Blind Hope An Unwanted Dog & the Woman She Rescued by Kim Meeder & Laurie Sacher

About the book: An unwanted Dog. An Emotional Rescue. Two Lives Forever Changed. Laurie's dreams had been shattered before she came to work at Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch - the ranch of rescued dreams - where broken horses and broken children encounter healing every day. In an attempt to soothe her aching soul, Laurie reached out to save a dog in need. And she soon began to realize that the dog was rescuing her. An inspiring true story told through the engaging voice of Kim Meeder, Blind Hope reveals poignant life lessons Laurie experienced through her ailing yet courageous canine friend. Despite the blindness of her dog - and her own heart - Laurie uncovered what she really needed most: authentic love, unconditional trust, and true acceptance, faults and all. As Laurie and her dog, Mia, both learned to follow the lead of a master they couldn't see, Laurie discovered the transforming power of God's grace even for imperfect and selfish people - and she experienced a greater love than she had ever known. My Opinion: Opening this book, I had decided it was just another one of those true life, cutsie, I saved an animal and feel better about myself story. What I found was an inspiring and soul bursting journey that had me in tears. The energy and fortitude it took for this experience to turn into a true journey to the heart of God, is amazing and encouraging. Those of us who feel let down by life and worse, by those around us, find that there is more to life than people. Sometimes the arms of God are packaged up in the life of an animal who trusted and lost. To see the human condition turned against the very animals that God ordained that we should care for, and yet that very animal turns out to be the saving Grace in the life of a human who trusted and lost instead. Laurie shares her heart and soul. A brave and courageous woman, who tried to hide herself away in the high desert, devoid of trees and social pressures, shows that God can find us no matter where we are or what we are experiencing. Even if you aren't a "Laurie", I recommend reading this. And then pass it on to someone who is! This books should be in every church library, every pastors/deacons/counselors office. An amazing journey with an amazing woman and her amazing dog through Amazing Grace! Below is the first chapter. Give it a read, then order your book as soon as possible...you won't be sorry! Blind Hope by Kim Meeder (Chapter 1) Please visit here and rate my review :) http://www.waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/view/17687/blogr:9528 **I was provided a copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing through Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest opinion, no other compensation was given.

Fierce Beauty by Kim Meeder

About This Book:
True beauty is not about how you look… but how you live. Women are constantly bombarded with the lie that how we look is far more important than who we are. It’s time for a clarion call back to the truth. Journey with gifted storyteller Kim Meeder as she encourages women to see that true value is defined by our Creator and that our worth has a purpose of eternal proportions. Real beauty isn’t a look, it’s an action. It can be found by making one crucial, life-defining choice—to lay down personal ambitions and selfish desires, pick up your sword of encouragement, and fight for those who are losing their battle for hope. As you do, fierce beauty is revealed—along with lasting value, fulfillment, and joy. In Fierce Beauty, Kim shares inspiring true stories from her own life of adventure, love, and loss—including her parents’ shocking death when she was nine years old and her struggles with self acceptance, knowing God, and standing for Him. Through it all, you’ll discover life lessons about trust, transformation, surrender, forgiveness, and genuine purpose. Ultimately, life comes down to one question: Will you serve yourself or your King? Includes discussion guide for individuals or groups. “You were not created to be a princess of entitlement but a warrior, fighting to bring love and hope to the world.” – Kim Meeder Fierce Beauty by Kim Meeder (Ch. 1 excerpt)


My Opinion:


   Few Spiritual Encouragement books get my attention as strongly as Fierce Beauty did. I did not read this book once, but twice! Yes twice! Before I could sit down to write my review of this book, I felt compelled to read it a second time. It isn't a long book, but it is filled with such inspiring and encouraging words that I truly wasn't sure I had understood it correctly the first time. 


   Kim Meeder is an amazing woman. She share her own life experiences and how these things led her to where she is as a child of the living God. She not only encourages but challenges us at every turn. 


   Though this seems to be directed toward women, I think this is a book that can and should be read by men as well. Each of these inspirational situations, challenges and conclusions are all inclusive as children of God. Each gender having their own challenges and discouraging moments in life, can be redirected in a godly and positive manner through her writings.


   I laughed, I cried and I felt her struggles and her joys through her trials and triumphs in her journey. Inspiring just doesn't say enough of how her words helped me to see that my own beauty within is far more important and far more godly than my outside. I choose to take off my crown of entitlement and move on as a daughter of my Heavenly Father. Striving to be HIS and distancing myself from being the worlds.


   I highly recommend this book to anyone and, in fact, encourage you to purchase several copies and give them as gifts. This is one of those books that is sure to bless anyone. From young teens to the elderly in our lives, this is a book that needs to be read...more than once!







Please rate my review on the Blogging For Books site.

http://www.waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/view/17130/blogr:9528

**I was provided a copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing through Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest opinion, no other compensation was given.

Spitzer Hafen

SPITZER HAFEN

About The Book:
   If you destroy America's values and wait awhile, America might well destroy itself. One of America's most sophisticated enemies is counting on that. He's quietly backing a silver-tongued apostate's plan to subvert Christianity.

So far the main threats to the apostate's plan are two former missionaries broadcasting from a tiny island. As their truth begins to prevail against the apostate's lies, world-class assassins are sent to eliminate the missionaries.

   However, the missionaries now have a friend with them. Decades ago he was so deadly, and so stealthy, that the KGB refused to believe he could even exist. He was also the last of the Vectors.

My Opinion:
   I have to honestly say that this book was one of the most difficult to continue reading. The bad grammer, spelling and inconsistency aside, the story itself was so convoluted that I found myself having to backtrack to reread several pages at a time so I could be sure where the storyline had come from and where it was going.

   The storyline itself had potential but I don't feel that the author was particularly knowledgable about much of what was written. It was more like 4 separate stories brought together in an attempt to formulate a single outcome. Unfortunately too much gets lost in the insignificant details. It sidetracks so much that I easily got lost, thus requiring me to reread certain things to be sure I was unerstanding exactly what it was trying to say.

   The names kept getting mixed up as well as so many spelling errors. Being an English/Grammar enthusiast, these random mistakes were very distracting. The radio station, WHGT, often had the call letters mixed up. Sometimes it was WHGT and sometimes WGHT. Also a woman who was known as The Valkyrie, was given an aka of Velma Smith. At least twice the author called her "aka Valerie Smith".
 
   The grammar was lacking in consistency as well. Too many characters, from too many foreign places, made it difficult to know who was who and where each of them was from. Giving "accents" by choosing certain verbage for different characters made it difficult to figure out who was from where. Names tended to be repeated too often and much of the scene building was lost in the over explanation of situations.

   All in all, I have to say that the reading experience was unpleasant and drawn out. The storyline itself had such good potential and I would hope that the author will eventually rewrite it with less business and focus on the actual plot.




Disclosure of Material: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookCrash.com book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Scent of Cherry Blossoms by Cindy Woodsmall

About the book from Waterbrook Multnomah:

Annie Martin loves the Plain ways of her Old Order Mennonite people, like those revered by her beloved grandfather. Retreating from a contentious relationship with her mother, Annie goes to live with her Daadi Moses in Apple Ridge.

But as spring moves into Pennsylvania and Annie spends time amongst the cherry trees with the handsome Aden Zook, she wishes she could forget how deeply the lines between the Old Order Amish and Old Order Mennonite are drawn.

Can Annie and Aden find a place for their love to bloom in the midst of the brewing storm?

My Opinion :

As a sceptical reader of Christian Fiction, I tend to be a bit jaded before I even opening the cover. With The Scent of Cherry Blossoms, I'm glad I did. Not your typical boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl and all is roses and sunshine, The Scent of Cherry Blossoms is a journey through the struggles of mans forbidden form of godly love.

I found the depth of understanding between mans rules and God's forgiveness to be inspiring. Even with subtle differences between the Plain beliefs of the Amish and Mennonite sects, and the struggle to remain loyal to family and church, God's tender mercies shine through bringing even the most stubborn believer to his knees.

Beyond the love that blossoms between Annie and Aden, there is Roman, Aden's twin brother who has a journey of his own to take. Seeing his inner struggles manifest themselves in his thoughts and actions, and overcoming the hurdles that keep him trapped inside himself, gives me hope for a splendid future beyond the limitations of our circumstances.

I do hope there is more to come in the lives of these gentle people.

Here is the first chapter...I just know you'll want to finish the book!
The Scent of Cherry Blossoms by Cindy Woodsmall (Chapter 1 Excerpt)

Please rate my review on the Blogging For Books site.

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/view/16881/blogr:9528 

**I was provided a copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing through Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest opinion, no other compensation was given.

A Time To Begin

Blessings and Welcome to all my friends, family and followers!


   A lover of the written word, I am embarking on an adventure in reading a myriad of books and writing heartfelt and honest reviews for them. I pray you will continue to visit, read the reviews and give your honest opinion through rating my reviews. 


   I truly feel this will be a wonderful journey in a new season of my life. With our children finally grown and gone, I have little to do nowadays, aside from keeping the house clean, feeding my sweet husband and doing my sewing/knitting/crocheting and crafting projects. Reading is something I gave up for a long time due to my duties as a mother and wife. Now that it's MY time, I can't wait to fill it up with the wonderful adventures and moving moments in the world of literature.


   It's a Time to Begin :)


God be with thee!
Sister Lori