Living a Beautiful Life on Less

When her husband was deployed to Iraq, Danielle’s income dropped dramatically. Something had to change.

Discover how her family of four survived happily on a $14,000 annual income with no debt—not even a mortgage. Their beautiful life on less could be yours!

Learn to

· Lay a financial foundation
· Cut your grocery bill in half
· Become a strategic shopper
· Plan meals your family will love
· Celebrate on a budget

With practical tips and real-life examples, this book makes living on a budget fun! You don’t have to sacrifice to enjoy the life you want. You just need to make your money work for you!

My thoughts: I love how this book is set up! Danielle writes to the reader like she is sitting down and having a chat with a good friend, something that I thought made the book all the more easy to read and relate to. She does a great job at offering practical information that will help one stretch their paycheck.
I know I have read on another review that they didn't like her advise to share a meal at a restaurant, which I can kind of agree with, since you can take the left overs home for a second meal. My husband and I rarely go out to eat though, since I like to cook and we save eating out for special occasions, so I think the best advise to saving money when it comes to eating out is to opt for cooking at home as often as possible, since it is a lot less expensive. Otherwise though, this book has a lot of great information and is a wonderful asset to any home.
I received this book from Cedar Fort in exchange for my honest review.

Brave Enough

Find the courage to be who you are―not who you wish you were. 
Is fear holding you back from becoming your best self? Does it add stress to your day and keep you up at night? What could be different if you let go and started living brave today? 

Bravery doesn’t have to mean cliff diving out of your comfort zone. Life is about being braveenough―for yourself, for God, for your tasks, and for your calling―right where He’s placed you. A brave-enough life is one lived fully and confidently, with your shoulders relaxed and free from the weight of responsibility and the burden of trying too hard. 

Nicole Unice, author of She’s Got Issues, wants that life to become a reality for you. She challenges you to get real about where you are right now―the places where you feel too scared to change, too tired to endure, or too worried to let go. Through personal stories and practical application, Nicole will lead you on a journey to harness all of your misspent doubts, concerns, and fears―and discover what God is saying about who you can be.

My thoughts: I love the open and honest way that Nicole writes in this book! It's a call for women to stop dreaming and get up and be brave. I am motivated by her writing and how she pulls in personal stories from her own life and the lives of those around her. I really appreciated her writing about fake grace and how we handle failures by not relying on God and His grace, which makes us fake.
(She does a much better job describing that!)
I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.

A Respectable Actress

When the illustrious India Hartley is accused of murder, she has to uncover the deceptions of others to save herself.

India Hartley, the famous and beautiful actress, is now alone in the world after her father’s death and embarks upon a tour of theaters across the South. Her first stop is Savannah’s Southern Palace. On the eve of the second night’s performance, something goes horribly wrong. Her co-star, Arthur Sterling, is shot dead on stage in front of a packed house, and India is arrested and accused of the crime.

A benefactor hires Philip Sinclair, the best—and handsomest—lawyer in Savannah to defend India. A widower, Philip is struggling to reinvent his worn-out plantation on St. Simons Island. He needs to increase his income from his law practice in order to restore Indigo Point, and hardly anything will bring him more new clients than successfully defending a famous actress on a murder charge.

Because India can’t go anywhere in town without being mobbed, Philip persuades the judge handling her case to let him take her to Indigo Point until her trial date. India is charmed by the beauty of the Georgia low country and is increasingly drawn to Philip. But a locked room that appears to be a shrine to Philip’s dead wife and the unsolved disappearance of a former slave girl raise troubling questions. Piecing together clues in an abandoned boat and a burned-out chapel, India discovers a trail of dark secrets that lead back to Philip, secrets that ultimately may hold the key to her freedom. If only he will believe her.

My thoughts: I found the historical aspect of this story to be interesting, since India has her work cut out for herself when she tries to go against public opinion of actresses and establish herself as respectable and innocent in the eyes of the judge and jury. While I liked the historical side, I was sad that there weren't many like able secondary characters. The story is interesting though, and I like that there are a couple of mysteries going on!
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Take Ten

Top ten debut authors that have me looking forward to their Sophomore novel
1. Charity Bishop

Okay, I know that Charity has written quite a few stories now, but I have only read one thus far and NEED to make time for more.

2. Johnnie Alexander


3. Stephanie Burgis


4. Mary Jane Hathaway

Her book was just a fun, modern re-telling of Jane Austen.

5. Amber Stokes

I have this one on my Kindle now, so I need to read it and add a second story by her to my list of read items.;)

6. Patricia Bradley

I was blown away by the start of this series! She is a fantastic mystery author.

7. Roseanna M. White

She has a second book coming out soon!

8. Lori Benton


9. Kristi Ann Hunter

I was pleasantly surprised by this one and can't wait for the second book in the series to come out!

10. Camille Elliot

Valley of Decision

Every choice has a consequence in the explosive conclusion to the Carthage Chronicles as Lisbeth returns to third-century Carthage for a thrilling final adventure.

Thirteen years ago, Lisbeth made an impossible decision—leave third-century Carthage and her husband Cyprian behind for good. She knew it was to protect her daughter Maggie, so Lisbeth gathered the strength to move on with her life.

All these years, Lisbeth has thrown herself into her work and raising her headstrong daughter, all to live up to the promise she made to Cyprian. But Maggie is sick of being protected. In an act of teenage rebellion Maggie decides to do what her mother can’t—secretly returning to the third century on a quest to bring her father back, leaving Lisbeth no choice but to follow.

With Maggie’s surprise arrival in Carthage, chaos ensues. She finds her grandmother on trial for murder and attempts to save her, but instead the diversion sparks a riot that nearly destroys the plagued city. Only one thing will appease the wrath of the new proconsul of Carthage: the death of the instigator.

Will Lisbeth arrive in time to save her daughter from the clutches of Rome? How can God possibly redeem such a slew of unwise decisions and deep regrets? Filled with heart-wrenching twists and riveting action, Valley of Decision brings the romantic adventure epic, The Carthage Chronicles, to an electrifying conclusion.

My thoughts: I have enjoyed this series from the first book on! It has had some mind blowing twists to the story, some of which I wasn't happy about but could understand.;) It is a bit gritty, but I think that the author did a wonderful job of showing how it must of been like to live in Carthage during a period of persecution for Christians. I highly recommend this series if you are wanting to read something different, since it is unique, interesting, and will steal your heart!
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Papa's Book of Mormon Christmas

Six-year-old Alice would rather get toys than a book any day. But when her grandfather explains that this book is different, Alice begins to see why their first-edition Book of Mormon is so special to her family. Set in the early 1900s, this charming story is the perfect picture book to read with your family.

My thoughts: I have to admit, with the last few days being more cold and rainy, I have been in the mood to pull out my Christmas music and books.;) I try to wait until after Thanksgiving, since I don't like that it can be eclipsed by Christmas, but it has been tempting! The last few years, I have tried to build up our collection of Christmas books geared towards young readers, so I was thrilled to add this book to my collection! The story is a darling, old fashioned one that is accompanied by some lovely illustrations. We are enjoying this book immensely! I highly recommend that every household that has young children around should build up a collection of Christmas stories that teach kids the real meaning of Christmas.
I received this book through Cedar Fort in exchange for my honest review.

A Chameleon, a Boy, and a Quest

A Boy Named Mu, an African Journey, and You

Mu, a ten-year-old orphan, has lived his entire life in the heart of Africa. For as long as he can remember he has served in the household of a great-uncle where he is unloved and ignored. In his drudgery-filled life, Mu has little hope of happiness, and little hope that anything will ever change.

But one day, everything does change. On his way to draw water one morning, Mu is astonished when a chameleon greets him by name and announces that they will embark on a quest together. And what a quest it turns out to be! Mu faces danger and finds unexpected allies as they journey through a fascinating and ever-changing landscape.

A Chameleon, a Boy, and a Quest blends magical realism with a compelling story. The exciting story line combines an orphan’s journey to find a home with the plight of child soldiers and the dangers of the Ebola virus and, along the way, highlights universal themes of integrity, loyalty, faith, and love. Written by long-time medical missionary J. A. Myrhe, the artful story is laced with subtle gospel themes and handles cross-cultural issues with grace and sensitivity. Kids will encounter good and evil and learn the truth about hope, happiness, and what it means to be human in this page-turning first book in a new series.

My thoughts: I was pleasantly surprised with this book! I am not sure what I was expecting, but I was thrilled to discover this is a neat little story for young people that does a wonderful job of combining faith and fiction. Told through the eyes of a young orphan, I found this to be an interesting and engaging coming of age story that is imaginative and well written. While not particularly long, it held my attention through to the end (something that can be hard for me when it comes to books written at a middle school level). I thought the pacing was just right and the characters are well portrayed. I highly recommend this story!
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.