The Mind of Terror

What motivates Islamic terrorists? What is in the mind of terror? Our news reports from the Middle East cover events--bombings, massacres, and suicide attacks. Our newscasters take time to explain who the players are--from Hezbollah to the Iranian Quds, from ISIS to the Palestinian National Authority. But there is something underneath these events and players that fuels atrocity after atrocity in the Middle East. What is it? Tass Saada provides the answer to that question as he delves into the mind of terror, explaining what motivates extremist groups throughout the Middle East. A former Muslim and a onetime sniper with Yasser Arafat's Fatah organization, Tass has lived it himself. At age 42, he steered his life in a radical new direction, committing it to Jesus. Tass not only describes the motivations and aspirations of those who live in the Middle East, he also outlines a peaceful solution. We can plant seeds of hope that will transform not only the Middle East, but also our increasingly diverse neighborhoods at home. Discover the mind behind terror and how to oppose its grip.

My thoughts: This is an excellent book on understanding the minds behind the terrorists, exposing why they do what they do and offering insight on solutions for how to help them overcome that mindset.
Written by a former Muslim sniper who converted to Christianity in his early 40's, Tass Saada helps the reader to see what motivates extremists and how one can respond to them. I found this book incredibly interesting and informative, with his having come from that mindset himself. I have felt rather confused and shocked by ISIS and why they are wrecking such havoc and spreading hatred. This book helped highlight how people could be filled with such contempt for human life. He makes a good point that ISIS has highlighted the call to be terrorists in the Quran.
One of the things I liked best about this book is the stories that Tass shares about building schools in Muslim countries and how he has been able to establish common ground and relationships with those in the communities where the schools are located. He also has some information on how we can get involved from wherever we live.
I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.

Journey to Heal and Naming Our Abuse

A path of hope and healing for survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

A woman who was sexually abused as a child is confronted with many internal questions: Am I worthless? Will I get past the pain? Do I matter to God? These and similar questions can carve a deep hole in an already wounded soul. Too often, the lies of worthlessness are believed, the pain becomes too much to handle, and survivors find themselves making choices that lead to more heartbreak. With over 42 million survivors (both male and female) in the United States alone, the need for a clear path to healing is great.

Crystal Sutherland—herself a survivor of CSA—knows that while the recovery process is complex, healing is possible with God's help. For women who want to progress from simply coping to living abundantly, Journey to Heal guides readers through seven essential steps to recovery found in Scripture. Candid and open about her personal journey of healing, Crystal comes alongside her reader as a friend who understands. Infused with biblical truths, stories of hope from other survivors, and practical wisdom, this book leads women to discover the life of wholeness God has for them.

My thoughts: This is an excellent book for females who have been sexually abused, or even for those who are trying to help a loved one over come sexual abuse. The book is heartbreaking, due to the subject it deals with, but is also a message of hope for those who have been sexually abused. This book is a helpful mix of prayers, scripture verses, and information. I highly recommend it if you or a loved one has suffered sexual abuse. This book shows that you are not alone.



A stunningly vulnerable look at the horrific realities of sexual abuse and how to overcome them.

Male sexual abuse is increasingly in the news, from scandals in the Catholic Church to exploitations at Penn State. Yet books and programs about healing are still overwhelmingly oriented toward the female survivor of abuse. As men who experienced childhood abuse, the authors of this book are uniquely qualified to address the healing process of male survivors.

Using the metaphor of a car accident, Naming Our Abuse leads the survivor from the Wreck to the Accident Report to Rehabilitation to Driving Again. This four-step model illustrates that healing is a process to be nurtured rather than something that can be healed in a single telling. Following the authors’ examples, readers are invited to find solidarity with other male survivors and develop an understanding of their own wounding through journaling exercises.

My thoughts: This one is geared towards men and centers around the stories of three different men who suffered abuse. This one talks about the different kinds of abuse: sexual, physical, spiritual, and mental. There are questions throughout the book to help the reader find their way to hope and healing, along with places for the reader to write personal thoughts. This is a great book for those who have been abused or for those who have a loved one who was abused.
I received both of these books from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Dawn at Emberwilde

Isabel Creston never dared to dream that love could be hers. Now, at the edge of a forest filled with dark secrets, she faces a fateful choice between love and duty.

For as long as she can remember, beautiful and free-spirited Isabel has strained against the rules and rigidity of the Fellsworth School in the rolling English countryside. No longer a student, Isabel set her sights on a steady yet unexciting role as a teacher at the school, a safe yet stifling establishment that would provide her a steady environment to care for her younger sister Lizzie, who was left in her care after her father’s death.

The unexpected arrival of a striking stranger with news of unknown relatives turns Isabel’s small, predictable world upside down, sweeping her and her young charge into a labyrinth of intrigue and hidden motives.

At her new family’s invitation, Isabel and Lizzie relocate to Emberwilde, a sprawling estate adjacent to a vast, mysterious wood rife with mysterious rumors and ominous folklore—along with whispers of something far more sinister. And perhaps even more startling, two handsome men begin pursuing Isabel, forcing her to learn the delicate dance between attraction, the intricate rules of courtship, and the hopes of her heart.

At Emberwilde, Isabel will discover that the key to unlocking the mystery of her past may also open the door to her future and security. But first she must find it—in the depths of Emberwilde Forest.

My thoughts: What a fun, Regency style story! I love the element of gothic with this story and the mystery surrounding the forest. I also really enjoyed the main characters and getting to know them! There is a lot going on with the story and I like that there are secondary characters as well that play a good part in the story without taking over. I hope that Isabel's friend, Mary, will have her own story at some point.;)
Sarah has written another winner with this book! It was the perfect book to curl up with on a rainy day.
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Broth and Stock

A cookbook from the author of the popular website The Nourished Kitchen, featuring 60 recipes for nutritious and healthy master broths, soups, stews, gravies and other dishes using poultry, meat, vegetable, and seafood broths.

Nutrient-dense bone broths are having a major moment: from the $8 per cup servings at New York "broth bars" to Kobe Bryant crediting its restorative properties for his improved athletic performance, broths are in the news and being turned to for their health properties. Jennifer McGruther is the perfect author to address this topic--a trusted authority on traditional foods who has been touting the value of broth since before it was trendy. The health benefits of broth are many: it is rich in protein, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and other trace minerals, which are easily absorbed by the body when consumed in liquid form. Bone broth has been proven to help mitigate the effects of arthritis and joint pain since it contains glucosamine, gelatin, collage, and chondroitin.Broth and Stock from the Nourished Kitchen features recipes for the broths themselves as well as soups, stews, and meat dishes that incorporate broths, and is the ideal guide for anyone interested in integrating these healthful concoctions into their daily lives simply and approachably.

My thoughts: This cook book is excellent! Jennifer does a wonderful job at providing a guide to discovering the wonderful world of broth and soups. She gives great advise on how to find soup bones (I didn't know to ask for trotters and the like!) at markets and stores and then how to make the most of them. I love the basic recipes she has, as well as the actual soup recipes. I think my favorites would be the cream of chicken and then Irish vegetable soup recipes.:) Though, there is a lot in this book to work with!
I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Adventures in Odyssey Summer Challenge 2016

This summer, you can join Adventures in Odyssey’s Clubhouse Magazine and help children in the Middle East go to school and learn English. It’s Adventures in Odyssey's Clubhouse Magazine Exercise to Educate summer challenge!

The Problem

Nearly 7,000 miles away from the United States, there's a war going on in the country of Syria. Many families have been forced from their homes. Parents have had to leave their jobs, and children have had to leave behind toys and friends.




Many of these families now live in refugee camps in nearby countries. They have tents instead of houses. Clean water is hard to come by. This war has put 2.6 million children out of school – some for more than four years already.

The Solution

Our friends at Focus on the Family Middle East know many families who don't have the money to buy a school uniform and pay for their children to go to school. They also know people who would love to teach children English in local churches.




You may not have a lot of money to help, but you probably have time, energy and excitement. Here's what you can do:




1. Go to to Whitsend.org/summer.


2. Print a sponsor sheet and exercise to earn points. You can do it for a week or the whole summer – just remember, the more you exercise, the more points you'll earn!


3. Ask your family and friends to sponsor your efforts.


4. Beginning in July, tell us how you did and receive a digital bundle from your friends at Adventures in Odyssey and Focus on the Family. The deadline to submit your information is August 31, 2016. 




For participating and submitting your information, you will get a free Adventures in Odyssey episode from Album 51. You will also get 101 Surefire Ways to Strengthen Your Child's Faith – eBook and the audio book of Imagination Station #1, “Voyage with the Vikings.”
Make the most of your summer—exercise for your health and help other kids in need while you do!

Don’t Be Bored This Summer!

Now is the time to make sure your kids have the greatest adventure this summer with over 800 Adventures in Odyssey episodes and non-stop listening fun! Sign up for the Odyssey Adventure Club today for just $9.99 per month at OACLUB.org.

Take Ten

Top reasons I love reading.

1. I can travel to places all from the comfort of my own home. This has become an even bigger incentive since I got married, since my husband isn't one to want to travel.;)

2. It's a great way to pass the time. I always carry a book with me. This has become much easier with the invention of the e-reader, as now I can carry a whole library with me wherever I go and not break my back.;)

3. You can learn some pretty incredible things about the world around you.

4. It's fun way to connect with others. Suddenly, that co-worker or distant relative is no longer as hard to talk to when you realize that you both read the same books.;)

5. It's a great way to connect. Especially, for this season in my life, with my children.;)


Top reasons I love reading with my children:

6. It builds their imaginations. I love watching my daughter re-enact stories or spin off from the stories she enjoys.

7. I love hearing the words they pick up. (especially since my daughter is into Fancy Nancy at the moment;))

8. It's a great way to get them interested in the world around them.

9. I've found it to be a good refresher course for me. lol. The things you can learn in eductational childrens books!

10. It's enjoyable to introduce childhood favorites to them. I look forward to pulling out some of the more advanced favorites, like Narnia and and the Little House books! I have a ways to go, I know.;)

Through the Shadows

As San Francisco rises from the ashes, an age-old battle looms between corruption and the promise of new beginnings. The devastating earthquake is just two years past, but the city of San Francisco is still trying to recover. Destruction of this magnitude is not so easy to overcome-and neither are the past regrets shadowing Elizabeth King’s hopeful future. Hoping to right her wrongs, Elizabeth dedicates herself to helping girls rescued from slavery in Chinatown brothels, even if it means putting her own life at risk to sneak through the gloomy alleys and rooftops where dangers lurk.

My thoughts: While I have enjoyed all the books in this series, I think that this one may be my favorite now! I loved the story of Elizabeth, the youngest of the King clan. After a disastrous end to her career as a concert pianist, she turns to working for a mission to atone for her sins. I found the historical aspect of this story fascinating, and I loved the theme of the book: God's grace and our acceptance of it. The story also brings back the characters of the previous stories, which is enjoyable.
This book would work well as a stand alone story as well.
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.