Peace on Earth

I was provided Peace on Earth A Christmas Collection by Mary Engelbreit from the BookSneeze program and Zonderkidz publishers in exchange for an honest published review.

This is a beautiful Christmas book - for children and/or for the coffee table. The cover has snowflakes on it with texture - very fun. All of the illustrations are in the familiar colorful Engelbreit style.

Except for one story which lasts four pages, each page spread is something different - a Christmas poem, a Christmas carol, or the Christmas story. My favorite part is near the end: two paragraphs by James Freeman Clarke about how God made so many different kinds of people. "Let us not torment each other because we are not all alike, but believe that God knew best what he was doing in making us so different."

Four stars.

The Christmas Candle

Through the BookSneeze program and Thomas Nelson Publishers I was provided The Christmas Candle by Max Lucado in exchange for an honest review.

This is a cute Christmas story set in the 1800's in England. The story is based around a candle maker the week before Christmas. See, it is said that an angel visits the candle shop the week before Christmas every twenty-five years. The angel touches just one candle and that candle is said to be the vessel for God to work. This is the year for the angel to visit and everyone in the village is wanting to be the recipient of this special candle.

The story is the anticipation of the angel coming and to whom the candle maker and his wife will give this special candle. All the while the new preacher is not on board with the candle holding special powers. So what will happen when the candle touched by the angel is mixed up with the others?

I rated this book three stars. I had a hard time following the story line at the beginning and keeping up with the characters. The writing style was just difficult for me: a chapter would start with all pronouns and on the next page the pronoun was finally identified. But it is a cute Christmas story and one I will probably enjoy with additional readings - maybe each Christmas.

Runaway Emotions

I was provided an incredible book by the BookSneeze program and Thomas Nelson publishers: Runaway Emotions Why You Feel the Way You Do and What God Wants You to Do About It by Jeff Schreve. This book took me a long time to read - simply because I wanted to take the time to process all of the great truths! 

Each chapter highlights one emotion, what Shreve calls a "smoke alarm." Those emotions, that seem to take over, are warnings from God. Shreve follows that up with how to handle it God's way. 

1. Embarrassment: When You Feel Inferior
2. Loneliness: All by Myself
3. Frustration: A Real Nowhere Man
4. Worry: When Anxiety Attacks
5. Anger: The Beast Within
6. Guilt: When Your Conscience Is Killing You
7. Discontentment: Unhappy Campers
8. Depression: When All Hope Seems Lost

Some highlights from the book:

• The very first chapter (EMBARRASSMENT) reminded me that we have already been given everything we need (patience, strength, etc.), but we need to claim those gifts from God. 
• I definitely had some "take-homes" from the ANGER chapter as well... "when we see life from His perspective, we will say, 'Lord, You did all things well! You did every single thing in my life perfectly, Lord, and I'm so glad.'" 
• The GUILT chapter reminds the reader of Hebrews 12: 7-8 summarizing it by saying, "If you're not experiencing discipline, then you're not My child." That "the smoke alarm of guilt is a blessing." Schreve uses examples such as premarital sex or harboring bitterness. If you don't feel guilty about those things, then you aren't walking with God. 

 Five stars and highly recommended!

Rosemary Cottage

I was provided Rosemary Cottage by Colleen Coble from the BookSneeze program and Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
Knowing this book is the second Hope Beach Novel, I reserved the first book Tidewater Inn from the library before this book arrived on my doorstep. Many of the characters from the first book show up in the second book and the location is the same. However, reading Tidewater Inn is not necessary in enjoying Rosemary Cottage.
Rosemary Cottage has a little bit of romance on top of the mystery and suspense involved in Amy Lange's investigation into her brother's death. Amy is a midwife with parents who have their own plans for her, including leaving her brother's death labeled as a drowning. However, Amy has many reasons to be suspicious of her brother's death and she learns that things are not always as they seem.
A coastguard, Curtis Ireland, decides to help her with her investigation. He lost a sister in a boating accident and can relate to Amy's grief. But in their grief there is also anger and denial. The reader sees how these emotions cause them to become defensive and therefore interfere with their possible budding romance.
Through this story Amy learns, "No one was perfect. Trying to make believe only led to heartache" and from that realizes she needs to share her trials, not hide them.
Five stars.

The Rainbow Egg by Linda K. Hendricks

This book was provided to me through the BookSneeze program in exchange for an honest review. I have mixed feelings on this book.
The story is analogous to international adoption. It is based on this chicken who lives in the woods with many other animals. This chicken is very happy being in the woods even though she has talked to chickens who live in chicken coops. One day this chicken realizes she has laid an egg. But because of her living conditions it becomes a burden to take care of this egg she has laid.
Meanwhile there is a chicken couple in the chicken house who wants to lay an egg but cannot. They try all sorts of ways - on their backs, on their heads (pictures included...).
As you can predict, the chicken who is burdened with the egg gives her egg to the couple who wants an egg. Very sweet as the chicken struggles with her love for the egg (and chick to come) but knowing she cannot take care of it in the woods.
In the midst of this story there is a redbird who sings and guides them in their decisions. That part was kind of random and after reading the book three times I decided the redbird is analogous to God but in a way as to not offend people...
Three stars.

Letters to Katie

I received Letters to Katie by Kathleen Fuller on my nook from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, I did not realize this was Book #3 in the series and therefore was a little confused at the beginning. Had I read this book having more background information (as in reading the first two books) I probably would have given it four stars.
This was a great story to remind all of us the importance of family and faith - especially before wealth and possessions. Also a great reminder in waiting for God's timing - because that is always better than ours, and it is perfect.
I believe this is the first book I have read by Kathleen Fuller but it will not be the last. There is just enough excitement to keep the book moving but not so much that I was tense.
(I have put the first two books on reserve at the library because just enough details were given about previous events that I am curious how things happened.)

When God Makes Lemonade

Thomas Nelson Publishing provided this book to me on my nook through the Book Sneeze program in exchange for an honest review. When God Makes Lemonade compiled by Don Jacobson was a fun book to read, reminding me of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. There are sixty-eight short true stories telling about how God worked their 'lemon' story into lemonade. Each story ends with a quick biography of the author including information on their other writings or blogs, as applicable.

Each story was encouraging and just awesome to read about people recognizing God as the One who turned their lemons into lemonade. The stories cover many topics: financial difficulties, grieving loved ones, near-death experiences, suicide, rape, blended families, disabilities, illnesses, and more.

This was a nice book to pick up, and read just as many stories as I had time for. Since each story was independent of the others, the stories could be read in any order. It would have been nice to have them grouped in sections by topic - especially for reference if wanting to share a story with someone going through a similar situation. Four stars.