I have read many of Wanda E. Brunstetters books.  I love her may Amish stories and enjoyed reading her writing with a different genre.  This one I think is one of her better.  From the beginning I was hooked.  There were so many twists and turns. Although sometimes the tragedies and events seemed a little excessive, I do think the west was that harsh.  You were never without danger of wild animals, Indian hostility, and lawless men.  It was a rough place for a woman.

 Anyone who is a fan of Wanda E. Brunstetter books or fictional wild-west books will love this book.  It has a great message and story all wrapped up.

 Note:

1)      I was given a copy of this book for free to read and review.  The opinions above are my own. I was not compensated for a positive review.

2)      I may have made up the word harshities but I like it.  So I used it.