Journey to Riverbend by Henry McLaughlin

Journey to Riverbend is a good book that weaves the truth of God's love and redemption throughout.  I loved everything about the story, except I longed to read a better ending.  The ending showed a promise of what to come, but not the actual fullfillment.  That is the only thing I would have added!
 Michael Archer travels to Riverbend to fulfill the dying wish of Ben Carstairs, a young man that was wrongly convicted of a crime and put to death.  Ben longed to make amends with his father, Sam, but was not able to before he was killed.  Michael, who ministered to Ben, promised to go see Sam Carstairs in his place.  Michael meets a young woman named Rachel when he gets to Riverbend.  Even though they both have a troubled past, they have become believers of Jesus and have tried to go on with their lives.  They both have feelings for each other, but Rachel is not sure she is ready for love.   Soon, it becomes clear that Sam has been kidnapped, so Michael joins a posse to look for him so that he can finish his mission.  During his absence from Riverbend, Michael and Rachel both realized their true feelings for each other.  There are many extra characters and plots within the this story that keep it interesting!

I received this book free from the publisher in order to write a review.  I was not obligated to write a positive review, only to write my own opinion of the book.

Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones

I absolutely LOVED this book!  Jenny Jones is a wonderful author, bringing real world problems such as poor self-image, poverty, guilt, etc., and weaves them into a fantastic, "feel good" novel.  The book is based in Charleston, South Carolina, and showcases the extremes on the social spectrum.  Lucy is the founder of Saving Grace, which is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing a home and training for young women who would otherwise be out on the street and on their own after their foster care ended at 18 years of age.  Lucy is about to lose her funding for Saving Grace, so she enters into a contract with Alex Sinclair to fake an engagement in order to win an election for Congress.  Alex, a former pro-football player and member of the Charleston elite, will in turn give her the money she needs to keep her non-profit going.  They go into this as less than friends, but soon develop feelings for each other.  After learning about the person behind the facade, Lucy realizes that there is more to Alex than she gave him credit for.  Lucy  is not the type of person that Alex normally dates, which is exactly what makes her stand out.  This is a great romance story that made me long to learn even more about this couple.  I would love a sequel!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

The Power Based Life by Mike Flynt

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started to read this book, but it sure exceeded any expectations that I might have had.  Mike Flynt has dedicated his life to helping others, and this book follows right along that path.  He has created twelve strategies to guide you toward finding a more satisfying and purposeful life.  There are many sports stories/analogies that makes this very relatable to men (my husband included!), but also still very impactful for women.  I like how he uses scripture references to back up his writing.  I recommend this book to anyone looking to discover their God-given purpose in life.

I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers in order to write a review.  I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions expressed are my own.

Possession by Rene Gutteridge

Possession is a hard book to put down!  Vance Graegan, a retired police officer who worked the DC sniper case, and his wife, Lindy, decide to put the past behind them and move out to California to get a fresh start on life.  Everything seems fine with the move, until the the moving company decides to hold their belongings for an extra $8000.  This looks like a scam at first, but it becomes clear there is more to the story and it may have to do with the DC sniper case.  During this fiasco, Vance is still fighting his demons from the past, showing signs of PTSD.  An old collegue steps back into the picture and makes a bad situation even worse.  The twists and turns of this book keep the reader engaged and suprised.  I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good thriller.

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book. 

A Time To Embrace by Karen Kingsbury

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.  My favorite aspect of the story is how "real" the characters are.  John and Abby have struggled to save their marriage, and just when things have turned around for them, John was in a horrible accident that changed their lives in an instant.  God can use all things for His glory, and is able to use this accident to work on the hearts of those involved, along with many from the town.  Marriages are healed, bitterness is lifted, and a town turns to prayer.  I don't want to give away the ending, so I will only say that this is a wonderful story of encouragement and triumph!  I highly recommend this book, and can't wait to read more by Karen Kingsbury.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

A Rush of Wings by Kristen Heitzmann

From the first page, this story caught my attention and pulled me in.  Noelle St. Claire has been through some type of trauma, and she flees from all she has known to a horse ranch in Colorado.  There she meets two brothers, Rick and Morgan, who change her life forever.  Her past catches up with her, but it allows her to break free from the grip it has on her life so that she can move forward.  I loved this book and would highly recommend it!  I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and have been asked to provide my honest, unbiased opinion.

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent

This story is about a 4 year old little boy that "visits" heaven when he almost dies due to a burst appendix.  I have to admit that I really want to believe, but because it took the boy, Colton, years to fully tell the story, it seems to me that his imagination may have been running wild.  I do believe the parents truly believe what he is saying, but I am just having a hard time buying it.  The theme of the story is good, though.  Trust God through all situations...He hears you when you pray to Him....He loves you....are all truths.  I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading this book, because we all need to come to our own conclusions, but I wouldn't recommend it either.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”