May 2018 Book Haul

Hi there! Since it’s summertime where we should be enjoying summer weather and activities instead of constant rainy days, I’m pretending I’m sitting on the beach with a good book while sipping some of those infused fruit waters.

May is officially over. Where did the time go? It still feels like we just entered this month. I guess that means it’s time to reveal the May 2018 Book Haul! Let’s get started.

1. Love Defined by Kristen Clark & Emily Baird

   Our culture is obsessed with love and romance–so why are so few women experiencing satisfying, long-term love?

   In this insightful and encouraging book, sisters Kristen Clark and Bethany Baird help single women of all ages discover a radically better approach to navigating their love lives. Covering topics such as true love, romance, purposeful relationships, purity, boundaries, singleness, and glorifying God in every stage of our relationships, Love Defined unpacks God’s original design for romance, showing modern women how to experience God’s best for them in their relationships. Full of biblical truths and step-by-step application of concepts discussed, the book also includes a chapter-by-chapter study guide to be used individually or in small groups, as well as four letters from godly women who have been married for 30, 40, and 50+ years, offering priceless, hard-won advice to single women.

   I’m single so I have a fascination with reading these types of books. I’m curious to see what these ladies have to say and if it would be something I can recommend. Looking forward to reading this. A huge thank you goes to Revell for providing a physical review copy.

2. Choice of the Mighty by Kenyon T. Henry

   A young man with a powerful gift returns home after his good intentions led to tragedy. With the help of his mentor, he begins to understand his gift and how to control it. Starting to understand his origins, he is left asking, “Why me?”

   War between good and evil rages all around the world, but not in the way you would think. Stephen finds himself an unwilling participant and is asked to choose sides in a battle, in which he never believed.

   I’m always on the lookout for a good fantasy YA novel so I was excited when I was offered this to review. Plus, I think that cover is stellar. I can’t wait to check these out soon. Thank you to Kenyon T. Henry for my physical review copy.
   

3. Trials of the Mighty by Kenyon T. Henry

   Stephen is a young man with extraordinary talents. Having both learned that he is a descendant of one of King David’s mighty men and chosen to fight on the side of the Almighty against Fallen in a battle for humanity, Stephen joined the Mighty at their underground base—Enclave. He was joined by his friend, Vincent, and girlfriend, Patty.
   As the search continues for Stephen’s oldest friend, Bernard—now turned Fallen, stakes are raised. Not only does Stephen feel pressured to meet expectations and save humanity, but a turn of events reveals that he is now in the crosshairs of the enemy. In addition, Vincent’s mom is kidnapped in order for Fallen to get even closer to his friend, Stephen. With both their lives now on the line, his friends—old and new—rally to his aid, putting their own needs aside for the good of all.
   But, will someone from the past resurface to claim Stephen’s life? Or, will Stephen’s training be enough to overcome a prophecy foretelling his death?

   This is the sequel to “Choice of the Mighty” and it looks interesting. Can’t wait to check this out as well. Thank you to Kenyon T. Henry for my physical review copy.
   

4. First Impressions by Debra White Smith

   Loosely based on the beloved Pride and Prejudice, Debra White Smith’s First Impressions weaves a spellbinding, modern-day tale on the challenges and rewards of love.

   Eddi Boswick has just settled in Texas to establish her law practice. Joining a local theater group, she is thrilled when she is given the role of Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice.

   William “Dave” Davidson III amassed a fortune in the computer industry but leads a quiet life on his ranch. On a dare, he tries out for the play and lands the role of Darcy.

   Sparks fly each time the lawyer meets the rancher. When Eddi uncovers Dave’s secret will her heart soften? Will Dave’s fear of “being tamed” keep him from discovering love?

   The cover is what first attracted me to pick up a copy. Then I found out it was a modern-day Pride and Prejudice retelling and I knew I had to read it. I love anything to do with Jane Austen, especially retellings so I can’t wait to see what the author has in store with this. Thank you to Bethany House for my physical review copy.

    

5. Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck

   Once Upon a Prince, the first novel in the Royal Wedding series by bestselling author Rachel Hauck treats you to a modern-day fairy tale.

   Susanna Truitt never dreamed of a great romance or being treated like a princess—just to marry the man she has loved for twelve years. But life isn’t going according to plan. When her high-school-sweetheart-turned-Marine-officer breaks up instead of proposing, Susanna scrambles to rebuild her life.

   The last thing Prince Nathaniel expects to find on his American holiday to St. Simon’s Island is the queen of his heart. A prince has duties, and his family’s tense political situation has chosen his bride for him. When Prince Nathaniel comes to Susanna’s aid under the fabled Lover’s Oak, he is blindsided by love.

   Their lives are worlds apart. He’s a royal prince. She’s an ordinary girl. But everything changes when Susanna receives an invitation to Nathaniel’s coronation. It’s the ultimate choice. His kingdom or her heart? God’s will or their own?

   In honor of the Hallmark movie adaptation and the Royal Wedding, the e-book version was free on Amazon for a short time. So excited!

6. The Love Letter by Rachel Hauck

   With the colonies at war and his country divided, Hamilton Lightfoot must choose sides: Fight for the British Crown or for the Independence of America. But after witnessing the death of his family at the hands of redcoats, he fears he’ll fight for revenge instead of honor. On the verge of a great battle, he pens a letter to Esther, the woman he loves.

   Esther Longfellow is in love with Hamilton, but her father is a loyalist, living in upcountry South Carolina and working for a wealthy British lord. When the Revolutionary War comes to her doorstep she is forced to choose between devotion to her father and her love for Hamilton.

   Chloe Daschle is the daughter of Hollywood royalty—a great director and an Oscar-winning actress. Yet her career has taken an unexpected turn: She’s the queen of death scenes. Trying to break out, she accepts a supporting role in a revolutionary war film. But she longs for the perfect role and the perfect real-life romance. Does happily ever after only exist in the movies?

   After a life-changing tragedy, MIT graduate Jesse Gates decides to leave his life behind and move to LA to try his hand at acting and screenwriting. When he finds a page from one of his ancestor’s letters, he becomes consumed with the love he finds there. Determined to help his grandfather find happiness at the end of his life, Jesse writes and sells a screenplay based on the events surrounding the lost love of previous generations.

   When Jesse meets the woman he has cast to play Esther Longfellow—his grandfather’s one true love—the stories of all four collide across time and space. The love letter from the past might have more power to affect the future than any of them could have imagined.

   Isn’t this dress absolutely gorgeous? Like, I seriously want that dress to jump into my closet even if I have no idea where I’d actually wear it. I love that is a dual-timeline. Rachel Hauck is a talented author and I cannot wait to see what she has in store. Thank you to Rachel’s Royal Rockstars for my physical arc review copy.

7. How to be a Perfect Christian by The Babylon Bee

   With a biting, satirical style reminiscent of The Onion, How to Be a Perfect Christian takes a humorous look at the quirks of cultural Christianity while subtly challenging the reader to search for more than a cultural faith.

   Written in the trademark style of The Babylon Bee, this book humorously satirizes cultural Christianity while peppering in subtle challenges to the reader. Through humor and sarcasm (and a handy meter to rank your “holiness” as you progress through the book), readers will be called to find a more biblical understanding of the Christian faith, all while poking fun at the quirks of the modern, American Christian community.

   If you’re familiar with The Babylon Bee then you already know they’re all about Christian satire. Highly recommended for Christians who have grown up within the Church and bought into the WWJD bracelets, DCTalk albums, kissed dating goodbye, and the whole shebang. Be prepared to keel over and your stomach to hurt from laughing so much. Thank you so much to the Waterbrook Multnomah Launch Team for sending me a physical copy as a thank you gift for joining the team. Check out my full review here.
   

8. Where the Fire Falls by Karen Barnett

   Stunning Yosemite National Park sets the stage for this late 1920s historical romance with mystery, adventure, heart, and a sense of the place John Muir described as “pervaded with divine light.”

   Watercolorist Olivia Rutherford fashioned her image as an avant-garde artist to appeal to the region’s wealthy art-collectors. When she lands a lucrative contract painting illustrations of Yosemite National Park for a travel magazine including its nightly one-of-a-kind Firefall event, she hopes the money will lift Olivia and her sisters out of poverty.

   After false accusations cost him everything, former minister Clark Johnson has found purpose as a backcountry guide in this natural cathedral of granite and trees. Now he’s faced with the choice of becoming a National Parks Ranger, but is it his true calling?

   As Clark helps open Olivia’s eyes to the wonders of Yosemite, she discovers the people are as vital to the park’s story as its vistas– a revelation that may bring her charade to an end.

   I haven’t read anything by Karen Barnett yet, but I’ve heard fabulous things. This looks like something I would enjoy and would make the perfect summer read for those who long to travel, but can’t. A huge thank you goes to The Waterbrook Multnomah Fiction Team for my physical arc copy.
   

9. The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep

   Mercy Lytton, a scout with keen eyesight raised among the Mohawks, and Elias Dubois, a condemned traitor working both sides of the conflict, must join together to get a shipment of gold safely into British hands.
   A brand new series for fans of all things related to history, romance, adventure, faith, and family trees. 

   A War-Torn Countryside Is No Place for a Lady 
   Mercy Lytton is a ladylike none other. Raised amongst the Mohawks, she straddles two cultures, yet each are united in one cause…to defeat the French. Born with a rare gift of unusually keen eyesight, she is chosen as a scout to accompany a team of men on a dangerous mission. Yet it is not her life that is threatened. It is her heart.  Condemned as a traitor, Elias Dubois faces the gallows. At the last minute, he is offered his freedom if he consents to accompany a stolen shipment of French gold to a nearby fort—but he is the one they stole it from in the first place. It turns out that the real thief is the beguiling woman, Mercy Lytton, for she steals his every waking thought.   Can love survive divided loyalties in a backcountry wilderness?

   I actually ended up with two of these. One was an arc that I won in a Goodreads giveaway and the other I was given to review from Barbour Publishing. This looks like a fun book that I can’t wait to dig into.
   

10. The Girls’ Guide to Conquering Life by Erica and Jonathan Catherman

    There’s a lot a girl needs to know as she grows up and makes her way in the world. Having a reference guide of practical how-to life skills and character traits can empower her to become a confident and capable woman. Coauthors Erica and Jonathan Catherman offer this collection of step-by-step instructions on 100 things girls need to succeed, including how to

    – introduce yourself
    – change a flat tire
    – respectfully break up with a guy
    – leave a tip
    – apply for a job
    – ask for a promotion
    – behave during a police stop
    – create a personal budget
    – calculate square footage
    – wash your face
    – clear a clogged drain
    – iron a shirt
    – wear a scarf
    – shoot a basketball
    – sharpen kitchen knives
    – and much more

    In fact, if it’s in here, it’s an important skill or character trait practiced by capable and confident women. With great illustrations and sidebars of advice from world-class experts, this all-in-one reference tool for young women in the making is the perfect gift for birthdays, graduations, or any occasion.

    While there is a skill set for almost every area of life, it lacked in explaining what character is and looks like. There was also a lack of mention of the importance of a Biblical foundation, God, or any Scripture. I thought it was just okay. Check out my full review here. A huge thank you goes to Revell for my physical review copy.

     

11. Just Let Go by Courtney Walsh

    For Quinn Collins, buying the flower shop in downtown Harbor Pointe fulfills a childhood dream, but also gives her the chance to stick it to her mom, who owned the store before skipping town twenty years ago and never looking back. Completing much-needed renovations, however, while also competing for a prestigious flower competition with her mother as the head judge, soon has Quinn in over her head. Not that she’d ever ask for help.

    Luckily, she may not need to. Quinn’s father and his meddling friends find the perfect solution in notorious Olympic skier Grady Benson, who had only planned on passing through the old-fashioned lakeside town. But when a heated confrontation leads to property damage, helping Quinn as a community-service sentence seems like the quickest way out–and the best way to avoid the more negative press.

    Quinn finds Grady reckless and entitled; he thinks she’s uptight and too regimented. Yet as the two begin to hammer and saw, Quinn sees glimpses of the vulnerability behind the bravado, and Grady learns from her passion and determination, qualities he seems to have lost along the way. But when a well-intentioned omission has devastating consequences, Grady finds himself cast out of town–and Quinn’s life–possibly forever. Forced to face the hurt holding her back, Quinn must finally let go or risk missing out on the adventure of a lifetime.

    I’ve been dying to read this as soon as the last page of the previous book, “Just Look Up” closed. I love all of Courtney Walsh’s books and that cover is stunning so I can’t wait to hurry up and read this. A huge thank you goes to Tyndale for my review copy.

12. The Hawaiian Discovery by Wanda E. Brunstetter

    An Amish Woman Finds Love in Hawaii

    Ellen Lambright mourned when her best friend, Mandy, moved from Indiana to Hawaii. But now Ellen has received the Amish church’s permission to go to Hawaii and help Mandy through challenging times. Rob Smith works on the Williams family’s organic farm, far from his past mistakes and burning regrets. When Ellen befriends Rob, the attraction is mutual, but her commitment to the Amish faith stands between them. Could a heartfelt discovery lead to forgiveness, reunion, and love? Or is Ellen’s destiny waiting for her in Indiana?

    Find out in this sequel to The Hawaiian Quilt from New York Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter, writing with her daughter-in-law Jean Brunstetter.

    Amish and Hawaii? Now you’ve got my attention and I need to know more about this! Plus, that cover is gorgeous. It totally makes me feel as if I’m traveling to my dream vacation in Hawaii. A huge thank you goes to Barbour Publishing for my physical review copy.
    

13. Hurricane Season by Lauren K. Denton

    Betsy and Ty Franklin, owners of Franklin Dairy Farm in southern Alabama, have decided to put life’s disappointments behind them. At least in theory. Ty manages their herd of dairy cows, while Betsy busies herself with the farm’s day-to-day operations and tries to forget the longing for motherhood set deep in her heart. But when Betsy’s free-spirited younger sister Jenna drops her young daughters off at the farm to attend a two-week art retreat in Florida, Betsy’s carefully constructed wall of self-protection begins to crumble.

    As those two weeks stretch much farther into the hot Alabama summer, Betsy and Ty learn to navigate the new additions in their world and revel in a home that’s suddenly filled with the sound of laughter and life. Meanwhile, record heat promises to usher in the most active hurricane season in decades.

    Four hundred miles away, Jenna is fighting her own battles. She’d once been free to travel and pursue a career in photography, but all that changed with the appearance of two pink lines on a plastic stick and a boyfriend who hit the road. At Halcyon art retreat, she finally has the time and energy to focus on her photography. As the summer continues, she wonders how her rediscovered passion can fit in with the life she’s made back home with her two children.

    When Hurricane Ingrid aims her steady eye at the Alabama coast, Jenna must make a decision that could affect both her and her children’s futures, and Betsy and Ty find themselves protecting their beloved farm as well as their own hearts.

    This looks like something I’d like to read. I love southern romance stories. I’m curious to see how this new-to-me author handles a hurricane. Thank you to the Fiction Guild for my physical review copy.
    

14. The Weaver’s Daughter by Sarah E. Ladd

    Kate’s loyalties bind her to the past. Henry’s loyalties compel him to strive for a better future. In a landscape torn between tradition and vision, can two souls find the strength to overcome their preconceptions?

    Loyalty has been at the heart of the Dearborne family for as long as Kate can remember, but a war is brewing in their small village, one that has the power to rip families asunder –including her own. As misguided actions are brought to light, she learns how deep her father’s pride and bitterness run, and she begins to wonder if her loyalty is well-placed.

    Henry Stockton, the heir to the Stockton fortune, returns home from three years at war seeking refuge from his haunting memories. Determined to bury the past, he embraces his grandfather’s goals to modernize his family’s wool mill, regardless of the grumblings from the local weavers. When tragedy strikes shortly after his arrival, Henry must sort truth from suspicion if he is to protect his family’s livelihood and legacy.

    Henry has been warned about the Dearborne family. Kate, too, has been advised to stay far away from the Stocktons, but chance meetings continue to bring her to Henry’s side, blurring the jagged lines between loyalty, justice, and truth. Kate ultimately finds herself with the powerful decision that will forever affect her village’s future. As unlikely adversaries, Henry and Kate must come together to find a way to create peace for their families, and their village, and their souls – even if it means risking their hearts in the process.

    I’m so excited to have a finished of this novel. I love Sarah E. Ladd and anything regency. Thank you to the Fiction Guild for my physical review copy.

     

15. When God Says Go by Elizabeth Lang Thompson

    Go.
    One small word… .so much power.

    When God says, “Go,” we face one of life’s greatest decisions.
    When God says, “Go,” we must face our fears…our excuses… .and our selves.
    When God says, “Go,” it’s time to answer His call wherever it leads.

    When God says, “Go,” what will you do?

    Author Elizabeth Laing Thompson invites you to walk alongside people of the Bible who were called by God to fulfill His purposes. . .people like Moses, Rebekah, Abigail, Jeremiah, Mary, and others. These Bible heroes responded much like we do–with a jumbled-up inner storm of excitement and fear, insecurity and hope. Their stories and struggles will provide a roadmap for your own story, helping you face your very own doubts, regrets, and worries.

    When God calls, it’s time to go. Maybe somewhere new, someplace you’ve never been. Maybe it’s time to go forward after being stuck with one foot in the past. Maybe it’s time to go deeper—in Bible study or relationships. Time to go higher—in prayer or dreams. Time to go and give—to use talents and opportunities God has given you. Or maybe it’s time to go and grow, right where you are…to dig into the Word, dive into your heart, and become the woman God is calling you to be.

    Ready or not, God is calling us all to go somewhere new in our walk with Him. So what are we waiting for? Let’s answer His call. Let’s get started!

    I won an e-book copy in a Goodreads giveaway. Can’t wait to check this out.
    

16. Black Rock Guardian by Jenna Kernan

    When you play both sides…there’s always a price. Redhorse is tied to both sides of the law. Now he’s caught between the tribe’s gang and his cop brother–and the FBI wants him to choose. Complicating the stakes is Beth Hoosay, the stunning FBI agent who always follows the rules…except when it comes to their sizzling attraction. But how long can Ty play this dangerous game before he gets caught in the crossfire?

    This isn’t Christian fiction and may contain some foul language and inappropriate content, but I read these for the stories because they are so interesting. I love the suspense. A huge thank you to Jenna Kernan for my physical review copy.
    

17. Unblemished by Sara Ella

    Eliyana has always recoiled from her own reflection in the mirror. But what if that were only one Reflection—one world? What if another world existed where her blemish could become her strength?

    Eliyana is used to the shadows. With a hideous birthmark covering half her face, she just hopes to graduate high school unscathed. That is, until Joshua hops a fence and changes her perspective. No one, aside from her mother, has ever treated her as normal. Maybe even beautiful. Because of Joshua, Eliyana finally begins to believe she could be loved.

    But one night her mother doesn’t come home, and that’s when everything gets weird.

    Now Joshua is her new, and rather reluctant, legal Guardian. Add a hooded stalker and a Central Park battle to the mix and you’ve gone from weird to otherworldly.

    Eliyana soon finds herself in a world much larger and more complicated than she’s ever known. A world enslaved by a powerful and vile man. And Eliyana holds the answer to defeating him. How can an ordinary girl, a blemished girl, become a savior when she can’t even save herself?

    I wasn’t a huge fan of this one. You can read more about that here. However, I’m am excited to partner with Just Read Publicity and Thomas Nelson for the Takeover Tour because the sequel is incredible. Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing a physical review copy.
    

18. Unraveling by Sara Ella

    What happens when happily ever after starts to unravel?

    Eliyana Ember doesn’t believe in true love. Not anymore. After defeating her grandfather and saving the Second Reflection, El only trusts what’s right in front of her. The tangible. The real. Not some unexplained Kiss of Infinity she once shared with the ghost of a boy she’s trying to forget. She has more important things to worry about–like becoming queen of the Second Reflection, a role she is so not prepared to fill.

    Now that the Verity is intertwined with her soul and Joshua’s finally by her side, El is ready to learn more about her mysterious birth land, the land she now rules. So why does she feel like something–or someone–is missing?

    When the thresholds begin to drain and the Callings, those powerful magical gifts, begin to fail, El wonders if her link to Ky Rhyen may have something to do with it. For light and darkness cannot coexist. She needs answers before the Callings disappear altogether. Can El find a way to sever her connection to Ky and save the Reflections–and keep herself from falling for him in the process?

    The sequel is incredible. Plus, isn’t that cover absolutely gorgeous? You can check out my full review here. A huge thank you goes to Just Read Publicity and Thomas Nelson for my physical review copy.

     

19. Unbreakable by Sara Ella

    Eliyana Ember is stranded in a foreign country in the Third Reflection with no passport, the inability to mirrorwalk, and zero clue where the nearest Thresholds back into the Fourth or Second might lie. Her mind is a haze, her memories vague. She knows a wormhole from the Fourth sent her here. She remembers her mom and baby brother Evan. Makai and Stormy and Joshua . . .

    Deep down El realizes she must end the Void once and for all. Is there a way to trap the darkness within its current vessel, kill it off completely? To do so would mean sacrificing another soul—the soul of a man Joshua claims is a traitor. But he’s lied to her before, and even El senses Joshua can’t be fully trusted, but one thing is certain . . .

    The Void must be annihilated. And only the Verity—the light which birthed the darkness—can put an end to that which seeks to kill and destroy.

    This is the book that I’ll be focusing on for the Takeover Tour on my bookstagram. This is the newest and final installment in the Unblemished trilogy and I can’t wait to find out what the author has in store. Thank you to Just Read Publicity and Thomas Nelson for my physical review copy.

     

20. Walk On by Ben Malcomson

    In this true, compelling account of perseverance and hope from Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll’s assistant, a young journalist walks on to a top-ranked USC football team and, guided by his faith, shares God’s love, launching him on an unexpected journey with an amazing outcome.

    Had anyone told Ben Malcolmson that he’d someday be a wide receiver on the national champion USC football team–after not playing football since an unfortunate fifth-grade Pop Warner experience–he would have called them crazy. As a reporter for The Daily Trojan, in the spirit of George Plimpton, he participated in walk-on tryouts for the team and was dumbfounded to find himself listed on the roster. His position on the team never amounted to much in a game-time contribution, but Ben felt strongly that his faith was inextricably linked to his purpose. He felt called to anonymously place Bibles in each USC teammate locker on Christmas Eve–to resounding indifference and rejection from his friends. It wasn’t until three years later when his role at USC had led to a role with Coach Pete Carroll at the Seahawks organization, that an old friend connected with Ben and told him that one of the Bibles had captivated the heart of a teammate in the three days before his death.
    With a humble spirit dedicated to consistent acts of discipleship, Ben Malcolmson is an authentic voice for the power of simple obedience and trust, for what can happen when a believer allows God to work in a life. Walk On is the result of God using his faithful people to work in the lives of others.

    I honestly have no interest in football and I have no idea who this dude is. It looked interesting and I’m trying to read more non-fiction so I figured I’d check this out. Thanks to Waterbrook and Multnomah for my physical review copy.

21. Where Treasure Hides by Johnnie Alexander

    Artist Alison Schuyler spends her time working in her family’s renowned art gallery, determined to avoid the curse that has followed the Schuyler clan from the Netherlands to America and back again. She’s certain that true love will only lead to tragedy—that is until a chance meeting at Waterloo station brings Ian Devlin into her life. Drawn to the bold and compassionate British Army captain, Alison begins to question her fear of love as World War II breaks out, separating the two and drawing each into their own battles. While Ian fights for freedom on the battlefield, Alison works with the Dutch Underground to find a safe haven for Jewish children and priceless pieces of art alike. But safety is a luxury war does not allow. As time, war, and human will struggle to keep them apart, will Alison and Ian have the faith to fight for their love, or is it their fate to be separated forever?

    One of the things that I love about My Reader Rewards Club is the free books. There are so many different genres to choose from. From fiction to non-fiction to Bibles to children’s books. They even have audio books. I chose to grab Where Treasure Hides by Johnnie Alexander which has been on my TBR for awhile. You can earn your first 25 points and me 10 by signing up under my referral link.
    

22. Quit Church by Chris Sonsken

    Let’s face it. Church isn’t working. We hear sermons about the abundant life Jesus promised, but how many of us are actually living it? How many of our churches are thriving? How many people in our congregations are experiencing God’s blessings? Maybe it’s time to call it quits.

    Quit church? Well, not exactly.

    Drawing from his experience coaching hundreds of churches toward true growth, Chris Sonksen calls on us to quit our casual, cultural commitment to church as we know it. No more half-hearted attempts to win the favor of God and other people by doing the right thing. No more doing things out of a sense of duty. Instead, Sonksen reveals the spiritual habits that release the blessings of God, both on each individual and on the church. He explains why we struggle to put these practices into action and gives practical solutions to move us forward into health, growth, and maturity.

    I’m intrigued to see what the author has to say in this book. Thank you to Baker Books for my physical review copy!

     

23. Falling for You by Becky Wade

    Willow Bradford is content taking a break from modeling to run her family’s inn until she comes face-to-face with NFL quarterback Corbin Stewart, the man who broke her heart–and wants to win her back. When a decades-old missing-persons case brings them together, they’re forced to decide whether they can risk falling for one another all over again.

    Isn’t this cover absolutely gorgeous? I want that dress to jump into my closet ASAP. I cannot wait to read Willow’s story and visit with the Bradford sisters again. A huge thank you to Bethany House for my physical review copy.
    

24. The Return by Lacey Sturm

    It’s easy to go through days, weeks, even years on autopilot, moving from one activity to another, rarely taking the time to consider what it’s all for anyway. Why did God make us? What does he want us to do with the time he has given us? And how can we find out?

    In her bestselling story-driven style, Christian rocker Lacey Sturm shares with readers the beautiful struggle of learning what one’s unique gifts are and pursuing them wholeheartedly. She helps them see each day as a gift from God, find balance in their busy lives, and discover the joy of giving God’s gifts back to him by using them to bring him glory.

    Young people especially will love this openhanded and openhearted take on what to do with their lives, as will those who feel like they’ve been coasting or heading down the wrong path.

    Lacey Sturm was the lead singer of one of my all-time favorite Christian rock bands, so when I learned she had a new book coming out, I knew I needed to read it. This is her memoir about finding balance in our busy lives and discovering how to use our gifts for His glory. I can’t wait to check this out. Thank you to Baker Books for my physical review copy.
    

25. The Power of Vision by George Barna

    According to George Barna, uncovering God’s vision for your ministry is not an option. It’s essential for the most productive ministry that will accomplish God’s goals for building his kingdom. Ministry leaders with a clear picture from God of where they are headed are much more likely to experience a successful journey. In this book, Barna uncovers how God has shared his vision throughout history, how vision is different from the mission, common practices, and beliefs that inhibit true vision, practical steps toward experiencing and carrying out God’s unique vision for them, and ways to share and promote congregational ownership of the vision.

    This is the third edition apparently. I haven’t read any of the previous versions so I can’t tell you what the differences are or if there are any. I just saw it as a book on leadership that looked interesting. Thank you to Baker Books for my physical review copy.

And that’s a wrap! What did you guys think? Did you find a book to add to your TBR? Or perhaps you’ve read one of these books and enjoyed it? Let me know in the comments below!