UNEXPECTED JOURNEYS by PAUL PERKINS

Paul gives readers insight to a world we may never see in person but with his exceptional writing, we can vividly "see" every tree, different cultures , mountains and the beauty that God has created. He travels to places that at times are very  remote, but he comes away with life changing experiences. I love his transparency as he shares his innermost thoughts. How many of us have questioned where we should be in life? He deals with forgiveness that is painful but healing. Many of us feel we are not accepted but Paul shows us how he overcame that.  God can heal the broken-hearted, He can help you work through past trauma and He can show you how to forgive and love unconditionally. This is a very emotional book that is written with passion and shows how his struggles made him stronger. I hope everyone will pick up a copy of this book and take a journey of renewing and freedom from past hurts.

"What the child within needed-what I needed-was what David had just provided. The soft reassurance that none of the pain, none of the suffering, none of the shame was any of my fault."

I received a copy of this book from The BookClub Network for an honest review.

A DAILY INVITATION TO FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD by BILL JOHNSON

I am enjoying reading this book as a daily devotion to start my day. There are many nuggets of thoughts and scriptures thought the book that really make me think. It is written in a way that is easy to comprehend and always has something I need for the day. I love the different topics like growing closer to God, His purpose for you and encouragement that helps you to continue your journey with Him.

There were a couple of things that really stood out to me . "To obey only when we see that there will be a favorable outcome is not obedience." We should always strive  to obey His commandments and be willing to follow Him. It may be hard at times, but I know that He is always there. "Our assignment is to live as though nothing were impossible." As we go through our daily lives we need to have an attitude that we can do things that seem impossible. We have God right there watching over us, encouraging us and holding us up as we go through trials. I liked how the author gave us scriptures to meditate on and his thoughts on many subjects. This would be a great tool for anyone who wants to dig deeper in his Word and share with others as a devotional that makes you think, explore and find revelation in His word.

I received a copy of this book from The BookClub Network for an honest review.

LEAD ME HOME by AMY K. SORRELLS

What does a pastor do when he realizes that the building he calls "church" is falling apart around him? The church is over a hundred and fifty years old and needs major repairs. Pastor James knows there are not enough funds to do repairs. His only choice it seems is to auction off Sycamore Community Church . He knew the church attendance had declined over the years, which made it difficult to raise money for repairs. Oh how my heart cried as I began to read this moving story. I know it's a building, but what it represents is so powerful. There had been weddings, baptisms , potluck  and many other memorable activities in the church. The people who came each Sunday were there to hear the pastor speak and to fellowship with each other.

Noble has had to take on the responsibility of providing for his family after his dad left. It is not easy for him and there are times he wonders if he can keep going.  Why do we have to go through trials? Wouldn't it be easier if everything was great all the time? Well it would be easier but would we still want a relationship with God? Through the trials Pastor James and Noble face,  it draws them closer to God and helped them build a better relationship with others.

The story is very emotional and reminds us about bring thankful for what we have. He has never left us, nor will He turn His back on us. Sometimes we have to face hard times, but we grow stronger, build our faith, learn to forgive and love unconditionally .

I received a copy of this book from The BookClub Network for an honest review.

Purchase your copy here.

About the Book

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Obedience is better than sacrifice…and trumps romance, no matter how sweet.

Profound loneliness propels a childless widow west to choose an orphan to share her life. On the way, a fellow traveler takes her by surprise. She never dreams, is unprepared, doesn’t need another man, but can’t get him out of her head…or heart. He’s so perfect—every bit the one she’d searched for as a young woman—except his mistrust of God has erected a wall she cannot breach.

Marcus Ford blames God and struggles for peace after losing his wife and baby. Not once has he considered another woman could be the answer, but the widow is like none other he’s ever met. He falls hard, but plans are taking him east. Hope dashed sends two hearts into the pit. If only Ford could forgive God or the widow ease up on her adamant resolve.

Will God’s mercy shine a beacon in the fog of despair and prove sufficient to heal their souls?

About the Author

Caryl McAdoo is all about loving God! She currently writes four series: the historical Christian ‘Texas Romance’; a contemporary ‘Red River Romance’; The Generations, her Biblical fiction, and the newest Days of Dread Trilogy for mid-grade readers. Known as the Singing Pray-er, she loves praising with new songs the Lord gives her and prays her story gives God glory! In 2008, she and her high school sweetheart-husband Ron moved from the DFW area—home for fifty-plus years—to the woods of Red River County. Caryl counts four children and sixteen grandsugars life’s biggest blessings believing all good things come from God. Besides glorifying Him, she hopes each title will also minister His love, mercy, and grace to its readers. Caryl and Ron live in Clarksville, the county seat, in the far northeast corner of the Lone Star State with two grandsons.

Guest Post from Caryl McAdoo

Obedience Trumps Romance

Rebecca, forty-two years young, has never known true love. Oh she’s loved—and had a best friend—but that special made-just-for-her soul mate, she’d never met. She settled, instead, and lived a happy life, even though never blessed with children. Then the unthinkable happened, and she found herself alone, widowed too soon by the Civil War that claimed so many lives.

Rather than throw a pity party, she prayed and formulated a plan for the rest of her life. God gave her a way to turn her mourning into dancing! She’d adopt an needy child to love and fill her lonely days with joy. And her sisters in San Francisco happened to have an orphanage. She’d never traveled by herself, but determined to put the idea into action, she left Clarksville, Texas for a month long journey to California!

This new story is one of my favorites as it extols the goodness of the Lord, how His plans are always so high above mere man’s, and how He moves those who love Him into place to receive His blessings. And Rebecca had loved Him since a little girl. He’d been her father when she was born without one and then when she’d prayed for a daddy, sent Henry Buckmeyer into her life.

And how do we show God we love Him? By our obedience to His Word.

Before, that’d come relatively easy for her, but early on her trip, a man climbs into the stagecoach and makes her uneasy. Glad that Daddy had bought her a Derringer and taught her to use it, she rides in silence, feeling his gaze and sneaking her own peeks from her reading.

With no idea of the test God was about to put her through, when the fellow traveler finally figures out who she is and speaks, Rebecca is taken aback by the surge of totally unexpected attraction. Marcus Ford was handsome, intelligent, and everything she’d looked for in a suitable man back when she’d been courted.

But alas, he almost hates God, blaming Him for the premature deaths of his wife and baby girl during the yellow fever epidemic that plagued New Orleans. If she leaned one thing from her mother, it was not to unequally yoke herself. Besides, her life had been planned. She had a goal and a child to save.  Plus, when her trip took her west, he went east for a job interview.

It was never meant to be. How many times do we make our plans only to be thwarted by circumstances beyond our control? We thought God had been leading us, we’d given Him the glory, and trusted the path to be in His will. So then why—when she at last had her life figured out—had she even met the man? She didn’t need another one, but never experienced what she did in Marcus’ presence.

When confronted with temptation, do we quote God’s Word to the one out to kill us, steal from us, and destroy our lives? Or do we toy with doing exactly what we know we should not? I pray as you read AT LIBERTY TO LOVE, you’ll be encouraged and root for my dear heroine to do what’s right and not give in, not fall into a place God never meant for her to be…or did He?

Once again the author has written an emotional book filled with characters that tug at your heart. Her details about the time period sweep you away and place you right there watching the story unfold before your eyes. I love the way she tells a story so rich with raw emotion and honesty.

Rebecca Rusk has found herself lonely for awhile since her husband died in the Civil war. The emptiness she feels is hard on her. She makes a decision one day to change her unhappiness to a life filled with joy. Why does she travel to San  Francisco? Will she find happiness waiting for her there? She is very devoted to God and her faith is strong which will help her make the right choice.

Rebecca still aches for the loss of her husband, but in her travels to San Francisco, she meets  Marcus Ford. I loved the banter between them as they get to know each other. The author does a great job of developing their relationship slowly .  As their attraction becomes stronger , Rebecca knows that she cannot continue their relationship. Marcus has suffered a great loss and is angry at God. What will Rebecca decide to do? Can these two find a way to be together? What holds Rebecca back from giving her heart to Marcus?

This is one book I couldn't put down. The writing was so good I pictured the steamboat they traveled on , the town they stayed at and the beauty of the land they traveled through. It is a story that captures the true meaning of faith, second chances, strong family ties  and left me in tears at times. This author knows how to dig deep and pull an emotional story to the surface and give it life.

"She knew she could never be joined to a man who didn't love the Lord with his whole heart."

I received a copy of this book  Celebrate Lit for an honest review

Blog Stops

June 1: Petra’s Hope

June 2: A Greater Yes

June 3: Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner

June 4: bigreadersite

June 5: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS

June 6: Bows and Basketballs

June 7: Mary Hake (Facebook Review)

June 7: Cassandra M’s Place

June 8: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations

June 9: Texas Book-aholic

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Caryl is giving away eight prizes including the complete print set of the Texas Romance series. Enter here: https://promosimple.com/ps/9b0e

AN UNBROKEN HEART by KATHLEEN FULLER

Everytime I read a book from this author, I know it is going to be an unforgettable story that is filled with love, forgiveness and a story that is mesmerizing. I love how the author develops the characters with a soft and gentle spirit about them.

Joanna is in the buggy with her parents discussing her desire to marry Andrew. The feelings were a bit strained between her and her parents over the marriage. Her mother was explaining why she thought Joanna was not ready for marriage when suddenly a car hits their buggy. Joanna's life is suddenly turned upside down. She finds herself with a broken pelvis and cuts on her face . She is in for a long recovery and as she also has to deal with the loss of her parents.

As she recovers in the rehabilitation center she feels hopeless, empty inside and alone in the world. Her  self worth became  very low  the longer her recovery took. Andrew is very upset with all Joanna is going through. He doesn't want to lose her and knows that she is the one he wants to spend the rest of his life with. He proposes to her and she accepts it with a bit of uncertainty. She knew she should be overjoyed, but the feelings are mixed .


As her wedding day arrives , will she follow through and marry Andrew? Is Joanna struggling with her parents death? Can she find hope in God to show her how precious she is? The author does a great job of showing the emotions, and struggles that Joanna goes through. I'm sure we have all felt unhappy with ourselves at one time. Joanna must learn that God sees her as a beautiful young woman with no scars. In her journey with God, she will learn to be strong and find courage to overcome her emotional feelings. It is hard to deal with losing someone when the last words exchanged were in anger. Can Joanna forgive herself for the angry words she said just before the accident? The book is an emotional journey that will keep readers glued to the story. It is another great story by a very gifted author.

I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild for an honest review.