2016 Must-Read: The Mother Letters by Amber and Seth Haines

I don’t know if anyone reads the books I recommend here, or doesn’t read them because I don’t recommend them.  I like to think that I influence at least one person’s reading habits just a little.  But this book I’m not only telling you that I think you should read it, but, if you’re a mother, I’m asking you to read it.  If you only read one book that I ever recommend, The Mother Letters is the one.

The Mother Letters is a compilation of letters written by moms, to moms.  There are letters here for moms in every stage of life, and every circumstance imaginable.  There are letters for young moms, struggling to get through the night-feeding and endless diapers stage.  Letters for moms with kids in high school, facing an empty nest soon.  Letters for moms of disabled children, crying when their child can’t be like everyone else, but so proud of each little accomplishment.  Letters for moms who have struggled with infertility, or have lost their precious little one.  There are funny letters and teary letters, long letters and short letters, letters from popular bloggers, letters from women you’ve probably never heard of, and some letters simply from “anonymous.”  The common thread between them all is the thread of encouragement that runs through them.  The message is clear.  You can do this.  You’ll make it through this hard time.  You are a good mom.  Your children love and adore you and need you and only you as their mom.  I cried so many times while I read this.  There are women out there who are facing the same struggles and battles as me, and they have knowledge and wisdom to share.  I’m so happy they were given this opportunity to share it in this way.

Mothers, read this book!  Read it on the days when it’s raining and you’re stuck indoors with two toddlers whining for your attention.  Read a little between your endless loads of laundry.  Read just a few pages at night before you lay down, or with your morning coffee.  Sneak in a few pages while you’re in the school pick-up line.  Just be sure to have a few tissues handy.  I promise when you’re done your heart will feel lighter, and your burden easier.  You’ll still know that this thing called motherhood is hard, but you’ll see even more than ever that it’s also beautiful, and worth every minute.

Happy Reading!

Lyndsie

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my review.  All opinions are my own and a favorable review was not required.  The Mother Letters is on sale now. 

2016 Must-Read: Room for Hope by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Room for Hope is the kind of book that I love to read, review and recommend.  It’s a beautifully-written story about finding hope in the middle of heartache, and redemption and forgiveness in the face of anger. While I love to read a good Christian romance, sometimes I like something a little different.  Room for Hope is one of those books that really gives you pause and makes you think about things a different way.  What if you were faced with repercussions from someone else’s sin?  Could you find the power to move on and forgive the person who never even asked for your forgiveness?  That’s the situation that faces Neva Shilling in this book.

Neva and her two children, twins Bud and Belle, live in Buffalo Creek, Kansas, during the Great Depression.  They run a general store there while her husband, Warren, travels around selling goods from his wagon.  He returns home to them about once a month to restock the store and spend time with his family.  One night while awaiting his return, the family hears a wagon pull up outside.  They rush out, thinking Warren is home, only to find a sheriff’s deputy hauling a wagonload of furniture and three strange children.  Deputy Jesse Caudel informs Neva that her “brother,” Warren Shilling, and his wife have passed away and asked that their children, Charley, Cassie and Adeline, be sent to “Aunt Neva” to care for them.  Neva is shocked, and shattered.  Since Neva herself grew up in an orphanage, she’s determined not to send the children to the same fate.  But keeping them turns out to be harder than she ever imagined.  Bud is resentful of his new siblings, and Neva cannot find any affection for them.  When the whole town turns against them, Neva fears losing her livelihood in Buffalo Creek, and must decide whether it’s time to move away.  But one man wants to convince her to stay.  Can Neva, Bud and Charley find forgiveness and learn to trust again?  Is there room for hope in the midst of their despair?

Room for Hope is one of my favorite reads so far this year.  Kim Vogel Sawyer writes wonderfully unexpected, yet believable characters.  I love how she used unusual situations to point out grace and forgiveness.  Warren Shilling created a terrible mess in his lifetime, that others were forced to deal with after his death.  But instead of allowing bitterness to fester in her spirit, Neva chose to let go of the past, and move forward.  Through her kindness and generosity, others in Buffalo Creek experienced heart changes as well.  She demonstrates that forgiveness is a choice, and choosing it can change everything.  I hope to see more of these characters in future books.

Why it’s a must-read:

This book conveys such a wonderful message.  Sometimes things happen to us in life that we are not responsible for, but we still must suffer the consequences.  How we choose to deal with these situations, and how we let them affect us makes all the difference.  I doubt many of us will face the issue of a husband with a secret, second family, but we will inevitably encounter difficulties that we would not choose for ourselves.  Room for Hope is a great reminder that God is there with us and for us, to provide the strength to find forgiveness, love and even, hope for the future.

Happy Reading!

Lyndsie

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this review.  All opinions are my own.    

2016 Must-Read: Having a Martha Home the Mary Way by Sarah Mae

Am I the only person who’s always on the lookout for faster, simpler ways to keep my house clean?  When I look at magazines, blogs and Pinterest I see so many beautiful, well-organized homes, and I always wonder how they live in a house like that.  Where do they sit and do craft projects?  Where do the kids play?  Do they actually cook meals in that pristine kitchen?  And then comes the inevitable feelings of failure and inadequacy because, no matter how hard I try, my house will never look like that.  When I read Having a Martha Home the Mary Way, I found out that I am not alone.  There are others out there who feel that their homemaking skills are less-than-perfect to say the least.  And then there is the Mary life.  Don’t most of us wish that we could spend more time at the feet of the Saviour, listening to His words and soaking up His presence?  And more than that, don’t we wish for a space that feels comfortable, homey and welcoming to friends and family?

  In this book, Sarah Mae has presented thoughtful, clear ways to keep your home clean, without spending 90% of your time with a scrub brush in hand.  She also gives practical advice for finding the time and energy to spend in prayer and Bible study that so many of us sacrifice for various reasons every day.  She has broken her plan down into thirty-one days.  Every day has a simple devotion with a life-lesson, followed by a Mary challenge with a scripture reading and a Martha challenge.  By following along every day you’ll be able to find the balance between the hard-working Martha, and the friend-visiting Mary. 

Mary challenges will help you to see yourself in a new light, more like He sees you.  Challenge yourself to give up your expectations of what you think your life and home should be.  We all fall short so many times of the goals we give ourselves.  Mary will challenge you to forgive yourself when you fail, and get up again tomorrow ready to give it another try.  And always remember that you are you and no one else.  We don’t all approach life the same way, so our homemaking routines are different, too.  There are lessons about kindness and diligence, and so many other traits that we need, not only as wives and mothers, but as Christians.  There is encouragement for those days when you just feel tired, run-down and discouraged, and advice for when you find yourself getting distracted. 

Then comes the Martha challenge.  These challenges are broken down by rooms, where you tackle a few jobs in one room every day until it’s clean.  The tasks are very manageable, and will have you feeling better about your homekeeping skills in no time!  As you complete each job and each room, you will be able to develop a routine for yourself to keep the mess from piling up and overwhelming you again. 

If you already keep your home pristine and have a perfect cleaning routine, yay for you!  But I would still recommend this book.  The spiritual aspects and journaling prompts alone make it worth reading.  The cleaning plan would also be great to follow if you are performing your spring cleaning for the year. 

What makes it a must-read:

The most important thing that I took away from this book is the realization that things don’t have to be perfect.  My worth isn’t based on my abilities as a housewife, or the cleanliness of my home.  While these things are important, they aren’t the most important.  There will be days that I fail, or don’t measure up to the standards that I’ve set for myself, but I can’t give up!  I have a Heavenly Father who loves me whether my floor is clean, or not.  One of my favorite quotes from the book is, “It is practical to clean, and it is necessary, but my identity has nothing to do with it…It is purely in Christ.  He tells me who I am, and loves me where I am.” 

If you are a woman struggling to be the homemaker you think you should be, but keep falling short, I recommend this book to you.  Your home (and my home!) may never win awards for being the cleanest in the neighborhood, but if it’s a place where our family, friends and most importantly, our Saviour feel comfortable and at home, that’s really all that matters!

Happy reading…and cleaning!

Lyndsie

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this review.  All opinions are my own.  Having a Martha Home the Mary Way is available now.   

2016 Must-Read: Spark Joy by Marie Kondo

I haven’t conducted a survey to see what most people resolve to do in their New Year’s resolutions, but mine usually involve some sort of cleaning, decluttering or organizing.  I recently read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo.  I have to say that I resisted reading it at first.  The thought that tidying could really change your life seems far-fetched.  But I saw several others who read it and literally raved about it, so I caved.  First, you should know what this book is not.  If you want someone to tell you how to store everything you’ve got in various boxes or totes, this is not the book for you.  If you’re looking for designer storage options, look elsewhere.  To follow Marie’s “KonMari” method of tidying, you have to get brutal with yourself and your belongings.  You will literally touch and hold every item that you own, and decide if it sparks joy in you.  If it does, keep it.  If it doesn’t, it has to go.  Now, I’ve read a lot of articles about decluttering and organizing, but this method is totally new to me—but I liked it!  The KonMari method is broken down into very specific categories, and they must be completed in a certain order.  I won’t tell you what it is, because you really need to buy the book!

I have only competed the first category, which included my closet and dresser so far, but it truly makes me feel happy to just look at my clothes.  However, as much as I loved The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, I was left with many questions at the end.  What kind of kitchen equipment should I keep?  How do I store my food?  How exactly do I fold these shirts?  What is best way to store my towels?  So when I saw that Marie has written a companion volume, I knew I had to have it! 

Spark Joy will answer any questions you may be left with after reading the first book.  It expands on the original principles of the KonMari method, but gives even more information, including illustrations about folding everything from sweatshirts to underwear.  There are tips about storing your makeup, toilet paper, kitchen appliances and everything in between.  It’s like a nerd’s guide to tidying!

I also feel like Marie fills in a lot of the blanks about what to do when you’re done discarding and your space feels a little sparse and empty.  She gives tips for decorating your new, tidier spaces using the things that you love.  She also tells you that it’s okay to keep some things that may not seem practical, but do bring you joy, giving tips for how to use those things you just don’t want to part with as part of your décor.  While her tastes won’t match everyone’s, I found a lot of her tips to be helpful.

Why it’s a must-read:

You may think, like I did, that tidying can’t truly be life-changing, but after reading these two books, I believe that it just might be.  Since reading about people who have tidied their homes and found happiness in a simpler life, I can really see how much clutter and truly un-joyful things I have in my home.  I think that keeping only those things you truly love and chucking the rest can be life-changing.

I think everyone can benefit from reading this book and becoming motivated to clear their clutter.  I think a lot of people want to tidy their homes and lives, a but really just don’t know where to start.  Marie will not only tell you how to start, but she’ll give a lot of tips and practical advice along the way.  It’s a great way to start not only a new year, but a new life chapter.  Life-Changing Magic and Spark Joy will only cost you a little over $20 when purchased on Amazon, so I highly recommend that you buy both of them.  If you’re truly dedicated to living a simpler, less-cluttered life, Marie can show you the way!

Happy Reading!

Lyndsie

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this review.  All opinions are my own and a favorable review was not required.  Spark Joy is on sale now

2016 Must Read: I Was Blind (Dating) But Now I See by Stephanie Rische

I have to admit it.  Even though I am now very happily married, the message of Stephanie Rische’s book I Was Blind (Dating) But Now I See, really appealed to me.  There was a time when I was single, and I desperately wanted to be married.  I experienced a lot of the things that Ms. Rische talks about, from well-meaning friends, to family jokes that stung more than a little.  What I appreciated most about this book was that it is not a way to change yourself so a man will love you.  I guess those books have their place, but sometimes a single girl needs something more.  I also appreciated the fact that this author doesn’t tell single women that they are somehow wrong to desire a man in their lives.  So many times I’ve read and heard it said that single people should enjoy the “season” they are in now, without wishing for more.  I even read a book by one husband/wife team that indicated you aren’t ready for marriage until you’ve learned to enjoy life as a single person.  These sentiments sound good on the surface, but they just aren’t true.  I believe that God puts the desire for companionship in every person, and we aren’t wrong to wish and pray for a mate.  Ms. Rische wasn’t shy about admitting that she desired a husband, prayed for a husband, and even doubted God along the journey.  Her story is sometimes funny, sometimes painful and always heartfelt. 

This is not a book about finding a husband.  It’s not a guide that tells girls what they can do to snag a man.  It’s a series of lessons about coming to the realization that God knows what He’s doing all the time, and His grace is always sufficient.  It’s about coming to terms with disappointments in life, and moving past them.  It’s raw and honest.  So many times I could feel Stephanie’s pain, and I remember times in my life when my own heart cried, “This isn’t fair!”  But I found in my life, the same as Ms. Rische, that God is faithful in all things.

I wish that I had I Was Blind (Dating) But Now I See during my single years.  It is not only great lessons about living as a single person in a world full of married people, but it is full of encouragement for people in all walks of life.  It includes encouraging passages from the Bible, but also from someone who’s been there. It might seem odd to include this book in my “2016 Must Read” series, and you might think that if you’re married, or not looking to get married, this book isn’t for you.  But I think this book is applicable for anyone who is in a season of waiting, wishing and maybe even doubting.  Maybe you won’t relate to the stories, but the lessons remain true.  If we’re honest, I think we’d all admit that we’ve had times when we couldn’t understand what was going on in our lives, or why it seemed that God wasn’t answering our prayers.  Here is a lesson about waiting, while wanting, to help us see that grace is always there waiting for us with open arms.

Happy Raeding!

Lyndsie

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this review.  All opinions are my own and a favorable review was not required.     

The Newsmakers--A 2016 Must-Read

I’m really excited about this first book in my “2016 Must-Read” series.  Lis Wiehl is a favorite author of mine, and I felt that her background in law made her Mia Quinn series a cut above many others in the mystery genre.  In the same way, I feel that her experience as a Fox News contributor has made this new book something special, too.  The Newsmakers is written in the same vein as the Mia Quinn novels, except it explores crimes from a media point of view rather than legal.

Erica Sparks has just landed her dream job with a major news network.  She has moved to New York City, leaving her eight-year-old daughter behind.  Her dream is to make it big, and bring Jenny to live with her.  She lands a major story her first day on the job, and while setting up to interview Duchess Catherine, she witnesses a terrible tragedy, and catches it on film.  It’s just the break she needs for her career to take off.  But the more she investigates the incident, the more suspicious she becomes.  Only a few weeks later she is interviewing another important figure, when a second tragedy occurs.  Now she’s convinced that something more sinister is going on.  She asks a colleague to help with her investigation, and he’s attacked and nearly killed.  Erica realizes that her life is in danger, and as she delves deeper into the investigation, she begins to fear for her daughter’s life as well.  She can’t deny the feelings developing between her and her producer, Greg, but she has no idea who is involved in the conspiracy, and is afraid to trust him.  In a spine-tingling finish, Erica must expose a murderous plot to save not only her life, but many others in the midst of a terrible hurricane. 

Why it’s a must-read:

This book is great on so many levels. Ms. Wiehl writes realistic characters that readers can relate to.  Erica is far from perfect, and she’ trying to hold it all together, and leave her mistakes in her past.  She hopes to rebuild her daughter’s trust in her and make a new life for them.  I like that she isn’t portrayed as a perfect woman who has it all together!  The portrayal of the owner of the new TV station is spot-on as well.  So many young geniuses are making it rich and starting dream companies these days, and here’s one who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.  And of course every book needs a dashing love interest like Greg to make things interesting!

In addition to the wonderful characters, this book has as awesome plotline.  The story builds to a climax that will truly leave you on the edge of your seat.  You’ll be biting your nails along with Erica while trying to figure out who is behind all the terrible things that are happening, and how many of her new “friends” are involved. 

In true Lis Wiehl fashion, this book is meticulously researched and well-developed.  This book is on my must-read list because I feel that it will be enjoyable to lovers of many different genres.  It is action-packed and exciting, but has no language or scenes that I found offensive.  It’s a clean read, but won’t leave you with that feeling that something is missing like many Christian thrillers. 

The final scene of this book seems to indicate that a sequel is forthcoming, and I can only hope it’s true!  If you’ve never read Lis Wiehl’s books before, this is the place to start!  You won’t be disappointed!

Happy Reading!

Lyndsie 

I received an advance galley of this book in exchange for this review.  All opinions are my own and a favorable review was not required.  Look for The Newsmakers on or around January 5, 2016.