Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge

This is one of those books that you either love or you hate.  I'm blown away by such strong opinions that are given under the reviews on Goodreads.  It only goes to show how the design and creation of a woman is under attack today.  I for one - completely loved and appreciated the gems of wisdom, counsel and insight that I found within these pages.  I, along with the ladies in our home group, read this book and did the workbook alongside it at the same time.  It challenged me in deep and personal ways to forgive, heal and change the way I see myself and other women.  I was able to reflect on the woman I am and who I desire to be.  Sure there's some things in Christian books you might always disagree with - and in every chapter of the workbook, you were encouraged to write those down!  It's ok to disagree with some of their ideas or even to not identify with the descriptions of a woman. After all, I never was the little girl to dress up like a princess - I was in torn up jeans digging around in my sandbox!  But the pearls of wisdom I did find within these pages were invaluable to my life today and I'm grateful for the opportunity to read it with some of my closest girlfriends.  

Description: Every little girl has dreams of being swept up into a great adventure, of being the beautiful princess. Sadly, when women grow up, they are often swept up into a life filled merely with duty and demands. Many Christian women are tired, struggling under the weight of the pressure to be a "good servant," a nurturing caregiver, or a capable home manager.


What Wild at Heart did for men, Captivating is doing for women. Setting their hearts free. This groundbreaking book shows readers the glorious design of women before the fall, describes how the feminine heart can be restored, and casts a vision for the power, freedom, and beauty of a woman released to be all she was meant to be. By revealing the core desires every woman shares-to be romanced, to play an irreplaceable role in a grand adventure, and to unveil beauty-John and Stasi Eldredge invite women to recover their feminine hearts, created in the image of an intimate and passionate God. Further, they encourage men to discover the secret of a woman's soul and to delight in the beauty and strength women were created to offer.

Rating: *****

Recommend: HIGHLY!

Sister by Rosamund Lupton

I had a really difficult time getting into the groove of this book.  After talking with my friend Debbie who loaned it to me and my husband Jason, I came to the conclusion that it was very frustrating to me to read the narrative from the older sister Bee constantly talking to her dead sister Tess and it always being a one-sided conversation.  Because I never really got to know Tess, I really didn't have any attachment toward her or care about her murder or pregnancy.  I had no problem reading a chapter and then picking it up weeks later to read another one.  This book really dragged on and on for me.  I'm sure that seems surprising to most of you who have read it, because it's a very highly rated piece of fiction - but I just couldn't get into it.  The last chapter did end fantastically, but overall it's not one I could easily recommend to others.  Shoot, cause I really wanted to like it!

Description: When her mom calls to tell her that Tess, her younger sister, is missing, Bee returns home to London on the first flight. She expects to find Tess and give her the usual lecture, the bossy big sister scolding her flighty baby sister for taking off without letting anyone know her plans. Tess has always been a free spirit, an artist who takes risks, while conservative Bee couldn’t be more different. Bee is used to watching out for her wayward sibling and is fiercely protective of Tess (and has always been a little stern about her antics). But then Tess is found dead, apparently by her own hand.


Bee is certain that Tess didn’t commit suicide. Their family and the police accept the sad reality, but Bee feels sure that Tess has been murdered. Single-minded in her search for a killer, Bee moves into Tess’s apartment and throws herself headlong into her sister’s life—and all its secrets.

Though her family and the police see a grieving sister in denial, unwilling to accept the facts, Bee uncovers the affair Tess was having with a married man and the pregnancy that resulted, and her difficulty with a stalker who may have crossed the line when Tess refused his advances. Tess was also participating in an experimental medical trial that might have gone very wrong. As a determined Bee gives her statement to the lead investigator, her story reveals a predator who got away with murder—and an obsession that may cost Bee her own life.

A thrilling story of fierce love between siblings, Sister is a suspenseful and accomplished debut with a stunning twist.

Rating: *** (3 stars only cause the ending brought it up from a 2!)

Recommend: Nah.

Nobody's Child by Austin Boyd

I was deeply honored to be contacted by Austin Boyd and offered a copy of his book Nobody's Child, book one from his new series The Pandora Files.  I'd already had it on my "to-read" list with Goodreads and thought the concept sounded intriguing and original.

I had no idea when I first added the book to my TBR list, that it was in fact a Christian book.  I hate to be so honest, but I've read so much cheesy Christian fiction that I would have probably intentionally overlooked this one if it was flashing "Christian fiction" anywhere near it. GAH! I hate feeling that way about Christian fiction!  But let me tell you, when I finally DO come across a well-written piece of fiction that challenges me, inspires me and moves me the way Nobody's Child does, I seriously shout my praises from the rooftops!!! And anyone who I've been in contact with over the last month as I've been reading it (yes, I'm terribly slow reader), has heard of my love for Austin Boyd's Nobody's Child - from my co-workers, to my family, to all the friends in our home group.

And please excuse me as I gush for a minute more - but this man KNOWS what he's talking about when he writes.  As a hugely accomplished and well-educated man, it's comforting to know that when a author writes about something, they actually know what they're talking about.  Do you get what I'm saying?  There's nothing more irritating than a author who pretends to know what they're talking about and makes it up as they go.  Austin Boyd has published award winning poetry and dozens of technical articles and papers during his career as a Navy pilot, was a NASA astronaut finalist, and a spacecraft engineer.  As if that's not enough accomplishments for one person in a lifetime, he's employed as a CEO for Inergi Inc, an engineering and design firm and works with a crisis pregnancy center in Huntsville, AL. Are you kidding me?!

I find it extremely refreshing to read a fiction novel from a Christian perspective that touches on bioethics, through a personal and touching story as this one.  I quickly found myself emotionally invested in Laura Ann McGhee's struggle to fight for her family inheritance, and yet still hold true to who she was and her values. There were many times Austin could have comprised Laura Ann's character in her relationship with Ian and because he did not I enjoyed it that much more. 

Austin Boyd will be added to my favorite Christian (but not religious!) author list to join the ranks of Francine Rivers, Gina Holmes and Frank Peretti!  I'm looking forward to checking out more from Austin Boyd, specifically his recent work, H2O which also looks very good!

Description: Nobody’s Child sweeps you into a world where unprecedented choices never intended by heaven lead to unintended consequences never before seen on earth.


Meet… Laura Ann McGehee—Determined to honor her father’s dying request, the young West Virginia woman will do whatever it takes to save the family farm, including using the one remaining financial resource she has—her body.

Sophia McQuistion—Thanks to the unusual sacrifice of a woman she has never met, she carries the child she could never conceive.


Ian Stewart—In Laura Ann’s time of need, he’s more than just a close friend. He is a source of grace, a man who loves Laura Ann through her many trials.


When unusual circumstances place Sophia’s baby in Laura Ann’s care, Laura Ann is now the virgin mother of her own biological son. The media call him “Nobody’s Child.” But somebody wants him badly enough to steal the baby. Weaving together bioethics and faith, Nobody’s Child dramatizes a future that is already upon us with consequences we can no longer avoid

Rating: *****

Recommend: Absolutely! I'd recommend to any and all readers!

**Note: Even though I was given a free copy of Nobody's Child, I'm always honest with my reviews regardless of whether the author reads it or not. If I did not enjoy an ARC, trust me - you'll know. ;-)

New Bookshelf!

I've had PILES of books stacked up in a corner of our bedroom forever and have needed a bookcase that would keep them from getting all dusty and looking super cluttered, BUT at the same time fit in this little tiny corner of the room without looking overcrowded.

My inlaws bought us this beautiful corner hutch for our bedroom to use as a bookcase!

Isn't it beautiful?!

Here's a pic of it with all my lovely books inside...color coded of course!