KnowOrphans by Rick Morton

"KnowOrphans: Mobilizing the Church for Global Orphanology" by Rick Morton is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to adopt. Not only does Rick Morton dive into why families should adopt, but also what the church's role should be with so many orphans around the world. Namely, how the church is responsible for equipping and supporting families before, during and after the adoption process.

The Bible calls Christians to care for the orphans of this world. So as believers, why aren't we doing more? Rick Morton is quick to point out that adoption is not for everyone, but you can still care for orphans without adopting.

What I like best about this book was that Rick Morton offers many ways that we as Christians can help take care of orphans. There are many options available besides choosing to immediately adopt although that would ultimately be the best option in the long run.

Personally, I really enjoy reading books on topics of orphans and adoption because my husband and I both have an immense desire to adopt in the near future. We feel that God is leading us in this direction, although we don't know how or where it's going to happen yet. Books like this one are excellent resources to families like my own, with adoption in their future.

I received this book for free from Litfuse in exchange for my honest unbiased opinion.

Miss Brenda and The Loveladies by Brenda Spahn and Irene Zutell

After Brenda Spahn nearly went to prison herself, she felt God calling her to prison ministry. After just a few visits to the Tutwiler Women's prison in Alabama, she knew God wanted her to do more...she just didn't know what. She found that many of the women she ministered to in the prison were repeat offenders. Meaning that soon after they got out of prison, they were back to their old habits and ended up right back at Tutwiler. Brenda thought this was ridiculous and looked into what type of programs were available for the women once they were back onto the street.

What she found surprised her. There were little to no programs available for these type of women. There were halfway houses that provided a bed and 3 warm meals a day, but they didn't offer any kind of counseling, or rehabilitation to get back on their feet. The women that entered these halfway houses often went back to their old friends, old ways of life, and eventually back to prison. Brenda knew there was a better way.

Her husband, Jeff was in real estate and Brenda owned a Tax company, so money wasn't really an issue. She and her husband had plenty to spare even though they had planned to use that money to retire. So Brenda decided to open up one of her homes to house the first 7 ex-convicts. This is where the book turned a little humorous at times. Like the time the first 7 women showed up to Brenda's house and she refers to one of the women as "Shaved Head" because she was so stinkin scary looking! She thought for sure she had made a terrible mistake and these women were going to kill her in her sleep.

But throughout the first year, she learned so much from these women. She learned that yes, she was helping these women get their lives back, but they were showing her something about herself that she never would have known about. And most importantly, Brenda learns the importance of letting God direct her paths instead of her just doing what she wants. After just a few years, Brenda's program is helping 450 women and children per day! What an incredible ministry!

From the moment I saw this book was available for review, I was interested in it. I found it to be a serious book, yet it was also full of humorous stories and conversations between the women. At times, the chapters were heartbreaking as they alternated between the points of view of Brenda and some of the different women including Shay (Shaved Head), Tiffany (Suga Suga), and Stephanie just to name a few. It was horrible to think about the abuse that some of these women suffered as children. It was interesting to see how many of those women were arrested in development at such a young age. So many of the women came to look at Brenda as their own mother because they had no relationship with their own.

It was encouraging to see how much God worked in each women's life while they were in the Lovelady House. Many of them were able to reestablish relationships with their children and in a way, were able to start all over.

I rate this book as 4 stars and would definitely recommend it. I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah  Publishing Company in exchange for my honest unbiased opinion.

Maybelle in Stitches by Joyce Magnin

"Maybelle in Stitches" by Joyce Magnin is a historical fiction set in Chester, Pennsylvania in 1943 during World War II. Maybelle is a young wife, only married for a weekend before her husband, Holden left to fight in the war. In the meantime, Maybelle lives with her mother, Francine and works at Sun Shipbuilding to do her part in the war effort.

Maybelle soon receives word that Holden is missing in action. Maybelle is understandably distraught and is beside herself with worry. About this same time, Maybelle finds a quilt her mother started for her. A quilt that tells her family's history but is only half finished. Her friend, Doris convinces her to finish the quilt if only to keep her mind off of Holden. The trouble is, Maybelle doesn't know the first thing about sewing! Since Doris' husband is also away at war, they begin a quilting circle of war wives, and soon find that their circle is a healing place for all of them.

I love the books in the Quilts of Love Series and this book was no exception! It was very interesting and had no trouble keeping my attention! I felt like this author really did her research with this book. In the back of the book, Joyce Magnin explains how she learned about Sun Ship and how the character Doris was actually inspired by a real life woman, Jeanette E. Swift.

I thought this book was fascinating and not like most historical fictions I have read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I rate this book as 5 stars.

I received this book for free from Litfuse to give my honest unbiased opinion.

Dancing With Fireflies by Denise Hunter

You know that one book you wait MONTHS for and can't wait to read? After reading "Barefoot Summer" by Denise Hunter, this was the book I was waiting for. "Dancing With Fireflies" by Denise Hunter is the second book in the Chapel Springs Romance series. It follows the story of Jade McKinley, the younger sister of Madison McKinley from the previous book.

Jade is back in Chapel Springs after living in the big city for a year. Everyone is surprised to see here, including Daniel, a family friend who has always been like a big brother to Jade. But she's terrified to let everyone know the secret she holds...of what happened while she was away from home.

As Jade spends more time at home, she finally confides in Daniel, albeit accidental. She plans to tell her family, but it seems like something bad happens every time she tries. Meanwhile, Jade begins seeing Daniel as more than just a big brother figure, although she refuses to admit it. She has been hurt one too many times and refuses to give her love away again. She is oblivious to the fact that Daniel has actually loved her for many years. Will Jade be able to overcome her past so that she can consider a future with Daniel?

I absolutely loved this book! It was the perfect sequel to Barefoot Summer and even periodically mentions Madison and Beckett, which I love. This was one of those books that I had trouble putting down, because it was just that good! I read it in a matter of two nights!

I have become a huge fan of Denise Hunter since reading the first book in the Chapel Springs series. I think of her as somewhat of a Christian Nicholas Sparks. She writes amazing, page-turning, glue-you-to-the-seat books but without a hint of inappropriate content. I think this definitely sets her apart as an author, as she has quickly become one of my favorites! I am most definitely looking forward to the next book in the series and wondering which McKinley sibling it will be about!

I rate this book as 5 stars. I received this book for free from Litfuse to give my honest unbiased opinion.

A Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare

During the last couple of months, I've had the opportunity to read several books from the "Quilts of Love" Series. This month, I had the chance to read and review "A Sky Without Stars" by Linda S. Clare. It's the story of a Native American woman named Frankie Chasing Bear and her son, Harold. 

The story is set in 1951 and begins with Frankie and Harold moving to Arizona after Frankie's husband passes away. Frankie wants nothing more than for Harold to learn about his Lakota heritage, but that will be difficult with so many white men around and no male role model. Frankie's grandmother once said that a bed without a quilt, is like a sky without stars, so Frankie knows she must make the traditional Lakota star quilt for her son. 

Along the way, Frankie meets Nick, a BIA agent who convinces Frankie that not all white men are bad, and she must learn to trust in God and the people He has surrounded her with. 

I thought this book was definitely a light, yet fun read. It kept my interest and kept me wondering what was going to happen next! It was interesting to read about Frankie and how her story slowly changed from someone who didn't trust anyone, to someone who put her trust in the white man's God and how she was able to finally let her guard down. There wasn't an immense amount of spiritual content in this book. Being a Native American, Frankie's main concern throughout most of the book was her reliance on the spirits and having her grandmother speak to her through dreams. 

All in all though, I enjoyed this book and especially the aha moment where I learned why the book had the name it did. ;) If you're looking for a light read, I would recommend this book. I rate it as 4 stars.

I received this book for free from Litfuse to give my honest unbiased opinion. 

Gods at War Student Edition by Kyle Idleman

This week I had the privilege of reading and reviewing "Gods at War: Student Edition" by Kyle Idleman!

The Ten Commandments. Most people can name a few of these, or maybe even all of them, but do we really understand them? Most people misunderstand the meaning of one of the most important commandments, "Thou shalt not make for yourself an idol." They think about Bible times and how people actually worshiped a golden calf or a pagan god, but rarely do they think of it as still being a problem nowadays.

Kyle Idleman has written a fantastic book explaining why we need to be wary of the idols in our lives. They're not simply things of the past. They could very well be relationships, entertainment, materialism or our own appearance. I admit, I never even thought about God's commandment that way, but I certainly do now! Idleman writes with conviction and at times, humor. I think this book was put together wonderfully as a student edition.

At the end of each chapter is basically a think-it-through section called "Idol ID" where readers are asked 3-4 questions on what they just read and how it applies to their life. Immediately following is a quick synopsis of the chapter for quick referral.

I would highly recommend this book to students between the ages of 13-18. I think the author did a fantastic job and I am now eager to read more of his work, especially the original edition of this book. I believe this book would be beneficial to go through as a Bible study or perhaps even during a Sunday School quarter. I rate it as 5 stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

First of all, I just wanted to say that I had a very hard time getting into this story. I have a hard time reading books with the abuse of children, or one of devastating sadness and immediately this book posed those characteristics. The beginning of this book literally made me sick with it's content and I had a very hard time even finishing the book just knowing what was at the beginning. I have heard so many good reviews and comments about this book, but it was just not for me. I need something a bit more uplifting.

In the beginning of the book, we learn about Sarah and how she is the product of an affair between her mother and a wealthy married man. Sarah's mother continues to be a mistress in exchange for provisions and a small house to live in. Sarah quickly learns that her father wants nothing to do with her, but even then she would go to the ends of the earth to earn his love. When Sarah is a young girl, her mother becomes ill and passes away. Sarah is left to fend for herself until a friend of her mother's sells her to a wealthy pedophile.

This part of the story was highly disturbing to me and I had a hard time finishing the book. From what I have gathered from the remaining portion of the book, Sarah later becomes a prostitute under the name of Angel. She meets a man named Michael who loves her despite her shortcomings and what she has done in the past. He is very forgiving with her...almost too forgiving in that they really end up having no marriage at all.

Even though this is a Christian romance novel, I would rate it as R. Meaning that I would definitely not want my girls reading this even once they are older and more mature. From other reviews I have read, I have gathered that the story is supposed to symbolize the story of Hosea in the Bible, but even the Bible does not go into such detail as this book. It was just a bit too much for me. Too much inappropriate content that I was not a fan of. I rate this book as 1 star.

I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing group in exchange for my honest unbiased opinion.

Young Women of Faith Bible

There are so many different types and versions of Bibles available out there, so it's hard to know which one is the right pick for you. This week, I had the privilege of reviewing the "Young Women of Faith Bible" with devotionals by Susie Shellenberger. You may remember her as the editor of Brio magazine! She is also the author of many books including "Girl Talk with God" or more recently "The Smart Girl's Guide to God, Guys and the Galaxy" which is set to release on April 1st!

I really enjoyed this pre-teen Bible for many different reasons! It's aimed at girls ages 8 on up, which is perfect for my oldest daughter. She was so very excited when I presented her with it! She has had numerous Bibles in the past, but to her this Bible had a little bit more of a grown up feel to it. The inside is full of bright pink flowers, butterflies and a fun font. Throughout the Bible verses, there are "Journal" entries which are usually a sample prayer to God or a reflection time to think about what was just read. There are also small sections entitled "If I were There..." which gives an opportunity to think about the Bible story and to imagine that readers were actually a part of the story.

The author has also made the beginning of the Bible chapters and interesting experience! Each chapter begins with a series of questions after the name of the Chapter is listed. Examples of the questions are
Who wrote this book?
Why was this book written?
What happens in this book?
What do we learn about God in this book?
Who is important in this book?
When did this happen?
What are some of the stories in this book?

Also in the back of the book is the appendix of course, and then a measurement chart which explains the difference between measurements quoted in the Bible and the measurements we use now.

I found this Bible to be excellent and will not hesitate to recommend it to anyone I know with pre-teen girls! I rate it as 5 stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

A Dad's Prayers for His Daughter by Rob and Joanna Teigen

For the last couple of weeks, I've been reading through "A Dad's Prayers for His Daughter: Praying for Every Part of Her Life" by Rob and Joanna Teigen. I didn't want to simply rush through this book as it is meant to be a 90 day devotional.

I loved the titles of the devotionals, because if there was something certain I was looking to pray for, I could just browse through the book and find it easily. There are various types of prayers included in this book. "For when she's Afraid", "When She needs Comfort", "When She Considers Dating", and "When She's Pressured to Fit In" just to name a few.

I found this Prayer Devotional to be a bit different than most other Prayer Devotionals because not many I have seen focus solely on the Dad's Prayers. Generally I have seen books that are for both parents. When I requested this book, I knew it would be perfect for my hubby as he already has two daughters and one on the way! We are continually praying for our daughters, but like most parents sometimes we just don't know what to pray for.

This book is an excellent resource for any parent, not just dad's, but my hubby is really looking forward to reading it now that I've told him what a great book it is. :)

About the Authors:
Rob Teigen has been a publishing professional for more than fifteen years and is the author of three joke books, including "Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for Kids" (under the pseudonym Rob Elliott). He and his wife, Joanna Teigen, are the parents of a teenage son and three young daughters. They are the authors of "88 Great Daddy-Daughter Dates" and live in West Michigan. Find out more at www.strongerdads.com.

I received this book for free from Baker Publishing Group in exchange for my honest unbiased opinion.

"Real Women Leading with Proverbs 31 Values" by Lisa Troyer and Dawn Yoder

In "Real Women Leading with Proverbs 31 Values" by Lisa Troyer and Dawn Yoder, the authors explain how to use ten values from Proverbs 31 and how to implement them into our daily lives in the marketplace.

One of the points these authors are trying to make is to inspire the upcoming generation to be Proverbs 31 women, and to show them that womanhood is a gift...something to be cherished. The Proverbs 31 woman is not merely something from women of the past. It can be daunting to try to live up to the expectations of the Proverbs 31 woman. She can do it all! But it is possible to live that way today, and these two authors show us how to do just that.

This is not a type of book to be read lightly. It holds a wealth of important information that cannot simply be read by browsing through. Also, at the end of each chapter is a set of questions on what was just read, and steps to follow to implement these values into our own lives.

I think this book is an excellent read whether or not you are engaged in the business world. It is also an excellent resource for mothers, church volunteers, and women from any background. I rate this book as 5 stars.

I received this book for free from Litfuse to give my honest unbiased opinion.

Don't forget to enter the contest below! :)

Real Women Leading: With Proverbs 31 Values is a must-have leadership resource for today’s Christian woman. Lisa Troyer and Dawn Yoder are celebrating the release of their book with an iPad Mini giveaway and a Facebook "Leading with Values" author chat event on March 20th.

  One winner will receive:

• An iPad Mini
• Real Women Leading by Lisa Troyer and Dawn Yoder

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 20th. Winner will be announced at "Leading with Values" Facebook Party on March 20th. Connect with Lisa and Dawn for an encouraging discussion on how we can lead (at home and in the workplace) effectively and with biblical values. Win prizes, connect with other leaders, and be inspired.

So grab your copy of Real Women Leading and join Lisa and Dawn on the evening of March 20th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 20th!