God for the Rest of Us.

What does it feel like to be loved by a limitless God?God for the Rest of Us will wake you up to the outrageous, extravagant, and sometimes even scandalous love of God for the rest of us—whether you think you are unfit or a misfit, an underdog or overlooked, the least or the lost, the left behind or the left out. Vince Antonucci, a pastor who reaches out to people on the Las Vegas Strip, has seen it all—and more important, he has seen God’s love in action on each and every street corner. Vince is convinced that too many of us underestimate God and the scope of his love.

God for the Rest of Us is Vince’s story of how he found God’s breathtaking love at work among the people often forgotten and disdained by this world. Is God for the people who are forgotten and left out? Is He for the guy who betrayed his wife and left his kids? Is He for the doubters? The skeptics? The atheists? The answers to these questions can be found in the lives of people Vince meets. As you read their stories of transformation, you’ll begin to imagine how your life could be changed if you truly believe that you are loved with a perfect love. You’ll catch a glimpse of God—who is greater than your wildest dreams.

This was a greatt book about God's great grace. I enjoyed reading about the different people that Vince chose to write about and recap their stories. These stories are ones you would think would have ended in devastation, however, just as God is always faithful, He turns broken lives around.... Even in Sin City. 

If you have ever wondered if you are loved by God or know someone who questions if they are important to God then I highly recommend this book. 

Ties That Bind

Twenty-year-old Ariana Brenneman loves her family and the Old Ways. She has two aspirations: open a café in historic Summer Grove to help support her family’s ever-expanding brood and to keep any other Amish from being lured into the Englisch life by Quill Schlabach. 

Five years ago Quill, along with her dear friend Frieda, ran off together, and Ariana still carries the wounds of that betrayal. When she unexpectedly encounters him, she soon realizes he has plans to help someone else she loves leave the Amish.  
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Despite how things look, Quill’s goal has always been to protect Ariana from anything that may hurt her, including the reasons he left. After returning to Summer Grove on another matter, he unearths secrets about Ariana and her family that she is unaware of. His love and loyalty to her beckons him to try to win her trust and help her find a way to buy the café—because when she learns the truth that connects her and a stranger named Skylar Nash, Quill knows it may upend her life forever.      

Ties That Bind is the first novel in the Amish of Summer Grove series.

I have always loved reading fiction books about the Amish as I am intrigued by their strong family and community bonds and their humble living and hard work. This book started off fairly slow and at first I struggled to keep interest. However, I kept reading and the storyline picked up and so did the excitement! 

Once I reached the middle of the book I had a hard time putting it down! Now that I have completed the book I am crushed because I NEED the next book of this series to find out what happens with Ariana, Quill, and young, lost Skylar! 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from bloggingforbooks.com. The opinions expressed here are my own and I am not expected to give a positive critique nor am I paid for.my review. 

Chocolate Covered Cashews

On January 19, 2011, Wiley Baxter was fifty-seven years of age when God brought a surprise to him through a phone call. Over the next four days, it was revealed to him that he was the biological father of identical twin daughters and four grandchildren, which resulted from a two-year marriage he had thirty-six years before. Until that time, Wiley and his present wife of thirteen years had no children of their own. Overjoyed and overwhelmed, he began a new chapter in his life. Thankfully, Wiley has been blessed with good health and good employment throughout his life, and this helped him and his wife enjoy the wonderful joys of his children being in their lives all the more. Wiley`s faith in God has grown significantly over the latter part of his life, which he believes is one reason why He set him down one day to share these miracles from God and his life`s story.

This book was an account of Wiley's life story as he remembers it. It was an easy, light read. I felt like I was sitting in front of a grandfather figure and hearing about his life and how he knows God was watching over him through some of his lifetime trials. He was, to the best of his ability, asking for those of us who read his story to live life with Christ leading. During his accounts, I was taken back to a time where family pulls together and sticks together. 

Although not a book I would highly recommend if wanting entertainment I can appreciate the calling on the author's life to write his story. 

I received this ebook free from BookLookBloggers in exchange for my honest review. 

The Plain Choice

Raised in a broken family and emotionally overlooked, Sherry Gore grew up without a solid foundation, a prisoner of her own poor choices, and at times without hope.  A series of terrible mistakes left her feeling wrecked and alone and a sudden tragedy threw Sherry into an emotional tailspin too powerful to escape.

Sherry hangs by a thread, unable to see how she can go on living, until it happens: on a morning of no particular significance, she walks into a church and BAM the truth of Jesus’ forgiving love shatters her world and cleaves her life in two:  She goes to bed stunned; she wakes up a Christian.

Unwilling to return to the darkness of her former life, Sherry attacks her faith head on.  Soon the life Sherry Gore remakes for herself and her children as she seeks to follow the teachings of the Bible features head coverings, simple dress, and a focus on Jesus Christ.  Only then does she realize, in a fit of excitement, that there are others like her.  They are called Amish and Mennonite, and she realizes she has found her people.

The plain choice that Sherry makes is not easy – and life still brings unexpected pain and heartache - but it changes everything for her, as she becomes one of the few people on earth to have successfully joined the Amish from the outside. 

She has found her place. And her story proves that one can return from the darkest depths to the purest light with the power of God.

Sherry Gore's memoir is a simple yet intriguing read. The way she found Christ and kept faith in Him throughout her trials is something we could all learn from. She is honest about her feelings, even in the moments when she doubted God's will. I enjoyed reading her story and I admire her bravery.

I received this book from BookLookBloggers in exchange for my honest review. 

Waiting for Morning

As Hannah Ryan waits for her family to return home from a camping trip, she realizes she has everything going for her—a husband other women admire, two charming teenage daughters, and a loving Christian home. As the sunny afternoon turns into twilight, her uneasiness grows along with the shadows. Then a car pulls into Hannah’s driveway, bringing two police officers...and devastating news that shatters her life forever.

In the days that follow, Hannah struggles with unspeakable feelings of sorrow and rage—feelings that fuse into one chilling purpose for living: revenge against Brian Wesley, the drunk driver who has caused all her pain.

In her fury, Hannah shuts the Lord out of her life. She’s determined not to forgive Wesley or the God who allowed this tragedy to happen. Can two caring people help Hannah rediscover her faith...before bitterness destroys her?

Karen Kingsbury does it again! Not 40 pages into the book and my husband asks me what is wrong as I have tears streaming down my face! This book delivers in the area of emotional uprising and tear jerking moments. Anyone of us, including myself, could go through the trials this mother and her family went through. There was real life heartbreak and hope woven throughout these pages.
As Hannah goes through the trials and nightmares that no mother and wife would ever want to wish upon her worst enemy I was able to relate in many ways. From loving memories of her daughters to the horrifying realization that her family has been torn apart and wondering if life will ever be "fair" or unkind again kept me turning the pages. Every moment I had I was stuck in this book! 

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. 

Humor and Food!!!!!

Feeling overwhelmed by life's daily demands? Could you use some encouragement and inspiration in the kitchen? The Too Blessed to Be Stressed Cookbook to the rescue! Each of the 100-plus recipes can be prepared in 20 minutes or less, plus you'll encounter some fabulous tips and suggestions as well as funny foodie quotes, scripture selections, humorous stories of cooking misadventures, and more, along the way. Recipes are arranged into 4 categories--Heart-Healthy, Soul-Fed, Time-Wise, and Company-Happy--and are accompanied by appealing full-color photographs. You'll cheer as you soak up the joy Debora M. Coty brings into your life and home!

Charming book! Reading through the book I found myself smiling, chuckling out loud, and relating to the kitchen recipe misfortunes. The first day I read it I picked up the simple ingredients for one of the recipes and prepared it... ready to eat in 20 minutes! my husband ate 3 bowls and my daughter even ate more than usual. I recommend this book!

The Friends of Jesus

In our everyday lives, friends are the people whom we spend the most time with, go through struggles with at times, and who know us best. Each of Jesus’ friends—Peter, John, Matthew, Judas, Mary Magdalene, and Lazarus—traveled with Jesus and were part of His daily ministry, and each has a compelling story to tell. There were some who would question or doubt Him…and one would even betray Him. Kingsbury brings these fascinating personalities to life in ways that will not only help bring you closer to the truths found in Scripture, but also to Christ.

By combining valuable, instructive Bible study with compelling, insightful character sketches of Jesus’ companions, Kingsbury provides you with a deeper understanding of the scriptural teachings featuring these fascinating people. Emotionally powerful, thought-provoking, and soulful, The Friends of Jesuswill help you to appreciate the Bible and understand how it applies to your relationships with the most important people in your life.

Karen Kingsbury is absolutely amazing in how she is able to bring the history of the Bible to life. While reading her book I felt I strapped on sandals and went back in time and was able to oversee the events played out in the characters she depicted. I felt the joy of miracles being witnessed. I felt the pain of sorrow of death and sickness and the sadness of Jesus's arrest. 

If you would like to have an idea of what it could have looked like during the time and days before Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection and how those who were closest to him thought and felt then I highly recommend this read. Karen Kingsbury has a magnificent gift! 

All for Anna

I really enjoyed reading All for Anna by Nicole Deese. This is the first book I have ever read by her and I am looking forward to reading the next in this series (Letting Go).

Maybe I enjoyed this book so much because I could relate to the main character, who is Anna. Anna is very successful. She lives alone and is a successful RN. However, she is haunted by a past like so many of us are. She endured a very traumatic experience and blames herself for the outcome. She continually tries to outrun the experience both physically and emotionally. She even moves away from where she grew up to get away from the memories.

However, she is called back to her hometown by family circumstance. There she is flooded by memories and moreover she is forced to reconnect with her parents that she has been avoiding.

If you like romance, there's plenty of knight in shining armor moments, but not corny. Those who suffer PTSD will especially enjoy this book.

Can't wait!

I just requested a book to do a book review on!

Unspoken by Dee Henderson

I am currently reading Unspoken by Dee Henderson. It's been a bit difficult for me to get through. She is an excellent writer and has certainly done her research! This book goes through a lot of detail about coins... don't get me wrong, I love currency just as much as the next person... but I would really like to get more to the story line! Another thing I feel this book  is lacking is more background on the main character and where she has come from and why she is in the situation she is in. Maybe as I get further along in the book it will explain more but I often find myself drifting off to another thought while reading this book.

Welcome!!!

Hello all! My name is Karen and just like so many others out there, I have decided to begin a blog! What makes mine different from all others? NOTHING! It's just little 'ol me jotting down some words, maybe giving some inspiration, maybe ranting, but altogether just getting my thoughts out so my dear and patient husband doesn't have to hear EVERYTHING. Why am I doing this blog? Weeeeelll, I love to connect with others like me and mostly I like to connect with other readers! Just recently I have been reading other bloggers and the thought popped into my head.... why not start my own blog? So here I am!

In case you were wanting to know a little more about me, I am one busy woman! I have three beautiful daughters! I am coming up on one year of marriage to my wonderful husband that God has blessed me with. I currently work full time as a medical assistant for a private otolaryngologist (say that 3 times fast!). I enjoy being around others but I also need my quiet time. Of course, that's not all about me but I won't continue to talk about ME! If you stick around you will get to know all of my good and sometimes not so good aspects.

So, what is going to go on this blog? Recipes, product reviews, book reviews, fitness and nutrition information, inspiration, lots of talk about kids and Jesus!

But mostly... I will be doing book reviews! Why? I love books! Ask anyone who knows me... I can get lost in any bookstore or book section of a thrift store... Books are to me like movies are to others. Ever since I was a little girl I would spend hours upon hours just escaping into reading. So, if this sounds like you and you are interested then please, stick around, let's be friends!