I'll Be Yours

The day Andrew Levin arrives at Washington High, Harper O’Malley knows he’ll make the perfect starter boyfriend. The school’s newest band geek is totally in Harper’s league, yet completely out of this late-bloomer’s reach. Between fitting in with a new family, scoring the first chair in band, and rescuing dogs for the local animal shelter, Harper’s never had the opportunity to hone her dating skills. But even though Harper’s love life is far from perfect, she’s got the perfect plan.

Harper knows she’s insane to agree to tutor Ridley Estes, a notorious heartbreaker and the star of her high school’s football team—but in exchange, he’s offered to school her in the game of love. Just when she sees promise with her crush, a football scandal rocks her family, her town, and Ridley’s entire future. Harper suddenly has everything to lose—her family, friends, and even her heart. When the dust of the scandal settles, nothing will be the same. Including the girl who asked the most popular jock to teach her about love.

My thoughts: It's been too long since I last read one of Jenny's books, since I forgot just how likeable her characters are! I loved getting to know Harper, with her insecurities, big heart, and hilarious humor. Sometimes life deviates from our perfect plans, leaving us to either hang on to our own ideas or reach out and grab the incredible curve ball that God threw. I loved the themes of forgiveness and redemption in this story. I can't recommend it enough! It's a sweet YA story that has a lot of depth to it, with Harper still dealing with the circumstances that led to her adoption into the O'Malley family when those insecurities are brought back up through a family tragedy. If you are looking for a good fall read, I recommend this one.

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How to Think

How to Think is a contrarian treatise on why we’re not as good at thinking as we assume—but how recovering this lost art can rescue our inner lives from the chaos of modern life.

As a celebrated cultural critic and a writer for national publications like The Atlantic and Harper’s, Alan Jacobs has spent his adult life belonging to communities that often clash in America’s culture wars. And in his years of confronting the big issues that divide us—political, social, religious—Jacobs has learned that many of our fiercest disputes occur not because we’re doomed to be divided, but because the people involved simply aren’t thinking.

Most of us don’t want to think. Thinking is trouble. Thinking can force us out of familiar, comforting habits, and it can complicate our relationships with like-minded friends. Finally, thinking is slow, and that’s a problem when our habits of consuming information (mostly online) leave us lost in the spin cycle of social media, partisan bickering, and confirmation bias.

In this smart, endlessly entertaining book, Jacobs diagnoses the many forces that act on us to prevent thinking—forces that have only worsened in the age of Twitter, “alternative facts,” and information overload—and he also dispels the many myths we hold about what it means to think well. (For example: It’s impossible to “think for yourself.”)

Drawing on sources as far-flung as novelist Marilynne Robinson, basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain, British philosopher John Stuart Mill, and Christian theologian C.S. Lewis, Jacobs digs into the nuts and bolts of the cognitive process, offering hope that each of us can reclaim our mental lives from the impediments that plague us all. Because if we can learn to think together, maybe we can learn to live together, too.

My thoughts: This is a great, easy read that is especially needed for those who post a lot on social media. I appreciated the reminder to look at things from other's point of view (especially when we don;t agree wit them), since it seems like it has become easier to quarrel about things when you aren't face to face. This is a great critical thinking book!
I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

The Austen Escape

After years of following her best friend’s lead, Mary Davies finds a whimsical trip back to Austen’s Regency England paves the way towards a new future.

Mary Davies lives and works in Austin, Texas, as an industrial engineer. She has an orderly and productive life, a job and colleagues that she enjoys—particularly a certain adorable, intelligent, and hilarious consultant. But something is missing for Mary. When her estranged and emotionally fragile childhood friend Isabel Dwyer offers Mary a two-week stay in a gorgeous manor house in Bath, Mary reluctantly agrees to come along, in hopes that the holiday will shake up her quiet life in just the right ways. But Mary gets more than she bargained for when Isabel loses her memory and fully believes that she lives in Regency England. Mary becomes dependent on a household of strangers to take care of Isabel until she wakes up.

With Mary in charge and surrounded by new friends, Isabel rests and enjoys the leisure of a Regency lady. But life gets even more complicated when Mary makes the discovery that her life and Isabel’s have intersected in more ways that she knew, and she finds herself caught between who Isabel was, who she seems to be, and the man who stands between them. Outings are undertaken, misunderstandings play out, and dancing ensues as this triangle works out their lives and hearts among a company of clever, well-informed people who have a great deal of conversation.

My thoughts: I always enjoy Katherine Reay's stories, as she puts so many layers into her characters and their stories. The Austen Escape did not disappoint in that regard! I found that I enjoyed getting to know Mary as she goes on the adventure of a lifetime with her childhood friend. I would of liked a bit more to the ending, since it felt like it was a bit abrupt, but that could just be me and my love of details.;) I did love all the Austen details and wish I had a friend who would take me on a Austen vacation.;)Overall, this is a wonderful story to pick up and savor.
I received this title from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Preorder your copy here:

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She's Got the Wrong Guy

The control freak. The angry man. The lazy guy. The unteachable guy. The promiscuous man. The unbeliever. The lone ranger. The unchurched guy. The new convert. The commitment-phobe.

For any woman who has struggled with failed relationships, this may seem like a familiar list. These are the men your friends and family have in mind when they think, “she’s with the wrong guy.” And while the reasons women choose these types of men are complicated and varied, ultimately, they will all let you down.

In She’s Got the Wrong Guy, Deepak Reju offers a different kind of dating book, discussing the types of guys women should not marry and offering biblical reasons why they aren’t suitable spouses. Writing from his years of experience as a pastor and counselor, Reju shares with women his perspective on how to assess a relationship’s strengths from the beginning, how to identify possible pitfalls, and how to have the courage to wait for a relationship that will be a blessing for both of you. Using stories that single women can relate to and highlighting contemporary issues in the modern world of dating, Reju gives readers clear, biblical direction on how to have positive, life-giving relationships with members of the opposite sex.

With a strong, Christ-centered focus, women will better understand why they “settle” for less than what God intends for their romantic relationships and learn to put their hopes and find their happiness in Jesus, not marriage.

My thoughts: As one of those girls who could of settled (since marriage didn't come around as early to me as it did to my friends), but looking at it as a wife and mother now (btw, I didn't settle. My husband is wonderful!) I thought that this book was an excellent resource for single women out there. Geared towards women, this book really helps one be intentional about who you marry. It's easy to get caught up in how a significant other makes you feel, but this book encourages women to step back from their relationships and be objective. I think this is a wonderful tool for single women! I like that there are plenty of true stories in this book that back up Deepak's thoughts.
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Take Ten: Halloween Freebie

I'm not really one for Halloween, since I have an overactive imagination and don't get into the creepy/ghoulish side of the holiday. But, I do like costumes and chocolate. lol. So, I think I will go with ten of my favorite covers that have costumes I would love.

1. Betrayal

I almost bought a dress like this one back when I was young and single, just because it was on sale and I loved how it looked on me. I talked myself out of it, since I didn't have a clue where I would wear it.;)

2. The Storyspinner

I've always loved the look of the corset over a white blouse!

3. The Door in the Hedge

Are you starting to see a theme? If I had been more of a seamstress when I was a teen, I would of had so many unusual dresses.;)

4. Luther and Katharina

I wish this cover showed the front of the dress, since it looks just gorgeous from the back! I love the different fabrics.

5. The Sandcastle Sister

If I could pull it off, I would totally were 1950's dresses all the time. Alas, I am not built like Audrey Hepburn.;)

6. The Emperor's Conspiracy

Why is it generally the back of the dress that is shown? I love the color contrast on this one!

7. Persuasion, Captain Wentworth, and Cracklin' Cornbread

I love the cheery color of this dress!

8. Eleanor and the Iron King

I love the color of this one, along with the sleeves and how it has a full skirt, but not too full.

9. A Heart Most Certain

I love the Edwardian style dresses, like this one!

10. Havencross

I love this style too! I guess it's obvious that I like historical style dresses.;)
What costumes should I have put? Or, what styles would of you have chosen?

Total Christmas Makeover

Give your Christmas a makeover with this practical approach to help your family learn what it means to truly celebrate their Savior.

In the bustle of the Christmas season, it can be easy to get swept up in all of the things to do. But it’s important to pause and remember that our priority should be to spend time celebrating Christ’s birth and not forget to invite Jesus to his own party.

Christmas is far more than a celebration of an event from long ago or a modern holiday centered around shopping. Mindfully take time to listen to how God continues to speak through the Christmas story as the Gospel narratives centered around the birth of Jesus provide encouragement and revelation concerning the love of God and his wisdom for us today.

In Total Christmas Makeover, author and Bible teacher Melissa Spoelstra provides a practical approach for you and your family to turn your attention toward God’s grace day-by-day as you prepare for Christmas. This 31-day devotional presents key scriptures, ideas to implement with each reading, and questions for reflection to guide you in rediscovering rituals, relationship, and rest to connect you more deeply with Christ this holiday season.

My thoughts: From personal experience, I know how easy it is to get caught up in the busyness of Christmas and have a hard time pausing and making time for making the holidays meaningful and having new traditions to celebrate the birth of our Lord. I love the devotions and how easy they are to read through. This is an excellent devotional to pull out for Christmas, to enjoy or to give as a gift.
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

The Delusion

By March of Owen Edmonds’s senior year, eleven students at Masonville High School have committed suicide. Amid the media frenzy and chaos, Owen tries to remain levelheaded—until he endures his own near-death experience and wakes to a distressing new reality.

The people around him suddenly appear to be shackled and enslaved.

Owen frantically seeks a cure for what he thinks are crazed hallucinations, but his delusions become even more sinister. An army of hideous, towering beings, unseen by anyone but Owen, are preying on his girlfriend and classmates, provoking them to self-destruction.

Owen eventually arrives at a mind-bending conclusion: he’s not imagining the evil—everyone else is blind to its reality. He must warn and rescue those he loves . . . but this proves to be no simple mission. Will he be able to convince anyone to believe him before it’s too late?

Owen’s heart-pounding journey through truth and delusion will force him to reconsider everything he believes. He both longs for and fears the answers to questions that are quickly becoming too dangerous to ignore.

My thoughts: This book is fascinating! I had a hard time putting it down, since it is quite suspenseful as Owen seeks to figure out what is going on in with his sight. I love the spiritual element to the book (which, is a huge part of the story, so good thing!) and thought that Laura's take on spiritual warfare was interesting. This book reminded me a lot of the few Frank Peretti that I read when I was younger. My only complaint about it is that it is the start of a series and now I have to wait to find out what happens next!
I highly recommend it for all ages, but it is especially good for young adults.
I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.