Nobody's Cuter Than You by Melanie Shankle

"Nobody's Cuter Than You" by Melanie Shankle is the author's memoir on the beauty of friendship that she has experience through her life.  Melanie Shankle has wrote two other memoir books one on motherhood and one on marriage. I really wish the publisher would now put all three into one volume to make it easier to give to other people. The author weaves humor through out the whole book even when she talks about serious things happening but not in a disrepectable way.  She reminds us how much friendship even as a child can affect you even as an adult. Or that those childhood friends can last a lifetime which I know for sure with one of my friends.  The main portion of the book involves her and her friendship with her best friend Gully from start to present day. Also she really hits on that friendships are important to people especially to women.  I really enjoyed this book as did remind me stay close to my friends I have from my youth which are not many and also wishing that they lived closer to me.   Also how I wish I had a closer female friend that lives near me but I don't have that.  This is very fun and quick book to read.  I highly recommend it.

I was given this book for my honest review by Tyndale Publishers.

The Set-Apart Woman by Leslie Ludy

 "The Set-apart Woman" by Leslie Ludy is a book on the practical ways to live a Godly life for women.  This book started out on a very harsh and legalistic type of note for me.  She starts it with a story of over hearing the worship team discussing the show Saturday Night Live.  She thought it was horrible to go from talking about that to worshipping God like they should not be doing that. She did though bring up that it brought to light her own comprises in life.  It was like she forgot that we are all works in progress, that we are not made perfect as soon as we become Christians. Or that God has worked on us all in the exact same area in our lives sat the exact same time.  I kept reading and her book did help me in ways.  But at times attitude when it came to entertainment culture and other points of culture today was on the if you don't believe and think like I do maybe your not a believer attitude.  Which she at times would say that's not what she was saying but in some ways it was.  I will agree  with her our entertainment culture is in the toilet truthfully its been there for decades there is no arguing that.  I just had a hard time with this book it could go so easily to a legalism stand point. even though it didn't some may take it that way.  This book to me is more of a book for an older believer not a new believer.  A new believer would probable get very discouraged especially if they are very new to the Bible and being sanctified. Cause we are all like onions when it comes to what God is working on with us in other words our path to sanctification.  Some God might be on their first layer sin and others their 20th layer so we can't expect everyone to be where we are. For a more Biblical answer Jesus did not expect Peter to be at the same level as John or James why should we expect everyone to be at the same level as us.  I would recommend this book for a believer that God has already brought down some of the path to sanctification.

I was given this book from Tyndale Publishers for my honest review.

Finding Me by Kathryn Cushman

"Finding Me" by Kathryn Cushman is a about Kelli Huddleston who finds out her life has been a lie told by her now deceased father and step-mom.  She is now on a quest to find out the truth and it may be a disaster for her life or a blessing you will have to read to find out what happens.  The book was interesting at points I did get bored with it but I stuck thru and I was glad I kept reading.  Now the main character Kelli did get on my nerves some as she was very wishy-washy at times.  Now this may sound weird but I would have loved to read a book from her dad or even her step-mothers point of view.  This book does have mystery in but not your major crime type mystery which made it a fun read. However, I really wish that I could read a Christian novel without any type of romance coming into the story, as usually this one has romance in it.  Not all secular books have romance in them why does Christian authors seem to think we won't read their books if they don't have romance in them.     Anyway off my soap box it is still a good fun quick read especially if you like a little bit of mystery.  Also I loved how the author brings up how much damage an non-fiction author can do to people by writing God wants you happy and to use scripture twisting to make it look right.  So I do recommend this book for a fun quick read with at times a heavy subject.

I was given this book from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review.

Deadly Echoes by Nancy Mehl

 "Deadly Echos" by Nancy Mehl is the second book in the Deadly Echoes book series.  For some reason I have a tendency to request book 2 in a lot of book series.  This one is a book that can stand alone in the series.  It is a murder mystery novel that follows the life of Sarah Miller whose parents were murdered as a child now as an adult the haunting of that incident comes barrelling back when her sister is murdered.  I will admit the first half of the book was on the slower side for me but about half way thru it I started getting excited and did not want to put it down.  We really get to know the character Sarah and her friend Paul Gleason who is a sheriff and yes like most Christian book her love interest.  But thankfully the romance book was very minimal in the book.  I did figure out the who might have been the killer before the climatic portion of the story happened but it still did not ruin it for me.  I do recommend this book if you like murder mysteries.

I was given this book from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review.

The Beauty Of Grace by multiple authors

 "The Beauty of Grace" is stories of God's love from today's most popular writers, such as Mary DeMuth, Leeana Tankersley, Lisa Jo Baker, and many others.  This book is a good collection of feel good stories with a scripture verse at the end of them.  I will admit only 2 authors where familiar to me the rest I had no clue on who they where.  This book to me was more like another Chicken Soup for Soul type of book with stories just to appeal to the emotions of people.  I am not a fan of that type of book.  I prefer a good balance of feel good stories and hard teaching.  This just was not my type of book as it is all feel good type of stories.  If you just want feel good stories then this book is for you if you want more hard teaching then its not for you.

I was given this book from Revel a division of Baker Publishing Group for my honest review.

"Blind-sided By God" by Peter Chin

 "Blind-Sided By God" by Peter Chin is memoir of the author of his life during the most difficult part of his life.  The book starts off with his meeting and marrying his wife then goes to him moving to a bad neighborhood, planting a church and his wife getting cancer while pregnant.  This book was so heart wrenching on what has happened to this man and his family.  But they way God has brought them thru all the trials is just wonderful.  You will just need to read the book to know more about all his trials cause it all works together and I don't want to give that away.  I will say my favorite part of the book is where the author describes how he handles a woman who asks the question what happens when you don't get a happy ending.  I also love how he brings up that life is not about getting happy endings.  It is a very powerful book on leaning on God and not expecting a happy ending.  I highly recommend this book.

I was given this book from Bethany House Publishers and not required to give a positive review.

Goodwill finds video

Just one of my little videos I did this is showing some of my deals from Goodwill.

Capture The Moment by Sarah Wilkerson and Giveaway.

"Capture the Moment" by Sarah Wilkerson  is a photography book on teaching you how to shoot wonderful photos particular with beginners in mind.  I will admit I don't have a decent camera to take photos lets put this way to keep my camera running it has to have a tooth pick kept in the area near the battery.  But I am wanting to learn on how to take a good photo especially when I can use my best friends camera.  I had a class that was taught by a friend of mine on basic photography so I am not going into this book completely blind.   So what is special about this book for me its a perfect combo of instruction with beautiful pictures taken by many different women all very talented.  I am a visual person if I don't see it or physical handle something I can't understand it at times.  This book really helped me to learn even more about taking a good photo.  I will admit at times I was more interested in looking at the photos than reading the tips.  Now there are words used in the photography world that the average person may not know such as aperture, well this book explains them.  Its nice to have such a wonderful book to be able reference while I learn to take beautiful photos. I highly recommend this book for anyone that is a beginner in photography or someone who needs to shake off some dust from their knowledge in photography.   I am giving away one copy of this book as I was accidentally shipped 2 books so here is your chance to own a copy of it.

I was given this book from Blogging for Books for my honest review.


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Buried Secrets by Irene Hannon

"Buried Secrets" by Irene Hannon is a murder mystery novel that is the first book in the Men Of Valor series.  I have read a book before from this author and was excited to read another one by her. She is an excellent mystery author.  This book starts with a death that could change 3 college students lives and instead of reporting it they hide it.  Next we find the body of the victim being found over 20 years later and the danger/trouble that brings. The main characters (outside of the college students) in the story is the new police chief in the small town a former Chicago homicide detective named Lisa Grant and ex-Navy Seal Mac McGregor the detective sent to help.  Yes this is the typical Christian book that has romance mixed with the mystery but this one that portion does not over power the story.  I really liked how the author did not use the typical person for the bad guy (I know not a big word but trying not to give much away). Even the romance portion of the story was not bad and for me that takes a lot to say as I usually can't stand any type of romance in a mystery novel.   This was a fast paced book I literally picked it up today thinking oh I need to start reading this and could not put down.  An hour later I finished with it and wanting to read more from this author.  I highly recommend this book can't wait for the next one in the series.

I received this book from Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group and was not required to give a positive review.