{Book Review:} Uninvited by Lysa TerKeurst

My Review:
Oh my stars.

I wish I could have had this book a couple years ago. It would have saved me so much hurt. But I didn't, and that's okay. God brought me through and helped me work through it. In her book, Mrs. TerKeurst walks through how to overcome the pain of past or present rejection, and how to in turn live loved. If you've ever tasted that bitter sting of being rejected, I strongly recommend you pick this book up. As she points out, not tending to these wounds just allow a seed of bitterness to grow in your heart. You need to quit ignoring the problem and address it, and Mrs. TerKeurst helps you do just that.

Now, this book will not replace going to a counselor if that is what you need. But it has helped me in so many ways. Mrs. TerKeurst writes in such a relatable fashion, she shares her heart and her struggles. She reminded me that I wasn't alone. And that I wasn't the only one who had ever felt this way. She was encouraging and uplifting. I thought I would have gotten this review up sooner, except I had to keep going back and re-read chapters. This isn't some casual afternoon read, this book provokes thought and requires time to soak it all in. I could barely make it through a couple chapters at a time. Normally, that would be a bad thing but not this time!

I have faced a lot of rejection this year. Maybe now that the wounds have started to heal I'll write about it. But until then, I can't recommend this book enough. If you're hurting, at least use this book as a starting place. Spend time in the scriptures she lists, and definitely pray. God will work wonders on your heart through Mrs. TerKeurst, if you'll let Him. He did just that for me!

Thank you, Lysa, for being bold enough to write this book. I can't thank you enough!

I received this book from BookLook Bloggers in return for an honest review of my opinions, which I have done. Thanks!

Back Cover:
The enemy wants us to feel rejected . . . left out, lonely, and less than. When we allow him to speak lies through our rejection, he pickpockets our purpose. Cripples our courage. Dismantles our dreams. And blinds us to the beauty of Christ’s powerful love.

In Uninvited, Lysa shares her own deeply personal experiences with rejection—from the incredibly painful childhood abandonment by her father to the perceived judgment of the perfectly toned woman one elliptical over.

With biblical depth, gut-honest vulnerability, and refreshing wit, Lysa helps readers:

• Release the desire to fall apart or control the actions of others by embracing God-honoring ways to process their hurt.
• Know exactly what to pray for the next ten days to steady their soul and restore their confidence.
• Overcome the two core fears that feed our insecurities by understanding the secret of belonging.
• Stop feeling left out and start believing that "set apart" does not mean "set aside."
• End the cycle of perceived rejection by refusing to turn a small incident into a full blown issue.

{Book Review:} A Sparrow in Terezin by Kristy Cambron

My Review:
An enchanting, emotional story!!

Oh, the emotions...or the feels, as some might say. I don't think I've ever come so close to crying while reading until this book. It was heartfelt. And it packed a punch in Terezin. But, okay, time for some honesty. I knew this book was about the Holocaust. I didn't go in blindly. Nevertheless, the beauty of Cambron's writing left my heart tangled up in the pages.

Ouch.

Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.

This book was the kind that left you hurting, but not without hope. There were moments when putting down the book was a necessity, not because of the surroundings, but because Cambron provoked thought. She artistically captures the setting, the characters, even the atmosphere. Don't misunderstand, I desperately enjoyed this book. But I didn't enjoy it for its "entertaining" quality. Oh, no. I enjoyed the refreshing message of hope.

Suffice it to say, you need to read this book. It's a wonderful story with relatable characters and a meaningful message. I highly recommend it. Readers should remember, however, that parts of this book are set in a concentration camp. Cambron does well to keep it toned down, but I felt the need to make readers aware.

I received this book from BookLook bloggers in return for an honest review of my opinions, which I have done. Thanks!! 

Back Cover:
Two women, one in the present day and one in 1942, each hope for a brighter future. But they'll both have to battle through their darkest days to reach it.

"Today. "With the grand opening of her new gallery and a fairytale wedding months away, Sera James appears to have a charmed life. But in an instant, the prospect of a devastating legal battle surrounding her fiance threatens to tear her dreams apart. Sera and William rush to marry and are thrust into a world of doubt and fear as they defend charges that could separate them for life.

"June 1942. "After surviving the Blitz bombings that left many Londoners with shattered lives, Kaja Makovsky prayed for the war to end so she could return home to Prague. But despite the horrors of war, the gifted journalist never expected to see a headline screaming the extermination of Jews in work camps. Half-Jewish with her family in danger, Kaja has no choice but to risk everything to get her family out of Prague. But with the clutches of evil all around, her escape plan crumbles into deportation, and Kaja finds herself in a new reality as the art teacher to the children of Terezin.

Bound by a story of hope and the survival of one little girl, both Sera and Kaja will fight to protect all they hold dear.

Psst... don't forget to enter the giveaway! Click on the image below to be taken to the page! 

{Book Review:} How to Catch a Prince by Rachel Hauck

My Review:

An awesome, beautiful release from Hauck! 

How to Catch a Prince is like watching your favorite chick flick on a rainy (or snowy, as the case may be) day. It's the kind of story that even if you think you see something coming, you read on to see how the characters will face the challenge. Why read on? Because there's a fair chance they'll mess up. We mess up too. That's why we like them so well. We can relate to them. This is but one of the many things about Hauck's latest release that had me glued to the pages. I wasn't always right in my "predictions", which isn't a bad thing. I was glad to watch Corina and Stephen both grow in their struggles. 

Something I just recently became particular about in novels is a strong positive theme or message and Hauck accomplishes that in a lovely manner. Hmm, I don't want to spoil the beauty of it so I suppose I'll be vague. Honestly, I couldn't see the story without that element. It's weaved so carefully in with everything else it simply belongs. In addition, the theme itself is fresh when compared with novels I've read in the past. Is it in actuality all that new? No. But the presentation changes a lot. 

All in all, I highly encourage you to check out How to Catch a Prince. You'll be in for a beautiful story with darling characters and a lovely theme. I didn't know I would enjoy the story as much as I did, but it definitely beats out Once Upon a Prince for my favorite in the series. If you love cute, endearing stories and characters this book will be a good fit for you. ;-)

I received an ebook copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review of my opinions, which I have done. Thanks!!

Back Cover:

Prince Stephen came to America to escape responsibility. But what he found complicates his life more than ever.

Corina Del Rey is happy with her life in Melbourne, Florida. She spends her days engrossed in her career as a journalist and has her sights set on climbing the corporate ladder if for no other reason, to distract herself from her dissolving family. But when she is confronted with the past she fought so hard to put behind her, she struggles to make sense of her future.

Prince Stephen of Brighton Kingdom has moved on since the tragic death of his buddies in Afghanistan. A star professional rugby player, he has no intention of looking over his shoulder at what could ve been.

But when a notice arrives in the mail requiring his and his wife s appearance before the courts to dissolve their marriage, he must deal with the questions rumbling around in his heart. He thought his marriage had been annulled long ago, but his memories of Corina Del Rey remain close. Does he still love her? Can he even find her? Above all, can he tell her the truth about that fateful night in Afghanistan seven years ago? If he does, he might really lose her forever.

{Book Review:} Revolutionary by Krista McGee

My Review:
A fast-paced conclusion to a brilliant series!

I have been eagerly awaiting Revolutionary since Luminary released last winter. Ms. McGee left us with so many questions and hardly a sufficient amount of answers! What was going to happen to Thalli and friends? What could happen next? How on earth was it all going to be resolved in one book? Thankfully, Ms. McGee gives us the answers we want and more in Revolutionary.

Thalli has grown and changed all throughout this series. When I think back to Anomaly, she's a completely different character! She's stronger and more obstinate than ever in this installment. Her journey has been rough but it's only polished her and made her better. I enjoyed watching her development come full circle.

Oh, the plot twists! Brace yourselves, people, if you're like me you won't even know which way is up! This conclusion is very well written and keeps your hand fingering the next page, ready to turn at will. I didn't think the series could improve on itself, but Ms. McGee surprised me. That said, this isn't my favorite in the series. I think Anomaly holds that place securely, but it was close. :-)  Fans of this series should not miss out!! Possible spoiler: The ending felt super rushed to me and I didn't quite like it. End possible spoiler.

I recommend to fans of Christian dystopian and sci-fi ages thirteen and up.

I received this book for free from BookLook in return for an honest review of my opinions, which I have done. Thanks!!

Back Cover:
All her life Thalli thought she was an anomaly. Now she must use her gifts to fulfill the role she was called to play: Revolutionary.

Back in the underground State against her will, Thalli is no longer the anomaly she was before. She has proven herself to be a powerful leader aboveground and returns with information that Dr. Loudin needs to complete his plan of uniting the world under one leader: himself. But he, too, has information. A secret he has kept from Thalli her entire life. A secret that, once revealed, changes everything about the person Thalli thought she was.

Hoping to help Thalli rise up against the Scientists, both Berk and Alex join her underground, but their presence only brings more trouble for her. Now Dr. Loudin knows just the leverage to use on his captive, and she is forced to choose between the two of them. Is her first love her true love? Or does Alex ultimately claim her heart?

Unsure of everything around her, including her own identity, Thalli doesn’t know where to turn. She knows she needs the Designer, but he seems further away than ever. What she does know, though, is that if she doesn’t do something to stop Loudin, the fragile world above ground will be lost once and for all.