With Every Breath: A Review

 

 

Summary: Kate and Trevor battled for the top spot in their class--and a scholarship--for years. When Trevor wins, Kate thinks she'll never see him again....not that she wants to. When she gets a job opportunity years later, she never expected it to be from him. Working together instead of against each other is a first, and with the growing dread of tuberculosis, how much time do they have?

 

My thoughts: Elizabeth Camden's books are so well researched, and this one is no exception. I love the backdrop of the tuberculosis epidemic. It seems Camden's novels just breathe life into historical events, and I felt the hopelessness and panic that communities felt. It set the mood and tone for two dynamic characters.

 

I love Kate and Trevor. I loved their back and forth, how they challenged each other. Their feistiness offset a sad topic.

 

I also loved the theme of living life, celebrating every breath, and trusting God with what might come next.

 

Fans of historical fiction will love this book. Of course, Camden fans will be thrilled with this newest story, and fans of Jody Hedlund will also enjoy this tale.

 

I was given this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts are my own.

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Confessional Friday

 

 

Linking up with Leslie at http://www.blondeambitionblog.com/.

 

1. I confess that I've never made paper mache before, yet I attempted it with 12 4th and 5th graders.

Lessons learned: glue and water are easier to work with than flour and water; for the last layer, use computer paper or something without writing, which makes it easier to paint.

2. I confess I bought the 42 ounce bag of peanut M&Ms because HEB had a 1.50 off coupon attached to it.

3. I confess that I don't know why I can't upload from my Dropbox into this blog. Any suggestions?

 

4. I confess that I had so much fun melting crayons on a poster with a hair dryer with my book camp kids.

 

5. I confess that I just bought new bulletin board materials from Amazon for my library. I see a future where I never go to a store again.

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Confessional Friday

 

 

1. I confess I don't enjoy fantasy books/movies. I'm watching the first Chronicles of Narnia movie with my nephew today, and I hope I like it--mainly because he does and I want something to talk to him about.

 

2. I confess that I LOVE this song. Dierks Bentley is my favorite country music artist, and I just love this song, especially when his daughter joins in.

 

3. I confess that my daily naps has interfered with my nightly sleep...and not just by keeping me up later. I now wake up throughout the night. I've turned into an infant sleeping in three-hour spurts.

 

4. I confess I've never made paper mache before. Next week, I'm hosting this book camp at my school. Kids will come for two hours in the morning to read a book and participate in activities. One of those activities involves paper mache. Guess I know what I'm doing this weekend! Gotta learn fast.

 

5. I confess that I'm leaving my Goodwill donation bags open in the middle of my room, hoping that if I leave them there, I'll keep adding to them. It's working so far.

 

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A Prayer for the Girls Reading Worth the Wait

 

 

I usually participate in Confessional Friday, but I have something else on my heart today:

 the girls (young or old) who are reading or have read Worth the Wait.

I thought I'd share the prayer that's been on my heart.

 

 

Jesus,

I don't know her name, her age, her denomination or lack of one.

I don't know if she's happy or sad, lonely or confused, single or in love.

I don't know if her parents are married, divorced, or passed away.

Or maybe she's never met her parents.

I don't know her hopes, her dreams, or her fears.

 

But You do.

 

So, I ask that as she reads the words, that she would feel Your love.

The love that comforts, heals, restores, makes new.

The love that formed her in her mama's belly.

The love that died on a cross.

The love that never leaves.

That never forsakes.

That never disappoints.

 

May she know that You love her, and may she love You back.

If she doesn't know you, would You show Yourself to her?

If she's walked away, would You woo her back?

If she's already Yours, would you strengthen and encourage her?

Show her that Your love is enough.

That Your way is best.

And that Your plan for her life is worth the wait, worth the time, and worth the journey.

 

As You wish it to be, let it be.

Amen.

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When I Fall in Love: A Review

 

Summary: When Grace Christiansen's family buys her a trip to Hawaii for a cooking retreat, she never thought she'd end up paired with Max Sharpe, her soon to be brother-in-law's former hockey teammate. Sparks fly, but when the timid Grace starts to spread her wings, Max pulls back. Will he let a unsure future ruin a beautiful present?

 

My thoughts:

I love this series. The family is so real. I love that while they love Jesus, they are still human, making mistakes and figuring life out. Grace is no exception. She's stronger than she knows, and I loved seeing her figure it out.

I also liked that Susan May Warren tackled a tough topic--a terminal disease. If you knew your time was limited, how would you live? Keep everyone away or embrace every moment.

Readers were also introduced to Raina and Casper, who I guess will be featured next. I can't wait to see what the author does with them.

 

Fans of Christian fiction will love this book. You don't have to read the series in order, but it does help get to know the characters better--and you'll love them. 

 

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Looking for Life in a Graveyard

 

Last Sunday, my pastor made this suggestion for singles: Don't date a corpse.

 

Find out my thoughts on this over at Stitches Thru Time.

 

Link: Looking for Life in a Graveyard

 

 

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Confessional Friday

 

Linking up with Leslie at http://www.blondeambitionblog.com/ again.

 

1. I confess that once I'm out of debt, I will put monthly facials at Aveda into my budget. I treated myself to one this week and went to heaven for 60 minutes.

 

2. I confess that God is still working in my heart on prayer. (I wrote about what I've been praying for lately here.) I listened to an old sermon from my pastor this week, and it convicted me again about having a specific time of prayer. My favorite point was that "The will of God is birthed into reality through the labor pains of your prayer." (Nathan Lino) Wow!

 

Listen to sermon here.

 

3. I confess this song has been on loop during my prayer time. I was on YouTube listening to another Eddie James song, and I walked away. I guess it was on a playlist, but this song came on next. It stopped me dead in my tracks.

Don't you love when a song captures everything your heart is desperately crying to Jesus?

 

 

4. I confess that I have a Bluebell Cookies and Cream addiction. My brain can't function without it.

 

5. I confess that after having a Pinterest account and using it occasionally, I have now entered the realm of looking up and realizing two hours have passed since I entered the abyss of creativity.

 

6. I confess that after being annoyed at myself for being sad that I didn't go on vacation this summer, I started a "Nantucket or somewhere else great" fund. If I just put 20 bucks in every time I babysit, I'll have enough to go somewhere cool next summer.

 

Now, if I can just not "take" from that fund for another facial.

 

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A Hard Prayer

(Picture from Microsoft's Royalty Free Clip Art)

 

During our Sunday morning worship at church, my pastor leads us in corporate prayer. We all get in a posture of prayer (for me, that means I kneel at my seat) while he prays. Each week, he focuses on different things. One thing has stood out to me. He often prays for other churches by name.

 

And he always asks God to bless that church more than He would bless ours.

Wow.

 

I struggle with jealousy. I compare. I want to be the best. I found myself unable to pray that prayer about friends or other writers. I want to have a best selling book. I want to meet a great, godly guy and get married and have amazing kids.

 

But God has done miraculous things for me. He brought me from spiritual death to eternal life. He put me in a family where my mom and sister would be my best friends. I have friends that I've know for 20 plus years and one I've been friends with since birth. I have a great job with a fantastic boss.

 

I go to an amazing church where my pastor speaks the truth in love and sharing the message of Jesus to the city of Houston and the world is our goal.

 

So, I thought I would try. I began to pray for specific people that I had wasted time being jealous of (because jealousy is a waste of time, not that they are a waste of time). Beth Moore once said in Bible Study that praying for the people you're jealous of is the best way to get over being jealous of them.

I had tried that years ago and found it to be true.

 

But, to pray for God to bless them more than He'd bless me?

I wasn't there yet.

 

But, I'm trying.

 

Because of at the end of the day, I want God's name to be glorified....through me and other people.  

 

So, I'm bringing those people before Jesus, asking Him to pour out His love and blessing to them for His glory.

 

I can't wait to see them shine.

 

What are you praying for? Do you find yourself comparing yourself with others too often?  

 

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Confessional Friday: A Day in the Life....

 

I'm connecting with Leslie's blog over at http://www.blondeambitionblog.com/.

 

So, Leslie suggested doing a day in the life of yourself for today's confessions.

 

I confess that I feel bad doing this. Why? Because I've been a lazy bum this summer, and it's been FANTASTIC! And I know that most people don't get a summer off.

 

And while I know a lot of women my age are stressed and overwhelmed with working full time or caring for children, maintaining a house, having a relationship with a husband, it can be VERY lonely not having a husband and kids. God balances all stages of life with challenges and benefits.

 

So, while I want (and pray earnestly for) a husband and children, I'm enjoying this time God has given me to focus on Him and to rest. **There were several years of my life where I was teaching middle school, working two part-time jobs, and going to grad school.

 

 

I'm working on my debt snowball, so I haven't been doing anything exciting. But, I've been relaxing, napping, and reading.

 

 

I wake up between 9-10.

I take my time getting up.

I go to the gym from like 12:00-1:15.

I eat lunch....learning to love kale and chard for my salads.

I clean a bit and then get ready for the day.

I hang out with friends and family. Or read. Or write. Or take a nap.

I have Bible Study on Tuesday, church on Wednesday, babysitting on Friday nights.

We're studying I Peter on Tuesday nights--love it! So good!

 

Other than that, I try to hang out with friends or family another day or two a week.

Tonight, my nephew came over so my sister and brother-in-law could go on a date.

 

I go to bed around 1:00-2:00 a.m.

That's the life for a summer beach bum.

 

 

 

During the school year, I work 7:30-3:30/4:00 as a school librarian, which is fun but busy. The teachers drop off the kids for their conference period. So, this coming year, I'll see first-5th grade for an hour each day. It's hectic. I come home tired but happy. Getting off that early lets me have time to write, work out, hang out with friends, etc. It's a great job.

 

 

My life is fairly boring these days, but I'm thankful for the time off. 

 

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Captured by Love: A Review

 

 

Back of the Book Summary:

The British Army has taken control of Michilimackinac Island and its fort, forcing the Americans to swear an oath of loyalty to the crown in order to retain their land. Pierre Durant is a fur trader who returns after being away from the island for years, only to find the family farm a shambles and those he cares about starving and at the mercy of British invaders.

Torn between the adventurous life of fur trading and guilt over neglecting his defenseless mother, Pierre is drawn deeper into the fight against the British--and into a relationship with Angelique MacKenzie, a childhood friend who's grown into a beautiful woman. She now finds herself trapped by the circumstances of war and poverty, and the cruelty of her guardian, Ebenezer Whiley.

As tensions mount and the violence rages on, Pierre and Angelique must decide where their loyalties rest and how much they'll risk for love.

My thoughts:
I'm a Jody Hedlund fan, and I was looking forward to this book. As with all of Hedlund's books, you feel like you are there in history, living the events and feeling the emotions of the characters.
My heart hurt for Angelique--torn between the guy she's always had a crush on (Pierre) and the promise she made to his brother (Jean) to marry him when he returned from the war. She's a strong, fantastic character.

While I liked Pierre, I just didn't like the circumstances of their relationship. I hated that Angelique had promised to marry Jean because while Pierre and Angelique's relationship was fun and flirty, I couldn't root for them while Jean was off fighting in the war.

SPOILER AHEAD!




I appreciated how the author didn't kill off Jean just to have Pierre and Angelique together! That would have been the easy way out of the conflict, and while it seemed a little fast at the end, I appreciated how it was handled.

Overall, Captured by Love is a great historical read. Hedlund captures the time and emotions perfectly with interesting characters.

I received this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts are my own.

 

 

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