Book Review: Gospel Centered Mom

Being a mom can be tough. From preparing for the "perfect" birth to pacifier options, to picking out a dentist to helping our child choose a college, we always want to do the best for our children. And I believe all moms have a certain fear of failing our kids, of not being "enough."

The back of Gospel Centered Mom reads, "What if the solution is simply to embrace the truth that you are not enough--but God is?"

This book looks into the ways we can go back to the Gospel truths in our mothering. Each chapter concludes with a hard truth and a beautiful truth. This journey is hard, but it's worth it!

I find this encouraging book to be simple enough a read to pick up to read for a few moments in the midst of my busy days. It brings my focus back to where it needs to be. I hope others will find it an encouragement as well.

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

Book Review: The House on Foster Hill

Kaine has a stalker. Her husband died two years ago, and ever since then her stalker has been harassing her. Unfortunately, the police don't believe her. She relocates to a rural area in Wisconsin to renovate a historic home and escape from the stalker. Over a hundred years earlier, a young woman named Ivy is working to solve a murder mystery. No one knows who the young victim was, nor why her body was put into the hollow of a tree.  As Kaine and Ivy are working through their unique circumstances, we learn that their stories may be intertwined. 

I started reading this book around 4 yesterday afternoon. Even after breaking for dinner and family game night, I managed to finish it by 11. I couldn't put it down! Excellent read! I wish I could say more... but you'll have to read it for yourself!

You may learn more about the author HERE.   

I received this book from Bethany House for this review.

Book Review: Death at Thornburn Hall

The story is a group of people arriving for a golf tournament. Their host mysteriously dies after confiding in one of the guests, sharing some confusing information. The death is ruled an accident, but things are looking fishy. What if it's a murder? 

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It's finally happened... the book I couldn't finish. There are too many characters; I can't keep straight who is who. The characters do not have personalities that bring them to life. The conversation is boring, the plot moves too slowly. I finally had to set the book down. 

I DID find out that this book is only one in a series of mysteries. Perhaps I'd have had better luck if I had read the first book first? 

If slow moving mysteries about golfing tournaments is your thing, then perhaps this is a great read. But I was just bored. 

You may learn more about the author HERE. 

I received this book from Bethany House for this review.

Book Review: The Wonder of Advent

Interesting? Check.

Short entries? Check.

Deep questions? Check.

Helping the reader to focus on the true reason for the Advent season? Check.

This is an excellent little devotional! There are two sections: Preparation (November 24-30), and Advent (December 1-31). Each day's entry contains a Bible verse, about 5 paragraphs of the devotion, and a few questions for reflection. The Advent section adds a passage for further reflection and a few lines of a corresponding hymn. 

Here's an example: The first day in the devotional quotes Philippians 2:7 and then discusses the meaning of the Incarnation. The two questions for reflection are:

"How does God becoming flesh redeem the human race?"

"What do you think the Incarnation was like for Jesus?"

All in all, a great little book!

To learn more about the author, click HERE. 

I received this book from Tyndale House Publishers for this review.