Another Chance Ranch

Lifted from Darkness by Alexa M. Foster - Review

Book Description:

On the outside, Alexa lived the life of a cheerful married woman whose entire life seemed poised for greatness. On the inside, she continued to hide the shadowy secret of a splintered world of torture that she endured for ten years at the hands of the man whose lies she believed.

When she first met Jim, she was nineteen years old. Immediately captured by his charming personality, Alexa began an ardent love affair with him. What originated as controlling emotional abuse developed into a traumatic depiction of physical and psychological violence, illustrating the intense complexities of love and fury, passion and brutality.

In this touching work of inspiration, Alexa reveals the entangled suffering and sadistic manipulation experienced by living with an abuser, and carries you with her through the shocking events that led to her escape from the chasm of fear and intimidation. Along the way, Alexa exposes the heartbreaking effects domestic violence played on her identity as she moved toward true healing and a life of personal fulfillment and success with a faithful trust in God.

Review:

Recently, I was given the opportunity to read and review this book from Booklook Bloggers. The book description you see above is not the description I read when trying to choose my next title. Here is the description I read:

Lifted From Darkness picks you up and slams you into the unbelievable, but true story of a naive young woman’s spiritual and physical battle to escape a 10-year sentence, trapped as a prisoner of domestic violence. Live the horror and celebrate the harrowing escape as Alexa rebuilds her life and rises through the corporate world, achieving national recognition as the president and CEO of a multi-million dollar corporation.

Now, let me tell you, Chapter 1, page 1 grabs your attention and doesn't let go until the very last page. The blurb that I read while trying to choose my next book hit the nail on the head! Dead on! It does pick you up and slam you into the unbelievable!

This was a difficult read.  Let me explain.

This isn't a fictional character living in an abusive marriage. This is a real life woman facing emotional and physical abuse. It was hard to read about knowing that all of these things happened in real life, and happen all the time in the real world.

I only put this book down a few times, because I had to find out what happened to Alexa. I'm happy to say that it has a happy ending, and you will be blown away.

One last thing, if you read this book and you walk away from it without trying to see how God is working in your own life, then you need to read it again. That is huge in this book!

Diary of a Jackwagon by Tim Hawkins - Review

Book Description:

Popular Christian comedian Tim Hawkins shares his hilarious perspective on life in the 21st century.

In this wide-ranging, long-awaited book, comedian Tim Hawkins holds forth on everything from family, culture, and music to church, parenting, and education. Readers will enjoy laughing their way through the book, always feeling good about the clean and sometimes inspiring material they are laughing at. Chapters include riffs on marital communication ("marriage needs a challenge flag, like in pro football") aging ("the diabolical orifice witch hunt"), worship music ("pick the right key, because I'm not Barry White and I'm not a Bee Gee"), and fatherhood ("There are no manuals for parenting. Color-coded warning labels or open-ended prescriptions would be just as helpful.")

For fans of Jim Gaffigan's Dad Is Fat and Food: A Love Story, Tim Hawkins' hilarious first book reveals that for life's many difficulties, laughter is the best medicine-when there aren't any pills left.

Review:

This book is funny! FUN-NY!

Let me tell you about reading this book. My husband and I were headed to a business meeting in Colorado, which was about a 9 hour drive, and we had planned to listen to a book on the way there. Little did I know that I would be the one narrating the book. I figured that I would read a story or two, and he would get tired of hearing me read, but that isn't what happened.

He laughed! Out loud!

When I would finish one story, I would ask if he wanted me to continue and the answer was always yes! So I quit asking. That was the fastest 9 hour trip ever. We laughed, we remembered stories that resembled his, and we laughed some more.

We were at this meeting for several days, then we went to see the kids, and when we headed back I just assumed we'd listen to the radio and carry on with our usual debriefing. Not this time. My husband got in the pick-up, and asked me if I was going to finish reading the Jackwagon book.

So, I did.

I honestly, don't know if I can give this book a better review. For my husband to want to continue reading this, laughing out loud at almost every chapter/story, and recommend it to others...that in itself is a five-star rating!

To this day, we still make reference to silly little quips and quotes from Diary of a Jackwagon. Especially, Jackwagon. It has been one of my favorite words for years!

Buy this book! This is a book that you will be able to devour in one day! A month, two months, or a year later it will be just as funny!

Well done, Tim Hawkins! Well done!

Thank you to Booklookbloggers for allowing me to get an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

How to Catch a Prince by Rachel Hauck - Review

Book Description:

Prince Stephen came to America to escape responsibility. But what he found complicates his life more than ever.

Corina Del Rey is happy with her life in Melbourne, Florida. She spends her days engrossed in her career as a journalist and has her sights set on climbing the corporate ladder if for no other reason, to distract herself from her dissolving family. But when she is confronted with the past she fought so hard to put behind her, she struggles to make sense of her future.

Prince Stephen of Brighton Kingdom has moved on since the tragic death of his buddies in Afghanistan. A star professional rugby player, he has no intention of looking over his shoulder at what could've been.

But when a notice arrives in the mail requiring his and his wife s appearance before the courts to dissolve their marriage, he must deal with the questions rumbling around in his heart. He thought his marriage had been annulled long ago, but his memories of Corina Del Rey remain close. Does he still love her? Can he even find her? Above all, can he tell her the truth about that fateful night in Afghanistan seven years ago? If he does, he might really lose her forever.

Review:

I'll just get this out of the way right now. I'm a Rachel Hauck fan. I haven't read any of her books that I didn't like. So, I knew going into this one, that it was going to be another good one. I just didn't realize how good.  I call books like this fluff, and I do not mean any disrespect at all when I say that. I like fluff. It's kind of like Marshmallow Fluff, you just can't put it down. It's one where there aren't too many plot lines, and characters to keep up with. It is a fairytale sprinkled with faith!

These characters are Royals and Elites; they are not your typical Dick and Jane, but as I read through their enchanting story of love, regret, and forgiveness they seemed more down to earth than Royals and Elites are usually depicted.

How to Catch a Prince is the third and final book in The Royal Wedding Series by Rachel Hauck. I did something a little different with this series. I read this book before I read the second book in the series, Princess Ever After. Why would I do that? Let me tell you. I'm usually one to start reading a series of books with the first book and not stray out of order until I am finished with the series. This time I wanted to see if this was a book that would stand alone, or if it was dependent on the other books in the series. I am happy to report that How to Catch a Prince can stand alone. Now, with that said, I will be going back and reading Princess Ever After because I love this series, the characters, and Rachel Hauck!  Whether you start on the first book, Once Upon a Prince, or not is up to you, but if you like romantic fairytales then this book, as well as the others are for you!

Thank you to BookLook Bloggers for a free ecopy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

For the Love by Jen Hatmaker - Book Review

Book Description:

The popular writer, blogger, and television personality reveals with humor and style how Jesus' extravagant grace is the key to dealing with life's biggest challenge: people.

The majority of our joys, struggles, thrills, and heartbreaks relate to people, beginning first with ourselves and then the people we came from, married, birthed, live by, live for, go to church with, don't like, don't understand, fear, struggle with, compare ourselves to, and judge. People are the best and worst thing about the human life.

Jen Hatmaker knows this all too well, and so she reveals how to practice kindness, grace, truthfulness, vision, and love to ourselves and those around us. By doing this, "For the Love "leads our generation to reimagine Jesus' grace as a way of life, and it does it in a funny yet profound manner that Christian readers will love. Along the way, Hatmaker shows readers how to reclaim their prophetic voices and become Good News again to a hurting, polarized world.

Review:

Oh where do I start?!

"Live long enough and it becomes clear that stuff is not the stuff of life. People are." This is just one quote. I'd like to quote the whole stinkin' thing!!

Great book! Love this book! You have to read this book!! Seriously!

Have you ever liked something so much before that you can't even find the words to describe how it made you feel? That is exactly where I am today!

For the Love is written in such a way that you feel like Jen Hatmaker is sitting there with you, chatting like you were best of friends. You feel like you are laughing with her, crying with her, and learning more about grace with her. If you are familiar with her voice, as I am, then you hear her speaking each word you read. She's my new BFF (she just doesn't know it yet)!

There is humor out there in the real world we live in, and Jen points it out. She doesn't sugar coat things, so don't dig into this book expecting it to be all hilarious. There are some jagged points in there too. Maybe it is different for everyone. It will all depend on you, and what you need to get out of her writing.  Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of humor in there especially in the Thank You Notes. I found myself making thank you notes to people in traffic, in line at the grocery store, and even in church. Wouldn't you like to know what they are!?

This book has challenged me to live life with more humor and integrity. Jesus' extravagant grace IS the key to dealing with people. I will re-read this For the Love again, and again because I need a little bit of her wisdom each and every day!

P.S. Have tissues for Chapter 11, and be ready to laugh out loud in Chapter 12! I can't say too much about this book without giving it all away!

Jen Hatmaker, I sure wish there was a devotional book to pair with this title. :) Signed, Your new BFF!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader ecopy of this book!

Messy Beautiful Love - Book Review

Book Description:

Messy Beautiful Love delivers an incredible testimony of grace that offers hope for today’s marriages and a spark for rekindling love.

Love gets messy. 

Financial problems, sickness, aging parents, a chronically unhappy spouse . . . trials will inevitably come that threaten your marriage. No matter how long you’ve been married or how strong your relationship is, sooner or later you are going to have a mess to clean up.

Messy Beautiful Love is about cleaning up messes God’s way, exchanging your ideas for His, and being prepared for both the best and the worst that marriage has to offer. 

When you surrender your relationship to God, then and only then will you experience the blessing of marriage as He intended. This is the blessing of obedience.

Messy Beautiful Love is an invitation to that obedience. The cynical world says marriages don’t last, but God knows better. Tune out the world and tune in to Him. When you do that, a beautiful marriage is not only possible, it’s inevitable.

Review:

Most fairy tales end with... they lived happily ever after.  But have you noticed that none of the fairy tales every go back to revisit the happy couple later to see just how happily ever after they lived? I don't think so.

Have you ever wondered why you don't hear that about real couples? Is it because we are not perfect people, and we don't all wear rose-colored glasses? Married people are not happy 24/7/365, we aren't made that way. Let me speak for myself here, I am usually a happy person, but I can be upset, mad, sad, or even a little witchy. (We don't say that other word in our house.)

I love the way Darlene Schacht shows us that even imperfect people can have a good, even great marriage.  She points out that God should be the center of every marriage, and that marriage should be founded on mutual love and respect.

I really don't want to give anything away here, but I will say that Mrs. Schacht starts this book by sharing a story that could've ended her marriage. It is a story that most of us wouldn't admit to anyone, but she wrote about it to help all of us.

Are you married?  If so, you need to read this book! Yes, you! 

While I read this book, I smiled and laughed. I also felt empathy and sympathy. I could relate to many things, and I bet you will too.

If you read this book, please share with me your thoughts!

Thank you to BookLook Bloggers for providing me with a free ecopy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Hello From the Gillespies by Monica McInerney - Review

Book Description:

THE PERFECT READ FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON
It's time for the annual holiday letter from the Gillespie family.... 
New from the author of The House of Memories
For the past thirty-three years, Angela Gillespie has sent to friends and family around the world an end-of-the-year letter titled “Hello from the Gillespies.” It’s always been cheery and full of good news. This year, Angela surprises herself—she tells the truth....
The Gillespies are far from the perfect family that Angela has made them out to be. Her husband is coping badly with retirement. Her thirty-two-year-old twins are having career meltdowns. Her third daughter, badly in debt, can’t stop crying. And her ten-year-old son spends more time talking to his imaginary friend than to real ones.
Without Angela, the family would fall apart. But when Angela is taken away from them in a most unexpected manner, the Gillespies pull together—and pull themselves together—in wonderfully surprising ways…

Review:

First of all, I have to admit that I am one that gets drawn to a book by just looking at the cover. It's probably not the best way to pick books, but it is one of the ways I do.  Just so you know, I have read books with kind of boring book covers too, but I am more likely to pick up a book if it has a nice cover. With all of that being said, I really liked this cover because it seemed so inviting.

Let's get to the review.

Besides the cover, the blurb about this book was very intriguing. We all have that one friend that does a letter every year to update us on their goings on, and I for one enjoy them. I've even written one or two of them over the years. So, when I read that Angela Gillespie wrote everything that was on her mind instead of the regular sugar-coated news, my curiosity got the best of me.

The story is a quick and enjoyable read. It goes in several different directions, which kept me on the fence about several characters. By the end, I had laughed out loud, cringed, and sympathized with each character. I will say that there was a bit of repetitiveness in one area, but by the end of the book I understood why. It did play a part in everything, but it did seem to drag on. All in all, I was very pleased.

This is the first book I've read by Monica McInerney, and I must say that I do plan on reading more of her work. I enjoyed this book so much that I recommended that our book club read it, which we did.

I hope you read it, and let me hear your thoughts!

 

Gone Girl - Book Review

Book Description:

Marriage can be a real killer.    

One of the most critically acclaimed suspense writers of our time, New York Times bestseller Gillian Flynn takes that statement to its darkest place in this unputdownable masterpiece about a marriage gone terribly, terribly wrong. The Chicago Tribune proclaimed that her work “draws you in and keeps you reading with the force of a pure but nasty addiction.” Gone Girl’s toxic mix of sharp-edged wit and deliciously chilling prose creates a nerve-fraying thriller that confounds you at every turn.    

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?    

As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?   

With her razor-sharp writing and trademark psychological insight, Gillian Flynn delivers a fast-paced, devilishly dark, and ingeniously plotted thriller that confirms her status as one of the hottest writers around.

Review:

This is the hardest book to review. The. Hardest. I can't tell you any more that what is written in the book description, because I try really hard not to include spoilers. 

I can honestly say, that I've never read a book that I loved and hated.

I realize that I am kind of late to the Gone Girl party, but I did get it read before I watched the movie. So I felt like I accomplished my goal. I downloaded it a long, long time ago. Several friends had recommended it, and I really thought I would dive right into it. Then the next day (not really, but time does fly, you know) I saw the movie preview and started thinking about reading it again. Then one day a friend wanted to read it, and then see the movie. So we made a date for the movie, and HAD to read the book.

When I finally started reading the book, I was just like almost everyone else. I was sucked into the story, and hated to put the book down. I was told it was a physcological thriller, that would be true. I was told that it was twisted, that too, would be true. I was not told about the ending. If someone would have been so kind to tell me about the ending, I might not have even read Gone Girl.  All I will tell you about the ending is that it is wrong! So, so wrong! I don't think I've ever read a book that the ending literally made me mad. Mad enough that McD knew something was wrong, and asked me about it. I'm sure he had no idea what he was getting into when I had to explain the whole story, and then how it ended.

I have a friend that seems to take endings like these in stride. She says that in real life we rarely see the fairy tale endings, and this ending just seemed realistic to her. I see her point, and that did help my frame of mind, some.

I won't tell you what happens at the end, but I will tell you that I really, really liked this book. Well, until the ending, but I am okay with it now. This is a must read book if you like to keep wondering where the plot will take you. Well done, Gillian Flynn.

Now, about the movie. I will say that I didn't like the movie. I don't know if it was because I did read the book first, and there was absolutely zero suspense for me. Or if it was because it was just so slow!

Those are my two cents on Gone Girl. What are yours?

Let's All Be Brave. by Annie Downs - Review

Book Description:

Annie Downs admits she's not exactly the bravest girl in the world. She still cries sometimes when she leaves her parents' home in Georgia, she's never jumped out of a plane, and she only rides roller coasters to impress boys. But Annie knows that courage resides inside each and every one of us, and she's on a mission to triumph over her own fears while encouraging readers to do the same.

As a single young woman, writer, speaker, and popular blogger, Annie shares this journey toward bravery with honesty and humor. Using wonderful stories from her own life, contemporary real-life examples, and fascinating historical and biblical references, Annie encourages readers to grab hold of the brave life that they desperately desire.

Let's All Be Brave is more than just a book, it's a battle cry. In it, Annie challenges us to live boldly, calls us to step into those places that require courage, and gives us the help to take the next step forward-even when it's scary. This non-fiction, essay-driven book opens the door to many different views of courage-nudging, encouraging, and inspiring readers to be brave whenever given the chance.

Review:

I really like for people to think I am brave.  Don't you?  A lady told me how courageous I was to go to Honduras for a mission trip, but I didn't feel courageous.  I didn't feel brave either, but I did talk to God about it a lot. I mean A. Lot.  Another lady told me that I was courageous for dealing with breast cancer, and I totally disagreed but I wasn't going to tell her that. I felt like you just have to deal with it, there's really no choice there. But I talked to God then a lot too. 

FYI: I don't just run around asking people if I am courageous. I teach a ladies Bible class at our church, and it just so happened to be a lesson on Mary, the mother of Jesus. Now she is the picture of courage! Agreed?

I said all of that to say this.  I loved this book! In fact, I had been struggling with a few things that I was approached about (helping in a classroom full of children- so not my thing), and after reading this book I just knew I could do it. They are just kids, right? But then I found my life getting busier and busier, and I couldn't make it to the classroom. (I've still never gone.) Later, after reading more of this book, I realized that I was making myself busy so I wouldn't have time to go do what I feared.

I love the way Annie writes. She seems so down-to-earth, and almost like a friend. I just know that we could sit down over tea (or coffee, if that is what she likes) and talk like old friends. The whole book I felt like she was just talking to me. That is the kind of writing this book needed!

I could tell you that this book is full of real-life examples, biblical references, and stories from her own life, but you can read that in the book description.

Here is my take on it:

This is a very helpful book, and has really opened my eyes. I am courageous! I will be even more courageous! I will be bold! I will be brave! And I will read this book over and over!

The Waiting - A Review

An unforgettable true story that will touch your heart and make you believe in love’s enduring legacy, and in the power of prayer.
In 1928, 16-year-old Minka was on a picnic in the woods when she was assaulted and raped. And suddenly this innocent farm girl—who still thought the stork brought babies—was pregnant. The baby was secretly born, named Betty Jane, and given up for adoption. For decades, Minka wrote letters trying to get news of her daughter; she kept loving and praying for her, even though she never dared believe they would meet again. Until nearly eighty years later, when Minka whispered her secret, impossible prayer for the first time: Lord, I’d like to see Betty Jane before I die. I promise I won’t bother her or interrupt her life. I just want to lay eyes on her. Unbeknownst to Minka, that very same day, a judge was releasing the sealed adoption records to her 77-year-old daughter. And soon, Minka’s phone would ring. Written by Cathy LaGrow (Minka’s granddaughter), The Waiting brings three generations of this most unusual family together over the course of a century to tell a story of faith that triumphs, forgiveness that sets us free, and love that never forgets.

Review:

This is a beautifully written, true story that seems like it could be nothing but fiction.  This has been one of the hardest reviews for me to write, because everytime I start to type I either repeat everything in the book description or I give too much information (spoilers).

So let me tell you that I read this book in less than two days, so I can honestly say that I couldn't put it down. I loaned this book to a friend, and she did the same. Then she loaned it to her mother, and she read it in record time as well. Three out of three, folks!

It is so compelling, and heartwarming. A wonderful story written about patience and faith. This story made me want to be as faithful and dedicated as Minka.

I have to say that I am not a crier when it comes to reading books.  Remember the friend that I loaned the book to? Well, she is a crier, and so is her mother. They both mentioned that they cried through the whole book. So, if you are a crier, grab some kleenex!

This is one of those books that will always have a place on my bookshelf, and one of my highly recommended reads. I apologize for such a lame review, but I tried my best to let you know that I loved this book without telling you everything that happened in it.

The Waiting on Amazon

Thank you to Tyndale for providing me a free copy of this book in return for my honest review.

I'm Reading #NEGUBook, You?

Have you heard of Jessie Rees and her JoyJars?

I can't tell you too much about it yet, because I am just reading it myself, but I can tell you this.

It started with a simple question: How can we help them? It became an international movement called NEGU: Never Ever Give Up. When Jessica Joy Rees was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor at age 11, she chose to focus not on herself but on bringing joy and hope to other children suffering from cancer.

During the ten months she battled cancer, she and her family worked in the “Joy Factory” (originally their garage) making JoyJars®—packages filled with toys, games, and love for other kids with cancer. Jessie first handed them out personally at the hospital where she was being treated, but the effort blossomed quickly and there were soon thousands of JoyJars® being distributed across the United States and to over fifteen countries. Today, more than 100,000 kids have received JoyJars®, and they continue shipping each week to kids in over 200 children’s hospitals and 175 Ronald McDonald Houses.

Jessie lost her battle with cancer in January 2012, but her message lives on in the Jessie Rees Foundation, which has become a beacon of hope for families fighting pediatric cancer.

Join the movement at www.negu.org.

 

 It has just been released, pick up your copy today!